When I arrived at PAC on Saturday, dusk was falling into night, and the hall was abuzz wih activity – preparation was in full swing for the next AFF TAFE SA show.

I made my way down some stairs, a few doorways and finally through to the basement of the hall, where all the magic happens – and by magic, I mean hair and makeup (of course!).

It was here that I met with Jess Farrell, face of the Adelaide Fashion Festival, to chat about her role with AFF, her modelling career, and everything in between. Quite the typical girly chat, Jess and I happily chatted away about everything and anything, as hairdryers and eyeshadow wands flitted in and out around us.

Jess’ look is both sophisticated and striking – she is, quite simply, utterly stunning…and she has the gorgeous personality to match. One of the most down-to-earth people I have ever met, she spoke candidly with me about her experiences, both in and out of the fashion world (and in between, we got ourselves lost in lengthy interludes chatting about travel, and music, you our inability to sew!)

This is Jess’ first year being involved in the AFF, having only moved to Adelaide about a year ago.

“I grew up in country Victoria, lived in Melbourne and travelled around everywhere and then eventually moved to Adelaide.”

“I saw a bit of the AFF last year, and it was nice to actually go a see a show, but this year, it’s even better to be in it!”

Jess started modelling at the age of 20, a later age than many models, but it certainly hasn’t held her back, landing a stack of incredible roles in her career thus far.

“I started when I was 20 properly…it’ been amazing ever since. It’s one of those unique jobs to be able to travel anywhere. It’s been amazing to be able to travel anywhere.”

Another model, Zoe who sat next to us, came into the conversation to share some of her experiences, and soon enough, the three of us were lost in conversation, happily laughing and chatting away like “complete girls!” laughs Jess. This became a theme of our interview, with what we dubbed ‘Zoe interludes’. These were often interupted with a stack of bobby pins descending onto Jess’s hair, being poked and prodded in to make the style perfect – “you get used to things being drilled into your head!” Jess laughs.

I ask the typical question of how Jess got started modeling, with a simple answer:

“mum” – good ol’ mums!!

“I grew up in a small country town and everyone said ‘you should do modeling!’…then I moved to Melbourne to study and my mum had sent in photos behind my back, and then an agent called me. I don’t have an amazing discovery story where someone found me in a supermarket..it was just my mum being a mum”

“And then it took me a little while to warm up, and get my groove with modelling. Now, I love it.”

These days, it comes naturally for the tall beauty, who has an envious air of confidence in every step she takes, and a killer smile.

We start chatting about some of her favourite experiences…

*Cue second ‘Zoe interlude’…..*

“Being able to be the face of the festival is amazing, and shooting their campaign was fantastic…running around the Parade and sitting in cafes and everything…that was fun!” 

“But another of my favourites would probably have to be my Elle magazine shoot which I shot in Turkey. It was really really incredible – we were on a river, and there was a sailboat!” says Jess excitedly.

Jealous beyond belief, I ask her how she got to Turkey..

“I was in Greece, and then an agent rang me, and so I flew to Turkey!”

Being completely travel-obsessed myself, I just wanted to hear more! Jess obliged, divulging some of her most memorable jet-setting experiences.

“I did a ten page spread for a German magazine, where we went to Kenya and shot it in a Maasai village..it was really amazing. It was an incredible experience, and not just the shoot. I want to go back there. Everywhere you go, you do all this traveling, but you’re never really on a holiday, you never really get to enjoy the place fully, so there are so many places I need to go back to!”

After all this travel, I was intrigued as to what she likes about our little city, which she now calls home.

“We are loving Adelaide,” says Jess, of herself and her partner. “The beaches are amazing, and the wine is incredible…I love drinking red, and it’s definitely better over here than Victoria!” she laughs.  

She says while she’s looking to stay here for a while, she certainly won’t be ruling out travel.

“Adelaide has a very nice lifestyle…but I’ll be going back to Germany next year for about 3 months, and I’m really looking forward to it…I’ve been here just over a year, so I’m really excited about traveling again. So YAY for modeling, because I get to travel!”

But, all this travel comes at a price…

“This job is not as glamourous as everyone makes it out to be. It’s 5am starts and long hours….and you have to do the work when it’s there, you can’t just call in sick or you’ll miss that opportunity! There’s no such thing as a lazy model – they’re some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met.”

“But, it’s also worth it – you get to meet some amazing people!” 

“I love working with the Finnesse girls,” says Jess. “You can always tell when there’s a group of Finesse girls – theirs no dramas and no divas. Everyone is relaxed and chilled. I love it.”

We watch on as a host of makeup whizzes bustle around us, working their magic, and Jess laughs, recalling some of the more hilarious moments of her job.

“Once you leave the job, you forget what’s on you face…two layers of fake lashes on the top, one on the bottom, and yellow eye-shadow, bright pink cheeks, and blue lips…then I got on the train and everyone was looking at me, and I wondered why!  I had totally forgotten!“

I wonder with so much makeup, and product in her job, how Jess has such a fabulously radiant complexion. I mean, I know she’s physically blessed, but there has to be some kind of trick to that!!

“I try and use lots of natural products. In particular I use a South Australian product called Beeswax – made by a lady in Hahndorf. I love it! You shouldn’t have to spend a fortune on skincare, that’s something I’ve learned over the years.”

This philosophy spreads into Jess’ choice of fashion:

“I never just like a piece because of a designer. I am happy to be put in a Valentino gown, but I’m equally happy being put in something from the op-shop!” 

“I think it’s the cut, the fabric, how it makes you feel. Whenever I get the question of what designers I like, my head starts spinning, because i don’t really have favourites – my style comes down to how I’m feeling in the morning. One morning I’ll be a tomboy one day, then I’ll be a rock chick, then a hippy goddess. My biggest fear is to look like I’ve planned the outfit the week before – it’s all about how you’re feeling at the time. Even if it’s slightly outrageous, I like that! Girls need to worry less about fashion rules, and just be yourself. There’s no such thing as rules!”

Fabulous advice, from a fabulous girl!

In the midst of the AFF, Jess says there’s still lots to look forward to.

“I’m hanging out for the Chambord Showcase – it’s got some amazing designers in there! I adore Couture + Love + Madness, and I’m really looking forward to Gwendolynne Burkin as well. I’m looking forward to everyone really, there’s some that I know and some that I don’t – it’s the best way to find new designers I guess…it’s a way to really view creativity!”

“That’s what’s so great about tonight’s TAFE show…some of the student’s clothes at these parades are just amazing!! I just feel so cool in the clothes! I’m envious of their talent, and the way they are able to bring it all together.” 

If you didn’t make it to the TAFE parades (tut tut!), Saturdays’ Chambord SA Designers Fashion Showcase is your chance to experience this creativity. I hope you’ve all got tickets, because as of today, the show is completely SOLD OUT!  If not, there’s always next year!

“Everyone should come to fashion parades like in the AFF – it’s all about the whole event…the anticipation before the show, the champagne, then going and sitting down…the music is pumping, and the show begins! Then afterwards, everyone culminates back together and talks about what they like. It’s an amazing atmosphere. It’s a great opportunity for people to see how a designer envisions how their designs should be worn, what they represent!”

So be there or be square people…the gorgeous Jess will be there, strutting her stuff on the catwalk. We can’t wait!

Thanks go out to Jess for the FUNNEST (I swear, it should be a word!) interview, and for chatting to me while she got poked and prodded with hairpins and makeup brushes. And congratutions on her stellar career so far, I can’t wait to see what she does (and where she goes in the world!) next!

See you at the Showcase tomorrow night my lovelies!

El. xx