Meet Kristine, an international Creative Fashion Director who lives in London but works in the USA, Paris, the Middle East and Hong Kong. Clearly she’s amazing at what she does, directing fashion content for brands such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and South China Morning Post. Kristine also has a boutique agency called The Fierce Group, where she consults in-house with some of the biggest luxury fashion houses in the world. She specialises in luxury fashion and haute couture; however, she loves to champion unique independent designers.

Blowout is girl crushing on this fierce fashion icon! With her awesome style, cool tattoos, washboard abs and endless talent it’s hard not to.

Photographer Erica Bergsmeds got to roll around in a king size Chateau Denmark Hotel bed with Kristine and her camera while we fired questions at her.

Tell us why and how you ended up in the fashion industry.

I have always had a love for fashion. As a child I did fun catwalk shows for various charities. I used to create sets in my living room, style my mum and take photos. I made costumes, jewellery and wore my own designs. Seeing fashion spreads in Vogue and reading about supermodels was total escapism for me. After finishing school, I studied fibre art for three years. I moved to the UK in 2003 to study Textile Design at Central St Martins followed by an MA in Fashion Design. While working for Vivienne Westwood, a chance encounter with Gwen Stefani saw me ‘accidentally’ fall into the world of styling. Once I decided on the path I wanted to peruse, within a year I was a Fashion Editor at a magazine and working as a Creative Director…….and the rest is history.

What is your view on your field of work, are there other areas you aspire to work in as well?

I love working with magazines and creating visually exciting billboard campaigns. This is how I have built my brand and as long as I continue to love doing this, I will do it. I have done fashion films with designers such as Issey Miyake in the past, so I’m thinking now I’d like to do a feature film or a cool art-house film where the fashion direction is surreal and obscure. Last year I did the promo campaign for Moulin Rouge The Musical, it really got me thinking about creative direction and fashion direction for theatre or doing large stage shows with a music artist. I want to do more brand collaborations as an ambassador, naturally with fashion houses but also with candles, champagne and perhaps even a vegan restaurant or vegan tasting menu collaboration. I want to make art with friends and put it on the side of buildings. I’d love to do a TV show where I get to mentor young talent- I headed up the styling courses at UAL Central St Martins for many years, working with young enthusiastic creatives inspires me. I’m currently in talks about taking over a fashion brand for a season, doing a guest creative director spot. I’m really open to mixing things up right now. There are so many opportunities bubbling. So watch this space!

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you while working on a project?

So many stories to tell. One that stands out is a particular shoot I did in New York. I wanted to create a modern-day Studio 54 vibe and found the perfect club for my creative direction. The crowd was wild, everything was initially going to plan but the one element I had completely overlooked in my planning was the fact that a few hundred people in the room would be very high! Furthermore, the security team in the club kept blocking me from the VIP area where we were shooting and kept trying to escort me off the premises as they thought I was too young to be in the club. I was about 35 at the time but didn’t have ID, so for some of the shoot I had to send my interns, who were 10-15 years younger than me, inside to do the job.

What’s the most fun project or photoshoot you have done and why?

One of my most fun shoots was in China. I am a firm believer in planning and having everything organised but sometimes I like to just say ‘fuck it’ and wing it. It was one of those days, we free-styled a 12-page spread. We walked around local markets, arcades, betting shops and shot on the spot. Local designers were running out of their stores and bringing me clothes and I was literally putting things together on the streets. We were changing clothes behind a butcher’s shop with raw meat everywhere (I did gag a lot!). At one point we had a crowd of about 100 people around us. We were pulling people off the street and asking them to get in shot. It’s cool to be in your flow making art with your friends. All the locals were so excited, and it was such a high-vibe day.

What’s the funniest story you have from a project/job?

I think it has to be working with one of the biggest sporting stars in the world (who will remain unnamed). We boarded a small yacht in South of France so that we could do a special cover photoshoot. In-between shooting some of the sexiest catwalk looks, we all spent the day puking off the side of the boat, holding each-others hair back and sharing sea-sickness tablets. My brand is built around glamour but if people could only see what goes on behind the scenes……

How do you positively contribute to our environment and “helping the planet”?

