Hustle &Play BlackBerry® has got a thing for fresh squeeze. Shot in their creative workspaces, BlackBerry® PlayBook users Mike Concepcion and Megan Young gave us access to where they hustle, showing us how modern-day artisans balance work and play.
Photographed by Roy Macam Hair by Mandy Sierra of Jing Monis Salon Makeup by Chiara Daez
Mike Concepcion Owner & Creative Director, Greater Good Apparel What is your everyday hustle? I wanted to get in the fashion industry and see if I could bring art and design through a clothing label and use that as a platform for communication to address social issues.
Favorite BlackBerry® PlayBook feature: I’m a big fan of the BlackBerry® PlayBook’s multitasking ability; it really displays the true strengths of the device. I tend to work on several things at the same time, and it fits the way I like to work perfectly.
Megan Young VJ, Channel V What is your everyday hustle? I guess I can say that I’m just a student. Just some regular chick who likes to talk a lot on TV. I love hosting; it’s something that I’ve always loved doing, and it’s one of my passions. I get to be myself, have fun, and goof off.
Favorite BlackBerry® PlayBook feature: I love the fact that it supports HD files. With the PlayBook, I can easily carry around my latest episode of True Blood and play games in HD. I’m a gamer; I can’t get my hands off the PlayBook, and I don’t have to worry about a heavy laptop!
STAT U S ME S S AG E
JESSIE J: Calamity J (84)
WEAR & TEAR
I
’m writing this message as I plan my next New York trip to cover the fashion week shows for Spring 2012. How time flies…I feel like I just got off the plane from watching the Fall 2011 shows last February, but that’s how fashion is. It keeps marching on with the new looks, fabrics, inspirations, and catwalk stars. The Style Issue is close to my heart because I’ve spent many years working in fashion. That’s also why we made an extra effort to make this issue special by putting together fashion influences that get us excited. In this world already filled with Lady Gaga (our past style issue cover) and Beyoncé (on our wish list for future feature), we were looking for someone who stands out from the rest with her style. Only one name came to mind: Jessie J. In her hit, “Price Tag,” she simply sings, “I just want to make the world dance,” but she also makes us want to get dolled up! We are thrilled to finally nail this girl down for our cover after a year of relentless emails from us. But what made this cover even more amazing is the cover illustration by French Vogue and GQ’s digital art director, Caroline Andrieu. Rick Genest, the breakout model all covered up in skulls and crossbone tattoos, isn’t quite the look you would see in a model lineup, but he is definitely the most instantly recognizable male model today. It’s his unconventional look that flew him across the world to walk in Nicola Formichetti’s Thierry Mugler show last season in Paris. In this interview, he shares with us that, under all the skin art, he’s just like everybody else. Next star on the rise is Dev, who sang her way into my iPod with Far East Movement’s “Like a G6” and is now launching her new album, The Night the Sun Came Up. She’s been working with The Cataracs and has got me humming to Shwayze’s “Love Letter,” where she sings the hook. She doesn’t consider herself a hype-seeking pop singer, but you better get used to it ‘cause her fame’s just right around the corner. Other fun stuff you will find in this issue are the fashion editorials shot in New York by Darroch Putnam and in London by Josh Carroll. We also shot a Kubrick-inspired fashion editorial featuring the Holiday 2011 Oxygen collection. I’m sure you get just excited about fashion as we do. From pop stars to outcast, we wanted to mix up a new brew of our favorite fashion people that excite, inspire, and get our blood pumping.
Editor in Chief
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wear & tear
S EPT EM B ER 2 0 1 1
81
24 MJÖLK
72 STATUSPHERE
21 26 27 28 29
THREADS SETTING
BLANC ET NOIR Dame Discipline
SCREEN INK
SHOOT ME GOOD
73
THE MISFIT
55
THREE IS A CROWD
56
ANIMAL KINGDOM
57 INTO THE BLUE
ORANGE COUNTY
58
ONE, TWO STEP
34
CAPITAL BB FOR BEAUTY
60
SECRET GARDEN
61
SOLE STRUCK
62
CARRY OUT
63
FREE FLOW
BB Creams
brick & mortar ALTER, SHANGHAI NEIGHBOUR, VANCOUVER FABRICLY
street style
37
SHEER BRILLIANCE
38
GO SEE
Sheer Pieces
Long & Colorful
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75
Slim-Fit Denim Jeans
32
Orange Cosmetics
74
Shawl Cardigan
T-Shirts/ Leather Bracelets
Sneakers
Floral Dresses
75
Ankle Strap Heels
Tote Bags
Maxi Skirts
76
PHOTO DIARY
70
PARIS MEN’S FASHION WEEK SPRING 2012 By JP Singson
muse
72
emily baker
MASTERMIND
LIFESTYLES OF THE ROCKERS AND FAMOUS
Unlike reality starlets, The Subways’ vocalist/bassist, Charlotte Cooper, wants to be famous for the right reasons. By Reena Mesias
Mismatched Mixstress
SWAG
Photoshoot Survival Kit
BEAUTY
36 36 36
maestro
BEATS
gadgets 30
EMILY BAKER
VISION BOARD
40 48
Xue Wang
77
FORCES OF ATTRACTION Mira Aroyo has come with Ladytron being mainstream, and she pleasing the record change it. By Evan Tan
78
79
to terms not so ain’t labels to
81
THE WANDERING CHINA DOLL
81
SURELY YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS
You may have to google Ang Bandang Shirley’s gigs to know that Manila’s music scene is kicking major romantic indie pop ass. By Miguel Escobar
After having sent bearded lady models to the runway, who knows what German fashion designer Patrick Mohr is up to next? By Viva Gonzalez
Xue Wang paints dainty little dolls, but her real inspiration is horror, and the dream director is Hitchcock. By Zoe Laurente
INTERVIEW WITH THE GHOST-VAMPIRE
Kayla Ewell got told she’s going back to The Vampire Diaries on April Fool’s. No joke to dance with Ian Somerhalder in underwear. By Reena Mesias
CEREBRAL CONCEPT
Astronautalis aka Minister Andy Bothwell thinks his rapping career is built on a foundation of Wikipedia. We’re converting. By Giano D. Dionisio
MOTION GRAPHICS
Creative Director of this year’s Manila Design Week, graphic designer Miquel Polidano says his job is also kinetic. By Toff de Venecia
FROM ALL ANGLES
UP IN THE AIR
As a kid, Katie Herzig would shout when told to shut up. Now, her album, The Waking Sleep, is about feeling asleep when one’s awake. By Zoe Laurente
Certainly more than the hats she wears as a jewelry designer and musician, Jesse Jo Stark’s rings are on her fingers all the time. By Loris Peña
80
RARE FIND
Gem Club cellist Kristen Drymala had a lot of her daydreams come true; it’s hard to wish for more than their debut, Breakers. By Reena Mesias
RING MASTER
82
SHUTTER SPEED
Having traveled so much only to shoot fashion parties, Gerard Estadella now actually feels at home in the airport. By Viva Gonzalez
wear & tear
S EPT EM B ER 2 0 1 1
84 Jessie J
88 83
RIck Genest
BANDWIDTH BANDIT
Lena Cobangbang saw it all coming that, way before her upcoming exhibit, The Weather Forecast, she has been at the eye of the art storm. By Alice Sarmiento
HEAVY HITTER 84
88
92
102 BLOCK PARTY 96
DAVID THIELEBEULE
96
SONJA LONG
97
CALAMITY J
It’s been a radical lifestyle shift for Jessie J since she blew up with “Price Tag,” but she knows the price and that it’s all about the music. By Giano D. Dionisio
THE TAME MONSTER
One would think that Mugler muse Rick Genest is brooding as Lady Gaga’s evil side in “Born This Way” should be. Not quite. By Nante Santamaria
FIREBALL
In this age of trash pop, her upcoming debut, The Night the Sun Came Up, got it right: Dev is living up to her birth name, Devin Star. By Viva Gonzalez
97
Accessories Director, Allure
Founder & CEO, Alter
102 102 103
ADAM MARTIN
Fashion Director/ Buyer, Harry Rosen Inc.
103
HELENA EKSTRÖM Editor-in-Chief, SoFo Magazine/ Founder, Démode
NIGHTVISION 99
101
100 100 101
GIRlS GONE WET & WILD SWAG SWAG ROXY REUNION SONAR ’11 @ JOHN JOHN CLUB, BARCELONA HELLZ BELLZ X GPPR POP-UP STORE OPENING PARTY
106
SASSA JIMENEZ
110
MARC JACOBS’S ATTIC
BIRTHDAY WAYZZZZ SHABBA DABBA RAH @ CLUB MOVIDA, LONDON
LOVEBOX MUSIC FESTIVAL @ LONDON
STATUS INVADES
STATUS MUSE ISSUE RELEASE PARTY @ FIAMMA
girls gone wet & wild
Her Holiday 2011 collection may be made for dolls, but on her downtime, fashion designer Sassa Jimenez ditches wedges for sneakers.
PITTI – PETER ANDERSON PARTY
ON THE COVER: We could use this, our third style issue, as a credit card commercial— studio rental (x dollars), our unique paper and its scent (y dollars), and so on, but this Jessie J cover illustration by Caroline Andrieu—who could put a “Price Tag” on such precious thing? We’ll skew our current fashion and pop music patron’s lyrics for that: “It’s all about the drawn cha-ching, cha-ching! It’s all about the drawn ba-bling, ba-bling!”
statusmagonline.com
Blogsphere the pulse of hip at your fingertips
go see
we’re all models off duty. smize!
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FEATURES
there’s more to what’s in print
NightVision who’s spotted partying where
Photo Diary confessional for lensmen
Digital Magazine
STATUS sans paper
DOWNLOADS free mixtapes and wallpapers
contributors
LORIS PEÑA
Our new Fashion Editor, Loris, who wrote about musician, fashion designer, and scenester Jesse Jo Stark (78) for Mastermind, has a very fluid perspective on her personal style: “I don’t really give a f*ck what everyone thinks. I’ll wear whatever I want to wear when I feel like wearing it—and that includes a bedazzled top on a sunny day, or a Nike pullover paired with my diamond necklaces.”
BIANCA CATBAGAN
Bianca, featured in this month’s Director’s Cut, talks about her upcoming film, Suntok sa Buwan (28) and shares to us her love for David Fincher’s style—noting how the director “masterfully creates scenes you can only find in movies: he captures the audience with beauty and depth.” Of course, she also fantasizes about Brad Pitt. Needless to say, she thinks “he’s pretty damn sexy.”
JP SINGSON
JP, who covered the recent Paris Fashion Week for STATUS, is a stylemeister through and through—as you can see in this issue’s Style ID (37). Those who doubt JP’s fashion savvy have yet to see him rock the monochromatic gender-bending look. Just in case you turn into a believer, he’s spreading his brand of style in the metro with his own online shop, Unisex.
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rosario Herrera CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Patrick L. Jamora ART DIRECTOR: Soleil Ignacio ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Nante Santamaria FEATURES EDITOR: Reena Mesias
TOFF DE VENECIA
Toff—who muses how he refused to take the path to law school and instead opted to become a theater producer, a stage director, an arts advocate, and a newspaper columnist—is a unique snowflake and proud of it. “I am able to define my style, and break out of any sort of mold. I can be myself.” That explains why writing about likeminded people, such as graphic artist Miquel Polidano (79), comes naturally for him.
What’s your STATUS? tell us.
FASHION EDITOR: Loris Peña EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Viva Gonzalez, Evan Tan We chilled wherever and whenever before everyone went planking.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Patrick Diokno CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Bianca Catbagan, Giano D. Dionisio, Don Jaucian, Toff de Venecia, Alice Sarmiento, JP Singson CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Soliel Abalos, Love Ablan, Adoborat, Anton Aguila, Leo Ahlgren, Tim Arafiles, Camilla Ashworth, Jakob Axelman, Hannah Bacalla, Michael Bastian, Kareem Black, Alison Cameron, Josh Carroll, Jolie Clifford, Jonver David, Regine David, Cholo Dela Vega, Gerard Estadella, DJ Fabian, Jared Graves, Ralph Hilario, Skip Hunt, Mikael Jansson, Sam Kiyoumarsi, Samantha Landis, James Langan, Aljan Lorenzo, Paulus Mangio, Isabella Marcos, Erica Mathews, Anaid Namohl, Stuart Nicholls, Cherie Peters, Darroch Putnam, Adele Katerina Raya, Jessica Roasa, Heidi Ross, Tim Serrano, Jack Siegel, Nikki Ruiz, Christopher Schmidt, Colin Singer, JP Singson, StudioSeek, SuperSketch, Dawn Tunnell, The XOXO Kids CONTRIBUTING BLOGGER: JP Singson SALES & MARKETING CONSULTANT: Tina Herrera ACCOUNT MANAGER: Jerdan Buenaventura JUNIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Christine Rojas INTERNS: Sasha Cordingley, Angelique Celine De Leon, Miguel Escobar, Paolo Geronimo, Maria Isabella Kristoffersen, Zoe Laurente, Iris Beverly Lin, Nicarose Palad
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EDITORIAL editorial@statusmagonline.com ADVERTISING advertise@statusmagonline.com MARKETING marketing@statusmagonline.com INTERNSHIP intern@statusmagonline.com GENERAL INQUIRIES info@statusmagonline.com Read our digital version statusmagonline.com/ digital-magazine LIKE US facebook.com/statusmagazine Follow us twitter.com/statusmagazine STATUS is published by STATUS Media Group. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
NWZ-E460
NWZ-W262
good listeners
NWZ-B162
NWZ-W262
It doesn't matter if you're an athlete, a singer, a dancer or a stylist. With Sony Walkman, staying in tune with your own pursuits has never been easier -- and has never sounded this good.
Photographed by Kai Huang Hair by Lourdes Francisko & Kiko Pedaza of Jing Monis Salon Make-up by Karen Catalan
sony.com.ph - facebook.com/SonyPhilippines - twitter.com/SonyPHInc
NICOLAS S A LVA
What do you do and how long have you been doing it? I’m a basketball player for the Ateneo Blue Eagles; my position is Power Forward. I’m at my fourth year playing for the University, and we’re currently busy with UAAP. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 3 years old.
On Nicolas: NWZ-W262
How does music affect your life? Music pumps me up before games. I mostly listen to hip-hop that sings about positive messages to motivate me to work harder. While music keeps my energy level high before a game, it also helps me chill and relax on days when I’m not that busy.
REIN N AVA R R O
On Rein: NWZ-W262
What do you do and how long have you been doing it? I’m a dancer. I started dancing since I was 7 years old but when I was about to enter college, I decided to focus on my nursing education. I actually pursued that field until I was 20 years old when I realized my calling was really with dancing. Being able to dance makes me happy and reach my full potential. I’m now part of two dance crews which appears on TV shows regularly, *Addlib and Rockstars. How does music affect your life? I get my dance inspirations from music. I can go from pop to hip-hop to rnb to rock.. Name it and I’ll dance it! It really depends on where the vibe takes me since music is something universal as long as the vibe is right.
