FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE
QP MAy 2020
JESSICA NAZ
BY SONNY MATSON
T
LUXURY BAGS INSPIRED BY CONFIDENCE
WWW.MAISONBANGBANG.COM
TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ
MANAGING EDITOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR YASMINE KATEB
FASHION STYLISTS GEMMA LOUISE MAY MICHELLE WU MAKEUP ARTISTS TEAL DRUDA VANESSA VENANCIO
SENIOR EDITOR FASHION EDITORS CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
HAIR STYLIST JENNIFER M. BAKER
JENNIFER M. BAKER ALEXANDRA BONNET SHARON JANE SAMANTHA VANNI JUSTINE DUCLAUX SHANNEN TIERNEY MATT KOGER
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hi there, In the last couple of months, the world has undergone many changes but has also been filled with much self-reflection and voices finally being heard. COVID-19 brought the world to a halt as the pandemic spread but it didn’t stop us from tapping into our creativity and broadening our perspective. As we continue to fight the virus, another threat rose to the surface once again: the threat of ignorance and racism. Unfortunately, we still live in a society where equality is scarce and justice isn’t being served. All across the globe countries have come together to fight against this cruelty as the people took to the streets. The world is shifting dramatically, making it the time to finally put change into effect. Too much time has gone by and enough is enough! Stay safe. Stay Kind. Stay Strong. ALEXANDRA BONNET & JOSE-MARIA JIMENEZ Senior Editor & Editor-in-Chief QPmag
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MODEL: JESSICA NAZ @jessicanaz PHOTOGRAPHER: SONNY MATSON @sonnychaotic WARDROBE STYLIST: GEMMA LOUISE MAY @gemmalouise_may MAKEUP artist: STACY SALAZAR @makeup_bystacy HAIR STYLIST: CARLOS MANNINGS @cjrmannings VIDEOGRAPHER: BLAKE JAMES @blake.lee3
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IN THIS ISSUE
8-17 | EDITORIAL: BORN REGAL 18-25 | COVER: JESSICA NAZ 26-35 | INTERVIEW: MARQUISE BRIDAL 36-43 | EDITORIAL: SONNY´S WORLD 44-49 | EDITORIAL: CHERRY SPICE 50-57 | EDITORIAL: WILD BEAUTY
SUBMISSIONS hello@qpmag.com ww.qpmag.com QP FASHION MAGAZINE BELLO MEDIA GROUP @BELLOmediaGroup 6404 Wilshire Blvd. #500 / Los Angeles CA 90048
www.qpmag.com hello@QPMAG.com
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Gown LE QU’A ATELIER Earrings VINTAGE Bracelet HERMES
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BORN REGAL
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PHOTOGRAPHER: ALENA SAZONOVA @alena_saz MODEL: JAYDEN ROBISON @jessicanaz AGENCY: THE INDUSTRY LA @theindustryla EDITORIAL PRODUCER: TEAL DRUDA @tealdruda WARDROBE STYLIST: GEMMA LOUISE MAY @gemmalouise_may Dress LE QU’A ATELIER MAKEUP artist: TEAL DRUDA @tealmuah Earrings VINTAGE HAIR STYLIST: DOUG MENGERT @_douglasjack location: KUJA STUDIOS @kujastudios
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Bralette VERSACE Earrings ELIZABETH COLE 10
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Gown MATICEVSKI Earrings VINTAGE 13
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Scarf HERMES Bodysuit HOUR:S Earrings LORREN STEWART
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Denim Shirt ZARA Earrings VINTAGE Bracelet HERMES
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Dress MANNING CARTELL Earrings LORREN STEWART
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Shirt ZARA Brooch CHANEL Bag CHANEL
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Jacket ZARA Pants ZARA Bag MAISON BANGBANG Bracelet CARTIER
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Dress LE QU’A ATELIER Earrings VINTAGE 18
JESSICA NAZ
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PHOTOGRAPHER: SONNY MATSON @sonnychaotic MODEL: JESSICA NAZ @jessicanaz WARDROBE STYLIST: GEMMA LOUISE MAY @gemmalouise_may MAKEUP artist: STACY SALAZAR @makeup_bystacy HAIR STYLIST: CARLOS MANNINGS @cjrmannings VIDEOGRAPHER: BLAKE JAMES @blake.lee3
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Dress LE QU’A ATELIER
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Dress LE QU’A ATELIER Earrings VINTAGE
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Bodysuit NASTY GAL Earrings VINTAGE Barcelet CARTIER
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Jacket ZARA Pants ZARA Earrings ELIZABETH COLE
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Singlet BASSIKE Pants ZARA Barcelet CARTIER Earrings ELIZABETH COLE
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Bodysuit NASTY GAL Earrings VINTAGE Barcelet CARTIER
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INTERVIEW
MARQUISE BRIDAL A Modern Bridal Experience
QP magazine sat down with Luxury Australian Bridal designer, Megan Condipodero to talk all things Bridal Fashion.
