AVESSA Magazine - It's All About the Colors | Apr/21 - Year II - Vol 2-A by AVESSA

Apr/21 Year II, Vol. 2-A

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE COLORS

IN THIS ISSUE

KRELWEAR ERIKA ISHIBASHI ADRIANA EPELBOIM-LEVY FEDERICA CARELLA

W W W .TA D A S H I S H O J I . C O M @ TA D A S H I S H O J I

ALEPEL.COM

www.ku-den.jp

V IV IANAGABEIRAS .COM

MENALOMBARD.COM

AVAIL ABL E AT BOL D IN AF RICA K IS EM ENT I S H OP P ING K AM PAL A, UGAND A

MAR/21 028

R U N WAY R E P O RT E R : FA L L / W I N T E R 2 1 - 2 2 by Karo Delgobbo & Flávio Iryoda

046

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE COLORS! by Juanita Crary and Mena Lombard featuring Krealwear

058

STOP IGNORING THIS by Erika Ishibashi

064

OBJECTS OF DESIRE by Carlos Marrero

066

T H E M AG I CA L WO R L D O F M U S H R O O M S by Renata Sanfilippo

068

C O L O R L E S S R U N WAY / C O L O R S , B R A I N & N E U R O - FA S H I O N by Ibtissam El Azami

078

IT’S THE NEW TEETH FOR ME by Lisa Opie

080

I N T H E S P O T L I G H T: A D R I A N A E P E L B O I M - L E V Y presented by the Fashion Group International of South Florida

086

W E L C O M E T O K R E L’ S WO R L D by Virginia Mayer

092

C L O S E YO U R E Y E S , P I C K A CA R D presented by the Miami International University of Art & Design

102

E XO T I C B E AU T Y featuring Federica Carella

110

HOROSCOPE: ARIES by Manish Arora

P H OTO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : K R E LW E A R . AC C E S S O R I E S : S E R A B O N DY. L E A D FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T: J UA N I TA C R A RY. M O D E L : Y U R I KO L O N D O Ñ O. H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T: A R AC E L I B R AVO. P RO D U C E R : K A RO D E LG O B B O. P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L Á V I O I RYO DA .

editor’s letter

ust like last Summer, once more we felt the need to convey a fresh and optimistic message to our readers. And we are not alone – many fashion brands during the last FW’21 shows followed the same route, as nations make significant progress with vaccinations. The post-pandemic world comes closer to our realities and we can again enjoy those simple but so important moments from our ‘past lives’. Obviously, each country across the globe lives a different reality and the pandemic has proven how the weak ultimately pay higher tolls. I am hopeful that we as a global and connected society can come together and be thoughtful about every human life in this planet. On another note, I am incredibly pleased not only to feature our first Asian model in our cover, but to contribute to the discussion and reflection amid the latest Asian racism events. Besides all my excitement for this issue, I wanted to say that we will be skipping next month (May), as we reach another important milestone in our journey: the launch of our digital showroom. We will be taking a quick break from AVESSA Mag, as we focus on our new project, but we’re coming back strong with a much more integrated platform that further connects to our readers. I always believed in small baby steps and continuous service improvement, so the beginning will be simple, but I’m looking forward to a much promising and sustainable future. Thank you to the team of contributors, this is a reflection of your dedication and talent.

ON THE COVER Fashion Designer: Krelwear. Accessories: Serabondy. Lead Fashion Stylist: Juanita Crary. Model: Yuriko Londoño. Hair & Make-Up Artist: Araceli Bravo. Producer: Karo Delgobbo. Photographer: Flávio Iryoda.

FLÁVIO IRYODA Editor-in-Chief

| APRIL 2021

JULY 10 - 13, 2021 MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

Good things are ahead….the future is bright…we’re bringing you SwimShow 2021! The best in swimwear featuring our curated Collection area for trending boutique brands plus resort, beachwear, lifestyle, men’s, children’s and accessories. We’ve missed you!! T 305.596.7889

info@swimshow.com

www.swimshow.com

#SeeYouAtSwimShow

about us

TEAM OF

KARO DELGOBBO

@camarrero

A true fashion passionate, Karo is a fashion runway coordinator, fashion buyer, fashion producer, magazine editor and entrepreneur. She approaches fashion in an innovative manner, where luxury brands are mixed with everyday basic pieces, transforming into a fresh, bold and powerful statement, fulfilling one’s heart and soul.

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

LISA OPIE

VIRGINIA MAYER

From owning her first business, Vizcaya Swimwear at 20, to spilling all of her beauty secrets with her 45,000 viewers on her YouTube Channel, LadyCode, to working as a celebrity hair and makeup artist at the most exclusive events in the world, 28 year old Lisa Opie uses her platforms to promote women’s empowerment and wellness.

Upon learning writers are artists, Virginia wrote a novel called Polaroids and a bunch of stories and opinion pieces published in Colombia, thus becoming an author. She now writes shows with her duo, teaches creative writing and lives with her cat Mandela in Key Biscayne while she falls in love with Miami.

@lisa_opie

| MARCH APRIL 2021 2021

CARLOS MARRERO

@karodelgobbo

CONTRIBUTORS

RENATA SANFILIPPO

MENA LOMBARD

JUANITA CRARY

@renata_sanfilippo

@menalombard

@juaniavi

Living the dream in between the windy city of Chicago and sunny Miami, Renata is a digital influencer full of surprises, actress, world traveller, active philanthropist, writer and a highly enthusiast of Haute Couture, Asian fashion, beauty, culture and arts. She is also a board member of the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts.

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

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

MANISH ARORA

IBTISSAM EL AZAMI

ERIKA ISHIBASHI

@manishastrologer

@theburnoutbrand

@erika_opie

Renowned KP Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Reader Vastu Consultant. He has been rendering professional advice to clients with a high degree of success. He has been conferred with the title of Jyotish Varahamihir and Jyotish Aryabhatt. Manish has been writing monthly astrological columns for 40+ international magazines.

Ibtissam, aka Azami or The Burn Out Brand in make-up artistry, is a fashion make-up artist, content and copywriter, and a social media manager. Her attention for detail allows for unique works of art, focused on finesse and graphic shapes. After the conquest of Paris and London, she is now in Rome, where she lets the sun inspire her day in and day out.

After graduating with honors, she moved permanently to Tokyo. Not only is Erika a finalist for Miss Earth Tokyo 2020 but she is also one of the founders for Women of the Earth, a group of women who tackle environmental and social issues in Japan. Erika has also a strong passion for the environment, animal rights and skin positivity.

MARCH APRIL 2021 |

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Flávio Iryoda

EDITORS Fashion & Styling Karo Delgobbo Juanita Crary Mena Lombard Ibtissam El Azami Product Carlos Marrero ASPAC Erika Ishibashi Interviews Virginia Mayer News & Events Silvana Camargo Travel Tamara Almeida Zodiac Manish Arora

DIGITAL

Available year-round at avessamag.com

On-demand printing available at www.magcloud.com/user/avessa. Delivered worldwide at your door.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS Karo Delgobbo Carlos Pardo ART DIRECTOR Xavier Maranon BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS Karo Delgobbo Flávio Iryoda Giu Lima

CONSUMER SERVICES

AVESSA Magazine is a monthly digital and print on-demand publication focused on fashion, beauty, art and culture for the independent, contemporary and influencer woman. Founded in early 2019 with main operations in Miami and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a wide network of collaborators distributed across the globe.

PUBLISHER

Questions or comments? info@avessamag.com

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

A PROUD MEMBER OF

© 2020 AVESSA Media Group LLC, a Florida limited liability corporation. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a through examination of the particular situation.

| APRIL 2021

GRAND ESCAPES STARTS HERE

GRAND G R A N D H YAT T R I O D E J A N E I R O — Surrounded by the exuberant nature of the natural reserve and the ocean, the Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro has a complete structure for a stay that combines elegance and comfort in every single detail: spa, beach service and award-winning restaurants. Enjoy the amazing views from your own private balcony; guaranteed in every room. Book now your next stay in the Marvelous City: grandhyattriodejaneiro.com

KIKI

1. Welcome to the team Virginia Mayer! Virginia is a uber talented writer and she debuts this month with her new column Naked Souls, where she will not only conduct interviews but will get personal while showing their most intimate side.

L E T ’ S H AV E A

2. What an honor! Meet the amazing model Yuriko Londoño @yurikolondono, our first Asian covergirl! Yuriko recently arrived in Miami after working at many countries in Latin America, and she is a proud Colombian/ Japanese. どうもありがとうございます！

3. The one and only Dope Tavio @ dope_tavio. The fashion editorial you simply cannot miss! Go to our site www.avessamag.com and check out our previous issue - order your prints for the ultimate experience!

4. Do you recognize her? It’s our covergil Denisse Nonell @denissenonell after 8 hours of shooting for our Dope Tavio issue. 5. Meet lead photographer Franz Orban @franzorban from The Code Creatives @thecodecreatives, who has been shooting many of our INFECTA magazine covers. Franz has been shooting many beauty queens and he’s also owner of Vizcaya swimwear @vizcayaswimwear. By the way, not even a broken shoulder can stop his guy.

6 7

| APRIL 2021

6. The super talented Fashion Stylist, Fashion Archivist and nerd, Sindi Pérez @styletropicalia. Full of creativity and fashion knowledge, Sindi has been part of many of our cover shoots. 7. It was supposed to be a secret, but of course we couldn’t keep it! Meet the team from PG Productions who are preparing a documentary of the one and only Dope Tavio, available later this year. From left to right: Khaleel Bailey @sector_kay, Kevin Fuerte @Kfuertefilms, Pedro Gonzalez @pedrogonzalezartist and Zeaylnd Rivera @Zeaylnd.

