Laura Whitmore shares her style inspirations with us
Laura Whitmore has fast become one of our favourite celebs to watch on the red carpet, she has an incredible sense of style and sitting FROW at London Fashion Week most probably helps.
The 28-year-old presenter insists that her wardrobe has changed a lot as she has got older and she still loved to experiment with her looks.
Here she talks about her personal style, inspiration and her new work with Timex. Laura has been working with Timex as a Style Insider for their Wear It Well campaign, speaking to people about their style and what it means to them
Do you work with a stylist or do you choose your clothes yourself?
For the presenting work I do, I am very lucky to work with a stylist but day-to-day I wear what I want. I’m quite strong minded when it comes to knowing what I want to wear so even when I work with the stylist, I play a big part in choosing my outfits.
Are you more of a high-street or designer girl?
I think a bit of both. I like to have a few items that are designer and mix and match them with high-street finds. The high street does things so well: I’m a big fan of Topshop and Urban Outfitters. We’re very lucky that we have such on trend high-street shops in the UK as sometimes higher end designers aren’t very practical for day-to-day wear. But, I do believe in having a good pair of jeans and a coat, even if they cost a little bit more.
Do you have any fashion icons?
I look to old school Hollywood glamour for my style icons; Bridget Bardot was sexy when glammed up but looked gorgeous dressed down as well, whereas Grace Kelly had a real air of sophistication – I like to combine the two looks.
Where do you think your sense of style stems from?
My style has definitely evolved over the years and I dress very differently to my friends which is cool. I look through magazines for fashion inspiration but I mainly look to how others around me, either at home or when aboard, wear it well - I love street-style just to see how other people put outfits together. Through my work with Timex I have met so many different people on Britain’s streets, all who had really individual styles that inspired me to try new things myself. One girl was wearing a slogan bag that I have. I usually only use it for evenings but she was wearing it with her daytime outfit and it looked amazing. I might try that next time I am searching for a cool daytime clutch!
How do you describe your personal sense of style?
My personal sense of style is impossible to describe because it evolves constantly and because I dress differently every day based on my mood. Some days you’ll find me in a simple pair of skinny jeans and a plain top and on others I’ll do the complete opposite and wear a really quirky dress just because I feel like it.
You’ve become known for having such a great sense of style, what tips do you have for always looking your best?
My top tip for looking your best is to dress for yourself, not for anyone else. Even working with a stylist, I wouldn’t wear anything she told me to wear unless I was comfortable with it myself. That said, it’s good to push yourself out of your style comfort zone every so often to make sure you try new things. I have started wearing brighter colours because I was challenged to try something different and now I love them!
The easiest way to experiment with new things is to select trends that complement you and add hints of that trend to your outfit. If you feel comfortable in preppy, casual clothes, why not try a bit of Sport Luxe. Pink and blue tones are huge this S/S so if you love a pop of colour, invest in some bright sandals or perhaps a bit of arm candy with a new watch. Check out the new Timex® Originals Classic collection, available with electric blue or pink bracelets for a stylish colour splash.
Do you have any advice on how any of us can make our style more unique?
Accessorising is the best way to make an outfit more unique. You can make an outfit completely personal and dress it up or down by just adding accessories, be it watches, shoes, bags, jewellery or hats. Working with Timex I have seen how important accessories such as watches are in setting off an outfit, they are an expression of your individual style.
What are your wardrobe staples?
My wardrobe staples are skinny jeans. Once you find your size and a brand that fits you well, buy loads of them! I love my leather jacket as well. I also think every girl needs two or three pairs of comfortable high heels. I have loads of shoes that aren’t comfortable and are useless on a night out – it’s good to have some safe shoes that look great and last the evening! I also wear a watch every day, it’s very important to be punctual in my job.
What is the best style advice you've ever received?
My stylist always encourages me to try new things which is great but the best advice she has given me is to make sure I am always comfortable in my outfit before I leave the house.
How long have you been interested in fashion?
I have always been interested in fashion. My mum had magazines around the house when I was a kid and I spent lots of time flicking through them. There also used to be a fashion show on Irish TV when I was growing up. I remember looking at girls on the show and thinking it was this crazy, glamorous world as I was fascinated by it.
How do you take outfits from day to night?
I often need to take my outfits from day to night. I add a pair of heels, touch-up my make-up and mix up my accessories. Even if you’re wearing jeans, a plain top and boots, you can transform an outfit with a splash of red lipstick, a chunky necklace and a glam watch.
What’s your best advice to fashion lovers when buying new clothes?
If you can’t immediately see yourself wearing a piece of clothing, then don’t buy it. I’ve got a lot of friends who have clothes in their wardrobe with the tags still on them! If you’re not sure when you are going to wear clothes and can’t see yourself in them, then don’t buy them.
You’re working on a project about the UK’s unique sense of style. What is it you love about UK style and what do you think makes our style so unique?
What I love about the UK is that there are no style boundaries, you can wear anything and you won’t be judged, which is a fantastic attitude to have towards fashion. This means that people aren’t afraid to try new trends or push their style limits which is very important. We also have a great high-street that inspires everyone to wear it well. I went to an awards show recently and I saw a girl wearing a dress from H&M which looked just as amazing as the designer dresses.
Who have you met as part of this project with TIMEX?
Who haven’t I met! I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know all sorts of people all from different walks of life who all have a unique, natural and intrinsic sense of style. From those with a keen eye for the latest trends, those who rock the vintage look, sporty and preppy types, glamour-pusses, stylistas sporting the boho trend, to those who just keep it really simple and look effortlessly cool.
How do you like to dress up your Little Black Dress with accessories like watches?
I think little black dresses always look great with some red lipstick and gold accessories. Gold always adds a classy touch to an already sophisticated dress. The Timex® Special Edition 1962 is a great watch to accessorise any outfit because it has three interchangeable straps, a gold bracelet, a brown buffalo-pattern leather strap and a black crocodile-pattern leather strap. If you’re not wearing jewellery then use the gold strap to make an impact. Or if you’re already sporting a chunky necklace, use the black leather strap to match your dress but still make a style statement.
Style icon and TV presenter Laura Whitmore has partnered with Timex to discover what ‘Wear It Well™’ means to the UK. Check out what she found at www.timex.co.uk/wearitwell or join in the conversation by tweeting @TimexUK with #Wearitwell
Tagged in Celebrity style Laura Whitmore