ISSUE6
Editor in Chief Mariel Bennett
Creative Director Jordan Romanoff
Contributing Fashion Editors
Holly Alymore | Shaniqua King | Federica Manca | Fydez Tan | Cindy Voong Special thanks to Slow Magic and Aaron Leder
cover image dress: timeless; top: splendid; socks: h&m; shoes: jeffery campbell
Contents Cozy Chic
03
12 Days of Christmas
05
Red White and Blue
07
Storm King
09
Basic and Simple
19
Snow Caps
21
London Fashion Week
25
Innocence is Bliss
30
Make Up Tips
35
Slow Magic
41
Live for the Funk
45
The Diner
49
3 Questions
53
Letter from the Editor
I am pleased, proud and excited to announce that this issue marks the one-year point for us. What stands out the most to me while looking back through our past issues is the work from our team of contributors. As I reread their pieces I am overcome with amazement and I am so thankful for their dedication. With this in mind, for this issue we chose to focus on the theme of Americana culture and its inherent nostalgia as well as the idea of family. In every family there are times where you get so caught up in what is going on in your everyday that you lose sight of what is going on and forget to let your family members know how important they are to you. Then there are other times like the holiday season where even if they are miles away from you or you are not on the best of terms with them your family becomes the center of your world. Similarly, we feel the same sense of affection towards our contributors and because of this we decided to honor our DMM family by solely focusing on them for this issue. While working on this issue both
Jordan and I got the chance to spend time with our families. During this time we both got the chance to explore the notion of Americana. Whether that exploration was just re-watching episodes of Twin Peaks and movies like Peggy Sue Got Married at my home North East or actually exploring the sculpture garden at Storm King like Jordan did with his family, we both learned that the nostalgia in Americana culture continues to exist only through the traditions we create. Happy Holidays, Mariel Eve Bennett
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COSY CHIC
Essential items for keeping you warm and stylish this winter season. 1 5
4
2 3 3/4
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1
Burton
$150
2
Burberry Cashmere Scarf
$495
3
Ugg
$200
4
Marni
$255
5
Isabel Marat
6
Current/Elliott
7
Wolford Legings
8
T by Alexander Wang Pull Over $235
9
Dyptique “Fue de Bois” Candle
$61
10
Faux fur trapper hat
$53
$75 $260 $62
12 Days of Christmas
by Holly Aylmore
If you could have anything you wanted for Christmas what would you choose? Here are 12 suggestions, just in case you’re stuck.
1. A Cashmere-blend sweater.
4. (Lots of pairs of) Shoes.
2. A Cape aka Cape-Coat or Capelet.
5. An iPad - preferably with an Yves Saint Laurent or Jil Sander case for an element of style.
Generally, at Christmas it’s cold. What could be more comforting than a silky, smooth, soft cashmere sweater to keep you warm? The Row have some gorgeous specimens, which are stocked online at net-a-porter, and Uniqlo just opened in New York I hear - have a more cost effective option. Whether you’re curled up on the sofa with hot chocolate watching a (terrible) Christmas film, or out doing some last minute Christmas shopping, there’s a cashmere sweater for everyone.
When doing said last minute Christmas shopping in your beautiful cashmere-blend sweater, or battling for those beautiful discounted shoes in the January sales, you need your arms free. Movement is the key to attaining what you want and therefore, heavy, restrictive coats are not an option (even if they are cosy). Enter the cape: warm, currently on trend and allowing freedom of movement. Arms in when facing the winter snow, arms out when grabbing a bargin.
3. Your perfect bag.
To compliment your cashmere/cape ensemble the perfect bag is required. Everyone has a slightly different idea of the perfect bag, and some people spend their lives searching for it. Oversized is generally a good option for winter, to carry your presents, umbrella, and obligatory extra layers. 5/6
Your ‘Christmas shoes’ should effectively act as another decoration. If you would not display your shoes in a glass cabinet or hang them on the Christmas tree next to the finest glass bauble: they are not ‘Christmas shoes’. The higher, the better. The more glittery, the better. The shiner, the better. If you can’t walk properly whilst wearing them, they’re perfect.
Maybe a little more expensive than our other purchases so far, but entirely worth it. Justify the expense by stating educational or work purposes, and then spend Boxing Day sat with your iPad in your ‘Christmas shoes’ shopping online.
