“How to get ready for an MBE investiture?” is not a question I was ever expecting to ask myself, but when my husband opened the very grand looking letter from the palace back in April and read it to me on FaceTime, I’m not ashamed to say it was among my first thoughts. I was delighted to be honoured alongside my Beauty Banks charity co-founder Jo Jones for our work to alleviate hygiene poverty in the UK, but as a beauty editor and fashion nerd, I knew I also had to put my best foot forward on the day.
I instinctively knew I wanted to make it as British an affair as possible, quickly decided on navy blue – it’s appropriate, modest and chic – and was also inexplicably adamant that I should wear a very tailored 1940s-style silhouette suit. I’m so glad this very specific combination proved impossible to find off-the-peg, because it meant that my quest ultimately led me to British designer Claire Mischevani, whose team made it clear that anything was possible, from a snatched peplum with a vintage brooch belt buckle, to the wool crepe fabric in the perfect midnight blue. Over three fittings and one canvas toile, they made the whole experience a pleasure. So much so that I almost felt sad when the suit of dreams was ready and the experience was over!
Britain is spoiled for choice when it comes to shoe designers, and I was thrilled to find the perfect classic navy suede Jimmy Choo stilettos – worn once and in my exact size – soon after I began browsing preloved sites. No fully British look would be complete without an emergency raincoat, so I dusted off my old navy Burberry trench to stand up to the bluster that mercifully never came. My undies and hosiery were, of course, M&S.
Sali in glam with make-up artist Cher Webb, surrounded by British hair and beauty products.
For my hat (the palace encourages ladies to wear one), I specifically wanted to work with a milliner from my hometown of Brighton. I couldn’t believe it when, having narrowed down my options to three favourites, I discovered by accident that one of them, Joanna Zara, had previously donated proceeds of a pop-up shop to Beauty Banks – despite the fact we’d never met. It was meant to be: she understood my vision (neat, navy vintage-style pillbox) perfectly, and had it made to measure and packed in a candy stripe hat box within two weeks of first visit.
Hairstylist Hadley Yates took care of Sali’s hair, using products by Sam McKnight, a longtime Beauty Banks supporter.
For fragrance, I always knew I’d wear Perfumer H by Lyn Harris, my favourite British perfumer and someone whose taste is always startlingly similar to my own. I wear many of her creations in daily life, but for the investiture I decided to wear something less familiar, and so I went to see Lyn at her Crawford Street workshop, showed her my outfit and asked for her input. Together we selected Suede, a joyful but elegant blend of cucumber, orange blossom and violet leaf with a soft, leathery base. It was perfect.
A month out from the big day, I visited London dermatologist Ariel Haus for a Glacé facial and my own aesthetic doctor, Dr Wassim Taktouk, for my thrice-yearly toxin injections around my eyes and neck. I’m very proud of the British beauty industry I work in, advocate for and which has supported Beauty Banks so much in our work. And so it seemed absolutely right that Jo and I represent some of the best of our homegrown brands and talent.
Jo’s and my old friends, the make-up artist Cher Webb and hairstylist Hadley Yates – both huge supporters of Beauty Banks – made up our glam squad and brought the fun to a very hectic morning’s glow-up. There was heaps of chatting and giggling as I prepped my skin with Hydrating Milky Toner and the new Longevit-8 Peptide Serum from Byoma, who are invaluable partners, providing the charity with warehousing, security and large volumes of products for people living in poverty. I wore Keats moisturiser and eye cream from Skin Rocks, who have also donated many products in recent months. Just ahead of make-up, Cher applied No 98’s The Mask, to give my skin a plumped-up, juicy finish.
Cher applying the finishing touches: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat pencil, and Victoria Beckham Beauty Twist lipstick.
Both Jo and I wore make-up from three British industry icons: foundation, eyeliner and highlighter from Victoria Beckham Beauty, the beautiful concealer by Lisa Eldridge, and a host of products, from eyeshadow to face powder, from Charlotte Tilbury (who also appeared on this year’s King’s Birthday honours list). For the finishing touch, Cher applied Bonded half-lashes, Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat pencil in Iconic Nude (I have one in every bag), Victoria Beckham’s Twist lipstick, and mine and Jo’s very own RUM Beauty mascara, which we co-created with make-up artist Sam Chapman.
On my nails, I wore Biosculpture’s Rose, from their charity collaboration with Beauty Banks. To prep, protect and gloss my hair, Hadley sprayed on The Glass, a high shine conditioning spray by British beauty brand, No 98, co-founded by a big supporter of Beauty Banks, Lorna Andrews. After blowdrying with GHD Air dryer to add volume, Hadley added a few Curated clip-in hair extensions at the back for bulk and created waves at the front with my own GHD Chronos styler from home. He made everything look a tad less formal and more current with Cool Girl texturising spray and The Modern Hairspray by our close friend, hairdresser Sam McKnight, who at the very beginning of our charity’s journey sold his personal Vivienne Westwood archive to fund our expansion into Scotland.
Sali wearing a navy skirt suit by Claire Mischevani, preloved Jimmy Choo heels, and a hat by Brighton milliner Joanna Zara.
After that, Lorna whisked us off to Windsor Castle in a quintessentially British Aston Martin she’d borrowed from a friend for the day, and before we knew it, we were in front of the (very friendly, warm and well-informed) Princess Royal, receiving our red ribboned medals in front of our families. Running a charity for the past eight years has been an honour, a pleasure but often an unglamorous slog. To have one day of frivolous celebration, wearing the best of our industry – from hair to pedi – was a way of thanking everyone who has supported us in getting here.
Sali’s writing fee has been donated in full to Beauty Banks. To help them in their mission, please donate via beautybanks.org.uk