VAR magazine, issue 1

PHOTO BY MAX DWORKIN

S H O P . O L D H O L L Y W O O D M O X I E . C O M

99

franklin street greenpoint

718.389.0837

v

250

broome street lower east side

646.454.0166

Letter from the Editor I come from an artistic background. My father was an artist and my siblings are all artists with work ranging from graphic design to more traditional studio practices. It is strange that we all ended up in artistic professions considering none of us had grown up together or really knew each other, but it seemed art was something that my father had passed down onto all of us.

We didn’t have toys, so we did what we could do: we drew. We were good at it. Despite not being in the same house, we still saw what the other was doing. I secretly admired my older brothers. We were all into the same things, yet we were very different. I grew up listening to classic rock, T-Rex and Led Zeppelin. My older brother was into the glam rock and hair metal, while my little brother was listening to rap.

We would stay in our rooms just drawing and listening to music. It was these experiences, as kids, that influenced our styles and genres of art.

Later on, drawing influenced our emergence into tattoo culture. There were a lot of tattoos I was interested in getting for myself. There were designs that my brothers and I would draw up. We always wanted to be tattooed, and as soon as I got the chance I went crazy with it.

I’m significantly covered now. That culture turned scene as all my friends started becoming tattooed and quite a few became tattoo artists.

From there it seemed natural to meet other people in the industry, especially models and the photographers who captured them.

With the web design I was doing, I had never created a website for myself. I would create for clients who were always excited that their site would be the next big thing. It never occurred to me to create one for myself. A friend told me to start a site with something

2 VARMAG.COM

I was into, so I started a blog, danielmichel. net. I’m not much of a writer, so I would post pictures of tattoos I liked. I connected the blog through my social networks, such as Twitter and Tumblr. After about three posts, I decided I wanted to interview one of the tattooed models that I had been following on Twitter. The three-question interview she agreed to garnered over 250,000 hits. It was pretty crazy. It wasn’t by any means plannedit seems the best ideas come from accidents.

After I interviewed her, I started following the photographer who had captured her. Looking through his Tumblr, I was seeing all the work that he’d done and it inspired me. I was very interested in photography, I always had been, but now it became all about the pictures. I interviewed tattoo models and photographers alike. It wasn’t just about interesting tattoos anymore, it was about the community surrounding tattoos, the culture and how it was represented as an art form. With the increased attention it was getting, I switched the blog over to nybodyart.com. NYbodyart was intended to be all about tattoo culture in New York, but organically turned global. It became about the tattoo models, photographers, and artists around the world.

I noticed that these models and photographers were all pushing the boundaries and borders of alternative culture, fashion and fine art.

They were getting work in the alternative community, but it wasn’t what they were trying to accomplish, they didn’t consider themselves or what they were doing “alt”. Plenty of them were into fashion photography and magazines like Vogue and Elle. I’m not into fashion itself, but I love fashion photography. As somebody with an artistic background, I was into the pure art of it. It wasn’t just the alternative side that engaged me. I recognized

that I had common interests with the people I interviewed. Those aspects of art that we all enjoy are what inspired me. After seeing these different aspects on various social networks, I didn’t want to just focus on body art anymore.

This was something that had always been on my mind, but I couldn’t just abandon NYbodyart, my following and my passion for tattoos.

A while ago, I had dinner with one of the models and the photographer who shot her. We began talking about how I didn’t want to focus on just “New York” or just “body art”. They agreed that I should start my own magazine. I didn’t have the slightest idea how to create a magazine. They thought that with the popularity of NYbodyart, I should start something else I was passionate about, and that’s where I got the idea for VAR Magazine. The common interests that I had discovered among the photographers and the models I interviewed became the basis for the magazine. It became like a mix CD for people who, like me, had varied artistic passions.

As I started to shoot more over the course of a year, I wasn’t ready to put the magazine together yet, but I had a good amount of experience under my belt. Slowly, I started covering areas I had always wanted to, with photographers like Miko Lim; it wasn’t just tattooed models anymore. In the two years I was doing this, it was close to an even split.

I spent one year shooting tattooed models, and the second year was spent photographing alt models without tattoos. It was a lot more of the photography I wanted to create, and no longer just about the tattoos.

this magazine, I hoped to create something radically different than anything anyone had ever seen before. To use an analogy, tattoo magazines are like roses. You have one pink, one red, one yellow. They are different colors, but all are the same flower. I wasn’t happy with how tattoo magazines seemed only to portray a biker-type of tattoo art and bland photo shoots, especially while I knew that the audience I was catering to (at NYbodyart.com) was more interested in high fashion tattoos, or as I’ve said before, the art of tattoo. My magazine wasn’t just a variant of a rose, it would be a flower of a whole different species.

I decided to name the magazine Variant, which is exactly what it was not (it later became shortened to VAR).

I’ve been working towards the first issue for two years now. I kept in a few articles that I thought were essential (about 7 interviews) but it is mostly a collection of the photo shoots that we’ve done. It is our intention to keep in touch and gather more information about what you all would like to see. The first issue will be the gem of the magazine, with a sampling of the direction I would like to take it. I picked the best shoots I’ve done in the past two years and plan to start out with a bang.

-Danny Michel

With the focus of VAR being much more than just tattoos, I decided to do a double-cover chronicling where this idea started, and what I’d like to do with it now. Starting

3 VARMAG.COM

ISSUE 1

: Contents

Side A

Side B

6. From Go-Sees to Editorials

4. whiskey on the rocks

by Sinta Jimenez

by Michael LoCurto

The Ongoing Affair Between Polaroids and Fashion

An unscripted dialogue with Miko Lim and Alysha Nett

14. The Vintage Fashion Scene

10. Karaoke Bar to Cover Model

by Jade Varden

by Christian O’Neil

Is Everything Old Really New Again?

18. The Unsung Art of Fashion Photography

by Danny Michel

20. Through the Off-Center Looking Glass

The Prominence of Snapshot Aesthetic in Photography

by Danny Michel

28. Olga Maliouk Photographed by Miko Lim 37. Sara Cardillo

Photographed by Corrado Dalcò

42. Davey Havok

Photographed by Louie Aguila

48. Bai Ling

Serve the People

by Christian O’Neil

56. #JennyMollen

An Interview with Bernadette Macias

18. Artists

A collaboration of Theresa Manchester and Gavin Thomas

by Heather Keegan

24. Expanding Photography’s Borders

Rebecca Handler Discusses Her Craft, Critics and Upcoming Projects

by Christian O’Neil

30. Jekyll & Stagg

A Brief Q&A with Commercial and Erotic Photographer Ellen Stagg

by Vince Lombardi

36. Jesse Lee Denning

Photographed by Gavin Thomas

42. Ilaria Pozzi

Photographed by Corrado Dalcò

46. Susanna Canonico

Photographed by Romolo Milito

Founder of VAR magazine and NY Body Art, Danny Michel has been developing an alternative community since 2010. Through his artistic vision, Michel is able to bring once taboo subjects into the eyes of the fashion and art world..

Dale Sestoso’s role as Production Director keeps the magazine functioning on a daily basis. He is efficient in ensuring that every aspect is covered legally, financially and also that the vision of VAR is always clear in every decision made.

Mark Progano is VAR Magazine’s technical guru. Mark graduated with a degree in Internet Marketing and also, has background in programming, development, and user centered design. He uses his knowledge to maintain the VAR Magazine website and bring the magazine to life on all digital fronts.

Christian O’Neil is a recent Brooklyn resident by way of Las Vegas, NV. After spending time in the Army, playing video games professionally and training in MMA, he’s moved to NY to continue his education in creative writing.

Dina Marie works as Production Manager for VAR Magazine. She has a Bachelors degree in Education. Dina enjoys writing and editing to enhance her creative view point in an effort to keep up with the latest trends related to various types of art and lifestyles.

Gavin Pirell, the production consultant at VAR Magazine, was instrumental in the magazine’s timely release. He helped organize models and photographers who would go on to create the featured spreads. His production contributions can be felt throughout the premiere issue and are partly responsible for its artistic quality.

America’s Next Trending Topic

52. Valentina Belleza

64. Miles Devin

Male Model, Female Fashion

57. Taylor Tilden Photographed by Lisa Boyle

Vince Lombardi’s passion for music and alt culture has lead him to work with underground artists locally, and internationally. His experience ranges from music videos, independent documentaries, big budget feature films and TV, instructional, and now interviewing and filming behind the scenes for VAR Magazine.

68. Kacie Marie

63. Cat King Photographed by Christian Saint

Miles Devin, Model and Fashion Editor for VAR Magazine, is also an aspiring photographer and fashion junkie. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry.

by Christian O’Neil

by Elizabeth Hazard

...and we love Kacie Marie

by Heather Keegan

74. Mosh

Neon Lights and Bondage Nights

BY Jennifer Caruso

82. Rebecca Bone

Hampshire’s Heartthrob

by Paul Walker-Daley

Photographed by Damien elroy Vignaux

Jennifer Caruso began by writing fictional stories from a young age. It wasn’t until her first year of college that she fell in love with the genre of journalism. Her goal is to bring unexpected angles to already intriguing subjects.

Jade Varden explores the fashion world every day while she writes young adult books for teen readers, who are always on the cutting edge of clothing trends. In addition to her freelance fashion writing, Jade blogs practical writing tips for authors who self-publish.

Paul Walker-Daley, brings an insightful look into models, photographers and artists as he attempts to diminish the barriers between them and our readers. He’s based in London, England as VAR’s British Correspondent.

Sinta Jimenez is a writer, fine artist and fashion journalist. Her short fiction, poetry and paintings have been published in several international and national literary journals. She contributes regularly and serves as Editor to several fashion magazines.

Chrissy Reilly is a Creative Director who lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Design Director of VAR Magazine and is currently the Creative Director and US Content Editor of other publications. She currently holds a seat on the Advisory Board of the Young Photographers Alliance and has lectured at universities regarding the sustainability of a career as an artist.

4 VARMAG.COM

Founder | Executive Editor: Danny Michel Deputy Editor: Dale Sestoso Editor at Large: Christian O’Neil Production Manager: Dina Marie Fashion Editor: Miles Devin Design Editor: Chrissy Reilly Gavin Pirell: Production Consultant Fact Checker: Kamuela Franco Video Editor | Reporter: Vince Lombardi Multi-Media Production and Development: Mark Progano, Rob Blanchard

Contributing Writers: Paul Walker Daley, Sinta Jimenez, Jade Varden, Jennifer Caruso, Michael LoCurto, Shannon Freed, Heather Hansen, Heather Keegan, Elizabeth Hazard, Vince Lombardi Lead Photographer: Miko Lim Contributing Photographers: Danny Michel, Rich Burroughs, Daniel Vera, Doug Winskey, Rebecca Handler, Matteo Rigamonti, Corrado Dalcò, Louie Aguila, Victor Rodriguez, Kate Romero, Gerard Goh, Gavin Thomas, Jennifer Erickson, Jordan Green, Debbi Rotkowitz, Ellen Stagg, Romolo Milito, Damien Elroy Vignaux, Lisa Boyle, Christian Saint

A Cover: Olga Maliouk by Miko Lim B Cover: Dave Navarro and Bernadette Macias by Debbi Rotkowitz Special thanks to Sara Blake, Dave Delzio, Justin Marshall, Juliya Chernetsky Contact: info@varmag.com © 2012 VAR Magazine, Inc.

From Go-Sees to Editorials: The Ongoing Affair Between Polaroids and Fashion

by Sinta Jimenez

The Polaroid instant use camera was a revolutionary technology at naissance, allowing us to capture a moment then review ourselves while still in the throws of the emotion photographed. The Polaroid was, in it’s archaic way, our first digital camera, a vehicle of instant gratification with pictures developed at a never before experienced speed. With push-button simplicity, it quickly dominated and enthralled the market at its peak. Now, it’s been over sixty years since the first Polaroid camera was debuted for commercial sale and decades since its heyday in the 70s and early 80s. The 90s saw the evaporation of the Polaroid camera from mass use with advent of newer and faster technologies. Society and film brands alike turned its back on Polaroids to focus instead on digital cameras and memory cards. We forgot the fun of the instant camera as emerging technology became even more instant, with picture review available within nanoseconds.

MODEL: Mandy Murphy PHOTOGRAPHER: danny michel STYLE: Models OWN

However, there is a remaining subset of society that has refused to forget about the Polaroid -- the world of fashion. The fashion world is a peculiar community in that, for as quickly as it sprints through its trends, it also remains uniquely moribund in some of its rituals. The velocity of design is inversely proportionate to fashion’s commitment to its establishments. Like reverence for the houses of couture and the stalwart scheduling of the biannual fashion weeks, the methodology of model recruitment has remained largely unchanged at its photographical level.

6 VARMAG.COM

7 VARMAG.COM

8 VARMAG.COM

9 VARMAG.COM

Go-see appointments, where a model is sent to a client for a potential gig, have continued to rely on the bare and grainy intimacy of model Polaroids. Clients are sent Polaroids of bare-face models, sans makeup, dressed in simple outfits. The Polaroids are traditionally taken face-forward, in profile, and a full-length body shot. And that’s it and that’s how it’s been for a very long time. Because these days cameras do lie, especially fancy electronic ones whose images can be easily altered with Photoshop. But a Polaroid is static, unalterable and reveals only authenticity. Polaroids capture in its muddled white wash exposure a timelessness and honesty that is both sentimental and austere. There is no room for editing; no possible deception.

With Polaroids, what you see is what you get, from every angle, from head to toe. And when you’re looking for a true blue beauty, as every breathing soul in fashion is, then only a Polaroid will do.

However, fashion doesn’t stop at just gosees, but whole campaigns are now being photographed on the almost-extinct Polaroid film. Fashion photographers like Terry Richardson continue to photograph subjects on Polaroids, which have provided Richardson with cool and hip collections of celebrity portraits. We cannot help but find it an interesting aesthetic quandary to see portraits of the famous in a most familiar and amateur medium -- our dear old Polaroid. Is that Lady Gaga or is that a vulnerable little blonde hiding behind sunglasses? And is that James Franco, my darling Jimmy, smiling 10 VARMAG.COM

MODEL: Jennifer Sullins PHOTOGRAPHER: Rich Burroughs STYLE: Models OWN

11 VARMAG.COM

straight at me laughing at an intimate joke only we know? Terry Richardson would like to have us dream so of. Richardson, whose photography occasionally takes a turn for the near pornographic, exploits the Polaroid’s amateur bias-creating editorials with a seedy and voyeuristic quality. Of course, this is a thing we’ve all loved since Warhol and those CK One ads featuring a teenage Kate Moss.

