LAPALME MAGAZINE Summer 2015 Issue

LAPALME FASHION ART CULTURE

LAPALMEMAGAZINE.COM

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US $4.99 CAN $5.99

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German Supermodel, Singer, TV Personality and Entrepreneur Hana Nitsche bursts onto our pages in an exclusive interview.

Since her rise to stardom Hana has graced the pages of some of the worlds finest magazines and has appeared in ads for Coca Cola, Wella, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few.

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Check out his Editorial entitled STRAPS AND SHOES on Page 44.

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Los Angeles based Makeup Artist turned Photographer, Fidel Gonzalez sits down with us to talk about his work and where the lens is taking him now.

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Contents

L A PA L M E M AGA Z I N E 04 Editor’s Letter 12 Orlebar Brown 20 Must Have Handbags 32 Drawn to Fashion 34 La Vie En Bleu 35 Edinger Apparel 34 The Hours of Summer

54 Haute Arrest 60 The Stranger the Line 62 Belle et Blanc 66 The Beat goes...

67 Streaming On 72 Shayne Leighton 76 Manika

80 Cesar De La Rosa 84 The Inspira Project 88 Kristin O’Connor 92 Tailor Your Tech 94 Tom Ford Beauty 100 Tom Ford Men 106 Kenya Robinson

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summer 2015

108 Cheyenne Kimora 110 Shoe Show 114 The Clark’s Corner 122 Hair Trends 123 Bangstyle Showcase 124 Slate Summer 126 Massa Coastal Italian

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Blazer...check. iPhone with GPS on...check.

Magazines...check!

Stepping out onto the busy New York City streets, optimistic and ready to tackle this unfamiliar concrete jungle, I’m enthralled.

Having had visited New York City previously, but never alone as an adult, AND NOW, with a purpose.

The purpose of this trip is to meet key players in the fashion industry, make connections and to expand the awareness of the LAPALME Brand.

Trekking up Madi­son Ave, referencing my GPS, it says I’ve arrived...but my destination is nowhere in sight. Quickly, re-checking the address and realizing that I’d left a small part of it off of my GPS search - the N for NORTH! Immediately changing it, the new route appears on my screen and my entire world stops as I re­alize I’m a 45 minute walk away, with only 15 minutes to get to my first major New York City

meeting! Scanning my surroundings, spotting someone getting out of a taxi and running as fast as my dress shoes allow, the cab is mine!

Shouting to the cab driver the correct address, I hope for the best.

As we drive down the street (at a seemingly glacial pace), the big, beautiful buildings engulf me. The higher they grew, the more I realized I’m but a grain of sand in this giant Metropolis - New York! - The BIG Apple, where millions of people live, work and dream. Where dreams come true for some...and for others, dreams are vanquished! The fashion capital of the world! Why would anyone here want to meet with me?

Sitting back and trying to compose myself after my long trek in the wrong direction and vigorous sprint to the taxi, I move down to catch the air conditioning when the sight of the beautiful, blue cover of the Spring Issue of LAPALME Magazine ignites my mind with confidence.

The answer was right beside me the entire time.

Images property of Luis Ayuso

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I picked the magazine up and held it in my hands, running my fingers across each page...I could see how each page is a work of art. OUR work. I took a moment, sprayed a bit of my I’m-confident-andsexy, listen-to-what-I-have-to-say fragrance Tom Ford Noire Extreme, and looked at my IPhone, realizing I was about to reach my first meeting with 5 minutes to spare. I swiped my card and stepped out of the taxi with a courageous outlook and indomitable spirit. My first meeting went very well, as did the rest of the ones I had that day. Speaking with experts uptown, stylists in mid-town and photographers in downtown, I started to realize that although we had a beautiful book with gorgeous images, we still lacked a voice.

Sitting on the rooftop terrace of my hotel, overlooking the bustling city with bright lights. Full of life, art,ideas, rich cultures and most of all FASHION! I took the city in for inspiration and took some notes. When I arrive home in sunny Florida and meet with the LAPALME team I am elat­ed to share my findings.

Our goal is to create new, exciting layouts that are uniquely ours and content that express our ideas about luxury fashion, art and culture around the world. Keeping in mind that the ever-chang­ing culture that IS fashion.

We will be highlighting designers on the rise as well as what’s new for the established fashion houses. We will be exposing our readers to exciting artists in every medium, interesting culture features and inspiring spaces from all parts of the world.

We here at LAPALME look forward to sharing our voice, louder and prouder than ever before, and we invite you to see luxury through our eyes. I personally look forward to guiding our issues to come in the right direction and keeping our indomitable spirit alive and thriving.

Luis Ayuso Editor In Chief 5

summer 2015 CEO / PUBLISHER

KEVIN LAPALME EDITOR IN CHIEF LUIS AYUSO EDITOR AT LARGE ANGEL CARDONA CREATIVE DIRECTOR CORALIE CLAEYSEN-GLEYZEN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR FRANCESCA GREENWOOD CULTURAL DIRECTOR BRYAN WHITEHURST LAYOUT DESIGN HALEY NUNGESSER CIRCULATION KEVIN LAPALME

TO SUBSCRIBE

AD SALES CHROME CREATIVE GROUP

Subscribe@lapalmemagazine.com www.lapalmemagazine.com/subscription ©Copyright 2015 LAPALME Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photography or illustration only with written permission of the publisher. LAPALME Magazine, its officers, staff members or writers do not warrant the accuracy of or assume responsibility for any of the material contained herein.Freelance photographers are responsible for their copyrights. Editorials or editorial submissions do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Publisher and/or magazine leadership.

All letters, text and photo material received become property of LAPALME Magazine.

WWW.LAPALMEMAGAZINE.COM

PUBLISHER LIONSHARE MEDIA GROUP PRESIDENT / CEO KEVIN LAPALME

VICE PRESIDENT - CORPORATE RELATIONS JAY D’ALBA

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www.diannehalloway.com

THE EDGE OF MALAMAR Photographer: Albert Wolf Stylist: Carlota Golightly MUA: Saray Dominguez (for Myartist) Hair: Susanna Schmetterling (for Myartist) Model: Jessica.S (Francina models) Photo Assistant: Adrian .G

SITTING PRETTY Looking forward to the hot summer months. Boxy tank with pink trim. Moto pencil skirt, white round sunglasses from & Other Stories. Black and white pumps from Aldo

CHECKED OUT Ready to tackle the beach and the waves.

Cut-out checked top in neon yellow, Cut out check necklace both available at. Cosstores Black sport shorts from & Other Stories

OCEAN BREEZE wave white one piece available at AmericanApparel.com Silver wind jacket available at colmillodemorsa.com

REACHING HIGH Silk blend Japanese style jacket available at colmillodemorsa.com Graphic skirt by & other stories

STIMULATING SCENES

Large Crowd of Surfers in Ocean – Dennis Hallinan Surfing Safari Photographic Signature Cutaway One-Piece $360

Matching shorts $295

Imagery by underwater photographer Mark Webster, this shot of an anthias shoal at Thomas Reef in the Red Sea creates a unique, limited edition design. Shoal Aquatic Two-Tone One Piece $360

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Images Courtesy of Orlebar

“Our photographic prints have been the perfect way for us to celebrate “An OB Way of Life”. They have provided the ideal canvas for us to invite you into our world of sunshine, travel, happiness and good times”

ORLEBAR BROWN Matching shorts $295

Matching shorts $295

Amalfi Print Signature Cutaway One-Piece.

Featuring a travel poster by Italian artist Mario Borgoni advertising the Amalfi coast in 1927 $360

London-based luxury swimwear ORLEBAR BROWN came to be from a ghastly realization at a friends birthday party. After noticing how wonderful all the women looked and how terribly tailored the men were, photographer Adam Brown decided to change that.

After extensive research and development, sourcing and logo design, Adam started with 1,000 pairs of tailored shorts you could swim in. After much success with men’s swimwear, Mr. Brown moved on to resort wear and designing what he thought resort wear should be.

Nice Print Signature Cutaway One-Piece, Featuring a travel poster by Italian artist Mario Borgoni.

Intricate detailing from this poster advertising Eff D’Hey. $360

We are excited to feature some of the photographic print pieces from ORLEBAR BROWN that are a perfect addition to everyone’s swanky summer wardrobe. A resort essential for the all-around sophisticated woman. These timeless one-pieces not only compliment your figure but provide a classic, understated look with exquisite attention to detail. Toss the tags because this swim wear will last you a very long time.

All available atwww.orlebarbrown.com

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SO IT BEGAN ON HER: Cocktail dress by Dior, Shoes emroidered cut-in wedge by Alexander McQueen available at www.bergdorfgoodman.com, Watch by Guess ON HIM: Shirt by Calvin Klein Pants and Blazer available at H&M, Polished black shoes available at www.aldoshoes.com

SUMMER FLING As temperatures increase, hem lines rise.

Heat increases desire and inhibitions diminish.

What new fling will spark your interest?

Where will your summer fling take you?

HOT DAY DREAM Our summer sweethearts stop to take in the view from the cool comfort of the in-doors.

Photographer: Dhrumil Desai, www.dhrumildesai.me Models: Josh Beard (Otto Models) & Paramonova Victoria Stylist: Amber Wilson, www.amberwilsonstyle.com Makeup & Hairstylist: Henry Rasu, www.henryrasu.com Photographer’s Assistant: Sabrina Tanamal

CITY VIEWS catching some sun and seeing the city.

CLIMACTIC ENDING Summers end.

Will our lovers keep the summer spark alive or let the good times wash away with the new waves?

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Must have

for Summer

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CROSSBODY BAGS Cross-body bags are perfect for the summer. These bags aren’t only trendy, but they’re super convenient for the wild summer days where you just let your hair down and dont want to worry about where you’re going to put your purse. Cross-body bags certainly aren’t new but designers such as Rag & Bone are experimenting with this trend. Their tiny handbags can be worn flat on the chest, which adds a new innovative flair to the recycled trend

BUCKET BAGS

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Bucket Bags were all the rage last season, Designers such as Phillip Lim, Kenzo and Victoria Beckham revived this trend by playing with different textures, materials and silhouettes. From Phillip Lim’s intricate holes, Kenzo’s colorful rubber material to Moschino’s colorful prints.

Images Courtesy of Getty Images

Fur? In the summer? Oh yes!

While a fur handbag in the summer may sound like an oddity, they make the perfect statement piece for summer. Designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Fendi and Van Noten Missoni are all very fond of this bizarre, yet daring trend.

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www.trisak.com By Daniel Kuykendall

SOL SALUTE

GERMAN MODEL HANA NITSCHE SHOWS US HER SOFTER SIDE Aside from being a beautiful model who has graced some of the most coveted runway shows, and holding the title of Germany’s Next Top Model, Hana Nitsche is a lovely old soul with a passion for R&B music, singing, artwork, and appreciating the simple things in life. When’s she’s not busy in the hustle and bustle of the fashion world, Hana truly believes in loving your natural self, discovering the power of one’s own personality, and embracing the present.

Interview by: Massiel Mancebo Photo: Sian Chapman

LM: We may know Hana Nitsche the model, but who is the everyday Hana, how would you describe yourself?

HN: I’m more of a person who likes quiet. Usually when people think of models they think of all this glamour and parties, and I’m more of the opposite. I live in Upper East Side and not in SoHo where everything is a bit louder. I like everything more calm and relaxed. I hate parties (laughs), I don’t like to go out; I like to go to movies with friends, or just go to a lounge bar and talk. Also, with clothing I like to dress down, I love fashion definitely and I like to dress up and everything but in a more toned down version not so much big hair and make up. When I’m in private I don’t really wear make up. Also I’m a very artistic person, I love music, I love art, I do art and music myself, so that’s actually more the type of people I hang out with. I don’t have that many friends in the fashion world, or modeling world, I guess in a way I separate these two. I can be shy with people I don’t know, when I’m at an event I can have this outgoing personality and be more entertaining, but I’m more easy going, I love the simple things in life.

LM: That is very interesting, what kind of musical talent do you have?

HN: I’m a singer, I do more soul, R&B and pop music.

LM: That is so cool. Was there a point in your modeling career when you felt you had “made it” and had achieved something big?

HN: I never really imagined that I would even be a model in the first place, so for me being in this industry for so long, it’s been 10-13 years that I’ve been here, and I started very early, so being in the industry still, is a miracle. Usually what happens is you have these very young girls and they exchange them every season, every season you have a new girl and a new face. For me to still be here and have people recognize my work and refer to me as a supermodel. I haven’t really been doing like high fashion things; I haven’t been on a Vogue cover, but I’ve done commercials, and other covers, and TV. So like, people all of a sudden started recognizing me and asking for autographs, asking to take pictures with me, writing me on social media, etc. That was the point when I felt like maybe I had done something right in my career. Usually models are not recognized on the street, so it was interesting, but I guess also my work is a little bit different than just modeling.

I became a public figure. I’m not really confronted with my work so much, but when people start talking to you on the street, you realize people actually know your work.

LM: You say you were surprised to even be a model, how did you get started in the modeling industry? Was there something else you wanted to do?

HN: I came more from the dancing and singing field, so that was my first goal. But even back then I didn’t think I could do it, because I didn’t have the confidence to be on stage.

The stage was a dream for me but I never thought: “oh I’m a beautiful girl, I could be a model” I always thought to be a dancer, or a singer. I came across modeling when I was maybe 16. I was on a beach with my family and we met a photographer who took pictures of me and sent them to an agency. Then when I was a bit older I was at the mall with my mom and an agent came up to me and said they wanted to see me at the agency, so that’s how I actually got started. Later on, I was approached by a TV network from Germany… they were doing Germany’s Next Top Model with Heidi Klum. They convinced me to be on the show, I was the finalist on the show and that’s how everything really took off.

LM: How was it like working with Heidi Klum?

HN: It was quite an experience, because she was always my modeling icon. She was a big icon among German super­models, so it was a big deal. The show was very new when I was on, so it was a huge thing, and I was really excited –but it was a bit weird for me. It was a different situation because you have someone you admire, and then all of a sudden this person is in front of you and they judge you. I was a little bit intimidated. Back then I was very shy, and I was new to this TV world; it’s something I hadn’t experienced. I had experienced some of this in the modeling world but not on TV. It was amazing. I learned a lot during that time also about the industry, because you saw the side of show business; you had to function as somebody who was Sian Chapman selling something, selling themselves, trying to stay on the show with the competition in mind, so that was something I didn’t really know before, it was new to me and I learned it while on the show.

LM: That must have been very challenging…

HN: It was challenging because I had moments…it was just very emotional. You work with this team a couple of months and you travel with them. People watch you all the time, you have cameras around all the time, you wake up, you have a camera in your face… it was intimidating for me and for any girl that is on the show –but it was also fun. I had a very good time, and I learned a lot. Heidi, she’s very inspiring, I learned more about what she accomplished as a personality and model when I actually got here to New York, and I met the same circle of people, and pretty much went through the same hustle that she did. I realized how much work it actually takes, and that it’s not just you know: “oh she’s a pretty girl, she’ll get lucky.” No, it takes a lot of work. You have to have all of these connections. You have to pretty much go from door to door and introduce yourself, start very small, and it still isn’t guaranteed that they will book you. She’s this business woman who built an empire from her name, from being a model, so I totally respect that.

LM: What was one of your most memorable and favorite modeling moments?

HN: Yes, when I shot with photographer Raphael Maizzucco.

He’s one of the top photographers, and has shot all the girls from Victoria’s Secret. We went to Iceland. We were there for one week, I had no make up, no hairstyling, it was just me, nature, and the photographer. We were going from location to location, with volcanoes, I was on ice, and like all these crazy incredible landscapes. I was right there, and it was one of the most memorable shootings because the photographer also sold these huge paintings of me. They had the paintings in galleries and everything. This was very special to me because I’m an artist myself; that’s something that I always love to do. It was amazing and intense to shoot in a place like that, it was very cold. Iceland is a very mystic place. It was like outer space or something; shooting there for a week I felt like a little creature that was coming alive (laughs).

