As a great writer and blogger Yvonne Renard is a regular contributor to the Schön! Magazine. Her opinionated and edgy posts can also be found on her blog: www.parlez-vous-prada.blogspot.com

Any personal info you’d like to share? Anything that you think is significant and has affected your work?

“I was born in ‘72  in Italy  but I’m a mix of places and origins, as my name can suggest .

I grew up with music and skate, I have played guitar and was a singer in several bands across the years, I have worked in radios and played as DJ. So music is my great passion. Everything I create has been done listening music.

This mix of places I’m from has contributes to create my artistic identity as well - but first of all I think that what I do comes out from my burning desire to communicate, probably with myself first.

My inspiration comes out from daily feelings, from the people I meet, from women, from my internal monologues, from my life, my fears, my loves.

Making images is my  perfect solution to cure me and  spread my identity around.”

How did you get into illustration?

“I was very confused when I was younger about my future - My passion for images was stronger than the rest probably. Doing other works had made my motivations strongest, so I found that is better to pay prices for what we love than taking shortcuts.”

Do you have any formal education in what you do now or not? And how did that affect your work and progress?

“I have no formal education, I’m self taught. It was not simple. But is more simple if you have a strong passion with or without formal education in art, and if you choose to pay the prices for your passion.

But I was utterly alone when I started. I had more problems here in Italy than in the rest of the world, my works have spoken for me fortunately.”

Tell me more about the concept of your work. Where do you sell, do you work on demand or only sell what you made?

“I work on demand as a commissioned artist and as illustrator with my agents or alone around the world and I sell in galleries, in shops and directly etc.”

Did you work for major companies? And how is it working for yourself? Does it bring freedom or constant fear or risking everything?

“Working for yourself is more difficult but more “true” if  you have a strong artistic  identity and good nerves.”

Was it difficult to make it on a scene?

“Yes it is but sometimes the trip has sense, and all experiences between , not only results. Or money. As a famous artist told me “Hens don’t do the shopping”. What I know is that if I’m consistent with myself and my dreams I feel better.”

What do you think are the advantages of small business versus big companies? And is it hard to put your name on the map among all those already established brands?

“Small business = more freedom”

Where do you get your inspiration from?

“From life, from streets, from people, from life…”

How did the idea start and what were the obstacles you had to go through?

“My idea started out from the pain of doing what I cannot do.. to loose the possibility to become what I feel from when I was a child.”

Where do you live and how do you like it?

“I live in Italy, I think that the centre of fashion nowadays is still Paris. But the “trendy” place is Rio de Janeiro.”

Do you have a favourite designer and who?

“My favorites are: Alexander Mcqueen,Ghesquière,Tisci, Issey Miyake. For accessories Delfina Delettrez.”

What is the best perk in your job?

“Blowing with dreams.”

What advice would you give to people wanting to start a career in fashion?

“Whatever you decide to do in your life, just believe in your passion.”

Do you follow trends in fashion?

“No”

What is the most valuable thing in life?

“Freedom”

What’s your philosophy about the fashion today?

“Fashion today is for me promote self subjective style, dress with originality and individuality out of the flock.”

Is there anyone you would like to work with / for?

“For everyone who can appreciate my work”

Last week Schön! Magazine celebrated its sensational 6^th issue which is now not only available in print but has also gone global!

The guest list for the party was absolutely full! Hundreds of glam and sexy people queued to Molton House just after 7pm, all ready to party and commemorate our success.

Everyone was welcomed with a copy of our magazine and a free drink token thanks to our Russian Standard Vodka and Ibiza Ice sponsors. The place was filled with dazzling and friendly atmosphere full of photographers taking snaps, designers, stylists, and fashion journalists, chatting about latest trends and models, exchanging contacts and of course, admiring our magnificent magazine!

We were privileged to be looked after by the most reputable DJ Olli Collins, who blew everyone away with the most incredible tunes, creating unforgettable spirit for guests who partied on four different floors; all equipped with the best cocktail bars and handsome bar attendants. As in every well-respected fashion party, our guests were given Schön! stylish goody bags full of amazing freebies. Hundreds of them disappeared from the table within minutes!

Schön! Magazine was honoured to see Callum Wilson, the face cover of issue six, as well as other VIPs’ who made an effort to celebrate our achievement with the Schön! Magazine crew. On behalf of Raoul Keil, the founder and creative director of Nineteen74.com and editor-in-chief of Schön! Magazine, we would like to thank everyone for the great support and wonderful time we had at the party.

 Schön! is now global! Get your copy now! 

Behind the scenes photography by Natalia Albicka www.myspace.com/albickaja

Behind the scenes photography by Gabriel Lovas

Behind the scenes photography by Boris Conte

“Now in my early thirties, I understand the transience and fragility of life. My motto is to live it up and out, to be merry regardless of circumstances, to love and to care for my dearest and others - lastly to treat every day as a unique point of my journey,” said Dimitris Theocharis, who is the most talented photographer you will ever come across.

