beats the system OCT OB E R 2013
68 CAROUSEL
65 SAN CISCO 10 STATUS MESSAGE 12 MASTHEAD
STATUSPHERE 15 20 21 22 23 24
THREADS SETTING BRICK & MORTAR SCREEN INK BEATS
GADGETS 25
TECH PACK: SHORT CUTS
Pocket these wonders
FACE PAINT: ACROSS BORDERS
Accents in geometric precision
27
31 STYLE
ID: BLANK TO BLACK
Nouvelle vague for blanc et noir
ABOUT FACE: PURE IN SIGHT
Keep a clear perspective
27 BEAUTY
BITE: VANITY BEAUTY BAR
VISION BOARD
33 SIXTEEN
AIN’T SO SWEET
41 MIRÓ
GENTLEMAN
Gentlemen prefer the sheer beauty of blondes By Yuky Lutz
48 DAHLIN,
I’M BORED
Smile like you mean it in bodysuits and cropped tops By Kenji O
SHOPPING GUIDE 55 SWAG:
COLD ROCK
56 NEEDLE
TRICKS
Pullovers
57 BLADE
RUNNER
Skater Skirts
58 TOTES
AMAZE
Tote Bags
59 SHE’S
YOUR GIRL
Chelsea Boots
59 PARK
AVENUE
Parkas
60 GRIDLOCK
28 GO
61 COLOR
SEE
Wear it loud and part the crowd
FORWARD
Sneakers
CASUALTY
Cardigans
63 CASE
CLOSED
Laptop Bags
God save the teen queen By Patrick Lacsina
FASHION
STREET STYLE
62 FAST
63 DAILY
Jeweled Necklaces
BEAUTY 26
LISA BILlVIK 71
Checkered Button-downs
CODING
Khaki Pants
FEATURES MUSE
64 STUCK
IN HERE
Model Rachel Rutt doesn’t have to knit-pick to get the perfect shot. By Kathleen Curtis
MAESTRO
65 WHAT’S
IN A NAME
Indie pop quartet San Cisco provides a heartbreak workshop as they fill in their blank slate with contrasting concepts. By Reena Mesias
66 RADIO
SILENCE
Hope is never lost as long as you have magic wands, good intentions, and Your Imaginary Friends to keep you company. By Rita Faire
67 FROM
RUSSIA, WITH LOVE
Regimes may rise and fall and men might lose faith, but there is a comfort in knowing that Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin will never leave the airwaves, no matter how long they keep quiet. By Shinji Manlangit
68 VERTIGO
The circle of life finds its way to Carousel’s year-round carnival of synth sensations that breathe life to youthful rebellion. By Bea Del Rosario
MASTERMIND
69 CIRCUMNAVIGATE
Street artist Ben Eine spells out the meaning of immortality as he takes a walk down his personal alphabet city. By Rita Faire
70 THE
FORCE IS STRONG
Joff Cruz’s empire is anything but evil as he launches a kind assault on the heart of the local music scene with indie music stars from far, far away. By Reena Mesias
71 DRAWING
ROOM
Natural instincts take hold as illustrator Lisa Billvick lets her imagination loose in graphic lines. By Zoe Laurente
72 SPIRITED
AWAY
Reason meets references as Dennis Gonzales re-imagines popular images to deepen the relevance of his own realizations. By Denise Fernandez
73 HUMAN
NATURE
David de Rothschild gives into simple urges as he does his part to save the earth in small measures that have large dividends. By Rita Faire
beats the system OCT OB E R 2013
70 SSLYBY
HEAVY HITTER 74 NOT
YOUR AVERAGE HO
If looks could kill, then model Adrianne Ho is committing mass murder. Let it be known that this thuggish, ruggish beauty’s style is the envy of every hypebeast in the game; so back off and let her rule this realm. By Kathleen Curtis
82 THIS
TIME TOMORROW
Youth isn’t monopolized by the young. Even 34-year-old Dazed & Confused Editor-in-Chief Tim Noakes can still act like one, if he wants, especially now that he’s taking care of Jefferson Hack and Rankin’s iconic brand. By Kristine Dabbay
86 THE
REBIRTH
Things turned left field as Mega became fed up with Medicine and left to work at HUF. Eventually, Black Scale transpired from notions of history and dark belief–creations manifested from issues on religion, government, identity, and death. By Loris Peña
88 LICH
IT LIKE A LOLLIPOP
From bespoke to some jokes, Brian Lichtenberg humors fashion’s elitists with everyone from Céline and Burberry to Balmain, Hermès, Cartier, and Gucci. Doing
34
DAHLIN I’M BORED
68 BEN EINE it for the homies, it only takes a few Lichs to make a statement. By Zoe Laurente
90 SSUR
THING
Russ Karablin of SSUR wants you to COMME des FUCKDOWN. Evolving throughout the years, his brand builds a relationship between streetwear and high fashion parodies. By Rolly Ibañez
BLOCK PARTY: ON THE SAME PAGE GREENE
Editor-in-chief, WeTheUrban
93 ALEC
97 DAN AND BAMS GP SLAM 98 SOCIAL SATURDAYS @ ARACAMA
98 EVERYTHING EMMONS 99 CAPRICHO IS BACK 99 THURSDAY THROWDOWN
MORE
100 DIRECTORY
STATUS INVADES
DUDSON
Editor-in-chief, Intern
93 STEPHANIE
WEDNESDAYS @ ARACAMA
@ ARACAMA
Start-up zines are poised to go beyond their humble beginnings
92 WILLIE
97 HOTDOG
102 MIGUEL
MILLS
Editor-in-chief and Lifestyle Awakenings Editor, Neon
103 HASH
EVENTS
URBINA TAN
Sartorial sights soar as stylist Miguel Urbina Tan surrounds himself striking images.
TAGS
Let Aunt Mary Jane show you the good stuff from all around the world.
NIGHTVISION
@FollowAHo is just what we did this month as we enlisted the help of STATUS bro Jiro Schneider to shoot minted model Adrianne Ho in the white heat of Los Angeles. Clad in G-star tropical print trousers, Nissa accessories, and Y.R.U. shoes, we see how Adrianne earned her stars and stripes in the streetwear scene. You won’t see us fighting her on it anytime soon. Hoorah!
95 JOYRICH VEGAS CANDY 96 INCOGNITO @ PRIVÉ 96 SASHA GREY HEY HEY DJ
statusmagonline.com
Blogsphere
the pulse of hip at your fingertips
go see
we’re all models off duty. smize!
FEATURES
there’s more to what’s in print
NightVision who’s spotted partying where
Photo Diary confessional for lensmen
Digital Magazine DOWNLOADS STATUS in pixels, not free mixtapes paper and wallpapers
STATUS MESSAGE
Brian Lichtenberg (88)
Adrianne Ho (74)
BEATS THE SYSTEM
I
t’s interesting how tides have changed in fashion and youth culture. Small designers have now become influential and powerful people are now taking their cue from the streets. For this issue, we wanted to give the spotlight to guys who built their empires, brick by brick. Adrianne Ho is a model reigning supreme over the realm of bros. We not only love her for her cool and effortless style, but also because she’s a girl you can connect to in more ways than one. Just take a peek at her social media accounts and you will see what we mean. We’re also thrilled to finally get to work with LA photographer Jiro Schneider. It took a few sleepless nights, but we got the shoot done, and the photos are getting us in a sweat. Speaking of streetwear, we rounded up our favorite impresarios who dictate the looks of today– from Black Scale’s Mega to BLTEE’s Brian Lichtenberg and SSUR’s Russ Karablin. We rarely feature other editors-in-chief from other publications, but we’ll make an exception for Dazed and Confused’s Tim Noakes. He takes us through a day in the life of a European editor as we pick his brain on his daily inspirations and future projections. Our Block Party highlights the new crop of magazines—WeTheUrban, Intern, Neon—that are gaining influence, one click at a time. In Invades, stylist Miguel Urbina Tan shares his personal influences, from a Lady Gaga coffee table book to an Alexander Wang sweater. This issue is filled with street style and underground publishing—two platforms that voice out the youth. But building an empire doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of hard work. So if you want to reign over your own kingdom, you better start building.
Editor-in-chief
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contributors statusmagonline.com Rosario Herrera
@RosarioHerrera
creative director Patrick L. Jamora art director Paolo Geronimo graphic designers Nyael David
@padraick @PaoloStroodles @nyaels @jerdeeee
editor-in-chief
Jer Dee
Kristine Dabbay
Rita Faire
@tindabs @YoHitGirl_ @_dizzyrizzy @zoelaurente @KzCurtis @ritadoesnttweet
Tina Herrera Dan Buenaventura junior account manager Marian Ortiz marketing associate Maria Kristoffersen
@tinaherrera_ @danbuenaventura @HailMarian @isamariabella
associate editor
features editor Reena Mesias fashion editor Loris Peña
JIRO SCHNEIDER
If we do give Euro mags a run for their money after this issue, 83% of the credit should go to our cover photographer, Jiro. Always wanting to be a “step ahead,” Jiro makes us envious of his long hair and long roster of A-list clients. From Janelle Monáe to Alexa Chung, from Kid Cudi to Kristen Wiig, the LAbased photographer now captures a gal who’s Not Your Average Ho (74). “Look at her! She is stunning and connecting with the reader as if she has something personal to say… You’re gonna blow people away.” Y’all know he’s right!
fashion assistant Zoe Laurente editorial assistant Kathleen Curtis
sales & marketing consultant account manager
tweet us! contributing writers
Bea Del Rosario, Denise Fernandez, Rolly Ibañez, Shinji Manlangit contributing artists
Anton Aguila, Jorge Balzaretti, The Cobrasnake, Fernando Colon, Danica Condez, Ian Cox, Joyce de Dios-Ignacio, Gerard Estadella, Louie Ray Faundo, Kai Huang, Phoebe Kiely, Patrick Lacsina, Yuky Lutz, Marita Manalo, Miguel Miranda, Chris Moore, Pat Nabong, Franz Navarrete, Kenji O, Lizette Pena, Jeruel Pingol, Paris Potter, Kappo Rivera, Stephy Roca Saló, Nikki Ruiz, Jack Salkild, Pam Santos, Rich Sarto, Jiro Schneider, Amanda Shirreffs, JP Singson, Irene Sy, Kip Zachary interns
Marty Arnaldo, Grace de Luna, MJ Genoveza, Chelsea Madamba
ROLLY IBAñEZ
Former intern Rolly has been sucked into the corporate world but he makes sure that the rich cats there know his subversive swagger. “Since my work requires me to wear a uniform and follow several guidelines, I try to keep up with streetwear by wearing patterned socks with vibrant colors,” he explains. Considering his now swamped schedule, we weren’t sure if he was gonna make the deadline for his article on SSUR’s Russ Karablin (90) on time. But, as always, he delivered. That’s our bottom line.
What’s your STATUS? tell us. editorial editorial@statusmagonline.com advertising advertise@statusmagonline.com marketing marketing@statusmagonline.com general inquiries info@statusmagonline.com
PATRICK LACSINA
Contrary to his editorial, Sixteen Ain’t So Sweet (33), this Toronto-based “unicorn-hunter’s” teen years were very candied. “Sixteen for me was a defining year. It’s when I transferred to an arts high school, and it changed my life,” he says. “[Art] could be a real way of life and a course of doing what you love while making a living for yourself.” His way of life was made just so with photos found in places like The Fashionisto, Fucking Young!, VOGUE.it. He advises, “Do the work when no one is looking. Luck is nothing but preparation meeting opportunity.”
