Who: Lillie Gitte, Beauty expert, CEO & Authoress

What: Owner and CEO of the beauty house DollFace located in Copenhagen. DollFace won the “Best wellness in Town Award” last year, and is nominated again this year.

Lillie Gitte’s first poetry collection “Lillies Lykke” was published in 2010 and at the moment she is penning down a new, exiting book about beauty.

Website:  www.dollface.dk

Location: I live in Copenhagen, but I spend as much time as possible in Paris. One day I will move permanently to Paris. That city is the love of my life, and I feel really alive and happy in Paris.

Favorite Designers: There are many, but Marc Jacobs has my love. I adore his clothes, and I love that he also designs all the fun stuff:  key chains, cheap T-shirts etc. I recently meet him in Paris, and he was very kind and cute!
I’m a big fan of Alexander Wang as well, I love the stylish rock’n’roll look he sports.

Which city would you max out your credit card in? I have to admit that I have done it more than once, and my choice is Paris. It’s a big mix of great designers and cool vintage, and a lot of high street stores like Zara, H&M. I love walking up and down Avenue Montaigne and visit all the Dior, Chanel, and other big designer shops. It’s so high class, and having lunch at L`Avenue completes the experience! By metro 10 minutes later, I’m in Marais where all the cool vintages and small funny stores are located.

Favorite Store: My favorite store is  APPARTMENT in St. Regnegade in Copenhagen. Fantastic shop, where the owner Malene has both the feminine and raw look. APPARTMENT has both expensive and cheap brands, brands from USA, Paris and Scandinavia. It all comes together in this beautiful shop with a cool decor.

What is your advice when it comes to dressing up: If you have doubts GO BLACK! Tight skinny jeans, black top, black cool jacket and super high heels is always cool! Sometimes when you are going to an event where you have to put on a dress, it’s often the accessories that makes the outfit. Beautiful earrings, shoes etc. are often more important than the dress itself.

Who do you think is the most stylish person on Earth: There are SO many stylish people right now, and one of them is French actress and model Josephine De La Baume. She is feminine, but in a very fashion-leather-casual kind of way. She is also the new body/face of Agent Provocateur. And I love her red hair. I wish could have red hair!

Motto: ”Giving up doesn’t always mean that you are weak, sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go”.

Who is the most inspiring person to you? The fictive character of Carrie Bradshaw! She is fun, cool, deep, dreaming. One hell of a personality! I think every girl wants to be Carrie at some point. Each time I have watched an episode of Sex and the city, I’m so inspired by all the girls!

Boris was born in Podgorica, Montenegro. In 2009 he graduated from Megatrend University, School of Art and Design in Belgrade, Serbia. Shortly after graduation he became one of the most sought-after designers in the city. During college, he collaborated with the designer Bata Spasojevic and also worked as the main stylist for magazine Hello!. Most currently he showed his first collection during Belgrade Fashion Week, where he got a prestigious award for the best emerging fashion designer. „This award carries great responsibility and what is most important, the encouragement for further work“ he said. Boris agreed to answer a few questions and let us get to know him better.

A.D. What does fashion mean to you?
B.C. Catharsis.

A.D. What made you choose fashion as your career?
B.C. Fashion chose me.

A.D. How did your career begin?
B.C. Spontaneously.

A.D. Who is your ideal clientele?
B.C. The one with style.

A.D. What is your eternal inspiration?
B.C. My crazy imagination.

A.D. Do you have any personal slogans that you live by?
B.C. No, I don’t. I don’t like living by the book.

A.D. What are your thoughts about current trends?
B.C.  The trend that I like is minimalism in fashion with precise cuts and clean shapes,  like designs from Calvin Klein, Celine, Yves Saint Laurent and Hussein Chalayan.

A.D. Who was the main contributor to the development of your creative universe?
B.C. Erikson encouraged me to become aware of the elements of the group and idiosyncratic elements within myself. Sibelius made the appealing coldness closer to me, the monumentality and loneliness which bears fruit. I recognized my construction objectives in one of Miyake’s creative quotations: „From the beginning I thought about working with the body in movement, the space between the body and clothes. I wanted the clothes to move when people moved.“

A.D. What is your ideal of beauty?
B.C. I do not believe in the ideals.

