Alistair Waterfield -
Burberry - louis vuitton - AnOther magazine
Following my trip to London fashion I wanted
to know all about how does someone get
onto the Burberry runway.
When did you first think about diving into the world of modelling? Were You scouted?
I first thought about modelling about 30 seconds after I got scouted, I really hadn't considered it before, only when my mother used to say "you're such a handsome boy" but nobody ever takes them seriously, I didn't even take the first scout seriously! It was only after another person approached me on the same day that I thought it might be an avenue worth exploring.
Yes, I got scouted, at Latitude music festival. I think a lot of agencies scour the festivals as they always have a captive audience of young people with nothing pressing to run off to. It was first by Elite and a few hours later that day by FM, now rebranded as The Squad. I think if it hadn't been for both on the same day I might not have done anything about it, I was with my friend and I laughed it off so he wouldn't tease me about it.
Who have you modelled for? So far…
I'm still fairly new to the game, I only started 10 months ago but it's gone pretty well. I have modelled for various brands and a few magazines, most notably Burberry and Louis Vuitton. I walked in shows for brands in Milan and Paris in January, but my first experience was my London Burberry exclusive. I opened and closed their show which was the highlight of my career to date. A close second would be my first experience of editorial where I was flown out to Cambodia for a special feature of Louis Vuitton in AnOther Man magazine. Working for Burberry has been so good because I've met so many people in the company and everyone is so genuine and lovely.
Who has been your favourite to model for?
I've done some other really fun projects and shoots like my trip to Cape Town for a television advert and even some of my test shoots, meeting new people has to be one of the best parts of the job, I make so many friends and useful contacts, especially with my dad in the fashion industry with the family company George Cox footwear.
Where has modelling taken you?
Travel is another thing, I definitely suffer from wanderlust so being provided with a platform to travel for free or sometimes even being paid to do it is incredible. I feel so lucky to have seen as much of the world as I have at my age. There's a lot still to see though so I hope it continues as it has.
Do you enjoy modelling?
I wouldn't model if I didn't enjoy it, it's been amazing for me in terms of me coming out of my shell. I was incredibly shy and uptight as a young teenager and breaking out of that was helped massively by the industry. I have found that my self confidence has skyrocketed, I have developed a very laid back nature and I'm much more sociable and fun to be around. It feels a bit like winning the lottery I imagine, but hopefully it hasn't warped me into an egotist.
Do you prefer the runways or photoshoots?
Runway shows and photoshoots both have their various merits, the feeling of my first runway show filled me with such adrenaline I was buzzing. But afterwards came the low of almost anticlimax which it isn't, but it feels like you should be taking on the world, but in reality you go back to your flat, have a drink, maybe see your family and friends, and go to bed much the same as the day before. But it sticks with you, I remember just before my first show my throat was dry as a bone, I was lucky I had Christopher Bailey to talk to to calm my nerves, we were joking with each other which is a surreal experience in itself, but it made me forget about what I was about to do. As soon as you walk through the curtain though you sort of leave your body, everything just becomes automatic, you barely even think, just what you need to keep upright basically.
Photoshoots are nice because you get to see the final product easily, you don't have to watch a video for the right part, you just have your photos and you can do with them what you like. It's quite nice because your individuality can sometimes come through a bit more as there's more freedom involved. It's hard to pick between them, but I think because of the travel opportunities photoshoots might edge it.
Who’s your favourite model?
I'm not sure about my favourite model, someone versatile probably as its boring to see someone do the same thing all the time, but if I had to pick one I might say Suki Waterhouse, maybe because she's someone I can look at aspiringly. She got her breakthrough with Burberry so if I could follow a path similar to hers I would be very happy. I see some people who have done amazingly recently like Ruth and May Bell who have this amazing individual look, despite being identical twins. I think that is another trait, someone who isn't conventional in their style.
Who’s your favourite photographer?
My favourite photographer is hard to judge because I haven't seen enough of them to make an informed decision, but there are so many different aspects that I love about many photographers. Before I became part of the industry I had looked at Erwin Blumenfeld who effectively revolutionised fashion photography and defined an era with his use of colour.
And the most important question…Who’s your favourite designer?
My favourite designer is another tough one, I have met a few designers so far and Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton is one of the best I can think of, but I love the variation in the market, Christopher Bailey and Russell Delaney at Burberry produced a great line and working with them before the show was a privilege. Other brands I would love to own clothes from include Alexander McQueen, Balmain, A.P.C. and plenty others. I consider myself to be a bit of an old school British boy, Fred Perry always has a lot in my style as well as Paul Smith, but I change my style around a fair bit so anything will do for me!
Interview and photography by
James Gould