QP FASHION MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2023 by QPmag

FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE

QP OCTOBER 2023

JEAN

SHAFIROFF

THE FIRST LADY OF PHILANTHROPY PHOTOS BY MICHAEL PANICCIA

LUXURY REIMAGINED

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TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ SENIOR EDITOR CLAUDIA LOMBARDO EDITORIAL PRODUCERS MATTHEW NIENABER AREZOO JALALI

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS JENNIFER CARTER ANNA VOLOS CONTENT CREATORS SHARON JANE ALEXANDRA BONNET

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear readers, As the summer sun gracefully sets, we welcome the arrival of October with open arms. With the changing of seasons comes a transformation in our wardrobes, our perspectives, and our aspirations. This issue is a testament to the enduring spirit of fashion, and we're excited to share it with you. Our cover story this month features the philanthropist, humanitarian, TV host and writer, Jean Shafiroff. The international press refers to her as "The First Lady of Philanthropy", for her generosity and non-stop work as a volunteer fundraiser. Jean shares her thoughts on the evolution of fashion, her personal style, and her commitment to charity. Thank you for being a part of our fashion community. We look forward to a season of unparalleled style, creativity, and beauty. Together, let's embrace the transformative power of fashion.

Much obliged! JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ

Editor-in-Chief QPmag

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COVER

TALENT: JEAN SHAFIROFF @jeanshafiroff PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL PANICCIA @michael_paniccia Gown VICTOR DE SOUZA 7

Swimwear GIGI C

Jumpsuit JOEY Sweater RALPH LAUREN

BEAUTY ON DECK

PHOTOGRAPHER: ALESSANDRA FIORINI @alessandrafioriniphotography MODEL: MARIA CARLA BALLINA @mariacarlaballina agency: NEXT MODELS MIAMI @nextmodelsmia fashion stylist: ALESSANDRA FIORINI @alessandrafioriniphotography hair and makeup: LENNIE BILLY @makeupbylennie 9

Top & Shorts FOREVER 21 Boots LITFUN

Top STYLIST OWN Botton CUPSHE Hat STYLIST OWN Boots LITFUN

Top SANCTUARY Shorts FREE PEOPLE

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

Beret STYLIST OWN Swimwear BORIFLORS

INTERVIEW

Fanny Van de WIJNGEART YOMI Interview by QP STAFF WRITER

Born in the summer of 2023, YOMI is a blazer-only label that plays homage to nostalgic tailored silhouettes with a decisive and sensual tone. Founder Fanny Van de Wijngeart wanted to create a collection that reflected her early inspiration of the world she grew up in, to embody a new telling of this visual history: Full of amplified shoulder-lines, cropped and longline silhouettes, exaggerated collars and daring open-necks, all in a riot of enlivened colours and extravagant button jewel adornments. The season-less styles feel effortless elegant yet exceptional to wear. pr agency: THE POP GROUP @thepop.group

ould you walk us through the concept that sparked your debut collection of block-coloured blazers and jackets with distinctive buttons? What was the initial inspiration that got the creative process rolling?

YOMI has been born from a multitude of inspirations, to capture and retell a visual history from various eras, personas, feelings and lived experiences, capturing the essence of this and to give it a new sense of life. A significant part of this inspiration I would also say comes from my childhood, those informative years where you find yourself enchanted and enveloped by key characters in your life that inevitably shape you by their very own creativity and independence. Their elegance, grace, intuition and natural poise I find infectious and fascinating and it is where I began my journey. That magnetic pull some women possess; the Divas. The collection in a lot of ways is a love note to these nostalgic feelings and to those inspirational women. The concept and the world that sustained YOMI was inevitably (but not something I realised immediately nor initially) deeply connected to my own mother and grandmother's personality and style. The gold touches (mainly the buttons) and the colours come from a shared love my grandmother and I have for extravagant adornments, “shiny vibrant sparkly things” - there are button designs that I have developed directly from her earring collection, which are such a joy to see reimagined on the blazers today. My grandmother is the wild side of it. The blazer’s strong structure is more my mother (literally and symbolically). Blazers are something that we definitely share as I have always worn them, even at a young age, and in turn, I have grown up seeing her wear them too. She gave me so many of her blazers when I was younger that the majority of my blazer wardrobe was made of hers. They were her uniform, her second skin. Buttons play a prominent role in your collection. Could you delve into your decision-making process when selecting these buttons and the significance they hold

