LQ #BoysInTheHood
£4.99
December 2016
Contents Welcome to LQ Magazine!
Issue 1 * December 2016
Pg. 3
Fashion trends of 2016
that are coming with us into 2017 Pg. 5
Seyon Amosu
gives us his insight on what it’s like being a fashion student in 2016
Pg. 9
Stylist Seyon Amosu assists with our editorial piece,
#BoysInTheHood
From denim to boomboxes, this urban 90s R&B photo spread is a must read. 1
From The Editor
To visit any of my social media sites, use the username “lxkozade”for Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. You can also check out my tumblr sites at: lukozade.tumblr.com blackmensfashion.tumblr.com
Let me introduce myself: my name is Luke Osay and I am the Editor-in-chief of LQ magazine. This is our first official issue and I’m incredibly excited to start this journey with you all. I really believe I can help shape the way men’s fashion is viewed in today’s society and make it an essential part of life for men everywhere. To start, I’d just like to say that I’m absolutely obsessed with magazines. Everything from Vogue, Elle, ID, Paper, Fader, Esquire and GQ. In fact, this magazine I believe is heavily influenced by GQ magazine. Not just the name but it’s principles and purpose are also very important to me. A magazine just for men that wasn’t pornographic — just a men’s magazine about men’s stuff. This magazine however is dedicated to the world of men’s fashion which I’m very passionate about. I remember ever since I was in school I used to flip through the pages of magazines like Vogue and Elle and I would always be fascinated by the different models and spreads inside. I specifically remember this one day in high school. I had been looking through this copy of GQ. It had Rihanna on the cover and as I was browsing I just sort of realised that this is what I wanted to do. Make magazines just like this one. And here we are... A lot of people may argue that reading magazines, especially ones about fashion is not something men should do. They believe that these things only belong to women and flamboyant gay men. Thankfully we live in a day and age where men are becoming more aware of themselves and realising that enjoying fashion is not just a “female thing” or a “gay thing”. Fashion is important, not just for aesthetic reasons but for creative and even philosophical reasons too. Some may also say that the magazine industry is dying but I disagree. Most people tend to receive news and information on their mobile devices, laptops and desktops, however, magazines are all about context—how ideas and images are presented in relation to one another and within a larger point of view. Even though technology may be changing the way we receive news and information at such a rapid pace, the need for this news and information is still there. Also the desire to be the face on the cover of a magazine is still alive among people all over the world. Here at LQ, we’ll do our best to provide our readers with the most relevant and interesting content matched with the trendy news and inspirational topics that is expected of a fashion magazine. Stay with us—and expect more. -Luke Osay, Editor-in-Chief
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Fashion Trends 2016-2017
Shows to look forward to in 2017
Ever wondered what stuff in the world of men’s fashion that are worth holding on to as we go into 2017? Here is a list of trends that took 2016 by storm and will continue to do so in the new year.
Military
(From left to right: Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Burberry) We could all do with a little military style in our wardrobes. From MA1 bomber jackets to army style peacoats, military style is great for a smart/ casual look. Celebrities from Kanye West, Justin Bieber and even clothing gender bender Rihanna, have been spotted rocking this look.
Stella McCartney Spring 2017
Tracksuits
(From left to right: Burberry, Christopher Shannon, Astrid Anderson) Out of all the trends of 2016, tracksuits seem to be the most popular. Going especially for Londoners, the tracksuit is a favourite of the average urban wearer. Artists that enjoy the benefits of wearing tracksuits include, Skepta, Big Sean and A$AP Rocky.
N. Hoolywood Spring 2017
Puffa Jackets
(From left to right: Ami, Raf Simons, Raf Simons) Puffa jackets have been a major craze in 2016. The oversized look has attracted fashion enthusiasts everywhere. This goes especially for Londoners and New Yorkers alike. Tom Snyder Spring 2017
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Shows to look forward to in 2017
Fashion Trends 2016-2017 Patches
Michael Kors Spring 2017
(From left to right: Dries Van Noten, Versace, Versace) Clothing with patches is a new trend that will follow us into 2017. Patched jackets and backpacks have become very popular in retailers such as ASOS, Topman, River Island and Boohoo.
