LOCAL WOLVES // ISSUE 42 - THE FASHION CITIZEN by Local Wolves

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urprisingly I have been keeping myself busy with catching up on studying for my midterms, working on the edits for the magazine and interning every day. Phew! I’m clearly not perfect and spent some time doing all-nighters to get things done but hey, that’s what coffee is for! For this issue, titled ‘Inspiring Souls’ focused heavily on creative individuals sharing their memorable experiences and stories about what continues to inspire and motivate them as an individual. I feel some people can be fully motivated when they have the drive to do so, but others would rather go explore. Whatever floats your boat, you have your own form of motivation that works for you and your work ethic, that matters. We collaborated with Arizona sisters and just seriously the coolest channel on YouTube, The Fashion Citizen and just go watch their Vidtober then we’ll talk. Huge source of inspiration and just the original content that I appreciate so much than other content I’ve been seeing on YouTube. Illustration by Leah Lu (Above) // Illustration by Laura Filas (Right).

Cathrine Khom founder / editor-in-chief insta / tweets / snap: @cathrinekhom

contents

C l a ss i cs 07

playlist

munchies

p.s. positivity

wolfie submissions

pinpoint

safety pinned

unfiltered wires

f e at u r e s 26

cory plowman

allie jeffers

34 38

lorina daiana caroline lahti

42 claudia sulewski 48

kris evans the fashion citizen

chase vs. everything

rebecca rebouche

bad suns

skaters in suburbia

ISSUE 42 // THE FASHION CITIZEN

local wolves is an monthly online and print based publication delving into the most creative minds from the world of entertainment, arts and culture. the magazine is driven by a passion for the best coverage and photography to create an adaptive aesthetic. SAY HELLO // LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHAT general: info@localwolves.com press: press@localwolves.com get involved: community@localwolves.com

wolfie team founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom copy editor sophia khom music curator sena cheung head stylist katie qian h/mua/grooming jessie yarborough publicity ashley bulayo social media caroline edwards, nicole tillotson front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo jenson metcalf design / illustration kelsey cordutsky, christine ennis, laura filas, lisa lok, leah lu, megan kate potter, lauren wright contributing writers sadie bell, kendall bolam, ashley bulayo, orion carloto, karina diez, meghan duncan, morgan eckel, chloe luthringshausen, hudson luthringshausen, emma matthews contributing photographers mila austin, pamela ayala, megan cencula, riley donahue, amanda harle, lindsey harris, katy johnson, rachel kober, chris lampkins, sam landreth, lhoycel marie, penelope martinez, jenson metcalf, naohmi monroe, roxana moure, melissa tilley, ashley yu

many thanks allie jeffers @alliejanell dallas / ft. worth, tx

kris evans @krisnugget long beach, ca

bad suns @badsuns los angeles, ca

nicksgood @nicksgood minneapolis, mn

caroline lahti @florabrookny new york, ny

the fashion citizen @fashion_citizen scottsdale, az

chase vs everything @chasevseverything new zealand, nz

rebecca rebouche @rebeccarebouche new orleans, la

cory plowman @cplowmanphotog nashville, tn

connect

lorina daiana @lorina_daiana orange county, ca jon trend @jtrend_ portland, or

localwolves.com twitter | instagram | snapchat @localwolves read online issuu.com/localwolves print shop magcloud.com/user/localwolvesmag

playlist + O C T O B ER 2 0 1 6 +

coverage BY sena cheung

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munchies + B ERLI N B I S TR O +

COVERAGE: Riley Donahue Standing adjacent to the coolest record shop in Long Beach, Berlin Bistro is a fantastic place to stop to cure the munchies for anyone looking to have their taste buds dazzled. Run by the same owners as another local cafe, Portfolio Coffeehouse, they serve all kinds of amazing coffee choices as well as entrees, a lot of which are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definitely a great place to stop in downtown Long Beach at any time of the day, either as a post-vinyl-purchasing meal or just as a quick stop for a great cup of coffee. LOCATION: 420 E 4th Street Long Beach, CA 90802

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Hi friends, I’m sure you all may be wondering where I’ve been the past few months; if you weren’t wondering, perhaps you’ve been just as lost as I have. The first half of this year has been an emotional rollercoaster for myself, and to be fair, I just wasn’t equipped to provide advice for others because I was so focused on trying to follow that own advice myself. Plus, the lack of motivation that I had was quiet the overbearing weight on my shoulders due to my constant need to drown myself in my very own thoughts. Now, I can sit here and tell you all that the morbid and overbearing despair was all just an unnecessary endeavor, but to be frank, I wouldn’t have gone about this “journey to recovery” any other way. Yeah, it sucked. It really f**king sucked to feel sad at every moment of every day. But that being said, I knew exactly what I had to do to make the constant wave of dismal go away, and to ultimately get my motivation to do the things I consider myself being (exceptionally) good at, come running back to me. Now, we all know it’s not rocket science to know what you enjoy doing vs. what you completely hate. One big thing that truly puts me in my zone is travelling. So, I took that to my complete and full advantage. Even if it meant I was only going 1 hour away from home, as long as it was a place I didn’t know a soul, I was content. Travelling is just an easier way of saying “soul searching”. For me, that’s incredibly important because it challenges me to discover places I’m unfamiliar with whilst also providing me with comfort in taking my mind off of what’s rotting it. I guess you can say it’s a healthier and a more literal way of running away from your problems. Since March, I’ve not only been around the states a few times, but I also have made my way around the globe to unfamiliar countries as well. It not only inspired me both emotionally and physically, but it also gave me a sense of hope. Now, I’m very aware that not everyone can just pack up their bags and travel as far as they’d like. I get it. But also, travelling isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea. But, let’s pretend that it is… Like I said, you don’t always have to take the next flight to a place that’s miles away from home. Sometimes you can find that place of comfort in a town next door or even your backyard. The distance isn’t what counts, it’s the feeling you receive from the environment you choose console in. Whether its travelling that you love, hanging out with a lot of friends, or even just locking yourself up in your room for days, it’s always important that at times where you feel your lowest to just focus on doing the things you love rather than sinking into a hole of gloom and hoping that things will maybe turn out in your favor. The universe is one tricky son of a gun and can really test our emotions. Seriously. The amount of tears I’ve shed in the past 6 months could pretty much fill an entire 6-foot pool. Remembering that it’s completely okay to mourn, but that you must also focus on bettering yourself through what you know makes you light up with joy is what’s so so crucial. Doing that has definitely helped shaped me into the person that I am today. I learned through my hurt. We’re always bound for times where we feel like we’ve hit rock bottom, but that being said, we are also always bound to feel at our very top. It’s just all a matter of how we approach our monsters rather than letting them defeat us. Healing is the most important stage of progression and you must remind yourself that. Remind yourself that even if it takes days, weeks, or even months, like myself, that you will eventually heal and find that motivation to be yourself again. P.S. I’d like to give my most sincere gratitude to the souls that submitted such endearing words about myself in some of P.S. Positivity’s latest issues when I couldn’t do the writings myself. Reading the incredibly sweet thoughts you all have towards me definitely helped me a lot in my darker times. I will never forget the impact you all have on my very soul. And to those who take my words to heart, thank you for believing in me no matter the emotions I’m pushing myself through. You all are the reason why I continue to keep moving forward. Thank you dearly. All the love. BANNER (LEFT) / LAURA FILAS

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inspiring souls + W O LFIE S U B M I S S I O N S +

