Grace Woodward is one woman in fashion that you just
cannot ignore. She describes her personal style as being “halfway between good
and bad taste” but despite this she always manages to look stunning in whatever
she wears. Her mentality that fashion should be fun and a way to express your
personality resonates across the country, inspiring many people to be more
daring with the way they dress.
As a child she experimented with dressing up, raiding
any available wardrobe for unique sartorial finds. From then onwards, Grace
knew she wanted to work in fashion and it became a process of elimination to
find the right profession. At the beginning of Grace’s career, stylists were
still unknown and the job was steeped in mystery. It is only recently that the
fashion world has opened up and become more accessible.
Grace is probably most famous for being a judge on the
hit TV show “Britain’s Next Top Model” but her talent does not just stop there.
Not only is she a fantastic model scout, her main passion is styling and has
worked on shows such as the X Factor and for magazines like Elle, Harpers
Bazaar and Nylon. In 2009, she was awarded Stylist of the Year by the British
Fashion Council and The Clothes Show, which has sparked a forever growing
relationship with the show.
I was lucky enough to go backstage at the Clothes show
to interview Grace about the show but most importantly about the work she does
in the industry. Her warm, caring personality and the enthusiasm she has for
her job immediately puts you at ease and allows you, for a brief moment in
time, a glimpse inside her world…The world of Grace Woodward.
Being awarded the ‘Stylist of the Year’ award back in
2009 must make you feel connected with the show in some way. Why is the show so
special to you?
The clothes show is legendary. I remember when I was
little and Caryn Franklin was presenting the show, I used to be mesmerised by
it all. It just seemed so exciting and it was so far away from where I was at
the time. It was the only television show that related to the fashion world and
it just inspired me.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
My mind is my biggest inspiration. One person alone
does not inspire me but instead what I see on a daily basis, the people I meet
all inspire me in some way. I am like a sponge, taking everything in and
forming layers of it in my mind, ready to draw from when I need to.
What has been the highlight of your career so far and
what has been the biggest challenge?
The highlight of my career definitely has to be
styling for Fever Ray. I have been a huge fan of ‘The Knife’ and when Karin
Dreijer went solo, I was so excited to style for her show. She is so creative
and out there with her clothes so styling her was great fun.
The biggest challenge of my career has to be styling
for the X Factor.
Have you got any plans for the future?
Lots! I want to write my own book all about being a stylist,
create my own fashion line and have my own make over show. I have always
dreamed of being a chat show host.
What advice would you give to an aspiring stylist?
Be aware of everything that is going on around you, in
the world and in the industry. It is a small industry so you need to have a
polite and professional approach to everyone you work with, as you never know
when you may work with a certain person again. It is not a glamorous job so you
need to be prepared to have a thick skin and be poor for a long time. Like in
any job, if you are determined and truly love what you do, you will be
successful.
No comments
Post a Comment