Sotiris Georgiou - details

More than chess effect. Taking a closer look, it's zig-zag cut pieces of fabric, resembling those on sample cards by textile companies. Must have been a great deal of work to cut them individually and make them behave as one. Connotation is appreciated too.
Ever looked up whilst watching a movie at a summer cinema in the city? Seeing the buildings behind the jasmine trees surrounding the space is surreal. You are inside an oasis where cement cannot touch you as long as the movie is on. Or in this case, as long as the show is on. Again, loved the location.
Perfect versions of this hairstyle are not as simple as they look. And what on earth is this, holding it together?
Make-up artist (as well as musician and DJ) George Hatziioannidis is later on sharing the secret backstage:
It's elastic tape. Toolbox making friends with hair styling. Creative. And cool result.
Shoulder play. Sexy, especially in this '80s flavour, letting skin show. Thumbs up.
A tail-ed take on mens tees. Wear suits with tails when you play the piano at a gala. Wear t-shirts with tails whilst playing guitar in a band. Air guitar counts too. And yes, I'd steal it anytime from your closet.
Shoes in a suit. He's done it before, he did it again. Excellent. Sotiris Georgiou literally dresses the shoes for this show in some very interesting and well-made gowns. Hope they go to production. Saying that, the shoes he styled for his previous show were so successful, they received orders and are now out for sale.
Catwalk line-up. Always an interesting piece of paper. Choosing of the model who opens a show is a serious decision, no paper off the hat. So it happens that the first three names I can read on this are some of the most promising new generation Greek models right now. Close-up in future post.

*See shots of the actual show, here.

Ippolito showroom opening party

Also, Ippolito and Pavlina Papailiopoulou have a brand new website: http://www.ippolito.gr/

It's raining, wear boots

Officially time for rain-boots then and Strigles has quite some pairs for the job this season.

*Strigles will be showing at the 3rd Tell a Story in Nicosia, Cyprus on October 15th.

**Wonna bag a pair already? They are now in-store at Orsalia shop, Florida Mall, Glyfada.

AXDW schedule

* You can still enter this giveaway for invites to Celebrity Skin's show.

The Island - Costumes II

The costumes of the series 'The Island' are as emotionally charged as the story itself. That's because most of them are real vintage items, existing way before the story was told. Part of what makes this new series a masterpiece, is the effort put to gather these precious bits of history that should later on be placed at a costume museum, no doubt.

All credit for the very special work goes to:
Costumes Supervisor Maria Kontodima
Costumes Designer Xanthi Kontou
Assistant Costumes Designer Marli Aleiferi
Dressers Foteini Papastefanou & Christina Tsoutsouligka Here's the huge storage space the costumes were kept at, at Elounda's school yard. An impossible giant closet, square metres of fashion history. Costume design team's work doesn't stop at getting the goods in one space. Past time series require special handling, like adding the marks of time, getting those gems realistically dirty to match the scenes' conditions yet keeping them in perfect shape for the actors. A movie is not just what you see, but also what you see if you look closer.
Costumes Designer Xanthi Kontou and Assistant Costumes Designer Marli Aleiferi were kind enough to talk about this truly unique and of international standards project:

How many costumes travelled to Crete, how much preparation was needed and how many people participated in the process?

Xanthi Kondou: We shipped 2.000 outfits which took eight months of extensive research to put together. Overall, the various stages from Costume Design to Dressing, was carried out by a team of five. All costumes were created based on tradition archives and some were selected from private collectors’ original garments.
What is special about these costumes and where should the audience focus throughout the series?

Xanthi Kondou: We aimed to achieve balance and harmony between the colours of the environment, Spinalonga and those of the clothes. We paid special attention to the conservatism of the era, something obvious in the clothes of women. We also worked our best to recreate regional style with elements of the traditional Cretan men’s attire (boots, pants, etc.)

There are many semiological details helping the viewers follow the plot, for example, the crosses around the little girls’ necks (Anna & Maria) is what links them later on to their adult years.
To what extent is costume important in such a big production and why?

