Nu-Mode´ Magazine "The New York Issue" 8

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NU-ModE´ FASHION ART & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Photography Gregory keith

The New York Issue

Sarah Stewart. Audrey Kitching Javier Ninja Jessica Repetto Kristin Prim Jules Kim Bliss Lau Cody Ross Meital Big Dipper Nora Chipaumire Andres Prada Daniella Kallmeyer Brendan fallis Alison Brady Aristotle Rosario Ness Gregory Keith

issue

8

Spring/summer 2013

The new york edition



Nu-Mode´

“ the New York issue ”

numodemag.com


PHOTOGRAPHY svetlana lk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE


Embarking on a new journey Aristotle Rosario Pg.13 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Daniel Arsham Dimensional Theory Pg.16 Written by Latoya P. Henry Langdon Graves Defining Belief Pg.17 Written by Latoya P. Henry Bijules Bound To Design Pg.18 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Kristin Prim all or nothing Pg.21 Written by Alexandra Stevens Bliss Lau Embellishing The human Form Pg.26 Interview Irina Romashevskaya The beauty of the unusual Pg.29 Interview Irina Romashevskaya The new renaissance man Brendan Fallis Pg.34 Interview John Mark Color in the lines Pg.38 PHOTOGRAPHY IJFKE RIDGLEY STYLING TAYLOR JERGENS Chambray Knight Pg.49 PHOTOGRAPHY AMIE MILNE STYLING REBECCA VITARTAS Licht Pg.58 PHOTOGRAPHY ROMAN ASMUS STYLING CHRISTINA HOLZUM Reinventing Traditional customs into contemporary Silhouettes Pg.66 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Dancing on her own Nora Chipaumire pg.70 Written by John-Mark The tale behind life’s simple truth Marcelo Bukin Pg.73 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Bogota The Colombian Journey Pg.77 Photography Irina Romashevskaya Written By Irina Romashevskaya New York City’s Outstanding Faces Pg.82 Written by John-Mark Necessary Roughness Pg.89 PHOTOGRAPHY DANA SCRUGGS STYLING JOHN-MARK Elodie Pg.98 PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY ABAY STYLING CARLOS MANGUBAT I CRAVE YOU PG. 113 PHOTOGRAPHY VLASTA PILOT STYLING KIM LAI Every Second Last A Lifetime Pg.125 PHOTOGRAPHY KERRY LYTWYN Meital Dohan is love Pg.134 PHOTOGRAPHY JESSICA ZERBY INTERVIEW JOHN-MARK Welcome to The Dainjazone Pg.141 Interview Andrea Boehlke The Integrity of Style Pg.142 Written by Alexandra Stevens For fun with big dipper Pg.145 PHOTOGRAPHY BRYAN WHITELY WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK Sri’s lea Thomas pg.150 PHOTOGRAPHY KELLY KREYE & JULIE GUEZ INTERVIEW JOHN-MARK

The top 6 albums we love Pg.151 Written by Alexandra Stevens Irina Romashevskaya Sam prince Milton garay Andrea boehlke Chicago’s Cool Kids Pg.153 Photography Jessica Zerby Written By John-Mark The experimental process Pg.158 Interview Latoya P. Henry Color line and proportions Jessica Repetto Pg.162 Photography Lady Tarin Interview Irina Romashevskaya Beautiful Restraints Pg.169 PHOTOGRAPHY SVETLANA LK STYLING CORNELIUS LAFAYETTE DANZEY JR. BLACK HEART BLUE BLOOD PG.174 PHOTOGRAPHY GREGORY KEITH BÉBÉ EN NOIR PG.186 PHOTOGRAPHY NICK BLAIR STYLING SARAH BANGER JULIE & KELLY ARE NESS PG.194 INTERVIEW JOHN-MARK STYLE PERSPECTIVE: OMAR ALEXANDER PG.197 PHOTOGRAPHY SPENCER KOHN INTERVIEW JOHN-MARK THE DYNAMICS OF CODY ROSS PHILOSOPHY PG.198 INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA JAVIER NINJA MASCULINE ELEGANCE PG.201 PHOTOGRAPHY KELLY KREYE & JULIE GUEZ WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK Audrey Here & There Pg.209 PHOTOGRAPHY GREGORY KEITH STYLING LATOYA P HENRY INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA A treasure to be discovered Alexandra popescu-york Pg.217 Interview Irina Romashevskaya The One to Watch Daniella Kallmeyer Pg.221 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Coco & Breezy Pg.222 PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL RAMPULLA STYLING JOHN-MARK WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK Dna Replication Pg.229 Photography Alban Smajli Styling Simona Wong Like a prayer Pg.241 Photography Leriam Gonzalez Styling Fabiola Ledesma A sense of style with ease Pg.253 Interview Irina Romashevskaya Renegades Pg.258 Photography Taylor Tupy Styling John-Mark Janos Tedeschi Revival of A Century Pg.274 Interview Irina Romashevskaya The Twins Pg.278 PHOTOGRAPHY HTET T SAN STYLING JENX’D INTERNATIONAL The New Yorkers We Love Pg.289 MUSIC MOMENT: DEAD LEAF ECHO PG.290 WRITTEN BY ALEXANDRA STEVENS STOCKLIST PG.290

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N U - M O D E´ EDITOR IN CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR LATOYA HENRY LATOYA@NUMODEMAG.COM FASHION DIRECTOR & FEATURES EDITOR JOHN MARK JOHN-MARK@NUMODEMAG.COM Art director & fashion EDITOR Irina Romashevskaya Irina@NUMODEMAG.COM nu-mode´ tv director Daniel Rampulla Daniel@numodemag.com Contributing Editor Alexandra Stevens Alexandra@NUMODEMAG.COM Intern Cassandra Brost Contributing Writers Sarah Wears On Lips: Occ lip tar in demure & true black On Face: Occ Skin Airbrush Foundation Gold beetle: Personal make up Artist Colby Smith Hairstylist Ryan Austin Photography Gregory Kirkpatrick

MILTON GARAY, Andrea Boehlke, Sam Prince PHOTOGRAPHY Gregory keith . Jessica Zerby . Bryan Whitely . nick blair Daniel Rampulla . Kelly kreye & Julie guez . Spencer kohn dana scruggs . Roger kisby . kristin prim . alban smajli amie milne . svetlana lk . emily abay . htet t san IJfke Ridgley . kerry lytwyn . leriam gonzalez vlasta pilot . Roman Asmus STYLING Christina Holzum . Simona Wong . Rebecca Vitartas Cornelius Lafayette Danzey Jr. . Carlos Mangubat Jenx’D International . Taylor Jergens . Fabiola Ledesma SARAH BANGER . vlasta pilot . Latoya p. henry . John-Mark ADVERTISE ADVERTISE@NUMODEMAG.COM SUBMISSIONS & WEB ENQURIES INFO@NUMODEMAG.COM NU-MODE´ MAGAZINE PUBLISHER LATOYA P. HENRY BROOKLYN, NY 11238 T. 7 1 8 . 8 1 2 . 5 8 1 5 WWW.NUMODEMAG.COM WWW.TWITTER.COM/NUMODE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NUMODEMAGAZINE

Audrey Wears gold wrist cuff bjørg Metallic Pant aristotle rosario PHOTOGRAPHY gregory keith STYLING latoya p. henry NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.6

A Very Special Thanks To Omen PR, Rep Mode Pr, Blank Space NY, Agency V


The New York Issue. www.kerrylytwyn.com


the team

Editor in Chief & Creative Director Latoya P. Henry

Latoya Henry is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur, stylist and photographer, who turns dreams into reality. Dressed up as little pony, she enjoys devouring coolhaus snickerdoodle, while playing with her pups Isabella and Juelz. What I Love Most About New York... It’s a melting pot, where you could make nothing into something and cross paths with fascinating people from all over the world everyday.

Fashion director & features editor John-mark

J.M. is a dance choreographer, journalist, creative director, and producer. When not working, he enjoys kissing, sushi, and Star Wars. What I Love Most About New York... is the ability to order a bodega deli sandwich at 4AM after a lovely evening of dancing and playing with an grip of fashionable friends.

Art director & fashion EDITOR irina romashevskaya

Irina Romashevskaya is a Brooklyn based artist, writer and photographer amongst other things. A frequent traveler, Irina likes to explore new opportunities and is always on the lookout for an adventure. What I Love Most About New York... I love New York because of its challenges. It pushes me to the limits and brings out the best in me. It inspires me and frustrates; but I love New York more because of it.

Nu-mode´Tv Director daniel rampulla

Contributing editor Alexandra stevens

Born in San Francisco, Daniel Rampulla received his Bachelors of Fine Art degree in photography from The San Francisco Art Institute and his Masters in Art Education from The New York University. He is currently living and working in New York, New York.

Alexandra Stevens is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn. When asked where she is from, she (truthfully) answers “everywhere,” and plans on continuing her travels. She don’t want no scrub, has never seen your favorite movie, and likes every single kind of cheese she’s ever tried. Alexandra enjoys spending time with her friends and family, her cats, and her hot glue gun.

What I Love Most About New York... The Naked boys.

What I Love Most About New York... There’s always noise, there’s always lights, and there’s always someone, somewhere, not too far away from you.


CONTRIBUTORS

Gregory Keith

Ryan austin

Colby Smith

“Gregory Keith lives and works in New York City.”

Artist and hair stylist based and living in New York City.

Making-up people is what I do!

www.gregorykeith.com

dana scruggs “I was born and raised in Chicago. Worked as a Costumer in LA. Back in Chicago, I piddled around for a few years. Now I’m in Brooklyn, doing more than piddling...I hope.” Dana Scruggs is a Fashion & Portrait photographer living in Brooklyn, New York.

ness Julie Guez & Kelly Kreye Ness... because every day we talk about kindness, we succeed and fail in our attempt to share and to be kind, we try to love all that is around us, this is where we find inspiration.We give many thanks for such a wonderful experience with the great people at Nu-Mode´. Much love... Ness

danascruggs.com

htet t san Htet T San was born in Dawei, a small town in the southern part of Burma, and grew up in the old capital city, Yangon. In August 2008, at the turning point of her life, Htet received a scholarship to study photography and art studio studies in University of Alabama-Huntsville andshe chose to pursue her hidden passion by dropping out of medical school on the verge of becoming a doctor. Htet relocated to New York City in early 2011 and currently pursuing further studies while working as a visual artist/photographer and retoucher. www.htettsan.com

www.colbymakeup.com

Vlasta Pilot “Russian-born mermaid swimming with NYC fashion sharks and just small cute fishes.” vlastapilot.com

www.youareness.tumblr.com

svetlana lk Svetlana LK is a 22 year old self-taught photographer. Her adoration for the arts began at a very young age. She originally attempted to pursue a degree at the Savannah College Of Art and Design. However, Svetlana took a rather unnatural and risky approach to the career by dropping out after only two months to minimize the influence of technicalities and critiques that would have limited her creativity. It wasn’t until 2010 that she moved to New York in an attempt at turning the hobby into a career. In the last two years, Svetlana has worked with dozens of agencies and been featured in a number of fashion blogs and publications both nationally and internationally. Her work aims to balance both the contemporary and classic styles inspired by Kristian Schuller and Steven Meisel. www.svetlanalkphoto.com

emily abay I’m 27 and I’m an Australian Fashion Photographer. I first picked up a camera at a very young age, being as my mother and grandfather are both photographers, I knew what a Leica Camera was before I know what cable television was and all through my teens I carried the scent of stop fixer rather than expensive perfume. I’ve been actively shooting for the last 9 years I’ve been very fortunate to work with some very talented creative people, and I love that I’m constantly learning. Big thank you to my mother and grandfather. www.emilyabay.com NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.9


Editor’s Letter Through the bright lights and blaring sounds, there’s a city of people thriving with ambitions, aspirations and dreams as tall as it’s skyscrapers. A city full of diverse cultures from all over the world, a city where you could grab a slice a pizza with a few close friends at 4am. A city which brought together some of the most inspirational, passionate and driven individuals to create Nu-Mode´. That city is our home, New York, also known as the Big Apple. When approaching our eighth edition, we wanted to capture the true essence of this captivating city, ‘of course from a NuMode´ point of view’. Inside this issue we connected with entrepreneurs, designers, artists, performers, photographers and models to learn what motivates them, and what possesses them to have a continuing drive to succeed in such a fast-paced city, full of movers and shakers. My favorite answer to this question was, “you could either make it or break it in New York, and I intend on making it, I’ve been to plenty of states, but there’s something about New York City that challenges you to stay motivated.” The thing about New York City is that no matter who you are or where you have traveled from, in this city of bright lights and skyscrapers, there’s a mystical cloud of determination that impacts people to accomplish their dreams. As the saying goes, “if you could make it here you could make it anywhere”. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you The New York Issue!

Latoya

Latoya P. Henry Editor In Chief

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PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas R. Stegelmann


Design

e m b a r k i n g

o n a ne w journey

Aristotle Rosario q INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

D

ominican Republic-born, Aristotle Rosario is a seasoned New York based designer. With years of experience behind some of the biggest US mass-market retailers, Rosario is embarking on an new journey into the world of classic tailoring and body conscious silhouettes. His debut Fall/Winter 2013 collection is a contrasting play with juxtapositions of different shapes, volumes and textures. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What brought you into the world of fashion? I’m originally from the Dominican Republic, so growing up on a Caribbean island with the unpronounceable name of a Greek philosopher (it’s spelled Aristoteles in Spanish) and looking like a little blond Swedish tourist was very interesting to say the least. I always felt like a bit of an outsider among my own. To this day nobody can ever tell where I’m from -- it’s almost like the million dollar question. I think, the pages of fashion magazines like Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar from the 80’s are my first real memories of fashion. I remember looking at pictures of Helmut Newton’s women and just thinking how beautiful they looked. I guess, that sparked my interest and taught my eye to look for shapes and proportions in clothing from a very early age. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember; and the illustrations from my younger days of the 80’s peplum party dresses and hats in pink and purple are hysterical. When it was time to decide what I wanted to do for a living, the answer was simple: I wanted to make beautiful clothes for people to wear. I started my design studies at Altos de Chavon, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. And then a funny thing happened at the end of my sophomore year: Tim Gunn, many years before he was a Project Runway celebrity, interviewed me for a Parsons scholarship. I was

awarded a full-time scholarship and then moved to New York City in 1998 to finish my studies at Parsons The New School for Design. Which design projects were you involved in previously? After graduating from Parsons, I went to work for apparel companies such as Gap in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This was a great experience, because designing for mass market apparel teaches you a lot about the business side of the garment industry, and it allowed me to reach out to a very large number of consumers. It also gave me the chance to travel the world and see how things are produced on a massive scale. After almost a decade of traveling and working bi-coastally, it became clear to me that this was not my calling. So around year 2010 I moved back to New York, but not before taking a short mental break in Europe. I lived in Paris for six months and travelled around, just literally spending my days wandering around with my notebook and pencils: sketching, watching people, walking through ancient castles and gardens, listening to someone play the piano at Shakespeare & Co -- and that’s where I found the perfect book for my new adventures, A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. What are the key characteristics of your design aesthetic and your namesake brand? Shape, volume and juxtaposition are mental buttons that I can’t turn off. With my debut collection I’m exploring the concept of a strong yet feminine woman through menswear inspired tailoring and body conscious silhouettes. I also think, that minimal, graphic and sensual are the key words that describe my design aesthetic.


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aristotlerosario.com NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.14


Can you define your core customer? Who is the ideal woman you would like to dress? I think, the woman who will ultimately wear my designs has a high appreciation for fit and quality. She’s probably both emotional and smart about her fashion choices. My ideal woman is somebody who’s young at heart, who keeps a sense of curiosity and her joie de vivre. I like to imagine that she enjoys her life, she is well-travelled and not obsessed with fashion trends. What are your favorite design and fashion references? Color palette, fabrics, textures, etc.? I have always been intrigued at how Cristobal Balenciaga explored shape and construction in his work. Coco Chanel’s idea of modern dressing back in the early 1900’s is also very inspiring. I tend to gravitate towards a black and white palette in my personal way of dressing, so I think that translates into my designs as well. I also love accent colors and deep, rich tones of emerald, dark chocolate and metallic gold. In terms of fabrics and textures, I love working with silk, wool and leather, especially if they have a lot of body and structure. Additionally, I like fabrics that are light weight or stretchy; it gives them a very modern attitude. I enjoy materials that have a unique texture -- be it ultra soft, with dry hand or high shine. Where do you tend to draw your inspiration from? I’m mostly inspired by art and people watching. I recently started paying more attention to William Eggleston’s photography. His beautiful color palette and a sense of mysterious, non-manipulated reality is all I’ve been thinking about lately. What triggers your creativity? Can you describe your work process? It’s hard to tell, for me it’s a gut feeling. I just have to go with it, otherwise I won’t be able to sleep. I sometimes feel like my brain is trying to make me aware of the things that are opposite of what I’m currently doing. My work process is very visual, I like to see things as close to the final form as possible. I guess, I’m also a bit of a perfectionist! me aware of the things that are opposite of what I’m currently doing.

“I think in general, there’s a sense of uncomplicated, realistic beauty that is very modern. It feels right at the moment” What can you tell us about your FW13 collection? What was your inspiration? My debut collection is called Cave of the Heart and it’s inspired by Martha Graham’s dance piece from 1946. She did the choreography and designed all the costumes herself. Isamu Noguchi did the amazing set with the beautiful gold metal branch and the sculpted mountains. I saw her company perform this dance around the time when I was starting to develop my line: I was instantly moved by the severe yet fluid dance moves and the idea of something so timeless and emotionally powerful. In a more conceptual way, I took those feelings and started translating them into my work. The result is a collection of body conscious silhouettes layered with oversized outerwear and tailored pantsuits.

In your opinion, what are the current fashion trends in womenswear? I think in general, there’s a sense of uncomplicated, realistic beauty that is very modern. It feels right at the moment; it fits with the idea of individualism and the new way of combining different proportions. Also, I think controlled volume and the idea of done-undone is very ‘now’. How do you see your brand developing in the future? Right now I’m concentrating on my design philosophy and getting people to learn about me and my aesthetic. In the long term, I envision a fully developed RTW women’s collection along with a few bespoke tailoring pieces and accessories selling in the US and abroad. I can’t wait to fast forward!


