Lavish | Issue: 08 (Jun-Jul)

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Shopping at Le Cute For Him & For Her STYLE CARE PERFUME GADGET

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Art, Culture & Lifestyle Life in the 70s

Cover Feature

INTERVIEW WITH FUNKOGRAFIK aka Funko – Asad Nazeer I N T E RV I E W E D BY L AV I S H E D I TO R I A L T E A M

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Fashion

COVER SHOOT

W R I T T E N BY AC T I V E S O M E O N E I N T FG

P H OTO G R A P H Y F U N KO G R A F I K

Dating & Relationship

LEE ALEXANDER McQUEEN The Visionary of Modern Fashion

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Happy Times

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W R I T T E N BY A N G E L S H U J AU

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W R I T T E N BY N O O N U

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GO QOOQOO

W R I T T E N BY S H I M A N I E S H A R E E F

M× M× L Movies

I R O N M A N 3 S TA R T R E K I N T O D A R K N E S S T H E S E P T E M B E R I S S U E L A G E R F E L D C O N F I D E N T I A L

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Music & Literature

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Travel

CAMBODIA

W R I T T E N B Y A E S H A L AT H Y F & R U B Y A M I R

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DA F T P U N K A M O N TO B I N J A M E S B L A K E FAS H I O N B A BY LO N W T H E F I R S T 4 0 Y E A R S T H E D E V I L W E A R S P R A DA

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EDITOR: MOHAMED RAFEEQ LE CUTE LAVISH LIFESTYLE IS PUBLISHED BY LINTEL INVESTMENTS AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES PVT LTD. THE CONTENTS OF THIS PUBLICATION ARE PROTECTED AND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

COVER SHOOT PHOTOGRAPHY FUNKOGRAFIK

MAKE UP & HAIR GLAM BEAUTY SALON

WARDROBE LUCID DREAMS

MODEL DHEENA

LOCATION VILLIGILI

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COV ERS HOO T

COV ERS HOO T

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LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

LACOSTE

–CH6013–

DAVIDOFF

–AF1050–

–Eau De Toilette–

THE GAME FOR MEN

SHORT SLEEVE LINEN BUTTON DOWN WOVEN SHIRT

LONG SLEEVE COTTON CASHMERE RIBBED POLO SWEATER

Classically cool and perfectly polished, Lacoste short sleeve linen shirt is easy to wear and feels as posh as it looks. A casual, lightweight linen shirt with a button-down collar is branded with a ­signature croc logo at the chest pocket. A shirt which is occasional to be worn casually as well as smart wears.

Lacoste long sleeve cotton Cashmere Ribbed Polo Sweater is made with 85% Cotton and 15% Cashmere. This stylish ribbed polo shirt has the signature ­gunmetal Croc plaque accents on the right hip adding more flair to the sweater. A touch of cashmere gives this sexy ribbed sweater a lux feels.

–MVR 1,330–

–MVR 1,290–

–2216024–

TALOIRE LEATHER SUEDE BLACK SNEAKER

Lacoste sneakers Taloire in black material mix of leather and suede. Decorative stitching and color accents on the heel provide a sporty look making the sneaker the perfect combination partner for everyday and leisure use. A sneaker equipped with a leather insole and light rubber outsole, high quality manufactured by Lacoste.

–MVR 3,030–

Live life to the fullest- play the game with mastery and without limits, from the first moment of eye contact to the final showdown. Inspire admiration with confidence and elegance. Outplay any opponent, win any woman’s heart. The Game, the new fragrance by Davidoff is a woody aromatic fragrance signed by nose Bernard Ellena.

It opens with gin and juniper berries, iris and precious woods as middle notes while base closes with ebony wood.

–MVR 3,030–

MARC JACOBS

–Eau De Toilette–

DAISY EAU SO FRESH SUNSHINE

Marc Jacobs expands his perfume portfolio with Sunshine Edition collection consisting of the new versions of some of his most popular fragrances. Daisy Eau So Fresh Sunshine is announced as a daring interpretation of the original with more pronounced fruity flavors that include initial notes of strawberry, apple blossom and pink grapefruit. The heart is floral and soft – with jasmine, rose and violet leaves, while base accords include oak moss and amber wood. The nose behind this fragrance is Givaudan.

–MVR 3,030–

12 LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

CERRUTI

–21519T–

HANDBAG EVA

A navy blue bag with accents of maroon, printed with Cerruti type. Perfect weekender bag for travelling, and can be used as a stylish baby bag.

–MVR 7,015–

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LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

PANASONIC

–ER-217–

LUMIX GX1

Panasonic LUMIX GX1, a highly configurable camera that will appeal directly to the more ambitious photographers. It is small and portable, yet extremely well built; it offers plenty of physical controls; thereby enabling fuss-free, on-the-fly changes to regularly used settings. GX1 with a 16MP resolution offers intuitive touch-screen control including Touch Focus and Touch Shutter. Panasonic GX1, a compatible camera to capture your special moments.

–MVR 14,751–

WASHABLE TRIMMER

Featured with a “floating cutter” type trimming head, the Panasonic men's trimmer adjusts to all the contours of your face and neck in 14 adjustable modes. The Panasonic ER217 men's trimmer can be used both in and out of the shower, while it gives an effective corded trim as well as proficient cordless trim. Be it sporting a stylish five o'clock shadow or a solemn thick beard, the Panasonic ER217 trimmer is an ideal choice.

–MVR 1,327–

–ES-WC20–

NAIL CARE

Having a date tonight and your nails are in a mess?

Swamped with work and time is not letting you get that manicure? Fret not, for with this nail care, you can get a mobile manicure anytime anywhere. Panasonic ES-WC20 Nail Polisher is a compact nail care kit for shiny nails. It comes with attachments for filing, rough filing, cuticle care and polishing. Just turn it on and watch it work its magic on your nails. Beautiful fingertips are the key to a feminine look.

–MVR 710–

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LEC UTE SHO PPE RGU IDE

BOWERS & WILKINS

–FP 30589–

ZEPPELIN AIR

Nothing looks like it. Nothing sounds like it. Critics and listeners agree: Zeppelin Air from Bowers & Wilkins is the complete speaker dock, making your music sound richer and more lifelike than you have ever heard it before. And with Apple’s AirPlay® wireless streaming technology built in, you can play it however and wherever you like.

