Music
Style + Sound: Sophie Eggleton meets music stylist Vix Adams
Ticketmaster Fashion Blogger Sophie Eggleton chats fashion, music and more with stylist to the stars Vix Adams.
Read the new interview here and head to sophieeggleton.blogspot.co.uk for even more.
Editors update: this article was originally published with the wrong name and images. We apologise for any misunderstanding caused.
How early on in life did you realise that you had a flair for fashion?
“I left college at 18 with my only grade being in fashion art, and when initially taking a year out before heading to University I started working in a fashion retailer. I loved it so much that I never ended up going to university and became retail manager by the age of 19, and then onto a Visual Merchandiser by 20. Fashion was all I ever knew and then my hobby became my job, and then my career.”
What would your advice be for those who are hoping to emulate your career?
“The best advise is to learn your trade; start at the bottom and work your way up. Follow your dreams and your goals, and don’t doubt yourself or your own capability. Be prepared to work long hours for a lot of days, weeks, months, even years for free to enable you to build your knowledge and contacts within the business. Assist anyone and everyone who you can and learn the tricks of the trade. Always carry a notepad and write lists as long as your arm if necessary. Take pictures, always keep your eyes open as you can get inspiration from everywhere and anywhere. And finally, never give up.”
How did you make the jump from VM to styling celebrities and music videos?
“I worked as a VM for over four years. For me, moving into becoming a Stylist was a fairly natural progression. I felt the time was right and I was ready to start my career instead of working in a job. Moving into styling celebrities and videos was just a natural avenue that I found myself moving into and expanding my contacts and client base within. It all happened very organically.”
You also worked on X Factor as a stylist, how was that?
“I worked on last year’s X Factor (2014) styling The Boys category. When you work on such a high profile show that is such a huge production it takes a team of people, so naturally you don’t have as much creative freedom as you would normally when working as a stylist. You have to work alongside a number of different factors such as set design, dancers, themes, hair and make up, the feel of the song chosen for that artist that week so it’s very much a team effort to enable all different elements to work together successfully, not just what they wear.”
People that follow your Instagram will be aware of your love of hats, and you’re launching your own brand soon, ‘Hat Rats’. What can we expect from the brand?
“I have always been a hat wearer and a lover of hats. I never feel fully dressed unless I’m wearing one. I always had to go to America, especially New York to source my hats and stock up on them as I simply couldn’t find the unique look and quality feel I desired here in London. So I decided to start my own brand! Hat Rats will be available to order online (hatrats.com) and will ship worldwide. It will launch early next year. It’s something I’m super excited about and the essence is being quality and cool. More will be revealed soon!”
How do you feel about having a celebrity status of your own now and people having an interest in your personal life via social media?
“I wouldn’t say I had a fan base, but if I have managed to create a following because of the job that I do, and the positive life I create and choose to live then thats super flattering. I’m proud of my career and I’m happy in my life, so I guess putting that out there for all to see you is going to get some people that are genuine and supportive which is cool, and you inevitably get some negativity from people as well, but I’m kind of cool with that too. It’s the social media era that we all live in now and I guess it comes with having any sort of following, especially within the industry that I am in. You have to learn to take the good with the bad, and sometimes the ugly too.”
Is it intimidating when working with the likes of Mcfly, who have such a huge and vocal fan base?
“It can be; they have had such huge success for such a long time that they obviously have a fiercely loyal fan base. The fan base is really important and they don’t want to feel alienated by a sudden image overhaul or change to an already winning formula. But at the same time it is important to always progress and evolve an image so not to feel dated. So working to balance both sides of the equation is where being an experienced stylist comes into practice.”
We saw bands like Mcfly when they were extremely young. Was it nice to create looks that enhanced the fact that they are men and not boys?
Totally. I started working with McFly when they were celebrating their 10 year anniversary together as a band. Then I worked with them throughout their recent merging to make supergroup McBusted. I am similar in age to the guys and I grew up knowing McFly so it seems only natural to dress them in a more grown up way. I wouldn’t dress the same way now as I did 10 years ago so how can we expect them too?”
What era in music had the most interesting style in your opinion?
“Without doubt the ’70s! I love the flares, the platforms, the large collar shirts with loud prints. The colours, the fabrics, the prints; everything about it was cool, over the top, adventurous, over-styled and fabulous.”
Who is your best dressed musician now and in the past?
“Theres a few; Gwen Stefani in the No Doubt era, Pharell in his hat-loving stage, Lenny Kravitz, Mick Jagger inn early Rolling Stones days and Cher in the ’70s.”
Visually, what is your favourite music video of all time?
“Spice Girls, Wannabe. It’s was so low budget, no hi res, no photoshop, totally raw. It totally broke the mould. Every Spice Girl was dressed to represent unique characters and individuality. It was fun and naive, and that’s what fashion and music should be.”
Like this interview? Find more from Sophie at sophieeggleton.blogspot.co.uk, @SophieEggletonand youtube.com/sophlet.
