Coucou Chloe Will Melt Your Face

July 23, 2018

London based artist Coucou Chloe makes hard-hitting, underground sounds ready for the runway, so much so that Rihanna tapped the producer's electronic elegies for her Fenty x Puma runway shows.

But with a look so piercing and elusive (those white contacts really do the trick), Coucou Chloe is more than runway-ready herself, standing at the position to pivot any which way she wants, really—fashion muse, video girl, business woman, even.

Having released her most recent EP Erika Jane (her real name) last year, she also comprises 1/4 of radical club collective and record label Nuxxe with fellow face melters Oklou, Sega Bodega and Shygirl. Their collective mission? To make an impact on the underground scene by defying genre categorization.

We sat down with Coucou Chloe to chat all things mouth jewelry, sound versus sight and BoJack Horseman.

Photos by Lars Brønseth
Interview by Will Carr Halper
Styling by Jeff Ihatsu
Hair by Kirstine Engell @ Scoop Artists
Makeup by Marie Bruce @ Eighteen Management
Production by Mr. Kingfisher

Shearling fur by Marques Almeida

When you don’t have anything to do, what are you wearing to be cozy?

I have to say that being comfy is actually the main focus on the way I dress, I don’t want to feel limited by my clothes.

Osiris D3’s?

Talking about comfort, those are an absolute dream. My everyday shoes, I love them. I remembered about it something like 3/4 years ago and tried in vain to find my size, and one day it just happened. They’re like my pet.

Jersey and top by Oloapitreps, boots by Marques Almeida; Jacket and trousers by Ashish

What is pretty?

When someone I don’t know smiles at me in the street without trying to talk to me.

How does clubbing in London affect your clothing?

I don’t think the club night in London affects the way I dress as I’m not a crazy clubber anyway. I’d talk about the general vibe of London. I just feel like you can dress as you want, nobody will judge you which was the opposite of when I was living in France.

How did you start making music?

I was playing piano when I was a child then I stopped when I was something like 13. I started to experiment with sounds, make experimentations when I was in art school.. I did this installation where an electric fan is playing electric guitar. I started to imagine a kind of DIY autonomous machine band, but I obviously never did it (would take too much space and time). So I was recording a lot of different noises and trying to do a kind of puzzle of samples. That's how I started, and I realized that I just wanted to make music. I dropped out of art school then, moved to London and learned how to use software to make music.

What's your weirdest piece of mouth jewelry?

I really like this mouth piece from Alan Crocetti, it looks like I have two shiny stalactites on my lips. I’m waiting on my two new pieces from Juanita Grillz, he is a grillz creator and he’s actually making some mad stuff. One of those pieces is a grill with plastic coloured viruses on it. Not sure how speaking will be with it, but I’ll let you know.

Online or in-person shopper?

Definitely online.

Does sound have the same beauty to you as sight?

I would like to say that I can feel stronger things through sound, but I am actually not sure how to dissociate both. Whenever I listen to music, I do picture a lot of things in my mind.

Dress by Stella McCartney, boots by Marques Almeida

What's your favorite American TV show?

Hmm, I can’t wait for the new BoJack Horseman seasons.

What did you listen to as a tween?

I actually grew up listening to a lot of different things, mostly hip-hop and electronic music.

What things were you into in high school?

I always loved discovering new music and playing video games. Video games have really been a thing for me, I used to play a lot when I was very young. I literally grew up with a controller in my hands, and all those different singular universes might influence a lot my music. I think I always wanted to make music even though it came to me way later.

Beauty

Taiba Taiba Braids Your Wasted Objects

What is your fondest memory of hair?

When my mom let me get blond hair extensions to look like Beyoncé.

Describe your hairstyles in three words.

DIY, Artistic, Bold.

If you had only one tool to style hair, what would it be?

A pintail comb.

What are you excited about?

Making things.

When they see something, they can tell it's my work.

What do you want people to notice about your work?

When I’ve done it. When they see something they can tell it’s my work.

Describe the first hairstyle you ever did.

I did my friend's hair with two plats at school.

What is the most creative style you’ve done? Or want to do?

I sprayed the hair of a girl to look like a Burberry scarf.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

A backup dancer.

What everyday objects can you turn into hairstyles?

Anything, everything. I can look at something turn it into something made out of hair.

What is the most difficult material you’ve braided on?

The bag I did for Rihanna because of the tiny LV monogram detail.

