alt + shift. LOCATION: New York
issue 01 www.altshiftmagazine.com @altshiftmagazine
COUNTRY: United States
@altshiftmag
POPULATION: 2+
welcome to the shift.
“WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT?”
W
a letter from us.
e’re in a time of change. Not only as creators, not only as people but in every aspect of life. We are changing the way we think, the way we buy, the way we consume, the way we act all due to this generational shift influenced by many extenuating factors such as technology, consciousness, and our new desire to care. In this process, we asked ourselves that exact question: “what do we care about?”
Let’s set the stage of where our worlds overlap. We are friends of nearly 10 years sharing many life-structuring experiences, recent college graduates wanting more than this workforce can offer, lovers of travel constantly looking for our next adventure, and avid fashion enthusiasts. With that being said, both of us as creatives and as individuals have polar opposite backgrounds, one in engineering with an analytic mindset and the other in marketing with an artistic twist. Therefore, morphing and molding this magazine into a common ground for our passions, pain points, and provisions has been nothing short of a journey. Our biggest goal was to prioritize inclusion by bridging the gap between our truths and including everyone in between.
Many brainstorming sessions, pinterest boards, facetime meetings, and working lunches later, issue one of alt + shift magazine has arrived!
Consider alt + shift to be a digital magazine without borders- a living and ever growing embodiment of what we as the creators and what you as readers care about. We can only hope that the things that stress us now will be minor as we go through this journey, making space for new cares and worries just the same, along with new ways of expressing them.
We welcome you to grow with us, share with us, explore with us, and learn with us. This isn’t about us but for us and for all of you. Rather than being afraid of this shift, embrace it- those who don’t will simply be left behind. Thank you so much to those who have extended your support whether through simple words of affirmation or retweets and to everyone pushing us to work even harder with the lack thereof.
stay tuned for the shift, Sage + Arianna Co-Founders of alt + shift magazine
shift.
This issue is inspired by all the black women dominating the September issues they’ve been told they couldn’t be in, let alone cover. We see you & we see ourselves in you too.
create. create. create. create.
volu
ume 1, what do you care about ?
what do you care about ?
what do you care about ?
issue 1
stay tuned for the shift.
CONT ENTS
10 ________
Own Your Today.
12 ________
Beauty Must Haves.
13 ________
7 Travel Beauty Essentials.
14 ________
Seven Songs That Don’t Suck.
16 ________
Industry Shifters.
26 ________
The Future is Failure
28 ________
#JamesBaldwinTaughtMe.
30 ________
How To Take Time For Yourself.
32 ________
alt + shift’s august playlist.
33 ________
Color Series: Fashion Week.
42 ________
Artist Spotlight.
43 ________
What Does Music Mean To You?
44 ________
#BBLU: Bad Bookworms Link Up.
46 ________
Thank You to Single Parents.
48 ________
Hot Spots On The Block.
50 ________
Visual.
52 ________
Photo Series.
56 ________
Single Ladies Guide.
58 ________
#OurMusicMatters
60 ________
Poetry.
alt + shift.
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issue one x the shift.
Own Your Today It's almost the start of a new work week, so try to take a day at a time with this 7 day positivity tracker. Short, sweet and simple to fit into your boss a** schedule!
Don’t Hit Snooze | Allow yourself 30 minutes to 1 hour to have extra time on your monday morning.
Monday
Music Mondays | Have a dope playlist ready for your commute and to listen throughout the day. Prepare to lose yourself in the music! Energize | Take a 10 to 20 minute break during the day. Get some fresh air and reflect on the start of a positive week.
Tuesday
Digital Detox | Take a break from social media and technology. Give yourself the night off and zzz out!
Wednesday
Clean | It’s time to clean up your office space, room, closet, or just one single shelf. Take the time to just declutter and rearrange for a productive hump day!
Thursday
Reflection | With one more day in the work week, take the time to reminisce on your week thus far. Write down some things you want to improve on for the upcoming week ahead.