within the overall designs? The buttons hold a strong emotional narrative to me, being so closely tied to my grandmother's personal jewellery collection, which I have seen her wear and that I am wearing myself today, the shapes and designs of them hold a special sentiment to me. They are prominent in the collection for this reason but also they are a respectful nod as to how these women used to dress - where jewellery was so significant to feeling 'dressed,' these buttons take their place. They are a significant part to each blazer, forming the epicentre of the overall design, determining the cut, colour and mood of each piece so every blazer has its own character. Converting these earrings into buttons while keeping the same sense of wonderment and awe of those original pieces was a delicate and complex process. For this first collection we worked with a Canadian-founded, Hong Kong-based, supplier with a long and established history of designing and creating artisanal jewellery pieces for independent brands in the most ethical and sustainable way. Their paralleled brand ethos coupled with an impressive design past meant they were able to understand the intimate history behind each piece and know how imperative it was to reach a certain level of detail and make each piece feel precious. These buttons retain the history, they hold the heart of the brand. The small but powerful details saying “I am here, and I am with you”. Fabric selection often shapes the overall feel of a collection. Can you elaborate on the fabrics you chose for your blazers and jackets? How do they contribute to the comfort and visual appeal of the pieces? When I am choosing a fabric I am always thinking “soft”. I am looking for kisses on the skin. The challenge is for the collections to be sufficiently balanced between light and heavier fabric. YOMI wants to be a seasonless label, a place where you can go all year long no matter where you live and where you are going. The selection of fabrics reflects this versatility and timelessness but also the “lushness” of the brand from faux fur, buttery

“For

YOMI, the drama is in the details”

velvets to lightweight cashmeres. Although, the sourcing of the fabrics has been a challenge for us, as we strive to use predominantly recycled, responsible materials wherever possible. We have started to overcome this with some incredible suppliers in Europe that understood our position and have sourced some beautiful recycled materials for us, which you can see in the collection today. Details make all the difference. Could you share some specific design details that you've incorporated into your blazers and jackets to make them stand out in the world of womenswear? For YOMI, the drama is in the details. Think of YOMI as the theatre in which you can play out your life - From the bright outer colours to the bright contrasting jacquard monogram linings, the glint of the buttons adornments, the theatrics of each piece give the wearer the chance to transform into any persona they desire. Colour plays a vital role in communicating emotions through fashion. Can you shed some light on the specific colour palette you've chosen for your collection and the emotions or moods these colours are meant to evoke? I don't have a colour palette per se, I don't work with an imposed colour palette. I work with the colours that are at my core. Colour contains certain memories but also it has a power to evoke and determine specific moods and feelings too. I have an intrinsic draw to the colour purple, which you will always spot within the collection, and tend to develop all other colours from there, outward, be it the pink or blue hues all originated from a purple, then organically developed to create the palette that is both elegant yet bold. Every designer has a favourite piece in their collection. Could you tell us about yours and explain the story behind it?

What makes it particularly special to you? Choosing one blazer is like choosing one music track or movie that is your absolute favourite, it depends on the moment I am in. It can change from day to day, It is more about who I want to be on that certain day that will dictate my favourite blazer. They all hold something very precious to me too, as I have developed each piece you feel intrinsically connected, so they almost become familiar, important people that you take out to the places they prefer. Creating a debut collection is a monumental step. Could you give us a glimpse into the challenges and joys you experienced throughout the process of bringing your vision to life? There have been some pivotal moments that have fortuitously led me to this point. They were situations that felt hopeless and out of my control at the time, but on reflection were the big 're-set' in my life and gave way for YOMI to come to fruition. Let’s say I keep oscillating, still today, between feeling insane and feeling this is the right thing. One significant moment was the decision to move from Brussels, our hometown, to London, which really was the beginning of giving life to the project, sharing it and showing it to others which for me was a very difficult thing to do at first, as I had been working alone (and rather secretly) on this for quite a long time. In London, we started forming teams and working together to shape the brand. It wasn’t an easy transition; we were uprooting our lives with a small child, starting completely fresh, knowing the voyage ahead would be a long one, but one we were excited to start. Prior to this, I had been working with my husband on his label, Ark 8 for a number of years, and prior to that, in Law, so change is something I know and I relish, but did not necessarily come easy to me either. With my background, I am in some ways an “outsider” to the industry too, so there have

