From Melo To Murray, Deer Dana Draws Their 'Ideal Dinner Guests'

August 5, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Forget fan mail. What better way to show your favorite pop icons some love than wearing 'em on the front of your shirt? Deer Dana, the brainchild of design duo DANA VERALDI and KEVIN TEKINEL, has taken some of the most eminent influencers of our generations and illustrated them in a celebratory collection of T-shirts. 

Founded in 2008, this New York-based duo has created quite a wave in previous seasons with their burgeoning line of unisex tees. Working out of their Soho studio, Dana and Kevin, in lieu of expanding to full, head-to-toe looks with their designs, have found a strong niche among street culture and the tastemakers who influence it the most. The tees have been spotted and name-dropped by everyone from Orlando Bloom to Jay-Z to Justin Bieber. 

"We draw people we are inspired by," the designers told us. This season, making special guest appearances are Prince, Bill Murray, Carmelo Anthony, David Lynch, and the lips (and famous mole) of Cindy Crawford. "Overall we consider the people we draw our ideal dinner guests." To be a fly on the wall at that party...

Shop all Deer Dana here 
Raf Tee in white. Photo by Eric Chakeen

Dana was a freshman in college with Melo, where her love for the baller first blossomed. The CARMELO ANTHONY TEE was created with the basketball enthusiast DAVID SCHNAPPER.

"The BILL MURRAY TEE was made for our friend/artist CURTIS KULIG's pop-up shop in LA. His favorite movie is What About Bob? so we felt it was fitting to make this tee as our contribution to his shop." — Dana Veraldi Photo by Curtis Kulig 



"The PRINCE TEE was made originally for TORY BURCH's Spring 2009 collection. Prince had just started to wear her tunics, which we were thrilled about, so we created this shirt to commemorate him." 
"Kevin loves David Lynch, so we designed this TEE with his name in the Twin Peaks font and colorway."

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Check These Checks: 9 New Takes On Plaid

August 5, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Christmas plaid, school-girl plaid, lumberjack plaid, punk-rock plaid––the print is a classic, reinventing itself over and over again throughout the decades. This season, the familiar pattern has been reimagined once again in nine prize-winning plaids that make us giddy for autumn leaves and Thanksgiving dinner and getting cozy with a book on a park bench. From Altuzarra's unusual pattern-mixing to Kenzo's David Lynch-inspired neon plaid, these are not your typical checks so check 'em out to your left.

Shop all new arrivals for MEN and WOMEN
Kenzo NEON PLAID DENIM CAP in cobalt

Altuzarra Centaur Lightweight Cotton Button-Down in blue/red
Band of Outsiders Mixed Plaid Flat Front Cuff Pants in navy

Comme des Garcons Tartan Long Billfold Wallet in check

Delpozo Plaid Maxi Skirt in black/yellow

Band of Outsiders Large Plaid Cropped Sleeve Shirt in green multi

Band of Outsiders Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt in yellow mutli

Altuzarra Djinn Stretch Cotton Skirt in blue/red check
Gitman Brothers x Opening Ceremony Flannel Checks Long Sleeve Button Down in navy/white

Simon Says: 'Deeply Meant Generalities' And Dogs As Dating Services

August 5, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Here at OC, we are struck by how often we end up in everyday conundrums. The ones that land you in the thick of semi (or full-blown) awkwardness, or maybe, the doghouse. 

So, we turned to Simon Collins, the dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons. Collins recently penned a TOME that explores how and why people get to be so dang successful. To glean a bit of that for ourselves, we've launched Simon Says, in which Collins lends tongue-in-cheek, Brit-bloke advice to our pain-point questions and social entanglements.

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Q: Even as a master of etiquette, you must have experienced that awkwardness when you run into someone you should know and make conversation while you rack your brain to place them. What should one do?! 

As ever, there are various ways of dealing with this particular situation and I happen to have tried 'em all. I have, you see, the unique ability to forget a person's name even before they have finished saying it. Perhaps I'm so enchanted by them offering me such treasured information that I go into a daze.

Anyway, onto business. A civilized person in a business or polite social situation will offer his name upfront at the beginning of the interlude and thus give you a fighting chance of being able to mention it. Indeed, you can then employ the "Of course I know who you are, silly" line that makes you seem super friendly. If, however, they leave you hanging––or even worse, you don't remember them at all––then you have to go for the "Deeply Meant Generalities" ploy. Look them in the eye, wrinkle your face into your friendliest smile, and ask with all earnestness, "How on earth are you?" And, here's the trick: Say it like you actually care. This will take them off guard, because of course no one actually cares. Keep them talking and you'll probably figure it out. If not, they're clearly not that important in your life, so pull the "phone-rang-got-to-dash" ploy and get out of there.

One step further is when you hear your name called, and you can't even see who called, let alone have any idea of their name. This happened to me only last week while walking the sunny streets of Sanlitun in Beijing. I've been on the telly over there from time to time, so I've a good many friends and have to be prepared. My name was called in a perky fashion from between the stems of a bamboo fence. I could only perceive the glimmer of a face, so I offered, "Oh, it's YOU! We must catch up. Call me!" Big grin. Take off at speed. 

Q: I hate it when people pet my dog, and it's even worst when they don't acknowledge that the dog has an owner. Is there a way to politely tell them, "Don't pet the animal"?

Oh come now, I think we can all see what's going on here. I didn't watch that crime show Cracker without learning how to recognize a plea for attention. And we both know I'm not talking about your dog.

It's well known that single people get dogs for two reasons. One, you want to meet other dog people. Two, because you're never going to meet anyone and you've given up but don't want to die alone and unloved and not be found for weeks. Pointless to argue, because I read it on the Internet so it must be true.

Anyhoo, the fact of the matter is that you should be pushing your dog in front of the hot guys/girls you want to meet and rolling your eyes coquettishly at the compliments heaped upon the poor mutt. Because they're really about you. And th

The London Underground: Komakino Fall/Winter 2014

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

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The designer behind Komakino hails from Italy, but he's turned to gritty 1980s London—and its industrial music scene—to inspire his latest collection. This season's offerings take on an aggressive raver aesthetic, featuring pants and parkas with logos from underground zines and bright, distorted military prints. Basically, slipping on a new Komakino hoodie is like falling down a rabbit hole of countercultural references—in particular the art collective and somewhat cultish THEE TEMPLE OV PSYCHICK YOUTH. 

Fashion follows even the cult-like trends, and you see it in the recurring symbols, and that hint of darkness, throughout the collection. There's a leather and neoprene vest that pieces together fabrics with a post-apocalyptic, lo-fi, industrial vibe. There's a beauty in this collection that is equal parts resourceful and hopeful. So, throw on a hoodie, baseball cap, and backpack, and transport yourself to the moody, grey landscape of decades past. London is calling.

Shop all Komakino here 
Parka With Detachable Lining in brown

Neoprene Inserts Leather Vest in black

MA-1 Jacket With Detachable Lining in green

Smile Hoodie in black

Smile Oversized T-Shirt in orange

Camouflage Trousers in brown

CAMOUFLAGE BACKPACK in green 

Foreward Embroidered Baseball Cap in black

Smile Embroidered Baseball Cap in black

Tipsy And Tan: Toro

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Astrology IRL's Cosmic Numbers: August 7

≪ Previous: The London Underground: Komakino Fall/Winter 2014

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In our #ThirstyThursday series, TIPSY AND TAN, we ask consummate mixologists from New York City’s white-hot new restaurants and bars to create OC-exclusive drinks for our readers. Drinking on the job? Don't mind if we do...

Housed in the cavernous old Nabisco factory in South Chelsea, Toro is a Barcelona-style tapas restaurant helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Jamie Bissonnette and co-chef Ken Oringer. These culinary masterminds experiment with traditional tapas preparation and local ingredients to create an eclectic menu of mouth-watering items ranging from smoked beef heart to fried bass bones.

Meanwhile, the cocktail offering is decidedly more focused, taking inspiration from the Spanish staple, the gin and tonic. Bartender and alcohol aficionado Chrissy Hassel was quick to explain how different gins are manufactured with different botanicals, and therefore work better with their own specific flavor pairings. For Toro’s OC-exclusive creation, the Juniper Bangkok Smash, Hassel chose a juniper-rich gin that could stand up to the curry and lime flavors of the drink. Don’t worry, it goes down easy.

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Name: Chrissy Hassel

If this drink had a soundtrack, what would it be? “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses

Best place to get day drunk: I love grabbing a bottle of rosé, going to Fort Greene Park, and people watching.

Hangover cure: Sleep. Eight hours, man!

Your summer getaway: Rockaways. Big time

Favorite summer tradition: Tales of the Cocktail. It’s in July in New Orleans and it’s a week-long cocktail event. And Camp Runamok. It’s a place for bartenders to learn about whiskey and bond together.

What are some red-light signs that someone’s been overserved? Ordering a Grey Goose vodka instead of a Grey Goose and soda… [Laughs]

Are there any personality traits that are essential to a being a bartender? You have to be personable and humble. We’re in the business of serving people, helping people, and giving people what they want. At the end of the day, it’s our job to take care of people. That, and passion. 

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Exclusive Recipe: Juniper Bangkok Smash

OC Alcohol Scale*: 6.5
“It’s a standard 2 oz. pour and it goes down pretty easy.”

1. Begin with 2 oz. Blue Gin.
2. Add 1 oz. of Cointreau and 1 oz. of lime juice.
3. Squeeze 1 half blood orange.
4. Add 1 half teaspoon of green-curry paste. 
5. Smack the Thai basil to “wake it up” and then add 5 leaves.
6. Fill a tall glass with crushed ice and strain the drink into the glass.
7. Garnish with some fresh Thai basil and serve.

*OC's Alcohol Scale ranges from 1 ("like sippin' from a juice box") to 10 ("take me home—right now"). 

Want a second round? See more Tipsy and Tan HERE 

Astrology IRL's Cosmic Numbers: August 7

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

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As anyone waiting for that boy/girl to text knows, updates can be just as important as dates. In Cosmic Numbers, Morgan Rehbock, the guru behind our monthly ASTROLOGY IRL column, divines the stars to bring you in-the-moment advice on important dates. So, how should you decipher that mysterious SMS? Read on... 