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read our digital version statusmagonline.com/digital-magazine like us facebook.com/statusmagazine follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine instagram: statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
THREADS / setting / BRICK AND MORTAR / BEATS / SCREEN / INK
October 2013
BLOCK MATE S
isters Nancy and Kimberly Wu’s BUILDING BLOCK falls between luxury and industrial design. The brand’s A/W 2013 collection of leather backpacks, purses, clutches, and bucket bags with details like tassels and wooden spheres are simple but essential building blocks for a sensible wardrobe. building--block.com
WORD’S WORTH V
isual puns are guaranteed to add a witty twist to your daily looks. Capture, caption, and curate as PENSHOPPE’s “Pumped Up Tees” express the messages inside your head. While body language helps, it won’t hurt to back it up with words. shop.penshoppe.com
hide and seek N
ordic design is intertwined into VIDUR’s craftsmanship. Accentuated tails, concealed buttons, and threedimensional pockets prove that true style doesn’t shout. Built to last and transcend trends, cropped trousers, funnel neck shirts, shorts, boxed blazers, and parkas are on the agenda this season to make you look effortless. vidur-men.com
RICH and DAMNED I
n this day and age, you better be RICH AND DAMNED. Adorn yourself with its latest collection of gold “Diamond Skeleton” necklaces, spiked iPhone cases, and journals that read “Secrets I Keep From the Internet.” Once you’ve leveled up your RAD factor, no one can take that away from you. richanddamned.com
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
NEW SKIN W
LIKE A PILL
hen it comes to leather, MEREDITH WENDELL is delving into candy colors and exotic skins and combining resort-inspired and sporty American style with duffels, satchels, and backpacks. Sea, salmon, cream, and animal print on snakeskin can’t camouflage you in any crowd. meredithwendell.com
C
atch the wave of ALOHA FROM DEER’s latest collection of tees, jackets, and crewnecks. Prints like cereals, burgers, and ice cream, and statements like “#CHILL,” “Heroin Team,” and “Cool Kids Can’t Die” will have you craving for more. alohafromdeer.com
for the GOOD S
/S GOODS stands for “Sans/Saison” which means Without/Season. The brand’s 5-panel caps, checkered button-downs, and jackets feature prints like paisley, stars, and florals as well as detachable hoodies and invisible pockets to serve as allies for adventure in any weather. ssgoods.com
TAILOR HYPE HEY OLD SPORT N
o need to hit the court to wear ORPHN,’s tees and gym shorts. The Aussie label’s black and blue lounge pants and sports jackets make up for casual days when you’re not ‘texture’ pant, breaking a sweat. Keep it light in mesh shirts‘sport’ jacket, and gartered pants and shorts when you feel like having a ball. orphn.com
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D
irectly inspired by human anatomy, POSTHUMAN WARDROBE exercises notions of power and strength. Savile Row excellence, seaming, and geometric paneling define silhouettes with maximized shoulders and emphasized waist. Tones of stone, carbon grey, and white are the backdrop for textures of teal, cobalt, and chemical blue. posthumanwardrobe.com
THREADS
RHYME AND REASON J
AWBREAKING will leave others gobsmacked by the muddled rhymes of references to Biggie Smalls, “No Money, Mo Prob$.” If that doesn’t turn heads, the most anticipated #OOTD sweeping your Instagram feed today will. Kill ‘em with words as cropped tees, tanks, oversized jerseys, and unisex shirts have no problem sending their message across. shopjawbreaking.com
PLAY TIME A
ll is fun with RANDOLF CLOTHING’s Child’s Play collection. Tees with images of Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Grace Coddington, and Bill Cunningham are mixed with ice cream and PlayStation prints for your recreational purposes. With these on, you’re always it. facebook.com/randolf
NEW RULES C
harge it to the WEEKEND OFFENDER for sticking up to the modern gents whose sleek button-downs, collared tees, parka jackets, and denim make coveting these goods a crime worth committing. The only rule of the game: “Detail in everything, admit nothing.” weekendoffender.com
BACK NECESSITIES H
oard as much KANKEN bags as you please. Take your pick from an assortment of backpacks cum tote bags in all sizes. No need to wonder what outfit to wear with them. These two-way bags come in every Skittle-color you can think of. ilovemykanken.com
TALK SHOW D
ifferent day, different SUNDAY 21 T-shirt. Choose tees from Lana Del Rey giving the rock & roll sign, “Space Wars”, and “Pronunciation Designer Guide,” and pair them with a lion backpack that says “Meow.” Shirts speak louder with words. sunday21.it
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THREADS
BRANDS TO KNOW
SUPER CHILL S
UPERDRY will prepare you for the chilly weather with its Autumn/ Winter 2013 collection. From military-inspired pea coats, puffer jackets, and knitted scarves to bobble hats and suede explorer boots, you’ll keep warm layer after layer. Inspired by vintage American and Japanese street style, its pieces are ready to endure any hype and climate. superdry.com
MIX AND MASH M
asculine meets feminine in MEI KAWA’s dress shirts, trousers, and jackets. Minimal and refined, functional pieces like the chambray shirt come with paneled details to lend a bit of humor. Welt pockets are also meshed with structured jeans to keep that boyish look. meikawa.com
VINTAGE ADVANTAGE A
nnette and Suzanne Wirz, the sisters behind TOM AND HAWK, are inspired by ethnic designs, old patterns, and the 80s. Their collection of reworked varsity jackets and pullovers ditches grunge flannel and plaid. Go for knitted tribal prints on button-downs and sweaters that’ll run over your basics. tomandhawk.com
STARRY EYED I
f you find yourself gazing at night, stare at SHADOWPLAYNYC that channels intergalactic prints. All are digitally printed with real images from NASA’s Hubble telescope. You don’t need to look far if you can take your pick from crimson and violet tights, cotton galaxy and astronaut-printed tees, silk scarves, and spandex moon crevasse skirts. shadowplaynyc.com
STICKY SITUATION B
ring out your old sticker album and join the fun with ANAOANA’s latest lookbook. Guys and girls get digital with tees and jackets in bold prints to match their sticker-clad faces. From mixed prints to black and white stripes, this color frenzy can be pulled off by anyone who has the right attitude. anaoana.com
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THREADS
DEUs EX MACHINA G
ODDESS CLOTHING’s collection of “Gyaru Tee,” “Turkish Oil Wrestler” tank, “Elegance” tank top, and “Purikura” leggings with prints of dolllike girls, pearls, diamonds, and flamingos will get you donning a piece right away. While you’re at it, give life a middle finger in your metallic ensemble. goddessclothingco.com
THE APROPOS 6023JKF13 #337
THE CANINE 2979HLF13 #136 THE GREYHOUND 2979SGF13 #252
2013 FALL / WINTER
PRIZED POSSESSION
Front cover THE COLLARED 1308BLF13 #001 Back cover THE BLOSSOM 1308BLF13 #001
KNIT WIT
THE ORIGINATOR 6091WRF13 #290
This page THE COSMO 6006WRF13 #001
K
eep your eyes on JENNIE KWON DESIGNS’s intricate jewelry. Its latest collection includes a little bit of gold and a little bit of everything from “Braided” rings and “Diamond Dipped Heart” necklaces to “Onyx Round” studs that are handmade for a subtle dazzle. jenniekwondesigns.com
D
Words by Marty Arnaldo, Kathleen Curtis, Zoe Laurente, and Loris Peña
on’t fall out of LINE with woolen knits that will keep you toasty during cold days. The brand brings out the knitting needles and comes out with houndstooth and herringbone patterns worked into shrugs and pullovers. It’s time to turn chunky into sleek with a pair of mesh boots and a slim column skirt. lineknitwear.com
SWISS ARMY W
ith bold color options, the low profile K-SWISS “Classic Lite” gets upgraded. Introducing a canvas outer fabric which makes for lightweight, breathable sneakers, you’ll be transported to the good old days when being clean and understated was the norm. kswiss.com
J ACKET_NYJ K36 SHI RT_NYSH55 TRO USERS_NYTR34
SHARP LINES
KNIT_NYKN6 SH I RT _ N Y SH 6 5 T ROU SER S_ N Y T R 3 4
J AC KE T _N YJ K28 SH I RT _N YSH 46 C R E W _N YTO 184 T RO USE R S_N YT R 34
T
he eccentricity of British design is NATIVE YOUTH’s foundation. Introducing a modern spin on outerwear, its knitwear debut collection sees red, navy, and grey woven with crewnecks and polo shirts. It partners a delectable array of denim with dyes and treatments for every discerning eye. native-youth.com
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SETTING
PLACES TO GO
CORKAGE
PLATE
SODA FACTORY, SYDNEY
French COnnection MAMA SHELTER includes a divine array of hearty meals that make no apology for gluttony.
SODA FACTORY is a bar unlike those parallel to its ilk. Enter what seems to be a tiny, 50s style hotdog stand, and you will find the gem that hides beneath. With dim lights, chesterfield couches, and brick walls with a rustic den feel, this is the perfect hideout to experience the local music scene in Sydney. Raspberry and Piña Colada Floats are a big hit with patrons, but you could go for something wittier like the Apple Pie Levenstein or the Grapefruit Pink Diamond Fizz. No cocktail leaves without an impression.
COQUILETTE PASTA Mostellos ham and soft-boiled egg
6 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills NSW 2010 sodafactory.com.au
S u ite
MAMA SHELTER, PARIS Just four miles from the cultural center, Philippe Starck-designed MAMA SHELTER provides boutique comfort within its faux-industrial concrete walls. Details such as Chewbacca and Batman-masked bedside lamps, snake-print washbasins, and graffiti-inscribed poems on black walls can be found in each room, all equipped with iMac-programmed TVs and Kiehl’s toiletries.
DUCK PARMENTIER Similar to a cottage pie, but served with duck meat and mixed green salad on the side
109 rue de Bagnolet, Paris, France mamashelter.com/paris GREEN LENTILS Lentils, soft-boiled egg, herbs and mustard sauce
GRUB
CAFÉ DE SEOUL combines the Korean palate with gourmet café cuisine. Modern architecture provides the cornerstone of this student hangout as high ceilings, bookshelves, and communal seating continue to inspire. Don’t leave without trying “Bing-soo,“ a delightful shaved ice dessert topped with ice cream. Mocktails and herbal infused tea are popular choices to match its clam tarts, Brussel waffles, and sweet kies. Unit 12, 2/f One Archer’s Place Bldg., Taft Ave, Manila cafedeseoul.com
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HOMEMADE TIRAMISU Sponge ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with whipped egg yolks, cocoa, and mascarpone cheese
PIZZA VEGGETARIAN Candied pepper, eggplant, zucchini, tapenade, mozzarella, arugula, and thyme
Words by Kathleen Curtis
CAFÉ DE SEOUL, MANILA
BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES TO SHOP
SNEAKPEEK, MANILA 6th Floor East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines facebook.com/Sneakpeek Dime to drop: P3,500-P12,000 Don’t leave without: Stance socks, Gourmet, and Clae Footwear
S
NEAKPEEK showcases a wide array of collectibles that make it a treasure trove for all sneakerheads. Ranging from boots and brogues to sneakers and rubbers—all flaunted against modern displays and the predominantly black interiors accented by dashes of white and blue–brands like Gourmet, Clae, New Balance, DC, Supra, G-Star, Superdry, and Native are available alongside cool accessories such as Brixton caps, Stance socks, Spy eyewear, and Quiksilver watches. Take a peek at the store’s solid selection of limited editions, and while you’re there, cop a pair or two because this place won’t be a secret for long.
THE ROOM BY BASMATEE, PRAGUE Školská 7, 1100 Prague Czech Republic basmatee.cz Dime to drop: P1,800-P18,500 (€35-€350) Don’t leave without: Côte et Ciel backpacks and Royal Republiq leather vintage bags
T
Words by Marty Arnaldo and Loris Peña
ucked away in the backstreets of Prague, THE ROOM BY BASMATEE, with its glass windows and rugged exteriors of brick buildings and cobble streets, is a landmark for those who appreciate good design, great clothes, and fresh sneaks. Designed by Skvadra Architects, the space is occupied by multiple shoe-shelves attached to a long rope that hangs clothes around the room. The store carries Scandinavian, UK, and French brands such as Homecore, Sixpack France, Royal Republiq, Onitsuka Tiger, Côte et Ciel, Dunderdon, Libertine-Libertine, Suit, Clae, and HEX. It also offers exclusive collaboration items with local artists and designers including a micro collection of shirts designed by Kristyna K and tote bags co-created by the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague. Besides shopping, launch parties happen here from time to time.
VOLVÉR V
OLVÉR curates brands from Europe to Asia like Cy Choi, Groundwave, Abcense, Dzojchen, and Thorocraft. It also guarantees a variety of fresh picks for both the lads and the ladies with its select shoes, denim jeans, cutout booties, and printed brogues that you can mix and match for a complete retail immersion. volvershop.com
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SCENES TO SEE
TICKET
PL AYBACK BIG (1988) “A favorite of mine since I was a kid. I can watch this again and again and never be sick of it.”
JOFF CRUZ (Founder of Kindassault) @kindassault RESERVOIR DOGS (1992)
PARENTHOOD (1989)
“The dialogue is really funny and it’s very different from most heist movies.”
“This is another one from my childhood. It’s a funny look at dysfunctional families and how they cope with life.”
FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF (1986)
SPRING BREAKERS (2012)
“I’ve probably memorized more lines in this movie than any other.”
“Finally a new film on this list! I usually forget about films a few hours after watching them, but this one sort of stuck for a few weeks.”
REMOTE CONTROL
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND (ABC) Hot off the heels of ABC’s freshman hit Once Upon A Time comes a spin-off of curious proportions. Aussie actress Sophie Lowe plays Alice, a teenage girl locked in an insane asylum for insisting that her adventures in a place called Wonderland are real. Just when they have her broken and convinced, the Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha) dashes to her rescue and takes her back to the land of white rabbits and red queens.
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DRACULA (NBC) Jonathan Rhys Meyers returns to the small screen in his first series regular role since his stint as King Henry VIII on Showtime’s The Tudors. Tapped by Carnivále creator David Knauf, Jonathan sinks his teeth into one of pop culture’s most iconic spooks as he masquerades as an American entrepreneur amid England’s industrial revolution. Also among the cast is Thomas Kretschmann (Wanted) as Abraham Van Helsing.
ALMOST HUMAN (FOX) JJ Abrams may be giving Star Trek a rest, but that doesn’t mean he has to stop working with the crew of the USS Enterprise. Karl Urban reports for duty in the Lost producer’s latest TV venture that flashes forward 35 years into the future where man coexists with androids. Karl’s character, John Kennex, is an LAPD detective, whose dislike of robots may change once he gets paired with one capable of human emotion.
THE FIFTH ESTATE Chronicling the phenomenon around international whistleblower website WikiLeaks, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rush’s Daniel Brühl play founders Julian Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg, respectively. MACHETE KILLS Grindhouse director Robert Rodriguez is back for another gory, action exploitation romp with frequent collaborators Danny Trejo, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, and Alexa Vega in this new film about the eponymous former Mexican federale. ROMEO AND JULIET Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellows adapts Shakespeare’s classic play of young romance with Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Douglas Booth (Great Expectations) as the star-crossed lovers.
KILL YOUR DARLINGS Daniel Radcliffe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Dane DeHaan star in director John Krokidas’s bio drama film debut about the beat generation in connection to Lucien Carr’s murder of David Kammerer.
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR Based on the Julie Maroh’s French graphic novel, Blue Angel, Adèle Exarchopoulos plays a 15-year-old girl whose life takes an unexpected turn when she falls in love with blue-haired Emma (Léa Seydoux). CARRIE Chloë Grace Moretz takes over the role of pig blood-covered telekinetic prom queen, Carrie White, in this remake of Brian di Palma’s 1976 adaptation of the Stephen King bestseller.
Words by Rita Faire Joff Cruz photo by Nikki Ruiz
SCREEN
ink HOT OFF THE PRESS
BOOKS TO READ
BOOKMARK Cartwheel By Jennifer DuBois Set against the backdrop of Buenos Aires, American foreign exchange student Lilly Hayes serves as the complete foil to her bookish roommate Katy Keller, but when Katy is found brutally murdered in their shared home, Lily becomes the prime suspect. Who is Lilly Hayes? That’s just one of the many questions that haunts us in Jennifer DuBois’s gripping sophomore effort.
