IN autumn
Autumn is all around: from the crisp clean air to the slow moving breeze- we want our ensembles to flow seamlessly with the season. Unlike past fashions, where we wished to cover ourselves in warm, muted pallates to endlessly flow with our encompassing surroundings, this season is less about blending in with the leaves and the trees, and move about standing out in contrast to the changing environment. Our feature, “Autumn Movement”, shot by INK’s own Joy Newell, takes us from withering sheer fabrics, to beaded trophy jackets, then back to the basics with a classic metallic body-con wrap to ring in the new season. Stand out beguiling one-of a kind creations by taking a nod from Lady Gaga in the “amourasly glamorous”, expose written by one of our favorite interns Alex Taitague. As you sift through the pages of this section, and read more about Fall’s heavily laden rock-meets-beat movement, witness the transition that takes us into winter and remember: next time you’re at a loss for how to rock your own interpretation of Balmania and the rest , take a que from our IT girl, Anna C: “Just wear what feels best!” Even if that happens to be a studded leather blazer, crystalized puffed sleeve dress, and a killer pair of boots...
WRITTEN BY PROMISE NEWELL + PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN TROXEL GOWN BY ROZ + MODELED BY LYRIC LINCOLN
INK MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTERS/STAFF/ADVERTISERS CONTENT EDITOR IN CHEIF: John Troxel EDITORS (grammar, mechanics): Alicia, Lisa Burke, Carolyn Troxel CONTENT EDITORS: Promise Newell, Tori McBride FASHION DEPARTMENT: Promise Newell (Department Head) writers: Alex Tataigue Monica Merell Liz Osban Tracy Mathewson photography: John Troxel (sub-department head) contributers: Chanachai Ohpanayikool STYLING DEPARTMENT: Tori McBride (department head) Stylists: Tori McBride (Cover Stylist) Promise Newell Monica Merell Lauren Elizabeth Cathy Sager Hair & Makeup: Karen Werkema Jennifer Brown Custom Wardrobe:Lindsay Roxynek ROZ Yvette Wesley Cathy Sager Tess P.B. Demario & Aquiyla Mcilwain Venus Phli PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT: Joy Newell (Department Head) photographers: Joy Newell John Troxel contributers: Tracy Mathewson Monica Merell Krittiya Sriyabhandha Mary Robinson FINE ART DEPARTMENT: Mike Bailey-Gates (Department Head) contributers: Mia Christopher MUSIC DEPARTMENT: Cody Bralts (Department Head) writers: Sterling Rose Cody Bralts Kenny Price Ian O’Hare DESIGN TEAM: Chloe Elise starting winter 2009 (Department Head) staff: Aaliyeh Asfar Anika Van Boom Jeff Stein John Troxel MODELS FEATURED IN INK FALL 2009: Lyric Lincoln - COVERSHOOT Claar Ennis - CHARISMA John Lozowski - CHARISMA Anne Lehan - ANNIE Verity J. Bayfield - LONDON Dillon Max-Grant - LONDON Emily Smith - IDLE Ashley Shaffer - IDLE Anna C. - IT GIRL Andrea Lee- AUTUMN Cammie - EARL GREY
copyright INK Magazine & artists featured. All artists/contributers retain sole rights to their work. INK Magazine uses all materials with permission from owners. Copyright 2009
CONTACT US: COMMENTS & CONCERNS: inkmagemail@gmail.com ADVERTISE WITH US: inkmagemail@gmail.com FASHION DEPARTMENT: promise.newell@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT: johntroxelphotgraphy@gmail.com STYLING/DESIGNER OFFICE: earlgreydesigns@gmail.com we are constantly looking for artists, photographers, designers, and musicians! contact us, don’t be shy! we are currently looking for advertisers! CONTACT US! CALLING ALL DESIGNERS! You want exposure, we want to get you involved! Contact us! WRITERS: Send us an email fo your interest and we’ll see what we can do! We want you involved in INK! INK’S SPONSORS & ADVERTISERS: Kate Towers John Troxel Joy Newell Earl Grey J. Alexander Tori McBride
CONSTRUCT Photographed by John Troxel Styled by Tori McBride Modeled by Lyric Lincoln Hair & Make-up by Jennifer Brown
dress
by
ROZ
INK’S
anna
OFFICIAL
“IT”
GIRL:
a c. Anna C. interviewed & photographed by Joy Newell
