A Night (Or Six Months) At The Museum

July 14, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Death to Tennis x GREATS Cooled Off NYFWM

Opening Ceremony was founded on doing for fashion what the Olympics does for sports: bringing talented designers from all different countries and presenting them to the world. Whether you’re a sports fanatic or not, there’s something incredibly powerful about the world of athletics and it’s ability to transcend social and political issues to bring people together—even if it’s for a split second when a runner crosses the finish line, a gymnast sticks their landing, or a ball hits the net.

This is why we’re especially excited to announce a special Opening Ceremony pop-up shop in the Brooklyn Museum’s new exhibition, Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present. The exhibit, which opens today, is curated by Gail Buckland and includes approximately 230 works, highlighting some of sport's most unforgettable moments of drama and excitement from around the globe. But it’s real emphasis is on the photographers who captured them, the artists responsible for the picture in all of our heads when we think of Muhammad Ali knocking out Cleveland Williams or Greg Louganis hitting his head on the diving board in the 1983 Olympics.

It’s an honor to be part of an exhibit that not only captures the beauty of sports, but the artists who document them—which made our creative design process crucial. To us, it couldn’t just be a shop with sportswear, but needed a visual experience that complimented the exhibit. When designing the shop in collaboration with the Brooklyn Museum, we sought to mimic a boxing ring. The space, featuring OC’s new capsule collection CLUB USA, is also an extension of the CLUB USA shop designed by Max Lamb, which opened last week on the men’s third floor at 33 Howard Street.

The ticketed exhibit ‘Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present’ will be open from July 15, 2016 to January 8, 2017. Tickets are available at the Brooklyn Museum’s Admissions Desk. Click here for more information.

Shop all Opening Ceremony Club USA women's and men's.

A special Opening Ceremony pop-up shop in the Brooklyn Museum’s new exhibition. Photography by Jonathan Dorado.

↧

Death to Tennis x GREATS Cooled Off NYFWM

July 19, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Ruffles: A Coming of Age Tale

≪ Previous: A Night (Or Six Months) At The Museum

Last week at the CHCM Shop on Bond St., Death to Tennis and GREATS teamed up to throw a party celebrating their recent sneaker collaboration. From chilled Heinekens and champagne to Hennessy flavored ice cream, every guest was bound to be in a good mood as the packed crowd admired the new shoes. The party not only had the collaboration on display, but also showcased Death to Tennis Spring/Summer 2017, which was as fantastic as you'd hope it would be. Laronisaloser and other DJ's (eventually designer Vincent Oshin himself) alternated turns playing music ranging from good-feel Isaac Hayes to grimey Skepta, Salomon Faye to your’s truly, Radamiz, even took the mic at the last hour for a couple impromptu sets to end it off right.

Now that the craze of NYFWM has died down, below Rad gets a moment to ask Death To Tennis designer Vincent Oshin about the show.

Show: Death to Tennis x GREATS footwear release and Spring/Summer 17 DTT preview

Location: CHCM Shop in Soho, New York

Inspired by: Human behavior and interaction style subjectivity

Wear it to: No ideal place really, hence subjectivity. Clothes are not meant to be thought of that way...Unless clearly stated (i.e. workplace)

Why a collaboration with GREATS?: It made sense to work with the GREATS brand; quality shoes at affordable prices.

The perfect soundtrack song for the event: "Lord of the Rings" by Jeremiah Jae and Oliver the 2nd

What did you aim to achieve with the show: Bridging the gap between music and style

Personal standout moment: That's a hard one. There are too many and it would be unfair for us to state one, it was that dope!!

Click through the slideshow above to see more photos from the party.

Click through the slideshow to see more photos from the party.

↧

Ruffles: A Coming of Age Tale

July 20, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The World’s Most Unrecognized Photographers

≪ Previous: Death to Tennis x GREATS Cooled Off NYFWM

For many of us, the thought of ruffles generally conjures memories of that pink frilly dress we were forced to wear on our fifth birthday. A look that was appropriate during our formative years, though not necessarily a go-to embellishment today. But in Opening Ceremony Pre-Fall, ruffles have been reimagined, shedding their saccharine sweet undertones in favor of sophistication and most importantly, power.

Cut in dark sheer fabrics, the delicate folds take on an architectural quality, recalling the masterful manipulations of Zaha Hadid. In speaking about the differences between architecture and fashion, the visionary woman once said, “Architecture is how the person places herself in the space. Fashion is about how you place the object on the person.” And with ruffles, placement is key. Situated at the shoulders and hips, or layered at the hem, they serve to accentuate the female form, signifying a uniquely feminine strength as they float through the air. Much like a baseball bat-wielding Beyonce in “They Don’t Love You Like I Love You,” and who doesn’t want to channel that?

This season, it’s time to give ruffles a second chance.

View the frill-for-all in our latest editorial, Electric Woman, shot by photographer Charlotte Marcodini, and get ready to suit up for fall in moneymaker silhouettes from OC.

Shop all Opening Ceremony women's here.

View the full editorial, Electric Woman, here. Photography by Charlotte Marcodini; Styling by Alison Mazur.

↧

The World’s Most Unrecognized Photographers

July 20, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Victor Solomon’s Fragile Hoop Dreams

≪ Previous: Ruffles: A Coming of Age Tale

Just weeks before the Summer Olympics in Rio, the Brooklyn Museum opens its new exhibition, Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present curated by Gail Buckland. The exhibition encompasses approximately 230 works—from daguerreotypes and salted paper prints to digital images—that capture the universal appeal of sports. While we have to admit we were particularly excited for selfish reasons (a special Opening Ceremony pop-up shop is featured within the exhibit), we left with a whole new perspective on sports photography.

