Minx Report

"Wherefore Art Thou?" Exclusive Interview with David Lachapelle. By Meilinda Soerjoko. Designare Magazine. Feb/March 2010 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · February 23, 2010 · 0 Comments · 435 Views

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In today's world, there has been no other visual artist quite like David Lachapelle. He started his work over 25 years ago with Andy Warhol giving him his first break and ever since people all over the world have enjoyed his work on the covers of notable magazines, advertisements, music videos and an award-winning documentary called Rize, which chronicles a dance movement coming out of South Central, Los Angeles and has been translated into 7 languages worldwide. Some of his work has been deemed controversial such as a photograph of Kanye West as Jesus Christ but if one was to look further into his work, you would find that the concept behind such a photo is quite spiritual in nature: the message is that we are all god's children in spite of race or colour. Nowadays he focuses more on gallery and museum exhibitions and he is keen on getting things that are on his mind and share them with world. Whilst he still does a lot of work with celebrities (his latest photography work includes Lady Gaga and Naomi Campbell posing for his work), he contrasts the glamorous world by going home to Hana, Maui where he lives on an eco-friendly organic farm, whenever his packed schedule allows him.

Lachapelle is a fine artist by trade who is racially colour blind, as demonstrated by his work over the years. As an artist with great visions, he is a sensitive man in nature and an open person to interview. With 12 published books of his work alone, he is still hitting the ground running and continuously working towards a goal. When he met with our L.A Correspondent, Meilinda Soerjoko, for an exclusive interview at the David Lachapelle Studio in Los Angeles, he was more than generous with his time and talked about some of the artists he's worked with, as well as his excitement towards his Asian tour in Beijing and Taipei in Spring 2010. Lachapelle is visionary and admired amongst his peers for his genuine and honest approach in his work. He has a message he wants to share with all of us, which you will learn in the interview.

By Meilinda Soerjoko.

Designare Magazine: Did you get any inspiration from your childhood that makes you the kind of artist you are today?

David Lachapelle: I did go to an art school and that is something that I believe so much, in schooling. I had parents who are good parents, they were there for me and didn't push me into art. When I needed crayons or a piece of paper, they had them for me. If I needed help in drawing a tree (as a child), she would help me out. They are artistically inclined, they were very supportive and took pleasure in the things that I made when I was very young. I think when you're very young and you make something, you get very excited and you just want to share them with people. They were very present for that stuff. They were very kind. They were first generation Americans, my mum came on a boat to Ellis island (in New York). My father was first generation who went to college and was a valedictorian scholarship student. I didn't finish high school and that was a lot for them. They were very understanding that I wasn't going to be a student and I was going to be an artist. They were very accepting. But I also, at that time, in America, there were a lot of art programmes in public schools and I took advantage of all of them.

When I made Rize I was in shock that there were no art programmes at all, zero. I grew up in Connecticut which is different from South Central but what I heard and what I read is that art programmes have been going through cuts like crazy and that's a huge mistake. I think there's a lot of people in prisons who should have been artists who were never given the opportunity, I feel a lot of people who don't fit in society, had a calling to be an artist and if they were not given that opportunity, they just don't fit in other structures. As a result, they ended up in prisons or jail, by drugs or something else. It's very destructive to not be able to create, if that's really your calling. So when they cut the art programmes in school, it's a huge crime, a reflection of society supporting little of its culture. It's a downward spiral as history taught us. I think supporting the arts is as important as supporting charities. I really do. You can change the direction of a kid's whole life by giving him art, opening a world to him that he didn't know.

Like those kids on Rize, they created the dance. They created their whole art thus why I thought they were heroic.

DM: Have you been to Bali and what similarities do you find with Maui, your home away from home?

DL: I have been to Bali. I used to work for CondeNast's Traveller magazine, it was my first gig. I worked for them for more than 10 years. I wanted to see the world. I did all kinds of photography when I first started out - including weddings - they all taught me. I started in galleries then I worked for magazines for 20 years, I still sometimes do, I don't have any rules but I'm really focused on galleries and museums right now. They have all taught me, I learn techniques on photography, other cultures and I got to travel the world. It was what I wanted to do when I was a kid. Bali was beautiful but it was hard to be staying at the Four Season's and have poor people living just outside the hotel. This was in 1996. That's why Maui is perfect for me because it tries to take care of its own people and there's an infrastructure and there are doctors, health care in remote parts of the island. There's some attempt even though it's still flawed.

In South Central, part of Rize, there's this idea of the have-nots. The kids are dancing on the streets, you don't see that in Beverly Hills, the love and camaraderie that they have. There's a scene in the house where the grandmother is cooking food, the mum is dancing with the kids, the kids are dancing with the baby, there are generations in one room. There's LIFE. You don't see that in rich places, the kids are in one wing, the parents are over on the other side, all this distance, physical and emotional distances that big mansions create. And I felt a lot of things (on a family like the one on Rize). Yes, it's oppressive and dangerous, I'm not negating that, but what are we missing with all the things that we have? And we know in our heads that happiness does not come with the next purchase but do we really feel it? Do we believe that? We know it on paper, the idea, but we don't act on it all the time.

What I really love is nature and solitude and that's what Hawai'i provides for me. I wasn't looking to move somewhere. I had always wanted a cabin in the woods ever since I was a little kid. When I first came to New York I was praying for a cabin in the woods because that's where I feel closest to god, that's where I felt like myself. I felt like I had my feet on the ground and could find answers to questions I had in my life, was in nature. So I always wanted to have a cabin in the woods, so I was praying for that.

DM: Some of my L.A friends thought you were black. Not because they're mistaking you with the stand-up comedian but because of the work you've done on Rize, Krumped, the photos of Tupac Shakur and Kanye West. What is your cultural background?

DL: Lachapelle is Huguenot. We just found this out recently. I had an exhibition in Dublin and my mum came and she went to this old library and the librarian said, "don't you know that your last name is a Huguenot name?" The Huguenots are groups of people who had to flee France for religious prosecution and went to Canada in the 1600s. All these years I thought my background is Canadian but my ancestors really came from France. We have priests in the family but my mum is a naturalist, the woods are her cathedral. So I had this really different diverse upbringing, my mum was very much a free-thinker and I was taught to question things and not just to take things as they are but to find out for myself.

DM: How did you find these kids on Rize and would you do another documentary?

DL: My friends brought me down to South Central. I was doing a video for Christina Aguilera called Dirty and they thought I would like these dancers who were doing a dance called "clowning". I went there and there were a few dancers and I was going to put them in the video but also my thoughts were: "we're going to make a documentary film!" And I just knew it, I never doubted it, even though it never occured to me to make a documentary film. Never once. I wouldn't say I would say yes or no to making another documentary. I didn't do it as a stepping stone to be a director. I just did it because nobody was documenting it. It was an intuitive moment. I live my live intuitively and at that moment I felt like this: "I'm making this film. It's going to be shown all over the world." I knew it in an instant. And it was what happened. People really responded to it, I hear about it all the time and I made it with a purpose. And the purpose was to show these kids as heroes and I edited it that way too. Kids talking about each other. I'm still in touch and see the kids in the film. They're all doing great. For every one of them, there are thousands of others just as talented.

I had two people working on it with me and my fear was that it was going to be put on people's shelves. When I first saw them dancing I had this moment of seeing the future, of the film being really big in Japan and it was big in Japan. It was a $700,000 movie and was dubbed in Japanese, German, Italian etc. It was one of the few documentaries that was dubbed in seven languages. On the way to Sundance that year, I was reading a copy of Newsweek magazine and I read that 1 out of every 1000 documentaries that got started makes it to the theatres. I was like, whoa, that took the wind out of my sails.

Making Rize came to me as an intuitive rush, a lot of big decisions came to me this way. Like getting the place in Hawai'i. I knew I wanted a cabin in the woods. I had been visiting for many years and it never occurred to me. After I finished Rize, I was really overworked-I had financed the film whilst taking care of my studio and my staff, my life became out of balance. In order to do all that, I did every job that came along and one day my assistant came up to me and said, "you know it's been 11 months since you've had a day off." I was a workaholic and I had these goals, I knew something was going to change and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I finished Rize and my third book was finished and everything came into this completion. So again, another intuitive feeling that it was time to change.

DM: Was that when you got a place in Maui?

DL: Right at this time I was in Maui on a job for Motorola. They had come to me for an idea for the ad, so I said, let's shoot at this place that I know, it's really cool. I went there and the location scout at the time, who now runs my organic farm which is solar-powered, has goats and every fruit tree that grows in Hawai'i. It's self-sufficient and we give to the locals. At that time, we were driving around and he mentioned to me that there was a house for sale in this nudist colony. I was at the back of this tiny old car and I swear to god, I had the same feeling as I did when I wanted to make a documentary on those dancers in South Central, this rising warm feeling right on the centre of my chest and I didn't know where this house was, I didn't know what it looked like, I didn't know the name of it, I didn't ask him either. I just sat there and a singular thought came: "It's mine." I just sat there.

My actual philosophy is that we're just renting stuff in life, we're passing through. Generations of people have lived in that land in Hana, I have a piece of paper that says it's mine but it's not mine. Like this studio we're in right now. I'm sure someone in the 1920s would look at it and say, this is my place. This used to be a sound stage and then a photo studio.We're just passing through.

So, I had this feeling with the house in Maui that I was going to live there and I knew it like I knew I was going to make Rize.

DM: Are you going back there for Christmas?

DL: I really want to go there but I am just going to work through Christmas. These upcoming shows in Beijing and Taipei are so important to me. And I was home in Maui last Christmas and I love it here in Los Angeles. There are some pieces I want to make specifically for the exhibitions in Asia. New work that no one has ever seen before.

DM: What will you be doing for the Beijing and Taipei exhibitions?

DL: I'm really immersing myself in Chinese philosophies like Tao, Buddhism, Confuciusnism and even Bruce Lee. Because he's such a strong link. It's interesting how Chinese people don't know him but Americans do. Like in Beijing, people don't know who Pamela Anderson is and yet they know Leonardo diCaprio and Michael Jackson. Bruce Lee had this incredible philosophy that was very Buddhist. I don't believe just because someone was dead I can't photograph them. I don't believe that stops you, because I'm an artist and I paint and photograph whoever I want to. It's such an abstract idea right now but I know I can and will do it, it's just a question of how.

For Beijing especially, I'm thinking of this giant room at the Today Museum, I'm thinking of a bridge that people can relate to on both sides. Bruce Lee'e philosophies are so beautiful and he taught so many incredible things. For me, metaphorically, Beijing is like a Christmas morning. There's so much optimism and joy, you just look around and everyone is so optimistic. It's a different feeling than over here. The promise of happiness that those things promise you hasn't been broken yet for a lot of people, unlike people in the West. There's a certain amount of realisation that having material possessions does not bring you happiness. Not having enough, your needs are very focused: I need to eat, I have to provide for my kids. When it comes to materialistic things such as "that new pair of 300th pair of shoes is going to make me happy" is decadent, that's where most people in the West are. We're realising all that stuff is not what it's all cracked up to be. And this is almost always reflected in my photographs from almost the beginning.

When you see the museum pieces, you will see a certain theme. I am not saying that material things are not at all important. I love glamour and fashion, those things are reflective of beauty. It's only when they become out of balance, when they become obsessions, when you accumulate things and it becomes almost like a religion, as if those things were going to bring happiness. And they don't and we know that. I want to express these ideas in a clear way, in all my work. The Chinese are very sensitive and they know these things. I think it's important to recognise these things. Honestly I'm not there to sell, all I want is to communicate my ideas. We just did a show in Guadalajara and before that Mexico City. Some people were like, "why do you want to do it there? there's no art market there." Because it's not what it's all about. Frida Kahlo was from there and the people were so incredible, sweet and so polite. I was with Amanda Lepore in Mexico City and people were following us as if we were Guns and Roses in the 90s and giving us flowers and cheering. I think these kids are starving for work that they can understand. Visuals go beyond language.

