AVESSA Magazine - In the Name of Light | Mar/22 - Year III - Vol 19-A

March 2022 Year III, Vol. 19-A

IN THE NAME OF LIGHT

IN THIS ISSUE

ALFONSO DE HOYOS-ACOSTA TAMMY APOSTOL LISU VEGA LUIS APONTE

WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE W E A R E C AT E G O R I C A L LY A G A I N S T T H E R U S S I A N M I L I TA RY A C T I O N S I N U K R A I N E AV E S S A H A S B E E N O B S E R V I N G W I T H G R E AT S A D N E S S T H E T R A G I C S I T U AT I O N I N U K R A I N E A N D W I S H E S T O E X P R E S S O U R S U P P O RT A N D S O L I D A R I T Y T O A L L T H O S E S E V E R E LY A F F E C T E D B Y T H I S WA R .

OUR FIRST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO W E R E U N W I L L I N G LY I M PA C T E D A N D H U RT B Y T H I S U N P R O V O K E D A G G R E S S I O N . P O L I T I C S I S D I V I S I V E B Y D E F I N I T I O N , B U T W E AT AV E S S A C A N N O T S TA N D B Y W I T H O U T A C K N O W L E D G I N G T H E C O U R A G E O U S P O S I T I O N TA K E N B Y T H E P E O P L E O F U K R A I N E T O F I G H T A G A I N S T T H I S U N J U S T I F I E D A S S A U LT O N T H E I R S O V E R E I G N T Y.

W E W I L L B E S U P P O RT I N G FA S H I O N B R A N D S F R O M U K R A I N E T H R O U G H O U R M E D I A C H A N N E L S AT N O C O S T, P L E A S E C O N TA C T U S I N F O @ AV E S S A . C O M

СКАЖИ НІ ВІЙНІ

E XCL U SIVELY AVAILABLE AT AVESSABAZAAR.C OM

LUISAPONTEATELIER.COM @LUISAPONTEATELIER

KRELWEAR.COM | @KRELWEAR

D O P E TAV I O , S T U D M U F F I N N Y C A N D O T H E R A R T I S T S A R E AVA I L A B L E AT

PAT R I C I A F I E L D . C O M

www.ku-den.jp

B A L I AW E A R . C O M | @ B A L I AW E A R

the ROPE project

by Lisu Vega

WEARABLE ROPE SCULPTURE

lisuvega.com

MARCH/2022 028

OBJECTS OF DESIRE

by Carlos Marrero 030

C O U T U R E T E D DY B E A R S

by Nick Moncada 036

F E AT U R E S T O R Y: FA I T H

by Alfonso de Hoyos-Acosta, featuring TA Couture 054

PA S S I O N AT E C O U T U R E

by Alfonso de Hoyos-Acosta, featuring fashion designer Tammy Apostol 060

S I M P L I C I T Y.

by Mena Lombard, featuring fashion designer Lisu Vega 076

U N I F O R M S U N R AV E L E D : U P CYC L E D B E AU T Y

presented by Miami International University of Art & Design 088

L I B E RT É

featuring fashion designer Luis Aponte 096

U N TA M E D H E A RT

featuring Daniela Lewkowicz 102

THE INSTINCT OF POSITIVITY

by Ibtissam El Azami 116

T H E T R E A S U R E S O F M A R A N H ÃO

by Tamara Almeida 128

Z O D I AC : P I S C E S

by Manish Arora

P H OTO C R E D I T S H A I R & M A K E - U P : A N N A P R I M AC C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA & F L ÁV I O I RYO DA FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R TA M M Y A P O S TO L ( TA C O U T U R E ) S T Y L I N G : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA M O D E L : PA U L Í N A G R E B E C I OVA M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y: M Ä D L TA L E N T P H OTO G R A P H Y & P O S T- E D I T I N G : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

EDITOR’S LETTER

T

he creative process is always complex, no matter what. Frequency and consistency over time are critical success factors that I cherish, and I believe it applies to every business. Personally speaking, I wanted to start our third year celebrating some of the fundamental values that I think are so important and often times put aside - especially during these times of turmoil. Faith, positivity, simplicity, freedom, determination. But above everything, recent events have turned our attention to a more immediate and unjustified subject. The moment requires a demonstration of unity and solidarity to the strong people of Ukraine.

I dedicate this issue to the very talented people and friends that this country has brought me, and I will carry it forever in my heart. The cover symbolizes a descending angel of peace with the colors of Ukraine. AVESSA stands with you, and we will keep you and your families in our prayers.

O N T H E C OV E R C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA & F L ÁV I O I RYO DA FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : TA M M Y A P O S TO L ( TA C O U T U R E ) S T Y L I N G : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA H A I R & M A K E - U P : A N N A P R I M AC M O D E L : PA U L Í N A G R E B E C I OVA M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y: M Ä D L TA L E N T P H OTO G R A P H Y & P O S T- E D I T I N G : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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FLÁVIO IRYODA Editor-in-Chief

The same creativity that sets you apart can make you part of our creative community. And if you are passionate about Fashion, Miami International University of Art & Design is the place to be.

We'll help you turn your love of Fashion into the pursuit of a career that loves you back.

THE EDUCATION IS HANDS-ON. THE FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN.

We offer a range of associate and bachelor's degree programs including Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising & Accessory Design. You'll learn by doing-applying the same talent, tools, and techniques used in the industry

Where will your passion take you? Find out.

WWW.MYMIU.EDU AIMIUinternational@aii.edu 1.305.428.5903 Miami International University of Art & Design is one of The Art Institutes, a system of schools throughout the United States. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. 1501 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 100, Miami, FL 33132. © 2021.

The Arts Institutes International LLC. All rights reserved.

OUR TEAM OF MENA LOMBARD

JUANITA CRARY

@dehoyosa

@juaniavi

Fashion Designer and Professor, Mena believes that fashion completely transcends the surface and the most important is how one feels rather than anything else. Fashion is really about how empowered one becomes by it. She channels vibrant flares of vintage fashion and dreams of contemporary twists, inspired by her own life and travels.

Recovering from an obsession with Italiandesigned menswear, Alfonso decided to take a deeper look into women’s fashion to see how our relationship among clothing, society, and business has changed. Educated as an economist with an MBA, he travels between Chicago, Miami, and Mexico on a search to see what happens next to fashion.

Fashion Stylist, Journalist, and fashion Professor with 15 years of experience. Juanita has worked for Rolling Stone South America, GQ Mexico, and multiple Colombian magazines. Her current soundtrack plays The Sisters of Mercy and her go-to garment will always be a motorcycle jacket even if it’s impossible to wear one all year round in Miami.

CARLOS MARRERO

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ALFONSO DE HOYOS

@menalombard

NATASHA TABUNOVA

IBTISSAM EL AZAMI

@camarrero

@beyond.the

@theburnoutbrand

Widely recognized for his tongue-in-cheek and informed critiques of the fashion, beauty and entertainment industry, Carlos is a seasoned fashion illustrator, host of TRENDENCIAS and fashion designer of Marrero Collection - a compilation of alluring statement pieces designed for the fashionista looking for unique fashion items.

Natasha has been surrounded by art since her early years in Belarus, creating art and fashion since her early years with limited resources, zero knowledge, and much energy and passion. Her dream to become a Costume Designer came to life after graduation. She believes fashion is an endless field for playing games, especially if you like breaking rules.

Ibtissam, aka Azami or The Burn Out Brand in make-up artistry, is a fashion make-up artist, content and copywriter, and a social media manager.

Her attention for detail allows for unique works of art, focused on finesse and graphic shapes. After the conquest of Paris and London, she is now in Rome, where she lets the sun inspire her day in and day out.

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contributors

TAMARA ALMEIDA

@tamaraalmeidas

Journalist and host, Tamara was an international model for 10 years, where she lived abroad in 15 countries. She also achieved Miss Brazil World in 2008. Tamara currently collaborates with Brazilian and international press vehicles as a travel columnist. As a reporter, she covers the biggest beauty pageants and fashion shows throughout the world.

MANISH ARORA

@manishastrologer

Renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a high degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of Jyotish Varahamihir and Jyotish Aryabhatt.

Manish has been writing monthly astrological columns for 40+ international magazines.

P H OTO C R E D I T S C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA & F L ÁV I O I RYO DA FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R TA M M Y A P O S TO L ( TA C O U T U R E ) S T Y L I N G : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA H A I R & M A K E - U P : A N N A P R I M AC M O D E L : PA U L Í N A G R E B E C I OVA M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y: M Ä D L TA L E N T P H OTO G R A P H Y & P O S T- E D I T I N G : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

MARCH 2022 |

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Flávio Iryoda ASSISTANT TO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Angélique Salcedo EDITORS

Associate Producers Karo Delgobbo

Fashion Stories Mena Lombard

Carlos Pardo

Alfonso de Hoyos-Acosta

Natasha Tabunova

Ibtissam El Azami Virginia Mayer

Reviewer Alfonso de Hoyos-Acosta

Fashion Styling Juanita Crary Karo Delgobbo

Art Director Luiz Camargo

Erika Ishibashi Product Carlos Marrero

Sales Flávio Iryoda

Cinema Christen Gates Wall

Giu Brandão

Travel Tamara Almeida Zodiac Manish Arora

DIGITAL

Available year-round at avessamag.com

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Questions or comments? info@avessamag.com

CONSUMER SERVICES

AVESSA Magazine is a bi-monthly digital and print on-demand publication focused on fashion, lifestyle and empowerment for the independent and contemporary woman. Founded in early 2019 with main operations in Miami, FL (Brickell) and a wide network of collaborators distributed across the globe.

PUBLISHER

AVESSA Media Group LLC Brickell - Miami, FL 33130 United States of America

A PROUD MEMBER OF

© 2022 AVESSA Media Group LLC, a Florida limited liability corporation. All rights reserved.

The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a through examination of the particular situation.

SOCIAL C H E C K O U T M O R E E V E N T S

A T AV E S S A . C O M

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1. Model Paulína Grebeciova represented

by Mädl Talent.

2. Models Damien Lenore and Jon Pastor.

3. Katrina Ghantous and Isabel Arenas with the model Shu Lin Yao represented

by Elite.

4. Valentina Tabares, model Anika Charles represented by Next Level Man-

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agement and Carolina Rinchere.

9. Mili Rottjer.

5. Joanne Joseph.

10. Hleb Tabunou.

6. Eman Beshara and Angela de Azevedo with model Maria Soler DuBreuil represented by The Walk Collective.

11. Wagner Silva, Alfonso de HoyosAcosta and James Sarria.

7. Amalia Ivaldi and Ana Cecilia Noronha.

8. Jonathan Laureano and Carlos López.

12. Valeriya Verloka, Natasha Tabunova and Elena Shapovalova.

13. Victor Lords, Brando Lords and Opal Lords.

14. Evgenii Kuptcov and Natalia Kuptcova.

15. Marcin Korzeniowski and Luis Aponte.

16. Anna Primac and Lia Tseluyko.

17. Vera Tabunova.

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

CAT EYE SUNGLASSES

CELINE: Bold semi-transparent frames define these round sunglasses, detailed with signature three dots and logo lettering at temples. $400 / saksfifthavenue.com

CHERRY BUCKLE PLATFORM BOOTIES

YSL booties with a rounded toe, block heel and strap with a buckle on the exterior side of the ankle. $1,595 / YSL.com

WHAT SHE WANTS NOW! Just a few things to make this month just a little merrier.

BY CARLOS MARRERO

ADDICT STELLAR HALO SHINE LIPSTICK

Dior: Available in two radiant finishes, pink and gold, with ready-to-wear colors that are sheer, shimmery and luminous. $38 / dior.com

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AVEC AMOUR PERFUME

Huile de Parfum 0.5 fl oz / 15mL. A musky, vetiver fragrance made for everyone and anyone, this roll-on scent will wake up your vavavoom. It’s sensual, yet earthy, blending musky amber, santal, and vetiver base notes with ylang-ylang middle notes and uplifting bergamot top notes. $52 / violettefr.com

XXL OMBRÉ LEATHER SHOULDER BAG

Kensington: A signature crystal-encrusted eagle head embellishes the geo-quilted flap of a structured shoulder bag crafted from metallic rainbow-hued leather. $375 / bloomingdales.com

OVERSIZED CAMILLE PAVÉ WATCH

MICHAEL KORS: A sleek yet glamorous addition to your wardrobe. With a pavé topring, understated subdials and rose gold-tone bracelet strap, this timepiece is an instant ic. $295 / michaelkors.com

SEQUIN HEADBAND

LE MASQUE ANTI-POLLUTION VITAMIN CLAY MASK

Chanel: A creamy, non-drying clay face mask that deeply purifies, comforts and replenishes skin for a healthy-looking complexion. What it does: This mask contains French and kaolin clays to reduce shine and the look of pores and imperfections. Maracuja extract combined with vitamins C and E help to refresh, soothe and illuminate skin. $55 / nordstrom.com

Prada: The puffy maxi headband, a sophisticated and emblematic accessory of Prada collections, comes in a luxurious version entirely covered in sequins and decorated with the Prada lettering logo embroidered on the side for a contemporary touch. $650 / prada.com

ALAÏA AFORE ALAÏA

This intimate peek into designer Azzedine Alaïa’s early life and career was edited and assembled by his life partner, Christoph von Weyhe, and close friend Carla Sozzani. The book covers Alaïa’s beginnings in his native Tunisia, to his 1956 arrival in Paris and breakthrough 1982 New York show—plus everything in between. $95 / target.com

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E R U T U O C Y D D E T E T S R A E B B S E OBJECTS OF DESIRE

COUTURE TEDDY BEARS

BY NICHOLAS MONCADA

I

n our recent millennia, the idea of the teddy bear was first conceived in honor of America’s 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, who paid mercy to a bear in a 1902 hunt. Inspired by one of the world’s most recognizable references in soft goods and combining the glamorous art of haute couture, Nicholas Moncada, Hotelier by Day & Couturier by Night, honors us with Couture Teddy Bears. Wielding authentic dressmaking techniques, heirloom beading, pattern making, couture embellishing, and fabric manipulations, these custom teddy bears are uniquely designed, cut, and sewn by hand. Using fabrics and ornaments from his past dressmaking, vintage finds, and thrifting, Couture Teddy Bears aims to create sustainable luxury while remaining fabulous. Nicholas pays reverence to antique legacy sewing whilst staying mindful that each piece of art is inspired by local causes and charities close to his heart. These sculptures of couture art are not just a masterpiece from his personal atelier but are Couture Teddy Bears with a Purpose as a portion of proceeds earned are dedicated to local charities.

