The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 9/17

September 16, 2015, 9:00 pm

≪ Previous: Calvin Klein’s Mod Moment For Fall/Winter 2015

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: America Is Hard to See at The Whitney Museum of Art
May 1-September 27
What: The inaugural exhibition of the museum’s new location in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

Why Go: This show not only explores the past century of American art with over 600 works, which were often created in response to significant events and attitudes in the U.S., but also displays the remarkable breadth of Tthe Whitney’s collection.

NY: Vittorio De Sica: Attore, Regista, Seduttore at Film Forum
September 9-October 8
What: A film retrospective devoted to the three-time Oscar-winning Italian neorealist filmmaker.

Why Go: This series of screenings showcases De Sica’s impressive work both in front of the camera in films such as The Earrings of Madame de... (1953), and behind the camera as the director of lyrical, emotionally charged social dramas like Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Shoeshine (1946).

NY: Albert Hammond Jr. at Bowery Ballroom
September 22 at 9pm
What: The guitarist and keyboardist of The Strokes takes to the stage to promote his most recent solo effort, Momentary Masters.

Why Go: Hammond Jr. made Momentary Masters after recovering from substance abuse, and he told NME that his new clean lifestyle inspired him to make an album with rock music that “makes you wanna get up and dance.”

LA: Shannon and the Clams at El Rey
September 23 at 9pm
Picked by: Lili Peper
What: The retro-inspired indie trio performs in support of their latest album, Gone by the Dawn.

Why Go: The cult band’s latest effort continues their tradition of what Noisey calls “‘50s aesthetic caked with lo-fi grit,” but with even more emotional depth than before.

LA: Jordan Sullivan: Celestial Railroad at Downtown Photoroom
September 11-November 1
Picked by: Aaron Stern
What: The photographer, author, and Mirror Cube contributor will show new work from his two most

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Living With The Falls

September 16, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: NYFW Dispatch: Eckhaus Latta Spring/Summer 2016

≪ Previous: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 9/17

Since the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 collection is inspired by the innovative designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, we had to make sure the architectural influence of the collection carried through from head to toe. So we enlisted the help of the people and foundations that know his work best. Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer is Director Emeritus of the Frank Lloyd Wright archives, a legacy fellow of the foundation for over 65 years, and the author of numerous books on Wright. Below, Pfeiffer shares his expertise on Wright’s work and explains how the architect’s natural and manmade worlds are symbiotic.

Text courtesy of ©2015, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. All rights reserved.

During a career that spanned 70 years and produced over 1,000 structures, Frank Lloyd Wright transformed the physical landscape of the United States. He also reshaped our inner worlds, creating new philosophies on the home. For Frank Lloyd Wright, the home was continuous with the landscape.

The strong transcendental upbringing in his youth remained lifelong. Accordingly, he believed in the sanctity and beneficent force of nature. He spelled Nature with a capital “N” as he spelled God with a capital “G.”

He said, “A good building properly set in the landscape, renders that landscape more beautiful than before the building was there.” A supreme example of this is his design for Edgar Kaufmann’s house, Fallingwater. The predominant natural feature was, of course, the cascade of water over large stone ledges. Before he had seen Wright’s initial sketches, Kaufmann had anticipated, and quite logically so, that the house would be situated downstream, looking up at the falls. When Wright laid out the preliminary sketches before him, Kaufmann was startled to see that Wright had situated the home over the falls. “No, E.J., “ Wright explained. “Not just to look at your falls, but to live with them.”

Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection takes inspiration not just from Frank Lloyd Wright’s design, but from this singular outlook on architecture. Inspired by the home and interiors, the collection is presented in a garden set, whose live vegetables, plants, and flowers are arranged in curving shapes evocative of Frank Lloyd Wright’s unrealized designs of planned communities like Broadacre City and Cloverleaf, and of landscapes for his Wisconsin home and studio, Taliesin. Presented together, the clothing and set mimic what Wright called “organic architecture,” a design philosophy where-in all parts of a structure are related to each other and to the whole. Frank Lloyd Wright sought to design not only the building but all its components, creating a total product, related and woven together into one entity.

Frank Lloyd Wright believed that the role of the architect was to create buildings that would enhance the lives of the people within them. At the same time, he believed that the architect must be concerned about the lives of the people working and living in cities. He regarded most cities as congested, polluted, crime-infested, overpopulated, and as a result a curse upon humanity. In 1932, he proposed a plan and model called Broadacre City, whereby decentralization was the main solution—moving the city out into the landscape. This concept of Broadacre City was constantly on his mind. In 1958, a year before his death, he revised the plan, calling it “The Living City” and publishing a book of the same name.

Keeping all the amenities that cities provide, this plan featured theaters, museums, offices, hotels, shopping centers, churches, schools, and hospitals, but spaced them with ample provision for parkin

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NYFW Dispatch: Eckhaus Latta Spring/Summer 2016

September 16, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Puma by Rihanna Launch Is Creeping Up Sooner Than Expected

≪ Previous: Living With The Falls

You came to the right place for your one-of-a-kind fashion coverage because Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to NYFW Spring/Summer 2016. In typical OC fashion, we're doing things a little differently—with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Above, photos from the Eckhaus Latta show, where the runway looks would look good on both yogis and fashion editors alike.