Being inspired is always an easy occurence. Motivation comes in all forms. This month the wolfies discuss how they continue to motivate themselves and create original content that is authentic and staying true to themselves. ILLUSTRATION (LEFT) / LAURA FILAS // POEM (RIGHT) / NICOLE TILLOTSON / FORT MEYERS, FL I often find that when I’m instructed to be creative and produce something original, I am left slightly discouraged and blindly stuck in a cyclone of fuzzy ideas. When this particular task became so daunting, I have no idea. With today’s mind-numbing ebb and flow of pixelated gossip and app updates, it’s quite plain that we’ve allowed ourselves to subconsciously bury our creative flair. With a swift tap, the questions we ponder are answered. I think the prospect of being creative intimidates most simply because the abstract can seem silly. We try too hard to be original and that can make the product of our efforts seem too contrived and pretentious. This is where the ill-reputed self-doubt kicks in. We think we’re not smart or cunning enough to produce something that will force others to think. It is our doubt that has dulled and shadowed our colorful ideas. I believe the most rewarding thing you can do to revive your imagination is shift your perspective as often as possible. Sit in the grass and watch the clouds after a long day of sitting inside. Take that literature class after spending hours upon hours studying chemical compounds. You have to find your muse, and settling in the walls of your comfort zone will not allow that. One of the most beautiful things about human beings is our ability to feel. Sometimes, our emotions are simply inexpressible, and that can be the most exasperating thing for those longing to create. We all seem to be so rushed, though. Every second of our lives has become just another piece of the puzzle that is the pursuit of success. We seem to be so focused on the numbers, the dollars, and the grades, we leave no legroom for imagination or artistic expression. I believe creative energy can emerge from anywhere, as long as you’re curious enough. I believe creativity isn’t always pretty, and that’s what makes it authentic. I believe sparking creativity within yourself starts with simply having faith that beautiful things can come from your hands, your heart, and your mind. – LAUREN / ONTARIO, CAN

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You are absolutely capable of creating something the world has never seen. There are millions of ideas out there waiting to be discovered, millions of ideas in our minds waiting to be realized and put into action. And a concept that perfectly measures how much there is to discover in this universe is the theory that we don’t all see the same colors. Each and every one of us see differently. I find that thought both overwhelming and astonishing. How amazing and inconceivable is the thought of how unique you are. There is not another person on this Earth who is just like you. People don’t experience sensations or situations exactly the same way you do. Become completely infatuated with yourself and the beauty of your individuality, along with the world around us in order to possess the bubbling desire to make something beautiful. I think you need to fall in love with the world, both the good and the bad, to continue to have the motivation to create. Become obsessed with this world and all of its parts. What kind of world would we inhabit if we only saw the good times? Art or poetry that only portrayed happiness? That limits what we are capable of. And we shouldn’t see both the good and the bad just so that we can create “good art”, but as a human race for the ability to recognize times of joy and times of need means that we are aware of what’s around us and what’s happening. And that’s powerful. Those events and emotions that we recognize can turn into beautiful art, in any form. And thus begins a never-ending cycle of creation after creation. And when something is created, it can spark action, in one, two, or a thousand individuals. Art is a form of communication, so use your voice. For inspiration, be painfully thorough, exact, and detail-oriented with the world, and what I mean by this is to dissect something until you possibly cannot. Absorb yourself in even the smallest things about this world. Write down 100 words to describe the color white, listen to a song over and over again but single out the drums or the bass and focus on that one instrument for the entire song, repeat a word over and over again until it does not sound like a word. Put into words exactly the way water feels against your skin in the ocean. These methods that just might make you insane, fuels curiosity. To stay inspired is to stay curious. Never stop questioning. Never stop looking. Put on both earphones and listen to that one song that makes you feel incredible things. Make sure the volume’s high so that the only thing you are able to focus on is the song. Force yourself to see the beauty in everything. Find what’s beautiful about ice cubes or sand or cherries. Look for what’s extraordinary about the ordinary. This is what keeps me inspired. I find the scene around me beautiful as it’s midnight and I’m on a Muni in San Francisco, listening to my 60’s music playlist that includes Runaround Sue and Try A Little Tenderness, and watching the people around me. The trick is to, once again, be painfully observant and watch what’s happening around you. I studied the shoes of the people on the Muni, I thought about how cold the seat was, and I imagined myself in the time period of the songs I was listening to. In a quick glance it’s nothing special. To some it can

seem dull. But in my eyes it was fascinating. The interior colors of muni, the diversity of people, the music, where I was going, the blur of the people on the streets and the wonders of what their lives are like, and so on. I allowed myself to get lost. Surround yourself in your own personal world of experiences, thoughts, and emotions that no one else can see. When you get lost in your mind you can only imagine what you’ll find. – ANNALIESE SEGOVIANO / LOS ANGELES, CA I have always been a firm believer that the creative process should be both experimental and intuitive. These are the guiding principles when it comes to both my writing and photography. It isn't easy at times, and it is still something I struggle with. Social media is a blessing because it promotes the accessibility of art, but it is such a saturated platform with so many voices begging to be heard that at times, you forget how to tune the chaos out and create content from within. Authenticity is such an elusive concept in the digital age. Some people are more susceptible to being shaped by the environment, and then there are the innovators, the avant-garde, cultural pioneers that cultivate their own craft to in turn shape the environment around them. That is what I strive for and what motivates me the most. It is the idea that every individual is born with the capacity to follow their visceral drive to create work that can shape their reality. This is a continual work in progress where I have learned to tolerate the ambiguity in my style. I do not wish to be easily defined and that hunger for evolution as a creator is what ultimately feeds my drive. – SELINA YE / VANCOUVER, CAN (+ PHOTO BELOW)

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I love being a creative. I love being a photographer. There are times though when my inspiration slows down, or I don’t feel motivated. But I know that deep down, there is more inside of me, more creativity, more motivation, to keep photographing, to keep creating and hopefully along the way, I can inspire others as well. Lately, I’ve been inspired through different outlets. Sometimes watching a movie, listening to music, seeing others art and creativity, or sometimes the ideas just come to me. There are times as well, when I learn something new in the photography world and I step out and give it a try. Whenever I get inspired, I jot down my ideas, tweak them where needed and run with it! I love being able to see the creative ideas that I have in my head really come to life in my photography. And every once in a while, there are those times when things turn out even further than my expectation. In those times, I get encouraged and motivated to keep pressing on, keep doing what I’m doing. Photography is my passion and being able to show my creativity through my work is something I will continue to love. – CORY PLOWMAN / NASHVILLE, TN (+ PHOTO ABOVE) Motivation, motivation, motivation. Defined by the Webster dictionary as “the act or an instance of motivating, or providing with a reason to act with a certain way”, we know that it is, quite obviously, something we all want, and all like to say we have, unfortunately, it is really something seemingly easier said than done. We say that we want to do something, whether it be work out more, be nicer to people, or simply do that one extra page of homework, so as not to be swamped the next day, and yet, we find ourselves sitting in our beds, binge-watching the next new thing on Netflix, and still not changing our ways. As easy as it may seem, motivation is actually kind of hard to come by. We always find ways to ignore the problem; we say we’re too busy, too tired, too overworked, when in reality, we are simply lacking motivation. We all know that we are being too lazy by not working out, eating healthier, or being proactive, and we know that once we do these things we will feel better, more accomplished, and less stressed, and yet we continue to make excuses for ourselves. So, how can we fix our problem, you might ask? Well, seemingly like an addiction, we must admit that there is a problem. We all know that there are things we need to do to better ourselves, and once we realize that we are simply making

up excuses and actually make the time to finally do what we say we want to do, we will feel like we are on top of the world (even if it may only be for a second). So, once we see that there is a problem, we need to act on it. Take a few minutes out of your day to get that one thing that is just nagging you in the back of your mind, done. Wash those dishes, do that homework, prep that healthy meal, work out, do whatever the hell it is you need to do. To take a page out of Nike’s book, JUST. DO. IT. Trust me, you’ll feel better afterwards. Once you get that one thing done, you’ll feel that much more motivated to do one more chore, and then another, and then another. This whole “motivation” thing is actually kind of contagious. It like dominos; once you do one good thing for yourself, all of the other beneficial tasks will seemingly fall into place after it. Yes, being motivated is much easier said than done, but, it’ll feel GREAT after you finally do what you’ve been saying you’ll get done for three weeks. I like to get motivated by putting on some hella inspirational tunes (if you’re looking for some good ones, I highly recommend Walk the Moon, they’ll make you feel like you can do ANYTHING, even lift a friggen’ car), making myself a cup of coffee, doing a power pose, and getting to it. Yes, it seems easy (and a little cheesy), but it works. I know that it can seem overwhelming at times, and if that happens, just try to get one thing on your to-do list done a day. Making a to-do list and crossing one thing off after another feels so good to me, I can physically see how accomplished I was that day, which will make me want to do even more the next day (or if I’m really feeling motivated, do another task that day). Motivation is something that we are all capable of having, that’s for sure. But, if you’re anything like me, and you sometimes have days where you feel like you can’t do anything and nothing is really going your way, it can be hard to find even the smallest sliver of motivation. And when that happens, you really just have to try your best. Make a small list of seemingly-miniscule things to get done; get out of bed, wash your face, read a few pages of your favorite book. Crossing off these daily duties will make you feel so much better about yourself, and it’ll make you want to do something more with your day. While motivation is something that can come and go at times, it is something that once the idea of it gets into our mind, we are already halfway through the battle of actually accomplishing something. So, if you can, try to do one extra thing on your to-do list after reading this. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. – ALEX MANCILLA / TORRANCE, CA The key for me has always been to pay attention. Pay attention to lighting when you first wake up. Pay attention to the way your coffee changes color as you stir it. Pay attention to the way a person’s mannerisms change when they're listening or intrigued or bored or feeling alive. Take pictures, write down the words you'd never say, get away from the constant overload and over-stimulating nature of consumption. Pay attention to yourself. Take pictures. Make things. Forget originality. Nothing is original. If you make something with honesty, it will translate and that authenticity transcends the “new”. Get inspired by allowing yourself to be. – HIBA ARGANE / THE NETHERLANDS

