Who are you?
My name is Brix Smith-Start and I am the co-owner of ‘Start Boutique’, Fashion Director, Stylist, TV Presenter and ex-pop star.
What makes you tick?
Anything that stimulates my creativity – problem solving, networking and making people’s lives better.
What’s your profession and how did you get involved in fashion?
It’s hard to define my profession, as I am the ultimate multi-tasker! I’ve always been a performer; I was a guitarist in pop group The Fall for 15 years. I’m now a TV presenter, co-presenting shows like Gok’s Fashion Fix, Angela and Friends and Promzillas and I currently present fashion on ‘This Morning’ for ITV. Alongside all this, my real baby is my East London enclave of boutiques START, which I own with my husband, Mr Start.
What do you love about London Fashion Week?
London Fashion Week is the most free and creative of all the Fashion Weeks. It’s quite relaxed, you never know what you’re going to get – in a way it’s fashion weeks’ loose canon. From LFW fashion stars of the future emerge and that’s what I love most about it – finding something first. Whilst I’m American, I’m totally pro-British and I love to support young British designers and give them a place in which to sell their designs.
Who is your favourite designer?
My favourite show for the clothes this LFW was Jonathan Saunders, and for drama, Meadham Kirchhoff. Of course this is subjective and it changes all the time… I do have favourite designers but each one for a different reason – it’s very hard to answer. It’s like asking me who my favourite child is, how do I answer this? – I love them all!
Who are you most excited about this SS12 LFW?
I’m most excited about discovering new things for my shop and seeing which directions people are going. I love to study the collective consciousness of designers, i.e. colour palettes, shapes, prints and see how many people are following the same gut instinct tip. Personally, I was very excited to be invited to 10 Downing Street and loved seeing my husband’s presentation of his tailoring collection Mr Start.
What essentials did you pack in your bag today?
Well, since Mercedes-Benz kindly provided me with the absolute best Survival Kit ever in the history of the world, from my survival kit I always took – umbrella, Swarovski pen, notebook,MAClip-gloss and a sly little mini bottle of champagne. Along with that I also carry sunglasses, wallet, keys to my house, all my show passes, invitations and iPhone.
TYPICAL DAY:
A really interesting day for me was Sunday, as I had a camera crew following me around all day from ‘This Morning’. I also had my little dog Gladys with me who was in the show. The first show that they wanted me to cover was the Mulberry show – the interior was set up like a jungle with blow up plastic animal balloons everywhere. We interviewed and met Eliza Doolittle, Kristen Stewart, Kate Moss, Marina Diamandis, George Craig and Erin O’Connor among others. Next we were off to Nicole Fahri, where I interviewed Nicole herself backstage. Also in attendance was Anna Wintour. Finally it was Unique, where the Katie Grand styled collection was Egyptian-Hip-Hop. We met Philip Green and Naomi Campbell and interviewed Ellie Goulding, Kelis and Nicola Roberts. We then went back to Somerset House and continued filming links for the show all around Somerset House and the BFC.
Because I was filming quite a lot during fashion week and had early calls I didn’t go to any parties during the week. I did save myself for the mother load of all parties, the British Fashion Council evening at 10 Downing Street hosted by Samantha Cameron and Harold Tillman. Every fashion designer that showed was invited plus editors, great stylists and the top retailers in the industry. It was like wall-to-wall fashion royalty. I also went to Dylan Jones and Harold Tillman’s GQ dinner with my husband the next night, which was fabulous. But generally I tried to get to bed by 10pm so I could be up the next day with a spring in my step!
Every day is different for me but I thought that would be an interesting one to share with you.
LFW 2011 - A Day in the Life of Brix Smith-Start with Jonathan Saunders
LFW 2011- A Day in the Life of Brix Smith-Start's Dog Gladys
