QP FASHION MAGAZINE - JUNE /JULY 2022 by QPmag

FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE

QP JUNE/JULY 2022

MISHA

SKOVA

BY BECCA BATISTA

WWW.RATBETTY.COM

TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ

FASHION STYLISTS JOI SALVADOR HANNAH KERRI MICHELLE WU QUELA RENEE STACY JEFFERSON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR M. CHÉRIE EDITORIAL PRODUCERS MATTHEW NIENABER AREZOO JALALI

MAKEUP ARTISTS TEAL DRUDA MICHELLE V. NADIYA SERPOOSH SARA MOKHTARI

SENIOR EDITOR ALEXANDRA BONNET

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS SHANNEN TIERNEY ELISABETH HOWER

HAIR STYLISTS JENNIFER BAKER MICHELLE V. RIRI ROYA RUTH B. MEDRANO

CONTENT CREATORS CLAUDIA LOMBARDO SHARON JANE ALEXANDRA BONNET

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hi there,

Welcome to our JUNE/JULY 2022 issue!

We are thrilled to have such a great model and fashion designer on the cover of this very special issue for us, MISHA SKOVA. Feel free to read her interview and learn more about her creative journey. Talking about journeys, fashion designer IZABELA KRWACZYK, definitely has a story to tell, from Poland to England, with a presence in LOS ANGELES, she has been able to overcome the many situations life had for her. We also hope you love the fashion editorials we have selected for your viewing pleasure. Eternally grateful to the teams who are key in the process of producing and publishing these beautiful pieces. Forever yours! JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ

Editor-in-Chief QPmag

COVER

model: MISHA SKOVA @mishaskova PHOTOGRAPHER: BECCA BATISTA @beccabatistaphoto HAIR & MAKEUP artist: RENE GONZALES @muarene styling: WWW.MISHASKOVA.CO 5

SUBMISSIONS hello@qpmag.com ww.qpmag.com QP FASHION MAGAZINE BELLO MEDIA GROUP @BELLOmediaGroup 8285 Sunset Blvd, Suite 01 WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90046

www.qpmag.com hello@QPMAG.com

@jadghandourofficial

Dress WILL FRANCO

a piece

of SPRING PHOTOGRAPHER: AREZOO JALALI @arezoojalali_photography MODEL: ANNA MUDRIK @anyamudrik HMUA: NADIA SERPOOSH @makeupnadiya.ca

Dress WILL FRANCO

BRING BACK THE BANGS!

PHOTOGRAPHER/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: MISHAN WARNAKULASURIYA @mishanw MODELS: EFFY HARVARD @effyharvard & MERISSA UNDERWOOD @merissa.underwood makeup artist: COURTNEY LAUREN BEAUTY @courtneylaurenbeauty hair STYLIST: LAURA @lovelaurarocha COORDINATORS: BERGITTE & MARIT @ @bixicom_ FASHION DESIGNER: GRACE LOVES LACE @grace_loves_lace PR AGENCY: BLK PR @blk_pr PRODUCER: LAURA @lovelaurarocha

Total Look GUESS

Total Look D.MONTREUIL

BRING BACK THE BANGS!

Lingerie Set FOR LOVE & LEMONS Stockings WOLFORD

Dress SIMIN COUTURE

BRING BACK THE BANGS!

Lingerie Set FOR LOVE & LEMONS Stockings WOLFORD

Dress SIMIN COUTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER: KENT AVERY @kentaveryphoto MODEL: CAITLYN MWENIFUMBO @bby_cai PHOTOGRAPHER/DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: AGENCY: THE INDUSTRY MODEL MANAGEMENT@mishanw LA @theindustryla MISHAN WARNAKULASURIYA wardrobe STYLIST: KERRI @effyharvard @hannahkerrri MODELS: HANNAH EFFY HARVARD HAIR AND Makeup ARTIST: KESHA @keshabyme & MERISSA UNDERWOOD @merissa.underwood LOCATION: DECLAN @5thletter makeup artist: COURTNEY LAUREN BEAUTY @courtneylaurenbeauty hair STYLIST: LAURA @lovelaurarocha COORDINATORS: BERGITTE & MARIT @ @bixicom_ FASHION DESIGNER: GRACE LOVES LACE @grace_loves_lace PR AGENCY: BLK PR @blk_pr PRODUCER: LAURA @lovelaurarocha 27

Lingerie Set FOR LOVE & LEMONS Stockings WOLFORD

Dress SIMIN COUTURE

COVER

MISHA

SKOVA BEAUTIFUL CREATIVE SOUL

A &

Interview by SHARON JANE @itssharonjane & CLAUDIA LOMBARDO @embellecerte

Full of creativity and positive energy. MISHA SKOVA is a non-stop model and entrepeneur who has made a name for herself. Her love for traveling all around the globe has became the main source of inspiration for her designs.