Nicholas inducted himself into the fast-paced world of fashion by costuming and sewing at mass for local theatres and dance troupes in my teens in high school.

He then had the distinct privilege of being formally trained and earning my degree in New York City’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology, specializing in couture tailoring and special occasion. With this, he had the honor of designing couture embellishments and gowns working seasons into the future with Fashion Avenue’s most elite houses. He was mentored under some of fashion’s greatest names selling to the couture departments at Neiman’s and Bergdorf’s (to name a few) and attending fashion week shows regularly. Signature to his soul, he finds himself in the whimsy of teddy bears in conjunction with his passion for craftsmanship. The crystals, trims, and ornaments are his medium with which Nicholas painstakingly sews onto his teddy bear canvas with the same techniques and meticulous skills required in creating a couture evening gown. In this next chapter of his life, his atelier is booming in America’s Caribbean, sunny Miami Beach, where Nicholas has reflected on his collective knowledge to create these one-of-a-kind custom couture art sculptures.

E Y S E

BLACK MALEFECENT BEAR

Inspired by the flair of dance, theatre and costuming, this Couture Teddy Bear pays ode to the authentic essence of the performing arts. The grande Rorschach beading is hand crafted with Czech glass bugles, cup sequins and seed beads delicately sewn onto jet black oil base canvas, accented with a tassel train finale. This dramatic jet beading adds a pop of moodiness drawn from the element of drama.

KITTY CAT BEAR

This feline design is influenced by the unfaltering love and beauty of Animalia. The starburst beading features a cat cameo surrounded by Czech glass bugles encircled by an ombre of silver lined pink seed beads hand sewn on a precious cotton cat canvas.

Appointing this Couture Teddy Bear is an organza glitter pussy bow crowned with an authentic vintage brooch.

PURPLE TWEED BEAR

Royal purple coco-tweed is infused with the glamorous essence of delicate hand sewn lavender aurora borealis flora appliqués.

Immersed in a crown of amethyst pointback crystals, this Couture Teddy Bear shines in inspiration for the grace, strength, and power that is the matriarchal magic of Women.

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y C O U T U R E T E D DY B E A R S & N I C H O L A S M O N C A DA K E E P I T U P W I T H C O U T U R E T E D DY B E AR S C O U T U R E T E D DY B E A R S .C O M @ C O U T U R E T E D DY B E A R S C O U T U R E T E D DY B E A R S @ G M A I L .C O M

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OBJECTS OF DESIRE

ROSETTE BEAR

Over one hundred individually handmade rosettes envelope this chocolate shantung Couture Teddy Bear. Inspired by our Greatest Generation, a centennial of rosettes seamlessly link to create a magnificent quilt cage floating above the pure silk base.

PINK BLOSSOM GRN BEAR

Nature inspires this botanical masterpiece featuring delicate gold alençon lace hand appliquéd onto vintage olive green silk shantung base. The rich gold appliqué is embellished with blush pearlescent seed beads. The gold cordonette is accented with matte olive beads capped with precious amber seeds. Blossoming from this Couture Teddy Bear are individual hand melted pink and blush organza petals.

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RUBY RIBBON BEAR

We honor and pay tribute to our cherished loved ones lost to and struggling with HIV/AIDS. This Couture Teddy Bear flourishes in the tradition of Victorian ribbon embroidery. The ravishing cardinal silk shantung base is ornamented in organza flora dripping with ruby caviar and seed bead piston tassels.

ANTIQUE AMBER BEAR

This majestically magical heirloom pays homage to the historic and the timeless beauty that is the very essence of chronos. Faceted copper rondelles stand perfectly vertical with the warp of this amber velvet artifact. This Couture Teddy Bear exudes old world antiquity, hand adorned with filigree ornaments, meticulously top-beaded with stacked Czech glass beads.

LAVENDER GALAXY BEAR

In honor of our Trans Community who are fighting for equality and love. Exquisitely beaded voilette tulle is intricately hand sewn in an array of aurora borealis sequins enveloping an iridescent lavender taffeta. These couture embellishments summon collective resilience with dimensional clusters of iridescent galaxy marbles, silk chiffon covered cosmic flat-back stones, and hematite lavender pearls.

CHAMPAGNE BEAR

Be transported to this beautifully elegant metallic champagne Couture Teddy Bear. Immersed in the vintage glamour palette of soft gold metallic faux leather. This perfectly adorned treasure is hand beaded, paying homage to the traditional print layouts of the world’s most famous luxury couturiers.

FELT SUCCULENT BEAR

This striking southwestern Couture Teddy Bear is gracefully hand sewn purly in the medium of wool felt. The natural stone colored base is beautifully juxtaposed with succulent floral appliqués. This desert oasis couture creation wears felt foliage elegantly glistening with metal dew drop beads.

PINK LEOPARD BEAR

Our elegant yet fun beast-inspired, pink leopard Couture Teddy Bear whimsically adorns each leopard spot with over one thousand rhinestones. With extravagant appliqué embroidery, threadwork foliage and florals are delicately kissed with an accent of rosé crystals and beads.

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N OW AVAI L AB L E AT AV E S S AB AZAAR.C O M

FASHION STORY

faith

Story by ALFONSO DE HOYOS-ACOSTA Fashion & Accessories TA COUTURE Styling NATASHA TABUNOVA Hair & Make-Up ANNA PRIMAC Model PAULÍNA GREBECIOVA Modeling Agency MÄDL TALENT Photography FLÁVIO IRYODA

As we sashay into a new year, it is considered de rigeur to reflect on our collective past and get all misty-eyed at what we, as individuals, should have done and how we should have felt. But at AVESSA, we scoff at the withered, inane conventional wisdom that forces us to reflect on our past as a basis for a happier future. Let’s admit this right away: the past has been nut-crushing; move on.

R I G H T PAG E S I L K O R G A N Z A S H O RT J AC K E T G OW N : O R G A N I C S I L K O R G A N Z A D R A P E D TO P A N D H A N D - P L E AT E D B OT TO M

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FASHION STORY

N

onetheless, mindlessly moving forward without a guide or set of tools to navigate the future is also a mistake. It is essential to recognize as we enter our third year of a pandemic that most of us have experienced grief, loneliness, and insecurity. We usually associate grief with the loss of a loved one, but in this case, we have all lost time and a great deal of it. How many plans were laid to waste because of the pandemic and its stuttering recovery? All of us paused to the detriment of our private and professional lives. Would we have met the perfect person within the last 24 months?

Would we have been promoted or created a successful new business? Those dream-filled opportunities were swept away, and instead, we were forced to wait in fear and frustration. How could we not be grieving? It is my opinion that now we need to look inside ourselves and sift through our emotions, the real ones not the grinning facade we show to the world.

In times of emotional distress, many of us, at least I do, turn to faith. Contemporary faith does not necessarily equate to a specific religion or even a structured set of tenets to guide our actions and emotions. Although faith certainly is a part of the world’s organized religions, it can also be based on an internal belief that we are connected to something larger than ourselves. This “something” can range from Monotheism, Pantheism to Shintoism or to the mysterious cosmos swirling around our planet.

Without constraining my thoughts, I have been internally pontificating about how faith may be needed more than ever as the world rediscovers how to function again. Many of us could benefit from more spiritual guidance as we stumble our way back into holding conversations with beings other than our pets or faceless crazies on the interweb.

I was raised as a baroque Catholic and will never apologize for my deep love of imagery, dark rich velvet colors, and tradition. In fact, my father’s aunt, who raised him, was a devout member of Opus Dei, a Catholic faction within the formal church. Señorita Maria Antonia Librada de Todos Los Santos Delgadillo y Herrera (long names run in my family) had the appearance of a sweet, kindly

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spinster with China-doll features, a pale complexion with rosy cheeks and twinkling hazel eyes. Hah. In fact, my great aunt was a fierce and ruthless advocate of envisioning everyday life as an opportunity to deliver on the path to sanctity. Señorita Antonia dressed in somber shades of black and grey enveloped in gossamer veils as if a Diego Velasquez Infanta came to life. Growing up and observing her, I realized she used casual everyday routine as well as fashion to re-affirm her religious allegiances and, by extension, asserted her religious differences with others.

In an earlier edition, AVESSA wrote about how humans use tangible and intangible clues to align ourselves into fractionalized tribes, “Dramatic Turn of Events” AVESSA, October 2021. At that time, we discussed post-pandemic politics, but the same logic holds true for faith. Faith is a very delicate subject to talk about, with discussions quickly leading to unbridled emotion and passion.

It is important to be patient and listen with an open mind to these debates. As the goopy, procrastinating Hamlet once advised, but of course never acted upon, “Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.” So, in that spirit, please note that I am not endorsing my great-aunt’s point of view or even Catholicism. Quite the contrary, my experiences have shown that faith comes in distinct hues and that all of us, in one way or another, follow the path of the Penitent.

So, who are the Penitent? It is a phrase that attempts to describe and make sense of our society in terms of faith and fashion. Although it is deeply important to remember that descriptions should never be treated as “labels”, which can then end up being more harmful than useful. “Labels” imply a static and inflexible reality, when in truth, people’s characteristics can and do change with experience or self- reflection.

The Penitent could be described as a group of five faith-based tribes that I believe exist among us: Apostates, Deviants, Cultists, Adherents, and Spiritualists. As we explore these tribes, we need to consider not only their definition but also how the use of faith can support or inhibit us as we navigate the future.

CONTEMPORARY FAITH DOES NOT NECESSARILY EQUATE TO A SPECIFIC RELIGION OR EVEN A STRUCTURED SET OF TENETS TO GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AND EMOTIONS

O N T H I S PAG E D R E S S : R E D W I N E DY E D O R G A N I C S I L K C H I F F O N D R A P E D TO P EMBELLISHED WITH HANDMADE F L OW E R S TO M ATC H

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FASHION STORY

THE DEVIANT ARE TYPICALLY A TYPE OF CHARISMATIC BULLY WHO CLAIMS IS ON THE SIDE OF THE FAITHFUL. OFTENTIMES, THEY THRIVE ON CHAOS AND WILL ACTIVELY CREATE FALSE CRISIS SITUATIONS TO BENEFIT THEMSELVES.

THE DEVIANT use faith as a scam, another way to selfishly benefit from others. The Deviant can also be described as affinity frauds; these are despicable men and women that target people through a common bond which is most often religion. They wrap themselves in clothes that exude power like Chanel Suits or Hermes scarves so they can hide their most devious attributes. The Deviant can become inordinately powerful because they eagerly equate themselves to a higher power. They obscure facts and details to ensure their credentials become synonymous with whatever religion or belief they target.

But why do we allow this to happen to us?

One foundational reason that the Deviant is allowed to flourish is that many religious entities, such as Christianity in the USA, feel as if they are under tremendous siege from incessant waves of new information arriving digitally and the changing culture surrounding them. Many religious people feel that they make up a significant percentage of their community and yet they do not feel as if they can exert the power that they should have. Throughout history, we find endless examples of religions or people of faith believing that power was owed to them, but that it was also capriciously and unfairly denied. These frustrated people feel helpless and allow a foothold for the Deviants to enter and gain control.

The Deviant are typically a type of charismatic bully who claims is on the side of the faithful. We can observe through multiple exam-

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ples that the Deviant are intuitive bullies who can correctly read the mood of audiences and individuals. Oftentimes, they thrive on chaos and will actively create false crisis situations to benefit themselves.

Jim Jones, preacher and faith healer who led the Peoples Temple, ominously declared to his devoted flock, “If we can’t live in peace, then let’s die in peace.” He eventually led 909 men, women, and children to die through suicide.

To ensure their control, these leaders often incorporate formal indoctrination that reinforces their domination and their dogma. In the past, we have seen Charismatic Deviants enforce hideous dress codes, unique language, and isolation from family as a method to achieve power.

The Deviant also uses their personal proclivities to shape their group. Sexual fantasies, for example, might translate into sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. Or, the charismatic leader might be more interested in wealth and ostentatious displays, as was the case with Rajneesh, who owned 93 Rolls-Royces, and whose followers, all dressed in red, would throw flowers at him as he drove down the road of their commune.

Sadly, the Deviant has been found using their grotesque charisma to twist all manners of religion or spiritual movements. As you delve into using spirituality to support you in the future, never forget your individuality and allow these people to gain the control they desire.

O N T H I S PAG E C AC T U S V E G A N L E AT H E R PA N T S A N D B U S T I E R P E AC E S I L K T W I L L J AC K E T, V E G A N L E AT H E R EMBELLISHMENTS HEADPIECE: REPURPOSED FA U X F U R

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O N T H I S PAG E P E AC E S I L K O R G A N Z A S T R A P L E S S D R E S S H A N D F E LT E D I N S W I T Z E R L A N D M E R I N O WO O L C A P E

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THE CULTIST is immediately perceived as negative, but we must recall that the word comes from the Latin “cultus,” which is a form of the verb “colere,” meaning “to worship or give reference to a deity.” Most religions began as cult movements before expanding to the larger denominations that we now know. Just ask Emperor Constantine of Rome, who legalized Christianity after three hundred years of on and off persecution. It was not until the late 20th century that a narrower, derogatory understanding of cult dominated when it began to refer to a group whose beliefs and practices were considered bizarre or extreme. It has only recently been associated with mind control, brainwashing, and undue manipulation of followers.

Methods of coercive persuasion undoubtedly exist, but the notion of a foolproof method for destroying free will and reducing people to robots is now rejected by most experts as opposed to acknowledging that the Cultist involves an element of “voluntary self-surrender.”

