2008

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- Alison Chow
- Mandy Watkins
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Coffee With Alison Chow
of Coco Ribbon

Alison Chow is co-founder of luxury lifestyle boutique and more recently fashion and beauty label, Coco Ribbon. Born in Sydney, Alison has been living in West London for 9 years.

We had a coffee with Alison to find out what inspired her to set up her own business, dig deep about all her shopping habits and discover where she likes to shop online.

What inspired you to create Coco Ribbon?
It all really started from the lack of lifestyle boutiques in London - boutiques that catered for women and had everything under one roof. We wanted to create a boutique that was like a beautiful home for people to walk into with cute pairs of knickers displayed on a the pretties chest of drawers.

We wanted people to be able to rummage through the drawers and rifle through the cupboards and above all to pay us a visit to lift their mood - a bit like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s...

What makes your product unique?
I think the fact that everything we stock is luxurious and chic mixed with an element of surprise. We have so many different products and brands but this is really the underlying factor that runs through in everything.

We aim to offer a little bit of luxury to your every day. I always think if you can’t travel first class then with a few little treats you can at least feel like you do.

How do you get a good work/life balance?
It’s taken a long time to get to the point where I do but because we have such a great team and they all love what they do it allows us the time to take a step back. Having said that nothing stops me thinking about it all day every day!

What’s your best selling product / label?
Our fashion range has done amazingly well. We really felt there was a gap in the market for feminine but unusual clothes at the RIGHT price point so we created a collection that’s luxurious and stunning but still affordable.

How would you characterise your fashion style?
Definitely colourful! My wardrobe is full of fuchsias and aquas. I love feminine, pretty dresses but always add an element of edge with a leopard print bangle, Kenneth Jay Lane horn necklace or slouchy boots – something to toughen up the dress a bit; a sort of juxtaposition to the femininity if you like.

Who would you say is your style icon?
I wouldn’t say I have one in particular because with stylists today I think it’s so rare that celebrities actually have their own sense of style, one minute they’ll be in girly feminine frills and next the complete opposite. That said I think Sienna Miller could put a paper bag on and still look amazing.

Where do you buy your denim and why?
We stock lots of fabulous denim brands so I try them all. I love Sass and Bide and Made In Heaven but I think my favourites at the moment are my J Brand Love Stories.

Where do you buy your knitwear and why?
I mostly wear our own cashmere but I love my Hush Cardigown to wear around the house.

Heels or flats and where do you buy them?
Definitely heels because I’m not very tall!

I never go out without them and the higher the better in my case! Jimmy Choos are great because they’re so comfortable, I can wear them all day.

Do you eat organic and live an eco conscious lifestyle?
I always buy organic chicken and salmon but I know I should be more diligent in this area.

I’d love to have an eco lifestyle manager who could come in to my home and tell me what to do; which light bulb to use, when to turn off my switches at the wall and generally give my whole home an eco overhaul. I think there’s a real gap in the market for that, especially for time poor people.

Do you ever buy food online?
Sometimes but I often end up wasting a lot of it because I'll get invited out for supper or forget to take something with me to work in the morning so I now tend to just buy as and when I need to.

What beauty products are currently in your bathroom cabinet?
I always have a stack of Eve Lom because it's amazing for my skin. I’ve tried masses of different brands but I always end up going back to it. The only other thing I always have is Darphin’s Jasmine Aromatic Care which I put on before my moisturiser, it makes my skin feel incredible.

What’s your signature fragrance?
CR by Cocoribbon EDT (of course!). It’s our new fragrance which is launching any minute now and we’re so excited about it. Collete Haydon (an established cosmetic pharmacologist) helped create the whole range with us.

What are your three must-have make up products?
Becca Watermelon Beach tint for lips and cheeks – it’s waterproof and perfect for holidays and I always have a tube of our Little Miracle Balm with me and a mascara.

How would you describe the style of your home?
Sort of shabby chic but with less of the shabby and more of the chic! There are lots of chandeliers and ornate mirrors but then I’ll have a zebra ottoman. I guess it’s a bit like my fashion: pretty balanced out with something animal or exotic.

Where do you buy your furniture and home accessories?
The White Company and The Holding Company are brilliant for essentials but I mostly collect bits and pieces when I travel; I think it’s nice to have a story behind something so it becomes a sort of record of your travels and life.