Twenty Something September 2011
Features
Rosebrook Vineyard 034
Wine, historic landmarks, pecan orchards and vineyards...you can’t go wrong with Rosebrook Vineyard.
Twenty Something Girl 052
Thunder Girls 114
Meet the new Thunder Girl team!
In the Know 124
Abigail Ogle gives all of you ladies insight into what the refs are saying on the sidelines.
Tailgate Tips 126
Jeff Ragan gives you tips to stay healthy this football season, while Between basketball, school and an engagement, Whitney Hand was able still being able to have a good time. to make time for us to get to know Workout of the Month 128 her a little better. Steve Clausen of One Healthy Bod shows you how to stay in shape. Going Back to School 058 Sherree Chamberlain fills us in on what it’s like going back to school for Shake Your Tail Feathers 130 a second time. Meagan Owen tells us how to stay stylish for this tailgate season. Calendar 060 Find out what’s going on this month.
September 11th 062
KSBI investigates the emotions that come with a national crisis.
Fashionable Life 148
This month we bring you the classic style of Jan Brown.
Olympia Dukakis 066
Twenty Somethings Around Town 150
Keep Austin Weird 092
Music
Twenty Something Magazine Party, This Academy Award winner took the time to speak to us about her up- Shop Good’s Mustache Bash coming performance of Rose, here in Oklahoma City. Go get your tickets! We fell in love with this Texas town while there for Fashion Week. We were inspired by their slogan, “Keep Austin Weird” and had to do something with it. Enjoy!
Inpiration from Ireland 108
Christina Fallin-Bacon tells us about her fashion inspiration from the land of green shamrocks.
OK Restaurant 110
Cafe Nova is a local favorite that we think you should know about.
Every Girl I’ve Ever Kissed 112
We’ve all seen Friends or My Best Friend’s Wedding, but Luke tells us about his own wedding deal.
What We’re Listening To 076
Grizzly Bear, Santigold, Pictureplane
Eli Young Band 078
Ever since they “fell in love with an Oklahoma girl”, this band has been taking country music fans by storm. They sat down with us to talk about their latest album, Life at Best.
Denver Duncan 082
This Oklahoma native won us over with his sweet tunes, and amazing humor.
Erin Ivey 086
Learn all about this Austin-based musician.
The Bright Light Social Hour 088
This band won us over with their talent... and their hair.
Film
September Movies 064
Check out what films we are excited about this month - there are a lot!
Risky Business 068
How could we resist a classic Tom Cruise film to inspire a photo shoot?
Fashion
On the Cover: Penelope Reilly Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Special thanks to The Lobby Bar
Red Lips for All 030
Alex of The MakeUp Bar talks about red lips.
Kelsey’s Must Haves 032
Mustard is inspiring us this month!
81 Poppies 102
This Austin-based designer is headed for bright lights. Check out her designs!
Feature Store 016
Flashback 132
Kobi Levi 028
Fur Ban 146
Check out this month’s spotlight store - Retropolitan. Take a look at these shoes - they are definitely unique.
This month we are taking it back to the Flapper Girl era. Daniel Whitfield tells us about the fur ban in Hollywood.
Lil Doescher Hair & Makeup Artist Salon 9309 405.607.4247
Meredith Foerster Feature Writer
Meagan Owen Feature Writer
Sherree Chamberlain Feature Writer
Michelle Meyer Makeup Artist
Christina Fallin-Bacon Feature Writer
Daniel Whitfield Feature Writer
JaNiece Cranmer KSBI’s All About You
CONT
Luke Stephens Feature Writer
Sarah Ethridge Feature Writer
Jeff Ragan Feature Writer
Abigail Ogle Feature Writer
Bethany Young Editor-in-Chief Co-Creative Director Photographer
Kelsey Self Fashion Director Co-Creative Director Stylist
Jamy Green Hair Stylist Duncan Brothers Salon 405.748.8688
Sharon Tabb Makeup Artist MakeupOklahoma.com
Steve Clausen Fitness Trainer OneHealthyBod.com
Kealey McIntire KSBI’s All About You
TRIBUTORS
R osebrook Vi n e y a r d s
Definitely Local.... Worldly Delicious
SOMETHING
Exciting & New
has come to Oklahoma City 405-361-9821
www.rosebrookvineyards.com
s d n e r t y d Bo
REAL CLIENTS
Model Brittany Jo Bisel, BodyTrends Client Dress by Stop Staring at BodyTrends BoutiQue Hair/Makeup by BodyTrends Salon BodySculpting by BodyTrends
NOKC 608-4477 l BODYTRENDSPA.COM l SOKC 759-7524
Fashion
Retropoli
itan
Styling: Kelsey Self Hair & Makeup: Lil Doescher Photography: Bethany Young Models: Maci Cameron & Heather Carter Clothing from Retropolitan
Meet Lauren Owsley, owner of Retropolitan. We love this lady and her style. In fact, we frequent her store regularly. If you are looking for a unique look that has a balance of vintage and chic, then Retropolitan is the place for you.
Tell us about yourself I have lived in Edmond since I was 8. I just can’t get away from it cause I love it so much! I went to EMHS and graduated from UCO in 2007. I first was going to UCO for vocal performance (opera), but then changed my mind along the way. It was hard to change my major, because music ran in my blood.
I always loved clothing and fashion. When I was 2, I told my mom I wanted a 2 piece swim suit because my diaper looked bad in a one piece. I loved it in high school as well, but I started to really appreciate fashion when I was in college. I started experimenting with clothes by going to thrift stores and “creating” my outfits, and I then took a course in fashion marketing. Right now I am back in school and am excited about the challenges. I have 2 doggies in my life: Toby and Penny, and they keep me entertained. I love singing karaoke. I am inspired by my future - I think to myself, you guide yourself by what plans you make for yourself. I continue to pursue my goals in life by doing what is best for me.
The name Retropolitan is unique, how did you come up with it? I was trying to come up with a name including the word retro. Me and a few others just started think ing of names and we came up with the concept retro chic on city streets and thought Retropolitan fit perfectly. When did you open Retropolitan? I opened the store in January of 2009. How did you know that going into retail was something you wanted to do? I got my degree in fashion marketing and have been working in retail for many years. I always knew I wanted to open a store while in college and pursued it 1 year after I graduated. Tell us about your background in fashion and your future plans in continuing education in the industry. I have been working in retail since I was 16. In all different environments: chains, boutiques, even consignment stores. I have a passion for vintage and have been collecting it for years now. I also have started designing collegiate tees and have designed jeweled cuffs in the past. I am pursuing my master’s degree at the moment and would like to continue on by getting my doctorate. My long term goal is to be a professor educating students about fashion marketing. I would also like to be apart of a mission program by getting more involved with fair trade products and helping others. How is Retropolitan different from other stores that cater to your demographic? Retropolitan is all about being different and dressing as an individual. We offer a small selection of vintage and we carry many accessories. Our clothing is trendy with inspirations of the season and we try to carry lines not in the area. We try to to keep our merchandise exclusive so not many people have the same thing. Our love for fair trade and eco friendly lines is also something we love having to share with others.
Fashion
If footwear and sculpture got together and had a baby, the outcome would be a pair of Kobi Levi shoes. Levi is an Israeli designer who graduated from Jerusalem’s Bezaiel Academy of Art and Design in 2001. Aside from designing industrial footwear for a slew of international companies, Levi’s true talent lies within his insane ability to create wearable sculptures. Each pair is meticulously crafted by hand and usually takes about a month to complete. Even though these intriguing shoes can be physically worn, the only place they truly belong is in an art museum or a freak show. Shoes resembling dogs and furniture are just a small taste of Levi’s extreme designs. So where does he get his inspiration? According to Levi, “The trigger to create a new piece comes when an idea, a concept and/ or an image comes to mind. The combination of the image and footwear creates a new hybrid and the design/concept comes to life.” Levi’s work brings a sense of humor and playfulness to the otherwise bland art world. His designs are one-of-a-kind, and his style is constantly evolving. There are no limitations or boundaries to Levi’s shoes, and I can guarantee you that every time he produces a new design, you will be both enthralled and weirded out. To look through an assortment of Kobi Levi’s footwear designs, visit: kobilevidesigns.blogspot.com
Written by Daniel Whitfield
Fashion
Red Lips for All
Let’s get the ‘red lipstick and everyone can’t wear it’ myth to finally go away.
