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contributors Carmen Rose, Daniel Paciocco, Mae Taylor using Mac Cosmetics, Barney Gleeson, Belle @ Jaz Daly Management, Christina Kapl, Saskia Hammen @ Shine Agency, Patrick Pendiuk, Melanie Hoppe @ Shine Agency, Caroline Schrรถdl @ Munich Models, Javi Salinas, Loredana Dumitrache, Sandra Valero, Isabella Ching, Que Duong, Kristina E. Taylor, Christiaan Choy, Amber Amos, Seto McCoy, Megan McNally @ Marilyn NY, Tiago
Chediak, Davis Carrasquillo, Kento Utsubo, Yuhi Kim, Marissa Confair, Hilda Pimental @ Next Miami, Octรกvio Duarte, Kendra Storm Rae, David Kele, Victoria Reuter, Emma @ M4 Models, Gray Hamner, Toye Adedipe, Kerrie Urban @ Exclusive Artists using Bumble & Bumble and MAC Cosmetics, Hannah Novak @ Next Models, Piotr Serafin, Serafin Zielinski, Anna Parol, Olek @ Specto Models, Tamara Hansen, Agnes Hecking, Marco Vogt, Jekaterina @ Cocaine Models, Lisa
ร voluer, Lucie Krystofova, Linda N @ Exit, Anna Zakova, Iveta Duong, Mike Ruiz, Eliza Davila for Sephora Pro, Nyamouch Girwath @ Fenton Model Management NYC, Anthony Parmelee, Chloe Chin, Gina Simone @ Belle & Co., Erika Palkovicova @ New York Models, Lora Arellano, Dana Bomar, Rene Pomberger, Sarah J. McCann, Jacob LaBarbera, Shannon Phelps
Volume 4; Issue 6; NOV/dec 2015
features makeup meltdown Find out how 2 of our favorite GirlBosses, Lora Arellano & Dana Bomar, went from working a makeup counter to owning one of the most cutting-edge makeup lines on the market, Melt Cosmetics!
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The roee label
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Edit or’sNote
Trend Report: moody blooms To make the cold, harsh days of winter a little more bearable, try switching up your neutral solids with a splash of floral! Trust us, it’llalmost feel like spring again! Find out how to wear winter florals, inside.
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trend report: neon Luxe
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Illustration by António Soares
This brand, designed by Rene Pomberger, is known for its high quality materials and sophisticated cuts. Learn more about the talented man behind the extravagant designs of the ROEE Label!
The future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades! Thanks to designers like Milly, Delpozo Laquan Smith, neon hues are officially haute stuff, this upcoming season. Learn how to pull off the trend, inside.
on the cover CREDITS: Photographer: Anthony Parmelee Makeup Artist: Gina Simone @ Belle & Co. Stylist: Chloe Chin Model: Erika Palkovicova @ New York Models
As we move into the new year, what better way to clean the slate than to revamp our wardrobes! Get inspired by the latest trends, while discovering new ways to rock your favorite closet staples. This issue offers a fresh take on the classic winter styles that we all love. Cheers to a fashionable 2016!
- Shannon Phelps
Photographed by Brandon Lundby
lora
melt down makeup
Photo Credit: beautyobsessedjess.com
Radioactive Glamour: Lora Arellano & Dana Bomar of Melt Cosmetics - Written by Sarah J. McCann e all dream of dropping our day jobs and pursuing our passions. Few of us, however, actually have the guts to do so. Fortunately for beauty lovers everywhere, Lora Arellano and Dana Bomar were brave enough to take that risk. When these two makeup mavens imagined the perfect lipstick -- vibrant in color with a creamy, matte finish -- they turned it into a reality! Together, they created Melt Cosmetics, a bold beauty brand with a radioactive attitude. Lora and Dana were an ideal match, from the start. They have very similar tastes, yet polar opposite personalities; which is, perhaps, why they work so well together. Lora has always been very artistic, constantly switching things up, whether it’s her hair color, makeup, tattoos or piercings. Dana, on the other hand, is either all in or nothing at all. This can be said for both her personality and makeup style -- she’s either makeup-free or all dolled up. Both ladies spent a great deal of time in the retail world, pre-Melt, due to their strong love of makeup. Lora pursued makeup artistry right after high school, as she had known since her teen years that this was her calling. After freelancing for a bit, she began working at a makeup counter, for something a little more steady. Dana’s passion for beauty came from watching her two older sisters apply makeup. As soon as she turned eighteen, she got a job at a cosmetics counter in Nordstrom. Though she initially worked retail while studying film and
acting at UNLV, in the end, it was her love of makeup that kept her in retail for seven years -- right up until she and Lora started Melt in 2012. The two first met while working their retail jobs -- Lora managed a MAC counter in Nordstrom, right across from Dana. As soon as they saw each other, they both thought, “Who is that?! Let’s be friends!” Needless to say, they clicked immediately, venting about their current jobs and bonding over beauty preferences. One day, during lunch, Lora and Dana began to discuss the possibility of owning their own cosmetics brand. Since it was a really ambitious venture to jump into, they decided to start with a small lipstick line. The idea was to create five core lipsticks in a variety of fun, edgy shades that were matte, but not drying -- and thus, Melt Cosmetics was born! After going through nearly a thousand other names, ‘Melt’ just felt right. They loved the rebelliousness of it, as most cosmetics brands would steer clear of the word -- but it was clear from the beginning that Lora and Dana’s line was not like other brands. Melt stands out for a number of reasons, particularly how involved its founders are. For instance, Lora and Dana love animals, so making sure their line was cruelty-free was a high priority. They consistently meet with their chemists, and always keep their vegan customers in mind. Furthermore, the duo is thoroughly involved with every aspect of produc-
