Designer Matthew Williamson’s second collection for H&M hits stores May 14th!  CUTE.  Check out some of the pieces.

HER

HIM

Last night our Editor in Chief, Emil and I attended Converse 1HUND(RED) Artist Dinner at Marcus Samuelsson’s landmark restaurant Aquavit at 65 E 55th St in NYC.  The event hosted by both Samuelsson and music artist Lupe Fiasco served a delicious gourmet African meal just for the occasion.  The dinner was to help spark the conversation about PRODUCT (RED), and to call attention to many creative artists who use their power to help change the world, and to spread the word to consumers that they can also make choices that affect change.

Notable Attendees…

SUCCESS IS BEING A QUESTION ON JEOPARDY
The now highly acknowledged Damone Roberts started his career as a make up-artist more than 10 years ago. It wasn’t long before he did celebs.  “If you’re good, the word spreads and they come to you.” is how he explains why celebrities seem to be standing in line to get the magic touch of Damone – who actually has Heather Locklear to thank for becoming the Eye Brow King he is today: “I did Heather Locklear’s make up, and one day she called me when there was no filming and said that I was the first one who had gotten her eyebrows to actually stay on even after she washed off her make up.  She asked me if I could come to her house and do her brows. Before I knew it I was doing eye brow parties for 50 women, drinking champagne.” Damone realized he was on to something and in 2002 when he opened the first Damone Roberts salon in LA.  Today he can be held responsible for the beautiful brows of Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Estelle, Eve, Monique, Vivica Fox, Venus and Serena Williams, Angela Basset and many many more. Also he has completed the third and last season of his TLC show on how women can take 10 years off.  All of this is great, for sure, but for Damone, the ultimate proof of his success is being questioned in game shows.  “There is a question about me in Trivial Pursuit, and just the other day I was watching Jeopardy and the question was ‘Damone Roberts became famous for shaping this facial feature.’  It was so funny, and one guy got it right!” Beyond this great game success Damone last year opened up the second Damone Roberts salon, this time on NYC’s Fifth Avenue, with leading brow diva Armond Hambrick  behind the steering wheel. “A cool, relaxing salon with an amazing vibe.” Armond describes the fairly new salon that already has had customers like Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Keysha Cole for a visit.

THE BROW DIVAS
Damone trains all his personnel thoroughly for two months. This makes them understand the technique and philosophy behind his brow shaping talent.  It also makes them Damone Roberts certified Brow Divas. “We take brows seriously.” he says and assures that his Brow Divas will give the clients what he calls an “Oh my God”-moment, which speaks for the reaction everybody gets looking in the mirror after a treatment.  Even if a great deal of both of the salon’s clientele are super stars, there’s no stopping normal people like me and you dropping in or making an appointment to achieve that “Oh my God” experience. (Visit www.damoneroberts.com for contact and pricing)

Damone Roberts
Armond Hambrick
THE PERFECT ARCH
So, what is the secret behind the enormous success behind Damone Roberts soon to be brow empire?  Damone explains it like this “It is all about finding the right shape for your face” something that evidently is harder than it sounds.  Leading Brow Diva in NYC, Armond mentions that “Most people don’t get it right. We are trained for this and see the customers face when they lie down, which relaxes every muscle in the face.” Damone is also convinced that his art degree has something to do with his ability shape brows. What you want is a thick, shaped brow (think Beyoncé), what you DON’T want is an over-plucked brow.  “Just think about Cinderella, she has thick brows, her stepsisters have thin pointy brows, because they make you look mean. Thick brows make you prettier, softer and nicer and it takes ten years off your face”. Of course, anyone who sees Damone’s work on the cover of  “I Am … Sasha” gets that.  Yet, what about if your brows are thin or close to non-existing from the beginning?  Well, Damone, Armond and their crew can still help you find your shape – and they might even make your eye brows grow! They offer a range of products to help maintain and give your brows contour and shape, like the “Brow Kit” that even comes with an instruction book – and a product to make them grow thick; “Brow Gain” (available on www.amazon.com and www.damoneroberts.com ).