It’s not all sex and scumbags though, there is an innate glamour and inescapable artfulness to the Polaroid aesthetic that finely translates into the world of high fashion.

As Ezra Petronio, creative director behind campaigns for Chloe, Miu Miu and Yves Saint Laurent, explains his use of Polaroids “[Were in] homage to Warhol, and they make the photos look glam because they use a flash that diffuses a lot of light.”

Most recently, ultra hip brand Rag & Bone used Polaroid photos as the medium for its past several campaigns and thoroughly throughout their official blog. Praise for the Spring/Summer 2012 campaign, featuring gamine actress Michelle Williams and Pop 12 VARMAG.COM

Art artist Ed Ruscha, was widespread. Williams was photographed frolicking in the Hollywood Cemetery. The brilliance in the photography and clothing was: it appeared almost impossible to tell the era or time period by judgement using the photos alone. It could have been the 40s, it could’ve been the 60s, it could’ve been any time at all.

Rag & Bone designer, Scott Sternberg, commented on Rag & Bone’s use of Polaroids, “It’s a very practical, relatively cheap way to shoot using film.... And the ‘instant’ thing comes in handy when trying to gain a subject’s trust.” Photos can be quickly shown to the subject, and pending their judgment are kept or disposed of. The result is in a special trust between photographer and subject, the kind of trust models need to project exactly what they are meant to. Polaroids give freedom, freedom to expose maximum potential and maximum beauty. Without inhibition or self-consciousness, model and photographer alike have the the perfect ingredients for a sublime editorial.

Many photographers from the pros to the

art school kids are now re-evaluating the Polaroid as an artistic medium. So much so that Fuji Film has continued to produce the popular film, the sole recognizable brand in a once oversaturated market. Fuji Film is now one of only two remaining producers of instant film, the second being the Impossible Project, a group that acquired Polaroid technology before its bust. And from Urban Outfitters to art stores, Polaroid film is again being stacked on the front shelves.

The Polaroid has found itself undergo a myriad of transitions, from experimental camera to household electronic but perhaps its present status as a medium for fashion is the best place for it to rest its head. The world of fashion parallels this transformative energy as it shifts with the great velocity of trends. However, as fashion trends come and go, all descend with the hope they’ll be the next design to last forever, make an impact, and hopefully inspire. Like a Chanel boucle jacket, the Polaroid comes from a past generation but is as dynamically modern as it is classic. n

MODEL: Roarie PHOTOGRAPHER: Doug Whinsky STYLE: Models OWN

13 VARMAG.COM

tage “trends” really lame fashion attempts from people with stuffed closets who are styling-bynostalgia? Fingerless gloves really are not any more practical today than they were in ‘80s and there is definitely a point when a look crosses the line from stylish…into sad. Who really wears vintage fashion anyway?

“I think just about everyone has something in their closet that is vintage,” said Porter. According to her, it’s not just because cleaning out the closet is a nightmare. “Today, thrifting and vintage hunting has become intertwined with today’s trend forecasters. It’s what you are finding and how you are wearing it that gives it style.”

Great vintage fashion is not just about the old clothing and accessories that you are repurposing long after it was the latest hot item on the store shelves. Many modern designs are vintageinspired and more high fashion names are looking to the past to find the trends of tomorrow.

Marc Jacobs unveiled new looks for his Spring 2011 line, pulling inspiration from the bright colors and flowing lines of ‘70s-era styles. It was not just a fluke: Jacobs introduced new vintageinspired fashions during New York Fashion Week in Spring 2012 and Fall 2012. Also, Vogue did an enormous spread of vintage-inspired style in the March 2012 issue, a trend that has appeared in the magazine in previous years as well.

The Vintage Fashion Scene:

Is Everything Old Really New Again?

by JADE VARDEN

To call something vintage is to say that it is antique or old-fashioned -- nicely. So why would any fashionista be interested in wearing yesterday’s looks and scouring the consignment shops for what used to be someone’s must-have ‘80sera ruffled denim skirt? If Lycra one-pieces were horrendous before, why would they be fantastic 60 years after the fact? The vintage fashion scene can be pretty tricky, but if you want to keep your look fresh you are going to have to get into it… because what is fashion, if not a bunch of looks that are constantly recycled?

14 VARMAG.COM

At least, that is what stylist and Old Hollywood owner Tiff Porter says. I had the chance to speak with her recently, during some down time when she wasn’t busy tending shop from her Broome Street store in Manhattan, or the second location in Brooklyn. Old Hollywood specializes in vintage fashion and accessories from all eras, which as I’ve learned, means their fashions are always in style.

“Fashion is always in a perpetual recycle,” Porter explained. “Things of yesteryear being made ‘new’ or modern by top designers re-living a

popular style of the past. For instance, a lot of the trends that were popular in the ‘80s were popular ‘40s styles and we are seeing a lot of early ‘90s trends today.” Hopefully you haven’t thrown away all your old flannel shirts and baby doll dresses.

When you want to create an eye-popping new look that shows off all the latest trends, how often do you rush right out to search for local yard sales and thrift shops? Have you ever called your mom to ask if you can borrow some of her old clothes for tonight’s hot date? Are so-called vin-

“Just about anything you see on the runway was inspired by a past decade or classic silhouette,” said the expert. Look past the fabric and patterns and the ruffles to gaze at the lines of the design and you will see that she is right. Those slim Aline skirts that look ultra-modern and chic today were considered cutting-edge in the late ’50s, and the Capri pants that everyone loved a few summers ago were proudly worn by Mary Tyler Moore in the days of black and white TV. The classic ball gown, the sleek sheath, even the asymmetrical one-shoulder look comes and goes in fashion throughout the decades. What really dates fashion is not in the lines of design, it is in the colors, the fabrics and the embellishments.

That tweed jacket from the ‘70s you would not be caught dead in 5 years ago is one of today’s hottest fabric styles and ‘80s-era ruffles are suddenly making a big comeback as well.

“People are also mixing real vintage on the runway,” Tiff Porter says. “Jewelry and accessories,

if it’s done well, the normal eye would never know the vintage [items] from the new [vintageinspired] stuff most of the time.”

Maybe it is not such a bad idea to go digging through your Mom’s old belongings after all.

The hot look for this summer is vintage-inspired swimsuits that are styled after the classic looks from the ‘50s. What better way to accentuate that pinup-esque swimsuit than with a heavilybeaded necklace or thick plastic bracelet that is actually from that era? Vintage accessories and shoes are a great way to bring out the best in vintage-inspired fashions of today. The mixand-match look allows you to blend your real vintage items with your brand-new, high fashion outfit, and give a nod to the decade that inspired your overall look.

A visit to yard sales and thrift shops, keeping an eye out for the older styles that are gaining new popularity, may be your best bet to finding the newest trends for a great price. Buying vintage is an easy way to stay in style even if you cannot always afford the hottest, latest designer fashions coming right off the runway. Instead of getting the new Marc Jacobs, why not nab a dress from the consignment store made in the year that inspired his latest runway line? Style guru Tiff Porter says that the ‘50s and the ‘90s are the decades to watch -- because they’re making a big fashion comeback.

“High-waisted shorts and pants are still happening,” she revealed. “Also re-surfacing are some great early ‘90s fashions, like plaids and combat boots. Also, the cropped blouses and handkerchiefs for men, old school bow ties and fitted slim shirts -- all ‘50s nods.” She says you should also keep your eyes peeled for ‘70s-style maxi dresses in bright colors and platform sandals for the upcoming summer, because the trendy designers are turning their attention to this decade again.

However, that pink sweater that looked great 5 years ago probably is not going to become the hot new look anytime soon. Vintage is not a label that can be slapped onto any old piece of clothing. In fashion, there are always rules. According to the expert, a piece of clothing or accessory is vintage if it is at least 20 years old.

If you have fashion that is 50 years or older, it is an antique. Antique styles are always threatening to make a fashion comeback also. When

everything old becomes new again in the fashion world, your grandmother’s World War II jewelry could be the most stylish pieces in your collection this time next year.

Vintage fashion is not at all a new trend, though the vintage label is relatively recent in the fashion world. Remember the loose blouses and sweaters everyone was wearing in the 1980s with slim-fitting leggings? Take a look at the flapper dresses of the 1920s and you will see a similarity in the lines of style, baggy, low-waisted silhouettes. As for the loose, flowing 1920s looks we saw some of the same silhouettes re-emerging in the form of ‘60s-era dresses when Flower Power and fashion comfort went hand-in-hand.

Vintage trends were actually trending 100 years ago, but nobody had the chance to talk about them on Twitter. The slim, tightly-fitted bodices on 1890s dresses are remarkably similar to the waist-emphasizing fashions that appeared in the 1840s. The wide, bell-shaped skirts and stiff, multi-faceted petticoats that everyone had in 1950s fashions are just a little shorter and slimmer than the look Scarlett O’Hara loved in the 1860s, not to mention -- easier to machine-wash!

Gloves just keep coming back -- women had to have them in the 1930s and they could not walk outdoors without them in the 1830s. The small, artful head ornaments that made such a splash at William and Kate’s 2011 wedding are not too far away from the headbands that women loved in the 1920s.

By any other name, vintage fashion is always a hot, new trend – it is just a different decade this year than last. Certain styles, fabrics and silhouettes from yesteryear will always find their way back into new designs because fashion is constantly re-inventing itself. The secret to great fashion is never wearing the same thing the same way twice and still finding ways to use all the same pieces to create brand-new looks. That is what vintage fashion has always been about, even in the 1800s. n

PHOTOGRAPHER: Rebecca Handler Art Director: Chrissy Reilly STYLE: Tiffany Porter Hair: Akira Yamane Makeup: MandyJo Reinier

15 VARMAG.COM

The Unsung Art of Fashion Photography

by Danny Michel

Fashion photography is vastly underrated as an art form. The ease of digital photography, combined with access to cell phones with cameras embedded in them, has turned photography into a hobby that nearly anyone can practice with some degree of success. A bevy of smart phone apps exist that can turn haphazard shots into seemingly well edited, carefully framed photos. While it’s true that casual observers cannot always discern between amateur photographs and the work of a true artist, the world of fashion depends upon a photographer’s ability to capture the ‘special something’ that a model or garment may possess.

Fashion, first and foremost, is about aspiration. The aim of fashion photography is to encourage the consumer to want to achieve something better and more elite than the life they are currently living. It is a fantasy that is constructed out of real clothes, models and scenery. Most fashion photography depicts young female models wearing overly stylized ensembles within environments that convey a type of romantic fiction. New York City is generally depicted as being much cleaner than it really is, for example, just as green pastures are often portrayed as hotbeds of coltish youth. It’s not uncommon for young and sun-kissed models to be photographed joyfully frolicking through amber waves of grain. In actuality, there are few reasons for teenagers to ever need to run through overgrown fields, and even when they do it’s probably not during the day and in the company of other young, beautiful and well dressed people. That’s because this type of photography is not about the literal scene that is being captured. It is about the feeling that is 18 VARMAG.COM

being created and what the fields represent. Rural settings like these are used to sell products and clothing that are marketed as having ‘allAmerican’ appeal.

Similarly, cityscapes are utilized to communicate excitement and opportunity. Photographs of cities are often taken with black and white film or are edited in post-production to have over-saturated color schemes. Neon signs are repeatedly represented in a nod to late-night establishments with varying levels of disrepute. It’s very common for city photography to be used in advertising for outerwear, as city girls have to walk everywhere in New York no matter what the weather is like, so shots of models in motion wearing chic coats or jackets are effective when used in marketing campaigns.

The models that are chosen to appear in the ads also play a role in creating the mood that the photographer desires. Traditionally, pretty blondes work well in the soft-lit rural ads, whereas city photography can be a little edgier. The women in these ads don’t need to be conventionally beautiful if there is something otherwise compelling about their faces that captures well on film. ‘All-American’ models are frequently directed to act the way normal teenagers would, as ads for comfortable spring and summer clothing should feature models that look like they are enjoying being outdoors together. The models in cityscape ads may appear alone or wear serious expressions, since these ads sometimes tread on couture territory while attempting not to alienate middle-class

purchasers.

Ad campaign photography, however, should not cast a shroud on any non-commercial artist’s use of urban or rural backdrops. These extremes in setting and styling were simply used to illustrate that a photographer’s decisions should account for the associations the American public already holds regarding landscapes, hair color and physical demeanor. The photographer will shoot entire rolls of film, but only one shot will be chosen. This image will be seen for mere seconds as a reader flips through a magazine’s pages. The artist must understand when they are hired to shoot an ad campaign that they only have those few seconds to convince potential customers to buy the advertised products. Campaign photography should work cohesively with the associations which are already established by the public.

Couture photography, on the other hand, allows the artist more freedom to create their own aesthetic and present it over the course of several pages. People who study high fashion, and photography of, spend much more time with these images than they do with advertisements. Therefore, the concept of the photo spread should lend itself to critical appraisals. A popular misconception of couture photography is that designers and photographers are delusional, since they expect average people to imitate the way the models look in the pictures. Similarly based accusations are used to discredit people who work in the fashion industry, as well as paint the industry as a whole frivolous and unintelligent. Those who are involved in high-end fashion are well aware of its sometimes unrealistic qualities. In fact, that lack of realism is one of the main assets of fashion photography. Fashion sells a fantasy. It’s supposed to make men and women feel as if they are stepping into entirely new lives by putting on a new set of clothes.

Fashion spreads, like the sort that are seen in Vogue Magazine, are intended to tell stories. These stories do not always have specific narratives, but they must at least have a sense of structure and forward motion. If the hair and makeup styling are unconventional and intending to create a mood within the piece, there must be some consistency present without giving every model the same exact look. Some fashion spreads utilize different models while others feature only one. And since the spreads are not often expected to sell complete outfits, they don’t have to be realistic depictions of how the clothes will look on common people. While some viewers may end up buying an item or two, the real goal of these photographs is to create something akin to modern art. They should not be directed toward the masses, but rather, directed towards the few.

