Here are a few that I am 100% guilty of
You can find the rest at
http://www.whowhatwear.com/things-only-fashion-girls-understand-problems-2014/slide23
Thursday, April 17, 2014
WHOWHATWEAR KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES
Who What Wear posted a slideshow of 21 things only fashion girls understand and it's funny how accurate it is! If you put your feet in jeopardy for incredibly beautiful (and painful) shoes or completely expose your undergarments because hey; sheer skirts and cut outs are a huge trend right now then you make the list.
Here are a few that I am 100% guilty of
Here are a few that I am 100% guilty of
Friday, April 11, 2014
SPRING HAS SPRUNG BUT IT'S STILL CHILLY
This morning my alarm went off at 7:01, I mindlessly swiped the snooze snuggled down with my cat and fell back asleep. Finally at 7:15 I got up and checked the weather app on my phone. All week it said it was going to be sunny and a high of 13 degrees Celsius. Knowing it was going to be nice that put a bit of a spring in my step and I dragged my lazy body out of bed and stood blankly staring at my closet. It's the first really warm day what the hell am I going to wear?
I feel like that's one of the biggest dilemmas in spring time, trying to decide if you go bare legs or tights, maybe thigh high socks, it's so hard; especially in Vancouver because we have the most bipolar weather in the history of the world (that might be an exaggeration) Anyways the sky was cloudy while I was getting dressed but I had enough faith in the weather network that it was going to be sunny and 14 degrees, I literally checked again before getting out of bed; so I made the huge decision to wear a Cheap Monday dress and flatform sandals...
Relatively nervous about my choice I told myself it's early the sun will come out by the time I'm downtown at school...Yeah apparently not. I got to the bus stop that's across the street from my house and as soon as I got there I feel raindrops. HOW COULD IT BE RAINING! I was so confused how do you mix up sunny with no clouds and rain! I lost all faith in the weather network at that point, so i checked my app again and low and behold the weather for Friday: high of 11, light rain, clouds and a bit of sun...and for Saturday HIGH OF 14 WITH SUNSHINE. Yup. I based my outfit on the wrong day and have been freezing cold all morning. The weather is lovely now though so it all worked out!
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I feel like that's one of the biggest dilemmas in spring time, trying to decide if you go bare legs or tights, maybe thigh high socks, it's so hard; especially in Vancouver because we have the most bipolar weather in the history of the world (that might be an exaggeration) Anyways the sky was cloudy while I was getting dressed but I had enough faith in the weather network that it was going to be sunny and 14 degrees, I literally checked again before getting out of bed; so I made the huge decision to wear a Cheap Monday dress and flatform sandals...
Relatively nervous about my choice I told myself it's early the sun will come out by the time I'm downtown at school...Yeah apparently not. I got to the bus stop that's across the street from my house and as soon as I got there I feel raindrops. HOW COULD IT BE RAINING! I was so confused how do you mix up sunny with no clouds and rain! I lost all faith in the weather network at that point, so i checked my app again and low and behold the weather for Friday: high of 11, light rain, clouds and a bit of sun...and for Saturday HIGH OF 14 WITH SUNSHINE. Yup. I based my outfit on the wrong day and have been freezing cold all morning. The weather is lovely now though so it all worked out!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
SKOUTS HONOR
On Monday I volunteered at Skout Agency a Vancouver
wholesaler. They just had a sample sale and needed help packing up all last
season’s samples and bringing out the next.
When I got the email the first thing that jumped out at me
was work for clothes and I was immediately interested. That’s the dream when volunteering; you only
expect to get experience out of it not swag!
The studio is the greatest place on earth; it’s racks upon
racks of clothing, shoes and bags in a white room with huge open windows and
concrete floors. If I could rent it and live there I would do it in a
heartbeat. Upon arriving all the volunteers were given time to shop around and
pull what we wanted to try on at the end of the day; basically shopping a
closed store with no pushy sales people and long line-ups.
There’s this one brand Pink Stitch that I kept gravitating
towards, it wasn’t on our list of brands we could shop from volunteering and it
killed me because oh my god the stuff was amazing. Every single garment had
sheer panels and fun hemlines.