A.D. What three words best describe your style?
B.C. Distant elegance, estranged chic. Ok, I know that’s four.

A.D. Favorite books?
B.C. Death in Venice, De Profundis.

A.D. Favorite music?
B.C. Trip hop, Jazz and Classical music.

A.D. Favorite movie?
B.C. 2046.

A.D. What about cartoon?
B.C. Shrek.

A.D. If you could invite a handful of music and fashion icons (dead or alive) to a wild house party who would they be and why?
B.C. Fist of all, my friends. Than artist like Oscar Fingal Wilde, Richard Avedon, Anna Piaggi, Marlene Dietrich, Björk, Greta Garbo, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Chan Marshall, Edit Piaf, Massive Attack, Naomi Campbell, Ann Semeulemeester, Cathrine Deneuve, Tom Ford, Rei Kawakubo, Milena Pavlovic Barilli, Yves saint Laurent and many others.

A.D. Who are your favorite designers?
B.C. Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang , Dries Van Noten.

A.D. What about artists?
B.C. Henri Emile Matisse.

A.D. What do you consider to be your greatest achievement as a fashion designer so far?
B.C. My first individual collection under the name “Nadja”.

A.D. Why did you name your collection „Nadja“?
B.C. Nadja is a character from André Breton’s novel, and her character corresponds to the image of a woman who is likely to wear pieces from the collection.

A.D. How do you see yourself in the future?
B.C. Bold but still me (laugh).

A.D. What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?
B.C. If you have talent and sense of fashion, work on it, be patient, ambitious and believe in your dreams. And of course, like Oscar Wilde said: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Queens born Jon Lennon is as real a new yorker as they come. He has worked on his talents since a young age and has gotten the chance to work in all facets of music, nightlife and fashion. Sure there is no secret equation to rock & roll style but what I do know is that there is more to it than just the clothing. Personality and the right attitude count for a lot in the world of music and nightlife, Jonny has both.  I know neither personal style or attitude are frowned upon in the fashion world, they are encouraged.  See the world from Jonny’s point of view. I am happy to share my interview with the future rock star right here. 

llM: Tell me a little about where you are from, your music and how it all influenced your style?

JL: I grew up in Ozone Park, Queens. My music is a mixture of all the elements of my influences, from the world of rap and rock n roll. I started to dj when i was very young mixing both my current hip hop albums, such as BDP, Big Daddy Kane, and Beastie Boys, with my father’s vintage rock records like Led Zeppelin, Mountain, and Clapton. I later taught myself to play guitar, bass, and piano to further my progress and started forming bands.

llM: What has been your favorite project that you have worked on, whether in music, nightlife or fashion?

JL: I’ve had many memorable and incredible experiences in all three. Nightlife, music, and fashion are constantly blurring in my professions. My most incredible moments will always be the firsts. The first night in a club in NYC, the first time on stage, and my first time on the runway. One favorite that stands out was playing to a real large crowd in Connecticut while opening for Joan Jett. I just remember the positive response and incredible energy from the crowd. It was surreal and a blessing. There is nothing like the feeling of all the stars aligning for one of those special moments.

llM: As the main person in charge of making the VIP crowd happen at Goldbar you often have to judge other’s style. What do you look for when people walk up to the door?

JL: I look for several things but most importantly I look at a persons ability to carry themselves. How people behave outside is a reflection of how they will behave inside. I always appreciate cordial, well dressed parties. I also have an affinity for punky young fun kids.

llM:  What is the most frequently worn item in your closet?

JL: My black leather jacket.

llM: Where do you shop?

JL: I don’t shop often but when I do it’s normally for Jeans and a T-shirt so wherever they got raw denim and white T’s.

llM: What is a must have staple of a rocker?

JL: Most “rockers” are in jean and leather. At least, they are supposed to be. I know some cool ass rockers that can carry a suit great but im just not into it.

llM: Living or dead, who do you look up to in the music industry?

JL: I’m most impressed by Syd Barrett. He was an original member of Pink Floyd. He went on to do some amazing solo stuff and then to drop out totally from the industry and society in general. He was a true musical pioneer and not an egomaniac rock star. I feel i share the same disdain for the industry and the same love and curiosity of music.

llM: Reveal some of your future plans?

