532:
after the birth of her children, a condition which rendered her unable to work or to maintain her social life or passion for horse riding. Sykes admitted "I had visited doctors and consultants and had tests, procedures and scans, but no one could tell me what was wrong... I felt terrified, mentally
537:
and a full and active social life. In the article, Sykes says 'I started The Linden Method... and felt better almost immediately... I took the girls to the park and pushed them on the swings, something I hadn't been able to do for two years... now more than a year later, the anxiety has not
533:
and physically I was jelly. I was afraid to do anything. "Take some Xanax", said one doctor, 'it's anxiety". Sykes attended an anxiety recovery programme developed by anxiety expert, Charles Linden, which she cites as the solution that returned her to working for
American
226:
Sykes' mother
Valerie Goad, a dress designer, separated from Sykes' father Mark while Plum was at Oxford. The effects of this left her impecunious for a while and she received assistance from Worcester to remain at the college. Sykes' grandfather,
347:
shoes, she observed that "these weird space-age shoes look cool and trendy and are a way of getting back to some degree", but that "this type of trend is not a classic version of beauty. Men want women to be sexy. They'd be happy if we were all
243:
of 1916, by which
Britain and France provided for the partition of the Ottoman Empire after the end of the First World War. An 18th century forebear, the second baronet, Sir Christopher Sykes (1749–1801), was a major figure in the
389:, was published in 2006. Sykes publicised it with an array of personal appearances at stores in New York (Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Frederic Fekkai, Ferragamo, Neiman Marcus and Oscar de la Renta).
410:, which was the inspiration for a highly successful television series (HBO 1998–2004). However, despite their satire, others have regarded them as too rooted in Sykes' own
604:
498:
and later a designer of children's clothes. In the late 1990s the Sykes sisters were sometimes described as the "twin set". Sykes later joked, with reference to the heiresses
510:
featuring Paris Hilton and a former boyfriend that had been posted on the internet in 2003). Lucy Sykes married Euan Rellie, a New York-based investment banker, in 2002.
907:
203:
being a variety of that fruit) as a child. Sykes has described herself as a "painfully shy" child with mousey brown hair and goofy teeth. She went to
957:
927:
785:
997:
967:
1027:
1022:
1032:
207:
Church of
England Primary School and later to a private secondary school, Walthamstow Hall, where she was unhappy, and subsequently to
614:
962:
992:
982:
479:
231:(1907–1986), whom she knew as "Fat Grandpa" or "F.G.", was a friend and official biographer (1975) of the novelist
1017:
972:
897:
836:
219:, where she graduated in modern history. She has published a short memoir of her unsettling first term at university (
1012:
977:
917:
374:
lit" as some dubbed Sykes' writing) and sold a quarter of a million copies worldwide. It took its title from the
1002:
489:
Sykes and
Rowland had their first child, Ursula, in October 2006 and their second child, Tess, in June 2010.
328:
475:
470:
about shopping for suitable lingerie for her wedding night, an article that included reference to a "$ 900
415:
332:.) Sykes soon became a familiar figure on the New York social scene, being frequently described as an "
228:
144:
240:
216:
78:
790:
483:
691:
with unsalted French butter for breakfast, which she has described as "rareties in 1980s
England"
411:
339:
A decade later, at 38, Sykes reflected that "when you hit 30 you lose your edge": invited by the
877:
1007:
987:
892:
882:
466:
shows, as well as for photoshoots of his designs. Before her wedding, she wrote an article for
887:
290:
952:
8:
609:
307:
264:
180:
349:
455:
323:
937:
548:
525:
520:
507:
492:
Sykes' twin sister Lucy, who moved to New York in 1996, became fashion director of
403:
398:
375:
362:
269:
208:
506:, that "Lucy and I were Paris and Nicky without the sextape" (an allusion to the
191:
Victoria Sykes was born in London, one of six children including a twin sister,
443:
439:
278:
771:
The house was severely damaged by a fire in 1911: see Juliet
Nicholson (2006)
946:
600:
300:
286:
200:
434:
In 2005 Sykes married
British entrepreneur Toby Rowland, son of businessman
318:, also British, had been editor-in-chief since 1988. (It was this period at
503:
499:
494:
435:
371:
315:
232:
156:
248:
movement that transformed the agricultural landscape in the 18th century.