Images from : http://www.pinkstitch.com/collections/high-summer-2013/
Before going I picked up a bag of chips and a banana
thinking I’d only be able to snack all day but Marina the woman we were helping
ordered us 5 pizzas! 5! For a handful of people and the pizza was…so…good. It
was from Uncle Fatih’s Pizza and I swear this guy; can make pizzas. At the end
of the day I walked away with a floral cropped blouse that is über- 90’s and pretty, along with 2 bracelets
and 2 necklaces all simple silver designs that I can wear everyday!
Sunday, April 6, 2014
INTERVIEW : ALEX KAZEMI
I was fortunate enough to interview Alex Kazemi for my Informative Interview class. He's 19 and has interviewed the likes of Lana del Rey and ASAP Rocky along with writing a novel "Yours Truly, Brad Sela" that was picked up by MTV. Enjoy!
What's your opinion on social medias impact on todays society?
I wish people were more moderate about it. I think Social Media is an awesome tool to televise art, in a way that is sort of punk and unfiltered. Sort of like how Beyoncé just dropped that album with zero label promo, and made it #1 with her own Instagram followers. I think that society is sort of swelled up because of it, people are becoming even more narcissistic because they are so preoccupied with selfies and how cool they want to appear to people and to create art, you need to kind of step out of yourself and look at the world and people around you. I think it also makes people conservative and cautious in a way because you are always controlling your aesthetic to be perfect and that is unnatural.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully writing the script for turning my book into a television show and meeting new people to write about, new experiences. I feel like after this book, I want to take a long break from writing but honestly I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
I know your book is set in the '90s, what is it about the '90s that you like so much? What was your favorite photo shoot from that time?
My main appeal to the 90s is that it was nihilistic and unapologetic. Artists were really aching to innovate and create something futuristic as the new millennium approached and I love the music and imagery from that era. I feel like there was a lot of rebellion against the system in pop and film, people wanted to take risks. I think everyone is very safe now. These risks were once considered daring but now in the Internet era, it is hard to show people something that hasn't been done.
The most iconic photo shoot from that time for me is Kate Moss and Nick Knight’s surveillance shoot in Vogue 95. I think it’s interesting because Kate was this fixture of perfection, so glossy and perfect yet we got to see her as a raw girl on the run in the world and I love the lo-fi attitude. It just stuck with me. It’s chilling.
How did you start your writing career?
The first time I was published was in PRIM MAGAZINE. A Fashion magazine, I was the managing editor alongside Kristin Prim. My first interviews were with La Roux and Jeremy Scott. I basically contacted Kristin on Twitter when I was 15, and we exchanged Ichat user names and started to work on the fall/winter issue. I went into it with 0 experience but I just followed my gut instinct and took the risk of trying to work with her and it ended up happening. After Prim, I worked at several other publications and used the skills I learned working with Kristin for the rest of my writing career at other magazines.
What are some ups and downs of being a writer?
I don’t like how I can’t really control my creative process. It’s very intangible, I can’t really put it in a jar or contain it.. It usually just vomits out of me. When I worked at magazines, if I saw in my head that I needed to interview Lana Del Rey. I would do everything in my power and not give up until I got an interview with Lana Del Rey. It’s a weird obsessive-compulsive process. I get really ambitiously psycho and crazy. I think sometimes I would just like to be on the outside looking in, instead of writing all the time. I feel like people don't get a choice if they want to become a writer or not. I definitely didn’t.
How did you get in contact with MTV and other important people you've met?
When I had finished my book manuscript, I was not going to give up until the book was published. I sent it probably over to 2 thousand agents and publishers, just submitting my manuscript like any other author does and I got rejection after rejection. Some people even complimented my writing and said that I was a good writer yet they told me I was a risk and wasn't commercial enough for their agency. MTV was the most receptive and they believed in my vision and I think for any artist or writer or designer in the fashion or music industry, there is always someone out there who will be able to put you on. You just have to find them.
Who's your most memorable interview?
Taylor Momsen or Lana. I think because Taylor was at a weird time in her life when people were just bothering her and comparing her to Courtney Love and not taking her transition from Gossip girl to music seriously. I respected her as an artist and she was kind of shocked that we actually talked about music. I definitely liked talking to Lana too because she was really fun and we talked about horoscopes and movies, her life experiences and stuff. It was right before her album came out and she was in London. I also hustled really hard to get that interview.
What's it like writing for Urban Outfitters blog?