–MVR 12,300–

HEADPHONE P5

Get closer to your favourite music wherever you are with the Bowers & Wilkins P5 noise-isolating headphones. Specially developed ultra-linear magnets and highly optimized diaphragms give P5s a natural, accurate sound. P5s include a Made for iPhone cable for easy control of your music, plus an in-line microphone for in-call compatibility. Their closed-back design, with rigid metal faceplates and sealed ear pads, makes P5s ideal for listening on the move.

–MVR 6,699–

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LIF EIN THE 70S

LIF EIN THE 70S

First up we discuss “showers”. Once upon a time we used to wake up in the mornings and to get to work or school we used to take showers in a totally different manner. There’s an outdoor toilet known as a “gifili”, a “well” and a container with a stick attached to fetch water from the well.

You fetch water from the well by bending your body, you ­carry the container above your head with both hands, and ­release the water on your head.

Bend, stand, release. Bend, stand and release.

These would be the movements we go through for some five or seven minutes. Tiring it maybe, but refreshing is what counts for us, for everybody living in that moment.

Contrast it to what it’s like showering today? Those “Hansgrohe” products are so smart that you wouldn’t even have to touch them. Sensors would detect you once you are in close proximity to the shower and it will so smoothly ­release the water onto your head. No movement at all from you other than just quietly enjoying the shower. It may be state of the art technologies giving you an amazing time, but it’s also state of the art technologies making you start an inactive day.

Now that we have showered, surely next up would be breakfast but let’s just not have breakfast (for now) and go straight to work or school huh? We’ll talk food towards the end. So how shall we go to school or work?

Back in the past, it was either on foot or on a push bike.

Ten minutes of a bike ride or a cool walk in the morning hours of the day. How about it to kick start a productive day huh? Today, it’s so much different. It’s all about us ­sitting with minimal body movement. We sit in cars. We sit on our ­motorcycles and that’s about it really. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that by the time we arrive at work, we’re still half asleep!

At work or school, there’s us using stairs almost all the time back in those days. Four storeys or even five storeys does not matter much. We run the stairs, step by step. Will we do it today? No way! We jump in a box. Look at some digits marked 1 to 10 or more and all it takes is a press of a button.

1 takes you to first floor. 5 takes you to fifth, life is so damn easy today.

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LIF EIN THE 70S

LIF EIN THE 70S

After a day’s work, we retire to our homes. On our way home, we will surely visit the likes of Fantasy, Seagull or Agora and buy those ready-made food we so want; be it ready-made curry powder, canned coconut milk, or even the packed fish parts.

Curry powder?

Coconut milk?

Fish part?

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Packed?

Canned?

Already cut?

Go on, tell that to our mothers or perhaps the grandmas and get their reactions. Surely they’d be praying to god to save her child from some sort of witchcraft.

In those days imagine what it takes to make curry powder? You’d be sitting down on the floor (deep squat position), and imagine moving forward and back…forward and back…(holding that huge grinding stone with both hands) to grind those different kinds of ingredients?

WE NEED TO BE WARNED THAT WE ARE RISKING OUR LIVES WITH THE VERY LIFESTYLES WE ARE LIVING

Well that’s life to our parents, life to anyone who would make you your lunch or dinner. What takes us a few seconds to shop around in a fancy supermarket, has been minutes of hard work in positions no different to a rowing machine found in a gym.

Obviously one wouldn't go selling refrigerators to eskimos huh? From the time you wake up, till the time you call it a day, life would have been active. Exercise would have been something that is inbuilt to every activity of life. Thank god technology was dormant back then.

Life back then would have been hard. Life back then might not have much of fitness programs (like how we do today.) Surely no gyms in town, no group classes around and definitely no group out there trying to convince you to be in shape.

In today’s world, however, we need to be reminded of the ­significance of exercise. We need to be told that we are too lazy. We need to be warned that we are risking our lives with the very lifestyles we are living.

Why should anyone, yeah?

Our parents or grandparents back in the day lived a life full of activities. They were active people who need not be reminded of the importance of exercising. Today we have compromised that lifestyle to the luxuries and ­comforts of living. We have sacrificed “wellbeing ” to a confused word “comfort.”

WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EXERCISE. WE NEED TO BE TOLD THAT WE ARE TOO LAZY.

We (Total Fitness Group) say to you “wake up”. We say to you it’s time you thought about the very lives you are living.

Our parents have made us who we are with hard work, dedication and obviously with their active lifestyles. We know we’d be equally good to our kids, just like how our parents were to us. But we leave with just one simple question.

Are you as active as your parents were?

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LEE ALEXANDER McQUEEN O F

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1 9 9 0 The Visionary Fashion J of O I Modern N S C E N T R A L S A I N T M A R T I N S

A 26 year old Alexander McQueen once quoted in 1995 “Give me time and I will give you a revolution.”

For two decades fashion’s l’enfant terrible took the ­industry by storm with innovative, provocative and flawlessly tailored creations. He delivered a true modern day fashion revolution, in 1such 9 a short 9 2duration becoming an F I R S T S H O inspiration W for J generations A C K to come.

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Born on the 17th of March 1969, in London, as Lee Alexander McQueen, the youngest of five children to a taxi driver and social science teacher; McQueen’s road to success started in a humble worker class setting. He once referred to himself as being the “pink sheep of the family”; at the age of three he drew dresses on the walls of his East End home, by age twelve he was already attempting sewing and reading books on fashion design. Despite being called “McQueer” by his friends and taunted extensively back in his hometown, he did not let it create any doubt about his 1 9 9 6 dream goals.

The eccentric and influential S stylist Blow / SIsabella T H E E Y E ­propelled McQueen to the heart of the F British / W fashion E S H U scene after buying the entirety of his Masters Graduation collection that was inspired by “Jack the Ripper.” Blow had a strong influence on McQueen not only as a close friend but as an advocate of his creations. Just four years later he was offered the post of creative director of Louis Vuitton owned fashion house Givenchy. However McQueen recalls his experience at Givenchy as “crap”; after all he was the kind of designer who did not want his creative flow to be restricted or constrained and was more than pleased when his contract with Givenchy ended in 2001.

