1. When do you feel at your most attractive?

When I'm running

2. Do you notice women on the street? If so, what sort of women do you tend to notice or admire?

Quirky women, beautiful women and models.

3. What are some things you admire about how other women present themselves?

Always confidence. Attention to the overall line of a look. And I could steal the hair from some women's heads.

4. Was there a moment in your life when something “clicked” for you about fashion or dressing or make-up or hair? What? Why did it happen then, do you think?

Definitely when I was about 14, and desperately trying to fit in while seeming as though nothing mattered, I found I liked an edgy, sexy twist on conservative that I've stuck with ever since. Oh, and the point at which I stopped dressing like a man at work - roughly 9 months before I made professor, at which point I stopped giving a fuck.

5. What are some shopping rules you wouldn’t necessarily recommend to others but which you follow?

Um. Remember you can always take it back.
Never take off the tags until you're sure.
Don't be afraid of spending a month's rent on something. You can always take it back.
And don't go into shops you know will make you feel worthless, because you'll buy something just to make the assistant think you're not worthless, and they won't care either way, and then you won't feel able to take it back. In case they think you're more worthless.
And if in doubt text a selfie to a friend. It's much easier to be honest by text.

6. What are some rules about dressing you follow, but you wouldn't necessarily recommend to others?

Comfortable wins.

7. What is the most transformative conversation you have ever had on the subject of fashion or style?

Probably with my mother who espoused line above anything, followed by quality; told me that I couldn't wear blue (which is ironic as it now dominates my work wardrobe); and always maintained that if you had "The Figure" rags would look like a million dollars, and if you didn't - a million dollars would look like rags on you.

8. Do you have a unified way of approaching your life, work, relationships, finances, chores, etc.? Please explain.

Nope. Other than life is almost always better after a long run or a good shag or a night's sleep.

9. Are there any clothing (or related) items that you have in multiple? Why do you think you keep buying this thing?

I buy multiples of pretty much anything that costs less than $500 that I really enjoy wearing - it saves so much more time and money compared to hunting around for a replacement when I've worn the original to death.

10. Have you ever successfully given someone a present of jewelry or clothing that you continue to feel good about?

About 4 months before my mother died she got on a ship and came to visit me in New York. First time she'd been to America. I bought her pashminas, silk jumpers and wool trousers, and I gave her a cashmere coat. Then when she left I got the linen trousers she'd worn to death copied, and made into tweed trousers lined with silk for winter. She loved them all. And I loved being able to do that for her.

11. Is there any fashion trend you’ve refused to participate in and why? 

Wedge trainers, normcore, peplums, gladiator sandals, hotpants, patterned leggings particularly for running, charm bracelets, LV bags, Chanel bags, and platform louboutins.

Mainly because they're ugly or childish or both.

12. Can you say a bit about how your mother’s body and style has been passed down to you, or not?

No-one ever though we were mother and daughter by looking at us - we couldn't have been more different in looks. My style has lately become more American (she described one handbag as "rather shiny"). But we shared a love of luxury and style, and a belief that budgets were meant to be broken.

13. Have you stolen, borrowed or adapted any dressing ideas or actual items from friends or family?

I used to take tweed jackets and camel coats from my father, and I took a beautiful Jean Muir silk blouse, two ankle length full suede skirts, and an ankle length black astrakhan fake fur coat from my mother. I wore the skirts until the suede lost it's nap.

14. Was there a point in your life when your style changed dramatically? What happened?

My work-style went from pant suits to pencil skirts overnight. Because I just stopped thinking that wearing trousers would make any difference to whether or how I succeeded.

Oh and whenever someone invented stretch leather.

15. Is there anything political about the way you dress?

No. Which is funny, as I judge everyone by the way they dress.

16. Please describe your body.

Brown. Athletic.

17. Please describe your mind.

Lively.

18. Please describe your emotions.

95% happy, 5% annoyed.

19. What are you wearing on your body and face, and how is your hair done, right at this moment?

A midnight blue custom pencil-skirt dress and jacket, with 2 inch stilettos; diamond studs. Hair in low side bun. Moisturizer and smoked eyeliner. Stella McCartney dark lilac silk underneath which I couldn't fit into last year, and consequently is all the more awesome to be in now.

20. In what way is this stuff important, if at all?

We'll all be dust eventually, so not in the grand scheme of things. Although if God had done Adam with an Afro rather than a relaxed look, maybe things would have turned out differently.

What’s your birth date? 
Where were you born and where do you live now?

1971 England USA

What kind of work do you do?

Doctor

How do you feel after filling out this survey?

It made me smile.