– MEGAN KATE POTTER It’s the sound of your fingertips tapping away at a keyboard in the early hours of the morning, with the music you love playing at a low volume in the background. It’s the feeling of pride you get when you look back at what you’ve created and see it for all its glory. The joy that you feel at one am, pouring your heart into something you love; and the stress at three pm, when the words just don’t seem to fit. It’s blood, stress, and tears, it’s something that takes years. Turning up to class late in the morning because you just had to finish that chapter of the novel you had your nose stuck in until three am. Or scrawling notes into the back of notebooks when inspiration hits as you’re supposed to be working out how x is equal to y, but that’s not what you care about. You care about the ideas spiraling around in your mind at the speed of light, desperate to cling onto them just long enough to sort out the good from the bad and jot them down. It’s about finding the passion for something and taking every surge of inspiration that you are given and putting it to use. Finding light and purpose out of the hardest times, pouring your heart into metaphors in the hopes that it will start to heal. Once you find your passion, that’s when the inspiration follows. – MEGHAN BENNETT / LONDON, UK Inspiration can creep into our minds quietly, or create a single spark all at once. It can take many forms; a new song that makes you feel nostalgic, or a color in the sunset that you've never seen before. The feeling you get after watching a new film or finishing a book— like your slate has been wiped clean and you can do anything. The feeling of warmth when the wind floats against your skin and the sun shines upon your eyelids while lounging at the beach. Drinking your coffee on the porch in the morning, instead of tangled up in your bed sheets, and watching the rain fall and listening as it hits the ground. Inspiration can be pulled from almost anything, but it's up to you what you create with it. You can turn your inspiration into anything— art, words, music. I love to channel my bolts of inspiration into writing, my fashion and makeup. Some would consider taking inspiration copying, but I say otherwise. We are here to create, and our creations should inspire others to create as well. – MAIA PATERNOSTRO / MORGANTOWN, WV

And when there’s nothing left to write about, I look towards the leaves, noticing how they let go with the knowledge that a season of growth will arrive again soon. I revisit the songs that remind me what it feels like to be free, and embrace this warm feeling that resides deep in my chest when thinking about the people who love me. And all at once, ink is spilling out the mouth of my pen. – KATHRYN PAIGE / ATLANTA, GA This is a quote from one of my favorite novels, White Oleander. It speaks about preferring to find beauty in something simple and perhaps overlooked, rather than in the obvious places— something flashy or expensive. I love the imagery, and I feel that it captures my personal philosophy regarding being inspired. I truly believe beauty and inspiration can be found anywhere, if you have the eyes to see it, and the soul to search for it. – JOLENE UNG / LONG BEACH, CA (LEFT ON PAGE 4)

– LEAH LU

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pinpoint + LA S V E G A S EATERIE S + COVERAGE BY KAYLA BELL ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEGAN KATE POTTER

Upon arriving at the McCarran International Airport, the air is filled with a sense of vitality. Slot machines are ringing and the playground that is LAS VEGAS is waiting for you just outside of the airport doors. Sure, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gambling, peep shows, and megastars like Jennifer Lopez and Brittney Spears that call Sin City home, but what about the food?

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There hasn’t been a time I’ve come to Vegas and not eaten at the Peppermill for breakfast at least once. The restaurant is a Las Vegas staple as it has been there for years. This time, Suzie was my waitress and greeted me with a “Hi doll-face, what can I get for ya?” After putting in my order, I found out she’s worked at the restaurant for more years than the twenty-two I’ve spent on this Earth simply because she loves her job and loves the people. The Peppermill is over forty years old and is hands down the best breakfast spot on the strip. The portions are grand and the prices are perfect.

By staying at the Wyndham Desert Blue Resort, I saw an entire side of Las Vegas I’d never ventured out to before: Chinatown. Almost all of Spring Mountain Road is lined with eateries filled with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai food. I wandered into Sushi Kaya where you can eat all of the sushi your heart desires in ninety minutes for only twenty bucks. I ordered tons of incredible rolls like: the tiger roll, the James Bond 007, rainbow roll, and the dynamite roll for my friends and I. I also ordered spicy seafood udon noodles that were beyond amazing. If you manage to have room left for desert, the green tea ice cream is a must-have.

When a southern girl visits “sin city” what does she do? She finds the best fried chicken in the city and it is located at Yardbird. I had never heard of this place until my incredible Uber driver Ashanti mentioned it. She ordered for my friends and I and we enjoyed buttermilk fried chicken, collard greens, cheesy waffles, and grits. The best advice I can give, is to go hungry and have everyone share food because the portions are large and this is definitely a spot worth checking out.

When first deciding to come to Las Vegas, Lavo was the first place on my list to visit! I have been following them on Instagram for a few years and all of their food looks so amazing. I went while visiting the city and had the chance to interview Marc Marrone, Corporate Chef for TAO Group Las Vegas while enjoying the best ravioli and gelato I’ve ever had.

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One place I always find particularly fascinating is the Cosmopolitan Hotel. It’s vintage, yet ultra-modern and chic. Its opulence greets you at the front door as a beautiful chandelier hangs from the celling all the way down to the floor. Filled with incredible restaurants and shopping, I spent quite a bit of time here and went to their lounge, Rose. Rabbit. Lie. is an experience of its own. There’s live music, performers dancing in bathtubs full of bubbles, and the most incredible deserts. I enjoyed the calamari, but the s’more, chocolate terrarium, and affogato cocktail completely took the cake. The atmosphere along with the food is just a win on all accords.

After the club it’s… Secret Pizza. Dubbed the best pizza on the strip by multiple magazines and websites, I made sure to stop by. Located in a tiny hallway in the Cosmopolitan hotel, you’d totally miss it if it weren’t for the long line outside. The hallway is lined with vintage vinyl record covers and pictures. Though the line was long, the wait was only ten minutes and the pizza was well worth it. The signature white slice could rival New York pie and the service was exceptional. No wonder Selena Gomez is a regular patron.

Last but not least, the most important place in Las Vegas is where one can find the best food that will cure even the worst of hangovers: The Juice Standard. Also located in Cosmopolitan, the swanky juice stand has everything from vegetable juices to cashew milk. My favorite was Bee Cosmopolitan which tastes like lemonade and prevents hangovers. I also loved: Bee Royal, Bee On Point, and Bee Chill. They even serve great smoothies so you simply can’t go wrong.

In all, any restaurant on the strip is going to be delicious, but a bit pricey. If you have champagne taste but managed to gamble all of your money away, don’t be afraid to ask your concierge or Uber drivers for suggestions and don’t be afraid to venture off of the Strip. Las Vegas is where all diets go to die and though I may have been visiting for the Magic Market Tradeshow, I loved eating my way through “Sin City”.

