Board of Advisors

Dolly Jones – Editor vogue.co.uk

Dolly Jones studied History of Art at Manchester University, before arriving at Vogue for three week’s work experience. Next came London’s University of the Arts Periodical Journalism course, during which she was commissioned to interview “someone at the top of their game” – Alexandra Shulman obliged – and she was later invited back to take up a six month internship as editorial assistant of the magazine. The “Writer” job at VOGUE.COM came up in January 2000. A decade later – after breaking news every day, working with the Condé Nast Digital team to develop the site to its fullest potential and being named editor in 2005 – she is now responsible for an awarding-winning website that is the most fashion-forward and regularly updated fashion destination online. In 2008 her role was expanded to Executive Editor of Conde Nast Digital, while remaining editor of VOGUE.COM.

Piers Atkinson – Milliner

One might be forgiven for thinking that with a milliner for a mother, Piers Atkinson’s future was preordained. Yet since moving to London in 1995 this thirtysomething polymath has worked in numerous guises at the sharp end of the fashion industry before returning to his first love. From co-creator of The Daily (London Fashion Week’s news bulletin) to performance artiste, he is as familiar with the vagaries of the business as the most jaded hack, and yet despite such a potentially jaundiced world view, his personal take on pop culture is wry rather than cynical. As a result, familiar objects are given a worldly spin: Mickey Mouse ears bear scant resemblance to Disneyland souvenirs when lit by neon, or laser cut in Perspex to resemble a psychiatric Rorschach test. Clowns masks are of the creepshow variety, more likely to abduct than hand out a balloon, while Oriental headdresses owe more to the decorations in your local Chinese takeaway than those worn by Ming dynasty courtesans.

“We’re living in the era of the sound bite and the quick message – and my hats reflect that sense of instant familiarity but with an unexpected edge,”

he explains… Piers On Oxford Fashion Week:

“So many new ideas that bubble up into the larger arenas of fashion begin in colleges, universities and from youth-culture in general. It is extremely important to nurture and inspire burgeoning British talent and where better than Oxford?! Oxford Fashion Week looks at all areas from the conceptual theatrics to the all-important commercial aspects. It is worth remembering that Fashion is universal and not just for Londoners and Oxford is one of the most romantic and sophisticated settings I could imagine for a celebration of beauty, taste and poise.”

Claire Wilcox – Senior Curator of fashion at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Claire has been at the V&A for most of her working life. Last year she was Acting Head of the Contemporary Programme before returning to her role as Senior Curator of Fashion. She is known for her exhibitions, in particular Vivienne Westwood (2004) and The Golden Age of Couture (2007). She also created Fashion in Motion in 1999, which features fashion shows staged in the museum’s galleries. It is one of the V&A’s most popular live events. Claire was educated at Exeter University (where she read English) and Camberwell School of Art, University of London. She have written many books on fashion and regard writing, and communicating, as an essential part of her work.

Richard Woolfe

Richard Woolfe is on the Advisory Panel for OFW due to his extensive experience in the media sector, especially in television. He will be advising OFW on media-related matters such as securing television coverage and promoting OFW on a national scale.

Richard Woolfe’s big break was in 2001 when he was appointed controller and then director of programming of LIVINGtv, after stints at Real Television and Grenada. In this role, Woolfe produced several extremely popular shows such as ‘Queer Eye For The Straight Eye UK’ (2004) and ‘Extreme Makeover UK’ (2004) as well as launching Livingtv2. His successes at LIVINGtv led Sky to offer him the role of director of programming of Sky One, Sky Two and Sky Three. Here, Woolfe was responsible for acquiring immensely popular US shows such as ‘Lost’ and ‘Prison Break’ as well as a BAFTA for documentary series ‘Ross Kemp On Gangs’. Woolfe was also personally responsible for resurrecting ‘Gladiators’, which secured an audience of 1.6 million for its launch show. In 2008, Woolfe was offered the position of controller of channel 5, now able to play with a budget of £235 million compared with Sky’s £140 million. Woolfe has already begun to work his magic on terrestrial television, and it is OFW’s privilege to be able to work with him.