Want more from New York Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on Spring/Summer 2016 here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.

Shop all Eckhaus Latta here

Show: Eckhaus Latta

Location: The Ralph Pucci International Showroom

Inspired by: The unique and beautiful textiles of artist and collaborator Annabeth Marks

Winning Look: Ally Marzella walked fully nude under a sheer knit dress with a harness fully embroidered with glass bugle beads

Reminded us of: Looking through a kaleidoscope on a sunny day

Would look good on: Yogis and fashion editors alike

Spotted: Solange, Hari Nef, Jenny Cheng and David Moses of Moses Gauntlett Cheng, and Chloe Wise

Soundtrack: James K performed an ambient, choral soundtrack that was haunting and complementary to the garments coming down the runway

Reporter’s Notes: Eckhaus Latta is known for many things, namely for their refreshing and diverse casting for their shows. Michael Bailey Gates, India Salvor Menuez, Susan Ciancolo, Juliana Huxtable and Dev Hynes soiréed through the sunlit and cozy showroom

Photos by

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The Puma by Rihanna Launch Is Creeping Up Sooner Than Expected

September 17, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Hunt And Gather This Season’s Autumn-Ready Looks

≪ Previous: NYFW Dispatch: Eckhaus Latta Spring/Summer 2016

Patience might be a virtue, but waiting on a must-cop item’s launch date is easier said than done. We feel your pain, and have procured one of the most coveted sneaker drops of the season a little early for you. As of right now, you can pick up a black and white pair of Rihanna’s first line at Puma since being named Creative Director last December—the Fenty, a creeper-soled low top sneaker named after the singer's surname—a full week before they’re set to hit shelves.

Not enough to get you rushing to the checkout cart? We also have 24 Rihanna for Puma shoe care kits—featuring special laces and shoe cleaning supplies—available first-come-first serve to a small batch of lucky customers. Basically—to quote the shoes’ uber-fashionable designer—“if you want it, jump on it.”

Shop all Puma by Rihanna here

Puma by Rihanna Suede Creepers in black

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Hunt And Gather This Season’s Autumn-Ready Looks

September 17, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: NYFW Dispatch: Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2016

≪ Previous: The Puma by Rihanna Launch Is Creeping Up Sooner Than Expected

Prepare yourself. It’s apple-picking season, which means your Instagram feed is about to get inundated with perfectly staged pictures at the orchard. So we decided to do a little (rebellious) picking of our own. In true OC fashion, we wanted to be there for the lesser-known but equally amazing produce option… Mushrooms. While fungus might not be the sexiest word it’s the most accurate one, and if Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia taught us anything… members of the fungi family have more in common with fashion than one might think.

To combat this injustice, we decided to give an ode to the spore with our latest women’s Fall/Winter 2015 editorial, Hunt and Gather. Set in the forests of upstate New York, OC stylist Kindall Almond took our favorite unisex pieces into the woods for a day of fashionable hiking and picking. Heavily embroidered Wales Bonner jackets, hole-y-er than thou Moses Gauntlett Cheng wool sweaters, and roomy Y’s drawstring pants, complete with pockets deep enough for all the toadstools a girl could dream of. The Hunt and Gather sequence begins in a daylight setting that begins as an ordinary mushroom-picking day in the woods—with plenty of earthy neutrals and comfy wools to prep for the day. As the day goes on, the models are transferred into an eerie, mystical world where the clothes get baggier and more colorful... You can’t blame a girl for snacking, right?

Mushrooms shouldn’t simply be appreciated as being used for pizza toppings or, ahem, recreational use, so take a trip with us and our women’s brands for Fall/Winter 2015.

View the full Hunt and Gather editorial here

Maison Michel Hat, Kim Haller Riley Sheer Pointelle Bodysuit in gold, Savoir Joaillerie Necklace, Moses Gauntlett Cheng Moth Hole Wrap Skirt in cream, and Opening Ceremony Focal Suiting Flared Loren Pants in midnight navy (all items not linked available in stores and online soon). View the full Hunt and Gather editorial here. Photography by Balarama Heller; Styling by Kindall Almond

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NYFW Dispatch: Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2016

September 17, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Mystic Movements

≪ Previous: Hunt And Gather This Season’s Autumn-Ready Looks

You came to the right place for your one-of-a-kind fashion coverage because Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to NYFW Spring/Summer 2016. In typical OC fashion, we’re doing things a little differently—with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Above, photos from the Calvin Klein show, where the collection was seeminly inspired by the morning after...you know.

Want more from New York Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on Spring/Summer 2016 here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.

