Interview with Leah Hackett

As you all probably know by now the MCF girls decided to visit the North and one of our stops was The Closet which is managed by ex Hollyoaks star Leah Hackett and co owned by Claire Cooper and Jennifer Metcalfe.

Strolling into The Closet we were half expecting to meet a shy, timid, 'Tina' like character with geeky glasses and a patchwork style cardigan, however we couldn't have been more wrong!

Her big smile and cheery voice instantly put us at ease and her cute maxi dress teamed with natural makeup showed off her petite frame and striking looks.

After we had tried on all the dresses Leah put her hair up in her infamous 'Pineapple' hair do, sat on the floor and we gathered around her on the sofas ready to question her on The Closet, her fave styles and what trends she thinks are hot and not. This is what she had to say...

Why did you start The Closet?

Me and Jennifer are always stealing each other's clothes and we just thought that other celebs might do the same... no celebrity wants to be seen on the red carpet with the same dress twice, they have to do something with them and that's how The Closet was born.

How do you get hold of the dresses?

We started by approaching celebrities and asking them if they would be happy to donate the dresses to The Closet, they are usually quite happy to do so as they know money goes towards charity. Some celebrities have started approaching us after an event now which is great. We are just trying to put our name out there so more people know about the service.

Have there been any major disasters with any of the dresses?

Jennifer spilled red wine on one of the dresses once on a night out! But it came out which was a relief. We know that there is always going to be wear and tear when it comes to dresses, sequins fall off, zips break its just how fashion is. If the damage is only minor then we generally fix it, however if there is a big rip then we have insurance which covers everything.

What makes The Closet any different to any other Celebrity dress rental store?

With The Closet you can touch the clothes and actually have the chance to try them on first. We don't just offer a service we offer an experience. You can try all sorts on, experiment with various styles and just have fun with your girlfriends.

Why did you choose Christies as your choice of charity?

Well Christies is a local charity and we hold it close to our hearts because of personal experiences with friends and loved ones, plus we want to keep the theme of The Closet local by using Local charities and local designers.

You, Claire and Jennifer all have a very different style does that help or hinder the workings of The Closet?

Definitely helps! We can relate too different people because we have very different styles and body issues which we can use to help other people when getting ready. We also come from different backgrounds and we are all different ages helping us get a variety of ideas on what fashion is all about.

Do you prefer designer or high street?

Definitely depends on the outfit and occasion. There is something about the feel of designer materials when on the red carpet; I just love the feel of designer dresses. However I wear high street for everyday.

What is your fave high street retailer?

I am definitely a TOPSHOP girl, but I also love Rare at the minute. H&M are great for layering and grabbing some basic items.

What is your favourite Designer?

I love the local designers but my favourite at the moment is Holston Heritage.

What would you say was the hottest trends of the moment?

Lace is really popular, oh and maxi dresses I could live in them! The Closet has definitely changed my views on trends, unless you try something on you really don't know what suits.

We laughed over cocktails, quizzed Leah on Hollyoaks and her days as Tina and gossiped about various celebrities. The overall experience at The Closet was great fun, very addictive and extremely relaxed. rn
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Check out more info on our day at The Closet and find out more on how you can hire the hottest celebrity dresses from the red carpet. rn