Carly Rae Jepsen's Cinderella Story Comes To Broadway

February 4, 2014, 9:00 am

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Last year at this time, Carly Rae Jepsen was fresh off her opening gig on Justin Bieber's Believe Tour, after her ubiquitous pop hit "Call Me Maybe" broke Billboard records and inspired hundreds of internet memes. Everyone from Bieber and Selena Gomez to Harvard's baseball team made videos of themselves singing, "Here's my number, so call me maybe!"

But this year the two Canadian singers, who share the manager Scooter Braun, are in much different places. While Bieber's laying low after he was arrested for a DUI last month, Jepsen's making her Broadway debut as Cinderella. "It's always been on my bucket list," says Jepsen of performing on the Great White Way. "My family is more excited about this than anything. I was like, 'I'm going on tour with Justin Bieber and I'm going to be at the Grammys,' and they're like, 'OK great,' and then I'm like, 'I'm going to be on Broadway,' and they're like, 'What!? We're going to book our tickets!' It's just such a funny reaction, but I think it's because I grew up being in musicals. It was something I was always involved in and had a passion for at a young age, so it made sense to them. I think they always thought that was the direction I would take and it was a bit of a surprise that I got kind of addicted to pop."


Though she says that she might never have gotten to Broadway if not for her pop star pedigree, her goal is not to "popify" the classic tale. Stepping into the role originated by Broadway sweetheart Laura Osnes, Jepsen has been learning to sing like a musical theater star again after so many years singing her own tunes. "It's all a brave new world for me to take on not just the songs but to do them as much musical theater justice as I can," the 28-year-old says. "But I think we've all been figuring out the happy balance between sounding like me and still making it sound like a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical." After she wraps up her limited-time-only engagement, she'll head back to L.A. to work on the follow-up to her American debut album Kiss, but for now she's enjoying being someone else for a while. "It was a little scary the first day or two trying on the dresses, but once it was all together with the makeup and the hair and the dress and the slippers I didn't feel like myself, but in a very confident way.  I was like, I'm a princess--let's just be this for a minute."

Shot at the newly expanded Bergdorf Goodman Shoe Salon.   

Hair by Chuck Amos for Oribe at JUMP / Makeup by Katherine Reel for Chanel at JUMP / Stylist's Assistants: Eli Wasserman and Tukie Babumba.

Carly wears dresses by Zac Posen and headbands by Tuleste. Shoes by Valentino (1st photo). Shoes by Charlotte Olympia (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th photos).

---

Drowners Want You to "Undo Another Button On Your Blouse"

February 4, 2014, 9:30 am

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It's been quite the week for one of our favorite new garage rock bands, Drowners: their self-titled debut album came out last Tuesday, they played a sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom on Friday (which apparently included stage crashing by model Ashley Smith) and they released a new music video yesterday. Whew. Of that video, which accompanies their guitar-heavy rock song "A Button On Your Blouse," we get a split-screen: the band appears on one side, led by frontman Matthew Hitt singing the track while candid shots of the foursome hanging out with their (very attractive) friends appear on the other. 

While girls take their tops off and couples make out, Hitt beseeches, "Why don't you just come around / and undo another button on your blouse / these days, you know, I rarely leave the house / and I hate the thought of you / I hate the thought of you missing out."

We're there.

"Road Tripping Raver Nomads," a Sunny Obama Belly Rub + More

February 4, 2014, 10:30 am

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LINKS:

Animal has a cool collection of photos by photographer Tom Hunter of '90s-era "road tripping raver nomads" from a new London exhibit.

Pharrell is performing at the Oscars. [via Pitchfork]

In case you've been wondering why Miley Cyrus has been in her birthday suit in so many magazines, well, apparently a ton of designers won't lend her clothes. [via Fashionista]

Here's President Obama giving Sunny a belly rub in the White House Blue Room. [Twitter via Gawker]

Drake premiered two new songs this week while clubbing in NYC. [via Complex]

Cobble Hill Italian restaurant Brucie is serving a Beyoncé-themed Valentine's Day menu featuring items like "Breastiny's Child" (veal-breast braciole with pickled fig and goat yogurt) and "Blue Ivy" (smoked blue potatoes, chiriboga blue, trout roe, watercress). [via Grub Street]

TIPS:

Buzzy (and mysterious) art/music project Young & Sick perform tonight at Baby's All Right. [via Oh My Rockness]

City Bakery hosts their annual hot chocolate festival all this month. [via City Bakery]

Gigi screens at MoMA tonight. [via Village Voice]

10 Lessons Learned From This Week's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

February 4, 2014, 1:00 pm

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We've asked Eli Yudin and Carey O'Donnell, authors of the very, very funny Twitter account @NotTildaSwinton, to share their ten thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams with us after watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills every week. Join us for a recap, won't you?

1) Carey: Brandi gets photographed for the cover of her SECOND book. Let's just re-read that sentence: Brandi is getting photographed for the cover of her second book. Second. Book. Brandi has a second book that needs a cover photo. There's a cover photo needed, because Brandi is writing a book that is sequentially considered second in the order of books Brandi has had someone else write for her. Ok, sorry. Brandi says, "The good thing is this book has nothing to do with my ex-husband, and is all about ME, ME. ME." Oh, hell. They're going for a "half-sexy party girl, half-dedicated mother" motif with the photographs, as Brandi dons a black cocktail dress while wearing rubber gloves and holding a sponge. Her book editor, who is an angry-looking woman wearing a plaid shirt with a FRILLED PLAID COLLAR yells at everyone because apparently this has NOTHING to do with what the book is about. The book is about Brandi being single and relationship advice, not about being a single mother. Everyone, including Brandi, and the photographer, sort of goes silent and looks at each other like, "Oh, yeah..." I have no more words about this.

