Stylist talks style icons, secret shopping spots and guilty fashion pleasures with the quirky popstrel

What is your personal style?

I have two different ones. The first is a forties Hollywood-inspired, vintage pin-up vibe that I’ve been wearing for seven years. As soon as I became a teenager it became obvious that my body suited this type of tailoring, I have a big bum and a small waist! The other is a little bit comical and more contemporary, and it’s only really developed since I’ve had access to crazy clothes. Sometimes a stylist will bring round mad clothes and I can’t resist.

What shops are in your secret address book?

In London Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street and Rokit on Brick Lane are both great. But Blackout II in Covent Garden is my favourite. You can get a hat, bag, jewellery, clothes and shoes all in one place, I love it. The Girl Can’t Help It in Alfie’s Antiques Market, it is more expensive but you can get really rare things.

What was your last fashion purchase?

A forties black shift dress with huge white polka dots from Blackout II. It’s shaped like a tulip with just one strap and is very tight on the waist.

What does your wardrobe look like?

I don’t have a wardrobe at all, just lots of rails in my bedroom and living room with clothes organised into rainbow colours. Friends come round to see me and sit among all my clothes.

Do you have one favourite piece you wear all the time?

Now it’s winter I’ve started wearing last year’s coat, which was gifted to me by PPQ. It’s hooded with fake fur all around, very tight at waist and then flares out. I look like little red riding hood.

Who are you style icons?

Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Jones, Bjork and Dita Von Teese; they represent different sides of my fashion personality. To me a great style icon is someone who doesn’t take fashion too seriously, someone prepared to take risks and wear mad things. I love it when clothes look like art. Some of the pieces I wear live look like pieces of sculpture.

Have you ever tried anything on and thought this is just too extreme?

No, never, the only thing I’m slightly reluctant to wear is clothes that show off my body too much. I celebrate my curves but don’t believe I have to sell my music by selling my body.

Ever have a day where you just want to put on a tracksuit?

I always swore blind I wouldn’t wear them. Now I work so hard and get so tired I just give in to it and think ‘No-one will see me today.’ But you can wear a tracksuit with amazing high heels, I saw Penelope Cruz wear that once at a radio interview once.

Any fashion items you really hate?

I don’t wear Ugg boots, I think they are for losers. Anybody who wears them, I would seriously doubt their personality. I wouldn’t condemn them to being awful, but I would doubt it at first, I’d be sceptical. And I loathe crocs and velour tracksuits.

Any pieces you’ve got your eye on?

I’d love to get something from Ashish, its art. It is all amazing but there’s one dress I love, navy blue sequins with brown suede tassels down the back.

Any plans to start your own label?

I would love to design my own clothes and it would be inspired by what I love. I like statements, I have an amazing t-shirt by Jasmine Di Milo that says God is a Woman on it. Fashion should be provocative.

Paloma is headlining the Russian Standard Vodka Originals winter festival this December, rsvoriginals.co.uk

Faith talks fashion