Featured Article: Backstage Images of Martell Cordon Bleu 100 Years Anniversary

art8amby attended the 100 years anniversary celebration of Martell Cordon Bleu last week and we snapped some exclusive images from the backstage of the fabulous event!

On that night, there was a fashion show from four prominent Indonesian fashion designers: Priyo Oktaviano, Rusly Tjohnardi, Sapto Djojokartiko and Oscar Lawalata.

Gorgeous singers Dewi Sandra and Dira Sugandi heats up the evening and perfomed few songs for the event.

Feel free to browse through our Facebook fanpage for more images taken backstage during the 100 Years anniversary celebration of Martell Cordon Bleu that took place on Wednesday, May 23rd 2012 at Grand Ballroom Hotel Mulia, Jakarta.

Happy centenary anniversary Martell Cordon Bleu!!!

All images courtesy of art8amby.

Featured Article: Ikat Indonesia Pour Homme Launching

The magnificent Indonesian beaches have inspired the birth of ideas and the nature’s painting into the concept of IKAT Indonesia Pour Homme, the first men’s fashion line from IKAT Indonesia that was presented at Fairground, SCBD Sudirman, Jakarta on Thursday, April 12th 2012.

The handsome and talented actor, Nicholas Saputra, served as the muse for Didiet Maulana‘s Ikat Indonesia Pour Homme while the former editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar Indonesia and one stylish mom, Izabel Jahja, is still the muse for the women’s collection.

The morning rays touching the sands, all in pastel colors have become the palette reference for the first sequence. The breezy wind at the beach has manifest into the light nature of Tenun fabric, in pastel colors, standing casual and masculine.

For the second sequence, inspired by sunshine seductive lights and the green of coconut trees, al emphasis into warm tropical color schemes, Ikat tank top design (which we will definitely would love to wear on our next holiday) combined by cardigans and shorts are the highlights of this sequence. Fitted shirts featured in both long and short sleeves are using color palettes raising the warmth of Indonesian beaches.

The blue ocean and the white creamy waves have both been the reference of the third sequence. Taking form of something more formal, Ikat fabric is still being used for both details and main material.

The clothes are all very wearable, easy to combined with other pieces and we can definitely see it being worn by the beach in Bali or any other fabulous beaches in the world. Oh, and please forgive the blurry images guys. The models were keep walking without posing just like in international runways. It’s a good thing that Indonesian are starting to following international standard and yet challenging for us who took the photos . We’re gonna do better next time for sure!

Feel free to browse through our Facebook fanpage for more images from the events.

Featured Article: Fashion Nation 2012

Last week art8amby attented the opening night of the 6th Annual Senayan City‘s Fashion Nation. For their opening event this year, they presented fashion show from four of Indonesia’s prominent fashion designers (Priyo Oktaviano, Denny Wirawan, Sapto Djojokartiko and the runway returns of Ronald V Gaghana).

The opening event of Fashion Nation 2012 also presented some awards and an accompanying movie starring actress Atiqah Hasiholan that was directed by Peter Bannan in black and white to match the theme this year, Noir et Blanc: The Ultimate Style.

Even though the show delayed for an hour, but the event, especially the fashion show, was enjoyable. The MC, Aline Adita, came to the stage from the Senayan City‘s trademark: the Devil-Wears-Prada-heels-escalator and called her lovely co-host of the evening to the stage, former MTV Asia VJ Denise Keller who looks absolutely gorgeous in a nude Sapto Djojokartiko dress and sleek short ponytail!

As mentioned earlier, few awards, The Style Makers Awards to be exact, were given at the opening night of Fashion Nation. Some of this year’s winner are Kelly Tandiono (Most Stylish Model), Atiqah Hasiholan (Most Stylish Actress), Alexandra Asmasoebrata–who looks more like a model than a racer (Most Stylish Athlete) and Gaby Bakrie (Most Stylish Socialite).

Priyo Oktaviano opened the main event with his sporty yet chic collection that was dominated in gold and white colors with studs detailing. Those Mary Poppins head pieces worn by Laura Muljadi and Dominique Diyose in the finale were very stylish. Denny Wirawan presented a collection that was very Indonesian yet chic with the beautiful local fabrics and the glamour cutting.

Ronald V Gaghana wearable gold, silver and black dresses were shown with bouffant hair and red and blue platform heels while Sapto Djojokartiko‘s dramatic collection were the perfect way to end the night: gold lips? Check. Exquisite yet mysterious detailing? Check. Amazingly gorgeous accessories? Check.

Fashion Nation 2012 starts from April 11th until April 22nd at Senayan City, Jakarta. If you happens to be in Jakarta this month, you may also visit the installations from the participating designers from the opening night that will be displayed until the last day of the event.

