Sloane Magazine

Young Talent

ISSUE 0

Young Talent

EDITOR'S LETTER Welcome to Sloane Magazine’s preview issue.

Think of Sloane as a celebration of art, lifestyle and beautiful people, inside and out. Issue 0 is conceived as a celebration to the Sloane team, a pilot episode to showcase the numerous talents of the people that have made this magazine possible.

Glide your fantasies through Scarlett Casciello’s film aesthetic, or Oliver Sutton’s outstanding way to capture a moment of perfection. Dream while staring at Hayley McDonald’s splashing use of colour or George Hunt’s attention to detail.

Sloane Magazine is a place where one can discover new fascinating things, such as Amber Carpenter’s haunting poems, or Scott Mason’s creative art, but also events that are happening around us that are worth sharing, like Jean Paul Gaultier’s beautiful exhibition in London.

Think of Sloane as your ultimate guilty pleasure, a celebration of imagery and advice on fashion and a lifestyle that is often stereotyped and misunderstood.

Sloane is exclusive and friendly, a success that is dictated by the team effort of its creators and readers.

I welcome you to the Sloane family.

My name is Michael Sarais and I will be your guide and voice through this

journey of “Young Talent”.

Michael Sarais

Contents Editor’s Letter A Boy Named Sue

By Scarlett Casciello

Scarlett Casciello Painted By Numbers

By Scott Mason

The Sartorialist

By Hayley McDonald

A South African Tale

By Oliver Sutton

Oliver Sutton Growing Pains

By George Hunt

Shield Your Shoes Man, I Feel Like a Woman Nordic Design It’s London’s Time To Go Gaultier How To Survive Ikea and Its Hellspawn Concept

Scent-imental

Do You Want To Be on Top? Someday the Dream Will End

Amber Carpenter Autumn Reawakening Miscarriage

Jamie Philip Knights shot by Jose Cuevas

A BOY NAMED

SUE BY SCARLETT CASCIELLO

SCARLETT CASCIELLO Whoever said today’s generation does not have the talent of the big artists of the past, should really choke on their scones, as British-Italian fashion photographer Scarlett Casciello is ready to take the fashion world by storm.

When I first envisioned this interview, I thought of labelling Scarlett’s skills under ‘Young talent’, but really, after a quick glimpse of Miss Casciello’s work, one can quickly realise the word ‘young’ is inappropriate and reductive. Her portfolio has the look of that of a professional photographer whose work has been sponsored by great magazines such as Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. She is about to graduate in Fashion Photography at Falmouth University and she is ready to charm the world with her unique style and vision of fashion.

Scarlett is loud and warm, like you’d expect an Italian girl to be, but she is also poised and conscious of her work. The compliments do not affect her persona and she stays grounded and true to herself. I met Scarlett during an internship at Schön! Magazine, and I have admired and followed her work ever since, hoping to one day work together and share her magic with the world.

When did you first realise you wanted to become a photographer?

I have always taken photos of everything since I was really young I would bring a disposable on trips with my family and take pictures of what I saw. Six years ago I started shooting film properly and studying photography and from then on it became the thing I do!

How did you approach your passion?

I started specialising in mainly fashion photography when I started it as a degree, before that I always

shot people but in a more documentary way, I documented body builders and things like that, but then having always loved fashion I took a chance on the more specific path of photography for a degree and it happened like that!

Who are the absolute best photographers according to you?

My favourite photographers are Laurie Bartley and Yelena Yemchuck. They have the ability to create the life and energy of a film within a still, which I feel is something really unique and beautiful; they both have a very cinematic aesthetic. Laurie Bartley’s lighting and framing is definitely something to be admired in a photographer!

How would you describe your photographic style?

I would say I like to do something quite similar, I like to try and create a film-like narrative with this element of voyeurism as well. My style is mainly based around creating cinematic fashion scenes within strange locations.

What makes a perfect shooting day?

A perfect shooting day is always smooth when there’s a lot of planning and prep beforehand so there’s no stress, a fun model who’s easy to work with and is open to whatever ridiculous scenario you might put them in and having friends as assistants tends to make perfect shoots!

What is a famous ad campaign brand that you would like to shoot your own way? And what would that look like?

I would love to shoot Moschino’s latest McDonalds inspired collection; I think I would love to shoot it with fabulous Moschino girls trekking through the desert gripping onto their chip bags and trays or something, it would be such a fun collection to work with!

Where do you find inspiration to shoot your fashion stories?

My inspiration will usually come from locations and my surroundings. Sometimes I get inspired by a model, when I cast my own models I can sometimes create a whole shoot based around the type of look he or she has.

What are the most challenging bits of being an artist?

I think most people involved in any type of art would agree the most challenging part is feeling like you’re not good enough, believing in your work all the time can be easier said then done but they’re always good challenges that I think should make you better in the long run.

You are an incredible backstage photographer. Do you enjoy more capturing real-life moments or do you much rather stage a photoshoot?

My backstage work is something I love doing but it’s quite different to creating editorials, sometimes I get more excited than editorials by catching the candid shots that can’t be created or re-created again through backstage photography, but the most rewarding thing for me is having a concept and making it happen through an editorial.

This year took you to the runways in Paris and Beijing, what are your plans for the rest of 2014?

I’m graduating this summer but my plans are a bit all over the place. I really want to break into the Chinese fashion scene and try and become the go-to fashion photographer out there, I think it’s going to take a lot of hard work as I don’t think many people are doing it yet but I love Chinese cities like Beijing and feel so inspired when I’m there so I have to move out there and give it a shot.

What are some of the models you would like to work with?

My dream model to work with would be Lindsey Wixson, I have a girl crush on her and don’t think she’s ever photographed badly! Also Kate Bogucharskaia and Xiao Wen Ju have amazing faces too, I think I would photograph them all in very different ways.

What else do you enjoy doing other than photography?

I’m a bit of a hoarder/bargain hunter… so when I’m not doing shoots I tend to go to car boot sales or charity shops and become a crazy bag lady!

You can glide through Scarlett’s work within the pages of Sloane Magazine, but if you would like to see more, visit www.scarlettcasciello.com.

Words | Michael Sarais Photograph | Sradha Garbuja

BY SCOTT MASON

THE SARTORIALIST A CELEBRATION OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION

BY

HAYLEY MCDONALD

A SOUTH AFRICAN TALE BY

OLIVER SUTTON

OLIVER SUTTON Not many photographers can claim to be more handsome than the subjects they capture on lens, but South-African Oliver Sutton is as strikingly attractive as his work with photography. His aesthetic and appreciation for the human body is outstanding, his perfectionism is remarkable and to work with him is truly fascinating, but mostly, really fun.

