DRESSED TO KILL

JO WHILEY I love my Chloe dress so much I want to be buried in it!

BBC Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley, 51, lives with her husband, music executive Steve Morton, in Northamptonshire. They have four children, India, 24, Jude, 18, Cassius, 15, and Coco, eight. She reveals her style secrets to ROSANNA GREENSTREET.

Frocks or trousers?

I DON’T wear dresses from day to day. My default is cropped jeans with an assortment of tops. I keep my eye out for styles that are a bit different but, most importantly, that are soft and hang well. I like Zoe Karssen and American Vintage.

But when I wear dresses, I love vibrant colours. I tell my stylist, Ellie Lines, that I hate green and orange. My default is electric blue as it works with blonde hair, but she’ll come up with something in green or orange and I’ll love it. So I am open to anything.

Body loves – and hates?

WHEN you get to a certain age you come to terms with your body. I’ve become more confident and that shows in photographs.

People say nice things about my legs, but I’ve never had a great tummy — even though I run regularly there’s a little layer. I haven’t got one of those tiny waists, so that’s why I tend to wear baggy things.

I felt my best when I was 42. I got super fit because I was training for a Comic Relief challenge and I was running outside so I got a tan.

Fashion faux pas?

I ONCE wore a radical green dress to the NME Awards. As I was about to leave the house, my husband said: ‘What are you wearing?’ I said: ‘It’s fine, it’s the NME Awards, I’m supposed to be a bit out there.’

Sure enough, the next day, I was in all those ‘What were you thinking?’ columns. It was probably 20 years ago, but the picture haunts me: it’s probably why I think I don’t like green.

The dress was quite baggy, but hitched up in places and had folds and pleats that, if you were Alexa Chung, you could probably carry off, but I couldn’t. I should have stuck to my jeans.

High street or designer?

DESIGNER: I would rather save up for something I absolutely love and feel great in. The older I get the more difficult I find buying clothes in High Street shops.

I will go to Topshop, Jigsaw or Whistles and sometimes I’ll find great pieces, but I mix and match them with designer pieces.

I like Sea New York and Isabel Marant Etoile and the cheaper Chloe range, See By Chloe.

Heels or flats?

PEOPLE say, ‘Oh, I thought you were taller’ when they meet me. I’ve got swimmer’s shoulders, so they think of me as an Amazonian, but I am only 5 ft 6 in.

I love flats — trainers, boots and festival wellies. As Glastonbury looms, I’m keen to see what Hunter is bringing out. I’ve got a good trainer collection: I like Vans, Converse, Nike and Adidas.

I would rather be dressy up top and have casual shoes, as I’m always running for something.

Style icon?

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS is so chic and sophisticated — I would love to look like that, but it’s so not me.

I love the way Claudia Winkleman and Zoe Ball dress: I think a lot of my friends are getting it right at the moment.

Wardrobe treasure?

A CHLOE dress that cost a fortune. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world. I would like to be buried in it.

I bought it to present an award to the band Keane at the Brits in 2005. It’s faded azure silk and a halter neck, so quite daring.

Hoarder or minimalist?

I AM a hoarder when it comes to quality, but otherwise I’ll wear things until I’m bored and pass them to friends.

My husband got the book on how to reduce your wardrobe [The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying by Marie Kondo]. He made me touch each bit of my clothing and say if I loved it.

It was fantastic: we reduced my wardrobe by half. Now, when I look, I know that I want to wear everything, which makes life a lot less complicated.

Lazy bones or gym bunny?

I AM running at the moment as I’ve a half-marathon looming; running is the best way to keep in shape. I go to the gym, and swimming is still my favourite thing. I exercise about three or four times a week. The children are all growing up and need less driving around, so I’ve got more time.

Feast or famine?

TO BE honest, I eat lots of takeaways. As I am always on the move — going to a show or running to an interview — I tend to grab things from sandwich shops. I enjoy my food, I am just not very good at cooking it.

My daughter India is the cook. She’s a food stylist and I daren’t go in the kitchen as she’s so fierce — she’s like Gordon Ramsay! I leave it up to her.

Guilty pleasures?

VODKA and Kettle crisps on a Friday night, but I find the older you get the less you can drink!

Nip and tuck?

I DON’T dare. My family would give me hell: if I say I’m going to try something, they say ‘Nooo!’ and get angry. My husband and children say they like me the way I am. I’ve always had crinkly eyes. I think, ‘I really wish they weren’t like that’ but it’s the way I am, I smile a lot.

Ever since I was a child I’ve wanted to change my nose. It has a bump, but it seems it’s a bump no one else can see, so I’m at peace with it now.

What’s in your handbag?

PENS: a thick rollerball. I don’t trust myself to carry my Montblanc as I lose things easily.

A phone charger, too, and my iPad, which I love more than anything. Notes — there’s always someone I need to research for an interview. I don’t do designer bags; I like practicality, so I’ve got a black Sandqvist backpack for everyday use.

Signature scent?

I HAVE found the ultimate perfume by Le Labo. I get people stopping me in the street. I’ve had tweets saying: ‘In a cafe you were near me, tell me what your perfume is.’ My stylist had a sample, I wore it and the love affair began. I had to hunt it down as Le Labo has a different scent for different cities. Mine is Another 31, which you can only get in Paris. I have to send off for it, which sounds pretentious, but it’s the one thing I go the extra mile for. If I am cloaked in it, I feel able to face the world.