Marli Aleiferi: It is vital to project the mood and overall atmosphere. You only have seconds to make the audience familiarize with the main characters and the image must communicate the role clearly and accurately in order to achieve a quick engagement.

Semiology is also crucial in order to have the viewer hooked, subconsciously getting the clues we aim to get across. The costume design department reads every line of the script just like the actors and works closely with the director for perfect close ups and powerful frames.
What is a good and what a tough moment for the costumes team during filming?

Marli Aleiferi: A tough moment is when you have to shoot a scene involving numerous extras, that have to fit the theme perfectly and at the same time have a visually balanced and realistic result. None is meant to stand out, other than the protagonists. Getting an immaculate result in limited time is challenging. So is making sure there are no goofs, i.e. if the actor wears a ring on the left finger in a scene, it has to be on the same spot during the next ones too.

A good moment is each and every time a scene is successfully complete. Thankfully we’ve had plenty and you’ll get to watch them all.
Congrats to everyone for the wonderful job, for bringing all these items to light and all 150-something characters to life through clothes. A strong reminder that attire is a big part of our herritage and should not be neglected. Next Monday, watch 'The Island', see the pictures, but read the costumes.

'The Island' - Costumes I

In a few minutes - at 21.50, on Mega Channel - the premier of 'The Island', the so talked about TV series based on Vicotria Hislop's best seller, kicks off.

Massive production for Greece, touching performances and high filming and directing standards are all known and anticipated. However, very little has been said about the amazing costume design work that dressed each character into life.

Been there, seen that, left deeply impressed. A brief interview with the wonderful people behind it has just landed, is loading and will soon be online here. After that, you'll watch each episode from a different perspective, I promise.

(Update: it's loaded, click)

It's called 'CEmeTERial pURity'

Above: preview of the s/s 11 collection by Celebrity Skin 'CEmeTERial pURity'

Shocked by the title? I did the dirty job of popping the question on your behalf...

Alecca Rox: Your s/s11 collection is more nude - less black which has been your trademark colour so far. Yet it's got quite a dark theme. Why?

Celebrity Skin: This collection is all about absolute purity. We feel that the only moment one is truly pure is when faced with the reality of being mortal. The most honest state of this, is when standing at a cemetery, facing the aspect of being human, totally pure and overwhelmed.

Celebrity Skin has always been about daring, should have seen this coming!

Show is fast approaching.
Facebook event, click.
More updates, soon.

Sotiris Georgiou - s/s11 - the show

Location is really important when a private show is planned. Sotiris Georgiou's choice of an open air summer cinema was just perfect to put you in the mood for showing his Spring/Summer 11 collection, 'Forms':

"Away from strict limitations that define silhouette, Sotiris Georgiou creates new forms on the body aiming to accentuate human dynamism. To achieve this goal, he is inspired by the Bauhaus movement and constructivism and works on simple and clear lines" was noted on the release.

Once the first model stepped foot on the catwalk area, we could see that. Geometry and symmetry, powerful shoulders, edgy garments, complicated tailoring with trompe l'oeil effects. Here's FORMS:

Click here for fashion photographer Patricia Munster's official coverage of the show.

Sotiris Georgiou - coming soon

Yes, yes, coming soon.

Till then click have a look at:
Fashion Algorithms
Life in Athens
and
Ordinary Style Pulse
whose quick fingers have it all online already.

Dimitris Petrou - faces

Designer and host of the night, Dimitris Petrou with The Soho Symposium (left), Fashion Paths (right) and Life in Athens (further left).
Handbags designer Georgina Skalidi & friend, holding one of her creations which is especially made to perfectly fit the pelvis.
DElight with MTV VJ, stylist & stylish Alex Kavdas.
*remember their show is on October 16th.
Celebrity Skin mastermind Dimitris Strepkos with Fashion Architect.
*remember his show with Eleni Mparla is coming up on October 25th.
Video creator Tina Sardelas and show organiser Margarita Gourgourini.
The Soho Symposium, designer Evangelos Kavathas and Petrou's behind the scenes team.

Many more familiar faces on the spot, like the man himself Lakis Gavalas, designer Stelios Koudounaris and many other members of the athenean fashion community and press.