 

LEO
(July 23 - August 22)
Recurring dreams about someone close to you should be shared and analyzed for cosmic information.

VIRGO
(August 23 - September 22)

Do you have a relationship that's in need of a remodel? Stop recycling your romantic past and look toward the future for answers.

 

LIBRA
(September 23 - October 22)

Express yourself! Mars in Scorpio helps you pursue creative talents with ambition lacked when you were stifled by Mars in Libra this spring.

SCORPIO
(October 23 - November 22) 

You're totally on point with all your creative projects this month, while energetic Mars in Scorpio makes a truly intuitive aspect with Neptune, the planet of imagination.

SAGITTARIUS
(November 23 - December 21)
Your energy level might be low, but your intuition tells you that it will be picking up soon.

CAPRICORN
(December 22 - January 19)

There's more love in your crew while active Mars moves through your 11th house of social engagements this month.

AQUARIUS

(January 20 - February 19)
Your intuition will guide you to make wise career choices this month.

PISCES
(February 20 - March 20)

Dreams will speak to you tonight, providing a message that helps you in waking life.

ARIES
(March 21 - April 20) 
Your dreams tonight have secret messages that will unravel daytime mysteries.

TAURUS
(April 21 - May 20) 

While Jupiter is in Leo this year, explore your roots. You'll find life-changing wisdom in your past experiences.

GEMINI
(May 21 - June 20) 

Does your intuition tell you it's time to go gluten-free? Follow your gut instinct on matters of health that need a

Opening Ceremony Hosts MIX At The Wooly

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: In The Studio With Thierry Lasry

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Last night, Opening Ceremony hosted the August edition of AIGA's MIX, a monthly party at the Wooly. Part of AIGA/NY's members-only mixer for the NYC design community, the event brought together OC friends and fam with graphic designers from around the city for (free!) pizza, beer, and highly danceable music by OC alumna, DJ Lindsey. Spearheaded by our Art Director Su Barber, also on the board of AIGA/NY, we were stoked to be the first retail-slash-design house to co-host this series (notable past partners include The Pencil Factory, Ro&Co, and Collins). Couldn't make it? Check out the new mix from DJ Lindsey below, and snaps of the festivities, to the left! 

Thanks to Tiger Beer, Alexander Hamilton Vodka, Joe's Pizza, and the Wooly for their support.
 

DJ Lindsey

OC's Kindall (far right) and friends

OC's Jason and Su

OC's Dylan and Rachel

OC's Philip, Shane, friend, and OC's Shay

OC's Riley

OC's Julia, Shay, Sisi, and Cherie

OC's Michelle and friend

Say peace for pizza!

OC keychains!

The mark of a good party: OC balloons

In the Wooly's back room

Last call! 
 

In The Studio With Thierry Lasry

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Thierry Lasry is a true child of the '80s. "I’m totally obsessed," the retro eyewear king told us on a visit to his studio in Soho this week. "Everything, in terms of creation, happened from the '80s. And everything is indirectly inspired by that." 

When you walk into his sun-filled office, you see what he means. One wall is lined with his avant-garde, handmade in France sunglasses, perched on shelves like rare books in a library. The adjacent wall is filled with retro toys. Thierry Lasry––whose sunglasses frame the well-known faces of A-listers like Rihanna to Eva Mendes––approaches eyewear with the excitement of a kid and the precision of an artisan. “My father was an optician. He still is. My mother was formerly a designer, so I was kind of raised in this culture of design and eyewear all the time.”

The two walls of his studio are like the two sides of the designer––fun, innovative design coupled with time-honored craftsmanship. Some designs actually use recycled acetate from '80s dead stock. "Designers were doing more creative things in the '80s. They had less pressure about selling. Now they've stopped investing and designing in crazy-beautiful patterns," he said. "So it's up to you—you want something special, you have to design it.”

Another quirky signature of Thierry Lasry sunglasses is the naming. “My first name ends in 'y' and my last name ends in 'y'. And since they are like my babies, all the names end the same,” he said. Sexxxy, Sobriety, Orgasmy, Anorexxxy, Diamondy––the words complete the look. 

Thierry continued, "This is an accessory that people are not able to chose for themselves. They don’t know what looks good on them.” Buying sunglasses involves trust, and we trust Thierry Lasry to make us look good.

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AUSTEN ROSENFELD: How do you get started in the design process? How do you decide where the colors and shapes come from?
THIERRY LASRY: There’s no real starting point. Yes, every season we launch new styles, but alongside the permanent collection. You can't, after one season, say "I’m influenced by Egypt" and next season say "I’m going to do something Scandinavian." I always have my eyes very wide open. Inspiration can come from the street, and it can come from movies, magazines, and music.

Is there a historical example of perfect sunglasses that you look to as a reference?
No, because I think that everything eventually can serve as a source of inspiration, but I believe no one in the past has really tried to combine creativity with a really high level of quality. Most of the time its creative or quality. 

Did your parents wear some stylish glasses when you were growing up?
Totally. And in general, my mother always looked for the special accessory, the one nobody would have. They told me how to be different and look at things different. Most of the time, people in this industry, when they do it properly and not for opportunistic reasons—it comes from family. 

