You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul”
I remember first coming to SL and discovering the designs at Simone’s. I couldnt afford them at the time, but I remember thinking wow..I have to come back here someday. Once I started working as a hostess at Phat Cat’s, the sounds of the smooth jazz and the beauty of the environment made me recall Simone’s. I knew those gowns would be perfect for my new job. So as you can imagine, it was a great honor for me to have a chat with Simone on how music has influenced her designs.
Marienna Cortes: In your opinion, does music affect fashion?
Simone Stern: Sure, as much as light, color, taste, texture, emotion, sound. Fashion at its best is art, so all the influences that would have an impact on a painter would affect a designer.
Marienna Cortes: thats very true.
Marienna Cortes: In your opinion, How does music influences fashion?
Simone Stern: Depends on the designer’s interpretation of that music, how that music affects the designer.
Simone Stern: There’s no across-the-board reaction to music. My reaction to Mozart is probably going to be different from how you react.
Marienna Cortes: that is certainly true
Marienna Cortes: How does music affect your own fashion style ?
Simone Stern: Well, depends on the music. ;D Obviously comical alive music with a lot of movement might inspire something more 1920′s, like a ragtime piece, than something dramatic and dark.
Marienna Cortes: interesting!
Marienna Cortes: Do you think the style/genre of music you sing/listen to, has had an effect on fashion?
Simone Stern: I take it you mean virtual fashion. ;D
Marienna Cortes: yes : )
Simone Stern: Then sure, music, food, the color of a rich wine… hell, even the color of my cats has impacted my work in virtual fashion.
Marienna Cortes: But how much of an influence would you say music has been?
Marienna Cortes: a lot, little, huge?
Simone Stern: We’ll go for ‘abundant’.
Marienna Cortes: : ))
Marienna Cortes: Is there any music genre/singer that has influenced you in your personal fashion style? designing?
Simone Stern: Nothing specific. I’m all over the board with my musical tastes. As long as it’s upbeat, I’m all over it.
Marienna Cortes: Even in your personal? Doesnt only have to be about your designs
Marienna Cortes: anything pops off the top of your head? lol
Simone Stern: Naturally. Only liking Goth groups, for instance, and shunning other styles, is sort of like being presented with a banquet, and only eating the spinach, don’t you think?
Marienna Cortes: I would agree with you, a mixture is definitely always better : )
Marienna Cortes: Last question.. Presently, what music genre do you believe is influencing the designs of today?
Simone Stern: Depends. The same clothes are not marketed to all people. Like it or not, fashion is a business, and they break people, customers, into demographics just like the local radio station. The magazines, too. Vogue, Cosmo, Marie Claire… they all reach out to a portion of the populace, never the ‘whole’.
Marienna Cortes: Thank you for you time and candid answers!
Simone sent me this picture of one of her designs influenced by the richness of music. This design is as colorful and eclectic as the designer herself. Thank you Simone!
