MANUKA ISSUE
02 OCT 2017
www.manukamag.com ISSN 2208-4258
9 772208
425008
02
THE FASHION OVERLOAD manukamag.com | 1
www.joomay.com
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the Fashion Overload issue which celebrates all things Fashion and Style inspired by Fashion Week around the globe over four glorious weeks. In this issue, you get a Backstage Pass to London Fashion Week, with a front row seat to all the fashion shows. With more than 100-pages dedicated to fashion and beauty, we embrace international fashion for all seasons. Our Trend Report gives fashion addicts chic and edgy high-fashion looks that can transition from runway to real life looks. We feature ‘athleisure’ which has filled a gap in the market place combining two trends that have dominated casual clothing in a versatile way, and share why the athleisure trend has gained massive popularity. We uncover why “red” will be a red hot color this season and take a look at why uber long puddle pants are on trend. We show you how ‘workwear’ can easily be pieced together with a couple of great basics and staples that can whip up a million iterations. This issue also celebrates our gifted Fashion and Beauty Photographers from USA to Spain and across to Australia and Russia. Our dedicated contributors continue to offer non-stop fashion, beauty and streetstyle masterpieces with editorials that revel style. From prints to pleats and from lace to floral; our editorials are perfectly mixed with class and street edge. They also feature fabrics teamed with classic cuts and comfort; bringing that real ‘luxe’ feeling. Our cover shot from Romania’s Roxana Enach showcases soft silks, satins and high quality fabrics
that accentuate the relaxed form that give women that femininity and soft fluidity. Our feature story by Claudette Lukasik from www.thebeautyarcana.com examines artificial fragrance versus essential oils in beauty products. MANUKA gets up-close and personal with international styling guru, Alexandra Osina who talks to us about life as a stylist. In our Art and Culture section, we speak to model and beauty queen, Meseret Geberkristos about her traumatic escape from Ethiopia to Switzerland. We also feature the stunning photographs of Ralf Eyertt, our contributing photographer from Switzerland. Singer/songwriter and contributor, K.ESS takes us into the music world and introduces us to music sensation SZA and reviews the sounds of H.E.R and iconic Miguel. Last, but certainly not least, we celebrate the artistry of Bianca Werneburg in our art series, who will certainly inspire your creative minds with her striking art. We look forward to receiving your feedback on this issue and encourage your input on topics to be covered in future issues. We can’t wait to close 2017 with a bang in our “White Christmas” issue bringing you even more high-fashion, beauty, art and culture.
JoJo Dan’Elle
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MANUKA FASHION EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR ART DIRECTOR
JoJo Dan’Elle Jaedelle Upton K.T. Drayton
BEAUTY EDITORIAL COODINATOR
JoJo Dan’Elle
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jade Francis
ART DIRECTOR
K.T. Drayton
CONTRIBUTORS COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
Roxana Enache
PHOTOGRAPHER
Raúl Muñoz
PHOTOGRAPHER
Victor Bragalia
PHOTOGRAPHER
Ralf Eyertt
PHOTOGRAPHER
Elise Gipson
PHOTOGRAPHER/WRITER WRITER STYLE EXPERT BEAUTY EXPERT BEAUTY EXPERT MUSIC WRITER
J.D. Nelson Claudette Lukasik Alexandra Osina Rachel Eblin
Cyrielle Viardot Brie Kim Saini (K.ESS)
MARKETING ADVERTISING MANAGER DIGITAL EDITOR DIGITAL ASSISTANT
Deanna Love Jade Francis Adrienne Alexiou
© 2017 MANUKA Magazine. All rights reserved. Published by MANUKA Magazine and limited with the permission of contributors and our partners Artefex Media. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
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BE IN THE KNOW. Follow us on Instagram.
@MANUKAMAG
#ManukaMag
BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
CONTRIBUTORS
Do you want to be part of the MANUKA team and be regularly featured in MANUKA? MANUKA provides all creatives the opportunity to contribute their work and have it published in an international publication. Being published in MANUKA exposes your work globally, leading to more opportunities from the exposure.
VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
RAUL MUÑOZ
Victor Bragaglia is a Brazilian-born, international photographer based in London. Coming from a family of photographers, Victor has always been in contact with a camera. His clients include KTZ, Reberschegg, and Klaidas Vaitkus. His debut at London Fashion Week SS16 featured his work on four pages for InStyle Magazine in Turkey as well as Joshua’s Magazine in the UK. He also shot the main story of Hello Magazine Turkey with Demet Sabanci in November 2016, which also made its way to the cover.
Raul Muñoz is an international photographer based in Barcelona who specializes in Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Travel. With a passion for photography, music, fashion, and art, Raul is well-known for his street style and travel photography in Paris, Barcelona and Tokyo. Through his travels, Raul has established a distinctive photographic style that is truly captivating. He is a creative talent who is fast becoming a sought-after photographer worldwide.
www.victorgraphy.co @victorgraphy.co
www.malacaraphoto.com @malacaraphoto
Want to hear more? Email us and ask us about MANUKA’s collaboration program. We’d love to hear from you. Email at: submit@manukamag.com Follow us: @manukamag
SUBMIT YOUR WORK For the month of October/November, MANUKA will be accepting white themed submissions. This category is for any unpublished work you may have, which include:
ELISE GIPSON
J.D. NELSON
Elise Gipson is a self-taught Fashion and Beauty Photographer based in Chicago, Illinois who has been in love with creating art since kindergarten. During high school, she found interest in photography and editing photos. She loved how she could take a photo of someone and manipulate it to convey different meanings and emotions. After years practicing and gaining some confidence and experience, she learnt how to make her visions come to life.
Although new to photography, J.D. Nelson is an entrepreneur and a creative consultant who’s worked in the music, fashion and entertainment industries for over 20 years. She is increasingly being recognized as a Fashion Photographer in Melbourne, Australia, and well-known for delivering input on creative direction and style. Her editorial work has been published in Prodijee, Elegant Magazine, and Star Weekly Sydney, showcasing both her styling and photography.
www.elisegipsonphoto.portfoliobox.net @elisegipson
www.theonestopshot.com @msjdnelson
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• • • • •
Art Beauty Fashion Lifestyle Travel
Got a hot story you want to share? Tell us more...
submit@manukamag.com
MANUKAMAG.COM
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PHOTOGRAPHY ROXANA ENACHE MODEL IOANA TIMOCE
ABOUT
ROXANA ENACHE COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
For Roxana Enache, photography is the basis of self-expression. She studied Interior Architecture at the University of Architecture “Ion Mincu� in Bucharest, with a particular focus on composition and coloring. Shortly after graduating from college, she began working as a fashion photographer, shooting fashion editorials for international magazines and different case studies for her own photography projects. A lover of visual storytelling, Roxana uses concepts to create visual narrative. The relationship between people and space, honest introspection, facial and body expressivity, are vividly explored in her photography to make evocative fashion stories. Her work has grace and softness, yet she knows how to capture the darkness, mystery, and the movement of fashion in her own way.
