Ella Deck And Friends - Fashion Show 2015

Hello my dear readership,

"We give little designers the chance to present themselves.", Ella Deck stated when she talked to me about her fashion show when I have met her the Monday before. The Hamburg couture designer knows what it means to start at the point of zero so she engages herself to help other little designers and as well offers work placement at her atelier. "The designers to be can send me their applications and then it can begin."
However Ella Deck makes no difference between the styles of the designers learning at hers and her personal style: "We are going to unite stark contrasts.", and so it happened to be that before the main show of Ella Deck and friends the Hamburg sports- and streetwear designer Kristine Dölle presented the current collection of her label ZurfDay.

At the evening of November 6th, 2015 Ella Deck and friends have invited to a private fashion show at HOME & GARDEN in Winterhude, Hamburg.
"We have intentionally chosen this location to give our guests a home feeling, As the name of the location HOME & GARDEN already says home symbolizes a family feeling. What we want to say with this choice is: 'Just feel like home!'", Ella explains and continues, "to bring more home feeling into the fashion show we have laid out cow fur carpets on which the models are supposed to walk.".
The designer proudly told me that among the models there were as well her two sons Dio-Noël (6) and Yves-Anthony (8) on the catwalk.

Apart from the home feeling and union of the extremes, another highlight was that the extravagant and eye-catching hats, bags and various accessories that are designed by Ella Deck's friends were to be bought right on place at different little stands within the location.
"I work together with different designers to create the complete perfect look for the women. That is why we call this fashion show 'Ella Deck and friends'.", the designer explains the name of her fashion show.
"We do not see each other as partners but meanwhile as friends because we work together every day.", Ella Deck emphasizes the importance of the partnership.
In addition the designer explained the idea and importance of these little stands as the following; "We are expecting businessmen- and women, freelancers, et cetera who will be actively writing on their social networks about the show. Therefore we want to give them the comfortable opportunity to shop right on place and not having to come for shopping one other time again since these people are busy in their everyday life anyway."

Ella Deck and friends.

Other important guests of that evening were among others the singer and actor Saskia Leppin who enriched both the fashion shows with her beautiful and strong voice and the dancer, host and model Christine Deck, the beautiful host of the show.

Since 13 years celebrities like Christine Neubauer, Bettina Wulff or Frauke Ludowig have worn Ella Deck, since 13 years Ella Deck herself has been establishing her couture fahsion and trends: "As a designer you put value on setting your own trends.", she emphasizes, "What we want to show with this fashion show is to have no fear of combining, we have made summer items suitable for winter, red and white are combined with a very dark blue. I want people to talk about the fashion show and say: 'Ella Deck? There I have to go for the next time!'"

The highlight of the show was a purple dress which Ella Deck has showed me before: "This dress has a special manufacturing of braids.", she explained while showing me the dress, "it has an attractive back and a flower on the chest."
Personally my blood stood still when I saw it for the first time and I was just as speechless when I saw it worn and the complete look with a matching bouquet of flowers. What I loved most about the dress is the color, purple which is my personal favorite color. Flowers are the trademark of Ella Deck Couture.

What was not shown that evening but what as well belongs to Ella Deck Couture are wedding dresses. "If I look around in Hamburg I only simple wedding dresses. We however order the most expensive material and silk from London and put high value that the dress is figure-hugging and that the material suits the woman." and apart from that Ella Deck Couture also contains: "Meanwhile we as well get requests for promotion dresses.".

And what does the designer herself like to wear? "Personally for my everyday life in my I prefer casual pleated pants and with a fancy silk blouse."

During our talk her phone was ringing unstoppably as it seemed. Prelude Fantasia by Chopin had become a catchy tone for me for that day. Such a noble ringtone underlines the elegance of the designer.

The entertainment continuned with a competition for the guests and a reunion with good friends and closing new agreeable friendships. But everyone was a winner that evening with a little gift package for everyone at the end.

