dress like a stylist
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dress like a stylist
Fashion isn’t only about supermodels or trends, says stylist Caryn Franklin. There’s something for everyone – if you know what suits you. She talks ‘looking good’ with Club
Interview: Vanessa McCulloch. Sidebar text: Shalagh-Ann Fredericks. Photography: from ‘Snapped’ by rankin, courtesy of all walks beyond the catwalk. Caryn’s photo by Chris Floyd. Additional photography: Gallo Images/getty images.
B
ritish stylist extraordinaire Caryn Franklin is exhausted. “It’s been a busy week,” she admits but adds that she’s still flying high after presenting prizes at the Body Confidence Awards that were held at the Houses of Parliament in London two days previously. It sounds like the kind of award that every woman would like to receive but it’s actually a ceremony that celebrates brands, companies and individuals who promote body esteem. And who better to present such an award? Caryn has impeccable fashion credentials – 30 years of experience as fashion editor of i-D magazine and then as a TV presenter on The Clothes Show. But it’s her passion and belief that fashion should be for everyone, a way to make women of all shapes and ages beautiful and stylish, that is so refreshing. “I feel very lucky,” says Caryn over the phone. “Fashion is a gift for me to use as a vehicle to talk about these things.” Alongside acclaimed model Erin O’Connor and fashion PR expert Debra Bourne, Caryn launched a campaign in 2009 aptly named ‘All Walks Beyond the Catwalk’. Their main goal is to promote a more realistic and attainable ideal of female beauty. There’s clearly still a long way to go but All Walks is making their mark. Last year, renowned photographer Rankin shot a campaign for them called ‘Snapped’, creating nine portraits of models – of all shapes, sizes and ages – wearing some of the biggest names in British fashion, from Vivienne Westwood to Stella McCartney. When she’s not organising big campaigns, Caryn lectures at fashion colleges around the UK, with the aim of encouraging a change of attitude within the next generation of designers. Another aspect of her busy career is keeping her website, howtolookgood.com, updated with simple, practical style tips for women of all shapes and sizes and responding to the fashion dilemmas of her devoted followers. “At the heart of what I do is the desire to deconstruct the fashion world for ordinary women and help them feel great about style and their bodies,” she explains.
On your website, you often advise investing in classic pieces… Yes, you can’t go wrong with classic styles. I don’t mind spending a little bit of money on an extreme trend but will be much more willing to invest in, say, a coat in a classic design and a great fabric that works for my figure. We speak to three
Tell us about your sense of style? For work, I’m often on stage lecturing so I prefer to wear dresses and heels but I go for a completely different look in my downtime. My style is quite androgynous: I wear lots of black and I like leather. That’s the authentic me. What is your shape and how do you make the most of it? I’m a natural pear. My upper body is quite bony so I try to create more fullness on top. I wear lots of ruffles and cowlneck tops to even the balance. It works wonderfully. Do you feel pressure to look younger? I really enjoy being in my 50s. When I was 34, a noticeable white streak came through in my hair and I never dyed it. I don’t want to play the ‘eradicating signs of ageing’ game. I think great clothes and fashion sense is enough. Do you believe there are certain fashion rules that should be followed as you get older? People tend to talk about ‘age-appropriate’ clothing, but some 56-year-old women have the bodies of 20-yearolds, and some 20-year-olds have bodies that are more middle-aged. It’s not really about your age. It’s about your identity and how you choose to dress for your body.
All images (excluding Caryn’s portrait) shot by Rankin for All Walk’s ‘Snapped’ campaign Opposite page: Sheila Atim wears Stella McCartney; Caryn Franklin, top stylist and co-founder of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. This page from top: Valerie Pain wears Antonio Berardi; Naomi Shimada wears Hussein Chalayan; Natasha Ndlovu wears Matthew Williamson; Daphne Selfe wears Vivienne Westwood
In the closet
South African women about what style means to them
Nkulee Dube, singer “On stage, I love clothes that are colourful, especially royal colours like green and gold – they make me feel like a queen.”
