Episode 2: Katie-Louise Nicol-Ford
In episode two of season four I chat with fashion and costume designer Katie-Louise Nicol-Ford, seamstress extraordinaire and co-founder of demi-couture label, Nicol + Ford. Costume as a cache for creativity came to Katie-Louise early in life, starting with the character of “Hula Girl”, but as we turn the pages of her colourful story and observe the various personas she’s played with along the way, we see her current role firmly lands her as the leading lady of her own glamorous narrative. No matter which role she takes on to the outside world, for Katie-Louise, fantasy & empowerment go hand-in-hand, characterise her source of self-confidence and are critical in defining her spirited style.
In keeping up with Katie-Louise’s characteristic style, she wears a leopard suit from her upcoming collection and has taken on a slice of her history with a shell bracelet from my vintage collection.
“It’s always been incredibly performative. I’m quite introverted but I’ve really have always loved getting dressed up and embodying that character and being able to find a confidence through the clothes that I wear and the characters I develop.”
“I within myself feel like I have quite a masculine energy so the way that i dress is hyper-performative femininity in a way to express something that I don’t particularly feel within myself.”
Photography by Giuseppe Santamaria @ MITT Work