8. Meet make-up artist Bler Bastos @beautybybler, who prepared our model for the Tarot editorial in this issue! Don’t miss it! 9. Our talented fashion students from Miami International University of Art & Design @miamiintluniversity Charlie Rincon-Rodriguez @charlierincs, Ebru Cankiri and Kristen Caballero along with Styling Professor Juanita Crary @juaniavi (left), during our Tarot-inspired shoot.

10. Guess who will style our upcoming INFECTA magazine issue? Bienvenue dans l’équipe Angélique Salcedo @pinasalcecci :-) 11. Our Producer Karo Delgobbo @ karodelgobbo casually enjoying her lunch with our prints! By the way, we’re print on-demand, but would you like to see our printed copies locally? Let us know: info@avessamag. com 12. Mikey Alvarez from Next Level Modeling Agency @nextlevelmodelingagency providing some gorgeous models for one of our shoots!

13. High cuteness alert: Martina stealing our social column this month! We have asked our Fashion Editor Mena Lombard @menalombard for a photo, but her daughter Martina immediately took us over. Sorry Mena. 14. Looking for that cute and sexy dress with a Latin twist? Then you should speak to Andrea Vasquez, founder of Miami’s Pinkapple Dresses @pinkapple_dresses. 15. Model Tuane Schulz @tuaneschulz and founder of Brazilian jewelry Ginger Brie @gingerbrie being completely spoiled by Raul Braga @ bragarestaurant during her birthday dinner celebration.

13 16

16. TikTok stars Allicia @alliciamontes and Allexa Montes @allexamontes (TheMontesTwins), who will be featured in our April issue of INFECTA magazine - make sure to check it out! S H A R E YO U R P H OTO S W I T H A N Y O F O U R P U B L I C AT I O N S ! I N F O @ AV E S S A . M E D I A

APRIL 2021 |

the ROPE project by Lisu Vega

WEARABLE ROPE SCULPTURE

lisuvega.com

runway reporter: seoul fashion week fw’21

UN BEL DI VEDREMO BY FLÁVIO IRYODA

| APRIL 2021

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y DOUCAN

HE LOCATION FOR DOUCAN’s FW’21 show couldn’t be more special: The National Museum of Korea, one of the city’s most important landmarks. It was the perfect location to safely run a fashion show while promoting art and culture during these limited times. DOUCAN celebrated the joy and excitement of our personal

day during times that even the simplest, once ordinary day-today errands have become much rare and precious. Doucan’s collection is thrilling and extremely impactful to my eyes. A touch of retro in a very contemporary approach - it combines many of the traditional old styles with modern and rich straight lines, creating elegant yet contem-

porary volumes and curves. The basic primary colors have been used as initial canvas but then artistically enriched with incredible patterns and geometries, energetic colors and natural motifs. If you struggled to follow the shows from this season, but you want to at least watch one from Seoul, well your search is now over: it’s DOUCAN.

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: seoul fashion week fw’21

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: reporter tokyo fashion week fw’ 21

THE KIMONO WITHOUT LIMITS BY KARO DELGOBBO

ESPITE BEING SEEN AS THE NAtional costume of Japan, Jotaro Saito, who is familiar with the process of kimono-making since his childhood, is pushing the boundaries of ancient traditions proposing that the garment is able to do new things. The 36 looks collection amazed us with a refreshed approach by introducing new patterns, colors, and fabric. Modern and fashionable motifs like were brought up while being mixed with the traditional, resulting in a fresh, graceful, and contemporary approach to the millennia costume. Some of those pieces also are featured for men’s, so they can be very well coupled. Do not forget to pair your kimono with Jotaro’s amazing line of accessories that range from leather bags to sandals and scarves. We’re totally all in.

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y J OTA RO S A I TO & P RO S P E R E

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: reporter tokyo fashion week fw’ 21

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y M I K AG E S H I N & O N E

THE T PROCESS BY KARO DELGOBBO

Mikage Shin believes that even throughout the darkest moments in history, humanity is able to create colorful art and culture – and the pandemic is no exception.

| APRIL 2021

URN THIS CRITICAL PERIOD IN OUR LIVES INTO SOMETHING POSITIVE. Easier said than done, but not for fashion designer Mikage Shin. Inspired by literature, architectural and philosophical concepts, Mikage Shin explains “The Process” through various motifs in her newest genderless collection. With innovative looks full of sophistication, Mikage Shin showed us a classic palette with textile collages along with traditional Japanese elements. In addition, we see many artistic references in prints, flowing pleats, knitwear with fringes, asymmetrical cuts, and angular shoulders which portray the human confidence of moving forward during these times of crisis. The composition and mixture of different fabrics, prints, cuts and colors are used to create a brand-new, unique piece. For example, a closer inspection to some pieces reveals a collage of notes from Nietzsche, where “The Process” of thinking is portrayed – basically there’s much more than meets the eye.

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: seoul fashion week fw’ 21

ANOTHER SHAPE OF BEAUTY BY FLÁVIO IRYODA

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y PA I N T E R S

| APRIL 2021

ON JEON, THE FOUNDER OF PAINTERS, STUDIED Fashion Design at Seoul Mode Fashion Institute and Womenswear at London College of Fashion. After working for two designer labels, he decided it was time for him to go and propose something different – another form of beauty. Won then started PAINTERS – solely focused on developing a specific identity and aesthetic in womenswear, a new shape that are not affected by others trends or anyone else. Not only following beautiful faces, garments or proportions. PAINTERS is aimed to make a new impact that different people could be accepted within their own level of individual taste and identity. Therefore, PAINTERS is trying to propose that people with different beauty and shapes are able to suggest different ideas of form - and we couldn’t agree more from his statement. Amorphous, oversized, bulky, thick, organic, exciting… Words cannot describe my feelings for PAINTERS. It’s the much needed unconventional alternative to cheer us up from the boredom of the same old elititst, stubborn fashion world. Let’s celebrate freedom.

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: reporter tokyo fashion week fw’ 21

FROM SHRED TO ART

BY KARO DELGOBBO

HE ARRIVAL OF SPRING IN TOKYO REPREsents two things: the cherry blossoms blooming and the young stylish and upbeat on the streets. As in other fashion weeks there is always a prevailing trend, in the Japanese capital we see that there are no rules but an expression of diverse personalities, after all, Tokyo is not called the street style capital for free. Naoki Tomizuka shows us through his new collection an elaborate and extremely artistic lookbook with drapes, shreds of different materials and vibrant colors to build totally new deconstructed garments. The concept of reusing pieces that we already have and might have been forgotten, to ultimately create a new, modern one.

| APRIL 2021

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y NAO K I TO M I Z U K A & E S T E E M

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter: reporter tokyo fashion week fw’ 21

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y R E QUA L = & E S T E E M

PEACEFUL, PREPPY & HIPPIE BY KARO DELGOBBO

Requal’s collection make us more optimistic and fuller of hope, where the post-pandemic world can be enjoyed with the people we love the most

| APRIL 2021

ESPITE STARTING A LITTLE LATER DUE TO AN EARTHQUAKE that hit Tokyo in the same day, RequaL= presented us a fun collection with a total of 36 looks full of colors, textures, layers and silhouettes. Named “ Re frppie”, it was inspired by the fusion of the preppy and hippie French style into a youthful street style that escapes the obvious, with trends of the moment that were totally deconstructed – in a unique way to demonstrate unity and togetherness. At the end of the show, a campfire was re-enacted and models gathered around, as if peace was restored back in the post-pandemic world. After an exceedingly difficult year, the fashion industry is portraying more optimistic collections, and Requal was able to delight us with more positiveness for a brighter future through its unique designs, which are meant to be worn to enjoy the company of those who we love the most.

APRIL 2021 |

runway reporter

LIBRE COMME LE VENT

BY FLÁVIO IRYODA

t the initial stage, we are not burdened with those fears and pains that appear in the aftermath. But everyone’s dream is freedom from them. Inner freedom is a deep sense of comfort that does not depend on external circumstances. This is the integrity that allows us to be ourselves. Russian Fashion designer Olga Zakhmatova from womenswear brand ZO focuses on aesthetics of an architectural cut, straight, strong lines, but at the same time refined, light and sublime, for a woman who has different fac-

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y O LG A Z A K H M ATOVA

| APRIL 2021

ets are combined, collected into a single whole. Her new collection named Libre Comme le Vent ideally combines men’s tailoring and delicate femininity with elements of a historical cut and avantgarde ideas. This collection is dedicated to a woman with a freedom in her heart and wings on her back. She presented this collection at the Metrix Academy in Moscow and will be also participating at the MKMM (International Moscow Competition for Young Fashion Designers) competition in Moscow in late April.

APRIL 2021 |

M A R R E R O CO L L E C T I O N. CO M

feature story

It’s

All

About the

Colors! F E A T U R I N G

| MARCH 2021

K R E L W E A R

S TO RY M E NA L O M BA R D

MODEL Y U R I KO L O N D O Ñ O

FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R K R E LW E A R

H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T A R AC E L I B R AVO

ACCESSORIES S E R A B O N DY

P RO D U C E R K A RO D E LG O B B O

L E A D FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T J UA N I TA C R A RY

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

MARCH APRIL 2021 |

feature story

“MERE COLOR CAN SPEAK TO THE SOUL IN A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS” - Oscar Wilde

| APRIL 2021

OT LONG AGO, I WAS SHOPPING FOR NEW pillows for my husband’s office, and I found these yellow ones online that I fell utterly in love with. I did not have the color yellow in mind for that room, but those pillows were just adorable. When I showed them to him, he said they were nice but that he did not want yellow pillows in his office. I insisted so much that he ended up asking me why I was suddenly so fixated on them. And it came out, almost like a blurt, “they are the same yellow of my grandmother’s kitchen table.” He looked at me somewhat puzzled and asked, “your inspiration for my office is your grandmother’s table?”. I just smiled. He was coming to the realization that the only reason I wanted those pillows had nothing to do with him, his office, or any inspiration whatsoever. Then and there, it became evident that the only reason I wanted those pillows so suddenly and so badly was that their color reminded me of some of the best memories from my childhood. Looking at that color transported me to a time and place of my past that I deeply treasure. Looking at those pillows made me feel extremely happy. As a fashion designer, I know that out of all the four elements of design we work with, color is the most powerful of all because it is the only element that not only affects our brain, but it also affects our emotions. Colors are all around us, and they play a discreet yet essential role in our lives. Solely through color, we can communicate ideas, persuade opinions, and cause reactions. Color can attract attention, create an emotional connection, and prompt impulsive decisions, like an opinion or a purchase. If you were getting ready for a job interview and had two identical coats, one in blue and one in brown, which one would you wear? Last week I did a quick research, asking that question to 26 different people: 90% of them chose the blue one over the brown one. The reason behind that? More than any other element in your appearance and your manners, color is the one that creates the first visual impression. In fashion, just like in any other scope in life, first impressions are vital because they are lasting and can potentially lead to action.