LM: Was there, or is there someone who has really motivated you to keep going, and inspired you in your career?

HN: I mean there are a couple of people in my life that I need that are a big support systems for me. You have moments when you want to quit, and it’s important to have people who are supporting you. Definitely my publicist, and friends that are close to me, even my ex boyfriend Russell Simmons, he was a big supporter, encouraged me to just keep going. My family and friends have always encouraged me. I was lucky because I stepped into a field of good people who always pushed me to fulfill my dreams.

LM: It was very nice to see the respect between Russell Simmons and you, and see that both of you have nothing but positive words towards each other, despite the ending of the relationship.

HN: He’s just a great person and he’s still a part of my life.

LM: Was there a destination that has inspired you greatly?

Aside from Iceland?

HN: Iceland, South Africa…I spent almost a month there, it was very nice. Also Paris, like Paris was more of a place that made me tougher, it was a hard place to start modeling, and it was one of the first places I went to for modeling. This is where I experienced the real face of the industry, going through castings, people being mean to you. Having to share an apartment with girls; you have like 10 girls in a little apartment, and they’re mean and they take things from you. It was pretty much my cool jump into the cold water of the industry, so it was pretty much learning the alphabet of modeling.

LM: Paris can be a tough place for anyone, I think most people think it’s just romantic but…

HN:: No, it’s not!(laughs) It could be romantic, but it’s not…

But I almost forgot to say New York! It’s pretty much my love.

I’m here and I almost forgot to mention it. It’s pretty much my love. I’m here and I almost forgot to mention New York.

It’s one of the places that totally got me. I never thought I was going to live here and now it’s my home. It’s the craziest city probably in the world. When I came here I didn’t even imagine I was going to live here, and now it totally sucked me in and I feel like I’m a hardcore New Yorker. (laughs) I start to use swear words, and I start to push people aside, I get annoyed when there’s tourists in front of me who stop and take pictures, I walk across the street when it’s still on a red light; I started to get all the patterns of a New Yorker. I have dogs here and everything! So I’ve totally adjusted myself to this city. You can’t even describe it, you get hungry for the feeling. You get tired of New York, you leave, and as soon as you leave you’re like “oh my God I want to go home” and you miss the hype of New York. It’s crazy I’m a person who grew up around nature and in a small village and now I miss the noise and the craziness – New York does that to you.

LM: What do you feel have been the greatest challenges in your career?

HN: I think dealing with being rejected every single day, and also traveling from one place to another and not having your family close, and then still find the motivation to keep going and to feel good about yourself. The industry really drains you down, it can be very shallow, It can be very consuming. You’re involved with your body and your beauty all the time, and you check your imperfections like it’s a disease. You have to make sure you always look good for a job, you’re pretty much there on demand. You start to lose yourself in this world in a way that you forget about your own personality.

When I got back to my music, this gave me the drive to not take it personally. I’m still a person, sometimes you can forget yourself that you are a person because you are so obsessed with a look, and being victoria janashvili a certain way for the client. You get treated like a product sometimes. In some commercials the clients are good, and they treat you nice. But sometimes in fashion, especially in high fashion you get exchanged every freaking day, for another girl who looks exactly like you but “younger” or “sweeter”. You have this constant pressure on you; you start to check your body constantly. Even the agencies… they may not mean it that way but it’s a requirement of the client so they’ll be checking you.

You are already a skinny girl but they keep telling you: “hey you need to lose weight” and then when you sit with your friends and they all have normal bodies, and they’re all gorgeous and stunning women, but you sit there complaining about your body. You totally forget that that has nothing to do with the real world. Because you’re just a product of the industry, the real world does not see any flaws on you. The industry just checks for certain “flaws” because they have certain requirements. You need to switch that band off and not take it personally. When I was younger I struggled, I took it personal and I thought “wow they don’t like me.” Over the years, I learned to just switch it off. I realized that it has nothing to do with me, there’s just something that the particular client is asking for, so if they say “no” to you, it doesn’t mean that you’re not beautiful, or that you’re not good enough, it just means that you don’t fit the sizes or you’re not the type

of look they’re trying to create and it has nothing to do with you or your talent, or what is in your heart and soul, you have to totally switch that off, just brush it off and go to the next thing that’s there.

LM: Do you feel that there is a positive way in which women can transform these feelings of rejection and low self-esteem?

HN: They need to realize that the entire image of the perfect woman is not even real. It’s the first thing that they need to realize. Even the models, they don’t look perfect they don’t look like themselves in the pictures. They get photo-shopped, retouched. Even some girls, although they are very skinny and very young, they get altered into a different picture. So that image that is selling to you is not real, so measuring yourself with that type of woman is totally unrealistic and you shouldn’t do that. Beauty comes in different ways, and the real beauty is about your personality, it’s about how you carry yourself.

What is in there that is interesting about you? That is something that nobody can touch, no matter what kind of look you have. The look is something that doesn’t last, once a woman starts to see it that way and starts to be confident about themselves, loving themselves, they don’t need to keep competing with a certain crazy look that is not even real. A woman needs to love herself the way she is. Even me when I stopped being crazy about how I looked, and chasing that kind of thing, and I wasn’t caring that much anymore what people were thinking about me, that’s when I started to book jobs. Because they started to look at me like: “wow she’s interesting, she doesn’t care, she’s not desperate for the job” and that’s how it happens! Most girls are so obsessed with their looks, that they become slaves to their look. They get like robots. It’s even easier for those people to seek them out and target their weak points. But if you don’t show any weak points, If you show people you are confident no matter how they hit you that’s where people start to see you in a different way. It becomes about you, and what you put out there, and how you want people to perceive you, once you don’t allow them to pinpoint you and target you for any flaws, that’s when things happen. That’s for me too, I started to love myself more, and be more confident about what I have. I still go to the jobs, maybe knowing that I’m not that perfect as they require, but I still go, and show up with the confidence, that it’s okay to be that way; and I think that’s when others start loving you as well.

LM: Do you have a statement, quote, or a proverb that you live by?

HN: Hmm…Just be grateful for the moment that you have in life because you never know what’s going to happen the next day. What people do is they tend to always worry about what has happened in their past, and they carry that with them, or they worry so much about what’s going to be tomorrow, and they’re not even there so they create all of these sce­narios in their mind and they don’t even know if it’s going to happen.

So I started to live my life more day by day and taking it day by day, and enjoying the moment. Especially in this career, people crave always for more, and they don’t appreciate what they have in that one moment. I think “how can they not appreciate it, and are always wanting more?” I started to have my life more about enjoying what I have in the moment.

I don’t worry about what is next, or what happened to me no matter how bad it was. Also I say always smile no matter how hard it is… I say if you have to fake a smile, that smile eventually turns into a real smile because you’ve developed a habit of being happy.

LM: So what are some of your top beauty secrets and regimes that keep you looking beautiful inside and out?

HN: I mean I do some fitness here and there. I do yoga, I love kickboxing –that’s like my fitness thing. I get lazy with working out when I travel and everything, I come home…and I don’t really feel like going to the gym and being surrounded by people; that kind of annoys me already, having people around me staring at me while I work out, I really don’t like that, so I do things that I actually enjoy, and that are fun things. Kickboxing and yoga is fun to me. Also, I try to not wear too much make up when I’m in my private time, to just relax the skin. I try to eat healthy. I have a couple of products that I use by Lush, and I have creams by Origins.

I love these products because they are organic, they don’t test on animals, they don’t have any chemicals –especially Lush and so I do face scrubs and stuff like that. I just try to keep my face clean from things, and just relax a lot. It’s really hard to maintain good skin or good hair because people are always messing with it. victoria janashvili I use hair masks, conditioners, a variety of oils; sometimes I put eggs in there or even beer. I have masks from Lush that are all organic, fresh made, and they have different herbs and things, I always try to use natural things. For the inside, I think it depends on the people you’re surrounded with, I try to have good quality people around me, that make me happy.

I think when you are happy you are ready on the outside. I try to avoid stress, you need to find yourself a time when you can just switch off and just be all to yourself, have no make up on, have a messy hair day, don’t wash your hair for a coupe of days and just rest. I try to do that stuff as often as I can.

LM: If you were on a deserted island, and you only had one small bag to take with you, what would you take?

HN: I would take a razor with me, if I don’t shave I feel dirty… then I have this shampoo from Lush, it looks almost like a soap bar, that thing is so awesome that you can use it for your body and for your hair, and it smells so amazing that I would take that as my overall rescue. Maybe a comb… I don’t know, candles? I don’t even know what to take with me!

LM: Candles? If you took candles, you would probably have to take some matches with you, or learn to make a fire.

HN: That’s true… so maybe not such a good idea to take candles with you. I would take a journal, maybe a guitar. I would take my dogs with me for some company.

LM: Do you have a particular fashion icon?

HN: I don’t really have a fashion icon to be honest. I like fashion things and everything, but I like more the different looks from the street. New York has a lot of “fashionistas”, and crazy people, so there’s already a lot inspiration from them, but I’ve never really had anybody that I thought I wanted their style. Also my fashion is very much dependent on my mood, however I feel that’s how I transform. It can be urban or it can be glam, so how I feel that’s more my inspiration.

LM: What are some of your current goals and dreams?

HN: I definitely want to get more into the music, probably work on an album. Also, I’ve been trying to get a swimwear line with friends, it would be really cool to have my own fashion line.

LM: What is something that you are very proud of yourself for achieving?

HN: Surviving New York City (laughs). Just being in the industry for so long, living in this village and then making it out here in the world. It’s pretty tough when you live in a small town, and you decide to move somewhere without all of your family and friends, and you start over and make a living there that’s quite an achievement. Yes, you can say I’ve been on TV and people know my name, but I see more the whole aspect of surviving things like that, and still being here, and still enjoying life, and being a part of this industry being able to do what I love. Many people have a job and they hate their job, I’m in an industry where people want to be in, and I can call this my job and make money out of it and you have fun and love it, and I think that’s quite an accomplishment because many people don’t manage to find something that they love in life and make that their profession, so I think this is an achievement.

LM:: What is your advice for others who want to make it in the fashion and creative industries?

HN: They have to believe in themselves no matter how hard it is. They have to stay consistent with things. No matter how many times they fail, it’s not about the failure but it’s about

the need to get up and start again. When you think about all the people who make it, and are at the top, they have all the same stories. They’ve been trying over and over and over, and it’s not so much about how good they are, but more about how hard do you want this dream? How hard do you want to work for it? How many times will you get refused and get disappointed, and still want to do it and still have the same passion? So its very important to not lose the passion, not lose the faith, and still work hard, and no matter how many times it doesn’t work out to not give up. Not giving up is the key to success. Also, have other things that you like, even have friends in a different field, something that can distract you and gives you the happiness back. It’s finding a way to just switch off, because it drains you to just be in that all the time, and have to act tough all the time, you need to something that balances you, you need quality people to support you. This industry people think they can make it alone but they can’t; you need the right people around you.

Sur round yourself with people who support you, who push you.

If you are around people who tell you that you cannot do this, or you cannot do that, you have to leave that circle immediately because that’s going to be poison for you.

You already have the industry beating you down you don’t anymore haters around your in your circle.

You need someone there who will tell you: “listen shut up, just do it, do it again, try it”.

If you don’t have that you are going Sian Chapman to lose your focus for your job, and for your dream. If you want to do this, you are not going to get it over night.

People always see those stories “oh this person was discovered over…” –It never happens overnight for anybody. Even if it looks that way they don’t see how much work it took to get to that place. It always takes so much work for everything, so it is not happening so quickly. Yes they may get discovered but they don’t see what the person went through to get to that point. Another advice is, don’t ever compare yourself to other people because everyone’s journey is different. You might have the same talent but you might have it in a different way, and you may get it in a different way so just because that one person got there faster doesn’t mean that you’re never going to get there or vice versa. Or just because that person doesn’t have the career you have, that they’re worse that you, in one year that may be in a totally different way. The whole game in the industry changes so fast, so it’s important that you don’t compare yourself. You’re different, you’re very different; and you have to stay unique and you have to stay yourself if you want to recognize yourself in the industry. If you try to copy someone else, you’ll always be in the shadow of the that person.

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SUMMER BEAUTY ESSENTIALS With the arrival of Summer, we want to look natural but with a bit of a healthy glow, New York Hair Stylist Jorge Luis has selected a few "Summer Must Haves" for these 90 and 100 degree days ahead.

Bronze Goddess Shimmering Nudes Gelee Bronzer

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$30 Available at Estee Lauder

I have tried dozens of serums and oils and I have to say this is the ultimate product, Why? Because you don’t feel it on you. That is how a serum should feel, the best hair serums/oils do just that, Product prices are approximate.

This is a super-luxurious liquid bronzer formulated with a unique blend of bronzing pigments in a pearlized reflective base for a sheer, natural-looking radiance. It feels weightless and comfortable on your skin.

Prive Vanishing Oil

$39 Available at Prive Salon and Priveproducts.com

LE JARDIN DE MONSIEUR LI This is an unisex scent that delivers exquisite notes of wet stones and Bamboo.

$131 Available at Hermes.com

BITE BEAUTY LUSH LIP TINT I am obsessed with this brand, you can create your own shades and my clients delighted with this product.

The lip tint contains pure Argan oil, Vitamin E and fruit butters, it hydrates, nourishes and revitalize your lips while delivering a long lasting color

$24 Available at Sephora.com

Ultimate Makeup Prep

Product prices are approximate.

Pro-Care Anti Aging Sheet Mask

Photography by Ted Itamura Use Heir Atelier Ultimate Make Up Prep without foundation for the perfect summer glow. It will keep your skin hydrated and give it that gorgeous summer glow. It’s not just for wearing under makeup! $38 Available at heiratelier.com

This is a line of products that I recently discovered.

It is an incredible addition to my beauty routine. Rich in collagen and moisturizing agents, and it brings back your skin’s elasticity and firmness, while providing an optimal level of hydration.

$60 Available at SkinCareAficionado.com

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CONVERSATION PIECE KELLY RUTHERFORD TIME OUT Taking time away from her busy summertime schedule, Actress Kelly Rutherford, talks to LAPALME Magazine about her green lifestyle, great fashion choices and her two children.

LM: I know you are an avid environmentalist, when did you start getting involved in maintaining a green lifestyle?

KR: When I had a reaction to the cleaning products that were used in my home. I went to get all non toxic cleaning products and have been using them for about 20 years .

And mostly organic food in my home.

LM: Of all the places to live on the planet, Why choose New York?

KR: Well because of gossip girl. And I just stayed.

LM: How does living in a major city affect your green lifestyle?

KR: There are so many great Health food stores now in big cities. I wish all to go containers were biodegradable. It’s possible and affordable. It would change so much.

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LM: I know you are a fashionista, even going so far as to maintain your own online fashion and beauty magazine, what was the impetus to add something of that magnitude to your already busy life?

KR: People kept asking me what I like and so I wanted to share it so that’s how it began.

LM: Do you incorporate your green lifestyle into your fashion and beauty choices?

KR: Yes as much as I can.

LM: I know you are an advocate of multiple women’s and children’s charities including StepUp Women’s Network, Healthy Child Healthy World, Why these charities?

KR: I think it just makes sense to support women’s organizations and kids organizations. Women can help other women so we can finally stop talking about feminism.

We can do it if we step up for each other.

And children don’t really have a voice in society so it’s important to be a voice for them in terms of their health and well being and rights.

LM: As of the printing of this issue, you are going through some tough times in regards to your family situation. How are you coping?

KR: I have become an activist.

LM: There was a waitress who made the introduction to your ex-husband, in a situation that is now viewed as a “setup” for Daniel to be inserted into your life. If so, this is an emotional and mental disconnect, Does this make you weary and distrustful of people’s intentions now?

KR: No it makes me aware of what I was not aware of before. It’s a huge lesson. I think most people are good.

LM: How often do you get to speak with Hermes and Helena? Do they know anything of the situation?

KR: We speak almost everyday.

LM: A situation like this has been known to derail a career sometimes a life, how do you keep it all together and keep pushing forward?

