eleanorzine for the nerdy, geeky, and oh so cheeky winter 2011 #004
the rebirth of eleanor featuring: the disposable project
BACKPACK BLOCK PARTY
an urban adventure meet tori
&
geeky never looked so chic
we’re back, and it feels so good image from http://www.etsy.com/shop/eureekaswindow
WTH is eleanorzine? eleanorzine is created for: The outsiders, the geeks, the dweebs, the nerds, the trend setters and not followers, the girl who can beat anyone at smash bros, the girl who dreams of having high tea in Japan, the girl who sits alone in the cafeteria, the girl who is sometimes thought of as weird, odd, and peculiar, the girl who likes fashion, but perhaps not the main stream, the girl who swims against the flow vs. going with the flow, the girl who blogs about polaroids, purikura, and holga. This zine is for the knitters, the stitchers, and the all around crafsters—the girl who downloads Japanese magazines, and doesn’t need help at Game Stop. This zine is created for you by girls like you. Whether you are 12 or 112, we hope to cater to a place to find where you belong, because magazines usually don’t cater to us, so we decided to create our own. So keep blogging, watch Ninja warrior, and dominate on Steam, we promise to bring what interests you back into the magazine realm, because if we don’t who will. Questions, professional inquiries, mysteries of the universe contact us at: eleanorzine@gmail.com
editor’s letter HEEEEEEY, kids! Let me begin by saying that you all have been missed! Totally! I sincerely apologize for the absense of eleanorzine in your homes. After our last issue, I felt like I needed to do a little soul searching. I wanted to make sure that eleanorzine remained honest to their viewer that it always first and foremost, nerdy, geeky, and cheeky. We want each issue to speak to the girl next door from the Emma Stones to the Ellen Pages. We also want to look and be an efficient zine as well. So we put away our deco guns and made the magazine a little cleaner (but still cheeky!) We also reached out to a wide array of girls that fit the image of eleanorzine and will encourage you to be yourself whether you love fashion or photography. We hope you enjoy our rebirth, let 2011 be our year.
Bi g hu g l ittle hu g, Bianca.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
in order or apperance...
About Us, editors letter Table of Contents Contributors The disposable Project Getting giddy Be mine Street Style Geek out Watch,Read,Listen,Play Tokyo Diaries Nerd Girl: Tori Hello Eliza Usagi Story Book Trend to try Advertise & Contribute Special Thanks 7
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ISSUE
{contributors} Bianca, Chicago Bianca is the mama bear to the zine you call eleanor. Everyday her blood, sweat, and tears go into the zine, so we all can enjoy something made for girls who are just a bit pelculiar.
Sasa , Barcelona
Al , New York
Sasa is the sweetest girl from Spain who dreams of living in a mori girls world. Her illustrations are the perfect combination of dreamy & high fashion.
Al is just about the coolest kid in all of NYC. She is not only an amazing photographer but she is also a brilliant artist.
yumepony.blogspot. com kiddchameleon.tumblr. com
Tori , USA Tori is more than just a stunningly beautiful girl. She has an eye for fashion and combining the east with the west to create a look that is all her own.
Jayne , Brisbane
Hana , Tokyo
Jayne is the best artist in disguise through her lovely blog we and join her in her daily escapades and her visual language through photography.
Hana is blossoming each and every day. She is finding her way through Japan, and shares her story at her blog along with great personal style & flair.
cherristory.blogspot. com backpackblockparty. tumblr.com
findingtokyo.blogspot. com jayjayne.com
when we found out that Jayne 3. shoot your favorite pair of shoes
Was doing a disposable project, it was hard for us to contain our excitment. For one, we absolutely love a good project, two; we love photography, and three; it gives you a chance to respect a dying medium. Here’s the info from Jaynes lips to our ears....
