#wilhelmnyc

NY女子のリア充生活。ある晩開かれた“女神の晩餐”とは？ INTERVIEW Vol.2 :Wilhelm Goddess Dinner in NYC

前回のインタビュー第一弾に続く、「Wilhelm」デザイナーとのガールズトーク。

“女神の晩餐”、と名付けられたいわゆる女子会には、実はこんな意味があった！

リアルニューヨーカー、何やらみんな楽しそうです。

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http://the-styleinsight.com/post/113061955545

English Article Vol.1：Wilhelm Goddess Dinner in NYC

Yoko：A Lovely party was held for celebrating brand's launch. When you held a party, did you have anything in particular for direction?

Megan：The party was held in my home, which is also where I createthese pieces. I wanted it to feel warm and intimate with great food, greatwomen and great conversations. It was not only a celebration of the brand’s launch but a celebrationof the divine feminine and howwe met and what we all created together.  Women inspired by each other, helping and supporting each other in their creative endeavors. That is why it was themed a Goddess Dinner.

Yoko：And food was also interesting, what menus were provided?

Megan：My boyfriend is an amazing cook so he was the chef for the evening. I wanted the menu to be easy, delicious, comfort food. We had braised chicken, roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes,  and a mixed green salad with pomegranate seeds and toasted pine nuts. For dessert I had an assortment of homemade, hand-dipped chocolates that a friend makes out of her very own kitchen.

Yoko：People who came to a party look very stylish. What is your relationship with them?

Megan：Half the women are close friends who helped me and supported me with the launch. The additional guests are fellow super creatives who embody the spirit of the Wilhelm woman.

Yoko：Perhaps people enjoyed conversations, dancing and having dinner there?  What were they exactly doing during a party?

Megan：I set up the space so people could help themselves to drinks and appetizers. Everyone picked out the crown they wanted to wear for the evening and had fun taking pictures of each other.  Everyone was deeply engaged in conversation. At one point I Iooked up and all the girls had disappeared. They had made there way into the kitchen and were feasting on drinks and nibbles, I didn’t have to say anything!

Yoko：If you have any fun episodes, please share.

Megan：Before dinner I wanted to share a little story so we all gathered around the table. I had placed on each dinner plate a satchel of crystals as a take home gift and described what the crystals represented and how you could use them. Under each plate I placed a goddess card. Each goddess card was different and gave specific information for the person who received it. All the women seemed to really enjoy this. So after I was done speaking I went to go turn the music back on and I looked up and all the women had disappeared… back in the kitchen to help themselves to dinner!

Yoko：Can you tell us the brand concept of Wilhelm, things you are particular about and point of view as a designer?

Megan：I am very inspired by nature and empowering women through adornment. I love that the two materials I have worked with so far, feathers and flowers are products of nature. I want women to feel uplifted, inspired and beautiful when they put Wilhelm pieces on.

Yoko：How do you get inspiration for designing?

Megan：Frida Kahlo was an initial inspiration, not only for how she adorned herself but what she embodies and represents. It then evolved into so much more after spending time with all of these women. It all happened very quickly and organically, it wasn’t a calculated process, it just blossomed.

Yoko：Do you always distinguish between work and private?

Megan：I love the beach, so in the summer I spend the weekends there with friends. In the winter I spend the weekends in Woodstock. The key to living in New York City is getting out of it and into nature. It helps balance the chaotic energy.

Yoko：For example, Japanese women tend to think wearing a crown (head piece) is a bit difficult. Do you have any skill/advice to coordinate it well? Actually Japanese women would like to enjoy wearing it in a stylish way, too.

Megan：My instagram: wilhelmnyc and the gallery page of my website under archive show beautiful examples of how many different women have worn these pieces in very different ways. Advice: If you have a large forehead try a side part and possibly an asymmetrical piece.

Yoko：Please tell us about your brand's future development. 

Megan：I work very organically and will only work on what truly inspires me… so we will see!

