Artist and co-founder of East London's beloved 4Cose deli, Charlotte Cullinan brings a refreshing and oh so cool attitude to dressing, whether it be herself or a salad for a crowd of people. With humour, warmth and a side of honesty, we felt Charlotte was the perfect interviewee to begin "How to wear it with...", a segment of the website dedicated to our customers and people we admire. Charlotte wears a DLux vest and white cotton shirt.
Interview and photos by Beatrice Ross, @beatricealiceross
What's the first dish you can remember eating?
That’s interesting because it goes back to a conversation I was having with Lynda (DLux founder) about those biscuits, something we call lady’s fingers. When I was a very small child it was quite difficult to get things to make puddings or whatever. My mother used to make this thing which is made out of plain biscuits, coffee which she would soak the biscuits in, and a coffee cream icing thing and then it was covered in cream. I always remember that taste and it didn’t come back to me until she made it again when I was about 15. It’s got the same taste as tiramisu, it’s a different texture but it’s a pudding you put in the fridge, a fridge cake. Food is full of memory.
Taste in particular can evoke so much for a person - which of the senses do you value most?
All of them, I think, it would be so difficult to choose. It would be very difficult to live without any of them, don’t you think? I've become better and better at smelling and identifying flavour. If we have loose leaf tea here, I can taste the slight difference in the mix of tea someone else might make. If you concentrate on it you can make your senses better and better and better. It’s quite amazing, senses are so important.
Does fashion feed your practice?
I think it always has, only to an extent of being very interested in how people make clothes and why they make them. I’m very good at shopping too and can’t resist things. I suppose I'm quite an ideal customer...
How do you take your coffee?
I like a little black coffee that I make myself. If I go out, if it’s really hot I’ll have an iced coffee with a tiny splash of milk, but in general coffee is a bit… well, I get a bit anxious about getting coffee in this country. Often I’d rather just not bother! I’d rather have an earl grey. I don’t like the coffee culture here; the hugging of the latte is a false sense of security that I've always found a bit boring.
You’re based in East London, famously covered with coffee shops, so why here?
Squatting laws changed in 1985, and my parents are nearby. It’s easy and cheaper than Camden. There used to be what we would call shit coffee which was really great, just instant from the local cafes. We used to say “shall we get a shit coffee” and that’s fine with me. It does the job. They used to steam the milk inside the coffee cup and I didn’t mind it, it is what it is, there's no anxiety around it because there was no other choice. Ask me about coffee and I'll go on and on and on and on.
What are you having for dinner?
I try to stick with what’s coming from the allotment, so it might have to be potatoes, I picked a load of basil and blackcurrants too. It could involve artichokes or capers from my shop, I'm thinking a salsa verde with basil, anchovies and capers. I’m not sure what it's called in Italy, but you get the inside of a boiled egg, squash that into the salsa... for me it’s just fantastic. I find it very relaxing making salsa. Bit of parsley on top. In short, a potato salad sort of thing.
Indulge me a moment - what's in your fridge right now?
About 40 kilos of Parmesan.
Leather or shearling?
Both.
Salt or pepper?
Both.
Night out or in?
Both.
Oil or vinegar?
Oil, actually.
What's your style philosophy?
To not really have one
Who is your style icon?
Alison O’Brien who made these jeans, she always looks so great and makes her own jeans and incredible shirts. She mixes about 6 perfumes at once as well.
Do you have a signature scent?
I do like citrus notes actually. Diptyque, love it all.
Starter, main or dessert?
All of them, come on. If you’re going out you’re going out. I might jump at dessert... if we could share one?
You can visit Charlotte at 4Cose, 7 Vyner St, London E2 9DG, @4cose
