March 21, 2025

Madeleine talks with Rachel Bakewell

With almost two decades experience in the high-fashion industry, stylist and Fashion Editor for Violet Book, Rachel Bakewell is the name behind most of your favourite looks. Her signature style blends the bow-adorned, ruffled-sleeved feminine dream state with a rebellious, gothic lens. The life of anyone in fashion is a busy one, but as an in-demand stylist on the cusp of fashion month, Rachel’s schedule is packed to the brim, and ever-changing. In a rare spare evening, she sits down with Cellotape to chat about the evolution of styling and the work behind the glamour.

Words & Interview by Madeleine Ringer, Feb 2025

Above, photographed by Brian Daly

Cellotape: You started assisting about eighteen years ago, how has your relationship with styling has evolved through the years?

Rachel: It takes a while to understand your style; in the beginning I was much more self-critical. As you get older, you become self-assured; I feel a lot more confident now. You’re meeting new people and clients all the time, and you learn to just go into that styling mode naturally. I feel more respected than when I first started out and no one knows who you are. It’s a journey and you have to be extremely devoted.

I’ve got an amazing team of assistants now, so that’s really helped. Having a team is so important when you need someone else to juggle jobs and bounce ideas with. There’s so much behind it no one sees, so many hours of work and stress.

Cellotape: Can we talk about the very first piece you styled, after progressing from an assistant to a stylist?

Rachel: The very first piece I styled was actually for a test shoot. I was assisting a stylist, Harriet Cotterill; we’d shot an editorial for a magazine and Harriet said I could take the clothes and shoot them myself, to get a sense of my own style. I shot with the photographer’s assistant on that shoot, and we had so much fun, it was amazing. I knew I wanted to do it for a living the minute I did that shoot.

Left, December Issue @vogue.polska – Photographer: Melanie Rodriguez featuring LooLoo c/o Anti Agency, Stylist: Rachel Bakewell, Makeup: Claudine Blythman, Hair: Paca Navarro, Casting: The Line Casting, D.O.P: Paul Hyde; Right, Feature for The Violet Book, Photographer: Melanie Rodriguez featuring Tish Weinstock wearing Simone Rocha, Makeup: Jose Bass, Hair: Mark Francome Painter, Style Assist: Tashia Suleyman, Produced by Lock Studios

“The world needs to see these images!”

Rachel: Back then, it was all (film) prints. I’ve probably got boxes of them somewhere. We weren’t earning much money styling back then, it wasn’t glamourous and we were working a lot of hours for little money; I had to work on the side, but I was devoted to styling.

In a creative job, you have to be addicted, or it’s not going to work.

Exactly. I’ve had assistants who think it’s fun for a bit, and the minute they realise how hard it is, they falter. You just know the ones who will last, you can see it in them, if they’re driven. I was really driven – you have to be.

Cellotape: London Fashion Week is coming up this month, how has that changed in two decades you’ve been working?

Rachel: The shows have changed a lot, the crowds and front rows, the atmosphere is very different. It’s a different culture now, but I still love going to the shows and getting a buzz off the creativity. I love it when I get to style a show and be part of that. It’s a great celebration of fashion, but it has changed.

Cellotape: What would you say the biggest misconception about styling is?

Rachel: I find everyone I know thinks it’s super glamourous or I must spend my days shopping. It does have its moments, but in general, it’s a tough job. You get moments when you’re with celebrities or nice hotels, but you’re not the celebrity, you’re not being dressed [laughs]. You’re making sure the looks have arrived and the steamer’s there and you’ve got so much going on in your brain. It has to be right – there’s a lot of pressure. If it’s for celebrities, it’s really high pressure because the whole world will see it, and if it’s for a big advertisement, what you do is going to decide if the brand can sell the product.

Cellotape: There is definitely a false sense of glamour. People in fashion never switch off, there’s always so much going on. Everything is so fast paced; do you have a self-care routine to keep yourself sane?

Rachel: Definitely. That’s how I’ve changed; I never used to do that. Now and again, it would overwhelm me and in moments, it would be too much. Now, I feel like I can handle the stress better. It’s little things, like knowing I shouldn’t have more than two coffees on set [laughs]. One thing I love is to always have baths, sometimes I listen to frequency music and fill water with magnesium. Otherwise, it’s all these emails and demands, they can make your head race.

Above, June Issue @voguehongkong – Photograph by Melanie Rodriguez, featuring Paula Anguera wearing Dolce & Gabbana, Maryam Keyhani – Fashion Stylist: Rachel Bakewell, Hair Stylist: Natalie Shafil, Casting Director: Marina Fairfax

Cellotape: Do you have a favourite piece of work from last year?

