If anyone knows how to win in the fashion industry, it’s Ms Alexa Chung. Her new short film on how to break into the industry on vogue.co.uk is required viewing for anyone aiming to be on that front row in future seasons. Here the queen of London fashion week spills about the Topshop trousers she loves right now, partying with the Delevingnes and, um, ducks v dogs.
JCM: In your Vogue video series, you talk to everyone in the industry from designers to psychologists. If you could do anyone’s job in the fashion industry for one day, which one would you pick and why?
AC: I’ve always wanted to be a photographer. Or I’d like to be [Balmain designer] Olivier Rousteing – he looks as though he’s just been handed the keys to the city.
JCM: And if you could be a fly on the wall in one designer’s studio, which would you pick?
AC: Nicholas Ghesquiere – I’m such a huge fan. And I have become recently obsessed with Vetements. I have no idea who designs that or where they’re based, so that would be fun to discover.
JCM: Fashion is seen as a tricky industry for outsiders to get into. Is this true, and what strategies are helpful for breaking through?
AC: That’s something we talk a lot about in this series. It’s true that it takes a lot of determination and hard work to break into the industry, but I think if you’re passionate about what you do and are talented and willing to carry out the more mundane tasks while learning your trade it is achievable.
JCM: Is it better to be on-trend or to have a signature style?
AC: Yikes, I don’t know that there’s a right way to dress. People get bored and crave the opposite – that’s what fashion is about, I suppose; the desire to create something new and move forward so if you just stick to how you feel the chances are you’ll probably collide with a few trends along the way.
JCM: In the Vogue video, I noticed an awesome multi-coloured pastel manicure. Are rainbow nails a thing now?
AC: Really? I can’t remember it ... oh! I know – no, that was because I went to get a pedicure but I have a horribly low attention span so as I was waiting for that, I painted my hands every colour they had. I got tired of looking at it really quickly but was too lazy to locate nail varnish remover for a while.
JCM: Have you got any top tips for interviewing Olivier Rousteing without licking his face?
AC: Hahahaha. It’s funny with him because his Instagram persona is so different to how I find him to be. He’s chronically intelligent and kind and really funny. Doesn’t take himself too seriously at all.
JCM: What’s the best career advice anyone’s ever given you?
AC: Phillip Lim just said this to me this morning in relation to people, but I suppose it works for business too: “A duck quacks, a dog barks. Never expect a duck to bark.” No idea what he’s going on about, but it sounds good!
JCM: And the best non-career advice?
AC: Someone once said: never get into something if you’re already thinking about how to get out. My advice to people is to trust their intuition. And be kind, just be kind.
JCM: Who are your top three favourite Instagram accounts to follow and why?
AC: I really like @manrepeller, she’s cool and funny. @zanzanman is great to oggle and @laurabaileylondon is nice for some dream-life escapism.
JCM: If you had to have a job outside the fashion industry, what would it be?
AC: Television presenter.
JCM: Describe your front row look for this season as if she was a character in a story.
AC: A woman leading a double life.
JCM: What’s the one piece I can buy on the high street right now for instant AW15 chic?
AC: Red high-waisted cord trousers from Topshop [alas, they’re currently sold out].
JCM: Give me two front-row small-talk ice-breaker lines.
AC: Weather is too easy. Sometimes I like to turn to the person next to me and just say: “Are you in love?” People like talking about love or heartbreak. Another good one is: “Do you have lots more to do today?” As if sitting front row is understood to be the most exhausting, challenging job in the world.
JCM: Can you or any of your friends do good impersonations of any top model’s signature walks? Details, please.
AC: Dude, yes. We play catwalks all the time. Never thought I’d make it to my thirties and still be playing catwalk. I like to be Naomi.
JCM: Chair-dancing on the front row: yes or no?
AC: I understand that to observe it must be irksome to observe, but the House of Holland show makes me so happy and the music is always too good to resist.
JCM: What’s your favourite song lyric of all time?
AC: Impossible to answer, but today I’ll settle for this by Elvis Costello:
Still you’re hoping that she’s well-spoken
’cause she’s this year’s girl,
You want her broken with her mouth wide open ,
’cause she’s this year’s girl,
Never knowing it’s a real attraction,
All these promises of satisfaction,
While she’s being bored to distraction being this year’s girl
JCM: Who is your favourite party wingman for a night out at fashion week, and why?
AC: Poppy Delevingne. Never a dull moment when she’s around.