Meeting Oliver for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. When you approach a shooting day, you never know what the photographer is going to be like. There are several who like to be in their own world, not liking to speak more than necessary and often times making more demands than the divas they are shooting. Oliver Sutton kills the stereotype with such friendly warmth and contagious energy that a typical Londoner might question his full sanity. Each photo shoot is an adventure that he shares with each and every person who contributes to make that idea a tangible print; no matter the role, there are no secondary characters in his vision, and the bonding amongst the team is crucial to create art. We managed to sneak into Oliver Sutton’s busy schedule and to get a glimpse of his creative process and his personal thought process when it comes to his work and life.

Oliver lives between London and South Africa, two completely different worlds that have shaped and inspired his character today. “I am blessed to have gone to the Rudolf Steiner School, which taught equality, creativity and freedom of thought. We were outdoors a lot and there was neither prejudice nor discrimination regarding race,” he explains.

“South Africa is a beautiful country with a lot of space available and much adventure to be

had. In my youth it was relatively safe to walk alone as a kid, and my friends and I used to explore the town. There was very little hyped media and no McDonald’s. We were behind in everything which kept innocence to our youth.

South Africa is rather conservative regarding fashion and things in general and because of our distance to the ‘modern world’ things were very difficult to obtain. I still long for space and because of my schooling I search for equality. I have seen a large number of working class with little or no benefits.”

Oliver attended a graphic design course quickly after finishing school. “I really wanted to go to fine art school but it was too expensive,” he reveals. “During the course we had a single lesson of photography. I learned about depth of field that day and immediately went to borrow my friend’s 35mm and bought a roll of bulk loading film with all the money I had. That was the beginning.” Showing that passion is the best resource in life, Oliver started experimenting with his photography. “My friend and I were very creative; using candlelight, neighbours, friends, my sisters, excursions, the forest and ourselves, we shot through a lot of that bulk film in a short while.” He adds: “I lived in the darkroom at my school several days a week for almost a year. One of the only gifts I received from my dad was his trusty Canon FTB and it acquainted me with light by experience.

I could guess the light readings because of that camera. Also my mum had a casting agency for characters, kids and TVC models. She needed photos of her talents and I, of course, learned to work with people and shoot all types in often difficult conditions.”

As Oliver has grown an interest for fashion photography only a few years back, his passion for photography was ignited by the work of the late Martin Munkacsi for his sense of rhythm and his pioneering ability to capture motion emotionally. Just like his own work, Oliver Sutton also appreciates simplicity and innocence, portraits and early photography. “I love Viviane Sassen’s imagination and graphic element and her use of spatial awareness,” he confesses.

“There are just too many other photographers I admire, but to name a few: Ryan McGinley,

my friend Misha Taylor, Mert & Marcus, Inez & Vinoodh, Solve Sundsbo, Paolo Roversi, Sally Mann, Taka Mayumi and Jean-Francois LePage.”

During a photo shoot with Oliver Sutton, it is not unusual to see him jumping around, changing location, finding a new angle or simply just getting the models out of their comfort zone. He would do anything to get the perfect shot and will not move on until he captures it. “It starts with an immediate idea… after a few shots I see it going somewhere and then the potential is obvious.” He adds: “I can shoot an image that feels amazing but is not good enough, so I keep going until I get there. It can be emotional or fun. It can also be a nightmare in making selections as I generally have too many possible images per look, but it is great when the story comes together and I think people appreciate the outcome and allow this process its due.”

One can say that ‘life’ is Oliver’s biggest inspiration and he is not afraid to live it at its fullest.

“I love taking time, avoiding work and working hard. I like honey, open water, analogue recordings and pleasing the hardest to please.”

We are more than honoured to host Oliver’s work within the pages of Sloane. Check the editorial “A South African Tale” and his website www.oliversutton.net.

Words | Michael Sarais Image: Oliver Sutton

GROWING PAINS BY

GEORGE HUNT

Styling By

Daniel Rhone and Sidney Blackburn

Shield your shoes Bring new life to your already experienced foot-companions and spice up your last season’s evergreens to a roaring shiny new pair.

Let’s all pretend that the United Kingdom has an Indian summer that will not allow us to wear our favourite leather brogues because believably is way too hot for our feet. So let’s pretend the end of summer represents for us the moment where we stare at a pile of used, abandoned autumn shoes that just look like beaten puppies left under the rain. We don’t need to remind any man that shoes are the most important piece of our wardrobe (heck, even Sarah Jessica Parker blames her poor posture to cheap, neglected shoes) and unless we are ready to spend a fortune on re-inventing and updating our entire shoe catalogue each year, we have a few tips on how to revive those tired Chelsea boots and loafers.

1

Get hold of a good pair of shoe trees.

We know. Realistically you get home from work and take off your shoes using your feet. It would be considered an accomplishment if you even tried to roughly throw them within the same area range. But there are some things that incredibly damage our shoes, and keeping your footwear stacked on top of another is certainly one of those.

Shoe trees are a much underrated tool in our wardrobe (mostly because they are never included with your shoe purchase and you have to physically make the effort to get hold of them), but they are indeed your shoe savers. They help your leathers to straighten, keep the shape of your foot and ideally they make the job of cleaning them far less tedious.

2

4

5

Actual cleaning time.

No, waiting for the next pouring rain is not a good cleaning method. Unless you have been jumping into paddles or played football in your favourite derby lace-ups, it should only take a cloth damped in warm water and a toothbrush for hard to reach areas. Should the shoes be covered in stains (and if you live in a big polluted city, we hear you), you can add a few drops of lemon or vinegar in lukewarm water.

3

Shoe Grease.

This is more of an intermediate-skippable step, but if your shoes are made of tough leather, shoe grease will help with the polishing. If that was not the case, step 4 will do the trick just fine.

Cover your shoe’s sorrows in vivacious polish.

Apply the (high quality) cream with an applicator brush, wait a few minutes, brush and polish with a dry cloth (not the same one you’ve used to clean them previously). You should be able to see your satisfied reflection on the show itself, should you not see this, you are just not doing it right.

Repeat with every pair until you are under the impression to own a Mr. Hare shop and not a vintage mess.

To optimize time (as your shoes must now dry up), it is advisable to start with another pair and pray that it will not rain the moment you step outside.

Words | Michael Sarais Illustrations | Hayley McDonald

MAN, I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN Who says we should follow gender trends that designers have chosen for us? What if we are over the tones of blue and would much rather have a bit of sparkle? Sloane paves the way to help you find the quickest way to embrace female trends from the runway.

Fashion is art, creativity and expression, a true extension of someone’s inner self. Fashion is ageless, timeless, and mostly, genderless. It has been a few decades that women look for inspiration through borrowing (stealing…?) garments and accessories from the male wardrobe, creating the “boyfriend” style. From the classic oversized white shirt to the deconstructed blazer, women have added a wide range of new items into their already infinite choice of outfits. Oxford shoes and bowties have added a sense of masculinity that translates into a confident woman. Sloane is all about gender equality, and has looked into the most fascinating trends of Autumn

/ Winter 2014-15 to find something that us boys can steal from the women’s runway shows. Female fashion is revisited, analysed and worn in masculine key.

