Vice Style

Oh! Nena make head and neck pieces in Venezuela's second city Maracaibo. While they don't exactly live in fashion central, and have only been going 2 years, they've already been featured in magazines across the Spanish speaking world, and their head pieces definitely look good on pretty girls, in that dreamy sort of way that girls are still really into.

So where does Oh! Nena come from?
Oh! Nena was born from a creative vacuum. We needed to make things together.

Yeah, but where geographically speaking?
Oh. We live in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

A pretty part of the world. I was surprised to see this kind of thing come out of Venezuela. I thought they shot you for wearing things like that, ha!
Everyone thinks that, but it turns out that when you do something creative here, it's a real success.

Who buys your head pieces?
Women in general, from teenagers to brides.

I saw the wedding stuff on your site. How did that come about?
We do evening wear and a girl who was getting married asked us to make a veil for her, and it kind of went from there.

I like the fact your taking on such a tacky tradition.
Of course, but wedding gear has it's good points too, not all of it is tacky.

Though most things in Venezuela are totally tacky.
There's a bit of everything. But believe me there's a scene here of really talented people with something to say, and trying to get heard. As that's more and more difficult here, we have to try harder.

Ok, so what makes you stand out? What don't you want to be associated with?
With the vulgar, the ripped-off, the badly made. Basically, doing stuff just because, and not because you've got something to say.

For example?
Mmm... The TV here, with it's thousands of pointless programmes presented by women with fake tits. And all the blogs that just copy each other.

And how about those photos that pregnant women get done, that almost look like softcore porn?
Ha. Yeah, they're the worst, and some of the girls here have photos taken after they've painted their bodies. It's bad taste squared.

Nooo...
Yes! Look.



OK. Can you explain why anybody would do that?
No, it's beyond me. I look at that and it makes me want to puke.

OK, change of subject. Why just headwear? Why not a full fashion line?
We're not dismissing it out of hand, but there's so much you can do with accessories, and it's the part of getting dressed up that's most fun. So for now we're still in love with it.

I associate those little hats with the 50's. Here in Spain old women still wear them.
It's funny, a few years ago nobody wore hats, but right now there's a lot of demand. It's about getting dressed up too. People were looking too casual.

So what are your favourite headwear moments from history?
20s and 30s are amazing hats and millinery everywhere and the art deco shapes...

How about military stuff?
We love berets, and the whole military, stewardess look. They're simple shapes, but durable and practical.

So is there a place for you in a socialist country?
Ha ha. Shit. OK. We're not down with 'the process' in any way. I guess you could fit anything into our concept, but we're not going to start designing red helmets. Although now you mention it, we love helmets and the colour red.

I'm sure you could do a deal with the state.
Er, no.  

OK.
We wouldn't do them for the opposition either. We're staying out of politics.

Who would you like to make a hairpiece for?
So many people. We'd love to do something for Karen O to wear on stage, something metallic and really tall. Or for Chloe Sevigny for the red carpet. Or a turban for Catherine Baba.


Oh! Nena

What would you make for Hugo Chavez?
I'm not answering that.

Hitler then?
A muzzle with spikes on the inside.

PAUL GEDDIS