6. International Vogue subscriptions.
How can you possibly pick one edition of Vogue when they all have their own elements of sartorial perfection? Subscriptions should (at least) include British, American, French, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese and Japanese editions. It is a necessity to be well versed in international style, is it not?
7. A Filofax Flex.
11. Dogeared jewellery.
8. A Maison Martin Margiela feather pen.
12. Irreverent by Carine Roitfeld.
I confess, this is a more personal idea of a perfect gift. If you live for extreme organisation and label all of your books, à la Grace Coddington, the new edition of Filofax, entitled Flex, is for you. You choose everything: the size, the colour, which notebook, which diary, which accessory, which jot pad, and then you arrange it to suit your life.
For novelty factor. To match your new stylish organiser, you need a stylish pen. Why not opt for an outlandish, feathery one?
9. Perfume.
Your perfume says a lot about you, with advertising, the shape of bottle and the brand you buy now adding notes to your own style profile. Are you Tom Ford’s mysterious ‘Black Orchid’? Dior’s girlish ‘Miss Dior Cherie’? Or Marc Jacob’s dainty ‘Daisy’?
10. A Cloche hat.
Following the S/S 2012 collections, the 1920s looks set to be a spring trend. Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Gucci, Calvin Klein, and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti all nodded towards the era, and what is more elegant than a cloche hat – the quintessential 1920s piece.
If your anti-costume jewellery and antianything-remotely-diamante-encrusted like myself, and you’re looking for a subtle, delicate compliment to an outfit, Dogeared is pure perfection. Their string necklaces and bracelets with a variety of charms, all hold different meanings to the wearer. Small enough to be understated, but noticeable enough for impact.
There are a lot of fashion books on my personal Christmas wish list, 23 to be precise, and Irreverent is most certainly near the top. Editorin-Chief of Vogue Paris for 10 years, turning the dwindling publication into an internationally renowned fashion bible, Carine is an ultimate inspiration to any fashion lover. Luxe-Pauvre.blogspot.com Luxe-Pauvre.tumblr.com twitter.com/Hollyyy_a
Red White and Blue Shaniqua King ColorMechic-Fashion.blogspot.com Fashion is like a science experiment. You have to mix a lot of different chemicals together (in my case different clothing pieces and accessories) before you find the perfect solution for your individual style. Living in a world filled with plaid skirts, button down collared shirts and chunky Mary Jane shoes were my uniform for most of my life. Because for so long I had to suppress creativity and follow the rules, style was something that didn’t come naturally to me at that time. 7/8
The combination of happiness, joy and effortlessness is my definition of fashion. Thousands of miles away from home in a new surrounding with numerous and unfamiliar faces is where I started to develop my personal style. I would have never thought in a million years that going away to college would be the best thing to ever happen to me. My love for fashion not only evolved into something beautiful, but most importantly I found my true identity. Finding the freedom of wearing anything or everything made me feel comfortable and confident. The combination of happiness, joy and effortlessness is my definition of fashion. Clothes are a great way to communicate your mood or thoughts during the day. A touch of color, tailored pieces, the classics and femininity would best describe my style. This photo is one of many favorite looks. It displays all the elements that I love to wear and my signature piece that I can’t live without, my cuffed jeans. Coming from the U.S. Virgin Islands where everything is so sunny, vibrant and warm 365 days out of the year, I’ve always had a love for color. Anything that is loud, vibrant and cheerful always attract me. My long days of school uniforms have made a huge impact on my style because I can’t get enough of the crisp and clean lines in tailored pieces. All these elements combined to help me create my individual style. Lately I’ve been inspired by the fresh, clean and effortlessness of minimalism. The beauty of clothing that is so simple and striking that it speaks for itself without hiding the elegance of the person. Fashion is all about enhancing your inner beauty. It became my inspiration for this look. The combination of my red vintage
blouse gives a feminine touch to my white crisped jacket, and my signature cuffed jeans that complete my outfit. Fashion is a part of everyone’s DNA, from the way you pair a complete outfit from head to toe. Style is your unique fingerprint on how you feel great you when you’re creating a look. Having your own style makes you feel beautiful, confident and chic.
