Join Amanda Wakeley as she is joined by a different celebrity guest each week as she uncovers their very own Style DNA. Guests include Trinny Woodall, James Blunt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, David Furnish, Yasmin Le Bon, talk about their best and worst fashion moments as well as answering the question, 'What Do They Wear In Bed?'. New podcasts every Thursday.
To round off this season of Style DNA, I'm joined by the brilliantly funny, refreshingly honest and endlessly creative Tabitha Webb. Many of you will know Tabitha as the fashion designer behind her eponymous label and Project D. But this conversation goes far beyond fashion. We talk about the reality of building a business, the financial struggles that often sit behind the glamour, and why having the courage to start again can lead you somewhere even more fulfilling. We discuss imposter syndrome, confidence, ageing, personal style, and the unexpected phone call from Jilly Cooper that changed the course of Tabitha's writing career. Her Style DNA? Relaxed. Classic. Confident. It feels rather fitting that we end this season talking about reinvention. One of the greatest privileges of getting older is knowing that it's never too late to change direction, discover a new passion, or write an entirely new chapter. Thank you for joining me for another wonderful season of Style DNA. I can't wait to share what's next. Thank you @tabithawebb for being such an entertaining guest xx.
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the terrific Tanya Rose. From childhood memories of Gordonstoun and weekends spent at Sandringham with the Royal Family, to building one of the world's leading luxury travel businesses, Tanya shares the remarkable experiences that have shaped both her career and her personal style. We talk about timeless dressing, travelling with purpose, finding confidence through simplicity, and the sentimental pieces she never leaves home without. Her Style DNA? Simple, Elegant and Modern. This is a conversation about travel, style, confidence and some wonderfully unforgettable royal stories. Thank you Tanya for such a joyful conversation xx
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the wonderfully colourful fashion designer, Olivia Rubin. We talk about the moment she decided to stop shrinking herself after becoming a mother, why colour became her form of self-expression, and the inspiration behind her "Anti-Beige Club" movement, encouraging women to wear what makes them feel good, regardless of age or body shape. Olivia also shares her journey with postpartum anxiety, her passion for slow, sustainable fashion, and why she now designs entirely for women who refuse to disappear. Her Style DNA? Colourful, eclectic and whimsical. This is a conversation about confidence, creativity and embracing the joy of dressing for yourself. Thank you Olivia for such an uplifting conversation xx
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with one of the UK's most respected beauty editors and broadcasters, the brilliant Sarah Jossel. We talk about her debut book Diary of a Beauty Editor, why beauty has never been about vanity for her, and how turning 40 has brought a new sense of confidence and resilience. Sarah speaks openly about growing up feeling self-conscious, learning to care less about other people's opinions, and discovering that confidence comes from feeling comfortable in your own skin. She also admits she's still finding her Style DNA, sharing how a recent stylist helped her embrace tailoring, cleaner silhouettes and colour in a whole new way. This is a conversation about beauty, confidence, style and learning to dress for yourself, not everyone else. Thank you Sarah for such an honest and inspiring conversation.
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the broadcaster, journalist, author and passionate campaigner, the wonderful Mariella Frostrup. We talk about her tireless work to change the conversation around menopause, her latest books Cracking the Menopause and Menolicious, and why she believes women deserve better information and support. Stylistically, Mariella has embraced a wardrobe built around comfort, confidence and timeless tailoring. She also shares some brilliant stories — from turning up to a date with Iggy Pop in a green velvet unitard, to getting married on a landing craft off the coast of Panama wearing linen culottes and an Armani top. This is a conversation about confidence, individuality, ageing and finally learning to dress entirely for yourself. Thank you Mariella for such an honest and inspiring conversation.
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the British horse racing presenter, podcast host and quite possibly the chicest woman in any paddock, Francesca Cumani. From travelling the world covering horse racing’s biggest meetings to life at home in Yorkshire with three children, Francesca’s world is a fascinating blend of glamour and muddy wellies. We talk about her accidental journey into television, her love of horses, working with stylist Sarah Kate Byrne, and the impossibly chic Italian grandmother who shaped her approach to style and introduced her to the elegance of Giorgio Armani. This is a conversation about horses, heritage, timeless fashion and why buying less but better never goes out of style. Thank you Francesca for such a wonderful conversation x
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the founder and CEO of the Rodial beauty empire, entrepreneur, author and former Dragon’s Den investor, the fabulous Maria Hatzistefanis. Maria’s story begins on a tiny Greek island where, as a young girl, she spent her pocket money on fashion magazines, creating mood boards of the life she hoped to one day live. Decades later, she rediscovered them and realised she had become the woman she had imagined all those years ago. We talk about being fired from her banking job, launching Rodial 25 years ago, building a global beauty brand without outside investment, and the lessons behind her latest book How To Make Your First Million . Stylistically, Maria describes her Style DNA as restrained, elegant and sporty, favouring tailoring, monochrome dressing, beautiful overcoats and timeless pieces over trends. This is a conversation about ambition, resilience, personal style and building the life you once dreamed about. Thank you Maria for such an inspiring conversation x.
