Camille Rowe is one of those elusive It-girls whose style is constantly being emulated. Maybe it’s because she’s been collecting vintage since childhood. There’s a video of her on Vogue’s YouTube channel from almost a decade ago where she describes going to the infamous Kiliwatch vintage shop in Paris before the start of each school year with her dad, who introduced her to a love of vintage and especially her signature 501s. The 2010s secured the French-American model as a global cool girl with an effortless approach to beauty and style; a quick Google search will tell you plenty about her proclivity for Parisian living through her unique, hybrid Californian-French upbringing.
We connect over Zoom between London (Rowe) and New York City (me) on the Friday morning before her second Reformation collaboration launches. Her first was released ten years ago, when the brand was mostly known for wispy summer dresses and stovepipe denim. Fast forward to 2025, and Rowe’s style has matured alongside the brand that she’s been working with for over a decade. Ahead, we catch up with Rowe on her style evolution, her new Reformation collection, and what she misses most about the West Coast.
Reformation
Tell us about the collection and what it was like to collaborate with Reformation?
CR: What's amazing about working with a brand for so long and so closely is that there’s a real conversation. Especially with this collection, we were able to really push ourselves in terms of quality and design and tailoring, with attention to details. There are some very special pieces, and that makes me really happy. It's, obviously, inspired by my personal style. I went into the offices with huge suitcase of my own clothes, and then just a lot of old books and looking at things like fabrics and prints, and textiles from the 1930s and ‘20s and that sort of romantic Paris time. It just feels a little bit more grown up, but it's still quite cheeky and sexy.
So the pieces were quite inspired by the vintage that you own?
CR: Yes, a lot of vintage pieces that I own—like the Ella trousers are [inspired by] my favorite trousers that I've had for years that have holes in them that are, you know, no specific designer, but just great, somewhat sailor-inspired and just so flattering. We were able to find really beautiful, gorgeous fabrics I'm just so happy with. For the evening dresses we did just dream dresses and looked at a lot of drawings from the ‘20s and ‘30s of these old fashioned books and taking a lot of inspiration from them. So that was really fun.
How has your relationship with Reformation evolved? You’ve been working with them for many years now.
I think what's amazing is you just get to know people better, and there's just a real level of trust that comes with that. Communication just flows so well and we can push ourselves and get excited. It's just a really nice environment to be able to create cool stuff.
Reformation
How has your style evolved as you’ve grown up a bit?
CR: I don't know that it's evolved that much. I've been pretty consistent. I kind of joke that I've been dressing the same since I'm a teenager, but that's kind of the truth. I think I'll always favor classic, timeless pieces and more and more I just appreciate nicer things. But it's always kind of been my philosophy, to be honest, so I think that's why maybe my style hasn't changed drastically that much, because I've always just been more interested in timelessness.
This collection definitely feels quite elegant.
CR: Exactly. I think especially the last collection, I sort of was like, ‘What would I be wearing in my twenties, out on the town in New York City or at a Rock and Roll show?’ Everything was a lot more cheeky, and this is more what I'd be wearing now.
Reformation
You've been described as an It-girl for years now. Tell me about your relationship to the term.
CR: Thank you. I don't know, it's a funny one. It's funny to navigate, just because it's not really the same as it used to be. I'm pretty bad at social media, and I don't post very much, and I think that who you would think of as like It-girls now are so good at it. I follow people and admire them and I have great friends that are so good about it, and I'm just not, so I don't know. I'm just grateful to be part of the conversation, and that I get to do these amazing collaborations. I love clothes, and I love fashion. It's so fun, and I like dressing up and going out. That’s all it is for me really.
Do you feel more drawn to American or French style these days?
CR: I think French, but I think that more and more with social media, things are just like blending into one thing. Fortunately, I feel like it's not as specific to certain places anymore, but I think that maybe French women are a little bit less prone to follow trends…so, probably French.
What's your favorite piece from the collection?
CR: I'm so happy with the way the purse turned out. It's just the perfect everyday bag. I think it'll be very timeless, and age very well, which was important for me. I love both trousers. I love the Vivian trousers, that suit is great, the cashmere sweaters are so flattering. The Felix top I love. It's just such an easy, fun throw-on piece and going out top. The Hugo dress is so beautiful with the beaded back. When you wear it, and you feel the beads, it just feels luxurious.
Reformation
Which piece is the most you?
"The oversized cashmere sweater and the Ella pants with the oversized cashmere, because it's just what I always reach for."
You live in Paris now but for a while were in California. What do you miss about the West Coast?
CR: It's nice to have family there, my grandma and an aunt, and that feels special. I have great friends there. The Ref office is there. Obviously, sunshine and my beautiful home. I love not working in LA. It's a really nice place to not work just because I don't know, I just like, stay in the garden and go on walks and see friends and just chill.
Tell me a little bit about your beauty routine. What's your approach?
CR: I'm quite a sensitive lady, so I always feel like less is less. It works better for me. I mean, one of the things I miss the most in Los Angeles is my amazing facialist, Jackie, who I swear by; she’s really transformed my skin. Here in London, I see this woman, Fatma at Skin Design and she's also brilliant. Being able to see very knowledgeable facialists that help. But what do I use? I use a lot of Fatma’s products. I love her vitamin C and the Face Tight cream. I think just simple is better for me, less is more.
