The Best and Worst Fashion at the Emmys

September 21, 2015, 8:39 am

≫ Next: Converse Unveils Its Game-Changing New Chuck II

≪ Previous: Scenes from the Star-Studded Givenchy After Party

$

0

0

Last night's Emmys saw Jon Hamm finally get his, GoT take the grand prize and Viola Davis nabbing a historic win as the first African American actress to take home an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in How to Get Away With Murder. But just as exciting as what was going on during the ceremony was the fashion on the red carpet. We break down the best worst and weirdest looks below.

January Jones

"Am I nuts for liking this? The color looks beautiful on January's fair skin and despite the weird pleated fabric in the front, which looks like kelp, I like that she mixed it up. Fun n' funky."-- Abby

"BEST LOOK OF THE NIGHT. January went full "who meee?"-bitch mode on everyone at the Emmys. She has been trolling us all for the past near-decade with her fug red carpet looks, and here we get her final, tea-sipping bow, complete with a LEG RUFFLE AND A BROOCH. You mad, bro?"--Elizabeth

Kerry Washington

"This is one of those dresses where my head is saying "no" but my heart is saying "yes." I tend to hate tea length anything and the metallic flowers on the shoulders should be a big "no fly zone" but for some reason the whole thing works. And considering that recent awards shows are just one big parade of strapless mermaid gowns, I really like that Kerry, who's known for bold fashion, went in a different direction. I also like that the sequins and the weaving make it almost look like she's wearing high-fashion armor. Very Olivia Pope."-- Abby

"So agreed, Abby. Everything on this dress is a 'hm, no' checklist, yet it could not be more stunningly lovely. She looks like a gorgeous perfect angel princess from planet 'That's Right.'" -- -- Elizabeth

Christina Hendricks

"I'm not crazy about the parted bangs but Christina looks amazing in that gown. She looks like a mythological goddess from the future."-- Abby

"Sex ft. Sex (Extended Sex Remix)."-- Elizabeth

Laura Prepon

"Laura looks beautiful in this dramatic red dress and I even like the ornate neckline. Xenu would be proud."-- Abby

"Mad respect for that "living mannequin" hip throw. One of the best posers of the night."-- Elizabeth

Viola Davis

"Epitome of sophistication. Her Carmen Marc Valvo gown is so American-chic and the white looks gorgeous against her skin."-- Abby

"Classic and gorgeous. The perfect dress to wear while you deliver possibly the most-needed and just stunning, electric Emmys acceptance speech of all time."-- Elizabeth

Claire Danes

"This Prada dress reminds me of a purse but I also kind of am into it because it's different than what you usually see at these awards shows. But it looks like it'd be really heavy to wear, no?"-- Abby

"I like that she mixed it up too. Dude, what is that dress? That dress is a flag, a sail or a purse. If I had to describe the overall feel of this dress, I'd go with something like, "I think so!"-- Elizabeth

Elisabeth Moss

"Elisabeth Moss went from Peggy Olsen to Barbie. But I like the retro feel of this hot pink Oscar de la Renta gown. She could've doubled down on the fanciness and worn a necklace but that's fine."-- Abby

"I feel like only work out clothes should be that color. It's just... a lot. That said, Elisabeth and her blonde hair are super beautiful, old-Hollywood and I'm feeling her vibe. -- Elizabeth

Taraji P. Henson

"I'll let the keyhole cut-out slide on this one because Taraji looks amazing. She's the most glamorous fashion vampire on the whole damn carpet and I love the Elvira-y lace."-- Abby

"Agreed about the cut-out Abby, but damn, this is some next-level burning-fire hotness. This is what everyone should wear all of the time. I feel that people should either be dressed as the chicest sexiest witch they can evoke without compromising their personal brand, wearing a turtleneck, or wearing a jumpsuit. If everyone would just adhere to this, we'd all be happier. One love; three essential looks; no bad vibes. "-- Elizabeth

Sofia Vergara

"I guess I need to just stop resisting the strapless fit and flare look on Sofia and start embracing it. She looks great and that's all that really matters."-- Abby

"She wants what she wants. Where is Joe?"-- Elizabeth

Maggie Gyllenhaal

"I like the color of the skirt actually but I think that the corset seems to be a little too big and the material is kind of overwhelming."-- Abby

"Agreed, the skirt is too big and she's swallowed by the dress. I like her hair, though, and I like that she almost always looks like a cat."-- Elizabeth

Lady Gaga

"Gaga in "normal person" drag! She looks terrific despite the weird extra fabric on her hip and the Fox News anchor helmet hair."-- Abby

"Ooh, you are so right re: the Megyn Kelly hair. That said, I thought Gaga looked great. G(re)a(t)ga." --- Elizabeth

Emma Roberts

"Beautiful. Neutral. Safe. Fine."-- Abby

"Yeah, nice and fine."-- Elizabeth

Kiernan Shipka

"Kiernan's Dior couture is cool and the embroidery is stunning but the pants and the cut of the top feel oddly casual and also as if she's wearing a ballet or ice skating costume. I do like the pants-under-dress look (see: Emma Watson, also in Dior, at the Golden Globes in 2014) but I'm not convinced it works here."-- Abby

"Cute and fun."-- Elizabeth

Joanna Newsome

"This was by far the most, uh, interesting dress of the night, one that resembles some kind of early '60s-era chair in a ladies' powder room, but honestly it's pretty amazing. The Delpozo gown took a major risk and it's Joanna's silent nod to the fact that she's probably cooler than 90% of the people at this damn thing. You do you, Joanna."-- Abby

