NYLON - February 2008 - (Page 48) FOREIGN EXCHANGE WHEN SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNER KRISTIAN AADVENIK HEARD LONDON CALLING, HE ANSWERED. BY JENNY FELDMAN. PHOTOGRAPHED BY LINDA BROWNLEE “London is very inspiring—both the people and the city itself,” says Norway-born designer Kristian Aadvenik. A graduate of the city’s Royal College of Art, Aadvenik quickly gained credibility on U.K. soil by assisting Alexander McQueen (“my most valuable experience ever”) and then as a designer for the Harrods International collection. “I identify more as a British designer than a Norwegian since I trained here,” says Aadvenik, who now lives and works in an industrial brick building in front of the abandoned Chelsea power station, an atmosphere that he describes, in short, as “very creative.” In 2004, Aadvenik set up his namesake label, which, this spring, comprises sculpted bustier tops in nappa and patent leather, jazzed-up, feather-trimmed cocktail dresses, and skin-tight pants. The result is a look the designer describes as “sexy Goth goddess meets playful Ziegfeld beauties.” Recently, his work caught the eye of Donatella Versace, who chose Aadvenik to be her protégé for a mentoring project in which five established names choose an up-and-comer to create a collection for them. “I think we have a similar philosophy when it comes to our awareness of the body,” says Aadvenik. “Obviously, I am very honored Donatella chose me as her protégé.” (Versace also helped ignite the buzz surrounding Christopher Kane, who wowed London show-goers a few seasons back with his electric hued ’80s-style minidresses.) In addition to toiling on the Versace collection, Aadvenik is already progressing with his fall line, which will continue to be about “super sexy, strong vixens.” He says he takes most of his inspiration from the street and nightclubs of his adopted city. “It’s the real people and the clubkids here who really push fashion forward,” the designer says. “Those are my real icons.” For more information, see kristianaadvenik.com. stylist: camilla pole. hair: naoki komiya at danny oh using bumble and bumble. makeup: niamh quinn. model: eve at storm. all clothing and shoes by kristian aadvenik. http://kristianaadvenik.com
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