It’s a fact: everyone has a shade of red that looks good on them! Go ahead, challenge me! I dare you! I can and WILL find a red lipstick, gloss, stain, sheer, shimmer or pencil for you. I promise and pinky swear it on all things beautiful.
becoming more prevalent. Madams of the night were spotted around town and everyone knew what they did for a living. Wow, that is quite a calling card!
Soon it found it’s way mainstream. It was being worn by famous Why is red such a classic? Scary to women and deemed more socially some? And considered in some acceptable everywhere. Can you circles plain trashy. As far as we can imagine an image of Marilyn withtell, Cleopatra started this craze. out her signature deep rosy lips? And believe me, she got the sexy Gwen without that matte deep ‘come hither’ look way before ‘hith- color? Former First Lady Barbara er’ was even a word. Bush without her red hued colors? Bad example? Some believe it’s because Eve bit into the apple. I’ve eaten a lot of As a Makeup Artist, I can’t imagine apples and my lips never looked the red lipstick palette ever running red and tempting. But maybe that’s dry. It’s a classic. A mainstay of the thing - red lips looks tempting. Women’s fashion. It’s like the little Hmmm, so if lips look tempting I black dress. (Coco Chanel also wore can make that connection between red lipstick). It’s the color of power. bad girl and red lipstick. Why some Women wear it to stand out, feel might see these women as a little, more confident, feel free and proud! shall we say, adventurous. And it’s here to stay and so is this red lipstick wearing girl! Written by Alex Mendez KelAt the turn of the 20th Century it became very popular with the affluent, artistic community and Flappers. Finger waves and crimson lips Alex Mendez Kelley is the owner of the well known MakeUp Bar. There you can find all of your beauty were all the rage! About this same necessities, including a wide variety of red lip products. The lovely MakeUp Bar ladies pictured on the time, another sect of society was left have a wide variety of skin tones, and yet each using the crimson red for its tempt- can pull off their own shade of red. Let Alex help ing allure. Houses of ill repute were you find your perfect shade!
Fashion
Feature
Styling: Kelsey Self Hair & Makeup: Jamy Green & Michelle Meyer Photography: Bethany Young Model: Kendall Harris Wedding Gowns: D’Plazzo Couture
Rosebrook Vineyard
Rosebrook Vineyards, created by Rachel Odom and her family, is charming the Oklahoma City area with its country feel, convenient location and love of Oklahoma wine. The land now known as Rosebrook Vineyards, was first settled in the early 1900s as a dairy farm by the Detrix family. They received their 160 acres in the Land-Run and homesteaded the property. They built a three-story barn in 1917 and grew a pecan orchard, both still present on the property today. The Detrix’s daughter married, and the farm took on the name Rosebrook. Rachel’s family bought Rosebrook 20 years ago and started a commercial tree farm. As a young adult, Rachel traveled and lived in Spain, Mexico and ultimately Santiago where wine was apart of everyday life. When she returned to the states, she worked for her father in marketing, and created a wine festival showcasing Oklahoma wine. Through this, she was able to connect to professors and other people in the Oklahoma wine industry. In 2009, Rachel and her family took a trip to South America. They visited Santiago, where she had previously lived. Since she spoke Spanish, they traveled up and down the country, touring various vineyards. “It just kind of clicked right then, like ‘Oh we have some land’… not like I hadn’t been around wine before, but it clicked right then, when we had been doing a couple of the tours.” They thought about the land that hadn’t been used, and realized they had an area perfectly fit for a vineyard. At a music and wine festival, her family spoke to Andrew Snyder, a professor at Redlands Community College who aided in establishing the school’s associate degree in viticulture and enology. The Odom’s created a business plan for their future vineyard and established their Core Values. They wanted to be self sufficient as a commercial winery, with the quality of grapes vital. It’s been a lot of work, but the transition hasn’t been difficult. Since the tree farm was already
established, the irrigation, large equipment and wells were already present. Because of all of this, a large-scale operation was completely possible and easier to accomplish. They consulted Andrew about grapes and he picked them out, keeping in mind what is most important to the family: Quality that is consistent for the customers and the restaurants who carry their wine. The Rosebrook Vineyard seems to be doing well, already receiving it’s first crop in its second year, when it usually takes three to five years before a crop will surface. They’ll be harvesting this month, and the heat that everyone has complained about this summer has actually helped their vines. The lack of rain and the ever-present Oklahoma wind has helped the vineyard avoid the fungal diseases that plague other vineyards. Rosebrook Vineyards offers a blend of different grapes: both white and red. But their passion extends past the kind of grapes they grow. “In a sense, it’s given us new purpose. Oklahoma’s history from before is going to make history in the future. [The vineyard] preserves the history of the property; it’s been farmed and now it’s morphing into a different purpose.” The farm has also morphed into a popular place to have weddings. They’ve had five weddings this past spring and word is spreading fast. They were almost full in May and June. “I booked seven weddings in one week…. and I’m getting October. I’ve already booked more than what I had this year, just in the past month.” The bride and groom can choose to be married in the 100 year old pecan orchard, put up a tent in the vineyards or have it all in the historic barn - which is large enough to handle 300 people. When they choose Rosebrook as their wedding destination, they also receive an event planner who designs custom wedding dresses and assists in all of the details. “People come here because they’re looking for something different. You’re close to the city but you feel like you’re in the country.” Rachel
realizes there are so many possibilities when it comes to having a wedding here and, with their 160 acres, it’s no problem to host a big crowd. And the crowd stays until the very end. “It’s not just a wedding. They can come out and wander around the pathway, see the house and the vineyard - so it’s an experience. It’s not just good for the bride; everyone enjoys it.” Running this vineyard has also given Rachel’s family the chance to influence other landowners, especially those who have inherited their land and want to do something besides grow wheat. “We wanted to be groundbreaking and do something different, and hopefully be an inspiration to other people in Oklahoma.”
Rachel Odom’s family is doing. “Everyone says thank you. For me it’s a no-brainer, but it’s important to preserve a history of the land, and that’s been a different kind of reward.” Rosebrook’s grape stomp event is going to be September 17th. They’re going to have music and Oklahoma wine. Extreme Animals is going to be doing a petting zoo. The event will be from noon-11 pm. “We want it to be a good family event opportunity to see the vineyards and have a relaxing day or evening, and drink some Oklahoma wine.”
Written by Ashley Foster
Rachel is also convinced that Oklahoma has what it takes to be successful in the winemaking industry, and its growth could be enormous. Texas and Missouri have done extremely well in the industry with their economic impact in the billions. “We are twenty years behind them and we can grow better grapes than they can… well, I can’t say better.” She went on to explain that because of the humidity in Texas, fungus and mold issues are common. In Missouri, it gets very cold, so they can only grow American hybrid grapes. But Oklahoma’s location and its eight ecological zones create an environment where hybrids, as well as a wide variety of European grapes, can grow. Because of these different varieties in the many regions, one doesn’t have to travel far to taste the different flavors that Oklahoma’s soil produces. “There’s no reason why we shouldn’t grow to surpass Texas or Missouri. Even nationwide, we could make a mark in this industry.” Though the land has changed from a dairy farm, its purpose is still to farm and create a quality product. “The product you get is what you take pride in. You’re growing and making your own wine and taking pride in what the earth has given you: the nutrients that make your wine, your wine. So it’s pretty exciting.” The families of the original homesteaders surround the vineyard and they appreciate what
Photo by J.A. Taylor
Feature
Twenty Something Girl Whitney Hand
Styling: Kelsey Self Hair & Makeup: Sharon Tabb Photography: Bethany Young Clothing Provided by Funky Monkey
At 22 years old, Whitney Hand is living out her childhood dream of playing college basketball and is September’s Twenty Something Girl.
One of the more attractive moments includes traveling with her teammates. “We’re going to Australia next summer as a team and then Hawaii for Thanksgiving,” Whitney said. “It’s neat to be able to go and play a game and enjoy the world.”