"The only thing better would have been if January Jones had summersaulted out of the little curtain under this dress and these two could have put that red carpet on the full tag-teamed fug blast it deserved. I loved this. "-- Elizabeth

Laverne Cox

"Laverne looks bangin' -- pure Americana sport excellence."-- Abby

"Loving it and loving it and loving it."-- Elizabeth

Laura Carmichael

"Not my favorite look of the night -- the dress kind of has a weird late-90s moment going on with the neckline and wispy tie-straps but then a hippie floral skirt happening. It's just chronologically and culturally confused. It happens."-- Abby

"I like her hair."-- Elizabeth

Jessica Lange

"With those shades and that frosty stare, is Jessica becoming the female Jack Nicholson of the carpet? Whatever the case, she look great and I liked the off-the-shoulder look on her."-- Abby

"Bow to the omega bitch of the red carpet."-- Elizabeth

Uzo Aduba

"The halter neck is not often a flattering look but the gorgeous color palette and elegant hair and makeup make up for it."-- Abby

"I cried the entire time Uzo Aduba spoke during her acceptance speech, especially when she gave her sister a shout out. I just love her. She seems like the best."-- Elizabeth

Ellie Kemper

"Ellie's Naeem Khan was another one of my favorite dresses of the night. It was striking but simple and the colors are stunning. She's like spin art come to life."-- Abby

"Ooh, I like this too. She looks like sherbert deco goddess."-- Elizabeth

Tracee Ellis Ross

"I like this peachy color but the skirt is just not my thing. It reminds me of a saloon girl and, uh, is that an Apple watch? Just gonna leave that there..."-- Abby

"I like her hair."-- Elizabeth

Lena Headey

"I would've liked Lena's hair to be a little bit different and for the dress to have a tad less material but the sequins or beading or whatever it is is fantastic."-- Abby

"I liked this but it seemed too big for her and not in a fun, 'that's the point of the dress, stupid'-way. Also, ultimate props for straight-up eating McDonald's backstage. -- Elizabeth

---

Converse Unveils Its Game-Changing New Chuck II

July 23, 2015, 4:50 am

≫ Next: Caitlyn Jenner Talks About the Pressures of Being a Role Model In a New I Am Cait Clip

≪ Previous: The Best and Worst Fashion at the Emmys

$

0

0

Introducing the @converse #ChuckII! It looks exactly the same as the original All-Star but comes with a fancy new footbed. Because arch support is a beautiful thing. 👏👏👏#conversereadyforme

A photo posted by Paper Magazine (@papermagazine) on Jul 23, 2015 at 8:39am PDT

With the exception of denim or say, the cotton t-shirt, the Converse Chuck Taylor is perhaps the most inveterate staple of American fashion. Invented in 1917, the shoe got its start as a basketball sneaker (named after basketball star and shoe spokesman Charles "Chuck" Taylor) and its style has remained relatively unchanged since its invention nearly a century ago. A shoe that's been ripped off and re-produced by competitors to death, the real deal is still a symbol of youth, creativity and counter culture fashion as much as classic Americana and simplicity -- not to mention the fact that a pair of Chucks are bought once every two seconds for a total of 1 billion pairs sold. So who can blame Converse for adopting an "if it ain't broke" attitude towards its design, which is famously flat, and lacking in arch support or bells-and-whistles cushioning?

Still, change is good, and the company is making shoe history with today's launch of the CT II, a new version of the Chuck Taylor that, using Nike Lunaron technology as a sockliner, will add massive new arch and footbed support. It's officially out on July 28th. Speaking at a press conference, Converse CEO and president Jim Calhoun outlined all of the new details of the shoe, which includes a new microfiber canvas. The shoe looks identical to the original, for all of the All-Star purists of the world, and will eventually come in a range of colors including blue, white, red and black.

Stay tuned for more details from Converse bout the Chuck II next week.

The Lunaron technology

Caitlyn Jenner Talks About the Pressures of Being a Role Model In a New I Am Cait Clip

July 23, 2015, 5:30 am

≫ Next: The First Trans-Exclusive Modeling Agency Launches in LA

≪ Previous: Converse Unveils Its Game-Changing New Chuck II

$

0

0

"My mind's just spinning with thoughts," Caitlyn Jenner says in a brand new clip from her E! docu-series, I Am Cait. The scene opens with a shot of Jenner makeup free and sitting in a robe in her bedroom, telling the camera that it's 4:32am and she can't sleep with her mind racing about the pressures that come with her new role as a spokeswoman and advocate for the trans community.

She says:

"I feel bad that these [people] -- especially young people -- are going through such a difficult time in their life. We don't want people dying over this. We don't want people murdered over this stuff. What a responsibility I have towards this community. Am I going to do everything right? Am I going to say the right things? Do I project the right image? My mind's just spinning with thoughts. I just hope I get it right. I hope I get it right.

For someone who's entire transition and coming out has seemed to be choreographed to the T, the clip is a refreshing glimpse into the understandable doubts and vulnerabilities Caitlyn is feeling during this time. You can see more of Caitlyn's journey when the series premieres this Sunday, July 26th.

The First Trans-Exclusive Modeling Agency Launches in LA

July 23, 2015, 5:45 am

≫ Next: 15 Newly-Graduated Young Designers to Watch

≪ Previous: Caitlyn Jenner Talks About the Pressures of Being a Role Model In a New I Am Cait Clip

$

0

0

With Hari Nef signed to IMG and Andreja Pejic making make-up modeling history, it's been a good year for transpeople in the fashion industry -- and it's about to get even better because there's now a trans-exclusive modeling agency in the game, dubbed Apple Model Management.