2) Carey: Joyce continues her streak of asking "What's that?" about fairly common words in the English language. Let's give her a break, though -- this is her second language, and she virtually has no detectable accent -- but goddammit if it isn't hilarious when this happens. She and Carlton meet for lunch and Joyce pleads with her not to use any more spells, referencing how Carlton may or may not have hexed Joyce's husband into getting food poisoning. Carlton defends herself against this accusation, saying how she used to practice dark magic when she was young, but now stays away from it after terrible things began happening to her. WHAT. THE. FUCK

3) Eli: Kim and Kimberly's adventures at the Tattoo Parlor! They each decide to get a butterfly, which I'm sure the tattoo artist pulls out of a drawer marked, "GIRLS GOING TO COLLEGE." Apparently Kim thinks she's going to be reincarnated as a butterfly -- which is totally not how it works -- and, as such, the tattoo will represent her. I understand that, and that it might have that sort of meaning, but to anyone else, it's just another butterfly on another 18-25 year old girl's wrist. Kim's spirit animal may as well have been a feather, an infinity symbol, or a Marilyn Monroe quote. (I'd go Grace Kelly over Marilyn Monroe any day anyways.) The tattoo artist manages to choke down vomit long enough to tat up Kim, while Kimberly watches and looks like she's about to cry. They keep making jokes about how it's going to hurt, which I'm sure the tattoo artist loves every time. To be honest, I've never had a bikini wax, but I'm pretty sure it puts a tattoo to shame. Not to mention CHILDBIRTH.

4) Carey: When Kim tells her youngest child, "When you're at college and you're homesick, just look down at your butterfly and think, 'Mom,'" I excused myself to the zero people around me and walked into a nearby reservoir.

5) Carey: Gigi may have said the greatest thing in any Real Housewives franchise about every single Real Housewives franchise. While getting her prized pastry ready for college, Yolanda shows Gigi a "collage" of photos she has made for her. Every single photo is just a photo of Gigi. "Looooouuuke what ah made fah you," Yolanda says with a twinge of menace. "I'm not the type of person who puts photos of themselves in their own house," Gigi says back. YES GIGI! Yes. Say it. SAYYYYY IT.

6) Carey: Meanwhile, Lisa and Kyle throw a joint b-day dinner for their respective hubbies, Ken and Mauricio. With the help of talking Egyptian death mask, Kevin Lee, they manage to throw a formal, "intimate" dinner in Lisa's backyard. Carlton finds a way to distract us from her horrible, '80s pornstar bangs and brings up the "dream" she had about Kyle "talking shit" and how that dream was confirmed by some rando women. Mostly all of the "times" Kyle allegedly spoke ill of her were complete bullshit and even Brandi is like, "Nahhhhhh." Kyle is confused, because she thought the two had buried the hatchet after she gave Carlton that lame-looking necklace at the pool party. "That necklace!" Carlton yells back. "That necklace has been in a glass of distilled water so I could cleanse it." HA!!!!!!!!!! That was everything I was waiting for. A damn Forever 21 necklace submerged in water on Carlton's marble kitchen counter top.

7) Eli: I don't understand who this Kevin Lee figure is, but he makes me deeply uncomfortable. He looks like a rejected Muppet that someone dressed up in Zara clothes and dropped in the middle of a street in L.A. Everything about his look, voice, and movement suggests to me that he has no free will. He never removes his sunglasses and I can only assume it's because his eyes have no pupils. Lisa and Kyle hire him to plan their party, which I still don't understand because he seems fairly awful at it. When he leaves their house, he shouts some cheerful goodbyes, and then walks into a bush where he collapses into a pile of limbs, awaiting the next person to be so foolish as to answer his Yellow Pages ad. At each party he includes one of the rituals he needs in order to break the spell that compels him to live, so his soul can finally ascend to heaven.

8) Eli: If you're still unconvinced by my argument that Kevin's party planning seems terrible, let's look at the "aquatic dancers" he hired. These jerky, discombobulated water faeries wade into knee-deep water with what look like boas and the specific crooked smiles only barbiturates can provide, and then proceed to slowly spin while everyone in the party stares. Lisa, after realizing what's happening is weird and uncomfortable, decides to salvage it by having Jax unbutton the only button on his shirt that he's ever used and throw Kevin in the pool. He shrieks and runs out, while I assume Jax attempts to have a threesome with the aquatic dance corpses in front of everybody.

9) Eli: Sceana got engaged! Because if there's one woman you need to LOCK DOWN, it's a waitress who fucks people's husbands.

10) Eli: Ken gives the most adorable drunk toast ever. He gets up and Lisa laughs, "You have no idea what you're going to say." And he doesn't. But god damn if he doesn't give us the most endearing dead air of the series. "This is my buddy," he finally says, and grabs Mauricio's hand. If you think about all of the evil, creepy Muppet vibes that Kevin Lee gives out, Ken's vibes are the opposite. He's the good Muppet, the one that embraces the Muppet message of fun and goodwill. I hope he's in the next movie. Anyways, after the toast it all goes downhill because of course it does. And these women are wondering why they weren't invited to Yolanda's step-daughter's wedding? There's probably a bouncer at the door of the church with pictures of them.