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In my mind, fall weather and Goodwill coats are interdependent concepts. Trade your end-of-summer disappointment for statement jacketsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the more textured, patterned and visibly loved, the better. Think of the 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it-girl, like Penny Lane of the movie Almost Famous, flitting from backstage at a rock show to the hotel after party in her signature (faux) fur coat. A crazy coat will almost definitely become your best friend for the cool-weather season simply because of its versatility. A skirt and silk top or bell-bottoms and a graphic tee, or legitimately any of your favorite fall outfits, will get a groovy little boost from the statement coat. COVERAGE BY MEGHAN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY RILEY DONAHUE BANNER BY LAURA FILAS

T O UR B U S D A Z E thrifted coat vintage medicine shoppe tee thrifted bell-bottoms uo betsy block heel thrifted sunglasses

B A C K S TA G E thrifted coat brandy melville dionne silky tank ecote velvet flocked mini skirt uo betsy block heel

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cory plowman WRITTEN by Cory Plowman Photography by Megan Cencula

Madagascar, Africa might not be an island that is really well known, but in my opinion, it should be, because of all of it’s beauty. I have only seen around half of the island, and what I have seen is incredible, gorgeous, beautiful... from the people, to the landscape, from the coast, to the inland areas. I lived in Madagascar for over eight years working in children’s and youth ministries. Now I travel back and forth from time to time doing humanitarian work. My last trip was from June 2015 through March 2016 and I focused on documenting different areas of the island through photography. I spent the first five months with some national friends, on the east coast of Madagascar, traveling to some remote villages. Most of the villages I visited during this trip, were ones I have been to before. I loved seeing how things have slowly grown and developed in each village. My goal, going into these villages, was to photograph, the area, the people and what’s going on there. One use of these photos was for my friends to share the work they are doing. I also wanted to share them with the world and to let others learn more about Madagascar. Whenever I visited a village, I made sure they received their photos, which they loved! The last three months or so of my trip was spent in the capital of Antananarivo (Tana for short). While there, I also continued my photography but in other ways. I took photos for friends and their families, as well as a couple of weddings. Some of them have never had a professional photo taken of them, so for them to have their picture taken, and to see it, brought them pure joy. I also traveled outside of the capital to visit some friends who run a private school. They started this school years ago, and it’s really growing. They have close to 300 students and 27 teachers. I mainly visited with the students, hanging out with them when they were on their lunch break or at recess. The kids loved getting to know me, and having their photos taken.

Madagascar is a lot different than America... the food, the people, the landscape, the way they do things and of course the language (which helps that I am fluent in Malagasy). Even though it’s so different, it’s still an amazing place to be, to live, and to learn from the people. While living there and visiting, I learned so much. Not to worry, but to trust in God and enjoy my time, and to help wherever I could.

I j u s t lov e t r av e l i ng , e x p lo r i ng a nd l e a r n i ng f r om ot h e r p l ac e s a nd p e o p l e . T r av e l i ng i s i n my b lood, a nd onc e I g e t hom e f r om on e t r i p, I ’ m r e a dy to v e n t u r e o u t on a not h e r . I hope in the future that I get the chance to travel back to Madagascar (as well as exploring new countries), as it always has a place in my heart. I have learned from experience that anyone traveling to Madagascar, can’t just visit once, they keep wanting to go back and explore even more.

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allie jeffers written by Sadie Bell Photography by Meagan Sullivan

Photographer Allie Jeffers used to bring her friends out to the countryside, costumes, props, and camera in tow, to spend the afternoon shooting photographs. She first picked up her mother’s Canon and took on gigs in her community early in high school, but it was these moments— the days that she spent in fields with friends— that incited her love for photography and the beauty of capturing the human soul through imagery. “Sure, I look back and laugh at how amateur [those photos] were, but I felt so alive. It was the first time I really put in all I had to just create something that I could stand back and think, ‘Wow, I did that,’” said Jeffers.

“Photography has been the biggest source of motivation for me, not just in what I want to do as a career, but who I am as a person. There is the artistic level of it that allows me to show who I am.” Though those artistic ventures may seem like silly portraits to her today, they helped Jeffers to tumult headfirst into a world of capture and an artistic medium that transformed her life into one of passion and the pursuit of a dream. It was as if she discovered a new feeling through photography, and one that she has not let go of since.She said, “Photography has been the biggest source of motivation for me, not just in what I want to do as a career, but who I am as a person. There is the artistic level of it that allows me to show who I am.”

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Jeffers’ work consists of portraits that radiate heavenly hues and the natural gentleness of humanity and the youthful experience, as well as shots of scenery that look so breathless, they appear to exist in an intangible dreamscape. Through her work, Jeffers illuminates her feelings towards the art form and the irrepressible dream that drives her forward. Jeffers said she is drawn to portraits because of “how photography has the capability, when done right, to capture the human soul.” “I think my main inspiration, in fact, is us as humans,” she said. “The human condition— beautiful, painful, lonely, love-filled, whatever season we are in— it fascinates me, inspires me.” Jeffers said that from shooting portraits she realized that she had the ability to emulate her subjects, and inherently realized more concretely exactly who she was as a photographer and an individual. “It never really occurred to me that I, myself, was transforming in my pursuit of photography into an artist, into my style, and what drove me to create. I think that’s why I love it so much, it sneaks up on you,” she said. “Photography has also allowed me to express myself in how I pursue it,” she said.

“Jump, run, take chances, and don’t think too much about whether or not it’s doable. Once Jeffers realized this burgeoning passion within her, she said she never stopped working tirelessly and passionately in pursuit of a career based on the craft. Eventually, that dedication led to various local campaigns, an Urban Outfitters collaboration, and an internship at Darling Magazine. “My journey of photography began and continues to be deeply rooted in a very formative time of my life and I completely recognize its influence in how I pursue my passions and dreams, so I think in that way, photography has allowed me to show myself and others who I am in my determination.”

Jeffers said her mentality in life is to “just go for it.” She said, “Jump, run, take chances, and don’t think too much about whether or not it’s doable. I believe in taking initiative and because that is such an ingrained aspect of who I am, it makes it nearly impossible to ever even consider giving up my dreams.” And with that kind of attitude and talent, a future without Jeffers immersed in the creative career of her choosing seems wary. After a long day spent behind the lens, Jeffers said she often finds herself laughing alone in her car on the drive home— a moment so simple, yet so telling of her relationship with her work. She said, “I kind of laugh to myself to be brought back to reality because it brings me so much joy and excitement, but also peace. It’s the time when I am most sure in my pursuit of this career.” She said, “For me, I can’t even picture my life in any other realm than my dream.”

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lorina daiana WRITTEN BY Karina Diez PHOTOGRAPHY BY Lhoycel Marie TEOPE

Grâce Belle was founded by Lorina Daiana, with the original intent of being a women’s clothing store. She had plans to open this store and host workshops as well as other events after closing hours to bring community amongst women. She had realized while studying business that it was important to establish a target audience prior to launching her store. “While I was planning, I realized that to cultivate community I didn’t actually need a clothing store. I could start it online,” said Lorina. “This was an exciting revelation and the beginning to what Grâce Belle is today. As I started planning the website I met with a dear friend, Dienna, helped me build the foundation for Grâce Belle. We came up with the 4 personas as our categories, and the brand shaped itself as we went.”The 4 personas consist of the Creative, the Adventurer, the Sweetheart and the Fashionista. Each represents an aspect that Lorina desired to spotlight so that people might see their significance and be inspired to truly enjoy all that life has to offer. “The Creative inspires you to try new things. The Adventurer inspires you to explore and be spontaneous. The Sweetheart inspires you to cultivate relationships,” said Lorina. “The Sweetheart is the one who always encourages others, who smiles at everyone and has a big heart for people. The Fashionista inspires you to chase your entrepreneurial dreams.” With these personas in mind, the Grâce Belle team has developed a highly successful lifestyle blog which includes a marketplace, whose purpose is to give small brands their moment, and community-building events.

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“our goal is to inspire others to live life beautifully and be intentional with their time.”

The team at Grâce Belle has always been extremely important to Lorina, since her first dreams of creating the brand. “Before knowing what I was going to do as a career, I always had this vision of a creative team of people working together over a long white table, said Lorina. “I didn’t know what that was exactly but I knew I loved working along others and creating something refreshing.” This past summer was Grâce Belle’s first time offering internships and the team was overwhelmed by the positive response they received upon receiving so many applications. A few of those interns have now officially become part of the team. Grâce Belle’s business structure is especially unique and allows for the team to consider endless possibilities when developing new plans for the company. As specifically the brand manager for Grâce Belle, Lorina ensures that everything they put out for their audience aligns with the brand, oversees the website’s design, supervises the team, networks, and handles the photography and social media handles. “One of the most rewarding parts of the blog is the collaborations that come out of them. It allows us to work with so many creatives to produce great content under each persona,” said Lorina. “Our goal is to inspire others to live life beautifully and be intentional with their time.”