model: MISHA SKOVA @mishaskova PHOTOGRAPHER: BECCA BATISTA @beccabatistaphoto HAIR & MAKEUP artist: RENE GONZALES @muarene styling: WWW.MISHASKOVA.CO 36

irst of all, we would like to say that we are so honored to have this interview with you for QP magazine! We are so inspired by all of your projects, like SKOVA. What inspired you to create SKOVA? I began my career as a runway model, which inspired me to become a designer. I was a creative kid, mainly drawing and painting. I credit my time working in fashion as my inspiration to create. My designs are inspired by my travels; I’m fortunate to have traveled all over the world, and I want to share what I’ve experienced by incorporating patterns and colors from different cultures into Skova’s products.

example, the is made by

We are also very inspired by your LVBY yoga brand! What inspired you to create LVBY? I created LVBY because I thrive for spirituality and grounding. I created LVBY to elevate people’s practice with stunning hand drawn designs.

You are passionate about creating products that are ethically sourced and made which is something that we at QP magazine love. What daily things in our routine can we do to be more eco-friendly?

“My

Your picnic rugs, bags, beach towels and more have such beautiful designs and craftsmanship! What is the sort of process that is behind creating these pieces? I bring my inspiration from world cultures onto paper and canvas, then I hand draw and paint the designs which are digitized to create the beautiful patterns that are featured on products in the Skova collection.

Your pieces have designs that make us dream of different places we would love to travel to. What is the inspiration behind some of these unique prints such as the Souki blue picnic rug or Napoli Blanket & Towel?

designs

I think recycling is paramount to being eco-friendly, as is cutting out plastic. Skova has a utensil collection, metal straws, and hemp totes for shopping that help people cut plastic from their daily routines.

travels;

Do you have any future projects or upcoming events that you can share a bit of info on so we can be excited, too?

fortunate,

Yes, I’m very excited to launch a swimwear line called Coasty Swim with my partner, Chanel West Coast. We’re inspired by California living, the California coast, Miami, exotic destinations, palm trees and sunsets. The colors are vibrant, bright and “poppy” and will come in sizes available to all women. We’re thrilled to launch a preview collection this summer and for the 2023 collection debuting next year. Please follow our Instagram page, @coastyswim

are inspired by my I am

to have

travelled all over the

world.”

The Napoli Blanket/Towel was inspired by the colors and products of Naples and Capri — the lion in the center is the symbol of Naples, and lemons (and Limoncello) are well-known products from the region. The Souki Picnic Rug was inspired by the hand-woven rugs of Capadoccia, Turkey.

We are also aware of your SKOVA Fair Trade collection, what more can you tell us about it? I developed Fair Trade to economically empower women around the world; for

hand-woven cotton throw single Moroccan mothers.

We are also very excited to know more about Sandune? What can you tell us about it? Sandune is in brand caters to and adventure. to experience

its pre-launch phase — the people who love the outdoors We’re really excited for you the brand when it debuts!

You also have amazing style! Who is or are your style inspiration(s)? Thank you! My style is inspired by women like

“My style is inspired by women

like Rosie Hathaway, she has a contemporary style and a beautiful classic look.”

Rosie Hathaway, she has a contemporary style and a beautiful classic look. Her clothing choices are loose, flowing and sleek. I love her minimalist style and clean look. I strive to be natural and authentic.

What are some of your summer must-have products? I use Base Sunscreen by Goop, it comes in a powder form. There’s a company called iSun and their Celestial Oil is a must-have in my routine. It makes your skin beautiful and glowing. It’s basically made to order with all-natural ingredients and it’s cruelty-free. Also, my Skova Blanket/Towel is something I take with me everywhere. I use it as a blanket when I travel, I keep one with me in car, and I use it at the beach.

As a designer and founder, how do you stay inspired and motivated? Every morning, I wake up and burn temple incense and meditate to ground myself. Sometimes I’ll do light yoga or ride my Peleton bike. I do this before I drink my coffee, usually around 5 AM. It clears my mind so I can take on the day.

What tips do you have for those that would

like to found a business and design their products? My suggestion is to start with a business plan and really understand the type of business you want. You’ll need a roadmap to give you clear direction. Also, I say stick with it, starting and running a business isn’t easy, there’s ups and downs. You have to have a work ethic, a thick skin and persistence. For example, I am always working. I don’t check in or check out — I’ve worked four days straight without sleeping. But if you want it, stick with it.

