Four unique individuals, artists in their own field, set themselves apart with their passion for originality. It is a trait that inspires their distinct creative style; as well as their appreciation for the original boat shoe known for its heritage and authenticity -Sperry Top-Sider. Photographed by Kai Huang Hair and Makeup by Angelique Dinglasan Location at Titan 22, Burgos Circle
“ Watching a lot of things exercises the mind visually and inspires you to create. Just being out there and interacting with the people that I know inspires me.�
Paul Soriano Advertising and Film Director A/O OIL CLOTH TAN
A/O 2-EYE SILVER
“I don’t try to conform or be overly different, because being original starts with being yourself.”
Nikki Dela Paz Surfer and Architect
SEAMATE GREY GINGHAM
A/O CHUKKA CHOCOLATE SUEDE
“My originality stems from my passion and relentless attention to detail in design. I have my own studio and this has allowed me to work with people who are just as dedicated to their craft as I am.”
Christian San Jose Artist
BAHAMA NAVY/WHITE PLAID CANVAS
“I am passionate about discovering how media on different platforms affect people. When you’re connected to your work on an emotional level, your originality shows in your designs.”
Revo Naval Multimedia Designer A/O CHUKKA DARK GREY SUEDE
STAT U S ME S S AG E
KREAYSHAWN: Mob Girl Gone Good (82). Photo by Liam Ricketts
LEGEN--WAIT FOR IT--DARY H
ave you ever wondered how a normal person becomes a legend? How do you become so influential that your presence crosses oceans, communicates through language barriers, and inspires people to become—well—a legend? I always wonder who’s going to be the next Beatles, Jay-Z, or Madonna. I think the key is just to start doing something. Even when no one is watching. For this issue, we got to interview a few folks whom we feel are legends-in-the-making. Kreayshawn may not be a household name yet, but she’s a serious contender with over 20 million hits on her YouTube video “Gucci Gucci.” I stumbled upon it and just thought it was fresh and carefree. It felt like she was rappin’ for herself and she didn’t care if people saw the video. Well, girl, we saw it. We liked it. Get ready for the limelight, because we’re pushing you in there. On the other end of the spectrum is Jonah Hill who performs so that people can see him on the silver screen. We all loved him as a nerdy teen in Superbad, but those days are long behind him. With his new physique and starring roles alongside Hollywood A-listers (Ahem, Brad Pitt), he has elevated his status from geek to heavyweight. If any one of our major features is closest to being considered a legend, it would be Miss Von Teese… or should I say Tease? Her style is getting attention on its own right, but her profession is what got everyone talking. Dita almost singlehandedly brought back the style, glamour, and tease of times past. Not only did we feature budding acts, we locked down a living legend himself—Mick Jagger, anyone? Opening our Maestro section, is his new posse, SuperHeavy: including Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, A.R. Rahman, and Damian Marley. So, now that we made our bets on our legends-in-the-making, I guess there’s not much else to do but sit back and see where they take their lives. I’m not a fortune teller, but I see big things in their future… and ours.
Editor-in-chief
IS LEGEN--WAIT FOR IT--DARY N OVEM BER 2011
20
STATUSPHERE
19 24 25 26 27
THREADS SETTING BEATS SCREEN INK
gadgets 28
LEVEL UP
Gaming Gadgets
BEAUTY 30
THE A-LIST
31
ILLUMINATI
Makeup Artists’ Favorites
Skin Brighteners
brick & mortar
36 Couverture & The
Garbstore, London
36 Voo Store, Berlin 36 Totokaelo
street style
37 WIDE-LEG PHENOMENON Reviving the ‘70s
38 GO SEE
75 DJ CRAZE
FANNY AND JESSE
Cover Up Sans the Frump
70
SONJA WOHLMUTH
VISION BOARD
maestro
44 HIGH RISE Glam Metal
50 ALLEY CAT
Mixing High and Low
SWAG
57 OPERATION CANVAS Canvas Bags
58 ANOTHER CHOICE
Printed Long Sleeve Shirts
59 BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY City T-Shirts
59 BUDDHA’S DELIGHT Bead Bracelets
60 SOLE SEARCHING Sneakers
62 TOP GUN
Sleeveless Buttoned Tops
62 DANGLING BEAUTY Long Earrings
63 TO THE FLOOR Palazzo Pants
64 THICK-SKINNED Leather Jackets
65 YOU’VE GOT MAIL Envelope Clutches
muse
70 SONJA WOHLMUTH
71 MIRACLE WORKERS
There’s a new band in town— comprised of Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damien Marley, A.R. Rahman—and they’re SuperHeavy. By Reena Mesias
72 THE DREAM TEAM
Brooklyn-based quintet Twin Sister is enjoying being high up in the sky with the success of their debut album, In Heaven. By Miguel Escobar
MASTERMIND 76 THE ROADIE
How do you build a line without any plans and expectations? “Scene Queen” Jac Vanek reveals her ways. By Viva Gonzalez
77 GOT NO STRINGS
It’s time to raise the curtains once again for The Muppets, brought back by director James Bobin who tells us what being “Muppety” is all about. By Diego José Abad
73 SACRED HEART
78 ART MACHINE
74 MAD CITY BOY
78 BORN TO BE STYLED
If you can deal with brutally honest people, then you can listen to Zola Jesus’ songs. By Karen Bolilia
Kendrick Lamar is bombarded with questions about life. He keeps silent and would rather rap about his answers in a new album. By Loris Peña
75 REBEL YELL
The punk girls of Girl in a Coma sometimes like to have a little stupid fun—except when they play music. By Rita Faire
75 SCRATCH THE SURFACE
DMC champion DJ Craze spins the decks and, now, his very own record label. By Miguel Escobar
If an artwork can’t make Oliver Cartwright think, he’d probably just doze off. By Zoe Laurente
Stylist Ryuji Shiomitsu shares his formula to success, and it includes a teeny weeny bit of partying. By Rita Faire
79 NEW DIRECTIONS
Vanessa Lengies is a Gleek and a legit (video game) geek. By Reena Mesias
80 LAUNCH PAD
You don’t have to tell us that AJ Jamani and Christian Rice are handsome. But you can tell us that you love their line and mixtapes for Handsome Clothing. By Viva Gonzalez
IS LEGEN--WAIT FOR IT--DARY N OVEM BER 2011
73 ZOLA JESUS
71 SUPERHEAVY
74 KENDRICK LAMAR MASTERMIND 80 MARATHON MAN
Everyone’s been into running lately. Why not join Chris Baty’s marathon where you can actually train your brain? By Rita Faire
81 OVER THE MOON
Alex Meraz thinks the plot of Ninja Assassin came from his junior high comic book. Or maybe he just has a lot of potential. By Reena Mesias
HEAVY HITTER
82 MOB GIRL GONE GOOD
Kreayshawn breaks into our playlists. It’s high time we see more white girl rappers around here. By Laura “Hyperfrank” Brosnan
97 DESTROY CULTRE @ THIS IS
86 THE BIG TEESE
NOT A BAR
Dita Von Teese used to not have the means to buy designer clothes. Having gone a long way, The Queen of Burlesque has become a style inspiration and even has a line of her own. By Viva Gonzalez
98 UP JMA ADHOC PARTY @ WORLD TRADE CENTER
98 KREAYSHAWN LIVE @ THE ROXY 99 BANDANA @ KYSS 99 STATUS STYLE ISSUE
90 HAVING A BALL
It’s not only Jonah Hill’s diet plan which worked wonders. The game plan to his career and life, in general, is also thoughtfully plotted. By Nante Santamaria
NIGHTVISION
RELEASE PARTY @ FIAMMA
STATUS INVADES
100 KATHRYN & LIZZIE FORTUNATO Probably another Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in the making, twin sisters Kathryn and Lizzie Fortunato share the stuff they dig—and they’re more than just accessories.
95 CAT FACE @ THE MACBETH 96 ELECTROLIGHTZ CENTERPIECE 96 ERIC D-LUX @ 7TH HIGH 102 R.E.M.’S TOMB OF FAME 97 FRESH FRIDAYS @ FIAMMA
In a very ‘90s outfit shot by Liam Ricketts, Kreayshawn could be a runner-up to another Style Issue cover. But more than her signature style—big earrings, baby tees, and high-waisted trousers—are piles of catchy songs, a feisty, do-ityourself attitude, and an Oakland, California swag that are additives to make the name as the next glam rapstress.
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FEATURES
there’s more to what’s in print
NightVision who’s spotted partying where
Photo Diary confessional for lensmen
Digital Magazine
STATUS sans paper
DOWNLOADS free mixtapes and wallpapers
“In accessorizing, don’t be afraid to layer it on. Fashion is all about individuality. Stand out by being you.”
Tassel Crystal Earrings P750 Flutter Butterfly Necklace P750 Lilianas Sparkle Flower P1,100 Enamel Bouquet Collar P1,200 Rose Rope Long Necklace P500 Sparkle Rose Clasp P1,200 Queen Natasha Cuff P1,350 Evie Cocktail Ring P450 Vintage Carved Flower Ring P530 Mop Multi Bangle Set P750
Isabelle Valentos Style Blogger
Charlotte Top in Dull Rose P8,498 By 7 For All Mankind
Top It Off Who said less is more? Our “Top It Off ” winners show us the fun way to put flair into fashion. Watch them spruce up their style with their fave Accessorize essentials, piling on the glam and letting their style take center stage. Photographed by Miguel Miranda Styled by Loris Pena Hair by Mandy Sierra of Jing Monis Salon Make-up by Angelique Dinglasan of Shu Uemura
“Maximize their mileage by rocking your accessories in different ways. Use a necklace as a bracelet, or tie a scarf on your bag...the possibilities are endless!�
Lindsay Iraola
Skinny Loose Knit Top in Brick P4,498 By 7 For All Mankind
Fashion Student
Pretty Petal Earrings P1,300 Knot & Chain Long Necklace P1,100 Retro Chunky Necklace P900 Sticks Collar Necklace P900 Mixed Metal Embellished Necklace P1,350 Bobble Stretch Bracelet P900 Ethnic Stretch Bracelet P600 Sparkle Stretch Bracelet P1,200 Silver Bobble Necklace, worn as bracelet P1,300 Pearl Pansy Ring P450
“Go out of your comfort zone and take risks. Being stylish means you’re up for that challenge!”
Maria Cristina Raposa Stylist
Cheresi Shirt in Red Plum P15,998 By 7 For All Mankind
Phoenix Feather Earrings P900 Navajo Rings Long Necklace P1,200 Rope Chain Twist Necklace P1,200 Tort Bangle P450 Leopard Print Bangle P450 Mixed Multi Bangle P450 Metal Bead Cuff P500 Chunky Wood Multi Bangle P750 Henrietta Owl Ring P500 Pretty Love Ring P300 Graphic Print Clutch P2,100
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contributors statusmagonline.com EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rosario Herrera CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Patrick L. Jamora ART DIRECTORS: Patrick Diokno, Soleil Ignacio ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Nante Santamaria FEATURES EDITOR: Reena Mesias FASHION EDITOR: Loris Peña
Liam ricketts After having shot for Vibe, MTV, and The Independent, our Heavy Hitter Kreayshawn’s (82) photographer, Liam, isn’t easily fazed anymore by the entertainment world’s heavyweights. So much so that he wouldn’t even think twice about being in the splash zone of a Charlie Sheen-Lil B bash out brawl. “Charlie would win,” Liam bets. “He’s always winning, but Lil B could probably swag him out on a hundred trillion.”
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Rita Faire, Viva Gonzalez, Zoe Laurente GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Nyael David
KAREN BOLILIA
College student and ubiquitous writer Karen, who wrote about Maestro Zola Jesus (73), sounds pretty sure about what makes something legendary. She admits that “if it insists and persists,” then it’s got no problems maintaining a legacy. Sadly, she can’t maintain that same confidence when calling the winner in a The DoctorMadonna cage match. “A cone bra lash for every sonic screwdriver swish?” she asks. “I honestly don’t know who’ll win that.”
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Rica Arevalo, Diego José Abad, Karen Bolilia, Laura “Hyperfrank” Brosnan, Giano D. Dionisio, Don Jaucian CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Gulsen Altinok, Glynis Selina Arban, Shawn Brackbill, James Bringas, Lucy Eleanor Brown, Gabby Cantero, Angel Ceballos, The Cobrasnake, Anthony “Thosh” Collins, Angelique Dinglasan, Kate Edmonson, DJ Fabian, Jay Goldman, Pino Gomez, Ralph Hilario, Kai Huang, Josh Huskin, Roy Macam, Bernadette Manuga, Isabella Marcos, Miguel Miranda, Nunu, Renessta Olds, Claire Oring, Mila Pardillla, Louis Pariñas, Ana Peña, Mara Reyes, Liam Ricketts, Capo Rivera, Danny Roberts, Nikki Ruiz, Alexandra Saushkina, Mandy Sierra, Jihye Sim, Staudinger + Franke, Nick St. James, Leslie Salalila, Andrew Stephenson, Kate Szatmari, The XOXO Kids SALES & MARKETING CONSULTANT: Tina Herrera ACCOUNT MANAGER: Jerdan Buenaventura INTERNS: Miguel Escobar, Paolo Geronimo, Win Gonzales, Iris Beverly Lim, Kenneth Lim, Aids Lopez De Leon, Jeruel Pingol
EDITORIAL editorial@statusmagonline.com
viva gonzaleZ No one knows sexy like our Fashion Assistant, Viva. Why do you think she wrote about one of this issue’s Heavy Hitters, Dita Von Teese (86)? Still, her cradle crush might surprise some people. “I grew up with a Beatles-worshipping dad,” says Viva. “I thought that John Lennon’s round specs and tattered NYC T-shirt was the epitome of cool. He was the most handsome, most badass, and the most intelligent out of the Fab Four.”
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Isabella marcos
Social scene photographer Isabella, who’s been covering Fresh Fridays at Fiamma and the STATUS Style Issue Release Party for this issue’s Nightvision (99), seems to be a closet fantasy fan as she’d love to see Game of Thrones’ Khal Drogo and 300’s King Leonidas duke it out to the death. “Khal Drogo would win,” says Isabella. “And he wouldn’t even need armor to protect himself.”
INTERNSHIP intern@statusmagonline.com Two heads are better than one.
