Icons of Style – Lara Stone meets Mercedes Benz/
Visionary photographer Alex Prager leads us down the yellow brick road with her new Wizard of Oz inspired short film ‘Icons of Style’. Lara Stone, bedecked in Calvin Klein Collection, stars in this beautifully surreal movie opposite the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster. The trio’s classic beauty has the ability to translate effortlessly across any time period and is perfectly captured by Prager’s narrative in the form of a parallel photo shoot.
Our screen siren is a contemporary Dorothy, caught somewhere between the fantastical and the hyper real. Set in a barren LA desert, a windswept yet infinitely sexy Stone is carried away to another world by a tornado, leaving her on-screen partner, the stunning Roadster, behind.
Prager wants the viewers to question Stone’s methods; was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time or was she tempting fate when she stopped and took her luggage out of the trunk of the Mercedes in the midst of stormy skies? Either way, one thing is clear from Prager’s vision; we are most definitely not in Kansas anymore.
For further information about this stunning collaboration, please visit http://www.fashionweek-berlin.mercedes-benz.de/en/
ICONS OF STYLE: BEHIND THE SCENES
Take a look behind the scenes of the photo shoot for the key visual for the international autumn/winter 2012 fashion event by Mercedes-Benz:
An elegant woman and a breathtaking sports car in a barren steppe landscape. Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon – the threatening signs of an approaching tornado. The suspenseful key visual for the international autumn/winter 2012 fashion event by Mercedes-Benz bears the unmistakable signature of photo and film artist Alex Prager. In line with the theme of the photo shoot, “Icons of Style,” the image unites three true style icons into one complete work of art: Supermodel Lara Stone is captivating with her timeless and equally striking beauty. In a classic black outfit by Francisco Costa, Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection, she is reminiscent of film divas from decades past. And next to her, the new Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster stars as an innovative interpretation of the legendary classic.
For further information about this stunning collaboration, please visit http://www.fashionweek-berlin.mercedes-benz.de/en/
Maison Fin De Saison présents MAN GARB/
Maison Fin De Saison is the beautiful brainchild of a London based, European grown brother and sister design duo with a proclivity for the Avante Garde. The pair recently introduced their debut womenswear collection; a dynamic fusion of Southeastern influences and European ideologies shaped by their personal experiences. The brand’s signature strong, clean silhouettes juxtapose high femininity with masculine prints, creating an effortless industrial chic. With an already established online presence, the fledgling house is preparing to debut at London Fashion Week this year in all its new age inspired artisanal glory.
To view the collection for yourself and to find out more about Maison Fin De Saison visit their website www.maisonfindesaison.com
Tell us about the Maison Fin De Saison and its origins?
Maison Fin De Saison, is a progressive vision, a propaganda, a chimerical notion. We create garb.
We are a brother and sister dyad that created this design house, despite our contradictory characters, through our shared love for philosophical writings in many forms of human language. We do not necessarily speak these languages but we interpret them in our own way. My brother is the logical half of the brain and I the creative, together we unify as one visionary disposition.
The name Maison Fin De Saison, translated into the English language means ‘House’ End of Season. The name itself was a vision of all the things we are associated with and all that holds a degree of fascination for us. Consider it to be a contradiction to the notion of normal, combined with a hint of humor.
We bring our imagination to purpose through GARB, each season gives precedence to the vision and the vision then foresees the making of the season. We introduce each season’s ideology through Black and White Film, a signature style of our work.
The helpless density of our language can be felt through the aura given to each of our seasonal films. The execution of our design exemplifies minimalist structures, neutral tone and unusual fabric use. It is interesting as our vision is quite heavy yet when given form it is light and airy – quite the opposite.
With obsessive interests in the Avante Garde, the idea of mankind and the philosophy of liberation, we bring forward each season with a vision to stage. Season FW12 is known as ‘MAN GARB’.
What was the ideology behind your vision and the radio collaboration?
Yes, our current season MAN GARB, has been based on the notion of conscious and sub-conscious aura of mankind. We are lovers of the often genius music French Radio London play and also the idea of the human voice and language. After all, these are used as forms of expression to inflict the presence of thought and speech.
I met with the CEO of FRL, Pascal Grierson, and I put forward a very strange proposition to him, which happened to solidify. I was then introduced to the station’s Arts and Culture journalist and the project developed from there and has been ongoing ever since.
The intention is to bring forward a progressive exhibition within an exhibition, with FRL hosting the sound and recording accompanying MAN GARB.The idea of being able to portray the human voice through two very unlikely mechanics is liberating. Radio has always been transmitted to convey key messages, happenings and events to the world – this is something that, interestingly enough, coincides with the voice of Maison Fin De Saison’s – Man Garb, FW12.
You have previously mentioned the idea of liberation but what relation does propaganda have with Maison Fin De Saison?
Propaganda can be considered a particular set of doctrines. We demonstrate each season as a form of propaganda that is ever changing with our peculiar obsessions. All of this is the not so obvious idea of liberation we speak of.
Have any of your pieces been worn yet, if so by whom and when?
Yes, we dressed the presenter for the arts and culture show on FRL. She selected the piece ‘Libre’ from our film to wear to FRL’s major event. We were humbled by the reception of our work from female and male personalities alike.
There are other collaborations in the pipeline for the future but we would prefer to remain quiet about it.
