See Like Me

Johanna Stickland

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:55:22 -0600

Johanna Stickland writhes around on the beach naked (Did I mention you should never visit this site while at work?) for a Bambi magazine teaser. She is a Canadian model but has sort of been out of commission for a while. Does this signal her return to modeling? If it means more time on the beach, I’d say yes…

Carine Roitfeld

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:58:04 -0600

Carine Roitfeld is that fervently interesting personality in charge of Vogue Paris. Talk about copyright issues. This discussion was taken straight from the pages of Acne Paper #8. She apparently never wears jeans. Really, Carine? I would’ve thought for an editor of Vogue you would slum it up with some sweats and denim. Her collected calm can be seen in this wonderful interview, and for those who suffer from lethargy, I’ve included her documentary on CNN’s Revealed. Carine to join me?

Husk Magazine

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:02:00 -0600

I’ve been sitting on a lot of content for a very long time. That’s what happens when you become editor of an independent publication headed for world domination. Enter Husk, a German magazine started by Vinzenz Hölzl in 2007. One night while Vinz should have been tucked away in bed he had the most brilliant idea of his early career: to bring another talented individual on board. Enter me, talented individual. Together Vinz & I have spent more collective minutes in skype conversation than you have spent wiping your bum, and the love and effort we have poured into our F/W 2010/11 issue is about to see it’s dazzling début in mere weeks. We have exclusive content from fashion’s crème de la crème — I’d tell you whom if it weren’t for fear of decapitation if I blurbed. I’m moving to Paris in nine days. Vinz is moving to London in less. Our magazine is coming to an area near you, so do yourselves and us a huge favour, and please buy it.

Coco Rocha Gets Married

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:19:00 -0600

My face is wet and I don’t know why. It could be that it’s the hottest day of the year and I’m inside spending it packing for Paris and my cheeks are all sweaty. The fact of the matter is, I’ve spent the last two hours watching wedding videos sobbing my face off. I randomly chanced upon Coco Rocha’s montage when she tied the knot to James Conran in a French castle. It’s pretty cute. But there is one more thing on my bucket list which I can’t cross off: marry a Canadian model who can do a decent jig.

The Outsiders / Dazed & Confused

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:32:33 -0600

The Moodboard

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:14:25 -0600

Eliza Cummings Visual Tales

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:30:54 -0600

No hyperbole can explain the amount of sweat pouring off my body as I type this. Sometimes the only way to avoid this is to get naked! Eliza Cummings sure knows how to cool off. Like some of those “Where Are They Now?” shows about stars after their careers took a nosedive, I’ve been wondering where Eliza Cummings disappeared to. This editorial for Visual Tales magazine shows her in probably one of the most boring editorials of all time, but their website is cool, so I suggest you visit it. I know what you’re thinking: Kristen Stewart à la Joan Jett. Eerily similar, no? The world needs to give the tough girl look a rest. Especially when it was pioneered by this guy.

Inventory Magazine

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:27:53 -0600

The boys who helmed Inventory magazine have garnered local and international attention — attention well deserved. Attention for their attention to detail, their ability to stand at attention in the finest garments for the most reasonable prices, and a willingness to showcase artists and creatives worthy of attention. Have I got your attention yet? I visited their stockroom in Vancouver’s historic Gastown. I was very curious about the magazine and was asking one of the principals a lot of questions. He seemed really annoyed. Maybe I wasn’t worth his attention. I never bought an issue of the magazine, but he’s lucky it speaks for itself. On a single flip through I noticed how simply divine everything is on the inside. He may have been short with me, but not even his attitude could deter me from picking up a copy of this gem. Photos / Hypebeast

“I think it also creates more of a mentality to go-for-self and do something you really believe in, be your own boss and take a risk. I think there are probably always people entering into the print magazine world, but to be honest, there still aren’t that many that are really good, creating something considered and thought through – there is a handful that really stand apart.”

Lady GaGa + Vanity Fair

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:38:00 -0600

So far the September covers that have leaked are a snoozefest. Lady Gaga’s Vanity Fair cover is the one that stands out the most as the most refreshing and beautiful. As usual, Nicola Formichetti was responsible for the styling, and Nick Knight (whom Gaga has worked with numerous times before) was the photographer, so Gaga should’ve been pretty comfortable on set. She’s got guts jumping in those Nina Ricci inspired shoes by Noritaka Tatehana. Although I love the video, I’m underwhelmed by the actual editorial. Nick could have done better creativity wise. Looks included pieces from Alexander McQueen, Armani Privé, and Noritaka Tatehana.

