In this extra episode of Style DNA we celebrate the highlights of Season 8 …reliving some of those moments when my guests shared insights, transparency and at times hilarity ….

Style DNA Season 9 will be launching in mid September with a fabulous mix of guests in store…in the meantime I hope you enjoy this episode …ooh , and please do me a favour and hit the subscribe button if you haven’t already … thank you x

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In this episode of Style DNA I recorded a special bonus episode with Ro Huntriss, Chief Nutrition Officer (I love this title) of this Season's sponsor, The Simple Life App. Health and Wellbeing have always fascinated me and so I was not only curious to interview Ro on the benefits of Intermittent Fasting but I wanted to discuss how the way we live, and eat, can influence the way we dress.

Just to give you a little background, Ro Huntriss is an award-winning, London-based Registered Dietitian with 14 years of experience working across the NHS, private practice and commercial business. Ro has specialist clinical experience in a number of areas including weight management, metabolic health, gastroenterology and women's health and seven years of experience working within international health tech. She has two Master's degrees, the first in Advanced Nutrition and the second in Clinical Research and is the Chief Nutrition Officer at Simple App, an AI weight loss coach with 17M downloads globally, recently crowned Best Virtual Health Coach in the 2025 Med Tech Breakthrough awards.

Ro’s is a passionate advocate for how digital tools can empower healthier habits and drive measurable outcomes across populations and one of her key missions is to make credible, personalised nutrition support accessible at scale...yes!

We discussed our personal Intermittent Fasting journeys...I am a genuine advocate of IF and have been for many     years ... I find that it keeps me focused and has helped hugely with balancing my blood sugar levels.  

Of course we discuss Style and body confidence, when we are feeling good in our bodies we tend to have more enjoyment in our clothes... I’ve always believed that personal style starts from within.

But Ro isn't all about strict rules...she is an advocate of "80/20" (me too)...whereby 80% of the time you are consistent in your habits and nutrition and 20% of the time less so... ultimately it is about finding what works best for you personally.

Thank you Ro for being such a great guest xx

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In this week episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the British luxury footwear designer, the wonderful Penelope Chilvers.

Penelope grew up in Britain but as a child she spent every school holiday in the province of Girona and her love affair with Spain and local craftsmanship began.

For a few years, Penelope lived in the city of Barcelona, working as a painter and designer where she collaborated with artists and artisans. While living in Barcelona, she enjoyed riding in her lunch break in the national park of Collserola in the hills above the city wearing traditional Spanish riding boots. She pursued the idea of bringing the Spanish riding boot to England and commissioned a small number of traditional artisans in the hills of Spain to make the perfect equestrian boot to her own specifications.  The Long Tassel boot remains a firm favourite in the collection, most famously worn back in 2004 by Prince William’s then girlfriend, Kate Middleton and the photo of her wearing these boots went viral the day they announced their engagement. HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales continues to wear her boots to this day.

We chat about her memories of being allowed to tidy her mother’s silk scarf drawer as a young girl and how that ignited her passion for colour, pattern and luxury.

She has a dedication to timeless style, designing boots and shoes that will stand the test of time…she really believes in the power of longevity.  She tells me that she loves the process of taking care of her shoes and boots… how footwear can get better with age and wear…  and her desire to teach her customers how to care for their shoes…lovely.

I ask her about how she feels about being the face of her brand and her response is charming and endearingly humble …she says she feels lucky that she is still relevant. She has clearly enjoyed creating and building her brand…saying it’s like a work of art to her. Both of her daughters are now involved, one working with her on design and the other in marketing and as the company stylist. It is a true family business and Penelope clearly enjoys the cross generational aspect.

I question whether she feels that her style changes when she spends time working in Spain, and she admits that it does actually… she admires the fact that Spanish women have a confidence and a femininity and that it’s probably a little more formal.  

The Penelope Chilvers brand has gone from strength to strength and has recently added a store in Stow on the Wold in the Cotswolds to its collection.

In full disclosure I own several pairs of Penelope Chilvers shoes and boots…sublime embroidered velvet slippers, Spanish leather boots and beautiful suede cowboy boots … all timeless classics …

I hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you @penelopecheilvers for being such a lovely guest. xx

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In this episode I had the privilege of interviewing the fashion designer and creative director Harris Reed... and I have to say I was blown away by his vision, his confidence, his charm and his down to earth warmth.

Fighting for the beauty of fluidity, half-American, half-British Harris Reed designs to create conversation. Growing up with a strong sense of self, Harris was able to quickly understand the transformative power of clothing and its correlation with identity and liberation.

