This week we speak to Pip Durell, Founder of With Nothing Nothing Underneath a fashion on how she embarked on this journey.
WNU is all about simplicity – paired back, laid back, timeless, effortless shirts – just like the woman who wears them. Our shirts are not about trends or fleeting style moments, but about a wardrobe essential in which to live a life.
Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible wellness, fashion and beauty entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
Inspired by men’s tailoring, British heritage and timeless style, WNU was started in London in 2017 out of our founder’s need for shirts that were perfectly adjusted for women, sustainably sourced and stood the test of time.
Pip started WNU after adjusting mens shirts for her own use. Combining her fashion knowledge, styling credentials with sustainability and her own very English, effortless approach to dressing, WNU was born.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I loved History of Art – I was going to study it at university before I ended up going straight into
work.
What was your first job?
I was the personal assistant to the Publisher of Vanity Fair – an incredible experience learning from the bottom up.
What inspired you to enter the fashion space and launch With Nothing Underneath?
I was already in the industry, working as the Jewellery Editor at Tatler magazine and having
previously been at Vogue I had seen a gap in the market for well made, accessibly priced,
sustainable women’s shirts. Function meets elegance in clothing.
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Talk us through the concept?
The Art of Effortless: Modern Simplicity meets British Heritage. Modern clothing for modern
women, while tapping into the nostalgia of the country’s heritage.
What are the key elements of your role?
I am the CEO so I sign everything from a business aspect off – but also as Creative Director I am
working on how we present the brand vision through product and imagery.
Talk us through your daily routine.
I wake up at 6.30 and get ready before I get my baby up at 7. My husband and I get her ready
then walk the dog and head to work. Each day is different – I could be shooting new collections,
working on business development, looking at our marketing strategy or going over product development with the production team. Never a dull day. In the evenings I love to take a bath before bed and read – the perfect way to unwind – before an early bedtime, I am not a night owl!
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
Get ready to work hard – nothing replaces graft and a willingness to learn.
Tell us more about the pieces?
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get.’ What is the worst that can happen?
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And what is the worst?
‘Everything will work itself out.’ – I find things work themselves out when you work on them.
What’s the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?
I think currently it’s working out how to run the business while being a new mother. It’s harder
than I ever expected but both are so enriching in totally different ways, I feel so lucky.
What’s your future for the brand?
I don’t see a ceiling. Product expansion, geographical expansion… the sky is the limit for With Nothing Underneath and the clothing we want to bring to our customers lifestyles.
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