If you want beautiful brows, like seen on the stars you better pay these guys a visit every three to four weeks to maintain that young, soft look.  If you want your entire self to be beautiful from the brows down, you better wait until 2010 to get Damone’s first book. Yes, the Brow King has got a lot going on, “I want to be the Sean Combs and Matha Stewart of Beauty”.

Reported by Hannah Arnhog

STARTING FRESH
Identical twins Idyl and Ayaan Mohallim always shared an interest for fashion.  In fact, up to college they shared just about everything.  Their college years they spent apart from each other and from fashion.  However, after majoring in English and Computer science they realized that their hearts belonged to fashion.  By following those hearts in 2003 they twins packed their bags and moved to New York to pursue the dream; a fashion line of their own.  They both landed internships in fashion, Idyl at Jill Stuart, Ayaan at Betsey Johnson, followed by jobs in online marketing and clothing companies.  In 2008 the time had come to stand on their own four legs.  The sisters invested money in creating the first collection of Mataano dresses.  The name meaning twins in their mother tongue Somali.  The next step was to put together and send out a press kit.  Not long after that, they got a call from Oprah.  Thursday, October 23, 2008 the Mohallim-sisters were brought on the show and given the opportunity to ask two other co-designing twins, the Olsens, for business advise.  Now, five months later, their business is definitely starting to take shape. “Never give up your dream and be ready to really work hard” coined as the recipe to reaching your dreams according to Ayaan. On how to get in to the fashion business without any relevant background she continues “We had a hunger and put our selves in the right surroundings.  We’re young, not married with no kids.  We have nothing to loose but everything to gain.”

Ayaan and Idyl

SISTERHOOD
There was never a doubt about working together for Idyl and Ayaan.  ”Even though we have different personalities we just mesh so well.  We have a good balance.  When I get all hyper about something, Idyl can calm me down and vice versa.” says Ayaan about there relationship as twins and business partners.  Everyone who has a sibling knows that surely it cannot be all good all the time.  “Sometimes our opinions go apart, of course. Then we bring in a third party to get the final decision.  You have to compromise in life. Especially if you want to be successful” says Ayaan.

Spring ’09
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
As for the Mataano’s premier collection Spring ’09, in stores now, it is all about color and inspiration from the designer twins Somali roots.  “African women love color! It’s like the brighter you are, the more you stand out.”  Ayaan tells us about the concept of the Spring collection and notes that Fall will be a little different.  “We felt with the recession going on we wanted to tone it down a bit.  Having colorful spring lines and more sober clothes in fall.”

INSIGHT
Speaking of continuation Mataano’s will evolve from just focusing on dresses to – Spring ’10 – for a wider repertoire with blouses, pants and jackets.  Yet, this isn’t the only plan for the ambitious twins.  “Within the next five years we want to be in more boutiques and more department stores. By then we are going to be a lifestyle brand, not only making clothes, but shoes and jewelry too. We want to design the Mataano woman not only the Mataano dress.” says Ayaan, and adds that there is more dreams to be fulfilled “We really want to open a flagship store in New York.  We would love to have one in the meatpacking district.”

Check out Mataano’s Spring ’09 fashion shoot:

Reported by Hannah Arnhog

MANHATTAN’S BOWERY, THE NEXT PLACE TO INDULGE?
After working at huge fashion houses like Chanel and Versace, designer Loris Diran felt here was a whole in the market for high-end tailor made fashion with a younger feel to it.  In 2003 his own line was born, and today, six years later is his first very own store.  Choosing the East Village area of Manhattan for the store to be located in was never really an issue for Diran.  “I spent a lot of time growing up around here and have a strong emotional connection to the area.” he says.  “The area is evolving and I feel that so have I.”  It is not yet as much a walk in spot as it is a destination, but with boutiques like Oak and John Varvatos just round the corner, Loris Diran probably is right in his beliefs that people will come.

