Daphne Guinness
Daphne Guinness | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1967 England |
| Occupation(s) | Fashion designer, socialite, actress, film producer, musician |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | Fashion design, music albums (Optimist in Black, Daphne & the Golden Chord, Revelations, Sleep), film production |
Daphne Diana Joan Susanna Guinness (born 9 November 1967) is a multifaceted English figure known for her work as a fashion designer, socialite, actress, film producer, and musician.
Early life
Her father, Jonathan Guinness, 3rd Baron Moyne, was the eldest child of Diana Mitford and Bryan Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne. Diana Mitford was the daughter of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, patriarch of the Mitford sisters. After divorcing Guinness, Mitford married Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists. Guinness has stated she only became aware of Mosley’s political affiliations upon hearing of his death in 1980.
Guinness's upbringing involved moving between family estates located in England and Ireland, as well as spending time at a villa in Spain where the family maintained a friendship with Salvador Dalí. Later in life, she resided in New York alongside her half-sister, Catherine Guinness, who worked as an assistant to Andy Warhol.
Fashion
Throughout her career, Guinness has been involved in fashion as a model, curator, and writer. Christian Allaire of Vogue described her as a "street style icon, producer, musician, and muse" to designers such as Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld. The New York Times characterized her as a "performance artist" due to her innovative and experimental fashion approach. She has graced the covers of numerous international editions of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Tatler, and Zoo Magazine.
Guinness has contributed extensively to fashion journalism with articles appearing in Vogue, the Financial Times, The Times of London, and Harper's Bazaar. She penned the foreword for Alexander McQueen: Fashion Visionary, contributed to Dressed to Kill: Jazz Age Fashion, and co-authored Art/Fashion in the 21st Century. As a designer, she collaborated with Comme des Garçons on a shirt collection for Dover Street Market, while also creating approximately 100 unique pieces for her own use in 2010. Additionally, she co-designed Contra Mundum, an 18-carat white gold glove adorned with diamonds, alongside jeweler Shaun Leane and Alexander McQueen. This distinctive glove was showcased during McQueen’s runway shows and later auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2017.
She was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1994. Guinness has also styled photo shoots for acclaimed photographers such as Steven Klein and David LaChappelle.
Following her divorce in 1999, Guinness intensified her involvement with avant-garde fashion and established significant industry connections. She maintained a close friendship with Alexander McQueen and was recognized by Vogue for supporting his career.
In 2004, François-Henri Pinault appointed her as a fashion consultant for Gucci. After the passing of magazine editor Isabella Blow in 2007, Guinness acquired Blow’s entire wardrobe prior to its planned auction at Christie’s in 2010. Over 100 items from Blow’s collection were later exhibited by Guinness at Somerset House in 2014.
In 2009, she launched the fragrance Daphne under Comme des Garçons. She appeared as a model for NARS Cosmetics’ fall 2010 campaign, which featured an eyeshadow named after her. The following year, she introduced a makeup line consisting of 21 products in partnership with MAC Cosmetics.
In 2011, Guinness curated an exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology, displaying over one hundred contemporary couture pieces from designers including Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and Valentino—all sourced from her personal collection. The exhibition featured The Phenomenology of Body, a short film she directed exploring costume history.
As an homage to Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen, Guinness publicly dressed for the 2011 Met Gala, presenting herself within a Barneys window display wearing a feathered McQueen gown alongside other garments from Blow’s archive.
Producer
Guinness took on the roles of producer and editor for three short films, one of which was Cashback. This short film, nominated for an Academy Award in 2004, was later developed into a full-length feature. Photographer Sean Ellis collaborated with her on this project.
Acting
In 2011, Guinness appeared as the lead in Joe Lally's The Murder of Jean Seberg. That same year, she also played a role in The Legend of Lady White Snake, a movie inspired by a traditional Chinese tale. This production was co-produced alongside photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani, as well as stylist GK Reid. The dialogue she delivered was penned by Bernard-Henri Lévy. The following year, she starred in the science fiction short film Shakki, directed by Julien Landais.
Music
Motivated by encouragement from David Bowie, Guinness ventured into music and partnered with producer Tony Visconti, who oversaw the production of three of her albums by the year 2020.