ANIMALESQUE It can be luxurious, provocative and even bon ton, animal print will be again a great deal of the Autumn / Winter 2014-2015 season. Live it through colourful mini dresses by Just Cavalli or an evergreen Carven cropped coat, the animal print is often times one of the most feminine trends, very difficult to incorporate into our wardrobes, as leopard and zebra patterns are often times associated with cougars (as in ‘vivacious over-40 women’, not the endangered felines) and not necessarily with men. The animalier will be the main protagonist of the cold season. Girlfriends will be rocking it through furs (extra points if faux), savage mini-dresses and small leather accessories.

For us lovers of the daring it will definitely be the new black, as mens’ collections offer numerous suggestions on how to embrace the wild side. Mark McNairy New Amsterdam, Paul Smith’s outerwear, Roberto Cavalli and Saint Laurent are just a few designers who will bring a roar to our outfits.

A jungle touch on ties jackets and shoes for the more reserved, or a total print look for the more audacious, we do not judge. Harry Styles mixed a Burberry Prorsum T-shirt with a plain black jacket, ripped jeans and boots. Kanye West matched his Givenchy jacket with light jeans and T-shirt and Sloane favourite Brad Goreski rocked a leopard Givenchy

bomber to break the sobriety of the average tuxedo.

LIKE A PRINCE With the animation cult Frozen and television shows such as Once Upon a Time and Grimm, it is inevitable to notice how much we have fallen into the fairytale world. With Dolce & Gabbana’s Once Upon a Time in Sicily, Autumn / Winter 2014-15 is dreamy.

Furs, capes, woodland creatures embroidered on garments, knights in silver shining armours and beautiful crowns set the mood for a voyage through magic and adventure. An excuse for all girls to feel like romantic princesses in a modern world fable,

also becomes a new look for men who wish to feel regal and poised. Many would feel like royalty with a structured Balmain jacket or a burgundy cape matched with precious jewelled loafers.

Stella Jean offers the idea of a royal man, elegant and sophisticated. With her Autumn / Winter collection she ironically shakes the hierarchical orders: the dandy wears African prints in true classic style and the London gentleman wears modern textures.

Dolce & Gabbana, Moncler Gamme Bleu, Valentino and Versace also have included a touch of royalty that is elegant and sophisticated. Oozing confidence and elegance is what makes a true dandy.

FLOWER POWER “Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.”

When Miranda Priestly heard flowers and Spring in the same sentence, she was not impressed at all. We all love a piece of nature on our clothes, so why stop with Spring? Blossoming throughout the designer

wardrobes of Autumn / Winter 2014-15, flowers will invade dresses of all lengths, bringing colour and vibrancy to the dark tones. John Rocha used 3D appliques on chiffon, A l b e r t a Ferretti donned her outerwear with shy roses t h ro u g h o u t g o l d embroider y.

A typical feminine p a t t e r n (often times found on our grandma’s sofa), can become glamorous and sexy for confident and audacious men. Just like stripes, polka dots and many other patterns, floral prints have a spot in mens’ collections and contribute to allure both genders. Burberry Prorsum is streestyle-chic, Dior Homme is romantic, Jean Paul Gaultier handpaints flowers on a bomber jacket and Paul Smith goes tropically original. Ostentatious and proud, the Sloane man should showcase their flowers on socks, shirts, shoes, ties and even outerwear. John Cho, Kanye West in Phillip Lim and Pharrell Williams all have offered a different take on how to wear florals in a masculine way. Flowers are girls’ favourites, but they make our men cool and breezy.

GOLDEN DREAM Gold will definitely be parading into the cold season, by itself or to complement a more classic black. Clean and sexy, gold splashes into wool, metallic and lace.

Diane von Furstenberg is gold sensual and Burberry Prorsum is golden see-through.

Gold is typically associated with night life and holiday season, a perfect choice to shine at a Christmas dinner or stand out at an exclusive New Year’s Eve party matching perfectly the brilliance of wrapped presents. But gold is also reserved as a fancy option for guys, and they get to taste a slice of the golden pie too. Pharrell Williams in the Blurred Lines video wears a golden tracksuit and the always stylish Jared Leto rocked some serious gold during the Oscars

2014. Asos and Topman also offer low-cost options for the more spending-conscious men out there.

One way or another this winter will be a shower of gold (insert inappropriate laugh here) into all of our wardrobes.

CAPE TOWN Long or super short, capes will be the outerwear of choice for next season. Sportsmax’s rigid coat or minimal like Burberry Prorsum are the ones to copy. If you’re into Ugly Betty’s colourful style, you can opt for a fun option with Moschino. Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino have mastered the art of the romantic garment.

Wrapping and elegant for women, it becomes an item of class on men who want to feel like true Lords, by replacing a dull petticoat with a warm poncho.

Also works for nerdy men who want to feel like superheroes! Examples of the trend can be found in 3.1 Phillip Lim, Moncler Gamme Bleu, Philipp Plein, Roberto Cavalli and Valentino.

COLLEGE BOYS Tartan, typically Scottish, is constantly reinterpreted and contaminated by new trends and colour palettes.

The next cold season will be the background for this striking evergreen to sparkle as protagonist of style.

Polo Ralph Lauren took inspiration from an East London street style and created skirts and bombers, Dior used a sophisticated soft shape for a feminine dress. Not only college skirts, but also dresses, suits, coats and accessories. The famous pattern also rules on our mens’ collections, with Alexander McQueen’s full suit with kilt, Bottega Veneta and Carven’s coats and Ermanno Scervino with his total tartan looks.

Philipp Plein and Saint Laurent also keep tartan for their next season and decorated their classic jackets.

Words | Eleonora Garau Images | Getty Images

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Nordic Design Scandinavia is very well known for their minimalist approach to design and attention to detail. Sure, we know brands like & Other Stories, Acne and Cos, but Scandinavia has a few more brands that can make an excellent addition into our wardrobe.

During one of our expeditions to Stockholm, Sweden, we have noticed that the frosty city is not being called ‘the next fashion capital’ for no reason. Designer stores have blossomed throughout the fancy Östermalmstorg and more vintage and independent brands have taken over Södermalm, the hipster part of Stockholm.

Many designer brands are now well known in the rest of the world, such as Acne Studios and Tiger of Sweden, but during our Stockholm takeover, we have stumbled upon numerous brands which just haven’t fully made their mark outside Scandinavia (making them much more appealing to us). Sloane explored a few of these concept stores and explored their brand history.

