Introducing Sara Parker Bowles, Founder of Wardrobe Revivals
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
Meet Sara Parker Bowles, founder of Wardrobe Revivals, a styling consultancy designed to de-clutter and re-structure your wardrobe, in turn enabling you to feel confident and composed with your clothes.
“I am 50 years old, I live in West London with my two teenage children and our Lucas Terrier, Snoopy. I recently founded my own business: the styling consultancy ‘Wardrobe Revivals’. I think every woman (including myself) can relate to those frustrating fights one can have with one’s wardrobe from time-to-time, especially when you are in a hurry. This service is designed to make those moments of frustration a thing of the past. We are busy, time-poor professionals with plenty of extra-curricular demands and we need our wardrobes to serve us well and work hard for us.”
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
How did you get involved in this space, tell us about your background?
My background is in journalism: luxury publishing (magazines) and newspapers; the arts; features; celebrity profiles and of course, fashion. I was an editor at British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar – and I reported on all the major collections from New York, Milan, Paris and London Fashion Weeks for many years. I went freelance when my children started school and then I decided that I’d like to have a stab at being my own boss, determining my own hours and having more agency when it comes to my professional ambitions. When you work in the luxury publishing industry, you learn so much about fashion – almost by osmosis - so it was a natural segue and I worked with an incredible digital agency, called Coldharbour.io, who helped to realise my vision and bring it to life. The idea for Wardrobe Revivals came to me, because I was struck by how many of my colleagues and friends were complaining about having nothing to wear even though I knew they had perfectly healthy wardrobes.
You’ve styled some of the world’s most glamorous women (Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Kristin Scott Thomas…) what are some of the tips for confidence in clothing that you have learnt along the way?
Although I meet some of the most successful, attractive and intelligent women through my service, I am constantly surprised by how intimidated they can sometimes be by fashion – it seems to flummox them. Fashion is for all of us. I do encourage individuality: it’s important not to dress like everyone else but to establish your own taste and to discover what works for your body and your lifestyle.
Comfort is key - that doesn’t mean being slobby, it means good quality, tactile fabrics that feel good against your skin and clothes that fit your body well while allowing you to get on with your daily life. If I’m torn between two good outfit choices for a night out or in preparation for a meeting, I will always go with the more comfortable option and it always ends up being the right decision.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I like the physical aspect of it – I’m always moving and busy and that suits me, I’m not good at sitting still. I also enjoy the variety: one day I’m at a new client’s house in Oxford completely absorbed in our Wardrobe Revivals session; the next I’m at my desk all day writing, researching and preparing follow up documents and then the following day I’m doing some personal shopping in London for a regular client and helping her to prepare for her summer holiday wardrobe, so my work is constantly stimulating.
Obviously, it’s super satisfying to help my clients streamline their wardrobes, but hands down, the best thing about the service are the clients themselves. So far, every single one of them has been lovely, seriously impressive and interesting and I learn so much from meeting them and navigating our session. On the face of it, it seems like quite an intrusive process: allowing a stranger to come to your home and rifle through your wardrobe, but invariably, we always end up talking about the important things in life and that makes it a very rewarding two-way process. It’s great to do a job that instils joy and confidence and is therapeutic in every way.
What are clients looking for when they come to you?
I make it clear to my clients that my service isn’t about being bossy and telling them to get rid of loads of clothes and it’s definitely not about judgement, but I do feel that many of my clients do want me to give them a bit of clarity, reassurance and guidance when it comes to certain pieces or certain looks. They kind of do want me to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to ‘these boots I bought yesterday’ or ‘this look I’m going for at my son’s wedding’ and I’m happy to oblige, but I think that can only be valid if you come to the party with good intentions, kindness and truly wanting your clients to feel their best. If they trust me, then they want my opinion. I’m decisive and honest but never judgemental.
Most of my clients have lots of really nice clothes but they struggle to put outfits together and so I try to help them overcome that by offering practical styling advice and identifying the gaps in their wardrobes which might be the very thing that is preventing them from tying things together. If they want me to, I can leave them with go-to outfits that are literally hanging on a hanger ready to be thrown on whenever needed, but I like to think that my advice has a long-term impact that helps them to understand how to go about styling themselves going forward and how to shop more intelligently and mindfully in the future.
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
Can you tell us a bit about the process of working with you?
We offer an initial Zoom consultation and then we come to your house to help you de-clutter and re-structure your wardrobe, while offering styling advice and identifying any gaps that might explain why you are struggling to put outfits together even if you have lots of lovely clothes - all for £500.
It isn’t about styling celebrities (which is what I used to do) and it’s not personal shopping at Harrods, it’s a unique service because it focuses on making the most of what you already own and encouraging ‘mindful’ shopping (so it’s inherently circular) and, crucially, it’s confidence-enhancing, not critical. A big part of my service is to de-mystify the art of dressing: with a few simple sartorial style strategies I really believe that anyone can dress well and feel confident.
We all have moments of “argh I have nothing to wear”, what is your go-to outfit for theses moments of despair?
We have a lot to learn from men’s wardrobes about dressing efficiently: they don’t tend to buy impulsively and they are generally discerning about quality and cut. Another one of their sartorial tools is to have a ‘uniform’. If you can spend a bit of time devising the right ‘uniform’ for you, and it should be totally personal, then you will always have a failsafe outfit in your wardrobe to call on. That might mean a pair of black tailored trousers and a white shirt, or jeans and your favourite knit or a plain LBD that never fails you. These are the very pieces that should form the foundations of a hard-working wardrobe in the first place.
Tell us about your personal taste. What are some pieces that we could find in your wardrobe?
