Cheryl Leung

Centre Court's Style Consultant:

Shoppers in Wimbledon are in for a treat: Centre Court has secured the services of one of London’s leading stylists. Cheryl Leung, a fast-rising star of the UK fashion scene, will be offering insider tips and solving your fashion dilemmas in-centre and via the website. We went to meet Cheryl to find out what we can look forward to.

Cheryl, 27, is a born and bred Londoner who got the fashion bug early. “I grew up during the 90s when there was a huge buzz around homegrown talent, not only in fashion but also in music, film and new media. I really am a child of Cool Britannia and this has shaped everything I’ve done since.”

Cheryl did a foundation course at the London College of Fashion, but whilst she was studying for her degree she was headhunted by Pringle of Scotland. “At the age of 20 I found myself working in Mayfair, helping turn a 194-year-old manufacturer into a luxury knitwear brand. I watched lots of stylists at work and I thought, yes, this is what I want to do.”

After working on Pringle’s first ever London Fashion Week show, Cheryl moved into the world of magazines, assisting the fashion directors of Pop and The Telegraph magazine. Cheryl still works as a freelance stylist for The Telegraph Media Group and is currently Fashion Director at Let Them Eat Cake magazine. She co-founded the quarterly publication, Let Them Eat Cake, which features the next generation of talent in the fashion industry.

As you’d expect, her favourite designers include some of the biggest names in British fashion - Alexander McQueen, Giles Deacon and Richard Nicoll. She rates American newcomer Alexander Wang, and is an admirer of established greats such as Miuccia Prada and Azzedine Alaïa. She also draws inspiration from the worlds of art, cinema and music.

There’s a strong element of fantasy to Cheryl’s editorial work, but it’s not all about haute couture. Cheryl is a huge fan of the British high street, where she buys many of her own clothes. “High street fashion in the UK is so fast. Trends translate from the runway to the shop floor in a matter of weeks, and the calibre of accessories is very strong today. There’s a real commitment to design, which you can see through collaborations such as Alexander Wang for Gap and Comme des Garçons for H&M.”

Cheryl sees this commitment to design extending beyond fashion – it’s about adding a touch of style to all aspects of your life. “Over the past 50 years, there’s been a great move towards making stylish and well-designed furnishings and homewares available to everyone, and this movement is evident on the High Street today.”

She advocates a straight-forward approach to fashion. “The most important thing is you must feel comfortable in what you’re wearing. It doesn’t matter how good you think you look: if you feel awkward, you will look it. If you choose clothes that suit your body shape and accentuate your best features, you’ll always feel confident and look great.”

She’s also a big accessories fan, believing that these are the quickest way to transform your outfit. “A tired old pair of shoes will ruin a great dress, but a really strong, new pair of shoes will instantly update last year’s dress.” Those looking for insider tips, take note: Cheryl has a great shoe collection.

Another top tip is to shop whilst you are on holiday. “I travel a lot for work, and I’ve picked up some great pieces in New York and Hong Kong. Look for things that are a little bit different but will fit into your existing wardrobe. There’s nothing worse than coming back with a suitcase full of stuff that you’ll never wear again.”

Wimbledon has never looked this good.