Profile_Aldene Johnson
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People etc INTERVIEW MORAG BRUCE RESEARCH KATE WORTHINGTON PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT) VALERIE PHILLIPS APRIL 2012 MY INTERIOR LIFE Occupation In-demand stylist. Among other glamorous names, Aldene has styled Florence Welch of Machine fame since her first album, and collected an MTV Music Video Award for her work. Working life Zimbabwe-born Aldene moved to London in her early twenties. While working in advertising, an art director’s comment that she had a really good eye spurred her into styling. She was Vice magazine’s first fashion editor. And now, as well as working with Florence on everything from videos to BRIT Awards appearances, she has been styling new artist Jess Mills, working on fashion films for clients such as Markus Lupfer and Tory Burch, and adverts including Lexus with Kylie Minogue. Home life Lives in East London with her fiancé, Kevin, labrador Bix and Lola the cat. Aldene Johnson 1 Holiday Small Bayswater satchel in Lemon Sherbet, £795, Mulberry. 2 Floradora swivel chair , £2,436, Somerville Scott & Company. 3 Florence & The Machine Ceremonials CD, Amazon. 4 Leaf-print Greta heels, £595, Charlotte Olympia. 5 Udaipur Yellow hand-woven durrie, £425, The Rug Company. 6 Kaiser Idell Luxus table lamp, £655, Fritz Hansen at Aram Store. 7 Tsi-La Organics Fiori D’Arancio eau de parfum, £75, Naturisimo. 8 Vintage kimono, £145, Rellik. MY LIFE Apparently, by the age of three I was putting my own outfits together. I’ve always had a strong sense of what I like. I never knew that ‘creating a look’ could be my career, though. As a child, I wanted to be a ballet dancer or a marine biologist. My own style is a tale of contrasts – vintage with contemporary; classically feminine with a bit of androgyny. I like the unexpected. My favourite shop is Liberty. Everything about it, from the building itself to the way products are presented, is special and unique. I can’t possibly choose just one shoe as my favourite. That’s a very tricky task. I love them. Can I say ‘everything by Charlotte Olympia’? Every season, I want at least three bags by Mulberry in my life. I think they’re a clever mix of classic English style updated for modern women. A film that moves me is The Straight Story by David Lynch. It’s a really unexpected film for him. It’s a documentary about a man driving a sit-on lawn mower 300 miles across America. I love how beautifully simple and compassionate it is. My nature is to be a collector. I’m like a moth to a flame when it comes to pendants. Then there’s the kimonos, hats, and the silly scarf collection. I love fragrances by the natural organic perfumer Tsi-La. They really lift my spirits. My everyday essential has to be Eve Lom Cleanser. MY INSPIRATION Shooting with Karl Lagerfeld is definitely one of my career highlights. We worked together when he 5 6 8 7 3 1 2 4 shot Florence for German Vogue. I love how prolific he is in so many creative areas – he’s a genius. Creating a look for someone is about working with what I love about their personal style and evolving that by pushing it as far as it works for them. Working with Florence has been a dream – she’s so open and adventurous. I begin by compiling a mood board of images and reference points I associate with the person. Then we get together and talk everything through. My mind is constantly working, making mental notes. I look to films, books and especially music for inspiration. Annie Hall is iconic to me, as is The Velvet Underground & Nico album. The best piece of professional advice I’ve ever had is ‘It’s all going to be fine.’ And it was. MY HOME I find it easier to work if I’m surrounded by things I love. There’s a definite connection between how you decorate and your ability to be creative in it. I love the aesthetic of the Thirties. The design is glamorous, ground-breaking and a little exotic, too. I have furniture and lighting from that period, which I mix with bright kilims and framed prints. My fiancé and I have a very similar eye when it comes to our home. We’ve lived together for 10 years and have picked up a lot of treasures along the way from markets and antiques shops. You might have guessed already, but my dream home isn’t a modern building. It’s a Victorian house, which I’m lucky enough to live in right now. For stockist details, see page 171 <#A#>
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Transcript of Profile_Aldene Johnson
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Occupation In-demand stylist. Among other glamorous names, Aldene has styled Florence Welch of Machine fame since her first album, and collected an MTV Music Video Award for her work. Working life Zimbabwe-born Aldene moved to London in her early twenties. While working in advertising, an art director’s comment that she had a really good eye spurred her into styling. She was Vice magazine’s first fashion editor. And now, as well as working with Florence on everything from videos to BRIT Awards appearances, she has been styling new artist Jess Mills, working on fashion films for clients such as Markus Lupfer and Tory Burch, and adverts including Lexus with Kylie Minogue.Home life Lives in East London with her fiancé, Kevin, labrador Bix and Lola the cat.
