I've never actually really worn watches, but, you know, I've
seen people with these incredible Cartier watches and I
say I could sort of draw one on my wrist and.
I can have one too. No, it's sort of drawing for
magazines. I was drawing for Hobbs and
Queen. Well, that was still Hobbs and
Queen. And actually, Amanda, your show
was one of my first fashion shows.
Now you're also a model and I wondered, what's the most iconic
piece you've ever modelled? Today I'm going on a style
journey with the brilliantly talented artist that is Klim
Evenden. Welcome and hello, Claire.
So lovely to see you, I'm so happy to be here.
It's so lovely to see you because the last time we saw
each other was when you were doing beautiful portraits of the
press for my press lunch for the launch.
Well remembered. I remember it last.
Of my Mayfair store. Yes, way back in the day.
It I wouldn't like to guess exactly when that was but it was
a while ago, maybe pre COVID I think.
It was definitely pre COVID. That's my kind of marker for
timing general. It is, isn't it Pre and post and
you have been going from strength to strength.
I mean, I follow you on Instagram.
I'm totally by the way Climb draws at in on Instagram and
it's totally hypnotic. I'm so pleased.
To hear that it really. Is I love, I mean, I, I'm very
lucky to do what I do and I work with clients, I work on
commissions with a lot of sort of luxury brands and fashion
brands and hotels and things. But something that really gives
me joy from Instagram is hearing how much pleasure gives people
watching the videos especially and sort of maybe it gives them
some relief during the day or they feel relaxed watching the
videos or or or some some small moment in the day of joy is such
a nice feeling. It is.
It is totally joyful. It's uncomplicated.
It doesn't spike any of those sort of triggers.
Yes, triggers. It's an escapist thing, I think.
And you know, I think now we're obviously also constantly on our
phones. There's so many sort of click
bait Y things that kind of draw you into them and you spiral.
And I do really love just just creating this window for people
online and on their phones to just kind of enjoy creativity
and just sort of float away a bit so.
It really is floating away and you have created this technique
that you call unfolding. I think someone commented
recently and they, they sort of coined it better than than I did
because I used to call them my videos that were sort of folding
stories. And then someone commented, oh,
it's like an unfolding story. And it's like, Oh yes, it's like
an unfolding story. So it's kind of folded card that
during the video kind of gradually unfolds and I sort of
draw a bit more. And I've always been really
interested in in animation and trying to create an animation,
but I'm not very technical. And I just remember the way I
discovered it was I was literally looking at a sheet of
paper and just thinking, how can I kind of make this move like an
early Disney, how can I make this?
I mean, that's impossible make the static drawing move.
And I was like, well, if that arm of this character is sort of
there, if I fold the paper in, then I can quickly redraw the
arm in a different position. So it's like that's kind of
motion and then if I speed it up, it sort of creates something
else. So it was literally a sort of
invention. I think people have, I've heard
that people did a similar thing maybe as kids.
They're, I'm sure they're all that, you know, I'm not saying I
invented this technique, but people really engage with those
on my Instagram and I created a video at the beginning of the
year that's had 42 million views.
So it's just kind of like this. Sorry.
Globe. 4242, it just went. I mean, I've had other viral
videos, but this one, it was actually quite daunting.
It just, it just carried on and on and on.
Talk us through that one. So it was around Christmas time.
I just wanted to, I usually create a, a just a really sort
of celebratory, kind of really imaginative, very beautiful,
festive, something to sort of celebrate that time of the year,
sort of holiday time of the year.
And I was happy with it. It wasn't necessarily kind of
like, wow, this is my best work ever.
But it's as you know, with Instagram, it's, it's about the
viral thing. I'm sort of what catches.
Yeah. I'd also just learned slightly
boring technical thing that it's best to add royalty free music
and I don't know if in the past that's kind of helped things
back a little bit. And it just has an emotion to it
just has it's called the star and it's very simple.
It's sort of unfolds from a star through to this kind of scene,
this landscapes scene with animals in people heading
towards this mountain that becomes a Christmas tree.
Sounds very strange to describe, but it's it's quite engaging and
it just, it was so exciting and I felt like such a kind of
social media bore because that's like to my friends, have you
heard that my videos got like. And did it, how quickly did it
go viral? Pretty quickly.
Did it yeah. So I look back in about sort of
maybe 30 minutes later and it just skyrocketed.
And I was quite, it was quite strange to have this thing that
was being seen by so many people.
I mean, now when I look at the the analytics, what do they call
them on the thing? I think it the total viewing
time end to end from everyone's seen, it is 22 years.
Oh. My God.
So it's quite a weird and also I started looking at I was like
who's really famous, who will have, you know, a lot of views
on their videos like Kim Kardashian.
So I looked at her videos and a lot of those didn't have that
that feeling. I was like, OK, more like Taylor
Swift. Yes, she has more, way more, but
42 minutes, I mean, that's a lot.
You know, it's incredible that it's not so much that kind of
figure, it's just the amount of people that have even just seen
10 seconds of that video. It's really, really
extraordinary to have that kind of reach.
That I mean that's have really blown me away.
Thank you. Fantastic.
And is that across Instagram and TikTok?
Because I know you're on TikTok. I am on TikTok.
Instagram's always been my most powerful tool and everything
changed with my work. When I I joined, I joined right
at the beginning. So that was on Instagram before
that point. I was literally, you know, pre
2013, fourteen, whenever that was, I just left Saint Martin's
and I was literally having to write to people and you'd sort
of send drawings to people and you know, that's just one person
that might not register or see it, you know, And then to
suddenly have this democratic way of showing your work to, to
a lot of people, that sort of changed everything.
So it's always been my strongest tool.
Now, you recently did one that I absolutely love because you
painted on your wrist. Tell tell me about that one,
sort of how that came about. So I, I'm always trying to think
of sort of imaginative ideas that involve just drawing quick.
I can draw quite quickly. So just sort of quickly
capturing something or drawing on a bit of packaging, quite
unexpected places to, to sort of create something.
And I've never actually really worn watches, but, you know,
I've seen people with these incredible Cartier watches and I
say I could sort of draw one on my wrist and.