Loris Diran

CONCEPT: LAKE COMO, HAPPINESS AND SNACKS
The minimalistic midcentury house in Lake Como, Northern Italy where Diran spent his child hood vacations was the inspiration for the interior design of the boutique.  The designer himself hunted every single piece of furniture, which is all Italian from the nineteen sixties.  “I was obsessed with getting everything perfect. The boutique has to make the customers feel good about themselves. It’s not just about buying a piece of clothing, it’s about the entire experience.  From when you walk in the door, to the way you feel when you’re being fitted, to when you sit down and have a drink and refreshments while waiting for your bill to come, listening to some music – it’s about having a good experience.”   To give that experience Diran always makes sure there is good music and a happy attitude going on in the boutique.

FOR THE HIPSTER AND THE CHIC
The line offers high quality hand made tailored garments, but with a young fit.  Inspired by the sixties aesthetic, Loris wanted his men’s line to appeal to the younger hipster in his thirties who is fit and really cool.  Think David Bowie or The Beatles when they came to America, with skinny pants and a tailored jacket.  “My line is always young but very refined.” says Diran and describes his women’s line: “It’s what a girl with a high end background finding a new young perspective would want to wear downtown.”  A suit starts off at $2100 and a shirt around $270.

INSPIRATION, NOT VACATION
Because the boutique is open seven days a week, a vacation is not in sight in the future or the past for Loris Diran. “I think about the boutique every single hour, but I still couldn’t be happier about it, because I no longer have to compromise.” But he doesn’t need a go away to find inspiration “I get inspiration from the strangest things, for the spring collection I got my inspiration looking at what people in the streets wear in winter. They were wearing combat boots, jackets and big hats and they almost looked like medieval warriors, and I thought ‘that’s the theme of the collection.’  I think every creative artist can find inspiration everywhere.”

FLAGSHIP DOWN, MORE TO GO
The original plan was to open several boutiques following this one, firstly in Moscow, Russia and Dubai, where the elegant with an edge has a market.  Those plans were made pre-recession so they’re put on ice for now.  Opening new stores is most definitely in sight for Loris Diran who already has lived through two recessions and has a bright sight on the future.  “For a designer, there is no greater sense of independence than when you can direct market to your target customer the way you have when having your own stores.”

Loris Diran Boutique located at 3 East 1st Street (btwn: 1st and Bowery), NYC

As told to Hannah Arnhog

TAKING IT TO THE SHELVES
Brothers Pusha T and Malice of Clipse really don’t have to go shopping to always be wearing the latest street wear.  When you’re a star, it just comes to you in boxes.  So when the fans got all excited about what they were wearing and wanted to know where to get it, well they hardly knew.  Now they know.  Cause now it’s all their own line Playcloths, which Pusha T describes as “fresh, clean street wear with sparks of nostalgia” and now affordable that the fans can buy.  Pusha is convinced they will, despite of the economic climate going on.  “Recession or no recession, you still want to look good. If you’re the type of person who cares about that, you’ll make it happen.”

BROTHERHOOD
As well as their music, Playcloths is a project shared between the two brothers.  Someone who has siblings their selves might wonder how that works without wanting to kill each other at the end of each day.  Pusha and Malice seem to have found the secret recipe, to hang out when it’s work related.  “Whenever we’re together we’re Clipse, it’s work.  We don’t ever get tired of each other”, says Pusha.   As for style, what’s hot and not, they understand each other completely: “We both like a lot of fly shit”.

MUSIC VS FASHION
Having been in the music business for so long, it’s not only refreshing with a new career, it’s even effectuating, “Music is like the longtime girlfriend you started to take for granted.  Fashion is like this new hot girl that just wakes up your passion.  Now I want to do that for awhile.” says Pusha.  A-hem, we’re talking about fashion here people.  Even though he feels like doing his new love, his old girlfriend might just demand a pretty big part of his life in the near future.  The Clipse new album, Till The Casket Drops will hit stores late this summer, and after that a tour awaits.  Although, Pusha is one of the lucky ones, you get to spend time with his long time girlfriend and new passionate fling at the same time.  As well as on stage too!  What a more perfect opportunity to get the line out to the fans than by launching it parallel with a new album?