Aside from playing basketball, Whitney is enjoying her engagement to OU’s quarterback, Landry From Fort Worth, Texas, Whitney is one of six children and from a family of sports enthusiasts. Jones. “He took me to my favorite restaurant in “My dad played professional baseball and in col- the city and he was so nervous,” Whitney delege he had a double scholarship for baseball and scribes the proposal. “[At his house] there were lights outside and it was just beautiful, and there basketball, so he was obviously really passionate was a surprise engagement party after, which was about sports,” Whitney said. She tried her hand at soccer, but at six years old found a love for bas- awesome because my family came.” Along with ketball. “He [her dad] never pushed me in either her fiancé, Whitney uses her notoriety to spread direction. I think I just took to basketball. I think her beliefs. “We see it as a platform we’ve been given, especially in this community,” Whitney exthe moment of my decision was in sixth grade plains of her Christian faith. “To whom much is when I started to find out that I was good and given, much is required. It’s a chance to influence that I liked it.” people in a way more than we would normally be When Whitney realized her talent was at the able to.” college level, she knew she wanted to leave her home state. “I didn’t like any of the Texas As for Whitney’s future in basketball, she is more schools,” Whitney confessed. “It was between here [University of Oklahoma] and Stanford, but focused on the short-term. “I graduate in DeI came here [OU] kind of on a whim and I loved cember, but I have two more years to play, so I’ll probably get my master’s before I leave,” Whitney it and loved the people; it was a good fit.” said. In regard to professional basketball, Whitney takes it one day at a time. “I’ve considered it, Playing at Liberty Christian High School in but you just have to wait and see what happens, ‘town’, Whitney learned to harness her skill, but especially with all my injuries. If the opportunity says college basketball is a different stage. “It’s a was presented to me, I don’t think I could say different game now. It’s constant. It’s a job now,” Whitney admitted. “We [Whitney and the team] ‘no’ because I’ve worked all my life for it, but I’ll make that decision when it comes.” have weights and conditioning at 5 a.m., class from 8 a.m. to noon, practice from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., and then dinner and studying or tutoring.” The OU Women’s Basketball Team is led by Head Coach Sherri Coale, who also contributes to the team’s work ethic. “She [Coale] is intense,” Whitney revealed. “She’s a great coach and she knows what she’s talking about, but she doesn’t settle for anything less than the best. At times it’s exhausting, but I think that’s what it takes, to have someone that knows your potential.”
Despite a demanding schedule, this shooting guard assures us that the hard work is worth the return. “It’s really rewarding,” Whitney explained. “It’s not always fun or glamorous, but it’s really rewarding, and I’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve won a lot and I’ve had great memories and goals have been met.”
One of Whitney’s immediate ambitions is to change the stereotypes of women’s basketball. “A goal of mine, and a lot of my teammates and coaches, is that we want to make our sport one that is family friendly and shows us off as the women we are – as feminine women who are proud of our gender and just enjoy it [basketball],” Whitney revealed. “We can be athletic and be feminine at the same time.” For now, Whitney is enjoying her time as a student-athlete. “You don’t really live the life of a normal college student,” she admitted. “You just have to know that it will pay off and that it is rewarding. Just living it and having fun with it, not just surviving it, but really enjoying the process.” Written by Meredith Foerster
Feature
Going Back to College for a Second Time...
I suppose in the end I realized I’d rather be 28 years old, fresh out of college with a degree that allows me to pursue a craft I love, or I could be 28 employed in a career I sort of feel squelched in. Sure my parents are probably annoyed I didn’t choose this major my first time around, and of course I wish I could use my hindsight to steer my past self into an easier path. But being in your twenties can often consist of someone shoving huge life decisions in front of Pro: I’m not hungover from last night’s your face and forcing you to choose frat party! without having any wisdom, foresight, Con: I was sooo not invited to last and previous knowledge of the issues night’s frat party. you are deciding. Sometimes we choose right, and sometimes we choose wrong. Pro: I’m totes not afraid of the teacher – I mean, what do people expect? We’re I was one! idiots. We haven’t the slightest clue Con: Some of my students are now col- how life works – but that’s ok, because lege seniors. we’re getting there. I suppose the most comforting fact we can rely upon is Pro: I’m old enough to realize the “tiny the fact that everyone survives. Very running shorts and sorority tee” look to rarely do you make a decision that can’t class is never ok. be undone. And if you can’t undo it? Con: My legs don’t look like that in run- I have yet to know anyone who’s head ning shorts anymore. #RIP has exploded or body has melded into one with their childhood teddy bear Pro: I am sooo gonna be “that old chick” because they couldn’t take what life has that sits in the front, frantically taking given them and make it their own. We notes, and setting every test curve! are resilient. Life is malleable. And gosh Con: I am sooo gonna be “that old darn it, I’m going to exploit open-ended chick” that sits in the front, frantically possibilities until my head explodes!. . . . taking notes, and setting every test or I become a stuffed animal mutant . . . curve. or whatever. Babies, Babies, BABIES! . . . and not the kind my mother was planning on me having right about this time – I’m talking about my classmates. Yes kids, mommy decided to go back to big girl school at OU this semester, and being a 25 year old freshman is just a littttttle different than my first go-around. To better explain my sentiments concerning being a freshman on steroids, I have set up a little pros/cons list for you to enjoy.
Pros: I’m learning so many cool things! Cons: Sweet Lord on HIGH I am in debt.
Written by Sherree Chamberlain
Then & Now
Feature
Photo by Jin Lee/ Associated Press
September 11th
As America marks the 10th Anniversary of September 11th, we are reminded of a myriad of feelings – horror, fear, sadness, disbelief. However, there is one reaction that probably does not leap to mind, although it has gone a long way in helping us cope as we faced this, previous and subsequent tragedies, and that is humor. Mark Twain said, “Humor is tragedy plus time.” Following the terrorist attacks, late-night talk show hosts canceled their broadcasts, humor publications temporarily stopped publishing, comedy clubs were deserted, and even the notoriously over-the-top-internet became a joke-free zone. America was in no mood to laugh, and we wondered if we ever would be again. It may seem incongruous to talk about humor’s role in tragedy. But in any tragedy, whether it’s a national crisis or a personal catastrophe, humor plays a vital role in helping us keep our sanity and regain our perspective. Humor helps us process painful events, while giving us back our sense of power and control. What we needed was a catharsis; we needed humor. We knew this intuitively. Bill Cosby said, “If we can laugh at it, we can live with it.” New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani urged us to lighten up. “I’m here to give you permission to laugh,” he said at the opening of a charity benefit in October 2001. “If you don’t, I’ll have you arrested.” Jokes, cartoons, and the like began to appear, focusing America against a common enemy and allowing us to change our perspective. Humor gives us a momentary break from the pain. It increases endorphins, lowers our blood pressure and slows our heart rate. It is a natural relaxant from the stress of tragedy. Abraham Lincoln may have said it best: “With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.” As it turns out, Readers Digest may have had the ultimate advice to getting through life – Laughter really is the best medicine. Written by JaNiece Kranmer, Kealey McIntire & Lyn Hester of
Film
Feature
Before starring in the likes of “Steel Magnolias” and “Moonstruck,” Olympia attended Boston University where she first dipped her feet into the acting pool. “I was elected in college to write and create and direct a musical review and I still don’t know why they selected me, but whatever it was, I had such joy in doing it, that I realized that’s what I wanted to do,” she said laughing. Once Olympia set her sights on acting, she worked at turning her dream into a reality. “I worked as a physical therapist for a couple of years to make money so that I could go back to school and get a graduate degree,” Olympia explained. “Then I started as a member of a company for a theater in Boston, and then about 10 years later I started with a theater in New York.”
With multiple films, television appearances, and Broadway performances, Olympia Dukakis is the epitome of raw talent. Now, the Academy Award winner is taking a different approach in her one-woman hit, “Rose.” they are. They’re worth $75. I just thought, ‘that’s great,’ you think you’re getting something great and what you’re getting is a $75 statue,” Olympia said amused. Although she is humble and grateful for her award, Olympia admits there was one thing missing. “I wished that my father was alive,” she said of her initial thoughts upon hearing her name.
