In Uniform: Lucy Williams On What Makes a Classic

Rip & Tan: In as few or as many words as you’d like, how would you define your personal style?

Lucy Williams: Rooted in comfort and feeling relaxed with playful and eclectic touches. 

Rip & Tan: To what or to whom do you attribute your approach to style throughout your life?

Lucy Williams: I think growing up on a working farm with older teenage sisters in the 90’s has a lot to answer for! Everything was a bit thrown on, underdressed rather than overdressed and we spent a lot of time outside with sheep, dogs, cats, chickens and horses. I always loved clothes and shopping even as a kid but I think my low-key countryside roots definitely still carry through to my style today in some ways. I always love denim, boots and workwear-inspired pieces but equally like clashing this with more elevated jewelry or pops of color. 

Rip & Tan: Where do you turn for fresh inspiration?

Lucy Williams: Traveling and seeing how people are dressing in different places and cities is always inspiring. New York and Copenhagen are two of my favorite people-watching cities. 

Rip & Tan: Has fashion always resonated with you? Any formative style memories you care to share?

Lucy Williams: I didn’t grow up in a fashion-focused family in any way but my sisters always had copies of magazines lying around and I always had a very emotional response to outfits from TV and movies. I remember watching Dirty Dancing at age 5 (the perks of being the youngest) and being mesmerized by the outfits. The same went for things like Pretty Woman and later, Sex and the City. I think clothes were always a way of expressing myself and maybe served as a bit of a coat of armor in some ways. 

Rip & Tan: On a day-to-day basis, what kind of pieces do you tend to gravitate toward?

Lucy Williams: A lot of denim, white t-shirts, trainers and cashmere knitwear. A black leather biker jacket is definitely a staple for me too. 

Rip & Tan: And on special occasions?

Lucy Williams: I’m either really low-key and casual or fully dressed up—I don’t have much in between! I love a sexy take on suiting or a fun dress. But I always like playing with opposites so my hair and makeup would be low-key to balance it out.

Rip & Tan: What’s your take on trends and timelessness? How do you find the balance?

Lucy Williams: Trends are fun to play around with and I think they creep up on us all in a way. I like looking for vintage ways into the trends I’m into rather than solely relying on zeitgeist pieces. I think it makes it feel a bit more authentic and subtle rather than very zeitgeisty. I think the key is having fun with trends but only if they work with your normal style and leaving the ones that don’t.

Rip & Tan: Imagine your ideal London day—what are you wearing and where are you wearing it?

Lucy Williams: I love the Spring and Autumn in London, when you can wear jeans with flip flops and a simple tee with a knit thrown over your shoulders. I’d wear something like this for a coffee and pastry at Layla in Ladbroke Grove before browsing the vintage and antiques around Portobello and Golborne Road before lunch at Akub or Zephyr. 

Rip & Tan: What’s your go-to outfit formula on those days you don’t know what to wear?

Lucy Williams: A very simple outfit like jeans and white tank with some statement hoop earrings. 

Rip & Tan: What makes something a classic?

Lucy Williams: A classic is anything you wear over and over so it’s different for anyone. For some it might be a black cashmere sweater, for others it might be a feather mini skirt you wear once a year forever more. I think essentially a classic is never rooted in trends, it always makes you feel good and you never tire of reaching for it. The rest is up to interpretation.