The STYLIST...
LEAH ABBOTT, 25, IS A STYLIST FOR MUSICIANS SUCH AS JORJA SMITH
When I first moved to London from Bristol, I was 18 and took a job as a sales assistant in a vintage shop on Brick Lane. Working there made my style louder and taught me to embrace contrast and clashing prints. Every morning, the team (with varying tastes, from 196Os pin-up to full tracksuits) would go through the clothes delivery and play dressup. For a while, my uniform was bright jumpsuits. Funnily enough, it was while I was wearing one that Jorja Smith (who was recording her first EP at the time) approached me about helping with her style.
I still mix vintage with new, and expensive with cheap. For my last birthday, I bought myself a new-season Prada bag, which is definitely the most expensive item I own, but I get an equal number of compliments on my newspaper print ASOS bag.
I prefer to dress slightly scarily rather than conventionally ‘sexy’. True sexiness comes from personal swagger. If I’m unsure about an outfit, I go brighter, which is why I live in my bright green Saks Potts coat. People tend to hide behind black, especially if they’re self-conscious about their body, but I think a loud coat or jumper works better. My love of clothes comes from being a curvy woman – the more you learn how to dress your body and find flattering styles, the better you feel. It’s a self-love thing. I’m not a loud person, so my outfits enhance my presence.
If someone raided my wardrobe, they’d be surprised by how many sunglasses I have – more than 4O pairs, most of which are oversized and clear, so I can wear them at night and inside. I have Versace shield shades in red, green, blue and black – and I would get another colour if they released one. They’re the same ones that Aaliyah used to wear and I’m heavily influenced by music videos.
I watched MTV for hours and hours when I was a child, and I remember thinking what a special moment Beyoncé’s neon orange and fuchsia pink dress was in the Crazy In Love video. I wasn’t used to seeing such black confidence on mainstream music TV channels, but equally, I was mesmerised by the sense of contrast; the dress that didn’t conventionally ‘match’. It’s had a lasting influence on my own style.