How do you feel about being chosen as an "IT" girl? I've never been an IT girl nor have I ever felt like so it has been an honor! What makes you "tick"? I'm a pretty easy-going person but I think the one thing is when people just die to get attention or when they don't act their age. We've heard stories about your electic house... what do you think is the coolest feature of your house, and why? I don't think there's actually one feature I like about it come to think... it's mainly the overall feel...I love the shape & the face in the front. It has so many doors & a spooky basement! At INK, we love art. (Almost as much as we love peanut butter cookies...) tell us about your art. Ever since I was a little girl I've always had such a fascination with art and I'm not shy to say I've always been good at it. My favorite media is watercolor or colored pencil. Though they are both very different you can play with them more & as with watercolor you can mess around with different colors & still have it turn out with more of an attitude instead of just, "oh, there's another drawing" What is your worst fear? I think my worst fear is having the president throw potato chips at my face. What is your favorite city, and why? I'm more of a states kinda girl, so I'd say New Jersey or Oregon because of the softness & the colors.. plus I hear the weather is very nice (for my taste anyhow) :) Where do you see yourself in 5 minutes? I see myself in dee shower... though it's none of yo business where ima be...
charisma Photography
by
John
Troxel
Dress
by
Tess
PB
Gold Charmuse Gown-Cathy Sager
ch
harisma
“Compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others” Modeled by John Lozowski & Claar Ennis Styled by John Troxel & Tess PB Gowns by Tess PB, Yvette Wesley, ROZ, and Cathy Sager Hair & Make-up by Lauren Elizabeth Photography by John Troxel
photographed at
Winding Creek Manor, thank you to Ferman & Gail Lex
Gown:
ROZ
Crinkled Chiffon Gown:
Yvette Wesley
Dress by
Tess
PB
TIMES IDLE
LIZ OSBAN Modeled by Ashley Shaffer
LIZ OSBAN
If there is one magnitude in fashion to be ecstatic about, it is the definitive place accessories are playing in our new century so far. As the 1900’s had a very subtle air about their fashion, they also had accessories, then seemed as dire pieces one must always be wearing. No decent man or woman would step outside in 1912 without a hat on. No classy debutante would go to a ball without a hand beaded gown, adorned in layered jewelry and a matching beaded head piece pinned in her hair. And no fine soldier would leave without his uniform in the utmost shape. Nearly 100 years later, accessories such as head pieces, jewelry, military jackets and hats are slowly appearing in and out for the publics acceptance as well. Whereas the majority of the public is still skeptical about the gaudy bib necklaces, elaborate feathered headbands or bowler or derby hats one can now find at accessible stores such as Forever 21, Urban Outfitters - even Target, the economy is urging designers to focus more on the accents on outfits (obviously the cheaper pieces to an outfit) to keep the multi-billion dollar business of fashion in the economy loop. Does anybody remember the 30’s changing it’s fashion dramatically to the 40’s as decades usually do or was the economy from the Great Depression to blame? My case in point. Another aspect introduced into our fashion is the ethereal fashion coming about: oversized bows, feathers, Alice in Wonderland sized rings, warm or cold hues and military jackets much like the ones The Beatles wore on the album cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The retrospective aspect coming back is studded belts, chains around the waist, chandelier earrings, long strap boho bags, as well with the classic Chanel styled clutch purses with crests or broaches, leather jackets and the layered chained necklaces we saw so much in 1984; Madonna would be proud. Any of these pieces are a bold statement, can compose any simple outfit and add much desired class for the end of our decades wildly eccentric style.
