Fashion Against The Grain: Vashtie

April 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Devon Halfnight LeFlufy Takes Us Through His IRL Garden

≪ Previous: Yes, You Can Celebrate Earth Day Through Fashion

Google “female, streetwear” and you will undoubtedly come across numerous mentions of Vashtie Kola. Since coming onto the scene and cementing herself as “downtown’s sweetheart,” she’s directed music videos from Child Rebel Soldier’s “Us Placers” to Kendrick Lamar’s “A.D.H.D.”, hosted the weekly 1992 Parties, and DJed an endless amount of events. The stylish entrepreneur has also become the face of numerous brands—from Eckō to Puma, where she designs her own line—all while making it clear to other women that you can climb to the top in a man’s world.

Thanks to Vashtie, a throng of like-minded young women now understand that being fashionable doesn’t mean you have to play by the rules. But few people know the story of how Vashtie became the strong-willed, empowering woman she is today. Studio One Eighty Nine’s Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah caught up with the birthday girl (it’s tomorrow) to find out. Hint: a mentoring tattoo artist and basically everyone around her played a part.

Check back each week in April for more interviews embodying Studio One Eighty Nine’s motto “Boa me na me mwoa wo,” where Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah talk with people making a difference.

Shop all Studio One Eighty Nine women’s and men’s

ABRIMA ERWIAH: Who is one person in your life who helped you on your path to success?
VASHTIE KOLA: A gentleman by the name of Bruce Kaplan. I grew up in Albany and I hung out like an aimless teenager in the local park, not really doing anything. I wandered into this tattoo shop when I was 13 or 14 and I would hang out there in between my two summer jobs and look through the art books that they had in the lobby. Bruce, who owned the tattoo shop, basically gave me a job doing random things to keep me occupied. My dad left when I was 14, and my mom started having to work double shifts, so this stranger became a father figure in my life. He gave me a home and a safe zone and also was a mentor for me in the arts. When I was going to art school and applying, I didn’t have a portfolio to put my work in and he gave me his. I still have it. He always looked out for me and was someone who took me in when he didn’t have to.
ROSARIO DAWSON: I don’t know my biological father, but my dad married my mom when I was one. They’re divorced now, but he’s still my dad, you know? It’s an interesting thing to think about. I remember when I became conscious of the idea that I could have grown up without a dad and he could have been a complete stranger. It’s an interesting thing to feel chosen in that sense.

AE: Totally, Rosario. Vashtie, do you think your personal style reflects your beliefs?
VK: I think that for the most part, style has always been more important to me than fashion. It probably comes from the fact that when I was younger, we were working class and I was forced to wear hand-me-downs. It kind of sucked because my brother and sister are seve

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Devon Halfnight LeFlufy Takes Us Through His IRL Garden

April 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Life of an Art Addict

≪ Previous: Fashion Against The Grain: Vashtie

For Spring/Summer 2015, Devon Halfnight LeFlufy alternates between worshiping screens and stepping into nature. Sometimes, he can do both: on the Windows T-shirt, a desktop background of a grassy lawn is tiled on white cotton, recalling sunny days as well as a lagging PC.

LeFlufy’s collection takes us through an IRL garden, too. The Long-Sleeve Orange Shirt displays enough citrus fruits to supply a Tropicana commercial, while the Nylon Striped Shorts are the perfect breezy shorts for a day in the California sun. The Bleached Dress Shirt, meanwhile, channels tie-dye sessions, where mom forced us to take rubber bands, bleach, and Hanes tees outside for summer camp activity.

Perhaps this is what the collection, titled “All My Friends,” is supposed to remind you of: those summer days spent with friends that would turn into AIM sessions at night.

Shop all Devon Halfnight LeFlufy here

Long-Sleeve Orange T-Shirt in multi

Bleached Dress Shirt in red

Race Car Shorts and Race Car Tank in blue

Japan Turtleneck and Combination Nylon Bomber in white/red

Nylon Striped short in white

All My Friends T-shirt in black

Windows T-Shirt in white and Japan Sweatpants in red

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Life of an Art Addict

April 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 4/23

≪ Previous: Devon Halfnight LeFlufy Takes Us Through His IRL Garden

Everyone loves a good redemption story, and none is better than that of iconic art collector Peggy Guggenheim. Born into a family—and overall society—that disapproved of her choices, Peggy worked against odds and tragedies to become one of the biggest names in modern art. From hosting the first gallery shows of some of the most famous Abstract Expressionists—Jackson Pollock, Vasily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko—to smuggling masterpieces by Francis Picabia, Georges Braque, Salvador Dalí, and Piet Mondrian out of Nazi-occupied Paris, Peggy Guggenheim made a name for herself with her indelible spirit and genuine love for art.

Director Lisa Immordino Vreeland brings her story to life in Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict. The film, narrated by Peggy herself through archival tapes her biographer Jacqueline Bograd Weld recorded just before her death in 1979, is a vivid and unflinching look at the eccentric art collector’s past. The tapes allow for unprecedentedly intimate access, revealing new information about everything from her difficult childhood to her daughter’s suicide to her famous string of love affairs with the likes of Samuel Beckett and Max Ernst. What’s even better, you hear about all of it in her own words. Peggy’s narration makes the film feel three-dimensional, something many biographies are unable to achieve.

We caught up with Vreeland to discuss her inspirations behind the film and the process of piecing together Guggenheim’s history.