I can have one too. And yeah, and I just, I think I
was in the gym. A lot of my ideas come to me in
the gym where I'm really sort of, I guess, you know, all the
adrenaline and stuff and suddenly like, oh, that's a good
idea. Yeah.
And it's just really simple to film.
I just set up myself and and set the camera above my desk and I
always have a loose plan like with the folders folded stories.
I do have to people often ask if I plan them.
I do have to plan a little bit, especially with those.
Definitely, because you've got different images.
That's a sequence, yeah. So I have tried to do them off
the top of my head, which is quite a fun idea, but a fun task
for your your viewers, you know, if they want to give that a go,
that's always nice to see where it leads to.
But when you want to sort of concise story, you sort of can
fizzle out. You sort of get to a point where
you're like, where am I going now with this?
But yeah, the watch I, I just drew, drew it on my wrist and
then just sort of grew this scene around it.
So it's just a blank table. I put down some white cards.
So it just sort of ended up drawing all these kind of bits
you might have on a table, like some sunglasses and and I went a
bit meta, my own pen that I was drawing with, I sort of drew on
the table next to my hand. Love that.
So things like that are just so fun because I created that for
myself. And and then you just put it out
there and you really learn it's fun for me.
Hopefully it creates creates engagement, but you also learn
sort of what people are interested in and what they
enjoy. So and people are quite
imaginative. You know, there are a lot of
ideas I've had where I'm like, maybe people won't sort of get
that, but sometimes the the odder ideas or the more unusual
and creative ideas are the things that people resonate
with. Now I know you work with a lot
of brands, do are they quite relaxed about your brief?
Do they let you get creative? That's a very good question.
That's something that sort of evolved during my career and I'm
just so I feel so privileged now to be in a position where people
just give me a brief and sort of leave me to it and have the
confidence. It's such a privilege and it's
so enjoyable as a creative to I love briefs.
It's, it's actually, I really love what I do because I don't
know if I could be a fine artist or something where you're just
kind of creating work a little bit more for yourself because I
love being given, you know, like, what would you do with
this brief? And maybe early in my career,
people were more sort of sticking to brand guidelines and
stuff. And I think also maybe 10 years
ago there was more of that sort of strict parameter about, you
know, you can only use this colour for a brand or, or
visualize this kind of thing. But now I think hopefully people
are a bit looser with that and they understand the power of
creativity. Definitely.
Yeah, definitely. Also, you are a well known
artist in your own right now with your with a very strong
identity, yes, And so people come to you for that.
Yes, that's where I've wanted to get to and you just saying it
hopefully is reconfirm that that's the case and and that's
what I've always wanted to get to that kind of position so.
Do you ever print your illustrations on clothes or
T-shirt? That's another brilliant
question. I have done that.
I have worked on product. I love the idea of working with
product. I haven't done it for a while,
although I did last year. I did a big global collaboration
with Diptyque. So in a way that's that is that,
which was fantastic. But in terms of what you wear,
I've never really gone into that area.
I did a big project with Michael Kors watch Hunger Stop, which
was a sort of charity, global charity campaign.
He does. But no, I'd like to revisit
that, definitely. It would be amazing, yeah.
And especially in this world of digital printing, it's not like
you have to print, you know, 1000 of anything.
That's true. Yeah, Yeah.
No, I'd love to see that. Yeah.
I love seeing my work in different contexts and sort of
blown up or projected on the side of the building and, and
sort of, you know, in different contexts.
Like, oh, now I know you get commissioned a lot for a lot of
portraiture. Yes, I have been lucky enough to
be. Here's one I prepared earlier,
Amanda. I mean, I look like a teenager
there, Clem so. Nonsense.
Thank you very. Accurate.
I mean, I pride myself, myself on.
I do think I, I have captured something and it's something I
love doing. It's something I did a lot
towards the beginning of my career to kind of just, I guess,
guess get attention, you know, at events and parties and
backstage at shows and things. And I'd see, I actually it was,
it's sort of the idea came from seeing photographers turning up
backstage and shooting people, fantastic photographers like
Darren Garish or Adore. And I knew that they were being
paid. I think mostly too, that's like,
how can I kind of capture and, and also maybe be paid and start
to make a living and also I can draw very quickly.
So yeah, that's something I did early in my career and I still
love doing. And, and this is for you, this
portrait. And it's such a lovely sort of
thing to gift as well. It's a thank you that is going
to go up with all the black and white.
That is really brilliant. Really.
You're welcome. You know it will remind me of
what I looked like 30 years ago. Well, this moment in time that
often a nice kind of, you know, people say actually on on the
way here, funnily enough, Jay Parfitt, the the fantastic model
Jay Parfitt loved Jay just happened to to message me a
drawing I did for her. Yeah, birthday.
And so people do message drawings that sort of since
forgotten about, but for them they're moments in time.
And you know, for me, it was a special time early in my career
when I started going to shows and I was sort of drawing for
magazines. I was drawing for Hobbs and
Queen while that was still Hobbs and Queen.
And actually, Amanda, your show was one of my first fashion
shows and having such a kind of interest I had, I've had such an
interest in not any fashion from an early age, but kind of, I
suppose it's quite unusual. I'm really interested in sort of
the production of shows and the casting and the music and the
venue. So I have a sort of freakish
memory. I'm just about to freak you out
with very specific details about it.
So I remember this show was in the old Saatchi Gallery.
Yes. St.
John's. Wood.
It was, the room was sort of divided up a bit.
It was quite sort of, I think there was a sort of goddess
theme or something. I remember Olivia Inn was in it.
There was yellow. But I specifically at that time
I was just, I'm really into music.
So I was just getting into electronic music and and sort of
dance music and stuff. And I actually message someone
in your studio who kindly told me what the soundtrack was.
So you might not remember, but I Yeah.
So I still remember one of the tracks was Voca Voca May by DJ
Icon, and one of them was Happiness Happening by Lost
Witness. I don't know if you recall that.
I do. I remember that show well.
Yeah, it was just fantastic because it was like I was really
into that kind of music at the time and it was sort of trancy
kind of, I guess slightly IB three sort of music.
