Exclusive interview: Camille Charriere

She’s the UK’s most successful fashion influencer, hence we needed to put our skates on to catch her – so, we caught up with this insta-heroine whilst changing over suitcases in London. Meet Camille up close and personal, before she jets off to her next destination, talking about what fashion month is like, trends and her fave denim pieces…oh yes, and just what is Hedi Slimane doing now that he’s heading Celine? Just like in her podcasts, Camille tells it as it is – frank, honest and what it takes to survive looking fab!

Camille Charrière: The UK’s Most Successful Fashion Influencer

Born to a French father and an English mother, Camille Charrière was raised in Paris. Surrounded by those of an intellectual ilk, the idea of a career in the creative industry was quashed. Instead, she completed both a bachelor and a master’s degree in law at Paris Nanterre University. A move to London followed and she began a, short lived, career in finance and law. In 2010 she quit her role at a hedge fund and moved into the world of fashion. TA-DAH TV caught up with Camille in London to take a look at how she became one of the most successful fashion influencers around.

Making a change

Using the fashion blog, Camille Over the Rainbow, which she had created as a way to get away from the stresses of her city job, she was able to springboard her career in a new direction, walking into a writing position at Net-a-Porter and then Matchesfashion.com. With her effortless French style and her outspokenness towards the realities of blogging she was quick to rise to the attention of those in the know. 

Her ability to balance a number of roles whilst not belonging to any one in particular, has been key in gaining success in one of the toughest markets (fashion) on a commercial level, whilst remaining true to herself, advocating on the side of disclosure in regard to both brand partnerships and paid content. 

Now one of the leading influencers in the fashion industry, Charrière is well known for her bold and sharp opinions on fashion bloggers and the role that they play, and it is this that has led to her working with some very big names in the world of fashion; Harrods, Mango, H&M, Chloé and Tommy Hilfiger.

When it comes to the fashion week circuit, Charrière is something of a regular. She freely admits that ‘fashion month’ (which happens twice a year, to present the seasonal designer collections) is hard work and trying to fit it all in for a month-long trip to see countless collections can be quite tough. Still, she enjoys it immensely and turns up at as many shows as she can, as she’s got to stay on top of what’s hot and new, just as the major fashions magazines needing to be on cue too. She herself has been featured in a wide range of publications including ELLE, Vogue, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. 

She has also featured in the “Almost French” collection campaign for the Reformation and has been involved with #MangoGirls when she was tapped by Mango as a representative of the brand.

Current Campaigns

As a self-confessed “difficult to please in the shoe department” fashion consultant and influencer, when Charrière stumbled across the brand Aeyde, she was hooked instantly. The boots from the Italian made brand, who are, in fact, based in Berlin, were exactly what she was looking for. The label, which was founded in 2015, were quick to see the potential of this and approached Charrière who is now designing a capsule for them. With her ethos around shoes being that a good shoe should be timeless yet fashionable, comfortable, and not clumsy, she is delighted to have been offered the opportunity to put her mark on the brand that she has fallen in love with. 

She is also working on a project with Uniglo and  Miu Miu, and has also been working as a curator for British high-street chain Warehouse on certain collections. 

Podcasts and TV

Of course, these are not the only strings to her bow. Charrière has her own, very popular podcast “Fashion no Filter” which she hosts with Monica Ainley. From the initial 12 episodes the show has amassed a huge following and boast guest stars like Pernille Teisbaek, Susan Sarandon, Bryan Boy, and the creative editor of Mugler Chris Cadwallader. 

She also more recently partnered with the French Television station Canal+, which has seen her hosting two seasons of programmes looking at Paris fashion in a collaboration with The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM).