Amanda Wakeley: StyleDNA

In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the vintage curator, brand consultant and founder of ATELIER MAYER, the wonderfully elegant and eclectic Carmen Haid.

Carmen has spent her career in the world of luxury fashion, beginning at Yves Saint Laurent before following her instinctive love of vintage — long before it became the movement it is today.

She tells me she doesn’t follow trends… and yet somehow always anticipates them. Drawn to pieces with history, craftsmanship and soul, her approach to fashion is entirely intuitive. Her stories of sourcing are extraordinary… from discovering a Paul Poiret coat in a crumbling house to uncovering couture treasures across the world. These are not just clothes, but pieces of history.

This is a conversation about sustainability, individuality and the magic of clothes that have lived a life before us.

Thank you for such a wonderful conversation @carmenhaid xx

In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the British fashion designer and Creative Director of Max Mara, the thoughtful and incredibly humble Ian Griffiths.

Ian has spent more than three decades shaping the aesthetic of one of Italy’s most iconic fashion houses. Although proudly British, he has lived in Italy for many years and jokes that he has become an “Italian version of an Englishman” … embracing Savile Row elegance with a touch of Italian flair.

We talk about his unexpected route into fashion, the influence of literature and philosophy on his work, and why the coat has become one of the most powerful garments in a woman’s wardrobe. Ian believes great clothes should empower the woman wearing them rather than overpower her … pieces that enhance a woman’s life rather than compete with it…

This is a conversation about culture, creativity and the quiet power of timeless style.

Thank you Ian, for such a thoughtful conversation… I loved it x

In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the impressive founder and CEO of the fashion rental platform By Rotation, the brilliant Eshita Kabra-Davies.

Eshita didn’t begin her career in fashion at all. She was working in investment management when the idea for By Rotation first came to her while planning her honeymoon — wishing she could access a beautifully curated wardrobe for each destination without having to buy everything.

Today By Rotation has become one of the most exciting businesses in circular fashion, allowing women to share pieces from their wardrobes while encouraging a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to fashion.

Eshita also speaks candidly about her early career in finance — including being criticised by another woman at work for expressing herself through fashion and being told she should “let her work do the talking”. A moment that ultimately reinforced her belief that style is an extension of identity.

This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, sustainability, confidence and dressing with joy.

In this week’s episode of Style DNA, I go on a style journey with the brilliantly talented artist and illustrator Clym Evernden @clymdraws, whose hypnotic “unfolding” drawings have captivated millions.

I first met Clym when I commissioned him to sketch portraits at my Albemarle Street store opening in Mayfair. Fast forward to today, and he has built a global following, working with some of the world’s leading luxury brands.

He describes his work as offering a small moment of calm in a frenetic digital world, and it truly does. One of his recent festive films reached an extraordinary 42 million views… with a cumulative watch time of 22 years.

From Central Saint Martins to discovering his signature ink brush line, this is a conversation about creativity, individuality, sustainability, and the quiet confidence of dressing for oneself.

In this week’s episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the impressive founder and CEO of the ultra high-end resale platform Sellier, the brilliant Hanushka Toni.

Hanushka didn’t set out to build one of the most talked-about luxury resale businesses in Europe. The story actually begins with her mother, Dina, who opened a tiny consignment boutique in Knightsbridge simply for the love of beautiful designer pieces. When Covid hit and the doors closed, Hanushka stepped in with nothing more than her iPhone… and started live-selling from the shop floor.

Sellier now operates at the very top end of the resale market, with an average order value of around £3,500 per item — extraordinary by any e-commerce standard. We talk about the psychology of luxury handbags, the mystique of Hermès, the waiting lists, and why often a pre-loved Birkin can command more than its retail price…

Hanushka admits to owning over 600 bags (yes, you read that right), including more than 150 by Hermès. She describes herself as a mood dresser — starting with colour and energy before selecting the perfect companion from her enormous collection…

Hanushka has a wonderfully entrepreneurial side to her …she tells me about the inspiration for her newly launched “female intimate moisture melt”… genuinely clever!

There is something incredibly honest about Hanushka. She speaks candidly about post-baby body confidence, about being prejudged in business, about dressing to project power — and about the moment, only a few years ago, when she truly discovered her own Style DNA. She certainly has a passion for fashion and the circularity of it.

This is a conversation about ambition, image, luxury, reinvention… and the emotional power of a handbag.