529:
274:
419:
344:
295:
236:
212:
192:
150:
138:
360:
The world of New York fashion was the setting for Sykes' first novel,
688:
478:
had been inspired by Sykes' wedding dress to choose Burton to design
471:
447:
379:
367:
245:
196:
211:, an independent boys' school that had begun admitting girls to the
204:
175:; born 4 December 1969), known both professionally and socially as
878:"The Debutante Divorcée" in the New York Times Sunday Book Review
463:
333:
239:, sixth baronet (1879–1919), associated with the so-called
414:"set" to be reflective more generally of women's lives in post-
396:
Some have seen Sykes' books as lying in natural succession to
459:
446:, her family's ancestral home (1751) in the East Riding of
273:. She was featured that year, with, among others, designer
837:"The Kate Middleton Fashion Watch Picks Up Pace... | Look"
366:(2004), which was one of the most successful examples of "
474:". Six years later some fashion journalists claimed that
426:(1925) is perhaps a closer, if incomparable, antecedent.
687:Sykes thought her grandfather glamorous for eating
653:, 1998; Jonathan Bate & Jessica Goodman (2014)
462:of McQueen; she modelled for some of his earliest
562:Party Girls Die in Pearls: An Oxford Girl Mystery
299:), which was produced by the rising fashion guru
944:
524:, Sykes writes of her three-year struggle with
450:. Her dress was designed by Sykes' friend and
186:
343:to comment on the late-1990s trend for ultra-
786:"Sarah Burton: Designs Fit For a Princess?"
382:, founded at the end of the 19th century.
285:, in a photographic shoot by the American
938:Plum Sykes talks about her personal style
68:Ide Hill Church of England Primary School
958:20th-century English non-fiction writers
908:"My best friends, the ultimate It girls"
655:Worcester: Portrait of an Oxford College
605:"My best friends, the ultimate It Girls"
599:
945:
199:, Kent. She was nicknamed 'Plum' (the
458:. Sykes was sometimes described as a
289:(responsible in 1992 for the singer
998:People educated at Sevenoaks School
968:Alumni of Worcester College, Oxford
745:Germaine Greer, 'All Fall Down' in
513:
13:
1028:21st-century English women writers
1023:20th-century English women writers
14:
1044:
1033:English women non-fiction writers
871:
429:
352:, but that's just not fashion".
855:
829:
817:
805:
778:
765:
758:See, for example, "Plum duff",
752:
739:
393:appeared in paperback in 2007.
113:
722:
710:
697:
674:
659:
644:
629:
593:
581:
308:contributing editor on fashion
1:
574:
293:'s controversial collection,
963:21st-century English writers
932:The Anxiety Recovery Retreat
893:My big fat Yorkshire wedding
235:and son of the diplomat Sir
7:
993:New York (state) in fiction
983:English fashion journalists
888:Plum Sykes' unveiled advice
651:Worcester College Who's Who
518:In the April 2012 issue of
355:
187:Early years and antecedents
183:, novelist, and socialite.
