Your Personal Shopper Loves... Amna Shares Her Must-Have Buys
Get to know the tastes and styling tips of NET-A-PORTER’s Personal Shoppers as they reveal what’s on their Wish List this season – and how they will be wearing their picks. Here, Amna, from our Europe and Middle East team, divulges her most-wanted pieces and why she loves them
“As an adolescent, I religiously bought Vogue and Grazia. I would cut out all the images of the clothing and accessories I loved and make a mood board with them. I remember the Balenciaga ‘Motorcycle’ tote was the It-bag at the time, in the early 2000s, and I was obsessed with it. I would look for it everywhere; just to catch a glimpse of it in real life [was a thrill] after seeing it featured in all the magazines.
“Originally, I wanted to be a stylist, but after university I interned for a small French fashion brand and realized that the same clients would come back season after season because they trusted the founder, and eventually they trusted me, too. It was the perfect combination of styling and creating beautiful relationships with people – and that’s something I’ve always loved doing. So, I started out in customer care at NET-A-PORTER, then became an assistant, and finally, a Personal Shopper.
“I love London because it’s such a vibrant city. It’s so multicultural, and I really think that translates into fashion because the street style is wonderfully eclectic. You can go to a random street and, on one side, you will see a very polished, chic outfit, and [on the other] see someone wearing the most eccentric, colorful, patterned outfit. That’s the beauty of the city and that’s very particular to London’s style.”
A retro bag
“I never buy a black bag and always go for a colorful style instead, because it adds a bit of fun and playfulness to an outfit. I used to love small bags because they effortlessly transition from day to evening, but trends are taking us towards bigger, slouchy bags again, reminiscent of designs from the early 2000s. Instagram has completely changed the way that trends and fashion work, so, when shopping for myself, I look for a bag that has vintage appeal – that way I don’t feel like I’m chasing the trend and it doesn’t go out of style as quickly. Right now, I have the Bottega Veneta ‘Jodie’ bag in pale green, which I’m obsessed with. I would also recommend the Loewe ‘Puzzle’ shoulder bag and Gucci’s ‘Horsebit 1955’ textured-leather bag.”
‘Man-repeller’ shoes
“Whenever I’m shopping for footwear, I’m automatically attracted to ‘man repeller’ shoes – I think they add character to an outfit. In the summer, chunky mules are my go-to style, while in the colder months, I’ll wear boots or sneakers. I already have my eye on Gucci’s ‘GG’ sneakers and Chloé’s ‘Jamie’ Chelsea boots for winter, but I’m currently on the hunt for the perfect fall shoe: a pair of clogs. Alaïa’s ‘60’ style and Gucci’s ‘Stann’ clogs are my front-runners.”
A statement coat
“Statement coats are like pieces of art, and a colorful, elevated design can really complete a fall outfit. I love a long coat with a slim fit in a playful color. Currently on my NET-A-PORTER Wish List is Chloé’s revisited trench style – the label’s belted broderie anglaise wool or color-block leather iterations [are both favorites]. I also love vibrant A-line coats by The Row, particularly its metallic ‘Lau’, ‘Emeline’ and pink ‘Gina’ designs, which are sure to turn heads.”