Exclusive: Chelsea Leyland's Fashion Week Rules

Dashing between shows, spinning decks at the coolest fashion parties and catching up with her fellow Brit It-girls... it's all in a day's work for New York-based model and DJ Chelsea Leyland. Here she exclusively talks Marie Claire Runway through her fashion week rules.

My London Fashion Week Digs... 'I normally stay at the London Edition hotel during fashion week. It's definitely one of the coolest spots in town. All my friends stay there too so it almost has that boarding school feel. It’s fun when it’s 3am and everyone’s chilling in each other's rooms.'

Company Is Everything… 'I live in New York, but I’ve got so many mates in London. I always try and catch up with Alice [Dellal] when I’m in town. She’s one of my best friends, we went to school together, we’ve known each other since we were 13. The picture below is me, her and Clara [Paget] at a fashion week party at LouLou’s in Mayfair.'

(From left: Alice Dellal, Clara Paget, Chelsea Leyland) 

My DJ Dress Code… 'When I'm working I tend to get dressed up – I do love a cute Valentino minidress. But if you meet me during the day I’m really scruffy in a pair of jeans, I dress like a teenage boy.' 

My Favourite Designers… 'I’m a big supporter of my friend Hannah Weiland’s brand Shrimps – I love all her coats. In general, I prefer London fashion to any other city, it’s more exciting and people take risks a bit more. Simone Rocha and Preen are great too.'

(Shrimps: Spring/Summer 15) The Grub… 'Because me and my mate Kate [Foley], who’s a stylist, are both English and live in New York, it’s the biggest treat in the world going to Marks & Spencer. We end up taking the store back to our hotel room and for like three days we stuff ourselves with food!' 

(From left: Chelsea Leyland, Kate Foley)

The Best Show Tunes… 'DKNY and Suno always have good music at their runway shows. My own playlist when I’m DJing changes depending on the designer – I think if I was DJing at a Chanel party I could throw in some more obscure French tracks in there. I hate it when people ask for special requests, but sometimes I will play them.' 

My Fashion Week Playlist… 'Right now I love Use Me by Bill Withers, Walking with Elephants by Ten Walls, New Dorp, New York by SNTRKT, Going Back Where I Belong by Sugarpie DeSanto.' 

The Recovery Process… 'Fashion month is the craziest time for me. So when its over, I love just putting on my Wellington boots, not changing my clothes for three days and not giving a shit about what I’m wearing!'

Read more of Chelsea Leyland’s exclusive fashion week diary, plus find more exclusives in the new SS15 issue of Marie Claire Runway – on sale now.