Cultism is the ultimate expression of conformity; think of the hordes flashily wearing “Double G” prints or an oversized t-shirt with the word “Balenciaga” in capital letters on a white background. I definitely had my periods of conformity and fear of being different. I was absurdly young when I started as a freshman, and at 16 years of age, I had very little experience to base my behavior. I was a Mexican preppy with a stilted, overly proper American accent which was as foreign as a transexual purple Venusian would be to the thousands of white, uppermiddle-class Northwestern University students. That first cold September day when I arrived greeted me with its crisp icy wind swirling fallen leaves and its flat gray skies smelling of moist earth. The upperclassman who picked me up at the airport gaped in disbelief as I gingerly stepped into the arrival terminal wearing my brilliantly white, buttoned-down shirt starched within an inch of its life, a blue V-neck sweater, a pair of brilliantly colored madras pants, and of course loafers, without a sign of socks. I can only assume he was expecting someone older with chanclas, a luxurious Zapata mustache all covered in a rustic poncho dusted with dirt from the cactus-filled desert. I recall him stuttering out my name with his flat nasal midwestern accent, then at my nod, blurting out “Christ… don’t you have a jacket?!?”

I did not. As I finally arrived on campus, a shockwave of confusion hit me. Although I was dressed similarly to most of the students, it was clear that their casual superior attitudes and vulgarity-laden speech was not what I was taught, nor was it what I expected. I thought I would see and experience an explosion of diverse communities all happily living and supporting each other using Northwestern as the common link to thread everyone into a community.

Instead, conformity was the goal with any differences quickly gazed upon with judgement, displeasure, and isolation. So, in defense and sheer exhaustion, I conformed. I followed campus leaders in defining my ethics, very loose morals, and judgmental attitudes. I became a follower and let others do my thinking for me dressed in the exact same fashions and colors. This was a time in my life when I was not willing to be fiercely unique, and I was scared. It can be frightening to be alone, so of course, I followed the warm, well-lit path to acceptance. With time, I gained experience and learned how to be my own person. I evolved.

The Cultist have an understandable reason to be who they are, but danger lurks when they veer towards a fierce application of their worldview and an unforgiving judgement of others.

THIS WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS NOT WILLING TO BE FIERCELY UNIQUE, AND I WAS SCARED. IT CAN BE FRIGHTENING TO BE ALONE, SO OF COURSE, I FOLLOWED THE WARM, WELLLIT PATH TO ACCEPTANCE. WITH TIME, I GAINED EXPERIENCE AND LEARNED HOW TO BE MY OWN PERSON. I EVOLVED.

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O N T H I S PAG E D R E S S A N D L O N G TA I L O R E D C OAT: G O L D A N D S I L V E R L A M E T R I M M E D W I T H S AT I N

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THE APOSTATE is a fascinating group with their emphatic disdain for formal religion or even of faith itself. Think of a modern ascetic dressed in Helmut Lang’s SS22 gender-neutral designs cogitating on when science will eventually reveal all the mysteries of the physical universe without the ridiculous idea of some unseen, unprovable God. The Apostate uses atheism as a base belief system, and at first glance, has definitive merit. The Apostate has consistently valued scientific discovery more than their religious counterparts and has been less likely to stand in the way of scientific progress that has so often been blocked for religious reasons. In their hearts, they look to create a society that is more rational which in theory should be more welcoming to all manners of ideas and discussion.

As a teenager, I rebelled against my most-catholic upbringing and secretively considered being an Apostate. I remember when the idea first came into ice-clear clarity, I was lounging in a café on the edge of the Plaza de Armas, which was hemmed in by two massive stone cathedrals sitting somberly and

THOSE WHO DENY THE GRACE OF GOD. ANY GOD. FOR THEM, THE THRILL IS AGGRESSIVE FREE WILL AND INDEPENDENCE FROM ANY RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE. full of pride in the main square. I was basking in an atmosphere of quiet anonymity even though I was raised a couple of short kilometers away. I shifted a bit uneasily in my sun-drenched seat under the turquoise blue desert sky. Growing up in Mexico, being Catholic is an unspoken reality of life. We were compelled by our culture, family, and relationships to believe unquestioningly in our religion. To doubt our form of faith was to also call into question the very foundations of our Mexican society. Sitting in that café, I recalled that as a child, I asked my great aunt, la Señorita Antonia, why it was so hot and dry without any rain in our city. Her response was the

answer of someone who never once doubted the mystical nor questioned it. I could tell my severe, disapproving great-aunt didn’t know and didn’t care to understand why it rained. God willed it, and that was it. But this simple question from a curious child would be the catalyst to my journey towards my own answers. I started with concerns about our society, religion, and my place in the world. I also started to read extensively and exposed myself to vastly different points of view. I read everything from religious texts, science, history to fantasy and science fiction.

Through that exploration, my views evolved in a direction that carried me farther and farther from the Catholicism I was raised with. It was like crossing a bridge. My book-driven research satiated my intellectual queries in a way that religious instruction never did. So, I genuinely respect the scientific method, but unfortunately, I also found that there are drawbacks.

The goals for the Apostate should be to act less authoritarian, less dogmatic, less prejudiced, and more tolerant of others. After all, the scientific method is an empirical approach to acquiring knowledge, which should welcome all manner of ideas. But let’s not kid ourselves: the high goals of the Apostate also contend with members that are just as pig-headed as their religious counterparts.

Fundamentally the Apostate focuses on a single categorical statement that expresses their belief in nonbelief. Which when you think about it, this attitude is inherently unscientific in nature. They don’t believe in a spiritual power even though they have no evidence for or against it, they simply don’t believe.

Period. It’s a declaration that ignores the traditional approach of scientific inquiry.

One of the Apostate’s most potent tools to prove that science is the key to understanding life is quantum mechanics. It is science’s most precise, powerful theory of reality. It has predicted countless experiments, spawned countless applications. The trouble is, physicists and philosophers disagree over what it means, that is, what it says about how the world works. Consequently, to avoid messy arguments over doctrine, many physicists adhere to the adage of “shut up and calculate.” Ironically, this idea encourages physicists to stop trying to make sense of quantum mechanics and continue to apply the theory based solely on faith. Faith that science has answered the questions of why we exist and what is our purpose, without proof.

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THE ADHERENT. Why do we follow formal and conventional religions? An easy answer is that the belief in a higher being or power – in whichever form you believe he/she/they take(s) – is real. Humans desire to believe in a higher power, and many of us actively communicate with it and perceive evidence of its involvement in the world.

Why people follow organized religions is a question that has plagued great thinkers for many centuries.

Karl Marx, for example, called religion the “opium of the people.”

Sigmund Freud felt that God was an illusion, and worshippers were reverting to the childhood needs of security and forgiveness.

The Adherent care not for these great thinkers; they instead use formalized religion as a way to remove past guilt or remorse in other to move confidently forward. Asking yourself, “Did I deserve this?” can lead to terrible, negative emotions and endless self-flagellation. When I felt this desperation, I also looked back to formalized religion to find a philosophy that would enable me to process feelings of guilt and despair. When I think of Adherents, the stylized conservatism of Dolce and Gabbana comes to mind. Dolce and Gabbana promote their love of history and traditional with their use of dark, rich textures and over-the-top symbols such as post cards, crosses and glitter. La Señorita Antonia would have felt extreme-

ly satisfied wearing one of D&G’s saint-laden dresses, eh, as long as she could wear a veil as well. Nonetheless, the Adherent behave in variety of ways from strict application of religious policy to moving beyond mindless adherence to doctrine and trying to discover more about the world around them. This variety of behavior has led to significant differences between formal religious teachings and what Adherents actually think. The Adherent must accept or deny multiple aspects of their formal religion, especially when they look to exclude people based on their sexuality, gender, or even race. It has been a struggle for most organized religions that rely on doctrines that are hundreds or thousands of years old and do not reflect how society has radically changed in the last 50 years. A Pew Research Center survey, released in late 2021, found 29% of U.S. adults said they had no religious affiliation, an increase of 6 percentage points from 2016, with millennials leading that shift. A growing number of people said they are also praying less often. About 32% of those polled by Pew Research last year said they seldom or never pray. That’s up from 18% of those surveyed by the group in 2007. Adherents face this cosmic question. Do I follow religious dogma? Or do I slowly veer away from the comfort that tradition provides?

“DID I DESERVE THIS?” CAN LEAD TO TERRIBLE, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AND ENDLESS SELFFLAGELLATION. WHEN I FELT THIS DESPERATION, I ALSO LOOKED BACK TO FORMALIZED RELIGION TO FIND A PHILOSOPHY THAT WOULD ENABLE ME TO PROCESS FEELINGS OF GUILT AND DESPAIR.

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O N T H I S PAG E P L E AT E D T U L L E G OW N : T H E A S Y M M E T R I C A L TO P I S EMBELLISHED WITH HAND BEADED TRIM

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HE WAS POWERFUL AND PRAGMATIC IN TONE, WITH AN OPEN SARCASTIC TWIST TO HIS WORDS. HE HAD NO TIME FOR HYPOCRITES. HE SINCERELY DID NOT JUDGE YOU FOR YOUR FOIBLES, HE WANTED YOU TO BE YOU. I REGAINED A PORTION OF MY FAITH. THE SPIRITUALIST. In my opinion, spirituality is aligned with selfless love. Spiritual people claim that they care about everything and everyone, including all races, genders, animals, and the planet. The Dalai Lama once wittily stated, “While the West was busy exploring outer space, the East was busy exploring inner space.” The Dali Lama is a person that has gained great respect for his teachings, but I don’t think he intended that spirituality should be focused only on understanding yourself. Quite the opposite, spiritual people have become associated with various virtues: compassion, empathy, and openheartedness. In my observations, The Spiritualists constantly examine how they interact with others as well as the world.

There are many paths to spirituality which include meditation, selfreflection and even psychotherapy. I cannot claim to have exhausted the full range of meanings to spirituality nor the paths that people take to achieve this state. But I do know that spirituality does not exclude being an Apostate, Adherent, or any other version of the Penitent, except the Deviant since it is extremely hard to have compassion with your target for abuse. Nonetheless, many people may object to the idea that a person can simultaneously follow an organized religion and be compassionate to others. Look, the world is not black and white. Just because you follow a traditional religion or are an atheist does not mean that

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you cannot also be compassionate and understand that your organized religion does not yet have a doctrine to encompass everyone else. I recall a time when I had lost my faith, but through my mother, I met a lovely man, a Catholic priest, who inspired me to look beyond the doctrine and traditions to see the best version of myself.

My meeting occurred when I had finally moved my mother to London to be with me. I wanted my mother near me because she was fantastic.

All mothers are marvelous, I agree, and we all have our unique reasons for lauding the women who gave us light. My reasons were based on the fact that she prevented me from sliding into being a caricature of a privileged creep. My mother was impeccably polite and raised to treat everyone with a polished urbanity that endeared her from mosquito encrusted gardeners to fallen doyennes who remembered more glorious times while lashing out like wounded wildebeests.

I remember a warm late summer afternoon when my mother looked at me with care and said with a forthright tone, “Querido, I am going to catholic mass every Sunday at St. Mary of the Angels and you will accompany me, if not to pray, then at least to act like a caballero and escort me.” My mother was an expert in insisting that we cultivate a civility that was inherent in our upbringing. I could hardly say no. It was there that I met Father John Fernsby-Smith, an

old Etonian and Oxfordian doctor in religious studies. It is difficult for me to describe his tone and the utter conviction of his words. Father John was not a zealot or mindless robot droning scripture. You could actually feel the force of his kind and expansive faith. I was deeply moved. This was a man that was sincere in opening his mind and caring for anyone whether they were Anglican, Muslim, or faithless of religion altogether. Please don’t imagine him to be this gentle, quiet soul. Father John was the epitome of his class and education. He was powerful and pragmatic in tone, with an open sarcastic twist to his words.

He had no time for hypocrites. If you were reveling in drinking baby-seal blood while paying for love by the hour with men dressed in furry costumes? Father John would say, “At least have the balls to admit it!!”. He sincerely did not judge you for your foibles, he wanted you to be you.

Granted, Father John would also urge you to adhere to some set of humane ethics, not necessarily Catholic norms but any that aligned to a more just and kind code of conduct. Father John did not hold with the libertine and degenerate conduct of his fellow prelates, who quickly and formulaically forgave all congregants. No, Father John wanted his faithful to feel true remorse and have faith that God would be there to support us. I regained a portion of my faith the day I met Father John and I have continued to remember and respect Father John’s advice and his spirituality.

O N T H I S PAG E D R E S S : TA F F E TA D R A P E D TO P WITH AND ASYMMETRICAL S K I RT E M B E L L I S H E D W I T H B E A D E D T R I M S A N D C RY S TA L S

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USING THE PENITENT AS A PATH FORWARD The pandemic has not only fuelled people’s interest in spirituality, but the necessary move to online services has also made it easier for people to explore these feelings. I think that in pre-pandemic times there was an anxiety in meeting new people and immediately discussing your inner faith. But if you’re online and you’re in the comfort of your own home, you can just hop in and hop out at your leisure and just explore how you feel about faith… one step at a time. Religion and faith can still be looked upon as an immature response to difficult times but research has identified positive and negative forms of religious coping — as well as evidence that how people experience and express their faith has implications for

their well-being and health. On the positive side, faith can help us reframe events through a hopeful lens. Faith can help us transcend stressful times by enabling us to see a tragedy as an opportunity to grow closer to a higher power or to improve our lives. We can use faith as a bridge to link us to something larger than ourselves.

Religious rituals and rites of passage can also help people navigate through tumultuous and momentous times. Rituals can sustain people through life’s most difficult transitions. I think it is extremely important that people use their beliefs in a way that makes them feel empowered and hopeful. Faith can be remarkably helpful in terms of managing stress during times like these. Unfortunately, religious beliefs may also undermine healing during stressful times. These

negative religious expressions include feeling punished by God or feeling angry toward a higher being. Trauma and tragedy can challenge conceptions of religion as all-loving and protective. As a result, some people struggle in their relationship with religion and experience feelings of anger and abandonment. “Religious deferral” can be another negative aspect of using faith. One example of this deferral is church leaders who say God will protect their congregations as they hold church services in defiance of physical distancing guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. People can have difficulty squaring their behavior with their moral and spiritual values. For example, healthcare providers who are on the front

lines of treating coronavirus patients may describe the anguish they feel as they are being forced to decide how to allocate limited life-sustaining resources, decisions that put them in the uncomfortable role of playing God. Nonetheless, I believe that spirituality can add even more benefits beyond the basic tenets of formal religion. There are so many spiritual practices that are now used by everyone.