Aldene Johnson
1 Holiday Small Bayswater satchel in Lemon Sherbet, £795, Mulberry. 2 Floradora swivel chair, £2,436, Somerville Scott & Company. 3 Florence & The Machine Ceremonials CD, Amazon. 4 Leaf-print Greta heels, £595, Charlotte Olympia.
5 Udaipur Yellow hand-woven durrie, £425, The Rug Company. 6 Kaiser Idell Luxus table lamp, £655, Fritz Hansen at Aram Store. 7 Tsi-La Organics Fiori D’Arancio eau de parfum, £75, Naturisimo. 8 Vintage kimono, £145, Rellik.
MY LIFEApparently, by the age of three I was putting my own outfits together. I’ve always had a strong sense of what I like. I never knew that ‘creating a look’ could be my career, though. As a child, I wanted to be a ballet dancer or a marine biologist. My own style is a tale of contrasts – vintage with contemporary; classically feminine with a bit of androgyny. I like the unexpected. My favourite shop is Liberty. Everything about it, from the building itself to the way products are presented, is special and unique. I can’t possibly choose just one shoe as my favourite. That’s a very tricky task. I love them. Can I say ‘everything by Charlotte Olympia’? Every season, I want at least three bags by Mulberry in my life. I think they’re a clever mix of classic English style updated for modern women. A film that moves me is The Straight Story by David Lynch. It’s a really unexpected film for him. It’s a documentary about a man driving a sit-on lawn mower 300 miles across America. I love how beautifully simple and compassionate it is. My nature is to be a collector. I’m like a moth to a flame when it comes to pendants. Then there’s the kimonos, hats, and the silly scarf collection. I love fragrances by the natural organic perfumer Tsi-La. They really lift my spirits. My everyday essential has to be Eve Lom Cleanser.
MY INSPIRATIONShooting with Karl Lagerfeld is definitely one of my career highlights. We worked together when he
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3
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shot Florence for German Vogue. I love how prolific he is in so many creative areas – he’s a genius. Creating a look for someone is about working with what I love about their personal style and evolving that by pushing it as far as it works for them. Working with Florence has been a dream – she’s so open and adventurous.I begin by compiling a mood board of images and reference points I associate with the person. Then we get together and talk everything through. My mind is constantly working, making mental notes. I look to films, books and especially music for inspiration. Annie Hall is iconic to me, as is The Velvet Underground & Nico album.The best piece of professional advice I’ve ever had is ‘It’s all going to be fine.’ And it was.
MY HOMEI find it easier to work if I’m surrounded by things I love. There’s a definite connection between how you decorate and your ability to be creative in it. I love the aesthetic of the Thirties. The design is glamorous, ground-breaking and a little exotic, too. I have furniture and lighting from that period, which I mix with bright kilims and framed prints. My fiancé and I have a very similar eye when it comes to our home. We’ve lived together for 10 years and have picked up a lot of treasures along the way from markets and antiques shops. You might have guessed already, but my dream home isn’t a modern building. It’s a Victorian house, which I’m lucky enough to live in right now.
For stockist details, see page 171<#A#>