KR: I know there must be a reason. And everyone has something to deal with.

This is mine. I love my children beyond measure and it’s all about them really. It should be about the children in divorce. I love what I do and will get back to it.

LM: What anecdotes do you have for someone that is viewing your situation and frustrated by similar situations in their own lives?

KR: Keep talking about it, writing about it etc. Become an activist. It’s not easy. Have your moments where you can be emotional with those you trust. It’s not easy.

But something that does get me up in the morning is the fact that I can be a voice for those that may not have a voice. First and foremost my children.

Photography by: Stephan Wurth www.lickerishltd.com

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DRAWN TO FASHION To celebrate 25 years as a fashion illustrator, Carlos Marrero is launching his new brand of artwork and accessories called The Marrero Collection.“I am very excited to announce the upcoming launch of my scarves and fashion accessories line. It is the next logical step in my career,” said Carlos.

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The Marrero Collection is a compilation of alluring statement pieces designed for the fashionista looking for unique fashion items without the couture price tag. The line features chic and stylish handbags and accessories, which allow women to take part in Marrero’s glamorous and whimsical vision of fashion and femininity. “The modern consumer is looking for ways to express her individual taste and stand out from the crowd, and the internet makes it easier for individual artists to compete with major manufacturers who have traditionally dominated the market,” says Marrero.His fabulous fashion illustrations make women look their most glamorous. For years, he has designed, sketched and unveiled the most trendsetting looks in the industry, making his iconic celebrity fashion illustrations the most requested by some of the top fashion magazines.Now, famed fashion illustrator Carlos Marrero once again captures the spotlight by sharing the beauty and classic elegance of his stylish designs with The Marrero Collection. The Marrero Collection, is a subsidiary of Marrero Illustration Inc. Established in 2000, Marrero Illustration Inc. art has been published in the most elite fashion magazines, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, In Style Magazine, and People.

His corporate clients include fashion and beauty powerhouses Helene Curtis, Lancôme, Revlon, L’Oreal, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom.The Marrero Collection brings this artwork off of the page and into real life through the creation of women’s designer handbags, accessories, and wearable art. The product line merges high quality design and functionality with the exclusivity of limited edition wearable art.

The collection is a compilation of alluring statement pieces designed for the fashionista Photo by: Holly Caputo looking for unique fashion items without the couture price tag.

Photo by: Xavier Maranon Get the look at MarreroCollection.com

Images Courtesy of Carlos Marrero

Photo by: Xavier Maranon

&

Designer and fashion illustrator Carlos Marrero welcomes back, the most classic of combinations

black white

available at: www.marrerocollection.com

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SIDE SPLASH LA VIE EN BLEU European designer Betta Novais has created beautiful custom pieces for prestigious european theatre companies, major films and commercials and red carpet appearances.

Now venturing into swimwear,Betta Novais created this unique piece with vintage 40s and 50s sex appeal in mind.

Made from a fine satin stretch luxurious lycra fabric. Featuring a deep V neckline and adjustable waist $95 available in other exciting colors and a multitude of sizes at LaVieEmporium.com

Photographer: Harry Wilkins Harrywilkinsphotography.com

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SIDE SPLASH EDINGER APPAREL As we’re busy preparing for our exciting adventure up to NYC for the inaugural Men’s Fashion Week, we came across an incredible company; Edinger Apparel. Inspired by both American landmarks and their travels abroad, designers Erik and Emily Nelson take men’s swim and costal wear to the ultimate level of posh.

Using only the most rich, delicious and luxurious European fabrics from mills in northern Italy and the south of France, and finally shipped to be assembled in NYC, they offer the perfect combination of duality in a sophisticated “east-meets-west coast” style.

Edinger is set to debut their 2016 Spring and Summer collection of swimwear, outerwear, pants and walking shorts. Boasting relaxed and natural apparel, their clothes are perfect for wearing both in the water and out. If you are going to wear only one thing to the beach, make sure it’s a great fit and only the very best!

Marroc 5” swim trunk in Tropical Floral print.

The Marroc Swim Trunk is our beautiful classic boxer style swim trunk with a 5 1/2” inch inseam. This swim trunk fits with a sexy low-rise, draw cord waist band, a hip key pocket, sunglass loop, snap close back pocket and full mesh lining and pockets.

Photographer: Amber Janke Amber@mxamber.com

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Photographer: Sergi Padial Model. Ari Duxans - 5th Avenue Models Agency Makeup&Hair: Eva Mayoral Stylist: Gemma Ruiz Utiel Loctation: Camping Vilanova Park Vilanova i la GeltrĂş. BCN, Spain

barcelona BRONZE Imperial blue skys surround model Axi Duxans as she shows off her independent side and basks in the hot Spanish sun.

Palm one piece in watercolor green available at www.shop.resetpriority.com

STANDING TALL Textured one piece with bow detail available at promise.es

NO FEAR FLORAL Printed bra and printed head wrap available at www.andressarda.com

Model: Svetlana Lana for Rojas Agency Model: Karina Lamar for City Model Management Hair: Alisher Akhunzhanov Mua: Tamiko Carillo assisted by Gracie Ziegler Fashion Stylist: Caity Shreve Lighting Director: Scott Nobles Graphic Art: John Nelson Jr Photographer: Vincent Gotti www.vincentgottiphotography.com

GLADIATOR STYLE Belt by Zara Shoes by Vince Camuto Bathing Suit by Nasty Gal

Photographer: Fidel Gonzalez fidelgonzalezphotography.com Makeup Artist: Fidel Gonzalez fidelgonzalezmakeup.com Hair Artist: Fidel Gonzalez using CHI Nail Artist: Olina Rose with Mcintyre Artist Management Fashion Stylist: Brandon Nicholas & Art Hunter Photo Retoucher: KRI3X Studio kri3x.com Model: Melissa Rose Haro with NTA Agency Fidel Gonzalez Managed by Mcintyre Artist Management

STR APS & STONES THEY MAY NOT BREAK BONES, BUT THESE LOOKS MAY JUST KILL YOU...

CALM, COOL & IN STYLE Hat is Vintage Jewelry by Anouk Earings by Kerry Young Bathing suit by lnsight Jewlery is Vintage

GIRL OF SUMMER Scarf by Roberto Cavalli robertocavalli.com Top by Cameo available at cameothelabel.com.au Bottoms by Dianes Beachwear dianesbeachwear.com Jewelry is Vintage Shoes by Shoe Cult

BY THE POOL Bathing Suit by Chi Mai chi-mai.com Jewelry is Vintage

www.bangstyle.com

FIDEL GONZALEZ

Los Angeles Celebrity makeup artist turned photographer Fidel Gonzalez has been on the scene for well over a decade creating magic behind the camera.

LM: Can you tell us about yourself and how you got started in photography?

FG: Well hello, I’m Fidel Gonzalez, I’m a photographer, makeup artist, hair stylist, I dabble nail art and I also do fashion styling sometimes as well, lol. I just like creating what I see in my head sosometimes I like to just do it all. I got into photography because of one of my best friends, Ray Gonzales. Who introduced me to a photographer by the name of Gerry Garcia. A very talented photographer, I was a makeup artist at the time, he loved my work and said I should do fashion editorials. So he booked me for one of his shoots, I was hooked the minute I walked in and saw all the magic happening. I loved how he captured a vision and it came to life. One day, out of the blue, he said here, a put his camera in my hand and said move this dial up or down until you like the light, then shoot. He said I had a great eye

for capturing the model, that I should really think of being a photographer. That was it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it and well here I am, and still can’t stop thinking about it, lol it’s passion that keeps me going and growing as an artist.

It’s a way to express myself through art.

LM: What photographers from the past or present have influenced you the most?

FG: Gerry Garcia I will for ever be grateful, he gave me my jump start. Rodney Ray who took me under his wing, and showed me a new wold in the art of natural light. Herb Ritts, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz are just a few of my inspirational photographers.

LM: How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?

FG: Balanced,pretty, with lots of bright color and feeling.

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LM: What are the biggest challenges of working in Los Angeles which is saturated with photographers?

FG: I never gave it much thought really, I think it’s a good thing, it puts a fire under you to strive for more and helps build your own style to be different. It’s what sets us apart.

LM: What does fashion mean to you?

FG: Fashion is expressing your identity and a way for me to express my artistic integrity. It’s never ending every one has their interpretation, it’s what’s makes the world beautiful.

LM: Do you have a Favorite photography book?

FG: yes, One of my first books. The Moment It Clicks by Joe McNally.

LM: If you could tell yourself anything when you first started out, what would you say?

FG: I would not tell my self a thing, as it could have changed my destiny, the struggles one experiences in life good or bad, makes us who we are today. I’m still growing and will continue to grow. The minute you think you are done growing and feel you have accomplished everything, I feel thats the point you will be left behind, as others will continue to grow.

LM: What final words of wisdom you would like to share with next generation of photographers who are also chasing their dream ?

FG: keep dreaming and keep chasing, no matter what. Don’t let anyone one crush your dreams. Believe in yourself, when

Images Courtesy of Fidel Gonzalez

LM: How much equipment do you typically bring to a photo-shoot?

FG: Too much! Lol I just like to be over prepared with everything I do, never know what can go wrong, I bring 2 extra cameras always. No matter what, I bring a portable light pack, even when shooting natural light. I have all my bases covered at all time, ready for the unexpected.

LM: If you can only have one lens for the rest of your life, what is it?

FG: Canon 70-200 mm 2.8L USM its my Favorite.

LM: Of all the images you’ve made so far in your career, which is your favorite and why?

FG: Kiara Belen Image published in Dark Beauty Magazine.

Was just amazing working with Kiara, she made my vision came to life, in the image her hair is completely covering her eyes, she had to express her emotions using body language and her lips. It’s a harder than it looks. It’s amazing how she did it with such ease. plus was when I decided to make this my career. I also gained a beautiful friend Kiara Belen.

you think you are going no where, don’t give up. Use if to fuel your passion for success and keep moving forward.

Look for inspiration in everything, the art work you create is for your self and to satisfy you, don’t do it to satisfy others.

Be humble and help others, along the way, as some one helped you at one point in time. Return the favor to future photographers. Treat every one with respect this includes, models,and your crew, at the end of the day its team work and a strong team is important, as they will help you in achieving your goals.

You can reach Fidel Gonzalez at: Www.fidelgonzalezphotography.com www.fidelgonzalezmakeup.com www.youtube.com/user/fidelgonzalez13 www.twitter.com/xxfidelxx

Spice up your hair regimen With a dose of Inspiration!

STYLE FINDER

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INSPIRATION

Browse our endless gallery of Gorgeous hairstyles from the World’s best stylists

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Download the free app today

HAUTE ARREST LOCK DOWN LUXURY. When two fierce offenders are confined to a waterfront luxury estate they make the best of their time to serve. Strip out of their orange jumpsuits, scour the house for appropriate apparel and start soaking up the scalding summer sun.

Photographer: Bobby Pierre Photography Creative director: Luis Ayuso of Orlando Styling,LLC Hair & Makeup by: Steven Story of Orlando Styling,LLC Models: Isabella Ferreira & George Blackwell Wardrobe provided by: Charmosa Swimwear & Argyle Grant Location: The Over-Joy Estate Set designer: Julie Bettosini from Stockworth realty

STEP ONE Sit back and reflect.

Mayra hand embroidered halter top $105 Black Brazilian cut bottoms $60

BAMBOO BARRIER Bella scopes out the perimeter in a Recife One-piece Swimsuit with artfully painted and embroidered accents. $95 Available at charmosaswimwear.com

STEPPING STONE George follows suit in his graphic swim shorts .

Bella leads the way in the Olivia macrame bandeau detail top and light weight white skirt $88

TEMPERATURE CHECK Making sure the water is safe George steps out of the water in his spotted swim shorts. Available at www.argylegrant.com

LAST STEP Hot tub time, George gets down to his classic cut swimwear to soak up the heat.

THE STRANGER THE LINE

EW

I KV

IEW

C BA EW

V CK A B IEW

I KV

V CK A B

C BA

california dreaming

Totally Tie Die

LEE+LANI

UNIF SWIMWEAR

TWICE THE BLUSH LISA MAREE

Twice the trouble. This sexy one piece swimwear is especially attractive to the girl who wants to excentuate her curves. Featuring a crochet triangle top with strappy detailing and a high waisted bottom . Stayed snatched this summer with this sultry step up in swimwear. $188 Available at www.nastygal.com

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Pack up this perfect fit for your summer music fest swimsuit! This fresh and funky tie-dyed swimsuit features major cutouts and stretch fabric. Pair it with your favorite flowy skirt and cross body bag for the ulitimate festival look.

Made by UNIF clothing. $172 Available at www.nastygal.com

SQUARES AND STRAPS ONE TEASPOON

One piece redefined. With cage-like straps that reveal just a peek of skin, you have to wonder is it still a true one piece? $108 available at www.shopbop.com

Telling a new story, This interesting one piece brightens up any pool party. Featuring wide mesh with elements of the California desert stitched in. Pair it with a soft kimono and strappy sandals, Don’t forget to wear your oversized sun hat and signature shades for added drama! $210 available at www.leeandlani.com

THE SWEETER THE TAN

FLEUR BLANCHE Pierre double-layer blazer

by BCBG Max Azria $228

BELLE ET BLANC WHITE WORKS IN ALL SHADES This belle is summer ready with her white and cream wardrobe she can see the world and stay timelessly chic

DEUX PIECES RINA crop top $138 by BCBG Max Azria available at www.bcbg.com Sheer layered skirt: Aqua Shoes: Deena & Ozzy

BLANCHE ECHELLE Jacket: Anne Taylor Pencil Skirt: Elizabeth & James available at www.elizabethandjames.us

GRANDE FLEUR Tuxedo blouse : Vintage Shorts: Kimchi & Blue

Photographer – Carlos Velez www.carlosvelezfoto.com Model – Cameron Kay Agency – MP Mega Miami Hair &Makeup Artist – Briana Chapman www.brianachapman.com Stylist – Carlos Velez & Isabella Velez

The Beat Goes...

Music is the background music of our summer, helping to etch the memories into our minds forever. Music is our universal language! Whether its the lyrics or the beat, from the first word to the last cord, music has the power to change your mood, transport you around the world, through time and emotion and bring back heartfelt memories.

For ages now the flow between fashion and music have been in perfect harmony. Music has inspired designers and told the stories of our favorite brands down the runway while brands and celebrity

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designers alike are name dropped in the lyrics of todays hottest musicians. In turn inspiring clothing designers creative minds as they work their magic with amazing collections. Its a beautiful ebb and flow that will forever flourish.

We are big mobile music fans, and have been struggling to find a music service that we can all agree on, so we’ve put together an article that speaks about some of the different types.

For our summer issue we have compiled some up and coming artists we’ve been working with that have some inspiring vocals and and musical talent that are on their way to painting a new picture in the book of fashion.

Images Courtesy of Istock Photo

Few things say summer like the smash hits that seem to trail along crowded beaches and blast out of speakers from drop tops around the world.

Streaming On Americans have embraced streaming their favorite music online via a growing array of music services that offer infinite choices for listening to and discovering new music.

So what should you look for in a streaming service? We dug into the Internet to find the best music streaming services and give a quick synopsis.

Best Curated Music The killer feature of this music recommendation site is its human-curated playlists based on mood, activity, genre, era and “situations” from breaking up to waking up & themes as specific as barbecues or pregame. In fact, Songza’s strictly about its playlists; you can’t search for particular songs or artists, although you can browse from a plethora of soundtracks and musical vibes.

Best Overall

Best Radio Channels are curated by real people with a goal of forging those unexpected connections between songs that are the foundation of great radio. We even love the non-music channels, including live radio, news, sports and weather.

Spotify counts personalized radio, on-demand music, people-curated playlists and a social feed among its feature set. Of all the services,it mimics the sensation of using your own music collection the best.

Best Online Music Locker Best Sound Quality Along with streaming music at a CD-quality, loss-less 1,411 kbps—all the better to hear the shades of percussion and detail of the high notes—Tidal claims it will have first dibs on music videos from stars like Rihanna and Beyonce.