Meet the Beatles: 50 Years After

February 4, 2014, 1:15 pm

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Photo by Gary Blaine.

Every 50 years or so I feel like writing about the Beatles. Coincidentally, we're marking the 50th anniversary of their arrival on our shores, so this is as good a time as any.

Do the Beatles matter for any reason other than what they did 50 years ago? Should the kids of today care even if the Beatles' sound seems dated to their younger ears? Kids notwithstanding, so many of the Beatles songs have gone into the cannon of standards that they'll outlast you or me or anyone else living today.

Then there's John Lennon. And Lennon and Yoko. And Paul, George, Ringo. Even Pete Best, the original drummer. They're all part of history and everyone has a favorite member of the Fab Four that changes with the times, from John and Paul to George. Now Ringo is the coolest. With Yoko likely to outlive them all, there could come a time when she's the last Beatle.

Photo by Gary Blaine.

With the passage of time it's hard to remember how radical they were, first for their cheekiness with the press and later for the politics and spirituality of John and George. There's always been a Beatles v. Stones debate, the poppy crowd V. the punkier one, but today it's old news, each soundly established in our musical consciousness.

So whether the kids like them or not, I'm going to celebrate the most important band of the last 50 years. Maybe they didn't inspire us to join bands like Lou Reed and the Velvets did, but they got everyone singing at the top of their lungs. For me, watching the Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show was about the arrival of something new and disruptive, sure to upset my parents and therefore please me. I cried with joy when I heard them sing "I Want to Hold Your Hand," knowing that this was the beginning of the end of the world as we knew it. Yeah, yeah, yeah!

So come Thursday night I'll be at the Apollo for a  kick off of "NYC Fab 50: Celebrating the Music of the Beatles" with 100% of net proceeds from ticket sales going to benefit charities including the Food Bank for NYC, The Autism Think Tank and the Children's Music Fund. A gathering of a wide range of musicians from Fred Schneider of the B-52s to Melissa Manchester and Tommy James, an all-girl band from Japan, the Juke Box Beatles from Puerto Rico and god knows who else will be performing at various venues around the city. Can't wait to hear the songs Dionne Warwick, Lloyd Price, Bettye La Vette and the rest of the performers decide to cover at the Apollo.
 

Not Having Kids (A New Alternative to Having Kids)

February 5, 2014, 5:18 am

≫ Next: Our Guide to the Best New York Fashion Week Parties

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Not having kids (a new alternative to having kids). [TastefullyOffensive]


Ted Danson was on Conan last night and told an amazing story about doing mushrooms with Woody Harrelson during their Cheers days. Coach would NOT approve. [Uproxx]
 
Omg, Benedict Cumberbatch on Sesame Street solving a mystery featuring the Count. When you hear the Count's voice do you ever want to burst into tears? Just us? [TastefullyOffensive]
  Love, Brooke. [TastefullyOffensive]
  Americans taste-testing Australian snacks = amazing. [LaughingSquid]

Our Guide to the Best New York Fashion Week Parties

February 5, 2014, 10:00 am

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Vortex shmortex. Don't let the weather get in the way when there's party-hopping to be had. We've rounded up the best bashes going down this fashion week season and, as always, we've calculated your odds of getting in. At least screwdrivers have Vitamin C, right?

WHAT: VFILES After Party Hosted by Cam'Ron
EXPECT:  Cool kids wearing Hood By Air and Telfar jamming to tracks spun by Paper Beautiful Person DJ Mess Kid, Thando and DJ DH. OH. And did we mention the whole shebang is being hosted by frickin' Cam'Ron? Fingers crossed he'll perform on the stripper stage.
WHERE: Westway, 75 Clarkson St., New York
WHEN: Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 10pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 30/70

WHAT: Launch of Nipponista
EXPECT:  Head to the launch of this Soho pop-up shop featuring Japanese fashion, lifestyle, art and design pieces curated by iconic Japanese department store, Isetan. While you sip a cocktail (or three), you'll be able to scope designs by Yohji Yamamoto and N. Hoolywood and maybe spot a celebrity or two.
WHERE: 47 Greene St, New York
WHEN: Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 6pm-8:30pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 50/50

WHAT: Peter Pilotto for Target Shopping Event
EXPECT: Ever wanted to see tons of well-groomed fashion plates in a retail frenzy that rivals holiday shoppers at the Kenosha Walmart on Black Friday? Well this is as close as you'll get. But! There will also be classy drinks and music when you want to take a break from fighting with a junior editor over the last size small digital print sweatshirt.
WHERE: Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway, New York
WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 7pm-9pm
RSVP: Invite
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 40/60

WHAT: Todd Snyder after party hosted by Zachary Quinto
EXPECT: The menswear designer celebrates his fall/winter collection with a party at Bar Naná featuring a liver performance by NYC-based indie poppers Avan Lava.
WHERE: Bar Naná, 63 Gansevoort St, New York
WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 10pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 60/40

WHAT: Ardency Inn Americana Collection Event
EXPECT: Electric Room's Nur Khan joins forces with photographer Mick Rock and event maven Liz Vap to celebrate new makeup brand Ardency Inn's Americana-themed collection. Rocker/songwriter/model and all-around cool chick Seasick Mama performs and Brooklyn Dawn and DJ Cash will be behind the decks. 
WHERE: Electric Room, 355 W 16th St, New York
WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 9pm-midnight
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 30/70