APRIL 2021 |

feature story

DO YOU KNOW WHICH ELEMENT OF THE FASHION YOU ARE WEARING IS THE FIRST ONE PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOU?

From the wearer’s point of view, it is a well-known fact that first impressions are the most important ones. Studies have shown that people can generate an opinion of a person, object, or situation in less than 20 seconds. At their core, first impressions are most influenced by nonverbal communication. Because fashion is communication, and it is also nonverbal, it becomes one of your most essential nonverbal tools. Do you know which element of the fashion you are wearing is the first one people see when they look at you? You guessed it; it is the color of your garments. That notion of “you become what

| APRIL 2021

you wear” that psychologists talk so much about becomes even more powerful when we understand the color of fashion from this perspective. From the designer’s point of view, everything comes down to that first impression. Designers aim to grab our attention and create desire with every collection they present, and that is no easy task to accomplish in the mere seconds we dedicate to look at a garment. They masterfully play with lines, shapes, colors, and textures to create a look that is so enticing that it could potentially move us to make a purchase.

The connotations around color regarding fashion and especially in the fashion that we wear are more profound than just choosing what color looks good on you. The truth of the matter is that because color can influence thoughts and decisions, it can influence what people think of you, but most importantly, it can influence what you think of yourself. Choosing a color to wear should be about how good it looks on you, about how you want to be perceived, and about how it makes you feel. Color stimulates our brain, influencing emotions, and as a result, those emotions influence our

thoughts and decisions. But it does not stop there. Our own well-being is profoundly connected to the colors that surround us. Colors play a vital role in our lives and how we respond to people and situations. Existing research has found that the colors present in our surroundings can impact us, and those around us, in a number of different ways. These colors can alter our mood, affect our performance, and influence our perspective and emotions. Surrounding yourself with the right colors can relieve stress, improve your energy level, and provide you with a good night’s sleep. These effects are the basis of

APRIL 2021 |

feature story

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

feature story

chromotherapy, which is a type of therapy that uses colors to heal specific ailments. Chromotherapy has been around for thousands of years, and it is still used today as a holistic alternative. When trying to understand how colors affect our perceptions and behaviors, color psychology is the study that sheds light on that matter. Color psychology focuses on analyzing how our brain processes and understands the colors it visualizes. This means that the decision of a purchase or the opinion generated by a first impression can be influenced by the impact that colors have on our brains. We have established that color stimulates our brain. The question that now remains is: how does that happen? There are two main elements to this how. The first one is the meaning and associations that each color has. The second one is how each color makes us feel. Because colors are a non-verbal communication element, they have more significant and broader meanings than the spoken word. Let us take as an example the color red. The perception associates red with danger, passion, and energy. The first associated meaning, danger, is related to the fact that red is the color of blood, and therefore it is statistically related to our surviving instinct as humans. Red also means passion, and this meaning dates back to the middle ages and a very famous poem written in the 13th century called “The Romance of the Rose.” This poem tells the story of the author’s quest for a red rose that was guarded in an enclosed orchard, symbolizing the search for true love. The third meaning, energy, is because red causes physical effects such as increased respiration and heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased metabolism. In another example, the meaning of the color blue is related to trust and intelligence. It is a serene and calm color that represents responsibility and stability. That is why police uniforms are blue, and that is why 90% of the people I asked to choose from the brown or blue coat to wear to a job in-

terview preferred the blue one. This is not by chance. This is the universal language that colors speak. Because color is universal, there are universal meanings around each hue, and those meanings communicate messages. But how each color makes us feel, that is as unique as we are. Color provokes an emotional reaction, not by its intrinsic meaning but because of our own life experiences and history. That is when our relationship with color becomes personal. The yellow pillows that I found online generated no significant impact on my husband but made an important one in me. The yellow spoke to both of us, communicating the idea of happiness, optimism, and creativity, because that is what yellow communicates. To my husband, it stopped there. To me, it transported me to a moment and place that I hold dear to my heart. That is why my husband thought the pillows were nothing out of this world and why I thought they were the most beautiful thing I had seen the entire day. My husband has no particular connection to that shade of yellow, and I have the strongest one. The difference regarding how those pillows made us feel lies in our different past and experiences. The difference between him and me is a childhood that included an incredible grandmother who owned a yellow kitchen table she used to knead her pasta on. A table where my entire family would sit around to have the longest meals because eating was about feeding our bodies with food and our souls with conversations. As a form of communication, color is irreplaceable. Color alone can make us think and feel at the same time because it talks to our brain while it speaks to our soul. Our relationship with color is meaningful, lasting, but above all, it is emotional and personal. A clear example is my heartfelt relationship with that shade of yellow. That is why looking at those pillows made me feel so happy. That is why I wanted them so badly. And that is why they are now decorating the sofa in my husband’s office.

Color alone can make us think and feel at the same time because it talks to our brain while it speaks to our soul

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

2060 NW 22ND AVE, MIAMI, FL 33142 | LUISAPONTEATELIER.COM

the rising fashion

STOP IGNORING THIS BY ERIKA ISHIBASHI

ACISM AGAINST ASIANS IS SOMETHING THAT HASN’T really been addressed or talked about until more recently. I never thought it was a problem because subtle racism was around me all the time so I just thought it was normal. When asked to write about this topic, I was really excited to speak up about it but was also met with imposter syndrome because my experience hasn’t been as bad as a lot of the other Asians around me. I didn’t feel like I was good enough to write about it and that there were plenty of other people more qualified to talk about this, but that’s when it hit me that my experience of the subtle racism is exactly what we need to be talking about. Most people know that it’s wrong to go out and kill people, that’s just common sense. It’s the everyday jokes, the pulling of the outside corners of the eyes, and the stereotypes where the real damage begins. It’s when we get used to the small things that the bigger things don’t seem as bad.

| APRIL 2021

I was born in the United States to a Japanese mother and an American father. I grew up speaking both languages simultaneously and was very blessed to grow up in a safe environment. I was homeschooled up until I graduated high school so I never really experienced any negativity around my race, however, I do have two older sisters who went to a public high school and were met with bullying. I remember hearing about that and not fully understanding what that meant until I was older. Because I was homeschooled, most of my socializing came from gymnastics practice. I started when I was five so I was really close to my teammates and that’s where it all started. There was never any outright bullying, we were all friends and I felt very safe around them, but that’s why it was so confusing. Here are my closest friends who I see five days a week and they’re pulling up their eyes and saying “ching chong” to my face and laughing. Was it my appearance? Be-

P H O TO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R K R E LW E A R AC C E S S O R I E S S E R A B O N DY L E A D FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T J UA N I TA C R A RY MODEL Y U R I KO L O N D O Ñ O H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T A R AC E L I B R AVO

“HERE ARE MY CLOSEST FRIENDS WHO I SEE FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND THEY’RE PULLING UP THEIR EYES AND SAYING ‘CHING CHONG’ TO MY FACE AND LAUGHING. WAS IT MY APPEARANCE?”

P RO D U C E R K A RO D E LG O B B O P H O TO G R A P H E R F L Á V I O I RYO DA

APRIL 2021 |

the rising fashion

ing very young, I had no idea what this all meant but I was old enough to know that it had something to do with how I looked. Was my appearance funny looking to them? Was it because I didn’t have blonde hair and blue eyes? Was it the fact that I would bring rice balls for a snack and tea to drink during practice? That was the first moment I felt different from my teammates and that was when it hit me that I was the only Asian on the team. This was the first time I learned to laugh with them even though they were laughing at me. Learning to become complacent starts at a young age. Something else I started to feel and realize as I became older is how fetishized Asian women are. This is something I don’t see being talked about very often but we all know it’s true, in particular Japanese women. It’s that obedient, sub-

