Has anyone else been keeping up with the ever changing fashion evolution of Harry Styles? From suits, to skirts to sequins the man has done it all, and author Terry Newman, is serving it to us on a silver platter. Terry Newman is a lover of both fashion and writing, and in an effort to combine the two she ultimately lived out her dream. Want to hear more? Keep scrolling to find out more about the captivating and inspiring, Terry Newman. We know you write a lot of books on the evolution of others, but we want to know yours! Please tell us how you got started on your journey.I studied English Literature at university and then went to work for the handbag designer, Lulu Guinness.  It was just the two of us in her basement as she had just launched her business.  I learnt about the fashion industry with her and did everything including helping to make the famous rose baskets she created that are now on display at The V&A Museum in London.  It was a brilliant first job that gave me first hand insight into what the fashion industry entailed and made me feel a bit braver to be creative myself.  So, I then got the courage to go and work for i-D Magazine as secretly I had always wanted to write, and it was there I learnt about journalism and styling.  I started lecturing about fashion when I had children and then, because secretly I had always wanted to write books began putting together proposals which I never showed anyone.  Then one day I plucked up the courage and met my agent Carrie Kania who encouraged me and taught me about the publishing world.  This has led to where I am now.  The aspiring Barbara Cartland of the fashion book!! What inspired you to write these types of books?When I was younger all I was interested in were books and clothes and so the first book I wrote was called Legendary Authors and the Clothes they Wore – a book about books and clothes.  What I realized was that I was fascinated by the way people dress and analyzing that can reveal so much about their character and lives.  Clothes for me tell a story, and as I said, I’ve always loved book and clothes…. As a writer and a creative it’s easy to get creative blocks, how do you stay inspired and motivated?If I ever find I get a block then I know it’s because I haven’t done my research properly, so I spend time mind-mapping ideas, looking at sources, speaking to people and being alert to podcasts, books, magazines – all kinds of culture around me and then I find I can get moving again.  It’s frustrating though, especially if you have a deadline. Keeping a clear mind is vital to being a creative, how do you take care of your mental health?It may not be for everyone, but about 10 years ago I found I wasn’t coping well with the balance of bringing up a young family and working too.  I needed to do something to help me keep sane and I took a chance on transcendental meditation.  I learnt the technique and now I meditate for 20 minutes twice a day.  It’s helped me so much.  That and cold-water swimming! Do you know the people you write about, or are they fashion icons you look up to? Or both!The majority of the authors and artists I wrote about in my first 2 books were sadly departed – that said, at the time, Joan Didion, who appears on the cover of Legendary Authors and the Clothes they Wore, was very much alive and although I didn’t speak to her she loved the book and put it on her Facebook page and at the recent auction of her property it was amongst the things for sale.  She liked the book and kept it and that meant a huge deal to me as when thinking about the book initially, the only person I wanted on the cover was her.  Generally, I write books about people not with people, and this gives me freedom to be objective.  That said I’ve been approached by an archive recently and mean to work with them on a project together, along the lines of my previous books so that will be interesting. What is your favourite look in your book on the evolution of Harry Styles' style?I was very lucky to get to choose the fabulous outfits featured in the book, so they are all ones I particularly love, but given a push I’d say  the sunflower-yellow suit from Marc Jacob’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection, worn by Harry at his first BRIT Awards as a solo artist in 2020.  Styles helped take gender-fluid fashion statements into the wider mainstream and showed how lovely a purple chiffon scarf tied in a bow can look on everybody. Styles’ second wardrobe change of the evening (he had three) was coincidentally the same marigold suit worn by Lady Gaga on the December 2019 cover of Elle magazine.What new trend is a must have, and a no go for you?I love the trend for buying vintage clothing, it’s something I have been obsessed with since I was a teenager and it’s a great way of helping the planet and finding something very special sometimes.  I’m not usually into trends though and prefer thinking about fashion in terms of style instead – which as Monsieur Saint Laurent said, “fashions fade, but style is eternal.’ Do you think style plays a part in creating who you are?Style is at the heart of identity and narrates who you are visually.  Even if you think you don’t care what you wear you are saying something!Is there someone else whose style you greatly admire, perhaps your next book?I’ve paid homage to my style icons in the books I’ve written about authors and artists and chosen them for all different reasons.  From Maya Angelou to Donna Tartt, from Georgia O’Keeffe to Yayoi Kusama; there is something wonderful about all their sartorial approaches to fashion – largely it’s due to their confidence in knowing what they like and going for it; just being themselves.  Right now, I’m so excited as I am completing 2 books along the same lines as my Harry Styles one – both about different pop stars and after that I have a book in the pipeline writing about a massive icon that I can’t wait to share with you when the deal is done!  I’ll let you know as soon as I can. If you could give one piece of advice to the BELLA readers on following their dreams, what would it be? I always wanted to write a book and it took till I was 50 to write one of my own.  I had written for newspapers and magazines and contributed to other books, but my first very own one came a bit later in life.  It was always a dream I was a little scared to admit as it felt quite ambitious.  Now I lecture and write and what I say to my students is write down a wish list of your dreams and consciously and subconsciously you will work towards them.  If you don’t know what your dream is to begin with how is it going to come true?

LIVE YOUR MOST BELLA LIFE!

BELLA Magazine is a national subscription- and newsstand-based lifestyle publication offering a curated guide to fashion, beauty, health, philanthropy, arts and culture, cuisine, celebrities, and entertainment.

At BELLA, we spotlight the ideal that Life Is BEAUTIFUL!