Working in fashion, it’s easy to see how photography can not only profoundly influence an industry, but also transform culture and create icons. In fashion though, the person behind the lense isn’t a mystery—regardless if Naomi Campbell is the subject—we all know if Steven Meisel is the man responsible for the photograph. Can you say the same for the image from the 1968 Summer Olympics that captured track and field athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, protesting on the winner's podium with the Black Power salute? If you can’t, get out a piece of paper and write this down: John Dominis. “Traditionally, the subject of the picture—decisive plays, the superstar, the incredible winning touchdown or dunk—is what is valued in a sports photograph, not who took it,” explains Buckland. “But these brilliant pictures were taken by men and women with enormous skill and creativity. Their names should be known.”

This is precisely why when you walk through the exhibit it’s not about every iconic moment that happened throughout sports history, but rather the photos deserving of being hung in a museum. We can all relate to the power of sports, how it’s united or divided communities, nations, and transcended political and social turmoil. But unless you saw these moments firsthand, the people responsible for ingraining those memories in us all are the photographers that captured them. And while Buckland admits she herself is not sports obsessed, she does recognize its power. “I am as passionate about pictures as any sports fan is about his or her team,” says Buckland. “I identified a glaring omission in the histories of photography,” which is why she spent years of research to curate an exhibit and assembled a book to give these tremendous artists the recognition they deserve.

From physically training for the Olympics just like the athletes they’re capturing to pointing out that a winning photograph is not always a winning goal, the exhibit clarifies the art of being on the front lines of human drama. So if you need a little Summer Olympics pre-game, swing by the Brooklyn Museum and get ready to be stricken by all the emotions that come with victories and defeats. But also be prepared to leave with a new perspective on the game’s most valuable players.

Click through the slideshow to see more photos from the exhibit. Photography by Jonathan Dorado.

↧

Victor Solomon’s Fragile Hoop Dreams

July 21, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Spellbound At Lovebox

≪ Previous: The World’s Most Unrecognized Photographers

Living in New York, I really shouldn’t say this, but sorry, it’s true: Boston is probably the best city to reside if you’re a diehard sports fan. And if you aren’t? It’s probably the worst. Not sure on the methodology, but year after year it's literally rated the top sports town in America. So for artist Victor Solomon—a Boston-born boy growing up in the afterglow of the Bird era—it’s only natural he found inspiration from basketball.

Solomon is a film-turned-glass-maker who also dabbled in sculpture, currently living in San Francisco. (Luckily, if you want to learn the art of glassmaking, the Bay Area is the place to be.) As a fan of basketball, Solomon became intrigued by more than the sport, like how from pickup to professional the game stays the same, while at times the economic disparity couldn’t be greater. Its ability to transcend class makes it easy to see how these mega-god athletes are truly modern day kings. Solomon wanted to display this through the art of stained glass, a craft historically reserved only for religion and royalty. “It was important to let the idea dictate the process it needed,” says Solomon when discussing the year he spent apprenticing under glass masters, learning the trade in hopes of executing his vision.

This past month, we’ve been fortunate to display the crown jewels in the window and main floor of our Women’s flagship store on Howard Street in New York. And while we’re just flattered to have such beautiful pieces of art grace OC, we wanted to know why he felt this was a good temporary home for his work. “Basketball players are more than other sports’ face-less muscle robots—they’re rich, curious, weirdos with an infinity of resources to explore fashion, art, music etc.,” says Solomon. “And that’s really exciting. Rondo and Westbrook are really adventurous with fashion, Amar’e is building a huge art collection, Lillard is rapping—and as they’re curating all of this within themselves, they’re influencing a generation of fans.” It’s true, basketball stars have reached a new level of cultural significance and whether their interests lie in music, fashion, or art, they’re influencing not only what we wear but defining luxury in America.

Which all plays into the irony of Solomon’s work because at the end of the day, just like his “Tiffany’s-style” stained glass backboards, glimmering nets, and gold plated rims, luxury is fragile. Even the King himself, King James that is, gets that after Solomon mentioned being in talks with the player … Or who knows, maybe he just wants a hoop that is literally balling.

Solomon’s work will be displayed in our OCNY Soho store until the end of the month. In case you miss him, he’ll be showing at Soze Gallery in Los Angeles starting September 8th.

Click through the slideshow to see more images from Victor Solomon's latest solo show at the Joseph Gross Gallery.

↧

Spellbound At Lovebox

July 21, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Être Cécile Gets Rio-Ready

≪ Previous: Victor Solomon’s Fragile Hoop Dreams

Summer is a time when everyone strips off their layers, literally and figuratively. Leaving work early or not going in at all, it’s about embracing love, friendship, and adventures. And it wouldn’t be a proper journey without the right music. New York stylist Stephanie Singer and Photographer Kevin Ohana tag along with the Major Lazer crew at Lovebox, a summer festival in Victoria Park started by a group of friends, a box of records, and a stack of heart-shaped Post-It notes.

Below, read Stephanie’s story from her London adventure and click through the slideshow above for our latest Showing Out at Lovebox.

It’s magic hour at London’s Victoria Park and I’m in my happy place surrounded by sparkles, sequins, grunge, cold Chablis, and warm vibes. As I hunt down my boy Jillionaire, he is gearing up to show off his blend of Caribbean flavors to a bevy of electrified festival goers, ready to throw their hands in the air and drop it low for Major Lazer at this year’s Lovebox Festival.

Shuffling around and through the crowds, Chris (Jillionaire) pulls me backstage to the artists’ camp where he and the rest of the crew (Diplo, Walshy Fire) are methodically demolishing unicorn piñatas for a British variety show. With unicorn heads flying amuk, I become a believer as I sip on my newfound favorite pineapple rum cocktail, while Chris sips from a carton of his signature chocolate milk. We catch up for a minute before he quickly changes into a hot, all-white look and charges to the stage. I meet the four super sexy Lazer Gyals in their sparkly nude dance gear, then link up with my photographer, Kevin Ohana. We peruse the crowd, as he discreetly snaps away at some unique characters and PDA-charged lovers.

