TYW: How would you describe your personal style?
Francesca: My go to is always black. I don’t know why but I feel much more myself wearing head to toe black. I think all my friends would say that’s my signature look. Maybe because I’m a ballerina and I get to wear pink sparkly dresses in real life I’m more drawn towards more masculine, darker clothes in my real life to look different. I am starting to be drawn towards other colours recently though like navy and chocolate brown shades and I even bought a rogue red jumper.
TYW: Do you feel your style has evolved alongside trends, or remained true to itself?
Francesca: I’ve definitely gone through phases especially when I was younger where I wanted to be part of the trend but now I’m really realising as I’m going through my wardrobe that I’m clearing out so many clothes I’ve never worn and that’s because I bought them on a whim, I didn’t think about what pieces they would go with or if I’d still love them in three years time. Now I’m being so much better at waiting longer to buy something and if it will stand the test of time. I think I lean towards the French style, pieces that are minimal and with quality fabrics that are beautifully made.
TYW: What’s your relationship with shopping like?
Francesca: I have always been obsessed with shopping. It’s the only thing that gets my heartbeat going other than ballet. I’m always looking at clothes online, most of my photos are screenshots of my shopping wish list (or my bulldog puppy). I’m not constantly buying the clothes I’m looking at online but it makes me very happy looking at it all and carefully making decisions about which ones I can’t live without. When I’m busy I don’t get to shop as much so I will order online. I detest walking but if I get a day off and I go shopping I don’t realise I’ve probably walked miles and miles because I’m enjoying myself so much. Even if I eventually buy a piece online I will nearly always have gone to see it and try it in the shop so I know I haven’t made a quick decision. Also I’m too busy to return clothes!
TYW: Where do you usually discover clothes — through digital platforms, magazines, or elsewhere?
Francesca: I am an avid magazine reader, I always have been since I read my first Vogue magazine when I was about 8 years old and so I will religiously buy magazines especially when I’m travelling, my favourite part of the airport experience is going to buy tons of magazines. I discover a lot there and then the rest is probably through Instagram if I’m being honest. I love seeing people actually wearing the clothes so I can see how they style them and how the garment looks on a body not just a hanger.
TYW: When you’re shopping — either online or in person — what actually draws you to a piece?
Francesca: First the colour, then the shape and then the quality of the piece. I’m always trying to zoom in on pieces online because I want to see how they will look in reality and what the photograph can’t capture which is what’s hard about online shopping. The dream is finding something inexpensive that looks as though it’s been made well with high quality fabric. I’m horrified sometimes by how some very expensive clothes can look like poorly made fast fashion.
TYW: Does spending so much time dressing up for work make you crave simplicity and comfort in everyday life?
Francesca: When I leave home in the morning I live very close to work so I’m only wearing my everyday clothes for 10 minutes outside each way. On a typical day I’ll probably just be walking home in that outfit again and then going home to rest so having some really good coats is really important to me especially in the winter and very comfortable shoes. If I’m going out straight from the theatre in the evening I’ll swap the trainers for some great boots like my heeled Saint Laurent ones so I look like I made an effort and put on a pair of earrings I wouldn’t wear in the studio (I religiously wear my gold Phoebe Philo Pebble studs). It does mean that when I do get the chance to go to an event and I’m making the effort with my hair and make up I want to look great. I like to plan ahead with the help of my amazing stylists Alex Cronan and Kate Foley and make a moment of really dressing up.
TYW: Is there a piece in your wardrobe you always come back to?
Francesca: My black wool and cashmere jumpers, I refresh them yearly from Cos and Toteme because I live in them except for a couple of months in the summer. I also have a Phoebe Philo Celine necklace that elevates any outfit and a beautiful Daniel Lee green leather cropped jacket that is a treasured piece. My black Alaia Teckel bag goes with any evening look and for everyday I throw everything in my big black Bottega Cabat bag, I’ve had it for years and I need to give it some TLC soon.
TYW: What’s one thing you’re happy to save on, and one thing you’re happy to invest in?
Francesca: This is dreadful but I don’t think I think about saving on anything, that’s why I always do my homework and make sure something is good quality or it makes me feel good if I’m going to spend money on it.
TYW: Are there any roles you feel particularly connected to?
Francesca: I love how many different roles I’ve had to play, we’re super lucky at The Royal Ballet with the choice of repertoire so I get to step into the shoes of many different girls and women all the time. They are all characters from different times, different ages, their experience of the world will vary, how royal or how naive or how calculated they are will change the way I stand or walk or look at other people on stage and I love coming back to them time and time again and thinking of different layers. The Nutcracker is very special to me and I love the dramatic roles like Juliet or Manon. I also adore the next ballet I’m dancing Giselle, the end is quite heartbreaking to dance with the music and the emotions.
TYW: What makes you feel the most confident?
Francesca: When I’m wearing an outfit that I don’t have to be fiddling around with, I’m wearing the clothes but the clothes do a lot of the speaking. When it doesn’t look like I tried too hard and I guess having a great hair day and skin day helps too.
TYW: How do you approach makeup when you’re off stage?
Francesca: I don’t wear much make up everyday at all because I will be sweating a lot and won’t get a chance to refresh or reapply anything. I try to make my skin look hydrated, put some colour in my cheeks a bit of concealer under my eyes, fill in my brows and use Victoria Beckham mascara which is super natural and doesn’t flake. I don’t want to clog my pores more than necessary because when I am doing shows I’m sweating in heavy make up and probably applying more make up during the show on top. I have to deep cleanse afterwards at home and if I have a few shows in a row I book a facial.
TYW: What are your beauty rituals?
Francesca: I didn’t have great skin when I was a teenager, it was hormonal and took ages to settle down. I was trying to do so much to it, constantly exfoliating until I took a chance on doing the minimum and it finally calmed down. Since then I learned that for me less is more. My skin used to be oily and now this winter it’s quite dry so now I am just rinsing my face with cold water in the morning, followed by my toner and then using a Lumity face oil or my Niancimide serum with my retinol eye serum. Evenings I double cleanse with my Esse cream cleanser, tone, then apply my night time Esse probiotic serum and Skin Ceuticals moisturiser and eye cream and I am occasionally exfoliating with my Obajji resurfing pads or Obaji mask during the week. On waking I can’t live without my Skin 111 eye roller with cold water and giving myself a mini lymphatic drainage massage.
TYW: What’s something you do to unwind?
Francesca: I always have to be showered and in pyjamas two hours before bed and then watch tv or a film for some escapism. What I love about my job is that I get the chance to do that for other people. Someone who has had a hard time or is under intense pressure saving lives or something extremely difficult can watch a performance and be taken out of their head for a bit. After my shower I cover my lower legs and the soles of my feet with magnesium butter and take Diome sleep supplements with a magnesium capsule. I write down a to do list for the next day so I feel like I’ve left tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow and I’m not taking them to bed with me. When I’m in bed I write down the best part of my day and read my book with my blue light blocking light until I feel sleepy.
TYW: What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone at the beginning of their dance career?
Francesca: Listen to other people and always watch and learn, you must always be hungry to learn and try new things. Don’t be afraid to ask questions respectfully and remember that the only person who can look after you properly is you, sometimes you have to say no to things and not overwork yourself. Schedule proper rest days when you can and small breaks in your day for total rest, body and mind. Also take more photos and write a diary, I wish I had. One day you’ll love looking back on it all.