The outfit I have chosen for the night was a purple cocktail dress and its matching boots since I knew Ella likes it colorful and her highlight dress was going to be purple, too. I have added a headpiece as well matching Ella Deck's look. It was thought that I was one of the models like this and my red lips.

 After show with my beautiful friend and model Regina San

 With Christine Deck. As lovely as beautiful.

Visit my Facebook page for all photos. I will be most happy if you give a "like" when passing by.

Xoxo ♥ Johanna

...Because I Can

Hey, hey my dears,

crazy bird, chick, extravagant... whether I am at work, university or participate in an event it seems like I am always an eye-catcher. No please, I do not want to be a show-off but but let us see where this comes from... my Eastern-European heritage and influence, yes, I agree but I rather meant what is it that catches the eyes, it is not that I am shopping my clothes at colossal places. How many times have I caught the one or other person on the street wearing something I have in my closet, too.

I have a good quote for you from one of my favorite anime series which as transfered to fashion: "It is not about what you are wearing something but how you are wearing it."

The person who was said this in its content did not understand first. I have to admit this is more complex than it sounds because how to wear it does not only refer word by word on how it is worn but with what it is combined and here comes my recipe of being an eye-catcher. 

As an artist arts is my playground - we remember from my last word - and fashion is arts in one day. Style is self-expression so it turns out for me that fashion is the most beautiful way to express yourself.
We have learned from many painters, (modern) writers and even musicians songwriters and composers that everything is allowed. The only condition is that it shall fit to the author, 

I admit that I am a very complex individual with many different passions and moods but just as every person even I have my trademark. Which made me become someone who loves to play with styles, cultures, epochs and bring the extremes to harmony.

For this look it even happened to be that I achieved to bring the Bohemian-, the flannel-, the hat- and the dark-green trends as the color of fall 2015 into one look.

Are you convinced? Then 3, 2, 1, guess my trademark.

Flannel shirt - s.Oliver

Longtop, belt - C&A

Hat - Colloseum

T-Shirt - Vanilla Ninja merchandise

Xoxo ♥ Johanna

They Must Think... I'm Crazy

Hey dear readers, 

...I am thinking... they must be right. After a clear heavy dark grey entry for the (according to the calendar) transition from summer to fall which was not only on my nails but as well in Germany I have opened my heart for some more colorful and brighter nails for mid-fall and play and seem tasteless at the first sight and in the end just be crazy. But all I did was letting my creativity shine at the highest by being like a child when I saw all the colors, all the glitter and all the little jewelries in different colors. Arts are just one of my playgrounds but still they are my toys whether on nails, make-up or on the paper and artists are known to be wild in their expressions and reach over up to the stars and further.

A little note to those who know me and will most likely ring the alarm since I always scream that red on my nails is a no-go. It still is but in my personal little world this is rather cherry color than real red so it is appropriate,

Huge thanks to T. for another great nails.

Xoxo ♥ Johanna

Moonland Feat. Lenna Kuurmaa

Tere kallid sõbrad,

the readers from this blog are familiar with the term Vanilla Ninja, people close to myself associate the three headed the rock band from Estonia with me since it is my most favorite band and has left the biggest mark on me.

So after having talked about Piret Järvis the guitarist and Katrin Siska the keyboarder the time has come to last but not least talk about the lead singer Lenna Kuurmaa, too.

Currently the band has been taking a rest since 2010 but that does not keep the lead singer Lenna from singing. She has gathered musicians for herself and started solo career. Meanwhile Lenna is one of the most wanted artists in Estonia and still popular abroad thanks to her fans who keep her fame outside of Estonia alive. 

Lenna and her band participating in Eesti Laul (Engl.: Estonian Song - the Estonian pre-election 

for the Eurovision Song Contest) in 2012.