Lauryn Summerley, professional ballerina “Earrings make me feel beautiful and I wear them all the time, even in my daily ballet class.”
Curvy women often hide their bodies under shapeless clothes. What’s your advice to them? Every curvaceous woman has features about her body that she should love. Usually it’s great cleavage or a smaller waist. Draw the attention to that part of your body. An empire line is also great as it makes legs look longer – and what woman doesn’t want longer legs? And if your tummy’s a problem area? An eye-catching neckline, embellishments like beading or a great piece of jewellery will bring the focus to the top of your body. What three items do you recommend every woman have in her wardrobe? A waistcoat, or even better, a few waistcoats of different lengths. They work for all body shapes. Then a pair of knee-high boots with a medium heel. They’re the sexiest and easiest thing to wear with skirts. And a good, well-fitting bra. It’s the first step to giving yourself great shape though 80% of women are wearing the wrong one.
What’s your advice on Sonia Booth, model following fashion trends? and shoe designer I love looking at the trends “Shoes are essential to but I don’t give them too a look. Whether it’s a kitten If you could share one much power. Not all trends heel or stiletto, flats or fashion/shopping tip are going to suit everyone. a ‘Lady Gaga’ heel that with the world, what For example, dropped waists will make you two metres would it be? are very in at the moment but tall, there’s a shoe out there Never fall in love with only work if you’re tall and for every woman.” something before trying it on. slender, not if you’re petite. Pick up an armful of items The key is to think more like a and try them all on. If you take in 10 garments stylist and figure out what works you’ll come out with two successful ones. Your on your unique body. body is not a veneer – it’s an amazing vehicle And if a trend comes along that’s perfect for adventure, so make the most of it and have for your figure? confidence in yourself. It’s great when that happens. The ’50s retro Mad Men look is fantastic for curvy women. If that’s you then go buy it. It’s a classic look that you’ll wear for many seasons.
Visit howtolookgood.com for more fashion advice from Caryn Franklin and allwalks.org to learn more about All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. july 2012 club 25
dress like a stylist
Fashion isn’t only about supermodels or trends, says stylist Caryn Franklin. There’s something for everyone – if you know what suits you. She talks ‘looking good’ with Club
Interview: Vanessa McCulloch. Sidebar text: Shalagh-Ann Fredericks. Photography: from ‘Snapped’ by rankin, courtesy of all walks beyond the catwalk. Caryn’s photo by Chris Floyd. Additional photography: Gallo Images/getty images.
B
ritish stylist extraordinaire Caryn Franklin is exhausted. “It’s been a busy week,” she admits but adds that she’s still flying high after presenting prizes at the Body Confidence Awards that were held at the Houses of Parliament in London two days previously. It sounds like the kind of award that every woman would like to receive but it’s actually a ceremony that celebrates brands, companies and individuals who promote body esteem. And who better to present such an award? Caryn has impeccable fashion credentials – 30 years of experience as fashion editor of i-D magazine and then as a TV presenter on The Clothes Show. But it’s her passion and belief that fashion should be for everyone, a way to make women of all shapes and ages beautiful and stylish, that is so refreshing. “I feel very lucky,” says Caryn over the phone. “Fashion is a gift for me to use as a vehicle to talk about these things.” Alongside acclaimed model Erin O’Connor and fashion PR expert Debra Bourne, Caryn launched a campaign in 2009 aptly named ‘All Walks Beyond the Catwalk’. Their main goal is to promote a more realistic and attainable ideal of female beauty. There’s clearly still a long way to go but All Walks is making their mark. Last year, renowned photographer Rankin shot a campaign for them called ‘Snapped’, creating nine portraits of models – of all shapes, sizes and ages – wearing some of the biggest names in British fashion, from Vivienne Westwood to Stella McCartney. When she’s not organising big campaigns, Caryn lectures at fashion colleges around the UK, with the aim of encouraging a change of attitude within the next generation of designers. Another aspect of her busy career is keeping her website, howtolookgood.com, updated with simple, practical style tips for women of all shapes and sizes and responding to the fashion dilemmas of her devoted followers. “At the heart of what I do is the desire to deconstruct the fashion world for ordinary women and help them feel great about style and their bodies,” she explains.
