James Corden On Being a Burberry Star: ‘If You Grew Up Where I Grew Up, It Shouldn’t Really Happen’
James Corden. Photo: Courtesy
After an epic staging of their Fall ’15 show at Griffith Park Observatory last Spring, Burberry was back once more in L.A., this time joining forces with Vanity Fair the night before the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles’ Britannia Awards to toast James Corden at the Chateau Marmont. Corden, who was the last to walk April’s runway to close out the performance post-Naomi Campbell finale, has become a man about town and fashion darling all at the same, from sitting next to Anna Wintour and the Beckham brood at fashion shows to hosting the CFDA Awards this past June. Tonight in LA, he’ll Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year — fittingly presented by Burberry — a mere six months after settling into his new role hosting The Late Late Show. We stole the man of the moment away from guests including Orlando Bloom, Suki Waterhouse, and Sam Mendes to talk about his newfound fashionable prowess.
Yahoo Style: Was Burberry’s Fall LA show your first time walking the runway? And how did that come about?
James Corden: It was my first time walking the runway and it was Christopher, [Bailey] really. It’s one of those things where you say, ‘cool, yeah that’ll be fun,’ and then you get there and you say, 'what the hell am I doing?’ Christopher and all the team that work at Burberry are so unbelievably supportive, they feel like friends. It’s like you’ve got a group of friends, who are so proud of you and with you, it’s amazing.
Lily Collins and Orlando Bloom, both in Burberry. Photo: Courtesy
How did you first become acquainted with Christopher [Bailey] and Burberry?
I think it was one of those things where back at home, they got in touch where they said they’d like to dress me for something and then we got on very well. And I think it says a huge amount about them as a company that I don’t look like someone that fashion houses would necessarily say to, please wear our clothes. And yet I think it says a massive thing about them as a company that they are interested in the person, rather than the thing. I’m constantly humbled and proud by quite the level of involvement that they want me to have. You know, if you’re me, and you look like me, and you grew up where I grew up, it shouldn’t really happen and it wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for the vision and foresight of a company like that.
Immy and Suki Waterhouse with Ellie Bamber, all in Burberry. Photo: Courtesy
People in the fashion world have taken quite a liking to you. What do you think has drawn them to you, and you to fashion?
I don’t belittle it as a thing, and I think perhaps a lot of comics do. Not that I would even consider myself a comedian, but it’s an easy target. And actually, what you’re talking about is a group of people, whether it’s designers or fashion houses, where their sole job is making people feel better when they leave the house. And of course, at the very high end of it, you could, if you wanted to, make fun of it - they are easy jokes to make. But what drips down from that is my sister on High Street, buying something for $12 that makes her feel great when she steps out that day and I don’t take that for granted and I think what they do is an important thing. I don’t belittle it. And I find it odd when I see a comedian wearing a $750 pair of Prada shoes mocking the very thing that he’s invested in. So I feel like there’s a place for it. Everything can be made fun of, and I will always be the first to. But there’s a difference between making fun of something and mocking something. I think there are people like Christopher or Alber Elbaz, who I just adore, like I fucking love the man, who goes “no, no, no, we’re going to make clothes for you, we’re going to make you feel better.’ And there are dicks everywhere in all manner of everything, in the same way that there is in music, in film, theater, in anything, plumbers, carpenters. But in the fashion world, people like Alber, people like Christopher, I feel very lucky and privileged to just even wear their clothes.
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