Christopher Kane, Franca Sozzani, Lisa Armstrong, Manolo Blahnik ....
All very smiley and positiv! However before I saw their smiles I waited in a looong queue in Harvey Nichols for about 2 hours giving that i arrived 30 minutes earlier. To book an appointment for "Vogue Experience'" was an easy job. I have spotted this on one of the group pages on facebook and decided to have a proper look. I was not really sure whether I should go to London as the initiative of the Italian vogue to meet and organise this event for young creatives was meant to happen there. By that moment I was totally skinnt as had to pay a very serious sum for the car insurance a couple of days ago. However it didn't stop me from applying, as it is not everyday when you can meet these people especially during the event where you as a young designer, creative is in the centre of attention! So I applied and chose the time slot from 12 to 1 pm. Unfortunately there didn't follow any explanation of what I should bring,what format it will be in, how long it will last (definitely not one hour otherwise you d feel too special!) also something went a bit wrong with the confirmation email and honestly till the last moment I thought I was not in.
Good news came when I managed to organise two of the bridal trials in London, and also discuss with Joyce Joung the possibility of stocking my head pieces in her shop in London! Basically it worked out perfect;)
I decided not to do trials on the same day with the Vogue experience, just in case I am over emotional:) and to tell the truth there was a reason to be so.
The queue on the 4 th floor in HN was not very promising, some people decided to leave before they reached the judging panel. I met a ukranian girl who studies photography in LCF and we chatted through all this 2 hours. By the moment when I reached the point where assistant were trying to decide people into sections: designers, accessorie designers, shoe designers, I couldnt decided as Whom to present myself: I had both my styling and make-up portfolio and images with my millinery. At first I said that I am a milliner... Was told that Phillip Tracey will come and I should speak to him. That could have been great, BUT the problem that I am not JUST a hat maker! I more wanted to show my works to Franca as I thought she might have a bladed view upon what I do. To do so I had to wait even longer... Many guys who were behind me went pass to meet ...... And I was still waiting. At some point another woman came (her face is very familiar but I can remember who she was) she again enquirer who I was and when I said that I am BOTH, she said I should choose as they don't have time to check all of my stuff. Well I from my side got very organised the night before. I chose the best images of my styling and make-up and put it in 24 pages presentation book, the same I did with the hat images. And I was sure it will not take me ages to show it as it happened to a number of guys who brought the bibles of their works! This lady was trying to push me to Christopher Kane however I was too keen to show my works to Franca, thanks to blond girl (daiughter) who was taking care of me and at some point pushed me to Franca's table!
And this is where I saw this welcoming and smily very early Renaissance looking lady!) I handed in my hats book first starting with the words that I am actually a stylist and makeup artist but am also a milliner and everything in the images (hair, make-up, style, set design) was mainly made by myself:))) she raised her eyes and asked if the photography was mine too, to what I said that the images she was looking at are photographed by my friend Elena Nevzorova. Then she flicked through my makeup and styling portfolio, not really stopping her eye on something in particular. Meanwhile I was telling about myself and that I still cant make up my mind WHAT I would like to be more in my life: make-up artist, stylist or milliner:) and then she asked: why do you need to choose? You just can be whoever you are... There is nothing bad in it to be multitalented.
And you know what, that meant so much to me!))) these words gave me confidence that I might still be perceived seriously even if I do many things! And it is actually regarded quite nicely.
She also seemed to like what i showed her and it felt nice;)
I also asked Franca, what she thought about celebrity endorsement as a marketing tool for promoting a brand. To that she replied she was not sure it d work in the future. Again, this answer was enough for me:) just when I started thanking her for having me here she said if I could leave my business cards to her. I was pleased to give Beretk!Ah and EsteemMakeOver cards, which she carefully checked before I left. That was a nice finishing touch to this brief meeting. While standing in the queue I didnt see many attendants being asked for the contacts really... That's why I thought it was good news. Frankly speaking I didn't even expect THIS from this meeting, especially when I saw crowds of people from LCF and Londons other unis...however I was pleased with the outome. Cannot say I expect a lot from this but at least it made my day and boosted my confidence!) now I am joking: not every Vogue editor has my business cards, Franca Sozzani does;))
The Vogue mood:
The Vogue Queue
The Vogue People
(Christopher Kane in the middle watching the guy's port and Manolo Blahnik in his stylish suit and a tie-bow on the right)
In Vogue Franca Sozzani overwhelmed with people like me (you can see her beautiful blond hair)
http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/110531-franca-sozzani-vogue-experience-vog.aspx
