FEBRUARY 2014 | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER
VEUX Magazine - Issue 16 - Happily Ever After STAFF
Ada Adams Editor-In-Chief/Content Director/Public Relations ada@veuxmag.com
Vivien Hoang Editor/Advisor/Layout Design vivien@veuxmag.com
Wales Wong Editor/Literary Editor/Photographer wales@veuxmag.com
Yawen Chan Web Producer
CONTRIBUTORS: M. Bowman, Dr Vivien Boyd, Monissa Chakrabartty, ViVien Hoang, Andrew Knapp, Eric Lacour, Trish Lindstrom, Katie Linendoll, Sophia Saunders, Colin Boyd Shafer, Yu Hang Tan, Wales Wong PUBLISHER VEUX Magazine is published every two months by AVW Publishing Inc. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are solely those of the original author and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of VEUX Magazine, AVW Publishing Inc., any of its staff, and/or any/all contributors to this magazine. CONTACT www.veuxmag.com Editor-In-Chief: editor@veuxmag.com Submissions: editorial@veuxmag.com
FOLLOW www.facebook.com/veuxmag www.twitter.com/VeuxMag
COVER PHOTO photography: Christina Alikhanova make-up & hair: Sasha Kloos fashion design: Victoria Prokhorova wardrobe styling: Christina Alikhanova model: Maria Plyaskina BACK PHOTO photography: Johnny Se make-up & hair: Sara Vande Vyver fashion design: Maark Abeenir wardrobe styling: Dominique Hanke models: Karie Holst & Michael Marshall
IN THIS ISSUE
ISSUE SIXTEEN | HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Features & Regulars 4 20 32
Letter from the Editors I <3 Geeks! A Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Techies
44
Tokyo: Where to Start?
62
Cosmopolis Toronto: Exhibition
84
Find Momo: A Boy and his Dog
- By Katie Linendoll / Photography by Eric Lacour
I DO! Pikaari - Real Time Scheduling for Real Couples
- By ViVien Hoang / Photography by Monissa Chakrabartty
- By Wales Wong
- By Wales Wong / Photography by Colin Boyd Shafer, M. Bowman, Dr. Vivien Boyd, Yu Hang Tan
- By ViVien Hoang / Photography by Andrew
Knapp
Art 36
Visual Art: Sophia Saunders
Editorials
photography: Thanh Tran make-up & hair: Monica Tran accessories design: Kim San wardrobe styling: Thanh Tran assistant: Vale Landry model: Maci Landry Flower Headpiece by Kim San
4 Trapped 12 Shakespeare Westwood 24 All That’s Best of Dark & Bright 38 Sapphic Warriors 50 Commitment 56 Becoming Venus 68 Swank 76 Love From Overseas 90 The Black Bird 98 The Swan
Letter from the Editor Happily Ever After Growing up, I had a pretty homogenous view of “happily ever after.” Kiss the prince or princess, get married, live in a castle. Sure, the castle might have been a cute bungalow in a cul-de-sac with a white, picket fence and the spouse might be less princely and maybe slightly more portly, but ultimately the message was the same. Needless to say, adulthood brought those dreams crashing down to reality. For years, I struggled to fit what I thought would make me happy (and what society told me would make me happy) into the mold. We all do it - society and the media are so quick to tell us what will let us achieve joy and contentment. It was somewhere in my late 20s (the time of your life when you’re supposed to be your happiest, right?) that I realized I was miserable. What other people sold me as being happy-cure-alls was nothing more than slick snake oil. Cue quarter-life crisis. It took the better part of two years of self-reflection, evaluation, and friendly intervention before it dawned on me that I always knew what would make me happy and maybe now I had the maturity and courage to pursue it. I switched careers, moved countries, ended toxic relationships and fostered loving ones. I started exercising and eating healthy while pursuing the opportunities and adventures I wanted - no matter what the naysayers were throwing my way. There is no magic formula for what makes a person happy. We each walk our own paths. Happy, it turns out, is up for interpretation. In Issue 16, our contributors have shown us just how individual and personal their vision of “Happily Ever After” truly is. It’s art. It’s drama. It’s love. It’s friendship. It’s giving and receiving. We are excited to welcome our new contributors and happy to see familiar faces as well. We hope you all enjoy our 16th issue!
VH On behalf of the editors
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Trapped
CANADA photography: Johnny Se make-up & hair: Sara Vande Vyver fashion design: Maark Abeenir wardrobe styling: Dominique Hanke models: Karie Holst & Michael Marshall
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8 Clothes | VEUX | worn ISSUE by16 Karie | HAPPILY and Michael EVER AFTER are stylist owned unless otherwise indicated.