What’s your STATUS? tell us.
GENERAL INQUIRIES info@statusmagonline.com Read our digital version statusmagonline.com/ digital-magazine LIKE US facebook.com/statusmagazine Follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
THREADS / setting / BEATS / SCREEN / INK
NOVEMBER 2011
LICENSE TO CHILL S
HADES OF GREY BY MICAH COHEN brings back a little sophistication to daily menswear without going full James Bond on you. Blending tailored with textured, this collection of peacoats, slim-fit chinos, and woolly sweaters comes in cozy shades of blue, brown, and gray that just sigh with the chill winds of fall. facebook.com/pages/SHADES-of-GREYby-Micah-Cohen
OH HOW SHE ROCKS K
EDS may have been around since 1916, but these sneaks just keep cool coming. Their latest drops the classic, thin-soled plimsolls in baby blue and neutral pink colorways alongside a men’s boat shoe style on the same signature silhouette in olive and navy. Casual, comfy, and cute, these everyday reliables are sure to put that spring in your step and keep the dirtbags on their knees. keds.com
HISTORY LESSON T
IRANA JEWELRY by visual artist and sculptor Graciela Fuentes makes use of objects that one would otherwise overlook. These handcrafted pieces are cast from antique market finds like pocket watches, machine parts, buttons, and keys. Bone up on your history with sterling silver bracelets made from watch gears and brass Victorian key earrings that bring together the romance of Renaissance with the architectural feel of the Industrial Age. tiranajewelry.com
FALL IN LINE D
ACE’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection is a trove of subtly reworked basics. Designer Dace Moore, keeps some summer brightness with aqua stripes and lush purple against a mostly neutral palette. Layer texture and color with silk button-downs, maxi skirts, chunky knit scarves, and the perfect pair of paper bag shorts. Top off with black tights and a trench, and you’re ready for those chilly autumn nights. dace.ca
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/THREADS
WITCHING HOUR Y
OUNG HUNTING’s newest collection of rugged, rough-hewn leather band necklaces and metal accessories take a turn for the occult as designer Candice Agius incorporates mystical crystals like titanium aura, galena, amethyst, jet black obsidian, pyrite, quartz, and agate slices to invoke the spirits for protection and style. Blessed be. younghunting.com.au
DOUBLE TROUBLE L
ondon design duo FANNY AND JESSY combine the attitude of British punk with quirky prints and flowy silk dresses. Their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is chock-full of punk details like zippers and chains toned down with earthy colors like rust orange and navy blue. Slip into an electric blue satin jumpsuit with black contrast panels and stir up some trouble on a Friday night. fannyandjessy.co.uk
POP PRINT O
UR LEGACY takes a healthy incorporation of patterns for Spring/ Summer 2012. Barely-there starry specks subtly hint whimsy in one seemingly humdrum navy suit. Psychedelic paisleys give a pair of trousers a verve and vitality beyond the use of fluos and neons. Not exactly for day or night, these pieces don’t need a schedule to be awesome. ourlegacy.se
KEEP ON ROLLIN’ T
he folks over at British label WORN BY know that, when it comes to style, the coffers of rock and roll are wealthy. The brand’s shirts, sweaters, and hoodies are all renditions of actual clothes worn by immortal icons like The Rolling Stones, Blondie, and David Bowie. Soft fabrics and washes plus authentic print and stitch detailing are sure to appease the gods of rock any day. wornby.co.uk
REBOOTED W
hile everyone’s still rocking boat shoes, those of a cut above rock VANE. Classic moccasintoes get a high-top reboot with belt straps, padded collars, and folding flaps. Neutral earth tones tint top-notch materials like suede, nubuck, full-grain leather, and even militarygrade cordura. Both neat and uncompromisingly rugged, these boots are made to walk over any old fool. wearevane.com
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/THREADS
HANDY MAN M
iguel Paolo Celestial’s Hardware collection for BOSQUEJO uses bobbins, stainless steel nuts, and cable connectors to come up with rock and roll jewelry. Just when you thought razors were only for shaving, the “Eumenides II” with stainless steel razor pendants make a stylish necklace. Be careful not to cut yourself. bosquejobazaar.com
BALL AND CHAIN D
esigner Cheung Lik reimagines WEAR AND TEAR’s signature knitted chain links by adding silver-plated chains and bright colors. Knit is a fall staple, and their alpaca yarn knit cuffs and necklaces bring a seasonal element to one’s accessorizing. Their Binnen fall collection provides a contrast to the softness of knits with chains in gold and copper bound together with layers of handstitched metallic leather. wear-and-tear.com
HIP-HOP LIVES M
uch of streetwear as we know it today was inspired by hip-hop—a culture whose inception is celebrated today in threads by SEDGWICK & CEDAR. They take graphic tees and strip them down to the roots—minimal print, basic fonts, simple colors, and straightforward depictions of the ‘70s transition from soul to rap. It’s a truly retro throwback to an aged, albeit immortal era. sc73.com
FORWARD MARCH S
ERUM VERSUS VENOM takes their ideology of “Futurecraft” up a notch with their latest collection, Zero Surplus Garb. By fusing traditional and modern methods to create one-of-a-kind pieces like a marble print utility jacket with the use of vintage military fabrics and workers’ uniforms. Proudly marching outside the boundaries of institutionalized fashion, they produce a collection of fresh designs for the stylish individual. Serumvenom.com
SCENE QUEEN W
ith its leopard print suit made of cashmere and velvet, purple leather shorts and jacket, and a pair of black quilted skin-tight leather pants,SIMONE and its rich materials and body-conscious silhouettes is for the brave. Worn by style stalwarts like Rachel Zoe and Mary Kate Olsen, the brand’s Fall 2011 offering is pure ‘70s luxe with fur vests, cutout dresses, and a Stevie Nicks-inspired bohemian maxi dress. simonecollection.com
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/THREADS
AFRICAN PRIDE L
AURAN VITONAHU shares their love for Africa with a line of silk chiffon scarves. With six new designs full of African symbols, graphics and writing systems, these colorful neck candies have stories to tell. Bestsellers include the Kanga Scarf with its popular East African print style. African culture celebrated with style, no waka waka dance involved here. lauranvitonahu.com
POP ART PROTECTION T
echnology is the canvas for INCASE’s newest collection of gadget cases and sleeves, featuring designs by Andy Warhol. Some of his popular works like the posterized banana, ad collage, and distressed silkscreen Elvis portrait are reincarnated as iPhone, iPad, and Macbook protectors. With this caliber of art on your tech, you may as well hang them up on your living room wall. incase.com
CRISP & CLEAN M
enswear fashion designer OLIVIER BORDE may have been in the game for some time, but he manages to keep up with modern menswear’s minimalist cuts and fits. His latest features a collection of simple coats, button-ups, and sweaters, but stands out with mid-thigh chino shorts and bleach-dipped denim jeans and shirts. A good combination of well-tailored clothes plus that laidback appeal. olivier-borde.com
LADYFINGERS H
OLBROOKE brings the bling with their signature chain-linked tandem rings. The designs range from gold-plated charm bracelet homages set with various gems and precious stones to soft-luxe hardware remixes of silver and gunmetal chains. You’ll love these glitz glam pieces so much, you just might end up calling them ‘my precious.’ shopholbrooke.com
CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER E
co-minded clothing and jewelry design company SPECIES BY THE THOUSANDS releases a new line including monocle pendants and miniature mountain rings with magnifying glasses and bronze materials. Check out their antique bronze pendant of a skeleton hand holding a rose. Look a little bit closer. These pieces are made for your curiosity’s sake. speciesbythethousands.com
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/THREADS
SPOILED ROTTEN E
uropean clothing brand ROTTENFRESH weaves abstract art with casual clothing in their latest: a three-shirt collaboration with Canadian artist/photographer Chad Coombs. Each print takes a beautiful girl’s face and distorts it with exaggerated features and drawn-on hair. Artsy galleries can take to the streets on white tees that are anything but plain. rottenfresh.com
EVIL LAUGH L
et’s face it: that dastardly villain, constantly conspiring and conniving against the oh-so-prim protagonist, is actually a likeable character. Young and rising streetwear brand VILLAINOUS VISARD throws that appeal on their threads and focuses on Stussy-esque black and white shirt designs featuring cartoonized skull and bones. Toss that dorky-ass spandex costume out the window and get on with real villainous swag. villainousvisard.co.uk
LOW DOWN W
hen you’re down to give those ostentatious, thigh-scraping high-tops a break, VANS can school you on simpler sneaker swag. The OTW collections give skate kicks a classier, lifestyle-oriented design, and the Ludlow is no exception. With a sleek silhouette, minimalist panels, luxe nylons and leathers, and a slimmer, detail-stitched cupsole, it’s the prime example of more refined style on classic Vans design. vans.com/microsites/otw
SUIT UP N
o one said that warm and toasty couldn’t be dressed and dapper, too. While most others double up on the hobo layers, OVADIA & SONS keeps it hot with some smart dapper wear. The coat-and-tie combos come in classic grayscales, blues, and browns, as well as more daring stripes and tweed patterns. Overcoats, mitts, scarves, beanies, and a fur ushanka make the collection a standout way to keep the winter breeze at bay. ovadiaandsons.com
ANTI FIT H
FREDRIKSSON’s latest collection of chunky sweaters, shift dresses, maxi skirts, and loose trousers proves that drapes and structured shoulders of navy blue, gray, and maroon can complement a woman’s body. Add layers to your usual plain dress or a tweed parka with that skirtand-shirt combo, and redefine the new sexy. hfredriksson.com
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/SETTING
SUITE
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
T
HE THEODORE HOTEL reminds you of Alice in Wonderland but not in the sense that there is a crazy queen looking to cut off your head. Rather, things get curiouser and curiouser as each room you travel to and fro is different. Trippy, right? The 10-room Tagaytay getaway has you covered whether you’re in the mood for something spicy and Moroccan-inspired (the Moorish Room) or a calm, centered place to help you bring on the Zen (the Cherry Blossoms Room). And hey, if that still doesn’t float your boat, you could always go rustic and request to stay in the decked out nipa hut they have out back.
thetheodorehotel.com
GRUB
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT
H
CORKAGE
DOMO ARIGATO
S
ample modern Japanese dishes like panseared foie gras with Hokkaido scallop (Yes, please!), and sip on traditional spirits like shochu, umeshu, and sake mixed with your standard martini and margarita at KINKI ROOFTOP BAR. With a floor mural by tattoo artist Chris Garver of Miami Ink fame and a DJ booth with
graffiti art by Singapore urban artist ANTZ, this place is far from your typical izakaya. So if you’re looking for a little funk and noise, then be certain that Kinki serves both up like an open bar.
kinki.com.sg/
ousing a brassier-style café, a 12-seater cushioned lounge, and a rotating-exhibit art gallery, San Francisco’s THE SUMMIT is all about rounding off the social experience from dining to discussion. Enjoy the chefrecommended Chocolate Pork & Beans with a glass of the local brew. Have a little post-meal conversation while chilling in picnic-table seating designed to encourage neighborly hob-knobbing with fellow diners. And to cap it all off, take a gander at the Peek Gallery’s latest exhibit (among those exhibited in the past was Sebastien Roux’s I Wish I Could Talk). This hybrid hub certainly gives a whole new meaning to social network.
thesummit-sf.com
PL ATE
Tokyo Drift Things get kinki as the eponymous bar takes inspiration from the Nihon nation to make their signature drinks.
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Ginger Kumquat Caipirinha Rum jazzed up with some fresh kumquat, ginger, and raw sugar.
Peach Blossom Margarita South of the border flavors with some Far Eastern flair.
Ume Mojito A refreshing staple that’s bound to give you a minty buzz.
Japanese Pear Martini Take this orange liqueur and pear syrup-enhanced classic shaken, not stirred.
BEATS
MUSIC REVIEWS
ON THE SPOT
Stripped Down
B
“
less the internet,” says bassist Mike Ducusin as he remembers how he and his bandmates Neil Tin (lead guitars), Dolf Candano (drums), and Ymi Sy (rhythm guitars and vocals) all came together. It was cyber kismet that led them all to the same online musicians’ forum. Hitting it off, the four cast off doubts of internet stalkers and creepy predators to meet and form what would become THE NAKED LIGHTS. One year later, the guys are in the middle of getting ready for a gig. But that’s nothing new for them nowadays. They have gigs lined up to next
year! It’s all in the name of music, self-discovery, and the eternal quest for the perfect session. “We never really set goals on what we should be as we really have a long way to go, a lot of gigs to play. We still need to gain a lot of experience so we can discover more from ourselves as a band.” Collective soul-searching one gig at a time? Sounds cool to us. With more songs on the board, The Naked Lights are hell-bent on doing a follow up to their current EP, Maenefest. As Mike says, “It’s about to get more ‘naked.’” RITA FAIRE
LISTEN UP
Victor Le Masne of HOUSSE DE RACKET houssederacket.com
Tame Impala – “Jeremy’s Storm” Modern psychedelism.
Shara Worden photo by Denny Renshaw; Christopher Barnes photo by Jared Graves
Roxy Music – “Avalon” The chords on the chorus are amazing.
Bob Dylan – “Tomorrow is a Long Time” You’re right, Bob.
Brian Eno – “In Dark Trees” Ambient in a good way.
Depeche Mode – “Behind the Wheel” Futuristic Ennio Morricone vibe.
Christopher Barnes of GEM CLUB iamgemclub.com
Chad VanGaalen – “Peace on the Rise” This song is beautiful. I’m in love with the entire album, really. Grouper – “Come Softly“ Sometimes I wish all music sounded like this.
Marissa Nadler – “In Your Lair, Bear” Marissa’s new record is really great. I’ve had the chance to see her perform locally a few times. It’s very intimate and personal. Porcelain Raft – “Amateur’s Feeling” Mauro’s songwriting is fantastic. I found out about him right around the time our first EP came out. I’m so happy for all the progress that he’s made and the opportunities that have come his way because of it.
