Raimondo Rossi (aka Ray Morrison) was born in Perugia, in-between Rome and Florence within the Italian countryside, to a really conventional household.
In-person, he’s an sincere, heat, pleasant, open-minded and down-to-earth individual as his artwork.
He has been photographed by GQ, Rolling Stone, Vogue and The New York Instances a number of the world’s main magazines and he’s recognized for elevating questions on perfection, and for giving visibility to magnificence in each kind.
Movie star Raimondo Rossi is among the many Hollywood A-listers at vogue reveals.
American rapper Cryptic Knowledge reached out to Rossi to model one in every of his movies.
He loves Asian labels like Juun J. From the worldwide legends, Rossi has a deep admiration for Alexander McQueen, whom he says linked together with his feelings, and expressed these in his designs.
He’s keen on Greece and infrequently visits it. He loves Greek delicacies, particularly Moussaka, Tzatziki, Mezes and Baklava, which is tough to seek out in Italy. He loves and reads Greek literature. He calls himself a philhellene. The Greek journal Lifo featured Raimondo in an article about best-dressed males.
Is there vogue at the moment?
I might say it is a actually fascinating query. I might say positively there may be, so long as the style trade and turnover are rising, it implies that vogue understood as an trade, continues to be very current and influential. I would not say that I prefer it, I’ve at all times taken an impartial place towards vogue and the messages and stereotypes it has at all times transmitted. However even though I do not actually just like the values which have been transmitted for many years, this doesn’t detract from the facility of this thriving trade. If as a substitute, we consider vogue as creativity, I believe it’s more and more uncommon to see designers who create collections which are born from the underside of their souls. Through the coaching interval in vogue faculties, there may be at all times a watch to feasibility, insertion and positioning out there.
Are males well-dressed or do they don’t comply with vogue in any respect?
Males, thankfully, exist a little bit of all sort: these well-dressed and people who care much less about the best way they gown. Definitely, the place and town the place we develop up affect our relationship with vogue and on a regular basis clothes. 4 years in the past, I directed a video on this regard, entitled “The Feelings Of Style”, which is seen on YouTube and talks a bit about this relationship between human beings and vogue that invests us from an early age. So by some means, I believe each well-dressed and fewer well-dressed males nonetheless have a relationship with vogue. Who of affection and who of annoyance, who of indifference and who of curiosity. Amongst those that really feel or love, I might say that some males are very inventive and fascinating of their perspective. Personally, I really like those that may play with a number of kinds and never those that match into one repeating model.
Inform us in regards to the qualities that make you distinctive as an individual.
You need to ask this query to those that esteem me both in my work or in my private life. What I’m personally pleased with is that I’ve at all times been and nonetheless be very impartial of the obscure mechanisms that generally lie behind vogue and images, and by obscure occult mechanisms I imply favouritism between buddies, acquaintances or advisable ones, and I’m blissful to be an individual who stays himself and may be very accessible to everybody, whether or not I’m in a metropolis station and speaking to the homeless, or I’m at an vital vogue occasion in entrance of some celebrities. I prefer to deal with everybody with the identical respect and be able to take heed to everybody.
What’s your perspective on fusing vogue images with extra private in-depth images?
I used to be terribly bored doing vogue studies speaking about garments or taking basic pictures with alluring poses after a yr. From there on, my curiosity in behind-the-scenes tales was born, within the tales of the blokes who went to stroll for the style reveals after which again to highschool, within the imperfections of the fashions earlier than getting into the scene. That is the place I fused vogue and uncooked actuality and fashioned my reportage model and photographic model. Style for its personal sake leads nowhere.
The place did you draw your inspiration from on your most up-to-date and final e book titled “I don’t suppose the best way you do”?
As I mentioned simply now, the fervour for the truest tales and fashions’ imperfections was born after doing basic vogue reportages. All this was mixed with the episodes of bullying I had suffered as a baby since I used to be very shy and chubby. From there got here the concept of composing collections of portraits that confirmed how vital it isn’t to comply with stereotypes and on the similar time to have good vanity and self-confidence. It does not matter anymore if we’re skinny or fats, transsexual or straight or homosexual, rebels or not; all of us should really feel sturdy and revered.
What are a few of your distinctive collaborations?
I might say that these which have been most distinctive for me are those who got here once I was nonetheless beginning to make myself recognized however I used to be simply beginning out. So, I might bear in mind a creative path for the gathering of the “Accademia di Costume e Moda” in Rome, which is likely one of the most vital on the earth, and the work with the American rapper Cryptic Knowledge, a distinct segment rapper with a really fascinating private story and that I adopted from lengthy earlier than he contacted me to care for his styling for his new tune. He contacted me and I used to be very blissful; life introduced me to know an individual whose lyrics of his songs had helped me in my darkish moments.
You’re an inspiration for a lot of males around the globe. How does it make you are feeling?
This makes me very blissful as a result of it implies that the message I wished to ship has been obtained. I’ve by no means adopted the “vogue of the season”, I went to an avant-garde occasion wearing a basic approach, or I went to Milan Style Week, which is often very “trendy”, wearing a basic dandy model. This makes it clear that we are able to all create fascinating kinds with out occupied with the second’s vogue. If this message has been partially obtained, this makes me very blissful.
What have been a number of the challenges you needed to face and managed to result in?
I believe a very powerful difficulties have come from throughout the world of vogue and images. When a brand new individual arrives in Italy nobody is welcoming you, everyone seems to be afraid that the brand new individual would possibly take away their job or by some means overtake them. So, there may be quite a lot of backbiting and so they all discourage you. Nobody sends you optimistic vibes and says “bravo you are able to do it” or “bravo your concepts are good”. In truth, possibly they attempt to steal them from you. These are the issues that create essentially the most tough for many who passionately begin one thing new of their life.
Do you will have any plans you wish to share with us?
I can say that I’m searching for the proper place to have the ability to settle a bit of extra in California and rather less in Italy, the place I actually just like the solar and the dry days that accompany that place. I might additionally prefer to dedicate myself to portraiture exterior the style world, and I do not imply just for celebrities but additionally for road reportage that brings me again into contact with very onerous issues. An imminent mission, however, is a brand new assortment for a really discriminated class, which is able to flip into a brand new publication, a brand new e book.
Society has modified quickly. Does it have misplaced components of its aesthetics by creating different types of requirements?
Undoubtedly society modifications quickly, however I consider that sure significance of aesthetics will at all times stay. It’s true that wants a change, but when we expect that within the metaverse there are cities the place the homes in a very powerful neighbourhoods have all already been purchased, it makes us suppose that aesthetics and look will proceed to be vital. Cash is spent on shopping for a home within the metaverse close to celebrities and going procuring within the metaverse with them. I additionally see this as a type of aesthetics and a frivolous look that human beings will proceed to wish. Fortunately there is part of human beings that cares much less about aesthetics and thinks of extra non secular paths, however that is one other story. Thanks Vassilios, it was good speaking to you. Greetings to all your readers!