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CONTENTS 4
WELCOME NOTE
8
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
12
WHAT’S TRENDING
FASHION 14
TREND REPORT SUNLIGHT
22
LONDON FASHION WEEK BACKSTAGE PASS
36
JOURNEY TO THE PAST
49
ALEXANDRA OSINA
50 52
PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI
57
TEMPERLEY LONDON
64
JULIEN MACDONALD
70
MONOCHROME MEETS COLOR
80
SWEET PETAL
88
AUSTERITY
94
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
BEAUTY
111
TROPHY WIFE
THE SCENT OF A WOMAN
ART AND CULTURE
JOURNEY TO SWITZERLAND
116 122
HOLEY + KNOWN
MUSIC 124
SZA
OCTOBER 2017
104
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What’s Trending?
#DayoftheGirl
Shady battles Trump!
October 11 was the Day of the Girl which the United Nations declared as an international day in 2011 as the result of youth advocacy around the world. Its mission is “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.” It’s a day when activist groups come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere.
Guess who’s back? Back again! Well that would be none other than Hip Hop megastar Eminem who has been trending as #1 on YouTube.
“Empowerment of and investment in girls are key in breaking the cycle of discrimination and violence and in promoting and protecting the full and effective enjoyment of their human rights”. With the likes of superstar Beyoncé championing the movement on social media, there was no surprise that the movement went viral with close to $8M views just via Queen Bey’s Instagram posts alone. The message was well received across the world that October 11 was not just a day; but a worldwide revolution.
In a BET Hip Hop Awards freestyle cypher, Eminem rips into Donald Trump from his Detroit home. During the four-minute rap, Shady himself calls President Trump everything from a “racist 94 year old grandpa” to “a kamikaze that’ll probably cause a nuclear holocaust”. With already 31,274,820 views of Eminem’s classic bar-for-bar blasting, he received major love and praise across the world for his anti-Trump cypher. Do you have love for Eminem for airing this video?
Union tweets about “Sexual violence & harassment” Actress Gabrielle Union was hot on the ‘Trending Topics’ on Twitter speaking out about “Sexual violence and harassment”. In a tweet where Gabrielle reminds us of her horrific ordeal when she was sexually assaulted, she tweeted “Remember, I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ “dress modestly” shit.” Her tweet immediately went viral with 156,745 likes, 52,937 retweets and 1,480 comments (and growing). Let’s hope that this open communication will make a positive difference and help prevent sexual violence and harassment.
www.dayofthegirl.org
Images sourced from social media accounts including; twitter, instagram, and youTube.
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ANTONIO MIRÓ SS18
THE #TREND REPORT By JoJo Dan’Elle
MODEL NASTYA KUSAKINA PHOTOGRAPHY RAUL MUÑOZ
FASHION | TREND REPORT
TREND #01
#ATHLEISURE Activewear, now referred as ‘Athleisure’ is the new ‘casual’ and a trend that has become very popular. In fact, so popular that it has imprinted a category for itself defined as “casual clothing meant to be worn both for exercising and for general use.” Athleisure has evolved to merge business casual and sportswear into one and has since been featured on every runway across the world. This relaxed standard of clothing has been largely driven by the millennials who have an increased health consciousness, which has contributed to a cultural shift in the workplace, making it more acceptable to wear sneakers and sweatpants to the office.
WOM & NOW SS18
WOM & NOW SS18
WOM & NOW SS18
Nastya Kusakina
Mix and match your favorite crop top with a highend tuxedo jacket and skinny pant to create a dressy athleisure look. Take it to the next level and pair it with a head sweatband to add a bit of retrofunk and street edge. The end result is a weird hybrid of business casual and athletic wear. 14 | manukamag.com
Athleisure has never looked so chic with pairing a sporty dress with leggings or tights, completed with a visor and your most comfortable sandals. Inject the ‘cool’ factor with a bomber jacket and large hoop earrings for the ultimate urban look, or opt for a sophisticated finish with a bright faux leather jacket.
Joana Sanz
Keep it simple with a colored printed t-shirt and your most comfortable work pants. Add some spice by adding matching sweatbands with some bright and colorful heels. Simple, stylish and yet functional!
#REDHOT The Spring 2018 palette encourages a sense of fun and playful release with a lot of REDS and color mixing with hot hue shades such as neon oranges and hot pinks, which flatter every skin tone. Red has the strongest chroma with the power to make an instant statement. It is the color of passion, attraction, bold gestures and power, so of course it gets all the attention. There is no doubt why ‘red’ is yet again the eye-catching color for Spring and Summer.
FASHION | TREND REPORT
TREND #02
From a romantic and affectionate rapture rose to an artful rosey tone, all shades of red will bring a flirtatious charm to your wardrobe.
MFW
MFW
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
Command attention in an impulsive cherry tomato red. This shade is never to be ignored as it is viscerally alive. This gutsy tone of a tempestuous orangey red will exude heat and energy as soon as you shut the front door.
MFW
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
Add some spiced apple flavor to your Spring and Summer in 2018. With a touch of brown with a red undertone, this warm, wholesome and engaging tone of red will have you looking as delicious as apple pie.
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
Turn it up by fusing your ‘reds’ with some hot and citrus hues. Although we may associate orange with fall, this season’s version is perfect as it heats up. This spark of red combination is also effortlessly sexy for tropical vacations and unbridled summer bliss. manukamag.com | 15
FASHION | TREND REPORT
TREND #03
#WORKWEAR Fashion-forward women who mean business love to take an outfit from the office to dinner or an after-work event, and still look incredibly stylish. The Fall 2017 runways kicked off the workwear trend, offering pantsuits boasting slim cuts, suave patterns, power suiting, voluminous fits and tailored blazers. Spring 2018 started where Fall 2017 finished, giving working women options like bell bottoms, oversized silhouettes and creative layering tricks. Since the workwear trend is quickly emerging, there is no doubt that your corporate closet will also expand this season.
MFW
MFW
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
Everyone loves a classic double-breasted suit with wide culottes in a neutral peach, tailored to perfection. Hot off the runway, this season’s power suit is feminine, classy and lots of fun. It’s crystal clear that support for female power is incessantly been vocalized through design, so enjoy, be confident, and remember the future is female!
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MFW
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
A light blouse is the perfect choice for the office when the temperature starts to rise. Paired with colored cropped bell-bottoms, you will look stylish and still professional. The sartorial balancing act has never been so easy. Stay cool, and know that you’re the most stylish woman in the boardroom.
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
Give yourself permission to bring some of the crazier runway pantsuit interpretations to nine to five. With oversized silhouettes, creative layering tricks and dramatic bell-bottoms, your catwalktested pieces will sure turn heads. Be a powerhouse and look like you deserve a raise.