Yoga comes from Hinduism and mindful meditation from Buddhism, yet Penitents from all belief systems now take part in these traditions. Faith has been helping people get through hard times for thousands of years; it’s tested and ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Just read the psalms, and you will see that it is all about people turning to a higher power during troubled times.

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Natural materials and responsible manufacturing meet a strong, classic and modern identity.

pisla.co

FASHION STORY

P H OTO C R E D I T S P H OTO G R A P H E R F L ÁV I O I RYO DA SPECIAL THANKS M I A M I I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y O F A RT & D E S I G N

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COUTURE

FEATURING TAMMY APOSTOL FROM TA COUTURE

PASSIONATE

INTERVIEW BY ALFONSO DE HOYOS-ACOSTA WHEN YOU FIRST MEET TA M M Y A P O S T O L , C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R O F TA C O U T U R E , Y O U I M M E D I AT E LY N O T I C E H E R I N C R E D I B LY WA R M P E R S O N A L I T Y A N D L O V E LY SMILE. THEN IT HITS YOU. SHE LOOKS GORGEOUS BOTH AS A PERSON AS WELL AS IN THE CLOTHES SHE WEARS. SHE IS THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT FOR HER COLLECTIONS. TA M M Y H A S B E E N H I G H LY SUCCESSFUL AS AN AMERICAN FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R A N D MILLINER SERVING CLIENTS FOR OVER 25 YEARS. SHE HAS B E E N F E AT U R E D I N V O G U E MAGAZINE, BOCA MAGAZINE, ON CBS, FOX, NBC, TELEMUNDO, UNIVISION, DECO DRIVE, AND MANY OTHERS. HER WORK IS FEMININE, POWERFUL, AND GLAMOROUS. TA C O U T U R E D E S I G N S BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM CLOTHES A N D A C C E S S O R I E S T H AT A R E L U X U R I O U S A N D FA S H I O N F O R WA R D . TA M M Y S P E N T S O M E TIME WITH US THIS MONTH TO D I S C U S S H E R L AT E S T R U N WAY SHOWCASE AND IDEAS.

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materials. We researched globally for new materials and found vegan leather made out of cactus, one of our favorites. We had to experiment with it for the construction of garments like bustiers, pants, and jackets, and for accessories, into a little handbag which has been a hit. We designed a jacket with peace silk twill, which has structure and is very soft to the touch at the same time. Also, peace silk organza, this fabric gets its natural stiffness and “body” from sericin, the stiff gum that holds the silkworm cocoon together. Most silk fabrics have been “degummed,” meaning the sericin gum is removed, and only the silk fibers remain. This organza has an extra crisp texture, great for ruffles and structured voluminous sheer skirts or sleeves.

I NOTICED THAT YOU ALSO USED NATURALLY WHITE SILKS WHICH WERE DYED WITH RED WINE AND OTHER NATURAL COLOR DYES. AS YOU CREATED THIS COLLECTION, DID YOU CREATE THE FABRICS FIRST PRIOR TO YOUR VISION, OR WERE THEY CUSTOM MADE FOR A SPECIFIC LOOK? The theme of the collection was “sustainable fabrics and materials.” We sourced the fabrics before finalizing the designs. The color palette used was “Poetic Lilac/Fall 22,” which perfectly fit our red wine-dyed fabrics, natural and off-white silk colors, gold and cream vegan leather, and the deep magenta and violet eco-triacetates.

Y K E E P I T U P W I T H TA M M Y AN D TA C O U T U R E !

2 0 4 5 B I S C AY N E B L V D # 3 1 1 MIAMI, FL 33137 PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS +1 (786) 220-2610 TAC O U T U R E .C O M @ TAC O U T U R E

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OUR “WINTER/FALL 2021-22 TA COUTURE COLLECTION” WAS INSPIRED BY SUSTAINABILITY. YOU EXPLORED HOW TO CREATE ONE-OF-A-KIND CLOTHES USING SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS. SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING FABRICS WERE THE VEGAN LEATHER, MADE FROM CACTUS, AND “PEACE SILK,”WHERE THE SILKWORMS ARE GIVEN THE TIME TO DEVELOP INTO MOTHS. WHERE DID YOU UNCOVER THESE MATERIALS, AND WERE THEY DIFFICULT TO USE AS YOU EXECUTED YOUR VISION? We have been experimenting with sustainable materials for over 20 years, including them in our designs. To name a few, red wine dyed organic silks and organic cottons for gowns and cocktail dresses and, also hemp fabric for suits. This is the first time we have created an entire collection out of sustainable

TA COUTURE RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS FOR YOUR WORK IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, SUCH AS: THE “ECO-COUTURE PIONEER” BY THE ARTHUR MARSHALL FOUNDATION AND THE FIRST PRIZE FOR ECO-COUTURE BY BORN FREE USA. WHY IS THIS ISSUE SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? I care about our environment and about how we treat the resources our planet provides for us. Sadly, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters, and, working in this sector, it is important to me that I do my part not just for the present but for our children’s future and generations to come. By creating this type of fashion, I would like to inspire established and upcoming designers to consider and practice sustainability during sourcing, design, and manufacturing processes. As designers, the more we demand from our suppliers to provide ecologically viable products, the more variety we will have to work with while becoming more affordable.

YOU HAVE A FASCINATING BI-CULTURAL BACKGROUND WITH AN AMERICAN MOTHER AND A VENEZUELAN FATHER, BOTH RETIRED MILITARY. HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOUR CAREER? I am fortunate to have supportive parents, where good education and discipline are always a priority. They nurtured my creative inclinations during my youth and taught me to be the best I could be in the profession I decided to pursue.

I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU STARTED DESIGNING AND SEWING IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WAS A CLEAR HARBINGER FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THOSE FIRST CLIENTS THAT STILL RESONATES WITH YOUR WORK TODAY? During my high school years, I sewed and designed for my family and myself. And it is incredible that my first custom-made client from our early business years in Miami is still my client and, over time, also my friend. I feel extremely fortunate about the long-lasting relationships I have with most clients to this day.

YOU ARE KNOWN FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE COUTURE HEADWEAR, SUCH AS HANDMADE HATS AND FASCINATORS. HOW DID YOU START DESIGNING ACCESSORIES? ARE THESE ACCESSORIES STILL IMPORTANT TODAY? Millinery was part of the curriculum of my fashion studies while in Venezuela. Once I moved to Miami after graduating with a fashion degree from Marymount University, my first fashion job was as an assistant designer at a hat company called “Forget Me Not.” Millinery, when designed and allocated beautifully, completes any outfit and makes a statement. Bridal veils and tiaras for a wedding, fascinators, and hats for a luncheon or wedding, a fedora or caps are great accents for certain looks. Millinery and accessories like handbags are fashion tools and a necessity to perfect a look. Through fashion, we present ourselves to others in a non-verbal way that expresses more than words, how we want to be perceived.

YOU HAVE A BUSINESS PARTNER WHO RUNS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF THE COMPANY, LEAVING YOU TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CREATIVE AND SALES RESPONSIBILITIES. CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR DESIGN PROCESS? DO YOU INITIALLY FOCUS SOLELY ON DESIGNS, OR DO YOU FIRST COLLABORATE WITH YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER ON COMPANY GOALS FOR THAT SEASON? We establish annual strategies and goals together.

Then I focus on designing and working with clients, always consulting with my partner when certain larger projects are proposed. It is because of this partnership that I can do what I love to do successfully without worrying too much about the business aspect.

TA COUTURE IS A BESPOKE BUSINESS WITH CLOTHES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO EACH CLIENT. YOU HAVE A MARVELOUS PERSONAL AESTHETIC, SO HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE YOUR DESIGN VISION WITH YOUR COUTURE CLIENTS? Thank you for the compliments. My job is to make the client’s dream dress for an occasion become a reality. Several factors come into place when custom designing. At the first meeting with a client, we discuss the type of event the garment is for, the color theme of the event if any, the most flattering color palette and silhouette specifically for the client, and most importantly, the client’s personality should be reflected in the final design because ultimately, she is the one wearing it and should feel special and beautiful.

YOU HAVE BEEN AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ART AND DESIGN FOR OVER 15 YEARS, AND AT TA COUTURE YOU ALSO COACH STARTUP DESIGNERS WITH THEIR CLOTHING LINE DEVELOPMENT. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF DESIGNERS? I learned a lot about the fashion business, in the beginning stages of my career, through professors and mentors, so I feel a duty to do the same.

Teaching is a way to give back professionally all the knowledge acquired throughout the years in business. My favorite part of teaching fashion is when explaining certain techniques, and I see the student’s eyes open wide while saying, “Ohhhh, that’s how it is done!’. Also, when assisting in developing clothing lines of upcoming designers, it is fulfilling to see their collections selling successfully.

YOU BECAME A FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL MEMBER IN APRIL 2010, A BOARD MEMBER IN 2011, AND TOOK ON THE ROLE OF REGIONAL DIRECTOR 2015-16. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES, AND WHY IS FGI SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? Since joining FGI, I’ve developed great business and personal relationships, not only here in South Florida but all over the world. FGI is the perfect platform to get involved with the fashion community and expand one’s horizon.

This organization was founded by influential, visionary women in the early 1900s and I feel the responsibility to continue this vision for future generations of industry professionals. Currently, I am a District Director for the Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans, North and South Florida chapters, where I oversee and guide the Regional Directors.

I BELIEVE YOU ONCE SAID THAT PERSEVERANCE, HIGH-QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ADAPTATION TO NEW TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE THE KEYS TO YOUR SUCCESS. AS WE ENTER THE THIRD YEAR WITH CONTINUED SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, WHICH OF THESE QUALITIES WILL HELP YOU PERSEVERE? As it looks like that now, the worst of this historical and horrific pandemic may be over in most countries, we can all go back to living a normal life. We can be social again, celebrate at large gatherings like weddings and galas and slowly begin traveling. Because we are lucky to have a longtime loyal clientele, we started getting very busy again, doing what we love and do best!

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2 0 4 5 B I S C AY N E B LV D # 3 1 1 - M I A M I , F L 3 3 1 3 7 | P L E A S E C A L L F O R A P P O I N T M E N T S + 1 ( 7 8 6 ) 2 2 0 - 2 6 1 0 | TA C O U T U R E . C O M | @ TA C O U T U R E

FASHION STORY

Simplicity.

“the art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity”

story by mena lombard featuring fashion designer lisu vega produced by natasha tabunova

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P H OTO C R E D I T S P R O D U C E R : N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : L I S U V E G A M O D E L : N ATA S H A K U P TC OVA H A I R & M A K E - U P : M E R C E D E S R OT H P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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IS IT SIMPLE I HARDER, OR EASIER? DO WE STRIVE FOR SIMPLICITY? ARE WE NATURALLY DRAWN TO IT? HOW DO WE FEEL ABOUT SIMPLE THINGS?

took the time last month to sit down and talk to different people from different walks of life, and I must admit that one of the very few things that I found in common among all of them is that they wished life could be simpler. Now that we finally see the end of the pandemic tunnel, I find people yearning for the simplicity lockdown gave us. Although we are all excited about being able to do the things we were missing, we cannot deny that life during Covid was simpler. It lacked excitement, but it also lacked complexity. In a very straightforward way, Covid made us focus on what was important, and we learned that when we do that, we simplify our lives. This gave us an order, and in that order, we suddenly found balance. It was forced, it was sudden, it was unexpected, and it even felt strange. But it was also necessary, and more than that, it was positive.

I have come to the realization that with the goal (or excuse) of making our lives simpler, the world around us gets more complex by the minute.

Technology is a great example. Our lives are now ruled by our phones, guided by apps, and made possible by buttons, and behind it all is a whole lot of circuits, signals, and commands that are impossible to understand without an entire IT team assisting you. I can’t help to ask myself, is this simpler? Would we be yearning for simplicity if this was true?

As human beings, we pursue simplicity. But we must admit that we have a highly complex relationship with it. We yearn for simplicity, we strive for it, and we reject it all at the same time. Since the dawn of time, we have been saying that “the simpler explanation is usually the correct one.”

I don’t know if you ever stopped and paid attention to this statement. It is not only saying that the truth is simple. Even more than that, this is saying that simplicity is a symbol of truth.

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SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME, WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT “THE SIMPLER EXPLANATION IS USUALLY THE CORRECT ONE.” I DON’T KNOW IF YOU EVER STOPPED AND PAID ATTENTION TO THIS STATEMENT. IT IS NOT ONLY SAYING THAT THE TRUTH IS SIMPLE. EVEN MORE THAN THAT, THIS IS SAYING THAT SIMPLICITY IS A SYMBOL OF TRUTH. MARCH 2022 |

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When communications are simple, they are effective. And more than that, they are impactful. One of the most famous and impactful speeches of all time is President Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg. Did you know that the full address is not even 300 words long?

When it is simple, it is striking.

TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE LOTS OF INFORMATION WITH FEW ELEMENTS REQUIRES PURPOSEFUL FOCUS. THIS MEANS THAT SIMPLICITY IS ALSO A SYMBOL OF OPTIMIZATION. As a communicator, I strive for simplicity every time I write because simple communications are better understood. Personally, I’m not too fond of the overuse of language that does nothing but feeds the ego of the writer and confuses the reader. When this happens, the message is thrown to a second place, overshadowed by a very archaic and self-centered belief that complexity is a synonym of competency.

Another misconception regarding simplicity is that, for some reason, we relate simple with easy—nothing farther from the truth. Go ask anyone to explain anything in just one sentence, and I promise you they will find it hard to do because it is. Simplicity is hard to achieve. To be able to express a whole idea or complete understanding without any excess or extravagance is a challenging task. To be able to communicate lots of information with few elements requires purposeful focus. This means that simplicity is also a symbol of optimization.