Friday
Give Back | It’s time to give away a few things from your closet you don’t need. Get rid of the old and prepare for the new.
Saturday
Happiness | Prepare a day filled with awesome activities to relieve the stress of the work week. Do something that makes you smile and enjoy your saturday!
Sunday
Take A Steamy Bath Or Shower | Allow the steam to enter your pores and breathe deeply to fully cleanse from the inside out. Exfoliate | Get rid of dead skin and allow for fresh, healthy, glowing skin. Get ready for those #nofilter pictures! Face Mask | Give your face some TLC with your favorite face masks.
Beauty Must Haves
1.
1. Glossier | Cloud Paint in Dawn 2. Clarins | Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in Tangerine 3. Tatcha | Silk Canvas Primer 4. Fenty Beauty | Killawatt Foil Freestyle Highlighter in Mimosa Sunrise + Sangria Sunset 5. Too Faced | Lip Injection Extreme 6. Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara
2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
1
4
3
2
5
7 Travel Sized Beauty Essentials You Need In Your Bag
6
7
1. Mario Badescu | Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomille, and Lavender 2. Kiehl's Since 1951 | Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado 3. Kiehl's Since 1951 | Midnight Recovery Concentrate 4. Glossier | Coconut Balm Dotcom 5. L'Occitane | Dry Skin Hand Cream 6. Dr. Bronner's | Lavender Organic Hand Sanitizer 7. DR. JART+ | Water Replenishing Cotton Sheet Mask
Seven Songs That Don’t Suck By People Who Don’t Suck In light of artists using their platform to promote heinous agendas, here’s a list of some unproblematic favorite songs.
Cute
by DRAM
DRAM describes his feelings in a way that you would only say in your head and here he is saying it on a whole track! The perfect song for when you see someone cute & you instantly want to get married + there’s a Cardi B remix.
Pick Up
Perfect Imperfections
by Plaza
by Sylvan LaCue + BJRNCK
This is the song I want my man to play outside my window with a boombox hovering above his head after he knows he messed up and I’ve been ignoring his calls, facetimes, texts, and emails until I’ve decided to go back to him. That is all.
Am I the only one who loves songs that are two songs in one? This half upbeat, feel good and half slow, poetic track just reminds me of a Sunday afternoon in the spring telling me it’s okay not to have my shit together.
Back It Up
Better
by THEY.
by Kelela
I vividly remember the first time I heard this song and said “oh shit” everytime the beat changed in that 3:45 span. This duo brings a new sound to the table as they jump around to every genre.
My queen Kelela never fails me! She serves looks, she serves vocals, and most importantly, she serves me my feelings on a silver platter. Just wait until you get to 3:03, life changing beat drop.
Plastic 100 ° C
Monday to Monday
by Sampha
by Roy Woods
Sampha is one of those artists that I still don’t believe really exists. This soulful South Londoner’s ethereal voice will fill your room (or your headphones) and evoke feelings you didn’t know you had.
OVO’s youngest prodigy, Roy Woods, is standing on his own, bringing the vibes we’ve all been asking for! Bridging Canada with a splash of the Caribbean, Roy’s unique discography has claimed its spot in R&B and isn’t fading for now.
INDUS
SHIFT
STRY
TERS
Tyler Mitchell
This filmmaker and photographer made his start capturing fashion + youth culture in his hometown of Atlanta and in NYC. While pursuing his undergrad at NYU, Mitchell worked with magazines such as Teen Vogue, i-D, Dazed, + The Fader. His recent debut for the September issue of Vogue has truly set the stage for what is to come.
With her infectious sense of humor humor, Issa Rae has become a household name. Actress + writer, + director, are just a few of the roles of Issa Rae. She gained her start from her web-series called, "Awkward Black Girl" on YouTube.
Now, Rae has been on Forbes "30 under 30," is a New York Times best selling author, and has earned a Golden Globe nomination for her HBO series called, "Insecure." Issa Rae continues to be a force in the industry and won't be stopping anytime soon!