What's the secret to a beautiful pair of sunglasses?
There’s this strand, especially now, where ugly is cool. I do exactly the opposite; my whole point is making people beautiful, even more beautiful, as far as possible with sunglasses than without sunglasses.

How do you make them flattering?
It has to do with the specificities of the face—the width of your bridge, the height of the cheeks, the shape of the face—all those things enter into consideration because it's going on your fac

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All Together Now: White-Out!

August 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Gonzo Knitwear: Sibling Fall/Winter 2014

≪ Previous: In The Studio With Thierry Lasry

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  From left to right: Opening Cermony Slip-On Platform Sneakers in white, Kenzo 3-Point Watch in white, Niels Peeraer Wander 7 Visor, Nova OC-Exclusive 90s Glass Perfume Kit, Le Labo for Opening Ceremony Rose 25 Candle, Moschino Bear iPhone 5 Cover, Proenza Schouler Ciclone Leather X-Body Buckle Bag in white, J.W. Anderson Platform Brogues in white, Roolen Breath Humidifier in white

Remember learning in science class that before a rainbow becomes a rainbow, it's actually just white light? If you don't believe us, trust NASA. And here's something we do know: in fashion (like in physics) white is a kind of urcolor, a hue that looks good on anything, with anything, and absolutely, never clashes. Or, if you wanna do white on white on white with J.W. Anderson BROGUES, OC SLIP-ONS, and a Proenza BAG, we're cool with that too.
 

Shop the look HERE

 

Gonzo Knitwear: Sibling Fall/Winter 2014

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Mini Martha: Strawberry Frozen Custard With Sugar Cones

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You think you know knitwear until you see Sibling. Each season, the London brand's knit collections are more avante-garde and more elegant than the previous, elevating the classic technnique to unexplored heights. 

And not the kind of knitting that involves three cats and retirement. Cozette McCreery (one of the three designers, the other two are Joe Bates and Sid Bryan) called their Fall/Winter show "a love letter in knit from us to all workingmen." Think what one would wear after a hard day on the grind, like drop-crotch tracksuits rendered in a deep berry and pale green with large looping patterns and speckled leopard prints. The Lucky 13 Sweatshirt looks innocent enough until you see it comes in the color "arsenic," casting that devilish shade of evil that we've come to love from Sibling. And, the Hand Knit Fluff Striped Cardigan with its stripes of electric blue and black fuzzy bands reminds of the Great Gonzo. We're OK with sacrificing comfort for style sometimes, but when the two are in sync, we're twice as happy. Get a few tracksuits and share the love with all your sibs.

Shop all Sibling HERE 
Hand Knit Fluff Striped Cardigan in ivory and Fluff Mesh Knit Short-Sleeve Top in black

Lucky 13 Sweatshirt in arsenic

LEOPARD PRINTED SWEATER in berry/grey

Jacquard Knit Stitch Loop Sweater in arsenic/berry

Jacquard Knit Stitch Loop Jogging Pants in arsenic/berry

Leopard Printed Jogging Pants in berry/grey

Mini Martha: Strawberry Frozen Custard With Sugar Cones

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Astrology IRL's Cosmic Numbers: August 8

≪ Previous: Gonzo Knitwear: Sibling Fall/Winter 2014

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Is that ice cream stash coming down with a case of freezer burn? Take your summer delight to the next level with creamy, strawberry frozen custard and homemade sugar cones. Our resident baking babe MINI MARTHA shows us how. 

Those that are lactose intolerant, beware. Instead of milk, frozen custard, ice cream's more decadent sister, requires heavy cream and egg yolks. But if there's any day to splurge this year, it's National Frozen Custard Day today. Go crazy with a sweet, but slightly tart, strawberry frozen custard and homemade sugar cones drizzled with bittersweet chocolate, for good measure. And if strawberry isn't your jam, opt for vanilla by just omitting the strawberry mixture and adding one cup of whole milk. Sugar cones are one of those desserts that you could get in the store but are so much better homemade. So, do yourself a favor and go the extra mile. It's a holiday, after all. 

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Strawberry Frozen Custard:
2 cup of heavy cream
2/3 cup of sugar
Pinch of sea salt
1/2 vanilla bean
5 extra-large egg yolks (6 large)
3 cup of strawberries
3 tbsp of sugar
1/2 tsp of lemon juice
1/2 tsp of balsamic vinegar

Sugar cones:
3 large egg whites
3/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of whole milk
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup of flour
3 tbsp of butter melted
Bittersweet chocolate

1. Start with the custard base. Put the heavy cream, 2/3 cup of sugar, and salt in a pot. Open up the vanilla bean and scrape out the insides; put the bean as well as the seeds into the saucepan with the heavy cream. Turn the stove on to medium heat and stir the cream mixture over the heat until the sugar dissolves. Place the egg yolks in a heatproof bowl. Once the sugar has dissolved, slowly pour the cream into the egg yolks while vigorously beating. Once all the cream has been added, pour the base back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened and can coat the back of a wooden spoon. Remove the custard base from the heat and pour through a mesh sieve into a bowl.

2. While the custard is cooling, cut the green tops of the strawberries. Put the strawberries in the food processor along with the 3 tablespoons of sugar, lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar. Process until the mixture is blended and there are some small chunks of berry left, to give the frozen custard texture. Pour the berries into the base and whisk the base to combine. Put the custard in the fridge for at least 3 hours. Once the custard is done chilling, freeze it in your ice cream machine and then place in Tupperware and into the freezer overnight to harden the custard.