HOPE Hope’s men’s collection in Stockholm is what we would imagine “& Other Stories” if they had a male section. It is modern, fun and luxurious.

Inspired by military designs, H o p e targets

Hope Spring Summer 2014

the affluent, yet cool youngsters of Scandinavia, mixing simple designs while twisting normal conventions of fashion. There are three Hope stores in Stockholm, showcasing the alternative, classy and casual styles that define the brand.

The stores are very conceptual and reflect the look of the brand: clean, minimal and spacious, all qualities that are incorporated in each design of their collection.

SAND The design of the Danish Fashion house SAND is driven by passion, creativity and innovation.

What started in the 80 ́s, until today grew into an international fashion brand. Cool Scandinavian silhouettes combined with southern European charm to maintain its provocative, sophisticated focus – SAND creates clothes for the way world citizens think, work and live. With these simple, yet to-the-point affirmations, SAND is easily a brand that can stand against the likes of PS by Paul Smith and Kriss Van Assche.

The idea behind the brand is to create a fine balance between the sophisticated neoclassic and the twisted quirkiness. The brand aims to set a standard for quality and comfort within a new lifestyle created by the brand itself. The mens’ collection splits into the refined Red Carpet, the formal Black Label and the preppy Pink Label.

Everything is designed in Italy, in a beautiful historical building overlooking Lake Como, and with the aid of luxurious Italian fabrics and Danish expertise in design, SAND has most definitely a garment worth adding into our closets.

NICOLAJ D’ETOILES There is a strong connection to history of fashion within Nikolaj D’étoiles’ designs. He believes the journey of humanity is a constant change, yet so defined by the costumes of each age and time.

Designer Nicolaj D’étoiles is inspired by different expressions of cut, colour and quality and is bounded to an illustrious passion for quality.

The brand constantly reinvents each season, by creating pieces that are perfectly contemporary but at the same time embrace the past and pay homage to the fashion of the past.

We first found the brand at the newly opened concept store Volt, which gathers together casual, contemporary and formal brands. Nikolaj by Nikolaj D’étoiles is their diffusion line, which still uses high quality fabrics with more affordable prices.

All about layers and character, Samsøe & Samsøe is luxurious, yet affordable, and with no doubt shake the boredom out of a dull wardrobe.

THESE GLORY DAYS These Glory Days is created

by Mr. Magnus Beckman. His interest for fashion began in his childhood as his grandfather, Lennart, was an employee at the famous NK department store in Stockholm, and introduced him to the classical look of a true gentleman.

The These Glory Days customers are gentlemen who appreciate design, fit & details, like his grandfather did.

The collection is very wearable and very hard to target to a specific age group. It can be described as having an “older” charm with modern cuts.

Definitely something our WestLondoners will appreciate.

WHYRED According to the official description of the brand, SAMSØE SAMSØE Whyred is Heritage, Contrasts The identity of Samsøe and Arts, Music and Tailoring. & Samsøe is based upon It is characterized by heritage unique and recognizable in terms of being inspired Scandinavian fashion by uniforms, chinos, classic design.

T-shirts and the parka. These The ambition is to pieces have grown to become continuously develop the brand’s signature pieces and attractive, market-oriented are called HEROES. and international design Whyred loves to play with supported by the best conventions and ignore the essentials. They have a high obvious. A typical example passion for what they do would be a parka over a tailored and they believe in their suit as a way to create new creative ideas which reflect expressions and new definitions their work efforts. of the unexpected.

Samsøe & Samsøe has a Whyred’s roots go back to art very distinctive look. Born and music, and play a pivotal in Copenhagen, the brand role into the making of the Nikolaj D’Etoiles SS 2014 is very popular in the rest brand. of Scandinavia, by producing simple designs that reflect the look and the core ideals of their customers.

Words | Michael Sarais Images | Hope.com NikolajdEtoiles.com

It's London's Turn to go Gaultier Jean Paul Gaultier’s fierce exhibition has opened its doors to the stylish people of London after gathering enthusiastic reviews in cities like Dallas, San Francisco, Madrid, Rotterdam and Stockholm.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Side Walk to the Catwalk is not just an exhibition of 165 selected garments from the infamous enfant terrible’s haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, but also a careful in-depth study of culture and society of the twentieth century. Before adventuring into the majestic installation which unravels on two floors by combining a succession of dresses, photographs, videos and talking mannequins, we had a brief exchange of words with Thierry-Maxime Loriot, curator of the exhibition.

How would you describe your experience so far?

So exciting! It was a dream of mine to work for an exhibition dedicated to a talented designer such as Jean-Paul. When the project first started taking shape I did not expect it to grow to such a huge dimension or that we would have travelled the world with it. I’ve always admired Gaultier’s work, because it oozes an important message within. For instance, there is a room dedicated to all of his muses and you can find there people of multiple races, gender, age and shape, from Dita Von Teese to Beth Ditto, from Andrej Pejic to Farida Khelfa, only to mention a few.

How does London compare to the previous cities the collection has been to?

In each city we travel to we try to create a different look for our exhibition, and this time in London we have truly gone out of our way to make it the most memorable. We have added a Jean-Paul puppet and some of the most extraordinarily dramatic wigs;

almost like an haute couture of huge hair-dos, all patiently styled by Odile Gilbert.

What is your favourite section of the exhibition and why?

I believe the area dedicated to punk channels the original allure of Gaultier’s career beginnings.

Londoners will truly find themselves in here. Each time I enter the room I find myself transported back in 1970, with the sassy transgression and that odd feeling of belonging to a group with the same mindset. Certainly this was one of his most emblematic collections, although the garments’ placement is not arranged by year, but by theme or, as we call them, Gaultier’s obsessions and passions.

I call him “pop couturier”, because all of his inspiration is drawn from daily reality and social styles like punk and dandy, often mixed to create a new original take. Jean-Paul has a special vision of fashion and his creations truly project tolerance and a general idea of individuality.

Jean-Paul Gaultier himself was slightly skeptical to the idea of putting together an art gallery of his creations. He said he did not like cemeteries and museums are often times the death of those poor dresses. But he also knew that when Nathalie Bondil and I presented our idea to him, our approach was way different. It was more of an exceptional contemporary installation.

As soon as you walk into the gallery, you can easily tell that this is not your average designer exhibition, but rather an authentic triumph of Gaultier’s deep

artistic view of society. “Your fantasy must always stimulate and touch the viewer’s senses”, mentioned the French designer.

Walking through the gallery is like adventuring into the creative genius of Gaultier. A constant mixing of historic allusions, real life events, popular culture and intense sensitivity create a range of designs that incorporate Gaultier’s view of the world into beautiful works of art. During The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Side Walk to the Catwalk one can expect to see the famous ‘pointy bra’, the various corsets worn by Madonna and, more recently, Kylie Minogue, but also numerous costumes designed for Pedro Almodovar’s films.