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caroline lahti written by morgan eckel Photography by JONATHAN HANSON

Meet Caroline Lahti, the lady boss and brains behind New York botanical company, Florabrook. Florabrook focuses on weekly floral and plant maintenance for local businesses, custom orders, and events. Working with two of her closest friends, Florabrook is 3-man team who focuses on creating a very customized work for all of their clients. Hailing from Upstate New York growing up surrounded by greenery, her passion for floral design was inevitable. Starting out, Caroline had a job as a teenager at her mom’s friends floral shop. She admits, “I even would leave school early sometimes to go to work.” Soon after, she quickly fell in love with the profession. When asking Caroline why she adores floristry, the answer was simple— the authenticity and amazing relationships she would come to form with clients. “I really enjoy dealing with clients and having lasting relationships. As a florist, you get to be part of all of people’s monumental moments, their weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, etc. It’s kind of a nice bond you form when having lasting clients.” Oh… and don’t forget flowers. “Flowers are flowers and they are so uplifting to be around. I loved learning about the different names and how each plant/flower had a special way of being taken care of. I just wanted to know everything. I also have a creative energy that I need to get out daily.”

Caroline would later attend University to study Anthropology and Psychology, while working at floral shop on the side snagging any supplies she could get her hands on. After graduating she gained her first office job in New York City, two days later deciding it just wasn’t “her thing”. With her go-getter attitude, she would later move on to form her business and be a young and thriving entrepreneur. “I went to a family wedding right after I quit my office job that I spent only two days at. My whole family rolled their eyes saying I didn’t even give it a chance and treating me like I was naive and impatient. Although, yes I probably am impatient, I think there’s no reason to wait around to start working toward getting where you want to be. There’s just no reason to do something that doesn’t make you happy.” Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Caroline began working tirelessly on a dream that would soon be Florabrook. But, building a business from the ground up didn’t come easily. “The first hurdle that comes to my mind while forming Florabrook, was a time about a year and half ago, I entered Chelsea market. It was a two-week span and cost a lot of money, especially to me as a 23-year-old just starting a business. My plan was to sell some terrariums and mostly just get the word out about Florabrook. I spent weeks creating really intricate terrariums and sourcing/ building creative ways of displaying them.”

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“It turned out about 90% of people that went to the market were tourists, and tourists: 1. Don’t buy plants because they’re not allowed to take them on a plane, and 2. Aren’t useful to make connections with because they aren’t going to be future clients. Needles to say, I was out a bunch of money, and was left with so many plants which then filled my tiny apartment. It was stressful, but I tried to just tell myself it was a learning experience and it was going to get better, and it did.” But with obstacles, comes rewards. “It kind of created itself. I’m not much of a planner and I like to let things happen organically. I think the lack of generic structured arrangement options and the attitude of approaching each project uniquely, comes from my personality being very open for change and dislike of regimented ideas. I know how annoying I am while ordering something in my personal life for example adding and subtracting ingredients when ordering food. I like to let people bend the rules and work with them to accommodate and get them what works best for them and their space, project, gift, etc.”

When Caroline isn’t busy at work, we could probably find her doing one of these three things: 1. Hanging out in her Manhattan neighborhood. 2. Running, cycling, yoga, or anything that will get her blood pumping. 3.Hiking in her parent’s home in upstate NY to escape. Her favorite thing about her job? The excitement each day brings. “Every time I check my email, there’s that chance that there’s going to be a new opportunity or project that I get to experience and work on. It’s so great to be able to do something that’s ever changing and for the path of the business to have so many avenues that I could possibly go down. I really like to the future of Florabrook and think that the sky is the limit.” Her words of advice:

“Keep the stamina. Know that once you start, sometimes it’s hard to shut off. If you’re tired, sick, sad, etc. there is no calling out to your boss, because you are the boss.”

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kris evans WRITTEN BY KENDALL BOLAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY RILEY DONAHUE

KRIS EVANS captures his subjects in a way that brings us into his world. It’s as if we are experiencing the moment for ourselves. Our surroundings are faded yet the sun is harsh. Deep, dark shadows cast themselves over everything. It feels real. Evans has mastered the ability to photograph a moment in its purest form. A moment that is free of fancy settings or frilly outfits; one that is beautiful all on its own. Born in Long Beach, CA, Kris was constantly surrounded by adventurous and artistic influences. His fervent need to document skateboarding initially led to his passion for photography. “Through skateboarding I always wanted to document everything. I would always carry a video camera around just in case one of us had a new trick or spot to skate. As I got used to filming I would find myself taking photos of the moments in between, like the smiles, the celebrations, shooting everything that was around me. I started to shoot skateboarding so that I would remember everything at that specific time and not just so we have a good skate photo and good footage. Soon I found myself only taking photos of moments and as I became better at it I realized I had grown a strong passion for photography in general.”

There isn’t a better place to photograph skateboarders than in Long Beach. Evans describes how he found himself surrounded by skaters, artists, designers, and innovators while in California. “One day I was at my best friend’s house and we heard a bunch of noise coming from next door. It turns out a bunch of guys had just moved in and they built a mini ramp. They then invited us to come over and skate with them and naturally we ran over. After spending a few weeks with these guys we discovered that most of them were cinematographers, designers, and photographers for companies like Vans, Nike, and RVCA. I remember thinking ‘only in Long Beach!’ Since then those guys have all really taken me under their wing and showed me how the industry works.” Having mentors that are constantly creating has kept Kris on his toes. He recounts how his friends’ successes have pushed him to do more. “When I see a project come out, or I see that my friends have been featured online or in a magazine it drives me to go out and shoot too. It’s almost like this competitive drive where I tell myself ‘now let see what you can do!’”

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Evans credits his success to hard work and the relationships he’s cultivated along the way. Friends and photographers Cody James, Noah Sahady, and Joe Perri have influenced Kris’ pictures by showing him that a photograph becomes more authentic when documented. “I've found that you'll tell more of a story when you're capturing someone in their purest moment. When you look at my photos I want you to feel the same feeling as the subject is at that very moment so that it’s almost like you're there with them.” Kris also understands that some moments require no camera at all. “I recently went to San Francisco to do an assistant job. We were shooting literally right where the Golden Gate Bridge is and this random huge wave of overcast was rolling through. It was so windy but half of the sky was sunny and half of it was cloudy. I remember just putting my camera down for a minute and inhaling all the fresh air. I’ve never been to SF before so I took a moment to take it all in, look at how beautiful it was up there.” Like every great artist, Evans understands the importance of letting his art speak for itself.

His photographs exude a sense of peace amidst the speed and commotion of skating. When asked to give artistic advice, Evans simply says, “‘Know your worth.’ My friend Noah told me that a long time ago. Taking that time to realize how much work you've put into your craft and showing people/companies what your worth is very important. Don’t worry about what everyone is doing and express yourself through your art the way you want to express yourself. It’s one thing to be influenced by other artist but you never want to catch yourself doing something just because you see others doing it. Put your own spin on it and go at it. At first it’s going to stink because you'll be broke and trying to figure out what your place is in the art industry. But just keep at it.” Evans captures the simple, lovely moments of life. A smirk, a bemused glance, a shadow on a skate ramp... The moments which we fly through without a thought are immortalized through his photography, allowing us to indulge in the peace and joy in living which we so often forget about.

“ALL I W A N T I S F O R PE O PLE T O FEEL G O O D W H E N T H E Y L O O K AT MY PHOTOS AND U N D ER S TA N D THE W AY I'M S EEI N G LIFE .”

