My Style: Shannon Wylie
Photo: Cameron Clegg — Courtesy of Shannon Wylie
What is your biggest regret?
If you buy cheap, you buy twice. Thankfully, I learnt my lesson early on.
Please describe your style in three words.
Minimalist, feminine, and fresh.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Not caring or caring too much about how you look.
Do you believe in role models?
I do, however, not as much as having affluent people who enhance different elements of your life.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Silk for the office, Egyptian cotton for the bedroom and cashmere for travelling.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
They invented Fashion Police for a reason; it’s a case-by-case basis.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Sydney! Call me patriotic, but I love the way Australian women have carved a niche in fashion.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Conservative, although not because I don’t enjoy the boldness that fashion can offer, rather it’s because my personality errs on the side of conservative.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Enter the cliché: being true to who I am. Dressing is about knowing your inherent style as well as your body type.
Celebrities and style...
Are what make me roll out of bed in the morning…
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Black cigarette pants. Hello Sass & Bide!
A woman should always look like...
She’s proud of who she is by being well-groomed and confident in how she dresses.
Who taught you what you know about style?
There’s a plethora of influences that have instilled in me the knowledge of different styles, but can you ever really be taught style?
How do you select your clothing every morning?
There’s no rational thought process behind this ritual.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
It’s not about how much junk you have in your trunk; it’s about what you do with that junk that turns it into a treasure. So first, invest in pieces you’ll wear forever. Second, mix and match those pieces adding lashings of personal attitude. Last, take your dress code with you wherever you go.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
My only ritual is religiously hitting the bi-annual Dubai shopping sales. Did you say every designer brand (sans Chanel and Louis Vuitton) in the city is on sale? Yes, please!
We will never see you wearing...
A Juicy Couture tracksuit!
Which new designers do you admire and why?
I’ve been following Dubai-based Michael Cinco’s success blossom onto the international stage. He’s a magnet for celebrities about to hit the red carpet and has definitely helped put the Middle East on the fashion map.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
I revere Joan Webster, aka my grandmother. From her daily pop of red lipstick to her incessantly endless array of designer clothing — mostly in black — this woman is the epitome of style.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her make-up.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My Valentino wedding dress and my personalised Louis Vuitton tote from my husband.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Vanessa Beecroft’s VB-35. Art has always influenced my approach to fashion, and I think this performance speaks for itself.
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
Lanvin. Alber Elbaz’s creative vision from ready-to-wear to couture is flawless.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her underwear. There’s nothing worse then seeing underwear lines and stray bra straps.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Yes. No matter how sexy or comfortable jeans and a white tank top are, they’re always going to be a common commodity.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
There are so many stylish people on my radar that I’m not sure I could narrow it down.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
“You can never be overdressed or overeducated” — Oscar Wilde. I live by this motto every day.