WHAT: Pat Cleveland and Alva Chinn at the Disco Party Sundayz
EXPECT:  Supermodels Pat Cleveland and Alva Chinn -- dubbed the "Halstonettes by André Leon Talley for their devotion to the legendary '70s-era designer -- get fêted at the kick-off of Bedlam's brand new disco party, also featuring OG downtown diva Sophia Lamar.
WHERE: Bedlam, 40 Avenue C, New York
WHEN: Friday, February 7, 8pm
RSVP: Dress to Impress to get in at the door
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 70/30

WHAT: Hardware LDN After Party
EXPECT: London streetwear brand Hardware LDN toasts their fall/winter collection with a party that's going to be chock-full of pretty models in snapbacks and racing shirts. Keep your eye out for Cara Delevingne who may make an appearance. 
WHERE: Electric Room, 355 W 16th St, New York
WHEN: Friday, February 7, 10:30pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 40/60

WHAT: Maripol Exhibit After Party
EXPECT: Super buzzy -- and brand new -- club Up and Down hosts an after-party for a new book by iconic '70s-era polaroid photographer, Maripol. Expect to find a great hodgepodge of old school New York creatives and up-and-coming scene kids.
WHERE: Up&Down, 244 W. 14th St., New York
WHEN: Friday, February 7
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 50/50

(Photo by Paul Porter/BFAnyc.com)

WHAT: Prabal Gurung After Party
EXPECT: Models, socials, and editors will flock to the designer's after party which features performances by rapper Stalley and buzzy, Brooklyn-based electro-soul duo denitia and sene.
WHERE: Up&Down, 244 W. 14th St., New York
WHEN: Friday, February 7
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 10/90

WHAT: Tea at the Top With House of Waris Tea
EXPECT: Think: "afternoon" tea for people who prefer Thakoon over tweed.   
WHERE: Top of the Standard, 848 Washington St, New York
WHEN: Sunday, February 9th, 6pm-8pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 20/80

WHAT: Launch Party In Honor of the Daniel Arsham x Stampd Limited-Edition Collection
EXPECT: Artist Daniel Arsham and founder of L.A.-based streetwear line, Stampd, Chris Stamp, host this cocktail party in honor of their new collab. 
WHERE: Milk Studios, 2nd Floor, 450 W. 15th St., New York
WHEN: Sunday, February 9, 8pm-9:30pm
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 40/60

WHAT: Galore Magazine's Rock n Roll / Ratchet Fashion Week Ball 
EXPECT: This party's line-up is a doozy: Azealia Banks, Brooke Candy, the ATL Twins, Nervo, Lil Debbie + more are expected to turn up and there's even a "fashion week vogue off." So brush off those duck walk skills now.
WHERE: Up&Down, 244 W. 14th St., New York
WHEN: Monday, February 10, 2014, 10pm-1am
RSVP: Invite Only
ODDS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SNEAK IN: 50/50

Cover photo by David X Prutting/BFAnyc.com

Emoji Poetry Exists, Pussy Riot Rocked The Colbert Report + More

February 5, 2014, 11:00 am

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LINKS:

Apparently Emoji poetry Emoji Poetry is a thing now.

The freed members of Pussy Riot went on the Colbert Report and were just wonderful. [via Stereogum]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers didn't actually play live at the Super Bowl. Awkward. [via Brooklyn Vegan] 

Zac Posen integrates music into his Fall/Winter 2014 lookbook. [via Fashionista]

Even your favorite writers shot selfies. More photos via Flavorwire.

TIPS:

Check out the Museum of the City of New York's new exhibit on street art, "City as Canvas: Graffiti Art from the Martin Wong Collection." [via Vogue]

Comedian/actor B.J. Novak is performing stories from his new book tonight.

Online dating can be the worst. But now you can commiserate and laugh along with fellow daters at The OkCupid Show: Stories of Love, Sex, and the Internet at Housing Works. 

Amnesty International is hosting their Human Rights Concerts tonight. This year features Pussy Riot and performances by The Flaming Lips, Imagine Dragons, Lauryn Hill and more. [via Flavorpill]

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Philip Seymour Hoffman and the Politics of Heroin and Celebrity

February 5, 2014, 1:30 pm

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Today's arrest of four heroin dealers in connection with Philip Seymour Hoffman's recent overdose leads me to ask: Is this a good thing?

Well, I guess it is, right -- taking down dope dealers even if it turns out they had no direct contact with the actor? Not surprisingly, the shocking and horrible and sordid tale of a celebrity overdose has generated an avalanche of commentary in all media, especially social. The New York Times used it as an opportunity for a piece on the "surge" of heroin use, identifying bags stamped "The Ace of Spades" as the likely culprit. But what about the average Joe or Jill who dies under similar circumstances? Do the police care as much about them as they do the death of a high-profile figure adored by the public and the media? Would Philip Seymour Hoffman want his unfortunate death to be the cause of a renewed anti-drug hysteria, complete with quickly concocted news stories, seemingly put together over night? Does making such a huge deal about hunting down the bad heroin that killed this beloved celebrity actually push the everyday problems resulting from heroin and the non-famous addicts who suffer aside? If it's so easy to catch heroin dealers, why doesn't it happen more often? Or -- guessing here -- was this drug den just off Houston on Mott Street in Lower Manhattan already under surveillance, the police using the opportunistic moment to show off their sleuthing abilities?

