7Q&A’s with Jeanie Syfu: Hair Styling Pro
Lead Stylist at NYFW, a favorite for editorial and runway work, and the face of numerous online tutorials, Jeanie is the channel through which high fashion style is made accessible to the modern woman.
The perfect addition to our creative team on the latest SS2016 Collection photo shoot, and a sought after expert in all things hair, we’ve asked Jeanie a few questions of our own.
Tell me a little about your journey to becoming a hair stylist. How did you get your start?
My big break in the industry was on Project Runway Season 3. I just locked in my position as lead stylist for Tresemme and things took off pretty quickly after that. I appeared on national TV as their spokesperson and also started leading their hair team at NYFW.
What are your top three favorite hairstyles of the moment?
I’m really into statement haircuts. Short, chic and effortless cuts that don’t require much styling. I think it looks quite feminine, strong and stylish. On longer hair, I’m drawn to hair that doesn’t look over styled. I like hair to be touchable and it has to have a natural movement. And I absolutely LOVE when a woman embraces her natural texture!
What do you find to be the most rewarding part of your profession?
I love inspiring hairstylists that are just starting out in the fashion/beauty industry. Helping them develop their style and technique makes me a better artist. I have to say, its rewarding (but also a little sad) to let go when their careers take off.
What keeps you creatively inspired?
I stay inspired by the endless creative collaborations with my fashion peers. I get to work with many stylists, designers, photographers, creative directors, make up artists, and other hairstylists so I’m never bored. It’s important to keep an open mind and push your ideas with the different teams you are paired up with because you will always get a different result, we all add something different to the creative soup.
In your opinion, what’s the best hair style for beach-side lounging?
I’m into dressing hair with loads of leave in conditioner and keeping it off the face. Creating a bun, braid or slicked back/deep side part looks very chic and also controls hair on the beach. It can also protect your hair from any damage.
What are your words to live by?
I believe you attract good things in your life when you live truthfully. Intention is very powerful.
If you could recommend three places to visit to a tourist in your neighborhood, what would they be?
I have lived in Brooklyn for 14 years and I would say: 1) Brooklyn Flea Markets are amazing to go to on the weekends! Go early to get the best finds. 2) A walk around Williamsburg and Green Point for shopping, food, and good street style watching. 3) Brooklyn Museum of Art for the exhibits and inspiration.
See Jeanie’s work in our SS2016 Collection
7 Q&A’s with ELLE’s Fashion Market Editor
Shilpa Prabhakar Nadella:
A Fashion Cognoscente
A sophisticated eye for design and an emboldened ethos set this distinctive aesthete apart from the rest. Hailing from the world’s number one fashion magazine, ELLE, arrives Shilpa Prabhakar Nadella – a trend expert.
Tell me a little about your journey to becoming and flourishing as one of ELLE’s top editors?
I always knew I wanted to work in magazines so my journey began during my summers in college. I was fortunate enough to have internships at Cosmo, Vogue and InStyle. My internship at InStyle landed me a full time position as a Fashion Assistant at the magazine and eventually a promotion to Assistant Fashion Editor. From there, I moved to ELLE as the Associate Market Editor and have since gone on to my current position as Market Editor.
What do you find most invigorating about your work?
The people I work with and the designers I see on a daily basis inspire me. I feel so fortunate to work in an industry filled with so much creativity and talent. I love showing our readers affordable ways to adapt runway themes.
What has been a defining moment that helped shape your career?
I don’t think there is one moment that has shaped my career. I’ve learned by mistake and also by those around me. Each boss, coworker or designer I’ve crossed paths with has taught me something memorable. The industry is continuously changing and it’s important to be adaptable.
What advice would you give to yourself five years ago?
Embrace who you are and surround yourself with people who have similar goals and values as you do.
What keeps you motivated and inspired?
I love discovering new talent. It’s an incredible experience to have the opportunity see a young designer go from showing their first collection in their apartment to a runway show on the big stage during fashion week. I also love the stories and inspiration behind each collection I see.
What’s your current state of mind?
Motivated.
How would you define your sense of style?
My style is pretty minimalist. I stick to neutral colors (black, white, grey, navy) and try to be comfortable in what I am wearing. I spend tons of time running around the city on market appointments so I try to be practical in my wardrobe. I always buy a few statement pieces each season that pair well with basics I already own. I’m a firm believer that it’s important to work with the items you own and add bits here and there.
Get to know one of ELLE‘s premier luminaries a little better by checking out her Instagram!