“Choosing one blazer is like choosing one

music track or movie that is your absolute favourite, it depends on the moment”

definitely been learnings along the way, building the team, sourcing suppliers, finessing the designs, but together, the whole team and my family, have made this all happen. The start of the future. Who do you envision as the ideal wearer of your blazers and jackets? How do you see these pieces becoming integral parts of their wardrobes? I believe for most people, clothing has a transformative power to shape you, each item ‘owning’ a degree of magic to create its own story, personality or seduction. So I would envision the wearer to be able to feel this when they put on a YOMI piece, that they feel the desire to be bold and fearless when they wear it and they embrace that each piece will make them ‘feel’ something completely unique to them YOMI would be where you are impacted deeply by a story. The characters imprint on you and almost walk alongside you the next day, like a strong dream, that leaves an echo of impact on your waking life. It's real, yet you know it's not but feels even briefly so tangible. Real life can feel restrictive, but in this inbetween space you can direct, erase, re-write the pages to live out, and YOMI dresses those internal moments. The “ wearer” would be somebody who can connect and resonate to that. Incorporating timeless elements into a collection is often a balancing act with current trends. How did you manage to infuse a sense of timelessness while still ensuring your pieces resonate with contemporary fashion preferences? It is instinctive to follow the trends of your era, it does not really require any “work” for me. It is right there, I am naturally infused by what I see every day, our current trends. This is not hard to ensure, but going back in time and reinterpreting and recalibrating without making it too tacky or too obvious is where the difficulty lies and I would not say I have managed, it is a

complex and everlasting balance to achieve. Your collection strikes a balance between structured elegance and casual wearability. Could you provide some styling advice for our readers on how to effortlessly integrate your blazers and jackets into their day-to-day outfits? The beauty of the blazers is that they work so well with just a pair of high waisted jeans and flatforms. They are extremely versatile and allow you to keep things comfortable by just adding a pop of colour and extravagance to whatever you are wearing. The fashion world is always curious about what's next. While you may not want to give away all the secrets, could you offer a tantalising hint about the direction your next collection for Yomi might take? The next chapter for YOMI will see some new colours, fabrics and shapes but also the imagery that we can create around it, the story in which we set the scene for these pieces to be played out in - a new part of the YOMI universe that we can explore and share. Each collection is a new opportunity to share this - the ‘Voyage,” of the woman that will wear it. With the first collection we have presented the grace and elegance of the YOMI woman, her sorrow. In this next chapter, we are addressing her wildness and sensuality.

Finally, as a London-based designer representing in California, what are your aspirations for the reception of your debut collection? How do you hope your designs will resonate with the California fashion scene and beyond? I think Californians, because of the variety of natural beauty that surrounds them set against a busy metropolitan life are the best for dressing exactly as they wish, being free and liberated with how they choose to present themselves. They have a sense of ease with their wardrobe, selecting pieces that are chic yet comfortable, luxurious yet nonchalant

“I believe for most people, clothing has a transformative power to shape you” 25

Jacket VEGAN TIGER Bodysuit CHARLES & RON

Top XIVI Pants VEGAN TIGER

FIERCE CONTOURS PHOTOGRAPHER: AREZOO JALALI @arezoojalali_photography MODEL: OLIVIA ALLAN @olivia.allan agency: PHOTOGENICS LA @photogenicsla fashion stylist: ANA TANAKA @anatanaka hair and makeup: RUTH B. MEDRANO @ruthbmedrano production: BELLO MEDIA GROUP @bellomediagroup retoucher: AMIR KAZEMI @amirkazemipic 27

Dress MARTA MILJANIC Necklace ATRA NOVA BY SHEILA B. Earrings GIVENCHY

Top XIVI Pants VEGAN TIGER 29

Top XIVI Pants VEGAN TIGER 30

Dress MARTA MILJANIC Necklace & Rings ATRA NOVA BY SHEILA B. Earrings GIVENCHY

Top & Pants MORFIUM Bag MUTAYO EKIYE Necklace & Cuff ATRA NOVA BY SHEILA B. Shoes BAROLLO ITALY

Bra TELL THE TRUTH Jacket TANAKA VINTAGE Pants ADOLFO SANCHEZ Earrings ADIBA

Jacket VEGAN TIGER Bodysuit CHARLES & RON Shoes BAROLLO ITALY

Top & Pants MORFIUM Bag MUTAYO EKIYE Necklace & Cuff ATRA NOVA BY SHEILA B. Shoes BAROLLO ITALY

COVER

JEAN SHAFIROFF THE FIRST LADY

OF PHILANTHROPY Interview by QP STAFF WRITER

Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, humanitarian, TV host, writer and the author of the book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give. Jean is often referred to as “the first lady of philanthropy” by the international press because of her generosity and extensive work as a volunteer fundraiser and leader in the philanthropic world. She serves on the boards of eight charitable organizations and each year, she chairs upwards of eight different charity galas. Among the many causes she champions are those involved in women’s rights, rights of underserved populations, health care, and animal welfare.

