Pandora Sykes: The Blogger Come Fashion Features Editor Styling The Nation

There’s something about Pandora Sykes – it’s tricky to put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s that honey-blonde hair she keeps nonchalantly chopped in a bob, or those elfin, pixie-like features. Maybe it’s the way she makes every sartorial combination look so, well, easy. It is definitely the nose ring. She’s just cool in that achingly, makes-you-want-to-go-out-and-buy-whatever-she-puts-on way. What has always fascinated me about her is the fact that she is all of these things while holding one of the most sought after positions at the country’s most influential fashion supplement.

As fashion features editor at Sunday Times Style, Pandora is pretty much shaping the country’s wardrobe. “I flag up pieces that I think women look great in and show them how to wear them,” she says. “I also answer readers questions,” which, if recent figures are to be believed, happen to be around 1.5 million readers each week.

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“I always knew I wanted to be a journalist,” she says. “I wrote short stories constantly, lobbied for work experience in every school holiday – even though most magazines wouldn’t take me until I was at university – and joined every writing competition. I’m still sore I never won Vogue’s competition though…just kidding!”

She’s funny, in a way that makes it difficult not to be immediately taken by her, but writing is something she has always been serious about. “I studied English Literature at university rather than journalism because I loved books,’ she says. “I wanted to learn to read and construct sentences properly. I also thought (though many may disagree) that you can either write or not, and everything else, I would learn on the job.”

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Don’t be fooled, though. Pandora is far from your average fashion editor. In fact, long before editors began making the move into digital whether through their own blogs or creating content for the big e-tailers, Pandora was already in the thick of the online scene thanks to her successful eponymous blog. Think of it as the perfect mixture between playful outfit posts and witty commentary.

“I took up blogging before the whole phenomenon, about four years ago, just as a resource where any potential bosses could see my writing. I was big into social commentary (and sill am, in fact) and dreamed of being a columnist. I added fashion to my blog 18 months ago and it took off.” Alongside her role at Sunday Times Style, you can find her writing for the big online heavyweights from the Man Repeller to Refinery 29.

As a stylist, Pandora’s eye and instinct is unfailing and you don’t have to browse too far or wide on the blogosphere to know that she puts her best foot forward when it comes to dressing herself too. The process of putting outfits together is something that has always come naturally. Everyone from industry bigwigs to the younger generation of bloggers is crazy about her style. She’s pretty much mastered the art of the high-low mix and is never one to shy away from taking a risk. “I can look back at last week and think, WTF!” she says, laughing. But just like the rest of us, her style is constantly evolving.

“Oh god, it’s been through so many phases. I spent most of university in baby doll smocks and clothes that were two sizes too big for me because I thought they were more flattering. Madness,” she says. “Now, I’m into fitted tailoring – I love the 60s, 70s ad 90s. It’s quite eclectic, but there are some common parts!” She’s been obsessed with “scallop-hemmed A-line skirts” for a while now but quickly adds that she fell in love with them long before they became the ‘It’ item of the season. In fact, many of her go-to items are borne out of function, not fashion. “I’m short so A-line skirts work as a silhouette on me,” she says. “Before I buy anything I always ask whether it’s something I actually want to wear and if it will make me look good.”

Suits are another thing she’s excited about, as is the new Aquazzura collection – “[designer] Edgardo is a genius” – and she counts all of the vintage suede and seventies pieces having a moment right now as just a handful of her wardrobe staples. Come downtime, it’s all about what she calls “dorky denim – like chopped off flairs. I’ve also seen a lot of pyjama jackets that would look amazing with Levi 501s…”

Did you catch that? It’s the makings of another trend. Just remember, when you see it in gaggles outside of Topshop next week, you probably saw it on Pandora first.

Images by Grazia Italia