Faith Bites

August 10, 2009

Interview with Carmen Reid

…Faith headed backstage to catch up with self-confessed shopaholic and best-selling author Carmen Reid. Read on for all the fashion, fun and of course her love for Faith…

Your most recent books have been about shopping, does this mean you’re a self-confessed shopaholic?

I am definitely a fashion fan, I have been reading Vogue since I was 7 (honestly!). But I’m a very choosy, fussy shopper, always in search of the perfect item at the perfect price, so my cupboards are (sadly) never bulging. If I like something, I tend to wear it till it dies then I miss it for ages! There is always a great long list of things I would like to own, if money was no object.

What’s your favourite style from the new season collection at Faith?

Now I’m a little torn between the blue Coxton and the beige Cilian. The Cilian is all cuffed slouchy suede, peep-toed and seriously sexy but the Coxton has a chic little girl-about-town vibe. I’m loving the cobalt blue and the gold studs! So 80s retro, but in a good way.

Promoting your books, we’re sure you’ve visited some amazing places, where would you say is the ultimate shopping destination?

I’ve shopped in some interesting places (Morocco comes to mind!), but I think London is very hard to beat. There is such a vast range of shops, anyone would be spoilt for choice. I love the way the city does everything from the highest fashion, to funky street style, to ultra traditional British chic. I visit several times a year and I never have enough time to shop (probably a good thing!).

Have you ever had the luxury of using a personal shopper?

No, not yet! Because I’ve been writing about personal shopper, Annie Valentine, I didn’t want to spoil my image of what she was like. However a friend of mine was shopped for at Harvey Nichols and the day was a triumph. She bought fantastic, really unusual things – so I’m quite tempted.

You teamed up with Faith for the promotion of ‘How not to Shop’ and ‘The Personal Shopper’, what was it about Faith that made you sure it was a perfect match?

Faith is all about up-to-the-minute fashion and fabulously irresistible shoes. My heroine Annie Valentine cannot face the world without her latest high heels, so I can picture her popping in very regularly! Plus you do larger sizes, and speaking as a shoe-size 8, that’s brilliant news!

With shopping as the inspiration behind your latest titles, have you had to do lots of ‘gruelling’ research?

I read British and American Vogue regularly, I follow several fashion websites and columnists, and then there is the all-important window shopping research. It’s a hard job, but I guess somebody has to do it! Sadly, I tend to sit at my desk in jeans and hoodies, but please, picture me in Prada!

Tags: Competitions