A CLOTHES CALL ALICIA RANCILIO
Julia Fox and Law Roach team up for sustainable fashion competition
OMG Fashun Mondays, E! Canada
For Julia Fox, life is a catwalk. The looks she puts together — cutting off the belt loops of her jeans or creating a top made from tartan ties sewn together — often turn heads. Alongside stylist Law Roach, Fox is a host and judge of the fashion competition show OMG Fashun. Roach stepped back from styling celebrities last year but still works with select people like Zendaya.
In each episode, contestants — or “disrupters” as they're called — must reuse materials and upcycle fashion to make looks that will impress Roach, Fox and a guest judge. The winner scores $10,000 and Fox models their design.
The two spoke about advising the OMG Fashun contestants, disruptive fashion and honest feedback. The conversations have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q How do you describe disruptive fashion?
Fox: Anything that undermines the current norms. Not wearing mass-produced garbage. Supporting local emerging designers in your own community. Not falling for clever marketing ploys. Not wearing something just because everyone else is. But more importantly, using clothes as a political statement. A lot of what I wear is in response to the current policing of the female body. They are taking our rights away more and more every day and I feel really f---ing mad. I wear my clothes aggressively and angrily.
Q What advice did you have for the contestants?
Fox: Make what you like. Make what you think is cool. If you believe in what you do, others will too. If you think it's cool, I will too. Tell a story through your work. Don't just make a pretty outfit. That's just boring to me. Anyone can do that. But can you make me feel something? That's harder to do.
Roach: I didn't have as much time to interact with the contestants as Julia. But any emerging designer that wants to reach out to me and ask for advice or about whatever information I can give them to to help them make a sale — I'm always open to do that.
Q How do you decide if something fits your personal style? Fox: I used to put so many boundaries on what I wore because I was insecure about my body. I was catering to the male gaze and just wanting to be sexy and desirable. But I've since broken free from that jail I built in my head, and now I just wear whatever inspires me. If I think it's cool, I'm wearing it. Life's too short to not be the baddest bitch in the room. Period.
Tell a story through your work. Don't just make a pretty outfit. That's just boring to me. Anyone can do that. But can you make me feel something?
Roach: Someone had to tell me that I was a disrupter. I didn't come in like, “Hey, I'm going to disrupt the industry.” It's just things that I have been doing organically and authentically for many years.
Q Do you feel like a show like this can go a long way for an emerging designer's career? Roach: I do. We got a chance to see some real talent on the show. If our industry really wants to become more sustainable, I think they could look at some of the work that some of these contestants were able to produce with the fabrics that they created and the materials that they used.
Q Law, you have some really funny lines on the show when you're critiquing something — especially if you don't like it. Was it hard to give your honest opinion like that?
Roach: No, I have no problem at all. I think I'm really quick-witted and say the first thing that kind of comes to my mind. I really don't have a filter. If I did, it would be a disservice to the contestants.