Photo Credit Dustin Aksland
7 Q&A’s with Renowned Editorial Stylist
Christine de Lassus: a style authority
With the aesthetic prowess to make any motif chic, Christine de Lassus masters the fashion world with elevated style. Her work frequents the pages of Flaunt, Nylon, Harper’s Bazaar Mexcio, and L’Officiel – to name a few. Multiplicities of celebrities have also been graced with her skill: including Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth Olsen, and Alicia Keys. Whether styling for editorial, beauty, or advertising, Christine de Lassus’ keen sense always knows best.
How would you define the concept of style?
A mix of good taste, elegance and a sense of daring.
How would you describe your own sense of style?
My personal style (not my work) is minimalist, no color (black, white, grey, army green), and comfortable, with always a cool slightly avant garde factor. My style in my work is more varied, as I embrace editorial themes spanning anywhere from new romantics to 80ies rock. I like to create unexpected mixes. But always chic, cool and daring.
What advice can you give for putting together a look?
Be comfortable first in yourself and in your clothes, because if you are not, you will never look stylish. Then have fun creating an outfit appropriate for the event you have to attend and don’t forget your smile is your best accessory.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Creating beautiful images and working with creative, wonderful people whether they are part of the team or clients.
What’s your motto?
Positivity, Joy, Love of Life. I also love posting my inspiration images daily on instagram. I think you can see there the expression of my spirit. @christinedelassus
Do you have a style icon?
Tilda Swinton. She is chic, unconventional and always so elegant.
What is your favorite online shop?
None, I like to browse many sites and do my research online, but then most of the times I will buy in stores as I like to try and touch.
For photographs of Christine’s varied works explore her online portfolio or enjoy her daily inspiration images on her thought provoking instagram feed.
Swimwear Exclusive: A Karla Colletto Tour de Force
Inspired by an iconic image of model Peggy Moffitt’s 1960’s look fused with designer Rudi Gernreich’s avant-garde style. In his mod swimsuit, black bands entwine a bold red to form graphic cutouts. Known for defying the boundaries of design, Karla Colletto revitalized the look with strong cutouts, crisscrossing bands, and unparalleled structural elements to master a form that is both chic and sensual.
Explore this gallery for details on the 30th Anniversary Collection
#EBW30
Photo Courtesy of Everything But Water
Sketch By Karla Colletto
We’ll Always Have Paris
When you need to get away for a little design inspiration, what better place than the City of Paris? We’re inviting you to share in our personal photos from our recent trip where we were inspired by this beautiful and time-honored destination. With art, pastries, long walks, architecture, and history all surrounded with an incredible culture, what’s not to love?
We’d love to hear about your most inspired memories from Paris – share with us in the comments below or on our social platforms with the tag: #traveltuesday
EUROJERSEY VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkmvLRPMOww&feature=youtu.be
It’s President’s Day, but let’s take a virtual trip to Italy to learn more about Eurojersey Sensitive® Fabrics, our go-to fabric for comfort, color fastness, chlorine resistance and other high performance.
LYCRA® moves you
Whether you love your Karla Colletto suit for its flattering fit and construction, its reliable high quality, or are simply in love with the design, one thing is certain: it just wouldn’t be the same without LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber. To support our longtime trade partner INVISTA’s new “LYCRA® MOVES YOU™” campaign, we thought we would dedicate a post to everything we love about LYCRA®. INVISTA did not ask us to write this. We pride ourselves on the high quality of our swimwear and believe that when our customers have all the right information, our high quality designs sell themselves. And we truly believe that our swimwear is made better with LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber.
You may have already known that we import our fabrics from Italy, but you probably did not know that what we use is almost exclusively Sensitive® fabrics with a high LYCRA® content for the perfect blend of function and aesthetic. Here are some other great things to keep in mind next time you’re out swimsuit shopping:
CHLORINE RESISTANCE
86% of women use their swimsuits for recreational swimming, with another 21% using swimwear for exercise or competitive swimming. This means a lot of time spent in the pool (big surprise, we know) and exposing your swimsuit to chemicals like chlorine, which can break down elastane fibers faster. This can mean anything from color fading to a loss of recovery (a suit’s ability to return to its original shape after being stretched). Tests have shown that fabrics with LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ retain at least 60% of their power 10 times longer than with non-chlorine resistant elastane. But please, remember to thoroughly wash out all chlorine in between wears for even longer-lasting results.
