JIMMY PAUL INTERVIEW
““Fashion, at its best, makes people dream. It gives them some freedom from the trials and pain from daily life.””
Your work has become synonymous with some of fashion's most imaginative runway moments, with your creations for Thom Browne standing out as especially unforgettable. Looking back on your journey, how did you find your way from Pittsburgh to collaborating with some of the biggest names in fashion?
I grew up in Pittsburgh. My mother is a Hairdresser. I moved to New York when I was nineteen. I went to beauty school here. I was a part of the nightclub scene where I was exposed to a creative world of art, fashion and music. That is where I first met people in the fashion and beauty world and thought that there might be a place for me.
When you're developing hair for an editorial or runway presentation, what does your creative process typically look like? I'd love to use Thom Browne as an example.
The process for the Thom Browne show was that I first got an email describing what he was thinking. This is huge because sometimes I get nothing before meeting up. Then, I went to what is called a “hair and make up test” where we go and try the look on a model. It can be quite the process.
The Thom Browne presentation remains one of the most memorable runway productions in recent fashion history. What went into bringing such an intricate vision to life behind the scenes?
The Prep for Thom Browne was very intensive. My lead assistant Lucas Wilson is a master and ran my team from Bumble and Bumble for all the prep while I drank tea and fretted. The prep took days.
Let’s just say we used a lot of fake hair and a ton of Bumble Classic hairspray. Oh, and some wire.
Over the years you've created countless memorable looks. Which editorials or runway shows remain especially meaningful to you, and why?
Thom Browne was one of my favorite shows to date. It is not as easy as it looks to get the idea done well and onto the runway. My team worked it out in a very short amount of time. It could not have happened without a concise vision and trust from the man Thom Browne.
The September issue of Vogue Italia and the new Moschino fragrance campaign with Linda, both photographed by Steven Meisel, are favorite shoots of mine. I also, for nostalgias sake, love my early work in the 90’s. One that comes to mind, that was a game changer for me, is the Bikini story I did with Steven Meisel and Joe McKenna.
Every creative career is shaped by the people we learn from along the way. Who has had the greatest influence on your journey, and is there anyone you still hope to collaborate with one day?
I got the best compliment the other day from a former assistant the divine Edward Lampley. He said that he loved the people that I have around me. My agent, Susan Price and I, have worked together form almost the very beginning. It is a relationship that I am very proud of and hold dear. To have that support personally and professionally has made a tremendous impact on my life.
In terms of who I would like to work with most, it’s actually quite hard to answer because there so many amazing photographers, stylists, fashion people, makeup artists, hairstylists who’s work inspire me continuously. I love learning from everyone… not just photographers. I’m basically a sponge.