Christian Wilkins, the Wayside Chapel’s new fashion ambassador, is a rebel with a cause
Even before taking on a role as the Wayside Chapel’s fashion ambassador, Christian Wilkins was regularly spotted trawling the charity’s op-shop clothing racks – and his diligence has paid off.
Mosman
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The first time I met media personality Christian Wilkins I was in a TV studio waiting to discuss partners who cheat.
The atmosphere was tense. Live TV is hard and fast and there’s no room for mistakes. Accordingly, staff tend to be friendly, but brusque. Christian, who was working at the studio as a social media producer, was noticeably different.
Despite being the son of a celebrity (his father is famed entertainment reporter and lady killer Richard ‘Dickie’ Wilkins), he was genuinely friendly. Categorically no ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ attitude here.
He was also a bit of a character – at one point he caught me looking at him and flashed me a dazzling grin along with an entirely inappropriate and accordingly hilarious wink. There was something unexplainably delightful about him.
The next time we crossed paths a year or two had passed. And in that short time he had somehow transformed into a ‘celebrity’ in his own right.
He was now a regular at all of the city’s most fabulous events, a podcast host, model, actor, fashion commentator and social media star (his Instagram account @theprincewilkins has an impressive 27.5K followers). He had – quite clearly – stepped out from under his dad’s spotlight and become an A-lister in his own right.
And yet he hadn’t changed a bit. He was as warm and sweet as ever and today, at 25, that still stands. He’s a young man surrounded by red-carpet shenanigans and yet he is somehow able to see it for exactly what it is. A bit of fun. No more, no less.
“Yes, I grew up surrounded by very glamorous people who work in a very glamorous industry but I have always known that makes absolutely no difference as to who you are, nor how valuable you are as a person,” he says firmly.
“It doesn’t matter what you do or where you come from … you can be the most famous person in the room or the janitor. We’re all just human beings.”
Given this attitude, it’s not so surprising to discover that Christian — who lives in Cremorne with his dad, having moved out of the childhood Mosman home which he had long shared with mum Michelle Burke — goes out of his way to support charities of any kind, in any way he can. His current passion project, the Wayside Chapel, he has worked with since appearing on the 2017 season of SBS series Filthy Rich and Homeless.
Right now he is working to promote the charity’s Op Shop by ‘curating’ style edits and taking on the role as fashion ambassador, a role he’s excited about.
“I love fashion,” he says gleefully. “I host a fashion podcast and I was already involved with Wayside Chapel so when they asked me to be their fashion ambassador … well, you can imagine. It was a very natural fit.”
“His role as fashion ambassador could not be more authentic,” says Wayside’s marketing communications manager Janine Huan.
“He genuinely cares about social equality and our mission of creating community with no ‘us’ or ‘them’. His role sees our reach amplified to new audiences and it elevated the Wayside Op Shop brand. Plus, he is a genuinely nice guy, which is always a bonus.”
Christian is a lifelong fashion fan.
Even before taking on this role he was regularly spotted trawling the Wayside’s op-shop clothing racks on the hunt for a fabulous fashion piece. In fact, he and another style-obsessed mate were there most weekends. And their diligence paid off.
“Oh my,” he says, eyes lighting up as he reveals his most favourite finds.
“I found this Rick Owens skirt/shorts situation and an Undercover patent leather coat,” he says.
Rick Owens, for the fashion uninitiated, is a Paris-based American designer known for his groundbreaking collections which have influenced many world-famous designers. Known as the ‘Lord of Darkness’, his style is dark and dramatic and his pieces are expensive. But not when they’re on the rack at the Wayside Chapel.
Undercover is the label created by the wildly creative Japanese designer Jun Takahashi who is known for his punk-fused, American streetwear style. Just like the ‘Lord of Darkness’ his pieces are hotly sought-after, beautifully made and costly.
And yet, Christian found both at the Wayside Chapel’s tiny op shop. And five-star finds such as these are not as rare as you might think.
The eastern suburbs fash pack (as the stylish crowd is referred to) have a soft spot for the Bondi-based Wayside Chapel op-shop and go out of their way to donate their high-end pieces here, often with price tags still attached.
Indeed, even on the day we meet to photograph Christian at the Boho-fabulous outlet, he stumbles across a purple, silk kimono he simply has to have.
“Look at it,” he says, his eyes bright. “Seriously – look at it.”
A bright purple silk kimono is an unusual choice for your regular mid-20s young man. But not Christian who has long enjoyed pushing the boundaries in terms of style.
And why not? It’s 2020 after all. Pop star Harry Styles has this month graced the cover of Vogue wearing a dress and has been heartily applauded for his style and chutzpah. But that level of acceptance has not always come through here in Australia.
For example, an internet stranger recently declared he was going to hell after he shared a snap of himself wearing women’s clothing. This kind of viciousness towards Christian, who loves to rock a frock every now and again, is not rare.
I ask him how he feels about that and he pauses for a moment before saying; “There are people who see you on TV or on social media and make snap decisions about who you are.
“Something I hear quite often is ‘You’re nowhere near as much of a dickhead as you seem on social media’.
“I’m not offended by it. Once you get to know me you quickly discover I am not at all like you might think. Also, people need to stop worrying about what random strangers think. I do not allow that sort of thing to impact me. I just don’t.
“I’d be considerably more upset if I thought I’d hurt the feelings of someone I actually know and care about.”
So back to that kimono. His excitement is contagious, but even more so his genuine sweetness. Yes, he loves the kimono and yes he has to have it. But part of the joy in his find is that the $50 he will pay for it (the staff offer him a $30 discount, which he promptly refuses) will go towards supporting those in need, something Christian cares about and deeply.
“It’s a double-pronged attack,” he says. “The money is going to a charity which in turn will ensure it reaches good people who need it. But also, this piece of clothing, a beautiful piece of clothing at that, is getting a second life. It’s going to someone who will love it and not to landfill and that’s good for everyone.”
If you’re reading this and thinking op shops just aren’t for you, Christian has this to say. They’re no longer what they were.
Op shops are fresh and bright and the clothing there is too.
And in the case of the Wayside Chapel, filled to the gills with designer labels including Max Mara, Gucci and Ralph Lauren.
Of course, there’s much more going on than simply landing a red hot bargain.
As Christian says, buying fashion from the Wayside Chapel Op Shop means you’re giving back.
“So many of us are in a position where we can use our dollars to make an impact in a positive way,” he says. “And if we can – we should. It’s that simple.”
Wayside Chapel in Bondi will this year host a Christmas Day Service, Bingo and BBQ lunch at the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club for the local community. Learn more at waysidechapel.org.au/christmas2020.
In Kings Cross, Wayside will host free daily ‘Spirit of Christmas’ community lunches to ensure that people experiencing isolation and homelessness have the chance to enjoy a freshly-cooked meal in good company. These will take place daily during the week before Christmas.
Staff will also provide free takeaway meals on Christmas Day for the city’s most vulnerable.
Please consider getting involved in the Chapel’s ‘Donate a Plate’ program, which will help feed a person experiencing homelessness. Learn more by visiting their website: waysidechapel.org.au/donateaplate.
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