12 Tiggywinkly Binny Christmas Questions with Alison Hope Murray.
Binny Napkins 'Baubles Napkins' set of 4, 50cm x 44cm, $99.00 & Binny Tablecloth 'Sleigh Tablecloth' $199.00
Can you share a bit about your journey in fashion and how you ended up as a creative director and one of our favourite content creators in London?
I started my career as a Fashion Designer but was always much more in love with the creative process of storytelling, which is how I ended up working more on the marketing and editorial side of things. I worked my way up but as soon as I was closer to the top than the bottom, TikTok turned up and I found myself creating my own content in order to learn how a new stream of content was changing how my team and I worked. Turns out that the content saw a lot of reach and before I knew it, I was in front of the content just as much as I was behind it!
How has living in the UK influenced your (absolutely excellent) personal style, especially as someone who grew up in (where abouts? ) in Australia?
I grew up between Adelaide and Sydney, but London really taught me how to layer and most importantly how not to let the weather dictate your colour palette!
Alison wears Binny 'Cracker Dress' $249.00. Binny Napkins 'Baubles Napkins' set of 4, 50cm x 44cm, $99.00 & Binny Tablecloth 'Sleigh Tablecloth' $199.00
We particularly love the UK style of both interiors & fashion. What do you see as the biggest differences and are there any similarities you’ve noticed between how we dress in the UK vs Australia?
I think Australians are much more trend-led and keen to try new things, whereas the Brits are perhaps a little more classic. I like that I get to tread both these lines as I think a healthy balance of classic, reliable pieces matched with the right amount of newness is what keeps things interesting and fresh, but doesn’t mean a new wardrobe each season.
As a brand that prides itself on quality & items that are forever pieces, we love your approach to wardrobe downsizing. What’s your key elements in creating a day to day capsule wardrobe & what do you look for in a event look?
For day to day, you need to listen to what you gravitate to, and then build on that. There is no point in focusing on finding the perfect t-shirt if you grab a dress everyday! Same goes for event dressing - I treat event dressing as just an elevated or dressier version of my day to day. I still want to feel like myself!
Binny Napkins 'Baubles Napkins' set of 4, 50cm x 44cm, $99.00 & Binny Tablecloth 'Sleigh Tablecloth' $199.00
What are your wardrobe special keepers that have avoided the cull time after time? (Note. We still have a Guatemalan ladies top and a leather leopard print mini dress that will never ever fit again unless heavy drastic measures taken but love far too much to ever donate.)We all have them! Mine are all the dresses I wore to formals. I have a bright blue Easton Pearson full-feather dress that last time I tried it on, it didn’t zip up and was much more a top than a dress, but I dream of the day I have a wardrobe big enough that I can just hang it up as a display piece!
What’s been your favorite, funny or most memorable project so far, and why?
I worked with Trinny Woodall on Trinny London in its early days. Too many to mention, but working on and creating a brand with so many different women from all walks of life and in all shapes and sizes is something I am incredibly proud of.
Alison wears Binny 'Cracker Dress' $249.00. Binny Napkins 'Baubles Napkins' set of 4, 50cm x 44cm, $99.00 & Binny Tablecloth 'Sleigh Tablecloth' $199.00
Who are your favourite style icons (dead or alive) or creative influences who are coming around for a Christmas drink?
What I would do to get Jenna Lyons and Martha Stewart in the same room…
If Father Christmas has a open cheque book what is on your dream Christmas wish list?
A Chanel quilted vintage medium classic kelly - I’ll take one in every colour other than black please!
What is on your bedside table as books to read, podcasts to listen to or feeds to scroll through over the summer holidays? (We all know this is a fallacy with small children but let's stick with positive thinking!)
The Condiment Book by Claire Dinhut - not really your classic beach read of choice, but I love something a bit silly so I’ll be reading about the history of ketchup to take my mind off things!
Binny Napkins 'Baubles Napkins' set of 4, 50cm x 44cm, $99.00 & Binny Tablecloth 'Sleigh Tablecloth' $199.00
How does a very merry Hope- Murray Christmas party at home look like? What do you wear, drink, serve & set the table with?
Everything has to be a bit too matchy-matchy. There is no point in all the planning if it doesn’t look like you tried! Champagne, long tapered candles and vintage lace are my decor go-tos. The mismatched array of glassware also helps offset the prim perfection of whatever colour story matches my dress!
If you can gift our readers with your best style tips for changing shapes & confidence boosting daily tips, what would they be?
No one cares as much as you do about how you look. They do care however if you’re uncomfortable and in a bad mood. Dress to impress yourself first.
Is Alison Hope Murray home for Christmas?
London does December so well that we are actually opting for a winter Christmas, but a sunny South Australian New Year! I can’t wait.