Shop all Calvin Klein women’s and men’s

Location: Spring Studios

Inspired by: The morning after… you know

Winning Look: The knit ivory floor-length dress & the oversized floral trench

Reminded us of: *Real* sex appeal

Would look good on: A fairy-tale nymph

Wear it to: Your wedding and then to bed

Soundtrack: The show closed to Pink Floyd “Shine On You Crazy Diamonds”

Spotted: Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Kendall Jenner, Zoe Kravitz, and Brie Larson

Reporters Notes: When it comes to sexy, there’s a misconception that “tight is right” —Francisco Costa wants you to think again, because there’s nothing more sensual than satin lightly grazing a woman’s body in a palette of nudes. Just remember ladies… Leave the Spanx at home, because this collection is about owning what you’ve got while leaving others wondering what’s underneath.

Photos by David Paul Larson

Calvin Klein Creative Director Francisco Costa

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Mystic Movements

September 17, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Book A One-Way Trip To J.W. Anderson’s Retrofuture

≪ Previous: NYFW Dispatch: Calvin Klein Spring/Summer 2016

Since the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 collection is inspired by the innovative designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, we had to make sure the architectural influence of the collection carried through from head to toe. So we enlisted the help of the people and foundations that know his work best. Below, Bruce Brooks Pfeiffer, Director Emeritus of the Frank Lloyd Wright archives, looks back on Frank Lloyd Wright’s daughter Iovanna and his experience collaborating on her dance dramas as well as witnessing her “Movements” style of dance.

Text courtesy of ©2015, The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. All rights reserved.

In 1969, Iovanna Lloyd Wright staged her last ever dance drama at Taliesin West, her father’s school in Scottsdale, Arizona. The production, “Time Upon Time,” portrayed a relentless flow of time beginning with the creation of the world. In this myth, the world was created not by deities, but by geometric forces. The “Forces” were played by dancers, whose leotards were affixed with iridescent symbols. By means of a black light, the symbols glowed, while the dancers were practically invisible. These colorful shapes have indeed endured time: The motifs on the kaftans in Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection are inspired by them.

From 1958 to 1971, while studying and working at Taliesin West, I aided Iovanna in creating and staging her productions. I also worked with her mother, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright, to compose music for them. I first experienced Iovanna’s dances in 1949, when she returned to Taliesin from Paris and started a dance group. I was 19 at the time, having just joined the Fellowship the preceding February, and was eager to participate.

Iovanna taught a style of dance called Movements, which she had studied in Paris under the philosopher and mystic G. I. Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff ’s dances demanded precision and grace of human movement by the intense concentration of bringing together the mind, heart, and body. Her mother, Olgivanna, had previously studied with Gurdjieff. Born in Montenegro and educated in Czarist Russia, Olgivanna met Gurdjieff in Tiflis, Georgia, and became one of his pupils. She was one of his early students who performed in the United States. In 1924, on one of her trips, she met Frank Lloyd Wright.

Iovanna’s dance group gave its first public performance in the Goodman Theater, Chicago, in 1953. By this time, Iovanna had begun to create her own choreography in which the Movements served as an “alphabet.” At the same time, her mother started composing the music for these dances. By 1956, the annual spring Taliesin Festival of Music and Dance was performed in a special theater that Wright designed and the apprentices built. Lavish costumes, including the ones in “Time Upon Time,” were designed and produced by the multi-talented apprentice and sculptor Heloise Crista, also one of the star dancers. Crista continues to live at Taliesin West surrounded by her creative work to this day.

When Iovanna was in process of creating a new dance, she enlisted the help of Heloise and myself. Heloise was skilled in drawing stick figures with amazing speed, and as Iovanna danced, Heloise recorded each of her positions on paper. My task was to see the character of the dance, and later explain it to Mrs. Wright so that she could create the music. Her method of composing was to sing into a tape recorder. I then transcribed her “musical dictation,” adding harmonies. Next, we worked together to get a final composition.

The “cast” of the dances was composed of apprentices and architects, whose daytime jobs found them in the studio working on Frank Lloyd Wr

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Book A One-Way Trip To J.W. Anderson’s Retrofuture

September 9, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Faustine Steinmetz’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection Is An Ode To The Art Greats

≪ Previous: Mystic Movements

The warm, technicolor vibes present in J.W. Anderson’s Fall/Winter 2015 men’s and women’s collections seemed fit to transfer on to the walls that surround it. Taking from the London-based designer’s inspiration for this season—which ranges from the idea of pataphysics to the classic works of science fiction writers George Orwell and Ray Bradbury—Anderson’s path of retrofuturism is transferred on to the front of Opening Ceremony NY’s 33 Howard Street space. Dashes of red hues and mustard and cream colors dance across the installation, seemingly mimicking the designs in the Abstract Printed Sweatshirt. Colorblocked sections of each wall space also carry over from the shapely distinctions present in each piece of clothing in Anderson’s latest collections.

Ready for your trip to J.W. Anderson’s vision of the future? Look no further.

