Cale proba by slavko simin

ISSUE 00

BELLE EXOTIQUE

letter From tHE editor “Belle Exotique” is a unique concept. While bringing our readers art / fashion / entertainment news from around the world, we specialize in organizing and producing Fashion Ad Campaigns for our magazine and editorials around the world. “Belle Exotique’s” editorial section is perhaps the most creative segment of the magazine. Here you can find our take on the world of fashion showcased through photographs of the latest designs we put together in collaboration with artists of different platforms as we travel around the world. See the latest fashion creations from cities such as Moscow, Beijing, New York City, Venice, Paris, Bogota as well as others from around the globe.

Belle Afritovna, Editor

Take a moment to forget about your daily routine, the to-do list and explore the furthest corners of your imagination by taking in magical stories of love, femininity, and beauty. The fairytale awaits you with breath-taking images, a playful display of color, shape and form, taking place in the most exotic locations imaginable. The photographs will take on the culture of the country where they are being shot, while the artists, photographers, writers and art directors will help shape the image and tale to bring you the most stimulating stories yet. “Belle Exotique” showcases the most breath-taking art and the most creative artists from around the world. Here you can learn about the up-and-coming, “Picasso” of Puerto Rico and the newest painting style first created in Beijing. Art is an expression of the divine and is meant to emulate, what is most beautiful in the world, while opening our minds to the world of possibilities. Our writers from around the globe find the most interesting people in the art / fashion / entertainment industries and share their latest creations with you. Exclusive interviews will showcase the artists and their work may be displayed through photographs and interactive visual media. Our goal is to bring together the best representatives of the international Art/Fashion/Entertainment niches, if you are interested in a collaborating on a project please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Belle Afritovna, The Editor

www.bellexotique.com

Christopher Bates Exclusive: Changing Landscapes

It took Christopher Bates, a Canadian menswear designer hailing from Vancouver, seven years of conscious effort to become the success he is today.

“The Wild Rose”

I sometimes think that never blows so red The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled; That every Hyacint

“The Russian Soul Is A Dark Place”

The definition of the ‘Russian Soul’ is a religious, philosophical view of the world in which the Soul is the core part of the human being, who must live to suffer.

CONTENT 4

“In a Wonderland They Lie….”

She is the goddess of the forest, a mythological creature of great kindness and beauty.

“The Queen Of Spades” Who is the Queen of Spades?

Karenina Fabrizzi Exclusive: From Seed to Bloom

The harshest of environments is where the rarest uniquely beautiful things often grow.

+ Online

www.bellexotique.com Editorial Team The definition of the ‘Russian Soul’ is a religious, philosophical view of the

The definition of the ‘Russian Soul’ is a religious, philosophical view of the

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Christopher Bates

Exclusive:

Changing Landscapes

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Changing Landscapes & the New Menswear L ine

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We covered everything from TOM, this year’s first ever man’s fashion week in Toronto...

It took Christopher Bates, a Canadian menswear designer hailing from Vancouver, seven years of conscious effort to become the success he is today. We recently visited him at his Toronto studio just across from the Lawrence Market. This beautiful location is full of hustle and bustle of local farmers with organic produce, delicious samples, and kiosks of local arts and crafts. Architecturally it is reminiscent of Europe, Italy perhaps, where Christopher used to study fashion, with some parts taken over by the new and modern. It is no wonder Bates chose this location to create his art.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

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Christopher was very excited about the use of prints for this collection because the printed fabric really made the pieces unique.

We covered everything from TOM, this year’s first ever man’s fashion week in Toronto, and the eight’s event of its kind in the world, talking extensively about his collection; to more personal questions, where Christopher revealed to us some very exciting changes taking place in his life. Christopher Bates showcased his best work to date in the Spring 2015 collection, which is his tenth collection. It was inspired by the army and safari pieces worn by the characters in the movie ‘The English Patient”. This is the most ‘resort like’ collection so far. ‘Every day clothing’ you can wear to go to the patio, take a walk along the shore, and still look dressy enough to go out to dinner later. Printed silk charmeuse vest is Christopher’s favorite pieces; the same print was also used for the jacket. Christopher was very excited about the use of prints for this collection because the printed fabric really made the pieces unique.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Christopher Bates

Exclusive:

Changing Landscapes

BELLE EXOTIQUE

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There is a term recently coined called the ‘Menaissance’. Which basically means the resurgence of man’s fashion, which is what has been happening over the last eight years.