TALENT: JEAN SHAFIROFF @jeanshafiroff PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL PANICCIA @michael_paniccia 36

Gown MALAN BRETON

Gown OSCAR DE LA RENTA 38

ean it’s wonderful to connect. You’re from and based in the East Coast, however your amazing work with the numerous charities that you sit on the boards of are regularly documented in the media globally. We’re going to focus on fashion to begin with, from our understanding you have one of the largest personal collections of gowns in New York City. Designers including Oscar de la Renta, Victor de Souza, and Caroline Herrera to name but a few. Can you give us a full lineup of the fashion houses you have purchased from and have you met any of the designers personally? Fashion is a great passion of mine. I have collected many different gowns over the last 20 years. My gown collection is something I cherish, and it consists of about 200 or more gowns that I plan to donate to a museum one day. It has been a great joy to collect them and wear them. The collection continues to grow. It consists of both couture and ready-to-wear pieces from Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Mary McFaddan, Malan Breton, Victor de Souza, B Michael, Zang Toi, Monique Llhuillier and a few pieces from Alexander McQueen, Alice and Olivia and Valentino. I have met all of these designers except for Monuque Lhuillier, and then Alexander McQueen who, sadly, is no longer alive. In a number of cases, I have worked directly with a few of these designers on couture gowns. Of course, working directly with a designer is a great treat and honor. Buying a gown is a true investment in many senses of the word. Not only are you supporting the arts but the craftsmanship as well, we’re sure you have many fans within the fashion community. Out of all the gowns you own, which is the most memorable to you and can you walk us down memory lane on the day that you purchased it and when you wore it?

There are so many gowns that are special to me. Dressing in a big gown and then accessorizing it with a beautiful hairdo, nice make-up, a beautiful bag, and jewelry is a little like living a true fantasy. Most recently I wore a massive gold couture gown designed by Malan Breton to the 2022 French Heritage Society gala in New York where I was honored. Malan and I decided to pair the gown with gold lace operalength gloves. Malan Breton accompanied me to this gala which made the event extra special. I felt like a queen in his gown. Since I love the French Heritage Society and love France, this was an especially meaningful night and the gown added so much to the occasion. Then there is a beautiful, beaded Oscar de la Renta ball gown that I purchased on the day of the Metropolitan Opera Gala a few years ago. I walked into the boutique on Madison Avenue at 2 PM on the Monday afternoon of the event and caught a glimpse of the gown. I quickly tried it on and purchased it on the spot. By 5:30 PM that evening I was dressed and ready to attend a spectacular gala. Nicki Minaj owns the same gown. This summer the same gown went up for auction in New York. It was advertised as owned by Nicki Minaj and Jean Shafiroff - with photos of both of us in the gown. The gown is a real work of art - I will keep it and continue to wear it when I can. One day it will be part of the collection that I will donate to a museum. Then there was a red chiffon Oscar de la Renta gown that I brought down to Palm Beach for the Preservation Society Gala. When I arrived in Palm Beach, I learned that the gala was a Black and White Ball - meaning we were supposed to wear black or white. I had no choice but to wear the red gown as I had nothing else with me. I was the only person who was not dressed in black and white! Somehow I managed but I will not forget that experience. That red gown I wore will now be on exhibit at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County's Fashion Exhibit to open in November 2023. Many of my readyto-wear gowns such as the one just described are quite rare because only a few pieces like it were ever produced by the designer.

“I plan to

donate my 200+ gowns collection to a museum one day”

Given your love of fashion do you ever see yourself sharing your personal collection with the rest of the world and if so, how many gowns do you own? We’re sure there are numerous people who would love to see what you have acquired. Yes, absolutely! Many of my gowns are on my Instagram account - @JeanShafiroff I will soon write a coffee table book about the gown collection. The entire gown collection will be donated to a museum one day so that others can enjoy them as I do. There is a story behind just about every gown. It has been an exciting adventure to buy and collect them. Regarding the number in the collection, I would say it numbers about 200 or so. They were all collected over several years. Sadly, a few have been lost. I am not sure how, but they are missing.

This leads us nicely into your philanthropic work, you joined the Couture Council which supports the museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2010. Given your long contribution to the organization, what major changes have you seen outside of the trends within fashion and how much of a part do you think technology will play in the industry? It must be fascinating to learn from the rising talent emerging from FIT. I am truly honored to serve on the Couture Council of the Museum at FIT. I have served on this board since 2010. The Fashion Institute of Technology is an incredible higher education learning institute that focuses on art, business, design, mass communication, and technology connected to the fashion industry. Right now, I believe that the development of sustainable fashion is very important. This year we honored Gabriela Hearst at our September 6, 2023 Museum at FIT luncheon. We honored her specifically because of her early involvement in the development of sustainable fashion which is so important for our planet. Many fashion designers

have now embraced sustainable fashion in their work which makes me very pleased. The fashion industry has also embraced the importance of having safe and secure working conditions for fashion workers across the globe. Finally, the massive shift away from using fur in fashion is also an important shift. I hope that feathers will also disappear from fashion. I am a lover of animals and an animal activist. The thought of so many animals being killed to make a fur or feather outfit makes me very sad. I stopped wearing fur and feathers about 10 years ago and I am glad I did this. I am very happy to see that most celebrities and members of royalty have done the same.

