My Style: Natalie Hartley
Photo: Courtesy of Natalie Hartley
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
A mix — I like conservative with a twist!
Please describe your style in three words.
Classic, laid back, grunge.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Wearing something that doesn't suit you or that you feel uncomfortable in.
Do you believe in role models?
Yes as inspiration, but to take from it and adapt to yourself.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Leather, denim, silk.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Showing too much. I like to balance things out ie. tight on top, wear something loose on the bottom half.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Paris.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
I always make sure I am comfortable in what I wear.
Celebrities and style...
Can be inspirational but don’t always go hand-in-hand!
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
My Whistles leather jacket.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
I love Carine Roitfeld’s style.
A woman should always look like...
She is confident.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My family; both parents and my grandma.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Spontaneously when I wake up. I do have my favourites so I go for them if I wake up with not much time.
What is your biggest regret?
I try not to have regrets but I did pass up an opportunity to buy an amazing old John Galliano shaggy coat and was too lazy to go back and get it!
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Always be confident in your choices, wearing heels doesn't mean you are stylish and go for what suits your personality. Be true to yourself, following trends doesn't always mean you look stylish — it's how you wear it.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Not really, I am quite spontaneous.
We will never see you wearing...
Anything that looks like I have tried too hard.
Which new designers do you follow/admire and why?
Simone Rocha is amazing, she is great at using traditional fabrics from her dad but working them in a very modern way. J.W. Anderson — I love for his use of fabrics. Christopher Raeburn because I adore how he has made sportswear cool and I love Thomas Tait for his shapes and unfussy designs.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Their posture and how they hold themselves.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A vintage Christian Dior long duck egg blue maxi coat, my mum's old Chanel sequin jacket, and my Isabel Marant trainers.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Probably Courtney Love back in her hay day!
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Yves Saint Laurent.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
A great coat or good shoes.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not at all its important to me and it's what I base all of my outfits. I think that every year fashion is turning their collections more towards comfort, as this is what I think the average woman still wants.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Kate Phelan.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Always treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself.