A significant and telling fact about simplicity is that it is a design principle. Designers follow principles in order to create effective and attractive compositions.

This means that simplicity should be more than just a desire. It should be a goal because it is proven to work.

Particularly in fashion, simplicity is a synonym of timelessness. The simplest designs are the ones that are successful at passing the test of time. As a fashion designer, I always want to create garments that are relevant to the times they are being offered, but more than that, I want to create designs that can stay relevant through the years. Simple is also eternal.

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PARTICULARLY IN FASHION, SIMPLICITY IS A SYNONYM OF TIMELESSNESS. THE SIMPLEST DESIGNS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL AT PASSING THE TEST OF TIME. 68

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I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT IF BALANCE IS THE JOURNEY, ITS PATH IS SIMPLICITY

SIMPLICITY AS A WAY OF GETTING RID OF THE SUPERFLUOUS AND LEAVING THE MEANINGFUL

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A couple of issues ago, I wrote about the importance of balance. Balance as the ongoing and never-ending act of bringing all the elements of our lives into harmony. Balance as a journey and not a destiny. And it got me thinking, are balance and simplicity mutually dependent? Can you achieve one without the other? I wholeheartedly believe that if balance is the journey, its path is simplicity. Simplicity not as a way to avoid complexity but as the act of digging through it in order to get to the core of it all. Simplicity as a way of getting rid of the superfluous and leaving the meaningful.

If we want to improve our day-to-day lives, we must update our own knowledge regarding simplicity and eliminate all the misconceptions around it. Simple is impactful. Simple is eternal. And it is also something extremely complex to achieve, thus something worthwhile to pursue.

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L A D Y C O D E S H O P. C O M

FASHION STYLING

UNIFORMS UNRAVELED UPCYCLED BEAUTY PRESENTED BY

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ART & DESIGN (AI) INTRODUCTION & SUPERVISION BY

JUANITA CRARY

PHOTOGRAPHED BY

FLAVIO IRYODA

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eauty is an element that is constantly changing its definition and challenging different perspectives. We can’t completely define it, but we know it when we see it, and it can be presented in infinite ways. For this selection of editorial images, Styling students from Miami International University of Art & Design (The Art Institutes) have put together their visions of beauty from an environmental perspective. Editorial photos based on a mission created by the Upcycle Project for Fashion Design students from Ai Miami solve via their creativity and talent. Fashion Evolved: Uniforms Unraveled was born using deadstock uniforms donated by Estēe Lauder and upcycled by the graduates into unique creations.

“Fashion Evolved is a yearly exhibit that raises awareness of the fashion industry’s profound environmental impact on our planet. Each year Fashion Evolved is themed to challenge conventional designers to bring attention to different issues affecting our environment”. Designers such as Agatha Ruiz de La Prada, Angel Sánchez, Oscar Carvallo, Nicola Felizola, Shantall Lacayo, Adrienne Bon Haes, Viviana Gabeiras, have participated in previous challenges. Goddesses from Asia, galactic warriors, and wild animals losing their habitat are some narratives created to tap the reality of our planet’s faces. Discover the different faces of beauty seen through the images created by upcoming Stylists to give life to the creations of the graduated designers.

O N T H I S PAG E FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : C H E V I A R OAC H FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T: J U A N I TA C R A RY H A I R & M A K E - U P : VA L E N T I N A TA B A R E S M O D E L : S H U L I N YAO M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y: E L I T E P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N S T Y L I N G A M A L I A I VA L D I & A N A C E C I L I A N O R O N H A

MODEL MARIA SOLER DUBREUIL

FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R N ATA S H A TA B U N OVA

M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y T H E WA L K C O L L E C T I V E

H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T A N N A P R I M AC

P H OTO G R A P H E R F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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“For this photoshoot, inspiration came from the Hindu God, Ganesha, with his anthropomorphic elephant head and ability as the remover of obstacles and symbol of good luck. It’s said that Lord Ganesha’s mother, Goddess Parvati, carved an idol of a boy out of turmeric powder and breathed life into it, unbeknownst to her husband, Lord Shiva. So, when Ganesha denied Lord Shiva entry into his abode -- because Goddess Parvati was bathing inside -- Shiva decapitated Ganesha’s head in anger. According to legend, an elephant was the first animal that Lord Brahma later found when he went out to look for one to replace Ganesha’s head.

Ganesha became the perfect metaphor as we created our story about upcycling.

We wanted to demonstrate that even after destruction, an object can become even more exciting and powerful. Ganesha’s origin legend represents strength and revival after death. We wanted our model to represent the Hindu God by giving her accessories and garments that referred to Ganesha. The turban and conch were our most vital elements as they are straightforward and literal interpretations of Ganesha’s appearance. However, we decided to add other accessories such as shoes and heavy jewelry to add details to the editorial.

We originally wanted our model to have straight plaited hair, but once we saw her beautiful natural curly hair, we changed our minds right away. It was evident to us that we would keep her hair natural with the turban, and it became a striking visual.

In terms of the color scheme for the makeup, we chose to keep a yellow palette as it was our primary color for the editorial.

The garment itself incorporated shades of yellow, gold, white, and navy blue. This final project really gave me a glimpse of what being a stylist will be and it is true to say that I didn’t realize how much responsibility a stylist has during photoshoots.

It was fascinating to learn more about the role itself but also what a stylist needs to bring and how much adjustment is required during a photoshoot. I also realized that stylists required to be alert at all times as they kept track of the clothes and accessories. A stylist is constantly required to jump in and fix whatever needs to be adjusted.”

-- Amalia Ivaldi & Ana Cecilia Noronha

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“The moon is seen as a symbol of beauty in most Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures. In fact, the word “Moon” translates to “Amar (‫ ”)قمر‬in Arabic, which means beauty and is used to describe a beautiful person. For this project, we were inspired by the moon and the 60’s Space Age. We drew inspiration from designers such as Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges, and Jean Paul Gaultier and movies like Barbarella and The Fifth Element. For the photo shoot, we styled

the dress, which was made from a deconstructed jacket, with a fitted cropped silver turtleneck and white patent leather boots. The model was also wearing a black bob wig and a stewardess hat, which were inspirations drawn from the movie “The Fifth Element.” The model’s makeup was a direct reference to the ‘60s and included a strong eyeliner wing and white eyeshadow for a pop of color. To finish the look, the model was wearing elongated silver cuffs and a silver choker while carrying a half-moon black purse in one hand and a moon lamp in another. For poses, we referenced photoshoots from Pierre Cardin and André Courrèges during the Space Age and recreated them.”

-- Eman Beshara & Angela de Azevedo

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P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N S T Y L I N G EMAN BESHAR A & ANGELA DE AZEVEDO FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R A N A S TA S I O G I A N N O U T S O S H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T A N N A P R I M AC MODEL MARIA SOLER DUBREUIL M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y T H E WA L K C O L L E C T I V E P H OTO G R A P H E R F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N S T Y L I N G K AT R I N A G H A N TO U S & I S A B E L A R E N A S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R DA N A E L G H O U L H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T A N N A P R I M AC MODEL S H U L I N YAO M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y ELITE P H OTO G R A P H E R F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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“This story originated with the garment’s designer, Dana El Ghoul, who was inspired by the beauty of sunflowers, the allure of the earth, and how our existence relates to nature. As stylists, we utilized the sunflowers along with the dress style, which has Japanese features and made it the heart and soul of this photoshoot. Researching sunflowers and how to represent the sun, we discovered that there are Gods and Goddesses who represent the sun in different ways. The photoshoot itself was inspired by the Japanese Goddess of Sun, Amaterasu. She is the goddess of light and, therefore, all of humanity. She directs the sun to wake up all living things each morning and, most importantly, sunflowers. Sunflowers symbolize how the sun lights up each day like magic over the earth. We utilized Amaterasu’s origin and based our photoshoot on the betrayal of her younger brother, Susanowo, a mul-

tifaceted deity with contradictory characteristics. That betrayal left Amaterasu in great distress, and she went into hiding deep inside a cave blocking the entrance with stones. This caused the world to become dark and evil spirits came out of concealment to take over humankind.

The gods quickly met punished Susanowo, and decided to host a party near the cave to lure Amaterasu to come out. A large mirror was placed in front of the cave, and stunning gemstones were hung from a tree. Uzume, the goddess of laughter, began dancing with excessive noise accompanying her. Amaterasu was so intrigued by the music and laughing that she went outside to see what was going on. When she stepped outside the cave, she caught her own reflection in the mirror and was instantly mesmerized. Then, at last, the world was illuminated and filled with light once again.”

-- Katrina Ghantous & Isabel Arenas

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“Our inspiration is about the excessive and unnecessary waste of cardboard and paper that companies, like Amazon or Shein, use when they ship their products. We focused on wild animals like the Bengal tiger, whose territory has been compromised because of the vast deforestation enormously enhanced by the policies of such companies that overuse paper goods. If we think about it, when we purchase online a single lipstick, or frankly anything that comes in a small package, this object is later wrapped in paper or a padded envelope, and over it, all is the final shipping package that is sent to our home. We end up receiving paper and boxes within boxes, all for a small, single purchase. Why? It’s ridiculous and is harmful to nature, wildlife, and us as well! With this photoshoot, we wanted to portray the excessive use of cardboard in shipping along with the presence of the Bengal Tiger, which represents the beauty of the wild and the fragile nature of the world.

A world that we should be honoring and taking better care of.”

-- Aisha Rodriguez, Valentina Tabares & Kathy Benarroch

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P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N S T Y L I N G A I S H A R O D R I G U E Z , VA L E N T I N A TA B A R E S & K AT H Y B E N A R R O C H FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R VA N I A Z E L AYA H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T VA L E N T I N A TA B A R E S MODEL S H U L I N YAO M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y ELITE P H OTO G R A P H E R F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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MARREROCOLLECTION.COM

FASHION EDITORIAL

LIBERTÉ L O S E YOU R S E LF I N T R U E U N B OU N DE D S E LF - E X P R E S S I O N

FEATURING FASHION DESIGNER LUIS APONTE

Luis Aponte’s new collection Liberté represents the freedom to embrace your true self and relinquish boundaries. Liberté embraces self-awareness along with introspection to reflect the inner spirit. Like bounded ropes, society binds individuals to certain standards. In this collection Luis Aponte was inspired to slash these ropes and release the true innermost self.

The Liberté collection uses vibrant colors, cut out details and exposed skin in a bondage setting to represent the contrast between society expectations versus personal desires. The fabric selection for the Liberté collection transitions from soft velveteen to textured sheer and sparkled sequins fabrics. The textiles and silhouettes depict the feelings of lust, love and freedom which evolve from self-discovery. Liberté is the interpretation and liberation of true inner expression envisioned throughout this collection.

P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : L U I S A P O N T E M O D E L S : DA M I E N L E N O R E A N D J O N PA S TO R P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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O N T H I S PAG E S H AW N M E N ’ S S W I M T H O N G $ 4 7 ANSEL MEN’S SWIM BRIEF $48

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B OT H PAG E S RIO MEN’S SWIM THONG $47 R A U L M E N ’ S S W I M C U TO U T B R I E F $ 5 6 W I L L I A M M E N ’ S T U RT L E N E C K $ 6 5 T E O M E N ’ S TO P $ 7 9

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B OT H PAG E S F R E D DY M E N ’ S S W I M T H O N G $ 4 5 R E M Y M E N ’ S S H I RT $ 1 2 5

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O N T H I S PAG E A R M A N D O M E N ’ S T- S H I RT $ 7 9 J U S T I N M E N ’ S T- S H I RT $ 7 5

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PRO UDLY AVAIL AB LE AT AVES S ABAZA AR .COM

UNTAMED

INTERVIEW

The continuous pursuit of creativity, living yourself as the main protagonist of your own destiny FEATURING DANIELA LEWKOWICZ PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANI BAUER

HEART

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P H OTO C R E D I T S P H OTO G R A P H Y & A RT D I R E C T I O N : DA N I B A U E R H A I R & M A K E - U P : J A D E A N DA L O N WA R D R O B E : R O S I TA H U RTA D O J E W E L RY: M E E S H A FA R Z A N E H L O C AT I O N : T H E C OV E A U S T I N

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INTERVIEW

D

aniela Lewkowicz is a multi-talented photographer and actress from Bolivia. She was born into a very creative family, with her mother being Rosita Hurtado, the renowned and successful Latin American fashion designer. Daniela remembers growing up in this innovative environment, watching her mother work with her extended family to create beautiful clothing through their work as local seamstresses. Her mother continued her career by studying design and transforming herself into a highly successful entrepreneur creating fashion for celebrities and participating in multiple fashion weeks across the world. With these inspiring teachers in her life, Daniela grew up learning to nurture her creativity and to pursue her passions relentlessly.

When she was three years old, Daniela and her family moved to South Florida, which allowed her to live in a bi-cultural community that further enhanced her ability as an artist to honor both her native and adopted cultures. With such a creative foundation, Daniela naturally pursued the arts as her passion ever since she can remember. In our conversation, Daniela remembers at the age of 7 years old a friend auditioned for a Justin Timberlake music video, and the acting bug bit her ever since. She was so intent on pursuing acting that Daniela moved to Los Angeles at 14 years.

Enthusiastic and passionate, Daniela made a serious attempt to become a professional actress. In fact, her lead role in an anti-bullying PSA earned Daniela a student Emmy award in 2016. Even with this recognition, Daniela understood that to succeed at the level she wanted, she needed to mature emotionally and potentially get more formal training.

Somewhat discouraged but never beaten, Daniela returned to Florida to attend school and study film production behind the camera. Her creative curiosity could not be contained, so she also started to take photography seriously. Daniela focused on fashion, portrait, and commercial branding photography with significant success. Nonetheless, acting had never really left her mind. During her isolation, when the Covid pandemic hit, Daniela kept returning to the idea of acting. So as soon as possible, Daniela enrolled in acting classes in Austin, and in 2021 she participated in her first commercial. She also directed her first short film, Mckinney Falls, which placed 2nd at the Water Texas Film Festival judged by Richard Linklater.

