Elle’s Shopgirl to Stylist competition is in its final judging stages, so we thought we’d bring one of the lucky contenders who made it through. Rebecca Catlow is an 18 year old student who works at our Burnley store.
Where does your interest in fashion come from?
Growing up I found myself being surrounded by a very fashion-orientated group of people and over time my interest for the industry grew and grew. I’ve wanted to be a stylist for as long as I can remember, working at New Look has definitely helped me develop my skills as a fashion promoter.
Who is your favourite fashion designer?
I love large mainstream names as much as the less discovered ones, but my favourite fashion designer is Vivienne Westwood. Westwood uses her designs to suggest the idea that fashion is a lot less about clothes and a lot more about art, expression, politics and the significance of having a raw passion for the industry. Westwood is not just an exceptional designer but she pushes the boundaries of conformity, she is bold, daring and exceptionally creative.
“When it comes to fashion no one person should look the same, you should be walked past in the street and people should remember you because of your clothes.”
Who would you most like to style?
There is no one within the mainstream media who is as experimental, as hyperbolic and as avant-garde as Lady Gaga. I think styling her would be a real challenge, but when it comes to styling I like a challenge!
What New Look pieces are you loving right now?
My favourite in store pieces right now are the green chino shorts, they are great for summer’s “Safari” trend and are a definite key item for my holiday wardrobe. I also love the animal print harem pants; they are really funky.
What are some of your favourite films/books/music?
It’s hard to pinpoint a definite music artist that I would label as being my favourite; I suppose I’m quite “Indie” when it comes down to it. Some of my favourite bands are Kasabian, Florence and The Machine, The Killers and The Courteeners. I also love retro bands such as Blondie and The Beatles. I am the typical “chick flick” lover, that is the only genre of DVD I ever buy, I could watch Mean girls, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Devil Wears Prada over and over.
When it comes to literature I love both modern day writing and the classics, i.e. Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice, yet I have a guilty pleasure for the Twilight saga. My favourite book is Rainer Marie Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet and is the most truly inspirational book I have ever read, if you haven’t already read it then I highly recommend it.
Are you studying/what are your career ambitions?
I have just finished my A2 year at college, so I am waiting for my results (fingers crossed). Hopefully after summer I will be studying Fashion Communication and Promotion at Nottingham Trent University. I am really focused when it comes to my career ambitions, I want to move to New York, become a stylist and work my way up. The dream is to be the creative director of a big fashion magazine, which is why the opportunities I have been given with Elle are so important; it could make it all possible.
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Good luck Rebecca!
Thankyou Tina !
Gd luck hunni! This was a gd read, hope it all happens for u
team rebecca (Y)
A proud dad yes but you have worked hard, very hard, I really wish you all success for this competion and the future.
well after those amazing results, the big new york dream is in sight