They should be created under the assumption that those who will analyze the pictures already understand the objective of high-end fashion photography. There is no overt sales agenda.

Couture photography may seem easier to create than commercial photography at first glance. Since some of the images are so odd, many people prefer the more normative frames that are featured in advertising. An eye for high fashion is incredibly difficult to develop. The photographer must understand the realistic demands they can place upon their models. Those models will be using their bodies and the clothes they are wearing to create shapes and lines the way painters use oils and pastels, but with the inherent limitations of real bodies. The photographer must have the ability to conceive a unique concept that is feasible, for all parties involved, within the confines of their chosen setting. They must deliver a shocking first impact as well as a longterm interest in their work. They must be able to deliver their vision. n

PHOTOGRAPHER: Matteo Rigamonti Model: Emanuela Faccin STYLE: Francesca Gullo Leggins: Calzedonia

Shoes: Jui Jo Corset: STYLISTS OWN

19 VARMAG.COM

Through the Off-Center Looking Glass:

Aesthetic in Photography

The Prominence of Snapshot

by Danny Michel - Photographer: Miko Lim - Models: Zippora Seven, Melissa Haro, Melanie Ribbe, andrea boskovic

Photography has grown over the decades to become a fusion of art and technology. With the advent and rise of digital cameras, the artistic approach to photography has changed dramatically within the last ten to fifteen years.

One artistic movement, snapshot aesthetic, has become popular among photographers today.

Snapshot aesthetic - the concept originates from ordinary people taking photos of their everyday lives - focuses on an off-center subject involved in an everyday situation. Another aspect of the movement, which dates back to the 1960’s, is the lack of ‘seeing’ the edges of a frame through a camera’s viewfinder.

However, according to the Los Angeles-based Museum of Contemporary Art’s research, snapshot aesthetic involves the subject at the central column of a photograph. The result is the random filling of space due to other activities on the sides of the subject. When the movement began in 1958 via the works of Robert Frank, photographers captured subjects in their everyday activities. For example, photographers Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander wandered the streets of New York City to capture glimpses of people in urban life. Thus, snapshot aesthetic did not involve a framed, manipulated image.

Photography relies on a composition grid, which is a three column by three row layout.

With snapshot aesthetic, the objective of the photographer is to ensure that the subject is not in the central rectangle, known as the dead center. For example, in a head and torso portrait, a photographer ensures that the subject’s head is in either the top left or center rectangle for an off-center effect. As another example, a photographer shoots the subject either in the far left or right side within the frame. This offcenter effect provides space in the photograph for the surroundings to play a part.

Snapshot aesthetic is mainly used in portraiture, especially celebrity and fashion photography. With technological advances in photographic art, photographers have revitalized 20 VARMAG.COM

snapshot aesthetic with some modifications within the last decade. Although color is the more popular style today, some contemporary artists still use black and white in their photographs for additional appeal. Often photos are taken with the intent of being manipulated during post production, which is why snapshot aesthetic seldom involves random or spur of the moment photographs today. Photographers use snapshot aesthetic as a technique rather than a genre. Many fashion photographers also use it as a means to expand their individual style.

A prominent American fashion photographer, Terry Richardson, is renowned for snapshot aesthetic. Richardson is a unique photographer because he sometimes is in photographs with his subjects. For example, Richardson poses with Aziz Ansari in a few photographs you can find on terrysdiary.com. Sometimes, Richardson will swap his glasses with those of the subject in his photographs, like when he swaps his glasses with Candice’s heart-shaped sunglasses as detailed in his photograph dated April 13, 2012, on his abovementioned website.

Richardson is known for sexually appealing photographs, which is his main style. According to New York Magazine, Richardson shot a photograph of a man and two women that effectively sold the notion of sex, which caught the attention of Gucci for their upcoming marketing campaign. The ensuing photo shoot was Richardson’s first time working for Gucci’s advertising projects.

Another unique aspect of Richardson is his snapshot camera. Sometimes technology is part of snapshot aesthetic. Richardson carries a light camera for quick shots rather than a heavy digital SLR, which is often the preferred camera of a professional photographer.

A New York Magazine author, Daisy Garnett, once visited Richardson at his loft. Garnett was bruised from a bicycle accident that occurred previously. Richardson’s personality, which involves much randomness, led him to take many photos of Garnett’s bruised face. During this interaction, Richardson reloaded film

in one camera while shooting snapshots with another. The man is a snapshot virtuoso, not a mere photographer.

The increasingly famous photographer Miko Lim, with international living experience, combines snapshot aesthetic with the honest beauty and essence of his subjects. In one photograph, Lim captures the beauty of a female model in a white and lavender dress lying down on a hard floor, accentuating her soft, well-sculpted body. In another, Lim centers a man in his frame, highlighting the masculine beauty of the flexing, muscular arms, squinting eyes and perfect smile of the male model. It is difficult to discern if the photo was posed, but it clearly demonstrates Lim’s ability to combine snapshot aesthetic and innate beauty in his works.

A rising celebrity in his own right, Gavin Thomas is another photographer whose stock is on the rise. As a celebrity photographer, snapshots are essential for quick business and Gavin’s success. During a shoot of a male model uploaded on his WordPress blog, Thomas captures the beauty of his subject over the course of many snapshots. In one photo, the model rides a skateboard with his arms outstretched for balance. The blur in the model’s hands is exemplary of snapshot aesthetics because the photo captures an everyday situation of urban life, such as skateboarding, in its natural state. In another photo, the same model ruffles his hair with his right hand partly covering his face. However, Thomas still brings out the smile on the model’s face to exemplify his handsome features.

Reality seems to be the goal for many contemporary photographers including Richardson, Lim and Thomas today, as was the case in 1958 at the beginning of snapshot aesthetic movement. n

21 VARMAG.COM

22 VARMAG.COM

23 VARMAG.COM

24 VARMAG.COM

25 VARMAG.COM

26 VARMAG.COM

27 VARMAG.COM

Olga Maliouk by Miko Lim

Stylist: Stephanie Tricola | Makeup: William Murphy AT Joe | Hair: Elouise Cheung AT Walter Schupfer MGMT

28 VARMAG.COM

Retoucher: Tomoko InouePhoto Assistant: Michael Smoley | Stylist Assistants: Shelby Werschmidt, George Alvi

29 VARMAG.COM

30 VARMAG.COM 31 VARMAG.COM

Floral top: Adam Selman | Floral shorts: Adam Selman | Fanny belt: Karen Walker | Heel: Manolo Blahnik

Bra: Deborah Marquit | Skirt: Jac Langheim | Shoes: Aldo

32 VARMAG.COM 33 VARMAG.COM

Hair pins: Jen Kao | Dress: Cushnie et Ochs | Shoes: Aldo | Bracelet: Metal Pointus

34 VARMAG.COM 35 VARMAG.COM

Bikini bottoms and top: The Blonds | Rubber motorcycle jacket: Jac Langhei | Shoes: Pierre Hardy | Ring: Metal Pointus

Harem pant: Hanii Y | Bikini top: Agent Provocateur | Shoes: Aldo | Bracelettes: Jen Kao

Sara Cardillo by Corrado Dalcò

Dress: Missoni | shoes and bag: Cinti

Shirt: Valentino Pants: Moschino Shoes and Pochette: Cinti

Model: Sara Cardillo Assistant: Marco Pillo Hair and Makeup: Piero Marsiglio

37 VARMAG.COM

38 VARMAG.COM 39 VARMAG.COM

Shorts: Diesl | Shirt: Metradamo | Shoes:Cinti

Shirt: Valentino | Pants: Moschino | Shoes and Pochette: Cinti

Singlet: Viktor & Rolf | Skirt: Prada | Shoes: Cinti

Shorts: Diesel | Jacket: Metradamo | Shoes and bag: Cinti

40 VARMAG.COM

41 VARMAG.COM

Hair and MakeUp: Kim Young Stylist: Walter Mendez Assistant Stylist: Miranda Paxten Amelia

42 VARMAG.COM LEFT: Blake double breasted cardigan and jacket, Miranda Amelia Porter LS shirt The Walter Collection | RIGHT: GQ taupe blazer | parker brown pants, The Walter Collection

DAVey Havok by Louie Aguila

44 VARMAG.COM 45 VARMAG.COM

LEFT: Blaze black double breasted jacket, Miranda Amelia Porter LS shirt, Zac black pants, The Walter Collection | GQ taupe blazer | parker brown pants, The Walter Collection

Photography by Graham Pollack, Styled by Bailey Pollack

46 VARMAG.COM 47 VARMAG.COM

BAi Ling:

Serve the People

by Christian O’Neil

It takes me all of 40 seconds to realize I’m speaking with someone special. Bai Ling is not from the same planet as you or I. Figuratively speaking of course, yet I’m still ruling it out literally until after we’ve finished our interview. I come clean with Ling as soon as I have her on the phone that I didn’t get an extensive amount of time to prepare for our chat. She assures me, “That’s better, because now we’re just two human beings being human beings.” My anxieties about being underprepared vanish and I’m filled with an approval for just how cool this woman seems. I’m not interviewing an absurdly beautiful woman whom I’ve watched in movies since I was 9 anymore.

The stress of interviewing an absurdly beautiful woman, validated by People Magazine as one of the Most 50 Beautiful People, someone I’ve watched in movies since I was 9, diminished. Instead, I’m simply on the phone with somone interesting, with the task of getting her to talk.

Photographed by Victor Rodriguez - Model: Bai Ling Really, the only trouble is where to begin. I’m conversing with someone who spent three of her teenage years in the People’s Liberation Army of communist China, enduring abhorrent physical and mental abuse that have long since been covered in articles before this one.

She won Best Supporting Actress accolades at the Hong Kong Film Awards, the Golden Bauhinia Awards and the Golden Horse Awards for her work in the 2001 Chinese film Dumplings. It’s been covered. She’s worked alongside Brandon Lee in The Crow and Richard Gere in Red Corner. She’s been on the cover of Playboy Magazine. It’s been covered.

She’s been to rehab for and overcome alcohol abuse. She was on the TV shows Lost and Entourage. It’s all been covered. So instead of beating a dead horse, we discuss the one thing in this equal-parts fascinating and attractive woman’s life that hasn’t been covered ad nauseam; how does Bai Ling see herself, both today and in the future? Furthermore, how does she hope those of us who were never voted into anyone’s “Top 50 Most Beautiful People” lists see her?

I need a better understanding of the woman I’m talking to. So we start the meat and potatoes of our discussion when I ask her if there are characters she’s portrayed over the years that are any “more Bai Ling” than the others.

What I get in return, for the duration of our conversation, is a mix of confidence, spirituality, sensuality, ambition and innocence, the likes of which I’ve never before encountered all in one person.

As I alluded to earlier, my own personal history with Bai Ling dates back to my pre-teens, when I found myself in the very confusing space between getting creeped out and turned on by her character, Myca, in The Crow. She’s played a lot of different roles since then, and

Bai Ling and I decide to stay on the topic of seizing the day and discuss a particular video she posted on her website in which she’s riding an Army helicopter over the deserts of Iraq.

After receiving e-mails and Facebook messages from soldiers stationed overseas requesting

48 VARMAG.COM

“I think I’m a very versatile and very complicated, yet open, human being and actress because my senses are all open. Everything I do is brutally honest, whether it is comedy or drama. That’s the magic and the genius of the performer,” she begins sagely. “As an actor, you can’t control the whole project. You can only control your part. So at the moment, I give my best. Each movie has a different spirit of character. Making these films is not work, it’s living. And I live the moment and make the best of it.” I stifle my simple response of ‘carpe diem’ and make a mental note to rewatch Dead Poets Society sometime this year.

a celebrity visit from their favorite Chinese superstar, Bai Ling decided that all 103lbs. of her were going to visit the troops stationed in Iraq and show some appreciation for their continued sacrifice. Upon her arrival, she was given some disconcerting information.

“When I landed in Baghdad, they told me ‘Bai Ling, yesterday, there was a bomb dropped right [where you’re standing].’ It was very dangerous and really scary and when I arrived there was no media. But it’s okay because I did it from my spirit and for my heart. And when I left I told them ‘I have great respect for all of you.’ A [female soldier] told me ‘we have great respect for you.’ I said ‘why me?’

She told me ‘other celebrities say many times they’re coming and no one comes.’” Bai Ling didn’t just go; she stayed in Iraq for over two weeks. She met and took pictures with locals and soldiers alike. One soldier even confided in Ling that he hadn’t seen a woman in over eight months. I wonder if the line worked but I don’t ask.

Then, I learned that it’s not just soldiers that are reaching out to Ling with messages of appreciation. “Last night,” she recounts, “I couldn’t sleep and was on Facebook like a little girl and I got a message from a high school boy. He said ‘Bai Ling, you don’t even know how much you help, how influential you are. For people my age, we look up to you 49 VARMAG.COM

so much and want to achieve the things you have.’ So I thought ‘wow, I want to do that.

I want to be that thing that inspires others.”

I’m impressed but can’t help considering for a moment how much things have changed.

Facebook messaging my celebrity crushes wasn’t an option back in ‘98 (bad news for me, good news for Gillian Anderson). But I digress. “I believe I found my dream,” my passionate, celebrity subject continues. “I want to inspire people! I want to encourage people to be who they are. The best way to live your life with no regrets is to be the best, most authentic version of who you really are.

If I can do it, how can they not do it?” The ‘it’ she’s speaking of here just so happens to be overcoming a past marked by sexual abuse, emigrating from communist China to New York City, living in a foreign country without speaking the language and still achieving international celebrity as a Hollywood actress.

No biggie. “I’m here to help, to give, because I went through so much. I can tell [young people] my story and they’ll believe me. I really want to encourage them to find themselves and find their gifts and work from the heart. I’m not perfect but I do my best.” We both agree it foolish to try and expound upon so succinct and so wonderful an idea as “I’m not perfect but I do my best,” so we jump to the next topic on Ling’s mind.

Currently, Bai Ling is branching out from her acting roots. She is not only acting in a new movie named Speed Dragon, but producing it as well. “This is an independent film but it’s a good independent film because the creators are making the film from their heart…

I just feel that the artist I am is not really for money or other things except the love I have for the art I’m doing. I support the film because I think [independent films such as this one] need to be seen and need to be known because of the beautiful heart that is in it.”