When the sun starts to set and Major Lazer takes the stage, a spell cloaks the park. Grinding and dancing together around a big moonlit discotheque in the middle of an enchanted forest, everyone is suddenly in love...

Click through the slideshow for more pictures of our latest Showing Out at Lovebox in Victoria Park. Phtography by Kevin Ohana.

Diplo, duh

Christopher Leacock (aka Jillionaire)

↧

Être Cécile Gets Rio-Ready

July 24, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: OCLA Celebrates Mirage Magazine’s New Anthology JamaisVu

≪ Previous: Spellbound At Lovebox

The trio at Être Cécile don’t take themselves too seriously. Veterans of the fashion industry, Yasmin Sewell, Jemma Dyas, and Kyle Robinson established their brand with the notion of eccentricity, humor, and a whole lot of color in mind. “We decided to create Être Cécile because we recognized there was a gap in the market for a cool brand with graphic prints and unexpected slogans at its core,” says the trio. Scrolling through their Pre-Fall 2016 lookbook, you’ll get a dose of red, yellow, green, and blue, but despite Être Cécile’s approach to primary colors that tie in nicely with our summer of sports, there’s an appealingly fresh simplicity that can be attributed to their “pseudo French” approach.

Être Cécile was founded based on Cécile, an Irish-born artist living in 1960s Paris. Cécile encompasses everything the trio envisioned the brand to be—a little bit eccentric and unexpected but always creatively driven and cool. “We enjoy playing with our pseudo-French heritage, nothing about us is really French. Our tagline is ‘Presque Parisienne’, which means ‘almost Parisian' and our care label reads, ‘Made somewhere near France’ which is more like... Portugal and Italy?!” While Yasmin, Jemma, and Kyle are based in London, they aren’t trying to conform to French style, but rather offer a new approach to the country’s effortless appeal. They’re outsiders looking in, which sets them up to create exactly what they’re looking for: an easy line of clothes that feel new and innovative. But don’t be confused, for Être Cécile, “pseudo” doesn’t imply fake. “We wanted to create a brand that optimized [French style]—easy fashion pieces which felt unpretentious but impactful.”

And their Pre-Fall 2016 collection achieves just that. This season, the Cécile girl gets Rio-ready with a lineup that takes inspiration from vintage sports uniforms. “After finding amazing vintage sports uniforms, we fell down the rabbit hole of Rio references. The primary colours, stripes, rings, flags, poster graphics, and even the fonts—splicing this with our core graphics such as the Bull Dog or our Big C just made sense.” There’s plenty of color-blocking in the collection—T-shirts come with contrast sleeves and sweatshirts with red, black, and white panels that are asymmetrically sectioned off by clean-cut lines. Multi-colored letters that spell out “RAPIDE” are assembled onto soft blue cotton T-shirts that give an elevated take on rainbow lettering. Most importantly, their track pants that have been in development for a few years are finally hitting shelves: “We’ve been developing and perfecting our track pants for a couple of seasons now and really wanted to go all in for Pre-Fall 2016.” And while this sporty collection makes for cute looks, it also guarantees that you’ll be geared up for this summer’s events in Rio, in track pants that’ll even make the athletes jealous.

Shop the OC-Exclusive Être Cécile collection here.

On left model wears Être Cécile Color-Blocked Sweatshirt in White, Multi-Striped Track Pants in

↧

OCLA Celebrates Mirage Magazine’s New Anthology JamaisVu

July 26, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: The Infamous ’90s Makeover of Mao Zedong

≪ Previous: Être Cécile Gets Rio-Ready

The term “mirage” is defined as “something that appears real or possible but is not in fact so.” It’s a fitting title for the cult favorite Mirage Magazine, a publication so beautiful, sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s real. Lucky for us, it is.

Founders Henrik Purienne and Frank Rocholl have been developing the mag’s utopian world since 2009, a fantasyland of beautiful women, sunny locales, fast cars, and brilliant art and design seen through a hazy ’70s aesthetic. Its pursuit is pleasure in any and all forms. Their fifth issue is a special edition anthology, titled JamaisVu, compiling the best photos and features from their first four issues, what Purienne calls “the end of act one.” And OCLA threw a party to celebrate the tome.

Purienne fêted the latest issue with Opening Ceremony founder Humberto Leon (and his adorable twins), store manager Jenny Le, Advanced Style covergirl Valerie Von Sobel, and more OC friends and family. Guests floated between the front studio and the Max Lamb designed showroom, thumbing through the thick, silky 400+ printed pages of JamaisVu while sipping ice cold Peronis. Artist and musician Brendan Fowler lent his skills behind the decks, selecting a mix of tracks that had everyone dancing by the end of the night. Who can resist a good old fashioned Friday night get down?

Pre-order your copy of JamaisVu here.

Click through the slideshow to see more pics from our party with Mirage Magazine.

↧

The Infamous ’90s Makeover of Mao Zedong

July 31, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: What’s The Craziest Thing You’ve Ever Smoked Out Of?

≪ Previous: OCLA Celebrates Mirage Magazine’s New Anthology JamaisVu

Opening Ceremony’s Year of China means not only highlighting a curated selection of the best Chinese designers, but also exploring the culture and traditions the vast country has to offer. When looking at a complex country like China, this is not an easy task. So for a little help, we enlisted world renowned and the original Chinese Luxury designer, Vivienne Tam. Tam is known for successfully merging two seemingly opposite cultures, East and West, creating unique garments that speak to art, politics, and religion. Despite these weighty and often times controversial subjects, the designer manages to tell her stories with an innocence that looks beyond mere opinions. As fashion critic and curator Richard Martin once said, “[Vivienne Tam] possesses an idealistic globalism that transcends politics and offers a more enchanted, peaceful world.”

