HORS D’OEUVRE Masthead Contributors FTDOTE Things We Love Behind the Scenes
II III
BEAUTY & WELLNESS Beauty Review: Breana Powell checks out Benefit’s Cha Cha Tint The Skinny on Health: Not all calories are made alike. Lisa Eberly simplifies the nutritional index. {Beauty} Trick to Try: Don’t brush it under the rug! Here’s how you should be cleaning your makeup brushes.
ARTS & LEISURE Made: Danielle Robbins serves up a great chalkboard platter for your dinner parties. Good Eats: Navigate your epicurean delights digitally with these three foodie apps. A Few Words: Megan McKenzie reveals her soul in this month’s poem.
IV V
FASHION & FEATURES
You & Me: We know, we know—another Target collaboration! But do Peter Pilotto’s looks hold up? Share Your Where: Got the travel bug? Lindy Tolbert warns against packing that suitcase. Share Your Wear: This designer found her “Prints Charming” in London’s fashion world. Trends to Try Spring Edition: Breana Powell pares down the runway trends so you can look good fast! How to Be a Gentleman: Broadway star Bryce Pinkham talks love, murder, and doing it all in style.
Always end with something sweet
CAROLINE A. WONG Editor-in-Chief
BRANDON GAMBLE Creative Director
FASHION AND FEATURES Fashion and Beauty Editor BREANA POWELL Features Editor AMANDA CHI Features Writer LINDY TOLBERT
ARTS AND LEISURE Arts and Leisure Editor MOLLIE MCKENZIE Arts and Leisure Writers MARIA EUBANKS & DANIELLE ROBBINS
BEAUTY AND WELLNESS Beauty Editor COLETTE CHOI Wellness Editors LISA EBERLY & EMILY VAN GUILDER Assistant Wellness Editor BECCA KANTOR
ART Lead Photographer ALEXANDER HERMAN Assistant Photographer HAIL NOWAK West Coast Editor ROSIE RYAN UK Editor JENNA ANDERSON
Jay Wen, a New York-based photographer, battled the elements to photograph cover guy Bryce Pinkham. The most surprising thing about meeting Pinkham was, says Wen, “his resemblance to Penn Badgley in person. I almost did a triple take!” View more of her work at www. JayWenPhoto.com
CONTRIBUTORS
March 2014
Lisa Eberly is our illustrious Wellness Editor and face of www.TheSkinnyOnHealth. com. Her monthly Tastevin column by the same name focuses on calories vs. nutrition this month.
Megan McKenzie is an actress living and working in Los Angeles. Her poem “Dark Night of the Soul” captures both longing and regret.
Based in Seattle, Danielle Robbins serves up a great party platter for this month’s “Made” project. Purchase designs from her Etsy shop, www. DanielleRobbins.Etsy.com! As our Fashion and Beauty Editor, Breana Powell does it again! She’s an expert writer and photographer and a full-on fashionista! Check out her fashion and beauty tips throughout this month’s issue.
Brandon Gamble mans the New York office for Tastevin, but the blizzards and endless build-up of snow are starting to get to him. Someone send him snow boots—stat! Maria Eubanks gets digital this month, exploring her love for food and design through the latest and greatest food apps!
2
Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Currently based in the UK, Features Editor Amanda Chi has used her time abroad to seek out the freshest British trends for Tastevin. Check out her latest discovery, Londonbased designer Samantha Warren, in this issue’s “Share Your Wear” column.
Lead Photographer Alexander Herman photographed our editor-in-chief for this issue’s “You&Me” column. The shoot took place on Herman’s roof!
from the desk of the
EDITOR
March is one of my new favorite months. It falls neatly right in the transition between winter and spring so there’s the birth of new opportunity, new outlooks. It’s like you can make New Year resolutions all over again! My fashion resolution for this month is to get crazier with prints. It’s so easy to be all about solids, even if you’re color-blocking and mixing crazy colors—but it’s a lot harder to mix prints. This month, I put myself to the test in my “You&Me” column with graphic prints from Peter Pilotto’s collection for Target. Check out more about the collaboration and tips for mixing and matching on page 32. Or, get a taste of the UK’s princely prints with designer Samantha Warren’s geometric-inspired patterns—fit for royalty! That’s on page 40. Even cover guy Bryce Pinkham, the lead star of Broadway’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, dons a print in his cover shoot. Pinkham talks dressing, loving, and killing on page 50. In honor of prints and the printed word, send a message over to letters@tastevinmag.com if you have anything you’d like to say about the March issue. We might just print it in the magazine!