Shop all J.W. Anderson men’s and women’s

The J.W. Anderson installation is on-view at OCNY 33 Howard Street location through September 23. Shop all J.W. Anderson men’s and women’s

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Faustine Steinmetz’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection Is An Ode To The Art Greats

September 20, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: J.W. Anderson Loves The ‘80s

≪ Previous: Book A One-Way Trip To J.W. Anderson’s Retrofuture

You came to the right place for your one-of-a-kind fashion coverage because Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to LFW Spring/Summer 2016. In typical OC fashion, we’re doing things a little differently—with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Above, photos from the Faustine Steinmetz Spring/Summer 2016 collection, where the designer took inspiration from artists such as Salvador Dali and Joseph Kosuth.

Want more from London Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on Spring/Summer 2016 here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.

Salvador Dali, Joseph Kosuth, and Faustine Steinmetz don’t initially seem like they would have much in common. Salvador Dali was a Spanish surrealist painter who brought melting clocks to the art world forefront. Joseph Kosuth is a language-based artist who helped pioneer the modern world of conceptual art. Faustine Steinmetz is a London-based designer hot off of a LVMH Finalist run thanks to her innovative designs and handmade techniques. Despite all three artists coming from separate time periods while focusing in various mediums, they all share similar conceptual and aesthetic values.

For Spring/Summer 2016, Faustine brought all three separate worlds together and focused on the transformative elements present in Dali’s work while challenging viewers (and wearers) to alter their views and reimagine pieces beyond their classic form—similar to the way Kosuth has challenged the art community since the late ‘60s.

For the Faustine Steinmetz Spring/Summer 2016 presentation as part of London Fashion Week, the designer opted to use this time as a moment to present her collection in an innovative and conceptual way (per usual). Not letting the glitz and glamour distract from the clothing, models were seen dangling out of holes in the walls while showcasing her handcrafted designs and signature denim inventions (which she has been developing with Spanish denim mill Royo) in an artistic fashion.

A new artistic vision in a world of the mundane? Dali and Kosuth would surely be proud.

Photos courtesy of Faustine Steinmetz

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J.W. Anderson Loves The ‘80s

September 20, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Christopher Kane In Bloom For Pre-Fall 2015

≪ Previous: Faustine Steinmetz’s Spring/Summer 2016 Collection Is An Ode To The Art Greats

You came to the right place for your one-of-a-kind fashion coverage because Opening Ceremony is giving you an all-access pass to LFW Spring/Summer 2016. In typical OC fashion, we’re doing things a little differently—with just the show essentials and backstage highlights. Above, photos from the J.W. Anderson show, where the designer offers a subtle nod to the era of shoulder pad-aided extravagance (a.k.a. the ‘80s).

Want more from London Fashion Week? Stay up-to-the-minute on Spring/Summer 2016 here and make sure to follow our Instagram and Twitter accounts for more live coverage.

Shop all J.W. Anderson women’s and men’s

As if there aren’t already enough reasons why we love J.W. Anderson and his exploratory designs and conceptual creations, each season seems to act as a runway version of VH1’s I Love the ‘80s specials. Runway after runway, rubberized leather after rubberized leather, Anderson takes us on a time travelling trip back to his version of the era of excess. The J.W. Anderson Spring/Summer 2016 collection is no different.

Anderson’s latest collection debuted this past weekend as part of London Fashion Week. Featuring an armed supply of over-the-top puffy sleeves, extravagant ruffles, and Haring-esque squiggles, the collection offers a subtle nod to the era of shoulder pad-aided extravagance. On the other spectrum of volume for this season, miniscule cupped bras are fashioned over complex ribbed knit pieces, while Anderson’s signature lunch bag-style clutches are fashioned with silver circulating clasps (which can also be seen around the waist as laser-cut silver leather belts).

As if numerous binge marathons of VH1 specials haven’t already cemented this fact for us, J.W. Anderson’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection has. We love the ‘80s.

Photos courtesy of J.W. Anderson

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Christopher Kane In Bloom For Pre-Fall 2015

September 20, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Opening Ceremony x Vans: Put Two Classics Together...

≪ Previous: J.W. Anderson Loves The ‘80s

Pre-Fall collections usually find designers looking forward towards their future collections, offering a subtle taste of what’s to come for the following season. Ever the fashion rebel, London-based wunderkind Christopher Kane took the opposite time travelling route for his Pre-Fall 2015 collection and referenced some of the greatest hits from his career thus far.

This season offers delicate remixes on past staples while slyly introducing details we can hopefully look forward to in future collections. Complementary flower appliques, cut-outs with fold-over detailing, and flower-embroidered leather are all present throughout the collection, making for an airy offering that serves the transitional season.

With his Pre-Fall 2015 collection, Christopher Kane has planted the seeds for even more successful collections to come.

Shop all Christopher Kane here

Christopher Kane Crombie Flower Sticker Coat in pink and Flower Sticker T-Shirt in white (items not linked available in stores).

Floral Embroidered Leather Jacket in black

Cut-Away Flap Dress in black

Floral Embroidered Maxi Shift Dress in black

Floral Embroidered Leather Mini Skirt in black

Flower Sticker Sweatshirt in black

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Opening Ceremony x Vans: Put Two Classics Together...

