Parlay Magazine - No7 Original by Parlay Magazine

No7

original

WRITERS

STAFF

Hiwote Berhanu Deborah Harris John Guatta

Tevye Harper - Editor-In-Chief Deborah Harris - Asst Editor Jessica Johnson - Content Editor Vanessa Cruz - Ad Sales

MODELS

PHOTOGRAPHY

Catherine Treu April Kay Patricia Viriato Evelyn Leong

Amari Dixon Dan Minicucci Jessica Johnson

fashions Daniel Hernandez Tiffany Rae Burntnic Lovers and Drifter’s Club La Bohème Jeffrey Campbell Jaggar Unif Submissions Submissions are always open. If you would like to be considered as a contributor please send your material to submission@parlaymagazine.com Sponsorships & Advertising Send your inquiries to ads@parlaymagazine.com

COVER

INSIDE 08

Skilled Trade Deficit 12 26

CONTENTS

26 PARLAY MAGAZINE

FROM THE EDITOR I’m a fan a people who do good work and do it with style and integrity. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Catherine Treu and FashionFeed and I’m thankful to have her on the cover. It’s like there’s two sides to Cat when you see her. One side she’s always welcoming and fun to hang and talk with. Then on her shoot she reveals this funky, sexy playful side that I don’t think most have ever seen from her. It’s my total delight to highlight this Vegas original. In this issue I’m very excited to introduce some new talent to the Parlay Magazine family. Content Editor and all around super star Jessica Johnson. She’s an essential piece of what keeps this engine running. We’re introducing a shopping segment where we will be highlighting various boutiques around town that you should be shopping at. But this segment is presented through the looking glass of a stylist. We’re happy to present to you Hiwote Berhanu, our stylist-at-large with a smile and spirit that makes your day. She’s also a fashion blogger that you should be following. Speaking of bloggers, checkout the four local fashion bloggers we’re featuring that each have a unique style and take on fashion in the city. And lastly we have a couple designers you can’t ignore. The first is Daniel Hernandez. An amazing designer whose styling, be it dresses or streetwear, are elegant and are totally on trend. The other is Tiffany Rae, a designer with the eye of an artist. We’re excited to see what they both will present in February for Vegas Cut and Sew. Thank you for reading and make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Tevye Harper Editor-In-Chief

parlaymagazine

@parlaymag

parlaymagazine.com

Skilled Trade Deficit There’s been a lot of talk lately about the growing potential of our local fashion industry. And as that talk turns to reality that means an eventual major growth in manufacturing. And when the manufacturing wave comes, trust me it’s coming, that means we’ll need to be sure we have a work force in place to meet the demand.

programs to support creating a skilled workforce? What say you? The Las Vegas fashion industry is riddled with more questions than answers. Some of those questions will take time to answer, years to answer. While some are paving their way independently, what about our community as a whole? Who speaks for the established talent or the young dreamers in high school? How does the global fashion community see Las Vegas? Is our city ready for the next level?

The backbone of all fashion capitals is the skilled workforce making designs a tangible product. So far this may be our Achilles heel that prevents us from growing. http://parlaymagazine.com/parlayWithin the fashion ecosystem it’s a matter of supply and demand. We don’t have any fashion-forum/ large scale manufacturing here. For the boutique manufacturing that we do have they’re limited to what they can deliver. If we build it will they come and if they come are we prepared to meet their demand? Are there vocational training centers and 8

PARLAY MAGAZINE

excited to build which in turn gave me freedom to rediscover who I truly am. I know now that whatever we want in life is totally possible and life responds to our deepest desires, even the ones that are unspoken but show up in our actions as we push towards the top. Reflection is one of the greatest gifts within our power and we should never become too consumed with life not to stop

www.ortizproductions.com

Ortiz-Productions

eric_ortiz_photography

e n i r e h t Ca u e r T A Vegas Original H A R O B E D S I R HAR PHOTOGRAPHED by Amari Dixon

