Get dressed with Caroline Issa

“I’d describe my style as classic but with a twist. I really love traditional tailoring and elegant dressing, but I always try to include an element of surprise, whether it’s a bright color or a pattern clash. Day to day, my outfits are usually informed by my schedule. If I know I’ll be running around all day I’ll wear a beautiful pair of flats, but if I’m in the office with back-to-back meetings – but still want to feel fabulous – I might pull out a pair of amazing Gianvito Rossi heels. I don’t feel any pressure to dial up my look during fashion week. I see it as a time when I really get to indulge in my latest purchases or styling tricks. It’s a pleasure! This season I’m really excited to buy into Daniel Lee’s Bottega Veneta. However, my all-time favorite designers are probably Roksanda, Racil, Barbara Casasola, Alessandro Michele at Gucci and, of course, Prada, a perennial love of mine.”

“Cocktail earrings are a staple of my closet. With work, I do a lot of desk-to-dinner dressing. I might be in a suit during the day, but if I put on an amazing pair of statement earrings, I still feel dressed up enough for an evening on the town. That’s why I have so many in my jewelry box and why I was so excited to create these incredible cocktail earrings with Monica, embellished with amazing colored gemstones. The stones were actually the starting point for all our designs. They look so magical in their rawest form that the minute I saw them I just knew I wanted to keep the designs simple and let the stones be the focal point. You could wear the earrings with a simple white blouse and black jeans and be ready for dinner in the most luxurious location.”

“I have always believed in buying less but buying better. I have Helmut Lang pieces from the mid ’90s, when Helmut himself was still designing, old Gucci pieces from Alessandra Facchinetti’s time at the brand, and a Jil Sander suit I bought when I started my first job in 1999. I love shopping my closet and updating these enduring pieces by pairing them with a great new blouse or the latest Wandler heel. Fast fashion has never really appealed to me, and nowadays we’re all starting to ask more questions about who is making our clothes, under what conditions and from which fabrics. It’s going to take time for these issues to be fully ironed out by the fashion industry, but in the meantime, investing in quality pieces that will stand the test of time is an easy way to clean up your closet.”

“What’s amazing about London style is that it’s so incredibly eclectic. The way Londoners feel so free to experiment with clashing prints, play with cultural references and mix super-traditional pieces with directional ones is so exciting. You’ll spot boys in girls’ makeup and girls in boys’ clothes – it’s just totally fluid. It’s that fearlessness Londoners have when it comes to styling that I really appreciate. People here take such pleasure from fashion. Moving to the city 17 years ago had a profound impact on the way I dress. It instilled me with a freedom to express myself and, honestly, even the weather here challenges you to think creatively about layering and how you put a look together.”