While it’s truly hard measuring Tam’s cultural influence through fashion, looking at two collections in particular, her 1994 Mao collection and 1997 Buddha collection, will give you a pretty good idea. (We’re also excited to announce as part of our Year Of China, Tam has reissued some of her favorite archival pieces from the Mao and Buddha collections, exclusively for OC.) The Mao idea came to fruition when Tam’s close friend took her to meet New York artist, Zhang Hongtu who created illustrations portraying Mao Zedong in humorous contexts like wearing pigtails and sunglasses. It was this fateful meeting that would eventually give birth to Tam’s most controversial collection. For those who need a quick historical refresher, Mao Zedong was the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. In 1966, he launched one of the country’s most infamous political movements, the Cultural Revolution, that is said to have killed more than two million Chinese people.

Despite this delicate subject matter, Vivienne insists that in the beginning, she had no idea there would be such a strong reaction to her designs. “Mao was an iconic figure. I wanted to loosen up his image a bit with fashion and to represent the new openness of China. This would show China’s humor and warmth, and its growing freedom.” However, as she began looking to produce her garments, she soon found herself facing opposition. “So many people tried to stop me—from factories, retail buyers and even some parents. But I never gave up. Once the line was in production and finally distributed, I felt proud that I had overcome an enormous challenge.” Years later, these exact pieces would be hung in museums, such as The Museum at FIT, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Last but not least, Tam talks about her 1997 Buddha collection, the other half of her reissued collection. “When I was young, my mother used to take me to the temple twice a week. I remember I loved the smile on the face of the Buddha statue. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I wanted more people to see it and I knew I had to find a way.” says Tam. The archival pieces on display at the museums and our release of her reissued styles are a direct testament to how well Tam transcribes her passion and eagerness into her clothes and ultimately the wearer. And of course, as OC itself is a brand and space that helps cultivate young and emerging designers, we wanted to ask if she had any advice to give. Her response? “Be passionate. Be

↧

What’s The Craziest Thing You’ve Ever Smoked Out Of?

July 31, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Basketball’s Double D’s: DeAndre & Diplo

≪ Previous: The Infamous ’90s Makeover of Mao Zedong

When you think of smoking pipes, you might envision Hugh Hefner sitting on an upholstered chair wearing nothing but a robe and slippers. But get ready to switch up that mental image … Tetra is the brand behind smoking's new contemporary, sculptural, and sleek accessory.

Monica Khemsurov started Tetra back in March of 2015 along with friends Eviana Hartman and Su Wu. The trio realized that despite the increasing popularity of vaporizers little had been done to modernize the classic wooden pipe. “We instantly saw an opportunity and rushed like hell to launch our site six months later, with the idea of making it THE place to find well-designed smoking gear, which we hunted down in existing lines and also commissioned our designer friends to make,” recalls Monica. Throughout their extensive research, they soon realized how little was actually out there, resolving to manufacture their own products. The result? A four piece set of sleek and delightfully minimal pipes called the Balance Pipe Collection. “The Balance Pipe is the first product we've created ourselves in collaboration with designer Jamie Wolfond, and it’s the first time that proper design considerations—like making sure it doesn’t tip over on the table when you put it down, and making the carb a conscious part of the form rather than an afterthought—have gone into a glass pipe.”

Fortunately, Monica has a long background in design (she also co-founded the online publication Sight Unseen in 2009) and became friends with Jamie through the New York design scene. Like any great business venture, Jamie and Monica were at a party chatting about Jamie’s houseware line called Good Thing and his new collection of vases he’d created with a borosilicate glass factory. Instantly, a lightbulb went off in Monica’s head and after a series of exchanged sketches, Tetra's Balance Pipe was born.

Finally a line of pipes no longer for the tie-dye and psychedelic mushroom types. And no, you won’t find Sherlock Holmes smoking on a Tetra either. Rather, according to Monica, “Lake Bell and her movie-husband Jason Schwartzman hosting a casual little get-together with their friends Michael B. Jordan, Jemima Kirke, Aziz Ansari, and Léa Seydoux, will be smoking [the Balance Pipe] together while talking about dark matter ... or possibly juice cleanses.” Can this get any better? We don’t think so. And if you didn’t think a sleek AF pipe was on your radar of things to buy, take it from a woman whose skills have turned a ham sandwich into a smoking contraption. Maybe not quite as craftful, we’ve all had our lighting up survivor moments. Like any real adult should, let’s keep those stories in the past. Afterall, it’s probably about time we all grew up and smoked with some class.

Shop the Tetra Balance Pipe collection now in Opening Ceremony stores.

Click through the slideshow to see more images of Tetra smoking pipes, available in Opening Ceremony stores only. Photography by Gaea Woods c/o of Tetra.

↧

Basketball’s Double D’s: DeAndre & Diplo

August 1, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: More Than Bikinis, We Talk With The Man Behind Brazil Fashion

≪ Previous: What’s The Craziest Thing You’ve Ever Smoked Out Of?

There’s so much more to sports than just the game, which really isn’t news if you’re a real fan. Whether it’s Jordan's UNC lucky charm he wore underneath his Chicago uniform—later prompting the long short trend or pro baller’s over the top excess that inspired artist Victor Solomon to master the craft of Stained Glass—sports (particularly basketball) has not only significantly shaped popular culture but often times solidifies friendships as well. It was an undying love for basketball and the artifacts of its influence that prompted Justin Montag, Chris Dea, and Brock Batten to found FRANCHISE Magazine. The three friends took their passion for the sport to create a publication less like a magazine that updated us on current events and more like an art book you’d flip through regardless of the season.

To give you a feel of what FRANCHISE has to offer, below we share an exclusive print-only excerpt of an interview between DeAndre Jordan and Diplo.

Shop Franchise Magazine in all Opening Ceremony stores and online.