CHLOE MACKEY: Where did the focus on Peggy Guggenheim come from? How did you decide she was a good subject for a documentary?
LISA IMMORDINO VREELAND: I’ve always been really interested in [Peggy Guggenheim] and had the idea for a documentary on Abstract Expressionists. I was just really thinking about that moment in history. I majored in in Art History in college and ended up working in fashion, but I feel like the two worlds are so intertwined now.

So I was thinking about all of these Abstract Expressionists, and almost all of them had their first shows at [Guggenheim’s] gallery. So at some point, I said to myself, “Well, clearly it’s all about her.”

This is your second film, your first being Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel, about the iconic Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue editor and your grandmother-in-law. Do you feel the two works are connected at all?
Yes, definitely. I see courageousness as a unifying factor in both of them. Yes, they are also both women, but it wasn’t about that. I don’t want to be seen as someone who just makes films about women. I am, however, attracted to strong women. There’s also this sense of reinvention with both of these women. I feel like you have two characters here who did not like themselves as children and wanted to step out of what their traditional boundaries were. They wanted to do something and they did: they created careers for themselves.

They’re also tied together because of my attraction to the 20th century. It was a time that was so rich, both culturally and historically.

Being a woman in a field that is as male-dominated as film, do you feel that you are attracted to these women’s stories because they both rose up to the challenge of making something of themselves professionally in a time where that was very difficult to do?
I don’t really think of myself through the angle of me being a woman in a field that is still very male-dominated, though I do agree that is the case. I feel that Peggy Guggenheim and Diana Vreeland were that way as well. They never thought of their chall

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The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 4/23

April 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: #mycalvins, Your Obsession: A Night At The Chateau

≪ Previous: Life of an Art Addict

We all have that moment where Friday night rolls around and a Netflix binge is the primary “event” option. In order to cure your major case of FOMO, we've teamed up with The Mirror Cube, a new happenings site that features events recommended by artists. With their expert panel of visual artists, actors, writers, and directors, The Mirror Cube brings you the lowdown on what shows, screenings, and exhibits you should check out each week in New York and Los Angeles.

NY: Toro y Moi at Terminal 5
May 1 at 7 PM
Picked by: Lauren Cohan
What: Chillwave performer and producer Chazwick Bradley Bundwick, a.k.a. Toro y Moi, will play material off his new album, What For?.
Why go: Toro y Moi is known for crafting irresistible vibes through his innovative contrast of technology and traditional instruments.

NY: Ghosts at BAM
Through May 3
Picked by: Mirror Cube
What: Henrik Ibsen’s play about familial woe was considered highly indecent when it was first published in the 1880s and director Richard Eyre’s adaptation has been hailed by The New York Times as “possibly the best Ghosts you’ll ever see.”
Why go: In addition to being the play’s US premiere, award-winning stage and film actress Lesley Manville's performance makes for what The Huffington Post called “indispensable viewing."

NY: Forbidden Games at Film Forum
April 24 to May 7
Picked by: Lyz Olko
What: This recently restored Oscar winner from director René Clément explores the hypocrisy and devastation of World War II through the eyes of a kindhearted young girl.
Why go: This was then six-year-old actress’ Brigitte Fossey's debut—and The New York Times raved that her performance “rips the heart out.”

LA: KXLU Fest II w/ The Muffs, Tony Molina, La Sera, Colleen Green, and more at Loyola Marymount
April 26 at 11 AM
Picked by: Mirror Cube
What: Loyola Marymount University will host their radio station’s annual festival: an all-day affair with local vendors, KXLU DJs, and live performances by LA acts such as Tony Molina and La Sera.
Why go: You’ll have the chance to see iconic SoCal band The Muffs share a bill with current local indie darling Colleen Green—and the music is all free.

LA: Diana Al-Hadid: Ground and Figures at OHWOW Gallery
Through May 16
Picked by: Walking Shapes
What: The Syrian-American visual artist creates large-scale sculptures that are deceivingly delicate and include materials as diverse as wood, fiberglass, and gold leaf.
Why

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#mycalvins, Your Obsession: A Night At The Chateau

April 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: How A Bathing Ape Shaped The Streetwear Scene Today

≪ Previous: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 4/23

There’s a reason why Lana Del Rey alludes to the Chateau Marmont numerous times in her notorious album Born to Die. Of all places in Los Angeles, the Chateau has been most known for its classic glamour since it was built in 1927. It’s a Hollywood landmark loosely modeled after the Château d'Amboise—a royal French retreat. For this reason, Opening Ceremony’s co-founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim decided to host a star-studded party at the Chateau in celebration of our partnership with Calvin Klein Jeans and their #mycalvins Denim Series collection.

Here’s a little back story: Calvin Klein Jeans was established in 1968 and within a year had already appeared on the cover of Vogue. We’ve been obsessed ever since. Now, the obsession continues with the #mycalvins Denim Series limited-edition collection (a "logo-driven offering inspired by athletic and urban streetwear”), available exclusively in North America through Opening Ceremony stores and online. The global campaign shot by Alasdair McLellan and styled by Melanie Ward stars Kendall Jenner and Simon Nessman, and can be seen on the iconic Houston Street billboard in New York City and above our Opening Ceremony store in Los Angeles.

Last night’s party, hosted by Kendall herself with music by DJ A-Trak, attracted some of Hollywood’s most revered talent including HAIM, Kilo Kish, and Gia Coppola, as well as the Kardashian clan: Kylie and Kris Jenner, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, and Scott Disick. And no, this wasn’t the VMAs, the Oscars, or even the Grammys—just a party, to celebrate one of America’s most iconic brands.

