Lindy Woodhead
After what she describes as ‘a two year Master Class in fashion’ when working for the legendary retailer Joan Burstein CBE (Mrs B) at Browns in London’s South Molton Street, Lindy left to found her own PR Agency (WPR) specialising in international fashion and luxury retail on 1973. Over the decades her clients have included a roll-call of celebrated names: Louis Vuitton; Garrard (Crown Jewellers); Karl Lagerfeld; Nino Cerruti; Ferragamo; Wolford; Hermes, Oscar de la Renta; Valentino and Yves St Laurent amongst many other. Lindy became the first woman on the Board of Directors at Harvey Nichols (1988-1991) on her appointment as Publicity Director. She stepped back from PR in 1999 to pursue her long-held ambition to write.
Lindy’s first book, WAR PAINT: Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry, was published by Virago in 2003 to critical acclaim, involving author tours and presentations in Australia, New Zealand Japan, France and closer to home in Dublin and London. Lindy collaborated with the producers of an American documentary for PBS based on her book, which was followed by working closely with the creative team behind the Broadway Musical – inspired by War Paint – starring two-time Tony Award Winners Patti Lupone (Helena Rubinstein) and Christine Ebersole (Elizabeth Arden). Directed by Michael Greif and Produced by David Stone and Marc Platt, War Paint opened in Chicago in the summer of 2016 before transferring to Broadway in April 2017.
Her second book, ‘Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge’ was published by Profile in 2007 and selected as Radio Four’s ‘Book of the Week’. Appointed Retail Heritage Consultant to the store, Lindy curated the Selfridge’s Centenary Exhibition ‘Open To The World’ celebrating the 100th anniversary in 2009. Optioned by ITV, her book was adapted by Andrew Davies into the successful Sunday night historical drama series Mr Selfridge. Made by ITV Studios/co-produced with Masterpiece-PBS, (the book published by Random House in America) Season 1 opened in January 2013 to an audience of 8.5 million. Sold to over 100 territories by ITV Global Studios, Mr Selfridge ran for 4 Seasons (2013-2016) and Lindy returned each Season as Retail and Social History Consultant, reading all scripts and joining the cast read-throughs
Lindy worked with Ridley Scott Associates on their documentary celebrating 50 years of the iconic nightclub Annabels: ‘A String of Naked Light Bulbs’ in 2016 before signing with Orion to act as History Consultant to Julian Fellowes on his novel Belgravia – with Daisy Goodwin noting in her review in the New York Times ‘that Fellowes and his historical consultant, Lindy Woodhead, have lost no opportunity to work-in the innovations of the time’.
Married with two sons, in 2002 Lindy and her husband bought a country house in South West France, commuting there from their home in London for 12 years. They now live in Oxfordshire, but visit Paris as much as possible to entertain at their son Oliver’s acclaimed restaurant L’Entente. Their second son is a storyboard artist for film and television, while Lindy’s husband continues his career as a specialist retail consultant working specifically with Bicester Village.
After a break from her keyboard for the past few years, taken because as she readily admits ‘I was tired, pressured on a book concept and absolutely needed to re-charge my batteries’ Lindy is happily back doing what she loves best - writing - and is currently working on her third book.
Literary Agent: Eugenie Furniss
