H&M Studio SS22: Meet Devon Ross
Written by Julia Retsinis
Not only does she look like a child of fashion and rock 'n' roll; in fact, she is. Fashion's new it-model is named Devon Ross, and with her punk haircut and grunge-inspired makeup, she could be a child of any era—resulting in the ultimate model for H&M Studio SS22. The new Studio collection brings the best and the greatest fashion only from the ‘80s, ‘90s and generation Gen-Zs, resulting in a mood-enhancing line of clothes and accessories you’ll never get tired of. We met Ross, who you will see on the screen in the new HBO show Irma Vep, behind the scenes of the Studio campaign shooting in London, to hear her thoughts on the up-coming head-turning collection, music, and style.
DESCRIBE THE H&M STUDIO SS22 COLLECTION IN THREE WORDS.
Vibrant, bold, and daring.
LEOPARD PRINTS, MINI SKIRTS AND NEON DRESSES. LOTS OF THE CLOTHES IN THE H&M STUDIO SS22 COLLECTION ARE STATEMENT PIECES—WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO EMBRACE THE LOOK BUT DOESN’TKNOW WHERE TO START?
I think people shouldn’t be afraid of expressing themselves, and if that means wearing more daring outfits then they should go for it. People in the street are usually more concerned about what they look like and don’t even notice what those around them are wearing in the end.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES FROM THE H&M STUDIO SS22 COLLECTION AND WHY?
I have many, but one of my favourite pieces is a black mini dress with silver tassels. It makes me feel powerful, and makes me want to go out dancing in it.
From the swimsuit to the cowboy boots, this collection is an homage to fun, feel-good fashion, high on hues and popping personality. Whenever the sky is grey and you feel down, the H&M Studio SS22 is there for you.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR GENERATION, GEN-Z, DRESSES DIFFERENTLY TO PREVIOUS GENERATIONS?
Our generation, same as past generations, have all the trends of the years before them to pull from. We are lucky to have the 60s-90s as inspiration which to me are the best eras for fashion. So, we are just a big jumble of everything that’s been in style in the past!
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE, DO YOU HAVE A UNIFORM OR DO YOU LIKE TO MIX IT UP?
My personal style is mostly inspired by the '60s and '70s: I grew up buying vintage and my love for it has grown as I’ve gotten older. I like to keep it pretty comfortable, but at the same time dress it up by adding a fancy bag, shoes, or a loud jacket.
Speaking of loud jackets, our in-house design team has together with H&M's Creative Advisor Ann-Sofie Johansson, curated a selection of H&M Studio's most memorable archive pieces. You can shop all the looks at Sellpy, the online marketplace for second-hand styles, accessories and more (note: only in selected markets).
YOU GREW UP IN A MUSICAL HOUSEHOLD—WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME, AND WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY LISTENING TO?
Yes, music was everywhere for me growing up. This is the hardest question, but if I had to pick 4 of my favourite albums of all time they would have to be:
• The Basement tapes- Bob Dylan and The Band
• Exile on Main Street- The Rolling Stones
• Let it Be- The Beatles
• Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs- Derek and the Dominos
I could go on forever about my favourite albums. I’m currently listening to “Dear Angie” a song by Badfinger that I’ve had on repeat for the last few days, and lots of Les Paul and Mary Ford.
YOU HAVE LIVED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WHILE GROWING UP—DO YOU THINK THE EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CULTURES THROUGHOUT YOUR EARLY LIFE HAS AFFECTED YOUR PERSONALITY?
Travelling and moving countries at a young age taught me not be afraid to be open and be myself around new people. Because I was exposed to so many different types of people and ways of life, I feel I can adapt easier to different environments and cultures. Meeting new people is never a problem for me!
The H&M Studio SS22 collection will be available worldwide in selected stores and at hm.com on 24 February (local variations may occur).