JL: Im currently working on a second album. I’m planning to expand into the digital realm a little as I’ve always recorded predominately analog. I’m gonna keep creating, keep dj’ing, keep throwing parties, and keep growing. I now work with Deckstar, a dj agency started by DJ AM (RIP) and I’m just looking to expand my knowledge, involvement, and passion for music. You can still catch me at Goldbar on most nights.

To check out his music and videos go to http://www.myspace.com/lufthansaheistnyc    

Charity conscious and Eco friendly? That is one rising star of a fashion designer no one can argue with.  He is known for being the youngest designer to ever show at LA’s Fashion Week and his work has been featured in cycle 13 of America’s Next Top Model. It seems hard work does pay off and there is more to be done, Yotam has revealed that a men’s collection will be ready sometime in November.

Read on to find out more in my interview with the talented Yotam Solomon.

llM: When did you first know you wanted to be a fashion designer?
YS: : I realized that Fashion Design is my main calling during High School. Growing up I went to different art schools mastering Violin and then Viola in my musical studies.  At the same time I always had an eye for style, current trend and helped everyone style their wardrobe and outfits.
There is so much to create and do in fashion, through which we can inspire, empower, and support our customers as well as different charities.

llM: You believe in being an innovator, where do you draw your inspiration from? 

YS: The inspiration for me comes from Nature, which is  then combined with different aspects. Nature is the most amazing source we have, we come from it, we live in, and we eventually return to it. There is much to draw from since the possibilities are endless, this also effects my decision to only use natural fibers in my designs.

llM:  Describe your muse. What is your ideal image of a woman and what type of a girl wears Yotam Solomon?
YS: My muse is a confident woman that knows exactly what she wants in life, she has designer labels in her closet and is eager to more Avant Garde yet comfortable fashions. There is no specific body type or beauty that influences my designs, yet many of my customers inspire me in many ways.

llM: Fashion is constantly changing and in some cases improving. Since you are the youngest designer to show in LA’s Fashion Week, what do you think you have learned so far from the past collections and shows you have done? 
YS: That is very true our industry is changing every few months. I have learned so much from showing in LA fashion week, from structure, weather sensibility toward fashion, public relations and proper marketing is essential for success.  There are channels one must go through while always being on your best game!

llM:  Let’s talk about shoe design, do you often design your shoes based on your garments or vise versa? How do you collaborate the two?
YS: Foot wear design comes very naturally for me because I do my own samples and pattern making. I enjoy drawing ideas from my chosen seasonal theme. My Foot Wear and Ready to Wear don’t intertwined yet they are two different items that mix and match.  They visually counter effect each other creating a sophisticated look rather than matching each other. 

llM: . What advice would you give to an aspiring fashion designer?

YS: Work as hard as you can, don’t allow others to tell you that you can not do anything, or that you cannot do something specific. The possibilities are endless as long as you work correctly and meet with the right industry people.

llM: What can we expect from you in the future?
YS: Hopefully breaking the barriers of Avant Garde design relating to true living and Eco friendly designs, while expanding and offering these fashion to all demographics. Ultimately luxury contains the ability to allow for great charity causes, and that is the goal of my luxury label.

Now on to the fun part. If you have ever visited their website or just heard of the name, you too probably wonder.  Who is Chick with Guns?  I find myself visiting Chick with Guns every day simply for their blog and music alone.  The label’s effortless chic clothing is the real deal in feeling trendy and fashionable without trying hard.  The fearlessness of the label translates into who their customer is.  It also helps that a supermodel with real effortless style is behind the label. 

Read my interview with May Andersen and get your answers.

llM: Crossing into fashion design seems like a natural progression from modeling, have you always wanted to have your own fashion label?

MA: I started modeling and “growing up” in the fashion industry at the age of 14.  The industry has truly made a great impression on me, so for a long time creating my own label has always been a dream for me.

llM: What kind of a girl is Chick With Guns?

MA: An independent and powerful girl with a great sense of fashion and style, a girl who knows how to effortlessly stand out from a crowd without looking “too much”.

llM: The line reflects so much of your own personal style.  When you are not wearing Chick With Guns, what do you wear and where do you shop?

