Witchery x Lara Worthington jacket
LARA WORTHINGTON BEHIND THE SCENES BY JAMIE HEATH AND KARLA CLARKE
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jamie Heath @ B&A
STYLING: Karla Clarke
HAIR: Michele McQuillan @ M.A.P.
MAKEUP: Victoria Baron @ M.A.P.
MOTION: Bill Mansfield @ Precision
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR: Matthew Gode
INTERVIEW: Rebecca Khoury
INTRO: Laura Agnew
This Tuesday, Lara Worthington’s new collaboration with Witchery lands — a 28-piece capsule inspired by her practice of dressing for feeling, purpose and practicality. Developed over the course of a year, and designed with end use in mind, the collection is intentionally anti-trend; for a modern woman on the move. Or more fittingly for Worthington, able to adapt to her myriad style personalities.
In an exclusive conversation with creative director and friend Rebecca Khoury for SIDE-NOTE, she reflects on the collaboration of trust, transparency and countless Zoom calls that resulted in an answer for everything her wardrobe was missing.
Rebecca Khoury: It’s 4.30pm in New York, what time is it there?
Lara Worthington: 5.30am…
RK: Do you ever sleep?
LW: Oh man, I’ve been travelling so much I don’t know what time zone I’m in.
RK: You’re in Taipei.
LW: Ha.
RK: How is it?
LW: Taipei surprised me. Calm, textural and considered… old and new living side by side. I went to a lot of 7-Elevens. They are next level – they had these takeaway ramen noodles you just add hot water to… Anyway, just google the 7-Elevens there. It’s a thing.
RK: What got you up this morning? Other than the promise of two-minute ramen noodles.
LW: My mind, honestly. Once it’s awake, it’s awake. Ideas, lists, kids’ stuff, jetlag, excitement. I wish I could say my morning meditation, but it was curiosity and a bit of chaos.
RK: Okay, let’s harness that energy. We’re doing this SIDE-NOTE interview this morning. The issue theme is Fresh. Quick, what do you think when I say ‘fresh’?
LW: Not new for the sake of it. Fresh is clarity. Editing. Letting go of what feels heavy or overworked.
RK: That’s a very end of Year of the Snake answer.
Witchery x Lara Worthington jacket
LW: Yes, let’s go, Year of the Horse. Moving forward. Fast!
RK: Talking about moving forward and newness, you’ve done this collection with Witchery.
LW: Yes, I have. It’s a 28-piece collection of clothing and footwear designed slowly over a year; built around pieces I could see myself wearing again and again.
RK: I’ve seen some pics from the shoot. The collection looks good. Very you.
LW: Ha. What’s very me?
RK: You know, it feels like myriad personalities and functions distilled into a single collection. I love the plaid shirt and that boxy leather jacket.
LW: That makes sense. I’m a walking contradiction: soft and structured, practical but emotional. Those pieces hold that tension.
RK: What do you think you’ll wear most from the collection?
LW: The tailoring, without a doubt. Everything’s designed to layer and work back together… The colours all sit really nicely with each other. My favourite piece is the oversized leather jacket. I have been wearing the sample constantly, and it even works as a dress that I put back with stockings. I also really like the plaid shirt; it’s a really good shape. The sexy slinky dresses are great, too.
RK: Why do you think Witchery wanted to work with you? Like, what are you bringing to the table?
[left] Witchery x Lara Worthington jacket, shirt and pants | [right] Witchery x Lara Worthington dress
LW: I think I bring instinct. I’m not chasing trends… I’m translating a way of living. Thinking about how women actually move through a day.
RK: What was Witchery like to work with? Be honest.
LW: I am always honest… I can’t help it! The process with Witchery felt instinctive from the start, and that made the experience incredibly meaningful for me. I’m super proud of what we’ve created. It was super collaborative. They trusted me, which doesn’t always happen so easily. It felt like a conversation, not a compromise. We did almost the entire thing over Zoom, which was hard. I think we only met once in real life, so the fact the fits are so good says a lot.
RK: You once told me that when you get dressed, it’s intuitive. You just feel it instead of arduously labouring over a ‘look’. Did you bring that philosophy to this collection?
LW: Completely. I wanted the clothes to meet you where you are. You don’t need to overthink them, they just work.
RK: Where did you start with the collection?
LW: With my wardrobe. What’s missing. What I reach for when I’m tired, travelling, living.
RK: When did ideas come to you – shower, driving, walking, at a gallery?
LW: Walking. Galleries. Art. Colour. But honestly, most ideas come from women on the street who just know how to put an outfit together.
RK: Are you more obsessed with textures, colours or fits?
LW: Texture first. It’s emotional. Then fit; it has to feel right on the body.
RK: Did you work fast or was it more of a slow fine-tuning?
LW: Fast instinctually, slow in refinement. I’m decisive but obsessive in the edit. I think we designed around 50 pieces and then cut back as we moved along.
RK: You love design. And art. How did that play a part in this project?
LW: Subtly. Proportion, balance, restraint. I like things that feel considered but human.
RK: How did you know when it was done? When were you satisfied?
LW: When I stopped wanting to change it. That’s rare for me.
RK: Okay, a few last quick questions. What part of the process do you wish people could see?
LW: The fittings. Seeing something come alive on a real body is magic.
RK: What part do you wish they never saw?
LW: The indecision spirals at 2am. Not chic.
RK: What do you want people to feel when they wear this collection?
LW: Like themselves, just a bit more grounded.
RK: Do you feel like style is getting more personal or more performative?
LW: More personal, I hope. People are craving honesty, even in how they dress.
RK: I agree. So as someone who’s both public facing and private, how do you navigate this and still keep it honest and personal?
LW: By choosing what I share. I realised you don’t have to give everything away to be present. Boundaries are power. I share what feels true and protect the rest; that’s how I stay grounded and clear.