“Steel Magnolias” is another fan favorite, especially in the hearts of southerners. In the film, Olympia played Clairee Belcher, a character opposite of the actress. “I tend to be very much in your face and very confrontational,” Olympia revealed. “I enjoyed the fact that her [Clairee’s] way of handling things was very different from the way I handle things. It’s always fun to play people who aren’t like you.” In 1987, Olympia won the Academy Award for Best Olympia continued, “She [Clairee] was very interSupporting Actress for her role as Cher’s mother in esting because she had a husband that just died, and, to her, this was the first time she was beginthe romantic comedy, “Moonstruck.” “I went and ning to feel her oats. That was all back story that, put it [the Oscar statue] in my kitchen and then I unfortunately, the audience didn’t know, but I did, had an interview, and people said, ‘Where do you so I enjoyed playing the part where women turn in keep your Oscar?’ Like an idiot, I told them and then later somebody broke in and went to where that kind of a point in their lives.” Another aspect Olympia understood was her cast-mates. “Evthe Oscar was and took it! So I’m not telling you erybody was very focused on the work, and they where I put my Oscar,” she said with a cautious all knew it was a good script, and everybody was laugh. “They didn’t even send me a new one; they trying very hard,” Olympia explained. “There were made me pay for one. I’ll tell you how expensive
no problems between the actors at all. We were all sensitive to each other.” Not only is Olympia Dukakis a film star, she has also appeared on television and performed in theater. “I don’t prefer one over the other, but the only one I’m not terribly fond of is TV,” Olympia admitted. “Movies I enjoy, but they’re very different, you can’t compare apples and oranges. I like them all for different reasons. In theater, you have a live audience. It’s very intimate. In movies, you put out many options and the directors and editors make the story, so it’s very collaborative and a different experience from performing.” Aside from acting, Olympia has also produced and shared her craft through teaching. “I like putting educational outreach programs together for schools and colleges,” Olympia said. “I do a lot of teaching now all over the country at different universities. I like teaching a lot.” Olympia Dukakis has been performing for many years, but the greatest memories she has are not from the acting world. “My memories that I hold on to are my children,” Olympia said. “Those are the important things. I was glad for the Oscar, but it came for me when I was 57, so what it meant for me was economic security.” Aside from Hollywood, Olympia is also busy as a women’s rights advocate. “I don’t think the message has changed,” Olympia explained. “Fortunately and unfortunately it has always been for women to realize who they are, as opposed to what other people think they should be. Especially with men in relationships, you have to set out on your own to find out who you are, and what you stand for, and how you want to handle yourself in this world.” If Olympia could go back to her twenty-something days, she would tell herself the same advice she has for the Twenty-Something readers. “I would say ‘take it easy, darling, take it easy,’” she explained. “I was so busy with this, that, and everything. I was so hard on myself. The twenties are tough, there’s no way out of it. Everyone confronts the way they were raised and there are good things and there are uncomfortable things about the way you were raised, and that’s true for us all. I was so busy trying to shed things.” Olympia continued, “There were certain ways women and girls were expected to behave, and, growing up, I was very rebellious, and I was trying not to be so rebellious. I met my husband in my twenties…it’s neat to have somebody like that in your life, someone who is com-
Olympia in “Rose” mitted to your dreams.” Today, Olympia is busy performing her onewoman hit, “Rose,” a story of an 80-year-old Jewish woman who survives everything from Warsaw to today’s Miami Beach. When asked why she chose to do this role, Olympia exemplified one of true talent. “It was a stupendous challenge. At first, a couple of times, I’ll tell you, I almost quit because it was 74 pages, margin to margin. Then, when I started to rehearse, the holding of it emotionally, it incredibly changed me as an actress.” Although Olympia has had many projects throughout her life, she claims “Rose” is one of her most challenging feats. “Having that intimate one-on-one relationship with an audience, I’ve never had that before. You just want them to believe in the story you’re telling, you don’t want them to think that you’re acting.” On Saturday, September 17, Olympia Dukakis will be performing “Rose” at the University of Central Oklahoma. “I stopped long ago trying to control audiences. I want them to have whatever experience they want,” Olympia said of the message in her show. “If there was one thing, it’s the fact that we must live with contradictions, we cannot turn issues into black and white.” The story of “Rose” is one of a survivor, not unlike the actress herself. Olympia Dukakis is a success in her marriage and in her career, and she has paved the way for all us twenty-somethings. Written by Meredith Foerster
Film
Risky B
Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Model: Conner Brasher
Business
Music
What We’re Lis Artist of the month: Grizzly Bear Grizzly Bear has a way of making every song so special. Don’t ask me what exactly that means, but every track they’ve produced has a special place in my heart. They’re a folk rock group from Brooklyn and have been around since the early 2000’s and have released 3 albums, Vecketamist being my favorite. If Bon Iver had more of an edge, this is what they’d sound like. My favorite tracks are “Knife,” “While You Wait For the Others” and “Two Weeks.” All of their tracks are unique and thoughtful and incorporate sounds you wouldn’t normally hear in “rock” music. Like Radiohead, Grizzly Bear uses a lot of instruments in their music that feed from a classical note. They even shared a concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic once upon a time. I truly don’t know of another band like them. They’re guaranteed to make you feel good.
Song of the Month: “Goth Star” by Pictureplane You know I love a remix as much as the next person, but this one might truly be my favorite. I’m not too sure what goth music is supposed to sound like, but I’m definitely not gothic. It’s a simple song really. Just some percussion with Stevie Nick’s voice cleverly broken up into the techno-fied beat so only the hard-core fans can realize it’s the Fleetwood Mac track “Seven Wonders” disguised within. “Goth Star” is just one of those songs that catches you from the getgo, and is good for those with short attention spans like me. It gets better from start to finish and is one of my favorite songs of all time.
stening To...
Album of the month: Santogold, Santigold
No, this album is not new, and even though we try to keep things cutting-edge around here, I decided to bring back a blast from the past. Santigold is one of the most talented female singer/rappers out there. Yes, better than Nicki Minaj. Sorry. Santigold released this album in 2008 and spelled it “Santogold” because that was her original name, but had to change it due to copyright reasons. She is inspired by M.I.A. And has reggae-influenced pop jams that cannot be tampered with, unless they’re remixed by the best producers, of course. She most recently collaborated with the Beastie Boys in the track “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” for their latest album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2, but also joined Jay-Z’s Downtown Records last spring, proving her versatility. My personal favorites are “Creator” and “You’ll Find A Way” (remixed by Switch & Graeme Sinden), while “L.E.S. Artistes” and “Lights Out” are chart-toppers as well. Seriously, every track is amazing and will make you wanna get up and go running.
Written by Sarah Ethridge
Music
Eli Young
Band
In 1998, four worlds collided on the University of North Texas campus, forever changing the world of country music. It is a cinema-like script, the way the four members of Eli Young Band crossed paths. “We actually all lived together,” bass player Jon Jones said of his band mates Mike Eli, Chris Thompson, and James Young. “The first week I moved down to Texas, I met Chris and James. Then, the second semester I moved into the dorms with Chris, the same dorm James was in. Then it was that next year that Mike came to school and lived with James, who was right next door to Chris and me.” In the beginning, the four students began playing music together as a hobby. “James, Chris and I started jamming in a friend’s basement, and we were definitely missing a lead singer, so it was great that Mike came along,” Jon explained. “Later, Mike and James started writing songs together and playing acoustics at a college bar that all went to in Denton called the ‘R Bar’. A few months later, Chris and I hopped up on stage, and we were just having fun at the time, but that’s how we started.” Despite being a psychology major, Jon says music has always had a presence in his life. “My mom was a music teacher, and my grandmother was a music teacher, and I started playing the violin when I was age 3, so it [music] was going to be part of my life one way or the other.” Music was also a point of interest for the rest of the band. “The other guys played in bands in high school and Mike was doing the Opry circuit for a very long time, and we all wanted to make music our life, but I don’t think we had an idea of how it was going to work before we all started playing together,” Jon explained. “When we started playing out more, I think we realized that our musical path wasn’t going to be getting a degree in music, but more learning what we needed to learn on the road…so we all graduated with different things, but I think music was a big part of why we all ended up at UNT.” As their popularity among the college crowd grew, the group needed a name. This band, however, was