As inspiration is also drawn from the various films that have filled Gaultier’s teenage years, numerous videos are played throughout the museum. My Beautiful Launderette, his favourite, or The Rocky Horror Picture Show are just some of cinema’s finest works featured in the installation and also served as major inspiration for Gaultier’s first collections. The haunting collaborations with David LaChapelle and Peter Lindberg also make an appearance, along with some with musicians David Bowie and The Who. An interesting often unknown part of Gaultier’s past is his TV show Eurotrash, co-hosted by Antonie de Caunes, who pushed the designer to shoot his own personal music video How to Do That.

Another theme strongly connected to JeanPaul Gaultier’s childhood is “Skin Deep”, the part dedicated to bondage: underwear becomes a garment to be shown and not to be hidden.

Feminine fabrics such as silk, lace and drapes lose the historical reclusion significance and become an emblem of female freedom. Obviously one cannot miss the iconic designs with sailor-like stripes, a typical representation of Gaultier’s image and main attraction of the gallery section called The Odyssey of Jean-Paul Gaultier. The stripes were used to challenge the idea of stripes representing a male icon, up until the French designer launched a female version.

The exhibition is not only a great homage to the brilliant fashion genius of the twentieth century, but mostly a tribute to the people that have contributed to the artist’s success. It tells the biography of the designer through his experiences, his passions and his ideas, all mixed with humour and irony. “I have made my first collection with no money whatsoever”, explains Gaultier during his press release. “If you are passionate about what you do, if you are constantly thinking about it, you just cannot fail. But if you start with the idea of wanting to become famous, it becomes greatly harder. There are many ways to become famous, but your attitude towards your passion is unique, and if you stay true to it, it will give you much more important accomplishments”.

The gallery can be visited until the 25th of August and will be accompanied by multiple events organised by Gaultier himself. Not to be missed.

Check the website www.barbican.org for more information Words | Michael Sarais Image | Barbican

SCENT- IMENTAL Being a man can be challenging. Chances are you are not very vocal about what things you would like to receive on birthdays or Christmas. Each time someone decides to buy a present for a guy, there are only a few options that come at the top of the list are either ties, cufflinks, socks and the evergreen aftershave pressie. As no one likes to receive cologne that is not their scent of choice, we have compiled a list of the new hot fragrances of 2014, so you can make your silly friends’ job easier and you can end up with something you might actually like.

The Sound of Perfume It is well known that celebrities have a weak spot for the world of beauty, and musicians are no exception. Maroon 5’s Adam Levine launched 222, his first fragrance, described as fruity and spicy with notes of wood. People declared the singer sexiest man of 2013, maybe thanks to his personal scent as well?

Rapper, producer and entrepreneur Jay-Z could just not miss the fragrance party with a bottle of cologne of his own. Gold, available in the United States exclusively, has made quite a name for itself: notes of grapefruit, ginger, blueberry and cardamom leave room to a strong scent of vetiver, pink pepper and lavender, just to close the experience with a mix of wood, amber and vanilla. Was Mr. Carter as fussy as his infamous diva companion? In order to fully impress the rapper, rumour has it took over three thousand attempts.

Brit Rhythm includes the energy and adrenaline of a live rock concert. The new fragrance by Burberry is the ultimate summer scent.

Electrifying starting notes of vervain, basil and juniper berries open the doors to a main act of black leather, benzoin and patchouli. A sensual conclusion of cedar and incense undertones gives the scent a vibrant ending to a concert of emotions. If you are looking for a rock star-worthy aroma, this is

the fragrance for you.

Haute Couture Fragrances Demanding, modern and confident: it is all about the man made to measure, main protagonist of the new fragrance by Frida Giannini for Gucci.

Inspired by the homonym line of bespoke suits made by the maison, the scent is oriental, intense and spicy, including rare ingredients gathered from all over the world.

Bleu de Chanel is not just a fragrance: its story is told as a true theatrical piece. Jacques Polge is the story teller of this haunting screenplay. He gives life to an elegant character, enigmatic in his actions and free to be. Act one is a splash of freshness made of citruses, vetiver and pink peppercorn. Act two is energetic and fizzy, with the help of grapefruit, cedar and labdanum. The grand finale is seductive and intense, thanks to sandalwood and ginger. We live for this applause.

From leather goods to cologne: Bottega Veneta Pour Homme is a winter trip to the Dolomites. The scent brings you to a walk into the forest with its scent recalling fresh pinecones and wooden benches.

Salvatore Ferragamo presents a

hymn to Tuscany, its breathtaking scenery and fresh breeze, its artistic beauty and its excellence. His fragrance Tuscan Soul Quintessential Collection is a limited edition gathering of four different odour experiences. Noteworthy are Bianco di Carrara, flowery and sweet, and Vendemmia, woody and ravishing.

Freshness and intensity It cannot be drunk, but the Eau de Toilette Cèdre & Orange by L’Occitane En Provence would probably taste of citrus and wood berries. The orange notes are wrapped in elegant and distinctive cedar wood, finally warmed by musk and vetiver. The iconic bamboo branch by Kenzo has gone through a modern indigo makeover for the bottle of the brand new fragrance Kenzo Homme Night. At first glance, the appearance of grapefruit and cardamom vibrate and give a hearty welcome to geranium, sagebrush and mango. It ends with a sexy and resolute firework of sensations with vetiver and wood.

The idea of nature and a general sense of wellness that goes through the human body: Hortus by QC Terme is a unisex eau de toilette in which the citrus notes slowly fade up until white musk, orange blossom, almond and juniper make a decisive appearance.

The whole process of making the scent of Paco Rabanne: Invictus took nearly three years and the impactful help of Olivier Polge. The average olfactory pyramid is replaced by an unusual dual-sided composition: a game between sensuality (patchouli, grey amber and guaiac wood) and freshness (seaweed, grapefruit and laurel leaves).

Finally a total black bottle with a bright red logo: CK

One Red Edition opens up with its juicy pear puree and later intensifies with fresh notes of ginger. Musk and vetiver wrap the whole experience, giving life to a decisive voluptuous fragrance.

Armani Code is also a main character with his woody, citrusy and persistent scent. It comes back to surprise us with a new hot brand ambassador, Chris Pine.

Arabian Nights Ironic, playful and provoking: Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier is almost twenty years old, but still stays incredibly modern, now more than ever with its new precious addition of an anchor charm.

Positive energy at its best, Zen by Shiseido is the eau de toilette that unveils the masculine force of every man; within the heart of the fragrance violet and rhododendron fuse into sweetness and virility, for a man who is not afraid to show his most intimate side, classy and sensitive.

