In conversation with… Charlotte Simone
It’s safe to say that I have been an avid follower of Charlotte Simone for several years - mainly wistfully browsing the website for hours in awe of everything, knowing deep down that sadly my student finances could not quite afford to actually make a purchase (cue the tiny violin). Now as a working woman, I am still an avid follower, but I am also now a true admirer - not only of the products but of the brand itself.
As a proudly British fashion designer, Charlotte Simone Beecham has really made her mark and created a business that is now widely known as the go-to ‘it’ brand for fluffy accessories. You have probably already seen a host of celebrities donned in brightly coloured fluffy scarves, including the likes of Alexa Chung, Leomie Anderson, Florence Pugh and Fearne Cotton, to name just a few.
Not only have these infamous scarves made a splash, but Charlotte Simone has now broadened the scope to hats, bags and my personal favourite, outerwear. Think, brightly coloured suede style jackets with fur trims. I personally imagine myself strutting around New York in the long pink suede coat à la Carrie Bradshaw (also worth noting this particular coat is actually called Carrie, so maybe it’s destiny). Or maybe that’s just me.
In fact, I’m so obsessed with Charlotte Simone’s label and overall brand aesthetic, that I’m also now following Charlotte’s own house renovations on Instagram @charlottesimonehome. Why, you ask? Because one, I love housing renovations and with Charlotte’s flair for colour, this caters to all my dream house interior needs, and two, the statue of the lady head with a lion body just really tickles me.
What this all boils down to, is the reason why I was BEYOND excited to finally get a chance to speak to Charlotte myself (I admit that I did do a weird happy dance around the room when I realised I would get the opportunity to interview her - my housemate can vouch for this) to learn all about how she’s become such an ultimate girlboss and how she built an iconic British fashion brand.
What first got you interested in fashion and accessories? Probably my Grandma’s closet…Full of shiny, beautiful treasure.
When did you know you wanted to set up and build your own fashion business? I knew I had an idea and I knew I wanted to give it a go. I never saw myself as a business owner, I always loved painting, creating and writing…But I had an idea in College and I wanted to give it a go! Diving straight in out of University certainly played to my strength, as I had ‘nothing to lose’, I really went for it and thought ‘why not’!
You've collaborated with a LOT of people, including Superga, who would you next like to collaborate with? I would love to collaborate with an underwear company, the dream would be Agent Provocateur. Imagine sexy fluffy underwear sets!
What has been the highlight of your career so far? Has to be Rita Ora as the face of my campaign, a real ‘pinch me’ moment and something that happened by complete accident!
Where do you get your inspiration from for new collections or pieces? I get most of my inspiration from my travels and day to day bustle of London life. I’m always collecting textures, colours and sketching ideas as I go.
What's your favourite Charlotte Simone piece ever? It has to be the Penny Coat in pink, a flattering silhouette and a fuzzy collar make her my ultimate ‘go-to’.
What other women (in fashion and beyond) do you admire? Emily Weiss, Audrey Hepburn, Audrey Gelmen, Tracey Emin, to name but a few.
I like tossing in a random question to these interviews (call it the spice of life), so if you could be any animal, what would it be and why? A sausage dog, so I could hang out with my sausage dog, Harold (he’s the best).
What advice do you have for young women looking to start their own business? Don’t think it’s easy. Know there will be sacrifices and hard graft along the way, but there is nothing quite like seeing the fruits of your labour come to life - it’s the best feeling in the world! I’m a firm believer in hard work not going unnoticed and hard work being rewarded!
What's next for Charlotte Simone? What plans do you have for the future? Stay tuned for September, lots of news to come!
Although summer may be traditionally an odd time to think about buying fluffy scarves and accessories, I know that as soon as I get a spare moment, I’ll be delving deep into the summer sale as well as waiting with baited breath for September!
If you haven’t already heard of Charlotte Simone, where have you been? Just kidding, you can check out her groovy designs and awesome statement pieces on her Instagram @charlottesimone or get shopping on her website!