On your website, you often advise investing in classic pieces… Yes, you can’t go wrong with classic styles. I don’t mind spending a little bit of money on an extreme trend but will be much more willing to invest in, say, a coat in a classic design and a great fabric that works for my figure. We speak to three
Tell us about your sense of style? For work, I’m often on stage lecturing so I prefer to wear dresses and heels but I go for a completely different look in my downtime. My style is quite androgynous: I wear lots of black and I like leather. That’s the authentic me. What is your shape and how do you make the most of it? I’m a natural pear. My upper body is quite bony so I try to create more fullness on top. I wear lots of ruffles and cowlneck tops to even the balance. It works wonderfully. Do you feel pressure to look younger? I really enjoy being in my 50s. When I was 34, a noticeable white streak came through in my hair and I never dyed it. I don’t want to play the ‘eradicating signs of ageing’ game. I think great clothes and fashion sense is enough. Do you believe there are certain fashion rules that should be followed as you get older? People tend to talk about ‘age-appropriate’ clothing, but some 56-year-old women have the bodies of 20-yearolds, and some 20-year-olds have bodies that are more middle-aged. It’s not really about your age. It’s about your identity and how you choose to dress for your body.
All images (excluding Caryn’s portrait) shot by Rankin for All Walk’s ‘Snapped’ campaign Opposite page: Sheila Atim wears Stella McCartney; Caryn Franklin, top stylist and co-founder of All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. This page from top: Valerie Pain wears Antonio Berardi; Naomi Shimada wears Hussein Chalayan; Natasha Ndlovu wears Matthew Williamson; Daphne Selfe wears Vivienne Westwood
In the closet
South African women about what style means to them
Nkulee Dube, singer “On stage, I love clothes that are colourful, especially royal colours like green and gold – they make me feel like a queen.”
Lauryn Summerley, professional ballerina “Earrings make me feel beautiful and I wear them all the time, even in my daily ballet class.”
Curvy women often hide their bodies under shapeless clothes. What’s your advice to them? Every curvaceous woman has features about her body that she should love. Usually it’s great cleavage or a smaller waist. Draw the attention to that part of your body. An empire line is also great as it makes legs look longer – and what woman doesn’t want longer legs? And if your tummy’s a problem area? An eye-catching neckline, embellishments like beading or a great piece of jewellery will bring the focus to the top of your body. What three items do you recommend every woman have in her wardrobe? A waistcoat, or even better, a few waistcoats of different lengths. They work for all body shapes. Then a pair of knee-high boots with a medium heel. They’re the sexiest and easiest thing to wear with skirts. And a good, well-fitting bra. It’s the first step to giving yourself great shape though 80% of women are wearing the wrong one.
What’s your advice on Sonia Booth, model following fashion trends? and shoe designer I love looking at the trends “Shoes are essential to but I don’t give them too a look. Whether it’s a kitten If you could share one much power. Not all trends heel or stiletto, flats or fashion/shopping tip are going to suit everyone. a ‘Lady Gaga’ heel that with the world, what For example, dropped waists will make you two metres would it be? are very in at the moment but tall, there’s a shoe out there Never fall in love with only work if you’re tall and for every woman.” something before trying it on. slender, not if you’re petite. Pick up an armful of items The key is to think more like a and try them all on. If you take in 10 garments stylist and figure out what works you’ll come out with two successful ones. Your on your unique body. body is not a veneer – it’s an amazing vehicle And if a trend comes along that’s perfect for adventure, so make the most of it and have for your figure? confidence in yourself. It’s great when that happens. The ’50s retro Mad Men look is fantastic for curvy women. If that’s you then go buy it. It’s a classic look that you’ll wear for many seasons.
Visit howtolookgood.com for more fashion advice from Caryn Franklin and allwalks.org to learn more about All Walks Beyond the Catwalk. july 2012 club 25
