//Interview Models

After showing you the backstage of "The Party is Over", in Zoot#9, we give you now the interviews we managed to do with the models.
Rita Gonçalves, Andreia Contreras ( CentralModels ) and Julia Melnykova (EliteModels) answered our questions and curiosities, during the breaks for changing clothes and primary needs.

// Rita Gonçalves, Andreia Contreiras and Júlia Melnykova

// Tell us something about models people don't know.
Rita – They are normal persons.
Andreia – They have cellulite.
Júlia –They are not what everyone imagines: they are nor perfect.


// Beauty secret.
Rita – always take the make-up off.
Andreia – Sleep well.
Júlia – I drink a lot of tee...

// The trip of your dreams.
Rita - Israel.
Andreia - Índia.
Júlia - Atlântida.

// Fashion designer you would love to work with.
Rita - Nicolas Ghesquière.
Andreia - Versace.
Júlia - For me, all fashion designers are valuable, I don't prefer none in particular. In Portugal, I really like Storytailors, but I have worked with them already, so…

// 3 essential characteristics for surviving in the fashion world.
Rita - Attitude, patience and really love what you do.
Andreia -Being independent, have strength and modesty.
Júlia – having self confidence, determination and modesty. We can never forget who we are.

// Favourite piece.
Rita – Shoes.
Andreia - Jeans .
Júlia - Jeans .

// Sweet or salty?
Rita - Sweet.
Andreia - Salty .
Júlia - Salty .

// Christmas or New Year's Eve?
Rita – New Year's Eve.
Andreia – New Year's Eve.
Júlia – New Year's Eve; In Ukraine we don't celebrate Christmas as you do here in Portugal.

INTERVIEW_Ricardo Dourado

1. When and how did you discover the "fashion designer" in you?

When I was about 17 and I was taking a photography/video degree in school Soares dos Reis, in Oporto; my works were mainly related to fashion.

2. What are the influences of your creative process?

Architecture, Suit history and everyday life.

3. To whom do you direct your work ?

To fashion and art focused people. To someone who is looking for new products and new perspectives.

4. What was the biggest challenge of your entire carrer?

It has always been the collection to come.

5. In what projects are you working currently?

I am consultant of two textile comopanies in Oporto, where I develop a vertical product; i choose the lines, develop the materials and the piece' design. I'm a part of CITEX, where I teach streetwear and sportswear design and portfolio planning. I'm also creating the outfits for an interesting work of a coreographer friend of mine, which is studying Cindy Sherman's universe.

6. How did you come up with the idea of creating a blog?

Since a while, I wanted to have a site where people could find and see my work; as I intended to do something less institucionalized, the best option was to create a blog.

7. If you weren't a fashion designer, you would be...?

A car designer, architect, photographer or cameraman in a TV station.

8. Sweet or salty?

Definitely sweet after salty.

9. What have you been hearing lately?

Bloc party and everything from http://www.pigradio.com/

10. You cannot live whithout...

My pills.

11. Often caught...

falling, stumbling and lying.

12. Place.

Beach

13. IN & OUT.

IN - washed sneakers

OUT – leggings

14. Black is...?

The colour which never compromises me.

15. What is your opinion about Black is Back?

The new coolest blog in the city!!!

Photos by cortesy of Ricardo Dourado

//INTERVIEW Sebastian Smith

//Photographer//NY

What is your impression about this year’s ModaLisboa?

I think it’s better than the last season; I’ve seen some good fashion shows. I think my favourite, so far, is White Tent. It was brilliant… everything: the textures, the colours (they brought down three: black, white and grey). I was very impressed with the entire production!
Katty Xiomara is always one of my favourites. I really enjoyed what she did last year…and everything she did this year is fantastic. I had the chance to see the clothes personally, check everything and even the samples were done so well… I like the details, the small tiny details that make the clothes elements of style. Her pieces are, all of them, must-haves. Besides, her stuff is very versatile: you can dress up, or dress down, and to me, that’s what’s going to make her stuff classic pieces; in 10 years the clothes that she does now are going to be considered vintage.

Who’s the model you would like to work with?
Actually, we get the girls that we want… there’s this girl, Júlia, a russian model, who is fantastic.