I didn't really know Hoffman though I did see him around, most recently a year ago when I found myself standing with him on line as we waited to register our kids at Basketball City. I gave him the double take to make sure I wasn't imagining the resemblance, but left him to be a dad, seemingly unrecognized by anyone else, a true character actor, in a baseball cap blending in with the crowd.

Photo: PatrickMcMullan.com

The Ten Designers We're Watching This NYFW

February 5, 2014, 2:00 pm

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Although wintery weather has befallen another New York Fashion Week -- remember Nemo? -- there is still plenty to look forward to. Downtown mainstay Alexander Wang will be the first major designer to show in Brooklyn; Australian designer Dion Lee joins MADE Fashion Week, which continues to make waves on Manhattan's shore; Public School may or may not -- depending on how perfect it is -- be showing womenswear and Marc Jacobs will show his first collection since leaving Louis Vuitton. And, as with every season, some of the most exciting designs will come courtesy of New York's rookie designers. As fall 2014 gets underway, these are the new faces we've got our eye on.

Melitta Baumeister  

Last season the German-born, NY-based designer opened the Parson's MFA graduate show with sculptural white silicon looks. This season she joins the VFiles sophomore show alongside Parisian streetwear label Assk and South Korean womenswear designer -- and current Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp grad student -- Hyein Seo. It'll be interesting to see how she translates her stark shapes with recent mentoring from maximalist stylist Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele and Rihanna's Mel Ottenberg.


Rosie Assoulin 

When the 28-year-old designer debuted during resort 2014, her collection of easy-going evening looks was picked up by the career-making Bergdorf Goodman along with retail gems like The Webster, Fivestory and Moda Operandi. Having cemented her status as a high fashion darling, we can't wait to see how this sweatshirt-loving designer transforms her cool couture shapes for fall's cooler weather. 

Highland 

Utah native Lizzie Owens created costumes for artists like The Killers and MGMT before starting her own menswear line in 2010. Seven seasons later she held her first presentation this time last year in a gallery on Manhattan's West side and her second at Santos Party House in September, steadily garnering a cult fanbase. This season her Southwest stoner style for him is MADE official (pun intended) as part of MADE Fashion Week at Milk Studios.


Adam Selman  

Last season Rihanna's go-to costume designer made his fashion debut with a collection of silky, sultry street-meets-seashore separates. As the co-designer behind RiRi's River Island collections, we know he can successfully sell to the high street -- but we hope he continues to take his own label to luxe levels.

CG
Chris Gelinas' debut spring 2014 collection garnered him the MADE for Peroni Young Designer Award -- a prize that comes with $40,000 and a confirmed slot at MADE Fashion Week for Fall 2014. With his NY cool cache on lock having worked with Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs and Theyskens' Theory, we can't wait to see what the Parsons-trained Canadian does next.

Harbison 

When eyeing North Carolina native Charles Harbison's pattern and texture mixing, vibrant colors and tailored (yet relaxed) shapes we can't help but get a little Dries feeling -- and we love it. Like the electic-lux pioneer, Harbison enjoys layering inspiration. Last season he cited prep, an African diaspora, Yves Klein and Aaliyah as influences and we look forward to seeing where Harbison's four-pronged approach takes him during his MADE Fashion Week show on Saturday. 

Maria Ke Fisherman

After showing several collections as part of Madrid Fashion Week, the Spanish label was  picked to show in VFiles' first ever runway show last September. It was a match made in streetwear heaven -- Victor Alonso and Maria Lemus' millennial techie X-girl vibe is just so Crazy. Sexy. Cool. This season as part of the MADE docket, the design duo are delightfully sandwiched between the equally outrageous Jeremy Scott and The Blonds. Hold on to your high tops kids. 

Karolyn Pho 

After relocating from her native California, where she worked as a wardrobe stylist in L.A. before launching her eponymous label in 2012, Karolyn Pho is set to show her second New York-based collection. Aiming to provide an avant grade aesthetic to the minimal customer, Pho's structured simplicity -- best translated in her first collection -- is worth looking out for.

Koonhor
Designers Koon Lim and Catrine Thé create their own version of bad-ass babe fashion by edging-out feminine silhouettes with zippers, leather and selective sheerness. Meeting as students at FIT in 2003, the designers, who are based between Singapore and Milan, will have their first show in New York after a successful presentation of cool, contemporary looks last season. 

Pyer Moss

After honing craftsmanship alongside Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig at Marchesa and studying business at Hofstra, the New York-raised Kerby Jean-Raymond launched his own line in 2012. Last season's impeccably tailored motocross-inspired collection was a hit with the presses, a sign that Jean-Raymond has no intention of slowing down. 

Jon Spencer's Classic Blues-Punk Video Directed By ... Weird Al??

February 5, 2014, 3:00 pm

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"Oh, do the monkey now!!" -Jon Spencer

In 1996, all the downtown NYC hipsters were doing the monkey (whatever that is) with Jon Spencer and his Blues Explosion. Any cool kid south of 14th Street in that era would agree that no faux-blues freak exuded more sexiness than Spencer.