PHOTOGRAPHED by Amari Dixon

This has been a year of several new fashion magazines debuts and some of which claim that they’re the first. Make no mistake who the original is. They must not have been doing their homework. Catherine Treu’s FashionFeed Las Vegas has been covering the Las Vegas fashion community before it became popular. Before starting Parlay I read every issue and loved it. FFLV helped to shape what Parlay Magazine is and we are super huge fans. Now as for our friend Cat. When we were talking about where she wanted to shoot the first thing she said was that she had the perfect spot but we’d have to hop a fence. Not only did I know that this shoot would be special but I knew exactly who her team would be; our daredevil photographer Amari Dixon and our content super star Jessica Johnson. It was a fun shoot and it set the perfect tone for us to highlight this amazing woman who is a shining ambassador for our fashion community. What motivated you to start FashionFeed? Have you ever been literally stopped in your tracks by the way someone is dressed? That happens to me a lot. I am obsessed with street style, which is a broad term, I know, but in my mind, what really excites me, is seeing someone who has used all the ingredients to whip up something nobody has ever seen or tasted before. It’s an art form that requires careful consideration, subconscious or not, of one’s mood, the days events, weather and energy of the surroundings to create a personal interpretation expressed through

fashion. To me, this is the pinnacle of dressing as an art form. It’s what keeps me breathing and living - taking the current and making it everything. You were covering the Las Vegas fashion scene before it was actually fashionable. What are some of the changes that you’ve seen since you started FashionFeed? I think people are collaborating more now, which is great to see. We are moving away from an exclusive, “members only” fashion community, which is an outdated way of thinking, in my opinion, to a community of artists that are working hard to help lift each other up. How did you transition from blog to ezine? In 2013, I met Steven Strazzullo, a fellow fashion blogger, soon to be the first editorin-chief of Fashion Feed. I credit him with the idea of doing an e-zine. He is the one who started using ISSUU’s free technology to provide our readers with a true magazine experience. And, I might add, he did an outstanding job of designing our first 12 issues. Do you miss performing? Yes and no. I have always been a bit shy and reserved, but found that performing came very naturally. It’s why I pursued it as a career. However, doing the same things night after night can become tedious, with not much in the way of mental stimulation. I was blessed to have a 10 year run as a professional dancer and am thankful to have had such an amazing career. I gown by Burntnic white shrug by Lovers and Drifter’s Club hat by Cat’s father-in-law

Silver Dress by Demarko Taylor-Student at AiLV Jewelry by Bullet Studio

retired to have children, and honestly have never considered returning. What I do miss though is rehearsing for a new show. I loved being part of a crazy creative process (the crazier the better) and the excitement of an opening night. Opening nights are the best. Was it your love of the stage and costuming that led you to the fashion scene? Absolutely. I have worn pretty much everything ranging from the ridiculous to the iconic and loved it all. From time to time when I was performing, a designer or producer would ask for my input and I always appreciated that, I think that’s probably what piqued my interest. I approach fashion from a costuming perspective, with my life as the proverbial stage. “What costume will I wear to my lunch meeting?” or “What costume should I wear to tonight’s event?” are typical questions I ask myself. Bridget Dickey, Jeff de Barathy and Cari Byers are some of my favorite costumers these days. I would be ecstatic to wear anything they put on me. You have a great pulse on what’s happening Downtown. Is it just a matter of time before Downtown becomes the official Las Vegas fashion district? Yes, I do believe so. In general, Downtown has become the touchpoint for anyone in search of community, and the fashion scene is certainly part of this. Main St, Stitch Factory, Zappos, and The Arts Factory, just to name a few, are all points on the continuum

that are helping to lead up to an official designation as a “district.” I think people get a little impatient with our precious Downtown. We all must remember, it’s still a sapling. What is happening now though, is our youngest generation is experiencing it in a much more meaningful way than some of us may did in, let’s say, the nineties. Kids and teens have accepted our Downtown as a place they want spend their time. Let them reach adulthood, and I think that’s when we will really start to see the evolution that people are hoping for. The roots and branches still have a lot of growing to do. What do you think our city needs to become a more recognized fashion capital? In one word, manufacturing. To be considered a fashion capital, or even a fashion district, there needs to be industry. Stitch Factory and Dapper Factory are doing great things right by providing safe, respectful environments for their production staff. If you haven’t yet seen “The True Cost,” please see it. I think you will have a much bigger appreciation for what these companies are doing. As a recognized fashion media outlet, it’s my primary objective to educate our consumers about the options they have within the Las Vegas fashion community. This notion of quantity over quality is completely outdated and downright absurd. For most, the only way to go up against big businesses that have no regard for our planet is to make better t-shirt by Burntnic jacket by Jaggar boots by Unif

