Dame Prue Leith admitted recently that her husband John had become “absolutely addicted” to shopping online for her, filling her off-screen wardrobe with the fruits of his online shopping addiction. “He is really good at it. It’s mostly shirts and tops and things,” she told the Style DNA podcast. It’s a surprising admission from a woman renowned for her unique and colourful style. So would this be a new recipe for everyone’s marital bliss – or a straight path to division and disaster?
We asked three couples to take up the challenge. First, we asked the women to pick an outfit which sums up their style. Then we then tasked the husbands with choosing a new outfit for their beloved wife.
Rosanna and George
Rosanna Falconer, Creative Consultant & Textile Designer
There is one favourite outfit forever imprinted on my husband’s mind – and it’s not my bespoke wedding dress (now in the V&A archive). It’s the hot pants and gold boots I wore for a J-Lo costume to someone’s fancy dress party.
He certainly has strong opinions on fashion. We met 15 years ago when our working paths crossed at London Fashion Week. This means George has seen my style metamorphose from the platform heels and digital prints of those days to the Mary Janes and block prints of today.
The hemlines might have changed (much to George’s chagrin) but my style has not – I dress to lift my spirits. The outfit I chose exemplifies that. A hero piece will always be my starting point, in this case a skirt by JJ Martin – creative director of La Double J – who is my spiritual leader not just for style but for her exuberant approach to life. Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) is also forever on my Pinterest board. She inspired the white linen shirt tucked into the full skirt.
It was fascinating to witness George shopping online for me. Memorable comments included “She looks like a tablecloth”; “Is she running a convent?”, and, “Are those shoes for a Roman centurion?” Much to my shock, he was referring to looks I had bookmarked as summer favourites. Whereas my eye focuses on the design when scrolling, George was struck with the styling and the models’ unsmiling expressions. Eight websites proved fruitless... We resorted to Google: “What do men like women to wear?” Backless tops and mini skirts, apparently. Consensus amongst girlfriends was that I should hone in on the brand Self Portrait, as well as the staples of feminine French brands – Maje, Sandro and Sézane. Success! His choices were mostly tight, lacy and in soft colours. I will wear the Self Portrait dress lots; it’s hugely flattering.
Whether it’s a partner, sibling or friend, the process shows it’s important to let others give their take on your style. We can all rest on the laurels of shapes we have worn for years – this is my reset.
George Ryan, COO & strategic consultant
Rosanna’s style is an extension of her personality. It is intrinsic to her mood, mindset and work. I know it’s going to be a good day when she comes downstairs in a favourite printed skirt. I like her optimistic approach, especially with colour, and that her clothes are not ostentatious with designer labels emblazoned across them. She wears evening gowns well; I like clothes that turn up to an event, not those that melt into the background like a wallflower.
Overall though, her choices are geared towards other women, not men. The baggy trousers, granny cardigans and poofy styles are pieces I’d prefer stayed at the back of the wardrobe.
She sometimes asks for my opinion but then reverts to a friend instead when I can’t quite gauge the nuance of cut or colour.
For this occasion, I was seeking out well-cut, fitted outfits. Nothing oversized or flowy. The androgynous styling online – particularly of British high street brands – is off-putting for me. It doesn’t feel joyful. As for colour, I was drawn to pinks, yellows and whites. They remind me of summer holidays away from the rain of London. I love the final look: it frames her silhouette so well and it has just the right amount of femininity. The lace was intriguing – at one point I couldn’t see where the slip underneath ended! The heels work well too. We are the same height so Rosanna can be reluctant to wear heels with me but I’m always happy to channel Rod Stewart.
Long-term, I won’t be taking on more styling duties like Prue Leith’s husband – I’ll leave that to Rosanna. Dressing is linked to your identity and I would hate to inhibit that. It’s also an integral part of her work. After all, I play football but Rosanna doesn’t give her opinion on my footwork…
Rosanna’s choice: Linen shirt, Rosanna’s own; Raffia skirt, £1,150, La Double J; Velvet shoes, £118, Flabelus; Gold plated necklace, £223, Amrika x Misho
George’s choice: Lace dress, £420, Self Portrait; Leather shoes, £260, Camilla Elphick
Maggie and Pop
Maggie Alderson, journalist and novelist
When I saw the clothes my husband had chosen for me, I wondered if he’d ever met me.
I’m 5ft2in with short skinny legs and it was mainly enormously wide black trousers that were about two feet too long for me and big boxy black shirts, with short sleeves. Absolutely hideous.
I was really surprised – and disappointed – because Pop is very stylish himself. I love how he dresses. It’s what made me first notice him across a crowded art gallery in Sydney, 30 years ago.
He puts things together really unexpectedly and he’s a master of the French tuck and rolling one linen trouser leg just a little higher than the other.
I often ask him for his opinion on a look before we go out, or if I have an event to go to – partly because I know he will be brutally honest, but mainly because I like and respect his taste.
I could see that he was disappointed too when he saw the clothes in real life and I think the problem was that he’s never looked at an online fashion site before. Not once. He buys all his clothes in shops, very decisively. But I was surprised how good I felt in the ME+EM dress.