Shop all Calvin Klein Jeans #MyCalvins for men and women here

Kendall Jenner. Photos by Matt Brooks

L-R: Jacky Tang, Nathaniel Santos, Alberto Jimenez, Mark Saldana, Marjorie Arangorin, Samantha Sussman, Greg Luna, Wendy Leon, Agathe Loyer, Jenny Le, Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, Michelle Salem

L-R: Humberto Leon, Kendall Jenner, Carol Lim

Carol Lim and Humberto Leon

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian

L-R: Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian

L-R: Kendall Jenner, Kourtne

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How A Bathing Ape Shaped The Streetwear Scene Today

April 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Diving Partner at Up & Up

≪ Previous: #mycalvins, Your Obsession: A Night At The Chateau

Since its inception in 1993, A Bathing Ape has evolved into a lifestyle, not just a fashion brand. Dabbling in beauty, art, and music, the Japanese label has been praised for its unique approach to marketing, and has inspired other Japanese streetwear brands to take cues from its success. The BAPE (as it is popularly known) movement was lead by Teriyaki Boyz musician, DJ, and streetwear enthusiast Nigo and friend Sk8thing, right after Nigo opened his exclusive boutique “Nowhere” in Harajuku with Undercover’s Jun Takahashi.

The label was the first to actively employ rappers like Yeezy, A$AP Ferg, and N.E.R.D in its marketing strategy. We spoke to Pusha T—musician, Marcelo Burlon collaborator, and long-time Nigo friend—on what BAPE means to the world of streetwear, and how he thinks the brand has grown since the ‘90s: “BAPE was my introduction to streetwear culture,” Pusha T noted. “It was my introduction to Japanese culture and it was the inspiration for my own clothing line Play Cloths that I have had for 7 years. It was my humble beginning. Nigo backed a record called “Grindin” in 2002, and he began to mail clothes to my house. I was just a kid from Virginia who had never seen Japan before.” Pusha T noted how Nigo used musicians to promote the brand and give it a sense of credibility in the world of streetwear. “I am the translator to the streets,” Pusha T said. “When I do something, street kids know it’s okay. The guys in the hood know it’s okay. Whether it be BAPE or Saint Laurent, I give it the validation.”

In her book Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd, author Youngme Moon states, “BAPE is the hostile marketer come to life in fugitive urban fashion,” highlighting how “scarcity stokes demand” in the world of retail. Nigo’s whole mantra for BAPE was centralized in reverse psychology marketing, creating clothing in limited runs in order to create an exclusivity to their brand identity. “I feel like every streetwear brand is chasing the greatness of BAPE’s branding,” Pusha T noted. “It’s second to none. No one has mastered branding and lifestyle like BAPE.” In a 2011 interview with AnOther Mag, Nigo highlights his actual lack of business strategy when approaching his business, and his success being entirely organic. “I started out as an enthusiast,” he said, “and I managed to become successful by doing what I wanted to do. There's really no master plan.”

BAPE has been the master of collaborations, with over 50 collaborative projects in the last two decades. The brand has joined forces with a plethora of Opening Ceremony brands and friends, like Pharrell Williams, Mark McNairy,

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The Diving Partner at Up & Up

April 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Do Britney Spears and Soulja Boy Belong at the Same Party? Duh

≪ Previous: How A Bathing Ape Shaped The Streetwear Scene Today

Last summer, OC got you Tipsy and Tan. Now, we're just getting you tipsy. Meet Fridays at Five, our cocktail series where mixologists at New York City’s white-hot new restaurants create OC-exclusive drinks for our readers. Drinking on the job? Don't mind if we do...

It’s finally getting consistently warmer, which means we’ll be pulling on our Toga Pulla sandals and G.V.G.V. cropped camis and whipping out the shots. New York has been in hibernation for so long, now is the time to turn up.

To celebrate, we asked seasoned bartender Chaim Dauermann of newly-opened Up & Up to create an OC shot. At Up & Up, where bottled cocktails replace overpriced club “bottle service,” these halfies are smaller pours that, while absolutely delicious, are too strong for a full drink. The resulting “Diving Partner” shot is lightly boozy, with a float of bright crimson Peychaud’s bitters—the perfect drink to toast to spring.

Name: Chaim Dauermann

If this drink had a soundtrack, what would it be? An Édith Piaf cover by a heavy metal band. Let’s say Opeth. It doesn’t exist, but it should.

Drink of choice:Pretty much everything, but I’m known for a rum Old Fashioned

Hangover cure: A big plate of oysters. At least a dozen, but two dozen is better.

Best date advice: Sending someone a drink only works in the movies. Sitting down next to someone and letting the bartender do the introductions—if it’s a good place—is always better. Start a conversation, avoid yes/no questions, and talk about yourself as little as possible.

Worst pick-up: The most difficult thing to watch is the guy who has no chance, and he buys a beverage for someone at the bar, and goes over to talk, and you just know it’s not going to work out.

What not to do to your bartender: Don’t try to embarrass them.

Exclusive Recipe: The Diving Partner
OC Alcohol Scale*: 4
“The higher proof elements are just an accent”

1 oz. Lillet
¼ oz. Dimmi Liquore di Milano
¼ oz. yellow chartreuse
A large float of Peychauds bitters

Stir first three ingredients with ice. Strain into shot glass. Layer bitters on top.

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

The Diving Partner. Photos by Jessica Chou

Our ingredients this week.

Add your liquid ingredients to a shaker.

Strain the mixture into a shot glass.

Top it off with some bitters.

Chaim with the finished product.