Shara Worden of MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND mybrightestdiamond.com
Ólöf Arnalds – “Klara” I think Ólöf is such a beautiful singer, and her charango playing is gorgeous here. There’s such clarity in her work. It feels like drinking clean water. DM Stith – “Thanksgiving Moon (demo version)” I absolutely love DM’s voice. A beautiful lyricist. Ever an inspiration. Tim Fite – “For-Closure” This song epitomizes the foreclosure problems throughout the country, and I think Tim hits the nail on the head with poignancy and humor. Diane Cluck – “Wild Deer at Dawn” Diane is a great and prolific songwriter, and I think this song is so tranquil and beautiful.
Rock out with fellow audiophiles from November 12 to 19 as Portishead, The National, The Flaming Lips, and Bright Eyes headline The Gathering music festival in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Former rockstar aspirant and Shook Up member Neil McCormick’s rivalry with old school chums U2 makes its way to the big screen when Killing Bono hits the screens this November 4.
Word is out that the guys of Odd Future will be hitting your TV screens next year. Adult Swim has just given Tyler, the Creator and the guys a greenlight for their live action series, Loiter Squad.
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/SCREEN
MOVIE REVIEWS
DIRECTOR’S CUT
Out of Status With her films, Nag-aalinlangang Ina (Reluctant
Mothers, 1995) and Ganap na Babae (Garden of Eve, 2010), you could very well call RICA AREVALO a woman’s director. She talks to us about life after Ganap, New York, and writing her upcoming film, Out of Status.
C
Circumstances regarding her citizenship force A YOUNG WOMAN to make decisions beyond her control
urrently, we are touring our trilogy film, Ganap na Babae (Garden of Eve) in North America after winning Mient’s Pick: Excellence in Cinematography at this year’s Soho International Film Festival NYC (SIFF NYC) last April. We had sold out screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah a few months ago; and we are preparing for more screenings abroad, reaching out to the Filipino communities. While in New York City, I was inspired to write the
CINEMANTICS
PL AYBACK
EveryONE Says I Love You (1996)
Melancholia (2011)
W
L
oody Allen has long been known for his screwball comedy and generally unconventional body of work. Probably not your daddy’s High School Musical, Everyone Says I Love You, is no exception to Allen’s style—with more dance numbers, that is. An upper-class
Manhattan family breaks apart in this movie, narrated from the perspective of DJ (Natasha Lyonne), whose parents Steffi (Goldie Hawn) and Joe (Woody Allen) have divorced. Steffi remarries and bears DJ a halfsister, Skyler (Drew Barrymore), and a half-brother, Scott (Lukas Haas). Meanwhile, DJ is convinced that her father, Joe, would find love again in a woman named Von (Julia Roberts). This commences her elaborate plot to bring them together. The obviously convoluted string of romances and affairs dresses the plot, but it’s the musicality of the movie that embellishes it. While most other musical casts are drafted for their voice, Allen made no such consideration. These actors aren’t known for their voices at all, which makes for one of two things—painful or charmingly honest and real. You be the judge. MIGUEL ESCOBAR
Probably not your daddy’s High School Musical
screenplay of Out of Status. It is about a Filipina looking for her mother in the US who abandoned her when she was young. Circumstances regarding her citizenship force her to make decisions beyond her control. She becomes engaged to an American for convenience but really loves a Filipino nurse. Producer Will Fredo is working on this project with me, so production would begin soon.
ars von Trier hated Melancholia. The Danish director told the UK Telegraph, “This film is perilously close to the aesthetic of American mainstream films,” and if you know von Trier, that is the kiss of death. The film, nominated for a Palme d’Or and hailed by many
critics as Kirsten Dunst’s best performance to date, is not even in the same galaxy as mainstream cinema. Split into two parts, the film explores the bleak and contrasting worlds of sisters Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) as they grapple with the news of a planet called Melancholia fixed on a collision course towards Earth. Manic-depressive Justine embraces the idea of doomsday better than her own wedding day. Claire, on the other hand, is paralyzed with fear of the end of the world. With excellent performances from the whole cast (especially Charlotte Rampling and John Hurt as the parents of the sisters), Melancholia slowly takes the audience to the point of no return where one is forced to partake of von Trier’s fatalistic point-of-view on life’s finitude. VIVA GONZALEZ
A FILM THAT takes the audience to the point of no return
TICKET
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Based on the classic thriller by John le Carré, this film stars Gary Oldman as an intelligence expert brought out of retirement to uncover a Soviet spy who has infiltrated MI6.
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Immortals Director Tarsem Singh ignites the screen with this stylized reimagination of Greek myth and one of its most celebrated heroes, Theseus (Henry Cavill). Not your average sandals-and-swords flick.
The Descendants George Clooney stars in this film about a man trying to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife got involved in a boating accident and slipped into a coma.
Color Me Obsessed Gorman Bechard makes the first film about 1980s indie legends The Replacements. Bechard dares over 135 fans to share some potentially true stories about what he dubs as America’s last best band.
The MuppetS The Muppets join forces with Jason Segel and Amy Adams to raise ten million dollars and save the beloved Muppet Theater from being bulldozed to the ground.
/ink
BOOK REVIEWS
ONE SITTING
NO REGRETS
By Ace Frehley & Joe Layden
S
pice for some good literature. But as others decide to write about how they overcame the wilderness or prison, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley decided to write No Regrets, a memoir about how he survived an even more threatening experience: the life of a rockstar. Rock and roll may be a shortcut to an early, painful, and embarrassing demise—what with the gratuitous abuse of narcotics, alcohol, and women that the profession implies. So seeing as to how The Spaceman still lives after being part of rock’s greatest, he seems like a good authority. Peppered with cyberkabuki makeup, rocket-powered guitars, and suicide hoaxes, No Regrets documents Frehley’s life, starting with the moment he answered an ad for “a guitarist with flash and balls.” It continues throughout his evolution as a rockstar from that point, tackling addictions,
rea d ing group
PICTURE BOOK
By Joan Didion
By Amid Amidi
BLUE NIGHTS L
relationships, and even near brushes with death. This is bound to be a bible for KISS fans or anyone looking to embrace the life of rock and roll. MIGUEL ESCOBAR a bible for KISS fans or anyone looking to embrace the life of rock and roll
THE ART OF PIXAR
osing someone isn’t as pretty as it looks in the movies. It’s actually ugly and bleak. In her new book, Blue Nights, Joan Didion offers a gut-wrenchingly honest account of her tailspin life after the death of her only daughter, Quintana Roo. Think that’s depressing? Well, it gets worse. “Today would be her wedding anniversary,” Didion says in the opening pages. Remembrance snowballs down the slopes of Didion’s memory as she details her daughter’s childhood, paralleling it with her own life, revealing her reluctance to accept age and all that come with it. Didion speaks about searching for clues
of her failures as a mother, meditating through a repetitive and rhythmic prose reflecting the mess that has become of her life and how she’s trying to put it back together. With all the nervous breakdowns and family deaths, Blue Nights could have easily turned out to be a huge, bawling sob story. Didion avoids this by cutting through her personal misfortunes. She strips the emotions of horror and sorrow bare until you’re left with nothing but an honest and poignant depiction of what it’s like to move on from a tragedy. DON JAUCIAN
A GUT-WRENCHINGLY HONEST ACCOUNT OF A WOMAN’S TAILSPIN LIFE AFTER THE DEATH OF HER ONLY DAUGHTER
T
he book’s full title, The Art of Pixar: 25th Anniversary: The Complete Color Scripts and Select Art from 25 Years of Animation, can be quite a mouthful to say, but the dewyeyed euphoria that comes after the tongue twister is well worth the effort. Rendering the same sensation as watching Woody battle the evil Dr. Porkchop from Andy’s eyes for the first time, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find someone tearing up over the opening pages of Amid Amidi’s latest tribute to the famed animation studio. Containing 320 pages of color scripts and concept art, the book offers an all-embracing, behind-the-scenes tour of some of the most beloved movies in recent history, from timeless classics like Toy Story and A Bug’s Life to recent opuses like Toy Story 3 and Cars 2.
The Art of Pixar doesn’t just chronicle the rise of computer-generated images in film; it also depicts images from influential films that have shaped the childhood of an entire generation. Maybe we should send the Academy a copy. It might convince them to finally give the studio a Best Picture award. RITA FAIRE IMAGES FROM INFLUENTIAL FILMS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE CHILDHOOD OF AN ENTIRE GENERATION
FOOTNOTES Shout it out loud! PHILIPS FIDELIO SOUNDRING lets the whole world know your musical taste by blasting your tunes in all directions.
Get some sleep while checking in some serious mommy-and-me snuggle time in these hanging chairs by CONCEPT SUSPENDU.
All kids grow up, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your toys. Forget the three-wheel trike, and graduate to a fourwheel ELEMENT - APPLEYARD GLOBAL WARNING 7.87 deck. Now, that’s some grown-up fun.
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tech pack PLAYSTATION VITA
• Features a 5-inch OLED multitouch capacitive touchscreen and two analog sticks • Has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and optional 3G connectivity • Backwards compatible with all PlayStation portable games SRP: P10,540
ASUS PADFONE
• A 4.3-inch smartphone that fits into a 10.1-inch tablet • Seamless switch from one device to the other • Pre-installed with the new Android 3.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS and compatible with Adobe Flash player SRP: TBA
LEVEL UP
You don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to get a kick out of these gadgets.
NINTENDO WII U
• Controller features a builtin accelerometer, gyroscope, speakers, front-facing camera, sensor strip, microphone, and a 6.2-inch 16:9 resistive touchscreen • Powered by custom IBM Power Architecture • Equipped with internal flash memory, expandable via SD memory cards and USB hard disk drives SRP: TBA
ZUMREED DREAMS X2
VIEWSONIC V3D245 MONITOR
• Full HD at 1920x1080 screen ratio and 24-inch (23.6” VIS) wide with LED backlighting • Supports HDMI, Dual Link DVI, and VGA inputs • Features a built-in NVIDIA 3D Vision emitter that delivers support for HDMI 1.4a 3D devices SRP:
P25,440
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• 104db sensitive headphones • Transforms into amplified stereo speakers with the flip of a switch • Operates for 4 hours under a 1-hour charge time SRP: P6,810
face paint Stila Convertible Color, P845
NARS Eyeshadow in Daphne, P1,250
Clé de Peau Beauté concealer, P3,200
Chanel Nail Polish in Khaki Vert, P1,350
Diorshow Mascara, P1,950
Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion, P810
Shu Uemura Underbase, P2.000
The A-List
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, P620
These makeup artists’ favorites are no longer staying secret.
Benefit Dr. Feelgood, P1,235 Laura Mercier Eyebrow Duo, P995 Smashbox Color Perfecting Primer, P2,150
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, P449
Model photo by Stevyn Llewellyn
L’Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base, P550
Benefit Benetint, P1,235
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Shiseido Eyelash Curler, P1,300
about face Expert
Advice Always use light, circular motions when exfoliating, and make it a weekly habit.
POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE
Want sunshine in a jar? Pop it open, and wipe one of these FIRST AID BEAUTY FACIAL BRIGHTENING PADS all over your face and décolletage. It contains lemon peel and licorice root to keep your skin gleaming. P1,190
LIFE OF THE PARTY
FRUIT OF DIVINE
Here’s a fruity treat that’s good for your skin. The pomegranate extract in MURAD POMEGRANATE EXFOLIATING MASK fights free radicals and exfoliates, leaving your skin clear and smooth. P960
Enliven your skin with a bright morning scrub. ORIGINS NEVER A DULL MOMENT FACE POLISHER contains papaya, mango, and apricot ground seeds and fruit enzymes that get rid of dead skin cells without making your skin dry. P1,595
Illuminati How Miss Brightside keeps her skin glowing.
ALL OF THE LIGHTS
Model photo from Bobbi Brown & Tibi Makeup Collection
DROPS OF HEAVEN
Good things come in small packages. Just one capsule of LUMENE VITAMIN+ RADIANT C BEAUTY DROPS is enough to cover your face, leaving it feeling soft, citrusy, and clean. Did we mention it makes a great makeup primer, too? P810
beauty bite
Perk up your complexion with CANE + AUSTIN RETEXTURIZING TREATMENT PADS. Just a few wipes here and there, and you’re one step closer to toned and tightened skin. Getting radiant skin couldn’t be any easier. P2,555
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Turn back time and maintain your youthful glow with CLARINS BRIGHT PLUS HP INTENSIVE BRIGHTENING SMOOTHING SERUM. It targets aging concerns like dark spots and fine lines. P2,940
THE AVIARY
W
COMING UP ROSES
The wild rose oil in KORRES WILD ROSE 24-HOUR MOISTURIZING AND BRIGHTENING CREAM is a natural source of vitamin C that helps repair skin discoloration. P1,490
alls accented with sculptural tree branches and ‘70s print throw pillows on a cozy couch welcome you to THE AVIARY, an organic beauty collective. Located in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward, the salon believes in a holistic approach to beauty. Personally handcrafting their services and using local and organic ingredients, unlike most salon environments that use artificial fragrances and chemicals, they’re not just about making the customer look good. They also think of one’s overall well-being. Try their 100% non-ammoniated hair color system, which adds dimension and sheen to your mane. For the full Aviary experience, indulge in the Dr. Hauschka classic
treatment—a warm sage foot bath and gentle stretching for the neck, arms, and hands, then a lavender-infused compress followed by a facial with two nourishing and renewing mask treatments. Pick up some products from Rahua, a hair care line using a special oil found in the Amazon rainforest, and One Love Organics, a 100% waterless skin care line made right in Georgia, and bring their all-natural beauty philosophy into your everyday beauty routine. 659 Auburn Avenue, Studio 125, Atlanta, Georgia 30312 +1-404-577-2460 aviarybeauty.com
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X
They’re not part of the “it” group for nothing. It’s their effervescent sense of style that truly makes them the style stars that they are. Decked out in 7 For All Mankind’s Fall 2011 collection, these six individuals show us what it truly means to be a standout. Photographed by Kai Huang Styled by Mara Reyes Hair by Leslie Salalila and Ana Peña of Jing Monis Salon Makeup by Angelique Dinglasan of Shu Uemura
“When opportunities arise, I make sure that I’m well-dressed. I dress to impress.”
JUSTIN BORJA
“I enjoy blogging, dressing up, and anything that has to do with fashion.”