THE STEREOTYPES OF ASIAN MEN: FEMININE AND SLIM, NOT ASSERTIVE, HAVE SMALL PACKAGES PACKAGES. missive stereotype that we as Japanese women have that makes us a very easy target for predators and abusers. I have been asked out by multiple men solely based on my race, as if everything that makes me like my personality, doesn’t even matter because they just want a quiet, submissive girlfriend or wife that’ll do anything they say and will please their fragile male ego. Too bad for them I was born an Aries so I have no idea what it means to be obedient. It blows my mind that some men will come here to Japan, where I currently live, to find themselves a wife, and the thing is that it’s super easy for them because I also know so many Japanese girls who will date any foreigner and it’s just a recipe for disaster. But this brings me to my next point; the stereotypes of Asian men. Asian men are not wanted anywhere because they are known as feminine and slim, not assertive, or have small packages. They do not fit the “masculine” stereotype of the west. A male coworker of mine asked me once about what country he could go to where Japanese men are accepted and I couldn’t think of a single place. Asian men and women are not taken seriously, we are in the background of society, often exploited because of our natural submissive nature and the fact that we are “good at everything”. This is the next harmful stereotype I want to address. I know it doesn’t seem harmful at first glance but think about the damage it can do to the Asians who aren’t good at math or science or don’t want to become doctors when they grow

| APRIL 2021

up. I am an Asian who hates math and I am very bad at it. I remember in college talking to a couple of classmates about how difficult math was for me and it was so easily dismissed and I wasn’t validated at all because I was Asian. “What are you talking about, you’re Asian, it’s easy for you”. It made me feel even worse because now I’m bringing down the Asian race by not being good at something and I genuinely felt like a disappointment at the time. The other side to this stereotype is that when we as Asians do accomplish something great, it’s immediately brushed off and not celebrated. “Of course they could do that, they’re Asian so it’s easy to them, they can do anything,” completely disregarding all of the hard work the individual put into their craft. The great accomplishments of Asians deserve to be recognized just as much as anyone else’s because we are all human and we all work hard. But the worst part about racism against Asians is the fact that when we do speak up, it’s often OR met with “what about the other people of color who have it so much worse than you?” It’s just another dismissal. I hope you’re starting to see the pattern here. We are rarely validated and our struggles are always undermined. Just because we aren’t a target for violence doesn’t mean we don’t exist. Not being seen and being neglected can be just as bad because our souls are dying. We don’t feel good enough to be a part of this society even though we’ve given our country everything. We are also discouraged from speaking out about these issues from our own race because confrontation isn’t a part of Asian values. Even if it means sacrificing ourselves, we are to maintain harmony with those around us, and that is a big reason why I think it’s taken us so long to finally rise up and speak up. To my Asian brothers and sisters, you are important and you are seen. Your struggles are just as valid and no one should have to go through the neglect that we go through and see in this society today. You are strong and you can speak up and speak out about any discrimination that happens against you. Society changes when we take action. We can stand together. To anyone else reading this, please be kind. We are all human regardless of upbringing and skin color. We all feel the same emotions and we just want to feel safe. I know it can seem like we really have to watch what we say nowadays but it’s true. If we know our words and our jokes are hurting our fellow human beings, why would we continue to say them? Point out any injustices you see and stand by your fellow people. We are all the same. Spread love and kindness, it’s what the world needs the most now.

SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT ABOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION THAT HAPPENS AGAINST YOU. SOCIETY CHANGES WHEN WE TAKE ACTION. APRIL 2021 |

l adyco desho p.co m

objects of desire

ACETATE & METAL CAT-EYE SUNGLASSES ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: Designed in a classic cat-eye shape,

Alexander McQueen’s tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses have a gold metal browbar that gives them statement appeal. Brown gradient lenses complete the chic look. Wear yours with everything from city tailoring to sundresses. $495 / neimanmarcus.com

FLUSHED BLUSH SEPHORA COLLECTION: A blush, with a whipped-cream texture, that melts into skin for a natural, healthy glow. $10 / sephora.com

OBJECTS OF DESIRE The things she “SPRINGS” for!

BY CARLOS MARRERO

SUKI CLEANSING OIL This cleansing oil is packed with a cocktail of good-for-your-skin ingredients, like sunflower, morgina, and meadowfoam oils, smells zesty like lemon, and melts away makeup and dirt almost instantly. $39 / amazon.com

BITCH, PLEASE EAU DE PARFUM

BYZANTINE ENAMEL AND PEARL CUFF BRACELET SYLVIA TOLEDANO: Opulent in design, this shimmering golden cuff flaunts a decadent freshwater pearl design with colorful enamel-painted stud detail. Freshwater pearl, 5-15mm Enamel paint 22K yellow gold plated Imported SIZE Diameter, about 1.1” $210 / neimanmarcus.com

| APRIL 2021

CONFESSIONS OF A REBEL: The moment you decide you don’t give a damn about what anyone thinks, a certain sense of freedom takes over. In-your-face fruit notes like blackcurrant mingle with jasmine petals, weaving a decadent web tinged with an element of sass. Bold, brash and unafraid to bare it all, creamy sandalwood and skin musk evoke a carefree, confident kind of vibe. You know exactly who you are, and you are, in fact, the f*cking boss. $110 / bloomingdales.com

BLUSH ROSE SUNROOM CLASSIC CANDLE LAFCO: Housed in a handblown art-glass vessel, this luxurious candle is hand-poured in the USA and has a generous 50-hour burn time. We love how delicate petals of damask and may roses blend with a hint of crisp bergamot and pink pepper in this fresh, floral scent. $42 / onekingslane.com

VLOGO RAFFIA PLATFORM SANDALS VALENTINO: These ankle-strap wedge sandals in grained leather feature an antique-brass VLOGO Signature detail with a hammered-effect finish. Crafted in Italy, the braided raffia wedge sole is complimented by a braided leather, wraparound ankle strap with adjustable buckle fastening. $970 / neimanmarcus.com

POCKET MINI CANVAS CHECK TOP HANDLE TOTE BAG BURBERRY: Color, dusty sand/soft fawnBurberry vintage check canvas tote bag with leather trim. Cutout top handles; detachable shoulder strap; open top; exterior, flap top pocket at front. $1,290.00 / burberry.com

COLETTE ROSE GOLD-TONE AND LEATHER WATCH MICHAEL KORS: Polished with personality, our Colette watch is updated with a minimalist dial accentuated by sparkling pavé accents. This timeless style is crafted from rose gold-tone sterling silver and features a contrasting leather strap for a rich finish. $195 / michaelkors.com

APRIL 2021 |

stay sunshine

| APRIL 2021

E KNOW THE FUNGI WORLD HAS BEEN part of our planet since the earth was created and now they are becoming so trendy that even Hermes and other designer brands are embracing mushrooms in the creation of their products. Mycology, which is the study of mushrooms, always fascinated my clever mind and the little I have learned about the fungi network the more intrigued I got and the more in

ion world. I am still amazed by the way they can transform fine mycelium into sheets of biomaterial that can be used in so many ways. The bio sheets that are grown have laboratory results that prove to us how impressively close to leather and other materials they are in numbers, they test for resistance, texture, and many more attributes so we know for a scientific fact that it’s not only safe but it is as good or better than the intended ma-

THE MAGICAL WORLD OF MUSHROOMS BY RENATA SANFILIPPO

love them I felt for them. As we know mushrooms are present in our food industry and health natural supplements industry but now we can find them in the fashion industry as well. Now taking a couple of steps back let me share a little bit of what I know about mushrooms. Truffles, morels, shitakes and we can keep on going, are well know by culinary enthusiasts, and most of us have heard that some mushrooms can even regenerate brain cells or help our body fight different types of diseases; but what most of us did not know is that if we collect the mycelium (network of fine white filaments) that is a vegetative part of the mushroom we can create what some people like to call “mushroom leather”. I find the terminology deceiving because it’s not leather in my head it should have its own unique name and this innovative technology can be used not only to substitute animal leather but plastic and other material as well. MycoWorks, which is one of the leading companies on fine mycelium sheets, which they call Reishi, has developed this amazing braking thru technology for the fash-

terial to be substituted. Growing sheets of mycelium that can be used to manufacture furniture, purses, shoes, clothes and so much more takes more than science and workers, it takes people that care and appreciate the project. MycoWorks is one of the top companies that can deliver the fine quality needed for the best brands and investors to work and partner with them and Hermes saw that uniqueness on them and decided to create Sylvania, a bag that has their fine mycelium sheets. The sheets that pass quality control are shipped to France where the brand finishes the bag under Hermes standards. So sustainable and beautiful to see and think about its possibilities in our lives. The material created with mycelium can be waterproof, fire-resistant, and durable so creations with the material can go from bags, lampshades to straws, and shoes. Mushrooms are making our lives more magical and healthier. Nature is always the answer to our problems and now with this new biotechnology, we will get to care and wear nature more often perhaps. Stay sunshine!

APRIL 2021 |

BLA the target idea

COLORLESS RUNWAY T H E B &W H A L L M A R K O F S T Y L E BY IBTISSAM EL AZAMI

| APRIL 2021

ACK S

O WE LOVE COLORS. THEY MAKE it pop, they make it drop, and our confidence levels shoot through the roof anytime we think hot pink, lime green, or mustard yellow. Those are indisputably statement colors that can make you feel wholesome and just harmoniously vibing with life.

On the morrow of bright fashion, though, one couple will never ever break up: the inseparable black and white. The unsaid statement logic that you follow when you slip on a simple white shirt accessorized with silver bangles, a black skirt, and dark makeup makes the fashion world spin.

But at the same time, we love black and white. We love the absence of color. And among the spring-splattered colored textiles creeping up on the runways this year, we are choosing to rejoice in the purity of outfit nothingness that speaks volumes when it comes to style.

APRIL 2021 |

the target idea

“WOMEN THINK OF ALL COLORS EXCEPT THE ABSENCE OF COLOR. I HAVE SAID THAT BLACK HAS IT ALL. WHITE, TOO. THEIR BEAUTY IS ABSOLUTE. IT IS THE PERFECT HARMONY” - Coco Chanel

BLACK IS THE OLD BLACK, BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK Black disconnects from the rest of the world, breaks away in style, and needs no exterior elevation to stand its ground. “You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age. Black is actually a shade that absorbs every wavelength of light, hence every color from the spectrum rather than reflecting it, which is why it is often labeled as the absence of all colors. ...OR WHITE IS THE NEW BLACK? Our brains interpret reality, and colors are born in the brain’s visual cortex in the form of electrochemical impulses that cones on the retina, which are receptor cells, send to the visual cortex when they detect wavelengths of light. For instance, three wavelengths of light detected by

| APRIL 2021

the cones on our retina give us white. Various proportions of wavelengths give what our brains will perceive as different colors. Colors are virtual, and they make up the world. The absence of color is the absence of light, and it makes up style. BLACK & WHITE: DOES IT REALLY WORK? When you go to brunch or on a date, what do essentially you reach out for? Black or white. If Michael Jackson sang it, then it must be true. Or is it? “Black and white always looks modern, whatever that word means.” We did not invent it - avant-garde fashion innovator Karl Lagerfeld said it. However, we then need to ask ourselves if wearing black and white sits at the apex of boring. Does it though? Although the colors are pure and simple, there is an immense complexity that lies in putting together a completely flawless B&W look, where the pieces echo each other so much that the look becomes unmissable. It is actually easy to combine black and white when you keep in mind to steer clear from the classic white shirt/black pants. Break from the norm with a play on fitted styles, mix up the volumes and proportions for maximum effect, and layer light and dark with a myriad of accessories to boost your look. 2021 IS MAKING IT WORK Trends rise and rest, only to rise again when you least expect them to. By now, a handful of fashion designers have already presented their FW21 collections to our eager eyes, and guess who the star of the show is? Black and white. Valentino has paved the way to a totally black and white season, with no end to the ways they styled both colors together. Prabal Gurung, Carolina Herrera, Comme des Garçons, Louis Vuitton, Mugler, and Oscar de la Renta are a few names that firmly sit their opinion in the discussion for B&W fashion this spring and fall 2021.