I've liberated myself from magazines work and am at a point where I can do whatever I want. Using things I love and communicate to a broad range of people. I feel that a lot of contemporary artists don't care about the audience, they care about the art collectors, seeing art as a commodity, fame and all that. I find that there's a handful or artists who care about communicating, it's not just about self-expressions or concepts, that's all been done before. We're at the age now, where it's really important for artists to communicate to a whole range of people. If you have something to say and have a way to say it and you throw it away because of money or fame, I think you're doing a huge disservice to yourself.

DM: I feel that a lot of your work emphasises on beauty in people, regardless of colour or size. One of my favourite pieces of your work is "Becoming Clean" with Tupac Shakur amongst others. How was it like work with him?

DL: Tupac was great, he was very sensitive and is truly a good person. I wrote to his mum when he died and she sent me flowers and gave me his last song, "Ghetto Gospel." When we did the shoot, he had just come out of prison and every shot has a reason, it's never random, so this was the idea of the photo shoot, him becoming clean. He had given this interview when he was still in prison and he really opened up and was so honest. I had read it and thought it was so truthful so for the work I did with him, there was this idea of washing away and rebirth. And we did another shoot where he posed as a slave on a cotton field. They traced rapping and rhyming to "call and repeat" during slavery time in sugar cane and cotton fields to pass the time. It's on the Hotel Lachapelle book. Tupac came to the shoot 2 hours early, which was very unusual for a rapper. So I wasn't ready for the shoot and he didn't care. He reminded me of my black friends whom I went to art schools with, he was so cool, open-minded and chill. He wasn't judgemental. Then later on, I found out that he had gone to an art school. He left behind a big bag of socks and underwear because he had just come out from prison and never picked it up. He died shortly after. I still wear his socks sometimes (laughs).

DM: Your latest work is titled "Archangel Michael, No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer." Please tell us more about it.

DL: Through the years, I always used a Michael Jackson impersonator, including one for Rolling Stone magazine's Millennium issue. I never met or shot Michael Jackson, I'd like to make that clear. I was in Israel when he died and it didn't really hit me until I got back to Maui. It took awhile to sink in. It's funny how the world has lost its great artist, his huge fan base never lost their innocence, they never believed the accusations and then there were people who kind of question things. And now they realise that it was a mistake, the mistake is that they were judging him, because he's innocent. I think he was here to teach us lessons about judgement. The extremes of his life, from black to white, being the most famous musician on the planet to being ridiculed in prosecution, the fact that he had this ambiguous sort of gender, with his voice and always being some kind of threat to people because he altered his face, I think people were kind of scared of that. If you really look at it, it's teaching us something. There's no one in the history of popular music that sang and wrote lyrics like Michael Jackson did. There's a consistency in his interviews. He used to say, "I see the face of god in children." There's not an evidence in the accusation. If you look at the trial, it was a complete fabrication, it should never have gone to trial. It was ridiculous.

I believe he was here to teach us a lesson and we can hear this through the lyrics of his songs but the greater lesson is about judgement. Judging people we don't know. And about kindness and hope. It's also rekindled his music and his energy, a whole new generation discovering his music. It's amazing that he lived to be 50, given the extraordinary circumstances he was living in.

He made 30 songs in Ireland that have not been released. I really am looking forward to them. The great thing about doing visual art is that I can actually get better at it, by unlearning and learning, all of it is growing. My goal is to make pictures that teach people like music like Michael's music. I don't know if it's attainable, that's like reaching for the moon. I want to move people. When they come to a museum or gallery, I want them to feel something and take it with them. I want people to connect through that art work and that's magic. My goal is to reach to people and confirm an idea that they may have, a sense of recognition such as "I feel the same way!" The art work is that connection, when they see it, they connect to a particular feeling, some kind of enlightenment can happen.

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With thanks to David Lachapelle, Jordie Turner, Pascal deSarthe and Patick Toolan and David Lachapelle Studio in Los Angeles.

Dubbed as the Fellini of photography and ranked amongst the Top Ten Most Important People in Photography in the World by American Photo, David Lachapelle's photography has been showcased in prestigious art galleries and museums worldwide including LaMonnaie de Paris in France, Palazzo Reale in Italy, The Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin and the Barbican Museum in London.\

He has photographed numerous personalities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna, David Beckham, Tupac Shakur, Leonardo diCaprio, Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Kanye West, Amanda Lepore, Uma Thurman, Lady Gaga, Pamela Anderson and more.

In 2010, MOCA Taipei and Today Art Museum in Beijing will exhibit a collection of Lachapelle's work from the last 25 years including new work that has never seen before. Some of his recent work that will be showcased are The Deluge, Museum, Cathedral, the Awakened series, Holy War, Candy Mosque, Children's Bacchanal, The Rape of Africa and Archangel Michael: And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer.

The show at MOCA Taipei is from 2nd of April through May 31st, 2010 and at Beijing Today Art Museum on 20th of June through July 14th, 2010.

At this time, exhibitions in other cities in the Asia have yet to be confirmed but we are hoping that his work will be showcased in Singapore as well.

Filed in: Visual Arts, David LaChapelle, Meilinda Soerjoko
Tagged with: angelina jolie, Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, Meilinda Soerjoko, David LaChapelle, Tupac Shakur, Alexander McQueen and Isabelle Blow, Madonna., OnSugar March Giveaway

The Man Behind Boxeight. Peter Gurnz Interview. Designare Magazine. Dec 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · February 23, 2010 · 0 Comments · 91 Views

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Peter Gurnz is the founder and C.E.O of BOXeight Studios. His art production company has been responsible for bringing life back into L.A Fashion Week: for Fall 2009 season, where the IMG/Mercedes Benz Fashion Week organizer was notably absent, it was speculated that if it hadn't because of BOXeight, there would not be an L.A Fashion Week that season. It was the same season Skingraft Designs showed at BOXeight LAFW and it had since evolved to the label it is today knows as. The season before that, BOXeight brought in Brian Lichtenberg, another L.A heavyweight designer.

Gurnz is a Native New Yorker who grew up in Alphabet City, there are still traces of a New York accent in his speech but the man who loves L.A as much as the Mayor of L.A himself - such that BOXeight's work in the fashion world has been endorsed by Mayor of L.A Antonio Villaraigosa and the two have recently had a meeting at the Mayor's office discussing Fashion Week - has made it obvious that L.A is now his home. Along with the wave of gentrification of Downtown L.A, Gurnz has managed to bring the spotlight of LAFW back to its origins, to Downtown Los Angeles, home of fashion and garment districts. L.A locals have witnessed the growth of BOXeight from its reputation of "Underground Royalty" to what it is known today, with Spring 2010 kicking off strong with Fashion Refocus, a collaborative efforts with L.A Models and Flaunt Magazine.

An established photographer himself, Gurnz's work has been featured in Germany GQ magazine and regularly shows his photography work at the Modern Fine Arts in El Paseo, Palm Springs. Designare caught up with him after the craziness of Fashion Week has died down and for a brief moment, while he was not surrounded by photographers, employees (who sport BOXeight tattoos on their arms for the love of the company they work for), models, the usual crew of girls wishing to meet him and fellow artists wanting to congratulate him. The man is an artist, a photographer, a businessman and to some, an L.A "homie". By Meilinda Soerjoko.

Designare Magazine: What made you move to L.A and how did you end up creating BOXeight?

Peter Gurnz: I moved to L.A for personal reasons, ended up staying here and started out BOXeight mainly for the need, as a creative person, to be surrounded by other creative people. We started out with underground parties with music bands and after a couple of years I bought the studio in Downtown L.A as a home for BOXeight.

DM: What is your art background?

PG: I went to Rhode Island School of Design majoring in Industrial Designs and upon graduation I worked for photojournalist Peter Beard as well as series of collaborative work with him before I moved to Los Angeles. I also used to sell my art work on Spring Street in NYC. My main focus is photography; I find that I am consuming art through everything that is beautiful. A lot of the art today is moving away from the traditional art of tragedy and closer to beauty.

DM: Fast forward to L.A after 5 years living here. What direction do you want to take with Boxeight Studios?

PG: I'd like to see BOXeight become a part of a Los Angeles destination. Almost like Universal Studios but for artists and creative agencies. We are rapidly becoming one of the most competitive studios in Los Angeles and it is primarily because of the content we produce within the walls of BOXeight and beyond.

DM: BOXeight is like a family business, your employees are like family to you. Were you all friends before they came to work for BOXeight?

PG: I have been pursuing this dream for 12 years in some form or another through living and working within industrial spaces as well as producing content. It just attracts like-minded people. So whether I involve my friends or met them along the road, we're all here for the same resons and resources. But they have all become family. And we're growing in strength and numbers. There are now 19 boxeight tattoos on the arms of our army.

DM: In your opinion do u think Downtown L.A's path has a resemblance to L.E.S gentrification and can it get that way?

PG: Both the L.E.S and Downtown L.A have been very gentrified. It's the world we live in. Until the ideals of the more conscious people in our society become a part of our everyday thoughts and we become more elevated-consious people as a whole, this type of industrialization will continue. It's not all bad. There are a lot of amazing things poping up all over in between the Starbucks cafes and the Staples Center.

DM: You've been quoted "we are not trying to be Paris, London, Milan or NY. We are trying to be L.A" in reference to the success of Boxeight L.A Fashion Week. Do you think it's the recipe of your LAFW success?

PG: Absolutely. I think we are very well-recognized as a production company that has found a way to represent the best of LA in a way that is appropriate to LA and respected by our sister cities. Keeping Fashion Week entertainment-driven and focusing on our strengths creatively has been what others have failed to do. Just because certain companies have big marketing budgets, it doesn't mean that it belongs on runways.

DM: Whose work do you admire?

PG: I admire anyone that is trying to find their way and make a life for themselves in the creative world. It's a lot of work and takes along time to get your head above the masses. I'm afraid my main inspirations as a photographer in life are a little cliche, but they are largely responsible for BOXeights' existence. Andy Warhol is a very direct influence in my life in terms of how he approached a collective and the content they created. Guy Bourdin is probably my favourite photographer who I'd like to credit much of my inspiration. Peter Beard is an old friend and his work is very touching for me. Being in his 70s and still shooting is admirable on any level and I have much respect for the man. There are dozens of fashion photographers whose work I have studied and even more in the art and documentary world.

DM: What can we expect for LAFW F10 from Boxeight?

PG: I'm not telling, but it's big. Real big. Expect to see very similar content as this past season's instalations. This was the first event that we did that directly helped me as a photographer, BOXeight as a studio and the stylists. It's not all about the designers anymore, we're excited about that. We've become the talent and we'll be showing you exactly what it means to be a part of BOXeight and a part of our family. Love L.A, support BOXeight.

Photos: Richard Greco, Peter Gurnz.

Tagged with: Meilinda Soerjoko, Boxeight, peter gurnz, LA Fashion Week Spring 2010

Caught On Camera. Boxeight LAFW S10. Designare Magazine, Singapore. Dec 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · February 23, 2010 · 0 Comments · 176 Views

Photos: Chad Wilson.

Text from the article:

Boxeight/LA Models Fashion Refocus.

There was a lot of hype leading to Boxeight Studio's Fashion Refocus event in Los Angeles. The LA-based art production and fashion event organiser had previously brought talented L.A designers to light during its previous seasons of LA Fashion Week. This time, however, they collaborated with LA Models, one of the most successful modelling agencies in L.A, to bring a behind-the-scenes look of what goes on photo shoot session comprises 14 different designers' collections and the work of 13 photographers. Boxeight Studios, under the leadership of artist/photographer Peter Gurnz together with Francis Enriquez of L.A Models propelled a pioneering event that steered away from traditional runway shows. Designers were to have their own individual photo shoot set consisting of their own's installation, along with their team and Spring 2010 collections. The photo shoots simultaneously took place over a period of 3 days to be viewed by press, buyers and industry people. Those invited experienced the extended version of designers' collection's exhibit which was sponsored by Flaunt magazine (with an exclusive to the photo shoot images for their December issue) at Boxeight Studios in downtown L.A. Kicking off the event with an over-capacity party which brought in famed photographer David Lachapelle as a guest of honour, the event's participating designers included Skingraft Designs, Project Runway alums Jeffrey Sebelia and Jerrell Scott as well as Louis Verdad, who is making a comeback this season after a long hiatus.