And it was like, this is what I've always wanted from the
fashion show. And it sticks in my head, you
know, these memories. Yeah, were you were.
You weren't actually illustrating at all.
There, I don't think I was illustrating at the time for
Hobson Queen because I remember turning up with one of the
editors and you were handing out or your team were handing out
mini bottles of Moe and Chantal. Thank you, Moat.
Thank you, Moat, who I also work with.
So that's a good. And I also remember allegedly
maybe tipping over one of those my bottles slightly, possibly
onto an editor's back. I'm sure they didn't notice.
I'm sure it was it was during the show in the heat of the
moment. But, you know, it was that I was
a teen, I think already doing these kind of commissions and it
was just so exciting. So those kind of memories really
stick in my head. Yeah.
Were you at Saint Martin's at that stage?
Yes, I think I just started, yeah.
I'm going to come on to Saint Martin's in a moment, but today
we're going on a style journey and it's your style journey.
And so I want you to tell me what you've put on today.
I've. Longed for this moment, Amanda,
because I could go on for hours about, you know, sort of what I
wear and clothes and things. It's such a privilege to talk
about it. So today I'm wearing a double RL
Ralph Lauren suede jacket, a vintage Tiffany necklace that my
mum bought me, I think in an auction, which I've had for
years. So that's really special,
special for me. This T-shirt I sort of dug from.
I have a lot of T-shirts I found literally at the bottom of of
this very large pile of my wardrobe because I'm just really
interested how closed no matter how sort of mundane they seem
have hold such special memories. And this T-shirt I think just
because of the the fit and I just love the print.
I was an ornithologist as a child so I'm quite.
I've literally been eyeing up some Canada geese down there as
pre. We've also got Egyptians.
There you go. I know what Egyptian geese are.
So I still have that kind of, you know, I'm still kind of
looking out on twitching. So yeah, this T-shirt was really
special for me just when I started going out, moving to
London. It's seen many club nights.
It's. Got many memories.
It has many memories. It has been worse since.
I'm glad to hear it. So it's just one of those things
that might not seem, you know, out of the ordinary, but for me,
it has a lot of memories. So, yeah.
And Margaret Hale MHL Margaret Hale trousers.
Actually proud of socks because one of the bonuses of doing
shoots I do a bit of modelling as well is that often you can
walk off set with the socks. Well, of course.
I wouldn't otherwise maybe purchase from the socks, but
it's nice to know they're there and Blundstone boots.
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So you grew up where? I grew up in Sussex, but in the
middle of nowhere in the countryside, very beautiful
area. And, but I went to school in
Canterbury. So I had this sort of contrast
of, of environments and I, I grew up loving nature and
drawing nature a lot. I think that's where I sort of
picked up a lot of, I guess drawing skills.
But then I was also really keen to get to, to Canterbury because
sort of at the same time as, you know, being interested in nature
and becoming a teen, I suddenly got really interested in sort of
dance music and rave and stuff. So I kind of had this strange
combination, yeah, starting at school in Canterbury.
And were you in school uniform there?
I was in school uniform, quite a, a sort of grand school
uniform. I had a wing collar.
So. So yeah, I just got used to
that. And how does that feel it?
I suppose looking back, I mean, I didn't really think about it
then you, you just put it on and I remember doing things like
you'd sort of keep the wing collar kind of attached to the
back with a start. And so you just sort of put it
on the morning. What do you think about and put
the start through the front? And also things like the tie, I
remember just having not doing it every morning, but just
having in a loose knot and just sort of tie it up again.
And so I did, you know, it just became a process.
But I suppose that kind of formality in dressing, I did
understand sort of the power of of, I guess wearing a suit or
kind of looking quite elegant from an early age, although
that's not really how I dressed as a teen.
But did it? Did it make you feel more
engaged with your schooling? Not at the time.
I suppose uniforms kind of create this kind of cohesion and
and sort of grouping. I suppose that's kind of the the
part of the reason for uniform It did.
I'm not sure I was really conscious of it when sort of
when I was in uniform at that age.
But I suppose it created more of a contrast to what I was wearing
out of uniform and and what I enjoyed to wear at school and
kind of how you could express yourself with your friends.
And so you didn't customize your school uniform in any?
Way allowed to we could sort of get away with.
I remember in winter you'd wear a dark grey or black V-neck
jumper and it was sort of what Phoenix jumper you chose.
Very important. Quite a big and if you went, you
know, dark charcoal or black and I think I went dark charcoal
M&S. So that was, you know, a
statement. But then, when you weren't in
full school uniform, you were clubbing, raving.
No, not at school. I mean, I was, I was, I wouldn't
have been allowed to, I don't think at school.
And, you know, I was too young really to do that, but I think a
lot of my creativity comes from my imagination.
So, you know, from an early age, imagine getting into fashion,
imagining being at fashion shows, kind of imagining being
at a rave and and sort of almost occupy occupying those spaces in
my head. So I think, you know, I'd sort
of walk around school, you know, in the evening, age 15, sort of
wearing a hoodie and I'd feel like a bit of a raver or
something or, you know, things like that where I wasn't
actually doing that sort of stuff, but.
But you were looking forward to? It yeah.
And picking up obviously pre social media is getting a lot
from fashion magazines. And I have, I still have
actually the first edition of Arena on plus #1 which was had a
guy sort of running through a desert on the cover and in the
Mani suit with a sort of parachute billowing behind him.
And that was just in that era where a fashion magazine was all
the information came from that, you know, and it's so well found
this magazine and, and I've, I've hung on, hung on to it.
And I, I picked up so much information just from that one
one magazine and then obviously buying more and more sort of
magazines and. Yeah.
And were you were you buying from vintage stores when you
were a teenager? I was a combination my, I think
I get a lot of interest in fashion stuff from my mum who's
always been interested. My parents are creative so they
met at art college and so they don't come from any kind of
corporate background. So I've never had that kind of,
you know, I suppose business feel of dressing.
I've always just sort of, I suppose had quite sort of
relaxed approach and my mum kindly bought me things which
were fantastic. You know, we would go to, there
was a shop called Ratio in Brighton, which was kind of the
core shop in Brighton. For example, it would sell like
bit of Helmet Lane, Catherine, Hamlet and and you know, really
cool. Brands.