Originally founded in Thailand, Apple has just expanded to LA, where they've become the first modeling agency to launch a transgender division. "We see trans individuals as beautiful," agency director Cecilio Asuncion said. "But their full potential was never reached because of the stigma the community-at-large had towards the trans community. This has to change." 

Asuncion, who also made the 2012 transwomen documentary What's The T?, went on to say that the agency's commitment lies in "developing them as successful models," rather than "quantifying or qualifying their gender." 

"It's never a question of if they are women or men," Asuncion said. "It's about their passion and commitment to being the best possible models they can be."

As of press time, the agency has six signings, though they're currently casting. 

[h/t The Advocate]

15 Newly-Graduated Young Designers to Watch

July 23, 2015, 6:00 am

≫ Next: There are Vagina Yarmulkes Now

≪ Previous: The First Trans-Exclusive Modeling Agency Launches in LA

$

0

0

Late spring is always a quiet time for fashion, with the women's fall/winter shows over in March and the men's shows yet to begin. But for the soon-to-be graduates of the fashion programs at major design schools like NYC's own Parsons and Pratt, this lull is marked by flurry of needle-to-tulle activity as seniors scramble to assemble -- then present to a panel of professionals -- the collections that will comprise their theses. Only a small number of these students are then given the opportunity to showcase their work in the schools' storied end-of-year fashion shows, which have counted industry heavyweights like Anna Wintour, Vivienne Westwood, and Marc Jacobs among their past guests.

Needless to say, there's plenty of talent to be found on these runways -- or, rather, backstage of them -- so we've taken on the difficult task of paring it all down to just a few looks. Below, check out work from 15 student designers that left us hoping Barneys would pull another Proenza Schouler and buy all these collections out already.

Jon Max Goh, Parsons The New School for Design

Goh flouted the conventions of menswear and impressed audience members and judges alike at the Parsons end-of-year show with his abstract floral prints and androgynous forms. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing in post-colonial Singapore, Goh's collection -- which earned him his alma mater's Menswear Designer of the Year award alongside Sungho Kim -- fluidly melds East and West in a reflection of his personal identity.

(Fun fact: Goh also sings.)

Jenisa Sukanjanapong, Parsons The New School for Design

Unlike Goh, whose vivid looks won him features in outlets like Style.com and The Impression, fellow Parsons grad Sukanjanapong seems in large part to have flown under the media radar -- which is unfortunate, because we adore her minimalist aesthetic. Her designs fall somewhere on the spectrum between Helmut Lang and The Row, but they're somehow softer -- less workplace-chic, more gauzy snow princess with an edge.

Tamara Krantzberg, Parsons The New School for Design

Given a clothing market already oversaturated with fast fashion, we thought there'd be little room for any variation on the boho look (because if you couldn't make it to Coachella, at least you can dress like you did) --  but it looks like Krantzberg proved us wrong. With some help from artisans in her native Mexico, the Parsons grad veered in an unexpected direction for her senior collection by combining a neutral color palette in mostly solids with classic festival silhouettes. Boho minimalism, anyone?

Claire McKinney, Pratt Institute

McKinney took home top honors at Pratt's end-of-year show for her denim-heavy, vintage workwear-inspired collection, which featured items like loose khakis and a bona fide apron -- artfully draped, of course. With $25,000 in entrepreneurial and design funding her pocket from the Liz Claiborne Award for Concept to Product, we're sure we'll be seeing more of this young designer and her work in the future.

Kit Woo, Pratt Institute

Woo's designs immediately remind us of some of the looks that came off the runway at Seoul Fashion Week this past spring, and we mean that in a very good way. The onetime CFDA Scholarship winner paired tried-and-true design elements à la Alexander Wang (leather draping, neoprene -- Woo calls his particular take on it "suitprene") with streetwear styles (cropped pants over long socks) to neo-goth, "black is a color" effect.

Lauren Nahigian, Pratt Institute

Nothing could be further from the neutral, silhouette-driven looks we've seen so far than Nahigian's bold colors, rich fabrics, and in-your-face designs. We're particularly enamored of the purple-furred cape she sent down the runway -- it's Rihanna-in-Guo Pei before Rihanna ever wore Guo Pei (Pratt held its end-of-year show three days after Rihanna donned the Chinese couturière's dress, but Pratt seniors submit their collections well before that date). On the side, Nahigian is also an incredibly talented artist, because of course she is.

Samantha MacDonald, Savannah College of Art and Design

Something about MacDonald's designs just screams "Southern belle with an edge" to us. Is it the lovely draped silks? The vague air of Ming vase chinoiserie? Maybe it's just the fact that the collection debuted at SCAD. Whatever it is, we want more of it -- and with MacDonald set to begin training as an assistant fashion designer at Macy's this fall, we're banking on the slim possibility that some of her aesthetic filters through the hierarchy into the department store's styles.

Alexander D'Orlando, Savannah College of Art and Design

We're not sure how D'Orlando managed to integrate fully functional fiber optic cables into one of his coats, but we definitely appreciate the ambition. Blue lighting aside, the SCAD grad's vampy, menswear-inspired designs are much more Balmain than Hot Topic and promise to take women's formalwear to a new, shoulder-padded place.

Molly Sayers and Kristen Hughes, Savannah College of Art and Design

From her collaboration with fibers major Hughes, you wouldn't know that Sayers cites Iris van Herpen as one of her fashion influences. Instead, drawing on the time Sayers spent as a child in Qatar, the two took the salwar kameez for a spin, juxtaposing flowing fabric against geometric detailing made from laser-cut wood triangles. The result -- despite the wood -- is one of the most comfortable-looking collections of the season, and one we wouldn't hesitate to throw on for our next Netflix binge.