RALEENE CABRERA
On Raleene: NWZ-E460 Available soon
What do you do and how long have you been doing it? I am a vocalist for an acoustic group called Walkie Talkies which is composed of me and my sister who plays the guitar. I’ve actually been singing my entire life, but we only started performing together 2 years ago. We compose our own songs as well as do covers. How does music affect your life? I always have to immerse myself in music. My sister and I want to be versatile, so we expose ourselves to different genres, create and pick songs that don’t sound too much alike. It takes discipline to really stand out from a sea of talented performers so music, in a way, has taught me to always be prepared and treat every gig like it’s my last.
carlos CONCEPCION
What do you do and how long have you been doing it? I am part of what I like to call the multislasher generation. I am stylist/designer/ writer/blogger, I’ve been one for about 2 years now. I started as a designer; one thing led to another, thus my evolution as a blogger. Every slash in my job description was a step forward from the former job. How does music affect your life? I literally cannot work without music. Other than music making a simple walk to 7/11 entertaining, it is also my strongest inspiration. I am rarely inspired by anything physical. What move me are emotions, and most of them are felt through music. Anything I’ve ever created is a result of a song. Without music, I would be a hermit.
On Carlos: NWZ-B163
THREADS / setting / BEATS / SCREEN / INK
September 2011
Play it by ear E
stonian designer ANNI JÜRGENSON reinvents ear bling with her collection of ear cuffs. Inspired by Native American dreamcatchers and headdresses, her pieces are made out of different types of feathers accented with gold-plated crosses and rosegold spikes. Worn alone, they need no piercings as they are made to go around your ear. Clip one on, and pull your hair back à la M.I.A. to show ‘em off. annijyrgenson.bigcartel.com
casual rumors
P
ENSHOPPE makes Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick the latest poster boy for its dapper style. Paired with slim-cut jeans and a crispy white polo, its well-tailored, slim fit blazer that comes in black and gray will easily make anyone spit his infamous line: “Who needs passports? I’m Chuck Bass.” Don’t forget the British accent. penshoppe.com
Damn Skippy
G
runge is forever, and WHETHERLY takes it from ragged and scruffy to urbane and chic. With pieces like cutoff shorts, skinny tank tops, denim jackets, ankle boots, studded belts, fur jackets, and mannish purses, the 90’s teen in you might just jump out and yelp. whetherly.com
get away
Pack your bags with RITTENHOUSE’s latest collection, Southern Hemisphere. From button-downs to cardigans, skinny jeans, and tailored pants, these pastels and earth-toned outfits are your best companion in a trip. rittenhouse.com.au
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/THREADS
the bold and the beautiful
W
orn by Courtney Love and Rihanna, ASSAD MOUNSER is drenched in glitter as much as it is rock n’ roll. Taking inspiration from Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Brian Eno, their Fall/ Winter 2011 collection fuses mirrored hardware, spikes, and studs with more earthy elements like quartz crystal and hand-dyed silk. These pieces will put anyone in the mood to headbang on a concert stage. assadmounser.com
Tailored tale
P
ERCIVAL’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection is perfect for the cold weather. Bundle up in their outerwear, knits, and trousers made of durable waxed wool, sheepskin, camel wool, beeswax cotton, and Harris tweed. Be of service to humankind as you contribute more active (read: hotter) molecules to the environment by matching a rocking bod with this collection’s warmer burgundy and olive green. percivalclo.com
sleeker sneaker
S
lip on the carefree beach culture with VANS’ Fall 2011 California collection which features the Zapato Del Barco and Era Wingtip in navy, olive, black, and charcoal. With refined outlines like metal eyelets and materials such as tweed, herringbone, twill, and suede, your swag sauce will rise to boiling point as these designs are given a fresh street, well, shore update. vans.com
take the trike
L
dress to impress
S
tride in wearing STINE GOYA’s Autumn/Winter 2011 cigarette pants and deep V-neck jacket with structured shoulders. That’s how you show ‘em who’s boss. Command attention by wearing a younger spin on power dressing in a sprightly striped pantsuit. There’s no messing around with their bold colors, prints, and impeccable tailoring. stinegoya.com
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ike the Thai threewheeler of the same name, TUKTUK’s outfits are lush with color yet simple enough for everyday use. Their long-sleeved buttonups come in plains and plaids of vivid purples, blues, and reds. Even the more reserved tones of navy, brown, and pink boast eccentric patterns and bright buttons. Coupled with colored belts and light brown chinos, these looks will earn you discreet double-takes all over town. wearetuktuk.com
/THREADS
nOt so Vintage A
K VINTAGE’s White Mountain collection isn’t your regular hand-me-down jewelry. Its multiple triangles and cubes in silver necklaces and bodychains are beautiful solos but are even better when layered. Leave the old school look to your nana; future chic is the way to go for a full-fledged city girl. akvintage.com
J
for the Win
apanese denim brand EDWIN boasts classic straight fits with super rugged, natural washes and colors for Autumn/Winter 2011. Their jeans and slacks crumple up nicely at the bottoms and are perfect with their plaids, chambrays, faded-print tees, and leather jackets. Need not be a grunt or a contractor to rock these dope combinations of rough-hewn and dapper. edwin.co.jp
SCOTCH & SODA
Walk the trail
T
hat week where you feel like wearing just one bag. That’s what IM:MORTAL’s Guided Arrow collection makes you do. It’s Journey Bag made out of leather Navajo wool rug, is perfect for your everydaydump-everything bag while it’s Trail purse with fringe and drawstring closure only carries the essentials that you truly need. No fuss, no crazy designs, just pure carry-on business. immortalcollection.com
cool your heels
P
SWAGSTERDAMN T
T-Shirt
51111#C
Denim
85102
his is what you might expect from an Amsterdambased brand named SCOTCH & SODA: modern European swag that hits a sweet spot between refined and casual. Layers of their plaids, knitted sweaters, and various types of jackets and coats are sure to prep anyone up for the cold season, while carrot-fit pants and suspenders keep the outfits contemporary. Calm color schemes, meticulous cuts and fits: they serve it all up cool and chilled. scotch-soda.com
(sold with suspenders)
–9–
layful and feminine, MALOLES shoes add casual polish to an everyday look. Whether it’s a pair of cream heels with a pink fluorescent ribbon detail or a pair of wedges with army green and navy stripes, it shows a Marie Antoinette flair. With each pair completely hand-stitched and made from high quality leather, it’s no wonder Audrey Tautou is seen in these babies. maloles.com
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/THREADS
TAILOR-MADE
D
esigner Lars Stoten continues his family’s tailoring tradition with his New York-based brand, MJÖLK. His love for design and art is certainly felt in all its pieces like the square-shouldered jackets with front contrast material, which evoke the structure and symmetry of stark modern architecture. The rough edge of denim, bursts of pink and red, and the exact proportions of each garment— color, texture, and line come together in Stoten’s business legacy. mjolkhomme.com
ONCE YOU GO BLACK
A
MILITANT ENSEMBLE
S
OULLAND takes inspiration from the American Civil War with its Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, Civilized. Incorporating pocket and collar details, it creates solid looks that are just as regal and commanding as military wear. Layer jackets, pair combat boots with tailored pants, and don’t forget to button that shirt up. Salute to this style now or never. soulland.com.eu
BROOKLYN SWAG
F
resh off the streets of Brooklyn is rising streetwear brand BOUNDLESS NEW YORK. The up-and-comer packs graphic tees, letterman jackets, and fitteds but does well to take on some more unique styles. Not everyone is keen to use ethnic patterns on street threads, but Boundless does it and comes up clean with their button-ups and accented chino cuffs. boundlessny.com
STUD MUFFINS
M
ix spikes with gold chains and crystals, and you’ll get FALLON’s latest collection. Their Future Compass Hoop earring and All Points West Lasso Collar necklace are best paired with a cropped top or a sheer dress. These not-so-sweet baubles that also come in silver, leather, and colored crystals will make any good girl go bad. fallonjewelry.com
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GAIN APPAREL keeps it sexy and sultry with black pieces that are accentuated with tones of gray, silver, and brown. Pair bandeau suits, tweed vests, bodyhugging dresses, and snug jumpsuits with killer spiked heels or thigh-high boots, and be ready to pose like in a hip-hop vid. againapparel.com
/THREADS
DIVINE DESIGN
B
eginning from designer Jennifer Sarkilahti’s pencil sketch, ODETTE NEW YORK combines fine art with fashion. From that sketch, it is sculpted using wax then finally cast into metal. The signature organic feel of the jewelry is evident in Sarkilahti’s collection, Minerva Divinus. The brass and sterling silver textured earrings and necklaces are inspired by Greek culture, with each piece like an ancient amulet. odetteny.com
KNITTY GRITTY
A
s the leaves start to wither, ANAT FRITZ’s scarves, bonnets, and turbans will cap your wardrobe’s transition into fall. Bundle up in high quality knitted wool headwear and faux fur scarves that complement your coat-and-boots combo. As the nights start to get a little chilly, their orange and blue cable knit turban will keep the fun colors of spring alive. anatfritz.com
THE YOUNG IN OLD
W
ith its cross cuffs, snake spine bracelets, shark’s tooth necklaces, and spike rings in brass, sterling silver, and gold, BLACK OAK JEWELRY looks like an eccentric’s collection reworked to the tune of heavy metal. Antiques will always have their offbeat charm, but with Black Oak’s sheen and spikes, the aged never looked this modern and edgy. blackoakjewelry.com
SOMETHING BORROWED
F
MY PRECIOUS
inding the perfect pair of mannish trousers and boxy bermudas is as hard as finding the perfect date. THEONNE changes that by making these coveted tailored menswear silhouettes with the gals in mind. Their luxe Merino wool blended jackets, geometric print and ombré slouchy sweaters are so comfortable that the boys might just cop them from you. theonne.com
N
ew York-based designer Wendy Nichol definitely knows how to make regular bullet bags, totes, and backpacks interesting. Made with woven silk, animal hide, fringe, and prints of camo, Aztec, and leopard. Their special handmade bags are the next big thing coming out from the big apple. wendynichols.com
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/SETTING
SUITE
THE ANTI-HOTEL I
f one didn’t know any better, one’s entry in this unassuming house along Malta’s Strada Santa Lucia may seem like Goldilocks trespassing into the private ursine sanctuary—yet there’s nothing criminal about staying in the charming LUCIA NOVA. Worn-out yet updated like refurnished old homes, Lucia Nova’s distressed walls, antique furnishings, and library of old hardbound books complement contemporary features like a 32” flatscreen TV installed in the bedroom as well as Philippe Starck white polycarbonate Victoria chairs. This beautiful mixture of old and new creates a welcoming atmosphere that quietly merges luxury and exclusivity in the heart of the city which was officially recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1980.
lucianova.com
GRUB
CORKAGE
top the OUB Building at One Raffles Place in Singapore, partygoers are treated to exclusive party experiences 282 meters above sea level. 1-ALTITUDE, which occupies 16,000 square feet across three levels, promises the ultimate sensory feast for people who wish to take partying to the next level. Divided into three concept hangout places, namely 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar (level 63), Stellar (level 62), and
T 282 and City Golf (level 61), the al fresco bar, touted as the world’s highest, features a sunken bar with two mixologist capsules (where guests can try their hand at concocting their own drinks) and an extensive beverage list, featuring dozens of premium labels, champagne, and whiskeys sourced from Scottish distilleries.
1-altitude.com
ucked in a food strip at a hardware and home improvement complex in Ortigas is JALAPEÑO—one of the discerning Manila diner’s best-kept Mexican dining secrets. The restaurant, which caters to office workers and families as well, is supervised by Chef Christopher Bautista, whose previous job was whipping up delicious food for the ambassador and other emissaries in the Embassy of Mexico in Seoul, Korea. Open every day from five in the afternoon until after midnight, the hole-in-the-wall restaurant serves mouthwatering burritos and enchiladas which one can wash down with a cold bottle of Corona.
PL ATE
ANDALE, ANDALE!
Giddy-up to JALAPEÑO, and treat yourself to their authentic Mexican dishes.
VEGETARIAN BURRITO Cheesy mexi-rice wrapped in soft wheat-flour tortilla—who says you can’t go Mexican without meat?
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GRILLED CHICKEN ENCHILADA Dig in this hefty serving of chicken swimming in sour cream. It will fill you in no time.
PEPPER STEAK FAJITAS Get your hands and lips greasy with its beef tenderloin strips, onions, cheese, mexirice, and salsa.
APPLE BUTTERSCOTCH TORTILLA Blends the sweetness of syrup with the sourness of apples—and caps the indulgence with cream on the side.
Jalapeño photos by Adele Katerina Raya
LIVING IT UP A
MEXICAN SIT-DOWN
/ b e at s MUSIC REVIEWS ON THE SPOT
REGAL REGALERS
“
N
o shame, no explanations,” explains Sib Sibulo when asked why they named their band THE ROYAL. Suddenly, the image of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning flashed in my head—although I do not mean that the quintet composed of Sib (vocals), JT Flameño (drummer), Miguel Nandro Dualan (guitars), Gino Rosales (guitars / backups), and Paolo Ruiz (bass guitar) is insane. Then again, what is passion but an insane fixation with doing great things? The band is hellbent on having their crowd dig their tunes, which border on the upbeat, absolutely pop, and rock n’ roll (“kinda like pop-rocks
for the senses” says Nandro). “Aside from our passion to share our music, we all really love to dress the part,” notes JT about their rock star get-ups. Paolo adds, “We always treat every show as a show. So aside from putting up a good set, we make sure that we’re no eyesores.” What’re they willing to do for fame and eternal glory? Gino says, “Write a jingle for a highend car commercial. That would be so rad. And maybe a collaboration with Snoop Dogg. You can’t go wrong with him.” Sib takes it a notch higher: “Hell, I’d date a pop star—and milk it for what it’s worth. Someone gimme a scandal.” EVAN TAN
LISTEN UP
modulogeek.com
Joel Ford of FORD & LOPATIN
myspace.com/fordandlopatin Ben Folds and Nick Hornby “From Above” Catchy pop sensibilities and a touch of awesome synth work.
Baths - “Hall” I love the way he sampled his own vocals and meshed it into sweet noise, then developed a melodic/ atmospheric vibe to the whole song.
Todd Terje “Ragysh” Amazing, smooth techno vibes.
Total Contrast - “Takes a Little Time” One of my favorite synth bass sounds of all time.
Passion Pit - “Little Secrets” Who doesn’t love a singing chorus of kids?
Jeru The Damaja - “Jungle Music” Primo beats, square flow.
Bibio “Sugarette” Very lovely atmosphere but also with a driving beat, and the best use of the robot voice ever.
Tiger & Woods - “Gin Nation” Love the vintage sample cutup plus techno/house combos.
Allan Lumba a.k.a. MULTO
numberlinerecords.com/ artists/multo-ap Air France “Collapsing at Your Doorstep” Perfectly balanced tone of saccharine, summery, and wistful.
This September, music fans will come together to party in Austin, Texas during this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. The celebration, to be held from September 16-18, 2011 at Zilker Park, will be headlined by acts such as Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Kanye West.
Major Lazer - “Hold the Line” The liberal use of the biting snare makes me look for the closest sweaty dance floor. Jay-Z “Takeover” Every line is quotable. Also, I love the shoutout to David Bowie’s “Fame.” Das Racist - “All Tan Everything” The weird/ profound rhymes that they come up with seem simultaneously stream of consciousness, self-conscious irony, and politically conscious.