Optimist in Black (2016)
After experiencing the losses of her brother Jasper, mentor Bowie, and close friends Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen, Guinness began working on her debut album, Optimist in Black. It was released on 27 May 2016 through the independent label Agent Anonyme/Absolute. Although she initially planned to cover Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row", she ultimately composed original songs instead. Critics described the album as "drama-pop with a gothic tinge" (Vice) and "glam-rock-ish, slightly psychedelic" (The New York Times).
Daphne & the Golden Chord (2018)
Guinness' sophomore album, Daphne & the Golden Chord, was released in April 2018 and once again produced by Visconti. The recording took place over three weeks at British Grove Studios, using analog tape. The project incorporated 58 musicians playing instruments such as timpani, tambourine, and bassoon. Will Hodgkinson from The Times characterized it as "aristocratic glam fuelled by wit, character and a clear and abiding love of rock'n'roll".
Revelations (2020)
Her third studio album, Revelations, came out in August 2020 with Visconti returning as producer. Thomas Barrie of British GQ highlighted its "lusher, disco-inflected instrumentation", featuring string arrangements alongside unconventional instruments like theremin and ocarina. Alongside this release, Guinness collaborated with David LaChapelle on a tripartite film series titled Revelations, which presented songs from the album while exploring motifs from the Book of Revelation.
Sleep (2024)
Guinness unveiled her fourth album, Sleep, on June 21, 2024. It was recorded at both British Grove and Abbey Road Studios. The mixing was handled by Ricky Damian, known for his work with artists such as Lady Gaga, Adele, and Dua Lipa. The album features contributions from Malcolm Doherty, Tony Visconti (who arranged strings), Guy Pratt, and Rob Shirakbari, including a 34-piece string ensemble. Several singles were also released as remixes by artists like Hercules & Love Affair and Joe Goddard.
The entertainment platform Culture Fix recognized Sleep as one of 2024’s standout albums, applauding its "sleek and sophisticated blend of gothic charm, art-pop allure, and esoteric creativity."
Music videos
Guinness embarked on her music journey with the release of music videos in 2013 and 2014, showcasing tracks that were later featured on her debut album. Among her initial videos were "Fatal Flaw," directed by Nick Knight in 2013, and "Evening in Space," which LaChapelle directed in 2014. The latter video was distinguished by costumes created by designers such as Iris van Herpen and Noritaka Tatehana, earning recognition from MTV News for its innovative fashion approach.
She continued to produce videos for two songs from her 2018 release, Daphne & the Golden Chord: "Talking to Yourself" and "Remember to Breathe." In 2020, LaChapelle returned as director for the videos of "Hallucinations" and "Heaven," both tracks from the Revelations album.
In 2023, Guinness collaborated again with Nick Knight for the video accompanying "Hip Neck Spine," the lead single from her fourth album, Sleep. The subsequent single, "Mishima," was directed by Paul Fryer. Additionally, David LaChapelle helmed the videos for two other singles from Sleep: "Volcano" and "Time."
Charity work
Guinness has contributed to Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief events aimed at supporting disaster relief efforts. In April 2008, she auctioned a portion of her wardrobe, with all proceeds benefiting Womankind Worldwide, a UK-based charity focused on combating domestic violence.
In June 2010, prior to Christie's scheduled auction, Guinness acquired the entire wardrobe of her late friend Isabella Blow. She subsequently showcased this collection both at Central Saint Martins and through an online platform, while also establishing a foundation dedicated to mental health advocacy. The official exhibition titled Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore took place in November 2013 at Somerset House in London.
In February 2013, alongside Baroness Monica von Neumann and Lynn Ban, Guinness donated footwear to the Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology’s exhibition called Shoe Obsession.
Personal life
In 1987, Guinness wed Spyros Niarchos, the second son of Stavros Niarchos. Together they had three children. Following their divorce in 1999, she received a $39 million settlement, which was added to her inheritance from the Guinness family.
She currently divides her time between homes in London and Manhattan with her children.
Guinness has maintained a long-term romantic relationship with French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy. In the February 2011 edition of Harper's Bazaar, she referred to him as "undoubtedly the love of my life."