The Taste Report™: Georgia Graham

On style personalities, the power of postcards, and pushing against soullessness with one of London's coolest fashion girlies.

Welcome to the Taste Report™, an interview series exploring and explaining taste from people who have supremely good taste. Access the full interview by upgrading to a paid subscription.

One of my earliest mutuals in this lil newsletter space was Georgia Graham, who I started following because I found her ideas to be so bright and her way with words (and clothes) to have an effortlessness to them, as expressed best through her Threads of Conversation newsletter.

And, like most interesting people with good taste, she has lived a life: while London-based now and self-described as doing “words + clothes” for a living (a la: working with brands via creative direction, copywriting, strategy, etc.), she got her start as a model. Is there anything chicer than that? Is there anything more aspirational, considering she fronted a Jacquemus campaign and walked the (ICONIC!!) Chanel supermarket show? It’s the sort of dream fashion career that one knows, intellectually, exists but that we forget “still happens” in a world dominated by mononymous people born of mononymous people, graduating from one rich world to another. (Granted, to the point of mononymity, I would be lying if part of the intrigue with Georgia to begin is her namesake being the state I was born in. It stuck with me, you could say.)

In considering taste and how it’s expressed,

Georgia Graham

was an obvious person in my mind in envisioning and considering the Taste Report™, in chatting with someone who has taste and knows how to spot it. What does it look like? How does she see taste expressed right now? What isn’t good taste? Via a doc and some email chatter, we conducted this little interview. Come for the thoughts on fashion, stay for thoughts on why insecurity breeds anti-taste.

KRF: First..how do you define taste?

GG: Taste is two things: firstly, it’s self-knowledge and self-assurance. Not trying to imitate anyone else, but leaning in to who you are. Secondly, it’s the ability to choose, to select, to curate. To have a strong sense of what’s not for you, perhaps even more so than what is.

These days the word ‘taste’ is automatically associated with having good taste, but I think it’s important to remember that the word is actually neutral. What constitutes “good taste” or “bad taste” is subjective, and usually defined by social and political forces around us. Nathalie Olah wrote a fascinating book on this topic, called 'Bad Taste', which I interviewed her about last year.

KRF: So much of taste for people is their “style.” How do you define it?

GG: I have two style personalities, which I’ve written about.

The first is “stoner boyfriend.” He’s from California and wears a lot of tie-dye, oversized pieces and isn’t afraid of colour.

The second is a monochrome mistress. She wears well-tailored, sleek pieces — primarily black. I ricochet between the two, depending on activity or mood.

KRF: Taste isn’t, say, just “how you dress” but, in my heart, it also extends to the home too. What’s a part of your house or a place that you’ve lived that embodies what interiors look like? How do you manifest your style at home?

GG: When I was modelling, I moved around all the time, so I never let myself buy books because they were so heavy and expensive to transport. Since I settled in London, I relish having books. I keep them in big stacks on the floor — I like the informality of it.

KRF: Informal stacks, rows, assemblages of books are so chic. What’s your signature scent?

GG: I wish I had a more ‘tasteful’ answer, but the truth is that my signature scent is Glossier You. Nobody recognises it and everyone tells me I smell good. If it ain’t broke... etc. Speaking of which, it’s not that expensive either.

KRF: I…am a Glossier You diehard, although I want that scent but stronger, which I haven’t been able to find yet. In time. What are your thoughts on manners? How does that — or education — tie into taste?

GG: I think trying to treat others (and yourself) with respect is the most important thing. It oils the wheels of everyday life and is a great buffer for conflict or friction.

KRF: What’s a word you use a lot? Or: what’s a word more people should be using?

GG: My partner says I use “nevertheless” a lot (lol), which is one of those anachronistic words that people use in writing, but rarely in casual conversation. I also have a few hangovers from years spent living in Australia — like “heaps,” which is used as an adverb there (as in, “that's heaps good”).

KRF: I’ve never heard that use of “heaps” before but I will adopt that, yes. What’s your go-to gift?

GG: All my friends know I love sending postcards. It's a very old fashioned habit, but it brings both me and the recipient a lot of joy. It also ensures that my handwriting doesn't go to shit.

KRF: What’s something “in” now that will go beyond these times?

GG: Not thirsting for algorithms to love you back.

KRF: …which plays into the larger “get offline” trend that we’re getting into. Who is your favorite artist? Or: what is your favorite piece of visual art?

GG: Too many! Right now, I really like Martine Syms. Also Joy Yamusangie's work — they are a painter based in London. I find what Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst are working on very interesting, although I don't always understand it! If I could own any artwork it would be a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi.

I've also loved Louise Bourgeois for many years. As a child, she discovered that her father was having an affair with her governess, and proceeded to make work about that trauma for the rest of her life. I find that level of obsession completely fascinating, especially in today's world where we're encouraged to metabolise our traumas and move on.

KRF: What’s a timeless song?

GG: “Time” by Arca, “Limerence” by Yves Tumor, “Love Love Love” by Those Guys.

All of these songs really make me feel something. I can't describe what it is, but it's an authentic feeling that transcends time or genre.

KRF: I think the Arca is the key to what they’re doing: offering a sort of contemplative way of looking forward and backwards, like you’re sitting by a stream, dipping a hand in, considering your life, hoping, dreaming, loving, longing, letting the rush of the stream’s tempo give you a bit of life. That’s my thought at least!

Who’s one person that you think has impeccable taste?