4
Tastevin Magazine March 2014
blackmilkclothing.com
Things We Love Caroline A. Wong, Editor-in-Chief “I’m obsessed with this Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron ($25) because it cuts my morning prep time in half. Instead of blow drying and then styling, this straightener lets me do both at once. And the soy-infused ceramic plates protect from damage. Maybe it’s all in my head—or on my head!—but my hair feels healthier and smoother since first using this!”
Brandon Gamble, Creative Director Storage Boxes - Jonathan Adler & West Elm “I’m always looking for stylish ways to store stuff, and Jonathan Adler and West Elm have a great selection of boxes to keep everything in its place.”
West Elm ($79)
Jonathan Adler ($175)
West Elm ($25)
LEFT TO RIGHT: REMINGTON; BRANDON GAMBLE; KIYOSHI CORTEZ
Remington Wet 2 Straight Flat Iron
It’s our kind of March Madness! The Tastevin editors share their monthly obsessions.
Breana Powell, Fashion and Beauty Editor Twiggy London Blazer “I thrifted this pale blue blazer for $4.99! It’s from the Twiggy London line for HSN and was originally priced at around $80. I love how oversized it is. It’s perfect to throw over jeans and a thin sweater.”
West Elm ($35)
Behind the Scenes Thanks to the east coast’s unpredictable weather, a snowstorm postponed our cover story shoot with Bryce Pinkham, lead star of the Broadway musical comedy A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Not to worry. During the rescheduled shoot, photographer Jay Wen expertly worked her way around the chilly challenges and groomer Anna Bernabe helped Pinkham look his best. Check out the stunning results in the cover story, “How to Be a Gentleman.”
Photos by Mark Suennen
8
Tastevin Magazine March 2014
9
Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Beauty Review
Benefit’s Cha Cha Tint by Breana Powell “Once this product is on, it’ll last all day,” the Benefit saleswoman told me, as I spread a bit of the Cha Cha Tint on my hand. And boy was she telling the truth! I’m constantly looking for products that actually last, so I was so happy that this product worked out. (I mean, how frustrating is it to have to re-apply makeup over and over again?) Originally on the hunt for an orange lipcolor, I was pleasantly surprised to find this 2-in-1, mango-tinted lip and cheek stain. It certainly does remind me of a tropical palette with its unique color. On lips and on cheeks, the tint is sheer, natural, that will last for hours. The product, naturally, has greater staying power on cheeks. (It really will last all day!) On lips, it was last for a good amount of time, but it does fade after meals. And although it doesn’t have the best smell initially, (going away once it dries,) this is a minor con that fails to outweigh the deliciousness of this tint!
12 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Most people think a calorie is a calorie, right? You know, 200 calories of salad is still 200 calories, so it must be the same as 200 calories of chips. You Tasties are too smart for that. Calories are the most important factor of food to measure if your goal is weight maintenance or weight loss. A lot of people say 1 pound of fat = 3,500 calories. These are excess calories, and most people reason that it doesn’t matter if they’re from protein, fat, or carbs. This is a very basic measure of what it takes to lose weight. However, what really should be your concern is how you ate those calories. The nutrient density of your food refers to how many nutrients you’re getting per calorie. It’s the ratio of nutrient content to energy content. Nutrient-dense foods are high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, etc, but low in calories. They’re packed full of the “good stuff.” 14 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
You want to be eating foods with a very HIGH nutrient density—it’s a better way to spend your daily calories. So, 200 calories of these foods are actually better for you than 200 calories of foods with a low nutrient density. Now, calories are still calories. Excess calories are still excess weight in the long run. However, eating more nutrient dense foods will keep you full and satisfied, resulting in fewer calories consumed overall. Luckily, nutrient density is easy to find online. You can Google “nutrient density of ___” and find at least an estimate of it in seconds. If that doesn’t work, food’s “ANDI score” is the measure of nutrient density, so try that. Here are some important ANDI scores to know. Remember, the higher the number, the better!
xx
LISA EBERLY
by Lisa Eberly
15
{Beauty} Trick to Try
By Colette Choi I’ve always wondered about makeup brushes—synthetic vs natural, big and fluffy vs. stiff and flat-topped. Regardless of what your brush collection looks like, you need to take care of it so your tools last and continue to do their job (whatever that job may be!). I spoke with the makeup artists at Tom Ford in Saks Fifth Avenue and got the low down.