In this opening episode of Style DNA Season 11 I go on a style journey with my old friend the legendary Duran Duran frontman, the wonderfully charismatic Simon Le Bon. From their early days in Birmingham to global stadium tours, Simon has spent decades at the centre of music, fashion and pop culture. We talk about making his own punk clothes as a teenager, auditioning for Duran Duran in pearlescent pink Chelsea boots and leopard print drainpipes, the psychology of performing on stage, Savile Row tailoring, Japanese selvedge denim and why he once didn’t wash a pair of jeans for over ten years… This is a conversation about individuality, creativity and the enduring power of personal style. Thank you Simon for such a fascinating conversation x Duran Duran's new single Free To Love is out now. They headline London's BST Hyde Park on July 5th. Tickets for the full summer and autumn tours are at duranduran.com/tour .
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the model, television personality and entrepreneur the effortlessly chic Misse Beqiri. From building a career in modelling and television to stepping away from London to reset in Mallorca, she speaks openly about finding calm, clarity and strength in a new chapter. We talk about her return to Ladies of London , launching a marble interiors business with her sister, and the lessons she’s learnt along the way — including navigating public perception and personal challenges. Her style is rooted in comfort and confidence… strong, structured pieces balanced with an effortless Scandinavian ease. Thank you @missebequiri for being such an open and charming guest xx.
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the extraordinary, eccentric and wonderfully joyful British designer and creative Henry Holland. From creating slogan t-shirts that “went viral” before social media even existed, to building House of Holland and now reinventing himself through ceramics and interiors — Henry’s career has been anything but conventional. What began as four t-shirts worn on nights out quickly turned into a global brand. We talk about his entrepreneurial instinct, the realities of running a fashion business, and the moment House of Holland came to an end — something he describes, surprisingly, as a release. Stylistically, Henry is bold, playful and entirely led by mood… dressing as a form of storytelling. This is a conversation about creativity, reinvention and knowing when it’s time to evolve. Thank you @henryholland for such an honest and inspiring conversation xx
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.
This week on Style DNA I go on a style journey with the brilliant British British designer and creative director Clare Waight Keller — a woman whose career has quietly shaped modern fashion as we know it. From working with Calvin and then Ralph, to leading Chloé and Pringle to becoming the first female Artistic Director at Givenchy, where she reopened couture and designed the wedding gown for Meghan Markle - Clare’s career is nothing short of extraordinary. She now sits at the helm of women’s and menswear at Uniqlo, overseeing a $23 billion global business. We talk about being “given the keys” to Givenchy, immersing herself in Hubert de Givenchy’s archives, and the responsibility of reviving couture in a modern world. She shares what it felt like to meet him in Paris shortly before he passed away — a moment that clearly left its mark. Of course, we revisit the morning of the royal wedding — the precision, the pressure, the veil, the steps… no rehearsal, just instinct and absolute focus. But equally fascinating is Clare’s upbringing in Birmingham, learning to sew alongside her mother, sourcing fabrics from the local rag market, and how that early discipline shaped everything that followed. Her own Style DNA? “Tailored. Tonal. With a touch of femininity.” That tension between sharp structure and romantic softness feels very modern woman to me. We also discuss motherhood in a high-pressure industry, why there are still so few female creative directors, sustainability as longevity (not trend), and the power of a great coat — she owns over 60. Elegant, intelligent, generous and quietly measured — this is a conversation I absolutely loved. I hope you enjoy it.