What message would you and your brands like to express to your audiences? My message is to be yourself, travel, experience new cultures and celebrate every victory with the people you love and with your team.

Any recent deals with retail companies that you would like to announce? I’m really excited to have Skova products on Curator.com with Rachel Zoe. Rachel is a style and fashion icon, she validates what’s “in” and trending. It’s one of the most prestigious fashion websites around, and you can find our beach umbrellas there.

“I developed Fair Trade to

economically empower women around the world.”

WILD THING

MODELS: LIBERTY @thelifeoflibs & SOPHIA DEL RIO @sophiadelrioo AGENCY: DNL CREATIVE AGENCY @dnlcreativeagency MAKEUP artists: SARA MOKHTARI @makeupbysaramokhtari & NADIA SERPOOSH @makeupnadiya.ca HAIR STYLIST: RUTH MEDRANO @ruthbmedrano location provided by THE MAIMON GROUP @themaimongroupla special thanks to CHARLENE WOODS @charlenewoods

Top and Bottom Mesh Set ALABAMA BLONDE Bodysuit ZARA Earrings DM JEWELRY DESIGNS Shoes PRETTYLITTLE THING

Top ZARA Pants SARAH REGENSBURGER Earrings DM JEWELRY DESIGNS

Top and Bottom Mesh Set ALABAMA BLONDE Bodysuit ZARA Earrings DM JEWELRY DESIGNS

SOPHIA (LEFT) Dress ANGELIKA JOZEFCZYK Feather Jacket NOW PR Earrings H&M LIBERTY (RIGHT) Dress ZARA Fur Throw-On NOW PR Pearl Detail Scarf MONICA LEIGH

LIBERTY (LEFT) Top ZARA Skirt ALABAMA BLONDE Necklace ZARA Bracelet NOW PR Shoes ZARA

SOPHIA (RIGHT) Dress RAJO LAUREL Belt ZARA Ring GEORGINA JEWELRY Shoes PRETTYLITTLETHING 61

Dress ZARA Fur Throw-On NOW PR Pearl Detail Scarf MONICA LEIGH

LIBERTY (LEFT) Top ZARA Jeans BRANDY MELVILLE Belt JEWELRY BAR Earrings H&M SOPHIA (RIGHT) Mesh Top SARAH REGENSBURGER Jeans ZARA Earrings MAISON LOUELLA

Jacket ALABAMA BLONDE Bodysuit ZARA Necklace GEORGINA JEWELRY Shoes ZARA Earrings H&M

Gold Sequin Jacket LOTUZ Top ZARA Jeans ZARA Belt GUCCI Bracelet JEWELRY BAR Shoes PRETTYLITTLETHING

Top ZARA Leather Jacket MONIQUE SINGH Jeans BRANDY MELVILLE Belt JEWELRY BAR Earrings H&M Sunglasses H&M

INTERVIEW

IZABELA

COUTURE CRAFTED by HAND FROM LONDON TO

LOS ANGELES

From her London Atelier, Izabela Krawczyk has been making waves in LA with her latest collection. We’ve delved beneath the many layers to find out what it takes to succeed in couture, an inspiring tell all of Izabela’s most venerable moments to her launching her own business and catering to some of the beauty industries biggest names.

pr agency: THE POP GROUP @thepop.group special thanks to PORTIA LARGE @portia_pop 72

IZABELA KRAWCYZK 74

layers of complexity. Our gowns are often based on corsets, which need to be balanced according to the client’s silhouette and moulded accordingly. Lots of stitching is done by hand, straight on the mannequin, so there will be no risk of anything not fitting. The next phase, and probably the lengthier element is embellishment – our embroidery and beading are all done by hand by true experts and artisans.

zabela, let’s start off by talking about the meaning of couture, as this is truly an art and means made to measure. What’s the process that happens in your atelier, how long does it take to make a single dress and how many people work on a single garment? Absolutely, couture for me is not a form of applied art, but a true fine-art, Picasso of fashion. Couture is timeless and due to its uniqueness, it is resistant to trends and fads, none of the dresses produced in a couture atelier will ever ‘go out of fashion’. Regarding the process, it is lengthy and can take even up to a year to finalise a very special garment. First, we meet with our client for an informal discussion – about her likes and dislikes, hobbies, passions – we want to get as much as we can about her personality and sense of style. We need to build up a personal relation with each of our clients and we treat them very individually and try to accommodate everyone according to their needs and wants. We do that so we can create together something as unique as the client themselves. The gowns should reflect her personality and highlight her beauty, this is what makes our dresses original and one of a kind.

