Stylist with Super Style

Grace Woodward – Fashion Trendsetter

18th June 2013 Statuesque and stunning, Grace Woodward arrives for our meeting wearing a chic black dress, a fabulous gold necklace, and gorgeous Anna-Karin Karlsson sunglasses – she has a passion for beautiful accessories. The London based stylist and director of Grace Woodward Creative looks every inch the part of her busy life as a style coordinator, trend spotter and TV personality. She covered the Royal Wedding for Sky News, and does live fashion reporting from Glorious Goodwood and The York Races. She shares with Eyestylist her approach to being a trend developer.

“While some think that fashion people are all crazy, there are those who appreciate trend information in advance,” says Woodward, “and my antennae is usually about 1-2 years ahead. Then you have to turn this into stuff. Sometimes my timing is too far ahead – but all this does give a different perspective of the world. For Autumn/Winter 2013/14 everything is quite subdued, even for the luxury industry. There are only a few bursts of colour; otherwise everything is safe. It’s a reflection of the times. This is not the moment to step out and take risks.”

Woodward is a champion of the non-conformist. “In the last ten years, we’ve been bombarded with a desire for newness and that is stimulating; however, the flip side is that it’s too conformist. I admire an individual personality like Helena Bonham-Carter. Fashion can be a bit rigid, which you can see with the celebrity conformity. I’m also a proponent of quality, and there is nothing like saving up for something really good. What you wear is an expression of your personality. Fashion is about painting pictures.”

 

A-lister for Accessories - Grace Woodward
A-lister for Accessories – Grace Woodward

British designer Vivienne Westwood is the person who piqued Grace’s interest in fashion. “Westwood was my first awakening of fashion,” remember Woodward, “because she was about distinctive references. i love her clothes and still do. Alexander McQueen is also a favourite. i like people who want to be more. I feel so fortunate to be near to fashion and working in it – I like the proximity. We have to subvert the past to find the future. Christian Lacroix refers to the past – there is always something more going on in his designs.”

Grace Woodward also has a special kinship with eyewear. “If I don’t wear my glasses, people don’t recognise me! I love Anna-Karin Karlsson designs, Linda Farrow and Retrosuperfuture (top photo). I love clothes and eyewear – rather than ‘fashion’, and I see it as a way of self-expression. www.gracewoodward.com JG