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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