“ 18. shoot something pretty
11. shoot your work place
WHAT IS THE DISPOSABLE PROJECT? Why, that’s a good question. Watch your step when you get up kids, because Aunty Jayne is going to drop some knowledge. The Disposable Project is based on the love of all things analog, and in this case, the analog item in question is no, not a watch, nor a plane, not even Batman wearing a carbon fiber suit, no, it’s the humble Disposable Camera (Deserved of capitalization). The Disposable Project involves giving several individuals Disposable Cameras and a list of items to shoot. They may take the images in any order, as long as they fulfill the task list and specify which image lines up with the specific task. The camera is then sent back, the film produced and the efforts posted up for the world to see....
19. shoot something cute
”
It sounds hella cool to us, and we couldn’t wait to sign up and get out camera! Get started on your own! Help out Jayne with her project and get power of photography to sweep the hearts of the people around the world.
8. shoot your wheels
21. shoot your city
find out more at http://jayjayne.com
Getting Giddy art by Sasa
Getting Giddy art by Sasa
Getting Giddy art by Sasa
Getting Giddy art by Sasa
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1. Bison Bakkantou Hot Bath Salt Assortment $11.50 www.imomoko.com 2. Jeffrey Cambell Milton Shearling Booties $145 www.shopnastygal.com 3. My Frozen Valentine $17.22 www.lulu.com 4. Hello, Snazzy Style Necklace $29.99 www.modcloth.com 5. Berry Cocktail Ring $32 www.shopnastygal.com 6. Sweetheart Sunnies $12. www.fredflare.com 7. Measure Your Love Cups $14 www.fredflare.com 8. Heart-Shaped Gelatin Mold $9 www.fredflare.com
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6 8 be your own valentine
eleanorzine: StREET
Back Back Pack Pack Block Block Party Party If you’re reading Eleanor you’re probably a geeky girl. You probably like pokemon, hello kitty, tumblr, & maybe even the BBC. But because you read Eleanor you also are a nerdy girl, so we wouldn’t be surprised that you spends hours at a time reading the NYtimes and the Huffington Post, or you at least follow them on twitter and wait for updates while you watch the Colbert report. That’s what we do anyway, and while scavenging through the buttload of articles that the Huffington has to offer, we noticed one little engine that could.
“Cute of darkness.” Chelsea, Manhattan
“Super cute state of mind.” NYC
eleanorzine: StREET
“The Backpack of Earthly Delights.” Union Square
“All I can hear is a choir of French school children.” Union Square
“Boo was our neighbor. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a pair of good-luck pennies, and our lives. ” Union Square
eleanorzine: StREET
“Can you hold on a sec I’m on my backpack phone.” Subway
“Captain ‘merica.” Whole Foods
“STALIN” Berlin, Germany
the boys...
eleanorzine: StREET
“Tom Sachs, where you at?” NYC
“Sweet backpack of liberty.” NYC
“WHERE’D SHE GET THAT?” NYC
laadieess...
eleanorzine: StREET
Meet Meet Al Al Baio Baio
With a name that righteous she has to be either: A) a villain in an 80s classic John Hughes movie, trying to steal Andrew McCarthy’s attention away from Molly Ringwald (but she ends up in love with Michael Anthony Hall anyways.)
From Berlin to Paris to back in New York Al brings to you some of the most unusual yet genius ways of street photography. What is the one thing that everyone has once carried in their life, but is always a display of personal taste? A backpack. From your Paddington bear bag from kindergarten to your Kipling mini backpack purse in junior high (yes with the ape charm!) we have all had our say on what goes on our backs.
OR B) One of the most amazing artists you have yet to meet. Now with an introduction like that we are almost regretful to say that she is indeed not a villain from the 80s and we apologize for getting your hopes up, BUT never fear, Al Baio (the artist) is here to wipe away your snotty nosed tears and “wha-bam” you with some street style photography that makes you take a step back, look again, and make your hands clap.
