Fiona Leahy Q&A

It varies so much and that’s why I love it. I do love studio days when I am not on location. I brainstorm with my team, create concepts, visualise, have meetings and play for way too long with my dog Riley – the worlds biggest distraction. I love travelling for work too, I get to explore places I may not otherwise see. Next week for example we are in Azerbaijan, a month ago we were in Montenegro.

Romantic.

Other creative people. I love spending time with people who love what they do from food historians to calligraphers – I love a creative nerd.

Gwyneth Paltrow always looks amazing, radiant, healthy and stylish.

A lint roller.

My new cashmere YSL coat – the most expensive thing I have ever bought without a discount that wasn’t a gown. It feels very grown up and I will wear it forever.

A black fur coat by Louis Vuitton, bought when I was taken as a guest to the Louis Vuitton directors’ sample sale. It was a 100th of the original price. I could never afford to replace it. My suitcase went missing recently and that was in it, luckily I got it back.

Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys.

Vintage trolleys to serve drinks from. I love anything from a trolley – desserts, martinis – they ooze old-school glamour. Clothes-wise, I adore floor-length gowns – my favourite are vintage Dior gowns from my friend Sophie’s store, Merchant Archive.

Feminine.

To know (and celebrate) your body type and shape, to dress accordingly and consistently and not be swayed by trends. Buy and wear what you love, not what you think you should love. And above all, dress for yourself!

Probably a black Ossie Clark floor-length dress with Chanel cuffs and a big smile.

I always loved unusual things and I remember going to school wearing a biscuit-coloured woolen cape with a fox-fur hood and a gold chain to hold it together, and being very ridiculed! I always adored shoes and obsessed over them – I will always remember my first [pair of] shoes with a heel, they were for my first communion and my aunt sent them to me from America – white, patent with a wedge. I was also very inspired by Princess Diana and copied her hairstyle when I was 12 – it was my dream to look like her.

At-home designers: I like vintage for the home – Ernest Race, Maison Jansen. I also adore Warren Platner, I adore the The Rug Company and have bought some brilliant rugs from them. And Merci for their homewares – I have a giant linen sofa that I bought from them which is beautiful.

My Charlotte Olympia cat flats, my Lanvin flat boots and my Louis Vuitton Lockit bag – it holds everything.

The interior designer .