Hi and welcome to piecing it together, a new series I’m writing on this substack in which I torment my stylish friends to learn their stylish ways. The interviews are transcribed and slightly edited conversations, like a cross between Bella Freud’s Fashion Neurosis and Nell Dunn’s seminal Talking to Women. I’ve also been tech-savvy enough to attach the audio file of our conversation, so you can listen to it like a podcast if you’d desire (be aware it doesn’t perfectly match the transcription, if you’re following both.) This week I’m talking to Issy London. I first met Issy presumably in freshers week, although neither of us can remember when. One day I plucked up enough courage to say hi to her on the bus home, thinking we were next door neighbours (we weren’t) - I’m so grateful I did, though. Apologies if the audio is scritchy scratchy at any point - we had to do this over the phone. Also I had a terrible cold at the time of recording…
Saskia Kirkegaard: Is there a particular person you model your style on or look up to stylistically and how did they change your style?
Issy London: Uh, no, not really. [tittering] To be honest.
Sass: Do you get your inspiration—
Issy: It will be a combination of people… like subconscious individuals throughout my life. I get a lot of like random second hand things from my mum, which I think… I didn't— I wouldn't, like, consciously think that she was like, my style inspiration, but then when I think about, like, random items on me specifically that I really like, like that's what… I don't know… not necessarily like my mum per se, but like, the odd item of hers. Or like, the boldness of like a random…
Sass: Yeah. Do you get—
Issy: But there isn’t… no. There was no style icon…
Sass: That you can think of?
Issy: No.
Sass: Do you feel like… do you get your inspiration from anywhere else?
Issy: I think I got a lot of inspiration by going to uni, to be honest. I think it’s… it's rather that than like, a specific person. It's just like wherever life takes you, and you like…growing up in school, I didn't have any thoughts… like maybe there was like a hint of like… if I liked a particular pattern or I liked how like something fit on me? But then it was only once you go to uni, and you’ve kind of like, seen everybody else just being really expressive in like, what they're wearing. And that like, kind of inspires you to just like, lean into it a bit more? And you spend more time going to like, charity shops with your friends, and leaning into it a bit more. It’s not like a conscious thing, with like a specific inspiration, but really just like, how your life adapts and how you— how you like, grow up with it.
Sass: That’s such an Issy answer, I love it. Can you describe your personal style?
Issy: Um, it depends on the time of the year!
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Um… In… I think I would describe it as something that feels like, authentic to me, and makes me feel confident and um makes me want to… I don't know. I think colour is…
Sass: Colour, I was gonna say colour, that is the word I chose to describe you!
Issy: Or like, something, like… I like a quaint little detail, or a pretty little quaint detail to an item.
Sass: Yeah, you like kind of… a button or a brooch or a clasp?
Issy: Yeah. Like with this brand, with this… I like this collar.
Sass: Yeah, yeah. And it's a very you shape, that. I mean, that jacket is so iconic. That's… Issy’s wearing her red [coat] for those who can't see, which is a classic Issy staple. I actually yeah… so I chose a particular word for everyone that I thought would describe their style, but you've already said your word and that word is colour, so that's what I think of when I think of you. Yeah.
Issy: Yeah, I like also something that like, feels special to put on!
Sass: Yeah, that's true.
Issy: But that’s not like, obviously that’s not reflective of everyday whatsoever, but like if I had my ideal personal style it would be something like, an item that feels special and quaint. And like, something in itself that you’re putting on, rather than like something that’s irrelevant that you’re putting on.
Sass: Yeah, no I get that a lot and I think that like, very much encapsulates how you dress. And I feel like I also don't see you dress down that often. Like I think you dress up, which is… which is a question I was gonna ask, when you’re feeling low, do you dress up or down? But I think it's kind of clear with you.
Issy: Yeah, I don’t feel confident when I dress down.
Sass: No, me neither.
Issy: I just, I just don’t.
Sass: Yeah. Do you… do you dress according to your mood or do your clothes create your mood?
Issy: Yeah, I think my clothes create my mood.
Sass: Mmm, that’s good.
Issy: To be honest.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: and slash, as soon as the mood's gone, no, no personal style exists.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Like, it’s like a… it's not like a standard every day. I don't think.
