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| Photo of Sylvie Sabatier |
MODW How did you get involved in fashion styling?
SYLVIE I became involved in styling
in France, thanks to my first boyfriend when I was in my very early 20s, who
was a big male fashion model in Paris.
I went to visit him on a set in St Tropez , where he was
modeling for a shoot for Harper’s Bazaar, and the editor was overwhelmed
because her assistant had just quit. She asked me to give her a hand organizing
the outfits and accessories. Her bedroom was filled with top designer clothes,
and I thought I was in heaven!
I assisted her for 6 months, then started to work on my own as a freelance editor for print as well as some TV commercials.
2 or 3 years later, we moved to NY, and I hooked up with the
French photographer working there at the time (Patrick Demarchelier, Gilles
Bensimon, Marc Hispard, Francois Hallard, but also Horst, Peter Lindberg,Helmut
Newton,Walter Chin, Marco Glaviano, John Stember, Arthur Elgort, etc).
MODW You have worked on a great amount of fashion projects. Do
you think there’s a consistent feminine approach in all your projects?
SYLVIE I have worked on fashion shoots (Elle, Bazaar, Vogue,
Glamour, Marie-Claire), beauty campaigns (Chanel, Almay, Avon,,Clarins, Olay, Neutrogena, L’Oreal, etc.), catalogues
(Victoria's Secret , Bloomingdales, Barneys, Saks), advertising, and TV
commercials.
Since I sort of specialize in beauty shoots, there is
definitively a feminine approach to those assignments.
MODW You have been working with a great amount of celebrities.
Out of all your work share one of your biggest career challenges.
SYLVIE One of my biggest career challenges working with celebrities
where the “AVON” shoots, when the William sisters had a 2 years contract.
They are beautiful women, but they are not fashion models,
they are very tall and athletic, and I had a hard time fitting those designer
sample dresses, all made for size 2 or 4 women. Also they had no patience and
could not stand still in front of the camera!
MODW If you had the chance to work on your ultimate fashion
fantasy, what would it be, and why?
SYLVIE If I had a chance to work on my ultimate fashion fantasy, it
would probably be a shoot with the photographer Peter Lindberg (I love his work
and his way of picturing women), in black and white, on a beach with beautiful
designers white summer clothes; or completely opposite to that,such as a shoot with Terry Richardson,
somewhere in India, where all those amazing colors inspire you; or something else. Too many to think about for an ultimate job!!!
MODW Who’s your fashion icon? How did this person inspire your
life and/or career?
SYLVIE I am not sure I have a single fashion icon. I think I have had a
few through out my career.
I have always loved the work and creativity of Muccia Prada
and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, their sense of humor, their esthetics .
As far as actress goes, Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at
Tiffany’s, and Katherine Hepburn , for the masculine/feminine style she
endorsed, through out her life, and even Jane Fonda in Barbarella.
MODW As a fashion stylist, paying attention to details is a
necessity. Did this work ethic contribute to your life in general? What are the
details you focus on in life?
SYLVIE Yes, paying attention to details is a must in the life of a
fashion stylist, but also the ability to improvise, and mix different styles. I
am always careful not to over do it, I like natural elegance, and I run away
from fashion victim looks.
I think you have to know your body and know what works for
you rather than following fashion blindly.
MODW You are fluent in French, English and Spanish. Which
language do you find the most sentimental? What is your favorite quote in that
language and how does the quote inspire your life?
SYLVIE I find the Spanish language the most sentimental, probably
because it is a new language for me, and I love the sounds of certain words
such as “mi coracion”,“mariposa”,“melocotton”…especially when they are pronounced from the castiliano Spanish, not the south American Spanish!
MODW Out of all the places you have journeyed please tell us
about your favorite city to spend your holidays and your favorite city to work
in. Out of the five senses, which comes to you the first when you think of
those cities?
SYLVIE Out of all the places I have journeyed, I believe my favorites is Formentera (Spain), for its laid back lifestyle, its food, its light, its beautiful simple houses, and easy going atmosphere.