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Fashion design by Maark Abeenir
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Shakespeare Westwood CANADA photography: Christina Lazar-Schuler make-up & hair: Elena Ismail fashion design: April Peters (The House Gallery Boutique) wardrobe styling: Christina Lazar-Schuler model: Karie Holst (NUMA Vancouver)
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Blouse & Corset by April Peters Black Necklace by H&M
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Catsuit by Black Milk, All Other Clothing by April Peters and Bracelet by Forever 14Necklace | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER 21 AFTER
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Catsuit by Black Milk, All Other Clothing by April Peters HAPPILY EVER | ISSUE by 16 Forever | VEUX | 21 15 RingAFTER and Bracelet
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Skirt by April Peters Bodysuit and Tights by Black Milk Necklaces by Stella & Dot, H&M and Forever 21 Rings by TopShop Bracelets by The Bay
Blouse, Skirt & Corset by April Peters Black Tights by Black Milk Black Necklace by H&M
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Skirt by April Peters Bodysuit and Tights by Black Milk Necklaces by Stella & Dot, H&M and Forever 21 Rings by TopShop Bracelets by The Bay
Skirt, Corset & Bolero by April Peters Bodysuit by Black Milk Necklace by Forever 21 Ring and Headpiece by TopShop Bracelets by The Bay
It’s never too early to look ahead to spring! VEUX Magazine’s Issue 17 theme is STORYTELLERS. We are looking for dramatic and literaryinspired editorial and beauty features. We are also hosting our first ever Short Story contest. Check www.veuxmag.com for more information. HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 19
FEATURE
I <3 Geeks! A Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Techies Tech expert and Emmy-award-winning TV personality Katie Linendoll, who contributes to CNN and TODAY show, loves Valentine’s Day. What better excuse for a Chic Geek gift? (She even coined and trademarked that phrase!) Linendoll scours the globe year-round to come up with the best ways to say, “I heart you,” for both girls and guys, February 14.
Just when you thought the holidays were over, Valentine’s Day brings yet another excuse for me to shell out gadgetry recommendations to the masses. What excites me most is that gadgets are on most people’s list. Skip the candy conversation hearts and dive in to my top tech picks.
Legend of Zelda Earrings, starting at USD$19, RapscallionDesign via Etsy Vintage is in, and that applies to jewelry and gaming. These gold cartridge Legend of Zelda earrings are uber chic (and less expensive than the real deal). Plus, how can you not love a jewelry maker who states that the materials used include “polymer clay, chain, paper, and nerdiness.” Lego Brick Cases for iOS, starting at USD$9.99, Smallworks.com I love these Lego cases from Smallworks.com. Not only do they protect your phone, you can actually stack Legos on them. PC Treasures Lyrix PowerBall Bluetooth Speaker, USD$49, amazon.com Don’t let the surprisingly affordable price fool you. The PC Treasures Lyrix PowerBall Bluetooth Speaker will go toe to toe with some USD$200 Bluetooth speakers. I love it for the 12-hour battery life, big sound, chic design, and six vibrant color options.
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myCharge, starting at USD$13.99, bestbuy.com We all love our smartphones, but hate that they run out of juice so fast. Trust me when I say the man or woman in your life will love one of these chargers. Made for iOS and Android devices, these compact units are super convenient life/job savers, and add between four to 40 hours of extra talk time. Pro tip: opt for the Hub 3000 or 6000, both can charge up to three devices simultaneously. HMDX Jam Fusion Bluetooth headphones, starting at USD$80, amazon.com Headphones are one of the gadgets I test about a gazillion of, so trust me when I say HMDX Jam Fusion is a great option. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m obsessed with them. Comfy, priced right, with six hours of battery life, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re great for a commute or a workout. Bluetooth range of 30 feet, and they come in lots of color options and connect to a smart phone or tablet. Once you have wireless headphones you will never go back!
Photography by Eric Lacour
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<3<3 <3<3 <3<3 <3<3 <3<3 <3<3 <3<3 <3
FEATURE Tweet-a-coffee Now you can send someone a caramel macchiato via Twitter. Starbucks’ new Tweet-a-coffee lets you gift USD$5 Starbucks Cards to all of your Valentines. Personalized chocolate, starting at USD$6, Chocomize.com I love this web service. Chocomize lets you create custom chocolate bars for your loved one in different shapes and sizes using his or her favorite ingredients. First, start with your favorite chocolate (white, milk or dark) and then sprinkle on toppings (Pop Rocks, toffee, Fruit Gushers and 80-plus other choices) to create the ultimate candy bar. Imagemallows/Smore kits, starting at USD$4.50, candywithatwist.com Prefer marshmallows to chocolate? You can customize those, too, with photos, logos, drawings or whatever you choose. Genetic materials art, starting at USD$199, DNA11.com What better way to say, “I love you” than having his or her DNA turned into art? DNA11 mails you a collection kit, and then transforms your genetic information into a colorful portrait. Other art options include fingerprint portraits and kiss portraits. S’mores USB Heated Slippers, USD$37.99, Amazon.com Keep your toes toasty in these S’more slippers (aka Smoko USB Footwarmers). Just plug the 57-inch detachable cord in to any USB port and prepare to get cozy. Instagram accessories, starting at USD$28, Stitchagram.com Feel like all of your Instagram pics are going to waste? Immortalize them with Stitchagram, a service that lets you make a personalized throw pillow, wristlet, coin purse or tote bag for your bestie (or yourself). All products are handmade in Washington, D.C. Jump from Paper Bags, USD$99, ThinkGeek.com These 3D bags look like they’re 2D cartoons, and, I guarantee, you’ll stand out if you wear one. I get compliments whenever I wear this in NYC, and that’s a bigger deal than you might think! Urb-e Scooter, USD$1,500, Kickstarter Every now and then I find a gadget I just go crazy for. This is the latest. Designed by a lead engineer at Porsche, the Urb-e is a fully electric scooter that hits speeds up to 15mph and can go 20 miles on a charge. They’re just now taking pre-orders and will be launching an Indiegogo campaign in February. I lucked into a prototype, and I’m loving it so much, I’ve yet to return it. I should probably get on that. Lumen Smart Bulb, USD$66, lumenbulb.net Set the mood on Valentine’s Day with Lumen. This LED energy-saving bulb pairs with an accompanying app and allows you to choose from 16 million colors, or opt for a preset mode, like party or romance. Using the app, you can change the brightness or even sync the light bulb to the beat of your music. I grouped all my bulbs together, in synchronized fashion, and my track lighting now has a mind of its own.