While still studying at Central Saint Martins, he caught the attention of the likes of Harry Styles who he dressed in some iconic looks for his tour including his signature pussy bow blouses and flares. Alessandro Michele, the then creative director of Gucci, spotted him and recruited him to his design studio. 

His brand has gone from strength to strength showing Demi-Couture collections biannually in London and garnering VIP fans and clients including Beyoncé, Adele, and Sam Smith. The overall DNA of the Harris Reed brand and personal identity, is best described as Romanticism Gone Nonbinary. It puts the wearer and their fluidity - in whatever way it manifests, front and centre yet all while staying true to the brand’s ethos that strives for a vision of gender fluidity and inclusivity. 

Personally, Harris dresses to invite the looks and stares, to blur the preconceived fault-lines people have about gender and sexuality. He is an incredibly striking and magnetic human being. 

In 2021 he was invited to dress Iman for the prestigious Met Gala... both he and Iman looked spectacular despite a little personal mishap on his way there...too funny and too personal to write about but listen in and you will hopefully laugh with us.

In September 2022, aged just 26, he was appointed the youngest ever Creative Director of French fashion house Nina Ricci. He is absolutely flying...
In October 2023 Harris married his husband Eitan Senerman in an intimate ceremony in London at Chelsea Old Town Hall and Claridge's... The second wedding celebration in Palermo, Sicily in June 2024, saw Harris in 4 different outfits ... looking ever more spectacular in each one...of course we delve into why he designed each look...and how he wanted to feel...
His recently published, beautifully illustrated book Fluid, is well worth a read...

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In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the simply joyous Gaby Roslin....one of the most positive and kind human beings on the planet.
Gaby is one of the country's most popular TV and Radio presenters with incredible amounts of energy & enthusiasm for all things moving pictures and spoken words.

Alongside hosting BBC1's Morning Live, on Saturdays on Magic Radio and Shop Smart Save Money on Channel 5, Gaby has released her first book Spread the Joy, as well as having her own incredibly successful podcast Reasons to be Joyful, and the list goes on... Work is her passion and she has no intention of slowing up, in fact, she admitted that she "would like to work until she is 99, host a live show and just go to sleep" ... 

Gaby grew up around the broadcasting world and was obsessed by TV from a young age, following her father into the TV studios and dreaming of being part of that world with a mission to make people smile...she does that in spades.

She is passionate about #shoppinginyourwardrobe ... LOVES colour and believes that age is irrelevant ... that we should wear what we want to wear...YES to that.

We laugh about being eternally 33, in our heads at least, Gaby has a wonderful, youthful positive energy and it makes her shine...she is magnetic. Her aptly named That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful is unsurprisingly a happy listen.

We talk wedding dresses, the power of a white trouser suit, dressing for 28 hours of back to back broadcasting on Millenium Night (not quite sure how she managed that) ...and in full disclosure, some of her old Wakeley favourites... 

Thank you @gabyroslin for our joyous conversation xx

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In this episode I go on a style journey with one of the UK’s original and leading digital creators, Lydia Millen. I was drawn to interview Lydia as she focuses on the luxury space for her content creation, which, perhaps needless to say, is a space I have always loved. Her 15 year journey has seen her work with brand giants from Jo Malone to Hugo Boss and Tiffany…Lydia’s commercial influence is hugely impressive and often unrivalled.

She is influenced by the beauty of nature and seasonal living, and has amassed a global audience of over 3 million who respect and trust her authentic opinions and eye for industry-leading products and passion for timeless style that defies trends.

Her journey has not always been straightforward and she has experienced her fair share of trolling but she is pragmatic about the fact that not everyone will love her content and perhaps in the early days she didn’t fully know who she was, very few people do quite frankly, but she is clear now.

We chat about how she didn’t really understand the full impact of a good outfit on her wellbeing until Covid hit, when there was no reason to get dressed up as you weren’t going anywhere but she realised the importance  of taking real care with what she wears on a day to day basis is an investment in herself, it was less about other people…in her words she was  “telling myself that I am worth dressing up for”…I SO love this sentiment…

By her own admission there have been some dodgy style choices including choosing to have a full blonde mullet haircut as a teenager to impress her then boyfriend.

Lydia is incredibly considered about her clothing choices and just one look at her feed shows a glorious and curated grid featuring a mainly neutral colour palette…saving strong colours for big moments…ie Ascot and special occasions…

Its no secret that she has always loved bags and by her own admission was a big collector of well made (and expensive) bags. Her first designer bag was a Mulberry which she worked 3 jobs while at university to be able to afford. Many of us have those memories of saving for that first designer purchase…mine was a Dior bag, and it was probably the cheapest one in the range but my, it felt good to go into the immaculate dove grey store on Conduit Street and soak up every moment of making my selection, watch it being beautifully wrapped and walking out of the door swinging that carrier bag proudly for the rest of the afternoon in London…

We bond over a mutual love and awe of Harris Tweed…  the tradition, the craftsmanship and the local passion that still goes into creating it.

