ana quasoar
Walking into Ana Quasoar’s showroom in the 2nd arrondissement is like stepping through Alice’s Looking glass. All at once, you’re transported from the loud, busy streets of Paris into a magical world full of cherubs and fairies, princesses and queens. Her ethereal designs carry you across lands and through time, with Ana playing Scheherazade, Perrault and the White Rabbit all rolled into one.
parisian party: Where do you find your inspiration?
ana quasoar: My inspirations are diverse. When I was a child, I used to love to read fairy tales and legends, and so I’m full of tales from all over the world- Japan, South America, Greek Mythology - all of these stories give me hints and inspiration. For instance, I was thinking about a fairytale about a beautiful princess who goes to a ball, and as she dances, flowers, pearls and precious stones fall from her dress. So I designed this dress like a cornucopia… And when a girl walks in it, she is literally floating… I’m a storyteller, each dress that I create has its’ own story. I never tell the story to clients in words, though, but when they put on one of my dresses, the story comes to life.
pp: Who are your clients? Is there a typical Ana Quasoar client?
aq: I have clients from 21 – 60 years old! Some are choosing dresses for their 2nd wedding, or are mothers of the bride… My clients are very, very different from each other. I have clients that are feminine and sexy, others who are sporty and natural. Far from each other, but they all want the same thing- a high-quality gown that represents who they are.
ana quasoar showroom, paris
You know, we women are full of contradictions- this is what gives us our charm. That’s what I love about women- they play on so many levels all of the time. In the morning, a woman may take her children to school, then she goes to work, then maybe she goes to a party after work- playing so many roles throughout one day. For me, a woman in her wedding gown must express at least 2 or three aspects of herself. We enhance 2 or three of these aspects to make her feel like a star on her wedding day- but a star that looks like herself. I’m not here to change a woman’s image. I’m here to supplement, to enhance who she already is.
I also love creating transformable dresses which compliment these multiple roles. Creating, for instance, a short dress with a big removable skirt. So a bride would have a long dress for the ceremony, and transform it into a shorter dress for the reception and party. Some dresses have a bustier or a jacket that you can wear again. I like to play with elements that you can mix in different ways. So you have several silhouettes, not just one.
pp: How do you create a collection? Do you design all year round, or do you set aside a specific amount of time ?
aq: Most of the time, I work on one short theme at a time, never on a complete collection. I can work at any place and at any time, but always on a small
ana quasoar showroom, paris
theme- because my work isn’t a seasonal story. Its more like 1001 Nights or Alice in Wonderland. It’s a story, that suddenly leads into another story, and on and on… Also, my dresses transform themselves while we are working. I don’t make a drawing then give it to my assistant and say, “make that”; I’m creating the dress with them. Sometimes I’m starting a dress in one way, and then suddenly the dress leads itself into another direction. For me, each dress is a potential- it’s not something that is formatted that can’t be changed. My dresses are stories that can be continued here or somewhere else…
pp: In America, Vera Wang has been credited with revolutionizing the modern American bride. Who do you think has played a part in influencing current French wedding style?
aq: I think before Max Chaoul, the scene around wedding dresses in France was very boring. But then Max Chaoul arrived and he had such an impact with his crazy scenarios. We have very different styles of designing, but I do recognize that he is someone who really shook up the wedding scene in France. There is also Delphine Manivet. She expresses something that, again, is different from my own universe, but is still very authentic and responding to a need. They are very opposite, but for me, they are shaking it up a bit. Max brings a sense of fun and craziness, Delphine brings a down-to-earth, relaxed style, and I think I’m more baroque and pure- in between the two, I imagine. But we are all passionate about what we do.
ana quasoar finale, paris
pp: All around the world, brides dream of coming to Paris to buy their wedding gown. Can you describe a little bit the experience that a bride would have purchasing an Ana Quasoar gown?
aq: We have clients coming from all over the world. Some come in with a file of photos and notes and they know exactly what they want. Some come with a drawing that they’ve made, and we’ll talk a bit, then I’ll go over and select a gown from my collection and they’ll tell me that its exactly how they imagined their dress! Some girls have no idea at all and are nervous. My role then is to make a shelter for them, and to help them to really discover what part of themselves that they want to put out there on display.
If a client isn’t living in France, we really try to arrange the fittings around the bride’s schedule. Typically we will need 2 or 3 visits. If she comes in, has a coup de coeur with one of my gowns, we’ll take her measurements and can have her toile within a few days. Then the next visit will be the fitting with the unfinished dress, and if it’s possible for her to stay in Paris for a few days, then we can usually complete the dress after that fitting. This of course depends on how detailed the dress is. Normally, the entire process takes a few months, but it also depends on the time of year.
Even though we ship worldwide, most brides want to come and pick the finished dress up themselves. One thing that I like to do before she leaves is to council her on the whole story- how she will walk in the dress, what style of bouquet would best suit her in her gown. All the details that will make her feel the most comfortable. All brides have their own personal story that I try to help them to express on their wedding day. It’s not just about selling the gown, it’s like a piece of jewelery or a perfume that has been created sur mesure. It’s not just a dress, but also the image of yourself that I’m creating.
When in Paris, be sure to take a magical trip into Ana Quasoar’s showroom, by appointment, at 7, Rue Banque 75002, +33 1 47 03 37 37 www.anaquasoar.com