Zola Jesus is set to wow Londoners as the Russian-American electronic rock singer makes a rare performance for the launch of her third LP, Conatus. She will be performing at the Toynbee Hall on September 26. After six albums and 17 years, British indie rock band The Bluetones is saying goodbye to their fans with a farewell UK tour. Catch them at the Cardiff Millennium Music Hall on September 5 and the Leeds Cockpit on the 17th.
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The Royal photo by Soliel Abalos
Joon Guillen a.k.a. MODULOGEEK
/SCREEN
MOVIE REVIEWS
DIRECTOR’S CUT
SUNTOK SA BUWAN (2011)
We’ve witnessed Manny Pacquiao capture the world win after win—but who sees the nameless boxers who fight to make ends meet? BIANCA CATBAGAN is about to give everyone a glimpse of their lives with her debut full-length film, Suntok sa Buwan [Hopeless Dreaming].
S
THE NAMELESS, FACELESS LOSERS WHO, DESPITE THE OBSTACLES LIFE THROWS AT THEM, CHOOSE TO KEEP FIGHTING
untok sa Buwan [Hopeless Dreaming] is our take on modern-day heroism, showing an up-and-coming fighter and an old boxer in denial of his age, violently converging in a single moment. We know our heroes from literature, history, television, and comic books; but you realize that heroes these days aren’t the people whose successful lives are paraded for everyone to see. They’re the nameless, faceless losers who, despite the obstacles life throws at them, choose to keep fighting. To be honest, I knew nothing about boxing when we started writing the script. Not only have I never seen a fight, I was also appalled by the thought of watching two men slugging it out mercilessly for a title. When I was cornered for a topic however, boxing not only stood out because of its relevance; you have to admit,
CINEMANTICS
PL AYBACK
BLOW-UP(1966)
marriage of existentialist filmmaking with the oft-misunderstood world of models and designers
there is something heroic about the men tirelessly training, putting their lives at risk every time they fight to put food on the tables of their families. More than my idols and the films that have seared themselves onto my art, my real inspiration as a director is in my attempt at becoming one. It’s not all glitz and glamour when you’re making a film. But the lessons you pick up about filmmaking and life, if you’re open to it, are priceless. I’m co-directing Suntok sa Buwan, my first full-length, with Jono de Rivera, and it is going to be shown in the SM Bigshot Film Festival this October in major SM Cinemas nationwide.
50/50 (SEPTEMBER 2011)
T
he world of Pucci, micro minis, casual sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll — this was London during the sixties, the setting for Michelangelo Antonioni’s first English language film, Blow-Up. Antonioni showcases the fast and hedonistic world of mod fashion, and how playboy photographer Thomas (David Hemmings), gets lost in it, only to find temporary escape in what he thinks is a crime he accidentally captures in one of his photographs. Those who aren’t into art house films may find difficulty appreciating Antonioni’s style, characterized by long takes that highlight seemingly disconnected events. But anyone who loves fashion and appreciates unconventional cinematography will definitely love this marriage of existentialist filmmaking and the oft-misunderstood world of models and designers. VIVA GONZALEZ
BROMANTIC UNDERTONES, WITTY QUIPS, AND HILARIOUS SITUATIONS TOPPED OFF WITH AN UPLIFTING MESSAGE
T
he odds are half-and-half for Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in this flick about a cancer-stricken twentysomething year-old man coping with the heavy-handed news of his terminal disease. While this may sound like the synopsis to a couple dozen other tearjerkers in the last 10 years, 50/50 can’t be easily lumped into that lot. Based on the real-life experiences of screenwriter Will Reiser, it offers a light angle on an ordinarily dark topic. As Adam goes through the inevitably emotional post-diagnosis stages, he finds comedic solace in his best friend Kyle. Superbad’s Seth Rogen fills in this role—poking humor at cancer like the quintessential supportive buddy. Bromantic undertones, witty quips, and hilarious situations topped off with an uplifting message about survival make 50/50 a bittersweet confrontation of what it means to be at the precipice of death. MIGUEL ESCOBAR
TICKET
MONEYBALL
This baseball flick stars Brad Pitt as general manager of the cash-strapped Oakland Athletics, which makes use of a novel scientific method called sabremetrics to select players and create a winning team.
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THUNDER SOUL
Produced by Jamie Foxx, this feature-length documentary is the story of the Kashmere Stage Band, a 70’s highschool musical group, which became a legend thanks to their bandmaster, Conrad “Prof” Johnson.
BUCKY LARSON: BORN TO BE A STAR Adam Sandler pens this Tom Hardy movie about a country boy (Nick Swardson) who tries to makes it big in Hollywood by becoming a porn star—just like his parents.
GAINSBOURG: A HEROIC LIFE Eric Elmosnino portrays French singer-songwriter, actor and director Serge Gainsbourg in this movie which explores the hedonistic life of the legendary artist and his infamous love affairs.
RESTLESS
Gus Van Sant is at the helm of this Cannes-screened film about a terminally-ill girl (Alice in Wonderland’s Mia Wasikowska) in love with an eccentric guy who has funeral-hopping as his pastime.
/ink
BOOK REVIEWS
ONE-SITTINGS
The Night Circus By Erin Morgenstern
M
agic, youth, and love—these are the same elements that made the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman’s Stardust smashing hits. In Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel, The Night Circus, she peppers the novel with the same stuff. Proof that it works: like the other two, the book is about to be adapted into film. Set during the 19th century like Susanna Clarke’s fantasy novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Night Circus tells the story of Celia and Marco, two magicians pitted against each other by Le Cirque des Rêves’ Prospero the Entertainer (Celia’s father) and his rival sorcerer, an anonymous man in a grey suit referred to as “Alexander.”
Things would’ve been easier if it were a mere backstreet fight against mortal enemies—but tragically, this is a tale of Romeo vs. Juliet. And the two don’t know that a twist (spoiler alert!) lies ahead in the game: one can’t live while the other one survives. Feel free to insert the cheesy “We always hurt the ones we love” quip now. EVAN TAN A TALE OF ROMEO VS. JULIET
rea d ing group
There But For The
PICTURE BOOK
By Ali Smith
S
ome random dude prolonging his stay in your house when the party’s over is not only awkward but eventually unsettling—this is the hook of Ali Smith’s There but for the, a work of playfully-disposed philosophical inquiry and social commentary. The novel is divided into four chapters: There, But, For, and The, correspondingly written from the perspective of four people loosely linked to the overstaying Miles. As he continues to prolong his unwarranted reclusion, media begins to cover, and his
acquaintances’ stories gain relevance both to the story and to the real world. Smith uses several literary devices to put points forward, as when one of the characters calls the Internet “the intimate,” or when the CCTV-guarded streets of 21stcentury Britain are compared to a jealousy-ridden relationship. With its cleverly crafted puns, quips, and situations, There but for the is the perfect book company should you decide to camp inside your house as well. MIGUEL ESCOBAR
A WORK OF PLAYFULLY-DISPOSED PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY
Wildwood
By Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis
W
ith The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy’s overactive imagination, which is always complemented by his wife Carson Ellis’s stunning illustrations, it’s not unthinkable that their imaginings would spill into a book so strangely crafted it shouldn’t be called a children’s book at all. After all, the couple’s love affair with fantastical designs and the written word are evident with every The Decemberists record, which are expositions into elaborate costumed epics and sprawling narratives. Wildwood mixes the charm of Narnia and the sinister atmosphere of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. Set in a strange realm called the ‘Impassable Wilderness,” a place of dark
magic and violence, the story’s hero Prue McKeel must venture off with her friend, Curtis, in the woods, to find her brother who was mysteriously abducted by a flock of crows. Wildwood bears Meloy’s stamp of vivid storytelling and strong characterization, but the book’s charm mostly comes from Ellis’s illustrations which you’ll want to cut up, paste on a board and stare at for hours on end. DON JAUCIAN SO STRANGELY CRAFTED IT SHOULDN’T BE CALLED A CHILDREN’S BOOK
FOOTNOTES Has a house guest suddenly turned into a crazy house pest? Let the TASER®X2™ get them out of your home. This self-defense weapon has a backup shot capability—making it perfect for multiple targets. Fire away.
You’re doomed to die, but so what? No need for magic to come back to life with the BIOS URN, which lets your remains be used as seed fertilizer. The only way to live forever—until they perfect stem cell research, that is.
Life’s no party out at the harsh outdoors—unless you have the PLATYPRESERVE, an oxygenremoving pouch which stores and preserves the delicate flavor of your favorite wine.
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tech pack SAMSUNG 3D LED MONITOR
• 23-inch widescreen monitor • Can convert 2D to 3D images • Features a 1,920 x 1,080 display resolution SRP: P31,900
RIM BLACKBERRY PRESENTER
• Allows you to present Powerpoint presentations without the need for a laptop • Compatible with both NTSC and PAL systems • Measures 86 x 60 x 23 mm • Powered through a micro-USB port SRP: P8,600
JVC UX-VJ5 SPEAKER DOCKS
SHOOT ME GOOD A camera is only the start of a perfect photoshoot. Get the right gadgets, and make it great.
I’M COLOR WATCH
• Has a 1.54-inch colour TFT display • Connects to iPhone and other Android smartphones and can receive calls and text messages • Receives notifications from Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare SRP: P15,050
TAG HEUER LINK SMARTPHONE
• Runs on the Google Android 2.2 OS • Features a 3.5-inch (800 x 480) display and a 5-megapixel autofocus camera • Packs 256MB internal memory SRP: P250,000
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• Features an AM / FM tuner, video out, and a PC input • Comes in six apartmentblending color options • Docks iPads/iPods, showcases a USB port, and can rip MP3s from a built-in CD drive SRP: TBA
face paint Absolutely Irresistible Givenchy, P4,850
Ole Henriksen Fresh Start Eye Cream, P1,672
Givenchy Le Prismissime 9-Colors Eyeshadow, P2,700
Tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Burger, P660
Benefit Cha Cha Tint, P1,250
Stila Mango Crush Lip & Cheek Stain, P795
TheBalm Bahama Mama, P776
Orange County Freshly squeezed burst of color for Little Miss Sunshine!
L’OrÊal Color Riche in #373, P625
Etude House Color My Brows Eyebrow Mascara, P430 Shiseido All Over Color Stick in S2, P1,428
Cargo Laguna Blush, P1,140
Illamasqua Nail Polish in Insanity, P600
NARS Laguna Illuminator, P1,750
Escada Taj Sunset, P3,700
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NARS Lip Gloss Wonder, P1,350
about face Expert
Advice BB creams give your skin more than enough hydration, so you can skip the moisturizer.
SEE THE LIGHT
One of the most trusted Korean brands, MISSHA PERFECT COVER BB CREAM doesn’t just provide maximum flawless coverage but also whitens your skin and mends visible wrinkles. P1,320
calling doctor j
DR. JART+ REJUVENATING BLEMISH BASE has Centella asiatica extract which protects and soothes your skin. It also contains Nano Vitamin C, which keeps skin from looking dull and maintains its elasticity. P1,850
AUTY
CAPITAL BB FOR BE This is a one stop cover-up.
super 8
MAYBELLINE BB CREAM gives eight clinically proven health skin results. It hydrates and smoothens your skin, lessens dark spots and redness, and reduces pores. Talk about super! P249
Usually, BB creams come in one shade, but BOBBI BROWN BB CREAM revolutionizes by creating two new shades to suit every skin tone. Goodbye, Kabuki faces. P2,290
GO ORGANIC
Made with green tea, gingko leaf, Vitamin B, and lecithin, SKINFOOD GINGKO GREEN BB CREAM is packed with nutrients for your skin. This moisturizing base is sure to give you a healthier looking glow. P1,050
beauty bite Beauty and Butter
We’ve all been there, in beauty havens that provide nature sounds and aromatherapy—and it’s getting quite boring. With pop art walls, BEAUTY AND BUTTER announces itself as a place where you can be pampered in a more upbeat and psychedelic setting. Their friendly staff (called ‘Buttercups’) will keep you up-to-date with the season’s latest nail colors and patterns that vary from animal prints and florals, to emoticons and card suits, and they’ll gladly answer questions about nail care and maintenance. They also come to the rescue with facials as well as waxing and threading services. Tweet about getting all of
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these done with the iPad and Wi-Fi which they lend for free. If you’re clumsy or worried about messing up your nails while on the iPad, watch music videos on the flat screen TVs on either side of their walls instead. After spending the afternoon here, take home a piece or two from their own product line called Butter, and spoil your skin with their lotions, soaps, and toners. 5th floor, SM Megamall Atrium, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines +63-2-4704239 beautyandbutter.com
Model photo from Bobbi Brown & Tibi Makeup Collection
PERFECT MATCH
brick and mortar ALTER, SHANGHAI Shop L112, No 245 Ma Dang Road Xin Tian Di Style, Lu Wan District 200021 Shanghai, China +86 21 6302 9889 alterstyle.com Dime to drop: $100-500 (PHP 4,200-PHP 21,100) Don’t leave without: trinkets from Tom Binns X Disney Couture and House of Harlow 1960
A
LTER’s big space, white walls, yellow light, and minimalistic aesthetics mean a refreshing break from all of Shanghai’s hustle and bustle. Its glass and blue-ish storefront is cooling to the eyes that you’ll find yourself opening the doors of this fashion and lifestyle concept store. Chic dresses, killer heels, and statement jewelry from London, Paris, New York, and Milan are displayed on a flight of stairs that extend to the ceiling. Carrying over 30 international brands including Jason Wu, Pamela Love, Thakoon, and Sass & Bide, this shop will make you want to play dress up in their mirrored wall dressing room. If not, the well-dressed ladies manning the store will surely convince you to take home a piece of Anya Hindmarch’s latest bags or maybe try on Camilla Skoovgard’s shoes. As fancy as the store is, the ambiance wouldn’t be complete without the scent of perfumed candles. Plus, wine is served for those who’ll make a purchase and have time to sit and chat. Cheers!
NEIGHBOUR, VANCOUVER 125-12 Water Street Vancouver, BC V6B1A5, Canada (604) 558-2555 shopneighbour.com Dime to drop: CAD 7-CAD 890 (PHP 315-PHP 40,000) Don’t leave without: GIO fitted chinos from UNIS and neckties from in-house brand Neighbour
W
hen walking around Vancouver’s Gastown’s Gaoler Mews Courtyard, make sure to stop and take a peep at the newly opened menswear store NEIGHBOUR. It may be the concrete floors, wooden shelves, and that spiral stairways tucked in the corner that will draw you in, but it’s the well-tailored longsleeves and colorful totes hanging on the wall that will make you stay. Brands like Baron Wells, Drifter, and Svenson mixed with accessories like Uniform Wares watches, Han Kjobenhavn’s sunglasses, and Il Bussetto’s wallets are neatly placed alongside each other. Metal racks line up to the sides and hold more options of button-downs, cardigans, and pullovers. Like the natural light that comes in through their big windows, you need not an invitation to come inside.
fabricly F
ABRICLY doesn’t just curate womenswear brands; it is completely dedicated to finding new design talents and giving them recognition. Recent product additions include reclaimed metal accessories from Species by the Thousands, printed casual tees from Mary Meyer, and an all-black capsule collection from Cultist. Sheer paneled
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dresses from Stylestalker and nauticalstriped skirts and tops from OH! are also available - just because they make sure that their customers get the most exclusive pieces made by the best new talent out there.
fabricly.com
style id
SHEER BRILLIANCE
Stella Del Rosario loves her versatile sheer polka dot Hyoma bomber jacket.
jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com
By JP Singson
Fashion designer Ariadna Rovira Lorente goes sheer all the way.
