Storytelling | Interview with stylist Hannah Teare

Hannah Teare, former Fashion Director of Tatler UK
and current fashion stylist and brand consultant

For London-based Hannah Teare, clothing is all about telling stories, creating modern and elegant images using fashion as her medium. 2012 was an incredible year for Hannah as she shot for American Vogue, Vanity Fair and Town and Country, travelling the globe with trunks full of exquisite dresses. 

Hannah draws a lot on her roots in Art History which lends a oft theatrical and lovely dramatic flare to her work. Recent projects include one with Vivienne Westwood, a play at the National Theatre, and an elaborate fairytale collaboration with Annie Leibovitz. Up coming adventures include a trip to Cuba and more tales to tell....

Model: Olga Sherer
Photographer: Cathleen Naundorf
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Federico Ghezzi
Make Up: Lynsey Alexander
Magazine: Harper’s Bazaar UK

Jonathan: When a new project comes in, can you share some of your creative process? How do you decide on a look or direction for a product?

Hannah: Each project is unique and my approach can vary depending on the the scale and brief of the styling required. I tend to have ideas fizzing and buzzing in my mind as well as stories being led by the seasons designs. If it is an advertising job then potentially there is a very specific brief which I work to and perhaps tweak a little. 

Model: Olga Serova

Photographers: Luis Monteiro & Saakshi Mathur

Hair: Joseph Pujalte

MUA: Serge Hodonou

Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare

Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: Editing in any creative project is essential. It is one of the most difficult parts of the process. Knowing when to pull back or push an idea further critical. What makes a great editor in your book?

Hannah: Confidence in decisions makes a great editor. Some editors/stylists are elaborators i.e.. add accessories and layers..others style purely with their edit using total looks. Both take skill - and the courage of conviction is the key. 

Model: Jennifer Pugh
Photographers: Luis Monteiro and Saakshi Mathur
Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare
Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: Who are your heroes? Was there anyone in your life that helped or inspired you to get to where you are today? 

Hannah: My heros include Cecil Beaton, Isabelle Allende, Irving Penn, Freda Kahlo, Elizabeth I, Emily Pankhurst. Madonna also amazes me - she is the queen of reinvention and in my pre-teens and teens (i.e.. the 80s and 90s) she could do no wrong! The movie My Fair Lady was a great fashion inspiration for me as a little girl - for a couple of years I drew bows on everything I designed. In my early twenties it was the fantastical work of David La Chapelle and post impressionist artists. My parents always encouraged me to travel and enjoy foreign cultures and traditions. I find switching countries and era's very inspiring both in life and my work.  

Models: Coco Rocha and dancer Roberto Bolle
Photographer: Annie Leibovitz
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Grace Coddington
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Julien d’Ys
MUA: Gucci Westman
Set Designer: Mary Howard
Magazine: US Vogue

Jonathan: Hannah, could you share one of your favourite moments in your career so far? Who are some of your favourite people to work with? 

Hannah: My first editorial shoot for American Vogue was a big Romeo and Juliet extravaganza with Annie Leibovitz. Grace Coddington was styling Coco Rocha as Juliet and I was styling the male characters for the shoot plus Juliet's nurse. I sourced vintage pieces from costume houses in the UK and packed them all up in to 10 trunks and flew solo to NY for fittings a run though and the shoot. It was a very busy few days, and an inspiration to be on set with amazing talents such as Grace and Annie. I don't think I exhaled until I was on the plane back to the UK.

Model: Olga Serova
Photographers: Luis Monteiro and Saakshi Mathur
Fashion Editor: Hannah Teare
Magazine: Tatler UK

Jonathan: What advice would give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion as a stylist or in magazines?  

Hannah: Hands on experience is the best way to learn the trade, also to follow your passions outside of the fashion industry even if fashion is your first and foremost  - be it art/theatre/fencing/etc - whatever you love,  it will also bring inspiration to your work. Surround yourself with others who inspire you and that you will learn from. Dare to take a few risks, they will expand your experience and it is unlikely you will regret whatever they may be.

