Personal Stylist Igor talks to Kevin from Renaissance
Where is your favourite place for shopping?
I don’t have one particular place. My job is quite frantic so I have developed a practical ‘uniform’ that allows me to do my job comfortably and relatively smartly. It tends to consist of carpenter jeans (lots of pockets for scissors/cottons/tape measures/phone/ wallet etc and a fitted shirt or polo shirt (usually black). This means that I can shop for myself pretty quickly, I can walk into a store and know instantly if there will be something I like, although fit is always important. I tend to bulk buy at the beginning of a season as I have little time. For example, H&M had some great fitted shirts at the beginning of this season so I bought two in every colour!
2 What is your wardrobe weakness?
AAH! Gresham Blake ties and blingy cuff links! I love wearing fabulous ties, preferably ones that clash with my shirt. I have a GORGEOUS cerise tie that I wear with a red shirt and wearing it always makes me feel happy. My other weakness is pointed boots (I don’t like shoes, I don’t like the shoe/sock/trouser thing that happens with shoes) I feel confident in a pointy boot.
3 What is your favourite piece you have designed?
This is hard to answer. Every piece I make is different as I work exclusively for the individual and never repeat a design. Therefore, every gown offers a new challenge either from a pattern cutting or construction perspective or simply because I am learning about the client as I learn about the dress. When I create gowns for fashion shows or for shoots, I am allowed a total free reign and often think I have created my ‘ultimate’ design. However, six months later when that dress has been photographed a hundred times and requested by dozens of stylists, my opinion changes!
The real answer would have to be ‘the one I am working on at the moment’.
4 What is your favourite outfit?
Either my black kilt, thick socks, chunky boots and a black T-Shirt or my cream John Rocha jacket, red shirt and white trousers. Or then again my Jack Wills chunky cardi and carpenter jeans or my black frill fronted H&M shirt and ….ho hum, depends on my mood I guess!
5 How important is your image at work?
It depends what I am doing. I like to look smart when meeting new clients and have to look very smart, but approachable, at shows and during interviews. Unfortunately, practicality often over-rides smartness. Recently I had a film crew coming to film me in my studio so I wore my ‘uniform’ of black shirt, jeans and pointy boots. I was working on a glittery gown (with a very tight deadline) at the time and wanted to wait to be filmed before working on the commission. The film crew were four hours late and I couldn’t hang around whilst the commisssion went untouched. By the time they arrived, I was covered in glitter, the studio was covered in glitter and by the end of filming, they were covered in glitter, even the camera. I do try!
6 Who inspire you and your style? Where do you get your inspiration from?
I have to be careful answering this so I don’t sound like an idiot! I get inspiration from all sorts of things. If I am designing for a show, my influences may come from books, films, the arts, poetry; anything. One of my favourite collections came from the ‘Gormenghast’ trilogy by Mervyn Peake. The new gown I created for the ‘Couture Brighton’ exhibit at Brighton Museum grew from a photograph from a Renaissance fashion shoot by the Old Pier by Luke Woodford on a rainy day in November. If I am designing for a client, then that client becomes the inspiration. Inspiration is everywhere!
7 What can we expect from you in the near future?
Oddly for a womenswear designer, I am branching out into menswear. I am in the process of producing a collection of Italian styled, sensual suits for guys in luxurious and unusual fabrics. The styling will be louche and romantic with a hint of Dorian Gray ….perhaps you’d like to style it?
With regards my womenswear, I really want to develop a new range (perhaps in conjunction with an exclusive boutique) of exquisitely tailored jackets in silk matka to combine with avant garde pleated skirts. We’ll see, so many ideas.
8 What do you love about your work?
This is hard too! I love it all and I realise I am very lucky to be able to do what I love. Despite the ridiculously long hours, stressful deadlines and rollercoaster finances, I can genuinely say I am happier and more fulfilled being Renaissance than at any other time in my life. I love my clients and the challenges they bring, I love having to keep on top of marketing and publicity to make sure I am always current, I love creating a gown from a quick sketch on paper, I love teaching and sharing what I know, and I love the fact that you have asked me these questions. As long as people question what I am doing, then I am able to keep on doing it!