September 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Kingdom Channeled His Inner Classical Composer For the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 Show Mix

≪ Previous: Christopher Kane In Bloom For Pre-Fall 2015

Since its introduction in our Fall/Winter 2014 collection, our hand obsession has become almost as synonymous with Opening Ceremony as the box logo itself. From hand-shaped bag closures to fingerprint-inspired jacquards, the body’s most useful appendage has been thoroughly celebrated season after season. Among our most recognizable hand-related fare is, of course, the criss-crossed hand print, as seen on past collaborations with Happy Socks and Estée Lauder.

Now, thanks in part to our friends at Vans, you can cop this signature hand print for your feet. Our latest in the long-running collaboration series with the footwear legends features our most celebrated motif—available in two colorways—adorning the classic Vans Authentic lace-up sneakers. The end result is not only some cool shoes, but both brands showcasing the very best aspects of what makes them who they are.

Shop all Opening Ceremony men’s and women’s

Opening Ceremony Vans Hands Laced Sneakers in black/true white and Opening Ceremony Vans Hands Laced Sneakers in estate blue

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Kingdom Channeled His Inner Classical Composer For the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 Show Mix

September 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Marques’Almeida Brings On The Prints For Fall/Winter 2015

≪ Previous: Opening Ceremony x Vans: Put Two Classics Together...

If you find yourself at any one of Fade to Mind producer Kingdom’s sets (as I’m sure you do almost every weekend), there’s most definitely a good amount of two-stepping, ass shaking, and “beats that slap” moments going on in the respective, rowdy audience. But for the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 runway show, the vibe was decidedly less clubby, with a classical music remix that catered to the rhythms of a batch of surprise model-ballerinas.

Set to a soundtrack mix composed by Kingdom, the OC runway show featured New York City Ballet dancers starting off with a series of (not-so-seemingly) intentional falls. These fake-outs were part of a modern dance routine orchestrated by renowned choreographer Justin Peck, and the dramatic score composed by Kingdom helped add to the unexpected tension. At the very end, the secret was finally evident when all of the dancers simultaneously broke out into a graceful dance set to the sounds of Kelela’s airy new track, “Rewind [Produced by Kingdom, Nugget, and Kelela].”

Below, we caught up with Kingdom after the show to talk about including Kelela’s new track in his mix, making music for dancers vs. models, and how his dad helped him create this runway soundtrack.

Listen to Kingdom’s Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 mix below and download it for free via WeTransfer.

How did the collaboration on the soundtrack for the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 show come to be?
The OC crew and I are old friends, so it was fun working with them on this mix. They stocked my first ever mixtape at the store back in 2008! It was nice seeing it come full circle and being able to compose something specific for their latest project.

Composing the music for this soundtrack was obviously a very involved process since there were also dancers. Did you ever converse with Justin Peck, the choreographer, during the process?
I didn’t consult with him, but the dancers caught on to the vibe of the music really quickly during rehearsal. Models are more focused on their own posture and look, not so much the music, so it was cool to see the dancers really tuning into the rhythms during the show.

Why did you choose to integrate Kelela’s new track “Rewind [Produced by Kingdom, Nugget, and Kelela]” at the end of the mix?
This track just feels right! It's emotional, light, and airy but also a banger. The rest of the runway score was really dramatic and chaotic, so I felt like we a needed change of pace for the finale, a song that sounds "complete" and feminine.

What are the differences between composing music for your own projects as opposed to fashion shows/modern dance performances?
I gain a lot of inspiration from these collaborations. I created all of the music for the first Hood By Air shows, and have done Nasir Mazhar and some others as well. The designers come to me with a lot of unexpected references that they’ve used for their collection and I have to translate it into audio. It’s fascinating.

What was your favorite part of the whole experience?
[Opening Ceremony] asked for a few classical references to be included, so to be honest, I asked my Dad! He has an encycl

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Marques’Almeida Brings On The Prints For Fall/Winter 2015

September 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Make Madonna Proud And Wear A MadeMe X Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket To Church

≪ Previous: Kingdom Channeled His Inner Classical Composer For the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer 2016 Show Mix

Unless you’ve been in an anti-denim commune for the past few seasons, you’ve most likely noticed Marques’Almeida’s frayed denim takeover—both on the runways as well as the streets. Since taking home top honors from the 2015 LVMH Prize, we’re now certain Marta Marques and Paulo Almeida, the design duo behind the brand, are destined for Levi’s iconic status. But as they proved with their Fall/Winter 2015 collection, just because the designers sparked their start with their allegiance to rough-washed, frayed denim doesn’t mean they have to stick to that formula.

For Fall/Winter 2015, Marques’Almeida dips back into the brand’s signature styles and silhouettes while adding new washes and dyes into the mix. Bubblegum pink hues lend an Oversized T-Shirt a unisex quality that can go either way while the fire engine red Open Back Top adds a fiery bit of sex appeal to any look. Also making a statement appearance this season are the metallic foil handbags that crinkle and crunch to the touch. Available in an array of metallic colors, such as bright orange and a lilac purple, these purses surely don’t resemble your standard Reynolds Wrap silver. With the subtle introduction of new fabrics and vibrant shades, Marques’Almeida shows us a glimpse into their fashion future.

