Is this art or can you eat it? With this question Cake Artist and Food stylist Sophia Stolz is certainly often confronted. Instead of doing something herself For once, it served as a canvas. But we didn’t cover them with icing and buttercream, but with the best products from the house of Chanel. The result? At least as stunning as a sugar cookie. In this interview, the creative designer tells us who she would most like to bake for and what parallels she sees between make-up and cake creation.
Photography: Christopher Puttins @chris.puttins
Styling: Alexander Huber @alexhuber_creative
Production: Julia Gelau @juliagelau____
Make-up & Hair: Martin Schmid using Chanel Beauty @martinschmidnet @chanel.beauty
Talent: Sophia Stolz @stolzes
Rings COCO CRUSH, quilted motif, small model, 18 carat white gold; COCO CRUSH, quilted motif, 18 carat yellow gold, diamonds; COCO CRUSH, quilted motif, mini model, 18 carat beige gold, diamonds.
COCO CRUSH earrings, quilted motif, 18-karat beige gold.
Changeable earrings ETERNAL N°5, 18 carat beige gold, diamonds.
COCO CRUSH bracelets, quilted motif, 18-karat white gold, diamonds; COCO CRUSH, quilted motif, 18-karat yellow gold.
FACES: Just over two years ago, we interviewed you for our September issue with questions. What has happened to you since then?
Sophia Stolz: A lot has happened in the last two years. I think I have positioned my work even more clearly and internationally and focused even more on luxury event concepts. At the same time, new projects have been added – collaborative work, exhibitions and even larger commissions, more jobs for Hermès, Highsnobiety etc. and also large event concepts through to wedding planning and creative consultancy for a restaurant in London, Mayfair. Overall, everything has become more focused and I think I’ve also become even faster (laughs). That means I can do even more at the same time. Everyone says I should take more care of myself, but I love stress.
Q: For once, our beauty shoot was not about cakes, but about lipstick. and co. take center stage – and you, of course. What parallels do you see between the Cake creation and applying a make-up look?
SS: For me, there are clear parallels: Both make-up and cake design are about layering, precision and impact. You work with color, texture and light to highlight or refine something. Both processes have something to do with detail orientation and aesthetics and are ultimately always aimed at creating a coherent, aesthetic impression – just on different canvases.
“Both make-up and cake design are about layering, precision and impact.“
Q: Which beauty product should never be missing fromyour handbag and make-up routine ?
SS: Powder, because I often break out in a sweat from stress – and then you can always fix everything with powder.
Q: Have you ever tried beauty routines or make-up looks that were inspired by the colors and textures of your cakes?
SS: No, I actually always do the same make-up because I can only do this look (laughs).
Q: Have you ever created an edible work that was inspiredby beauty products ?
SS: Yes, definitely. I recently produced MAC lipsticks out of chocolate for a global event, and I’ve also done some catering for Chanel Beauty.
“My inspiration comes from many directions.“
Q: What is it like for you when the focus of a shoot isnot one of your extravagant creations , but you yourself?
SS: I love it. I quite like being the center of attention (laughs). Except when I make cakes – then I prefer the cakes to be the center of attention and not me. That almost makes me uncomfortable. But standing in front of the camera is so much fun, especially on a shoot like this.
Q: Where do you get inspiration for upcoming cakes? Do the ideas already lie dormant in or do you get them from certain other art forms?
SS: My inspiration comes from many directions. Ideas often lie dormant inside me – certain shapes, moods or colors. At the same time, I am strongly influenced by art, fashion, architecture and materials. A collection, an Instagram account, a sculpture: I then translate these things into something edible. It’s less about copying and more about thinking ahead in a different medium.
Q: Which person or brand do you really want to do something with?
SS: I would sooo love to make a cake for Kris Jenner (laughs). I know there are so many people I could name, but I just think Kris is iconic, and I would love to dive into that world for a minute and see all that. It would just be fun, and I’m sure I could get creative.
Earrings COCO CRUSH, quilted motif, 18 carat beige gold. COCO COLLIER necklace, quilted motif, 18 carat beige gold, diamonds.
Changeable earring ETERNAL N°5, 18-karat beige gold, diamonds.
Want to browse through the Chanel Beauty range? This way.
You can find more editorials here.
