KITRI Spotlight: Emma Thatcher

#KITRIspotlight
Meet our creative, intelligent and simply brilliant friends who inspire KITRI in every single way.

We caught up with the amazing Emma Rose Thatcher, host of our second Supper Club, to chat about her journey in the fashion industry. We talked about her go-to styling tips, how she’s adapting to the ever-changing world of content creation, and why expressing your individuality matters so much.

Seventeen successful years in the fashion industry is an incredible achievement! What initially drew you to a career as a stylist?

I’ve always been aware and drawn to what people are wearing, I love clothes and the power they have in how they make you feel. When I was younger I wasn’t sure what a career in fashion could like for me as I wasn’t a designer, but when I looked into it more and understood the different routes a job as a stylist can take, I knew I had to give it a go.

Your career journey has taken you from stylist to buyer and now to digital content creator. Could you share the key moments that have shaped your path to where you are today?

When I started as a stylist I was thrown in the deep end styling commercials, I said yes to every job that was offered to me and learnt as I went along, you pick things up pretty quickly when you’re on set with directors and producers relying on you to get the brief right and get everyone dressed and ready to shoot in a short space of time. This helps now when I’m working with brands to fit a brief, understanding what they want while also staying true to my style.

I loved working as a buyer, this is where my eye was trained on being able to look at a collection and identify key pieces for the next season. You get an hour or so in an appointment so you learn to scan the collection and make decisions 6 months ahead of time. I loved being on the lookout for new brands too. You get to know about designers, fabrics, price points. All of these experiences have helped shaped what I do now when creating content for my audience.

Congratulations on the launch of your effortlessly chic new website, Over Dress! You’ve shared several styling philosophies there to help make dressing easier. Could you walk us through some of these principles?

Thank you! I think it really helps to have a few things to constantly revert back to, to ground you and offer direction especially with the changing seasons and constant trend cycle. I talk about my sliding scale method where I adapt my current wardrobe to work for multiple events, instead of rushing out and buying a new outfit for the occasion which might not reflect my style. What I’m craving also comes up a lot over what’s on trend. Thinking about what you’re drawn to over what you should be wearing.

What is your top tip for styling KITRI pieces with items already in your forever wardrobe?

Another of my style philosophy's is adding irony to an outfit. I love that Kitri is the main event and I can add in pieces like my leather blazer which I wore over my lurex dress to the recent supper club I hosted. Kitri also lends well to styling with vintage accesories too. I wore my vintage Chanel necklace to the same event and it was the perfect finishing touch.

Are there any tastemakers, brands, or stylists in the industry who particularly inspire you?

I’ve recently discovered @millenialdirector, and completely obsessed with the whole aesthetic and @sidselalling, a photographer who shares her looks in a completely effortless way. I buy everything she links!

As a content creator navigating a constantly evolving landscape, you’ve explored various platforms—social media, podcasts, blogs, Substack, email, and more. Which of these projects have you enjoyed the most?

My blog Over Dress is always going to be my favourite as it’s a space I completely own and blogging is how I got into the content creating space, even before Instagram, But I joined Substack a year ago and love it as a consumer as well as a creator. There are so many interesting voices and different takes on fashion and style. I’d say Instagram is still the most important for my business though- it’s where everyone is! As frustrating as it can be sometimes you have to appreciate what is has done for so many businesses, especially content creators.

Describe your style in three words?

I try and be effortless, elevated with a little edge

How has becoming a parent influenced your personal style and your relationship with clothing?

I became a parent at 19 so It’s something I’ve been my whole adult life. I’d say age has had the biggest impact on how I dress. When I reached my late 30s’s/early 40s I became so much more confident in all aspects of my life and this has had a big impact on my wardrobe and what I’m buying/wearing. I know how I want to feel when I walk out the door and I’ve made all the mistakes! I share what I've learnt with my kids though, Libby is 23 and wears a lot of my clothes, It’s great to see how she styles them in her own way. My boys are 21 and 19 and I’ve helped them tap into their own personal styles, I love making them all mood boards!

How important is it to express your personality and individuality through your fashion choices?

I think as you get older it’s more about how you want to feel. I’m not so worried about making a statement now as feeling comfortable and confident In what I’m wearing. Sometimes the simplest of outfits is all that’s needed to do that.

What made you choose these particular KITRI pieces as your favourites for the season?

The lurex knit dress just felt completely effortless. Super flattering thanks to the lurex fabric and the fringing just added that special touch.

The shape and print of the halter neck dress is so special, a great dress to have to hand for a wedding or special occasion. And the pyjama suit plays into my effortless, dressing for comfort style.