The Kraus Project By Jonathan Franzen Jonathan Franzen gives us an in-depth look into the essays of 20th century Austrian satirist Karl Kraus. Franzen’s notes ruminate on the life of this captivating and often cantankerous writer who took shots at consumerism, media manipulation, and a fading empire’s political culture.
Decoded By Jay Z
W
Words by Marty Arnaldo, Kathleen Curtis, and Kristine Dabbay
101 Ways to Kill A Zombie By Robb Pearlman, Illustrated by Dave Urban Zombies have taken over mainstream culture as the It monster of our time. Our morbid fascination with the undead is epitomized in this new book. Pop culture junkie Robb Pearlman and artist Dave Urban prove that a zombie apocalypse could be a laughing matter. The illustrated guide shows that there is more than one way to skin a cat and 101 ways to maim a zombie.
hen creating a conglomerate, you better be unschooled by Jay Z’s autobiography, Decoded. Although more momentous events have unraveled since the 2011 release, the rapper-mogul chronicles his life from his hard knock days on the streets of Brooklyn to his present empire in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Here are his two cents on success:
“Having a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other is the most common thing in the world. The real bullshit is when you act like you don’t have contradictions inside you, that you’re so dull and unimaginative that your mind never changes or wanders into strange, unexpected places.” “I think for hip-hop to grow to its potential and stay relevant for another generation we have to keep
pushing deeper and deeper into the biggest subjects and doing it with real honesty. The truth is always relevant.” “Big was a friend, but also a competitor. He gave me an important lesson at that moment. They call it the game, but it’s not—you can want success all you want, but to get it, you can’t falter. You can’t slip. You can’t sleep. One eye open, for real, and forever.”
FOOTNOTES Author Jennifer DuBois claims to have loosely based her latest novel on Italy’s Amanda Knox case. Supposedly, Amanda did cartwheels in the police station before being interviewed by the police.
The Catholic Church’s support of the First World War disillusioned Karl Kraus, thus prompting him toward apostasy, motivated “primarily by antisemitism”
Probably the most vocal Aquaman fan in public knowledge, Robb Pearlman gets riled up whenever anyone disses this superhero.
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MUSIC TO HEAR
ON THE RISE
123, ABCD
H
annah Acabado, or HANA, may have prodigious talent, but she doesn’t let it get to her head. She’s just like any other multislasher nowadays. She sings, she plays a variety of instruments (from a piano to a ukelele), she writes her own songs, does freelance
PL AYLIS T
BRITISH SEA POWER Scott “Yan” Wilkinson (vocals, guitar) britishseapower.co.uk
HOT AS SUN Jamie Jackson (vocalist) hotassun.com
JUNE MARIEEZY junemarieezy.com
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MUSIC NEWS
book illustrations, and in the mornings, she makes herself a cup of coffee. Hana’s brand of electronic synthpop will make you bop your head while lounging and letting the pop stylings and ambience and float you away. Hana takes a cup and confesses, “All the songs on my EP—and everything else
I’ve made so far—are about just one person, an open letter on things I want but can’t have, fantasies I so badly want to make a reality, truths I wish were lies.” While that all seems so sad, she recounts that they aren’t always dreary for her. “The song ‘Dopamine’ is based on the realization that I might have found the one I’ve been looking for all my life. Those last seven words are the actual lyrics to the song.” With an album in the works with her two-piece band Spirit Ocean and a bunch of collaborations, things are looking up for Hana. Eat, music, art, sleep, rinse, and repeat—this looks to be the formula for Hana for the years to come all before she rides off to the sunset that is the United Kingdom for a permanent vacation. God knows she deserves it.
soundcloud.com/hanaacbd
“Night and Day” Frank Sinatra It’s a lot of joy to walk around town to.
“Silence Kit” Pavement It’s just brilliant and good lyrics and memories.
“Silence Kit” Pavement It’s just brilliant and good lyrics and memories.
“Computer World” Kraftwerk Puts things in perspective.
“Ghost Town” The Specials The changes surprise me every time.
“Side of the Road” Big Black Delta This song feels so damn good. Love the way they use the vocoder.
“What Have I Done To Deserve This” Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield Impossible to not sing along.
“Keep You” Wild Belle The saxophone and bass parts kill me. Natalie has a great voice.
“Get Free” Major Lazer ft. Amber from Dirty Projectors The lyrics, the melody, the music video, the message.
“Pink Matter” Frank Ocean ft. Andre 3000 That bass line! Frank Ocean’s voice and Andre 3000’s flow is captivating and unique.
“Love Isn’t Made” XXYYXX ft. Steffaloo This song makes me tribal-happydance.
“From the Back” Flosstradamus ft. Danny Brown This song and Danny Brown go hard. Saw them live a couple of days ago.
Check it out now, and watch the legendary funk soul brother and British DJ Fatboy Slim perform in the Philippines for the very first time this October 10 at Republiq, Resorts World Manila. 90s kids, rave and rage. We still think he has one of the best artist names in the industry.
CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story will debut this October on Vh1. Creep it up as the best-selling female R&B group of all time’s rise to fame will grace the small screen. Keke Palmer, Lil Mama and Drew Sidora will play the roles of Chilli, Left Eye and T-Boz, respectively.
Musicians from around the world converge in LA as Filter Magazine presents the Cultures Collide Music Festival. Musical acts include Liars, The Raveonettes, Miami Horror and King Khan & The Shrines.
Words by Marty Arnaldo Hana photo by Nikki Ruiz, June Marieezy photo courtesy of Anh Studio
BEATS
TEC H PACK NEWKUBE BY THEKUBE • Nano-sized MP3 player with built-in sound equalizer • Organizational system allows you to sort songs into folders • Reads microSD cards • Capable of six hours of continuous play in a one-hour charge SRP: P1,600
HASSELBLAD STELLAR • Features an ergonomic hand grip with options of carbon fiber, mahogany, walnut, padauk wood, and olive wood • Employs an F1.8 aperture at the widest end of its 3.6x zoom • Implements Sony RX1OO hardware • Denotes 20.2 Megapixels with CMOS sensor SRP: P87,700
SHORT CUTS
Catch a gadget and put it in your pocket.
MOTO × BY MOTOROLA SONY HDR-GWP88 PROJECTOR HANDYCAM®
• Has a four to seven inch super Amoled 1280 X 720 pixel screen • Equipped with 10.5 megapixel back camera (RCBG) and 2.1 megapixel front-facing camera • Maintains a 24-hour battery life • Allows you to choose the front and back accents in all colors with its custom architecture
• Has a built-in projector • Lightweight and waterproof • Has a 29.8 mm wide angle Sony lens G with self-record button and optical steady shot • Comes with 16 GB internal memory
SRP: P8,800
SRP: P35,000
DOWNLOADS DCOVERY By DCOVERY Inc.
TELEGRAM STOP By Modwell Enterprises
SUPREME By Supreme New York
Collect your favorite travel articles and blogs into a personalized guide for your phone.
Send a telegram your buddies won’t forget.
Conveniently await Supreme’s latest drops and find out which items sold out in the space of 10 minutes.
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FAC E PA IN T nars Fall 2013 Pure Matte Lipstick in Peloponnese P1,310
Lancôme L’Absolu Desire Rouge in Coquette Deco P1,500
BURBERRY Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Highlighting Powder in Nude Radiance P2,340 BOBBI BROWN Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner P1,450
Estée lauder Double Wear Eye Pencils P1,150
BOBBI BROWN Extreme Party Mascara P1,600
Across borders Cross the line with a thick streak and never look back.
bobbi brown Gentle Curl Eyelash Curler P1,250
DOLCE AND GABANNA The One Desire Eau de Parfum P5,330
CLINIQUE A Different Nail Enamel For Sensitive Skin Nail Color in Made Of Steel P680
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yves saint laurent Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Bolt Felt Tip Eyeliner Pen P1,600
estée lauder Pure Color Palette in Film Noir P2,500
sisley paris Loose Powder Brush P3,230
Model photo by Fernando Colon
sisley paris Eyeliner Brush P2,390
AB O U T FACE WATCH ME GO
Count on NARS GENTLE OIL-FREE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER to leave no traces of makeup behind. It gets rid of waterproof makeup on skin. P1,170
OF THE ESSENCE
Be sure to stash a bottle of BOBBI BROWN EYE MAKEUP REMOVER in your vanity cabinet. This everyday essential is mild enough to remove eye makeup, leaving skin clean and spotless without stinging the eyes. P1,170
WINDOW WIPER
Clean a caked up face with PHILOSOPHY JUST RELEASE ME™ DUALPHASE OIL-FREE EYE MAKEUP REMOVER. It effectively removes and breaks down the toughest of makeup without irritating skin. It leaves skin feeling cool and clean with its natural aloe, chamomile, and cucumber extracts. P840
DO OVER
Clean up fast or start over with CLINIQUE RINSE-OFF EYE MAKEUP SOLVENT. It easily cleans eyes without disturbing other makeup–perfect for fast changes and repairs. P840
pure in sight
SALVE REGIME
Spare your peepers from aggressive wiping and rubbing with THEBALM BALMS AWAY EYE MAKEUP REMOVER. Simply dip your fingertip into the skinsoothing salve, gently massage onto your lids, and wipe away with a clean tissue. P930
Painted lids may be pretty, but nothing beats a clear view.
Expert Advice
SHAKE IT
Leave it to MAC GENTLY OFF EYE & LIP MAKEUP REMOVER to sweep off tenacious waterproof mascara and lip color. Its dual-phase formula mixes oil and water for twice the impact. P980
Break off a leaf of aloe vera and rub the gel onto eye bags to moisturize skin and prep it for makeup.
b ea u t y b i t e
Words by Zoe Laurente Model photo by Fernando Colon Vanity Beauty Bar photos by Grace de Luna
VANITY BEAUTY BAR
T
he risk of ruining a perfectly good manicure makes eating and drinking a big no-no after a nail job. VANITY BEAUTY BAR & PÂTISSERIE thinks otherwise. This hole-in-the-wall salon, tucked in the north of the metro, serves cocktails, sweet pastries, and homemade chocolates for you to indulge in as you get your nails painted in Chanel and MAC lacquers. The salon also takes care of your beauty needs with services that range from nail care to threading and waxing. It’s easy to get comfy on the couches as you sip Cosmopolitans and wait for your nails to dry. 3/F Il Terrazo Tomas Morato Quezon City, Philippines 709 5279 vanitybeautybar.ph
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GO S E E Turn the street’s sideshows into main acts with looks that can rally up traffic jams.
Bowler Hat Boyfriend Blazer Blue Jeans
Tie-dye Skirt Double-breasted Blazer White Sneakers
Printed Jeans
Lace-up Boots
Leather and Denim Jacket Satin Shorts
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Neon Lace Pants Jewel Print Shirt
Square Frames
White Button-up
Denim on Denim Lace-up Platforms
Photographed by Danica Condez, Louie Ray Faundo, and Franz Navarrete
Linen Blazer
Striped Pants Velvet Button-down Transparent Heels
Straw Hat
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S T Y LE I D
Street style photos courtesy of jponfashionspeed.com
Student Gabriel Lahanque matches his voluminous cape from Unisex Rewind with drainpipes and a tee.
Lisette Ros jazzes up her plain white long-sleeved button-down with a sick, DIY shredded pullover.
Young designer Vincent goes print on print with his favorite KTZ oversized tee and high-waisted pinstripe trousers.
Stylist RenĂŠ Gloor pairs his cool marble print buttondown with a pair of plain black shorts.
Blank to Black
Dentist David Lee looks dapper in a black and white ensemble from his favorite designer Yohji Yamamoto.
Get spotted easily sporting a matching black and white jacket and shorts.
Nothing beats the black and white combo as seen from Band of Outsiders’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection. By JP Singson
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dress by Scale Peppa at Shop Nowhereland necklace as headpiece by H&M bracelets by ARMED socks by Topshop metallic sandals by H&M
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Sixteen Ain’t So Sweet photographed by Patrick Lacsina styled by Amanda Shirreffs
shirt by Yard666Sale at Shop Nowhereland crown, stylist’s own
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shirt by Yard666Sale at Shop Nowhereland overalls by Urban Renewal necklace by ARMED bracelets by ARMED socks by Topshop creepers by Dr. Martens
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bomber jacket by Joyrich at Shop Nowhereland angora halter by Beyond Retro skirt by H&M sunglasses, vintage
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shirt by Yard666Sale at Shop Nowhereland skirt by Cameo at Shop Nowhereland bracelet by H&M earrings by ARMED crown, stylist’s own
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varsity jacket by H&M shirt by Married to the Mob leather shorts by The Ragged Priest ear cuff by ARMED
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babydoll dress by Joyrich at Shop Nowhereland boots, model’s own Disney Mickey Ears, stylist’s own
Hair and Makeup Irene Sy Model Kelsey Rowe of Elite
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shirt by Gori de Palma
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Miró Gentleman Photographed by Yuky Lutz Styled by Stephy Roca Saló
jacket by Gori de Palma  vintage bodysuit by Versace
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shirt by C. Serrano skirt by Colmillo de Morsa stockings by La Perla
top by Stephy R.S. trousers by Gori De Palma shoes by Guess
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shirt by Purificaci贸n Garcia necklace by Guess trousers by Gori De Palma shoes by Guess
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shirt by C. Serrano skirt by Colmillo de Morsa stockings by La Perla
Hair and Makeup Jorge Balzaretti Model Karolina Bien of TrendModels
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top by Forever 21 skirt by J. Andrade sneakers by Vans X Liberty
jacket by Thalia Javier cropped top by Forever 21 shorts by Forever 21 necklace by AC +632
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jacket by Aisha Romero cropped top by Forever 21 pants by Aisha Romero earrings by Firma sneakers by CDG Play X Converse
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bodysuit by J. Andrade pants by Forever 21 shoes by Aldo necklace by Firma
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bra top by Frankie Galangara skirt by N/TICE shoes by Forever 21 bull necklace by Forever 21 ram necklace by AC +632
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top by N/tice skirt by J. Andrade sneakers by Nike necklace by Firma
Assistant Stylist Zoe Laurente Hair and Makeup Marita Manalo Model Petra of Mercator Agency
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knit pullovers
NEEDLE TRICKS Lock seams in knitted picks.
