How this CSM first-year is manifesting a bikini positive 2021
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @_ru.bes
NAME RUBY ROSE HAMILTON
AGE 19
COURSE BA Fashion Design Womenswear, CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS
STAR SIGN Taurus
PET PEEVES Eggs, the colour turquoise, and the fact that Harry Styles is into older women.
For any fashion student, walking through the halls of a school like Central Saint Martins is an adventure in itself. The birthplace of designers McQueen, Galliano, Tisci and McCartney, it’s every fashionista’s dream. I mean in all honesty, which one of us hasn’t orgasmed at the thought of studying in a place as famed as this? It’s just so CSM.
However for this year’s cohort, the adventure has felt a little off. Arriving a month later than normal, their grand entrance into CSM was met with a beefed-up security system, mandatory social distancing and restricted access to on-site facilities and resources. Worst of all, the Platform Bar was closed. Indefinitely.
As they embarked on their first project, the annual White Show, things only got worse. Bumbling Prime Minister Boris Johnson led a hopeful 2021 into another national lockdown over the Christmas break. All schools and universities were closed and are still unlikely to reopen before Easter... if even then.
While the fashion industry in all shapes and forms tries to adapt to a global pandemic with an ever-changing array of rules and regulations, I spoke to Ruby Rose Hamilton, a first-year Womenswear student, about her experience studying online, her evenings spent having house parties of four with hotdogs and sundaes, and her biggest pet peeves.
Courtesy of @_ru.bes
Jeffrey Thomson: Why did you decide to study at CSM?
Ruby Rose Hamilton: The reputation and surrounding myself with likeminded people.
JT: What was the inspiration behind your White Show garment?
RRH: It’s based on my parents’ recent separation - I enjoy looking at the ridiculousness of tradition, so it was a mockery of marriage. My parents didn’t do anything traditional so the piece was a joke suggesting they were doomed from the start. It was extremely cathartic and it’s how I like to work a lot of the time: turning weird emotions into something I love and understand.
JT: What has lockdown 3.0 taught you?
RRH: It’s taught me that it’s very important to continue living the way you want to in order to not be depressed. I love partying, eating out and dressing up so for me it’s taught me to be creative, to stop whining and bring the party atmosphere to a house of four. Also to take self-care days to the extreme!
JT: What’s been the hardest thing about studying from home?
RRH: Missing the studio culture. My friends, buying lunch, cig breaks and human contact.
JT: When was the last time you dressed up? What did you wear?
RRH: Last night for dinner, we had hot dogs and ice-cream sundaes. I wore a mini-skirt, a green t-shirt with the pope on it and some black heeled boots.
JT: How would you describe your style?
RRH: Very colourful and playful. If sexy, always flamboyant. My favourite clothes are old nighties and trainers. And good knitwear.
Courtesy of @_ru.bes
JT: Best thing you’ve overheard at CSM?
RRH: ‘VOGUE’S COMING’.
JT: Worst fashion trend you participated in?
RRH: Neon colours or Oh Polly dresses.
JT: Simons or Galliano?
RRH: Galliano.
JT: Miuccia or Donatella?
RRH: Donatella.
JT: Fashion week IRL or on the URL?
RRH: IRL.
JT: Instagram or TikTok?
RRH: Going to say TikTok right now but overall, Instagram.
JT: Staying in or going out?
RRH: Going out.
JT: What are you looking forward to in 2021?
RRH: Manifesting a gorgeous year. If I start 2021 wearing a bikini to breakfast, I believe I will end the year somewhere nice on a beach.