Browse through our Facebook fanpage for more images from the opening night.

Featured Article: Sapto Djojokartiko Bride and Evening Collection 2012-2013

art8amby got the amazing chance to photographed the backstage at Sapto Djojokartiko‘s Bride and Evening Collection 2012-2013 fashion show last week, Friday, April 06th 2012 at The Grand Ballroom Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, Jakarta.

The Solo born designer presented 30 stunningly romantic dresses that was inspired by the delicate peony flower with tulle, lace, rosettes, embroideries and sequins detailing that took our breath away. The exquisite evening dresses, the stunning cheongsam dresses and those delicately beautiful wedding dresses are absolutely to die for!

It’s always been a pleasure to snapped models backstage before the show where you can see what they’re up to, to kill the time. Some models read books, some listening to music while others prefer to have something to eat or chat with others.

The effortlessly cool Bianca proved that models is just a human like us, in which she snacks on a bottle of Coke (not the diet one!) and chocolate wafers while listening to music. Models do eat, people.

Katrina just bought the latest issue of Elle Indonesia that weighs 1000+ pages and check on her latest works that featured in the magazine who celebrates their 4th anniversary this month. Katya Talanova is always the one who’s really fun to be photographed with. She is very humble yet professional even though lot of people already recognized her from her TV stints. She kept her feet on the ground and that what makes you go far in the modelling industry.

The current spokesmodel of Pantene, Dominique Agisca Diyose, who opened the show, showed her sparkling personality before we took her photos along with fellow oriental looking top model, Marcella Tanaya before Adrian Suryapradipa‘s team work on their hair and make up with soft colored blush and gorgeous braids. Both of the lovely girls are so much fun in the backstage!

We were surprised when we know that the runner up of the 2011 season of Russia’s Next Top Model, Yulia Vlasenko, will be walking the show yesterday. We loved her strong face in which she managed to make it soft at the same time. Did you know that she fell quite hard during the finale, but she risen up gracefully with her confident face and elegant hand gestures.

She is such a pro! We salutes you Yulia Vlasenko.

Feel free to browse through our Facebook fanpage to view more images from the show and backstage of Sapto Djojokartiko‘s Bride and Evening Collection 2012-2013.

Featured Article: Pirelli Calendar 2012

The highly anticipated 2012 Pirelli Calendar is finally released yesterday! Italian born Mario Sorrenti landed the honour to photographed some of the world’s most beautiful models and actresses (Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Saskia de Brauw, Lara Stone, Joan Smalls, Guinevere van Seenus, Malgosia Bela, Edita Vilkevicute, Kate Moss, Milla Jovovich, Margareth Made and Rinko Kikuchi) in Corsica for the exclusive calendar which featured 25 images this year. Believe it or not, despite Pirelli is an Italian company, but Mario Sorrenti is the first Italian photographer to shot the calendar!

Karl Lagerfeld, Terry Richardson, Peter Beard, Patrick Demarchelier, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin and Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott were the photographers of the calendar for the past six years. You may click the links to view their complete works.

The 40 year old photographer talked to 4 Traders about how many people around when he’s shooting nude:

“I just kept it to me and my assistant, and then I made everybody else go away. Basically, I made a very specific structure for how the day and the photographs were going to go. I would spend the first two or three hours on my own with the model, photographing her, and really just getting to know her if I didn’t know her. After that I would bring in the behind-the-scenes team. I didn’t want the girls to be distracted by that.”

“A lot of them also didn’t want to be filmed nude and I wanted them to be completely nude in the photographs. So after a while, for the behind-the- scenes video, we put on some clothes that could work and then we got the behind-the-scenes people to come in and do their stuff. But by that point, I had already achieved what I was trying to do, which was really super intimate. It’s actually the most intimate that I’ve been in a really long time taking pictures, which was really nice.”

You can view the complete images of Pirelli 2012 Calendar here, in our Facebook page. Don’t say we didn’t warned you, the images are sizzling hot and NSFW!

Images via Fashionologie.

Featured Article: Backstage Images of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012, Final Day

Simona and Kelly Tandiono have a chat during the rehearsal for the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Merry during rehearsal on the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Please enjoy the images taken by art and amby from the backstage, rehearsal, run through and after shows of the final day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012, Friday, November 18th 2011 at Pacific Place.

That night, five of Indonesia‘s talented fashion designers, Auguste Soesastro, Sally Koeswanto, Sebastian Gunawan, Sapto Djojokartiko, and Tex Saverio, are presenting their interpretation on “Celebrating Women”, the theme for Dewi Fashion Knights, the final show on the highly anticipated annual event, Jakarta Fashion Week.

