KARL PLEWKA

Karl Plewka is a London-based stylist, editor, writer and creative consultant whose career spans more than three decades at the forefront of fashion and cultural image-making. Known for his intelligent, narrative approach to style, Plewka’s work sits at the intersection of fashion, art, film and publishing, bringing a distinctly editorial sensibility to every project he undertakes.

Karl began his career assisting Vivienne Westwood before moving into fashion journalism, becoming assistant fashion editor and later fashion editor at The Observer. In 1996 he was head-hunted to New York as Fashion Director of Interview magazine, where he collaborated with some of the most influential photographers of the era, including Ellen von Unwerth, Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, David LaChapelle and Deborah Turbeville. During this period Plewka helped shape the magazine’s visual identity while producing fashion editorials, written features and creative collaborations across fashion, art and celebrity culture.

Returning to London in the early 2000s, Plewka established himself as a leading freelance stylist, art director and creative consultant. His work has appeared in many of the world’s most influential publications including Vogue Italia, Vogue China, Vogue Nippon, i-D, Purple, Vanity Fair, Numéro and Dazed & Confused, collaborating with photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey, Karl Lagerfeld, Mark Borthwick, Mert & Marcus and Corinne Day.

Alongside editorial projects, Plewka has styled campaigns and consulted creatively for a wide range of international brands including Hermès, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Levi’s, Agent Provocateur, Calvin Klein, H&M, Jo Malone, NARS, Max Factor and Penhaligon’s. His approach combines strong visual storytelling with a deep understanding of fashion history and contemporary culture, bringing an editorial intelligence to both commercial and cultural work.

Karl is currently Editor of Beauty Papers, the internationally respected biannual magazine exploring beauty as a cultural and artistic language. Through the magazine he writes and edits features with leading photographers, artists and cultural figures, continuing to shape conversations around fashion, beauty and image-making.

He is also the author of Validated: The Makeup of Val Garland, a book celebrating the work of one of the industry’s most influential makeup artists. More recently he served as fashion consultant on the global Netflix series Geek Girl, which reached number two in Netflix’s worldwide Top 10 and charted in more than ninety countries.

Today Karl Plewka continues to work across styling, creative direction, writing and brand collaborations, bringing his distinctive perspective and decades of industry experience to a diverse range of editorial, cultural and commercial projects. His work often sits at the intersection of fashion, culture and storytelling, making him a sought-after collaborator for projects that require both visual imagination and editorial intelligence.

Photographers

Alex Antitch, Alice Hawkins, Annie Leibowitz, Benjamin Lennox, Catherine Servel, Chris Dunlop, Claire Rothstein, Corinne Day, Charlie Gates, David Bailey, David Bellemere, David LaChapelle, Deborah Turbeville, Donald Christie, Ellen Von Unwerth, Frederike Helwig, Greg Kadel, Greg Williams, Greta Liva, Holly Millea, Horst Diekgerdes, Jean Francois Carly, Jem Mitchell, Jonathan Hallam, Jon Compson, Julie Noni, Kacper Kasprzyk, Kai Z Feng, Karl Lagerfeld, Katja Rahlwes, Kayt Jones, Kerry Hallihan, Koto Bolofo, Lee Broomfield, Liz Collins, Lynette garland, Marcus Ohlsson, Mark Borthwick, Mary McCartney, Matt Irwin, Max Vudukal, Mel Bles, Mert and Marcus, Steven Klein, Nick Haddow, Nicolas Moore, Norman Watson, Olivier Zahm, Robert Erdmann, Robert Wyatt, Ross Kirton, Sean & Seng, Steve Hiett, Tom Johnson, Tomasz Gudzowaty, Willow Williams and Zanna

Editorial

25 Magazine, Beauty Papers, Black, British GQ, Casa Vogue, British Vogue, Dazed and Confused, Girls Girls Girls, Glass Magazine, i-D, Interview, L’Uomo Vogue, Mixte, Ponystep, Purple, Rollacoaster, Saga Magazine, Spin Magazine, Rakes Progress, Raygun, Sunday Times Style, The Face, V Man, V Magazine, Vanity Fair, Vogue (Global), VS Magazine, Wonderland and Numero

Advertising / PR

Agent Provocateur, Alberta Ferretti, All Saints, Asos, Amex, Aveda, Badina, Bella Freud, Burberry, Bonmarché, Cacharel Fragrances, Calvin Klein Fragrances, Cointreau, Collette Dinnigan Lingerie, Cunard, Dare 2 Be, Escentric Molecule, Etihad, David Beckham Fragrances, Etihad, Face Gym, French Connection, Gillette, Gucci, Hermès, H&M, Hugo Boss, IMG, Jo Malone, Joe Fresh, Julien Macdonald, Levis, Macy’s, L’Oreal, Marks and Spencer, Max Factor, Motorola, Nars, Penhaligon's, River Island, Rocco Barocco, Sexy Fish, Solange, Superdry, Swarovski, Thomas Pink, Triumph, Vivienne Westwood, Vodafone, Warners and X Guess

Celebrities

Anna Paquin, Anna Calvi, Bridget Fonda, Chloë Sevigny, Christina Ricci, David Beckham, Ella Balinska, Ellie Goulding, Fearne Cotton, Hugh Grant, Jenson Button, Joely Richardson, Joseph Fiennes, Josephine de la Baume, Julie Christie, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Dern, Liam Neeson, Lil Kim, Maggi Hambling, Miranda Richardson, Naomi Campbell, Natasha Richardson, Paloma Faith, Paul Rudd, Puff Daddy, Rosamund Pike, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sheridan Smith, Sophia Myles, Suranne Jones, Tia Lee, Uma Thurman, Vanessa Redgrave and Victoria Beckham 

Fashion Shows

BCBG, Calvin Klein, Carey Williams, Collette Dinnigan, Frost French, Ghost, J.Lindeberg, John Rocha, Julien MacDonald, Kisa, Rocco Barocco, Sharon Wauchob and Vivienne Westwood