Rinse brushes in warm water. Pump a little shampoo into your hand—yup, the stuff you use for your hair! Bonus points for a clarifying formula. Work the shampoo gently into each brush. You don’t need to go wild. Be easy lest you damage the shape of the bristles. Rinse the shampoo out in warm water. Squeeze water gently out of the brush head, shaping the bristles as you squeeze. Lay flat to dry, whether it’s on a paper towel or hanging over the edge of your sink or vanity table. Just be sure not to stand them back up in your brush cup before the brush is dry or the water could get in the glue and loosen your bristles!
It’s that easy. If you’re paranoid and want to wash your brushes more than once per week, you could use an easy spray-on cleaner (Sonia Kashuk has a great one sold at Target) to tide you over.
BREANA POWELL
While some artists recommend that you wash your brushes after every use, let’s be real—no one has the time for that. You can push the washing to once a week, but any less frequently and you’re risking pushing bacteria around on your face every morning you apply your makeup. The best method for washing brushes is a simple one:
good eats
MARIA EUBANKS
by Maria Eubanks
I
In today’s atmosphere of complete technological takeover, everything is expected to be a touch or swipe away— even the food we consume. With apps for everything from finding a parking spot to single-page digital planners with alarm clock reminders, these developments also mean increased convenience for foodies of all kinds to find, navigate, and create food for their specific tastes. Here, I share a small selection of my favorite apps for the foodie in all of us.
Foodgawker Foodgawker is a gallery-based application full of great, high-quality photos that will keep you occupied for hours and leave your mouth watering. This app is great because of its userfriendly interface that allows you to view photos by certain categories, whether it be sauces and spreads or breakfast and brunch. My favorite category thus far has been the vegetarian category. As a vegetarian, I am constantly looking for ways to spice up and add some versatility to my meals, and this is a perfect app for inspiration. Not only can you view amazing pictures of food, but with a simple click of the picture, you can also redirect to the original source of the photo, where you can typically find the recipe!
Foodie
If the name doesn’t say it all, Foodie is an app with clean design and captivating photos— every foodie’s weakness. It is different from other app in that it is divided into magazinelike editions full of recipes that each have their own theme and can be downloaded. My only concern with this is the memory space that the app might eat up (no pun intended) since you can download hundreds of photos and recipes for delicious meals you don’t want to forget. As far as pluses go for this app, my current favorite edition is “Chic Desserts,” which is full of drinks, cakes, cookies, and bars of all sorts— perfect for a girls’ weekend! A few recipes in particular that caught my eye are the Biscoff
milkshakes and the Toffee Dream cake with Hazelnut Praline. I cannot wait to test these out with my friends!
Yelp!
Though many other apps have come into play as food search engines—Seamless, GrubHub and MenuPages, to name a few—Yelp has never failed to come through in a time of need. With an average of 5 million visits per day, Yelp is undoubtedly the go-to application, most likely due to the extensive reviews that are listed for each eatery. Not only are the reviews extremely helpful but the extensive filters also allow you to pare down restaurants to your specific preferences at the time, whether you’re searching according to price, distance, hours, the deals available, or the size of your group. What more could a foodie ask for? These 3 applications are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to entertaining, appetizing, and simplifying your foodie choices. Don’t be afraid to dive into the app world for yourself. You never know what food discovery awaits you next!
12
FITNESS + FASHI
22 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
ION + FUNCTION
BodyRockSport.com
23 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
e d a M 24 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
by Danielle Robbins
Chalkboard P latter I love to entertain and have scrumptious parties based solely around the food we’re eating. I’m a true foodie at heart and love to share my baked goods that I make for family and friends on my monthly food article for Clinically Inane. With so much food to share and so little table space, there really isn’t enough room to put up cards that describe each dish. So as a solution, I decided to make the serving platters themselves into the description cards using my favorite paint ever.
Materials:
Serving platter of any size Chalkboard paint Paintbrush or sponge brush Painters tape Chalk Chalkboard pen (Optional)
Directions:
Using the painters tape, tape around the area you would like to be the chalkboard on your platter.
I
Paint the area with chalkboard paint. Let the paint dry for 1 hour between coats. I did about 3 coats. Slowly peel off painters tape and let sit for 24 hours.
Once completely dry, take a piece of chalk and rub across the painted surface, fully covering it. Then erase with a damp cloth. This preps the surface to use.
26 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
II
Use chalk or a chalkboard pen to write the name of the dish you are serving and add food!