And It is Al’s mission for us to see it all from large rucksacks that one carries while backpacking through Europe to the essential messenger from bicyclist in Williamsburg. We had to get into Al’s head and see what euphoric experience she must’ve had when the angel’s pleaded to her to create such an amazing blog.
eleanorzine: StREET
Eleanorzine: What made you want to create a photography blog on backpacks? Al: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect backpack. It took me years and years to find “the one” in backpack form, and the whole time I found myself scoping out other people’s backpacks pretty frequently to get ideas for what I was looking for. When I finally did lock down my backpack, I wondered if other people embarked on a similar quest, or if they were just happy to have anything that eased the task of carrying stuff. I don’t remember exactly how the idea for the blog came to me, but I knew I wanted to do something silly that was also a really sweet ode to something I enjoy. EZ: Do backpacks mean something to you, in a metaphorical sense, more than just a sense of personal style? Al: For a lot of people, the first day of school is a major memory. Backpacks are a crucial aspect of that experience. In a way, I think a backpack is the closet object that represents a universal symbol of childhood, and as somebody who is definitely a kid at heart, this is a big reason why backpacks resonate so strongly with me. Also, using your back to carry the poundage of your possessions all while remaining hands-free transforms you into what a friend of mine once referred to as an, “Effortless Atlas.” You can carry the world, but you can still be free.
EZ: When taking photos for your blog, do you ask permission or do you take them guerilla style? Al: I’m all for candid street-style shots, but personally, asking first is super important to me. Interacting with the backpack-wearers I encounter has become my favorite aspect of my block party. Not only do I get to flatter people on, what I consider, a major aspect of their appearance that usually gets no attention, but I also have been able to get acquainted with so many people that I would otherwise have never met. EZ: Living in NY have you had a chance to snap anybody cool (cool in your book) with a backpack? Al: Pretty much anybody who has let me photograph their backpack is cool in my book (and those who say no are still cool too)! I do have a favorite backpack I’ve photographed, if that counts. (shown on the right) I took this over the summer in New York, a few months after I returned from a trip to Japan. After my trip, Hello Kitty became a representation of my deep appreciation for Japan, so seeing this New York-themed Hello Kitty backpack felt like the perfect tribute to my two favorite places in the world. Also, I took this on my birthday, and I like my birthday.
EZ: Whose your dream backpack wearer and what’s your dream backpack (Our’s is Abraham Lincoln, and our dream backpack is obviously a Miffy brand jetback that runs/serves bubble tea) Al:I would love it if Lucian Freud would make a companion piece to his Naked Man, Back View painting, completely identical to the original, except with the addition of a backpack on the (late, great) model, Leigh Bowery’s back. But I have to give a shout out to my favorite backpack-devoted cartoon character, Ash Ketchum! My dream backpack would be one that could alter it’s color, chameleon-style, to perfectly match whatever tights I want to wear on any given day. Most days I stick with wearing yellow tights, so I guess it’s safe to say that my yellow backpack is, in fact, the backpack of my dreams. But that Miffy situation sounds like something that needs to end up on my back. EZ: How long have you been snapping pictures? Al:I remember being given a starter-kit camera when I was about 6, and I guess I’ve been taking photographs off-and-on, on an amature-level, ever since. I definitely don’t consider myself a photographer. I grew up in a very snap-happy family, so for me, being in front of the lens had more significance than being behind it.
EZ: What’s a little background info in the girl behind the lens? Al:Simply, I’m a painter with an endless love for bright colors and sweet treats. My favorite days are spent painting and drawing for hours in my apartment, but always making time to visit my favorite dessert spots in New York (snack breaks are necessary). I also really love shorts and try to wear them all year round. I should probably take this opportunity to mention that I want to be best friends with all the poodles in the world. EZ: Being featured in Eleanor, what makes you, nerdy, geeky and cheeky? Al: I put quite a bit of thought and effort into the outfits I wear. My ability to color-coordinate flawlessly comes from avidly watching cartoons as a kid, and as an adult, I continue to have an admiration for all things animated. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to put together an outfit had I not watched Sailor Moon at 5:30 a.m. every morning in Third grade. Oh, and last Halloween, I was Jigglypuff. I’ve never looked better, if I do say so myself!
