A stylist and milliner, Birch has lived and worked in New York, London, Los Angeles and Germany. From being featured in some of the world’s top fashion and design publications to traveling with the circus (creating sequin-covered unitards for Mongolian mouth contortionists), Birch brings with her a wide range of experience. She’s been profiled in Wallpaper magazine as one of 20 reasons to visit South Africa, has assisted established milliners like Piers Atkinson, learned from Noel Stewart and has been the right hand to editor Jackie Burger as well as Face of Africa founder, Jan Malan.

FHM editor, Brendan Cooper says he is delighted to welcome Birch to the team. “With her extensive experience, unparalleled creativity and vision, and the ideal eye on fashion for the FHM man, we’re very excited to see her talent displayed in FHM . She will no doubt be a phenomenal asset to our team.”

Commenting on her vision for FHM, Birch says she’d like to give the FHM man a bit of a style makeover, with a fresh take on loads of accessible brands, both local and international. “I would like the Pretoria jock, the Bloemfontein farmer, the Jeffrey’s Bay dude and the Cape Town hipster to look at beautiful pages and all be able to relate to them. I see a more modern and fashion-conscious FHM man, with a subtle and cool style. I simply want to show readers how to wear new trends and not intimidate them with runway looks,” she says. “Styling men is simple, but it’s the small things that make the big differences. Things can easily look camp, and the FHM guy is a metro man,” she adds.

According to Birch, men are definitely catching on in South Africa when it comes to fashion, and are becoming much more aware of their dress sense and playing with different looks. “The SA man in general dresses comfortably, and many achieve a relaxed look without over-dressing. The rest we’ll reel in and lock in a room to educate them on all their options.” she says.

In conclusion, she says: “I’m so looking forward to my first editorial and to getting feedback. I’m delighted to be part of a very cool and creative team. I would also like to request any men’s fashion brands to feel free to approach me so they can feature in FHM.”