We’re assuming readers of this magazine won’t require much of a preface about DeAndre Jordan and Diplo, but here’s a brief one anyway. Towering at nearly seven feet, Jordan is the current center for the LA Clippers. The Houston native led the league in rebounds in the 2014 and 2015 seasons and also played a key role in taking his team to the playoffs during those years. Diplo, DJ and producer extraordinaire, is on his way to becoming for the Clippers what Jack Nicholson is to the Lakers. A season pass holder, Diplo can often be spotted courtside at games, frequently in the company of another household name. Beyond having some of the best seats in the house, he’s also dropped in on Clippers training in the past and created a line of merch for his Mad Decent brand inspired by the team. Here, the two talk about their shared passions: music, fashion, and basketball.

DIPLO: When did you start playing basketball?

DEANDRE JORDAN: Six years old. I started playing on an organized team in 7th grade.

What was it like growing up in Houston? Were you always a baller? Always basketball?

Always a baller shot caller…on and off the floor. It was tough growing up in Houston, having three younger brothers and a single parent home. It made me appreciate things a lot more, and turned me into the person I am today. I played baseball and football, but basketball was always my favorite.

Well, I mean if you’re 6’11” I think baseball team photos would start to look strange. When I grew up it was always basketball and music in Florida, but also surfing. Music took over because I didn’t have handles. What role did music play in your path to the NBA? What artists inspired you growing up?

Music always helped us get amped up before games. It was easy to relate to a lot of things they talked about in music. Tupac I loved, he was probably my favorite. I like Scarface because of growing up in Houston.

Houston to me is the stronge

↧

More Than Bikinis, We Talk With The Man Behind Brazil Fashion

August 2, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Where In The World Is ...

≪ Previous: Basketball’s Double D’s: DeAndre & Diplo

One year after Opening Ceremony was born in 2002, we announced our country of the year, Brazil—making not only the store, but OC-cofounders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, essentially babies. To select a country, Carol and Humberto traveled extensively researching designers, trying new food, immersing themselves in the culture, all the while carefully scrutinizing what brands they should add to this year's roster. Designer Alexandre Herchcovitch was our first Brazilian designer featured, meaning he can tell you everything from late nights in Sao Paulo to early days on Howard Street. And we probably have a story (or two) about him too.

Alexandre’s legacy as a designer goes even farther back, over twenty-five years ago when he started one of Brazil’s most famous fashion labels under his namesake, Alexandre Herchcovitch. Since leaving, he’s founded Á La Garconne, an expansion of his hubby Fábio Souza’s storefront in Sao Paulo. Fabio has always felt strongly that “The future of design and clothing was in vintage pieces, focusing on sustainability and the reuse of vintage materials,” as explained to us by Alexandre. By tediously sourcing one-of-a-kind garments from all over the world and partnering with a Brazilian artist to hand-paint each jacket, Alexandre has certainly invigorated the mission of Á La Garconne with his debut collection.

Days before the world heads to Rio, we thought it’d be perfect to take a little trip down memory lane and re-introduce our favorite Brazilian designer. Below, Alexandre Herchcovitch talks with OC co-founders about starting over, designing Giselle’s Olympic outfit, and why Brazil fashion has more to offer than bikinis.

Shop Á La Garconne exclusively in the U.S. at Opening Ceremony stores.

CAROL AND HUMBERTO: Timing could not be more perfect. Days before the Rio games, your new line À La Garconne is hitting our NYC store. It’s crazy how time has flown … How has Brazil fashion evolved since then?

ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH: Well, things have changed a lot, both for me and for Brazilian fashion as a whole, but we've resisted and continue resisting to many periods of crisis in the market here, specially because of an opening of the Brazilian market to international fast fashion and designer labels. It is really important now to reinforce the market potential of our fashion, both locally and globally, and our talent. The search for an authentic Brazilian identity and style in fashion also lead us to realize that one of the best things we can offer is actually the multiplicity of our identities as well as the important role that the body has in our culture, which doesn't necessarily mean that we are only specialized in beachwear. It means that we have a great talent on pattern cutting and working the fabrics in relation to the body, playing a fantastic game of hiding and showing one´s body and skin that is both seductive and interesting.

We’ve known each other for 13 years! Our first memories with you… seeing your show, visiting your shop and of course looking at the collection to buy for OC. Seeing what you created was one of the most exciting parts of our time in Brazil. Also, going out with you too! Tell us, what was your first impression or memory?

So many great memories, such an exciting period of my professional and personal life! It was really exciting to be chosen as the first Brazilian designer to show at OC and, even better, to continue the work with you after the "Year of Brazil", which proved that our partnership (and friendship!) was meant to

↧

Where In The World Is ...

August 3, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Meet Your New Ride-or-Die

≪ Previous: More Than Bikinis, We Talk With The Man Behind Brazil Fashion

The world has patiently waited for four years, and so have we. Afterall, Opening Ceremony was founded upon the principles behind international athletic competitions—bringing together both established and emerging designers from across the globe, nurturing an appreciation and understanding of all cultures. That’s the overarching idea, but there’s more. Each year, we choose a country to position against the US (this year it’s China), turning our stores into the ultimate fashion arena. But it’s not about the competition or the win. It’s about starting a conversation of discovery, growth, and friendship. We are the geeks, the curious kids hoping to uncover something exciting. We travel the world, see the familiar and unfamiliar—from Hong Kong, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, New York and Los Angeles, Japan, France, Argentina, Korea, Belgium, Russia, and finally, China. These are the thirteen countries we’ve featured since we were founded in 2002.

During this time of extreme physical competition, we got excited about what’s to come for us and decided to literally map out our Fall/Winter 2016 lineup of designers. Above, artist Anthony Picarelli took our extensive men’s and women’s roster to give you a little feel of just a few of the countries our designers rep. Because who doesn’t love to show off a lil’ national pride? And if you don’t see your country, don’t worry … We promise, we’re working on it one country at a time (one year at a time).