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Do Britney Spears and Soulja Boy Belong at the Same Party? Duh

April 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Surf The Net For These 8 Breathable Pieces

≪ Previous: The Diving Partner at Up & Up

If you’ve ever tried walking down 14th Street in New York City on a night when Duh takes over Up & Down, you know that its creators Alex Chapman and Joe Grun must be onto something. The event series draws in some of the most influential up-and-coming names in fashion, art, and music night after night with its creative themes and eclectic lineup of DJs and performers. In the wake of last night’s party—a birthday extravaganza for Joe with performances and sets by Pusha T, Kali Uchis, Kitty Cash, and Virgil Abloh—we reached out to Alex and Joe to tell us the story of Duh, from where it began to where it’s planning to go.

ALEX CHAPMAN: Duh came about after Joe and I had experienced nightlife enough in college to know what we wanted to see and hear and who we wanted to be around. We got asked to start doing a party by photographer Zac Sebastian, who still takes photos for the party now, and threw our first event in February 2014.

JOE GRUN: The name "Duh" started out as a joke, but the more Alex and I thought about it, the more we realized it made perfect sense. It epitomizes the humor and lighthearted attitude we have towards nightlife, which can often be lost. We don't want to do anything too serious, because at the end of the day it's "night life." But we also wanted to build a brand that people could relate to and be attracted to.

ALEX: We eventually decided on the name "Duh" because everything we did felt obvious and instinctual: of course our friends would host. Of course we'd have our favorite artists perform. Of course we'd play Kanye West then Britney Spears then Fat Joe then Soulja Boy—songs that make you dance and smile simultaneously. The line for the first night was the longest I've ever seen for a party. It looked like we were having a concert. We knew we had something right away.

ALEX: Maintaining eclecticism has always been a priority for us. I obsess over creating the perfect bill: every piece needs to be its own special entity so that when everything comes together it feels like a rainbow of personalities. For example, our [Eastduh Weekend party on April 2nd]: we had girls like Mia Moretti and Alexandra Richards DJ while wearing bunny ears and then Juelz Santana from Dipset perform. I've never seen a party that would think to combine those things, but Joe and I have a really varied taste and I think our audience does, too. Joe loves bubblegum pop like Carly Rae Jepsen and hilariously cute decorations, and I’m always looking for the next big hip-hop act like Father and Chynna Rogers. Our interests overlap, but we both bring different perspectives to the table, which is why I think we cast such a wide net as far as our crowd goes.

JOE: What I think is so unique about Duh is its ability to make everyone feel welcome. No matter where you're from or what you look like, you know you can come to our party every week and have an amazing time and meet new people. What we pride ourselves on is this community we have created through our parties that has truly brought together a large, diverse group of individuals. It's become more than just a party but a sort of family. And to me that's something really unique and special.

ALEX: Last night was Joe's birthday so we had to make sure everything was special. We ordered 23 pizzas to the club, got balloons made of Joe's name and a bunch of decorations,

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Surf The Net For These 8 Breathable Pieces

April 26, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: A Mix For The Rump Shaker In All of Us

≪ Previous: Do Britney Spears and Soulja Boy Belong at the Same Party? Duh

Netted fabric was central to every clique at my high school. Whether you were a mesh-fingerless-glove-wearing Hot Topic enthusiast, or a sweaty, perforated-singlet-rocking basketball fan, holey materials were omnipresent in the school yard. These days, netting is no longer the territory of emos and jocks. Modern designers have turned it into an exquisite art form, using detailing weaving techniques and delicate cutouts.

Alexander Wang, Issey Miyake, and Raf Simons are leading the way, giving their fabrics a breathable edge just in time for heat-wave season. The layering on this KTZ piece, or optical illusion cut-outs on these Opening Ceremony shoes, both feature creatively manipulated fabrics. Jennifer Behr headwear appeases ‘80s Madonna fans, while Raf Simons athletic pieces cater to the sports crowd. Even if you don’t look as baller as Number 23, that doesn’t mean you can’t slam dunk in the fashion game.

Click through to shop our perforated picks.

KTZ Mesh Tee in black

Jennifer Behr Zodiac Voilette Headband in black

Veronique Leroy 3/4 Net Bodysuit in white

Carven Cut-Out Shoulder Long-Sleeve Shirt in white

Issey Miyake Printed Mesh Drawstring Bag in blue

Raf Simons Kimono Neck Mesh Tank in bordeaux

T by Alexander Wang Circular Cut-Out Boxy Short-Sleeve Tee in black

Opening Ceremony

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A Mix For The Rump Shaker In All of Us

April 27, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Raf Simons Tells Us What’s Really On His Mind

≪ Previous: Surf The Net For These 8 Breathable Pieces

Jubilee’s new curated compilation Magic City opens with the climaxing “Jonesin’” from Moombahton Massive, a gradually pulsing banger that lets you know what you’re getting your ears into for the next 40 minutes. Your Master & Dynamic Headphones won’t be sorry. In fact, they’ll thank you.

Released just in time for the sandal-wearing, margarita-hazed days of summer, Jessica Gentile a.k.a. Jubilee’s 11-track compilation is a mix inspired by the 24/7 beachtown city of vices that raised her—Miami.

Rounded out by a similar-minded track list of party-ready artists—from breakbeat legend DJ Icey to Miami newcomer Snappy Jit—the mix acts as a pregame playlist made for before and after last call. “My music sounds like a Miami strip club in the after hours,” Jubilee told us in an interview last year. We’ve never been more curious about what happens at King of Diamonds post-5 AM—do the thongs come back on up?—as we are now.

