The incredibly Gifted and TalentedDana Williams is headed out on the road, opening up for Leighton Meester on her upcoming tour in two weeks! You can find her new single, "I Wish It Was You" on iTunes or Spotify, and follow her updates @Daneswilliams. Watch out Leighton!
The Cult are about to be everywhere you look, once again. Their new record Choice of Weapon is coming out next month, they're heading out on a sick tour this summer with Against Me! This new extremely killer video and song from the new album is out now. They will be your soundtrack for the foreseeable future if it's up to me. X - Jen
We've got an exclusive white vinyl edition of Best Coast's The Only Place, which is out today. The album sleeve also features a rad illustration from the very talented Jess Rotter. We're happy to know them both!!
I couldn't believe my eyes when I flipped through the Mother Denim Wander 2012 lookbook, as they seem to be making every wearable piece possible. Literally every big denim style that exists, from mini-skirt to bell bottom and everything in between. I have no doubt they will be the new staple in a matter of weeks. X - Jen
Farm Tactic's Kyle Ng has set up shop at Space 15 Twenty with Field Study, a month-long pop-up that features some of the coolest outdoor gear around. So cool, even, that this past weekend the Aetherstream came by for a visit.
Sparkle and shine, Natasha Ghosn's work is so fine. Her artwork goes by the name of Mondo Mondo. It's also darling, it's so special, and it's oozing with the sweetest of the sweetest.
Where are you from and what are you doing now?
I am from Texas. I live in Los Angeles now. Right now I'm winding down from a long day of hand modeling.
Where did you go to school and what did you study?
I went to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. We didn't have majors so I got to study all sorts of things. I focused mainly on fashion history, fiber arts, and drawing.
What is Mondo Mondo?
Mondo Mondo is my website. It started out as a T-shirt line. The word "mondo" connotes sensationalization. It also means "world" in Italian. I could say its my sensationalized view of the world.
Can you tell me about the mind blowing rave T-shirts you were making a while back?
Haha, cool, thank you. I made them about four years ago. In 2008 I think. At the time I was living in New York and the trend was being spooky; upside down crosses, studs, leather, etc. So I went out on a limb and made something for the marginalized flower power people. They are a mix of digital collages and a lot of hand dyeing and painting on a heavy cotton t-shirt.
Do you feel like your artwork changes according to where you live?
No, I think my artwork changes according to where my heart is.
How would you describe your experiences form each city and what inspired you when you lived in Chicago? NY? L.A.?
I love Chicago for its authenticity, New York for its romance, and L.A. for the peace of mind and the weather. I will say that most of my dreams take place in New York.
What were you wearing as a little baby?
I have a picture somewhere of me wearing a yellow bikini. I just googled "baby bikini", it's really cute.
What was your favorite outfit when you were a child?
I was really inspired by the Olsen twins when they were detectives.
How about when you were a teenager?
I was lucky because my mom had a really cool store. She carried brands like Miss Sixty, Fiorucci, and Fornarina. So I wore a lot of that. I was also pretty into the mod thing back then.
As a young adult?
Like a sixties-nineties thing inspired by Lady Miss Kier from Deee-lite.
And now?
I feel like I'm doing me from the heart. I've moved away from looks that are decade derivative. Less of an idea and more of a feeling. I try to buy things that are high quality that I'll love for a long time.
How do you imagine yourself when you're elderly?
I hope to be healthy with a lot of energy and surrounded by the people I love. I wouldn't mind having suede Gucci loafers in every color.
What is your work ethic when you're making drawings and collages?
I'm lucky to have my studio at home. First I make a coffee or a tea. I usually listen to a comedy or a spiritual podcast while I work. Music usually distracts me. Sometimes I forget to put anything on and then I realize I've been sitting in silence for 6 hours!
Top three scents:
Sunscreen, sweet grass, and the smell of bread baking when you walk by a Subway.
Top three records:
Paris by Malcolm Mclaren, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Music Selector is the Soul Reflector by Deee-lite.
Top three novels:
My Antonia by Willa Cather, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathaniel West.
If you were a fabric or material, what would you be?
Rayon. Semi-synthetic, semi-natural.
Can you tell me a story about LUV?
Is that an acronym? Is it kind of like SUV? I drive a Nissan Versa. I love it. It has great gas mileage. But for fun sometimes I drive my boyfriend's Volvo station wagon. I pretend like I am driving a boat down the streets of Los Angeles. The end.