Cotton On [P1,190]
Terranova [P445]
Bench [P829.75]
Cotton On [P1,199]
Kaelen r 2013 Fa l l / W in t e Terranova [P445]
Suite Blanco [P1,749]
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s k at e r s k i r t s
BLADE RUNNER
Feel the breeze through your knees.
Topshop [P2,395]
Penshoppe [P599]
Terranova [P145]
Penshoppe [P599]
l a n d r in o a M e in r e h Cat r 2013 Fa l l / W in t e Cotton On [P799]
Topshop [P1,495]
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tote bags
TOTES AMAZE A trusty carryall won’t let you down.
Dorothy Perkins Kardashian Collection [P4,395]
Warehouse [P2,045]
Warehouse [P5,245]
Penshoppe [P429]
D KN Y r 2013 Fa l l / W in t e
Dorothy Perkins [P1,995]
Dorothy Perkins [P1,295]
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C H e l s e a b o ot s/ Pa r k a s
SHE’S YOUR GIRL The new girl in town has boots made for walking.
Call It Spring [P2,695]
Forever 21 [P2,090]
Call It Spring [P3,295]
J il l s t ua r t 1 3 r 20 Fa l l / W in t e
Topshop [P2,895]
Aldo [P5,995]
PARK AVENUE
Lead the pack of the parka mafia.
Topshop [P4,545]
Springfield [P3,250]
Topshop [P4,545]
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checkered But ton-downs
GRIDLOCK Earn your stripes. Sign your checks.
ot h e r s Brooks Br r 2013 Fa l l / w in t e
Diesel [P7,450]
Penshoppe [P1,099]
Penshoppe [P599]
Cotton On [P1,199]
Bench [P799]
Topshop [P2,395]
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Topshop [P2,395]
Terranova [P1,345]
K h a k i pa n t s
COLOR CODING
Bring a schoolboy charm to the table.
Oxygen [P1,149]
Oxygen [P1,149]
Topman [P2,045]
Terranova [P1,745]
n St e v e n A l a 1 3 2 r 0 fa l l / w in t e
Terranova [P1,995]
Topman [P2,045]
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Sneakers
FAST FORWARD Always be a step ahead.
Aldo [P3,495]
Merrell [TBA]
Vans [P3,498]
Skechers [TBA]
Vans [P2,798]
Vans [P2,698]
Aldo [P3,495]
Pony [TBA]
Y-3 r 2013 Fa l l / w in t e Vans [P3,298]
Saucony [TBA]
Pony [TBA]
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Cardigans/Laptop Bags
DAILY CASUALTY Cardigans keep it low-key.
Penshoppe [P1,399]
Bench [P1,149]
Oxygen [P899]
ot h e r s Brooks Br r 2013 fa l l / w in t e
Oxygen [P899]
Bench [P899]
CASE CLOSED
Keep your codes and keys filed neatly.
Aldo [P3,495]
Bench [P875.75]
Aldo [P3,495]
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M U S E
RACHEL RUTT is no stranger to runways all over the world. With a portfolio boasting names such as Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Doo.Ri, Josh Goot, and Zimmermann, this babe is more than just a pretty face and strong cheekbones. By Kathleen Curtis Photographed by Jack Salkild
W
hen Rachel Rutt is not strutting the catwalk, she moonlights as a stylist and textile designer. Her versatility—from sugary sweet to sultry temptress to streetwear icon—sees her as one of the most sought-after faces at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Australia. Although she exudes a radiant confidence both on and off the runway, Rachel admits she has surreal fashion moments, “Always after every Romance Was Born show, I think, ‘Did that really just happen?!’”
SIDELINE ACTS My first job was at a salad shop, though before that I worked as a balloonist with one of my brothers. My interest in knitting have sprung from boredom during the wait at shows. It is a great time-killer! As far as other crafts go, I’m currently learning to weave, which is both challenging and awesome. When I was 15, my mom and I got approached by an agent, but it wasn’t until my 17th birthday that I felt like I wanted to walk into an agency.
SMELL THE ROSES I have always felt that different styles of clothing and dressing bring out parts of one’s character whether real or make-believe. I try and bring that idea to every show or shoot and commit to it.
STYLE MONGER I love Jenny Kee’s inimitable style; she exudes grace and humility while still being an exotic flower. My favorite designer is TOME; I feel so feminine and comfortable in their clothes. The Orient inspires my personal style; my mother’s Singaporean heritage and my experiences in Japan are themes I see in my dressing. My favorite garments are cheongsam from my aunts, and a batik coat I bought in Shanghai.
ruttiger.tumblr.com
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M A E S T R O Knowing the origin of band names is cliché. What’s interesting these days is when they mean nothing. Four years ago, four guys from Fremantle, Australia named themselves SAN CISCO. It meant nothing— simply a “blank canvas that [they] can sculpt into whatever they wanted.” Nowadays, Jordi Davieson (guitar, lead vocals) says, “I think our canvas has a good solid base coat and it’s ready for us to go nuts on it with “all sorts of shit.” It’s gonna get messy. By Reena Mesias
R
“
ight now, we are driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles,” says Jordi. So far, not much has happened, but getting up at 5:30 AM was not very cool at all. What’s cool, however, is how Jordi, Josh Biondillo (guitar, vocals), Nick Garner (bass), and Scarlett Stevens (drums, vocals) gained attention and hype with only two EPs between 2010 and 2012. Ten months after, with a self-titled debut album released only last year, it’s been a nice and steady rise for the band. With jangly guitars and glittery electronics, their album is simply a means to an end: To tell a story. “[The album is] a snapshot of my own and other people’s lives that are close to me, all squished into about 30 minutes of music,” Jordi says. “I don’t see the point of writing an album that no one can understand, unless it’s dance music. I’ve always made it a goal to never write a lyric that has no meaning.” Tracks like “Fred Astaire” (And God knows that it’s a common misconception / that I’m the only one for you / And I can take you out for breakfast / But he could take you ‘round the world / Fred Astaire’s the man for you), “Nepal” (If you’re gonna break his heart / Could you break it gently please / ‘Coz he’s all you’ve got / You’re all he needs), and “Beach” (In the evening I’ll take you out for dinner and a fight) cover the intense emotions that only a poet and a romantic can express eloquently. People could initially take them for cute, cuddly, and quintessential
softies (with music videos that include fancy ballroom dancing, animal costumes, and a naked man in an apron), but according to Jordi, San Cisco can be “very rude and obnoxious.” He says, “We beat people up and all have heavy drug addictions and lots of tattoos.” Sike. That may be true in an alternate universe, but the present world of San Cisco is delightful and carefree. There are stories of being “Awkward” in art museums. “Nick jumped in an empty wheelchair and wheeled around for a while,” Jordi laughs. “One very nice man helped him into the lift; Nick wheeled over to the exit, got up, and walked out. The look on the man’s face was one of horror and we were all very embarrassed.” And then there are some tales of sucking life in and being “Wild Things.” “I would suggest to stay away from the smells that accumulate in our tour van after a month of driving,” Jordi advises. In retrospect, their breezy charm reflects the band’s values. “I feel like with everything we attempt, we learn from and want to improve next time,” Jordi says. “Nothing is ever perfect which is the best thing, there is always something to work toward. Step by step, we are slowly defining what San Cisco is,” he adds.
sancisco.com @SanCiscoMusic
B reak U p H elp Here are Jordi’s tips to breaking hearts gently: •
Give him your reason and say it’s not his fault—unless it is his fault.
•
Tell him not to get upset second guessing everything he has said and done.
•
The only way his heart will mend is when he learns to love again, and it won’t make sense right now but you’re still his friend.
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maestro
radio silence Vocalist and bassist Em Aquino of YOUR IMAGINARY FRIENDS tells us, “I read this from somewhere, ‘Words can sting like anything, but silence breaks the heart.’ I guess silence can feed on itself and lead to a slow dive from love to just plain apathy.” Let it be said that they were never in danger of getting the silent treatment from us.
Nothing Was the Same and it hardly ever is for DRAKE, who comes out with his most personal album yet. Featuring art by Kadir Nelson (best known for Michael, Michael Jackson’s posthumous album), the album is Drake’s “most clear, concise thoughts from now, and [his] best recollection of then.”
By Rita Faire Interview by Marty Arnaldo Photographed by Pat Nabong
E
m Aquino, Ahmad Tanji (vocals and guitars), his brother Khalid (guitars), and their buddy Eric Po (drums, melodica, and vocals) may call themselves Your Imaginary Friends but our history with them has been anything but a figment of our imagination. They’ve become a fixture. Our heads have been filled with their sunny beachfront musical disposition—albeit with contrasting dark sky lyrics (It’s been a year since you’ve gone astray / It’s been years still everything’s grey / Your silence is the villain), ripping guitar solos, Pixies-inspired vocals—ever since we first came across them in 2010. It’s been three years since, and with both parties older and debatably wiser, we catch up with the guys over a cup of coffee and a couple of laughs as we exchange ideas on being sickeningly happy, unbelievably depressed, and all other emotions in between. From songs about missing someone to people going to hell, how do you keep your music and yourselves still upbeat? Is there are a rationale for keeping that formula? Ahmad: We’re quite lighthearted and we like to joke around mundane things. I think that translates into music as well. But I really can’t say that there was a conscious formula. Too much sugar in the morning, I guess.
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You guys strongly believe in OPM, and rightly so. What are the good things about it these days? Eric: Though I personally would like to focus on the good thing, I think it is imperative that we identify first where the cancer is at so we can treat it. The main ish is not a lot of people are in love with the industry. There are heroes in this tale, but let me tell you that the heroes are dying off at an alarming rate. Hardcore supporters are all giving up and closing shop. There are the sharks who cling like deadweight and cash in on something that’s not even bankable, then there are the crabs who should have died long ago with the dinosaurs but for some reason live on to troll on your craft. Seriously, the independent OPM artists have gone through hell and high water just to put out original music. All we need is the love. If one genuinely loves the artists and their art, this will thrive. This will live on.
One Dreamy Indeterminate Hum played like a dreamy comingof-age tale in song form while Silence is a Villain seems more cynical. What brought about the change? Eric: Life happened. We changed. We all went through life like everyone else. We had our share of victories, heartbreaks, and scuffles. Then there’s the clinking anew of coffee mugs, teacups, and beer bottles. Life is a beautiful thing.
Em: I learned that the hard way. Khalid: One Dreamy… is more like being in an idealistic high school stage when everything seemed so innocent and carefree. Silence Is a Villain is that stage when you graduate and you realize you have to grow up, brought about by conflicts and consequences. Ahmad: Not everything turns out according to plan. You have to create your own ending and learn not to be enamored by the romantic idea of “fate.” That happens though when you’re already covered with bruises. How far-fetched is your imagination? Eric: I can be outdoors and debate with animals of any specie, and I win every time and get a round of applause plus a standing ovation when I show them a glowing, turquoise hipster triangle. Mine’s that far-fetched. Em: Unicorn. Magic wand. Chocolate rain. Flying broomstick. Gummy worm pool. 14 fingers. Chicken mountain. I lose it sometimes. Khalid: Wild and sexy in a bathtub. Ahmad: Picture this: Kids turning into trolls. Zombie mentality. Paid tour to Moon and Mars. Someone acting like Moriarty and controlling the web of crime of the nation. Extinct trees. Extinct species. Clones. A 1984-inspired world. That’s one shitty world. Wait. Oh my. No.
yourimaginarymusic.com @YIFmusic
The Days Are Gone, just not quite for sister-rock trio HAIM who are due to release their first studio album. Forgive them for the wait though because they’re self-professed perfectionists. Just ask the youngest sister Alana who estimated that the band recorded “The Wire” around 20 times.
Shoot up this musical dose of Pure Heroine, Kiwi singer LORDE’s studio album debut. Though only 16, she’s been signed and groomed by Universal since the tender age of 12 and has been writing songs since she was 13.
Glow & Behold, YUCK came up with their sophomore album despite the odds against them. Passing vocal duties to guitarist Max Bloom as lead singer Daniel Blumberg decided to focus on his own stuff, the band still decided to stick it out and come out with this emotionally charged album.
MAESTRO
FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE Ten years ago, Phil Dickey (vocals, drums, guitar) and Will Knauer (guitar) of SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELSTIN would have never thought of releasing a fourth album, losing a crucial part, and becoming American cultural ambassadors. Luckily, for these guys, those things do happen. By Shinji Manlangit
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hings got real.” That was the first thing that Phil said about their trip to Russia. Their name got the attention of the Boris Yeltsin Foundation who invited Phil, Will, and Jonathan James (bass) to headline Old Nu, one of Russia’s biggest festivals. Naturally, the US Consulate heard about it and named them cultural ambassadors. “We ate lunch with Boris Yeltsin’s translator in a cafeteria, went to Tolstoy’s house, and played Boris Yeltsin’s favorite song on national TV,” Phil recalls each proudly as if completing a bunch of levels on a video game. The trip brought the band together, however Will felt it also meant something else. “That trip had such a sense of finality for the band and personally for us, at the point we were at, we weren’t sure if there even would be another album.” For Phil, it was a different story: “It reminded us that music and art have a magic power, and we wanted to make an album before that feeling went away.” There were lulls in the two years they were touring. Will admitted that they only had three new songs and no practice space. As if those weren’t enough, JR Cardwell, who was in the band since 2002, decided to leave after their last summer tour in Japan. The split was amicable, and the band eventually eased into recording once again.