tion, from the formulation to the packaging. Even the product names relate back to Lora and Dana in some way. For example, the lipstick Dark Room, which was originally launched as limited edition for Lora’s wedding, was named after the bar where she and her husband shared their first kiss. With the lipstick business booming, it wasn’t long before Melt Cosmetics was ready to expand -- and eyeshadow was the logical next step. Along with their core line of lipsticks, the brand released two eyeshadow stacks -one of which, the Dark Matter Eyeshadow Stack, happens to be Lora’s favorite product!
“Every little fleeting idea that pops in your head can be turned into something real. Establishing and running Melt has confirmed that anything is possible!”
“Since I’m a real working makeup artist in the industry, I HAD to create my ideal ‘smokey eye’ palette,” she said. “This palette has a beautiful blending color (Blurr), a warm crease color (Unseen), we made a red-based deep brown (Enigma), red based purposely to show up a true chocolate brown on the skin, and the blackest of all black eyeshadows (Dark Matter)! I’m very proud of this shadow stack!” For Dana, the hottest Melt product is the lipstick, Bang! Bang! “My favorite color has always been orange,” she said. “I love wearing it because it makes me feel happy and bright.” Since making their mark on the beauty industry, there is no “typical day” for the ladies of Melt. Their daily activities range from working on various aspects of new products to shooting campaigns. Not to mention, they spend a great deal of time connecting with customers -- and they ALWAYS find time for selfies! That being said, social media has definitely played role in making Melt the success it is today. Lora and Dana view Instagram as the best way to showcase their creations, which is evident from their killer Insta-feed! The app also allows them to reach out and communicate with customers from literally all over the world. All of that communication has certainly paid off, with a lot of positive attention and word-of-mouth. As Melt continues to grow, the ladies are seeing more and more of their products popping up in purses, blogs, magazines, and even on celebrity faces. The positive reactions, not only flatter them, but also inspire them to continue to grow their brand. Like any good business-women, Lora and
Dana always seem to have the future in mind. Granted, the duo wouldn’t reveal too much about what’s to come, but it’s clear that they have more amazing products in the works. As they put it, as long as they have supporters, they will continue to expand into more categories. If they can find the right fit, they’re also open to the idea of carrying in stores, with the eventual goal of having their very own Melt storefront. When asked where they’d like to see the company in five to ten years, the answer was unanimous: “EVERYWHERE! On everyone’s faces!” -- And you can tell, they aren’t kidding! For something that was initially to be a mere side gig, like an Etsy account, Melt Cosmetics has come a long way, in just three years. Looking back, the ladies agree that the only thing they would’ve done differently would be to have started sooner. For Lora, the freedom to create her own schedule has been great, but she really loves being able to create her own products. Her goal is to eventually use only Melt products in her kit. For Dana, the best part has been watching everything come together. “Melt was at one point just an idea,” she said. “Every little fleeting idea that pops in your head can be turned into something real. Establishing and running Melt has confirmed that anything is possible! Melt has made me more confident to explore every idea and take risks!” When asked what advice they’d give to the young beauty bloggers and aspiring makeup artists out there, the ladies were quick to quote Nike: “Don’t overthink it. Just do it,” they suggested. “Don’t judge yourself so harshly that it stops you from putting yourself out there. The first thing you do will not be perfect, keep doing the things you love regardless.” Frankly, that great advice could be applied to anyone! It’s hard to not be inspired by a success story like this, which is just what Lora wants. As she put it, “I just want young women and men to know that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, you can look like a badass and still be professional and accomplish your dreams!” With such a passionate team behind Melt Cosmetics, it’s no wonder they’ve already accomplished so much! And we’re sure they’ll continue to do so for years to come.