STUDENT
ALYSSA LAPID FASHION BLOGGER
Classic Plaid Shirt Standard Fit in Dark Cement P8,498
Electra Tank in Black P6,498
Punk Flynt Logo Tee in Dark Concrete P3,498
Slimmy Straight Leg in Saversky P9,998
Lexie Petite Bellbottom in California Coast P6,498
Like your most favorite style on 7 For All Mankind Philippines
“I love mixing pieces, especially corporate pieces with casual shorts and signature shoes.”
“I have the edge of creating my own clothes. I can translate my design into what I’m wearing.”
cheska nolasco
ziggy savella
INTERIOR CONSULTANT
FASHION DESIGNER
Henley in Grey Blue P5,998 Linen Soft Blazer in Soft Black P8,498
Double Placket Cardigan in Washed Black P8,998
Rhigby Skinny Jeans in Solidago P10,998
Gwenevere Flaps + Zi in Windsong P10,998
“I’m all about being versatile about my style. I’ve been doing a little bit of modeling here and I’m influenced by the people in the fashion industry —like designers and all those fashionistas.”
robbie becroft
“I’ve long stopped defining my personal style, mostly because I kept on switching from one look to another. This constant search for style is actually the one that shapes my style.”
dominique tiu FASHION BLOGGER
MODEL T-shirt in Black White P4,998
Superwide Rugby Bright Stripe Tank P4,998
Rhigby with Gost Squiggle in Venenzio P13,998
Roxanne Classic Skinny in Sunrise Serenade P9,998
Like your most favorite style on 7 For All Mankind Philippines
brick and mortar COUVERTURE AND THE GARBSTORE 188 Kensington Park Road, Portobello London W11 2ES, UK couvertureandthegarbstore.com Dime to drop: £4-£400 (P280-P28,000) Don’t leave without: an Andy Lifschutz titanium quartz ring
O
ne might think that the Portobello Market is the only place for great vintage finds in London, but strategically situated close to it is COUVERTURE AND THE GARBSTORE, a three-story concept store which houses not just vintage threads, but also toys, home accessories, and vintage items. The store’s first two floors house Couverture collections that include womenswear and accessories, children’s wear, and other home furnishings. Designers like Steven Alan and Rachel Comey comprise their selection of unique finds. Meanwhile, on the lower ground floor is Ian Paley’s menswear brand, Garbstore. They bring back post-World War II style with tailored trousers, jeans with ‘50s grip tape, as well as vintage sweaters and tees. Mixing “historically new” pieces with contemporary ones, they also house international labels like Rittenhouse, Post Overalls, and Bedwin & The Heartbreakers. With the variety of styles living under this one roof, you’re like stepping in another world only to leave with so much more—in this case, a vintage toy or a cute top.
VOO STORE, BERLIN Oranienstr. 24, 10999 49 30 616 511 19 Berlin, Germany vooberlin.com Dime to drop: 30EUR-900EUR Don’t leave without: a can of LOV organic Tee
B
erlin Kreuzberg may be known for its food and nightlife areas, but it is also considered home to VOO Store. This 300-square-meter space with its white walls, high ceiling, cement floor, and utilitarian vibe is located at the backyard of the popular Oranienstrass. This shop also makes use of its wide space as a venue for art exhibits and designer projects. With big brand names like Henrik Vibskov, Damir Doma, Wood Wood, and Stine Goya mixed with labels like Cheap Monday, Pendleton, Surface to Air, and more, it’s hard to leave this place without a good pair of jeans or, at least, a good sense of new designers and their latest collections. This store also boosts itself with its collection of vintage items and books for sale. With metal clothes racks lined to the sides, a wood hut in the corner, wooden tables in the center, and a neon sign that lets you know they are open for business, they welcome just about everyone.
TOTOKAELO
T
OTOKAELO isn’t just an online shopping hub. It also helps you meet your soon-to-be shopping buddy through their private online community. With their variety of women’s apparel and accessories from designer
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labels like Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Margiela, and Jil Sander, offering items like dresses, skinny jeans, jumpsuits, and booties. All you need is a friend to help through your choices. totokaelo.com
style id Youssef Aboutahir, design student, models a covetable Comme des Garcons cropped wide-leg trouser.
WIDE-LEG PHENOMENON
Revive the 70s’ Studio 54 Disco days by rocking a pair of uber sophisticated wide-leg bottoms that are perfect for that John Travolta Staying Alive dance number. By JP Singson
Fashion student Anne-Catherine Frey mixes her polka dot flared trousers from Zara with a fitted blazer.
jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com
Dilara Kuscu, blogger at thingsaboutfashion, jumps on the color blocking trend with these royal blue Zara pants.
Kerin Ching, preschool teacher/ model, pairs her oversized trousers with an oversized blouse.
Sonny Groo, editor-in-chief of MYKROMAG, goes all black from head to toe.
This Danish fashionista rocks a basic wide-leg trousers with a quirky striped tee.
Actress Malin Akerman was spotted in New York Fashion Week wearing high-waisted wide-leg pants paired with an emerald silk top and a leopard clutch.
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go see Great style is nothing if not brought out to the city and under the sun. These folks know it. You should, too. Photographed by JP Singson, Charmaine Ng, and Nikki Ruiz
Bowtie
Ankle Strap Heels
Aztec Print Shirt
Combat Boots
Chunky Sweater Color Blocking White Shoulder Cutout Dress
Gray Jeans
Cuffed Jeans Fringe Bag
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Leopard Print Top
Leather Jacket Head-to-Toe Blue
Red Trousers
Denim Jumper Patterned Coat
Printed Jumpsuit
Wide-Leg Trousers Silver Cuff
Twill Shorts Vintage Silk Shirt
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“Vasquez“ Shirt by Publish (P2,990) “Hooligan“ Hat by Brixton (P2,040)
Art Direction by Rosario Herrera | Photography by Sonny Thakur Styling by Pau Martinez | Modelled by Kirk Long
SKY HIGH
“Pierre“ Shirt by Publish (P2,990) “Caster“ Hat by Brixton (P2,400)
“Movement“ Tee by Publish (P1,300) “Hooligan“ Hat by Brixton (P2,040)
“Vasquez“ Shirt by Publish (P2,990) “Caster“ Hat by Brixton (P2,400)
top by R/H earrings by Laruicci shorts by Rad by Rad Hourani bracelets by AND_i
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At the top floor, overlooking the skyline, she likes to play in denim cutoffs, metallic dresses, textured coats mixed with statement jewelry and that oh-so-lovely hair. Don’t enter this level unless invited. Photography & Makeup: Pino Gomes Stylist: Renessta Olds Assistant Stylist: Darnise Osborne Model: Brie Harding of Major Model Management Special Thanks to Gary Bertalovitz of Major Model Management
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jacket by Eley Kishimoto necklace by Laruicci
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leotard by M by Irina Marinescu shorts by Jose Duran earrings by Crux necklace by Laruicci shoes by Pour La Victoire
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coat by Domini Clous
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dress by Taryvdas
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ALLEY CAT This is where you and I meet; this is where we collide. In my leather top, sheer skirt, structured blazer, and chain necklaces, I see you seeing me. Photography: Lucy Eleanor Brown Makeup & hair: Jihye Sim Styling: Alexandra Saushkina Model: Bethany of Profile Model Management
necklace by Topman blazer by Topshop skirt by Topshop
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dress by Tarang Bharti
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shorts by H&M necklace: stylist’s own blazer by Topshop top by Topshop
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top by Miss Selfridge skirt by H&M stockings by Oroblu body necklace by Topshop
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from left to right: Topman [P2,375], Urban Outfitters [P900], Fred Perry [P7,898]
PRINTED LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS
ANOTHER CHOICE Not your usual plain long sleeves.
Folded & Hung [P1,199]
Fred Perry [P11,398]
21 Men [P1,175]
Fred Perry [P12,798]
Carbon [P2,698]
Penshoppe [P1,199]
Folded & Hung [P1,199]
Fred Perry [P12,298]
L ERVEL 11 K C I R PAT I N T E R 2 0 FA L L / W
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CITY TEES/ b ead b racelets
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY Whether at the Upper East Side or at the left Bank, these tees got you covered.
Folded & Hung [P499]
Topman [P1,745]
Folded & Hung [P499]
Stussy [P1,398]
Maine [P1,550]
Topman [P1,295]
BUDDHA’S DELIGHT Wear your happy pill on your wrist. Oxygen [P69]
21 Men [P219]
21 Men [P219]
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SNEAKERS
SOLE SEARCHING Get enlightened with these kicks.
New Balance [P4,085]
Radii Corporate [P4,695]
Radii Hampton [P4,695]
Vans Authentic [P2,998]
Sebago Beacon [P5,399.75]
DC [P3,290]
Skechers [P4,395]
Sperry Chukka High cut [4,495]
0 11 N E W YO R K 2
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SNEAKERS
Vans Half Cab [P4,998]
Sperry Bahama [P4,635]
Adidas Elation [P3,995]
BoxFresh [P4,790]
New Balance [P2,995]
Vans Chukka Boat [P5,498]
Clae Romare [P5,980]
Vans Chukka Boot [P5,498]
Sperry Alo [P3,850]
Skechers [P4,200]
Generic Surplus Wingtip Opal [P4,300]
New Balance [P2,895]
Creative Recreation [P3,995]
Skechers [P2,695]
Pony [P3,395]
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sleeveless b utton E D T O P S / long earrings
Red Herring [P2,550]
TOP GUN
Flash those toned arms in sleeveless button-downs. Dorothy Perkins [P2,245]
Forever 21 [P815]
Promod [P2,495]
Red Herring [P2,550]
Topman [P1,595]
DANGLING BEAUTY
Accessorize Oh yeah, bling on your ears. [P750]
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Accessorize [P550] Accessorize [P600]
Promod [P995] Forever 21 [P305]
Forever 21 [P205]
PA L A Z Z 0 PA N T S
TO THE FLOOR
You wear the wide-leg pants on this one.
Red Herring [P3,150]
Promod [P2,695]
Runway Photo by Fernando Colon
ANNA SUI FA L L 2 0 1 1
Forever 21 [P1,275]
Dorothy Perkins [P2,795] Dorothy Perkins [P2,795]
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leather j ackets
THICK-SKINNED Say bye to little Ms. Bashful in fashion’s skin of choice.
Promod [P3,495]
Mango [P8,450]
Dorothy Perkins [P3,845]
Topshop [P4,145]
Forever 21 [P1,095]
N E W YO R K
Sinéquanone [P28,450]
Penshoppe [P2,599]
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envelope b ags
YOU’VE GOT MAIL The best packages don’t always come wrapped in brown paper.
Oxygen [P1,899]
H! by Henry Holland [P2,150]
Accessorize [P1,900]
S M A R C JAC O B 2 0 11 FA L L /W IN T E R
Accessorize [P2,400]
Carbon [P3,398]
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M U S E
Achtung, Baby
SONJA WOHLMUTH, the winner of this year’s German Elle modeling contest, just got back from Paris, where she worked with designer Emanuel Ungaro. Making her international debut this September at the Milan runways, it’s only a matter of time till we see this 5’11” stunner in the New York and Paris runways, too. By Viva Gonzalez Photos courtesy of DE Model Management
U
p-and-coming model Sonja Wohlmuth has already walked for renowned fashion houses such as Escada and Hugo Boss. Only having a few days to prepare for her first professional runway walk for the recent Berlin Fashion Week didn’t faze her. Sonja says, “I used every single free minute to practice walking.” Despite being quite new to the business, she’s learned a lot: “one needs discipline... and [one needs] to keep an inner balance even when it gets hectic at a photoshoot or specially at the shows.”
TAKING CHANCES
“My colleague at work saw an announcement inside German Elle. She knew that I had done some small modeling jobs, so she gave me the announcement and told me to send an application, which I did, but without any high expectations.
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Therefore, you can imagine what an amazing feeling it was that I actually won the contest. I could hardly believe it, but at the same time, I was very curious to see what the future held in store for me.”
ANIMAL KINGDOM
“Actually, it was always my dream to become a model. I think this is a big wish of a lot of girls. Had I not [been] given this chance to model, I would see myself in a creative job or something where I could work with animals—I love them!”
ON THE MARC
“…I do get a bit weak when I see clothes from Marc Jacobs. It is one of my dreams to work with him one day.”
model-management.de
MIRACLE
M A E S T R O
WORKERS
Why don’t we bunch up a Rolling Stones frontman, a soul singer, a Eurythmics founder, a reggae superstar, and an Academy Award-winning Indian composer in a band and call it SUPERHEAVY? That sounds like a good idea. But does it sound good, too? By Reena Mesias Photos courtesy of MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines)
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ave Stewart (guitar), Mick Jagger (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Joss Stone (vocals), Damian Marley (vocals), and A.R. Rahman (vocals, keyboards) couldn’t have chosen a better name for their cooperative project. SuperHeavy reminds me of superheroes with their own powers and peculiarities, teaming up to save the world or, in SuperHeavy’s case, to “capture some…rocking, dancing, fusion of music that could fit anywhere, from radio stations to arenas to my pocket,” says Dave, shortly adding, “I don’t know how the hell they’re gonna program something like this.” We don’t know either. But leave it up to Dave to work that
out ‘coz, after all, it was his idea. He says, “What happens in Jamaica…as the sun goes down, various sound systems start.” Halfway up a hill, Dave heard sounds of a bass and “toasting” converging together from his home in St. Anne. “I don’t think it was anything to do with any herb or anything like that; it just all started to fuse together and make sense…and I was like, ‘Wow, that would be interesting.’” Light bulbs went on and he called Mick. The two started recruiting an all-star cast: Bob Marley’s youngest son, Damian Marley; Joss Stone, whom the two have already collaborated with on the 2004 Alfie soundtrack; and A.R. Rahman, who was fresh from his Slumdog Millionaire Oscar glory. How’s that for a rock-solid profile? That’s not just a lot of talent, but it’s a good, eclectic mix—one that didn’t only get respective fans puzzled, but curious, too. Their self-titled album, released late September, would make the list of the top 10 most
complicated records ever made. They blend their own genres— from reggae to ballad, world to rock—to create a super, heavy, major earworm potential. Come on. Where else can you listen to Mick Jagger singing in Urdu? “We’ve made this crazy music that doesn’t sound like anything at all,” says Joss. “It just is its own thing, and I like that.” Coming along with years of experience under their belts and the kind of perseverance that’s seen it through time and tide, you’d suppose the recording process was plain sailing. It was hard to get the five together in one place; some songs were recorded in LA, a few in the South of France, some off the coast of Cyprus, in Turkey, in Miami, blah blah, the record practically did its own world tour. But considering the fact that these guys who come from disparate backgrounds have victoriously made 22 songs in their first 6 days of recording (and pretty much everything sounds hit-worthy) proves they have just the right songwriting
balance and chemistry. Mick says, “Fortunately, we just evolved this way of working very quickly, getting the grooves going, people coming up with lyric ideas and melodies and everyone threw things together… And then, you know, Damian would be looking in…and I can see his brain turning, and he’s coming up with his toasting fix in the middle, and so it was very exciting doing it like that, and I was very surprised that we managed it.” Displaying a noticeably looser, freewheelin’ crossgenre style indicating another shift in this constant music evolution, it would be hard to tell which tent you’d go into to watch SuperHeavy perform live. Dave says, “We’ll probably end up playing on the ‘unclassified gig’ section.” Even just buying the album, you’d ponder about the genre SuperHeavy falls under—unless maybe iTunes comes up with one called ‘legendary.’
superheavy.com
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maestro
Carole King may be a legend, having been writing songs since the 1960s and winning Grammy awards, but this is the first time she’s releasing the aptly-named holiday record, A Holiday Carole. Her daughter, Louise Goffin, co-wrote some original songs and produced the entire album featuring vocals from her own son, too.