Please correct us if we are wrong but, from our understanding, you sit on the board of 8 charities and are an honorary board member for some of them. Commitments vary from fundraising, hosting events, contributions in time, kind and financial as well as board meetings. What does a typical day in the life of Jean Shafiroff look like from when you wake up to when you manage to have some downtime in the evening? I must admit I am a hard worker. Serving on 8 charity boards entails a great deal of work. I also host a TV show all about philanthropy called Successful Philanthropy where I interview politicians, celebrities, business titans and CEOs of charities. In addition, I am working on a second book soon to be published. My social media platform also takes quite a bit of work. It sounds crazy but I often get up in the middle of the night to work. I love to go out in the evenings to various charity events where a cause is supported and where there are many new people to meet. Of course, during fashion week I love to go to the shows that I am invited to. And then there are the many parties that I enjoy. Fashion and philanthropy are both extremely important to me.

You reside in Manhattan in what truly looks like an iconic apartment on Park Avenue

“I stopped wearing fur and feathers

10 years ago. I am a lover of animals, and an animal activist” 40

Dress ZIMMERMANN Scarf HERMES

Cape MALAN BRETON

Dress OSCAR DE LA RENTA

Gown ZANG TOI

however, you also have a spectacular property in the Hamptons of which you have hosted several fundraisers and parties. Which abode do you prefer putting events on at, do you get a similar crowd attending and how do you unwind post events? I have given far more parties at my Park Avenue co-op than at my home in the Hamptons. The group of people attending is usually quite different, however, there is some overlap. I happen to love people and so entertaining is something I truly enjoy. I enjoy entertaining in both places, but the New York City entertainment is a little easier. The security detail is also easier. After I host a party, I like to relax a little and finish my work.

In the history of fundraising, which of the events was your most successful and why was that? I loved chairing the galas for the Southampton Hospital. People love to give financially to their Hospital. The millions and millions of dollars we raised was money needed to provide good health care for all. I love the idea of raising money for health care for all! I have always enjoyed chairing the Viennese Opera Ball which is always very glamorous and exciting and galas for the NY Women's Foundation. Success really depends on the cause. The events that I have chaired (there are dozens and dozens) are all for great causes. If an event raises needed funding, creates visibility and then brings in new people, I consider it a success! Of course, fashion and glamour can all play a role - but most important is the cause and then the funds and visibility raised for that cause.

We recently read your book “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give”, firstly congratulations on getting this out there as that’s no easy task. The word philanthropy can conjure ideas of making

financial donations. Your book teaches us that this simply is not true and that we can indeed be philanthropic by giving our time amongst other non-material things to causes that are close to our hearts. What philanthropic effort have you made which was the most memorable and closest to your heart? I have volunteered my time and knowledge, raised funds, made introductions, promoted philanthropy and also made generous financial contributions. I would say that for me philanthropy is multifaceted and that I have been involved in numerous different aspects of it. My philanthropic work has been most rewarding. I feel most fortunate to be able to do it. There have been many aspects that have been most rewarding. But when you see the change in a child whose life was made better because of the work of a charity you are involved with - well, it touches the heart in a most fulfilling way! I serve on the board of 2 charities that work to directly change the lives of children: Mission Society of NYC and Casita Maria. As a Catholic, I served on the board of the Jewish Board for 28 years. The work of this charity is fantastic. It is the largest mental health charity in the state of New York, serving 50,000 people of whom 60% are not Jewish. Honestly, I love all the boards I serve on - they are all very special to me. They have been chosen because of the great work they do.

You are referred to as ‘The First Lady of Philanthropy’ by the media, how do you feel about this, and do you feel a pressure to live up to it? This title only makes me want to do more to help the philanthropic world. It is a great blessing to be in a position to give. I expect to do my philanthropic work for the rest of my life.