S / S T H E H U N G E R F / W NotDacademically A N T remarkable E at school McQueen focused

his intelligence on mastering the art of tailoring. After he dropped out of school at the age of 16 McQueen apprenticed at a men’s tailor shop in Saville Row. After a short stint working with Romeo Gigli in Milan, he returned to London and applied to Central Saint Martins1College 9 9of 7 Art and Design originally as aStutor / for S pattern L Acutting; P O U P E E however after being persuaded F / Wby the I head T 'of SMasters A J U N G L E Course McQueen applied asOa student.

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After launching his self titled line Alexander McQueen, the designer displayed his creativity to the fullest by exploring different concepts for every collection, taking the b ­ izzare and transforming it into something exquisitely ­beautiful— transporting his audience into a surreal world and touching their emotions. McQueen’s dramatic style, bold and visionary creations not only won the hearts of ­celebrities like Kate Moss, Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness but also earned him several Design Awards and he was even 2 honored 0 0 Commander 1 of the British Empire by Queen in 2003.

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Plato Atlantis A Maldivian Underwater Inspiration McQueen’s futuristic clothes and their breathtaking ­t heatrical staging are famously known to give goosebumps to the viewers, but perhaps the most ­celebrated of all was his last Spring Summer collection in 2010 titled “Plato’s Atlantis.” McQueen described the collection as one that “predicted a future in which the ice cap would melt… the waters would rise and… life on earth would have to evolve in order to live beneath the sea once more or ­perish.

Humanity would go back to the place from whence it came.”

Customized digital prints of reptilian skins, morphed sea creatures, with the avantgarde draping of fabric and 12 inch crab claw shoes gave the clothes a life2of its 0 own.

0 5 “Plato’s Atlantis”Salso / highlighted S I T McQueen’s ' S Oendless N L Y A ­admiration for F the / underwater W Tlife.HTheEdesigner M once A N told W H O photographer Nick Knight that he wasThappiest O O underwaM U C H ter when he was scuba diving. As an avid diver McQueen frequently visited Maldives for diving experiences and to find inspiration from the colorful flora and fauna found in the reefs.

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The designer’s larger than life creations exuded ceaseless confidence; it shrouded the inner poignant and fragile soul that was McQueen. In 2007 the death of his muse and confidante Isabella Blow was not only a shock for the designer but it also put him under depression. And in 2010 at the age of 40, an already heartbroken McQueen took his own life when faced with the death of his mother, the source of his moral and emotional strength. McQueen’s tragic loss shocked the entire industry and anyone who followed his creative journey.

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Three years after the tragic loss, McQueen’s fashion house is still going strong with collections that embody the visionary designer’s spirit and dynamism. The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” in 2011, which garnered more than 650,000 visitors making it one of the most visited shows D inI the E museum’s D I history.

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In McQueen’s words “There is no way back for me now. I am going to take you on journeys you’ve never dreamed were possible.”

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F / W U N T I T L E D R E L E A S E D P O S T H U M O U S L Y

A T L A N T I S

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GO QOO QOO

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G O QOO QOO

Founded in 2010, based in Riga, the Latvian designer made her transition from graphic d ­ esigner to fashion designer, trying to accomplish her d­ esire to create. While working for other ­companies as a graphic designer, Alyona Bauska needed to quench her thirst of expressing her own ideas and fashioning something e­ xtraordinary.

She started out with making simple cut t-shirts and drawings for her friends, and with the encouragement of them, a passionate hobby turned into a successful fashion label.

Alyona finds inspiration from many things aroun her environment such as the Latvian nature and flowers for her latest collection.

Some other inspirations have been her childhood memories, family and the people of her country.

QooQoo not only makes unique clothes for a fashionable lifestyle, but preference is also given towards sustainable fashion for a greener environment. The brand itself is a socially responsible brand that produces fashion made in ethical settings for both the environment and its employees.

THIS IS THE BASIC MISSION OF THE PERKY, ENERGETIC, AND PLAYFUL DESIGNS AND PRINTS

BY FASHION LABEL QOOQOO

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All QooQoo garments and designs are locally hand made in a local workshop.

While some buyers are more conscious and enquire about how a product is made others are attracted to QooQoo designs simply by the bright colors and prints.

Alyona says that the purpose of local production is caring for people, providing many skilled locals with job opportunities and eliminating the carbon foot prints when avoiding extra transportation from faraway countries. “And it also makes the garments more personal when you know that someone that you have actually met has made it.”

Over the couple of years QooQoo has launched collections that comprises of simple shapes and its own quirky fabric prints. QooQoo introduces col­lections twice a year. Prints may include bears dressed up as an astronaut, baroque interiors, tribal pattern re-envisioned to include Pacman, Mars rover Curiosity images and pictures of pet dogs sent by the followers of the label.

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A TREND MAY LAST ONLY FOR A SEASON BUT FASHION AND STYLE THAT COMPLIMENTS ONE’S INDIVIDUALITY LASTS LONGER

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G O QOO QOO

WHAT SETS QOOQOO AS A UNIQUE LABEL FROM THE OTHERS? Definitely the prints! Since I have created every single print myself, it gives the garments unique qualities.

QooQoo apparel includes dramatic leggings and has a wide range of knitted and silk dresses, tops, stockings and swimwear. It is represented in 24 stores across the world and they recently exhibited at Bread & Butter, in Berlin, with a great lot of positive feedback, their local customers do love the latest collection just as much too.

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The label is actively participating in many collaboration projects and one of its upcoming plans is to launch QooQoo socks. Clutch bags, swimwear and QooQoo fixed gear bike are also on the plan for summer 2013.

Designer, Alyona is always looking forward to gain even stronger positions in the global market too.

QOOQOO IS A VERY YOUNG LABEL, EXPERIENCED AND EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. THE LABEL HAS PROSPERED WELL AND GROWN RAPIDLY. SHARE THE SECRET BEHIND THIS PLEASE? There is no secret. Just hard work! :) And I think that it is also very important to love what you are doing- that is one of the keys to success.

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The year the label was launched, they won the award for Latvian National Style & Fashion Award for Best Designer Debut 2010. This is truly deserving and they have been featured in numerous publications in the global fashion industry, such as L'Officiel Latvia, Vogue China, Elle China, Vogue.it, NYLON blog, Stella magazine, Cosmopolitan, Pastaiga, Institute Mag, BUST magazine, Air Baltic calendar, IEVA, NJAL blog, Facehunter blog, Shape, Veto magazine and more.

