EC One Chats with… Nicholas King and Fiona Paxton

With last week’s designer evening still fresh in our minds (peach bellinis, anyone?) and the gorgeous jewels still dazzling in EC One’s Exmouth Market shop for the next few days, we caught up with Nicholas King and Fiona Paxton, stars of the event, to find out a little more about them… and just who would play them in a movie!

Nicholas King

How would you describe your personal style?
My collection style is bold, big and challenging! My own style not so much. I would hope its understated, smart, classic and not too boring

What does a normal working day for you consist of?
I like to try to start my day as early as I can , usually with a run and a coffee. Then it really depends on where we are in the year. The fun part , i.e designing, is usually kept to a short burst of energy a few times of year, but I am thinking and planning the collection all the time. I tend to hunt for materials abroad while travelling so prefer to design away from the office.  I spend my day on email, dealing with stores, press and bills for the rest of year. I am a small operation so its pretty hands on.

Nicholas King at last week's event

What other fashion or jewellery blog would you recommend?
I am really into Italian Vogue at the moment

Fashion tip for the spring/summer 2010 season?
Large Nicholas King Cuffs of course!!!

Who would play you in a movie?
I would like Brad Pitt but I canvassed my friends and family and they came up with Stephen Fry, so I figure it’s time for new friends!

Nicholas King Diamonte Flower Cuff

What’s your party trick?
Sadly I am too old for most of my party tricks, not quite as flexible, so I would have to say now its my Dame Edna impression

Who or what has been your greatest influence?
From ages 19 – 22 I worked for John Galliano, so I was lucky to see him up close and working, so I would have to say him. Although my tastes and influences have maybe developed I would have to say he made the biggest impact on me. I was also lucky that he worked with people like Stephen Jones and Manolo Blanhik so I really was incredibly lucky to see them all at work.

If you owned a boutique what would it be called?
Nicholas King & Friends If you owned a boutique what would it be called?

What would it sell?
I’d love a shop that I could not only  showcase my own line but also some of my friends, whom all do wonderful things, from my sister’s art, my brother’s sculptures and projects to a collection of lovely things from people I like. I have some great friends who do such lovely things it would be great to team up with them

Who’s your favourite designer and what do you love about them?
I think in the jewellery business, people like Alexis Bittar, Erikson Beamon, Tom Binns appeal to me the most. They are usually spot on with the collections and most of them inject a little humor into the collections which I think is important. For clothing I think I would like to have a wardrobe full of Lanvin!

Nicholas King Pyramid Stud Cuff

The big fashion question this season: to clog or not to clog?
Oh no to the clogs. The most uncomfortable shoe and they look like wooden Crocs!!

If you could have any accent other than your own, what would it be?
My mother was Australian so I am pretty good at it so I’ll go with that number 1 and maybe Russian number 2.

In a nutshell your philosophy is:
I know its not a funny answer but I just want to go through life in a kind  and respectful way. Oh and have lots of fun doing it!

Fiona Paxton

How would you describe your personal style?
Smart casual (if I can ride my bike in it then double points!)

What does a normal working day for you consist of?
I start the day by waking up and checking my Blackberry. Sad I know, but I get emails at about 6am! Once I have got the kids up and off to school I cycle to the studio, go through emails and any business matters. I can then start designing or working on altering samples. My day changes depending on where we are in the season so no day is the same, which is what’s so great about this job! I usually have meetings with buyers and suppliers during the day, too.  I then have to fly out of the door to collect the kids, get them fed and washed. In the evening the house is quiet so it’s a good time to design – it’s the only time of day that I can focus so I’m often up until the wee small hours!

Fiona Paxton at last week's event

What other fashion or jewellery blogs would you recommend?
I have to be honest and say I do not follow any in particular, I flit around but do keep coming back to Vogue.com, Style.com and for a breath of fresh air Dezeen.com which looks at architecture, graphics and design.

Fashion tip for the sping/summer 2010 season:
I love my chainmail Milla necklace from this season which is two tone, oxidised and silver. It just works with everything I wear

Who would play you in a movie?
I love slightly eccentric characters so America Ferrara would be great with maybe slightly different styling from her Ugly Betty phase.

What’s your party trick?
As most of the parties I go to these days are kids parties, I’d have to say I’m very good at musical statues!

Fiona Paxton Milla and Irina necklaces

Who/what has been your greatest fashion or jewellery influence?
I think being a teenager and going to art college in the early 80s was an amazing time for fashion – the Japanese designers, Bodymap, Judy Blame and the Belgian designers. What more inspiration would a girl want growing up in the rural backwaters of Lincolnshire?

If you owned a boutique what would it be called?
The Fiona Paxton Shop

What would it sell?
It would have the most recent collection but it would be full of artefacts that have inspired that seasons collection. Each season we could tell a different story and really give a viewpoint on the season

Who’s your Favourite designer and what do you love about them most?
I love Dries van Noten – the prints are amazing season after season.

Fiona Paxton Paris earrings

The big fashion question this season: to clog or not to clog?
I bought my last pair when I lived in New York in the early 90s and loved them until I moved back to London and lived in an upstairs flat with wooden floors. The noise ruined it for me.

If you could have any accent other than your own…
An Irish accent is very warm and lovely

In a nutshell your philosophy is:
What are you waiting for? Follow your dreams. Its better to try than think what if….