Her passion for the film industry is evident so I continue steering the conversation in that direction. I’m getting used to flow of our conversation. She speaks fast and with a heavy accent but she’s the perfect interviewee. I simply mention a topic and she can talk at length, colorfully and with experience, to both of our hearts’ content. “I think as an artist, as long as you put everything into [the film making process], and really push it to the edge and do the best you can, you will see the 50 VARMAG.COM

power and beauty of the film. And that’s the power of living, of loving and of enjoying doing what you do.”

There must be something to her philosophy.

Despite having no formal training in acting, Bai Ling remains an exceedingly sought after actress with projects already in her queue.

An actress that casting directors are sure will bring the sex appeal on-screen for any moviegoer with two eyes and a strong heartbeat. “I never learned acting in my life,” she says. “I never want to learn. I think that’s the magic of the performer. It’s like a wild river. You can’t know, you can’t control it. That’s the mystery of human nature that I enjoy and respect.” I sit in silence knowing that there’s still more in her clip. She doesn’t disappoint me. “Another thing is that I don’t like to practice. I don’t like to prepare at all.”

“If that’s the case,” I think to myself as I compare her approach to acting and my approach to interview prep, “she must be really enjoying this dialogue.”

She doesn’t let on that she notices my ‘aside’ and continues. “I like that real moment to be existing and for even me to be surprised when it happens. Yes, they call me actress, you call it acting, but to me, in my universe, it’s not acting. This is real life. I’m there to be totally and brutally honest. That’s the different approach I take. That way, to me, I can make magic. I’m directly to the heart.

Directly to the truth of the universe and its essence.” Throughout the interview, she has spoken quickly and with an accent that sometimes makes her words indiscernible. She loses me a bit at the end there but her message, I believe, has been received. “I value the moment of life. I don’t think too much about the future and I forgot about the past and I’m treating the moment as if I’m born today as a child with a fresh open heart. I trust the universe. I trust the gifts I have.” Thankfully, she takes my silence as an opportunity to add, “Every day is a gift. So I have to live every day the best that I can.” I’m surprised when I realize how seriously I’m taking her words to heart. Not as her writer, or a fan, but as the human being she took me for when we started talking. This time, I think she can tell.

As we near the end of our conversation, my growing familiarity with Bai Ling makes me comfortable enough to bring up topics I wouldn’t have an hour ago. We get to talking about her public image. We start by discussing its demise at the hands of a few poorly timed nipple sightings and arrive at what she hopes 2012 has in store. “People are trying to wrongly accuse me of intentionally showing my nipples,” she vents. “I never grew up here and I don’t know how to be a movie star in Hollywood. As a matter of fact, the first time I did a movie here and I went to the red carpet, people asked me ‘Bai Ling, what are you wearing?’ They want to know the designer. I said ‘I’m wearing…jacket?’ I had a stylist before who would tell me ‘wear this’ or ‘wear that’ or ‘do you know who made this?’

I’d say ‘Don’t tell me, I don’t care!’ It’s not that I didn’t like them, they were beautiful, but where was my individuality? So a lot of my new clothes for the red carpets were kind of large and I’m very petite. I’m wearing them for the first time and my nipple pops out, whatever, it’s not my doing, it just happens. Then the pictures are everywhere and Bai Ling becomes this ‘free, open, sex symbol chick.’ I have suffered from that image that the media portrayed.”

Her nude appearance in Playboy Magazine was met with little more negativity than is par for the course. However, some celebrity pundits skewered her for her ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ at red carpet entrances over the years and accused the photo ops of being planned efforts for publicity. These accusations, Bai Ling assures me, are soon to be a thing of the past. “This year, 2012, I’m dressing more elegantly,” she says with pride. “And except for the last 2 pictures of my current movie character on Facebook -she is a very sexy character- I’ve been dressing and acting more ladylike. I have learned that, if my body is always covered, they cannot destroy me like they want to. I can’t let little things like this destroy my chance to give my gift.” It’s she that pauses this time to gather her thoughts.

“I think I destroyed my image a little bit last year. Now I’m aware of it. I want to prove myself as this sophisticated, elegant, beautiful artist. Not this crazy, sexy, free spirit chick. I think I have more sense of responsibility to give my gift to the world than I did before.” Her ardent belief in her own ‘gift’ is, 51 VARMAG.COM

Stylist: Franquie Zeron Jewelry: Angel Johnson Makeup: Kat Laskey Hair: Carla Farra Page 49, 54 Shorts: Angel Johnson Top: Coveted Society Bra: Chan Lu Page 51, 55 All: Coveted Society Page 52 Pants and Bra: Angel Johnson

in fact, starting to inspire me.

The window of Bai Ling’s time that I can monopolize without overstaying my welcome is quickly coming to a close. My last inquiries concern the channels through which she plans on sharing herself with both her supporters and her potential supporters equally.

“I feel lucky,” she says, “to have a lot of fans that like me. And I feel like the only way I can pay them back is by inspiring, through my life experiences, and becoming a role model to others. I’ve been supporting a lot 52 VARMAG.COM

of charities that help children with cancer.”

This past January, for instance, she was outspokenly supporting the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. “And with what I went through [in the PLA], I also want to support more women and children being abused.

[People] need to give love and nurture each other.” She has also, in the past, helped raise awareness for Save the Tatas, a non-profit breast cancer awareness foundation. Lastly, in a grassroots attempt at spreading love and happiness to as many as she can, Bai Ling has begun to post ‘cookies’ on her Facebook and

Twitter accounts that serve as quick treats of pure positivity and uplifting advice for her fans. You can read these and even contact Bai Ling directly at facebook.com/realbailing and twitter.com/realbailing, as well as stay up to date on her blog, officialbailing. com, where she posts pictures, videos, music and links to her other social media sites.

My contribution to this conversation ends when I ask her if she is happy, and if she is loved. She needs a second before she answers. At this point, I know her well enough

to be glad that she is taking the question more seriously than I had initially meant it. For the first time, she speaks slowly and deliberately. I feel as though I finally asked a question she’s waiting to answer. “In my personal life, maybe I was too free and wanting to have too much fun. And maybe that’s why I don’t have a family. I’m always this little girl jumping around, and I enjoy those romances but they’re temporary. I’m starting to understand that if I’m not solid, people won’t see me as solid. A lot of people ask me who I’m dating or why I’m not married…

and now I’m asking myself that too. I just want to give everything to someone and get everything from someone back.” At 45 years of age and talking at length about redefining herself and her image, a lot of things that I’ve heard over the last hour seem to make more sense. She laughs when she tells me, “It’s funny, ‘wife…,’ ‘mom…,’ those ideas still seem so alien to me.”

She isn’t laughing when she tells me, “I just want to be a feminine woman who is in love.” n 53 VARMAG.COM

54 VARMAG.COM

55 VARMAG.COM

#JENNYMOLLEN:

America’s Next Trending Topic

by Christian O’Neil

One thing is for certain; Twitter is a better place for having JENNY MOLLEN in it. So is this magazine, for that matter. She’s just as capable of dropping your jaw posing for a photo as she is slinging witty, vulgar and altogether inappropriate quips on the interwebs, 140 characters or less at a time. Some tweets -particularly one regarding “a doggy clit piercing”- make me feel about as uncomfortable as watching porn with my parents, but I have to admit that this woman is definitely funny.

Photographed by Kate Romero -Model: Jenny Mollen - Makeup: Brett Freedman Jenny applies her talents to enough diverse projects that it’s hard to pinpoint a particular profession to help define her. However, the most credible source known to mankind today, Wikipedia, says she’s an actress, so that’s what we talked about first. At least, that’s where I intended to start. Instead, once we exchanged our ‘pleasure to meet you’ introductions, Jenny flows into a story as if we’d talked earlier in the day and been interrupted before she could finish.

“A crazy thing happened today,” she undersells me. What follows is a saga that involves her husband, Jason Biggs of American Pie fame; Jason’s ‘crazy’ ex girlfriend; a mutual obsession between Jenny and the ex; fake MySpace accounts; mild stalking; Jenny hiding in the trunk of a car to avoid detection while spying on Ms. Ex; heartache, deception and introspection; and running into each other at a nail salon earlier that day. The experience is still kind of a blur to me, too. But what’s remarkable about the whole thing is the deliverance of the story.

Jenny speaks with the enthusiasm and zeal of a young child, maintains eloquence despite her generous use of profanities, and all the while employs a pattern of speech oft reserved for only the most sagacious of orators. It’s like talking to a schizophrenic who thinks she’s the kid from Jerry Maguire, Lewis Black and Condoleezza Rice all at the same time. Only Jenny is much more enjoyable than I fear that description makes her seem.

56 VARMAG.COM

Considering her unique tone as she delivered her narrative, it comes as no surprise when Jenny shares that her true passion right now is, and has been, writing. She graduated from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television. During her time there she wrote a onewoman show that would land her an agent and a manager, both of which were her first.

Since then, she has found relative success in the acting industry. She stars in the movie Extracted, recently accepted into the South

By Southwest Film Festival, and most notably portrayed Nina Ash on the television series Angel. I’ve never seen the show myself, but I’m also one of those Americans who takes pride in not having a cable provider.

Overseas, however, that’s a different story.

“I’m not a big deal at all,” she humbly states.

“But I guess Angel is a big deal in London.

They treated me like a Beatle.” Imagine thousands of adoring fans lining up for a glimpse at a woman who, moments ago, confessed an addiction to popping zits and pretends to be in a music video when she runs on the treadmill in her spare time. It’s comforting to know that someone who has achieved a certain level of international fame still does stupid shit like the rest of us. (Except the popping zits, that’s weird no matter how cute you are.)

But acting has taken a backseat, as of late, to her passion for the written word. “I’ve always been a writer. I get anxiety when I watch myself act because unlike writing, you can’t go back and correct it,” she confesses. “With

57 VARMAG.COM

a pilot, as well as having appeared in an E! special with husband Jason, wherein he plans his high school reunion, and has accompanied him around the world for the press tour regarding the most recent American Pie installment.

On the subject of traveling with some of the American Pie cast to meet Jason in Paris, she breaks into another story. “I was flying to Paris with [the cast] and Jason’s manager. I knew I was getting on the plane with a cold so I had taken a Mucinex and an Ambien. I thought, ‘It’ll knock me unconscious and I’ll wake up in France.’ So I’m on the fucking plane in the middle of the night and I’m suddenly vomiting, diarrhea everywhere. You know when you’re lying on the floor of an airplane bathroom and it seems like your best option that you’re really fucked up,” she says nonchalantly, as if describing what was on the lunch menu of her flight. “I crawled back to my seat, I’m basically vomiting over [Chris Klein’s] head and he can’t hear any of this because he has earplugs in. Then, of course, I get my period. I was breaking down as a human being on this flight. I landed about 8 lbs. thinner.”

All that to see Jason. What made a catch like Jenny ultimately decide to hook her anchor to the guy most commonly known for deflowering a dessert? Her answer begins simply, “With him, I’m able to be myself more than I’ve ever been.” Another crazy story ensues. I’ll save you from the specifics, but know that it involved living with a Serbian warlord in Germany, male ejaculate, acting, I started doing drama and horror films. They always wanted me to cry and be so intense and my essence is so diametrically opposed to that.”

Based on our conversation so far, it’s completely understandable. The smile hasn’t left my face since she started talking. Her spirit is lively and boisterous as we discuss her writing. She continues her point with, “I didn’t start writing to put it out, it was more for me.

I realized I had to write. If I wanted to get 58 VARMAG.COM

the kinds of jobs I could master, I was going to have to write them myself.” Her conviction is impressive. “Especially for women,” she continues, “with the kinds of roles that are out there. If you want to do something really great, you gotta do it yourself. No one’s gonna give it to you.”

“You sound like Braveheart, rallying your troops to try and take back what should be yours,” I share with her.

“I AM EXACTLY LIKE MEL GIBSON!”

and the threat of being beaten over the head on the top of a mountain if the warlord ever caught Jenny cheating on him.

“I let him get away,” is how she decides to remember him. At this point, I’m not sure if she’s making this shit up or if she just needs her own reality show.

“Jason was raised by all women,” she brings us back to the subject at hand before I remind her. “If he had a son, I don’t think he’d know what to do with it.

He’s the most supportive, loving, attentive, amazing partner. He’s very much a woman and I’d like to keep him that way.” Do most women think like this? “I keep him away from hunting and sports so he can watch The Bachelor with me.

Watching him, I’ve been able to drop a lot of my pretenses and bullshit and just let it go.” They sound perfect for one another. Both artists, performers, lovers and dog owners. “I love him. Him and my poodle, Mr. Teets. If I had to pick, you know, in a knife fight between the two of them,” a pause long enough to make me certain she actually doesn’t know which one she’d choose to rescue follows. “I don’t know.”

Her dog has an acting credit too, along with Jenny, Jason, Julie Benz and Rhys Coiro in Kidnapping Caitlynn.

The screenplay was written by Jenny in 2009 and is described as ‘A dark comedy about accidentally kidnapping your ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend.’ It was enough to get me to watch it. I’m glad I did. Mr. Teets really steals the show.

Jenny’s rising level of exposure is due to a lot of factors. Sure, marrying a movie

she screams. All anti-Semitic allusions aside, there are actually some similarities there.

Mel’s ‘giant leap for mankind’ came from getting behind the camera and directing his vision of the Scottish hero’s story. Jenny has taken a break from acting to write what she believes in, instead. Her thoughts can be found on her Twitter account, twitter.com/ jennyandteets (Mr. Teets is her dog), and through her contributions to Playboy’s online magazine, The Smoking Jacket, at thesmokingjacket.com. Recently, she has also written 59 VARMAG.COM

star doesn’t hurt, but she has worked hard and possesses gifts that are the main contributing factors to her present and future success.

I ask her, before we conclude, what she credits to her recent swell of fame. “My Twitter account,” she says assuredly and without hesitation. “Twitter has blown me up and changed so many people’s perceptions of me. It’s a gift and I feel thrilled that people want to listen to somebody like me. It’s the democratization of comedy. Finally, I can have my words out there, which are all bad things. Nefarious things. Twitter has encouraged me to break out and do the things I may not have had the courage to do. Twitter has given people the access to show others how they actually are and how you act.” She sounds like a spokeswoman for social media, but her point is made and my respect for the site has grown.

