A CONVERSATION WITH THE FOUNDERS OF MONUMENT STORE

A CONVERSATION WITH LEah FORSYTH-STEEL AND VICTORIA SPICER OF MONUMENT STORE

Leah and Victoria have carved out a space that reflects their shared passion for art, design, and the beauty of the past. Their store, Monument, is more than just a business—it's a testament to their lifelong love of collecting and curating. Evolved from a lighthearted idea and a mutual appreciation of each other's aesthetic sensibilities, they have built a brand that is both deeply personal and intentional. Here, they share their journey, their inspirations, and how their love for art and design shapes every aspect of their lives.

Leah wears the Landon Jacket and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

Hi Leah and Victoria, Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative practice.

Monument is a business focusing on archival design, art and objects. We have several facets of the business, our store, hire business and consultancy for styling and sourcing. We’re both really passionate collectors that wanted to build a business around what we love.

Victoria wears the Stanley LS Shirt (Coming soon) and the Davey Pant

How did Monument form, and in what ways has it evolved since its conception?

The idea of doing something together was a long standing joke between us, based on our mutual appreciation of each other's collecting habit. In 2020, we decided to give it a go and Monument was launched as a sort of experiment that would start as an online shop. The growth over the last 3.5 years has been swift and the evolution organic. We try to stay really true to what works for us and our lives as mothers. This means shorter, focused days and then building in time to exhibit and buy in Europe.

Victoria wears the Stanley LS Shirt (Coming soon) and the Davey Pant

What considerations guide you when sourcing archival furniture and art-led objects?

We have a pretty clear criteria for ourselves when sourcing. Not specifically looking at any one design language or period, but instead focusing on form, material and our instinct. The curation is really personal to us, so we’re always trying to make sure our acquisitions are a reflection of our own evolving tastes.

What three words would you use to describe the aesthetic of Monument store?

Recontextualisation
Gravitas
Form

Victoria wears the Myles Cuffed LS Shirt and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

Tell us about a piece you dream about finding.

L: Philippe Starck’s Tito Lucifer andirons
V: Maria Pergay’s Flying Carpet Daybed or Folded Chair model 933

Victoria wears the Cohen Top (Coming soon) and the LM Denim Classic Jean and Leah wears the Newman Coat and Cohen Pant (Coming Soon)

In what ways does your work in art and design influence the way in which you both live?

L: I grew up in a house of female artists and with a family of collectors, so it’s been part of the fabric of my life and still is today, with my husband who is a Creative Director. As a result I’m extremely aesthetically driven and it was a natural progression to build a brand with Victoria that is an expression of that.

V: I will always strive to find the most aesthetically pleasing ‘version’ of any functional object required for my home. “Beautiful and useful” as they say.

Who, what and where do you turn to for inspiration?

L: As I get older, my inspiration is led less by people and tends to be more about following a thread. I’m a huge reader and love to research, so books play a significant role.

V: Travel would still be the most influential - it's when I have the time to seek out inspirational archival architecture, museums and exhibitions.

Leah wears the Newman Coat (Coming soon)

Tell us about each of your personal styles.

L: My style has really cemented itself in my late 30’s and in truth it’s a relief. I tend to err on the side of masculine cuts, with a mix of sportswear (caps, trainers and coats) and then I love and collect sculptural jewellery, to give a subtle artful touch.

V: My style has simmered down into more of a uniform these days… layering muted tones and balancing out feminine and masculine pieces. For example, I like to toughen up a silk dress with a mens lace-up or an oversized blazer.

Are you more creative or pragmatic when it comes to curating your wardrobes?

L: These days, with much less time available as a mother and business owner, I’m forced to be pragmatic. It’s a real pleasure when I have the time to be creative, research, hunt for special vintage pieces and plan looks for attending events or when we’re exhibiting.

V: I have to answer this question with a bit of tunnel vision due to the context of my life at the moment. Being a mum to an 18 month old and co-owner of a business that has its fair share of manual labour, pragmatism trumps all. But then again, I would also say I am creative in curating a practical wardrobe that can tick both the chic and "could I lift a plinth in this?" boxes.

Leah wears the Landon Jacket and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

What galleries, markets, bars or restaurants do you recommend visiting when in London?