Tracks like “BreakFire Breakbeats” by MIAMI BASS WARRIORS accelerate to Dance Dance Revolution-level speeds, and the sweat-inducing offerings don't end with Miami mainstays. Glasgow's Nightwave keeps up the fast-paced flow on “Sunset Yellow,” while Brooklyn’s Copout brings East-Coast raver influence to “Get Down.” The mix finishes with Ashrock’s perfectly titled “Miami,” showcasing raunchy beats, bass-heavy backing, and lyrics that rave about the capital of raves.

Listen to the Magic City mix below and download the exclusive mix via WeTransfer here

Magic City track list:

1. Moombahton Massive- “Jonesin’”
2. Nightwave- “Sunset Yellow”
3. Burt Fox- “Cafe Iguana”
4. DJ Icey- “Wombat Coming”
5. Otto Von Schirach’s Miami Bass Warriors project- “Breakfire Breakbeats”
6. Plies- “Thick (Snappy Jit Remix)”
7. COA- “Babii-Wign (Helix 2013 Remix)”
8. Copout- “Get Down”
9. Dreams- “Peaked”
10. Egg Foo Young- “Bass 2 Large”
11. Ashrock- “Miami”

Download Jubilee’s Magic City mix here.

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Raf Simons Tells Us What’s Really On His Mind

April 28, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: How To Give Your Boyfriend An OC Makeover (QUIZ!)

≪ Previous: A Mix For The Rump Shaker In All of Us

Back in the good old days, also known as the ‘90s, ancient civilizations used prehistoric tools such as disposable cameras to capture memories for photo albums. To the untrained, iPhone-addled eye, Raf Simons’ latest collection might simply rehash the DIY-photo-collage aesthetic the designer is famous for. But take a closer look and you’ll realize each piece acts as a kind of analog scrapbook of Simons’ mind—the kind we’ve forgotten about in an era when reminiscing consists of scrolling back in our Instagram feeds.

It’s no coincidence Simons created one of his most personal and nostalgic collections to date in an age where memories are fleeting. Kimono-inspired necklines and lotus-flower graphics create a subtle homage to Japan, where retailers first supported the designer back in 1995. Simons reveals his inner horror-film buff with a nod to Jaws in the form of printed shark graphics and a photo of a swimmer in peril. Simons takes us back through the early days of his friendship with Belgian stylist Olivier Rizzo with a photo of the roller coaster he and Rizzo rode decades ago. We even get the chance to see a young Simons in a pre-selfie passport photo—wearing the Superman tee from Rizzo’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts graduation collection.

This is a collection full of just as many past memories as the ones you’ll make while wearing the pieces—no need to scroll back 52 weeks.

Shop all Raf Simons here

Field Jacket in dark navy

Hand Slim-Fit T-Shirt in white

Kimono Neck Mesh Tank in bordeaux

Zipper Overalls in white

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How To Give Your Boyfriend An OC Makeover (QUIZ!)

April 28, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: ‘GHE20G0TH1K Has Been And Always Will Be About Freedom’

≪ Previous: Raf Simons Tells Us What’s Really On His Mind

Let’s be real: She’s All That should have been called He’s All That. While every Hollywood makeover movie features a girl being made over to impress a guy, IRL, our guys are the ones who need a lil’ push in the right style direction. Deep down, every girl or guy wants to dictate their boyfriend’s kit. We don’t do it to disrespect their personal steez, but just to nudge them to, ahem, “finesse” their existing look.

Whatever your boyfriend/crush’s vibe may be—fashion lord, hype kid, #menswear enthusiast, or cultured prep—this quiz will reveal the perf OC makeover option. Think of it as an even better rework than Tai from Clueless, to ensure your guy is neither fashion victim nor ensembly challenged.

1. Where would your boyfriend take you on a date?
a) An artisanal froyo shop in the LES
b) A midnight screening of Dior and I at BAM
c) The "world literature" section at the public library
d) The skate ramp at Black Bear Bar in Williamsburg

2. Who is your crush’s alt-celeb doppelganger?
a) Nick Wooster
b) A$AP Rocky
c) Edward Norton
d) Jason Dill

3. Who is your fave Ryan Gosling?
a) Ryan in The Ides of March
b) Ryan in Drive
c) Ryan in The Notebook
d) Ryan in The Place Beyond the Pines

4. What is your favorite thing about your crush?
a) The fact that he is, like, on every street-style blog ever
b) His comprehensive knowledge of all things Rei Kawakubo
c) He can speak five different languages, it’s so hot!
d) His ability to land a frontside 360, did you just see that?

5. What is your crush's fave meal?
a) Kale and Quinoa
b) He doesn't eat. Calories are the devil.
c) Escargot
d) Doritos and Red Bull

6. What is your crush’s most used hashtag?
a) #ootd
b) #vitalcop
c) #jadore
d) #slappysundays

7. What is your crush’s fave type of music?
a) Downtempo New York hip-hop
b) It’s so obscure, you wouldn’t even know it
c) all the Kitsuné mixes, 2002-present
d) pre-2000s thrash-metal-punk

8. What is your crush’s fave emoji?
a) -_-
b) He thinks emojis are for kids
c) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
d) \m/

9. Which obscure Friends character does your crush most relate to?
a) Estelle
b) Um, he doesn’t watch Friends
c) Emily Waltham
d) Gunther

MOSTLY A’s
This boyfriend look is smart and composed, with an air of nonchalance. This guy is all about staple pieces and looks that will carry you from day to night, so fill his closet with Ami, Acne Studios, and Maison Martin Margiela. You soon find him wearing Larose at your hip local coffee haunt, sipping a macchiato while he updates his Google Calendar.