Black Dress by ANGL Jewelry by Bullet Studio

Black JACKET by ANGL earrings by Bullet Studio necklace by ANGL

choices as a consumer. The time is now to start connecting with your Las Vegas designers. They will knock your socks off! Who are some local designers that you’re loving right now? Bombora Bombora by Bridget Dickey she has great retro-line that I can’t wait to incorporate into my wardrobe. I love Burntnic by Nicole Camacho. Her brand is still very much in the conceptual stages, but the pieces I have seen of hers are dope. I wore several of them for the Parlay shoot. Zejabet has beautiful children’s clothing, Stitch Factory’s private label, Hotelier by Carlos Medina, Polly Weinstein, The Jeweler’s Daughter has sick original pieces, Elle Heavin has gorgeous lingerie. I adore milliner Louisa Voisine. My favorite gown designers are Peter Morales and Mauricio Montebello. Dying over them. I could go on and on. What’s next on the FashionFeed horizon? We are gearing up for expansion and a wider distribution in 2016, and currently developing a concept for an unique event that will place at the close of next year. FOLLOW http://fashionfeedlv.com

PARLAY MAGAZINE

www.amaridixon.com AmariImages-Photography amaridixon1983@yahoo.com

daniel

z de n a n her WRITTEN by Deborah Harris PHOTOGRAPHED by Dan Minicucci

What highlights and inspirations have you carried through all of your working collections over the years? I like to remain consistent with past inspiration from great designers and their process and figure out how to go forward and learn from them. Dior is a major player and influence for me. I like a challenge and the earlier works from that design house is inspiring. What sets a garment made by Daniel Hernandez apart from other ready to wear or Haute Couture labels? Do you have a signature stitch, cut or draping? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very environmentally conscious so there are items and notions on my garments that speak to that. For instance, the buttons on my garments are made from certain trees and are biodegradable. So i like to take classic features and make them friendly for the planet. As an international designer, how are you reaching the world through your work and what do you want your garments to say to the everyday woman? I have had the privilege to become immersed in many different cultures and travel to many countries so its helped shape my world view of a woman and what she wants. Women want options and great product without too much sacrifice. So my job is to inspire and give a voice. So for me personally I am for equal pay for women in the work force and support that cause whenever I can. I want my clothes

to speak to that deserving woman and help her command presence. She should feel powerful and feminine at the same time Being a part of Fashion Week Las Vegas for several seasons has helped ground your name here in Las Vegas and other communities within the industry. What bits of wisdom have you taken from your time here and growing with us in Las Vegas and how does it feel to have your works supported by local boutiques? I have learned that you grow no matter what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing or who youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re affiliated with. Las Vegas has been good to me and I have had so many great opportunities right at my fingertips because of Las Vegas; from working with celebrities and great boutiques. I felt more in step here than a bigger city would have allowed me to in such a short period. There are countless opportunities here in Las Vegas if you work hard. follow https://www.facebook.com/ DanielHernandezboston/ https://www.instagram.com/ dhstudiosincusa/ https://twitter.com/dhstudios

G N I P P SHO

w e i V A h t i W e u q r a P A WRITTEN by Hiwote Berhanu

At times living in Las Vegas, it could be challenging to find the perfect store that has your style. I stumbled upon Parque inside Tivoli Village Market. With barely any color inside I was intrigued to go inside and discover the possibilities. A variety of neutral colors, Parque has a minimalistic aesthetic with a twist. A beautiful off white hamick is in the middle of the store to gives a feeling of a Sunday afternoon. Two sisters, the owners of the store describe their customer so openly and descriptively, “Parque is an ode to the female who enjoys the simple things in life, but whose style is anything but “just simple.” Her style-although mainly subtle and subdued in a carefully executed blend of neutral tones, clean lines, modern aesthetics, and feminine silhouettes with a touch of masculinity--screams confidence and passion.”

Going into the store for this photo shoot, instant inspiration was the goal in mind. Having had no plans with denim pair it with Doc Marten’s to putting lace and plaid together. I wanted to experiment with all kinds of print colors and textures to create that complete look. No matter if you’re tall or short, the black and white print Eclipse jumpsuit. The cinching at the waist will elongate your torso, to go with your favorite pumps. Fall season is here, but that doesn’t mean all white is out the window. Pairing it up with white denim with the white shirt that says, “Off Duty” tee, and layering it with medium tone denim completing it with Doc Marten’s gives that Saturday morning vibes in November. Playing with a lot of prints and textures is always a smart way to express yourself. The floral chiffon Kimono with the gray muscle tank caped dress is for that busy fashionista that wants easy outfits for the weekends and work

PARLAY MAGAZINE

days. To bring this together, just bring in an accessory piece which can also go for a statement piece. Finally, bringing in some great pieces that everyone loves. Lace and plaid, no matter what the season is these both pieces goes so well together or separately. Another way to wear this lace skirt is with a denim shirt, a graphic t-shirt, or a plane white t-shirt with some great pumps with it and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to go. You can

never go wrong with a great plaid shirt, it is as simple for the weekends, and you can dress it up for the office with a black pencil skirt or linen pants. In discovering Parque, inspired would not be the word I would choose to express the findings. I found myself in every piece. Fashion is about rediscovering yourself again and again through the art

of creativity. Telling the world who you are without saying anything. The great Rachel Zoe was quoted saying, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” That is one of my favorite quotes. Thinking about the force of power that quote has for so many people in this industry, it is profound state of mind and feeling.

HOURS & INFO Sunday-Wednesday 11a-6p Thursday-Saturday 11a-8p 420 S. Rampart Blvd. Located Inside The Market LV, 2nd Floor www.shopparque.com 702.274.3297

PARLAY MAGAZINE

Yvette Augerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cosmopolitan Connections.com. Oct. 7

PHOTOGRAPHED by Roger Bennett Photography.com Parlay Magazine Release Party at Breathe Pool, Hard Rock Hotel

R E N G I S E D LOOKBOOK Tiffany Rae

Tiffany Rae is a self-taught fashion designer known for her special skill in creating wearable art. She first entered the industry as a model after being scouted by a local photographer named Kay Shea. She later expanded from modeling into wardrobe styling. Her eye for fashion was the key to her growth into becoming a wardrobe stylist but it was her passion for creativity that led her into becoming a fashion designer. Her first design she ever made was a dress made from cardboard boxes, instead of throwing out the leftover cardboard boxes from Christmas, she had decided to use the boxes as material to create her first design. That cardboard dress was the beginning of her designing journey.

title “Best Fashion Designer of 2014” by the editors of the New York Magazine called Solis. She was published in the book called “The Best of the Best” that was released in February 2015 with the title of best fashion designer.

For the first two years in her designing career she used nothing but random recyclable material to create her designs. It was her signature as a designer. The public saw her first collection made entirely from random material such as toothpicks, coffee straws, and playing cards in a runway show called Missouri Style Week in Saint Louis in August 2014. That collection was called the Futuristic collection. Later that year because of the publicity she received from the Futuristic collection she received the

https://www.instagram.com/ tiffanyraedesigns/

The brand is inspired by the idea of creating from within with no limitations. This way of designing has been the key to creating Tiffany Rae’s Unique and original designs. follow https://www.facebook.com/ TiffanyRaeDesigns https://twitter.com/tiffanyraestyle

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC0cJ5Gk9eY5-iHw8MVgs1CA

Vegas Fashion Bloggers Lauren Schugar/Wardrobe (702)538-5302 http://www.laurenschugar.com http://www.vegasfashionstylist.com Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog? I am a fashion stylist and as of recently I have been blogging about what it takes to become a stylist. My blog is a combination of my favorite things, stylist advice, and anything else I want to share with my readers. Describe how did you first get into blogging? I first got into blogging to answer personal clients questions. I felt like I was repeating myself a lot by answering the same questions multiple times. A blog sounded like a solution. It was originally attached to my website which was hard to find so I changed to the name to Vegas Fashion Stylist in 2011 50

Can you tell our readers some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging? My strength as a blogger... well thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tough one since I treat my blog more as a hobby than a job. Blogs are a lot of work and there is only such much time in the day. I try to have a blog post up once a week. I would say my strength as a blogger is you really hear my voice. I do not take money for sponsored posts. I do take free stuff if I am truly interested in trying what the product line offers. In the future where do you hope your blog will take you? I would love to partner with more brands.

PARLAY MAGAZINE

Lifestyle Creative at Dizzy Spangle www.DizzySpangle.com photography by Ben Sahagun

to know the people around me is a gift. There are billions of people in this world and everyone has a unique story. I’m willing to hear about it and find something about others people’s lives that can inspire me.

https://www.facebook.com/Ben-SahagunPhotography-1499920263621670/?fref=ts https://instagram.com/photosbyben/

Can you tell our readers some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?