88:Writer, novelist, socialite
10:
1049:
1018:British women journalists
973:British chick lit writers
928:Anxiety Recovery Retreats
541:
251:
217:Worcester College, Oxford
215:. In 1988 she went up to
131:
123:
100:
92:
84:
79:Worcester College, Oxford
74:
64:
56:
30:
23:
900:– Hedley Freeman in the
424:Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
306:In 1997, Sykes became a
263:In 1993, Sykes became a
256:
1013:Vogue (magazine) people
978:English women novelists
910:– Rowan Pelling in the
930:– Plum Sykes attended
556:The Debutante Divorcée
391:The Debutante Divorcée
387:The Debutante Divorcée
16:British fashion writer
1003:People from Sevenoaks
329:The Devil Wears Prada
241:Sykes–Picot Agreement
179:, is an English-born
918:"Victoria's secrets"
482:for her marriage to
920:– Gaby Wood in the
898:"Victoria's secret"
610:The Daily Telegraph
476:Catherine Middleton
153:(great-grandfather)
883:Girl on the Avenue
773:The Perfect Summer
749:, 13 December 2008
587:Plum Sykes (2011)
454:of Isabella Blow,
438:and co-creator of
181:fashion journalist
96:1993–present
862:New York Magazine
730:New York Magazine
603:(21 April 2005).
456:Alexander McQueen
408:New York Observer
406:'s column in the
324:Lauren Weisberger
265:fashion assistant
229:Christopher Sykes
195:, and grew up in
166:
165:
145:Christopher Sykes
93:Years active
1040:
865:
859:
853:
852:
850:
848:
833:
827:
821:
815:
809:
803:
802:
800:
798:
782:
776:
769:
763:
756:
750:
743:
737:
732:, 5 April 2004;
726:
720:
714:
708:
703:Martin Evans in
701:
695:
678:
672:
663:
657:
648:
642:
633:
627:
626:
624:
622:
613:. Archived from
597:
591:
585:
549:Bergdorf Blondes
526:anxiety disorder
514:Anxiety disorder
404:Candace Bushnell
399:Sex and the City
385:A second novel,
376:Bergdorf Goodman
363:Bergdorf Blondes
209:Sevenoaks School
169:Victoria Rowland
117:
115:
70:Walthamstow Hall
48:
44:
42:
21:
20:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1037:
943:
942:
914:, 21 April 2005
912:Daily Telegraph
904:, 17 April 2004
874:
869:
868:
860:
856:
846:
844:
835:
834:
830:
822:
818:
810:
806:
796:
794:
784:
783:
779:
770:
766:
757:
753:
744:
740:
727:
723:
719:, December 2006
715:
711:
702:
698:
679:
675:
664:
660:
649:
645:
634:
630:
620:
618:
598:
594:
586:
582:
577:
544:
516:
432:
358:
350:Gisele BĂĽndchen
283:Babes in London
261:
254:
189:
162:
159:(father-in-law)
119:
116: 2005)
111:
107:
75:Alma mater
69:
52:
51:London, England
49:
46:
45:4 December 1969
40:
38:
37:
36:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1046:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
941:
940:
935:
925:
915:
905:
895:
890:
885:
880:
873:
872:External links
870:
867:
866:
864:, 5 April 2004
854:
843:. 7 March 2011
828:
816:
804:
777:
764:
751:
747:Times Magazine
738:
721:
709:
696:
673:
658:
643:
628:
601:Pelling, Rowan
592:
579:
578:
576:
573:
572:
571:
565:
559:
553:
543:
540:
515:
512:
484:Prince William
444:Sledmere House
436:"Tiny" Rowland
431:
428:
357:
354:
326:'s 2003 novel
322:that inspired
279:Stella Tennant
260:
255:
253:
250:
188:
185:
164:
163:
161:
160:
154:
148:
142:
135:
133:
129:
128:
125:
121:
120:
109:
105:
104:
102:
98:
97:
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
58:
54:
53:
50:
35:Victoria Sykes
34:
32:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1045:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1008:British Vogue
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
988:Living people
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
950:
948:
939:
936:
933:
929:
926:
924:, 14 May 2006
923:
919:
916:
913:
909:
906:
903:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
876:
875:
863:
858:
842:
841:Look Magazine
838:
832:
825:
820:
813:
808:
793:
792:
787:
781:
774:
768:
762:, 26 May 2006
761:
755:
748:
742:
736:, 16 May 2004
735:
731:
728:For example,
725:
718:
713:
706:
705:History Today
700:
694:
690:
686:
682:
677:
671:
667:
662:
656:
652:
647:
641:
637:
632:
617:on 3 May 2009
616:
612:
611:
606:
602:
596:
590:
584:
580:
569:
568:Wives Like Us
566:
563:
560:
557:
554:
551:
550:
546:
545:
539:
536:
531:
527:
523:
522:
511:
509:
505:
501:
497:
496:
490:
487:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
430:Personal life
427:
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
401:
400:
394:
392:
388:
383:
381:
377:
373:
369:
365:
364:
353:
351:
346:
342:
337:
335:
331:
330:
325:
321:
317:
313:
310:for American
309:
304:
303:(1958–2007).
