We have a style crush on Martha Ward, she's a shopaholic who lives and breathes fashion. Having worked at Tatler and completed projects for Vogue, she's picked up a wardrobe to die for including beautiful stand-out accessories. Martha shares her fashion finds on her website MarthaMagpie.com and is currently a freelance stylist spliting her time between exciting fashion projects and dressing actors for the red carpet. Martha invited us into her South-West London flat to share her wardrobe with us, so we had a few questions to ask her.
Martha wears Bella Freud Jumper and IDA Rizzo in Milk
DONNA IDA: What makes up your modern wardrobe?
Martha Ward: 'A lot of blouses, pencil skirts, an abundance of lace, stacks of denim, day dresses, culottes and ribbons galore.'
DONNA IDA: Who are your fashion icons?
Martha Ward: 'Grace Kelly, Francois Hardy, a young Mia Farrow and Lee Radziwill.'
Martha wears Joie Blouse and Frame Denim De Jeanne in Columbia Road
DONNA IDA: Where is your hometown? Does this influence your style?
Martha Ward: 'London is my hometown. I am influenced by London to some degree yes, but also by visuals I see in films, in magazines, and around and about in other cities – be that Paris or Edinburgh or anywhere I happen to be.'
Martha wears Mauro Grifoni Top and IDA Mabel in Bright Vintage
DONNA IDA: What is your go-to style of jeans? How will you be styling them this season?
Martha Ward: 'I still love a skinny crop. Faded denim is my current addiction. Always with a little white blouse – preferably with a collar and a lace trim or broderie detail. And then there’s the boyfriend jean – always a great default as they are so easy to throw on and you don’t have to think about it. It’s my lazy option. Layered with a vest (I can’t not wear a vest) and a nice loose cashmere knit.'
Martha wears Simeon Farrar Jumper and J Brand Stack Skinny in Heaven
DONNA IDA: What are your three favourite fashion brands?
Martha Ward: Chloe. Valentino. Del Pozo.
DONNA IDA: What will be your one key statement piece for AW14?
Martha Ward: 'A blanket! A really chunky, sizeable, preferably printed number that I shall wrap around myself when the days and nights draw in. À la Burberry.'
Martha wears Leon & Harper Tally Top and IDA Rizzo in Foggy London
DONNA IDA: If you could only buy one staple item this winter what would it be?
Martha Ward: 'A fabulous embellished dress as I’m crazy for embellishement. Preferably by Erdem.'
DONNA IDA: What are your style highs and style lows?
Martha Ward: 'I don’t adhere to trends so my buys tend to more classic, staple pieces as opposed to an ‘of the moment’ item, so I guess the benefit of that is that it isn’t so disposable at the end of the season. That’s got to be a high. The low is that I veer towards either looking granny-like or child-like and that’s a very acquired taste I suspect!'
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Written by Claire Etchell PR & Marketing Manager at Donna Ida and blogger for NakedPRGirl.