Below we spell out the selected designers and where they're from featured in the map above.

Australia: Ellery, Sködia

Belgium: Bernhard Wiillhelm

Brazil: À La Garçonne

Canada: Canada Goose

China: Poesia, Xander Zhou

France: Kenzo

Germany: adidas

Italy: Moschino, Giuseppe Zanotti

Japan: PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE, Undercover, Comme des Garçons

Russia: Gosha Rubchinskiy

South Africa, Kenya: Brother Vellies

Sweden: Acne Studios

UK: Marques Almeida, Vivienne Westwood, Wales Bonner

USA: Calvin Klein, Vans

Illustration by Anthony Picarelli exclusively for Opening Ceremony.

↧

Meet Your New Ride-or-Die

August 3, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Go Behind The Mask: Meet U.S. Fencer Daryl Homer

≪ Previous: Where In The World Is ...

Everyone should have “the one” in their closet—a prized garment that you can throw on any day, any time, and feel like a million bucks. Maybe it’s a simple dress, or an amazing coat, or that pair of pants that makes your bum look just right.

Enter: Callipygian (pronounced Cal-i-pee-jian), the New-To-OC line that somehow knows exactly what your closet needs. The brand's debut collection fixates on the slip dress—simple, sultry silhouettes to don for the final days of summer. Like the perfect vintage piece that you stole from your older sister and will never, ever give back.

We took the collection for a test-drive and headed to Fort Tilden, a lush state beach just an hour outside of NYC. The delicate dresses take on a tomboy feel when layered over a T-shirt and paired with comfy slides, but when the sun sets, they can seamlessly transition to a night of dancing with the addition of ankle boots and a trusty bomber.

Stay tuned next season, when Callipygian will be back with a whole new look you’ll love.

Shop Callipygian here.

Maggie wears the Callipygian Lace Trim Midi-Dress in Ivory, Justine Clenquet Sasha Earrings in Gold, and Dries Van Noten Boots (available in stores). On right Lauren wears Callypigian Lace Trim Midi-Dress in Black, Maryam Nassir Zadeh Martina Metallic Slides in Silver and Venessa Arizaga Bracelets. (All items not linked available in stores). Photography by Isabel Asha Penzilien; Styling by Alison Mazur; Production by Shay Johnson.

Lauren wears Callipygian Lace Trim Mini-Shorts in Black, Alix Bodysuit, Opening Ceremony X Gentle Monster Cara W03 Sunglasses in Ivory, and Venessa Arizaga Ice Cream Cake Bracelet in Candy Pink.

Maggie wears Callipygian Green Crepe Ditsy Dotted Wrap Dress (coming soon), Dries Van Noten Boots, and Nektar De Stagni Pearl Smiley Face Bracelet. Lauren wears Callipygian Cropped Pants in Grey Floral (coming soon), Proenza Schouler Cropped T-Shi

↧

Go Behind The Mask: Meet U.S. Fencer Daryl Homer

August 3, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Since you can’t be Kate, Wear Her

≪ Previous: Meet Your New Ride-or-Die

Until seeing Hamilton, I never really thought much about the concept of a duel. Did people actually think drawing guns on each other at the same time was a good way to settle a debate? Or for that matter, a true reflection of superior skill? Dueling goes back a lot farther than our Founding Fathers though. In fact, the sport of Fencing began as a method of battle before it became an athletic endeavor for the well-dressed man.

Fencing also falls into the cool-things-that-get-overlooked category—often times not even considered a “real” sport. Did you know it’s one of the handful of sports represented in every modern day Olympic games? It’s also crazy fast, requiring incredible precision and balance, plus you get to hold a sword, so it’s basically chess on your feet (aka the definition of brains and bronze). If you’re ever guilty of being presumptuous, we met up with Daryl Homer, a sabre fencer competing in the 2016 Summer Games for Team USA, to set you straight. Especially if you assumed all fencers must be white dudes from Connecticut with roman numerals at the end of their names. Because Daryl who grew up in the Bronx, attributing The Mask of Zorro and a cool pic in the dictionary to his initial interest, is the first American to bring home a medal (silver) in sabre fencing from last year’s world championships in Moscow.

Below we catch up with Daryl on getting ready for Rio and why it’s about time people meet the man behind the mask(s).

CARLY AIMI: How did you get into fencing? We heard you (or so Wikipedia says) saw a picture in the dictionary and thought it was cool, but tell us a little more …

DARYL HOMER: Yes, lol. I first read about fencing in a children's dictionary. I was a bit of a nerd back in the day—collecting animal fact cards, my favorite channels were the Animal and History Channel, and super into Greek and Roman Mythology. At some point, I'd burned through most of my books and started reading a dictionary my mother bought me and came across fencing. I'll also mention, The Parent Trap and The Mask of Zorro with Antonio Banderas were out at the same time, so I had multiple points of exposure.

When all the kids were playing soccer, football, basketball or more mainstream sports, what made you stick with it?

I still got to play the sports albeit, not professionally, but with my friends in and after school. I'd say the things the sport exposed me to made me stay in it. I was a kid from the Bronx who was traveling to Europe on the weekends, making new friends in different parts of the world, and mastering a skill. There's something about when you feel you're truly mastering something that makes you not let go of it.

What was the defining moment when you knew fencing was a part of you?

By the time I was 16, I was training everyday after school and on Saturday mornings. Anytime I wasn't at practice, I was thinking about fencing or how to elevate my game. That year I finished third at the under 17 World Championships, it was my first accession to an international podium. From there, I'd repeat that result in the under 20 world championships as an individual and with the US team, in addition to winning a silver medal at the Senior World Championships. That and qualifying for my second Olympic Games by the age of 26 all were set into motion by that result in 2006.