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WRITTEN BY Morgan eckel Photography by jenson METFCALF ILLUSTRATION by NICKSGOOD

Whether it’s us watching them make dinner in their sunny and eclectic Arizona home, picking up hidden gems at thrift stores, or creating YouTube content that is genuine and inspiring, The Fashion Citizen are continuously putting out content that is refreshing to watch and leaves us wanting more.

who started their channel back in 2011, with a goal of putting out one fashion video everyday. “We were so centered on solely making that we burnt ourselves out rather quickly.” Starting at the age of 19 to now being in their mid 20’s, we’ve seen them grow creatively, artistically, and personally. “We try not to limit ourselves to making one type of content. YouTube is a place where videos and creators tend to be categorized, and we don’t feel like we fit into one specific category.” “We have total creative freedom over what we do which lets us make unique content that we are proud of.” After binge watching videos and scrolling through countless comments, one thing immediately sticks out to me; these ladies are creating videos that make people feel something. But, defining their creative style is difficult. They check so many different boxes and take so many different artistic approaches, that narrowing them down into one category would be impossible. When I asked them what they thought their own creative style was, they even had a difficult time breaking it down. “This is a hard question for us to answer because our creative style is always evolving. We try to make videos that It’s easy for us to tell you what we like aesthetically, but it’s very hard for us to define our own creative style.”

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Sisters aside, they are the creative team and the cohesive piece that forms The Fashion Citizen. Each bringing their own artistic flair, we see a lot of different styles portrayed throughout the same video that blend well together. “We do a good job of balancing each other out. We both share the same vision in what we want to create, but sometimes getting there isn’t the easiest. We have to put aside our differences and work together. Mel usually comes up with video ideas and sometimes she doesn’t have a clear-cut way to get from point A to point B and that’s where I come into play. Sometimes she has too many ideas and I help refine them so in the end, the message is clear and concise.” But, when it comes to finding inspiration, they take two different approaches. I draw a lot of inspiration from still images. I’ll see a photo and ask myself, how can I recreate this in my own way for a video. Inspiration can come from anything, whether it be a TV show I’m watching, an ad in a magazine or a picture I saw on Instagram. Skate and surf subculture have been my biggest inspiration as of late. I’ve very high/ low, I’ll go from watching an old episode of Epicly Later’d to a surf video shot at 1000 fps. I love that in both of these cultures, you can use any medium and tell a beautiful story, that’s the approach I have when making videos. And when it comes to finding a way to break out of that creative rut so many of us easily fall into, they have an even more different way of approaching it. “I try to remove myself from the situation that I’m in, take some time off of YouTube and take a step back. Mel on the other hand, tries to flood herself with imagery and other content to push through her creative rut.”

They’ve started a five video-video series on their channel titled, A New Perspective, which explores the meaning and significance behind things they hold close to them such as creativity, beauty and sisterhood. They beautifully curated a Mother’s Day Tribute to their own mother with personal photographs and stories. These intimate and special videos is what sets the tone for their very dynamic channel. “We’re more willing to share “personal” stuff in a video that is well thought out and curated than in a vlog where something may be misconstrued. Don’t get us wrong, we’re still very personal in our vlogs, but at the same time it’s a type of video where people tend to get very knit picky and judgmental over the smallest things.” Every Sunday we see their weekly vlogs that give us a glimpse into their normal everyday lives. We have come to know Stephanie and Melissa on a personal level and see that they are just two down to earth girls, who just so happen to make really really cool internet content. But, showing your life on camera to over 300,000 people isn’t always easy. “Our mentor used to say, “You have to have thicker skin.” For the most part, our YouTube and social media interactions are positive. Having confidence in ourselves and believing in what we create makes it easier when we encounter negativity. There will always be someone that doesn’t like us or what we create, but if we don’t acknowledge them, they have no power over us.” Born in Arizona, Steph and Mel still live in the “Grand Canyon State”, and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. “For a very long time we were dead set on getting out of Arizona. We were told that we need to be in LA to be successful but now we can never imagine leaving, AZ feels like home. We really can’t tell you why it’s such great place to live because we have nothing to compare it to. The people and places that have shaped our lives are all here. No matter where life takes us, Arizona will always hold a special place in our hearts.” Not only has living in Arizona shaped who they are as individuals, but who they are as creators. “Arizona has definitely influenced our content and allowed us to really hone in on our creative style. Sure moving to L.A. would open doors for us and it would be easier to collaborate, but it wouldn’t change the content we make.”

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If they aren’t filming or editing their next video, drinking their usual iced coffees at “Starbies”, we could probably count on them to be at their local thrift store Saturday sale. Although we have seen this evolution of Steph and Mel’s channel, one thing has stayed consistent; their love and talent for thrifting. “For as long as we can remember our family has shopped at thrift stores. Our mother loved upcycling and our father was always looking for a good deal. When we were old enough to get a job and buy our own clothes, it only made sense to shop at the thrift (more bang for our hard earned buck). There are tons of videos/blog posts that share “tips” for finding awesome pieces at the thrift but sometimes it just comes down to luck. Some days we go to the thrift and find bags full of goodies and sometimes we go months on end without finding anything.

We think that one of the best tips would be to go in with an open mind and low expectations. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it. It’s so easy to go to the thrift store and buy because it’s cheap but at the end of the day think about its wearability, practicality and if you really need it.” Even though we see a lot of fashion related content on their channel, fashion isn’t exactly a huge element in their lives. “For us, fashion is a form of self-expression but to be completely honest it’s not a super important aspect of our everyday lives. We chose the name The Fashion Citizen five years ago and really didn’t put much thought into it. For someone that stumbles across our channel and has never seen our videos, the word fashion might be deceiving.”

Over the past 5 years, we have seen Stephanie and Melissa flourish, and The Fashion Citizen break barriers and thrive. When I asked the girls where they hoped to see their channel go in 2017, they shared their goals but also the fears that come along with them.

The fear of wanting to work with someone and being rejected has held us back. On the flip side, there are people we know we could collaborate with but we don’t live in the same place and travel isn’t cheap.”

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chase vs everything WRITten by Chloe Luthringshausen PHOTOGRAPHy by Riley Donahue

If his YouTube screen name is any hint, it is clear that Chase, creator of Chase vs Everything, sets no limits for himself when it comes to what he can accomplish. One scroll through his YouTube channel and you will soon discover Chase’s superb skills with a camera and his inspiring outlook on life that he hopes to share with the world. Hailing from New Zealand, Chase admits that he did not have any practical film training prior to starting his YouTube channel. Instead, he spent time watching some of his favorite creators, such as JacksGap and KickthePj. “I mainly learned about filmmaking by trying to create what I saw my heroes making,” explains Chase. “At some point I sort of found my feet and started developing that into my own style.” Chase’s style shines in his videos, featuring stunning cinematography and creative inspiration. Chase wanted to share his passions with like-minded people, driving him to post his videos on YouTube for the world to see. “While there were videos I liked, there was nothing 100% me out there at the time,” says Chase. “I just figured there had to be people out there like me that wanted high production value and well thought out videos.” And he was right. With his quickly growing fan base, Chase has found an audience for his creative perspective on life. Chase takes on just about everything in his videos (hence his YouTube name), from travel vlogs to unique DIY videos to inspiring life advice. When asked how he would describe the overall theme of his channel, Chase says, “I was always the kid that had a new dream job every five minutes and could never settle on doing one thing in life, and somehow this ended up spilling over onto YouTube. I’d say Chase vs Everything is really a lifestyle channel with lessons in growing up and becoming a successful creative human.”

One of the main components that makes Chase stand out from the digital crowd is his life advice videos, in which he captures aesthetically beautiful shots of the world around him and sets them to voiceovers of his inspiring words. The combination of visuals and sounds digs deep into viewers’ creative souls, showcasing Chase’s unique ability to inspire people with just the lens of a camera and a powerful inner voice. “I find my favorite videos are the ones I make for myself, addressing the struggles in my life at that time,” says Chase. “I love taking my words and mixing them with music and visuals to create something that has exponentially more emotion in it. I like trying to make people feel things.” When watching Chase’s videos, you not only feel inspired to create, but also feel Chase’s true passion and honest persona behind his content. Living within the age of Team Internet and social media, it is sometimes hard to develop authentic connections, but Chase stresses the importance of staying true to who you are. In his video “I GOT LOST” Chase says, “I want genuine connections with those who truly get me, not just fake encouragement by likes on social media.” It is this ideal that helps Chase truly connect with his fans, making them feel like they are forming a genuine relationship with Chase and really getting to know his real self. So what is his secret to developing authenticity online? “I think the secret is to stop trying to be someone else and rather, be the best version of you that you can be,” says Chase. “There will always be people on and offline that like you for you, sometimes you just have to let the shield down a little.”

