I was thinking about British fashion icons today (yes, you can blame the Olympics), & seriously you guys, Tilda Swinton. Yes, her fashion choices are polarizing. But you have to admire a woman who is not afraid to take fashion risks, yeah? Her sex appeal isn’t the common kind—in fact, some people find her rather jarring. But her wind-tunnel beauty & no-nonsense style really appeal to me. Because her looks are so interesting, she is also an excellent choice for character roles—roles I think are far more challenging.
“The other day, I was going through the airport security & I was searched by a male security guard. I’m very often referred to as ‘Sir’ in elevators & such. I think it has to do with being this tall & not wearing much lipstick. I think people just can’t imagine I’d be a woman if I look like this.”
Ugh, seriously, so good.
One of the reasons I adore Ms. Swinton’s style is that even though it’s always risky, it’s always cut impeccably, in colours that suit her. The fact that she’s risky hasn’t hurt her profile, either. She’s constantly photographed by the paparazzi in her outrageous outfits, & is an inspiration for magazine stylists everywhere.
“It’s a real comfort zone for me to feel alien.”
I’m pretty sure Tilda Swinton was the first fashion-forward-thinking person to sport a modern under-cut. This is the haircut of the summer! You can’t go anywhere without seeing someone sporting it.
“There is something insane about a lack of doubt. Doubt, to me anyway, is what makes you human, & without doubt even the righteous lose their grip not only on reality but also on their humanity.”
Her androgynous beauty & incredible acting talent have sparked rumours that she’s a favourite to play David Bowie in an upcoming biopic. Two iconoclasts—I really couldn’t think of a better fit. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s played a man, either. She played Mozart on stage, an Elizabethan nobleman in Orlando, & the androgynous Gabriel in Constantine.
“I’m basically interested in identity, & I still find fascinating the question, “How do we identify ourselves, & how do we settle into other people’s expectations for our identity?”
What can we learn from Tilda Swinton?
- Always be searching to define your own identity, both stylistically & personally.
- Take risks.
- Live your life for you & you alone—you’re the only one you’re accountable to, after all.
- Absorb art in every form possible, including your clothes.
I could literally watch this for hours.