WILHELM GODDESS DINNER

WHAT:  Wilhelm Goddess Dinner is a night celebrating the Divine Feminine and the launch of wilhelm-nyc.com. Wilhelm is an empowering collection of adornment created by New York designer Megan Guip.

www.wilhelm-nyc.com |#wilhelmnyc

WHO:  Female art collective Conversations: Mia Moretti (DJ, artist), Cleo Wade (poet, artist), Liza Voloshin (artist), Margot (musician, singer) and Kate Greer (artist) Emily Weiss (Founder - Into the Gloss), Caitlin Fitzgerald (actor), Tali Lennox (model, artist), Faran Krentcil (Elle), Amirah Kassem (Founder - Flour Shop), Jauresti Saisarbitoria (Founder - Sugar Barons), Sade Lythcott, (CEO - National Black Theater), Mallane Stanbury (Photographer) Josephine Phong (Designer - Figue) Molly Austin (Actor)

WHEN:       Saturday, February 7, 2014

WHERE:     Wilhelm Studio

Yoko Kondo / Fashion Journalist

Translation / Hitomi Maeda

INTERVIEW Vol.1 : Wilhelm Goddess Dinner in NYC

Yoko「ブランドのローンチ祝いに、ステキなディナーパーティを開催していたわよね。何か演出にこだわったりしたの？」

Megan「パーティーは、私の家（＝作品づくりの場所）で開いたの。美味しい料理に素敵な女性たち、そして素晴らしい“CONVERSATIONS”のみんなを迎えて、温かくて親近感のあるものにしたいなと思ったのよね。これはブランドのローンチ祝いだったけど、聖なる女性たちがどうやって出会い、何を一緒に作り上げたかということも含んだお祝いだったのよ。女性たちがクリエイティブという工程のなかでお互いをインスパイアし、助け合い、サポートし合う。これが、パーティを“GODDESS DINNER”と名付けた理由ね」

Yoko「料理も気になったのだけど、どんなメニューが出てきたの？」

Megan「私の彼は料理がとても上手なので、その晩は彼がシェフをしてくれて。簡単で美味しくて、心地よい料理がいいなと思ったの。チキンの煮込み、ローストした野菜やマッシュドポテト、ザクロの種や松の実が入ったミックスグリーンサラダなどが並び、デザートには友人が作ってきてくれた手作りの詰め合わせと、チョコレートのディップをいただいたわ」

Yoko「ディナーパーティに集まった人々はみんなスタイリッシュだけど、どういうお友達？」

Megan「半数ほどの人は、ローンチにあたって力になってくれ、サポートもしてくれる近しい友達。その他のゲストは、『Wilhelm』のスピリットを体現しているスーパークリエイティブな人たちよ」

Yoko「みんな、そこで会話をしたりダンスをしたり、また食事をしたりというわけね？　どういうことをして楽しんでいたのかしら？」

Megan「スペースの準備はさせてもらったので、みんなにはドリンクとアペリティフを気軽に楽しんでもらえたと思う。みんな、この晩自分が身につけたいクラウンを選んでお互い写真を撮り合ったりして、とても楽しかったわ。会話を存分に楽しんでいたって感じね。そしてふと気づいたら、みんなその場からいなくなっていたの。何かと思えば、彼女たちはキッチンの方へと進み、つまみ食いをしながらそこで宴会が繰り広げられていて…。もう何も言うことはなかったわね！」

Yoko「笑。他に何か楽しいエピソードがあったりする？」

Megan「ディナーの前にちょっとした話をしたいと思っていたので、全員にテーブルに集まってもらったの。各々のディナープレートにクリスタルサッチェルを用意したわ。手土産として、またクリスタルが何を表現し、それをどうやって使うのかを説明するために。そして各プレートの下に、女神のカードを忍ばせたの。そのカードは各々内容が異なるもので、受け取る人に向けて特定の情報を記したものだった。これにはみんな、本当に感激してくれたみたい。そして話が終わり、私がミュージックを再開させようとスイッチを入れ、ふと見上げると…女性たちが全員消えている…キッチンへさっさと戻ってもうディナーに取りかかってたの！」