Elizabeth Hilfiger, Rhode Island School of Design

We know you're all thinking it, so let's get it out of the way first: Yes, that's Hilfiger as in Tommy. And while we can see hints of the designer's signature preppy aesthetic in his middle daughter's work, this collection is a reworking of those all-American classics, not a regurgitation. Elizabeth adds a cool, downtown-girl touch -- geometrically inspired, she says -- to Tommy staples like the varsity jacket for a look that's all her own.

Julia Han, Rhode Island School of Design

The fashion world has already taken notice of Han: Less than a year out of school, she'll be presenting capsule collections at the upcoming New York and Paris Fashion Weeks. It's an impressive feat, but looking at her Patti Smith-inspired senior thesis -- she juxtaposes wildly different textures and materials while sticking to a single color palette -- we can't say we're at all surprised.

Patamon Khoman, Rhode Island School of Design

We know our bank accounts would be empty if Khoman's senior collection hit the market, with fast fashion staples like crop tops and chunky mules turned ultra-luxe -- and ultra-expensive -- with lush fur trim. Fortunately for our financial security, the Thai designer's favorite fabric is apparently the much less costly organza.

Pierre Campo, Central Saint Martins

CSM is known for its over-the-top approach to fashion -- design elements at this year's show included space-themed antenna headgear, a wearable ball pit, a poufy poncho that bears an unsettling resemblance to a blanket my Chinese grandmother owns, and... this -- but Campo proved that less can be more by taking home a runner-up award for his pared-down menswear designs that made use of quality fabrics in elegant, not-quite-conventional cuts.

Camilla Holmes, Central Saint Martins

Holmes' might have taken a subtler approach in her designs than most of her fellow CSM grads, but the pièce de résistance of her collection -- a UK flagemblazoned with the slogan "Respect our existence or expect our resistance" -- captured the sentiment around 1 Granary as students not selected for the official end-of-year show held their own presentation, Salon des Refusés-style, outside the venue. Even without the political sentiment, the designs hold their own as an across-the-pond take on the streetwear aesthetic so ubiquitous here in the States: London workwear with a haute twist.

Han Kim, Central Saint Martins

The Korean-born designer used his Savile Row experience to great effect in his triple award-winning senior collection: if you can get past the massive 3D-printed structures, the tailoring is attentive and the embroidery incredibly detailed on these colorful, whimsical garments. Keep your eyes peeled -- with a little bit of RTW adaptation, there could be a surprising amount of wearability in these out-there designs.

There are Vagina Yarmulkes Now

July 23, 2015, 6:50 am

≫ Next: Check Out Proenza Schouler's Dreamy New Campaign

≪ Previous: 15 Newly-Graduated Young Designers to Watch

$

0

0

Hippie Judaism is no stranger to anyone who has ever been around the right parts of Los Angeles or New York (or seen a single episode of Transparent, which if all is right in the world should launch the caftan back into its rightful place of talit-adjacent dominance). Now, someone on Etsy (naturally) has taken that to its logical conclusion, with a fresh line of vagina yarmulkes depicting birth in chronological/physiological order, over the crown of the head. (Thanks for catching them, Heeb Magazine!)

(via BeanSproutLadyJew on Etsy)

Seller Zoe Jordan describes the kippot as:

"Ideal for Bat Mitzvahs, Lesbian Weddings, Lady Rabbis, Feminists of the chosen variety, Midwives, Doulas and Renewalists. Also great for any-gendered and any-affiliated folks who appreciate a cheeky traditional-non-traditional way to acknowledge and REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM :) It's kind of like a high-five and a wink at your creator."

This could go well (or maybe the opposite of well) with other recently conceived Jewish sexual products, which target a more observant audience. What religious object will next become irrevocably intertwined with genitalia? Will there be penis-shaped Tefillin? Yads? Or... oh no...

(via foodgawker.com)

Good Shabbos, everyone! (And it's not even Friday.)

Check Out Proenza Schouler's Dreamy New Campaign

July 23, 2015, 7:45 am

≫ Next: Baby Phart: Anti-Flatulence Jeans Are a Thing

≪ Previous: There are Vagina Yarmulkes Now

$

0

0

Shadows, movement, negative space -- Proenza Schouler's ethereal new fall/winter campaign is what fashion dreams are made of. It's also the brand's first time using a group of models -- in this case Liya Kebede, Anne Catherine Lacroix, Karolin Wolter and Liisa Winkler -- and the results are artfully-arranged compositions that feel simultaneously striking and subtle, much like the brand itself. The images were shot by David Sims, art directed by Peter Miles and styled by Marie Chaix. Take a look at the photos above and below.

Baby Phart: Anti-Flatulence Jeans Are a Thing

July 23, 2015, 8:55 am

≫ Next: Pop Some Seeds: New York Has a Bagel Statue

≪ Previous: Check Out Proenza Schouler's Dreamy New Campaign

$

0

0

Got a chili cook-off first date? A boy who loves broccoli? A lady who loves legumes? Well worry not, because there are new fart-neutralizing pants on the market so that you don't accidentally rip one when y'all just trying to get down. 

That's right, the geniuses at British clothing company Shreddies (omg) have just released a new line of pajama pants and jeans that, yep, mask the smell of your rank-ass toots. Made from a "special, highly porous carbon cloth back panel" that absorbs and neutralizes any sulfuric stench, it's the same stuff used in chemical warfare suits and so we're pretty confident that they work.

