Who says books and bralets don’t mix?
No matter what trendy image firms and chambers try to give off, law is still seen as a very conservative profession. Rock up to your City office in platform heels, a mesh top and a gold chain and you’ll be sure to raise a few eyebrows.
But just because law firms have strict business dress codes doesn’t mean you can’t be a lawyer and be interested in fashion.
That’s certainly the attitude of Amani-Cane Elouazani. An Oxford Brookes LLB student, Elouazani hopes to become a corporate solicitor one day but that doesn’t mean she’s letting her love of all things sartorial fall by the wayside.
In fact, Elouazani has decided to capitalise on her passion for fashion instead. She is now the proud owner of Lingerie by Elouazani — a bespoke lingerie business based in London.
The classic silk pyjama set in mocha ?https://t.co/NQQN1OMUfp pic.twitter.com/jxydYHNoMk
— LingeriebyElouazani (@LingeriebyEloua) August 18, 2016
What’s it all about? Well, the company designs, makes and sells a range of lingerie and other products to customers online via PayPal. The company’s stock is made to order, hand-stitched and fitted to the customer’s measurements.
Lingerie enthusiasts can browse the second year’s designs on Twitter or on her website, which only launched a fortnight ago, under four headings: ‘GLAMani’, ‘After the Isle Bridal Collection’, ‘Bralets’ and ‘Two Piece Sets’.
Prices range from £10 for a choker made with Swarovski crystals to £40 for a “made to impress” crystal bralet. Also on offer are tights and pyjama-esque two-piece sets.
Since the brand’s online launch two weeks ago, Elouazani has managed to sell about 1,000 items, which she’s “very happy” about.
Wore our Swarovski choker and the Aria sheer top this weekend! Loved it! Details at https://t.co/NQQN1OMUfp ❤️ pic.twitter.com/S18rPGmymw
— LingeriebyElouazani (@LingeriebyEloua) August 22, 2016
Though developing your own fashion brand sounds infinitely more exciting than learning about the triggers for land registration, Elouazani doesn’t let her business get in the way of her corporate law dream. The aspiring solicitor — who also runs a popular Twitter account under the name kim kardashian-west — told us:
Honestly, I prioritise my studies. It took a good couple of years to finally launch my brand and as you’ll see there’s not many items in the collection at the moment. So my studies always come first.
Speaking to Legal Cheek, Elouazani — whose ultimate dream is to secure one of the 80 training contracts on offer at magic circle giant Slaughter and May — continued:
I stopped working on my lingerie when my A-levels came around and also when my first year exams for uni did too. I basically worked on it in my free time I guess.
Running a business alongside your studies no doubt shows entrepreneurial spirit, commercial awareness and time-management (something to mention in training contract interviews). But is the City ready for a lingerie-designing lawyer?
Elouazani thinks so. While she is well aware she might stick out like a sore thumb in a profession characterised by tradition and convention, she said:
I don’t intend to shout about my business once the time comes. At the end of the day, if the firm asks I will explain to them that I have a business based around lingerie.
She added:
For me, we don’t do sex toys and real explicit items; we sell pretty little bralets and undergarments and I don’t think it’s anything to be embarrassed about. So if they ask I will tell them and hopefully it will portray my dedication and drive to work!
Legal Cheek wishes Elouazani all the best with her search for a training contract and her collection.