It’s Marques’Almeida’s denim world, we’re just living in it.

Shop all Marques’Almeida women’s and men’s

Marques’Almeida Brocade Denim Style Collarless Jacket in brocade eight, Brocade Corset in brocade eight, Metallic Leather Coin Purse in metallic purple, Capri Flared Jeans in indigo, and Dorateymur Patend Heeled Loafers (all items not linked availabe in stores and online soon).

Denim Open Back Top in red

Denim Long Tracksuit Shorts in red

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Make Madonna Proud And Wear A MadeMe X Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket To Church

September 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: BYOB By KARA: The Origami Tote, Inspired By Camilla Engstrom

≪ Previous: Marques’Almeida Brings On The Prints For Fall/Winter 2015

Never trust a girl who says she only gets along with boys. Period. In fact, if you know anyone who says this, I strongly recommend reevaluating your relationship. A female can work with boys, talk shit with boys, and beat up boys, but at the end of the day—as cheesy as this may sound—the female bond is very real. I mean could you ever imagine blasting Hole’s “Live Through This” while smoking cigarettes with anyone but a close girlfriend?

For the past 11 years, MadeMe designer Erin Magee has held a job that every self-proclaimed “I don’t get along with girls” girl wishes she had. Erin runs product development at Supreme, and while that’s quite the day job, I get what’s missing… girls clothes. Hence the brand’s name, Erin decided to have a little “me” time, which led her to take on a lunch-evening-weekend job to create a line that’s by-girls-for-girls.

We all know, girls dress for themselves, and then secondly, each other. We also find inspiration from other girls (aka creep their Instagrams). This is how Erin discovered Alana Derksen and ended the search for MadeMe’s latest lookbook model. The ironic part was Alana currently lives in Erin’s hometown, Toronto. Like any good small town girl, Alana agreed to meet up with Erin... in a public place... and with a male friend accompanying her. Clearly the assessment went well because—like the perfect cliché—the two instantly headed to the OVO store together and Alana had booked her flight to New York.

MadeMe’s Fall/Winter 2015 "Immaculate" collection is a nod to punk rock, the not-so-well-behaved Catholic school girl, and, of course, Madonna. And if you’re going to make a collection about punk rock, it wouldn’t be complete without a moto jacket. This season, Erin teamed up with Schott, a family-run business founded in 1913 that still manufactures their jackets in NYC. Worn by legends such as the Ramone brothers and Bruce Springsteen, the Schott Perfecto jacket symbolizes American outerwear. The one problem is, the cut primarily caters to the males who wore them. With access to the Schott archives, Erin was able to customize the fit and add plush leopard print lining to the top lapels and back panel.

So when we heard Alana was en route from Toronto for MadeMe’s photoshoot, it wasn’t hard convincing Erin to make sure we got a couple extra shots of the OC-exclusive MadeMe x Schott Perfecto Jacket. What wasn’t planned was relocating the shoot to a church nearby, and in case you’re wondering, Erin made sure to leave a donation on the off chance they caused any disruption.

After the shoot, we caught up with Erin and Alana to hear a little more about life in Toronto and how it’s changed since Erin lived there. And while it quickly became clear that, like most cities, neighborhood vibes stay relatively the same, there were a lot of takeaways that us “NYC is the center of the world” loyalists could take notes from. The first: Canadian girls are crazy nice and cool. The second: Say what you want about Drake, but he’s the one celebrity who has stayed true to his Canadian roots and the city of Toronto loves him for it. Lastly, if you ever want the bells and whistles of New York but minus the bullshit, move to Toronto. “It’s a slower pace, but it’s still cool. New Yor

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BYOB By KARA: The Origami Tote, Inspired By Camilla Engstrom

September 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: It’s Finally Fall

≪ Previous: Make Madonna Proud And Wear A MadeMe X Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket To Church

BYOB by KARA is a (build your own bag) pattern series designed by the NYC-based handbag label. In each feature, designer Sarah Law sits down with creatives both Opening Ceremony and KARA are obsessed with to design a unique bag based on necessity, inspiration, and, of course, personality. The pattern and instructions are then shared via WeTransfer to provide others the opportunity to create the bag at home. All materials should be something you can buy yourself, and if not we’ll provide alternative recommendations. And oh yeah, we strongly encourage adding your own personal touch.

For the series’ first installment, we met with Swedish-Chinese artist Camilla Engstrom to find out how this art-babe does it all: from running the home goods site HUS to painting, sculpting, and designing her own clothes. Turns out, Camilla is a ‘just in case’ kinda girl, meaning we were tasked with designing a bag big enough for everything (aka all the art-supplies) she might need and (hopefully) enough compartments to keep her smiling.

