I first noticed Etienne Jeanson at the Funkshion fashion
week media reception here in Miami. His hair, a delicate shade of blond, was a
mass of soft and slightly unruly curls; more reminiscent of a rock star than of
Shirley Temple. I was immediately curious about this dapper gentlemen and his “Beatles”
appeal but I was preoccupied with other conversations. Nonetheless, Etienne and
I did eventually meet and somewhere between picture posing and small talk about
his upcoming runway show, he agreed to be interviewed by yours truly. Putting a
face to a name had me more excited than usual to see his collection.
The day of I arrived at the venue two hours early, (a daring
feat for any fashion lover) and perused the venue. The 743 Studio was the
perfect backdrop for a fashion show; possessing both the creative energy of a
New York City warehouse and the sex appeal of South Beach. The production staff
was still in the process of setting things up and Etienne was busily applying
final touches. I wanted to say hello but didn’t wish to disturb him before show
time. In being too comfortable with my own physical comfort (I wore denim and
flats) I was late in reserving my seat before the show began. I stood near the
end of the runway and thanked GOD that I was not wearing high heels for once.
Once the lights dimmed and the music commenced, I was whisked away to another
dimension. Etienne Jeanson’s collection was beautiful. The models floated down
the runway in pieces well suited for a princess on vacation. Delicate,
intricate, thoughtful and feminine; the fabrics and ornate detailing urged me
to play dress-up. One of my favorites was a pair of fitted pants paired with a
matching flared mini in British flag print and sheer floral train. I was as
equally smitten with two of his dresses, one mini and one floor length, that
featured deep and daring V backs and large feathered shoulders. For the sake of
all things wonderful, I was pleased that I would have something of brilliance
to discuss with this fashion aficionado on that coming Saturday.
Saturday marked the first official day of Etienne’s Miami
vacation. With the sun high and a plethora of tourists out to enjoy a day of
sightseeing, Etienne and I met on Collins Avenue in South Beach and decided to
walk along the ocean and take in the breeze. He’d brought along a gentleman I
remembered seeing with him at the runway show who turns out to be his best
friend. We all exchanged cheek kisses, friendly “how are yous” and began to
walk. In a skirt and closed toe boots, I
hadn’t dressed for what could be considered a proper beach day but I was
comfortable none the less. We walked
over to Ocean Drive and headed towards the sand. “so… Etienne began “what do
you want to know? I am young….I am French” I laugh.
Our conversation began with a focus on Thursday’s runway
show. I was shocked and surprised when he mentioned to me that Thursday was his
first show. Ever. This was also his first visit to Miami. He’d also designed
and created all of the pieces by hand within a month’s time. Pieces directly
inspired by Baroque, Classicism, Magic and Wizardry. Raised in Lille, France but a graduate of the
prestigious (EDIT: Ecole de la Chambre
Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne) in Paris (Valentino and Oscar de La Renta are alumni
Etienne says), Etienne has worked with some of the industry’s most phenomenal
couture houses; including Yves Saint Laurent. His time at Yves Saint Laurent is
recalled fondly and Etienne credits the house for inspiring him to design his
own collection. When asked whether or not he’s always wanted to be a clothing
designer, Etienne mentions Automobile design and architecture as previous
aspirations.
As the wind whipped sand against our calves, the conversation
turned to music and muses. I asked Etienne if there were any artists that he
would like to work with as his muse or any artists he felt exemplified what his
collection is about. “does she exist?” he chimed with a charming smirk. I laugh
and ask him about his music tastes. He has a preference for Madonna over
Rihanna, as Etienne believes that Madonna is the original pop icon. He listens
to a lot of the older classics by artists before his time; many of them foreign
to the states. I tell him that I will have to research them further later. His
favorite color? Red, though he mentions that he has never worked with the color
in design creations. I ask him why. He tells me that Red is such a statement
color that it is difficult to control; you can be classy in red or trashy in
red. His favorite food? Nutella. My mouth dropped in exaggerated shock at that
answer. “Over everything else?!” I exclaim. “And it doesn’t taste the same here
as it does in France” he says. “I had a bit here and ugh” He makes an “icky”
face. I giggle.
Twenty minutes later and we have reached the end of the beach
and are standing by the pier. Etienne politely asks what exactly it is called. As
something out of the pages of a travel magazine, the water beat softly against
the rocks. We stood along the walkway by the water and looked at the residences
and businesses on the other side. Etienne presents his camera. As he takes
photos, I stand and appreciate the beauty of my city. Etienne asks for a photo
of us together. I oblige. We spend a few more moments admiring the view before
beginning our walk back towards our starting point. We pass the infamous “Nikki
Beach” club which according to Etienne resembles the one in St. Tropez, France.
I enviously mention that I’ve never been and would love to go. Once we reach
the grassy and shaded area separating the beach from ocean drive, more
pictures. With most of the interview complete, we walk over to the endless
array of shops, restaurants and lounges in search of mojitos. I suggest “The
Clevelander; a long time favorite of tourists and Floridians alike, part hotel,
part outdoor pool/dance club. We get seated and Etienne orders a Mojito pitcher
and chocolate cake. Once the drinks are poured and the cake is nearly gone, I
ask my final questions: How much does an Etienne Jeanson Couture piece costs?
And how long does a piece take to make?
“anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000” Etienne claims “depending on the
actual piece” “orders can take 2 to 6 weeks for construction and delivery” not
bad for couture, I think.
In constant creation mode, Etienne is already thinking of
his next collection. When asked about the details, he gives me a gentle laugh
and tells me that I will have to wait and see.
For someone so
gifted, Etienne possesses the demeanor of a first year college kid; intrigued
and curious about all things. He interacts in a warm and relaxed way and
appears to not take himself too seriously. Spending time with him felt
familiar. I jokingly tell them that they are not at all how I expected the
French to be; a little snobbish. Etienne’s friend and business partner answers
with a punch line of his own “that’s the Parisians, we don’t like them”.
www.etiennejeanson.com
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