My Style: Susanna Cohen
Photo: Nikola Borissov for Fashion We Like
The three essential things a woman should know about style are…
It should make you feel good about yourself. Everyone has it, it just takes someone else to notice it. In the end there are many more important things to worry about.
Please describe your style in three words.
Always an element of femininity, often a little unexpected, always evolving.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Thinking that the face one presents to the outside world doesn't matter.
Do you believe in role models?
No, but I believe in style icons.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Fine knit cashmere, leather, velvet.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Anything that conforms to mark you out as part of a 'tribe'.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Downtown New York.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Not as bold as I would like to be.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Be true to your own sense of style and don't dress for anyone else.
Celebrities and style...
Do not always go together. Often it is those not in the public eye who take the most risks with how they look.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
I like to play with jewellery. It's a great style signifier.
A woman should always look like…
She is confident in her skin.
Who taught you what you know about style?
There have been many strong female style influencers in my life. My first editor was Glenda Bailey and her eye was inspirational.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
With my heart and little regard to the practicalities of what I am doing that day.
What is your biggest regret?
I don't really want to say, but I think that regrets usually stem from when I am not true to the way I feel.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I am mostly cautious and think before I buy. If I am inspired enough to make an impulse buy, it's usually something so great that I will wear forever. I tend to buy quality, but less of it. Fashion that is too disposable makes me queasy.
We will never see you wearing…
My gym kit outside the gym.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
There are some amazing NewGen designers at London Fashion Week. I am bowled over by Simone Rocha, but I'm not sure if she still counts as new.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Florence Welch (in real life, not her stage persona).
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her facial expression.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A gold locket from my grandmother and an early 90s Dries Van Noten felt skirt with gold flower-shaped paillettes.
The one image that defined your approach to style…
Fashion images by Peter Lindbergh are totally transporting for me.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
So many impress me, but Phoebe Philo is consistently impressive.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is…
Her underwear. Good foundations are essential to how everything else will look, and how you will feel.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
No, the opposite. Usually, for a look to work it should appear effortless.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Everything passes. It helps when things are not going well...
