MOST FRESH CELEBRITIES, ON LOCAL TV OR IN MAGAZINES, ARE LOOKING HOTTER THAN EVER – MANY OF US ARE CHEWING THE FANTASY, LEAVING US WITHOUT A BREATH LEFT TO CARE ABOUT THE NEW MAGIC ON THE BACKSTAGE CITY SCENE. 

 

DOWNTOWN 500 MAGAZINE DOES CARE – AND ALWAYS KICKS BY MEETING THAT MAGIC IN PERSON. 

 

IT’S HAPPENING, AND WE ARE ENJOYING IT! AREN’T U?

 

PEOPLE IN TOWN ARE CHICER TODAY, INDIVIDUALLY STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE. WHO IS THAT FASHION GHOST WHO IS BLOWING THE MINDS AROUND? WHO IS THIS MASTER – A KING OR A QUEEN? WHO IS THIS POP-UP DESIGNER WHO’S SO VIOLENTLY TRANSFORMING OUR LAID-BACK TOMBOYS INTO PASSIONATE WOMEN? IS IT LEGAL?

 

#downtown500crew VOTES HIM OUT, THE PERSONAGE WITH A CHARMING SWEDISH ACCENT AND AN ATELIER AT LOWER G. VILLAGE. HE SHOWED HIS NEW CLOTHING COLLECTION AT ØSTBANEHALLEN IN OSLO IN AUGUST ’16. WE ARE VISITING HIM ON HIS OWN AND IN THE ONLY SHOWROOM, SOAKING IT ALL IN!

 

SEVERAL STYLISH PEOPLE ARE WEARING HIM- TRIANA IGLESIAS AND SANDRA LYNG. SO GIVES JAN THOMAS, NORWAY’S FASHION GODFATHER, TO HIM SIX OUT OF SIX POINTS. REALLY? JUST SIX?

DT 500 MAG IS INVITING YOU FOR REASONING JUST ON #dt500redsofa LET’S TALK TO THIS MAGIC AND DEFINITELY RELAXED GUY.

 JAMES LAZAR BRAATHEN

DT 500 MAG: – Could we pls hear some of your ID right from the source, James?

 

JAMES LAZAR: –  I find myself at the beginning of a long and exciting trip; looking at the red carpet, I find passionate silhouettes wearing gala dresses á la James Lazar!

 

” I do not want to lock myself down to anything -identity is something that I would like to daydream about.”

 

DT 500 MAG: – James, you just did a great show, and congrats on your new collection- the unique design is alive! Do you have a lot of things behind it?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – There are many things I look through while working on my collection. 

 

” There are always three main things that I focus on: elegance, feminism, and passion.” 

 

DT 500 MAG: – Who is the girl of James Lazar? 

 

JAMES LAZAR: – Victoria Beckham is my muse.

 

DT 500 MAG: – Tell us about the silhouette and identity?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I am very obsessed with the female body, the shapes, and the lines!

 

” The silhouette is tight and ambient, very playful and erotic. The identity enjoys the class with a rare aesthetic sense. She is free and owns her power.”

DT 500 MAG: – Could we pls hear some of your ID right from the source, James?

 

JAMES LAZAR: –  I find myself at the beginning of a long and exciting trip; looking at the red carpet, I find passionate silhouettes wearing gala dresses á la James Lazar!

 

” I do not want to lock myself down to anything -identity is something that I would like to daydream about.”

 

DT 500 MAG: – James, you just did a great show, and congrats on your new collection- the unique design is alive! Do you have a lot of things behind it?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – There are many things I look through while working on my collection. 

 

” There are always three main things that I focus on: elegance, feminism, and passion.” 

 

DT 500 MAG: – Who is the girl of James Lazar? 

 

JAMES LAZAR: – Victoria Beckham is my muse.

 

DT 500 MAG: – Tell us about the silhouette and identity?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I am very obsessed with the female body, the shapes, and the lines!