PLAYING CLIPSE STYLE
Should a line be interpreted by its name alone, Playcloths?   Would that be all play and no work, right?  Well, it doesn’t really work that way in Clipse land where work is play and play is work.  Or was it the other way around?  “Wear it any night out on the town, anytime during the day, whenever you’re ready to hit the streets and live life.” says Pusha T as he eagerly adds “and on a date, yeah, on a HOT date.  Write that.”

For more information, or to check out the collection go to www.Playcloths.com

As told to Hannah Arnhog

Lauren Alexander and April Leight met round and about in the Hollywood scene.  Two and a half years later their clothes are all over that same scene.

April and Lauren

THE NEW STUFF

The LnA Spring and Summer collection is all about colors and brightness.  Actually, LnA is always about just that.  “We get our inspiration from just being out and about, and the general LA lifestyle” says the designers who can see a distinct difference between LA and NYC style.  ”There are different mentalities, in LA it’s
more laid back so people dress more relaxed, and always bright colors!  Where as in New York people tend to dress more conservative, in black and grey.  People dress up more.”  Except for keeping it colorful Lauren and April this season, as every season.  They stay true to their original concept of always keeping it basic, but add a twist to it.  “Basics with an edge, that’s what we are, and every season we just find a way to reinvent that.”  The edge right now would be the recurring zipper.  Yes, you might have seen it before, but LnA were actually the first to launch zipped leggings.  “It’s very annoying when people copy us, so we try to think that it’s a good thing, that we’re trendsetters.”

THE VISION

LnA has been a brand for almost two and a half years and even though the two ladies started out with a good idea in April’s house, packing and shipping orders with their own hands, the big plans were always there.  They knew they were on to something good when they met through a friend and discovered they both were dreaming about creating a t-shirt collection.  “Things change and you learn a lot along the way, but with the Fall ’09 collection we feel you really get a sense of what LnA truly is, it’s totally April and Laure.”  And now, with customers like Madonna, Brad Pitt, Kate Moss, Gwen Stefani, the Olsen twins, Keira Knightley amongst others, do we have to say they’re not packing orders?   “To see somebody wearing your design in a magazine or even on the street is definitely the best”.

THE BOYFRIENDS

April and Lauren unanimously agree that men’s wear always seems to fit better than women’s, a fact they established pretty quick: ”Actually we were both wearing men’s shirts when we first met.”  The mutual feelings on male clothing even led to an entire collection called The Boyfriend Collection.  “Men’s clothes on women are just so sexy and hot.  A pencil skirt with an oversize shirt, that’s just so our style”.   And no, the boyfriends didn’t mind.

THE HOLLYWOOD HORDE

With the two of them living and meeting in Hollywood, of course having celebrities wearing their design was part of the marketing plan, “It’s a great brand recognition for us, people look up to them for their style”
says the designers, who knew a handful of celebrities before they started their collection.  After that, they managed to put LnA on all the A-listers, and got them coming back for more!  “They love LnA, because
they’re just the perfect basics.  Things you live in”.

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OSCARS LOAD UP

New York designer Moire Conroy is one of the exclusively selected young designers who has a shot of having their design worn on the red carpet of The 81st Annual Academy Awards.  Though she sees a possible victory as a huge opportunity to get fast-forwarded to the career she always dreamt of, she couldn’t be calmer. “The votes have been counted and now it’s like whatever happens happens. All of this has been a blessing either way and right now I’m just really exited” Moire says of her pre-Oscar nerves.

Moire’s Oscar design

If she takes home the grand prize she will work the red carpet in her own design; a black multi layered silk jersey draped dress. If that will get her to a best or worst dressed list is yet to see, but frankly she doesn’t really care. “Sometimes the dresses on the worst list are ones I really like. Like Bjork’s swan dress, I think that was amazing! The Oscars is such an opportunity for artists to express themselves, and if they do it in that extent, I often like it”.

IN A NUTSHELL

Romantic, elegant and comfortable: three words with which Moire describes her personal style. A style that throughout the years has come closer to the style of the garments she designs. “Recently I’ve been tending to wear a lot of my own designs, which is something I wouldn’t do at all in the past.  I changed as a person a lot when I moved to New York, and then so did my style.” says Moire.