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All That’s Best o
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of Dark & Bright
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CANADA photography: Sameep Singh (www.sameepsinghphotography.com) make-up: Natasha Daniloff (www.facebook.com/NatashaDaniloffMua) hair: Miguel Hurtado fashion design: Tess Elizabeth (www.tess-elizabeth.com) model: Maddison (www.theagencymodels.ca) All clothes from the Unrefined Being Collection by Tess Elizabeth. HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 31
FEATURE
I DO!
Pikaari â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Real Time Scheduling for Real Couples By ViVien Hoang
Fairytale endings often involve puffy dresses, fancy tuxedoes, tiered cakes, and floral arrangements on every table. Every couple engaged to be married has to meet and book their vendors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the list of vendors seems dauntingly long, the timeframe exceedingly short, and the stress levels rising. How do you organize it all? Pikaari is a new wedding app which will help to streamline the whole wedding planning process. It allows for real time booking of consultation appointments. After all, if you can now book haircuts, massages, manicures and pedicures online, why not book appointments with the people who will help you on the biggest day of your life and make sure your wedding day goes off without a hitch?
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I sat down with Pikaari co-founder Adrienne to ask about her latest endeavor. Like many great projects, the idea was fueled by her own personal experiences of planning her wedding. “I realized that a lot of wedding planning involved consultation appointments. You might see five venues, meet two photographers, meet two florists and go to four¬ dress stores, before making any big decisions. Consultation appointments are important because they help you choose who you really want to work with and who will be the perfect vendor to help turn your wedding day vision into reality.” For Adrienne, finding her wedding vendors wasn’t just about paying somebody to do a job. It was about fostering a relationship. “Ultimately, you want to work with someone who truly understands your vision and someone who you have good chemistry with. Working with a wedding vendor isn’t a one-time-deal - it’s a long-term relationship.” “Consultation appointments are such an important part of wedding planning, but often the most frustrating. Currently, the whole process to even arrange a consultation appointment is done by email or phone, and could take up to several days if you end up playing a lot of voicemail tag.” “First, you want to ask the wedding vendor whether they are even available for your wedding date. Then, if they are available, you may try to arrange for a mutually convenient time to meet. For me, the waiting game was grueling and added unnecessary stress. I really wanted an app that would allow me to see which vendors are available for my wedding day, and if they were available, to book consultations in real-time.” While most of us would be content to complain with our friends over brunch about the stresses of wedding planning, Adrienne decided to do something about it. She assembled a group of her trusted and talented friends: Richard, an entrepreneur from a previous project called Indie Coffee Passport; JY, her brother-in-law, and a guru at software systems; and Victor, a computer programmer extraordinaire.
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I ask Adrienne what sets her app apart from the others currently available on the market and she explains that her product works to solve the very problem she had encountered. “There are several things that set us apart. First, there is no other app that both checks for wedding date availability and allows real-time consultation booking. Second, on the vendor side of things, Pikaari links to a vendor’s Google Calendar, so Pikaari simply pulls a vendor’s availability from a calendar that they already use. Third, Pikaari is consciously designed as a neutral platform, and so, there are no vendor reviews. While reviews may be an important aspect of wedding planning, it isn’t everything, and we truly feel an in-person meeting is actually the most important thing.”