Yeah, I mean, I'm not saying I had, you know, maybe I got AT
shirt or something, but it was still that T-shirt was
treasured. And I think the earliest, one of
my earliest purchases at school was I remember sending off 4
because of course you couldn't at that time pay online or
anything. So I must have sort of sent a
cheque or something. But I bought a helmet Lang vest
because that was just, I was so into that brand and his vision
and I would never wear, you know, I wouldn't just sort of
wear a vest, but it was under things so I knew it was there.
It was a sort of army green vest, obviously not the biggest
item, but for me, again, that was such a special thing.
And I, I just remember waiting for it to arrive and you know,
everyone else was receiving kind of quite conventional things in
the post, but I was waiting for the Salmat Langfest, so.
And and that that was yeah. Did you have siblings?
Were you? I have one sister who's also has
great style and creative. So yeah, it was a combined.
And did you bounce creative styling ideas off each other as
as sort of teenagers? I don't know if we sort of
bounce styling ideas off each other.
I've always, I think we've both always been very individual.
So we definitely chatted a lot about fashion and, and it was a
really mutual interest and, and we would sort of, you know, both
really look forward to mum would get, you know, Elle or Vogue,
whatever and we'd be excited to look at it.
But she had her, her own very distinctive style.
And I don't know whether there was a cross pollination in that
in that way, but I suppose I was inspired by how individual she
was. And I've never really wanted to
try and fit in, you know, I was always just doing my own thing.
I wasn't bothered about what other people were wearing at
school and things like that, so. Would you?
Did your father's style influence you at all?
Yes, in a, in a, a sort of, I suppose quite a sort of relaxed
way, like he's always worn denim, you know, he still does.
He'll wear sort of a denim shirt, jeans and and things like
that that are again, quite sort of unassuming.
But I think that sort of seeped in that sort of love of kind of,
I guess workwear fabrics in a way and and sort of well loved
clothes. He had AI remember he had a
massive sort of almost World War 2 style sheepskin coat when I
was young and I was just so intrigued by it was just wait a
ton and have one of those kind of brass metal chains in the
back. Love that detail.
And I remember watching the Clothes Show or, you know,
something like that on John Kaliano in the 90s and hearing
about how one of his earliest sort of inspiring moments was
sort of flipping A sheepskin coat upside down and putting
your arms through the sleeves, but having the hem form this
huge kind of turned over collar almost sort of, I guess slightly
kimono style. And I remember doing that with
my dad's. She's probably in private.
But that was, you know, one of those moments that that, yeah,
it's quite formative in a. Way just being just quite
transformative. Yeah, instantly transformative
and I just sort of heard it, you know, on the closure and went
when did it? What fun.
You went to Saint Martins? Yes.
And you studied fashion design there?
I did. Study fashion design BA women's
wear. I think at that stage I was
really interested in fashion. I think when you're that age,
you know, I feel sorry in a way for people choosing a course as
a team because there's so much evolution still to happen.
And I, I have spoken to young art students and, and people at
college and they, they almost, I think can get quite stressed
about, you know, what direction should I take and what shall you
do? But I, I think you have to let
things evolve a little bit. And I think the key thing is to,
to really follow where your natural interests are.
So at that time I was very interested in fashion.
You know, obviously the big designers were like Galliano and
McQueen who had been to Saint Martin's.
I think since maybe I, I might have done well in something like
print design or maybe even menswear.
But it was, it was great. I really, and I really started
drawing at Saint Martin's. So that was a a key thing.
And what was your style? What was your Saint Martin's
style? Of what?
Of what I was. Wearing.
I was thinking about this before the pardon.
I was, I was remembering with slight embarrassment my, I think
I remember my, my sort of first day, which is obviously a big
moment at Saint Martin's when you turn up because it's not
like turning up, you know, I guess other courses or at
school, it's like you're studying fashion design.
So actually, and I think I was in some DKNY combats, possibly
like a logo T-shirt. I mean, I was still very like
just wowed by just the fashion world and, you know, brands that
were big, that were having a hot moment, like DKNY, I was really
like, it's DKNY. So I think that was, I think
that's what I was wearing. And I discovered, you know, I'm,
I'm still evolving. So in terms of my style, you
know, I've just covered more and more as I've got old and I've
really loved that. You know, I've never felt
stressed to sort of get to a certain point in how I look or
have it set in stone. I love it being a fluid thing.
Yeah, yes. And, and ever evolving, Yeah.
And when you were at Saint Martin's, were you, did you do
menswear? Were you, or were you women's
wear? What?
What were you focusing on? So I will in terms of design, I
was, I was doing women's wear design and I think at the same
time doing a lot of drawing and getting more into drawing and
doing they had fantastic drawing classes and I was lucky enough
to be taught by Howard Tangy who who taught I think Galliano and
people like that drawing and he's an incredible artist as
well. So you know, it's a really
privileged position to be in to get to have these inspiring
people teach. And my good friend Camilla Dixon
is that's where I met her because she was, was teaching as
a young tutor drawing at Saint Martin's.
And so I think a lot of getting back to your question, a lot of
my designs immediately started having this print element and
had literally they were sort of, you know, the proof was, was
there early on in terms of my career because I'd sort of treat
the outfit almost like a canvas to then draw on.
And, you know, I'd sort of eventually get to the point of
just drawing. But at that stage, I was sort of
combining artwork and illustration onto clothing.
Fascinating. And did you, did you have a
light bulb moment while you were at Saint Martin's as to becoming
an artist rather than a fashion designer?
I did, I think I did partly when Howard, my tutor recommended
that I just changed literally the the method of drawing.
So I think I was drawing when I started more in sort of fine pen
and sort of pencil and charcoal and quite hard materials.
And he noticed that I drew very quickly and needed to get the
line down quickly. And he suggested I used an ink
brush to have this sort of graphic look that would just I'd
be able to do just get that line down in a very fluid way.
And that's the style that's really evolved into what people
see as my signature style now. And and what this, you know, for
example, this drawing is that I did of use.
So that's kind of stark. And that was the turning point.