ARTIST

Daniel arsham dimensional theory Written by latoya p. henry

Developing a common ground between architecture, art, performance and design, is quite a challenge, but Multi-Disciplinary New York based artist Daniel Arsham manages to fuse these diverse aspects of art to create two, three and four-dimensional pieces. His sculptures and installations consist of eroding walls, floating geometric clouds, figures and surfaces that melt and ripple. Through his solo projects and collaborations with legendary performers, artists and designers such as Merce Cunningham, Heidi Slimane, Richard Chai and Jonah Baker, Arsham’s manipulation of architectural structures depicts drama and minimal features, in an unconventional manner. Graduating in 2003 from Cooper Union and receiving the Gelman Trust Fellowship Award. Arsham developed his career at an early stage after returning to Miami, cofounding artist- run spaces “The House” and “Placemaker”, while garnering attention from multiple legendary figures. Furthering his exploration, of art Arsham partnered with Alex Mustonen and founded Snarkitecture in 2007. Snarkitecture fascinatingly operates the practice of art and architecture, pushing architecture into limitless possibilities. Recently having the pleasure to view Arsham’s work “Standing Figure” and “Draped Figure” for Maison Martin Margiela collaboration with H&M, from my perspective the dynamics of the artist pieces displayed an effect of mystery and whimsy. While the visual presentation challenged the thoughts of viewers, the audience had no choice but to be submerged in awe by Arsham’s immaculate sculptures.

www.danielarsham.com

Standing Figure, 2012


Langdon graves Defining belief Written by latoya p. henry

Heavily influenced by literature and lecture, Brooklyn artist Langdon Graves composes surreal illustrations and sculptures emphasizing her unique aesthetic. She pulls together compositions formed from her interest of beliefs and the body, to convey a sense of symbolism. The artist manifests illustrations by deconstructing and disfiguring the subjects in a serene setting that seems almost bizarre, yet fascinating. Langdon states, “Historically, women have played an integral role in the facilitation of the beliefs of a given culture or society and often bear the burden of its expectations, such as those associated with the rites of passage of marriage and childbirth. The subjects in the drawings wear their beliefs like prostheses that generate both curative and poisonous effects.” Without clouding the message behind her illustrations, Langdon’s minimalistic approach places her viewers thoughts into a tranquil form that sensitizes the mind.

cargocollective.com/langdongraves sister

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Design

bijules

bound to design INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

B

ijules is a jewelry line created by an innovator, collaborator and jewelry designer extraordinaire Jules Kim. Unapologetically opinionated about her artistic vision, Jules creates her miniature masterpieces with a much bigger thought behind. What’s important to her is for the wearer to experience the product, feel it and “live through it”. Jules tirelessly researches, innovates and reinvents, and all the creative work she puts in her jewelry reflects in the outcome: numerous international magazine editorials and covers, and a long list of celebrity clients. What can you tell us about your Fall/Winter 2013 collection? My new collection will be produced for Spring/Summer 2014. And for this season what I’m doing is highlighting the creative process as my collection. I’ve had 10 years of archival collections and jewelry manifestations. At this point, I really want to showcase that, plus the inspiration which will ultimately lead into the new collection. I think it’s important that if people are hungry, you should feed them; but if you create hunger, then it’s actually even better for them, because it feeds more of the soul than desperation. In terms of what’s happening in the market now: it’s so saturated. I make quality stuff and I need that voice to be heard over and over again, in my own time and with my own language. NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.18

How important is it for you to collaborate with other artists on your projects? I think it’s really important to collaborate. For my Fall/Winter 2013 collection I wanted the artists to exchange. I have four different artists I’m working with. I’m working with the Lithuanian film director Lina Plioplyte and the Danish stylist Simon Rasmussen. I’m also highlighting Spank Rock, showcasing a couple of his new tracks that he’s written to show everyone. It’s about creating newness, and having stability behind it instead of letting the idea out and not owning it. What kind of materials do you like to work with? I prefer to work in gold, but a lot of times I work in silver. I love, love diamonds and I like opals. I’m using black opals and black diamonds in my collections a lot. Do you participate in the process of jewelry making or do you just concentrate on the design process? I used to make everything by hand. And then I realized that my ideas would sell more if I had someone else to do it for me. I under stood how metalworking goes, which is incredibly important for the creative


“The most important thing in my life is to live it. And for me it means to make every minute count, to make sure that people around you understand that” process. At this point, I work on my designs, then I go to my factory and I have a team of people and assistants help me to create original prototype. And then we continue our work from there. Where do you produce your jewelry? We manufacture everything locally. Up in Midtown, or Downtown and Chinatown. Are you involved in any other projects other than designing jewelry? It’s super important for me to do more than just jewelry. My jewelry is more than just what it is; it’s an experience. So if you see someone creating a product, it’s usually something one-dimensional, static and flat. For me it’s more than even three-dimensional; another dimension is based on capturing someone’s attention, maintaining this attention, and then having that person researching it and experiencing a moment of discovery in every expect of their life. It’s never fast and it takes a while. I’m not in a rush. I’m super proud to make this kind of the statement. Where do you get your inspiration from? My inspiration is part of an experience. People that I meet, conditions that are part of myself. The way that I interpret things is like I’m seeing the world through rose-colored glasses; something about how I perceive the normal way of life. It’s a very interesting perspective, even with the new collection. I can always produce a collection, but the idea

can go out for days and days. It’s crucial for me to understand the importance of what the original thought is and how the creative process leads itself to a quality product. I’d rather make a lot of noise with what I’m doing and how I perceive things, as opposed to generate something that people will just buy. I need them to ask, why they are buying it. Their emotion has everything to do with it. So I’d rather have people be strongly opinionated, than not to have any opinion at all. What is the most important thing for you in life and what pushes you forward? The most important thing in my life is to live it. And for me it means to make every minute count, to make sure that people around you understand that, so they help you and also use those experiences to make noise. We are only here for a very brief amount of time and there is a certain kind of humility that comes with that. So when I make a piece of jewelry, it’s all or nothing in this tiny piece of metal. It should be funny, it should be outgoing, it should be subtle, it should be sexy; it should be all of these things one person can experience in one day. To be able to live through one piece. That’s how I live my life. I like to be able to stretch boundaries, to anticipate change and embrace the outcome.

www.bijulesnyc.com


lifestyle

Oxford Helmut Lang Blazer Theory


Kristin Prim

all or nothing q Photography Kristin Prim Written by Alexandra stevens

E

very season, the world’s fashion-conscious obsessively follow New York Fashion Week from their phones and computers, scrolling through thousands of images from the streets and the runways. Then there’s 19-year-old Kristin Prim, who decided last month that Fashion Week isn’t even fun anymore. “Just decided that I’m done with FW for the season,” she captioned a photo on Instagram. She gives the camera a smoldering look, pairing it with a middle finger and a filter that brings out her cheekbones. “It’s been real. Come back never.” Not even old enough to buy a bottle of wine and Prim already has fashion credentials a mile long. The fashion darling burst onto the scene at the precocious age of fourteen with the eponymous Prim Magazine. As the youngest editor-in-chief of an international magazine, she and her magazine gained the attention of the fashion world by gracing the pages of publications like ELLE Italia and French Glamour. The exposure launched her from editor and blogger to fullfledged style star, front-row fixture, and model muse. “When I started it, I didn’t think [Prim Magazine] would blow up like it did. Then one morning I woke up to an email from Naomi Nevitt, an editor from Teen Vogue. She ran a story, and it all went from there. It was life changing.” The magazine was funded by Prim’s parents, and the financial freedom allowed her to have complete artistic control. “Prada came to us [about advertising] and I said no,” she mentions casually, which says a lot about the integrity of the publication. Prim Magazine was never about the money, never about commercialization, and even when approached by an iconic fashion powerhouse like Prada, Prim stayed true to her vision.

In 2011 she announced that her magazine would be going on an indefinite hiatus, but she assures me that the break is undoubtedly temporary. “I just want to take advantage of all these opportunities I have now, things I can only do when I’m young,” Prim explains of her decision. “You could edit a magazine when you’re 80 years old, nobody gives a fuck,” she says with a laugh. And between her current schedule of school, modeling, and countless projects, you’d have to wonder when Prim could possibly even make time to edit an international publication. She has no doubts about returning to her editorial roots, however, but wants to be sure she can fully commit herself before launching another issue. “I firmly believe in contributing only my utmost dedication to whatever project I pursue,” Prim said in a statement on her website. “We focused fervently on a precise, curated vision and under no circumstance would I wish to jeopardize the integrity of the publication by putting it in the hands of a foreign mind.” Her all-or-nothing mindset makes her very particular about the material she puts out, but that same pickiness has ensured a very specific and personal body of work. Prim is currently a student at Greenwich Village’s notoriously pricey Parsons the New School of Design, studying business. Her education is part of an effort to shift her focus from fashion, a bold move for the style darling. She plans on delving more into branding strategy, as her extreme success in self-branding has caught the eye of various companies. Other marketing and business strategy ideas, such as campaign photography, are also in Prim’s upcoming plans. NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.21


lace Top Amber Sakai mesh bra american apparel

“I don’t make something because it’s pretty. I never believed in that. I make it because it jolts you. It punches you in the mouth.” As Prim describes all of her various projects, I get the feeling that the broad scope of work is something she is all too accustomed to. Since almost inadvertently launching her career before she was even old enough to drive, even at her young age she has already been consistently juggling a full schedule of creative projects for years. She really lights up as she begins to describe her current passion, a string of multimedia fine art projects. She has so far focused on film and photography, along with exploration of abstract multimedia concepts. Among her current fine art projects is a senses-based multimedia project called 5, and an autobiographical series of text on canvas titled Self-Evident Truths. “They’re things that mean something to me,” she says of the 25-piece series, “but are also universal. They mean things to other people too.” She shows me an image on her phone of the first Truth that reads “I enjoy punching people in the mouth too much to not be an artist” in all capital, sans-serif black lettering on a white background. She has since created several more truths, my personal favorite being “What the fuck is wrong with me you me you me you me you me you me?” Each follows the same visual layout, systematically revealing little pieces of NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.22

Prim’s mind. The truths are blunt and personal, yet vague and conceptual. She laughs about how her friends always know exactly what and who her work is referencing, but drawing from her personal experiences yields the realest results. It’s the classic formula of the tortured artist: misery is motivation, and overwhelming emotion manifests itself in creation. “I don’t make something because it’s pretty. I never believed in that. I make it because it jolts you. It punches you in the mouth.” I nod and smile, mesmerized. Prim has this captivating energy, and she’s unknowingly and unintentionally convinced me that I’d love nothing more than for her to punch me in the mouth. Several galleries already want to show Prim’s work, and she seems genuinely excited about the positive feedback to the initial release of her art. She dedicates almost all of her free time to working on her craft, spending weekends alone at her apartment while the rest of New York’s fashion elite mingle over bottle service. She describes her home with fervor, clearly a haven for the self-proclaimed recluse. Her Brooklyn apartment is her escape; an industrial, primal space, an “antibrownstone” if you will.




“Throughout what I’m doing, I’ve never been afraid to give someone the middle finger and say fuck you. I’ve never kissed any ass, and I’d never tell anyone to kiss ass.” “I don’t leave my apartment,” she says with a shrug. “People never believe me.” She contemplates for a moment and continues, “Everyone’s so extroverted today, they’re always giving themselves to other people. You can’t forget yourself.” She explains the solace she finds in spending time alone, and how her art functions as release and therapy. She is drawn by the powerful self-exploration in making things, her art serving as the perfect creative outlet for her tumultuous life. Gender roles and sexuality play a vital role in Prim’s work, and have always been something she’s been both inspired by and struggled with. “My work always has to have a point,” Prim says. She has always toyed with finding new ways to represent preconceived notions of sexuality, and wants her work to help move our culture towards a more accepting and understanding state. “There aren’t two genders, there’s 5,000,” she asserts. As an open lesbian, Prim sometimes still grapples with representing herself in a way that feels genuine. She explains the complexity of waking up in the morning and feeling like putting on a little dress, but being forced to second-guess her choices because of social expectations.

Her usual wardrobe of black and leather better fit the idea of what a lesbian “should” look like, and Prim frustratedly questions why concepts like this are still so prevalent. She explains that she would never want to appear as though she was intentionally misrepresenting herself, “So if that’s what I want to wear, then isn’t it still me?” As the beautiful complexity of Prim’s creative aesthetic continues to evolve, the ambitious and driven 19-year-old still has a lot to offer. The fashion world continues to eye her as a style icon, and her breakout in the art scene is already poised to make waves. And most important of all is Prim’s unapologetic attitude, and her hopelessly romantic cynicism. “Throughout what I’m doing, I’ve never been afraid to give someone the middle finger and say fuck you. I’ve never kissed any ass, and I’d never tell anyone to kiss ass.”

kristinprim.typepad.com NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.25


Design

bliss lau Embellishing the human form INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

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liss Lau has established herself in the industry as a jewelry designer to watch and admire. Sensual and delicate, simple and complex at the same time, her jewelry exquisitely drapes on the body and caresses every curve. The painstaking process that goes into the creation of each piece is reflected in the astounding outcome: a feeling of inner piece and content. The jewelry Bliss Lau creates is made to adorn the body, bringing to attention some of its forgotten parts and letting our senses be our guide. What was your journey to becoming a jewelry designer? My journey has been a slow evolution, from creating on the body, then just objects and structures, only to finally return to the decoration of the body. I have followed a purely visceral path through various mediums from leather to brass and now sterling and gold, moving forward towards crystal and rubies, diamonds and maybe even glass. What do you love about designing jewelry? An endless amorphic challenge. Fine jewelry lends itself to trend but must also be seen as forever to be passed along for generations. I love to think about shapes, sizes and connection points. One of my favorite aspects of designing jewelry is bringing together more than one piece, thinking how to combine parts of designs, because people like to wear multiple pieces. How would you some up your design aesthetic in just a few words? My aesthetic is based upon giving each person a positive emotion, each piece should make you feel a certain way: sexy, smart, fearless‌ What is the philosophy behind your creations? Each season I ask myself, what is jewelry? How is it worn? And try to answer the questions differently. The current collection began with the Kaleidoscope ring, one ring made of four individual pieces. For next season I have added new rings, all of which fit together with the parts of the previous rings, so if you have just two rings there are more than twenty ways to wear them. What is your greatest inspiration in life? New ideas, brilliant solutions, exciting experiences, brilliant thinkers. NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.26


“Jewelry breaches a gap between accessories because, unlike shoes, bags or belts, it can be worn every day, hot or cold, old or young.”

Which raw materials do you prefer to work with? I fall in love with new materials constantly -- leather is a magical material! I love that it used to be alive; using a skin only gives it a second life. Gold, diamonds and transparent stones are wonderful. I love the transformation they provide you when you put them on; the experience you receive. Would you say jewelry plays a more important part in woman’s wardrobe than the clothes themselves? It is not any single element that is more important than another, the outfit as a whole must be exceptional! Jewelry breaches a gap between accessories because, unlike shoes, bags or belts, it can be worn every day, hot or cold, old or young. You recently collaborated with Mathieu Mirano on his F/W 2013 collection. How important is it for you to collaborate with other artists and fashion designers? Incredibly. Mathieu is one of the most talented designers I have worked with, he is so young and the flexibility of his mind and breadth of his creativity is endless!! I love working in teams, bouncing ideas off people. The collaboration to me represents an opportunity to try a new idea completely different than I alone would ever endeavor. Collaborations keep me on my creative toes. Do you get inspired by the work of other jewelry designers? Who are your favorite jewelry designers (past or present) and why? Yes of course, I love to look at vintage jewelry. The history and craftsmanship behind jewelry from the major houses is unmatched! Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, even costume jewelry designers from days past. Miriam Haskell’s old work is exceptional. I love to turn her pieces over to see how many facets and different laced chains make a metal web to connect the parts. What was the inspiration for your latest collection? I was inspired by protection and magical thinking last season. The sensuality of jewelry and the essence of how it transforms the body is experienced by each of us differently. I used black diamonds, gypsy set in the center of a flat diamond-shaped, mirror-finished sterling stamping, thus representing a slight suggestion of the evil eye. Which items in that collection are you the most proud of? The Kaleidoscope concept is a new exploration for me creatively. Shattering the traditional perspective of a ring and breaking each design element into a separate ring, therefore allows the owner to chose how to wear, design or experience the ring on their own terms. It took me over a year to create it, each piece is like a tiny city, blocks that fit perfectly within each other to allow for minimal movement and fit. What are your plans for Bliss Lau brand in the year ahead? I would like to explore the world of collaborations a bit further this year, maybe work with a company who creates a new material, where I can learn about a different manufacturing process of help invent one… I like the idea of working with liquids to solid or even delving into new solutions for old subtractive methods.

blisslau.com


Artist

the beauty of the unusual interview irina romashevskaya

A

n artist, photographer and an amateur sculptor, Alison Brady is a mastermind behind the uncanny imagery that is both humorous and frightening. Her work is always on the border of unusual, familiar and completely unknown. She asks a lot of questions about society’s deep issues and creates her images that reflect the feelings of fear, vulnerability and anxiety from the inside out. I sat down with Alison for a chat about her inspiration, copyright issues and disturbingly funny aspects of her work that often get missed. What inspired you to become a photographer? Have you explored any other art mediums? I’ve always been interested in art growing up, in particular, painting and sculpture. I liked to make things and create things. That passion for making things later on transformed into a little bit of performance pieces, where people would be interacting with these weird sculptures I made. And then it naturally moved into photography because I started documenting it. I would look at the images afterward and like them so much, that I would want to have more control over them; I’d want to tweak them a little, I’d want somebody standing here and there. After going through that process I decided that photography is going to be my medium. But I’d like to add that, I don’t necessarily think of myself as a photographer; I mostly see myself as an artist. I made a couple of videos and would like to explore this medium more. I’d also like to get into making sculptures again. I see photography as a medium I use to express my artistic point of view as opposed to only doing photographs. I don’t enjoy the technical aspect of photography, and that is why sometimes I don’t like to call myself a photographer. What kind of camera equipment do you use? Film or digital cameras? I used to shoot all film and I do like the feeling and quality of it. But I also just love digital photography because it’s so quick. Usually, when

I come up with ideas, I just want to get it all out there and to see it right away. And when I try a different concept, quite often some images won’t make it and will be edited out. I appreciate digital because of my process: I can come up with an idea and shoot it. I don’t want to think to myself, is this idea amazing? I want it to be true. Do you retouch any of your photos or use Photoshop? Most of the stuff is done on set. A lot of times in my work you’ll see something that you think is photoshoped, but when you look closer, you realize that it hasn’t been retouched. There is one image with the mattresses, where it looks like two feet are coming out of either end. It is actually the girl, who’s wearing shoes on her hands, but when it’s blown up big, you are put off for a second -- what is wrong with those legs? -- they are abnormally skinny and veiny. You take a closer look and realize, it’s her hands. You get that uncanny feeling not through Photoshop, but through creating something in real life. Of course, you can make something disturbing using a computer program, but that’s not what my work is about. It’s about subtle change from reality to unreality, from familiar to unfamiliar. So that is what I’m looking for. And I try to stay away from Photoshop. I will however get rid off the dust on my sensor, or I will color correct -- really basic things like that. The viewer will still walk away with the same feeling. Can you walk us through the actual process of your work? How do you come up with the concept, pick your photography subjects and settings? For me it’s always about exploration of the ideas and not trying to satisfy an audience. All my responsibility is to idea itself. I like to make something and to look upon it later, and to find the idea within. Sometimes, it’s about not knowing what’s going to happen, it’s about obsess-


ing over something, and sometimes I do have a preexisting, conceptual part. One time I was on a subway reading an ad about varicose veins, and the idea struck me: a feeling of change, something familiar, like your own legs, becoming completely foreign. I visually manifested that idea into an image of the woman with her legs coming out of the carpet. She has very nice legs, but there are bulges coming out of them -- I used tiny balloons to showcase that effect. It’s that feeling I’m trying to recreate: familiar becoming foreign, followed by anxiety and fear of the unknown. So I take that feeling and I transform it into an image. But very often I don’t know what exactly I’m trying to talk about before I shoot it, which is also an interesting way to work. I know there is something in me that wants to shoot this and I typically find out later. I see something, a certain kind of wallpaper, female, or some sort of activity going on. The answers are always inside of the image, sometimes it’s convoluted; sometimes it’s purposely or intentionally tangled, but it’s always there. Who are your favorite artists and photographers? I really enjoy artists that seek to examine psychological imprint. I like the work of Rebecca Horn, who works with sculptures. There is one particular memorable piece of hers that looks like a piano from the inside out. You walk into the room, and the piano keys are literally coming down at you. You get this feeling of anxiety just from being around. The way she picks her subjects, and sets her sculptures up bears a lot of similarity to some of the same issues that I address in my work. I really like photographer Jeff Wall. He was one of the first to start narrative photography and find creative stuff in the absurd. I also like photographer Gillian Wearing, whose work is about the complexities of human emotions and relationships. In one of her projects, she took self portraits of herself as her other family members and made them so convincing and real. These series of hers in particular get to deal with uncanny. You can tell when you look at these images that there is something off, but you can’t explain why. So the images just stay with you for a while.

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“I would like to describe my work as constructive imagery, because there is no before and after in my images; the work is so much about the unknown, that it’s not narrative. It’s compelling and it sticks with you.”

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“I’m not highly conceptual; to me art has to be visually striking to pull you in. Because without it, the thing that draws you to art is lacking.” How would you describe your particular style of photography? It’s funny, it’s compelling, disturbing but beautiful at the same time. If somebody else had to categorize it, they’d probably call it narrative. And that term is totally fine with me. But I would like to describe my work as constructive imagery, because there is no before and after in my images; the work is so much about the unknown, that it’s not narrative. It’s compelling and it sticks with you. And it’s sharp like a knife. You don’t know what’s going to happen next, and you have no idea what happened before. You have to place yourself into it to find out the story. It’s this one moment in time, some conscious fantasy: you walk into the room and you see a disturbing scene. May be it’s not disturbing in the beginning and you see a man in the corner; you look again -- and it’s a coat rack. You are scared to death. It’s that feeling. That’s what I’m trying to recreate, that unknown feeling that for some reason is so frightening and horrifying. That is why I like not to think about my work as narrative. Tell us more about your work with video installation art. A friend of mine from the undergrad school, Sarah Knobel, and I made a collaborative piece, a video called “Over again”. It was shown in Kansas City, Seattle and Brooklyn. The video is long, and some parts of the video made intentionally long. You feel like time is passing and there is nothing you can do. It’s very surreal, and during the middle of it there is a scene where it’s almost psychedelic: you feel like you loose track of time and end up lost inside the video. To achieve this psycodelic effect, I videotaped my mouth and cut it out; I also made my eyes and mouth move differently from each other, so you are drawn into it for a long period of time. The video itself is very square, almost like a music video from the 90’s, My friend is the main character, who


lives in this space alone by herself and experiences absurd, slow dis sention into madness: she starts hearing voices, seeing this second figure, which is me, that’s harassing her. The video is similar to my work, it’s humorous and deals with some of the same issues: loss of identity and the fear of aging. What is the most important element of your work? That’s hard to say. I think aesthetics are really important, but the conceptual side is meaningful as well. I’m not highly conceptual; to me art has to be visually striking to pull you in. Because without it, the thing that draws you to art is lacking. Humor is really a part of my work. Even if we are dealing with deep issues, we have to be able to learn to laugh at them; to be able to understand them, so we can take control over them. What do you think about the photography obsession of today and the ease of posting and sharing via Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook? I love it and hate it at the same time. It’s a very mixed reaction. I will have my fans that will write me about my work and tell me how much they like it. They are in school and haven’t developed their style yet, so they mimic mine, which is completely normal in the beginning of one’s career. But because of Instagram, because of how easily you can post things these days, if someone isn’t familiar with my work and if I feel like I haven’t established myself enough, then the copyright is lost. It can be frustrating, how easy it is to post something with Facebook and Instagram and gain instant recognition. But part of me does like the accessibility of it all, because I don’t think art should be such a secret object. We live and breathe it and we should have it as a part of our life, to be able to go out and express ourselves.