“Twitter has completely changed my life for the better,” she concludes. As an afterthought, she adds, “You know, Twitter and my husband.” n

60 VARMAG.COM

61 VARMAG.COM

62 VARMAG.COM

63 VARMAG.COM

MILES DEVIN:

Male Model, Female Fashion

by Elizabeth Hazard

Miles Devin won’t call himself a trendsetter, but he is certainly making his mark in the

modeling world. At 6’2, 130 lbs, the Tulsa native has a look that insists on a second glance and photographers and designers alike are taking note. Having the rare gift of being comfortable in his own skin, it’s no wonder Devin is able to model women’s fashion effortlessly and with grace.

We spoke to him at home in LA about his look, upcoming work and his aspirations for the future.

Photographed by Gerard Goh - Models - Miles Devin & Brittney Paige Hair: Rachel Andonian - Photography Assistant: Trevor GarzaMakeup: Amy Duncan

VAR: How did you get your start in modeling?

MD: I started modeling when I was 14 for two years, but left it to pursue further education in makeup artistry, which I was more fond of at the time. I started modeling again at 19 without a stereotypical “American model” look, and haven’t really looked back since.

random Saturday afternoon to hang out, what would we find you wearing for a leisurely day?

MD: Today I’m wearing black pants and a black tank top. My hair is back in a ponytail. If I don’t have to look fancy for anyone, I won’t.

I just like to relax and be comfortable on my down time.

VAR: Speaking of this look, it’s definitely one that draws some attention. I’m sure you’ve experienced both negative and positive feedback. How do you take the reactions?

MD: I’ve always taken a positive attitude regardless of whether the reactions are good or bad. I’m glad to know that I’m showing people that you don’t have to fit the mold to do well in life.

VAR: I think every model waits for that moment when they feel as if they’ve made it.

Have you had such a moment yet?

MD: Going to France a year and a half ago and being handpicked out of 25 people to be shot for photographer Bettina Rheims’ book and upcoming exhibition Gender Studies, which moves around the world starting April 27.

VAR: Androgynous models seem to really be hitting their stride on the runway these days and making a name for themselves in the modeling industry. Do you consider yourself to be breaking the mold?

MD: I wouldn’t ever want to label myself as a trendsetter, but I do feel that other people seeing you be comfortable living the way you want to live can be inspiring for some people.

VAR: You’ve walked the runway for many a designer by now. Do you have a favorite?

MD: Jean Paul Gaultier. I’m also a big fan of Rick Owens and Gareth Pugh.

VAR: So if we were to come stop by on a 64 VARMAG.COM

VAR: What kinds of things are you working on now?

MD: Right now I’m pretty busy with some editorial shoots and campaigns.

VAR: So, if you were to have a crystal ball, where do you see yourself ten years from now?

MD: I’d love to be on the other side of the lens.

I have always had a great passion for photography and it grew even more once I started modeling.

VAR: One word that describes you.

MD: I would have to say “inventive.” I am constantly being inspired by new things. My sense of style would be a direct reflection of that.

VAR: I have to ask the age-old model question. What do you do to stay in shape and keep your figure? Do you feel pressure to do so?

MD: I work out occasionally, and eat as healthy as possible. I have a sore spot for pizza, but don’t tell anyone. I’ve never felt pressured to change my body. If that were to ever happen, you’d find me working in another profession.

VAR: What’s your dream assignment (either modeling or photographing in the future)?

MD: My dream assignment would involve Kate Moss and whipped cream, but we’ll save that for another time...

VAR: A piece of advice for the next young androgynous model yet to be discovered?

MD: If you are currently trying to get in the industry, never let even thirty or forty rejections get to you. It will happen. If you’re dedicated, I’m convinced you can find work.

VAR: Do you have any war stories? Any embarrassing modeling moments you wish you could take back?

MD: There was a time I may have had a little too much champagne backstage before walking. Let’s just say I now save the party for the after party. n

65 VARMAG.COM

66 VARMAG.COM

67 VARMAG.COM

KACIE MARIE:

...and we love Kacie Marie

by Heather Keegan

From country bumpkin to city vixen, KACIE MARIE is a what-you-see is what-you-get kind of girl.

Born in Worchester, Pennsylvania, Kacie always had a love for an oldies type of life. As a young girl, she and her father used to always go to vintage car shows in his 1946 Ford, which he still has.

She was brought up on oldies music, and used to thrift shop in little shops in her town… She has been in love with the older, 40’s noir style since as long as she can remember.

Photographed by Gavin Thomas -Model: Kacie Marie - Hair & Makeup: Meagan Hester “I don’t shop for my shoots”, she said. “Everything I wear in my photos is something I’d wear on a normal day.”

When asked what she loves the most about the style, she says she loves that it “isn’t perfect.

I’m not a clean line person. My dresses have rips, my gloves have holes… It’s just more real.”

If she could describe her style, she said it’s like the “Kit-Kat girls in the Cabaret movie”. She is just an “Old fashioned kind of gal.”

When she was in her early twenties, she discovered the Rock-a-Billy scene. “I didn’t know it existed, I was so surprised that there were people that dressed the way I did, like the guys with the greased back hair. I had no idea!” Still, she doesn’t consider herself a fully fledged rock-a-billy girl… She was always just into that stuff! “I still go to the old fashioned car shows every year, it’s just so much fun for me!”

She is especially excited about the comeback her style seems to be making in today’s film and television scene. “Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire… I feel like I could just hop right in to it and blend in! I want to be a part of this movement so bad, I am just looking for my key to get in!”

Kacie moved to Philadelphia from Worchester in order to attend art school, and that’s where she began to pursue her dream of being a star.

She was into photography, and from there began to develop an interest in modeling. She had a great time modeling, and loves doing it, but felt she was looking for something with “more movement, more drama…”

68 VARMAG.COM

She moved to New York with hopes of pursuing her acting career. Kacie has already done a few films despite only being at it for a year.

“It was something I didn’t even know if I’d actually be any good at… It’s turning out, I’m not so bad!” That’s an understatement, considering she got the lead roles in the last few films she participated in.

Her dream movie role would be “a lounge singing burlesque dancer in the 40’s… The whole she-bang! Then I’ll be satisfied!”

Kacie is also working on releasing her first EP. “I love Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Mabel John…. I love the doo-wop and melodies from that era, that’s what I’m bringing to my album.”

When she first moved to New York, Kacie didn’t know what to expect. Only there for two weeks, she really was a new comer to the scene. When she walked into her apartment, though, she knew it was the place for her. “When I was shopping for apartments, I knew I couldn’t live someplace where I had to be quiet after nine at night. Not that I make a lot of noise, but I know I am pretty loud when I sing. When I walked into the apartment, the first thing I saw was this big, old, vintage looking piano, with an organ next to it, a drum set, a punching bag.. It was like a playhouse!

I knew I had to live there.” She loves it for other reasons, too. “I live in between two rival reggae bands right now. I’m in the middle of a reggae war! It’s never quiet, I can be sitting there, and all of a sudden hear a beat, or a new harmony, and be like ‘what’s that?’ I’m always learning something new!”

There was a moment of quiet a few days ago,

though. “I ran to the old piano. I am not a master at any instrument, but I know them enough to make them create the sounds I’m looking for. I played around with it for a while, and I’m in the process of putting vocals over it, now.”

She loves the “artist loft” she lives in, or, as she puts it, her “bubble.” It has a “South Philly vibe, so it kind of reminds [me] of home.”

Since she is still new to the city, she is in the process of “planting seeds”. “I don’t have a manager or an agent yet, I’m definitely looking, so I am just trying to get my name and face out there, and get work!”

While she loves modeling, her passion and goal is to break into movies. “I love dark, twisted, dramatic films. Something where I can utilize my sexuality and body. I love horror movies,” she stated, “and have already done a few. It’s a great place to start. To learn how to die is hard! But I’d like to do something a little more dramatic.”

Film is one of the reasons why she doesn’t have any tattoos. “I love tattoos, don’t get me wrong! I love that people have such beautiful artwork on their bodies. Every guy I have dated probably loved girls with tattoos! I just like showing my edge and my spice using my personality, and not necessarily with my skin.”

Plus, she is a chameleon of sorts, especially with her career in acting. “I just like being different characters, or going under the radar.

If I have a tattoo across my chest, people will always know that it’s me, they will always know who I am. I kind of like being able to go unrecognized at times.”

She does emphasize her love of ink, though. “I 69 VARMAG.COM

70 VARMAG.COM

71 VARMAG.COM

have even drawn out some tattoos that I like and I have thought about getting… At this time in my life, though, I am more into the Classical and Renaissance art, and I love bare, smooth skin.”

While afraid her virgin skin will hold her back from getting in some magazines, she believes it will help her in acting. Plus, she says “I’d rather be the pin up girl than get the pin up girl tattooed on me. I want to be that piece of flash on someone’s arm!”

When not pursuing her acting career, Kacie loves thrift shopping. “I found the coolest place the other day, it was thrift shop Heaven! I will never need to go to another shop in my life!” She loves hunting for funky shops away from Manhattan, too. “I love the city, but I feel like the same cute, tight waist, poodle type skirt I find for like eight dollars away from the city would go for eighty dollars in Manhattan! Plus, I feel like the stores that are more popular are more picked over. I’d rather hunt for that cute, vintage see through blouse in piles of unorganized clothes then see it in a window and pay ten times as much!”

She loves looking for accessories to reinforce her signature style, too.

If she had to say what her “signatures” were, “gloves and curls. I love accessories! Oh, and nothing I wear is ever perfect,” she reminds me.

Accessories play a major role in helping her get ready and “in the mood” for her various shoots. “Getting ready helps me become that character. Curling my hair, doing my makeup, it’s like seeing the character come alive. Plus, feeling beautiful is fun!”

When it comes to music, she listens to her idols before she records or performs. “Listening to Billie Holiday or Patsy Cline, it helps me get 72 VARMAG.COM

excited.” When it comes to acting, she tries to become the character she is about to portray. “I try and really feel what they would feel, and think about what their interests would be, what they would do, things they would like. Really try and be them.”

She became a character for over a year when she toured as a World War II pin up girl, after winning an internet contest. Mike Malak was the photographer, and she went to all different air shows, signing calendars and taking pictures. “It was an amazing experience. I love the re-enactors, too! They are so sweet and cute!” She entered the internet contest, and was so happy and shocked she won. “I felt like a Hollywood star for a while, it was amazing!” She won a sixteen page spread in Malak’s book, “Wings of Angels,” and had artwork of her auctioned at a Belgium art show. “I felt so lucky to have had that experience,” she said. She believes that the positive influences and all of the compliments and direction she received during the tour encouraged her to take the steps she is taking today to reach her dream.

Every experience she has had along the way has shaped who she is today. When asked if she had any advice for anyone else shooting for their dreams, she had this to say; “Be brave, take chances, but also be smart and listen to your gut instincts and to others with knowledge to share. Also, be true to your passions and creativity, and recognize that the process is just as important as the outcome.”

From the country to the city, Kacie Marie is one Femme Fatale you should watch… n

73 VARMAG.COM

MOSH:

Neon Lights and Bondage Nights

by Jennifer Caruso

Standing 5’3 with tightly wound blonde curls and luscious red lips, Mosh is the centerpiece of any man’s wet dream. With the style of an alternative angel mixed with the look of a pin-up goddess, she can easily command the attention of a camera. It is no surprise she has been a high demand alt model since her beginnings in 2006. She has been known to do unique alt work, glamour shots, as well as her favorite, fetish material. To round out her resume, Mosh has performed in fetish and burlesque shows. As if that is not enough, she has even done commercial modeling featured for companies like Hot Topi. Mosh is an incredibly down-to-Earth person despite all she has done in her short six years of work. She comes from humble beginnings, as she and her parents emigrated here from Russia when she was just a little girl. Modeling was not always her passion; from a young age, she was a gymnast and a cheerleader, being coached by her own parents. Sadly, her career ended early with a serious elbow injury. If not for her injury she might not be the incredibly talented alt model that the world knows today.

Photographed by Jennifer Erickson - Model: Mosh

Mosh recalls that the first idea planted into her head about the alt universe came from Google images when she was a young teenager. One of the first pictures she came across was a Johnathan Willy illustration from the 40’s and 50’s era magazine Bizzarre. It was a magazine devoted completely to fetish illustrations and articles. This sparked her curiosity further and she continued to find more fetish images from the 40’s and 50’s era. Eventually she came across Betty Page and Irving Claw images as well as more material from the original Bizzarre magazine.

The amateur photography she came across depicted models in five or six inch heels and extremely tight corsets, down to as small as fifteen or sixteen inches. Soon enough she came across modern fetish photography. This was enough to fuel her passion and jumpstart her career. She began shooting with a friend of hers who was enrolled in a photography class, posing as her model. The images were in black and white film and she loved the way they came out. From there she uploaded the images to a freelance website called modelmayhem.com. This set of photos alone began booking frenzy of photo shoots. Her career took off from there.

74 VARMAG.COM

Years later, we find Mosh as a well-rounded freelance alt and fetishist model. Even as a successful name in the industry, Mosh still feels lucky every day. It will baffle her as long as she continues doing this how she became so lucky to pursue her passion. Not only is it something she is extremely talented in but it is also something that defines her. When asked what aspect of it all she preferred most, she confidently answered all of them. Anything she poses for is her own personal choice and therefore she will not shoot anything she is not interested in. She loves the fetish photo shoots. There is a very broad range of fetish modeling, but she prefers more of the glamorized fetish. The glamour she prefers stems from the 40’s and 50’s era fetishists, complete with ultra high heels, lingerie, corsets and latex. These are four of her favorite fetishes and consequently four elements that help piece together her style as an alt model.

One might assume that with her love of the glamour fetish look that it instantly all came together. On the contrary…it all came to her piece by piece as she was creating her look.

Even today her look is constantly changing.

For instance, her hair varies from shades of white, to white blonde, to even slight plati-

num. The first element she solidified was the make-up. After doing make-up from a young age, Mosh was already very experienced.