Sass: That's interesting. Do you have any particular brands or designers or fashion houses that you like?
Issy: I like… I’m just thinking of brands that I search on Vinted. I like a lot of… like, old school like, Monsoon.
Sass: Nice! Yeah, I associate Monsoon with you.
Issy: Yeah, I like a lot of Wallace, whatever that is? I don’t even really know what it is. I just see it on Vinted, and it always has like, a little cute detail.
Sass: Oh yeah?
Issy: Um… whatever, really.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Whatever, really. And then obviously like, I’ll probably be looking around and there’ll be a top from Primark. And I'm like, yeah.
Sass: Why not?
Issy: It looks nice. Why not? Do you know what I mean?
Sass: Yeah, it's maybe more about the piece itself than the designer sometimes.
Issy: Yeah. But when I’m searching and I want to find stuff… it’s easier to search. I like John Lewis as well. I don't know what the brand is?
Sass: Yeah, John Lewis is the brand. Yeah. I also, like, get so excited when I see like old Monsoon in a charity shop as well. I feel like that's like, really good quality.
Issy: The goal.
Sass: it’s always so nice.
Issy: That’s the thing, it’s always um… I associate it with like, mums. Like, all of these brands. But I feel like they’re all really good quality because it's all from like 10-15 years ago.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: And now it's all really cheap online, and second hand. But it's all really good quality and like, all has like… a lot of them have like, these dainty little details and they feel like really cohesive— I don't know.
Sass: Yeah, no, I really get you. And do you think that your personal style is similar to your childhood style? like your style as a child?
Issy: No.
Sass: Okay.
Issy: To be honest. There is… there’s like, one iconic photo of me when I was like, five, and I'm wearing this gorgeous like, quilted coat.
Sass: Oh, I would love to see that.
Issy: Yeah, when I’m next home I can look for it. And then like, I used to be known for wearing this colourful coat. Which actually, now I’m saying it out loud, is probably like… subconscious…
Sass: I had the same thing! I used to wear this coat that was like, patchwork, and it was like, my coat. That’s so funny!
Issy; Yeah, and my mum would put me in a little beret. In this patchwork—
Sass: Awww! That’s so cute.
Issy: But that’s like, the only thing I stand by.
Sass: Hmm.
Issy: Especially throughout the teenage years, like there wasn't really much cohesion. Like I said earlier there was like, the odd like, strain, like hint.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: And then, but then you like… that develops over the time.
Sass: It is interesting because like, I’ve seen photos of you as a teenager and I obviously like… you have changed a bit, but I don't think you've changed that much. Like, I know… yeah, it's a different vibe maybe, but I think you once said to me like, you still feel like you were definitely you. Like, your inner self hasn't changed that much.
Issy: No. I think it’s more so just like, going through British secondary school.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: And like, following along all of the trends along that.
Sass: Yeah. Were there any trends at school that you really hankered for, do you remember?
Issy: Hated?
Sass: Hankered for, like really wanted.
Issy: Ummm. I just remember always searching like, a tiny black mini skirt when I was like 15. And always like… everyone seemed to always have the perfect one and I could never find a good one.
Sass: That's so real. Black mini skirts are so hard to find.
Issy: Yeah! Where did everyone get them from?
Sass: Where did they get them!
Issy: Everyone always had the perfect one and I could just never find them. But no, I remember— I vividly remember like, Adidas All Stars being a thing.
Sass: Yup, yeah, me too.
Issy: And I really like, vividly remember like, Air Force.
Sass: Yeah, and when it swapped from Adidas to Nike, that was a huge thing.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: It’s crazy.
Issy: It was, yeah. That’s like, my main… yeah.
Sass: Yeah, I remember that shift as well. I didn’t have either, but I wanted them both, but now I'm kind of… maybe I'm grateful that I didn’t have either. I just wore my Vans.
Issy: Yeah. I remembered— also, I just associate it a lot with Topshop.
Sass: Yeah!
Issy: Like, me and my friends used to always have the same tiny little crop tops from Topshop. And they’d be like, the exact same, this like, embroidered little crop top, but then it would be like, we had them in like three different colours, cos we all wanted them so bad. I remember having like, the white one and then my friend had like, the pink one, and another one had a black one. And you would wear that with like, a tiny little black mini skirt, and go to a—
Sass: To a house party? Yeah. I remember the first time I shopped in Topshop it was like such a huge deal and I also thought it was really expensive, I remember.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: Cos, like—
Issy: I thought it was fashion. Like—
Sass: Yeah!
