Elle UK May2020

THEACTORANDFACEOFDUNE,51,REFLECTSONSARTORIALSLIP- UPS,DANGEROUSMOMENTS

INDESIGNERDRESSESANDTHECLOTHESSHE’SSAVINGTOWEARINHERSIX TIES...

GIL L I A N A NDERSON

My fashi o n able life

As

told

to:

Sara

McAlpine.

Photography:

Paul

Farrell

for

The Times Magazine

, courtesy of News Licensing.

ELLE.COM/UK May 2O2O

Elle FINAL WORD

I DIDN’T THINK ABOUT ST YLE WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

My mother’s style was jeans and sweatshirts, so fashion wasn’t really

on my radar – never, never, never. I didn’t think about it at all after

we moved to the States when I was around 11 years old and I saw the

styles on Camden Road when we came back to London in the summer.

THE FIRST TIME I FELT ‘FASHIONABLE’ WAS AT 13. I bought

myself a purple skirt from Camden. It sat above the knee, which was

a big deal for me, and I wore it with red, pointy slip-on shoes and a

pink sweatshirt. It was the first time I’d bought anything other than

jeans. I wore the outfit when I went back to school in Michigan, and

everyone looked at me as if I was from another universe. I suddenly

understood that style could have an impact. That was the beginning

of me paying attention to clothes.

I’VE SPENT AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY ON CLOTHES. I t ’s

one of my big regrets. I cannot believe that I was so reckless to spend

$1,4OO on a dress that I never wore in my twenties. I was making

a lot of money and had a boyfriend who was a model. He introduced

me to stores I’d never heard of in Los Angeles. So, I got used to trying

stuff on and not really looking at the price tag. I cannot believe I did

that; I’m filled with shame.

I HAVE LOOKED IN THE PAPERS THE NEXT DAY AND

THOUGHT, WELL, THAT WAS A MISTAKE. But the regret

doesn’t last. Many years ago, for my first Golden Globes outing,

I made a fashion choice that I cannot quite understand now...

It was a gold dress, slightly like a geisha style, with a band around

the middle. I was on the worst-dressed lists all over the world. I don’t

think I’ve worn anything quite as offensive since then.

I’VE JUMPED INTO POOLS WEARING BEAUTIFUL DRESSES.

That’s probably the naughtiest thing I’ve ever done fully dressed.

But I also remember, years ago, I borrowed a beautiful Prada dress –

it was off-white lace with a pink slip. Over the course of the evening,

I’d got a piece of glass in my hand and ended up going to hospital

• the dress was completely covered in blood. But I got it cleaned
  and came out spanking white. Whatever dancing I was doing,
  in whatever club I was in, it was probably pretty naughty.

THE BEST FASHION ADVICE? KEEP IT SIMPLE. Moderation is

key. That’s what fashion has taught me about life. Moderation in terms

of price of purchase, accessorising, the style of pieces you’re wearing,

whether it’s a dress or separates. Nothing over the top – it’s too much

information. Classic, usually single colours; not frilly or patterned.

I’M A SHOE HOARDER. I try to send things to Fashion for Change,

a secondhand luxury charity shop. But I have this view that in my

late sixties I’m going to be much more eccentric and bolder with

my choices, so I’m saving things that I wouldn’t really wear now.

THERE’S A BAF TA DRESS I’LL NE VER FORGE T. It was a knife-

pleated style by Halston that I’d borrowed from William Vintage. It

was the most beautiful piece of architecture I’ve ever had the pleasure

of wearing. I think my dead corpse will look very nice in that dress.

Gillian Anderson is the face of Dune’s latest campaign

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