What's the connection between fashion and interiors?

There is so much in common between what we wear and where we live. I’m not talking about the actual building we live in because we often don’t have much choice in that; we live where we can afford to live, or where it’s convenient, or safe. But how we choose to decorate our homes (or not as the case may be) has a lot to do with our fashion preferences.

Think of the decisions we need to make on the visual elements they have in common:

• colour

• shape

• proportions

• focal points

• prints

• texture

• scale

• physical feel

• mood

I’m sure there are more but these are the ones that spring to mind immediately.

So when I sadly discovered there’s no way to get my beloved white leather couch up the stairs of my new studio, I had some work to do rethinking how I’d arrange the space and what new elements I’d introduce. I jumped online (as we do in lockdown) to find alternative furniture and found numerous things I liked. But how to narrow down the decision making?? I am excited about this move so I wanted to be sure I would really like anything new I put in the space. And of course it needs to have a cohesive look.

Fortunately I had a brainwave… I had just been taking myself through an exercise to re-examine my personal style (yes, professional style people do this too, to keep things fresh and focus any future purchases) and I had been listing elements that I really like. So I drew upon that.

Some of the things I love that could be relevant to interiors are:

• strong colour

• flowers

• velvet

• silk

• art noveau

• art déco

• coloured glass

• crystal

• art

By analysing the things I found online against some of the above criteria, I was able to draw together a theme and narrow down my options.

I can also use similar principles when choosing clothing, as can you. Do you like busy print shirts and lots of small detail in your outfit and your home? Do you prefer large white walls with one bold piece of uncluttered art and wear plain, solid colours with very little embellishment? Perhaps you like stripes and block coloured co-ordinates and love modern industrial interiors..? Very likely, what and how much you choose to put in your home will mirror your fashion tastes. Rich and complex or sparse and bold? There are many other style possibilities of course.

Annie Coop is a textile designer who I used to share a studio with, and she applies this principle in reverse.

She advises taking stock of your wardrobe if you are feeling overwhelmed by the spectrum and pattern before making any moves. “I often find that the colours and patterns I like to wear the most are the colours I like to have in my home” said Annie to Vogue Living.

If you’d like me to take you through a similar exercise to refine or define your personal taste as it applies to fashion and interiors, you can let me know. It is fun! And stay tuned for photos of my final aesthetic choices…!