Tavan & Mitto at Montréal Fashion Week 2012 | Photography by Asia De Montesquieu

Preceding New York Fashion Week,  I am honoured to cover the Montréal Fashion Week with backstage access. Both Fashion Connoisseurs and Industry professionals who are attending New York Fashion Week have been flying to Montréal to attend the opening event, offering the international recognition it deserves. 


With a big camera and high heels -  more or less maintaining my equilibrium to not fall into the many press photographers of various media and magazines - I admired the breathtaking Designs and Fashion Shows by Tavan & Mitto, Duy, Mélissa Nepton and Marie Saint Pierre. 

Tavan & Mitto stole my heart. Their Haute Couture on the Montréal Runway exuded timeless elegance paralleled with impeccable couture, sculpting the female physique with the purest sophistication. I will cover Fashion Week | Jour 3, geared in my most elegant outfit accompanied by my largest photography kit. May I survive in style. Stay tuned for more Ladies and Gents! 

Self-Portrait Photography / Styling by: Asia De Montesquieu | www.asiamontesquieu.com 

With special thanks to My Marvellous Man. 

"It’s up to you to make everyday as perfect as possible. 

It’s a question of will and discipline."

— Karl Lagerfeld

Parallel to my homage to the iconic and renowned Karl Lagerfeld, a photography shoot featuring myself wherein I am styled equivalent to Lagerfeld's non-existent and highly hypothetical 'Petite Soeur'. For fun. For art. And to celebrate KARL by Karl Lagerfeld's bold, classic yet edgy -  predominantly black and white - recently launched designs at Net-a-Porter. 

His signature collars, blazers and leather jackets and metallic pants are stunningly timeless with a rock and roll edge - albeit - simultaneously classic eclectic for numerous occasions. 

The KARL collection can be worn to cocktail parties when working undercover as a spy. For professional endeavours whether you work at an office, or as a creative professional. When visiting an art exhibition decrypting that Dadaist art piece. To a tête-à-tête Rendez-Vous with your best friend. And, yes, even to your Grandmother's Birthday party. Your Grandmother would certainly want to wear them too!

Below a Face to Face Interview with Karl and Karl himself:

Which designs of the KARL by Karl Lagerfeld collection would you love to wear?

Photograph by: My Marvellous Man / Styling: Asia De Montesquieu | www.asiamontesquieu.com

Amidst the picturesque Montréal Winter, a sunnier reminiscent post of my travels to Santa Monica, California at the fabulous Oceana Boutique Hotel, close to Third Street Promenade and The Coffee Bean. A little more laid back, a little less busy, I completely fell in love with the quiet gem of Santa Monica, near downtown Los Angeles, overlooking the majestic landscape of Pacific Palisades. 

Being a European meets North American East Coast Cosmopolitan Nomad, I predominantly resorted to wearing black; simple, elegant and timeless classic Hepburn style Little Black Dresses. Upon arrival to the sunnier side of the West coast, I was invited to wear lighter hues of colours with the opportunity to wear my Diane Von Furstenberg aviators, finally relishing sunnier days devoid of rain storms.

California Chic Dreaming Look / Styled by: Asia De Montesquieu

 Asia's Style Picks Clockwise: 

1. DVF Oversized Square Oversized Square Sunglasses

2. Chloé Silk Crepe Jacket

3. French Connection Trilby Hat

4. Escape by Calvin Klein Perfume for Women

5. Lancaster Women's Hexagon Black Dial Watch 

6. Charlotte Olympia Velvet Pumps

7. Chloé Tailored Crepe Black Shorts

8. Pierre Hardy Cube Print Leather Coated Canvas

9. Topshop Long Sleeve Drape Front Blouse

With dire anticipation to walk alongside Ocean Avenue sometime soon, to lounging for Cocktail and Conversations at the Oceana poolside at their nocturnal fireplace, I can't wait to revisit. 

 Maggie Cheung & Tony Leung In the Mood of Love  by Director Wong Kar Wai / Allstar - Cinetext - Jet Tone Production 

 "He remembers those vanished years. As though looking through a dusty window pane, the past is something he could see, but not touch. And everything he sees is blurred and indistinct." 

- In the Mood for Love Caption

I have been quite preoccupied throughout this productive week - sponsored by Cappuccino -  amidst the preproduction of fashion and portrait photography projects, and writing my first script for a short film, I will be directing next week. 

Since this is my first film ever, I'm excited to explore this newborn creative endeavour, and can't wait to share this with everyone once I have completed the post-production. 