Throughout its 12,000 square feet of studio space, Boxeight Studios and its Fashion Refocus designers assembled pop-up studio sets for every designer along with hair and make-up stations for the models. The creativity button was pushed to the max: with five different designers' sets each day of the event. Two of Boxeight fashion photographers, Peter Gurnz and Ben Cope each shot 2 different designers' Spring 2010 collections over 2 different days. Gurnz shot the labels Secta, complete with wooden tower, rope swing and several models for its scene. For the Jerrell Scott shoot, what first appeared to be a steel background turned out to be silver tapes looped around a frame of wires which provided a smart background for the scene as well as a contrast to the gladiator-like headpieces worn by the models. Celebrity and fashion photographer Kurt Iswarienko shot Jeffrey Sebelia with actress Shannen Dougherty as Assistant Photographer and model Katrina Hunter, sporting a new hairdo fresh from the Erin Wasson show at NY Fashion Week. Cope shot Factory by Erik Hart on its first day of the event, also with Katrina Hunter and designer Linda Antico on its third day. Each shots were immediately viewable on a large computer screen for the viewers and photographers to check if the intended shot is achieved.

With this type of setting, the main advantage for viewers is the ability to review the collection over an extended period of time and for those who were not yet familiar to the concepts of fashion photo shoot, an eye-opening experience. Often models are instructed to move along on a fast speed during shows which could lead to a disadvantage of the work being under exposed, had it not been for photographs, amongst viewers. This event had the opposite effect, so much so that each designer's photo shoot session lasted for an average of 3 hours, made tolerable due to the fact that there were several photo shoots occurring at the same time to hop around to and from. Guests of the events got caught in the photography wave with some taking pictures of the scene with their mobile phones.

Previously Boxeight Studios' work in the L.A fashion scene had been endorsed by the Mayor of L.A for bringing fashion back to its original location of downtown L.A, with some healthy competition from smaller events taking place in Hollywood. During its IMG/Mercedes Benz days, the majority of fashion events in L.A took place at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, an awkward location close to Sony Studios that brought poor media attendance and eventually closed down, albeit temporarily, according to local rumours. L.A Fashion Week is a fashion week of its own kind, its participants from event organizers to designers refusing to be compared to its fashion capital nemesis that is NY Fashion Week. For one, the climate in L.A encourages more of Ready-to-wear collections, much more wearable in a city with plenty of sunshine throughout the year.

When asked for the recipe of Boxeight's success, Gurnz outlined his point well when he pointed out, "We are not trying to be London, Paris, Milan or even NY. We are trying to be L.A. " With its Fashion Refocus event, the value of entertainment is included just like everything else in L.A, ringing true to its reputation as the entertainment capital of the world with bands and dj sets throughout the duration of the event. Some critiques that were going around was that it was commercial in value, which is an oxymoron statement of its own since every Fashion Week out there is heavily induced with its commercial aspect- from the artistic aspect of designers' presentations in shows and collections, its press attendance for media exposure, celebrity attendance to flavour first-row seats and buyers checking out the newest and the best for their stores.

Considering the complexity this event brought, overall it was brilliantly executed and one would not be too surprised that when Fall 2010 season comes, Boxeight and LA Models might just collaborate once more for LA Fashion Week. Perhaps the involvement of other medium could come forth. After all, this is LA LA land and Boxeight is an art production studio. Moreover, the international media exposure it has received may prompt international designers to participate, perhaps a Singaporean designer-on-the-rise who might be interested in launching an international career. Within the industry, it has been known to be more affordable to achieve this by going the L.A way where event producers charging designers a much lower rate that what is known in NY Fashion Week. The entertainment capital of the world is not trying to be the new fashion capital of the US, it is simply playing its role in celebrating fashion in the way they know how other than wearing it as an art form: through art installation and a live photo shoot paired with an element of fun. It does sound like fashion, refocused.

Filed in: Los Angeles Fashion week, Boxeight Fashion:Refocus
Tagged with: Boxeight LA Fashion Week, Meilinda Soerjoko, peter gurnz, ben cope, Fashion Refocus, Chad Wilson., OnSugar March Giveaway

Aviator Chic: Skingraft Designs LAFW S10. Designare Magazine. Nov 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · February 23, 2010 · 2 Comments · 247 Views

Text from the article:

Los Angeles Fashion Week Spring 2010.

Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) is different from any other international Fashion Weeks for a number of reasons: IMG is no longer a part of it (last event was in 2008) and the independent designers showing are mostly LA-based. Several independent LAFW organizers presented a multitude of designers-on-the-rise and some discoveries of note-worthy talents. Designare met with two of L.A's best from separate LAFW events, both backstage and at the show. By Meilinda Soerjoko, L.A Correspondent.

Skingraft Designs at Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week At MOCA.

The strangest thing happened on the day of Skingraft's Spring 2010 fashion show on 13th of October, 2009: it rained heavily in Los Angeles. This is extremely rare for L.A in October and it almost felt like New York City except that everyone was driving their own car in the slow-moving 101 highway. Parking hassle at the venue (note to event organisers: please tell your press it's cash only?) in the pouring rain made it even more of a challenge but it was all for a worthy cause.

For Spring collection 2010, last season's fashion editors' favourite Skingraft Designs showed with Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week at the Geffen Contemporary/Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA). Designare was lucky enough to be granted access to an exclusive backstage coverage. Upon our admittance, we met up with models who were still bare-faced albeit with wigs on, waiting for hair and make-up: all models were either wearing short black and blond wigs and/or aviator hats in conjunction to the inspiration of the Spring 2010 line: "post-mortem Amelia Earhart and birds in flight." The focus of the models' beauty were purposely neutered down with bare minimum make-up, deliberately done so it did not take away the focus from the pieces they were modelling.

Assigned closing model Barbora Vesela waited for her turn patiently by reading a book whilst snacking on a box of Japanese seaweed. Also seen in model line-up was AJ English, famed LA-designer Brian Licthenberg's right-hand man who just came back from a European tour with his band and last season's opening model Danielle Nicole, who was fitted into a sleek white leather pants to be paired with a lust-worthy white jacket with metal-jeweled shoulders and a feminine ruffled bottom. Clothes were being steamed, prepped and lined up according to models for the show. Team work was evident and everything ran smooth and orderly, absent of chaos or drama expected of fashion shows backstage. Perhaps the cooler temperature mellowed everyone out. Even their PR representative, Kimberly Goodnight of Consulting Info appeared together as she got down on her knees with her team arranging last-minute seatings of guests on the seat plan.

Browsing through the ready-to-wear clothes and two couture-like gowns, the collection showcased non-typical spring colours such as muted greys, blacks, khaki green, featuring white and sky blue as the most blatant spring colours in a presentation of men and women's wear. Emphasis was on aviator chic in contrast to last season's biker/goth. Designers Jonny Cota and Katie Kay paired delicate silk blouses with shearling bomber jackets, strong shoulders were ubiquitous throughout the collection, topped with metal jewels. Skingraft's trademarks of men's holsters and women's harness were worn by dancers for the opening number. Made popular by their last season's show, they have since been seen on members of Black Eyed Peas with the women's harness being spotted on Fergie on multiple basis. Their celebrity following includes Kat Von D, Adam Lambert (American Idol finalist), Jenny Shimizu and Margaret Cho amongst others.

What makes Skingraft unique is the way the designers are trained in creating costumes from their old circus days. The trio designers, Jonny Cota, Katie Kay and Cassidy Hailey(taking a break this season from designing duties) all met whilst working as circus performers. Katie later studied textile design and the three started out with custom orders and finally launching their line after constant and growing popular demand by L.A locals who appreciate their elaborate leather gowns. Their success have gradually become more apparent as each season's collection stronger than the last. All clothes are manufactured in Bali with Cota staying on extended visits to supervise production.

About an hour into the show, rehearsal was conducted for the models with Cota getting involved in directing the models. Music choice blasting during rehearsal were Earth Intruders Instrumental by Bjork and Running Up That Hill Remix by Kate Bush, both gave a strong glimpse of what was to come for show time. As the models piled back and individually fitted to their assigned clothes, traces of their own personalities faded as complete touches were conducted. They transformed into Skingraft beings, their diverse ethnicities further flavoured the pieces. It was now time for us to take our seats as the room buzzed of invite-only guests allocating their seats.

The show at Geffen Contemporary, just like their last, was a full-house attendance with plenty of guest without assigned seatings standing on the edges of the available floor space. Following their last opening act, a team of dancers emulating birds flying took place and by the time the opening model came out, the crowd was wild with excitement. The essence of Skingraft Designs were strongly felt throughout the whole collection: wearable pieces were laced with contrasts with a hint of Jean-Paul Gaultier circa late 1980s/early 1990s. The designers pulled off the nearly impossible: a tulip-shaped long black jumpsuits with skinny legs, prominent shoulders and high collars that actually worked. Classic black and white combo was not your typical chess board with decorative studs on a three-quarter white leather jacket paired with a trendy-looking little black dress.

The men's wear were trendy without being over the top with staple military-like jackets, long white shorts and studded belts. Very much rock and roll without overcompensating the theme. The crowd went wild towards the end of the show as three of the last pieces came out one by one. Ruffled dresses with long boots and off-the-shoulder bustieres along with an off-the-shoulder illusion with a twist (the grey piece had a bird sitting on the shoulder piece decorated with what looked like bullet pellets). The final gown looked extremely heavy with studded armors over the previously-mentioned black dress with a long, cascading black skirt over it and a wing-like headpiece.

Skingraft Designs put LA Fashion seriously on the map last season with its successful Fall 2009 show, shortly before their store opening in Downtown Los Angeles. This season, the overall collection was an announcement that they were here to stay and its continued growth has achieved a different level of success, with stores in Japan, NYC amongst others carrying their lines. It is little wonder, that they're known as fashion editors' favourite. Here's hoping, for Los Angeles sake, that they would not make the NY jump as most established US designers do upon achieving high level of success. L.A is represented well this season, thanks to Skingraft.

http://www.skingraftdesigns.com

Filed in: Skingraft Designs
Tagged with: Meilinda Soerjoko, Skingraft Designs, Designare Magazine, LAFW S10

Love Me If You Dare. David Alexander. Designare Magazine. Nov 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · February 23, 2010 · 0 Comments · 94 Views

Text from the article:

It may be way too early to call David Alexander "L.A's young Marc Jacobs" but David Alexander's level of vision and passion in the world of fashion and fresh popularity resemble that of Marc Jacobs early path in 1980s NYC. David Alexander's packed Spring 2010 show at the Los Angeles Theatre is titled "Love Me If You Dare". Designare met up with him backstage post-show and he was in good spirits following good attendance of the event. Alexander is a young LA-based designer who has gained a name for himself in the fashion industry, armed with celebrity clients. After completing his studies in Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and Parson's School of Design in NYC, he made a move back to L.A and developed his label.

By Meilinda Soerjoko

Designare Magazine: When did you start designing and could you tell us about your previous work?

David Alexander: I started designing when I was 20 and am now 24 years old. I worked as a designer for a year and a half before I got my own label. I just realized after designing at

St. John and freelancing for DKNY that I wanted to make my own visions walk down the runway with my own concepts.

I've had three previous collections, In the Black of Night for Fall/Winter 2008, Hampton State of Mind which was a small men's collection, Needful Things Fall/Winter 2009 (holiday collections) and then held off summer working for costume jobs for clients and couture. Then I followed up with The Broken Princess and The Secret Prince.

DM: I noticed that you chose to present your collection in the foyer of L.A Theatre. Was that your idea? I seem to remember you did Boxeight LAFW last season at the ballroom downstairs.

