Zofia Krasicki von Siecin: 10 Questions with The Couturist

The content producer takes us into the world of haute couture with her new YouTube series, Couturist.

From John Galliano’s recent viral Maison Martin Margiela show, complete with stilted walks and doll-like plastic makeup to Karl Lagerfeld’s years at the helm of Chanel, the world of haute couture has always been a source of fascination for audiences. And yet, it remains deliberately opaque to all but the few who consider themselves clients. Zofia Krasicki von Siecin is out to change that. The Melbourne-born and London-based content producer founded Z Productions and today her series Couturist launches on YouTube. Designed to bring us into this rarified world. Krasicki von Siecin hopes to educate, inspire, and entertain those who hope to gain a deeper understanding into the craftsmanship behind these works of arts. Consisting of three episodes, it’ll drop weekly and takes viewers along as she creates custom looks with the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Stephane Rolland to name a few.

Fashion has always been a major part of Krasicki von Siecin’s life as she notes that her grandmother, Lady Primrose Potter, was a lifelong philanthropist with a distinctive style. “I used to watch my mother and my grandmother have their own clothes made and found it to be a highly personal process. There was always a part of me that wanted to build my own collection and I wanted to bring people along for the experience,” she says. To pursue those goals, Krasicki von Siecin moved to London to pursue a masters in Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation. And true to her family’s legacy, she remains an avid patron of the arts.

In celebration of Couturist, 10 Magazine USA’s editor-in-chief Dora Fung along with Krasicki von Siecin, clad in her Jean Paul Gaultier couture look, co-hosted an intimate dinner at Raf’s in New York City last night. With a guest list full of editors, stylists, and friends, it was a chance to celebrate a communal love of the craftsmanship and artistry behind haute couture. We also caught up with Krasicki von Siecin to chat about her new series, deserted island essentials, and where she sees the future of Z Productions. Read on for more and scroll through images from the evening.

1. What inspired you to start Couturist? Take us through the creative process.

There’s a lot of confusion around what haute couture really is with a number of rules as dictated by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. Everything from the number of people on staff to how many collections per year is regulated by them. Most people don’t know these facts. Beyond that, there’s also a lack of knowledge around the craft and artisans who dedicate themselves to this type of work. Partly, it’s because of the level of secrecy that surrounds this world. I wanted to create a platform where people could see for themselves firsthand the level of work and dedication going into the making of these garments. If these kinds of things are not celebrated, they may not exist in the future.

2. Was there anything that surprised you during the process?

The fact that there are different seamstresses with different specialties! One may only like to work on dresses and embroidery while another one focuses on tailoring and fit. So a couture piece is actually made using multiple seamstresses that bring their unique skills to the table and it’s a collaborative process where they come together to create works of art.

3. Who would be a dream subject to feature on Couturist?

There are many! Off the top of my head at the moment, Giorgio Armani. He’s about to celebrate his 90th birthday so it’s a huge moment. I’ve worked with Armani Privé on gowns, skirts, and a bustier. They have the most lush fabrics and beautiful use of color and embroidery. Every bead, sequin, and stitch is made in their atelier and it’s an astounding level of craft to be able to do that.

4. What’s the one book, show, or movie everyone needs to watch and why?

The Eye Must Travel, the Diana Vreeland documentary. She’s such an icon and was so ahead of her time. Her influence on fashion and on magazines cannot be underestimated! Every moment in the film still feels very modern and there’s a lot we can learn from her.

5. What’s your go-to thank you gift?

Diptyque’s Roses candle or room spray! The flower reminds me of my mother and my grandmother as they both had gardens when I was growing up. My grandmother in particular would potter about and always hand me a rose at the end of the day. So it’s a sweet memory and why I love the scent. As for Diptyque, it’s the brand that feels most true to the scent of a fresh bloom.

6. You’re on a desert island, who do you bring and why? And also what are your emergency supplies?

Well, first of all water because you’ll die without it as well as chocolate because I literally cannot go a day without having some. And the person that I would bring is my friend and stylist, Nolan Meader. He’d keep me laughing through the entire ordeal, so we’d end up having a good time.

7. What’s the best advice you ever received?

My dad used to always say that life is all about compromise and negotiation.

8. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Besides chocolate, it’d be Real Housewives, particularly New York and Beverly Hills. My favorite is Lisa Vanderpump. She has that British humor plus she’s very beautiful and elegant. Everything surrounding her is pink and sparkly. She’s just a dream woman.

9. What is the one place that you recommend everyone travel to?

Last year I was very sick with a stomach problem and I spent a couple weeks at Lanserhof in Tegernsee, which is 45 minutes outside of Munich, Germany. There are a few across Europe but this was one of the newer ones. It’s the ultimate place to calm and recenter yourself. Everyone nowadays is so stressed and overrun so to be able to go into nature and spend a week or however long as you want there, is restorative.