“
the economy is urging designers to focus more on the accents on outfits
“
Modeled by Emily Smith
LO
Verity J. Bayfield
ONDON
as a way of life
The fast-paced, impersonal living-machine that is London has now effectively consumed fashion as well. Tracy Mathewson “You can’t keep up with it, can you? I’ve never had a fashion trend [last] longer than 2 weeks.” Verity Bayfield, resident of Epping, Essex just outside London explained to me the plight of trying to keep up in a place that does everything in a rush. Even just outside of London, the place still radiates with the speedy mentality: “Everyone has always got to be somewhere, and even if you’ve got one thing to do all day—buy a newspaper—you buy your paper in a rush.” The speed and impersonality that has been the face of London as far back as the early 19th century is the same look of indifference that shows today. But something has changed. My guess? It’s the fashion. And it doesn’t stop. Not unlike the “go-go-go” attitude of London, the trends seem to zoom in and out as quickly as they’ve come, and unless you’ve got a wallet to keep you in, you’ll soon find yourself left out, right? Holly Himsworth, student at Wimbledon College of Art remarked, “Everything in London revolves around money! Which means shopping. It’s a major business here… With such a big city that’s really anonymous people can wear what they want. People tend to mix proper posh stuff from Oxford Street with stuff from the markets, and they’re all ridiculously well dressed.” So what does this mean? It means that perhaps the wallet isn’t the point of decision that concludes if you’re in or not—if second hand clothing can be just as cool as posh brands from the high street, what calls the shots? Personality. Hep to the blurry tendencies of fashion, Londoners now say something like, “Never mind the trends, here’s what we think looks good.” And this makes London a way of life. “…Many other things contribute to make our new Londoner feel smaller in his own eyes. The living stream flows by him in the streets; he never saw so many utter strangers to him and to each other before; their very pace and destination are different; there is a walk and business determination distinctly London.” -“Life in London”
“With a town whose (im)personality could very well overshadow its inhabitants, we’ve now discovered the best way to fit in, is by not fitting in.”
With a town whose (im)personality could very well overshadow its inhabitants, we’ve now discovered the best way to fit in, is by not fitting in. “You do your own thing,” Dillon Max-Grant of Hayes, West London makes out. Verity concurs, “You dress—it’s not to make you fit in, you stand out, and people like that. You see a million Sheryl Cole’s every day.” Free from the social constraints induced by the kind of judgment found in smaller towns, Londoners are free to wear what they want with perhaps a few exceptions due to one or two constrains, but namely the weather. As I have found, England experiences a total of two seasons throughout the normal year: Cold Winter and Warm Winter. The latter of which only lasts from approximately late June to early September. For this reason it is not uncommon to have a plethora of coats all year round. And for all of England (not just London) the key to fashion lies in the layers. And despite the never-ending hubbub on the trends, there are some fashion necessities that the English just won’t do without. The basics? -Jackets. -Boots. -Scarves. A quick walk about London with a sharp eye will lead you to the realization that just about everyone is wearing at least one of those items—even likelier that they’ll have a combination of the three. But you won’t feel like you’ve seen a town full of look-alikes. Why? Because the personal flair is endless! Scarves with colors, lengths and sizes, are worn about necks, on heads, around waists, or over shoulders. Jackets of every material and style—all with different types of lining litter the torsos of London. And then the boots, for men and women—from kneehigh to ankle-deep, and with heel heights ranging from flat to 4 inches+ make the streets all one big, living runway. But if the British have given up trying to stay on top of the trends, (and are satisfied to make their own alongside them…) there has to be some other cause for inspiration (besides the weather) that makes their sense of style so apparently different. Dillon Max-Grant reveals, “With my group of friends, we basically modeled ourselves after Americans, in truth. It was what we saw on music videos in the case of jeans and long shirts.” So pop-culture has a hand in this, but I thought it was the Americans that looked to the British for inspiration! Somehow each of these interpretations and re-interpretations of each-others’ culture have become lost in translation on each side of the Atlantic. We look to them, modify our styles, they look to us, and modify their own, each of us adding something unique to the mix. But there is one uncommon constraint on London fashion, given straight from LA: gang culture. Dillon shared his own experience with me, “Some places they have gangs that call themselves Bloods and Crips or ‘down-scaled’ versions of them—it’s just unnecessary. But that’s a case where fashion gets dangerous.” He then recounted an incident at Acton Carnival last year: “I was with five friends, and I was wearing a red Barack Obama shirt and a red hat. We were absent-mindedly just walking in the park and we got stopped by about 30 people all decked out in blue… It was really unnecessary. I was scared at the time.”