Back to School Model Pairs

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:20:50 -0600

It’s once again that time of year. Back to school. Is that chubby girl going to come back to school unrecognizably thin? Will that hot jock return as a lukewarm jock? Will Slutty Susan return in a relationship with Humble Harry? Is Karen really a lesbian? You’ve done all your back to school shopping. You’ve bought your pair of shape-ups and you’re looking fresh, for once. It’s time to grace the shallow-minded halls of grade school for another year, but not before you catch up on who’s who in your freshman year. Disclaimer: None of these are based in actual fact, and are not meant to hurt anybody’s feelings, especially the sensitive models themselves.

KARLIE KLOSS + JAKOB WIECHMANN
These two have had their eye on each other for quite some time. Calling them cultured is an understatement — they’re the pair who still don’t have cell phones in an effort to retain their exclusivity. However, they’ve finally hooked up via snail mail and are ready to turn a few heads in History class.

ANABELA BELIKOVA + BENONI LOOS
They hang out together so often you thought they were brother and sister. Sorry, sister, but this pair has come out of the proverbial closetus incestus. You can’t blame them, though, with their cherub-like good looks and naïveté. They were bound to hook up sooner than later, and you’re just happy it’s sooner. You saw it coming.

FRIDA GUSTAVSSON + ARTHUR SALES
This one came way out of left field. Arthur was dating that bitch Stacy back in his previous hometown and his excuse for not dating was that he was “emotionally attached to somebody” but shrugged it off as not being long distance because he was “beyond labels”. Yeah, right. Figures the new girl would snag the guy that moved here. They have something in common, or so they tell me.

RANYA MORDANOVA + ALEX DUNSTAN
I had to look twice when I saw this girl walking down the hall hand in hand with Alex Dunstan. Her hair used to be halfway down her back and she would wear heavy black makeup and combat boots paired with her studded leather jacket that had non-conformist pins on it. My guess? She decided that the only way somebody would ever find her attractive would be to undergo drastic change. Well, it worked for her. Emo teen queen only changed her appearance because Alex took up guitar. Non-conformist my ass.

TAO OKAMOTO + FREJA BEHA ERICHSEN
Long time coming. No explanation required. I don’t know how hard of a time Freja had convincing someone who spoke little English.

NIMUE SMIT + TOMEK SZCZUKIECKI (left)
Why is it that two people whose names you have difficulty in pronouncing always end up lip locked? Everyone knows that when they look at each other they both feel like they’re looking in a mirror. They look like identical twins. No surprise that they hang out with Anabela & Benoni. These two dirtbags never change their clothes, so it’s only natural that they belong to the same bucket of grease. I secretly think it’s kind of cute.

Pseudo-Journalist Gone Rogue

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:06:00 -0600

Where to begin. Hm, hm, hm… Oh, right. If you haven’t already read this whiny rant, do so. The diabolical atrocity that the English language endures throughout this article, apparently dubbed pseudo-journalism, is a minor point on the grand scale of arguments this so-called “authour” has penned. My favourite part of the article has to be where he links to his own personal blog to further back up his opinions about “original content”. And I quote, “If it were not for those magazines or blogs like http://www.benjaminkanarekblog.com that do publish original material, there would be no original material to speak of”. He would have done better to replace the url with MINE in all caps. The blithe insensitivity of this remark is smothered by the sheer ego-boosting url that screams “send me readers!” If that wasn’t sickening enough for you, let’s reread the sentence. What I’m getting is, if it weren’t for your blog, the world would have no original content? Riiight, riight. The world needs you, got it. First off, I’m pretty sure original content no longer exists save for another article on that topic. That being said, we love to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Without your opinions, we’ll all be fine. Don’t read too much into that. Wait for it: “being what they are doing is reporting…”. Being what they are doing? Is reporting? Talk about flowery vocab. I get it, you’re a fashion photographer who gets frequently published in international editions of Harper’s Bazaar — the number one magazine in China (just keep scrolling, it’s after Southern Living). But the mere fact that you even wasted your time hounding an independent fashion blog about not posting your editorial just makes you sound bitter. My advice? Channel your frustration into a writing class, or shoot something worthy of a better magazine. For now, let us all enjoy a nice spread of Anna Selezneva that our fellow pseudo-journalists have scanned for our viewing pleasure. [Edited to add this quote I posted earlier in the week: “When people want to be liked for what they did, they should stop” / Karl Lagerfeld]