Yoko「『Wilhelm』のブランドコンセプトやデザイナーとしてのこだわり、考え方なども教えてもらえる？」

Megan「私は自然、そして装飾品を通して女性にパワーを与えるものにインスパイアされることが多い。私が今まで使用した大好きな素材が2つあるのだけれど、それが自然の産物であるフェザーと花になるわ。女性たちには『Wilhelm』のピースを手に取ることで精神を高めたり、インスパイアされたり、美しいと感じてもらいたい」

Yoko「デザインのインスピレーションは、どういったところから得ているの？」

Megan「Frida Kahlo（フリーダ・カーロ）が最初のインスピレーション。ただこれは彼女がどう着飾っているかということだけではなく、彼女が何を具体的に体現し、表現しているかということ。そしてこの考えは、多くの女性たちと共に時間を過ごしたことで、もっと進化したものへと繋がったわ。全ては自然に起きたことで、計算をしていたことでもなく、ただ開花したという表現がぴったりね」

Yoko「仕事とプライベートは区別できているの？」

Megan「ビーチが大好きなので、夏の間、週末は友達とビーチで過ごしているわ。冬は、週末をWoodstockで過ごすことが多いかしら。NYに住んでいて重要だと感じることは、ここから抜け出して自然を知るということ。これは、混沌としたエネルギーバランスを整えるのに有効だと思う」

Yoko「クラウン（ヘッドピース）は、例えば日本の女性だとつけるのが難しい、なんて思いがちなのだけど、上手なコーディネートのコツなんてあるのかしら？　日本人女性だって、もっとヘッドピースをスタイリッシュに着こなしたい、と思っていたりするので」

Megan「私のインスタグラム、“wilhelmnyc”とブランドサイトのギャラリーページで、あらゆる女性たちが異なる着こなしで、どのように作品を身につけているか素敵なスタイルをチェックすることができるわ。アドバイスとしては、もしあなたが広い額を持っているのなら、サイドパートかアシンメトリーのタイプをぜひ試してみて」

Yoko「では最後に、今後のブランド展開について教えて」

Megan「私の働き方はとてもオーガニックなので、本当に私をインスパイアするものだけに対して仕事をするんだと思う。どうなるか、見守っていて！」

WILHELM GODDESS DINNER

WHAT:  Wilhelm Goddess Dinner is a night celebrating the Divine Feminine and the launch of wilhelm-nyc.com. Wilhelm is an empowering collection of adornment created by New York designer Megan Guip.

www.wilhelm-nyc.com |#wilhelmnyc

WHO:  Female art collective Conversations: Mia Moretti (DJ, artist), Cleo Wade (poet, artist), Liza Voloshin (artist), Margot (musician, singer) and Kate Greer (artist) Emily Weiss (Founder - Into the Gloss), Caitlin Fitzgerald (actor), Tali Lennox (model, artist), Faran Krentcil (Elle), Amirah Kassem (Founder - Flour Shop), Jauresti Saisarbitoria (Founder - Sugar Barons), Sade Lythcott, (CEO - National Black Theater), Mallane Stanbury (Photographer) Josephine Phong (Designer - Figue) Molly Austin (Actor)

WHEN:       Saturday, February 7, 2014

WHERE:     Wilhelm Studio

Yoko Kondo / Fashion Journalist（近藤陽子／ファッションジャーナリスト）

Translation / Hitomi Maeda

First of all, I'd like to thank mydear friend Liza Voloshin for giving me the opportunity to publish this interview.

 Our friendship started when she came to Tokyo for business. Ever since,we've always met up on her visits to thecity, be it for a quiet dinner and drinks, or full nights out on the town. We've always kept in touch with each other, through e-mail or over the phone, despite the fact it is a long distance between Tokyo and New York.

Liza has another facet to her portfolio in the art unit called "CONVERSATIONS" .

This unit is a photogenic collective of beautiful girls versed in the art of the DJ; Mia Morreti and Margot at IDOL in Aoyama, Tokyo 1 year ago was really amazing. Their activity seems to be flourishing as『Harper’s BAZAAR US』also featured them in a recent article, and I find it easy to sympathize with them as they are all charming and friendly.