This stylish Japanese layers her animal print trousers with a translucent skirt.
Kyle Lagman mixes her sheer Pink Vanilla sleeveless polo with animal print trousers.
Look sexy without looking skanky and cheap. A little bit of skin doesn’t hurt. Just make sure to leave some room for the imagination.
Fashion blogger Karl Leuterio bares some flesh by wearing see-through drop-crotch pants.
Korean student Hana Seo wears a sheer skirt over a shorter but solid black one.
Fashion designer Stacy Rodriguez rocks her label Glasnost’s sheer hot pink button down.
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go see Wake up! The biggest month of fashion is here. Get ready to take on the trends and show the world why your style deserves a spotlight. Photographed by JP Singson & Regine David
Bright and Floral
Black Cape
Brown Boots
Draped Tunic Platforms
Striped Socks
Pop Art Print Shorts
Printed Clutch Military Jacket
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Fitted Blazer
Straw Hat
Fur Coat
Crochet Skirt Head to Toe Black
Thigh-High Slit
Lace Up Boots
Knee-High Socks
Statement Neckpiece
Leather Sleeves
Leather Satchel
Long Ombre Vest
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blanc et
noir 40 - statusmagonline.com
When you see in the darkest light, you see her. Walking next to her shadow, in her tailored trousers, structured blazers, sheer tops paired with statement earrings, chains, wedges, and that look in her eyes, you’ll never know when she’s coming for you. Photography: Josh Carroll
Styling: Camilla Ashworth Model: Michelle Hicks of Premier Makeup: Alison Cameron Hair: James Langan Fashion Assistant: Erica Mathew
jacket by Florian Jayet leggings by American Apparel earrings by Erickson Beamon
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shirt by Jean Paul Gaultier trousers by Lina Osterman waist band: stylist’s own belt by Fyodor Golan chain belt by Just Cavalli boots by Atalanta Weller vintage clutch bag: stylist’s own earrings by Erickson Beamon
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dress by Anja Mlakar necklace and bracelet by Erickson Beamon
shirt by Lina Osterman trousers by Florian Jayet boots by Kurt Geiger neck chain by Jean Paul Gaultier necklace by Erickson Beamon
dress by Alice Palmer necklace by Two Weeks
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blazer by Lina Osterman playsuit by Obakki sheer top: stylist’s own necklace by Two Weeks ring by Imogen Belfield
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dress by Georgia Hardinge earrings by Erickson Beamon
yellow sunglasses by Natasha Morgan NYC long cream sweater by Ashish fushia jumper by Sretsis bolt Bracelet by Maritine Ali
E Th
t I f S mI Pair mohair jackets, feather dresses, and chunky knits with a good, old sneaks—yes, some rules are made to be broken. Add some heavy metal hardware and funky sunglasses into the mix to perfect the mismatch. Photographer: Darroch Putnam Stylist: Cherie Peters Makeup: Dawn Tunnell Hair: Samantha Landis Model: Diandra Forrest
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angel heart sunglasses by Mercura union jack tank by Ashish feather skirt by Ă la disposition shoes by Adidas
feather dress by Sretsis raw harness belt by Zana Bayne Leather car ring by Verameat
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brass sunglasses by Mercura bomber jacket by Lara Merrett & Phoenix Keating for Emerald Couture black shirt by American Apparel leather watch used as a necktie by La Mer bike chain bracelet: stylist’s own raw harness belt by Zana Bayne Leather vintage blue trousers: stylist’s own belt: stylist’s own shoes by Converse
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sweetheart sunglasses by Mercura blue shirt by Sretsis pheasant blouse by à la disposition mohair jacket by L’Autre Chose bulldog ring by Verameat
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geometric sunglasses by Mercura grouse sweater by à la disposition knitted leggings by Erotokritos bracelet: stylist’s own shoes by Nike
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Left to right: Mundo [P1,750], Boxfresh [P3,290], Mundo [P1,750] statusmagonline.com - 55
T- s h i r t s / l e at h e r b r a c e l e t s
ANIMAL KINGDOM
Be one with the wild.
Diesel [P4,650]
Penshoppe [P599]
Diesel [P3,450]
Armani Exchange [P2,450]
21 Men [P805]
21 Men [P805]
THICK SKINNED
No metalheads here. Penshoppe [P169]
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Penshoppe [P169]
Oxygen [P499]
Penshoppe [P139]
Street style photo by JP Singson
Pa r is
Slim-fit Denim Jeans
INTO THE BLUE
Keep it simple with these slim-cut jeans.
Diesel [P10,850]
7 For All Mankind [P12,498]
Penshoppe P1,199]
Springfield P3,950]
Topman [P2,945]
Oxygen [P1,299]
Gramercy [P3,398]
Calvin Klein [P6,250]
wood wood2 0 11 FALL / WI N T ER
Armani Exchange [P7,950]
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S N EA K ERS
ONE, TWO STEP Groove in these sneakers.
Puma Benecio Leather [P3,190]
Adidas Gazelle 2SW [P2,726.50]
Vans 106 Vulcanized [P2,798]
Zuriick Parker [P2,795]
Zuriick Oscar [P3,745]
Boxfresh Sparko [P3,790]
Converse Startech [P3,750]
Puma Yacht [P3,910]
M ARC J AC O BS0 11 2 FALL /WI N T ER
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S N EA K ERS
Creative Recreation Cesario Lo [P3,995]
Energie Powder Lo [P2,890]
Creative Recreation Borelli [P3,995]
Creative Recreation Cesario Lo [P3,995]
Pony Shooter ‘78 Hi [P2,195]
Keds CH CVO Canvas [P1,495]
Keds Anchor Chukka [P2,295]
Pony Shooter ‘78 Lo [P1,995]
Sperry Topsider [P3,995]
Sperry Topsider Leather [P4,295]
Puma El Rey Turf [P3,910]
Vans Era Wingtip [P3,498]
Puma 917 Mid Riddim 50’s OC [P2,950]
Adidas Superstar [P2,645]
Creative Recreation Capri [P4,495]
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Floral dresses
SECRET GARDEN
There’s no hiding in these floral dresses.
Forever 21 [P1,025]
Red Herring [P3,550]
Heritage 21 [P1,025]
Love 21 [P1,535]
Red Herring [P3,550]
SWEET THANG
Charm your way with these necklaces.
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Accessorize [P750]
Accessorize [P550]
Promod [P995]
Carbon [P1,698]
Ank l e St r a p h e e l s
SOLE STRUCK
It’s love at first sight with these ankle-strapped babies.
Charles & Keith [P1,999]
Aldo [P5,995]
Charles & Keith [P2,199]
Nine West [P7,250]
ley Cy nt h ia Row 11 0 Resort 2
Aldo [P4,895]
Charles & Keith [P2,199]
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T O T E BA G S
CARRY OUT
Walk it out with these leather tote bags.
Nine West [P5,250]
Topshop [P2,895]
Topshop [P3,195]
Charles & Keith [P2,999]
Tint [P8,698]
Charles & Keith [P2,799]
CY N T HIA R OWLEY RES O R T 2 0 12
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M A X I S K IR T S
FREE FLOW
Swing-a-ling with these flowy maxi skirts.
Debenhams [P3,950]
Promod [P2,495]
Promod [P3,295]
N IC O LE M ILLER RES O R T 2 0 12 Faith Hope Love [P1,995]
Red Herring [3,550]
Promod [P2,695]
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With tailored shirts, strong-shouldered jackets, and metal hardware, Oxygen’s Holiday 2011 collection takes over the fashion pages of STATUS. The brand’s Next Top Stylist contest winners, Paul Dela Peret Jatayna and Melissa Gatchalian, styled the monochromatic collection with a sophisticated rebellion in mind. The twosome were inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film, A Clockwork Orange, and created these looks with a touch of their own style. Photographed by Kai Huang Styling by Paul Dela Peret Jatayna & Melissa Gatchalian Hair by Mandy Sierra of Jing Monis Salon Makeup by Angelique Dinglasan of Shu Uemura Modeled by Samir Ayeb, Cecila Delgadillo, Nathan Lane, & Shin Wei Fang www.oxygenfashion.com
Opposite Page On Shin: Gray top with front and back zips Black bustier Drop-crotch trousers Assorted bangles and rings
On Samir: Shirt with contrast panels and asymmetrical hem On Cecilia: Men’s shirt with contrast panels Assorted metal necklaces, bangles and rings
On Samir: Vest over free-form scarf collar shirt Drop-crotch trousers On Cecila: Bodycon dress with contrast panels (used as a top) Drop-crotch pants with drawstring and button details
On Cecilia: Tailored jacket with strong shoulders Connector rings On Nathan: Drop-crotch trousers
On Shin: Tailored dress with strong shoulders On Nathan: Jacket with exaggerated collar and contrast panels Drop-crotch trousers
On Nathan: Shirt with contrast panels and asymmetrical hem
PHOTO DIARY PARIS MEN’S FASHION WEEK Spring 2012 BY JP Singson
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M U S E
Yes, she can Meet fashion’s muse du jour, EMILY BAKER. If she runs for office, she surely got some killer platform…shoes. Backed by some big names (Steven Meisel, Terry Richardson, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs), this New Zealand native has already topped the polls, and we’re forecasting her ascent to all the right houses—fashion houses, that is. By Giano D. Dionisio Images courtesy of Viva Model Management London
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ee those cheekbones, plopped like sharp chestnuts high on her face? Those whitegold locks and that piercing blue gaze? You might’ve seen them on any of last season’s significant catwalks (Proenza Schouler, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace… the list goes on), or in the new DSquared2, Tommy Hilfiger, or Gucci ads. Who would’ve thought that behind those features is a fish-catching animal lover. Like it’s her personal advocacy, change is something that Emily mentions a lot. You know who got our vote. Believe!
Past This firecracker used to be a shy kid, and when asked what she would tell the young Emily Baker, she says, “Nothing. I was young; I can’t change who I was back then. Everyone comes out of their shell as they mature.”
Present Being a model calls for having a tough skin ‘cause you have to constantly hear what people think about you, but Emily wouldn’t change herself drastically for the industry. She insists, “I’m happy the way I am, and so should everyone else. I don’t need to change, and I wouldn’t change myself for anyone. People have to accept me the way I am.”
Progressive Like any successful model, Emily is a chameleon. “[I love] changing from shoot to shoot. I love being able to transform into something new every time and bringing something different to each picture,” she says. “I like to keep things interesting; I embrace change.”
viva-paris.com
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ince All Or Nothing (in 2008), it’s been quiet for Billy Lunn (guitar and vocals), Charlotte Cooper (bass and vocals), and Josh Morgan (drums) of British rock band The Subways. Between that and this month’s fresh release, Money and Celebrity, Billy spent his time sitting in front of the TV armed with a guitar while making lyrics for an album. Who knew it would turn out produced by Stephen Street, the man behind Blur and The Smiths. “We spent a long time working on songs for this album and discarded a lot before we ended up with the final twelve,” Charlotte says. Never really a band to experience an occasional writer’s block since they have been constantly making new songs, Charlotte explains, “It just took us a while to get it right.” With their third album. which Charlotte can only describe as “energetic rocking live music,” it’s reassuring to know that the body-surfing, moshing, and head-banging spirit that comes raw from the band’s songs is still there. The Subways’ local cult followers as well as the fans they chalked up from the Reading and Leeds festivals will hear that same in-your-face punk, power-riffing sound that stays away from being a raucous collision, and is instead mixed with a bit of grunge and blues, an occasional high yowl, all in all sticking to the band’s main formula: simplicity and volume. While the band has tasted celebrity life by being in shows like The O.C., and while Billy has studied performing arts
Lifestyles of the Rockers and Famous THE SUBWAYS once guested in The O.C. as kids, performing at a small bar for a small audience, while barely in their teen years. Today, six years after, in the music video for their new single, “It’s A Party,” the trio performs in a huge venue for an even bigger, livelier audience. Fame rides as time flies. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Stuart Nicholls
and “could have really been an actor,” says Charlotte, they don’t completely portray the name of the album. Celebrity, most likely. But money? “Personally, I’m not someone who wants to win the lottery,” says Charlotte. “I’m quite modest; I just want to be able to pay my bills and have enough money to survive…with perhaps a few nice pairs of shoes.” Inspired by pseudo-celebrity culture, money-grubbing people, and Britain’s financial situation, Money and Celebrity may be conflicting for Charlotte who’s not dismissing the idea of guesting in a TV show again. But the only way to motivate the band to be on TV (other than appearing in interviews and award shows) is if they get to perform. Anyway, they do have each other to keep their indulgences in check,
“I think we’re different from the people you see on reality TV shows because they don’t really know what they want to be famous for…”
and they pat each other’s backs when they’ve done well. “I think we’re different from the people you see on reality TV shows because they don’t really know what they want to be famous for; they just want fame,” she answers. “For us, what’s more important is being good musicians and having a great live show.” Obviously, being rockstars comes with media exposure and people battling their way to shake their hands at concerts or get an autograph. But for The Subways, their success is only measured by the gigs they play in different countries and how many people are singing all the words—not just being on TV. “[Being on tour] is such a roller coaster brilliant experience,” says Charlotte. Their tours may include some fan throwing a leek on stage like in Prague, but their artistic and musical intention of “creating an exciting atmosphere with [their] audience” stays the same. “We never want this to end,” Charlotte says, “and [we’ll] do everything we need to do to keep it going.” thesubways.net
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maestro
WILCO releases their eighth album, The Whole Love later this month. Opening with “Art of Almost,” which runs 7 minutes, and ends with 12-minute “One Sunday Morning,” this jam-heavy pop/rock record may just deserve another Grammy nomination.
forces of attraction Named after a Roxy Music song, LADYTRON has been producing otherworldly songs for 11 years and counting. With their latest album, Gravity the Seducer, the band continues to captivate their listeners with their brand of English electronica. By Evan Tan
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estroy everything you touch today—destroy me, this way”: commands the lyrics of “Destroy Everything You Touch.” Like an electronic succubus, Ladytron’s music lingers in one’s head. And as their song “Seventeen” goes—“They only want you when you’re seventeen. When you’re twenty-one, you’re no fun”— one is already hooked. Their electronic music transports you into a mysterious aural universe which Helen Marnie (vocals/keyboard), Mira Aroyo (vocals/keyboard), Daniel Hunt (keyboard/guitar), and Reuben Wu (keyboard) have built much to the glee of their fans. Like their previous records, the band’s latest, Gravity the Seducer, promises to be a multilayered melodic journey—“White Elephant,” the album’s first single, provides an exciting glimpse at the band’s evolution over the years. In this interview, Mira contemplates on what makes their music so magnetic and tries to describe their new record—“more cinematic—slower, warmer, and thicker.” How does it feel being called “the best of English pop music” by Brian Eno? We don’t really think of us in those terms. We’ve grown organically over time. We never really had a massive hype, which I think has worked in our favor because we’ve been allowed to develop as a band and find our sound.
