“I’m very excited; it’s going to kick off the festive season perfectly,” the actress Felicity Jones tells me from her taxi. She’s on the way to her final fitting ahead of the annual Fashion Awards, an evening celebrating the brightest stars in the fashion industry and those who have made a particular impact through their work over the past 12 months.
For the occasion, Jones is wearing Erdem, a brand she has turned to for some of the most significant moments of her life – including her wedding day. “We have a long history of collaborating, so it always feels lovely to return to his studio to see what he’s cooking up,” Jones says, explaining that working with designers like Erdem Moralioglu has helped to develop her own sense of style. “I’ve [learned to] wear more of what suits me and not what I think I should be wearing,” she says.
The dress Jones has chosen for the awards is a beautiful ballet-inspired design from Erdem’s spring/summer 2024 show, which took place at The British Museum in September. “He’s very much inspired by living in London, so that’s something I share,” she adds. “I love the sense of irreverence with his work, but there’s also a deep sense of fashion history at the same time. It’s a lovely combination of something classic but with a twist.”
Below, see what Jones had to say about the kind of clothing that makes her feel most confident and the importance of finding joy in fashion:
Talk us through your look – what drew you to this particular outfit?
“I’m wearing a look from Erdem’s spring/summer 2024 show, which was held at the British Museum. It was an effortless and straightforward choice in his East London studio, which I’ve been to many times before as he designed my wedding dress. We have a long collaboration history, so it always feels lovely to return to his studio to see what he’s cooking up. The dress was hanging up alongside five different options, but we knew instantly which one we liked best, so I only needed to try one. It’s a rather gorgeous gown with an embroidered bodice in lovely shades of ivory and bottle green, with black straps.
“Many of Erdem’s collaborations have been with the Royal Opera House and the ballet, so the design has a real ballet element. I loved this show, particularly as Debo, the late dowager Duchess of Devonshire, inspired it. I thought there was such humor to it. I love the sense of irreverence with his work, but there’s also a deep sense of fashion history at the same time. It’s a lovely combination of something classic but with a twist and punky.”
How do you decide which brands you want to work with?
“It always comes from the designer and the synergy. You collaborate with different people at different times, which is when there’s a crossover of interest. In the past, I loved wearing brands like Dior, Christopher Kane, and Chanel, along with Erdem. Each designer brings something very different depending on their character and personality, so it’s all about adapting.”
What makes Erdem such an excellent fit for you and your style?
“There’s always such humor in his designs. I love that for this spring/summer show, he was inspired by Debo’s chicken farm, so he designed the shoes with these big bows to look like chicken feet. I thought they looked rather extraordinary, but then [once I had] that context, it all made sense. He has such an imaginative flair, and I like that. He’s also very much inspired by living in London, so that’s something I also share. Then there’s also a historical element – galleries and portraits often inspire him. I do the same when prepping for a character. If it’s a period project, I love to go to galleries and find artwork that might be inspiring for certain parts I’m playing. We have a similar approach creatively.”
How involved do you tend to be with the styling process?
“It’s always collaborative – that’s the joy of it all. Whether it’s a photo shoot or the red carpet, it’s more than the sum of its parts; everyone comes together to create something unexpected. I work with Nicky Yates; she’s such a wonderful stylist, and we have a similar vision, so it’s straightforward. There’s often only one thing I need to try on; it’s swift, as we both know exactly what we want to achieve for an event. I’ve always loved fashion and grew up reading The Face, iD, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, so the whole process is something I naturally enjoy.”
Iona Wolff
What kind of fashion makes you feel your most confident?
“I love finding things in my wardrobe, putting stuff together, and enjoying that process of being creative. When you feel yourself and wear what suits you, you will always feel your most confident.”
How has your style evolved over the years?
“I’ve worn more of what suits me and not what I should be wearing. There’s a thread of consistency for my style – I’ve always liked things to be quite simple but good quality. I always like to have fun with what I wear, with some punk thrown in to underpin the classic.”
Iona Wolff
What has been your most memorable fashion moment in recent years and why?
“The other week, I wore a fantastic black PVC top and skirt from Chanel. I adored it because it was so classic but had that twist I always look for.”
Whose style have you always admired and why?
“Anna Karina, Patty Smith, Deborah Harry, Mick Jagger, Harry Styles.”
Iona Wolff
What is your ideal getting-ready set-up?
“I love getting ready in a hotel, which is very luxurious. I like to be quite focused when I’m getting ready for events like this, similar to getting ready for a part to go on set. There’s such crossover; there’s an element of performance and character even on the red carpet, so I apply the same process – with a gin and tonic thrown in!”
When do you feel most beautiful?
“When I’m exercising or outdoors in nature, I feel my best.”
Iona Wolff
Fashion has a reputation for being frivolous, but why does what we wear matter?
“It matters because it’s a creative artistic expression. There can be so much creativity that goes into getting dressed. It’s essential in these difficult times we’re in now to have the joy of fashion.”
Iona Wolff
Location: Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Photography by Iona Wolff
Styling by Nicky Yates
Make-up by Gina Kane
Hair by Ben Talbott
Nails by Chiara Ballisai at The Only Agency using Manucurist