THE BRANDS’ SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE BIG FOR 2013?

Emerald green seems to be one of IT colors and dresses with splits on thighs and slip on dresses seems to be in.

Prints and floral patterns are also still sticking around for a little longer it seems.

QooQoo creates fashion for people, who seek individuality in the everyday. QooQoo customer is not defined by age, but for her own personal style and ability to carry clothes with her own expression; is enough said about the Label’s designs and where they stand in the Global Fashion World.

QooQoo.lv www.facebook.com/QooQooFashion @QooQooFashion

interview with

Funkografik aka Funko ‑ Asad Nazeer

A varied artist specializing in fashion and portrait photography. Based out of Male’ ‑ Maldives, his work depicts experimental pieces that conjures up moodscapes and aesthetics by converging his ­placid yet fragile habitat as a canvas. He is inspired by nature, strange ­beauty, dreamscapes, introspection, female forms, music, films, sensuality of colors, and the juxtaposition between personal feelings and objectivity of art, as an expression of self identity.

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How did you get into photography?

What’s the idea behind Funkografik? Why that name?

Which is your favorite lens?

What is the best time of a day to take pictures?

I used to do a lot of illustrations and graphic design work during my college days back in Kuala Lumpur and frequently I would need photographic references of human subjects to complete my work. So I would go through the Internet looking for stock photography or ask a friend for such pictures. Often, I would not find precise pictures for illustration references and finally out of frustration, I bought myself a camera and started shooting and before I knew it, I was seriously hooked.

That was the near death of my graphic design and illustration work. As they say, when one door opens, another door closes!

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Why fashion photography?

Even before I got into photography the fashion scene and the multitude of fashion trends always fascinated me. I would flip through magazines, read articles online, watch fashion related documentaries etc and be highly inspired by it. So it was quite natural for me that I decided to specialize in Fashion photography.

The name ‘Funkografik’ came about while I was going through a music phase. Being a huge fan of George Clinton, one of the pioneers of funk music, I would listen to his records quite religiously and one day while listening and doodling some art, the name just spontaneously struck me. It was pretty electric. I’m eternally grateful for George Clinton, P­–Funk and Funk genre as a whole, they gave me a totally fresh perspective as an artist!

04.

What kind of gear do you use?

My primary kit includes a Canon 7D camera, flashes from Vivitar and Nikon to random no name Chinese brands as well. I like to explore, be open and mix around with what the market has to offer but on a very tight budget. Currently I’ve been experimenting with different mediums like Polaroid and ‘Micro Four Thirds’ system cameras as well. It is pretty exciting that the world of photography is taking giant leaps in innovative technology and the tendency to push it as far as we can.

The Canon 50mm Lens is my favorite. It produces a field of view almost close to what human eyes can see. It is an outstanding lens for street photography and portraits.

They are highly versatile and great in low light or night photography as well. I always carry it along with my gear.

06.

Personally, I would prefer early mornings and late evenings, which is the first and last hour of sunlight during the day. People have even come up with fancy names for it like the ‘Magic Hour’ or the ‘Golden Hour’. I call it the ‘Funky Hour’ Haha.

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What are the challenges you face being a photographer?

What factors do you look for when taking pictures?

What are your inspirations in terms of photography?

The real challenges lie within the fabric of the society. It is the lack of resource and scopes for local artists all around and not just photographers. We have a registered ‘Maldives Photographers Association’ here but they don’t even have an office, there is hardly any group exhibitions or solo exhibitions nor do they actively engage in dialogue. We don’t even have proper copyright laws so artists are not even protected well. The local photography scene is a highly over saturated market. We see almost every 2 or 3 months a dozen of new freelance photographers offering their service and photography studios coming into the mix as well.

So being over crowded with ridiculous photography rates at times might affect people starting out in this field or even the seasoned ones, and personally I’m content rising up to these challenges and it’s helping me become a better artist everyday.

Being an outdoor photographer, both detailed and subtle factors come into play. The concept, the weather, the clothing selection, make–up ideas, type of models or subjects, the look and feel of the finished shots before hand, scouting for specific locations, or whether we are going to create the scene with artificial or natural lighting and so many subtle factors are involved.

Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle, like bringing together all the pieces and connecting them, even more than what camera or equipment you will use.

My single biggest inspiration comes from watching movies, ­documentaries and listening to music. The rest are drawn from nature, strange beauty, ­literature, art, dreamscapes, introspection, female forms, fashion and the everyday struggle I go through.

While still in college, my heroes were mostly writers, m ­ usicians, weird movie characters, poets, traditional artists and film directors etc. I still draw a lot of inspiration from such individuals.

10.

Apart from fashion photography, do you also carry out other types of photography jobs?

Through the years, I have undertaken various types of projects f r o m c o m m e r c i a l , b e a u t y, lifestyle, music, landscape, street documentary, wedding, and food to still life photography. Lately, I’ve been experimenting conceptual photography and I have an ongoing personal project called ‘Age of Decadence/ A Generation: Awakening’ which is a conceptual project based on social issues and subject matters that are laced within the moral fiber of the society. You can view the whole project on my Facebook page and I would highly appreciate if you would share it among your friends.

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11.

Do you have a muse?

Yes, I have a few actually. Recently I’ve been digging Lana Del Rey a lot for her exceptional sense of style and ethereal music. Some people dislike her music but I find her voice quite eccentric and she’s also sort of a classy modern day Nancy Sinatra type, which is one more point in her favor I guess. Then there is Björk, the super eclectic Icelandic singer–songwriter and finally one of the most elegant women I’ve come across, Dita Von Teese. Just Google her and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

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What was the idea behind your photo set “Old Skool”?

The project ‘Old Skool’ came about while I was researching through the fate of local people in their last phases of life. You see we don’t even have retirement homes for the elderly nor do we have proper pension schemes or hangouts targeting such people. We live in compact homes; we have a highly dense city with no space to freely occupy due to social confinement etc. We see the aged sitting outside their homes on the pavement in repetitive mundane cycles to eternity. So I started documenting them. Moreover, I’m afraid we might just end up like them one day.

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A lot of your photos have beach settings. Do you prefer beach settings to others?

