I started out my working life as a secretary, although I had other strings to my bow, I came from a poor background and I needed to earn as much as possible. My father was an invalid and I was the eldest of four children, often called upon from a very young age to take on the mother's role, my mother worked all hours imaginable to make ends meet. This work ethic has stayed with me until now, so too has her bossy streak. One of my mother's jobs was an usherette in the Gaumont Cinema in Rochester, Kent, we loved her working there, as we were allowed in free of charge, probably this was the beginning of my love of vintage costume.