Move over Harrods, step aside Harvey Nics, the only is Minnie’s!
Sam Faiers is the star of The Only Way Is Essex and co-owner of Brentwood-based fashion boutique Minnies. Stocking a hand-picked array of flirty little numbers – perfect for a night down local hot spot Sugar Hut – this is the ultimate high street boutique for girls who glamp and vajazzle. Opening Minnies’ doors to the general public in April, Sam and sister Billie have since been kept busy catering to crowds of customers and fans of the BAFTA award-winning reality TV soap. For The Pick Me Up Issue i-D took a trip down Essex to catch up with Sam, fresh from her recent holiday in Marbella, babes.
Congratulations on the BAFTA, and where’s your dress from? It’s gorgeous! Thank you, winning the BAFTA was amazing! My dress is Diane von Furstenberg; I got it off my friend who’s a stylist. It’s amazing!
What’s the signature Essex girl style? The signature Essex girl style has changed a lot. I’d say that it’s all about stilettos and high heels. It’s gotta be big bag, big hair, and dress-wise, it’s always got to be really colourful. Everyone wears a bodycon dress or high-waisted flare trousers in floral right now. At the moment in Essex, everyone is going mad for colour and florals.
Do you have a favourite label? I like high street, I like designer, I like a mixture really… High street wise I like Zara, Mango and Topshop, I love Topshop! Then if you’re going designer I like Cavalli, the leopard prints, and l like D&G.
Who is your fashion icon? I love Beyoncé’s style. I like what she wears in the day, her bags and her jeans, and then in the evening she’s always got something really glam on, like floor-length classy.
Who would be you ideal customer at Minnies? Kate Middleton.
What’s the key to looking reem? Right, well looking reem, being an Essex girl, it’s properly gotta be polished. Nice varnish, toenails, no chips! You’ve gotta have nice shiny hair and eyelashes – eyelashes are important! With fake tan, always exfoliate before you apply, so it’s not patchy. And for a boy it’s probably about smelling fresh, and a good outfit, and a nice clean hair cut. Yeah it’s quite similar actually between the boy and girls. It’s about following trends but in your own style, and wearing whatever you feel comfortable in!
Text: Milly McMahon
Photography: Rebecca Thomas
Film: Makda Iyasu