Can you tell us about your last project? What was the main focus? The title of my last show was “Sincerely yours”. I picked it because it’s such a common way to finish a message, almost like an omen, but does it mean anything? When you write it, you are making yourself vulnerable, you are totally giving yourself to somebody. So a lot of my work at the show was about vulnerability, anxiety and the fear of the unknown. I showed my “Monster” series, which had a lot of humorous elements and explored those issues in a lighthearted way. What are you working on right now? What is your latest obsession? I moved out to Los Angeles for a couple of months. And when I came back to New York, I noticed my photography work became a lot more humorous, which, I’m sure, was influenced by LA. My photographs also developed a darker side. I couldn’t talk from the depth what the work is about right now, but I think it has to do with the fact that I was trying to force myself to move to LA, to change who I am. I was exposed to many different types of people there, influenced and overwhelmed by them. My main focus of exploration was the darker side of being positive, the side that hides the true self. So hopefully it will be interesting to see how it turns out. When is your next exhibit? My next solo project is going to be at the House Projects sometime in September. But I have shows that are upcoming before that. I have a group show right now in Germany and one coming up in London.

www.alisonbrady.com NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.33


Feature

The new

RENAISSANCE man

Brendan Fallis. Photography NELSON CASTILLO styling JOHN-MARK Interview JOHN-MARK

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Sweater Highland Shirt Olivier Green Denim jeans Levis Watch MontBlanc

was already seated when Brendan Fallis walked into our lunch meeting with an infectiously confident gate. “Sorry I’m late. I biked here,” he apologized. Knowing him as a nightlife DJ, I was surprised to imagine him atop a bicycle so early in the day, then I reminded myself that he is also the man who manages the health-conscious coconut water, Wailoa, among multiple other enterprises. As the brand manager of Dee and Ricky, management consultant of NMRKT, and the DJ/Manager of Theophilus London, this Canadian transplant has his hands full yet still manages to hop on a bicycle.

only DJing from the hours of 6pm to 10pm lately. Now I think the mornings are the most productive. I try to get to the gym early, so the 9am to 1pm time is always the best. When you’re in New York, you find everyone taking meetings in the afternoon as excuses to drink in the early evenings. You know it’s, “Let’s go for a drink around five.” Your day then becomes slowly less productive, which is why I’m segueing out of nightlife DJing.

As someone who wears a lot hats, what time of day do you find most productive?

I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur, for sure.

That’s changed recently… When I was working until 4am, obviously then everyday around 2 or 3pm I would crash and want to nap. Because I try and wake up and be working by 10am, I’ve segued to basically

Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

Are you the first in your family? In my generation in my family, I’d say my sister’s been at it for a little than I have. She runs an online business and did the home staging


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“I think it’s so motivating to know that out of all our creativeness, we can create cool successful jobs and have fun doing it. I think that’s motivating.” before that. My Dad is a lawyer in a small town, so he’s kind of entrepreneurial in running his own practice. What motivates you? I think what keeps me motivated are interesting people and their stories of success. Especially in New York there are so many people here who are successful for so many different reasons, because they moved here, they took a risk, and made one turn they didn’t know would take them somewhere, and it did. They just followed that path and kept on it. I find that’s really motivating to know, as we’re all told as kids, “You have to be a doctor or a lawyer or a businessman.” I think it’s so motivating to know that out of all our creativeness, we can create cool successful jobs and have fun doing it. I think that’s motivating. What’s been some of your most rewarding experiences thus far? Life in general. Getting to tour the world with Theophilus has been

pretty cool. I was just in Australia last week… Russia, I’ve been to Russia. I think the traveling has been a series of places, Minneapolis in January, you know, places I would have never expected to go and I found myself enjoying. I was trying to not only go there for the tour stop, but to get out and see a bit of the city, to understand why people are there and what drives the city. That’s been an incredible life experience, but I think the overall best life experience is moving to New York. I’ve only been here for 5 years, and it’s changed my life drastically. I was going to be a commercial real estate agent in Toronto before I moved. It’s just funny how life changes, and I only came here because one of my good friends that I used to ski with started a business here, where he launched fashion brands into the U.S. market and thought it would be really cool if I came and worked for him. There were three partners and I was the fourth. That was it. Brendan Fallis is currently touring with Theophilus London. Be sure to check out his website: www.brendanfallis.com


Blazer Olivier Green PHOTOGRAPHY NELSON CASTILLO STYLING JOHN MARK make up artist Amanda Markoya hairstylist Keila Sone STYLING ASSISTANT ANDREA BOEHLKE SPECIAL THANKS GABE WALKER

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editorial

color

in The

Lines Photography IJfke Ridgley Styling Taylor Jergens

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Shirt Gabby Applegate Python print JacketMini Market Python Print Shorts Mini Market Clutch Vintage shoes Michael Kors


Jacket Mini Market knit Dress Henrik Vibskov Clutch Aldo ankle booties Stylist’s Own


Dress Cres E. Dim Jacket Cres E. Dim Vest Son Jung Wan Sunglasses Paul Smith NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.41


Shirt Marc Jacobs Pant Son Jung Wan Shoes Ami Clubwear NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.42


Shirt Funktional Pleated Pant Funktional tweed & leather Jacket Funktional Leather Clutch Aldo


Sheer & velvet blouse Funktional fedora Hat H&M


Chambray Shirt Stylist’s Own silk Skirt Son Jung Wan Blazer Son Jung Wan Sunglasses RayBan ankle booties Aldo NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.45


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Shirt Marc Jacobs Pant Son Jung Wan Photographer IJfke Ridgley Styliing Taylor Jergens Make up artist & hairstylist Rachel Mohwinkel Photo Assistant Carsten Kalkman Model Yulia at Q Models


Chambray K n ig h t Photography Amie Milne Styling Rebecca Vitartas


denim shirt Subtitled earcuffs cue ring & necklace Mr Throgmorton

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denim shirt Subtitled Jeans seed shoes wittner earcuffs cue ring & necklace Mr Throgmorton bracelet karla way/ exhibit k


shirt Bassike necklace karla way/ exhibit k chain Natalia Milosz-piekarska


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denim shirt ralph lauren denim shorts insight earrings & ring Natalia Milosz-piekarska NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.54


shirt Vanishing Elephant jeans stylist own shoes wittner gold necklace rachel ruddick silver finger necklace mr throgmorton earrings & rings Natalia Milosz-piekarska


denim shirt Subtitled shirt tied around waist dr denim denim skirt wrangler shoes wittner earrings & necklace Natalia Milosz-piekarska Photography Amie Milne -amiemilne.com styling Rebecca Vitartas -rebeccavitartas.com Make up artist Kate Blainey at Unsigned Management using M.A.C - unsignedmanagement.com.au model Alex Knight at Ford Models NY


tie dye shirt neon heart lace shirt stylist own ring & stud earrings Mr Throgmorton necklace at bottom karla way/ exhibit k necklace at top Natalia Milosz-Piekarska

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Licht Photography Roman Asmus Styling Christina Holzum

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Design

Reinventing traditional customs Into

Contemporary silhouettes interview irina romashevskaya NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.66


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eggy Tan of Mandarin and General is a Taiwanese-born designer on a mission to transform the ordinary. Combining traditional Chinese dressmaking with the contemporary silhouette, she is not afraid to step into the unknown and reinvent the wheel. Her vision is unique, and her garments are fresh and full of personality. What is your fashion background? My background is mostly in art and design, not in fashion. Mandarin & General is my first foray into fashion. How and when did you start your clothing brand? The idea started in 2009. I did a lot of research on Chinese garment history; I contacted two qipao masters in Taiwan and did a short term apprenticeship with them in the summer of 2010 to improve my knowledge in all aspects of traditional garment construction. My first capsule collection launched in early 2011. Aside from traditional Mandarin dressmaking, where else do you draw your inspiration from? I draw inspiration from all things I find interesting or important in life, such as art, history, film, books, news, nature, even social issues, etc. It’s hard to single out one aspect. It’s the beauty in daily occurrences that most often gets my creative juices going.

How would you describe the woman that wears your clothing? The Mandarin & General girls are chic, smart, and confident, with an acquired taste for various cultures. In your opinion, what sets you apart from other womenswear designers? My background, passion and understanding of both the avant-garde and the classic brought a refined balance of contemporary aesthetic and cultural tradition to Mandarin & General. Would you say you design aesthetic changed since your first collection? The principle aesthetic of Mandarin & General stays true, but I keep refining my designs from season to season. Given today’s competitive market, it is very important for me to communicate a strong, clear message, and although I always make a few aesthetic changes, it is always clear that each line I create is Mandarin & General. What are your favorite design elements and techniques? Pleats and slits. It’s a complex and challenging endeavor, but I find great joy in what I can create from certain subtle changes in design.


You used a lot of prints in the last two collections. Is it just a trend or have you always enjoyed working with prints? Do you design prints for your collections as well?

definitely an icon.

I love how playful prints can be, and how they can completely brighten up the whole collection. It is also a great vehicle for expressing my ideas because it’s very visual and direct. I do design prints myself but what I love even more, is to collaborate with many of my talented friends via this channel.

I’d love to dress Rooney Mara right now.

IR: What can you tell us about your FW13 collection? What are the key elements, color palette etc.? I am collaborating with Suzanne Song, an artist friend of mine, for my FW’13 collection. There are two beautiful and very graphic prints based on her paintings. Like her artwork, the color palette is very neutral and sophisticated. I also played around with the illusionary and graphical characteristics of Suzanne’s art in the details of the garments, and with the texture and opacity of the materials. Who is your style icon? Phyllis Lin (Lin Huiyin). She was beautiful, elegant, independent, intelligent, and romantic. Not many people know about her, but she’s

If you had a chance to dress a celebrity, who would that be?

“At this stage in my life, I have come to believe that organic growth is the healthiest way to progress.” How do you see your brand progressing in the future? What are your plans? I am taking one step and a time and focusing on perfecting my aesthetic. That is a never-ending possess, but I feel confident that if I continue to communicate a strong message, my Mandarin & General women will find us. At this stage in my life, I have come to believe that organic growth is the healthiest way to progress.


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lifestyle

DANCING ON H E R O W N

Nora Chipaumire Photography NELSON CASTILLO styling JOHN-MARK WRITTEN JOHN-MARK

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New York City dancer/choreographer, Nora Chipaumire, is the recipient of numerous dance awards including the Alpert Award in the Arts, the Afropop Real Life Award, the Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Award, the MANCC Cho reographic Fellowship and twoNew York Dance and Performance Bessie’s. To witness Chipaumire’s live solo work is nothing short of astounding, through the aesthetic of her riveting solo work can be hard to put to words. As Chipaumire describes, “It’s like ballet, except that it’s not. I try to explain that what I do is an artsy concert form of dance that comes from my culture background. That’s just a shade that it has. The work is very personal. It’s sort of difficult to explain. I find it’s easier to make references to writers, painter, and filmmakers, rather than dance [forms] when describing my work.” Born in Zimbabwe during a time of great political conflict, Chipaumire remembers family above all else, “Now when I look back I say, ‘Oh, fuck. I grew up in a war.’ There was a whole war going on when I was a child and I didn’t really realize what it was until I was a teenager. I didn’t know what it meant to grow up in a war zone. It seemed to me that my childhood was nothing out of the ordinary, but now looking back it’s interesting to see that I lived through a whole change in political thinking. My family was as happy as families are… and equally as

unhappy as families are. We are so much alike everywhere in the world. I don’t think it’s special that my mom raised four kids by herself. That is so normal in this day and age.”

“Now when I look back I say, ‘Oh, fuck. I grew up in a war.’ There was a whole war going on when I was a child” Now Chipaumire, with the support of the dance community at large, is traveling the world and loving every minute. When asked what she would describe to be the highlight of her career, she shared, “I would say the highlight is traveling to new places and making all these fabulous friends. It’s because of dance that I’m able to travel to all these places and expand my world through meeting different people…. For example, this summer I’m going to teach in Tanzania, because of some friends I met in Senegal. Those are people that I met through some dance event.” At the end of the day, though Chipaumire’s work is often described as political in nature, she is a powerful, beautiful, and breathtaking dancer to watch onstage. “I just dance from the heart, really.” make up artist NICOLE JAY hairstylist Keila Sone STYLING ASSISTANT KRYSTAL MASON SPECIAL THANKS RENA REBORN


film

the tale behind life’s simple truth. marcelo bukin interview irina romashevskaya

Award-winning documentary filmmaker, humanitarian and world traveler, Marcelo Bukin brings to view real-life stories and opens our hearts. Known for his character-driven films and narratives, Marcelo continues to work his magic and creates some of the world’s most poignant visual spectacles about life’s simple truths. He dares to see the humor in serious topics and is not afraid to step off the beaten path to discover new ways of expression. His passion for filmmaking extends to making commercials and a possibility of extensive feature film work in the near future. Tell us a little about yourself personally and creatively? What first got you interested in film? I am extremely curious. I love life, stories, adventures, exotic places, colors, shapes, design, art, faces, feelings, surrealism… And most of all, people’s existential point of view. I believe that by truly connecting with a good story we can be entertained, transported and, hopefully, we can learn something from others and from ourselves. I love to be entertained and entertain. I was born with a Super 8 camera in my house thanks to my father, who is an amateur filmmaker. I was always interested in creating stories and discovering new ways of communicating ideas, so when the time came: I went to film school. Why did you pick documentary film work? My approach to filmmaking is actually more related to fiction than traditional documentary. I just love to use real people when it makes sense. When actors are needed, I really enjoy working with them in order to give life to each character. I believe the essence of a story goes

further beyond a genre -- we just need functional labels for marketing and distribution. Tell us about you latest project, Dreaming Nicaragua? Dreaming Nicaragua is the story of four charming children and their families who live in the tragedy of extreme poverty, but regardless of the circumstances, are surprisingly funny and optimistic. A “humorous” approach to serious topics such as this, seems to be working well with many different audiences, so we are obviously very pleased. What inspired you to make a film in Nicaragua? What is the story behind the film? Dreaming Nicaragua was created together with the Fabretto Children’s Foundation, committed to helping impoverished children and communities in Nicaragua. They do a wonderful job creating educational programs for Nicaragua’s future generations and providing support in the areas of nutrition and health. We wanted to create a project to show the humanity and dignity of these local people. Did you experience any obstacles while making this film? Were there any funny moments? Obstacles? Do you know the expression “Oy vey”? Nicaragua, filmmaking and children are all full of obstacles, so the list is very long. We even faced the death of one of our Nicaraguan collaborators. Funny moments? Many! Kids are magical, spontaneous, rebellious, and unpredictable. A moment I would never forget in my life is when Nauri,


a 7 year old girl I was interviewing, told me: “Ok, ok, you asked me many questions, and now it’s my turn, ok? Can I use the camera?” She took my camera and started to interview me. I couldn’t stop laughing because she was so funny and cute. But something else happened: she was incredibly smart and charismatic. That moment gave birth to something else that changed the film: we became friends and created together NAURI TV, her own “TV Show” that became an essential part of the project. Dreaming Nicaragua already received numerous awards and was also chosen as “Film of the Month” by Amnesty International. What does it mean to you? I am thrilled and grateful. We’ve been receiving various international Jury and Audience awards, and I want the film to be watched by as many people as possible. Additionally, it will be great to be useful for FabrettoChildren’s Foundation. I would love to make more films like that, so all these awards and recognitions are very helpful. And it also doesn’t hurt that it makes my mother proud, which is a big thing for me. It’s obvious, you enjoy working with children. Would you say that kids are better actors than adults? Kids are amazing. Better than adults? I wouldn’t say that. I would say, they are much more spontaneous and less political. I love working with children because I have fun. I love to play. I am a kind of a kid myself when I am with children. They become my friends and I treat them as equals; I think they feel it and they like to play with me too.

mercial clients are a bit surprised but end up choosing those takes, so everybody is happy at the end. Personal? Yes, I am very personal. I love to connect, I like to get to know people and share special moments. We have the opportunity to collaborate and create something together, be it a feature film or a dinner meal: everything is much better when surrounded with good people than being alone. What are your favorite shooting locations? The story dictates the best locations. I always search for conceptual beauty, but if ugliness is needed for a scene -- So let it be “beautiful ugliness”! I’ve traveled quite a bit. I backpacked around the world before attending film school and went to many countries, exposing myself to a great variety of images and places. India and Indonesia, for example, struck me with their colors and light. A typical train station in India could be the most unique place to shoot a scene. You can spend a few days there with a camera and go home with stunning material for a feature. To wake up in a small village in Rajasthan and film Sadhus (holly men) riding on elephants can also be extremely exciting for me. But leaving the exotic aside, I am actually very happy to be shooting locally now. New York City is so vibrant, alive, and I want to experience it fully. I always prefer to use real locations rather than studio sets when possible.

“if you want to make a really good film, you have to be real and cliché-free.”

All of your films feel deeply personal: full of detailed shots and juxtapositions. Do you have a complete plan or do you rather follow the story as it’s developing? Each film is different. I learnt to trust that life will guide me in the process, and the system I’ve been using for years have proved it right. But I also need a detailed plan because I want my investors to sleep at night (and keep on sending the checks), and to be honest, I want to sleep well too. I studied technical architecture before filmmaking, so my analytical mind has been influenced by the marriage of industry and art since an early age. Design and engineering, they really do need each other, in my opinion. If I have big time limitations, I would execute a detailed storyboard, which I also enjoy making. But if the project allows it, I will leave some place for improvisation and the unknown. There’s a unique magic that you cannot plan when you have the characters, actors or real people, the camera, a good crew, all in that space and time together. That magic is more “magical” when we are all in tune, so for me that space of openness is as important as the people collaborating on a project. We are energy. When you have clear goals and a great crew to support you, and you do your homework very well, then go to the shoot and just trust that everything will be ok. Even in commercials I do it whenever I can. My last takes are often experimental when I have time for it. And I am thrilled when com-

Do you like to think about the audience while making the film? What goes through your head? What goes though my head? That sounds like a question from my former girlfriend. It’s very delicate. You do need to think about your audience, about the budget, about the producers and all the people that are investing, supporting and trusting you in your film – yes, it’s your unique responsibility as a director. But if you want to make a really good film, you have to be real and cliché-free. If the whole time you are thinking about how you are going to be seen, you live immersed in paranoia. So when we are all clear about our goals and project style, then I make the film I can really enjoy. I am lucky, because the films I love making are artistic and entertaining at the same time, so I try to make those kinds of films. The film director Tom DiCillo, who is a friend and an amazing mentor of mine, encouraged me to stick to my vision during filming of “Dreaming Nicaragua”, and that helped me a lot. Are you highly self critical? Yes. NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.73


“I think it is very important to be active, so your creativity is in a constant flow and you find yourself in good shape” Which film projects would you like to participate in the future? Would you be interested in filming features? Yes. I am developing features. I am very excited about working with actors, possibly creating a blend of drama and comedy like in Dreaming Nicaragua; shooting intimate, character-driven stories. I also launched my career as a commercial director, and the possibilities of storytelling in a short format are fascinating! Both in the traditional 30 second spots and in different formats of brand films for digital platforms, brands have to engage and entertain audiences more than ever, and are in dire need of new ideas and fresh energy. I love collaborating with copywriters and ad agencies; advertising can be an art form too. Which films and/or film directors have influenced your vision? So many… Woody Allen, Fellini, Emir Kusturica… I also love Kim Ki-Duk, a Korean director who is a master of visual poetry. From the cinema-verité type of films I would also add Albert Maysles and Fredric Wiseman. NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.74

Are you developing or working on other projects apart from films? Yes, I like to nurture creativity in many ways. I do photography, mixed media and acting. I am also collaborating with other artists on diverse projects involving visuals and surrealism. I think it is very important to be active, so your creativity is in a constant flow and you find yourself in good shape, happy and ready for new assignments. What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a film career? To go to film school can be great, you can learn theory and it can be highly useful. But if you want to make a film, you have to go and make a film. Film schools give you the environment to experiment and put you in touch with your collaborators, other film students. It’s also good to assist in the area you want to grow the most, and to learn from your bosses meanwhile developing your own story. It’s hard work, people think is all about festivals and parties, which can be fun of course, but you have to work very hard to make a film. So my best advice is to go and, frankly, just do it.


www.bukinfilms.com


lifestyle

Bogota The Colombian Journey Photography Irina Romashevskaya written by irina romashevskaya


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olombia, the country as rich in history and culture as it’s geographically varied. Many times it’s been called “the melting pot” of Latin America and with a good reason. Colombia has many faces. It surpasses your ex pectations and offers plenty of opportunities making it a great travel destination. Exuberant, flavorful, with a variety of landforms, it’s a country of contrasts and endless discoveries.

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pilgrim and tourist destination, which can be accessed by aerial tramway, a funicular or simply by hiking if desired. The summit hosts a delightful restaurant, many souvenir shops and a beautiful church located at the very peak. Be aware of possible altitude sickness however; at the elevation of 10, 341 ft. you might need to take a break for a sip of flavorful tea made from coca plant leaves, which will help you relax and calm your senses.

