The late great Bill Cunningham always sought inspiration from the street – specifically the intersection of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, which is coincidentally named Bill Cunningham Corner in his honour this week. Being on the ground allowed him to capture authentic style moments that resonated with people all over the world, and this idea of having a global language of style is exactly what informs the stories at CNN Style, which celebrates its first anniversary this July.
When we conceived of CNN Style, we knew our audience had an unmet desire to learn about the style cultures going on all over the world, says chief editor George Webster. Our ambition is to find those stories – big or small – that prick the ears of someone on the other side of globe. And the beauty of working for CNN is that we have bureaus everywhere and we’re able to use those connections to find the right people to speak to.
We sat down with George over coffee at the Upper House to talk about what piques his curiosity and to pick his brain on what style really means today.
Tell us a bit more about the mandate of CNN Style:
CNN Style is very much a product of CNN International. For us it’s critical to represent what’s happening in New York Fashion Week as well as Lagos Photo Festival – we aim to have a global overview of the world covered by style. We’re never going to be a comprehensive listing publication, so you come here to see a highly curated selection of the most interesting, unexpected, important events that are happening across the disciplines of art, architecture design, fashion and more.
How would you – and CNN Style – define style?
When we talk about style – and we’re covering quite a broad range – we are referring to the sense of the designed life. It’s how aesthetics inform the way we live. Wherever you go in the world, there are visual cues to what is stylish and increasingly, with the Internet, it’s become a global language. Often, we share the same symbols that cut through cultures and this has taken on a greater significance.
Can you name some of your most recent favourite features?
One of my favourite features in the past year is Oliver Wainwright’s piece on North Korean interior design. First of all, he’s a great journalist who helps us build an authoritative voice. On the other hand, it’s just amazing to see a Wes Anderson type of design in North Korea. Another one is a fashion story on the men in Congo’s rural villages who dress up in 1980s vintage Italian suits. It’s a cultural phenomenon – it’s their thing. You don’t have to be from the area or be into ‘80s fashion or African culture to be stimulated by that.
As an editor of an online platform, can you name a notable digital influencer you admire?
Olivier Rousteing is one. He has turned Balmain into something that the likes of Rihanna and Kanye West admire, and he’s created an entry point through digital media. This is not to say that I advocate his particular aesthetic, but it is a testament to the way young designers today connect to new and different audiences in a way that’s more accessible.
What do you love most about writing about style at this point in time?
It’s the brave new world we live in. We are at a time where there’s no limit to the amount of influences that go into a creative endeavour. Last year I saw this amazing collaboration at Salone del Mobile where Zaha Hadid teamed up with a young Dutch shoemaker. The results were clearly recognizable as a shoe but could also be interpreted as a sculpture, and it was a collaboration that went viral. I find that incredibly fascinating.
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