Issa Rae
Emily Weiss
Babysitter tuned CEO, Emily Weiss is the Founder + CEO of Glossier. After working numerous internships at compnaies such as Ralph Lauren and Teen Vogue, she launched her brand callec, "Into the Gloss," a blog about women's beauty + grooming rituals. After releasing "Into the Gloss," Weiss launched Glossier, a now multi-million dollar beauty brand. Glossier continues to be a beauty sensation worldwide!
Porter Braswell
Ryan Williams
Co-founder's, Ryan Williams + Porter Braswell left their jobs at Goldman Sachs to launch their own company called, Jopwell, a platform catered to helping and connecting minority students and professionals with job oppurtunities. This now multi-million dollar company continues to facilitate connections to support students of many backgrounds.
Jackie Aina
Jackie Aina has become one of YouTube's top influencers. From being in the army, to creating makeup videos to allow her creative side to shine, Aina has now used her platform for beauty + activism. She has earned a NACCP YouTuber of the Year Award for her efforts to help people of color feel included in the beauty industry and community. Jackie Aina continue to break down boundaries and shift the industry.
With his hit song, "Pump it Up," that debuted 15 years ago, Joe Budden has emerged from his hiatus as a true industry shifter. From being in numerous rap beefs, including the infamous Migos interview, to shedding light and breaking news across the hip-hop culture, Budden now has the No.1 podcast on Spotify as well as his own show on Revolt TV called, "State of The Culture"
Joe Budden
With his originality and creativity, Kid Cudi has made a massive impact on both the music scene and mental health movement. The raw honesty and emotion he is able to convey in his music allows him to connect throughout various genres. Kid Cudi is not just a rapper, or hip-hop artist, his one-of-a-kind sound has been able to break down barriers and influence up and coming artists to be themselves. Cudi continues to inspire generations with his mission to support the youth through music and positivity, giving them someone to look up too with his humble beginnings and authenticity. This is Kid Cudi...this is Scott Mescudi.
Kid Cudi
Meet Karena Evans, a mastermind + beauty behind and in front of the lens. Evans directed Drake's "God's Plan", "Nice For What" + "In My Feeling" videos that we all know and love. This 22-year old Toronto native is not only a director but also an actor and writer whose aesthetics + visual style has propelled her into the industry. Karena Evans is the true definition of a trailblazer, stroyteller, + visionary.
Karena Evans
THE FUTURE IS FAILURE
All our lives, we’ve been taught to strive for straight A’s, be the top of our classes, and to run from our failures. Instead of being the best we can be, we’ve been taught to be the best. Instead of learning from our mistakes, we mistaken them as the worst parts of ourselves.
no wonder we’re all f *cked up now! Guess what? Life goes on. Failing isn’t the end all be all. Pick yourself up and continue on your journey! After living life as a serial overachiever, one day I asked myself why was I doing this? Because someone told me to? The projection of other peoples unfinished dreams and goals shaped my perception of my projected success and I realized that wasn’t the future I wanted for myself. But the question now arised, what did I want for myself? As I continue to navigate through this transitional period, I have to constantly mold my depiction of my success to mirror my today. When the distance between your future and your present seem miles away, that overwhelming feeling of the unknown really starts to kick in. See the value of every step you take. Did you accept a retail position because you needed the money? See it as a time to sharpen you organization, people, and problem solving skills. Did you accept a 9-5 that you know you’re going to dread? Take your time and task management to the next level by finding time to work on your passions in between your assignments to build yourself simultaneously. Not being exactly where we want to be will make us feel like a failure but don’t take it as a step back. Rather think of it as a layer of cement to solidify and secure the next stepping stone to come. Let’s all make the conscious decision to practice patience not only with ourselves, but with the people around us as they navigate through similar situations. You never know when your next opportunity will fall in your lap, but if you aren’t taking your “mistakes” as a chance to grow, you won’t be ready when the time comes.
