Style Icon: Daphne Guinness
There are normal people and there is Daphne Guinness. Ms. Guinness is the ultimate fashion fantasy where everyone wears couture 24/7 and has ridiculously perfect bone structure. I like this world and therefore I love Daphne.
Born in 1967 into the blue-blooded Guinness family’s life of privilege (her father is a baron and a member of the Guinness brewing family), this gamine beauty has been on best-dressed lists – and a few worst-dressed lists (they just don’t understand!) – as long as I can remember. Daphne (may I call you Daphne?) is not everyone’s cup of tea. If your style icon is, let’s say, Jennifer Aniston (sorry), Daphne will look like a prettier and younger version of Cruella de Vil. So let’s not argue, just let me share my Daphne-love.
A.A Gill says it the best:
She is a risk-taker (she recently wore the crazy Alexander McQueen monster shoes) but has her own signature look. I love how she combines tough-looking, armour-like accessories with very feminine elements like ruffles and lace. She is known for her impeccable eye for accessories, even creating her own metal gloves and cuffs.
She may be friends with many top designers, but Daphne insists on purchasing her garments. Most importantly, she never borrows pieces like Hollywood actresses and finds the whole lending-for-award-shows process offensive. I remember watching the documentary The Secret World of Haute Couture on CBC’s “The Passionate Eye” and she said something like: “If I see an actress wearing it, I don’t want to wear it!”
It’s art and she lives it.
Further reading:
The Phenomenology of Body, directed by Daphne Guinness (video).
My life in fashion: Daphne Guinness and her obsession with armour. The Times.
Daphne Guinness, golden girl. The Telegraph.
Rare Bird. W Magazine.
Heiress Apparent. The Sunday Times.