In your opinion, who is a real top-model, the best you’ve ever worked with?

I did a shoot with this girl Erin (Marylin Models, NY); she’s a hot girl right now, and she’s fantastic, amazing.
As soon as you got her in front of the camera, everything clicks! Not every beautiful girl should model… if she doesn’t have the passion, the attitude, it’s not worth it. But this one does.

What’s the difference between working with male and female models?
Differently from what most people think, it’s easier to work with men then with women. In editorials, male models have a typical look, very strong. To me, male models are props to female models.
But it comes down to you shoot what you’re passionate about; I’m passionate about women and about making fashion, so these are the two things I choose.
But there are photographers out there who do male photography very well.

Are you enjoying Portugal?

I love it, it’s a wonderful place to visit. It’s visually stimulating, because everywhere you look, you have wonderful things to photograph.
I went to Sintra… I saw the castle, and to me, it’s a beautiful place to go; it reminds me Cinderela’s castle…and we don’t have castles in the states.

Places to visit in NY

Maracujá – a bar in Brooklyn, with a wwonderful patio; It’s THE place to go; whenever some friends visit me in NY, this is the first place I take them to.
Café Noir – Soho; It has the best food in all NY and it’s lovely; when I’m there, I’m not in NY anymore, but in Morocco or something like that. It’s an amazing experience.

Times Square. Although it’s very touristy, you can’t go to NY and miss Times Square. The lights, the mood, I mean, it’s magnetic… It’s known all over the world and once you go there, you’ll never forget it.

Central Park bridge, for those special moments, which become magical here.

IN & OUT in NY

Messy hair – IN // Bikes – IN // Vespas – OUT // Ballerina shoes – OUT

http://www.sebastiansmithphoto.com

// FRANÇOIS LE CALVEZ // Interview

//François le Calvez
Booker from Metropolitan Models, Paris

Are you enjoying Portugal?

I’ve only had good surprises, so far. In Paris, everyone think they know everything about the fashion world and here it’s not like that; everybody knows each other, everybody wants to improve, everyone has a challenge, and that’s great!

What do you think about “Portuguese fashion”, in general?

Well, I didn’t have the time to go for a walk and have attention to that kind of stuff, so I’m not able to talk about it… not yet.

Are you enjoying the fashion shows?

Yes, I’ve had some really nice surprises. Lots of fashion designers are doing new things… I like particularly the colours they use. Such as…?Hmm... the fashion shows I loved the most were Isabella Capeto (the guest designer), Miguel Vieira, which reminds me of YSL style, and Dino Alves; he’s really eccentric, but I loved it!

What do you think about Portuguese models?

I found some beautiful girls here! Although here in Portugal the girls are a little bit more commercial than in France, there are two in particular, that I would like to take with me.
And who are the girls? I love Milena (Milena Cardoso – LoftModels),I “fell in love” with her, I think she’s great and I really want her to come to Paris. The other girl is Milene (Milene Veiga – CentralModels), a blond girl, which would be perfect… she’s been doing great on the catwalk.

Who’s your favourite model?

Irina K (Trump Managment, NY). She’s now doing “Daisy”, for Marc Jacobs, and she also did DKNY. It’s always a pleasure to work with her. She’s one of my girls, and I’m so proud of her. When you really believe in their potential and then they manage to have success, that’s great! (Irina Kulikova, was born and raised in Moscow, where Liv Tyler discovered her. She did the Fall’07 CK campaign in NY, she opened Prada’s fashion show in Milano, she did YSL in Paris, amongst many others - Jil Sander, Gucci, Miu Miu, Chloé...)

Tell us what is In and Out in Paris.
Well, that’s a tuff question. Hhmmmm out is wearing skinny jeans if you are more than thirty years old. In… shiny shoes, definitely (pointing down to his feet. He did wear some).

// AMANDA JOHNSON Interview

// top model

For the campaign we invited top model Amanda Johnson. She was born in Florida and is based in London. Amanda was kind enough to answer some questions:

Tell us about your favourite assignments.

