Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

Fashion illustrations tend to have two distinct roles- either sketches or images to accompany text. Lula, through her passion, talent and forward looking vein has challenged this perception and created a whole magazine based on illustrations.

Who is Lula? A good friend of Swide, Lula lives for fashion. Lula’s talent has been showcased on her blog, The Subject I know Best. Lula is a lucky lady, as she gets to sport the latest looks from the catwalk day in day out. An enviable figure, big doe eyes and an infinite wardrobe make her a girl’s best friend and enemy. But Lula is a drawing, and shares her philosophy with another notorious cartoon lady, Jessica Rabbit: “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn this way”.

Lula’s latest project is in many ways revolutionary. HERSELF Magazine is a new form of fashion publication where everything, from the fashion shoots to the adverts is illustrated. The first issue, Portraits, features some of fashion’s most well known heroines, as well as cartoon favourites and an Olympus celebrity. The unconstrained imagination, innovation and freedom of expression which are exercised through the magazine are a true reflection of the future, even if on traditional media.

How did the HERSELF project start?
Time and space have been redefined lately.
So we have redefined our personal world, found it immensely inspiring and decided to share it on paper.
It's a celebration: of brands we love, faces and things that fascinate us, questions we ask, things we know, things we wonder. I'm born on a white sheet of paper, before being digitally restyled. It felt good to lend on a page again and bring my own reality there.

Is an “illustrated” magazine a way for you to comment on the current state
of the fashion press?
More than commenting on it, it is interacting with it, being it. HERSELF is about questions and imagination, not suggestions and solutions.

How would you describe your illustrations?
50%digital 50% love

How come you decided to centre the first issue on portraits?
...because for some twisted reason when you look at someone else's beautiful portrait you are led to believe you are looking in a mirror. Take a walk at the London's National portrait gallery, you'll come out feeling you have reign on a country, won battles, won prices, live forever celebrated by others!

What criteria did you use to determine the icons to feature?
Follow my heart.

Why the Disney cartoons and Pallas Athena?
Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Jasmine, Pochaontas, are extraordinary women! They know what they want, the follow their dreams, they believe in love, they allow us to believe in happy endings, they compromise, they are brave and let's face it, they are forever beautiful.

The goddess Athena is extremely inspirational as well: she's very brainy, intelligent, focused. We all wish we were goddess, know it better, do it best. Plus...the flat  image of her conveyed by ancient vases is so elegant, minimal. 1D yet so contemporary...

How did the idea of illustrate the ads as well come about? Did you encounter
problems from the companies in order to do it?
Herself it's a all-illustrated world. Simple as that.

What kind of business model do you have?
Madonna! She is featured on page 82.We love her.

Which is your favourite feature from the first issue?
Two of them: "The Portrait Issue" set in the jungle. I had a wonderful time with these gorgeous women. Their personalities are so compelling, it was fun to play with their styles, a gorgeous casting.

And  "I-am Self Portrait with words": Anna, Giovanna, Mary, Mira, Delfina and Margherita portraying themselves with their very own words!
Wow!

What’s in store for Lula in the coming months?
Stay tuned!

Interview by: Valentina Zannoni

Credits: HERSELF Magazine

 Dolce&Gabbana

  

TAGS: dolce&gabbana d&g fashion magazine online magazine dolce & gabbana d & g style magazine luxury online magazine domenico dolce stefano gabbana luxury artists Lula Herself Magazine Swide illustrations Madonna Anna Wintour Cinderella Snow White Pochaontas Pallas Athena Anna Dello Russo Margherita Missoni Giovanna Battaglia Delfina Delettrez Belle Jasmine The Subject I know Best