LVR interviews the model on fashion, beauty and her new jewelry line.
Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Valentino. Just some of the fashion houses that Magdalena Frackowiak has modelled for in more than 15 years in the industry. Discovered at the age of 16 after winning a model search contest in Warsaw, Magdalena has also been the face of Ralph Lauren and donned the wings of a Victoria’s Secret angel.
After years of absorbing all things fashion and beauty, Magdalena is chasing her new dream, turning her hand to jewelry design. Her eponymous line is minimalistic, elegant and set to launch on LVR.com.
I wanted to express myself. This time not through my beauty, but through my mind, because my jewelry perfectly describes my soul.
You were born in Gdansk, but now live between New York and Warsaw. Which city is closest to your heart?
Gdansk is one of the most beautiful old cities in Poland. It’s on the Baltic Sea with beautiful wild beaches and nature. I grew up there, my family is still there. I’m very proud of my Polish heritage but I’ve spent ten years in New York and I can say that it’s my second home. I started my career there, I have lots of friends, I know all the streets. I would say that Warsaw and New York are the two cities I love the most.
How would you describe your personal style? Do you change it often?
My style is quite simple. I dress in black most of the time. I tried a few colors but I feel the best in black. It’s very sophisticated, minimal… it’s a touch of gothic style. I love lace, velvet, natural materials. One of my favorite designers to wear is Dolce & Gabbana – I’m wearing it today.
What has your work in modelling taught you?
I’ve worked hard for 15 years and I can say that beauty is not everything. What I learned most is to be hard-working, confident, punctual and have a strong character. All these characteristics are important to become someone great in any occupation. You also have to have good relationships with people, respect people, know how to work with them, communicate with them and to understand different cultures and religions – the world is so diverse.
What are your passions, besides modelling?
I have a lot of subjects I’m interested in – there’s architecture, art, music, movies. When I’m away from work I spend time with my boyfriend, my friends, my family…I read books, I watch old movies. I’m also very interested in vintage fashion and jewelry.
What inspires you?
I think all those years have shaped and sharpened my eye. Working with amazing artists woke up my creativity. I’m a very visual person, I observe every day. I see shapes, surfaces, color… I see people and their character. Jewelry gives me the possibility to create, to design, to show people my creativity, my artistic soul. The inspiration can come from every day, like an image I saw on Instagram or in a movie…even nature can inspire me.
When and how did the adventure of jewelry design begin?
Jewelry was an accessory I have always been intrigued by. In all those years of modelling, I’d been observing jewelry and decided it was something I wanted to try. I started to design and brought my sketches to the jeweler and we discussed measurements, the surface, the right tools to use. I found the best artisans in Poland and created an amazing team of people who also believed in my project.
Before modelling I studied architecture…so jewelry is a kind of micro-architecture for me. When you design jewelry, you work on little micro models, a little bit like working on architecture models.
What do modelling and jewelry design have in common?
Fashion is an art, jewelry is an art…in both you work with artists. Jewelry gives me a chance to still be in fashion and to work with people I have worked with for so many years, but this time from another side – not as a model but as a jewelry designer. It’s like standing on the other side of the mirror. I still feel I’m in fashion and always will be …I just create fashion in a different way.
Who is the woman who wears your jewelry?
She likes minimalistic and elegant jewelry and has very similar character to me – she’s romantic, she has a drop of eroticism. She’s very feminine but she’s also very cool. She can wear a gold pendant with a men’s shirt and vintage jeans during the day, and then with a black dress in the evening.
What is your biggest dream, speaking professionally?
My biggest dream right now is definitely to see my jewelry in the best stores all over the world and to see people wearing it at events and on the streets.
Special Thanks to Magdalena Frackowiak Jewelry
Model: Magdalena Frackowiak – Model Plus Warsaw
Styling: Magdalena Frackowiak
Producer: Anna Puslecka www.annapuslecka.com
Styling Assistant: Monika Lyko
Hair: Krzysztof Kolodziejak
Make-up: Wojtek Rostowski
Video: Mikolaj Przezdziak
Sound: Grzegorz Radziejewski
Photo: Dawid Klepadlo
Assistant: Mateusz Grzelak
Location: Cosmopolitan Apartments Warsaw Twarda 4