THE DREAM TEAM Brooklyn-based quintet TWIN SISTER thinks that their brand of indie pop makes for fitting background music when you’re sobbing on your bedroom floor, gazing longingly unto photos of a beloved, or just sprawled out on the couch with a bong and some friends. We’ll take this recommendation into consideration. By Miguel Escobar Photographed by Shawn Brackbill
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t may well have been serendipitous that Andrea Estella, Udbhav Gupta, Gabe D’Amico, Eric Cardona, and Bryan Ujueta came together to play vocalist, keyboardist, bassist, guitarist, and drummer respectively for Twin Sister. Or perhaps it was inevitable for them to find each other in Brooklyn’s crowded, mix-andmatch music scene. Whatever confluence met them, something must have gone right. They’re now fresh off their debut album, In Heaven, and already earning praise titles—a spot in Stereogum’s Best New Bands of 2010, as well as Pitchfork’s Best New Artists in 2010, and Best Hope for 2011. But what is it that qualifies their music? “Dream” is a key term in trying to capture what Twin Sister sounds like. Take a listen to any of their two EPs, Vampires with Dreaming Kids and Color Your Life, and the soft, ambient quality of every song will explain the unsparing use of “dreams” to describe them. The very subdued, feminine vocals of Estella run across the smooth, reverberating soundscape of ethereal melodies—light, mellow, and hypnotic. Dreamy. “Dreaming has worked its way into our music,” says Andrea. “Most lyrics I have written have been from daydreaming about made-up stories and characters.” Aside from their lofty lyricism, the band’s name is also a work of her fiction. “I’ve been drawing and painting twin sisters for years… I had made Eric a blanket, some years back, with a huge painting on one side of twins riding a giant goldfish’s back. [He] included them into one of his old acoustic songs. When the band formed, he brought
up the name ‘Twin Sister’ from his old lyrics, and we all agreed that would be our new band name.” At this point, it seems as if “dreams” can typecast the band into a single label. But as Gupta is keen to remind us, Twin Sister isn’t so simply confined. When asked if their genre qualifies as indie, pop, dream pop, disco, chillwave, or anything in between, he replies, “I can see how [those] could be applied to our band, depending on the song. The only thing I’m sure of is that we make pop music… Beyond that, we try to make each song its own world with a distinct identity.” And indeed, their second EP packages good variety: like the very eighties-disco “All Around and Away We Go” with the purely ambient “Galaxy Plateau.” While playing within the same prominence of vocal melodies, instrumentation, and general sound, Twin Sister manages to stretch its musical appendages freely and play a lot of different kinds of music. The band’s next steps are still loosely planned. “I want us to get better at being creative with many things while traveling. I want to push myself with my painting and drawing as well.” says Estella. But like any true, self-respecting artist, Twin Sister plans to keep it real. “I’d like to get a little bigger if only so that all of us could make a decent living playing music,” Gupta admits. “Beyond that, none of us are really in this for fame or glory. There isn’t too much of that around these days anyway.” Regardless of where they’re going with their music, rest affirmed that they’ll be playing the kind of music that makes for a good night’s sleep.
twinsistermusic.com
The Beach Boys fandom, you may continue. Brian Wilson’s Smile finally sees an official release—and in a grand manner. While fans can cop this 2-CD set (with 40 tracks), the obsessives can pick up The Smile Sessions which also includes a double vinyl LP, a 60-page booklet, a box set with 4 CDs, and more.
Los Campesinos! returns with their fourth album, Hello Sadness, with songs that envision death at the hand of a lover (“By Your Hand”), and about confusion of emotions (“Light Leaves, Dark Sees Pt. II”).
While busy with his nationwide US tour, masterful lyricist Wale also drops Ambition, the first in Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, this month. Featuring other artists like J. Cole, Kid CuDi, and, of course, Rozay, the songs in this album have a universal message: “We gotta get on our own shit,” Wale tells Hiphopdx.
maestro
SACRED HEART ZOLA JESUS will have you know that she would never tell a lie—at least when it comes to her songs. The opera-trained 21-year-old from Wisconsin is back with a new album, Conatus— and, pray tell, she would tell it like it is, track after track. By Karen Bolilia Photographed by Angel Ceballos
“I insisted on pushing myself into territories that were uncomfortable or unnatural to me.”
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f you’ve paid any attention, it would be clear that every lyric Zola Jesus, or Nika Roza Danilova, sings is secured in such inordinate intensity, it’d make you wish she sang something else other than the truth. “The songwriting process was very trying,” Nina says. “I was so hard on myself for [Conatus] because I wanted it to be different. So every time I wrote a song, I pretty much destroyed it because I thought it wasn’t different enough…I threw away a lot of good songs!” Nika’s appetite for honesty (and tracktossing) might have started rearing when she voluntarily signed up for opera training at eight, and she hasn’t stopped facing her musical demons since. “[Conatus] was a hugely enduring action for me because I wanted to explore new ways to write and record music,” she adds. Working on acoustic instruments for the first time, she has obviously taken her opera background to the backseat. She admits that her previous training only operates at her subconscious level; composition-wise, it
functions through her aesthetic consciousness and, on perhaps a more crucial, off-tangent factor: an undying devotion for winter. “I took a lot of inspiration from films and photographs, even books that represented winter, snow, ice,” she says. “A lot of my beats on Conatus tried to mimic the feeling of walking in a frozen tundra with the crunching snow under your feet, or witnessing an avalanche.” It’s statements like these that make you wonder why Nina has resolved to pack up from Wisconsin, stay put in Los Angeles, and allow her platinum blonde hair to take all of California’s heat (and then some) when winter supposedly “feeds her.” The answer, in keeping with her streak of sincerity, is best explained in Conatus—the etymology of it, specifically. “‘Conatus’ is the act of progressing forward. It’s an action,” Nina says. “I wanted it to feel intricate but also stripped down and minimal, not as dense as my previous work.” She adds, “If anything, Conatus wears these ideals more vividly than anything else I’ve ever done.” Her gut-wrenching lyrics, punctuated with the thunderous tremor of her voice and
culminating into ghostly power, has made Nina a darling of the critics and the paramour of many a hipster who flock festivals like Pitchfork. Conatus, more than anything else, is Zola Jesus’ raging purgatory—and the time has come for its audio descent. “I insisted on pushing myself into territories that were uncomfortable or unnatural to me.” Nina adds, “[Creating it] was extremely cathartic because every day felt like a little war with myself, attempting to destroy what is intrinsic in me in favor of something different, unnatural, in order to push what I’m capable of creating. This feels like the rawest material I’ve ever made.” Some may brand her music as goth, and although Nika’s used to it, she doesn’t feel defined by it. “My music will always have darker elements because I don’t believe in contributing to the carefree, denialistic consumerist ear noise,” she says. Despite her songs’ shadowy disposition, the Biblical reference, for all of its intentional and intriguing purposes, has served its most appropriate one when it comes to Zola Jesus’ music: in the darkness, let there be light.
zolajesus.com
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MAD CITY BOY
Rapper KENDRICK LAMAR may not be your favorite (yet), but he’s one who speaks the truth about our generation, the struggles we go through, and the realities of growing up. No fancy cars, no expensive jewelry, nor sexy video vixens to convince you that this is hip-hop— just a whole lot of bars that actually make sense. By Loris Peña Photographed by Drew from The Come Up Show
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t was unpredictable. You have the good times. You have the worst of the worst. A lot of violence…poor schools operating. I think what gave me the balance was that I had parents in my life,” Kendrick recalls his childhood. For someone who grew up in the city of Compton, California where gang violence was an everyday thing, this 24-year-old found himself in a different path. “I started rapping when I was 13. I started penning my own rhymes. I felt like I wanted to do this for a living when I felt like I was actually doing better at it. It wasn’t something like a fad or a phase that I was going through… I felt like I loved it…and it became so much of a passion for me. That’s when I was 16.” Currently enjoying independent and underground success with his mixtape, Section.80, which reached number 1 on iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap album
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charts last July, Kendrick also got co-signs from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, and more. He says, “I felt like nobody was making music for our generation. Our favorite rappers—or the rappers we looked up to—[are] on a whole [different] plateau now. They can’t relate to an average 18-year-old who’s coming out of high school and trying to figure out and going through the fields and the negative of the world. I felt like I needed to do just that.” He continues by saying, “I can relate to that because I was there a few years ago… It reminds me of high school because you get to slop, and then you don’t know what the fuck you’re trying to do. You wanna smoke, you wanna drink, you wanna party—you’re going to do all these things ‘til you figure the shit out.” And, like the rest of us, Kendrick had his fair share of run-ins with the bad. Abstaining from smoking weed and claiming that music is his new drug, he reflects this in lines from “F*ck Your Ethnicity”(“This the music that saved my life / Y’all be calling it Hip-Hop, I be calling it Hypnotize”). He explains, “That’s my favorite
“This [album] is going to be in-depth of who Kendrick Lamar is. [There are] a lot of questions about my life, and I hold a lot of answers back ‘coz I want to save it for this moment.”
line… For you, for the listener, for whoever who don’t understand what I’m saying, it’s something that I can meditate to.” Working on a new album today, Kendrick says, “This is going to be in-depth of who Kendrick Lamar is. [There are] a lot of questions about my life, and I hold a lot of answers back ‘coz I want to save it for this moment. Now, people will really understand what it’s like for me, growing up in the city, the usual gang bang, and as a kid trying to escape the influence— and I felt like that’s never been touched.” As a young rapper battling with other come-up artists, Kendrick Lamar doesn’t need a major label to back him up nor does he need a lot of fluffy intro to get your attention. He raps what he knows, and he’s going to stand by that. With his unique voice and a passion for the game like we’ve never seen before, he says, “I’m Kendrick Lamar. Good kid from the mad city. Mad City is Compton. Kendrick Lamar is a good kid. That’s what I represent. That’s what I put in my music.”
twitter.com/kendrick_lamar
maestro
The punk girls of GIRL IN A COMA don’t want to worry about sounding like the legends they open for. They just want to play music and hope that it works. By Rita Faire Photographed by Josh Huskin Metallica collaborates with The Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed for a joint LP inspired by German expressionist playwright Frank Wedekind, ergo the name, Lulu. It includes 10 songs mixed by Greg Fidelman and co-produced by Hal Willner.
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think the most important thing about rock and roll is to not forget its past,” says Phanie Diaz, the drummer for punk rock band Girl in a Coma. “If rock and roll wants to stay alive and kicking, then people need to see music as a whole, not just what is happening [right now].” Calling themselves a blend of rockabilly, punk oldies, and everything in between, Phanie, her sister Nina (lead guitar and vocals), and best friend Jenn Alva (bass) admit that their grandmothers would just
sum up their sound as “loud.” But, if anything, granny should be proud. Opening for musical legends such as Morrissey, The Pogues, and Frank Black, Girl in a Coma’s brand of loud is nothing but good. Despite all the praise from music bigwigs (they’re not part of Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records for nothing), the girls aren’t stressed out divas above having a little stupid fun.
“Jenn and I once punched each other in an Auto Zone parking lot outside of Alex’s bar in Long Beach,” Phanie says. “We also stayed at an expensive hotel with a crazy person. We had to leave, though, because she was stealing everything she could from the hotel, and we didn’t want to get pinned with it.”
girlinacoma.com
SCRATCH THE SURFACE With five DMC championships to his name, Miamibased DJ and producer DJ CRAZE keeps it spinning with international gigs and his very own record label brewing. By Miguel Escobar Photographed by Nick St. James
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young Aristh Delgado once told his mom that he was going to be the best DJ in the world. He took the name “Craze,” slaved over his turntables, and went on to score at least 15 of the late nineties’ biggest DJ championships, including an unmatched three-year reign as World DMC Champion. Eventually, TIME Magazine named him America’s Best DJ in 2001. “It was such a great feeling to, as corny as it sounds, show my
mom that I didn’t have to go to school [for it] …I could have my own dream and fulfill it,” Craze raves. As the DJ for Kanye West’s Glow in The Dark Tour in 2008 and a member of The Allies, Craze has mixed with the finest. “When you’re around people [who] are creative and are into the same kind of thing you’re into, they inspire you,” he says, mentioning his ’98 routine as a game-changer inspired by crew
members A-Trak and Develop. This adaptability explains his ability to play across genres: hip-hop, house, drum and bass, dubstep, and almost anything that involves turntables. Listing determination, hunger, a great attitude, and confidence as must-haves for anyone looking to make it big, he says, “If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s not gonna happen.” Busy flying around the world for gigs and heading his own Slow Roast Records, he laughs, “I think I [have] made it a little bit… [There’s] no working at McDonald’s for me.”
Based from the singles “What the Water Gave Me” and “Shake It Out,” Florence + the Machine’s hotly anticipated sophomore album, Ceremonials, will undoubtedly be monstrous. That’s in terms of heavier bass and drums, and themes built around “love, death, violence, and guilt,” says singer Florence Welch.
