INTERMIXing on a Rooftop

Last night I hit up a classic NYC industry summer rooftop party at Skylight West - hosted by fashion hub-host and multi-brand retailer, Intermix. Like the brands that Intermix associates itself with, the party boasted a myriad of eye candy for the important, semi-important, self-important, upwardly trending, and hangers-on to stare at. John Legend and his Sports Illustrated lady friend Christine Teigen, Hilary Rhoda, the members of bands Locksley and Deluka (who also performed), designers, stylists, PR girls, and of course, a butt-ton of models.

Fashionwise, the night was a complete mix...an intermix, if you will (oh Mihal, stop). Downtown funky, Eastside elegant, Meatpacking trashy and Chelsea too-fabulous. Everybody dresses like they're sombody - and even if you hate on one's outfit, you can't help but take a step back and appreciate the effort and intention that went into it. Perfect, really, considering that the party was thrown by a brand that not only aims to target every woman's unique sense of style and love of fashion, but aspires to represent "the best mix of emerging and established designers."

Go ahead now, indulge the industry voyeur inside that we all know you have - take a look at some images:

ph by me and Guest of a Guest

Thanks for the invite, happy shopping!

minc tanks x ferality

I'm a little late in posting this - bizzy bizzy. My shirts are selling at a store on the LES in NYC. It's called Ferality and it's owned by my homegirl Blake. Allow me to steal some images from their blog :)

the turquoise and white tanks are my design, minc tanks!

my boys stopped by - will johnson (aka gordon voidwell) on the right there, guillermo brown in the middle

yours truly - sassy frassy

Take me to the desert...

Hot in NYC isn't the right kind of hot. It's muggy and loud and assaultive. Hot should be out in the desert...with the sound of the wind...some smooth old rock n roll...a cactus here and there...and some bombass clothes...





Take me there.

Zoe Kravitz can get it...

When Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz combine, they make Zoe Kravitz. I'm deeply in love with her and her steez...what else is there to say?






'prece.

Sunglasses: The Great Debate

There comes a time in all of our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. For some it happens earlier than others, some people choose to act on it, while others merely pause to acknowledge it, and keep walking only to ignore it another long while until it pops up again. I'm talking about a sunglasses crossroads: to spend or not to spend.

Buying cheap sunglasses is easy. In NYC they're on the street for $7-$10. In malls everywhere and in stores like H&M or Forever 21, they're sold for $15 at the most. They're convenient, you can own as many pairs as you want and it's easy to find the trendiest styles. The hitch is that they're almost guaranteed to scratch/fall apart/morph within 3 months (ballpark). So the great debate is this: keep buying new sunnies every 3-6 months for $7-$20 a pop, or save up and buy a quality pair to love and nurture and treat like a newborn baby?

I'm at this crossroads now for about the fiftieth time. It's very possible that I'll do the one week pause that I always do and continue to ignore it. BUTWHATIF I chose the road less traveled and looked down the splurging path? This is what I'd buy:

1. David Yurman: Waverly Frames - $325
Yurman is launching several new colors of the Waverly frame in the next few weeks. This one is my fav. What I love about this brand's sunnies is that, unlike other brands, they're constructed alongside his jewelry collections - so the tones in the frames reflect the tones in the jewelry. It's like one big happy, luxuriously matching family.

2. Grey Ant: Status Sunglasses - $250(ish...depending on where you look)
These oversized Wayfarers require a certain amout of general flair - do not attempt with tapered khakis and a checkered shirt...unless you're doing it ironically, then maybe I'll consider it. Bring on the funk, I can never have too much funk.

3. Diane Von Furstenberg: DVF510S - $125
These shades are so Hollywood I can't even deal. They're the elegant classy lady who wears pencil skirts and stilettos. They're the grandma who used to be the elegant lady in pencil skirts and stilettos. They're the hipster ironically portraying the grandma who used to be the elegant lady in pencil skirts and stilettos. All encompassing...can't go wrong.

4. Ray Ban: Clubmaster - $145
What can I really say here? 1) I want to be a part of the Ray Ban club, as does anybody in their right mind. 2) I really, truly love a good tortoise shell.

5. Alexander Wang + Linda Farrow (for Opening Ceremony): Round Silver - $325
Yesssss ROUND. Get ready because round is about to explode. Welcome back, Lennon.

There you have it. I'm still at the crossroads and still not sure which path to take. I do know that the arm on my $10 street shades is being held on by a safety pin. Siiiiigh.

Happy Shopping.

Raw...and Righteously So.

I'm not a doctor...I'm not any kind of authority on food or nutrition. None of these statements, as they say, have been evaluated by the FDA and as such shall not be construed as medical advice implied or otherwise. Ok? So all you up-in-arms commenters can just chill for a minute.

Now with that nonsense out of the way...

I'm on a Raw cleanse and it's awesome. It started off as a month-long detox but then I fell in love. I'm not 100% raw yet, and I'm not here to tell you that you should be either - unless that's something you're interested in. Going raw, to me, is mostly about using raw foods as a tool to feel great, without depriving or punishing yourself. As we work our way into summer, a raw cleanse is a fantastic way to walk lighter, feel healthier and ground yourself. If it doesn't appeal...then move on to the next article! If it does appeal, I have some advice that will help you, as it did me, to get started.