The Wild Magazine

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:35:00 -0600

The Wild left me stunned. I thought I was a city boy, but this publication has completely changed my high rise view, not to mention my outlook. I never thought you could marry fashion with something of such substance, but I suppose fashion is all about a message — regardless of what that message may be. The Wild takes on important topics and broadens the fashion spectrum to include innovative creators of all sorts. The delicacy with which they integrate socially and environmentally conscious material with cutting edge cool is a harmonic dream. Visit their site. g

Gareth Pugh + Joie de Vivre

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:29:25 -0600

YSL Collection Homme F/W 2009/10

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:28:46 -0600

Chanel + The Dreamers

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:49:14 -0600

Chanel F/W 2010/11 reminds me of The Dreamers. It’s a complete experience: the colours, the luxury, the details. This movie is about an American in Paris who meets a bourgeois brother and sister who are fellow film buffs. They become entangled in an erotic conflict set amongst a backdrop of the 1968 Paris student riots. I’m sure Karl had all this in mind when he was designing the 1920’s flapper dress inspired collection, which is why it’s so easily translatable to you as I can channel his brainwaves into prose. Thank me later, Karl.

“When people want to be liked for what they did, they should stop” / Karl Lagerfeld

Juergen Teller

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:45:00 -0600

Juergen Teller does what Terry Richardson thought he could do, but without putting his nose into other people’s business — literally. His work is in every way beyond comparison to Terry’s, so I hope he’ll forgive me for bringing up that dirtbag in the same sentence. That’s not to say he doesn’t take photos of his member near other people’s area of ingestion. He does. But look, they’re happy, and not in that force-a-smile-or-else kind of way. Before you write him off as another pervographer, take a look at some of his more artful work (below). Read about his artistry.

Irwin Barbé

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:17:00 -0600

I forget how old Irwin Barbé is, but it’s irrelevant. Whether or not he creates real moments with his off-handed photography is never a question — it feels like his photographs are living. It’s not like looking through a frame at a staged existence, it’s like carrying a mirror with you everywhere you go and having a truly objective reflection of your life. I like that. He’s shot for Vice Magazine and done a handful of campaigns. What is really interesting, are his collection of videos. If anything, the world he creates is so genuine that it makes one wonder if they are living up to one’s true existence.

“I realize that I’ve never lived anything truly interesting while photographing or filming. That’s why the most important moments were the ones during which I succeeded to capture something true. For example, these pictures are real. When you look at them you see the boredom, the inadequacy that I feel most of the time. Somebody wrote that the people in my pictures seemed «lost and cold». I liked it.”

See here.

“Among all my pictures, this is the one I like the most (above right). It was last summer in Biarritz (France). We spent a week with all our friends, living in the same house with no adults. We were there to shoot a video for my friend Luna’s fashion label, Venus In Furs. It was a great time. However, I don’t know what was happening to us, but it was as if we were stoned all-day long. We were totally numb, unproductive. For example, this picture was taken after a sleepless night, spent smoking and watching awful music videos on TV. We were all feeling depressed and tired. At dawn, we went up on the roof and watched the sunrise. I had my polaroid camera with me and I just snapped the moment. That’s why I like this photograph so much : it’s absolutely spontaneous.”

Kristen McMenamy / Dazed & Confused

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:17:00 -0600

Have you ever had a fine piece of steak that tasted terrific, but was missing something you couldn’t put your finger on? Or have you ever tried an outfit on that would look so much better with the right accessories? That’s how I feel about Dazed & Confused. Without a doubt, it’s certainly one of the best monthly fashion AND music magazines out there. it’s not like those other gimmicky publications like Glamour or Nylon. The content and design of the magazine is superb. The only thing that’s missing for me is that their editorials don’t seem to surprise me that much. As beautiful as they are, the style and mood of all their editorials always seem to have the same vibe. But I felt something different for Kristen McMenamy’s editorial. Photographed by Tierney Gearon, the long, gray locks of the 45 year old model (who is ranked #9 on the Models.com in the Top Icons list) becomes the main focus of the editorial, where she is seen mostly wearing the hideous faux faur Chanel fall collection. She makes it look good though with her animalistic poses. This is the first issue I’m definitely looking forward to buying.

Cole Man / Jolijn Snijders

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:30:00 -0600

Karlie Kloss + Vogue China

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:13:12 -0600