Danielle Van Camp
Danielle wears Louis Vuitton sweater and velvet trousers.
On her skincare routine:
“I’m not really loyal to one product – I like to try lots of new things, and there is just so much out there. It’s quite overwhelming. Bioderma Solution Micellaire always, or if I want to really clean my skin, I’ll use NARS Purifying Foam Cleanser or Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with Orange Extract in the shower. My skin seems to really like Nuriss CO-Q-10 Rebalancing Toner, and this product called P50W from Biologique Recherche, which has a bit of a cult following in Paris.
On her haircare routine:
“I use Aesop shampoo and conditioner, and I went quite blonde for a while there, so every so often I would go to bed with Leonor Greyl Huile Secret De beauté and use the BlondMe colour-enhancing shampoo by Schwarzkopf, which would tone the colour back if it was getting a bit brassy. When it’s drying, I tuck my hair behind my ears, so it gets a nice little wave once dry.”
Saint Laurent mini bag and Givenchy tote bag.
On make-up:
“I do [wear make-up] more so in winter. A touch of Dior black eyeliner and/or Dior mascara, and a little MAC Matchmaster Concealer on blemishes, sometimes mixed with the Dior Flash Luminizer. Sometimes a bit of bronzer (Chanel or MAC). I love just a touch of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment on the top of my cheek-bones for a little shine. I like to think it makes me seem ‘glowing’, even when I’m feeling far from it. Clinique Chubby Stick in Ample Amber on my eyelids in the evening. Sometimes lipstick, but it’s such high maintenance and it always comes unstuck when I eat! In general I’m pretty low-key, and by the end of the day my skin seems to have ‘absorbed’ any sign of makeup, and that’s okay by me.”
On her favourite scents:
“I have two. Fracas by Robert Piguet, it’s one of those ones that just stuck — it’s very beautiful and I like the black bottle. And anything Annick Goutal. My boyfriend’s mum, who has such beautiful taste, introduced me to it and has bought me several different scents over the years. The bottles are gorgeous and it’s so old world, and very French. I love Gardenia Passion as it’s sentimental, and also Petite Cherie. I love trying new scents, too – I’m currently wearing Loewe and Louis Vuitton Rose des Vents.”
On her style:
“It’s like I have a personality disorder — anything very sporty, eclectic, a mix of vintage and unique one-off pieces. I like textures and interesting details. I think what interests me most is mixing contrasts — like high and low together, rough and soft, feminine and masculine. I can be colourful but also drawn to lots of camel and black. I’m a hard one to pin down.”
Danielle wears Missoni knit, vintage belt, and Acne Studios pants.
On how she started out as a stylist:
“I studied fashion and textile design, and was on exchange in Paris for fashion week. I was working on a show and was called away to drop some samples to a stylist. It was the first time I had been ‘on set’ and I loved everything about it. I came home to Australia, began assisting, and interned at Vogue Australia, and one thing led to another. [My] favourite shoot is really hard! I’ve recently been collaborating with a lot of artists, including Caroline Denervaud and Maurits Sillem; I find this work really interesting. Last year I went to Senegal with M.I.A., that was really cool.”
“Over-plucking my eyebrows at school [was my biggest beauty mistake]. That was not a good look.”
Danielle wears T by Alexander Wang knit, Carven skirt, and Charlotte Chesnais bracelet.
“The Lucas’ Papaw highlights for my ‘fake’ glowing skin [is the only beauty secret] that I can think of!”
From left: Givenchy handbag, Miu Miu sunglasses, Kate Spade make-up bag, Nike sneakers, Rag & Bone sneakers, Acne Studios heels, Louis Vuitton heels, Louis Vuitton heels, Barbara Bui boots, Polo by Ralph Lauren cap, and Kenzo wedges.
“Paris has had a bit of a boom in terms of restaurants and cafes. I live in the 10eme, so there’s lots of little spots like Holybelly, Bob’s Juice Bar and Le Verre Volé. I love Frenchies Wine Bar, Clamato, and Clown Bar. La Mano has fun Mexican vibes, although can be a bit random. For vintage shopping, weekend markets are great, also the various Kilo Shops, and for high-end it’s Anoushka.”
Danielle wears Louis Vuitton sweater and velvet trousers.
On what cultural shifts she hopes happens in the next 10 years:
“An increased shift within the fashion (and other industries) towards sustainable practices. Compassion and equality for all. A halt on globalisation of high street brands so ‘local’ brands have a better chance at survival. That people no longer need to flea their countries for a better life; that the source of the problem is instead improved. That people’s rampant obsession with Instagram tapers off.”
Danielle wears Comme des Garçons tracksuit, Falke socks, and Louis Vuitton boots. Hanging on door – Kenzo cap and tote.