Below, we sit down with Camilla and KARA founder Sarah Low to talk about the collaborative process behind bringing this project to life, making it in the entrepreneurial world, and why—when it comes to art—having fun is the most important part.

Shop all KARA bags here

CHLOE MACKEY: Were you always interested in art growing up? Was that something that you knew you wanted to do from an early age?
CAMILLA ENGSTROM: I did draw and paint a lot. I always thought I was going to be a fashion designer, and I guess it was until very recently that I got the confidence to do [visual art] full-time. I always say [visual art] was more of a hobby as I didn’t feel that I was talented enough. I just didn’t have the confidence. As I got older I was just like, “Fuck it, it’s okay if someone doesn’t like it.”

You also founded HUS, an online store for home goods. In your mind, do painting and home decor go hand-in-hand? Do they influence each other in some way?
CE: I don’t know, I’ve just always liked making things. I think I’m still trying to figure out why I’m making all of these different things. It’s sort of something that I think in a year or so I can look back on and will have all of the answers for it. When I quit freelancing in the world of fashion design, I just really knew that I wanted to make home products, like candles and incense holders. Then I started making sculptures and paintings at the same time. I’m not sure why I felt like I had to do all of it, because it is a little bit overwhelming, but I try to separate the paintings and the drawings from my home line. It is a balance though, because sometimes I make something that I feel is an art project but I put it on [HUS] because it also has a practical use.

At what point in your shift towards making home goods and sculptural art did you realize that you wanted to create your own store? What made you gain the confidence it took to branch out and try all of the projects you have taken on?
CE: I didn’t think I wasn’t ready to sell my stuff to stores. I’m not this super confident person who is good with marketing and sales. I just wanted to keep it simple, keep it on my website, and just go from there. However, I think I’m final

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It’s Finally Fall

September 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Musical Dreams Run Deep In OC Fam's Veins

≪ Previous: BYOB By KARA: The Origami Tote, Inspired By Camilla Engstrom

It’s officially the first day of Fall, and weirdly enough, you can actually feel it in the air. After what was the hottest summer in recorded history (seriously), we have a sneaking suspicion that this perfectly-timed temperature change is actually the universe finally giving us a break. I mean, months of sweating it out on 107-degree subway platforms (again, seriously) and having mini heart-attacks at our electric bills should earn us a little sympathy from mother nature, right?

Being finally free from Summer’s deathly grip is cause for celebration—of the retail variety, of course—and we have some cozy transitional pieces to help you embrace the crisp climate with style and grace. The Opening Ceremony Fall/Winter 2015 collection has your bases covered in this season’s “it color” department with perfectly-tailored slacks, infinitely layerable coats, and even a turtleneck dickie in ultra-hyped camel. Isa Arfen provides a copper lamé that rivals the changing colors of even the best trees in Central Park. You can even live out your biggest velvet-related fantasies courtesy of Wales Bonner’s luxe beaded separates. It’s time to treat yourself for a Summer well-done, so check out our favorite Fall pieces to see how to do it in style.

Opening Ceremony Compact Wool 4-Pocket Bern Coat in camel (available in stores), Chain Stripe Long-Sleeve Mini Dress in camel multi, Celia Wrapped Wide Leg Pant in black (available in stores), and Korinne Shiny Platform Zip Boots in black multi.

J.W. Anderson Oversized Shawl Collar Coat in camel

Wales Bonner Aime Mushroom Crushed Velvet Jacket and Prosper Crushed Velvet Flare Pants in mushroom

Alexander Wang Fair Isle Bandana Turtleneck in matrix

Isa Arfen

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Musical Dreams Run Deep In OC Fam's Veins

September 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 9/24

≪ Previous: It’s Finally Fall

Back in the early days of Opening Ceremony, Lindsey Caldwell worked as a sales associate on the floor of our 35 Howard Street location by day. By night, the musician was slowly making a name for herself spinning at parties and OC functions under the moniker, DJ Lindsey.

Looks like all that hard work has paid off. Currently known as Lindsey, she’s delved into a new aspect of the music world, and recently-released track “Jack.” We wanted to catch up with Lindsey about her recent successes and reunite her with OC staffer Mariah Ruff who’s on a similar track. Earlier this spring Mariah performed in NYC for the first time, and in less than a week is about to head out to LA to pursue her passions. Before Mariah’s big move, we thought it’d be helpful for her to hear about Lindsey’s journey as well as any advice she might have for someone starting off.

Below, Mariah and Lindsey talk new tracks, musical influences, and advice for aspiring musicians.

Listen to Lindsey’s new track, “Jack,” below.

I first met Lindsey at one of her shows at Kinfolk early last year after seeing her DJ once before at Rubber Tracks. Needless to say, I was inspired. Growing up in Detroit and then going to college in Chicago, I hadn’t met many female DJs before. At that time, I was fairly new to NYC and wanted to meet as many people in the music field as possible, so I had a feeling that I could learn so much from Lindsey Even though I was super nervous, I walked up to er and asked about intern opportunities, not knowing that she would later become an influential mentor and help me out more than I ever thought possible. Months after shadowing Lindsey in work mode (and countless private DJ lessons in her Clinton Hill apartment), I got the chance to catch up with the musician/DJ to discuss her new release, “Jack.”