“Lenticular spectacular.” NYC EZ: Any final words? Al:My goal for 2k11 is to keep on shining, and I hope all the readers of Eleanorzine keep on shining too! This interview has really put me in the mood for bubble tea, let’s all go get some!♥
for more visit: backpackblockparty.tumblr.com
Geek Out
And the Oscar Goes To....
With the Academy Awards just around the corner we couldn’t be more stoked. In honor of three of our favorite nominees for best film, we took the elements of these movies and reworked it as style that is ready-to-wear. details of apparel from: j.crew, madewell, american apparel, asos, nastygal, urban outfitters, & sephora.
Geek Out
Sweet Girl
a few enemies a
few
enemies
La Beef
WRLP WATCH: READ: LISTEN: PLAY: MISFITS PIRATE OF TANLINES MARS Take 1 part sci-fi, two parts brit comedy, a dash of quirky sexiness, and a cup of wth, and you got one of the best up and coming shows British televison has to offer.
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Our friend Veronica just busted out with a graphic novel, and its about space pirates! We love it and you should check it out too!
They are like the brookyln based chill child of Yeasayer and Discovery. Their sick beats will have you swaying and your feet stomping. Give them a listen and we promise you won’t be disappointed.
An oldie but a goodie; Poupee Girl gives you your own avatar to dress in your favorite japanese cords. Plus the sight is in English for our non Japanese speaking friends! Its like being 6 years old again and making your own paper dolls, without the paper cuts.
The Japan Diaries
This weekend, like most weekends, Sho and I end up going to Ikebukuro. My intent is to drag Sho into shopping, his is probably to drag me into an arcade. Either way, purikura (sticker booth pictures) will happen. I have almost two photo albums dedicated to purikura, I could challenge the Japanese schoolgirls with my massive collection and possibly come out on top (No small, girly sticker albums for me! Mine are One Piece and bigger than a book). We compromise and do both. I buy a boy`s vest (the men departments in Tokyo are so stylish) and I also buy Sho a new shirt. Slightly army-inspired, isn`t that always coming back into fashion? Sho catches a multitude of cute keychains for me. My phone rings with a message.
by hana It`s the weekend again and in Tokyo that means two things: something very interesting will happen or nothing will happen. These days, a whole `lotta nothing is happening for me. With the close of the New Year and the coming March (ah, hiring season & closing statements!) most of my friends are busy with work. Tokyo is a city of work-a-holics. Or maybe I`m the exception? My work method is to do what you enjoy and make sure you always have enough time to waste on life. Luckily, I have a lot of time to waste.
No one really calls anyone in Japan. We all email each other. I have become a speed-typer of tiny buttons and my friends send me messages asking to go out for dinner, grab a drink or coffee, or to complain about the latest happening. My message is a complaint about the latest happening: my friend B`s on-again off-again boyfriend is off-again. Time to look through our schedules for a matching meet-up day. Perhaps in a month we will both have a weekend free. ♼
Tori Rules! For many of us, our relationship with Tori started off as a love for tumblr. For others, it was our home sweet communities on LiveJournal. We would follow each of her post, reblog her coordinates, and heart all the cute pictures of macaroons to bottles of Chanel nail polish. Then in 2010 Tori open her heart to us more by allowing us to get a little bit more personal with a blog on blogger, following her daily escapades but always keeping it fashion forward. From gal to street, Tori has got us beat, and she always stays true to herself than following false idols and imaginary rules. The only thing that rules is Tori and this is her side of the story.