3. After the custard is done chilling, you can make the sugar cones. Mix the egg whites, sugar, milk, and vanilla in a bowl. Once combined, whisk in the flour and then the melted butter until it becomes a smooth liquid. Brush a pan with oil (canola or vegetable) and pour 2-3 tablespoons of the batter in it. Spread the batter as thin as possible with a spatula and then turn the heat to medium. Cook the batter until it begins to brown and then flip it and cook the other side. Continue to cook until you have reached a light brown color, flipping the batter as many times as needed. Once cooked, immediately move onto a small paper napkin square and quickly roll the cone onto a cone roller*, hold it there until it is hardened, about one minute. Continue this process until you have finished all the batter.

4. Once the cones are done, take a little bit of bittersweet chocolate and melt it, either in a double broiler or in your microwave. Dip the bottoms of each cone in the chocolate to

Astrology IRL's Cosmic Numbers: August 8

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Shelled In: The Reverse Evolution Of TMNT's April O'Neil

≪ Previous: Mini Martha: Strawberry Frozen Custard With Sugar Cones

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As anyone waiting for that boy/girl to text knows, updates can be just as important as dates. In Cosmic Numbers, Morgan Rehbock, the guru behind our monthly ASTROLOGY IRL column, divines the stars to bring you in-the-moment advice on important dates. So, how should you decipher that mysterious SMS? Read on... 

LEO
(July 23 - August 22)
Plan a fun adventure this weekend, it will prove to be one of the most exciting and memorable moments of the summer!

VIRGO
(August 23 - September 22)
You're finally ready to share a secret that's been bugging you for a few months.

LIBRA
(September 23 - October 22)
A friend you never guessed would become a lover suddenly seems to be your perfect match.

SCORPIO
(October 23 - November 22)
Career advancements are happening faster than you expected, and you're totally ready to move in to the fast lane.

SAGITTARIUS
(November 23 - December 21)
A visitor from faraway lands could catch your eye if you're stuck at home this summer.

CAPRICORN
(December 22 - January 19)
Make sure your finances are organized so you don't feel strapped when bills need to be paid later this month.

AQUARIUS
(January 20 - February 19)
The possibility of a new business partnership could pop up over the weekend. Say yes to the offer if it seems like a positive direction.

PISCES
(February 20 - March 20)
You're ready to break free from stale routines. Make this weekend weird and unusual.

ARIES
(March 21 - April 20)
Your creative instincts are totally on point. Trust your intuition.

TAURUS
(April 21 - May 20)
Don't be ashamed to spend Friday night at home! Do whatever feels fun and be chill.

GEMINI
(May 21 - June 20)
Exuberant energy will help you keep up with the brisk pace of your social schedule this weekend.

CANCER
(June 21 - July 22)
An email this afternoon will prove how much your superior talents are appreciated by the people you work with.

Shelled In: The Reverse Evolution Of TMNT's April O'Neil

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Look: Natasha Lyonne

≪ Previous: Astrology IRL's Cosmic Numbers: August 8

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Fiona Duncan screened the new Paramount Pictures Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and investigates on April O'Neil's transformation from a 1984 computer engineer to the buxom babe known as Megan Fox. 

One’s experience of New York inevitably mutates after a heavy dose of TMNT. The cityscape’s framed anew—it’s as if spotlights are suddenly cast upon shadowy sites, down subway tunnels and sewer grates, places the workday gaze evades. Street surging plumes of steam set your imagination underground. That’s where the Turtles come from.

The original 1983 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books belonged more to the underground than the mainstream. Black and white and heavy on the shadows, with rough lines and inconsistent faces, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s creation was a self-published parody of popular comics like Daredevil, Frank Miller’s Ronin, and Marvel’s many mutants. I only got to know the Ninja Turtles after their 1987 makeover—via the “Green Against Brick” entertainment franchise that included a kid-friendly cartoon, Archie comics tie-in, three live-action films (puppeteered by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop special effects company)—and merch, lots of merch.

TMNT was part of that late-20th century corporate American trend of selling kids identity. Think New Kids on the Block, Power Rangers, and Spice Girls. Which one are you?, the marketing geniuses asked. Are you a leader like Leonardo? A chill jokester like Michelangelo? A tech egghead like Donatello? Or a bad boy like Rafael? Blue? Orange? Purple? Red? Or maybe you’re yellow like April O’Neil. Remember that improbable, canary-yellow “journalist” jumpsuit from which her cartoon curves burst? I do.

In the early '80s comics, April O’Neil is a computer programmer, a role which I gather was then trendily progressive (Time’s Person of the Year in 1982 was “The Computer”). In the animated series, as in the live-action movies, April is an investigative television reporter. In the Michael Bay blockbuster, out in theatres today, she’s the same: “April O’Neil, Channel Six News,” now played by Megan Fox.