Colombia’s capital, the city of Bogotá, features many museums, art galleries, libraries and old architectural gems among other attractions. Museo del Oro (Gold Museum), holds the biggest collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts in the world, and is one of the most visited museums in the country. If you are not afraid of heights, then taking a ride to Monserrate to get a good view of Bogotá will be a splendid idea. Monserrate is a known

The city of Bogotá is also a great shopping destination for anything that has to do with artisanal design and crafts, not to mention a favorable exchange rate for visitors from US. There are a few artisanal markets in and around Bogotá, with one of the most famous being Mercado de Pulgas de Usaquen, where you can find anything from local treats to unique handmade wooden jewelry, beautiful textiles and crafts. The other interesting


“There is a lot to admire about Colombia, and Bogotá with its surrounding areas and towns is just a starting point in the series of enchanting discoveries and unforgettable moments.”

shopping location is “The Pottery” factory located in the small town of Sopó. Here you can not only buy colorful ceramics with authentic flavor, but also snap a few pictures of the life-size clay figurines surrounding the premises. Bogotá has many restaurants to please your palette. But if vegan or vegetarian, no need to fear that meat-rich Colombian diet. Colombia is also known for its’ abundance of fruit: Gauanabana and Maracuja, Granadilla and Pitahaya, Borojo and Uchuva, the flavors are just as exquisite as they sound. Not to miss are also delicious San Jeronimo ice-cream treats, made in small batches using only the freshest local fruit and ingredients at the local dairy farm just north of the capital. If you are staying in Bogota for a few extra days, it will be wise to take a trip to La Villa de Leyva, located just a few hours north of the capital. This quaint colonial town is full of charm and will make you feel welcome. A popular travel destination throughout the year, it hosts a number of music festivals, events and parades. From December to August the city is filled with tourists looking to find relaxation and great food. The city also offers horse riding tours of various lengths and promotes ecotourism. There is a lot to admire about Colombia, and Bogotá with its surrounding areas and towns is just a starting point in the series of enchanting discoveries and unforgettable moments. But what makes Bogotá different from all the other cities in Colombia is not its landscape, but its various facets. Bogotá is the city that doesn’t know fatigue, everything here is on the constant move and you’d have to be quick to notice its many evolutions. It’s the city’s energy that makes Bogotá enchanting, and its’ sense of irony that will bring a smile to your face, making you want to come back here to continue your Colombian journey. -I.R


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fashion

NEWYORKCITY’S OUTSTANDING FACES Nu-Mode´ Magazine has seen a lot of models come and go. Here are some of our favorite rising faces in the city of New York. written by john-mark

Katherine

At Agency Model Management

Hometown: Georgetown, South Carolina. In NYC: Five Months. Hobbies: Tennis. Inspiration: Candice Swanepole and Kate Moss. Music: I love bands from the 80’s and 90’s! Most Treasured Possession: The ring I wear on my thumb. It belonged to my grandmother. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Her: Katherine reminds us of a young Kate Moss. PHOTOGRAPHY NESS (JULIE GUEZ & KELLY KREYE) NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.82


tristan

At next models

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia. In NYC: Four Months. Hobbies: Scuba, Photography, Cooking with strange ingredients. Music: The Black Keys, The White Stripes, John Lee Hooker, Macklemore. Inspiration: Charles Dickens’ work ethic, unqiue photographs, and Dr. Charlie Teo. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Him: Tristan exists in a world between a Hollywood Heartthrob and a Greek God. Both fashion and commercial clients swoon at his feet. PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANA SCRUGGS


Devin

stig

Hometown: Oakland, California. In NYC: One Year. Discovered: By Designer, Rodney Epperson. Inspiration: Tyson Beckford. Book: Modelland by Tyra Banks. Favorite Destination: Barbados. Motto: You’re only as hot as your last piece of work. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Him: His beautiful features. Devin’s ethic mix is primarily Bajan and we were breath taken to discover he is actually a natural red head. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SPENCER KOHN

Hometown: Mannheim, Germany. In NYC: Two Months. Hobbies: Skateboarding. Childhood: My parents allowed me to travel at a young ago and hang out with older dudes, so I think grew up pretty fast. Music: The Black Keys, Radiohead. Most Memorable Job: Marc Jacobs. Motto: You were born an individual – don’t die a copy. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Him: Stig is like the boy next door with European elegance. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SPENCER KOHN

Colby Model Management

alyona At MC2

Hometown: Kyiv, Ukraine. In NYC: Seven Months. Hobbies: Mind exploring talks with weird people. Inspiration: Veruschka, Grace Jones, Jean Paul Goude, Frida, My Mother. Music: Kanye West, Frank Ocean, The Weekend, Polica, Glen Porter. Treasured Possession: My baby Minolta XG 1 camera. Greatest Memory: Getting signed with an agency on the other side of the planet. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Her: Alyona’s haunting cover of Relapse Magazine’s End of the World Issue. PHOTOGRAPHY NESS (JULIE GUEZ & KELLY KREYE)

Q Model Management

talia

At Agency Model Management

Hometown: Voorhees, New Jersey. In NYC: Eight Months. Hobbies: Sketching, Painting, Pinterest. Inspiration: Family, street style, Liv Tyler’s lips, Karen O’s attitude. Fondest Memory: Taking a road trip to Tennessee in 2010 to see Bonnaroo. Treasured Possession: My mother’s jacket from the 80’s. My father was working in a clothing store when he met my mother by selling her that jacket. It was too big for her, but she bought is anyway and agreed to go on a date with him. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Her: Talia is refreshingly uninhibited and knows how to rock. PHOTOGRAPHY NESS (JULIE GUEZ & KELLY KREYE)


kai

Q Model Management

Hometown: Düsseldorf, Germany. In NYC: For Show Seasons. Hobbies: Acting, Skateboarding.Music: Bob Dylan, Masta Ace. Most Memorable Show: Moncler SS13 in Milan Fashion Week. Most Memorable Shoot: Editorial on a dog farm in Japan, seven hours outside Tokyo. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Him: Kai caught our attention in a Topshop campaign. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SPENCER KOHN NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.85


chiyo

At Agency Model Management

Hometown: Koby, Japan. In NYC: One Year. Hobbies: Trying new things. Music: Def Leppard. Greatest Memory: Flying over New York City as I arrived from Japan. It was a special moment and the start of the greatest chapter of my life thus far. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Her: Chiyo is a unique beauty and hasn’t let the roughness of the industry stop her from being sweet, patient, and kind on set. PHOTOGRAPHY NESS (JULIE GUEZ & KELLY KREYE) NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.86


gavin

At new york model management

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio In NYC: Three Months. Music: A$ap Rocky, Wolves at the Gate. Greatest Memory: Watching horror movies with my papa before his death. Hobbies: Boxing. There’s nothing better than knowing you’re a lanky Ohio boy who can stand his ground. Treasured Possession: Family. Why Nu-Mode´ Loves Him: The Fashion Pout. PHOTOGRAPHED BY DANA SCRUGGS ART DIRECTION JOHN-MARK STYLING JOHN MARK & OMAR ALEXANDER make up artist Amanda Markoya & JENNIFER MILLAN hairstylist Keila Sone & lindsey williams STYLING ASSISTANT KRYSTAL MASON INTERNS Milton Garay & Cassandra Brost SPECIAL THANKS Samantha Phillips, Daniel Rampulla


Editorial


necessary Roughness Photography Dana Scruggs styling JOHN-MARK

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NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.90

Sweater highland Pant Levis shoes Palladium


shirt Olivier Green


earring models own shirt express sweater Diesel


on cameron: sweater highland pant levis on francisco: sweater highland

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on cameron: sweater highland pant levis on francisco: sweater highland


on cameron: sweater highland pant levis on francisco: sweater highland


shirt olivier green pant cheap monday


on cameron: sweater highland pant levis on francisco: sweater highland Photography danna scruggs styling john - mark Styling Assistant Raquel Zerbe Hairstylist Gabriel Hostetler Models Cameron & Francisco at Re:quest Special Thanks Andy Parker

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Elodie Photography Emily Abay styling Carlos Mangubat

shirt CASA MIMO Necklace & hook ring ATTICA Skull Ring MR GREY Mirror Ring ERSTWILDER

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dress DIZINGOF Gold Plate METTLE at FAME AGENDA Gold rings MR GREY claw ring attica Clutch bag dvf Fur Tail CASA MIMO


Jacket Dolce & gabbana shorts casa mimo necklace MR GREY ring paro paro


Jacket escada at mio tesoro vintage top American Rag Skirt M Missoni Ring Mr Grey bag knits & knots NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.101


Jacket DIZINGOF bodysuit ROBINA AKIEM Pants casa mimo cuff mr grey necklace Melko shoes DOLCE & GABBANA at LUISA BOUTIQUE NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.102


top JASMINE ALEXA ; Shorts LISA TARANTO Necklace CASA MIMO ; sunglasses Subject to Change Ring ALEXANDER MCQUEEN bracelet MR GREY Clear Purse METTLE at FAME AGENDA Scarf (inside purse) CHRISTIAN LACROIX


dress ALEXANDER MCQUEEN skirt SCANLAN & THEODORE belt METTLE at FAME AGENDA ring MR GREY bag AMERICAN RAG shoes PROENZA SCHOLAR


Dress DIZINGOf shirt & belt CASA MIMO bangle MELKO Skull bangle ALEXANDER MCQUEEN hat rag & Bone NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.105


dress DIZINGOf jacket VANISHING ELEPHANT necklace MELKO bangle paro paro chaine ring mr grey hoof ring attica shoes tom gunn NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.106



shirt tibi Jacket CASA MIMO Pants ROBINA AKIEM Belt HARDINATA PRONOWIJOYO TJOA Skull Ring ALEXANDER MCQUEEN Arty Ring YSL Bag METTLE at FAME AGENDA


Pant, Jacket & Belt CASA MIMO Necklace MELKO Ring YSL Shoes COSTUME NATIONAL at LUISA BOUTIQUE NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.109


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dress Dvf skull ring mr Grey stud ring attica Photography emily abay-emilyabay.com Photographers Assistant Peter Nevett-peternevett.com Styling Carlos Mangubat-carlosmangubat.com Stylist Assistant Laura Bennett Make up artist & hair stylist Kate Blainey-unsignedmanagement.com.au Kate Blainey uses M.A.C & Kevin Murphy Model Elodie at Chadwick Models


I Crave

You

Photography Vlasta Pilot styling Kim Lai


Lace corset & skirt bloom bazaar NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.113


dress bloom bazaar shoes stylist own NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.114



Lace mask bloom bazaar


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dress Zanetta Im


suit zara


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dress bloom bazaar NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.122


Photography vlasta pilot Styling kim lai Make up artist & hair stylist vlasta pilot Model harper video dan mcbride


Every

second

l a s t s a

Lifetime Photography Kerry Lytwyn


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Photography Kerry Lytwyn Make up artist & hair stylist Rachel Gallagher Model Fern Calderwood, Model Team Glasgow NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.133


music

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Meital Dohan IS LOVE. q Having my own pre-conceived notions of what an interview with a billboard pop star might entail, I was blown away to find that Meital Dohan was in fact, as intelligent and thoughtful as she was beautiful. The musician, actress, and author was delightfully uninhibited and more importantly, had a heart of gold.

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Photography Jessica Zerby Interview JOHN-MARK

The Nu-Mode´ team had the pleasure of hanging out in her hotel suite as she underwent her hair and make-up before a show at Roscoe’s in Boystown, Chicago. During our time together, she shared her story,her suitcase of magical wardrobe, and her spontaneous knack for running around hotel hallways. While she’s always up for fun, Dohan also imbeds meaningful messages in her work and her mission as an artist. It’s a love campaign and everyone’s invited. Meital, you are such a multi-talented woman. You have a book, you are doing music, and I first saw you as an actress on the TV Show, Weeds. What would you say is your main focus right now? Right now the focus is in my music, but I’ve been an actor my whole life. So I’m an actor/singer. I combine the music with comedy and messages that I’d like to address. What do you feel was the most formative moment of your career? When I was 13, I started studying acting officially. One of the first projects was they took us to help choreographer, Pina Bausch. She has this phenomenal show with roses, and I was one of these kids that put roses on the stage. That was what I wanted to do first as an artist. I wanted to do multimedia and dance art.

I noticed that a lot of the messages from your book translate to your music as well. I deal a lot with the gender change that’s happening these days. Especially with the advance of technology and the web. So many people give love less priority and less meaning. Love used to be really popular [laughs], and the value of family. Women have had to become these superheroes who are supposed to be this house wife still, but a career woman, and sex objects. There are a lot of expectations for them. Do you feel your music is political? How do you feel when people use that word? [My work] has been described as being “the new feminism”, which is supporting women being sexual, but also addressing where society has taken us. I’m happy with that description. I’m always trying to portray that sexuality by treating men the same way men treat women. It’s an interesting process. I’m curious to see where it goes. So tell me a bit about Weeds. What an addicting show! You were on there a while. I was on the second season then they brought me back for the 100th episode in the final season. It was amazing, like pure pleasure. You


“I’m happy to see that my music touches people and I feel there’s so much that should be done these days, because people need more love.” can see it really on the screen. When you come on set everyone is so modest. It was amazing to come back for the 100th episode and everyone was still the same, so kind and humble. There’s been a great response from your single with Sean Kingston, “On Ya.” Tell me a bit a bout that process from start to finish. “On Ya” is my second single, so I’ve been very pleased with the reception and the reaction. It’s been #5 on the UK Club chart. Basically, Sean [Kingston] and I recorded the album and I met Ray Kay, the director. We sat down and brainstormed what we wanted to do in the video. We shot it in one day.

How are you looking to grow the most this year? I’m looking to make music that is compiled with some great hits that the audience can dance to, but I’m also looking to present the other part of my work that is the more quiet lounge music. I’m happy to see that my music touches people and I feel there’s so much that should be done these days, because people need more love. We need to start talking about love and relationships. Not so much the me me me in the center. Every song on the album is a love song. Society talks about gun control, the war, and the environment, but people don’t talk about how families are falling apart. We’re just missing the simple elements of communicating.

What I liked most about the experience was... I always wanted to fly. I always have dreams that I’m flying. I came to rehearsals, which were with a group of cheerleaders and I was supposed to have a [stunt] double for all the jumps and flips and everything. They said “Meital, why don’t you try this move?” then “Why don’t you try that move?” and I ended up doing all the flips and [stunts]. Personally, it was a dream come true. I thought maybe I should have just become an Olympic gymnast.

As an artist do you feel that its tough to separate your own personal desires for your music from the pressure of the industry to fit a certain genre or have a certain kind of appeal?

It’s visually stunning. Where was it shot?

Have you started to think about how you’d like to realize that album in a full evening length show?

It was in a desert location two hours from LA.

A [composer] I work with just sent me a song, and you know, I like the song, but it was the type of song you hear on the radio. I mean, you make music for the audience, but I think once you hear the whole album it’s going to include both of those worlds.

Lots of fire!


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“As a professional, I like to push boundaries and I like to be provocative.”


Fire?! Fire! Any other features to the tour? Aside from fire? Maybe I’ll do a show with Charlie, my pet tiger. Wait. You have a pet tiger? Where does your tiger live? In my backyard, in LA. How old is he? Fifteen. He’s old. Do you have any other exotic animals? Any flamingos? Alligators? No yet. I actually have a sculpture of a flamingo in my house. It’s interesting that you said that. You kind of channeled my house, like “I see a flamingo there.” You just need a monkey named John-Mark. It’s a good name, John-Mark. It sounds like a writers name.

Like, who are you again? Oh yeah. In September I thought I wanted to get married, but now I’m not ready again. So how have you liked living in LA? I like it. I like it more than New York right now. Just because it’s more open and a lot more people came to LA recently, so it became more eclectic and cool. LA was also my first home city in the US. How did you first come to the United States? I moved here for the show Weeds… but my first role in the US was a tiny role in The Sopranos. Then my manager here submitted me [for Weeds] and I auditioned. What is your relationship with your parents like? I love my parents. They’re very sweet. My father works on environmental startups, to purify water and air, and my mom is a fine artist. How do your parents feel about your music videos? They like it. At first my father was like, “Why do you always have to be naked?” As a professional, I like to push boundaries and I like to be provocative.

Thank you. Are you dating right now? Not really. I’m dating in the new trend of dating. You date many people

PHOTOGRAPHY Jessica Zerby make up artist & hairstylist Lia Rivette SPECIAL THANKS Nedda Soltani & Uriah Mendoza


music

Welcome to the

Dainjazone q INTERVIEW Andrea Boehlke image courtesy of Anderson Group

H

e has traveled the world DJing at the hottest clubs with party people LMFAO. However, there is more to DJ Dainjazone than just the Party Rock Crew. This stylish DJ went from pursuing professional baseball to becoming one of the most sought after DJs in the country. In this exclusive Nu-Mode interview, DJ Dainjazone breaks it down for me on how he made the transition, where he sees himself going from here, and how he got his trademark name. So, first of all, Dainjazone is an awesome name. How’d you get it? When I was in college, I was a big fan of the rapper Big L, and he had a song called “Danger Zone”. At that time I wanted to be a battle DJ, so I thought it would be dope to have the name Dainjazone going into a DJ battle. The song, to me, was incredible, and Big L is such an articulate rapper, so I decided to put it all together. Wait, hold up. This DJ battling thing sounds intriguing. Can you break that down for me? Basically, you battle on turntables and it’s judged on creativity. You take a song and redo the beat with two records, which is called “juggling”. The beat goes a certain way, but when you battle, you flip the beat and rearrange the notes and the kicks and the snares. You’re using lines from movies and songs and albums. I know you wanted to be a baseball player originally. When did you decide you were going to make the transition and pursue DJing? There was this one day when a big party was coming up for the baseball team and I said to myself, “Screw it, I’m just going to DJ this party.” My friends liked hearing a certain type of hip hop – not the stuff on the radio – and I liked the underground and old school hip hop as well, so I invested in a CD mixer. This was my fourth year in college and my senior year in baseball. That party was a hit and a lot of fun, so after

that I invested in turntables, a proper mixer; I started collecting records and that put me through my final year of college and paid the bills. After I graduated, I hit the fork in the road. Do I DJ and try to make a career of this? I noticed I was starting to get booked more and was building a following. Or was I going to take the baseball route and still have to wait for tryouts? At that time, DJing made more sense so I decided to take the DJing route. So it’s obvious that Sky and Foo party hard. I’ve always been curious – what do they do in their down time? Sleep. They go to sleep at 4 or 5 in the morning after partying all night. I’ll get up no later than 9 or 10 and have breakfast, but I don’t drink so there’s no excuse for me. By the time lunch comes around, I’ll get a text from Foo or Sky saying “Let’s go get breakfast or something.” Where is Dainjazone going from here? Any upcoming projects? I’ve been focusing on my new brand which is called Infinite Intelligence. I’m putting out a series of videos and the first one is going to be a teaser – it’s basically a lifestyle series. Us DJ’s put out videos to promote ourselves, which is how we stay booked and keeps us relevant in the social media world. But this video I’m putting out is going to be something completely different; it’s going to be walking you through what I do every day. I’m fortunate enough to be on the road and spin at incredible clubs all the time, so what I do during the day is more unusual than the average person’s schedule for the day. I love the term “Infinite Intelligence” because it means believing in doing stuff that you didn’t know you can do. There’s no limit to what you can do. The infinite wisdom comes from inside you and you don’t even know it exists; anything can happen and you just have to trust and believe in yourself. I’m always working; I can’t just sit at home and hope gigs will come my way and hope that Party Rock will do everything for me. There’s always something to be worked on.


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“I love the term “Infinite Intelligence” because it means believing in doing stuff that you didn’t know you can do. There’s no limit to what you can do.”


lifestyle

the integrity of style written by alexandra stevens images courtesy of supreme

From the streets of New York to some of the biggest names in modern pop culture, Supreme has come a long way from when they first opened their doors almost twenty years ago. The brand is now favored by music royalty, and receives endorsement and support from iconic brands, famous photographers, and style stars. Last year, Japanese fashion label Comme des Garcon teamed up their Comme des Garcon SHIRT line with Supreme to create a highly sought-after and hyped up capsule collection. The line was made up of apparel in clean cuts and a polka dot pattern, featuring a mirror-image Supreme logo. Skate star Jason Dill modeled the exclusive capsule, a perfect representative for the brand’s street-saavy roots. The two brands came together again a year later with a Spring 2013 capsule collection that hit stores on March 14. As another well-respected brand with equally as many celebrity fans, Comme des Garcon provides great support for Supreme’s continuation of unique, quality collections. This year’s collaboration between the two fashion lines includes similar styling to last year’s, the polka dots this time layered over a trendy digital camo. The inverted Supreme logo finds its place throughout, the Vans once again provides Half Cab and Era sneakers. Indie darling and rising fashion icon Chloe Sevigny joins Jason Dill for the collection’s look book, further proving the brand’s knack for attracting support from interesting and edgy celebrities. Supreme’s logo can now be found everywhere from the halls of the closest high school, being reblogged to every corner of Tumblr, and on NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.142

the perfectly coiffed heads of off-duty models. During the city’s last Fashion’s Night Out, a man showed me his tattoo of one of the images from Lady Gaga’s collaboration with Supreme. So for a brand that has been launched from street to sartorial, how do they manage to keep the mainstreaming from making them irrelevant? Somehow suburban teens proudly swiping their parent’s credit cards for a “dope” Supreme hoodie doesn’t seem to hurt the integrity or cool of the brand. Supreme stays sought-after with exclusivity, endorsements, and a dedication to their integrity and style. The brand only has two US locations, the original in SoHo and a second in L.A., while London and Japan house the others. Even with their online store, there’s a certain allure in only having a limited number of physical locations to see and try on the merchandise in person. Then there’s the is constantly collaborating with some of the biggest names in fashion and music, with everyone from famed fashion photographer Terry Richardson to powerhouse brands like Nike. The kinds of stars that wear Supreme are the same stars that have crazed, obsessive fans that love nothing more to emulate their looks. A$ap Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and and Kate Moss all have an entirely different look and appeal, but all wear Supreme. As the finicky world of fashion continues to turn out brands, boutique-style lifestyle brands such as Supreme bring a style that has potential for serious staying power. A.S

www.supremnewyork.com



music


for fun w i th

Big Dipper q

Photography Bryan Whitely WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK

“It’s so cold out.” Big Dipper and I sit glued to the comfortable sofa furniture of Bryan Whitely’s Chicago studio. Having walked from the train to the shoot location’s door, we had just braved the painfully frigid temperatures of the windy city’s winter and decided to chat before beginning the editorial shoot.

that... the two identities of myself and my performative-self have come together now.”