Once you upload your tracks to Google Play Music, they’re accessible on any device from anywhere in the world — a neat way to bring your music collection wherever you are. Google’s 30-million-track catalog covers a great range of rarities and hits.There’s also a radio customizable by artist and your own taste.

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CULTURE MUSIC Barely into his twenty-five years, Chaz is an accomplished Singer-Songwriter, Dancer, Model, Actor and Professional Jump Roper. In 2015, Chaz garnered two nods on the Official Grammy Ballot for Best Pop Solo Performance.

He has appeared on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew: Season 5, MTV’s MADE, the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Disney’s Shake It Up, La Grande Cabaret du Monde: France, and Broadway’s Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy. He has also worked with SYTYCD’s Emmy Award-Winning hiphop choreographers, Tabitha & Napoleon D’Umo. Chaz has taught Jump Rope on a National and Worldwide scale, teaching thousands of jump ropers at hundreds of workshops during his, continued, 15 years of being a professional and competitive jump roper — winning numerous National and World titles. During his career he has worked with clients such as: Nike, VISA, Coca Cola, P&G, Hoosier Lottery, the US Army, and various others. As one of the youngest members of the Indianapolis Mens Chorus, he had the privilege of performing with gospel recording artist, Sandi Patty. Chaz has sung since the age of 3 and has won over $10,000 at numerous competitions.

In 2013 he was the lead vocalist in Cedar Point’s Luminosity and in 2014 was Super Swing at Universal Studios Japan, performing in 10 different shows, during his 17-month contract.

We had a chance to sit down with Chaz and find out what makes him jump....

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Chaz Robinson By: D’mani Devoe

LM: So you have a popular single out titled “Love Will Come Back Again”, which is certainly relatable. I noticed the lyrics are very uplifting, what would you say was your inspiration for the lyrics? Was it based on a recent relationship or would you say it was a compilation on advice and learning experiences you’ve received through out life?

CR: It’s funny you mentioned that because whenever I write a song I sort of write them in a double entendre, meaning it can be construed as a love song, but the intention of the song is about me growing up in the music industry and staying true to myself and trying not to sell myself, but at the same time doing what it takes to reach my goals.

The meaning behind this song is that the love and passion for what I do will come back if I have to change a few things along the way to get where I want to go and once I get there I can do whatever I want to and the song itself was a product of that. When I traveled to NYC and the song became something I didn’t expect, but it gained a lot of popularity.

LM: You are a man of many talents. A lot of people are familiar with your singing, but you’re also a professional jump roper. How did you get your start in jump roping?

CR: I started jumping rope when I was 10 years old.

My coach, Nikki Glover was my P.E. teacher in elementary school and she is also a founding member of our national organization and started a team at my school.

When I was younger I was never interested in jumping rope but she kept asking me to do it, so I finally I gave in and obviously I made it. Because of it I’ve traveled all over the world, I’ve been on national TV shows like America’s Best Dance Crew and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Jump rope has really made me the person I am today. Not only is it a fun sport but it’s also a powerful mechanism for growing young minds and making people generally great people. In jump rope we teach our opponents and we’re constantly sharing our ideas and are trying to grow our sport.

LM: How do you manage to balance it all? I know that it has to get hectic juggling so much, what is your escape or go to when you feel overwhelmed by it all?

CR: Well first and foremost I try not do be a doer of many and a master of none. My parents taught me if you commit to something you have to commit to it. My mom won’t hesitate to call me and ask, “Chaz what are you doing?”

But when I do get stressed out or overwhelmed I just push through. Like with jump roping and singing they conflicted and music certainly became I priority, so I just had to prioritize really and push through.

LM: What can we expect from you in the near future? Do you have any upcoming projects we should be on the look out for and how can our readers keep up with your upcoming projects?

CR: I am working on my first full-length album that will be released this fall. I am extremely excited about the sound we created, it’s true to me, and it’s true to my voice. I’ve written all of the songs on it, which I never imagined would happen in a million years. So I’m stupid excited for the fall. Also, we’re planning a college tour as well as a promotional tour for the album, which I’m also very excited about.

LM: I came across an amazing video of you performing John Legend’s “All of Me” while performing on a trapeze. What inspired this performance?

CR: To be completely hones, I was 100 percent inspired by Pink’s performance at the Grammy’s. And I thought, “Oh my gosh, I can totally do that” because I’ve been a gymnast all my life. While I was in Japan I got in touch with someone who worked at Universal Studios, her name is Ikko and she went to circus school.

She thought the idea was awesome. It took has two months and we put in about eight hours a week. The hard part was putting together because I had to manage singing while performing acrobatics.

LM: In 2015 you received two Grammy nods for Best Solo Performance. I know that had to be a triumphant moment for you. What were your thoughts when you first found out about the nominations?

CR: I actually get emotional just thinking about it, but at the time I was in Japan and I got an email saying, “Hey we have some really exciting news for you, we’ll be calling you in the next week or so…” and I was like, “Oh my gosh, is this what I think it is?” So Al Gomes from Big Noise Now, called me and broke the news to me that I made the official Grammy ballot twice for Best Pop Solo Performance and I was just speechless. It’s every legitimate recording artist dream to win a Grammy, to be recognized by the people you are working with, working against and aspire to be. Them acknowledging that you exist and verifying what it is you’re doing, is the most powerful acknowl edgement I think I’ve ever had.

Just knowing I wrote those two songs and we sent them off to the Grammy Nomination society and they said, “Wow we really like those songs, this kids good.” I obviously can’t put one emotion on it, but I bawled my eyes out when I first found out and called my parents immediately. I could go on forever, but the feeling was mind blowing and it just gave me validation that this is what I’m supposed to be doing for the rest of my life. Even though I didn’t win, it’s given me the

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motivation to get that Grammy because now I know it’s attainable. It’s not some far off thing that I just see on TV. LM: Okay so Season 5, America’s Best Dance Crew.

How was that experience for you?

CR: That was my first reality TV show experience and it was a really awesome. It was nothing like the wars they portrayed on TV. My experience was really positive and uplifting and was new for all of us because we were breaking the dance and jump rope mold by dancing on a hip-hop “dance show.” It really changed me in a lot of ways because the scrutiny of millions of people watching is very stressful. But despite us being in competition all of the dancers were like family and I think I’m the dancer I am now because I was working with amazing dancers and I wanted to be as good as they were.

LM: If you could describe your music in three words what would they be?

LM: To readers that have the same aspirations as you, or those that may have many skills but are hesitant about honing and pursuing all of them, what advice would you give to them?

CR: Work! Work! Work! Anyone that knows me will tell you that the product of my work is who I am; it’s what I’ve created. I didn’t get to where I am by just sitting around; you have to be willing to put in the time, effort, work and dedication to get to where you want to go. You’re the purveyor of your own happiness and you’re the purveyor of your own success. If you stay steadfast in your craft you will reach it eventually, even if it takes time. I’ve been honing my craft since I was three-years-old and just now at 25, doors are opening. But you are the purveyor of your own happiness.

CR: If I have to describe them musically, they would be acoustic, electric, pop but if you’re looking for three descriptive words that aren’t specific to the genre; I would say passionate, electrifying and musical. Mostly because my music is electronic but the sound we’ve created focuses on my vocals, yet there are great electric anthems that are very cinematic. So I guess another descriptive work would be CINEMATIC.

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Photographer: Bobby Pierre Makeup: Steve Story Wardrobe stylist: Orlando Styling,LLC Wardrobe provided by: Neiman Marcus Last Call

To keep up with Chaz you can head to his website or follow his social media accounts here: www.chazrobinson.com, twitter @_chazrobinson, FB: chazrobinsonofficial

Please celebrate responsibly, 21 years of Age and Over

CULTURE MUSIC

The new rock and roll sweetheart of Spectra Music Group, Shayne Leighton has recently released her debut single, a reboot of the Pat Benatar classic, “Invincible”, which is already getting rave reviews from college radio stations and it lighting up the airwaves. A natural redhead, Shayne Leighton’s message is one of power, positivity, and celebrating ones own uniqueness.

SHAYNE LEIGHTON LM: You are a busy woman, catch us up on everything Shayne?

SL: Firstly, thanks so much for the amazing introduction! It is an absolute pleasure to be interviewing with LaPalmeMagazine! I love being busy. I think I am the unhappiest if/when I have any down time. So, I strive to have none. Currently, I am on tour with the famed beauty brand/blog How To Be A Redhead on the national Rock It Like A Redhead tour. We are traveling to five core cities in the United States, having just finished Austin and Nashville, and are gearing up for Seattle, Chicago and New York. The tour is a series of events that celebrate beauty, rock music, and red hair as a lifestyle. I am touring in promotion of my debut EP, Invincible, recently released from Spectra Music Group. This is really the first time I’ve seriously been pursuing my career in music and I’m very excited about where it’s all headed. It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life.

I’m also in the process of developing a few film projects and finishing up the fourth installment in my bestselling vampire romance series, Of Light and Darkness. It never seems to end, but I never want it to!

LM: You are a huge anti-bullying supporter – how did all this come about?

SL: I think it’s just some kind of inherent thing with me. In school (and some years out of school), I’d always been the underdog. I’d always befriended the underdog too. It just always felt like there was something special about the people who aren’t always celebrated amongst their peers. I’ve just always liked to team up with the dark horses, because I think we have a lot to offer the world. I identify with those who are bullied and have made it a goal of mine to become something of a voice, if I am able to. So, I think that’s why I am so impassioned. Because it was something I went through, and I’d like to inspire those who are bullied to find their own voice, become empowered, and ultimately, love themselvesenough to be comfortable in their own skin.

LM: How did you come to be involved with the star of the Academy Award Winning film, The Blind Side’s Quinton Aaron Foundation?

SL: While we were in pre-production for my album project at Power Station Studios in South Florida, I was introduced to an extraordinary woman by the name of Brenda O’Brien.

Brenda, who has a long history with Memphis and artists in Memphis, had the idea to begin an anti-bullying collaborative music project called Remember, an idea similar to We Are The World. My producer, Rob Roy, introduced the two of us and we got to talkingand I expressed a strong passion for being part of her vision. I wanted to help her relay that powerful message to youth across America. She, our fellow-writer, Steve Argy, and I, came up with the final demo for Remember. It was Brenda who decided to reach out to as many artists as she could to gain momentum and support for our anti-bullying message. Soon, answers to requests were flying in; artists from NBC’s The Voice, The

Stax Academy, and more. Quinton Aaron soon caught wind of what we were doing via posts on Facebook. He also has an anti-bullying platform. He wrote Brenda an email, expressing his need to be part of Remember, as well. It was so exciting! We had our release party in October 2014 in Boca. All of the artists were there, including Quinton. It is so refreshing for someone as accomplished as he is, to want to be part of a message that is so worth hearing! And Brenda has big plans to continue bringing Remember to schools in 2015, along with the help of Quinton.

LM: Actor, Model, Author, what other talents are going to come to light that we don’t already know about?

SL: This question is really flattering. I think we all have things we are good at, and things we are not. When people bring up the different facets of my career, I always mention that I can NOT do math and I can’t play sports. Dancing is weak too. I’m as clumsy as they come! But I do really love and practice a lot of creative things. My real, main focus right now is my music. That is my honest answer. I am really focused on continuing to develop myself as a rock artist, because I’m really discovering a lot about myself in the process. It’s refreshing to finally figure out who the hell I am!

But I do love to draw, and am (slowly) working on a graphic novel companion for my book series. So that is hidden talent. Also, I can bake. I’m proud of that. I can multitask. I’m trying to learn how to skip rocks. And I just recently learned how to whistle. (No, really.)

LM: Being a natural redhead, its only fitting for you to perform the opening concert for the official Redhead Days event in Europe this year? Can you tell us more about it?

SL: Awww, where did you hear about this? It was something that was being talked about last year, because they wanted me to sing in September last year, and it wasn’t working out with my schedule. I had planned to go back to do the big anniversary show this year, but with the Rock It Like A Redhead tour (which is similar), I had to unfortunately decline my invite for the Redhead Days. Though, I do still hope to perform for their AWESOME festival in the near future!

LM: Do your find your following varies from your book fans as opposed to your music fans?

SL: I’m really grateful that most of them seem to cross over. If someone follows me for my music, and they find out I write, they go and they check out my books. It works the other way around too. I’m kind of building this little, redheaded, vampire-rocker brand here, and I really like it— because that’s who I am in a nutshell. (Not a real Vampire, but you know…) If Lestat sings rock music, and they call him the “brat prince”, then I kind of want to be the “brat princess”. These are becoming my career goals, and so far, all of my current followers online, or #TEAMRED, seem to be really supportive of everything!

LM: You have covered “invincible” by Pat Benatar, what made you choose this song to rework?

SL: The choice came after an artist development conversation I had with the CEO of Spectra Music Group, Bobby Collins. We were casually discussing the direction of the music, and we both agreed that a resurrection of the Pat Benatar / Heart / Stevie Nicks genre was needed and missed in today’s youthful music arena. And it was all music I grew up listening to, and a sound I identified with, so the idea worked in every way. I was so excited to explore this side of my voice. We both knew we wanted to break out with a cover that wasn’t necessarily the biggest hit ever, but it

still had to be something that was recognizable. Invincible worked well, because it conveyed the empowering message I really strive to be all about. Love being you. Lay down for no one. It was exactly the direction we all wanted to go in, and it really seems to be working. At the Rock It Like A Redhead events, everyone rallies to sing the chorus with me….WE WILL BE INVINCIBLE! LM: What does Shayne Leighton define as success?

SL: This question made me stop and think. I’m literally typing this interview and trying to process all of these thoughts on a train somewhere in the middle of the Czech Republic.

(I’m here for the summer.) What do I define as success? I’ve thought about this a lot, and the answer has evolved over my years in entertainment. Now that I’ve had a little time to mature and observe some of my past situations, my idea of success is this: Success, for me, is making an honest living (being able to support yourself and your immediate family) doing what you absolutely love to do. I never want to work a day in my life, and what I mean by that is—it is not work if you love what you do. If I can put food on the table with my music and my books, and if I am honest with myself and my art in the process—if everything I produce is organically me—then I’ve succeeded. I don’t feel (anymore) that success is being some megastar who can’t walk into a grocery store. If I have my dedicated followers who love what I do and support me when I do it, and if I can survive at the same time as maintaining my art and my sense of self, then I’ve succeeded. And I’d like to make my family proud, too!

LM: Who are some performers you admire?

SL: Okay, this is an easy one. Pat Benatar (obviously, she is my spirit animal), Stevie Nicks (another one), Heart, Cyndi Lauper, Annie Lenox, Lita Ford. I’m sure there are others I am forgetting, but those are the main ones.

LM: Does your family approve of your on-the-go fast paced, busy lifestyle of travel and performing?

SL: My family is the core—the gravitational center—of what I do. Their support is the only reason I am able to continue doing what I do. My mother instilled the sense that I can do anything. My father tried his best to teach me the guitar (didn’t work), but it still made music an important fixture in my household. My uncle Z talked me out of doing musical theater (for a while, at least), and pursuing rock & roll fast and furious. My husband, Franky is my MANager, my cheerleader, my tour bus driver, and a million other things.

And my grandmother and late grandfather are/were terrific cheerleaders.They are all hugely supportive and I could not be more grateful.

LM: Who is your favorite author, singer and actor?

SL: In order? Okay, my favorite author has to be Anne Rice.

She will be my favorite forever. My favorite singer is Stevie Nicks. She’s not only a hugely talented performer, but also a fantastic songwriter. And I don’t really have a favorite actor right now. It really depends on the film and the time.

Recently, I saw a movie called The Words with Bradley

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Cooper that I liked. I don’t know…that’s a thinker.

LM: What do you find more challenging, coming up with a concept for a book or for a song?

SL: I definitely find songwriting more challenging, right now. Writing stories in a longer format is easy for me because I’m flowery in my writing and very descriptive. It’s hard to crush an idea down into a three-minute soliloquy.