As it is, London is as rough and rude as it is fast. So for Dillon, whose favorite color is red, he says, “There’s certain places where you can’t wear certain colors. That’s why I wear so much red when I’m up here [at the University of Hull,] it’s because I CAN.” And if that’s not a change in lifestyle, perhaps it can be a learning experience. “The London man lives fast… There is a good deal of education in this. The mind is ever on the stretch with rapid succession of new images, new people, and new sensations. All business is done with an increased pace. The buying and the selling, the counting and the weighing, and even the talk over the counter, is all done with a degree of rapidity and sharp practice which brightens the wits more than any books or schooling he ever enjoyed.” -“Life in London” Even with my brief encounters of London it has become very apparent that a level of adaptation is necessary to merely stay afloat in such a city. Holly Himsworth, who grew up in Scarborough (just over 3 hours away by train,) has only just recently moved to London and found the transition eye and ear-opening to say the least. “It’s nice to hear people from all over—London is so multi-cultural.” Indeed, the saying often goes, “See the World, Visit London.” And that’s another facet to Londonliving that fashion brings together: Countless cultured faces are united in this town as independent thinkers who collectively champion individuality as they each bring a strand of their own traditions to their dress. In London, a walk about town is not just that. It is a walk that shares ideas and provides inspiration by and for people who come from all over the globe. And if you’re in a rush—as you would be in this town—sometimes a person’s dress can tell you more about them in a moment’s glance than you’d ever struggle to obtain in conversation. So it has after all a rather democratic outlook, this London Life: the individual has found independence from the swift trends that seem to almost mimic the very lifestyle they were chosen for, its people are active participants in the creation and inspiration of what they wear, and of course, there is freedom of choice—making equal opportunity for those of us with and without the dough. (Now I’m beginning to see why those Brits are taking some notes on the U.S.!) And don’t worry; you don’t need to live in London to experience this liberating phenomenon. Even as a visitor, you can still find just the thing to funnel your expression of self—you’ll just need to know where to go. As Hynam Kendall wrote in London Life Magazine, “the beauty of London is that it serves fashion to the masses, with countless out-of-the-way boutiques and secret shops selling ridiculously cheap ultra-trendy clothes,” (allinlondon.co.uk). Kendall goes on to divulge numerous hotspots for finding faded T-shirts on a 50p sales rack to tweed double-breasted suits making a price ceiling at £50 (which is roughly $81 with the exchange). But that’s not to say that finding well-priced clothing and accessories is easy—you do have to know where to look, and you mustn’t let your jaw drop excessively if you find a £500 purse in the shop windows. That would most certainly label you as a tourist—as the locals are moving too quickly to notice. “…for London is like a wilderness, not as elsewhere because there are no people at all, but because there are so many people, that one is equally far from helping another save on rare occasions. This inexorable self-dependence, stamps to a great extent the character of the Londoner.” -Life in London
“Everybody has a place to be,” Verity explains, with just as clear a view of the London pace as Dillon. After being asked if she felt she was at times behind the trends due to her distance from the epicenter, Dillon stepped in, “I joke about it a lot, but basically whatever I had, [Verity] had as well.” The only difference between Verity and a central Londoner (as she put it) was “Those kids could afford to have the trends on, but my parents wouldn’t have it.” This soon would foster the kind of self-dependence most of us become compelled with when the parents start reeling the wallet out of our grasp. And though many Londoners will look for a job, just like a good vintage find on Carnaby Street, it may be a bit more difficult than it seems. According to the September 2008 publication of the Annual Population Survey: “Londoners and the Labour Market”, the unemployment rate for “young persons” is 18%. This means that 18 percent of the population aged 16-24 were without a job and able to start work, or were actively searching for a job. Nobody said it was easy. Yet, as Lisa Barlow, a graduate of Laban Contemporary Dance School in London, says, “as a student two things were a cert for me, the first was that I was single 80% of the time and the second was that I was desperately broke 100% of the time. Therefore, to truly enjoy London, it was always the free parts that I indulged in.” She continues to illustrate her routine of picking up the free newspapers that were available around the tube as: “What I actually believe to be part of a government tactic to ensure that no one makes any effort to communicate to each other during tube rides. This communication includes no eye contact, apologizing if you have been stood on, or general chitchat with strangers. [These papers] would always play an essential part to any day, although full of celebrity gossip, they held the purpose of demonstrating to me what Luis Vitton and Chanel’s newest lines looked like. This would be the closest that I would ever get to experiencing the fashionista’s London. I digress however.” Little did Lisa know that she was living in the fashionista’s London the entire time., as the fashion focus is beginning to change from beneath the lights on the runway to the grey of sun filtered through a cloudy English sky. Perhaps it just breezes you by when you live it. But to those of us who aren’t used to the edge of London fashion, I believe it’s quite noticeable. So let’s have it. London as a way of Life—is that an overstatement? Take the pace of living, the indifference that’s so often mistaken for rudeness, and the blur of every man for himself with all the competition, not just for jobs and money, but for finding the right combination of Jacket-Boots-andScarves to make one person stand out from the rest of the 8 million inhabitants rushing along day to day in this global city. Does that make actually living here a lifestyle? Well, take that and the fact that not too much has changed since “Life in London” was first published back in 1817, and I’d say that alone would make a fair argument. But add in the element of style—the idea of a modern fashion culture that can reflect the bustling, age-old persona of the city but at the very same time refract within each of the individuals walking at once, but at their own pace. The prism of fashion once again finds itself placed within the realms of a city whose compelling impersonality could only give way to a form of personal expression that firstly does not hinder its speeding agendas, but that is just as captivating as the allure of the city itself. And they make it look so easy. But what do you expect? This is London, after all.
PERSONAL REFERENCES: Lisa Barlow, contact phone: +44 07950 205785 Verity J. Bayfield, contact phone: +44 07708 812660 Holly Himsworth, contact phone: +44 07846 464 091 Dillon Max-Grant, contact phone: +44 07706 792203
Verity J. Bayfield Dillon Max-Grant
WEB REFERENCES: Annual Population Survey: “Londoners and the Labour Market”: HYPERLINK "http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/factsandfigures/dmag-briefing-2008-30.pdf" http://www.london.gov.uk/ gla/publications/factsandfigures/dmag-briefing-2008-30.pdf “Hidden Clothes Shopping Gems in London” by Hynam Kendall HYPERLINK "http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/life/index.php?fid=7&page=3" http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/life/index. php?fid=7&page=3 London Street Fashion-Interactive Map HYPERLINK "http://ftp2.dns-systems.net/~sams/LSF/new_map.html" http://ftp2.dns-systems.net/~sams/LSF/new_map.html “London Characters and the Humorous Side of London Life” HYPERLINK "http://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza/london.html" http://www.angelfire.com/ks/landzastanza/london.html PHOTOGRAPHIC REFERENCES: All photos taken 19-9-2009 by Tracy M. Mathewson in Scarborough, UK
PUTTING THE AMOROUS IN GLAMOROUS ALEX
TAITAGUE
To put this in perspective: I ain’t no Lady Gaga fan. You see, I’m ‘too cool’ and ‘antimainstream’ and I ‘have good taste’ and am still ‘an open minded hipster’ and blah blah blah whatever. So let’s get this embarrassment of an article rolling. Lady G has risen to prominence in the vacuous bubble of pop culture, and her name has worked its way around many spheres of entertainment. Her work in music will always be the center piece of her career, but the many fringy offshoots are what earns her place in the fleeting sands of popular history. Since writing for the likes of Britney, Akon, Fergie, and the Pussycat Dolls, she has surpassed them in arts of fashion and showmanship. Borrowing the glam rock aesthetic of David Bowie and Queen (her name is a reference to the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga”), she has revamped the pop-scene with some simultaneous blend of indulgently fabulous vintage and fashion forward outrageousness. Okay so she’s all that, but is she all that? She has earned hordes of fans who adore her style and attitude, released a debut album that has rocked the charts and the airwaves for the past year straight, and she has been compared to Christina Aguilera. By all accounts, Lady Gaga puts the amorous in glamorous. But to put it bluntly: Lady Gaga is straight-up cuckoo. Literally. What other word could be used to describe a person who (according to third hand youtube accounts) stops mid concert to let her fans know that their applause is like ten thousand tingling sensations on her clitoris. Along with the bubble outfit, or the geometric shapes plastered over her body, it is at this point