She was nicknamed Ghost

… by her classmates. like every model Karen Elson has suffered ugly mockeries while she was a youngster.

Brigitte Bardot for Lancel

You remember this Dior ad of Delon, the French actor. Lancel did the same with younger Brigitte Bardot.

An interview of Lee Jean Youn

In between his Haute Couture Fall Winter 2010 runways at Paris fashion week  and 080 Barcelona Fashion, Lee Jean Youn took time to answer some questions

Why did you pick Paris for your Haute Couture FW 2010 collection runway?  Did you do Seoul too?

［The first time］I presented my haute couture collection in Paris was Spring Summer 2010 collection back in January. After Paris show, I also presented my collection at Seoul Fashion Week in March. ［For Fall Winter 2010］, not only I have just done Paris show, but I was also being invited to show my collection at 080 Barcelona Fashion.

I want my design to be seen at as many countries as possible. Therefore, Seoul where I’m based in, Paris where haute couture designers have to be and other fashion leading countries are my priorities.

What has been your inspiration for the “The strange wedding ceremony? Why this name?

Wedding ceremony marks the beginning of a new life between two persons by the strange paths of destiny. Until after the day one saying goodbye to the other at the funeral, love continues to grow till meeting each other again in heaven. ［I］transformed these abstract ideas by combining opposite elements into ［my］ design, such as, black mini dress with white veil, and add amusing imagination and colors into extraordinary creations, bringing funeral and wedding elements together in a peculiar harmony. That demonstrates that love does exist in different rites of passages. That is why it is called “The Strange Wedding Ceremony”.

You introduced your SS 2010 collection 2 times. Once in Seoul and then in Paris. Did you design something new for Paris? If yes, Why? How?

The S/S10 Collection I showed in Paris and Seoul were the same but with small adjustment on the choreography and models selections.

Did SS 2010 Paris’ show draw new customers’s attention you didn’t get access to before? Did that change something in the way you have designed FW 2010 collection? Have you taken your new customers’ base into account while designing your FW 2010 collection?

［It did］. After I showed my SS 2010 Collection in Paris, I received attention not only from the international media but also from international buyers. I believe that being able to present my collection in Paris is definitely a gateway to bring my collection onto an international level.

Receiving attention from buyers and media would not affect my designing style because each season I will have a new concept and inspiration, which leads to different style.

Your design has grown up from layered (SS 2005), heavy fabrics like jeans, rich like velvets and wool (FW 2004), oversized outfits (FW 2005) to sleeker shape (brown gown, laced beige dress SS 2006), body fitting lines and smoother, lighter fabric like silk (Spring 2010). It’s obvious on your Mango’s lines from 2009 to 2010 as well. In just one year both collections are so different. What happened? Where are you going toward today?

FW 2004
FW 2004

SS 2005

FW 2005

SS 2006

SS 2010

MFA 2008

MFA 2009

I want to explore combination of fabrics with different texture. It’s what you saw in my previous and most recent collections. The only difference is the use and choice of fabrics/materials that I use［today］. For example in the F/W 2010 Collection, I combine organza and leather, crocodile leather with denim in my shoes and bags etc.

Every season I come up with a new concept. Therefore there is not a fixed pattern of where I am going toward in design. However my goal in design is to make beautiful clothes for women to wear.

I loved the men’s pieces you made back in fall 2006. It was leather jacket, big comfy sweater, large pants, large belts that lengthened the figure. Any willing to design more for men?

I like to explore many different things. But at the moment I will［focus］on my haute couture line ［and］add in some new ideas on accessories such as shoes and bags.

No news from you between fall 2007 and Spring 2010, apart 1st Mango Fashion Award competition. 2 years off the scene. Where were you on all that time?

In Korea, males are required to serve military service. That’s where I was during that time.

Your collection for Mango Fashion Award 2009 was rather simple and easy going yet elegant. The fabrics were smooth like silk. The colors were solid. No texture. Why did you make it so different from your own creations?

The collection I designed for MFA competition in 2009 was both Korean influenced and at the same time designed for western high street fashion market. I developed my concept from the core of the beauty of Korean traditional garments. It gave me a chance to display what I could do best in terms of designing and tailoring skills. In all my previous collections I used a lot of clean and light colors, which were somewhat considered “Korean” or “Asian”. But MFA was an international competition. I wanted my designs to speak to everyone and to be shared with the world.［That explains］ the color and fabric choices.

The limited-edition “LEE JEAN YOUN For MANGO” I did after winning the competition is a mix of simplicity and romance of the Orient with a hint of European chic/rock. Considering the collection was for MANGO, I thought the items should have also been practical and easy for mix-n-match. I designed a total of 15 looks including shoes and bags.  11 looks are now available to retail. You can check suits, dresses, wrap-around trousers, shoulder pieces and tricot out.