LAUD STARTS WHERE OTHERS FINISH
www.laudtimepieces.com #laudtimepieces
@laudtimepieces
GET THE
LOOK
PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
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DAVID JONES / MFW
FASHION | TREND REPORT
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN $3,190 www.christianlouboutin.com
TREND #04
PRINTS & LACE
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN $995 www.christianlouboutin.com
ETRO $550 www.farfetch.com
UMA WANG $2,617 www.farfetch.com VERSACE $2,150 www.versace.com
JOOMAY $510 www.joomay.com
DRIES VAN NOTEN $530 www.selfridges.com
MARC JACOBS $420 www.stylebop.com
SELF-PORTRAIT $425 www.net-a-porter.com
MARCO DE VINCENZO $730 www.matchesfashion.com
PHILLIP LIM $695 www.farfetch.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID THOMPSON
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DAVID JONES/MFW
FASHION | TREND REPORT
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG $315 www.matchesfashion.com
PHILLIP LIM $695 www.farfetch.com
RIVER ISLAND $76 www.riverisland.com
TREND #05
POLKA & PLEATS
BALENCIAGA $1,995 www.mytheresa.com
MARCO DE VINCENZO $730 www.matchesfashion.com
JOOMAY $510 www.joomay.com VERSACE $2,150 www.versace.com
STEFFEN SCHRAUT $323 www.farfetch.com
VERSACE $1,175 www.versace.com
FENDI $1,550 www.fendi.com STELLA MCCARTNEY $865 www.stellamccartney.com manukamag.com | 21
SUNLIGHT From earthy tones to glittery and velvet fabrics combined with all that fringe and golden pleats, it is simply effortless to Illuminate and shine bright.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART DIRECTION ROXANA ENACHE STYLE ELENA IONITA HAIR ALEX SMARANDOIU MAKE-UP CODRINA APOSTOL LOCATION IRIS FLOWER SHOP
MODEL IOANA TIMOCE (IMC MODELS)
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TOP $50, JAISSE ATELIER; TROUSERS $200, MARIA MARINESCU; HEADPIECE $26, H&M; SHOES $100, MUSETTE.
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DRESS $450, MANURI; TOP $20, H&M; EARRINGS $20, H&M.
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BODYSUIT $50, JAISSE ATELIER; TROUSERS $,330 MIAU CLARA ROTESCU; SHOES S100, MUSETTE.
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TOP $50, JAISSE ATELIER; TROUSERS $200, MARIA MARINESCU; HEADPIECE $26, H&M; SHOES $100, MUSETTE.
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SHIRT, H&M; DRESS $350, AURELIANA; TROUSERS $80, LE PETIT INDIGENT; KIMONO $245, GRAFEMERIDE; SHOE $100, MUSETTE.
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VEST $250, MANURI; TROUSERS $50, PICABU; SHOES $100, MUSETTE.
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SKIRT $270, VENERA ARAPU; TROUSERS $40, KVINNA; TOP $55, H&M; SHOES $100, MUSETTE.
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JOURNEY
to the
PAST
A journey of a thousand miles begins with balanced color combinations, delicate fabrics and textures mixed with classic cuts.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANASTASIA BUZOVA STYLING ALEXANDRA OSINA MAKE-UP AND HAIR NURA ZU MODEL MAYA (YES MODELS)
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HAT $255, LILIA FISHER; SCARF $32, MONKI; COAT $730, K É K É; TOP $210, DRIES VAN NOTEN; SKIRT $438, DRIES VAN NOTEN; SHOES $72, ASOS.
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HAT $255, LILIA FISHER; BODY $74, AMADIAR; SKIRT MARKS & SPENCER (VINTAGE); COAT $1200, K É K É.
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COAT $1200, K É K É; SCARF $18, OASAP; NECKLACE $396, PRADA; TOP $200, DRIES VAN NOTEN; SKIRT $142, POUSTOVIT; SOCKS $12, GIPSY; SHOES $135, DUNE.
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HAT $255, LILIA FISHER; SCARF $32, MONKI; COAT $730, K É K É; TOP $210 DRIES VAN NOTEN; SKIRT $438 DRIES VAN NOTEN; SHOES $72 ASOS.
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TOP $47, AVENTURES DES TOILES; PANTS $280, AMADIAR; HAT $245, EUGENIA KIM; NECKLACE $396, PRADA; SCARF $50, CHEAP MONDAY.
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HAT $245, EUGENIA KIM; SWEATER $32, STRADIVARIUS; DRESS $322, AMADIAR; BAG $112, AMADIAR; SHOES $48, ZAFUL.
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JACKET $1,138 MM6 MAISON MARGIELA; TOP $199 DRIES VAN NOTEN; SKIRT $174 DRIES VAN NOTEN.
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FROM STYLE TO FASHION
POWERHOUSE BY JOJO DAN’ELLE
Alexandra Osina is an internationally acclaimed stylist who brings her creative vision and style to fashion.
A
lexandra Osina is a freelance fashion stylist based in Moscow, Russia. After just five years of styling, this fashion superstar is internationallyrecognized after been published in magazines such as Solstice Magazine (UK); Promo Magazine (US); Vulkan Magazine; Superior Magazine; Mod Magazine; 7 hues Magazine (US) and many more. Known for changing up her own individual style, she started out by styling friends and helping them shop for the perfect outfit. Soon after, she realized that she wanted to expand to styling fashion shoots.
Her favorite part of styling is creating an aesthetic. “I love making stories. When you see not only a girl in beautiful clothes, but something more…You see a character behind these pictures! That’s why I love the works of Ellen Von Unwerth and Grace Coddington.” Alexandra also has a passion for travel and hopes to unite both her passions within the next two years - travelling for her styling work. She looks forward to continuing to learn new things and is excited to further develop her international experience. Visit: www.styledbyalexandra.blogspot.com Follow: @alessi_li
After working with top photographers in Russia, Alexandra quickly became well-known for her impeccable styling, leading to countless projects and campaigns.