How does waste inspire you?

I can turn it into something beautiful. It is surprising what you can do, before and after, with something someone doesn’t want.

Everyone is always going to become more and more experimental.

What is the best DM you’ve ever received?

Rihanna [laughs].

How does the future of hair look like to you?

Learning more about Black hair and hair care becoming more of a thing. Everyone is always going to become more and more experimental.

How would you want your hairstyles to be remembered?

As something no one would imagine it being a hairstyle and crazy but in a good way.

Beauty

Painted Faces for Colin LoCascio FW23

February 15, 2023

Queens-based designer Colin LoCascio would say: "Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go to Queens, New York." Starting on a high note this season in his debut runway show, LoCascio's Fall/Winter 2023 collection was filled with vibrant colors, patchwork, layering and crochet and sequin textures. The ready-to-wear collection is similar to that of pieces The Nanny's Fran Drescher would wear.

In addition to fitting each look to the person wearing it, the emerging designer took the time to coordinate soft glam makeup looks unique to each model. Each look tells a story, literally from head to toe. LoCascio collaborated with the New York Makeup Academy to bring his visions to life.

office went behind the scenes of LoCascio's show to learn more about the process behind the collection, in particular, the make-up that perfectly harmonized with each person and look.

Text by Marisa Kalil-Barrino
Photos by Q iao

Through vivid childhood memories, euphoric senses and curiousity, LoCascio was able to achieve this collection. He took on a dream-like approach to create pieces such as a layered, crochet vest representing various identities. Whether it be chasing fireflies, riding carousels or visiting the Botanical Gardens, LoCascio's nostalgia was apparent in both the models' eyes and clothes.

I noticed flowers in almost every piece. What was the meaning behind them?

Flowers are an ongoing motif I launched in spring 2021. We made crochet flowers and I tried to evolve it and it became a signature. It's in our logo and I wanted to blow them up and make them cartoon-like. They're super encrusted in crystals and stones.

Sequins have been a long and heated debate in fashion for years. Were you hesitant to work with a lot of sequins?

We've never used sequins, but we are a brand that does push novelty fabrications that really felt genuine. We wanted to introduce that in sequins and really strong silhouettes. Sequins were a way to glitz it up for Fashion Week since it's my first show.

Being your first show, how do you think it went?

I think it was great...I had an amazing team. This was always a dream; I grew up in Queens, worked in the industry for so many other brands. To finally have a show with my name on it, it's such an honor.

Talk about the cohesiveness between the garments and the models' makeup.

We wanted saturation on the eyes and balanced it with a dark, smoky eye with dramatic false lashes on the top and bottom eyelids. Looking at each look, we dictated which colors would be best. We wanted to bring a New York grit with the under-eye falsies.

How do you want people to feel in this collection?

I want them to feel empowered. We had so many different types of models on the runway and it's all about embracing your individuality. Leading with that, I think there are so many amazing pieces. When you put on something that you feel good in and are excited about, you have that vibe and shine, like, 'I'm a bad bitch, I don't care what any of you say...' and that's a Colin LoCascio girl.

Beauty

Spurred by Kitsch and Glamour

As promised, the WILD STAR collection pays homage to our inner cowgirl — sexy, powerful yet always aligned and the spirit of the natural world. Ffrench is creating an entirely new fantasy for us this time, in a fashion similar to how she creates the multitude of eccentric, sparkling characters through her own beauty looks. From the brand's previous collection, the hardware-heavy BDSM-giving INDUSTRIAL, we see a major transition in identity to WILDSTAR, with vibrant hues of pink and baby blue that glitter against matte nudes to create a feminine, gorgeous look. Bold lip liners outline burnt bronze shimmering lipsticks that sparkle with seduction.

As if we needed any further evidence that we should join the Ffrench fanclub, each of ISAMAYA’s collections are accompanied by a partnership with a charity supporting causes close to founder Isamaya Ffrench's heart. The WILD STAR Collection joins ISAMAYA with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), a nonprofit organization defending America’s wild horses and burros to protect their freedom, preserve their natural habitats, and promote human standards of treatment.

For the collection launch, ISAMAYA will be parking an Airstream in different locations each day previewing the new collection, WILD STAR. Founder Isamaya Ffrench herself will be on site, offering makeovers and more. To follow the journey or meet Isamaya herself, head over the the brand's Instagram for more information.

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Coucou Chloe Will Melt Your Face

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