Who would you say you dress for? I, I do dress mainly for myself.
I love the feeling of, of what I wear.
That's a kind of, I suppose a kind of the feeling of movement
in clothes I love. So I love feeling kind of agile
and sleek. I don't like feeling too
restricted. And so when I put an outfit on,
the sort of test is kind of then when you walk after the shops or
whatever, and it's like how you start feeling in it.
So I, I, I love that. And then obviously if you feel
good, I guess you look better. But there there is always, I
suppose that kind of, you know, maybe a like minded person might
like what you're wearing or, you know, get what you're wearing
and, and stuff like that. Because you're, you're working
with a lot of brands. Yeah.
Are you? Do you ever adapt your what you
wear to your initial meeting? I do, yes.
And thinking about it, there is that sort of division between me
sort of in work mode and more casual me or me work in my
studio. So yeah, definitely when I'm
working on a campaign. So I've sort of travelled to New
York. I, I do a lot of work in, in New
York with different brands and, and I will have a certain kind
of vision of how I want to look. And often it's creating,
obviously the focus is the artwork.
So I might be creating a mural or working on a window or
something like that for a brand. And so I don't really want to
draw too much attention to what I'm wearing, but I want to look
good so, and sort of look sleek and look more like a silhouette.
So it's usually be like a really great sun spell, black T-shirt,
slim black jeans, boots, maybe a chain or something like that,
but but fairly monochromatic and simple.
But there's also the event element.
So if I'm going to a kind of brand event or something that's
again a slightly different thing where maybe I'll put a slightly
more kind of elegant look or I guess evening look or something.
But you're going to meet Hermes for the first time for a brief,
you know, project brief. Or on zoom it's often.
A thing. Of literally like what do I look
like here? Will you, will you ever adapt
your style to communicate a little bit more to said brand
that you're going to be working with?
I will, yeah, I will subtly, possibly tweak a bit, but it
will always have my core style. I won't dramatically change.
Now you're also a model and I wondered, what's the most iconic
piece you've ever modelled? Prada, it's always a brand that
I've I've admired and getting back to loving it was a full
circle moment for me. I haven't been signed for that
long, but I was signed to a fantastic agency called Super
during COVID, weirdly, and it was such a surprise to to sort
of be asked. And being an artist illustrated
is very much my main job. So this is something I also do,
but I love. I love having that as a sort of
contrast. And it also links in.
But the full circle moment came from having that arena on plus
edition edition one at school and just pouring over it and
loving it. And the stylist David Bradshaw
that worked on on that cover, I discovered at that shoot styled
me for that shoot for arena on plus, current arena on plus for
a prouder story. So it was an incredible sort of
full cycle moment. I couldn't believe, you know,
had I told my teen self that I'd be working with that stylist who
who created that cover image many years later.
Oh. My God.
I mean, because my next question was your favorite stylist to
work with. I wouldn't like to to pinpoint
because they have such a What's so interesting about modelling
is is just the amount of different talents that come
together. And I'm always, so I'm almost
kind of surprised that everything comes together for a
shoot because they're so, as you know, so many people that need
to come together like a show. It's like even if one person's
ill or or can't turn up, it's it's like it's actually sort of
fragile combination. But yeah, they all have such
different approaches. But I suppose David Bradshaw was
just so incredible, especially at menswear, and I also love his
style. I think that's always a good
sign when you see the stylist and you really like what they're
wearing. I love Tom Stubbs as well.
He's fantastic. He's really great stylist.
But I missed something earlier. You said you were approached to
join. Super model.
Management So you hadn't put yourself forward?
No, no, it was a surprise. Yeah.
So it was, you know, I was obviously very happy with my
career, doing what I do. And it's something I love doing.
So this this was this was something else where I was, I
was approached by the agency and actually I wasn't.
It's the kind of thing that I might have been quite shy about
or nervous about. My younger self might have found
that quite nerve wracking, but it just immediately felt like a
family, that agency. And it's run by a brother and
sister. So it's just it's.
They have an extraordinary board of of faces.
Yes, and they've just started, uh, having some women and they
have an export and they've just taken on, I think Erin O'Connor
who I know. So yeah, I again, I can't my
teen clothes show watching self would would not believe that I'm
at the same agency. So it it's sort of lovely to
have another chapter, isn't it, to layer into and?
Completely unexpected. And I think a lot of young
people think, you know, I've got to get to this place now or, or
if I'm going to be a musician or an actor or model, you know,
it's got to happen now and it really doesn't.
It really doesn't. And I think that's the beauty of
the world that we're living in is, you know, a model's career
is not over by the time 22. And I found, I think what's been
so surprising. So I joined the agency more as,
as a kind of their talent. They have a talent board,
obviously with artists and musicians and things.
And I've sort of kind of merged onto their main board and, and
I've just worked on an incredible campaign and it's
coming out at the end of the year with, with a couple of well
known actors. And that was just that
experience last week in the film studios was just like through my
mind, you know, I just would never have imagined doing
something like this. And I think it's partly this
this niche of not being, you know, a certain age, but but
sort of representing a slightly different demographic.
And you know, obviously the industry is more diverse now,
which is fantastic. And yeah, I think there's more
age diversity, which I which is so important.
Totally. Can you share who those actors
were? No, you'll love it.
I tried. I tried.
Yes, yes. If you could dress in just two
brands, 1 High Street and one designer, which two brands would
those be? The designer is a designer I
really adore, who I've always loved and actually I worked
there as a student. So Margaret Howe I've always
loved and I have so much respect for her still.
She's still very much involved in the company and it's remained
so consistent and I love that about the brand.
It hasn't really swayed to sort of trends, but somehow it always
feels very fresh and modern. Absolutely.
And the quality is fantastic. So Margaret Howell I think is is
and also a really great example of a British designer as as you
are. So I think Margaret Howell is a
designer the High Street. I don't think I'd I'd really
want to pick a High Street if that's OK, just because I think
they're fantastic High Street brands.