That’s part of my current learning curve. I’m striving to get better with my songwriting.

LM:What do you do to relax when you have some downtime?

SL: As I said earlier, down time makes me uncomfortable. (haha) But seriously, I’m a bit of a workaholic. I find writing (novels) very cathartic. I guess, when I’m totally burnt out, which happens sometimes, I like to turn on a marathon of Everybody Loves Raymond and just laugh. I love to laugh. My husband makes me laugh. My team / friends / family make me laugh. If I’m around people I love during my down time, I’m happy.

LM: To readers that have the same aspirations as you, or those that may have many skills but are hesitant about honing and pursuing all of them, what advice would you give to them?

SL: The best advice I could give anyone just starting out, is to knock on every door you can. Never say no to an opportunity (unless it sounds really stupid or dangerous), and don’t be afraid of trying. Because, if you’re not trying then what the hell are you doing? Don’t be afraid of rejection, or of what people will think of you. The worst thing that can happen is that you get a “no”, or someone doesn’t like what you’re doing. So what? There will eventually be someone who DOES like what you’re doing.

And focus on your own stuff. Don’t be concerned with the journey of others. Everyone has their own path, and their success if not your failure. And adversely, your success does not make you better than anyone else.

LM: What can we expect from you in the near future? Do you have any upcoming projects we should be on the look out for and how can our readers keep up with your upcoming projects?

SL: The fastest way for readers to keep up with things is by joining my mailing list. There is a link on my website, and it lives right now on my ReverbNation account. (www.reverbnation.com/theshayneleighton) They can also see updates by watching Facebook.com/ShayneLeightonFans, Twitter. com/ShayneLeighton, and Instagram@ShayneLeighton. I’m also now on Periscope. I’m focusing on adding more live performance / tour dates to my schedule. I absolutely am addicted to performing live, and I want to keep doing it. I’m working on my fourth full-length novel, too. And I’m already plotting what I want my eventually LP to sound like. Lot’s of things happening, so I hope to hear from you all!

Photographer: Bachi Frost

www.grandbohemianhotel.com

CULTURE MUSIC

MANIKA By: D’mani Devoe

Manika was just 17 years old when her musical talents were discovered by Michael Jackon’s long time manager Frank DiLeo . Manika had won the outstanding performance award three years in a row at the National Performing Arts Festival in New York City then graduated high school a year early as valedictorian to pursue her music and writing career.

From an early age, Manika was interested in music, singing, songwriting and taught herself to play the piano and guitar. At age 15 Manika wrote the children’s book “The Exciting Adventures of BOO”, donated all proceeds to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and served as their teen spokesperson. Manika also takes time to read her book to inner-city schoolchildren and young cancer patients. Her experiences with the underprivileged and unfortunate inspired one of her songs on her debut double-album. Manika donated the proceeds from this song to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She recently fit us into her busy schedule to talk about her past, present and future.

LM: Just to get a good background on you what is your age and where are you from?

LM: At what age did you decide to have a career in the entertainment industry?

M: I’m 22 years old and I’m from Las Vegas.

M: I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry since I was really young. When I was 3 years old I was too shy to talk to anyone…literally… But I was always on stage performing, and loved it! I’ve always just felt most comfortable on stage.

LM: One thing that I thought was really interesting is that you were discovered by Michael Jackson’s manager; how’d that discovery go about?

M: I was actually a junior in high school when a mutual friend of mine happened to show Frank DiLeo a video of me singing and performing a song I wrote on YouTube.

Frank was really impressed and actually flew to Vegas to meet with my family and me. He told us that he wanted to come out of retirement to manage me, his “one last big act”. I was beyond myself with excitement! I graduated a year early as valedictorian to move out LA to pursue my music career.

LM: I bet that was a wow moment for you.

M: Yes it was so surreal! I was really nervous because the last person he managed was Michael Jackson. But Frank was such a nice guy. He put me at ease right away.

LM: You sing, rap, produce, songwrite, and host a TV show… how do you manage to balance it all?

M: I think it’s because I started so young. I started with singing and then I added songwriting and then I started rapping and producing. So as I got older, I got and more and more into it. Now that I’m in Vegas I have my own studio, so I’m really able to spend a lot of time there getting involved in all aspects of music creation. I just enjoy being very hands on in my music. I like doing it all!

LM: Do you ever get nervous when performing in front of millions of people? How do you feel before these big performances?

M: It really depends on what type of performance it is. For instance on the One Direction tour there were like 40,000 people there in person watching me perform. Where as other performances like the Hollywood Style Awards or my special movie theater stream, there is a smaller live audience but millions watching at home on their TVs. I don’t really get a “nervous” feeling per se, it’s more of an exciting feeling for me. Especially in front of a bigger live audiences I get butterflies in my stomach, but I use it as a good thing. I’m like, “oh yeah that means I’m excited for this show that means it’s going to be awesome!”

I think I don’t get nervous because I really don’t get embarrassed. I’m not scared of messing up or making a fool of myself. My mom embarrassed me so much growing up, that I’m kind of immune to embarrassment. One time when I was in middle school, she went to one of my school dances in Justin Timberlake “Sexy Back” booty shorts and started bumping her booty on the dance floor (off beat of course). Now I love it when my mom does stuff like that. I love having a fun mom!

LM: I know you’ve won the outstanding performance award three times in a row for the National Performing Arts Festival. What was that like for you? How did it feel to win three times in a row?

M: Actually, that was one of the things that Frank DiLeo was impressed with about me before he took on managing me.

I was like 12, 13, 14 when I entered those contests and won.

That’s kind of where my career started. It was really cool going there three years in a row and winning every year!

LM: So I went through your social media your Facebook and YouTube and I noticed your fans are super loyal; they have nothing but great things to say about you. And a lot of them say you’re so nice to your fans. How does it feel to have such a strong support system?

M: It’s incredible! I feel so thankful having that support from them. And knowing that when I create music people out there are enjoying it, having fun to it, partying to it, or just driving down the street in their car blasting their stereos… Well it makes what I love doing even more awesome; knowing that something I created is putting a smile on people’s faces.

LM: I know you did you’re single “Just Can’t Let You Go” with Young Money’s Lil Twist; how was it like collaborating with him?

M: It was super cool! Especially since that was my first single and I got to collab. I grew up listening to Lil Wayne who personally mentored Lil Twist. His rhymes are pretty sick!

LM: You’re pretty young in this industry, and I know there are a lot of things that probably come your way…but you managed to stay grounded. What helps you to stay grounded?

M: Having three little brothers helps! And I’m very family oriented. I love my family and I’m always hanging out with them, my cousins, aunts, uncles, life-long friends, etc. I think that really helps me stay grounded through it all.

LM: What would you say inspires a lot of your music?

M: Everyday life and everyday experiences. Whether it is a song about love, partying, or having fun. Also I don’t only use only my own experiences. I also use stories from my close friends. I really like to listen when anyone is coming to me and telling me something good or bad that’s happening in their life…and use it to incorporate into my songwriting.

LM: When you get creative blocks and you can’t get inspired what is a routine that helps you?

M: That happens sometimes when I’m on studio locked down. If I’m having a creative block for one song, I just start a new song or I go to an old song that I haven’t finished yet. Also if I can’t think of lyrics at the moment, then I think of melodies instead….and vice versa.

LM: I know you’re Asian and Hispanic. Do you incorporate certain things from your culture into your music and performance style?

M: Definitely! I’m very family oriented and thus always immersed in their different cultures. I

think that definitely has an effect on my music.

LM: There are a lot of people that are young like you and want to get into entertainment, but don’t know how. What is some good advice you can give them?

M: You have to learn how to create your craft, not just perform it. If you want to sing then learn how to write hits; if you want to be a comic learn how to write jokes, etc. No one will give you their brilliant creations for you to perform; you have to create them yourself ;) LM: Who are some artists that inspired you throughout your career?

M: There are a lot of artists I listen to and take inspiration from. A lot of times people get really confused when they listen to my iPod because it ranges from hip hop to pop to Broadway to rap to Latin music. In my current single “B.Y.O.Bugatti” that’s currently number 17 on the Billboard Sales Chart, everyone who I make a reference to or do an imitation of are all my favorite rappers and singers! I did a reference to Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Tyga, Ariana Grande, Ke$ha, Big Sean and more. Check out the music video on Youtube.com/ManikaOfficial and see if you can find them all ;) LM: What are some upcoming projects that our readers can look forward to?

M: My current single “B.Y.O.Bugatti” is on Top 40 /Rhythmic radio and the music video is on YouTube. I’m also performing at Las Vegas nightclubs like Light at Mandalay Bay and Hakkasan at MGM. Plus I’m the host for a new reality TV show about fashion, hair, makeup, wardrobe and nails that will be airing on TLC in the winter. You can check out my website ManikaOfficial.com and my Facebook.com/ManikaOfficial and Twitter @ManikaOfficial for more info, updates and music!

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CULTURE MUSIC After winning Tampa Bay Idol in 2008, vocalist Cesar De La Rosa auditioned for the real American Idol and did so well, that Randy, Paula and Simon sent him to Hollywood.

The native Puerto Rican didn’t make it to the end, buthe showed enough talent to attract attention for his self-titled debut album.. The music he has put forth so far show a highly polished and catchy blend of pop, rock and R&B. For the past few years, Cesar has been globetrotting and bringing his vocal talents to the masses. We caught up with him on a short hiatus to ask him a few questions.

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Cesar De La Rosa LM: So, I watch you traveling all over the globe, from the Telemundo Awards to performing in the Far East, what else have you been doing that we haven’t heard about?

CD: Well, I am working on my Masters! I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Business shortly after the television competition ended. I want to keep learning for the rest of my life, aside from my career. I’m also working on some new music for other artists, so keep a look out for that.

LM: You have performed for both English and Spanish audiences, is there a fundamental difference in the crowd, how you play to them and the energy you receive back?

CD: There is a distinct difference between the two crowds; it’s all cultural. For Latinos, it’s so accepted to be open. That crowd always come at you with a smile and cheer. American audiences seem a little harder to please, but artists love the challenge.

LM: One of my favorite songs you perform is “This Energy”. The lyrics and , what would you say was your inspiration for the lyrics?

CD: My amazing friend and artist Jonathan Thulin was the biggest part of This Energy. Shout out to JT! We both felt the same reaction to stepping on a stage and feeling the incredible energy that comes from the audience. It’s the haven between the possible and the impossible. “This Energy” came from that concept.

LM: You are a man of many talents. A lot of people are familiar with your singing, but you’re also a professional Dancer. How did you get your start in dance?

CD: Wow. You are all too kind here! I’ve always danced. It sounds cliché, but apparently, it’s true. My cousins told me recently how they would babysit me when I was a kid in Puerto Rico. Apparently, I would always tell them that I wanted to be a “bailarín,” long before I started singing. I didn’t get to learn to dance till I got to America, but I’ve been dancing ever since.

LM: How do you manage to balance it all? I know that it has to get hectic juggling so much, what is your escape or go to when you feel overwhelmed by it all?

CD: The key to it all is to do as much as you can till you can’t, and when you can’t, LET GO. Take a breather. There is this house in Orlando that I rent out when I need to disappear. When I’m ready to go back, I come back running.

LM: How old did you start performing? Do you come from a family of performers?

CD: My father is an actor by genetics, and my mother is a singer by blood. I grew up in the mountains of Cupey Alto and listen to my aunts and uncles (about a dozen) join with guitars, güiros, and harmonies. They would sing every Sunday, birthday, and holiday.

I always tell people that music was my first language, this is why. I owe it all to them.

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LM: How did your experience coming up as a performer at various theme parks (I could get in legal trouble by saying the names. Is my suggestion okay?) prepare you for what you are doing now?

CD: I’m glad to have been part of some of the biggest theme parks in the world. Working there really helped me put my learning to practice. It is the place where I learned how to have stamina, and to respect my body, respect others, and respect the audience. These parks have been a place where I got to become a true performer. I do pop in and out from time to time. You never know which park you might see me in.

LM: I know you are finishing your education, what is the short term goal and why did that path interest you?

CD: Short term goals. I want to intern! I just want to say that I was able to do that. I don’t believe in shortcuts, and I want to experience what so many entertainment industry giants had to go through before they reached where they are now.

Plus, I think it would be fun! I’m hoping it’s like the movies, although I think I’m gonna be in for a rude awakening. haha LM: If you could describe your music in three words what would they be?

CD: Wow. Okay, three words.

“Feel my love.” So dorky, I know. I’ll look back at this article and I’ll giggle at these three words, but it’s how I can describe them right now. I put my joy and pain in my songs. And, if you’re going through what I write about, I want you to feel MY love because I know how it is to have too much and to have none at all.

LM: To readers that have the same aspirations as you, or those that may have many skills but are hesitant about honing and pursuing all of them, what advice would you give to them?

CD:: I would tell them to respect. Respect the resources available. Want to produce, dance, write, sing? You can find resources out there for FREE. They are there for a reason; please don’t let them go to waste. And most importantly, respect the process. I believe in perfect timing. We are all berries in the life’s open field, and you’re going to be picked at the PERFECT time, trust me.

LM: What can we expect from you in the near future? Do you have any upcoming projects we should be on the look out for and how can our readers keep up with your upcoming projects?

CD: I’m just another berry in the field waiting to be picked.

I have so many great things coming ahead, and I hope that I get the opportunity to share them with all of you. In the meantime, feel free to follow me on social media Thank you!

To keep up with Cesar: .youtube.com/cesardelarosamusic facebook.com/Cesardelarosamusic instagram.com/cesardelarosamusic twiter.com/ceesawd snapchat | ceesawd

Photographer: Doyle Harrell Makeup: Mariani Villanueva Wardrobe stylist: Orlando Styling,LLC Wardrobe provided by: Neiman Marcus Last Call

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Please celebrate responsibly, 21 years of Age and Over

CULTURE MUSIC THE INSPIRA PROJECT

Inspiring creative minds all around the world, this vibrant duo has worked with some of the music industries biggest names and brightest minds.

Now they have teamed up to create the INSPIRA PROJECT and plan to continue to create full sensory works of art on stage.

I sat down with the talented two and got the dish.

By: Luis Ayuso

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MICHAEL COCHRAN MARIA TERRANOVA SADOVNIK

LM: Michael and Maria, thank you for sitting down with me today! With both of your impressive careers and all of your accomplishments, it is only natural for you to want to share your gifts with others. What was your “push” to start the Inspira Project?

MICHAEL: I think Maria and I have been working together for years on different projects, not as the Inspira Project...

MARIA: We’ve been friends for 15 years and I think that’s important. That’s first and foremost.

MICHAEL: Absolutely. Friendship is the most important thing before business.

Maria: So we have that mutual respect for each other right outside the gates, you know?

MICHAEL: We’ve always wanted to work as a unit together and we came to a point where it was a good point in her life and a good point in my life where we could open up a company together and join forces officially to work on projects.

LM: Wonderful! Was there any specific artist or project that made you say THIS is where we want to start working together?

elements and things like this. So we are discovering as we go what it is that we like.

MARIA: We want to streamline a little more in the road of show production, music production. Artist development, yes, but not in the forefront so much. We have a couple of great projects that we work here in Orlando. One of our gals, Casey Conway we’ve been working with for a year and a half, The EP is going to drop, Michael is producing, she just did a Grammy Showcase; very successful. I think we are just going to “boutique” it when it comes to artist development unless they are a signed artist. But besides that it’s more music production for live larger events and shows.

We really want to focus on that.

LM: I know that you have a history on Star Search and you’ve done judging for different master’s classes... would either one of you ever consider doing any X-Factor, American Idol, Orlando Idol kind of talent judging since you both have your specialties?