Graciella Colmenares

Networking has really helped me grow and shape DizzySpangle.com. Although Can you tell our readers about yourself my blog is a fun way for me to showcase and your blog? my passions, it’s also a business. A business can’t grow unless you market yourself well My name is Graciella Colmenares and and connect with other people. Here in I am 24 years old. I am originally from Vegas, there is a smaller pool of bloggers, Warren, Michigan and I moved here to which is like being a big fish in a little sea. I Las Vegas, Nevada back in 2012. I recently graduated from the Art Institute of Las Vegas think that gives every blogger in the city an advantage to connect even more with local where I obtained a Bachelors degree in influencers and brands. fashion retail management. I’m currently a marketing coordinator for Scott Brothers Entertainment and run a lifestyle blog called In the future, where do you hope your blog DizzySpangle.com where I write about faith, will take you? fashion & food. On a grander scale, I see DizzySpangle. com as leverage to help get my foot in the Describe how did you first get into door for the publication industry. Ultimately, blogging? What inspired you? I would love to work for a magazine like Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Elle or even The main inspiration behind Dizzy Spangle Nylon. is connecting with people. Interacting with others is one of my favorite things about life. I believe with only one life to live, getting

PARLAY MAGAZINE

Hiwote Berhanu Fashion Blogger/ Stylist www.lyfeternally.com Photography by Jessica Johnson Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog? About three years ago, I told my sister what she thought if I did a blog that talks about Fashion Week and fashion shows around the world. I wanted to inspire people to find themselves through my postings. Blogging became a source of freedom for me. It is an outlet for me. Blogging slowly became a personal stylist. I love to give women and men possibilities through fashion. To give a way to expression themselves is so profound to me. Describe how did you first get into blogging? What inspired you? My name is Hiwote Berhanu. I am originally from Ethiopia. I grew up in Las Vegas. My and I came to the United States in 1995 for the opportunity of the American dream. I feel like fashion is who I am, and that became what I do for a living. To me fashion is form of expression, a way to tell your story. It is more than clothes and bags for me; it is rediscovering myself and going through a journey. Ever since I was young, my family and friends would randomly

as me how certain clothes look on them. Secretly in my heart, I had an admiration for fashion. Not until after high school did I really break out my style techniques, and slowly it became something I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without. Can you tell our readers some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging? For me, some of the strengths I can recall are having a solid support system. A base of people that you love that can give you foundation and be there for you when you need them. Another one I would say is staying positive in any hardship that you may go through. In this life nothing is guaranteed, so if you dare to follow your dreams make sure you make every minute count. Finally, I make sure you network. Everyone will always need someone. Make sure you go out there and meet people in your community. You never know what will fall in your lap. In the future where do you hope your blog will take you? In the future, I hope to be a fashion editor for a magazine. I believe in inspiring people through a platform that I truly believe in.

PARLAY MAGAZINE

Laura Coronado Las Vegas Fashion Blogger LollieShopping.com

order to be a marketable employee. But, I ended up developing a readership I didn’t expect and Lollie Shopping just kind of took off on its own.

Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?

Can you tell our readers some of your strengths that really helped you in blogging?

I’m from Austin, Texas, but I’ve lived in Las Vegas for 14 years now and consider it home. I’ve always been great at shopping; my mother taught me early on. And I always get the best deals and know how to shop for my body type. I’m addicted to shoes, sales, and mascara, and I enjoy sharing these addictions with my readers and social media followers.

I’m an excellent writer and storyteller. That’s the key to my blog. But, I also have great time management skills and I’m committed. So many blogs are started and abandoned. You have to have a real commitment and be very dedicated to keep your blog going. Your readers are expecting something from you. Don’t let them down.

The goals and mission of Lollie Shopping are to inspire all people of all body types and incomes to believe that they can attain good personal style and to prove that fashion DOES exist in Las Vegas. I get so perturbed when people wrongly associate what they see Vegas visitors wearing as Las Vegas style. This city has a great sense of style and wonderful fashion and shopping options, and I intend to tell the world about it. Describe how did you first get into blogging? Lollie Shopping just turned eight years old this month. Originally I started it for two reasons: to keep my friends updated as to what I was buying and wearing, and to develop my content management, website, and HTML skills. When I’m not blogging, I normally work in marketing and PR and I knew I needed to become digital-savvy in

In the future where do you hope your blog will take you? After eight years, my blog has taken me to places I never expected. I’ve written for 944, Vegas Rated, and Vegas Seven. I currently write for LA Times Brand Publishing, contributing a fashion article every season for its Las Vegas Travel Guide supplement. I also do television segments for local broadcast stations where I recommend products to buy or even cover worst dressed/best dressed after an awards show, like the Oscars. I’ve been hired by Rachel Roy to represent her line and I’ve interviewed Marc Jacobs. I have a lot to be grateful for. I guess at this point, I’d like to start teaching others how to start their own blogs, whether personal or for business. That’s what I’d like to do next.

PARLAY MAGAZINE

No7

original