Opening Ceremony’s third Sunset Takeover at OC BTW* was curated by menswear designer Raul Lopez, who invited his friends to celebrate the launch of his SS14 Luar Zepol collection—and add a little Dominican flavor to the SuperPier. DJ Animal kicked things off with his deep house beats, creating a sexy, brooding soundtrack for Raul’s designs. Models donned the latest collection and acted just like the other partygoers, drinking Tiger Beer from Styrofoam cups and puffing on e-cigs. Meanwhile, friends got their hair braided, including OCNY’s Kindall and Angel, who opted for matching cornrows (worn with matching Rihanna for River Island jerseys). Then DJ Zakmatic took over the decks just in time to set the stage for an energetic and awe-inspiring performance by Maluca and her enviable Luar Zepol head piece. After the festivities, we caught up with Raul to discuss his inspiration for the Takeover and his fave NYFW moments.
Alex Thurmond: What was your approach to curating this Sunset Takeover?
Rual Lopez: I am always inspired by the Dominican Republic, and I really wanted to share a small piece of the DR with my New York friends, family, and fans. There are so many things about DR that inspire me but, at the end of the day, the music, specifically dembow, and the way that people interact with that music throughout the day—whether blasting it from stands on the side of the road or playing it at the club until sunrise—that's what continues to inspire and move me every day. That's really what I wanted to bring to the Takeover.
If you could describe your Takeover in a hashtag, what would it be?
#DHQ! Dembow Hacker Queens!
What are your favorite designers, artists, musicians, people on Twitter?
There are too many to list! I have to admit a guilty pleasure of mine is people who go off on Twitter, I do enjoy an unfiltered tweet!
If you opened up US Weekly tomorrow and someone was wearing your clothes, who would it be?
Barack Obama!
What were you most excited about this NYFW?
My show and party with OC of course! Even though NYFW can be overwhelming, it's also extremely cathartic and rewarding.
Photos by Matthew Kelly
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Raul
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Lauren Devine and friends
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Paul braiding designer Raul's hair
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A (temporary) Laur Zepol face tat
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DJ Animal
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Dembow-in
Alex Thurmond: What was your approach to curating this Sunset Takeover?
Rual Lopez: I am always inspired by the Dominican Republic, and I really wanted to share a small piece of the DR with my New York friends, family, and fans. There are so many things about DR that inspire me but, at the end of the day, the music, specifically dembow, and the way that people interact with that music throughout the day—whether blasting it from stands on the side of the road or playing it at the club until sunrise—that's what continues to inspire and move me every day. That's really what I wanted to bring to the Takeover.
If you could describe your Takeover in a hashtag, what would it be?
#DHQ! Dembow Hacker Queens!
What are your favorite designers, artists, musicians, people on Twitter?
There are too many to list! I have to admit a guilty pleasure of mine is people who go off on Twitter, I do enjoy an unfiltered tweet!
If you opened up US Weekly tomorrow and someone was wearing your clothes, who would it be?
Barack Obama!
What were you most excited about this NYFW?
My show and party with OC of course! Even though NYFW can be overwhelming, it's also extremely cathartic and rewarding.
Photos by Matthew Kelly
Raul
Lauren Devine and friends
Paul braiding designer Raul's hair
A (temporary) Laur Zepol face tat
DJ Animal
Dembow-in