MARIA: (laughing) This is a conversation we have all the time! So when Star Search came out, I had a dance background, so I was a dancer, but I lost. Three years later my career had blown up and I was asked to be a judge, and that was my first time being in that television and talent show platform, and I loved it! I thought it was great back then because it was really organic. comedians, and singers, and dancers and we didn’t have social media and it was just less saturated back then. So if it were with that kind of platform again, Oh, yeah! I’d be in it! But nowadays...I think it’s good for some people, but I feel kids in this generation think that it’s supposed to happen so quick because of that, and that’s not it. It’s about hustling and surviving and really building yourself so you can have a long career; not just a quick career and you fade out. I think as creatives, all of us, we want longevity, and for some reason I feel that the younger generation, because it’s a two-edged sword...so I’m all for it as long as the platform is right. We’ve done local stuff before. I think In the dance world, it’s opened up tons of doors for dancers because there is no faking it. There is no auto-tune. but musically, I know [Michael] has a lot of opinions...

THE INSPIRA PROJECT

The quest to move, inspire, educate, MARIA: Many, many years ago I was in charge of the artist develand strengthen opment for a record company relationships with here in Orlando and Michael was the Musical Director/ Producer. That record company our music artists from tanked and we knew we wanted a grounded grassroots to keep working together in some capacity so we would approach with the try to bring each other in on projects. At that time I was the technique to back it Show/Field director for one of the Superbowls which was with up.

Janet...

MICHAEL: The infamous Superbowl...

MARIA: (laughs) Yes! The infamous Superbowl!

LM: I quote that Superbowl probably once a week...

MARIA: (laughs) It was cool because I got a chance to develop the team I wanted to bring in that year, and we had a lot of musical elements like tons of marching bands.

It was a great opportunity for us to say “Hey you know, it’s starting to get time in our careers where we can start bringing in the people that WE want to bring on”. That was the first big event/show that we had worked together besides some different, smaller events. After that we said “We are going to do this, and when the time is right it will happen”. We just kind of developed our platform and then when the time was right, we just, we did it. We came together and it happened. It was kind of organic.

LM:: What would you say is the main goal of the Inspira Project? Where do you see this in 10 years?

MICHAEL: Just more of what we’re doing. We are doing a very great thing, we’re working on really fantastic projects together, so I think just to continue to work on these levels of productions and shows together. I think that we are changing it up a little bit from doing artistic development into more show production and show design and show

MICHAEL: You know, I have worked with a lot of people that have been approached to be on these shows like The Voice and America Idol, and I have worked with a lot of artists that have been on these shows and I don’t have such a positive opinion of these shows because they...

MARIA: The shows, production-wise, are amazing! Show production,all the people who work on the show, everything event-wise that goes on around the shows, it’s A-list, gorgeous, done perfectly.

MICHAEL: Yeah, beautifully produced, beautifully done.

But I feel as an artist it strips you of your artistry and for some people this is good but...

MARIA: But how does it do that?

MICHAEL: Well, you go on these shows and they own your career, basically. They will own your career and you just become a voice. Just a voice and you do what you are told.

MARIA: But what if you aren’t a singer/songwriter? What if that’s not your play?

MICHAEL: I think it could be a great platform for SOME people. I think that these types of things could be an amazing situation for some people, but I think an artist that wants a long career, wants to be working for a long time, to develop their craft, and learn the business from the ground, up...it's all about grass-roots. You don't get that. Unless you are, you know, Kelly Clarkson, and even her, she goes off and produces her own album, Clive Davis hates it, doesn't promote it, drops her from his label, and it's a big To-Do, and finally she gives in and says "Ok Clive, I'll do what you want.", and does his music. In all fairness, Clive I think was right. I think her album she did herself didn't do so good.

LM: Since we are at the heart a fashion Magazine, have you guys ever wanted to try your hand in the fashion world as far as designing, creating, buying... anything in the fashion world interest you?

MICHAEL: I think the artists that we work with are very hands-on in branding and imaging.

MARIA: Even the Fortune 500 shows that I do, I'll get the whole branding playbook from whatever it may be and I have to make sure that the show is styled appropriately for it, so I cross-over in that route, I've choreographed several fashion shows in Europe and I've been around it a lot.

As far as the design part, no, but the visualization of making sure what the creative team behind the design team wants creatively to happen onstage, yes. And branding and imaging I think for making sure an assigned music artist, whatever their brand is, making sure we get the right people on the team to make sure that happens.

LM: What artist would you love/would've loved to work with, past or present? What's your bucket list in that sense?

MICHAEL: As a music producer there are quite a few artists that I look up to and I very much learn from what they do. So one for me would be Jónsi Þór Birgisson who is an Icelandic artist, he's the lead singer for Sigur Rós, and he does his own thing too but his productions are brilliant to me. I like very European artists. Another artist that I really look up to is Imogen Heap...

MARIA: That's on both of our bucket lists...

Michael: ...and she is brilliant. These two people I would very much love to work with one day.

MARIA: And again, it's not mainstream. It's not always mainstream. When you are asking what we are looking at, we have done a lot of mainstream stuff, and it's great! It's amazing and I've learned from everybody and it's been a journey and a great ride. I really like U.K. artists. I'm really into European, different-sounding artists that you wouldn't find on pop radio on right now, and if you ask me their names, I couldn't even tell you to be honest. But I like anybody that has a stage show that is very visual art. You can look at Ellie Goulding's show and you look at her dancers and I think they were trees at some point that came to life. I can only imagine the storyboard for that. So that's where I'm at.

MICHAEL: I think that music reflects in their style, or vice versa.

Imogen Heap is very artistic and her music is very colorful and her outfits and style is very ecclectic and fashion-forward. Go big or go home.

LM: Where do you get your stage direction and choreographic inspirations?

MARIA: “I just have to surrender to the music, we intertwine in the dark. It’s a very intimate thing at first before I collaborate. I see my art as poetry in motion. I love creating all genres of dynamic movements and choreography with intricate staging. That’s my passion. Of course, the lyrics, set or visual design makes my creativity spark but mostly, the music comes first.

The rise and fall of the tempo drives me to that zone. It’s there it flows and I’m free.”

To find out more about Michael & Maria contact them at www.theinspiraproject.com Photographer: Bobby Pierre Hair by: Toney Robles of Atelier Hair Salon Makeup by: Orlando Santiago of OSMUA Hair / Makeup Assist: Mariani Villanueva Wardrobe stylist: Andrew Mitchell of Orlando Styling,LLC Wardrobe provided by: Neiman Marcus Last Call Set designer: Megan Morris of MHM Staging

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CULTURE MUSIC Singing on the national stage for American Idol was just the beginning for this Florida native. We stopped by the studio to hear what Kristen’s been up to since vocalizing before the famous judges.

LM: Where are you from?

KO: I grew up in Vero Beach, Florida LM: How did you get started in the music industry?

KO: I started singing when I was really young. My first solo in front of a big crowd was when I was 5 years old and I got a standing ovation. I’ve been hooked ever since.

LM: What inspired you to take a chance and audition for American Idol?

KO: I’ve been watching Idol since the first season and I saw how it changed so many lives. I always thought I’d audition.

LM: What was your biggest “Aha” moment when performing on live television?

KO: I definitely learned a lot about myself as an artist and performer. Performing in live television just made me realize how tangible the dream really is. I think I learned the most behind the scenes when the cameras weren’t rolling...my strengths and weaknesses. I learned a lot about the business and marketing.

LM: If you could work with any artist who would it be?

KO: This is a tough one. Currently I’m obsessed with Sam Smith but I’ve always been a huge fan of Alicia Keys & Jessie J. I’m drawn to soulful artists whose music focuses on big vocals.

LM: What is your biggest source of inspiration?

KO: I write about literally everything. Like, if we had a significant interaction, I’ve probably written about you.

LM: Where can people follow you and your upcoming work?

KO: Follow me on all social media.

Instagram @imktisteno Twitter @imkristeno Facebook.com/idolkristenoconnor Snapchat Kristen.O

KRISTEN O’CONNOR By: Angel Cardona

Photographer - Daniel Kuykendall Creative Director - Angel Cardona Hair Stylist - Angel Cardona Makeup - Lauren Kiebzak Stylist - Luis Ayuso Designer - Cheyenne Kimora Producers - Tony Berly & Edward Zapata Location - TSM Studios courtesy of Jason Ross

TAILOR YOUR TECH

By Gabriel

Fuentes

Fashion and technology come together in a practical mobile App created by acclaimed Fashion Photographer Jeff Rojas. Style writer Gabriel Fuentes downloaded the App and wanted to know more so he spoke with Jeff about his Posing Guide For Men. LM: When you started creating apps in 2013, mobile photography education was unheard of.

Looking back, what convinced you that your apps were going to be successful?

JR: That’s a great question! It would be disingenuous to say that I was one of the innovators of mobile photography education. I consider myself an early adopter. Somewhere in between 2012 and 2013, a colleague of mine had partnered with a photography publication to produce a posing application for wedding photographers.

My colleague fronted the cost of producing it and in exchange the magazine would market the app under its’ brand for a 50-50 share of the net profits. The magazine shared non of the risk, but reaped all the rewards. I figured that if I replicate that idea, but cut expenses and the middle man (the magazine) I’d create a better net profit.

LM: What experience did you have coding apps or did you hire someone else to put it together for you?

LM: Why is mobile education so important to you?

JR: I’m blessed to say that I’m a child of this digital age.

Innovation is everywhere. There are so many people around the world who do not have the means to attend a photography school in order to learn the fundamentals of lighting, posing and the business side of photography.

I consider it my duty an educator to provide a readily available alternative to a formal photography education. I guess you can say that I’m paying it forward.

LM: Is your App geared more to, models or photographers?

JR: To be honest, my apps have ALWAYS been intended to be marketed to photographers. Educating models on posing was a byproduct of creating a readily available

Images Courtesy of Jeff Rojas

JR: Before I created the first app, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and what I was in for.

To be clear, I’ve designed a total of three apps, but I’ve only coded one myself. For the first app, I hired a computer programmer in India who wen’t totally over budget and missed his deadline.

The first app, was definitely a net loss. I didn’t want to give up, so I bought a couple of books on C-Name programming and spent a weekend studying how to do it myself. That same Monday, I released the second app.

resource for photographers.

LM: What impact do you think you app will have on the fashion community?

JR: Instagram is littered with some really bad photographers. There’s a lot of models, photographers and fashion bloggers taking photographs that just don’t flatter the designers pieces. In my own small way, I hope that I’m helping people take better images.

Whats next for you and your creative team?

Everyone that I work with has their own goals and endeavors, that may or may not align with mine. So, while I can’t speak for the people I work with, I can say that I will be spending a lot more time shooting content and growing my own personal brand.

http://www.sajorffej.com

Jeff Rojas Pick up the app at www.sajorffej.com

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BEAUTY

Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

TOM FORD TAKEOVER SOLEIL SWEEPS SUMMER Tom Ford takes taps into your sensual side with his new summer Soleil collection. This collection highlights the very best in luminous shadows, shimmering body oil and perfect lip color that will leave everyone wanting more...

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WOMEN’S makeup

Some people remember their summer for what exotic destination they experienced.

Well Tom Ford and his collection of sensual makeup is sure to be the perfect co-pilot on your summer adventures around the world.

Start your sensual summertime look with a touch of lightweight bronzing powder. Now available in a smaller size perfect for your travel plans. Then add Tom Ford cream and powder eye shadow. flawlessly blending two secret formulas into one to give you a rich and sexy look.

Start with the ultra-pigmented metallic cream shadow and intensify the look for an evening out by adding the sparkling celestial powder.

Each shade can be worn alone or layered. Add a touch of pink sand cream cheek color to instantly brighten your face.

Finish with the perfect compliment to your bronzed skin and sexy eyes, your favorite shade of Sheer lip color . Made in a semi translucent formula with a blend of moisturizing ingredients and natural oils to lavish your lips with saturated moisture and shine.

No matter if your travels take you to you to a tropical paradise, a secret garden or hidden cave the Tom Ford Soleil collection will give you the perfect summer glow. Dont forget to temp all the senses and make sure you bring along your collection of Tom Ford fragrances to smell as good as you look.

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NEW EDITION TOM FORD new eye and cheek compact features three exciting eye shadows and two tempting cheek colors that create an effortless sensual look.

The three smaller sections are filled with rich golden and violet pigment while the larger two sections are the perfect place for the rose gold and plum blush.

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TOM FORD SHIMMERING BODY OIL

Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

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LIPS DON’T LIE TOM FORD lip color is sheer in many shades.

Its moisture rich formula gives your lips a perfect summer sheen to compliment your beautifully bronzed skin. The semi-transparent formula contains a blend of rich ingredients like Vitamin C and E, shea butter and other natural oils selected to saturate your lips in lasting moisture.

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COOL OFF Inspired by the intoxicating scent of exotic flowers that line the Mediterranian coast and laced with the regional fragrances of sweet honey and orange, FLEUR DE PORTOFINO is a refreshing perfume with notes of Sicilian lemon, mandarin from Sorrento, Calabrese bergamot, and juicy tangerine. The essence of this heady concoction is the white acacia blossom. Encased a stunning light-aqua-blue glass bottle reminiscent of the breathtaking oceans that paint the horizons this is sure to be your signature summer scent.

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Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

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The Hot List SUMMER SOLEIL This exciting new collection from TOM FORD is full of this summers must-have items. Go anywhere and everywhere feeling sexy and confident. With your Soleil collection tucked away you can not go wrong. Bronze basics.The main hue on the canvas that is your face, the exquisite TOM FORD bronzing powder will deliver a silky, sensuous look without feeling caked-on and heavy. Perfect for when you need to impress for long periods of time. Try the cream and powder eye color in naked bronze for a touch of mystery during the day. This powerful and alluring duo is the ultimate combination to give your summer eyes a sexy smolder whether worn separately or together. The cream glides onto the lids followed by the powder for a sparkle sure to catch everyone’s attention. Give your face a healthy, youthful glow with the cream cheek color and instantly add a brightness to your face. This peachy-pink blush is sure to give you a natural sun-kissed radiance.

Want the perfect complement to sun-kissed skin and rosy cheeks?

Try this sheer lip color it will not only provide a lusty sheen, but also quench your pout with Vitamin C and E, Shea Butter, and other lustrous oils.

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SKINCARE

A treatment with Tom Ford’s highest concentration of skin calming and infusing complexes, this product combats the look of fatigue from late nights, travel, and free-radicals. it is the perfect product to repair your skin while you sleep, conditions the skin before shaving and makes a great after-shave soother.

Lightly scented a masculine blend of vanilla, patchouli and bergamot.

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HYDRATING LIP BALM An ultra-emollient lip balm with a blend of almond oil, shea butter, avocado extract, and Vitamins A and E to help soothe, condition and protect the lips from any kind of weather by sealing in moisture for an impeccable look.

CONSEALER OIL FREE DAILY MOISTURIZER An essential part of a man’s skincare regime, this fast-absorbing moisturizer infueses a combination of luxurious skin butters to hydrate the skin, reverse dullness and reduce the look of fine lines and pores leaving the skin toned, polished and bright.

Every man should have the tool to help him look his best. With natural-looking coverage, this concealer in a practical twist-up stick is perfect for hiding redness, under-eye circles, and other imperfections. Available in 3 shades.

TOM FORD MENS

Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

SKIN REVITALIZING CONCENTRATE

“FINE GROOMING IS THE MARK OF A MODERN GENTLEMAN. IT IS THE WAY A MAN PRESENTS THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF TO THE WORLD.” —TOM FORD

Takeover

A COLLECTION OF ESSENTIAL TOOLS A MAN NEEDS TO LOOK HIS VERY BEST.

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The Hot List TODAYS OUD “I HAVE WANTED TO REVISIT OUD FOR YEARS; IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ENDLESSLY FASCINATING INGREDIENTS IN A PERFUMER’S PALETTE. FOR THIS COLLECTION, I EXPLORED HOW OUD COULD INTERTWINE WITH OTHER PRECIOUS INGREDIENTS FROM THE RICH AND STORIED CULTURE AND ARTISANAL TRADITIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST.” —TOM FORD

Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

Taking you on an olfactive journey exploring the mesmerizing and sensual facets of Oud. Derived from the tropical Agar (Aquilaria) tree believed to to have originated in the Assam region of India. As a follow-up to the Best-Selling fragrance PRIVATE BLEND OUD WOOD, these two new fragrances PRAVATE BLEND OUD FLEUR and PRIVATE BLEND TOBACCO OUD share signature elements of the original OUD WOOD and branch off in contrasting paths to give Tom Ford another opportunity to show off his mastery of this rare ingredient.