STORM KING Our car rolled into the parking lot of Storm King Art Center playing out the last moments of Madlib’s “Shades of Blue.” I opened the door and my lungs simultaneously and filled my body with the much missed feeling of clean air. It is impossible to deny the tabula rossa vibe that dares you to act out of line in this sanctuary. Although I had been there before, the space felt alien, like all of those places my family would stop along the way on our road trips across the desert (children groaning, father reveling). The grass caused me to voluntarily hush myself as I walked across it so as not to further disturb its virtuous tranquility. After walking on the hard concrete of Manhattan for months on end, the soft give of natural earth was welcomed by my feet similar to the sands of the countless California coastline beaches I’d explored in years past. Looming on the horizon I could see the forms of giants. From a distance, Storm King’s collection might seem like a forgotten monument to industrialism. Impassive metallic– things just– being. The feeling of being in the monolithic sculpture’s space is unlike anything the natural world can produce. All of the new and forgotten sensations made me feel like a child rediscovering the world. Then again, that could have also been attributed to my reason for coming. My family had chosen this utopic garden as a meeting grounds to reunite, away from our collective work spaces.
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An entry from: Fydez Flight Of Fancy All content by Fydez Tan
BASIC AND SIMPLE 14 May, 2011 Photos for me are a source of inspiration. I like photographs that make people feel the story, the emotion and the beauty. Nostalgia, soft beauty, soft tint of colors with warm lighting are a few that I find myself liking in photos. I particularly admire David Hamilton and currently Stefan Giftthaler. Then my senses are eternally awoken by the photographers that capture doll-ish and delicate aesthetics such as Tim Walker, Venetia Scott, Camilla Akrans, Ellen Von Unwerth and Annie Leibovitz. Of course, there are also the lovely photographers that grace Flickr. About my outfit, this is what I wear when I’m a bit lazy to dress up. A dress and a pair of flats and I’m out. Basic and simple. I’m sad that I forgot to add a bow. I am wearing a Zara TRF dress, vintage bag, Talula hat, a ring from an unknown brand and Marche-Mellow flats. fydezflightoffancy.wordpress.com myflightoffancy.tumblr.com twitter.com/fydeztan 19/20
snow caps Simplicity, efficiency, and organization seem to be inherent characteristics of Swedish culture and when it comes to contemporary minimalist design, Sweden definitely knows how to do it best. It is not much of a surprise that the clothing brands from this nordic wonderland are anything but simple, chic and terribly cool. DMM looks at four Swedish clothing brands that have a strong presence in the United States: Acne, Cheap Monday, H&M and WeSC. Although the popularity of each brand differs amongst different groups of people there are similarities in their Fall collections. Particularly the use of Cotton, wool, denim, leather and other sleek or transparent fabrics in softly structured classic cuts and diverse but cohesive pallets of black, blues, shades of grey, white, creamy pinks, burgundy, burnt oranges, yellows, greens, browns, purples and metallics. Sticking with the minimalist approach, we sorted through an assortment of garments and selected some more contemporary basic pieces that touch on some of the seasons trends. Because each piece is an essential, it can be styled in a variety of ways in order to create many looks that have the ability to evoke different feelings. photography by Jordan Romanoff styled by Mariel Bennett
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H&M Top ($17.95) and Faux Leather Pants ($40.00); Cheap Monday Shoes ($115.00);
H&M Top ($17.95) and Faux Leather Pants ($40.00); Cheap Monday Shoes ($115.00); Cheap Monday Sweatshirt ($60.00) and Jeans ($65.00); H&M Sleeveless Blouse ($17.95); Cheap Monday Top ($40.00); Acne Shirt ($90.00); Cheap Monday Tunic($35.00); WeSC Top ($26.00); J Brand Jeans ($139.00);
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Cindy Voong’s Favorite Looks of London Fashion Week SS 2012
Bora Aksu: BoraAksu.com
25/26
www.FashionsBeauty.com
twitter.com/CindyVoong
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Bernard Chandran: BernardChandran.com
Cristina Sabaiduc: CristinaSabaiduc.com
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Spijkers en Spijkers: SpijkersEnSpijkers.nl
Innocence is Bliss What you wear when there is nobody watching. What you wear when its cold. It’s a mixture of comfortable kints and soft cottons in colors ranging from light pink to soft gray to black, keeping cozy chic.
photography by Jordan Romanoff styled by Mariel Bennett
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pants and top: cheap monday ($22 and $40); sweater: brandi & melville ($48); flannel: vermont flannel co. ($48); earring: urban outfitters ($12)
top: cheap monday ($48); shorts: h&m ($24)
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dress: free people (48); top: urban outfitters ($54);
shirt: equipment ($248); Skirt: bcbg max azria ($128);
Color Combinations There is nothing as fresh and bold as a clean face paired with a vivid lip and strong eye makeup. This holiday season make a statement with these Americana inspired color combinations.