We can time travel through media. Since its inception, 30 years back, the setting, characters, and even plots have stayed the same, but the tone changes with each reboot. There’s a dystopic, punk appeal to the 1984 comics. April circa the animated series is a Postmanian, Amusing Ourselves to Death, showbiz anchor. But the new movie, which is produced by Bay and directed by Jonathan Liebesman, depressed the fuck out of me. Formulaic is an understatement. The stereotypes feel sinister. Like please, please don’t feed kids these dated stock characters. And April O’Neil is the worst.

“We took the archetype of April O’Neil,” says Liebesman, “the damsel in distress, and really molded it specifically to Megan... April is a character with a lot to prove. She’s beautiful but everyone doubts her, so we needed an actress who could literally give that sense that there’s far more there than meets the eye.” His latter claim fails in this film, a

The Look: Natasha Lyonne

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: A Movie-Soundtrack Playlist, By LA Girl Band Warpaint

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In THE LOOK, OC friends drop by to try on our favorite new arrivals and tell us about their wardrobe preferences past and present. This week, OC's Lissy Trullie interviews her longtime friend, actress Natasha Lyonne. 

The night I first met Natasha, we were engaged in a series of dangerous and illegal acts (NSFW), culminating with an unauthorized ride on the back of an open New York Post delivery truck. I was immediately attracted to her energy, struck by her wit and vitality, and wooed by her amorous sensitivity. Typical of a naïve young adult who is sure of many things, you can imagine my shock at the notion I didn’t know absolutely everything, but Natasha—she was light years ahead. So I stuck with her, and 15 years later, here we are.

Starting her acting career at the age of 6 on Pee-wee's Playhouse, Natasha, now 35, doesn’t take her current success for granted, which could easily be done considering she was recently nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of inmate Nicky Nichols on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. In essence, she is someone who respects the present, since, she knows from experience that "what goes up, must come down." 

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LISSY TRULLIE: How would you describe your style?
NATASHA LYONNE: Consistent and uniform-based.

Any regretful or embarrassing fashion moments?
Yes, many. Thankfully, they've already happened. Let's not linger.

Any wardrobe favorites from past films?
Slums of Beverly Hills — 100 percent! 

How about style icons; do you have any? 
Day-to-day kicking around in my life is usually very "class of '77"-based, like your Lou Reeds, Richard Hells, Johnny Thunders, etc. It's almost become hackneyed, but I'm too old to change now. The other thing that I really get off on, but don't do often, is the era in Hollywood around the '30s—the ladies with unapologetic sex appeal like Barbara Stanwyck and Gene Harlow. There a specific image of Clara Bow in the movie Call Her Savage where she's completely undone in a gown that would show her nipples under thick silk, perfectly tailored, and she's just sitting there on the sofa with her legs open and a bottle of whiskey and her perfect curls have turned into a fiery-red mess—even though it's black and white you can tell—and there are cigarettes on the table... I just love that whole feeling. 

It also goes without saying that Chloë [Sevigny] is a specific reference point. She's inevitably so far ahead of the pack that I just like to tail behind in the hopes that some of it catches by osmosis. 

In an alternate universe, how would you introduce yourself?
Sheesh. Where would I be? Would I be talking to Martian people or foreigners? 

Whatever you want.
I'd probably say, "Hey, how ya doing? I'm a person. I'm not a muppet. I'm a real person... I don't know if you guys know what muppets are or if you like 'em, but we should hang out." Maybe I'd ask them if they like potato chips or coffee. 

People know you from Orange Is the New Black, but can you tell us a little more about the span of your career?
I've been doing this since I was a kid. Early on, there was a very funny special man named Pee-wee Herman, and I was on his television program, as a six-year-old, called Pee-wee's Playhouse. I was sort of a hippie. I still feel like that was one of my strongest looks and performances. Then I made a bunc

A Movie-Soundtrack Playlist, By LA Girl Band Warpaint

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Week In Haiku: August 4

≪ Previous: The Look: Natasha Lyonne

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There are several reasons why we love the four LA women who make up Warpaint. Above all, their music. With chilling vocals that glow like a crystal ball, and a flood of ambient, space-rocks sounds, we've been spellbound by their latest SELF-TITLED ALBUM since it was released in January. Second, they do it all with a messy-haired, no-makeup insouciance that reminds us of our own high-school best friends, eating cereal in a kitchen at 2 AM after driving around town trying to (unsuccessfully) find that house party.

Regardless of the music industry's standards for female artists, these girls do their own thing. Next up is a round of shows on the West Coast, including one this Sunday at the Ace Hotel in DTLA for SUNDANCE NEXT FEST, where they'll play alongside a screening of Ana Lily Amirpour's Iranian vampire-noir flick, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. 

Here, we chat with singer/guitarist Theresa Wayman about style, skateboard culture, and being "fun and dorky." And check out the movie-inspired playlist the quartet made especially for OC! 

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AUSTEN ROSENFELD: You and the other three girls have been friends since childhood. What were you like as kids?
THERESA WAYMAN: We were fun and dorky. We liked to make up songs and dances and make each other laugh. At some point, we got into boys and buying our clothes at second-hand shops and smoking pot. We started making up songs in a more mature way, but we're most definitely still making each other laugh! 
 

