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Opening Ceremony Resort 2016 Is Best In Show

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For Resort 2016, the Opening Ceremony woman continues her dreamy trip through the American suburbs—only this time, things are getting posh. This week, Carol and Humberto debuted a collection of topiary cuts and rich jacquards, a wardrobe you might imagine on a fashionable housewife in an alternate reality. Like their Spring/Summer 2015 collection, inspired by memories of pre-internet California, our designers’ latest effort finds creative potential in a universe many consider conventional. Yet Resort 2016 is also more utopian than real—a Pleasantville to Spring/Summer 2015’s suburban Los Angeles. “The collection is based on a neighborhood that feels picture perfect, where unexpected things happen,” says Humberto. “We wanted to fantasize about the life women live.”

In this picture-perfect world, shiny motorcycles inhabit every driveway, lawns and hedges are as neatly manicured as homeowners’ fingernails, and the family trophy dog reigns supreme. The female fascination with all things canine expresses itself in Dog Show-inspired pieces. Sleek maxi dresses, fringe-detail sweaters, and tailored jackets are printed with shaggy, affectionate (and hypoallergenic!) Komondors. Graphic tees sport cheeky catchphrases like “Frise, I’m a Bichon!” It’s enough to convince you to channel your inner Parker Posey from Best in Show—just promise us you’ll avoid spurting lines about meeting your true love in Starbucks.

Other pieces reference the fresh-cut lawns and outdoor spaces where one might take a dog for a walk. White picket fences get a black leather remix in the form of dress finishes, while hedge prints in olive green, orange, and deep mahogany channel an Edward Scissorhands housewife’s yard. Automobile-inspired details give the collection a masculine edge: think aluminum shoe heels, leather finishes, and laser-cut fabrics reminiscent of tire tracks.

The details throughout the collection are each subtle, proving you don’t have to be the most flamboyant neighbor on the street to be “Best in Show.”


Stay tuned for more updates.Click through the slideshow to see looks from the Opening Ceremony Pre-Spring 2016 collection. 

All In The Family With James Davis

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Fraternal twin sisters Jess and Rey Reynolds and their younger brother Auston’s musical fate was sealed during a true sibling moment: a squabble. Jess recalls: “During rehearsal for [our former band, Davis], Rey and I were bickering back and forth and Auston just started humming this song that he had in his head. Then Rey jumped in with her guitar and I jumped in singing. We were harmonizing and it was so beautiful, and at that moment I remember thinking, I wish it was all three of us.”

Little did Jess know, less than a year later, her sentiments would come to fruition. The three siblings joined forces to form James Davis, a folk-soul group acting as a modern day Partridge Family minus the corn. The musical talent runs deep in this family from Los Angeles, starting with their mother, who was a backup singer. “Our mom would have studio sessions with James Ingram and Jeffrey Osborne and we would hear that and Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye,” says Rey. Their dad, meanwhile, a professional baseball player, played the classics at home. “He listened to everything from Fleetwood Mac to The Rolling Stones. He had an insane album collection and played the drums and organ, so we grew up around it.”

In songs like “Praise,” James Davis sounds like a R&B-tinged Little Dragon, while in “Co-Pilot” the trio blends soft guitar strums with truthful lyrics most 20-somethings can relate to (“Come on and get high with me; oh baby we don’t need no weed”). On tour this past spring, they’ve brought the soulful, blissed-out ballads from their eponymous EP to audiences around the US. While the three musicians may be the closest tour buddies you’ll ever meet, their vastly different personalities carry over to their onstage performances. “I’m the one most likely to go off and speak to the audience,” says Jess. “[Jess] pulls me in,” admits Rey. “Sometimes I literally check out onstage because I get lost in the music.”

“It’s good to have those different types [of personalities]: one that engages with the crowd and then one that gets lost in the music,” agrees Auston. “I’m somewhere in between—sometimes I can get lost.”

Getting lost is easy when playing James Davis’ tunes. So is envying the connected-at-the-mic trio’s coordinated looks. Consistently dressed to the nines in dark blacks and moto-ready leathers, they make you wonder whether excellent style runs in the family, too. “Our mom was a sick dresser,” says Rey. “She would have these jackets and suits and really got me into loving black. To this day she wears all black.” Like mother like daughters (plus son). 


Watch James Davis perform “Better Than You Are” live below, which just premiered today

Rey wears the Bernhard Willhelm x Mykita Ursula Sunglasses in silver, Alexander Wang Jumper in black, and Common Projects Boots in black. Jess wears the Sorelle Phoebe Silver Ball Hoop Earrings in sterling silver, Alexander Wang Double Ribbed Long-Sleeve Cropped Tee in black, Acne Studios

If Ariel Lived In Brooklyn

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Once upon a time, a mermaid named Ariel lived on Coney Island. She loved her beachside Brooklyn home, but dreamed of falling in love with a prince from Manhattan. Her father warned her that contact between Brooklynites and Manhattanites was dangerous, and that Ariel should avoid the tribe across the bridge. But Ariel, ever the headstrong teenager, snuck into Manhattan with her friends on the weekends, journeying over earth and sea until her Q train entered foreign lands. There, she would go shopping—coming home with shipwrecks of clothes from her favorite store, Opening Ceremony—and sing karaoke. Ariel had a beautiful voice, just like… well, just like a mermaid!