But I think now I tend to either sort of save up for for maybe
something from Margaret Howland. But then also where my favorite
places? Sorry, my favorite pieces tend
to be vintage. I was, that literally was my
next question. So where do you go for your
vintage? So vintage, I think, I mean this
T-shirt that I bought when I was at Saint Martin's, I think came
from Beyond Retro or Rocket maybe or, or one of those shops
in Covent Garden that I think is still there.
Definitely something similar is still there.
So, you know, back in in those kind of days I would have.
Bought things more in in shops now obviously I'm looking on on
various places online. Where do you where do you enjoy?
I'm a quite an old school eBay person.
I know a lot of people look on different like Depop and Vinton
stuff. I've, I've really just sort of
stuck to eBay and I've got certain kind of search tags that
will pop things up now and again.
It's like someone's, yeah, someone who's, you know, someone
selling the perfect vintage in poor Omani thing or something
like that. So yeah, I just love, I love the
search, the sort of hunter element of eBay where you and
and any vintage clothing, the way it's not just handed to you
on a plate, you have to really work at it.
Yeah, what are your search tags? That's a really, really good
question. That's almost a podcast in
itself. So get ready.
So in poor Omani, 90s in poor Omani, I absolutely love.
Again, that was one of the brands I was really interested
in when I was at school. It had such an incredible
vision. And I remember they did these
huge catalogues. I used to send off the
catalogues when I was at school and I, I learned the power of
drawing early on because, you know, people would take notice
of a drawing and I would, I'd literally write to Chanel and
they would, I think then I don't know if they still do.
They did these hardback book style catalogues and they would
send me one to school with a note.
And so I, I learnt getting a little bit off topic, but I sort
of learnt about these brands and, and you know, at that stage
and, and sort of writing to them and drawing and stuff.
So there were certain brands I was into one, One of them was
Emporia Armani. I've got quite sort of an
interest in certain niche 90s brands because it was when I
started getting interested in fashion.
So there was a brand that people forget about now called People
Corporation that Roland Murray designed I think for a few
years. And it was just very clubby and
sort of underground. And it really resonated with me
because I started going out and it felt like things, people
wearing in, in bars and clubs and stuff.
And, and that's rare now. So you won't really get much of
that. But now and again you get the
odd piece and quite a few other searches that I won't go into.
Do you have a style icon? I don't have a specific style
icon. I don't think I ever have.
I think growing up it was just friends and it is now friends,
you know, I see who I like what they're wearing and I might pick
up a kind of idea from them. I've always been drawn to sort
of what actors wear for some reason.
I like the idea of a sort of off duty outfit.
I like the idea of something that, you know, you might have
to be on stage or maybe, you know, be modelling or something
and be put in something. But you've sort of got this
quiet sort of power in what you're wearing off duty or off
stage. And it's, it can be quite
simple, but it's sort of, you know, the energies in there.
And so I I I'm often interested in what actors choose to wear.
What do you reach for when you need to feel empowered?
For me it, it, it tends to be the simpler thing.
So actually just the process of shaving, which we'll be pleased
to see this morning, it just changes everything, you know, I
just feel completely different person.
So starting from there and then just sort of dressing downwards
from that, it's just something probably very simple, like a
really great silhouette, a good Navy jumper, black T-shirt, slim
black jeans and boots. So a sort of taking it right
down to being simple. I think it's how I feel
empowered and sleek and elegant. Any particular jacket?
Leather jackets I just love often vintage, I try not to not
to buy too many because I have a mast and yeah, I just love
leather jackets and and in summer denim jackets it has been
refined to those my wardrobes quite sort of condensed to those
two items. So how would you describe your
style DNA in three words? I would describe my style DNA as
sleek, elegant and artist. Hopefully, because people often
say ask, I'm not trying to predict being a creative really,
but people often ask, are you an artist or are you a creative?
So hopefully it's somehow it just comes out a little bit.
It does. It does.
Would you say you've had a worst fashion moment?
I don't like to sort of look back and regret too much what
what I've worn. I'm pretty sure there are some
horror stories in there. I can't think of any off the top
of my head. I think you just learn little
things like if you're wearing boots and I love wearing boots
and if you're wearing a certain kind of slim trouser and then
you stand for a photo, the trouser will inevitably bunch
above the boot. Things like that, that I
wouldn't have sort of, you know, you sort of learn.
You learn the hardware. They don't really matter, but
it's just little, little things like that.
Is staying in shape important to you?
You know, do you? Are you a Jim Bunny?
I am, I suppose, surprisingly a Jim Bunny, but it's partly just
things like cardio and also doing what I do as an artist and
illustrator. I'm, I'm working, you know, my
studio is in my home. So I'm, I'm sort of in the house
a lot. So I just have to get out pretty
much every day. And, and for me, that's going
for a walk or going to the gym. So it's not really that I'm
trying to sort of change my physique or, or anything.
It's it's just about sort of getting out and sort of having
that kind of moving and I guess keeping healthy and and yeah.
Let's talk about grooming for a moment.
What's important to you in terms of grooming?
Yeah, I think. I think just shaving, skin,
hair, obvious things. Would you ever dye your hair?
I have been through those eras and I, I think I'm happy with it
in its natural state now. But I, I went through, it's
quite dark and I went through a period of trying to get it to
that really white blonde bleach. And that was.
I feel like I've seen pictures of.
Yeah, that was such a kind of process.
It was fun to do and I remember my poor mum being shocked when I
just sort of randomly posed, sent her a photo and she didn't
know what was happening. It was fun, but it was a moment
and. Did you do your eyebrows too?
I've never done that. I do like my eyebrows and I
don't want to sort of fiddle with them too much.
Would you ever do any tweakments?
Botox fillers. No.
Do you coming back to clothing, Do you have one item of clothing
that means the most to you? I don't think maybe not clothing
but accessories funny enough. So I have some props so.
Bring them in. Belts so this I suppose so the
high end belt moment is so this Iguchi belt from the Tom Ford
era. So it's that sort of iconic
square G and this, it was such a moment for me because it's one
of those things that I'd sort of saved up for.
And I was so excited to have something that's sort of, you
know, been in the fashion show or whatever and, and was
involved with such a big brand. And I specifically remember
going to Gucci on the first time and then it was, I think lower.