IV
For Danielle Robbins’s monthly food article, check out www.clinically.inane.us
27
Dark Night of the Soul By Megan McKenzie
She hears the shrieking The shouting of waves As they pound Over and under the covers Deep down around and inside The smothering suffocation Of drowning in pillows Eyes transfixed Bodies entwined Their ripping of sheets and pulling of tides Crushes the rays and blackens the sun Exploding into crippling nothingness She sways lifeless in the fathomless depths Ever reaching, never seeing Above the skin that clogs the throat The stifling rolling and spinning— Gasping for truth But swallowing the harried sea His darkest of eyes that pierce her soul
They break away to the shores of fleece Wrapped in bodies trying to forget The28 dark night Magazine of the soul Tastevin March 2014
CAROLINE A. WONG
It’s a bloody chasm that seizes Backwards—upside down—underneath It laughs—it bites—it smirks At the vexing whirlpools of the heart
blackmilkclothing.com
The designer duo behind the Peter Pilotto brand—Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos—have recently made its bed with that force to be reckoned with: Target. With yet another designer collaboration following closely on the heels of the megastore’s successful partnership with Phillip Lim last fall, is Target just bombarding an already-saturated market with—dare we say it—too much fashion? By Caroline A. Wong
32 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
N
ope. It’s not just another designer collaboration for Target. Not just another run-of-the-mill let’smake-a-quick-buck situation. Peter Pilotto for Target is simply recordbreaking. Now, part of that might be due to the fact that the “exclusive” Target collection was also sold on e-tail megalodon Net-A-Porter. com, a move which allowed the Target collection pieces to be sold internationally (a first for a Target partnership). The Pilotto pieces sold out more quickly than Karl Lagerfeld and Christopher Kane’s respective collaborations with the e-tail site, with two styles selling out within the first hour of release and another eight following in the eight hours after that. As per usual, I had my trepidations about the collection. Af-
33
Cropped rash guard, Peter Pilotto for Target, $25. Black and white print skirt (worn throughout), Peter Pilotto for Target, $25. Black cage heels, Paper Fox for ShoeDazzle, $55. White silicone purse, Urbanog, $20. Rings (worn throughout), editor’s own. March 2014 Tastevin Magazine
34 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
ter all, Peter Pilotto is not as well known in the states as is, say, Phillip Lim. But the pieces held their own, showcasing the brand’s signature sculptural draping married with distinctive bold prints, often even featuring multiple print patterns within one garment. In all honesty, I was blown away. The quality of the fabrics and construction surpassed all other Target collaborations to date. While the fit of certain pieces in the line was questionable—the most discussed flop amongst the fashion-savvy crowd being the bustier swim top with the decidedly over-sized cups—the overall caliber of the collection made up for its few-and-far-between disappointments. The coveted garments have been spotted on style icons like Alexa Chung and, one of my favorite fashion goddesses, Diane Kruger. Though the fanfare still continues weeks after the collaboration’s launch, a few select pieces are still available in Target stores and, of course, on eBay—for an inflated price. Beside the media buzz and the must-have aura surrounding the collection, the best feature of the collaboration is the array of vibrant prints. Fashion is emerging from its don’t-mess-with-me-black shell and exploding into a colorful hodge-podge peppered on skirts and dresses and jackets. If there’s one thing to love about the Peter Pilotto for Target line, it’s that it forces you to be bold. No wallflowers here—just lots and lots of floral patterns!
Black and white sunglasses, Peter Pilotto for Target, $20. Printed sweatshirt, Phillip Lim for Target. Oxblood and gold pumps, Christian Siriano for Payless, $40.
From Weekend Day to Nighttime Play
How utterly mind-blowing of me to mix not only print and pattern but also collaboration with collaboration (hah!). Cheeky, printed sweatshirts are not going away anytime soon, so I took this Philip Lim for Target sweatshirt and paired it with the Peter Pilotto skirt. The loud sweatshirt print is showcased by the neutral color palette of the skirt, and the clash of patterns works because the prints are all evenly bold. Take the skirt to night with a daring rash-guard-crop-top worn as a shirt. You could get even more adventurous with a patterned bustier—maybe in a houndstooth or other wild print—or you could tone it down with a solid crop top. Whatever you choose, the Peter Pilotto line is rich with prints, so it’s the perfect excuse to try a radically different look!