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S/S 2018
BACKSTAGE
pass
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
LONDON FASHION WEEK manukamag.com | 51
PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI
PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI SS18
PREEN By Thornton Bregazzi built their brand on an aesthetic of juxtaposing the masculine with feminine and mixing of hard and soft. Their debut collection at London Fashion Week for Spring Summer in 2001 established the brand’s essence of punkish sensibilities with vintage elements and hand crafted details. The collection debuted to rave reviews with critics responding to the subverting of traditional motifs and British sense of tongue-in-cheek chic. The label has since become synonymous with deconstructed London cool and developed a cult status amongst fashion heavyweights. Over two decades, PREEN has evolved from a small boutique in London’s Notting Hill to a globally loved brand stocked across five continents and an industry insider favorite. Regularly featured in leading fashion publications and broadsheets, PREEN has also collected a loyal fan-base of famous faces, with stars from Gwyneth Paltrow; Kate Bosworth; Beyoncé; Rihanna; Cate Blanchett; Naomi Watts; and Emma Stone; to the Duchess of Cambridge and former First Lady Michelle Obama; who repeatedly stepped out in their designs. Showing on the runways of both London and New York, PREEN is a fashion week must-see. PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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TEMPERLEY LONDON PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
Temperley London is a fashion brand founded by Alice Temperley in 2000. It embodies the modern bohemianism with a confident, feminine and effortless attitude that stays true to its British Heritage. It’s core business focuses on women’s ready-to-wear collections, which have evolved to offer a comprehensive range of daywear, cocktail and eveningwear. Temperley London muses include Amber Heard; Arizona Muse; Olga Kurylenko; Kate Hudson; Laura Bailey; and Florence Welch. The SS 2018 collection encapsulates the sartorial mood of an escape to the Riviera, and suggests days spent poolside, followed by martinis at golden hour. This season offers a contemporary interpretation of the world of Slim Aarons, his muses, and the sense of inherent ease he captured. Easy palazzo pants, ankle skimming cardigans and stretch cotton jumpsuits come in playful, striped fabrics and knits echoing candy colored parasols found on the Cote D’Azur. Hand painted, spiraling cacti spines inspired by the lush gardens of the Mediterranean adorn textured seersucker sundresses. This horticultural theme flows into embroidery; aerial views of symmetrical French topiary gardens combined with sheer polka dot chiffon and tulle ruffles. Cinched in, feminine waists paired with relaxed, rolled sleeves feature throughout the collection, creating an overtly feminine silhouette reminiscent of 1950’s sirens. Languid wide legged culottes, buttoned bodice jumpsuits and cotton tailored jackets paired with calf grazing dresses and skirts adorned with diaphanous frills. The color palette celebrates life in the South of France; fresh azure blues, lilacs, shades of olive and laurel greens, rose and powder pinks and accents of candy cane red, poppy and peach.
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
TEMPERLEY LONDON SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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JULIEN MACDONALD PHOTOGRAPHY BY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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Julien MacDonald OBE launched his label in 1998, after leaving Chanel as head designer of knitwear. He quickly built a reputation as a leading British Fashion Designer whose high octane and glamorous designs were soon to be coveted by international stars such as Kate Beckinsale; BeyoncÊ; Kristen Stewart; Madonna; Liv Tyler; Heidi Klum; Kim Kardashian; Rihanna; Karen Elson; Katy Perry; Naomi Campbell; Taylor Swift; and Miley Cyrus to name a few. Following the launch of his atelier in February 2013, Julien’s show at London Fashion Week was an eagerly anticipated and celebrity packed fashion extravaganza, which firmly confirmed him as the king of glamour.
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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JULIEN MACDONALD SS18
PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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PHOTOGRAPHY VICTOR BRAGAGLIA
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MONOCHROME
MEETS COLOR Push the boundaries and fuse graphic monochrome and aesthetically unusual prints with eye-catching colors.
ART DIRECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY J.D. NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANCE AND EDITING KAREEM DRAYTON STYLING KAT ARNOTT WARDROBE ASSISTANCE NICOLE KANAAN AND MERRIN SCHNABEL MAKE-UP DARIELLE LAHAUSSE HAIR STEPHANIE HYSLOP MODEL LESCHELLE HEWETT
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DRESS $70, ZARA; BLAZER $70, ZARA; BAG $47, ZARA; BANGLES $24, LOVISA.
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SHIRT $167, OROCEO CASTRO; FUR STOLE $55, ZARA; SUNGLASSSES, QUAY AUSTRALIA; SKIRT $104, OROCEO CASTRO.
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DRESS $231, OROCEO CASTRO; GLOVES $24, H&M; BAG $48, ZARA; LASER CUT BOOTS, LANA VOLKOV.
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HAT $48, H&M; SHIRT $123, OROCEO CASTRO; SKIRT $103, OROCEO CASTRO; WATCH, LAUD TIMEPIECES; LACE UP BOOTS, STYLIST WARDOBE.
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DRESS $70, ZARA; BLAZER $70, ZARA; BAG $47, ZARA; BANGLES $24, LOVISA; RED BOOTS $94, ZARA.
Featured
MODEL
Leschelle was born and raised in a small town in the south of Perth, Western Australia. Modelling since the age of 16 from runway to editorial; she has gained extensive experience within the fashion industry. Now living in Melbourne, Victoria, Leschelle is a fulltime Actor and Model who recently walked the runway for eight designers at Melbourne Fashion Week. She was also covered from head to toe in exquisite couture garments for Fashion+Aid Australia and has been the face for several Australian brands. Followed by some success and dedication to the art, Leschelle has recently shifted more of her focus onto acting, completing her training at the Film and Television Institute. Although Leschelle loves to model (and will continue to do so); her biggest passion lies within the realm of acting. Her favorite thing about modelling is being able to use her acting skills to become someone different every day. She also has great appreciation for the creativity that she is continuously exposed to, and the insanely talented people she gets to meet and work with in the industry.
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sweet PETAL Master the fresh floral prints and build a soft and feminine look filled with lavenders, blues, and pink flowers.
ART DIRECTION, PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING J.D. NELSON PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANCE, EDITING AND ARTWORK KAREEM DRAYTON FLORIST AND FLORAL STYLING ALEX STRAIN (FIR - FLORAL DESIGN) WARDROBE ASSISTANCE NICOLE KANAAN HAIR AND MAKE-UP DARIELLE LAHAUSSE MODEL JESSICA PARRISH
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DRESS MELEEA, WWW.MELEEA.COM.AU; RING LA LUNA ROSE, WWW.LALUNAROSE.COM; FLORAL HEADPIECE FIR - FLORAL DESIGN, WWW.FIRFLORALDESIGN.COM.
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DRESS, DUALE DESIGNS WWW.DUALEDESIGNS.COM; RINGS LA LUNA ROSE, WWW.LALUNAROSE.COM; FLORAL HEADPIECE FIR - FLORAL DESIGN.
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DRESS DANIELLE ARIDI WWW.DANIELLEARIDI.COM.
BODYSUIT DANIELLE ARIDI, WWW.DANIELLEARIDI.COM; FLORAL HEADPIECE FIR - FLORAL DESIGN, WWW.FIRFLORALDESIGN.COM; GOLD RING LA LUNA ROSE, WWW.LALUNAROSE.COM.
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DRESS MELEEA, WWW.MELEEA.COM.AU; RINGS LA LUNA ROSE, WWW.LALUNAROSE.COM.
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EARRINGS, LOVISA WWW.LOVISA.COM.AU DRESS, DUALE DESIGNS WWW.DUALEDESIGNS.COM.
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www.thebeautyarcana.com
AUSTERITY “Less is more” so create your minimalist style with a pair of statement sunglasses. Keeping it sleek and simple may just make more of an impact than the loudest of outfits.
