Issuu

Public School duo (Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Obsorne) and New Era's innovative campaign features hip hop legend, Nas

Spring 2017

"When you think of New York leaders, especially in the context of a Yankees or Mets hat, there's no other person that comes to mind before Nas" Chow tells WWD.

Amazing photography by Isil Dohnke Located at Ink- N- Ivy during this past CIAA

APERMANENT IMPRESSION THEREAL REASON BEHINDTHE?INK- NIVY?CIAAEVENT

ebruary was an exciting time for Charlotte, North Carolina. The city is known for hosting the annual CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) tournaments and parties. However, one of the most impressive and electrifying event was held on Friday, February 24 at Charlotte uptown?s sophisticated lounge,?Ink N Ivy?. Level 21 Magazine, in conjunction with, Clubnet 360/Teddy Gilmore, Yandrick Paraison, and PAC Public Relations, catered their guests to a luxurious Red Carpet experience. Lake Norman Lifestyle and Level 21 Magazine were the red carpet media correspondents for this memorable occasion. The venue was filled wall to wall with various radio/television personalities, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, socialites, politicians, and philanthropists. Special guest, Cynthia Bailey of the ?Real Housewives of

Continued... Atlanta's? television show l,ooked radiant as she graced the red carpet. Charlotte?s city mayor, Jennifer Roberts, took time out of her busy schedule to attend this fundraising event benefiting the Level Up Foundation. The non-profit organization?s mission is to ?teach the youth, ages 10-17 the necessary tools to be successful no matter their background.? The wonderful festivity was sponsored by Yandrick Paraison, Teddy Gilmore, and Pac Public Relations. Level 21 Magazine(media sponsor)made sure the red carpet lit up from the streets , making it a night to remember. Just like a tattoo ink makes a permanent impression, so did this spectacular affair. This was truly a party with a purpose!

Photography I sil Dohnke Models: Bridge Talent Group MUA: Evolving Faces Clt. Hair:Mintha Sanders

Styled by Derria Underwood

Photographer: Dee Her Photography Hair: Styles By Sheena/ Sheena Steele MUA: Michelle Dianne Rodriguez Model: Sheridan Rhys

Photographer: Dee Her Photography Hair: Styles By Sheena/ Sheena Steele MUA: Michelle Dianne Rodriguez Jewelry: All Things Fabulous Model: Sheridan Rhys

Styled by Derria Underwood

Styled by Belle Sansone

What challenges have you encountered in your career and how have you overcome them? My biggest personal challenge is comparison. And I think that so many artists face that, especially with the internet today. There?s so much work online, and you are constantly being updated on who is doing what, who is working with who, and their greatest accomplishments. There are definitely times in my career, although I am only twenty-two years old, but definitely over the past few years, I have oftentimes felt discouraged because I would compare myself to other people. And in terms of styling and photography, it is never good to do that. You have to focus on what your bigger picture is. And work out your own ideas and try to focus on you. Not in a selfish aspect, but just sitting around and thinking about what other people are doing is only taking away time from what you could be doing, and getting your work done. Another thing is that it could be discouraging to have great ideas in your head, but to actually get them out there, putting an outfit together or taking a picture, or having an idea on how the lighting would look. The process could be discouraging. But one thing about me, is that I never stop. I think people who become stagnant are shooting themselves in the foot. There is no reason why anyone should ever stop, unless you are physically unable to continue. Whether it is with styling or photographing, I am always trying to learn more and grow. And keeping my mindset on what I want to accomplish. Who is your favorite all time designer? And why? It?s hard to pinpoint one person. I would say Haider Ackerman inspires me most, because of the way he beautifully cuts his clothing and the fabrics he uses are so amazing. My second favorite is Kanye West, who is someone most people either love or hate. I think he is unbelievable, and clothing aside is such a visionary. The amount of talent he has to me is amazing. And I know that not everyone is necessarily inspired by him but it is something about the way he sells everything. His music, clothing, and the lighting he uses for his fashion shows. It all just works so well. At one point in my life, I was really inspired to present my work in an equally astounding way. Not only is he a huge influence, but it would also be amazing to work with him. What is your favorite shoot to date and why? This was probably two-and-a-half years ago, but my favorite shoot that I have ever done is one with my friend, Hannah. Before we became friends, she was an actress on a film that I was working on, and Hannah was trying to get into modeling. There is a company called Oliver here in Wilmington. It is a high end clothing store and I reached out to them, telling them that I like the clothes they sell and wanted to know if I could use some for a shoot. I also told them about Hannah and sent a picture of her. The experience was awkward for me because it was one of the first shoots I have ever done with a store. I was nervous because I was using all of their clothing. I was also doing everything on my own. So, everything about the whole setup of that shoot really pleased me. We went to a place called Carolina Beach, right outside of Wilmington. There is a whole lot of old motels there, with sixties and seventies themes throughout. There?s a lot of cool vintage cars. We shot on the beach, then near the old motels. There is a lot of cool stuff there, like an old ice cream shop. It was fun and stress-free, so the images came out really neat. One of the photos in particular was of Hannah with sunglasses, a hat, and the wind was blowing through her hair. She was smoking a cigarette, and to me the whole thing was just filmic. That is one that stand out the most. I have done a lot of cool commission jobs, but for some reason is my favorite one. What are your goals, as far as your career as a stylist? photographer? In terms of being a stylist, there are definitely photographers out there that I would like to style for. I am a huge fan of Juegen Teller. Another photographer is Matteo Montanari that I would definitely like