“Some people call me a bear rapper, some people call me a Jewish gay rapper, and some people call me a white rapper, or a white gay rapper. I just say, however you need to get into it, more power to you. I’m into whatever people want to call me, because they’re saying me name.” But it’s not just the fans who are saying Big Dipper’s name. Publications, festival organizers, and industry elites have begun to pick up what the Dipper is putting down and with great momentum.

It is no secret that the queer movement in hip-hop, and the swift progress of GLBT rights in general is largely due to the internet. In speaking on how his own career was birthed online, Big Dipper shared on his last trip to New York City, “One of my last days in New York, I went to WestGay and I saw Le1f and Mykki Blanco and they waved and I went over and talked to them. Cazwell showed up... it was like the internet was alive in that room. It’s fascinating, the people that are in to what I’m doing on the internet only know about [me] because I have the access to just put my product out. On the flip side of that, when my videographer and I make something, we sit on it to make sure the timing is right to put it out. I feel like because, there is so much access, people really need to filter through to figure out what they want to latch on to.”

Having self-produced his first single and music video “for fun,” Big Dipper soon came to realize that what he started had the potential to grow into a full-time career. “I’m always still surprised when I get asked to do an interview or play a show, because I’m in a place where I can do anything I want and not have to answer to anyone artistically. I get to be the one in charge and it’s fun that people are receptive to

Complete with dancers and bright creative costuming, a Big Dipper performance is the kind of pure entertainment that is accessible to more than just the queer community. “The show I booked for next Wednesday is in a very straight neighborhood at a music venue and it’s not like a ‘Gay Night.’ That to me is really cool, because when I first started all I was talking to bar owners about was ‘When’s your Bear Night?” NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.145


“when I first started all I was talking to bar owners about was ‘When’s your Bear Night?”

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After witnessing the deliciously explicit content of Big Dipper’s music videos, I was curious to hear how receptive his mother had been to his work, “My mom has never liked hip-hop music, for like a long time. She’s calls me Dip, which I think is really funny. My extended family is like, ‘When’s the next video coming out?’ They all have my t-shirts and wear them at the annual family golf outing. They’re really supportive. My parents are older, my Dad is turning seventy next month. They’re supportive, but they don’t get down to the music.” While Big Dipper’s sexuality is at the forefront of his work, the lyrics of the songs themselves are without political agenda. While his position in the industry as a gay rapper may frame him as a hero, his rhymes do not seek to make him an martyr, but more so to express what every other heterosexual rapper is expressing: a desire to get laid. When conversing about viewing his work as political for the queer community, Big Dipper shared, “The sheer fact that I can do what I’m doing without needing to say what it is that I’m doing is a political statement.” He then referenced the famous RuPaul quote, “Every time I bat my eyelashes it’s a political act.” Much like RuPaul, Big Dipper has come to terms with the fact that while his aesthetic remains the same, wether or not society views his work as controversial is out of his control. But is this not also how he gained such recognition in the first place? He loves his body and his body of work too. To meet an artist so entirely confident and self reliant was inspirational. Big Dipper was a natural in front of the camera. Completely uninhibited with a perfect balance of hilarity and professionalism, he made shooting a blast. What I found to be his most admirable quality was what I would call an humble bravery. Having interviewed many pioneers of gender representation in the entertainment industry, I am used to witnessing a heavy thick-skin and somewhat jaded personality, which is understandable considering how very hard queer performing artists have fought for their careers.

“The sheer fact that I can do what I’m doing without needing to say what it is that I’m doing is a political statement.” With Big Dipper however, this was not the case. He has dared to be different and against all odds, maintained a kind and humble spirit. A fierce Drip Drop and a hot Meat Quotient later, he is still just a sweet kid from the suburbs of Chicago... Just don’t cross him bad or he’ll come for your Dad!

bigdippermusic.tumblr.com


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music

SRI’S Lea thomas

Photography Kelly Kreye & Julie Guez Interview JOHN-MARK

Sri’s music is everything we love and more. Nu-Mode´ spent a day with the band’s beautiful lead singer, Lea Thomas, for a quick Q&A and a shoot as ethereal as the New York City based band’s sound. How would you describe your music? We’ve been told our music sounds like “pop-minded post-rock.” Check us out live or listen online and you tell us! What is your favorite venue? Glasslands is one of our favorite venues to play. What do you feel has been your greatest challenge? A constant challenge, and something I think most bands would agree on, is trying to maintain the initial emotional sentiment of a song when translating it to a full band scenario or a refined recording. Tell me a bit about the origin of Sri? I met John Thayer in 2008 at an audio engineering school in the city. We started Sri as a casual outlet for our studio experimentation and ended up making a four-song EP for our friends before making the project a real pursuit. Who are your inspirations? Mark Hollis, Beth Gibbons, Jeff Tweedy, Ian MacKaye, John McEntire, John Dieterich, Patti Smith, Cormac McCarthy, Jim O’Rourke, Ira Kaplan, Paul Stamets, Rosemary Gladstar, Ali Farka Toure, and my friends, all the lovely art and music they make and share with us! Look and listen at ssrrii.com NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.150


the Top 6 Albums We Love 1. Beecher’s Fault - Misbehavior I have recently fallen in love with Astoria-based indie rock/pop group, Beecher’s Fault. My history with Beecher’s Fault is an interesting one. I ran into these boys while I was grocery shopping in Astoria back in 2011 to prepare for Hurricane Irene. They were filming a little video of people scrambling for groceries and caught me shamelessly buying vodka and chocolate (I still stand by my choices). I went home, immediately checked out their music and got hooked. Now, a year later, I decided to check in with Beecher’s Fault and discovered that they just released their newest album, “Misbehavior” on December 12th, 2012. I’m pleased to report that this trio delivers. The album is solid top to bottom and I find myself extremely attracted to the lyrics and message of the songs. The album weighs in on the frustrations of trying to understand society and what is going on around us, specifically in New York. These are the kinds of songs New Yorkers (or even just anyone in America) can relate to. In the song “Wall Street” we are confronted with society’s preoccupation with money and collecting paychecks. The lyrics offer something a bit more dark and complex with, “There’s a murder on Wall Street,” yet people would rather focus on the party they are going to as, “It should be a hell of a time.” “Say Something” is my favorite song of the album; the heartfelt song really showcases Ben Taylor’s vocals and the lyrics are beautiful. “If you love me, would you say something? Would you say something? Say anything?” The song has a beautiful, dreamy sound and really spoke to me. Then, Beecher’s Fault throws you in the opposite direction with “Liars” where they give you a more pessimistic approach: “All the people that tell you about true love are liars. Liars. They just lie.” I think the songs in this album are exceptional and completely addicting. I’m very impressed by “Misbehavior” and I suggest you should probably get obsessed with it too. I see great things lying ahead for this trio, and I’m super stoked that I can say I met them while buying vodka and chocolate in Astoria. -Andrea Boehlke 2. Pillowfight (Dan The Automator x Emily Wells) Fate in the form of a mutual friend brought together producer Dan The Automator (of Deltron 3030 and Gorillaz) with violinist/vocalist Emily Wells. The result of the musically-charged union is the sexy, sleepy, and cheekily-named “Pillowfight.” The project took Wells from her home in New York to Dan the Automator in San Francisco, where they created an album that seamlessly blends scratches and snares with piano melodies and soulful lyrics. Album standout “Sleeping Dogs” showcases the artists‘ strengths, Dan the Automator providing a traditional hip-hop style percussion-and-violins beat layered with Well’s longing vocals. “But you were beautiful/ And you were mine,” Wells sighs breathily as the violins swell behind her - it sounds like everything Lana Del Rey tries so hard to be. Looping and synths mingling with jazzy horns and raspy verses create that fluid and seemingly effortless sound that Lana can’t quite seem to capture. Collaborative albums can be risky, especially with artists who have never worked together previously, but luckily for this duo, the album serves as proof of some serious musical chemistry. Wells achieves a fresh version of that sultry old-school croon, and Dan The Automator’s smooth but complex beats serve as the perfect balance to the her rawness. “Pillowfight” manages to stay consistent without sacrificing some level of variety and surprise, presenting tracks like the sweet and earnest “Darlin’ Darlin’” alongside funky, 70’s-influenced “Get Down.” So as I continue to play “In The Afternoon” and “Get Your Shit Together” on repeat during my subway rides, I’ll also be plotting ways to instigate another pillow fight. -Alexandra Stevens 3. Tegan and Sara – Heartthrob “Heartthrob” is Tegan and Sara’s seventh studio album, adding synth-pop to their usual acoustic sound. Inspired by songs and artists of the 80s, Tegan and Sara create wonderful power ballads and dance tracks that work well with their signature style in melodies and hooks. The melding of their vocals in this new sound also emphasizes their usual pixie-like pitches, giving them a Cyndi Lauperesque timbre. The first single off the album, Closer, starts off in a more mod-ern and playful tune, which is followed by a more heartbroken anthem Goodbye Goodbye and I Was A Fool. The pace throughout the album is upbeat and creates an atmosphere that pays homage to great people of the 80s. The stand out song, Now I’m All Messed Up, shows the harmony of both New Wave pop and their overall tone and melody. Tegan and Sara worked with producer Greg Kurstin, who has worked with Lily Allen and The Bird and The Bee, to create a new pop sound of their own. After being in the industry for more than a decade, a change in sound can only be expected and enjoyed. - Milton Garay

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4. Toro y Moi – Anything in Return Half in Spanish and half in French, Toro y Moi (The Bull and Me) is the musical moniker for 26-year-old Chazwick Bundick. Toro y Moi is usually associated with his influence in the creation of “chillwave,” a pseudo-genre of synth-heavy ambient pop. Bundick has since made conscious moves to remove himself from the chillwave label, and “Anything In Return” is proof that his capabilities extend much further. Toro y Moi’s third studio album is an experimental take on traditional dance/pop, familiar bass lines paired with drumbeats and samples looped over lyrics about girls and parties. While all the tracks share a similar mellow feel as is typical of Toro y Moi’s work, the album as a whole is surprisingly accessible and versatile. “Anything In Return” opens with “Harm in Change,” a perfect introduction to a skillful blend of pop vocals and thoughtful production. Think Imogen Heap meets Flying Lotus meets 90’s pop. Sounds weird, but it works - for the most part. Skip track 10, Cake, a cheesy pop tune that opens with “She knows/Imma be her boy forever” and doesn’t get much better. Slight missteps aside, the album as a whole just has this aching sexiness. Is it groundbreaking? Probably not. Fun and likeable? Definitely. “Anything In Return” sounds like 52 straight minutes of “let’s make out” and sometimes, that’s exactly what you want to hear. -Alexandra Stevens 5. rachel potter - live the dream I first knew Rachel Potter as a theatre actress, watching her work her way up from a Disney World show singer to a starring role on the Broadway stage. Now fast forward two years and she is an up-and-coming country-pop star with a sizable New York and Nashville fan base. I think that’s what I like best about her debut album, “Live the Dream.” Rachel’s lyrics speak blatantly of her hard work, let downs, and love lost as she worked to live her dream. The title song especially infuses her “country girl meets city girl roots” with slick fiddle runs and lyrics about such New York accolades as her name in bright lights and her face on the cover of a magazine. Sound-wise, she is comparable to a blending of Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, and even some Brandi Carlile too. My personal favorite track on “Live the Dream” is the last track, a slowed down and acoustic song called “Hold On to Me.” It’s a sweet, simple James Taylor-esque cradlesong that shows a softer side to Rachel’s golden voice than the previous tracks. Co-produced by the renowned Nashville-based Jusin York, “Live the Dream” is available on iTunes now. Or you can catch Rachel’s farewell New York concert at Rockwood Music Hall on February 10, 2013 at 7PM before she moves to Nashville to begin work on her sophomore album.-Sam Prince 6. Adam Green & Binki Shapiro Adam Green & Binki Shapiro’s new album is a surprise collaboration between two previously independently working musicians. Fluid and refined with a touch of nostalgia, Green-Shapiro duet brings to mind another great collaboration -- of Nancy & Frank Sinatra. The cleverly put together album makes you feel adrift in a warm haze of sweet melodies and sad love lyrics. Juxtaposition of smooth sounding Shapiro and raspy voiced Green brings back the decade of Connie Francis and Peggy Lee, Andy Williams and Sinatra. The album is meant to be enjoyed slowly and thoughtfully, to get the full taste of the timeless music it was inspired by. It’s a definite must have for any oldies’ aficionado with my favorite songs being “ Pity Love”, “Don’t You want Me To”, “Pleasantries” and “What’s the Reward”. -Irina Romashevskaya


lifestyle

CHICAGO’S COOLKIDS q Photography Jessica Zerby Written by JOHN-MARK

Chicago has always been close to my heart. When I was a child, my parents would take me as a form of vacation. We would explore the museums, take in the local performing arts, and galavant around Millennium Park. While Chicago is much smaller than New York City, I had always heard good things about the city’s pursuit of excellence and their support for grassroots work. With photographer, Jessica Zerby, at my side, I decided to spend a weekend exploring the Windy City’s local arts scene to see just what kind of fascinating features I could find. Nestled in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, on the third floor of an unmarked building, sits Luis Miguel Bendaña. and Sam Lipp’s Queer Thoughts Gallery. A cluster of small white-washed rooms, the space is intimate in size, but exudes a refreshingly open and creative energy. “I moved into this apartment and the space sort of presented itself,” Bedana explained. “[Chicago] is a supportive community for people who are doing grassroots things,” shared Lipp, “We want to show work that isn’t try to force a specific reading on the viewer, work that is open ended.” Their first show featuring Drew Olivo (Known as Puppies Puppies) entailed murals, tinted plexiglass, and a live albino boa constrictor. “During the opening it sort of danced for everyone.” The Queer Thoughts gallery has also presented a fascinating echelon of work by Pia Howell, Alison Veit, Chloe Seibert, Alexine Haynes, and Thomas Schleinstein. Most of them Chicago locals, though an international artist is booked for later this year. With a company mission to promote post-identity agenda, as curators, facilitators, and artists themselves, Bedana and Lipp run the Queer Thoughts gallery with an industry knowledge and a fearlessness to be admired. All of the above, the ingredients to a legacy.


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EDAMAME The recipe for Edamame’s sound is a little lounge, a little techno, a little hip-hop, and sounds from nature. In his own words, “I usually describe my music as chilled-out-nature-infused-weed-smoking-beats. I blend a lot of styles into it. It’s also been described by a journalist as a ‘genre-less joyride of pleasure for the brain.” Edamame has put himself in a very unique position as an electronic artist. While most electronic producers have dreams of playing to a mosh pit audience wildly rocking to their beats, Edamame strives for a simpler satisfaction. “This guy told my on facebook ‘I’m listening to your CD as my wife gives birth.’ That was pretty awesome.” When I asked how his music translates to performing live he shared, “On New Year’s Eve they had me play at seven in the morning. People listen to it for sunrise, for road trips, for studying, for chilling out.” However, Edamame was not always as chilled out as his beats. Surprisingly enough, the native of Chicago’s suburbia started making music in his middle school’s Jazz band followed by a short career in a metal rock band. “I was a metal vocalist... I would scream at people basically. It’s completely different.” These days, it would not be uncommon to find Edamame out walking in nature, capturing sound clips for his next track. In addition to his own outdoor recordings, he also samples clips from nature videos on youtube. “I have a whole EP that’s themed off this part of New Zealand.” While I am looking forward to hearing Edamame’s interpretation of new Zealand’s nature, I still can’t say i know how to describe his sound. At least one thing is for certain: I absolutely love it.

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SOFIA LEIBY A painter, writer, a curator herself, Sofia Leiby’s multi-diciplinary lifestyle is the product of two parents who were journalists and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an emphasis in Print-Media. In describing her aesthetic Leiby explained, “I started out in drawing and printmaking... I had narratives in my head [that] I couldn’t draw fast enough.” This resulted in the beautiful paintings we see in Leiby today, a symphony of ideas on one canvas. In addition to her art work, Sofia Leiby has also teamed up with the notoriously talented photographer, Jason Lazarus, on a project called Chicago Artist Writers, which seeks to help visual artists talk about their work and ways to approach critical response. “We give [artists] connections they can use in the future and their also growing as writers.” Sofia Leiby successfully reaches excellence in her own right as a visual artist and a writer, but what I found most exciting is her interest in helping others and giving back to her creative community as a whole.


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Photography

The Experimental process INTERVIEW Latoya P. Henry

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rom working with Gregory Keith personally, I’ve learned he’s an intriguing photographer that possesses patience, persistence and perfection. Sculpting his subjects into living pieces of art, Keith naturally has an impeccable trait that’s slowly fading away from the modern photography scene. Drawing most of his inspiration from old cinema, surrealism and fine art. Keith captures the result of his images just from the click of his camera, without any digital manipulation. During our photoshoot I mentioned, “It’s truly amazing that he captured an image that looks like the final product after post production.’ His make-up artist mentioned, “This is the thing we love most about Gregory, he has a natural gift to photograph the final product on the spot.” He humbly explains his early beginnings of photography and photographing models in a raw state emphasizing their natural beauty and features. From there he has caught the attention of several international publications including Nu-Mode´, all seeking to collaborate with him. He’s officially convinced us, the era of the natural artist hasn’t slipped away, that it’s a hidden seed slowly expanding its roots once again for the world to see. Tell us a bit about your background, how did you discover photography was a career you wanted to pursue and when did you pick up your first camera? I started freelancing for Anthropologie, photographing for their website and from that moment on I started assisting photographers. I got my first camera when I was around ten.

What kind of camera was it and do you still posses it? A Kodak Ektralite 10 camera, holds 110 film and yes I still have it. Were you inspired by anyone to become a photographer? For e.g. famous photographers, artist, friends, or even a family member? When I was a kid I got to visit a local photographer’s studio and we made photograms. From that moment forward I was forever fascinated with photography. My grandparents were artists and my mother was always with camera in hand taking portraits of my brother and I. I believe it all has had a major influence on me and may be the reason where I am today. What’s a daily work schedule for you like and how do you manage to stay motivated? I’m either shooting, editing or producing my next shoot. It never stops. Keeping motivated is easy when you have a burning desire to create something. There is no other option but to make it Do you think your practice and the style of your work has changed over time? I would say it has progressed.


Exactly what it is you want to say with your photographs and does your audience understand the message you send through your imagery? I think the audience should develop their own idea of what the image means to them. Are there any photographers that have played a major role in your creativity process? If so name three photographers or artists who have inspired you and why? I love art that is either bright and has lots of color, or dark and mysterious. An artist that will challenge the viewer’s emotion and perception. The artists that inspire me are: Paolo Roversi, Sergei Sviatchenko and Henri-Georges Clouzot. And I suppose I can’t leave out Hitchcock! I remember you’ve mentioned that you wanted to gear, the outcome of your imagery towards fine art and surrealism. What do you find the most interesting behind these two aspects and how do you manage to translate your ideas into photographs? The most interesting aspect is the illusion, always being surprised and its psychedelic states. My process is often experimental. Describe the atmosphere/feel you create in your photographs and what sources do you use to find ideas and inspiration to develop your photographic vision? I’m not one to shoot hundreds of frames. My process is at a leveled pace waiting for a romantic moment. I watch a lot of old cinema. It inspires my lighting and often character development. Hulu’s Criterion Collection is brilliant!

“The most interesting aspect is the illusion, always being surprised and its psychedelic states. My process is often experimental.” There’s a dramatic, soft element behind your imagery. How do you develop these two traits without one overpowering the other? Just know when enough is enough. Personally do you feel photographers center too much attention towards post-production instead of the quality of an image, if so why? There has always been an element of post-production and that is to achieve the highest quality of the photographer’s vision. Personally I have to achieve my affect through my lens versus digital manipulation.

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Are you considering any exhibitions in the near future and how would you like to portray your work to your viewers? Yes, big prints, well lit, and simple and clean. What is the secret behind Gregory Kirkpatrick’s technique? That’s a secret. For emerging photographers, what are some techniques they should consider when pursuing photography? Learn everything you can about light, experiment with different processes and practice and practice more. Considering this is the New York issue, share with our readers what you love most about this city? The passion and drive everyone has to fulfill their dreams.