unknowingly already named by their peers. “In college, everyone called James ‘Young James’ and Mike had always sang under ‘Eli’…it was really just our group of friends that would say ‘We are going to see Eli and Young play tonight at the R Bar,’” Jon described. “When Chris and I hopped up on stage and we started the band, it was ‘Eli and Young Band’. So that was just kind of how it was built. We eventually dropped the ‘and’ and kept it ‘Eli Young Band’ and that’s about as creative as we got,” Jon said laughing. When it comes to writing songs, EYB maintains a group effort. “It really falls on all of us,” Jon said. “We are still growing as songwriters and there is really no one way for us to write a song. It would be great if the four of us could sit in a circle and turn something out, but we found that it’s helpful to pair off, or someone will come up with a musical idea or tagline and we’ll start from there.” In addition to their own creativity, the band also works with other writers to turn the tables and bring in new ideas. “We’ve had a lot of fun working with outside writers, as well to get a fresh perspective on things,” Jon revealed. “Our lives are so intertwined with each other that it’s nice to get a fresh perspective on life from someone on the outside.” Eli Young Band has produced numerous number one songs, but nothing hits home like ‘Oklahoma Girl’ for the twenty-something Oklahomans. “It’s kind of a blend of fictional and truth,” Jon explained. “It came to us when we started to play in Oklahoma and a few of us had a few Oklahoma relationships. As far as the old songs, that’s one we can never take off the set list. We always kind of thought that it would be big in Oklahoma and big in Texas…but no matter where we’re at, people seem to connect with that; it can really be about anyone from anywhere.” Songs with a relatable storyline are trademark to EYB, and the band members are not afraid to give credit where credit is due for their chart-topping hits. “James gets all the credit for that one,” Jon said of their song ‘When it Rains’. “He just kind of had the melody and he was driving around in his car and it was a rainy day and I think he was feeling a little low and the words just kind of popped out. The song ended up being one of the major reasons we’ve done as well as we have.” The song ‘Everything is You’ is also a lyrical tale. “That’s another James one,” Jon revealed. “It’s definitely a breakup song, of a time when you’re in a period of a breakup where everything, no matter what it is, you can
associate with that person. I think that was his way of expressing going through life and seeing that relationship everywhere.” With their ongoing ability to turn out hits, you would never believe the men of Eli Young Band have maintained a career for eleven years. “We weren’t even twenty-somethings when we started this career and now we can’t even claim to be twenty-somethings anymore, but we definitely feel like we could still be in college sometimes,” Jon said laughing. Eleven years running, EYB’s structure has changed to fit the needs of their fans. “Before, it was hop in a van or a couple trucks and load all your gear in and play the show, sometimes just for beer money, and go back home,” Jon explained. “Now, it’s just a lot more going into it…it’s turned into a coast-to-coast thing, and with a major record label and your song on the radio, there’s a lot of promotions that are outside of just playing shows, which before that, was all we had to worry about.” Success, however, is one thing EYB does not need to worry about. Their newest album, “Life at Best,” went Gold earlier this year. “We were in the middle of doing a media day in Nashville and someone popped into the room and said, ‘We did the tallies and you just passed 500,000 sales,’” Jon said of hearing the Gold Record news. “We’ll get our plaques next week and I think it will really hit home then, but this is definitely a new level of success…it’s pretty neat to be on that list.” “Life at Best,” in stores August 16, totals 14 tracks including their newest hit ‘Crazy Girl’. “We were able to just go in and record the entire record all in the same period, and so you’re in the same state of mind the entire time you’re recording,” Mike said of creating the album. “There’s a degree of cohesiveness with this record that I don’t think we’ve had with our prior records.” Jon agrees with his band mate. “I think this album has more songs about our lives and where we are now than songs in the past,” Jon noted. “There’s a song called ‘The Fight’ on there that, when we heard it, we really identified with it as the struggles of being a band this long, that it’s totally worth all the work you put into it and all the heartache. That it’s worth the fight. It’s very relatable to life in general.” Although the new album brings new material, EYB does not shy away from their past songs when performing. “We made a conservative effort a long time ago to not record anything that we would get too tired of,” Jon explained. “We’ve waited a long
time for this record to come out and I think, for us just as much as the fans, we wanted some new music to listen to. It’s fun to freshen up the set list, and there are some songs that we are very proud of and can’t wait to start playing more of them.” Fans at the “Life at Best” CD release party at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth got a taste of those new songs. On August 20, attendees got more than a set of the album’s songs. “We’re not going to just get up there and play the CD,” Jon said. “We’re making special posters that are unique to each show and we’re going to play some songs we haven’t played in a really long time. That’s the last of the shows, so all the energy we have left, we’re going to play it all out there.” Along with sold-out shows and a Gold Record, EYB joins the list of some of country music’s greatest legends as Grand Ole Opry veterans. “It was very nerve-racking,” Jon said of their first Opry performance. “We got to perform at the original place, and we played three songs, and by the end of the third song, we realized where we were and it was amazing. We’ve gotten to do it a few times now, to the point where we’ve been able to enjoy it a little more, and every moment.” Although inspirations themselves, EYB is inspired by other country crooners. “The four of us coming from different musical backgrounds, it’s [inspiration] is really all across the board; the list is pretty endless,” Jon revealed. “In the Texas scene, I feel like we’re standing on the shoulders of a giant, with Pat Green and Willie [Nelson] and Robert Earl Keen. There’s a lot of great influences to pick from, just from this area.” Despite their ongoing success, the men behind EYB maintain a brotherhood mindset. “The thing that we were friends before we ever started the band, I think has always been a big asset, and we have this mentality that we’re in this together,” Jon said. “Sometimes we’ll fight like brothers, but we’re family, so like brothers, we find a way to get over it and realize that we all have the same goal in mind.” With popularity across the country, Jon’s words come as music to the ears of all Eli Young Band followers. “We enjoy our time together on the road and especially performing on stage. I can’t imagine doing this with anybody else.”
Written by Meredith Foerster
Music
Denver Duncan Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Clothing Provided by Shop Good
n
As a preacher’s kid, musician Denver Duncan has taken his talent from the church to the mainstream. From Woodward, Oklahoma, Denver was surrounded by music and watchful eyes from an early age. “Being a preacher’s kid, I’ve always had an audience, which is good and bad,” Denver said laughing. “Church music is just strong, catchy melodies like all of the old hymns. My mom is a music teacher and a great piano player and my dad was real into 50s and 60s music, so I grew up with just a weird mesh of songs.” Denver’s exposure to an eclectic variety of genres lends a hand to his unique music. An unlikely pairing in the music world, Denver draws on hip-hop influences. “I’m definitely careful,” Denver says of branching into hiphop. “I have my values and I stay true to those, but if the music is good and people respect that side of who you are, then people are willing to listen. You just need to be true to yourself and people will respect that.” Besides singing and playing guitar, Denver writes music with the help of his high school friend, Taylor Church. “I write most of it, but I also write with one of my best friends from high school; we grew up together,” Denver revealed. “He [Church] doesn’t really play an instrument, but he’s a high school teacher so he has more of that literary background, so it’s fun to write with someone who doesn’t play an instrument. It’s a good bounce back and forth with what we come up with; it’s a different perspective.” Along with creating lyrics for his own use, Denver also lends his talent to others. “I like to co-write with a bunch of different people,” Denver said. “Taylor and I now write for several different people. We write for a couple of hip-hop artists right now. The creative process is what I like.” When it comes to turning words into song,
Denver has many sources of inspiration. “I do draw on a lot of experiences,” he explained. “Sometimes it’s hard to not write a love song, like everything kind of turns into a love song. The more you do it, the more you can direct it the way you want it to go. We start with music first and just build it around that.” Denver says songwriting is a continuous process for him and his comrades. “You have to work at it every day to keep those creative juices flowing,” he said. “That’s why I like to work with other people too. They can bring in other ideas and keep it all from sounding the same.” Although Denver has worked with music most of his life, this 29-year-old took time in releasing his first EP. “I was primarily just doing church stuff,” Denver explained. “I’m on staff at a church to do worship in Northwest Oklahoma City, so I was just doing that. Working and paying bills and then I got married. Then I just figured I might as well. I tried other stuff, like stand-up comedy, to just be out doing stuff. Then I decided to go for the music thing, and so far it’s been going pretty good.” In February 2010, Denver released ‘Let’s See What Happens.’ “That EP was a pretty wide variety to kind of test the waters,” he noted. With the success of ‘Let’s See What Happens,’ Denver has many other projects underway. This month, Denver is set to release a new EP with friend and hip-hop artist, CedEnough. “It’s more hip-hop and it’s the first thing we did together,” Denver revealed. “One song has the Gnarls Barkley feel and another is like Black Keys and one is super cheesy and fun.” This November, Denver, along with other artists, plans to release an Oklahoma collaborative. “We just want to feature some Oklahoma talent,” he said. “To stay true to the hip-hop side of it, we’re working with music producer RjD2 out of Ohio, which he did a lot of the Outkast stuff. I thought it would be fun to bring in a big group of people to feature.” Denver also plans to release another solo EP next year. “By 2012 I should have something by myself out,” he said. “It will probably be a little more hip-hop focused. Being from Woodward there’s an absence of hip-hop, but somehow I keep getting sucked back into it.”