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f you have yet to see the James Baldwin documentary, “I Am Not Your Negro”, as someone who is on their 5th watch, I strongly urge you to do so. With his frank approach empty of hatred, Baldwin poetically relays the plight of the American Negro intertwined with the stories of three prominent African-American leaders of his time: Medgar Evers, Malcolm nd Martin Luther King Jr. The emotions in Baldwin’s voice transcends time s words act as a mirror to the contemporary footage played alongside it. The nny parallelism displayed between now and then builds a bridge from his riences to those of my own.
“
There are days in this country when you wonder what your role in this country is and your place in it. How precisely are you going to communicate that you are here? “melting pot” we call America today seems to be missing a few ingredients!
journey that is I Am Not Your Negro confronts the cyclical trends of race ions in America including the country’s erasure of cultures. This system we have here has not built a reality for many of the people both voluntarily involuntarily calling America their home.
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed if it is not faced.
pe for a life where the police, the justice system, the president, and simply ellow neighbors crave the same level of justice for my people as I do. We not get to this level until we all confront the structural blocks set in place black people and other people of color and break them down instead of ding more walls (cough cough, Donald Trump)
“
n overworked and underpaid black woman living in a time where the value black life is so low but the value of our culture is the foundation of the omy, it is an additional job to keep my life. Watching my fellow men and en of color lose their life to injustice just to become immortalized by a tag is no longer making the cut. Does no one see the issue here?
I know we have all heard that saying of, “Take time for yourself!” But do we ever take enough time for ourselves? As time passes right by us, we are constantly on the move and life gets crazy. It feels as if you’re constantly pushing through one week to hope the next is a little less hectic but you end up finding out the next week is just as bad as the previous one. Everyday we are balancing a social life, trying to eat healthier, trying to head to the gym, applying to so many opportunities we lose count, and understanding what the future has in store. Oh, and trying to get a good amount of sleep… It seems virtually impossible! Before taking time for yourself, sit down and think about where you are mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This will help you to understand yourself and the areas of your life that require the most time. Instead of getting carried away, write down your thoughts and feelings and examine what’s going on. Remember that you taking time for yourself to recharge will not only help you, but the relationships you have with everyone around you.
1
Make sure to tell people what you need. Don’t be afraid to speak up. “I need some time alone” doesn’t have to mean you don’t want to spend time with your people! It’s best to have friends that support one another in living our best lives, mentally, emotionally, and in all other areas of our lives so that everyone can truly live their ultimate best life! Take note of those who don’t respect these needs, you may not need them around you.
2
Don’t forget to say “no”! We always try to do everything when in reality, we just need to decline to some of these offers. Don’t worry about concocting an excuse, keep your no short and sweet to maintain honesty both with yourself and those around you. This helps with taking some things off your plate so you can breathe a little easier.
3
Try your best to simplify your life. When you have too much on your calendar and inside your home, you might feel a tad overwhelmed and anxious. Choosing less on the outside, you can experience more peace on the inside to allow more time for yourself.
4
Honestly, YOU come first before any assignment, project, or meeting. Life is way too short and precious to spend it in a constant state of being overwhelmed. To combat this, try to keep a planner to do things well in advance before it becomes too much to handle at once. Keep grindin’, but also remember to love and take care of yourself. Beyonce never lied when she said “Me, myself, and I. That's all I got in the end” Vow to be your own best friend!
SE LF
#HowToTakeTimeForYourself
Click each cover art to vibe to the song
Click each cover art to vibe to the song
Click each cover art to vibe to the song
Click each cover art to vibe to the song
25
1990's aesthetics:
Fashion supermodels were made in the 90's. Naomi Campell. Kate Moss. Cindy Crawford. Linda Evangelista. Veronica Webb. Beverly Johnson. Tyson Beckford. Mark Vanderloo. Marcus Schenkenberg. Christy Turlington. Tyra Banks. The 90's were a dynamic and eccentric time for fashion. From avant-garde to minimalist to haute couture pieces, this iconic era was truly a time to be alive.