TIP: To make sure you have applied lipstick evenly, place a mirror under your lips while applying your lipstick 35/36
Green eye shadow with red lips
If you are going to go for a strong look with both a bold lip and eye shadow, make sure you keep the rest of your face clean.
Try using a minty green shade of eye shadow paired with a dark color lipstick
For a more nostalgic look pair the minty shade with a shade of light pink lipstick
Blue eye shadow with a light pink shade of lipstick 37/38
Blue eye shadow with red lips
Keep it Clean To make your makeup pop, start with the perfect base: a clean, clear, smooth complexion.
Prime Products A perfect complexion is created with the perfect tools:
5. It is all about the tools you use: For a natural glowing look: Moisten a wedge sponge for applying foundation For a more finished look: Use a foundation brush For a matte look: After applying foundation, use a powder puff and translucent pressed power. When applying the translucent powder pat the powder down gently so you do not smudge your foundation.
Apply a primer after your moisturizer and before your foundation. 1.
2.
3. 7.
4. 6. 1. NARS Multi-Protect Primer SPF 30, $32.00; 2. Aquaphor Lip Repair, Immediate Relief, $4.29; 3. Shiseido Urban Environment UV Protection Cream SPF 35, $30.00; 4. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, $19.00; 5. Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, $35.00; 6. Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation, $50.00; 7. Shiseido Translucent Pressed Powder, $32.00;
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Eyeliner Tricks For everyday you really only need to wear concealer under your eyes, around your nostrils and to cover any imperfections. If you need a little extra coverage add a small amount of foundation into your moisturizer/sunscreen.
To make your eyes appear more open, apply white eyeliner pencil to the bottom inner rim of your eye
Before applying liquid eyeliner, draw the shape you want to create first with a matching colored pencil 1.
For longer lasting eyeliner, after applying your eyeliner apply the same color shadow on top 2.
3. 4.
1. NARS Flat Concealer Brush, $26.00; 2. Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment, $52.50; 3. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat, $40.00; 4. Yves Saint Laurent Anti-Cernes, $35.00;
1. NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner, $23.00; 2. NARS Eyeliner Pencil, $21.00; 3. Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush, $25.00; 4. Laura Mercier Fine Point Eye Liner Brush, $24.00; 5. Laura Mercier Tightline Activator, $20.00; 6. Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eye Liner, $22.00; 7. NARS Eyeliner Stylo, $27.00;
Q: Who are you? A: Slow Magic DMM: What was it like where you grew up? Do you feel that your childhood experiences are reflected in your style? SM: I grew up in a place far from the ocean. A place that is usually cold. A lot of times people describe my music as “summery” or “beachy” and then I realize that they are right. Perhaps living far away from the ocean and heat is the best way to dream of it. DMM: How long have you been making music, and how did you get started? SM:I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. I would spend hours on casio keyboards as a kid trying to figure out every sound. And when I got a bit older, I took those keyboards apart and rewired them to make my own glitch sounds. I was also lucky enough to have a drum set and guitars in my house and parents that weren’t afraid of loud noises. DMM: Do you have a favorite song, album, or artist? SM: that is a tough question, but I would have to say the Beach Boys. DMM: Do you have any non-musical influences? SM: Animals.
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DMM: What is your work set up like? SM: My instrument collection has grown quite large over the years. I have about 10 pianos or keyboards in my tiny apartment. Along with a long list of other instruments. I usually record a bunch of sounds onto my computer and manipulate and work with them until they make sense. DMM: How did you come to the name Slow Magic? SM: I was working on a song and it took a lot longer than I was expecting when I started. This made me think about the process of music, and that it really is slow but in the end there is magic. DMM: Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re doing all of this anonymously. What do you like that anonymity offers? SM: I wanted to start a project where people could focus on the music before they looked at a place or a face. I think sometimes we find something else to focus on instead of the art itself and I wanted to change that. Also, I like the idea of an imaginary friend sending you songs that only exist somewhere outside of reality. That is who i am.
I think sometimes we find something else to focus on instead of the art itself and I wanted to change that.
