CRISTINA CRACIUN
We're kicking off the GUESTCURATOR series of 2019 with Cristina Craciun, Fashion Editor at ELLE Romania for over 10 years and one of the most prominent figures in fashion styling in Romania. Early this January we sat down and talked fashion styling with Cristina, who generously invited us in the intimacy of her house in Bucharest, a beautiful apartment in a post-war villa that combines Moorish details with art-deco architecture.
PAWAKA 'Delapan' SUNGLASSESHOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY AND AT ELLE SPECIFICALLY?
I started in 2003 at Look! magazine and joined the ELLE team in August 2008. Can’t believe it myself that it’s been almost 11 years! What I love about fashion is the fact that it is always changing, I never get bored! And it’s not just about the clothes, but also about the photography, the art history and all the other aspects that blend in with it.
Is fashion more inclusive these days?
Definitely, there were cases also in the past, but I think 2018 marked a bigger step forward.
KALEOS EYEHUNTERS 'Vale' Limited Edition SUNGLASSESAs a stylist, do you still find it relevant to be present at fashion shows? How do you go about documenting fashion styling?
Maybe it’s not so important anymore, as you can watch them live online and always google them up, but for me it wasn’t just about the shows. Fashion weeks always have a certain energy, you can see and meet so many interesting people. That was the case before the digital era and even more nowadays, with all the street style pandemonium going on. Everything is fun and interesting to watch and it’s also the best way to document what’s going on style-wise.
We noticed your impressive coffee table books collection at home. Which fashion history book is a must for anyone interested to join the industry?
It’s hard to choose just one, but knowing costume & fashion history would be a good start, so anything that matches that should be a great option.
KAREN WALKER 'Loveville' SUNGLASSES | DITA EYEWEAR 'Axial' SUNGLASSES |
Should social media / online fashion editorials be approached differently from print content? What’s that one thing that shouldn’t miss in any editorial?
No, I think preparing an editorial always has the same process, no matter where you publish it. A certain element of surprise, something that catches the reader’s attention.
How do you approach editorials? Are they an extension of your personal taste?
It always varies. Sometimes you are inspired by a mood, a painting, a face, an artist etc and the research starts from there, always having in the back of your mind the current trends and how you can translate all that into something new. Other times you feel saturated with all the new and go back to some good old classics with a more minimal styling. So it is very much an extension of my personal mood. Also of my personal taste, but I do try to get out of my comfort zone from time to time with certain shootings.
THOM BROWNE '811' SHIELD SUNGLASSESAs an Editor, you are also an observer of the change in consumer tastes. Where do you think Romania is and where is it headed?
Like anywhere else, we have many people of many tastes, but there is definitely a good change going on in the sense that many are starting to be more fashion-conscious.
What is your view on aesthetic education?
It’s one of the most important things, if not the most important. You have to understand proportion, movement, light, colors and the list can go on. You don’t need to know them on a technical level, but references are important.
CHRISTIAN ROTH 'Droner' SUNGLASSES | KAREN WALKER 'Castaway' SUNGLASSES |
KAREN WALKER 'LOVEVILLE' |
Let’s make an exercise of imagination and try to predict one crazy fashion trend for 2020. Which one will it be and why?
Low waist, baggy trousers :) They have been out of the spotlight for too long, they’re for sure bound to make a comeback. I do think they are going to be a bit more structured though than their predecessors.
What are the online and offline fashion magazines that you regularly read?
Sadly, even I have to admit that I read almost everything online via my iPad subscriptions. Besides fashion magazines, my go-to read is Conde Nast Traveller. The only printed magazine that crosses my hands is my boyfriend’s The Economist.
PAWAKA SUNGLASSES |
We know you love traveling. What is the last place that fascinated you and why?
Comporta, Portugal. I have spent my last summer holiday there and loved it! It’s a region of a couple of villages across 100 km, very authentic, laid back and unpretentious. It’s my kind of place.
What advice would you give to aspiring fashion editors?
Practice makes perfect :) It’s not meant to sound condescending, but experience really does matter. And always be prepared with more options.
DITA EYEWEAR 'Journey' SUNGLASSESYour top three wardrobe essentials are...
A blazer, dark jeans and a white crisp shirt. Of course, their shape always changes depending on the season, but you can get away with those 3 almost anywhere.
What is your guilty pleasure in terms of styling?
Sadly, more than one. I would say jackets and shoes. Not sure which comes first.
On a closing note, if you had the power to change one thing in your industry over night, what would it be?
Having 100% sustainable fashion. It’s no secret that the fashion industry is one of the biggest pollution factors, so that would be quite an achievement.
CUTLER AND GROSS '1308' SUNGLASSESPhoto Credits: Raluca Margescu | Creative Concept: Roxana Marcu