What is your favourite item in your wardrobe? A Hamish Morrow black shift dress that is beautifully cut and serves whatever purpose I need for work or the evening. I wear it with a great necklace and fun hosiery.

What is your fall-back outfit? A Thomas Pink white fitted shirt. Every woman should have one.

What is your one piece of fashion or beauty advice? Stop copying celebrities - it never works. Finding your own style doesn't mean going to some dodgy Colour Me Beautiful meeting, it's about looking at yourself and picking the things that suit.

Biggest fashion faux pas? My Bananarama bleached hair and dungarees moments were bad. I realised that jumpsuits were also a problem when I tried to go to the toilet on a train wearing one and nearly fell out into the carriage.

What aspect of fashion do you hate the most? Fashion getting faster. We have lost the season, which is a shame. I hope the credit crunch and green issues will slow things down. Retailers have lost their identities and consumers have no sense of what is a great fashion look any more.

How do you think people perceive you from the way you dress? Quite strong and determined. The pieces I pick certainly aren't frilly or flouncy.

If you could steal anyone's wardrobe, whose would it be? Inès de la Fressange. She always looks amazing. And Amanda Harlech. I like that French femininity.

If you could change one part of your body, which would it be? I wish my lips were thicker but I'm not going to have any fillers.

What are your five desert island staples? A classic white shirt, great shift dress, killer heels, fabulous hosiery and a good necklace.

What is a typical day in the life of Mary? Slip into running gear, march daughter to the bus, run to the gym, slap make-up on, blow-dry hair straight. If I'm not in meetings I'll wear jeans, otherwise a dress. Drive to the office. Change into something glitzier for dinner. Bed.

The second series of Mary, Queen of Shops is on BBC Two on Monday nights at 9pm

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