SURE THING

“ I never leave the house without a good bag. I need it big, to fit a water bottle, my sewing kit and a sketchbook. I like it bohemian and stylish.” But if Moire has to choose one thing from her closet she can’t live without, it would undoubtedly be her black Fiorentini and Baker motorcycle boots. In fact, boots are Moire’s over all favorite trend right now “I just love all the boots women are wearing on the streets of New York, I just want to run up to them and feel them!”

Moire in her studio

CELEBRITY PERFECTION

Though Moire’s aim is to make pieces for all people she has a couple of dream customers “I would love to dress Angelina Jolie and the Olsen twins! I think they have incredible senses of style, they dress romantic, stylish and elegant but still bohemian and comfortable. And they’re not afraid to wear layers or vintage.”

STYLE FLAW

Even though Moire discovered her fashion interest when she was only a little kid, and has been determined to become a designer since after high school, she hasn’t always been spot on in her own style. “When I was living in Paris I just wore jeans, a t-shirt and tennis shoes. Even though I was studying fashion I was too focused on work to care what I was wearing. I can regret now that I didn’t take the opportunity to explore my style when I lived in another place.”

FASHION PHILOSOPHY

To Moire, dressing well shouldn’t be that hard, “It’s all bout keeping it simple, accessorizing well and knowing what looks flattering on you. If it doesn’t feel right, you probably shouldn’t wear it”.

INSPIRED BY

When Moire looks for inspiration for her next collection she can look just about anywhere. “For my newest collection I was inspired by kaleidoscopes.” She says and explains that she researches every thread of inspiration very thoroughly (researching kaleidoscopes lead her to researching Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which led her to researching Nostradamus and Edward Casey, and their ability to predict … and so, it goes on). “Also my favorite designers are Marc Jacobs and Ann Demeulemeester.”

WORDS ALONG THE WAY

In the crowded and tough business of fashion design it sure isn’t an easy way to reach success. Moire has worked incredibly hard to get to where she is and says of herself that she probably is the most ambitious person she knows. “Ambition is the key to making it in this business. That, and never letting people tell you you can’t do it, there is ALWAYS a way to keep doing what you’re passionate about. Always stay true to yourself”.

As told to Hannah Arnhog

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Hip Hop, Pop, Rock n Roll, Punk … Re-known producer Dallas Austin has put all his passions into fashion, making The Rowdy Collection.

Dallas Austin started his fashion line, The Rowdy Collection back in 1992, so there’s really nothing new about the brand at all.  Yet, the music producer, gone film producer, gone designer claims he had to wait for the world to catch up before he could really give it 100 percent.  Now, Dallas feels the world is more ready than ever.  “One world, one color, one culture” Dallas Austin says of his brand while explaining it’s multi- cultural inspiration. Not only does he bring vibes from every corner of the musical universe into the clothes, he also mentions designers such as Ralph Lauren, Stüssy, Helmut Lang and Vivienne Westwood as influences.  Being a famous musician, launching a hip-hop line might sound slightly familiar, but Austin sees himself as a real designer and doesn’t want his name to give him any shortcuts.  “I don’t want to be another hip-hop guy launching a wear.  I want this to be a real brand.”   With this in mind Austin doesn’t overcharge his customers for simple pieces such as t-shirts.  “I feel that would be unfair to the buyers and also to other designers who really have gone the hard way to become what they are.”

Although, there are some advantages he can’t get rid of, like having fellow celebs such as Diddy and Eddie Murphy asking  for more Rowdy in their closet, Austin is not the one to throw stuff at celebrities to get his brand out there.  “You can tell if somebody is wearing something just because it got thrown at them, you have to wear Rowdy cause you love it.  Rowdy isn’t about the clothes, it’s all about attitude”.  If we are to believe Austin, attitude is exactly what you get in these clothes.  Every season The Rowdy Collection tells a story.  The Fall 2008 line was all about messages of anarchy and anti-war, and this year’s Spring/Summer collection tells the story of “the future a long time ago” says Austin, inspired by one of his long time favorite films, Mad Max.  What that means exactly, you will have to check out yourself, www.therowdycollection.com.

As told to Hannah Arnhog

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