Cherrylane shirts and Dachet acid-wash jeans. This designer recalls her ’80s fashion

Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, designer Rachel Castle.

Rachel Castle keeps her work style simple – loose shirts with pants, jeans or shorts.Credit: Jacqui Turk

How would you describe your style? Weekdays, one thing; weekends, another thing entirely. At work I keep things simple – loose shirts with pants, jeans or shorts. It needs to be comfortable so I can move around easily, make beds for shoots, go to meetings, paint and sew. I have a lot of the same pieces in different colours on rotation, so I feel like I’m not repeating myself, but really, I am. On weekends, it’s dresses all the way. I love the simplicity of a beautifully cut dress and am happy to do any colour or pattern, tight or loose, strapless or one-shoulder, long or short.

What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe? I have a lot of my mother’s clothes; she had beautiful taste. My favourite is a 1970s Ewaldo Bock black silk midi dress that has the sweetest lace cap sleeves and pin-tucks.

And the most recent addition? A purple Jacquemus pony-skin bag.

What would you wear …
… on a first date? Something quiet and black with a heel.
… on a plane? Cashmere everything with sneakers.
… on the red carpet? Alexander McQueen, in my dreams.

Designer Phoebe Philo’s “intrinsically beautiful” clothes appeal to Castle.Credit: Courtesy of Celine

What’s your favourite fashion era? I wouldn’t say favourite but the ’80s were my defining sartorial era, unlucky me! Cherrylane shirts, Dachet acid-wash jeans and bright high-top Converse sneakers made me very excited as a teenager. All these years later, a shirt, jeans and sneakers are still what I feel most comfortable in.

Do you have a favourite designer? My everyday wardrobe is filled to the brim with Lee Mathews, Bassike and Jac + Jack pieces. For jumpers and coats, Acne always. For dresses, it’s anything and everything, including Scanlan Theodore, Zimmermann, Chloé and Dries van Noten.

What’s your fragrance of choice? “Hermessence Myrrhe Eglantine” by Hermès; it’s soft and sweet.

What are three essential items in your wardrobe? There are so many, but I’d cry if I lost my Acne mohair sweaters, nude velvet Jimmy Choo heels that go with every single dress, and a pair of Zara jeans that I have repaired 4000 times.

Any go-to jewellery? I have a little Hermès “Cape Cod” watch which keeps good time. Otherwise, whatever is cheap and cheerful. I’m loving gold at the moment – bangles, rings and things. I rarely invest in anything valuable because I lose everything, all the time.

Can you remember a favourite outfit you wore as a child? At 14, it was a pair of Stuart Membery tartan pants and a Lake Tahoe sweater.

What was your first fashion moment? Wearing my pink gingham ruffled bathing suit at the Sale swimming pool when I was 12 years old. I loved that very small piece of fabric more than life itself.

And your worst fashion mistake? I learnt early on to avoid polyester – flammable clothing is not good.

Castle covets these grosgrain sandals from The Row with a feminine bow-detail.

What’s at the top of your wish list? Bow-detailed grosgrain sandals from The Row.

Is there something you would never wear? Crocs.

Is there a current trend you like? Oversized coats and ballet flats.

What shoes do you wear most often? Bassike sandals or Converse sneakers for work. On the weekend, it’s little heels or cream knee-high boots.

What do you wear to bed? Castle cotton pyjamas. You can throw a sweater over them and head out for coffee without even opening your eyes.

Who’s your favourite fashion icon? Phoebe Philo. I love that woman. She never gilds the lily, everything she designs is intrinsically beautiful. She is unadorned and utterly modern in a very timeless way.

What’s your favourite off-duty, casual Sunday look? A cotton poplin long-sleeve shirt dress and sneakers. I’ll be doing the Sunday crossword with a coffee in the sunshine.

Rachel Castle is the founder of art studio and homewares label Castle.

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