Model: Maryna (New York Models) Hair & Makeup: Maryna/Ethan Gaskill Photographer: Ethan Gaskill

Model: Olivia Gibson (New York Models) Hair & Makeup: Olivia Gibson/Ethan Gaskill

Styled by Ethan Gaskill

Photographer: Ethan Gaskill

to shoot for. I just love the look of their photoshoots, and the way they execute everything. There are also celebrities that I think would be cool to style. My photography goals are to travel the world and work with models from all over. My major goal is to work with a celebrity photographer. I think it is cool when people get the opportunity to photograph celebrities, in their own way. Like I mentioned before, everyone has a certain look that can be presented in many different ways. I think it is interesting that one person can be styled in several different ways depending on the perspective of who?s styling or photographing them. I would love to live in either Los Angeles or New York one day, probably Los Angeles, and work for a magazine, become signed with an agency, and to have the opportunity to work with really cool celebrities. Not only just celebrities, but public figures like business owners or politicians. How can we contact you? Social media? Social media is so high in today?s market. That is something I think people should definitely take seriously. If, someone were to reach me, the best way would be on my website www.ethangaskill.com. My email address is ethangaskill@gmail.com. On Instagram I am @ethangaskill. Message me anytime on there. I am pretty good with getting back to people. I also can be reached on Facebook, and my profile name is Ethan Gaskill. A photograph is worth a thousand words. There are many aspects that must fit perfectly so that the viewer can see through the lens of the photographer and relate to him. It also is the duty of both a photographer and stylist to communicate effectively to ensure that the brand?s message channels from print to the intended audience. It is vital that those who are behind the scenes are on one accord so that harmony can convey to art form. Multi passionate creatives like Ethan, show that it is possible to master more than one's trade, and to blend all of ones passions into a fulfilling career.

Continued... When Raquel curated the idea of a seminar hosted by herself and Ty, they found a further opportunity to do just that. The seminar, titled Let?s Talk, allows for a more interactive experience in which attendees get the chance to ask all the questions they?d like with the added benefit of actually getting an answer. ?It?s good when you?re very transparent and you share with the audience the real talk of life experiences and your journey, and not just in fashion as a stylist. People would just see me at the Grammy?s, not knowing what I sacrifice and that I missed an important birthday party, or an anniversary or something else,? Hunter notes. You might question where Ty Hunter and Raquel Smith could possibly go from here. ?Life isn?t a rehearsal, you have to just push play and just keep going. There?s going to be dark times, but just know that you have in your mind that ?I want to do this?and ?I will do this?, you will do it. I?m a living witness: a country boy from Austin, Texas who?s living his dream. I?m in my fourties now and I?m the happiest I?ve ever been in my whole life. So don?t put age on it, don?t have restrictions, and don?t connect everything to people because not everybody?s going to feel your vision. You have to sometimes move silently and then hit people with a bomb,? Hunter said when asked what he might tell those who wonder where he might go from here. And, as both stylists said, Let?s Talk isn?t their only remaining project. They?ve each got no shortage of projects in the works, but that?s just about all they could say on that front. A short tease, but one that proves to be the perfect plug to keep these two on your radar.

