Urban Outfitters

Paine's Park Ribbon Cutting

It took some time, but Paine's Park, a much-needed skate park in Philadelphia, is finally opening. It's a skateboarder's dream! If you're around later today, May 22, make sure you check out the opening festivities (c'mon, there will be food trucks!) at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philly. —Katie

05/22/13 09:24AM

CVS Bangers: Volume 2

If you guys are looking for some tunes to blast during your Memorial Day barbeques, then you are in luck because CVS Bangers: Volume 2, the sickest party mix ever, was released this week by DJ Hennessy Youngman and promises to deliver every hot jam you'll ever need. Included on this mix are all the classic dance hits, including "Manic Monday," "Who's Gonna Take Me Home," "Missing You," and of course "Last Christmas." There are also plenty of airhorns, just so you remember how hard you're supposed to be rockin'. And don't forget—CVS Bangers: Volume 1 is just as good. —Katie

05/20/13 11:16AM

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up: Photoshoot

It's the last week to shop BAZAAAAAAR, our zamrock inspired L.A. and NYC based pop-ups that have limited-edition and custom made apparel, housewares and art. The L.A. BAZAAAAAAR closes on Monday, May 27 and NYC closes on June 2, so if there's something you've got your eye on, you'll want to get out there soon! All outfits in these photos were shot with clothing and accessories from the pop-up, including brands Osei Duro, Fashion Rising, Bombe Surprise, Makono, Tallow, African Lookbook, and a dress from our very own Marissa Maximo. These pieces are available only in our pop-up shops, so you don't want to miss this!

Photography: Stella Berkofsky

Stylist: Kimberly Bruckauer

Make-up: Amy Strozzi

Models: Maddie and Kendall at L.A. models

From London

(Photos via Stephanie Sian Smith)

05/16/13 11:20AM

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Interview: Bombe Surprise

Bombe Surprise is a London-based fashion label run by Nina Ribena, and it is currently featured at our Bazaaaaar store pop-ups. We recently spoke to Nina about the story behind her brand.

Can you give our readers a little background on yourself?
I’m Nina, and I’m from London and still live here. I did a film degree at the London College of Communication but hated it so I decided to teach myself how to sew and here I am, five years later!

Where does the name “Bombe Surprise” come from?
I spent ages trying to think of a name for my label but everything I was coming up with didn’t really work. My friend used to run a club night called Bombe Surprise and as soon as I heard the name it just made sense. I think Bombe Surprise is actually a French dessert but I take it to mean a collection of different types of weird and wonderful ideas!

How long have you been designing clothes?
I made my first outfit for myself five years ago. It was a blue catsuit with red strawberries on it. People liked what I was doing so I started a label for one-pieces called We Are All in One. As I started to get better at designing and making clothes I ventured into the world of separates and that’s when I started Bombe Surprise.

Your line can be found on Etsy. How do you think Etsy has changed fashion?
It has definitely made my designs a lot more internationally accessible. Most of my orders are from customers in the U.S. If you don’t look at fashion blogs or have your designs stocked in other shops, then I’m not sure how people would find my label without the help of Etsy!

What made you decide to start using the patterns that you do? Where did they originate? Are they traditional African patterns?
I used to work solely with jersey and stretch materials and it’s quite hard to find good patterns in those fabrics. When I found the wax fabric that I use now, I jumped on it straight away because it’s what I’d always been looking for! When I decided I wanted to make a whole collection out of it I looked into the history of it and found that the prints actually originated in Indonesia. They weren’t very popular there and were copied and imported by mostly Dutch tradesmen and shipped over to their posts in Africa where they really took off and became part of, and widely associated with, African fashion and culture. I wanted to connect that to the multicultural identity of my own background, and to how London is this great big melting pot of different cultures. There’s an artist called Yinka Shonibare that does a lot of work around the same subject.

Where do the materials you use for your clothing come from?
I buy all my fabrics from Petticoat Lane, East London.

Do you get your inspiration from London, or do you find yourself traveling a lot and getting inspiration from other places?
I travel a lot as I also dance in a band called Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs—but my big inspiration is London. I’ve yet to find somewhere so culturally diverse that isn’t completely segregated.

Who are some designers that you look up to?
Nasir Mazhar, Agi & Sam, Wanda Nylon, Moonspoon Saloon, Kit Neale, Katie Eary, Christopher Kane, House of Holland, Gareth Pugh.

What do you hope people take away from your line?
Confidence to wear bold patterns!

Where do you see your line heading in the next five years?
I’m turning the label into an online shop and who knows, maybe a real life shop. I want to design whatever I feel like and not feel like I’m constricted to a particular season or style.

What are you excited to see with the UO pop-up?
People being introduced to an array of patterns and styles they might not necessarily be familiar with.

