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Manchester-born designer and BFF to Alexa Chung, Agyness Deyn
& co., Henry Holland has had a meteoric rise to fashion fame
since his first collection was shown at London Fashion Week in
2007. His designs get snapped up by London's best dressed and his
phonebook reads like a who's-who of the hottest social scenes.
GLAMOUR.COM's Shopping Editor, Philippa Morgan, talks to the latest
designer to join Debenhams' impressive list of collaborators which
includes the likes of Matthew Williamson, Julian Macdonald and
Jasper Conran.
**Which A-list celebrity do you rate
style-wise?**
Diane Kruger. When she was doing the promotional trip for
Inglorious Basterds she looked great at every premiere. She
doesn't use a stylist and you can tell because she knows what works
on her, therefore she doesn't get it wrong. Like, ever.
Which star would you most like to dress?
Beyoncé! I'd love to dress her. But I'd probably see her and just
start crying! Rihanna is really cool too - she wears some of
my clothes in her new video.
Who's you favourite Gossip Girl?
Chace [Crawford], ha! No, seriously? Blake Lively in real
life.
**What's the biggest fashion faux-pas someone could
commit?**
Wearing something that they don't feel comfortable in. There's
nothing worse than someone who's constantly tugging at their
clothes and re-arranging them. You need to feel confident.
Any trends you hate?
Wet-look leggings. They are a weird mix of dominatrix and
practicality. So over them!
What makes a good outfit great?
Shoes complete every look, and I couldn't live without my black
skinny jeans.
Any tips for girls on a budget?
Customise your old stuff. My entire wardrobe is basically last
year's winter wardrobe but cut up! I'll take a pair of jeans and
turn them into shorts, or hack off sleeves - it transforms your
look. If I'm feeling down I wear colour, something bright will
cheer you up.
**Who have you had in mind when you designed the H! Henry
Holland for Debenhams collection?**
London girls - I love the way they dress and mix things up. They
mix elements of goth, happy-grunge and rock. Brits aren't fixated
on one style, they throw things together and create something new.
New York is six months behind London - they are still doing
the Pete Doherty thing.
Who is the definitive London girl?
Coco Sumner, Daisy Lowe and Pixie [Geldof] - they are all so
distinctive in their style.
**Is it different designing for the high street than your
own catwalk collection?**
Yeah, you have to keep accessibility in mind as it's available to
a wider audience...so the splashes of House of Holland are subtle.
The collection is anchored by washed-out denim, leather and prints.
It's all about layering and wearing it in an adventurous way.
What inspires you?
I'm a child of the 80s - it was the first time I acknowledged
fashion and realised how it played an important part in life. I'm
inspired by fashion in films, like in Pretty Woman
and Clueless; they're amazingly stylised films that are so
characterised, and the fashion is so blatant. They have a fun
approach to fashion and show off how what you wear can dictate how
you are seen. Julia Roberts takes off her mini dress and puts on
the polka dot dress and she's seen differently, then she wears the
red dress and you look at her differently again. Amazing.
H! Henry Holland for Debenhams lands in stores February 2010 in 64
stores throughout the UK. There will be four new drops in the first
collection. Prices starting from £6.