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Tell us about your new album, Gravity the Seducer. It’s kind of supernatural, has kind of a magical feel to it— definitely, that theme kind of reoccurs throughout the album. We recorded it in England, here in London, and the studio we recorded it in was Barny Barnicott’s, who co-produced the album with us. It was a very new studio, and he was buying more and more organs while we were recording, and it felt like if we needed new instruments, he bought it, which was really nice. That was where a lot of the inspiration came from, for the final sounds. Otherwise, it was just stuff that we came across just like any other records, images we’ve come across over a period of time which we kind of turned into songs. A review from The Guardian mentions that your songs lack “killer hooks and melodies,” which stop your band from getting a “commercial great leap forward.” What do you think about that? I think our songs have lots of
melodies and hooks. I think that’s not what stops us from being commercial. The difficulty to categorize us is what’s stopping us from being more commercial than we are. I can understand why we are the way we are, really—we don’t make music that fits into record labels’ expectations. Have you ever produced music with your fans or potential followers in mind, or has it always been self-expression without worrying if you’ll alienate critics and music followers? We’re much more selfish than that…we just do things that feel good to us for the moment and sounds right to us, and we put a lot of work and effort to it, and we never release anything that we’re not happy with, and we just hope our fans would appreciate it. We’re hoping that if we’re happy with it, our fans would like it, too. I think that if you tried to guess what people liked, you’ll never get it.
Eminem and Jim Jonsin work with 2011 XXL Freshman YELAWOLF for his debut album, Radioactive. There are pretty high expectations for this rapper—especially since they wrapped the album up in just 2 weeks.
Let’s see how new bassist Pete Donton will fare in English indie rock band THE KOOKS’ Junk of the Heart, a follow-up to U.K. chart-topping Konk (2008). Produced by Tony Hoffer (Beck, Belle & Sebastian), this eagerly anticipated twelve-track LP will, of course, feature the band’s trademark hooks for their signature Kooky vibe.
ladytron.com
“I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE THE WAY WE ARE, REALLY—WE DON’T MAKE MUSIC THAT FITS INTO RECORD LABELS’ EXPECTATIONS.”
It’s looking up for TWIN SISTER, who opened for Beirut at the Northside and Pitchfork music festivals earlier this year. They’re about to release their debut LP, In Heaven, packed with pop grooves and understated electronic instrumentation apparent in songs like “Bad Street.”
maestro
RARE FIND
When a band has GEM CLUB as a name, you’d think they make dance music. Not in this case. This three-piece’s debut album, Breakers, is a quietly precious dream. By Reena Mesias Photographed by Jared Graves
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em Club’s Christopher Barnes (vocalist, pianist) was quite indecisive in choosing the band’s name. In the end, he chose something that “makes you think of something beautiful or maybe even cute, but then you get the mixture of sadness in the music, and it takes on a whole new meaning,” confirms Kristen Drymala (cellist). Christopher compares the debut release, Breakers to their EP, Acid and Everything (2010): “I think it takes its time—it has more space,” he says of its tackling the concept of transformation. And part of the metamorphosis is adding Ieva Berberian (vocals) into the group. Although they experimented with music by adding more instrumentation like drums and horns, Kristen says, “We [tried] to keep our same foundation but expand upon it—still minimal but with some more layers.” Something about the sweetness in Christopher and Ieva’s voices, the twinkly, swaying beats, and the wistful vibe would make it impossible to not drift away into
a daydream. Although Ieva often daydreams to the point that she always has a pencil and paper in hand to draw people with bird heads, Gem Club doesn’t need to linger there for long because, finally, their reality is better than their dreams. “Actually, a lot of the daydreams I’ve had about Gem Club are coming to fruition,” says Kristen. “We are very lucky.”
iamgemclub.com
“A lot of the daydreams I’ve had about Gem Club are coming to fruition…”
“Rebelling is also standing up for what you believe in and not just breaking the rules.”
UP IN THE AIR
Dreaming about riding balloons makes KATIE HERZIG love to hit the sack. Now, she’d rather be up and ready with her new album, The Waking Sleep, not needing to doze off to get the feeling of being mid-flight; she only has to sing.
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t’s amazing how Nashville-based singersongwriter Katie Herzig translated her inspiration for The Waking Sleep, which, she says, is “the feeling of being asleep even when you’re wide awake.” Contrary to what most artists would do when interpreting how it’s like to be in a trance, Katie steps away from cliché haunting, dreamy-pop instrumentals. By the sound of the sneak peek, it’s a perfect fusion of sweet, husky vocals, gently strummed acoustic guitars, and drummy rhythms. Katie may look like she’d prefer a martini over beer, and sound a bit like sweet ol’ poignant Jewel, but Katie has a bit more…spirit. She remembers an instance in their school bus: she was told to keep quiet but shouted instead. Growing up, her perception of rebellion changed. “Rebelling is also standing up for what you believe in and not just breaking the rules,” says Katie. What she believes in is making memorable performances like when she made a fake farty trumpet solo in Live at Paste, and be a bit more cool to fans by giving away a fake number, 555-7172 (a lyric to “Hey Na Na”), when they would ask for hers. Katie advises, “Just let loose, and free yourself from anything else.”
katieherzig.com
By Zoe Laurente Photographed by Heidi Ross
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BIG K.R.I.T.’s Return Of 4Eva has only been a few months old, but there’s no stopping him from releasing Def Jam debut Live From The Underground. Keeping his mid-90s Southern drawl, this record includes “Shake It,” featuring Joi, which shows how everything else would sound.
CEREBRAL COMPLEX Andy Bothwell aka ASTRONAUTALIS—nerdcore rapper, singer, and inspiration junkie—is in New York’s Catskill Mountains for his older brother’s wedding. No, he’s not dropping verses at the reception—he’s performing the marriage ceremony, and is more nervous about it than any performance. Despite the jitters, he finds the time to dish on his new album, This Is Our Science. By Giano D. Dionisio Photographed by Courtney Dudley
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ndy Bothwell once said that he would read science books before he’d write a love song. “Rap, that’s easy; writing a 2-3 minute speech about true love, whew!” he exhales. A month before his brother’s wedding, Andy became an ordained minister, moved to Minneapolis from Seattle, and finished recording for his new album. This Is Our Science, Astronautalis’ most autobiographical to date, takes Andy’s usual hyperliterate lyrics—with characters like Mendeleev and Jefferson—and centers on a theme of lustful passion. Throughout, he goes from the anthemic “The River, The Woods” (“Me, I follow roles compulsively ‘til sirens call me off/then I wander, eyes closed, following songs”), to referencing Greek gods (“Our work is never done; we are Sisyphus”), to raunchy accounts (“Hands creeping innocent under the waist of my jeans”). While he growls through some tracks, croons to others, and duets with Tegan Quinn of Tegan and Sara, Andy lays bare his innards. “Science got me through heartbreak,” he laughs. Having followed his career from raps about the Battle of Trenton to now, I’m surprised to see this pensive side to Astronautalis’ spitfire musical persona. “I have always been romantic. Romantic about history, about whiskey, about
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the South, about my family, about storytelling… I wanted to be as open on my albums as I am onstage,” where sets are split 60-40 between musical numbers (Don’t miss his legendary live freestyling—seriously, YouTube that shit) and sharing personal vignettes. Some of those stories include his journey from a college degree in theatre to 7 years on the road. He draws the connection, saying, “Anyone listening to my rather melodramatic albums or watching my astoundingly melodramatic shows will see the theatre in there… I laid my years of theatre experience on top of my musical taste to make my ‘sound.’ I research my own records like I had to research a script: hours and hours of reading and absorbing; pinning images, doodles, and concepts to the corkboard in my mind ‘til one day, I step from the collage on the wall and it all makes sense… It is more theatre to me than music.” To anyone who’s heard his music—nay, theatrics—the extensive research is apparent; and apparently, it started at a young age. “I was raised in a home where wit and knowledge were the priority… taught to deduce, theorize, and speculate,” he says. “I am never clear on dates or details; we have books to keep those facts straight… I am where the This
“Rap, that’s easy; writing a 2-3 minute speech about true love, whew!” American Life generation meets the Internet Age… Insatiable lust for knowledge with no patience for minutiae.” In other words: “My career is built on a foundation of Wikipedia.” Aldous Huxley once mused, “Science has explained nothing; the more we know, the more fantastic the world becomes and the profounder the surrounding darkness.” At the center of Andy Bothwell’s brave new world of enlightenment and periodic tables is an inexplicable magic that drives the hip-hop virtuoso. Even he can’t seem to grasp the secret of his style: “I am a Southern man, raised on the beach by a Texas train man and a pretty Kentucky artist… I am more interested in old dead writers than authors of my generation… After all of that, and a wide array of hairstyles and pants sizes, I am what I am today. Amen.” myspace.com/astronautalis
Some may have given up hope for CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH doing another album, but they’re back with Hysterical. From the previews of songs like “Same Mistake” leaked on the Internet, this record makes everything right by sounding even better—louder guitars, more horns—than the last.
Following three successful mixtapes, J. COLE (first to be signed under Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label) finally decides to release a debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, and change the rap game with songs that, he boasts, talk about stuff rappers haven’t discussed but wished they have.
Annie Clark, better known as ST. VINCENT, reunites with John Congleton for Strange Mercy. This guitar heroine keeps her elaborate orchestration of violins, woodwinds, and brass which will save us from the dull routine of music on the radio.
maestro
Surely You Can’t Be Serious
How could you lose hope in homegrown music when, from the now much more accessible underground, ANG BANDANG SHIRLEY is reigniting the local scene with the fire of indie pop romance? By Miguel Escobar Photographed by Tim Arafiles
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GROUPWORK Ang Bandang Shirley has reached a consensus. Who would most likely… win best actor? Ean
win a burger contest? Joe
be emo? Kathy & Selena
fall in love with a fan? Selena
e’re just a group of people who got together, became friends, and then started making music—in that order,” says vocalist Selena Salang, modestly describing indie pop ensemble Ang Bandang Shirley as if it were just another faceless player in the local music scene. Judging from their very casual, unassuming disposition, one might actually think this to be fair: to talk of Shirley as if it were one of the thousands of gang-based bands-for-being-ina-band’s-sake to which music is no prime importance. But to the more informed of the local scene’s sprawling underground, Selena, together with Owel Alvero (vocals), Ean Aguila and Joe Fontanilla (guitars), Jing Gaddi (bass), Heidi Pascual (keyboard and synth), Zig Rabara (drums), and Kathy Gener (band manager), is much more than that. Shirley’s inception followed the disbandment of the generation-defining The Eraserheads, so it was named, very fittingly, after one of the legendary band’s songs. Like its namesake track, Ang Bandang Shirley is characterized by predominantly romantic lyricism. “We’re saps,” explains Selena, laughing almost as if to acknowledge how true that statement is. “Our songs cover a whole… plethora… of emotions,” confirms Jing. Ean also mentions the privilege of having a fan walk up to him and say that their songs can cause heartburn. Clearly, there’s a good amount of sentimental depth to accompany their progressive drum beats and engaging melodies, that’s something that their listeners are craving to hear more of in their new album coming out late this year. Jing says, “Shirley is a relationship.” This is particularly evident in the band’s natural charm—one not too far detached from that of a cute couple. “There are
things that I disagree with, but it’s just a matter of compromising… We never come to blows or shouting matches; it’s [just] a natural trust, I guess,” expounds Selena about whether members of the band ever clash as artists. But there are certainly more pressing issues for Shirley than arguments about “that riff” or “that one delay part” in a song. As one of the Philippines’ legit bands that haven’t sold out, they carry the flag of an artistic resurgence and all the responsibilities to the scene that it implies. The band just came from a recent gig at the Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore. Selena says, “I feel that music listeners [in Singapore] are more ready to hear the stuff that we want to put out because, locally, things are still very much determined by radio.” Owel, taking the radio’s taste into account, acknowledges their responsibility. “We were like, ‘Hey… we should be contributing good stuff to this lack.” The band agrees: here in Manila, the real music scene is something that won’t serendipitously find you; it’s something that you, instead, have to search for in the crevasses of the Internet or the obscure bars that house it. On one hand, this poses a lot of apprehension on whether or not it will ever truly blossom. On the other hand is Ang Bandang Shirley— staggering minstrels whose every layer of guitar and bass riffs between insistent drums and that hair-raising blend of Owel and Selena’s voices—begging the greater public for their ears—dedicated to forwarding the scene without pretense or ostentation, just good music. Yes, they are serious—and yes, you can call them Shirley.
angbandangshirley.tumblr.com
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M A S T E R M I N D
MASTER RING
20-year old Internet sensation JESSE JO STARK likes to wear all her rings all at once like how she has multiple roles. Whether she’s rocking out on stage, being photographed with her friends, or designing for Chrome Hearts, she never finds herself not working or, in this case, taking off her rings. By Loris Peña Self-portrait by Jesse Jo Stark
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The Secret Tale of Jesse Jo’s Tail Don’t brush it. Don’t wash it. Keep dyeing it until it falls out.
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t’s a bright and shiny day in California, and Jesse Jo Stark is starting it early. “[I] rub my belly and get myself a cup of coffee,” she says. Before I could even ask her how she likes her coffee, she continues, “Well, I’m in the car right now, on my way to the studio to record a few songs with my bandmate, Kirk Hellie.” That’s just another day in the life of this Chrome Hearts designer, occasional muse to The Cobrasnake, and musician, who tells people that she works at an Ice Cream Shop. For someone who works for her parents at Chrome Hearts and thinks “[it’s] fuckin’ awesome,” she also doesn’t mind being the subject of girl and boy crushes over the World Wide Web. She has a fanmade fuckyeahjessejostark.tumblr.com that documents all her photos in short shorts, distressed fishnet stockings, creepers, and messy hair, as well as her collection of rings—and we can’t help but right-clickand-save them on our desktops. “I have no idea how many rings I own, but they all are special to me because they remind me of a time, place, or person,” Jesse explains. “When I travel from Los Angeles, I wear rings that my family has given to me to keep them close to me.” While she won’t be caught dead wearing ballerina flats because “[her] dad hates them,” there’s
an accessory she doesn’t take off—“a skull ring that was my uncle’s who passed away last year,” she says. Her recent collaboration with skateboarding brand Vans includes lace ruffled shorts, dinosaur printed crop tops, an American flag/leopard print backpack, creepers with leopard insoles, and a cutout tee that says, “Dig It Babe.” All these designs come from her love for American punk. So it comes as no surprise that, being a musician, she also describes her music as “Pot Luck Punk,” and her dream collaborations include Kid Rock, Joan Jett, and David Allan Coe. The three’s common denominator? They’re all rad guitarists. “I play a little guitar,” Jesse shares. “The funny story is that I’m not so good at it, so it’s always funny.” I asked her what she’s looking forward to in the near future, and she answers, “All of it. I hope.” She pushes her hair back and continues with a smile in her eyes, “Soon, I’ll be having a tea party.” Quite naturally, with that rare childlike attitude plus a cool godmother like Cher, she’s headed to fame, fortune, and a Rock n’ Roll ever after—just without the giant pumpkins and talking rats.
jessejostark.com
mastermind
“The greatest lesson I learned was how to respect the material, how to be pragMatic, and how to use your common sense to build something that everybody can understand.”