You are philosophically inspired, would you say that there is a specific phrase or mantra that has inspired your designs?
Definitely. The piece shown in our film, which is heavily trimmed with Guinea fowl, was directly influenced by an immediate sense of feeling by this phrase from Rousseau. In fact the piece is even called ‘Libre’: L’homme est né libre – Man was born free.
Where will we find you in 2012?
The exhibit Man Garb, London, The Himalaya’s, New York and directing the next film for the next season which we look forward to sharing with SCHON early August 2012.
To view the collection for yourself and to find out more about Maison Fin De Saison visit their website www.maisonfindesaison.com
Behind the Scenes of : Gentlemen by Gieves & Hawkes
Watch the making of the glorious advertorial “Gentlemen”, featured in the
newest issue of Schön! Magazine! Listen to the words of the man behind the
camera, Blair Getz Mezibov, as he tells of his passion for fashion photography.
We at Schön! want to share with the world just how modern Gieves & Hawkes
continues to be. Rediscover the elegance and sexiness of the suit. We are
extremely honored to be working with Gieves & Hawkes in furthering their legacy
as an illustrious brand.
All clothing courtesy of Gieves & Hawkes
Photographer / Blair Getz Mezibov
Models / David Gant @ Models1
James Cooper @ Premier
Art Director / Raoul Keil
Stylist / Kay Korsh
Styling Support / Sandra Salciute
Make Up / Steven Canavan @ Jedroot
Hair / Terry Saxon @ Jedroot
Tailor on Set / Nafisa Tosh
Marketing Director / Gieves & Hawkes’ Carlos Singh
Brand Director / Gieves & Hawkes’ Will Forrester
Backstage video courtesy of Saskia Reis
BUY IN PRINT/ DOWNLOAD EBOOK/ VIEW ONLINE/ GO MOBILE/
Agent Provocateur Soiree/
Agent Provocateur celebrates the online launch of the Soiree 2011-2012 collection with a short film, ‘Les Fleurs du Mal’ – a unique take on the horror genre with a signature Agent Provocateur sensibility and eroticism.
The premium collection will be available on www.agentprovocateur.com for the first time. Made from the finest silks and embroidery, all hand-finished and in limited edition, the collection has previously only retailed in global destination boutiques such as Harrods, London and Madison Avenue, NYC.
The two-minute film is directed by Epoch Films’ Justin Anderson. Agent Provocateur’s Creative Director, Sarah Shotton, says “I was introduced to Justin’s work by Epoch films. I loved his simplistic but stylish style and also the humour in his work. One of the gowns in the collection reminded Justin of the type of gown that was worn by ‘victims’ in classic ‘50s hammer horror films. Hammer horror suits Agent Provocateur perfectly as in the past, horror was the only way of showing sex in film, hence Dracula biting his reluctant ladies’ necks! I am a big fan of horror and of using it as a tactic to jump onto my own ‘victims’ laps when scared, so I was very excited about making our very own little horror film!”
Justin says “Putting Agent Provocateur and horror together seemed the natural direction for the collection, but we needed a music track that would add a layer of humour. Sarah came up with the idea of using a Death Metal track which would be perfect for the brief, and I promised her I would make a film that would be like listening to Slayer whilst reading Italian Vogue. The track was recorded by the Parisian-based band – Omaha Bitch.”
Horror has been historically used as way of expressing sex and avoiding “Draconian” censorship laws, from the Victorian Gothic, 60’s Hammer Films through to American teen-horror. Sex and horror have always been woven together but never, to our knowledge, parodied within a film for a fashion label.
Epoch Films is an international production company based in London, New York and Los Angeles.
Director — Justin Anderson
Producer – Rob Godbold
Production Company — Epoch Films
Creative Direction — Sarah Shotton at Agent Provocateur
Model— Kirsten Varley at Select, Billie and Luma at Premier, Georgie and Juli at Profile
Cinematography — Stephan Blackman
Hair — Dom Capel
Make Up – Mei Rees
Styling — Valentine Fillol Cordier
Editor — Sam Gunn at The Whitehouse
Post Production — Glassworks
Sound Mix — Sam Ashwell at 750mph
Music Track — Gay Ninja by Ohama Bitch
Mise en Dior/
Welcome to the virtual world of Dior with the Dior Pearl. Where is it going? Breathlessly following its every move, we experience each twist and turn from the Pearl’s point of view, to the rhythm of an original electro-remix of Mozart. Each score of points is marked by a Dior icon. It is a step forward in the creation of the “Mise en Dior” necklace. Exhilarated by its adventure in this fascinating Dior universe, the Pearl dialogues spontaneously with each of the house’s icons. The Bar jacket, Lady Dior, J’Adore, the star, Dior Addict…They’re all there.
And with each encounter the necklace comes closer to completion. In its element, the Pearl collides with a crystal bumper and scores one last time, before shooting off at top speed through an impressive metal canework ramp, worthy of the grand staircase of a stately ballroom. Chain reactions, heady excitement, futuristic neon and pure poetry in an ode to tradition: that is how the necklace is made. There it is, emblazoned on the medallion-shaped back panel of the chair-cum-pinball machine. The Pearl comes to rest, as part of the necklace. More free-spirited than ever. Exquisite. Dior.
