Fashion for MADE IN GERMANY
July 19, 2011
What does the economy have in common with fashion? Well there is what’s known as the skirt hem theory: Rising skirt hems spell a booming economy, while long skirt hems mean times are hard. Sean St. Lewis is aware of the clichés, but admittedly they can’t offer a sound economic prognosis.
"An outfit is so much more than just a few items of clothing," says the stylist as he opens up bags and drapes shirts, dresses and trousers over coat hangers, “it’s the energy of the wearer that makes that outfit individual.” Today, MADE IN GERMANY presenter Julia Böhm is being styled for the program, and appears in a precisely conceived interplay of varying silver-gray tones. As the combination of silky shimmering materials and delicate wool reveals, this is the work of a professional.
Bags full of dresses and jewelry
Listening to Sean St Lewis talk passionately about fashion and styling is almost as wonderful as being clothed by him. Sean has been working in the fashion industry for 20 years. He’s worked in New York, Paris and Florence, and the creative spirit of Berlin holds a particular fascination for him at present. His many contacts mean he often gets sent samples of clothing and accessories. “I recently received a huge package full of jewelry by the Italian designer Gogo Philip,” Sean enthuses, “you actually can’t get these necklaces in Germany yet.”
Julia Böhm is still waiting for her accessories - a wide gold bracelet has caught her eye. But the editor in charge of the show says no – too much gold doesn’t sit well with the program’s image. Sean finally finishes off Julia’s styling with an elegant necklace.
Nothing is as it seems
As a stylist, Sean St. Lewis has a clear goal: the clothing that he selects should emphasize the personality of the wearer. But there are often unforeseen obstacles to contend with. Sean thinks a blue dress would look perfect with Julia’s blonde hair, but it’s a no-go. The MADE IN GERMANY studio is a Blue Box, and if she were dressed in blue she’d disappear into the background leaving only her hands and head visible. Luckily, every color also appears in an endless variety of hues, and Sean knows them all. If it can’t be blue, then perhaps a robust purple – “think out of the box” is another of this New Yorker’s mottos.
Blue is rendered invisible, small-format patterns flicker and white takes on such a blinding shine that it’s almost unbearable to look at the screen. Although the presenter of the English version of MADE IN GERMANY Monica Jones recently wore a white jacket. “It wasn’t quite snow white,” contradicts Sean, “it was off-white, a beige that appeared to be white because of the brightness of the studio lights.”
As a stylist, he uses all manner of tricks. Together with Barbara Basile, he records his new ideas and inspirations in his blog “BerlinSixSenses”. Whether they’re visiting innovative designers and unusual restaurants, or scouting out the latest trends, the two style bloggers traverse Berlin in a perpetual quest for inspiration and exciting separates. These might originate from a flea market or second-hand shop. Sean firmly believes that fashion doesn’t have to be expensive. He likes to combine well-known labels such as “Boss” or “Tara Jarmon” with upcoming brands such as “C’est tout” and “Firma”. Sean has just attended Berlin Fashion Week, where he established contact with young, unknown designers. Who knows what kind of exclusive creations we can look forward to seeing on future editions of MADE IN GERMANY.
Camera, action…
The dress needs to be tugged into place here and there – the finishing touches are being made to English presenter Sabrina El Ahl’s outfit before she can go into the studio. And even though styling for tv doesn’t have to be completed quite as quickly as for a fashion show, it’s still quite nerve-racking nevertheless. How’s the outfit going to look on screen, does the presenter feel comfortable? Sean can’t relax until the recording’s in the bag. Everyone’s happy, Sabrina El Ahl’s extravagant dress looked great on screen. Sean thinks the look is on the right track. But he’d like to see the presenters demonstrating a little more courage in future, he says as he packs up his wardrobe. Courage to follow trends and try out new colors. He’s challenged us to set the tone – not just from a content point of view as per usual, but also with respect to color – so be sure to watch this space…