This Oklahoma musician finds enjoyment in both performing and the process. “I do like to create, it’s really fulfilling, but it’s hard to beat being in front of people and playing off of the crowd,” Denver explained. “It’s the favorite part for me, which is cultivated from being a preacher’s kid and always being in front of an audience.” Denver continued, “My dad never let me have a Nintendo growing up because he wanted me to be outside and be creative, so a big part of who I am is that creative side. I always try to just go for it!” When Denver is not working on his latest endeavors, he works three worship services at New Church. “I’d like to be able to just be an artist and be able to donate my time somewhere, like to a church,” he says of the future. “That’s the goal, and it’s getting closer and closer too.” Denver Duncan is scheduled to play at Picassos September 2 in Oklahoma City. For more information on upcoming shows and releases, visit www.DenverDuncan.com. Written by Meredith Foerster
Music
Erin Ivey
Called “So endearing and warm you want to go back for seconds” by Hollywood’s own Perez Hilton, Erin Ivey is taking over. After attending The University of Texas, Erin moved to Illinois to work on her music. “It cleansed my pallet, it was a good year, but I’m glad I don’t live there all the time,” Erin said. Becoming a musician, however, was not always in Erin’s plan. “I started doing musical theater when I was about 10 and then once I got to college is when I started writing songs,” Erin explained. “I started off in the business school and I was fortunate enough to go to France to study and that just completely changed everything. I began to wonder why I was in the business school, I didn’t like it there, I loved history, I loved art, I loved poetry, those were the things I wanted to study.” Beginning in musical theater, Erin took a different turn when it came time for her music. “I guess it was when I started writing songs on my own,” the urban-folk singer said. “It was sort of a natural outgrowth of my songwriting of experiences I was going through, plus just loving the lights and makeup and the feeling of being on stage in front of an audience. For about four years now I’ve made it [music] my full time job, but before then it was for fun, though it’s still fun now.” When it comes to writing her songs, Erin is constantly in the creative process. “I’m definitely always thinking of words and I’m always writing,” she explained. “Sometimes I can’t not write poems which drives me crazy actually. Sometimes it takes me five minutes to write a song and sometimes it takes me three years. I always have little scraps around, either words or melodies or both together. It’s just a cycle, sometimes I’m into creating scraps of ideas and sometimes I’m into putting them all together.” Erin uses the songwriting process as a way to relax. “Most of the time when I write it’s therapy, to get out what I’m feeling or thinking,” Erin revealed. “If I don’t write things down I don’t remember them, so I’m constantly writing all the time.” Besides using her own life experiences, Erin also channels her theater experience to get into character. “I wrote a song for Michael Jackson and I wrote a song for Amelia Earhart. I love to pretend that I know how it feels to be someone else.”
The influence of other artists on this Austin songstress is not to be disregarded. “If I had to pick a top three it would be The Sundays, Bob Marley, and Pink Floyd, but there are thousands others,” Erin noted. Erin also takes in her surroundings for inspiration. “Everything we see and everything we hear, I think it offsets us somehow, so I try to be careful about what I hear,” she explained. “I tend to protect myself too much from music and news, so I put up these walls since we are so much what we see and hear. I have to be careful to not keep everything out, but also not to let everything in at the same time.” Recently, Erin has been performing songs off her latest album, “Broken Gold.” “For this record I took the tape out to Las Angeles where they were mixed and mastered, so it’s got a little bit of the Austin flavor and a little bit of the L.A. flavor, so I think it’s got a nice mix,” Erin said. When it comes to promoting, however, Erin tends to shutter at the idea. “I think once the artist creates something he’s kind of over it, he doesn’t want to talk about it for 17 more years, he wants other people to do that, but the reality of that work is that you have to constantly be engaged in promotion and find new ways to be interested in older work,” she revealed. “I wrote these songs a couple years ago and right now artistically I’m in a different place.” Fans of the Austin-based singer can expect her next installment to be in the near future. “Releasing my next record depends on when I get my music together,” Erin said. “Best case scenario, maybe by next summer, that would be amazing!” For now, fans can catch her at her latest stint of shows. “I’m starting a month of band shows,” she explained. “It’s going to be a totally different vibe. It’s going to be with The Finest Kind, which is an R&B/dub trio. It’s going to be more of an exploration of a down-tempo dub sound. That will start next week and all through September in Austin at a place called Club Deville.” Although she calls Austin ‘home’, there is hope on the horizon for her Oklahoma followers. “I have a lot of family still in Oklahoma, so I’m hoping to get back there, hopefully sometime in the next six months!” For a list of shows, upcoming performances, and music news, visit www.ErinIvey.com. Written by Meredith Foerster
Music
The Brig
ght Light Social Hour Photography: Bethany Young
For those looking for a new band to fall in love with, listen to The Bright Light Social Hour. As fellow southerners originating in Austin, Texas, this psychedelic rock group was nothing but laughs when we got to know them during out trip down south. Behind the wit and humility of Curtis Roush, Jack O’Brien, Jack Mirasole, and A.J. Vincent though, lies legitimate talent and true chemistry that has exploded in the independent music world. Since the release of their premiere self-titled album a year ago, The Bright Light Social Hour has received stellar reviews and six, yes six, awards from the Austin Music Awards during the SXSW music festival of 2011. Some bands out there might find it a little less difficult to remain as down to earth as these boys after winning Band of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. That is why we find The Bright Light Social Hour so special. They are clearly fearless and unique. Not only because of their long hair, but because they draw inspiration from every end of the spectrum, from the classic Led Zeppelin, the 70s War and James Brown, to fellow indie band My Morning Jacket and electronic Daft Punk. With such diverse musical interests, each band-mate contributes his individual passion and talent, which seems to make the equation balance perfectly. Whether it be deejaying, shredding guitar, or immaculate songwriting, these guys work together to make excellent music that definitely has not gone unnoticed. That being said, you can’t miss their performance in our neck of the woods on September 12, at Blue Note in OKC. If you can’t wait that long, you can also see them September 2 in Dallas at Club DaDa, and at the Wild Rooster Bar in Fort Worth September 11. Their tour is going to last the entire Fall season so get ready for their next album, expected to released next year, to be out of this world. Until then, check out a preview of their remix album available at facebook.com/shreddwardandmirasole. Luckily, there’s plenty of this band to go around.
Written by Sarah Ethridge
Travel
Keep Austin Weird
Photography: Bethany Young Model: Bunny the Bunny Costume from Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds, Austin, TX Shot on South Congress in Austin, TX
Fashion
Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Models: Kyndall Fuller & Hannah Gaylord Clothing by 81 Poppies Shot at the Driskill Hotel, Austin, TX
81
1 Poppies
Inside Austin Fashion Week, Twenty Something Magazine enjoyed a backstage pass with one of the show’s featured designers – Michelle Weisman, owner and designer of 81 Poppies. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle paved her way to the runway at a young age. “I’ve always been into fashion ever since I was a little girl,” Michelle said. “I never really had another path. I was always the one playing with the paper dolls and the Barbies. I started to make things when I was just five years old.” After high school, this native Texan set her sights on the Big Apple to pursue her dream. “When I finished high school, I moved to New York, went to college and got my BFA [Bachelor of Fine Arts] in fashion at Pratt Institute,” Michelle explained. “I interned for Mint by Jodi Arnold and became assistant designer. I also free-lanced for a bunch of people. Then I became head designer for the Shoshanna collection and I was there for about five years.” After living in New York, Michelle leaped into making her own clothing line. “When I moved here [Austin], I still worked for Shoshanna and commuted about once every month, but the commute got tiring and I realized I needed to figure something else out,” Michelle revealed. “Everyone always told me I needed to start my own clothing line and I always had it in the back of my mind, but it was scary and a huge undertaking. But I decided just to try it.”
With the encouragement of her peers, along with her efforts, Michelle’s dedication turned into a business. 81 Poppies was created a year ago and has been progressing ever since. “It’s been really good,” Michelle said of her new and booming business. “I’ve had a really amazing response to the line from the stores and the customers.” This designer’s favorite part of the design process is the process itself. “I like coming up with the prints and colors and watching it all fall into place,” Michelle said. “A lot of it is inspired by vintage and traveling. All my prints are inspired by vintage pieces that I find here locally and I either re-do it or re-color it.” 81 Poppies is currently clothing-only, but accessories are certainly a possibility in the future. “So far it’s just the clothes, but I’m collaborating with a local jewelry designer here for the show, and we’re talking about selling it afterwards as an exclusive collaboration between us,” Michelle revealed. Throughout her year as an owner/designer, Michelle says her favorite experience is the consumer. “Seeing my product come to life and seeing people’s reactions to it is the best,” Michelle said. “I do trunk shows at stores, and get to see actual customers and see how they’re happy and love it, and that they’re comfortable.” In addition to comfort, clothes from 81 Poppies, crafted through Michelle’s passion, breathe freshness to the fashion world. To find a list of participating stores or to purchase online, visit www.81poppies.com.