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Speaking of fabrics, there are new ‘smart fabrics’ coming out today that are set to revolutionize the fashion industry. Christopher told us that he is currently working with a company that produces fabrics, which are wrinkle resistant, has color fastness properties (color doesn’t fade easily), and fabrics that make you warmer or colder. He could give us the details, but says that he will definitely be using these fabrics in his upcoming collections. With all these developments in the fashion industry how does the designer see the new millennia man? Bates: “There is a term recently coined called the ‘Menaissance’. Which basically means the resurgence of man’s fashion, which is what has been happening over the last eight years. It started in Europe and maybe ne North America as well, there are numbers and statistics to back it up, men are shopping more they are putting more effort into their wardrobe, they are taking a more stylish approach to all types of different situations. It’s here it is happening and it is not a mere trend, but something that will continue well into the future, it’s long term.” Reporter: “What inspired you to become a menswear fashion designer, verses women’s?” Bates: “That’s a good question, when I was in school in Milan, Institute of Marangoni, the first two collections we did were for women, and the third collection the whole class had to do was for men. And that’s where I really distinguished myself and my teachers encouraged me to consider and that’s where… This was really in 2006-2007 and menswear was really starting to take off in Europe, and it felt like the timing was right. Also I felt that the womenswear market was hyper-saturated and menswear, I felt I could carve a niche for myself, so it was really a strategic decision. Also being a man myself, I have a window in what guys like and what guys want, so it made sense for all those reasons.

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The three-color desert camouflage pants made with rib-stop cotton is the other designer favorite. This is the exact fabric the military uses.

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It was at that moment that I realized, ‘ok I have to do something about this, I have to become a designer.

I still would love to do womenswear, I do some custom womenswear on the side, and I plan to do a full women’s line some day, but first I want to get menswear streamlined, before I consider anything else. ” Reporter: “Who are your role models growing up, have you always wanted to be a designer?” Bates: “I was really into fashion from a very young age, my mom dressed me and my brothers really cool, [this was] in the 80s, we were in neon… all these cool outfits… It was a fun time and I was a really energetic kid and I felt, if I was feeling good and I put on an outfit, I felt even better, so I was aware of the power the clothing can have from a very young age, it resonated with me. I am a creative guy and for some reason all the ideas I had seemed to involve clothing, I had a sketch book, where I was sketching designs and logos and things, I had a book full of them by the time I was thirteen… It wasn’t until my late teens, early twenties when I took a couple of trips to Europe and realized there were people who would appreciate these ideas, and I was particularly inspired when I was in Stockholm by their individualism and how stylish they were… It was at that moment that I realized, ‘ok I have to do something about this, I have to become a designer.’”

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Christopher Bates

Exclusive:

Changing Landscapes

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I pretty much always listen to Depeche Mode. They are cool and stylish, others would be David Bowe and Freddie Mercury…

Bates’ mother was a teacher and later was heavily involved in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. His father was a stockbroker and sadly passed away when Christopher was still young. Even though Christopher did not let his mother, friends and mentors know his career choice until later in life, they were very supportive and loving when they found out. Reporter: “Are there any artists in particular who inspired you growing up?” Bates: “Yep, Depeche Mode really inspired me, just really with their music and their art, it takes me to a place where I feel like, inspiration and ideas, when I am designing I pretty much always listen to Depeche Mode. They are cool and stylish, others would be David Bowe and Freddie Mercury…”

