Style Interview: Malina Heinemann

The facts: Thursday, April 23rd 8:30pm. Abe & Jakes (8 E 6th Street). The Kansas Naval Academy presents Drunken Sailors Tailor, a fashion show and benefit for World Wide Impact Now and the Americana Music Academy. 15 local artists, designers, and clothing stores.

A fashion show is art, an exhibition that shows only the final product. When you watch the models come down the runway it’s easy to forget that what you see is the culmination of work done by many. What about the people who take the show from conception to reality? Who are they and why do they keep coming back for more? In the small fashion community of Lawrence passion reigns over price. The creators and participants of Drunken Sailors Tailor, who all work on a volunteer basis, are not simply interested in fashion but live and breathe style. I sat down with Malina Heinemann, who along with Phil Chiles, owner of Wild Man Vintage, is the heart and soul behind Drunken Sailors Tailor. We talked about theater and fashion, artistic inspiration, and her realization at age six that styling wasn’t just a hobby but an intrinsic calling.

Is this the first fashion show you and Phil have worked on together?
Phil really was the one who wanted to do this. He also had the idea for the Son of Fashion Monsters benefit show (held in October of 2008). Doing shows for Phil has been a really good experience because he trusts my inspiration. I can just kind of go with it. I can be there any time of the day and he’s really patient with the creative process.

What’s going to be different about this fashion show?
I am not doing any styling for Wild Man. I’m kind of helping Phil along with his process, trying to get things together and coordinating. I wanted to give someone else the opportunity to style. There’s just so much going on (in Wild Man). It’s great, it’s like you’re a painter and there’s tons of paint, every kind of paint, every color of paint, and you can just use whatever colors you want.

How did your involvement in fashion shows begin?
Starting out at Johnson County in their fashion program, taking classes and I did my own line. After that I was really inspired. I went to London for a costume design degree, majoring in millenary. Here in Lawrence I did a run for Arizona Trading Company then Phil asked me to style a show. It was a really good way for me to mix theater and fashion. I kind of have a producers mind – having the whole creative idea, the entire full visual idea. But that’s also my biggest battle, not having anybody to give those things to and run with it. I think a lot of people struggle with that as an artist.

So what drives you to keep participating in shows?
For me it’s about being around people, connecting with people. Just kind of about the character and turning them into a character. It’s a fun way to get a point across too. Having a story to tell rather than just to be about clothing. I think initially you get people’s attention because they’re there to see fashion and then you can really express something. You can show people what’s inside of your brain or your heart, or somebody else’s heart.

Do you feel like your interest in fashion is something you were born with? Is there a moment you remember as your first fashion moment?
When I was a kid I was really persistent that every Sunday was like, that was the day. The day to dress to the nines. And as a little, little kid I was all about being dressed up. There was this secret little stash of costumes at a relative’s, it was under the stairs and I’d go over there and play dress up. I found this dress that looked like a wedding dress and I wore it to church. I was dressed like a bride and made a veil to go with it. I had hot pink tights on, hot pink accents and black patent leather shoes. I just remember I was like, this is it man. This is like bride fashion. This is what I’m going to be doing. This is my love. And look how good I look. Ridiculous. My parents were just like, what can we do? She’s wearing a veil, she’s only six. That’s kind of where it started for me and I don’t think I’ve really grown out of that. I try to go out and get all dressed up and I’m like, I need a veil…or something. It’s never enough.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m hoping to really narrow my path. You look at theater and fashion and as far as costumes go it’s head to toe, it’s way too much. I never am able to actually realize my design. With millinery it’s a concentrated area on your head, it’s one focused area. That’s what I really want to get back into.

What are you looking forward to with Drunken Sailors Tailor?
It’ll be a good experience to kind of back away from having my stuff on stage. I never get to see the shows. It’s nice to just give people the opportunity, support, and venue to show their stuff. There are a couple of people that I really know what they’re bringing to this and then there are others that I have no clue. That’s a little bit scary but it’s also exciting.

photos by: Sara Rock
interview by: Tricia Rock