Auguste Soesastro, who once worked for Ralph Rucci, dons minimalist collection with great tailoring in cream, ivory, white and a hint of black and orange. Sally Koeswanto, who graduated from Whitehouse School of Design, Sydney in 1994, presented sexy and body hugging Chinese inspired dresses titled “Love, Passion, and Lust“. Sebastian Gunawan in his second participation for Dewi Fashion Knights gave something different from his usual elegant collection with tribal printed flowing dresses and edgy headpieces.

Sapto Djojokartiko made people gasp with towering high laser cut steel heeled shoes where the model could barely walk. His Calon Arang inspired designs were mysteriously breathtaking and very editorial ready! Last but not least, Tex Saverio, whose his gown was featured in a spread of Harper Bazaar US worn by Lady Gaga, presented gold themed collection with magnificent detailing. Lady Gaga should worn Tex‘s and Sapto‘s dresses for her next performances in our opinion.

Click on the designers name to view their complete runway images and click here to view our extensive selection of backstage images.

Hope you enjoy our photos guys

Regards, art and amby.

Thank you to all the models, designers, crews and everyone who made this photo report possible.

The models during finale rehearsal at the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Bunga Jelita and Dea Nabila just before their rehearsal on the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Elena photographed backstage before Dewi Fashion Knights fashion show in her sequins adorned appliqué for Sapto Djojokartiko segment

Paula Verhoeven with her gold make up and hair for Tex Saverio segment in Dewi Fashion Knights fashion show

Prinka Cassy snapped backstage during Dewi Fashion Knights rehearsal

Fashion designer Auguste Soesastro posed for art8amby backstage at Dewi Fashion Knights show

Fashion designer Sapto Djojokartiko photographed backstage at Dewi Fashion Knights on the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

Fashion designers Firenzano and Soko Wiyanto before entering the Fashion Tent for Dewi Fashion Knights on the last day of Jakarta Fashion Week 2012

The lovely presenter Rahmah Ummaya posed for art8amby after her gig hosting Barli Asmara/The Body Shop fashion show

Featured Article: Interview with Farah Angsana

Farah Angsana's Spring Summer 2012 collection - Oriental Enchantment

Last week, Art got this amazing opportunity to meet with Farah Angsana, the first Indonesian born (who was raised in Singapore, Los Angeles and London) fashion designer to presented her collection in Paris Fashion Week several years ago. The designer who graduated from Central School of Fashion in London held her last couple of collections in New York Fashion Week.

The humble lady who participated in our congratulatory #art8ambyonemillion hashtag last April answered our questions about her favourite things, her biggest dreams and shared her real thoughts about the upcoming Pre-Fall collection exclusively to art8amby.

How does it feels to be Indonesian descent fashion designer and showing your collections in one of the world’s fashion capitals?

In some senses I feel proud to be able to present my country, but in the other hand, I am just a fashion designer who happened to be at the International platform. Nothing special but just work harder with 10x pressure.

Tell us about your upcoming Pre-Fall 2012 collection. What are the inspirations?

Pre-fall collection is mostly about business not about inspirations that be able to show on the catwalk. A Pre-fall is a collection to deliver to the store in summer before the fall season. That is why it’s called pre-fall collection. I believe the general sales volume inspired me to do pre-fall collection in order to generate revenue to my company.

Which decades are your favourite and why?

I would have to say Belle Epoque for the true couture with limited luxury at that time, and the 50′s when the women dressed so beautifully and embraced their femininity and true elegance.

You’re attending Jakarta Fashion Week 2012 recently, what are your opinion about Indonesian fashion industry that can be considered growing rapidly. Would love to hear your opinion about some of the designs that you saw at JFW 2012 as well?

Unfortunately I didn’t see as much shows as I would like to during Jakarta Fashion Week. I believe that what I saw the designers in Indonesia are very creative and try to follow the trend. Although I dislike to comment other designers work but I would comment the good ones such as Ivan Gunawan. I was impressed with his creativity of using vibrant colors and the energy of his show. His type of work could be called couture. It was done nicely. Beside Ivan, there was another designer I couldn’t recalled his name, but he did a stand out contemporary collection that was all in white. I was amazed with Indonesian talents from what my witnessed during Jakarta Fashion Week. Also I feel sad at the same time to witnessed some horrific taste and badly copied collections. Fortunately, it’s not me to judge but my advice to them is to inspired another designers and brands it’s alright, but you need to take it and mould it into your own.

What are your favourite food, movies and songs?

I love all foods in general. In term of movies, it has to be intellectually moves me. Currently I love and adore Adele. Mostly of her lyrics and her amazing voice that moves me. Especially at this point in my life, some of her lyrics reflecting my life and some experiences I’ve encountered.