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MEGAN CONDIPODERO
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APOLLO COLLECTION
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hen you start to design a new collection, what is the process? Do you start with an overview of what you want to collection to be or a mood board with the elements you want to include? The process for a new collection starts about 2-3 months before I start the sampling process. It will begin with a mood board, and I will start to create a visual of what the overall concept of the collection will be. From there I will start to explore fabrics, and see if there is a connect between what I want to create in silhouettes and finishes, and the fabric that I find and want to work with. Many times I have drafted a whole collection, silhouettes, finishes, and even started to map out the construction of the pieces then I will find a new fabric, or beading, and the whole thing goes out the window because my desire for creating something with the textiles I found trump’s the carefully curated collection that’s sketched and ready for Phase 1. What part of the design process do you enjoy most? The part where the process of elimination is complete, the collection, fabrics, concept and curation starts to become tangible and I can move forward to cutting and sewing and bringing all the elements together.
Where do you look to spot ‘trends’ and keep abreast with what brides are looking for? I have this superstition that I apply! If I see something different, say on Instagram, then I see the same concept in two more images that week, then I flag it as trend that will be prominent in our feeds 3 months later. If I like the image/concept I will keep it in the back on my mind and get a feel for if it’s something I could apply existing fabrics too, and is it “on brand”. If it’s not, but I love it, I will find a way to make it relevant to my client demographic. What are your favourite materials/embellishments to work with? At the moment I am dying over beading that is lineal, vertical and quite fine, without being “dainty”. It’s great to work with from a construction point of view, and a good beading can be applied to multiple gowns and look completely different. I have done this with two new samples, Lottie and Jerome and the response has been phenomenal. What, in your opinion, sets your brand apart? What are your core values? My brand started in the #bohobride trend. This was a wave in bridal that swept across all brands. Everyone such as brands of Haute Couture, to mass manufactured bridal brands, were creating and producing collections based on the #bohobride phenomenon. In the midst of this I released my first collection, featuring sexy silk skirts, that fit in all the right places, and bodice pieces that pushed the boundary of bridal fashion. So I took these designs to LA, and shot the campaign with Carmela Rose, a model famous for her curves and her sex appeal, and created a niche in the market space for brides who didn’t want to wear a flower crown. Carmella went on to pose for Playboy, and to use that kind of model, 5 years ago, was just unheard of, it just wasn’t the “done thing”. But it projected my brand from 0-10 and within weeks I had featured in US wedding blogs, I had requests for wholesale information internationally and, from then, I real started to understand that there really was a gap in the market for women who want to feel feminine and chic on their wedding day.
“I am sucker for split. They have featured predominately in my collections since almost day 1"
How many drafts of a design might you go through before reaching a finished design? Ok, so there are sometimes, where I will see something in my head and by the end of the week it’s a new gown, and it’s a one shot wonder. There are times it takes four to five tweaks to get the aesthetic, and functionality, to where I want it to be.
