MY FASHIONABLE LIFE: STACY MARTIN
The French actor, 31, on the transformative power of clothes and exactly why Parisians always wear black
The French actor on red-carpet gowns, using fashion to get into character and why she’ll only wear black in Paris
FASHION SEEMED SUPERFICIAL WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
Now I realise the role it plays in making me happy. I was an outdoorsy kid, though. I loved horse riding and almost always wore an oversized T-shirt with a horse on the front. My parents were quite eccentric and dressed in loud colours and stripes, so I did the opposite, dressing in grey, baggy clothes. I might have looked like a sack of potatoes, but I felt cool.
I LEARNT TO HAVE FUN WITH MY STYLE IN TOKYO.
My family moved there when I was seven and it was so different from Paris. It’s the age when you start to notice how people get dressed; I was suddenly aware that style could change not just how I looked, but my personality, too. That was a huge turning point. When I moved to London for university, my mind was blown by how daring and experimental people were. The biggest thing was colour. I’d never seen so many different colours in one place.
PINK WAS MY NEMESIS FOR A LONG TIME.
I’m very Parisian in that I wear a lot of black. I change my style depending on where I go, because I want to be part of each city. But whenever I go back to Paris, I automatically pack a suitcase full of black clothes. Living in other places has taught me that Parisian style isn’t the norm; it’s a choice. So I’m always trying to break out and wear more colour. I have Nicolas Ghesquière to thank for making me do it in the [Louis Vuitton pre-AW21] campaign we shot together.
FASHION IS OFTEN THE WAY INTO AN ACTING ROLE.
I feel like I’m a different person if I’m wearing baggy jeans or a miniskirt. It’s an easy way to get into someone’s mind and understand how they’re feeling. Being an actor has strengthened my style. When I finish a job, putting on my own clothes is like regaining part of myself – I can disconnect from the day’s scenes. If they were difficult and emotional, I can take off my costume and put myself back on.
I SEE CLOTHES AS AN INVITATION.
They’re my way of saying, ‘I may not be extravagant or chatty, but this is who I am.’
I OCCASIONALLY TAKE OUT MY RED-CARPET GOWNS
and think, ‘When am I going to wear these again?’ I wore a beautiful sequin-embroidered Louis Vuitton gown to the Venice Film Festival. It felt like a real moment. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, here I am. I set my goals 10 years ago, and now I’m here having reached a lot of them.’ Then a bird pooed on the dress. But I suppose that’s good luck.
IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME, I’D SAY ‘DON’T WORRY SO MUCH’.
I used to be so conscious of blending in that I often held back with my style. But after a year of being inside, I think people will enjoy dressing up again. I’ve got a pair of yellow Chloé trousers and I’m obsessed with the idea of wearing them to a restaurant. We should wear the things that bring out the specialness in us.