How Connor Storrie's Stylist Crafts His Timeless Red Carpet Outfits

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      The Stylist for Connor Storrie Shares His Experience Working with the Heated Rivalry Star - YouTube

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      Celebrity stylist James Yardley didn't initially pursue a career in fashion. "I studied photography in London," Yardley explained. However, he always had a passion for fashion and started interning at Attitude magazine. "The more I collaborated with the fashion director, who later became my boss for several years, the more my love for fashion grew," Yardley stated. Eventually, he transitioned into styling and now counts actors like Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham among his clients. In the latest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, Yardley discusses how he broke into the industry, his journey working with Storrie, and more. Scroll down for highlights from their conversation.

      Before we dive into your work, I'd love to know a bit about your background. My degree is in photography, which I studied in London. I genuinely enjoyed it. My focus was on documentary photography. I loved working as an assistant to photographers, although it was quite challenging at times. The environment can be very tough for assistants. I eventually abandoned the idea of becoming a photographer and now I wouldn’t even know how to use a camera.

      How did you transition to styling? What was your start? It was a vastly different era back then. Internships were generally unpaid. I approached it as an exhilarating experience. The more I assisted the fashion director, who subsequently became my boss for several years, the more my passion for fashion deepened. I started with menswear modeling, which was fantastic. He had some very renowned clients, including Kylie Minogue and Nicole Scherzinger. This allowed me to appreciate the glamor of womenswear as well. Eventually, he employed me.

      At what stage during the debut of Heated Rivalry did you begin working with Connor Storrie, and how did you determine he was the right fit for you as a client? I received a call from Nick Todisco, and I feel I owe him a lot. He said, "I have this guy who is stunning and incredibly talented. You need to check out the show's trailer." After visiting his Instagram, I saw he was quite the creative, having done his own editorials previously. I was excited to collaborate. A lot of my menswear portfolio had been very bold and over-the-top, which I love, but Connor had a much more refined sense of style. He came to my small apartment for a fitting. It could have taken us thirty minutes, but we ended up taking two and a half hours. I instantly realized he was a delight to work with.

      How did you start to develop a style strategy together regarding his appearance? How did we transition from earlier press appearances with pinstripes and high-waisted trousers to centering these elements in his red carpet looks? I think the fact that we are on the same wavelength is pure luck. It might have been fate that brought us together, as he shares similar tastes with me and with my other clients like Hannah [Waddingham]. I often draw on Old Hollywood inspiration. With Hannah, I reference Marilyn Monroe's figure, and with Connor, it's the same—Old Hollywood with a modern twist. People may notice that my tailoring tends to sit slightly above where the waist would be, but that's actually his true waist.

      The wide-leg pants and pinstripes hark back to early Hollywood styles, as do the blazers and shirts. We’ve tried out various similar silhouettes, always adding a unique twist.

      This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.