MOTION GRAPHICS
There’s something odd but fabulous about this picture: a graphic designer and a reporter trading rhetoric and nuggets of wisdom in a washroom over the act of washing teacups. It seemed as if it was created and curated by graphic designer MIQUEL POLIDANO. By Toff De Venecia Photographed by Cholo Dela Vega
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aving recently concluded an illustration, graphic, and publication design lecture—Visual Voice—at Ayala Museum, Poli, a moniker Miquel Polidano goes by, is also in the country upon The Office of Culture and Design’s (TOCD) cofounder Clara Balaguer’s invitation to be creative director in the upcoming Manila Design Week this September. In TOCD at Manila’s The Collective, Clara asks Poli and I to help her rinse a bunch of dainty, colored teacups at the nearest washroom, in which case both of us men were too willing to help out. “A graphic designer is a technician in communication and ultimately an editor of contact,” raps Poli who was coursing some form of initial contact through the teacups’ porcelain surface. As the three of us continued our conversation over teacups, Clara says, “Poli is great to work with because he gets personally invested in the projects,” and as I would later find out, he had just arrived from a Manila suburb excursion, teaching street kids how to do art. Having completed a degree at the prestigious EINA School of Design and Art, he has worked with high-responsibility position at INDITEX, the retail clothing empire which includes the likes of Zara, Massimo Duti, and Pull&Bear. He has since developed editorial and corporate identity projects for LAUS and London Design Week award recipient FOLCH studio. Most recently, Poli opened his own publishing company called Triangulo Books. Poli is also a celebrated graphic artist, having several LAUS awards to his name—a Bronze LAUS09 Award for Pull&Bear’s Spring/ Summer 2009 fashion catalogue, a
Silver LAUS07 award for an issue of Fanzine137 (which featured celebs like Chlöe Sevigny and Milla Jovovich), and a golden LAUS08 award and a grand LAUS08 award for Matines, a collection of concert posters taking its cue from the 60s pop cultural phenomenon. “500% of my work as an editor is making decisions, printing, and deciding on a good ending for the final product,” says Poli, who insists that, for his kind of work, it’s all in the details, “even in organizing content and deciding on the paper that you use.” He adds, “It’s not just visual, it’s also kinetic!” Editorial design is “physically representing things that are ethereal,” he says, while walking me through a book he had published of the late Isabella Blow’s photographs taken by Stefan Bruggeman. “This is Isabella in her truest form,” he shares, then segues to his time at the EINA art and design school. “The greatest lesson I learned was how to respect the material, how to be pragmatic, and how to use your common sense to build something that everybody can understand.” As we wrap up the interview, he is summoned away by the photographer. I notice Poli, posing with arms wide-open against the crucifix, once again crystallizing some sort of powerful thought and communiqué behind his actions. “Ten years from now,” he says, “I would like to work on a project with Triangulo that would take on a life of its own. Creating a book that’s eternal and a tangible piece of work that would rest on a person’s shelf—that would be my greatest personal triumph.”
triangulobooks.com
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mastermind
From All ANGLESs PATRICK MOHR’s wearable clothes coupled with his muchtalked-about runway presentations push people to rethink style. Constantly questioning what’s comfortable on one’s skin, he asks questions like, “who can shave one’s head, who could wear a beard, and what could be used as socks?” By Viva Gonzalez
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atrick Mohr, infamous for sending bearded ladies down the runway two seasons ago, doesn’t try hard to go against the norm—he just does. To him, fashion is not about trends or glamour. “I create fashion with a deeper meaning. So it is important for me to show how close men and women are,” he says. “For that reason, every single model was wearing a beard and a bald head.” He doesn’t categorize himself as a menswear or womenswear designer. He believes that man and woman are one, and his designs are inspired from that perspective. His take on fashion is far from typical. His point-ofview is provocative, blunt, and uncensored. Mohr’s love for fashion started during his stints as a model in Milan and Paris, then he pursued his interest in a different way. “Basically, fashion is a part of my whole life. My professional designing career started in 2003 when I began studying fashion design at ESMOD International Fashion School,” Mohr recounts. He graduated with honors, and his graduation collection got a lot of interest from Munich’s PR agencies and received a lot of press. But his desire to grow more as an artist spurred him to move to Copenhagen for 7 months to work under acclaimed Danish designer Henrik Vibskov, one of his design idols. “Beauty, for me, has nothing to do with the obvious idea of beauty,” he says. “It is some kind of attitude. Everything can be beautiful in their own way.” And you can certainly see this in
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his designs. The Patrick Mohr aesthetics is all about clean lines and silhouettes integrated with geometric forms like the triangle, parallelogram, or quadrangle. His Spring/ Summer 2012 collection, I Want Mohr, had models walking the runway in patent leather socks (instead of shoes) and with angular eyebrows pasted on their faces. Mohr doesn’t shock just to be controversial. He shocks with his disregard for what’s in and what’s out. He shakes up the industry by refusing to label himself and his designs. “I’ve always had this kind of eccentric, somewhat provocative, outspoken, and very straightforward design aesthetic,” he says. This unapologetic style is what made him one of Europe’s designers to watch. Living in Denmark has also inspired Mohr’s designs. “Denmark especially Copenhagen, is a great place to live in,” he contentedly says. “I really enjoy the open-minded people and the modern vibe.” He also cites designers Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, and Martin Margiela as his inspirations. Mohr enjoys creating new silhouettes and adding elements of streetwear into his designs. His designs have a lot in common with the geometric patterns he frequently uses. He compares, referring to himself in the third person, “Patrick Mohr is more like a triangle—angular, edgy, and with at least three sides.” By consistently surprising the fashion world season after season, the designer has more than three sides to him for sure.
“Beauty, for me… is some kind of attitude. Everything can be beautiful in their own way. ” Having used homeless people model his clothes before, we asked where he would stay if he were to be homeless. He says, “If I don’t stay at a friend’s house, I think I would live on a mountain. I love nature!” Mohr’s clothes have an organic feel, which aside from his self-confessed love for nature, stems from his constant desire
to stay authentic. Although he challenges the industry and often elicits mixed reactions, he can’t imagine himself being in any other field. Mohr concludes, “Designing fashion is what I live for.”
patrick-mohr.com
mastermind
THE WANDERING XUE WANG paints her fantasy dollhouse, old fair grounds, and creepy atmosphere with an image from cult movie Carnival of Souls in mind. Comparing her work to a horror film playing at very low volume, she has a scarier wish: that her ideas be adapted into film by, gasp, Hitchcock.
CHINA DOLL
By Zoe Laurente Artwork courtesy of Xue Wang
“The Night Kiosk”
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n only child, Xue Wang used her imagination a lot to entertain herself when she was younger. “I had this habit of setting up some scenes and talking with my dolls,” says the anti-Barbie girl who grew up not even owning the blonde doll. It has turned out to be a good thing as Wang’s imagination and the affinity she shares with her old, battered, antique dolls has resulted in a truly distinct painting style. About the inspiration behind her googly-eyed
paintings, she says, “I’m feeding off my inscape—the ideas swarming in my head that are not objective reality.” Her work is essentially anecdotal and does not intend to shock people or make statements. Although Western influences are evident, Wang tries to inject a bit of her Asian heritage in her work by incorporating manga imagery. Her move to London gave her the break she needed for her style to be widely recognized. “China, when I was growing up, had a very narrow field of reference. Sure, there was some Disney stuff but not the kind of pop-cultural heritage you had access to in the West.” Somehow, the motif of a forlorn big-eyed girl is autobiographic to Xue. “She’s wandering, dream-like, in a strange world,” she notes. Though it’s not her face that you actually see, it’s only a projection of it.
xuewangart.blogspot.com
“SURE, THERE WAS SOME DISNEY STUFF [IN CHINA] BUT NOT THE KIND OF POP-CULTURAL HERITAGE YOU HAD ACCESS TO IN THE WEST” “Round We Go”
INTERVIEW WITH THE GHOST-VAMPIRE
K
ayla Ewell pulled an April Fool’s joke on her dad; she told him she’s been fired from The Bold and the Beautiful. “Since then, he jokes about what it’s like having a daughter who’s an actress,” she says. It was also on April Fool’s Day when Kayla got a call saying she’ll return to The Vampire Diaries’ third season. The show has been one of the best she’s been in, so it would’ve been the worst karma if the producers meant for the call to be a prank. But apparently, they didn’t. “Vampires are sexy because there are so many things you don’t know about them,” Kayla says. And what you don’t know about Kayla is that, while she returns to the show as a ghost-vampire who may no longer be able to feed on meat, in real life, she has about one patty a day. “I’m obsessed with [hamburgers] so much that [Vampire co-star] Nina Dobrev gave me a Juicy Couture jeweled hamburger keychain.” Her fans may be excited about what Vicki’s “unfinished
KAYLA EWELL has been dancing since she could walk. Now acting instead, as Vicki Donovan in The Vampire Diaries, she reveals one of her favorite moments at work: “shooting the dancing montage [with Ian Somerhalder] in our underwear.” By Reena Mesias Photographed by Christopher Schmidt
business” is in the show, but Kayla’s more hopeful and thrilled about doing more complex roles in period-piece films like Emily Blunt’s in The Young Victoria—not too far from The Vampire Diaries whose story flashes back to the 1800s. Well, of course, minus the fangs.
kaylaewell.com
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mastermind
Shutter Speed Photographing celebs ranging from Kate Moss to Kanye West, Leigh Lezark, and Karl Lagerfeld at A-list and fashion week afterparties, city hopping from Paris to Madrid and Barcelona—GERARD ESTADELLA throttles full speed ahead. By Viva Gonzalez Photos courtesy of Gerard Estadella
Estadella to separate yourself from the party pack: “Be unique. Whether it’s your style, your attitude, your hair, anything. If you’re a charming person, you’ll catch my eye. If not, don’t try too hard. It’s kinda pathetic.”
P
arty photographer Gerard Estadella is always on the hustle. He even moonlights as a DJ—with a camera always attached to his hand of course. His baby, icanteachyouhowtodoit.com, which started as a simple blog, now attracts a large fan base of nightlife voyeurs and fashion lovers. Estadella draws you into his world of models, champagne bottles, VIP rooms, and “club basements, secret doors in clubs that lead to shady hotel lobbies, and stuff that would/ could never be photographed,” he describes. Quitting his PR job and striking out on his own turned out to be a good gamble after all. With his photos being published in various magazines all over the world, Estadella is crossing over to fashion and shooting more editorials. His uncanny ability to spot and shoot the trend starters and sartorial standouts in your average cocktail-guzzling crowd comes naturally. A tip from
JACK HIS SWAG
Photography is not Gerard Estadella’s only skill. He can school us on:
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Who influences/inspires your style in photography? Classic paparazzo like Ron Galella or Bob Colacello are definitely my main inspirations and have always been. What makes party photography different from the other kinds that you do? Social photography is more spontaneous. It’s that one second that would never [be noticed] if you didn’t take the photo. That’s what I look for. As someone who gets in people’s faces to take their photos, have you ever been smacked in the face by a potential subject? They’ve tried but never succeeded. Not a lot of people know that you’re a DJ, too. Share your party playlist. I’m in a serious disco mood lately, so any of the releases by Disco Discharge should get the party started for sure.
You probably must get handed a lot of free drinks. What drink do you stay away from, and why? I avoid drugs, but all drinks are welcomed! Just a tip: don’t mix Jägermeister with tequila— bad news! What’s your tried-and-tested hangover cure? I don’t have hangovers. Ever. It’s a blessing. Since you do a lot of traveling, what is the best/worst thing about airports? Worst thing is the layover, and when some of the airline crew give you a hard time with your luggage or not letting you board cause you’re just 2 minutes late. Good thing about airports is that I got so used to them that, now, it feels homey and peaceful. I usually travel alone, and I’ve learned to enjoy that.
icanteachyouhowtodoit.com
How would you describe to your grandmother a day in your life as a DJ/Party Photographer?
Sushi
Catalan
Spanish potato omelettes Laundry
“Don’t worry, Nana. I’m paying my bills.”
Bon dia!
How to set up your wireless home entertainment system
mastermind
“Crater Valley Plateau proposition 5,” 2009
BANDWIDTH BANDIT Before analog, punk, and DIY were repurposed for easy reblogs and likes on tumblr, LENA COBANGBANG was already at the heart of those movements, sharing things that mattered in a real-world way that Google+ could only dream of. By Alice Sarmiento Photographed by Sam Kiyoumarsi Portrait & artwork images courtesy of Lena Cobangbang
L
ena Cobangbang could still get carded if she tried to buy a drink or enter a nightclub abroad, but don’t let that fool you. This girl’s range of work spans the breadth of her experiences in an art scene that has undergone numerous changes since the word Unfriend entered common vocabulary. The 1995 UP Fine Arts grad and 2006 CCP Thirteen Artists awardee has a portfolio running the gamut from video installations to embroidery, making her aesthetic difficult to pin down—a product of what she calls “Generation W”: W for wasak [n. crushed, disintegrated] and “whatever!” While avoiding the narrow categories into which Filipino artists are usually lumped, distribution and exhibition of Cobangbang’s work has made it as far as Austria, Berlin, and Los Angeles. That’s not even counting the biennales. Under the name The Weather Bureau, she and fellow artist and University of the Philippines Fine Arts grad Mike Crisostomo are sublimating a common interest in sci-fi through photographs and recreations of “weather conditions in their active state.” This is a premise made even more interesting by
the fact that “active state” is the perfect way to describe the chaos we call the local climate. The two will be showing Manila the fruits of their forecasts on September 5 at Blanc Gallery and on September 17 at Manila Contemporary. Her full-time work, however, is in the arts business itself, as the gallery manager for Secret Fresh—a vinyl toy collector’s haven. With its slick interiors and scheduled shipments of branded merchandise, the place is a far cry from the artist-run spaces where Cobangbang cut her teeth. In the wake of the late 80s to early 90s DIY ethos, Cobangbang, alongside contemporaries Wire Tuazon and Mariano Ching, was part of early collective experiments at Surrounded by Water. If you don’t remember the place, it’s because this Surrounded by Water existed when Robinson’s Galleria was still the spot to be. “Our only objective at the time was to create a venue for us to exhibit our work because, then, it was harder to apply for shows at galleries,” she says. “We really wanted it to be sustainable, but maybe we just really weren’t
entrepreneurial because of our adherence to punk-communal ethics,” she shares of that period, which at times left artists working with people they downright loathed. “The good that came of it was we really commiserated with each other even when the grievances came from different cliques in the art scene.” Surrounded by water, indeed. With her recent project entitled Crazy Lil Thing Collab, Secret Fresh was taken back to an art environment where pitching in was not only fun but necessary in order to stay afloat. The fates of participants were decided by picking a name out of a hat, guaranteeing surprises by forcing artists out of their stylistic and collaborative comfort zones. As for the Queen reference, Cobangbang keeps it light: “Does that completely show our age?”
“A Thousand and A Thousand and A Thousand (after Rilke),” 2010
“Untitled”, 2009
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H E A V Y H I T T E R
Once upon a time in the West, American outlaw Jesse James gained notoriety slinging pistols and stealing riches. Flashforward to the 21st century, and namealike JESSIE J is—in her own way—out-banditing the original, singing bazooka riffs and steeling her position as pop royalty. By Giano D. Dionisio
Photos courtesy of Universal Music Group
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“I’m not just in this industry to close the parties and be famous and hang out with celebrities. I am somebody who wants to make a point with my music.”