Restaurants: Bistro Freddie, Blue Mountain School, Braun, Jolene, Primeur, Café Cecilia, Leo’s

Galleries: the Gagosian, Tate Britain, White Cube, Barbican

Wine bars: 107 Wine Bar, Sager and Wilde, Hector’s

Monument Store @monument_store
monumentstore.co.uk
Photographer
Digital Assistant
Styling

A CONVERSATION WITH LEah FORSYTH-STEEL AND VICTORIA SPICER OF MONUMENT STORE

Leah and Victoria have carved out a space that reflects their shared passion for art, design, and the beauty of the past. Their store, Monument, is more than just a business—it's a testament to their lifelong love of collecting and curating. Evolved from a lighthearted idea and a mutual appreciation of each other's aesthetic sensibilities, they have built a brand that is both deeply personal and intentional. Here, they share their journey, their inspirations, and how their love for art and design shapes every aspect of their lives.

Leah wears the Landon Jacket and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

Hi Leah and Victoria, Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative practice.

Monument is a business focusing on archival design, art and objects. We have several facets of the business, our store, hire business and consultancy for styling and sourcing. We’re both really passionate collectors that wanted to build a business around what we love.

Victoria wears the Stanley LS Shirt (Coming soon) and the Davey Pant

How did Monument form, and in what ways has it evolved since its conception?

The idea of doing something together was a long standing joke between us, based on our mutual appreciation of each other's collecting habit. In 2020, we decided to give it a go and Monument was launched as a sort of experiment that would start as an online shop. The growth over the last 3.5 years has been swift and the evolution organic. We try to stay really true to what works for us and our lives as mothers. This means shorter, focused days and then building in time to exhibit and buy in Europe.

Victoria wears the Stanley LS Shirt (Coming soon) and the Davey Pant

What considerations guide you when sourcing archival furniture and art-led objects?

We have a pretty clear criteria for ourselves when sourcing. Not specifically looking at any one design language or period, but instead focusing on form, material and our instinct. The curation is really personal to us, so we’re always trying to make sure our acquisitions are a reflection of our own evolving tastes.

What three words would you use to describe the aesthetic of Monument store?

Recontextualisation
Gravitas
Form

Victoria wears the Myles Cuffed LS Shirt and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

Tell us about a piece you dream about finding.

L: Philippe Starck’s Tito Lucifer andirons
V: Maria Pergay’s Flying Carpet Daybed or Folded Chair model 933

Victoria wears the Cohen Top (Coming soon) and the LM Denim Classic Jean and Leah wears the Newman Coat and Cohen Pant (Coming Soon)

In what ways does your work in art and design influence the way in which you both live?

L: I grew up in a house of female artists and with a family of collectors, so it’s been part of the fabric of my life and still is today, with my husband who is a Creative Director. As a result I’m extremely aesthetically driven and it was a natural progression to build a brand with Victoria that is an expression of that.

V: I will always strive to find the most aesthetically pleasing ‘version’ of any functional object required for my home. “Beautiful and useful” as they say.

Who, what and where do you turn to for inspiration?

L: As I get older, my inspiration is led less by people and tends to be more about following a thread. I’m a huge reader and love to research, so books play a significant role.

V: Travel would still be the most influential - it's when I have the time to seek out inspirational archival architecture, museums and exhibitions.

Leah wears the Newman Coat (Coming soon)

Tell us about each of your personal styles.

L: My style has really cemented itself in my late 30’s and in truth it’s a relief. I tend to err on the side of masculine cuts, with a mix of sportswear (caps, trainers and coats) and then I love and collect sculptural jewellery, to give a subtle artful touch.

V: My style has simmered down into more of a uniform these days… layering muted tones and balancing out feminine and masculine pieces. For example, I like to toughen up a silk dress with a mens lace-up or an oversized blazer.

Are you more creative or pragmatic when it comes to curating your wardrobes?

L: These days, with much less time available as a mother and business owner, I’m forced to be pragmatic. It’s a real pleasure when I have the time to be creative, research, hunt for special vintage pieces and plan looks for attending events or when we’re exhibiting.

V: I have to answer this question with a bit of tunnel vision due to the context of my life at the moment. Being a mum to an 18 month old and co-owner of a business that has its fair share of manual labour, pragmatism trumps all. But then again, I would also say I am creative in curating a practical wardrobe that can tick both the chic and "could I lift a plinth in this?" boxes.

Leah wears the Landon Jacket and the Mortimer Wide Leg Pant

What galleries, markets, bars or restaurants do you recommend visiting when in London?

Restaurants: Bistro Freddie, Blue Mountain School, Braun, Jolene, Primeur, Café Cecilia, Leo’s

Galleries: The Gagosian, Tate Britain, White Cube, Barbican

Wine bars: 107 Wine Bar, Sager and Wilde, Hector’s

Leah Forsyth-Steel @leahforsythsteel
Victoria Spicer @victoriaspicer
Monument Store @monument_store
monumentstore.co.uk
Photographer Agnes Lloyd-Platt @agnesvita
Styling Vanesssa Coyle @vanessa_coyle