However, this isn't Shreddies' first foray into anti-fart wear, as their flagship item has always been the "flatulence filtering underwear" -- which actually has some merit for sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn's Disease and food intolerances. IBS aside though, we're sure they're a great substitute for always buying more Bean-o, or you know, living a cruciferous-less existence. 

But best of all, guess what's up next? Yep, apparently work-ready chinos. 🐒💨

[h/t Daily Mail]

---

Pop Some Seeds: New York Has a Bagel Statue

July 23, 2015, 9:30 am

≫ Next: Maybe Jon Stewart Leaving The Daily Show Isn't Such a Bad Thing After All

≪ Previous: Baby Phart: Anti-Flatulence Jeans Are a Thing

$

0

0

Artist Hanna Liden has finally gifted New York with something the city has sorely been missing, like a hole in the center of its doughy heart: a full statue of bagels. The installation, called Everything (appropriately, because bagels) has been placed around Hudson River Park and Ruth Wittenberg Plaza. Produced by Art Production Fund (and sponsored by Kiehl's), it's Liden's first opportunity to display her work outside of a gallery, and almost certainly her most delicious. To bite into the, uh, everything of the story, check out an interview with Liden at ArtNet.

Maybe Jon Stewart Leaving The Daily Show Isn't Such a Bad Thing After All

July 23, 2015, 9:34 am

≫ Next: Chloe Sevigny Is Crowdfunding Her New Movie

≪ Previous: Pop Some Seeds: New York Has a Bagel Statue

$

0

0

As Jon Stewart's departure from the chair of The Daily Show -- a position he has held for almost four full presidential terms -- draws nearer, it's natural for nostalgia to kick in. "What will we do without Jon Stewart telling us what to think about stuff?" liberals will cry while running around like chickens with their political heads cut off, nervous that controversial replacement Trevor Noah won't prove as effective a moral compass. This is a good thing.

Somehow, by a trick of the culture and the particular political climate during the Bush administration, Jon Stewart -- a comedian and the host of a fake news show -- became one of the major consensus moral centers of America. That's kind of insane. It's also unsustainable. Staying in that position for so long without moving leads, by necessity, to a kind of stasis. And holding the moral high ground for over a decade can make you an asshole.

Nowhere is that more evidenced than in a story former Daily Show writer and correspondent Wyatt Cenac told Marc Maron on a recent episode of the WTF podcast. If you don't have time to listen to the podcast, read Vulture's summary, and if you don't have time to read that, here are the bare-bone details:

• During the 2012 election, Stewart was using a voice to make fun of Herman Cain that Cenac considered insensitive, coming from a place of racial ignorance.
• After trying to broach the subject as the only black writer in the room, Cenac found himself the subject of a massive outburst from Stewart, who was enraged at the suggestion that he was maybe being racist or racially insensitive and allegedly kept screaming "fuck off, I'm done with you."
  
• The ensuing fight, which Cenac describes as an "explosion" went on until it was literally stopped by some worked-up office dogs, leaving Cenac to go to a nearby baseball diamond and break down.

"Yikes" doesn't even begin to cover it.

It's not surprising that to hear that Jon Stewart might be kind of a dick -- you have to be in his line of work, and it obviously helps to be overly sure of yourself if your job is to go on television every day and spew opinions and judgments about people (this likely applies to many writers, too). What's not acceptable is the refusal to listen to literally the only black employee in the writers' room about a matter that explicitly and exclusively pertained to the show's representation of black Americans. That's just being an awful, no-good, rotten ally.

On the most charitable reading of the story, it sounds like Stewart can barely even consider entertaining the possibility that he and the show could be offending the groups he purports to care about -- he refuses to admit he might be fallible, even though his job is to wade into uncertain waters night after night. For even the most sensitive people, a run at his job would entail at least one flub, because that's just how people are -- ignorant and frequently insensitive and oblivious, even when they mean well.

What matters is how you respond when you get called out for those flaws, and the suggestion that Stewart was so trapped in his role that he couldn't escape his own head -- like the mummy presiding over a beautiful pyramid that's also a tomb -- is a more than sufficient argument that, yes, it was time for him to go. All indications are that Stewart is going to spend at least part of his retirement chilling on a farm. Let's hope that the time is well spent, and that he has some space to consider the limits of his own perspective -- and that we all have the strength to do the same.

Chloe Sevigny Is Crowdfunding Her New Movie

July 23, 2015, 11:30 am

≫ Next: Watch Nicki Minaj Perform on GMA, Discuss Taylor Swift

≪ Previous: Maybe Jon Stewart Leaving The Daily Show Isn't Such a Bad Thing After All

$

0

0

Want to contribute to the next Chloë Sevigny film? Easy, just go to this Kickstarter page and you can help finance the production of her new upcoming work Slow Machine. Shot on 16 mm film, this lo-fi "screwball thriller about performance and surveillance" will be directed by Paul Felten  and Joe DeNardo (photographer/cinematographer and member of the art-punk group GROWING), but the film needs $30,000 of crowd funded money to be completed. In it, Chloë will play a character named Chloë, a struggling actress who becomes romantically involved with an "slighty manic" NYPD counter-terrorism specialist. After their relationship goes sour, she runs away with Eleanor Friedberger's band. Sounds great. If you donate your money will go towards basically everything from food to equipment rental or the occasional broom.