I like the idea of an imaginary friend sending you songs that only exist somewhere outside of reality. DMM: Will Slow Magic ever have a face? SM: A zebra face. DMM: Your bandcamp says “Slow magic is the sound made by an unknown imaginary friend” is that friend unknown to everyone, or just unnamed? SM: I like the idea of an imaginary friend sending you songs that only exist somewhere outside of reality. That is who i am. So, I guess the imaginary friend isn’t quite unknown. DMM: Do you feel like your style of music reflects your personality and/or outlook on life? SM: Sometimes it might. I really think that anyone’s art can reflect the artist’s personality. I hope my music does. DMM: I saw the music video for Sorry Safari on Vimeo, did you make that? SM: Yes, I put together a bunch of footage I found of old computer advertisements and promotional videos. I also used footage of fireworks shot really blurry. DMM: I really like the way that the collaged feeling of the song is mirrored with the video, was that planned? SM: I tried to capture the way the song would look in my mind. I’ve always believed that the visual aspect of music is nearly as important as what you hear. DMM: Do you make your own album art? SM: Yes, I try to do all of the artwork myself. Sometimes I borrow very beautiful photographs from my friends, but I always have been interested in design.
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DMM: Do you read blogs, and if so, what makes one stand out to you? SM: Occasionally I will. I think the first thing that makes a blog stand out is it’s visual appeal and cleanliness. Like I was saying up there, the visual presentation of music is a very important thing and can be beautiful if done correctly. DMM: How do you feel about the role that blogs play in the distribution of music? SM: I love the way blogs help spread music. When I see that someone took the time to write or share my song, it means so much. DMM: If you could play your music in any location, what would it be? SM: In a giant pool with underwater speakers or a zoo. DMM: If you could steal any animal from the zoo, which animal would it be? SM: a giraffe.
www.SlowMagic.bandcamp.com www.soundcloud.com/SlowMagic www.twitter.com/SlowwwMagic
A conversation with Aaron Leder of music blog
Live For The Funk
www.LiveForTheFunk.com
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www.twitter.com/LFTFBlog
DMM: How did the blog get started? AL: The blog itself was started by my partner and friend Michael Washington back in 2008. It was a way for him to share music with friends from back home. At the time, I had a blog that was basically just followed by my friends as well. Late 2009, Michael asked me to join him on LFTF. We joined forces and its been positive growth ever since. DMM: Did it have a strong concept behind the blog from the beginning? AL: I’d say the concept was really just creating a platform to share music with our friends. Design and aesthetics weren’t really of much concern at first. DMM: How did the blog get its name, and do you feel its an important part of the identity? Well “Live For The Funk” is taken from Biggie’s “Machine Gun Funk”. I like to think that the phrase evokes some feeling in people. Not sure what that feeling might be…just the way I see it. But no, I wouldn’t say that it’s a major focal point for us in terms of our identity.
rap and crazy marginalized electronic stuff you can say.
I feel like there is an unspoken rule in the blog community… be influenced by other blogs but make your blog your own and make statements that you want to make.
DMM: Are all of the writers located in the same area? AL: No they aren’t all in the same area. Michael is here with me in Boulder CO, Ben is currently in his hometown of Seattle WA, and Jonathan lives in Miami FL but was born and raised in Ft Lauderdale. It’s a blessing to have a geographically diverse staff.
DMM: do you have a particular aesthetic you push, both musically and visually? AL: We like to push for a clean and modern aesthetic both musically and visually. We definitely think that these two co-exist. All of the music we post and basically anything on the site excites us and makes us feel something. We try to feature design and content that is of the utmost quality, is forward thinking, and relevant to our readers and the current state of the music industry on the whole. And of course we like everything we put on the site…not really sure how people can design or post music or do anything creative for that matter if they aren’t passionate about the material they’re putting out.
DMM: Do you divide the content into sections based on writer preference? AL: Yeah…you can say that. Ben handles the majority of the bass/garage/minimal techno etc, Jonatahan takes care of the more funky/ soulful/indie/avant garde material, and Michael and I look after the majority of the hip hop/
DMM: Do you do design work for the blog? AL: I do most of the grunt work and conceptualizing associated with the design. A lot of the time Michael and I work together to refine our ideas and come up with a final product that we’re both happy with. It’s always good to bounce ideas off of each other.