“...A look is created not only by clothes, but by hair, make up, accessories, and attitude.� -Tori
Eleanorzine: Again, we just want to thank you for allowing us to interview you and get to know the “real” Tori. You don’t come off too personal on your blog, but we would love to see that side of you that most don’t see, the you without Shu Umera falsies and Jeffrey Campbell Platform shoes. Tori who is the real you, underneath it all? What was your childhood like, did you always want to get into fashion? Were you a fashionable kid? Tori: I’m an Army brat, so my childhood was spent all over the place! I’ve lived in two different countries and four different states and I think that’s where my love of travel came from. I wouldn’t say I always wanted to get into fashion or was a particularly fashionable kid (hello, awkward teenage years XD) but I did always love my Barbie dolls and making miniskirts and tube tops for my other dolls by cutting off the bottoms of my leggings, haha! EZ: What do you do for a living, outside of blogging? T: Outside of blogging, I am a very boring OL working in a physical therapy office. I like it because it’s a little more fun than your usual medical office, since we see a lot of athletes and such, but at the end of the day it’s still all about files and paper-pushing XD Hopefully that will change soon though!
EZ: When did you get into blogging, and why fashion blogging? T: I got into blogging probably in 2006 (bad short term memory is one of my fatal flaws, haha) and started my first blog on Livejournal. It was mostly a fan blog for Hello! Project (yes, one of the many reasons I am a dork!) but then it started to transition into more of a ‘fashion’ blog. I jumped around to different blogging sites before finally settling on Blogspot (my current home) and on there I really got to ‘know’ some of the great fashion bloggers out there and thought, ‘Hey, I think I can do that!’ EZ: Do you consider yourself fashionable? A trend starter? T: I don’t know how to answer this! I wouldn’t say I’m ‘fashionable’ and definitely NOT a trend starter, but I like the way I dress and I have fun with it. I think those are the most important things about fashion anyway! EZ: At first your fashion tastes were very much align with the Gyaru Handbook, but nowadays your looks are reminiscent of style bloggers like Rumi Neely with a little bit more Japanese edge, how come the change? What happened to the more vibrant gyaru pop style Tori?
T: She’s still there, don’t worry! I guess I kind of had a ‘growing up’ moment on my birthday last year though. I like to keep my private life private so I won’t mention any numbers, but I wanted to dress closer to my age. I never, ever thought I would say that, but I think everyone comes to a point in their lives where they realize they have to move forward, not backward, and I think that’s where the change came from. Not that I don’t still love pop gal or Shibuhara, but now I just want to do it in a more mature way! EZ: What does Gyaru mean to you, do you think the trend will ever die out? Do you think you’ll be 45 one day looking at pictures of yourself and say “oh god why?” T: I’ve always wanted to answer this question because I really credit gal with cementing my love for fashion. I don’t see it dying, though I do see it evolving, such as with the ultra-rise of mode last year. Gal for me is all about being yourself, whoever that person may be at a moment in your life, and using fashion to express that. It’s the outer expression of inner feelings, as silly as that may sound! And to answer that last question, I think I spent too much of said awkward early teenage years being frumpy to look back on myself at this time in my life and think I was unfashionable! XD
EZ: How has your style evolved? T: Wow… I’m not sure! I do know that I’ve learned that a look is created not only by clothes, but by hair, makeup, accessories, and attitude. I think I have become a lot more confident in myself and that is why I felt I could step outside the ‘rule book’ and try different looks. So I guess you could say my style evolved as my confidence did too! EZ: What are your inspirations (were guessing Emoda is one :D) T: I have so many inspirations, it’s hard to pinpoint certain ones. Aside from J-mags (JELLY #1!) and internet (hi tumblr), I would say definitely Mitsu of Universal Doll, who’s taught me that anyone can be who they want to be no matter what, and Sara Mari of Moments Like Diamonds, who is so inspiring for sharing not only her amazing fashion sense, but her personal journey with her readers. EZ: Describe Tori’s perfect day… T: Getting up late, grabbing a caramel macchiato from Starbucks, putting on my ‘comfy’ heels and GOING SHOPPING! ;D
EZ: What gives you your confidence? T: I don’t really know how I was able to let go of so many of my personal hang-ups (which are still there because I am human after all), but I guess I just realized that you only get this one life and you should enjoy it to the fullest. And the only way to truly do that is to be yourself and accept yourself, no matter what anyone might say or think. EZ: What would we be surprised to know about you, something you might think is dork? T: Besides my love for Hello! Project and other Japanese idol bands (AKB48!), I used to be a HUGE anime freak. I had every episode of Sailor Moon on VHS (fansubs bought on eBay, haha! XD), lots of character goods from Evangelion and InuYasha, and memorized all the words to ‘Cha-La Head Cha-La’ from Dragonball Z. If that’s not dorky, I don’t know what is! EZ: Okay and lastly, We didn’t just pick you as our cover girl because your cute and have great style. We picked you because behind the mascara and blunt bangs we know theres just a nerdy girl who loves Japanese music, and making a statement, why do you feel like you represent todays modern nerdy geeky girl. And what advice do you have for our readers?