Perhaps it was in the cosmos that drove SSLYBY back to their beginnings: The Knauer Attic where their first album, Broom, was recorded. It’s a bit fitting to go back to their roots since their last release, Tape Club, saw the band unearthing demos and rarities from their almost 10-year existence: it’s symbolic, as if they’re making room in their closet for new stuff. “We just didn’t have any other options, to be honest, but we knew it felt right somehow. We realized we could go back to the attic since it would be free and accessible.” Will admits. “Free being the most important aspect.” When Broom came out in 2005, fans were lured in to the band’s lo-fi sound. Over the years, their sound evolved into an indie pop-rock hybrid especially with 2010’s Chris Walla-produced Let It Sway. Fly by Wire, their new album, plays with the same aesthetics as Broom but with layers and layers of textures and harmonies that the band are known for without feeling like a rehash of their earlier material. “We’ve been joking that we could have called this new album Broom 2, Phil reveals. “That would have been a terrible idea. We’re bad at naming things.”
The first single, “Nightwater Girlfriend,” sounds closer to Let it Sway than Broom, however each track in the album tends to mix the old with the new resulting in an album that equally echoes artists ranging from Phil Collins to Peter Gabriel, and even the gentle evocation of Japan’s Happy End to the anthemic vibe of R.E.M. are referenced with gleeful abandon. “I think we wanted to take each song as far into its own direction as possible,” Will notes that while they still use a beat-up 4-track stuck on a wall, they got picky in the equipment that they would use for each sonic layer. Deciding to go back to synthesizer-based melodies from the guitarheavy tunes on the last album, they now include their first girl member: Phil’s sister, Roni. “We wanted all the parts to dance together in the air,” Phil notes. Fly by Wire is one of the best examples of how a band can evolve without alienating the core fans that tuned into their lofi quirkiness in the first place. By no means is it perfect, but perhaps the Anna Karenina influence that Phil was talking about boils down to this line by Tolstoy: “If you look for perfection, you’ll never be content.” As for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, they’re content about what their new album stands for: “The main overarching theme is the same as most summer blockbuster movies: action, adventure, friendship, and loyalty.”
sslyby.com @sslyby
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maestro The music of indie duo CAROUSEL goes ‘round and ‘round in our heads. Lights shine and faces pass as lovey-dovey synths, airy vocals, and dance beats collide. By Bea Del Rosario
CULTS’s new album is anything but Static. A breakup album in the most literal sense (band members Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin decided to call it quits before the start of the project), it’s sure to leave you asking, “Where do they go from here?”
Big Wheel and Others, among other things, keep turning, and CASS McCOMBS’s journey continues with the release of his new 22-song LP. It’s storytelling at its finest with heartbreaking melodies in songs like “Aeon of Aquarius Blues,” “Angel Blood,” and “There Can Be Only One.”
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his is my routine: wake up, go to school, go home, write, check Hypem.com, do homework, go to sleep, repeat. One night, while scrolling through Hype Machine, I came across Carousel’s “Games”—an infectious track with dance beats reminiscent of Miike Snow, only with dreamier vocals. It was probably in the same manner the duo’s Jackson Phillips (who was also doing homework) saw it on the site. “That was a funny day,” he recounts. “I was working on some homework for my conducting class when a music blogger emailed us, saying our song was on the Hype Machine Popular Page.” Jackson didn’t know what Hype Machine was, but the fact that their name was sitting between Deadmau5 and Feist on the popular chart was all that mattered. STATUS talks to Jackson as he and fellowvocalist Kevin Friedman finished spinning their EP, Palms.
How have your lives changed since being on Hype Machine? That was the day we realized that people might actually like our music, so we started pulling all of our energy into making more and more of it. To this day, we still spend all of our
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time making songs and figuring out how we’re going to perform them. What are your earliest memories of music? I remember driving from LA to San Francisco when I was three, and my parents had just purchased a Frank Sinatra box set. They played it the entire five hours we were in the car. That was the first time I really had a moment with music. You guys studied jazz in college. Why did you decide to do synth pop/electronic pop? It sort of happened gradually. Originally, I was majoring in drum set performance, but in my third year of school, I changed my focus to production. I was making hip-hop/J Dilla-esque beats, and one day, I decided to sing on one of them. I had never really tried to sing before, but I liked the way it came out. That was the moment I realized I should start making songs, not beats. People have compared you to Passion Pit mainly because of the heavy use of synthesizers. But unlike Michael Angelakos and the gang, your lyrics are pretty straightforward. Almost all of our lyrics are biographical. It’s more natural
for me to pull lyrical ideas from my personal life than to make them up. As for simplicity of our lyrics, we’ve always made a conscious effort to make them relatable and singable, but recently we’ve been experimenting with more obscure concepts. In the future, you can expect to hear a wider range of lyrical ideas. What inspires you on a regular basis? I’m inspired by meeting new people and seeing new places, and I’m always inspired by nostalgia. I try to induce inspiration by watching old TV shows from my childhood. Recently, I’ve been watching old episodes of Are You Afraid Of The Dark?
Electropop trio CHVRCHES are making believers out of everyone with their debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Their kaleidoscopic video for “Gun” should best describe their music— colorful, trippy, layered, and synthheavy.
What makes you dizzy? Movies filmed with a hand-held camera like Cloverfield.
carouselmusicpage.com @carouselpage
Great things come in twos. That’s what JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE proves in his follow up album, The 20/20 Experience 2 of 2. The two albums are as different as night and day, with the second having a darker energy to it.
M A S T E R M I N D
CIRCUM NAVIGATE BEN EINE’s great adventures go full circle. He tells us about his evolution from his “negative and destructive” streak as a graffiti artist to his “happier and slightly more positive” realizations as a street artist. “It’s weird, when I first started painting [shops in East London]… I found out that some of the graffiti on those shops were mine. I was cleaning up all my old graffiti.” By Rita Faire
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ast July, the Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles played host to reflections of Ben Eine’s Innocence. Featuring canvas upon canvas of vintagelooking children at play with security signs and words like “vandals,” in his trademark use of typography from 1940s-style cursives to ornate Victorian initials, these brightlycolored mounted pieces float like refined versions of tags in back alleyways and subway tunnels. Everything Ben has been doing for the past ten or twelve years goes back to his beginnings as a 14-year-old kid who just wanted to make his stuff stick.
Ben Eine Photo by Ian Cox courtesy of the Corey Helford Gallery
A lot of graffiti artists grow out of opposition. They tag a wall and people cover it up; as a response, they became more persistent, more creative in delivering their message and
making it stick. How do you think the increasing acceptance of graffiti as an art form has affected its development? When I was a kid, I tagged trains, painted places, and they would get cleaned off. So I would get better inks, inks that were harder to clean off. It’s always finding ways to make it harder for the authorities to clean. It got to the point where I couldn’t do graffiti anymore because they were going to send me to prison, but I didn’t want to stop painting. I didn’t want everything I painted to be cleaned up. I changed what I did very slightly and it became accepted. It was no longer graffiti, and it slowly turned into art. What I do now is just an evolution of the tags that I used to do when I was a kid. And it helps that people like it. Street art is a much more friendly use of
graffiti. It’s a more sellable version. Now, acceptance is felt via recent mainstream collaborations with street and graffiti artists. Take your project for Louis Vuitton, how did that come about? Louis Vuitton wanted the scarves to represent a journey. The artists they’d worked with before were like Iko, Retna, and Os Gêmeos—artists from different places around the world. One of the phrases that I’d been writing—is either “Great Adventure” or “Great Adventures.” I painted that in Osaka, Copenhagen, San Francisco, and Beijing; to me, traveling and painting, going to weird places, it’s just an amazing adventure. It’s something that I never imagined doing when I was doing graffiti on Vans or tagging trains and stuff. When they said they wanted the scarf to be more an interpretation of the journey, “Great Adventure” was the first thing that popped in my head. Getting arrested seems to be a red badge of honor with street
artists. For you, was there a sense of validation as an artist that came with being opposed by the authorities? When I did graffiti, I never felt like I was fighting the system or I was this artist that needed to do this thing and the world was against me. It was just fun! Graffiti is like the best fun you can have not on drugs, if you’re a little teenage boy. I was watching Luther, which is like a copper program, and five minutes into one of the latest episodes, [Idris Elba] stands in front of this painting I did a year and a half ago, and it read “London Riot.” And it’s like, “It’s cool, man!” And it’s good. “My shit’s on telly. People know who I am!” For a teenage boy, that’s a massive ego boost. You become famous in a weird subculture that’s all about breaking the law and getting off on it. It makes you feel kind of invincible… until they catch you.
einesigns.co.uk @beneine
Mastermind
THE FORCE IS STRONG J
off Cruz usually has lunch around 3 PM and watches shows on his computer after. But today, he’s gonna drink cappuccino with our team as he watches screenshots of himself on the camera. In all honesty, I was intimidated. We’re talking about a guy who’s working as an editor for music streaming site Deezer.com (I hope he doesn’t judge my article) and founded Kindassault, a group of guys whose main aim is “to bring awesome music to the Philippines.” Graduates of their gig roster are international artists like Toro y Moi, The Radio Dept., Kings of Convenience, and Grimes, as well as local artists like Spazzkid, Turbo Goth, and Pedicab. Defying all of my first impressions, Joff comes into the café in his unassuming, plain blue shirt and jeans. He greets us with a firm handshake and a smile, asking if he’s late. He isn’t. I hand him his cappuccino. We start talking about the foremost reason both of us had for being in the industry in the first place: Music. “My interest in music started when I was in fifth grade maybe,” Joff says. “My dad introduced me to his music and taught me how to make
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Everything JOFF CRUZ does is for music’s sake. He muses, “It would have been nice to be a touring musician, but I just didn’t have the resources to grow as one.” So instead of being in a band, he decided to use whatever resources he had to bring bands in. As he grows as an entrepreneur, so does the local and international music industry. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Nikki Ruiz Location Kuppa Roastery & Café
a mixtape.” A year later in San Francisco, his cousin introduced him to hip-hop. “I used to stay up late and wait until the underground music come up on the radio and record them on tape.” This sounds like a potential “About Me” of a geeky kid turned guitar player for a rock band. Fortunately, for Joff, he got to experience exactly that, being part of The Dorques in late 2005. Later on, he realized that being a musician wasn’t something that he could “do full-time and live off of”—not here in Manila, at least. But the cosmos have a way of course-correcting. Joff wasn’t meant to battle with bands; he was meant to launch an empire where he can house them. “I was watching Return of the Jedi after a night of drinking and thought I heard Darth Vader say ‘kind assault,’” he laughs. “The name kind of just stuck in my head after that.” Joff has gone a long way since his days of making mixtapes and music. Now, he’s all about making that music heard live for everyone’s pleasure. “I do a little of everything from booking the acts to marketing up to designing the tickets,” he explains. “My main responsibilities though are booking, sales, marketing, and looking after the bands. I love meeting and hanging out with them—especially if they aren’t too tired from traveling.”
Where there is mainstream, there is always an alternative—a counterculture—and that’s what Joff plans to cultivate. While almost all the artists that Kindassault brings aren’t signed to major labels, Joff says it’s not a requirement. “I look out for bands who I believe write good music and can sell tickets,” he says. “It must be a balance of both.” Like everyone who loves good music, Joff is trying to keep the exquisite music taste above water. “There are a lot of creative bands in Manila, but sadly, I don’t think most of them can make a living out of playing music,” he says. “While there are people who are open to more creative music, there’s simply not enough of them… To sum it up, mainstream music makes money and indie doesn’t really. Hopefully this changes in the future.” Nearing the end of the day, I ask, “How was the Japandroids concert? I’m sorry I didn’t get to go. The storm was crazy!” “Oh, it’s alright. I totally understand,” he replies. “We didn’t think anyone would show up, but surprisingly, the venue was still packed.” The brave addicts who ignored the typhoon with a maximum wind strength of 55 kph make us believe that there is, in fact, hope.
kindassault.com @kindassault
L E TO U R DE MANILLE Entertain artists right and do as Joff does. • When possible, we have them try local food. I remember Toro y Moi was so happy to be eating real Filipino food. • I’ve taken a few artists to Intramuros, too. Handsome Furs and I walked around and chatted the whole time and took pictures. • Karaoke is a must if the bands are down. We’ve only done this once but taking Stars’ male vocalist and keyboardist was one of the most memorable nights this year. • I like chatting and having a drink with them, too. Japandroids were pretty cool guys as were The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. • Having a night out. The Radio Dept. wanted to party when they were here so we took them to a few clubs.
mastermind
“I kind of always knew that I wanted to work in something creative and artistic,” says Stockholm-based designer and illustrator LISA BILLVIK whose dapper little characters, dressed in structured jackets, pleats, and patterns mesmerize onlookers with an arresting gaze, inviting anyone interested enough to take a peep into Lisa’s surreal world of paint and lead. By Zoe Laurente
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arly on, Lisa Billvik wasn’t entirely sure on what career path to take. “I have always been drawing and painting,” says Lisa, whose interest in people and stories led her to designing clothes and contributing illustrations for numerous glossies, advertisements, and books. “Drawing is just something that I’ve always done,” she claims. Whether it’s commissioned or for personal amusement, Lisa tries to keep personal ties to her work which she describes to be a mix of delicate and harsh, forlorn, and comical. She strikes a balance between the opposing themes the same way she likes to keep herself fit and connected through yoga–with flowing lines and structure. We heard you just came back from vacation. How was it? It was great! I was at a yoga retreat in Crete for two weeks. I immersed myself in my Ashtanga yoga practice, ate healthy food, and did a lot of snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea. Your drawings have a lot of surreal details. Where do you find inspiration? I find my inspiration in my everyday life–in thoughts that come to mind, things I see, and things that happen in my surroundings. I practice Ashtanga yoga for two hours every morning, and that helps me to stay connected, think more clearly, and to focus.