MOSTLY B’s
If your guy doesn’t already worship Junya Watanabe and think Comme des Garçons archives are everything, he should. When planning your mak

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‘GHE20G0TH1K Has Been And Always Will Be About Freedom’

April 29, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Every generation has its own underground party whose influence lingers past the 6 AM last call. In the late ‘70s, 84 King Street was home to Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage, the birthplace of garage music, which played the perfect black-sheep sibling to uptown’s Studio 54. In 1983, Eric and Christopher Goode’s Area nightclub opened as a constantly evolving performance-art party space where guests like Grace Jones and Boy George sometimes had to fight their way in past the door. We all know Michael Alig and his Club Kid gang extravagantly followed suit in the ‘90s, while The Misshapes garnered their own following in the early 2000s. But who was to take over the nightclub thrones left empty for the remainder of the decade?

In 2009, Venus X founded GHE20G0TH1K, a monthly party which started its early years at a small bar in Brooklyn and other raw warehouse venues throughout the city. Beginning in the grungy basements of NYC’s smaller dive locations, the party embraced all different types of guests, DJs, and everything inbetween. “I started the party because there was nowhere for my friends and I to go and exist in extremes, from punk to rap and fashion,” says Venus X. “It was just a vibe we needed that was not happening at the time, so we created it.”

Club kids mixed with the ballroom scene, who in turn got down on the dancefloor with the anime set. “GHE20G0TH1K made everyone realize you can wear what you want, fuck who you want, and have what you want,” says Asma Maroof of Nguzunguzu.

“It was the only event where I felt I could invite anybody I knew,” agrees resident DJ MikeQ. “You can’t just invite anybody anywhere, but [GHE20G0TH1K] was such a huge melting pot of everything, you could easily find your niche.”

GHE20G0TH1K also created its own genre of party music, with Venus usually on the tables playing a mix of hip-hop blends intertwined with Soca styles and R&B Queens. “We were very experimental and aggressive. We used any form of sound to DJ, and it was pretty open format,” says Venus. “We could play anything from gospel music to hardstyle. We were just being obnoxious.” Even with the stylish throng of attendees, dressed to the nines in whatever the hell they wanted, the most influential part of the party was the music.

“I remember Physical Therapy playing the entire Sunshine Anderson acapella by itself in the middle of his set, Shayne and Venus endlessly wheeling back to a Biggie song, and somebody seeing how Angerfist could touch Tracey Chapman,” says recurring guest DJ Total Freedom. “Or just being REALLY gross in that little basement while playing on one broken speaker.”

After a more than five-year run (and multiple breaks in between), GHE20G0TH1K is trading in the long nights for hangover pills with a final party on May 2. While all good things must sadly come to an end, it’s quite apparent that GHE20G0TH1K’s influence will continue to inform NYC culture and parties to come. “Everyone who has been influenced knows [GHE20G0TH1K]’s influence and how it's influenced them, so that's enough,” says Hood By Air designer and regular GHE20G0TH1K DJ Shayne Oliver.

Similar to the iconic parties before it’s time, GHE20G0TH1K has established itself as more than a party; it’s a movement. “GHE20G0TH1K has and always will be about freedom,” says Oliver. “Social freedom, sexual freedom, musical freedom.”

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The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 4/30

April 29, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: No Thorns, Just Roses: An Anti-War Collection For Spring

≪ Previous: ‘GHE20G0TH1K Has Been And Always Will Be About Freedom’

NY: Empress Of at Elvis Guesthouse
April 30 - May 2 at 8pm
Picked by: Anna Gray
What: Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Lorely Rodriguez rounds out her residency at Elvis Guesthouse in the East Village this weekend. Her dream pop soundscapes perfectly complement the aesthetic of the newly opened venue, created by the team behind Williamsburg venue, Baby's All Right.

Why go: "Classically trained in video game sound design at Berkeley School of Music (I know, right? I want to study that too), Rodriguez started making amazing club-inspired tunes. This week at Elvis Guesthouse, she's performing five nights in a really intimate setting with her friends DJing—friends like Chairlift, Le1f, Dev Hynes, and Neon Indian, to name a few. Oh, also: she wrote, recorded, and produced the album alone in an isolated cabin in Mexico. NBD." — Anna Gray

NY: Natalie Prass at Bowery Ballroom
May 4 at 8pm
Picked by: Mirror Cube
What: The Nashville-based singer-songwriter performs material from her self-titled debut album, which The Guardian has praised as ”spellbinding country soul.”

Why go: This album was released this year with the guidance of retro label Spacebomb Records, garnering comparisons to greats like Dusty Springfield and Dolly Parton.

NY: Elaine May’s Mikey and Nicky at MoMA
May 3-9
Picked by: Mirror Cube
What: A 35mm screening of the ‘70s noir film co-starring John Cassavetes and Peter Falk as old friends confronting their past—all while on the run from a mafia hitman.

Why go: Director Elaine May is best known for her role as half of the comedy duo Nichols and May. But she also helmed the 1972 classic comedy, The Heartbreak Kid, and was the brain behind The Birdcage and Primary Colors. May's dialogue in Mikey and Nicky has influenced many great films, from Midnight Run to Pulp Fiction.

NY: RadioLoveFest at BAM
May 5-10
Picked by: Lauren Cohan
What: WNYC’s annual week-long festival returns with live tapings of programs like The Moth, Radiolab, and the Peabody Award-winning comedy hour Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

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No Thorns, Just Roses: An Anti-War Collection For Spring

April 29, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Sun’s Out, Go All-Out—With 30% Off Men’s And Women’s Daywear

≪ Previous: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 4/30

What determines the difference between a weed and a flower? “Weeds are actually any plant that is not wanted by a human,” Gyo Kim, one half of the design duo behind Gyoyuni Kimchoe, tells us. But what if you do value the conventionally classified “weed” for its beauty and purpose?

