The 27-year-old designer on giving up acting and why she's not in a rush
*Angelic yet austere. I like the look of her. *She's ever so gifted, too. English graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2011 with a clutch of awards and bursaries. Her designs currently fill the windows of Dover Street Market, the equivalent of a big gold star from the fashion industry, but way cooler.
*Why has her work got fashion's knickers in a twist?* The girl can really sculpt an outfit. She focuses on textiles and surface textures, working in block colours to create strong looks rather than relying on decoration and pattern. Her collections are inspired by such monoliths as hair and gravity.
*Blimey. Had design always been her ambition?* Actually her first love was drama. "I grew up round the corner from Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon," she says. "I was so torn between fashion and acting that I flipped a coin to decide: acting it was. Unfortunately I wasn't successful. I thought I was a good actor, but obviously not!"
*She says: *"I'd like the label to grow slowly, sustainably and consistently – we're not rushing into anything."
*We say: *Beautifully structured pieces. We want more please.
To view Phoebe English's latest collection, visit doverstreetmarket.com or phoebeenglish.com
Alice Fisher
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Reported by guardian.co.uk 10 hours ago.
*Angelic yet austere. I like the look of her. *She's ever so gifted, too. English graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2011 with a clutch of awards and bursaries. Her designs currently fill the windows of Dover Street Market, the equivalent of a big gold star from the fashion industry, but way cooler.
*Why has her work got fashion's knickers in a twist?* The girl can really sculpt an outfit. She focuses on textiles and surface textures, working in block colours to create strong looks rather than relying on decoration and pattern. Her collections are inspired by such monoliths as hair and gravity.
*Blimey. Had design always been her ambition?* Actually her first love was drama. "I grew up round the corner from Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon," she says. "I was so torn between fashion and acting that I flipped a coin to decide: acting it was. Unfortunately I wasn't successful. I thought I was a good actor, but obviously not!"
*She says: *"I'd like the label to grow slowly, sustainably and consistently – we're not rushing into anything."
*We say: *Beautifully structured pieces. We want more please.
To view Phoebe English's latest collection, visit doverstreetmarket.com or phoebeenglish.com
Alice Fisher
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Reported by guardian.co.uk 10 hours ago.