There is fashion and there is art. And when the two converge, only reverence and awe are justifiable reactions. If you’ve ever seen a piece by dynamic design duo David and Phillipe Blond (a.k.a. The Blonds), you’ve probably experienced this kind of instinctual response. These are the guys who make wearable magic. Their designs dance in the realm of the avant garde with the kind of grace only a master of the female form could muster. You’ve probably seen their garments on everyone from Beyonce to Jennifer Lopez, and nearly everyone in between – their preference to swath their models and clients in thousands of crystals is unmistakable and makes for quite the dramatic stage outfit.
So their work was a natural choice for Britney Spears’s revamped Piece of Me show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The fashion design duo collaborated with the pop princess to create a one-of-a-kind deconstructed corset dress hand-stitched with over 15,000 Preciosa crystals in hues of ‘sun’ and ‘hyacinth.’ “They were the perfect hues to use for this project and immediately came to mind,” said Phillipe Blond. The stunning results are pictured below. Read ahead to take a peek into the creative minds of David and Phillipe Blond as they talk celebrities, inspiration, and fashion faux pas.
Fashion Elite: Q&A with The Blonds
MFC: Your designs are out of this world. Where do you find the inspiration?
Phillipe Blond: We are very inspired by film and the escape it provides from the everyday.
MFC: Did you always know this is what you wanted to do for a living?
David Blond: Absolutely! We love that we get to do what we dreamed of as kids, it’s surreal sometimes. Don’t get me wrong…it’s extremely hard work and super challenging to be independent, but very well worth it.
MFC: Was there ever any doubt or hesitation about going after your passion?
PB: Never…in life you have to follow your gut and let the magic energy around us all guide you.
You can’t second guess and if you want something you just have to do it NO excuses!
MFC: You’ve dressed some of the biggest names out there. Is there a celeb you’d want to design for that you haven’t had a chance to yet?
PB: We’d love to work with Juliette Lewis, Grimes, Janet Jackson, Elton John and Cher obviously!
MFC: What was the creative process like for Britney’s “Piece of Me” look? How many crystals did it include?
DB: Thousands of Preciosa crystals were used on this piece…so many in fact we’ve lost count! They were all applied by hand to pave actual metallic mess fabric-like chain maille, then cut to give it a shredded look. Sprays of round Preciosa crystal beads were stitched throughout the gathering to give dimension and depth. She was meant to look savagely glamorous, balmy and hot!
MFC: What’s your biggest fashion pet peeve? Is there any faux pas that gets under your skin?
PB: Probably the biggest annoyance is the limitations people put on themselves when it comes to what they wear. As long as something fits how YOU like it to, the rest should be fun!!
MFC: Do you have a favorite crystal piece you’ve worked on so far?
DB: Our first Diamond crystal corset.
MFC: How do you stay inspired?
PB: By living in the greatest city in the world….New York!
917-519-7666
917-519-7666
917-519-7666
P.S. Can’t get enough? You can purchase The Blonds Blond Diamond™ Barbie® Doll here.