A closer look at Gyoyuni Kimchoe’s asthetically lush collection reveals a deeper political message. Between the origami-esque ruching details and the ruffled flora, an anti-hate emerges, promoting a new perspective towards life and the wearer’s peers.

“Our Spring/Summer 2015 collection is actually an anti-war statement collection,” Yuni declares. “Gardeners are a metaphor for army soldiers. We created gardener corps whose mission is to plant and grow weeds. Gardeners consider weeds harmful and useless and usually kill weeds. Soldiers do the same thing to their enemies: they think their enemies should die and they try to kill them.” For the first show, Kim and his design partner Yuni Choe sent models down the runway carrying symbolic gardening tools. “Our gardener-soldiers grow, plant, and take care of weeds as army soldiers would take care of their enemies. Why kill weeds, if you can love them?”

In addition to spreading pacifist messages via their brand, the designers are actively making the world a better place. For instance, a percentage of the profits will be donated to UNICEF, the organization dedicated to helping children in war-torn countries. What’s more, the designers use sustainable fabrics and eco-friendly processes to create their line.

“We wanted to change the world positively through fashion. And we thought just using natural cotton is not enough to change the world,” Gyo underscores. “We believe changing peoples’ minds is more important—and very possible through fashion. Every season, we not only create a fashionable collection, but a collection that becomes a sustainable campaign. ”

Shop all Gyoyuni Kimchoe here

Photo courtesy of GyoYuni Kimchoe

Weed Gardener Hooded Trench Coat in khaki

Ruffle Weed Jacket in beige

Ruffle Weed Ankle-Length Trousers in beige

Weed Growing Shirt in black

Ghillie Shorts in black

Ghillie Ju

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Sun’s Out, Go All-Out—With 30% Off Men’s And Women’s Daywear

April 30, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: 'Top Rank' Magazine Is The Opposite of a Burn Book

≪ Previous: No Thorns, Just Roses: An Anti-War Collection For Spring

Next week will be 72°, sunny, and up on the daylight hours. Time to shed the heavy stuff, do happy hour al fresco, and really be seen again. That’s why we’re giving you 30% off the lightweight pile: Women’s Dresses, Skirts, and Sandals, as well as Men’s Button-Down Shirts, Shorts, and Sandals. Just enter SUNNY30 at checkout and make room for the flexin’ getups.

But like this beautiful, fleeting in-between, this promo ends soon. Take a break from bike rides and picnics and get your shopping in before Monday, May 4!

Take 30% Off Select Categories
In Stores And Online
Enter SUNNY30 At Checkout

Shop Womens: Dresses, Skirts, Sandals
Shop Mens: Button-Down Shirts, Shorts, Sandals

*Promotion ends Monday, May 4, 2015 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Promotion is valid on full-priced merchandise only and is applicable to the following categories: Women’s Dresses, Skirts, and Sandals, as well as Men’s Button-Down Shirts, Shorts, and Sandals. Promotion does not apply to Opening Ceremony x Teva, previous purchases, or price adjustments, and cannot be combined with other discount offers.

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'Top Rank' Magazine Is The Opposite of a Burn Book

April 30, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Will Be The Greatest Fight Of Our Generation

≪ Previous: Sun’s Out, Go All-Out—With 30% Off Men’s And Women’s Daywear

When you hear the word FEMINISM, what do you think? Personally, I feel proud. Women are effing amazing, but many of you don’t need me or even Nicholas Kristof to tell you that. The truth though, is the word feminism still holds negative connotations or unflattering labels. And yes, it’s 2015, and yes, that’s depressing, but that just means we need to do something about it (and regramming empowering quotes don’t count).

The women behind Top Rank magazine (shop it here) aren’t accepting this “truth” anymore and have set out to change the way people think about feminism. “Do you want equal rights? Do you want ultimate authority over your own body? Bottom line shit. Feminism is not anti-man, men can be feminists too. It’s about empowerment, sisterhood, and respect,” says Creative Director and OC-alum Christelle De Castro. Amen.

Issue No. 1, released today, is proof dreams that start at a Beyoncé concert really do come true. On a train ride home from Barclays Center, friends Alice Grandoit and Marquita Harris came up with a plan to empower women in the creative world. Grandoit, who works as a music producer, had noticed that most magazines always interviewed the same group of women who all looked the same. Like many of us, she wanted to read some real-talk: What are the challenges women face? How did they actually get to where they are?

The Brooklyn-based print publication does all that and more by profiling women of diverse backgrounds who are challenging the world around them. Its first coverstar is Janet Mock, who recently sat down with Oprah to discuss the complicatedness of being labeled a transgender woman. The issue also features interviews with multimedia artist Maggie Lee and Staten Island women protesting Eric Garner and Mike Brown.

"We try to break down the complexities of feminism. It’s also a lot about diversity. Racially, sure, but it expands to even diversity in one’s interests,” explains Harris, Top Rank’s Editor in Chief who previously helped found cult zine Qlix. What unites them, then? Grandoit continues: “They all fight for these basic human rights in their own ways. You would never see these women together anywhere else, but they are united because they truly own themselves and what they do.”

The breathtaking image of Mock was photographed in the old New York Times building, which is where the team spent its summer preparing for today’s launch. Top Rank received a grant from Brooklyn 1834, a collective that provides the historic space to new media companies. Whether you’re a paranormal-fanboy or not, there’s got to be some serious juju flowing through that place. “I felt like I was in a ‘90s movie, like this was Big and I was Tom Hanks,” said de Castro of the moment when the elevator doors first opened.