Ty Hunter's Athleisure Line

A Flair for Fashion: Tips for Success with StaceeBy:Michelle Christopher Lewis Look out, America, this energetic fashion stylist and media correspondent is shaking up the entertainment industry with style! A resident of Charlotte, Stacee Michelle went from recreating her older sister?s hand-me-down apparel as a child to hosting shows on multiple television networks, from E! News, BET to FOX News. The correspondent has also conducted numerous celebrity interviews for large-scale events, including, but not limited to the extravagant New York Fashion Week. She has styled for several well-known celebrities, such as John Legend, Diane Kruger, Fergie, Hilary Swank, and ZZ Top. Not only that, but she has also met fashion designers Diane Von Furstenberg, Tracy Reese, Michael Costello, Trina Turk, and June Ambrose. We had the pleasure of speaking with the lovely Stacee Michelle, who goes in depth on how she got her start in the fashion industry, her coveted tips on all things fashion, along with some fun questions at the end!

Tell u s w h er e you ar e f r om , an d h ow you got st ar t ed in you r car eer ? I was born and raised in Seattle, WA. After graduating college I moved to Charlotte and began to get involved with styling look books and marketing campaigns for local designers. Throughout the next few years I acquired a position as an Apparel and Accessories Buyer for a Fortune 500 company. I styled fashion editorial covers and spreads for both local and nation magazines, became a regular style contributor on FOX giving fashion tips and expert advice to viewers, and partnered with several organizations like NASCAR, Fabletics, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Toyota, Macy?s,

developed and built relationships and as time progressed my network both locally and nationally grew. Wh at w as it lik e w in n in g t h e E! New s st yle con t r ibu t or con t est f or Fash ion Week ? To be selected as the next E! Style Contributor was a dream! Out of 300+ national submissions I was selected as the number one choice to represent E! and TRESemme at Miami Swim Week and New York Fashion Week. Winning this competition encourages me everyday to work harder and strengthen my craft. Anything is possible. I never knew that a simple tag on an Instagram post would lead to being featured on a national network. I am thankful and appreciate all of the support from people I know and have yet to meet! I am humbled by the opportunity to represent my community and be an inspiration to others in the process.

Johnson and Wales University, and more on special projects. Even though I do a lot of collaborating with brands and companies, I still find time for my personal styling clients. Revamping wardrobes, styling for a special event, back-to-school, vacation, family or bridal shoots, it is always fun to have that one-on-one interaction with my clients. The biggest challenge for me was the fact that Charlotte was not a fashion capital. I found that looking to be hired by a company to work as a stylist was slim to none in the area. This is what inspired me to kickstart my own business as a wardrobe stylist and fashion insider. Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. I

Th at w as a h u ge boost t o you r car eer ! Wh at ?s n ext an d h ow do you f eel t h at con t est w in h elped excel you r car eer ? Working with E! News definitely gave me a platform to showcase my talent to a national audience. It increased my credibility as a fashion expert and correspondent. Other brands and networks recognized this and found me suitable to represent them in various capacities. Since the win, I have continued to partner with different brands and networks to host/emcee special events, host red carpet interviews and behind the scenes coverage, and provide fashion expert advice to TV, editorial, and digital platforms. Wh at st eps ar e you t ak in g n ow t o

STYLED BY STACEE MICHELLE Photographer: Joseph Bradley,Lake Norman Magazine

STYLED BY STACEE MICHELLE Photographer: Joseph Bradley Hair/MU - Jami Svay SouthPark Magazine

place to network! However, if you are going to make the trip to network in New York, make sure that you opt for September, it is easier to converse with people when it is warm outside! Wh at advice w ou ld you give t o u pcom in g st ylist look in g t o m ak e a splash in t h e f ash ion w or ld? Create your own opportunities! If you don?t have anyone to style yet, start by styling yourself, friends, or create flat fashion layouts. With the internet and social media readily available, you have the access to market your work to the world! So start small and actively dream big! How do people get in t ou ch w it h you ? @itsStaceeMichelle www.stacee-michelle.com

Finish t he sent ence, St acee! t ak e it t o an ot h er level? Currently I am working on building and fostering relationships with brands, organizations and networks. I aim to increase personal brand awareness as a host and correspondent through networking with those in the industry, and implementing marketing strategies through social media and web. Wh at is it t h at you love t h e m ost abou t f ash ion ? What I love most about fashion is that it is a way to express yourself. The Fall 17? designer collections did not hold back on expressing their feminism and political views through verbiage and color choice. Fashion evokes conversation and creates community. Whether you wear a favorite necklace from a loved one, or an old band t- shirt

tfrom a memorable concert, what you wear can trigger fun and sometimes lasting conversations with strangers. Nam e t h e t op t h r ee t h in gs in you r st ylin g k it t h at ar e m u st -h aves? Clothing Clips - To clip any and everything! Steamer - Because wrinkles are unacceptable. Fanny Pack - To hold everything that I need and still be hands free! How im por t an t is Fash ion Week f or you ? It?s important for a stylist to know what is happening during fashion week because it is their time to get a firsthand look at collections before they hit the retail stores. You gain inspiration from both the designer shows and street style. For new people looking to get into the industry, Fashion Week is a great

I would never be caught dead wearing... Clear plastic pointed-toe booties. No ma?am!