DMM: How many writers do you have? AL: We have three writers currently.
on the internet straight surfing for hours on end. Wake up in the morning and hit up my bookmark tab and go at it.
DMM: How conscious are you of other blogs’ styles? How do you try to differentiate? AL: I’m definitely conscious of other blog’s styles. I can’t say that it really affects us though. We always try to just do what we want to do in terms of design. I feel like there is an unspoken rule in the blog community…be influenced by other blogs but make your blog your own and make statements that you want to make. Live For The Funk has always been an outlet for us to express ourselves creatively and it always will be. DMM: Do you have a favorite category of post (I.E. You Should Be Listening To, Diggin’ in the Crates, Interviews, etc.) AL: I personally like the interviews/mixes that artists do for us. It’s a great way to connect with artists and put together something original that everyone is proud to share with our readers. It’s cool to have something exclusive to LFTF. Mixes are quickly becoming an important platform for artists to showcase their talent. DMM: What is the most common way for you to find the content that you blog (I hope I’m not asking for a trade secret here)? AL: Well, its an interesting combination between other blogs, submissions via email/ facebook, and artists that we reach out to to do mixes/interviews for us. No trade secrets to give away really…just spending A LOT of time 47/48
DMM: How important do you think blogging is to the current structure of the music industry? I think blogging is honestly of the utmost importance to the music industry in its current state. I like to call it the wild west in the sense that there aren’t many rules and its such a free environment where the focus is on the material…not necessarily revenue. The decline of physical sales has led to a greater emphasis in the industry on live performances and other tactics to generate revenue. For example, one of the most exciting things I’ve noticed that’s been happening lately is more people getting into vinyl. Artists and labels have really been on their game lately in terms of releasing limited box sets (like radiohead releasing king of limbs with a piece of artwork printed on blotter paper, and the re-release of Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36 Chambers, which includes a laminated foodstamp card) that really excite fans and collectors. The great thing about the blogging world is how adaptable it is. As the music industry changes throughout the years, so will blogs and their role in the overall picture. DMM: How important is image for a musician? AL: I think image is a lot more important for a musician than most musicians probably think. Unfortunately, talent alone isn’t enough any more. In a day and age when technology is so accessible and you have people popping up and making music left and right in one way or another, it becomes overwhelming and flooded. Artists should focus on what they can do (believe me…there is a lot) to make themselves stand out from the rest of the pack. And the pack is bigger than ever right now. When I’m looking at a submission or a post on a blog or an artist’s bandcamp or soundcloud page and I notice that time and care was put into the
presentation and design, I’m that much more interested and appreciative of the overall package that the artist is presenting. Now…with all of that being said…I don’t care how nice your design is…if your material blows, then you have some thinking to do.
Artists should focus on what they can do (believe me…there is a lot) to make themselves stand out from the rest of the pack. And the pack is bigger than ever right now.
DMM: How do you think leaks and file sharing effect how we value the music we get? AL: Wow this is probably going to contradict what I just said a little bit ago but I definitely think that leaks file sharing etc… has turned music into a commodity and less of a treat or a privilege that a lot of us remember back in the day. I mean seriously (I’m obviously guilty of this too) we cant even wait for release dates any more? From an artists perspective im sure it’s horrible. Just because some fuck snags a copy off the pressing line at the plant and uploads it after his shift, an artist is stripped of being able to truly RELEASE their work to the masses in a proper fashion. DMM: What draws you to a blog? AL: Clean design paired with a diverse selection of material and a good sense of personal voice overall. That’s basically it. Clean and simple.
