It is notoriously known that fashion assistants at magazines are appallingly paid. But they come off looking the most stylistically inventive because of their resourcefulness. Sure, they may not be able to afford Prada, Dries Van Noten or Helmut Lang like their Anna Wintour-esque bosses. But where they lack in funds, they make up for in effort – thrift store finds, fought for pieces at sample sales, clever high street finds. For me, that’s the ultimate challenge in fashion – being cash strapped whilst still looking stylish. Even if I had all the money in the world, I would not want my mix and match mentality to change either because I enjoy the hunt and inventing I get out of fashion. The way these girls approach style is very admirable – I just hope they don’t lose it as they climb the ladder towards becoming the next Carine Roitfeld.
Sarah Nash, 26, Fashion assistant at Stella magazine (Telegraph on Sunday style supplement) – Wearing dress and shoes from a charity shop in Clacton, Essex, all amounting to the grand sum of £2.25!
Her style: ‘Classic clothes with a twist’
Mary Fellowes, 27, fashion assistant at Vogue for three years working alongside fashion director Lucinda Chambers – Wearing a vintage opera costume from Montreuil flea market in Paris, Bruno Frisoni boots, Gucci trousers and boyfriend’s sweater.
Her Style: ‘Eclectic, colourful and never too obviously co-ordinated’.
Donna Wallace, 27, fashion director’s assistant at Elle – Wearing skirt from Principles which she is wearing as a dress and Christian Louboutin shoes which she got for £100 at a sample sale (Damn…I knew I should have snapped up those shoes at the Mouret sale..)
Her Style: ‘I follow trends but I’m not a slave to them. If I think I can make it work for me, I will.’
Natalie Brewster, 26, assistant to fashion director at Pop magazine, the biannual style magazine – Wearing dress from Ecseri Piac flea market in Budapest, H&M poloneck, Wolford tights, knock off Louboutin shoes from Topshop.
Her Style: ‘I don’t follow trends, but they can be inspirational.’
Katie Garman, 28, fashion assistant at Red magazine – Wearing babydoll dress from Topshop Boutique, Kurt Geiger boots and a locket from Bondi market in Sydney.
Her Style: ‘I don’t have lots of money, so slavishly following the latest trends would be a slippery slope.’
Catherine Nieto, 21, fashion assistant at UK Grazia magazine – Wearing cashmere dress and shoes from a Miu Miu sale, £120 and £30 respectively, belt from Miss Selfridge.
Her Style: ‘I tend to go for classic pieces and then update my look with fashion-forward accessories.’
Read more about these magazine fashionistas here.
Whilst I do agree that they all look very stylish, I do think they look very similar to each other. In this case, the formula is a pretty dress with defined waists and long pendant necklaces!
Natalie Brewster’s 2nd hand plaid dress looks almost like your mouret dress.