She experimented with different tones and shades, falling in love with the bright red lipstick seen in plenty of her photos today.

Cat-eyes were next for her and after she had perfected this technique she had begun to use it in more of her photo shoots. Mosh recalls that she initially had a very difficult time styling her hair. Even though from a young age she had been experimenting with make-up, it was not the same for her hair. Learning to curl her hair was an art form that came slowly to her. Despite the fact that plenty of alt models will dye their hair jet-black because it is easier to style and maintain, Mosh took the opposite route. She professionally bleached her hair to the lightest shade possible and has been carefully taking steps since then to get it even lighter. The added difficulty of curling blonde hair has been an adventure for her, since the camera can see every single imperfection in blonde curls. This difficulty is not lost on her, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Her bouncy white-blonde curls are just another aspect of her look that pulls it all together. Piece by piece, just as the make-up and hairstyles fell into place; the alternative, 75 VARMAG.COM

pin-up look began to evolve as well. She was experimenting with latex, lingerie and not to mention corsetry. The image of Mosh as a blonde-curled, fully red-lipped 40’s pin-up model is the girl we see today.

Despite the naughty innocence that Mosh exudes in her photography, there are always a few crazy stories to tell. In such a diverse 76 VARMAG.COM

business, it is no surprise that she has had a fair share of near-death experiences. Looking back now she can laugh it all off, but swears nothing like that would ever happen again.

Just recently, she was returning from dinner with one of her photographer friends. The two were driving along a mildly populated route in Texas. Signs from the businesses along the road are gliding in and out of their view, un-

til they both saw one that catches their eyes; a large neon sign, that was on top of a holein-the-wall hotel. Mosh then tells him how it would be wonderful if he could get a couple shots of her on top of the sign. Mind you, it is almost two stories up. They immediately pull over, walk in and ask who they assumed was the manager if they had his permission to do so. She recalls him being very unconcerned

about it all, which struck her as odd, but they had gotten the permission that they required.

The next day they return with all of the photographer’s equipment in tow. The pair was waiting for the manager at the front desk for quite some time. After waiting for what felt like forever and the manager nowhere to be found, they decided to continue with it anyways. The photographer pushed her up the

ladder and she hesitantly climbed upwards onto the small slanted roof. The distance between her and the sign meant a narrow little catwalk in six inch heels and a skintight latex dress. The biting thirty degree Texas winter did not bother her so much as the distance to the ground did. Mosh now realizes the sign looked a lot bigger from the ground then it did now. She crawled across 77 VARMAG.COM

agers had gone up to a glass walkway on the third floor. Security spotted the teenagers almost immediately and started chasing them around the outside of the building and across the grounds. One teenager was caught while two had gotten away. Security continued to search high and low, while Mosh and her friends were halfway into a mock bondage shoot. The guards end up right outside the window as they were shutting their lights off and trying not to make a sound.

The guards made three rounds in their patrol car around the grounds and every time they pass by they have to stop moving and cease all noise as they try to sneak off undetected. On the fourth round, they happen to catch the photographer’s arm jutting out from behind a wall. As the guards are yelling for them to come out, they reluctantly put their hands up and turn the corner. Mosh was then met by a gun pointed directly to her forehead. Her heart stopped for a moment as the guards sized them up then lowered their guns. Mosh was wearing only a ripped, skintight latex dress and laughs now at how awful the situation must have looked. The security guards then explain to them that they are not allowed to enter the buildings due to major safety concerns, not to mention they were armed due to reports of gang members using the area to meet. After listening to their stories and apologies, the patrol took pity upon them, especially Mosh who was still only a minor, and let them off with only a warning.

Mosh counts herself lucky that all she left there with that night was a warning.

the top of the sign, sitting down and holding herself on with only one hand. The prints that resulted were amazing! She ended up crawling towards the letter O in Hotel. Since the sign was far too large to shoot they ended up only catching the word hot… how very appropriate! Looking back now, Mosh realizes that it probably was not the best idea she’d ever had. Though the shots themselves came out great, she would not do something so dangerous without a trampoline, a harness, or maybe even an eight-man stunt team below her. At the time it didn’t faze her how one 78 VARMAG.COM

wrong move could have taken a terrible turn.

Despite the risk, Mosh returned to the ground safely. She and her photographer drove away, without the manager ever being the wiser.

The stories don’t end there. Mosh tells another tale of when she was about seventeen years old. One fascination of hers has always been abandonment photo shoots; she loves the look of dilapidated buildings and the old architecture you can not find anywhere else. One photo shoot of hers took place in an old Tuberculosis hospital which had been

She takes far more precaution now than she did when she was younger. She has grown tremendously and continues to grow as an alt long since abandoned and was now falling apart. Not only is there danger of falling debris when shooting in abandon buildings, but there is also the threat of asbestos or other airborne pathogens in such an environment.

Mosh, a friend and her photographer snuck in through the back…the morgue, of all rooms.

They ran across three other teenagers who were in the building just poking around, but acknowledged that they would not be bothering each other. The two trios went their separate ways. While Mosh and her friends were taking pictures, the other three teen-

model. She realizes that sometimes the risks outweigh the prize. For someone who is in such high-demand for her beauty and abilities, Mosh is an incredibly humble woman. She has made it known that she will not change who she is for any photographer or shoot. The look that is purely Mosh, the beautiful vintage pin-up girl, is something that she will not give up. Photographers will tell her that they want to straighten her hair, tone down her make-up or even dress her in more modern clothing. This is something that does not catch her fancy and she would rather tell the photographer that they can not hire her for a photo shoot

like that. She is a freelance alt model and does not need to conform to a “normal” look. Plenty of models will conform just to book a shoot or to make the money. If it were only about the money for Mosh, she would just get a day job. It is all about her passion and sharing her passion through her work. Her passion came before her modeling career. “The passion will be what prevails in the end’” says Mosh. It is not only her attitude, but her experience and perfected look that leave Mosh as a one-of-a-kind model in the alt universe. Unique can not even begin to describe her.

79 VARMAG.COM

81 VARMAG.COM

Rebecca BONE:

Hampshire’s Heartthrob

by Paul Walker-Daley

What is the general perception you have of models? Are they a special breed of human, unobtainable to mere mortals, with a passion for partying and all things materialistic? We caught up with REBECCA BONE on a rainy Thursday afternoon in England where she was recovering from an upset tummy due to a food intolerance to debunk such myths, at least where she’s concerned.

The 27 year old from Winchester, whose favorite outfit is a tea dress and a pair of low Converse, delves into what makes her tick.

Photographed by Jordan Green - Model: Rebecca Bone

VAR: How would you describe yourself in your own words?

RB: I would describe myself as someone kind.

I really care about people, the environment and animals. I always put other people first.

I’m very open, always open to new ideas and things. I want to save the world. I’m quite laid back, but I also know what I want and what I like. I’m really honest and not a bad girl, (she giggles) I live in Hampshire, near Winchester. I have a Labrador named Rosie. I love the ocean and I love meeting new people. I appreciate good manners; it’s the way forward. I think everyone should be respectful of everyone else and everything around them.

VAR: Where did your love of animals come from?

RB: I’ve always had this connection with animals. With people, you can be around people that are incredibly rude but you never see that in animals.

VAR: You’re a big fan of spirituality?

RB: I love Buddhism. I love the kindness and the giving. I love the reminder that everyone is 82 VARMAG.COM

on the same journey, that we’re all struggling and on the same path. A lot of people on the internet will say things like “grow up” or “you’re talking like a child” but I believe spirituality helps people to be nice. I think we’re heading down a dark path, but this generation coming up is filled with a lot of kindness, more so than the last. But there’s still a lot of sadness.

meeting them, it kills it completely for me. I need people to be nice deep down, but sex and love are both essential things. I think everyone needs them in their life. I believe that relationships should embody friendships and not just be about sex. I’m actually really good at giving relationship advice, but not so good at listening to my own advice.

VAR: What is your philosophy of love and sex?

RB: I love love. I believe love and kindness can see you through, but it’s about living in the real world. I believe in communication, you can’t just expect it all to simply work. I believe that people’s sexual journeys are important and people should get out there and experience the world, but for me personally, I’m not into sex without love.

VAR: So what was your last kiss like?

RB: My last kiss was unrequited? Things just didn’t work out, and the one before that was the other way around, I didn’t like him but he was quite into me. I make some mistakes. But I like spontaneity and I like gentlemen, especially ones that do their own thing but not ones just after one thing.

VAR: So would you say you’re not a very sexual person?

RB: I would say I am, I can look at sexual things and see the beauty in them. I get attracted to people all the time. But for me, it’s part of a larger picture and if I fall for someone thinking they have a beautiful personality but they don’t come across that way after

VAR: Things you can’t live without?

RB: My dog? Spirituality, kindness. I’m not a very materialistic person. So in terms of people saying things like, ‘I can’t live without ........ in my world,’ I don’t have many materialistic things. I don’t need them and I constantly remind myself that I don’t need them. … I’d be happy to live on a desert island. n

83 VARMAG.COM

84 VARMAG.COM

85 VARMAG.COM

Bridget Blonde by Ellen Stagg, Ilaria Pozzi by Corrado Dalcò, Dave Navarro & Bernadette Macias by Debbi Rotkowitz, Jesse Lee Denning by Gavin Thomas, Jess Versus by Rebecca Handler, Taylor Tilden by Lisa Boyle, MaryLeigh Maxwell by J Isobel de Lisle, Theresa Manchester by Gavin Thomas

1 VARMAG.COM

ISSUE 1

: B Side

As some of you may know VAR Magazine began as nybodyart.com several years ago. With the tattoo industry and the popularity of tattooing on the rise, its distinct artform sparked the interest of many people ranging from teenagers to middle-aged housewives. Creator and founder, Dan Michel has always had an extensive interest in art and tattoos. Years of creativity and a vision of something different; something so unique, ignited the transformation of the way people perceived tattoos into a complete art form seen in a new light as it has never been shown before. And so it began…

There are and have been many popular and successful magazines featuring tattoos and tattoo artists. What distinguishes VAR above all the others? First and foremost, VAR is not another tattoo magazine. We have taken a group of tattooed subjects and hand selected photographers and paired them in a way that brings our readers a new perspective and medium to view art at its finest. From inception to present day, before the creation of the VAR name, the vision was clear: To bring readers a different style of photography while capturing it as its own art form and keeping the integrity as such.

VAR Magazine, from its creator to its collaborative team, maintains this goal through extensive research, while working side by side with some of the most talented models, photographers and artists in the industry to provide this to our readers The subjects and their tattoos are beautiful and were selected to compliment the photographer. We’d like our readers to view the photos as a whole and see the true craft; which encompasses every aspect of ability, art and beauty. The photographers we have selected are true artists and one of our goals is to show the mastery and true talent in what they do.

We hope the following pages ignite visual and mental appeal; not only do we feature amazing, unique and artistic photos but we’ve included interviews with the models and photographers, because it’s important to those of us at VAR that our readers connect.

3 VARMAG.COM

whiskey on the rocks:

An unscripted dialogue with Miko Lim and Alysha Nett

by Michael LoCurto

Photographer, Miko Lim has taken the fashion world by storm over the past half-decade – completing ad campaigns with the likes of Nike, Fila, and Diesel, to name a few – adding his signature fun-loving style to each shoot.

So when Miko said he was available to not only sit down and talk with VAR but to also shoot the luscious ALYSHA NETT, we jumped all over him, and, of course Alysha, but then we told Alysha to stick to the modeling: that this is Miko’s article. And although it was hard to take our eyes off the one and only Ms. Nett, we got down to the nitty-gritty with Mr. Lim between the shooting in the swanky Upper West Side bachelor pad watching the mass of people scurrying this way and that below us in the pouring rain with their umbrellas and newspapers above their heads as we ate pizza out of the box and sipped on a bottle of Johnny Walker Red Label.

Photographed by Miko Lim - Model: Alysha Nett VAR: “You’d like a glass-full?”

ML: “Surely. I don’t particularly like Johnny Red. Tastes like a pound of sugar in my glass. But sure. Why not.”

VAR: “Ah, the beauty of manufactured alcohol.”

ML: “It does have a manufactured taste to it.

I usually prefer the dirty taste of good scotch.

I don’t know what it is – but there is certain, pure rawness to single-malt over blended, for sure.”

VAR: “When did you know it was time to start shooting Alysha? I mean, we were really just chillin’ for a long while – catching up like old friends would. How do know when it’s time to get down to work?”

ML: “Well. As soon as Alysha came walking back in with that little black tank-top job and panties on. Honestly. That’s what did it.

But another way to think of it is like this. It’s kinda like when you see a girl at a bar – and how you begin to plan to break the ice. And then as soon as it started raining – I thought it was something new and interesting – and then told Alysha to get to work. It’s all about confidence.”

VAR: “And you seemed to just let Alysha play.”

4 VARMAG.COM

ML: “This is more of a laidback shoot. It’s not commercial, at all. So I’m all for letting the model just get comfortable. I’m not going to sit here and do a bunch of directing. It will take the fun out of the shoot. Directing in a shoot like this will just take all the air out of the model and give it that manufactured look and feel.”

VAR: “Like a neat glass of Johnny Red.”

ML: “Exactly. I’m looking for an honest photograph with Alysha, here. I want to see her switch her shapes around and really work for the camera and see what we get. I want the model to feel as natural as possible in an unnatural environment. We are looking for that unique, raw, fine taste here that is one of a kind.”

VAR: “So what’s with the whole two camera thing you got going?”

ML: “Just keeps the flow going. Nothing more. Nothing less. I don’t have to wait to get the next shot. I can just keep going. A lot of the time, the best shot is the one that comes after the exposure goes off and I don’t want to miss that opportunity. Having two cameras eliminates that.”

VAR: “So, Alysha has a body-full of tattoos. Danny (Editor of Mike) has quite

a few visual tattoos. And I, myself, have half an arm of exposed tats. Don’t see any on you… you have any that you are hiding from us?”

ML: “No. I thought about it when I was younger. But it was one of those things that just never happened. And now that I’m married…are you married…no?...well, when you get married you’ll see – there are a certain number of things a guy can have and get away with. I really want to get a motorcycle – and I’m running short on ‘things’ I can still get.