That energy lives in every single Top Rank team member. Get to know them by scrolling through the above slideshow and reading who thei

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Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Will Be The Greatest Fight Of Our Generation

April 30, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Flashback To That Time We Collabed With Wong Kar-wai

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On May 2, boxing legends and rivals Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to compete for the first time ever—a match billed as the “fight of the century.” Even the OC fam is taking a break from our fashion endeavors to find our closest friends and tune into Saturday night’s pay-per-view fight. OC staffer and former MMA fighter Koa Pennock knows a thing or two about throwing the punches. So who better to give us the rundown on the knockouts, ticket sales, and legacies at stake for this once-in-a-lifetime boxing match.

Here's a good one: How do you make well over $100 million in less than an hour? Only Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. could tell us, but I'm sure he's too busy training—or deciding how to spend all the money he's about to make. Mayweather is set to fight longtime rival Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in what is guaranteed to go down in history as the most lucrative fight of all time. So, why do we care? And how the hell do we get tickets?

Nosebleeds are selling for around $3,000. If you thought you were gonna throw your Frank Lucas chinchilla coat on and hop down to the front row to mingle with Hollywood legends and multi-millionaires you’ve never heard of, good luck. Those tickets are reportedly reserved for casino high rollers (the type you see in James Bond films) and selling for up to $300,000 on Ticketmaster. The gate admissions alone are set to bring in over $70 million.

So, if you’re like me (along with an estimated 3 million others, racking up a whopping estimated $270 million in PPV purchases), you’ll be watching these gladiators go head-to-head from the comfort of your own apartment. Why? For some of us, it's the red leather shorts with gold fringe and the Lil Wayne walk-out concert. If we're lucky, we'll get the juggling clowns back and Justin Bieber, too. Expect nothing less from Floyd's over-the-top braggadocio entrance to the ring. For others, it's the five-year anticipation of botched negotiations between the two fighters, with rumors swirling about when and where it might go down. But for me, it's all about the legacy.

For instance, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr., over the course of his illustrious 19-year professional career, has fought 47 times. Never once has he lost. Can you argue with undefeated? If you're counting, that's eight world championships in five different weight classes. ZERO LOSSES. His perfect form, magical defense, and precision punching—along with his cocky antics and a knack for purchasing million-dollar cars at 3AM— have earned him quite the reputation. Hate him or love him, you want to watch him box. And shit just got real.

Enter: Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. As a god-like national hero, there is no “love him” or “hate him” with Pacquiao. You can only love him. He's received over 4 million views on his latest music video for the song “Lalaban Ako para Sa Filipino,” which he recorded and posted to his Facebook to be used as his own entrance music. But that’s only a small number considering the entire archipelago of the Philippines will be screaming at their TVs in support. In addition to being a god, a pop star, a re-elected Co

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Flashback To That Time We Collabed With Wong Kar-wai

May 3, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Hurry! Mama’s Special Day Is Coming Quick

≪ Previous: Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Will Be The Greatest Fight Of Our Generation

Ahead of the red carpet mayhem set to take over every virtual space tonight, we look back on our first-ever film collaboration line with iconic director Wong Kar-wai—the Co-Chair of the Met exhibition, China: Through the Looking Glass. Created to celebrate Chinese fashion and its influence, the exhibition fits the Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, best known for his influential films In the Mood for Love, 2046, and My Blueberry Nights.

That 2007 film sparked a line of exclusive T-shirts, posters, and postcards that focused on Wong’s travels through America, shown through Wong’s own cinematic looking glass. The capsule collection of four tees showcased photography from Wong’s visits to California, New York, Tennessee, and Nevada.

In addition to the capsule, Wong even stopped by our our Howard St. shop, where the director made a rare public appearance and autographed products being sold.

Wong Kar-wai may be a Co-Chair at the biggest event in fashion, but we consider him OC fam. Click through the slideshow to check-out our #TBT.

Humberto Leon and Carol Lim with Wong Kar Wai.

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Hurry! Mama’s Special Day Is Coming Quick

May 3, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Fashion Against The Grain: Michael K. Williams

≪ Previous: Flashback To That Time We Collabed With Wong Kar-wai

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10, and if you're anything like us, you're running around the city scrounging up “thoughtful” gifts for the woman who’s taken care of you since you were in her womb. Luckily for you, we've made it easier this year with our annual Mother’s Day Gift Guide. There's a little something for every type of mom—from the techie lady with a preference for Master & Dynamic headphones, to the mom with a penchant for the more luxe things in life, such as the Delfina Delettrez 4 Domino Dots Ring or the Goen.J Frill Sleeves Top.

Mama will be thanking you.

Shop the Mother’s Day Gift Guide here

From left: Universal Isaac Palm Print Bikini Top Pot in light, Bee Goddess Joy Script Ring in rose gold, Annelise Michelson Unchained Double Ring in silver, Issey Miyake Large Oval Mesh Bag in white, Sun Buddies Type 02 Sunglasses in cloud mint, MYKITA + Maison Matin Margiela Dual 003 Sunglassses in nude/black, Nektar de Stagni 3 Pearl Spike Cuff, Opening Ceremony Exclusive Birkenstock Zurich Sandals in pelagic blue, Opening Ceremony and Intel MICA in black, CA&LOU Suki Swarovski Necklace, Nektar de Stagni Color Spiked Pearl Ring in multi, Comme des Garcons Holygrapie Spray 50ML, Delfina Delettrez Never Too Light 8 Dots Ring in gold/blue sapphires.

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