Danielle wears Sonia Rykiel hand print shirt, and Charlotte Chesnais earring.
“Sometimes I switch to SK-II Facial Treatment Essence when travelling, also Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Mask. I like Embryolisse as a moisturiser – the makeup artists here swear by it! For my body, either Aveda Stress-Fix Body Lotion or the Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm.”
Danielle wears T by Alexander Wang dress and Falke socks.
I use La Roche-Posay for sun cream. At night I try to use Jurlique Skin Brightening Night Cream or the Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask by Fresh.”
“[Beauty means] individuality, humility, being down to earth. I adore people who don’t take themselves too seriously. Someone who spreads infectious joy — I’m obsessed by this idea of how your mood can spread through people. I just took a flight and the air hosts had a great rapport, and made little jokes and greeted everyone. By the time we all got off that plane, everyone was smiling. More literally, no make-up and clean, dewy skin.”
Kenzo pochette and Pierre Hardy handbag.
Danielle wears vintage T-shirt, Levi’s 501s, and Gucci belt.
On her favourite online shopping destination:
“Currently Zalando, I just did their premium brands campaign and saw so many pieces I wanted to buy… DKNY slips, Tibi heels, and Loeffler Randall mules…”
Danielle wears Missoni knit, vintage belt, and Acne Studios pants.
The one word she can’t stop saying:
“Wild. I’ve been describing everything from vending machines to outrageous Trump news as ‘wild’.”
On how she unwinds:
“Beach holidays. Also taking alone time to clear my head. TV series to switch my brain off in the arms of my boyfriend, and writing lists — they calm me!”
Danielle wears vintage T-shirt, Levi’s 501s, and Gucci belt.
On her exercise routine:
“I’m always racing around the city to appointments and I walk a lot. Styling can also be quite physical, so there’s that. It’s funny, I was always running, swimming – you name it – in Australia, but here it’s just not the same. I try to do Pilates, but my schedule is so irregular, it is impossible to build up a routine. Sometimes at my desk, I try to squeeze my butt muscles [laughs]. M.I.A.’s hype girl told me the trick to staying toned is to constantly be ‘squeezing’ (I guess she meant flexing!) your muscles.”
We have enough half-baked invention ideas swirling around our brains to fill up an entire Smythson notebook, but the one truly worthy of being copyrighted (IOHO) is an app where you’re able to Shazam outfits. The possibilities! This hypothetical app would work in the same way as the real one does, but instead of recording whatever unidentifiable hot trap jam is on the radio, the user would take verging-on-stalker pictures of cool girls on the street and their cool outfits. A touch creepy, sure, but also kind of genius?
The amount of times we’ve wanted to ask a girl what she’s wearing but ultimately chickened out because of perceived social shame is in the trillions. Enter outfit Shazam. And of all the trillions of women we would use it on, Danielle Van Camp would be our number one pick.
Danielle isn’t just a “dream girl”, she’s living out all your dreams — literally by holing up in a trés chic Parisian apartment with her equally as talented photographer boyfriend — and also by working between RUSSH and POP magazine as contributing fashion editor and senior fashion editor, respectively.
She also owns every. single. cult beauty product and fashion garment in the world. Louis Vuitton monogrammed boots? Got ‘em. Givenchy lipstick? One in every shade. Peeping her wardrobe got us more excited than watching Cher pick out an outfit from her virtual closet in Clueless for the first time (the hugest claim known to man, but one that’s definitely substantiated). Her beauty cabinet? Speechless.
Danielle Van Camp is the girl that influences the influencers. She also happens to be one of those rare dimes in life that you meet and kind of wish you could be good mates with. She’s humble, beautiful and hardworking, and she knows a thing or twenty when it comes to style. She looks equally as lush slouching around her apartment in a T Alexander Wang dress and grey socks as she does decked out in a vintage tee and Gucci belt. But it’s not just impeccable personal style that’s got her so far in the industry — the low-key beauty recognises the merit in earning your stripes and hunting down your dreams. Her advice for newbies starting out? “Do what you love, simple. If you want to be in a creative industry, get interning. Know your industry, the names, the brands, the history, references. There is a place for everyone — once you start interning you’ll see all the different possibilities.”
For Danielle, the possibilities have been endless. And to borrow her most overused word at the moment, her life has been one helluva ‘wild’ ride. It makes sense then that she lives by the following words, pulled from the pages of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic: “Be fearless, be happy. Lead a life devoted to inquisitiveness, and that’s more than enough for a rich and splendid life.” <3.
Words, Madeleine Woon. Photography, Joseph Molines. Thanks to Danielle Van Camp.