A TRIP TO THE DINER
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I noticed that the outer door had been
left ajar as we exited her Christopher St. apartment. The air still carried a lingering sense of mid September, seemingly uncaring for this multi-month tardiness. The sounds of the night had been rambunctiously jostling their way through her windows all night, but somehow everyone heard us coming, and the street was deserted by the time we had descended the swirling mass of pale green, hardly yellow, and raw umber that was her aging staircase. The sound of the door slamming shut behind us only emphasized the stillness that hung all around; that heavy lidded moment that comes between the fantasy and reality. As if to join in solidarity, the first fallen leaves of the newly autumnal trees began to lazily dance across the surface of the pavement. We reached our destination only ever momentarily joined by the yellow cabs that rolled by, each bringing a brief wave of white noise to build and fall away. From a distance, one might not have known that the diner was occupied. The interior was lit by a series of weak candles coupled with the stronger, albeit less romantic, neon
of the bar. We were quickly met by a member of the staff who escorted us to our seats. The room was practically empty, save for a group of three clinging to the bar. A brief glance at the walls showed a large collection of
French ads, signs, and posters aligned on the wall to give the appearance of clutter. In trying to present us with the feeling of a refined cafe, the restaurant hopelessly and beautifully gave away its core American values. The collected materials all gave off that unmistakable look of “modern vintage”, and their positioning on the walls revealed the clutter to have been preconceived, far too organized to have resulted from the layering of histories. The Diner wore its farce entirely unabashedly. We are the people of the frontier, adapting in any way necessary to survive. We are a culture of artifice. We create to survive and fake wherever needed. We sat down facing each other at the table. With the almost empty house,
it wasn’t long before our coffees and burgers were at the table. The candle light began to flicker as the wick burnt ever closer to the end. Our meal became soft edged and black and white in the new dimness as if begging to be called out for the blatant Rockwellian-noir plagiarism that it perpetrated by its very existence. It seemed to me that my dark cup of coffee sat in perfect contrast to the cream beside it out of a pure sense of irony. As if rewarding us for a faithful reenactment, our waiter brought out a slice of pie to finish off
It seemed to me that my dark coffee cup sat in perfect contrast to the cream beside it out of a pure sense of irony.
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We are a culture of artifice. We create to survive and fake wherever needed. our meal without so much as a hint from either of us. We slipped back out into the murky orange darkness to find that the temperature had dropped sharply. The cold weather snapped us from the foggy graying haze of the restaurant back into the realm of the present. Winter was coming, and with it the holiday season, or as we might refer to it, Christmas. We began our march back, but decided to begin our preparation for the oncoming series of rituals and togetherness. These events no longer hold the religious significance they once did. They have been adopted, melded into pure Americana. We choose to celebrate not so that we might remember our faith and gratitude for an ancient figure, but to come together under the common bond of our nationality. photography by Mariel Bennett and Jordan Romanoff styled by Mariel Bennett text by Jordan Romanoff
Survey Says: URL
Location
Style Icon
Beauty Icon
cheapromance.tumblr.com
Belgium
The Olson twins
Daphne Groeneveld & Frida Gustavsson
chanel--girl.tumblr.com
USA/Australia
Olivia Palermo
Miranda Kerr
fashion-harvest.blogspot.com
UK
Mary-Kate Olsen
Zooey Deschanel
highflyingadored.tumblr.com
USA
Mary-Kate Olsen
Barbara Palvin
inexpensivechic.com
USA
Erin Wasson
Tyra Banks & Chanel Iman
landonlush.tumblr.com
Canada
Kelly Cutrone
Victoria Beckham
loretta-blog.blogspot.com
Canada
The Olsen twins
The Olsen twins
maraliu.tumblr.com
UK
Freja Beha Erichsen
Freja Beha Erichsen
neverdreamedaboutthis.blogspot.com
Switzerland
Emma Watson
Beyonce
perfecttarget.tumblr.com
Malaysia
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks
thelittlefashionisto.blogspot.com
Indonesia
Miley Cyrus
Kate Moss
vogueoneoone.blogspot.com
Botswana
Lady Gaga
Angelina Jolie
53/54
WHERE TO BUY
DMM ONLINE
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NARS www.narscosmetics.com
WEBSITE www.dressmemag.com
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Burton www.burton.com
Splendid www.splendid.com
Visit our website to read our archives, find information on how to contribute, advertise, and more!
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Timeless www.shoptimeless.net
Current Elliot www.hm.com
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T by Alexander Wang www.alexanderwang.com
H&M www.hm.com
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TUMBLR www.dressmemag.tumblr.com
Étoile Isabel Marant www.net-a-porter.com
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The DMM team’s virtual moodboard.
Jeffrey Campbell www.solestruck.com
Wolford www.vermontflannel.com
TWITTER www.twitter.com/dressmemag
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YSL Beauty www.yslbeautyus.com
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BLOG www.dressmemagazine.blogspot.com The Dress Me Magazine blog is a look into the lives of Editor-in-Chief Mariel Eve Bennett and Creative Director Jordan Romanoff. The DMM blog serves to document the integration of their lives with the creation of the magazine.