My Model Style: Alistair Waterfield
Photo © Sarah Jane Barnes
Wear what you love
"My dad was testing the sole as a wear trial,” says Alistair. “I chose what the boots would look like, I wore them non-stop for a couple of months to make sure they worked.” He wore them to art school, castings and fashion week - “basically if my shoes are not trainers, they are George Cox. That’s the rule of thumb for me.” Alistair is also inspired by his mother, who was a model. “My mum has always been stylish, she’s always had a keen eye for style. I have found myself raiding both their wardrobes. I feel like many of the clothes are unisex anyway, fairly gender neutral. I’m quite an androgynous looking person so I get away with it.”
Make one item the focal point
"Normally it revolves around the shoes because that’s my story and the thing I can relate to the most.” These boots and tee shirt (seen left) were given to Alistair by his father, the driving force behind George Cox Footwear. They were popular with the punk movement, as seen in old photos of The Clash and Sex Pistols, and with punk designer Vivienne Westwood and Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren. This gave Alistair with “an insight into the fashion world from a young age. I saw fashion on the edge, rather than everything you buy on the high street."
Photo © Sarah Jane Barnes
Make the most of fashion week gifts
Alistair got the Fendi t-shirt after he walked in the Spring Summer 2017 show in Milan. “I went for the yellow it’s quite bold, like me a bit eccentric. It meant I could use it as that one accenting piece to make it pop.”
Photo © Sarah Jane Barnes
Do it yourself
Alistair loves to customise clothes using bleach and print techniques to make pieces individual. “I like standing out now. I always used to be quite shy and wanted to blend in with everyone. Now I stopped caring about conforming, and for me being able to express myself as an artist means I can extend that to what I wear. If I can create something by taking an item and putting my own stamp on it that’s a cool thing to do.”
Style means confidence
“You can tell the difference between someone that’s wearing something and someone that’s owning it. That’s also part of my job, walking on a catwalk is not just to be a coat hanger for the clothes, it’s to show people how you live the brand. You have conviction.”
Show your tribe
Alistair describes himself as a huge David Bowie fan. “His spectacular wardrobe was always something to aspire to. Probably not quite as out there as Man That Fell To Earth, but his sense of style was something I could take inspiration from.” He also loves the films of Wes Anderson: “his sets and the props he uses are magnificent. If I were to buy a suit I want one that looks like it could fit seamlessly into one of his movies.”
Photo © Sarah Jane Barnes
See the funny side
Last September, Alistair started studying Art at the world-famous Central Saint Martins school. Artists like Peter Lanyon, Oscar Murillo and David Shrigley are his favourites. "The imagery conjured by these people is just amazing." Surreal illustrator David Shrigley has had most influence on his customisation. “I absolutely love his illustrations, he has a great sense of humour."
Hair and make-up: Georgia Ramman
But most importantly...
He has walked for some of the world’s most exclusive brands, but for Alistair, only one thing is important. “Good style doesn’t mean spending a lot of money, it’s about picking things right for you. I have developed now, I am no longer anonymous. I make a statement with what I wear.”
