the T zine
shiny and new, jan 17.
I N THI S I SSUE spi l l t h e T 03 l i st en t o t h i s 05 r ead t h i s 08 w at ch t h i s 11 ou t +abou t 17 dope sh i t 14 Vinyl Biker, Bershka
t ast em ak er 23 i n f l u en cer 26 t h i n k abou t i t 29
spi l l th e T.. . let t er f r om t h e edit or Most people use the New Year as a cop-out to reset. As if, December 31st holds finality to previous actions or lack thereof. I don?t blame them; we all need a crutch to lean on from time to time. Setting resolutions or feeling refreshed are two things that I haven?t felt or focused on in years. That ?shiny and new?surge of adrenaline fades quickly after the countdown reaches one. The night continues and debauchery ensues, nothing ?shiny and new? since this is familiar territory for me and my crew. Like any other night, I pray for the best and keep trucking. Nostalgia, does hit me hard. Replaying the past years?memories and looking forward to making more of the same. I am a dot-connector and overthinker, so this replay comes annoyingly easy to me. With the nostalgia comes the undesirable and that?s where the hard work comes in. You can?t move forward without looking back and you can?t have the good without the bad. Does that make sense? So, the New Year for me feels like fluid continuity from one day to the next. Resetting for me happens more often than on a yearly basis. I set short and long-term goals to keep me in check. Making sure to celebrate even the smallest victories. Those goals that weren?t met will carry over, much like the extra PTO days you never took from the 9-5 you clock in extra time for. Last year, my central purpose was on myself and giving myself things, experiences, instead of waiting for others to do so. This year, that same idea will continue. What isn?t broke, needn?t be fixed. But I feel free to tweak whatever needs upkeep. During one of the lessons on Masterclass (pg.14), Diane von Furstenberg says, ?focus on your intent,? sound advice that most people need to hear and should follow. She might be talking about building a brand, but I will wholeheartedly apply that to my day to day life, for now, and years to come.
@m st if f alexan dr a f ou n der / edit or -in -ch ief
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Nine to Five Pod vinyl trench coat, Ellery
l i sten to th i s.. . Sm all Doses w it h Am an da Seales By chance, Amanda Seales?first podcast episode tackled insecurity, something that I have been struggling with (in silence and sometimes not) since the later part of last year. Her words truly resonated with me. The podcast is titled Small Doses and the episode I?m referring to is ?Side Effects of Insecurity.? She is a comedian, actress, writer, producer, amongst other things. I remember her as the former MTV VJ and most recently the ?bougie,? Tiffany Dubois on HBO?s ?Insecure.? Little did I know that she has a master ?s in African American studies from Columbia University. Something should have told me her eloquent, ?woke,? confident demeanor came from a place of true knowledge. Some confuse the way she carries herself and have dubbed her an ?angry black woman,? sometimes even hostile. She left the group Floetry because of beef with Marsha Ambrosia and says that in two different instances, trying to interview Jay Z got her fired. And did you guys see her school conservative, Caitlyn Jenner on white privilege and her reluctance to discuss race during ?Dinner and Disclosure with Katy Perry?? Ignorance is bliss for some, but Seales lives in her truth and isn?t afraid to deliver it even if it's inconvenient and uncomfortable. On ?Side Effects of Insecurity,? Seales asserts her take on challenging insecurities. In one instance she stops and asks, ?what are you truly confident about,? I pause and jot down a few words. A simple question that can challenge the insecurities that you have allowed to pester and magnify. That small task helped. It was like coming up for air after being underwater for longer than you wanted to. Refocusing your priorities is needed regularly. I can?t forget to quiet my insecurities by adjusting the focus on the things that I?m absolutely solid about. Seales has not so subtly reminded me to continue to educate myself, so that I can subdue the unnecessary self-doubts that hinder me.
