Inspired by her mother’s love of kaftans, actress Camilla Franks made her own theatrical costumes for years before sewing her first kaftan – and an Australian fashion icon was born. Now stocked in high-end boutiques and luxury department stores worldwide, Camilla is adored for its wow factor, vibrant exotic prints and luscious colours. Worn by Elle Macpherson, Gwen Stefani, Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Mischa Barton, Fergie and Beyonce, the label encapsulates a relaxed, free-spirited style that translates seamlessly from day to night. We chatted to Camilla about her newest range, Gelato.
How do you describe Camilla’s signature style?
Relaxed, free-flowing, sensual and glamorous. There’s nothing worse than seeing a woman all stitched up and uncomfortable. My label’s all about celebrating real women no matter what age, shape or size – no clingy garments!
Tell us about your latest season ranges.
Soleil [in stock now] was a tribute to my summer travels, inspired by the personal experiences I had. Whether it was a piece of antique pottery which became my Porcelain piece, or photographs I took underwater in the Maldives that became a coral print, or my walks through the Botanical Gardens.
Gelato [available in April] is about breaking traditions: doing summer through winter. I’m so fed up with people wearing black and grey through winter and seeing big heavy knits sitting on racks, when at the end of the day we really don’t have a winter season. I’m bringing all the colours back into the winter wardrobe. This is a tight capsule collection. There was a real need for it – people were crying out.
What are your tips for wearing, mixing and matching this collection?
I love to layer my caftans. I spend my life on aeroplanes travelling to cold places – I’m always selling summer to England in winter! So I might wear a leopard-print caftan with boots and a turtle neck or cashmere sweater underneath. I recently wore one of my peasant dresses with a leather jacket over the top and cowboy boots. You can also layer with nice accessories. Plus, my new drawstring dresses can be worn nine different ways, making them multifunctional.
What are your favourite pieces?
My favourite piece from Gelato is aqua waterfall for its fantastic hues of turquoise blue and the beautiful greens. Also the drawstring dress in the aqua waterfall print – it’s so multifunctional, you can wear it so many different ways. I also love the piece I wore to a wedding last weekend, the tie-neck white lily encrusted in Swarovski crystals. You can wear it about 4-5 different ways, but it changes every week.
What are you lusting after this autumn?
I’m lusting after Bottega Veneta wedges. I need to go back and find another pair. Because I’ve got a label, I’m really into shoes – I don’t really buy fashion, I buy shoes!
Do you have any fashion advice or styling tips to share?
It’s important with the economic downturn to invest in pieces that will last long-term, and go from desk to day, beach to bar. Invest in your clothes and maintain those pieces. If you’re spending $500 on a garment, make sure you’re getting it cleaned and cared for in the right ways.
My pieces have always been dry clean only, but now with the new Sunbeam Verve iron, you don’t have to go to a dry cleaner anymore. You don’t have to wash a piece every time you wear it; just give it a big steam, hang it in your wardrobe, and it’s ready for the next day.
Can you reveal any future projects you’re working on?
We’ve signed on with Australian Fashion Week this year which we don’t usually do, so that’s going to be exciting. We’re going to be one of the main shows on the first day, and we’re organising a fantastic showroom. So that’s creating a few grey hairs along the way! Other bigger picture projects… every year I work with a five or six star resort or cruise line, and I’m in the process of signing one now.
Everyone’s raving about having Lily Allen in and out of our store buying collections left, right and centre. She bought all last season’s Soleil collection and she’s bought some Gelato collection. And Beyonce’s just been seen shooting her new music video clip wearing the Guadalupe hooded caftan, Antigua long lace up caftan and the birds of paradise playsuit.
Visit www.camilla.com.au