For an individual dress there are always at least 3 people working on it, each with their own specialisation – pattern making, sample cutting, embroidery, hand beading etc. On a more demanding gown, we engage the whole team.

“Couture is

timeless and due to its

You are originally from Poland, but based in London and with a presence in Los Angeles, do you feel like there are any cultural influences which you put into the designing process and if so, what are they?

Everything has an impact on the design process, even if not everything is our conscious choice. Our personal story, our ‘package’, this is all an important part of us, this is what makes each of us so unique and brilliant in our own way. Therefore, I’m sure all the cultural differences can be seen in my designs, although it might be difficult to pinpoint it. Unfortunately, haute couture culture is not so popular in Poland, so London was an obvious choice for more possibilities and gaining experience. My presence in Los Angeles was important for me as since I was a little girl I was fascinated by its glamour and red carpet looks.

uniqueness, it is

resistant to trends and fads”

After this first stage, we start the design process. We create the initial drawings, compose a unique selection of fabrics from the best mills around the world and decide on a colour palette. We meet again with our client to discuss the initial designs and decide together how we will proceed. Once our client is happy with the project, we take her measurements. This is an important stage as we customize a mannequin to have the same measurements as our client, so we can ensure a perfect fit every stage of the dressmaking process. We create a ‘toile’ which is a quick sample for our client to try on to make sure this will be her perfect dress. After that, the magic begins – and sometime lasts for many, many weeks depending on the individual dress and its

How did you end up setting up a business in London? 15 years ago, I moved to England with my family, with a clear goal of starting my own fashion label. Unfortunately, life does not always goes the way we plan it. Due to my personal circumstances – fatal disease of my husband, my son’s autism, my own fight with fibromyalgia – this all was so

overwhelming, and I needed to put my dream on hold. But as soon as my children grew up and become independent, I knew it was time for a big change. I think, everyone who doesn’t use their full potential, has a time in their life where they must hit their fist on the table and say “enough”. I left everything behind, my ex-partner, my house, my regular job, and I moved to London. I started to work for The Wedding Club, and later for Ralph and Russo which confirmed that I simply cannot live without couture.

What is the day-to-day of running a couture house and how does it differ from a readyto-wear style studio? RTW can be done very exquisitely, but it’s always done in fixed sizes and is ready to buy from boutiques. This can be altered and customized but is done in bulk first. In couture we do not run any single design in volume, only small productions. It is bespoke and made-to-measure, and all our clients are assured of the exclusivity of their purchase – no one else will ever own the same model. Running of a couture house is more challenging as we need to wait for the clients who have a big impact on the design process. We pride ourselves in maintaining a constant, warm relationships with all our clients.

We recently saw that you collaborated with Charlotte Tilbury, the infamous make-up artist by creating a one-of-a-kind gown for her. What was the dress for and what was it like working with such an icon? Unfortunately, due to confidentiality we are not able to discuss any details of our clients. However, Charlotte Tilbury as a person in very inspiring, energetic, and full of magic. She is both – extremely busy as a businesswoman with her feet firmly on the ground but at the same time very warm and caring. She has her own very refined style; she knows what she wants and is direct but in a kindly manner. It is always amazing to work with her!

The bridal market must be a great market for a business of your skillset, if you were a bride to be what would be your advice when it comes to choosing a dress, and in your experience should a bride select a gown

they can customize afterwards to get the maximum out of it? A bride to be should most of all remember to be herself! It is HER most important day, not her friends’, not her colleagues’, not her mother’s! Other people’s opinions are important, but hers is the most crucial. It is good to remember that the dress should be cohesive with her personality and silhouette as well as with the overall wedding event. She should feel great in it and be the true centre of everyone’s attention! For the customization aspect – it is good to keep the overall expression of the dress. Sometimes we need to do some changes, perhaps because of the religious restriction etc. but it should always be kept so it looks like an integral part of the dress. Therefore, it is vital to get an experienced professional to do it as thoughtless customisations can ruin the entire dress. The ideal scenario is to get the customization done with the designer you bought the gown from, if it’s not possible, you should carefully select who will do it for you.

Los Angeles has recently played host to several big players within the fashion industry including Gucci and Tom Ford who both put on runway shows, is this something we can hope to see from you in the future and what your unique take would be? Absolutely! I cannot share my ideas just now but be prepared for something magical to happen soon!

