StyleTails speaks to fashion blogger and Maltese lover, Anna Hart from South Molton St Style with her cute pooch Lopez.
We’ve been keeping an eye on her chic, pared back style for a while now and an even closer eye on her white fluff cloud-of-a-pup, Lopez. We caught up with fashion blogger and all-round style maven Anna Hart to chat about her unhealthy obsession with a Breton stripe and how to teach a Maltese to salsa.
When did you launch your blog South Molton St Style and what inspired you to start blogging?
I started it two years ago when I had a month off to recover from an operation. I couldn’t really move, and I’m not good with doing nothing. I read a mountain of fashion magazines and suddenly realised I had an opinion about it all – and that my wardrobe needed a serious overhaul. I’ve used the blog to try and better understand what looks suit me, what I should buy and where I should buy from. It’s a place for me to channel an interest basically.
You also recently started working for French luxury retailer Vestiaire Collective – tell us a bit about what they do?
Vestiaire are a luxury reseller; we sell preowned luxury pieces at more affordable prices. For sellers, it’s a simple way to part ways with pieces you have worn and loved (to fund new things). For buyers it’s a way to get your hands on the names you want to own (Celine, Sandro, Chanel and Givenchy are our biggest names) and rest assured that all items are in excellent condition and geniune as all items are checked and verified by our curation team in Paris before they get to you.
What are you coveting at the moment?
I’m loving the Kenzo tiger print sweaters, I bought a tee shirt from Vestiaire recently – but still need the sweater! I’m always after another breton shirt, some new leather trousers and from the high street I’m loving Whistles and Reiss this season – all the pale and interesting pieces with lots of texture are so easy to wear.
How would you describe your own style?
Fairly conventional – I’ve made a big effort to ‘buy less, buy better’ over the last two years. I like luxe basics, quite minimal with good tailoring. I’ll try and make it more interesting with statement shoes or accessories. I’m pretty easy to buy for (apparently) as if it’s ‘basic with a twist’ I’m all over it. My collection of breton shirts is becoming ridiculous too.
Whose style would you steal if you could?
I wouldn’t mind having an Australian blogger’s wardrobe and a Swedish blogger’s wardrobe. I don’t feel that’s too much to ask. None of my style icons are particularly groundbreaking, I like the Miranda Kerrs, Jessica Biels and Rosie Huntington-Whiteleys’ style. When you see pictures of those type of celebrities landing at JFK or Heathrow – that’s my style right there. Airport-No-Make-Up-But-I’m-
wearing-Helmut-Lang-So-Who-
Cares Style.
What advice would you give to budding fashion bloggers?
If you are starting a blog just as a hobby or a way to house your interest then just blog about whatever you want to, but if you’re using it to develop a career you need to be slightly more tactical. Blog about something not many others do, or from a perspective not many others do. For example Hannah Rochell from The Times has a fab blog called En Brogue which is all about her collection of flat shoes, and I think there is a gaping hole in the market for a woman to blog about menswear.
Tell us how you came to own your gorgeous pup Lopez?
I wanted a Maltese for years. Some friends had two and at first I thought they were just silly little handbag dogs and tried my hardest not to like them. I think they sensed it and I became their little project whenever I saw them – they had me around their little paws in a case of weeks. When one of them had a litter and only one lived, I knew I had to have him. I skyped with him when he was a day old and met him at 6 weeks. It was love from the word go.
What do you love about Maltese’s?
They have the best little personalities and are incredibly bright – training is a doddle. I literally took him outside and told him to wee, he did and that’s it. I can count the accidents on one hand, and each time I can put it down to the fact I didn’t get home on time for him (he’s pretty regular). Lopez is his own man, he’s very aware of what he should do but makes me very aware of what he’d rather be doing. They were originally bred to catch rabbits too so when he sees one he goes a bit ballistic. They also always sit with their back legs sticking out, which makes me laugh.
Where did the name Lopez come from?
He was going to be Louis at first, but there are a lot of Louis’ in the area and I didn’t want to be stampeded with dogs when I called out his name in the park. When I first got Lopez I had just come back from Colombia and my friend’s surname is Lopez – I just thought it would be a cool name for a dog. It suits him cos he’s a bit of a dude. I’ve trained him to ‘salsa’ (which is now more just his handy tool for begging) and instead of walkies we say ‘ARIBA. ARIBA.’ Yup, I’m that dog mad.
How do you manage a busy life in London with a dog?
It can be testing but for what I get back in loyalty and love from the little guy, I wouldn’t change it for the world. He comes into work with me, we get the early tube to miss rush hour. He’s becoming quite the celebrity at Vestiaire now – he ditches me and charms the other girls all day long. We have to be careful with meal times as he gets travel sick, but apart from that it’s fine.
I’m also lucky to have parents who adore him who live nearby. My mother has gone from thinking me having a dog was insane, to calling me just to see how he is (not me) and rolling on the floor cooing with him. My friends and my boyfriend are brilliant with him too. It’s a combined effort but all in all it never feels too much and I absolutely love being a dog owner.
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS – LOPEZ
Describe your own style in 3 words
Pretty damn cool.
Have you got any party tricks?
I’m more than happy to do my salsa dance for the ladies, Or for an apple, they are my favourite. I’ve also totally nailed the sad face for when Mum tries to keep me off the bed, she’s such a sucker.
Tell us some of your favourite dog-friendly places in London
I find being so cute lets me in to a lot of places where bigger, uglier dogs can’t go. So far my favourites are The Clifton in St Johns Wood where they give me sausages on the sly, Dach & Sons in Hampstead is a fantastic bar where Mum can have cocktails and I can hang with other dogs too.
Tell us something about you that will surprise us
I’ve hidden about 20 pairs of Mum’s socks and pants under her bed. She has no idea.
Describe your perfect day
I quite like the tube in the mornings, especially when it’s really busy and people are so close to me I get to lick their faces, so I’d pick a work day. Ideally we’d go back to the day Mum and her work colleagues were delivered 40 bags of popcorn. That was ACE. I like to spend the morning staring out of the window to make sure no other dogs pitch up in my turf, if so I’ll scare them away. Lunchtimes are great in the sunshine, Mum’s friends sometimes come and give me a cuddle. In the afternoons I’ll find a nice shoe and chew on it for a bit, that’ll take up a lot of time. Then I’ll sleep across Mum’s desk so she has to type over me. Evening wise, I like going to pubs as long as they aren’t too noisy or dark otherwise I’m happy to stay in with a rom com DVD and snuggle.
Anna’s worst habit?
Buying new shoes to replace the ones I chew. It annoys me, as I just have to start afresh each time.
What would be your last meal?
Last meal? Why? Am I going somewhere? Is this like when I went to ‘see’ my grandparents and then Mum disappeared for TWO WEEKS? Regardless, I’ll have smoked mackarel. Mum goes especially to Waitrose to fetch it for me on pay day. She’s a gem.
Visit Anna’s blog for loads of fun fashion inspiration at www.southmoltonstreetstyle.com
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