Loungewear goes luxe in Donna Ida’s new collection
There is an obvious irony behind Donna Ida’s new loungewear collection, because Donna is not a lady who loafs. We see silk PJs and think of spending long Sunday mornings in them, while she is up and out of the house before dawn on most days. But then she is the one running a denim empire and successfully taking over our wardrobes (her shops are still the best place to go for honest fitting advice for your next pair of jeans). Front Row managed to grab five seconds of her time…
YOUR DREAM SUNDAY? Two pots of coffee with the dogs, then I start planning the week ahead. I am not someone who stops for long – I feel as though I should fancy a movie or lazy lunch but I never do. I prefer to spend the time clearing through work and emails. I like doing things with my weekend, not just hanging about.
YOUR MORNING ROUTINE? I’m up at 5am to beat the traffic! If I’m staying at home I’m still an early riser – I like to achieve a lot before 9am, before everyone else gets going. It’s the most efficient way to start the day.
LAST THING YOU DO AT NIGHT? I watch an episode of Frasier in bed. In the morning, the first thing I do is check my phone like any other self-respecting workaholic entrepreneur.
PLACE YOU’D MOST LIKE TO WAKE UP IN? As long as my husband, who I call Bobby Dazzler, is next to me I am pretty easy. A beach in the Caribbean is always a dream but I think it is a case of the grass being greener, and given what I’ve just said I’m not sure I’d love the doing nothing!
BREAKFAST OF CHOICE? Mushroom omelette with black coffee and an apple.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS TO GET READY? Jeans and a light cashmere jumper from Donna Ida, of course. The other thing I have been wearing a lot of is dungarees – they make you look quite pulled together even when you probably just have yesterday’s top on underneath.
We Love: the new smalls from the designer behind Agent Provocateur. Bra, £45, Les Girls Les Boys,lesgirlslesboys.com
Christmas at Liberty London
Is it too early to talk Christmas? Because, after its vast refurbishment, Liberty London has surpassed even its own standards as the ultimate one-stop shop for presents. This month has seen the launch of a small food hall stocking only independent British brands, a revamped menswear department to cater for your man-about-town, an interiors heaven selling several new designers, and all-new womenswear floors offering superbrands (Valentino, Loewe, etc, due to open on 14 October) as well as a near perfect edit of more off–the-radar labels such as The Vampire’s Wife and Petar Petrov. Who’s for a lock-in?
Jacket, £1,030, Petar Petrov, and skirt, £730, The Vampire’s Wife, libertylondon.com
Paris Fashion Week beckons and London editors will be checking in to the new Hoxton Hotel Paris. Rooms from around £110 a night; thehoxton.com