Issy: I dunno, just really like, fashion.
Sass: Yeah. [Smirking] It’s crazy.
Issy: Like, really expensive.
Sass: How do you feel like you’re shaped by your gender expression in your fashion?
Issy: I don't know! I think… I think I just feel most comfortable in like, feminine shapes.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: To be honest.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Um, like I don't feel comfortable in like, more like, boxy outfits. Like I feel more comfortable in like a flowy sleeve. I don't know, basically it's not something that I’ve ever given a thought to.
Sass: No, that’s a good answer though. Yeah. And then actually it leads on quite well to my next question, what's an outfit that you feel the most yourself in? One that you would wear every day if you a cartoon character?
Issy: I don't know! I'm torn between winter and summer.
Sass: You can do both if you'd like.
Issy: I think just like a col— a colourful summer dress. It would just be like a flowery summer dress.
Sass: That yellow and blue one, I'm thinking of, but I don't know if that's like…
Issy: The same one that I literally wear like, on repeat for like, five years.
Sass: You look disappointed in that! That’s not a disappointing thing, that’s a good thing. That means you have a strong sense of personal style. That's great.
Issy: Yeah. They actually are all falling apart, though, so I don’t feel like, excited to wear them anymore.
Sass: Oh, okay! [Giggling]. Maybe you need a new floral dress.
Issy: Something along those lines!
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Like, a long pinky-purple dress… and then some kind of like, shirt. Or some kind of like… Yeah. I think that’s what I’d feel most comfortable in.
Sass: Yeah. And like, in winter?
Issy: In winter, my Doc Marten boots, some like, black trousers, and a flowery top. This is just the go to.
Sass: Classic. And the red coat?
Issy: And the red coat. I also got a nice green coat, as well, that you need to see!
Sass: Ooh, I’d like to see that. You're stealing Ruby [Ounsworth]’s colour!
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: Aw, that’s so nice though, the coat.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: Is there a particular item in your wardrobe that you only wear on very specific occasions? So, for example, I used to have a cardigan that I only wore when I had a headache.
Issy: Hmmm. No, nothing comes to mind.
Sass: Fair enough. I just wanted to see if other people did that because yeah, it's not really a common thing…
Issy: No. I’m trying to think. Yeah. Obviously I have like, certain items of clothing, that like, I put them on and like, I just immediately feel really comfortable. And then I know that it's like, throughout the day it's gonna be like, I'm gonna feel comfortable and confident. And it’s always like, the safest bet.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: So if I’m going on a trip or something, it’s like the first thing…
Sass: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Issy: But I don’t… I kinda want that now, though! I kinda want like a… this is my jumper for when I am… walking-to-the-shop-to-buy-bagels-jumper.
Sass: Yeah, I can recommend doing that. I mean, obviously like, only for a couple of things, because you don't want your whole wardrobe to be like, for a specific occasion! But I quite liked it. I was like… whenever I had a headache, I was like, I know what to do! Put on my headache cardigan.
Issy: Mmm.
Sass: Do you have—
Issy: I have my five sloppy jumpers that I just put on as soon as I get back from work, and just like… rot.
Sass: Yeah, rot jumper is real. I have a rot jumper.
Issy: Yeah. I don’t even know what they look like, it’s so unconscious. I just put them on.
Sass: You don't even like… you're not consciously choosing. You're just like—
Issy: I’m not conscious of their appearance.
Sass: Yeah. real.
Issy: Yeah, it’s irrelevant to me. I just… rot. It’s great.
Sass: Do you have any clothes that make you feel as though you're playing a character?
Issy: Loads of my clothes. I think. Even like my… my cartoon outfit.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Like, probably. And like, yeah.
Sass: What kind of character?
Issy: Just… the perfect little summer dress character? I dunno! Do you know wh— Like, the perfect little positive summer dress character.
Sass: Yeah! I get you. Yeah.
Issy: But I feel like, yeah, summer in general. With all the like, sunshine.
