Alexandra Shulman: ‘Which book am I ashamed not to have read? Literally the whole canon of classic English literature’
The former British Vogue editor-in-chief and author on a romantic kiss on a traffic island, her school-run regrets, and a very expensive nude
TL;DR
- Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, was born in London and studied social anthropology.
- Her career includes roles at Over 21, Tatler, British GQ, and British Vogue.
- She has been awarded an OBE and a CBE for her contributions to fashion journalism.
- Shulman's books include novels and the bestselling memoir 'Clothes … and Other Things That Matter'.
- Her current collection of essays is titled 'Black Coffee and Red Lipstick: Notes on Living'.
- She is married for the second time, has a son, and lives in London.
- Her happiest moments are spent lying in the sun by a pool with a good book.
- She admires the king for his work ethic during cancer treatment.
- Shulman deplores impatience in herself and insincerity in others.
- Her most expensive purchase, aside from property, was a Roger Hilton gouache of a nude.
- She considers her laptop her most treasured possession.
- She describes herself as stubborn, emotional, and reliable.
- Her desired superpower is the ability to teleport.
- Anxiety about the future makes her unhappy.
- She dislikes her short legs.
- She wishes she could bring back a human voice on the phone.
- Her unappealing habit is not closing cupboards and drawers.
- She fears becoming infirm as she gets older.
- She does not have celebrity crushes.
- She is ashamed not to have read classic English literature.
- She would choose fame over anonymity.
- Her guiltiest pleasure is drinking wine while binge-watching something for hours.
- The best kiss of her life was on a traffic island in Paddington at age 28.
- She regrets not being able to pick her son up from school more often.
- Her sex life is described as unpredictable.
- Having a sunnier disposition would improve her life.
- She would rather have more money than more sex or fame.
- The most important life lesson she has learned is that perfection is the enemy of achievement.
- She doesn't want to know what happens when we die.
- She claims to have no sense of humour and no jokes.