One just ain’t enough for Cass MCCombs who’s releasing his second album this 2011. Called Humor Risk, this LP is a happier record (listen to songs reminiscent of sunny, Beach Boys melodies) compared to the sad but critically praised Wit’s End.
It’s all about positive hip-hop in Common’s Warner Bros. Records debut, The Dreamer, The Believer, produced by No I.D. Not worrying about how many records he’s gonna sell and only enjoying the music , Common tries to relay the thoughts of veteran rappers like KRS-One and Rakim who, he admits, shaped who he is.
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M A S T E R M I N D
“I started this all on a whim when I was in college with no plan, no expectations, and no idea that it would take on a mind of its own.”
THE ROADIE
JAC VANEK fell in love with music at 15 when she watched her first concert, and she turned this love affair into her namesake fashion brand. As she wraps ups her fourth year of hitting the road with the Vans Warped Tour, this 24-year old entrepreneur/designer/music industry insider proves the old saying, age ain’t nothing but a number. By Viva Gonzalez Photographed by Claire Oring
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am continually powered by literature, film, music, television, art, and many other incredible aspects of culture,” says Jac Vanek. Getting her start in the music industry ahead of all her peers, she started making bold statement bracelets which were first seen on the wrists of Emma Roberts, Lindsay Lohan, and Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta. Since then, Jac has received endless press and has gotten US-wide distribution—and that’s not even counting her incredibly solid online following. Eventually branching out into tees and vintage-inspired garb, Jac regularly goes on tour with
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the bands and does collection collaborations with them. Taking on the title “scene queen” of the music world, with a little hesitation, she says, “Even though it is such a silly term, there is an underlying flattery to know that I have been quite an influential voice in a musical movement that was near and dear to my heart.” Tell us more about the first steps you took in the music industry. After going to my first concert, I knew at that instant that this world was where my heart belonged. At the same time, I developed a passion for photography, so it was only natural for me to start bringing my camera to shows. I did a ton of live band photography as well as promotional material and album art, all before I graduated from high school… I also took up internships at a
few record labels and at KROQ, the Los Angeles rock radio station. It wasn’t until I started my design program in college that I became interested in graphic design, with a strong focus in typography. And I guess the rest is history! Is streetwear an appropriate way to describe your design work right now? How would you describe it? I would describe my designs as young, contemporary, vintageinspired, custom ready-to-wear. That’s a mouthful, huh? A lot of your other designs have become so popular. They’ve gone international and are now outfit staples to a lot of people. How does it feel to be so successful at such a young age? It’s unreal, really. I started this all on a whim when I was in college with no plan, no expectations, and no idea that it would take on a mind of its own. Right now, I’m just riding a crazy wave, trying to keep up with the demand while
making sure to stay on top of everything pop culture. Though I do have such a crazy and unconventional lifestyle that I absolutely adore, owning your business is insanely stressful and worrisome. But, like Steve Guttenburg said in Party Down, “No risk, no reward.” What band—dead, alive, disbanded, reformed—would you spare no expense to see live? The Beatles (duh, no brainer), Nirvana, and Joy Division. If you could collaborate with anyone for your apparel and accessories, who would that be? A Mumford & Sons collab would be pretty epic in my mind. I’m in the process of working with more indie bands. As I’ve gotten older, my music taste has reformed and matured, so I’m trying to work with more bands that I truly feel passionate about today.
jacvanek.com
GOT NO STRINGS
mastermind
The Muppets director JAMES BOBIN admits he has no clue where the humor in his films comes from. All his life, he’s tried to make unflinching dramas, yet the world still finds a reason to laugh at them. Let’s hope it keeps on coming. By Diego José Abad Photographed by Jay Goldman
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veryone grows up watching a TV show. Today’s kids will most probably grow up saying Dora the Explorer was their biggest childhood influence. Those who were kids ten years ago—and I almost feel sorry for them—have Barney and Friends and the Teletubbies. Backtrack ten more years, and kids from that age will say Lamb Chop’s Play-Along or Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. All these shows (except maybe the purple dinosaur and the colorful aliens) have this little something that a lot of people seem to already have forgotten—this little thing called “Muppety-ness.” Thankfully, we have been graced by the presence of the man responsible for bringing back the most influential puppet TV show in the world—The Muppets. Critically acclaimed director, producer, and creator James Bobin gave us a minute of his time to tell us a bit about drama, British TV shows, a few Muppet secrets, and to remind us all of what being Muppety is all about. Good day, James! Are you feeling Muppety today? I’ve been working on the movie for long enough that I don’t really remember what it’s like to wake up not feeling Muppety. Fortunately, it’s a good feeling to wake up to. I obviously have my own idea of what Muppety is, but for those that don’t get it, can you tell them what it means? There’s definitely an element of warmth and comfort to it, but it’s chaotic and absurd at the same time. Throw in a respect for tradition, a nod to the history of entertainment—(music hall theatre, Vaudeville, silent films, Busby Berkeley, et al.)— a dash of nobility and humanity,
and you’re getting close. But, fundamentally, there are some things that just are, and some things that just aren’t. I look on it the same way Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer do, that in the world, some things belong under the “funny” column and some in the “not funny” column. When The Muppet Movie came out in ’79, it became the first movie to feature puppets interacting with humans; can you tell us what it was like recreating that? The first movie also took them out into the real world rather than the Muppet Theater, and that was something I was very keen to do again. Hence, we used a lot of real locations—which, of course, given the limitations of shooting with puppets, can be really challenging. But I always felt it was worth it as their existence in the real world is one of the great joys of that movie—and whenever we were filming and I’d see background actors just walk by them—it added such a sense of reality. No one reacts to them. They just accept them, and that, for me, is part of the magic. In terms of challenges, on the one hand, you’re handed some of the most beloved characters of the 20th century, and that’s a great gift to be given. Who was the most difficult Muppet to work with? Obviously, there’s one porcine performer who required a great deal of pig whispering, but as demanding as she is, she’s nothing compared to the Swedish Chef. His criticism of the craft service table on set was harsh and, frankly, unfair. What’s next in line for you? More hard-hitting drama. Filmwise, I’m writing something I’ve always wanted to do, which is a historical comedy, and I’m also starting a production company called The Honourable Company of Gentlemen Filmmakers, and we’ve got a development deal at HBO to try some new stuff out on.
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mastermind
MACHINE
Visual artist OLIVER CARTWRIGHT lives a modest life. He neither owns a car nor a mobile phone. So you can throw him in a forest somewhere in North America, and he’d totally be fine with it. Just make sure you give him a computer to go with his ballpoint pens. By Zoe Laurente Artwork courtesy of Oliver Cartwright
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s Oliver Cartwright views works by other artists, he finds himself more interested in the ideas and sketches rather than the final artwork. He incorporates this into his hybrid of geometric, linear, and splash patterns that blend into one object by making it feel like a collection of ideas that aren’t fully executed, and leaving it open to different interpretations. “I prefer to create art that makes the audience think; otherwise, it’s boring for me,” he says. Cartwright has certainly gone a long way from his days in Cambridge. He’s lived in Tokyo, met the girl of his dreams, got married, and moved to Korea. He never tires of going
on adventures and constantly rediscovering himself. “Having the chance to embrace something new on a daily basis is a great way to live, and is certainly inspiring.” And with each day, he pushes his work forward, taking shape in LA exhibits, commercial projects that include film and hand-drawn illustrations, and an extension of his personal project, My Machine. “I want to look back on my work feeling that I followed my instinct.” Fast forward a few years, and it’s guaranteed his gut didn’t let him down.
olivercartwright.com
“I prefer to create art that makes the audience think, otherwise, it’s boring for me.”
born TO BE
styled
For stylist RYUJI SHIOMITSU, the dichotomy between menswear and womenswear doesn’t exist. He admits that, if he had his way, men would be wearing as much skirts as women wear jeans. Even the fashion world needs a little equality. By Rita Faire Photographed by Louis Pariñas
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lack shirt, flannel jacket, denim jean,s and biker boots. No, that’s not just another 1990s poster child. It’s the default outfit of stylist Ryuji Shiomitsu. But far be it from Ryuji to pigeonhole himself to a labeled style. “[If anything], my style is a little bipolar/ tripolar,” he says. “I’ve been wearing a lot of color since I fell deeply in love with K-pop.” So how does an International Studies major end up one of the up-and-coming stylists this side of Asia? Well, let’s just say it was his version of The Biggest Loser. “I could remember loving fashion [from the beginning],” says Ryuji. “But the only problem was that, when I was younger, I was seriously
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overweight and I didn’t have the options I wanted when dressing up [because of it]. When I did lose the weight, I decided I just had to have everything nice.” Nowadays, Ryuji does less dieting and more hustling. With fashion spreads in publications like Illustrado and Surface Asia, even a shoot featured in The Fashionisto, Ryuji has summed his secret to success in a simple formula: “Fashion is just 90% preparation, 9% presentation, and 1% party.”
ryujishiomitsu.com
mastermind
NEW DIRECTIONS
“life is what you make it, and all the worry is in your head, not in real life...or, you get slushied. I say, bring it on.”
Glee may have said goodbyes to some of its lead characters, but that just meant a new crop of talent to hit McKinley High. One of them is American Dreams and HawthoRNe actress VANESSA LENGIES, here to introduce herself to the class. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Kate Szatmari
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anessa Lengies becomes a Gleek, having snagged the role of Sugar Motta, the mean girl, for Glee’s third season. Ironically, two of Vanessa’s pet peeves are “bullies and being treated differently.” She says, “I think bullies need love, and the bullied need to know they are not alone.” Definitely not just a pretty face, Vanessa was also part of the Environmental Media Associations Awards in 2009 and Red Tie Affair in 2010. Recently, she just worked on a pitch for Oprah at OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network). “We hope to help people who struggle with things like depression, eating disorders, and other conditions that make people sad.” You may not see that side of Vanessa on Glee, but that doesn’t mean you can’t read about it, right? How has it been coming into such a tight-knit cast on such a huge show like Glee? Are you ready to get slushied? It’s kinda like your first day at a new school. Your tummy feels a little weird, you hope your mouth will work
properly and produce complete sentences that make sense and come out in English, and then when the moment comes to walk down those halls and sit in those classrooms (and in my case, meet the cast and act on their turf), you breathe deep and realize: life is what you make it, and all the worry is in your head, not in real life…or, you get slushied. I say, bring it on. Your role as Sugar Motta was described as someone who “can’t carry a tune to save her life.” In the real world, do you sing and/or dance? I can remember singing “Blue Suede Shoes” for my parents when they would drive me to preschool. Then, I can remember getting laryngitis at seven and being convinced I sounded exactly like Whitney Houston, and I forced my mom to record me because I thought people would be blown away—they weren’t. Then, I can remember singing every single Disney song that came out between 1990 and 1995 obsessively. Methinks I had patient parents. Meanest thing you’ve ever done? Kicked rocks at passing cars while waiting for the bus in first grade. Stupid.
You know how high school has those stereotypes: jocks, nerds, hipsters, etc. Where did you belong? I belonged in outer space. I had the attention span of a gnat and no awareness for style or trends. I played video games. I played sports. I played the clarinet in our school band. I was on the student council. I was the editor of my yearbook, all while tapping my head and rubbing my belly, asking my alien parents to show themselves and beam me up already. When was the last time you felt out of place? I always feel out of place on the red carpet. Any geeky stuff you’re into? Civilization. Portal (The Orange Box and Portal 2). And, um, I guess just more video games. I don’t really see them as geeky anymore, though, now that I am an adult and I can do whatever I want that makes me happy.
twitter.com/littlelengies
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AJ Jamani and Christian Rice of HANDSOME CLOTHING have been getting noticed because of their thoughtful T-shirt designs and tightly curated blog. On point with the latest and the best in music, design, and fashion, these Toronto-based creatives redefine the meaning of handsome. By Viva Gonzalez Photographed by Nunu and Kate Edmonson
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ore than just twentysomethings who make dope graphic design tees, AJ Jamani and Christian Rice know where they want to take Handsome Clothing. Their high-concept collections come with mixtapes, and each track is personally handpicked by the duo, providing a story behind their designs. “Music and fashion have been intertwined since the inception of Handsome,” AJ says. “We constantly had different music playing in our space; inevitably finding its way into the work we were producing… In the end, we think it brings an extra level to the experience of buying into one of our collections.” With their T-shirt line being distributed worldwide;
AJ Jamani
working with the up-and-coming band, Young Empires; launching their accessories line, HNDSM; and updating their blog; they’re keeping busy with creating and propagating the Handsome lifestyle. Christian says, “We want to go beyond the aesthetic constraints of the word. We believe that, to be truly Handsome, you have have to act and think handsome, not just look the part… The Handsome person disregards preconceptions on gender, race, and religion while focusing on the enjoyment and experience of music, art, education, and philosophy.” Handsome is as handsome does, right?
handsomeclothing.com
Christian Rice
After twelve novels and who knows how many cups of coffee, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) founder CHRIS BATY admits he would die happy if a coffee shop were ever to name an espresso drink after him. By Rita Faire Photo courtesy of nanowrimo.org
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ational Novel Writing Month started in an overcaffeinated moment back in 1999,” founder Chris Baty recalls. Twelve years later, NaNoWriMo has grown from being a twenty-participant marathonblock-party hybrid for book nerds to becoming a phenomenon that transforms thousands of aspiring writers into full-blown novelists. A 30-day race to a 50,000word novel, the event is described as a month of literary abandon. Participants—Chris included—jump in without plot or characters, only to emerge with a sense of accomplishment that can only be earned through
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writing a novel in true marathon style. “[It] taught me that you can just dive in to a novel and have it turn out okay. Our imaginations are… more than up to the challenge of braiding together a bunch of half-assed ideas into a reasonable novel… You can revise a bad book into a great book, but you can’t revise a blank page into anything but a blank page.“ Twelve novels down, Chris isn’t just busy punching out the thirteenth. “I’ve been revising one of my NaNoWriMo novels,” he says. “I hope to have it ready for potential publishers by 2012.” With so much going on, how does Chris plan to finish NaNoWriMo this November? Simple. “I’ll sleep in December,” he says. Well, Chris, you might want to stay away from the coffee first.