One night, a prince named Eric walked into Ariel’s favorite karaoke spot, Winnie’s. She had never seen someone so tall and handsome, or who could pull off swashbuckler pants quite so well. At first, Eric didn’t notice Ariel, but when she crooned her favorite Mariah Carey song—because even mermaids love Mariah—he was so enchanted that he offered to buy her a drink. Ariel, only 16, politely declined, but Eric found himself so bewitched he couldn’t help but order a round for himself. By the end of the night, Eric capsized in a tempest of rum, and kind, gentle Ariel carried him back to the safety of his East Village apartment. She tucked him into bed and sang a lullaby before vanishing back to Coney Island.

The next day, Eric woke up with regrettably little memory of the girl with the beautiful voice who had saved him from death—or rather, humiliating Limp Bizkit cover attempts. Back on Coney Island, meanwhile, Ariel was grounded. Her dad confiscated her collection of precious Manhattan objects (Moschino terry-cloth bustier, farewell) yet she couldn’t stop thinking about the faraway land. Desperate, Ariel called up her cousin, the cruel and cunning Ursula, for advice. (Ursula worked at the Cyclone roller coaster, and was rumored responsible for at least one derailment.) Ursula promised to help, but first, Ariel had to tell her everything about this romantic encounter with the prince, down to the address of the bar where it happened.

Alas! Before Ariel had a chance to slip back on the Q train and reunite with her prince, Ursula had stolen him: appearing at Winnie’s, Ursula sang her Mariah song, and neglected to correct the handsome man in Swashbuckler pants who kissed her and thanked her for “last weekend.” When Ariel heard the news, she didn’t cry. Instead, she realized she’d been wasting time pining after a loser who couldn’t even remember the names of the girls he took home. WTF is wrong with Eric? Ariel thought. (This was Brooklyn after all, and she was savvier than your average mermaid.) Maybe I’m better off single!

Ariel’s dad was so pleased to see this independent spirit, that he gave his daughter back all of her favorite clothes, and granted her permission to throw a party. So, on a Saturday in late June, Ariel hosted a parade for all of her Brooklyn friends, the fish, freaks, and mythical creatures from under the sea (minus Ursula). They ate hot dogs at Nathan’s, frolicked in the sand by fake palm trees, and drank Nutcrackers, the delicious, boozy Koolade sold out of coolers by friendly men on the boardwalk. Ariel named the party the Mermaid Parade, and it was so much fun, Ariel’s friends insisted she host it every year after that, forever and ever and ever.


Wanna shop Ariel’s closet? Scroll through the slideshow above to see OC’s Mermaid Parade outfit picks! See you this

The Music Of Kids Never Gets Old

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Kids opens with a pre-pubescent Leo Fitzpatrick in a sweaty, awkward sex scene where he takes a young girl’s virginity. As Leo’s character, Telly, is in mid-thrust, the scene abruptly cuts to the opening credits with a bombastic, hardcore shock to the ears: Deluxx Folk Implosion’s “Daddy Never Understood.” Within the first four minutes of the film, the music sets up the 86-minute ride of a film.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Larry Clark’s iconic and controversial movie, which focused on the all-too-true lives of teenage New Yorkers in the early ‘90s. Written by Harmony Korine and starring a then-unknown cast of OC family (shout-out to Chloë and Rosario!), the film also featured diverse music that would define the hardcore/alt-rock/hip-hop cassettes of our adolescence. Only in a world like Harmony and Larry’s could hip-hop beats such as Artifacts’ “Wrong Side of Da Tracks” live in the same music credits as Daniel Johnston’s chord organ-driven song, “Casper The Friendly Ghost.” Iconic alt-rock musician Lou Barlow, of Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh, curated the soundtrack, which featured music from his own separate project, The Folk Implosion. We caught up with the musician, who still remembers coming to New York to hang out with Harmony and sleep at Larry’s apartment.



CHLOE DEWBERRY: Can you give us a bit of background as to how you became involved with the project?
LOU BARLOW: Harmony [Korine] actually contacted me via letter. He sent me, I guess it would amount to a fan letter, at least a year before Kids even came into the picture. He really liked my lo-fi 4trak home recordings and would send me these long letters. He was like, “I’m going to make movies” and I was like, “Interesting.” I didn’t know anything would come of it. But sure enough, I was contacted [and told] that he was working on a film with Larry Clark, whose photography books I’d actually seen. Harmony wanted me to come to New York and hang out with him and Larry to talk about what they wanted to do with the film. So Harmony kind of involved me very early on. I was from Boston, so they imagined me as this intellectual and they wanted me to give musical impressions of this sort of urban landscape as an outsider. They had a concept and I was very lucky to be a part of it.

Was that why you were so eager to get involved? Because the process was so organic with Harmony and Larry?
To be honest, I would have done it no matter what because it was an experience. When I actually met them, I went to New York and stayed overnight at Larry’s apartment and went out to eat with them and followed them around. They were really funny, like a comedy duo. It was this older guy and then Harmony was incredibly young and totally precocious. Like, he was throwing those little poppers on the street at people, like old ladies and cops, and then he would come up with these really elaborate lies about things and then you realized he was lying in a funny way. And then Larry, being this practically Vietnam veteran in comparison, was with this young and very intelligent kid. I was just following them around New York City and it was crazy. And then I involved my friend John D

Relive The OC Spring/Summer 2015 Fashion Show All Over Again

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At the start of a gloomy day in New York City, we got a much-needed jolt of excitement this morning when Vice’s The Creators Project released a short documentary going behind-the-scenes at 100% Lost Cotton, the one-act play by Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill that was also Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2015 runway show.

Featuring an all-star cast including Elle Fanning, Dree Hemingway, Bobby Cannavale, and John Cameron Mitchell, the play offered a glimpse into what really goes into planning a fashion show—styling drama, awkward confessions of love, “bad bitches,” and all. And of course, gorgeous clothes. In this case, they were our Spring/Summer 2015 collection, modeled by the likes of Karlie Kloss, playing (who else?) herself.

Now, you can go backstage at the backstage drama. The Creators Project short captures candid moments—like when the real Carol Lim meets Catherine Keener, who’s playing her—interviews with cast members including Rashida Jones, and pre-show LOLs from Spike and Jonah (Spike: “Please refrain from using social media.” Jonah: “But if you have a pager, you can turn it on at this time.”). Trust us: a fashion show was never this much fun.
 

The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 6/18

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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: Ty Segall at Baby’s All Right
June 24 at 7 PM
Picked by: Soko
What: The psychedelic singer-songwriter and his band hit the road following the recent release of his EP, Live in San Francisco.

Why Go: Segall and his band have been touring regularly together for four years—making for extremely tight chemistry on stage—and the charismatic frontman was described by Pitchfork as “a garage rock version of Prince."


NY: The Third Man at Film Forum
June 26-July 9
Picked by: The Mirror Cube
What: A postwar British film noir about a pulp writer who arrives in Vienna only to be told that the friend he's there to visit has died.

Why Go: This is the first major restoration of the film, which won three Oscars, ranks on AFI's and BFI’s Top 100 lists, and features indelible performances from Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles.


NY: Kim Gordon: Design Office: The City Is A Garden at 303 Gallery
June 4-July 24
Picked by: Waris Ahluwalia
What: New 2-D and 3-D works from the Sonic Youth member and author of the hit memoir, Girl In a Band.

Why Go: As Gordon told OC founder Humberto Leon in an interview earlier this month, New York City has changed. In her new show, Gordon creates pieces inspired by her home city that explore and critique its perpetual metamorphosis, most recently from artist haven to consumerist mecca.


LA: Lolipalooza at The Echo & Echoplex
June 27 at 12 PM
Picked by: Amanda Charchian
What: Lolipop Records' second annual day-long festival featuring DJs, food, and live musical performances by bands like White Fence, Cosmonauts, and LA Witch.

Why Go: With three stages and over 30 bands, this festival is an ideal spot to see both emerging and established talent all in one place.


LA: William Pope.L: Trinket at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Mar 20-June 28
Picked by: The Mirror Cube
What: A large-scale installation designed specifically for the soaring heights of the Museum of Contemporary Art's repurposed warehouse space.

Why Go: The installation features an enormous flag—it measures 54 x 16 feet—that is kept constantly billowing, which makes for a visually arresting experience.

The Real Reason Why Tevas Are Back (It's Not Normcore)

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“Do you exist in shoes or live in Tevas?”

So read a 1993 Rolling Stone ad for the sandal that conquered pop culture, charging in on the feet of every mountain climber, laid-back mom, and music-festival rager that year. Atop a mid-air kitesurf, the ad’s shoes seem to siphon athletic experiences into spiritual ones. “When you die, they'll put you in a nice suit and shiny shoes,” it quipped. “As if death didn't suck enough already.”

If the whole thing seems a bit metaphysical (or, as Teva-wearers at the time might have put it, heady, dude) it’s by no accident. In the ‘90s, Tevas gained popularity not so much as a shoe, but as a mindset. The sandals took utility and made it a lifestyle: If you were interested in “living” rather than simply “existing,” you would let your toes and your spirit run free (in Tevas, of course).

The resurgence of Tevas has been pegged to several sources—normcore, the '90s renaissance, the fact that we at Opening Ceremony have just released our second collaboration with the brand (which, by the way, is pronounced Teh-va). But, once you look at the history of the shoe, it’s clear that it signifies more than just millennial nostalgia. From the beginning, Tevas have been a radical (and let’s face it, at times controversial) fashion statement, transforming comfort and utility into a signature aesthetic. 

When Mark Thatcher invented Tevas in 1984, fashion couldn’t have been further from his mind. The Philadelphia-born Grand Canyon river guide was looking for a sandal that would stay on feet during water sports, and strung a velcro watch strap through a pair of flip-flops. Thatcher sold the shoes out of the back of his truck, according to Jason Bertoli, Teva’s current product line manager, and it wasn’t long before they caught on among athletes of all varieties of outdoor sport.

So, how did Tevas go from a river guides’ uniform to being the “shoe of choice” at Lollapalooza 1993 (according to Entertainment Weekly, which also gave a fashion shout-out to dumpers, “those huge, baggy shorts favored by skateboarders”)? The short answer is that people started wearing the shoes when they weren’t doing sports. According to a flurry of trend pieces published that year, Tevas became go-to sandals not only for “deadheads and bohemians,” but for anyone touched by the “back-to-nature-craze sweeping the country.” By 1998, the shoes had become so ubiquitious that “mildly appalled Europeans came to see them as the '90s equivalent of the unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt and necklace of cameras that used to identify the clueless American tourist abroad,” one writer put it.

The truth is, from the beginning, Tevas have provoked strong reactions, not unlike sister brand Ugg (both are owned by Deckers). It's not just that the sandals signify unapologetic comfort, but also a kind of indifference about trends. Ironically, as the '90s progressed, anti-fashion fashion turned out to be one of the decade’s most significant trends. “You see a long-term interest in ‘authentic,’ ‘real’ clothes that are not part of fashion,” said Valerie Steele, chief curator of the Museum at FIT. “[In the mid-90s], there’s a shift from Versace towards grunge and Helmut Lang. Kate Moss and the waif replaced the Glamazon.” In other words, even as Tevas w

A Film Ode To House Music, With A French Touch

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These days, it may be hard to imagine a party scene centering around music blasting from DJ speakers instead of 15-second videos recorded on Instagram. Yet there was a time not long ago, in a distant universe known as the ‘90s, where the wild set would gather at various underground raves to dance freely, experiment with new drugs, and simply enjoy the sounds permeating their pores—cell-phone recording free, of course. In her new film Eden, French film director Mia Hansen-Løve’s captures this world and its soundtrack—french garage house.

Eden is to house what Boyz n the Hood was to hip-hop and Saturday Night Fever signified for disco. Inspired and co-written by her former DJ brother Sven Hansen-Løve, the film explores the way in which house music shaped not only Parisians, but a generation of young adults finding themselves in the ‘90s. “I wanted to make something that connects the spirit of my generation,” Mia Hansen-Løve said.

A form of music that brought all walks of life together, house knew no race, sex, or age. Before the days of instant Shazam-ing and recorded Boiler Room performances, house was a totally faceless underground genre that took shape in Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage in NYC and soon took off with French parties such as Jerome Viger-Kohler’s RESPECT (also featured in the film). Eden opens in 1992 and follows the aspiring DJ Paul, played by Félix de Givry, as he weaves through the pre-Daft Punk era and beyond. Finding a unique solace in house music and its roots, Paul goes on to start a DJ duo called Cheers! with his friend. The two embark on a roller coaster of highs and lows as a party-throwing house duo traveling France, and later to New York, at the height of French Touch.

The film spans two decades as smoothly as a Frankie Knuckles song, avoiding obvious cuts or references to significant historical events to mark time’s passage. Instead, you pick up on the chronology through subtle details—for instance, a character wearing Dimitri from Paris merch—and most importantly, the evolution of the house sound. In one scene, the Cheers! team meets an unknown duo at a party, who, we quickly realize as they perform the unmissable “Da Funk,” is Daft Punk. Later, we register that we’ve reached the early ‘00s when “One More Time” blasts. During the sober party scene which concludes the film, the track “Within,” from Daft Punk’s latest album, Random Access Memories, fades out as Paul has a moment of self-reflection.

With a soundtrack that includes every house classic you can think of—Aly Us “Follow Me,” Crystal Waters “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless),” and Frankie Knuckles “The Whistle Song”—and appearances from house legends Tony Humphries and La India, the film engulfs itself in a music scene far too underappreciated by today’s listeners. Towards the end of Eden, after Cheers! performs to a dwindling audience, one promoter tells Paul, “Your music doesn’t change, but your audience does.” And so what? Musical tastes come and go, but we&rsq

Coney Island Mermaid Parade: Costumes Crazier Than The Rides

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This weekend, our favorite NYC beach, Coney Island (sorry, Rockaway), did what it does best: welcome thousands of fun-loving weirdos for raucous, outdoor entertainment. Saturday was the thirty-third annual Mermaid Parade, hosted by the non-profit arts group Coney Island USA. Inspired by street names like Mermaid Ave. and Neptune Ave., the parade blends "ancient mythology and honky-tonk rituals of the seaside," per its website. It also "lets artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public,” because yes, shell-shaped nipple pasties are a form of artistic expression.

Before movie theaters, Disney World, Beyoncé concerts, laser tag, and basically every activity we consider fun, Coney Island defined mass entertainment. As the first-ever amusement park, many of the things we associate with Six Flags or theme parks debuted there, including the first-ever roller coaster in 1884. So, it should be no surprise that Coney Island still knows how to throw a great party. Peep Lula Hyers' pictures of last weekend's festivities in the slideshow above.


Photos by Lula Hyers 

Humberto And Patrick Embrace Fatherhood

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We sometimes forget that June brings around two very important celebrations: Father’s Day and Pride Month. While Father’s Day may have started in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, and Pride Month first originated 84 years later in 1994, the two holidays hold a similar cultural importance: recognizing and honoring some of the most important people in our lives.

For Father’s Day this year, OC founder Humberto Leon and his partner Patrick Wilson (our fave dads) are not only appreciating each other, but their toddlers, Emi and Mazzy. “Patrick and I have a shifted focus; there’s two other beings that we’re caring for on a daily basis,” says Humberto. “I think that with that comes the excitement of watching the girls become these amazing little beings.”

Humberto and Patrick’s favorite aspect of fatherhood is one and the same. “Seeing every step of them growing up and changing has been the most exciting and interesting process,” says Humberto. And it's only going to get better: “I can’t wait to hear their little voices all day just asking questions and talking my ear off," says Patrick. "It’s going to be so cute.”

The two girls are not only growing up, but also starting to closely resemble Humberto and Patrick. “I think you see both of us in them in so many ways. Particularly in the way they act and behave—just facial expressions,” says Humberto. “I see it in their smile,” says Patrick. “Lots of times they’ll laugh or smile and you can see that it’s totally Humberto’s smile or my smile.” One thing the pair is certain of? “I think they have Patrick’s hair,” Humberto says with a laugh.

Smiles and curls aside, the girls have also inherited their dads’ knack for creativity. “Emi has these big beads you can connect and she loves to make bracelets and necklaces,” says Patrick. “They both have little toy purses, but they’ll wear them in the crook of their arm. I don’t know where they learned that, but it’s so cute.”

Is the world of fashion in store for them? Says Humberto: "I'm open to whatever they want to do as long as they love it!"From left: Patrick wears the Kenzo Paisley Printed Shirt in white and Acne Studios Ace Cash Jeans 32" Leg in black. Humberto wears the OC Surplus Short-Sleeve T-Shirt in white and Patrik Ervell Selvedge Denim in black stonewash (items not linked available in stores). Photos by Matthew KellyMazzy wears the Opening Ceremony Mini Logo Tee in hot pink and Vans x Murakami Sneaker (coming soon). Patrick wears the Opening Ceremony Cabbage Jacquard Varsity Jacket in white multi, Eli Reed Checkered Sleeve Raglan in black/white, Acne Studios

Helen Lawrence Creates A Collection For The Curious Girl

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If anyone can make Frankenstein pretty, it’s Helen Lawrence. The London-based designer’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection—which debuted to rave reviews at Fashion East—sews together ghoulish green latex and soft pink knits into quirky, asymmetrical cuts, with as many visible stitches as the monster yet far more style.

“I wanted a really normal girl…with a strange curiosity,” Lawrence told Style.com about the woman she imagined wearing her collection. This sentiment is seen throughout the garments, with rough, abstract cut-outs mixing with conventionally lovely silhouettes to bring the clothes even further into the realm of charmingly off-beat. From construction to fabric choice to silhouette, everything about Helen Lawrence is a contradiction, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.


Shop all Helen Lawrence hereKnit Cotton Bra in peach, Ribbed Cotton Latex Pocket Mini Skirt in peach, and Printed Patchwork Sweater in ecru. Photos by Christine HahnKnit Cotton Bra in peach, Ribbed Cotton Latex Pocket Mini Skirt in peach, and Printed Patchwork Sweater in ecru. X-Embroidered Felted Tank in piccallili and Acne Studios Maja Tech Trousers in black (available in stores)Patchwork Dress in navy/green Patchwork Dress in navy/green 

Buff Muay Thai Fighters Sport Buff MASSIVE Gear

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With each of its collections adorned with sexy, muscled hunks—illustrated by none other than cult bara artist Jiraiya—MASSIVE inspires us to get to the gym like no other clothing line. So, we figured the time was right to have real-life ripped humans show us how to wear our new MASSIVE for Opening Ceremony collection.

Enter the fighters and trainers at Five Points Academy in Soho. The training center focuses on teaching New Yorkers the art of Muay Thai fighting, a technique that Five Points owner Steve Milles discovered over 25 years ago. After a co-worker introduced him to the art, Milles soon found himself on a train in Thailand en route to a kai muay (a Muay Thai camp). After rigorous training sessions, Milles was presented with an opportunity few foreigners are offered: to compete in a fight at Chaweng Stadium in Koh Samui. “[The fight] was the most fun I had ever had in my life,” says Milles. “I lost a decision to a vastly more experienced Thai opponent, but I was greeted with smiles and congratulations when I returned to the camp because I had fought well and with heart.”

After going pro and touring the world to compete in fight championships, Milles opened up Five Points Academy, which quickly became a second home for many New Yorkers. “I tried one class and fell in love,” says fighter Gianna Smith, who sports a MASSIVE for OC tee illustrated with a buff Kendo fighter in the editorial. Five Points Academy trainer Emily Bearden, meanwhile, turned to Muay Thai after she was attacked by two men when heading home late at night. “I knew I needed to toughen up and I wanted to learn how to defend myself,” she said, “so I asked one of the guys at my gym to show me some self-defense lessons. That guy was Simon Burgess [a Partner at Five Points] and 17 years later he's still my trainer.”

And yes, it’s a rigorous workout. “I wouldn't consider any part of Muay Thai to be easy,” says amateur competitor Brandice Peltier, who paired the Shinjuku Tank with her own dragon-embroidered shorts. “Fight preparation for me is the most challenging. You are usually pretty sore, your muscles are tight, you are cutting weight on a calorie-restricted diet, and you have to get up every day and train, regardless of how you are feeling.” Despite the hardships, most fighters stick it out for the love of the sport. “I love that Muay Thai is a rich cultural art form that places a strong emphasis on honoring your teachers,” says worker Chanel Matsunami Govreau, who also wears the Shinjuku Tank. “It's like meditation for me. You have to empty your mind of distractions.”

Whether or not you plan to wear your MASSIVE for Opening Ceremony pieces in the ring, Five Points’ positive, kick-ass attitude is the perfect accessory.


View the editorial here 

Shop all MASSIVE for Opening Ceremony h

This One’s For The Girls: Erin Magee And Nicole Albino Talk Love

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In honor of Pride Month, we recently caught up with OC’s favorite families. This time around, we caught up with our favorite married ladies, Erin Magee and Nicole Albino, who have been married for over seven years, all while running their respective fashion/music empires and being generally bad bitches.



In New York City, the story of how you first met your significant other is a prime indicator of a long-lasting relationship—sometimes even more important than the oft-spoken “I love you” mishaps or ring-baked-in-cake engagement stories. For MadeMe designer Erin Magee and her wife, Nicole Albino (of R&B group Nina Sky), their first encounter took place under the influence at one of Sway’s infamous Monday night parties quite some years ago.

“I was there with my friends, Nicole was DJing, and I was like, ‘Who is that really hot girl?’” Erin reminisces. “My friend [Roxy Cottontail] ended up introducing us, but Nicole and I both had girlfriends at the time, so I just ended up getting really drunk and writing Nicole a letter on a little napkin.”

“It was the best letter,” says Nicole. “All it said was, ‘I think you’re cute. Call me.’”

As with most um, “true love” moments in NYC, Nicole never called. But the pair did eventually reconnect at a party not long after, and gave love another go-around. As with most relationships, things started off rocky at first (Erin kept saying to Nicole, “Anything that starts this crazy is going to end crazy.”). But six months after their first date, the pair found themselves inseparable and were soon en route to Canada to wed in Erin’s uncle’s barn. “What’s that lesbian joke? About lesbians bringing a U-Haul on their second date?” jokes Erin sarcastically.

“It really was bumpy and dramatic in the beginning,” says Nicole. “But 6 months later, we were like, ‘Okay. You are the one. Let’s get married.’ And here we are 7 years later…”

While Erin and Nicole’s story is a modern-day fairytale romance, keeping up with their respective careers wasn’t as easy. Take Nicole: in 2004, she found herself pushed into the spotlight when her band Nina Sky (founded with her twin sister Natalie) climbed the hard-to-break music charts with the hit “Move Ya Body.” “The people we worked with were so specific about me not talking about [my sexual orientation],” says Nicole. “I had grown up in this environment that was so welcoming and accepting, but then this music label told me I had to be ‘appealing.’ It was so lame because I don’t think it had anything to do with the music or people buying into the music.”

While Nicole fought long and hard to preserve her own identity in the overly processed and manufactured music world ten years ago, she found the comfort within her own support system to finally embrace her own preferences despite warnings from so-called mentors. “Meeting Erin made me feel more comfortable with being open about it,” says Nicole. “She’s always been like, ‘Fuck them. You are who you are and they need to embrace that. They shouldn’t tell you that you can’t talk about it, because it’s your decision.’”

Erin, who currently works as a production manager at Supreme in addition to designing her own line, MadeMe (available in OC stores this fall!), doesn’t see as many hardships with being a gay woman in her field. “At Supreme, they actually really welcome gay women. When there is outside knowledge of a different culture, they want to

Sunglasses For Every Music Festival

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Scrolling through your friends’ festival instas can be an exhilarating—and anxiety-inducing—experience. With so many music festivals throughout the world taking place each summer, some of which we’ve never even heard of (Ink-N-Iron Nashville 2015, anyone?), attendees need to stock up on the essentials: tents for pitching, money for ~recreation~, and shades that match the vibe of each event. We’ve rounded up a short list of festivals you should consider attending this year, as well as the shades you pack.



Glastonbury Music Festival (June 25-29): The Acne Studios Spitfire Sunglasses have ‘70s aviator written all over them. Whether you actually grew up in the golden age, or you watched the Woodstock documentary on DVD with your parents a few too many times, you can channel your inner flower child in the English countryside. With performances from old-school legends such as The Who, Roy Ayers, and George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic, we’re betting these sunglasses can hold up to all of the funk.


Pitchfork Music Festival (July 17-19): Pitchfork Music Festival is undeniably cool—from festival-goes, to location, to musical lineup. With everyone from Sleater-Kinney to newcomers like Future Brown and Shamir performing, your shades had better convey your too-cool-for-school attitude. The Opening Ceremony Cat-Eye Sunglasses are the perfect mix of practicality and DGAF—we’re guessing Carrie Brownstein would approve.


Lollapalooza (July 31-August 2): With everyone from DJ Mustard to Travi$ Scott performing, you’ll need a pair of shades that can withstand the blazing sun just as much as they can hold up to the moshing crowds. The Local Supply Pink Panthers Mirror Sunglasses are a vital cop that aren’t harsh on the budget, meaning you might be more apt to jump into a crowd of teens going in at the Tyler, The Creator performance.


Pukkelpop 2015 (August 20-22): Pukkelpop is known to sometimes turn into a muddy mess by the end of the weekend. With performers such as Charli XCX, Boys Noize, and Diplo playing neverending bangers for three-days straight, you’ll need standout shades that can withstand the crowds while being dark enough to hide your lack of sleep. The Illesteva Leonard Sunglasses come in a bright pink color the same shade as the pink lemonade you’ll inevitably be spiking all weekend long.


Afropunk Music Festival (August 22-23): If you’re attending Afropunk this year, you have a flair for the dramatic similar to some of the headliners, including music (and fashion) legends Grace Jones (!), Lenny Kravitz, Kelis, and Lion Babe. We’re thinking the Adam Selman Last Lolita Sunglasses might just be the pair to help the living legend that is Grace Jones notice you.


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This Saturday, All Our adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 and Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami Dreams Come True

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Though polar opposites in the looks department, the adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 and Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami sneakers actually have a lot in common. Firstly, both shoes are set to launch this Saturday, June 27 (technically National Sunglasses Day, though we’ll obviously be obsessing over a different item of clothing). Secondly, the two artists responsible for the collabs, Kanye West and Takashi Murakami, worked together on projects that went on to become part of modern hip-hop history.

So with the pressure of two of the year’s biggest launches aligning on the same day, it’s time to ask yourself: which drop are you seeking? The minimal Yeezy Boost? Murakami’s technicolor explosion? Both? One thing’s for sure, your answer shouldn’t be “neither.” Since the thirst is very real, we’re clearing things up for you with step-by-step instructions on the best way to get your hands on each coveted drop.

Please note, due to high demand, we cannot guarantee your purchase of a pair of Yeezy Boost 350s or any of the Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami items. Thank you for understanding!



adidas Originals Yeezy Boost 350 In-Store Raffle to Purchase

—Register for raffle entry at either OCNY Soho or OCLA store locations
—Raffle ends on Friday, June 26 at 7:00 PM at both locations (Note: all times are local time)
—Raffle entries are restricted to one entry per person
—Must have valid form of ID
—Must be at least 10 years old
—We will contact winners via phone by 8:30 PM Friday
—Winners can pick up and purchase on Saturday, June 27 between 9:30 AM & 10:30 AM
—If a winner does not purchase his/her pair in-stores by 10:30AM he/she will forfeit the right to purchase
—Any unclaimed units will be sold in-store on a first come, first serve basis
—Winners must bring valid photo ID to complete purchase
—Winners will be escorted by a security guard to car/cab/train (Note: we do not recommend taking any public transportation)


Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami In-Store And Online Launch
—Select Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami products will be available online on Saturday, June 27 at 12:00 AM EST
—In-store sales will be available on Saturday, June 27 at 11:00 AM at all Opening Ceremony store locations
—Customers can only buy one unit per product style
—Yeezy Boost 350 winners will be allowed to purchase the Vault by Vans x Takashi Murakami collection (per the rules above) at their time of purchase


For real-time updates on either launch, follow us on Twitter @OpeningCeremony. Best of luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!For real-time updates on either launch, follow us on Twitter @OpeningCeremony.

The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 6/25

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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: Contemporary Color at Barclays Center
June 27 at 7:30 PM
Picked by: Waris Ahluwalia

What: Color guard is suddenly cool in this live reimagining of the flag-spinning sport mounted by David Byrne.

Why Go: The evening’s music is provided by a wide array of talent that includes David Byrne, St. Vincent, Dev Hynes, Zola Jesus, and tUnE-yArDs. Time Out New York remarked that Contemporary Color “…might be the coolest event of the season.”


NY: Tangerine at BAM Rose Cinemas
June 28 at 6:30 & 9:30 PM
Picked by: The Mirror Cube

What: In this indie odyssey, two transgender prostitutes set out on Christmas Eve to find the pimp who broke one of their hearts.

Why Go: A Sundance favorite, Tangerine was written and directed by Sean Baker (Starlet) and produced by the Duplass Brothers. The film’s innovative cinematography was shot entirely on an iPhone 5, making for what Variety calls “an exuberantly raw and up-close portrait of one of Los Angeles’ more distinctive sex-trade subcultures.”


NY: Gloria at Vineyard Theatre
May 28-July 3
Picked by: Raviv Ullman

What: The struggle to climb the workplace ladder gets an ambitious update in this play about editorial assistants on the rise.

Why Go: Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s sharp portrayal of the New York City workplace makes this satire a step above the rest, with the New York Times saying, “anyone who’s ever worked for a big Manhattan magazine will find much to savor and shudder over in Gloria…”


LA: Television at Teragram Ballroom
July 2-3 at 8 PM
Picked by: Jess Manafort

What: The iconic New York post-punk band that helped shape the ‘70s CBGB scene hits LA to play its debut album, Marquee Moon, from cover to cover.

Why Go: Marquee Moon has long been considered one of the seminal albums of the era and a must for any record collection. This is a rare chance to see the band perform the critically acclaimed album that made its name in music.


LA: Terry Thompson: Dive Motels and Cheap Eats at George Billis Gallery
May 30-July 11

Catching Up With The Cast Of Kids, 20 Years Later

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Kids could never exist today for a lot of reasons,” the movie’s writer, Harmony Korine, told a packed house at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last night. First of all, cell phones. Chloë Sevigny’s Jennie would have never wandered raves, skate parks, and house parties looking for Leo Fitzpatrick’s Telly. She would have just texted him—movie over. 

That considered, we couldn't be happier Kids came out when it did—exactly 20 years ago this summer. When it was released, the film perfectly encapsulated an era and transformed how America thought about adolescence, sex, drugs, and New York City. These days, Washington Square Park is no longer overrun by skaters, and the AIDS epidemic has thankfully subsided. Yet Kids still hits close to home. Bullshitting about sex, smoking blunts, and trying to understand the opposite sex are things teenagers grapple with whether or not the ‘90s are a distant memory. “It’s strange to me the movie still resonates,” said Leo. But it does. 

The screening at BAM, which projected director Larry Clark’s own 35mm print, reunited the cast and crew—including Chloë Sevigny, Rosario Dawson, Clark, Fitzpatrick, and Korine—for a Q&A. It was the first time in 15 years they had been together in one room. Two notable cast members were missing, though: Harold Hunter and Justin Pierce, who died in 2006 and 2000, respectively. Explaining how she used to watch the movie every year, Rosario said: “Every experience I had would bring me back to how special [Kids] was. But when Justin killed himself and Harold died, I stopped watching it, I couldn’t watch it. So I haven’t seen it in a really, really long time.” 

Memories quickly resurfaced as the film played, with the whole audience applauding when Harold appeared in the scene where the skaters roll a blunt and pick a fight. The screening also sparked lots of laughs, for instance, when Harold unzips his fly at a pool less than seductively. Or when the even-younger kids hang around trying to look cool (and at one point smoke a blunt). When Kids came out, these scenes incensed conservative viewers, yet the crowd last night easily recognized their humor. “I forgot how funny [the film] was,” said Harmony. “It’s a comedy!” retorted Larry. 

Dispelling misconceptions that circulated after the film's release that Leo Fitzpatrick was a lot like Telly, Larry explained: “The reason I was so happy with Leo is that he wasn’t type-cast. Leo was nothing like Telly; he did a very good job of acting.” Larry didn’t want the character who sleeps with a lot of girls—the self-proclaimed "virgin surgeon"—to be a typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed hunk. "The guys who get girls are not particularly the best looking guys,” he said. “All they think about is pussy—that’s all they want.” 

Larry was also drawn to Leo because of his voice, which people at the time had trouble understanding (producer Cary Woods suggested speech lessons). Which is part of why last night, a grown-up, articulate Leo compared watching himself in Kids to sitting in purgatory. When the film was made, its cast members were actually kids. Seeing them as adults, we were struck by the thought of what it must be like to have your teenage characteristics—including the ones you hated—immortalized in one of the most iconic indie films of all time.

Jennie's character was the hardest to cast, per Larry, because she was wholly fictional and not based on someone he or Harmony knew in real life. Watching a teenage Chloë Sevigny play the role, though, you&rs

Fall In Love With Acne Studios' Basics For All

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The beautiful thing about wardrobe basics is that they unite us all, no matter what your personal style may be. Hypebeasts, minimalists, all-out eccentrics, regardless of where one lies on the style spectrum, he or she can appreciate a soft, cottony white tee or a perfectly cut pair of jeans.

No brand knows this to be true more than Acne Studios, who, season after season, reminds us of the importance of well-made basics. Pre-Fall 2015 is no different, with effortless pieces that could rest comfortably in any and every wardrobe. Every fashion house needs a foundation, and Acne Studios’ is pretty damn sturdy.

Shop Acne Studios for men and women Velocite Leather Jacket in black, Chary C Base T-Shirt in black, and Single Bi Str Trousers in black (available in stores).  Malte Lightweight Coat in black Tony Face W Jacket in night blue Addle Fluid Denim Shirt in blue denim Bliss C Base T-Shirt in dark grey melange Tony Face W Jacket in black Isherwood Pop Button-Down in night blue Bliss C Base T-Shirt in optic white Max LT Prince 32" in blue Isherwood Flan Button-Down in jeans blue

The Posters Serves Up Fine Art To-Go

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Remember the days of Tiger Beat pull-out posters with Justin Timberlake’s baby-face and crunchy Ramen hair? Or perhaps you were the kid that went to the F.Y.E. store at the mall and bought an endless assortment of Andy Warhol Campbell’s Soup Can posters. Well, fellow decor-obsessed children of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the poster dream never died, and here to prove it to you is an art publishing company by the name of The Posters.

Because our taste has gotten more sophisticated, The Posters brings the work of your favorite artists off of the museum walls and into your foyer. Based on pieces from everyone from Tom of Finland to Mark Gonzales, its high-quality offset lithographs display the details of each artist’s technique and match their canvases’ original colors. Compared to the poster printing process, choosing the artists to feature is relatively simple, say co-founders Athena Currey and Adrian Rosenfeld. “We ask friends and others artists who they would like to own a poster by,” says Athena. “We go to shows, studio visits, and we look online; it's a never ending process. This is a bit of a blessing because we are more thoughtful with our choices.”

Available at Opening Ceremony starting July 9 is a wide range of The Posters prints by artists including Marc Hundley, Nate Lowman, Sara VanDerBeek, Wyatt Kahn, and Simone Shubuck—each for only $55. In addition to owning the work of some of today’s most renowned artists for a totally affordable price, you can get them signed at our launch event at Opening Ceremony Ace, where Hundley, Kahn, and Shubuck will be present.

The best part of The Posters? It helps fund art education for underserved children. Ten percent of each poster sold goes to education partners, like Inner-City Arts located in downtown LA. “We look at our contributions to art education as being part of an ecosystem,” says Athena. “We make affordable posters of work hanging in museums and galleries, these images then end up in your home, and the sales fund art classes where new artists are being formed everyday.”


The Posters Signing at Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 6-9 PM

For The Posters product and event updates, follow us on Twitter @OpeningCeremony.



Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel
1190-1192 Broadway
New York, NY 10001
MAP
The Posters Signing at Opening Ceremony at Ace Hotel will take place on Thursday, July 9 from 6-9 PM.Marc Hundley, Oh I Don't KnowWyatt KahnTom of Finland, UntitledNate LohmanSimone Shubuck, Mini Future Shoob

Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall 2015 Heads To The Fruit And Veggie Section

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What would we do without the second tier of the food pyramid? Since the pyramid’s creation in 1974, fruits and veggies have steadily continued to rise in prominence thanks to Beyoncé diets, trendy restaurants, and Gwen Stefani schooling everyone on the proper way to spell B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Right there in the mix is the insanely popular healthy act of juicing, which has become a dietary go-to for the latter part of the ‘00s. For Pre-Fall 2015, Opening Ceremony couldn’t resist creating a fruit and veggie concoction of our own in the form of a collection full of citrus touches.

OC Pre-Fall 2015 is all about the process behind juicing: the peeling, cutting, and manipulating that takes place before the multi-colored fruits and veggies are added to the juicer or blender. Chopped produce is seen in summery prints and flattering, swirling shapes on skirts and dresses with twisted seams. Sweatsuits mimic the subtle curl of orange peels—in a mute heather grey instead of the typical bright orange. In juicing, every ingredient counts, as do the small details of this collection—all the way down to the heels of slip-on sandals and buttons on jackets, which both mimic blender-ready detailing with swirling marble finishes.

Within the collection, fruit stickers are no longer just the adhesive papers discarded in the trash, or worse, found on the tip of your tongue after that first bite into a crisp apple. Instead, sticker barcodes take the form of embroidered patches that scream “Fresh!” Other produce buzzwords pepper pieces such as the Varsity Jacket and Izzy Backpack. Shiny patent (and high-octane) pebbled leather on handbags and accessories resembles lush, waxy fruit skins. Even the shiny lime-green-to-bright-yellow life of a banana comes to life on the Banana Printed Boxy Coat (thanks again, Gwen!) and A-Line Mini Skirt.

With as many clothing options as your local farmer’s market has fruits and veggies, Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall 2015 is the freshest collection you’ll see all summer.


View the full Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall 2015 editorial here

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