Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Kate Phelan describes her work as "in a sense a shopping job". As senior fashion editor at Vogue, Phelan's shopping habits can be quite mixed up. "You see clothes so far in advance - a season ahead of everybody else - that you almost want to be buying clothes that aren't really in the shops yet." Consequently, Phelan has reached the point where she's "almost stopped following fashion in a fashionable sense", preferring to shop consistently for a look that works for her.
Phelan does own the obligatory Manolo Blahnik shoes (of course) and, for something special, she also "loves a bit of Alberta Ferretti (tel: 0171-734 1234) if I'm going to splash out". Mostly, though, she prefers herself in trousers, white t-shirts, and V-neck sweaters. For this look she buys labels like Helmut Lang Jeans (tel: 0171-734 1234) "because it's great value for money", APC (tel: 0171-229 4933) "brilliant because you can wear it at work and at the weekend", Miu Miu (tel: 0171-409 0900) and Dosa (tel: 0171-727 6760).
Reassuringly, Phelan has faith in high-street shopping. "If you look hard enough you can find great clothes everywhere." She loves a "good old rummage" in Top Shop (Oxford Circus, London W1; tel: 0171-291 2706) and "French Connection (tel: 0171-399 7200] have some fantastic things."
Since marrying and starting a family, the fashion editor has been spending more time at home. One of her favourite home stores is Decorative Living (55 New King's Road, London SW6, tel: 0171-736 5623), because it has "the most fantastic mix of things - bizarre little paintings, chandelier wall lights and tables made out of the big wooden spools cables go on!" For everyday crockery, Phelan shops at Debenham's (tel: 0171-408 4444). "They've got brilliant white china which is a complete rip-off of Conran stuff but slightly scaled down so you don't chip it in the dishwasher!"
Although she rates shops like The Cross (141 Portland Road, London, W11, tel: 0171-727 6760) and After Noah (261 King's Road, London SW3; tel: 0171-351 2610) for "quirky presents for guys", many gifts are bought in spare moments while on fashion shoots abroad. "I've just been on a work trip to Bali and I found the most beautiful silk slippers for my daughter and a little dress that I know won't fit her until she's about six!"
Clearly, Phelan enjoys shopping for her one-year-old daughter. "The idea of buying clothes for a child is somehow more exciting than buying clothes for myself," she explains. "There's no point in buying her expensive cashmere sweaters - kids just want to roll around and get messy." Consequently, Phelan buys her daughter practical clothes at John Lewis (tel: 0171-629 7711) and Baby Gap (Freefone: 0800 427 789). Naturally, the Vogue editor is au fait with mail-order children's wear, too. "I love Mini Boden (tel: 0181-453 1535) and the Little Badger brochure (mail-order tel: 0171-498 4707)." And American children's wear catalogue Pippers (tel: 001 516 286 1310) sells "beautiful stuff - the epitome of American living". Closer to home, Phelan buys "gorgeous pyjamas and fantastic storybooks" from Cheeky Monkeys (24 Abbeville Road, London SW4; tel: 0181-673 5215).
Recently, Phelan has "become really obsessed with looking through the back of magazines at the classified ads. You find the most amazing things in them! I've just ordered a pair of beautiful-looking blanket-stitched Norwegian slippers for my daughter, and I'm dying to know exactly what they're going to be like. I love shopping like that - I love the surprise of not knowing what you are going to get."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments