PIGMONT
CONTENTS
LAURA BECKERDITE
38
MASON VANCE
48
GLITZ
56
FOOD MOOD
66
DANIEL ROA
80
AOIFE ESTES
88
OVER CONSUMPTION
96
MILK MONEY
106
124
INTERVIEW: SARAH NG
96 OVER CONSUMPTION PHOTOGRAPHED: DANIEL ROA PRODUCED: PIGMONT STUDIOS
CONTENTS
116
GRACE MILLAR
124
SARAH NG
132
COURTSIDE VIEW
140
A BALLSY INTERMISSION
148
LE NOW
156
LUX PUP
164
PEARLESCENT
172
THE FINAL BOW
CREDITS EDITOR IN CHIEF TESS BURNS
ART DIRECTOR HANNAH HLOPAK
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAOLA RIOS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR MARNI KIMELMAN
PRODUCER CAROLINE WILD
CONTRIBUTORS ALLISON NICOLE SMITH AOIFE ESTES BROOKE PUMO CHLOE MAGPAYO CLARA FAITH
MARISSA FOLEY MASON VANCE MIA LEE MICHELA MAGNANI MILLIE
DANIEL ROA
MUSHKY
DAVID DONG
NATHALIE GRATAS
ELINOR HILTON ELOISE LEIBNITZ-ARMSTRONG EMMA DEVEREAUX GABRIELLE HUDSON
OLIVE OLIVIA STAHL OSIRIS HART PAULINA
GRACE MILLAR
SARAH NG
HUGO PEREIRA
SIERAH STANLEY
JEMIMA RIVIERE LAURA BECKERDITE LUCY HEWITT MARISSA FOLEY
TIMMY CHIU XAVIER SIMMS J YASMIN AL ZAYER ZIHAN YANG
38 INTERVIEW: LAURA BECKERDITE
116 INTERVIEW: GRACE MILLAR
vv
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COVER STORY: PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ROA PRODUCED PIGMONT STUDIOS 2018
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EDITOR'S LETTER In·di·vid·u·al·i·ty the quality or character of a particular person or thing that distinguishes them from others of the same kind, especially when strongly marked
Speak your mind. Don't fit in. Push back against what society tells you to do. Be yourself. Let loose. Embrace who you are and be proud of it. In a world where likes and retweets are the measure of character, sometimes it's hard to be true to yourself. Don't put yourself in a box so it's easier for people to understand you. Break that box and be anything you want - no need for labels. Stop hashtagging who you are and simply be it.
Look at art and not take a picture of it for your followers. Question what it means and go deeper into what art is and can be. Question the artist, the meaning, and the world around you. Stop what you're doing and just think. Think about art, fashion, yourself, the world. Explore your thoughts and feelings and get in touch with them. What makes you uniquely you? What makes you different from everyone else?
Don't be afraid to speak up. Raise your voice and embrace who you are. If you want to stand up for something, stand up. If you want to have fun, have fun. But be something, feel something, think about something.
Question, Think, Respond.
THE
CROWD
LAURA
PHOTOGRAPHER
BECKERDITE
"I want to photograph men in a more delicate soft manner to convey not only to myself but to others that have been hurt, that there are good guys out there and that there are safe people out there."
With a fascination for bold colors and a love for photographing an array of individuals, Laura Beckerdite’s work highlights the bold and graphic side of fashion. She sits down with us to share where it all started, some of her biggest inspirations, and the misconceptions about photography. What was the moment you decided to pursue a
Since you are really talented with portraits, who are
career in photography?
your muses?
I guess it was probably during middle or high school. I had a
One of my muses is Becky Dionne. She is also a SCAD grad and
lot of hip and ankle surgeries and during those times I couldn’t
one of my best friends. She’s always down to do crazy, creative
do much so I would photograph the floral baskets that people
poses. She’s not afraid to go out and be a spectacle when we
were sending me as ‘get-well’ gifts. I entered one of those into
shoot. Like one time, she wore a really nice suit to Coney Island
the local fair and it won second place. Like, it won over all the
this fall and it was because I wanted that look. She’s all about
people that have been shooting way longer than I have. And so
helping me get whatever I want. That’s why she’s probably “my
it was kinda like - ‘Well, I like this. Let’s see what happens.’ In
main muse” right now. Currently, I don’t have many muses,
high school, I took a photography class and started shooting
she’s just my go-to.
portraits and kinda went off from there.
It’s intersting that through the surgery you took photos and actually won and that’s what inspired you.
When you start a shoot, what’s the first thing you think about to get it set up? Is it the color, the composition, the models? What’s the thing that inspires your idea to do a shoot?
Yeah, I guess nothing was really definitive. When I was growing
It depends on where the shoot is coming from. If someone’s
up, nothing kept my interest long enough. And so photography
collaborating with me and they already have an idea, then the
kept my interest up until college and I was well like - ‘Maybe I
first thing I start with is looking at how I can fit it into my style
should look at that for a career since I haven’t really liked doing
with the bright lighting and colors that I like. If I’m on my own
anything else.’ And I still love it.
and I’m doing a shoot for myself, I find inspiration in daily life or
What artists do you look up to or are inspired by? My all-time favorite photographer is Ben Zank. He uses a lot of lines and the compositions he does are very clean and graphic. I
in test shots for other things, like ‘oh this would be really cool if I had someone wearing this.’ It all depends on the starting point I guess.
try to put that in my work. But the first portrait photographer that
What is the most interesting or favorite photo
I really looked into back in high school was Edward Steichen. He
you’ve taken so far?
used to do a lot of classic Hollywood portraits. He photographed
My favorite photo that I’ve taken so far has definitely been the
everybody who was anybody during his time.
blue image with the double faces. Whenever I get my next
Do you you feel like your work is inspired by them in terms of the compositions and the clean graphics that you also display?
tattoo, I want a line drawing of it. (that Becky is going to draw!)
Why is it your favorite? It was my first time working with an art director. I was in the
Definitely from Ben Zank and another one to add is Dan Saelinger.
art direction photography class and my art director’s name was
He does super clean graphic compositions of still lives. But I
Nathan Hanley . That photo (blue double faces) was just that
definitely see inspiration from them in my composition and just
first jump into advertising. I also had a professor at the time
the way Dan and Ben use color. I really like true-to-life colors
that whenever we brought him the idea he said ‘I don’t think
and bright colors that I don’t have to put in post-production - I
you’re ready for a shot like that’ and I just thought to myself, ‘I
want it to be right there whenever I’m shooting. I really looked
am.’ It was my first image that actually got me into advertising
up to Steichen when I was in high school and I learned posing
photography.
and composition from him. I started looking into lighting with him but didn’t really grasp it until I was in my first controlled lighting class. He definitely pulled me into shooting portraits.
What are some misconceptions about
So you really want to do more of the commercial side
photographers?
of photography by working with a brand. Who’s your
Number one. There this line that goes ‘oh you just click a
dream brand that you want to do a campaign with?
shutter.’ That’s probably the biggest misconception. The other
I don’t know. I really love what ASOS is doing right now. They
one would be how long this process takes. A shoot can take an
just released a big colorblock shoot for their athletic wear.
hour but in terms of planning and post-production, who knows
But also I like high fashion brands. Shooting for Marc Jacobs
the amount of time. It depends on the shoot. A lot of people
and Alexander Wang would be incredible. I do have a dream
think photographers are too expensive and they’re trying to take
magazine though. I would love to make it into Essential Homme
money out of you. They don’t really understand that it’s a long
or AnotherMan.
process which parts of it you don’t see.
What message do you want to convey with your photography?
So right now, you are working full time as a retoucher and junior photographer. Where and what company? I currently work at Group SJR in New York, New York, they’re
My commercial work is more about the actual photo itself.
a content agency. I interned there this past fall and the senior
There’s usually not a big thing behind it - it’s whatever it needs
photographer there is also a SCAD grad. He was one of the guys
to convey. But in my personal work, I really enjoy photographing
I would always hear about in my lighting class. My professors
males and I didn’t really understand why until I had Jaclyn Cori
always said, ‘you should look at this guy he’s doing super well.’
Norman as my black-and-white professor. Jaclyn worked with
He was one of those household names in my lighting classes.
me really hard on concepts. During my senior year of high school,
And I emailed him basically saying, ‘Hey, I’m visiting New York
I was sexually assaulted. It was my first intimate encounter ever
in March. Can we grab coffee? How did you get where you
and someone tried to force themselves on me. So, Jacklyn
are?’ I wasn’t expecting to get anything out of it and I didn’t go
helped me realize that the reason I like photographing men was
in with that mindset. But whenever I submitted my application
that I like having a safe control over a situation because that’s
for an internship, him and another SCAD grad, they were both
something I didn’t have. Any photography that I do for myself
working at the company and the other SCAD grad was the junior
it just strengthens me and I want to photograph men in a more
photographer at the time. Because they knew my name and
delicate soft manner to convey not only to myself but to others
just because of that connection, that’s what I think really helped
that have been hurt, that there are good guys out there and that
pull me into the company. As I interned, everyone seemed to
there are safe people out there.
think I was doing a good job and I got hired on February 1st.
What do you think your position is in the field of
That’s great that those SCAD connections helped
photography right now? Where do you see yourself
you out.
in the industry?
They definitely do. SCAD has so much weight and you just
Right now, I’m a full-time retoucher and a junior photographer.
connect with people. You say ‘I’m a SCAD grad’ and even if
I’m at a full-time salary job less than a year out from school.
they don’t know what that is they look it up and realize it’s one
So I think I’m doing really well. I try to not take that for granted
of the top art institutions. So I’m really grateful that I went to
because it is so hard to make it in the art field. I think I’m at
that college.
a good starting point for my long-term goal. I want to be my own name, I don’t want to work for a company. I want to be a household name among photographers and specifically shooting menswear or sportswear.
What format do you want to show your art in? A magazine, gallery, maybe through social media? As I’m doing fashion and ads, I want to be in a magazine but every time I walk through time square I just think how incredible it would be to see my image that big. In the end, it’s not really where my stop is, it’s if I’m doing what I want to do and who I’m working with.
Mason Vance was born in a small Colorado town to a pair of ski bums, with his knowledge of art coming from a close family friend. He is an incredible graphic designer whose bold blunt personality strongly influences his design style. He's unapologetic and he's not afraid to push boundaries.
Going back to the beginning, what is the first creative
So you’re a graphic designer, but do you have any
thing you remember doing?
hidden talents or interests in other areas? Do those
Building LEGOs. I had those big-ass tubs that you could fit a
interests influence your art?
body in. I had like five of those just completely filled with LEGOs
Well, I draw a lot. Not as much as I used to but I still draw a
by the time I was ten.
lot. My hand skills have definitely overlapped into my graphic
What was the biggest or most complicated thing you ever built? Me and my best friend, Billy, we had this type of LEGO called LEGO Technic and you could program it to have a motor and a brain and a computer and sensors. So we built battlebots and remote control cars or tanks and learned how to program them all.
design, hand lettering, and iconography. And I make very good bagels. Life skill.
What is your ultimate goal in life?
To be lazy on some beach where I don’t have to do jackshit. Just to make enough money to do whatever I want.
Where is your ideal location for a job? Paris. London. Los Angeles. New York. Any of the big cities
Where you exposed to a lot of art as a child that
just because I want to travel and see all the things. Any big city
might have led up to you choosing this career?
where there is an art community.
Not from my parents; both of them are not very creative individuals, but it was again from my best friend. I was half raised by his parents and his mom is a graphic designer and was always showing us stuff and looking at our work and telling us what to do and what not to do. She was always influential in that way.
Where do you typically look to find inspiration for your projects? Pinterest. Always Pinterest. I’ve got a deep black hole of Pinterest for design. Or I go to Design Inspiration or Baubauhaus.
How would you describe your design style? Do you follow any aesthetic movements? I wouldn’t say that I follow any aesthetic movements, I just kinda do what I want. I would say I’m very minimalist not only because I think it looks cool, but also because I’m very lazy. It’s true. Why do more than I need to if I can just get away with it?
GLITZ
PHOTOGRAPHY: DANIEL ROA PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
FOOD MOOD
PHOTOGRAPHY: LUCY HEWITT PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
L IE
N A D
Pulling inspiration from his many travels, Daniel Roa explores color and form in his travel and fashion photography. We sat with him to learn more about what goes through his mind when creating, his thoughts on collaborations, and an insight of what to expect from him in the future.
ROA
O T O H P
R E H P GRA
Who was your favorite photographer growing up?
Like others, getting to your level of photography took
My
trial and error. What has been your biggest failure
favorite
photographer
would
probably
be
Robert
Mapplethorpe. I strive to do work like his. I don’t currently do
and your biggest success?
the fine art that he does but he is probably one of my biggest
That’s a loaded question. My biggest success would be who
inspirations to do photography and when I see his work it
I am today in general, not regarding photography. I have gone
pushes me to keep creating.
through a lot in my life and I used photography as a way to
Who or what inspires you? Honestly, music. So, I’ll be listening to songs and just start getting random ideas in my head. It’s just music for me.
express myself and just have fun. It was something I look forward to doing. That is my biggest success - to be able to find an outlet to be happy. My biggest failure though would probably be... Sometimes I get in a rut and I just want to stop working.
What music has been inspiring you lately?
I get into little ruts where I’m not creative and it discourages
Songs that are written by SIA. They’re so powerful; I can’t name
me. When it happens and I just stop creating, but then I stop
a specific one because even the same song, every time I listen
and think - ‘why am I creating?’ - and just start that process
to it, I get new ideas each time.
again. I start small by doing sketches, listening to music, going
You traveled to France in the past, does traveling influence your photography? Or maybe your point of view? Traveling is probably one of the biggest influences in my life in general. First of all, most of my portfolio is travel photography and landscapes. But on top of that, traveling opens my eyes to new cultures, ideas, and beliefs. I believe it makes me a more versatile photographer. It broadens my mind, ideas, and imagination versus just sticking to the same concept.
Any specific place you want to travel next?
outside and getting inspired by what’s around me. I just need to remember that.
Is there a photoshoot that you would go back to and change something no matter how small or big a detail is? I know I have plenty. So, there’s one I wish I could redo completely. A designer had created the clothes and his clothes were really cool but what he wanted from me was completely different than what he was telling me to do. So anytime I would do shots he said he liked them but then when he got the photos
Somewhere in Asia. I have not been to Asia yet so maybe Japan.
he was expecting something else even though I had shown him
A lot of your photography incorporates very strong
more and more and more for him without crediting me. He just
visuals, is there a message you want to convey through your work? I want people to feel confident in the clothing they’re wearing. I like to shoot a lot of fashion photography so when it comes to that, I want people to feel confident in what they’re wearing but also express that there’s not just one way to look. Everyone can look a different way. Anyone can dress how they want to dress. When it comes to shooting landscapes, I want people to feel in awe and say ‘ wow, that’s beautiful.’ I want them to be able to see the places that they may not be able to go to.
what he was getting. On top of that, he kept wanting me to do wanted it for his own personal use not even for a project, just for himself. I wasn’t getting anything out of it. While the garments were cool and his model choices were okay, the garments didn’t fit them properly. It was just a mess of a photoshoot and then he kept wanting me to keep doing it for him. I just wish I could’ve chosen the models, figured everything out and gotten better equipment to do the shoot with. He asked me two days before the photoshoot, so I didn’t have anything. Be wary of collaborations because some people will take advantage of you. That was probably my biggest failure in this situation because I did not stand up for myself and just let him walk all over me.
What is your next big project?
In your work, one can also see the use of digital
Well, currently I plan on converting my portfolio completely to be
photography and film photography. Is there one you
more high-end fashion. So that’s the next big move I’m going
prefer over the other?
to make. I started thinking of ideas, coming up with concepts,
Ooh. I know that it’s cliché to say both but I prefer both solely
makeup looks, and what I want so that my portfolio would
because in certain lightings I only want to use film and in others,
convert into something that is high-end fashion.
I only want to use digital. I went to Florida this past summer and
If you could shoot any designer’s clothing, who would it be? Do you have a favorite designer or brand that you want to appeal to? This is going to sound totally against my industry and I agree,
I only shot film because I loved the lighting, the scenery, and the subject matter even though I had both cameras. In other situations, I prefer digital. For me, it depends on the lighting and the color I want to present in the image.
but I’m not all about the brands because there are some things
What is your dream job?
that brands create that aren’t that good looking and if someone
My dream job is to be in Europe, preferably France (because
of a lower brand would’ve made it, people would make fun or
I love the French), photographing for some fashion magazine.
hate on it. But because it has this name attached to it people
I mean Vogue Paris would be preferable but I’d take any
are like ‘oh this is so great’ even if they don’t actually like it. So
magazine. Honestly, if I can be in Europe photographing for any
for me, it’s less about the brand or the designer and more about
French fashion magazine, that’s the dream itself.
the actual garment. Like, I would love to work with Versace or Michael Kors and all these big people that are beautiful and amazing. But it’s more about the garment and what it makes me wonder and and what it evokes. I guess I’m more piece-based.
So what does photography mean to you? To me, it’s way to express myself. I’m a very expressive person in the way I dress, the way I look, the way I talk to people; photography is another outlet to do the things I want to do. I love dressing up, going all weird and crazy, doing crazy makeup and funky outfits. But people do look at you weird and not every time you can just walk around in the way you’re dressing. But in photography you can just put that on and no one questions it; you can just be yourself, do your thing and no one is even bothering to ask why.
AO E
IF Weaving, painting, embroidery, digital media, and collage. Aoife Estes is not afraid to experiment with different mediums when creating her colorful abstractions. She opens up to us about breaking the rules, the painting community, and what lies ahead for her.
PA I
ES TE
S
NT
ER
What inspires you?
What is your favorite color to work with and why?
It’s silly, but I like breaking rules. I grew up with no knowledge of
Ultramarine (straight from the tube) is my favorite. It is dark, and
non-objective art - the only art I remember seeing was figurative
bright, glows violet at a certain angle. I just think its very special.
literal representations. So painting non-objectively feels like I’m breaking the rules and I love that.
Who is your favorite artist and how do they inspire your work? If I had to pick one, it would be Imi Knoebel. He makes these fantastically colored minimalist sculpture-paintings. They are bright, simple, and elegant. I love his sense of color and shape - his work is, in my opinion, purely happy.
What are you currently working on? A few years ago, I got into hand-sewing canvases together to make tapestries. I’m revisiting that process and making a new series of sewn paintings. I’m currently hand-dying my canvases.
How do you want people to feel when viewing your work? I intend for my work to be happy and childlike. Ideally, people will feel a sense of curiosity, optimism, and brightness from looking at my work.
What is the best and worst thing about the painting community? The painting community itself is great - I keep my work pretty private, but I have several painter friends that uplift and help inspire my work. The “Fine Art World” is a different story - it is a market of luxury commodity goods. It is patriarchal and capitalistic. At this point in my life, I am not concerned with socializing my way into the larger art scenes. I just want to keep making work and showing.
What’s next? I finish my undergrad in March. I am looking forward to having more studio time!
OVER CONSUMPTION
PHOTOGRAPHY: DANIEL ROA PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS TEXT BY: TESS BURNS
O·ver·con·sump·tion the action or fact of consuming something to excess Stop buying so much stuff! We are rapidly consuming our only home’s resources because we have become a society of consumers and excess. We think we need to own every possible fashion item, so we keep buying regardless if we need it or not. Americans are buying five times more clothing than they did in 1980, and are tossing them out just as quickly. We wear ‘fast fashion’ garments less than five times and keep them for an average of only 35 days. I’m sorry, but people don’t need 12 pairs of jeans, that is just gluttonous! Take a moment and think how those 12 pairs of jeans - where were made and what resources were used in order to produce them? Denim is made from cotton, which requires a vast amount of resources like water and toxic pesticides to farm. It takes 1,800 gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. Currently, Uzbekistan is the sixth leading producer of cotton in the world and has deeply suffered because of the cotton industry. The Aral Sea located on the north side of the country was once the fourth largest lake in the world but now it is all dried up and releases toxins and carcinogens into the air as a result of the surrounding cotton farming. This overconsumption and overbuying negatively affect the planet - all because of our need for cheap and fast clothing. I know it’s a bummer to think about these things, but we have too. If we don’t change, we won’t have a home for much longer! The earth is being drained of its resources because we keep taking and taking and not giving back. Sooner or later it will have nothing left to give. So going forward, think about what your buying and how those purchases will affect the planet next time you are shopping. Instead of buying the 13th pair of jeans at H&M, which will wear out after the 3rd wash and end up in a landfill, invest in high-quality clothing that will last longer. If you buy less and invest in your clothing, it will give the earth time to recover and decrease the number of products going into the landfill. If you can’t afford to buy high-quality garments right now, buy second-hand clothing because it keeps the loop closed and extends the life of a garment. I know it’s easier said than done, I still struggle with over-consuming, but you have to remember every step forward is positive. *We didn’t buy any new clothing for this shoot, we used what we already had.
Sources Brancatisano, E. (2017, April 05). Clothing Giant H&M Vows To Use Only Sustainable Materials By 2030. Retrieved February 18, 2018 Perry, P. (2018, January 07). The environmental costs of fast fashion. Retrieved February 18, 2018. Michels, V. (2017, October 11). Crisis In Our Closets: The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion. Retrieved February 18, 2018. A. (2017, May 18). 3 reasons to buy second hand: Environment and Cost. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
MILK MONEY
PHOTOGRAPHY: EMMA DEVEREAUX PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
GRACE MILLAR
Bold, Fun & Colorful. That's how you can instantly recognize Grace Millar's graphic designs. We sit down with her for a chat about her origins as a designer, her thoughts on the graphic design industry, and the simple underlying theme present in all her work.
GRAPHIC
DESIG
N
What made you realize that you wanted to be a graphic designer?
Do you see yourself doing something similar? Do you want to start something for yourself?
It actually started in high school. I went to a Northern Chicago
I don’t know...not anytime soon at least. That would be really
suburb high school and they had a ton of different art classes that you could take. I took a photography and a screen printing
cool, to be my own boss. I’m always doing something; I always have a busy plate. So I feel like I would be able to manage it no
class where we made t-shirts - that was my first introduction to
problem. But I don’t see it yet; trying to get a job first.
Illustrator as well. My teacher at the time taught us how to use make logos and everything. I was never a good ‘general school’
You have created swimsuits with your patterns and designs already, do you have an interest in entering the fashion industry?
type of person - I never liked history classes or anything like
Yeah, my dream job right now would be to work for Mara
that. So when I was applying for colleges, my dad, who is also
Hoffman. She’s a swimsuit designer who does very minimal yet
in the creative industry as a museum exhibit designer, noticed
colorful prints. Her whole company is really cool - it’s sustainable
that I clearly wanted to do something in art. He said, “let’s make
as well. She would probably be my biggest inspiration right
it so that you have a career out of it” and suggested graphic
now just because all of her prints and swimwear are just right
design. Then, I applied to college, got in… But it was definitely
on point. I haven’t tried interning for her yet because I am just
that first class in high school that was very hands-on and I was
getting into pattern design.
the pen tool and just very basic stuff but I loved it. We would
like, “I could do this.”
Was there any artist that inspired you to be a graphic designer or someone who currently inspires you?
A lot of your patterns incorporate elements from nature and the outdoors, is that one of the main themes in your art? It’s funny - many of the first prints I did were about swimming
For the longest time, through freshman and sophomore year,
and it was just random. I remember the first one was just legs
I was just getting into my major and I was never passionate
in a pool. I guess it was supposed to represent synchronized
about. I would talk to my roommate about when I would start
swimmer girls. Then I started to get on a little trend of always
actually liking my classes because the beginning of a graphic
drawing people doing things and there was no real meaning
design degree is very pen-and-ink and old school - later you
behind it. I just think I liked the look of a plain person doing
start working on the computer. That’s why I was very into
something - so I have skiing, swimming, biking, tennis...I guess
photography because I was taking just as many classes as
it is really all outdoorsy. Yeah, it’s all random people doing things
graphic design classes. So I loved how you could visually set
- I guess that’s my little thing.
stuff up in photography. As for my inspiration - I think I found my style during my third year. I just started doing random graphic prints - kind of teaching myself this style. Then I would find fashion designers or other graphic artists that had a similar approach to art. I spent the last two summers in New York and I was randomly walking through Soho and went into the store of Henrik Vibskov. He’s a Copenhagen fashion designer but his whole store had installations of his art as well. So he had his fashion designs but then he had massive pencils, that he made, coming out of the wall. He does the runway shows and his own music for the shows - he’s a well-rounded, inspirational artist. His prints are crazy cool too.
Where do you think graphic design is heading towards and what is your opinion on the industry? Having taken classes with different people and working with a restaurant branding this summer you see a ton of different styles in and out of the professional field. While working this summer, I noticed that in the professional field they want everything to be very ‘instagramable’ - something people would want to photograph and share. It’s very social media based and visually heavy. The restaurant that I mainly worked on was all pink, so obviously it’s all over the internet. People want to take pictures of that and so some designers want a graphic style that is very visually appealing. But then I have people in my classes that have a very cut-and-dry, clean and simple style. So I have no idea where graphic design is going, it’s all over the board - I just know that there are so many different styles out there.
Since you worked for a restaurant brand this summer, do you see yourself doing more commercial work, fashion work, or simply freelance? Right now, I would not want to do freelance as a job straight out of school simply because I already do freelance on the side and it’s very tough - you either have four projects at once or nothing. I want a steady contract for sure. For other jobs besides in fashion, I would want to work in either a studio, something small, or I’d go all out, big corporate. What I would look for in jobs...I’m really into branding and illustrations. I would love to do illustrations for The New Yorker or something along that line because I first started doing designs in just pen-and-ink and sometimes a watercolor gouache - I would love to get back into that besides graphic arts.
Would you specifically try to seek out a company or studio that meets your aesthetic? How would you find that balance between having your style but still remaining true to another brand? See that’s what’s tough. I’m currently seeking out brands that are smaller and definitely have my kind of vibe. I had a friend intern for Ralph Lauren this summer and that company is massive - she said it’s nice to have that corporate backing and get benefits. It all sounds nice but then you don’t get to stick out - you can’t really make a huge impact on an already massive brand. So that’s why looking into these smaller companies or agencies is a little bit more appealing to me because I feel like I would be able to input more of my personal style.
How would you describe your work and what it represents? That’s a hard one… I mean, I definitely don’t shy away from using color. I’m always about pop-of-colors. I also like very flat color with no huge detailed or dimensional illustration. I don’t like to do serious topics. I like to create works that appeal to the masses. I definitely have girly prints but my professors always pushed me to appeal to the masses. I would also say my work is very organic - I don’t use a lot of geometric or sharp elements, it’s not clean and perfect. So I would say...Organic. Flat. Colorful. And playful. All around, trying to appeal to all ages and people.
SARAH NG
FILM & TELEVISION
While she works in the film and television industry, Sarah Ng is not your typical filmmaker. She is more interested in breaking the rules rather than following them. She fearlessly uses color in every aspect of her life from the clothes she wears to the films she makes.
It’s easy to notice that you have an amazing sense of style, is there anyone that influenced your own style while growing up? Not really. I grew up in a very conservative - it was an “if you look slightly different, you’re going to get burned at the stake” type of town. So when I was a kid, my response to that was dressing as weird as possible. That was my inspiration and as I grew up I learned how to make my style not look as bad as it was back then. I made it look like fashion.
How would you describe or sum up your style? This is so hard because in my eyes I don’t have a style. I lean a
Are there any filmmakers that really inspire you or that you look up too? Yes, Sam Esmail the director of the movies Mr. Robot and Comet. He doesn’t have a lot of works to his name but all his films are very stylistic - as soon as you watch them you know they’re his. He likes to break all of the film rules, like the rule of thirds. He does not give a fuck about it. That is one of my favorite things about him because in every film class you are told “this is what you do to make a shot look pretty and I hate it. It’s the worst. I do not like to be told that. I understand that generally and historically it’s worked but I think that it’s boring
lot towards streetwear...sporty streetwear. I like bold colors too.
and overdone - why can’t we branch out of that? He’s one of
Where you encouraged to be creative growing up?
If I had the chance to work with him, hands down I would do it.
Yes. My mom especially encouraged me. She wanted to be an artist herself. She would put more pressure and be stricter on my brother and sister, not necessarily to act a certain way just in general, but when it came to me (I’m the youngest) she was looser. So growing up I used to ask her, “how come you don’t tell me I can’t dress this way?” and she said, “I just gave up with you because I know you’re going to do whatever you want regardless.” Part of that sounds like lazy parenting but part if it was that she wanted me to do whatever I wanted and figured out who I am. This one time when I was eight, I was supposed to go to Target with my brother and that was it. But I wore this 60s hippie themed outfit that I styled out of all the clothes I owned. My brother came to go get me and he was like “I’m not going out with you like that,” so I ran to my mom crying and she responded with “Take her out. She’s a kid, it doesn’t matter.”
What made you decide to major in film?
the first filmmakers right now that is working to break that mold.
So you mentioned you how you started your career with internships, who were they with and how did you manage to get those? I graduated high school a year early and I was staying at home for a year. I didn’t want to waste my one year. So I went looking for internships that could be done through the computer because if I was just writing and sending things in I wouldn’t need to move. I worked for this one online magazine Deux Hommes. It’s an online fashion magazine that explores designers that are up-and-coming. I would write about a lot of unknown designers and eventually, I became the editor’s assistant. That was a lot of work. I was only 17 and they didn’t know that because I seemed so mature to them and they were so excited to have me. Also, they didn’t ask for a resume, they just asked for my work - they had no idea how old I was. It was so much organization and I was basically a liaison so I had to have meetings constantly. I remember thinking “So, this is what the real world is like.” But
Spending all this money going to an art school, I wanted to
honestly, it was so fun that it didn’t even feel like it was work. My
have access to resources to take classes in something I had
other internship was last year. I worked for Kastor and Pollux,
absolutely no idea about so I would gain skills that I wouldn’t
a Canadian fashion/lifestyle blog magazine. I used to read
have otherwise. Initially, I was going to be a fashion designer
their blog when I was 10 and it was these two Canadian girls
but then I realized that I suck at sewing and then I switched to
who cultivated their style and then created a company and a
fashion marketing. I have had internships with fashion magazines
business out of it. So I just emailed one of them saying how long
without any degree or experience behind me. So I knew that I
I’ve been following them for and how I’d love to work with them.
could do this on my own and wasn’t going to pay someone to
And they said, “yes, we’ll interview you next week.” I became a
teach me that.
contributing writer and I made artwork for it.
If you weren’t making films, what would you be doing as a career? I don’t know because I have other interesting things, like I would work for a fashion magazine because I also love writing so I could do that, but also photography is really cool and styling as well. Anything in that realm, I would do.
What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on so far?
Where do you place yourself in the film world?
My favorite project is probably my senior film that I shot. All
invited to Hollywood it wouldn’t bide well with me at all. I guess
my friends who saw it were like, “this is literally the epitome of everything Sarah is.” It’s a music video and it’s filled with bright colors. I cast six of my friends in it and styled all of them. I
I’m pretty on the outside. I’ll watch movies but if I was ever Hollywood is under the impression of “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” but they refuse to see that it is broken.
was the producer so all the props were these childlike props
Ideally, where do you see yourself in the future?
for parties and there was cake and champaign. I wanted to
Ideally?...I always see myself in New York ever since I was 10. I
combine innocence and also things from our age - kinda like
just envision myself there. I have no idea who I’d be working for
the destruction of that innocence but very subtly. It’s just so
though. I have no idea what’s gonna happen and I also want to
bright and colorful and fun. Anytime I look at the footage I just
travel for my work. Honestly, I would love to just do freelance or
start smiling because it’s just everyone having so much fun. My
just...float. So, in ten years I see myself floating. I’m only going
crew was made up of friends who are in advertising, fashion
to be thirty then, there’s still so much time ahead.
marketing, and photography. It was just so easy to work with them.
What are your thoughts on the film industry right now? I kinda hate the film industry. It’s not in a good position based on all the controversies surrounding it. I’ve never liked Hollywood - I think it’s bullshit really. But I feel the film industry has the potential of being a voice for so many people and so many diverse artists and writers, but they refuse to let it become that. Everything is very cookie-cutter. If you look at the statistics between POC writers versus white writers, it’s insane - why is this still happening? When will representation come? And being a POC female artist especially hits home with me because how am I supposed to get a voice in this industry if, historically, no one else of my kind has. Some people are like “I’ll be that person who breaks in!” but I don’t care enough about the industry to try. I’m pretty happy with just doing my thing.
CO U
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SID
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PHOTOGRAPHY: MARISSA FOLEY PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you…
PHOTOGRAPHY: MIA LEE PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
A BALLSY INTERMISSION
LE
NOW TEXT BY PAOLA RIOS
150
LISTEN NOW
Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life
Running to the Sun
The Wombats
St. Beauty
The Liverpool-based trio is back with their fourth
The duo of Alex Belle and Isis Valentine brightens
studio album since 2015. The classic indie pop
our ears and playlists with their first EP. Through
sound of the band and lead singer Matthew
their lyrics, these girls lay all their hurdles about
Murphy’s tales of heartbreak and yearning come
love and life out for us. With the rise of female
together in ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’
Black artists, St. Beauty’s album couldn’t come
to create the perfect indie dance-pop album.
at a more perfect moment. “Timing is everything,
With leading tracks like ‘Cheetah Tongue’ and
and Black women have been waiting a long time
‘Lemon To A Knife Fight,’ The Wombats enter the
to get to this moment where we’re at right now.
music scene once again.
And I definitely feel that we are a part of that moment,” said Belle.
Sauna
Playing Chess
Leyya
Elise LeGrow
Austrian Duo of Sophie Lindinger and Marco
In her new album, the Canadian powerhouse
Kleebauer released their second album Sauna.
honors the greatest Blues and R&B pioneers
“Sauna, to them, is a symbol for getting together
like Chuck Berry, Etta James, and Fontella Bass.
without any social barriers or classes, where
LeGrow reimagines these soulful classics for a
nakedness also brings a certain equality,” they
new age injecting her personal sound that create
commented. While their effervescent Alt-Pop
a dreamy and velvety sound while playing tribute
sound draws you in, their meaningful lyrics will
to the tracks’ origins.
make you dive in deeper into the songs.
Moon River
Curious
Frank Ocean
Hayley Ocean
Frank Ocean sends us the sweetest Valentine’s
Though it’s been a while since its release in
Day present for us with his new serene cover of
January, we can’t stop listening to Hayley
the classic, Henri Mancini’s and Johnny Mercer’s
Kiyoko’s new single. The singer kicks off 2018
‘Moon River.’ Written specificaly for the film
with another great addition to the canon of LGBT
Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the song has been covered
pop songs with its honest and all-too relatable
by artists such as Barbara Streisand, Louis
lyrics. “This song is all about self-respect and
Armstrong, and Rob Stewart so who better to
knowing when to walk away when someone
revive it once again than Frank Ocean with his
you care about is playing games,” she reveals
subtle hypnotic mix of vocals and strings. Thank
in the press release. Look out for the full album,
you, Frank Ocean.
“Expectations,” coming soon.
Little Dark Age
MGMT MGMT makes a triumphant return with their first album since 2013. The single ‘Little Dark Age’ was already released in October accompanied by a music video which served as the perfect introduction to the bands new sinister vibes. The indie rock band returns “with some gorgeous melodies and a dash of hallucinogenic weirdness” and we wouldn’t want it any other way.
A Poem Unlimited
U.S. Girls Through a sound reminiscent of 60s girl-groups and 70s Blondie, U.S. Girls continues to bring forward women issues such as domestic violence. Meghan Remy continues to use joyous pop as a base for her protest music in her new album ‘A Poem Unlimited.’ “It so happens that, right now, a lot of the things I’ve been talking about for the last 10 years of doing this project are all coming to a head in the mainstream,” she said recently.
152
WATCH NOW
The End of the F***ing World Netflix Original Thank you Netflix for giving us another amazing binge. While the British dark comedy came out last year, it became available for viewers outside Britain through the streaming site recently. Based on the 2013 comic book by Charles Forsman, the show follows teen outsiders James and Alyssa, who run away together on a road trip across the South of England in a bid to escape the monotony of suburbia. What could go wrong? Be ready to get roped into a funny and twisted teen road trip.
The Shape of Water Guillermo del Toro With 2 Golden Globes, 3 BAFTAS, and over 20 nominations, it’s no surprise we are recommending Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water.’ The romantic fantasy follows a mute cleaner called Elisa who strikes up an improbable relationship with a mysterious amphibious creature kept in the Top Secret facility where she works. With stunning visuals, an amazing musical score, and top-notch performances, this film will leave you breathless.
The Trixie & Katya Show Viceland Even though RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 3 just premiered, we just can’t get enough of our queens. Viceland has given Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova an open stage (or more like studio) to talk about anything and everything. The duo’s comedic chemistry on screen is the wholesome yet filthy talk show you needed. With quick-witted comments and many quotable phrases, Trixie and Katya have found a way of landing jokes without aiming at anything at all. If this is not enough to make you watch it, here’s Katya: “The world is falling apart! Why not listen to two goons in dresses? You could learn something!”
Black Panther Ryan Coogler Black Panther is the superhero movie we all wanted and if you haven’t seen it yet run to your movie theater right now. Based on the Marvel comic, the movie takes us through T’Challa’s (Black Panther) journey in claiming the throne of the African nation of Wakanda after it has been threatened. With a phenomenal cast and stunning visuals, viewers are going to easily fall in love with the film. There’s always been a need for more diversity in the cinematic world of comic books, so having a Black superhero movie where kids and adults can see themselves being portrayed as powerful heroes is fantastic. The movie has shattered box-office records with $404 million worldwide and counting but the images of movie-goers honoring their own African roots by cosplaying characters, wearing traditional dresses and prints, and even playing music and dancing, pretty much reassures us of the celebration of African culture that the movie brings about.
154
READ NOW
Saga
Abbott
Brazen
Brian K. Vaughan Artist: Fiona Staples
Saladin Ahmed Artist: Sami Kivelä
Pénélope Bagieu Artist: Penelope Bagieu
Now we know the adult sci fi/fantasy comic Saga
Novelist Saladin Ahmed publishes his first
Women are amazing as we’ve seen throughout
came out in 2012, but if you haven’t picked it up
creator-owned comic, a new series set in the
history and in this illustrated compendium,
yet then you still have time to catch up since in
70s that follows Elena Abbott a black female
Bagieu seems to remind us once again. From
2018 the comic enters a new storyline. The epic
journalist as she seeks out crime the Detroit
Josephine Baker to Naziq al-Abid, this comic
space opera follows two lovers from different
Police department has given up on. The plot twist
“profiles the lives of these feisty female role
worlds who are trying to escape from war and
though is that many of these crimes are linked
models, some world famous, some little known.”
persecution while raising their daughter. The art
to supernatural forces and dark magic that took
When you read it, you can tell the amount of
is absolutely breathtaking but also very graphic
her husband’s life a year prior. “She’s a journalist
effort and love that went into highlighting these
so viewer discretion is advised. The comic is not
who’s very much a part of her community in
women. “I would do research and readings for
only visually gorgeous - its romantic and action-
Detroit in the early ’70s, but she’s the only black
two days, writing for one day and drawing for
packed writing include many themes that we
journalist at a scrappy tabloid-ish white paper.
two days to complete each story. I couldn’t just
may relate to our own society and the troubling
It’s institutional racism and sexism that’s kept her
goof off for a week, I had to be disciplined,” said
times that we are living in.
career back, but she’s also kind of a half-broken
Bagieu in a recent interview. As you can tell, this
woman right now. She suffered a great loss a few
book is sure to inspire the next generation of
years ago when her husband was murdered by
rebel ladies.
something not of this world,” said Ahmed.
The Milk Lady of Bangalore
Feel Free
So You Want to Talk About Race
Shoba Narayan
Zadie Smith
Who knew we would be so interested in learning
The private author Zadie Smith shares with us a
Ijeoma Oluo opens the conversation on the racial
about milk and cows? In this joy-of-a-read, the
series of essays on an array of topics from Ella
landscape in America with this book. By looking
culture writer and cookbook author leaves New
Fitzgerald’s style to Renaissance paintings to
back at her own experiences and even realizing
York to reconnect with her family in Bangalore.
Beyoncé. The series of rich and fascinating essays
her own faults, she goes through many of the
After befriending the local milk lady, Narayan
written from 2010 to last year, share Smith’s
racial issues America is going through today in
begins reconnects with Indian traditions and
point of view on art, politics, and philosophy.
a style that readers will enjoy because it makes
explore the contrast of the Eastern and Western
“As anyone who picks up Feel Free will learn, the
talking about race as clear as it can be. She
world. It’s a “witty and tender story that endears
award-winning writer is not only well informed
extends the talk to include people of other races
readers to Indian culture and one of their most
but also refreshingly insightful on any number of
besides her own, yet she does so acknowledging
sacred symbols, the cow.” Be ready to transport
topics” that will inspire you to view life through
that she can no way speak for their experience
yourself to the streets of Bangalore in this
a wider lense.
and even recognizes her own faults; “I, like so
Ijeoma Oluo
delightful story of strong female friendship and
many of us, have to do better.” Through witty
cultural perspectives.
commentary and instructive descriptions, she breaks down the conversation about race and educates readers on race relations reassuring them that they will mess up and that’s okay. They can try again.
LUX PUP
PHOTOGRAPHY: MIA LEE PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS
"Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise i t i s n o t l u x u r y. . . "
- Coco Chanel
so comfortable even a dog can wear it!
PEARLESCENT
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID DONG PRODUCED BY: PIGMONT STUDIOS TEXT BY: CAROLINE WILD
Every day a new barrier is being broken and another social issue is being brought to light. This is true in every industry and in every aspect of life. There are large issues, like sexual harassment and equal pay in the workplace for women, that are finally being talked about openly but I want to shed light on another issue that is being solved: inclusion. Specifically, I want to talk about inclusion in the beauty industry. There are huge strides being made to offer wider product ranges in order to have a product for everyone. Much like the fashion industry, the beauty industry is constantly evolving and changing. This includes everything from the products companies offer to the way that they market those products and even the places they find inspiration. They are having to evolve with their customers in order to keep their attention and most companies seem to be recognizing that. In recent years there have been social movements, like Black Lives Matter and multiple Women’s Rights Marches as well as major changes in the political landscape with the election of a new president, that have raised some important points and questions. One of the main causes for change in the United States is the shift in culture that has happened over the past few years. There has been major influence from Latin Americans in many different industries. Demographics are changing with 17.8% of the population being Hispanic and 13.3% being African American in the 2016 census. And I can’t tell you the last time I turned on the radio and did not hear “Despacito” or “Mi Gente.” The combination of all of these movements has really brought to light the fact that even though laws have been made to prevent discrimination it still exists in the United States and it needs to stop. This means that many industries are having to change the way that they communicate with their customers and really diversify their businesses. Because people are being more vocal about the things that they want and what they support, retailers, in particular, are having to change what they are offering their customers. People are demanding more individualized experiences and products. This is especially true for the beauty industry. With all of these social movements being brought to light and voices being spoken, there is a push to have the right product for everyone. Beauty brands have started to diversify from their foundation (literally) and worked their way up. Brands like Fenty Beauty, L’Oreal, and Make Up For Ever began offering much wider ranges of shades of foundation in order to cater to more customers. Currently, Make Up For Ever has a whopping 42 shade range of its UltraHD foundation, which is closely followed by Fenty Beauty which offers customers 40 shades of foundation in order to appeal to any ethnicity. L’Oreal’s True Match Foundation Collection, which is a more wallet-friendly option, includes 33 shades that have differing skin tone and undertone combinations.
Lancôme even went so far as to use color matching technology to create custom foundation for their customers. They created their Lancôme Color Expert scanner which scans information from three different areas of the face and plugs that information into an algorithm to find your skin tone. The customer then chooses the level of coverage and hydration they want and then their perfect personalized foundation is made. Although this service is only offered in select Nordstrom locations in the United States, it has the potential to become more popular at all levels of the market. Even if your formula is not mixed in front of your eyes, retailers like Sephora might create a catalog of all of the foundations offered in their stores that could then be used with a scanner to assist customers in finding the perfect foundation for their skin type and tone. Another possibility for the future of foundation would be to integrate these scanners with augmented reality mirrors. YouCam Makeup, which makes augmented reality mirrors that allow you to “try on makeup” without actually applying any makeup to your face, has already signed contracts with L’Oreal and Estée Lauder Companies. ModiFace is a similar company that has also signed deals with LVMH, Lauder, and L’Oreal. If there was a way to scan a customer’s skin tone, find the perfect foundation match for their skin, and show them what it will look like on them all in a matter of 1 minute, it would revolutionize the way that consumers shop for their beauty products. These technologies could potentially be able to suggest other products like eyeshadow or blush according to the information that it collects about the person’s skin tone. The beauty industry is really doing a fantastic job at keeping up with the times and continuing to move forward with its customers. I feel the industry has a very bright future ahead of itself if it continues to evolve and integrate technology into its retail stores to match the customer’s beauty needs. There is huge potential in creating unique experiences for customers while being as inclusive as possible, which is what people in this day and age want and need.
THE FINAL BOW A TRIBUTE TO PHEOBE PHILO'S CÉLINE
TEXT BY PAOLA RIOS
We were all devastated to know of Phoebe Philo’s departure as creative director of the French fashion house, Céline. Throughout the past year, many brands have been shifting and replacing their creative directors and teams. In a world where the generation of customers is rapidly changing, brands have remained hopeful that these modifications will boost brand relevance and customer loyalty. We began asking ourselves ‘Which brand is next?’- we never expected Céline to be the answer. Phoebe Philo and Céline feel as if they are inseparable and it will be very difficult trying to envision what lies ahead for both of them. Let’s look back at how this amazing woman redefined a brand with her signature modernist style. After six years working on Chloé and a two-year break from the fashion industry, Phoebe Philo was appointed the creative director of Céline in 2008, presenting her Spring/Summer 2010 collection a month after. It was a perfect match for Philo since she was able to freely inject her minimalist aesthetic, clean lines and tonal color palette into the brand, which gained recognition from consumers and critics elevating the brand’s popularity. On her stylistic approach, Philo once mentioned, “I felt it was time for a more back-to-reality approach to fashion, clothes that are beautiful, strong, and have ideas, but with real life driving them.” And that is exactly what she did. Every garment, accessory, or handbag she designed is marked by a timeless modernity - they are modern yet classic pieces created for longtime versatility. Philo also wanted the brand to “resonate with what women want to wear” and focused on the strong working woman as her muse. Being a busy working woman herself with balancing motherhood, deadlines, schedules, and a luxury brand, this approach hit close to heart and led to a more emotional connection between her and Céline. Every season, her designs felt as if she was opening her closet to us and letting us borrow some of her favorite pieces. The main focus of each collection was about “building a wardrobe rather than focusing on throwaway trends” and resonating “with what women want to wear.” Who better to design clothes for women than a woman? This is part of the core history of Céline since it was created in 1945 by Céline Vipiana. With Philo as director, the brand was once again run by a woman. Philo continued this same tradition by focusing on the modern woman and designing for her wants and needs. As the editor-in-chief of Petits Luxes Magazine, Vanessa Caputo once said: “At Céline, it didn’t take long for her to seduce women with her work, for she is one of us.” The brand’s ‘for women by women’ approach resonated with the contemporary woman who preferred comfortable and stylish products for her daily life. To this day, the brand’s popularity serves as a reflection of the rise of the modern ‘gentlewoman’ - the stylish working woman of today. Philo is still regarded as a leader of immaculate taste. Her minimal luxurious aesthetic gained a mass following of “Philo-philes” who wear her sharp-shouldered suiting and swing her block-color bags with pride. You know you’ve made it when people use your name - not your brand’s name - to define a style tribe. The truth is Céline has become synonymous with Philo’s vision, aesthetic, and lifestyle; which begs the question, ‘how can you say Céline without Philo?’
The answer to that will soon be revealed to us whether we’re ready or not. On December 2017, Philo announced that she would be stepping down from the brand saying: “Working with Céline has been an exceptional experience for me these last 10 years. I am grateful to have worked with an incredibly talented and committed team and I would like to thank everyone along the way who has been part of the collaborations and conversations…it’s been amazing.” Yet the reason for this exit remains unclear and to some, unnecessary since Philo has become so integral in Céline’s brand DNA. In the past year, the company had started modernizing their outreach by creating a curated Instagram and expanding to e-commerce, and while there is still room to grow and expand, there is no blatant reason why Phoebe Philo shouldn’t be at the helm of it. There has been no statement made by either Céline or LVMH (it’s conglomerate company) about what prompted this change, which means that it could’ve been Philo’s decision to leave as well. On January 2018, Hedi Slimane (who previously worked in Dior Homme and Saint Laurant) was appointed creative director of the brand. Both Slimane and Philo share a common affinity of creating brands with cool emotional tone and gallery-like store environments – this could be a good transition point for Céline. Yet Slimane has a habit of completely transforming brands and aligning them with his own vision which could mean that we might see a different Céline this September. His new vision of the brand might be more inclusive since he already announced the introduction of a readyto-wear men’s collection; the first ever for the brand. While change is inevitable with a new director, we can only hope that the aesthetic of Céline and its iconic pieces such as the wide-leg trousers, the oversized suits, the geometric shoes, and the trapeze bag, remain true. What lies ahead for the brand is more clear than what’s next for Philo. The designer has not released any comments mentioning a new position or thoughts on retirement. Some speculate that Philo might be taking a break from the industry – it wouldn’t be the first time she’s done this. Between working at Chloé and Céline, she took a two-year break in order to focus on her family. If she is stepping out of the fashion industry once more, hopefully, it is not permanent and she still graces us with her artistic vision. Rumors have also spoken of a possible position in Burberry as its new creative director since Christopher Bailey is also stepping down from that brand. If this rumor is true, it would be interesting to see Philo’s minimalistic approach to the English brand. While we still wait for Philo’s name to appear again on the news confirming her next endeavors, we begin to close the curtain on her time at Céline. It is the end of a decade for this brand – a decade that defined it as the brand we know today. But we hopefully await the new chapter that Slimane will write in the brand’s history.
Sources Seidler, Benjamin (2012, March 1). Phoebe Philo and Her Disciples. The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2018. Business of Fashion (2018). Phoebe Philo. Business of Fashion. Retrieved February 18, 2018. Niven, Lisa & Ellie Pithers (2017, Dec 22). Phoebe Philo to Leave Céline. British Vogue. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
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