Rescu. talks to Hermes Australia’s Managing Director, Karin Upton Baker, on being a style icon, her new season wants, and what it’s like having the top job of one of the world’s most enduring fashion brands.
RESCU: What do you love about your position at Hermes?
Karin Upton Baker: “In big picture terms, it is the ethos of the organisation. Hermes is committed to respecting the past and cherishing its long history. It views quality as paramount while at the same time, it’s able to move forward and operate in a ‘left-of-centre’ way.”
RESCU: You are a style icon and have appeared on countless best-dressed lists. What is your weekday uniform?
Karin Upton Baker: “My work standards are an Hermes coat or jacket, plus a dress – which is just as likely to be Prada or Mui Mui as something from the House – a Birkin or other Hermes bag, and heels.”
RESCU: What about when you’re off duty?
Karin Upton Baker: “Casually, I wear the same separates as I’d wear to the office, but with jeans or skinny, cropped Jil Sander or Joseph pants.”
RESCU: What does glamour mean to you?
Karin Upton Baker: “I think the most glamorous women understand how to use jewellery as a foil for architecturally constructed clothes – think of the shape of an original Cristobal Balenciaga coat, or dress with a startling diamond brooch and little else.
The ultimate clothes to me must be deceptively simple and built on an advantageous line and cut. I always reserve my favourite clothes for nighttime and tend to have pieces in reserve for unexpected events.”
RESCU: Is there anything on your personal wish list for the new season?
Karin Upton Baker: “Jean Paul Gaultier’s new flying dress for Hermes.”
RESCU: Before Hermes, you were Editor-in-Chief at Harper’s Bazaar with a long career at Vogue Australia under your belt, what made you change your career path?
Karin Upton Baker: “Having been in touch with the fashion business for so long from the perspective of magazine editor, I wanted to get under the skin of the business. To say it has been revealing – and fascinating – is almost an understatement.
Also, I came to Hermes not long after working as Consultant Editor-in-Chief at US BAZAAR so it was hard to imagine that any new challenges would evolve for me inside fashion publishing. Hermes offered a spectacular learning curve.”