After a long and passionate search, Tom Ford dedicated himself to one of the most fascinating ingredients that can be found in the apothecary: agar wood.

The precious scent meets the aromatic tobacco, making a new blend reminding of the “dokha”: the alluring mixture of herbs, flowers, spices and tobacco secretly smoked over five centuries ago, back when smoking was banned. The scent also includes coriander, cedar wood, amber, rock rose and leather.

Not just a perfume, but also a true voyage into a foreign land of aromas.

Words | Michael Sarais Images | Courtesy of Harvey Nichols

HOW TO SURVIVE IKEA AND ITS HELL SPAWN CONCEPT

And if Saturday afternoon is your day of choice to make a trip to furniture-land, may the odds ever be in your favour.

It could be said that the concept of losing your mind to save a few pennies on something, applies to just everything that is a business. Going through a sale rack in Zara versus sitting down with a glass of champagne while being comfortably shown a few clothing options at Burberry is a far different experience. That is why we are often faced with multiple dilemmas on buying furniture. If you live in a big city like London, chances are that you will be moving between flats and houses quite often and will be forced into an emergency trip to Ikea.

Ikea is the building that sits right over the Hellmouth; a place where multiple divorce threats take place, a place where is often considered leaving your child in and run for your life, or simply a place where you passive-aggressively listen to your partner say things like: “This lamp would be so lovely in our bedroom”, “Why don’t we make our living room like this?” and “I do not like this table. It’s not big enough, what if we organise a 12-people dinner party?”

Now you just do not know how it happened. It could have been one of those things you jokingly propose like “Oh, we should go up the Shard!” or one of those things you only plan to do once in your lifetime like “We should organise a picnic at Primrose Hill” or simply something you’ve thought about during sex and that now just doesn’t have the same appealing allure. You now need to go to Ikea, heck, you now MUST go to Ikea, and since you are stuck in what is essentially a gay-

pride of colourful bedding prints, you should follow these tips on surviving your trip.

1.

Seems rather silly, but if you can avoid it, do not visit Ikea on a Saturday. Ikea is already a challenging place in terms of founding a modern couple. This is the place where fights, tears and slaps might occur, so do not add hundreds of bored families to this already cruel initiation rite.

2.

Measure. Everything. There are several methods you might think are just as effective as science, “F*ck measuring tapes, I am an idiottechnique” being one of them (YouTube it), but in reality, you cannot even think of buying something because “it will fit”. It won’t, and you will be stuck with that too small TV stand for a good month before you give yourself courage to return it. You also do not want to stare at a half-built wardrobe only to realise it will touch the ceiling way before its full realisation.

3.

Know what you want and stick to that list as much as you can. Surely there are many random items you might want to pick up along the way, such as a set of twelve champagne glasses or broccoli-shaped teddies, but when you will be holding a giant box for a good four flights of stairs, you will be thankful you won’t have to go back down to your car to pick up a bag of frozen meatballs and a pot of flowers.

4.

Use your technology wisely. Not many

know that there are apps that you can download on your phone that will help you go through the endless array of products available at your nearest Ikea. It is not a brilliant idea to do it while you’re there (phone signal doesn’t seem to be the norm at Ikea. Maybe because they want families to split and never find each other. Maybe they just do not want you to do a Facebook check-in), but it is a good idea to see if what you want will be waiting for you at the store. Else, your most important piece of furniture will remain unbought and you will be stuck with a wok pan and some gingerbread (see step 3).

5.

Travel light. You just don’t know how angry you will get at your partner, how often you will have to run from a bathroom to a kitchen, or how often you will just lose the way and question whether you’ve already seen this living room or not. Do not keep coats and bags on. Leave them at the lockers at the entrance. You are here to stay, so do not come in acting like you are going to leave straight away. Ikea is a maze.

6.

Hide your children somewhere safe. This might sound a bit cruel, but there is a playground section where you can leave your children. They will have far more fun and you will be less worried about opening dozens of cupboards to find them.

You cannot, of course, leave them at Smaland for-

ever, so beware of the amount of time it takes you to solve the maze and get out in time to pick up your now-chicken-pox-carrying children.

7.

Eye on the bargain. There is a magical section of the store in which families become troupes of the Hunger Games. This is your true target.

Make sure you make this your first stop. Don’t mind the fact that you might have to make your way through the tills. They cannot arrest you can they?

8.

Finally, reward yourself and stuff some balls in your mouth. You have made it. You have gone through the white route and finished your mission. You are now staring at a trolley full of oversized boxes and random bits that you could not stop your partner from going crazy about. Pick up a tray and go for the largest portion of Swedish meatballs. Drench them in gravy and taste what a victorious day you’ve had. Do not attempt them to make those at home, you will just miserably fail. If you really have to, buy them frozen. But really you don’t have to. You will have forgotten to buy something terribly important and you will be back soon enough.

Words | Michael Sarais

DO YOU WANT TO BE ON TOP? Tyra Banks is about to deliver the 21st cycle of the most famous modelling show in the world. We at Sloane have often disagreed with the final winning choice and have compiled the ultimate list of the true winners of each cycle.

Tyra Banks can easily classify as many gay men’s favourite icon, as she is fierce, smart and hot as hell. Her show America’s Next Top Model is most definitely a milestone in terms of reality TV and modelling contests. The premise of ANTM is fairly simple: a group of aspiring models is thrown into a house, forced to live with each other and battle it out photo shoot after photo shoot to be crowned winner of a potential modelling career.

Everything sounded pretty amazing at first, and the drama just made beautifully executed television drama, but after 20 whole cycles and hundreds of personalities who didn’t exactly become huge supermodels, it is fair to question what the show realistically brings to the fashion industry.

It cannot be denied how America’s Next Top Model still manages to attract viewers from all over the world and we at Sloane are just as addicted as anyone else. As faithful viewers since the beginning we have noticed a singular pattern of never seeing our favourite model win the competition (or almost never) and that is why we have compiled a list of which model should have won each cycle along with a brief explanation of why.

Cycle 1: Elyse Sewell Elise was the perfect underdog of cycle 1. She was witty, sarcastic and very intelligent. She also was very photogenic, although her downfall was admitting an eating disorder, making her a very uncomfortable representation of the program itself.

Cycle 2: Shandi Sullivan One thing that might be clear when reading this list is that we absolutely love an underdog. Better yet if it is a really tall, skinny Avril Lavigne-looking underdog. Shandi probably had the most dramatic transformation within the cycle: she went from tomboy to glamorous model within the space of a few episodes. Also how can we forget the whole debacle when she cheated on her boyfriend?

Cycle 3: YaYa Da Costa For some unknown reason, every time someone mentions the infamous photo shoot with the tarantula, Eva always gets a mention. We know she was terrified, but YaYa’s take on the arachnid was far more beautiful and worthy of a first call-out (pictured in the next page). Even if she did not win the competition, she won in life with acting roles in Ugly Betty and Tron, so who’s laughing now?