EL MARIACHI
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23-year old pop vamp rockstar Jessie J (born Jessica Cornish) breaks away from the status quo by actually getting lots of sleep, not drinking, not smoking, and never touching drugs. “I have to make sure that I stay sane and happy and I see the people I love on a regular basis,” she says. “Singing is my drug, and performing is my drug, and if I don’t get [them], I get antsy.” Learning to walk and talk in a household of Funkadelic and Michael Jackson, spending teenage years gushing for Justin Timberlake, and all the while belting Mariah and Whitney have given Jessie a powerful repertoire. While in BRIT school, she would even duet with classmate and good friend Adele. Lauryn Hill, on the other hand, remains one of her most significant role models; she starts, “What I loved about [The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill] was music, politics, therapy. It was a view, an opinion; it wasn’t
just ‘I’m in the club. Got my drink. Spending on Patron.’ It had a purpose, and that’s what my albums have.” Who You Are, Jessie’s debut album, reflects these influences and intentions by wagoning through a range of big band showstoppers, club ditties, soulful ballads, and empowering anthems, all invigorated by Jessie’s soaring vocals. “I was just kind of obsessed with massive voices,” she admits. Besides having sopranic chops that are a mix of Joss Stone rasp, Duffy sweetness, Aguilera runs, and sharp D6-A6 whistles, JJ writes her own material. Although one of her biggest hits isn’t even on her album and was popularized by a completely different saloon girl (Miley Cyrus - “Party in the USA,” in case you were wondering), she insists that the creative process itself rewards her. “Some people like to go to gym and run off. Some people like to paint.
Some people like to draw or dance,” but to Jessie, people connecting with her words is cathartic. “[Songwriting is] everything to me. As soon as I am feeling a certain way, I wanna write a song about it… You never master it; it always follows and changes.” She has been songwriting for six years but confesses it still takes around ten songs to come up with a possibly good one. She concludes, writing is “an incredible gift… ‘cause you can do whatever you want with it.” It’s a philosophy that courses through the artist’s veins, infecting both her sound and style: “I think fashion or music [shouldn’t] have any limits.”
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Jessie J’s look can be summed up in six words: black, sexy, and leggy, leggy, leggy. Slipping into bodycons, catsuits, and lace, her only staples are smoky eye shadow, a signature bob, and six-inch pumps. She don’t care about the price tag and, similarly, designer labels are no big deal besides vintage Chanel and Versace pieces. Her inclination to London brands, however, is apparent: from Henry Holland tights to Bordelle corsets, Pamela Mann stockings, Jonathan Aston tights, and obscure Hasan Hejazi sheer dresses, down to ASOS accessories. So it was a pleasant surprise to see the vixen clad in a sequined Dolce & Gabbana gown at the Glamour Awards with hair extensions and a va-va-voom presence. Even in pap snaps of her sans make-up, Jessie transforms beautifully. If her risqué Vogue Italia editorial is any indication, we can expect nothing but more boom
sizzle spunk from the girl, even if drop dead gorgeousness is just her second favorite hobby. “Being invisible is actually, sometimes, the best thing in the world,” laughs Jessie, indicating the hordes of snoopy photographers, boundaryless journalists, and gossipy articles. “You can never prepare for what happens, and I don’t think anyone can understand the lifestyle you have to all of a sudden live until you live it… It’s just about adjusting [and] embracing it… It’s crazy because, for me, it’s all about music.” Like any other original don’t-give-a-damn dame, Jessie’s personal style (no Rachel Zoe required) comes naturally, resulting from taste, attitude, and experience. “Life shouldn’t be taken too seriously, and I think it’s important to get to laugh at yourself,” she grins, attested by her goofy pajamaclad YouTube videos. “I am a
THE WILD ONE “That’s the kind of message that I am trying to say; just let the weak promise be your strength, and don’t let anybody ever feel that they can get the better of you,” speaks Jessie of her song “Who’s Laughing Now,” a rigid middle finger to the bullies and naysayers, including the music teachers who wouldn’t allow her to join the school choir for being “too loud.” “I’m not just in this industry to close the parties and be famous and hang out with celebrities. I am somebody who wants to make a point with
“You can never prepare for what happens, and I don’t think anyone can understand the lifestyle you have to all of a sudden live until you live it…”
normal chick that just wants to have fun,” something that pop princesses seem to forget, especially when daunted by extremists such as the big Lady G, who, Jessie mentioned to OK! UK, “literally made normal artists and music boring.” Nevertheless, with her steadfast character, this musical bad girl has begun to rival the rest of the top guns.
my music.” She intones, more seriously, “Everybody should take extra care of themselves, not just because I have a heart problem but because life should be a healthy one.” Jessie suffered from a stroke a few years ago due to her condition, something that constantly echoes in the back of her head. “I have to be an inspiration to people who have disabilities, feeling that they can’t live their dreams because of health issues. That’s not the case… I’m still here now, traveling the world and living my dream.” Who You Are, as the title suggests, boasts of individualism and independence— the core values of any rebel— with swingy hooks in “Mamma Knows Best” celebrating mom and dad (“The ones who put me into the world and I owe it to them.”) to growing a pair of balls in her debut single, “Do It Like a Dude.” (“No one should intimidate anybody and [make them] feel that they can’t be someone or do something.”) “Big White Room,” the very first song she wrote, explores her deepest crevices. “It’s kind of my comfort blanket now…
the core of my beginnings.” Her journey rooted in the time she spent in a hospital at 11 years old, even watching a young boy pray for four hours only to pass away the next day. “I want everything to stem from it, and that’s why I recorded it live on the album because without my fans and without the belief—the beauty of knowing that it’s real and it’s raw—none of the rest of my career would have happened.” Hopefully, it won’t take another six years of writing or in-your-face melodrama for Jessie to grow. As of now, she’s already in high demand, wanted (no bounty offered) everywhere for her ability to put on a striking showdown. The interest continues to spread as people are “still discovering little gems, a mystery about me; I don’t want to give everything around.” It sounds like she’s armed with more ammo than initially suspected. See, in this world, there are two kinds of people: those with loaded guns and those who dig. Jessie J’s locked and loaded, and we dig.
jessiejofficial.com
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HEAVY HITTER
If Lady Gaga has her Little Monsters for fans, her collaborator, Nicola Formichetti, also the new life force behind the legendary fashion house Thierry Mugler, has a big monster for a muse. Geek out on the modeling world’s latest freak-out sensation, RICK GENEST. By Nante Santamaria Photographed by Colin Singer
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I
don’t remember most of it,” Rick Genest’s eyes shift as he tries to grope for some vague childhood memory. Much has been said about his days doing Lucifer’s Blasphemous Mad Macabre Torture Carnival back home in Montreal, but aside from his early liking for the Bazooka bubble gum tattoos, the latter part of his stage moniker, Zombie Boy, remains hazy. What is detailed to anatomical precision: currently 139 human bone tattoos and 176 insect figures on his arms, the first ink being a skull and crossbones on his shoulder when he was 16. His body tells the story better. In Lady Gaga’s music video for “Born this Way,” it splits out from hers as evil incarnate. She explains the emergence of this other body: “How can I protect something so perfect without evil?” Her stylist, Nicola Formichetti, overall creative collaborator and now Creative Director of the previously dormant fashion house Thierry Mugler, picked this body out of Dress to Kill Magazine last January. The rest is Modelizing History. It was weeks to go before Mugler’s rebirth in Paris Fashion Week’s FallWinter shows, and Genest didn’t even have a passport to go and
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work with the fashion god who summoned him out of nowhere. Needless to say, it couldn’t have been the easiest job. Shows like this are booked with runway it-boys and girls, peppered with celebrity like Lady Gaga but not made with a former squeegee boy, well, not one without experience treading high fashion ramps. “Opportunity—that’s all it is,” Rick says of the struggle that is being thrown into the middle of a vicious pool called fashion industry. Not that he ain’t the type to get the nerves but simply give the nerves with his full-body skeletal ink coverage. “I basically just show up for the job and do what I have to do and have a great time,” he says, stressing that it does get a little uncomfortable but
that there’s nothing he hasn’t learned from. GQ now tags Genest as the most instantly recognizable male model on the planet. Formichetti right away puts him before the lens of frequent collaborator Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Hommes Japan. Rick’s hard shell is further covered with leather, studs, austere black outerwear, and a mask of lace and pearls. For Arena Homme+, Nicola layers him up even more for Steven Klein. A belt of bullets encircles his neck, and a black veil partially covers his tattoos including a biohazard sign right smack on the middle of his chest. Strands of pearl come out of his mouth and nostrils, well maybe enter, depending on how one looks at it. By fall next year, he will appear in a pirate-samurai action movie, 47 Ronin, with Keanu Reeves. Extraordinary feats like these, one would think, are fit for extraordinary people, but Rick isn’t a high fashion monster through and through. Unlike fashion bloggers who dress alike in their Lookbook photos and in real life, Rick isn’t swooshing around with lace in his bed. Today, in particular, he is in a loose wife-beater tank. “Last night, I started to watch 2012,” he says when I ask about his movie habits, “but I fell asleep during it.” As much as he looks totally deviant, there is so little that’s outrageous about him. “After about 10 minutes, it’s very easy to see that I’m just like anybody else,” he says. He is right. It is only about six minutes into our interview when he says this, yet I know that this is how the rest would go—a casual stroll that will not fall into a discussion on death, decay, or darkness. Instead, it is lighthearted. “Very recently, we were in Brazil, and I met Andrej [Pejic],” he tells me with excitement coming through. It is in Rio Fashion Week’s Ausländer spring-summer show, for which they both walked the runway. They also modeled for the brand’s lookbook, where Rick, instead of being portrayed in more shadowy images, was shot in colors and prints. It was a surprise—a big polka-dotted
HEAVY HITTER
“After about 10 minutes, it’s very easy to see that I’m just like anybody else.” pastel shirt and a blue buttonup actually work on him really well, too. He does the same for De La Garza’s summer lookbook where he is clad in fiery red and sunshine yellow, in a floral jacket of manicured greenery, in wild tropicalia from shirt to pants. One of the things that tatted-up models fear is being boxed into doing rockstar shows and shoots, but this is out
of Rick’s concerns. Colors and prints, instead of rendering him out-of-place, create a surprising accord with his tats. This harmonious contrast is something that the Zombie Boy is quite used to. Rick shares an apartment with friends who simply come and go. “It’s a big community,” he describes. “There are a lot of friends around, and everyone kind of just crashes around in each others’ places. It’s like an ongoing party.” A trick which he has mastered, by now in his quarter life, is mingling with different people, constantly being molded into a new person, layers and layers of new skin after.
“I like a lot of Keny Arkana…also, there’s Los Aldeanos…maybe some Immortal Technique,” Rick educates me on his favorite musicians— underground rap artists, human rights preachers, social awareness advocates, fighters for love. While one may have assumed an anarchist beneath his dreadful cloak, inside is a person who dreads disarray. While one may have seen a rebel, here is a model who only looks slightly different. I see, he’s right, “You can’t just start making assumptions without knowing the person.”
rickgenest.com
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HEAVY HITTER
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HEAVY HITTER
if DEV’s tunes don’t make you bust a move, there’s something wrong with your brain’s wiring. Her infectious, hard-to-resist, dance-your-ass-off electropop has pulsating hip-hop beats to keep the club going ‘til dawn. Here, she talks about her debut album, The Night the Sun Came Up, and how she went from working at Old Navy to kickin’ it with Far East Movement. By Viva Gonzalez Photos courtesy of Indie-Pop Music
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girl from Manteca, California, born Devin Star Tailes, has come a long way from her 8-hour days of folding T-shirts at Old Navy. Currently doing a promotional tour for her newest single, “In the Dark,” Dev has been noshing on Mexican food to cure homesickness. She just got back from a week in London as we chat. Always punctuating her answers with giggles, it’s hard to believe that this is the same girl churning out those highly addictive, bassthumping tracks. Blowing up hotter than a fireball (which is the title of one of her first songs), she already has three charttopping singles even before she releases her debut album, The Night the Sun Came Up, this month. Dev has been on the fast track to worldwide stardom since she shot to fame last year with Far East Movement’s “Like a G6.” Yep, ladies and gents, she’s the voice that had everyone sippin’ sizzurp and getting’ slizzard for months on end. It’s a little known fact that the hook of Far East Movement’s biggest hit was sampled from one of Dev’s first songs, “Booty Bounce.” Its music video has gotten 7,305,410 views to date, which is 6 million more than what Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK” got before her debut album. And like Lady Gaga before her, Dev’s online domination is only the beginning. Although she has been compared a lot to the sing-talk style of Ke$ha, Dev doesn’t fit into that crazy, attention-seeking pop star stereotype. She ain’t no famewhore dressing to shock, and her music, growing
impressively from her early releases, isn’t rumored to be Uffie or Madonna rip-offs. There are barely any tabloid blurbs about her. For being compared to other artists, she says, “I think the reason people do that is out of comfort. When new artists come out, it’s the easy thing to do, to relate what else they listen to on the radio. But I think, when they hear the album that The Cataracs and I have created, they won’t be able to compare [it] to anybody, and then we’ll see what people have to say.” Obviously, leaving her freshman year of college to pursue music was not something she took lightly. “I haven’t really stopped working for the past 2 years, and it was just ‘til recently that things started to get good. There are a lot of hard moments and great moments, but you have to not stop working. It’s all hustle.” And it has been hard work for her for 2 years, being away from home, working with The Cataracs on various singles, and developing her own sound. And with more than 35 million views on YouTube, it’s all finally paying off. Pretty impressive coming from a girl who says, “Before I met [hip-hop producerperformer duo] The Cataracs, I didn’t really know anything.” Covering Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” and singing a diss track she penned about her ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend were Dev’s golden tickets into the industry. That was how she got noticed by The Cataracs. They saw and heard Dev in a MySpace video that a friend of hers uploaded, contacted her, and the rest is head-bobbin’ music history. Dev recounts, “I barely just started playing around with [music] myself, so they taught me everything.” Not just her producers, The Cataracs are her best friends, too. They’ve all been living together for 2 years now. Dev says, “It’s amazing, I couldn’t ask for anything better. They know me better
“i haven’t really stopped working for the past 2 years, and it was just ‘til recently that things started to get good.”