35
Share Your Where Confessions of a Eurotrip Survivor
36 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
By Lindy Tolbert
WITTHAYA PHONSAWAT / FREEDIGITALPHOTOS.NET
ere’s some travel advice from a person who has traveled: Don’t go. If you are happy in your routine, don’t go. If you think you’ve got things settled and figured out, definitely don’t go. If you’re comfortable doing a Quasimodo hunch in an ill-proportioned desk chair while your face fuses with a computer screen for 40 hours a week, do not travel. Or at the very least don’t meet the locals. Rent out a swanky hotel, where you only meet other Americans and never interact with the locals. Do it that way, because once you travel, once you buy too many beer steins to carry, or hoof it ten miles up a mountain, or any number of experiences unique to the travel lifestyle, you can’t go back. It will be extremely difficult to return to the wakework-eat-sleep 9-to-5 pattern of mindless contentment the way you once experienced life. Travel changes people. It changes you. You will never see things the same way again, and you’ll certainly never see yourself in the light you once did. Packing a suitcase lights a fire under you. It shows you what you are actually capable of because you are required to be capable. Traveling demands your flexibility and forces you to release control. It proves that you are simultaneously this great glowing creature and the tiniest amoeba in the universal sea, all at once. If you want adventure, pack your bags. You can’t take everything with you. A small suitcase is enough. If you want a new experience every day, if you want to try new food and go strange places, book your flight. But it’s definitely not going to be what you expect. Lose the glamour. You’re going to sleep badly, eat junk food daily, miss trains, and have to sleep in the station. And good Lord, you will walk everywhere. I wore
through two pairs of boots. I ate croissants 4 times a day for weeks at a time, and it didn’t matter because walking is so culturally imbedded in Europe that “calories” is an unknown word. You won’t do your makeup in the morning, and you probably won’t do your laundry for weeks. Your feet will be sore. Your clothes might smell funny after a while, and if it’s summer, you will probably be sunburned. But you will see the piercing skyline of the Alps in Switzerland. You will drink giant liters of beer in Munich and sing Danish karaoke songs in Copenhagen. You will climb and fall down a vertical hill of ice to get a snapshot of Neuschwanstein Castle. You’ll take absinthe shots in Prague, dance to bad techno in Berlin, and gawk at the red
37
light district in Amsterdam. You’ll see Lippizaner stallions in Vienna and eat chocolate in Brussels. You’ll get lost in the Louvre and blow Murano glass in Venice. Those spectacular things will make the blisters worth it—and will make you grateful.
“Once you travel, once you buy too many beer steins to carry, or hoof it ten miles up a mountain, or any number of experiences unique to the travel lifestyle, you can’t go back.”
The people you meet will give you perspective. Your world will no longer be made up of Netflix marathons and YouTube videos. The Australians who’ve been on the road 15 months—their fearlessness will change you. Their sojourns challenge you and give you hope. The locals, who usually speak some English, will change you. You’ll never be more aware of your own ignorance when you only speak one language. When none of the words around you have been making sense for months, you’ll never be more grateful for the English speakers. It took me half an hour in Italy to discover the word for eggplant was “melanzini,” and all the while the people I asked had been communicating that to me in three languages other than English.
38 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
But in spite of your ignorance, you will find people are still willing to help you. Cultural differences mean nothing after a while. You will make friends, and if you’re smart, you’ll keep them. Friends you actually like—not just ones you’ll use for free lodging at their house on another trip. People who remind you of who you truly are and who you can be, the Sean Connells to your Walter Mitty. There’s wonderful people all over the world who are kind and funny, who will mime the word “eggplant” with you for half an hour, direct you to the closest bus stop, or tell you the best windmill bar in Amsterdam. People at their core are really quite similar; like anyone else, they want happiness, love, friendship, family. So don’t go. Really, don’t. Unless, of course, you’re looking for a new way to live.