dana
Photographed by Brandon Lundby
ro ee the
label Written by Jacob LaBarbera
he ability to separate oneself in the wide word of fashion design is no easy task -- yet, it is one that designer, Rene Pomberger has mastered through the ROEE label. Since its inception in 2013, this brand has been one that instantly catches the eye with its ability to uphold a sheer and confident look. Just one glance at Pomberger’s latest Fall 2016 line, and it is clear that this eccentric designer favors a dominant and sex-driven look for the modern day woman. Each piece practically oozes sexuality, but upholds a dominant power that’s one-of-a-kind. Starting as a young boy with an interest in drawing and reading comic books, Pomberger notes that he grew up with comic arts, superheroes and science fiction. “I’ve always been drawn to comic art in my childhood, and decided rather fast that I loved the costumes of the characters,” he recalled. “I would always change the outfits of my comic art and it became clear to me that I had an interest in fashion.” It is extremely apparent that comics play a role in the inspiration that embodies Pomberger’s designs, because of the bold and powerful aesthetics. The strong identity of his brand is indicative of the resilient characters that are exemplified and projected throughout comic books. But comics aren’t the only things that have helped shape Pomberger into the designer he is today. He also mentioned his true amazement when looking at other designers and watching their various collections come down the runways, from season to season. “It became clear to me that I truly loved fashion when I saw Tom Ford working for Gucci,” Pomberger noted. “He showed us a new interpretation of luxury and classic and I was drawn to it. After a short phase during which I loved Chanel (but this was more in my teenage years), I came to love
Helmut Lang and Alexander McQueen.” The designers that Pomberger looked up to, growing up, are the very labels that still continue to inspire him to this day -- in addition to Prada, The Row, Givenchy and many more. With many successful seasons under Pomberger’s belt, thus far, it begs the question of which is his favorite. “I don’t necessarily have a specific season that I prefer,” he explained. “Sometimes, I would say that winter may be easier, but then again summer is more enjoyable to create. This is exactly what I love about my Job, It allows me twice a year to go back to the beginning and start a new project.” The ability to start a new collection twice a year is something that Pomberger fully enjoys. It gives him the capability to start with a fresh slate and clean palette. “It allows me to reinvent myself and the brand in a new way,” he said. As unconventional and talented as Pomberger is, he is not immune to feeling an emotional connection to some of his designs. “I tend to react emotionally when I see a customer who prefers one piece more than another,” he revealed. This is the very reason Pomberger stays away from the sales aspect of Roee. On the other hand, Pomberger does have a few favorites when it comes to fabrics and how they are used. “My favorite fabric would currently be silk, all the variations it comes in because it comes in so many.” Perhaps Pomberger is drawn to silk fabrics, due to the fact that he is set to create the company’s first bridal collection, in the next few months. His love for the materials he uses is a source of inspiration for him, while designing. With the many bold and daring pieces that are displayed throughout Pomberger’s spring collection, one can’t help but wonder about the process he follows, and how he channels his inspiration. “My design process begins when I fall in love with a new fabric and I experiment with it, looking for its limits and possibilities. After doing that, my collection begins to grow and pieces begin to get created. Each piece begins to tell a story and ultimately expresses a feeling,” he said. It is no surprise that Pomberger expects his designs
Photography: Isabella Abeld, Hair & Makeup: Jenny Bladek, Fashion: ROEE, Models: Vedrana Lebkuchen & Sigrid Renner, Location: Wotruba Churche
Designer spotlight:
Photography: Edoland Photography, Model: Awisa
to tell a story, as many of them are just waiting to evoke a feeling and sense of vital power. The way his pieces connect with people is a rewarding experience, in itself. Watching consumers fall in love with Roee is certainly one of the major highlights of Pomberger’s journey -- but he also favors each moment that one of his sketches comes to life. When asked to explain this feeling, he replied: “[It] is very difficult to describe... Maybe the best way to describe it would be, having a child and watching him/her take their first steps and ultimately watching them grow up.” It is no surprise that the design process can be time consuming, especially when creating pieces as intricate as those in the ROEE label. As Pomberger notes, “It’s an intensive time frame that you spend with your sketches until the first prototypes arrive and are then approved and finished.”
my touch of
Africa
Sustainable fashion, designed in Amsterdam and made with care in Africa. Ships everywhere in EU, Canada & USA.
With thousands of consumers in today’s market, Pomberger has something to say to those who have supported his label: “Thank you! I promise that I will never forget anyone who has believed in us from the start.” Pomberger couldn’t have said it better, as this is only the beginning for Roee. The company has big plans for their future, and they’re sure to succeed in anything they put their minds to. With a talented designer such as Pomberger creating some of the most notable clothing, the Roee label is one to watch out for in the next few seasons. We shall all keep our eyes peeled for the launch of their bridal collection, as well!
See more exclusive designs at www.mytouchofafrica.com