For me, it’s very inspiring to do physical activities since drawing comes with a lot of sitting. I’m also inspired by nature and how time makes its mark and changes things in different directions. That could be both affected by mankind and by nature itself. I think it’s interesting in many aspects, positive and negative. We see a lot of clean lines and structure in your illustrations. How does it translate to your personal style? I’m interested in structures and different surfaces. I think it started when I studied fashion design and worked with making my own structure on fabrics and made sculptural garments. In the clothes that I’m wearing, I tend to mix different fabrics and qualities but in the same color, mostly black.
What do you find more fun, setting up art exhibits or being backstage at a fashion show? I like both and can’t choose. It’s interesting to see people’s reaction and get feedback. Sometimes other people see something in my illustrations that I haven’t seen. How would you illustrate a selfportrait? My dog would be with me in it. He’s a big part of my life and a loyal friend. I guess I would wear black clothes in several
layers and my big silver bird ring. I would place us in a surrealistic landscape. What’s next for you? I’m working with illustrations for an English book, and I’ll make some illustrations for Gro Restaurant in Stockholm this autumn.
lisabillvik.com @lisabillvik
You also seem to like red lips. What other details would you consider staple to your aesthetic? That changes from time to time. Now I’m more into hairlines. It might sound strange, but sometimes I get stuck with a certain detail for a time. Guys in your drawings always look dapper and dandy. How do you like your men? I’m not particularly into dandy men. I like when people are passionate about things; for example my boyfriend, who is very passionate about his newly opened restaurant, Gro.
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Mastermind
SPIRITED
AWAY
While critics and art enthusiasts label DENNIS GONZALES’s pieces as abstract or surreal, this multi-award winning artist prefers not to limit his work into any classification. “I don’t want to categorize art making to these norms,” he says. “Because I don’t really see art as having boundaries.” By Denise Fernandez Photos courtesy of the Silverlens Gallery “Never Outshine Your Master“
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ennis Gonzales has been surrounded by art even before he garnered a massive amount of recognition as an awardee for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Award as well as a winner for Metrobank Foundation’s National Painting Competition, to name a couple. He was raised on art, drawing on his home blackboard everyday only to find mastery in repetition. A graduate of Visual Communication at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Dennis would pursue his mastery of fine art through painting. Dennis’s pieces are brightly colored and, as he describes, limitless–often playing with bizarre, eyecatching imagery and prominent pop culture icons that include comic book characters and Disney cartoons. “I treat pop culture as images and ideas that I can improve and put my own mark on, and in turn improve and deepen the relevance of my work,” says Dennis. STATUS sits down with the renowned Filipino painter and takes a peek into worlds his work may whisk us away. Did you ever feel like a starving artist when you were starting out? I don’t feel like the “starving artist” label directly applies to me. My parents trained me from the start to take care of my finances smartly… [My mother] made sure that not only hard work was ingrained in me, but also taking care of the fruits of my labor. Listening to stories about other artists also helped mold me into being mindful of my lifestyle. I only really spent
for the basics because I decided early on that I wanted a house of my own where I could build myself a proper studio to work as freely as I could. I focused all my energy on that goal. You’ve been in the art industry for quite some time now. How much do you think has your art evolved and in what way? In terms of art-making, I think my depth has matured a little. One of the most important things that I like to keep in mind is that as we get old, not only should credit card debt increase, but also the depth of one’s wisdom. How does recognition affect your work? I have always considered awards and recognition as bonus for all the hard work that I did. After winning awards, I felt more inspired to continue what I do and hone my skills better, but I’ve always been grounded by my mother’s advice and values. She told me about the story of the rice grain. The more the seed grows and the heavier it becomes, the more it stoops down to the ground in humility. I always remember that in times of triumph. I don’t feel pressured by competitions now but when I was younger, I thought of them as challenges and part of growth, exploring my art and where I want to go. I also like the friendly competition with my contemporaries. How does your creative process go? I have a theory that the mind should serve as a universal wasteland. All stimuli–our experiences, everything we
“Inch From The Edge“
see, everything we are exposed to, the images that bombard us on a daily basis, the good and the bad, yin and yang—they should be saved and stored so when the opportune moment comes, it is easier to have ideas, that Eureka moment… I am stimulated by the idea
of exploring different dimensions and alternate realities. To me, they serve as surprising twists that I like interpreting on canvas.
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mastermind
Rather than banking on his family’s good name, DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD goes back to the basics and chooses the life of an explorer who weathers the storms to alleviate the imminent dangers of climate change. By Rita Faire Interview by Kristine Dabbay Photographed by Danica Condez
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come from a family of explorers,” David de Rothschild asserts after being asked what it was like coming from a family of bankers. Most people can easily relate him with the famed British banking family, but he calls out the misnomer, educating us in the part of the Rothschilds that influenced him the most. “I have a large family and my side are actually all scientists. They started the first nature conservation society in the UK.” It nurtured a natural wonder for the world. He admits, “I always find it amazing that we’re getting gently tanned by a star millions of miles away. It’s pretty awesome, right?” Naming his uncle, Olympic equestrian Peter Robeson, his hero, David explains, “I spent a lot of time with him and my aunt; both of them are just simple… I grew up on a farm with them using common sense. So, for me, that’s one of the big things that tend to disappear when it comes to global and local issues. So often we try to tackle them with these complex agreements and understandings.” With that in mind, the responsibility he feels toward protecting and preserving the planet falls into simple, uncomplicated ideals. How would you advise citizens to live a greener life without it feeling like a chore? I would say get rid of the word green, that sounds horrible. You say to someone “live a greener life;” it’s like Kermit the frog said, “It’s not easy being green.” The best thing you can do is stop labeling it as green then make it… what you’re meant to do on a daily basis. My advice is to just be curious and look at the things you can do in the space rather than listening to
what you can’t do. Too many people tell us what we can’t do; ”Don’t do this, don’t do that.” It’s a bit like the health industry. “You must exercise five times a day, you must do this, eat your fruit,” that becomes overwhelming and you switch off. Be curious and have fun! Tell us about how it was like, sailing across the Pacific in your plastic bottle boat, The Plastiki. No day is the same when you live on the ocean. Every day is different, but for the most part it was being part of a team, part of a message, part of that excitement of working together and trying to make conversations that people would actually buy into. Each day was different. Sometimes you’re working on the boat, resting, writing a blog, saving the boat. It was a continual conversation, really fun.
I WOULD SAY GET RID OF THE WORD GREEN, THAT SOUNDS HORRIBLE. YOU SAY TO SOMEONE “LIVE A GREENER LIFE;” IT’S LIKE KERMIT THE FROG SAID, “IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN.”
You’re a person who values asking questions. What should we ask ourselves regarding the future? I think it all starts out at change—it’s such a cliché, but it starts at change in your belief system. So if you don’t believe in asking questions, about learning and moving yourself into a standpoint where you’re challenging yourself, then it’s very hard to get onto that ladder; you have to start evaluating. What applies in the micro applies in the macro, so it’s not that complicated… The reality is simple when you look at it. Look at all the designs today and [you’ll see that] the most simple thing can have the biggest impact. [It gets you] asking questions like, “Where does my food come from? How does my food get to my table? Where does energy come from?” But it’s bizarre to me today; we go into a store and we spend half an hour asking sales assistants about battery life or data about a computer but then, we walk into a restaurant and we put food in our mouth, we won’t ask where it comes from, how it got to us, if it harmed the environment, or if it’s bad for our health. It’s about asking those questions for yourself.
@DRexplore
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Men dominate streetwear, but with 25-year-old muse ADRIANNE HO being Hypebeast’s pick as “The Unofficial Face of Menswear,” people might want to think twice. She appreciates a good pun and often has a self-deprecating streak in reference to her surname. Her Twitter account is filled with tweets like “It’s hot out here for a Ho” and “Ho on the go.” But jokes aside, her visibility means serious business. With a face and body as coveted as the next Supreme 5-panel cap, buyers forget the dip in economy and start copping everything while it’s hot. By Kathleen Curtis Photographed by Jiro Schneider Styled by Lizette Pena Assistant Photographers Chris Moore & Paris Potter Hair and Makeup Kip Zachary Location The Forge Studio
HEAVY HITTER
cropped top by Dimepiece trousers by WeSC silver bracelets by Stephen Webster headband by Forever 21 shoes by Y.R.U.
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HEAVY HITTER
ADRIANNE HO’s sense of humor turns her from mere model to instant homie. The Chinese-French beauty embodies the chick who can disarm you with her lithe figure but at the same time damage your winning streak in the playing field. Though hype follows her, she’s far from being the kind who blends with the trendy population trying to embody an urban sense of style and flashing designer pickups. Always straight to the point when it comes to conversations, her fashion begs to differ, most especially since she prefers a nuanced and asexual approach to dressing, thus earning her cred in streetwear circuits. While ladies used to put a premium to their natural panache, the effortless knack of the fluorescent adolescents has been bogged down by their attempts to be “cool” in accordance to the constant shift in social demands. They have become sponges trying to emulate all trends that come their way, especially when fresh off the backs of their peers or favorite celebrities. Have them see five people carrying around a brown paper bag as an accessory du jour and you’ll be guaranteed to see them running to the supermarket to buy those “must-have” pieces. Trends have become the youth’s uniform, but there are a select few that have the audacity to dictate them. That’s where Adrianne gains her following as a streetwear icon as well as a positive role model for young women. “It encourages me to do my part in being a positive influence,” she says. “I’m passionate about… being strong, feeling good, and making an effort to show that through my work.” Adrianne has the aptitude to reinvent how fashion leaders are perceived today as she steps off the bandwagon and stands unafraid to challenge the social norms of how a lady should dress. She admits, “My personal style is a blend between streetwear, high-end fashion, and athletic wear. It’s a style that has developed from my active lifestyle and has been influenced from living in New York.” After all, there is nothing better than a bit of unconventional experimentation. You can spot her mixing Supreme, Levi’s, and Nike with Isabel Marant, Alexander Wang, and A.P.C., with nonchalance as her accessory. Brands such as Stussy chose Adrianne to head their Spring/Summer 2013 lookbook, and UNIS worked her in for its campaign spread in GQ. She was also featured in the Jake Davis-directed project,Test Shots.
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HEAVY HITTER
top by Paper London shorts by Calvin Klein Collection
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HEAVY HITTER
“For me to be happy, I need to be doing something active everyday”
top by Paper London Shorts by Calvin Klein Collection
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Recently, she was featured on the cover of Highsnobiety. The shoot borrows inspiration from the iconic Nike campaign for legendary football/baseball player Bo Jackson and puts Adrianne in football shoulder pads holding a baseball bat. She might even have a collection of hoodies, bomber jackets, workout leggings, jerseys, sweats, oversized T-shirts, and sneakers bigger than your boyfriend’s. The idea of wearing high heels (unless she is getting paid to wear them) repulses her; she’d rather take workout pants and sneakers out of the gym and into a night out without the worry of someone who forgot to follow the dress code, not that it even applies to her in the first place. Currently represented by Ford Models NYC and Next Management LA, modeling has taught her life lessons that trickle toward her everyday life. “This industry has shown me the importance of embracing your difference because that’s what sets you apart.” Adrianne’s career added a few more stamps to her passport and traveling allowed her to evolve as a serial multitasker, taking on new projects outside modeling gigs. When Adrianne is away from the catwalk and cameras, style comes more naturally to her. She reveals, “The role [I play] is ever-changing depending on my environment, routine, and habits.” Adrianne believes that “fashion should be based on function, style on lifestyle, and beauty on putting your best face forward.” Adrianne endorses a healthy wellbeing but doesn’t follow the clichés of maintaining it. She ditches the treadmill in favor of a parkour workout where she gets the action of the city by dodging and jumping over natural obstacles (literally and metaphorically) around the streets of New York. A fitness junkie, she regularly does Muay Thai, saying, “If the weather is nice, I’ll go for a run, workout in the park, or play a sport. Otherwise, I take fitness classes; some of my favorites are spin, ballet barre, boxing, and boot camp. I enjoy exploring, and my love for hiking, running, and biking goes hand-in-hand with that.” Being health-conscious became more prevalent after she started her career as a model. Adrianne became more fascinated about how the choices she made impacted her health and fitness, however like the rest of us, she does indulge, “I need to have something sweet everyday!” It is obvious that her fashion choices extend to the lifestyle she practices. She tells us, “For me to be happy, I need to be doing something active everyday so it’s important for me to set aside some time to do that.” You’ll see her often enough on your Tumblr or Instagram feeds as she sports a pair of Nike Flyknits, a sports bra, and leggings. Most people wouldn’t even know how to pull off this outfit without looking out of place. It is a case of “you either have it or you don’t.” You can buy a plethora of the world’s top designer shit, but without style, you won’t go anywhere with it. Adrianne is luckily a natural, but like all successes, she covers her bases first by sweating to get to the sweet life.
adrianneho.tumblr.com @Adrianneho
top and trousers by Robert Rodriguez necklace by Stephen Webster bracelet by Danielle Stevens
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“I’m passionate about being strong, feeling good, and making an effort to show that through my work.” sweater by WeSC silver rings by Tom Wood gold ring by Viento shoes by Gaga Milano
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cropped top by Dimepiece trousers by WeSC silver bracelets by Stephen Webster headband by Forever 21 shoes by Y.R.U.