MA: I’m a tomboy kind of girl. I love the simplicity of jeans, a t-shirt and some comfortable biker boots. I recently moved from New York to Los Angeles so when I go shopping under the California sun I always make sure to pay a visit to my favorite stores; Arcade, Madison and Diavolina.  This is among a lot of well know designers such as; Alexander Wang, Chloé, Balenciaga etc, they also carry Chick With Guns.

llM: Your label started out with denim, what type of jeans are your favorite right now?

MA: I am a big fan of the skinny jeans, the really really skinny ones with that “sprayed on” feeling to them. I am also totally into zipper details right now, I love a pair of skinny jeans with zippers down the angle or at the back pockets. We have the perfect pair in the Chick With Guns AW09 collection, which I use all the time.

llM: Chick With Guns is very much aimed towards the rock & roll cool crowd, who is on your design team/crew?

MA: With me on the design team I also have a graphic designer, Jesper Skade and designer Emma Sandvik. They recently moved to Los Angeles from Copenhagen so now everyone is gathered in one place, which is really cool.

llM: What fabrics do you use and where is your clothing manufactured?

MA: The fabrics we are using vary from item but generally we work with different types/washes of cotton, silk, denim and leather. We manufacture in Istanbul in a well known factory, where a lot of famous brands are have their production as well.

llM: I love the website’s clean and sharp look, how did you come up with the name and logo?

MA:For the name and the logo I have to give credit to my partner and graphic designer Jesper Skade.

llM:  What are the future plans for Chick With Guns?

MA: We’re going to work hard on finding the right distributors/agents, expanding the brand globally and getting in to new cool stores who has the right “Chick With Guns” profile. We’re in the middle of the process in building our brand and we don’t want to be hasty about it. We want to do it right, it’s important to build a stable fundamental ground to stand on, meaning we don’t want to move too fast.  We are slowly spreading the word through trustworthy sources.

Go to http://www.chickwithguns.com for your own daily dose of fashion

The Andean jewelry collection started by the multi talented Amanda Judge is not only Eco conscious but is also made up of humanitarian pieces of fashion. Amanda’s story and her collection first started in Ecuador. She holds a degree in International Law and Diplomacy, which she has decided to use to study the survival strategies of women in extreme poverty. This study has ended up being a path to the life and art of women in northern Ecuador.  The Andean Collection was born.  

PK: How did you meet the women of Ecuador?  

AJ: I met the women of The Andean Collection works with when I was in Ecuador doing research for my Masters thesis, which was going to be on the survival strategies of rural indigenous women in the face of extreme poverty.  To set up the project, I had to go into rural villages and try to get in contact with the village leader (literally just knock on doors asking who the leader was) and then request his (always his) permission to interview the women of his village.  If he gave me his permission I would go back the next day to meet with the women of the village. 

PK: What were the first steps you took once you found out Ecuador’s talent and natural potential?  

AJ: I had a background in micro finance (the provision of small loans to groups or individuals who lacked access to commercial loans) and so I had initially structured my research around on how access to credit may help these women.  But after talking more with these women, I realized that what they really needed was a way to reach a market where they could sell their products.  So I shifted my project.  I saw what beautiful materials they used in their craft-making, and realized that with just a little help on the design, these pieces would be incredibly marketable in the United States.  

PK: Who specifically creates The Andean collection jewelry and how did you pick them?  

AJ: I talked with a number of different artisans before settling on the 2 main artisans that we work with today – Nancy and Olga.  As it turns out, they are cousins, but I didn’t even know that when we started because they are from different communities!  Basically I just really got along well with 2 these women and they seemed the most excited about the prospect of working with me on this new project.  Their dedication was apparent from the beginning, and today I am so proud of how much they have learned and how well they have adapted in our first year!

Where is The Andean Collection being sold?

AJ: In NYC, Sustainable NYC.  We’re brand new to NY, so we’re looking for more retail outlets!  You can also find the collection in over 35 retail stores all of the US.  We sell the pieces online as well, visit http://www.theandeancollection.com.  

PK: Where do you plan on taking The Andean Collection in the future?

