ASOS CHATS TO JAYDE PIERCE

Talk us through the vibe of the edit?
'It’s very me: very casual, full of a lot of baggy outfits – jeans, crop tops, things that I genuinely like to wear. Because of Covid and lockdowns, I didn’t want the edit to be too dressy or too going out-y. If we have to stay at home again, at least we can look cute doing it.'

Do you have any favourite pieces from the edit?
'The brown blazer. I love blazers because they are so easy to dress up or down. We styled it with jeans and heels; it was the perfect look to sum up what the edit’s all about. My other fave styles are a white jumper (also with jeans) and there’s this wet-look faux-leather jacket that I absolutely love – it’s just so me; I’m very much a jacket person, I love them.'

How would you describe your personal style?
'Very baggy 'fits. For as long as I could remember, I’ve always had insecurities around being small. I know a lot of people don’t say that because, in society’s eyes, being smaller is what’s popping but that doesn’t mean I don’t still struggle with my image. So, with that, I kind of struggled to dress growing up, because super-skinny jeans and tight tops were so popular. I dress to cover up the things that I want to but I want to do it in a fashionable way. For example, I’ve struggled with my arms but I like my stomach, so long-sleeved crop tops are perfect for me.'

 

How did you overcome those body image struggles to make a career out of the way you look?
'I’ve always been okay with my face but I’ve really struggled with body issues. And it’s a weird one to speak about because a lot of people would often talk to me like I shouldn’t have these issues because I'm a model. People need to understand that it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks or feels about my body, it’s about how I feel. I still struggle now but the way I look at it is, I don’t want to look back on my life and think why didn’t I do that just because of insecurities?'

Where do you think it stems from?
'People need to be more understanding about where it comes from. I didn’t just wake up one day and think to myself, "oh, I hate my body". I was badly bullied in school and the things that people said to me in my childhood have literally affected my adulthood. I still think about the things people used to say to me now. Doing well in my career is what helps me to push past these things.'

Talking of careers, modelling and influencing is quite an intense CV, how do you do both? Do you do more of one than the other?
'I definitely do more influencing but I hate the word "influencer". I prefer "content creator". The influencing side of things might be there in product endorsement but a lot of creativity goes into the process. I create more than I model now and the creative freedom is what I love about it the most. It’s very different to modelling because you’re somebody else’s blank canvas – the hair, the makeup; it’s all styled and chosen by other people. I like the control that comes with creating my own things.'

What’s it been like trying to keep up with content demands during lockdowns?
'It’s been really hard but, when lockdown first happened, I felt like I was on a roll and everyone was in the same boat. Seeing other creators work under these restrictions was really inspirational. But, as it went on, I felt like I started losing more and more of my inspiration because I usually draw a lot from travelling and being around other people.'

How has your style changed over the last few months? 
'I’m in tracksuits all the time but, when lockdown started to ease the first time, I used the Eat Out To Help Out scheme to dress up and it made a really nice change. I’m a tracksuit girl though, no doubt.' 

Your daughter Ayla might be one of the best-dressed tots on the 'gram. Would you like her to follow in your footsteps as she gets older?
'No, it’s not that I want her to follow in my footsteps. Whatever she wants to do, I will support that. Whether she says she wants to be a doctor or a dancer, it doesn’t matter, I would support her no matter what she chooses. For me, her Insta is just inpso for other mums. I don’t really like dressing kids in ‘mummy’s little angel’ T-shirts but dressing them like mini-adults isn’t the one for me either. I just wanted to find a nice middle ground.'

Finish the sentence '2020 has been…'
'A shambles!' 

And what’s the most positive thing that’s happened to you this year?
'There’s been a couple of things. It’s going to sound so cliché but I’d definitely say the ASOS edit has been an amazing opportunity. Also moving out of London for a quieter life with my daughter has been a really positive thing, too.'