Wednesday 5 March 2014

Exclusive Interview with Gemma Hyslop, Stylist of Urban Outfitters Europe



Here is another woman in menswear world! Gemma Hyslop, menswear & womenswear Stylist at Urban Outfitters Europe, tells us about SS14 menswear trends. This is a womanly chat about male trends including likes & dislikes! J

Can you tell us about yourself?
I am the European stylist for all online imagery for both menswear and womenswear. I basically put all the outfits together for the online product shoots and style all the menswear for our Lookbooks, press days and creative imagery!

What’s the ratio of men to women customers of Urban Outfitters?
We have a smaller menswear based customer compared to our womenswear customers but I would say they are a little older so come to our website or stores for something specific! They know the brands we stock, they know what they like and they come to us specifically for those brands or pieces!

On a scale of 1 to 10 how do you rate men paying attention to their daily styles compared to women?
7 years ago I would of said maybe a 5 but now I think Menswear is so much bigger and more exciting than it has ever been I would say a good 8 or 9. Men are much more aware these days, celebrities, singers and people in the public eye are a lot more style conscious pushing boundaries with fashion so this then filters down to the highstreet.


Do you think runways are reflected on the street?
Yes, more so than ever, people take direct influence from catwalk shows these days and make it work for their own personal style, whether it be head to toe or just certain aspects.

Do you think there is a definite kind of style for the future of men’s fashion?
I don’t think any fashion can be definite as it is ever changing. I do believe men’s fashion will become stronger each year though, there are so many new designers emerging in Menswear at the moment and it is exciting to find out who is going to grow within the industry and who is going to drop off the scene quickly!

"I love men who aren't scared to push the boundaries. I have a lot of respect for a guy who will wear a head to toe printed outfit, you need to be a confident person to carry off certain trends."



Could you also name one person in the public eye whose style you like the most?
I love ASAP Rocky and feel he has pathed the way for making fashion more accessible to the average guy, he has helped to link up fashion and music more in the public eye. I also think Pharrell Willams and Kanye (even though he is a bit of a douch bag) have also done this!

What would be your one piece of advice for men in terms of style and fashion?
Always wear good trainers!