HAHA!
What are you looking forward to next in the world of Mondo Mondo?
Stone Cold Fox are one of the latest labels to be picked up at Urban Outfitters for the Surf Daze Collection. We spoke to them about a few of their favorite things, the life of being a Stone Cold Fox and much more.
How did Stone Cold Fox begin? What were you doing before? D: It began after Cydney graduated for fashion design in San Francisco, and I graduated for merchandise marketing and business in L.A. We both had to move back home, and we started a blog with Cyd’s senior collection, which we added on a few more styles. We did it all in her parents extra room and we were cutting all the orders out on a kitchen table and Cyd was sewing in a little room. From there we worked side jobs and did SCF at night, and it slowly grew from there. We got picked up in a few stores, got an official work space and website, and we just take it day by day and have so much fun with it.
I imagine Penny Lane from Almost Famous would have stocked her suitcase before Morocco with everything from your label. Do your inspirations change each season or are there certain things always fueling what you want to do with your latest collection?
Cydney: She would definitely pack lots of SCF and beautiful vintage pieces! The inspirations do change for every collection, but we always stick with the SCF aesthetic. Very '70s, lingerie inspired, delicate pieces that feel vintage.
What's the normal routine over at SCF headquarters? C: It's quite hectic here; we answer a ton of emails every day, we cut out personal orders. I try to set aside some time to make a new item every day, pattern work and sketching. Dallas is working with our production team getting all the items ready for stores. We sometimes have fittings in the office with brides, or just people who want to come in. And sometimes we go to LA and get prints, and fabrics for orders.
Where would your go-to surfing destination be and why? Dallas: I have always wanted to go to Brazil and check out the beautiful beaches and the culture over there. I heard there are great jewelry and accessories stands right on the beach and that sounds like heaven to me! I would also love to go back to Bali. We went there about two years ago, and it seriously changed our lives. That place is magical.
What are you listening to, in and out of the office? C: Right now I’m really into Alabama Shakes, Fleet Foxes, Tennis, and Brian Jonestown Massacre.
What kind of things do you collect? D: Yes, we do love to collect. We might have a bit of a shopping problem. We love our carved out skull heads from Bali, antique embroidered Turkish throws and pillows, coffee table books, Moroccan rugs, cow hyde rugs, and beaded crystal glasses.
Getting inside your closet, what are you grabbing first in case of a fire? C: My leather Friend of Mine shorts, this amazing crochet vintage slip, and my fur jackets. Luckily almost all of the SCF items are at the office so they are safe. D: Oh that’s a hard one. I would try to save all my shoes, these amazingly soft leather pants from The Row, and my antique turquoise cuff and matching earrings.
Who would be your dream person, alive or dead, to dress? D: I would say Jane Birkin and Kate Bosworth.
Do you plan on expanding SCFHome, your bedding collection? C: Yes! We love home décor so much. We are coming out with our newest home collection in May 2012, and we will probably do one a year. We have redone our entire work space, and decked out our new home in Venice Beach. The home wears are so amazing, with the most beautiful linens and silks mixed with laces. This time we are graduating into more kitchen wear, and some new bedding.
What would be your dream to do next? Footwear? Shades? A store? C: I think a store would be really cool, and bringing in one or two accessories. We did a cow-hyde clutch in our second collection that was so amazing, so I would love to start doing travel bags or small clutches again. D: Definitely footwear—that would be my dream! I have so many ideas already and I have always loved shoes. Whenever we go to flea markets or antique shops, Cyd is always the one who finds the amazing clothes and I find the amazing accessories. I would love to do it all and open a shop. That’s what I originally went to school for, so one day we will have our own shop filled with SCF and amazing accessories!
It may not be Hellz Bellz first foray into footwear but it's the first official for the label all by themselves and they killed it! The perfect color ways and sick design of all three shoes will definitely have everyone anxious to get their hands on a pair! X - Jen
In their witty book and blog, No More Dirty Looks, bicoastal BFFs Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt get to the bottom of what's toxic and what's not in your shower and makeup bag, and offer tips on how to green your routine. You can trust them to find the freakiest DIY techniques (who knew beets make a great lip and cheek stain?) and road-test the latest skin, hair, and makeup products on the eco-scene. Below, the dynamic duo shares their story (and some tricks of the trade) with UO. -Eviana
Why did you become crusaders for clean beauty products?
