Cherrylane shirts and Dachet acid-wash jeans. This designer recalls her ’80s fashion

Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, designer Rachel Castle.

How would you describe your style? Weekdays, one thing; weekends, another thing entirely. At work I keep things simple – loose shirts with pants, jeans or shorts. It needs to be comfortable so I can move around easily, make beds for shoots, go to meetings, paint and sew. I have a lot of the same pieces in different colours on rotation, so I feel like I’m not repeating myself, but really, I am. On weekends, it’s dresses all the way. I love the simplicity of a beautifully cut dress and am happy to do any colour or pattern, tight or loose, strapless or one-shoulder, long or short.

What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe? I have a lot of my mother’s clothes; she had beautiful taste. My favourite is a 1970s Ewaldo Bock black silk midi dress that has the sweetest lace cap sleeves and pin-tucks.

And the most recent addition? A purple Jacquemus pony-skin bag.

What would you wear …
… on a first date? Something quiet and black with a heel.
… on a plane? Cashmere everything with sneakers.
… on the red carpet? Alexander McQueen, in my dreams.

What’s your favourite fashion era? I wouldn’t say favourite but the ’80s were my defining sartorial era, unlucky me! Cherrylane shirts, Dachet acid-wash jeans and bright high-top Converse sneakers made me very excited as a teenager. All these years later, a shirt, jeans and sneakers are still what I feel most comfortable in.

Do you have a favourite designer? My everyday wardrobe is filled to the brim with Lee Mathews, Bassike and Jac + Jack pieces. For jumpers and coats, Acne always. For dresses, it’s anything and everything, including Scanlan Theodore, Zimmermann, Chloé and Dries van Noten.

What’s your fragrance of choice? “Hermessence Myrrhe Eglantine” by Hermès; it’s soft and sweet.