Which is why it's such a curiosity that Spencer selected none other than our nation's spoofmeister general, Weird Al Yankovic, to direct the video for his potential breakthrough hit, "Wail." (Spoiler alert: it didn't break through.)

The video offers up a heavy dose of silly art-damaged realness from the mid-'90s. It's not a parody of anything, like say, "Amish Paradise" or "Smells Like Nirvana" -- two of Al's masterpieces. But's it's actually holds up as a goofy indie-rock gem from the Max Fish era that's worth checking out.

Canada Wants to "Keep the Winter Olympics Gay"

February 6, 2014, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Video Premiere: Going Raunchy With Boyfriend's "Swanky"

≪ Previous: Jon Spencer's Classic Blues-Punk Video Directed By ... Weird Al??

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Here's a great ad from the Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion basically reminding us that the winter Olympics are super gay, have always been super gay, and should stay super gay. So good. [via Hyper Vocal]

Poetry. [via 100 Years of Lolitude]

This is our Thursday morning look. [via Knusprig Titten Hitler]

Matt Damon reads mean tweets on Jimmy Kimmel. [via Uproxx]

Close enough. [via 100 Years of Lolitude]

The cast of Downton Abbey made this charming video about the Top 10 reasons to enter a contest where the winner gets to spend a day on set. ("You'll get to take the first-ever selfie in the 1920s!") The contest is in support of relief efforts to aid tsunami victims in the Phillipines. [via Jezebel]

Thursday is brought to you by this tastefully understated Danny DeVito art. [via Coin Farts]

Video Premiere: Going Raunchy With Boyfriend's "Swanky"

February 6, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Pope Francis Meets His Chocolate Doppelganger, Ice T Has a New Gig + More

≪ Previous: Canada Wants to "Keep the Winter Olympics Gay"

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From the art school-educated street urchin antics of Kreayshawn and her White Girl Mob to the couture-wearing, booty-shaking schtick of Iggy Azalea, we've seen a bunch of white lady rappers come up lately in this post-Gillette era. But it wasn't until New Orleans-based Boyfriend came along that we saw a rapper wearing granny glasses and thrift shop blouses while rapping about period sex and dildos. And while it might be tempting to write off the raunchy rhymes and a look pulled from the Williamsburg Buffalo Exchange as gimmicky, Boyfriend's got flow.

Talking to the artist the phone, Boyfriend (she wouldn't reveal her real name), explained how she got started in the rap game. "I don't play a single instrument," she said. "I'm the weird member of my family because I come from an entire family of songwriters. My dad is a country music songwriter with thirteen #1 songs...but I would freestyle drunkenly on occasion and I realized I was kind of good at it. Then I actually started writing and tried to sculpt more structure into my songs." And, after recording her first track "Hunch and Munch" two years ago, Boyfriend was born.

"[Boyfriend] is a word everyone feels some way about," she says on the topic of how she came up with the name. "Everyone either says, 'I want a boyfriend.' 'I love my boyfriend.' 'My boyfriend drives me crazy.' I also like the gender ambiguity to it."

"Swanky" by Boyfriend

And what does her Southern family think of lyrics like, "I'll make your balls burst, how sexy I screw it / But ladies come first, if I ain't creamin', you blew it"?

"My dad, ironically, is super into it. He might be my #1 fan," she says, laughing. "He gets it. He separates what I'm saying with the visual imagery that might haunt his dreams. My mom is a little tentative because, like most middle-aged women, she's super into Facebook and is afraid some cousin in Alabama is going to see one of my videos and say, 'You did a terrible job raising her.'"

We're psyched to premiere the video for her new track, "Swanky," and we think this might one of the few jams even a mother could love. "It's about how you can be swanky without having a bunch of money," Boyfriend says. "I was tired of hearing the word 'swag' everywhere. It's so dead. I was trying to find the next word like that and I like the connotation of 'swanky' because it doesn't point to any socio-economic status."

Give it a watch, above, and keep your eye out for her forthcoming LP, Love Your Boyfriend, that she describes as "what Alanis Morisette would do if she made a rap album." And, if you're in NOLA, catch her performing alongside Action Bronson at Mardi Gras this March.

Pope Francis Meets His Chocolate Doppelganger, Ice T Has a New Gig + More

February 6, 2014, 11:30 am

≫ Next: "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" Returns!

≪ Previous: Video Premiere: Going Raunchy With Boyfriend's "Swanky"

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LINKS:

Nick Offerman sang an ode to weed and pussy last night on Conan.

Lindsay Lohan and Daniel Franzese recently staged a Mean Girls reunion and on Vulture, the film's director, Mark Waters, discusses Amy Poehler's rap-skills, Lindsay Lohan almost getting cast as Regina George, and making movies about strong women.

Pope Francis, meet Chocolate Pope Francis. [via Gawker]

Ice T has recorded a Dungeons and Dragons audiobook and he's extremely confused about how his life ended up this way. [via Noisey]

TIPS:

Soul goddess Sharon Jones performs tonight with the Dap Kings at the Beacon Theater in support of the band's new album, Give the People What They Want. [via Oh My Rockness]

#Checkyourselfie, a social media discussion and photography exhibition that critiques the cult of the selfie, opens tonight at AHA in Dumbo.

BUST Magazine hosts a Valentine's Day party tonight at Babeland. We hear you'll be able to make your own pasties. [via Flavorpill]

"Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" Returns!