39 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
39
Share Your Wear Samantha Warren London
40 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
By Amanda Chi
A
s a major center for fashion and design, London is a thriving hotbed of creatives and artists, including established print designer Samantha Warren. Born and raised in South London’s Tooting, Warren has shaped her burgeoning brand around London’s local identity as well as inspirations from around the world. I sat down with this London designer to discuss her company, Samantha Warren London, and her future aspirations for the brand. Proving that there’s more to the fashion industry than tailoring, Warren began her passion for design by studying an array of subjects from graphics and illustration to print design. Bringing these skills together, she collaborated with a collective of jewelry, print, and fashion designers called the Slow Textiles Group to create an exhibition based on the philosophy of slowing the pace of the fashion industry. To “evolve the process and think about the design” rather than merely “batching out prints,” they thematically focused on geometric patterns. Choosing the medium of silk scarves as her canvas, Warren decided to carry on the products she created, having always fantasized about her own brand and always having loved printed products. What makes her scarves so unique? Studying art in secondary school (the UK equivalent of high school), Warren has always relished the therapeutic nature of painting. Today, she has discovered a way to incorporate this into her work. While her geometric shapes are a combination of hand-drawn and digital designs, the striations and blurred effects seen in the scarves come from her paint strokes. Warren paints the effects, scans them into the computer, arranges the geometric shapes, adjusts colors schemes, and sends her final product through the digital printer. In some of her prints, Warren incorporates feathering with her brush strokes. In this technique, an imprint is created when a leaf is painted over with a brush, leaving a subtle 41 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
shape that often goes unnoticed by customers. While at a glance it may be difficult to see the shape of the feathers, it’s easy to appreciate the finer details upon closer study. Experimenting with colors by easel and shapes by computer, Warren creates patterns that are inspired by her travels. Growing up in London, she was influenced by her half-Filipino background, claiming it as the source of her “creative influences.” Flying to the Philippines every other summer until she was ten years old kickstarted her love for traveling, a passion that has continued to this day. She finds her getaways inspirational as she travels to multiple places each year—Osaka, Oman, Marrakesh, Czech Republic, Berlin, and Copenhagen, just to name a few. From the soft color palettes of Japanese kimonos to the geometric tiles and engravings of Marrakesh, Warren has gathered cultural and visual characteristics of each place, molding them into her designs. All scarves are made of 100% silk and come in all forms and guises, from Georgette crepe fabric to silk satin. With the success of her scarf designs, Warren has expanded her collection to include smart phone cases, linen cushions, and unique greeting cards. Staying true to her affinity for geometric shapes,
41
42 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
43
44 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
For more of Warren’s designs, visit her website, samanthawarren.mysupadupa.com. or her Facebook page at facebook.com/SamanthaWarren.London
AMANDA HESTEHAVE
her current offerings display a range of variations on this thematic pattern. With the art scene so heavily saturated, how would a London-based craftsman diffuse her work? London markets are an attraction for tourists and residents alike, selling and promoting food, antiques, vintages, and arts. Setting up shop at West Norwood Feast, a local market in South London, Warren sells her wares in the Artisan’s Market, finding much of her clientele who then spread her brand by word of mouth. Her silk scarves have been circulated as unique gifts across a breadth of demographics—bought and worn as headscarves by youths or as decorative neck scarves by older buyers. Her products have been sold on Society6 and can now be bought directly from her website. At the heart of her compmany is “experimenting and trying to find a way to get [her] own work out there with [her] own personal design.” What has been the most difficult aspect of starting her business? “It’s quite hard to find a place in the UK that will print and [manufacture products],” she says. Many designers and companies take the easier path of sourcing final products from China, but that’s not the road Warren wants to follow. Inconsistencies in quality of these so-called easy routes have convinced her to “bring it all to the UK.” Despite the choice being more labori-
ous and expensive, she finds it all worth it in the long run, stating, “I don’t want cheap and flimsy. I want it to be quality!” Warren funds Samantha Warren London as her own investor, currently working for Marks & Spencer (M&S), a UK department store known for its luxury foods and clothing. Designing for their team at the head office for two days a week, she is also employed by two print studios as a freelance artist. She creates prints from tribal to geometrical to floral for many high-end, big fashion design names. Her prints have been largely distributed in the UK, Los Angeles, and New York City. With the successes she’s already experienced professionally, why not stay at the M&S office full time? Warren confesses she has never been satisfied with a typical 9-5 office job. After traveling for half a year, she realized that freelance was the answer. “Creativity hits you at weird hours,” she says. “It hits you when it comes and you need to be free to visit galleries and go out and travel. You can’t box [creativity] up in a day job at a desk.” With her background in fashion and her up-and-coming brand—fresh from its one-year anniversary—what are her future aspirations? Warren tells me that time seems to be a major issue. Since she has been trained as an artist, it has been difficult to properly see Samantha Warren London as a formal business. As it has slowly evolved over the course of a year, she believes it’s about prioritizing her company over the deadlines of her other sources of income. Despite thinking it may be silly to turn down a stable income, Warren wants to find the time to invest in her own products in a more creative capacity than financial as she has done for the past year. In the end, she tells me it’s ultimately about believing in the importance of your own work so that others can also see its value.