Cannes Film Festival recently took place, we know you can’t discuss clients that you created outfits for but what was your rundown of the red carpet and who really shone for you? Everyone had their eye on Anne Hathaway who in our opinion looked stunning! I’m a big fan of Cannes Film Festival and feel I can appreciate every single outfit. I think every designer has a unique touch and style which makes this festival the perfect combination of the most beautiful creations. I also paid attention to Anne Hathaway’s Armani Privé dress, simple yet sophisticated. Following the same trend, I loved Lashana Lynch wearing Fendi – quite a

“15 years ago, I moved to England with my family, with a clear goal of starting my own fashion label.” 79

modest cut but how sexy she looked. The style made her silhouette even more delightful, not to mention the elaborate embellishment! It really highlighted to us that white is a timeless colour, and it looks just magnificent. Another dress which I really loved was, again, Armani Privé worn by Elle Fanning. The dress had an excellent cut and looked absolutely stunning, so feminine and delicate but still powerful at the same time.

There’s so much pressure for designers to come out with their greatest collection season after season. What advice would you give to young designers just starting out and hoping to make it in the industry, specifically within couture. In general, I’m far away from giving advice. I strongly believe that each of us has their own, very distinctive path and the only thing I could say to that is: follow your intuition. I think every decision should be made in accordance with oneself and to be open to one’s internal voice. It is quite difficult when giving advice, as even with the best intention, what is good and right for one, does not necessarily mean the same for another. The only thing I can say is that couture is probably the most challenging of fashion industries as the clients are more demanding and harder to

reach, so it is good to have certain connections beforehand.

Random question, but do you have a vision board and if so, does it relate to your business and its end goals of when you know you can sit back and relax? I’m afraid that every time I achieve something I had dreamt about, I’m already preoccupied with some new challenge! It’s just my personality type – I can never feel totally satisfied and rest on my laurels. But my biggest dream now is to become an haute couture member of Federation of Haute Couture Paris. But this would probably only inspire me to work even harder!

Final question Izabela, if you were not working in fashion, what do you think you would have ended up doing? That would be difficult! But if fashion was not an option, then I would probably try my strengths in applied arts such as interior design. I would be never able to give up expressing myself artistically and I cannot go without constantly creating something beautiful and unique. This is an essence of my life!

“A bride to be

should most of all

remember to be herself ! It is HER most

important day”

IZABELA KRAWCYZK

MAJESTIC PHOTOGRAPHER & stylist: AREZOO JALALI @arezoojalali_photography MODEL: STELLA VERSINI @stellaversini MAKEUP artist: SARA MOKHTARI @makeupbysaramokhtari HAIR STYLIST: RIRI ROYA @riri_roya location provided by THE NIGHTFALL GROUP @thenightfallgroup

Dress SHEILA SIMONE

“A bride to be

should most of all

remember to be herself !

It is HER most

important day,

not her friends’, not her colleagues’, not her mother’s !”

PHOTOGRAPHER: KENT AVERY @kentaveryphoto MODEL: CAITLYN MWENIFUMBO @bby_cai AGENCY: THE INDUSTRY MODEL MANAGE@theindustryla wardrobe STYLIST: HANNAH KERRI @hannahHAIR AND Makeup ARTIST: KESHA @keshabyme LOCATION: DECLAN @5thletter

“I envision playing Mick Jager MENT LA when they kerrri do his biopic.”

Dress SHEILA SIMONE

Dress JULIE MAY

ROMANCE PHOTOGRAPHER: REGINA VORONINA @photographer_regina_voronina MODEL: KRYSTINA MALIROVA @krystina_malirova fashion stylist: SAM DOLCE @samdolceofficial hair and makeup: SAM DOLCE @samdolceofficial location: CASTLE BON REPOS @zamekbonrepos

100

Dress ELISABETTA FRANCHI

101

102

Dress ELISABETTA FRANCHI

103

104

105

Dress ELISABETTA FRANCHI

106

107

QP GEORGIA GIBBS QP

108

ARCHIVES JULY 2019

PHOTOGRAPHER: KENT AVERY @kentaveryphoto MODEL: CAITLYN MWENIFUMBO @bby_cai AGENCY: THE INDUSTRY MODEL MANAGEMENT LA @theindustryla wardrobe STYLIST: HANNAH KERRI @hannahkerrri HAIR AND Makeup ARTIST: KESHA @keshabyme LOCATION: DECLAN @5thletter PHOTOGRAPHER: YASMINE KATEB @yasminekateb MODEL: GEORGIA GIBBS @georgiagibbs_ AGENCY: WILHELMINA MODELS @wilhelminamodels WARDROBE STYLIST: NICOLE CLOUTIER @nicoleaimeec MAKEUP ARTIST: ELIZABETH SEROPIAN @elojelloseropian hair STYLIST: ROBERT STEINKEN @robertsteinkenhair 109

FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE

QP JUNE/JULY 2022

ANYA

MUDRIK BY AREZOO JALALI