Bombe Surprise

From Austin

05/13/13 12:25PM

ACL Lineup

Austin City Limits Music Festival has announced their lineup and it is pretty incredible. It's actually much longer than that little graphic up there would lead you to believe, so make sure you check out the lineup in its entirety here. This year, the festival is taking a page from Coachella's book and running two weekends, Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13 (tickets are available here). While it sucks that you have to wait 5+ months to go, at least you can look forward to how pleasantly unsweaty you'll be at an October music fest! —Katie

From New York

(Photo credit: David Perez)

05/10/13 03:32PM

NYC Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Opening

Last night was the opening night of our NYC Bazaaaaar Pop-Up store, and to celebrate, we had an opening party, complete with an appearance by Tina Tangalakis from Della, with Wynn from Twin Shadow DJing. Plenty of people turned out to check out the collection, which features pieces from Osei Duro, Fashion Rising, African Lookbook, Obj and Totem, and more. If you missed the party, don't worry! The pop-up shop will be running at our 5th Ave. store until June 2nd, which leaves you plenty of time for browsing. —Katie

05/10/13 11:13AM

Osei-Duro x Space 15 Twenty Present: Megan Whitmarsh at the Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop

If you're in L.A. tonight, be sure to stop by the Bazaaaar pop-up at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.) for a special evening with clothing line Osei Duro and artist Megan Whitmarsh! Come by from 7-10pm to take part in a live fashion meets art show, with live drawing! The audience is highly encouraged to participate! DJ Al Dente and DJ Last Looks will also be there in order for you to get your groove on. RSVP on Facebook! - Maddie

05/09/13 12:34PM

Listen to TORRES' self-titled debut album now!

Interview: TORRES

Tennessee-based band TORRES is playing at our new Knoxville store's opening party. We spoke with frontwoman Mackenzie Scott about finding her voice, her favorite thing about living in Tennessee, and her love for the "Man in Black."

Interview by Ally Mullen

Introduce yourself!
My name is Mackenzie Scott. I sometimes write and sing and play the guitar, and sometimes I do these things at the same time in front of people (the singing and the playing the guitar, that is). I also drink ungodly amounts of coffee and run a Facebook account for my cat, Little Bat.

Are you a born and raised Tennessean?
I’m actually not a born and raised Tennessean at all. I was born in Orlando, Florida and grew up in Macon, Georgia from the age of three. I’ve only been in Tennessee since 2009.

What's your favorite part about Tennessee?

I’d have to say it’s probably the whiskey.

Your voice is amazingly dreamy yet raw at the same time. Have you always been a singer? When did you realize you could sing well?
Thank you. I’ve always tried to sing, but I kept it a secret when I was young. I’d lock my door and sing Britney Spears songs into the mirror, but when I was around people I’d always make it a joke. I’d sing in cartoonish voices and play characters because I was too insecure to sing seriously and be myself. That’s why I got into musical theatre when I was in middle school and continued through high school. That’s also when I learned that I could actually carry a tune without having to be afraid of someone listening. Ironically, playing characters on the stage gave me the confidence I needed to be myself, unabashedly.

When did you first decide you wanted to make music?
I’m not sure. I think I’ve always made music in some form, since I was six or seven. My parents gave me the opportunity to learn to play a lot of instruments at a young age.

How old were you when you began to play guitar?

I started playing the guitar when I was about 16.

What musicians did you look up to when you began? As a female, did you specifically look up to women at all?
Male and female alike, I had a lot of influences: Johnny Cash, Joan Jett, Ryan Adams, Brandi Carlile and Tori Amos were some of my early heroes around the time I started writing songs.

Can you tell us five things that you sing about/that have influenced your writing?
1. Heartache in the morning
2. Heartache in the afternoon
3. Heartache in the evening
4. Jesus
5. Lucifer

How much does living in TN influence your music?
It doesn’t really affect the music at all.

How about your style?

It does affect my style. The Man in Black lived here; I pretty much wear whatever I think Johnny would wear. That usually means I’m wearing black, even on a scorching summer day.

What's your go-to live performance outfit?
Black pants, black boots, collared button-down shirt, black blazer, and sometimes a wide-brimmed hat.

When you're not singing your own songs, what's your #1 karaoke song to sing to?
"Crimson & Clover" by Joan Jett

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05/09/13 09:50AM

Knoxville Opening Party

This Saturday, May 11, come on out to our newly opened Knoxville, TN, store and celebrate with us! We'll have free beer (for you of-age folk, of course), and free tunes, including a DJ set by Washed Out, as well as sets by Jackson Scott and TORRES. The fun starts at 6 PM, so set yo' clocks. The new store is located at 503 Market St., Arnstein Building, Knoxville, TN. See you there!