45 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
46 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
47
Trends to Try:
Spring ‘14 Edition
G
et ready to adjust those clocks and embrace the sunshine because spring is near! And what better way to celebrate than by experimenting with some exciting styles? Here are some of our favorite trends for this season. by Breana Powell
Pastels - Channel your inner babydoll and go for light, playful hues. Block pastel on top of pastel if you’re really daring, or stick to one pastel color and wear it with darker colors for a gorgeous contrast. Orange - Orange you glad...Ok, I’ll stop. But orange is all the rage this season! Find a fun, structured orange dress that can translate for work just as well as for a weekend brunch with friends. A statement necklace against orange looks amazing.
Bomber Jackets - These jackets are so incredibly versatile and comfortable. Available in a ton of patterns and materials, you’re sure to find the style that fits you while perusing your favorite stores. Dress one up with a pencil skirt and sky-high heels for dinner. For a casual look? Pair them with your go-to pair of boyfriend jeans, cool sneakers, and a slouchy tee. Bonus points for cool accessories.
Tuxedo Pants - Whether you call them pants, trousers, or knickers, we can all agree that these 48 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
pants are always chic and sophisticated. This season, snag a pair that elongates your legs with striped details on the sides.
Black and White - The classic shades were also seen on the runways for this season. And how easy is this trend? Everyone owns black or white (or both). If you’re into tighter silhouettes, step out of your comfort zone and try slouchier fits. A loose-fitting black tee with white tuxedo pants is a slam dunk.
Printed Sweatshirts - No, not the torn sweatshirt that you wear on sick days. We’re talkin’ printed sweatshirts in a variety of cuts that scream glamour. Throw one over a light spring dress or wear a cropped one with high-waisted slacks. Wide-Leg Trousers - Go wide or go home! Note: This trend is not exclusively for tall people! Even if you’re a shortie, this trend is so much fun and totally wearable. Because of the volume these pants give, tighter fits up top work well for this look. Suits - Update your power suit in a standout way. Mixing a printed blazer with solid slacks (or vice versa) in the same color both say FASHIONABLE CEO. Contrast Collars - Create an air of modern elegance with this trend. It’s a simple and refreshing feature that can be found on sweaters, blouses, and even dresses!
49
50 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Tastevin Magazine
As lead character Monty Navarro, you have a pretty exciting role as a lead star on Broadway. Tell us about it. Bryce Pinkham He begins the story a lower middle-class orphan in Edwardian England, the classic Dickensian underdog. [But soon] Monty finds himself in the line of succession of a great title and a vast fortune. The only thing that stands in his way are eight relatives of the D’ysquith family, each more despicable and pesky than the next. Monty decides to alter the course of his destiny and [to] dispatch of the D’ysquiths that stand in his way of inheriting the Earldom. Aside from learning how to become a serial killer—all while singing and dancing, mind you—Monty finds himself learning how to navigate the equally treacherous waters of romance. In one scene Monty finds himself having to choose between the woman he has always loved but who will never marry him and the one who would make the perfect wife but who doesn’t know the truth about his past. All that is to say, this gentleman stays very busy! TM BP
Are you anything like your character? I don’t think there’s an actor on the planet that can’t attach to the idea of being the underdog. I think in order to persevere in show business you have to sort of get off on people turning you down or telling you that you can’t do something. You have to find a way to make it fuel you, rather than destroy you. Monty has been told that he is not welcome in the aristocracy, that he doesn’t belong. Rather than just accept his fate, he lets it fuel his quest to become a gentleman. There are lyrics that are sung about Monty that could easily have been sung about me being cast in this role: “Monty Navarro, how have you come so very far? Monty Navarro, earnest and circumspect! Monty Navarro, no one knows who you really are, who would ever suspect!” TM
But how can someone simultaneously be a murderer and a gentleman?
52 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
BP
Yeah, I don’t think that’s possible in real life, is it? However, in a Broadway musical, one can simultaneously be a murderer and a gentleman by hitting all the notes—and by not spilling any blood on his coat tails. TM
So, taking the murder aspect out, how does one perfect the fine art of being a gentleman? BP I don’t know about definitive steps, but here are some [tips] that might help in your quest.
CLEAN UP. Gentleman usually enjoy entertaining guests. If your place is not ready to have guests at any given moment, clean it up. I’m not saying you have to remodel your apartment or become a tile scrubbing maniac, but make the bed everyday and don’t go to bed at night until the dishes are done and put away. Invest in a good vacuum, and be the one who takes out the garbage without being asked.
