CAPITAL GAINS; Scotland's top talent reveal what's hot and what's not

It's that time of the year when mere mortals are considering the purchase of winter jackets. Summer sandals and halternecks are banished to the back of the wardrobe and opaque tights seem somehow ... right again. But there is another breed which is already so over winter, honey. It is the fashion pack and next week they'll be running amok in London concerned only with what we'll be wearing next summer.

In the midst of this madness is a hardcore of Scottish talent working in the many different facets of the fashion industry, from designers to photographers, stylists and models. We've rounded up the hottest Scots and asked them what they think we'll be doing for autumn/winter and gently coaxed them to suggest what we should avoid.

THE PHOTOGRAPHERNick Haddow, 34, is a hard man to track down, as he's usually crisscrossing the globe on major fashion assignments for Marie-Claire, Vogue, Glamour and other international glossy mags. He's also in hot demand for celebrity portraits, among which his illustrious subjects include Giorgio Armani, Matt le Blanc, Shirley Manson, Kate Winslet, Gore Vidal, Minnie Driver and Chrissy Hynde.

In the last couple of weeks alone he has snapped Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and was recently back in Scotland to photograph Belle and Sebastian for their new album. He attributes his success to, "hard work, always being ready to travel, and a team of stylists."

Where did you grow up? Newton Mearns on Glasgow's southside.

How did you get into the business?

I was staying in NYC and ended up assisting a photographer that a friend of mine, Scottish hairdresser Jacqueline Colligan, was doing session work with.

How long have you been based in London?

I left Glasgow in 1992 and lived mostly in New York until 1997, but now I split my time between there and London, spending most of my time travelling all over the world.

Where's home?

Gramercy Park, downtown Manhattan, London and Scotland.

Miss anything from Scotland?

My family, especially my brother Scott, also the humour, but not the weather.

Best thing about London Fashion Week?

It highlights the real talent in the UK and, of course, there are the usual advantages to living in a big city, great career opportunities, brilliant shops, lots of stimulation.

What aspect of London Fashion Week/working in London you could do without?

The traffic, although I now have a Vespa which is improving the situation greatly. It's also becoming the most expensive city in the world to live in. As for Fashion Week, it's really sad that despite the fact the fashion business is the fourth largest in the UK, it still remains underfunded by government and private industry, hence the reason our talent goes abroad.

Autumn/Winter 2001. What's hot, where's it going?

There's a recession looming, therefore lots of black. Also the grunge look is being revisited but with more hippy rather than heroin chic touches.

What is most certainly not?

Looking like Joan Collins (circa Dynasty), all that over the top Eighties excess crap from last year.

Trend/item/photographic style you think should be locked in a casket and the key thrown away? Anything that doesn't make a woman feel beautiful.

Which items do you covet for autumn/winter?

Margiela menswear, already bought some of it, and fellow Scot's label Kenneth Mackenzie's "6876".

Strongest shows/designers?

Warren Noronha, Hamish Morrow, Sophia Kokosolawki What's the High Street going to pounce upon big-time this season?

Victoriana style, eg, Marc by Marc Jacobs will be heavily copied.

Who do you most respect in the industry and why?

Mario Testino. He's so slick and everyone he photographs loves him because he makes them look great.

Where are your favourite hangouts after work, and how do you get away from it all?

Either at home or with friends in a nice restaurant. To get away from it my fave places to escape to are Italy's Amalfi Coast, Bali and skiing in Verbier, Switzerland.

Favourite shops in London?

The Collection at Brompton Cross (menswear) and of course Harvey Nick's, also Matches, in Notting Hill's Ledbury Road.

Do you have a muse or style icon, who are they and why?

My mother, she's probably the main reason that I can appreciate beauty and style.

Copyright 2001
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