302:
301:Isabella Blow
298:
297:
292:
288:
287:Steven Meisel
284:
280:
276:
272:
271:
266:
259:
249:
247:
242:
238:
234:
230:
224:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
201:Victoria plum
198:
194:
184:
182:
178:
174:
170:
158:
155:
152:
149:
147:(grandfather)
146:
143:
140:
137:
136:
134:
130:
126:
122:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
85:Occupation(s)
83:
80:
77:
73:
67:
63:
59:
55:
47:(age 54)
33:
29:
22:
19:
931:
921:
911:
901:
861:
857:
845:. Retrieved
840:
831:
823:
819:
814:, April 2010
811:
807:
795:. Retrieved
789:
780:
772:
767:
759:
754:
746:
741:
733:
729:
724:
716:
712:
707:, April 2012
704:
699:
692:
684:
680:
676:
669:
665:
661:
654:
650:
646:
639:
635:
631:
621:23 September
619:. Retrieved
615:the original
608:
595:
588:
583:
567:
561:
555:
547:
534:
519:
517:
504:Nicky Hilton
495:Marie Claire
493:
491:
488:
467:
451:
433:
423:
407:
397:
395:
390:
386:
384:
361:
359:
340:
338:
327:
319:
316:Anna Wintour
311:
305:
294:
282:
268:
262:
257:
233:Evelyn Waugh
225:
220:
190:
176:
172:
168:
167:
157:Tiny Rowland
106:Toby Rowland
18:
953:1969 births
826:, July 2005
760:Private Eye
681:Oxford Girl
666:Oxford Girl
636:Oxford Girl
589:Oxford Girl
538:returned."
530:agoraphobia
418:Manhattan.
412:Park Avenue
345:high heeled
314:, of which
275:Bella Freud
267:at British
221:Oxford Girl
57:Nationality
947:Categories
689:croissants
575:References
420:Anita Loos
277:and model
237:Mark Sykes
213:sixth form
177:Plum Sykes
151:Mark Sykes
139:Lucy Sykes
41:1969-12-04
25:Plum Sykes
448:Yorkshire
380:Manhattan
378:store in
368:chick lit
246:enclosure
223:, 2011).
197:Sevenoaks
132:Relatives
65:Education
922:Observer
902:Guardian
791:ABC News
734:Observer
508:sex tape
356:Novelist
205:Ide Hill
141:(sister)
124:Children
847:31 July
693:(ibid.)
685:op.cit.
640:op.cit.
464:catwalk
452:protégé
370:" (or "
334:It girl
291:Madonna
118:
110:
60:English
934:, 2011
812:Tatler
797:16 May
670:op.cit
570:(2024)
564:(2017)
558:(2006)
552:(2004)
542:Novels
252:Career
101:Spouse
824:Vogue
717:Vogue
535:Vogue
521:Vogue
500:Paris
468:Vogue
442:, at
341:Times
320:Vogue
312:Vogue
270:Vogue
258:Vogue
173:Sykes
171:(née
112:(
108:
849:2020
799:2011
623:2024
528:and
502:and
480:hers
460:muse
440:King
416:9/11
372:chic
193:Lucy
31:Born
472:bra
336:".
296:Sex
281:in
949::
839:.
788:.
683:,
668:,
638:,
607:.
486:.
422:'
402:,
114:m.
43:)
851:.
801:.
775:.
625:.
127:2
39:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.