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Miss Selfridge Vinly Mac
read th i s.. . Th e Win g's: No M an's Lan d Last month I wrote a piece on Audrey Gelman and her uber-cool, women-only club, The Wing. I couldn?t have hit the order button any quicker after seeing their first edition of print magazine, No Man?s Land on their website. It has more of a zine-feel than full-on magazine, which makes it more dope. A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via photocopier. Usually zines are the product of a single person, or of a very small group. It?s only taken me about 10 months to let ya?ll know that. My bad! Gelman has cultivated a circle of influencers that includes transgender actress and Gucci model Hari Nef, who appears on the cover of No Man?s Land. She has said that The Wing have ?a lot of members who are transgender, who are trans women.? The article titled, Ms. Nef is a reintroduction of Hari Nef. At 25, she is finding her boundaries and wants to be known for her work and artistic ability. Nef has been given the title of activist because of her ability to educate people about gender politics. She has been speaking to the press about the significance of her platform, but she has taken steps back from that. It?s a vulnerable position to be in, especially with the press asking countless intrusive questions and Nef has had enough. That is just one extremely deep article that draws you in and teaches you about the ever-evolving times that we are in. On a lighter note, ?How to Be a Domestic Goddess,? is an article featuring, rapper Remy Ma. Apparently, she is an avid HGTV-watcher and has home dĂŠcor inpo?saved on Pinterest boards. Who would have guessed?! In the three years that she?s been released from a 7-year prison stint, she has released a Grammy-nominated single ?All the way up? with Fat Joe and has a clothing store opening in Raleigh, NC aptly called, Conceited. She is rebuilding her life one DIY at a time and doing a damn good job at it. No Man?s Land is the mecca of inspiration for me. From the Letter from Audrey, referencing Beyonce?s Lemonade to the article on the Girl Scout cookie super seller in Brooklyn, Amira Williams, there is something to motivate everyone. This is what I envision the T zine becoming. I firmly believe in the magic of print media and its importance to consumers. There will be limited print editions of the T in coming months, so be on the look -out for that!
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w atch th i s.. . Th e Fu t u r e of Fash ion w / Alexa Ch u n g: Th e Vogu e Special It?s been a life-long dream of mine to be in the
behind the scenes people that make a brand
fashion industry. Predominantly, in the print-side
function like a well-oiled machine.
of it. I?ve feverishly researched every which way to get in the door with little to no avail. My YouTube stars aligned when the British Vogue documentary: ?The Future of Fashion with Alexa Chung? came up as a suggested video. The one bi-line read: ?How to get a job at Vogue? and another ?How to Break into the Fashion Industry?. The six-part series probes into the industry and answers all the questions
Vogue
readers
and
future
team
members have to ask. Ding, ding, ding!
The documentary encourages you to get the proper education when thinking about getting into the fashion industry. A lot has stayed the same while technology has taken things to revolutionary levels. More roles have come with that transition. Many have been very successful without formal training, but you do you. College opened the door to the industry in an awesome way. Through the help of my professors and being in clubs I was able to volunteer as a dresser for fashion shows. I
As the documentary host, Alexa Chung has the
assisted models at Oscar de la Renta and Rodarte,
perfect mix of cool, wide-eyed, curiosity. Let?s not
to
forget her humor. She grew up wanting to be a
second-none. That opportunity probably wouldn?t
fashion journalist and began her relationship with
have come to fruition without going to school.
the industry modeling at 15-years old. After getting bored, she turned to assisting at shoots. Being part of a European, pop news show, Popworld gave her yet another taste of this crazy world. This was pivotal and piqued her interest to further explore the fashion industry. It showed her that there?s more to fashion than models and designers and the roles and skills are bountiful. Danielle
Bennison-Brown,
director
of
video
name
a
couple.
the
fashion
industry.
mind.
Research,
research,
research.
Look
around.
numerous
roles
the right fit for you.
educating
people
industry
in
a
non-Devil Wears Prada way. The younger audience had that movie as a video representation about the industry and although highly entertaining, it?s not a tool that educates. In the doc, Chung interviews Balmain?s Olivier Rousteing, Paul Smith, and Chloe designer Clare Waight Keller. They give light to the depth that is having a brand; from PR, Buyers, seamstresses, and pattern-making. All the 11
That
Stay
search on what will be
the
things
into
be-all. Paul Smith, says, take that idea out of your
context? and to help young people understand the about
puts
Being a designer doesn?t have to be the end-all,
narrow
about
It
perspective when deciding what route to take.
this series was to give fashion a ?wider cultural It?s
was
informative for those searching for answers about
inspired.
fashion.
experience
Chung and British Vogue have made something
content at Conde Nast U.K., said the main goal for
within
The
down
will your
dope sh i t.. . M ast er Class: Dian e von Fu r st en ber g; Bu ildin g a Fash ion Br an d I love all things beauty and have
During this lengthy class, I had to
DNA. By this point, I?m asking
never turned down the chance at
be very exact on what would be my
myself, what is it that my brand will
getting a Sephora gift card, but this
takeaways. Doing your research,
always care about? The answer will
year things have changed. For
on brands that
you love and
lead me to my customer and
Christmas, I asked my brother if he
especially those that you don?t
in-turn form brand loyalty. You are
could gift me a subscription to
were super important. There was
the ones that will dictate the
MasterClass instead. This is an
an
success of this venture.
online
Developing Your Product, which
instructional
video
hub
entire
where celebrities teach their skills.
went
I
movement,
wanted
to
take
Diane
von
lesson
into
dedicated
detail
about
designs
to
fabric
and
the
Furstenberg?s class titled: ?How to
morphology of a woman?s body.