After the emotional turmoil of the pandemic, Daniela found that she didn’t have any fear or hesitation to push her career, and she jumped at the chance when her first movie opportunity came up. Although Daniela felt confident in this renewed pursuit of her dream, she also realized she still had a lot to learn about acting. Initially, she used her photography experience to help her get spiritually centered since acting in front of live classes was not as easy as first imagined.

Daniela told me that acting was so addictive to her because she could happily get lost in a new persona along with the imaginary circumstances surrounding the story. She felt that instead of acting a part, she was actually living herself truthfully as the character. Daniela was able to be vulnerable and demonstrate all her emotions and intensity. It was a release for her as she had nothing to hide through her connection with the audience.

Daniela’s success has not been taken for granted. She is very grateful and excited about all her recent work she’s taken part in throughout 20202021, and she can’t wait to see what else is in store.

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5 W 37TH ST, SUITE 531 NEW YORK CITY, NY 10018 +1 (646) 205-3023

1350 E SUNRISE BLVD, SUITE 107 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304 +1 (954) 524-2743

POSCHEMODELS.COM | AGENCY@POSCHEMODELS.COM

FASHION STORY

THE

INSTINCT OF POSITIVITY STORY BY IBTISSAM EL AZAMI PHOTOGRAPED BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ

O

ne of the most positive authors I know is Dr. Seuss. If you’ve never read one of his children’s books, now is the time to do so by diving into “Oh, the places you’ll go”. A traditional graduation gift in the United States, “Oh, the places you’ll go” is a life-changing book that I have been offering for years to people who matter to me. In it, you can find the keys to life - quite literally. We often forget that as long as we’re alive, that we have functioning organs, and most importantly, a functioning soul, we can rise life around us. This book teaches you that since you have legs, a heart, a brain, and a vision, you can do anything you set your heart to in life. If I told you there was one thing you could do to turn your whole life upside down and go from the darkened experience of your past to a future full of light, would you follow my advice? I do not know you, but I am human. I understand how the mind works, how a good day

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can lead to a great week, month, and life. I understand that the more negatively you think, the more negative experiences you will attract. I used to be much more of a negative person, and around my 25th birthday, something had to change. More than a philosophical essay, I intend The Instinct of Positivity to be the positive guideline you need to kickstart 2022 on the right foot. If there’s only one self-development slash happiness article you need to read this year, let me make it this one. Let’s make it count. In a world painted with ultra-success - fake or real - on social media, we can sometimes feel lost, or behind. Being lucid is the first step to positivity. Yet, it feels to me like lucidity is something that many of us lack. If you are not clear about your place in the world and where you are set, you cannot understand the place of others and how they can interact in a satisfying way with you.

P H OTO C R E D I T S P H OTO G R A P H E R : DAV I D R O D R I G U E Z MODEL: LETICIA GONZALEZ

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IF YOU DON’T TAKE THE TIME TO PAUSE, YOU’LL FIND YOURSELF OVERWHELMED. IF ALL THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES CAN ALTER YOUR MOOD IN A MATTER OF MINUTES - SOMETIMES SECONDS. WHY SHOULD WE ATTACH OUR HAPPINESS TO THE TEMPORARY?

Call it positivity, call it harmony, call it peace. In the end, all concepts are merely words, and they have the same goal. So many of us want to be successful without even knowing that the key to success is feeling like our presence is a gift to others. We’ve changed the world so much that we have made happiness a theory, ignoring the fact that it’s all contained within so we could sell more of everything to each other. Imagine a bottle that can irradiate the water contained inside, making all around you hydrated and satisfied. That is who we are. We are neutral beings placed on Earth to intertwine experiences with one another. It is the choice of Western civilizations to divide the population of the world into casts, ranks, and titles that do not mean a thing once you are deep in the layers of Earth.

When you wake up in the morning, the first thoughts that come to mind are often “I haven’t slept enough”. Then comes a turning point, one fraction of a second, in which you make up your whole day. The moment between “I haven’t slept enough” and a good, or bad day, lies in what you think during this fraction of a second.

Being positive was not always my first choice in life. As a person, as an ex-makeup artist, a writer, and an entrepreneur, thinking negatively can break your entire career before it has even begun.

Or before it has bloomed enough that you feel comfortable and happy saying “I made it”. You can say “I made it” even if you’re not a millionaire. There are so many ways to “make it” - the mindset is always key, though.

THE THING THAT ALWAYS WORKS. Risks always pay off.

Whether they pay you in relationships, money, or lessons, they do pay and they’re never late. We technically all know within, what is fitting for us and what is not. The only thing is that - as I’ve mentioned in previous works - some of us are happy to listen and grow from what the risks have to tell you.

If you go straight into a wolf’s den, you can only expect to be eaten alive. I’m not here to talk about unnecessary risks that bring no bread home. The beauty of risk depends on the viability of the project - the company, the relationship, the investment. It doesn’t mean you need to throw yourself into each and every project that comes your way without thinking. It means that you’ve built yourself strongly enough that you know when to stop and assess the return on investment. Risks always pay you back in one way or another, and keeping a positive attitude largely determines the outcome.

THE BEAUTY OF DOING NOTHING. When I first looked into meditation, I thought the whole process was maybe a bit too cultsy for me. I’m very big on my spiritual ideas and I don’t intend for anyone to try and change my point of view - forcefully, at least.

When I actually stopped and reflected, when I did nothing but breathe for just a moment, that’s when I understood that stopping is a need we’re depriving ourselves of. We have been eating in front of the TV for decades now. From the 50s until now, we’ve eaten in front of a small screen, a 4K screen, a tablet, a laptop that would broadcast from the funniest TV shows to the darkest Netflix movies.

Never in my life have I felt so inspired when reading positivethinking books. I used to be worse than negative - a true pessimistic person, certain that all was meant to go wrong. By dint of reading self-development books, I’d probably led myself astray in thinking that developing yourself did not take that much work.

Or rather, when they tell you to “change your mindset” or to “change your way of thinking”, they don’t tell you that it will take more than that one magical moment to uplift your entire life. I used to think that positivity was meant for sect-like people. Long ago, I’ve been introduced to the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes. I kept seeing this book around, in libraries, in bookshops, on the bookshelves of friends. The entire goal of the book can be summed up like this: you attract what you think. And since I used to think that being positive was nothing but a frivolous endeavor to escape the realness of our world, I kept living in the shadow of my life. I am a writer, I am an artist, I am an all-encompassing human being curious of the world. I want to discover it since it’s up for grabs - why shouldn’t you grab it too? We’re taught from a very young age to put other people first and to take what’s left of whatever was to be shared. Most of the cultures in the world put the other one first, the neighbor, the friend, the family. Then, society tells us that we need to advance and that we need to grow.

What an ironic mindset - we’re being asked to pour from a cup that wasn’t even entirely filled, to begin with.

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If you don’t take the time to pause, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed.

The weather might be a reason why people are not happy. Or maybe it’s because they need to start the work week on a Monday, and Mondays bear the infamous reputation of being a heavy burden. Or maybe people are unhappy because of their partner, of their children, of the fact their heater is broken, and they don’t have money to get it fixed. If all the surrounding circumstances can alter your mood in a matter of minutes - sometimes seconds, and if the circumstances are the only thing known to be temporary, why should we attach our happiness to the temporary?

CHILDREN DO NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY. YOUR DOG DOES NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY. YOUR JOB DOES NOT MAKE YOU HAPPY. YOU MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY. DECISIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. The answer is simple: you do not attach your happiness, or anything that valuable, to something temporary.

If you’re one to fall deeply into relationships, mind yourself. A partner is temporary, whether they leave your path because of a breakup, death, or even a several-day trip. At some point, you’re bound to be on your own and you need to embrace it fully to keep your balance. If we all remembered that happiness and long-term peace can only come from within, how much more beautiful the world would be! Children do not make you happy. Your dog does not make you happy. Your job does not make you happy. You make yourself happy.

It’s a tricky nuance, isn’t it, to understand why your children do not make you happy. If you let yourself be overwhelmed by the happiness coming from other people, you tend to forget yourself. If you remember that you, as a whole, are perfectly content the way you are, then nothing bad can truly happen to you. The circumstances always move around, whirling, and as hard as life can get, I truly believe you can be happy in the midst of the darkest of darkness. It always seems impossible until it’s done.

In the same way your partner does not make you happy (or whole, however you want to put it), the sun and the rain should not impact your mindset. They’re both elements, providing stunning sights and colors. If you focus on all the external aspects of your life that you cannot control - the sun, the fact that your partner is moody because of work, the fact that your kids have brought back home a disappointing grade, you’re done. A fixed mindset is sure to fail, to coin an overused term we’re all apprehensive of.

CHANGING THE WORLD’S DUALITY. There is a duality in all things of the world, whether it be couples or concepts. Darkness does not exist without the light, and as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, if you ever felt sadness before, you can feel happiness. I could have titled this article “Letter

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to my 18-year old self”. Those are the things I wish someone had told me when I was at my lowest and my mind was clouded by despair. If you want to turn your life around, it will not be difficult. It might be a tad out of your comfort zone, but as Nike says in many of their advertisements: The only way is through.

Human beings, with the rise of everything invented to gain time, are wasting more time than ever before. Instead of buying a weekly magazine as we used to when we were kids, we’ll go online to read. It’s faster, you understand. I am all for technology, and I am also for a balance - too much patience is not good, but too much impatience is indeed harmful, and we tend to forget it. For instance, we’re happy to be reading books on Kindle, but we’re slowly losing the pleasure of reading a paper book. Soon, digital fashion, on another level, might replace runways as we know them.

When I started writing, I wanted to change the world. I wanted my words to have a long-lasting impact on as many people as I could possibly reach. Writing a book did not seem like the end goal, but as time passes by, I feel ever more attracted to sharing thoughts that can be passed down from generation to generation. Lately, I’ve been confronted with personal events that required the ultimate patience from me - and I am not the most patient person in the world. At least, I didn’t use to be. A breakup and moving between cities led me to finally start thinking about life as a whole, and about the trust I put out into the universe.

HOW CAN YOU REMAIN POSITIVE WHEN YOU’RE GIVING OUT YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CURRENCY, TIME, WITHOUT PASSION?

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE. Far from me the idea of converting anyone to an everlasting state of Happiness. A lot of us want to be happy. Yet, somehow, we self-sabotage, often because of the barriers that have been set by our environment and that we’ve integrated as our own. As I grow older, I have noticed that one of the barriers I’m still to work on our is the fear of succeeding. I celebrated my 27th Birthday not long ago and I have found the key to making it in life. Strangely, for as long as I can remember, I took success as a challenge. Whenever I found the challenge of success too easy, I would switch careers. As I said, I used to be quite impatient and impatience can lead you to drop your project when you can’t reap the fruits as early or as often as you’d like. It can also cause you to do the job in haste as you can end up thinking arrogantly and wrongly that you are way too good for this. What we forget is that it’s all just a rite of passage.

We are all way too good for whatever it is that what we’re doing if we are not doing it out of love. How can you successfully remain motivated and positive when you wake up only because the alarm tells you to wake up? How can you remain positive when you’re giving out your most important currency, time, without passion?

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I’ve learned more in a quarter of a century than I think most people have and that is no arrogance on my part. I have learned that you need love to guide your life and that hatred leads nowhere. When I used to read self-development books, I used to focus on the parts where people gave their best services to clients. Those would feel important enough that they would remain faithful to those salespersons or consultants. What I overlooked was that the best service should be given from you to yourself.

It’s important to provide your best service and put on your best behavior every time you’re dealing with someone else. It is crucial, however, to make an amazing first impression on yourself in the morning first, while you’re on your way to fulfilling your dreams. It is only with hope and positivity that I have become a successful writer. I still have miles to go to become the best writer I can be. However, I cannot become the best writer I can be without first becoming the best version of me.

IT’S NOT EASY TO REMAIN POSITIVE IF YOU FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS THAT UNDERAPPRECIATE YOU, THAT MAKE YOU FEEL JEALOUS, ENVIOUS, AND LEAVE YOU FEELING DOWN. THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY YOU NEED TO TAKE. WHERE LIFE ACTS ON ITS OWN ACCORD. When I was a make-up artist, I thought that colors could change the perception we have of the world.

More precisely, I wanted to change the world with every stroke of color I applied to people’s faces. Two reasons have led me to break away from the world of makeup, and the most important one was feeling underappreciated. I now know that the instinct of positivity would have helped me go through the hard times with a bit more sunshine throughout the day.

At the time, I knew that my way of making art with eyeshadow and lipstick was something different. Nothing says that I won’t go back to make-up artistry someday in a different form. French chemist

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Antoine Lavoisier said: “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed”. The father of modern chemistry is famous for giving the name oxygen to the element and for setting a rule we can apply to our everyday lives. When you give money to a store, it is transformed into an item or service. When you lose weight, you’re transforming fat into energy. The only thing that multiplies in a never-ending circle is love. You can never lose when you put out love into the world. It comes back as more love and with it, with more lessons that need to be learned and applied as we grow.

EVERYTHING CHANGES, EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS THE SAME. Have you ever thought of this? Experiences keep coming back in daredevil for as long as you need to apply the lesson to your life. It’s all a matter of patience, once again. Lately, I’ve discovered that social media I believed to be agonizing like Tumblr and MySpace are still very much in function. MySpace has changed quite a bit, transforming into a place made to share music, videos, and pictures. Very much different from Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so it has this old-school vibe of sharing without pressure.

The pressure comes from the fear of judgment, one that most know in their adult life. The only reason why you’re fearing judgment is that you have not taken the time to judge yourself. I talk to too many people around me. As a writer, it’s important to observe to be able to depict life. I am like a painter of life with new answers hidden in between every letter.

When I talk to people around me, I always try to elevate both of us so the love I give out can be passed from heart to heart, from soul to soul. And what I’ve discovered is that while some of us have dreams, most don’t have a passion.

We hired ourselves to chase dreams that have been imprinted on us from our parents, our best friends, the cousins that want to impress us, and of course, social media.

when those images send back a feeling of not being enough, that’s when you need to withdraw. Take the marbles out of the game, observe what’s going on around you, and you will know if the game is worth it or not.