MARIAH RUFF: When did you first discover your voice? What inspired your new track “Jack”?
LINDSEY: I discovered my voice growing up singing along with the radio. Later on, I joined a band in Atlanta, and—after it fell apart—I let it go until I moved to New York and did backup vocals for a few artists, including The Rapture’s Pieces of the People We Love album. It wasn’t until my conversation with my friend Twilight Tone about music that we realized we had a lot of the same influences, and we immediately thought of working together. My newest single “Jack” was produced by Twilight Tone and Sammy Bananas and was influenced by Detroit techno, Chicago house, and ‘80s R&B.

Are there any particular artists who influenced you growing up?
I moved around a lot when I was younger, so I listened to almost everything. I remember listening to the radio in St. Louis hearing amazing vocalists like Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Alexander O’Neal, and Stephanie Mills. As I grew up, I got into Blondie, had Prince posters all over my wall, and became interested in Vanity Six. Moving to the Midwest got me into funk, soul, and hip-hop music. Now I’m inspired by young people who are trying new things. It’s amazing to see R&B music evolve.

What is it like going from being a DJ being behind the booth to becoming a performer?
I&r

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The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 9/24

September 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Wales Bonner Gives Us A History Lesson For Fall/Winter 2015

≪ Previous: Musical Dreams Run Deep In OC Fam's Veins

NY: 53rd New York Film Festival at Film Society of Lincoln Center
September 25-October 11
Picked by: Antonio Campos
What: The 53rd edition of a film festival known for its programming of screenings of highly-anticipated films.

Why Go: The festival includes new releases such as Robert Zemeckis’s The Walk, Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs, and Don Cheadle’s directorial debut Miles Ahead, as well as a tribute to the late documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, who pioneered “direct cinema” style with films such as Gimme Shelter (1970) and Grey Gardens (1975).

NY: Superhumanoids at Baby’s All Right
October 1 at 8pm
Picked by: Raviv Ullman
What: The dream-pop trio performs in support of their new album, Do You Feel OK?

Why Go: SPIN writes that the band’s latest album, Do You Feel OK? contains “acid-washed, early ‘80s disco orchestrations” that gradually reveal "an onion of an experience: lots of layers.” You can win tickets to see Superhumanoids at Baby's All Right by entering The Mirror Cube contest here.

NY: The Rise of Sneaker Culture at Brooklyn Museum
July 10-October 4
What: An exhibition exploring the sneaker’s place in fashion and culture.

Why Go: The exhibit examines the global obsession with sneaker culture, displaying 150 pairs of sneakers alongside film footage, photographs, and design drawings. The show features shoes by brands such as adidas, Nike, Converse, sneakers belonging to pop culture icons such as Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and designs by artists such as Damien Hirst.

LA: Shamir at El Rey Theatre
September 26 at 8pm
Picked by: Hari Nef
What: The Las Vegas singer-songwriter headlines in support of his debut album, Ratchet.

Why Go: The young genre-bending artist skillfully blends pop, funk, disco, and R&B to create danceable tunes that are accentuated by Shamir's countertenor voice.

LA: All The Instruments Agree at Hammer Museum
September 26-27
What:

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Wales Bonner Gives Us A History Lesson For Fall/Winter 2015

September 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Artist Katie Bell Will Pull The Rug Out From Under You…

≪ Previous: The Mirror Cube: Must-See Events The Week Of 9/24

It’s clear that Central Saint Martins graduate Grace Wales Bonner stayed awake in history class. For her Fall/Winter 2015 presentation, the English-Jamaican designer referenced everyone from Carl Van Vechten to Malik Ambar to Bonnat’s Barber of Suez to create an academic-driven fashion presentation that appealed to both an intellectual and fashion crowd.

This season, Grace Wales Bonner also draws on her West African descent while mixing in old world European luxe statements. Cowrie shells (which were once used as an African currency) are integrated with beaded embroidery on rich, crushed velvet separates, while crystallized skull caps decorate the head in an elevated fashion. We caught up with the New To OC designer below to talk rhythm and jazz.

Shop all Wales Bonner here

Name: Grace Wales Bonner
Hometown: London
Astrological Sign: Libra
Hidden Talent: Collecting books
Celebrity Crush: Fernando Cabral
What was your style like in high school? I had quite a few looks
What’s your favorite thing about Opening Ceremony? The store
What’s your current collection inspiration? Rhythm
If you were to do another job besides designing, what would it be? Writing
What’s your favorite music to listen to in the studio? Jazz
Four nouns that define you: Calm, strong, humorous, and ambitious

Click through the slideshow to see all products from Wales Bonner

in mushroom

Prosper Crushed Velvet Flare Pants in mushroom

Meters Flared Belt Cropped Jeans in indigo

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