As hard as is seems, fashion is a business very glamorous from the outside, but which sometimes put the emphasis on very unworthy things. Some of the works I loved the most were riding an helicopter to do a photo shoot, or dancing with dwarfs on a castle, in Germany.

Who’s your model heroine?

I’ve never been one of those who think models should be considered role models or heroes; the work we do is just a regular job.
Some of my heroes are Amelia Earheart, Patti Smith and Carson McCullers. If I had to choose a model, it would be Lee Miller (but se is so much more than just a model).

Leather or vinyl?

Sorry, sweet animals, but leather, always! People live well with the idea of killing them, but then contradict themselves saying that it’s wrong to wear them. I agree with the native-american philosophy of using the entire animal.

Are you enjoying Lisbon?

I always wanted to visit Potugal and I’m very happy to be here, even if it’s just for a few days. I think everything is beautiful here, and I hope to come back soon. Thank you for having me!

// TERU Interview

// Hair-stylist
Japanese based in London hair-stylist

Teru is a Japanese hair stylist based in London, and he was with us in Lisbon to do the photo shooting for our advertising campaign.

Here are his hair trends for the winter:
Clean, shiny, and stylised.
The bitchy look was very IN before, but now trends are changing; now we want a much more sexy and sophisticated look. Use lots of gel and hairspray, it works!

Tell us about your hair accessories company.
First I used to work for the big companies, such as Vidal Sassoon or Tony & Guy. Six years ago, I decided to join an independent team, “Team Propaganda Hair”, which exists since 1999 and is inspired by the Bless (two German designers, working in Paris).
We realised that only fashion designers were doing hair accessories, concluded that hair stylists should do it as well, and so we started working on handmade hair accessories. That’s what we’re doing to the present.

//IN & OUT by Teru

IN // Banksy (graphic designer); patchworks; bob haircut
OUT // Highlights; Straight hair

// TIME OUT Lisboa / launch party@LUX

From 26th September onwards, move your lazy bottoms to your local newsagent and check on the new launched Portuguese version of TIME OUT! We haven’t seen the magazine yet, but one thing we can tell is that the TIME OUT launch party at Lux was amazing: Beautiful people, nice atmosphere, great sangria, and some delicious chocolates that put an end to our non-fat diet…Despite all the hype, editor João Sepeda found the time to answer three questions:

How do you expect the public to react, having TIME OUT in Portugal?
I believe it will be fine. Lisbon seems to be the one European capital that does not have a cultural guide yet; we should not have to worry too much about competition.
Besides, the magazine is not expensive (€ 2), and it will come out every week. I’m really optimistic.

How is TIME OUT Portugal related to fashion?
Fashion is one of TIME OUT’s main subjects. We shall have a fashion-focused shopping section and give coverage to events like MODA LISBOA.

Describe Time Out, in three words.

Irreverent, innovative and useful.

http://www.timeout.com/

Ana Salazar and friend, João Brilha and Raquel Strada

Mariana Saraiva

// RICARDO PRETO_fashion designer // Interview

If you were not a fashion designer, you would be…?
A singer.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a fashion designer in Portugal?
The same as in any other profession; It has some good and some bad points, as everything does.
Who would you love to dress? Julianne MooreWhat’s your craziest outfit ever?A jersey body (my favourite material) that made everyone think that the model was naked on the catwalk.

What do you think about the total black look?
Total black is a classic.

Which are your must-haves for this season?
All the aesthetic changes, which happened in shoes, especially women shoes, make it a must-have; purses XXL; lace; trench coats.

What do you feel about showing the clothes you’ve created for Canon’s Project “We Speak Image” in the Fashion Weeks of London, Paris, Milan and Lisbon?
I feel happy; whenever a big company sponsors you (as Nike also does) and asks you to create, you feel like working and make your bounds stronger.

This year your clothes are being industrially produced. What are the advantages and disadvantages of that?
This allows me to reach my main goal, which is another kind of commerce. I would like to produce clothes on a big scale, because it makes the clothes cheaper.The fact that I’m making clothes in very small quantities makes it more expensive and I would like to change that.

Backstage Ricardo Preto ModaLisboa / AW07

http://www.ricardopreto.pt.tp/