Photo: Ülo Josing

Other than Vanilla Ninja Lenna is more into the Indie genre that has become harder with the second album. Apart from that she focused on singing in her native language Estonian. However in 2013 Lenna followed the invitation and joined a project in Italy that has brought her back to the taste of Vanilla Ninja. Moonland Featuring Lenna Kuurmaa contains 13 songs mainly composed by Alessandro Del Vecchio who and sung by Lenna Kuurmaa in English. Also Lenna herself had to admit that she loved the project which reminded her on the time with the band.

Moonland reached out to all over Europe and was available to be pre-ordered and ordered or get in the stores apart from only online so it was quickly sold out. Also I have followed the thrill and added it to my collection of must-haves as fan and supporter of the band and with that Lenna the power pop or rather rock album and seeing Lenna back in the style of a rock diva was a true welcome for me.

After listening to the songs and sinking in to the world of Moonland I enjoyed listening to Lenna in English again however I must admit that I would have found it better if such a project would have made real with the whole band since a band is not only about the lead singer. The songs as well as the lyrics were very strong and very lively to me. The power of the songs was just transmitted to the listener itself. Nevertheless the songs could have been a little bit more versatile. On the whole they indeed sounded very monotone. This was recognized as well in the lyrics that mainly were about a broken hearted cheated woman who has regained her power and shows herself self-confident. Therefore it is heart to choose particular favorites, nevertheless I could admire myself for the songs "Poison Angel", "Heart Made Of Steel", "Live And Let Go" and "Another Day In Paradise".

Moonland Featuring Lenna Kuurmaa is doubtlessly an album that has caught me in a time of personal desperation but this was not necessarily a bad thing since its powerful songs built me up again.

I recommend it to everyone who is looking for a reason to go on or rather who needs a kick in the butt.

Follow Lenna on Facebook and Twitter to stay tuned.

Xoxo ♥ Johanna

Torn Two Ways

Happy belated Halloween my friends of the night,

you can say that one of my most favorite times of the year had come with Halloween. The time of the year when you can legally wear black without your mother saying: "Child, please wear more brighter colors!" but what I am more excited about on Halloween is to sow my wild oats on my face and live up my fantasies of make-up arts.

So after last year I put my focus on cosplay this year I focused on my make-up. Sadly the children from now our days lost the spirit and no one rang on the door.

What a paradox that it is us adults who put in the passion into Halloween. Us human are really complex beings some of us live whereas they would like to die, some of us are beautiful to admire whereas no one imagines how lonely the one or other must feel, then there are some of us who talk and talk and talk and everyone would think that they know everything about this person but all they understand is blah, blah, blah... the person remains misunderstood...

Misunderstood...

So much love they have inside but no one to share it with. What a tragedy, that those people who live day for day are bearing a heavy heart of burden with them which is filled with sorrow. They are happy and thrilled with life but in any minute they might fall back to desperation...

Xoxo ♥ Johanna

Ella Deck Couture

Privet dorogiye druzya and hello my beloved readership,

fashion connects people, so it happened to be that thanks to one of my favorite designers I got to know and close friendship with the model Regina San and she again made me get to know another couture designer from Hamburg. It was a sunny but cold March day when my friend told me about Ella Deck. We have been sitting in a restaurant and enjoyed a slight meal when I asked her about her refined cut dress in the color of magenta that she wore in one of her photoshootings.
„It is by Ella Deck“, she told me, „do you know Ella Deck? She is the cousin from Christine Deck.“, I had to say no to her questions.

Photo: Henriette Mielke

„She is a famous designer from Hamburg.“, she started to tell and show me photos she had taken from her showroom.
„If you want I can introduce you to each other.“
...
Shortly afterwards in April the time had come. We met in the afternoon at the Lehmweg in Hamburg-Eppendorf in front of Ella's atelier and went in together. We had a heartily welcome. Inside arrived I firstly forgot about anything around me while I most exactly scanned the atelier. I tried to recognize something from the photos that Regina had showed me what I firstly did not achieve. We were welcomed by a dark haired woman who seemed to have recognized Regina immediately. I introduced myself to her and she began to lead us through the atelier right away in which I slowly began to grope my way through the magical world of Ella Deck. By the way, where was Ella Deck? The woman pointed to the rooms beside to a normally tall blonde woman and said: "Ella is about to dress a customer for the Blue Ball which is supposed to take place the coming weekend." In this moment I realized that every woman must feel like a princess or even the queen of the night herself when she was dressed in a creation from Ella Deck.