DONATE. If you haven’t worn it or used it in the last year, donate it. Living and dressing with efficiency and economy is my new fix. We don’t need all the clothes or stuff that we think we need. Having one item of quality is better than three of the alternative. LEARN. Learn at least five words to use instead of “awesome.” A quick trip to the thesaurus will do wonders for your ability to contribute to a thoughtful discussion on any topic. FLOSS. Carry mints instead of gum.
VOLUNTEER. Donate your time once a week to something greater than yourself, it will help you maintain your perspective on everything. RECIPROCATE. If someone takes the time to write you a letter, write one back.
53 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Previous spread: Brown vest, Against Nature. Burlap tie, Descendant of Thieves. This spread: Gray jacket, Against Nature. Navy blue patterned shirt, Descendant of Thieves.
DRINK. Know your drink before you get to the bar. That said, don’t drink too much; it’s indecorous and it will never get you closer to anything you actually want.
EDIT. Proof-read your emails and texts for grammar and punctuation. It really only takes an extra minute or two and it shows that you hold the person on the other end in high regard. IMPROVE. Leave any place you go better than you found it. This is my favorite one. Whether you are picking up a random piece of trash, turning the lights out as you leave, or saying an earnest thank you to someone who helped you, a gentleman strives to make every place better for him having been there.
TM Doesn’t seem like that would be too hard to do. What’s the most difficult part of being a gentleman? BP The hardest part about being a gentleman is doing the right thing when no one is watching. It’s easier to want to help or contribute to a cause when there is recognition involved. Try making an anonymous donation or helping out a stranger when there is no one else around. Similarly, a gentleman—in my opinion—must have the ability to stand up for what he thinks is right but be willing to admit when he is wrong. A gentleman must be comfortable making a sincere apology. TM
In that vein, how should a true gentleman treat someone that he’s dating? BP A gentleman treats someone he is dating with the utmost respect. He is honest about his position in life [and] what he looking for in romance. And he is always on time. A gentleman is thoughtful and chooses gifts and outings that reflect his interest in that particular person and the potential for what he and that 54 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
person might share together. He listens and is patient. If his affections fade, he is honest and respectful, never giving false impressions or writing checks that can’t be cashed. TM
Sounds like your character Monty definitely has to come to terms with that! Earlier you mentioned dressing with economy. What kind of outfits does a gentleman wear? BP In my opinion, a [gentleman] is not lavish, nor is he shy. He knows the occasion and dresses appropriately. If he is headed out with a lady, he is careful to consider her wardrobe before choosing his own. I think the height of one’s style probably varies depending on who you are and what your budget is, but I would encourage every man to find outfits that he enjoys wearing, not ones he thinks he should have. If you’re not looking forward to wearing something, it’s probably a sign that you don’t need it or shouldn’t have it. That said, I urge you aspiring gentleman out there to spend the extra dollar for quality. I’d much rather have two new suits that feel amazing to put on, than five that feel cheap. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not an advocate for breaking the bank for a look. You still have to have enough to pay for dinner! TM
Especially if you’re going to take the role of a gentleman and pay for your dinner date! So besides continuing to kill onstage on Broadway, what are the next steps for you? BP I am enjoying every moment of this journey at present, so it is hard to consider what is next. That said, I have a charity [Zara Aina] that works with children in Madagascar, and we are preparing to return to Africa to create more theater with at-risk youth. Professionally, I would like to foray further into television and film as well as continue to find challenging roles to explore on the Great White Way. For more information on Pinkham’s charity, Zara Aina, visit www.ZaraAina.org. To purchase tickets to see Pinkham in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, call 800-432-7250 or buy online at www.AGentlemansGuideBroadway.com
ALL PHOTOS BY JAY WEN EXCEPT OPPOSITE, COURTESY OF NANCY SELTZER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
PAY IT FORWARD. Write people letters.
Aside from learning how to become a serial killer, Monty finds himself learning how to navigate the equally treacherous waters of romance.
55 Tastevin Magazine March 2014
Share Something Sweet
VECTORIEL..COM
Share life. Over 80% of children in Madagascar live in poverty and half of them drop out of primary school. Help Zara Aina, a charity founded by leading performance artists such as cover guy Bryce Pinkham, assist these children as students and story tellers! For more information, visit www.ZaraAina.org!
57 Tastevin Magazine March 2014