Watch Nicki Minaj Perform on GMA, Discuss Taylor Swift

July 24, 2015, 4:22 am

≫ Next: Donald Trump and Iggy Azalea Are Ruining Everything For Geminis on Tumblr

≪ Previous: Chloe Sevigny Is Crowdfunding Her New Movie

$

0

0

In a bit of fortuitous scheduling that likely brought glistening, Nielsen-shaped tears of gratitude to the eyes of Good Morning America's producers, Nicki Minaj performed on the show this morning -- an appearance that's been on the books for weeks and just so happened to coincide with her involvement in one of the most fascinating, and necessary, celebrity "feuds" in recent memory.

In an interview before her performance, Minaj said she had spoken on the phone Thursday to Taylor Swift, who also Tweeted an apology to her yesterday: "She was super, super sweet. She apologized and said, 'Look, I didn't understand the big picture of what you were saying, but now I get it.' So we're all good."

Minaj went on to say this about her initial tweets, which Swift misinterpreted to be a direct attack on herself and a not a bigger comment on the way black female pop stars are rarely celebrated or rewarded by the entertainment industry like their white counterparts are:

"Anaconda" had such a huge cultural impact, and on top of that, we broke the Vevo record. So this is actually my third time breaking the Vevo record, and "Anaconda" therefore should have been nominated. I do think that if it was one of the pop girls, they would have had many nominations for it. I think I got two nominations for "Anaconda" -- for female and for hip-hop, but it should've been for the year. [...] I think that we have to have both images for girls. We can't just have one type of body being glorified in the media because it just makes girls even more insecure than we already are."

Watch Minaj perform "Feeling Myself" and "The Night Is Still Young" below. Interview above.



Feeling Myself

The Night Is Still Young

Donald Trump and Iggy Azalea Are Ruining Everything For Geminis on Tumblr

July 24, 2015, 5:25 am

≫ Next: Congrats Kylie Jenner, You're a High School Graduate!

≪ Previous: Watch Nicki Minaj Perform on GMA, Discuss Taylor Swift

$

0

0

So last night I was scrolling through my Tumblr timeline (cultivating my "aesthetic," of course) and stumbled across this timely "Gemini Hate Meme."

                                                                    

Exactly what it sounds like, the Gemini Hate Meme is the bizarre new trend brought to you by the nether-sphere of deep Tumblr, in which those born between May 21st and June 21st are derided in those insanely re-blogged "your sign as a" posts.                                                                                 

                              

But, uh, why? The site Meme Documentation, says it's actually a phenomenon that's been going on since last year, a meme descended from a post on the popular astrology Tumblr gothstrology that has since been deleted.

So far, the only explanations for "OK, but, still, why Geminis doe?" seems to boil down to two things, that a) multi-faceted Gemini, which comes from the latin word for "twins," are "two-faced" and b) current Tumblr persona non grata Iggy Azalea and Donald Trump. And a shit ton of those memes revolve around the fact that both Donald and I-G-G-Y are Gemini. 

It's not surprising that two ugh-inducing people who have kind of become the standard-bearers of racism as of late will cause might cause a few Tumblr tweens to leap to conclusions -- especially in the name of social justice, which has become a (wonderful) trend among young Internet users. Put through the Tumblr prism, however, that's manifested itself in some very strange ways, including astrological hate. 

So just because your parents did the nasty between late August and September, you must suffer the wrath of the Interwebs, forever bobbing in the putrid Trump-tainted waters of Tumblr? Fear not, Gemini, because guess who else is a Gem? Johnny Depp! Angelina Jolie! Marilyn Monroe! Prince! Mr. T! Jussie Smollet! Laverne Cox! Kanye!!

And meme-teens, just a word of advice. I love Bernie too, but every time you validate a xenophobe as a legitimate competitor, Berns cries a little.

Congrats Kylie Jenner, You're a High School Graduate!

July 24, 2015, 6:20 am

≫ Next: Mumford and Sons' Banjo Player Is Making Techno as "The Floppy Disc Jockey"

≪ Previous: Donald Trump and Iggy Azalea Are Ruining Everything For Geminis on Tumblr

$

0

0

A video posted by Kylie Jenner Snapchats (@kylizzlesnapchats) on Jul 23, 2015 at 6:56pm PDT

Last night, Kylie Jenner, the world's oldest 17-year-old, finally hit the final (legal) milestone before becoming a sort-of adult: Having a big Kardashian party to celebrate graduating from high school, a party that also included Kendall (who had already graduated) for no apparent reason.

Graduating class of 2014 & 2015! 🎓 Congrats @kendalljenner& @kyliejenner for graduating high school! pic.twitter.com/EgHTAnaGA3

-- Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 24, 2015

I know you graduated last year but so proud of you!!!! Class of 2014 🎓 #SurpriseGraduationPartypic.twitter.com/I9nfP5wXPk

-- Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) July 24, 2015

So, congrats Kylie (mostly)!

We know a lot about the party itself (Tyga was there, it was hosted at Kris Jenner's house, Ryan Seacrest hosted which okay), but, of course, we know very little about the circumstances under which Kylie graduated, or how she was doing in school. We also don't know how Kylie was actually in school at all, considering that she's one of the most famous people on the planet, owns her own home, and spends a lot of time thinking about chemtrails. She's basically the youngest 35-year-old, ever. 

Which means that it's possible to dream of a situation where, in the interest of someday taking over the Kardashian empire, Kylie had to undergo a Billy Madison-type situation in which she had to complete all 12 grades in two weeks, while looking fabulous and taking fire selfies during the academic decathlon. Just imagine -- did Kylie have to go... back to school? [via Complex]

Mumford and Sons' Banjo Player Is Making Techno as "The Floppy Disc Jockey"

July 24, 2015, 6:30 am

≫ Next: Belle & Sebastian's "Perfect Couples" Music Video Is a Super-Cute Dance Party

≪ Previous: Congrats Kylie Jenner, You're a High School Graduate!

