We Saved You A Seat

Fashion journalist, broadcaster and founder of homeware brand Sharland England, we saved Louise Roe a seat to talk about the evolution of her career and style.

To Louise, clothing plays a powerful role in shaping confidence and self-expression. From interviews to first dates, she feels that what you wear can influence not only how others see you, but how you carry yourself in every room you walk into…

“Since the beginning of my career, I’ve talked about how important clothes are for your state of mind. That doesn’t mean expensive clothes, it doesn’t mean brand new clothes, it just means things that fit you really well and that make you feel good.”

For the shoot, she chose a versatile selection of pieces from our new Spring/Summer ‘26 Collection. Of her picks, she said:

“There was something for holiday, a really beautiful broderie two piece with back ties in a lovely crisp white for summer. The [khaki] pleated dress is incredibly comfortable and has the most gorgeous tiny gold beads on it. And then tailoring: a really beautiful pair of long black trousers and a cropped cream blazer with lovely brass buttons, kind of military inspired. I’ve chosen pieces that are completely versatile and tick every box, from day to night.”

Louise spoke about her long-standing relationship with the brand:

“I’ve worn Karen Millen for as long as I can remember. My vision of it now is of sharp tailoring. Pieces that you can wear to work and then straight out for cocktails in. There’s a versatility there but there’s also an elegance. Something that I’ll have in my wardrobe for a long time and wear in different ways.”

Bestselling author, journalist and creator of chart-topping podcast How to Fail, we saved Elizabeth Day a seat to talk about success, failure, and the role clothing plays in shaping how she feels.

Growing up, Elizabeth’s idea of success looked more conventional: a house, two kids, a dog and a cat. Today, though the cat remains important, her definition of success has evolved to centre on how she feels within herself. Fashion plays a significant role in that journey:

“There is nothing like feeling confident because you are wearing something that helps you inhabit your own strength and power…something that makes you feel like the you inside matches the you that you’re projecting externally. It makes a huge difference.”

For the shoot, she chose pieces that made her feel put together and powerful, but that also offered versatility and ease. Speaking about our cropped tailored blazer co-ord in ivory satin, she said:

“I love the structured ease of that combination, that even though the jacket is smart the trousers are fluid, which gives it beautiful balance.”

When speaking about Karen Millen, Elizabeth said:

“When I think of Karen Millen, I think of a brand that puts the women it designs for at the centre of all of its clothes. I’ve worn Karen Millen for a really long time and for me, it always feels evolved, elegant but hardworking. The pieces are so easy to wear, and they often have pockets!”

Entrepreneur and founder of 39BC, we saved Sharmadean Reid MBE a seat to talk about the women who inspired her journey and the ambitions driving her forward.

From an early age, Sharmadean was inspired by women like Oprah: powerful figures she would see on TV, building businesses and shaping culture. Seeing how they developed their careers and embraced failure helped her understand what it meant to be a resilient woman.

When it comes to how clothing makes her feel, Sharmadean shares how, for her, “every day is a dress up day”.

“What I wear has such an impact on how I feel, but not just how I feel, how I lead, how I think – it’s almost like I’m playing a role the moment I put something serious on, or a different role when I put something a bit more flirty and fun on. Clothes have always been a way to augment my personality, to shine a light on the mood I’m feeling right there and then.”

Obsessed with clothes since she was a girl, Sharmadean always knew she wanted to work in fashion. For this shoot, she picked a selection of standout pieces in this season’s trending shades:

“I chose a green suit, because a power suit is something I feel every woman should have in her wardrobe. The red shirt dress is a piece I feel I could wear to the office, and then to a party afterwards. The colour is so intense, and I’m someone who loves to wear bright, bold colours.”

When asked about Karen Millen, Sharmadean reflected on the brand’s enduring appeal and relevance to modern women:

“When I think of Karen Millen, I think of the original business woman. When I was younger, Karen Millen was such an icon. I feel there’s a versatility to the pieces, I can wear something to work but also to an event, dinner or party. That’s what’s really fun about it but also super efficient. To be a modern woman means to hold many roles, so having one look that can work for all of them is absolutely key.”

Thank you to Louise, Elizabeth and Sharmadean for taking a seat with Karen Millen.
For a life well-dressed, discover our new Spring/Summer ’26 Collection.