What advice would you give your 20 year old self?
Jenna: Well, I think that mistakes happen and I think you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself – it’s all part of the process and everything leads you to where you’re meant to be
Bianca: I think something you and your mum Lindi taught me is to not overthink things, especially like businesses – if you're trying to start your own business, you know you can spend years trying to develop a business plan and obviously it has to have thought and projections around it, but also just give it a go, and don’t be scared to just start.
J: Well that’s actually how Trading in Style started on Instagram, because we didn’t have the money or time to build a website – so we just started posting on Instagram
B: And look where we are today.
What are your favourite designers at the moment?
J: That’s a very hard question because there are so many brands that we love at the moment. I think we’re loving Chloe right now …
B: I love the boho vibes of Chloe and bringing back / reviving of the Paddington Bag.
J: Loving all the revivals of the vintage bags at the moment.
What is your go to designer handbag?
B: It’s like picking your favourite child!
J: Literally.
B: I’m going to say my black Prada bowling bag that I actually got here because I don’t wear that much black I’m more neutral but it has kind of made me want to incorporate more black into my looks which I quite like.
J: It’s definitely hard to pick one I feel like for summer I always go back to my Loewe raffia and leather little hammock bag – it just goes with everything and it’s great for travel as well.
Tips for staying chic in the office? Fashion tips for corporate girlies?
J: I feel like it’s a cliche but I think you need a good capsule wardrobe. A few really good fitting pairs of trousers.
B: Blazers …
J: Some great shirts.
B: Even some longer line shorts you can wear with a white shirt, belts, ballet flats, loafers.
J: Some beautiful maxi skirts as well, that you can style with a belt and a shirt.
B: So that you can mix and match, and have a few “uniform” pieces and then just have them on rotation.
What is something people wouldn't know about you?
J: Okay so I was actually born in the US but moved to South Africa when I was about 18 months old, and one food that I really hate is mushrooms.
B: I used to be a cross-country runner – I was really good. Now I don’t run at all. And I used to be a good dancer, I need to get back into it. I still love it.
J: You can still actually see it in the way that you move.
Do you work part time or full time?
J: We both officially work four days, B has one day with her daughter and and I have a day to do life admin but there is always a lot that we’re doing from home as well, after hours and around the kids.
B: It allows us to be flexible – we both like to be at most pickups, and at every carnival, every activity
J: We have a mutual understanding – we’re both mums, which is amazing, and we help each other out, if I have to be at the school for something or Bianca does – we’ve got each other’s backs
B: Have to mention our team here because we could not do it without our Trading in Style team and our families.