Written by Meredith Foerster
Featured in InStyle Magazine
Travel
written by: Christina Fallin-Bacon
When you think of the West coast of Ireland, the last thought that would come to your mind is fashion (which is a very valid thought). You have to dig deep into the country of 40 shades of green and shamrocks to discover what fashion uniqueness Ireland has to offer. As some of you may know, I got married in Ireland this past June. We had not even been there for 24 hours before my now husband, Matt, was on a mission; he wanted an Aran fisherman’s sweater. I had no idea that was a “thing” until we got the scoop on it from our local tour guide, Declan. The style of knit sweater was born off the coast of Ireland in the Aran Islands. The myth surrounding the sweater was that if a fisherman fell overboard he could be identified by a knit that was unique to each family. On a visit to Bunratty Castle, Matt and I stumbled upon some stores that carried the elusive Aran sweater. We had a good time trying on the traditional and nouveau takes on the Aran sweater, but to our disappointment, the arms of the sweater were not fitted enough to our liking. We unfortunately walked out empty handed. When you come across a real Aran sweater, you begin to make connections of the times you saw a cable knit sweater for hundreds and even thousands of dollars on the runway. For men, Thom Browne is a believer in using Irish wool in many of his cardigans and suits. In trying to gather pictures for this article, I even came across a ridiculous looking sweater dress he designed (does the pattern and color look familiar to you?). For women, I found a sweater designed by Marc Jacobs that is basically just a different cut of a traditional Aran sweater (and I’m sure it is actually fitted). It’s amazing to me that such a primitive design and craft has made it full circle on to the runways. Even when you are travelling through a place that may not be known for its fashion, keep your eyes open because the origin of high design elements can be purchased for much less than what they are asking for on the runway!
A Real Irishman in an Aran Sweater
Matt Shopping in Bunratty Ireland
Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2010
Thom Browne Fall 2010
OK Restaurant
The building used to be home to a Shoe Gypsy store, and, before that, a tattoo parlor. Then John Paul, from ‘The Bachelor’, and Chris Wilson discovered the site. After construction, Paul and Wilson envisioned a patio bar, so they added it to the mix. This unique, multi-faceted Oklahoma City destination was designed into the popular attraction for the late night crowd that it is today. Café Nova. As manager Bradley Dunham tells TwentySomethingMagazine, the Deep Fork Group latched onto the Café and transformed it into even more. Not only does it still retain the fun, late night scene, it’s now a great place to go for brunch, lunch, dinner or happy hour. “As far as restaurants in the city, we’re kind of unique, in that we offer all these options,” he explains. Café Nova is also known as a sophisticated, yet, relaxed venue for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, class reunions and private parties. Dunham told us, “There was a lady that was on ‘Wife Swap’ that had a watch party here. We had TVs everywhere and 200 of her friends were all watching. It was really fun, but it made me never want to cross her.” He has enjoyed getting to see the Café’s makeover with each event. The evolutions have truly showcased their biggest strength, “We do lots of things here well, but we transition the best. We’re really good at making ourselves whatever our customers want.” Café Nova offers Game Night on Thursday nights. The game of choice is currently beer pong, but it’s played a little differently. The cups are filled with water instead of beer. “It’s actually pretty cool. You can have people play a game together, and yet, not have it turn into a crazy drunken slosh fest,” Dunham says. A giant Jenga and a 6 ft Connect Four will be soon added to the patio
for even more entertainment on Thursday evenings. Customers can expect to receive free beer from 4-7pm Monday through Friday during happy hour. The staff does encourage the freebie to go along with a purchased appetizer. Fair enough. The Café’s late night atmosphere changes things up a bit. Guys are encouraged to dress up, but the ladies don’t exactly need to be told to get dolled-up. The restaurant features DJs and still maintains a laid-back atmosphere. “It’s nice because we get full (with customers), but you still have your own space. You never feel like you’re up in everyone’s business.” Dunham believes Café Nova is not the typical bar. “You have your college bars, your bars for your 21 year olds, etc. I feel like we’re the bar for people that have figured out how to drink. For these customers, alcohol is something they can handle without the overly obnoxious behavior. I really like our clientele because they’re mature. We’ve met a lot of people that are now our friends.” Currently Café Nova is taking on the challenge of bridging the gap between diners and game watchers. They achieve this by turning on the games and keeping the sound low. This way, it’s not a sports bar, but sports fans can still dine and enjoy the game. In fact, Thunder fans can take a limo from the Café to the game for only $10. Dunham concludes that the cool atmosphere of Café Nova is reflective of the kind of customers that walk through the door. Café Nova’s hours are 11am-10pm on Mondays and Tuesdays; 11am-2am on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10am-2am on Written by Ashley Foster
Feature
One day, when I was in the eighth grade, I made a deal with a girl in my class. The deal was, if by the time both she and I were twenty-seven, and we were both not married, we would marry one another. I bring this up now because by the time you read this, I will be twenty-five years old. In two years I may be obligated by way of an eighth grade promise to get married. This is interesting to me, because it gives a peek inside my mind as an eighth grader. First, and most obviously, in the eighth grade I believed that by the time I reached twenty-seven years of age, and probably before, I would be married. In my mind, if I wasn’t married by twentyseven, something had gone wrong and I needed to get my misspent life back on
the right track. It wasn’t just me and my friend making this deal. I remember several other friends making similar plans for their futures that they apparently had figured out as eighth graders. It really speaks to how influential media is to our society, because this whole idea came from the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding, starring Julia Roberts. The only difference is that her deal was to occur on her twentyeighth birthday, not her twenty-seventh. Apparently someone in my class saw that movie, decided that such an agreement made sense, and decided to make preparations in case their life didn’t turn out how they envisioned. This leads to a good point, and some-
there. Surely you have met someone who is always way too excited about the next step in their life, while constantly reminiscing about the last big event in their life. In my experience, these people aren’t very much fun to hang around, because they are never experiencing and having fun in the moment. I made a promise to myself when I turned twenty-four, and it was very much the opposite of the deal I made at fourteen. Instead of looking forward, this past year’s promise was all about the here and now. I got my inspiration from the comic book Scott Pilgrim vs. the Universe (which I highly recommend).
thing that I have been slow to learn. Stop making plans. Stop it. At the wise old age of fourteen, I had somehow decided that by twenty-five, and certainly by twenty-seven, I should be married. And (newsflash), I am not. Fourteenyear-old Luke was very wrong about the life that twenty-five year old Luke would be leading. From that, I can surmise that twenty-five year old Luke will most assuredly be wrong about the life that thirty-five year old Luke will be leading (And, just by writing that previous sentence, I am struck by how old thirty-five sounds. Just like how twenty-five sounded old to me when I was fourteen). So, my plan is to stop trying to figure out where my life will lead me in the next ten years, and instead, just enjoy getting
(My apologies to Brian Lee O’Malley.) I hope you’ll join me in my plan to stop worrying about future things that we have no control over and start enjoying today. Because, as scary as it is to hear, we won’t be Twenty Somethings forever, and I am already halfway through my Twenty-Somethingship. It’s scary, but it’s fun. So enjoy it.
Luke Stephens www.everygirliveeverkissed.com
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Football is here! And to celebrate the return of America’s most popular sport, I thought it’d be fun to talk about penalties. Simply put, a penalty is a violation... or when someone does something bad. Penalties keep football interesting! When a penalty occurs, the official will throw a yellow flag on to the field. This is when you will hear the announcer or play-by-play guy say something cheesy like, “Laundry on the line!” Also following a yellow flag, nine times out of ten, the rule-breaking player will throw his hands in the air and pretend like he has no clue what he did. After this, the official will come onto the field and announce why a flag was thrown. While he is explaining, he will also give some sort of signal that looks like very elementary sign language. So that you will be able to follow the game more efficiently, here are just a few of those signals and what they mean:
TOUCHDOWN/FIELD GOAL/TWO-POINT CONVERSION The most recognizable signal in football. It is used when the football makes its way to the end zone, when a ball is kicked through the uprights of the goal, or when a two-point conversion is made.
FALSE START Jumping the gun! This is when an offensive player moves before the ball is snapped.
SAFETY Safeties are awesome. You will usually see the crowd making this signal when a Safety is possible. This is the ONLY time the team without the football can score points (two points) and it is done by tackling the ball-carrier in his own end zone.
PERSONAL FOUL Includes unnecessary roughness, such as: violent contact with a PASS INTERFERENCE player who is away from the play, Interference is a penalty in which a hitting the ball carrier after he is out player has interfered with another of bounds, etc. Personal fouls are player’s ability to catch the ball. This what usually leads to fights on the is usually called on the defense, but field. not always!