What are you hoping to gain from the experience of exhibiting your work? I’m not looking to gain anything other than the experience of the exhibition itself.

www.gregorykeith.com


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Artist

color, line & Proportions. PHOTOGRAPHY LADY TARIN INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

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Fashion illustrator Jessica Repetto is a multifaceted artist and individual. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts to Italian parents, she got her taste for fashion from an early age. Supported by her family that gave her the freedom of expression, Jessica created an original style and transformed her world though color, line and proportion. The alien-like quality of her illustrations, both intriguing and inspiring, reminds us of what fashion should truly be about: innovation, creativity and a unique point of view. Her sketches done live at the shows during fashion week add another layer to Jessica’s creativity. Simple and unpretentious in feeling, they outline the silhouette and feature major details, leaving the rest to our imagination. Was fashion always a part of your life? How did you become a fashion illustrator? Always may be an understatement. For as long as I can remember, design and style had played an integral and massive part of my life. It NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.162

Jessica Repetto infiltrated and conflicted with my school schedule as a child, in addition to consuming my free time and reading. This is possibly due to my mother and father’s passionate interest and knowledge of fashion, in particular, my father. I am constantly raiding his closet and my mother’s jewelry! I can remember going to choose the fabric for my First Communion gown -- what a painstakingly beautiful and complicated process that was just at the age of 7. My poor lovely mother was embarrassed as I requested to only see the “laces made in France.” My father was driving me to elementary school while wearing perforated leather driving gloves, knee-high fire engine red python boots, a leather Gucci bomber jacket and sunglasses. It was omnipresent: style, design, beautifully tailored clothing. I was always drawing and painting my whole life, but my career officially began when I moved to Milan for my third year of university. It was there and then that I was hired by Franca Sozzani to illustrate for Vogue Italia.


oscar de la renta


Richard Avedon


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What is your signature drawing technique? I’m a bit unsure of how to describe it? I loathe analyzing my work seeing how it derives from a very organic place. Do you always draw by hand? Which drawing tools are your favorite? I only draw by hand. If I had it my way, I’d only see a computer if I wanted to watch a film. There is a difference that is unparalleled when using one’s hands. At the present, it is fair to say that I am partial to India Ink and oil pastels. As for tools, these are in constant evolution and based on discovery. Currently I spend a lot of time working with spliced pieces of cardboard and my fingers, tomorrow could be something all together different. The work of which fashion illustrators do you find the most inspiring? I adore the work of Cecil Beaton, Rene Grau and Marie Laurencin. How would you characterize your own illustrations? Alive. What do you enjoy illustrating the most? That which has no relation to reality or precision.

What can you tell us about NYFW 2013? Which collections were your favorite? It was cold! I am sincerely partial to the Fall shows. They always seem a bit more exciting, there’s more pieces, dimension, and I am a fur fanatic. I have been illustrating the shows live since 2009, and this season I illustrated Oscar de la Renta and Marc by Marc Jacobs live for GQ. Illustrating live provides something that is so cinematic and alive, it is indescribable. My top three favorite New York shows have to be Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs and The Row.

“Illustrating live provides something that is so cinematic and alive, it is indescribable.” How would you describe you personal dress style? Currently it is very menswear inspired. I tend to naturally always gravitate towards tailored and more masculine pieces, but next week could hold something totally contrasting for 24 hours. I’ve never stayed within the boundaries of one aesthetic or “look”. What can you tell us about “Food meets Fashion” project you participated in earlier this month? Are you involved in any other nonfashion related projects? “Food Meets Fashion” was a project I participated in this month with NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.165


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writer Michelle Larsen. City Eats is owned by the Food Network, and Michelle’s aim is to bring together fashion and food, interviewing the fashion community where they love to eat in New York City. This month I donated illustrations to the American Cancer Society for their silent auction at their 8th annual Taste of Hope event. I also donated three original Vogue illustrations to their event last year, The Dream Ball After Dark. It is such a joy for me to contribute or help in any way that I can. Furthermore, I am also working with a new hip-hop artist, doing the creative direction for his music video to be filmed next month. Which projects are you working on right now? Do you have anything exciting you’d like to share with us? Currently I am working on a book of Illustrations Done Live at Fashion Week, my own accessories collection, and an editorial for a publication I cannot announce yet (!), in addition to my work as a consultant. I also just wrapped up illustrating live at New York Fashion Week, and I am currently working with photographer Matteo Diterlizzi making additional illustration films. NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.166

carine roitfeld


beach

gucci

www.jessicarepetto.com


editorial

beautiful restraints Photography Svetlana LK styling Cornelius Lafayette Danzey Jr.

black sheer top topshop black leather harness Zana Bayne


left: black dress Anya Zuyeva black leather skeleton harness Zana Bayne black shoes bebe right: leather jacket heather lawton leather skirt skingraft leather pant topshop

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left: Black Mongolian fur vest heather lawton Black leather harness belt & skeleton hand harness Zana Bayne shoes topshop right: black vest heather lawton Black leather harness Zana Bayne leather pant skingraft shoes topshop NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.170


sheer top topshop black leather harness Zana Bayne skirt olima


left: Black Monkey fur coat topshop Middle: black dress olima black patent leather belt Zana Bayne right: black sheer top with patent leather collar daniella kallmeyer Black leather harness Zana Bayne leather oversized biker jacket topshop black python leggings heather lawton


Left: leather jumpsuit asos black patent leather harness Zana Bayne right: feather jacket topshop black leather harness belt Zana Bayne feather skirt Julie Hoppe Photography Svetlana LK styling Cornelius Lafayette Danzey Jr. styling assistants Jeannine Brown & Christine Nicholson make up artist Pamela Sue & Nicole Jay hairstylist Kia Sterling hair assistant Crystal Clement Manicurist Sonia Garcia Models Andrea at Fenton Moon Kristel & Amber at Muse Models Olga & Andy at Soul Artist Management NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.173


black heart blue blood Photography gregory keith NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.174


on Eyes m.a.c eye shadow in carbon and deep truth. m.a.c. reflects glitter in blue on lips m.a.c lip mix in black. m.a.c. eye shadow in deep truth on face m.a.c. face and body foundation


on eyes makeup forever liquid eyeliner in iridescent red on lips makeup forever lipstick in black and bordeaux red on skin makeup forever hd foundation


on Eyes m.a.c. eye shadow in carbon, pigment in white, and acrylic paint in black on lips m.a.c. lipstick in dim on skin m.a.c. face and body foundation NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.177


on eyes m.a.c. acrylic in landscape green, eye shadow in carbon, and glitter in crystalled orange on lips dim lipstick on skin pro long wear concealer NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.178


on Eyes m.a.c. acrylic paint in black on lips m.a.c. lipstick in myth and acrylic paint in black on skin studio moisture cover concealer


on lips m.a.c. lipstick in myth and acrylic paint in black


on Eyes armani eyes to kill intense eye shadow in #15 on lips rouge d´armani lipstick in #204 on skin armani luminous silk foundation NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.181


on eyes armani eyes to kill quad in maestro on lips armani eyes to kill pencil in #1 on skin armani luminous silk foundation NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.182



on eyes estee lauder stay-on shadow paint in steel on lips estee lauder lipstick in gunmetal on skin estee lauder double wear foundation


on lips occ lip tar in demure and true black on skin occ skin airbrush foundation gold beetle; personal chrysochroa kaupii, evolution 120 spring street new york, ny 10012 photography gregory keith make up artist & manicurist colby smith haistylist ryan austin models sarah stewart at women-direct nyc & lena vorobva at supreme nyc make up artist assistant ashley frato

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B é b é en

n o i r Photography NICK BLAIR styling SARAH BANGER

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bodysuit ms couture skirt karen walkter at fame agenda lingerie suspenders hopeless ring Iosseliani at husk ( worn throughout)


bra stella mccartney brief ms couture


torsolette ms couture brief princess tam tam suspenders princess tam tam

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bra stella mccartney brief ms couture

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bra princess tam tam skirt hardwick


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bodysuit princess tam tam dress hardwick Photography Nick blair at viviens creative styling sarah banger make up artist & haistylist BRADWYN JONES at COCO PRODUCTIONS USING REDKEN PRODUCTS model ANNALEISE SMITH at CHADWICK models NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.193


Photography

JULIE & KELLY

ARE NESS

Interview JOHN-MARK

J

cameron

ulie Guez and Kelly Kreye are as different as they are alike. Guez, a native of France, was a protégé of the legendary Paolo Roversi before moving on to the Brooklyn photo studio she now calls home. Kreye, a native of Alberta Canada, traveled the world as a male fashion model, before joining with Guez to make the powerful photography duo they now call NESS. What was your first experience in the fashion industry? Kelly When I was really young I would go to the mall with my Mom and two sisters and they would shop for hours while I sat there and waited... I didn’t mind as long as I was spending time with them.

Julie Studio Pin Up in Paris, I was doing an internship at their lab. Working on the contact sheets of many different fashion photographers, I knew straight away I wanted to be on set. I bothered and haraNU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.194

ssed the former studio manager non-stop to take me in his studio’s photo assistant team until he finally did. I’m so grateful to Pin Up Studio and their whole team. Julie, you had the tremendous experience of assisting legendary fashion photographer, Paulo Roversi. What was that experience like and what do you feel was the greatest thing you learned from that experience? Julie One of the best times of my life so far… an amazing man, a master. It was like a spiritual photographic journey. The main thing Paolo taught me is to go where my heart leads me, always. He used to say, “You fix the tripod in the ground, you fix the camera tight, and you let your soul fly free.”


katharine

“I am very demanding and I don’t like fences or barrier that closed me in. When we shoot I need to leave things pretty open.” Kelly, how do you feel your career as a model has influenced the way you work behind the camera? Kelly [Having modeled] gives me the feeling that I’m more connected to what is going on around me, which allows me to relax and, I believe, enjoy the moment much more than I would have without that initial experience. How do you feel you two are most alike as collaborators? Kelly We are sensitive and very imaginative. Julie Ultimately, I think we wanted the same thing. We wanted to help each other to express ourselves. We are both passionate persons, generally speaking. How do you feel you are most different as collaborators? Kelly Julie is extremely smart and can see a much bigger picture, often more beautiful, in my eyes, than I can. She has a very unique perspective - you see it and it’s just beautiful. Julie I am very demanding and I don’t like fences or barrier that closed me in. When we shoot I need to leave things pretty open. I could propose another direction last minute if my heart tells me to do so. Whereas Kelly likes a real plan and he is much more organized.

What has been one of your greatest working memories? Kelly I thoroughly enjoy the production side. Some of my greatest working memories are when we just hang out, going and looking at equipment, talking to clients, finding & sharing inspiration, we talk in the kitchen a lot - photography, music, dreams, ideas, etc. Those are some really great working memories Julie Our first shoots together...the start of the start, so much joy and fun around. Also when Kelly told me we would be shooting Chelsea Leyland for Nu-Mode, I was incredibly excited and happy. Who would be your dream subject to shoot? Kelly At the moment? All the elderly people in my neighborhood they inspire me that there is a story to be told, one that would really affect other peoples lives. Julie Today, I would say Nick Cave, Neil Young, or Patti Smith. I admire them. Enjoy more of the Ness body of work at www.youareness.tumblr.com


STYLE

LIFESTYLE

PERSPECTIVE.

Omar Alexander

When did you know that you wanted to work in fashion?

I never wanted to work in fashion as it can be very fickle, prejudice and superficial at times. I’ve always admired art, pop culture, style and photography. Fashion Styling just happened to be a great medium to express these interests and share my art. I started modeling at 17 and after seeing how stylists worked creating a look based on current trends then adding their own aesthetic, I then decided to transition to styling and finally felt I was doing something fulfilling with my life. What was it like working with Jonte on his music videos?

Jonte’ will always be one of my favorite muses. Our work with together has always been very organic. He has a very strong vision on what he wants to look like, I just aid him in this process. Its an honor to work with someone with such an original aesthetic. Jonte was one of the first people to believe in my talent and really helped me push forward with my career. What do you think was the most defining moment of your career? When I started working for Patricia Field. She has always been one of my favorite style icons so working with her Reaffirmed to me that I was headed in the right direction Also, I learned a lot about my own personal style while working at the boutique. What has been your favorite editorial you have been apart of? My first ever editorial ever published was with Jonte’ for Harper’s Bazaar Japan. We were so ahead of our time with that story that it was published a year later in V Magazine in the US as well.

Photography Spencer Kohn Interview JOHN-MARK

“Its an honor to work with someone with such an original aesthetic. Jonte was one of the first people to believe in my talent and really helped me push forward with my career.”


photography Spencer Kohn STYLING Omar Alexander make up artist Amanda Markoya haistylist Keila Sone PRODUCTION JOHN-MARK

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Design

The dynamics of

Cody Ross Philosophy interview irina romashevskaya

I

about things that deal with the business side of fashion and art. I’m interested in all aspects of art, because art gives rise to fashion and underpins everything else; it’s very important to somehow formulate an aesthetic point of view.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I have always been creative, from the early age I’ve been sketching and drawing. I started applying different concepts to my sketches and drawings, to something real, which happened to be a vehicle that delivered my ideas into life. In 2008 our label got off the ground, it gained a ton of momentum right of the back: all these cool girls endorsing it and wearing it. Since then we’ve been doing special collections for stores or clients and developing our brand.

-D magazine editor at large, contributing writer to various international publications, the multitalented Cody Ross is also a designer behind the dynamic New York based label, Priestess NYC. Juggling between his projects at I-D, Chinese Vogue among a few others, Cody is a designer with a taste for artisanal, conceptual and scientific. His brand has been featured in numerous publications such as Nylon, Teen Vogue, Dazed and Confused, WWD and I-D. I had the pleasure of meeting with Cody just a few weeks before NY Fashion week to get a peak at his new collection, and to ask him a few questions on everything that had to do with fashion, art, philosophy and fractal theory.

I’m an editor at large at a lot of different publications and media outlets. I get invited to edit certain issues, submit things that have to do with culture, certain commentaries on different subjects. Sometimes I do concrete assignments for publications, but usually I just take my own point of view to whatever is happening and give my voice to it. I review art, interview artists and other fashion designers. I also write NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.198

How did you start your transition into clothing design? What led to development of you brand, Priestess, NYC?

What is the inspiration behind your clothing brand? The label is about the avant-garde and artisanal design. It takes inspi


ration from loads of things: chaos theory, number theories – it’s very diverse. There is punk rock in this, heavy metal, death metal, aliens, new wave, rave, the occult. There are a lot of themes that got incorporated into these collections. We are science and reason-based inspiration applied to garments. It’s all scientific and pseudoscientific. We study chaos theory for example, Laurent Praly’s work from the 80’s with double inverted pendulum… We like to apply philosophy to fashion, and we like to do that with art. We do our own prints and a lot of them are crazy, like this fractal sperm print, which is a bit freaky, but we are all about freakiness. We like clean silhouettes, so it’s a combination of dirty and clean. We also do fun style jewelry, like stuffed snake belts, for example, – a lot of different fun things. It’s a fun label filled with energy.

ing with Raphael Young, who is the coolest cobbler in Paris and currently the director of Calvin Klein accessories. He is a best friend and one of our favorite collaborators.

What is your favorite color?

We give a fraction of our proceeds to designated charities, for instance, two ofthem right now are crucially important to us. One is Operation Smile, based in Vir ginia, that provides free surgeries to kids born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and palate. Another project we like to support is called Wounded Worrier Project, which takes care of the needs of our severely wounded in battle soldiers. It’s so important to give to them, we are proud to be American. And of course, Staten Island victims of Hurricane Sandy via American Red Cross. We give as much as we can.

I’m into silver right now, into metallic surfaces, reflectors, really intense monochromes. But I’m also into neons. What is your brand’s demographic? We are catering to a very urban, cool girl, that’s into underground fashion. Can you describe your F/W 2013 collection? What was the mood behind? This particular collection – I titled it Drone explorations – has to do with CIA unmanned vehicles that loiter above Afghanistan and Pakistan. So it’s mysterious and ominous, secretive and ethereal. It’s scary, but also it’s a security blanket. So I took the drones, the actual drone vehicles, and deconstructed contours and the fuselage, applying this concept to our prints, leather padding and appliques from different fabrics. The collection is very artistic inspired, almost like art: we’ve got Jeff Koons here, Mondrian… Lately, we’ve been working with neo-cubist themes, some M.C. Escher prints, kind of mathematical approaches – there are a lot of really cool conceptual, avant-garde themes going on. A lot of my clothes are unisex. And then there a bunch of cool elegant pieces. They are sexy and part directional. It’s super fun and a little bit weird.

What are your other passions? Sleeping, reading philosophy, sometimes trying to figure out optimal business models to make sure it’s all sustainable, and you can generate incremental growth. My mind is always active. I have a load of hobbies and this is the one I monetize. Do you support and work with charities?

“We don’t want to expand too fast; we are trying to pace ourselves, and mediate the tempo a bit, but also make it super sustainable.” Would you consider commercializing your brand a bit?

We really respect and admire brands like Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto and Maison Martin Margiela. Those are our older role models, with labels of 20 to 30 years old, whereas we are still very young. We’ve had some offers from bigger companies to observe and fund us, but we feel at the end it willcontaminate the view point. We don’t want to be a part of the grind machine; we just want to do our thing and keep it cool. But of course, we’ll do a Can you name some of your clients? capsule collection if it’s on board withwhat Photography roger kisby Lady Gaga is into it, Katy Perry, Nicki Miwe are doing, naj, Rooney Mara and a few others. We do a few special pieces for artists and if that creates a whole new footprint in terms of commerce and sales. and musicians. What is the direction of the brand? How do you see it progressing? Where do you produce your clothing? My label has been around for a couple of years now. It’s growing a lot. First samples are made in our studio, the conceptualization and design We have a much bigger presence in Asia then ever. And it seems to be development of our collection. Depending on the markets for which we Thailand, Singapore, Mainland China, Hong Kong. We are in Asia almost produce – we are selling to Colette in Paris and 11 stores in Great Britain every month with the team. The brand is artisanal, directional, fashion – production will be made in Poland, or Slovakia, or Spain to get around driven. We are trying to carve out a niche, cult niche actually. We don’t the issues with trade union and customs. We manufacture where it’s more want to expand too fast; we are trying to pace ourselves, and mediate suitable and more strategic. If it’s Asia, we’ll obviously produce in Vietthe tempo a bit, but also make it super sustainable. We are going to connam or China. There is a bit of a business model behind it. tinue with the whole weird theme, the dark, the occult, the avant-garde… Weirdness, that is our artistic inspiration. Our brand is like a wearable art Are you collaborating with any other designers for your collections? project: textiles and cool digital prints, interesting fabrics, freaky materials, spiced with some punk rock – the bazaar and the fun. We are going to Yes, for example, for the upcoming show in February, we are collaboratcontinue with that.

www.priestessnyc.net


Lifestyle

Javier Ninja M A S C U L I N E elegance q Photography Kelly Kreye & Julie Guez WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK

T

he Williamsburg studio of photographers Julie Guez and Kelly Kreye is a giant renovated walk-in freezer in a warehouse now occupied by artists, but once occupied by fish processors. While the freezer no longer chills its guests, there is a rush of creative energy upon entering the space. I sit next to Javier Ninja, who is getting the Nu-Mode´ makeover and loving every minute. He excitedly references the experience as the “supermodel life” and “something [he] could get used to.” I was surprised at his wonderment. From an outsider’s perspective, Javier Ninja has already been living the supermodel life for years. “I just got back from Germany, and before that I was in Japan for a month. I love traveling,” he said.

my intention is not to write a historical piece on the Ballroom scene, but more so to share the story of a man who could.

Traveling the world, appearing on television, and achieving excellence in dance, Javier Ninja is a man of great talent with a uniqueness that has brought him unparalleled recognition in the world of underground dance. Underground, for me, is a problematic term, because while it may ring true to the origins of Javier Ninja’s style, it is rendered irrelevant by the huge commercial success of the Vogue form. However,

As a child of New York City, Javier Ninja (also known as Javier Madrid) dabbled in many forms of dance, including training at the New Ballet School at the ripe age of six. In 2002, he began his exploration of the city’s underground clubs, igniting a passion for house dance that would change his life forever. It wasn’t long before Javier Ninja crossed paths with the man who would become his mentor, best friend,

I had the pleasure of witnessing Javier Ninja perform live this past Fall at the Love Hangover Ball, a benefit at W Hotels for The Foundation for AIDS Research. Clad in a shiny white unitard, Javier moved with elegance, grace, and a leg behind the head, garnering cheers from a crowd that included Fergie, Karlie Kloss, Kelly Osbourne and Wendy Williams. Other members of Javier Ninja’s more immediate Ballroom family were also in attendance: fathers of houses, and the likes of Jonte, Dashaun Williams and Danielle Polanco.


