My Style: Jaida Hay
Photo: Courtesy of Jaida Hay
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
I follow one of the rules that Coco Chanel was quoted saying, “Always take one piece off before leaving the house.”
Please describe your style in three words.
Smart and casual with an edge.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Having too much going on.
Do you believe in role models?
Absolutely.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Bamboo, silk, cupro and anything with a nice hand.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
It’s not really a style but having a low neckline with too short of a skirt.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Milan.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Conservative.
Celebrities and style...
Are not synonymous.
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Shoes.
A woman should always look like...
She is put together.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My mother and grandmother.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Based on what I am doing that day and how I comfortable feel in the garments I choose.
What is your biggest regret?
Not asking more questions.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Be true to your own personal style, you should always feel confident and comfortable.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
If I find an expensive item I really want I will put it on hold; if I can’t stop thinking about it I will go back and get it.
We will never see you wearing...
A bodysuit.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I admire Peter Ingwersen (Noir) for being the first luxury brand to incorporate social responsibility into his business model. I also follow and admire my previous employer Emilia Wickstead. She taught me many things, mostly the importance of being true to your brand and never compromising when it comes to making everything that a brand represents absolutely perfect.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Tom Ford.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
If she is wearing clothes that fit her properly.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A necklace given to me by a jewellery designer I worked for; a little black Prada dress that I have had for years, an old cashmere jumper that belonged to my dad and an Art Deco-style wrist compass that was handed down to me.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
I’m not sure if I could ever sum that up in an image but I would say that Helmut Newton’s Vogue France editorial featuring a woman in a Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo from 1975 has elements that I would like to think define my approach to style.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Karl Lagerfeld.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to isâ¦
Tops. We have many curves and if you aren’t wearing the right fit, cut and style of top you may be accentuating the wrong thing.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
It doesn’t have to be.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Edeline Lee.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up.