I do not have a definite preference and sometimes it can get monotonous doing shoots in beaches day in, day out; so generally depending on the concept I might even end up on a scrap metal yard or a vintage boat somewhere in north Male’ atoll. The beach shoots are mostly my client work done in various resorts. When people travel from far away countries to enjoy a piece of our great outdoors, they want to take back home pictures that truly represent our gorgeous endless ocean and white sandy beaches.

So more often than not, it’s a mandatory thing for the clients.

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ridiculous to ask someone to build a jumbo jet and pay you the free peanuts they give you on the plane right? Then there are ethical dilemmas like requests to make them look fairer, thinner by reducing their arms, tummy tucks, etc but nowadays these are all part of the industry, so you get pretty much paid to even do that.

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What does success mean to you in your career?

What is the best part of life as a photographer?

To me, it’s all about happiness and being at ease with my life. I love what I do and getting paid for it, is the best feeling ever!

Whenever I’m off to a photo shoot is the best part or rather the best experience of my profession. I’m like a kid in a candy store looking around the location all excited and calculating the merits of the shoot. During every photo shoot I’m learning new techniques, new failures, facing new challenges and overcoming them makes me appreciate this profession even more.

The encouragement and support I receive from my family, friends, colleagues and even total strangers is colossal and I’m humbly grateful for that as this craft has really changed my life and I’m becoming a better person everyday.

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Who are your favorite photographers?

I might sound peculiar but I know a very few as I do not follow a lot of photographers work. Those who I really love are Brent Stirton, Guy Bourdin, Erwin Olaf and An Le.

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What is your favorite from the pictures you have taken?

What is the worst part of life as a photographer?

I do not have a favorite shot because it’s very hard to pick one. It’s like comparing apples and oranges with lemons and grapefruit.

Usually when clients ask you to come up with a good concept and offers to pay you peanuts is when things go wrong. It’s utterly

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What kind of art do you do?

I do various types of illustrative and graphic design pieces, I make a lot of props out of recyclable materials and also been experimenting music by fusing 60’s music samples with modern day tracks. Lately I’ve been writing a fictional piece with a lot of inspiration drawn from Hunter S Thompson’s gonzo journalism and the works of Chuck Palahniuk as well.

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What are your hobbies?

Reading literature and writing, watching movies and documentaries, playing music and jamming with friends, collecting inanimate objects, watching football especially my favorite club Barcelona FC matches, Basketball–L.A Lakers matches, doodling and experimenting with colors, traveling and road trips, etc.

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What kind of music do you listen to?

What do you hope to see change in the Maldivian fashion scene?

What is the best criticism you have received?

As one of my fashion designer friend, Angel (Famushu) suggested we do not have a fashion industry here, which in return should have frequent fashion weeks, designer boutiques, fashion editors, fashion magazines etc. So it would be quite awkward talking about a Maldivian fashion scene that does not exist at the moment. Like she said, people love to dress up here, so there is a potential market and I think slowly people are being brand conscious, and we are also seeing students graduating from fashion design schools and coming back home looking to carve their craft here.

So it would be massive if a collective group initiated such a fashion scene and most significantly it would be a breath of fresh air to a mundane society like us and would in return create job opportunities for like– minded people.

The best one was not something I received personally, and I wouldn’t even call it criticism but rather words of wisdom from Brent Stirton, one of the greatest artists out there for me who once mentioned in an interview he did for Canon Professional Network back in 2008. He said, “As you mature as a photographer you realize you have to go down your own road of pioneering something important even if that’s not on a world level or you’re not recognized for it. Otherwise you’re just trying to emulate everyone else.” I took his advice, ditched the path which many artists were typically striding in the local scene and never looked back since.

I listen to a lot of genres like progressive rock (The Mars Volta), trip hop (Massive Attack, Björk), rap (2Pac, Notorious B.I.G, Cypress Hill, RZA), alternative metal (Deftones), stoner rock (Queens of the Stone Age), rap metal (Rage Against the Machine) crossover thrash (Suicidal Tendencies), thrash metal (Slayer), funk (Parliament, Funkadelic), big beat (The Chemical brothers, Prodigy) alternative rock (Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers) psychedelic rock (Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Doors) and my all time favorite band Led Zeppelin etc.

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What is your favorite perfume?

Do you do your own photo finishing?

I love Emporio Armani Cologne by Giorgio Armani and Pour Homme Cologne by Lacoste.

Yes, I retouch all my photos and I would not be comfortable giving the retouching part to someone else in most cases unless he or she has the same retouching mentality as mine.

What would you say is more important Good Knowledge or Good Equipment?

I would say good knowledge over equipment. An expensive camera is just a tool but having a good eye for detail, devoted knowledge, experience and creativity weighs in more to create satisfactory images.

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How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

What is your message to aspiring photographers out there?

In your opinion, what is the biggest social problem in Maldives?

Well, I’m self–taught and I do not have a degree in photography nor did any photography courses anywhere so I pretty much learned almost everything through the Internet, through trials and errors, hands on experience etc.

There is tons of awesome material and resources online. Moreover, there are no secret magic formulas to photography but hard work; so learning through the Internet is certainly a brilliant way to learn the trade.

If every morning when you wake up and all you want to do is become a better artist, spend a good time challenging yourself with new techniques and methods, then you are absolutely in the right direction.

Surround yourself with others who inspire you and that you can learn from. I have stopped hanging out with a few people purely based on that fact alone! We are in an age where individualism is so rare in society, so keep an open mind, experiment frequently, take risks, carve your own niche and stand out from the rest by creating your own unique style. I can better sum up through a quote from Brotips. ‘It’s a dog eat dog world out there man, so become a wolf!’

We have multitude of pressing issues in our society, dirty politics might be the biggest one right now, it seats every other problem in the shadows. We are in a battle against one another, big egos clashing instead of reconciling and sacrificing for the greater good. We have to look inwards with a fresh perspective, shed our old skin and work towards oneness, but that might take a long time and I might be asking too much but it is imperative that we become cohesive and shape our future together!

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What do you have in store for the future?

In future, do you plan to explore into other areas of photography?

I have a few things planned for the future; I’m working on a solo exhibition and scouting for possible funding, then there is a recyclable themed project, a photo book about our society and finally I have been planning to take a photo journalism tour of South East Asia which is highly exciting as I love the culture and people of the East.

