14 GQ.COM.AU FEBRUARY 2017
inside
contributors
DAVID SMIEDT
GROOMING EDITOR
GQ’s go-to grooming authority for
as long as we can remember, he’s the
reasontheteamhavethemostup-to-
datehairdosandalwayssmellsogood.
Or something like that. Go to p73 to
get involved.ARE YOU OFTEN SENT
GROOMING-RELATED
PRESSRELEASESTHAT
MAKE NO SENSE?
Yep,everyweekIreceiveonethat
seemstobetheresultofaPRperson
who’sbeenletloosewithathesaurus
and a tube of KY Jelly.
HELP US OUT – HOW DO
YOU PRONOUNCE OUD?
Rhymes with rude or nude.
AND WHAT THE HELL IS IT?
Oudisaresinproducedbythe
agarwoodtree–nativetosouth-east
Asia, India and Bangladesh – in response
to the phialophora parasitica mould. It
smells like a combination of spice and
timber. Well, you asked.
BEST FRAGRANCE OF 2016?
Czech & Speake ‘No 88’. The rose, cassia
and frangipani can seem discordant
atfirstbutitwasundoubtedlythe
fragrance I got the most comments on.
THREE GROOMING HABITS OR
TRENDS EVERY MAN NEEDS TO
ADOPT THIS YEAR?
Hair–thelonger,slightlydishevelled
cut, as seen on Insta star and ex-Tom
FordmuseJonKortajarena,willbe
big. It’s perfectly structured without
looking too done. Lunch hour spa
treatments are going to be massive
formen.Sobooknow.Withscents,
freshgreensaregoingtobebig.My
pickofthebunchsofaris‘Bracken
For Men’ by Amouage.LEILA
AMIRPARVIZ
FASHION ASSISTANT
WithsevenMenoftheYearshoots
tocontendwithinherfirstmonth,
quicklyfollowedbytheorganisationof
dressing 50-plus celebs for the awards
ceremony, we’re thrilled/surprised
Amirparviz is still here/alive. So we
figured the next test was to quiz her
onthejoysofworkingatGQ.WHAT’S IT LIKE RUNNING
THEGQFASHION CUPBOARD?
So fun – watching the fashion team
play dress ups with international
collectionsstraightofftherunway
iswhatdreamsaremadeof.
NO, BE HONEST. WHAT’S
IT ACTUALLY LIKE?
Even when I haven’t slept in 48 hours,
it’s2am,Ihaven’tcalledmymumina
week,andamonthefloorscrubbing
make-upoffJonHamm’scollarsothe
shirt can go back to LA on the first
courier–stillfun.
WORDSOFWISDOM
FOR ANYONE WANTING
TOGETINTOFASHION?
Be prepared to work really hard for
areallylongtime.Andsetrealistic
career goals for yourself. And never
wearheelsonset.Juggling15coffee
ordersinstilettosisneveragoodlook.
WHO’S YOUR FASHION IDOL?
My fabulous grandmother. She
escapedtheIranianRevolutionwith
onlyasewingkitinhandandwenton
to create tailored looks for royals and
thesocialeliteinLondon’spartyscene
throughout the ’80s and ’90s.
SHOWS YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND?
IwouldpickJacquemusfor
fun and Prada for serious style.MIKE
CHRISTENSEN
MANAGING EDITOR
In his new role, Christensen’s main task
istokeeptheteamrunninglikeafine-
tuned machine, which is easy given his
amazing colleagues. Right, Mike?ASAMANINMAGS,DO
YOU AVIDLY READ THE
CONTRIBUTOR PAGES
OF OTHER MAGAZINES?
Allthetime,it’sgoodtoknow
abitaboutourfellowwriters,
photographers and mag people.
SO WE WON’T MENTION YOUR
STASH OF RARE VIVALDI VINYL?
Ha,wejustdid.Though,it’sless
acollection,moreaone-off
I’ve played a lot on repeat.
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU
REALISE YOU WERE DRAWN
TO THE WRITTEN WORD?
The moth-to-light moment came when
I did surprisingly well in an American
literatureA-levelexam.Ifindaway
tocreditTennesseeWilliamsinmost
of my articles.
ANDWHENYOU’RENOT
NEGOTIATING BUDGETS AND
COVERS OR SENDING THE MAG
TO PRINT, WHAT DO YOU DO?
Itextmywifeanddaughtergood
morning and good night. And
dreamaboutbeingadecentsurfer- the emphasis being on dream.
THE BEST PLACE YOUR
JOBHASGOTYOUINTO?
TheonlytimeI’veeverdropped,
“I work forGQ”wastogetinto
last year’s Big Wave Awards. Ronnie
Blakeywashostinganditwasworth
it. Maybe (definitely) something
I need to improve on.
NICOLE
BENTLEY
PHOTOGRAPHER
For our take on ‘Back to Work’ (p104),
Bentleyhadthe‘tough’jobofmaking
Aussie supermodel Jordan Barrett look
good in photos. She succeeded.
JORDAN’S A COOL KID – WHAT
WASHELIKETOWORKWITH?
Adream–he’soneofthoserarespecial
ones. His presence in front of the lens
matcheshisbeautyintheflesh.
HE’S KILLING IT AT THE
MOMENT – WHY IS THAT?
He’sgotthatcool,youngheartthrob
appeal.Healsohasgotamagnetic
personality that draws people to
himandhisbeautyandpresence
just amplifies him beyond the norm.
TELL US ABOUT THE SHOOT.
We wanted to capture his expression,
movement and range. The fashion
hasanostalgicnodandJordangave
itthe‘now’factor.Itwasabitof
adayinthelifeofJordan.
BLACKANDWHITEVERSUS
COLOUR – WHEN AND WHY?
It’saboutfeeling–themoodofan
image changes between black and white
andcolour.Ilettheemotiondriveit.
MOST INTERESTING THING
NO ONE THINKS ABOUT
BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER?
It’soneofthoseprofessionswhere
education doesn’t have weight
compared to someone’s natural
ability, vision and style.
ANY FASHION ESSENTIALS
YOU CAN’T SHOOT WITHOUT?
Hunter gumboots for those location
daysoutinnature–theyliveinmy
car. My shooting fashion staple is
a simple Maison Margiela black dress.