Sass: Yeah, there's a summer side to you.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: Yeah. I, yeah… I feel the same. I mean, not right now, obviously. But… in British summer, I feel like there's a summer side to me cos there’s only about three days of it.
Issy: Yeah. Yeah.
Sass: So… and we've touched on this, but what is your dream personal style, and is it different from how you dress now?
Issy: Hmmm. I don't know. Um. I guess, like, it’s weird because it's… like, buying loads of clothes is exciting, but also I don’t really want to buy loads of clothes. So like, I'm not really sure…
Sass: If you had like, unlimited funds and you knew everything you were buying was sustainable, would your wardrobe look different?
Issy: Yes.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Yeah. But I think it’s all more of like, it’s hard to know… to have something be like, your dream personal style, it needs to be like, tried and tested? Like, a million times over? And you have to wear it, like, a hundred times. Like, boots, or something. You have to wear them like, a hundred times, for it to feel really real. And I feel like that’s like… your personal style. And I feel like it takes so much time to develop that.
Sass: I love that! Yeah, I agree with you.
Issy: Like, in the future it will. But I’m still… I recently bought loads of clothes cos obviously, I’ve started work.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: So, I’m tryna like, have like, the right… This is something I also wanted to talk about!
Sass: Yeah!
Issy: But, anyway.
Sass: No, go for it!
Issy: So I’ve bought loads of like, blouses, or like… work clothes, and I’m still tryna figure out what is actually my like, tried and tested… out of them?
Sass: Yeah! That’s really interesting— Actually, that’s a great segue. I haven’t got this written down as a question, but it’s a great question, like… just to talk about office clothes, what are your thoughts on office clothes?
Issy: It’s really weird, first of all. Just full stop. Cos my… it’s the first time ever that you have to, apart from school uniform I guess, but to… try and balance like, what you’re actually choosing to wear, and then making sure it’s work appropriate?
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: And especially straight out of like, Bristol, of all uni's. Where everything’s like very, fashion conscious.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: Or it feels like it, when walking around campus. And then suddenly being in… like, quite a formal office environment. It’s really… complicated, having that switch. So, I’m still like, manoeuvring it. And like, figuring out what’s actually appropriate and what’s not. Umm, and then I also find that on my days off, like, I just wanna put on the sloppiest, most colourful, outfit.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: I also find that like, I’ll be walking to work, and suddenly I’ll be two minutes away from work and I’ll be like… I don’t think this is work appropriate! And I’ll like, be panicked.
Sass: Yeah?
Issy: And then I’ll like, take off a necklace. Cos it’s a bit too much.
Sass: That’s interesting!
Issy: And like, obviously it depends… Like, right now I’m in a really like, not at all like, job where people aren’t being really colourful and flamboyant, it’s really corporate. So, obviously that will change. But it’s like… with like, my current role… I’m really aware of like, not being a bit too much. Just, taking away colour.
Sass: That’s so sad!
Issy: Yeah, it sounds sad when you say it out loud, but it's just the reality of like, being in the office?
Sass: Yeah. And I know how that feels as well, like I remember going to work in the shop and just being like, scared to wear jorts. Like, I was like, is this too casual? Like, even to work in a shop, which, like, obviously it’s not even an office! But, just like, that fear is really… Cos if you really want to wear like, a necklace, that day, and you put it on, it’s so hard to have to take it off! Like, I don’t know. That was how you were feeling that day!
Issy: Yeah, it was more so, I would be like… I’d be wearing like, a bright green necklace, and I’d be wearing… I would be wearing colour! But then, normally— And then I’d be wearing like a… yellow top, and like, a purple blouse.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: So like, I am wearing colour! Just to reiterate. But then, normally, in my real life, wearing like, five colours all within this [points to her torso] area would be like, nothing.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: I’d just put them on and not think about it. And then I'd be like, walking to work, and I'd be like oh wait, maybe that's a bit too much.
Sass: And to take like, one away…
Issy: Yeah, I wouldn’t mind the clash, in real life I quite enjoy a clash. But then it’s like, in like, an office environment that I’m currently working in, I wouldn’t want that clash.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: It’s more of like… more like, I have to be more conscious of making sure it’s like… Obviously I do wear colour, and I do wear nice clothes that make me feel confident, and like, that fit my personal style. But then I also like, wouldn’t have it… be a maximalist, in an office.