The pandemic changed everyone’s world, true to form you continued with all your efforts supporting the underserved. You also launched a TV show interviewing

“It is a great blessing to be in a

position to give. I expect to do my philantropic work for the rest of my life.” 45

connections of yours. Many of these ventures, except for the TV show, are funded and organized by you and we presume a team. What do you find is the biggest challenge in managing everything and do you have any special practices to keep you centered that you can share with our readers? The key is to work hard and stay focused. Also good work ethics are vitally important. Be kind, honest, and stay away from gossip. Do not be afraid to try new things.

Even though you are based in the East Coast, we know that you love to travel. When was the last time you came to California and when you were here were there any restaurants, shops, or hotels that you really enjoyed? We’re also known for our food, we’d love to hear what the best meal you had and where it was from. Sadly, I have not been to California since before the pandemic. I love California and the vitality of the people in the state. Of course, I love Los Angeles with all the great shops, restaurants, and hotels. My favorite restaurants in LA are Craigs, Matteos, The Ivy and Giorgios. Regarding hotels, The Fours Seasons and The Beverly Hills Hotel are both wonderful - but there are many more great ones. The film industry is truly exciting and makes the city fun, hip and extremely special. Then you have all the geniuses of the tech world. California has so much to offer. I love it and could live there in a heartbeat. I can't wait to get back to your beautiful state!

Lastly but by no means least, if you were hosting guests in either New York or the Hamptons, are there any places local to you that you always take people to?

Yes, in New York I love taking friends to Casa Cipriani, an exciting new club, and then to all the other great restaurants. I am also a member of Doubles, a private exclusive club. People love to go to clubs. Fashion Week is always a real treat to visitors. Of course the museums, Broadway shows and all that Lincoln Center has to offer are always a treat to visitors. Then the many big galas at Lincoln Center and elsewhere. New York has fantastic shopping, great hotels, art exhibits, and restaurants. Then there are many galas and parties continually. New York City truly is a great city. In the Hamptons, I love Le Bilboquet, Sant Ambroeus, Nick and Toni's, and The Palm. The Hamptons have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world -- and parties going on day and night! Both New York City and the Hamptons have so much to offer. Almost every place in the world has a lot to offer. As someone who loves to travel, I suggest that people explore their own hometowns first. Then when you have the chance to travel go to Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London, Rome, Dubai, Tokyo, Nairobi, Cape Town, Shanghai, and everywhere else you can!

Follow Jean Shafiroff on Social Media: Instagram: @JeanShafiroff and @JeanShafiroffatwork Facebook: @JeanShafiroff, Style & Philanthropy and @JeanShafiroff X (Twitter): @JeanShafiroff

“Be kind, honest and stay away from gossip. Do not be afraid to try new things”

Gown MALAN BRETON 47

Gown MORLE Stockings LARHHA

PRIVATE COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHER: IVAN DUMANT @ivandumont MODEL: HANNAH LEE @hanalee1005 FASHION STYLIST: MARINA GUTIERREZ @marinaminit STYLIST´s assistant: PAULA SERRANO @pauliserrano96 photographer´s assistant: JOGRE WINKELJOHANN @jogre_wc Makeup artist: PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ @patriciarc_mua photographer´s pr: ORICIA DOMINGUEZ @oriciadominguez

Outfit LARETTA

Gown LARHHA

Outfit ELE

Dress JOSH BLAKE

Dress BY SOPHIE

Jacket LARETTA

INTERVIEW

PORTIA &

LORI

THE POP GROUP Interview by QP STAFF WRITER

Ladies, it’s so awesome to finally meet our favorite British duo: Lori you just flew in from London and Portia you’re based in Hollywood. You’re the founders of The POP Group, which is London and Los Angeles leading fashion agency. In short, you’re responsible for bringing UK, European and Asian brands to the USA and vice versa. You also happen to be the brains behind IN-HOUSE, which is fashion's fastest-growing PR & media placement platform connecting brands with editors and stylists. PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM FRAUD @tomfraud

he POP Group recently celebrated 12 years of being in business, as female entrepreneurs who launched in a recession and managed to retain it through a global pandemic, what advice would you give anyone who also holds an entrepreneurial torch? We won’t sit here and tell you it was easy. Being an entrepreneur is the more challenging road. The advice we would give is to surround yourself with a team that will pick you up along every turn and bump as there is a lot. Having people and clients you respect and enjoy being around every day can be the make or break of your motivation and drive. Protecting your energy and surrounding yourself with a positive influence in the madness is the key to keeping your sh*t together. You are well known at London Fashion Week; your firm has handled over 200 runway shows so at this point you must be able to organize events blindfolded with your arms tied behind your backs. What’s the biggest challenge when putting on events and how do you manage client expectations? The biggest challenge when it comes to events is to accept, it’s not if something will go wrong, but when something will go wrong. With that many moving parts, it is scientifically impossible for it all to go smooth sailing. Whether it's collections being stuck in customs, invitations printed the wrong shade or staff falling sick. After doing this for so long, we recognize that clients hire us because we are the calm in the storm and will find a solution to any issue that arises. Transparency and honesty with our clients have always been the key reasons they trust us time and time again with their events. They know we won’t leave any stone unturned and will move mountains to make their event every bit of the success. Talk to us about your app, it’s called IN-

