Simona Antonović is the best Croatian make-up artist who taught women what it means "Less is more". She is CHANEL ambassador and one of the most beautiful dressed women in the city who nurtures simplicity. For our conversation, we found ourselves in her favorite "Cogito" coffee shop, a small and pleasant place in Deželić's passage.
Simona is one of those calming people and with whom, everything looks nicer and easier. She collaborates with numerous Croatian magazines, but what women are most fond of her are her make-up tips and tricks. With a lot of patience and dedication to detail, he explains how to make the best of themselves, how important make-up quality is and how it's not all about it. She has dedicated her time to a healthy lifestyle, close friends, and business challenges that are fulfilling, so we have come up with a few interesting questions - love, friendship and, of course, make-up.
She knew she wanted to become a make-up artist when ...
I discovered my talent in the early adolescence years. I went to London after having graduated from high school, where I went on training in make-up and in the fashion. My sketching skills, my love of fashion and aesthetics have transformed into the profession and the work I am doing today.
What he especially remembers when he looks back ...
I particularly remember my determination, uncompromising, unwavering, and the tough moments when I wanted to give up everything. But prizes were too big and important to give up, so my hard work has given me collaborations with the best, most talented creators, both in Croatia and abroad. Then there is the Paris Fashion Week for several consecutive years with the best teams in the world, ones directed by legendary make-up artists like Pat McGrath and Peter Philips, and finally, the invitation from CHANEL to represent them in Europe as their make-up artist and brand ambassador. I have many memories of beautiful friendships in the business, but also splitting with certain associates. Still, most importantly, I am happy to do what I love and I am proud on what I have accomplished.
The type of people you love to work with ...
People visionaries with whom I put new challenges and who are real creatives because our shared imagination and the final product feeds the imagination of others. Professionalism, talent, mutual respect, sense of humor and positivity are at the forefront.
You would never agree to a compromise when it comes to ...
About endangering my work and reputation in any way.
Most of the day ...
I'm a morning person, so definitely mornings. I love precious morning rituals - yoga, breakfast, time when the cell phone doesn’t ring. I am happiest when I have time for cappuccino with almond milk in my favorite cafe with newspapers and a telephone conversation with one of my favorite friends living on other continents.
Healthy lifestyle for her means ...
To love inside and out and do everything that makes me healthy and stable. I have been extremely healthy eating since I was 12 and I pay a lot of attention to what and how I eat and what I put on my skin. Yoga is also intensely present in my life and significant help in maintaining and improving my healthy lifestyle.
What she learned so far ...
I learned to respect and love what I am, and to be grateful at every moment of my life.
What matters to her life partner ...
Love. What it implies is respect, support, and aid in every sense.
About her trip to India ...
I can be pretty radical in some life choices, especially when it comes to health, whether mental or physical. Last year, after a successful, but challenging life period when my mom was very ill, I decided to go to India to the ayurvedic clinic for detoxification from the inside and out in order to help shape my life energy and continue with my life. India is definitely a remarkable place and I can hardly wait to get back because that food there is so… wow. And the colors ... Eternal make-up inspiration.
Life in Zagreb for her means ...
Zagreb chose me when I came back from London for a shorter vacation and got some jobs. I have lived here, in Zagre, for half of my life and this is where my home is right now. The life in the center is particularly appealing to me, because I'm close to all my favorites – coffee shops, market, work, walks, parks, museums, five-minute walk to the woods and nature.
Summer for her presents ...
Simply vacation. Whether that is an exotic location outside Croatia or my favorite island Mljet, yoga retreat, swimming in thesea, reading, laughing, cooking of favorite dishes, cycling.
The most favorite place in the world ...
I do not have a favorite place in the world. I like to be in nature, in the woods, at the sea, soaking in all the colors, smelling flowers. I also like to observe different cultures.
What would she like women to understand when it comes to make-up ...
I educate women and help them learn and understand how to be what they are, and make most of make-up for themselves. Aside from teaching them how to look the best, we work together to make them empowered as a person. Through individual education in your study, tailored to each woman, I advise them how and what products they use and how important routine is to master them. "Less is more" means to learn, master and apply makeup techniques tailored to each person. Also, I explain to them that what they see and what's popular on Instagram or Youtube does not necessarily fit their faces and age and that they don’t need to follow the trends closely.
What does it mean for "creative freedom" ...
Creative freedom is a hint of creative expression, and I've been completely in favor of it. Ultimately, make-up is an applied art and as such must be free, unmatched, unlimited. I am free to design concepts for all beauty shoots and guide and coordinate the whole team based on their creative ideas.
How difficult it is to achieve in Croatia ...
When you look at my work in Croatia, you can conclude that I'm not limited to in my creative expression. It is also expected of me to be an innovator and to give creative make-up solutions. For me, as a make-up artist, it is much easier to do so as opposed to lets say, stylists who do not have a large selection of clothes because of the limited market we are in.
How relevant is fashion ...
Fashion is important to me as a way of expressing, satisfying personal aesthetic appetites, either through dressing or through my own creative expression when I experience it as art, and not as a way of life that connects with the fashion or celebrity industry. Coco Chanel said something great about this subject: "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”