Pikaari is still in its infancy but it’s growing. Funding is the next step for them but the Pikaari team is currently focused on building a great product. I was invited to be a part of the beta testing and found the interface to be intuitive, clean, and easy to use. Pikaari allows brides and grooms to see which vendors are available for their wedding date, and to schedule a consultation with those vendors in real-time. “It doesn’t interfere with the traditional wedding planning approach; it simply eliminates email and voicemail tag and speeds up the initial process. For wedding venues, brides and grooms will be able to search by either a specific date or by season. Brides and grooms don’t need to sign up for an account in order to use Pikaari, however, if you have an account, you get access to your own ‘Dashboard’ which lets you keep track of all your consultations, and which vendors you’ve already chosen to work with.” Now brides and grooms no longer have to send followup emails to confirm appointments. Once you book through Pikaari, it’s on the vendor’s calendar. “When a bride books a consultation, both the bride and the vendor will receive a confirmation email, and the appointment gets put into the vendor’s calendar automatically. The vendor can also click a link within the Google appointment or confirmation email to see more details about the bride who has made an appointment.”
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Photograph by Monissa Chakrabartty
For vendors, this streamline booking process means less worry about missing phone calls, returning emails, or coordinating schedules with their team. Vendors also have complete control over when they’d like to take consultation appointments, and whether they are available for more than one wedding per day.
Pikaari has worked closely with their vendors to make sure the product is usable from their perspective. “One of the cool things about Pikaari is that it is actually built based on feedback, opinions and suggestions from over 50 wedding vendors in Toronto. Back in the summer of 2013, we had built a demo to showcase to wedding vendors in order to see what they thought about the idea, what they liked, what they didn’t like, what they wanted to see in Pikaari, and how Pikaari might fit in with their business. I’d have to say Pikaari is a collective effort, to say the least!” Pikaari will be starting their public beta testing soon. If you’re in the Toronto, Canada area in February, you can also check them out at the Wedding Room wedding show, organized by The Wedding Co. on February 22-23, 2014. They are also always looking for vendors. In an age where so many people complain about technology isolating us behind screens, Pikaari and their team remind us that it also has the power to bring us all together – seafoam green bridesmaids’ dresses optional! Photographs provided courtesy of Adrienne and Pikaari.
Pikaari Website: www.pikaari.com The Wedding Room: theweddingroom.ca The Wedding Co.: www.theweddingco.com HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 35
ART
“Hearts”
Sophia Saunders
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ART
“City”
Sophia Saunders in a Toronto based artist who specializes in hand made and printed linocuts. She has taught art to children in Canada and Taiwan. Her work has been shown at the TMX Gallery at the ArtGives Auction fundraiser, the Queen West Art Crawl, The Toronto Indie Arts Market and Vendor Queens. By transforming utilitarian objects and familiar scenes into brightly coloured prints, they are brought out of the mundane and celebrated. You can catch Sophia’s work at the 2014 One of a Kind Spring Show. Her website: sophiasaunders.net Photography by Trish Lindstrom.
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Sapphic Warriors
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ITALY photography: Andrea Cencini (infraRED studio - www.andreacencini.com) make-up & hair: Valentina Sbb wardrobe styling: Valentina Sbb models: Francesca Alicata & Giada Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angeli
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Tokyo: Where to Start? A little girl dresssed in a kimono reading emas
Text and Photography by Wales Wong The adventure began once I got through customs at the Narita Airport. I stopped in my tracks when I saw all the vending machines. The readily available variety of options accessible at the touch of a button contrasted to the soda machines that I had been so accustomed to seeing in Toronto. This wasn’t my first time coming to Tokyo, but discovering each part of the city, sans tour guide, made it special this time. I had spent days researching websites, flipping through guide books, asking friends for suggestions on what to do. The days would have turned into weeks considering just how much eating, sightseeing, and photographing one can do in a metropolis of about 13 million people. I decided to stay in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. While rooms tend to be small – let’s not forget that real estate is expensive – I had all the necessities along with the hospitality of owners who made the place a temporary home during my travels. I chose Ryokan Sawanoya after looking through online reviews. Isao Sawa and his family were very welcoming and small touches, such as the origami crane perfectly placed on my futon on the tatami floor, were a pleasant surprise. There was an option for private or shared bathing areas that gave me the opportunity to unwind at the end of day since I had probably walked for miles. To ensure that visitors understood how to use the baths, there were clear instructions on bathing manners posted in the facilities such as cleansing oneself before immersing into the communal baths.