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Letting your shield down and allowing people around the world to see your true self is not an easy task. It takes unwavering confidence, complete honesty, and endless hard work— which Chase knows firsthand. In his recent video, “I Am a Morning Person” Chase says “living two steps behind is not a life at all.” Chase believes being active and aware of the next step can take you that much closer to accomplishing your dreams. “I think it’s really hard to be successful in life if you’re always reacting and always just trying to keep afloat,” explains Chase. “I’m trying to stay on top of things, be one step ahead and that only really comes if you work hard. If you really want something out of life, you have to put your all into it, pushing yourself to work harder and smarter than the ‘reactors’.” With this work ethic, Chase always stays ahead of the game and pushes the boundaries when it comes to his unique content. From cool DIY ideas, such as secret bookshelves, to beautiful travel vlogs of his home in New Zealand, Chase has no limits to what he can create. Chase admits he has learned a lot from where he grew up. “New Zealand has taught me how to appreciate the world around me but also to work hard for what I want in life. We’re a little island in the middle of nowhere,

so we have to work pretty hard for anything we want to achieve,” says Chase. However, he also admits traveling to other locations continues to push him outside his limits and open his mind to the vast world of ideas. “I love travelling as it continually pushes me out of my comfort zone, teaching me to be confident, look after myself and adapt when things don’t go exactly to plan,” says Chase. “To me, nothing compares to waking up in a new city ready to explore as much as I can and hopefully make something beautiful along the way.” Traveling to new places and taking a confident step toward your dreams takes not only hard work, but also bravery. In Chase’s video “The Plunge”, he addresses the importance of facing your fears and taking the jump into the life you have always wanted. When asked what was the scariest thing he has ever done, Chase admits it was taking a year off from school to work and travel by himself. “It scared me beyond anything else, but looking back, I’m so glad I made that decision,” admits Chase. “I most certainly wouldn’t be doing what I do today if it weren’t for that time off to learn about myself, give YouTube a real shot, and start working toward what I wanted out of life.”

Chase’s videos offer great advice for any aspiring creator ready to achieve their goals. His video “Explore, Create, Repeat,” represents Chase’s motto for life. Exploring the world and opening yourself up to new places, creating content that you are truly passionate about, and repeating this process again and again will help creators find their true calling in life. However, Chase’s most important advice about obtaining your dream life? Never make excuses and start as soon as possible. “A mentor of mine once told me to stop making excuses about how I wasn’t ready, the timing wasn’t right or that I didn’t have everything I thought I needed, and to just start. What we never really see is that success doesn’t come easy, there’s an unbelievable amount of work that goes in before people start getting validation and recognition for what they do,” explains Chase.

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k i ck yo u r s e lf i n a y e a r i f you conti n u e to put it o f f.” With such a strong, unwavering ambition, Chase is on course to achieve more of his goals in the upcoming year. Fans should be prepared to see a lot more content from Chase. He just started his collaboration channel, New Age Creators, and is also ready to launch a new practical series about becoming a person that has life in order. With all the new content coming soon, Chase hopes to continue to share positive messages through his channel. His main goal is to continue to show people that “the world is a big scary place. Success doesn’t always come easy, but with a little work, you’re going to make it.” With that kind of message, watch out world... Chase is about to succeed in everything he puts his mind to.

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“Success doesn’t always come easy, but with a little work, you’re going to make it.”

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rebecca rebouche WRITTEN by ashley bulayo PhotographY by darian tarver

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A famous quote, isn’t it? Simply put, beauty is a different definition or meaning in someone else’s eyes. One person could see a bunch of lines on a page and see just that; lines on a page. Another person could see something completely abstract that wasn’t noticed before. Or, someone could be painting a green apple next to a red/white striped party hat and think nothing of it. Meanwhile, the image could be a representation of an expression of happiness during devastating times. This was the exact image artist Rebecca Rebouche created after Hurricane Katrina that she considers to be the turning point in her career. “I realized anything I wanted, or any way I wanted to feel, I could just paint it. And it was almost like the real thing.” New Orleans based artist Rebecca Rebouche lives, breathes and creates beautiful art for a living. You’ve most likely come across her pieces without realizing it. As a designer for the popular clothing store Anthropologie, Rebouche provides consumers and fans of art something to yearn for. It’s a partnership that was destined to happen. “[Anthropologie] respects the path, vision and nuances of being an artist. They honor my work for what it is, and don’t feel the need to change much of it for their needs.” However, as big of a company Anthropologie may be, don’t assume that her work finishes there.

Apart from Anthropologie, Rebouche creates pieces for other clients which keeps her on her toes. She says, “One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is how to approach a small assignment with the same authenticity as my personal work. I’ve tried to not let working with a big company change my work too greatly. I know that what I’ve been hired for is a certain magic only I can bring.” This magic she brings to the table each time was not something that occurred overnight. It was a practice and form she perfected before she became a full time artist. Through her blog called “Art for Breakfast”, Rebecca had a concept to create one small drawing to blog about each day with a few restrictions: artwork had to be displayed vertically on a 5x7” paper and must be completed all in one day. For two years, she accomplished this task which evidently helped her create her voice, her style, and her own language of symbols which she attributes to her success today. Ironically enough, however, she notes that something she doesn’t do well enough of is repetition of her work which may as well be the demise of many other artists well before or after her.

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“I know I could probably manufacture a bit more success by being more repetitive, but I haven’t been willing to box myself in too greatly. The fresh and new is the easy part, it comes naturally. The repetition is the real work because it means I have to look at something over and over again from every angle, and see how good I can get at representing it.” Even before she thought of becoming an artist, Rebecca always had a huge imagination with even bigger aspirations such as wanting to be a contortionist in the circus to attempting to design large scale interactive environments for children’s museums. There was even a time she wanted to be a Radio City Rockette! Although those plans obviously didn’t pan out, she always knew she wanted to be good at something.

“I began to realize that in order to be incredibly good at something, yo u have to choose one thing. Being an artist is almost like a loophole in that de cision. While my career is both thri lling and challenging, I can breathe easy knowing I found my calling. I feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing. This is my one incredible thing.”

And from there Rebecca went on to create incredible pieces for the world all while hustling to pursue an entrepreneurship complete with business plans and the works. “I wish it were easy to sum up in one sentence of advice, but the truth is that it take a lot of trial and error because everyone’s situation is different. Read as much as you can. Find people to emulate. And write down your personal plan, even if you are guessing as you fill in the blanks. Revise that plan a year later, and a year after that. Leap—by all means leap—but open your eyes when you do. The landing will go smoother if you have a plan for how bumpy it will be.” With this motivation and guide, Rebecca has found herself from previously struggling with her career to now being sought after by people who want her work. “I ‘wanted’ things to work out so badly that when they did, I didn’t take it for granted for one second. There was a time in those early years that I made a list of dream clients work with someday. Anthropologie was at the top of my list. Some years later, it came true. That’s the power of what you can imagine.” Amazing how life works out, isn’t it?

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bad suns WRITTEN BY MEGHAN DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELLE ERNST

BAD SUNS are out to have a good time— and they happen to be a chart-topping alt-rock band while they’re at it. The band just released their sophomore album, Disappear Here, following the meteoric success of their debut record, Language & Perspective. Lead singer, Christo Bowman describes Disappear Here as a space that allowed for a deepened connection between the band and their fans: “I think I put a bit more of myself out there with the lyrics this time around. The desire to do that was inspired by many of the conversations I had with fans outside of venues during our two years touring the first album. I felt more comfortable addressing things I might normally be embarrassed to say.” These two years for the band were not one long span of time, but rather a compilation of small moments—bits of memories to be collected and saved up. The band says whether touring or recording, “Our lives and experiences find their ways into the music naturally, lyrically and musically. Our albums are filled with ideas and moments of inspiration, collected over time, (re-assessing sound check jams and picking out the gems, sifting through old demos and pulling out the good ideas).”