She slightly surprised me with her Style Icon…but on reflection I fully understand why…

I hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you Lydia for your considered conversation xx

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In this episode I go on a Style Journey with the English TV personality and Co-Founder of the wellness app Shoorah, the inimitable Ferne McCann. 
Ferne first became a public figure when she appeared in the hit reality series The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE) for no less than 9 series... She quickly became one of the standout stars on the show and led to her appearing on ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, plus having her own ITVBe series, Ferne McCann: First Time Mum (2018) which later became Ferne McCann: My Family & Me.

The show marked Ferne as one of the most trusted and relatable celebrity mums. In addition to her TV career, Ferne has become a successful entrepreneur, collaborating with premium global brands in the fashion, lifestyle, and wellness industries.

Her influence on social media reflects her dedication to health, self-care, and family, inspiring her followers with a positive, relatable approach to modern motherhood. Ferne co-founded Shoorah, the wellness app that promotes personal growth & mental health. It is now one of the most successful apps in that genre. Ferne's healthy ambition for a new challenge saw her compete on Dancing on Ice in 2025, adding a new chapter to her career.
Ferne is a true Essex girl born and bred and I ask her if she is stereotypical ... that is for you to discover...

As such a well known star on Social Media I ask her how she deals with the inevitable trolling that comes with the profile and she offers a valuable and practical insight as to how she protects herself...in fact how we can all protect ourselves if we so choose.

One of the things that is very endearing about Ferne is that she doesn't take herself too seriously, although she does admit to being "very competitive"... she laughs about her early elimination from Dancing on Ice and how her grandfather blamed it all on her choosing to be a Troll for the dance...however she was clearly blown away by the creativity of the costume team.

Ferne clearly has a tight knit team around her including her mother, her "style icon". She bemoans the fact that social media has perhaps made us all less creative and more inclined to question our own tastes and follow the pack...to the extent of making us believe that we want something because we see it so frequently on different feeds...social media drives you to follow rather than stick with your own personal style...there is some truth in that...it certainly is the quickest way for brands to reach the widest audience possible now.

She has been very open about her post-partum journey and how she has been an advocate for breast feeding, and continuing to breast feed. She understands that this can be a divisive subject but she is also very aware of the support it gives to many women at a similar point in their lives.
We discuss the aging process, tweakments and her well documented rhinoplasty (nose job)... and the dilemma of staying totally true to herself and her audience yet being tempted to  "fix" her boobs post breast feeding... she is refreshingly transparent on the whole subject. 

She is about to start her own podcast called Every Cloud, to talk about trauma and people's stories inspired by her own life and how "when you are in the thick of trauma it often bumps you into the right direction"...very true.
Finally we had a properly hilarious disconnect moment in the Quick Fires when I ask her whether she preferred Boyfriends or Wide Legs...of course I was referring to her choice of jeans ...Ferne, on the other hand thought I was referring to Ahem something completely different...!

I hope you enjoy this episode. Thank you Ferne for being such a great guest x

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In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with Hannah Almassi, the Editor-in-Chief of Who What Wear UK. It’s a wonderful digital fashion, beauty and style platform which can take you down rabbit-holes of inspiration …

Hannah joined Who What Wear UK following a seven-year career at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 18 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant.

Her passion for fashion started very early, as a young child she would “edit” fashion catalogues, cutting them up and creating her own mini catalogues…proving that some things are just innate in us!

Hannah first got into fashion as she wanted to be part of the democratisation of fashion….in her words she wasn’t the “archetypal fashion girly, I am not tall, I do not come from a wealthy background, I am not slim …I felt like I had a responsibility to represent (me) and sometimes that’s hard because at times it would be easier to look great in a picture if I was 6ft tall but at 5’1” it’s definitely more challenging”…but how inspiring and refreshing.

We talk about how intimidating it can be to circulate within the fashion industry and the importance of remaining true to yourself rather than being too “influenced” by those around you. I ask her about wardrobe planning for those epic fashion week trips to the shows.

Of course I ask her about ageism in fashion … and her opinions on sustainability in an industry that is designed to encourage you to consume more…her answers are thoughtful, informed and those of a true industry insider delivered in a pragmatic, considered way.