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Entering the gates to the Senjo-ji
Situated next to Ueno, I was within walking distance to Ueno Park, Ueno Zoo, Toshogu Shrine, Kan-eiji Temple, and Ameyoko (a street filled with sneaker stores, cheap eats, and dried food). It is a safe and fairly quiet area so the walks from my ryokan to the Tokyo Metro, the city’s subway, in the mornings were very relaxing. Even the subway ride was surprisingly quiet. I later found out from my local friend that talking on the phone while on the train is frowned upon. As a common courtesy to others and their hearing - jabbering about is a faux pas. I decided to visit one of the more popular Buddhist temples in Asakusa. Senso-ji attracts both locals and tourists so be prepared for a madly busy walk. The shops on the streets around the temple sell rice crackers, Japanese paper and cloth, key chains, sweet sticky dumplings, and more for your souvenir needs. I even found a beautiful second-hand kimono for only 1000 yen. But if you’re there to pay your respects, here are some etiquette tips to keep in mind: Many people cleanse themselves at the chozubachi (purification fountain) before entering the temple. They might also burn osenko (incense) or purchase an ema (a plaque made out of wood) to write a prayer or wish on. For some shopping therapy, Ometesando and Ginza are must go-to places to unload your wallet. Brand names
such as Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, and Tiffany’s can be found in these two areas. I also found Kabukiza, one of the top theaters for traditional kabuki. If you have an itch to catch some stage performances, last minute tickets are available for unreserved seats. There are also tickets for standing, but that might be a bit tiring after three hours. Yes, kabuki can be very long. I also found some great deals on clothes and souvenirs at 100 yen stores such as Daiso and Seria in Shibuya. Similar to the Dollar Stores we have here in Toronto, the prices won’t break the bank and the selection is far more interesting with knick knacks such as sticker appliques made with cotton that go on the toilet seats so you no longer have to suffer from a cold bum during the winters. While you’re in the neighborhood, witness the overwhelming sea of people that walk the Shibuya Crossing or have a stroll towards Meiji-Jingu, a well-known Shinto shrine. The Harajuku style is also present at Takeshita Dori so go during Sundays to see fashion ranging from Lolita to Cosplay. Even though Muji and Uniqlo has found its way to North America, there might be some items that are only available in the Japanese locations. HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 45
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When it comes to food, the most popular suggestions from friends where ramen and sushi. A few places stood out for me. The first was Ichiran, which also happened to be the first ramen place I scouted at the Ueno Station. For those who want some privacy while eating, this is the place for you. I put in my order in one of the ticket vending machines. Then with the meal tickets that I received, I was directed at a cubicle which is normally suited for those eating alone. There is an additional sheet which offers more options to customize my order such as how spicy or how much green onion I’d like in my soup. Once I handed in my meal tickets along with the sheet, it only took a few minutes for the tonkotsu ramen to arrive in front of me and, of course, it was delicious. Fresh fish means fresh sushi so the Tsukiji Market is where I headed off too. Normally, one can participate in the fish auctions that start in the wee hours of 4:30 AM, but since it was close to the Christmas and New Year Holidays when I was there, the auction was temporarily closed for a few weeks so be sure to check online when they are open before venturing out at in the early morning. Luckily, the eateries were open. I was really only there to eat and two places popped up on many travel blogs – Sushi Dai and Daiwa-Zushi. The lineup at Sushi Dai can be up to a two hour wait. When I arrived at 9 AM, it looked like it would take at least an hour so I went to Daiwa-Zushi which was amazing. My personal faves were the soft otoro and sweet ebi sushi. If waking up this early for fish is not appealing then definitely try Heiroku where you can see the dishes of salmon, tuna, and more moving along a conveyor belt. Just take the plates which you want to try and at the end of the meal, the waitress will add up the final bill amount according to the number of plates you have. Other options that quelled my hunger included an izakaya dinner in Shibuya with my friend from high school who now lives in the city. Small dishes meant for sharing accompanied by sake and plum wine were perfect for us to catch up over since it had been several years since we’d last met. Just remember: you will be sitting on the floor so shoes off! Concerned that someone might steal your Louboutins? No worries because there are lockers at the entrance for you to store them.
Facing Page (Top to Bottom; Left to Right) Sweet treats at Sadaharu Aoki in Tokyo Midtown Delicious ramen at Ichiran after getting off the plane Catch some kabuki at Kabukiza Barrels of rice wine Very clean and efficient subway service on the Tokyo Metro Line The busy Shibuya Crossing Excellent service by the Sawa family
This Page (Top to Bottom) A variety of fish can be found at the Tsukiji Market Oh so yummy otoro and ebi sushi Conveyor belt sushi at Heiroku on Omotesando Hills
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A temple in Ueno
Bakeries can be found everywhere. A popular one is Gontran Cherrier which originated from Paris. I also had to try out the treats at the much loved patisserie, Sadaharu Aoki, at Tokyo Midtown. The set of bite-sized cakes were heavenly and I am still kicking myself for not purchasing a pack of their Earl Grey tea which complemented the entremets so well. And for cheaper offerings, Lawson, the local convenience store chain, has a large selection of alcohol, onigiri (rice shaped in a triangle wrapped in nori), and deep-fried goodness. All in all, I crammed in as much as I could. By the end of my trip, I needed some serious R & R! Tokyo did not disappoint one bit. The only problem you might find when you visit is where to start â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but rest assured, that no matter where you start, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll end on a happy note.