Alexandra: Siobhan was visiting and we thought it would be a great idea to get Brazilian Blowouts for a party we were going to. Of course, it turned out to be a terrible idea! We now know (thanks to lab studies) that the treatment we got contained extremely high levels of formaldehyde—a recognized carcinogen—which explains why we were given goggles for our burning eyes. But we're also grateful for the BB because it was our big a-ha moment.
Siobahn: From there we just basically tore through our apartments and starting reading the tiny print on all our beauty products. We became total ingredient junkies and figured if we didn't know about this stuff, other women probably didn't either. So we wrote the book and started the website we wished existed, but didn't.
A: We made a promise to each other when we started writing the book that we wouldn't turn into crunchy hippies, because that's not what this is about—it's still about feeling glamorous and pretty, just without harmful chemicals. That said, I think Siobhan has done better at keeping the promise! I have my crunchy moments.
S: She does! I am definitely crunchy in other ways—I can get pretty airy-fairy—but I don't really look that way. I like beautiful and aesthetically pleasing products. I'm way less DIY than Alexandra.
What are some of the things that surprise people the most about how toxic most beauty products are?
S: We get a lot of "whoa, whoa, whoa!" when we tell people there may be lead in their lipstick, mercury in their mascara, or formaldehyde in their salon treatment—and all of those things are true! But what's worse, to us, is the stuff that's in your shampoo, your face cleanser—the things you use every day. People are also usually pretty shocked when they learn that because of trade-secret laws, the ingredients in all synthetic fragrances (which are in everything!) do not have to be listed on labels. Finally, the simple fact that the FDA has banned fewer than 10 ingredients for use in cosmetics—when Europe has banned more than 1,000—tends to be a holy-shit moment.
What are your five favorite beauty products and why?
A: That's like asking us to choose between our children! Not that we have children. I mix it up, but you'll usually see RMS makeup in my arsenal, because it feels good and is really easy to apply on the go. I've also stayed loyal to Rare Elements conditioner, despite its high price (I rotate it with cheaper brands), because it smells like heaven and is even thicker than my old Pantene for curls.
S: I don't mind playing favorites—though mine tend to change, too! I'm currently obsessed Tammy Fender's Intensive Repair Balm, which I'm not using to really repair anything, but I find it calms redness and has improved the overall look of my skin. I also love the newly reformulated cleanser from Kahina Giving Beauty, Ilia lipsticks in bright coral and pink, and I won't leave the house without Lotus Wei's Infinite Love perfume, which smells lovely but also has mood-enhancing benefits that seems to rub off on whoever I'm around! (See? Airy fairy.)
Any new lines or that you're excited about?
S: I'm digging La Bella Figura. I'm not sure how new the line is, to be honest, but it's great.
A: Like Siobhan said: Ilia! It's an amazing newer line of clean lipsticks and creamy blushes that feels hydrating, has lasting power, and comes in really playful colors.
Anything you've tried that seemed weird but is surprisingly effective?
A: Not washing my hair.
S: Putting pure plant oils all over my body, hair and face. People who haven't tried it will think you are totally bananas for doing this, but it doesn't break out even my totally sensitive skin. It's cheap, too.
What are some of your wackiest DIY rituals?
S: I like mixing my own body scrub with brown sugar and tons of vanilla and olive oil, but that's about it. Oh, and I use honey on minor cuts and blemishes as a wound ointment, like you might use Polysporin. That's pretty weird, but it works!
A: Washing my face with honey, though that seems perfectly normal now. (See? Kinda crunchy.)
The lovely folks over at Space 15 Twenty put together this photo shoot to celebrate the last week of Hellawood and capture some of the awesome surf looks available in the shop. Stop by the Hellawood closing party this Friday from 7-10pm, and consider this week like that last long week of summer, when the water's still warm, but the air is cool and you know school is right around the corner. Yes, it is just that sad...
HELLAWOOD: Desert Blooms by Year Zero x Proxy Noise
If you haven't stopped by Space 15 Twenty's HELLAWOOD pop-up shop yet (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd.), then it must be because you've been waiting for this Friday, April 20, when Year Zero and Proxy Noise are hosting Desert Blooms—a film screening and photographic exhibition with music by Van Ville and free PBR. RSVP for a night filled with cute surfer boys and one hell of a party!
HIT SO HARD: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel
HIT SO HARD documents the personal life of openly gay Hole drummer Patty Schemel. Filled with home movies from Patty and interviews with close friends and tour mates, the film tells Schemel's story of her rise to fame and almost-fatal fall from it. It's playing now in NYC and screenings will continue around the world throughout May. We really, really want to see this!