February 7, 2014, 5:05 am

≫ Next: Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Diary: Day 1

≪ Previous: Pope Francis Meets His Chocolate Doppelganger, Ice T Has a New Gig + More

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We had a little teaser of this yesterday in morning funnies, but here's the full "Celebrities Mean Tweets" segment from last night's featuring George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Jon Hamm, Cate Blanchett and more. Jennifer Garner's is the best.


An honest Facebook movie. Seriously, who the hell has ever clicked on a Facebook ad on purpose? [TastefullyOffensive]


Bradley Cooper speaking French = HOT. [Buzzfeed]

GPOY. [FYeahDementia]

How do we meet this person? [FYouNoFMe]

Google tells Russia to kindly fuck off. [Mlkshk]
  Oh shit oh shit oh shit. [Reddit]

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Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Diary: Day 1

February 7, 2014, 8:00 am

≫ Next: 10 Etsy Finds: Witchy Vibes

≪ Previous: "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" Returns!

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Mr. Mickey is weighing in every morning this glorious F/W' 14 New York Fashion Week to tell us about all of the clothes (and cute boys) catching his eye. Take it away, Mr. Micks!

Nobody makes me swoon like St. Louis' sexiest male supermodel, RJ King. I sat next to him   at the VFiles Made Fashion show and I still haven't recovered my composure.

Karl Lagerfeld once said "luxury is the ease of a t-shirt in a very expensive dress," and this ensemble from Creatures of the Wind screams that for me. It looks so chic yet so comfy and easy breezy. Throw in the Tabitha Simmons shoes and it's a grand slam home run of
style.

Just when you thought MM's fashion look couldn't get any crazier, he gets these Prada glasses. They're actually sunglasses turned optical because sunglass frames are always bigger and crazier. I debuted them at the Sunglass Hut Valentine's Day party I co-hosted last night and people flipped their high fashion wigs for them.

Everyone is talking about Dion Lee as a designer to watch. The Australian cutie showed several overalls at his Milk Studios show yesterday and, well, Mr. Mickey never saw an overall he didn't like. A plus from down under.

Speaking of down under, that Sunglass Hut party I hosted was co-hosted by this specimen of Kiwi kuteness on the left, Isaac Likes. His friend Richard is also a churning hunk of burning funk.

Peter Pilotto, the print king of London (Mary Katrantzou being the Queen) ,is the latest designer collaboration for Target. At the launch party I was obsessed with this beach towel. It's probably the only piece of the collection that would fit my large-boned frame.

At the Peter Pilotto for Target party the designer (right) and partner Christopher de Vos (left) snuggled up to one my votes for most fashionable celebrity ever, Ms. Diane Kruger. She ALWAYS looks great in whatever she wears.

Me with a cute guy I met at the Peter Pilotto X Target party. MM always has a line in the water during Fashion Week.

10 Etsy Finds: Witchy Vibes

February 7, 2014, 9:30 am

≫ Next: Pop Star Annie Says "Fuck You" Russia In the Sexiest Way Possible

≪ Previous: Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Diary: Day 1

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1. 2014 Astrology Wall Calendar

A well-designed, minimalist way to make sure you're never caught off-guard when Mercury is in retrograde.

2. Palm Reader Hand Brooch

It's always best to be well accessorized when convening with the spirits world. 

3. Ouija Board iPhone Case

As if drunk-dialing ex-lovers wasn't already way too much like an ill-advised séance.

4. Evil Eye Purse

Possibly the chicest way to ward off bad vibes. 

5. Three-eyed Cat Pin

Even with an extra eye and fangs, this cat is still totally cuddle-able.

6. Herbarium Wood Box
 
Potion-making has never been so easy (or cute!) 

7. Fox Mulder Wooden Brooch Pin

Researchers have pinpointed the sole cause of a thousand Tumblr fangirls sighing and reblogging at once:

8. Teen Witch Sticker Set

Handmade stickers for the crafty teen wiccan.

9. Cotton Candy Bubble Gum Drops Cat Amulets

According to ancient Internet folklore, these cats will bring prosperity and good luck. And pizza.

10. K&R Round Ceramic Eye Pot

A potted plant that even Christopher Walken could love:

Pop Star Annie Says "Fuck You" Russia In the Sexiest Way Possible

February 7, 2014, 12:30 pm

≫ Next: Mr. Mickey's Fitness Diary: The Sophomore Slump?

≪ Previous: 10 Etsy Finds: Witchy Vibes

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LINKS:

On the heels of Google's way classy "Fuck off, Russia" move, we now have a way sexy "Fuck off, Russia" move: Norwegian pop songstress Annie released a new Richard Kern-directed video today for her track, "Russian Kiss," featuring lots of very attractive same sex couples making out while she sings, "Don't give up, maybe then they can understand / If it's right, let you fight for [what] your love demands." Keep an eye out for artists like Petra Collins and Bjarne Melgaarde. [via Dazed Digital]

And speaking of Russia, apparently faux-lesbian duo t.A.T.u is performing at the Opening Ceremony during a portion that won't be broadcast internationally. Uh...yeah. Okay. [via Wall Street Journal]

Miley Cyrus models topless for the cover of German Vogue channeling serious Madonna-as-Marilyn Monroe vibes. The middle image is definitely her #ByeHaters pose. [via Twitter]

Marc Jacobs has some big changes planned including a name change to his line Marc by Marc and possibly a collaboration with "that football thingy that happens every year." [via The Cut]

Friday Soundtrack: St. Vincent released a new, atmospheric track titled "Prince Johnny." [via Pitchfork]

TIPS:

Party at the The Paper Box in Brooklyn tonight with Macaulay Culkin's Velvet Underground cover band, The Pizza Underground, DIIV, Mykki Blanco, The Witches of Bushwick, and more in a collaboration of performance, poetry, music, and art. [via Paper Box]

Indie rockers Reputante play Baby's All Right tonight alongside Zoe Kravitz's new solo project, Lolawolf. And if you do a double take at the show it's because the Reputante guys have started playing with Kravitz as her back-up band so you'll get a two-for-one chance to see 'em. [via Baby's All Right]

There's a lot of fashion week parties happening tonight and even though most are invite only, we've rated your odds of sneaking in.