With a bucket of positivity comes a well of patience. It all finds its roots in the thought that the universe is a place where you can thrive. No matter where you are now, the Instinct of positivity is actually the only thing keeping you alive. We do not live in societies where a lion or a crocodile can eat us if we’re not properly protected - our jungle is made of concrete. The lions and crocodiles are now humans, and it is our actions that can set apart the friend from the foe. Of course, we feel fear, hunger, and thirst. Fear is powerful, yet hope can help you reap greater rewards from life. Even when the situation is not at its brightest, changing your mindset and visualizing that things will get better actually does help to make things better.

THE CHASE TO POSITIVITY. It’s a courageous endeavor to pursue your dreams. It’s not given to everyone. Most of us have vague dreams of what we would like to do or be in our lives, whether it is moving to another country, getting a promotion, or finding the love of our lives. Yet, we will wait around for months and sometimes years for the opportunity to knock. The truth is, opportunity doesn’t knock that often if you don’t know no how to invite it in.

Provoking luck is the only way that you can have the slightest bit of control over your life.

I know how inconvenient it is is to dive deep down into your fears, your past wounds, and then arrive at the conclusion that life can be different. If it was not good before, how could it be good later? The answer is in the now. That’s the only thing you can change, and if you don’t want your now to become like your past, you need to act.

I strongly believe that positivity is an instinct. Call it hope, call it harmony. Our parents and grandparents teach us to take care of those around us, directly or indirectly. You need to go against the crowd. Stop and stare, as Coldplay says in a famous song of theirs.

As you stop, you’re actually going so much further than you’ve been all the time you were running around looking for happiness in a place it was not.

Before you take any kind of action, think. Reflect. In a positive way. When you were a child, before your head was filled with the nonsense that you only have a few predetermined paths and options in front of you, you had dreams. Now’s the time to pick up on that again, and see where you are now. See if those dreams collide with who you are now, and put the viable ones into action.

You’ll see: when you see things under the bright light of positivity, it shines back on you.

I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT POSITIVITY IS AN INSTINCT. CALL IT HOPE, CALL IT HARMONY. YOU NEED TO GO AGAINST THE CROWD. WHEN YOU SEE THINGS UNDER THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF POSITIVITY, IT SHINES BACK ON YOU.

WHAT ARE WE BUILDING? I was born in 1994, a long bygone era it seems. Back then, we had the first Pokémon games on Gameboy Color, we still had cards and marbles to build strategy and competition skills. From one century to the next, it’s taken only two or three decades for our screens to rule our lives. It’s not easy to remain positive if you follow social media accounts that underappreciate you, that make you feel jealous, envious, and leave you feeling down. There is a responsibility you need to take.

When we had marbles to play with, the only thing we were judged on was our ability to put the marble into the hole. Slowly, we have built a parallel strategy, a veil, a screen of smoke, if you will. We’re still charged with rising up to challenges, but we have somewhat shifted the world to a more visual place. We live in an interface where images really are worth a thousand words. And

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THE TREASURES OF

MARANHÃO

BY TAMARA ALMEIDA

LOCATED IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL, THE STATE OF MARANHÃO HAS BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES AND A DAZZLING CULTURE. ITS CAPITAL, SÃO LUIS IS CONSIDERED THE BRAZILIAN EQUIVALENT OF LISBON. ITS POPULATION CREATED ITS OWN VERSION OF REGGAE, AND ITS NATIONAL PARK IS A UNIQUE, DUNE SWEPT LANDSCAPE.

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L E N Ç Ó I S M A R A N H E N S E S N AT I O N A L PA R K , D U N E S A N D R A I N WAT E R L A K E S L A N D S C A P E , BARREIRINHAS, MA, BR AZIL.

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his destination is spectacular! Maranhão, a state in northeastern Brazil, is formed in part by the Amazon Forest and the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. But the big natural attraction is Lençóis Maranhenses which form one of the most beautiful and extraordinary landscapes in Brazil. Near the city of Barreirinhas, vast white sand dunes, which resemble a middle-eastern desert, undulate across the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Visitors can also swim in the lagoons of fresh, crystalclear water which form during the rainy season. But for all visitors the first point of arrival in the state is the capital, São Luís. The capital of Maranhão is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to the colonial architecture preserved within the mansions located in its Historic Center.

HISTORIC CENTER. This central location is home to more than 4,000 colonial houses, built centuries ago during the economic heyday of São Luís do Maranhão. Many of the building’s façades incorporate tiles from Portugal (for this reason, the nickname “City of Tiles”) to separate the relatively cooler interior from the heat outside. The historic center can be thought of as an open-air museum and remains a place of great cultural value to Brazil.

LIONS PALACE. The site of the ancient fort of São Luís, originally built by the French, was later transformed into a governmental palace by the Portuguese. It is an obligatory stop during a tour through the capital of Maranhão.

Much more than the sumptuousness of its front structure, watched over by two imposing lions representing the Executive Branch, the Palácio dos Leões has three thousand square meters of interior space which is divided into three wings - residential, administrative and visitation. The palace houses a rich cultural collection of furniture, paintings, porcelain sculptures, crystal and silverware.

CATHEDRAL OF SÃO LUÍS (IGREJA DA SÉ). Considered one of the oldest and most important historical monuments in São Luís, the Igreja da Sé was inaugurated in 1622. It is located in the Plaza Pedro II in the center of São Luís and has been lovingly preserved. With a gilded altar and a colorful baroque ceiling, the cathedral is one of those places that deserves to be on the list of things to do while visiting in São Luís.

AERIAL VIEW OF LENÇÓIS MAR ANHENSES AND AT I N S I N T H E C I T Y O F B A R R E I R I N H A I N M A R A N H ÃO

THE LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES NATIONAL PARK. Beautiful and unique. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is the most original ecosystem in Brazil with no other comparative setting. The park focuses on environmental conservation with an area of over 1,500 square kilometers spread out amongst the municipalities of Barreirinhas, Atins Village and Santo Amaro. It is located 230 km from the capital of Sao Luís. It is a desert of immense white sand dunes that bear a striking resemblance to billowing lençóis (sheets). Some of the dunes are 50 meters (165 feet) high. Every year when the rains come (December-May), their valleys fill with water, forming a series of jade lagoons

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whose mirrorlike surfaces reflect the piercing blue sky filled with drifting clouds and gliding egrets. The majesty of the landscape is impossible to express. The park was created with the purpose of “protecting the flora, fauna and natural beauty existing in the place.” Exploring the park can only be done by foot with guides or hiring specially accredited jeep or boat excursions. No cars are allowed in the park.

Allowed activities. While in the park, popular activities include observing the local fauna and flora, experiencing the glorious sunset and night sky, cycling, long-course hikes, stand up paddling along the waterways, kitesurfing and sandboarding. Its great scenic beauty combined with walks through the dune fields and the possibility of bathing in the lakes, attract tourists from all over the world.

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When to go to Lençóis Maranhenses. The Lençóis Maranhenses high season happens during and right after the rainy season, especially between the months of April and August. At the height of the drought, from October to December, almost all of the lakes disappear and the majestic landscape, full of countless patches of water, turns into an immense desert. The truth, however, is that Lençóis Maranhenses is beautiful all year-round, whether or not the full lakes are available to see and visit.

What to do in Lençóis Maranhenses. The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park covers an area of 156,584,000 hectares and is considered the largest dune park in Brazil. The protected area is huge, but the Lençóis Maranhenses region is even bigger than the National Park. Among

O U T S I D E O F T H E L I O N S PA L AC E O F S ÃO L U Í S D O M A R A N H ÃO

the most popular tours within the overall region are visits to the Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, and Lagoa das Esmeraldas. When visiting the Lençóis Maranhenses region, you also have an opportunity to spend some time at Caburé beach in Atins, on tours along the Rio Preguiças and Rio Formiga and even try kite surfing which has exploded in popularity. All tours are conducted with 4x4 vehicles that are allowed to travel to the beautiful landscapes, transparent waters and the gorgeous white sand. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s still possible to appreciate the immensity of Lençóis Maranhenses in a flyover. It’s an unforgettable experience!

How to get to Lençóis Maranhenses. Getting to Lençóis Maranhenses may not be the simplest of tasks, but it is certainly worth ev-

I N S I D E T H E L I O N S PA L AC E O F S ÃO L U Í S D O M A R A N H ÃO *

ery second of the trip! Those who visit Lençóis Maranhenses have a choice of three municipalities to tour the region: Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro and Atins. The ideal situation in case you wanted see most of what Lençóis Maranhenses National Park has to offer is to visit all three places. The sole airport in the region is Barreirinhas airport, which only receives private flights or aero taxis. The nearest full-service airport is in the capital of São Luís - São Luís International Airport (SLZ). To reach the three main municipalities, different routes and means of transport are available. The easiest place to reach by public transport or direct private transfer from São Luís is Barreirinhas. To Santo Amaro, it is possible to hire private transport from the capital city airport or from Barreirinhas. For those going to Atins, it’s worth taking a boat or a 4x4 from Barreirinhas.

* P H OTO C O U RT E S Y S T U D I O T H A M A R A A N D M AT E U S

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I N T E R I O R O F T H E S É C AT H E D R A L , S ÃO L U Í S , M A R A N H ÃO H I S TO R I C C E N T E R O F S ÃO L U I S D O M A R A N H ÃO

Where to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses Barreirinhas is the main municipality, which has more infrastructure, greater variety of restaurants and where most of the hotels and inns are located.

It is also from here that most tours depart from.

The available tours include: a flight over Lençóis Maranhenses, Lagoa Azul, Lagoa Bonita, boat or bike rides to Caburé (with Vassouras and Mandacaru), tube floating on the River Formiga, trips to Atins and Santo Amaro. It is the best option for those who only have a few days to travel.

Atins is the most rustic and coolest fishing village in Lençóis Maranhenses. Located between the sea and the lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Atins attracts many kite surfers, as well as a younger more adventurous crowd. The village, which still preserves sandy streets, is a rustic paradise full of charm. Atins is especially interesting for having lagoons and beaches in the same place. Although it is not simple to travel to Atins, once ensconced there visitors will have quick and ready access to all of the gorgeous locale.

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Santo Amaro is a smaller municipality where permanent residents and tourists intermingle and conduct daily living. The small city although focused on tourism still retains genuine characteristics of an interior colonial city and is very calm and quiet. Life proceeds at a much slower pace in Santo Amaro.

How long to stay in Lençóis Maranhenses. Stay as long as you can. A 4-5-day trip will permit you to see the major attractions of Barreirinhas. If you have 7 days, then you will have time to stay at another municipality and get to know either Santo Amaro or Atins. Now, if the idea is to get to know everything and still relax, ten days is a great option to get to know Lençóis Maranhenses.

MUST-SEE – NOT TO BE LEFT OUT OF THE TRIP Try to balance yourself on a kite board in the lagoons or at praia de Atins. During the high season of kite surfing – from August to December – the colorful kites take over the beaches and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses and offer a visual spectacle amidst the dunes.

Athletes use their kiteboards to jump from one lagoon or lake to another using the wind and fun is guaranteed amidst this idyllic setting. For those who want to learn the sport, the easiest way is to stay in Atins, where there are kite surfing schools by the sea. What could be more delightful than to learn a new sport with a sensational trip to the Lençóis Maranhenses.

B U M B A M E U B O I F E S T I VA L I N S ÃO L U Í S D O M A R A N H ÃO, N O RT H E A S T O F B R A Z I L H I S TO R I C C E N T E R O F S ÃO L U I S D O M A R A N H ÃO *

Watch the sunset in Lençóis Maranhenses as often as you can. If there is a time of day that Lençóis Maranhenses is the most beautiful, it is certainly at sunset. If there is any choice between a trip with or without experiencing the sunset, always choose the one that offers watching the sunset amidst the dunes or on the beach. Watching the sun go down in front of the lakes is amongst the most visually rewarding activities in the region.

WHERE TO STAY - SÃO LUÍS Brisamar Hotel and Spa. The Brisamar Hotel and Spa offers its guests an optimal location, with easy access to the historic center, shopping, beaches, and airport, minimizing the cost/time factor for traveling to any point in the city. The hotel is also a great site for small and medium-sized events, with air-conditioned rooms, audiovisual equipment and food/ beverage services. For leisure travelers, in addition to the excellent service and quality, the Brisamar Hotel also offers an extensive entertainment area, so that guests can enjoy the outdoors with adult and children’s swimming pools, showers, sauna, bar with cocktails and special snacks, as well as, of course, a beautiful view of the sea.Excellent cuisine attracts people from Maranhão to the intimate Coquille Restaurant.

Located on the seafront of Ponta D’areia beach, at the Brisamar Hotel and Spa, it is the spot for those looking for good cuisine and a cozy place to have a drink. The * P H OTO C O U RT E S Y S T U D I O T H A M A R A A N D M AT E U S

A H A M M O C K I N A L AG O O N I N P E Q U E N O S LENÇOIS, LENÇOIS MAR ANHENSES. BET WEEN BARREIRINHAS AND CABUREW

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B R I S A M A R H OT E L A N D S PA

PININGA R E S TA U R A N T

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hotel also offers massage and therapy services within its own spa called Serena. Serena offers massages, baths and exclusive packages that provide unique sensory experiences for the most demanding clients.

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WHERE TO STAY - BARREIRINHAS Pousada Encantes do Nordeste. Pousada Encantes do Nordeste is located at the gateway to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and other attractions in the region. The pousada maintains a lovely bar, restaurant, children’s playground, and its own pier for boarding and disembarking for tours. The pousada is a great place to stay in comfort while taking your eco-tours. The Bar and Restaurant Bambaê offers a varied menu with regional dishes, traditional Brazilian cuisine, and imaginative delicious drinks made in an extremely pleasant environment. The pousada has individual chalets measuring 20 square meters with the following: air conditioning, balcony with a hammock, minibar, TV, electric showers providing hot water and other amenities. Also included in each standard room are all the typical chalet

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equipment, solar energy for the shower, large bathrooms and 100% cotton linen for bed and bath. The pousada provides a unique stay with its emphasis on privacy, greater comfort, and the beautiful gardens.