It was sort of old Bond Street. And I was so sort of excited and
nervous that I literally tripped on the step into Gucci as the
guy opened the door and just fell face down.
But that didn't deter me and I came out with this lovely,
lovely belt. Absolutely.
Beautiful and it's just still so pristine and I also love with
belts the way that obviously as you get older, the notches
change. I don't mind that and you know,
it just sort of tells the history and this belt is
actually an old 90s M&S belt. My mum pro kindly bought it for
me when I was at school and it's just weathered and worn so
beautifully. And I really, in fact, this I
think I love more than the Gucci belt because it's so personal.
Bridal leather isn't it? It's absolutely and that and
though that does just get better and better and.
Better completely and it's it's M&S.
So it sort of shows that it doesn't have to be a designer
item to be something. With a proper brass.
That lasts for for a long time and, and yeah, actually this
might be one of my most treasured sort of personal items
and I love that it's an unassuming thing.
So when you're planning what to wear, do you start with one
particular item in mind that you want to wear, and then build it
up from there? I think I have a sort of going
to sleep at night planning situation.
So that's quite if I'm struggling to sleep, for me,
that's quite a good way of drifting off is just running
through outfits in my head and remembering my wardrobe and sort
of doing a Rolodex. So if I've got a big thing the
following day, I probably did this a little bit last night for
what I'm wearing today, just kind of lying in bed deciding
what I'm going to wear. I'll sort of plan it in my head
and it will it will stay there as a mood board.
And you know, I suppose being quite visual, I can keep that
image. Yeah.
But it will usually start at the core.
So just at the top the the trousers and then sort of build
up from that do. You ever do a big old try on get
into the wardrobe? I think having done a bit of I
do, having done a bit of modelling work, I've I've, I
mean, this is such a sort of pathetic thing to say, but I've
suddenly realised how exhausted try and close on is.
And I did a job recently in Berlin and I think I tried on, I
counted, I think I tried on. It was a big sort of lookbook
thing. And I tried on about 50 outfits
and it was just, it was actually like there's a limit to how many
out. Not that I do that at home, but
you know, it gets to a certain point where it's like, I'll just
imagine the outfit. I don't need to try it on.
But sometimes when you haven't seen the thing for a while, you
need to remind yourself. So I do.
I do sometimes do a bit of that. I mean, talking about modelling,
do you ever get put in a look that you just loathe?
I mean, they vary. Super's brilliant.
You know, the jobs are at a certain level so that that they
always have a really fantastic editorial kind of vision to
them. They do vary, but what I love
about modelling is the freeing, the quality of it and, and you
just give yourself over to someone and I actually love
that, you know, and just dress me how you want and, and in your
vision. I'm not really picky about what
I wear. I like just relaxing into it and
just doing it. Great travel, yes.
Do you have a? Particular travel look.
I love travel looks I get very excited about.
Do you really think about it? I really think about it to the
degree that if I'm thinking of buying something new, like a
jacket or whatever, I'll literally picture it in, in an
airport and me walking to the terminal or walking onto the
plane. Because for me, those zones are
kind of, they're almost like runway spaces And, you know,
getting back to being really interested in, in the sort of
setup of fashion shows. And yeah, so I I do plan them,
but there's a, there's a balance between the sort of elegance and
the vision and the comfort. And So what would be a typical
travel look for you? I, I think I've sort of got it
down to a certain formula, which is a really comfy soft T-shirt,
maybe like a Sunsplot T-shirt, something to put on which
because of the sort of air conditioning in the plane, which
is even if you're travelling from somewhere hot, it's weird
how it can kind of build up. So usually like a hoodie because
you can double that up as a kind of snoozy sort of covering, and
then just a really great leather jacket to look a bit Mission
Impossible in the airport. I've got to ask you, how many
leather and suede jackets do you wear?
My friends will be listening to this at this point saying no you
don't, it's much more than that. So I'm quite good at recycling
and selling things. I have a fantastic guy who sort
of sells things off and I give to charity and stuff.
So there is a bit of a turnover. I think at the moment we're
looking at about, I'd say 10. I thought you were going to say
far more. No, it's yeah.
I think it's reasonable, but quite a lot.
But yeah. OK.
Just coming back to travel, what luggage do you use?
I love my travel luggage and I've waited quite a while in my
career to sort of save up to have the classic Rimowa in the
silver. Wheelie.
Wheelie the cabin one, I always try and have everything in the
cabin, not have to check luggage.
So it's always a bit of a a sort of fight to get anything,
everything into that brilliant, brilliantly designed suitcase.
But I love that and Wheeling around with that with a lovely
Julier tote on top. Those are my go to travel
pieces. Very chic, very chic.
Let's talk about sustainable fashion for a moment.
What's your approach to that? I think it's incredibly
important and I think about it in every aspect, how I dress,
the brands I work with also, you know, in sort of modelling
environments and luckily I think everyone's aware of it now and
you see it, it really has has sort of sunk into every industry
which is fantastic. My personal approach is to
really be conscious about no matter how much there is a
thrill and there really is a dope, I guess dopamine thrill in
buying new things is just trying to curb that and not over
consuming basically and just really thinking before I buy in
that sense, whether it's a small thing, a larger thing.
I also am really keen to both buy things that have come from
other people, but also recycle what what I wear if I no longer
wear it and get it out there for someone else to wear.
Because I think probably there are enough clothes for a lot of
people sort of out there to wear and recycle.
Obviously people also want to buy new fresh things, but but
there is so much out there and I think it's important to get
stuff that you're not wearing sort of back out.
It's like almost having an empty house or something.
It's like someone could be living in that so.
Yeah, as a creative and with a fashion training, do you ever
upcycle or alter or tweak a garment?
I'm always hacking at things. Not so much.
Well, not tall leather jackets, thank goodness, but but yeah.
But leather's a great one to hack.
At it is actually yeah, no Hemi yes, although sometimes like the
the fraying with obviously with things like denim and and
Colton, you know, cropped denim jackets and things like that.
I love that sort of once they've been washed and worn that kind
of tendril thing that happens. So I really love that sort of
slightly altered lived in thing. I'm always hacking it T-shirts,
making the sleeves a little bit shorter, getting them maybe
slightly more sort of cropped shape and things like that.
