My First Fashion Show With Tristan Tymen

Fashion
In November last year, Tristan Tymen was named male Overall Winner at Elite Model Look 2015, the first boy from France to land the title. During his first runway season, he attended dozens of castings, landing places in the show at DSquared2 in Milan and Cerruti 1881 in Paris. We caught up with Tristan to ask what he was doing before the fashion world came calling, how he stays in shape and his most buzz-worthy fashion week moments.

What was the best moment for you during fashion week?

Being on the catwalk! Seeing everyone in front of you, knowing that they are there to watch you is quite disorientating! I did the show for DSquared, and it was incredible experience, there was a really nice atmosphere backstage. It was great for a first show, although I already had the chance to do a runway show as part of the Elite Model Look competition, so I was not as nervous as if it had been the first catwalk I had ever done! Then I did Cerruti 1881 in Paris. The atmosphere was very different because it was a presentation, not a show.

Who were some of the more famous people you worked with?

The twin designers at DSquared2, Dean and Dan Caten, are really cool, I got to talk to them a bit, and they were really nice. I’ve just come back from doing the casting for Balmain where I met the famous Olivier Rousteing, so that was pretty cool. At DSquared2, I saw one of the most talked-about models of the moment, Lucky Blue Smith. Doing that show made me really feel as if I’ve made my start in the industry. I also saw Benjamin Benedek, but I didn’t get the chance to talk to him because I had to go for my plane to Paris.

Photo © Tania Innocenti

How was it to be back in Milan?

It was really nice. We didn’t get much of a chance to explore the city while we did the competition there because we were so busy, so it was good to see more of it. The city has a cool vibe. It was a pleasure to go to the Elite agency in Milan, it is just next to where the competition took place, so it brought back memories! I was also able to buy a copy of Vogue Italia with the Elite New Wave photoshoot, what was amazing was that I was able to see the pictures for the first time in the same city where we had the shoot! It was a bit strange to see myself in Vogue Italia, but I really loved the shoot. 

Photo © l'Arc

How did you relax between shows? Did you go to any fashion week parties?

I went to a party at the end of fashion week organised by the club l’Arc and Elite Paris on Saturday night. I also went to the after party for On Aura Tout Vu at le Queen. They were both really good. When I was in Milan, between castings, I was mainly hanging out at my hotel and talking to my family over Skype, telling them how fashion week was going. In Paris, I was able to meet up with a few friends and chill out.

Photo © instagram.com/eliran_nargassi

Do you keep in touch with any of the other Finalists from the 2015 final?

Yes, I have seen a few of them in Paris or Milan. For example, Simon, I saw him, and Max, the Austrian, and we got the plane back to Paris together. I’ve also seen the other Tristan and Harold from Elite Model Look France. There are the three of us doing fashion week from the French national final, it’s really nice.

What were you doing before you started modelling?

I worked with the sapeur pompiers [fire services] when I was studying at home in the Savoie in the mountains, because I liked the fire services in general, and I wanted to do it while I was young. I did it for two years, and when I moved to Lyon, I continued there, before I entered Elite Model Look. In a way, I miss working in the emergency services. I really liked working with others, it was an interesting job! A year ago, I never thought I would be modelling, it was always something I thought about doing, but I never thought it would really happen! For me, this is a real opportunity and I hope to use it as well as I can and take it even further.

What’s your workout routine?

I try to do a bit of weights, swimming and running when I have the time, although at the minute I’m pretty busy so I have to get back into it! I used to do a lot of sports to train as a fireman. When I was little, I did swimming at a competitive level, and I did quite a lot of rugby, and I surf. I come from the mountains, so I try to go skiing as much as possible when I’m home in winter. 

Photo © Matthieu Dortomb for WAD

What have you done since the competition? What would you like to do next?

I have been in Paris doing photo shoots for my book. I stayed until just before Christmas, and came back after the holidays. I have done a shoot with WAD, it was really cool. I already knew the photographer, so it was quicker than if I had never worked with him before. It was great. I haven’t done any other editorials, but I hear that there are some others interested, so it’s exciting. I’d love to shoot for Vogue Paris, or for l’Officiel. For me, it’s a huge deal. I’d also love to do a show for Jean Paul Gaultier, although he doesn’t show as part of men’s fashion week any more. That would be the top, for me. I love his style, it’s quirky and cool, and I love the sea too and he takes inspiration from sailors.

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