E N C A N T E S D O N O R D E S T E .C O M . B R | + 5 5 9 8 9 8 8 5 7 4 4 2 5 B OA V I S TA R OA D, 9 5 0 – B A I R R O B OA V I S TA – B A R R E I R I N H A S , M A - B R A Z I L

Pousada Village. Pousada Village in Barreirinhas offers the best value for money and is an excellent location for your arrival in Lençóis.

They offer individual apartments, all with air conditioning, minibar, and a delicious breakfast in a common lounge with panoramic views of the Preguiças River. Centrally located next to the river, where guests can embark on boat tours to Atins, Caburé and Vassouras as well as the tour to the Lençóis. The location and value make this accommodation perfect for short or long-term guests.

P O U S A DAV I L L AG E 8 2 @ G M A I L .C O M | + 5 5 9 8 9 7 0 0 7 - 4 9 0 3 AV E N I DA B E I R A R I O – B A R R E I R I N H A S , M A – B R A Z I L

WHERE TO STAY - ATINS

P O U S A DA VILA JUR AR Á

P O U S A DA E N C A N T E S DO NORDESTE S A M K H YA S PA R S H A M A S S AG E

BY M O N I C A DA T E R R A

K I T E P O I N T AT I N S KITESURFING LESSONS

R E S TA U R A N T E DO RICO

Vila Jurará. Vila Jurará is a relatively new annex to the Pousada Jurará and was first opened in 2016. Each apartment is spacious and airy with its own bathroom. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a separate fan. Vila Jurará is located about 500 meters from the port of Atins, where boats arrive from Barreirinhas. Sitting on the main street of the village, Vila Jurará has delightful landscaping with trees and hammocks waiting for guests to take a nap or quietly think.

Vila Jurará also has a lovely common living room perfect for reading, resting or a simple chat between guests.

P O U S A DA J U R A R A .C O M . B R | + 5 5 9 8 9 8 8 5 7 - 4 4 2 5 R U A P R I N C I PA L , S / N – P R A I A D O AT I N S – B A R R E I R I N H A S , M A – B R A Z I L

Charme Chalés. Located along one of the main entrances to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Atins, Charme Chalés was built a little over a year ago. In the beginning, there were 9 chalets built to accommodate up to two adults and two children. In the future, they will expand with 10 more suites for couples. Chalets have a queen bed and two single beds. All accommodations are equipped with air conditioning, minibar, safe, fan, TV, private bathroom

with electric shower, and hairdryer. All chalets have a balcony with a hammock and there is a common garden that provides privacy and warmth for the property. Charme Chalés maintains the following: two swimming pools, restaurant, bar, gazebo and a boutique. The inn also offers a shuttle service to and from the beach by quad bike or private car.

AT I N S C H A R M E C H A L E S .C O M | + 5 5 1 3 9 9 7 6 7 - 5 2 7 7 R U A DA A L E G R I A - B A R R E I R I N H A S , M A – B R A Z I L

Vila Vento. Located right in Atins, which is a beach paradise for kitesurfing lovers. Vila Vento offers endless ocean views, beautiful sunsets, and direct access to the beach. This property was created with the collaboration of Alexandre Kuzolitz, a Brazilian kitesurf and water sports professional, and Anna Tsalikian, a Greek architect. Every detail of the property is well thought out and you can sense how much love was infused into the design. Via Vento offers a large swimming pool surrounded by a variety of accommodations, such as beautiful cabanas with ocean views, two-story bungalows with three bedrooms, and two exquisite beach bungalows that can house up to four guests.

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All accommodations have impeccable design details which will enhance any visit. This Bed and Breakfast offers a delightful French-influenced breakfast that is combined with the exotic flavors of Maranhão. Via Vento is a must-see on your next trip to this part of Brazil!

I N F O @ V I L AV E N TO.C O M | + 5 5 9 8 9 9 1 6 3 - 8 7 9 5 @ V I L A _ V E N TO

RESTAURANTS IN ATINS Pininga Restaurant. Pininga started out as a dream for its three founders that discovered a place to call home in the lush nature of Atins. It is a family restaurant that provides artisanal and creative cuisine cooked with care. At Pininga, you can enjoy the freshness and quality of available local ingredients which make each dish a unique gastronomic experience. The restaurant creatively brings the flavors of the surrounding land to the dining table with a seasonal menu. What defines the day’s menu will always be the chef’s inspiration that day and whatever seasonal ingredients are available.

Consequently, dining choices change every day, with a tasting menu served in three courses. The night starts with the chef’s surprise first course which typically combines a mix of colors, textures and flavors. Then a main course is served with seafood or vegetarian options, and finally a dessert to round off the night. The rustic atmosphere and sustainable architecture are in line with the way locals treat and protect the local environment. Pin-

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inga uses earth tones to integrate with the beauty of its natural surroundings and bring an unpretentious and cozy style to the restaurant. + 5 5 9 8 9 9 1 8 2 - 0 4 7 1 | @ P I N I N G A _ R E S TA U R A N T M A I N S T R E E T, B A R R E I R I N H A S ( M A ) – B R A Z I L

Rico’s Restaurant. Rico’s is located on Atins beach, right on the sand where you can enjoy true Maranhense cuisine, which includes fresh seafood and refreshing drinks. The place is ideal to see the spectacle of kitesurfers jumping on the sand or waters. The hospitality of the owner and his family adds a special charm to the restaurant experience. + 5 5 9 8 9 9 2 4 0 - 4 0 5 4 | @ R E S TA U R A N T E D O R I C O AT I N S B E AC H , AT I N S ( M A ) – B R A Z I L

TAMARA’S PICKS Lençóis Maranhenses with Brazil Routes.

Brazil Routes is a flexible and creative tourist agency which offers exclusive and tailor-made itineraries for tours, sports activities in all regions of Brazil, with audio visual productions and documentaries for advertising. Brazil Routes tries to provide the best options for activities, entertainment, and travel scenarios.

B R A Z I L R O U T E S .C O M | @ B R A Z I L R O U T E S C O N TAC T @ B R A Z I L R O U T E S .C O M

Tourism and Adventure. Lençóis Maranhenses with Lotus Turismo: Lotus Turismo was born from an ideal: to provide quality professional service with a focus on environmental respon-

sibility and local sustainability. This agency relies on its experience in the adventure tourism market (17 years) and making beautiful places increasingly accessible.

L OT U S T U R I S M O.C O M . B R | @ L OT U S T U R I S M O _ R E C E P T I VO L OT U S T U R I S M O @ H OT M A I L .C O M

Kitepoint Atins Kitesurfing Lessons. IKOaffiliated Kitesurf and Windsurf School has a small team of experienced instructors with courses taught in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French. The school consistently introduces new equipment and uses radio communication within its helmets to allow contact with the instructor at all times. Atins Kiteboarding offers private and semi-private Kitesurf and Windsurf lessons, equipment rental, guided downwind tours, and kite tours in Lençóis Maranhenses lagoons.

AT I N S K I T E B OA R D I N G .C O M | @ K I T E P O I N TAT I N S

Samkhya Sparsha Massage reorganizes the physical, emotional, and energetic attributes of your body. It is a journey that allows you time to focus within yourself, an integration with your very essence. This massage provides balance for anyone from children to older adults. This experience combined with the natural beauty of the region is undoubtedly something special and unique.

T H E R A P I S T M O N I C A DA T E R R A | + 5 5 1 1 9 7 3 9 3 . 1 6 0 3

experiences www.brazilroutes.com @brazilroutes

Let us take care of you in Brazil.

We specialize in adventures and accommodation in some of the most diverse and majestic areas of natural beauty throughout the country.

www.brazilroutes.com | contact@brazilroutes.com | WhatsApp +55 (35) 99922-6449 | @brazilroutes

ZODIAC

PISCES

BY MANISH ARORA

You can organize truces, make compromises, meet people in the middle, and help everyone to get along. You want to have some peace and harmony in your life so you mind works at its optimum level, and you can try to bring some mental balance in, focusing on all areas of life equally. You can be creative, enjoy spending time on your hobbies, and your mind wants a mental break from it all.

You can be more positive about life, and can be theatrical and funny too, and people enjoy conversing with you. Favorable Dates : Mar 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favorable Colors : Yellow & Red.

ARIES (21 MARCH – 19 APRIL) You would pursue your long fought ambitions with renewed vigor and strength. You would be revealing your inherent talents to the workforce. You are more attracted to unusual ideas, fields, and concepts.

Exposure to new ideas open up new worlds to you. The first half of the month would be very much exhausting while the latter half shall see you off sailing smoothly.

You may find your closest relationships are challenged, and it will be up to you to practice and model respecting each other’s boundaries. Favorable Dates: Mar 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Black.

TAURUS (20 APRIL – 20 MAY) You are learning to develop the courage to strike out on your own individual and creative path without fear.

This period enhances your ability to handle the details required to do a good job, and others become more aware of your skills. You have a strong desire to attend to the details of life and improve things, which can be a gift that you bring to humankind. Chances are excellent that you will find a lovely confidante–someone to share your daily activities and thoughts with–even if this is an online friend or other casual connection. Favorable Dates: Mar 3, 6, 12, 15, 21, 24. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Red. GEMINI (21 MAY – 20 JUNE) This period represents a time in your life in which you build a secure foundation in your professional and public life. You find yourself in the spotlight, and what it is exactly that you have been building may come up for inspection. Some of you would be receiving recognition and career “rewards” at this time. Those of you in creative fields may find your energy turning inward now, but you should have a surge of ideas in the second half. You would be learning how to give more of

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yourself creatively and romantically when appropriate.

Favorable Dates: Mar 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Blue.

CANCER (21 JUNE – 22 JULY) This can be an excellent time to start a new project, venture, or journey that you can work on. You would pick something you’re enthusiastic about and can’t wait to begin. You continue to be more sociable and have a stronger desire to bring balance and harmony to your life. You may prefer hobbies that you can pursue alone, without the help of anyone. In love, you like to take charge. Your closest relationships would grow by leaps and bounds, and the time you spend together benefits you all immensely. Favorable Dates: Mar 4, 9, 13, 16, 18, 22. Favorable Colors: White & Blue.

LEO (23 JULY – 22 AUGUST) You want to keep your mind busy with lots to do to use up the extra mental energy that you have now. You enjoy being around others because they help challenge your mind and keep you mentally stimulated. Those of you who are single may find love among different cultures, while partnered ones will find this is a great time to forge stronger relationships. You can count on your pals to be there for you, and perhaps this is a time they will need you as well. Favorable Dates: Mar 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, 31.

Favorable Colors: White & Blue.

VIRGO (23 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER) You have a positive attitude and people enjoy being around you because of it. You can come up with a new idea that you’re excited about, commit yourself to lots of little projects, are more sociable, and more outspoken.

Other people will be more willing and better able to share their resources with you, making this a great time to apply for a loan. You’re charming and can attract

many suitors, though you can keep them at a distance emotionally. Your hobbies may be unconventional, and you go into everything you try with enthusiasm.

Favorable Dates: Mar 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25. Favorable Colors: White & Purple.

LIBRA (23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER) You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth in the areas of romance, pleasure, creative expression, hobbies, entertainment, and children. Your fair share of fun, romance, and good times are in store. Your willingness to enjoy yourself and explore your creativity now brings new opportunities, or you might find that avenues open up to you for exploring new ways of having fun. This may also be a very psychic time, and those of you who are given to messages from beyond could find the spirits are very active. Favorable Dates: Mar 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Grey.

SCORPIO (23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER) You need to guard against risky financial moves, gambling, and the like. You might find some conflict involving your pursuit of pleasure in this month.

Unsettled financial matters could get in the way of your desire to indulge in extra-curricular activities. You no longer view your place in the world, your career, and your reputation with rose-colored glasses. In the second half, you might meet someone with whom you establish a serious friendship, or you might become a member of a group or affiliation that you devote much of your time to. Favorable Dates: Mar 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Green.

SAGITTARIUS (22 NOVEMBER -21 DECEMBER) Your creativity is stimulated this month, but so is your excitability and your need for freedom. You are likely to

be more outspoken than usual, perhaps even rebellious. You need to make sure your optimism isn’t unrealistic, and your good feelings don’t become arrogance. Letting go of old family conditioning or unhealthy ties to the past may be themes. Love affairs can move on to the next level as they mature and become better founded. Relationships with the children in your life are enriching and inspiring to you now. Favorable Dates: Mar 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22. Favorable Colors: Blue & Green.

CAPRICORN (22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY) You are learning to develop the courage to strike out on your own individual and creative path without fear. You take a hard look at the role you play in others’ lives, and consider exactly what it is that satisfies you and contributes to your happiness, beyond marriage, romance, career, religion, and so forth.. You want to keep things casual in love during the first half of the month, and if single, can make it passionate but don’t want anything beyond that. If in a relationship, you can spice things up and make it fun again. Favorable Dates: Mar 2, 4, 11, 13, 20, 22. Favorable Colors: Blue & Green.

AQUARIUS (20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY) Your creativity and social life are stimulated this month, and plenty of opportunities to express yourself uniquely and creatively are likely to present themselves. This is a fabulous period in which to take a vacation you’ve always wanted to take, to try out a new hobby or creative project/approach, to explore new ways of having fun, to enjoy single life, and so forth. Your ability to renew and refresh could benefit your closest relationships, so think about ways you can inject new passion into your sex life. Favorable Dates: Mar 5, 7, 14, 16, 23, 25. Favorable Colors: Blue & White.

PISCES (19 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH) You can organize truces, make compromises, meet people in the middle, and help everyone to get along. You want to have some peace and harmony in your life so you mind works at its optimum level, and you can try to bring some mental balance in, focusing on all areas of life equally. You can be creative, enjoy spending time on your hobbies, and your mind wants a mental break from it all. You can be more positive about life, and can be theatrical and funny too, and people enjoy conversing with you. Favorable Dates : Mar 3, 8, 12, 17, 21, 26 Favorable Colors: Yellow & Red.

P H OTO C R E D I T S H A I R & M A K E - U P : A N N A P R I M AC M O D E L : PA U L Í N A G R E B E C I OVA M O D E L I N G AG E N C Y: M Ä D L TA L E N T P H OTO G R A P H Y: F L ÁV I O I RYO DA

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