Alice Temperley In 24 Hours
A day in the life of the Temperley London founder and creative director. By Amy Yasmine.
7AM Mornings always begin early no matter what time I end the day. I love spending this precious time with my son, Fox, who is seven years old. We have a cooked breakfast: eggs and tomatoes for me; and soldiers, marmite, and a boiled egg for him, usually accompanied with a glass of fresh apple juice from my parents’s cider farm. It is important that all our ingredients are from the best sources. Getting ready every morning is quite simple. Every woman needs to feel comfortable during the day. This is key for me, especially at work. I always have baths twice a day and keep my hair simple and tied back. My make-up routine is quite straightforward and simple, but I do like to have a bright red lip. I love wearing a Temperley London three-piece suit; they are elegant with an edge and perfect for the office. Alternatively, I love an effortless jumpsuit and I always wear flats. 8AM After getting dressed and having breakfast, I walk Fox to school, down Portobello Road past our first boutique in Notting Hill—a beautiful mews property with a painted Union Jack façade. If we are early for school, which is not often, I treat him to a milkshake, and if the market is on, we browse the stalls for fun trinkets. 8.30AM Once I drop Fox off, I walk up to the Golborne Deli to meet a friend for breakfast or have a scheduled interview. Once that is done, I take a stroll to our head office; it is all very close to where I live. The first thing I do as soon as I get to the office is to speak to my team, run through my daily schedule, and then start with my meetings. Inevitably, a lot of my time is spent with the design team brainstorming. We are always working on three collections at a time as they crossover, as well as multiple projects, so it is always a hive of activity. I am always in search of inspirations and ideas to develop the new collection. I love my team and know them very well; we have been working together for years and I really trust them. 12.45PM I love heading to Scott’s for lunch, especially in between appointments in Mayfair. It’s very close to my store, and it is the perfect place for a little break. If I want to treat myself, I would usually have the sumptuous fruits de mer with a refreshing glass of rosé. 2PM If it’s a Friday, I jump into my car and drive with my son to Cricket Court, my country house in Somerset, to spend
the weekend. My parents’s farm is not too far away and I love spending time in the country. It’s where I grew up, where I can reconnect with my bohemian spirit, and the best place for me to unwind and relax. 3.40PM When I’m not in the countryside, I love strolling around Bruton Street in the evenings, occasionally visiting my flagship, the second store we opened in London. It’s great to meet with the store managers to be aware of our customers’s feedback —obviously a very powerful tool when establishing the direction of new collections. 6PM I love to spend the evening with my son, but sometimes, I will go out to a party, a movie premiere, or an exhibition. London is such a vibrant place and I love taking my son out and about with me so he can see and try lots of new things. I recently took him to see the Le Corsaire ballet with the amazing Tamara Rojo as Medora. It was spectacular and filled with colourful costumes and theatrical scenery. I must admit, a piece of scenery inspired me for the backdrop of our Autumn/Winter ’16 fashion show where I had the models walking around a proper pirate galleon! 7.20PM My boyfriend, photographer Greg Williams, is a great cook so we entertain a lot at home. I like to cook breakfasts, roasts, as well as rice and vegetables, which is my favourite meal. If I want to go out for dinner, I head to The Cow London for fish stew or Nobu for sushi. 9PM Some days, I get ready and meet my boyfriend, and we go partying in London. It’s a great way to spend time with my friends and muses—Laura Bailey, Jacquetta Wheeler, Charlotte Tilbury, Arizona Muse, Olga Kurylenko ... they are a lot of fun and an endless source of inspiration. 12AM I love listening to my favourite music, especially before going to bed. Currently on my playlist: Jimi Hendrix and Florence Welch. When I have time to pamper myself, I draw a hot scented bath in my disco ball bathroom with my favourite Sisley products. 12.30AM I do not normally have time for TV ... but I watched The Night Manager recently, and it was brilliant. Sometimes, I catch up with movies as I try to keep up to date. Phones are banned from our bedroom, which I’ve found to be a great rule to have. There is no Instagramming in bed—this is to encourage reading and chilling. But before I shut the lights, I always end the day with a hot cup of herbal tea. Nothing completes my routine quite like it.
“Phones are banned from our bedroom; there is no Instagramming in bed.” – Alice Temperley