Bio
Learning Lisa Smosarski’s style story.
Stylist Magazine may just be one of our favourite publications to look out for. Each issue is covered by women who inspires us – Dolly Alderton, Simone Ashley, and Michaela Coel, to name a few. As the magazine has been helmed by Lisa Smosarski for over 10 years, since it’s inception, it’s safe to say that we’re huge fans of her work.
As the award winning editor-in-chief, Lisa has launched in conjunction with Stylist, big initiatives on behalf of the magazines audience. They include campaigns to end sexism and improve financing to women’s sports, a project encouraging more inclusivity and diversity within women’s media and advertising, and an initiative to support mental health while navigating the pandemics new work environment.
She also was co-host of the podcast, Letter to My Friend with Alix Walker, a podcast meant to celebrate our closest friendships.
With an affinity for Chloe boots and black denim, her style is also right up our alley.
Q&A
How do you start your day off?
Slowly! I am not a morning person at all, but I have three children, so I don’t have much choice but to wake up and get up. I can’t really speak until I’ve had a cup of tea (English Breakfast) and then it’s go, go, go!
What’s going on in the background when you are getting ready?
Generally some sort of child-based chaos. Requests for fancy plaits, lost school uniforms or trying to recall everything my kids needed whilst planning my own day. I have very little time to get ready so it’s not a particularly relaxing routine, which means I’ve often planned what I’m going to wear the night before. At the weekend, I’ll put on BBC Radio 6 Music, I especially love Cerys on a Sunday morning – that feels like a real treat to get ready to.
What are your closet essentials?
Anyone who knows me will be stunned if I ever wear colour, as my essentials are generally all black, grey or if you’re lucky, a splash of white. My essentials have been with me for years; they’re fantastically timeless: black blazers, black jeans in lots of different cuts, an array of neutral t-shirts and lots of black boots. My Chloe Susanna boots and Frame jeans are my go-to for when I can’t work out what to wear.
What is your biggest fashion regret?
I was about to say I have no regrets – most fashion blips only come with hindsight and are so often dictated by trends or fun explorations of the time – but then I had a sinking feeling as I remembered speaking at a huge magazine event in New York in a simple brown ribbed vest top. I was in my 20s and I can’t even recall what look I was trying to channel, but beach chic was not anywhere near the dress code. Honestly, it was just such an odd choice for a formal event. If I could go back in time, I would definitely have handed myself a nice black blazer.
You always splurge on, and you always save on…
I splurge on accessories – shoes, bags, sunglasses – oh and coats. They’re things that will last a lifetime and I can pass on to my children one day. I save on anything that seems particularly ‘on-trend’ as inevitably, it will be ‘off-trend’ again quickly. Despite strong beliefs that you should dress for yourself, I am not immune to a fantastic fad.
What is one piece of clothing you wish you could steal from your 16 year old self?
I had an amazing pair of Levi 501s that would be perfect this year and nothing matches that weathered old-school denim. Also, this crazy pair of black Patrick Cox jelly candles with an Eiffel Tower in the heel. I’m not sure I’d wear them but I’m amazed I got rid of them. They’re just such a fun moment in fashion history.
What inspires your style most?
Emmanuel Alt can do no wrong, so I think I’ll always covet her style. She’s effortlessly chic always and I applaud her love of black day-to-day. My friends and colleagues probably inspire me the most – seeing how people put their looks together and remain so true to a style – I find that always really inspiring.
Your #1 style tip is…
Be yourself and wear what you love; trends are ideas not gospel. You can try someone else on for a day, but you’ll never be as happy as you are in the clothing that make you feel like you.
