SPRING CONVERSATIONS: 
CAMILLE BIDAULT WADDINGTON

Super stylist Camille Bidault Waddington tells us what Fashion Week means to her, from New York to her native Paris 

Camille Bidault Waddington
Interviewed by Andrew Washford Murphy, Head of Social Media

8-minute read

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Before the chaos of Paris Fashion Week kicked off, we caught up with stylist Camille Bidault Waddington over Zoom to talk about her relationship with the catwalk. While she no longer feels the need to attend every show - it’s a vibe she looks for, or an emerging name to support - nothing can beat the experience of seeing beautiful clothes up close. 


ANDREW WASHFORD MURPHY:
Hi Camille! What do you think makes the fashion weeks in each city so different to each other? 

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CAMILLE BIDAULT WADDINGTON:
I used to style Marc by Marc Jacobs in New York. The city has a very specific atmosphere, it feels exuberant, and you can see it in on the street. Then you have London, which is more like a lab for young designers. It’s experimental, and the casting feels very different too. Very cool and indie. Milan is more conservative and commercial, beautiful clothes that are designed to be worn. You can also eat very well in Milan, but of course when you’re working you don’t have time! Then finally Paris with all these big houses and high expectations. It’s all about the venues and the experience - fabulous fashion moments. 


AWM:
How does Fashion Week differ from the rest of the year in terms of what your work?

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CBW:
I love the energy and I get to see people I never see during the rest of the year. We gather to see the shows or work on them, and you get to discuss the industry and talk to friends who do the same job as you. 


“I go to the shows when I know the vibe will be good, or if it’s a young designer I want to support, because seeing the clothes in person is much better than online.”

— Camille Bidault Waddington


AWM:
Can you describe how the relationship between stylist and designer works on a fashion show? 

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CBW:
In many different ways! Usually, you start by discussing the mood or concept behind a story. I think it’s a stylist’s job to push the designer a bit. Then, throughout the season you regularly meet and look at fabrics, talk about ideas, reassure each other, freak each other out, and build a show. Other times, you don’t see a collection until four days before the show and you have to create the looks there and then - choosing models, working out the running order, deciding on hair and makeup, etc. That can be very intense. 


AWM:
Fashion shows are evolving but do you think the traditional runway format will always have a place?

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CBW:
I think it depends on the brand. Sometimes shows feel more about the front row than the fashion. And there’s an element of fantasy behind a lot of the huge sets and massive venues, you need to build that dream, but it’s more about business than fashion. I go to the shows when I know the vibe will be good, or if it’s a young designer I want to support, because seeing the clothes in person is much better than online. That experience is still important, it’s what makes it fashion, so they need to exist. I remember seeing shows full of beautiful clothes that gave me shivers.


AWM:
Where do you think things are happening in fashion away from the catwalks?

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CBW:
The music and art scenes because artists have crazy looks and interesting things to say. Cinema has become too political, less about aesthetics. I really like some young designers coming through too, like Duran Lantink and Louise Lyngh Bjerregaard. And I like Ottolinger. For me, inspiration is coming from everywhere, not just Paris.