Velvet (From
great way to add that little bit of class to any outfit. Tommy Hilfiger Spring 2017
David Hart Spring 2017
left to right: Fendi, Topman Design. Dries Van Noten) Luxuriously smooth, soft to the touch and always equipped with a subtle sheen, velvet is a statement fabric that will get you noticed. From shirts, t-shirts, blazers to trousers, velvet is a
Seventies
(From left to right: Burberry, Roberto Cavali, Gucci) 70s clothes are the perfect way to add some individuality to your wardrobe. This is probably the most affordable trend there is on this list as most vintage items can be found in thrift stores and charity shops.
Pictures taken from Vogue online.
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Interview
Being A Fashion Student In 2016 Students all over the world choose to study fashion as their degree of choice. We managed to speak to Seyon Amosu who studies Fashion Marketing at the University for the Creative Arts and asked what he thought about studying in the field of fashion.
F
ashion is a very vast and broad field to go into. Job opportunities can range from marketing to designing. I learnt this as a fact when I met up with fashion marketing student, Seyon Amosu for this interview:
What does being a fashion student mean to you? Being a Fashion
student means a lot of things to me, most especially the fact that I get to do something I’m very passionate about almost every day. I mean, what’s more fulfilling than that. Don’t get me wrong there are some hiccups during the whole process especially when it comes to getting a shoot done but in a way that is good, because you can then have some problem solving skills and allow your creativity lead you craft somewhere you probably never envisioned.
Why should other people choose to study fashion? I’d say the ultimate
question you have to ask yourself firstly when you’re choosing to go into any field or business or whatever the scenario is, do you have a passion for it? And when it comes to fashion, you might also have the passion for it but you have no idea what part of the industry you’d want to dive into. Although, some people like me for instance already know what part of the industry they are drawn to and
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that doesn’t really have to be one either. But if that isn’t the case that’s also fine, especially if you’re studying a course like fashion media and promotion, which is what I study. It is very broad and covers every other aspect of fashion apart from designing clothes, and that gives you the creative liberty to explore and see what floats your boat basically, also to gain the knowledge of how the industry works, more knowledge more skills.
What benefits would having a degree in fashion bring? A lot of benefits
actually. Although a lot of people would argue that you don’t really need to study fashion at university or have any creative background for you to be successful in the field, yes sometimes that’s the case if you’re very good at what you do. On the other hand, studying fashion gives you some sort of upper hand, it’s the dedication of committing to something for three years or more and being successful at it that entices an employer or client about you as a person, there are things you would learn at university or fashion school that you most likely won’t know or learn in the industry and vice versa. This is why both studying and gaining experience in the industry is important. Also the industry gets competitive day by day and what will be different about you when an employer or client looks at you CV and Portfolio?
Seyon Amosu Photographed by Mihai Koncz
Interview
How long have you wanted to work in fashion and where do you see yourself ending up? “I’ve been interested in fashion as long as a can remember being aware haha. Growing up I used to want to choose what I wanted to wear, dress myself and other people all the time. I remember telling my mum, sisters and aunties what to put together for a special occasion or whenever we’re going to church, even up till when my older sister started going on dates! That amongst other things, I was just a very creative person. Most people don’t know but I also enjoy singing, dancing, cooking and have been told I’m really good at all this but my passion for fashion just seemed to be the one I purse as a career but you never know… I refer to myself as a creative because I don’t like to be put in a box. I have a lot of things I want to do and that I am passionate about. But I hope to make an impact on fashion and use all my talent to communicate and show the world something new. A different way of thinking.” What icons in men’s fashion do you believe are really setting the pace in this day & age? “Oh God, have been interested in fashion as long as a can remember being aware haha. Growing up I used to want to choose what I wanted to wear, dress myself and other people all the time. I remember telling my mum,
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sisters and aunties what to put together for a special occasion or whenever we’re going to church, even up till when my older sister started going on dates! That amongst other things, I was just a very creative person. Most people don’t know but I also enjoy singing, dancing, cooking and have been told I’m really good at all this but my passion for fashion just seemed to be the one I purse as a career but you never know… I refer to myself as a creative because I don’t like to be put in a box. I have a lot of things I want to do and that I am passionate about. But I hope to make an impact on fashion and use all my talent to communicate and show the world something new. A different way of thinking.” A lot of people may say fashion isn’t a field men should go into, what do you say to that? “Oh please, I say ignorant and pathetic. It’s just about some people’s mentality and how closed minded they can be! Being a man in fashion doesn’t make you less of a man, in fact it makes you very brave, to be in an industry that predominantly favours and recognises women more than men. I say men should be brave and do whatever they like. The word “masculinity” was created culturally so what does that say?” Seyon is also a stylist and creative director. You can view his Instagram @seyon_.