In this episode of Style DNA I have a fascinating conversation with the International News Anchor and Lead World News Presenter for Sky News Yalda Hakim. Yalda is an Afghan-born Australian broadcast journalist, Lead World News presenter for Sky News, and documentary maker. She was one of the chief presenters at BBC News broadcasting in English in the UK and globally. Known for her on-the-ground reporting and in-depth interviews, she has covered major global events from conflict zones including Gaza, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Darfur, as well as key political moments shaping world affairs. Her work is marked by access to high-level decision makers, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a focus on bringing clarity and context to complex international stories. Born in Kabul and raised in Australia after leaving Afghanistan as a child refugee, Hakim has built a two-decade career in international journalism and documentary filmmaking. She is recognised for holding leaders to account while telling human stories behind global politics. Beyond broadcasting, she founded the Yalda Hakim Foundation, which supports education and mentorship opportunities for Afghan girls. Yalda offers so many insights about her style journey. She is very aware of the gravity of her ability to communicate the story accurately. I ask her about her thought process as to what she wears for specific interviews. She says she gravitates towards black as her power colour whereas many other journalists wear colour in the belief that they will stand out in the crowd. She tells me about learning to manage her emotions and getting in the zone before a massive broadcast which she generally does in her “safe space” the hair and makeup chair…once ready her ritual is to look in the mirror and tells herself “You have got this”… and watching her as much as I do on Sky News she absolutely does! I ask her who was the most intimidating person she has ever interviewed… the Dalai Lama who she says has so such a powerful presence…. What did she wear? A mustard velvet Dolce and Gabbana jacket which symbiotically toned with his His Holiness’s saffron robes. She says it was an instinctive decision…lovely. Her insights into the world of women in Afghanistan and the Taliban are fascinating… and truly sad particularly when told by an Afghan woman whose life is so different to what it could have been had her parents not taken the brave and bold decision to flee their homeland when they did. Yalda recalls that when Kabul fell, a heartbreaking moment, she reached out to a handful of powerful women to help get 1000 young women and girls evacuated. She singles out Tory Burch, who has a woman’s foundation, as someone who dug deep and engaged with the mission from start to end. Tory gifted Yalda a beautiful white jacket which is particularly precious as it reminds her of both the pain of the moment but also the power of the sisterhood to make a difference. We talk about her approach to sustainable fashion and she tells me that she did a piece on the Rana Plaza disaster and the precarious other sweat shops that she visited in the area. She has seen the impact of fast fashion up close …as she says “we need to think about why something might be only £6.00… why is it so cheap?”… clearly because the makers are not being paid a living wage. Unsurprisingly Yalda is fabulously eloquent and wonderfully open…Her words paint such powerful pictures of her extraordinary life … Thank you for allowing me to turn the tables and make you the interviewee Yalda…this conversation was a real privilege xx
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the English TV and Radio Presenter, Actress and Model the gorgeous, glamorous and very down to earth Kelly Brook. We talk about how as a child she wanted to be a ballet dancer but her body had different ideas and in her teens she became a glamour model…as she says “I had a child’s face and a porn star body”. That her body didn’t represent the young woman she was. It took a while for the body, the brain and the soul to connect. The late 90’s was a time dominated by waifish aesthetics and she stood out as a modern pin-up, reshaping mainstream ideas of beauty with a confident, fuller-busted silhouette. She is very open about how long it has taken her to accept her looks and her body… I ask her about her amazing confidence and what she put that down to …she admits to imposter syndrome especially in the presence of all of the brilliant journalists on Loose Women, which she appears on regularly. She admits to wanting to keep learning. She talks about curling her hair and getting out of the door…she never thinks that she is the finished article and she doesn’t mind that …nor should any of us IMHO. And then I ask her about her body confidence – she puts that down to her husband, Jeremy Parisi, who she says loves her body and her curves. She says she was an 8-10 dress size when she met him and is now 12-14 and how he has never even commented on that. She feels a responsibility to be confident and honest about how her body looks, insisting that the images from the recent shoot for her Kelly Brook for Next swimwear edit were not heavily retouched (because it is so easy to tweak pictures), but she wants to show who she is and what her body is and feels that this is an important part of how things get moved along. Bravo…brave, refreshing and inspiring. Over the years Kelly has been voted FHMs sexiest woman in the world, she has graced the cover of American Playboy and as the glamour model that she was ….the pin-up on millions of young men’s bedroom walls so I wanted to discuss the aging process with her. In her pragmatic and honest manner she says she is comfortable with the it in this age obsessed world …she says that she is all about quality over quantity, definitely feeling happier as she gets older…yes! Kelly currently hosts the London Drive Show on Heart Radio with Jason King which is now the No 1 Commercial Drive Time show in the country. I loved this positive, honest and quite frankly joyous conversation …thank you Kelly for being a wonderful opening guest for season 10 x
