Mary Berry: reluctant style icon

 

Blimey, Mary Berry is a busy woman. When I interviewed her for Saga magazine (is that the sound of a trumpet, I hear?), her jam-packed schedule meant that we had exactly 15 minutes together in the back of a car. While the doyenne of British baking whizzed from one engagement to the next to promote her new autobiography Recipe for Life, I asked her to show me how to tie a scarf. Admitting that she was 'flabbergasted by the fuss' made over the Zara floral bomber jacket, Berry confessed that she doesn't really view herself as a style icon. 'The main reason I chose the jacket was because it looked warm, I am drawn to bright colours, but when I saw it my first thought was, "Ooh yes, lots of room for a jumper." I get so cold when I'm filming Bake Off, I have to wear thermals.'

I admire this down-to-earth approach to style. Berry is comfortable in cashmere, more interested in baking than Balenciaga - and that's fine. Beneath the lovely, charming exterior, I detected a steely determination. No wonder her impressive career spans 40 years and she's the author of more than 70 books. In an era when there are so few older female presenters, it's brilliant to see Mary Berry doing her own thing on prime time TV:

'It's terrific in one's twilight years to have something like Bake Off and the wonderful opportunities it has brought me. This is one of the most exciting times of my life - and how many other people at the age of 78, are lucky enough to say that?'

Photo: Woman & Home

 


Sorry to disappoint, but in spite of Mary's excellent tuition I couldn't get to grips with the Fulham Knot. You can find instructions and my full interview here.