Get ready to judge me, but when I hear fencing, I think of some white dude from Connecticut with a roman numeral at the end of his name—Is this at all a modern day re

↧

Since you can’t be Kate, Wear Her

August 7, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: We may not be in Rio, but we can eat like we are

≪ Previous: Go Behind The Mask: Meet U.S. Fencer Daryl Homer

Without any type of scientific poll, we’re guessing if you asked any average Joe (or Jill) on the street who the most iconic fashion supermodel is, they’d say Kate Moss. And if you had to guess what campaign comes to mind, it’d probably be Calvin Klein’s legendary ’90s spread. Which is why we’re excited to announce a special limited edition launch sold exclusively at Opening Ceremony of tees featuring archival images of Kate Moss from a 1993 Calvin Klein Underwear campaign shot by renowned photographer David Sims.

Each of the two iconic images of Kate Moss is printed on a unisex cotton crew-neck style t-shirt, offered in both black and white. Since our 2015 exclusive launch of Calvin Klein Jeans #mycalvins featuring Kendall Jenner, we’ve made our love and respect known for the New York brand. Calvin Klein has not only influenced the fashion industry but has also been a source of inspiration to OC co-founders Carol and Humberto growing up, often quoting how groundbreaking its androgynous ads were to them and how the campaigns truly redefined modern day sex appeal. Of course, we’re big fans of re-issuing archives, but really this is more, it’s us getting to show our gratitude to a brand that’s done so much for the industry while also doing some good. Because wait for it, all proceeds of these limited-run tees will be donated to benefit amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, an organization dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through research. And since being Kate (or dating her) isn’t possible, you might as well wear her, right?

Since it really doesn’t get better than showing your love for Queen Kate while doing some good for the world … Shop the Calvin Klein x Opening Ceremony Limited Edition T-Shirt (while supplies last) here.

Calvin Klein x Opening Ceremony Limited Edition T-Shirt featuring Kate Moss from a 1993 Calvin Klein Underwear campaign shot by renowned photographer David Sims. Shop here.

↧

We may not be in Rio, but we can eat like we are

August 10, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Red, White, & Blue Aren’t the Only Colors We’re Sporting

≪ Previous: Since you can’t be Kate, Wear Her

It’s hard to be named Opening Ceremony and not be at the sexiest summer sport festivities ever. So as part of Rio-Ready, a series where we delve into all things Brazil, we satisfied a much needed craving by teaming up with the girls behind We8that, a food blog that for obvious reasons stands out from the rest. We8that is a collection of illustrated restaurant reviews by Brooklyn-based sisters Anna and Naomi Otsu. Anna writes while Naomi draws dishes from their favorite food destinations. For those wondering whose hands appear in the drawings, Naomi typically wears rings and has tattoos on her hands, while Anna keeps it clean and simple with basic manicure.

Below Anna shares her thoughts on last week's celebratory dinner with her big sis.

Now that the world’s largest athletic competitions are well underway, we thought it was appropriate to shift our attention to another aspect of Brazil: food. In any given part of the world, food plays a big role in culture—it’s our livelihood, one of the most crucial elements to our survival. Food nourishes our body, can bring joy to our senses, and even break past the barriers of language, race, and religion to unite people together.

To be honest, the only “Brazilian” food we’d ever come close to eating was at a Brazilian Steakhouse in the US. For this occasion, we decided to delve deeper into the country’s “traditional” food. Located right below the Williamsburg Bridge and on the corner of Wythe Avenue and South 5th Street, Miss Favela is a brightly colored restaurant that aims to serve authentic Brazilian food to its neighborhood. Named after the poor shantytowns of Brazil, the restaurant has that airy feel of dining outdoors with windows flung open allowing the summer breeze to seep in. Upon entering, you’ll notice their walls are painted in Brazil’s national colors: blue, green, and yellow. Tin tables are set up around the bar with colorful flower printed tablecloths. We were seated right by the window and promptly ordered two Caipirinhas (k-eye-per-reen-yah). I had seen Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown” where he meets the Caipirinha man on the beach and declares the drink as an “indispensable icon of beach culture.” Ever since then, this drink has been on my wish list. And yes, the Caipirinha was everything we imagined it to be—sweet, sour, and very strong.

For our appetizer, we decided to go with the Bolinho de Feijoada ($11)—a plate of fritters made of stewed black beans and bacon. The outside was delightfully crisp, while the inside was light and chewy, steaming with the aroma of bacon. My choice of main dish was the Moqueca de Peixe com Piraõ ($26.50)—a traditional tomato-based fish stew with bahia (white fish), onions, bell peppers, cilantro, coconut milk, and palm oil. This dish originates from Espírito Santo, the southeastern part of Brazil and goes perfectly with a side of rice. Naomi ordered the Picanha Fatiada Acebolada ($29). Although this seemed like a simple steak and fries, Picanha (aka top sirloin) is a popular cut of beef in Brazil. The steak came sliced into strips and sautéed with onions, completed with a side of rice and beans, farofa, and country vinaigrette. Now for those not familiar with Farofa, it is essential to Brazilian cooking and is a dish beloved by the Carioca’s (Rio de Janeiro locals). It’s a toasted cassava (a root vegetable native to South America) flour mixture that’s fluffy, a little gritty, and has a bit of crunch. Sprinkled on top of the steak, the farofa was a nice contrast to the well seasoned tender meat.

Never tried Brazilian food before? Well, now&

↧

Red, White, & Blue Aren’t the Only Colors We’re Sporting

August 10, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Don’t Sweat It

≪ Previous: We may not be in Rio, but we can eat like we are

Sport your team colors—or just your favorite holographic hues—thanks to Local Supply’s new collection exclusively for Opening Ceremony. The Aussie label takes their signature sunnies to the next level with reflective lenses and metallic frames in bold tones. We hate to use the term stunna shades, but if ever there were a pair worthy of the title, these are it.

