Colin McDowell
Encyclopedia
Colin McDowell is a British
fashion writer, journalist
and academic. As senior fashion writer for The Sunday Times
, in the 1990s and 2000s he became a familiar sight in the front row of fashion shows along with his contemporaries Anna Wintour
and Suzy Menkes
. He is the author of some 20 books on fashion and designers, including McDowell’s Directory of 20th Century Fashion. In 2008 he was appointed Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to fashion.
McDowell grew up in Gloucestershire
and was educated at Durham University
. While teaching in Rome, he became an assistant to Italian couturier Pino Lancetti.
In 1984 McDowell established his reputation as a writer with McDowell’s Directory of 20th Century Fashion, which became a standard reference work for fashion students. He became involved in teaching fashion in London (his students included John Galliano
) and began writing for newspapers and magazines. In 1986 he became fashion writer of The Sunday Times.
A vocal critic of the British fashion establishment, in 2003 McDowell founded Fashion Fringe (now known as Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden
), a platform for developing new fashion talent set up jointly with international management agency IMG. He remains the creative director. The competition attracts chairmen including Donatella Versace
, Tom Ford
and John Galliano. Winners of the competition who have gone on to become regular exhibitors at London Fashion Week
include Erdem
, Basso & Brooke
, Gavin Douglas, Aminaka Wilmont, Eun Jeong and Jena.Theo. The 2010 winner was Corrie Nielson.
McDowell is a former chairman of the Costume Society of Great Britain. He is a fellow of The Royal Society of Arts
and has been awarded honorary doctorates and professorships by five British universities. He is creative director of the Audi Fashion Festival Singapore. In 2010 he was appointed Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
fashion writer, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and academic. As senior fashion writer for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, in the 1990s and 2000s he became a familiar sight in the front row of fashion shows along with his contemporaries Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, OBE is the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. With her trademark pageboy bob haircut and sunglasses, Wintour has become an institution throughout the fashion world, widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and her support for...
and Suzy Menkes
Suzy Menkes
Suzy Menkes, OBE has been head fashion reporter and Editor for the International Herald Tribune since 1988. In that time she has written over 1.7 million words in the paper....
. He is the author of some 20 books on fashion and designers, including McDowell’s Directory of 20th Century Fashion. In 2008 he was appointed Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to fashion.
McDowell grew up in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and was educated at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
. While teaching in Rome, he became an assistant to Italian couturier Pino Lancetti.
In 1984 McDowell established his reputation as a writer with McDowell’s Directory of 20th Century Fashion, which became a standard reference work for fashion students. He became involved in teaching fashion in London (his students included John Galliano
John Galliano
John Charles Galliano CBE, RDI is a Gibraltan-born British fashion designer who was best known as head designer of French haute couture houses Givenchy and Christian Dior , and his own self titled fashion house.-Family:He was born in Gibraltar to a Gibraltarian father, Juan Galliano, and a...
) and began writing for newspapers and magazines. In 1986 he became fashion writer of The Sunday Times.
A vocal critic of the British fashion establishment, in 2003 McDowell founded Fashion Fringe (now known as Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
), a platform for developing new fashion talent set up jointly with international management agency IMG. He remains the creative director. The competition attracts chairmen including Donatella Versace
Donatella Versace
Donatella Versace is an Italian fashion designer and current Vice-President of the Versace Group, as well as chief designer. She owns 20 percent of the entire stock market assets of Versace. Her brother, Santo Versace, owns 30 percent...
, Tom Ford
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.-Early life :Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961 in...
and John Galliano. Winners of the competition who have gone on to become regular exhibitors at London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
include Erdem
Erdem Moralioğlu
Erdem Moralioğlu, more commonly known as Erdem is a Canadian-British-Turkish fashion designer.-Biography:...
, Basso & Brooke
Basso & Brooke
Basso & Brooke is a fashion label formed by Bruno Basso and Christopher Brooke .Bruno Basso was born in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil...
, Gavin Douglas, Aminaka Wilmont, Eun Jeong and Jena.Theo. The 2010 winner was Corrie Nielson.
McDowell is a former chairman of the Costume Society of Great Britain. He is a fellow of The Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
and has been awarded honorary doctorates and professorships by five British universities. He is creative director of the Audi Fashion Festival Singapore. In 2010 he was appointed Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
.
Publications
- McDowell’s Directory of 20th Century Fashion (1984)
- In Royal Style (1985)
- Every Woman’s Guide to Looking Good (1986)
- Shoes: Fashion and Fantasy (1989)
- Hats: Status, Style and Glamour (1992)
- Dressed to Kill: Sex, Power and Clothes (1992)
- The Designer Scam (1994)
- The Literary Companion to Fashion (1995)
- The Man of Fashion: Peacock Males and Perfect Gentlemen (1997)
- Forties Fashion and the New Look (1997)
- John Galliano: Romantic, Realist and Revolutionary (1997)
- Manolo Blahnik (2000)
- Fashion Today (2000)
- Jean Paul Gaultier (2001)
- Ralph Lauren: the man, the vision, the style (2002)
- DianaStyle (2007)
- Matthew Williamson (2010)
External links
- http://www.fashionfringe.co.uk