AJ: On the Ecuador Side:
For the next year we will refine our operations in Ecuador and work on expanding operations within Nancy and Olga’s communities.  They have a number of unemployed cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who are looking forward to joining us as we grow.  The next step will be to start working with recycled metals, as well as with alpaca products from Peru.  I know a wonderful group of extremely talented indigenous weavers from Ayacucho Peru that I want to work with just as soon as I can get the funding to start up a new line of knitwear.

On the US Side:
I am really excited about expanding the reach of our website and using that as an avenue to educate people about socially responsible jewelry.  Also, we have been featured in a lot of great high end boutiques that had not previously sold fair trade or eco-friendly products.  I would love to reach more boutiques like that to help bridge the gap between fair trade and high fashion.  

PK: Describe your personal style.

AJ: I have always been in to recycled fashion – most of it emerging through my love for thrift stores.  Since launching The Andean Collection, and getting more involved in the eco-fashion arena I have new love for organic cotton and eco-friendly fabrics.  But honestly, I have been spending so much time in Latin America that I am only newly discovering all of the amazing eco-fashion stores in here at home. 

As for my design background, I have been designing beaded jewelry since I was 10 and my godmother used to take me to craft fairs with her and give me a small space on her table where I could sell my wears.  I think it was the 7th grade when my friend and I started a ‘store’ in her garage.  We sold beaded eye glass holders, necklaces and chokers (quite illegally I’m sure) It’s funny that now I have a company that draws on those experiences I had when I was only 10 years old!

For wholesale or employment opportunities visit http://www.theandeancollection.com

Photo shoot image courtesy of Coco Eco magazine.

The best thing about Litter?  The laid back vibe and ability to create art out of used items, which they search for high and low.  Visit their blog/shop and you too will want to break free from the usual, take off extra layers of clothing and run like mad looking for vintage fashion.  This is why they are chosen to be the style mavens and le la Moda darlings for June/July.  We just love them and hope you enjoy our interview with the two sisters and designers. 

llM:How was Litter born and what does the name represent?

M&R: LITTER came to be when Mackenzie started getting experimental at the hardware store making jewelry out of nuts and bolts, and plumbing parts. It was really cool stuff, but not really wearable. At that time, it wasn’t named LITTER, it was just a concept. When we joined forces is when we decided to create LITTER using found objects, some hardware store finds, but mostly vintage chains and flea market scores. We brainstormed to come up with a name, and we wanted to stick with something “Trashen” because the jewelry was made from these cast off materials. Basically, we pulled out the thesaurus, and LITTER was the name we chose. 

llM: What influences your design creations?

M&R: We aren’t really influenced by other designers or people. We mostly influence each others designs here in the studio. Its great because we have this amazing resource in each other for style advise and design direction. We make something, and then we revise it based on one another’s ideas. Sometimes, our friends come in with ideas thinking they are going to help us out, but we usually end up wishing they would leave because they are in the way! 

We both went to The Academy of Art in San Francisco, but we studied different areas of the arts. Which is why we have a good partnership, because we bring different things to the table. Everything about us is different in fact. We have completely different style, different taste in men, and different interests. We do have the same taste in music, but that’s it. We love anything with tons of bass, like dubstep. 

llM: Once you realized you had something unique and marketable, what  were the first steps you took to promote your product? 

M&R: We started with just the blog, and from there it grew into needing a website to start selling the product. So, we threw together the online store, and its sort of caught fire all on its own through word of mouth and other bloggers. I mean, we owe all of our success to bloggers, they have fast tracked us to the place we stand now. We still can’t believe how many people have responded to us and to LITTER. Its been such a compliment and has kept us going and motivates us to design more. 

llM: How are you personal styles the same or different? 

M&R: We are 100% opposites! Mackenzie has a much harder look. She chooses more masculine fashions, where I am really girlie and softer. I love gold, and she loves silver. She likes Spikes and heavy chains, and I use the delicate chain and costumy vintage looking chain. She wears combat boots and I wear high heels. This list goes on and on…

llM: Where do you shop?

M&R: We love the Goodwill, Thrift Stores, Vintage Stores, and Flea Markets. We find amazing things, and then we bring them back to the studio and add to them, rework them, and turn them into our own creations.

llM: You create your designs from used items, what other ways do you live the green lifestyle? 