Models: Ella Kandyba & Maria Loks
Photographer: Cathleen Naundorf
Fashion Editor/Stylist: Hannah Teare
Hair: Thierry Degrave
MUA: Caroline Saulnier
Magazine: Harper’s Bazaar UK

Jonathan: Just want to thank Hannah for sharing some time with us and wish her many moreadventures across the globe with trunks full of exquisite dresses. Look forward to her stories.

Model: Amanda Seyfried

Photographer: Simon Emmett

Stylist: Hannah Teare

Magazine: Vanity Fair 

Photographer: Ruven Afanador 
Model: Olga Serova
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Christian Lacroix, Fall 2008 Couture 
Magazine: Tatler UK

One more... it was so hard to choose :)

Model: Katie McGrath
Stylist: Hannah Teare
Photographer: Luis Montiero
Magazine: Tatler UK

You can see more of Hannah's work at her site, HERE
and follow her adventures on Twitter @hannahteare.

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Fashion | FAB | Stylist Fabio Mercurio

About Fabio Mercurio

Fabio was born in Sardinia, but lived in Sicily until 1997 and resides in Bologna for past 15 years during which he attended the Academy of Fashion and Costume finishing in 2000. Once in the real world, Fabio got his break designing several collections as an assistant in small design studios around the area. 


A sample of Fabio's early work in fashion

For a time, he worked in several showrooms and eventually returned to his first passion, the design of leather handbags. His career path took him to a company where he was entrusted to do an advertising campaign which he nursed himself personally, and found a calling. From there he started working in photo books and taking on other small projects, now Fabio has moved to television commercials and advertising campaigns, but he still have many things to accomplish….the journey has only just begun.

Fabio's work in television

In his own words...

"Style? I always try to be simple, I do not like complicated overworked stuff, I prefer to focus on an accessory, a bow tie, a belt, a brooch... When I work I try not to complicate the figure, create a focal point, in harmony with proportion, that is essential to me."

Jonathan: In the world of Fashion who is your biggest hero and influence, is there someone in your life that helped or inspired you to get to where you are?

Fabio: Sure! I have some very specific reference models! The career Grace Coddington is definitely admired, what I’d want to be, I love all her great work with its styling, the woman is definitely tough, likes to break the rules and willing to take a lot of risks!! I also love Lucinda Chambers, her innate class and often follow the work of Arianne Phillips, which I appreciate very well as costume designer.

Jonathan: When a new project comes in, can you share a little of your creative process? How do you decide on a look or direction for a product?

Fabio:  I like to engage people on a photo shoot, I like to control every aspect, from lighting to set design, the harmony of a beautiful picture is the synergy of many aspects. We must carefully consider what you want to communicate, It's always important to talk with the customer and satisfy him in every respect, be very cooperative which is super important when working in teams.

Jonathan: What was the funniest thing to ever seen happen on set?

Fabio:  I have a very long list of these, Once a model was dead tired from what must have been a very light night out… couldn’t keep his eyes open to save his life and continually fell asleep all over the set, that was classic. Another time this poor model was whining and crying for her shoes were made too small. It was by accident, but she hated me all the whole time, the looks she gave me but I just couldn’t help but laugh.

Jonathan: What has been a favorite moment in your career so far?

Fabio: Well, for sure this time. I am working on an editorial for a new magazine in Milan, it's all top secret but I'll keep you informed, at the same time I'm taking care of an advertising campaign that takes away a lot of energy even though I prefer to work for independent photographers, there is a lot of creativity and freedom of expression, buuuuut work is work.

Jonathan: You still have much to do, where do you see yourself in the future? Say in 10 years?

Fabio: OMG, yes! There is always something to learn and do. I can not imagine my future, I'd love to work with some of the big names in photography of course, besides that, what would be a great satisfaction for me is I want to work as a costume designer for film and music video. I might have to move for this to happen. I just think that failing to follow your dreams, you miss out on a fantastic future.

Jonathan: What advice would give to someone wanting to start a career as a stylist?

Fabio: We must study hard and train our eye to elegance, doing research, traveling, observing everything. The best trends are born on the street and on the street you have to be there to see them! Being humble people is crucial. There is always something more to learn, and bullying your way through will not serve you well.

You can find Fabio on Facebook and for more information on working with him, please visit his web site, FabioMercurio.com or email him and say hello J

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