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Bates: “…nowadays I like a guy like David Beckham, I think he is really stylish…I’ve gone to my hairdresser with his picture of his hair, nowadays I have my own style… But yeah, I think a lot of people look to him and his style, he is a really sharp dresser as well.” Reporter: “What criteria do you use to find models for your shows?” Bates: “That’s a good question, really I look at their height, weight and body type, I always do a fitting, because often the measurements on their comp cards or websites are wrong, typically they are wrong. You have to see them… Typically I look for guys that are athletics not the really skinny type, I like the athletic type because my clothes are cast for that type of body and I cast for guys that I think are handsome. I don’t look for anything too bizarre like some brands will cast for bizarre.” Reporter; “So you would say you look for conventionally good looking men?” Bates: “Yeah I think so, like Sean Connery in James Bond or Timothy Dalton, a handsome guy to aspire to.” Reporter: “And who do you consider to be the beautiful women, give me some examples?” Bates: “Madeline Stowe is probably one of my alltime favorite beauties, she is an actress, she has done some movies ‘The Last of the Mohicans’, ‘Revenge’, movies in the 90s…for me personally she is incredibly beautiful.” Reporter: “Is she your ideal?” Bates: “Yeah I would say so, also Monica Bellucci, the Italian model and actress, I would like to single them out.”

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Reporter: “Which country or city do you consider to be the most stylish, and where do you think the most beautiful people are?” Bates: “ The Milanese men are probably the best dressed and also the Swedish guys in Stockholm. Best looking girls would be in Latvia out of anywhere I’ve been, closely followed by the Czech republic, and Sweden and also Ukraine. And for guys, that’s a tricky one, probably the Swedish guys are really handsome.” Reporter: “In your opinion what is the most important thing a cosmopolitan man should know?” Bates: “The most important thing is fit, you can have a really expensive piece it’s going to look like garbage, conversely you can have a less expensive piece, but that fits you well, it will look like a million bucks… That’s my advice, if it doesn’t fit get it tailored.” Reporter: “Any regrets or mistakes you made in your fashion career?” Bates: “I’ve made big mistakes which is actually normal and healthy when you are starting a business you are not going to get everything right from the start. When I launched the brand it was

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The most important thing is fit, you can have a really expensive piece it’s going to look like garbage, conversely you can have a less expensive piece...

called ‘Christopher Bates for ULTRA’ and I used ‘ULTRA’ for a lot of stuff. But people didn’t really like ULTRA, a lot of the designs meant a lot to me but you have to keep in mind that there is a market out there and you have to deliver things that the market will like, so I had to temper my design and my ideas to something that I like and also the market will like… You have to keep a balance between what you like and what the market will like…If it doesn’t sell, or doesn’t help you sell it is useless, in my opinion. Also I found out that I like to use the best materials and I like to produce things in Canada or Italy, so invest a lot in the materials and production, which means if I am going to make any money, I have to have a product that is priced a little higher.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

“ But I found that in Canada the market is extremely price sensitive…And even now that I have lowered the prices and I go back to these buyers they still have this perception…they think you are expensive or too expensive, but really my clothes are very affordable and for what they are it’s extremely high value.”

Absolutely, I was supposed to renew my visa, I was in Vienna, they are actually quite strict there, so I missed the window, so after my program was over I had to come back to Canada.

In 2010 he rebranded to just Christopher Bates, the younger, street-style, hip, Euro brand called ULTRA is gone, In it’s place is the sophisticated fitted brand with a little bit of zing to it. Reporter: “When you were studying in Italy, did you plan to stay there since that is likely the fashion capital of Europe?” Bates: “Absolutely, I was supposed to re-new my visa, I was in Vienna, they are actually quite strict there, so I missed the window, so after my program was over I had to come back to Canada. Once I came back my plan was to start the business, and re-locate it to Europe when it made sense, it has taken me seven years! I am moving back to Milan on November 1st. You can’t just go, you have to have right brand, that has taken me years to hone, you need resources as well, and you need connections, and now I feel like I have those three things in place, and I am ready expand the business in Europe.” Reporter: “Moving for good?” Bates: “Yes, Italy is a really rich spoiled country, ‘the art of life’ I call it, and they have it down pat there.” For a designer like Bates it is impossible to resist moving his business to Milan, and while he doesn’t speak Italian just yet, he does have a successful menswear line, and the right connections to help him succeed. He will also have no trouble finding inspiration for his women’s line, in the picturesque country called Italy.