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LAQUAN SM LaQuan Smith assisting models as they get ready to hit the catwalk.
From crafting his first pieces in his bedroom in Queens, New York, to launching his career at 21, LaQuan Smith has been able to shift the fashion industry with his distinct and dynamic garments.
"I focus on creating a setting. There’s a stage, a platform, and when you enter it — you’re at center stage. When you wear LaQuan Smith there’s a story to be told, an experience. The motto every season and every time we do custom is ‘luxury, quality, sensuality.’ That’s the DNA of the brand." - LaQuan Smith for Huffington Post
ITH
"The aesthetics of my collection is always unapologetic glamour mixed with an authentically NYC edge." - LaQuan Smith for Vogue Italia
Transcending Fashion With LaQuan Smith Born and raised in Queens, New York, LaQuan gained his passion and skill for sewing and pattern-making from his grandmother. Due to his upbringing in New York City, LaQuan had inspiration coming from all angles. "With it's fusion of music and fashion, I always try to incorporate my roots into my creative process," says LaQuan Smith for Vogue Italia.
LaQuan Smith.
LaQuan did not allow rejection to stop him after not being accepted to both FIT and Parsons. As he continued to hone his craft, LaQuan set out to launch his own career at the age of 21. After his debut in 2013, LaQuan gained regognition for his distinctive garments and details from fashion icons such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Beyonce. LaQuan Smith and his eponymous label, has transcended upon the fashion industry to create timeless pieces that has changed the course of the fashion industry.
kate steciw. Digital and contemporary art has always been a fascination of mine. The elements, production and distribution that goes into each body of work is truly phenomenal. I recently came across Kate Steciw and have fallen in love with her collection of work.
Kate Steciw is able to explore the aspects of physical objects and photography and transform it into a digital and printed representation. Steciw experiments with various images and their physicality to create what she calls “constructions”. Throughout her body of work, Kate's intention to stimulate a myriad of human emotion by utilizing sculptures, photography, video, and image manipulation is apparent in the majority of her constructions. After working more than 10 years at Art + Commerce, a well known art agency in NYC that supports the creativity of photographers, creative directors, stylists, and illustrators, Kate was able to learn about image manipulation, and video installations that she would soon adapt in her works. She continues to show her ability to play with shapes, textures, and tones, to further manipulate her constructions. With her abundance of creativity, Steciw articulates her artistic freedoms to unite abstract, contemporary pieces. amber, beverage, booze, chrome, construction, corrode, dark, elements, flow, golden, heavy, iron, junk, object, oil, pencil, pipe, rust, texture, tube, 2013
As the world of photography and imaging evolves, it will be interesting to see how Kate Steciw’s work will evolve over time. Her repertoire of work embodies the many aspects of digital art and pushes the boundaries of contemporary photography into various digital realms.
The Power of Music What does it mean to you to be part of a global music environment? I play music everyday! Whether it’s when I’m getting ready, or during my morning commute, I tend to always have some form of music playing. After repeating the question in my head, it made me really think about the essence of music and how music is a vital part of us as humans. For me, a global music environment contributes to the building and development of self-expression and collaboration of individuals through the power of music. When I engage within a global music environment, it means to fully immerse myself in all facets of music, rhythm, and sound. I emmerse myself in every essence of music and how it can heal you, shape you, and make you feel. Having exposure to different genres of music via streaming, vinyls, and albums serves as an educational tool and as a way to define myself and my culture.
What does music mean to you? 31
To: Single Parents
From: A Proud Child
Growing up it was interesting to see the dynamic between kids and their parents. The majority of my friends had the “ideal” family - a mother, a father, and one to two kids.
