Chloe Coles? C'est magnifique!

I hear you asking 'who?' don't I? Well, she's about to become your biggest girl crush, that's who she is.

Chloe is my best friends sister. She oozes the type of cool where you know she's not even trying, she's gorgeous and she has the biggest beehive that you know the late Ms. Winehouse would be proud of. But, that's only partly why we're here. 22 year old Chloe studies illustration at Cambridge School of Art and her drawings are UH - MAY - ZING. She also works in Topshop (I know, right. Is there anything I shouldn't be jealous of?!) I spoke to Chlo about what inspires her and other stuff that I know you guys are gonna want to know but won't ever ask because quite frankly you're too scared to talk to her 'cus you're afraid you wont be cool enough and well, you'd be right. Just kidding. Not kidding.

I absolutely love your drawings, when did you realise you had  a talent?
I’ve always liked drawing since I was really young. I knew I wanted to do something arty, but I originally thought I wanted to do fashion or fine art. But it was in my foundation degree that I realised I wanted to do illustration.

Your drawings are quite different, who and what inspires you?
Honestly, every day things inspire me. Films, music, other people on my course. An illustrator who's blog I found called Alex Citron, she does some really nice stuff.

Where's your work going at the moment?
I'm doing a bit of everything, I'm quite focused on my coursework at the moment though. I design stuff for the uni, I did quite a bit for freshers like bags, posters and calendars. I do gig posters and I've sold quite a bit of stuff on market stalls in Cambridge. I also think there's gonna be an exhibition soon which will be cool!

Any other up and coming projects? 
I'm actually working on my final major project for uni at the moment. I recently finished a zine named 'Little Bitch' and its all about being a girl in your twenties. I'm using images from magazines from when I was nine like 'Girl Talk' with adult content next to it. I'll be carrying on with that, making cards that say "Congratulations, you're on your period!" and bags and things. My inspiration for that was that I'd call myself a feminist, and I love autobiographical personal work. I just like to do things that are fun. 

Okay, art aside, you are DEFINITELY a huge fashonista! What women do you take fashion inspiration from?
Aw! I love the sixties, it's a huge influence on how I dress. I love rockabilly style too. I'm inspired by the girls John Walters used to put in his films, like the original 'Hairspray'. There's always girl gangs, I love that. And obviously working in Topshop means y'know... good discount.

Your beehive is amazing, what's your beehives secret? 
Lots of knots, lots of tangles, lots of back-combing and A LOT of hairspray!

Do you have any girl crushes at the minute? Yeah, my main timeless girl crushes are Freida Carlo, she’s my number one girl crush. I even bought two or three Freida Carlo temporary tattoos the other day. I love her so much, she’s a massive massive icon. My other girl crush has to be Amy Winehouse, it probably has something to do with the beehive. 

Is there anything you're obsessing over lately?
A project I’m working on at the moment is all to do with Nudie Cohn. He’s dead now but in the 60’s he designed rodeo wear for country singers and stuff. It was really over the top and tacky. I’ve just got a little obsessed with him lately, embroidering things on jackets and stuff! It’s so gross but its good.

And finally, what song can't you stop listening to at the moment?
I keep listening to a girl called Elliphant and her song Ketchup. You should listen to it, it’s good!

Amazing, told you she's a total babe. For more of Chloe's art work, visit her tumblr here.