Article by: Anastasiya Jogal Photography by: Matthew Williams Lookbook Photography by: Matt Barnes

BELLE EXOTIQUE

AGO First Thursdays

Arts in the Cosmopolitan at the AGO Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Art Gallery of Ontario monthly gala, AGO First Thursdays, showcases beautiful art while allowing guests to sip scrumptious cocktails and listen to the latest local entertainment.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

The trend of bringing the party to a museum is the modern way to allow guests to enjoy their night, cocktail in hand, while taking in gorgeous paintings afterhours. The AGO first began running the event in 2012, with instant success. Sean Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill, First Thursdays event programmer told us that this is a great way for younger audiences to get engaged in the art scene while allowing for a platform for new artists to showcase their talents.

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“I believe the Brooklyn Museum was the first to start a late-night event geared toward younger audiences, but many other institutions have created similar initiates over the past five to ten years. Events like First Thursdays are part of an ongoing trend in museum practice to try to engage audiences on their own terms,” said Sean O’Neill.

The night had over 2500 people in attendance, as people were eager to see the latest Alex Colville exhibit, as well as interpretations of the exhibit. The huge space was filled with people enjoying music performed by two live bands on the first floor of the gallery, people mingled danced and walked around the various rooms filled with different art genres.

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As we made our way to the second floor walking up a spiraling staircase we could not help but get into the spirit of all the excited attendees we could observe in the grand open space we could see from above. Once we got up to the second floor we immediately got lost in the large space filled with diverse sets of paintings and video montages, many meant to interpret Alex Colvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

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We even had a chance to try painting greeting cards ourselves at the fun workshop stations set up in one of the corridors, though it was hard to find a seat. “We’re doing DIY notecards, so we have blank cards that we can personalize with stamps and pencil crayons, so they are making all kinds of cards like birthday cards for their friends or different fun and silly cards,” explained Marissa Maislin, the workshop coordinator. On our wait to find the Alex Colville exhibit where we could see much of the work by this legendary Canadian artist and take in a dance interpretation of his art, we also passed by a balloon making workshop table and a painting workshop with a live model installation.

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With just four hours to see everything we rushed to the other end of the exhibit where Alex Colville’s artwork was displayed. There were many great pieces that truly showcased the Canadian spirit. Laura Banks, the museum’s communications officer had her own favourite. “Seeing the paintings in person is really different than seeing them on the computer screen…There is a really a sense of Canadiana in them almost, there is one in particular, called ‘January’ in the other room and it’s him in this hood with glasses and he is all bundled up and there is a woman looking past this snow covered hill and I just think it is so Canadian to me, it almost makes me laugh in a way. Although people say there is a dark side to these paintings it is all about how you interpret them.”

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Just like the horror movie, the paintings are very dark and menacing. As Katie puts it, the dance is a tribute directly referencing the film, by interpreting the anxiety inducing events that take place. In short the premise of the film is, a psychologically abusive father gets a job as a caretaker of an abandoned ‘haunted’ hotel where he takes his family and eventually tries to kill them. The events are laced with suspense, paranormal abilities of the little boy as well as the mysterious hotel. The psychological state of the disempowered mother battling against the manically abusive father figure really brought out the emotions needed to interpret the film for the dance artists. “As she swipes at him with these jelly arms, I think give me the baseball bat I’ll knock him out for you!” said Katie Ewald.

Katie told us that the director of “The Shining’, Stanley Kubrick would obsessively re-take shots of the film just to get the face/frame ratio correctly, to get the exact imaging of the film just right. “You have this sense that everything is in it’s right place, and obviously the paintings you can figure out that they are really chosen and they really pass by in a flash, but even while watching the movie for the paintings we missed two of them.” There were a total of four of Alex Colville’s paintings in the film:

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The dark side to Colville’s paintings could really be seen through the interpretive dance called ‘The Viewfinder’ performed by Katie Ewald and her partner Mairead Filgate. The slow yet enigmatic dance was delivered in front of four paintings that can be seen in the famous film, ‘The Shining’.