Build a Fashion Brand.? Side note:
None of which applies to me and
although, I love fashion and style, I
this brand I?m building, yet, I was
don?t think I ever wanted to be a
able to find inspiration in the
designer. I?ve always known that I
details
wanted something to call my own. I
developing a product. Diane talks
was relieved when I read that
in length about being precise with
Diane said, ?My class is certainly
yourself and not falling into the
not a fashion course.?
delusion that a hobby is worthy of
Ms.
von
Belgian-American formerly
Princess
Furstenberg, designer, Diane
of
Furstenberg, built a global luxury lifestyle brand (DVF), that can be found in over 70 countries and is
and
the
processes
of
turning into a career. She too forces you to challenge yourself in the way of questioning your motive behind
this
new
venture.
?Be
Two more extremely important points were to stay authentic and to pay attention to the people you meet, not necessarily their title. It is easy to fall into the same pattern as successful brands and even copy their style or marketing. Use your social media platforms as your visual voice to distinguish yourself from the masses. Don?t overthink every post. Take chances, be
bold.
Be
you.
There?s
an
audience for everything and trust me, they will call you out if you?re another
clone
congesting their
feeds.
daring, be specific, be creative,? Those platforms will be your first
she states.
line of defense when networking
worth something like $1.2 billion.
Technical things like developing a
That billion-dollar empire came
business plan is paramount when
from the wrap dress style she
starting a new business and von
ideated in 1972 and more so, her
Furstenberg admits she wished
stance on
empowering women
she knew more about this as a
through fashion. She has been
rookie in the industry. Her brand is
president of the Council of Fashion
recognizable
Designers of America (CFDA) since
because
2006; I think she might know a
distinguished
thing or two about building a
stood
fashion brand.
women and that was the first step toward
and
she
for
successful
established personality.
the
She
empowering
constructing
14
her
a of
brand
and getting your brand noticed. If your life-long dream is to have a brand, you have to know that you?ll be in it for the long haul. You will come by people of all walks of life and on different levels on the totem-pole.
Your
appeal
can
transcend a massive audience and your authenticity and candor will solidify your reach.
This exposure means you?ll come across someone who was once an intern turned EIC and that teaches you to respect all ranks in any industry. You never know who will end up being the most important people for your career and stepping on peoples?toes is wack. Build and flourish your own lane. Diane?s MasterClass was helpful and will reignite any lost inspiration. It focuses on the importance of building a solid foundation when establishing a brand. Challenge yourself with tough questions to do away with any delusions. Any unrealistic beliefs will be erased once a definite and authentic path is set. Be distinguishable, whatever that may be to you. Do your research, respect everyone and learn something everyday.
out+about.. . 230 FIFTH: Igloos New York City rooftop debauchery is maaaj?during the warmer months. It?s probably my favorite way to enjoy a cocktail or two while out with friends. I was a bit taken aback when my boyfriend asked me to meet him at the rooftop of 230 FIFTH on a brisk, Sunday, December afternoon. I?m slowly learning to never question my boyfriend?s choices (side eye) and reluctantly made my way into the city. I kept wondering to myself how many industrial space heaters would be needed to keep everyone comfortably warm and how that would effect the 230 FIFTH aesthetic. Plus, I didn?t really dress for outdoor drinking so I factored in a lot of drinking would be had. To my surprise and wonder a line of igloos was 230 FIFTH's answer to all my inquiries. Note: no polar bears or Eskimos were harmed in the making of these igloos. The igloos weren?t made out of ice or anything, but they were big enough to house about 15 people. LED-lights coated the outside of the igloo and lit up like your coworkers at the annual holiday party. You have the option to make your igloo a private space or share with others. We sat alongside two very different groups of people, of which I will say nothing about. Didn't your mom every tell you, ?if you don?t have anything nice to say, don?t say anything at all?? Space heaters with mock flames resembling that of chimneys kept us toasty. There were enough warm/hot drink choices served in to-go cups to last you hours. I had to stick to one Irish coffee, because I can?t really deal with hot, alcoholic bevs. Solidifying my love of cold spirits. So, are igloo-lined rooftops a go- I say yes. Take your out of town friends, family, clients someone who's impressionable and that enjoys spiked hot drinks. I can say that I?ve experienced 230 FIFTH in all types of weather. Torrential down pours for my mom?s birthday brunch in July and now freezing temps in December. Both were eventful to say the least and I?m sure I?ll be back in no time, hopefully on a nice, warm, spring afternoon.
