ROBBIE SPENCER

FASHION STYLIST/EDITOR

LONDON, ENGLAND

Robbie is Dazed and Confused men's fashion editor.  I enjoy reading and viewing menswear collections every season and wanting to know the latest fashion trends. 

Exclusively Fashion Magazine: Can you tell me how you became the menswear fashion editor of Dazed and Confused Magazine?

Robbie Spencer: I began at age 18 when I moved to London to do various internships at magazines such as Wallpaper, The World of Interiors, Attitude, GQ, and 10, while at  the university studying fashion journalism. I then worked as a fashion assistant at Dazed assisting Bryan McMahon and other fashion editors in the Dazed and Another magazine team. From there I worked my way up to my current position.

EFM: What does your job entail as a menswear editor?

RS: I over see the menswear content that goes into Dazed and on Dazed Digital, from shoots’ to casting, feature and news.

EFM: How do you come up with ideas for fashion spreads?

RS: I get inspiration from all sorts of places. From films to books, and traveling.  I am particularly in inspired by pioneering subcultures from the 1950’s and 60's beatniks, mods, teddy boys and skinheads.

EFM: Have you always loved fashion?

RS: Not really, I started studying spatial design and always thought I was going to go in set design and set styling, I didn’t really have that passion for clothing and designers until I began working at a magazine and seeing the bigger picture and being part of the industry, for me styling and creating images goes way beyond clothing alone, there are so many elements that contribute to making images.

EFM: In details, what is your typical day like?

RS: I arrive at the office around 10 am and sit at a computer until 9-10pm.  Production and organizing is a huge part of a fashion editor’s job.  If I am not in the office, I may be shooting   on press trips or press days attending fashion week, it is a busy calendar, never a dull moment and traveling is one of the perks of the job.

EFM: Tell me something that no one knows about you?

RS: I have a secret passion for gardening; I am actually quite green fingered.

EFM: Did you find it easy to break into the fashion industry?

RS: It takes time, you have to be willing to work hard and eventually you will be rewarded.

EFM: What are the latest fashion trends for men right now?

RS: Just came back from the S/S10 shows it is all about the great outdoors summer, camping sport and leisure, gentlemen’s clubs and recreation. 

EFM: When you’re not at  work; what do you do in your spare time?

RS: I like going to galleries and visiting listed buildings and buying fish for my new tropical fish tank!

EFM: What do you think it takes to become a fashion editor in 2009; do you think things have changed?

RS: A lot of hard work and determination, you have to be willing to put years in, things don’t happen over night but if you are hardworking and have something to offer and learn from others you will succeed; it may seem like there are less jobs around now in fashion, but I think that is a myth, things are just evolving.

Interview by Rochell “E” James