“Horse and Train is one of my favorite Colville’s and it has this very ominous quality… They are both running toward each other… it’s dangerous and neither seem like they are going to back down.” With the help of the paintings the dance interpretation truly created a mood and a cinematic quality that stopped people in their tracks. Every month the AGO showcases a major Canadian artist and a variety of other artists who interpret the work through their own form of artistic expression, creating a cosmopolitan of imagery, media, dance and melodious fusion. “Art is myth-making in the sense that all stories are lies” - Alex Colville Article by: Anastasiya Jogal Photography by: Matthew Williams

BELLE EXOTIQUE

THE WILDE ROSE 28

BELLE EXOTIQUE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I sometimes think that never blows so red The Rose as where some buried Caesar bled; That every Hyacinth the Garden wears Dropt in its Lap from some once lovely Head.â&#x20AC;? Omar Khayyam.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Creative Director: Bella Alfritovna Photographer: Mary Lebedeva MUA: Maria Kuraeva Model: Anastasiya Gordeiko 34

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The beautiful Anastasiya sighs in sorrow as she tightly holds onto her arm, no doubt in an attempt to reassure herself, as she hunches in the middle of what once was a homestead fit for royalty. This is where families of princes and princesses came and went, living out their magical lives, starting in the XVI century and onward. Now the walls of the Grebneva homestead stand bare in places, with peeling scratched up paint and boarded up windows elsewhere. Ruins are all around with just a glimpse of what may have been. The strong architecturally sound walls tell a story, with just a hint of a design element seen on the window panes.

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Anastasiyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face is symmetrical, flawless in its youth and carelessness not unlike the homesteadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architecture, when it was first erected. Out of the main Grebneva mansion, built in XVII, a large stable built in XIX, carriage courtyard, the main courtyard, the West and East wings stretched out to either side, and two churches, the only buildings that remain in tact from the XVII century are the two places of worship.

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As she stares out of the long forgotten courtyard, her expression is reminiscent of late Nastasiya (Anastasiya), it seems they also share the same name. Ivan Trybetskiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, who is the father of Nastasiya Kantemir, buys the homestead in 1720. Nastasiya, at the time is married to Dmitriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kantemir, who is already on his second marriage.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

So many emotions must have flown through the walls of that courtyard, as even with a little bit of history we can start to get a sense of how life was back than. Maria Kantemir, the daughter of Dmitriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kantemir and his first wife later purchases Ylitkino homestead, right next to the Grebneva mansion. Certainly royalty, especially royal families did not live far from each other back than, but one has to wonder what was it like for the women to live right next to each other.

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As forgo is re (An sha Try Na hom at t K seco So fl o cou bit

BELLE EXOTIQUE

she stares out of the l ong otten courtyard, her expression emin iscen t of l ate Nastasiya nastasiya), it seems they al so are the same name. I van ybetski’, who is the father of astasiya K antemir, buys the mestead in 172 0. Nastasiya, the time is married to Dmitri’ antemir, who is al ready on his ond marriage. o man y emotions must have own through the wal l s of that urtyard, as even with a l ittl e of history we can start to get a

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A woman by the window generally signifies a longing, missing something or someone. Did Nastasiya miss him, and their happiness? The history books tell us that she remained robust and active in her court dealings following his death, but one cannot always tell what is in a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart.

BELLE EXOTIQUE

Maria Kantemir spent her youth tied in intense love intrigues and suffered terribly. The death of her father brought on so much pain that her illness intensified and she was unable to get better for a long time. While the higher courts decided on the fate of the mansion, which eventually, but only partially went to Nastasiya, Maria was bed-ridden. An attempt to spy on the dealings of Grebneva estate was foiled.

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After she gets better, she leaves the court life and continues to live out her days in a Moscow home, where she enjoys a quiet life consuming literature at her leisure. Throughout the 1730s she even hosts literature nights. She does not re-marry, because in part she knows that the men who ask for her hand are largely interested in the costly Grebneva estate.

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Nastasiya does remarry to her long time suitor Ludvik Gruno; they travel around Germany, where she visits Homburg, for the first and only time. She never does inherit Homburg, as her husband dies a year before his father. But her life continues to be a whirlwind of sorrow, her highest point of happiness is in 1741 when she becomes the first state lady in the history of Russian Royalty. Empress Elizabeth Petrovna gives her the title.

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Despite being widowed twice Nastasiya continues to sparkle at high courts. She is known as one of the most beautiful women with a flawless reputation. Her travels bring her joy, as does her daughter. She seems to prefer the courts of Paris where she lives with her daughter, but the death of her father brings her back home to Russia. 50

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