that I begin to wonder if she belongs at fashion week or if she is a real life Zoolander character: perhaps the female Mugatu--or male Mugatu--wait, did we ever find out if she was a hermaphrodite? Sex organs aside, I am sure that she is no new groundbreaking fashion force. Her extreme popularity comes from doing that which the populous will love, and though there are admirable traits in a woman who can please the masses, her fabulosity seems an incident isolated from the grander schemes of fashion’s future. However, I won’t deny a diva credit where credit is due. If she isn’t inspiring trends for the fall season, she is inspiring her fans to strive for a certain style that can only come from each individual, to strive for fabulosity in your own image. From here to eternity Lady Gaga’ll have her place teetering between the thin line of popicon and diva-of-the-minute. Regardless of which side of the line she falls, she has done her part not only to capture such a large fan base, but to show them another example of individual style, flare, and glamour that we can all put into our daily lives. If there is one thing I learned from the gay frat party in her honor, it’s that people will go batshit crazy for her. And above influencing the latest designers, having a ton of crazed army of hip dressers is far more fabulous.
N E V E R
G O N N A’ G I V E
reliving fashion's fearless past
m o n i c a
Y O U
U P
m e r e l
This Spring collections might have focused on muted boho chicness, but it has become apparent that the wave of big hair, excess amount of hairspray and daily use gym attire – (hello‘80s!) - is back Almost every trendy shop has leggings in every shade, color, or pattern. Embracing the silver gym tights and the “almost-could-be-a-dress-but-it’s-a-shirt” shirts seem to be taking over malls, class rooms and even party attire. Casual attire is beginning to look like something out of Molly Ringwald’s closet during Pretty in Pink (and you can’t forget Duckie’s rockin’ black and white penny loafers!). But don’t fret. We’ve all learned for our parents ‘80s albums what not to do. You know what that means? (1) Don’t go all out in neon colors. Perhaps, try to limit yourself to one. (2) Take it easy on the hair spray. (that is what is destroying our environment people!) Try a pomade to sculpt your hair instead. (3) Take it easy on the blue eye shadow (if it did not work for Julia Roberts, it’s probably not going to work for you) (4) Pick and choose your accessories. Big earrings, paired with a chunky necklace and plastic colored bracelets worked for Madonna in the ‘80s- unless you’re in her remake of material girl music video please rethink your accessories. Work with whatever you feel to be relevant to your personal style…until next “IT”decade fad comes along…
Annie
Photographed by John Troxel Styled by John Troxel & Lauren Elizabeth Modeled by Anne Lehan
Coat by Demario & Aquiyla Mcilwain
Photography : Krittiya Sriyabhandha www.krittiyaphotography.com
AChanachai CHAT WITH MR. CHANACHAI Ohpanayikool, interviewed, about his menswear label: SHAKE APPEAL To begin with, the profusely generic question, how did you get involved with fashion? Music and fashion have always been my two connecting interests, and came from magazines like The Face and i-D, since they always featured my favorite bands on the cover! I was really inspired by the fashion photography and the street youth-subculture that they stood for. I went to business school and realized there must be some way to combine my fashion interests with my business degree, and so I went to London to study fashion. Why fashion? Because fashion is such an accessible and everyday form for people to interact with and it is an expression of ourselves, our characters and personalities. Its always fun to see people make an effort and dress up. I also love how fashion is so intertwined and affected by many other things, that on in culture. Where do you truly get your inspiration for your clothing? I used to say music, but now I would say travelling among many other things. I got loads of inspiration from my latest trip to Rajasthan in India. I do love traditional costume, custom, and tradition of hill-tribe minority group in the northern Thailand and surrounding areas such as Laos and China. On the topic of inspiration, which designers are you currently drooling over? Cult designers like Siv Stoldal, Henrik Vibskov, and Bernhard Willhelm are always my inspiration. With all of the up and coming designers and fashion powerhouses, do you find it difficult to truly be “original� in your designs and concepts? It is a challenge, yes, but I think it is important to remember that fashion should not be just a competition. But at the same time It is important to do what you think is best for the brand and the customers. From the angle of a designer, what is your favorite fabric (to work with)? I do like jersey, its so easy in terms of style and versatility. Anything really exciting happening soon? Any new projects? Our spring/summer 2010 will be inspired by indian craft and the desert.