M&R: We try to be environmentally conscience, but our lives are not considered very green. We are happy that LITTER is technically “green” because it makes up for some of our other excesses. We both use energy saving light bulbs and recycle! 

llM: What fashion icons do you look up to? 

M&R: We love Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander Wang, Kate Moss, Keith Richards and love looking at old pictures of Musicians from the 60’s and 70’s for styles. 

llM: If you can tell, what futures plans do you have for Litter?

M&R: We have a trip planned in a couplemonths. We are renting an RV on the east coast and turning it into a mobile LITTER studio. Then, we are going to head west hitting up flea markets, goodwills, thrift stores, and garage sales in every state along the way. We will get chains, clothes, and accessories and rework them into new LITTER pieces. Then, at the end of our trip, we will put on a show of our “American” collection. So excited! 

To shop or for more on Mackenzie & Rachel, Go to www.littersf.com

As cosmopolitan and style savvy as you might be I bet you can still spot a stranger and wonder, who is that beautiful person and where does she shop?  The Co-CEOs of Beautiful Stranger.tv Abby Wallach and Melissa Fedor have created a solution for your endless fashion curiosity.  Using streaming videos their website brings real and professional fashionistas to you, revealing exactly what you want to know. 

Abby Wallach has been wonderful enough to share her concept and business history with me, starting from the very beginning.  Not only is she one smart individual, she is laid back and very easy to talk to.  She has definitely inspired me.  If you want to know what it takes to be a business owner and how to get there, then listen up ladies!

llM: What is beautiful stranger.tv?

AW: Beautiful Stranger.tv is an online media brand that selects stylish people from streets around the world and features them as stars in a one-minute video as well as still content online. We find out what they are using, loving, wearing, how they are going green and more. We then link to every product and service that they mention.

llM: When and how was the idea of BeautifulStranger.tv born?

AW: I have spent my career in entertainment (Moscow Circus, Showtime Networks and Nederlander TV and Film) and my partner, Melissa Fedor in magazines (WWD, W, Glamour, InStyle and Real Simple). Together we have merged magazine content and TV programming to lead the consumer to shop online. We came up with this idea many years ago and realized that as technology finally converged we could launch the brand online. There were no barriers to entry and no one else was doing what we we were doing in regards to video online with links to product and services.    

llM: What compelled you to start your own business?

AW: I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. I love creating new ideas that that will inform and entertain the consumer. I have always had a strong interest in business because I come from a strong line of women entrepreneurs starting back with my great grandmother who built a very successful catering business and sleep-away camp business in new york.

llM: What did you find to be the most difficult part of planning and launching the website?

AW: The most difficult part of a business is getting it off the ground   

llM: Once launched what was the biggest realization you had regarding every day operations?

AW:  Watch your bottom line very closely and always be prepared to evolve with the times. Stay focused with your goals, but be open to different opportunity and change. A business evolves. A lot is trial and error. You have to keep trying until you get it right.  

llM: Who is or can be a beautiful stranger?

AW: Anyone who’s got a handle on style can be a beautiful stranger! It is a person, of any age, who has a look that you want to know more about! A person with an individual sense of style and the confidence to where what they love.  

llM: What kind of a team did you build and now employ to help you run beautiful stranger.tv?

AW: We have a fantastic team of technology and design experts, as well as production team. Everyday we find new people in different industries who want to be involved with the Beautiful Stranger brand. We have very dedicated interns and will be launching a university platform for college students to be a part of this growing brand. The team is very important and crucial to the success of any business. Melissa and I have been partners for over 12 years, so we have an unbelievable working relationship. We both have our expertise and respect each others’ decisions.

llM: Where do you plan on taking the concept of your business in the future?

AW: In the future where do you plan on taking the concept of your business? Beautiful Stranger.tv is a global media brand that we hope to have on a global platform in all mediums including tv, mobile applications, in store events and tours across the country, on the look out for the next Beautiful Stranger.    

llM: What are some of your favorite reactions/answers people have when approached on the street?

AW:  Cute question!! The first thing people say is what a great idea. That name is awesome!!