It’s really fun because I love Urban Outfitters. I think people have such a strange perception over the company, they think it’s some obnoxious hipster barn but it really is a portal for people to culture themselves and try to learn about new creative things. I think lots of people, who used to shop at Hollister, go to Urban and sort of come into their own and figure out their style. That’s awesome, in my opinion.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
You can’t care about yourself and be so afraid or self-conscious about your decisions in the cutthroat industry you are going to step in. You have to risk losing it all, to gain it all and I think in Fashion. It’s really about hard work and proving yourself to the contacts that will help you further your career to where you want it to be, it’s really about having ambition and not giving up on what you want. If you are going to work in Fashion. You have to understand that people are going to want you to know what the Antwerp Six is; you have to know your references and have knowledge. I don’t think anyone wants to hire someone who knows nothing because most people who work in fashion do it because they love the art of it but knowing nothing is also not a bad thing because by knowing nothing, you should realize you have all the time to learn. I once had no idea who Rick Owens was.
What inspired you to write a book?
I don’t really know. The book sort of wrote itself? I felt possessed! I’m still in complete denial that I wrote a book; I keep asking people “Is it an actual book?” Because to me it is just images and words beside each other… I think it was born via a certain rage in me over past experiences and also it is a way for me to escape and explore themes and emotions via fiction.
What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t really do anything. I like to go for walks sometimes but I usually just work and write in my bedroom. I like to go to movies with a friend, if they are up for it and I like to read non-fiction books or watch documentaries. I love art books.
What movies, books etc. do you get inspiration from?
It’s very hard to create something new in this day and age, especially in the Internet era where everything is archived and fragmented and for that reason: when writing my book, I tried to not expose myself to any fictional movies or books from the past because I wanted to try to say something new for the first time. I didn't even watch Heathers until I was finished because I wanted to completely be unexposed.. I don’t have a direct influence. When you are creating something, it has to come from a pure part of you. You have to close your eyes and just imagine.
The first time I was published was in PRIM MAGAZINE. A Fashion magazine, I was the managing editor alongside Kristin Prim. My first interviews were with La Roux and Jeremy Scott. I basically contacted Kristin on Twitter when I was 15, and we exchanged Ichat user names and started to work on the fall/winter issue. I went into it with 0 experience but I just followed my gut instinct and took the risk of trying to work with her and it ended up happening. After Prim, I worked at several other publications and used the skills I learned working with Kristin for the rest of my writing career at other magazines.
What are some ups and downs of being a writer?
I don’t like how I can’t really control my creative process. It’s very intangible, I can’t really put it in a jar or contain it.. It usually just vomits out of me. When I worked at magazines, if I saw in my head that I needed to interview Lana Del Rey. I would do everything in my power and not give up until I got an interview with Lana Del Rey. It’s a weird obsessive-compulsive process. I get really ambitiously psycho and crazy. I think sometimes I would just like to be on the outside looking in, instead of writing all the time. I feel like people don't get a choice if they want to become a writer or not. I definitely didn’t.
How did you get in contact with MTV and other important people you've met?
When I had finished my book manuscript, I was not going to give up until the book was published. I sent it probably over to 2 thousand agents and publishers, just submitting my manuscript like any other author does and I got rejection after rejection. Some people even complimented my writing and said that I was a good writer yet they told me I was a risk and wasn't commercial enough for their agency. MTV was the most receptive and they believed in my vision and I think for any artist or writer or designer in the fashion or music industry, there is always someone out there who will be able to put you on. You just have to find them.
Who's your most memorable interview?
Taylor Momsen or Lana. I think because Taylor was at a weird time in her life when people were just bothering her and comparing her to Courtney Love and not taking her transition from Gossip girl to music seriously. I respected her as an artist and she was kind of shocked that we actually talked about music. I definitely liked talking to Lana too because she was really fun and we talked about horoscopes and movies, her life experiences and stuff. It was right before her album came out and she was in London. I also hustled really hard to get that interview.
What's it like writing for Urban Outfitters blog?
It’s really fun because I love Urban Outfitters. I think people have such a strange perception over the company, they think it’s some obnoxious hipster barn but it really is a portal for people to culture themselves and try to learn about new creative things. I think lots of people, who used to shop at Hollister, go to Urban and sort of come into their own and figure out their style. That’s awesome, in my opinion.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
You can’t care about yourself and be so afraid or self-conscious about your decisions in the cutthroat industry you are going to step in. You have to risk losing it all, to gain it all and I think in Fashion. It’s really about hard work and proving yourself to the contacts that will help you further your career to where you want it to be, it’s really about having ambition and not giving up on what you want. If you are going to work in Fashion. You have to understand that people are going to want you to know what the Antwerp Six is; you have to know your references and have knowledge. I don’t think anyone wants to hire someone who knows nothing because most people who work in fashion do it because they love the art of it but knowing nothing is also not a bad thing because by knowing nothing, you should realize you have all the time to learn. I once had no idea who Rick Owens was.