This collection also features three bath and body products that offer new ways to wear this unforgettable note making the OUD COLLECTION its own little world within TOM FORD PRIVATE BLEND. Features OUD WOOD shower gel, OUD WOOD body moisturizer, and OUD bath soap.

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Images Courtesy of Tom Ford

Gentlemen your summer will no doubt be filled with traveling, outdoor activities and late nights.

To keep your summer skin looking great keep this combination of skin care products in your carry-on. They fuse high performing ingredients with exotic lightweight textures to calm, comfort and mattify your skin. (clockwise) Today’s hectic lifestyle can stress your skin out! Try the purifying mud mask, It starts off dark grey, and then turns a light grey to signal that it has drawn out the oil and toxins from your skin. Start your day off right by washing off the night with TOM FORD purifying face cleanser. This water activated foaming gel leaves the skin exceptionally clean and does not leave your skin feeling tight or dry. Thanks to its unique formula it conditions and hydrates your skin as it unclogs your pores. The perfect preparation for a smooth shave. For the early mornings after a long night try the anti-fatigue eye treatment.

This restorative eye treatment features the TOM FORD skin calming and infusing complexes.

It lifts and firms the look of skin around the eyes, The special silver-tip applicator helps to cool and reduce puffiness, leaving your tired summer eyes looking refreshed and energized. As a final touch try the TOM FORD bronzing gel.

Developed to mimic the look of a few minutes of sun on your skin.

The oil-free, water based formula blends in effortlessly and lends just a touch of color. With all these TOM FORD MENS grooming essentials you are sure to look your best all summer long.

“FINE GROOMING STARTS WITH THE HABIT OF LOOKING CLOSELY AT YOUR FACE. LEARN TO SEE WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS. IS IT DRY? OILY? DEPLETED AND STRESSED? TAKE CARE OF THAT WITH A FEW QUICK STEPS, THEN CAMOUFLAGE ANY IMPERFECTIONS. AND, IF YOU NEED IT, USE A BRONZER TO ADD A NATURAL TINT OF COLOR. THESE ARE THINGS MOST MEN COULD EASILY DO, BUT DON’T.” —TOM FORD

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KENYA (ROBINSON)

Blonde Anemone 2010 Synthetic hair, nuts, bolts, plastic cable ties, nylon crochet thread, plastic combs Photo by Deana Lawson

Kenya (Robinson) is an emerging artist from Gainesville, Florida. She graduated with a MFA in Sculpture at the Yale School of Art after several years as a working artist.

(Robinson), who deliberately chooses to put her last name in parenthesis, has community-taught visual-conceptual-performance-artist”.

Kenya (Robinson) has something to say. Her work, which spans over many disciplines including performance, installation, mixed-media painting, and many more, is both highly conceptual and able to motivate popular participation.

Some of her most riveting work challenges, overturns and rearranges fashion images and pop cultural references, and offers a counter-commentary on consumer culture.

In her mixed-media “hair” installations (Robinson) deconstructs racial stereotypes, using objects like women’s magazines, synthetic blond hair and melted Goody combs. Familiar and alien her artworks have spikes, look dangerous yet inviting at the same time- much like the carnivorous plants that draw you in with their inviting colors and spellbinding shapes. Her goal is to both provoke and engage the viewer into looking at the notion of beauty and question their aesthetic aspirations in connection to the body, by deconstructing the images that constantly bombard us, in our consumerist plastic societies.

Her newest series and performance piece entitled “White Man in My Pocket”, explores a range of issues from race and class to perceptions about gender, privilege, more particularly white, western, male privilege, which is very a propos in the current social climate in the USA. (Robinson) likes to stir and we can’t help but engage with her work.

FACT:

Commemorative Headdress of Her Journey Beyond Heaven was acquired for the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture in 2014.

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Kenya Creating

7 of 17 2011 Paper, spray lacquer, nylon crochet thread, steel dressmaker, pins and wood.

LM: Performance artist, entrepreneur, fashion designer, activist, scholar, you seem to have many facets Kenya (Robinson)?

Which is the one that describes you the most?

Photo courtesy of C24 Gallery

KR: I am a Humanist.

LM: Where does your nickname the Mischief Maker come from?

KR: I went to a book signing for Sharifa Rhodes Pitts’ Harlem is Nowhere, and her inscription read: “keep making mischief”. It resonated so fully that it’s become a major part of how I view my creative life.

LM: What was your first emotion in art?

KR: Curiosity.

LM: What was the trigger that pushed you to make the jump and create, for life?

KR: Moving to New York City. It presented a tremendous opportunity to participate in a broad community of makers. They helped me realize that my creative efforts shouldn’t, couldn’t, be pigeonholed as a hobby - that my art was the creation of a life way.

Commemorative Headdress of Her Journey Beyond Heaven 2012 Plastic combs, nylon crochet thread, plastic cable ties, nuts, and bolts.

Photo by Deana Lawson

LM: What is your proudest accomplishment?

KR: Rebuilding a stronger relationship with my father, after my mother’s passing.

LM: You once said “I find a lot of peace in embracing an identity as a black artist”, how would you define your responsibility and your position as a black artist living and working in contemporary North America?

KR: I am a trickster, right? A mischief maker, a jester in the king’s court. I’m presenting truths that are undeniable in their absurdity. I also get to redefine blackness outside the accepted and encouraged memes of victim hood, by doing what I most want to do. A full expression of self feels like my most important responsibility as a black artist.

LM: Do tragic events such as the April 2015 riots in Baltimore and more recently the shootings at The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, that can both be categorized as institutionalized racism, reinforce your wish to promote cultural activism and social engagement through your art practice?

KR: No, most of my thoughts gravitate towards revenge.

Vortex 2011 Inkjet print on spray-painted paper.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

LM: How important is it for you to be connected to a network of other artists?

KR: My practice has never been separate from a community, so I wouldn’t describe it as “important” – it’s essential.

LM: Do you feel your work belongs to a current in art?

KR: If comedy can be considered a current in contemporary art, then I’m a belonger.

By: Coralie Claeysen-Gleyzon

Untitled 2013 Synthetic hair, plastic cable ties.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

DESIGNER

On The Rise

By Gemini Martin

Not many have the ability and resources to drop everything and become a Fashion Designer, but one 24-year-old Brooklyn native can and did just that.

Cheyenne Kimora, a self-taught designer, began in 2008 turning simple sunglasses into eclectic pieces of art.

Being a familiar friend of the sewing machine, Kimora used to make her own pieces of clothing on the side.

Being a woman of a petite stature, finding clothing to fit her properly was always an obstacle in the department stores.

Taking to her sewing machine, she did not realize she would soon be creating a new path to success.

In 2008, for a friends birthday, Cheyenne Kimora created a dress to suit the occasion, a sexy custom made dress decked with appliqué and the unexpected start of the Cheyenne Kimora brand we see today.

Kimora received such an inspiring response from friends and fans that had seen the custom made dress.

She realized designing and creating clothing was something she had both the talent and the ability for, and set out to create a superior product.

Cheyenne Kimora

Cheyenne Kimora explained that she was, “always behind the sewing machine,” and there is where she created her brand. Kimora adheres to the confident woman to wants to find the perfect fit.

She is a fan and believer that every body type should be celebrated, which is evident in her designs. She designs for the women who believe in themselves and their bodies, and she designs for the women who need help getting there.

Through her clothes she wants to exemplify confidence and she wants her customer to embody self-love. “As women, we are our biggest critics,” she says, “your body is nothing to be ashamed of, you are enough.”

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Through out her work we see many different fabrics and colors, the core elements of her collections. The new Summer 2015 collection features a plethora of vivid colors from lime greens to hot pinks balanced by neutrals - her pieces are individual works of art. The fabrics are a colossal factor that provided the structure and texture needed to complete the Cheynne Kimora look. Her colors and fabrics are all inspired by her many travels and explorations to museums and galleries. Frequenting Orlando’s Snap!

Gallery, and when in New York, the Brooklyn Museum, especially the Egyptian exhibits, Kimora takes inspiration from many mediums of art.

Although the studio is based in Orlando, Kimora travels to New York several times a year where she networks her brand. Through this networking she met Eric Burns, LA based stylist, with experience involving Christina Milian, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Cassie and many more. For the 2014 American Music Awards, Christina Milian rocked a Cheyenne Kimora dress on the red carpet. “She posted a selfie online in my dress, and I just lost it. I began running up and down, screaming,” Cheyenne laughs. This newfound success was prefaced by Cheyenne’s labor-intensive creative process.

“It’s really easy to hesitate on yourself, I had to find my footing,” Kimora explains. Through trial and error she had to see what worked for her customers and what did not, it is all a part of the process of growing a fashion house. “I went through ten different websites before I landed with the one I have now, which was my original vision.” All with help from her team, photographer Nigel Elliot and stylist Brandy Nicole. “They helped push me into what I am today, I admire them so much,” she explains.

Step by step Cheyenne Kimora has built a name for herself by hand, literally. With pen and paper she designs each pattern, each piece and creates each garment herself.

A true wonder woman to fashion, Kimora takes to heart her devotion to her customers. She communicates with each of her clients personally providing them with pieces custom to their individual bodies, “I try to help my customers pick which piece is best suited to their body, giving my helpful opinion without passing judgment.” Communication between the designer and the buyer is not what most companies offer, making shopping with Cheynne Kimora a one of a kind experience. Pieces of art, made into clothing; this is the new standard of fashion, and the house of Cheyenne Kimora lives up to all of those expectations plus more.

Check out Cheyenne Kimora’s designs online at CheyenneKimora.com

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SHOE Shoes - Pleasure and Pain Opened this June at London’s Victoria and Albert museum.

LAPALME MAGAZINE sent me along to scope out the exhibition and what it had to offer. After reading this feature you will look at shoes in a different way as a commodity, sexual things that offer pleasure and pain. This exhibition has iconic creations by celebrated designers sitting alongside masterpieces from unknow craftsmen and embraces both men’s and women’s footwear, from the Chinese lotus shoe to laser printed contemporary shoes as sculpture.

Shoes: Pleasure and Pain engages with the cultural significance of shoes - the source of their allure, how they are made and the people who buy and wear them. I popped along for the press preview to view the collection and listen to a talk from the curator Helen Persson and from Clarks who sponsor the exhibition .

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ABOUT TIME

The V&A shoe collection is unrivalled, spanning the globe and over 2000 years. For Shoes: Pleasure and Pain, curator Helen Persson has delved into this, other collections and the wardrobes of private individuals to select an exceptional range of shoes, from a sandal decorated in pure gold leaf originating from ancient Egypt to futuristic looking shoes created using 3D printing.

FOOT BINDING The Chinese practice of footbinding, introduced just before or during the Song dynasty, involved tightly wrapping the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing. Banned in 1911 as a brutal and disabling practice, it was previously an accepted part of a young girl’s life and continued in some rural areas until the 1930s. Bound feet showed that the girl was well brought up and a good marriage prospect.

Shoes for bound feet, 1850-1950, China

OUT OF THE SAND Also on show are shoes worn by high profile figures including Marilyn Monroe, Queen Victoria, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kylie Minogue and Daphne Guinness.

Footwear for men and women by 70 named designers including Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Prada are on display. Historic shoes made for blind feet, 16th century chop ones and silk mules with vertiginous platforms designed to life skirts above the muddy streets also feature.

Pair of red wedding juttis, 1925, India (Lahore)

POP CULTURE Curator Helen Persson says “ shoes are the most telling aspects of dress. Beautiful, sculptural objects, they are powerful indicators of gender, starts, identity, taste and even sexual preference.

Our choice in shoes can help project an image of who we want to be.” The exhibition is shown over two floors .. The luxurious, boudoir design of the ground floor gallery examines three themes: transformation, status and seduction CHOPINES Chopines are backless shoes or slippers with high platform soles. They became popular throughout Renaissance Europe due to a renewed interest in ancient Greek culture, when similar styles were worn. This type of footwear was worn most notably in Spain and Italy, and was considered to be a sign of an affluent woman. In Spain the platform was made from cork to make it lighter.

A pair of chopines, about 1600, Venice,

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SHOE SHOW Transformation - presents shoes that are items of myths and legends, opening with different cultural interpretations of the Cinderella story from across the globe.

Status - reveals how impractical shoes have been worn to represent privileged and leisurely lifestyles ... Status also demonstrates how historically shoe fashions originated from the European royal courts.

While today the focus has shifted to the famous shoe designers.

Seduction - these shoes represent an expression of sexual empowerment or a passive source of pleasure ... Like feet, shoes can be objects of fetishism.... Extreme heels and tight laced leather boots are on display as well alas erotic styles channelled by mainstream fashion in recent years.

Moving on to the first floor in contrast the laboratory style setting of the first floor galley is dedicated to dissecting the process involved in designing and creating footwear, laying out the story from concept to final shoe. The displays show how makers combine traditional craftsmanship with technological innovation and how they unite function with art.

Pair of juttis, 1870-90, India,

Juttis were light slippers with upturned toes, usually worn by wealthy female members of the court in the Mughal Empire.

Typically, they were heavily decorated, like this pair. Most Mughal women depicted between 1600 and 1850 are barefooted. Only princesses are shown wearing juttis, illustrating the importance of shoes as a symbol of high status.

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Pair of shoes with elevated soles, 1875-1900, China

Pedestal shoes were worn by the Manchu people of China. Unlike the Han Chinese, they did not practice foot binding. Instead the foot was placed on a raised platform five to ten centimetres off the ground. The hoof shape of the pedestal had a stabilizing effect for the wearer. Women wore higher and more elaborately decorated shoes than men.

In Autumn 2013 Louboutin released a limited edition collection of shoes challenging the notion that nude was a single light colour. These five shades of nude gave more skin tone options, thus appealing to a wider audience and highlighting the changing nature of the global economy. The shoes were displayed balanced on hands, as unclothed legs and feet are considered taboo in some countries. An iphone application was also released that could match shoppers’ skin tones to the closest shade of shoe.

The first floor also includes designer sketches, materials, embellishments and shoe lasts created by H&M Rayner for princess Diana are on show alongside ‘pullovers’ from Roger Vivier for Christian Dior.

The section highlights the makers, ingenuity in creating innovative styles and dealing with the structural challenges of creating ever higher heels and more dramatic shapes.

Fifi shoes with stands, 2014, France (Paris)

The exhibition ,Ives on to examine to shift in consumption and production with examples from the 18th century ‘cheap shoe warehouse’, one off handmade brogues a s trainers in China. It’s also looks into the future of shoe design, with experiments of materials and shapes..... A good example of this is the 3D invisible naked shoe from Andreia Chaves. A feature film interview five designers including Christian Louboutin and Marc Hare.

The last section of the exhibition looks at shoes as commodities and collectibles and highlights of six different collections are presented two historic, a high end collector, a high street collector, a sneaker head and a pair of shoes from Imelda Marcos’ collection. When I left the exhibition armed with a new insight into shoes it made me take a look at what shoes I was wearing how I was walking in them and how they made me feel ... This is definitely an exhibition not to be missed!

Pair of evening shoes, 1955, London, Rayne,

Named after a Sicilian fighting knife, the Stiletto heel rose to prominence in the 1950s when high fashion reemphasized a more traditional female figure in reaction to restrictions imposed by the Second World War. Roger Vivier’s tailored shoes for Dior are credited with developing the sculpted tapered heel associated with this period. This pair from 1955 illustrates how little the design has changed today since its inception.

Pair of wedge-heeled sandals, 2015, Italy (Florence), Salvatore Ferragamo

The Italian fashion house Ferragamo have recently reinvented their timeless cork wedge shoe, first patented in 1938, by covering the heel with coloured straw instead of suede. This experimental use of modest materials in shoemaking has always been a feature of Ferragamo design.