DA: I did. This time I did it in the foyer because I llike my shows to be intimate and not boring with white walls... And I like my models to be ground-level, so that people can see every bit of detail I put into a piece. It's also more in line with telling a story of my collections, all very personal and describe certain aspects of my life.

DM: What is the meaning behind Love Me If You Dare?

DA:The current collection is titled Love Me If You Dare. It is about the risk of meeting the wrong person for a romantic relationship but also about running the risk of losing the right person you love.

DM: Who is inspiring to you?

DA: My friend Domiziano Arcangeli (who attended the show), an Italian actor who's worked with Fellini, has had an interesting life due to being sucked into young stardom at a young age in Italy and was galavanting around the likes of Helmut Newton, Monica Vitti, Natasha Kinsky...I find it amazing because it's all so glamorous and painful at the same time, therefore inspiring.

DM: We have runway shots from the show and look book shots from you. Who took them?

DA: The runway shots are by Abie Aguiar. The look book is by Roldolfo Martinez who's shot Robert Downey Jr, Leonardo di Caprio and Naomi Campbell. He's a dear friend.

DM: I briefly spoke with your hair stylist prior to the show, Theodore Leaf. Was there a unifying theme you instructed him with for this show?

DA: He did a great job unifying hair and make-up, light amount of make-up with camel-like lashes to give the desert feel, wavy locks. Theme was a young woman wandering though the hot desert but she's still able to keep herself gorgeous. One model, Laura La Rue, the girl in the red dress, her hair is done up more. She was the embodiment of Love for the collection.

DM: You have worked with a few celebrities. Care to name a few?

DA: I'm blessed to have worked with many celebrities-from 1930's Oscar winner Margaret O' Brian, someone from Old Hollywood, to modern day Megan Fox, Britney Spears, Tony Braxton, Ashlee Simpson, the Kardashians.

DM: I saw on your facebook status update that you're going backstage to meet with Bono.

DA: It was a present from my model Laura. I don't know how she did it but we're going backstage to meet with him and then we're all going to have dinner...

DM: Who is the most important person in your life?

DA: I get my biggest support from my mum, she is the most important person in the world to me. She always calms me down when I'm frustrated; she raised me to have thick skin and do my thing. If people don't like my work, then it's not for them. Fashion industry is very hard to work in if you're not tough both physically and emotionally because you will have many sleepless nights. Many people may like or not like it. Very much an emotional rollercoaster and pushing up the hill. Ha ha ha.

Tagged with: Designare Magazine, Meilinda Soerjoko., David Alexander

The Last Emperor: Tribute To Valentino. LA Fashion Week Event. November Issue of Designare Magazine, Singapore.

By minxdeluxe · November 8, 2009 · 1 Comment · 275 Views

Text from the article:

By Meilinda Soerjoko.

When we heard that The Paper Bag Princess Vintage Couture was doing a Celebration of Valentino tribute show, we were intrigued by the promise of lush, rare and simply gorgeous couture pieces grazing the runway at the closing gala at Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). We were even more delighted to see that they would be honouring Maria Bello as the 2009 recipient of Los Angeles Spirit Award for Style and Substance, for her philanthropy work and support of Los Angeles-based designer. Just recently, Bello received a humanitarian award at Power of Women Luncheon for her work with the Save Darfur Coalition. The gala was a charity event to benefit MOCA.

Maria Bello

The award was given by Elizabeth Mason, herself a philanthropist and the C.E.O of The Paper Bag Princess Vintage Couture Inc, known for its extensive couture vintage collection. Mason has put her knowledge on vintage wear by authoring vintage reference books and through ownership of two exclusive vintage couture boutiques in Beverly Hills and Toronto, with extensive celebrity clients. For the ultimate couture vintage lovers, next visit to Los Angeles would entail a devoted time browsing through Mason's vintage boutique in Beverly Hills. The 4,000-square feet boutique in Beverly Hills is equipped with vast vintage couture, collectible contemporary clothing and even a private VIP couture salon as well as a library of fashion and photography books and research materials.

For the Valentino tribute show, titled, "A Celebration of Valentino, The Last Emperor", Mason channelled her vision of Valentino by selecting couture pieces from her collection, which she believed were representative of Valentino's brilliant influence. The result was an attractive presentation of vintage couture with ubiquitous red presence, to symbolise the now-retired couturier's body of work. In the presentation, Mason included an Adrian Original circa 1940s, a 1960s Givenchy Haute Couture, 1970s Christian Dior Haute Couture and Yves Saint Laurent from the 1970s and a more recent 1990s Versace gown coupled with Elizabeth Mason Couture Spring/Summer 2010 Red Duchess Satin pleated wrap.

Celebrity attendance included Garcelle Beauvais and Daisy Fuentes on front row. There were industry guests who were only given floor space to stand on and it was an honour to be given a good seat at the exclusive event. Matt Goss delivered a charming performance as the opening act and the full room burst into an applause as Maria Bello received her award before the start of the fashion show.

Daisy Fuentes

Garcelle Beauvais

Matt Goss

A total of twenty four looks were displayed at the show and the audience was left yearning for more. Though none of the vintage pieces shown were Valentino's - a fact justified by Mason that no owner of a vintage Valentino gown would ever get rid of it, therefore lack of availability for sale - it was comparable to that of what a vintage Valentino gown would have looked like. Influences of the Last Emperor were celebrated and perhaps this was an educational event to its attendants and a reminder to all of us, just how precious a Valentino vintage piece is. If you have it, never dispense of it.

#####

Photos: Meilinda Soerjoko

Tagged with: Maria Bello, Daisy Fuentes, the last emperor, Meilinda Soerjoko, Garcelle Beauvais, Elizabeth Mason, downtown LA fashion week, LA Fashion Week Spring 2010, Valentino Tribute, Paperbag Princess

Modern Minimalist: Le Cavour 220 Partnership With Armani/Casa. Published by Designare Magazine, Singapore. Oct 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · October 21, 2009 · 1 Comment · 507 Views

Here's an article I wrote:

Text From The Article:

If you have been dreaming of John Mayer's Soho loft with its posh Armani/Casa interior design, upon reading this you may also be lusting after The Cavour220 in Rome. Originally an ancient building undergoing a massive make-over, it offers its future residents the delightful comfort of an uber exclusive service apartment infused with the timeless elegance of Armani/Casa interior decoration. Add a generous dose of prestige and ancient historical value to the location of said apartment, such as Rome's ancient quarter Via Cavour on the slopes of Palatine Hill in the centre of the Seven Hills of Rome, which leads to the Fori Imperiali and the Coliseum. Such is the tantalising vision of The Cavour220 project, the perfect marriage of Armani creativity with the vision of one of the most significant names in European real estate, Doughty Hanson of developer Europa Risorse. In the words of Giorgio Armani, "Tradition. The here and now. Eternal ruins in a scenario of throbbing vitality and dynamic energy. Beauty. That's Rome for me -- the quintessential Italian lifestyle city in its sweetest, fullest, pulsating and thrilling glory, charming not only the visitor but those who live there now or dream of living there tomorrow."

The Cavour220 is planned for six linked buildings comprises 62 apartments, restored wherever possible from the original structure of the ancient buildings, grouped around a large garden. Occupying a total of 12,000 square metres with 24/7 personal concierge services ranging from apartment maintenance, travel arrangements, baby sitting, to last-minute tickets to the theatre or a sports event. Such a concept may be the norm amongst Upper East Siders or Mayfair residents but is still relatively new in Italy. Set to have its first apartments ready for the first half of 2010, with its terraced gardens and botanical beauty, the building amplifies its Roman heritage through the liberal use and display of travertine stone, traditionally seen in Italian buildings. The unique combination of history, geographical value and individual ground plans for the apartments blessed with various ceiling heights call for a special treatment: the Armani/Casa design team offers layouts and can furnish the apartment according to the owner's preference.

The Armani lifestyle is reflected in the colour palette, with harmonious beige and grey, cosmopolitan black and tobacco brown. A play of textures and contrasts between glossy and matt, transparent and opaque are omnipresent, all contributive towards the balance of comfort and security. Reminiscent of a signature Armani suit, the essence is timeless, elegant and beyond passing trends. The choice of materials could be mistaken for an edgy piece of art work, with silver travertine, rosewood, bronze, nickel plus silk carpets and furnishings designed and custom made for the project. The concoction of art, class, history and quality materials give a new meaning to the phrase "there's no other place like home." Perhaps even John Mayer may be a future resident at the Cavour220. With a custom-made Armani/Casa guitar display case, of course.

Until Oct 31st 2009: Take 10% off all orders with code MKTG@EA on emporioarmani.com!

Thanks to Thomas at Boxeight for the jpgs

Tagged with: singapore., Designare Magazine, Le Cavour 220, Armani/Casa, October Issue 09, Meilinda Soerjoko.

Sebastian Copeland: The Cool Environmentalist. Published by Designare Magazine, Singapore. Sept 09 Issue.

By minxdeluxe · October 21, 2009 · 3 Comments · 338 Views

So amazing I got to interview Sebastian Copeland!!!

Text from the article:

Designaré Magazine: How did you end up in Los Angeles?

Sebastian Copeland: I moved to L.A in 1984, went to UCLA and graduated in 1987. I came here for college, the lifestyle and the quality of life. I lived in New York for 4 years at one point (where he graduated with International Baccalaureat at the Lycee Francais de New York.)

DM: I read that you're half French and half British. A Franco Pommie.

SC: I definitely feel more British than I do French. My father's French, my parents split up when I was 4 years old and I lived with my mum so I've got more of my mum's infuence in that fashion, but I do carry the dual nationality. I grew up in England and France and came to America when I was 16. I'm a citizen of the planet, as they say.

DM: Have you been to Singapore before?

SC: I haven't, I'm very much looking forward to it. I'll be in Singapore for a week and then I go to Angor Wat, Cambodia for a couple of days. I'll be in Asia for almost two weeks.

DM: You're going to have an exhibition in Singapore at the Ceylon Living in Style. Can you tell us more about it?

SC: I've done a couple of books on Antarctica and I've travelled extensively in the poles area, that's my area of speciality. My latest one is the North Pole this year after doing 700 kilometres on foot over 62-days period. I'm also on the board of Global Green USA, that was founded by President Mikhail Gorbachev. And so what I do is, I marry my personal adrenalin fixes for expeditions and at the same time I'm a photographer. I come back to talk about how the poles are, our climate, in geo-political fashion.

It's a presentation on the poles and how we desperately need a market transformation towards sustainable economy. I relay my personal experiences, being around the poles.

The photographs at the exhibition are in support of that talk.

DM: I heard you have succesfully quit smoking. How did you manage to do it?

SC: It was a struggle for many years. It has to be an intellectual decision otherwise it doesn't work. It really is an institutionalized murder, there's no other way to put it. Because there's nothing good about smoking that's any different from taking heroin. It feels good to take it but there's absolutely no upside, in any other level, other than (for big companies and governments) to make money.

DM: How long have you quit smoking?

SC: It's been a ten-year quitting process. I smoked as a kid and then quit. I am an extreme athlete, that is what I am, so there's a real contradiction between my mode of existence and this. So I quit definitely last year after struggling enormously.

DM: Was that during your travel?

SC: Yes, I constantly did expeditions so I'd quit and start again when I came back. Or I'd be in heavy training so I would reduce or eliminate my intake and went to do the expedition. Then little by little picked it up again after I returned. But this time I haven't had a smoke in over a year and it's completely out of my system.

As humans we have not been conditioned to know how bad it is for you, we are immature species, at the end of the day. In industrial terms we are less than 150 years old. The earth is 4.5 billion years old. It's been a very accelerated development and we're drunken on our own accomplishments. Somehow this has prevented us from really looking what the other options were, what the implications were and how BETTER we can actually do this. Cigarettes is one of them. Of course climate, is a much weighting one.

DM: Someone like you needs to be copy and pasted all over schools.

SC: Now "global warming" is a household term and it has penetrated our collective consciousness. People are more aware, that part of it has been more accomplished. The skeptics are becoming more and more like a member of the "flat-earth" society, that there IS such a thing as global warming.