I love their clothes and the only reason I don’t shop there is that they seem to do designs only for very tall women. The dress was very long on me – and a bit tight – but I actually felt really good in it. I never wear fitted clothes and it made a nice change.
So, I would be happy to do this again, but choosing things in shops, so we could see the fabrics and proportions.
I would never have tried that dress on, so I’d be interested to see what else he might pick that was outside my usual comfort zone, but I might find I like.
Pop Popovic, former professional footballer and owner of a sport coaching company
In 30 years of marriage I’ve never had much of a say in anything, so I was excited to be allowed to do this.
Most of the time I like what Maggie wears, especially when she goes up to London for a work thing and she looks elegant and stylish, with different pieces nicely put together – and she looks comfortable in them. Not like a trussed chicken.
European women wear very smart things, but they don’t look relaxed, they look stiff. I love middle-class English women, so I like her to look like that. I don’t mind pashminas and Ugg boots in summer.
I do understand when we are down in Hastings she wants to be more casual, but I don’t like it when she wears army trousers and Doc Martens, but it’s cool when we go to a party and she gets her rock chick look on, with cowboy boots and leopard print.
I’ve never shopped on a website in my life, so our daughter had to show me how to do it – although she wasn’t allowed to influence my choices.
I found it very hard. All the clothes looked beautiful on the tall women in the pictures and I found it hard to imagine looks together from different pieces from all the different sites.
I was very disappointed when I saw some of the clothes in real life. They didn’t look the same at all, but I was really happy with the ME+EM dress. I thought it made Maggie look slim and elegant and I really loved the details on it, the raw edges. It’s high quality, which is what I like.
I would like to do this again – but choosing the clothes in shops, which is the way I buy my clothes. Then I can feel the fabrics and see how things go together. We’re still married, that’s the main thing.
Maggie’s choice: All her own
Pop’s choice: Cotton dress, £350, Me + Em; Trainers, £139, Jigsaw
Jade and Seb
Jade Conroy, editor
On a Venn diagram of mine and Seb’s style, there are things we overlap on. We have a couple of pairs of the same trainers and we share a few T-shirts. He’s got a really nice chain that I would like to pinch. But after that, we diverge. On his side: Goretex, outdoor gear, earthy colours and a lot of expensive shirts from the same select brands. On my side? Tiny, impractical handbags; pink, silk, frills, and a lot of shoes I don’t have the chance to wear very much. I shop high street, designer and second-hand. He likes my style, though doesn’t really offer opinions because I tend to ignore them.
I like to juxtapose items together — a sporty top with a girly or preppy skirt (like the look I selected for myself), or casual looks with a dainty shoe. I know what I like and tend to stick to formulas: a lot of skirts and kilts with white tees or shirts and A-line dresses which can all be dressed up or down with accessories.
Because I know exactly what I like — and dislike — I don’t think Seb has ever bought me anything sartorial that hasn’t come from a birthday or Christmas list. I even designed my own engagement ring! So it was with a tiny bit of trepidation I signed up to this.
The result? Seb chose well. He’s dressed me exactly as he would dress himself as a woman, though I can see there are a couple of touches for me specifically (the pink silk bag, the 90s-style strappy heels). I would wear this denim dress as it’s so versatile and the silhouette is great. I wasn’t so sure about the jacket – but I like the boxy proportions. Top marks for the jewellery — I love a double hoop (and I wear both these brands). The necklace is overkill, but I know he likes that mob wife aesthetic.
The pièce de résistance was the hot pink, ruched silk bag. It’s exactly the sort of cutesy accessory I’d go for. And fittingly, it’s by the same designer as the pink skirt I’m wearing in the outfit I chose for myself. Maybe he doesn’t need a list for my next birthday…
Seb, neurosurgeon
I think Jade has a great sense for fashion, and spends a lot of time thinking about her outfits, often the night before in bed, while I’m trying to sleep. She’s long been partial to kilts and she’s often rummaging around in charity shops to add to her collection. Lately she’s been getting more into the retro/vintage sports vibe, which I like.
It has never crossed my mind to suggest an outfit for Jade – it’s such a big part of her personality and she knows what she wants and looks good in. I’m often asked to offer an opinion, which is usually a nod of agreement; I’m not that up on the latest fashion references so even if I think something might not look amazing, I’m usually wrong.
I basically approached this task by thinking, “If I were a girl, what would I want to wear?” The jacket is definitely testament to that – I would 100 per cent wear it myself. I also love the dress. I specifically went for the Hai bag as I know it’s a brand she wears. The same goes for the jewellery: she has some nice Alighieri stuff and I’m pretty sure I bought her a Monica Vinader ring years ago.
Overall, I think Jade looked really good in the outfit I picked. This was a fun experiment but I’m not sure I have the skills to start choosing clothes for her – or the time!
Jade’ choice: All Jade’s own
Seb’s choice: Denim dress, £99, Aligne; Quilted needlecord jacket, £195, Toast; Silk bag, £128, Hai at Whistles; Leather shoes, £205, Bobbies; Gold plated earrings, £210, Alighieri; Gold vermeil earrings, £128, Monica Vinader; Gold plated necklace, £175, Missoma
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