Thom Murphy is an established Fashion Stylist, Art Director, Brand Consultant, Casting Director and cheeky boy about town, working predominantly in the realm of contemporary men’s fashion. His beautiful editorial work, produced in conjunction with cutting-edge photographers such as David Sims and Alasdair McLellan, is regularly featured within the pages of international publications such as i-D, Dazed and Confused, Arena Homme Plus, Another Man and Self Service. He does tons of other fashiony stuff too, like art directing for Puma, and working with designers such as Anne Sofia-Back, Peter Jensen and Cassette Playa.

We caught up with Thom in between shows at London fashion week.

Styling by Thom Murphy
Reproductions from i-D and Another Magazine
Photography by Jacob Sutton and
Benjamin Alexander Huseby

Richard Welch: Let’s start with a soundtrack. Requests?

Thom Murphy: Flash, by Green Velvet

and Shut Up And Dance, by Lamborghini

RW: Tell me a little about your childhood, you grew up in the North West of England - Liverpool, what was that like?

TM: My childhood was in a place called the Wirral a peninsula opposite Liverpool. The posh bit “they say” so we would always get beaten up when we went over to town for being Wooleybacks. [laughs]. I lived in a big spooky house that was dropping to bits with my mum and dad and two sisters and brother and, Nan and grandad lived on the middle floor, it was fuckin’ freezin’, but I really liked it. You could play your records really loud without anyone really hearing. Nan and grandad cos they were deaf as posts and the others because they were far away in other rooms.

RW: What are your favorite and least favorite childhood memories?

TM: My favorite childhood memory is getting dressed up in my nans clothes all the time and going round with my mates, also dressed as my nan, and saving up all the blind envelopes that come through the door and pretending to be collecting for the blind. I always got carried away with my look - a bit too evening wear for a charity worker. Nobody collects for the blind in elbow-length satin gloves and a stole. My least favorite childhood was feeling like a massive emu all the time - and I was too skinny.
RW: When did you realize you had a passion for fashion?

TM: I realized I had a passion for fashion when we had one of those giant paper lanterns/lampshades and made it into a skirt. It was really massive and I was so skinny I could get inside it. Attractive!

RW: How did you get into the fashion biz?

TM: By chance. I used to do windows for Selfridges but stopped cos it was shit. Then it was a friend that my then-boyfriend knew, this stylist, and I started working with her helping her carry enormous bags and the like.

RW: What or who are your major fashion influences?

TM: My major influences in fashion were Jean Paul Gaultier and Comme des Garçons. When I was young it was just so not my world. I imagined everyone in London wearing tit bras and boiled wool harem pants, but at school I was always really into clothes being a really casual. I was always one of the kids with the best trainers. Trainers can save your life as a camp lanky scally up north, and I knew that.

It was almost a matter of life and death. Lots of tears were shed over a leather upper. I knew it was my survival technique and a good way to hang ’round with all the fit boys. It was good in England cos it was dead normal to have The Face and i-D and Vogue Homme in school, and be exposed to all theses great people and great stylists. I have some friends from like tiny tiny islands with like three people and a worried hen, who’s mum made their clothes, and who say that they never looked at these mags till they were like 21 and I’m “SHAME, MAN”.

RW: What men’s fashion trend do you think is going to be HUGE in spring 2009?

TM: Not really interested in trends to be honest. Who do you think I am Sienna Miller?

RW: Now you mention it… anyhow, enough of ‘Windy Miller’. You cast lots of very cute ‘working class’ boys in your work, why is that?

TM: I cast a lot of working class boys in shoots because you can dress them up in something daft or colorful and they carry it off so that it feels believable. They don’t give a shit really. My stuff usually has a street element (for want of a better way to say it), so they have some reference points to relate to. Also they’re a lot fitter and I love the idea of these contrasting worlds. For some, they’ve gone on to do great things and some advertising with lots of money. When I say “oh hey someone will fly you to Miami” or “someone will give you whatever thousand for a day” they can’t believe it really, and often think I’m lying. I like to think of being able to offer that to these kids who may never otherwise have the opportunity.

We had two boys on a tag in one show - they brought their mentors - very funny. The mentors got really pissed at the bar and tried to get off with loads of fashion editors and stuff. It was really funny cos most of those women haven’t had their bum pinched in years!
RW: What is an average day in the life of Thom Murphy?

TM: Er… well, not really such a thing as a average day, but I try to exercise everyday, and I live by Hampsted Ponds so weather permitting I go swimming in the morning. It sorts you out good and proper.

RW: You live in Hampstead, London - that’s quite posh no? Have you ever bumped into your neighbor George Michael on Hampstead Heath?

TM: I have never met George Micheal on Hampstead Heath, though I imagine he wears his old trolly dolly outfit from Club Tropicana or one of Pepsi’s old go-go t-shirts. I have only ever been to “that bit” once - it’s dead scary and there are loads of freaks. I saw this bloke come, took all of his clothes off, put them in a rucksack, and put some stillys on (that means stilettos for our non Liverpudlian readers -ed)… now there’s a look!

I have bumped into the other George, Boy George, loads of times out and about. He and Phillip Salon kept pinching my arse in GAY when I first moved to London. He’s a real laugh actually. He was always at Nag Nag Nag. When you go past his house it has graffiti all on the gate which says “Oh George you changed my life with your songs and I have come all the way from Japan just to see your house” etc, and then loads of stuff like “George you big fat queer I hope you die”. So mixed bag really.

RW: Who do you think is the most promising new menswear designer?

TM: The most promising new menswear label will be my own. I’m starting something at the beginning of next year with my friend Anthony. I am very excited!

RW: What’s your favorite meal?

TM: Eggs benedict and some asparagus. I have just turned veggie after reading this book called Bad Food Britain - there’s a part were it explains how veal is made. Nasty, man!

RW: What’s your favorite city ?

TM: My favorite city has to be London, even though it gets on my tits because it’s so expensive and there are too many unloved children cutting each others heads off on bendy buses and things. But all my friends are here and I wouldn’t want to be without them. Berlin is good, though Bergheim Garden in the summer - woo hoo!

RW: When was the last time you woke up somewhere and didn’t know where you were?

TM: The last time I woke up and didn’t know were I was… dunno. Once I had gone to the toilet in the night and got back into bed with the boy-in-question’s flat mate, but more bizzarely they both left me there till morning [laughs].

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