Wardrobe Stories: Maisie Williams On Youth ‘Hysteria’, Evolving Her Style And ‘The New Look’ TV Show

The actor caught up ELLE UK following the Dior AW23 show in India to discuss fashion, beauty and her upcoming TV show, ‘The New Look’.

Obtaining a ticket to a Dior runway show, let alone one held halfway across the world, is the fashion world’s equivalent of a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket. And it’s a coveted opportunity that actor Maisie Williams – a friend and regular FROW attendee for the French fashion house – doesn’t take lightly.

On Thursday night, the British star – who recently announced her split from her boyfriend of five years, Reuben Selby – attended Dior’s AW23 presentation in Mumbai, India, alongside the likes of Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley, former ELLE UK cover star Naomi Ackie, actor Jessie Buckley and model Cara Delevingne.

Conceptualised by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, the collection featured a colour block sequence dedicated to vivid green, yellow, pink and purple silks. Threaded through the collection is a homage to French fashion designer Marc Bohan, with sari-inspired evening coats and skirts that create ‘a fascinating odyssey that transcends borders and era’. ‘My favourite look was this purple and green two piece of a knitted vest and cargo trousers,’ Williams tells ELLE UK from Mumbai. ‘I think they’re such interesting colours – the tied detail in the back makes it extra enticing, but the overall feeling of the outfit is so wearable and cool.’

For some, the choice of Mumbai might be surprising for a brand so synonymous with our Gallic neighbour. But, months after the fashion house presented its 2023 resort collection in Seville, Spain, Williams notes the importance of fashion brands celebrating local artisans and global cultures. ‘So much of our inspiration is drawn from different histories and heritages,’ she says. ‘It’s incredibly important that fashion brands not only use them as a creative inspiration, but also to give back and truly develop the techniques and inspiration so that they can live on; so that these techniques can be as beneficial to India and the craftsman who can do it, as well as the designers and the people who wear the clothing.’

So much of our inspiration is drawn from different histories and heritages

For the show, the actor wore a maroon-hued pleated red mini dress and black strappy sandals. ‘The fabric was creased which gave the dress a more casual feel, which really suited the tone being in a warmer climate,’ she explains of the Dior dress. ‘I wore some flat sandals and they looked so good with my outfit, but we’re so easy to walk in. I had them on all day and all night.’

The 25-year-old former Game of Thrones star has become an avid follower of high fashion since she starred on the HBO medieval fantasy television series. In addition to becoming H&M’s global sustainability ambassador in 2021 and creative strategist and advisor to the platform Contact, which connects individuals working in creative industries, in May last year it was announced that Williams had been cast in the Apple drama series The New Look, starring as Catherine Dior, the younger sister of fashion designer Christian Dior and Legion d’Honmeur recipient for her efforts in the French resistance. ‘I had so much fun making this show and I think that it’s going to be really impactful,’ she says. ‘It will bring together my love for fashion and also my love for acting – that makes me really excited.’

Since starring as Arya Stark in the hit GoT series, Williams has regularly spoken about her scene-stealing character and the impact of playing her since childhood. Last year, she revealed to Teen Vogue that until the show’s last season in 2019 she’d long held the belief that Stark was queer, and how playing the character made her feel insecure about her body. In addition to covering her face in dirt and maintaining a short hairstyle during filming, the actor was required apply a strap across her chest to flatten her breasts. ‘I don’t know, that just felt horrible for six months of the year, and I felt kind of ashamed for a while,’ she previously told Vogue.

Four years on from the show’s history-making finale and it seems Williams is more at peace with her body confidence. ‘I think it’s important to remember that no one looks perfect being shot from every angle, so I try my best to be captured from my preferred sides,’ she admits. ‘However, that’s not always possible and rather than make myself feel upset by that, I just tried to let it slide. There’s more to life.’

In recent years Williams has stepped into the light even further and developed a sartorial savoir faire that’s seen her rock designs from the likes of Miu Miu, Chanel and Givenchy, as well as bleach eyebrows, dye her hair baby pink, and more recently undergo a buzz cut. ‘My style is so much more expressive and aligned with my self on the inside. But that’s also because it’s more flexible and I don’t mind doing different styles all the time,’ she says.

‘My favourite part is picking the hair and make-up and watching it all come together,’ she notes of getting ready for red carpet events, crediting TikTok star Lola Clark as her current fashion inspiration. ‘My least favourite part is having to sit very still when I have my hair and make-up done at the same time. I have to be patient and I’m kind of bad at that…’

I think it’s important to remember that no one looks perfect being shot from every angle

As for her biggest beauty tip, she notes that good skincare comes as a result of good make-up and being conscious of what you put inside your body, ‘rather than just what you put on your skin. If you take care of yourself, inside and out, your body will bring you the gift of having a good make up day or a good hair day.’

Amid heightened discussions regarding women’s relationship with looking youthful, most poignantly following the release of Times’ Fashion Editor Anna Murphy’s book Destination Fabulous: Finding Your Way to the Best You Yet earlier this month, Williams says ‘it’s easy to get sucked in and question whether the quest for youth is one that I should be starting sooner rather than later, and whether that means facial peels, a special mask, some crazy new ingredient, or whatever’.

‘I think that it’s hard to avoid that kind of hysteria,’ she continues. ‘I think the most important quest is always the one searching within. To find a place within yourself that you love and that you’re deeply proud of, and that you can shine through, I believe that’s what will make you seem young forever, not your skin.’ We couldn’t agree more.

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