He receives us in the gardens of the idyllic ‘Sa Talaia’ country hotel where he is staying and tells us something of his passion for fashion. Julien Macdonald bubbles with pure optimism: “Fashion captivates us for a brief but fantastic moment in time. It’s all about youth and glamour.” And glamour is a key concept in the life and work of this designer who arouses passions in others wherever he goes: “My label is enjoying great popularity all over the world at the moment, particularly in Russia.” It would be difficult, if not impossible, not to fall in love with his wonderful evening dresses and his fabulous leather creations.
It was savoir-faire that got him a job for three years as Creative Director at Givenchy, despite the fact that his female icons have little in common with Audrey Hepburn. “Marilyn is my ideal woman.” A preference that extends to Gianni Versace when asked to choose a favourite designer: “My time at Givenchy wasn’t easy. It’s a brand with a famous name and an illustrious past. There were good moments and bad ones but I succeeded in reviving its fortunes so that prominent women wore their creations and the name once again appeared in the world’s top magazines. But what was even more important from my employer’s point of view was that I earned a lot of money for the company.” After this stage of his career he was signed up by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. But the couturier was missing England so decided to return home and dedicate himself exclusively to developing his own brand.
“Julien Macdonald is a young independent label, very exclusive and found only in the world’s top boutiques.” Hallmarks of the Macdonald project are leather, stark black-and-white and high-quality materials. Founded seven years ago, it has a highly select and colourful flock of acolytes. Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow and Paris Hilton are amongst the utterly devoted fans of this brilliant young designer who, for his part, is utterly captivated by Ibiza: “When I was a child, we came to the Island every summer. My parents had a house here though they later sold up. If it’s glamour you want, this island is the perfect place to come. I love strolling through Dalt Vila, catching the ferry to Formentera, the Spanish cooking and all the lovely local people.”
We also spoke to Julien about the elegance factor that the public now associate with his work. “The whole of the world wants to look elegant but at the same time they want to have fun. It doesn’t necessarily follow that an elegant look is a serious look, especially when worn by someone who is young and pretty. Life’s too short and it’s there to be enjoyed. That includes dressing well. It’s my view that you need to enjoy what you’re wearing if you want to feel and look sexy, sophisticated, glamorous and elegant. To be what you really want to be.” And we spoke about the city where he is based: “London is a very interesting place to be at the moment. There’s a lot going on. There are some fabulous designers who have managed to establish the place as the capital city of design, young at heart and willing to take risks.”
Julien Macdonald will be presenting his collections during the London Fashion Week. Lauded by the public and highly regarded by other professionals, he has won several major awards. He is now enjoying the fruits of his success and claims to be having the time of his life. As regards future projects: “The brand name is in its infancy. I’m in no great hurry. At the moment I’ve got enough to do with my line in women’s clothing.” The future is looking bright.
Julien Macdonald will be presenting his collections during the London Fashion Week. Lauded by the public and highly regarded by other professionals, he has won several major awards. He is now enjoying the fruits of his success and claims to be having the time of his life. As regards future projects: “The brand name is in its infancy. I’m in no great hurry. At the moment I’ve got enough to do with my line in women’s clothing.” The future is looking bright.
© 2012 PITIUSA MEDIA GROUP S.L.U.