HOUSE, you launched it just over a year ago in June 2022. What does your platform do and what role does it play within the fashion industry? IN-HOUSE is a digital platform built as an alternative and more affordable option for brands who want a PR service. Through the relationships we have built over twelve years, we are able to redirect product requests from The POP Group’s physical showrooms (London and Los Angeles) to IN-HOUSE. The goal is to build exposure for independent brands rather than being tied to a showroom. In a nutshell - we generate media coverage (magazine, celebrity dressing and influencer press) by connecting brands with trusted Stylists, Editors and Influencers in the US and UK. IN-HOUSE’s functionality streamlines the entire pulling process for stylists and editors because it is built with an e-commerce navigational system, making product searches from brands as easy to use as ASOS, Net-a-porter etc. Instead of stylists having to send multiple request emails to brands, download copious amounts of lookbooks and pick up from several locations. They can put their request into multiple brands in one go – click, click, pull. You often use the phrase community and tribe when referring to members of your platform. How important is it to you to retain a community spirit at your company and why is that? Equally how do you instigate this? PR is all about relationships. We have loved this industry because we love working with creatives and have always held a company culture surrounding a personable service. We take our jobs seriously but ourselves … not so much. We want to attract like-minded individuals to work with, this goes with clients to stylists. To do this, we stay true to our DNA, which is honest, fearless, personal, and fun. This identity

“Transparency and honesty have always been the key reasons our clients trust us time and time again”

is weaved into everything we do. For our team, our job is more than coming into an office and ticking boxes. Our core team has each been with us for longer than 4 years, so we know a lot about one another. We also care about one another, we know each other’s sensitivities and needs, and we use this with our members at IN-HOUSE as well. It also helps that there is an application process for both brands, stylists, and editors with us where they get on a video with us to walk them through the system, so we really know our tribe better than most platforms. Our business has been growing at a rate of 10% month on month organically, we do very little marketing right now and when a member has a suggestion or change, we try to see if it’s feasible. Built for the industry by the industry. Right now, how many people use IN-HOUSE and what results are members benefiting from? It must have caused quite a scene in your industry as it essentially provided the same service many PR agencies were offering but at a fraction of price. We have nearly 1000 members actively using IN-HOUSE as of the time of writing this, and that number grows every day. We’re sure other agencies have raised questions about our new approach, and everyone’s thoughts and feelings are fair. As entrepreneurs we focus on our goals and keep pushing. We just got wind of dressing Lady Gaga yesterday for some of the brands on the platform which we are over the moon about, the results speak for the benefits of the brands on the platform. For the stylists and editors, they can literally do a day’s worth of pulling and visiting showrooms in less than 30 minutes, our inventory is 4000+ and changes often as brands add new products and designs. Where do you see the future of IN-HOUSE going and how do you hope to get there? What we’re seeing coming to us is many early adaptors who prefer to handle their requests online and brands who want to be

independent thinkers when it comes to the PR and marketing of their businesses. If we had our own label, we’d want to be all handson deck, and not being passed from Account Manager to Account Manager. We’re looking at additional showrooms across major cities and there are some exciting changes happening to our technology to make the pulling process easier. How are we going to get there? Through sheer hard work, determination and the fact we never take no for an answer. Let’s circle back to your own personal fashion, we’re loving today's looks, from your personal closets, what labels do you wear in and out of the office? Portia – I feel like my style has changed since moving from London to LA, I’m less about the high heels and all-black outfits. Currently, I’m obsessed by Carmen Molina, Dress, Pyrrha, Rick Owens, Diesel, Commando and Norma Kamali for key pieces. I know I can whip something out the closet by any one of those labels and team it with something else I have and I always get women asking me where something I’m wearing is from … which let’s face it is the highest compliment. I also have a weird glasses obsession which usually makes an outfit and all my bags/clutches are vintage from Hermes to unsigned labels. Lori – I feel like my style has remained classic and tailored with a pattern play twist always thrown into the mix. I love a big shoulder moment so I’m currently obsessed with blazerwear by YOMI, my jewellery favourite will always be Pyrrha, wide brim hats by Lack Of Colour & my weekend uniform - activewear by Adanola. Do you feel pressure to look a certain way given what you both do for work? Portia – I don’t feel pressure at all, I love that almost anything goes, and I am always inspired by the stylists that come into our studios. I think there is value in ageing within our industry, with age comes knowledge, contacts, and skills,