Absolutely, I have quite a bit in the pipeline that I would like to explore like documentary filmmaking, surreal photography, cinematography, experimenting more conceptual and fine art photography etc. The plan is to push it as far as I can, as soon as I can, because I feel we need more skills to pay the bills nowadays.

www.funkografik.com www.facebook.com/Funkografik Twitter @funkografik

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mischievous smiles. We noticed that these ‘floating houses’ didnt have electricity or convenience stores. However poor they may be, they seem to be content with their simple lifestyle.

OUR TOUR GUIDE MR KOI

Cambodia

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MLE>CMB>KUL>REP<KUL<CMB<MLE Cambodia was our destination. We booked our seats in Air Asia 5 months prior to catch a special rate. We left to KL a day early to catch our flight and stayed at a friend’s place till morning. We finally arrived at Siem Reap around 8am. In Siem Reap we stayed in Happy Guest House we found through the reviews from Trip adviser. The reservation was done through Facebook and no prior payment was needed as we could settle it on departure. Since we had a short 9 days in Cambodia we decided to hire a tour guide to save time.

DAY ONE HAPPY GUEST HOUSE The location of the guest house was a plus point as it is just 15 minutes away from Angkor and 5 minutes by tuk-tuk to central shopping area and the famous Pub Street, where the restaurants and bars were located. The guest house arranges tours and also assists to obtain visas for Bangkok and Vietnam.

We met the woman in charge of DAY TWO the daily operations, Ms.Phem, the FLOATING VILLAGE very helpful and well informed host.

The hotel in general was very cozy and the delicious meals were worth We chose to spend the day at the their price.

‘Floating Village’ ( Kompong Phluk).

Return transfer costs 15$ for two.

We spent the first day as a resting The entrance fee to explore the and relaxing. Visited the shopping village was 2$ per person. First area and the Pub Street. We had we had to take a 45 minutes local dinner at Khmer Kitchen recom- ferry to the village. The ride was mended in Trip advisor. The food very smooth and enjoyable. We saw was affordable and very satisfying. small houses built on stilts along the murky river banks. We did get a glimpse of the local way of life.

The men were out on their house docks fishing away. The suntanned children greeted ‘hello’s’ with

We then took a canoe ride to further explore the mangrove. The canoes were paddled by women and served as their only of income. The only sounds we heard were the birds chirping atop trees and the sound of crickets. After the tour we saw a restaurant. It was a very spacious open air restaurant also built on stilts. It was conveniently located next to the ticket issuing kiosk for the canoe ride. Tourists end their day at the floating village by having something to eat or drink at the restaurant. We chose locally flavored chicken rice with refreshing drinks. The ride back to the dock area was even more memorable as the sun was setting and we stopped to take photos along the way. Well spent, we had a good sleep that night.

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DAY 3 SILK FARM After a hearty breakfast of yoghurt, fruits and sausages at the guest house’s café, we inquired Ms. Phem for the activities of the day. We wanted to go on a small tour, so she suggested that we see the silk farm and Artisans Angkor. It cost 5$ for return transfer.

The Silk farm was interesting as it took us through all processes involved in making silk. From the mulberry leaves which are fed to the silkworm larvae to the degumming process and the end result.

Each step was very educational as well as fascinating.

ARTISANS ANGKOR Next we went to the Artisans Angkor to see local art and ­craftsmanship. The centre provided job opportunities for people living in rural areas. This was a good opportunity for youth to showcase their art and develop their skills. We took photos of artists at work and had a wonderful time seeing their work at the wooden crafts museum.

After the tour we sauntered through Pub Street and found a small restaurant called Purple Mangosteen. We ordered a variety of dishes and were happy to find it to be exceptionally tasty and easy on the palate. The restaurant had comfortable seating with white walls and contemporary artworks displayed tastefully.

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A SINGLE ENTRY TO ANGKOR AREA IS PER PERSON USD20, IF YOU ARE TAKING THREE DAYS A WEEK THEN ITS USD40, EXCLUDING THE USD12 FOR THE TUK-TUK EACH DAY.

It was raining once we finished the tour of the Leper King Terrace. We stopped by a small street café on our way for a cup of tea and stayed there until it stopped raining. After the short break we visited the temple Ta Keo; this is the state temple of Jayavarman V and had the same architectural style as the Phimeanakas and the Royal Palace.

IT’S WISE TO TAKE A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISIT IF YOU ARE We ended our first day at the PLANNING TO VISIT THE HERITAGE AREA MORE THAN ONCE. temples by visiting Ta Prohm

DAY FOUR BAYON, BAPOUN & TA PROHM The next three days we spent most of our time in the Angkor area. You could either choose a big tour or a small tour or even hire a bicycle and ride through the green fields on your own.

First day we went on the small tour which included the most famous and the grandest of all the temples.

DON’T MISS THE SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT. THE WORLD’S LARGEST R ­ ELIGIOUS MONUMENT WHERE THE TOWERS IN THE TEMPLE REPRESENTED THE MOUNT MERU’S PEAKS AND THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS IN THE SKY DURING SUNRISE WILL BRING WARMTH TO YOUR SOUL. THE VAST TEMPLE COMPLEX CAN’T BE EXPLORED IN JUST AN HOUR, SO TAKE YOUR TIME AND ENJOY THE GRANDEST AND THE MOST SUBLIME OF ALL THE KHMER TEMPLES IN ANGKOR WAT.

After Angkor, we drove through the fields of one of the largest Khmer cities ever built. To enter you will have to pass through the South gate.

You can even enter the grand city on an elephant. The first temple you will notice is Bayon which is constructed at the center of the city. This distinctive and peculiar temple is made like a maze where the stairways, the narrow chambers and the corridors will surprise you with glimpses of the face-towers around the temple. The temple is famously known for its unique architecture of the face-towers as well as the carvings of the great historical interests. Some of the carvings include a giant fish eating a deer, an army march, lady of the courts resting near the river as well as devatas sculptured all around the temple.