Being the fashion insider and editor that she is I couldn’t help but ask her opinion on the top 3 trends from the Autumn/Winter 25 catwalks…

She is also happy to laugh about her own fashion mishaps along the way too…

Thank you @hannahalmassi for being such a great guest x

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In this episode I go on a style journey with the inimitable and side-splittingly funny, iconic British Jeweller, Theo Fennell. I have been lucky enough to have known Theo for decades ...our first shops were close on the Fulham Road in Chelsea. Theo has always been the most brilliant raconteur, often making himself the butt of the joke and I must admit as I listened to his two books, narrated by him, I found myself howling with laughter...a great summer listen (links below).

Born in Egypt, to an Army family, Theo’s early years were spent moving around the globe before being sent to boarding school in England...in truth he went to Eton College where the uniform was and still is to this day, tails and a stiff collared shirt.  He went on to art school in York, and he tells me with some hilarity about his choice of clothing for his first day there. Initially he pursued portraiture, but, unable to get a likeness, he luckily discovering a passion and talent for jewellery and silversmithing.

Theo Fennell is one of Britain’s most iconic and original jewellers, renowned for his bold, imaginative designs and a distinctive creative voice blending fine craftsmanship with storytelling, wit, and a quirky flair. For over four decades, Theo has redefined the traditional boundaries of jewellery, creating extraordinary, bespoke pieces worn and collected by patrons from royalty to rock and roll, stars of stage, screen and fashion to tastemakers around the world ... and also his friend Norman.

From his first studio in the Fulham Road in the 1980s to his current gallery and workshop in the Chelsea Barracks development, Theo has built a reputation as one of the few jewellers who still designs and makes each piece by hand in-house in London. His atelier brings together master goldsmiths, engravers, enamellists, and stone-setters, producing work that fuses rare artistry with theatricality and timeless appeal. A passionate advocate for the applied arts, Theo has mentored emerging talent, collaborated with artists, and championed the importance of craftsmanship in a fast-paced, mass-produced world. His pieces often tell intimate, sentimental or humorous stories, making them cherished heirlooms as well as expressions of individuality.

Being the story teller that he is Theo entertains us with stories of his earlier, let's say, more than slightly inebriated years when he managed to loose a priceless emerald during a celebratory night out, having sold said emerald but not delivered it.... lesson learned...

We chat about his passion for unusual stones, craftsmanship and telling stories through pieces. Knowing that he has a who's who of rock and royalty as a client base I couldn’t help but ask what his most unusual commission was...the story of the Yellow Rose of Texas is brilliantly told!

We talk about his style inspirations (from Fred Astaire to the dandyism of Patrick Litchfield in the 60s) and the influence of accompanying his father on days shopping... from Henry Poole on Saville Row for "Gents natty summer suiting" ...and on for shirts...and shoes. Theo clearly loves clothes, shoes and socks...he has an eclectic, chic style, and an eye for detail befitting of the brilliant designer he is.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed this conversation with the raucously funny Theo...and if you don't know his jewellery (unlikely) but do check it out...it is truly exquisite. Thank you Theo for entertaining us so fabulously!

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In this episode of Style DNA I go on a stylistic journey with the Author, Broadcaster, Editor and Coach Rosie Nixon. Rosie is the author of three novels, The Stylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan and Just Between Friends, plus the Be Kind book. Her new novel called Bad Influence is out this August.

After a long career in women's magazines, including Grazia, Glamour and Red she became the award-winning Editor and Editor in Chief of HELLO! Magazine for an incredible 16 years. The 24/7 pressure of being at the helm ultimately led to her near burnout (which she is very open about) and like many of life's challenges, there is often a silver lining. She says that she didn't think she was serving herself as a woman saying it was all going well, so being honest about her own struggles really helped her and inspired her into the next chapter.

She became a qualified life coach and in 2024 she launched Rosie's Reinvention Retreats - a series of day retreats for midlife women, to support navigating changes in career, business and wellbeing. A complete career change, starting from scratch in a way, albeit with all the knowledge built up over the years ...and I know well what guts that takes.
We discuss how the magazine world has changed over the last couple of decades and the 24/7 pressure that goes with being the editor or a magazine that in its heyday sold 1 million copies a week.  

We talk about Kindness and she says that she started thinking about kindness when she first started at Hello! which was slightly vilified about always being nice about people.  Rosie believes that Kindness is a super power and should be worn as a badge of honour... yes to that!  She feels that kindness is probably responsible for the longevity of the magazine and is one of it's strengths because everyone is treated with respect. 

She felt proud and protective of this stance and was passionate that it should be the thread that was woven through the magazine. Of course we discuss Rosie's personal style journey, her haircuts and fashion phases...her borrowed Alberta Ferretti wedding dress (way ahead of her time back then) and the all-important discussion of dressing our age ...she admits to dressing older than herself earlier in her career to be taken more seriously ...
I hope you enjoy this episode ...thank you Rosie for being such a warm, open and inspiring guest x

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