I love working with “New Designers” - what’s funny is most new designers aren’t all that new - it’s more that they’re just not well known (yet!). Often you meet  a designer who’s only 25 and they’ve been designing for the past 10 years. I worked on a look book shoot which went really well. There is so much planning involved but it pays off in the end when you have a great team!

I know I talk a lot about the team but the synergy of the team is essentail to doing a great shoot; it’s easy to do a good shoot and sometimes by fluke you can do a great shoot, naturally the more experience you have the better your work becomes.

It’s also important for the whole team to know what the look and feel of the shoot is about. You’ll have mood boards about hair and make-up, lighting and the looks so everyone can have a visual to work from and of course on the day things can change: something doesn’t work, you have a better idea, someone is sick - things change! Just be prepared - the motto I learned in Brownies always seems to be right!

I went to visit Kristian Aadnevik at his studio in London. Kristian is warm, kind and friendly and of course incredibly talented. Needless to say he works very very hard. He just returned from Australian Fashion Week and he’s already busy in his studio planning the next collection.

Kristian set up his own label in 2004 after graduating from London’s Royal College of Art in 2002. Before then he won several awards and worked as a design assistant for Alexander McQueen. He also worked with Harrods International and Charles Jourdan in Japan.

Kristian’s collections are beautiful, glamorous, sexy and verge on couture. His dresses have a dark edge and a slim cut silhouette using feathers, leather, texture and embellishment with luxury fabrics. Every piece is stunning. Recently I’ve had a desire to wear more fabulous dresses and to feel glamorous. I just want to dress up. Kritian’s studio is full of so many amazing pieces that my head was spinning! I really have a physical reaction when I see things that I love, I’m sure my heart rate goes up - it’s like an adrenalin rush.

Kristian just returned from showing in Sydney. He’s is part of the Wool Protégé show, which features the collections of six emerging designers who have been hand-picked and mentored by six international fashion figures to develop an Australian merino-based collection.

The Protégé Collection:

Jean-Pierre Braganza (mentor Karl Lagerfeld)
Kristian Aadnevik (Donatella Versace)
Julian Louie (Francisco Costa)
Ioannis Cholidis (Paul Smith)
Sandra Backlund (Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani)
Friedrich Gray (Vogue Australia editor Kirstie Clements)

Model Lianna Fowler was at the casting, I met her at the PPQ party a while back so I’m so happy we can cast her. I think she’s fab!
I love styling shows and working with designers. I’ve been styling a fashion show this week. There’s lots to organize: you need a hair and make up team, a manicurist, dressers, and music for the show etc. You might need shoes & stockings etc. Most importantly it’s all about the model. Castings can take time but when you find the right girl it’s worth it! You know you want someone tall who fit’s the clothes perfectly and has a certain look and then it becomes about personality. Of course the model has to meet certain criteria but then the finally casting is all about the girl!

I loved choosing the jewellery for the show. I went to Old Bond Street to look at all sorts of wonderful necklaces, earrings and bracelets that we might use! It’s so exiting to see the looks come together. Should be fun!

Like many Canadians who grew up in English Canada I am fascinated with Montreal. The rule is Torontonians live to work and Montrealers work to live and on some level I find this to be true. Personally, I want to work to live! I love Montreal and although it’s a much much smaller city than London, Montreal style is just as eclectic! It might be -9°C and flurries but Montreal fashionistas will still be looking fabulous!
The mission of Montréal Fashion Week is to promote Québec designers to the fashion industry, buyers and journalists. This is the 14th edition of Montréal’s biannual fashion week, presenting designers’ autumn/winter 2008 men, women and children’s collections on the catwalk and in showrooms. It’s organised by the Montréal Fashion Network, in collaboration with P&G Beauté.

Tuesday 25 March 2008 - Friday 28 March 2008
Montréal Fashion Week - a/w 2008
Location: Marché Bonsecours, Montréal
www.montrealfashionweek.ca
Contact: Sophie Des Marais (Sensation Mode) 00 1 514 234 4736

I love it when any city gets inspired by fashion! We naturally focus on the fashion capitals like Paris, New York and Milan, but many capital cities celebrate fashion, and the smaller the city the more fashion week is celebrated by all. Toronto’s fashion week is from March 17th-22nd and is held right in Nathan Phillips Square, in the heart of the city! I’d love to see Comrags and David Dixon’s show. The great thing about smaller cities is that it’s easy to see everything on schedule and it’s very well organized. Canadians are very mobile and there are some very talented Canadian designers all over the world: DSquared2, Patrick Cox, Julie Bérubé, Alfred Sung John Fluevog and Todd Lynn, so events like Toronto Fashion Week are important to keep an eye on!

Worked with a super cool new fashion designer, William Tempest.

What is the name of your collection?
William Tempest: Noir Style… I was inspired by actresses such as Rita Hayworth and Katharine Hepburn, and played with the stereotypes that regularly feature in film noir movies, from the femme fatal to the private detective. The use of slats and straps in some of the garments references the use of harsh lighting, shadows and angles in the genre.

When did you graduate?
William Tempest: London College of Fashion - Womenswear July 2007

Are you working on a new collection?
William Tempest: At the moment I’m working in collaboration with
Diesel, where I have designed the new installations, window displays and
denim treatments for the launch of the new Kings Road store. When the project is finished I’m hoping to start work on some new ideas which I will be able to turn into a new collection.

Where are you from?
William Tempest:Cheshire, England

Are there any family members that inspired your work?
William Tempest: Thinking about it quite a few people in my family are creative. My Grandad Len used to love painting and his father worked with shoes. My Grandad Geoff is a structural engineer and produces amazing drawings in CAD and my sister is a florist. My grandma used to do lots of knitting for everyone. It’s good being able to create make
something from scratch.

What is your signature? Is there a specific fabric or print that you are known to use? Or a detail?
William Tempest: I love shape making and tailoring and mixing them together. I love working with beautiful wools, silks and leather and making fabrics act in unexpected ways.

Who are your favourite designers that you look to for inspiration?
William Tempest: Balenciaga and Lanvin

Where are you working now?
William Tempest: Giles Deacon and Diesel

Who are your dream stockists?
William Tempest: Libertys, Harvey Nichols, Browns, Independant Boutiques, Selfridges

Which celebrities would you most like to see wearing your collection?
William Tempest: Sienna Miller, Bjork

Do you remember your dreams?
William Tempest: Yes, quite often I wake up and can remember my dreams vividly, I often have really imaginative dreams sometime in bright colour. Sometimes I have dreams that I have dreamt before several years ago, or from when I was a child.

Do you eat breakfast?
William Tempest: Yes I always eat breakfast, usually toast and a glass of
orange juice

Do you have a pet?
William Tempest: I don’t have a pet now. But I used to have lots of pets when I was younger. I’ve had a few rabbits, guinea pigs, a budgerigar, fish and some dogs at one point. I really like macaw parrots though, it’s amazing they can speak.

Favourite food, restaurant?
William Tempest: I’m vegetarian but I like simple english food and also Italian pizza and pasta

Favourite places to shop
William Tempest:Dover Street Market, 59 Broadwick Street, Selfridges