nanowrimo.org
“You can revise a bad book into a great book, but you can’t revise a blank page into anything but a blank page.”
mastermind
OVER THE
MOON
ALEX MERAZ doesn’t consider himself famous and thinks he just happens to be in a famous franchise. While he is about ready to help save the gummy world of Bella and Edward with his six pack—I mean, wolf pack—he’s also busy being a multi-slasher. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Anthony “Thosh” Collins
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’m kind of oblivious to rumors. I don’t really pay attention to what’s said about me,” actor Alex Meraz unpretentiously says. Point taken. The worshipping tweens and fans, however, pay attention to what he’s been up to. Maybe they even know that he used to work at Whole Foods as a cashier. It’s obviously quite a ride for Alex, who went from bagging groceries to bagging big roles in movies like The Twilight Saga and The Roommate, as well as in City of Gardens showing later this year, and Mine Games next year. Alex may have had a few other career options—being an illustrator/painter, a dancer, or a martial artist, but it was acting which he chose to pursue long-term. “[What amazes me about acting is] traveling to new locations and meeting new people. It forces you to get out of your shell and learn more about yourself, which becomes very therapeutic,” he says. Actor Raoul Trujillo once told
him, “Breath is life; remember to breathe.” Counting all the pre-, post-, and in-production projects on Alex’s IMDb profile, it’s best he takes his mentor’s advice seriously. Not too “famous” or caught up with Hollywood life, Alex still finds time to hone other crafts. “I have been able to continue training in Mixed Martial Arts because there are so many academies that I can find even when I’m traveling,” Alex says. He may no longer have enough time to paint because, he explains, “it takes such an extensive amount of focus, and I’m not good at multi-tasking,” but it’s easy to check if he did go back to the drawing boards. Alex’s website is loaded with his sketches and watercolors, my personal favorite being “Faith,” a piece depicting a curled up woman with butterfly wings coming out of her back. Poring over Slain, Spawn, Witchblade, and Jaguar God have influenced Alex’s artwork. Back
in junior high, he even made his own comic book, Gunner. Alex says, “He was a mix between Batman and The Guyver, and he got kicked out of some ninja clan and started fighting crime. It’s pretty much the premise of the movie Ninja Assassin (2009). I kind of believe that they somehow found my old comic and used it for a movie.” Uhh, what? Well, that could’ve been possible. But whether writer Matthew Sand is a copyright thief or not, Gunner is still an indication that Alex may have a future in screenwriting and, once more, broaden his bio. When will this guy stop being so awesome? As to what he’ll be doing in between screenings of Breaking Dawn: Part 1 and Part 2? He says, “Back to the grind, though the grind never stopped.” We know he likes it. alexmeraz.com
That’s What He Said Qualities he finds “imprintworthy": “A big butt and a smile.” Halloween costume: “Bennifer (Ben Affleck + Jennifer Lopez)." What gets him mad: "Traffic in LA when I’m already late." What he CANNOT do: "Sing."
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GIRL This year’s breakout girl rapper, KREAYSHAWN, don’t talk trash like her White Girl Mob crew may seem to be into. Instead, she squees on Justin Bieber, cats, Lil Wayne, Spice Girls, and is just being her mom’s daughter. By Laura “Hyperfrank” Brosnan Photographed by Liam Ricketts
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“I feel like this is definitely a good movement, not only for white girls, but for all girls to be empowered, creative, and be able to shock out.”
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success story began with her YouTube video for her single “Gucci Gucci,” which made a grand impression on the world. It’s not only because of her edgy rapping tones but also for her understated message to young girls—that you shouldn’t let brands determine who you are as you can’t buy style. This left her fighting for her breath as record labels fought with one another to secure a seven figure deal with her. This confident young lady is no other than American rapper Kreayshawn. It was only a few months ago when she was an aspiring video director and rapper from Oakland. Nowadays, she’s hitting the covers of the most respected hip-hop and fashion magazines, being nominated for MTV Video Music Awards, and working with some of the most talented artists that the world has to offer—all thanks to Gucci. Aside from the clear media hype around her, this female specimen is definitely what the world of hip-hop, let alone music, needed. She’s got the style, the surprisingly addictive tracks, and she’s officially taken the G out of Gucci and thrown it back into Girl Power. We caught up with the woman herself to delve deeper into the mind of Kreayshawn. So aside from the obvious concept of “Gucci Gucci,” how did it all come together? I’m from California, and my producer, Two Stacks, is from Staten Island in New York—which is super far away from me. We sampled my previous single “Bumpin’ Bumpin’” for the “One big room / Full of bad b*tches” [part], and then, we did our
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thing. The best part was making the video, though. [It] was super cool bringing it all together. Overnight, it literally took you from being an ordinary girl to being everyone’s guilty musical pleasure. Did you realize before you uploaded the video what was about to happen? I had no idea that anything like this would happen, which is great because I’m making music for the fun of making music. Looking back to then, it was cool to see people take an interest in my music before the whole signing and stuff. Now [that] I’m signed, seeing it go all over the world and now getting the chance to come and visit different and beautiful countries is really cool. What’s been your favorite country to visit so far? There’s so many, but I would have to say the UK because they definitely have their own music style going on… Whatever is new and experimental is like the “thing” out there. I love music, and I’d love to be around similar people who are into the new genres coming through and who have open ears. Where did all the inspiration come from? My mom and her band, The Trash Woman, really inspired me growing up; it was an all-girls surf punk band, so I feel that [it] has a lot to do with the whole all-girls thing and mixing genres. The Spice Girls played a big part with just me being able to put myself out there, being wild, because I was a Ginger Spice back in the day. Missy Elliot and Eve were up there for me when it came to female rappers.
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like, “Oh, my god. We’re making an eye connection”—so I go over there, and he reaches out and shakes my hand, and he’s like, “Kreayshawn! I’m a big fan of yours. Keep doing your thing,” and I’m like, “Oh, my God! Thank you!” It was definitely an eyeopening kind of experience. That could be a collaboration right there! Just imagine, that would be so crazy… I think I have way too much controversy to hook up something like that, though. I know Tyler [The Creator] is a big Justin fan, and I think he wanted to make a song with him, but I guess it just didn’t happen. Justin couldn’t even follow him on Twitter. Lil Wayne was one of the many who remixed “Gucci Gucci.” Have you had a chance to link up yet? It’s funny [that] I saw Wayne at the VMAs…but for some reason…I thought he didn’t know who I was. Five minutes later, I was like, “Oh, wait. He knows exactly who I am. He remixed ‘Gucci Gucci,’” but by then, he had left, so I totally blew my chance to say “Hey!” to him. You have a great collection of tattoos. What’s the next one you’re going to get? The next one to get would be to complete this big old thing that I’ve got working on my side, and I’m just trying to get it finished as I’ve only got the main outline of it now. It’s of a lady holding a cat. It’s not even a secret. Everyone knows I love cats. I just can’t help it!
So let’s talk about your crew, the White Girl Mob. Give us the lowdown. It’s crazy because, in the White Girl Mob, we have my sister, V-Nasty, who raps, and my other sister, Lil Debbie, who is the stylist, and we all kind of just came together. I didn’t really know how crazy it was until, a few months ago, we had one of our first official shows all together. We had like a hell of a lot of chicks going crazy on the stage and fighting in the crowd. I feel like this is definitely a good movement, not only for white girls, but for all girls to be empowered, creative, and be able to shock out. Take us to the moment [when] you started making music. Could you remember? I remember the exact moment when I made it. It’s crazy to think
that I was only five-years old, and I was so tiny then. My mom and my aunt were in the other room, and they were writing music. They would record it on a karaoke machine so they could save the lyrics and melody. I just picked up the microphone, and I remember going, “Boys are toys, boys are toys, boys are toys,” then I went, “You see a boy walking down the street, he looks like a piece of meat!”—I had no idea what it meant; now, it makes perfect sense! That sounds like an anthem! You should bring it back now! I should definitely sample it. That would be so perfect. My mom would be like, “I need my royalties. I hear my voice in the background. You can hear my melody.” [Laughs]
Was your mom like the original White Girl Mob member? Yeah, totally… [The White Girl Mob is] basically the Mini-Mes of [The Trash Woman] now. The drummer would be V-Nasty, the bass player would be Lil Debbie, and I would be my mom, the guitarist and lead singer. It’s crazy to see… It must have been quite surreal when you were asked to attend the MTV VMAs and so getting to meet well-respected musicians in the industry. Definitely! It’s crazy as well seeing people that I grew up listening to reaching out to me. When I saw Justin Bieber at the VMAs—I was looking at him like, “Oh, there’s Justin Bieber in the real live flesh!” Then he was looking at me, and then, I was
What do you get up to when you’ve got a few nights off, and you want to party like any other girl your age? When I go out and party, I try and get all the hype. I like a lot of up-tempo beats just like genre fusion is something I’m really into. I listen to a lot of mashups, new movements that take the elements and bring them all together to make something even better. I try and use that theory and apply it to life and my music. I just can’t wait for you to hear what I’ve got planned. I think you’ll be mighty surprised.
kreayshawn.com
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HEAVY HITTER
There are those tanned celebrities clad in designer denim while carrying the it bags of the moment, and then there’s Dita Von Teese, running her errands or going shopping in a vintage 50s dress, sky-high pumps, and cat eye sunglasses, with her signature ruby red lips. Her distinctive style has made her one of the world’s top style stars, and her revival of Burlesque has made her a Hollywood icon. No one will look at a martini glass the same way again. By Viva Gonzalez Illustration by Gemma Rowlands
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orn Heather Renee Sweet, Dita started her love affair with vintage when she was 15 years old. She recounts, “I couldn’t afford any designer clothes. I could also see parallels between the designers I liked, like John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood, and could see the relevance to vintage clothes [that I saw at the thrift stores].” Little did she know, that this seemingly passing teenage obsession would actually turn out to be a lifelong romance with anything and everything vintage, which eventually included her interest in the art of Burlesque. Often called “The International Queen of Burlesque,” Dita was one of the women who pioneered the rebirth of the performance form. Dita was the first guest star to perform in the worldrenowned Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse. She performed to great reviews and filled the place to the rafters. Her iconic martini glass act and fan dance introduced burlesque to a whole new audience. People started to take notice of the intricate costumes during the show as well as the talents of burlesque performers. If Dita’s endorsements, sold out shows, and future product launches are any indication, the public is definitely embracing the throwback to the decades past that Dita represents. Much has been said about the distinction between burlesque and stripping, and
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Dita sets the record straight, “It’s not just my opinion; it’s a fact… without the strip, it’s not burlesque, that’s for certain… the greatest burlesque star that ever lived, Gypsy Rose Lee, called herself a stripper. ‘Stripper’ is not a bad word, and you aren’t going to hear me tell you that there is a difference between burlesque and stripping because I think that’s awfully pretentious, to go on and on about how burlesque isn’t really stripping… It is!” Dita herself initially worked for strip clubs, “Most of us that were at the forefront of the burlesque revival in the early 1990s [worked there], and I’m not ashamed to say it. I believe that those years spent on strip club stages is part of what makes me good at what I do.” Her natural affinity for vintage and her work in the burlesque circuit has led to Dita’s many collections. Her collection of heels, hats, costume jewelry, vintage lingerie, and antique hair combs have been photographed and featured in various magazines like InStyle and, most recently, featured in the book ELLEments of Style. Her collection of Louboutins, particularly, is what has shoestalkers (like me) buzzing. With a mold of her foot being kept at Louboutin’s atelier in Paris, one can only wonder how many pairs she has exactly. She answers, “I’ve never counted, that seems so vulgar. But I would say most of them are Louboutin. He is a very close friend of mine.” Dita’s sense of style is not a product of a stylist dictating her sartorial
choices. Hers is a style borne out of research and devotion to the glamourous eras that have passed. She cites her inspirations, “Marlene Dietrich, Hedy Lamarr, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable… I love courageous women of style, women who didn’t care what people said about the way they dressed or wore their makeup.” Dita certainly shares that same quality with all of those icons. The beauty mark on her upper left cheek that she had tattooed on when she was 17 years old, her teeny tiny waist, and her perfectly arched feet in Louboutins show her attention to the little details that make her vintage style authentic. Always impeccably coiffed and made up, all of which she does on her own, Dita is amazingly fast at getting ready in the morning—“Usually two hours for a major red carpet event, and I can take 20-30 minutes to pull myself together for a semi-glamorous afternoon out and about!” Dita certainly defies the high-maintenance celebrity cliché. Of course, STATUS had to ask if we’d ever see the day that she would don a low maintenance, casual outfit (i.e. jeans, sneaks, and a tee, except for her yearly Halloween costume). She answers, “I don’t know why everyone thinks jeans are so easy and comfy. I can get dressed more quickly and comfortably—not to mention chicly—in a pretty ‘50s era cotton day dress with a single zip up the back. With jeans, you have to squeeze into them, button, zip, etc., then you have to find a shirt to wear with it, and finally, some silly socks and trainers! I grab one of
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my vintage dresses, one quick zip up the back, and I slip on a pair of ballet flats or easy heels, and voila, I look nice, and I got dressed quickly and easily, and I’m off!” She says unapologetically, “I’m certainly not about spending a fortune on or making the effort with something as unappealing to me as jeans. I look silly in jeans.” Dita is full of surprises. Dita is all about vintage, but she reveals her fondness for electronic music. “The Real Presets, Monarchy, Crystal Castles, Daft Punk… my music selection is sort of from that end to the opposite,” she says. “I think the only thing I definitely don’t listen to is anything played on mainstream radio.” Hard to imagine her in a Dior couture frock rocking
out to pulsating beats, but if there’s anyone that can make that work, it’s probably Dita. Her modern taste in music is an indication that although Dita is a lover of the old world, she is very much grounded in this era. She has her own suggestions, of course, “I suppose I just wish people made a little bit more effort with regard to beauty, clothes, and even design. The art deco era was so beautiful, you could even get an artful toaster!” Between the fall launch of her perfume, her own line of lingerie and dresses releasing next year, and planning a big tour of her shows next year, the world can’t seem to get enough of Dita’s art and her lifestyle as well. Women can’t wait to get a piece of her unique kind of sexuality, men obviously want her, and everyone else is so intrigued by her. Dita Von Teese has no “off” days. She is Dita, Queen of Burlesque, 24/7.