Cycle 4: Brittany Brower Brittany was a force of nature. Her charisma and personality helped her through a fierce cycle full of fainting girls and Tyra’s shenanigans. She also shared a great resemblance with then-judge Janice Dickinson and a glorious sex-appeal.

Cycle 5: Kim Stolz Another underdog who got to become a fan favourite and a very photogenic model, Kim was the first LGBT contestant of America’s Next Top Model.

She’s managed to overcome her masculinity and transformed herself into a graceful woman in front of the lens.

Cycle 6: Jade Cole There is a rule in America’s Next Top Model: the bitch never wins. If you truly consider Jade a bitch, then you’re right, she did not deserve to win. But if you, like us, considered her a true work of genius, then she is most definitely the true winner of the cycle. In each episode she offered pearls of wisdom to her model-mates and she managed to take some gorgeous shots, even after being butchered with one of the worst makeovers seen on the show.

Cycle 7: Melrose Bickerstaff With her harsh face features and sparkling personality, there is no doubt Melrose is the robbed winner of cycle 7. She was definitely a model to remember and she always gave her best in challenges that allowed her to showcase her eloquent skills. Unfortunately she suffered from a ‘bitch’ edit, in which she was portrayed as the house-bitch, and as you know by now, bitches never win.

Cycle 8: Brittany Hatch After re-watching cycle 8 of America’s Next Top Model, it is very clear from the beginning that Brittany Hatch was being edited to be the winner

of the cycle. Of course, she had her moments: she was the first white model to receive a weave with her makeover, causing her to break down in tears numerous, numerous times. She also stormed off during a gosee challenge in Australia, in which she pretty much ruined her chances to win the competition. Shame, as she offered one of our favourite shots in the entire ANTM catalogue.

Cycle 9: Heather Kuzmich We feel like there was more to Heather than the program actually got to show to us, as we refuse to believe that a girl who has deliberately come out as having Aspergers and ADHD syndrome can be bullied in such a cruel and unethical way. Apart from the ‘bullied’ token, Heather was a gorgeous model who maybe lacked some confidence, but who has constantly delivered nonetheless. She was not a great spokesperson for CoverGirl, but she would have been a great candidate to show girls all over the world that you can overcome your obstacles and still obtain the career of your dreams. Nice message, huh?

Cycle 10: Katarzyna Dolinska Hands down, one of the best ANTM contestants in history: the Polish Ivy League-graduate Katarzyna,a name which would cause Tyra to constantly stutter and absolutely never pronounce in the right way. Katarzyna had an unbelievable body and facial features, but she suffered from the ‘no-personality’ edit of the show. It is clear that the producers felt like they had to crown a plus-size model to win the competition, so they thought of giving our Kat Doll the only treatment they could think of in order to get rid of her.

Shame. (Better winners also included Fatima Siad or Anya Rozova, but those did not happen either).

Cycle 11: Analeigh Tipton Cycle 11 had an amazing cast of extraordinarily looking women (Lauren Brie being one of the most

Brittany Hatch. Copyright the CW

stand-out ones) and a group of very prominent personalities who often clashed with each other.

Analeigh was definitely the whole package: pretty face, toned body, great hair, lovely girlnext-door appearance and she had one of the cutest friendships ever portrayed in the show. In fact, it is fair to say we would have been happy if either she or Marjorie had won the competition.

No tears, though. Analeigh went on to become a rather successful actress with roles in Crazy, Stupid Love and Warm Bodies.

Cycle 12: Allison Harvard With her remarkable gigantic blue eyes, Allison Harvard is one of the most memorable and favourited models of America’s Next Top Model.

Allison had everything a winner of ANTM should have: a fresh look, a quirky personality and a beautiful friendship with other girls in the house.

Allison was, by a long shot, seen as the winner of the show. Unfortunately she was labelled as no-personality and blamed not to want to win ‘enough’.

Cycle 13: Nicole Fox Nicole actually did win. So, yes, we are happy with her. Well done, Tyra.

Cycle 14: Raina Hein Raina possessed one of the best faces in ANTM history. She was also tall and she had a loud Disney-like personality. She had managed to go all the way until the end, but sadly lost to a much older Krista. Raina’s perfume shot was deemed to be one of the most professional-looking photos that the show had ever seen, granting her a first call-out at panel (also pictured to the right).

Cycle 15: Jane Randall Jane suffered from another cruel ‘no-personality’ edit. Jane was a gorgeous smart girl, but she seemed to be sabotaged by the show’s editing.

During unaired footage, Jane is seen playing with the other girls, making funny jokes, organizing pranks and making sure that her Justin Bieber tickets were safely purchased. She did have a personality, she was just overshadowed by a winner that was decided very early on in the competition.

Cycle 16: Kasia Pilewicz In this timeline, Kasia would have been the first plus-sized model to win the competition. Kasia was incredibly tall and had some very peculiar facial features.

We are not particularly hostile to the idea that Brittani became America’s Next Top Model, we just feel like Kasia had more to offer in terms of diversity of the typical winner.

Allison Harvard. Copyright the CW

Cycle 17: Dominique Reighard This is, of course, if Allison was not participating in this cycle (as in this universe she would have won cycle 12).

Dominique had a glorious transformation between her cycle 10 and 17. Cycle 17 represented the All Stars from previous cycles and managed to put in the same house the huge personalities that have created drama in past seasons. Dominique showed off her post-birth body and she looked as feminine as ever. Her jokes and throws at other girls were definitely a highlight of an otherwise flat cycle.

Definitely a robbed winner.

Cycle 18: Sophie Sumner You just cannot not love Sophie; she was bubbly, British and fabulous. It is not surprising that she actually got to win the competition, so again, Tyra and the judges made the right choice.

Cycle 19: Victoria Henley Cycle 19 was a complete revamp of the show. For the first time fans were able to vote for their favourite models and help them stay in the competition.

Victoria was a true drama queen, but an outcast at the same time. She modelled fiercely throughout the photo shoots and constantly delivered funny remarks on herself and the other girls. Just like Heather from cycle 9, Victoria was quite bullied in the house, and again, her winning would have been a stance against bullying, but it did not happen this time either.

Cycle 20: Cory Hernandez Guys and girls in the same house has always been a cycle requested by fans and Tyra herself. Cory was

the token LGBT model of the house, but he rose against clichĂŠs and showed variety and versatility in his entire portfolio. Cory also suffered from a hint of homophobia by one of the judges, Rob Evans, constantly criticising him for not looking masculine enough. Cory was unfairly eliminated right before the final fashion show and was not given a chance to fight for the win.