What is your biggest dream?

To be loved, happy, healthy and the recognition of my hard work.

The rotation of the fashion seasons are really fast, what do you do to keep the inspirations coming?

Mostly through traveling. I always inspired by cultures, people and experiencing the unknown and the unexpected every seasons in my life. With the unexpected, it will brings me to the mysterious journey that I could explore and translate into my collection.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?

My favorite holiday destination are Bali, St.Barts, south of France and my bedroom!

A very special thanks to Farah Angsana for the remarkable opportunity.

You can also read our review about her Spring Summer 2012 collection titled Oriental Enchantment, here.

Don’t forget follow us on Twitter (@art8amby) and Like us also on Facebook (Art8amby).

Images via Style.com and Bryan Bedder.

Farah Angsana backstage at her Fall Winter 2010 show during New York Fashion Week on February 11th, 2010

Featured Article: Gucci Cruise 2012

“I wanted to create a collection from timeless aesthetic while re-examining the House’s codes through a contemporary lens,” Gucci‘s Creative Director Frida Giannini explains about her latest collection, Cruise 2012. She added, “I set out to contaminate the styles seen in archival photographs from the Fifties and Sixties with a modern vision”

Her take on the fifties and sixties are shown in no less than 44 womenswear looks in lavish materials such as mélange, lurex, silk, georgette, cotton voile and crêpe de chine modeled by Kasia Struss, Melissa Tammerijn and Martha Streck. The lavish materials used by Frida Giannini combined with the sophisticated tailoring made these as a yet another wearable and luxurious collections that put the fashion house as one of the leading brands in the industry.

Black and white printed trench coat with stripes top, tight skirts that hit below the knee with double breasted jacket, pleats carved in gold on mini skirts with small collarless jacket, tight ankle-length pants with darts and cuffs, white dinner jacket worn with a golden reflector top and a trompe l’oeil dress combined with the same shade of chartreuse are some of the highlights from the collection that was presented earlier this June in New York City.

Gucci also featured square lady bags to carry on the shoulder or by hand, maxi shopper bags in animal prints, small belts to emphasize the waistline, plexi and PVC flower details, high heeled pumps with sharp points (in zebra prints!), a compelling python sandals and classic horsebit moccasins to completed the looks.

Lenz von Johnston—who starred in Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott photographed advertising images of Gucci Cruise 2012 along with top model Karmen Pedaru— sporting the ultimate Cruise signature, a stripes sweater paired with white rolled up pants. Nick Rae and Mark Cox also sporting the nautical stripes with sneakers, paisley shirt, leather jacket and cuffed jeans for another perfect Resort outfit.

You can view more exclusive images of Gucci Cruise 2012 Womenswear and Menswear collection that also featured the accessories (bags, shoes, sunglasses and watches) in our extensive Facebook page. Oh, and don’t forget to “like” our page to get the latest updates in fashion

Gucci Cruise 2012 collections are now available in Gucci stores nationwide (Plaza Indonesia, Senayan City and Plaza Senayan). The collections are also available in Gucci stores worldwide.

Gucci also recently opened its newly renovated boutique with a new design concept by Frida Giannini in Via Montenapoleone on September 21st 2011, the first day of Milan Fashion Week Spring Summer 2012 which also the day that the latest collection from Gucci was presented (click here to view the fashion show video).

The 1600 square meters boutique located in the heart of Milan‘s fashion district, Quadrilatero della Moda, is still having Gucci‘s signature materials such as rosewood and marble but enhanced with the introduction of new elements such as ribbed glass, warm polished gold, smoked mirror and smoked bronze glass, recalling the elegance and richness of the Art Deco era.

“Via Montenapoleone is one of Europe’s most prestigious retail destinations so I wanted to amplify the luxuriousness of the boutique’s environment through natural light and space to create an aesthetic, which is complementary to the vision of the House today,” explains Giannini.

In the exclusive event, customers witnessed first handed how the meticulous attention to detail and the superb craftsmanship was given by the House’s most skilled artisans during the personalization of the handbags with the hand-embossed monogramming (each handbag featured a special inside plaque embossed with the location and date) at the artisan’s custom-built workshops inside the boutique.

In addition, for the first time ever the artisans displayed their work in front of the public on the signature Gucci moccasin and demonstrated expert techniques used in the shoe-making process.

The Montenapoleone store is among over 30 Gucci stores in the world that now reflect Frida Giannini‘s design concept following its successful roll-out in other cities including New York, Rome, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai and Paris.

Browse through our Facebook page here for more exclusive images from the store opening.

Amby.

A very special thanks to GUCCI – Indonesia for the exclusive images.