The most treasured item in my closet is... The ring I got from Italy. I wear it all the time and every time I wear it, it is a constant reminder that no matter what the obstacle, I will be just fine.

When I get dressed in the morning I think... Thank you God for this day!

The designers that never disappoint include... Diane Von Furstenberg, Givenchy, Chloe, and Balmain .

Photographer: Joseph Bradley Wardrobe Stylist: Stacee Michelle Hair/MU - Brie Reeder SouthPark Magazine

STYLED BY STACEE MICHELLE

Photographer: Olly Yung Wardrobe Stylist: Stacee Michelle Hair: Erica Arcilesi MUA: Yanneek Brinson Lake Norman Magazine

Photographer: Joseph Bradley Wardrobe Stylist: Stacee Michelle Hair/MU - Jami Svay SouthPark Magazine

STYLED BY STACEE MICHELLE

The.TZ.Studio www.thetzstudio.co

Joy Comes Wit h A Message By Marage Blakeney

he New King James?Version of the Bible states in Psalms 30:5 that, ?weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.? Kelli Williams knows this verse all too well; however, her joy came with an additional present, a message. In 2012, Kelli fell into a deep, dark depression after a very close family member was tragically killed in front of her eyes. Her first cousin?s (who was like her brother) life was snatched away from him. Without his physical presence and support, Kelli spiralized into a bi-polar frenzy that resulted into seven suicide attempts. Through her pain and tears, in 2013, God sent her a message of love that began with four letters, ?MWAM?. Kelli was puzzled by what those four encrypted letters meant. After much soul searching, prayers, and spiritual counsel, God revealed to her that the letters were an anagram for ?Modeling With A Purpose? (M-WAM). Kelli longed to become a model; unfortunately, she was rejected by some agencies because she was not the right size, right complexion, and/or not the right epitome of their idealized vision of a model. Yet, God transformed the ?closed doors? into ?open windows? by providing her with an opportunity to create her own brand and empower young ladies whose voices?were silenced by various challenges. After much laboring, in 2015, M-WAM was birthed into existence. Kelli?s organization participated in runway shows and community based endeavors to lift the spirits of the ?marginalized? and ?rejected? with a motivational purpose. Located in a small rural town of Mullins, South Carolina, Kelli is transforming the landscape of her community by her inspirational message. Her stimulation to

renovate her life and those around her was grounded by the ridicule that she received in her early childhood years. She was constantly bullied by her classmates. Along with the detached relationship with her mother and the poverty rate within her town, Kelli felt trapped in a generational cycle of lack and despair. Kelli noticed that only 5-10% of her community went to college, traveled outside of the country, and/or lived to their fullest potential. Once M-WAM was birthed, she realized that it was time to shake things up and inspire other people to pursue their dreams and aspirations. M-WAM is devoted to modifying young girls aged 12-18 years old in positive ways. Kelli desires to share her love of the arts and commitment with these ladies who the world may deem as unworthy of opportunity and success. Kelli has a true adoration for creativity and its creators. She is fascinated by the complexity of the artists and its uniqueness. Kelli desires that everyone is inspired in one way or another and to dream with confidence. As an ambitious philanthropist, Kelli often shares her dedication to give back to the masses. Very soon, M-WAM will open a university/academy that is obligated to assist young students excel academically and discover their passion within the fine arts of marketing, music, and fashion. Kelli believes that no one should be stuck in a 9am-5pm job, if they seek to fulfill their dreams. If they have talents, they should use them to better themselves and their community. Madeline L?Engle once said that, ?maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.? Kelli?s darkness came with a message, therefore, your storms can too.

"UPLIFT" To learn more about Kelli Williams and M-WAM, please feel free to visit www.modelingwithamessage.net or follow her on Facebook modelingwithamessage and/or Twitter at @MwamLLC2015

"MARGINALIZED" "REJECTED"