It has been 20 incredible cycles of dramatic tears, edgy makeovers and a few falls of the catwalk, but Tyra Banks is ready for a full-fledged Guys & Girls cycle number 2, in which new changes of the format will revamp the classic structure of the program, making it more high fashion and less gimmick-y. Now who wants to be on top?

Words | Michael Sarais Images | Courtesy of the CW

SOMEDAY THE DREAM WILL END And thanks to the newly released Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, that day is not today.

It’s been more than ten years since we have played with Tidus and Yuna in the various locations of Spira. Since then, the world of gaming has changed, but it cannot be denied how many nostalgic fans feel about the older episodes of the Final Fantasy saga. Square Enix has presented us with a remastered collection of the classic Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, originally played on PlayStation 2, and gave us multiple new reasons to restart a pilgrimage full of laughter, danger and tears.

Meet Tidus, the main protagonist of the story; a handsome, blonde and athletic teenager whose world vanishes before his eyes and gets teleported into a new reality and a new era. Final Fantasy X follows Tidus as he embarks on a journey with Yuna, a young aeon summoner whose duty is to collect as many aeons as possible to defeat an evil creature that threatens the world with its destructive force. To do so, she will start a pilgrimage that covers the entirety of the world of Spira, along with her friends and guardians who protect her from monsters and enemies.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster includes the high definition versions of PlayStation 2 games Final Fantasy X and its sequel Final Fantasy X-2, along with a CGI video set in a timeline between the two games, The Eternal Calm, and Last Mission, a new playable level set three months after

the events of Final Fantasy X-2. To appeal even further, the collection includes a new audio drama that follows the events after Last Mission, and gives a further insight into the story since we’ve last played.

In terms of story, Final Fantasy X was the first of its kind to include voice acting within the gameplay. Sure it was not a perfect first attempt, as the sync is most of the time off, and some scenes are just awkward (laughing scene at Luca, anyone?), but it most certainly adds film character to a story that is worthy of a Hollywood award. The graphics of the game have been incredibly improved since we’ve last seen them on PlayStation 2. You can now immerse yourself into a full screen and move smoothly between one location to another. It must be noted, though, that this is not a full remake of the game, but rather a porting from one console to another, in order for a younger generation (or an older nostalgic one) to be able to enjoy the story in their console of preference.

The story of Final Fantasy X hasn’t aged a day; the dynamics and developments of each character make the playthrough so special that you often wonder whether you’re contributing to the story at all or just going from one point to another to progress the film-like tale. There is an attention to plot details that set the bar high for all other videogames that have come after 2001. The game in-

A promotional artwork of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster. Copyright Square Enix

cludes references to politics, religion, racism, and sacrifice and still manages to keep a simple language for the younger players to enjoy.

The score also finds itself updated. The soundtrack composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is ever so majestic.

Even though it has received criticism because of its new sound, the remastered music from Final Fantasy X is what truly makes the game. Since the first notes of the beautiful To Zanarkand, the pensive Someday the Dream Will End and the much more aggressive Battle Theme, Final Fantasy X gifts old fans with a new sound, making it a considerably updated experience of the story.

Even after a decade the story of Tidus and Yuna will most likely jerk a few tears, even if the voice sync is off at most intervals and you have probably seen the ending many times before, Final Fantasy X is still a top-notch episode of the famous Japanese saga.

The remastered collection also includes Final Fantasy X’s sequel, the girlier and less traditional Final Fantasy X-2.

Final Fantasy X-2 was always welcomed with a vast array of critiques for being a big departure

from its prequel. It was the first of its own (as there had never been cases of two Final Fantasy games sharing worlds and characters), but it was its development of beloved characters that felt like a betrayal to many players all over the world.

After the event of Final Fantasy X, Yuna embarks on a journey with Rikku and a new character Paine between the lands of Spira. This voyage is meant to help Yuna reminisce the moments spent during her pilgrimage two years before and follow-up with all the secondary characters that were part of the story back in Final Fantasy X. I was personally a fan of Final Fantasy X-2 exactly for its Charlie’s Angels’ atmosphere and faster pace when it first came out in 2004.

Unfortunately the game did not benefit from a soundtrack update like the main title, but still doesn’t fail to deliver with its original score. This is the first game that saw the departure of longtime fan-favourite composer Nobuo Uematsu and his absence can be heard during most of the locations’ backgrounds. Everything is a lot more J-Pop and the orchestra that has been a warranty in the previous episodes has been replaced by synthesised sounds that perfectly match the lighter feel

of the game. 1000 Words and Eternity do manage to capture the melancholic nature of a few moments in the game, but it cannot be denied that glossy eyes do not show up until the very end of the game.

I n defence of its gameplay it must be pointed out that the style of battle is very different from its predecessor. Final Fantasy X-2 uses the Active Time Battle, a much more dynamic and fast-response way to defeat monster than the (sometimes) obsolete turn battle.

Final Fantasy X-2 also sees the welcoming of new features that were not available to the Western

market when it first came out ten years ago. New dress spheres, a new fiend arena and a new mission that follows the event after the original ending of the game are more than enough reasons for the experienced players to re-live the story of Yuna and co.

Final Fantasy X/X—2 HD Remaster is an optimal buy.

It does deliver in many ways and its one of a kind story is still just as captivating as it was back in PlayStation 2. Give Yuna and Tidus a second (or a first) chance and your PlayStation library won’t be sorry.

THE SLOANE VERDICT

9/10

A CGI cutscene of Final Fantasy X HD Remaster. Copyright Square Enix

Words | Michael Sarais

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AMBER CARPENTER As an English teacher, Amber Carpenter knows a thing or two about language. She claims nothing is more inspiring than seeing her students blossoming with ideas and creativity, yet she has a hard time admitting she is the very entity that pushes them to believe in themselves and to be at their very best. We have decided to share her outstanding work with poetry through the pages of Sloane so that we can all be reminded of the haunting power of the written language.

Autumn Awakening October is a cancer patient, its overt exhaustion begins to persist with each leaf free-falling and crippling against its will – the rope swing is still; it hangs like a noose over muddy waters that wash across my toes, stained red-brown. Currents cool from flesh to bone; minnows swim untainted by change of season.

Sunset takes its final bow earlier than weeks prior, and I – I roll my jeans to my knees and lean against the bark of an oak tree.

Miscarriage tangled red lace bleeds between thighs a tiresome mother feels another loss tender bosom pelvic cramps adamant thrusts of pain to the abdomen a fire-pit for a stomach fits of rage disintegrated strength damaged faith the hourglass broke in half

her

biological clock stopped ticking at 2:21 she snapped the cross necklace from her neck and opened a bottle of bourbon mourning sunlight snuck its way into the bedroom but she sat in abstract shadows the Man upstairs failed to deliver

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ISSUE 1

Revolution Autumn Winter 2014 | 2015

Young Talent