P H O TO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R M E NA L O M BA R D FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T S A M A N DA P E R NA , C A R L O S M A R R E RO HAIR & MAKE-UP C A RO L I NA L A S A N T I TA MODEL A L L E YA S L AG T E R P H O TO G R A P H E R F L Á V I O I RYO DA

APRIL 2021 |

the target idea

BUT HOW DO THEY MAKE IT WORK? A sprinkle of a pattern is always welcome, and that is the secret of those leading fashionistas. Play with more patterns, put your finger on the most unexpected proportions, marry them with texture, and wear this combo feeling shamelessly sexy. Underdogs Roksanda and Ports 1961 show that black and white is the new go-to in their 2021 collections. Roksanda has sewn incredible black outlines of feminine bodies on pieces of their latest collection. At the same time, Ports 1961 released a few models in their Spring/Summer 21 collection featuring contrasts and patterns of silhouettes kissing on their dresses. The world is just running amok for black and white, with a tasteful sense of volume and flatness independently blended together. As a result, expressive clothes with non-colors that denote délicatesse and irresistible charm. COLOR OR NO COLOR: MAKE BLACK & WHITE YOURS Fashion is a game, which plays you while you play it. Look for adventure when mixing up black and white. Play on prints and designs with one carefully selected statement piece in your outfit; from the zebra stripes to polka dots, everything is fair game as long as the rest of the look relies on essential items—Houndstooth, leather, silk, lace. Accumulate, combine, make it drop. Loud. If fashion brings out your most experimental side, dare to create a mix-up with several crisp patterned pieces that you can dress up or down with the right accessories. When it comes to black and white, color block is a fact, and you can expose your true style while amping it up with dark or bright makeup. However classic your outfit may be, incorporating some texture to it will tie in intricate geometry for the illusion of a new modern. Black and white were never out, yet they keep pushing their way in season after season. Instead of playing with muchused-and-acknowledged brights for the warmer seasons, get back to visually attractive basics for even more screaming elegance this year. We have nothing but awe before the endless possibilities of these multidimensional non-colors. Reinvent black, reinvent white, debut fashion.

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

the target idea

COLORS, BRAIN, &

NEURO FASHION BY IBTISSAM EL AZAMI

OLORS ARE THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO GLOSS OVER A day. Studies run about color psychology and the link between color, emotion, and self-confidence have long proven that bright colors can and do brighten our mood, while neutral shades like black, white, brown, or blue convey a more severe, serious image. Fashion uses and reuses color schemes season after season and must be the industry where color has the most importance. Isn’t that why Pantone is so closely tied up to fashion? Colors, brain, and fashion are all neighbors that echo off each other mounts of feelings in an almost secret science. WHY ARE COLORS IMPORTANT FOR THE BRAIN? A fair number of studies have been conducted to understand the importance of colors on our brain’s functioning and the repercussions on our mood. Colors fascinate us and have for centuries, back to the Ancient Greeks who did not have a word to express the color blue and were still looking to link color to the brain and emotions. In 1810, Goethe hinted in his Theory of Colors that color categories were linked to emotional responding, expanding the sense of happiness, focus, or excitement. The 20th Century saw theorists further experiment with our cognitive and physiological reactions. In 2015, the study “Color and psychological functioning: a review of theoretical and empirical work” conducted by Andrew J. Elliot from the University of Rochester, NY, USA, found that color psychology is a uniquely complex inquiry area that is only beginning to come into its own.

| APRIL 2021

For this study, Elliot focused on analyzing both theoretical and empirical situations, experiencing the development of happiness or reduction of depression signs thanks to color experiments previously run. Many areas of our lives were scrutinized under the scope of color, including selective attention, alertness, athletic and academic performance, aggressiveness, avoidance motivation, attraction, and eating and drinking. Examples given by Elliot show that colors seem to affect our performance. Hill and Barton (2005) confirm in their “Influence of red jersey color on physical parameters in combat sports” study that the participants’ body functions were influenced by wearing red equipment. The artificial combat study was conducted after noticing that tae kwon do, boxing, and wrestling fighters who wore red jerseys during the 2004 Olympic Games won more often than those wearing blue jerseys. The heart rate and strength of red jersey wearers were significantly higher, as were their pre-context values on the strength test. BRAIN AND COLOR DYSFUNCTIONS The color topic is vital for the brain. No matter how advanced we might be in terms of animal behavior, humans are still animals and still respond to primary biological stimuli.

P H O TO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R C A R M E N DA TAT I A NA HAIR & MAKE-UP ELIZABETH MAZZEO MODEL KELLIE MENDOZA P H O TO G R A P H E R F L Á V I O I RYO DA

APRIL 2021 |

the target idea

| APRIL 2021

The color-in-context theory advanced by Elliot and Maier in 2012 showed that human beings no longer exclusively associate color to biology but rather respond to color through the social scope - as such, red, which means danger in the natural world, can mean attractiveness or failure in an evolved society. How interesting would it be to understand how people suffering from synesthesia (blending in two senses, seeing music in color) or color blindness react to color stimuli? How we perceive color is a question that humans have tried to answer from the Ancient Greeks to our modern days. The topic is deep and steep, and the mixture of light and dark has been theorized, experimented, tried, and up to now never fully answered. However, the wavelength of the light and the brightness of a color (also called luminance) can be precisely calculated it is the variables in our environment, such as the light, or the neighboring colors, that make the brain perceive colors differently. Despite a dark hole in the precision with which color perception is explained, for people who can see the whole spectrum of colors, colors can cure. Chromotherapy is a scientifically proven treatment method that uses the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases.

and sexually appealing to men and can be linked to a visual indicator of female fertility. It is interesting to see to what lengths fashion designers will create the most voluminous garment piece and what color they will choose to ensure a booming success to their collections. Out with cerulean blue and mustard yellow, the focus is now on the colors you cannot see and the colors you didn’t even know existed. Amaranth, gamboge, burlywood, celadon, glaucous, phlox, viridian, or feldgrau are all specific colors whose name we

did not know - and had never even seen the shade of.

The “forbidden colors,” red-green and yellowblue, are colors that cancel each other out in the human eye since their pairs of hues are composed of light frequencies that also automatically cancel each other out. Colors escape our complete understanding as we cannot humanly see all of them, but only a small part of the spectrum, which is called “visible light.” It is all about

Fashion is more than just clothing or accessories. Fashion denotes your deepest intentions and evaluates your view on life through the only thing that people can share with each other: the material world.

FASHION AND BRAIN: COLOR PSYCHOLOGY IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY Fashion is more than just clothing or accessories. Fashion denotes your deepest intentions and evaluates your view on life through the only thing that people can share with each other: the material world. To qualify fashion, or color, as an optional area of our lives would be to be highly mistaken. Fashion conjures feelings, and although it relies on subjectivity according to the outfit or creativity choices, the overall result offers universal motivations and evidence for comfort, hostility, or perplexity.

Designers propel the fashion world forward by embarking on an endless quest for the unusual, and colors give the tone to an entire collection, inducing feelings and triggering attraction. The red dress effect is an interesting phenomenon to study. It makes the woman wearing red clothing more attractive

neurons: yellow and blue lights excite sets of opponent neurons that can never perceive those colors simultaneously. Enclothed cognition, a term coined by psychologist Adam Galinski, refers to the improved brain’s agility when wearing a specific garment color. A white coat such as a doctor’s coat “primed their brain to take on the sharper mental capacities they associated with being a doctor,” which means that the color you wear impacts directly your mental performance. As such, color seems to be a growth factor in terms of brain matters. Color and clothing go together in controlling our emotions and creating a whole new mood. It is fair game to say that the color world is constantly on fire, canceling past trends, inventing, and reinventing hues and shades. Although some colors have a set-instone meaning and send off specific messages and feelings, select the colors you wear according to the mood that you want to create for yourself. Red is bold and conveys attractiveness and danger. Yellow is optimistic and energetic, as is orange. Green represents calm, growth, nature, while blue is soothing and boasts authority. It takes 90 seconds to form a first

opinion of anything - a product or a person: choose wisely.

APRIL 2021 |

the ladycode

IT’S THE NEW TEETH FOR ME BY LISA OPIE

About a month ago, I got 20 veneers to redesign my smile. I’ve had braces, veneers to fill smaller teeth, and Invisalign in the past and dental work has always been a journey for me. I had a consultation with Dr. Andreina Jativa, a cosmetic dentist at NewFace MD and after discussing my concerns, we decided to go with 20 composite veneers and a gingivectomy for my new perfect smile. I’m going to answer my top 5 most asked questions about veneers in this article.

| APRIL 2021

1. HOW LONG DO THEY LAST? Composite veneers last about 5-7 years with proper care. 2. DID IT HURT? I didn’t feel any pain throughout the entire process. Since I also had a gingivectomy (gum removal in small areas to balance the gum line, I expected it to hurt but I felt no pain thanks to local anesthesia.