We’ve been told by synchronized swimming sensations, the Aqualillies, that after years and countless, sometimes back-to-back performances, our suits show no sign of deterioration compared with other brands. Coming from ladies who spend a lot of time in the water and probably wear more swimwear than any other kind of clothing, this means a lot.
UV RESISTANCE + PROTECTION
In addition to withstanding the damaging effects of chlorine, LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fibers hold up well against long-term exposure to harmful UV rays. LYCRA® fibers also show strong resistance to unsaturated fatty acids like sweat, lotions, and other skincare, all of which can lead to quicker break down of the suit.
Yes, it’s true that Sensitive® Fabrics filter the sun’s rays and provide UV protection with a rating of UPF 50+. However, exposing your skin for an extended period of time is dangerous idea and there is no fabric out there that can fully protect you from the sun’s rays. 83% of women already wear sunscreen while in a swimsuit and 82% reapply it at least once throughout the day. Of course, the chemicals in sunscreens can contribute to fiber breakage in your suit, but unless you’re spending all your time at an indoor pool or under shade 24/7, there is really no better alternative to sunscreen. That’s one reason we are sure to choose a fabric whose fibers can stand up well to these elements.
RECOVERY
The thing we love most about LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber is probably its excellent recovery. As with any stretch fabric, synthetic filament yarns can lose elasticity over time, and the damage is only sped up by exposure to harmful elements like those mentioned above: chlorine, lotions, sun, etc. “Bag and sag” is definitely the last thing women want when it comes to their swimwear.
77% of women expect their swimsuit to last for at least two full seasons, with 63% seeing their suits wear out before two full seasons. If having a suit that lasts is important to you, then identifying fabrics designed to withstand harmful elements is the key to your satisfaction.
A NOTE ON CARE
It’s important to keep in mind that your suit is not invincible and taking steps to clean and care for your swimsuit after exposure to sun, sweat, or lotions, is of equal importance when it comes to prolonging your suit’s life. Swimwear like ours, made with LYCRA® XTRA LIFE™ fiber, is best if washed immediately in cool water, with a mild detergent (no bleach!), and then hang dried.
*source of statistical data: ICM Research via INVISTA
Risky Business
On Friday, August 22, our friends at Design Army hosted a late summer pool party and fashion event at Capitol Skyline Hotel to celebrate the launch of our very special Karla Colletto X Design Army “Swim At Your Own Risk” capsule collection.
The soiree was a success, with over 200 guests including some of DC’s most fashionable. The night’s “lifeguards on duty” were models from T.H.E. Artist Agency, sporting pieces from the capsule collection and striking their best poses for Kate Warren, the official event photographer. Cool tunes from DJ Paul Thornley of U.S. Royalty and a screening of everyone’s favorite Jaws help set the mood as guests mingled over Corona-ritas and custom “Swim At Your Own Risk” cookie pops by Occasions Caterers. Guests wrestled inflatable alligators in the pool and got silly at the photo booth provided by Onomonomedia. Event photographers from a Guest of a Guest, Brightest Young Things, and DC Hot Spots were also on the scene to capture the night’s highlights.
Thanks again to everyone who attended, as well as our friends and sponsors: T H E Artist Agency, Occasions Caterers, Amaryllis, Inc. Floral + Event Design, OnomonoMEDIA, LLC, Everything But Water, Kate Warren, and of course Design Army. See some snaps from the event below (photos by Kate Warren):
For more photos and press from the event, see the below or check the #KCxDA hashtag on Instagram–part of a contest to win a “Swim At Your Own Risk” sweatshirt (contest now closed):
Guest Of A Guest
BYT (Brightest Young Things)
DC Hot Spots
DC Modern Luxury
FiftyTwoThursdays
OnomonoMEDIA
Where in the World?
It’s soon to be that time of year for choosing the destination for our Cruise 2015 Swim Collection shoot and this brutal winter has given us some serious wanderlust! Where should we go?! Share your thoughts with us or visit our “Beaches and Getaways” board on Pinterest to see some of the paradises we’re dreaming of!
Before Sunset: behind the scenes
Just a few pics from behind the scenes of our Early Cruise 2015 lookbook shoot back in early December. Thought we’d escape the cold weather and holiday hassle by returning to sunny Palm Springs, CA (even though it ended up being pretty chilly there too–Zinta even brought her fur coat!)
Many thanks to the Parker and the Viceroy for accommodating our crew!
Click here to view the final collection images from this shoot.