British, 20 and scouted by
ASOS
in Oxford St., newcomer Harvey James (Warwickshire, UK) is already playing in the big league. With Prada SS14 as his debut last year, he now has quite some work under his belt: Fendi, Kenzo, Dior Home and Jean Paul Gaultier, among others.
Signed with
AMCK Models, he sure knows how to steal a show with his wonky smile and bright green eyes, from London to Paris to New York. In other words, Harvey James is the latest cool kid in the industry.
FN: In this job, we know your body is your ‘elevator pitch‘, but how would you describe yourself?
Harvey: I would describe myself as tall, skinny, vascular and lean. Facially, I would simply go by who other people say I look like, so probably like the love child of James McAvoy and Ash Stymest.
FN: What do you believe is the key to stand out from the crown as a model? Are there any specific qualities to success in the modeling industry?
Harvey: There is a certain limit to what you can actively do, since you are constrained to what you look like and that determines most of your success. However, that is not to say you can’t help your chances. Through my personal experience, you need to be able to get on with the people you are working with; being as friendly and polite as possible goes a long way to leaving your potential employers with a positive memory of you.
There is a danger of losing a genuine connection with people by trying to force relationships, so it is best to just be your good old plain natural self. Unless you’re a bastard, then fake it all the way.
FN: Your work covers editorial and runway, do you find one more exciting than the other?
Harvey: It really depends on the day. Editorials can be the most interesting as you are dealing directly with the photographer and stylist in a creative collaboration, so it is the most rewarding in terms of your own contribution to the end product. Yet runways are by far the more sociable and there is more of a buzz in the air with the backstage photographers and the huge team involved in putting it all together.
FN: What fashion-tech gadgets are a must-have during fashion week? (e.g. Google glass, Smartwatch, fashion apps)?
Harvey: Actually, I am considering making the Model app, which would be an all-inclusive app providing entertainment, interaction and all the maps and directions you need in one neat place. Until then, I suppose having
Google Maps and internet on your phone are important—just having internet on your phone is very useful, because you are abroad and getting access to it is very difficult and expensive; it is essential to keep in contact your agents and, of course, tweet prolifically.
FN: We can tell you are an active Twitter user, what are your thoughts on social media making over the fashion industry?
Harvey: For an industry that prides itself on being ‘of the times’, the use of Twitter will only help advance this. With fashion being in its very nature, instantaneous and fleeting, this suits the philosophy of Twitter; literally within minutes of a show ending, Twitter or Instagram will be flooded with pictures and tweets voicing opinions and reactions to the pieces. I believe this makes fashion all the more fashionable.
Speaking of Twitter, I warn people not to take my personal Twitter account (
@Harvjam) too seriously, I’m not really a self-promotion sort of model, I just tweet for the persiflage, really.
FN: Regarding your personal style what are your wardrobe essentials for this upcoming spring season? What must-have items should our Men’s Notes readers be on the lookout for?
Harvey: I recently purchased a glorious pair of
Nike SB trainers designed by Stefan Janoski that I think will make quite a few appearances this season. I also bought a nice brownish-orange smart casual jacket, which will be gracing the London streets on the long summer nights ahead.
In terms of must-have items, there were a few brands that really caught my eye.
YMC’s clothing is looking on point as always,
Lyle & Scott have some great chino shorts, a summer essential. Finally,
Scotch & Soda have some very chic shirts worth investing your bucks into.