Our Beautiful Strangers are so flattered when we stop them. Because it is all authentic (no pre-arranged interviews except for our celebrity expert content) we get the nicest compliments. Some include: Can’t wait to see who will be in my inbox tomorrow with beautiful stranger of the day. Keep them coming. I shared with all of my friends and family. It’s awesome. You made my day!! How can I be Beautiful Strangered? Great concept. Wish I had thought of it! Our greatest satisfaction comes from our audience and the Beautiful Strangers themselves. We have built such a strong network and community of people whom we continue to speak to on a regular basis. They share so much information with us. Also, it is so important for us to provide the ultimate service to the consumer at home, who can’t get enough of the daily eye candy and information we provide. It is truly inspiring to our team that we are getting such a wonderful and positive reaction on so many levels!  

Also, we created a User-Generated section where you can submit yourself to become a Beautiful Stranger. You can also sign up for a daily dose of style and receive a Beautiful Stranger of the Day in your email box three times a week. It makes us very proud to have created something that people around the world want to be a part of.

llM: What advice would you give to young women who aspire to being small business owners?

AW: Follow your passion and your dreams. Set simple goals so you can accomplish them. Create a business plan and guideline for your business with financials. Most importantly, don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, and NEVER give up!!!

To get your daily dose of beautiful strangers and fashion/beauty advice go to http://beautifulstranger.tv  Images taken from beautifulstranger.tv 

PAST

PRESENT
DEBY DEBO quickly catapulted into a full-blown clothing range, with its designs being worn by a French TV presenter and celebrities. Today, the brand is distributed all over the world and has five shops in the best shopping area in Paris.

50 rue d’Argout 75002 PARIS

19 rue de Turenne 75004 PARIS
95 rue des Martyrs 75018 PARIS
11 rue Antoine Vollon 75012 PARIS
94 rue St Dominique 75007 PARIS

Their boutiques are very intimate with delicate wallpaper and embellishments and this design-focused collection combines contemporary silhouettes with vintage styling. Please visit the website http://www.debydebo.fr.  The brand has decided to open a E-Boutique as well: http://shop.debydebo.fr  (they ship all over the globe)

FUTURE
The company continues to show nice progress and is planning to enter into retail with the opening of new stores in different cities.  This is to be followed by various department store concessions.  DEBY DEBO gives young women easy essentials that can be worn alone or in combination.  The sophisticated collection, together with the boutiques, truly creates an original look.

So you think you can start a high-end label of your own?  Read about the unique brand development as it comes to you straight from a very dedicated individual, Mickael Casol. 

Click on images to enlarge. 

PAST
Everything started in 2002 when French painter Maryse Casol launched her first professional art collection. A limited edition catalogue came with it and her paintings started to be sold in a Montreal, Canada art gallery. In 2004, seeing her amazing talent for colour & while being in my second year of business school, I decided to help her get to the next level (later to learn that instant success does not exist: success has a pre-requisite of 1,000,000 hours of hard work in the dark). The real fun took off in September 2007 when we organized a private exhibition in Manhattan (West Village), NYC. A Russian art collector bought 5 paintings and the word spread rapidly in the Art World. It was good but not great. Being a champion in Muay Thai and training among MMA world champions such as Georges St-Pierre and David Loiseau, I have learnt that there is always another level, you should never settle with your present situation. Therefore came the idea of bringing art to fashion with a made in France silk scarf collection competing with Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo.

PRESENT
After one year of travelling the world for the Casol silk scarf collection, we’ve decided to focus on the ecommerce part of www.MaryseCasol.com . Having your designs in stores is exciting but you never control the quality of service or visual presentation of your brand. Not good when your name is Casol. As Donald Trump said it once: “if I can’t get my hands on it, it’s not for me”. With ecommerce however, it’s a process, and we make sure that process brings excellence to our customers. From making the scarves in Lyon, France with Brochier Soieries (leaders since 1890), to using Paypal as a partner for payment process, and Fedex for express delivery, every step is executed the way a champion wins his fights!

