Fashion forward – interview with model Phoebe Drinkall

Fashion forward – interview with model Phoebe Drinkall

11:00am Thursday 27th February 2014 in Focus

By Katherine MacAlister, Features writer. Please call me on 01865 425366

Phoebe Drinkall

She’s beaten hundreds of pretty girls to be chosen as The Face of Oxford Fashion Week, but Phoebe Drinkall is just as beautiful on the inside, writes Katherine MacAlister

There is a calmness about Phoebe Drinkall that belies her beauty, but add the hypnotic cocktail of diplomatic blood and a childhood spent travelling the four corners of the globe to her jutting cheekbones and you’ve found The Face of Oxford Fashion Week 2014.

And yet the Oxford Brookes international relations student has been scouted before, her peachy complexion, huge eyes and full lips catching the attention of several modelling agencies. “I never thought it worth pursuing,” she says tactfully.

Last Saturday, however, saw Phoebe meandering down Oxford High Street to Malmaison to face the OFW casting panel, angling to be chosen from one of 130 hopefuls for their five catwalk shows.

Not for a second did Phoebe consider she’d walk away with top billing and a whole new level of responsibility, having been unanimously chosen by all the casting directors as The Face of OFW 2014.

OFW director Carl Anglim says: “Phoebe was the clear winner form the start even though the scale and quality of the competition was great. Phoebe has exactly what we were looking for and was also hugely popular in the public vote.”

Phoebe’s healthy attitude to her own body also makes her the perfect choice, because although the 20 year-old is 5ft 9 and size 8-10 she hopes to prove a good role model.

“There were so many amazing girls auditioning, so it’s a real privilege and surprise to have been chosen,” she says. “But I’ve never had body or weight issues and I absolutely love my food, having lived all over the world and I’m not willing to compromise on that.

“So I hope I can show that fashion doesn’t need to be that way. It’s not what fashion is all about. It’s about looking good when you are wearing the clothes,” she says and then laughs and adds: “although as I’m doing the lingerie show I’ll be eating healthily and doing a few sit-ups between now and then, which is quite hard to do at university…. and drinking doesn’t really help.”

Phoebe’s colourful childhood has certainly grounded her. As one of nine children, her father is a colonel in the army, so the family have travelled extensively, living in California, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Ghana and all over the UK.

It also meant that Phoebe had to go to boarding school, so when choosing her university, it was an easy choice to make. “Oxford is where my parents met and bought their first house. So it felt like home. My father was at New College and my mother was at Brookes. They both studied environmental biology and their first home was here on Barnet Street off Cowley Road. They still own the house actually so I’ll live there in my second year,” she explains.

“They live in Belgium now and were all very excited and squeaking down the phone when I told them,” Phoebe says, “but then being the Face of OFW is exciting.”

Not only that, but Phoebe is a twin, so is her sister a rival? “No, we aren’t identical and probably the least alike in our whole family. She’s very clever and studying at Bristol University.”

However, with less than a week to go before OFW opens there’s a lot to be done, with catwalk lessons, rehearsals, fittings and hair and make-up demos to fit in. So how is Phoebe feeling?

“Generally I’m quite a private person, so it’s a bit weird to be in the limelight so much at the moment. But I’m excited and nervous at the same time. Good nerves though. Nerves are the key.” Yes Phoebe Drinkall will go far.

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Oxford Fashion Week is an annual week of fashion events in Oxford. It showcases designs from fashion graduates, established designers, and cutting edge artists in the best venues around Oxford. The Week was founded in 2009 by Carl Anglim and Victoria Watson, and has since grown into an established part of the new fashion week circuit. With a mixture of public and private shows, from high concept to haute couture, Oxford Fashion Week boasts five catwalk shows.

OFW Director Carl Anglim says: “The great thing about OFW is that there is something for everyone, from those who like to play around with fashion who might like vintage or High Street clothing to the luxury end of the market and the ethical side. But that aside, seeing the creations up close and live is like nothing else.” Tickets range from £5 for the High Street show to Couture and Lingerie starting at £35, the venues ranging from the Varsity Club to Malmaison and The Randolph.

– The Opening Party, Mon March 3, 8pm, The Living Room, Oxford
– The High Street Runway Show, Tuesday March 4, 8pm – late, The Varsity Club, Oxford High Street
– The Exhibition, Tue March 4, The O3 Gallery, Oxford Castle. Exhibition is open: 3rd – 9th March Speaker Event – Fashion Revolution, Wed March 5, 6-8pm, 1855 Wine Bar, Oxford Castle
– The Lingerie Runway Show, Thursday March 6, 8-11pm, The Visitor’s Room, Malmaison Hotel.
– The Cosmopolitan Runway Show, Friday March 7, 8pm – 11pm, The Ballroom, The Randolph Hotel
– The Concept Runway Show, Saturday March 8, 8pm – 11pm The Ballroom, The Randolph Hotel
– The Couture Runway Show, Sunday March 9, 7-10pm The Atrium, Malmaison Hotel

www.oxfordfashionweek.co.uk

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