Come Dine With Me… Poster Girl
If fashion was a flavour, then the taste on everyone’s lips would surely be that of POSTER GIRL, the sexy, sparkly London label that counts Kylie Jenner, Dua Lipa and Maya Jama amongst its ever-growing list of fans. The brainchild of designers Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville, POSTER GIRL was born of a Central Saint Martins meeting of the minds, before rising to fame as the capital’s ultimate fashion name-to-know. To find out more about the ingredients that make up the brand, we took Natasha and Francesca for a decadent date at Brasserie Zédel, where we wined and dined to the tune of the POSTER GIRL origin story. Consider your appetite whetted…
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Where are you and what are you eating?
Francesca: We are here at our favourite eatery in London, Brasserie Zédel in Piccadilly and we’re eating a decadent seafood platter. Bon appétit!
Why did you choose this restaurant?
Natasha: We love this hidden Art Deco gem in Piccadilly, it really transports you to a bustling Parisian Brasserie. It brings back memories from our time together in Paris, which actually partly inspired our ‘Shapewear’ collection. So it seemed the perfect choice.
What’s your favourite thing on the menu?
Francesca: The fresh crab looks like it should be mandatory, but then again so does the lemon meringue and the creme brûlée…
Let’s talk about the ingredients that make up your career. What are they?
Natasha: Central Saint Martins was the only place we both wanted to start our careers. As brutal as it was, we’ve never regretted this choice. Also, experience with multiple houses; Dior, Galliano, Bvlgari, Westwood, Alexander Wang and Jeremy Scott. We each started our own labels prior to POSTER GIRL, which meant that when we united, we each already had a wealth of experience.
"Central Saint Martins was the only place we both wanted to start our careers. As brutal as it was, we’ve never regretted this choice."
How did you get started?
Natasha: A business idea on the back of a receipt which resulted in us ordering the materials the next morning. We both have always had a “get up and go” attitude to our work ethic. I really believe having this determination and believing in your idea is key.
What are the essentials that make up POSTER GIRL?
Francesca: For us the brand DNA has evolved and it's exciting to keep exploring it as we branch into new categories. We started out with just six metal mesh chainmail looks in our first collection, which has become our core alongside the introduction of our shapewear category. I think it’s really the feeling and the confidence you get when you wear a POSTER GIRL piece that’s most essential.
What inspired the name?
Francesca: We spent a while thinking of our brand name and brainstormed all the possibilities. Eventually it came down to either ‘2DIE4’ or ‘POSTER GIRL’. Although I still love its competitor, we knew POSTER GIRL was a winner.
How did you two begin working together?
Natasha: It was a no-brainer. We’d done projects together at CSM, so early on we discovered we had a very similar aesthetic. Perhaps we even have a twin telepathy… we are forever having similar thoughts!
"Perhaps we even have a twin telepathy… we are forever having similar thoughts!"
Your work is a mixture of sexy and chic. How do you find the balance between the flavours?
Francesca: I think the two go hand in hand, plus it’s good to have a balance! Sometimes we want to design pieces that translate from day to night and there needs to be cohesion. The patent tailoring combined with our cutout shapewear is the perfect example from our latest collection.
How do you cook up an idea? Talk us through your creative process.
Francesca: We throw down all our favourite ideas and lightbulb moments onto one huge moodboard then select, edit and refine everything down to a story. It’s really important to get ideas and inspiration from past and new experiences, environments and views. These I think are the fundamentals.
Now for the fun questions - favourite thing to eat?
Natasha: Lobster and Banoffee Pie.
Least favourite thing to eat?
Francesca: Celery.
If POSTER GIRL was a dish, what dish would it be?
Francesca: A fruity, colourful trifle.
What would be your ideal meal and where would you eat it?
Natasha: Tacos in Bora Bora.
What do you do when you’re not working?
Francesca: If we ever manage to get time away from the studio, the most popular activity would be spa days and saunas.
In life, what’s the best recipe for success?
Francesca: Two spoonfuls of always believing in yourself.
They say that success smells sweet. What does it smell like to you?
Natasha: Money has no scent, which is apt, because it doesn’t necessarily mean success. I would choose my favourite scent, which is freshly cut grass.
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(and stay tuned for more pieces arriving soon...)
Photography: Jonathan Middleton
Styling: Sally Bottomley
Video: Josh Graham
Words: Georgia Graham
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