A Day in The Life of...

Joseph coat, Raquel Allegra knit, Primrose Park shirt, Rag and bone trousers and my faithful rafs.

This is a typical day in my ANNA life.

I start my day bizarrely enough at 6:40am wake up call for 7:10 Barrys Bootcamp! 

Breakfast usually on the run after juicing for RP. Today i am off to a few buying appointments.

 I walk to appointments whenever i can and i am lucky because regents park is my shortcut to the west end. 

OMG! I've just bumped into my BF in the park, quick catch up with her then off i go again. 

 First stop, Chinti and Parker http://www.shopatanna.com/chinti-parker/

I love Chinti and the new collection doesn't disappoint. Emoji jumpers, how cool!

 Next up, Odd Molly.

 This season sees the return of Odd Molly in ANNA.

The Tribute collection is very strong and i can see the original quirky style has returned.  

Whilst choosing my pieces for the stores i have a quick bite and some water, more often than not i drink too much coffee and eat too many biscuits in the appointments, its good to get some real food!

 My last appointment today, is Frame Denim http://www.shopatanna.com/frame-denim/

 Here i am with Sam making my selection. I am very conscious of choosing the correct shapes and washes for my client base rather than high trend driven, niche pieces. Everything in ANNA is personally picked by me. I like everything but obviously i am only ever one size and one age at one time so i can't wear everything all the time. 

I end the day with a quick meeting with the GM of ANNA who is on a shop visit at primrose hill. psssst... Yoga 6:45pm, nutter!!

Buying in Paris

Ready for Paris

Recently I was in Paris at a few buying appointments. Paris is always hard work as we have to race around from one appointment to another but it never feels totally work like... walking around the Marias always entices me into a few gorgeous shops to have a nosey... I call it research, others might say shopping!! 

I had a full day on Thursday starting at Rag & Bone, a fabulous collection and an equally great company to deal with! I found everything tee shirts, jeans, knits and terrific oversized coats for AW15.

The Rag & Bone showroom

The Rag & Bone showroom

The Sibel Sarel collection

Next stop an Italian showroom showing masses of collections from Europe and the States, I buy Golden Goose and Sea NY from them but I also picked up two new collections, Nili Lotan from NY and Sibel Sarel, a Turkish born designer living in the states. Check these two out!

This is one of my favourite concept stores, Merci, always worth a visit. And of course, I never go to Paris without checking out the fabulous, Colette, an amazing store it feels more gallery than shop, loads to see!

Merci

Merci

Merci

Merci

Collette

Fashion is Nuts exhibition

The Hotel we stayed in - Les Plumes

Buying at Chiltern Street Studio

Chiltern Street Studio

Chiltern Street Studio's beautiful courtyard

People often ask me what I do all day… well, if I’m not on the shop floor, I’ll be at a buying appointment, usually with Pascale, my assistant. So I thought I would give you a sneak peek behind the scenes buying at one of my favourite agencies, Chiltern Street Studio!

Usually I spend the whole day at Chiltern Street Studios, they have a host of brilliant collections housed in their beautiful Victorian school house, a listed building, located in the heart of Marylebone.

I get a lot of old fave ANNA brands, like Bellerose and Leon & Harper, from Chiltern Street, but they always have something new to tempt me with. Last season it was Mes Demoiselles, a lovely collection with a bohemian feel, perfect for summer. For SS15 alongside the usual white floaty numbers I picked out a fab black based flower print with lurex running through, the shapes had a real 70’s vibe  , I see the 70’s being big for SS15! My star piece was a beautiful drop-waist embroidered dress with a one off vintage feel. Love it, want to take it home now, an occupational hazard when working in retail!

Buying with Jane

Browsing the collections

Delicious salt cod fritters

Lunchtime at Chiltern Street Studio is amazing, multi-tasking Denise today rustles up delicious salt cod fritters with salad, yum… always great to have a good gossip with Jane and Denise... one can hardly call this work!

Leon & Harper always have a great collection, fab wardrobe staples and brill statement pieces. I was instantly drawn to the lobster jumper, so fun! I saw a lot of sweaters in the showrooms, the sport luxe trend looks set to continue, which suits me down to the ground! Leon & Harper also had a cool faded dungaree, which I just had to try on! I big part of buying is trying on to check the fit and feel.

I think a lot about colour when I’m buying, which pieces will go together in an outfit and how the stores will be merchandised, what the colour story will be... I am a big believer in wearing colour despite age or season, and always look to buy colour… which becomes difficult in winter buys where the propensity is towards blacks and greys.

Leon & Harper's lobster jumper

Choosing colours

Spotted a great aztec sweater by Odd Molly

My essentials!

My buying essentials are:

1. Pascale!
2. My notebook, mine is by Filofax. It’s fluorescent pink, so easy to find under piles of lookbooks and orders!

3. Pens. I’m very specific about the pen I write with, I love Muji gel ink pens. However, I was recently bought a beautiful Mont Blanc pen by my children, which I adore!

4. My Ipad for taking pictures.
5. A vest and big knickers, so I can strip off to try things on!