But I also have a week spot for Bali, its culture, its beautiful people, its incense and flowers smell everywhere, and its harmonious architecture. Not to forget its nightlife!
As far as work, New York is one of my favorite, because it brings so much adrenaline to your blood, the pace, the creativity, and the challenge!
MODW You have built a fabulous house in Todos Santos, how did you
come up with the idea?
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| Sylvie's House i Todos Santos, Outdoor Views |
SYLVIE I bought a piece of land in Todos Santos about 7 years ago, on an impulse. I had never been there before, and I did not know anyone there. But it was a few years after 9/11, when I happened to be in NY when the terrorists hit the towers, and I had then a need for space and peace, for a place to go when you need to recharge yourself.
I spend a long weekend in TS and bought my land on the 3rd day. I then proceed to think about what would be my dream house, taking into account the location, the local building techniques, the weather, etc…
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| Sylvie's House in Todos Santos, Indoor Views |
I always loved the little white Spanish “fincas” (farms), the greek village houses, the Balinese wood and bamboo houses, the Moroccan architecture, but also the hacienda style Mexican houses. I put together a lot of pictures from my favorite decoration magazines (Cote Sud , Marie-Claire maison), and started drawing on a piece of paper what would make sense to built on my property, and my life style. One main building, with the kitchen, dinning and living room, where every one can gather, with a fireplace (it can get a little chilly at night in the winters) and an outdoor fire pit with huge sofas to lay on, then 3 separate bungalows for each bedrooms, so that every one can have their privacy and relax on their own time.
A year after the house was finish, I built the pool and the pool bedroom, because it’s great to go to the beach, but it’s even better to be able to jump in the pool afterwards, or stay home all day long, cooking, listening to music, reading in the shade on a comfortable pool chair!
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Sylvie(left) with her friends, Euva Anderson(center), and Catherine(right)
in Todos Santos |
MODW What is the most important product to you in your make-up
kit? And your favorite fragrance?
SYLVIE The most important product in my make-up kit is probably
tweezers! I use very little make-up, some eye shadows, and mascara, and some
natural color lip moisturizer, but I like my eyebrows and nails to be always
impeccable!
As for fragrance, I like the “Eau d’Hadrien” by Anick
Goutal, a fresh, lemony smell. And I sometimes just use some amber base oil.
MODW What does fashion mean to you as a woman? Do you think a
woman’s wardrobe choice has a good amount of influence on her life? What about
your personal experience?
SYLVIE Fashion for a woman is a way to express herself, her mood, and
her fantasy. Some days you feel like dressing up, experimenting, having fun,
being admired, or seductive. Some days , you want to blend in, almost hide, and
feel comfortable with just a pair of jeans (as long as it's well cut!) and a white T
shirt.
As far as I am concern, the older I grow, the more I want to
feel comfortable in my clothes. I like classic, well-cut clothes that I
know fit my body and my lifestyle.
Depending on the environment, I love “Hippy chic”, Indian
inspired outfits, when on vacation; and more pragmatic, easy to wear clothes
when I am in town, working.
MODW What is the best advise you got from your mother when you
were growing up?
SYLVIE The best advice I got from my mother growing up was “be
yourself and believe in yourself”.
MODW What is the biggest decision you made in your life so far?
How did it change your life?
SYLVIE I think I have made a lot of big decisions in my life so
far, but the main one probably being the move to NY when I was 23 years old, out
of an impulse, not sure what to expect, and seeing my career as a fashion
stylist really take off there, working with famous photographers, on big job
assignments.
From there I met my husband, Christophe Lanzenberg, a DP
(director of photography, cameraman) on a shoot for a commercial, then traveled
back and forth between NY and LA where he was based. Eventually I settled to LA
full time, where I still work as a fashion stylist but I am also now flirting
with interior design.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SYLVIE, PLEASE VISIT www.sylviesabatier.com
Polaris Zhao