What inspired you to write a book?
I don’t really know. The book sort of wrote itself? I felt possessed! I’m still in complete denial that I wrote a book; I keep asking people “Is it an actual book?” Because to me it is just images and words beside each other… I think it was born via a certain rage in me over past experiences and also it is a way for me to escape and explore themes and emotions via fiction.
What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t really do anything. I like to go for walks sometimes but I usually just work and write in my bedroom. I like to go to movies with a friend, if they are up for it and I like to read non-fiction books or watch documentaries. I love art books.
What movies, books etc. do you get inspiration from?
It’s very hard to create something new in this day and age, especially in the Internet era where everything is archived and fragmented and for that reason: when writing my book, I tried to not expose myself to any fictional movies or books from the past because I wanted to try to say something new for the first time. I didn't even watch Heathers until I was finished because I wanted to completely be unexposed.. I don’t have a direct influence. When you are creating something, it has to come from a pure part of you. You have to close your eyes and just imagine.
What's your opinion on social medias impact on todays society?
I wish people were more moderate about it. I think Social Media is an awesome tool to televise art, in a way that is sort of punk and unfiltered. Sort of like how Beyoncé just dropped that album with zero label promo, and made it #1 with her own Instagram followers. I think that society is sort of swelled up because of it, people are becoming even more narcissistic because they are so preoccupied with selfies and how cool they want to appear to people and to create art, you need to kind of step out of yourself and look at the world and people around you. I think it also makes people conservative and cautious in a way because you are always controlling your aesthetic to be perfect and that is unnatural.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully writing the script for turning my book into a television show and meeting new people to write about, new experiences. I feel like after this book, I want to take a long break from writing but honestly I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
I know your book is set in the '90s, what is it about the '90s that you like so much? What was your favorite photo shoot from that time?
My main appeal to the 90s is that it was nihilistic and unapologetic. Artists were really aching to innovate and create something futuristic as the new millennium approached and I love the music and imagery from that era. I feel like there was a lot of rebellion against the system in pop and film, people wanted to take risks. I think everyone is very safe now. These risks were once considered daring but now in the Internet era, it is hard to show people something that hasn't been done.
The most iconic photo shoot from that time for me is Kate Moss and Nick Knight’s surveillance shoot in Vogue 95. I think it’s interesting because Kate was this fixture of perfection, so glossy and perfect yet we got to see her as a raw girl on the run in the world and I love the lo-fi attitude. It just stuck with me. It’s chilling.
Friday, April 4, 2014
#NOTBANKSY
Graffiti art
is becoming increasingly popular around the world; especially in places like
Los Angeles and New York, but never Vancouver. Vancouver has murals and strategically
planned, very thought out culturally relevant masterpieces that SCREAM British
Columbia at you.
Orca mural
It wasn’t
until this past month that Vancouver Street art got a little more interesting.
It turns out we have our very own Banksy. The artist did so well replicating
Banksy’s style that it went viral because people thought the infamous, faceless,
creative genius had been to Vancouver. Banksy himself
(whomever he is) posted the photo on his Facebook page with the hash
tag #notbanksy. It’s a pretty huge deal
to have him recognize one of our local street talents.
Nobody likes me
Image from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/03/05/banksy-vancouver-street-artist-iheart_n_4906494.html.com
Even Olivier
Theysken, designer for Theory, Instagramed the art piece! Rarely does something
like fashion or art that comes out of Vancouver get so much hype; it was really
crazy to see the image come up on my Instagram feed from someone really
recognized in the fashion industry.
Exposing or Praising i♥ ?
Image from
http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/Vancouver+artist+graffiti+goes+viral+thanks+boost+from+Banksy/9581784/story.html
I’m super curious
to know how other artists feel about the piece. I came across an article that
said i♥ was plagiarizing and when Banksy
posted the image he was “exposing” the artist, not sharing the art with his
fans. Personally I’m stoked and proud; it would be amazing for Vancouver to
have our own upcoming anonymous artist roaming the streets wreaking havoc and
controversy on the world!
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