$

0

0

Photo: @johnsonty

A photo posted by Mumford & Sons (@mumfordandsons) on Jul 22, 2015 at 5:12am PDT

Mumford and Sons banjo player Winston Marshall is now making techno music as "The Floppy Disc Jockey," which, we're going to go out on a limb and assume is probably not the direction the Belleville Three envisioned this whole thing going in.

Also known as Tech No Notice (lol, get it?), seems like Marshall fancies himself a techno "connoisseur," saying in a recent interview that his foray into electro is all thanks to Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford, or as Marshall calls him, "Fordy."

"Simian Mobile Disco changed my life," he said. "They put me onto the EDM world. Although they would hate that term, they're more techno." 

He added toward the end of the interview, "The trick to techno, as a connoisseur, is that you got to do two things: keep your hands down and your mouth shut."

---

Belle & Sebastian's "Perfect Couples" Music Video Is a Super-Cute Dance Party

July 24, 2015, 6:43 am

≫ Next: Unmasking Beauty with FOMOFUKU

≪ Previous: Mumford and Sons' Banjo Player Is Making Techno as "The Floppy Disc Jockey"

$

0

0

Belle & Sebastian have shared the new music video for "Perfect Couples", off their latest LP Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.

Groups of couples dance and float around a suburban living room with a Wes Anderson-approved color palette.Though the video is teetering on the 9-minute mark, you gotta stick around for the group dance sequence.

It's dizzying, tedious, and adorable -- but isn't that what love is anyway?

Check out the video above.

Unmasking Beauty with FOMOFUKU

July 24, 2015, 7:31 am

≫ Next: The 5 Saddest Things About Michael Jackson Wanting to Play Jar-Jar Binks

≪ Previous: Belle & Sebastian's "Perfect Couples" Music Video Is a Super-Cute Dance Party

$

0

0

In an age where editorials often present beauty in a all too familiar way with homogeneous cast of characters, Paper is happy to challenge the norm and present a different take on the standard beauty story. One that uses a diverse cast of models and plays with the alluring possibilities of face masks, with designs from buzzy mask designers Fomofuku. (Check out our Q&A below with the Fomofuku designers Bon Duke and Hana Kim below!)

Dianara wears a Kenzo dress, Cosmetics by Make Up Forever

Mari wears a Kenzo jacket, H&M top, and Forever 21 denim, Cosmetics by M.A.C

Jason wears a Hunter jacket, PLAC shirt, Nail Polish by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics 

Bojana wears an Adidas jacket, Topshop t-shirt and overalls, Cosmetics by Marc Jacobs Beauty

Jake wears a Lucio Castro shirt, PRPS jacket

Besa wears a Topshop raincoat, and Zara pants, Cosmetics by NARS

Philip wears a Topman button-up shirt and sweater, and a Nixon watch, Cosmetics by M.A.C

James wears a Kooples t-shirt, and A PLAC jacket, Cosmetics by Urban Decay

Anna wears an Adidas jacket and Opening Ceremony shirt, Cosmetics by Kat Von D

Hair by Janelle Chaplin using Original Mineral
Makeup by Michael Anthony,
Photo Assistant: Jeff Rose
Models: Dianara at Muse, Mari at Muse, Bojana at Muse, Besa at New York Models, Anna at Soul, Jason Santore, James White, Philip K at Soul and Jake Brodsky

We chat with Fomofuku founders Bon Duke and Hana Kim, whose new collection comes out next month. You can follow them on Instagram here.

Tell us about Fomofuku. Where do you see its role in the realm fashion vs. function?

Face masks are ubiquitous in some Asian cultures and it is becoming more popular there to wear them as a fashion accessory. On a recent trip to Vietnam, we picked up a few of these "fashion" masks and my friends went crazy over them.  When you stop and think about it, we have accessories to style every other part of our body so why not masks? Like sunglasses and hats, masks can offer utility but for FOMOFUKU, a means to express personality and more importantly, have fun with it.  Personally, when we think of when and where we would wear a mask... festivals, raves, skiing... we think of having a good time. And they definitely make for a good instagram photo. In the end its all about having fun and keeping it simple. 

How do you think masks relate to self expression and identity? 

Historically, masks have been used to hide or protect a person's identity. We think it can do the opposite and can be utilized to accentuate identity, make a statement and/or redirect focus.  You see a lot of musicians wearing masks and other facewear for these reasons.  Like hair and makeup, a mask is a canvas to self express. In addition to our prints, FOMOFUKU will be offering white masks in our signature contour shape to allow people to customize their own.  

Can anonymity be beautiful? 

Yes... even more so in this digital age.   

Its great to have a tease or only partially show something and it can be a beautiful thing when done well. Everyone is about exposure and showing face but isn't there always something special when its not fully revealing in an image? Its almost like placing bait or a constant draw for someone to return and look back.

What are your opinions on diversity in fashion beauty? 

It's boring, really.There is no risk or anything that inspires people. It's more like, 'buy this or that because this person or celebrity uses it.' Fine, yes, it makes money... but who's gonna break that and make amazing beauty stories? We feel like if a person looks at a beauty story they should be able to walk away inspired and make there own path of beauty for themselves. Yes, they can also walk away with some product guidelines, but its so about product placement nowadays. Where are the Serge Lutens and inspiring, raw, real beauty that people can interpret for themselves?  

What inspires your art? 