ART DIRECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY RAÚL MUÑOZ STYLING RAÚL MUÑOZ AND MARTYNA WISNIEWSKA HAIR AND MAKE-UP VANITAS ESPAI MODEL MARTYNA WISNIEWSKA
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WHITE SHIRT, ZARA; DENIM SHORTS, ZARA; BROWN BOOTS WITH FRINGE, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, CALVIN KLEIN.
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BLACK FAUX LEATHER JACKET, ZARA; BLACK PANTS, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, CALVIN KLEIN.
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BLACK HALTER NECK ZARA; BLACK PANTS, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, CALVIN KLEIN.
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WHITE SHIRT, ZARA; DENIM SHORTS, ZARA; BROWN BOOTS WITH FRINGE, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, CALVIN KLEIN.
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BOLD & BEAUTIFUL It’s so easy to look effortlessly beautiful when you simply give yourself permission to be bold. Add a pop of color and shades to your denim or ‘black and white’ looks and be your bad-ass self.
ART DIRECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY RAÚL MUÑOZ STYLING RAÚL MUÑOZ and MIRIAM BADIA MAKE-UP and HAIR VANITAS ESPAI MODEL MIRIAM BADIA
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DENIM JACKET, ZARA; DENIM SHORTS, ZARA; BLACK BOOTS, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, VOGUE EYEWEAR.
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BLACK CAPE, ZARA.
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WHITE SHIRT WITH STRIPE SLEEVE, ZARA; YELLOW PANTS WITH STRIPE LEG, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, VOGUE EYEWEAR.
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V-NECK BLACK BLAZER JACKET, ZARA; BLACK PANTS WITH WHITE STRIPE HEM, ZARA.
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BLACK TOP WITH CRISSCROSS BACK, ZARA; DENIM JACKET, ZARA; DENIM SHORTS, ZARA; BLACK BOOTS, ZARA; SUNGLASSES, VOGUE EYEWEAR.
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BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY RALF EYERTT
MODEL LAURA KIPFER
MAKE-UP AND HAIR ZALINA WÄLCHLI JEWELRY BY ALEXANDER LAUT
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MODEL HILLARY ALVAREZ
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PHOTOGRAPHY ELISE GIPSON MAKEUP ARTIST RACHEL EBLIN
BEAUT Y | ST YLE
TROPHY WIFE
by Rachel Eblin KILLAWATT Freestyle Highlighter www.fentybeauty.com
Stila Cosmetics’ All Day Waterproof Black Liquid Eyeliner www.stilacosmetics.com
Fenty Beauty Highlighter in Trophy Wife www.fentybeauty.com
Juvia’s Place’s Magic Palette www.juviasplace.com
Ultra HD Skin Booster Hydra-Plump Serum www.makeupforever.com
Kett Cosmetics applied with airbrush www.kettcosmetics.com
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MODEL ONTARIA LASHON
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PHOTOGRAPHY ELISE GIPSON MAKEUP ARTIST RACHEL EBLIN
BEAUT Y | ST YLE
Kett Cosmetics applied with airbrush www.kettcosmetics.com
KILLAWATT Freestyle Highlighter www.fentybeauty.com
MAC Cosmetics Pro Paint Pot www.maccosmetics.com.au
Makeup Forever Primer www.makeupforever.com
Fenty Beauty Highlighter in Trophy Wife www.fentybeauty.com
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BEAUT Y | ST YLE
let’s
CHAT WITH
BEFORE
CYRIELLE VIARDOT BRIE
I wanted to design a special look this year based on the natural beauty of my model. Sophie is a French model with Martinican roots. La Martinique is a beautiful Caribbean island where women have dark caramel skin and afro hair. I wanted to create a chic and glamour look, a delicate and modern rock style.
Sophie’s dark roots
To emphasise the look of her hair, I selected a minimalism elegant outfit to create a sophisticated overall style. Follow @cyrielleviardotbrie_cycy
WELLA color products
Sophie’s tight curls
EIMI WELLA styling products
ABOUT WELLA is a world leader and expert in hair and beauty. Their products help make beauty dreams real everyday for millions of stylists and consumers worldwide. WELLA’s brands are distributed in more than 180,000 salons across the globe, and include Sebastian Professional®, Koleston Perfect by Wella Professionals®, Color Touch by Wella Professionals®, Blondor by Wella Professionals®, Clairol Professional® and Nioxin®. www.wella.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY J.D. NELSON
When I first met Sophie, she has really dark hair. The challenge was to obtain a white clean blond while keeping the good condition of her hair. I chose a subtle pink and a pure white for her hair to complement perfectly the tone of her skin. Using WELLA colour and EIMI WELLA styling and finishing products to complete the design.
HAIR AND STYLE CYRIELLE VIARDOT BRIE PHOTOGRAPHY ELIZABETH KINNAIRD MAKE-UP ELISA SGORLON ARTICO
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PHOTOGRAPHY PEXELS.COM
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FEATURE STORY
The Scent
WOMAN O F A
BY CLAUDETTE LUKASIK
We all have seen the square glass bottle with the iconic black and white label. Yes, today Chanel No.5 continues to be the world’s best selling perfume with a bottle purchased every 30 seconds. Marilyn famously wore it to bed- with nothing else. When Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel sprayed it around a dinner table in a Paris restaurant in 1921, women passing by asked her what the scent was. It was, and still is, primarily based on a blend of jasmine, ylang-ylang, may rose and sandalwood. For Chanel, the goal was to make the wearer “smell like a woman, not like a rose”. We have been addicted ever since.
A
formula largely unchanged since it was introduced in 1921, Chanel No.5 has in recent years come under threat. In Europe, new EU rules aimed at protecting consumers from allergens in cosmetics are forcing perfume houses like Chanel and others to reformulate their product. The allegation is that these classic fragrances contain molecules such as atranol and chloroatranol, now recognized as potential allergens by the EU. In response, Chanel has been working on different variations of their formulas with other brands such as Hermes, Dior and Guerlain soon to follow suit. This is no small task, as reformulating a scent is costly and time consuming and can often take a minimum of 30 different tests. If that weren’t enough, under new EU regulations perfumeries will also be required to disclose more on their labeling. Before perfumes were only required to list 26 compounds; now they are required to extend the list to more than 80. When asked how they can cram so many ingredients on the back of the bottle, one prominent perfume house replied, “… we aren’t sure.” The average perfume consumer might be a bit perplexed. What’s all the fuss about? Can’t we
just spray, dab, and otherwise lovingly apply our favorite perfumes without worry, as Marilyn once did?
Stopping to smell the roses As women, we all hold dear and love to display the coterie of branded glass bottles that adorn our vanities. We tend to hold on to these bottles for as long as possible and are slightly pained when we have to dispose of them. A perfume is something for not just for everyday but also for those occasions when in our little black dress, we strategically place perfume on those areas of the body that we want to impart a scent… the base of the neck, the back of the ears, even behind the knees so the scent travels upwards. It is the finishing touch; the piece de resistance in the dressing room. Fragrance is used to impress, seduce or even to make a statement. A woman’s choice in fragrance is also said to reveal much about her tastes and personality. It is no surprise therefore how many hours we spend laboring in department stores, moving from one brand to the next; sniffing, smelling, wrist testing, taking home samples in an effort to determine which scent we identify with most.