Chanachai Ohpanayikool www.shakeappeal.org
The Independents So, what is “indie culture and fashion?” Is it those moccasin wearing, headband rockin’ hipsters who shop at Urban and are typically decked out in American Apparel? We all know that indie originally was abbreviation for “ independents.” That changes the portrayal of what indie is, right? Independents are trendsetters. They are the people who walk down the street and aren’t afraid of embracing what they love to wear even if it’s “out of style.” Being an American appeal zombie is even as bad as being an Abercrombie zombie. Take a risk and wear exactly what you feel. -monica merel
MEOW, RAWR...CAT POWER!
...
MONICA MEREL Hidden inside an exclusive shopping center, the Culture Room has a cluster of diverse people crowding around the door trying to inch their way in. The ages in the line range from fifteen to sixties: no one is too old or too young to listen to the soulful seductress known as Cat Power, the alter-ego of Chan Marshall. Upon entering the crowded venue, the aroma of cigarettes and sweat fills the air, and Ms. Power embraces the stage in her signature long-sleeved, army green button down with a loose black tie and a pair of skinnies. She is rockin’ the up-do pony tail, seemingly appearing to be uninterested in the crowd. The room is quiet now, waiting for the moment where the raspy-bluesy-big-band mix will come out of her gifted mouth. Oddly enough, when you look around there’s a hot kettle of people. To the left, I see a girl decked out in Hot Topic-like attire with her leather-head boyfriend, yet to the right is a couple of indie-hipster college kids. Interestingly enough, Chan Marshalls sweet and subtle stage persona makes it to oversee her punk quality offstage. Her authenticity as an artist is displayed in each one of the songs she performs. You somehow feel what she feels, and then break down when she’s breaking: A trait that truly makes Cat Power a powerful performer. I left feeling a little more older, a little more soulful, and a little more reflective. Meow! Recommended songs to tune to: "The Greatest" "Sea of Love" "New York" "Could We" "Women"
THREE CONVERSATIONS drawn by Mia Christopher Mia Christopher is a multi-disciplinary artist and freelance illustrator currently living in San Francisco, California with her two cats, Bruno & Eloise. She is studying at California College of the Arts.
Autumn Movement
Trophy Jackets, Metallics, and Satin Sheen ring in a new kind of wear- Fall is here! Photographed by Joy Newell Styled by Promise Newell Modeled by Andrea Lee
INK Magazine is pleased to announce the launch of it’s all new online store, Earl Grey. Earl Grey will feaure clothing featured in INK’s photoshoots, props, and specialty items. Each season, INK Magazine will choose one of our staff members to team up with an artist, designer, musician. The final product will arrive to you in various forms, a collection of one of a kind clothing, jewelry, stationary, or even a special album of music tracks! Confirmed is this winters first debut jewelry collection; J. Alexander. Photographer Mary Robinson teamed up with J. Alexander for the campaign photographs. And the jewelry will be featured throught INK’s winter issue! Stay tuned on this spring’s collection, “TROXEL & McBRIDE”. INK’s own John Troxel & cover-stylist Tori McBride team up to create a handmade collection of clothing for the chic and confident. Check back to see that colledtion this spring. Earl Grey will be launch mid November, so check the INK blog to find a link!
Photographs by Mary Robinson