 Liza introduced me a woman whom Liza and members of “CONVERSATIONS” are recently fascinated by. Her name is Megan Guip(Left). 

Megan started a brand specialized in head-piece named 「Wilhelm」and one night, she hosted an intimate and special party called “GODDESS DINNER”.

 So, let us introduce Megan’s beautiful work, which resembles that of a contemporary Frida Kahlo’s, and about that one hot night in NYC.

Yoko：First of all, can you tell me your own profile ?

Megan：I’m originally from Pennsylvania and moved to New York City after high school.    I attended Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris.    I traveled to Europe after school then worked in floral design and custom leather.    I was then a designer at J.Crew for 13 years.

Yoko：How have you built your carriers?

Megan：After J.Crew I took a year off to find what it was I wanted to do next. I was experimenting with various dying and embellishment techniques on silk, mainly shibori and created a small collection of scarves.  I walked into an interview wearing one and an order was placed on the spot. I had to quickly get my affairs in order to support this as I wasn't expecting it.  

I named my line Wilhelm after my father who had passed when I was 16. He was a huge creative force in my life and it’s in honor of him. Wilhelm is my passion project, a place where I can explore creatively. I have a full time consulting job that allows me to support this. I soon become fascinated with feathers and created statement pieces that could be worn like a scarf, which you can view in the archive section of my site.

Yoko：You have built your own very unique crown collection this time. Can you explain what brought you to begin designing this?

Megan：My friend was having a Day of the Dead dinner party and I had created a piece to wear. She saw it and asked if I would make a few more for the other guests. It was so well received they had encouraged me to do it under Wilhelm. I started making them and I couldn’t stop!

Yoko：All of crowns look elaborate. Like works of art. Each of the crowns has any specific story?

Megan：Thank you. Yes, I call the core group of multi-colored florals my floral army. I look at them and think… if only we could save the world with a floral army. The black and gold pieces represent the wisdom keepers of the floral army, they are their wiser elders.

This core collection expanded once I met the girls in Conversations. I participated in an art collective that they hosted in New Orleans.The theme was “Rebirth of a Goddess”, my more elaborate pieces were symbolic of this and the divine feminine. 

For example, the black feather piece represented death with six green berries representing the promise of rebirth. The humming bird piece is symbolic of fertility, the fruit piece is abundance, the cherry blossom piece represents mother earth, the antler type piece represents higher wisdom and the butterflies are the rebirth.

Yoko：It seems like you put great deal of emphasis on materials, too. What materials do you use?

Megan：I get my materials from a multitude of resources and I will only buy what I am attracted to which is always driven by color and texture. New York City has a great flower district, which is one of my resources. I will only buy silk flowers that look authentic. I am also attracted to sparkle and I like challenging myself with odd shapes. If I see a shape I love but it’s not in a color I like I will gild it.

Yoko：Is it hand-made work? How many process steps are needed in the completion of a finished work?

Megan：Yes, it is handmade work. It’s definitely more of a process. I collect these materials over time and make many arrangements by color and when I do this I can see what pieces I will develop from the color stories created. All the arrangements are out so it’s like I go into my garden and start clipping the flowers I want to work with. I’m also into gilding pieces and creating interesting silhouettes. I build the piece right on the band usually placing everything in position with pins first to see how it will work. Once it’s a shape and color combination I like I adhere it to the headband.

Yoko：How did you meet members of CONVERSATIONS?

Megan：At the time I met Converstions a small group of my friends and I had been meeting once a week to pow wow, empower and support each other with whatever it was we wanted to share. We called the night Master Mind, my friend had invited the girls to one of the nights which happened to be in my home. I had my floral army on display as I live and work out of the same space. The girls flipped over the pieces and started wearing them out and about to all of their special events.

Yoko：Are you good friends with them in private, too?

Megan：Yes, I love these girls! They are my muses. I love what they represent and I hold them very close to my heart. After that one meeting the relationship blossomed into something inspiring for all of us. We participated in the Art Collective together and after that experience I knew I wanted them to represent my brand.

Go to Interview Vol.2 here!

Yoko Kondo / Fashion Journalist

Translation / Hitomi Maeda