54
NOVEMBER 2013
•
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
wear in ... London
CHARLOTTE TAYLOR
The up-and-coming fashion designer, fresh off the
opening of her label’s first brick-and-mortar location,
gives us a fewpointers on London style
INTERVIEWAND PHOTOGRAPH BY SAM POLCER
London has always been one
of the world’s most fashion-
forward cities. Why do you
think that is?
London has an international
crowd. We’ve got amazing
galleries and exhibitions, the
best magazines. It’s just got
everything. That sounds a bit
obvious, doesn’t it? But the thing
is that you don’t ever feel like you
have to conform. It’s somewhere
you can really feel liberated. Ever
since all the fashionmovements,
like the punks and the mods,
people have done their own
thing—and that resonates with
those who come here and think,
“I can actually be who I want to
be without feeling like I’mge ing
stared at.”
And the clothes always fit well.
The tailoring is exceptional, and
that comes from the heritage
that we have here, with Savile
Row. Now, it’s becomingmore
accessible—you don’t have to
go to super-high-end stores and
tailors to have your clothes fi ed.
On the other end, I see people
moving away from throwaway
fashion, where you buy it and
wear it once; people want things
that are going to last a bit longer
and are cut really well.
What’s the latest trend
in London?
It’s all gone a bit street.
Everybody’s wearing NikeiD
sneakers and beanie hats with
writing. It’s kind of streetwear
slogan central, amixture of
Rihanna and Cara Delevingne.
At the same time, there’s also
this kind of preppy East London
geek chic—everyone’s wearing
brogues and has a bit of quirk,
like amustache. Beards are really
big on guys, because they’re going
back to this vintage look. I love
beards, but it’s go en so trendy
that it’s no longer trendy.
Where do you usually shop?
I’ma vintage girl. I go to “car-
boot” sales. People literally turn
upwith their cars and sell from
their boot [trunk]. One good one
is called the Ba ersea car-boot
sale—it’s every Sunday.
Talk us through what you’re
wearing now.
I’mwearing leopard print sandals
fromOffice. The Hula Hoop Blue
puff dress and RamTan pea coat
are both frommy label. You don’t
have to wear them together,
but I love clashing prints. That’s
something that’s very on trend
at the moment as well. People
can be afraid of prints, but when
they put themon they’re not
that scary. And I love wearingmy
label’s clothes. Theymake me feel
really good! I mean, if I didn’t, I
should just give up now, right?