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.. . M oM a - PopRally x It em s: BOOTLEGGED I attended a ?night at the museum? (ahem, with open bar) event at the MoMA and it was everything and more. My guy and I appreciate art deeply and have gone to countless exhibitions without the enticement of booze and dope beats. PopRally x Items: BOOTLEGGED was the event held at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). It was to bid adieu and celebrate Items: Is Fashion Modern?, MoMA?s first fashion exhibition in over 70 years. Side note: it closed on January 28th, sorry! Music was provided by legendary DJ duo Stretch & Bobbito, there was an art-making station and I already mentioned the adult bevs. Afrobeats pulsated from the speakers, a refreshing feel from the same music we tend to hear whilst out. The crowd was super eclectic, as one should expect, but the men in the signature ski-masks up?d the cool-ante. The event featured original bootleg interpretations of the iconic MoMA logo on selected objects throughout the exhibition. Artists featured were: Kamoni Chandler aka A$AP K, Awol Erizku, Ava Niru and Mackenzie Younger. My girl Jade (RAF crew!) won an exclusive limited-edition artist bootleg. Hella jealous! Items: Is Fashion Modern? is a voyage through the past, present and future of 111 items of clothing and accessories that have had a major impact on the world in the 20th and 21st centuries. Well-known pieces such as the: white t-shirt (Item #106, 1900s), biker jacket (Item #013, late 1950s), and hoodie (Item #050, 1980). Items is driven by objects and their relationships between fashion, functionality, culture, aesthetic, politics, labor, identity, economy and technology. The exhibition correlates to designers when it asks for their response when connecting the history of these garments with the present and their use. Walking around the MoMA with music buzzing, a dope exhibit, and great company was perfect. I felt like a kid in a candy store. PopRally is a series of events at the MoMA and MoMA PS1 that brings together young and diverse audiences to engage with the museum. This group hit the nail on the head with the curation of this event. Looking forward to more!
sh i ny, sh i ny, sh i ny.. yeah .. . ASOS
Clean Vinly Trench Coat, Topshop
.. .
Vinyl Leggings, Topshop
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tastemak er.. . @t r aceeellisr oss I truly didn?t think I could love Tracee Ellis Ross any more than I did, and then I read that she graduated from Brown University with a theatre degree. You can call her Dr. Tracee Ellis Ross thanks to an honorary doctorate from her alma mater. Ross, an actress, advocate, fashion designer and a damn funny woman is very complex. She is the daughter of music icon Diana Ross and credits her with supporting her decision to be in entertainment. From being at her first meeting with Wilhelmina, the modeling agency, to walking the Thierry Mugler show. A solid upbringing that shows us a glimpse of the humble and level-headed woman Tracee has become. Tracee has never been married, nor has children-she is 45-years old. She is ridding herself of the expectations that we were raised with and focusing on her dreams. In 2017, Dr. Tracee Ellis Ross became the first black woman in more than 30 years to win the Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy. Ironically, she won for her role as Dr. Rainbow ?Bow? Johnson in Black-ish,who happens to be a mom of five and wife. She recognizes that she is very nurturing without having been a mother. The unconditional love that surrounded her home as a child has carried over into her adult relationships. Add founding member of TIME?S UP to Ross? resume. This initiative is legally-backed and a unified call for change for women in entertainment and for women everywhere. Powered by women, with the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Shonda Rhimes, TIME?S UP advocates for
equality and
safety to
improve laws, employment
agreements, and corporate policies; help change the face of corporate boardrooms and the C-suite; and enable more women and men to access our legal system to hold wrongdoers accountable. More initiatives like TIME?S UP are needed to protect women around the world. Dr. Tracee Ellis Ross inspires me in ways that go beyond her impeccable style. She is who I aspire to be as a woman. I aim to be equally unafraid of the big dreams that I?ve had since I was a little girl. There is nothing wrong with finding love outside of traditional romantic relationships, one place being friendships. Ross says, ?different people have different roles in our lives.? Although, friends and lovers provide support, be your own support because your life is yours. 23
