Interview: Laura Bailey, Writer, Model & British Fashion Council Cultural Ambassador

Multifaceted London-native Laura Bailey has had an impressive career so far, spanning modelling, writing, producing and creative direction. She has written for eminent publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Times. Notably, she is a Cultural Ambassador for the British Fashion Council, with a keen interest in supporting young design talent. Back in 2011, Bailey was announced as a contributing editor for British Vogue, a responsibility she is understandably passionate about. Having recently taken on the role of Creative Partner of Zanzan, an independent UK label producing handmade Italian eyewear, Bailey continues to expand her expertise, utilising her honed aesthetic sensibilities. Something Curated caught up with Bailey at her west London office to learn more about her remarkable career, and gain some insight into her favourite haunts in the city.

Something Curated: Can you tell us about the wide range of activities you are involved in and how they came about?

Laura Bailey: Firstly, and most importantly, I am a mother of two small children, Luc, aged eleven, and Tiger, eight. I am a model and a writer, a photographer and a fashion consultant. I am a charity ambassador for Save The Children UK and work closely with the BFC and The Photographer’s Gallery in London. My diverse creative lives have become more and more entwined, as stories, friends and colleagues collide and overlap. I am a strange mixture of super organised and intuitively chaotic. I trust my instincts and have developed a structure whereby I can meet most deadlines even if I work nocturnally on occasion, especially if it means I can pick up my kids from school and cheer from the football side-lines. If I’m honest, I’m happiest workwise alone with my camera, on the road, outside of fashion, but I still love the transformative thrill of the shoot or a collaborative design challenge.

SC: How do you balance the various facets of your diverse career? Is it something that comes naturally, and how is your work in different areas complimentary?

LB: Balance is always a challenge. I sometimes fail. But learning to say no has been a big learning curve, likewise occasionally asking for help. But cross-pollination between design and photography, Vogue and travel or cinema, means that I can also take advantage of shortcuts and the fact that one story or idea so often feeds into the next.

SC: Fashion journalism is a notoriously competitive field – what was your first break into the industry and how did it come about?

LB: I was living in New York and making a living modelling but on occasion, on the road, I’d be asked to write the words to go with travel images, and when Condé Nast first launched online, I was invited to file a weekly New York story for GQ, which I typed and faxed from my west village shoebox apartment, which subsequently led to a beauty column for The Telegraph and diverse freelance assignments, most thrillingly for the travel pages of The Independent. I carried on modelling which allowed me the freedom to embrace less commercial adventures in the form of commissions. Later, I was asked to blog for British Vogue which I relished as my brief was broad and the discipline was a crucial learning curve whether I was filing from Paris or the summit of Kilimanjaro. More recently, I became a contributing editor at Vogue, and delight in the brainstorming as well as the writing.

SC: Could you tell us about your role as a cultural ambassador for the British Fashion Council? What does the position entail and what motivated you to take it on?

LB: Simply to shout loud and proud about British fashion, especially young talent. I am a friend and a fan of Natalie Massenet and in awe of her achievements as Chairman. My role is flexible and freestyle – I have championed new designers, written and photographed future stars, and simply shown up dressed up at the shows. I also have a penchant for Paris and Chanel and am honoured to be a part of ‘Les Fideles’, special friends of the house.

SC: What do you think is unique about London’s fashion scene? And what does London offer you as a fashion writer and editor?

LB: London is my favourite inspiration, my beloved home and an endless provocative source of creative joy.

SC: As Creative Partner of Zanzan eyewear, could you tell us a bit about the ethos behind the brand’s most recent collection?

LB: My relationship with Zanzan Eyewear started simply as a fan and a customer and developed into an on-going creative partnership. I have long been obsessed with shades, even in deepest midwinter, and Zanzan continue to create pretty much exactly what I want to wear. Old-school glamour with a modern twist. With styles and a palette inspired more by art and photography than fashion-cycle trends, I believe they are carving out a unique place in the market, and S/S 17 is our strongest collection yet. Next challenges include investment in e-commerce, marketing and design collaborations.

SC: In recent years, a number of young London designers have gained recognition within the fashion industry. Are there any particular talents you see having longevity and why?

LB: Currently I am especially interested in Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, SHRIMPS, and Alexa Chungs’s own-name brand launch.

SC: Who or what are you inspired by, professionally or in life in general?

LB: London, Paris, New York, LA, The V&A Museum, photography of all kinds, from museum shows to my kids’ snapshots, hotel life, and my girlfriends, always.

SC: What have been your favourite recent fashion shows or London cultural events?

LB: Feminist Avant Garde of the 1970s at The Photographers Gallery, 100 Years of VOGUE at National Portrait Gallery, The Portobello Panto, and Björk at the Royal Albert Hall.

SC: Where are you based in London and what do you like about the area? 

LB: Just off Portobello Road.

SC: What’s your favourite holiday destination?

LB: Positano and Malibu.

SC: Where would you live if not London?

LB: Somewhere in the hills outside St Tropez near Ramatuelle.

SC: Favourite shops in London?

LB: Rellik Vintage, Summerill & Bishop for linen, kitchenware and gifts, Lutyens & Rubenstein Books, Alex Eagle on Lexington Street, Josh Wood Atelier for beauty, and Aimé on Ledbury Road.

SC: Do you have a failsafe outfit formula?

LB: No!

SC: Favourite restaurant in London?

LB: Cecconis.

 

Interview by Keshav Anand | Photography by Steph Wilson