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FEATURE STORY
PHOTOGRAPHY PEXELS.COM
These days however, as more and more of us are beginning to question the toxicity of our cherished cosmetics, we are in particular extending this deliberative process to examine what exactly fragrances are composed of.
What exactly is ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’? A million or so years ago (before the industrial age), fragrance was predominantly essential oil based. That meant that perfumes were created with the distilled ‘essence’ of the natural plant or flower. No fillers, no fuss. Everyone was more or less healthy and happy. With the rise of machines and white bread, things changed. Suddenly the market was flooded with a cacophony of unknown and largely untested chemicals, additives and ‘fragrances’. Enterprising companies recognized that the consumer liked the real thing but were also keen to the idea that perhaps things in nature could be duplicated in a cheaper, synthetic form. The natural was made unnatural and ‘scents’ were born in flasks and in a laboratory setting. Ingredients were sourced in odd sounding ways such as from animal secretions (from the musk deer) and ambergris (a byproduct of whaling used to make fragrance last longer on the skin). These days, it is has been reported that approximately 95 percent of the chemicals in synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals. These chemicals include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and
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a slew of other known toxins that are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, nervoussystem disorders and allergies—some of which are cited on the EPA’s hazardous waste list. Phthalates alone have been shown to disrupt hormone activity, reduce sperm counts, and cause reproductive malformation leading to tumor growth and have been linked to liver and breast cancer, diabetes, and obesity. In a 2001 study, the EPA reported that synthetic fragrances were shown to cause” possible mutagenic and genotoxic effects” and that consumers are becoming increasingly sensitive to said chemicals. Do you sometimes feel a little headache-y or even nauseated in the fragrance aisle of the drugstore? Join the club. What is important to understand here is that the majority of the chemical compounds posing as harmless ‘fragrance’ are in fact untested and whose short and long-term effects on the human body are largely unknown.
A toxic bouquet This lack of transparency regarding contents of commercial ‘fragrance’ did have a purpose. It was a way to protect the proprietary blend of the Chanels and Diors of the world from would be copycats. But these rules have also made it difficult, if not impossible for the average consumer to navigate the cosmetics counter and assess product safety. So what exactly is ‘fragrance’? On your average cosmetic label, alternate terms for synthetic fragrance include perfume, fragrance, fragrance oil, and parfum. These are very general terms for a chemical cocktail which can contain up to 200 undisclosed ingredients. Due to recent trends towards more natural and nature loving products, companies have been forced to get creative with their formulations and labeling. But don’t be fooled. Some other common euphemisms for synthetic fragrance include: • natural • aromatherapy • ‘contains essential oils’ • fragrance oils • fragrant oil • FO.
In a world in which nearly everything and every space seems scented or ‘unscented’, pine-coned, febreezed, or with a sprinkle of ‘aromatherapy’… what’s a girl to do?
Only the essentials If history is any indication, we are not likely to give up on our love for fragrance and perfume anytime soon. Nearly every great civilization had some ritualized use of perfume or scent in their social fabric. In China, fragrances were prized and although they did not wear scent they burned it in the form of incense and other fragrant materials in special, sacred rituals. In Egypt, perfume was a treasured commodity and was strongly associated with cleanliness. Frankincense and Myrrh were among the favored scents that the Egyptians believed to be the sweat of the Gods. The Greeks believed the gods from Mt. Olympus were attracted to sweet fragrances and medical thinkers connected its use to health and vitality via aromatherapy. And it is believed the Romans used some 2,800 tons of frankincense annually, and perfume was everywhere from public baths to beauty products and applied to even the soles of Roman feet. Suffice it to say, our love of perfume isn’t likely to go away. What these seemingly disparate civilizations all had in common however was their use of natural fragrance or essential oils. Essential oils seem to be everywhere these days… but what are they exactly? An essential oil is defined as a super concentrated, non-water soluble phytochemical essence of a plant, flower or root.
physical methods used are typically distillation (steam, steam/water and water) or expression (also known as cold pressing). Technicalities aside, when one first experiences a true, quality essential oil one thing comes to mind: “This is potent stuff.” Also, one soon becomes aware that there are vast differences in quality among different brands of oils. Quality will generally be dictated on where the flowers are from, how they are harvested and the method of extraction. Generally however, you get what you pay for. Just place a small vial of lavender essential oil next to the soapy, drugstore variety and you will forever know the difference. One is instantly addictive, soothing and calm inducing while the other is fake-ish, headache triggering and just a little bizarre. Potent indeed, as it can take more than 150 pounds of lavender flowers to make a single pound of lavender essential oil.
FEATURE STORY
Even brands that advertise themselves as ‘fragrance free’ are not necessarily safe and devoid of toxins. What ‘fragrance free’ typically means is that fragrances have been added to give the overall effect of not having a scent. So, in order for your favorite skin cream to be fragrance free, scent-masking chemicals are used to make a given product have no distinct smell at all.
But don’t take our word for it- just one sniff of Frankincense, Sandalwood, or Rose Otto and one is an instant convert. Why? Because essential oils are more than just ‘scents’… they are therapeutic. Difficulty concentrating? Keep a bottle of rosemary or peppermint essential oils on your desk. Feeling a bit blue? Frankincense and Bergamot are instantly uplifting and stress relieving. Finding it hard to fall asleep? A few long purposeful breaths of true lavender and you will feel drowsy within five minutes. Hospitals and clinics have also embraced the value of natural scent. The next time you find yourself standing in the waiting room of a clinic you may notice that it smells faintly of sweet orange oil. This is not simply because it is pleasant– it also reduces hospital related anxiety. While regulations in North America for toxicity in cosmetics are far behind those in Europe, this more ‘natural’ scent base is certainly progress and may be an example of how nontoxic cosmetics are indeed having an effect on the mainstream. Baby steps.
For an essential oil to be a true essential oil, it must be isolated by physical means only. The
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FEATURE STORY
As rules and regulations protecting unsuspecting cosmetic and fragrance consumers continue to move at a glacial pace, we have uncovered a few non-toxic and essential oil based perfume brands to once again inspire your faith in humanity and fragrance. PHOTOGRAPHY THEAYU.COM.AU
PHOTOGRAPHY LVNEA.COM
Ayu
Lvnea
Hailing from sunny Australia, Ayu handcrafts its custom essential oil blends in small batches based on Indian Ayurvedic tradition. They are “made and measured with the ancient art of perfume, combined with knowledge of balancing the mind, body and spirit.” We aren’t exactly sure what this means but what we do know is that their scents are at once addictive and clearly something from the Gods. Gorgeous bottling aside, we love the fact that Ayu scents are oil based and that this confers two distinct advantages: a nourishing component (jojoba oil) as well as a natural fixative rich in vitamins (wheat germ oil) that helps the scent to linger on the skin a bit longer. And linger it does, as when our expert tester took Ayu perfume out for a spin one evening, two things were of note. Not only did she get a complement from the server at a restaurant (“What is your perfume?”) but also from an accompanying friend who at the end of the evening noticed that (“… I can still smell the scent”). If that weren’t indication enough of a product well formulated, Ayu adds super herbs such as ashwaghanda and amla to further fortify and add a nutritive quality. Superfoods in perfume? Why not, we say. Our current faves are Ode, Souq and Carnal.