Straw is a particularly relevant choice as it was once an abundant raw material in Italy.

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CONVERSATION PIECE

LM: With over 60 designers on show at the exhibition if there was another designer you could include who would it be ?

HP: When it comes to the designers I think we are covered, when it comes to shoes it would be good to be able to include some more rare shoes from private collections LM: What piece is the standout piece ?

HP: Standout pieces would be the Cinderella shoe at the start of the exhibition and the Manila blahnik Mary Janes as featured in Sex in city and described as an urban myth LM: What can the general public expect to take away when they visit the exhibition?

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HP: A better understanding of shoes ... How they are made, shoes as commodities and how they empower Us and make us feel LM: How long did it take to set up the exhibition/ collection HP: The exhibition took roughly two years to put together with all the research that went into it, the planning and going through all the archives at the v&a and liaising with private collectors and it all started when Helen Persson stumbled across a rare pair of shoes in a draw.

LM: Across both floors of the exhibit and the various sections what part of this really tells the Shoes: pleasure and pain story??

THE CLARK’S CORNER

Wallabee Boot, 2015, England, C & J Clark International Ltd Another enduring style in the Clarks Originals catalogue is the Wallabee. Debuting in 1967 under the guidance of Lance Clark, it was styled around the Clarks nature form last. Originally called Grasshopper, it was renamed Wallabee when it crossed the Atlantic. Its fame in North America was boosted by the largest billboard ever seen and international success soon followed. The combination of comfort and simple, uncluttered design has earned it millions of dedicated followers.

HP: It would have to be he status section really tells the story from the Royal courts Europe for example the chopines from 16th century Venice which were the first platform shoes which were introduced to keep the ladies of the courts long dresses from getting dirty but after time these got higher and higher some up to as high as 54 cm in some cases so they could stand above ... They were so high that they would need mades to act as crutches to help them walk around ... This was all done to show their statuses ... In today we still see these with the high heel stiletto vWhat direction can will shoes of the future possibly go?

HP: Shoes are getting more expensive and more technically we see this with shoes from the likes of Christian Louboutin and especially with the 3d invisible shoe from andriea Chavez all displayed of the upper floor ...

There you will also see a pair of DIY perspex shoes.

Desert boot: Desert Peace, 2015, England, Bob and Roberta Smith for C & J Clark International Ltd, leather.

Clarks has experimented with the design of the classic Desert Boot over the years, relaunching it with eclectic prints and unconventional materials. With their latest project, in support of the HALO Trust, the company has commissioned 14 artists to reinterpret the form using their signature artwork. Here, the British artist Bob and Roberta Smith revisits his best known work Make Art not War (1997).

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SUMMER DESIRE Photographer: Dickson Moses www.dicksonmosesphotography.

Makeup: Laura Ferrandez Female Model: Mariya Dmytrenko - Monroe Models Male Model: Angel Martinez -Monroe Models Male Model: Pari Perez - Monroe Models Style: Laura Ferrandez & Dickson Moses Location: Marjan Camping & Resort Crevillente

Relaxing on the Edge WhiteJeans: Primark Yellow Jeans: Primark

Basking in the Sun Swimwear: Lefties

Fit and Fab Swuimsuit Sport: Primark Dumbell: Body Tone

GRAPHIC ESCAPE Blue Jeans: Primark White Jeans: Primark Swimsuit: Bershka

HAIR TRENDS As a well-respected hair stylist in the industry for the last decade, Angel Cardona has paid close attention to the various looks that come in and out of fashion. With each change of season, trends are constantly changing as well as hair care regiments.

Angel has given us a few of his trends & tips that are sure to last.

HUES OF GREY

CASUAL BRAIDS

BENDING

Not too many people have heard of “Bending” which is a technique used with a flat iron where you feed the hair into the iron in an almost “S” shape.

Another approach is to smooth a couple inches then turn the iron 180 degree and continuously repeat.

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Casual braids seem to be everywhere this summer. From the SS15 runway to your grocery store...and I kind of like it! The look to me feels slightly bohemian/ grunge with a hint of Jack Sparrow. You see so many women wearing them for a natural wave, bed head look, or even as the complete focal point. This is a must-try look, especially in between washes.

TOUSLED TEXTURE

Tousled texture is everywhere and on every fashion and beauty platform.

It takes practice to make hair look [purposely] naturally undone.

Pastel Color and shades of grey, made a big debut a couple years back.

Since then it seems only to be steadily growing in popularity. You can expect to see all different hues of grey and pretty much every color of the rainbow in a less saturated, very translucent form.

SHOWCASE

We have partnered with BANGSNLE.COM to bring you hair trends and stvle inspiration from the talented artists who create them. Check out a few of our favorite hairstyles to try this summer!

ANNA PACITTO Hair: Anna Pacitto for Salon Pure, Montreal Products used: Davines Color: Louis Charland Photo: Ara Sassoonian Make Up: Ekaterina Ulyanoff Styling: Florence O Durand

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Hair: Tina Monz

Hair: Jaymz Marez

Hair: Cameron Lesiege

Photo: Karyn Kimberley

Photo: Sarah Elizabeth

Photo: Doryna Borykina

Make Up: Lisa Hallam

Make Up: Janice Daoud,

Styling: Maygen Kardash Model: Tasha Lukenchuk

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for Nars

Styling: Michelle Rivet

Model: Alexis C Hutt

Model: Raphaelle Savoie

Short A-Line Bob Muti-Colored Highlights

CAMERON LESIEGE

Bob with Soft Curls

BANGSTYLE.COM House of Hair Inspiration

Make Up: Elena Rodriguez Model: Elena Rodriguez

SLATE SUMMER

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Keune Color Styling mousse - Silver For a temporary boost of your hair color. Keune Color Styling Mousse adds depth to the hair and gives a medium hold, making it easy to style.Color Lasts 1-2 shampoos depending on hair porosity. $18.00 available only in salons.

Caviar Anti-Aging Rapid Repair Spray Whether or not you’re naturally silver haired or had some help from the salon, This vitamin packed shine spray adds moisture and vibrancy to your hair.

This spray helps combat stresses brought on by the environment and coloring, and other chemical processes. It can be used as a thermal protectant prior to heat styling, and as a finishing shine spray for a lustrous sheen. $30.00 alternahaircare.com

SILVER SURFING One of the hardest colors to achieve and maintain is a cool silver grey, This trend sparked up a few years ago but seems to be the dominant hair color for beach goers this summer. Depending on your natural color lightening your lovely locks can take a few treatments or ever a few days. But once your silver sets in you can just sit back and enjoy. Silver grey also acts as a great base for lavender and other pastels if you want to play with more colors. Don’t forget it’s ok to embrace your roots, the color fade is usually rather interesting. Also it gives your hair some time to rest So if you choose to surf the grey silver wave this summer be sure to use generous amounts of conditioner to keep your grey looking great!

By: Steven Story

Bumble and Bumble White Hair Powder Made exclusively for white, silver, platinum, and champagne blonde hair colors. Use to extend the life of your blow dry, while dry cleansing and adding a subtle wash of color.. $36.00 sephora.com

Madison Reed SemiPermanent Gloss Crema Enhance the look and health of your silver locs, This luxurious, easy-touse, semi-permanent gloss deep conditions and counteracts yellow tones for a clean, fresh hair color that has incredible shine. Each application lasts for 6-8 shampoos. $24.95 madison-reed.com

Pravana Pure Light Brightening Conditioner Pure Light Brightening Conditioner provides protection and strength with keratin and silk amino acids, wheat protein, and natural soothing botanicals. Pure Light’s dual ultra-violet dye system, acts as a virtual optical brightener to instantly neutralize yellow tones, and enhance cool tones on silver hair. $18.00 available only in salons.

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CULTURE CULINARY From the impeccable evening at Montrachet in Tribeca to the phenomenal Bottega in Napa to the sublime favors of Bertrand’s on Perry Square in Western Pennsylvania, and yes, even the world’s greatest homemade Italian cooking of Theresa Mastrastefano, the finest seafood I’ve ever experienced was prepared by the hands of Chef Francesco Coli of Massa Coastal Italian in Mamaroneck, New York, 914.732.3535. What made this meal so extraordinary? First, four of the five courses were seafood which I love, and second, the quality, texture and flavor were simply beyond compare.

Finito.

Sitting down to talk with Francesco is identical to walking into his restaurant. An unparalleled sense of comfort surrounds you, puts a smile on your face and your body at ease, while your mind is excited with the anticipation of knowing that you are about to experience genius.

LM: Francesco, I believe in candor. The meal I had at your restaurant was the best I’ve ever experienced.

MASSA Coastal Italian

you’ve got the world’s best fish, and it’s so fresh they’re bouncing around like Sharna Burgess and Derek Hough trying to impress Carrie Ann Inaba with a Rumba! It’s the best place you can shop for fish other than the Sea. LM: So, you go in, you’ve got a couple zillion fish before you, how do you know what to buy?

FC: Well, the first thing is I only buy sustainable fish. By that I mean fish that aren’t being over exploited to the point where it’s only a matter of time before we won’t have any left. Like LM: Okay, now I love seafood, and I’ve eaten a lot of it, but Blue Fin Tuna. Delicious, but its being over fished. To get this meal was different. The taste, the texture, the whole fisherman to stop catching too much of one kind of fish, you experience was like none other. Why? need to get Fish Mongers to stop selling them. To get Fish Mongers to stop selling them, you need to get restaurants FC: The most important quality of a Chef is restraint. Let and consumers to stop buying them. To get people to stop the food speak for itself. Sure, compliment it with a simbuying them we simply need to open our eyes. Hey, there’s ple sauce or a light drizzle of olive oil, but when you serve plenty of delicious fish in the sea, we don’t all have to eat the seafood, you should be serving and the customer should be same kind. Not if we love our children. And I love my Son. experiencing, the essence of the sea.

LM: Please, open my eyes. What fish I should stop eating?

LM: But how do you achieve that taste? That texture?

FC: Blue fin Tuna and Chilean Seabass are two that are over FC: First, start with the best, freshest fish you can. Seafood fished. must be served as close as possible from the ocean to the plate. And that’s what I do. I buy the finest quality fish I can LM: Okay. So you only buy fish that are being harvested in a without concern for cost, prepare it in the most delicate, sustainable manner. Does that mean farm raised fish? simplest way I can, and serve it as fresh as possible.

FC: Absolutely not. I don’t serve farm raised fish. First, LM: What’s the most famous fish market in the world like? there’s a qualitative difference in the taste. Second, forcing that many fish to live together like that exposes them to FC: Well, for me, there’s no better place to shop, it’s the greater chances of disease. Not for me or my customers. I try second largest fish market there is with the only bigger one to serve my food as close to nature as possible. Fish raised being Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish market. The original market was on a farm is not natural. No thanks. in lower Manhattan near the Brooklyn Bridge and this one opened in 2005 in the Bronx. For a Chef whose specialty is LM: How about for the rest of us. Any tips for how to buy the seafood it’s like The Super Bowl, Disney World and Dancing best fish?

With the Stars all rolled together into one. You’ve got as diverse of a selection of fish there is anywhere in the world, FC: Sure. The key is you want to buy fish as fresh as possible.

Now there’s fresh fish, and there’s FRESH FISH! Here’s FC: Thank you.

Images Courtesy of Francesco and Jay D’Alba

five simple things you should evaluate when buying fish.

First, smell it. That’s Fish 101. Any questionable odor means you don’t buy it. Fresh fish smells clean. Like clean water or cucumbers. Next, poke it. Give it a good jab. The skin should be flexible and yet firm. If it’s too soft and the skin doesn’t bounce right back or your fingers leave an indentation, it is not fresh. The next thing is the eyes. The eyes must be clear. If they’re cloudy or discolored, move on to another fish. The fourth thing to check is the gills. A fresh fish has gills that are bright red, not faded, dull or brown.

Bright. Finally look at the skin. It should be bright and shiny, almost metallic, brilliant.

LM: Good advice. Let’s talk about your background. Where are you from?

FC: from a small town in Italy called Cutrofiano in the Lecce Region. It’s in the bottom of the heel of Italy, on the Mediterranean Sea. I lived there until I was five then we moved to the United States, but every year we’d go back and spend the summers there, so both cultures are a part of me and I try to honor both. Growing up on the Mediterranean the water was a part of my life. When I was ten years old I got my first spear gun, and I would bang Octopus, Ricci (Sea Urchin), and Triglia.

hardly understand him, but he’s screaming something about a HUGE Octopus! We grab our gear and jump into the sea. Octopus’ are nocturnal and like to hide in rocks and normally we caught them with our bare hands, but this was a special case. We used a blue mineral that we kept in a squeeze bottle to flush them out. Luigi sprays his whole bottle. Nothing. Marco sprays his. Nothing still. And then suddenly out comes this gigantic octopus and sprays its ink shooting blindly. We hit it with our spear guns all simultaneously and swam back to shore. We get to shore and are still in shock at how big it is! To this day we still argue over who caught it. It was missing one leg which explains why it was so close to shore. We took it to the best Chef we knew – Aunt Ada, my Father’s Sister. She made Octopus three style – grilled, stewed with onions and Octopus salad. I never forgot how delicious it was!

LM: Speaking of delicious, I’m not exaggerating when I say the dinner I had at Massa Coastal Italian was THE greatest meal of my life. Tell our readers about what I ate. Just thinking about it makes me drool.

FC: Thanks, Jay. There is nothing more gratifying to me than a satisfied customer.

LM: Triglia? What’s that?

LM: And the wines you served accompanied the meal so nicely. What’s the key to wine selection?

FC: Triglia? Triglia is the Prince of the Mediterranean! In English it’s called Mullet.

FC: I always like to pair my food with wines from the same region. So, when serving seafood, I select coastal wines.

LM: Really? Mullet is that good?

LM: Like I said, that was a memorable meal. So, what lies ahead for you?

FC: You know what, the next time I prepared a meal for you I’m going to serve you Triglia. Cooked MY way!

Then you tell me that you disagree. Okay?

Big Eye Tuna Crudo

LM: Can’t wait. So tell me more about growing up on the Mediterranean.

FC: What can I say? It’s incredible. Now, I was raised old style, I was taught respect and I was taught to be respectful. I learned from everything. I learned from watching, listening and doing. And we were we allowed to be kids, to learn on our own. Make our own mistakes. I had five cousins. We were inseparable.

We played. We swam. We fished.

We explored. Like I said, it was incredible and those experiences made me who I am today.

LM: Give me an example. Tell me an experience from your childhood that you still remember today?

Branzino cooked in parchment

FC: Okay. One day I’m with my brother Rocco and my Cousins Andrea, Luigi, and Marco. We’re sitting on the rocks eating Uni. Ever eat uni straight from the Sea? LM: I have at Ho’okipa Beach on Maui. There’s nothing like it.

FC: Then you know how incredible it is. So we send Andrea to town to get some bread. While he’s gone my Brother Rocco who is still in the water starts yelling to us. Can’t

FC: New York City, Baby! I do love Westchester, especially my clients, but I want to play in the Major Leagues and New York, the Big Apple, is it!

LM: You’re opening a restaurant in Manhattan?

FC: No, I’m launching a new venture as a roof top Chef where I’ll be bringing the food to the rooftops of New York.

Alot of NY buildings provide a community roof top and in the summers it is Social Central.

So one night I’m with friends doing my thing and there’re others also barbequing and one of the neighbors says: “This isn’t fair – we’re eating hot dogs and hamburgers and you’re feasting like a Sultan.

Why don’t you cook for us?”. That’s literally how it started. The bell went off in my head and just last month I launched my Roof Top Chef Catering Company.

Phone: 1-800.303.5530 LM: love it! But what about people without rooftop access, are they out of luck?

FC: Now that wouldn’t be fair. I’m working on securing several venues throughout the city so everyone can have access to my food.

LM: Francesco, I’d wish you luck but after having experienced your cuisine and watched the way you work, I know it’s not a matter of luck.

Can go here?

We specialize in bringing your artwork to life!

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