dita.net
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HEAVY HITTER
Preceding what's exactly important about JONAH HILL right now are all sorts of talk about his drastic weight loss. Is it a communal American shock to the possibility of bodily redemption from Fast Food, Inc? The real news, though, is his award-waiting movie. He's having a ball, and it just keeps rolling. By Nante Santamaria Photos courtesy of FOX
is about four o’clock in the afternoon in Boston, where Jonah Hill is currently doing promotions, and while I was choking myself not to ask, I was curious how he managed to scale down the weight cliff. “I had some seafood…” Hill tells me about his last meal. He wasn’t always as big as the cursing fat kid that he was in Superbad, far from it. Jonah Feldstein—his real name—when he got his first starring role in the fantastic but underrated metaphysical drama I ♥ Huckabees, was a lanky boy. His supposed slimming down for the upcoming remake of 21 Jump Street, where he and Channing Tatum are playing young-looking cops going undercover in high schools, is simply a return to his former physique. So if you think he’s doing it for the stunts, you may only be getting part of it. “No, I just did it for myself. I just wanted to be healthier. I didn’t do it for a movie,” Hill tells me, contradicting the apparent press release. What he’s preparing for isn’t just one movie role. It is his role as a
serious Hollywood actor. “Does this mean we’re gonna see you with six-pack abs soon?” I kid. His chuckle rolls into a laugh. We both know, at this point, that it’s not just about his figure. It is all about his total condition as a young artist ready to sprint, jump, and roll for whatever role that comes his way. “What does it feel like to be a possible award nominee soon” I ask him. The token sports contenders do well in the Oscars. There’s last year’s The Blind Side. Previous to that, The Wrestler did quite well. And of course, it has Aaron Sorkin’s (The Social Network) name attached to it, obviously baiting for screenwriting credits. It is a big deal. It’s as big as Jonah can get. If Superbad (2009) was his introduction to the public, this is his wider introduction— as Hollywood as Hollywood can get, with Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman packaged in it. “I don’t know about all that,” Hill tells me that he’s mostly just proud to have done it. He adds, “I just love the movie, and I’m really proud to be in it, and I hope people go see it and like it.”
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on the 2003 Michael Lewis novel of the same title, Moneyball has him playing “someone with great ideas but the power to execute these ideas.” Hill admits, “I think I have felt that way in the past…” His character, Peter Brand, is an Ivy League statistics nut, who helps Billie Beane (Brad Pitt) assemble the Oakland baseball team with a numerical analysis called sabermetrics. It was met with skepticism and much scoffing from the dugout oldies, of course, who favored the traditional scouting reports. Hill says, “I think I’m lucky to have had a lot of Billie Beane-type characters to shine a light on me and give great opportunities.” For Moneyball, it was Hill’s acquaintance, director Bennett Miller—who has an extraordinary eye for talent himself. He saw the oft-missed but vital film in Jonah Hill’s filmography, Cyrus, the title being Hill’s Oedipal character opposite his single mom, Molly (Marisa Tomei) being
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dated by a divorcée, John (John C. Reilly). His devastatingly funny/funnily devastating portrayal of the manipulative 22-year old son but abandoned child-at-heart in this Duplass Brothers picture is what got him the arresting dramatic role. Before that, of course, there is Judd Apatow to thank for his stoner and porntrepreneurial roommate role in Knocked Up and his very public outing in Superbad. Hill recalls in A.V. Club, “Not that I’m some sort of [a] wise old man now, but I was 22-years old, and I was an idiot.” A lot has changed now that he’s 28. Still in A.V. Club, he continues, “When I look at interviews from when I was that age, I come off different than how I am because I’ve matured—and I‘ve matured, become a man in front of the public eye.” This kind of situation requires a visible change, a visible growing up, too. The viewing public, the fans tend to get stuck on one image, and he cannot be a pottymouthed fattie forever. “You know,” he tells me, “this is my first [time] co-leading a big drama… so I think it’s a great opportunity to maybe do more dramatic work.”
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“I WOULD JUST SAY WRITE EVERYDAY. WRITING IS KEY TO BEING FUNNY.” he isn’t abandoning comedy either. In the further time, which Hollywood actor does he want to be like, then? “Dustin Hoffman is my hero. Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray,” he says quite off the bat. The common thread? Both men seamlessly slide across the seemingly polar film genres of drama and comedy. “I just think about what’s going to be a good movie,” Hill tells New York magazine. Outside of this career idol story, it was through Dustin Hoffman that he got his film debut as the foster brother of the adopted African man in I ♥ Huckabees. He was, then, studying to be a writer in Manhattan’s The New School, where he became friends with Mr. Hoffman’s children, Rebecca and Jake, who brought him in their house, naturally, from where the godfather took charge. From the start, he wasn’t exactly a comedian. He was a writer and then an actor. More and more people are also realizing that he, just like the rest of the Apatow bunch, isn’t just a funny one. And how is he actively proving it? “No, it’s not about proving anything,” Hill tells me. “It’s more about doing other kinds of movies that I like as well, like Moneyball being a drama is a wonderful opportunity for me.” In another upcoming movie, The Sitter,
it’s probably the last time that viewers will see him as a ballooned figure on screen. He recently answered to random fan calls at (917) 409-7838 (try if it still works) for it. “Well, it was more of people who were shocked and excited to hear from me,” he laughs like he doesn’t get why these people would feel that way. It’s something he better get used to. It’s something that manifests in little things like having his own mobile on the set of Moneyball. Having been punk’d by Mr. Pitt himself—who had said mobile painted pink, drawn with genitalia all over, and posterized with Hill’s face as one of Wham!—Hill is now part of this new Hollywood status. “Did you accidentally admit to him how you like George Michael?” I ask. “No, he just decided that I liked George Michael,” he dodges. His real current jams include the likes of Beirut (he likes the strangely campy “Sta. Fe” music video), Fleet Foxes, and on the same level, uhm, Rick Ross? He likes dropping the unexpected. On the side, he also just directed Sara Bareilles’s latest music video, “Gonna Get Over You,” and he wants to do one for Odd Future, too. “‘Sandwitches’ is pretty great,” he says when I ask him of his favorite track from the fresh and scary cult hip-hop crew.
Recently, though, he’s back in his parents’ house while building his own. “I haven’t moved in yet, but I’m about to move to Atlanta to shoot a movie,” Hill gives me an idea of how continuous the projects are pouring in. Between running for his health program, he does get to indulge himself in some art, favoring the likes of KAWS and, of course, immersing himself in more movies. He’s also producing and lending his voice to the FOX animated series Allen Gregory, which just premiered this October. “What do you wanna do, ultimately with all these?” I ask him. He says, “I just hope to keep challenging myself as an actor and writer/director. Just keep doing interesting things that I’m proud of.” No picking when it’s raining on him. And his advice to young funny guys? “I would just say write every day. Writing is key to being funny.”[Laughs]
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NIGHTVISION cat face
@ The Macbeth by The XOXO Kids
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NIGHTVISION
electrolightz centerpiece by The Cobrasnake
dj eric d-lux @ 7th High
by Capo Rivera
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NIGHTVISION
FRESH FRIDAYS @ Fiamma
by DJ Fabian, Isabella Marcos, & James Bringas
DESTROY
@ This is Not a Bar by The XOXO Kids
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UP JMA ADHOC: we live for this @ World Trade Center by DJ Fabian
Kreayshawn Live
@ The Roxy
by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
Bandana @ Kyss
by Ralph Hilario
Status style issue release party @ Fiamma
by Nikki Ruiz & Isabella Marcos
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 21 MEN Forever 21, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City ACCESSORIZE Greenbelt 5, Makati City ADIDAS Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City AND_I and-i.net BENEFIT benefitcosmetics.com BOXFRESH Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City CANE + AUSTIN caneandaustin.com CARBON Greenbelt 3, Makati City CHANEL Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City CLAE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City CLARINS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City CLÉ DE PEAU cledepeau-beaute.com CLINIQUE Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City CRUX cruxclothing.ca DIOR Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City DOROTHY PERKINS SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City ELEY KISHIMOTO eleykishimoto.com FOLDED & HUNG Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City FRED PERRY Greenbelt 5, Makati City GENERIC SURPLUS Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati City GIORGIO ARMANI armani.com GUERLAIN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City H! BY HENRY HOLLAND Debenhams, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City H&M hm.com JOSE DURAN joseduran.net
KORRES korres.com LARUICCI laruicci.com LAURA MERCIER Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City L’ORÉAL Available in department stores nationwide LUMENE lumene.com M BY IRINA MARINESCU irinamarinescu.com MAINE Debenhams, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City MANGO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive ,Makati City MAYBELLINE Available in department stores nationwide MISS SELFRIDGE missselfridge.com MURAD Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City NARS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City NIKE Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City ORIGINS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City OROBLU oroblu.com OXYGEN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PENSHOPPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City POUR LA VICTOIRE pourlavictoire.com PROMOD Greenbelt 5, Makati City R/H rh-the-label.com RAD BY RAD HOURANI radhourani.com RADII Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City RED HERRING Debenhams, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City SEBAGO Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City SHISEIDO shiseido.com SHU UEMURA shuuemura.com SINéQUANONE Greenbelt 5, Makati City
SKECHERS skechers.com SPERRY sperrytopsider.com STILA Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City STUSSY Greyone Social, Greenbelt 5, Makati City TARANG BHARTI lookk.com/tarang-bharti TARVYDAS ruthtarvydas.com TOPMAN Greenbelt 3, Makati City, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City TOPSHOP SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City URBAN OUTFITTERS urbanoutfitters.com URBAN DECAY urbandecay.com VANS Vans Concept Stores, SM Department Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Landmark Department Stores, Urban Athletics, Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, Shoe Salon, American Rag, Trilogy, Sole Academy VINCE CAMUTO vincecamuto.com ARTISTS Glynis Selina Arban (Photographer) glynisselinaarban.com Shawn Brackbill (Photographer) shawnbrackbill.com James Bringas (Photographer) bringas.james@gmail.com Lucy Eleanor Brown (Photographer) lucyeleanorbrown.com Angel Ceballos (Photographer) angelceballos.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Anthony ‘’Thosh’’ Collins (Photographer) thoshography.com Angelique Dinglasan (Makeup) angelique_dinglasan@yahoo.com Kate Edmonson (Photographer) kaaate.com/blog DJ Fabian (Photographer) weekendsareforwarriors.tumblr.com Jay Goldman (Photographer) jaygoldman.com
Pino Gomes (Photographer and Makeup) pinogomes.com Ralph Hilario (Photographer) miracleman.tumblr.com Kai Huang (Photographer) hungryalien.com Josh Huskin (Photographer) joshhuskin.com Roy Macam (Photographer) roymacam@yahoo.com Bernadette Manuga (Nails) Flirt Waxing Lounge, 5848819 Isabella Marcos (Photographer) im.isamarcs@gmail.com Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmiranda420@yahoo.com Nunu (Photographer) heartsideup.com Renessta Olds (Stylist) reneeostylelab.com Claire Oring (Photographer) robotmafia.com/claire-oring-photography Mila Pardilla (Nails) Flirt Waxing Lounge, 5848819 Louie Pariñas (Photographer) louieparinas.weebly.com Ana Peña (Hair) Jing Monis Salon, 09178306515 Loris Peña (Stylist) lorispena@gmail.com Mara Reyes (Stylist) marareyes_swathe@yahoo.com.ph Liam Ricketts (Photographer) liamricketts.blogspot.com Gemma Rowlands (illustrator) gemmaportfolio.blogspot.com Nikki Ruiz (Photographer) nmgruiz.tumblr.com Alexandra Saushkina (Stylist) twitter.com/saushkina Mandy Sierra (Hair) Jing Monis Salon, 09178306515 Jihye Sim (Makeup and Hair) jihyesim.blogspot.com Nick St. James (Photographer) nickstjames.com Leslie Salalila (Hair) Jing Monis Salon, 09178306515 Andrew Stephenson (Photographer) thecomeupshow.com Kate Szatmari (Photographer) kszphotos.com The XOXO Kids (Photographer) thexoxokids.com
: Lizzie Fortunato The Phoenix Bag
Lizzie: This is one of the first bags I’ve designed, and I’m obsessed [with it]—the leopard printed pony hair is killer, and the Native American influence on my work is evident in the beading.
Bernadette Pascua Artwork
Kathryn: Checking out Bernadette Pascua’s blog always makes me happy. I gave Lizzie this illustration for Christmas last year, and it’s hanging in her room.
Lizzie Fortunato The Old Laughing Lady Necklace Kathryn: This necklace fuses so many materials and creates such a statement. I love the combination of tough chains and ethereal feathers.
Hotel Garzon Photo
Kathryn: I visited this hotel in the hills of Uruguay with my mom and sister after a sourcing trip in Montevideo. This place is magical— delicious food and awesome landscapes in the middle of nowhere!
SUNO Scarf
KATHRYN & LIZZIE FORTUNATO KATHRYN & LIZZIE FORTUNATO are the owners of the highly successful NYC-based accessories line Lizzie Fortunato Jewels. These twin sisters have more in common than DNA. They share the same style-savvy as well. No doubt about it, fashion is in their blood.
Dieppa Restrepo Shoes
Kathryn: I live in men’s inspired loafers and slipons. I pair them with ankle-length jeans and blazers for running around the garment district and work meetings.
Clare Vivier clutch
Kathryn: This oversized clutch is perfect for carrying my BlackBerry, digital camera, keys, lip gloss, etc… I adore the bright color and love that it’s made of salvaged leather.
Turkish Rug and Indian Tapestry
One of our favorite things to bring home, when we travel, is textiles. The pink floral tapestry is over a hundred years old from India and the rug is from the Grand Bazaar in Turkey.
Travel Photos Arrowheads
Lizzie: I found these cool Native American arrowheads at the famed Brimfield Flea Market in Massachusetts… The vastness of the American West is so humbling… I grew up on the East Coast, but it’s one of the places I feel happiest in.
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Lizzie: These were taken on a road trip that my sister, best friend, and I took through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado… There’s nothing quite like being on the open road with good music and good friends.
Kathryn & Lizzie Fortunato photo by Glynis Selina Arban
Lizzie: I love this. It’s perfectly oversized for cool fall days in NYC.