Speaking of films, the first time I watched 'In the Mood for Love' by director Wong Kar Wai portraying the tales of forbidden love in a 1962 setting; it was love at first film by this visionary Hong Kong Filmmaker. I followed his work among 2046, and one of his short films in collaboration with Phillips Aurora Lighting 'There's Only One Sun'. 

Wong Kar Wai's mesmerizing films are sublimely visually haunting. The cinematography captivates viewers into the story consisting lush vibrant colours accompanied by breathtaking music. The visual poetry and slow motion scenes of his films invite you to another level, whilst portraying mysterious women styled in the most beautiful dresses, high heels, symbolizing the epitome of purest elegance and class. 

My 'Coup de Coeur of the Week' goes to one of my favourite films of my cinema collection. I accompanied my own Cinematic Chic style picks parallel to the look of the main female character in 'In the Mood for Love', with rich detailed colours and timeless elegance one can never go wrong with.

In the Mood for Love Look / Styled by: Asia De Montesquieu

 Asia's Style Picks Clockwise: 

1. Missoni Red Multi Color ZigZag Belted Coat

2. Matthew Williamson Red Wool Dress with Bead Detail

3. Escada Magnetism Eau de Parfum

4. Yves Saint Laurent Opyum Suede Pumps

5. Matthew Williamson Black Paneled Knit Dress

6. Jimmy Choo Cosmic Suede Pumps

7. Tory Burch Reva Leather Clutch

To experience a taste of the film, here an excerpt by the wonderful Wong Kar Wai:

Credits: In The Mood For Love, Wong Kar Wai (2000) Music: A Single Man, Soundtrack by Abel Korzeniowski

Throughout my time travels today, in the quest of vintage Vogue covers from the 1900's to the 1960's, I discovered the amazing artistic merit and striking evolution of Vogue Magazine for already twelve decades. From a photographer's perspective, the progressive, avant-garde styles of some of these Vogue editions' designs and photography by Richard Rutledge and Erwin Blumenfeld, are absolutely inspiring and invigorating.

Credits: 

Vogue Magazine and Condé Nast Publications / Photographers + Illustrators of Covers: Written under Vogue Editons

Audrey Horne Twin Peaks Look / Styled by: Asia De Montesquieu

Welcome to Twin Peaks, population 51,201. Mysterious Audrey Horne (Sherylin Fenn) infatuated with Special Agent Dale Cooper, danced in her signature plaid skirt and red sweater at a forlorn diner, and tied a knot in a cherry while working undercover at One Eyed Jacks to help Agent Cooper solve the murder of Laura Palmer. 

Director David Lynch is famous for creating twisted, powerful, fascinating characters, one of the many elements which has drawn me to his always unique and haunting films among Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet. I always admired the Art Direction and Style of Lynch, the way he is filming dreams with a 50's touch, painting the subconscious with a timeless signature, a higher sense of style, and an obvious love for women. 

The Lynchian female symbolizes complex, deep, enigmatic characteristics, parallel to the surrealistic dreams and metaphors in his films. Their perfect imperfections of paradoxal idiosyncrasies, contrasting; fragility with strength, to sensuality with coyness, are always accompanied by their iconic elegant style. 

My sense of style is always inspired by Arts, History Literature, Film and Life. Fashion to me is not only  a unidimensional component, wherein I'm blindly emulating the upcoming New York or Paris Fashion Week designs, however, equally who I want to be, how I want to express myself, individually. Unquestionably, David Lynch and his films are paramount ingredients that continue to influence me fashionably. 

Audrey Horne's Two Sides: The Coy and the Sensual / Excerpt from Twin Peaks by David Lynch

Audrey Horne at the Double R Diner / Excerpt from Twin Peaks by David Lynch

Self-Portrait Photography / Styling: Asia De Montesquieu | www.asiamontesquieu.com

As a longtime admirer of Jean Paul Gaultier,  this afternoon I created a photographic acknowledgement, homage to his floral-oriental fragrance JPG Classique. My styling was inspired by the original commercial named, 'Le Boudoir', directed by Jean Baptiste Mondino. 

Launched in the early 90's, the fragrance notes of JPG Classique are feminine, sexy, powerful. When I wear Classique, it calms and inspires me. I wear it daily, when I'm working on a photography shoot or attending preproduction meetings.

My Coup de Coeur of the week is dedicated to JPG Classique and the Internationally renowned designer; known for his feminine yet powerful signature corsets, timeless sailor designs, to booking models in all shapes, sizes and ages in his fashion shows, willing to see beauty in everyone, everywhere.

Merci, Monsieur Gaultier. Je t'adore!