Studio Nicholson Woman - Angela Reynolds

“I think women should look real,” says Nick Wakeman, creative director and founder of Studio Nicholson, who started the brand by reinventing classic men’s pieces for women. “I’m interested in how we wear clothes as women,” she says. Introducing Studio Nicholson WOMAN, a new editorial series exploring what womenswear means through stories with real women.

Angela Reynolds is the director of art gallery PERROTIN in Tokyo, where she works closely with contemporary artists. She cut her teeth in the art world as a writer before taking up a post working at another influential Japanese art space, SCAI The Bathhouse. Reynolds began her career as a model at the age of 14 and has been photographed by the likes of Elaine Constantine, Ellen von Unwerth and Kazumi Kurigami. She has appeared in magazines including Vogue Italia and Harper’s Bazaar Japan.

“The thing that drew me to the art world was curiosity. I wanted to push myself in the direction of things that I didn’t know about or fully understand,” says Reynolds.

Angela is photographed by Masahiro Sambe at her Tokyo home with video by Rachel Chie Miller.

She is wearing the Araz Jacket in Darkest Navy, Rond T-Shirt in Black Grape, Hera Pant in Cocoa and the Moon Shoes in Black.

Why did you choose these pieces to wear today?

"Increasingly, I appreciate comfort and sensation. How fabric feels on my body. The way the fit of a shirt or trousers feel on me. I do like a slouchy suit. And that's one thing I really love about Studio Nicholson. There is a nice balance to their suits, which allow you to be relaxed but not sloppy at all.”

What should great clothing do exactly?

“It should elevate me in my intentions and help bring out my inner spirit. I want clothing that works with my missions in life, to help me move forward or upward, to go somewhere. They can also be an important protective layer.”

Do you notice what other people are wearing?

"I never was a person who spent a lot of time thinking about clothes, and I especially dislike shopping for them. Though I really enjoy style and think it can be powerful. But for me, it's something that comes more from how a person approaches life and lives their life, and their values, than the brands or the items of clothing that they choose.”

What was the last outfit that made you dizzy with joy?

“I have quite classic taste. The way I coordinate my outfits is not very ornate. But when I find a beautiful pant…”

What do you wear when you’re not working?

“I go surfing, so in the summer not a lot, and in the winter, I’m often wearing a wetsuit. Most of the time, I'm a mom and a career woman, but sometimes, if I am going out with my husband for dinner, I want a different feeling. So I might wear a certain outfit, or a piece of jewellery, or maybe do my hair or makeup differently. It’s fun to do that sometimes.”

Does certain clothing hold meaning for you?

“When I was travelling in India, doing yoga, I was wearing very different clothes to what I might wear now. I have souvenirs from the different times in my life, that are all very dear to me, and all parts of me. Clothes are very intimate; when somebody gives you a sweater, and you don't get to see them every day, then that takes on a really special meaning. And it can hold you, which is quite incredible.”

What’s the biggest misconception about stylish women?

“I think the misconception is that stylish women think a lot about clothing, or spend a lot of time thinking about clothing, or are very concerned about how they look. Because, in my view, stylish women are women who are living life with purpose and are on a mission!”

Who are your favourite style pinups?

"That’s a hard one. Katherine Hepburn. My godmother Angela Farmer [yoga teacher] - she has picked up things over the years from the various countries she visits in the world. Her body is beautiful because she’s always working with it, and with her breath. She's very loose, and I think how somebody carries their body is huge. Body language is very important - that is what Katherine Hepburn is about for me. I really like her attitude. I grew up not really having to think about whether I was behaving particularly like a girl or a boy. So, I have never thought about whether I wanted to be mannish in my style, which is often what people call it. And it’s not my intention at all. But I do prefer men's watches - most likely because my hands are quite large, so the balance is better. And I like to feel a little weight on my arm, but it's nothing to do with feminine vs masculine."

What are your memories of becoming a fashion model?

“There were always model scouts in Shibuya or Harajuku [when Reynolds was a teenager]. I definitely did not look like a model, and I didn't know anything about fashion. My brother had done some modelling, so when I came home one day with a scout’s card, he said it was for one of the best agencies in Japan. Then I started going to old bookstores, and they would have stacks and stacks of Vogues and Harper’s from the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. I would sit down and spend the whole day looking at old magazines. That was really inspiring.”

How did your mother being an artist influence you?

“She was painting every day at home, but was not an ambitious or commercial artist. I lost her to sickness when I was 12. There was a time I was putting tracing paper on her sketchbooks to trace her line. I'm not sure if it really informs what I'm doing now in the contemporary world, because my relationship to artists is quite different, but there's probably something in there.”

What is the appeal of art curation?

“It’s incredible because you get to really deep-dive into somebody’s world—not just the aesthetics and themes of the work but somebody’s soul and their spirit, their heart and their mind. It’s a fascinating way to learn about people.”

Are there any movements or trends in art that you're into right now?

“I love how personal a lot of the artwork that's coming out at the moment is. One could say that all art is personal, and of course, it is. But a lot of work emerging right now is from somebody's inner person and their life rather than focusing on a style, or an art movement, or an interpretation of what art should be.”