For me, I grew up in a single parent household. My mother acted as mother and father to me. Being a single parent was certainly not my mom’s plan, but honestly I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. When I look at my mother, I see one of the most
dedicated, hardworking, passionate, and empowering women I know! There isn’t a
a moment where my mom isn’t working and providing for us. Even if my mom doesn’t have for herself, she always seemed to make sure I had everything and more, with no hesitation. I’m also an only child, so it was just my mother and I the majority of the time. From this, a beautiful and unbreakable bond that I wouldn't trade for anything. My
upbringing paired with the bond that my mother and I have formed, has truly shaped me into the woman I am proud to be today. As my 22nd birthday came and went, I am constantly reminded about "adulting." I can only appreciate everything my
mother has provided for me and can't wait to take on the world with her by my side. This note is a thank you to all single parents. You guys are totally awesome! A thank you to my mom as well. I know it wasn't easy, but I promise it is all paying off. We are a
dynamic duo and nothing can come in between that!
Room For Tea @roomforteanyc
Pietro Nolita @pietronolita
Smorgasburg @smorgasburg
Paint 'n' Pour @paintnpournyc
H O T S P O T S O N
The Noguchi Museum @noguchimuseum
Dream Machine @indreammachine
T H E B L O C K
chan
nge.
perspe
ectives.
as a clean slate! Shift your focus only to things that have a positive push on you in the right direction.
Find genuine comfort in time spent with yourself. See a movie alone, buy yourself dinner (& actually sit in the restaurant), book a solo trip. Be selfish and strictly do what’s convenient for you and no one else.
3
I know I just told you that your world is nities but you don’t need to take all of t aware of your value and only put yourse you know that value won’t be depreciat
lea
8
Single Guide
do you.
mind your business.
1
What’s your ex doing? What are your old friends up to? How is that person you went on a date with that one time? One last question: what does that have to do with you? Take your newly (or forever) single-ness
2
Living S
self care
Although it feels great, taking care of yourself is beyond a face mask. Make sure that you’re taking care of your insides as well! See a therapist to talk it out, find healthy ways to process your emotions, make sure you’re getting 8+ hours of sleep, ditch the processed foods for a fruit salad & stay hydrated.
is the best care.
4
Your world is full of new going out more and w you would never do, yo
Girls e to
Single
channel your energy elsewhere.
6
7
I understand, we all have those urges to text our exes at 1:17am but that’s not going to fly anymore sis! Find something that fills that same void whether it’s a new hobby, a new dress, or a trip to a whole different country.
Learn your pain points, things that you really enjoy, and get rid of everything else. All of the work you previously put into your partner, pour that love and affection into yourself from now on.
5
learn to say no.
w opportunities now! As Drake said, start wearing less. Do all the things you said ou might end up liking some of them.
be in a relation
-ship with yourself.
arn to say yes.
Get yourself some daily affirmations no matter how your day is going at the moment. Constantly remind yourself of your worth and beauty, inside and out, so you never forget it! This confidence will overflow onto all of your other relationships.
exude confidence.
now full of opportuthem. Assess and be elf in positions where ted.
“
A vital part of our Nation’s prou music exemplifies the creative identity and is among the most world has e
- Presiden
Music holds the power to en culture, heritage, triumph, co
#OurMusi
nt Obama
ncapsulate African-American ollaboration, and innovation.
icMatters.
“
ud heritage, African-American spirit at the heart of American innovative and powerful art the ever known
-nayyirah waheed
what about this th the fear of not bein and the fear of bei are exactly the sam the fear of being y
-atticus
-Maya Angelou -rupi kapur -Langston Hughes
Poetry. It's the art of
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
never go in search go in search of life and life will find y seek.
i am water soft enough to offer life tough enough to drown it away
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.
-e.h
she has the mindest of a queen and the heart of a warrior she is everything all at once and too much for anyone who doesn't deserve her she is you
-r.h Sin
i am not broken i am half a moon where i once was a heart
-pavana
heory. ng enough. ing 'too much'. me fear. you.
h of love, e, you the love you
i am simply on my way back to myself
uniting pleasure with truth.
There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What if you fly?
K
N !
A
T
H
S