Now it's a matter of how do you implicate education? How do you activate governance? How do you encourage elected officials to represent your interest? Doing so, you need the media to inform the people of the interest. Unfortunately it is not happening as fast as it ought to. Because there are some very, very tough areas to cross, we're conditioned in such ways that we forget. I'm an enviromental advocate, I live and breathe and this is my life. That's all I think about, pretty much.

DM: How did you become an environmental advocate?

SC: It was the combination of two factors. Both of which I can trace back to my grandfathers, respectively.

My maternal grandfather was an Irish surgeon who lived in India. He was an avid outdoors man and for a long time was a hunter. Then mid-life, he traded his gun for a camera and became an avid photographer. He moved to South Africa and then to Swaziland, did safaris in Botswana, Tanzania and places like that and came back packed with great photographs. From him, I inherited great appreciation for the outdoors and the wild.

My paternal grandfather, from the age of 32, until he was 94, delivered meals to the elderly and the needy. From him I understood the nature of our priviledges, we're all priveledged. As long as you're not crawling into your grave so to speak, is a gift of humanity. I learned that it was a moral imparitive to impart, whatever you could to make this this place for other people to live in.

Since 2005, I've done 5 trips to the Artic and 2 trips to Antarctica, 2 other big ones planned. I'm doing the crossing of the Ice Cap in March and April, 1,500 km crossing on foot and over a period of 60 days. My interest has grown into these areas, hard-to-go through places and really is for the taste of exoticism and adventure. I believe fundamentally people are hungry for adventure, hungry for exotic sort of pill of vicarious experience through these places. Because we lived in such digitized and urbanized environment, where everything is digested for us.

DM: What kind of advice would you give the younger generation to help save the environment?

SC: The most important thing is education. The advice I would give people is to begin appreciate, as much as possible, an interaction in and with nature. Whether it be at the park, at the beach, wherever the context is, to really begin an appreciation to what it is to have a natural explosive biological wonder. The nature that is around us outside what's concrete.

And beyond that, start to develop an understanding that there is a war going on, unbeknownst to us and that we are the antagonistic force in that war. We are the invading force who are propogating and trying to invade this world.

Every single action has a reaction and every reaction has a consequence. So everything that we do in one form or another, impact the world that we live in. So what I would encourage people is to change one, two or three things that you do daily, to understand the implication in the carbon index manner, meaning how this negatively impact the environment. It can be as simple as turning the lights off in your household, taking shorter showers and to cut down on trash.

DM: What do you think about the lecture you will be having at Ceylon Living in Style Singapore?

SC: It will be an interesting oppportunity to speak at the Celton Living In Style. There is a shift in collective consciousness and a lot of these affluent brands who have the ability to make a change, are making those steps. The verified trendsetters in an enviroment like this, with the interest of sustainabilty at how to plan for the future. Plan B for the future, The World 2.0 as we can examine it.

###

Sebastian Copeland will be speaking at the Sustainability conference at Celton Living In Style on September 23rd, 2009. For more information visit www.livinginstyle-international.com

Tagged with: singapore., Sebastian Copeland, Designare Magazine, Meilinda Soerjoko.

A preview of Skingraft Designs Spring 2010 Collection.

By minxdeluxe · August 24, 2009 · 1 Comment · 281 Views

They're finally here! I have been hearing about the new collection from Jonny Cota, one of the three talented designers behind Skingraft Designs. He was in Bali to oversee the production of the following. When asked what is the inspiration behind the Spring 2010 collection, he says, "Amelia Earhart and skeletons."

They couldn't have chosen a better model for the photoshoot: Katrina Hunter, an angelic beauty represented by L.A Models whose metamorphosis into Amelia Earhart is flawless, with a modern twist. Photography by Ben Cope of Boxeight Studios.

Photo: Ben Cope
Hair & Makeup: Anthony Gordon
Stylist: Marcus Paglialonga
Model: Katrina Hunter and Keith Wilson

Filed in: spring 2010, Skingraft Designs
Tagged with: jonny cota, ben cope, Ruben Campos, Skingraft Designs, Katrina Hunter

My Interview with Q'orianka Kilcher for Cliche Magazine. August 2009 Edition.

By minxdeluxe · August 1, 2009 · 1 Comment · 1,283 Views

Hello readers,

I conducted an interview with Q'orianka Kilcher for the August edition of Cliche Magazine, the Green Issue. This issue is out today, which also features an editorial story by top fashion photographer Anthony Elgort titled DOLLY.

My name should have been noted as the author and the photo credits on Q'orianka's interview piece should go to Saskia for Image on-Q.

Clothing details on Elgort's DOLLY STORY by Stylist Arina Gasonova were also not published.

The editor-in-chief acknowledges these errors and they will be announced in the September issue with appropriate credits given.

Regards,

Meilinda Soerjoko

Photo:Saskia for Image on-Q.

Known for her role as Pocahontas in The New World, 19-year-old actress Q'orianka Kilcher speaks out about Peruvian rainforests, its survival and what recently happened in the country. Being part indigenous Peruvian and having lived in Hawaii, she is passionate about the rights of native peoples, the protection of lands and environment in general. Kilcher is not your typical Hollywood teen actress: known to never have pumped a single gallon of gasoline in her car (she drives a Honda FCX Clarity, a zero-emission vehicle), she cares more about social responsiblity than wearing designer dresses to movie premiers and red-carpet events. It is such a refreshing change to see someone of her status and talent care so much about the world we live in, with the most genuine fashion. Below is an interview with Q'orianka Kilcher:

Cliche Magazine: You have a very diverse background in terms of cultural, ethnicity and places you have lived in. Do you think all of these factors have contributed in your involvement as an activist in environmental issues?

Q'orianka Kilcher: I think that having lived and traveled in different places definitely have influenced me in many ways. I think it has helped me to see beyond the horizons and safe walls of my own life and made me aware of all the beautiful things and all the challenges existing in different places.

In the name of development and progress we have become the leaders of environmental destruction, and it appears to me that many people seem to see our relationship to nature as an obstacle to progress, rather than a necessity along with progress. I think the most straight forward lesson learned while traveling is that pressing environmental issues facing our planet today are not confined within but rather extend beyond borders. We all are connected. Everything each one of us does will, in some way, affects all of us.

CM: How long did you live in Hawaii and do you find any similarities between the native Hawaiian culture and that of your own indigenous Peruvian background?

QK: We share many similarities in regards to our cultures and struggles, even though we are thousands of miles apart from each other.

Traditionally indigenous peoples in Hawaii and Peru have lived in harmony with Mother Earth. Their lifestyles are based on environmentally-sustainable principles and practices, without exploiting and destroying their children’s future. Throughout history, indigenous peoples' interests have NOT been represented well by their state governments, leading to extreme poverty and loss of culture. We have not learned from the past. To this day, indigenous peoples around the world continuously struggle for basic rights to lands, resources, culture, identity, and self-determination.

Ever since I filmed The New World, I have chosen to use my public persona and voice to speak out and raise awareness towards the struggles of indigenous peoples.

I recently finished shooting another film which I hope will educate the public on the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. I hope that the film will help raise awareness and encourage people to educate themselves about a dark chapter in Hawaii's history and all the challenges remaining.

Photo:Saskia for Image on-Q.

You were recently in Lima to show support for the indigenous people of Peruvian Amazon who are against the commercialization of the rainforest. Tensions flared last month and you spoke about this when you received the Green Award at the Young Hollywood Awards. What is the latest update on this situation and your current involvement?

QK: Peru…. Ahhhh…Well, I am so, so glad you ask ! It is so important that people write about what is really happening , since there are a lot of things that took place over there behind closed doors. So I'm super glad to be able to give you and the readers an overview over this complex situation.

Most people know about the importance of the Amazon rain forests for all of us, humanity and the survival of all generations to come. What most people don't know is that more than 75% of the Peruvian Amazon has been allocated for oil and gas extraction and that the current government of Alan Garcia has been pushing for more. They have passed a series of new laws which enable the government to auction off indigenous peoples’ lands to oil, mining and logging corporations without their consent.

Since April 2009, more than 50,000 indigenous men, women and children have been holding peaceful protests to defend their rights to protect the environment, as well as
pressing for these laws to be overturned. Under the pretext of implementing the Free Trade Agreement with the United States, Peru’s President used special powers to pass these laws without the approval of Congress or any consultation with the indigenous people inhabiting these lands. While indigenous peoples were protesting , Garcia had signed 15 more contracts for oil concessions in the Amazon. These new laws directly undermine indigenous peoples' rights and in violation with rights recognized in the national constitution as well as in international treaties, including the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169.

However, in an attempt to criminalize the protesters, Garcia publicly announced indigenous peoples to be enemies of the state, terrorists, barbaric savages and third-class citizens who stand in the way of progress against the improvement of Peruvian economy.

Unfortunately, as usual, these exploitive policies are promoted by a handful of people who benefit from it and yet negatively impact the lives of many. The government of Peru chose to take a big step backwards by selling out to the oil and logging companies and even resorting to the use of military force and violence against people whose weapon is their peaceful presence.

The situation has turned violent and on June 6th, in the early morning hour of 2 a.m, Peruvian Special Forces approached demonstrators near Bagua whilst they were asleep, firing tear gas and live ammunition from helicopters and machine guns. Eyewitnesses reported on how the protesters had gotten down on their knees with their hands up, but the police ignored their pleas and fired straight into their bodies as they were begging for their lives not to be shot.

There were reported deaths of police officers resulting from self-defense of the unarmed demonstrators. According to eyewitnesses' accounts this was not a clash between demonstrators and policemen-it was instead a direct result of coordinated police raids where protesters were fired from all sides as the crowd scrambled to save their lives and ran into the steep surrounding hills.

So when I flew over there last month, it was an emergency trip. I just could not sit here anymore and do nothing. I just had to go and counter Peru's propaganda and the local media's false statements , who blamed indigenous peoples of being terrorists and savages, while completely ignoring the voices of thousands of Peruvians.

Understandably, Peru's Garcia regime controls the media with economic pressure, through favors and investments in advertising and access to government contracts.

It was a fierce battle. I attacked the local media and they attacked me. I even had members of Congress speculating that I must had been financed by some foreign power to tumble the Garcia regime. So it was quite scary, but fortunately I got several great press conferences and interviews and was able to have many of my Peruvian brothers and sisters' voices heard by the always-hungry entertainment media. So that was good, that was what I had hoped for.

I also brought 50 cameras and crew over there, so people could tell their stories and videotape the truth. Video cameras are such powerful weapons of truth against human rights abuse and government oppression. If it had not been for the videos, Peru's Garcia regime would have gotten away with lies about the violent massacre in Bagua.

Sadly, there are still many people missing. Reports range from 40 to 900 missing indigenous bodies at the time this was written. Investigations continue to be tainted and manipulated by the power players. This situation continues to be a big challenge.

Moreover, many indigenous communities' leaders are denounced as terrorists and enemies of the state and became scapegoats of the massacre.

I currently have 2 professional journalists over in Peru , who are doing the investigations I started. The 50 cameras I mentioned are placed with indigenous youths who are conducting interviews and collecting evidences as a part of On-Q Initiatives “Youth for Truth” Campaign. We are not going to stop until we know what happened to the many still missing people.

One day before I left Peru, the government passed two controversial laws, admitted to have handled things poorly and even agreed to finally meet indigenous leaders at the negotiation table! However, I personally see this as a game, in order to calm things down and losen the pressure from the international community. I don’t see this as a reason to celebrate, especially since the government is still actively pursuing all arrest warrants of all indigenous leaders.

Garcia is trying to present a more friendly image to the public but to us he is determined to continue 'business as usual'. He just signed another oil contract giving the green light to the Anglo-French company Perenco to drill 14 wells in Block 67. Perenco's chairman, Francois Perrodo, met Peru's President Alan García in Lima and pledged to invest $2 billion in the project.

