Why Every Girl Deserves a Secret Wardrobe

In my debut novel Miracle on Regent Street, the main character, Evie Taylor, is a shy, unassuming stockroom girl. And just like Hardy’s, the faded, forgotten old department store in London that she works in, she feels utterly overlooked. But behind her plain clothes and duffel coat she hides a big secret: a passion for vintage fashion. At home she has an antique Armoire full of beautiful, individual pieces from every era, each garment has the potential to change the way people see her. But she has never worn any of the clothes in ‘The Wardrobe’ as she believes her life isn’t good enough for them. Instead she patiently hangs them up and closes her closet, dreaming of the day when she’ll have the opportunity to step into them – and out of the shadows.

I believe that every woman has got a secret closet - even if you don’t own a beautiful Armoire, like Evie’s. Perhaps your unworn garments are hanging next to your every day work clothes, or maybe they’re still in their shopping bags with the labels still attached or packed away in the loft. Just like the wardrobe that leads to Narnia, the clothes in our secret wardrobes hold the key to the lives that we want to live. Like the ‘thin’ clothes we buy that we can’t actually fit into, the special, can’t-breathe-it’s-so-beautiful evening dress we own ‘Just in case we get invited to the Oscars one day’ or the chic designer top we bought to wear to an important business meeting with the bank (if we ever get off our butts long enough to do something with that business idea we’ve had for years). There’s our wedding dresses, worn once but never forgotten. The beautiful shoes that are too high to walk in but we splurged on anyway because buying them made our day brighter somehow, the expensive handbag we’re too scared to use in case a pen leaks inside it…

You’d think these garments in ‘The Wardrobe’ would haunt us with their presence, reminding us of everything our life isn’t. But for me, they hold the key to possibility. They embody my hopes and dreams. There’s the beautiful 1950s style citrus bright Louis Feraud dress I spotted in the window of my favourite vintage shop and bought, even though I knew my social life, which consists of an occasional a dinner at a local pub, would never be good enough for it. And the skinny jeans I bought when I was pregnant became something to aim for once I cared enough about my body again after giving birth to try them on. My glorious Christian Louboutin wedding shoes have pride of place on my shoe shelves because they hold memories of that day that are better than any photograph could capture – and I get to look at them every single day. I’m keeping them for my daughter in case she wants to wear them on her wedding day. If not, I’ll give them to a vintage shop in 30 or so years time and maybe, just maybe, someone like Evie will have their life transformed by them.

So don’t ever feel bad for having a secret wardrobe. Like Evie, you may suddenly find the day finally comes when you need to open it. Remember that beautiful vintage Louis Feraud dress I bought thinking I’d never have anywhere to wear it? Reader, I wore it to my first ever book launch!

The Name Game

Being eight months pregnant with my second child I’m currently name-obsessed. You’d think it’d be easier second time round but, once again, I find myself putting aside my much loved chick-lit bedtime reads for an altogether weightier tome. No, not War and Peace (been there, tried it, gave up) but a nifty little non-fiction number entitled 40,0001 Baby Names (Yes, apparently there ARE that many. And yes, most of them ARE bonkers).

I spend my evenings scouring the pages of this epic beast of a book, writing endless lists of flowery forenames which then get rejected by my husband who gives myriad reasons our child will be beaten up in the playground if I lumber them with a name that would sound odd anywhere other than LA, or the Jamie Oliver household. (Petal Blossom Rainbow, or, um, Buddy Bear anyone?)

But my bump isn’t the only second baby I’m struggling to name. I’m also starting my second novel and I feel fraught with the pressure of giving these fictional people namesthey’ll have for the rest of their (shelf) lives. Just like my unborn child I’m worried my chosen name won’t suit them, that other people will hate it, or that it’s way too common. Because names brand you, don’t they? They’re part of your identity and give you a personality before you have a chance to develop your own.

I first experienced serious name panic when I was writing my first novel Miracle on Regent Street. One of my romantic heroes spent the entire duration of the book being called Nate. A sexy, strong leading man kind of a name, I thought. Turns out so do lots of other authors, as my editor kindly pointed out when she read the first draft. Luckily we quickly happened upon his new name ‘Joel’ and it instantly fitted him like a bespoke suit. Name crisis over.

Then there was Felix, the loveable old security guard. Now he was always a Felix to me. The name perfectly fitted his cheeky, sparkly-eyed personality, was timeless enough to fit a pensioner and instantly said ‘friendly, sweet and funny’. But then I watched Mannequin, a film I haven’t seen for about a million years and there was a horrible, nasty, control-freak security guard in it, also called Felix. So I changed my character’s name. But his new moniker never felt right. I battled on to the end of the first draft until I admitted he would always be Felix to me. So I changed it back, and hoped that nobody would make the Mannequin connection (Um, oops. Probably shouldn’t have mentioned it here, then).

With all that in mind, I’ve decided that this time, I need some help. I mean, coming up with names for a child and lots of characters whilst heavily pregnant and therefore highly hormonal is a dangerous business. So (drumroll please)I’m giving you the chance to name a female character in my next book The First Last Kiss. Yes you! She’ll be the best friend of my main female character, a little bit of a loose cannon who is always up for a laugh.

There’s just one caveat, no one suggest Petal Blossom Rainbow, ok?

The Name Game competition

Books and the City are delighted to be able to offer YOU the chance to name a female character in Ali Harris’s next book The First Last Kiss.  The character is a bit of a loose cannon, always up for a laugh, and is the best friend of the main lead female character in the book.

Just post your character name idea in the Comment box below.  Ali will be picking the winner herself, so don’t forget to log back on to see if you have won!