Vanessa Mooney is a jewelry designer based out of Downtown Los Angeles. Here we talk about her latest collection and she give us some tips on how to choose jewelry that's right for you.
Hi Vanessa! What are some of the things you're into?
I love the beach, the mountains, the ocean but I also love the city—L.A., NYC, and Paris! I have always been interested in anything related to the arts whether it was music, painting, or fashion. I grew up in Hollywood so music and street style were always something I related to and was into. I have a love for anything that is creative and inspires others to be creative. I find beauty in so many things, like people and their expression of what is interesting and beautiful to them.
This collection was fun for me! I was inspired by color and I got a little wild with it. I felt like I was designing with this idea of a powerful woman. I was excited to do some really fun pops of color with mixed metals, and some cool jewelry that had a bit of an Aztec warrior feeling. From living and working in Downtown Los Angeles, I am always walking by fabrics, colors, prints, murals, buildings, and people! I took from that and mixed textures and colors. There is a mixture of different time periods and cultures with an edge.
What inspires your jewelry making?
For me it's always an accumulation of sights, feelings, and ideas that start off my collections—I am always looking and watching everywhere I go. I always feel a combination of inspiration as I get going and the pieces are completed. I like that feeling of random combinations that occur when I am done and I look at the overall collection! It doesn't feel forced but more of a flow from one piece to another.
I feel I design for that girl on the street, who you pass by and look twice. It is for someone who isn't afraid to be themselves, and tries to experience new things in life and their travels. I think the girl that wears my jewelry wants something different, so instead of doing what she sees other people do, she makes it her own in whatever way she does!
What are your favorite pieces of jewelry that you've designed?
The "Fight the Power" pieces this season! I love the layer-able rings and bangles—they make me feel sexy and strong. They are all metal and have an African punk rock feel to them, which I am totally into right now!
What are some tips you would give to someone who is interested in buying jewelry, but doesn't know where to start?
Definitely build a collection of pieces! Jewelry is super fun and can make clothing exciting. Start with something that gives you a good, sexy, tough, or fun feeling when you have it on, while also complementing your body or personality! I surprise myself all the time with suddenly wanting to wear something I would have never thought I would be into. You just have to go with it try not to limit yourself!
Do you have any idols when it comes to jewelry?
I don't know that I have idols but I really admire the work that other jewelry designers do. Pamela Love, Pade Vavra—there are so many!
If you could only wear one piece of jewelry for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would have to be the ring my husband gave me almost ten years ago when he asked me to marry him! It's a vintage diamond from the late 30's and it's my most important piece of jewelry I own.
During this time of year I'm not yet breaking out the loafer socks so I try to go for something a little more fun than, well, plain black socks. These socks from Chup would look pretty great worn with just about any shoe and a cuff in your pants—shorts too. More over at Union.
As It Lays is by far the weirdest interview show I have ever seen. Conducted by artist Alex Israel, the interviews consist of several random questions like "What's your favorite movie concession stand snack?" or "Did you ever have a crush on a professor?" So strange, but so good. - Hazel
Father John Misty's video for "Nancy From Now On" is a little NSFW, but not enough to keep us from watching it three times in a row. Watch as FJM (aka Josh Tillman, former drummer of Fleet Foxes) gets caught up in a world of alcohol, hair-cutting, and dominatrixes with hearts of gold—all while he leaves his girlfriend home in bed.
Two L.A.-based designer pals are joining forces to make recycling look good. Melissa Coker, the designer behind femme clothing line Wren, and Clare Vivier, (who has an eponymous line of chic leather goods) pooled their leftover scrap material to create a series of reversible totes, which, like both lines, are made in California. With celestial-print Wren fabric on one side and salvaged green or brown leather on the other, they offer double the shopping pleasure, without any of the guilt. –Eviana
Hellawood is a new surf-inspired pop-up shop and art show that is being featured at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd). It will feature artists like Daniel Fuller, Alex Kopps, Tin Ojeda and Kassia Meador, with men and women's surf apparel from brands like Tallow, Mikoh, Insight, Surf Bazaar and more! The opening party is this Friday, April 6th, from 7-10PM, with a live performance by JJAMZ. It's going be seriously awesome, with so much more going on than we can even fit in this post. RSVP and find out more information about Hellawood here!