I heard that you want to hit NYC soon. Enough of Seoul and Paris? NYC is it the place to be as a fashion designer?

New York City has the greatest concentration of design talents in the world. And it’s at the forefront of fashion innovation. Today, I am based in Seoul, Korea. I am planning to open my showroom and shop in New York. But Paris is still a very important place for me to present my haute couture collection.Once I start my business in New York, I hope to participate in New York Fashion Week in the near future. My goal is to make “LEE JEAN YOUN” an international brand, which will last for decades. I want my designs to be recognized by the industry and loved by many people in the world.

As a designer, what does Seoul fashion scene mean to you? Paris’? NYC’s?

Like I said before, New York City has the greatest concentration of design talents in the world and is at the forefront of fashion innovation. As for Paris, it’s where every couture designer wants to present his/her collection. Seoul is where I learned my knowledge, techniques and skills in fashion design. Many of my creations are with Asian influence, which ［is immensely influenced］by the traditional Korean culture.

The shoes and accessories (bags, jewelry) you presented in Paris are there your design or from a partner? Where to shop them?

All the bags and shoes that you saw in Paris are my own design and creations.

They are made-to-order. Buyers interested in to order them can contact my staff directly.

12.  Where can we buy your clothes? in Europe? In France?

All the clothes, shoes and bags are made in Korea.

Again they are made-to-order. You can place your order directly to my staff.

13.  Is that yourself who was throwing flowers’ petals down the stage just before the runway started?

That was me. Every detail of the fashion show including music, choreography, makeup and hair and even stage setting, I put a lot of considerations and thoughts into it. I want my audience and guests not only to be able to enjoy my design but at the same time to experience the story and concept behind the collection.

Public enemies’ Johnny Depp

Public Enemies is being aired on TV for the first time in France. The movie is of importance for us French people since it’s the first Hollywood movie of French Academy Award winning actress Marion Cotillard.  The chance to get an interview from media shy Johnny Depp. I admire his career and how he bounced back from gansgta’ star to loving father.

How he looks like Dillinger on this pic is stunning. Same haircut, same look, or rather same eyebrows. The smile is not identical, but both mean “Come if you dare”.

Depp has well thoughts words at the end of the interview that made me write this post. I like the definition of the word chance he borrowed to one of his friends.

“Chance is when preparation meets up with opportunity”

I kinda recognize my own life philosophy into it. I guess that folks who work their ass off to reach out a key point in their life agree with that. When you achieve something, there’s people out there to say it’s about chance. I believe that it’s because you’ve got yourself ready to receive Chance and that you eventually meet it. For Depp, Dillinger success’ key was chance. And he thinks the same for himself.

The SS 2010 Balanciaga boots

I’m in love with those boots’ collection ever since Balenciaga introduced them at SS RTW 2010 runway.

I can’t afford them unfortunately. And even if I could, I’ve not the appropriate runway … hem  … job to show them off. White collar …  ”we work here … no place for fashion … we do not throw our money into expensive useless shoes”.

Yeah, I agree it’s the weapon of people that do not want to understand fashion. It’s stupid. But that’s my life…

Anyway. November I’m off to Rome to buy some serious shoes and boots. Not those. But Rome get such gorgeous shoes at a ridiculously low price compared to Paris.

pics from shoeblog, WWD, elle.com, French Elle the magazine

Brigitte Bardot at Saint Tropez

Brigitte Bardot is being exposed once more in Saint-Tropez, her  hometown in the south of France.

Here are some pics I picked up to Paris Match, a French magazine that sponsors the exhibition together with Tristan Duval and Henri-Jean Servat.

August 1965 at 31-year-old

Lee Jean Youn’s strange wedding ceremony

Lee Jean Youn introduced his Fall Winter 2010 Haute Couture collection last week one block to Georges Pompidou Center in central Paris. It’s the second time he graces the French capital with his design, his first passage having been his SS2010 collection earlier this year.

Jean Youn delivered on a flowery stage a subtle & romantic design full of bows and flowers, veils and trails in organza, silk and cashmere fabrics. The key color was orange beside white and black. The whole collection was rather short lengthened, sexy, fitting and body flattering.

Bespoke Cartier jewelry

This Cartier’s ad caught my eyes in that it’s not spectacular an ad. For a synonymous of luxury, I’d expect more sparkling jewels than mere engagement and wedding bands and their boxes. I mean it’s as if H&M would display a pouch rather than Daria in a sexy swimwear or Apple advertising the box of the iPad rather than the device itself.

Though, Cartier is such a house’s label, that I can picture wonders in those boxes.

No need to show bling bling off. Simple and classy. How powerful is that?