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“I met Benny at a club... we ended up looking at each other with a stank look, and we started battling for a good three or four songs. At the end of it, he came up and was like, ‘Who the hell are you?’ and I was like, ‘Who the hell are YOU?” and headlining dance partner: the father of the House of Ninja, Benny Ninja. “I met Benny at a club... we ended up looking at each other with a stank look, and we started battling for a good three or four songs. At the end of it, he came up and was like, ‘Who the hell are you?’ and I was like, ‘Who the hell are YOU?’ After that, he put me in the House of Ninja and I’ve been there since.” When they perform together, the energy is explosive, and as Javier Ninja describes, their friendship clicks just as well. “He’s my best friend, and he’s a father figure to me. My father was not really in my life, but [Benny] took the place of my father. He taught me what I needed to learn to be a man, to be comfortable in my own skin. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Everyone thinks we’re a couple, but we’re really not. We have everything but sex.” Benny and Javier Ninja most recently gave an incred ible performance at the MC Hip Hop Contest in Riccione, Italy. Theyhave appeared together as guests on America’s Next Top Model, taught classes in schools all over the world, and worked together on countless live performances and music video projects. The duo even walked in haute couture for Lisa Maree SS12 at Australian Fashion Week. While Benny and Javier Ninja make a dynamic duo, this is not to say that Javier Ninja hasn’t made a strong solo career for himself. In fact, Javier Ninja took home two trophies at his very first Ball competition. “My first ball was in 2005. It was The Willi Ninja and Kevin Omni Ball. It was the first time I ever walked in a ball and I won two trophies NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.205


that night, for New Way and for Runway. I was 22.” Known for blend ing contortion with a mastery of choreography and technique, he held the House Dance International title of Champion of the Year for three consecutive years. Also, let’s not forget his performance at last year’s Super Bowl. Madonna’s half-time performance was decadent to say the least. Beginning with a royal procession, the multi-faceted show featured many dancers of many disciplines, but it was the Vogue performers who stole the scene. NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.206

Moving in synchronized elegance, the sons and daughters of New York’s most fabulous form of house dance did good justice to Madonna’s double platinum single, “Vogue” (1990). At one point during the performance, Madonna straddled and partnered with Javier Ninja, who then moved fluidly from between her legs to a flawless pose behind her. It’s a brief moment in the scheme of the show, but a satisfying bite for Javier Ninja on the world’s stage, a place he is most deservingly making his home.


Photography Kelly Kreye & Julie Guez Stylist John-Mark Hairstylist Keila Sone Make up artist Amanda Markoya Styling assistant Krystal Mason Production assistant Milton Garay Special Thanks Kelly Millions


fashion feature

Here & There Photography GREGORY KEITH STYLING LATOYA P HENRY

INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA


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Fashion guru, activist and entrepreneur with a personality to love… q

A

udrey Kitching is known to the world as a multi talented model, blogger, stylist and fashion designer. Apart from her busy work schedule, she is also a passionate animal rights activist and animal lover. Audrey keeps herself occupied with various creative activities, takes her time to participate in charity events for PETA and has a couple of new and exciting projects in the works. You started out as a model, then transitioned into blogging and fashion design. How does it feel to be an all-around creative person and how do you find time for everything?? I love it! I’m so lucky to get to be creative everyday and have a creative career. My real passion is expressing myself through art, directing and being able to do that through different mediums like blogging, journalism, covering events, styling, modeling and coming up with moods and themes – this is the real freedom. It can definitely get overwhelming at times; I always try to wrap up other projects or get them under control before jumping into new ones. I feel like all creative minds live in an inspirations chaos; I think it comes with the territory. What do you enjoy doing the most? Modeling, blogging or fashion design? Depends on what day you ask that -- but in all honestly -- I think I love it all the same. I art direct a lot of my editorials, I love blogging and NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.210

inspiring others by promoting what I love. The only down side is the production side of fashion. I like the creative aspect a lot more. Dealing with manufactures and all the numbers kind of throws a cramp in the flow of creativity. You’ve been called a “fashion forward female”, an “It Kid” and a “weekend role model”. How do you define your own personal style? This is always the hardest question for me to answer. I feel like I’m a forever changing chameleon always shedding my skin. Currently, I’m inspired by the astrological, angelic and gypsy vibes. Going into year of the Snake with all the huge universal energy changes happening, I have really drawn my attention to more of the ethereal realms, should I say. Do you get inspired by the work of other fashion designers? Who are your favorites? Definitely. I really love The Blonds, Jeremy Scott, Asish, Westwood and just street style in general. I think a lot of what kids are doing online ends up influencing the designers as well. I feel like creativity flows in one endless cycle, where we all inspire and take from one another -- that’s the real beauty of it. My followers, who I’m inspiring everyday, bring so many amazing things to my attention that they inspire me as well. It’s a give-and-take relationship.


pure gold glasses bjørg Metallic leather biker jacket muubaa linen blazer daniella kallmeyer


gold wrist cuff bjørg Metallic Pant aristotle rosario


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print dress aristotle rosario

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“I have such a random candid personality, that editing could turn me into such a funny nutcase; and that’s something that could end up hurting me in the end” You are a known animal rights activist and a vegan. How important is this cause to you?

You made a few film and television appearances in the past, is film and television career something that interests you as well?

I’m such a health nut really….Exercise, meditation, yoga and clean organic produce is my way of life. I have been a vegetarian since I was about 8 years old and a vegan for about 5 years now. I just think animals are beautiful creatures with souls just like us; I don’t judge others for their choices, but I stick to mine strongly.

You know, for a while I really wanted to do TV and it just wasn’t working out, and then I realized that it’s not for me. I have such a random candid personality, that editing could turn me into such a funny nutcase; and that’s something that could end up hurting me in the end, especially since I have been working in this industry for a long time. In the past I had random gigs like being a judge on Germany’s Next Top Model…I feel like I’m open to those jobs but not a series. After I realized it wasn’t for me, I kid you not, I got about seven TV offers within a few months. It’s funny how the universe does that.

Do you have pets? I have a Maine Coon-Ragdoll mix cat named Waffle. I rescued her and she is such a sassy diva. She is my greatest love and my biggest enemy. I would love to get a dog at some point in the near future, but I’m worried that I travel too much. What is your favorite vegan dish? I’m such a sucker for Mexican food -- taco’s are everything!

Photography GREGORY KEITH STYLING LATOYA P HENRY Make up Artist Colby Smith Hairstylist Ryan Austin

Are you currently working on any new projects that you would like to share with us? Yes! I’m actually working on two books right now: The Fashionista Budget Bible and a Vegan cookbook. I’m hoping to have them out in early fall. I’m going into production for a new clothing line this Spring that will be sold wholesale with limited release items. I’m really excited about it, I think people will love my new products and designs!

audrey.buzznet.com/user/


artist

a treasure to be discovered

Alexandra Popescu-York INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

A

Hawaiian Jewels III

lexandra Popescu-York is a New York based artist and fashion designer. Originally from Bucharest, Romania, Alexandra is known for her love of textures and unusual findings. With her signature 3D paint ing style of Acrylic on Canvas, Alexandra seamlessly blends art and fashion in a way that transforms the ordinary into a work of art. Using beads, feathers, buttons and jewelry, she embellishes each painting with a symbolic meaning. In the process of creation, she takes objects from different parts of the world -- a bracelet from Greece, a necklace from Hawaii, shells from Bahamas -- and molds them into expressive paintings with a clear message: There is a treasure to be discovered in all of us! What is your artistic background? I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Plastic and Decorative Arts from National University of Arts in Bucharest, Romania. It was really tough to get in and I am very proud of this accomplishment. My University was named after Nicolae Grigorescu, one of the most beloved artists in Romania, and for me it was more than just an art school or university, it was the perfect place to be. It was the place were talents flourished and true art was discovered. I wouldn’t change it for the world! During my time at school I was breathing art every single day. But of course

it was not easy. It was extremely competitive and not always friendly. But that prepared me for life. In New York I took classes at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology. How old were you when you started painting? I was very young when I started painting, almost as young as my oldest son is right now, about two and a half years of age. Growing up I remember playing with art albums and paint brushes instead of toys -even back then art was my way of life. At the age of 10 I began taking after-school art classes at a private art school. I didn’t have time to play with other kids in the front yard, I had more important things to do: to study and practice art. How would you characterize your painting technique? My painting technique could be described as a combination of spontaneity and studied structure. I don’t like to “kill” the painting with too many descriptive details. Instead, I use a special technique of acrylic on canvas combined with the use of different textures to give my paintings a 3D effect. I am also known for my use of symbols and objects, such as jewelry and findings from different parts of the world that cap


Hawaiian Jewels II

ture my imagination. I get inspired by these objects, and through them I tell the story of my life. What gives you the most pleasure in life and what inspires you? The most pleasure in life for me is to succeed, to conquer new universes. To accomplish my dreams. I have high standards for myself and I am restless. I believe I can have all that life has to offer and I work hard to achieve it. I like to be on the spotlight. I like to be cheered. I do not like to disappoint and I do not like to be disappointed. I am inspired by life in general and about my life in particular. I like to travel. I cannot be in one place for too long because I will start to suffer. That is why I live in New York City, one of the busiest cities in the world and probably one that is the most inspiring. I feel magic when I walk its streets! I am inspired by my experiences in life, relationships and friendships. Underneath the shiny surface of my paintings lies a lot of pain and soul searching, but that’s what makes my engine run faster and my will stronger. What is your favorite color? As an artist I play with different colors from time to time, but my favorite color is gold. I like it because it’s the color of the sun that brings to life any object. I grew up surrounded by the Byzantine frescoes and I love the intensity of all the colors combined with gold. Miaui NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.217


“I am a strong supporter of children’s rights and will do whatever is possible to make the most significant issues heard. I believe that we can do it all: have fun, create art, do business and help the ones that are a lot less fortunate.” In your opinion, what separates you from other contemporary artists? I am not following any groups or any particular movement. I am myself. I am unique. I express my own ideas and feelings that are only mine. It is about me trying to communicate with the world. I am making my own rules and I am not trying to please anybody! For years I have studied the masters from different schools and eras. I could paint in any style, be it the realism, impressionism or anything in between, but that wouldn’t be art to me. To me, art is innovation. I created my own style of expression. I choose to express myself through abstract art because I want to be spontaneous, I prefer to “scream” or “surprise” instead of just calmly telling a story. I have another advantage in a sense that, in my work I created a bridge between fashion and art, and I can go back and forth between the two. You actively participate in children’s charity events and work with groups, such as UNICEF and The Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation. What does it mean to you to be a part of such a worthy cause? I am glad to be a part of such important work. I am a strong supporter of children’s rights and will do whatever is possible to make the most significant issues heard. I believe that we can do it all: have fun, create art, do business and help the ones that are a lot less fortunate. After becoming a mother for the first time, I became even more proactive about children’s issues, and I have a couple of important projects I’d like to support. One of them is called Moving Maama, a project that helps to identify, transfer and treat high risk pregnancies in Western Uganda. Through the eyes of my friend Karli Provost, who is the founder of this cause, I’ve seen how a miniscule amount of money can substantially improve someone’s life. The other cause I would like to support in the NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.218

future is The Alex Fund. Leslie Hawke, Ethan Hawke’s mother and the founder of the fund, is a relentless supporter of educational opportunity programs for some of the poorest children in Romania. I really appreciate her dedication to Romanian children and, as a Romanian, deeply wish to contribute to this cause. Being a mother of two boys, how do you find time for everything? My two beautiful boys are the joy of my life. But being a mom is tough. It’s called sacrifice. I do not sleep much -- it’s a waste of time when you have so many things to do -- and I take my kids everywhere with me. Recently, I took my 4 month old son to a show at Couture Fashion Week; he was the youngest fashion critic there and seemed to enjoy the spotlight! I realized that children are the most important thing a person could have. And there is no need for the gym -- if you take your baby out for a push in the stroller, you will exercise your body without going to a gym. Besides, there is nothing more enjoyable than a walk in the park. What are some of your favorite activities outside the world of art? I love to travel, I love to discover different cultures. If I could, I would go on a world tour. I also like simple pleasures in life: like dancing just for the joy of it, enjoying a good cup of coffee at a local coffee shop, or taking a stroll in Central Park. What are your professional goals in the next year? Do you have anything exciting in the works? I’m currently working on a couple of commissioned paintings. I am also planning a special collection, a fashion show that will be a continuation of my art exhibits -- art as fashion and fashion as art.


Self portrait

www.alexandraartanddesign.com fundly.com/moving-maama www.alexfund.org


design

the One to

W a t c h

Daniella kallmeyer INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA


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ronounced as the “One to watch” by several leading publications, South African born Daniella Kallmeyer translates her background in the art and theater into a formidable array of smart sportswear options. Her effortlessly designed clothes are always chic and affordable, a combination rarely seen in high price driven designer clothing. I met with Daniella backstage at her F/W 2013 presentation a had a chance to ask a few questions about her namesake brand. What was the inspiration for your F/W 2013 collection? My inspiration for this collection was a story of a woman in her different forms: strong, androgynous and feminine. I imagined all of my fashion muses meeting together in a parallel universe. Some of them are from Old Hollywood, some are from the present, and some from the future. These women are meeting on the high ground in the Swiss alps, and they are defining the style. So, this collection is the story of who these people are and the story of them meeting together. I know that you design accessories as well as clothing. What part do accessories play in your design process? We start with clothing and then complement it with matching accessories and shoes. But the accessories are done mostly for the styling of the look. We already designed what we wanted, so when we start putting the outfits together it’s pretty easy to find what we are looking for. Where do you usually sell your clothing? I sell to about 15 different boutiques in the United States. And we are planning to expand into Europe and Asia this year. Who is your style icon? Katharine Hepburn and Tilda Swinton. If they were friends and went skiing together, this is what they would be wearing. What are your favorite fashion quotes? Anything that you always remember while designing your next collection? “You play with your next collection before you are finished with the current one”. Fashion is always evolving and I’m already thinking about the Spring.

“The backbone of my business is the accessibility. You are making clothing in the United States, you are making small quantities. I rally to save the Garment Center.” Where do you manufacture your clothing? Our clothing is made entirely in New York. And it’s contemporary to advanced contemporary-priced. Is it difficult for you to produce a collection in New York at a contemporary price point and still maintain that luxury look? The design portion is not hard. Finding a way of maintaining that price point – that’s difficult. The backbone of my business is the accessibility. You are making clothing in the United States, you are making small quantities. I rally to save the Garment Center. Being a part of “Made in NYC” is keeping our factories alive, keeping our jobbers in business.

So it’s really important for me to encourage the sustainability of young businesses. In your opinion, what are the key trends for F/W 2013? I think, knits and embroideries and the combination of both. And what about color? Burgundy is still trending. We may have seen it in different forms on the runway already, but it’s definitely trending. And red color, for sure. Red is the story of love. What kind of fashion advice would you give to a woman who is budget-conscious? I’d advice her to invest in a great coat, and then everything else she would put under it won’t matter.

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fashion

Coco & Breezy Photography Daniel Rampulla Styling John-Mark WRITTEN BY JOHN-MARK

coco wears: sleeveless sheer blouse Daniella Kallmeyer silk print pant Mandarin & General three layered gold chain link necklace Rena copper &gold adjustable bangle Rena Zesiro glasses Coco & Breezy Breezy Wears: jeans 7 For All Mankind zip-up black jacket Zara Zesiro glasses Coco & Breezy NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.222


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eyonce, Ashanti, Lady Gaga, Kelly Osbourne, Nicki Minaj, Betsey Johnson, Jeffree Star, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland wear them. Nylon, Glamour, InStyle, Paper, Elle, Vogue, Fader, Essence, i-D, and Time Out Magazine feature them. Eyewear and accessory designers, COCO& BREEZY couldn’t have asked for better business, especially considering that their brand empire started as a bedroom start up just a few short years ago. This coming April will mark three years since my first introduction to Coco & Breezy. As a fellow Minnesota to New York City transplant, I have watched their brand flourish and grow from their first celebrity endorsement to a wealth of editorial and campaign work around the world. The girls themselves are not only designers, but style icons in their own right. The uniquely fashionable twins have put their design tools down and worked as campaign models for the European car manufacturer, Renault, and as fashion week models for Norisol Ferrari’s Mercedes-Benz tent presentation. As hard working designers with a breathtaking look, Coco & Breezy satisfy the industry’s every need. Having talked with them many time before, I wanted to do something different for Coco & Breezy’s interview with Nu-Mode´ Magazine. I

decided who would be better to interview the twin, then themselves. So without further ado, Coco by Breezy and Breezy by Coco. COCO INTERVIEWS BREEZY Coco Was working in the fashion industry your first dream job? Breezy: For a long time, I honestly had dreamed to be a hair stylist and open up my own salon. You really had inspired me on being opened minded when picking out different outfits and even though you hated doing hair, I think we always felt like we were one person, which is not always a good thing. You would tell me that you wanted to be a hair stylist too, even though I knew your heart wasn’t in it! Coco How do you feel having a sister, best friend, and business partner all in one person? Is it hard to separate the emotions? Breezy: I don’t think its hard to separate. It’s always been like this growing up. When we were younger, we always knew we wanted to start a business together. I think that since we are so focused on our


“I was very scared, you were very spontaneous. I had to really test my faith. You knew when the timing was right, we had this new product, and you felt strong about it becoming the next hot thing.” business, I feel like we don’t have as much time to have our sisterly and best friend talks... we are starting to learn how to separate our personal and business life.

BREEZY INTERVIEWS COCO

Coco: Do you think we’ve had an effect in the eyewear industry as young fashion entrepreneurs?

Coco: I was in Elementary school when I fell in love with fashion. You were a tomboy and I was the one that loved to wear my skirts and dresses. I used to start paying attention to fashion editorials in magazines at an early age, and was always intrigued by them.

Breezy: I think that we have made an effect, and by just for staying true to ourselves. I am a strong believer in evolution and growing as a person, but still sticking to your true being. Coco: What has that effect been? Breezy: We’ve developed a new aesthetic with our sunglasses where we love to play with different colorations. Also cut out detail in the frame and temples. We make glasses for a personality and not a certain gender.

Breezy: How old were you when you first fell in love with fashion?

Breezy: How did you feel when I booked our tickets to move to New York City behind your back? Coco: I was very scared, you were very spontaneous. I had to really test my faith. You knew when the timing was right, we had this new product, and you felt strong about it becoming the next hot thing. I definitely trusted you on this behalf, being that you used our last bit of money to book our flights. We also didn’t have a job set up or a place to live.


coco wears: black cutout top Daniella Kallmeyer faux leather pant H&M Mosi glasses black ombre Coco & Breezy three layer silver necklace Rena Breezy wears: leather pant vintage yellow leopard jacket Pandora Andrea atsu glasses black ombre Coco & Breezy gold triangle earringsRena Rings Vintage

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coco wears: sleeveless sheer blouse Daniella Kallmeyer silk print pant Mandarin & General three layered gold chain link necklace Rena copper &gold adjustable bangle Rena Zesiro glasses Coco & Breezy Breezy Wears: jeans 7 For All Mankind zip-up black jacket Zara Zesiro glasses Coco & Breezy Rings Vintage NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.226


Breezy: I know we always design together, what are your thoughts on taking a month off, being in different countries, and you design one half of the collection and I design the other half? Coco: I feel like since I’m so used to us being together, there is a comfort zone that I’m very used to having. I have also had thoughts of us being separated, and wondered how our designs would turn out. Since we are always together, it’s about time for us to separate a little more when designing. I feel like it would be a challenge, but a good challenge! Life is about living on edge at all times! coco wears: silk yellow shirt dress mandarin & general thema sunglasses coco & Breezy grey wedge shoes qupid Black jeweled crucifix earrings made by Breezy Breezy wears:silk blue shirt dress mandarin & general thema sunglasses coco & Breezy navy wedge shoes qupid silver pyramid stud earrings Rena Photography Daniel Rampulla Styling John-Mark Styling Assistant Emeliem Ogbolu Make Up artist Amanda Markoya Special Thanks Selima Optique

“Since we are always together, it’s about time for us to separate a little more when designing. I feel like it would be a challenge, but a good challenge!"


editorial

DNA

REPLICATION

Photography Alban Smajli STYLING Simona Wong


Pullover MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA Leggings MANGO Shoes TOPSHOP Jewelry ST YLIST´S OWN NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.229


Pullover MARALLIS Skirt TOPSHOP Shoes UNDERGROUND NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.230


TOP VINTAGE Trousers ZARA Shoes PATRIZIA PEPE Jewelry TOPSHOP


Sweater FOREVER 21 Leggings MANGO


Dress CALVIN KLEIN Jewelry TOPSHOP NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.233


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Dress ST YLISTS OWN Hat CALVIN KLEIN


Top TIGERLILY Skirt TOPSHOP Shoes PATRIZIA PEPE Jewelry ST YLIST´S OWN


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Coat vINTAGE Shoes ALDO Photography Alban Smajli Styling Simona Wong Make up artist & hairstylist Mark Jordy Gonzales model Naro Lokuruka at PUSH Models


Like a

Prayer

Photography Leriam Gonzalez STYLING Fabiola Ledesma


lace top DKNY legging pants DANIELLA KALLMEYER crown TOPSHOP collar piece TOPSHOP veil ST YLIST OWN

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dress NOMIA necklace TOPSHOP NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.242



shirt BCBG MAX AZRIA skirt MARIEL ROJO


shirt MANDARIN & GENERAL skirt MANDARIN & GENERAL headpiece ST YLIST OWN NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.245


bathingsuit worn as top DANIELLA KALLMEYER legging pants DANIELLA KALLMEYER crown TOPSHOP collar piece TOPSHOP veil ST YLIST OWN NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.246


dress KAREN MILLEN socks DKNY Shoes BOUTIQUE 9


lace top BCBG MAX AZRIA rosary ST YLIST OWN


lace top BCBG MAX AZRIA corset TOPSHOP rosary ST YLIST OWN NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.249


dress SUE WONG necklaces STEPHANIE GARCIA shoes BOUTIQUE 9 NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.250


shirt MANDARIN & GENERAL skirt MANDARIN & GENERAL headpiece ST YLIST OWN Photography &Retoucher Leriam Gonzalez Styling Fabiola Ledesma Make up artist Stephanie Albarracin Hairstylist Selda Cortes Model Nadya at MC2 Model Management


design

a sense of style

w i t h e a s e q INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

L

aend Phuengkit is a relative newcomer to the European fashion scene. Born in Zurich and educated at FHNW (University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland), this Swiss designer is steadily getting acclaim for both his mens and womenswear lines. His collections - a contrasting blend of prints and geometric cuts accompanied by true passion for draping – offer the customers urban, stylish clothes with great sense of ease and comfort. Irina Romashevskaya: You started your own fashion label in 2010 with both womenswear and menswear collections. Which collection is the most challenging for you? Do you find it difficult to manage both? I have always been keen on designing womenswear. To additionally design menswear never seemed like a big balancing act to me. I compare designing to a playful game: you keep on adapting the silhouettes until they fit both genders. A man should always keep a man’s style and not drift off to more feminine looks. A man still has to be a man, right? Designing womenswear, on the other hand, comes along with a bit of a different feeling and leaves more room for creative ideas. However, it is challenging to finalize a design until I am satisfied with the overall result.