“We have nearly 1,000 members actively

using IN-HOUSE, and that number grows every day”

I wouldn’t turn back time for all the tea in China. Lori – Zero pressure. Our office is very laid back and we encourage everyone to embrace their own style and be comfortable (I do have office uggs under my desk – but don’t tell Portia that.) I find so much joy in dressing, so figuring out my outfit every day is my favourite part of my morning. What’s the biggest faux par that brands do within the fashion industry and what can they do to try and overcome this? So many brands go to market without a strategy or even thinking who their ICP (ideal customer profile) is. Sometimes this scattergun approach works, but once you figure out who your client is, where they shop, what they do and what their lifestyle habits are then you can really narrow down where and on who your designs need to be seen to generate sales and make the business viable. Fashion can have a churn rate where brands crash and burn due to finances running out. Stop, breath and think for a hot minute if you want longevity. We noticed you recently did a pop-up in New York with some of the brands you guys represent. Tell us a little bit about what that was and is the Big Apple in your roadmap anytime soon? New York was fabulous to us; a working women’s shout-out to all the faces we saw there! We presented a selection of the brands under our wing and invited industry experts to come by and see their designs in person. This also gave us a chance to demonstrate our technology in person and really connect on a whole new level. We’re coming in hot for you New York!

Let's do a little London and LA comparison. Ladies which is better and why? Comparing London to LA is like comparing apples to oranges, they are both so different and yet both so perfect. London has the best pubs, it’s a fashion capital and is so

diverse with its culture. LA has insanely good food, you naturally adopt a healthier lifestyle, and the weather is incredible for nearly the whole year. If we could squish those elements together and rename it Los London, then we would have our perfect city.

Can you give us a rundown of a day in the life for each of you? Portia – I get up around 5am, I start with a celery juice, a mushroom coffee, and a good old dry brushing session before showering and getting ready for the day. I walk my dogs and aim to be in front of my laptop between 7am-8am. I work from home a few days a week and on those days, you can find me on zoom connecting with new potential community members as well as answering customer-based enquiries from the brands already online. The first person I speak to is Lori via WhatsApp. On the days I am in the office, I sit in the middle of the showroom and make it my mission to gossip with every stylist that walks through our doors. I love seeing people in person, particularly after the pandemic. It’s also important for me to be sat with our LA team in case they need to connect with me rather than the formalities of an email. Lori - I start my morning with a reformer pilates class followed by a strong black americano and a podcast-filled commute to the office (My Therapist Ghosted Me is the current obsession.) Office life starts off with a banging playlist and checking our stylist appointments for the day. The madness then kicks in with samples flying in and out of the showrooms and press checks. My day is filled with client strategy meetings, event planning from press dinners to collaborations, creating content for our IN-HOUSE & POP channels, putting out client fires and making inappropriate jokes with my London copilot Angus, whose response to everything is “stunnin’". Always ending my last hour with a FaceTime to Portia handing over the torch to LA to continue in the pursuit of world domination.

“The pandemic has reshaped the way we prioritize work-life balance” 69

And finally … what are your biggest regrets …. Portia – I regret nothing, except for not shouting “I said what I said” after I said something shocking. Don’t believe in regrets, everything you do eventually leads you to wherever you need to be so just go with the flow and do it in comfortable shoes that aren’t hideous looking. Lori – I wouldn’t say I regret anything as I feel like every hard lesson learnt has made me a better person and professional. If I

were to regret anything it would be in the beginning of my career, running myself into the ground with trying to achieve unrealistic client expectations and feeling defeated when not conquering the unattainable. I feel like I have grown so much in now trusting my expertise and having a voice to set those boundaries, even when it comes to clients. I think the pandemic, although brutal has massively reshaped the way we prioritize work-life balance, which has nurtured a company culture we are very proud of.

“Comparing London to LA is like

comparing apples to oranges, they are both so different and yet both so perfect” 71

WESTERN VIBES PHOTOGRAPHER: MISHAN WARNAKULASURIYA@mishanw MODEL: DELANEY @delaneydekok agency: LA MODELS @lamodels

FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE

QP october 2023

MARIA

CARLA BY ALESSANDRA FIORINI

QP FASHION MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2023

Articles inside

PORTIA & LORI THE POP GROUP

JEAN SHAFIROFF THE FIRST LADY OF PHILANTHROPY

YOMI