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T H IS TI M E T OM O R R OW Dazed hasn’t aged, thanks to Editor-in-Chief TIM NOAKES whose youth culture radar affronts pandering to clichés of cool, and jeers at the petering out of kids’ psycho propensities. He pilots today’s switched-on generation toward a future of raging pages, accelerating from printing machines to cyberspace continuum. By Kristine Dabbay Photographed by Phoebe Kiely
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alendars may measure time, and many a tribe adopted their own doomsday epics— singing hymns in hypnotic jabber—proclaiming beginnings and ends. Similarly, magazines are also instruments of timetelling and predicting. If shamans had enough starlight in their soul to shatter dimensions and sublimate the mundane, editors can cast fantasies into everyday—trend-bending, scribing with patois, and deviating delirious from consensus. Some magazines wane into oblivion, but Dazed & Confused rose from the cracks of London’s underground to become one of publishing’s stellar produce. Rankin, Jefferson Hack, Nicola Formichetti, Katie Eary, and Katy England are just some names its masthead has hurled into the status of pop culture phenom. From an enigmatic Iris Apfel decked in Comme des Garçons to the pale Saoirse Ronan and hyper-colored Chance the Rapper, Dazed’s breadth spans from sex playlists and selfie guides to exclusive fashion week coverage, photo diaries, and profiles. In the eye of the storm is Editor-in-Chief Tim Noakes whose music prodigy crosses over the borders of global fashion,
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culture, and art. STATUS catches up with him in between edits. Amid piling papers and links, he speaks freely on how his stars aligned for this gig that screams this lifetime’s overthe-edge lifestyles. What’s up? I know you’re into 93 ‘Til Infinity, but how’s 2013 treating you so far? It’s been quite a trip! On top of everything going on at Dazed & Confused and Dazed Digital, my wife and I recently became parents for the second time—our daughter Iris made her big debut in mid-June. She’s super cute, and we’re super tired!
Dazed has always been one of our favorites. From intern to EIC, what are your inspirations and who are your heroes? I’ve been really fortunate in my career to have met and interviewed many of my heroes— filmmakers like Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam, producers such as RZA and David Axelrod, photographers like Elliott Erwitt and Don McCullin, and childhood heroes like James Hetfield and Liam Howlett. I love hearing how they approach their music and art, and also discover how they’ve overcome creative and personal adversity. Hopefully, our readers get as inspired from reading their stories as I do from writing them. That’s the goal.
Most recently, I interviewed Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder together, which was phenomenal. At one point, Thomas Bangalter pulled out his iPhone and started playing “Theme from Midnight Express”— one of my favorite tracks—while Giorgio talked about how he made it. Moments like that make me very glad that I gave up working at Tesco in Loudwater all those years ago. How is it like to live up to Rankin and Jefferson Hack’s brainchild? It’s a real privilege to be able to guide such an iconic British brand into the future. The great thing about Dazed is that there’s a real family vibe. We’re a close-knit crew, and everyone is super talented, so I feel very well supported. More than anything, it’s loads of fun. I love what you said: “Keeping your foot in the underground is essential. Because if you lose that, you become like any other magazine, and there is no other magazine like Dazed.” In our world drowned in pop, hype, war, politics, and climate change, how does the “culture of cool” remain relevant in the equation? Believe me, I have no idea what “cool” is. If you think you’re cool, chances are that you’re not. I just love interesting
people, new talent, striking imagery, and leftfield subjects that intrigue, entertain, educate, and sometimes make you think, “WTF?!?” Tell us something about your day in the life. Get up at 6:30 AM, make my son Arthur breakfast, cycle to work, avoid angry lorry drivers, check emails, delete spam, run through daily schedule and content layouts with the Dazed Digital and social media team, emails, check page plans and commission forthcoming issues with the editorial and fashion teams, emails, have lunch, read proofs, emails, think of some terrible headline puns with Rory the copy editor, emails; meetings with commercial, publishing and marketing departments; emails, check digital stats from the day, celebrate or cry, emails, cycle home, avoiding angry taxi drivers, feed and bathe my son, read him bedtime stories, cuddle my daughter, chill with my wife, read a few chapters on my Kobo, pass out, repeat. I know it’s been said in different ways that youth has no age, but how do you relate to kids these days? I’m 34, so definitely not a kid, although some may say that I can act like one! Dazed is 100% committed to championing youth culture, and our team
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images courtesy of Tim Noakes
effect on youth culture and how kids relate and communicate with each other. The opportunities and tools are amazing. Our recent cover star, Chance the Rapper, is a perfect example. His DIY mixtape, Acid Raps, was downloaded 50,000 times in one day. A decade ago, you would have needed to be signed to a major label with a huge PR budget to achieve that. Chance is still unsigned and on the cover of Dazed, thanks to his own hard graft and using the tools that were available to him. I think youth culture is more exciting today than it’s ever been, and we’re really hyped to be pushing the editorial agenda both in print and online to such a switched-on generation.
is a diverse crew from all walks of life, with different interests, social circles, and tastes. Everyone’s passions and obsessions get thrown into a melting pot, and I finesse that into a cohesive whole that we hope reflects the most radical music, fashion, art, film, politics, and literature in the world. Ten years ago, the Internet was something you plugged into at home, and now it’s with us wherever we go. That obviously has had a massive
As a music person, what lyrics would best describe your mantra? I’m more of a beats person than a lyrics guy, although if you wanna battle, I know all of the lyrics to Biggie’s “Warning,” and I’m not afraid to use them. I heard that you grew around many cats. Coming a long way from that period, what curious lot or subculture are you into these days? Why? Have you heard of Hallway Swimming? Those kids are wild.
off after the first series. RIP Gossip Girl. I like really bad action movies. I just watched Mel Gibson’s Get the Gringo and loved every minute of it. There’s an article in GQ about #FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Do you think you suffer from this? What’s your tip to its victims? Nope. I just deleted Facebook from my phone. You should do the same. Let’s see how long we both last. Complete the sentence: The best mixtapes are the ones that… Make you wanna move your dancing feet. With all the rage for synths, everyone’s claiming to be a DJ lately. What musical wave/trend are you predicting to take over soon? I love synths. I sometimes do a show called Synth Heroes on NTS radio with my pal, Wriggly Scott. But that’s beside the point. I’m afraid I can’t reveal what musical trend is going to take over next… you’ll have to read about it in the next issue of Dazed.
@TimNoakes
Gossip Girl and True Blood are among your guilty pleasures. What other form of indulgences do you engage in to detoxify? [Laughs] Where did you read that? True Blood really fell
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THE
REBIRTH
A brand with a story to tell is only as good as its storyteller. Founders MICHAEL “MEGA” YABUT and Alfred De Tagle of Black Scale are just those type of guys. From selling a few pieces of shirts to eventually having four flagship stores, there’s no question their vision is as cohesive as ever, and that their message is loud and clear. By Loris Peña
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“[the youth] are big supporters of this industry, and them talking shit is just an outlet for them because they probably don’t have girlfriends.”
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treetwear brand Black Scale needs no introduction. Its dark imagery about Religion, Government, Death, and Identity are seen on the backs of many including famous rappers like A$AP Rocky. With a new store in Tokyo and a women’s line, MEGA, ½ of the founding members chats with us while he’s 30,000 feet high in an airplane. We talk about the past, the present, the future, and of course, the haters. Peace be with all of you. Can you remember releasing your first collection? It was in the end of 2007, and we released four tees at the HUF store. I was working there at that time, and all of our friends came by and supported us. We sold out in a weekend.
You’ve worked for HUF before. What important things did you learn there that you’ve taken into your own company? Retail was the main focus at HUF so that led us to opening three stores in the US and a new store in Tokyo.
How was it like opening a store in Japan considering the language barrier? The people in Japan have been showing us love for years, and now we can really spend more time there and return that love for them as people, their culture, and everyday life. What do you think of the growing industry of streetwear specifically in the Philippines? The growth worldwide has been amazing. It’s been really crazy to see it in Asia especially because I am Filipino, and to see it blow up in my country is amazing. Filipinos are great when it comes to dressing up. In the States, Filipinos are some of the biggest supporters of this industry so to see it grow at home was bound to happen one day. I’ve read some of the comment threads on Hypebeast. Is that really you who reply to the haters? Why is it important to acknowledge them? Sometimes it’s me and sometimes it’s not. I have a few of the boys in my crew who post for me, and it’s all fun. Remember that forums and comment boards have always been a big part of this industry ever since Niketalk, etc. I acknowledge them for one because I know they are youth, and they have nothing better to do than talk a bunch
of nonsense, and two is because [the youth] are big supporters of this industry, and them talking shit is just an outlet for them because they probably don’t have girlfriends.
designs in her own world of creativity and isn’t worried about what people want. When you see how she dresses, she always has a different look to express on different days.
If a kid comes up to you and asks for “mentorship” toward his brand, what would you say? Are you up for the job? Of course. It happens often. I try my best to give good advice, but most importantly, I try to spend a little bit of time to speak to them and not rush away.
Black Scale accessories are also pretty dope. What should we expect from it in the coming season? The accessories are one of my favorite things to design, and we are very excited to release all the future collections. I have to say look out for more luggage in the line.
Tell us about the Black Scale team. What holds you guys together and what does the team stand for? The team is family. We have been together since day one. We want to build an amazing company, and we all sacrificed bigger things in life to make this work. We always wanted to build something great, and all of us are lovers of fashion so it only made sense to go for our dreams.
Hustle over talent or talent over hustle? Why? Both, it’s very important you have both. Balance.
black-scale.com @BlackScale
The women’s line looks good. Do you guys think this is what women want or is it more of, “this is what men want for their women?” Great question. Head Designer Kim Matulova has been in fashion since she was seven years old, and her vision for the women’s line is very unique. She doesn’t design to follow trend; she
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Designer BRIAN LICHTENBERG found his ticket to fame the moment Beyoncé and Rihanna found serious game in his creations—a moment he claims to be the epitome of happiness. Rounding up a few more of his Hermès-clad Homiès, Lichtenberg takes one for the team. By Zoe Laurente
“I have to say I’m a big fan of distasteful humor.”
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eing popular by affiliation has its perks. Brian Lichtenberg paved the way down the walk of fame by dressing everybody from Gwen Stefani to Katy Perry and M.I.A. in unapologetic, tongue-in-cheek pieces. Who could forget the time Lady Gaga wore caution tape as a maillot? But more than his bespoke pieces that quickly gained popularity among A-listers, the hip and happy clique of youngsters were won
over by BLTEE consisting of tanks, beanies, and pullovers that made luxury accessible. It’s somehow ironic how Brian got to this cult status. Becoming a designer wasn’t originally what he pictured himself to be. “As a child, I wasn’t even into fashion,” he says as he recalls dancing to Paula Abdul in daycare, a favorite childhood memory. Another activity he enjoyed was drawing. One thing led to another, and somehow, he stumbled upon the importance of dressing up during his teens. He found himself becoming more aware of his personal style with the influence of designers he looked up to. “Hussein Chalayan and Helmut Lang were definitely
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Brian Lichtenberg Tee Lookbook
Brian Lichtenberg Tee Lookbook
Brian Lichtenberg Tee Lookbook
huge inspirations for me,” he says, “Their sleek, future, minimalist take on clothing have always intrigued me.” Brian now elevates his state of happiness into euphoria by doing what he loves as an ultimate pleasure. “I enjoy my job, although stressful at times, it’s what makes me jump out of bed in the morning.” Though Brian may have gotten far from where he started off more than a decade ago, there’s no stopping him now from breaking into new territories. For someone who has already established himself as a designer, doing the 180-degree flip of expanding to ready-towear can be a big risk. Brian makes these crucial choices and goes with his gut when making the big decision. “I think it just depends on whether your heart is really into the product or your work,” he says. His gut feeling was right as consumers were quick to grab a piece of him with the launch of BLTEE and his collaboration with Forever 21. Everybody welcomed his comedic formula, and Brian saw it as a chance to “mock” designer glitz with good intentions, of course. Though high street brands may give you a designer look for less, nothing seems to compare to the real deal. One’s love for labels can go as extreme as donning a full look fresh off the runway, and sometimes, leaving little room for personalization. Brian tries to keep it fresh and original
by making sure his inspirations only serve as inspirations and nothing more. “I am inspired by luxury brands, but I also am firmly planted in a love of humor, urban culture, pop culture, hip-hop, eccentricity, and minimalism,” he claims as he takes all these elements and integrates them into what he does. Dressing head-to-toe in high-end pieces and pegging everything on the glossies or Lookbook.nu can be boring. Brian says, “We’ve started to live in a cut-and-paste environment.” With a personal aesthetic that mixes both upscale and and a low-key sensibility, he makes people want to mix their Saint Laurent metallic leather pumps with a Homiès sweatshirt and a fitted cap. “I have to say I’m a big fan of distasteful humor,” says Brian as he flaunts his ballsy disposition through his line of spoofed logo tees of fashion heavyweights. “I think my brand injects a much needed humor in what can feel like a very serious world of fashion.” True enough, everybody loves a good laugh and his take on style does tickle people’s funny bone. Being catapulted into instant stardom can push some to sell out as much as they would want to hold back. With BLTEE selling fast off the racks and with Brian working his way back into designing dresses, he zeros in by putting his heart out into his designs. “I never first started out thinking about the money,” he shares. Despite his fast rise, still expect Brian to laugh his way in between breaks even when all he sees are dollar signs.
brianlichtenberg.com @BriLichtenberg
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Russian-born, New York-based Russ Karablin’s phenomenal SSUR pulled out all the stops to gain notoriety and prominence. Given that the brand is on a roll, we’re pretty much interested how this seminal brand still hustles with KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle. By Rolly Ibañez Interview by Loris Peña
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t was only in recent times that SSUR broke the mainstream scene with its notorious COMME des FUCKDOWN—a design language that was conceived nearly a decade ago and have gotten significant acceptance, thanks to the hype from luminaries and music influencers. Notably championed by Rocky and Ye, the diffusion line soared and glided to success with its tonguein-cheek, bold and subversive aesthetics that were clearly leaning towards the fashion parody movement. The brainchild of New York-raised, LA-Based Ruslan Karablin, SSUR sees to encompass the designer’s “artistic vision and subversive ingenuity,” and in the same vein “strives to offer deeper concepts and meanings to clothes instead of merely creating a skin-deep commercial streetwear brand.”