From Montreal, Canada comes Lvnea, a mysterious, darkly brooding apothecary brand that we instantly fell in love with. Lvnea is defined as “the moon’s day; the day of the moon” and whose brand “explores the spaces between the natural world and that of the ethereal.” With names such as ‘Spirituum’, ‘Ghost Pine’, and ‘La Foret Dormante’, Lvnea uses traditional French Parfumerie techniques to craft their scents. Their fragrances come in three different forms: as an eau de parfum (alcohol based), a parfum botanique (coconut oil based roll on), or a parfum crème (jojoba and shea butter solid) all using natural essential oils and botanical essences. Their sampler kit came to us with 10 or so itsy bitsy vials of gorgeousness lovingly placed on a moody bed of moss. A few of their select scents also come in a gorgeous puffer spray bottle that is a beautiful addition to any vanity. Terres D’Etoiles (land of stars) is one in particular that we adored. With featured notes of frankincense, smoke enfleurage, lapsang souchong, mimosa, jasmine, orange blossoms, and mitti attar; it’s floral and smoky complexity is far too challenging for us to clearly put into words. But after misting it and having it linger on a piece of clothing or in a room (as it invariably did) words are really not necessary.
www.theayu.com.au
www.lvnea.com
ABOUT THE BEAUTY ARCANA Claudette Lukasik, Director and Founder of The Beauty Arcana is devoted to all things beauty, nutrition, and wellness related. THEBEAUTYARCANA.COM shares the best in nutritional research, superfood supplements, fitness tips, meditation, and much more. Visit: www.thebeautyarcana.com
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ART and CULTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY PEXELS.COM
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THE JOURNEY TO
SWITZERLAND BY J.D. NELSON
Meseret Gebrekristos (also known as Mesi) was crowned Miss Africa in Switzerland earlier in 2013. Prior to the glory of wearing the crown, Mesi encountered a very painful and difficult journey to Switzerland. Mesi opens up and tells MANUKA her story.
PHOTOGRAPHY RALF EYERTT MAKE-UP AND HAIR ZALINA WÄLCHLI STYLING AND WARDROBE KENU BOUTIQUE ZÜRICH
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CULTURE | FEATURE STORY
R
aised by her foster mother in northern Ethiopia, close to the borders of Eritrea, Mesi endured a lot of pain early on in life.
At a young age Mesi and her brother got the sad news that their parents, who at the time were living in Eritrea, had passed away from an illness. By the time Mesi was eleven years old, the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia started. Being half Eritrean, Mesi and her brother had to escape east Africa, since there no longer was a safe place for them to live in peace. Similar to many other Eritrean people, they were forced to leave Ethiopia. After having travelled through Sudan and Libya, they finally found a place to call home in Turkey, where they were able reside for approximately two years. Unfortunately, there came a time when they were no longer permitted to live in Turkey.
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Life for Mesi and her brother was beyond hard and the struggle continued. At the time, the only way out was to put all their money towards a permit to travel on a small ship to Greece. As they continued their journey to Greece, there was relentless panic on this ship which resulted in the tragic death of her brother, who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea close to the coast. Mesi, was lucky enough to be rescued by the Marines, however, she was consumed with sadness following her brother’s death. He sadly never had the chance to set foot in Greece after the battle he fought to move there. By the time Mesi finally arrived in Greece, she quickly landed herself two jobs. She worked as a nanny and as a receptionist at a small hotel, but there was no time to settle in due to Greece’s financial crisis. Shortly after, Mesi had to rethink her plans and decide what would be next. There was not enough work in Greece so she could no longer stay.
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CULTURE | FEATURE STORY
In this moment, she decided to travel to Switzerland. Yet again, the cost for travelling was going to be much more than she could afford, but regardless she paid her $2,000 for her passport and a flight to Zurich, Switzerland. Looking out the window during her first train ride from Zurich to Kreuzlingen, Mesi instantly knew that this was finally ‘home’ and exactly where she wanted to stay long-term. After settling in Switzerland later in 2013, Mesi took home the title of Miss Africa, a beauty pageant in Switzerland. She says “it was always a dream for me to become a model”, so she didn’t hold back during the contest. Since having such a difficult childhood, Mesi was particularly attracted to the Miss Africa organisation since it aimed to use the appeal of beauty Queens and models, as tools to advocate for the disadvantaged and campaign and fund-raise for less privileged and vulnerable people. After her own fight for survival, Mesi felt deeply connected to becoming Miss Africa, simply because it was not only about raising funds for causes; but to also supervise and execute these projects, which ensured that funds were used for the sole purpose they were raised for. Today, Mesi is focused on her modelling career while she works as a waitress in a small village called Schmerikon. She is humbled to have her own apartment and feels blessed to have permanent residency in Switzerland. Through the trials and tribulations, Mesi is finally smiling and doing exactly what she truly loves.
