"The key is making a woman feel confident": Claire Ginzler, Leading Fashion Stylist & Friend Of The Bias Cut

Jacynth Bassett
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When you imagine a leading fashion stylist, what words come to mind? Aloof, intimidating... perhaps even pompous and conceited. Well if there's anyone those words don't apply to, it's Claire Ginzler. 

Warm, down-to-earth and personable, Claire is anything but the stereotypical fashion stylist. Which might come a surprise given she has been the stylist for some of the biggest fashions shows and campaigns, TV, and celebrities including Prue Leith, Sara Pascoe and Matt Lucas. Not to mention, as the former director of On/Off, she found some of the next biggest names in fashion including JW Anderson, Peter Pilotto and Osman. 

Which is why I consider it a privilege to have worked with Claire for 4 years now. Having styled The Bias Cut's campaigns since 2017, Claire and I began as colleagues, but today I call her a dear friend and key member of The Bias Cut family. As The Bias Cut has grown, Claire has been alongside us every step of the journey, and she has played an integral role in the launch of our New Chapter. 

It's wild to think Claire and I first met in the Summer of 2017 simply because I emailed her with an interview request for our blog. She came over to my home and we ended up speaking for hours. And whilst I've gotten to know Claire well over the years, I still find that original interview extremely interesting. Here are some highlights. 

Claire, how did you get into styling?

When I was younger, Fashion Stylists didn’t really exist. I was interested in Fashion and I went to the London College of Fashion. I applied for a Design course but they said “sorry, you’re not good at drawing but we’ve got a Business of Fashion course”. So I did that, I loved the whole business and marketing but there was no styling involved. My Marketing Lecturer put me in contact with Arcadia and I worked there for 2 years as a buyer. But it wasn't creative enough for me. 

Now, at the time there was a big TV Programme called ‘The Clothes Show’. It was like a magazine. It was totally glamour. It was incredible. So, one day I walked into Arcadia and said “Look, I don’t want to work here anymore”. I sent a letter to The Clothes Show and got a call within 24 hours from the producer, Jane Galpin. I went in for an interview and she grilled me. I pretty much said “this is what I want to do”. I didn’t know what I was getting into: I thought I was just getting into Fashion and TV. I was given the role of Wardrobe Assistant which, actually turned into Fashion Stylist. And I’m still doing it! All those years later!

What’s your favourite project you’ve ever worked on?

There’s one key project: the catwalk show for the Queen's Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace, with show producer Lindsey Hunt.

The focus was on clothes from the Royal Warrant Holders, so we're talking couture and Saville Row. It took 6 months of prep work, and I got to see the original uniforms. For example, Gieves & Hawkes had this room, which literally gave me goosebumps; it full of beautiful costumes that all royal men had worn on state occasions. It was incredible.

The event itself was big. There were 4 shows, each with 8 scenes, within which there were about 12 models. And it was in the grounds of the Palace, amongst trees that the royal children had planted many years earlier. 

That weekend was super-hot; it was 25 degrees! I remember walking in and the sun was coming through the trees onto the catwalk and it was the most surreal, beautiful moment. We involved the Royal Ballet, my family sat front row, and the Queen was there! I felt like I could retire after that event!

What's the difference between working for a show versus an individual? 

The key thing is: when you’re styling a person, they have a personality. They have a lifestyle. They have a body shape. They also have things they don’t like, so straight away I say “What part of your body are you not happy with?” because for me the key thing is making a woman feel confident in what she’s wearing. Even if she looks amazing to me, if she's not feeling confident there’s no point.

What do you enjoy most about styling?

Oh, lots of things. I like the pressure... meeting lots of different people... and that every day is a different day. And I love helping people to step outside of their comfort zone; I’ve seen a lot of women really change. They become confident in what they wear.

What's the biggest misconception about your job?

Women think that if they can dress themselves in high fashion then they can dress anyone, and that they’re a stylist. But in reality I dress down most of the time; instead it’s about understanding how to dress other people.

 

(I can testify to this: When Claire and I went to London Fashion Week a few years ago, Claire was one of the most dressed down people, despite being one of the most qualified to be there!) 

 

A lot of young stylists think about the excitement of being a fashion stylist, which is a shame. They think it’s all excitement, it’s all glamour. The reality is; there is excitement, there is that bit of glamour but it’s a business, it’s a job, it’s hard work. You’re dealing with budgets, always dragging a suitcase around, doing lots of walking, and a lot of grafting.

What would you say have been the biggest changes you’ve seen in the industry over the last 20 years?

Politically it’s all been about diversity. Now there are a lot of organisations like “All Walks For The Catwalk” with Caryn Franklin, as well as lots of bloggers saying “we’ve had enough.” So that is slowly making an impact, although still not enough.

The good thing is it is gradually changing. With ageism, there’s Grey Model agency with a lot of their models getting recognised. (our latest models Mickey and Jane both came via Grey Model Agency). And when I did the “Age of No Retirement” video, I just wanted to show how older women and men can wear anything.

Finally do you have one piece of style advice you would give to everyone?

If you don’t feel confident in it, don’t wear it. Don’t walk out the door. It’s about a feeling. Don’t even look in the mirror. It could look great on you, but it’s not about that. It could just be, that day, it just doesn’t feel right. It just doesn’t matter. Just take it off and put something else on.

 

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