Deeply rooted from the brand’s stark archives, it’s pretty apparent that Russ is gently playing hopscotch on recent designs of SSUR. His “recycle, refine, repeat” design mantra mirrors the real state of streetwear, before and now. As he puts it, “not much has changed. Everything is mostly as it was. Tight this season—loose next.” After all, streetwear is all about spontaneous designs and artistically-driven aesthetics. Sometimes enhanced with leather trim, camo cutouts or logo-altered visuals, but for SSUR’s case, it’s a monochromatic ride with tinge of humor and provocation. Admired for his penchant for quality and bold art, Russ cuts to the chase with his notorious graphics that got the brand out there, commercialwise. In fact, Russ’s parody treatment to French fashion heavyweight Chanel, the Channel Zero line, became one of
the selling points of SSUR’s mainline. Of course, other SSUR diffusion labels including The Cut and Caviar Cartel had their own major selling points too including the infamous COMME and namesake Caviar Cartel, respectively. 2012 clearly was a good year for Russ, given the further success and reach toward commercial market. This phenomenon to the business didn’t put him to compromise the brand’s integrity and principles; instead he plainly capitalized on his affinity toward confrontational aesthetics and strong visuals. After the booming year of 2012, SSUR progressed further with some series of several collaboration pop-up store projects: Edison Chen and Kevin Poon’s CLOT and Bobby Hundred’s The Hundreds. There were even in-store exclusives and special offerings including a Christmas collection of COMME and a pink Valentine
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collection of the Channel Zero, all in partnership with Hong Kong’s CLOT as well. It got me thinking, was it a scheme to penetrate Asia? Seemingly yes as Asian hypebeasts are more notorious than anyone else. Russ goes on saying in general, “the ‘hypebeasts’ sped up shelf life.” Hey Russ, Las Vegas looked fun! How was it? Loathing LV. It did its job. What’s the story behind The Mermaid and the shooting area? SSUR© “Shoot the sh!t” was an artistic expression intended for the entertainment of my peers and a brand presence. The Mermaid was also a creative expression aimed at promoting the Caviar Cartel brand, inspired by the mystical tales of seafaring in juxtaposition with the dark Russian underworld and the appetite for luxury. COMME des FUCKDOWN basically is part of what they call a “fashion parody” genre. What are your thoughts on that? Sounds about right. THE CUT was meant to be commercial. Where do you draw the line with being commercial to being called a “sell-out”? The few critics who don’t know the history of our brand don’t concern me as much as my family’s well-being does. THE CUT was created to not care about “selling out.” How do you balance being the designer and the businessman of your brand in terms of sacrificing content/design? Ebb and flow without letting one cancel out the other. What do you think has been your strongest marketing strategy toward building a brand and getting yourself out there? Being prepared at the right place at the right time. A$AP Rocky obviously played a big part in getting the brand out there. Who are your musical influences and who would love to see wearing your clothes? My musical influences are broad from Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar to Rihanna, Smashing Pumpkins, Madonna, and Deftones. I would
love to see Princess Kate and Yolandi of Die Antwoord wearing the clothes. Tell us about your latest collection. Any favorite pieces? In this coming spring collection, we used selvedge denims on chinos and penitentiary style work jackets with subtle variation in denim color variations, bull denim and cotton twill with French terry sweats for a soft casual and luxurious feel, sided with metal and leather accessories with other artistic porcelain pieces for the office desk or personal collection. The collection is inspired by the “Institutions” of the world. Concentrated on American quality with Russianstyled undertones and patterns, the pieces are crisp and rugged with clean, simple design and graphics. Favorite pieces would be the porcelain guns and figa. I’m also partial to the leather wallet selection and “package” set of travel toiletries. How do you keep your brand and designs organic while offering something different every release? I work from archives. If you were to hire someone to join the SSUR team, what would be the qualifications? Must have high standards and be effortlessly effective, organized, crisp, sharp, and confident. What do you think should young designers/brand owners always keep in mind? Persistence overcomes resistance.
SSURvivor guide
S et you r bran d in motion wit h t hes e bu zzword s f rom RUS S . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Desire Drive Determination Dedication Discipline
6. Dodge 7. Duck 8. Dip 9. Dive 10. Dodge
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B L O C K P A R T Y
Running to the newsstands to get your monthly cover war, exclusive interview, and fashion editorial fix has become a thing of the past. A new breed of fresh reads are coming your way and no, they don’t come in paper. Words by Zoe Laurente
W ILLIE GREENE Edit or-in- Chief, WeTheUrb an What makes a good cover? We’ve never really had your typical cover star. It’s awesome that I get to dedicate my life to making beauty and in turn, I get to challenge what beauty is. We’re not into It girls at WeTheUrban. From Rick Genest to Allison Harvard, and now to Ali Lohan, it’s all about the underdog. What was the craziest pitch you’ve come across? This one writer really wanted to publish a story on green vegetables. Needless to say, I was just really confused and have probably never hit the delete button so fast on any email to this day.
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What is it like in the WeTheUrban headquarters? People would probably be surprised to know that WeTheUrban has no official headquarters and is still run, designed, and organized by just three people. For August, we all moved to LA to finish our Controversy issue starring Ali Lohan, and we had a really cool space to work in (lots of Gaga, Bowie, Lindsay Lohan posters, and art everywhere). We’re hoping to get our first NYC office within the next six months.
twitter.com/WillieGreene wetheurban.com
BLOCK PARTY
ALEC DUDSON What’s on your radar these days? For better or worse, pretty much the only thing on my radar at the moment has been our first issue. By the time it is out on October–fingers crossed– it will be the culmination of nine months of pretty intense work. Once Issue One is out, I hope I can take a moment to relax but realistically, that probably won’t be the case. Tell us about the first issue. The most challenging thing about Issue One was getting things off the ground. It isn’t easy taking something from being an idea that you are e-mailing to potential contributors all the way to being a full-fledged magazine.
Edit or-in- Chief, Intern Many hours were spent trying to charm people into believing in the project. Aside from that, spending another seven months sleeping on couches, mostly my younger brother’s. Has been a pain, but it is always a gamble trying to start a business, and I think it is starting to pay off. How are your interns? We don’t have any interns. No one will work on this magazine unpaid, apart from myself.
twitter.com/AlecDudson intern-mag.com
S TEPHANIE MILL S Edi t or-in- Chief a nd L ife s t y l e Awa k ening s Edi t or , neon What made you want to start your own magazine? The idea to create a magazine started out on a bench at the Material Girls exhibit at the Reginald F. Lewes Museum in Baltimore. That exhibit inspired us to create a media platform that delivers unique and unexplored content, photography spreads, and all things unconventional like using all lowercase letters and bolded pronouns. What was your previous job? I traveled US and Canada, teaching people all about the ins and outs of cognac, rum, and scotch. It was a dream job, and planes were my office for four years.
How do you go about the features? We brainstorm themes and lock in one or two to inspire the framework for the issue. The directors pitch a customized concept to artists that we want to collaborate or build a concept with, and see what magic we can create together. For contributors, we solicit and receive daily submissions from writers, artists, and photographers around the globe for potential collaborations.
twitter.com/Steph_GDN neonvmag.com
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NIGHTVISION JoyRich Vegas Candy by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
incognito @ PrivĂŠ
by Rich Sarto
sasha grey hey hey dj by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
Hotdog Wednesdays @ Aracama by Anton Aguila
Dan and bams GP Slam by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
Social SATURDAYS @ Aracama by Pam Santos
Everything EMMONS by The Cobrasnake
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NIGHTVISION
CAPRICHO IS BACK
by Gerard Estadella
THURSDAY THROWDOWN @ Aracama by Kappo Rivera
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DIRECTORY BRANDS AC+623 Greenbelt 5, Makati City AISHA ROMERO Tel. 09175740232 ALDO Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City BENCH Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Makati City BEYOND RETRO beyondretro.com BOBBI BROWN Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City BURBERRY burberry.com C. SERRANO c-serrano.es CALL IT SPRING Greenbelt 3, Makati City CALVIN KLEIN calvinklein.com CAMEO AT SHOP NOWHERELAND cameothelabel.com.au CLINIQUE clinique.com COLMILLO DE MORSA colmillodemorsa.com COMME DES GARÇONS comme-des-garcons.com CONVERSE www.converse.com COTTON ON SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City DANIELLE STEVENS daniellestevens.com DIESEL Greenbelt 3, Makati City DIMEPIECE dimepiecela.com DISNEY disneystore.com DR. MARTENS drmartens.com DOLCE & GABBANA dolcegabbana.com DOROTHY PERKINS SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
ESTÉE LAUDER Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City FIRMA Greenbelt 3, Makati City FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Ortigas City FRANKIE GALANGARA Tel. 09051178744 GORI DE PALMA facebook.com/goridepalma GUESS guess.com H&M hm.com J. ANDRADE Tel. 09062088643 JOYRICH AT SHOP NOWHERELAND joyrich.com LANCÔME Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City LA PERLA laperla.com MERRELL merrell.com N/TICE nticeclothing.com OXYGEN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PAPER LONDON paperlondon.com PENSHOPPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PHILOSOPHY Beauty Bar, Greenbelt 5, Makati City PONY pony.com PURIFICACION GARCIA purificaciongarcia.com ROBERT RODRIGUEZ robertrodriguezcollection.com SISLEY sisley.com SKECHERS skechers.com SPRINGFIELD Greenbelt 3, Makati City STEPHEN WEBSTER stephenwebster.com
SUITE BLANCO SM Aura, Taguig City TERRANOVA SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City THALIA JAVIER Tel. 09277612629 THEBALM thebalm.com THE FORGE STUDIO forgestudios.com THE RAGGED PRIEST theraggedpriest.com TOPMAN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City TOPSHOP SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City VANS Vans Concept Stores, SM Department Stores, Robinsons Department Stores, Landmark Department Stores, Urban Athletics, Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, Shoe Salon, American Rag, Sole Academy, Greyone Social VERSACE versace.com WAREHOUSE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City WESC wesc.com YARD666SALE AT SHOP NOWHERELAND yard666sale.tumblr.com Y.R.U y-r-u.com YVES SAINT LAURENT ysl.com ARTISTS Anton Aguila (Photographer) antonioaguila.blogspot.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Fernando Colon (Photographer) fernandocolon.com Danica Condez (Photographer) daniboy.tumblr.com Joyce de Dios-Ignacio (Hair and Makeup) joyceignacio.com
Gerard Estadella (Photographer) icanteachyouhowtodoit.com Louie Ray Faundo (Photographer) facebook.com/louie.faundo Kai Huang (Photographer) hungryalien.com Phoebe Kiely (Photographer) phoebediary.tumblr.com Patrick Lacsina (Photographer) patricklacsina.com Marita Manalo (Hair and Makeup) twitter.com/mauimanalo Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmirandaphotography.com Chris Moore (Photo Assistant) cmooreyo@mac.com Pat Nabong (Photographer) patnabong.tumblr.com Franz Navarrete (Photographer) lilreddotfolks.com Kenji O (Photographer) kenji-o.com Lizette Pena (Stylist) lizettepena.com Jeruel Pingol (Videographer) vimeo.com/ohmyjeruel Paris Potter (Photo Assistant) futureparis@gmail.com Nikki Ruiz (Photographer) nmgruiz.tumblr.com Pam Santos (Photographer) facebook.com/pamparazzi Jiro Schneider (Photographer) jirophoto.com Amanda Shirreffs (Stylist) amandaleeshirreffs.tumblr.com JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.com Irene Sy (Hair and Makeup) irenesy.com Kip Zachary (Hair and Makeup) kipzachary.com
S TAT U S IN VA D E S
MIGUEL URBINA TAN
MIGUEL URBINA TAN’s sartorial flair is his constant drive as a young artist and stylist. Dressed to kill, he takes control and defines his own frontiers of creativity while getting down on the dance floor.
@MiguelUrbinaTan
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER COKE BOTTLE
A friend gave it to me when she came back from Norway. It’s super cute. I didn’t know they existed.
PICASSO: BREAKING THE RULES OF ART BY DAVID SPENCE
I got my artistic side from my dad who is an artist. He gave this to me when I was four, so I’ve had it with me for 14 years now.
MARY KATRANTZOU T-SHIRT
I wore this when I saw Azealia at the Magnum Party, and she was spanking my booty. I gave her the drawing I drew of her, and she loved it.
ALEXANDER WANG SWEATER
I went to Hong Kong, and it was my first Wang purchase. I love it, but I’ll never be able to wear it in Manila—it’s mohair.
VANS AUTHENTICS
I’ve had them for two years, and they’ve been with me through so much. My mom hates them, but I can never let them go.
POLAROID PHOTO WITH BJ PASCUAL This is from the surprise birthday that I threw him this year; it was just a good memory.
BOOM SASON BIRTHDAY OUTFIT
She’s an amazing designer, and I asked her to make it for my birthday. She insisted it was a gift.
My friend told me he was sending a post card from Sydney. I was feeling really homesick and when I went to pick it up from the post office, instead I received a giant box. I opened it, and I saw the Gaga book. I started crying in the middle of the street.
RUBIK’S CUBE
My math teacher was a genius and math was my worst subject, I completed the rubik’s with my best time of one minute and 12 seconds. I gave it to my teacher, and she couldn’t do it. Validating my point, you don’t have to be good at math to be intelligent.
102 - statusmagonline.com
PRISCILLA PRESLEY ILLUSTRATION
She is one of my favorite icons; I love the sixties, and I love big hair.
VOGUE COVER POSTCARD
BJ Pascual gave it to me on Valentine’s Day. It’s one of my favorite Vogue covers.
photographed by Danica Condez
LADY GAGA × TERRY RICHARDSON