Does your design process differ from one collection to the other? How would you describe your collections in relation to each other? Yes, I would definitely say that my collections are all very different and have their own characteristic styles. I like to compare them to food: you wouldn’t eat rice or French fries every day, would you? To me inspiration is an ever changing process and that’s what’s fascinating about it. My signature style, however, remains present in all of my collections. Can you define your core customer? Who is the ideal man/woman you’d like to dress? There is no specific core customer I have in mind when designing my collections, actually. The most important thing is that women and men who wear my clothing love prints, colors and are fond of the draping elements that are part of my signature look. But my ultimate goal for them is to feel comfortable. I am convinced that feeling at ease with what you’re wearing results in a positive and confident appearance.


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“To me inspiration is an ever changing process and that’s what’s fascinating about it.” - laend Phuengkit

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“being a designer requires lots of energy and passion for what you do. You have to be driven and always keep your goals in mind.” You travelled extensively and worked for a variety of international companies; you are also a recipient of the prestigious Swiss Design Award in 2011. What does it mean to you to be a Swiss fashion designer? Having been granted the Swiss Design Award definitely helped me to develop my brand in the past two years. Furthermore, being a designer requires lots of energy and passion for what you do. You have to be driven and always keep your goals in mind. I think my Swiss mentality helps me a lot to keep this goal oriented focus on one hand, and my Asian background adds creativity on the other. This international mix all together gives my work the necessary balance and differentiating spirit. If you could describe your aesthetic in just a few key words, what would they be?

What is your preferred method of work? Do you drape, use flat patternmaking or draft? I first make a sketch of my overall vision, then I start to drape. For me it is easier to see how the silhouettes are developing when I’m draping. What are your favorite fabrics to work with? I love to work with linen, silk and cupro fabrics. What is your favorite food? I love a typical Swiss dish named raclette. Especially when it gets cold outside this time of year and you want to get cosy at home - this cheese dish is a real treat.

Colors, geometry and smooth fabrics.

Where do you see yourself and your brand in 5 years? Do you have any particular goals in mind?

How do you find inspiration for your collections? What are your favorite design references?

By then I would love to have my own flagship store either in Zurich or Berlin, and also to have a second line coming out.

Obviously, inspiration is essential to my work as a designer. In order to find inspirational ideas, I consider it very important to keep my eyes open for everything happening around me. Believe me, inspiration will find you! I would say that my favorite design reference is “draping meets tailoring”.

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Renegades Photography taylor tupy Styling John-Mark

tri color tank Sweet Claire Floral bandeu Buffalo Exchange blue striped pants Motel Rocks munny charm bracelet Cassandra Brost floral bangle thrifted yellow bag ALFA USA green necklace stylists own shoes H&M


On John-Mark: key necklace Vashti Jewelry & Designs red varsity jacket Hartwell Ribbed tank Calvin Klein denim diesel purple sneakers P.F. Flyers gun necklace Lost and Found LEather belt Gap On Kara: tri color tank Sweet Claire Floralbandeau Buffalo Exchange blue striped pants Motel Rocks munny charm bracelet Cassandra Brost floral bangle thrifted yellow bag ALFA USA green necklace stylists own shoes H&M


zebra sweatshirt TopShop polo knit Express denim jeans Abercrombie and Fitch pharaoh necklace E. Pearl Chuck taylors converse NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.261


Bustier Motel Rocks Tribal jacket Buffalo Exchange black shorts XXI earrings Good Will shoes Jeffrey Campbell NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.262


On Nick: zebra sweatshirt TopShop polo knit Express denim jeans Abercrombie and Fitch pharaoh necklace E. Pearl On John-Mark: key necklace Vashti Jewelry & Designs red varsity jacket Hartwell Ribbed tank Calvin Klein denim diesel purple sneakers P.F. Flyers gun necklace Lost and Found LEather belt Gap


On Mae: Denim shirt Thread Supply tank dress Hotel Rock Bangle Good Will Suede Pumps Brash On John-Mark: ring Ragstock Necklace Nordstrom Sweater Torn by Tommy red denim Diesel boots Aldo


On Nick: necklace Moda Bashti jewelry and designs t-shirt A.L.C. denim jeans Hugo Boss sneakers/Levi’s On Kara: tank Tea & Rose Pant Ba Rock Shoes Target Bangles thrifted jean jacket Nuovo bandeau gentle fawn NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.265


ring Ragstock Necklace Nordstrom Sweater Torn by Tommy red denim Diesel boots Aldo NU-MODE´the new york issue spring/summer 2013.266


tank Tea & Rose Pant Ba Rock Shoes Target Bangles thrifted jean jacket Nuovo bandeau gentle fawn


On Kara: shirt Skaist Taylor leggings Ktoo cuffs Topshop Shoes Michael Antonio On Nick: Jacket Regina Potter Pant Hugo Boss Necklace thrifted Belt Mills Fleet Farm Shoes Florsheim Necklace stylists own


On John- Mark: jacket Calvin Klein Pants Cheap Monday Shoes Creative Recreation Bracelet stylists own Sunglasses Tom Ford On Mae: Sunglasses Tom Ford Dress Elizabeth and James Shoes Steve Madden bracelet Topshop ring stylists own NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.269


On John-Mark: tank Calvin Klein hoodie Diesel ; Pants Levi’s robot necklace stylists own gun necklace Lost and Found Leather belt express ; rings Buffalo Exchange boots Aldo On Mae: lace skirt Buffalo Exchange bandeauGentle Fawn Necklace Hot Mama Shoes Bumper On Nick: Pant Hugo Boss Necklace thrifted Shoes Florsheim

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on Kara: shoes Lady Godira Top Topshop Pant Helmut Lang floral bracelets Pangea additional bracelets stylists own



Photography taylor tupy Styling John-Mark styling assistant darnell steele Make up artist Kimberly steward Hairstylist cierra bailey & tashanda brown Production assistant cassandra brost Photography assistant luke schneider Models Mae, John-Mark & Nick at ignite kara at next NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.273


Design

Janos Tedeschi

revival of a century INTERVIEW IRINA ROMASHEVSKAYA

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“think back to the ancient Greeks, who believed that it’s not the individual who is ingenious to create something, but a spirit, a genie, that lives within.”

J

anos Tedeschi is the name that stands behind a collaborative project between Berlin based gemologist Janos Tedeschi and New York stylist Gary Russell Freeman. The debut presentation of their exquisite an tique-inspired jewelry and jewel-set buttons was just a taste of what’s to come in the following months as they prepare themselves for instant recognition. The duo was humble about their role as creators of awe-inspiring collection and didn’t want to steal the spotlight from what was really important – the jewelry. What was the idea behind the collection? Janos Tedeschi: Many years ago when I was a little boy, my parents took me to Victoria and Albert museum in London, which features one of the greatest collections of jewelry in the world. It was one ring, dating back from 1600’s, that amazed me. I never saw a piece of jewelry like that. That image stayed with me; I always thought about this ring. Many years later I went back to the museum and, through my university gemology teacher that worked at the museum, was able to take a few pictures to reproduce it for myself. While wearing the ring, I constantly received a lot of compliments from people. At first I was ambivalent about making a reproduction of it, insisting that it was created just for me. And then I thought, since I’m getting so much response, I should do something about it, but I didn’t know how. And then, the idea came when Gary and I met in Berlin last year. Gary Russell Freeman: I saw you wearing the ring, and I asked where you got it. We started brainstorming on the idea. One day I had a photo

shoot I was styling and Janos let me bring the ring to the States. After that the beginning of our collaboration was born. How does your collaboration with Gary Freeman work? JT: Garry is responsible for clothing design and I do the jewelry. But I wouldn’t call myself a jewelry designer. I’m a gemologist. What separates a gemologist from a jewelry designer? JT: If you think back to the ancient Greeks, who believed that it’s not the individual who is ingenious to create something, but a spirit, a genie, that lives within. Later on, with the age of the Renaissance, it went on from having a genie to be a genius. And everyone would take credit for what they made. So I definitely create the jewelry, but not necessarily would like to take the credit for it. It’s all in the designs, really. Tell us about your design team? JT: It’s Gary and I, of course, and also Ann, who is a dear friend of mine and a goldsmith who makes all the pieces. Ann is based in Switzerland. The jewelry is made there from stones sourced in Tanzania, Mozambique and Burma. Each item is done individually and always by hand. The brand bears my name but it’s the project that we all share. And I want it to be seen as a collaborative project. At the end, it’s not about me, it’s about the jewelry.


What is your favorite piece in the collection? JT: The Star ring is amazing. But every piece is truly unique and holds a special place in my heart. For example, in the Navratna pendant each stone corresponds to the planet rotating around the Sun. It is considered to be a protective amulet in many traditions, but it has to touch your skin in order to protect from the negative energy. The reason why these jewelry items are timeless is because they captured something, beauty or magic you can find in any great piece of art. That’s why they don’t age. GRF: We are really excited about our jewel-set buttons, because it’s something that no one has ever done before. They are not just cufflinks, they are actual buttons you can attach to any shirt. And I think that’s really unique. They come in different sizes and with different stones. We are excited to bring something more elegant into a mundane world of plastic buttons. It is such an untapped way of accessorizing; you can do something more fun and glamorous. I’m definitely in the mode of incorporating it into shirt design. Have you encountered any difficulties in the production of your collection? JT: The reason that each piece is done individually lies in the fact that gemstone cutter can only cut one kind of stone. Gemstone cutter specializes for 10 to 20 years in just one particular cut. For example, sapphire will never be cut by someone who cuts an emerald. He wouldn’t

know how to handle the stone. The stone has cleavage, the way of behaving, so you have to find the person that knows how to work with that. For example, the star-shaped ring exemplifies the pyramid cut that hasn’t been done since the early 1600’s. We had to find someone that knew how to handle it. Are you planning to sell your collection retail? JT: Handmade quality of each jewelry piece is the reason why we are not looking into selling in the big high-end department stores. What’s important to us, is that each piece remains individual, just for one customer. I create my jewelry pieces the way I make them for myself. So I definitely don’t want to create something I wouldn’t wear. What is your next step after the presentation? JT: The presentation consists of just a few items from a collection of about 20. At this point we are testing the market and getting feedback from our customers. And we have some unbelievable jewelry pieces in the collection, like the ring that unfolds into a sphere, that was originally used to illustrate the movement of the planets around the earth. So that’s some of the things that are about to come.


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editorial

The Twins

Photography Htet T San STYLING Jenx’D International

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Shirt H&M Vest H&M Pants NINH Collection Shoes SUPRA


Jacket NINH Collection Studded Gloves Hot Topic


Shirts NINH Collection

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Shirts NINH Collection


On Left: Shirt & Jacket NINH Collection Denim Jeans H&M Belt Express Shoes Model’s Own On Right: Jacket NINH Collection Jeans H&M Shoes Model’s Own Shades H&M Studded Gloves Hot Topic


Tank H&M Leather Pants Stylist’s Own Accessory/Studded Combat Boots Stylist’s Own


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Jacket NINH Collection Photography Htet T San Styling Jenx’D International Make up artist Graylon Everett model Bronco Wewer


lifestyle

the New Yorkers We Love.

Va$htie Kola

director, designer, Party, promoter & dj Highly known as downtown’s sweetheart, Vashtie Kola has set trends and influenced young fashionistas to follow in her footsteps. Popular for her 1992 parties and genuinely sweet presence, Kola has emerged into an extraordinary business savvy woman. Directing music videos for Kendrick Lamar and Solange Knowles, designing T-shirt line Violette and becoming the first female to design a Nike Air Jordan. Overall Vashtie Kola is a young inspirational entrepreneur, who acquired success before the age of 30, she continues to pave the way for young women of our time. - Latoya P Henry

azealia Banks Rapper, Singer & Songwriter Banks might be more notorious for her constant industry beef than for her music, but I can’t deny the appeal. She’s created a signature aesthetic in both her look and sound, effortlessly going from smooth vocals to fierce rap verses and looking damn good doing it. And despite all her enemies, Banks has received support and collaboration from a range well-respected producers (Diplo, Lunice, Araabmuzik, the list goes on…) before even releasing an album. Theatrics and all, you can’t knock a talented, hardworking girl in a male-dominated industry. - Alexandra Stevens

shaun ross Model The first male model with albinism, Shaun’s career has taken flight. Beyond his unique look that has been embraced by the industry’s leading designers and publications, Shaun has worked hard to strategize his iconic career. At just twenty-one years of age, Shaun has already put in five years of experience with many more to come. - John-Mark.


Bill Cunningham

Photographer This man is still roaming the streets at age 84, collecting incredible images of fashionable New York through a lens. Most of the people bustling by him on the street don’t know or notice that they’re in the presence of one of the most iconic names in fashion and street photography, and that honestly just adds to the magic. - Alexandra Stevens

rosario rizzo In memoriam Rosario Rizzo, FIT’s favorite instructor A legendary couture sewing instructor and a dedicated husband, Rosario Rizzo inspired generations of students with the gift of impeccable workmanship and skill. -Irina Romashevskaya

youngjun koo Streetstyle Photographer Stylish with an adorable personality to match, he’s photographed the most influential figures in fashion and unique faces on the go. Traveling internationally to capture fashion’s greatest moments on film, through his lens Youngjun Koo shares the gritty, glamorous and wild sides of fashion. He has allured designers, publications and fashion lovers with his awe-inspiring streetstyle website. - Latoya P Henry

Cleo Schroeder Designer, Primary NY Cleo is as beautiful as the clothes she makes and as a designer, creates every collection with the perfect balance of everyday wearability and fashionable intrigue. Upon my visits to her presentations and midtown design studio, while she is undoubtedly busy, Cleo has always taken time for a friendly hug and hello. She is simply a joy work with.-John-Mark NU-MODE´The new york issue spring/summer 2013.289


Music Moment: Dead Leaf Echo

written by alexandra stevens

The Lower East Side’s Mercury Lounge provided an intimate setting for a performance by art collective Dead Leaf Echo. The NYC-based group took to the stage to celebrate the release of their debut LP, “Thought and Language.” Though classified as “nouveau wave,” Dead Leaf Echo brings the type of sound that seems too broad to typecast into any specific genre. Raucous guitar riffs and wails combined with echoing synths and a tambourine create an indiepop-rock sound that manages to be in-your-face and mellow at the same time. I could hear nods to new wave 80‘s as well as 90‘s grunge, and at the same time “dreamy” and “atmospheric” are the most frequently used words to describe their sound. Lyrics were almost entirely incomprehensible, but the male/female vocal mix of murmurs and wails worked in a way that added to the ambience. Dead Leaf Echo is currently making their way south for SXSW, marking their second year performing at the festival, and for good reason - stage presence. The hair flipping, flailing, bass-rattling energy coming from the stage is infectious, and it’s hard not to like the music when you can tell how much love is going into the performance. Also, major points for having a female vocalist who was also switching between bass, tambourine, and keyboard. Loud, raw, and dynamic make for a sound that’s worth checking out, especially live.

STOCKLIST Hugo Boss www.hugoboss.com

Elizabeth and James elizabethandjames.us

A.L.C www.alcltd.com

Tom Ford www.tomford.com

Ninh www.ninh.co

Supreme www.supremenewyork.com

Highland www.highlandus.com

Ralph Lauren www.ralphLauren.com

Sabrina Dehoff www.sabrinadehoff.com

Dolce & Gabbana www.dolcegabbana.com

Calvin Klein www.calvinklein.com

Dkny www.dkny.com

Levis www.levis.com

Insight www.insight51.com

Lie Sang Bong www.liesangbong.com

Lisa Taranto www.lisataranto.co

Tigerlily www.tigerlily-usa.com

Nomia www.nomia-nyc.com

Palladium www.palladiumboots.com

Vanishing Elephant www.vanishingelephant.com

Aristotle Rosario aristotlerosario.com

Christian Lacroix www.christian-lacroix.fr

Maison Martin Margiela maisonmartinmargiela.com

BcBg Max Azria www.bcbg.com

Olivier Green oliviergreen.com

Rachel Ruddick rachaelruddick.com

Juicy Couture www.juicycouture.com

Alexander Mcqueen www.alexandermcqueen.com

H&m www.hm.com

Mariel Rojo www.marielrojo.com

Diesel www.diesel.com

Dr Denim www.drdenim.com

Attica www.atticadesign.co.uk

Scanlan & Theodore www.scanlanandtheodore.com.au

NiNh www.ninh.co

Karen Millen www.karenmillen.com

Express www.express.com

Topshop www.topshop.com

Theory www.theory.com

Proenza Scholar www.proenzaschouler.com

Mini Market www.minimarket.se

Boutique 9 www.ninewest.com

Cheap Monday www.cheapmonday.com

Zana Bayne www.zanabayne.com

Erstwilder erstwilder.com

Rag & Bone www.rag-bone.com

Michael Kors www.michaelkors.com

Sue Wong www.suewong.com

Helmut Lang www.helmutlang.com

BeBe www.bebe.com

Dizingof www.dizingof.com

Tom Gunn tomgunn.com

Cres e. Dim www.cresedim.com

Stella Mccartney www.stellamccartney.com

Cue cue.cc

Anya Zuyeva anyazuyeva.tumblr.com

Diane von Furstenberg Dvf.com

Ysl ysl.com

Son Jung Wan www.sonjungwan.com

Princess tam tam www.princesstamtam.com

Mr Throgmorton mrthrogmorton.blogspot.com

Heather Lawton www.heatherlawton.com

Paro Paro paroparo.com.au

Costume national www.costumenational.com

Paul Smith www.paulsmith.co.uk

Karen Walker www.karenwalker.com

American Apparel store.americanapparel.net

Skingraft skingraftdesigns.com

Escada www.escada.com

M.a.c www.maccosmetics.com

Gabby Applegate www.gabbyapplegate.com

Iosseliani iosselliani.com

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska www.ahhness.blogspot.com

Olima www.olimaatelier.com

American Rag www.amrag.com

Makeup Forever www.makeupforever.com

Ami clubwear www.amiclubwear.co

Boy. By Band Of Outsiders bandoutoutsiders.com

Karla Way karlajway.blogspot.com

Daniella Kallmeyer daniellakallmeyer.com

M Missoni www.missoni.com

Armani www.armani.com

Marc Jacobs www.marcjacobs.com

Zara www.zara.com

Seed www.seedheritage.com

Amber sakai www.ambersakai.com

Knits & Knots knotsandknits.com

Occ www.occmakeup.com

Funktional www.funktionalcollection.com

Cos cosstores.com

Wittner www.wittner.com.au

Asos www.asos.com

Mandarin and General www.mandarinandgeneral.com

Forever 21 www.forever21.com

Rayban www.ray-ban.com

Bottega Veneta www.bottegaveneta.com

Bassike www.bassike.com

Muubaa www.muubaa.com

Robina Akiem www.robinaakiem.com.au

Mango Mango.com

Aldo www.aldoshoes.com

Weekdays shop.weekday.com

Stussy www.Stussy.com

Bjørg www.bjorgjewellery.com

Melko www.melko.com.au

Patrizia Pepe www.patriziapepe.com

Coco & Breezy cocoandbreezy.com

SCHIESSER REVIVAL www.schiesser.com

Acne www.acnestudios.com

Gudrun & Gudrun www.gudrungudrun.com

J Brand www.jbrandjeans.com

James Perse www.JamesPerse.com

Bloom Bazaar www.bloombazaar.com

Montblanc www.montblanc.com


I Crave You www.vlastapilot.com


www.nickblair.com

nick blair


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