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HOLEY + KNOWN BY JOJO DAN’ELLE
Self-taught mixed media artist and designer, Bianca Werneburg, is the creator of freestyle organic inkworks, also working in the mediums of digital art, acrylic, oil paints and wearable art. In addition, she creates original printed wallpaper and fabrics from selected works for use on chairs, lampshades, cabinets, headwear and jewelry. Bianca finds her inspiration “in the higher powers of music, numbers, rainbows, animals, cosmic intelligence, unity, love, self-transformation and our universal connection”. She is also a self-confessed color junkie, “color is my oxygen, my passion and my happy place” she says. Almost four years ago, at a time of deep inner reflection, and upon the closure of her long-standing fashion boutique, Bianca fell head first, back into the world of art. This was something she had pretty well abandoned for around 25 years. It seemed to happen almost subconsciously. Bianca tells us “it was like I was drawn toward it by an unknown force. I recall the first piece I did to a song called “Twin Perception” by The Butterfly Effect, as lots of my pieces are brought to life with the power of music and dancing. It felt like magic, and I began to remember what set me free; made me truly happy. The world is our one chance to create and this practice was very important to my spirit”. From the initial swirls and melding of colors, Bianca began to look deeper into the picture, forming characters and shapes; bringing to life a whole new
world. As a child, she held great delight in looking to the clouds and random abstract images, furthermore creating images; letting her imagination run wild, as it felt like a whole new undiscovered world that she loved to immerse herself in. Each piece is created using a myriad of mediums from acrylic, ink, spray-paint, party streamers, eyeshadow, nail varnish, metal leaf, stains and glitter. All of her artworks including the spray-paint and oil collections revolve around fantasy, rainbows, animals, consciousness, journeys into the universe, and unconditional love. The creation of some of the artworks she calls ‘Freestyle Organic Inkworks’, is a lesson in perception and creation, something called pareidolia, which means the “brain’s tendency to jump to the most efficient conclusion regarding seemingly random visual data”. She says “it’s why we see faces in the clouds.” Bianca has a gallery where art lovers can not only find her artworks, but an eclectic array of eyewear, headwear, custom furniture, fabric and wallpaper; most of which are created from the original artworks fusing vintage, reworked and new materials. New pieces are always coming to life, which can be seen at her online gallery, Instagram and Facebook. Her art is also exhibited in several galleries throughout Adelaide, Australia. @holey_and_known
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Currently showing at: Red Poles Gallery (permanent artist) McLaren Vale, South Australia Bowerbird Design Event (November 23-25, 2017) Adelaide Showgrounds Goodwood, South Australia
A Boutique Life (November 19, 2017) Blackfriars Gallery Prospect, South Australia Stella Gallery (permanent artist) Broadbeach Drive Maslin Beach, South Australia
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MUSIC|STORY
boxes when it comes to finding an album which listeners can vibe to, on every song. SZA defined her style as being “girl next door chic”. SZA’s hair became a point of interest during the early stages of her career and she openly talked about it in interviews with VOGUE and Harper’s Bazaar. During performances, SZA tends to wear “free-flowing” clothes that are easy to move and has been known to wear pajamas onstage in order to execute her vocals and enhance her performance. SZA has also written songs for Rihanna’s latest studio album “Anti”. The Caribbean influenced song “Consideration” was co-written by SZA and features her vocals on the chorus. Photograph courtesy of RCA Records
S
SZA
by K.ESS
olana Imani Rowe, better known as SZA (pronounced “Sizza”) is an American R’n’B singer/songwriter born in St Louis, Missouri.
She started her journey recording songs with her brother, also a rapper known as Manhattan, who had always encouraged her to sing and write. At the time, she expressed that she was more interested in gymnastics, dancing and athletics, rather than becoming a recording artist. In 2013, SZA was discovered and signed by Top Dawg Entertainment, where she released “Z”, her debut EP in April 2014. She recently dropped her first album “Ctrl” in June 2017 and became the talk of the town everywhere. Her sound is unique, from the way she pronounces her words, to her flow – her sound was like nothing fans had heard before. Lyrically, she is relatable writing about heartbreak; the social pressures as a woman of having to look a certain way; emotional pain; and the struggles of finding yourself as a young person. Influenced by old school R’n’B, SZA’s sound is induced by experimental R’n’B. She certainly checks all the
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With collaborations with artists such as Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, and Isaiah Rashad; SZA continues to wow us with the big moves she is making in such a short amount of time. Well-known artists such as Pharrell, Jay-Z and Rihanna have all expressed how talented they believe SZA to be, and would love to work with her. SZA has mentioned she would also like to dabble in production and even direct films in the near future. Only time will tell what she comes up with on the big screen. This woman of many talents has a soulful yet haunting voice and a beautiful outlook on life. With her strong beliefs in Islam and her openbook type personality, it is understandable why fans have grown to love and respect her. SZA is back touring the United States all through December 2017. Check out the dates via www.szactrl.com/tour. Also have a play on her interactive website at szactrl.com for some SZA fun.
K.ESS is a music writer and contributor for MANUKA and also an artist in Melbourne, Australia. FOLLOW: @I.AM.K.ESS
MUSIC|REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS
BY K.ESS
WILDHEART MIGUEL
H.E.R VOL. 1 H.E.R
I have been so excited to write this review as I’ve been a fan of Miguel from day one. He possesses such a unique aura about him that you simply cannot ignore. Amongst his genius talents for writing/composing his own songs, he displays such a cool and funky style in the way he dresses and carries himself. A charm I’m sure many women cannot resist.
Everyone loves an artist who says whatever we are thinking… right? Pair that up with a voice so smooth that she makes butter seem like cheese. (Get it? Because cheese is hard. Was that too cheesy?) …and we are off to R&B heaven and floating on clouds of her sensual vibrato. I could die a happy woman and say R&B is finally back!
Miguel is quite simply a piece of stunning ART work himself. Nothing short of iconic. Listening to “Wildheart” was so thrilling because you just didn’t know what to expect from each song. This was such an eclectic album. I heard influences of rock, pop, soul and even dance in there, so how could anyone not love Miguel? He gives us a piece of everything in his music, whilst grabbing our hearts and souls with his intense and intelligent lyrics.
Listening to this album was such a walk in the park for me (in a good way of course). Such an easy listen. The feeling I get listening to “Losing”, “Focus”, “Jungle” and pretty much every other song on VOL 1 leaves me singing along like they were all meant to be MY songs personally and I’m left wondering why on earth she is so relatable!?
I can tell he put so much of himself into this album. One of my favorite songs was “What’s normal anyway?”, where Miguel speaks on the challenges he has faced being bi-racial and feeling like he could never fit in anywhere. Being bi-racial myself, I really related to this song as I have faced similar challenges. “Coffee” was my alarm for a while. Usually I get tired of my alarm songs and grow to hate them due to not being a morning person, although “Coffee” made me feel amazing whenever I woke up due to Miguel’s relaxing and sensual voice. Of course, the topic of “Coffee” would wake anyone up! “Simple things” was also a beautiful song as it addressed all the smaller things in life we should be grateful for. It is the type of song you listen to and appreciate what you have in the people close to you. Something about the way Miguel has pieced his words together in this song will make you feel very thankful and aware of your surroundings. Miguel never fails to impress me when it comes to music. He has always stuck to his guns and being himself and any artist that does this will always win my heart! Great Album Miguel! God Bless your beautiful individuality.
This charming songstress is only 20 years old with the voice of our generation. She knows a little something about ‘guys’ and knows exactly what we women go through and the dilemmas we face! It’s no surprise that she puts me in my feelings real quick. I absolutely love her mysterious concept of not showing her face! This enticed me to want to learn so much more about H.E.R. I found it so intriguing that she wanted to remain physically private, yet have the whole world listen to just her voice. Such a smart woman! She really does have the right idea when it comes to her brand. The amount of times I have googled her name or stalked her Instagram (shhhh) I promise I’m normal… is exactly the outcome of what a well thought brand demands. It simply works! I just want to know everything about H.E.R. and the mystery keeps playing in my mind like a broken record… WHO IS SHE?! And so there it goes… H.E.R. is damn sassy and oh so damn classy. I love her lyrics, her flow, her style and how effortlessly cool she seems to be. Get at me H.E.R. We should go out for a few drinks one day and talk about how boys be acting and our feelings? Or not? LOL! Get at me!
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