Naomi Campbell On Working With Law Roach And The Advice She’d Give Her Younger Self
A staple of the London social calendar, the annual Victoria & Albert Museum‘s Summer Party is always a supremely glamorous affair – but last night’s event was on a whole new level. The reason? It doubled up as a celebration for the opening of NAOMI: In Fashion, a retrospective of Naomi Campbell‘s glittering, decades-spanning career and arguably the most highly anticipated exhibition of the season.
Naturally, the supermodel herself was in attendance as the guest of honour, dressed head-to-toe in BOSS (the fashion brand sponsoring the event and exhibition) and with celebrity super-stylist Law Roach by her side.
Ahead of the event, Naomi and Law sat down with ELLE UK for an exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into the process behind dressing for such a momentous occasion.
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On her outfit for the night…
‘Tonight’s look is a true celebration of BOSS’s renowned tailoring heritage, reimagined in an exquisite evening wear silhouette. The inspiration came straight from the BOSS archives. Those tailored and plunging necklines and open backs from their very first womenswear collection back in 2001 really caught my eye. That’s where we started and then we just heightened the glamour from there.’
On the process behind it…
‘The planning and execution for the V&A exhibition has been almost two years in the making, so naturally, coming up with this show-stopping look has been a similarly lengthy labour of love. The process began with intense brainstorming sessions that included me sharing my personal vision, ideas, and style inspirations for this special night with Law [Roach] and the BOSS team.
‘The exhibition is a retrospective which required me to dig deep into my own personal archives, so naturally, I was inspired in a similar way for this custom BOSS look for tonight. Plus, BOSS has a timeless style, a dedication to excellence and it celebrates strong, independent women — it aligns beautifully with my own vision and style.’
On working with Law Roach…
‘It has been an absolute pleasure to have Law. Law has a unique eye, and I trusted him completely to collaborate with BOSS on this really important red carpet moment. Law was deeply involved in every step of the design process, along with the talented BOSS team. He was hands-on in selecting the fabrics, refining silhouettes and choosing the finest details. Law and I would go back-and-forth, tweaking and perfecting the design until we landed on the right statement. His input was invaluable for translating my personal style into this amazing gown.’
On partnering with BOSS…
‘Wearing BOSS for tonight’s exhibition opening was the obvious choice for me. It represents modern luxury and bold self expression. I’ve been part of the BOSS family for quite a while now, and I always enjoy working closely with the incredibly talented Marco Falcioni and the entire design team. When I shared the news about the exhibition with them, they were just as excited as I was and they have supported me every step of the way. With a milestone event like this, it just felt very natural and right to wear BOSS on the red carpet.’
On the advice she would give her younger self…
‘I would tell her to stay true to herself no matter what. Don’t let anyone dull your shine or diminish your ambition. The road ahead won’t be easy, but with a strong belief in your talents and work ethic, you can shatter any ceiling.’
Tickets for the V&A’s ‘NAOMI: In Fashion’ exhibition, supported by BOSS, are available online now.
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