FUTURE
The future looks amazingly bright, we have just launched a full collection of silk ties and silk scarves from famous artists such as Picasso, Dufy or Van Gogh. This collection is also made by Brochier Soieries, and are available at MaryseCasol.com. On top of the silk ties and silk scarves we have a premium collection of fine art prints. With more products coming soon, our goal is to become the online shopping destination for French & European luxury brands. Of course, Maryse doesn’t stop painting, you should see her new landscapes, c’est de la couleur en puissance!

I instantly fell in love with the brand as it represents pure class, glamour and of course the mystery that comes along with it. The designs allow you to step back into the elegance of fashion history and its celebrated fashion icons.  Wearing Ralph & Russo gives you a feeling that you can accomplish anything.  I imagine the sultry glamour that will overcome you as soon as you put on one of their one of a kind dresses or gowns has to be empowering.  It is not wonder Ralph & Russo caters to women in high positions and class.  

As a fashion stylist I have been contacted by this glamorous label and when I propositioned an interview for le la Moda, the head designer and co founder Tamara Ralph has graciously agreed.  The company is run by a Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo. Together they are the perfect formula to success.   

Interview with Tamara Ralph of Ralph & Russo 

llM: The name Ralph & Russo sounds as if it was always meant to be a high-end fashion label, how did this venture come about? 

TR: Ralph & Russo is a combination of our last names; it represents our strengths and combined what we bring to the company. We met by chance in London; Michael is a natural entrepreneur, after showing him my designs and idea for the company, the business partnership developed from there.

llM: You are the head designer for you collections, what is Russo’s role in the business?   

TR: Michael is Sicilian and has a great style about him. He is very business orientated and exceptionally forward thinking, he is the CEO of Ralph & Russo.  I am the Head Designer. It suits us both as we can then focus on what we do best and it works well, but it is a combined effort on both our parts. We often bounce off each others ideas.  We handpicked all our employees, which are very important to the development of the brand.    

llM: The exclusivity of your brand allows for a certain mystery, who is your target market and can you reveal some of the big names you have worked with? 

TR: We design for quite a few big named celebrities, although we would rather not disclose our clientele. We Endeavour to give our clients a personal exclusive service when it comes to our couture work. The label is on an invitation only basis, this way we guarantee our girls uniqueness.  

We have private members which are given VIP access, showings and incentives which make our label special. The mystery is all apart of the brand. Our target market is the woman that adores luxury and fashion, she is well traveled and style orientated. Someone who is affluent, an individual, she is edgy, sexy and timeless.   

llM: Your creations are one of a kind, where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

TR: A lot of my inspiration comes from my travels, animals, elaborate architecture, history etc. I am very inspired by my mother’s style. She always decorated our home with exotic worldly treasures from Africa and Asia and the Middle East.

I love the great Hollywood icons and old Hollywood glamour like Sophia Loren. I love feminine pieces with sex appeal and high glamour. I also favor eras such as the 1920’s, 1940’s, and the freedom and of the 1970’s. My inspiration changes all the time, it can really be from the simplest things. Bold prints and intricate hand embroidery are also things I tend to incorporate a lot in the designs.

llM: I read that you have been an aspiring designer since you were a little girl, how does it feel to look back and see yourself doing what you always loved and aspired to?  

TR: It’s a great feeling; design is what I love. Several generations of women in my family worked in fashion, so I grew up surrounded by design.

My mother taught me the basics of sewing and I used to watch her while she was making dresses.  I was intrigued by it.  She kept a collection of vintage Vogue patterns from when she was young so I learnt on styles from the 1970’s, altering them to make new styles.  I was sketching dresses at the age of 8 and started making dresses from the age of 13. My grandmother gave me my first mannequin which enabled me to teach myself draping. 

llM: Your label is relatively young and you have already accomplished a great deal, that is something to be congratulated.  What are some of your future plans for the business? 

TR: We have some exciting developments over the next year which I cannot disclose details of just yet.

We are in the process of launching our new couture collection, exciting partnerships we are currently negotiating and a completely unique service we are developing, which is not currently offered by any other luxury brand. Our couture Company grew from word of mouth, so we have quite a few exciting goals this year to develop this facet of the business, notably in the US. 

llM: What advice would you give to young women out there who are in the process of starting their own business in fashion design?  

TR: Do what you love, if you are doing what you love you give it passion, and that’s when it comes alive.