 

” The silhouette is tight and ambient, very playful and erotic. The identity enjoys the class with a rare aesthetic sense. She is free and owns her power.”

DT 500 MAG: –  do you have a message? 

 

JAMES LAZAR: – My message is to match the feminine nature with an exclusive touch of fabric design. Every woman should dare to look deep into her soul and find her own unique passion with the help of my plans, which is handmade for every unique landscape!

 

 “I want to provoke the female universe so everyone hears her emotions and feelings and believes in her own impressions. I would like to guide the female physique with silk or lace.”

 

DT 500 MAG: – James, you were living here for a while; what does Oslo mean for you?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I have little time to realize that I am living in Oslo; I think I live more in my own head. I see everything on a large scale – beyond national borders.

 

DT 500 MAG: – any influences?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I like to take a walk and gather inspiration in some details of local architecture, colors, exterior, and interior. Like at Frogner, where I find many treasures!

 

DT 500 MAG: – You are pretty gentle with your artistry; we are not gambling pearls; let’s educate James and give us some props about your collection?

 

JAMES LAZAR smiling: – I love freedom and mystery! When I start making a dress, I become totally obsessed. The inspiration entirely takes control! I can work for ages. You need to be creative to understand it. 

 

“Sometimes, I can be easily inspired by a wonderful lady beside me, naturally elegant, regal, dramatic, with brocades and luxurious fabrics. I am fond of fashion from the 20-30s or Russian czarinas who walk through their royal palaces with embroidered silk walls and crystal chandeliers…” 

DT 500 MAG: – Many young people today realize there’s a lot to be done about the future – what part will fashion play? Can you please?

 

LAMES LAZAR: – Haute Couture will always be Haute Couture. Human demand goes up and down, but the need will remain. 

 

 ” Quality of a handmade masterpiece is a gift a few can refuse.”

 

DT 500 MAG: – How do you think technological discoveries will change the future? Robots vs humans?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I make my own prints, recently, I was inspired by an old frame and printed it on silk with different colours, and I am going to use it in my new collection. Technology can be fun too. But I don’t believe that technology will take over. Fashion has many possibilities. I’m not afraid that something will disappear, slightly that it will adapt.

 

” Technology is a tool everybody is excited to play with, but I’ve chosen a slightly different niche.” 

DT 500 MAG: – Clothing has always been an expression of time. Do you think we are on the verge of a global confrontation, and how would that change our fashion perspective?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – One cannot think that everything has to be productive and fast like everyone else. Those who are non-commercial open more opportunities for the commercial kind. Being artsy and going to the business side can be possible, but going from the retail side to the artsy team is almost impossible. It’s about more than money …

 

“Will all the designers be commercialized? Surely not. More individualism is to come. “

 

DT 500 MAG: – What are the keywords for your designs?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – Style. Passion. Womanliness.

 

DT 500 MAG: – Womanliness sounds essential, especially in the local context… Do you think that Function will ever entirely replace Fantasy?

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I believe in the balance! You can create an expensive dress, but it must also be functional. Everything I make can be used in both contexts!

 

DT 500 MAG: – You should have some superpowers, James? 

 

JAMES LAZAR: -” Berocca” (soda vitamins tabs) give me superpowers, haha! I get superpowers when I dance. The best kick! Good music is essential for me. Everything except hard rock!

 

DT 500 MAG: – We want to hear more drama, James; what is your inspiration for your following collection? 

 

JAMES LAZAR: – It’s a big secret!

 

DT 500 MAG: – No doubt, but apparently, the sure audience out there wants to know everything, lol.

 

JAMES LAZAR: – I can only say once the show is public. I can give you a few words: it’s a movie! ’20-’30s is on the theme as well; I’m always right about that period in history!

 

DT 500 MAG: – Big it up!

#RAPTURE!

Interview by: Arhtur Sopin and Andreas Rød

Photo by: Andreas Roed