What are your design influences right now? It could be said I am sucker for split. Splits have featured predominately in my collections since almost Day 1. So for me, right now, I am playing around split variations like cross overs and draping, and with beaded fabrics that I wouldn’t historically feature with splits. For a long time I have also built a brand aesthetic on really clean lines, V necks and structured square necks, so paired with the new styled slits and draping, I delved into the strapless and off the shoulder realm because it wasn’t something that I was predictably known for. It’s important to evolve, but stay true to your brand.
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What do you do to relax? How do you escape from the wedding world? I am not great at relaxing. I am actually useless and incapable. I wouldn’t know where to start. Even if I pour myself a wine, I will sit on the couch and answer emails from my phone or start a mood etc.. to escape the wedding world. I have my two boys, 3 and 5, who keep me on my toes, so if I’m not replying to your email from the couch, it’s because I am running around after my two crazy monkeys.
What are the most important things brides should keep in mind whilst choosing their gown? Pick something that you feel “you” in. This is the single most important factor you should include when making your final decision.
What are the biggest challenges you face? I think the biggest challenge that any designer faces in today’s world, is getting your work seen. Be it on social media, or any platform, there is just so many options out there, its forever evolving. You can shoot the hottest campaign, but getting it seen is still a process that I am still having to re-navigate every time I create something new. Something that worked 6 months ago won’t necessarily bring the same results the next time around.
What should we expect next from your label? In the immediate future I am releasing the Marquise Mini Series with #themarquisemovement tag, centred around the woman wearing my pieces feeling empowered, looking fire and completely comfortable in her own space. #themarquisemovement. In our just recently Studio Series AW20 you can expect Lineal beading, corsetry, more splits and a softer take on my traditional sexy aesthetic…softer for now.
If you weren’t designing wedding dresses, what do you think you would be doing? I love fashion photography and editorials, so either a photographer or a set stylist.
“I think the biggest challenge that any designer faces in today’s world, is getting your work seen... there is just so many options out there, its forever evolving.”
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POSEIDON COLLECTION
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ARIES COLLECTION 32
ARIES COLLECTION
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ATHENS COLLECTION
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ARTEMIS COLLECTION
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SONNY´S WORLD PHOTOGRAPHER: BLAKE KNEISLEY @blake.lee3 MODEL: SONNY MATSON @sonnychaotic
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Dress LE QU’A ATELIER Earrings VINTAGE 38
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Bodysuit REVOLVE
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Jacket H&M Pants WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET Shoes DKNY
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CHERRY SPICE
PHOTOGRAPHER: JAIME CHARLES @jaycedoeswork MODEL: MEAGAN LEE @meaganlee_1 AGENCY: CGM MODELS @cgmmodels WARDROBE STYLIST: JAIME CHARLES @jaycedoeswork 45
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Top FOREVER 21 Pants STYLIST´S OWN Bra FOR LOVE AND LEMONS
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Shirt H&M Pants STYLIST´S OWN
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Skirt VINTAGE FROM AMERICAN RAG CIE
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Dress LE QU’A ATELIER Earrings VINTAGE 50
WILD BEAUTY
PHOTOGRAPHER: GLENN NUTLEY @gnphotographyla MODEL: BEC DOYLE @becdoyle_ AGENCY: IT MODEL MANAGEMENT @itmodelmanagement WARDROBE STYLING, HAIR AND MAKEUP: BEC DOYLE @becdoyle_ (SHOT DURING QUARANTINE) 51
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Pants ASOS Blouse ZARA Necklaces MARRIN COSTELLO & JESSICA MATRASKO
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Gown KEEPSAKE Earrings GERMAN KABIRSKI
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Suit DS DAMAT Trench Coat ZARA
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Snake Skin Top MODEL´S OWN 57
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FASHION and lifestyle MAGAZINE
QP may 2020
JAYDEN ROBISON BY ALENA SAZONOVA