Sybilla Findley is one of my best friends. We used to live together in New Cross when I was at Goldsmiths and she was at Camberwell, and she's one of the people who has seen me through the best and worst of times. Now she sings back up for Gabriel Bruce and others, has a gluten free food blog, is a freelance make up artist, and all-round hilarious goober. She's also one of the most stylish people I know, managing to look edgy and cool on a teeny budget. I decided to interview her so I could steal all her secrets. Below is said interview, it's pretty much a straight transcription.
Hi Sybilla.
Hi. Shoot.
What are the five words you would use to describe your own style?
[Intense coughing fit]. My tea went down the wrong hole.
That's what your mum said.
OK five words. Confident. Bold. Sometimes classic. Changeable. How many? Five? Colourful.
Your style always seems so inspired. Do you have websites and magazines you look at regularly?
I look at Cobrasnake. I got to magazines quite a lot, like Vogue, if I don't know what to wear. I look at pinterest not really for fashion more for genres of style. I'll search for 90's. I also look at celebrities I like for example Nicole Richie. Oh god, you know who I love? Charlotte Free. I've been obsessed with her for ages. I based my pink hair on her when I had it.
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| Charlotte Free photographed by Terry Richardson. |
I did dye it yesterday. I wanted something a bit more bright and my roots needed re-doing. This is going to be a really boring interview, just make stuff up. I allow you to bullshit.
When I first met you your hair was in a black bob.
Yes. Lego head.
And the first time I met you, you were wearing black and red leopard print jeans, and ballet shoes.
Oh and we all played dream phone in the basement.
Oh god. We're ridiculous. You were wearing a pink fluffy top.
Yes, my pink cardigan with hearts on it. Complete fucking clash.
It looked amazing. Over the years your look has changed so much, so much more than most people I know.
My key is: never chuck anything away. I've still got those jeans.
Do you have a massive wardrobe?
No, I stuff it all in. Yeah, keep everything, re-use, it will always come back round.
If you were going to style someone like Cheryl Cole, how would you do it?
I'd love to put her in a big black Boy London T-Shirt and a Supreme Hat. Reminiscent of Katy Price in Wonderland.
Which designers do you like?
To be fair, I'm not mad on designers. Who's that guy? Jeremy...
Scott?
Google it. I like his stuff. I quite like Acne - although I could never afford it - for solid pieces like a leather jacket...but I get stuff from charity shops.
[Interrupting] Nike. Is that a designer?
I think so, you know I love Nike. But yes, you always look great on a budget. I've seen you pharmacy shopping and it's a joy to behold.
Yes I love pharmacies. Scrunchies, colourful hairbands and also all the cute makeup bags.
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| The contents of Sybilla's bag. |
The best stuff you find ever is in Bex Hill where I grew up. In fact any town that is a retirement town is going to be an amazing charity shop resource. Loads of rich people go there to die, because it's chilled, and then they...you know...
I remember you used to wear a child's rain jacket which looked great.
Oh yeah! God I forgot about that, I might start wearing that again. I go through phases of honing in on a couple of things, and then the top part of my wardrobe has loads of shit I forget about, so then I fish them out.
Do you buy online or eBay?
No, do you know what, I don't, I can't do it. I need to see it. Also I sold some stuff on eBay and the process is just a ball-ache.
Would you ever have your own store?
Ideally I want to get stuff from charity shops...but then I see all this amazing stuff and then I want to keep it. But I do think it would be good to get things from charity shops and then sell it on a site. But loads of places do that already. Cobrasnake does that.
Do you have any looks on Facebook that you detag?
There's some things when I feel like I look on the chubbier side, even if I'm not. But haircuts? Yeah. I wish I'd never done the bowl cut.
I loved the bowl cut.
Did you? Well generally I'm always quite happy with my outfits. Actually there was one dress I got from Gap that Alexa Chung had and it always made me look really crap and frumpfree.
Frumpfree?
Frumpy frumpfree. Are there any that you think were bad choices for me?
Oh fucking hell so many.
[Giggles]. How would you describe my style?
I don't know because it changes so much. And I'll see you wearing something and I'll think, "Wow, I've never seen anyone wearing anything like that before" and then a month later suddenly loads of girls will be wearing something similar. For example sheepskin coats at the moment.
I think I pick things up...subliminally. I just go for it. When I'm trying to decide on an outfit I'll try loads of things on but won't necessarily be going for a particular look. Also I feel like I've been dressing 90's vibes - oh please don't say that - 90's ish for so long. When we lived together we'd dress like that anyways.
I don't know, I thought I dressed more 80's.
But your minor threat T-shirt.
I guess. It all just blurs. suddenly with Tumblr it's much more focused But 6 years ago if I'd thought about wearing high-waisted jeans with a big belt and a body I would have wanted to vomit all over myself, but now I'm into it. I watched a Take That documentary the other day and in my head I was remembering how awful their outfits were, but when I saw them again I realised they looked incredible. Curtains, waistcoats high-waisted jeans, backward hats with little hoop earrings.
So hot. Talking of, I thought that guy was the guy from Take That [points to someone in the cafe] when you said that. It's not...Jason Orange? [We both decide it's not Jason Orange]
What's the lamest thing about being into clothes?
Just that there are more important things than clothes.
Where is the most stylish area of London?
I don't want to say East London. I kind of love North London, Kings Cross is getting really good. There's a huge charity shop in Brixton that's amazing. Brixton is the best part of London.
Which high street shops do you love?
When I was younger I used to shop in Tammy Girl and New Look 915. That was New Look for teens. I was a bit of a tart, actually. Do you remember those things that were a strappy crop top made of really horrible material with thin straps, and attached to it was a maxi skirt with a split down the middle, with hot pants that came with it? I had a lot of them. I also bought ridiculous high heels from the market. I remember my first ever heels were from Shelleys, I went up to London with my mum. I wish I had taken a photo of them because they were so repulsive. They were covered in every colour of jewel you can imagine, these crystal gems, and they had a little heel. Like a clog but not cloggy. I got blisters every time I wore them.
When I was a kid I used to get up every Saturday morning and make myself this ridiculous breakfast - crumpets, hot chocolate with whipped cream, cereal and orange juice. And I'd do it while wearing this satin dressing gown -
You were pretending you were like a -
Diva?
An idiot.
And I'd be wearing my favourite shoes - these little pink mules with fluff on them.
I've always wanted some of those, desperately. Now for high street shops my favourite is H&M for things like T-shirts and jumpers, and I've got a couple of pairs of shoes from them.
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| DISCLAIMER: These are not the shoes she's bought from H&M |
It has, it has all disappeared. And now they're doing customisation.
Is there a phrase or a slogan that sums up your style?
Try before you buy [Laughs uncontrollably].
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| Gluten free cupcake. |