DELAY OF GAME Athletes and coaches are busy and they don’t need the game to take longer than necessary. The offense has 25 seconds to make a move... if they don’t, they have to move back five yards.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT This is a NON-CONTACT foul. These fouls consist of taunting, screaming or cussing at officials and excessive celebration in the end zone.
HOLDING This penalty is for both the offense and defense; it’s basically when a player has illegally held an opponent.
OFF SIDES The same thing as a False Start but on defense.
FACE MASK In my opinion, the most dangerous type of Personal Foul because it can snap a player’s neck. It occurs when a player grasps a face mask... but for a 15-yard penalty to be called, the grasping and pulling or twisting MUST be intentional. Otherwise, if the grab was accidental, the ball is only moved five yards.
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Tailgate Tips
Fall is around the corner and you know what that means: football. With this actionpacked sport comes the wonderful, and always enjoyable, social activity of tailgating. As much fun as it is getting together with your friends and family for the big game, it’s not always the friendliest on your waistline. However, no need to avoid this event if you are trying to make healthier eating choices. We can still enjoy this great festivity while making sound nutritional decisions. Literally can have our cake and eat it too, if you prefer. Just follow some of the tips below, and you will be on your way to finding the right balance between healthy eating and social activities. That way, whether at the game or watching it from the friendly confines of home, you can enjoy these Autumn occasions without destroying your diet. Pre-tailgate Workout – get a workout in advance. This will help get your metabolism going, and the extra calories burned will help offset whatever happens later. Meal – eat lean proteins, healthy fats and/or veggies before. Most tempting foods will be comprised of fast-digesting carbs or saturated fats, so we want to avoid these earlier in the day. Proteins, fats, and veggies will provide needed nutrients, as well as help keep you fuller longer, which should help prevent a hunger-fueled pig-out later. A good example is a veggie omelet or protein shake/smoothie. Tailgate Moderation - Don’t snack/eat if you aren’t hungry. Enjoy whatever you want, but don’t overdo it. Eat to enjoy, not stuff yourself into a food coma. Meats - Grilled chicken, shrimp, or lean burgers. Try eating an open-faced burger (bun on bottom only) or without a bun to save calories for other foods you enjoy. Dips - Hard to find an overly healthy chip, but you can help offset the damage by picking a better dip. Choose salsa, guac, or bean dip. Salsa is low in calories, guacamole provides great vitamins and nutrients, and bean dip will give you a good boost of belly-filling fiber. Post-tailgate Depending on the time of your tailgate, you might still be tempted to eat later, after everything is over. If you are, remember to eat in moderation, as you probably had a higher percentage of your daily calories at the tailgate. Choose healthy and filling foods such as lean meats/fish, fruits, veggies, or whole grains. Avoid fast-digesting carbs and saturated fats since you probably had your fix earlier in the day.
Written by Jeff Ragan
Feature Shake Your Tailgate Feathers Fall is almost upon us and with that comes football! Now, weather you are the girl that really enjoys the game or the girl the strictly likes to chat with your girlfriends at the tailgates you will all appreciate these tailgate tips!
fruit and crudites for the afternoon). When heading through the lines of lunch, snacks and dinner, try to think of your top few foods you can definitely cant not have and try to phase out the food you want to pile on just “because it’s there”.
Stay Hydrated Those earlier games at the end of August and the beginning of September can be scorchers during the day time especially if you spend your days out in the sun waiting for an evening game. Make sure to be alternating between your favorite tailgate beverage and water throughout the day to stay hydrated!
Alternate reason: Who wants to spill chili down the front of the outfit you have to wear for the rest of the evening?
Alternate reason: Water has no calories and this will cut down on your “empty calorie” intake of the day with your other drinks of choice.
Recipe Idea: Grab some fruit and skewer away! It couldn’t be any easier! Grab 5-6 different kinds of fruit, cut them into bite size pieces and skewer them on wooden skewers. They are easily portable, chillable and edible without any utensils. Plus, the girls will really love you if you dip those strawberries in chocolate before!
Chance for Style: Go in with your girlfriends and get game day cups or koozies made for your group.
Chance for Style: If you are doing part of the cooking, check out the recipe below for figure friendly (not to mention pretty and colorful) snacking option for you and the gals.
Day of Game Fashion My game day go to is always style combined with comfort. No one wants to walk the campus half the day and spend the other four hours in four inch heels, a dress that blows up in the wind and a strapless bra Grazing Galore gone awry. First, always consult the weather. Beware of the delicious snacks that might There is nothing worse than being uncomlure you in! Eat a healthy breakfast and fortable by the elements and having no way try to pack as big of a nutritional punch as to change. Second, consult yourself! What possible. Include a ton of vitamins (those do YOU like to wear? Who are YOU going not found in Frito chili pies), some protein to see? There is a chance to make most opand fiber to keep you full to the afternoon tions wearable, fashionable and something (preferably not in the form of sausage and that all your friends will say, “You look so bacon) and get some color in there (chances cute!” are you aren’t going to be munching on Recipe Idea: In the cup goes a splash of vodka, Sprite Zero, a splash of light cranberry juice and a few squeezes of lime juice! A light, portable version of a kick off Cosmo!
If you are a t-shirt and jeans girl, check out this look. Pair a vintage tee with coordinating layers, a casual hat and minimal jewelry. Extra style points? Try pairing them with some harem pants and great sandals to round off your chic, boho tailgate ensemble!
As the season inches on, the weather as we know it dips in the chilly temperatures, invest in a great colored coat that you can throw over any outfit and make a BIG, color blocked statement. Consult your best stylist for this one… YOU! Go military inspired, go funnelnecked collar, go whatever direction you love! Extra style points? Alternate complementary scarves… they are the easiest way to change an outfit, especially if all you can see is your outer shell!
Regardless of what you eat, drink or wear, make sure you have a great time and maybe get into a little trouble if you must! Catch up with old friends and root on your favorite team! Make new friends around you and take a ton of pictures. You are a twenty-something girl, so make the best of this time and make some great memories! Written by Meagan Owen
Check out local campus retailers for some great game day threads! They sometimes have local designs that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else! Also check out companies like, “Ketch the Spirit” whose sole purpose is making great team-specific clothes for women like you!
If you like to dress up for the occasion, check out this dress from shopruche.com. The elastic across the middle cinches in your waist to give you some figure and has the perfect neckline for some statement earrings and some gold bangles. Extra style points? Find a great printed belt and some gold gladiator flats for a cohesive, polished look.
Fashion
Fl
lashback Flapper
Styling: Kelsey Self Hair & Makeup: Lil Doescher Photography: Bethany Young Model: Penelope Reilly Special thanks to The Lobby Bar
Fashion
Fur lovers living in trendy West Hollywood, BEWARE, because residents and animal-rights activists have officially launched a campaign to become the first city in the nation (and possibly the world) to ban the sale of fur. On January 29th, over 200 people rallied at the Matthew Shepard Human Rights Triangle Park in support of the campaign. WeHo is no stranger to promoting animal-rights. In 1989, the progressive city passed Resolution 558, which prohibits the use of steel-jaw leghold traps as well as testing cosmetics on animals. The city had confirmed itself as a cruelty-free zone for animals. It doesn’t stop there. Taking a lead from Boulder, Colorado, WeHo changed their municipal codes to replace the term pet “owner” with pet “guardian”, in 2001. Two years later, they banned the declawing of cats and more recently, banned the retail sale of dogs and cats. Many organizers believe that passing the given law will be easy as pie, due to the sparse amount of fur-selling apparel stores within city limits. Even though fur has made a comeback within the fashion industry, if continues to remain a topic of controversy and debate. WeHo isn’t the only one jumping on board for animalrights. After the petitioning of over 200 Norwegian fashion insiders, Norway decided to ban fur during February’s Oslo Fashion Week, making it the first fashion week ever to place a ban on fur. While Norway banned fur throughout fashion week, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act was passed in America. The bill states that the correct species of origin must be identified on labels belonging to any garment that is made with animal fur. Failure to do so can result in a fine of $5,000 and one long year behind bars. Will banning animal fur become a rising trend among cities and within fashion? I seriously hope not. While some people use fur solely for fashion purposes, there are many who are employed within the fur industry and actually need it in order to survive (clearly not the case in WeHo). If we continue to place a ban on fur, then what’s next? Are cities going to ban the drinking of milk or the use of leather? The use of both fur and animal products should remain a personal choice and opinion, which is why you’ll never catch me strolling down a West Hollywood sidewalk. I’d rather not get my fur-loving ass kicked by some crazed member of PETA.
Written by Daniel Whitfield
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