After Bayon ask your tour guide to stop in front of Bapoun, which has a long and beautiful walkway to the temple itself surrounded by a large pond on the sides and in front you will see the ­mesmerizing pyramid like temple. Due to part of the temple being collapsed, it is prohibited to climb but you can walk around the temple to see its splendor. Next to Bapoun, linked to the temple is the Elephant Terrace, which was built in the late 12th century and is at the heart of the Angkor Thom. While you walk on the terrace you will find on your left side the Phimeanakas, The Royal Palace and The Leper King Terrace.

the last. We reached there during the afternoon and the place was crowded with tourists. This was one of the best temples in the area to visit. The temple is left in its natural state, the silk cotton trees and the fig trees are intertwined among the ruins which gives Ta Prohm its unique character. This temple has many hidden corners to explore, most importantly you will witness the ‘Great Departure’ carved on the pediment of the East wall.

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DAY FIVE SRAH SRANG, BANTAEY KDEI & BANTAEY SREI

and one main pond in the middle.

Set in the middle of the lake Anavatapa; which is said to have healing powers.

The second day started with the visit to Srah Srang and Bantaey Kdei. Srah Srang is a platform which can be said as a resting place with the river running beneath.

It’s on the west side of the temple Bantaey Kdei. When you climb the stairs of the sandstone stage on the sides you will see two lions and half way down there are nagas sculptured as the railings on the stage. Srah Srang means the ‘Royal Bath’ and it has a breathtaking view of the facing river. As you walk towards the Bantaey Kdei you will see the Buddhist face tower as an entrance with the huge trees on the back giving a nice scene.

Enter and follow the path to the first building ahead and in front you will see a seated Buddha. Go around the house and enter ‘The Dancers Hall’ where the place is surrounded by pillars which is decorated with Apsaras.

The tour of Angkor and its Ancient temples came to an end at Neak Pean. Though we wanted to stay longer in Angkor and Siem Reap, we had only 2 days left in our trip.

So we headed to Phnom Penh on Day 7.

After Bantaey Kdei, next temple visited was Bantaey Srei which was located 20 km north of Angkor. This remarkable temple is the most beautiful of all and was given the modern name ‘The Citadel of Beauty’. The intricate designs carved at the entrance of the temple are astounding. It is located at the Isvarapura city, which is an isolated and a peaceful area where the Yajnavaraha lived.

Unlike the other temples Bantaey Srei is not a royal temple; it was granted and built by Yajnavaraha (guru of Jayavarman V). The scenes

DAY SEVEN & EIGHT PHNOM PENH

DAY SIX EAST BARAY TEMPLES & NEAK PEAN from Ramayana and the abduction of Sita by Ravana are excellently depicted in the temple. The day’s tours were concluded with a sunset at the temple Phnom Bakheng.

Remember to visit this place before 1730hrs if you want to see the sunset and also everyone has to be on a queue to climb the place as only 300 visitors are allowed on the terrace.

The third day and the last day of the Angkor tour was a bit laid back.

Visited Angkor Wat the second time and checked out the areas which wasn’t discovered on the first visit and headed to see the The East Baray Temples. The first visit was to East Mebon; a temple with lintel of towers and elephant sculptures all around the structure on the corners. Like East Mebon, Pre Rup is also similar in terms of the structure. The highlight of the day was the visit to Neak Pean. This unique island temple is surrounded by four small ponds

A visit to a new country is never complete without visiting the capital. We wanted to see the killing fields and the genocide museum which defined ruler Pol Pots attempt to win the civil war famously known as the Khmer Rouge. We made arrangements to take the bus to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap. It cost each of us 5$ one way. We did not make prior arrangements for accommodation in the capital when we left from Siem Reap, but fortunately it was easy to find one. As soon as we popped out of the bus after a six hour ride we met a guide called Mr. Black. He was a local and very persuasive with a perfect British accent. He assured us that he can take us to a good lodging area and named a place. We settled in 11 happy backpacker guesthouse with the Rooftop bar for 11$ per night. The bar/restaurant was at the top floor of the guesthouse with a recreation area on one side.

The first day was spent leisurely. We went out to eat and found a restaurant on the marine drive. People selling books and souvenirs approached resiliently.

The next day we had a grand breakfast at the rooftop and arranged to go to the killing fields and genocide museum with Mr. Black as he quoted a reasonable price for the transfer. The entrance fee was 5$ per person.

We were provided with headsets for the audio tour of the killing fields.

It was distressing to learn the 'recent' history of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge regime executed millions of people which included children and even infants mainly due to 'ethnicity differences’. We were shocked to see the amount of skulls displayed at a commemorative stupa at the field.

It was a heartbreaking, but an important history to know of.

Afterwards we went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The entrance was free. Previously a high school, it was converted to a security prison after The Khmer Rouge won the civil war. The prisoners were interrogated, stripped to their underwear and belongings confiscated. Their families were bought down and later executed if any seemed to be a threat to Pol Pot and his regime. The classrooms were converted to torture rooms where prisoners were shackled. These two places are not for the faint hearted.

That ended our two days in the capital and the next day we left to Malaysia again to continue our holiday. The ride to the airport costs 12 $ from our lodging. All in all holidaying at Cambodia is a memory to cherish and it is definitely worth going back to discover something new there again.

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‘Normal’ here would mean, the useless bickering, and disagreements, and falling back into your everyday lives, and if you don’t control it, life could easily spin right out of control. In order to keep things happy try to put in a little ­effort from both ends to make the relationship keep that romantic holiday spark going.

AND FOR MOST COUPLES, THE BICKERING & SMALL FIGHTS WILL ARISE AS SOON AS YOU HEAD HOME. RE-LIVING THE GOOD

MEMORIES OF A HOLIDAY With the festive season over, and lovers heading home after a holiday romance, passion and excitement, it takes time to fit back to the old ‘boring’ normal lives. Couples who head home after a successful holiday are usually most likely to enjoy each other’s company for a month or so, still relieving the happy moments of the holiday together, before their lives get back to ‘normal’.

This happens a lot of the time because of how fast a holiday is over, and how quickly you’re being expected to return back to ‘normal.’ I suggest a weekend away as soon as you get back..a small trip- like an after party -to bring you back to reality- if you will.

A day of frolicking in the ocean, bathing in the sunlight and cooling off with mouth watering; ice cold drinks at the beach. You don’t have to spend the day necessarily being busy with activities, so just relax, take a nap by the beach, read a book and listen to some music. Whether you’re on an inhabited island, a luxurious resort or a picnic island, one thing is for certain -the night time will be the most romantic time of all.