For the season finale of Style DNA I go on a style journey with the English model, television personality, author and serving Police Constable the glorious Penny Lancaster. Penny counts herself as incredibly lucky. She had a loving upbringing, her life with husband Rod Stewart has spanned continents, she’s made incredible friendships, become part of an amazing family and embraced motherhood. But it’s not all been plain-sailing. From being relentlessly bullied at school and underestimated because of undiagnosed dyslexia, Penny also experienced a harrowing sexual assault as a young girl. This has made her a staunch campaigner for women’s safety and, these days, she regularly puts in hours as a Special Constable for the City of London Police, where her primary concern is making the streets safe for women. She’s also navigated the challenges of having the weight of the world’s scrutiny thrust upon her in her twenties, undergone IVF treatment, supported her husband through a cancer diagnosis and overcome her own depression as she manoeuvred through menopause. Amongst a heady mix of royalty, rock legends and renegades, her story is one of resilience. Penny has recently published a book Someone Like Me, and in it she tells her full story for the first time, with a natural empathy and humour that she hopes will help others on their own life journey. She shares her wisdom from hard-earned lessons, including “the shame” of a sexual assault, showing that the key to navigating both storms and sunshine is staying true to you. Penny is delightfully open about her struggles with her weight over the years…from being “too skinny” as a child, to “not skinny enough” when she started modelling and the lengths she went to to be “model size”… all the way through to the side effects that several rounds of IVF, 2 pregnancies, lockdown eating and the menopause had on her body… she is still not fully comfortable in her own skin … Of course I ask her about her life with Rod from how she met him (in a nightclub), to being whisked off to the Bahamas when she was still a student studying photography only to find a wardrobe full of designer clothes on arrival that Rod had personally selected and bought for her (so thoughtful and romantic in my book), to their personal struggles with health (his cancer diagnosis) and their wonderful life as a blended family. When I ask her how Rod would describe her Style DNA in 3 words she immediately says Sexy Hot Legs… she is just that…and so much more, warm, self-deprecating and hugely grateful for the life that she lives. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Thank you @penny.lancaster for being such a great guest xx
In this episode of Style DNA I go on a style journey with Maddy Evans, the visionary who has presided over the transformation of M&S womenswear, she is the Director of M&S Woman, overseeing the womenswear and lingerie categories…no small job. I ask Maddy what has been her secret weapon? She tells me that she went through the revamping of Topshop with Jane Shepherdson and it was that experience that gave her the knowledge of how to create change. It was clear at the outset, there was a lot of reliance on history, and a perception of the customer that wasn’t actually true… that she was an older lady who wasn’t interested in style. When she arrived she did a product review with the whole team, some of whom had been at M&S for years, a wonderful and diverse team all wanting to feel stylish, modern and relevant. When she asked them if they would wear anything that they were reviewing no-one put their hand up…there lay the problem. She knew from the beginning that the 13 million M&S customers, yes extraordinary, trusted M&S for their quality and value but not from a style perspective. So they obviously wanted to protect the value and quality, but with style, so that was the vision. Then it was important to work out what style meant to their customer? It wasn’t leading the trends, but responding to them, and making their customer feel stylish and of the moment. We talk about how they wanted to work with people to help change the style perception, hence the Sienna Miller collaboration. As Maddy says Sienna is a woman who has matured in front of the cameras and has had an evolution of style and that resonated with the M&S business and customer. They wanted to work with a woman who understands her style…no better person really. On a personal note I ask Maddy when she first started to understand clothes…she talks about when you’re very young you want to conform, and she remembers going to school having been asked to take in wedding photos of their parents. She was looking round at everyones mums in white wedding dresses, and her mum was in a hand crocheted skull cap, a brown floral dress, suede Mary Janes and freshly picked flowers and her dad looked “nothing short of John Lennon”. It was her first realisation that there are different clothing tribes, and that clothes really did something for you… We talk about the importance of first impressions and how they really count. I ask her whether she ever gets snow blinded by being exposed to so much fashion… perhaps being overwhelmed by choice? She says she has really stuck to her style, especially as she’s got older, realising that trends don’t work for her…she doesn’t let fashion wear her… such a great lesson! Stylistically she says she is inspired by the designer Phoebe Philo, a woman who is totally confident and comfortable in her own skin. But also by Kim Bassinger in 91/2 weeks…just totally fabulous, and the uber stylist, the French woman Emanuelle Alt, who as she says, manages with a few product types to “make it look new every time”. She is clearly drawn to women who use a uniform of sorts…their uniform. I absolutely loved this conversation with Maddy, she is incredibly modest, considered and gracious. Thank you for being such a great guest x