Where does the name Warpaint come from? Have you ever performed with warpaint on?
We haven't performed with Warpaint on but… that's not to say we won't one day. It could have a nice dramatic effect. The name came from a lot of brainstorming. It feels powerful and important and strong which seemed necessary for an all-girl band. I like that when people hear the name and they don't know us, they think we're going to be a metal band. 
 

The new music video for DISCO//VERY AND KEEP IT HEALTHY is beautiful. I love the nighttime skateboarding shots. Did you skate?  
No I didn't, but skateboard culture was always close by. I had lots of friends that did. It's just such an incredibly beautiful, elegant, but brutal sport and we wanted to connect ourselves with those qualities. Something that felt carefree and reminded us of our youth.

 

At Next Fest, Warpaint's performance will be paired with Iranian-American filmmaker Ana Lily Amirpour's indie film about vampires. Do movies influence your sound, and vice versa? 
Yes, when I was younger the movie Untamed Heart turned me on to Suzanne Vega's Tom's Diner, and I got really into her for a bit. Also, both the old and new Romeo and Juliet films turned me on to music. The old one being WHAT IS A YOUTH love theme from Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. And then the way Baz Luhrmann used modern music to create a new mood for an old story was really powerful and eye-opening. Plus, I was in love with Leonardo Dicaprio so... you know. 
 

Your Billie Holiday COVER is brilliant. Any other covers you dream of doing?

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Week In Haiku: August 4

August 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Happy Book Lover's Day! 5 Must-Reads From OC

≪ Previous: A Movie-Soundtrack Playlist, By LA Girl Band Warpaint

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WEEK IN HAIKU is a week in review for the well-dressed––and the well-versed.

Starry desert skies,
concentrated into songs:
Simian's new sound.

Filipino feast
by a Bio PhD.
Thank You For Coming.

We love Prince. We love
David Lynch. So why not wear
their face on a shirt?

The reigning king of
sunglasses, captain eyewear,
meet Thierry Lasry.

Turtle Power is
not always woman power.
O'neil is revealed.



Clockwise, from left: In The Studio With Thierry Lasry; Simian Mobile Disco On Recordng Techno In Joshua Tree; A Lesson In Filipino History, As Told By food; From Melo To Murray: Deer Dana Draws Their 'Ideal Dinner Guests'

Happy Book Lover's Day! 5 Must-Reads From OC

August 8, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Prep School Spunk: House of Holland Fall/Winter 2014

≪ Previous: Week In Haiku: August 4

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We're not sure exactly why National Book Lover's Day is on August 9, but we do know that there's nothing we'd rather be doing on a lazy, sticky summer Saturday than diving into a good read. In honor of the holiday, Josh Paulin, OC's Book Buyer, picked out the following titles from our collection. In true Opening Ceremony style, all blend striking visuals with compelling stories on fashion, music, art, and everything in between.

Shop all books HERE

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1. Opening Ceremony
Created in collaboration with Rizzoli for our ten-year anniversary, Opening Ceremony the book features contributions from Chloë Sevigny, Spike Jonze, Ryan McGinley, Terry Richardson, Sally Singer, M.I.A., Terence Koh, Proenza Schouler, Jason Schwartzman, and more. In short, it's as good as ten books wrapped in one.

2. Dries Van Noten (available in OC stores)
If you consider the fact that it will still be sitting snugly on your bookshelf in 20 years, the Dries van Noten book is even better than the exhibition it documents. Co-written Pamela Golbin, curator of the show at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, along with Vogue editor Hamish Bowles, it explores not only the Belgian designer's collections but their diverse inspirations: Bollywood, military uniforms, bullfighters, etc. 

3. CLARKS IN JAMAICA
As Vybz Kartel put it in the 2010 dancehall track, "Clarks," "Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks/ Di leather hard, di suede soft, toothbrush get out di dust fast." But why DID the classic British lace-up catch on in Jamaica in the first place? This book, written by DJ Al Fingers, blends interviews and photography to examine how the shoe took off in the reggae and dancehall world.

4. I Just Know That Something Good Is Going to Happen, Just Saying It Could Even Make It Happen (available in OC stores)
Remember cutting out pictures from magazines to make posters for your room? OC collaborator Marc Hundley's book is intended for that purpose: it unfolds into eight loose-leaf posters printed with text-based art that's awesomely life-affirming (see the above title).

5. RISD STREETWALKERS
There's nothing like art students for style inspiration. RISD streetwalkers, the from RISD alum Dana Davis, compiles photos she published on her blog as a student. Think five prints in one ensemble, seven different necklaces at a time, and, in the words of one Brown grad who reviewed the book for us, "always, always statement socks."
In order of appearance: Manga Impact: The World of Japanese Animation; Love Magazine; Cindy Sherman; Live Forever: Elizabeth Peyton; I Just Know That Something Good Is Going to Happen, Just Saying It Could Even Make It Happen; Billion Dollar Zine, Freedom; Dries

Prep School Spunk: House of Holland Fall/Winter 2014

August 10, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: 10 Pieces To Borrow From The Boys

≪ Previous: Happy Book Lover's Day! 5 Must-Reads From OC

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Were you the high school kid who cared more about an A+ fashion game than an A+ in Chemistry? This season House of Holland is inspired by schoolgirls who rule the style department. Think: the senior with one foot out the door and one eye on the college boys. Scalloped wool jackets and short skirts, fuzzy scarves, shirts embroidered with sassy phrases––if only you had House of Holland to get you through those awkward years. You'd claim It Girl status with the Scalloped Button Dress. Of course, passing notes is so passé—collared shirts and jean shorts embroidered with smart-mouthed phrases say it all. These fun, spunky, rebellious pieces will turn the heads of headmistresses and cafeteria crowds, HR and office mates, alike. Forever young.