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FEATURE
Many cleanse themselves first at the chozubachi (purification fountain) The burning of osenko (incense)
Additional Information: Daiso – www.daisojapan.com Gontran Cherrier – www.gontran-cherrier.jp Ichiran Ramen - www.ichiran.co.jp/english Lawson – www.lawson.jp/en Muji – www.muji.net Ryokan Sawanoya - www.sawanoya.com Sadaharu Aoki - www.sadaharuaoki.jp Seria - www.seria-group.com Senso-ji - www.senso-ji.jp/about/index_e.html Tsukiji Market - www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm Uniqlo - www.uniqlo.com/jp HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 49
Commitment
THE NETHERLANDS photography: Jentie Youna Jelles (www.jentie.nl) make-up & hair: Eline van Zwol (www.elinevanzwol.nl) wardrobe styling: Ilse van der Kooij (Academie Artemis) wardrobe assistant: Meyke ten Vergert model: Jesler Bos (Dutch Casting Agency) & Sebastiaan van Wyk (Alpha Male Model Management) 50 | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER White Blouse by WE
White Blazer by Zara White Jeans by Only Jeans Black Pants and Shirt by Hema HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 51
EDITORIAL White Pants by Zara White Sweater by H&M White Pants by WE
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Black Jeans by Forever 21 White Top by H&M Black Cardigan by Hema Jeans by Levi’s
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White Tshirt by Hema
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Becoming Venus HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 57
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Ring by ROMWE 58 | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER Headpiece by Kim San
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Red Dress by TOBI HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 59
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Peacock Dress by ROMWE Headpiece by Kim San
UNITED STATES photography: Thanh Tran (www.thanhtranfotos.com) make-up & hair: Monica Tran accessories design: Kim San wardrobe styling: Thanh Tran assistant: Vale Landry model: Maci Landry
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FEATURE
Cosmopolis Toronto: Exhibition M. Bowman (Side by Side Photography)
Interview by Wales Wong Photography by Colin Boyd Shafer Exhibition and Opening Photography by M. Bowman (Side by Side Photography), Dr. Vivien Boyd, and Yu Hang Tan
Since our last issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feature on Colin Boyd Shaferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photographic project, Cosmopolis Toronto, he has gained even more attention for his work on using photographs to document the immigrants who have come from all around the world to settle in the city of Toronto. Recently, the Toronto Centre for the Arts invited Shafer to host an exhibition for Cosmopolis Toronto. With all the excitement of opening night, I got a chance to find out more from Shafer on how all of this well-deserved attention has been for him and the project.
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Wong: Congratulations on your opening night for your exhibition. How has the journey been for you since we last met? Shafer: The opening for the exhibition was awesome (we had 300 guests attend opening night) and the response from the public was excellent. Many of the participants were able to connect with each other and further elaborate on their stories. Vanessa Tamburro, the project manager and curator, did a lot to prepare everything and this was crucial. The exhibition stays open until the 22nd of Feb at the Toronto Centre for the Arts and we are taking some school groups through.
M. Bowman (Side by Side Photography)
The project is receiving more attention. It is scheduled to be in the Globe and Mail this month, and we are in discussion with a couple of popular Toronto-based websites about collaboration such as Streets.to, 1loveTO. com, and goodnewstoronto.ca. We also have added new team members, which is so crucial as it continues to grow. We are now myself, Vanessa, Anna Sabrina Sopian, Gillian Prupas, Keely Bland, Jennifer Rodrigues and Elodie Li. For me, I am still active in photographing people. I just photographed someone born in Bolivia and someone born in Papua New Guinea today (Numbers 136 and 137!) I also have managed to photograph my grandmother as the participant born in the UK, which is so important. She is rather shy, but after attending the opening night she was ready to get involved.
M. Bowman (Side by Side Photography)
I am getting closer to the goal, but this also requires the continued efforts of all.
W: What was the highlight of that evening for you? S: Having my grandmother attend. I spent the day before opening in the emergency room at the hospital with her, and she stayed there overnight. It was amazing that she still managed to make it to the opening. She was able to socialize with the participants, and she even came to the after party for a drink! Another highlight was seeing participants who had never ‘actually’ met, meeting and clearly feeling like they knew each other, since they had read each other’s stories. There were a lot of smiles and positive discussion. Dr. Vivien Boyd
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W: What do you think of the responses you’ve received from the public on this project? S: Incredibly positive. Many people explained how they felt this type of project is needed. Words like ‘diversity’ and ‘multiculturalism’ were lacking in real evidence, real individual stories to actually breakdown these sweeping terms. There has been a wide-range of reasons for people being interested in the project - from those who are more interested in the art to those who focus on the cultural aspects. The Facebook, Twitter and Instagram followers of the project continue to grow and I think this is a good sign. Finally, it is awesome that websites like Streets.TO, 1loveTO.com, and Good News Toronto want to collaborate with us.