Lots of disasters in that realm where you just hack away and you
put it on. You're like, no, can't.
That was a little short. Too short.
I love doing all that stuff. I suppose it's a creative thing.
Yeah, yeah. So you buy vintage online, but
do you? Mainly I do brine shops as well
and charity shops. And anywhere in particular that
you love? I still love, I think it's an
Oxfam in Earlham St. and Covent Garden might be Endell St.,
Earlham St. no Drury Lane. I've had some great things from
there, like a fantastic Dax vintage grey double breasted
coat, you know, memory stuff like that from, from that
particular charity shop and a few of the places on on Brick
Lane. Obviously that's a great place
to go for that kind. Of thing, it's fab that that
underground market, Yeah, I can spend hours in there.
Yeah, it's a real sort of treasure trove, yeah.
What would you say is the oldest piece in your wardrobe?
That could be vintage or it could be just something that's
you've had in there. I think I had I don't have any
more. I was thinking about this
recently. I had a beautiful tail coat that
where the lay. It was so old that the, I think
at a certain point people hand wrote labels and so the label
was basically handwritten. I mean, it was just
extraordinary. It should have been in a museum
I found in a Clapham charity shop.
I don't think I have that anymore.
I think I, I sold it or, or gave it on to someone, but that was
literally from, I guess it could have been from the 20s or
something. But at the moment it's probably
like a vintage 70s T-shirt or something like that.
Let's spin on some quick fires, Yes?
What fashion advice would you give your 20 year old self?
Fashion advice for a younger me? I think I wouldn't want to to
criticize at all. I think just carry on, be
confident in what you're feeling like doing, don't hold back.
Maybe ease up on the logo branded stuff in retrospect.
What fashion trend or era would you most like to see make a
comeback? I really like the way people
dress in a very individual way now and I I think that's
something that's really great about the modern age.
You know, people have really embraced personal style and, and
St. style has become such a powerful thing rather than just
looking to the high end and, and runway.
So actually I just love that eclectic approach and maybe
mixing eras and stuff. There isn't, there isn't a
particular era, but I love when they seep into fashion.
Like at the moment I think there's a slight sort of 80s
resurgence and I'm quite enjoying that.
Fashion or beauty trend that you would consign to Room 101.
I, I don't, I don't know if it's a fashion trend as such, but I,
I'm just a little bit adverse and I, I hope I'm not being rude
to anyone because I think it's probably just an easy thing to
do. But when you're walking around
an airport, getting back to the the travel vision of everything
is is when people wear their neck pillows.
That's really good. Not on the plane.
It's probably not any use while you're wandering around and it
just looks or if it's dangling off the backpack, I just.
That is your very visual eye, your last impulse buy.
I just had a fantastic holiday in Ibiza and I got very excited
before I went and bought some Prada sunglasses.
Your views on tattoos. Views on tattoos, I don't have
any myself. I think with most things, I
think people, you know, unless they're wearing or doing
something offensive, they can sort of do what they like
really. And so it's up to the person.
I have also had people that have told me that they've had my
artwork tattooed on them, which is quite a weird.
Oh my God. There are people with with my
drawings tattooed on them. And your signature.
I don't think my signature just just sort of a line work drawing
on their arm or something, and that's a weird.
Thing I'm not sure how I feel about it if it's just
permanently on someone's skin, but it's their decision I'm.
Thinking. I haven't been involved.
Yeah, no, it's fine and it's their decision.
Grooming or well-being treatment?
You couldn't give up. I love a great haircut and it's
something that I sort of upped the stakes of as as I've got
older. And shout out to to Ross at Sort
Salon in Dalston because he is just fantastic and I also just
enjoy the process of sitting there and chatting to him and I
just feel so great after a good heck on.
High end or High Street? Sort of neither if I'm allowed
to say because I love certain high end pieces.
I do buy the odd thing from maybe someone like Massimo Dutti
or or something like that. But I like to combine a sort of
polarize myself with maybe a great high end piece and maybe a
vintage piece. Savile Row or Levi's?
Levi's. Double breasted or single
breasted? Double.
Crocs cute or puke? Again, sort of neutral because I
haven't worn them, but I bought a pair for my one of my best
friends to do the gardening in and there are unique
collaborative collaboration croc.
Gazelles or sambas? I do wear Adidas but I actually
not sure if I know the difference.
I just love my pair of Adidas that I've literally had for
about 15 years and they're still going strong.
I would call them Shelto. That's a shout out to Adidas,
isn't it? 15 years.
Yeah, they're still going strong.
Good. Stuff Sports Lux or Rock'n'roll?
Definitely a little bit of both. I love a sort of sleek sport
locks look. I also like combining a sort of
preppy quality into the wear I dress, which I guess is is in
that realm. But I also love a bit of that
kind of being into music and stuff that I guess that
rock'n'roll feel. Although I never really want to
dress exactly like a, you know, Rockstar or something, but but I
love that, that feel. Cashmere or cotton?
Cashmere is just hard to turn away from.
Cargoes or chinos? Neutral don't really love
either. Trilby or Tracy?
Don't wear many hats but love Philip Tracy's work, so maybe
Tracy. Trend or style?
Style. Colour or monochrome?
I love colour. I get so inspired by colour and
you know, for my work and everything and, and even in my
interiors at home, I, I love sort of Memphis Milano and that
kind of vibe, but I just tend to be happier often in monochrome.
Print or plain. For me to wear it, it would tend
to be plain. Order or editor?
Editor. Charity shop or retail?
Bit of both. I might even stretch to having
bought from cherry shop and then trying to or giving to another
cherry shop or resell. Yeah.
Budgie smugglers or board shorts?
Shorts. And finally, traditional last
question at the end of the day, what do you or don't you wear in
bed? I don't at home, but when I'm
staying anywhere else at a friend's or wherever I I
politely might wear socks or something like that.
What a joy to see you again and have this conversation.
It's. Been such a pleasure.
Thank you so much and I want to revisit the whole thing another
time over coffee or something. It's been an absolute pleasure.
Thank you.