Perenco admits that contamination of soil and water due to drilling are possible consequences of its company's work. These impacts have grave implications for the survival of the "uncontacted" indigenous believed to inhabit the area. Moreover, the indigenous inhabitants face the threat of contamination from diseases to which they have no immunity, something which very well may result in the genocide of an entire ethnic group.

As you see, we have not learned from the past and we continue to exploit and rape Mother Earth in the name of political greed . The story continues..when will we learn?

CM: What other environmental issues/organizations or charities are you passionate about?

QK: In this day and age of technology and access to the Internet, we no longer can be oblivious towards the pressing issues facing the world. I like the saying “there comes a time when silence is betrayal."

As a young artist living in the current state of media and technology, I feel a great responsibility to leverage the power of media, its attention towards me and my own voice to bring about positive changes into this world: to speak out for environmental justice, human rights and social issues.

In the past 4 years I have focused on redirecting all my media attention towards as many different important issues possible. I try to do all I can every day. I never say "no" when it comes to supporting a good cause, when your heart tells you something is wrong, you no longer can sit around and do nothing.

All of us here are dreamers of universal dignity, compassion and human rights. It is up to the young generation to keep the commitment towards positive changes alive and ignite those who have lost it. We have to stand up and demand drastic positive environmental changes. We have to ensure that the environment does not suffer because of politics and greed. We also have to speak out and protect individuals where justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.

So that’s how I end up being involved in many different things: from indigenous people's rights and preserving the Amazon, fighting oil, logging or mining companies , working with “Turning The Tides” for clean oceans, human rights abuse in Congo, teen eating disorders and drug abuse, women's rights and domestic violence issues and of course my own organization On-Q Initiative.

All the problems are really interconnected. There is an absolute interdependence and connection between the ocean, earth, air, plants, animals, forests and all living things, including us. Taking care and respecting these, is of global importance to all of us. We all have one common need: a clean and healthy environment! Our problem is not global warming, nor the poisoning of ocean, soil and food. The problem is how we think. We need to understand that we can not eat, drink or breathe money or profit.
We have to understand that some things don’t have prices but they have value!

CM: Let's talk about your life as an artist. You received great reviews for your role in The New World as Pocahontas at the young age of 14. How did that come about and what is coming up for your acting career? What is the Untitled Qorianka Kilcher project listed on imdb?

QK: I had no idea that I was going to be the lead in The New World. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that was given to me. At first I was a little worried about playing such a historic figure. My biggest concern was that I really wanted to do the spirit of Pocahontas justice.

BookingThe New World was an extraordinary opportunity and I am commited to use the priviledge of my celebrity status to bring some of the same important issues to the attention of the international community. The New World is not just a dark chapter in our history. And while some people might perceive the movie to be a love story (yes, I did get to kiss Colin Farrel AND Christion Bale) fundamentally it is about the beginning of the colonization of the Americas. The colonization of the Americas continues today. It is now called "globalization."

There is a clear connection between globalization, pressing environmental issues and human rights abuse. Unfortunately, we have not learned from our past. Traditionally indigenous peoples around the world have lived in harmony with Mother Earth and their lifestyles are based on environmentally-sustainable principles and practices,
without exploiting and destroying their children’s future.

Therefore, I think that indigenous people's wisdom, knowledge, way of life and sustainable ways of developing natural resources have absolute contemporary relevance to modern society. Indigenous people all around the world sit on the "frontlines" of globalization's expansion and are the gate keepers to the last pristine places on earth, where resources like oil, gas, timber, uranium, gold ,water, minerals and genetic diversity are still abundant.

Just like in the times of Pocahontas, many indigenous peoples are still removed from their ancestral territories; their ancestral territories exploited and polluted and future generations faced with the threat of extinction. And to this day, the 370 million indigenous people's interests are still not properly represented by their state governments.

When I learned that I was scheduled to promote my film “The New World” in Peru, with a big premiere and lots of press, I contacted Amazon Watch and asked them to assist me in using my movies' publicity for something else other than answering the same question of "how was kissing Colin Farrell like?" a thousand times.

I decided to highlight the struggle between the Achuar people in the northern part of the Peruvian Amazon and the multinational oil companies, who have been contaminating the region for 35 long years, without the government nor the oil companies ever acknowledging or addressing that there is a problem.

The Untitled Project you asked about, is a documentary I started in 2006, when I first went to Peru. It is the story about how Occidental Petroleum, a Los Angeles-based oil company, has been using practices outlawed in the U.S such as pumping an average of 800,000 gallons a day of salty formation waste waters containing concentrated levels of cancer-causing hydrocarbons, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals into local rivers, contaminating the water supply and food chain with devastating consequences for local communities.

I finance all my activism and projects myself, out of my film salary, so things are kind of on hold until I do another film or find an investor .

As for future projects, I really would like to do a more commercial film, maybe an action movie (I'm a Black belt in Wushu Kung Fu and also do stunt work) or maybe even a romantic comedy.

Photo: Saskia for Image on-Q.

CM: When we met at Boxeight LA Fashion Week, you told me about starting up a new eco-friendly fashion line made for teens. You wanted to let them know that one can buy nice things without having to spend a lot of money on it as well as being eco-friendly. Is the clothing line going to come out soon?

QK: Gen-Q is more than a clothing line, it’s a concept and also a movement. As soon as I started to do press junkets and promotion for The New World, I realized that there were designers who all wanted to give me these super expensive clothes and hand bags for free, for the purpose of promoting their labels.

It seemed strange to me that celebrities get things for free, while homeless and poor families are ignored by business owners. I decided that I shall not endorse this madness.

Gen-Q was born out of rebellion. I am proud to say that I have never worn any designer stuff on any of the red carpets.

I was thinking about the countless of young girls living below the poverty line, here and especially in Third World Countries. And it just felt really wrong to be wearing a $10,000 dress, thinking that some poor girl may be digging through garbage for food would maybe one day find an old magazine with ME on it wearing a $10,000-designer gown. I believe that with great power comes great responsibility.

The fact is that celebrities have always been fashion idols for girls worldwide. So I wanted to make a statement in solidarity with all the girls who barely have enough to eat.

So that is why I decided to start making my own clothes ( Gen-Q by Qorianka ) , and promote my ‘clothing Line’ GEN-Q with the hopes of harnessing the power and priviledge of being a celebrity and create some buzz behind the name, to create an entirely new concept of fashion line.

I started Gen-Q by making all of my own clothes for the red carpet out of recycled materials. I did so to inspire and empower other young kids to be creators , rather than consumers. Gen-Q’s mission is to break the cycle of over-consumption, economic and social pressures and hardships by encouraging youth to take charge of their own lives and tap into their own's creativity. We are also helping the launch of aspiring creative up-and-coming designers, jewelry makers and artists, as well as jumpstart their entrepreneurial dreams.

Of course it's all a bit harder than I thought and I am hoping for a visionary investor or business-minded person to help me “officially” launch Gen-Q, so I can help more people and bring these amazing creations to another level. For now, I do what I can…

I am also launching one of the first international collaborations: Gen-Q–Shipibo (me in the red dress! ) These beautiful designs are made by the Shipibo people of the Peruvian Amazon. 100% of all proceeds go directly to the Shipibo communities who create the garments. We have several sexy and classy dresses, shirts and bathing suits, all with beautiful indigenous traditional designs.

Another project of Gen-Q is “Bag Lady Bags”. The first ever hand bag line created entirely by women in homeless shelters to help them get off the streets. All bags are made out of 100% recycled material and include the “forever bag”, which is made by strips of old plastic bags crocheted into several beautiful designs. It's all abour re-using.

CM: You appear more mature than most 19-year-olds. What is the one thing that people would never guess about you? :)

QK: Haha...ok... something no one would guess about me???? Well, I still live with my family and I am super happy to do so!
Also, I love eating green peas straigh out of the can. It's a good memory from the days when we first came to L.A and the whole family was living in this super small broken-down motorhome, with no money. Actually , when I was doing film promotions and got to travel first class and stayed in 5-star hotels, I got tired of the fancy food and was craving green peas and Refried Beans!

####

Tagged with: Meilinda Soerjoko, cliche magazine, Q'orianka Kilcher, Saskia for Image on-Q, Green Issue, August Edition, Anthony Elgort, Arina Gasanova.

Ted Baker London on Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills.

By minxdeluxe · June 8, 2009 · 0 Comments · 2,136 Views

Meilinda Soerjoko

Ted Baker turns 21 this year. For Spring/Summer inspiration they turned to the city of London-from the red of the buses, the blue (when the sun does come out) of the sky. For womenswear, dresses are the key. Daytime chic is easy to achieve with their spring/summer and high summer collections.

Not too long ago, Ted Baker London had an exclusive sale to which I was invited to. I came and I was impressed with what I saw: the splash of colours and posh fabrics were universal throughout the store. For womenswear, the tailoring is flawless, structure and designs are married perfectly. The menswear is all about refined casualwear, hinting on Ivy League preppiness but with a touch of fun. What really got me excited was their accessories collection (see photo album), there were a lot of pieces that would go extremely well with whatever's already in your closet and more to come from sateen clutches to cool boots and pumps.

Thanks to the lovely Joni Kilmurry, who's in charge of the VIP Shopping, Celebrity clients and Studio services for Ted Baker London. I was impressed with the way she wore her white ruffled-collared summer dress, paired with her own's vintage belt and Hollywood gold necklace. She looked as good as how a celebrity stylist should (that's what she does other than representing Ted Baker London.) See pics on the album section. Will be posting more.

minx

Situated between Chanel and MAC on Robertson Boulevard:

Minx picks:

The silk gregoly dress is my fave.

Click below to view photos of the store:

Ted Baker London on Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills.

24 Photos: View as Gallery | View as Slideshow

Filed in: summer
Tagged with: los angeles, Beverly Hills, Ted Baker London

CLICHE Magazine Out Today. Spot My Article.

By minxdeluxe · June 1, 2009 · 0 Comments · 128 Views

Filed in: Cliche magazine
Tagged with: los angeles, Scarlett Johansson, Meilinda Soerjoko, cliche magazine, Dirk Mai, june edition., Cody Kennedy, Jeremy Fall

Hello World, MOODS OF NORWAY U.S Flagship Store In Beverly Hills Is Now Open!

By minxdeluxe · May 16, 2009 · 0 Comments · 4,640 Views

Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

May 16th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Moods of Norway's US flagship store is now open to the public. Last night was an exclusive invite-only event at the 113 South Robertson Boulevard location in Beverly Hills. The 2,500-square-foot retail space comes decorated with a golden-lacquered tractor (the logo of the brand), a Norwegian fjord mural on one side of the wall and a traditional wooden wall detail on the other, as well as changing rooms in the form of a wooden cottage with grass roof, complete with Norwegian decorative knick-knacks including a picture of King Harald V.

Left to Right: Simen, Stefan and Peder. Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

The event brought in celebrities such as Perez Hilton, The Mentalist series regular Amanda Righetti, Jennifer Finnegan (CBS Close to Home),actor Jonathan Silverman, L.A Look's Denise Fleming, Dave Fleming of Mosaic Group (dressed in a flash Moods black suit) and other high-level entertainment executives, photographers and models. There was an influx of Norwegians who flew in from Norway for the store opening, all sporting nearly identical Moods' plaids blazers, with some exception wearing the posh Autumn/Winter 09 pieces. At the back of the store, Norwegian grandmas were cooking up waffles for guests. The bar at the front served Norwegian vodka and the only thing "foreign" from last night's event was Italian Peroni beer, a sponsor for the event. Overall, it was your expected cool, hip, stylish Hollywood crowd spiced with umlauts.

The three designers-Simen Staalnacke, Peder Borrensen and Stefan Dahlquist initially came up with the idea of creating a clothing brand during a late night after-party in Honolulu, where Stefan and Simen attended college, with Peder a regular visitor. Six years later, the brand has left a remarkable trail of success with stores in Norway, Sweden, the Benelux and Japan and now the U.S. Adapting the slogan, "Happy Clothes For Happy People", Moods of Norway incorporate color blocks and the revival of 80's colors in modern forms. From swirly floral spring and summer dresses for women to funky plaids for men's wear, shoes that are too good to miss..and Grandpa's Discowear boxer shorts.