So between a tattoo and motorcycle – I’d rather the motorcycle. But I appreciate the art of ink, and I love seeing art on other people, especially the models in my photographs.

It adds layers to them. It’s like visual representations of their personality. I have this friend who is a great guy. He truly is. But he has some of the worst tattoos. He knows it, too. Bart Simpson. Cowabunga. The works.

But that’s a part of who he is. And I love him for it.”

VAR: “It’s a shame that we don’t have real speakers in here. Alysha really lit up when Sleigh Bells’s, ‘Rill Rill’ came on.”

ML: “Yea. Music really opens people up. It goes right along with the whole ‘not really trying to direct here’ approach, by having the

5 VARMAG.COM

model feel comfortable. It just worked out that she really like Sleigh Bells and it really loosened her up. Her eyes just lit up, and her muscles got all loose, and I knew it would be time to shoot soon. All about getting the model to get into their moment and environment – not for me, and not for you. It’s all about getting the most honest shot of the subject. As for Alysha’s fondness for Sleigh Bells – that’s just a lucky coincidence. Weird how that stuff just works out sometimes.”

VAR: “You look pretty tired.”

ML: “Yea, man. I am. My buddy’s getting married, but I won’t be in town for it. So we’ve been celebrating – like a weeklong bachelor party. I’m beat. Cigars, scotch…”

VAR: “No Johnny Red?”

ML: “Nah. Not this time. But yea, man. I’m pretty beat. Going back home to Tokyo tomorrow. My wife’s pregnant, so I’m trying to 6 VARMAG.COM

spend more time there than on the road, lately. I have a son already, and we have another on the way. I guess I shoot boys. I guess I’m just Y chromosome heavy or something.”

VAR: “Congratulations on the good news.”

ML: “Thanks.”

VAR: “Damn. Look at Alysha go on that pizza. Holy shit.”

ML: “Two slices in. I don’t know how she does it. She’s so tiny.”

AN: “Guess I’m just blessed. I’ll eat anything and everything. I love pizza.”

VAR: “I’m all for eating to survive, and not to eat for nutrition. It’s food. It’ll keep you going. Fuck what it is if it’ll keep you alive.”

ML: “What are you even talking about, Danny ? You can’t just eat pizza and snacks and

anything and everything you want all day.

You need to be conscious of what you are eating. What’s the point of surviving? Nothing.

What’s the point of living? Everything. Bam. Actually, I’m going to go and post that on my Twitter… what did I say again? ‘What’s the point of living? Nothing. What’s the point of surviving? Everything. Hash-tag, bam.’”

VAR: “Speaking of Twitter. Do you think it is important to use social media in your field of work? To keep the world more relevant to your art and trade?”

ML: “I don’t know, man. You’re asking the wrong dude. I’m told so. But that whole social media thing is just not me. I don’t have a facebook. And I just joined Twitter last week.

I’m so off the mark with that sort of thing, my real name was already taken on Twitter.”

VAR: “You ever look at your Wikipedia page?”

7 VARMAG.COM

ML: “Of course. I just think it’s strange, though. I often wonder who made it. Who cared enough about me in the world to make a Wiki page about me?”

AN: “Only noteworthy people are added on there. People hire people to make pages on them, and they get taken down almost instantly. So you should be honored that the 8 VARMAG.COM

world of Wikipedia deems you noteworthy enough in our society to be added to the encyclopedia of the people.”

VAR: “I edited your Wiki page.”

ML: “What did you have to say about me?”

VAR: “Added like a semi-colon or something like that.”

ML: “I’m honored.”

VAR: “And VAR is honored that you came out here today to shoot some Alysha Nett for us. Thanks for the amazing photographs, and have a safe trip back to Tokyo.

Cheers.”

ML: “Cheers.” n

9 VARMAG.COM

Karaoke Bar to Cover Model:

An Interview with Bernadette Macias

by Christian O’Neil

Introducing Dave Navarro became an obsolete practice sometime in the early 90’s. The man is a rock star, plain and simple. A rock star who, quite frankly, deserves a lot of the credit when considering the connotation I apply to the word. And as if he weren’t content with just being one of the most accomplished guitarists of my lifetime, his exploits now range from directing a movie starring the famous adult film actress Sasha Grey to hosting the reality TV show “Ink Masters” on Spike. Not to mention gracing the cover of this publication with his chiseled physique and good looks, both of which seem to have remained unchanged since around 1995. Yet, reverence for Mr. Navarro aside, I suspect a large portion of the male readership is grateful that he shares the spotlight with a certain Bernadette Macias.

Photographed by Debbi Rotkowitz - Modesls: Dave Navarro & Bernadette Macias As host of SullenClothing’s ongoing online video series Sullen TV and official face of the brand, 7 time magazine cover girl, convention MC, face of the Germany tattoo convention in June, mother of two beautiful daughters, fashion model and tattoo enthusiast, not much should phase VAR’s choice for Premiere Issue cover-gracing jaw-dropper, except perhaps a rock & roll legend. “I was super nervous,” she recounts, “because I had to show up to the shoot with my hair undone and no makeup on. I got there looking like a train wreck and he was already sitting in a corner.” I have a sneaking suspicion that her idea of a train wreck could probably pass as a Bond Gi rl any day of the week, but I let it pass. “I was nervous to go up to him because, you know, I didn’t know what rock stars were like. Am I allowed to go over there and talk to him?

So I was kind of off by myself and he got up and came over to me with this look like ‘what the fuck are you doing? You’re not going to say hi?’ He gave me a huge hug and was just amazing. Instantly I forgot he was even Dave Navarro. He was just…another cool dude that I was shooting with. He was so down to earth and just,” she pauses to find the perfect word for the experience, “…awesome.”

Great. Now rock stars are using the ‘great personality’ approach, too? I quickly come to terms with my diminishing chances of ever dating a supermodel and return to the subject at hand: Bernadette and her rising celebrity.

10 VARMAG.COM

We continue by discussing how she earned her start in the modeling business. As it happens, her introduction to the life she currently knows was “super random,” as she puts it. “I was out at a karaoke bar and some friend of a friend of a friend…had some clothing line and said he loved my look. I’d already had a ton of tattoos on my chest and my sleeve but he liked my look…and said he’d love for me to model for his clothing line.” Ms. Macias (pronounced mä’sē-us) didn’t share what exactly she sang at the karaoke bar the night she got her big break, which means smart money is on Don’t Stop Believin’. The ensuing photos attracted quite a bit of attention and within a couple of months Bernadette was contacted by No Fear with an opportunity that would take her from casual model to the marketed face of a national retail brand. “I’d been only modeling for about three months for random things like a friend’s clothing company and then all of a sudden I’m modeling for No Fear. [Now] I love being a print model. I’m so honored when I see my pictures in magazines. I love it to death.”

After hours and hours of thoroughly analyzing each and every one of Bernadette’s online photos from every conceivable angle, I deduce that she has a few tattoos. It’s a realization that makes her accomplishments as a print model, for a major fashion retailer no less, all the more impressive. A torso more covered in ink than not often makes modeling

additionally difficult as prospective employers begin to shy away and people’s misconceptions start to rear their ugly heads.

Bernadette, however, found opportunity in her individuality. She doesn’t even m ind the false impressions anymore. I ask her if she’d ever been wrongly judged based on her appearance alone, to which she responds, matter-of-factly, “100%.” She adds “I used to take it personal and I’d get kind of hurt and it would make me respond negatively toward people.” I empathize with her but simultaneously stifle a laugh. In the 30 or so minutes we’ve been talking, Bernadette has been nothing short of pleasant, jovial, sunny and altogether a delight to converse with. I can’t imagine her taking a baseball bat to anyone’s headlights which, as a New Yorker, is what I think “responding negatively toward people” essentially means. “Now,” she claims “[I] realize that [responding negatively] just made people think that they were right. I’ve learned to just always be super nice and 9 out of 10 times they’ll apologize to me. I’ve heard so many times ‘I had the wrong impression of you, you are such a sweet person.’” This writer doesn’t understand how anyone out there is still judging their fellow man based upon their brandishing of tattoos, almost always dismissing the lack of any hate message in their designs, but I rest easier knowing that Bernadette Macias is out there proving those malcontents wrong, one smile at a time.

11 VARMAG.COM

Before we adjourn, I find out that Bernadette’s admirable qualities don’t stop at loving mom, successful show host and ‘looks great in a bikini.’ I discover that she’s possibly just as qualified to write an article in this periodical as she is to be gracing the cover. We fall into discussing her childhood aspirations.

Considering the spontaneity of her foray into the modeling business, I rightfully assume that she wasn’t always planning on being discovered in a sing-along watering hole. “When I wa s younger,” she recalls, “I used to write for my college newspaper and I was all about being a journalist. I used to write for a local magazine and that’s what I wanted to do. I just kinda fell away f rom that.” She thinks for a moment and I sit in silence for what seems like much longer than it is. But when she speaks again I feel like I am witness to someone having just decided an important course in their life. Whether that actually is the case or not, I don’t have the balls to ask.

“I know I’m getting older, I know modeling isn’t something I can live off of for the rest of my life. But it’s actually part of the reason why I took the job with Sullen TV, getting to

12 VARMAG.COM

interview artists and do those kinds of things, because I love it. So I’m hoping that possibly hosting a show…or getting back into writing, maybe for a bigger magazine than the one I used to work with, would be a goal in life.”

At the end of the day, we all need a mantra to adhere to. Words to live by. A creed.

Bernadette’s happens to be forever scribed on the sides of her palms. A Shakespeare quote tattooed on her hands doubles as her favorite tattoo and her personal motto.

“Love all, trust few.”

“I truly believe that to the fullest and I live my life like that.” It’s a justifiably worldly outlook on life and befitting of a woman that grew up in Holla nd, Brazil, Canada and Thailand before settling in America. As an observer, however, I prefer another Shakespeare quote for this story. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” In this case, greatness found Bernadette in a karaoke bar.

She hasn’t stopped believin’ since. n

Wardrobe Stylist: Jacqueline Lavaun Assistant Wardrobe Stylist: Sean Panella MakeUp Artist: Cheyenne Sarfati Hair Stylist: Spencer Lebowitz Images 1,3,4,6 Dave Navarro: cross necklace: GASOLINE GLAMOUR pants: JUNKER DESIGNS Bracelets: DAVE’S OWN shoes: DAVE’S OWN Bernadette Macias: dress: VENUS PROTOTYPE heels: GASOLINE GLAMOUR heart bracelet: GASOLINE GLAMOUR Images 2,5 Bernadette Macias: bustier: MARCO MARCO corset brief: MARCO MARCO arm shrug: STYLIST’S OWN heels: GASOLINE GLAMOUR bracelet: GASOLINE GLAMOUR Dave Navarro: Blouse: JUNKER DESIGNS Pants: SKINGRAFT Shoes: DAVE’S OWN Necklace: OUROBOROS DESIGNS Bracelets: DAVE’S OWN

13 VARMAG.COM

14 VARMAG.COM

15 VARMAG.COM

16 VARMAG.COM

17 VARMAG.COM

Artists:

A collaboration of Theresa Manchester and Gavin Thomas

by Heather Keegan

Model Theresa Manchester and photographer Gavin Thomas crossed paths during a shoot for VAR Magazine. The meeting of unique talent was captured for our readers. So what does a photographer like Gavin Thomas, known for capturing his subject’s souls bare on film and taking real, almost candid shots and a model like Theresa Manchester, a chameleon of sorts, known for her funky, organic beauty and style, have in common? Coffee! “Before I start a shoot, I always make sure I have plenty of it on hand,” says Gavin. As for Theresa she says “ I am fueled by coffee!”

Photographed by Gavin Thomas - Model: Theresa Manchester

Gavin, who moved to NYC in 2008, was originally bagging and stocking groceries in Rochester, NY, before he decided to go after his dream. Being a major jock, his love of the game got him interested in capturing and immortalizing some of the most monumental sports moments. “I thought it would be an amazing job to be a photo journalist at a newspaper; especially to photograph and attend professional sporting events to shoot my favorite athletes.” Gavin says the New York graffiti and street art has also influenced his style since moving to the city. “I feel that I am beginning to connect the dots in my development as a photographer and my appreciation of the arts, particularly graffiti and street art, has proven to be very influential.”

Model Theresa Manchester grew up as a Catholic school girl in the Bible Belt. She believes her creativity repressed childhood made her who she is today. “I was a repressed, uniformed Catholic girl for 9 years!

Not even joking. As soon as I could dress myself, I’ve always been into dressing alternatively- funky…I guess the tattoo thing just seemed natural. I got the Silverchair “Neon Ballroom” dancers tattooed on my lower back when I was 16, in some dude’s house. Bad idea, kids!”

“I’m not sure that my hometown has influenced my modeling style, but it certainly does 18 VARMAG.COM

influence my attitude towards how I chose to conduct my business as a traveling model.

All my closest friends and family are still there, and I adore the city. However, there is a very obvious ‘cap’ on how far you can take a creative career such as modeling. I’m not sure that it would be feasible for me to live there again unless my goals and interests changed.

I do think, however, being from somewhere relatively ‘ordinary’, [causes] travel [to] amaze me and I’m able to constantly view the rest of the world with a very wide-eyed sense of wonder.”

Theresa and Gavin both have a love for “real” photos, trying to capture realistic, un-posed beauty. “I try to steer clear of posed photos since they can look and feel somewhat forced.

I just wanted to be able to capture Theresa as herself. It was a very intimate shoot of just her and I, both doing our thing, working together to try and create some killer images that people would want to take a second look at,” says Gavin.

When I asked Theresa about her shoot with Gavin she told me “I felt instantly comfortable around Gavin. It may be the Midwest in me, but I have a very difficult time putting up a ‘front’ when I work with those I feel comfortable around. I’d say he was successful!” Gavin has worked with many celebrities.

Even with such an impressive resume, he

lives by a few simple rules in work and play.

“Whether it’s a big celebrity or my neighbor, I treat each subject the same way; respect and kindness go a long way. I’ve learned to keep it simple.”

From studio, to huge concert events like Bonaroo, Gavin can be seen in the wings, capturing the live action shots. “Basically, you have to be ready for anything. Preparation and familiarity with your equipment is key. Shooting concert photography is crazy.

