December 14, 2010
stylist lara hutton
There's that old saying about Ginger Rogers doing what Fred Astair did but in heels, and backwards. You could use a similar analogy with Sydney stylist Lara Hutton. Not only does she produce beautiful shoots - in the areas of food, fashion, interiors and lifestyle - for Australia's glossy magazines, but she does this while being a mother to three young children - all under the age of three! (Her two baby boys are twins.) If that weren't enough she has just released a range of homewares and is about to have a book published.
Which five words best describe you? Treehugger, perfectionist, loving mother, neutral palette, soulful, dreamer... that's more than 5 though.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I began my career in fashion. I came from a family of journalists and needed to decide which road to take when I was studying. While at the Whitehouse School in Sydney, I started work experience at Marie Claire, a move designed to help me choose between magazines, or design. I was working at Marcs at the time. It was an amazing moment in time, and an iconic team I learnt SO much from, and would always hold dear. Lee Mathews was designing, and introduced me to Jane Roarty the Fashion Director at the time, an amazing inspiration to me still. By the end of the year I was offered a job as Market Editor, and a year later I was Fashion Editor roaming between New York and Paris. I had a wonderful, fulfilling and lucky experience but I wanted more creatively. I moved over into interiors, and it has all just grown. I flit between fashion, interiors, food and lifestyle. I am passionate about all of it, and I see no need to choose. It has become who I am and what I do.
What's the best lesson you've learnt along the way? Come to know your instinct and trust it at all times. Be generous of knowledge and nurture those around you, and teach wherever you can. There is nothing more rewarding. Oh, and keep it all in perspective.
It is so important to remember how lucky we are to be doing what we love; be grateful, thankful and enjoy the road.
What's your proudest career achievement? To be really honest with myself here, I haven't even begun. There are so many plans still. I have been lucky enough to work with numerous celebrities on their homes, that has been a lovely experience having the freedom to create. I've written a book - that was fulfilling - it will be published soon. And right at this moment there are other great things in the pipeline. Really, at the moment though, I am most proud that I have been able to juggle being a mother of baby twins boys and a 3-year-old with my career. That I have agreed with myself on some form of balance that allows me to fulfill my soul stuff and creativity, while still being there for my babies.
What's been your best decision? To follow my heart and pursue the career that fulfills me, to freelance after 10 years in magazines, to marry my husband. None of those in order.
Who inspires you? My husband, creative mentor and soulmate. My family: the love you have for your children will drive you through, and to anything. My mum, the most incredible human I know. To make her proud means everything.
What are you passionate about? Living in the moment, amazing food, beautiful things, my ceramics hobby, harmony, my home, music, art that takes your breath away, soul searching, fixing what I can in the world.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Buddha, Princess Diana,Bono, John F Kennedy, Morgan Freeman.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? To build a house on a hill with my husband, to publish my book and write another, to travel endlessly, to pick up a camera and shoot, to own, design and style a bed + breakfast, to combine my love of flowers, entertaining/events.
What are you reading? Haha. A pile of books on toddlers. But I did just read the Book of Conversations, a great concept.
images courtesy of lara hutton