Tori: Hm… I don’t know if I can say I represent this type of girl, but obviously I do because here I am, haha! I suppose it’s because I’m not afraid to admit to the things I like or wear what I want to wear, whether they’re popular or not. To everyone reading this, I only want to say please don’t be afraid to be yourself. The world would be so much more boring if we were all pop culture plastic people~Geeky girls are the best kind! ♥
Blog: I love way too many, but I always check this
Tori’s Faves
one: http://ameblo.jp/chimchimlife/ She totally reminds me of the gal version of Shokotan, haha! <3 Band: Changing this to singer and saying Amuro Namie <3 TV show:Pretty Little Liars Make Product You can live without: Concealer XD Gadget You cant live without: My iPod Touch Play video games? Which one?: I haven’t played in a while, but I love survival horror! Biohazard series <3 Fave retro Cartoon: Sailor Moon! Pick a theme song, what would it be and why?: Bad Girl by JASMINE. I can relate to the lyrics on so many levels. Vacation Spot: NYC! Heritage: French/Spanish Cats/Dog?: I love cats but my apartment complex doesn’t allow pets so I have none ;o; Fave Food?: Can coffee count as a food? XD Favortie Movie?:Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2
an urban adventure...
photography by Hello Eliza featuring Model Sade. you can purchase Hello Elizaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs at HelloEliza.com
usagi’s story book
“oh....my...........................”
usagi’s story book
“gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawd...” sigh.... -usagi :(
Trend To Try Inspired by Africa and the Middle East, the urban turban takes a bad hair day, and revitalizes it with an unexpected twist. Make your own turban out of a vintage scarf like our editor-in-chief, or keep your eyes peeled for this look it hit stores within the next year.
the urban turban
Got ideas for the magazine? What to get awareness to your online business or blog?
ADVERTISE & CONTRIBUTE to eleanorzine We always could use the help and we love collaborating with artists, indie designers, and bloggers to help keep this zine nerdy geeky and cheeky. But we also need advertisers to keep the magazine coming season after season. We would love to be a part of the reason why people love your designs or your art. We would love to help be a voice of awareness to your business or genius idea! If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that you would like to be seen, got an online comic, or want to show us your street style. CONTRIBUTE! If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a business you can always donate to the cause too. If you feel like eleanorzine has done something to put a smile on your face, or spoke to your heart, donations will help us continue to make sure that the voice of the chic geek is always heard! Have more questions or ready to get started? Email us at eleanorzine@gmail.com
Tori , USA
Ellen , Sapporo
Hana , Tokyo
Mitsu, Texas
Jayne , Brisbane
Al , New York
Sasa, Barcelona
Rebecca, USA
Jenny, DC
Join Our Cast of Contributors.... Sara Mari , Minnesota
Bianca , Chicago
YOU
Special Thanks: the cheeky al baio, the lovely tori, the insightful hana, the ingenious jayne, the brilliant sasa, and to you our fans, we could not say thank you enough for reading, following and reblogging. & always thanks mom!
r o f s k n tha g, stay n i d a re ! m r wa
eleanorzine Stay nerdy, geeky, and cheeky... see you in spring! eleanorzine@gmail.com click thank you sta here rt o to ver :) polaroid taken by: http://logaktheradster.tumblr.com/