(Photos by Betty Sze for Models.com)

05/07/13 01:44PM

"Punk: Chaos to Couture"

Opening this week at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is this year's Costume Institute exhibition, PUNK: Chaos to Couture. Ah, if only I could make it out to NYC this summer! The exhibit, which will run from May 9th to August 14th, brings together original garments from the beginnings of punk in the 1970s, and high-fashion pieces by iconic designers that will continue to push normal boundaries, like Vivienne Westwood and the late Alexander McQueen, to name a few. There are several rooms to the exhibit, namely one being dedicated to Blondie, The Ramones, Patti Smith, and Richard Hell, and another containing original items from Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's Seditionaries London boutique, where the Sex Pistols used to get their clothing from in the early '70s. This show sounds too exciting for words (especially if you're a fan of the foundations of punk rock like myself)! —Maddie

From New York

05/07/13 11:03AM

Urban Outfitters Presents BAZAAAAAR: NYC Opening Party

Don't worry New York, we didn't forget about you! We'll be setting up our second BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop at our 5th Avenue store (521 5th Ave. at 43rd) on May 9 with an opening party from 6-9 PM. Shop the Zamrock-inspired shop and art show—featuring limited edition pieces and collections by brands like Della, Fashion Rising, African Lookbook, Osei Duro and more—while listening to a DJ set by the lovely Wynne of Twin Shadow. RSVP Here!

05/03/13 02:03PM

Independent Label Market: LA

This Saturday (May 4), head on out to the Independent Label Market in LA to check out a gathering of your favorite LA indie bands! Some of the labels included are Burger, Now-Again and Anti, as well as many more. There will be special artist appearances, food trucks, and exclusive releases. Everything will be taking place from 11 AM-4 PM at Micheltorena Elementary School, 1511 Micheltorena St., Los Angeles, CA. —Katie

From Philadelphia

05/02/13 01:42PM

Wild Profile: Marissa Maximo, Meaningful Intentions

Get to know Marissa Maximo, UO's Director of Brand Relations and Special Projects and the curator behind our BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop, hitting both coasts: L.A. this Friday and NYC on May 9. In an interview with The Wild Magazine, Teena Kang speaks with Marissa about her wild side, her hopes of love and happiness and what will make her crack up laughing. Read the interview here and make sure to check out our street bazaar-inspired pop-ups if you're in the neighborhood! (via WILD) —Ally

05/02/13 01:39PM

Arrested Development "No Smoking"

In case you missed it, and to help usher in the LOLZ, here's a deleted scene from the upcoming season of Arrested Development. Poor Buster, doomed to be a Motherboy until the end of time. —Katie

05/01/13 10:27AM

Bazaaaaar Pop-Up Shop Opening

Join us this Friday at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd) in LA for the opening of the mega cool Zamrock inspired pop-up shop and art show, Bazaaaaar, presented by Dossier Journal and Urban Outfitters. Open from May 3rd until May 27th, the shop will bring together many different cultures, all in the style of an old fashioned marketplace, hence the title of the shop. Bazaaaaar will be carrying lots of interesting things, including sustainable pieces, which I'm very excited for! Come and see treasures from Della, Now Again Records, Android Homme, and lots more. During the evening there will also be a DJ set by Kilo Kish, a live performance by Theophilus London, and a Zamrock Live! performance, featuring WITCH's Jagari Chanda. If you're not familiar with Zamrock, it is a type of rock music that came from Zambia in the 1970s. If you're able to attend this Friday, make sure you RSVP on Facebook or by email to RSVP@Space15Twenty.com. —Maddie

04/30/13 12:31PM

Neutral Milk Hotel 2013 Tour

That's right! Neutral Milk Hotel will be reuniting this fall to play a handful of shows. Just try not to think about what a nightmare scoring tickets is going to be. —Katie

04/30/13 11:41AM

Happy Birthday, Willie Nelson!

Willie Nelson is 80 years old today and still as delightful as ever, as evidenced by the above video he did with Conan yesterday. The man has still got it! Here's to hoping he keeps rockin' a spliff and those braids for another 80 years. —Katie

From New York

04/29/13 12:22PM

'Lost Then Found'

Last week, Interview Magazine released these incredibly simple yet perfect photos of one of my favorite artists, and the magazine's founder, Andy Warhol. The color portraits, taken by a British photographer named Steve Wood, were taken at the Deauville American Film Festival in the early '80s, and were just uncovered last year. I am personally a huge fan of Warhol, and its really cool to see some portraits of him in a normal setting, rather than The Factory, or even a self portrait. Wood's portraits are now going to be part of a week long exhibition in New York City, running from May 3 until May 12, called Lost Then Found. This seems like something cool you're gonna want to check out! —Maddie

From Austin

04/26/13 04:16PM