Sass: Maybe it’s… it’s a vulnerability perhaps? It’s like, that’s like… the part of yourself that you are out of work, and to share that with your work itself feels like that would be tricky, I think? It’s protecting that part of you.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: How do you feel about accessories?
Issy: I love accessories.
Sass: Yeah, you're very good on accessories. Do you have any like, favourites?
Issy: Um, I just wear the same ones over and over. [Points to her earrings]
Sass: Those are lovely earrings. Yeah.
Issy: Yeah. I know Ruby [Ounsworth] loves a dangly earring as well. I love a dangly earring.
Sass: Yeah. Yeah, you're you're both very good at finding them as well. Like in… when we go charity shopping, you guys are good on earrings. And then finally, I know we've like, discussed your Doc Martens, but are you looking for any particular pieces right now for your wardrobe?
Issy: I really need a trainer. But I don't know what trainers to get.
Sass: What for?
Issy: Like, no trainers excite me, and I don't… when I put them on I don’t like wearing them.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: So I’m just… I keep nearly buying trainers and then actually wearing them and being like, I don’t think I like them.
Sass: Hmm. Just like, a casual trainer?
Issy: Yeah, I just need a casual trainer, to like, run to the shop in?
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: But then, but then… I’m not sure. I think, I was genuinely… I was trying on like, VEJAs the other day. And they’re like, a safe bet, and they fit my feet nicely. But I just don't like that much, I don’t feel inspired by them.
Sass: Hmm, yeah.
Issy: So, I'm still trying to find a random pair of trainers that I feel inspired by.
Sass: If anyone has any trainer suggestions, please leave them for Issy in the comments down below.
Issy: Yes. Yeah.
Sass: Okay, that's a good one. My final question is do you have any questions for me?
Issy: Um, my question for you is… how do you think your style has changed since being in Australia?
Sass: Oh, that's really interesting. Yes, I think it has changed. I think being in Melbourne has helped my style because people are very fashionable here, but for a while I did feel a bit stuck, um… wearing a lot of the same things. And I guess I still am because of the weather. The weather really limits fashion because if it's 34° like, all you're thinking about is sweat. Like, there's no layers, there's no… like it's either shorts or a dress, shorts or a dress. Like, depending on like whether I'm feeling kind of masc or fem that day. But like, other than that, you get no choice. But, people do have really good style in Melbourne, so it's quite inspiring just to like people watch and take inspiration from people on the street. But yeah, I think it has changed, but perhaps not for the best? And I'm hoping that with like, cooler seasons, it will become a bit more me again. Because I think like, I feel most myself in like… more clothes.
Issy: Yeah. Yeah. I get what you mean. I always remember like, it’s sort of really when you’re like, travelling and stuff, when you're not wearing like, your normal clothes.
Sass: Yeah, and I’m only limited to what I packed, too.
Issy: Yeah, yeah. It depends where you go, obviously.
Sass: Yeah.
Issy: But like, if you’re going like, travelling travelling. Like, being limited to a lot of like, activewear all the time.
Sass: Yeah. Which… like, a lot of people wear a lot of activewear round here. That’s like, the Aussie uniform, which is kind of funny. But not really in Melbourne, but in like, all the other main cities, that’s what most people wear. Melbourne considers itself, like the fashionable city.
Issy: Yeah.
Sass: So, I’m glad I'm here! But, I'm just gonna wait for it to go down to like… just under 20° would be lovely and I could wear my jeans… [as I’m editing we are now fully in Autumn and I can confirm that I love this weather] I could wear my new trousers I bought from COS the other day. I got fancy trousers.
Issy: Oohhh!
Sass: I treated myself because I need workwear too, and I thought I just wear those. But yeah. So those are all my questions. Thank you!
What a pleasure to interview the fabulous Issy London, queen of colour! Thank you so much Issy for all your brilliant answers, and for your time here on Piecing It Together.
p.s. If you’d like to be interviewed for an upcoming episode, please just let me know and we’ll make it happen! I hope you are well.
Thank you for being the bestest interviewer! Love that we get to watch this series being pieced together one interview at a time!
Love this after reading it i feel like I just had a coffee with my two faves