Realising the dream

The fashion industry is notoriously tough and fickle. Surviving and thriving in the sartorial world requires healthy doses of talent, creativity, tenacity and a never give up attitude.

New-Zealand born, Aussie-raised stylist Danielle van Camp has all those things in spades. 

After all, her luxurious aesthetic, meticulous detailing and steadfast commitment to her craft were just some of the attributes that caught the judging panel’s eyes at the InStyle and Audi Women of Style Awards back in 2010.

Dressed in a gown she had hand-made from some of her smocking samples, crafted into a pattern “so fitted I could barely breath,” the 25-year-old InStyle and Audi Style Scholarship nominee raced from work to the glamorous affair. 

After trying to catch her breath all night in the tight-fitting dress, the University of Technology Sydney fashion and textile graduate was awarded the prestigious $10,000 Style Scholarship – an accolade that the now Paris-based stylist says was one of the defining moments of her career. 

“It was a spectacular whirlwind,” she told Audi Magazine of the night that changed her life. “Winning the scholarship was the reaffirmation I needed that I was on the right path.

“It had been a difficult time for me, my mother had just passed away and I channelled all my emotions and energy into my work. I had put a lot of pressure and expectation on myself. The award was just a really beautiful culmination of all the blood, sweat and tears that bought me to that point and it was really very emotional that the judges recognised something special in it.”

With the scholarship money in the bank, van Camp did what every young aspiring fashion designer or stylist dreams of doing – she bought a one-way ticket to Paris. 

The nest egg gave her the financial and mental “cushioning and confidence” to set herself up in the fashion capital of the world.

“When you leave university you are on your own, you have to do it all yourself and don’t have the same daily support to bounce ideas off,” she said. “It was a huge confidence boost that people within the industry that I admired saw potential in me and my work.”

Landing an internship under POP magazine fashion director Vanessa Reid shortly after arriving, van Camp had found the perfect start to the fashion career she had for so long been “obsessed with”. 

Fast-forward eight years and the Aussie stylist is still living her Parisian dream. Her clients now include some of the most prestigious fashion brands in the world; Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Acne, Kenzo and Christian Louboutin while she has worked for publications including Russh, Oyster, Muse and Vogue Russia. 

When she’s not working for big name brands executing their creative vision, van Camp is attending fashion shows and launches for POP or Russh magazine or shooting beautiful imagery for publications and clients. Or she’s travelling the world designing and pulling clothes for superstar singers such as M.I.A. 

“She toured last year so I got to travel with her to Mexico, Hong Kong and Los Angeles,” she said. “I designed and made some pieces for her which she wore on stage and others that she had produced as merchandise. That was pretty special.” 

Not bad for a shy tomboy who spent her childhood growing up among the vines of the Hunter Valley, helping her dad out in the family’s confectionary factory.

Life is certainly sweet for the 33-year-old. If only she could tell that to the talented, overwhelmed young girl in the hand smocked dress back in 2010.

“I would remind myself you only get one life so enjoy it and stop and appreciate the amazing lifestyle that this career allows,” she says of the advice she would give her 25-year-old self.

“Find your voice, understand your aesthetic and then find similar people to work for so you can build in the right direction and not get stuck somewhere you don’t belong.

“Be humble and reliable, hard work never goes unnoticed.”

While she struggles to pinpoint a moment she knew she was finally living her dream, she luckily has someone there to remind her.

“I never really look back so my boyfriend constantly has to remind me of the things I’ve done,” she says. “I’m always traveling so he’s great to say ‘look in the last month you’ve been to South Africa, Mexico, Mallorca, Canary Islands, Germany and Italy and it’s not even February yet!’

“I always loved the idea of traveling for work and experiencing new things so I think the fact that I’m doing that with wonderful, creative, like-minded people is amazing. But yes, I feel happy where I am today, there is just a lot more I would like to do.”