Coffee With Bec Clarke
of Astley Clarke

Bec Clarke is founder of online designer jewellery boutique, Astley Clarke. Bec worked in the financial world before founding Astley Clarke in 2006. She lives in London and is expecting her first baby in April.

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

What inspired you to create Astley Clarke?
Well the truth of it is actually a bit boring really. I was working for a venture capitalist fund and watching the likes of Net A Porter and Boden breaking the back of online shopping and I realised I wanted to start my own ecommerce business. The only trouble was I wasn’t sure what in...

After lots of research into various different markets, I realised there was a gap in the market for luxury jewellery to buy online. Obviously we could never compete with the big jewellery players out there (and we didn’t want to be another small kitchen table retailer) so we had to create something unique, and selling original pieces that you couldn't buy elsewhere in the UK seemed a good place to start.

The trouble with jewellery is that there are so many small designers out there without the funds to market themselves, and that’s where we come in. We do a lot of promoting others!

What makes your product unique?
Well the whole thing is unique. 95% of our collection is exclusive to Astley Clarke. You can’t buy any of the designs anywhere else in the UK.

I have to say it was pretty difficult to get the exclusivity at first but luckily it’s worked and they now realise it’s worth their while! Phew!

How do you get a good work/life balance?
I don’t! Not at the moment anyway! I’m lucky that I’ve got a very helpful and tolerant boyfriend who’s a mean cook and is very understanding (although he’ll hate me for saying that – it's not seen as very manly).

My new plan for 2008 is to have some sort of a work/life balance!

What’s your best selling product / label?
Two collections in particular actually do very well. The Hudson Collection which is fine jewellery full of lovely aquamarines and rubies and Como Blonde which is much more chunky - lots of big beads.

How would you characterise your fashion style?
Now that I’m growing (she’s six months pregnant) I’m afraid it’s just jeans, jeans and more jeans.

Where do you buy your denim and why?
I’m addicted to Seven for all Mankind. When you find a style that doesn’t make your bum look big they become impossible to resist, especially when you’re pregnant!

Where do you buy your knitwear and why?
I actually really like Brora and Joseph. Brora purely for the amazing quality and Joseph for their beautiful designs - oh and of course I couldn’t forget good old Marks & Spencer.

If you’re buying luxe lingerie where do you head and why?
Rigby and Peller and again Marks & Spencer - they have some really pretty things at great prices.

Heels or flats and where do you buy them?
Both really. I'm afraid to say that in the winter you can’t beat Uggs and for heels I can’t resist Sergio Rossi. I’ve currently got 3 pairs on the go! Actually talking about them has made me all excited about being able to wear heels again... come on baby!

Where do you shop for your maternity wear?
I’ve been quite lucky so far and haven’t had to buy much but I think it’s about time I treated myself.

Isabella Oliver has some lovely things and Mama La Mode’s new site looks great too. The only problem with maternity clothes is that one could spend an absolute fortune on them but I know that once I'd had the baby I'd always think of them as ‘my fat clothes’.

Where are you planning to shop for your baby clothes?
I really must get organised - I haven’t actually bought anything yet but I’ve got a very talented French friend who’s knitting me the most adorable little red dungarees.

What beauty products are currently in your bathroom cabinet?
At the moment I’m loving Marc Jacobs Splashes. They’re really refreshing after a shower and the packaging looks fab in my bathroom which is always an added bonus!

I’ve also got a vast amount of Bliss products (one of Astley Clark's investors founded Bliss) and I love their Minty Soap 'n Scrub.

What’s your signature fragrance?
I don’t really have one. I always have a bottle of Chanel no.19 on the go and at the moment I’m wearing Marc Jacobs, but then I also love Chantecaille fragrances too.

What skincare brand do you depend on?
Probably Bliss because I feel like their products are industrially strong and actually do something. I also can't bear to be without my Creme de la Mer Cleansing Lotion.

What are your three must-have make up products?
Chantecaille New Stick in Sand and Maybelleine Mascara (a very old friend). I’m not very good at trying others!

Do you live an eco conscious lifestyle?
We’re actually trying to make the business as eco friendly as we can at the moment and have just invested in bio-degradable packaging at vast expense! I think it’s really important though, especially for regular online shoppers who are more than aware of the huge amount of packaging that comes with everything.

I’m now proud to say that apart from the box which you keep your jewellery in, our entire package is completely bio-degradable.

How would you describe the style of your home?
Oooh that’s a hard one. It’s definitely not minimalist. I suppose it’s quite grand because we’ve got very high ceilings and big balconies but the decoration is probably a bit shabby chic. Yes I think that’s a pretty good description.

Where do you go for home furnishings?
I love second hand furniture so I shop all over the place for things. I’m really not into modern snazzy chairs that do funny things - I much prefer the traditional look.

For soft furnishings I always go to Thornback & Peel. They do some really lovely cushions that look quite formal from afar but when you get up close they have a huge bug on them or something. They're fun.

Where else do you love to indulge?
I'm a regular at Smythson and Figleaves.

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