The soft launch is a 3-day affair with a hard launch scheduled for July. When I visited the store 2 days earlier, finishing touches were still being done (previous tenant was Madison and Moods renovated the entire space) and it's amazing how everything came into place on time for the soft launch. One thinks that a 3-day launch is barely a soft one, especially when the third day, tomorrow on May 17th, coincides with Norwegian National Day, complete with a party at the Mondrian-invites only-after a Sunday afternoon of more waffles, beer and vodka. Happiness awaits. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Congratulation to Simen, Stefan and Peder.

xoxo Minx Meilinda, with Aloha.

Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Left to Right: Simen, Peder, Perez Hilton, Stefan. Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

View more pics on the photo album below.

Still haven't seen enough pics? Click here for more pictures by Wire Images.

Hello World, MOODS OF NORWAY U.S Flagship Store In Beverly Hills Is Now Open!

21 Photos: View as Gallery | View as Slideshow

Filed in: celebrities, Moods Of Norway Store Opening
Tagged with: models, Perez Hilton, Meilinda Soerjoko, Moods of Norway, Denise Fleming, simen staalnacke, peder borresen, amanda righetti, dave fleming, norwegians, king of norway, golden tractor, US flagship store, happy clothes for happy people, cool hip crowd, Stefan Dahlkvist, Moods of Norway Los Angeles, entertainment executives, photographers.

Joe's Jeans Next Model Search

By minxdeluxe · May 8, 2009 · 2 Comments · 2,473 Views

banner

Here's a chance to pose provocatively on an advertising billboard, gain a modelling contract and a season's worth of fame worldwide.

Joe's Jeans campaigns are known to be overtly provocative. Invariably creating enough buzz for consumers to ask themselves,"what kind of jeans are they selling exactly?" This year alone, Joe's Jeans have been spotted on Beyonce, Katie Holmes and Matthew Perry.

Until July 15th, Joe's Jeans is accepting applications to be the next face of Joe's Jeans campaign. The contest encourages applicants to submit a short video varying themes such as "What's my Joe's Fit?", "Why I should be the next Joe's model", and "Why I am The Undiscovered Choice."

Each applicant will have access to their own self-created blog on the site and fans and friends can vote for him/her. It has gained media attention and aspiring models are joining with enthusiasm.

Click the banner to go to the contest site:

Industry experts such as Mary Filar, West Coast Merchandising and Promotions Director of Marie Claire, Nicole Bordeaux, Founder and Owner of Photo[genics (talent service management company) and Joe Dahan himself, Founder and Creative Director of Joe's are judging the contest.

Towards the end of the contest, choices will be narrowed down to top 5 men and women, who will be then flown to L.A for a private casting. The winners will be announced on August 12th.

Here's an official statement from Joe's Jeans.

JOE’s mission is to find the diamond in the rough – exceptional beings hidden throughout the world – one Male, one Female with confidence and original style to be featured in a JOE’s worldwide ad-campaign.

When casting, we always like to see the model's true nature — it is not just coming in with a portfolio and a headshot. Most of the talent selected has less to do about the last campaign they were in or the latest runway show in Paris — it has more to do with character and personal style.

Past Campaigns:

Current Campaign Models:

Steve Vanda

Model ?

Photos: Joe's Jeans.

Joe's Jeans is represented by Michele Marie PR.

Minx likes these for spring/summer:

The Starlet Slim Leg Boot cut.

Filed in: Joe Jeans Model Search.
Tagged with: Marie Claire, Joe's Jeans, Joe Dahan, Photo[genics, Joe's Next Model

Chanel No 5 Film. It's on today~05/05.

By minxdeluxe · May 5, 2009 · 0 Comments · 288 Views

Click on picture to view the film.

Filed in: Chanel Film
Tagged with: Audrey Tautou, Chanel No 5

The Blue Trend Seen At "Model As Muse" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art

By minxdeluxe · May 5, 2009 · 3 Comments · 3,455 Views

Uber Supermodels of the 90's: Naomi, Linda, Tatjana, Christy and Cindy.

Photo: Peter Lindbergh. 1990.

May 5th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Uber models and designers turned up at the Costume Institute Gala at the MET in NY last night, sporting the best of designers' work of art as illustrated in the photos (see album).

British Vogue's trend prediction on blue hues for Spring/Summer became a statement of fashion fact with an array of exquisite cerulean, cobalt, turquoise and aqua as worn by Gisele Bunchen, Cindy Crawford, Brooke Shields, Heidi Klum, Donatella Versace, Madonna, Kirsten Dunst, Liv Tyler, Jessica Alba and Blake Lively.

The Model As Muse exhibition is open to the public on May 6th and runs through August 9th.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen in Versace dress, clutch and shoes.

Blake Lively in Versace

Brooke Shields in Calvin Klein

Donatella Versace and Cindy Crawford in the designer's dresses.

Kirstin Dunst in Chanel

Madonna in Louis Vuitton.

Liv Tyler in Stella Mc Cartney

Jessica Alba in Jason Wu

Kate Beckinsale in Marchesa

Heidi Klum in J. Mendel, with Gille Mendel. Best dressed!

Photos: Wire Images via New York magazine, The Telegraph UK and onsugar.

The Blue Trend Seen At "Model As Muse" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art

39 Photos: View as Gallery | View as Slideshow

Filed in: Met Costume Gala 2009
Tagged with: marc jacobs, kate moss, Versace, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, British Vogue, Heidi Klum, Kate Beckinsale, Spring Summer, costume institute gala 2009, Meilinda Soerjoko, model as muse, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, blue trend

Moods of Norway To Open US Flagship Store on May 15th in Beverly Hills.

By minxdeluxe · May 4, 2009 · 0 Comments · 984 Views

April 30th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Very thrilled about Moods of Norway opening up their US flagship store in Beverly Hills. The good-mood factor of their label started even before their store officially opens. The Norwegian team of designers are here for the month in preparation of their store opening on the prime stretch of south Robertson boulevard.

"Happy Clothes for Happy People", is the slogan for Moods of Norway. The designers' obvious sense of humour and its integration to their concept, designs, website and campaigns are breathing out a welcoming fresh air in the US fashion scene. Highly original with a remarkable trail of success, it is such a pleasant change to have them around in the midst of gloomy economic climate. Here's hoping the good mood will be spread along generously.

I met up with Simen Stalnaacke, one of the designers/owners of the label and we showed up in matching colours: the colour of minx and the colour of his label. Had I worn my Marc Jacobs black and white plaids jacket (as I did to Skin.Graft store opening the night before) it would have been a bit much. Hilarious.

Minx and Simen, designer/owner of Moods of Norway.

Here's another cool, good-mood factor. The smily people pictured above are both alumni of Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) a.k.a Hot People University due to the influx of Ms. Hawaii pageant winners who earn their scholarship programs there.

Moods of Norway Spring/Summer 09 campaign shots:

Minx likes and wants to try on:

Check out the rest of the collection at www.moodsofnorway.com

Be sure to look at the shoes, they're amazing. Please don't be alarmed looking at the prices listed, they are in Norwegian kronor.

The boys of Moods of Norway:

Oslo Fashionweek Spring 09
Autumn/Winter Collection
Photo by Paul Weaver (Mediehuset Nettavisen)

Spotted: Moods of Norway on No Doubt.

Spin magazine May 09.

I heart No Doubt.

Thanks to Look LA for Spin magazine cover.

Filed in: label
Tagged with: spring, Hawaii, sense of humor, No Doubt, Meilinda Soerjoko, minxdeluxe, Moods of Norway, HPU

SKIN.GRAFT Official Store Opening on 4th Street, Downtown L.A

By minxdeluxe · May 3, 2009 · 1 Comment · 751 Views

Window Display by Jonny Cota for Opening Night

April 29th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Great official opening night for Skin.Graft! One of my favorite L.A-based labels, Skin.Graft impressed me with their store layout and decoration, particularly the African taxidermy on the walls, personal collections of Jonny Cota, one of three of the label's designers, who gave me the grand tour.

Located on 4th street in Downtown L.A (very, very different from Downtown NY), the store and showroom space includes their men and women's collections including the luscious couture pieces seen at Boxeight L.A Fashion Week. The opening drew an interesting and(read:good-looking) well-dressed crowd, just like their Fashion Week's show.

Stark contrast is ubiquitous with white walls and antiquities-like pieces and the clothing themselves. The gorgeous leather accesories from girls' harness to the unisex-but-looks-hot-in-a-man pocket-holster, reminiscent of a gun holster, is the perfect alternative to the man purse. This has all of my approval to be the next hot trend and I will place them pics here as soon as I have them.

Jonny also showed me a glimpse on what's in the works for their next collection and I am genuinely excited for them! Spring 10 inspiration: Amelia Erheart and skeletons. I'll kill you with the suspense and won't give too much away for now.

As I looked around their work room, I began to understand why I seem to have an innate sense of admiration towards the designs: the love of Jean-Paul Gaultier. Jonny told me that as soon as the pieces are done, he's bringing them, patterns included, to the beautiful island of Bali where the label's clothing is manifactured. I imagine the cows are blessed over there before leather is made out of them. Karmarific!

To some it may sound as if I work for the label. I don't. I just cannot shut up when it comes to discovering a designer or label that I have a crush with. When I saw the store front that Jonny Cota designed, I had nothing to say but "oooooh" for a good 5 seconds. It translates to breathtaking.

As promised will post more pics as I have them. Mark the Cobrasnake was photographing the event, should be very good pictures. =)

minx.

PS: Official opening to the public is this Sunday, May 3rd. See below.

Fall 09 collection. Photo: Jessica Camacho.

Filed in: Store Opening
Tagged with: leather, rock and roll, Skin.Graft, downtown L.A, jonny cota, balinese, mark the cobrasnake

Recessionista Fashion Company Opens Manhattan Retail Store. 238 Mulberry St between Spring and Prince.

By minxdeluxe · April 24, 2009 · 2 Comments · 455 Views

What a great press release heading! And how true! Very pleased to have been invited to this store opening event, Nolcha's first retail ground. Thank you Kerry Bannigan, CEO of Nolcha. 11 independent designers team up under the umbrella of Shane and Shawn store and Nolcha; everything I saw was aesthetically pleasing at recessionista prices. Bought something right off the rack, a Nuvula dress (which I failed to photograph appropriately since I was too busy trying on two different sizes) and I managed not to dent my credit card. Here's a pic of the dress from the Nuvula website:

I'm putting photos from my beloved Blackberry. Daft of me for being completely mesmerized by Marijoli jewellery and not taking pictures of any of it, worn by the designer herself, Marielle Byworth, who flew in from Tokyo for the store opening. Kate Moss is reportedly a fan of the jewellery line. Here's one of her pieces which is my favourite, looks so much lovelier when worn than in pictures:

Need to mention that the store is lucky to have Mari as the flagship store manager: she was helpful and friendly. The key to a successful store does not only rely on the quality of its merchandise, it is also very much on how much the staff makes you feel about spending there. Thank you everyone! x COMING BACK SOON.

Recessionista Fashion Company Opens Manhattan Retail Store. 238 Mulberry St between Spring and Prince.

10 Photos: View as Gallery | View as Slideshow

Tagged with: recessionista, nuvula, marijoli, nolcha, mulberry street

2009 Prix de marie claire Australia Fashion Awards

By minxdeluxe · April 19, 2009 · 0 Comments · 266 Views

April 19th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Australian fashion designers have been marking an indelible mark on the international fashion circuit for years. From Collette Dinnigan, sass & bide, Leona Admiston and high street Ksubi, the country's most creative and innovative never failed to impress.

The annual Prix de marie claire Awards announced its winners and the names on the list are familiar to even those who have never set foot in the beautiful country. The Australians know how to put on an impressive show:marking the start of the fashion awards ceremony, a giant three-tiered chandelier rose up to the level of six metres with 14 models on it, wearing the nominated designers' dresses, all with identical bob hairstyles. According to a source from marie claire Australia,"the concentric circles around the urn in the centre of the room were pulled up to reveal a giant chandelier, and models were harnessed into swings hanging off it..." Wow!