W: How many more countries do you have now to photograph a participant from? S: 137. By the time of publication, I’m sure it will be more. This is ‘right on track’ but it will only get harder as the countries I am missing are generally less populated. The more publicity this project gets the better chance I have of finding ‘every country of birth’. M. Bowman (Side by Side Photography)
W: Who are the individuals who have made an important contribution to the making of this project? S: Vanessa Tamburro, the Project Manager and Exhibition Curator, is incredibly professional, organized and devoted. Without her the project would not be where it is today. Also Marcellini, a German Advertising company, is still helping in many ways and absolutely crucial! They have a big heart – considering they aren’t in Toronto, or even Canada! All of the crowd funders and people who have continued to contribute to the project. Obviously my mom, Dr. Vivien Boyd, who is so helpful, and Grandma for being awesome. Balmoral Marketing, Toronto Centre for the Arts, Bellissimo Law Group, MCIS and Captured Moments were all sponsors for the first exhibition. We are currently looking for individual contributions, sponsorship and all sorts of collaboration. The first exhibition cost a small fortune! Also, publishers – as this is going to be a book! Sabrina and Vanessa (Photograph courtesy of Yu Hang Tan)
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For more information, please see the project website at cosmopolistoronto.com .
Gloria, born in Huambo, Angola
Vytas, born in Vilnius, Lithuania Maria, born in Managua, Nicaragua
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Kamal, born in Aden, Yemen
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Wales, born in California, USA
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EDITORIAL
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Suit by Akris Punto Shoes by Forever 21 Rings by Dian Malouf (Hyde Park), Calvin Klein and David Yurman
Swank
Skirt by Cecio Jacket by Thierry Mugler Bracelet by Kenneth J Cole Ring by Dian Malouf (Hyde Park) Shoes by Carlos HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 69
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EDITORIAL Shoes by Forever 21 Pants by Akris Punto Jacket by Robert Rodriquez Bracelets by Jessica Kagan Cushman
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Dress by Alice + Olivia Scarf by Royal Underground Shoes by Guess
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Dress by Thierry Mugler Shoes by Carlos Neclace by Sorrelli
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Dress by Marc Jacobs Shoes by Steve Madden
UNITED STATES photography: Lynzi Judish make-up & hair: Izzy Rossiter wardrobe styling: Nicole Schaap model: Cindy Yan (Wilhelmina) Wardrobe provided by Creme de la Couture. 74 | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Suit by Forstmann (Vintage) Shoes by Guess Necklace: Unlabeled Vintage
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Love From Overseas
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On Evelina Top by H&M Bottom by Zara Scarf by Reiss Necklace & Earrings by Evelina Ti Nails: OPI Kourt is Red-y For a Pedi On Joshua Top by H&M Bow Tie by UK Boutique
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EDITORIAL
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EDITORIAL On Evelina Top by Forever 21 Scarf by Reiss Bracelets by Evelina Ti On Joshua Top by Guess Pants by Guess Bracelets by Evelina Ti Rings by People’s Jewellers
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On Evelina Top by H&M Bottom by Zara Scarf by Reiss Necklace & Earrings by Evelina Ti Nails: OPI Kourt is Red-y For a Pedi On Joshua Top by H&M Bow Tie by UK Boutique
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On Evelina Top by American Apparel Bottom by Zara Belt by Ardene Hat by Winners Earrings by Evelina Ti On Joshua Top by American Apparel Bottom by Zara Hat by Winners
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On Evelina Top by H&M Bottom by Zara Scarf by Reiss Necklace & Earrings by Evelina Ti Bracelets by Smart Set Shoes by Zara Nails: OPI Kourt is Red-y For a Pedi On Joshua Top by H&M Bow Tie by UK Boutique Pants by H&M Shoes by Steve Madden Belt by Gucci 82 | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER
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CANADA photography: M Studio Life Photography (www.mstudiolife.com) make-up & hair: Maggie Ng (M.A.C. - www.maggieng.com) nails: Polina Nesterenko wardrobe styling: Evelina Ti photography assistant: Tobin Cheung (www.tobincstudio.blogspot.com) models: Evelina Ti & Joshua Hyman (www.joshuahy.electrofolio.com) HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 83
FEATURE
A Boy and His Dog
Find Momo:
By ViVien Hoang Photography by Andrew Knapp
Lassie. Old Yeller. Marley. Sit, stay… because there’s a new heart-warming story about a man’s best friend. If you are even a little Internet-culture savvy, you will know that cute and funny animals always have a place on the Web: Dramatic Gopher, Grumpy Cat, Doge the Shiba Inu, Lil Bub the Cat (who was featured in Volume 2 of our October 2013 issue). If you’re an Instagram junkie, then you should know about the canine celebrity that is Momo the Hide-and-Seek playing border collie.
