Laura Fawcett is an award-winning personal stylist in Leeds and York, having previously worked in management roles at brands including Jigsaw and French Connection. She helps people fall back in love with their wardrobes and feel their very best self in every outfit.
How did you get into fashion?
I’ve always loved clothes, even as a child. I was particular about what I wore, from colours to fabrics, and I’ve always been sensitive to texture ‒ nothing itchy ever made it into my wardrobe. I was drawn to soft fabrics and loved the way clothing could make you feel comfortable and confident at the same time. Fashion was also something I grew up around. My mum has always loved clothes and style, and I remember watching The Clothes Show with her, which sparked my early fascination with fashion and personal style.
Describe your look
My style is eclectic, creative and relaxed. As a busy working mum, it’s important to dress for your lifestyle, so comfort and ease are a huge part of how I dress day to day, but I also need my clothes to reflect my personality and creativity. I’m naturally drawn to bold pattern, colour, print and metallics, and I love adding a playful edge to my outfits. I don’t believe style has to feel overly polished or trend-led to feel impactful. For me, the most interesting style always has a sense of individuality behind it. I also love mixing old and new. Half of my wardrobe is pre-loved.
Favourite brand or designer?
I’m really drawn to brands that embrace colour, creativity and individuality. My aspirational favourites are probably Stine Goya and Essentiel Antwerp. I love their use of bold colour, playful silhouettes and unexpected combinations. They feel artistic and expressive, which is something I’m always drawn to personally. They’re a little outside my usual price point, so I’m always searching for them second-hand or vintage, which makes finding a piece even more exciting. I love the thrill of discovering something special pre-loved. On the high street, Anthropologie and Oliver Bonas are my go-to brands. They’re always great for bold print, colour and pieces that feel fun and full of personality. Fashion should feel joyful and those brands capture that for me.
Who is your style icon?
I don’t have one particular style icon but I love ’80s fashion as it was so bold and fun, so I like looking back and getting inspiration. I have also always been a huge fan of Keith Richard’s iconic outfits from the ’70s ‒ I love his use of mixing textures, accessorising and patterns.
Favourite fashion items?
Printed trousers always make me feel like myself and there are so many styles out there these days, from animal print to stripes and gingham that I always love. As I wear so much colour and print, an off-white boxy T-shirt is always my neutral to ground my outfits and, if in doubt, add a pop of red for impact.
What do you wear to impress?
I always feel like my best version of myself in gold metallics, leopard print and a red lip for impact.
What do you wear to relax?
As soon as I walk in the door I’m the kind of person to get straight into PJs and during lockdown I realised how important it is to have some that complement your skin tone, so my advice is to invest in some really fun pyjamas in your best colours to help you to feel your best even when you’re chilling at home.
Worst fashion faux pas?
Thinking that I looked my best in dark tones. But I do look back at photos of when I was younger and feel glad that I was never one to follow a trend and that I’d usually have put my own spin on a look for a reason that was relevant at the time.
Favourite fashion trend of all time?
The Boho era ‒ harem pants, headscarves and bangles. I’m so enjoying seeing all of these pieces back in the stores, I just wish I’d kept all of my bangles from the first time around.
Best style advice?
Dress for your lifestyle and rotate your clothing seasonally so you are only looking at the clothing relevant to the season and store away the pieces that you won’t be wearing. This helps to reduce the overwhelm that so many people face when deciding what to wear each day. Also reviewing your clothing every six months forces you to really zone in on what has been working versus what hasn’t so you can let go of what is no longer serving you and identify what is missing to freshen up your look and create a shopping list of what you need. Make wish lists before impulse-buying anything that isn’t on your list and sit on them for two weeks, as so often the pieces that you think you need you actually don’t when you reflect on it. More often than not impulse purchases that are often left unworn are led by emotion or panic buying for an event.
Most stylish celebrities?
Fearne Cotton, Jo Whiley and Angela Scanlon are always an inspiration.
The look you wish would come back?
Not a trend exactly, because many of my favourites already have come back ‒ balloon trousers, vintage silhouettes and fashion borrowing from decades past.
Which item has had its day and should be confined to the back of the wardrobe?
Mid-length, usually grey, drapey waterfall cardigans. I’m still finding them lurking at the back of wardrobes. Swap them out for an oversized shirt or a modern layer instead.
What’s next?
After years of beige overload and minimal style, music to my ears is that colour is making a comeback. Look out for purple, chartreuse/acid green, butter yellow, earthy saturated greens and colour-drenching outfits.
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