It did not seem like a not willing to end time that we had been waiting for Ella because Ella Deck's fashion was so versatile that each dress was a unique class for itself.

Ella Deck's atelier und showroom spreaded a warmth as if one would feel like on a wonderful flower-field that was embraced by the warm sun. It united beauty, style and the sunny friendly mood from Ella Deck's team to a place where one loves to come back again and again.

Recently I've visited the designer again for an interview in her atelier and showroom. In the grey, cold October fall it was still Ella Deck's showroom which symbolized warmth and security. We talked about her, her fashion and naturally about her fashion show which is to take place on November 6th. Read the whole interview below:

Fall4Me: Dear Ella, first of all tell us a little bit about you: where do you come from and how would you describe yourself with a few words?
Ella Deck: I was born in Russia or rather back then it still belonged to Russia, Kyrgyzstan, in the capital Bishkek. in 1989 we emigrated. My mother is Russia-German, which was the reason that it was possible for us to emigrate sooner which my father however did not want, that was why we emigrated just later in 1989 to Germany. There I have visited a high school, studied fashion design at the Academy Fashion & Design (Ger: Akademie Mode & Design - AMD) successfully completed as the best of my school-year, afterwards I was shortly in America later I have worked freelance. In 2001 I got my freelancer certificate and shortly afterwards in 2002 I have built up my atelier and showroom which is two in one.

I would describe myself with the words down to earth, cosmopolitan and realistic.

What was the origin of Ella Deck Couture?
With a little summer collection everything has started. Dresses and skirts in crazy colors have been created with fluid clothes such as silk. The love towards color I have brought with me from my childhood. My stay in Russia until I have turned 13 influenced me as well because my mother was a painter. In 2001 when everything started I thought to myself if I work freelance I have to do something for it, so I have collected models, hair and make-up stylists and everyone was invited whom we have known and in regular intervals of three months the fashion was presented at different places.
In August 2002 someone talked to me and said: „Ella I do not want to be forced to wait for three months for your fashion.“
Shortly afterwards once I have passed the Lehmweg by car and saw how cartons were transported out. I said to my boyfriend who is now my husband: „Stop immediately!“
I went there, asked and then I have started to rent the location. I have intentionally chosen the neighborhood Eppendorf even though the meet of the young fashion designers takes place at the Karolinenviertel but during my studies it was clear for me: There I never want to land!

What does fashion mean to you personally?
Fashion is my life. I fight for women in Germany to dress better because if you take a look at the women abroad Poland, America, Italy, Russia, etc. you immediately realize that the women abroad put a high value on their outer self and look much more feminin.

In Hamburg women focus on pants also on their wedding then I always say: „Your husband already wears trousers for your wedding why don't you leave the trousers at home for that day?“, many of them accept my adivce.

On November 6th Home & Garden Ella Deck and friends presents your recent collection. What is the motto or rather the above topic under which you have designed your collection?The motto is „Time is luxury“. We have everything apart from time. [The further explanation comes with the answer of the following question].

What inspired you for this collection?
I was inspired for the motto „Time is Luxury“ by the modern woman of now our days who is wife, mother and has a job and accommodates it all. This inspiration of the woman is based on the fact that she does not have to worry about anything anymore if she i.e. wants to go out with her husband and needs a cocktail-dress for that she will get a cocktail-dress in addition she will get fitting underwear. My label works with partners so that the woman does not have to miss anything. If anything does not fit we deliver it even shoes from which there is one model with three different heels – for older ones a little bit lower and wider ones, for younger ones a little bit higher and slimmer ones – we are open for any age. Furthermore we have the matching accessories, etc. The already anyway full-time woman does not have to run from shop to shop, she can take care of her personal business and we take care of her looks. So if she wants to go out with her husband...we even organize the tickets, you do not see each other as partners between designer as customer you are friends.

