My Style: Hannah Kane
Photo: Leigh Keily — Courtesy of Hannah Kane
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
I’m not a big fan of the “low-slung jean with thong riding up the back” look. Apart from that, if it makes people happy then let them wear what they want. I love the way children will insist on wearing a Spiderman suit or pink tutu and refuse to take it off for a week. Fashion is meant to be fun.
Please describe your style in three words.
Irreverent, librarian, rocker.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Failing to look at the weather forecast. Nothing will make you feel less fashionable than being hot and sweaty, or conversely shivering with bare legs when it’s unseasonably cold. It’s always going to be a challenge in the UK!
Do you believe in role models?
Fashion wise — no. Always be original. What works for one person won’t always work for you. Business-wise I look up to my dad, and also jeans maestro Donna Ida. They both get up ridiculously early to go to work and have an amazing work ethic.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Silk, lace, leather, and velvet. Anything tactile.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
London!
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Hmm… I guess I’m more of a conservative dresser, but I’d like to think that I have my own style.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
Hide the big bits, show the thin bits.
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Socks… God knows where they end up but I can never find a pair.
A woman should always look...
Fabulous. But by accident rather than it being contrived.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Magazines.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I ask myself “who do I want to be today?”
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Always wear what suits you, regardless if it’s in fashion or not. Don’t buy cheap high street clothes; it’s a false economy, save for something you will really cherish. Always wear nice underwear. You never know where you’ll end up.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
If you’re not 100% convinced, don’t buy something. And don’t let your friends talk you into buying! I usually go shopping on my own.
We will never see you wearing...
Neon hi-tops. They’re just not me. Or white jeans. I’d be concerned that my bum looked big.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Corrie Nielsen — she’s an old-fashioned kind of design talent that you don’t see very often. I also really like Georgia Hardinge. She’s pretty much the coolest girl in the world and creates really feminine, beautiful clothes. Inbar Spector’s show is always fantastically theatrical at Vauxhall Fashion Scout. Menswear wise, I think Bartmaans and Seigel are a brand to watch, and finally for accessories you can’t beat LCF grad Oliver Ruuger; simply stunning.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Daphne Guinness, but she’s also pretty odd.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her hair. I have constant hair envy.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
An Yves Saint Laurent tailcoat my mother bought me, and my stunning Piers Atkinson hat that was purchased for Ascot this year.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Grace Kelly’s LIFE magazine cover shoot.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Burberry Prorsum.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
It’s a cliché but it’s true — your bra.
What is your biggest regret?
Not putting Lana Del Rey on the cover ages before anyone had heard of her.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not necessarily — there’s a real art to understated elegance; a louche nonchalance that some style icons do very well. Coco Chanel, Grace Kelly, and Audrey Hepburn all did a “dressed down” look to perfection. That being said: it’s never ok to go outside in a velour tracksuit.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Gemma Cartwright from Catwalk Queen, she’s witty, warm, and stylish.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Trust your instincts.
