Milena Đurđić is among the few Montenegrin designers who create clothes for both women and men, and she will be in charge of styling this year's representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, Vanja Radovanović.
As she confirmed in an interview with "Vijesti", all the actors on the stage, i.e. the accompanying vocalists, will wear costumes that she will create, and she also revealed how this collaboration came about.
"After 'Montevizija 2018', for which I did the styling for the host Dajana Golubović Pejović, and which was very noticeable, in addition to the domestic fashion critics and media from Belgrade, Vanja Radovanović contacted me with the proposal to do the styling for his performance at Eurovision. Of course I gladly and with great pleasure accepted", explained Đurđić, who also presented men's models as part of her latest collection, "To Tesla's Code".
Although fashion journalists declared it the most successful collection of the last Montenegro Fashion Week, and it also received positive comments from the audience, it will not strive for similar solutions when designing for Radovanović.
"The nature of this musical event, the Eurovision Song Contest and our view of Vanja's performance that evening require special stage design solutions and a completely different costume. But, considering that Vanja has performances and presentations in several European cities before Eurovision, we will use some costumes from the mentioned collection for them", continues the designer, and then reveals how her and the musician's ideas, styles and tastes coincided.
"Vanja is a young musical artist with a unique artistic style that he is successfully building on. I listened to 'Inje' several times, paying attention to both the lyrics and the music, as well as to Vanja's emotion in the interpretation. I made several sketches as conceptual solutions, and then Vanja, his wife Ivana and I analyzed, exchanged opinions and, to our mutual satisfaction, we understood each other very well", points out Đurđić and adds that they agreed when it comes to Vanja's appearance on the largest European music event.
Đurđić will also be in charge of the appearance of the backing vocals, which is logical for her, because they are all "inseparable participants in the same story and performance".
"Costumes for women - backing vocals, are thematically related to Vanja. I experience them, and this is how I will present them, as his strength, support, the voice of his heart, answers, voices that subtly 'whisper' to him and complement his emotion. They will connect and follow the thread of Vanja's costume," she hints.
When asked if it is really easier, as many assume, to design for women than for men, Đurđić answers that this is not the case.
"Generally speaking, it can be said that it is easier to create for women, because women's clothing gives much more space for form, construction, freedom of imagination... However, when you have good inspiration, as it is this time, personally, there is no difference I notice", she clarified and continued:
"A wonderful love song, an emotional interpretation of the great Vanja, the presentation of Montenegro, the Eurovision Song Contest as the biggest musical event on the planet, and my perception of all that, translated and painted into form and colors, I hope will result in an original, unusual costume, in full harmony with the song and the contractor".
The creator adds that the audience can certainly expect a different costume than we are used to when it comes to the Montenegrin representatives of Montenegro.
She showed this with the creation of a dress for the presenter of Montevizia, which attracted a large number of fashion lovers.
"The creation was made especially for Diana and that occasion. The character of the event – the choice of the song and artist who will represent Montenegro at Eurovision, required a special stage design solution for the great and beautiful presenter, who had one of the main roles that evening", she says, and then reveals the symbolism of the toilet:
"My idea was to create a creation that would 'speak', send a message, evoke an emotion, including our famous (Montenegrin pride). Therefore, I used a light blue material that symbolizes the sky, heights (only the sky is the limit), our striving for high goals. The principle of male (pants)/female (skirt, dress) combination in creation represents the unity of male strength, in the history and tradition of Montenegro, brave warriors and female tenderness, refinement, but also courage. The message is that Montenegro is free, beautiful, proud...".
Despite these "extraordinary" tasks, Đurđić does not neglect work on her own collection, so the audience can expect her new collection soon.
"Our work is such that we often work on several projects. I am just finishing the collection of wedding dresses, which should be presented for the first time at the upcoming Montenegrin Fashion Show (MFW). Also, I am working on a project that I have been announcing for a long time and due to various circumstances, I have prolonged its implementation. It is about my independent, biggest project so far, of a multimedia character: fashion, music and acting, the central part of which is a fashion show of a specially made and larger collection", she promises.
"After the competition we will be even more proud of him"
Đurđić was also in the mood to reveal her expectations regarding the placement of this year's Montenegrin representative at the Eurovision Song Contest.
"First of all, I expect a good, emotional interpretation from the very talented Vanja, I am convinced that he will do his best and represent our country worthily. It is ungrateful to predict what kind of placement it will be, because we know that many factors have a decisive influence on it. I don't think he should be burdened with such a burden. In any case, I think that after the Eurovision Song Contest we will be even more proud of him", she believes.
A man with a guitar who writes songs likes comfortable clothes
Radovanović also talked about the collaboration with Đurđić, who pointed out that he is extremely glad that she will come up with his styling.
“I wouldn't reveal too much about it, but what I can say is that everything will be part of one concept. I think the performance will be in the same spirit as the song and video," he says.
That he is open to unusual ideas was shown by his performance at Montevizia, where, unlike many of his male colleagues, he did not opt for a classic suit.
"That's how it was at Montevideo, but also in the music video, so it will be something different with the performance as well. As for me, I'm a guy with a guitar who writes songs and I like to wear what I feel comfortable in, and it's certainly not suits. I've always felt good in a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers," admits Radovanović, and then reveals how open he is to new ideas.
"If it's something that will satisfy my comfort, and at the same time it's not everyday, that's okay. I know that Milena has that sensibility and that we can make a beautiful story. By the way, I'm not the type that follows trends, the only thing I know is what I don't want and that's what I go by," is the honest musician, who will visit London on April 5 during his promo tour.
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