Alain Delon for Eau Sauvage Dior

Dior’s Eau Sauvage advertising is displayed everywhere in Paris. The model is younger Alain Delon, a french actor as know for his movie career as his breathtaking look. He got mostly casted for playing corrupted characters or lovers. With about 100 movies, he’s also a producer, a writer and a director. In France Delon is a bit like Eiffel Tower. He’s a national symbol. He’s a pride. He’s somewhat our French Robert Redford … or Paul Newman.He embodies the handsome guy who has grown older, wiser and smarter.

Fashion sense

I used to wonder  why some people dress so badly. You know, I walk the street and I bump into some folk thinking “Where the hell did she find that horrible skirt”. Do you feel that way too? For me it sort of feels natural to pair stuffs together. I try 2, 3 or 4 different stuffs on before making my mind up on an ensemble and get out of home.

Though, I got it lately. You know, I like flowers. Yet, I always feel stuck in front of the countless flower shops Paris gets. Pairing flowers and leafs to make a luxurious bouquet is hard for me. When I ask help to the florist, she makes it all, without telling me how and why she picks this flower up with this leaf up. I really feels frustrated about that. Yesterday, when I bought this bouquet, I was thinking that those people in the streets with those horrible threads should have felt the same way than I do with flowers. You know something like “Oh my god, it’s gorgeous. But I don’t know how to make it together. Oh let’s drop it! I’ll spend my money on something else”. But the thing is: I may not buy flowers for home. No one may not dress up …

I spent 20 minutes to choose those flowers all by myself, and other 20 minutes to put them properly in a vase. You’ll say that pink and white is nothing fantastic. Anyway, I’m proud about it. Some peonies have blossomed today morning. Busy week end! huh?

Kudos to Hermes Men’s RTW Spring 2011 collection

Hermès managed to deliver an immediate to wear RTW collection. Most of the collections is easy enough to get picked up and worn right after the runway.

Let’s point out the cardigans,

The shirt-like jackets to wear bare torso are so elegant.

Ethnic pants make me think about beach, sun and fun. With a white shirt, it’s the perfect companion of chic grill fete in the Caribbean.

Pleated pants, double belt and flip flops. So cool.

All pics from WWD

Raf Simons Men’s RTW Spring 2011 got me dual

Raf Simons introduced an utterly feminine Men’s RTW collection last week in Paris. Evidences are the boot large cut pants, fitted tops, above the knees straight bermudas and shorts.

The androgynous figure of the models added even more confusion about whom this collection was intended for.

I seriously love the whole collection. I’d get it all for myself. Though I’m not sure I’m ready to cross guys dressing that way in the streets.

I purposefully selected only the very hermaphrodite outfits.

You see, the figure is seriously female like with this ensemble looking like a dress.

Here it looks like a long black dress. It lengthen one’s figure.

This powdered glazy pink is gorgeous on any skintone

Raf Simons pushed the look to even the haircut looking tomboy

All pics from WWD

Karen Elson’s red hair

Karen Elson’s red hair on St John new campaign is fire. I love it. The red background warm the pic up in such a bright way. It makes me want dying mine. The thing is my skin is of caramel tone. Ugly uh? Ok! I won’t do it!

Saint John ad making of

pic from Fashion Gone Rogue

City shorts for men

Spring 2011 RTW runways for men are full of shorts this year. I cheer on this trend.

There were some yet last year. Just last summer, I was there to my sweetheart “Honey, what do you think of shorts? No not bermuda. You know mid thigh shorts made of summer fabrics like linen or cotton. You know it’d flatter your toned legs more than bermuda do”.

Here are my favorites from D&G, Bottega Veneta Spring, Albino Deuxieme, Costume National, Guliano Fujiwara, Gucci, Lab Pal Zileri 2011 RTW runways.

I can’t wait for summer 2011 to happen.

Lab Pal Zileri

The shorts are more bermuda-like. At first sight the color mix is weird. I’m not sure that a lot of men would walk the streets that way. But

Wild Jeneil Williams for i-D

Jeneil Williams is 20-year-old. She’s Jamaican born. She’s from New York Models agency.

She’s got this amazing shape from having been a junior track & field athlete. An injury made her give up that career. And it seems that her body’s kept some good memory of that period.

You know I like this kinda body. Jeneil’s body gets something deeply wild that photoshoot captures vividly.

Vanessa Paradis for Chanel

Vanessa Paradis keeps it strong with Chanel handbags ad campaign.

Spring is on

I was cleaning my photo library to make some room in my harddrive and I found this shoot. I don’t even remember when I shoot it. It was someday at the beginning of the spring. Look, trees awere still blossoming.

Easy shoot. Eiffel Tower will always look good.