One of my mantras is ‘never pay full price’ so if I have a designer piece in my wardrobe, you can guarantee I got it in a sale or at a discount store. I bought lots of Phoebe Philo at Celine from yoox.com which is brilliant for discounted designer pieces. I own loads of jeans in lots of different styles by lots of different labels: re-done, Paige, J Brand, Frame. I like Zara for accessories as they are affordable and always current; I love shopping at Portobello market early on a Friday morning and I love pre-owned websites such as therealreal.com, Vestiaire Collective, HEWI and Rokit. When I go to TK Maxx I head straight for the men’s department. Over the years I have found an amazing Tom Ford blue pinstripe shirt, beautiful jackets by Savile Row tailors and Ralph Lauren cashmere jumpers to die for.
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
What advice would you share with someone wishing to build a capsule wardrobe?
A good capsule wardrobe is a collection of quality staples that make you feel great and stand the test of time. They should all be able to interact with each other and be put together to make multiple, effortless outfits.
These staples are:
a great winter coat in camel, black or cream;
a trench;
tailored shirts in blue, white and khaki;
a good pair of jeans and some boots;
a beautiful silk shirt;
a little black dress;
an oversized blazer;
a black evening jacket;
some smart flats;
trainers;
heels;
some lovely knits — V-neck, round neck, roll-neck;
a pair of tailored black trousers that fit just so; and,
good-quality white or grey T-shirts (James Perse, Uniqlo and Sunspel are my go-to brands).
I would also add a midi-length silk bias-cut skirt.
Everything should be the best quality you can afford and the best fit you can find. Once you have the classic pieces in place, it’s far easier to make the right decision about what to add – whether that’s a high-street piece from a current trend or a new investment.
Do you have a favourite style or designer?
Phoebe Philo – whatever house she is designing for (and now she’s created her own eponymous label) but in particular, when she was at Celine. I love The Row, but it’s bank-breakingly expensive so I usually just use it for styling inspiration as it’s just a collection of classic pieces really. Maxmara, Adam Lippes, Wardrobe NYC, Sacai and Isabel Marant will always get a look in and the dream is to own more Prada and Chanel!
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
WEALTH
Describe your relationship with money and personal finance in three words?
I’m a former ostrich hoping to mature into a rat (Chinese culture reference)
Sorry, not exactly 3 words…
How do you define wealth?
Being well, feeling safe and secure, not struggling everyday, having choices in life and being able to look after the people I love.
What money lessons did you learn when growing up? What would you have done differently?
My father was a financial adviser and had an amazing money brain but unfortunately he indulged me a little too much when I was younger so instead of learning from him I was spoilt and careless with money. I have an ambivalent relationship with money: I don’t really value it for money’s sake but I yearn for financial security and I love nice things.
As I got older, my dad started to teach me more about how to manage my finances so I’m trying to put his invaluable advice into practice. There ‘s nothing like getting divorced and starting your own business from scratch to give you a boot up the proverbial!
What has been the most helpful tool for you to learn about money?
My many mistakes: careless spending; overspending, burying my head in the sand a la aforementioned ostrich; wasting money on overdrafts, credit card and bank charges; not questioning and examining bills and statements in enough detail, not staying on top of my finances. I didn’t enjoy struggling financially - my Dad always used to say: ‘all being poor teaches you is being poor’ – and I agree with that on the whole, it’s just miserable, but it did teach me to learn how to budget and to say no to myself more often.
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans
How do you organise and manage your own business finances?
Since starting my own business I have an accountant; I use TIDE and FreeAgent apps to stay organised and I try to be as consistent and exacting as I can about paperwork, receipts, tax etc.
What is the best money decision you have made?
To invest back into my business even though it was a hard decision because I had only just started to make some money. But I am thinking of the bigger, long-term picture and that involves some sacrifice and plenty of courage.
What is your number one financial priority?
My children and my business.
How often do you talk about money with your friends?
Often, normally to moan about not being able to pay a certain bill etc. and I don’t think many of my friends enjoy that conversation, but I’m pretty unselfconscious about money. Having said that, I never asked for enough pay-rises when I was working for other companies and I regret that and so have vowed to myself never to be financially timid or apologetic again.
Which area of finance do you wish you knew more about, and why?
Tax, investment, accounting – everything!
WELLNESS
What is your wind-down routine?
I’m not very good at relaxing but pilates and running and walking outside all help me to stop over-thinking – even if it’s just for that hour. I love an early morning bath: it’s the only time I feel I can get anywhere near to meditating and focusing on my breathing. I listen to Audio books and BBC I player – previous guests on Desert Island Discs etc. as I love music and I am fascinated by peoples’ tastes. Greta Gerwig was brilliant recently. I read a lot and I also watch Netflix and films but I don’t really like watching crap.
What was your first job?
Probably a dawn paper round which was hideous and babysitting at 12 and volunteering at a nursery at 14 which I enjoyed, but my favourite proper first paid job was at 16, as a waitress at an iconic hamburger restaurant called Maxwell’s in Hampstead (where I grew up). I loved everything about it: the fast pace, the free meals, the buzz and the tips. Sadly it’s no longer there but I can still smell and taste the hamburgers in my dreams.
Where do you go to escape?
Ibiza, Mallorca, Cornwall, Australia, Scott’s Restaurant and The Groucho!
What is the most important life lesson you have learnt?
Valuable lessons and good things really do come out of horrible, sad and heart-breaking experiences, so just try to hold on.
Don’t ask, don’t get…
Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure that has guided or influenced you?
My father, he died last year but his influence remains.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a line of unique problem solving products with my business partner, Lucy Baxter, who runs the aforementioned Coldharbour Agency.
What are you currently reading and listening to?
Mindfulness a practical guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. I don’t normally like self-help books but this is brilliant and has been rather ground-breaking for me.
Image credit: Jason Lloyd-Evans