CL with Jeremy Scott in Paper Magazine

[seulgibear.livejournal.com]

Jeremy Scott is a high-fashion Pied Piper for pop stars of all nations. The Kansas City, MO, native launched his first eponymous collection in 1997 and quickly became known for his unabashedly whimsical designs. Then, in 2013, his career took a dramatic turn toward luxury: he was named creative director of the Italian brand Moschino, whose founder, Franco Moschino, with his tongue-in-cheek design humor, was a true spiritual father to Scott. The moment the young American took over, Moschino pieces became collectors' items, from French-fry phones to leather-jacket handbags. Between Moschino and his own line, Scott has dressed a cavalcade of chart-toppers including Madonna, Rihanna and Miley. Here, Scott's partner in crime is his bestie CL, a 24-year-old megastar in her native South Korea who's got her sights set on changing perceptions and inspiring girls worldwide. We sat with them after their shoot to talk about the endless iterations of luxury -- high and low, East and West, then and now.

Jeremy, can you tell me who CL is and why you love her?

Jeremy Scott: To me, she is one of my best friends; to her fans, she's the Baddest Female. So yeah, it's a dichotomy. I know she also has an image, and I'm aware of the image -- I contribute to the image. But when I think of her, I don't think of that. I think of who I love and who I know, and it's a very loyal, very sincere and very smart person.

How did you guys meet?

CL: Well, I wore his Adidas shoes in my very first video, and you [Jeremy] saw it on the Internet, and someone from Adidas contacted you?

Scott: I was coming to Korea for Adidas and I said, "I want to do a shoot with her. I want to meet her. I love her. I'm obsessed!" They set up a photo shoot for us so we could meet and do something.Actually, the first video was "Fire"?

CL: Yes.

Scott: So there were pieces from my own collection in the video and we just instantly clicked. I came dancing into the studio...

CL: We had so much fun. I still remember that day.

Scott: And somehow she coaxed me within a few days to go onstage with her to perform in Korean -- which I don't speak!

CL: You were good!

Scott: And I somehow rapped or sang in Korean.

CL: Yeah. The youngest girl in my band, because we were performing at a club, couldn't come in.

Scott: She was underage so I took her part. It was a lot of fun. We have many good memories, and we've had many, many, many since then -- not with me onstage though!

Do you feel like you need a celebrity or a recognizable face for a luxury line these days?

Scott: I have such an affinity for musicians especially. I'm not really an actress' designer. I love musicians because, if their job is to personify a part of their personality, then I can come in and help turn up the volume on it. I love that, because it is really being with a unique person and creating with a unique person, and that's why I have these strong female relationships like I do with CL, Katy, Rih, Miley. I'm lucky I have those relationships with people I feel so inspired by. I am the musicians' designer because I do things that are stronger and more eccentric. I get it: actresses have to blend and become other people all the time. I'm not that person. My design stands out, it personifies. It's like a megaphone. And I love that [CL et al] can carry my message further.

CL, as a pop star, how do you see that relationship between music and fashion?

It always goes together. But I feel full when I wear Jeremy's stuff. Sometimes it could get boring if you just wear all black, but his all black is a whole different thing. So whatever I wear, I feel like I could play this character onstage; it gets me into that zone. I started wearing his stuff when I started my career, so it's always been there.

What is it about Jeremy's work that speaks to Korean audiences?

CL: It's not only Korea; I'd say it's the whole Asian market. A lot of his fans show up when I'm there in Asia, and vice versa. I think they love it because it's just good! How else can I explain that? In Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, we're more into colorful, cute, very animated, so I think we're more connected to that too.

Scott: I feel like Asia has always been super open to "new." Maybe because there's already such an ancient culture, anything new is exciting. I feel like that's why it's always been so quickly embraced there. I do think my clothes set you apart, and that is something that is great in Asia. There is less hair-color difference, unless you input it yourself, and there are things that are already keeping people more similar, so you can set yourself apart easier.

Is Korea a major force in luxury?

CL: I think a lot of the young kids right now are looking for something new,and they want to look different. Especially girls, and this is why I'm trying to come out here -- to set an example of an Asian girl. A lot of Asian girls love being basic because it's safe. But the thing is, a lot of my fans are those girls, and they want to be bolder, but there's no one they could look up to and be like, It's OK to be that way. There's no one out here who will do that, and I feel like I have done enough for Asia and changed a lot of girls. Even if it's a phone case, they try. Girls in Asia are very obedient, shy, timid, quiet, but I can tell that it's changing, and I want them to be stronger and tell them that it's OK to be different. Being special is a luxury, and I don't think we have that. Yet.

(OP note: I removed a couple of answers from JS that were not about CL. You can see the rest at the source)


Source: papermag

Comments

[adlyeith.livejournal.com]

Why do some of these pictures look like they just photoshopped the two together? I dunno why, but something is bugging me about how these images look.

Love the hair color though, and the clothes look amazing on her.

[kimiko1387.livejournal.com]

There are barely any shadows because of the lighting, so there is very little sense of depth.

[slowitdownbaby.livejournal.com]

A lot of Asian girls love being basic because it's safe.