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This is an undoubtedly valuable perspective to have during the sometimes-strange limbo period in which artists can find themselves between albums. Should they take time off to gather experiences and ideas? Should they jump straight into writing the next album— mechanically producing songs even in totally uninspired times? Christo says that’s something artists have to decide for themselves: “There isn’t really a right or wrong answer here. For me, it never stops. Even if I’m feeling a bit burnt out, like at the very end of wrapping an album— I might not be writing songs, but I’m still constantly recording melodies into my phone, jotting down potential lyrics, recording guitar licks for later. You don’t want to leave your audience hanging for too long, and you also don’t want to rush out a half-assed album. That’s why, for us, it never stops.” Feeling uninspired isn’t a what-if situation; it’s a guarantee for creators. Christo spoke of his favorite remedies for those kinds of days: “Seeing a good movie, reading a good book, hearing a great record. I like to try and soak up as much inspiration as I can, and if a wave of creativity comes, I’ll ride it out and see what happens.” Getting wrapped up in the monotony of trial and effort is also a sure way to lose the joy of the process, but Bad Suns say this is avoidable:

“I think we all enjoy aspects of each step of the process. It can become a bit tedious when you’re going through the 9th mix revision of the 12th song on the album, but it’s still enjoyable if you care enough.” Bad Suns seem to be particularly good at focusing on the now. They’re aware of where they’ve been in a way that promotes growth, without becoming fixated on a hollow advancement of getting themselves from point-A to point-B. Becoming preoccupied with hypothetical situations of success can be damaging; however, Bad Suns dream in the way of taking things as they come— grateful for the good times. Speaking of Disappear Here’s release, the band says, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to have been met with such positive feedback from our fans. It seems like they’re really enjoying the album, and we’re elated by that. What a relief! Now we’ve just got to worry about giving them something better.” And asked what that something better might entail, Christo joked, “I haven’t had the time to think about that yet!” These guys are solid in their artistic perspective, willing to put in the work and it’s safe to assume we can expect a great “something better” to come from Bad Suns in the future.

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skaters in suburbia COVERAGE BY TRINITY GARDNER

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pierce junker WHAT DOES SKATEBOARDING MEAN TO YOU? PJ: Honestly, it's just always been there. Ya know? GROWING UP IN A SUBURBAN AREA, WHAT WAS THE CATALYST FOR YOU TO BECOME IMMERSED INTO SKATING/SKATE CULTURE? PJ: Well, my older brother started skating before me. Naturally, I followed in his footsteps trying to do literally anything he did. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF SKATING AND LEAST FAVORITE? PJ: The satisfaction of pushing yourself to do things you didn't think you could. Least favorite is loosing a tooth or cracking your noggin. Do you think becoming involved with skating and the surrounding culture has played a part in who you are today? How so? PJ: Most certainly, my sense of style, music, art, everything has been effected by being around like-minded people.

In your opinion, how do you think skate culture/skating has changed over the years and what do you see for the future of skating? PJ: Every 5 to 10 years you see new style, tricks, as well as clothing. Just like anything else I suppose it's always changing. I'm really into what’s happening in skating right now. Lots of new tricks and still somehow going back to the basics. Like, nobody is going to be impressed if you kickflip a stair set. PJ: Have you noticed a stigma around female skaters? If so, how has that been exemplified to you? PJ: I don't know about a stigma, I feel like most skaters being guys get impressed more by any female considering its a male dominated culture. Taking a slam can be no fun and seeing a girl willing to take that risk is always a little bit wild. But if they are having fun, who cares what anyone else thinks. Enjoy it! That's the only reason it exists.

garrett gebhardt GG: Skateboarding to me has always represented a feeling of freedom and has placed the ability to go and do whatever I may please into the palms of my hands. When I was very young, my mom had a boyfriend whose sons were really into skating and I showed some interest so he subscribed me to CCS Magazine so I would get these monthly catalogs that had a bunch of products and skate pictures and I would just read them over and over again. I got my first board a year or two after that and here I am now. My favorite aspect of skating is the sort of unspoken bond that every skater has with one another. No matter where you go, if you see someone with a board whilst you have yours and acknowledge them in anyway, they will acknowledge you back, at least in my experience. My least favorite aspect of skating is the people who think that they're hot sh*t and shame younger, newer skaters because of their lack of skill which just ends up turning them off to the wonders of skating. There isn't really anything I would change about skateboarding, because most of my issues regarding skateboarding have more to do with the people rather than the sport itself, but if I had to change something I guess it would just be to push skateboarding to become a more widely accepted and encouraged sport. I think becoming involved with skating has had a huge influence on who I am today. Many of the things that I wear, listen to, and even sometimes say are things that I have seen or read in articles and videos regarding skating. I think that skating has changed to become a more massively interactive sport. With the emergence of both normal and social media platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, many people now possess the ability to upload videos of themselves skating and have it spread around the internet, whereas previously only pros had the pleasure of being spread around the sport. Hopefully we'll continue to see more and more people becoming involved in skating and aiding in the development of newer and more technical skating. I have definitely noticed a stigma around female skaters, especially because many girls will just want to get on a board and cruise around and once again the more seasoned veterans of skating tend to be d*cks to them.

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grant fautt What does skateboarding mean to you? GF: Skating is about having fun. Growing up in a suburban area, what was the catalyst for you to become immersed into skating/skate culture? GF: Tony Hawk's Underground 2 as well as American wasteland got me interested in learning tricks on a board other than just rolling around. What is your favorite aspect of skating and least favorite? GF: My favorite would be the fun in skating around the city with friends and finding new spots and my least favorite would be the hype. Do you think becoming involved with skating and the surrounding culture has played a part in who you are today? GF: I definitely think skate culture has affected my personality. Most people who skate together are a family. In your opinion, how do you think skate culture/ skating has changed over the years and what do you see for the future of skating? GF: Skate culture is hugely trendier now than it was in the 90s. I see booty shorts being the next big thing in skate fashion, just wait.

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unfiltered wires + W IT H J O N TRE N D +

FULL NAME: Jon Trend AGE: 23 CITY, STATE: Portland, OR OCCUPATION: Photographer WOLFIE GOODS: + Camera + Pen + Laptop + Coffee + A book

TELL US ABOUT THE STORY OR RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE BEHIND ONE OF YOUR ARTWORK The black and white photo of the trains with the snow is one of my favorite photos. I remember I was out shooting and it was my first time every taking photos in the snow like that and I felt like I was in a movie. I remember I was just staring, watching the trains go by and everything was so quiet and still that I felt like I was the only one there and when I captured this photo it wasn't just another during the day, it was my moment. I’ll cherish that feeling forever.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FIND YOURSELF FACED WITH AS A CONTENT CREATOR? HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT THESE CHALLENGES DON’T CONSTRAIN YOUR CREATIVITY? Really the only challenge is creative freedom, but I look at challenges as way for to expand my creativity. I don't like to get in the mindset that I have to hinder my vision in order to provide a service. My overall goal when creating “content” is to make the project look like a story I would tell myself. BESIDES SUCCESS OR FULFILLMENT, WHAT OTHER EMOTIONS CAN YOU IDENTIFY FEELING AFTER HAVING FINISHED A PROJECT? Just over all joy. After finishing a project whether I be personal or I’m creating content for someone else I am just filled with happiness. Even if the project was extremely personal or I was inspired by something sad, I still feel happy because I was able to express myself and convey these specific emotions and turn it into reality. ARE THERE ANY TOOLS IN YOUR CREATIVE ARSENAL THAT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? My camera, as obvious as that might sound (laughs). Without it I feel naked. Not too often do I leave my house without it.

IS THERE A ROUTINE YOU FOLLOW IN ATTEMPTING TO CONVERT YOUR IDEAS INTO CREATED CONTENT?

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUTHFUL, ASPIRING NEWCOMERS TO YOUR INDUSTRY?

I don’t really have a routine. I am normally super sporadic when it comes to executing what I want to do. Half the time I come up with ideas when I’m just walking down the street on my way to the coffee shop and I’ll have to find the nearest napkin, or write the idea down in my phone. Especially with how I shoot, I try to make the setting seem as natural as possible and I feel if I think about it too much it will take away from the candid beauty of the image.

Ask questions, go out and shoot every day. Look up local art events to go to and just meet people. The best way to grow and get inspired is to talk to the people that are already thriving in the industry. I still do this as much as possible. Art is a learning process until the day you die, there will always be someone out there to teach you something. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE APP/WEBSITE/OUTLET THAT MAKES YOU FEEL THE MOST OF YOUR “UNFILTERED WIRES” POTENTIAL? I share most of my work on my own website but I am in the process of transitioning from digital to print and I couldn't be more excited.

QUESTIONS BY MEGHAN DUNCAN ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA FILAS

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