Shop all House of Holland here 
Fuzzy New Era Cap in pink

Fuzzy Scarf in red

Coco Jacket in blue

Scalloped Button Dress in navy

Midi Dress in Cock Tale

Oversized Tee in True Romance

Embroidered Shirt in scribble

Embroidered Denim Shorts in scribble

Coco Skirt in blue

10 Pieces To Borrow From The Boys

August 10, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Now & Then: Catching Up With London Youth

≪ Previous: Prep School Spunk: House of Holland Fall/Winter 2014

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What do Rihanna, Maluca, and Rita have in common? Besides knowing how to make a song you can’t get out of your head, they’re also masters at raiding the men’s side of the store. This isn’t your typical boy-meets-girl styling where you throw on some oxfords with a pretty dress and call it a day. No, this is straight-up theft. Sure, the sizing is a bit bigger and the shapes slouchier, but that’s the whole point; you want pieces that you can roll up, layer, or just simply wear oversized.

From Christopher Kane’s oversized T-shirt (that could easily double as a mini-dress) to Sibling’s leopard print sweater, here are 10 pieces you’ll want to incorporate into your wardrobe. And if this is still not your thing, you can always default to a men’s fragrance like Comme des Garçons Wonderoud, because nothing smells sexier than cologne on a girl.

Shop all OC mens here
Komakino's NEOPRENE INSERTS LEATHER VEST has just enough slouch and warmth for you to slip a thin sweater under and be perfectly cozy in October.

Forget classic leopard and try a colorful version instead. Wear the Sibling Leopard Print Sweater with jeans or go head-to-toe in the matching sweats.

If you’re petite enough, throw this Christopher Kane Tubes Super Oversized T-Shirt on with heels and it becomes the perfect shift mini-dress.

Take advantage of the quirky print and tuck this Gitman Brothers x Opening Ceremony Fuji Long-Sleeve Button-Down shirt into a clashing skirt. Or if you’d rather keep it simple, roll up the sleeves and pair it with white jeans.

Treat this J.W. Anderson Tubular Bib knit top like a cape and wear it over a slim top and pants as an unusual layering piece.

Now & Then: Catching Up With London Youth

August 10, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Pudding Ramen Experiment, With Do Or Dine

≪ Previous: 10 Pieces To Borrow From The Boys

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“People do seem very nostalgic for that time,” mused photographer Derek Ridgers about the period between 1978-1987, documented in his book 78-87 London Youth. It’s easy to see why: the photographs, snapped in clubs, after-hours haunts, and on the streets of London, capture so many subcultures that still fascinate today, from punk to goth to New Romanticism to skinhead to Acid House. 

 

It’s baffling to think that so many movements could have co-existed in such a short period. Even so, subcultures were simpler back then, according to Ridgers. “Nowadays, there’s nothing that's easy to rebel against.” Fashion was a huge part of that rebellion, according to Ridgers, whose subjects sport everything from mohawks resembling Grecian columns to bones-as-jewelry to Leigh Bowery-esque makeup. (Ridgers also photographed Bowery himself, in addition to Boy George, Michael Alig, John Galliano, Hamish Bowles, and some other names you might recognize.)

 

Of course, one reason nostalgia might be mounting for the era could be that many of the original punks and blitz kids are now in their 50s, in prime time for life-reflection. With Derek’s help, we tracked down five intriguing subjects captured in 78-87 London Youth, and asked them about their lives then and now.

Purchase 78-87 London Youth here
 

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ALICE HINES: How old were you in this picture? Where was it taken?

CHRIS HAMBLETON: I was 18 or 19 when the photo was taken at the Batcave, the club to be seen in at the time. It was fabulous! It was a heady mix of music, makeup, movies, mayhem, and marvelous hairdos! 

 

What were you doing in your life that year? What are you doing now?

CH: I am quite sure I spent most of that year applying and experimenting with makeup and hair colors. I made a lot of my own jewelry and clothes, so a fair amount of time would have been spent boiling bones for necklaces. [Laughs]

 

I’m now an archeologist, currently excavating a Bronze Age Burnt Mound in Leicestershire. I used to wear bones and now I excavate them.

 

How do you think being part of that scene affected where you are now?

CH: We were a group who were unafraid to express ourselves in whatever way we wanted. We challenged what society said about normality, style, and culture and created our own. In an era of no smart phones, it is fantastic that great photographers like Derek Ridgers were there to record our “Extremities of Fashion” so beautifully. 

 

Do you think youth and counterculture are in a better or worse place now than in the year your photo was taken?

CH: I would suggest that youth culture is in a worse place. It all seems so homogenized now. Most youngsters look the same and seem afraid to stand out from the crowd.

 

 

How old were you in this picture? Where was it taken?

SAMANTHA BURCHER: I was just 16 years old in this photo. It was taken in 1980, in the famous