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

To lump all Asian girls together like that. Some may like playing it safe, but there are plenty that don't.

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if she's posing with a person or a wax figure.

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

Ummm at that last answer. I just saw Jennifer Lopez was on the cover for September issue. Do they multiple covers this month?

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

I just check their website and yeah they are doing a multiple cover.

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

the other photos looks better than the one they chose for the cover

also i thought jlo was on the cover this month, is there more than one cover?

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

Yep, I just did a quick check on their website and they have two covers for September.

[fancy-sheets.livejournal.com]

he's hurt

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

A lot of Asian girls love being basic because it's safe.

Are you sure about that CL? Are you sure?

ARE?


YOU?


SURE?


ABOUT?


THAT?

[awsteven.livejournal.com]

omg so in love with the outfits in the 3rd and 6th pics! esp the flower printed blazer, i need that asap

[kamoku-ayame.livejournal.com]

Loving her hair color

Not sure how I feel about her answer to the last question. I'm happy she's trying to be a role model but the way it's worded slightly annoyed me

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

Whoever did that cover HATES her. JLO's is perfect btw.

I like that her definition of being special, and dressing outside the box, is appropriating black culture.

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

JLo's is freakin gorgeous. Every pic was perfect.

[oxfordowls1.livejournal.com]

I genuinely hate moschino and Jeremy Scott, she looks really weird in the pictures but I like her hair colour. I pretty much agree w/ everyone else abt the last comment because it was poorly worded

[krunkri.livejournal.com]

but there's no one they could look up to and be like, It's OK to be that way. There's no one out here who will do that

the way she answered that last question kind of rubbed me the wrong way? there are other asian girls out there being rolemodels and ~breaking the mold~ lmao, but she's talking like she's The (only) One

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

it's basically ~i'm different from those other girls~ but throw in the asian part in there

[atenais-pala.livejournal.com]

She looks so much older in these pictures.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it looks like they shaved some years off Jeremy then added them on to her.

[chukachukachoo.livejournal.com]

it's like i almost get what she's saying but instead of saying "all Asian girls are like this" she should talk about expectations put on Korean (since she's korean) girls/women and hardships she's encountered in the industry as a woman & someone not considered conventionally attractive...because that last answer is not the business

[fukkthedumbshyt.livejournal.com]

This.

[jazzy4heard.livejournal.com]

Her answer to the last question irks me..
I dont know, maybe it is because I dont like her definition of being bold and stronger. Being not safe, shy, timid, and quiet does not translate as stronger in my opinion. Well, partly but not necessarily so.
Also the impression that the "Asia" she's been helping to change is the East Asia. I guess a lot of people (including her) forget that there are other parts of Asia.

But well, It's good for her that she is now recognized more outside Asia.

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

jeremy scott is such a flop in terms of bringing anything new to the table... he tried at the beginning but now he's doing the same thing all over again. like i get he's trying to be ~unique~ etc but his clothes aren't pretty, creative or flattering. he keeps on rehashing things and at this point it's... pointless

[ebenetwo.livejournal.com]

i hate both of them

[walkingparadoxx.livejournal.com]

omg at your comment and the one below yours. also sis bye.

[burqaswag.livejournal.com]

I love both of them

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

ugh, i hate her new look, her makeup and everything, it looks so overdone and her lips look puffed up... she looks like iggy azalea and jeremy looks like he's made of wax
bring back crush era CL

[samii3104.livejournal.com]

I really hate this reocurring message she's sending out that's suppose to advocate for Asian women individuality but at the same time affirming the generalization that Asian women have no identity nor role models. Some of y'all called it, it's self-promotion and has nothing to do with standing for something greater than herself. Kitsch fashion aside, she's more successful in getting in the fashion industry than the music industry, and her friendship with JS does seem genuine and cute.

[la-geni.livejournal.com]

Im confused because didnt she give an interview to whoever where she said the opposite of this, that she wasnt trying to be a rebel? Her words are not coming out right and calling Asian girls basic is a self-drag. Maybe she needs to go take a college course on American sociology because she is coming off as unaware or even detached. Her LA bubble of privileged white hipsters probably has something to do with it.

[typhlogirl.livejournal.com]

I love her but I hate Moschino :/ ugh

Get that promo tho, girl.

[awsteven.livejournal.com]

in the last question, is she referring to asian girls in asia or asian american girls? cause asian american fashion for girls is pretty diverse compared to korea. like you'll have girls who dress "basic" and girls who dress like cl only less tacky

[jrt131n.livejournal.com]

I really don't think she means Asian Americans.

[pinkwingsblack.livejournal.com]

basic? safe? i don't think of japanese youth culture that way.... okay, whatever CL whatever. i get what you are trying to do but generalizations hurt more than help.
anyways, that dude ... scares me. and idk who is PS the images but they are not doing justice to CL. she looks really harsh (and slightly .... chubby. i know she's not irl but in the photos, they don't do her justice)

[bauci.livejournal.com]

They look like Die Antwoord but better fed.

[sjtaazrz.livejournal.com]

Cannot unsee! O.o