Rachel: I really loved an editorial I did in Florence, for Vogue Poland, that’s coming out in a month. It was very Renaissance period inspired, with a beautiful model and the photographer Tom Craig. I also styled a beautiful perfume campaign too; that’s my other favourite. Playing a lot with light and flowers, it was very me because I love flowers a lot as well. That was for Creed Fragrances and is coming out soon too. It’s funny, when you style shoots, you have to wait ages for them to come out, you always want them released that week.

Cellotape: What are the key elements when you’re putting a look together?

Rachel: The colour, fit, proportion, texture, and balance of it. I consider everything, but the silhouette and colour are really important. It depends on the brief and the setting, but shoes are always key. Oh, and I’m obsessed with socks.

Cellotape: How would you say you interact with different colours and textures?

Rachel: I use colour and texture as powerful tools to create balance, depth, and mood in an outfit. Colours can have an emotional impact and silhouettes can make characters, while mixing textures can elevate the mood. Miu Miu do this so well.

I’m always looking at images; when I’m not working or with my children, I’m looking at images, art, and films, and getting inspired by what I’ve seen. With my work, I like it to be quite emotive and romantic, but there’s an edge to it as well, sometimes it’s a bit gothic. The colours, shapes and textures all add to this character or story I’m trying to tell.

“I never want my work to come across as too pretty”

Rachel: I like it to have an edge and be imperfect; there always has to be an element that throws or twists it.

Cellotape: Brian Daly, your husband, shot your portraits for Cellotape. Do you find you naturally inspire and influence each other in your work?

Rachel: We always inspire each other and push each other to our maximum potential. We have a very similar aesthetic and so love working together. When we work together, I feel like I can be extra honest [laughs]. I art direct more when I’m with him and can be more myself. We’ve been together fifteen years now and we’ve been in the industry together, which is nice because we know all the same people and we understand the job. If you weren’t in this job and you were dating one of us, you’d be like, what’s going on [laughs]. It’s a crazy industry.

Cellotape: In the past few years, stylists have shifted within the industry; they’re increasingly becoming celebrity-like and well-known. How do you feel about being more in the limelight?

Rachel: The limelight has come naturally with the campaigns I’ve worked on – they’ve spread awareness of who I am. When I first started out, I was shy and liked hiding behind the camera, but now, I don’t mind being seen and celebrated, because I’ve worked hard and I’m proud of the collaborations I’ve done.

It’s nice to see the faces behind the hard work; I enjoy seeing who styles which celebrities and learning a bit about them. You can see where celebrities get their style from, because it’s the stylist who’s dressing them. Stylists really do change and create a celebrity’s look, so it’s nice to see stylists celebrated.

I don’t want to be in the limelight, but where I work with certain brands and celebrities, it naturally draws attention to me, which has been great for my career. Sadly, it is a lot to do with the following sometimes. People need to see your outreach – it’s the way the industry’s going, you have to push yourself in that direction for longevity.

Cellotape: You style Greta Bellamacina, can you talk briefly about that relationship?

Rachel: We met on a shoot around six or seven years ago, and we instantly clicked. We’ve known each other a long time, so there’s no treading on eggshells, I can be honest about what I think and if things look awful [laughs]. We love everything romantic and gothic, we’re always sending each other references and ideas.

Cellotape: Do you abide by any fashion rules for your own personal wardrobe?

Rachel: It’s not a rule, but I pretty much only ever wear black or white. I keep accessories minimal and if I’m going out, my shoes and my bag have to match. Less is more. I’m half French, I like that effortless chic look, I don’t like to be done up all the way.

Cellotape: Styling isn’t your only creative outlet; can you talk to me a bit about Violet Book and the vision behind it?

Rachel: I want it to be a platform to create beautiful imagery with people I admire – I want to move away from regular models, instead using people who inspire me, or intrigue me with their character.

Cellotape: We’ll wrap up with a fun one to finish: You’re a big lover of films and references, so which film character’s wardrobe would you love to have?

Rachel: I loved the ‘60s, romantic and dreamy aesthetic of Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. The pinks, creams, baby blues, peter pan collars and schoolgirl cardigans, it was very doll-like. Then she evolved into more structured pieces, which I loved also. I loved the eyeliner and white nails. I love Poor Things too, it’s a bit different – it wouldn’t be my everyday wardrobe, but I think that Victorian, unexpected fashion is so strong, cool and whimsical.