RIXO x Bay Garnett

The thing about great style is there’s no right or wrong way to have it, but you know it when you see it. It’s instinctive, characterful, and ultimately, personal. The new collection, made in collaboration with Bay Garnett, embodies this. Taking influence from her decades of experience dressing, styling and pioneering pre-loved, the collection gives you a rare glimpse into her styling approach, while showing you how to embrace your own. Here she styles the collection and gets into the details of it all.

I think the thing I’ve enjoyed the most and that feels the most rewarding, is working with Oxfam and secondhand clothes and the idea of clothes having such a powerful purpose. Not just celebrating second-hand clothes but also raising awareness and money for helping people around the world. I’ve been really lucky to be able to work with clothes in that way.

Styling is thinking about ‘who is she’ and going from there, and then the clothes fitting into that storytelling. I suppose it’s a bit more like dressing someone for a film, where you’re thinking in terms of character. It’s much less about fashion. That’s never really interested me personally that much. I’m much more about the character. Then, always bringing in second-hand because, to me, you have to have that for anything to look authentic or to have some kind of resonance because that’s the way we all live. We live with our clothes that already exist.

In the idea that this collection is completely wearable but full of character, and I guess in terms of this character, she’s a bit 1970s, rock n roll in spirit with bohemianism. She’s laid back, she’s cool, and she’s knowing.

I’ve always loved accessories. There’s a picture of me when I was 2, and I’ve got a massive bag in the crook of my arm, and my mum wrote over it ‘the queen mum’! I’ve always loved bags; I love belts. Accessories just add such a vibe! They add such a sense of character somehow. Some people love the simplicity of no accessories, and I can really appreciate that, but for me, I love them. Partly because it is my signature style, and I enjoy having a signature style. Not to stand out exactly but just making my mark on how I like to look. And I get pleasure from finding them! For me, accessories are about individuality, and they’re just a lot of fun.

There would be a few things I would raid. I would love to go to a clothes market in the early ‘80s and you would get all these proper ‘70s, ‘60s vintage pieces, when all of that stuff was not that long ago. I would love to raid Marie Antoinette’s closet. Just to have a look! I don’t want any of it; I just want to see it. Another one I would have loved is Lauren Bacall’s wardrobe from the ‘70s, those blazers and belts. I would have loved that too.

Probably the simpler pieces. I love the Stacie belt with the black Maryam rollneck. I love the black rollneck! I'm going to be wearing that all the time. I love the gothic Napoleana jacket with the tassels. I’ll be wearing everything, but those are the things I'm most excited about.

A lot with the Stacie belt. The great thing about a concho belt is you can put it with anything! It’ll go with everything and, actually, I feel like all of the collection does go with everything; you can mix it with all your own stuff. That was the whole point, for it to be mixed in with your own wardrobe.

When you look, have something in mind, so you have a sense of purpose and direction. But the thing is, shopping second-hand is the same as shopping for new stuff; it’s just what you like and what you love and what brings you pleasure or joy. It’s really no more of an art form than that. The only thing that makes you good at it is that you find stuff you love, and that’s all that matters.

I don’t have a thrifting rule, and I don’t think anyone gets anything wrong if they are getting the stuff that gives them pleasure and that they like. I mean, I don’t buy things with stains, and I try to buy things I'm really going to wear, other than things that I might be like, ‘Oh, that’s so great, I love it, but I’m not going to wear it.’ I’m not really into that; I’m not really a collector in that way. I want to wear everything.