Mr. Mickey's Fitness Diary: The Sophomore Slump?

February 7, 2014, 2:17 pm

≫ Next: The Best/Worst Winter Olympics Uniforms

≪ Previous: Pop Star Annie Says "Fuck You" Russia In the Sexiest Way Possible

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Paper's editorial director Mickey Boardman is dedicating the next 100 days to getting in shape. Track his progress every Friday here in his weekly fitness diary. Join us below for his second entry, as he regales us with stories of his travel agent/personal trailer and reminds us of the fact that Cher had a goth home decor catalog in the mid '90s .

Height: 5'7
Current weight: 240
Pounds lost: 1
Goal:  To have a big Trans Am in the driveway with a ribbon around it and some incredibly gorgeous guy that I meet in France.

They say a rockstar's sophomore album is always jinxed, and I'm afraid Mr. Mickey's second fitness diary isn't exactly up to the high standards of the first. But such is life in the quest for fitness and health.

I'm still loving SoulCycle. My two favorite instructors this week have been Emily, my '80s workout lady I told you about last week, and Danny the platinum haired dynamo. Really, I love all the teachers. Frankly, a Soul Cycle class is like an AA meeting: You often don't feel like going but if you push yourself you always end up feeling really happy you went and you walk out having learned something new.

I'm getting better and better and the choreographed moves SoulCycle requires, but still feel a bit like I'm doing the baby elephant ballet compared to some of the other kids. Nonetheless, I pedal away and bend and lean and lift and squeeze through the 45 minutes and always feel proud of making it through.

This week at Hanson Fitness I worked out with one of my favorite trainers, Andre. He's Russian, an animal and loves nothing more than working on his sun tan in tropical locations around the world. As with SoulCycle I like a trainer who pushes me hard with a friendly and positive attitude. Andre doesn't treat me like a pussy and that makes me feel competent and strong. As he put me through my paces he was telling me how I have to go to Montenegro this summer. His girlfriend is Serbian and he went with her to a little resort in Montenegro last year and loved it. I was doing squats and curls as he flipped through pictures of the resort on his iPhone and told me he could hook me up with the owners of the resort. He's a trainer and a travel agent. Bonus!

I'm still on a bit of an eating binge and despite working out like a madman, the weight is trickling off instead of melting away. I was happy my regular Weight Watchers leader Robert was leading the meeting this past weekend. He'd been away on vacation. He's lost 91 lbs and looks amazing. His style is a bit Chrome Hearts and loves wearing all-black with bold silver jewelry that's very Cher-gothic catalog. Remember that catalog? Loved it.

This week the goal is to really get with the WW program and write down what I eat. I can still have the french fries, I just need to watch the portions and write down everything I eat. On the good side I'm now addicted to that Greek yogurt that everyone else was so obsessed with a few years. Better late than never, folks. John Stamos would be proud.

The Best/Worst Winter Olympics Uniforms

February 7, 2014, 5:30 pm

≫ Next: Mr. Mickey's Fashion Week Favorites: Day 2

≪ Previous: Mr. Mickey's Fitness Diary: The Sophomore Slump?

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USA (Ralph Lauren)
These uniforms just scream "villains from a John Hughes movie." Can't you just see these two riding up to you like, "what are you doing here? I thought this ski trip was for the kids whose parents could afford it?"

France (Lacoste)
French ennui never looked so...gray.

Germany (Adidas)
Germany says, "Are you high on poppers in a Zubaz store? Because we are!" At least they're acknowledging how homosexual the Winter Olympics truly are unlike some countries.
Sweden (H&M)
The hotness of the models distracts us from the fact that these uniforms are the living embodiment of a pair of Oakleys c. 1999.

Estonia
This is very couples' ski weekend in a less menacing way than the American uniforms.

Russia (Bosco)
R U serious with these schizophrenic ensembles? What are you? Prep school chic or Joe Namath in Steamboat Springs c. 1975?

Lithuania
These remind us of a mid-to-late '90s Central European dance music group.

Canada
Fun, fresh, nice and sporty.

Czech Republic
Basically the Czech team is going to all look like PAPER's Ke$ha cover.

Latvia
This whole thing is one big Kokopelli wind chime.

Australia
Sure.

Great Britain (Adidas)
These uniforms and this photo make Team Britain look like a youth gang on Skins.

Mongolia
We're so excited about these.

Switzerland
These uniforms are the Guy Fieri of Olympic uniforms.

The Netherlands
Chic personal trainer look.

Slovenia
These uniforms are very Peeps.

New Zealand
New Zealand just said "fuck it" and recruited a Ninja Assassin to be their ringer.