Also for weddings our effort is high, we can offer her three different photographers that suit to her personal style out of which she can choose one, make-up and body-care... I really do not know what we do not have!

Every woman is not satisfied with herself, we want to give her the feeling of satisfaction.

What does it mean for Ella Deck Couture to create a new collection, how does the process look and how long does it take?

We create a collection lasts a whole year. Once a year a fashion show takes place then, to inspire the women with this show to „Girls, dress yourselves better!“ During the fashion show we show the highlights of the year, it can be a simple thing but also something extravagant.

The highlight of the last fashion show

As you say yourself you like to mix different style epochs and engrave the design of different cultures. Which style epochs and which cultures fascinate you most?I love the 30s, the diva that slides down the stairs like a muse and whose train is pulled after her; black and white movies, the timeless, a slim waist and also the 20s, the Charles-Style connected by details. A casual coat is i.e. given a chinese touch with a little put on collar and with that the wide skirt that is Russian inspired combined. But it all fits together.

What does your fashion express? How should a woman feel when she is wearing your creations?
She is supposed to feel feminine. Another feeling that is to be given is the self-confirmation that is given through compliments because compliments are honey for the self-confidence. Also we get feedback from our customers who call us and say: „I will come back!“

A business woman who has to hold a speech in front of a hundred men has to feel good and secure therefore her dress is supposed to help and give her a feeling of security and safety and says: „I can achieve all, I can do it all!“

How would you project your personality to your fashion and creations?
The inner joy.

Ella Deck Couture is famous for her colorful style and „breaks masterly the love towards black“, the color that is known as „so elegant, simple to combine and timeless“ within the world of fashion as no other one. What can color do what black cannot do?
Color can describe feelings and transfer emotions. Other than black color is more precize to the character. One must also not forget what many people however forget black does not suit everyone.

Has it always been your dream or rather your goal to become a fashion designer?
My interest on becoming a fashion designer came very late when I was in 10th grade and seriously thought about my future job what I want to become. Jobs like police officer or stewardess were running through my head but then once in the morning I immediately woke up and said to my mother: „Mama I know it know!...“ 
And she said to me then: „Child, I am so happy. I have never told you because I did not want to push you but it has always been my wish.“
I went to classes and so the pencil rather than typically the sewing machine has become my toy.

A true artist like Ella has an atelier and showroom full of originally 

painted images

Which hobbies do you have besides from fashion?
Because I have very few time it is my biggest hobby to watch movies. I can dream away and imagine myself to be in the movie. I imagine how I dress the characters. I love to watch cartoons to relax, these are the best ones to relax. We sit comfortably with the family and we are together, that is the most important thing for me. We also have two dogs and cats which have to go out.

Which people would you like to thank for the fact that you arrived where you are today?
The most I want to thank my mother who has supported me building up my label in any way. Apart from that I want to thank my husband. Because he was the first one to say: „If you need it we will buy it!“, he has given me the full treatment to help me and he was the one to help me to decide to build up my own label. I could have as well worked for other labels as designer i.e. Tom Taylor.

What could you wish more from life?
That the development goes wider to the mass. The single person comes back again but that the mass comes back and that there is a presence in Germany does not exist yet. In Hamburg people know me but I would wish that maybe at Unger Ella Deck would be featured at a small place with selected dresses from me by that it was present and perfect that everyone talks about it. My wish is that Ella Deck Couture is passed pearl necklace from one generation to the other.

It is my dream that one wears Ella Deck for the first job.

Thank your for this great interview!

Visit Ella Deck online and sink into her wonderful world or if you are in Hamburg visit her at the Lehmweg 51. Visit her on Facebook for regular updates and register for the fashion show the coming week via telephone or e-mail below.

Xoxo ♥ Johanna