3. IS THERE ANY DOWNTIME? There is no downtime at all for veneers. 4. DID THEY SHAVE YOUR TEETH DOWN? For composite veneers, they don’t shave your teeth down. They apply a thin layer of the resin based composite over your natural teeth and that’s it! For porcelain veneers, they do shave down your teeth and the

extent of how much they remove depends on your dentist. Dr. Jativa is extremely conservative and applies porcelain veneers with minimal shaving. 5. DOES IT FEEL FOREIGN IN YOUR MOUTH? It didn’t feel foreign at all for me-- I was used to it right away. Initially, eating felt a little bit weird, but after 3 days everything was back to normal.

Interested in getting veneers? Contact Doctor Andreina Jativa at NewFace MD for a consultation: www.newfacemd.com

The same creativity that sets you apart can make you part of our creative community. And if you are passionate about Fashion, Miami International University of Art & Design is the place to be. We'll help you turn your love of Fashion into the pursuit of a career that loves you back.

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

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

Where will your passion take you? Find out. WWW.MYMIU.EDU AIMIUinternational@aii.edu 1.305.428.5903 Miami International University of Art & Design is one of The Art Institutes, a system of private schools throughout the United States. 79 APRIL 2021 | Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. 1501 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 100, Miami, FL 33132-1418. © 2020. The Arts Institutes International LLC. All rights reserved.

in the spotlight

ADRIANA E P E L B O I M - L EV Y IN THE SPOTLIGHT PRESENTED BY

Venezuelan-born Adriana Epelboim-Levy formally trained as an architect at Pratt Institute in NYC. Informed by geometry and decorative-arts, ALEPEL, has dual parts of modern artistry and timeless elegance. Our designer’s inherent understanding of timeless elegance is one of the many reasons why ALEPEL consistently attracts sophisticated women from all around the world. ALEPEL has been featured in international publications and on celebrities including Camila Cabello, Ariel Winter, Josephine Skriver, VOGUE Latin America, Footwear News, Forbes, Oprah’s Magazine, Instyle, Glamour, Elle, Hola!, and Latina Magazine.

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

P H OTO C R E D I T S P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L Á V I O I RYO DA S P E C I A L T H A N K S : F G I S O U T H F L O R I DA & OSCAR LOPEZ

in the spotlight

YOU FOUNDED ALEPEL BACK IN 2014; WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ESTABLISH YOUR COMPANY IN ACCESSORY DESIGN? HAS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND IN ARCHITECTURE INFLUENCED YOUR DESIGN AESTHETICS? Since I can remember, art has been a key driver for me. I decided to go to architecture school so I could receive proper training and a greater understanding of how to build and how to create a structure or product (of any scale) & how to make an impact with my creative work. Even in school, I always knew I was celebrated for my art and had to apply it in my work to share with the world someday. Thankfully art comes in many ways and can be applied to pretty much anything in life. The art of painting, the art of expression, the art of transmitting, and the art of creating any object with a purpose. In 2014 I launched ALEPEL, which to me was the perfect way to intersect my passion for art, fashion, and architecture. ALEPEL represents a redefinition of the status quo of shoes and accessories. A canvas with endless possibilities where creative intervention brings together materials and processes that are wholly new. Our mission is to connect art and design into one-of-a-kind pieces that are as precious as the process involved. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MILESTONES THAT YOU ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF SINCE ESTABLISHING ALEPEL? Since its inception over 7 years ago and through its iterations, the brand has maintained its main ethos of being a champion of womanhood. We achieve this by offering high-quality products that are sensible and project a debonair flair that highlights the Latin-American influence of our team. ALEPEL has been showcased in stores all around the world. We have been featured in international publications and on celebrities including Camila Cabello, Ariel Winter, Josephine Skriver, VOGUE Latin America, Footwear News, Forbes, Oprah’s Magazine, Instyle, Glamour, Elle, Hola!, and Latina Magazine. Last year we received the FGI-SF Award for Accessory Design. HOW IS ALEPEL IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA? ALEPEL is a family-owned small business run by women and led by a diverse team of incredibly talented creative minds. Our production model is made by non-traditional procedures, making each piece unique and special. Every design is made by hand, hand-painted by a local group of artists here in South Florida, who, despite their different backgrounds, are connected through the language of art. We aim to support and revive our creative community to celebrate handmade and authentic work.

| APRIL 2021

YOUR GENEROSITY TO CHARITY AND NON-PROFITS CAUSES HAS ALSO SET YOU APART IN THE INDUSTRY. DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS HAS GIVEN YOU AN EDGE OVER OTHER ACCESSORY DESIGNERS? Any time we have the opportunity to involve a charity aspect in any collection, we do it. We have worked with different charities like Fundana, Make a Wish, Glam 4 Good, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and more.

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y A D R I A NA E P E L B O I M - L E V Y

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABILITY, REPURPOSED MATERIAL? AND DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS HEADING THAT WAY? There is a unique story behind each of these pieces that we make, which gets touched by artists and continued through our customers. In a world where we are expected to fit into existing ideas, we present a clean canvas for a personal story to be painted. Our designs are meant to give light to your

character and to be passed on and endure through, for you to have an item that has life, touch, and authenticity that you can treasure for life. All of our pieces are handcrafted in a fine factory in Brazil with selected materials. We always strive to create consciously by minimizing the harmful effects on the environment, being fair with our workers, and sourcing our materials with consciousness. To avoid excesses and waste, we have a hand-painted, “made to order” business model.

APRIL 2021 |

in the spotlight

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y A D R I A NA E P E L B O I M - L E V Y

| APRIL 2021

P H OTO C O U RT E S Y A D R I A NA E P E L B O I M - L E V Y

IF THERE IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO AN EMERGING BRAND OR A BUSINESS TRYING TO SCALE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would suggest, before looking for expansion, it is critical to understand what your impact is and to identify what is the hero piece that defines you. It is also key to polish your production & procedures to perfection before aiming for growth. I am a strong believer that it is best to start small and grow slower, in a controlled way, for steady success in the future. Growth comes at the right timing, do not rush it. WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMPANY? The past years have cemented the need for a brand like ALEPEL in the market and have proven that we have a unique offering. As of today, our main focus is to keep growing our DTC - where we have found more control and the ability to have a stable business. This past year our DTC grew 700%, and we are excited for more to come.

HOW HAS FGI CONNECTED YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS? FGI has been a key support to our brand and team. Their content, events, publications, and connections in the industry have supported our growth in the past years. The SF fashion industry has proven to be cementing, and FGI has played an important role in their evolution. We were very proud and excited to be recognized by the FGI South Florida team for the Accessory Designer Award in 2020. The Fashion Group International is a global, nonprofit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home. The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace. For more information on membership visit FGI.ORG

APRIL 2021 |

naked souls

| MARCH 2021

KREL’S WORLD W E L C O M E

T O

BY VIRGINIA MAYER

Having access to Karelle Levy’s atelier is definitely a privilege, one that’s available to anyone willing to buy her knit garments that truly hug and celebrate the female body, or one of her surreal and kooky dolls! The sound of Maggie -her knitting machine- in the background is like a metronome setting the pace for an intimate and fun experience deciding what sexy dress, top, shorts -and so much more- make you feel like a goddess, one who accepts and loves herself.

P H O TO C R E D I T S FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R : K R E LW E A R . AC C E S S O R I E S : S E R A B O N DY. L E A D FA S H I O N S T Y L I S T: J UA N I TA C R A RY. M O D E L : Y U R I KO L O N D O Ñ O. H A I R & M A K E - U P A RT I S T: A R AC E L I B R AVO. P RO D U C E R : K A RO D E LG O B B O. P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L Á V I O I RYO DA .

MARCH APRIL 2021 |

naked souls

WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BECOME? I thought it was going to be an artist. I didn’t know what kind of artist. WHAT GOT YOU CLOSE TO ART? I grew up with a very artistic family. My dad is a doctor, but he’s also a musician and a painter. My mom was a fashionista. I used to tell my friends when I was little: ‘My dad is a doctor, and my mom goes shopping’, because she had a boutique where she sold European lines for kids. WHERE WERE YOU BORN, WHERE IS YOUR FAMILY FROM? I grew up here. We came to Miami when I was six, from Paris, where I was born. My mom was born in Sweden, of Polish-Jewish parents who were basically Holocaust survivors and refugees in Sweden. My dad will never admit that he’s Tunisian, he left when he was 17 because, as Jews, they were not accepted in Tunisia anymore. I come from a family of refugees.

| APRIL 2021

HOW HAS THAT INFLUENCED YOUR WORK? I’ve always had this fascination with the North African culture. But I also grew up with my mom, who was a needlepoint artist. She was a weaver when she was young. She knitted us sweaters; she was always really crafty. And my dad is super artistic, and they would collaborate on these things. Also, I didn’t get regular clothes, I got samples because my mom always had access to samples (through her store). I would get clothes nobody had because they were one of a kind. I also grew up going to like this little art camp in Hallandale. We were always encouraged to be artistic. And art was always a very prevalent thing in my life. I was always surrounded by art and fashion. ARE YOU AN OUTCAST? Always. For sure. Always and forever. I mean, I’m a knitter in Miami. And I had this weird upbringing because I am European and North African, and if I said that I was African, they would assume

O N T H I S PAG E FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R & AC C E S S O R I E S K R E LW E A R HAIR & MAKE-UP PAU L J. NAT T E R , C A RO L I NA L A S A N T I TA , M I L E N E M I R A N DA , T R AC Y B O N Y H E N N A TAT TO O S E VA RO D R I G U E Z MODELS S A R A H RO D E B E RG, E L I S A Y U L AU, LY D I A R A M O S, L AU R E N N I C O L E P E G U E S, S Y D N E Y P I G AO, S TAC I A M A N DA L O C AT I O N H O S T ROX Y P E R E Z A RT D I R E C T I O N C H R I S TO P H E R M A K R I S P H O TO G R A P H E R F L Á V I O I RYO DA