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HEAVY HITTER
than anybody else does, so it’s actually kind of perfect.” No doubt about it, theirs is a music match made in heaven. Dev is no stranger to collabs. She’s made great harmonies with various artists from her UK version of “Bass Down Low” with Tinie Tempah to “Backseat” with jerkin’ duo New Boyz to an upcoming house track with DJ/ music producer David Guetta. She tells me about her dream collaboration: “I’d love to work with Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I think that’ll be tight. I grew up with her music. I think she’s hot as hell. I think it would be great. I’ve never really worked with a female artist. She’s very talented.” With Karen O’s manic stage theatrics and her punkish Debbie Harry voice together with Dev’s hip-hop influences and chest-poppin’ performance style, this collab is bound to be amazing. But if you ask me, what they have in common is great onstage style. Karen O is 80’s London meets downtown Brooklyn, while Dev rocks a playful futuristic-meets-street look. Her sometimes sky-high coif, long feather or fringe earrings, an armful of bling, and the collection of badass connector rings that she wears in her videos are fast becoming her signature. She professes an equal love for heels and sneakers, and describes her style as “[changing] everyday. Depending on what I’m feeling,” she says, adding, “That’s the
fun of being a girl. But I work a lot with Hellz Bellz.” The streetwear brand dressed Dev in her video for “Booty Bounce,” where you can see her styled from head-to-toe in over 80 Hellz Bellz looks. But although she enjoys the thrill of dressing up, she remains a Cali girl at heart. “Some days, I’m in heels and shorts,” she says. “Most days, I’m in jeans and tennis shoes. It’s hot in LA, so usually, I’m in something that’s cool.” She might often be dripping in studs and decked out in killer boots for her performances, but Dev is a girl who just likes to relax in a pair of comfy kicks. Her eclecticism in fashion translates to music, too. She cites Eminem, Husalah, Waka Flocka Flame, Rick Ross, and Radiohead as some of her favorites. When I asked her what she’s currently listening to, she responds with a laugh. “I’ve kinda been only listening to my stuff lately to be completely honest with you... This is my last week to finish the album... It’s really good, so I don’t mind it.” Staying completely focused on your own album is never a bad thing. Looks like Dev is determined to prove that she belongs in the industry and that she deserves to stay. Taking off 3 weeks to go to Costa Rica to finish off her album, there’s no questioning her focus on music. Her latest single, “In The Dark,” was recorded there, which explains the Latin flavor of the track. Having made it more sophisticated than her earlier releases, and with bolder lyrics too, Dev is really mixing it up and adding more soul this time. Showing her musical range by changing the tempo and texture of her songs as well as adding ballads to her usual repertoire of “clubby stuff,” she describes her new sound: “Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked with a banana split and fruity pebbles on top...a lot of really good things mixed together.” Touring with Usher, performing at SXSW and at the Much Music Awards, and presenting at the MTV Woodie Awards are just some of the highlights of her career so far, not counting her hit singles, that is. And there’s bound to be more. “I’m naturally never satisfied,” she says. “I’m my biggest critic. I always wanna work harder, and I always wanna do more. And learn more.” This attitude has taken her a long way. Maybe her mom was onto something when she named her Devin Star. Now she’s showing no signs of flaming out.
devishot.com
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BLOCK PARTY
ELEMENTS OF STYLE
DAVID THIELEBEULE ACCESSORIES DIRECTOR, ALLURE
Models, designers, photographers—they’re just the well-polished exterior of the fashion machine. Here, the cogs and gears of the fashion industry reveal what it’s like—and yes, they get their hands dirty for the sake of all things pretty.
If someone was considering getting a job like yours, what should they do? To work at a magazine, you need to intern. My best advice for interns is to treat your internship like a job. I don’t get to stay home after a late night at Le Bain, and neither do you. Describe your style. My style is rather simple. Someone recently described it as “disheveled refinement,” which I took as a compliment. Skinny jeans, slouchy tees, and tailored jackets are my uniform.
Could you name three people whose style you admire? Kate Lanphear is a close friend and definitely a source of style inspiration. Men I admire are mostly from the past—Steve McQueen, David Bailey, Bowie, Yves SaintLaurent. What’s the hardest part of your job? As a man editing for women, it can sometimes be a challenge to remember that the clothes are actually meant to be worn in the real world. But luckily, fashion is rarely about reality. What do you like most about the fashion industry, and what do you like least? The frantic pace is the best and worst part of fashion.
SONJA LONG F O U N D E R & C E O , A LT E R What advice would you give people who want your job? One: if you don’t have real passion for it, don’t bother. Make your dream, and bring it into reality by having a vision—don’t be distracted, and don’t give up. Two: anticipate working very hard, struggling a lot, giving up your free time, and many sleepless nights. Three: success comes from a fusion of hard work, focus, timing, and good luck. What are common misconceptions by other people about your job? That it’s full of glamour, fashion shows, photo shoots, partying with celebrities, traveling to exotic locations, and financially lucrative. It can, of course, be all of these things—but you should see the side of my work that most people don’t see or have no idea of.
Describe your style. What sets you apart from the rest? I am very courageous in terms of developing my style and exploring new brands. My individual style is edgy, always fashionforward. I love mixing vintage with contemporary, and I embrace my femininity in a way that is confident and strong as opposed to being overtly sexual, which I don’t like personally. What do you like most about the fashion industry, and what do you like least? I love contradictions—the fashion business is forever-changing but trapped in a cycle, full of sincerity yet can be pretentious, gives you the opportunity to be a unique individual or allows you to follow the status quo and be a clone, has international power or domestic uselessness, has a magical beauty and a boring ugliness, totally intangible but structured and full of rules...I guess fashion means something different to us all, it’s up to you how you interpret it and make it yours. What lesson has your job taught you? Being a Retail Producer has taught me how to be a grownup in a world full of children.
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ADAM MARTIN Fashion Director/Buyer, Harry Rosen Inc. What advice can you give people who want your job? 1. To succeed, you need passion. 2. This must drive every aspect of your career—whether it’s coordinating looks for a magazine or getting new products on the racks. 3. Being analytical is definitely a necessity for Buying. Managing your business and the people you work with is crucial. 4. Be open-minded—know when to wear your “personal hat,” and when to wear your “business hat.” 5. Listen to your gut feeling—and know when to stick to it.
What’s the most fun part of your job? Seeing products that makes someone smile and feel good is worth the effort and late nights. I was helping a client who’s in the IT business; he wanted to get into wearing a suit for meetings and a jacket to step up his appearance in a more relaxed workplace. Once he was in the suit, his eyes lit up since he’d never seen himself that way previously. He was receptive to the idea of surgeon cuffs for more of a personal style taste. You could just see his confidence lift when he saw himself. Travel is also a fun part–even if they are early flights and long days.
What is style for you? Style is all about how your personality is conveyed through your clothes and how you carry yourself. It isn’t all about name brands.
Could you name three people whose style you admire? Lapo Elkann–he’s just got balls to pull off some outgoing looks. I really admire that. Tom Ford–I appreciate how he carries himself. Steve McQueen–absolutely effortless style, and still looked impeccable even if he was covered in mud from dirt biking. Your job is changing the world by… making people more aware what spending a little time and effort on yourself will do to your confidence.
If someone was considering getting a job like yours, what should they do, and what does it take for them to succeed? Don’t wait for things to happen—make them happen. It takes time to get things in action. I have a 2-minute strategy—I have to react on things that could be good for me within 2 minutes. It could be to talk to a speaker directly after a seminar or send an email. You have to force yourself. What are common misconceptions by other people about your job? That you are shallow just because you work with fashion. Wrong, wrong, wrong! What is style for you? Style means fun, play, and a way to express my creativity.
FOUNDER, DEMODE
HELENA EKSTRÖM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SOFO MAGAZINE
Helena Ekström photo by Leo Ahlgren
What’s the hardest part of your job? The hardest thing is not to work actually. When having a company focused on different parts in fashion, it means lots of work. But that’s my choice. Nevertheless, you need to take some time off and remember that you have to if you want to stay in the business for a long time. You have to work smart. What’s the most fun part? The most fun part is challenging myself every day, and that every day never looks the same. At some days, I’ll be styling using chicken wire, and for the next, I’ll be presenting to some marketing director. Those contrasts make my days interesting. With Démode, we have done many crazy things that are fun experiences—like mounting a guerrilla fashion show in a department store, without permission, styling clubs, filming a fashion movie—among other things. What lesson have you learned from your job? Being a creative in fashion has taught me how I could start my own company based on things I love.
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NIGHTVISION STATUS Magazine MUSE ISSUE rELEASE PARTY
@ Fiamma
by Nikki Ruiz & Isabella Marcos
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NIGHTVISION
Birthday Wayzzzz by The Cobrasnake
shabba dabba rah @ Club Movida, London by The XOXO Kids
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NIGHTVISION
pitti - peter anderson party by Gerard Estadella
Lovebox music festival @ London
by The XOXO Kids
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girls gone wet & wild by The Cobrasnake
swag swag roxy reunion by The Cobrasnake
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SONAR 2011
@ John John Club, Barcelona by Gerard Estadella
HELLz BELLZ X GPPR POP-UP STORE OPENING PARTY by Natalia Brutalia
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DIRECTORY BRANDS 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Greenbelt 5, Makati City 21 MEN Forever 21, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City À LA DISPOSITION aladisposition.com ACCESSORIZE Greenbelt 5, Makati City ADIDAS adidas.com ALDO Power Plant Mall, Makati City ALICE PALME alicepalmer.co.uk AMERICAN APPAREL americanapparel.net ARMANI EXCHANGE Power Plant Mall, Makati City ASHISH ashish.co.uk ATALANTA WELLER atalantaweller.com THE BALM Beauty Bar, Greenbelt 5, Makati City BENEFIT benefitcosmetics.com BOXFRESH Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City, Bratpack Greenbelt 5, Makati City CALVIN KLEIN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City CARBON Greenbelt 3, Makati City CARGO cargocosmetics.com CHARLES AND KEITH Power Plant Mall, Makati City CONVERSE converse.com CREATIVE RECREATION Complex, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City and Shoe Salon stores nationwide DEBENHAMS Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City DIESEL Power Plant Mall, Makati City EMERALD COUTURE emeraldcouture.com ERICKSON BEAMON ericksonbeamon.com EROTOKRITOS erotokritos.com ESCADA escada-fragrances.com
ETUDE HOUSE SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City FAITH HOPE LOVE The Ramp, Crossings Department Store, Glorietta, Makati City FLORIAN JAYET florianjayet.blogspot.com FOREVER 21 SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City FYODOR GOLAN fyodorgolan.com/default2.aspx GEORGIA HARDINGE georgiahardinge.co.uk GIVENCHY Available at Sephora.com GRAMERCY Carbon, Greenbelt 3, Makati City HERITAGE 21 Forever 21, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City ILLAMASQUA illamasqua.com IMOGEN BELFIELD imogenbelfield.com JEAN PAUL GAULTIER jeanpaulgaultier.com JUST CAVALLI robertocavalli.com KEDS keds.com KURT GEIGER kurtgeiger.com LINA OSTERMAN linaosterman.com L’AUTRE CHOSE shopstyle.com/browse/LAutre-Chose L’ORÉAL Available in department stores nationwide LA MER lamercollections.com LOVE 21 Forever 21, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City MERCURA mercuranyc.com MUNDO The Ramp, Crossings Department Store, Glorietta, Makati City NARS Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City NATASHA MORGAN NYC natashamorgannyc.com NIKE nike.com NINE WEST Power Plant Mall, Makati City OBAKKI obakki.com
OLE HENRIKSEN olehenriksen.com OXYGEN SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PENSHOPPE SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City PONY Complex, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City and SM Department Stores nationwide PROMOD Greenbelt 5, Makati City PUMA Puma stores and shoe departments nationwide RED HERRING Debenhams, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City SHISEIDO Greenbelt 5, Makati City SMASHBOX Beauty Bar, Greenbelt 5, Makati City and Rustan’s Department Stores SPERRY sperrytopsider.com SPRINGFIELD Greenbelt 3, Makati City SRETSIS sretsis.com STILA Rustan’s Department Store, Makati City TINT Greenbelt 3, Makati City TOKIDOKI Available at Sephora.com TOPMAN Power Plant Mall, Makati City TOPSHOP Power Plant Mall, Makati City VANS Vans boutiques, SM Department Stores, Landmark Department Stores, Urban Athletics, Toby’s, Olympic Village, American Rag, Athlete’s Foot, Sports Warehouse VERAMEAT verameat.com ZANA BAYNE LEATHER zanabayne.com ZURIICK Urban Athletics, Greenbelt 3, Makati City ARTISTS Leo Ahlgren (Photographer) leoahlgren.blogspot.com Camilla Ashworth (Stylist) modelmayhem.com/1817281 Natalia Brutalia (Photographer) nataliabrutalia.tumblr.com
Alison Cameron (Makeup) alisoncameronmakeup.com The Cobrasnake (Photographer) thecobrasnake.com Josh Carroll (Photographer) joshcarroll.co.uk Cholo Dela Vega (Photographer) cholodelavega.com Patrick Diokno (Photographer) patrickdiokno@gmail.com Angelique Dinglasan (Makeup) angelique_dinglasan@yahoo.com Gerard Estadella (Photographer) icanteachyouhowtodoit.com Kai Huang (Photographer) hungryalien.com Sam Kiyoumarsi (Photographer) spasticnoise@yahoo.com Samantha Landis (Hair) wix.com/samanthalandis James Langan (Hair) jameslangan.info Stevyn Llewellyn (Photographer) stevynllewellyn.com Isabella Marcos (Photographer) im.isamarcs@gmail.com Miguel Miranda (Photographer) miguelmiranda420@yahoo.com Stuart Nicholls (Photographer) stunphoto.co.uk Cherie Peters (Stylist) cheriepeters.com Darroch Putnam (Photographer) mrosandich1.photobiz.com Adele Katerina Raya (Photographer) aka.raya.1982@gmail.com Heidi Ross (Photographer) heidiross.com Nikki Ruiz (Photographer) nmgruiz.tumblr.com Christopher Schmidt (Photographer) christopherschmidtphotography.com Mandy Sierra (Hair) Jing Monis Salon, 09178306515 Colin Singer (Photographer) rickgenest.com JP Singson (Photographer) jponfashionspeed.blogspot.com Dawn Tunnell (Makeup) dawntunnell.com The XOXO Kids (Photographer) thexoxokids.com
: iPad
I use it for tweeting and looking at blogs. And mostly, for Angry Birds.
SASSA JIMENEZ
After studying in LA’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, SASSA JIMENEZ went back home to Manila where she is now one of the most successful fashion talents. She let us in on her tech addictions and her secret love for sneakers and nerdy books. Photographed by Patrick Diokno
My Press KitS
The one beneath was for my very first show for Philippine Fashion Week back in 2009. It was my big break, so this was very sentimental to me.
Jeffrey Campbell Tick
I got these in L.A. They don’t look comfortable, but trust me, they are.
Daisy by Marc Jacobs
It’s my everyday scent. I like things that are light and feminine.
Assorted Rings
I’m a fan of big rings. I pick them up everywhere and anywhere. It doesn’t matter what the brand is.
Nike Dunks
I used to be a sneaker girl, but I wore them less when I started working in the fashion industry. You can catch me wearing these on a very chill day.
Sneakers
If I wanna do a 180 from looking at Elle, Vogue, and InStyle Weddings, I grab this book.
Project: T-Shirt
It’s a personal project. I take locally made and designed shirts, usually streetwear, and reconstruct them. It’s reimagined tees for girly girls.
Chanel 2.55
I got this on one of my HK trips. I love bags, this bag in particular.
Fashion Reinvented
Most of the books I read are marketing or business-related books. It’s nerdy, but I love it.
Patternmaking for Fashion Design
This was my pattern book since college and I use it up to now ‘cause I still cut my own patterns.
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BlackBerry Bold 9000
I have to bring my charger around ‘cause I’m on it so much. People have to yell at me, “Sass!” ‘cause I’m glued to my BB.