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Cuddling up in each other’s arms, or under the comfort of a sleeping bag, your view will be a very vast sky filled with tiny diamonds scattered all over. Shooting stars, the gentle breeze of the trees and the soothing sounds of the waves crashing softly onto the shores will be like heaven, for any couple. A trip like this will give you all the time in the world to talk about your issues, sort out any problems, and discuss on how to tackle certain unresolved problems.

When you come back home after a day or two away, you’ll be refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to start your life back from where you left off, but with a clean slate. You and your partner will be thinking about your time spent away and reminiscing about the trip for the years to come.

READY TO START YOUR LIFE BACK FROM WHERE YOU LEFT OFF, BUT WITH A CLEAN SLATE. Honestly speaking, there are a lot of days in your life as a married person you will think that you’ve come to a breaking point. The stress of being a wife/husband and what is expected of you from both families, and children, if you have them is sometimes a bit too much. But then just when you think you’ve reached your limit of patience, or just when you’re about to open your mouth, your partner does that thing he usually does when they are sorry- that small smile from the corner of their lips- and just like that all is forgiven. And that, dear friends, is what we call love.

Your heart melts, your anger disappears and life is alright once again. Being ‘home’ in the comfort of your own bed, cooking your own meals, and doing our own laundry will have meaning when you’re doing it happily, and doing it for someone you love. Let your holiday be just that–a h ­ oliday, and learn to love your life just the way it is–with a few ­minor adjustments.

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MOVIES

IRONMAN 3

DIRECTED BY SHANE BLACK

Marvel's “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

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STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS DIRECTED BY J.J. ABRAMS Coming soon in May 2013

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

DIRECTED BY SHANE BLACK

LAGERFELD CONFIDENTIAL

DIRECTED BY RODOLPHE MARCONI

Vogue has been the most powerful and best–respected fashion magazine in the world for decades, and each year the journal devotes a fall issue to the designs and designers that the editors feel will be influential in the coming year. The September 2007 issue of Vogue, that year's annual Fall Fashion issue, became the biggest single issue in the magazine's long history, and filmmaker R.J. Cutler was given unprecedented access to Vogue's creative team as the issue was being prepared. The September Issue is a documentary which focuses on Vogue editor Anna Wintour as she visits the annual Fashion Week shows, accepts or dismisses the latest creations of the biggest names in fashion, works with the models, photographers, and writers who help bring her vision to the page, and labors with her staff to determine what the world's fashionistas will be wearing for the next 12 months.

Chanel head Karl Lagerfeld not only qualifies as one of the most resonantly successful and influential fashion designers of the late 20th century, but one of the most defiantly elusive. With the documentary portrait Lagerfeld Confidential, filmmaker Rodolphe Marconi attempts to change this status. For this film, Marconi gained rare and exclusive one-time access to the designer, and posits a series of direct onscreen questions to Lagerfeld about his famously clandestine personal life and his towering career in collaboration with such fashion giants as Pierre Balmain, Jean Patou, Repetto, Mario Valentino, and many others. Marconi spent two years shooting Lagerfeld (at the mercy of the designer's discretion about what was and wasn't filmed) and edited some 200 hours of Super-8 and HD footage down to feature length.

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MUSIC

LITERATURE

DAFT PUNK

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES

Random Access Memories pays tribute to the late 1970s and early 1980s era of music in the United States, particularly the sound of Los Angeles recordings of the period. Daft Punk recorded the album largely using live instrumentation with session m ­ usicians, and limited the use of electronics to drum machines, a modular synthesizer and vintage vocoders. The album also features collaborations with Panda Bear, Julian ­Casablancas, Todd Edwards, DJ Falcon, Chilly Gonzales, Giorgio Moroder, Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams and Pharrell Williams. The album has received widespread critical acclaim.

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AMON TOBIN

JAMES BLAKE

This album marks a significant evolution in Amon Tobin's sound due to the absence of vinyl samples and trademark jazz-oriented breaks. As with 2007's Foley Room, a prominent element of the sound is heavily-processed field recordings obtained from a variety of unexpected sources. However ISAM goes a step further in that it features a much more ­unorthodox palette of sounds than before, with these sounds being arranged in close, intricately edited patterns.

Overgrown is the second studio album by English electronic musician James Blake. It was released on 5 April 2013 by Blake's ATLAS Records, along with A&M Records and Polydor Records. It was supported by lead single "Retrograde" and a series of concert appearances including one at Coachella. It is being promoted as Blake's most expansive piece of work to date, with guest features from electronic producer Brian Eno and Grammy Award-winning rapper and producer RZA.

ISAM

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OVERGROWN

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FASHION BABYLON

W THE FIRST 40 YEARS

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Taking the reader through six months in a designer's life, ­Fashion Babylon follows an anonymous A-list British fashion designer looking to break out across the pond. Structured around three of the annual "must" industry events, this irresistible work of reportage goes inside the well-cut seams of the fashion world, where women are paid tens of thousands of dollars for simply getting dressed and where a wrong skirt length can cost you your career. You'll find out how a collection is put together —from the objects of inspiration to the catwalk, into the shops and, hopefully, onto the cover of a magazine—and learn who goes to the shows and where they sit… and whose backside they have to kiss to get there.

One of the world’s leading fashion magazines, W will celebrate its 40th anniversary with this volume—a collection of the most influential and iconic features and photos culled from its first four decades. W is renowned for its groundbreaking, provocative, often controversial fashion stories by such photographers as Steven Klein, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Bruce Weber, Mario Sorrenti, Tim Walker, Juergen Teller, and Paolo Roversi, among many others, the best of which fill these pages.

Divided into three sections—Who, Where, and Wow—this volume shows why W’s unique blend of unparalleled access, cultural smarts, and visual panache has always kept it at the forefront of not only the world of fashion, but also in art, design, style, beauty, celebrity, and society.

Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone.

She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.

IMOGEN EDWARDS JONES

Witty, naughty and jam-packed with celebrity gossip, Fashion ­Babylon decodes the markups and the comedowns, the fabulous extremes and the shoddy shortcuts behind one of the most lucrative and secretive businesses in the world.

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STEFANO TONCHI, CHRISTOPHER BAGLEY

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LAUREN WEISBERGER

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