#BoysInTheHood
Ok
fellas now let’s get in formation... Stylist, creative director and previously mentioned fashion marketing student, Seyon Amosu assists with our editorial piece #BoysInTheHood and absolutely killed it. When asked about what inspired his vision he simply states “Beyonce/Run-DMC”. From the wide-rimmed fedora hats to the structured, statuesque poses, #BoysInTheHood screams heavily inspired by the music video of the 2016 hit song Formation. In his own take he includes the classic elements of denim and gold jewellery to add that “hood”, early hip-hop vibe we were looking for. He also features Adidas Superstar shoes and socks to appeal to the urban reader. 2016 has definitely been a great year, especially when it comes to the music. Musically, we’ve been graced with masterpieces from artists like Kanye West, Rihanna, J.Cole, Solange, Bruno Mars, Emeli Sande, Alicia Keys and many more. It’s safe to say that these albums have really
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shaped this year and may have even influenced modernday society as whole. Everything from lingo to social topics to fashion, 2016 has been a very inspiring year. For this shoot, we decided to use elements from both the past and the present. “The idea was to design a Vinyl cover for the male hiphop band Run-DMC for their debut single “It’s Like that” based on the shoe.” Seyon speaks on what inspired his vision. “To do this, I have had to research the song, finding out when it was released and what it was known for (if it broke any records) I have had to analyse the lyrics of the song to understand what the song was about, what was happening in the world during the time, the message of the song and what the group was trying to communicate through the song. I also looked into hiphop culture in that era (1980s). This led to me
Editorial looking at the work of people like Martha Cooper, Henry Chalfant and more”. All of this and other research gave us both an insight to what hip-hop was like at the time and what a significant role Run-DMC as a group played in the hip hop world and the music industry as a whole. “Their debut single, It’s Like That was a ground breaking new sound to the industry and world known as rap rock . The new up beat sound has had a big impact on hip-hop music now. All the information and research I have gathered has had some sort of effect on my decisions for designing this piece. I decided that for the shoot, I still wanted to keep the hip-hop culture. In terms of the style, hip-hop artists are known to keep up a very high profile when it comes to their style, the bling and a sense of success even though they’re in the “hood”. But for me, I thought it would have been too cliché and I always like to bring elements of myself into every project I do and put my own creative spin to things stylistically and every other aspect.” This is something Seyon and I have in common. “As the shoot is based around the shoe, Run-DMC were very well known and associated with Adidas as they had a very long term relationship with the brand and collaboration. The Run-DMC super stars. I decided to dress my chosen models in all denim outfits, and bringing the RunDMC/hip-hop style element into it, like the gold rope chain, hats, superstars, Adidas socks and some gold accessories. I decided to use a location that has a rundown feel to it. This was to communicate the fact that hip
Photography by: Tommaso Montino Styled by: Seyon Amosu Models: Editor Luke Osay, Ayo Ade & Victor Tolu Fashion: Asos, Adidas
hop artist are always known to look immaculate no matter what goes on around them. So I decided I wanted to show that contrast in the shoot. Also the lyrics of the song explains how things are in the world at the time, stating that if you reap what you sow. Which I thought would be quite nice to show their success through their style. My choice of camera angles and model poses was to embody the character of the artists.”
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