Jean Queen Donna Ida Thornton introduced the Style Insider concept back in 2012 to showcase the wardrobes of influential women and give fashion tips on how to wear your jeans. Fast forward to 2020, and we're all in our homes due to lockdown so we couldn't think of a better time to revisit Style Insider. We'll be featuring our favourite Donna Ida girls on our blog and social media, all wearing their best denim pieces. We'll also be aiming for a sneak peek into the corners of your home, lockdown achievements and your killer accessories which haven't been out yet. Here we catch up with Jean Queen Donna Ida Thornton plus click here to see Donna Ida girl, Annelise William's Style Insider.
Donna Ida: Tell us your biggest lockdown achievement
There are so many! For us this time has given us the biggest gift – time. Finally the to do list is at an all time low, I am organised, on top of things, stress is at a 15 year low. I have never been happier. Bobby Dazzler and I also by chance started doing a daily filming routine of him cooking and me filming him – and providing much needed commentary. We called it – or rather Nadine Baggot called it – Dazzler Does. She named it and it’s perfect. Dazzler does a new dish each day and it’s hosted on his Instagram page which is @robertwaltonmbe. That has really framed our time.
Donna Ida: If you could be locked down with anyone – not including your friends and family who would it be and why.
Elizabeth Taylor. Or Dolly Parton – or ideally both. They were/are amazing women. So strong, so resilient. Such doers through thick and thin. I really admire that, I’m drawn to strength and achievement and always wearing a heel and lipstick!
Donna Ida: Show us your favourite ‘moment’ in your home. What do you look at every day that makes you happy, it can be a thing, a person, or just a corner of your home.
We have a window seat that I have always imagined sitting in but never did. Finally after years I have actually been able to sit there. It is heaven! I also love a gorgeous French chair that is from a desk that also sits in my office but I separated them and the chair is in a corner as you walk in, it looks so pretty with a Jonathan Adler cushion on it and a painting of Bobby Dazzler that is so hilarious and hangs above. I have a collection of vases there and a Diptique candle and a few books. It looks so pretty and it makes me so happy every time I look at it!
Donna Ida: We all buy beautiful clothes, handbags and accessories that we love but never seem to use. Let’s see your top 3 – styled if you can!
I was obsessed with the Gucci runway flats from SS20 and had to have them – I bought them in the black and the white with the help from Ryan Weaving at MyTheresa. So far they haven’t left the house because of lockdown! And the Chanel bag I got for Christmas – it did make a trip to Australia for Christmas but hasn’t seen much active duty since then. And then there are the Gucci mules and Saint Laurant tote also courtesy of Ryan. So many beautiful pieces, so few places to go right now but I’ve managed to start pulling some outfits together. I even wore my new Isabel Marant boots in the house all day Friday!
This pink Ulla Johnson top is so heavenly, I bought it at Intermix in Soho in NYC when we were there for our pop up in March – I never go to NYC without a scour of Intermix. I bought it for our 10th wedding anniversary dinner on the 5th of June but I feel like I should just start wearing it now. It’s too pretty not to be worn!
Natalia at Matches has been a friend for years and she always looks after me there with pieces that she knows that I can style with jeans. She knows exactly what I like and what suits me. This Isabel Marant top I bought in the preview sale and wore it immediately – perhaps pre lockdown I wouldn’t have dived in so fast but I am getting such a kick out of dressing well every day that I had to put it on. And this Staud skirt was also from the Matches preview sale. I love their things but might save this for my birthday lunch at home, with very few people, on the 30th of May!
Donna Ida: Can we see your daily denim – what jeans are you wearing all the time right now.
My Boy Dazzler in Stacked It. I cannot take them off they are so cool and comfortable and look great with all my tops. I am wearing them at least every second day.
Donna Ida: What is the first thing you’ll do when you get out?
Join the queue to have my hair and nails done but what I would really really love to do is sit at the bar at Daphne’s in Chelsea and have lunch with my friend Martha Swift.
Donna Ida: We’ll all get back to the airport at some point, when you do, what is the destination that will be on your boarding pass?
Kelly Hoppen, Jo Elvin and Lisa Snowdon along with our partners are all going to Diane Kordas’s villa in Mykonos. We cannot wait! End July.
Donna Ida: Before we go, can you share a photo of your lockdown companion if you are lucky enough to have some!
Here he is! In our little MGA with me going to drop off a food delivery to his mum Wendy.
Donna wears Boy Dazzler in Stacked It - shop here and Eliza the Relaxed Skinny Dungarees.
Share your photos with us @donnaida @donnaidadenim #donnaidagirls