Style Notes: Bella Yentob

Recent high school graduate Bella Yentob, the daughter of BBC creative director Alan Yentob and TV producer Philippa Walker, is about to embark on a travel-filled gap year before university. And this British 18 year-old has gotten a fine head start, having already traveled to Marrakech and soon making her way to Budapest. Here, our August It Girl reveals her disdain for labels, her love of crop tops and the new man who’s captured her literary heart.

Define your style in three words: Eclectic/funky-chic.

Daily uniform: Checked mini skirt, boots, T-shirt, white cashmere Commes des Garcons polo-neck.

Greatest hits: Blue overall-dress, black mini-skirt and my mum’s Voyage gold velvet evening dress.

Preferred footwear: Nikes, buckle-boots and newly discovered ‘Big girl Jellies’ as I like to call them.

Finishing touches: Rings! MAC lip-colored lip-liner for defining.

Nighttime look: Dark lipstick, crop top, jeans and jewelry.

Best recent discovery: Evelyn Waugh—Have just finished Brideshead Revisited … on to Scoop!

Favorite stores: Lutyens and Rubenstein bookshop on Kensington park road – has some brilliant graphic novels. Pop-up cinema under the Westway.

Style pet peeve: Label obsessers.

Style icons: Jane Birkin, Grace Kelly and Rachel from Friends!

Last purchase: A beige suede mini skirt from a stall in Paris.

Lusting after: Red velvet choker.

Favorite haunts: Madd Raff Wednesdays, The Social, 5 Little Portland Street, London – a hip hop/bashment night. And Essenza – an Italian restaurant in Portobello—Stephano’s arrabiata pasta is timeless.

Next vacation: Budapest, baby.

Summer must-have: The perfect bikini!