Here are the winners:

Best Australian Fashion Brand: Country Road
Best Australian Fashion Brand (Readers' Choice): sass & bide

Best Swimwear Brand: Zimmermann
Best Swimwear Brand: Seafolly

Best Lingerie Brand: Collette Dinnigan for Target
Best Lingerie Brand (Readers' Choice): Elle Macpherson Intimates

Best Watch Design: Cartier Perles de Cartier

Best Eveningwear Designer: J'Aton
Best Eveningwear Designer (Readers' Choice): Alex Perry

Best New/Up-and-coming Designer: Dion Lee

Fashion With Heart Award: Rolex

Best Australian Accessory Designer: Hatmaker
Best Australian Accessory Designer (Readers' Choice): Ginger & Smart

Best Creative Talent: Romance Was Born

Special Achievement Award: Easton Pearson

Best Australian Designer: Josh Goot
Best Australian Designer (Readers' Choice): sass & bide

Sponsored by Nescafe Gold, the posh event was held at Sydney's Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park. Guests include winners Elle Macpherson, Josh Goot and designers of the labels sass & bide, Romance Was Born, Easton Pearson and Zimmerman.

The impressive opening ceremony

Elle Macpherson

sass & bide designers

Romance Was Born designers.

Hosts Jackie Frank and Tom Williams

The event also includes the announcement of best in Beauty products:

Prix D'Excellence Awards- International:

Giorgio Armani Face Fabric
Clarins Addition Concentré Minceur
Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes
Lancôme L'Absolu Roughe
Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Range

Research Prize: Estée Lauder Perfectionist [CP+]

Prix D'Excellence Awards - Australia:

Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Crème
Revlon Beyond Natural Collection

Ethic Award: Kiehl's "Aloe Vera" Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser

Readers' Choice Awards:
As voted by marie claire readers in 2009.

Best Fragrance: Chanel No. 5 Eau Première
Best Make-Up Product (Splurge): Dior Diorshow Iconic High-Definition Lash Curler Mascara
Best Make-Up Product (Steal): Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara
Best Skincare Product (Splurge): SK-II Signs Wrinkle Serum
Best Skincare Product (Steal): OLAY Definity Tone Correcting Anti-Ageing Foaming Moisturiser
Best Haircare Product (Splurge): ghd IV styler
Best Haircare Product (Steal): Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Instant Melt-In-Mask
Best Body Product (Splurge): Clarins Satin-Smooth Body Lotion
Best Body Product (Steal): Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Lotion SPF 15

Photos: marie claire Australia. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

For more please visit http://www.marieclaire.com.au

Filed in: fashion awards australia
Tagged with: collette dinnigan, Easton Pearson, sass and bide, Zimmerman, Josh Goot, Elle Mcpherson, Romance Was Born, marie claire australia, 2-009 prix de marie claire awards, Leona Edmiston

It's finally live: theOutnet.com! And it's "Chic.Onomics"

By minxdeluxe · April 16, 2009 · 0 Comments · 83 Views

April 16th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Net-a-porter.com's founder Natalie Massanet certainly understands that in current economic climate, thriving fashion businesses rely on the availability of cheap(er) and (always)chic merchandise. TheOutnet.com is the new designer brands' addicts go-to place with over 200 brands such as Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Chloe, miumiu, Philip Lim, Anna Sui, Christian Louboutin and more.

By its first day of official launch, 150,000 shoppers have already signed up pre-launch. Registered users will also have access to the site's Flash Sales: 72-hour pop-up sales and Going Going Gone, where you chose the price you want to pay for an item. The next 72-hour sales on Spring Dresses is in 8 days.

Some of their items:

Burberry Ivybridge Cotton Trench $995 Now $696.50

3.1 Philip Lim Cabana Tank Dress $350 Now $140

Jimmy Choo Ramona patent bag $1,995 Now $798

Marc Jacobs criss cross slingbacks $560. Now $280.

Tagged with: marc jacobs, Zac Posen, Burberry, Philip Lim, outnet.com, netaporter

Moet et Chandon's Ideal Muse: Scarlett Johansson

By minxdeluxe · April 14, 2009 · 0 Comments · 2,984 Views

Dress: Christian Dior. Jewelry: De Beers.

April 13th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Moet et Chandon latest campaign "Celebrating Cinema" is filled with glamorous images of Scarlett Johansson, named "the ideal muse" for the luxurious French champagne brand, noting the brand's perfect match and Johansson's inner values of "glamour, generosity, spontaneity and living life to the fullest."

Moet et Chandon states that,"Moet and the movies share magic with the world--Moet, like the cinema, is a celebration of the senses and the emotions."

What better way than to demonstrate Scarlett Johansson popping up the cork at a party setting, elegantly captured by world renowned photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Moet et Chandon became the exclusive champagne served at the 2009 81st Academy Awards, marking the first time the Academy awarded exclusivity at the Oscar and its pre-Oscar events.

It is only fitting and about time, since Moet et Chandon is the official celebratory beverage for the Golden Globe Awards for the last twenty years, as well as Deauville American Film Festival in France and San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain.

Felicitations et bonne fetes.

Dress: Christian Dior. Jewelry: De Beers.

Dress: Givency. Shoes: Dior

Dress: Givenchy Shoes: Dior

Dress: Louis Vuitton. Shoes: Dior.

Dress: Marc Jacobs. Jewelry: De Beers. Upon seeking details on which collection this is from,

Marc Jacobs PR has informed me that this is not from them. Awaiting confirmation on whose dress this is.

Dress: Donna Karan. Jewelry: De Beers.

Dress: Vintage Christian Dior. Shoes: Dior. Jewelry: De Beers.

Photographers: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Source: Official Press Release from Moet et Chandon.

All pictures are copyright of Moet et Chandon.

Also published and top rated article on http://myitthings.com

UPDATE: April 27th, 09

Finally received details from Moet et Chandon in France on the fashion and accessory details. From flawless Marc Jacobs, Givency, Christian Dior and de Beers rings...Dizzy state of mind, and not from bubbles.

Tagged with: Scarlett Johansson, Golden Globe Awards, academy awards, moet et chandon, deauville american film festival, san sebastian film festival.

Gisele Bundchen: Vanity Fair Most Beautiful Woman In The World.

By minxdeluxe · April 12, 2009 · 11 Comments · 6,130 Views

Photo: Vanity Fair May 2009

April 12th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

Vanity Fair will be selling a lot of magazines this month. Just because Gisele is on the cover. Undeniably gorgeous, she has been voted by readers as the number one most beautiful woman in the world, amongst 18 others drop-dead gorgeous women. Uber model Kate Moss took the number two place.

Upon reading the article on Gisele, I had the strong impression that in real life she is very much like some of my model friends who are successful in their field: they are different personality-wise than how they potray themselves in their profession. There is an acute awareness that the certain image they are projecting to the world is a professional requirement, but may not necessarily be who they are post-shoot, but often taken literally by the assuming public.

Bunchen never gets rid of her life-long athletic tomboy status: she religiously practices kung fu, even training on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, so much that her Bruce Lee-fan husband calls her "Gis-Lee". She also speaks openly and passionately about her love towards her husband, their secret engangement and wedding at a church in Santa Monica.

If you're human, you would have heard of the drama between Tom Brady and ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, and their son Jack, whom Bunchen claims as her own. This may raise some disapproving eyebrows in some readers but the fact of the matter is, she loves a baby who is her soulmate's son and accepts him as her own. One compassionate mind would say, that's not hard to understand. What she said may piss Brady's ex Bridget off but Jack Moynahan is the luckiest baby boy on earth--two gorgeous moms and Tom Brady as dad. Some karma!

If you're not a VF subscriber, this month's issue is definitely worth grabbing. The pictures of Gisele are phenomenal and the article is well-written and a pleasure to read.

Kate Moss and Angelina Jolie are also included in the VF list of world's most beautiful women.

Photo: Vanity Fair

Tagged with: Valentino, baby, Tom Brady, gisele bundche, bridget moynahan, secret engagement, private wedding

I love you, Zac but this is boring...

By minxdeluxe · April 11, 2009 · 0 Comments · 45 Views

April 11th, 2009

Meilinda Soerjoko

The dress is lovely, the kitty is adorable, the model has got Eiffel Tower legs, the photographer is famous for capturing women in overtly sexy/erotic poses, the director is Zac Posen...and the advert is boooh-ring.

My anticipation excitement crashed upon first sight. With all due respect to Zac Posen, it was a bit of a let-down considering that this was his first ad ever and he directed it! I adore and admire his work but sadly I didn't get the "Wow!" reaction, like I did when I saw the Chanel layout for Paris Fashion Week Autumn 09 Collection.

Photo: wwd.com

Previously published as Editor's Pick on my other blog site.

Tagged with: Zac Posen, Alexandra Tomlinson, Ellen von Unwerth, first advertisement.

The Madness That Is Agent Provocateur

By minxdeluxe · April 9, 2009 · 0 Comments · 322 Views

The following was earlier published on http://myitthings.com/Media

My article was Editor's pick for the Media Section:

Agent Provocateur is doing really well. Their last quarter sales report shows an increase, despite the economic climate. And with campaign shots like these, which was announced in December 2008, it's difficult for even the pickiest buyer to ignore. Wonder if Victoria Secret is going to step it up a notch for their next campaign...

Spotted: Helena Christensen, Peaches Geldof, Daisy Lowe.

The Virgin Campaign

The Pirate Campaign. How hot is Helena Christensen?!

The Witches campaign

My pick:

From the Classic Collection. Model reminds me of C.C Shefield.

The Bridal Collection

Tagged with: Agent Provocateur, Daisy Lowe, Helena Christensen, campaign, classic, bridal, Virgin, Pirate, witch, Meilinda Soerjoko, peach geldof, c.c shefield, le rev.

"Wherefore Art Thou?" Exclusive Interview with David Lachapelle. By Meilinda Soerjoko. Designare Magazine. Feb/March 2010 Issue.

The Man Behind Boxeight. Peter Gurnz Interview. Designare Magazine. Dec 09 Issue.

Caught On Camera. Boxeight LAFW S10. Designare Magazine, Singapore. Dec 09 Issue.

Aviator Chic: Skingraft Designs LAFW S10. Designare Magazine. Nov 09 Issue.

Love Me If You Dare. David Alexander. Designare Magazine. Nov 09 Issue.

The Last Emperor: Tribute To Valentino. LA Fashion Week Event. November Issue of Designare Magazine, Singapore.

Modern Minimalist: Le Cavour 220 Partnership With Armani/Casa. Published by Designare Magazine, Singapore. Oct 09 Issue.

Sebastian Copeland: The Cool Environmentalist. Published by Designare Magazine, Singapore. Sept 09 Issue.

A preview of Skingraft Designs Spring 2010 Collection.

My Interview with Q'orianka Kilcher for Cliche Magazine. August 2009 Edition.

Ted Baker London on Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills.

CLICHE Magazine Out Today. Spot My Article.

Hello World, MOODS OF NORWAY U.S Flagship Store In Beverly Hills Is Now Open!

Joe's Jeans Next Model Search

Chanel No 5 Film. It's on today~05/05.

The Blue Trend Seen At "Model As Muse" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Moods of Norway To Open US Flagship Store on May 15th in Beverly Hills.

SKIN.GRAFT Official Store Opening on 4th Street, Downtown L.A

Recessionista Fashion Company Opens Manhattan Retail Store. 238 Mulberry St between Spring and Prince.

2009 Prix de marie claire Australia Fashion Awards

It's finally live: theOutnet.com! And it's "Chic.Onomics"

Moet et Chandon's Ideal Muse: Scarlett Johansson

Gisele Bundchen: Vanity Fair Most Beautiful Woman In The World.

I love you, Zac but this is boring...

The Madness That Is Agent Provocateur

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