I haven’t eaten meat for 30 years, I’m vegan. That in itself is a contribution as animal agriculture is so damaging to the environment. When I am booked as a guest speaker or undertake press interviews, I always highlight designers who use green chemistry practices that are cruelty free and don’t have a toxic impact on the planet (Name drop time– Stella McCartney & Love Hero!). Additionally, I shoot brands that are working hard to be sustainable so that they are seen in the media. On a local level – I walk as much as I can rather than drive, I shop at small stores that don’t cover their fruit and vegetables in plastic; and I use cruelty free household products that are refillable and made from glass or aluminium.

Is charity work important to you? In what way do you help those in need?

I am an animal rights activist. Being the voice for animals, who have no voice to speak for themselves, is so important to me. I have direct access to fashion directors and CEO’s at large luxury brands, so I speak with them about eradicating fur and exotic skins from their collections; and additionally, to look towards investing in biotech solutions for lab grown leather and to introduce more plant-based leather into the collections. When I book a job or sign a new client to The Fierce Group, I make a donation to an animal charity and thank the universe for all that money can do to help them. I am always happy to be involved with animal charities by donating my time, skills and connections. Anytime PETA get in touch and ask me to work on a campaign, schedule allowing, I jump at the chance. I also plan to help a local charity walk dogs on the weekends when I am in the UK. Additionally, I intend to travel to Africa to volunteer at various animal rescue centres and animals’ conservation projects. Wild animals in Africa are being killed off fast, soon there will be no more rhino’s, elephants and tigers. I want to really focus on what I can do to raise awareness about this. There’s so much work to be done but I truly believe that every little bit counts and adds up.

What's the best work advice you ever got?

To understand that the person who will sign off on someone like me getting a job won’t necessarily be a creative, instead they are more likely to be corporate. Therefore, it’s important to be able to come across well not only in person but also on paper, by being organised, efficient, and having all details on budget clearly considered and outlined. Sounds obvious, but it really facilitates repeat business. People who are highly creative but flaky just get dropped as corporate people find them irritating to deal with.

How would you describe your job?

Creative, inspirational, irreverent, dynamic, bold, fun.

What are some of your interests?

I practice yoga and meditate daily. I love gong baths and anything that makes me focus on spirituality. I enjoy visiting art galleries, drinking champagne and dancing to house music.

What are your strengths?

Seeing what other people don’t see and not being afraid to change direction.

How have you worked to improve your skills?

I constantly work on myself and undertake a lot of mindset exploration. How you show up energetically is everything. Maintaining a high vibe with an open, present and unreactive mind is the skill I try to focus most on. I meditate, do EFT Tapping, daily gratitude lists, listen to audio books and attend as many online seminars as I can. All of this combined really supports my creativity.

If you could choose one super power what would it be?

Cloning myself so I can avoid jetlag.

Who is your inspiration?

Khaled Alwaleed and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Most interesting thing you have read or seen lately?

Iris van Herpen’s AW22 Haute Couture show. It was exquisite.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

Waking on the beach with my two beautiful chihuahua, Achilles and Blue.

What is the one thing you’d like to be remembered for?

For being super creative, kind and compassionate. Oooops, that’s three things…..

What’s your favourite “life Quote”

Fuck it, I’ll make it work!

What’s next for you?

I’m about to go to Paris, where I usually live 2 months per year. I’ll be doing a whirlwind week of shooting the new haute couture collections. And of course, I’ll throw in a bit of partying before I return home.

Where are you in 10 years?

On a massive yacht off the coast of France. It’s filled with lots of amazing animals that I have rescued, and we are all living our best lives!!!

Follow Kristine on Instagram @kristinekilty @thefiercegroup

Photography by Erica Bergsmeds

Location Chateau Denmark Hotel in London

Black dress and suit by designer Malan Breton

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