APRIL 2021 |

naked souls

| MARCH APRIL 2021 2021

that I was black. I’ve always had this very strange relationship with identity because I might have been Jewish, but I was a different kind of Jew. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? It’s a guttural feeling. I feel like I need to make this piece that’s been in my head for a long time. Miami is a big inspiration; its nature, the way that people dress here, they really have no fear. You can be colorful, bold and sexy here. I think that as women in Miami we have permission to be as sexy as we want to be. It’s a blend between the heat and the Latin culture. So sexy and fierce. Owning it no matter your size. There’s some secret underground fueling. We definitely live in one of the sexiest cities in the in the world. SO, YOUR GARMENTS CELEBRATE THE FEMALE BODY? I definitely celebrate the female body and I celebrate everybody. I’m not a size zero, not even close to it. I’m more of a size 12. I’ve always been curvy. My body type doesn’t fit into regular clothes. So, because of that, when I started knitting, at first it was more like costumes and this kind of very theater kind of clothing, because it’s not really wearable. They were full body size, things that covered your entire body. I was a performance artist for a long time and those were performance art pieces I wore from head to toe, all knitted, so people wouldn’t see my identity. I’m a textile engineer, I design fabric. I did that for 20 years and I figured that there was a way to make fabric that was tubular. And because of the structure, no matter who wore it, or what the body type, it would always mold. The more you stretch it out, the shorter it gets. So, it’s not whether or not it fits, it’s whether or not you like how it fits. WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? A lot of times I don’t have an idea of what I’m making until I literally make it. I always design the fabric first, rather than the final piece. That’s very artistic in that way of creation. I want to play with these colors together and these materials together and these fibers together, and that’s always been fun. WHO HAVE YOU DRESSED? Alanis Morissette and Nicki Minaj. But I don’t really necessarily have dreams of dressing people. I’m not really that in tune with celebrities. I just do my thing and hope that people appreciate it. WHO DO YOU DESIGN FOR? This is not for the faint of heart. This is not for a woman who doesn’t want to be noticed. I hear it all the time: ‘Every time I wear your dress, I get compliments’. ‘If I want to get compliments, I wear your pieces’. These are bold and powerful women who are really confident in themselves and -in a wayexhibitionists. These are really sexy clothes that get attention. So, if you don’t want attention, don’t wear my clothes. WHY DID YOU START CREATING YOUR DOLLS? I started having all these scraps. So, if they were bigger, I

would make them into my patchwork outfits or curtains. And if they were too tiny to make anything, I would start making what I called Nuggets, I shoved all the leftovers in them and would sew them up. It was like a little sculpture. Then I decided to make dolls. I did that with all my scraps. All of these dolls have yarn in them. IS THAT’S WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS ZERO WASTE? Yes. Even my shopping bags are made out of fabrics that weren’t successful. Plus, I don’t buy one hundred kilos of anything. Where am I going to put it? I really buy very small. And that’s another way of just keeping it sustainable. I grew up that way a little bit. Having a family that survived a major war, Jews, you eat everything, you don’t leave anything. And having grown up going to Sweden almost every summer of my life, we recycled everything. We went to the recycling plant. This goes here. This goes there. There’s a place for everything. I always cared about the environment. And I thought that if I was going to have a company, that it should also care for the environment. IS THE LACK OF ZIPPERS AND BUTTONS IN YOUR CREATION A CONSCIOUS DECISION? Absolutely. AND ALSO, PART OF YOU BEING A MINIMALIST? Absolutely. I don’t do pockets either. Maybe one day. WHAT DOES COLOR MEAN TO YOU? Everything. Color is like a mood. It shifts like your moods. You can have mood swings and then you can also have a very somber mood. You can go dark or you can go for absence of color. I don’t have a favorite color. Rainbow is my favorite color. I just really love the way color can have relationships with each other. I think it’s everything. YOU SAY THE FASHION INDUSTRY HASN’T ENTIRELY ACCEPTED YOU AND NEITHER HAS THE ART WORLD. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? I don’t like the box. The box doesn’t like me. Why would I fit in the box? The models who like it. Great. The ones who don’t. It’s fine. You don’t have to like it. Not everyone’s supposed to like what you do and not everyone’s supposed to get it either. It’s fine. I’m totally fine with that. There are so many people in this planet. I just need to get the attention of a few. LAST QUESTION, WHY MIAMI? I realized that, by being in Miami, and as many times as I dream about moving from here, this is really still my favorite place because there’s so many people from so many places and there’s so many shades from light to dark, there’s every shade. And so many different diversities. I really like that, because I feel like I fit in because nobody’s really from here. It’s like we’re made up of a city that is really from everywhere. Everyone is used to being from somewhere else. WELL, WE’RE DEFINITELY GLAD YOU’RE NEARBY

APRIL 2021 |

raspberry beret

CLOSE YOUR EYES, PICK A CARD 92

| APRIL 2021

INTRO & DIRECTION BY JUANITA CRARY PREDICTIONS BY MANISH ARORA

It’s been a year. A long year that has presented itself as a bringer of challenges and with the premise that “life will never be the same”. PRESENTED BY

The Pandemic has changed us all, and even though our old routines seem to start to be getting back to normal, we still feel the uncertainty of what the future holds. It is in moments like these that as humans, since the beginning of time, we find ourselves looking for answers. Maybe because we’re desperate, or just to find some hope or solace. The stars, the palm of the hand, and the cards have always been “books” written with ink only visible to those who know how to interpret the signs and symbols. In this case, we turned to the Tarot Cards to ask what the future will bring to our world while we constantly adapt to the upcoming hurdles. The Rider Waite is considered the most popular Tarot deck in history. Created by Arthur Edward Waite and represented by the occultist and illustrator Pamela Colman Smith, it is widely recognized because of its primary colors and full symbolism figures from the Major Arcana; the 22 cards from the deck that portray the big characters that most people remember. My students picked three of these cards to create a full Past, Present, and Future reading that showcases The High Priestess, The Star, and The Hermit, styled as they would imagine them if they were seen with fashion lenses. P H O TO C R E D I T S M A K E - U P A RT I S T: B L E R BA S TO S, M O D E L : E R I C A M C NAU G H TO N @ T H E WA L K C O L L E C T I V E . P H OTO G R A P H E R : F L Á V I O I RYO DA .

APRIL 2021 |

raspberry beret

: THE STAR IS ALL ABOUT INDULGING THE SENSES, IN LUXURY, ROMANCE, ELEGANCE, LOVE & FASHION

WHAT DOES THE CARD SAY? Star card whose numerical value is 17 indicates that in last two decades, (specifically in last 17 years), fashion has made great strides. The Star card indicates that it is all about indulging in the senses, in luxury, romance, elegance, and love, good fashion sense and all things the planet Venus rules. The Star card also indicates that besides good fashion sense, this period has been all about comfort and stability in fashion as well. Much thought pattern was put into upgraded wardrobe staples in high-quality fabrics and rich neutral tones. Even the most basic of pieces can have Venusian upgrades with gold accents and unexpected details. The Star card means hope, spirituality, renewal, inspiration, and serenity. Fashion has evolved beautifully during all these years. As indicated by the Star card, the fashion industry is about emotional attachment, loyalty, and excitement for brands. Until now, brand love and brand loyalty has remained dependent on the sustainability attributes that a brand enables or builds with its consumers.

| APRIL 2021

STYLING BY EBRU CANKIRI The Star Tarot card shows a naked woman kneeling at the edge of a small pond. As she bends, she engages in a purification ritual, letting go of that which no longer serves her and instead embracing the flow of life. One of her feet is in the water, symbolizing her spirit, and the other one on the land, depicting her inner strength. The bird standing on a branch interprets the holy Ibis of thought. A large star floats above her head, representing her core essences. She is holding two containers of water, which symbolizes subconscious; pouring it on the ocean and the land, nourishing the earth and ensuring its fertility. When The Star appears in a reading, we are likely to find ourselves feeling inspired. It brings renewed hope and faith and a sense that we are truly blessed by the universe at that time. It symbolizes strength to carry on with life. It’s a beautiful card with a deep and powerful message, like a rebirth of some kind. It’s a card I chose for the future because I’m hopeful. When I was creating my look for this card, the first thing I thought of was turning her into a mermaid. The card has both land and water so I figured this mythological being would be the perfect fit and symbol for it. In my Image, the model is holding two seashells as the water containers. Consciousness pouring from inside the big shell on the ground. She was also wearing a huge showgirl headpiece which was a representation of the Ibis in the back. The oversized starfish earring on one ear represents Venus, the brightest star in the sky.

APRIL 2021 |

WHITE DRESS RO G E R K U L LY B FA I N FA S H I O N D E S I G N

raspberry beret

: THE HERMIT FOSTERS CREATIVE POWER, FASHION AND LUXURY WITH MUCH ABUNDANCE & WEALTH

WHAT DOES THE CARD SAY? Hermit card shows curiosity of this fashion-conscious generation to explore new designs, clothing, styles and so on. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, social media, and royalty. They also pay attention to what people wear in popular films, television shows, online videos, books, and music. In this way, fashions constantly evolve over time. Patterned leggings and leggings in general, flower crowns, high-low dresses, chokers, tiny eyeglasses, high wasted shorts, crop tops, oversized cardigans, ripped jeans made deep inroads into lifestyle of young generation. It seems the current fashion-conscious generation will continue committing to what feels aligned. They will continue trusting their gut feeling and instincts. The fashion-conscious generation will continue leaning into juicy, creative power and will let this feeling of luxury envelope all their experience. Abundance and wealth are a mindset, and now all have the chance to lean into this more than ever. And dress the part to remember that they are worthy and deserving of this prosperity.

| APRIL 2021

STYLING BY KRISTEN CABALLERO This card resembles a time of reflection and Soul-searching. The Hermit is typically withdrawn from society and finds comfort within their own space. It finds solitude through prayer, meditation, and personal development. As a hermit myself, I wanted to express the religious side that many choose to follow when looking for the answers within. The inspiration came from multiple sources but mainly the Judas video by Lady Gaga. I admire the bejeweled details and glamour from each of their looks and wanted to embrace the same essence through my photoshoot. Each prop was carefully crafted to capture the raw elements between the card and Catholicism. I started out by picking the glass candle holders that I had to spray paint gold and combined them with a dark red candle that took hours to torch. I was determined to create the effect of a vintage candle dripping in wax. I have seen this before and the churches of Bolivia many years ago. The darkness and enlightenment I felt were the same feelings I wanted to convey through the photoshoot. The lantern that is guiding her through the dark is the most essential prop to portray this message. Where there is darkness light follows.