i nf l uencer.. . @elain ew elt er ot h Elaine Welteroth, former editor in chief of Teen Vogue, was only 29-years old when she was hired. She is the youngest-ever editor in chief of a Conde Nast publication and the second black woman to hold the title there. Just to be clear, that?s only 2 African-Americans in its 107-year history. Although short-lived (she signed with CAA in early January), her tenure at Teen Vogue was revolutionary. Welteroth and her team turned the teen magazine?s focus away from weight-loss-themed articles to articles about our current political climate. Don?t worry, young women, I?m sure you?ll find an article or two about finding the ?perfect prom dress,? and remember you can be interested in fashion and politics. Welteroth credits a journalism class at California State University, Sacramento as being life-changing. She majored in communication studies and went on to intern for Harriette Cole, former creative director at Ebony magazine. A letter, email, and then follow up call to the magazine impressed and scared Cole into granting Welteroth the internship position. A few months later, Welteroth was assisting on a West Coast photo shoot of Serena Williams. In 2011, Welteroth was named beauty editor for Glamour. Only a few months after that she learned that Teen Vogue needed a new beauty-and-health director. She interviewed with Amy Astley, then Teen Vogue?s editor in chief and made her way on the team. In her interview, Welteroth spoke to Astley about American gymnast Gabby Douglas??unkempt? appearance that had somehow made headlines in the news. Black hair and its controversial portrayal in society, was the sort of issues Welteroth wanted to cover. Yes, she primarily wears her hair in all its curly glory. Activist and actresses Yara Shahidi and Rowan Blanchard guest-edited on the ?Smart Girls Speak Up! issue. Hillary Clinton wrote an essay for the ?For Girls, By Girls? issue. The ?Young Hollywood? issue, replete with only entertainment industry A-listers was rebranded in the ?Icons? issue. This rebranding focused on the types of people her readers admired. Including a full-figured model, an Olympic athlete and a trans media personality. My how times have evolved, she says, ?it?s like, what do you stand for?? As a teen, I read and enjoyed Teen Vogue, YM, and CosmoGirl. They didn?t cater to Latina or black girls and had mindless things like ?does he like you? quizzes, either way, I read them religiously. Welteroth leaves behind an amazing legacy with her mission to usher Teen Vogue into a new era. I can only wish to have had something as thought provoking to read while I was a teenager. I might be a social conscious-late-bloomer, but I?m trying to teach my teenage boy the way of the ?woke.? His generation demands inclusivity and is sensitive to issues of diversity and representation. Welteroth has come to stand for something and it has resonated. I sincerely can?t wait to see what?s next for her career.
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th i nk about i t.. . com par e an d despair All BS aside, I am one of those people that finds social media a positive space not only for brands but for personal use. I am also human and have said an occasional ?damn? when scrolling through and seeing someone on a fabulous vacation whilst I?m crammed in a subway car on my way to work. On the other hand, I?ve also caught fuck boys that I?ve dated in other women?s comments, but I digress. Content posting for me can mean twice a day or however many times I feel. What can I say, some days I?m feeling super social? Finding the right balance and knowing when to disconnect are the only ways to rid yourself of the dreaded ?compare and despair.? A couple of my friends have deleted their socials because ?it?s too much.? One friend, going through a rough patch, ?couldn?t see others happy.? I can?t even fault them, according to multiple reports (TIME) this is what some of the population is feeling. Mostly, teens, but it?s neither here, nor there. These posts that they?re seeing set unrealistic expectations and makes them feel inadequate and lowers their self-esteem. Half of these people behind these accounts are using 3 different photo-editing apps to tweak everything down to the color of the coffee cup they?re sipping from. Some go by a very strict ?theme? on their feeds to be on brand with who they are. It?s exhausting. When I think of the T zine brand, I struggle to post consistent, original content. It?s a job within itself and I take back anything negative I?ve said about social media careers. There are algorithms that keep up with you, which in turn keep up with your followship. Don?t worry, I can barely keep up too. The hashtag and tags can make or break your reach. You have to gauge the right time of day to post content because it can make all the difference in impressions and likes. Consistency and authenticity wins. Now who wants to be my social media manager? I?ve found a good balance between being on and off. Sometimes I?m completely engrossed in a profile and it?s usually someone that has newly inspired me. Twitter has most of my attention because it?s where news comes in the quickest for me. Facebook is like an entirely different universe I know nothing about. I will continue to post the content that feels true to who I am and what my brand stands for. Don?t fault me if it?s all day or once every few days because once that social media manager comes on board it?s over for ya?ll.
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Coretta Scott-KIng
Cel ebrati ng th e l egacy of Dr. M arti n Luth er K i ng, Jr.
& Bl ack Hi story M onth .. .
th eTzi ne
getth eTzi ne
END.