Every photo shoot he does is a pure indulgence for the eyes. The super talented London-based freelancer shot a beautiful bold editorial for our Schön! Magazine. Dimitris is truly one of the finest and most extraordinary photographer’s that I know and his amazing talent speaks throughout his work. He is also a member of Nineteen74 and you can view his full profile by clicking here

Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Evening Standard and many other publishers already exposed his talent on their magazine pages. His artistic work Arthur featured in the fifth edition of Schön! beautifully captures man’s masculinity combined with his femininity. Brave, daring black & white shoots look just superb! Dimitris focused on the model’s face as well as the movement of his body. With a help of accessories such as ladder, coffee mug or a cigarette he created an idea of a strong and dominant man where in others the model’s body language represents his delicacy and femininity. 

Dimitris also photographed incredible The Six Continents for the cover story of our forth cover issue of Schön! Magazine. If you not familiar with Dimitris’s work make sure you visit his website www.dimitristheocharis.com which is full of stunning shoots. I specifically like the fashion series: Indigo and Amber. The last one was partially lit by candles to get the effect of warmth. Pure creativity and imagination!

Text / Iwona Wlodarczyk 

As a great writer and blogger Yvonne Renard is a regular contributor to the Schön! Magazine. Her opinionated and edgy posts can also be found on her blog: www.parlez-vous-prada.blogspot.com

“I was born from an humble family, on a breezy morning on the summer of 62, I come from one of the smallest country in the world (San Marino), I can’t really tell if this did afflicted my works (probably yes).”

How did you get into photography?

“Since a was kid I was the only one in the family able to manage a Zenit reflex camera, my parents brought home from a trip, but I was always involved with everything relate to arts discipline, my favourite subject, always been the human being in all aspects, so fashion photography, was definitely my filed.”

Do you have any formal education in what you do now? If yes, which and how did that affect your work, did it help a lot, did it prepare you well?

“Yes, first art school, where I have received an artistic animation carton education, at the end of the course I switched for a photographic course at the European school of design. For what I am, I think it was essential.”

Tell me more about the concept of your work. Where do you sell, do you work on demand or only sell what you made?

“Rarely I sell the pics as an art pieces, mostly I work upon commission, on editorial or commercial basis, such as catalogue and campaign, for the fashion and cosmetic industry.”

Did you work for major companies? And how is it working for yourself? Does it bring freedom or constant fear or risking everything?

“Working for myself is the only way I know, the only way possible for a creative profession, and yes you always have to face that constant fear of risking all, but I must say, after a wile, you grow up with self confidence and you can use that fear as tool to improve yourself and your creativity.”

Was it difficult to make it on a scene?

“More then I was expecting when I first dreamed to be an established photographer as a career.”

What do you think are the advantages of small business versus big companies?

“Always better to have lots of small business then only one big client, but on people perception, a big company makes you become a bigger photographer, not to forget also how sometime it’s good to work with big budget…”

And is it hard to put your name on the map among all those who have already established themselves?

“For sure nothing comes easy, there are so many photographers, some of them are really good and skilled, and it’s a constant growing consciousness about getting more and more creative, innovative and breaking boundaries of communication, there’s no room to sit back and relax, every new story I do, it brings my work ahead of a step.”

Where do you get your inspiration from?

“Mostly it comes out from my very deep self… Everything that happens to me brings some inspiration; it can be a book, a film, or just something I’ve seen happen on the street, mostly from my background in history of art… and my childhood heritage.”

How did the idea start and what were the obstacles you had to go through?

“Not always at the same way, sometime it starts from a fashion concept, sometime from a character of a book or a film, and then I’m trying to visualize it, mostly I start putting all those element together and I let things happen in front of the camera, I don’t have a pre-constructed layout kind of mind, I do have hints and elements, my job it’s to force the situation and make it happen. For sure the choices I made are essential.”

Where do you live and how do you like it?

“I do live in the North of Italy, on a small town, that’s make me feel like the life I lived in the childhood, then the works keep me in the big towns, and constant traveling, so when I get home I like to get the business out, this gives the balance I’m looking in my existence.”

What do you think of its street fashion?

“That’s what intrigues me most, I like when the fashion comes form the streets, I always have an eye for this, and not only in terms of clothes…”

Which city do you consider to be a world centre of fashion nowadays?

“The internet!”

Do you have a favourite designer and who?

“For my own style, Prada man, for a fashion editorial, I like A. McQueen, Miu Miu, Prada, Scognamiglio, Chloè.”

What is the best perk in your job?

“Traveling, having to deal with the highest standard of beauty and style.”

What advice would you give to people wanting to start a career in fashion?

“Work hard…”

Do you follow trends in fashion?

“Only notice them…”

What is the most valuable thing in life?

“Those things that money can’t buy… (Happiness, love, pride, ethic, health)”

What’s your philosophy about the fashion today?

“Fashion - it’s a social, political statement of identity (it’s always been like that).”

Is there anyone you would like to work with / for?

“With all those who wants to works with me.. (I am democratic).

For all of you who want to know more about me, you can find all the answer in my pictures, it’s all in the pictures!”

Schön! 6 - Taste it!

Promising an aromatic melange of creative spices, Schön! 6 boasts a scrumptious treat with all the trimmings. Globally distributed in print for the first time, Schön! 6 delivers a delicious spread of fashion and photography for you to selfishly indulge in.

Served in print, online, or as an iPhone app, Schön! 6 sizzles out of the kitchen with a delectable selection of features from Jannis Tsipoulanis, Dimitris Theocharis and Fulvio Maiani, as well as some food for thought and nutrition for the soul.

Taste it at http://www.nineteen74.com/magazine