Food, actually. It's a basic thing of sharing. As in sharing a meal with others and experience those moments. It's a core basic natural behavior where it brings people together. It also shows you different cultures and stories that you encounter through it. That's what we want to do with our work -- share it with others.Having different inputs and views always helps you grow. That's why shooting fomofuku was fun. It's an interesting way to approach beauty. 

Where do the prints come from?

The mask prints are designed in-house. We have prints in everything from marble and peeling paint to kawaii kitty faces to burgers and fries to tropical flowers.  We are attracted to the unconventional and plan to create a diverse offering to speak to different styles and occasions. 

Who would you like to see wearing one of these masks? 

K Pop star ShinEE, Sia, Miley, Biebs, Cara, Katy P, Die Antwoord, Young Thug, Fetty Wap, Drake , M.I.A.,Tokimonsta, Skrillex --  basically anyone, really.

The 5 Saddest Things About Michael Jackson Wanting to Play Jar-Jar Binks

July 24, 2015, 8:01 am

≫ Next: The Makers of Butter Coffee Bring us "Fat Water"

≪ Previous: Unmasking Beauty with FOMOFUKU

$

0

0

VICE did the world a favor and interviewed Ahmed Best, the man who played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels, because sometimes you just have to wonder: "What's that guy up to?" There's a lot of interesting stuff in the interview about Best's perspective on the role, criticism of the character, and George Lucas' directing habits (namely . In fact, Best kind of throws Lucas under the bus for many critcisms that fell on young actor Jake Lloyd (playing Anakin Skywalker).

But perhaps the most unflattering thing George Lucas does in the course of Best's account is passive-aggressively telling Michael Jackson he didn't get the role of Jar Jar by introducing Best to Jackson backstage at Wembley arena as his Jar-Jar. Apparently, Jackson wanted to do "prosthetics" and actually play the character (like in the "Thriller" video), where Lucas wanted to turn everything into a gleaming CGI turd. To be honest, Jackson avoided taking a huge L, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of sad things about this story. Let's rank them, from least sad to saddest.

5. Ahmed Best Getting His Feelings Hurt -- I have nothing against Ahmed Best, but having George Lucas be kind of a dick to you by introducing you are "Jar Jar" and embarrassing you in front of Michael Jackson is probably not that sad in the grand scheme of things, especially when it's part of the experience of joining massive, beloved franchise.

4. Michael Jackson Getting His Feelings Hurt -- I know what I just said! But, as weird and creepy and probably a bit predatory as Michael Jackson was, it's not hard to imagine his childlike enthusiasm for being Jar Jar, and how disappointing it might have been to find out via being introduced to the person who got the part instead.

3. The Fact That Michael Jackson Even Wanted to Play Jar Jar in the First Place -- I guess people were really excited about the Star Wars prequels at the time, but the thought that the dude who made "Billie Jean" and "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller" and is low-key the best part of The Wiz would want to be involved as this weirdo caricature marketing opportunity is just a bummer.

2. Lucas' Worry that Michael Jackson Would Be "Bigger" Than the Widely Panned Phantom Menace -- Thank god there wasn't a pop sideshow to distract from the important work of art that was The Phantom Menace. Now all we have to pay attention to is the movie, and...

1. The Existence of the Star Wars Prequels -- More than enough words have already been spilled and time wasted thinking about how horrible these movies are (though if you want a refresher, the infamous 70-minute Phantom Menace review is still worth your time). Kids will basically love almost anything thrust in front of them. Accordingly, entertainers making art explicitly for children should feel a sense of obligation to give them something they can look fondly on as adults, rather than with a deep sense of shame that they wanted to see this on their seventh birthd -- wait, what were we talking about?

The Makers of Butter Coffee Bring us "Fat Water"

July 24, 2015, 8:41 am

≫ Next: Naomi Campbell Joins Cast of AHS: Hotel

≪ Previous: The 5 Saddest Things About Michael Jackson Wanting to Play Jar-Jar Binks

$

0

0

Put down that dandelion coffee because the haute-du-jour drink of today is apparently, literal fat water. 

Yep, FATWater, created by Dave Asprey, aka the founder of butter-infused Bulletproof Coffee, is the newest paleo/gluten-free/vegan/low-calorie liquid that triggers weight loss by ketosis and increases hydration. Because who doesn't love to be hydrated while their body eats itself? 

But how is it possible to drink fat and lose weight, you may ask. Why am I not getting ripped from my excessive milkshake intake? Should I start eating butter with every meal? Was Paula Deen onto something?According to Asprey, he has made it so his "patented coconut oil nanoparticles" help your body absorb water better and burn fat at the same time. Holy shit! 

And while it's not creamy, it apparently tastes "wetter on the tongue." Which is good, seeing as how it's, well, water. That is, $30 water.

[h/t Munchies]

Naomi Campbell Joins Cast of AHS: Hotel

July 24, 2015, 9:17 am

≫ Next: Stay Up Late With Janet Jackson's Sentimental Video For "No Sleeep"

≪ Previous: The Makers of Butter Coffee Bring us "Fat Water"

$

0

0

Photo by Paul Porter/BFA.com

It turns out that the cellphone-slinging, Delevingne-pushing, airplane disrupting model Naomi Campbell is just super method. IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.

Today, FX announced that the modeling legend will join the cast of American Horror Story: Hotel. She'll be playing a fashion editor (and Lady Gaga's character's nemesis). Naomi has dabbled in television in the past -- from this year's Empire to an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

AHS creator Ryan Murphy has described Hotel as "bloodier and grislier" than the previous seasons, but until it premieres in October, just watch the latest teaser on a loop.