Local Supply is infused with a devil-may-care attitude, serving up electric eyewear that won’t break the bank—so if you happen to lose them at a party or drop them in the ocean, the loss will only be emotional … Which means you can afford to prevent those sorrows and pick up a replacement pair. Or if you’re someone who likes variety (all of us), pick up three (or all five) and play a bit of mix and match with your winning summer gear. Who knows, Opening Ceremony x Local Supply may just bring you some good luck.

Shop Opening Ceremony x Local Supply here.

Click through the slideshow to see the full spread of color options. Shop Opening Ceremony x Local Supply here. Photography by Christine Hahn; Styling by Ian Bradley; Talent is Federico @Request and Nick @Request

↧

Don’t Sweat It

August 15, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Flip It & Reverse It

≪ Previous: Red, White, & Blue Aren’t the Only Colors We’re Sporting

I remember my first sweat suit, it was a Ninja Turtle two piece. I wore it the first day of my elementary school career and most casual Fridays every month after. Leonardo sat in the middle of the sweatshirt, cutting a slice a pizza for himself with a sword (or for one of the other three turtles, since Leo worked in the team leader capacity). If it was an illustration of Raphael, we would know it would be just for him, he was the selfish one. The main Turtle logo was branded down the right leg with a big, bold, T-U-R-T-L-E. This would be my introduction to athletic wear. Don't worry, this will have nothing to do with the story at the end, besides the fact I wear clothing.

I spent a lot of time in high school skateboarding. I think a lot of people at the time had a certain idea what skateboarding culture was perceived to "be" or to "look like". Confusion was to be found on faces of spectators witnessing my friends and I skating in velour track suits. We received our fashion inspirations from our favorite rappers at the time and that didn't change once we stepped on the board.

It's one hundred and four degrees out and I'm in my favorite place in the world, under my covers with the air conditioning on. Come to think of it, it is getting pretty cold. I might have to get up and put a sweatshirt on. Netflix is on too (on my computer, it doesn't come in clothing form yet but you heard it here first folks) let's say I'm watching Stranger Things so you can relate. I order some ice cream off of Uber Eats and fall asleep. I dream of what the final form of the ice cream will look like once it gets here.

I wake up to twelve missed calls from the delivery guy. I mistakenly think the missed calls are from an ex-girlfriend, her name rhymes with Uber Eats and now I'm riddled with stress. I realize I'm not wearing pants but that's okay, I have the matching bottoms to my top (it was a necessity at the time of purchase, my future self thanks my self from the past). I would like to say I had a premonition of this moment, but this is just a common occurrence in my life: stressful situations and missing pants.

I make my way to the door and the delivery guy has each scoop intact, no melt. I wonder how he did it, so I decide to ask him. He gives me this long story that he came up with the idea while working for his current employer. I guess he signed an agreement, that by law, all of his ideas during his employment with the ice cream company become the intellectual property of the company. He's gonna keep it under wraps until he quits. I smile when he tells me all of his tips go to the invention. I frown when I remember I only tipped the minimum. I mention that he should probably not tell anyone his ideas, I could be friends with the owner of the ice cream shop.

I lay in bed in my matching two pieces. Not one bead of sweat.

Click through the slide show to see the the full photo journal photographed by Christine Hahn featuring our fave Fall/Winter ’16 tracksuits.

Click through the slide show to see the the full photo journal featuring our fave Fall/Winter ’16 tracksuits. Photography by Christine Hahn; Styling by Ian Bradley; Talent is Federico and Nick @ REQUEST.

On left Nick wears Baja East Ribbed Stretch Cotton Hoodie

↧

Flip It & Reverse It

August 18, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: A Boy Named Raf

≪ Previous: Don’t Sweat It

Opening Ceremony’s Pre-Fall ‘16 collection is all about versatility, and that concept reaches its pinnacle in our reversible silk souvenir. Literally two looks in one, this sporty-turned-luxe staple always has your back. Feeling in touch with your softer side? Opt for pale petal pink, embroidered with delicate roses. But if your mood is leading your look in a darker direction, nothing beats silky smooth black. What other jacket lets you channel the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds in one fell swoop?

If you’re in need of more convincing, we’ve laid out a few scenarios in which a reversible jacket will really come in handy.

Sriracha Splatter

Sometimes it’s inevitable. The bottle is down to the last few drops, and you’ve got one bite of your breakfast burrito left. You shake that bottle like a salt shaker, and just as you finish your final squeeze, a dreaded puff of air sends hot sauce flying all over your burrito—and your new jacket. But have no fear, just flip that thing around and you’re good to go, at least until you can make it to the dry cleaner.

Master of Disguise

We’ve all been in situations that could benefit from a quick change. Maybe you ran into an ex at a party, or your former boss who you’d rather not chat with at 2 AM, and you need an escape plan—fast. Quickly excuse yourself to take an urgent call, duck into the nearest corner, spin around Wonder Woman style, and casually exit the premises. They’ll be none the wiser.

Vacation, Duh

Packing is one of those dreaded tasks—it’s almost as bad as unpacking. You want options, but have limited space, and the IRL tetris game of fitting everything into your suitcase can seem impossible. The key is packing items that can multi-task, and take you from gallery hopping onto dinner and a night on the town. And what does that better than our reversible souvenir? Nothing, if you ask us.

Shop the Opening Ceremony Women’s reversible silk souvenir jacket in pink and green here.

Jordan wears Callipygian Black Lace Trim Cami Mini-Dress in Black and Opening Ceremony Reversible Silk Souvenir Jacket in Pink Multi. Animated GIF and photography by Christine Hahn, Styling by Ronnie Hartleben, Makeup by Kento Utsubo, Hair by Yuhi Kim, Talent is Jordan @ELITE

↧

Latest Images