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FEATURE
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FEATURE For the past few years, Canadian photographer and graphic designer Andrew Knapp (whose photography was featured in our October 2011 issue) has been documenting his adventures with his constant companion and photogenic dog Momo. Almost 130,000 followers tune in for the daily updates as Knapp and Momo travel across Northern Ontario, the rest of Canada, and around the United States in their yellow Westfalia van. It’s a modern day Bohemian life – getting away from it all while bringing the world along with you on all your journeys. They’ve met up with old friends, made new ones, and have encountered a few celebrities as well, including popular Canadian television and radio personality George Stroumboulopoulos. Knapp and Momo’s friendship started almost six years ago. From the start, Knapp knew he wanted a border collie – a breed known for being extremely intelligent and athletic. “My last family dog was a border collie and I absolutely loved him. He was so attentive, so smart, and so intense. Everything I’d read about border collies said they’d be a challenge to train, and working from home, I was totally up for it. I started searching nearby and found one a few hours away. I took a trip a few days later and found Momo.” While many of us are skeptical about love at first sight between two humans, it is almost expected that there is an instant bond with the animal who will be your pet. “The minute I pet him, he fell onto his back and let me rub his belly. There was some sort of spark, for sure, but I think puppies provide so many sparks that everyone falls in love with all of them. Regardless, I knew it was him. His sweet little face melted my brain with cuteness.” As you scroll through the images of Momo, and sometimes of Knapp and Momo, it is evident that they share a perfect partnership. “I always tell people that Momo is the most relaxed border collie they’ll meet, and it’s probably mostly true. Spending all of my time with him, we really connected. It was a relationship with nature, really. I find having an animal, especially one you really spend the time to connect with, you can really connect yourself deeper with nature.” “Momo is an extremely loveable dog. When he meets people, his big eyes open up to perfect brown circles, his ears fold back, and I swear he smiles. The result is a slightly warmer temperature of a human’s heart.” Some other pet owners who have leveraged their pet’s Internet popularity, have faced criticisms of exploitation, but for Knapp and Momo, their photography is an organic extension of what they were already doing. “If the pet is treated well, kept clear from danger, and is more loved than ever, I think it could only be considered a blessing! I couldn’t imagine a better opportunity than the one that lets me hang out with my dog even more, and travel more.” Knapp’s latest Momo-related project is “Find Momo” – think “Where’s Waldo” but instead of looking for a skinny guy in a red and white sweater, you’re looking for a black and white dog hidden in various scenes all across North America. Knapp admits the whole project was serendipitous: “Like any quirky unexpected project, it started by accident. It was a series of fortunate events that lent themselves to each other at the right time in the right way. There was the iPhone, firstly, which was still relatively new to me and had this incredible camera built into it. Soon after this, a friend told me about Instagram and I cautiously signed up.”
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FEATURE
Like most pet owners, Knapp took a lot of photographs of his dog. “The iPhone came out right around the same time I got Momo, so I’d been shooting photos of him since he was a wee adorable puppy. I learned quickly, thanks to the feedback that my couple of Instagram followers provided, that Momo was a very photogenic dog. So I kept photographing him. I didn’t want to stop taking all other photos, so I kind of started sneaking him into landscapes. Actually, he kind of snuck himself into them at first, which was the accidental part, but it was that connection when I thought this could be fun!” No doubt that Knapp never expected his fun little daily diary would take off as it did. But on Instagram, thousands of followers eagerly look forward to #findmomo and proudly claim when they’ve #foundmomo. For those who would prefer to access the photographs in print, Knapp has teamed up with Quirk Books and will be publishing a 144 paged Find Momo book on March 4, 2014. The book is already available for pre-purchase from Amazon and features photographs primarily from the New England region of the United States. Quite fittingly, Knapp and Momo will be traveling and doing a book tour to promote the new book. “The book tour will definitely be happening, starting March 4, 2014 in Portland, Maine and doing much of the same trip I’d done before - all the way to California, and most of Canada as well, but we will be taking a little more time, exploring a little bit more, and meeting a lot more people.” And it’s probably safe to say that all those people are happy that Knapp #foundmomo. HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 87
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You can follow Knappâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instagram: instagram.com/andrewknapp Website: gofindmomo.com Book Publisher: www.quirkbooks.com/findmomo
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The Black Bird
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Jacket by Ann Demulemeester
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Jacket by Ann Demulemeester Stylist’s Own: Headpiece and Briefs 92 | VEUX | ISSUE 16 | HAPPILY EVER AFTER
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Neckpiece by Mawi Jacket by Dilettante HAPPILY EVER AFTER | ISSUE 16 | VEUX | 93
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Stylist’s Own: Vintage Tulle
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Dress by A.F Vandevorst 96Gloves | VEUXby | ISSUE | HAPPILY EVER AFTER Martin16 Margiela
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AUSTRALIA photography: Rita Zimmermann (www.ritazimmermann.com) make-up & hair: Liliana Sorossi (The Silver Bullet Collective) wardrobe styling: Elizabeth Clarke (The Silver Bullet Collective) photography assistant: Andrew Miller model: Mari Lepik production: Ben Luker (The Silver Bullet Collective)
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The Swan
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RUSSIA photography: Christina Alikhanova make-up & hair: Sasha Kloos fashion design: Victoria Prokhorova wardrobe styling: Christina Alikhanova model: Maria Plyaskina
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AVW Publishing Inc. www.veuxmag.com
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