Most often the lighting sucks and then you have to deal with and maneuver around 10 other photographers inside this small little pit.” Gavin still manages to capture some of the most moving images even in the midst of craziness found in a concert setting.

Although Theresa brings a fun and funky style to dressing she was actually inspired to model by undressing. “The nude human body is what first inspired me to model and so I signed up at the community college and sat for art classes. Lately, I’ve been trying to work with the aesthetics of my body rather than against it - I have a long, skinny, fashion body - certainly too many tattoos for the art world, anymore! I’ve been shooting more fashion-inspired looks lately. My massive wardrobe needs some lens time!”

She also expresses her style in her tattoos.

19 VARMAG.COM

She finds a bit of an issue with her tattoo style and her body type at times. “I feel as though perhaps it’s much more difficult being the ‘skinny girl’. I’m certainly too tattooed for the fashion world at the moment, so it’s been difficult finding my niche. I hope I’m still modeling if it ever happens, I’d love to be like, the tattooed Kate Moss. Ha!” Tattoos are becoming a bit more accepted in the fashion world. “Quality tattoos are expensive and they are a luxury item like anything else. Companies must find an ‘ideal’ to sell to their target audience and so long a s t he number of tattooed individuals in the world increases, we may be seeing more of this in marketing, hopefully! I do still think that even if it becomes acceptable, there will still be the standards of height, weight, etc, just due to the nature and needs of the fashion world.”

Gavin has shot for the high fashion world from celebrities to the girl down the block, but there is a common thread in his approach. “There is definitely a commonality regardless of who I’m shooting. It’s all about preparation… it’s important to treat each shoot like it’s a big important high paying job.”

Theresa’s naturally dueling personalities create a vibe. “I love being portrayed raw, like my ‘real self’ instead of my model self. But, my real self is still a bit of a character at 20 VARMAG.COM

times, and always changing. I consider myself very confident with healthy self esteem, but I don’t think I have natural beauty at all! I’m not comfortable being shot without a little sprucing up.”

While Theresa manages to constantly morph into different, stunning characters, Gavin manages to keep himself always relevant and always changing. He has yet to be “pigeonholed” which happens to many photographers in this industry. “I probably haven’t been labeled quite yet because for the last three years I have been slowly building up my business and therefore have been taking on a wide variety of genres in order to make a living. Going forward, I plan to become more specialized and hopefully more recognizable in a few select genres.”

To become successful it took both time and perseverance for both Gavin and Theresa. For those who use a camera as their paint brush, Gavin advises, “Success doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient. Be positive and be proactive. Networking is essential. You can’t be afraid or timid about showing your work to anyone. You can show it to 100 people and maybe only one or two will like it and eventually becomes a client. Always be shooting. By constantly shooting you are practicing your craft and hopefully getting better and learning. Step out of your comfort zone. If you’re

a still life photographer and only shoot still lives then get out and shoot some portraits of a family member - then shoot some portraits of a random stranger.”

From a modeling perspective, Theresa says “There are a thousand answers to this. It’s very important to establish your goals from the beginning, even if they change down the line but that’s life. A grip on reality is always useful but again, that’s life. I saw a really cool quote on Tumblr that said, ‘There comes a time when you must choose to follow your

dreams or be stuck in the life you fear’ … or something like that. Anyway, don’t be naive.

Your reputation will follow you forever so do unto others. Drink water, eat healthy. Time is money.”

Theresa and Gavin are excited about the creation of VAR magazine. “I saw VAR had a cool thing going on and I wanted to be a part of it somehow. I was very excited and honored to be able to shoot for them. I enjoy working with ambitious, likeminded and creative people,” Gavin stated. “So long as

higher end magazines such as VAR succeed, it will certainly help make a difference in advancing tattoo culture in a more sophisticated and accepted direction. We’re not so different than the rest of society… really!” Theresa said about VAR. n

21 VARMAG.COM

22 VARMAG.COM

23 VARMAG.COM

Expanding Photography’s Borders:

Critics and Upcoming Projects

Rebecca Handler Discusses Her Craft,

by Christian O’Neil

Rebecca Handler needs to create art. Much like Ali needed to box and Richard Sim-

mons needed to sweat it to the oldies, there is a drive inside Rebecca that is insuppressible. “I do it,” she says, “because I can’t not do it.” The ‘it’ being referred to is her profession as photographer. More specifically, she is a photo illustrator that often mixes photography with digital manipulation to achieve her vision.

Photographed by Rebecca Handler - Model: Jess Versus

She began to fully embrace her love of photography while in high school. “I was ‘that girl’ carrying her camera everywhere she went,” she describes of her past self, “having my lens in my friends’ faces constantly. I never saw myself as an artist or a photographer. I just liked taking photos.”

Her first camera, given to her by her father, was a Minolta SLR x-700 along with a fixed 50mm lens. The look on my face quite plainly shows that I have no idea what those items are. One look at the photos on rebeccahandler.com, however, and it’s quite clear that out of the two of us, Rebecca’s father chose the right one to give the camera to.

After graduating from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Rebecca spent time financing in the motorcycle industry and started Ruby Bird Studios, a collective of photographers, in San Francisco. However, after a crash of the motorcycle industry and her studio going under, Rebecca has moved back to New York to further her career. “New 24 VARMAG.COM

York moves me in a way no other city can. …

I find myself constantly inspired, amazed and motivated to create here.” She has spent her time back on the east coast working diligently to get to where she is today. “I came back in super debt,” she says of her return home. “I just worked really hard, I assisted a famous fashion photographer for a year and eventually worked my way into being a retoucher for a high end retouching studio.” Of course, she confides, she had to fabricate a few facts on her résumé in order to lock the opportunity, but it worked out for all parties in the end.

Rebecca worked for Impact Digital as a salaried employee and for Gloss Studio as a freelancer for around three years each, all the while learning from some of the best retouchers New York had to offer. She would come to surpass many and eventually become one of the most sought after high-end digital retouchers in her area, working on commercial stills for Revlon, Showtime, Victoria’s Secret and Tommy Hilfiger, to name a few.

In time, the experience she gleaned from this era of her life would profoundly impact her photography as an art form. She left retouching to return to life behind the camera. Only now, instead of a high school girl pointing and shooting her SLR x-700 at her friends, Rebecca’s shoots are scrutinized and often enhanced to an extensive degree during post production. “My photographs are created with intent. And the post production, retouching, illustration part is sometimes key when planning my shoots. This form of illustration, though purists call it cheating, only stretches the limits of my imagination. They allow me to create the impossible, the surreal,” she describes. “If there’s something that will let you explore your art further, or let you do more with your art, why not utilize it?”

It’s surprising that even today there are still ‘purists’ that will disagree with Rebecca.

Using a tool or new technique in order for an artist to achieve the vision in one’s mind should be heralded, not admonished. “I still consider myself a photographer,” she clari25 VARMAG.COM

fies, “as I’m very skilled and efficient in this medium. But I like to push it to be something a little more amazing, that’s where Photoshop comes in.” Pushing boundaries and expanding the possibilities are what being an artist should be about but, unfortunately, seldom is.

And pushing boundaries is something Rebecca finds herself comfortable doing. In her portfolio, and unique bevy of experience, is a photo shoot she did completely underwater.

She pushed the limits of her gear, her crew and herself, going so far as to get scuba certified in the process. She relearned all of her equipment and studied the effects of water on both light and color. One look at the photos and I’m instantly in awe. It’s apparent to even the ignorant onlooker that I am that these photo illustrations took a lot of work. Work

26 VARMAG.COM

which I personally would not be cut out for; as swimming, sharks, and models for that matter, all scare the shit out of me.

unreleased project. The fact that she has any time to photograph in New York anymore is remarkable.

In her career, Rebecca has shown the knowledge, ability and determination of an artist that believes in herself and is starting to see the benefits of hard work. Aside from being featured in this magazine, she is currently involved in multiple projects around the world, many of which she was the creative partner that was sought after. Her images are currently being used in ads for Swiss lighting company Broncolor, and her work was featured on the cover of the international art and culture magazine Aesthetica, issue 37. She has also been interviewed by an art magazine in South Africa and presently working with a creative director in Dubai on an, as of today,

The drive to create art through the medium of photography is inside of Rebecca Ha ndler, and it cannot be quenched. It will not be extinguished. It can’t even be wavered by her ‘purist’ detractors. The need to create is too strong in her and it has already overcome obstacles that would have made lesser artists into accountants real quick. “For me it’s not important to be successful, it’s not important to make money,” she says as if I’m not fully aware that both success and money are knocking at her door. “It’s important to make my art. I create because I need to.” n

27 VARMAG.COM

28 VARMAG.COM

29 VARMAG.COM

Jekyll & Stagg:

A Brief Q&A with Commercial and Erotic Photographer Ellen Stagg

Interview by Vince Lombardi - Writen by Danny Michel

Ellen Stagg is best known as a professional photographer who has made a career out

of her uncompromising style in front of and behind the lens. She fell in love with photography at the age of 16 and began her career as a student in New York City. Her creative prowess has earned her international acclaim and a clientele that includes Hollywood starlets and major musical acts. Determined to display her unique artistic perspective, she founded Staggstreet.com.

Her personal website is a bastion of alt-art without parallel. Recently, VAR had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Ellen Stagg at the Blackbird Cafe in Brooklyn. Ellen discussed her craft, her history and her plans for the future.

Photographed by Ellen Stagg - Model: Bridget Blonde

VAR: You are an experienced photographer that has been shooting for Vogue, Life, Vibe Magazine, ID, Flaunt and Fader.

You held gallery shows all over New York, New Jersey, Austin, Texas, even in Zurich.

ES: I’m coming up in Amsterdam.

VAR: What kind of work are you going to be showing in Amsterdam?

ES: I work with this blog called “Porn Saints”. They were based out of Italy but now they’re based out of Berlin. With this artist Francesco who is the “Porn Pope”. I am a “Porn Bishop” and we make artwork on the Porn Saints which are porn stars that agreed to be a part of the project. It’s an erotic artist community and I’ve showed with them in a group show in Austin, Texas and Zurich and now in Amsterdam. I knew about the Amsterdam one nine months ahead of time so I was able to save money and book a flight. So I’m going to go to Europe in June for two weeks.

30 VARMAG.COM

VAR: Oh, you have to go to Amsterdam?

ES: Yeah, yeah, I’m stoked. I’ll spend a couple days in Reykjavik, four days in Amsterdam and then the rest of the trip in Berlin.

After discussing the recent developments of her craft, Ellen provided some insight into her personal history. The events she described create a more complete picture of the source of her creativity.

VAR: You are originally from Easton, Connecticut and you spent most of your young life there, through high school, then you came to New York and went into SVA? (School of Visual Arts) ES: Yes. VAR: How did you like SVA? ES: I loved it. Even though it’s, I think, a far better school now than when I was there but I think it was the only art school that I saw out of like ten of them around the country that

was really, really into photography and very supportive. So that’s the one that I wanted to go to. They had floors of darkrooms back when darkrooms were actually being used. It wasn’t digital.

VAR: What was your photography format that you liked most?

ES: When I was in my last couple years at SVA I was shooting with a Hasselblad wh ich is a very expensive, top-of-the-line camera.

VAR: Who gave you your first camera?

ES: I stole it from my mother!

VAR: Nice! What kind of camera was it?

ES: It was a Nikon F3 and I had that up until I got my Hasselblad. So, I went and did the photography class at high school and we needed a 35mm manual camera to shoot black and white stuff with and that’s the camera I started on.

31 VARMAG.COM

VAR: Nice, nice. Did your mom ever try and get it back?

ES: Yes. Yes, she got very jealous when all of a sudden I was taking all these pictures with her camera so she actually stole it back and then I had to go out and buy one to replace it.

I bought the same camera.

VAR: Was your mother an artist as well?

ES: No. She did some photography on the side.

VAR: That’s cool. So you do a lot of commercial work, a lot of celebrity photography?

ES: I did more years ago. I’ve been a professional photographer now for eleven years.

32 VARMAG.COM

I’ve been doing some fashion and celeb type stuff in the past year but obviously focusing more on the erotic stuff.

Ellen’s erotic art projects are now her main focus. With the creation of her websites, Ellen has at last found the medium through which she can express her true calling.

VAR: You have two websites; Stagg Street, which is the erotica one, and Stagg Party?

ES: Ellen Stagg or the Stagg Party is my commercial work and then Stagg Street is the erotica...you go to Ellenstagg.com, with two G’s, to see commercial work like fashion, celebrities, advertising or Staggstreet.com for the “not safe for work” erotica where I post a

different set every Monday and Friday and a behind-the-scenes video on Wednesday. You have to pay to see the stuff because it costs me money to make it!

Ellen Stagg’s presence in the world of modern art did not come easily. She had to learn her craft bit by bit, starting when she was just a child. Her efforts have brought her the reward of true expression. Ellen has now taken charge of her personal artistic message. By utilizing her skills to the fullest, Ellen will continue to create art of all kinds. There is no telling what she will create next. The future holds great promise for her, seeing as she is already extremely successful. n

33 VARMAG.COM

34 VARMAG.COM

35 VARMAG.COM

hair Lexie Troiano makeup Alyne Halvajian

Jesse Lee Denning by Gavin Thomas

36 VARMAG.COM

37 VARMAG.COM

38 VARMAG.COM

39 VARMAG.COM

40 VARMAG.COM

41 VARMAG.COM

Ilaria Pozzi by Corrado Dalcò

42 VARMAG.COM

43 VARMAG.COM

44 VARMAG.COM

45 VARMAG.COM

Susanna Canonico by Romolo Milito

46 VARMAG.COM

47 VARMAG.COM

48 VARMAG.COM

49 VARMAG.COM

50 VARMAG.COM

51 VARMAG.COM

Valentina Belleza by Damien elroy Vignaux

52 VARMAG.COM

53 VARMAG.COM

54 VARMAG.COM

55 VARMAG.COM

Hair & makeup by Rochelle McLean

Taylor Tilden by Lisa Boyle

57 VARMAG.COM

58 VARMAG.COM

59 VARMAG.COM

60 VARMAG.COM

61 VARMAG.COM

hair & makeup Kurtis Dam-Mikkelsen

Cat King by Christian Saint

63 VARMAG.COM

64 VARMAG.COM

65 VARMAG.COM