APRIL 2021 |

B L AC K S E Q U I N E D RO B E PAT R I C I A C A M AC H O B FA I N FA S H I O N D E S I G N

raspberry beret

: THE HIGH PRIESTESS IS ALL ABOUT FASHION ELEGANCE, GRACE, MAGNETISM, AND ATTRACTION

WHAT DOES THE CARD SAY? High Priestess card is all about elegance, grace, magnetism, and attraction. Fashion trends themselves will become more simplified. With many people working from home and social distancing for the foreseeable future, fashion brands will tone down their styling in favor of comfortable loungewear and clothing that works for sleeping and living. Even after the pandemic, clothing will likely stay simple and comfortable. Some emerging trends that today’s youth will be considering the norm in the not-so-distant future is digital clothing, digital people, and full transparency from brands. They will be ready for anything that gives comfort, and feeling inner power, whatever the circumstances. People will allow the style and glamour they inhabit in future to help them heal and accept the spiritual well overflowing within themselves. There would be spiritual transformation for most of them and it would be for their highest good. They will channel their higher self through some simple, intentional, and fabulous glamour. Their heart, their empathy, and their intuition have all led them here, and now they get to bask in what is bloomed for them.

| APRIL 2021

STYLED BY CHARLIE RINCON The high priestess represents wisdom, intuition, and divine femininity, and in an upright position suggests that it is time to retreat and reflect upon the situation and trust your inner instincts to guide you through it. Things around you are not what they appear to be right now. There are elements in the depiction of the high priestess that suggest a mix of eras and influences such as Egyptian, Medieval, Catholicism, and Judaism, which all served as inspiration for this interpretation of The High Priestess, wanting to show her in a way that reflects her mysticism, eventually taking an Arabic/Middle Eastern approach that suggests the idea that The High Priestess is portrayed as a genie; mysterious, wise, intuitive and spiritual.

APRIL 2021 |

PARK P L AZA H IS T RIA, V ERUD EL A 15, 5210 0 P UL A, CROAT IA

EXOTIC BEAUTY FEDERICA CARELLA FLOREÀL PLASTIC ALLURE COLLECTION

102

| APRIL 2021

P H OTO G R A P H E R M A R I A C R I S T I NA G I U L I A N I

M A K E - U P A RT I S T RO M I NA D I G L I O D O

MODEL S I M O NA G E M M A

HAIR STYLIST ROX A NA S A N D U

APRIL 2021 |

103

104

| APRIL 2021

APRIL 2021 |

105

106

| APRIL 2021

YOLY MUÑOZ C

2190 SW 22ND TERR - MIAMI, FL 33145 +1 (305) 860.3839 Y O LY M U N O Z C O U T U R E . C O M

horoscope

ARIES 21 MARCH – 19 APRIL

BY MANISH ARORA

You are more inspired this month, and your personality fairly bubbles with bursts of enthusiasm. You are making breaks from elements from your past that have limited your freedom or that have kept you from expressing your individuality. This is a time when you are more willing to take personal risks. Your ability to do the right thing instinctually will get you everywhere now. There may be unexpected events that free you from confining situations or past conditioning patterns. You are drawn to people who are free-spirited at this point in your life. Favorable Dates: April 5, 8, 14, 17, 23, 26. Favorable Colors: Red & Green.

TAURUS

20 APRIL – 20 MAY This month is the time for gaining social strength and your faith and your belief system, whatever that may be, and you are likely to find much joy in so doing. Reduce the emotional temperature when making health decisions. On the career side you will be full of life and this will reflect in work. More security in your job is likely. You are more willing than usual to work diligently for

110

| APRIL 2021

money, and your natural talents are likely to be utilized more in the work you do and appreciated by others. Favorable Dates: April 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23. Favorable Colors: Red & Black.

GEMINI

20 MAY – 20 JUNE This is a period of growth as well as some form of blossoming or fruition. This is your best chance to get educated and establish links with the outside world. Ambitions to study, teach, travel, write, move, or export your ideas will take off largely thanks to your friend, or an intriguing team effort. Love and other social activities help to enhance a healthy self-image and suggest the ability to enliven romance in an existing partnership, or the strengthening of ties with a romantic partner. Favorable Dates: April 6, 7, 15, 16, 24, 25. Favorable Colors: Yellow & Purple.

CANCER

21 JUNE – 22 JULY Your higher mind is expanding, and you might be considering furthering your education or simply broadening your knowledge in a more informal manner. You will have a happy time on the personal front. You will win hearts of all your loved ones by showing them love and affection. For some of you, a fair chunk of your social life could take place in and around the work environment. This month should help you make watertight plans for your mind, body and spirit in a way which serves all of them, at the same time. Favorable Dates: April 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23. Favorable Colors: Red & Blue.

LEO

23 JULY - 22 AUGUST You have a greater desire to get away, expand your horizons, and broaden your life experiences. Your ideals are higher than usual, teaching may be part

of the picture, and your cultural and spiritual awareness increases. You recognize exactly where you have been overdoing your expectations, and you find new ways to nurture faith, hope, and vision. You will have a good money inflow and you will spend lavishly for your comfort. You will share your dreams with your beloved and will have a great time. Favorable Dates: April 5, 9, 14, 18, 23, 27. Favorable Colors: Grey & Green.

career and public life will be in order. Partners are no longer simply for amusement or mirrors of your ego. Responsibilities to partners, the need to compromise, and the realities of the needs of others, become clear. You are bound to reach a broader audience if you do, and the feedback will feed the flames of your own inspiration. Favorable Dates: April 4, 8, 13, 17, 22, 26. Favorable Colors: White & Red.

VIRGO

23 AUGUST - 22 SEPTEMBER You will have special charisma and magnetism this month. You tend to be more helpful to others and spiritually inclined now. A healthy perspective on your life helps to keep everyday stresses from getting to you too much. You have a strong interest in broadening your mental experiences, possibly through higher education, travel, exposure to different cultures, or exploring different philosophies of life. Stirring in you is the desire to make radical changes to the way you go after you want in life. Favorable Dates: April 3, 7, 12, 16, 21, 25. Favorable Colors: Grey & Blue.

23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER Work done behind the scenes may be revealed or incorporated into your career or public life this month. Past efforts pay off now. Some of you may find that your career is moving towards a more service-oriented direction. You have a strong ability to see each person for who they are as unique individuals, and this helps endear you to others. Friendships that are stodgy or limiting may very well be left behind. Passion and intensity in affairs of the heart or with your hobbies can run rampant and enthusiasm overflows. Favorable Dates: April 3, 9, 12, 18, 21, 27. Favorable Colors: Blue & Red.

LIBRA

SAGITTARIUS

23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER This month striking a balance between your attention to your career and to your family life is necessary. Taking steps to improve your family and home life as well as your

SCORPIO

22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER This month has the potential for being a relaxed, fortunate, and hopeful time for you. You are greeting life with a fresh, can-do attitude. Events occur that help you to overcome problems that previously seemed challenging or even insurmountable. It is an excellent period for travel, higher education, communications, and higher learning. Fundamental changes in your domestic situation and career orientation are likely. You may

come into the limelight in a positive fashion. Authority figures, elders or influential people in your life tend to support and respect you during this cycle. Favorable Dates: April 3, 4, 12, 13, 21, 22. Favorable Colors: Yellow & White.

CAPRICORN

22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY This period in your life is a time for learning about your personal limits as well as your inner strength. Carry these lessons as you move beyond this phase, because how you handle your life now will make all the difference. Working hard at self-improvement ultimately leads to replacing your old spirit with a regenerated one. You will be one step closer to knowing where you are headed, and you will have re-built faith in yourself. Ideally, you adopt a more mature attitude towards adventure and facing the unknown by month end. Favorable Dates: April 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25. Favorable Colors: Red & White.

AQUARIUS

20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY You have a strong interest in broadening your mental experiences, possibly through higher education, travel, exposure to different cultures, or exploring different philosophies of life. Decisions made will satisfy your head, as well as your heart. Other people’s stake in your money, assets and possessions will be in the spotlight. If involved in a casual love relationship, a pressure emerges concerning the need for evaluating your commitments. The quantity in the relationship department will tend to be replaced with quality, and this process involves time, soul-searching, frustration, and eventual fulfilment. Favorable Dates: April 2, 5, 11, 14, 20, 23. Favorable Colors: Red & Purple.

PISCES

19 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH Your ability to move forward on a direct path without as much doubt is increased. You are more able to inspire confidence in others as a result. You are likely to make changes in your life that break you out of your usual routines. It feels good to break out of your shell a little and to take a few healthy risks. Acquaintances, siblings, or casual friends and communications may be catalysts for this new self-expression. The learning of new skills, the pursuit of new ventures and the alteration of daily routines in work and health will contribute. Favorable Dates: April 4, 9, 13, 18, 22, 27. Favorable Colors: Blue & Red.

APRIL 2021 |

111

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

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

POSCHEMODELS.COM | AGENCY@POSCHEMODELS.COM

@ TA D A S H I S H O J I

TA D A S H I S H O J I . C O M