1. Ask yourself why: For me the choice was easy. I've been rehabbing from a hip injury for 8 months, unable to workout. I was yearning for a way to challenge my body, change it, tune into it. When a Raw friend came to stay with me from out of town, she had only positive things to say about it, and for me it was a no brainer. I'm a healthy eater to begin with, and I'm already gluten-free - so it was really just a matter of cutting out the cooked (boiled/baked/stir fried) stuff. This isn't to say I didn't have to go through the detox part of it like everybody else. Headaches, fatigue...headaches. It lasted about a week before disappearing. If you don't have a clear motivation to keep in your head, it will be way too easy to get sidetracked and go get yourself a burger.

2. Do your research: Again, I'm not a doctor or any kind of authority. But if you're interested in this type of cleanse, there are tons of books on it. Go sit in a book store, pull them all off the shelves, and flip through them. I bought "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose and really enjoyed it. Whatever book you end up choosing, I think it's important to follow particular guidelines rather than going into the cleanse blindly - being safe, mindful and self-aware is key.

3. SNACK. All the TIME. In my experience, it's the key to staying on track. I won't waste time naming all the obvious ones (apples, almonds, etc) - here are a few of my favorites Raw buddies:
-Larabar: Snack bars made from fruit and nuts...sooooo delicious. There are tons of flavors to choose from - my personal favorites are Coconut Cream Pie (I'm a coconut freak), Banana Bread and Cherry Pie. For those of you gluten-free folks, you're good to go with these, so dig in!
-Two Moms in the Raw: They not only make raw granola (2 kinds of which are also gluten-free), but they make really yummy crackers. I like to snack on the granola by itself or throw it in a bowl with some raw almond milk.
-Frozen Bananas: Buy some organic bananas, cut them up into pieces, put them in some tupperware and stick those suckers in the freezer. They're a delicious little frozen snack! If you're feeling ambitious and you've got the right kitchen equipment, you can blend them up into a raw faux-ice cream. I've never done it, but it's definitely up there on my list of top 5 kitchen fantasies...
-Organic Valley Raw Cheddar: They make mild and sharp - I'm a sharp girl myself. I eat it plain, I eat it with the Two Moms crackers I listed above. I live for cheese and this cheddar is the gift that just keeps on giving.
-Kale: My favorite green...what can I say I'm a sucker for some nice, fresh kale. I use it instead of lettuce in salads or if you're lucky enough to have a dehydrator you can make kale chips (I don't have one but I tried some and they're amaaazing). Kale is full of calcium, lutein, iron, and Vitamins A, C, K and E. Not to mention that it has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and lots of fiber.
-Righteously Raw Chocolate: Obviously we still need sweet things! At least I do...I can't live without chocolate. This company provides deliciousness that is not only raw, but organic - you could even say that it's good for you so you can eat more of it! At least that's what I tell myself. The caramel and acai flavors are my favorites.

4. Don't stress about the Benjamins. A lot of people told me to be wary of the cleanse because of the financial component of it - it has a reputation for being a very expensive diet. Well yes, it can be I'm sure, if you go all out. But think about this: while you're focusing in on the raw, fresh groceries you have to buy, you're cutting out all of the processed or cooked stuff which you undoubtedly buy more of. At most I spent about $10-$15 more a week on food. And believe me, I'm no richie rich - just a struggling artist trying to be good to herself.

5. ENJOY IT!! Cleansing, though difficult at times, can be a very rewarding process. If you love it, keep going for a little while. If you hate it, stop! If you feel ambivalent...well...maybe give it a bit more time.

Good luck! Happy food shopping.

When Style Meets Music: Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons

I first saw Semi Precious Weapons (SPW) live a few weeks ago at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC. Taking a brief hiatus from their world tour with Lady Gaga, SPW used their downtime to headline their own 4 city American mini-tour (traveling with my friends, Nico Vega). Comprised of Justin Tranter (vocals), Stevy Pyne (guitar), Cole Whittle (bass) and Dan Crean (drums) - it didn't even take 10 seconds before these boys kicked, roared, twirled, gyrated, serenaded, freaked and rocked their ways into my heart. And I wasn't alone. Tranter commands a crowd like Jesus commands a church service on Easter Sunday...like Oprah commands suburban housewives. It's hypnotic and dazzling and loud and glamorous.

Not to be discounted as a member of the SPW team is visual director, Jimmy Knehans - and since this is an installment in the When Style Meets Music series, I find Knehan's contribution to be pretty damn relevant. The visual aesthetics are half the presentation with SPW. They say what they mean and mean what they say, and look how they sound and sound how they look...and mean what they look and sound how they mean and say how they sound. Yeah, it's true. Between the sound and the look and the intention behind it all, this band truly is the perfect marriage of style and music. Here we go - the incomparable - Justin Tranter of Semi Precious Weapons.

Mihal Freinquel: So tell me, who is Justin Tranter?
Justin Tranter: I am a genderless sea creature who has been writing and studying music since I was 12. I love songs, Patty Larkin, Sharon Stone, Mae West and Marilyn Monroe. My choice of shoe upsets people a lot more than my filthy mouth.

MF: Who are the Semi Precious Weapons?
JT: We met in music school. We are music school geeks who found sex, NYC and fashion. Thank God! We play rock 'n' roll - and we think rock 'n' roll should be dangerous, amazing, and attractive.

MF: One cannot talk about SPW without the mention of style, so I must bring up Jimmy Knehans. How does Jimmy fit into the equation?
JT: Most of my friends are my friends because they inspire me. Breedlove, Darian, Tommy, Starlight, GaGa, my mom, my band members and so on. Jimmy Knehans is also one of those friends. But he also stepped up to the plate to be a roadie/hypeman/visual director. All of the visual and fashion ideas that The Precious Empire and SPW has, Jimmy is the one to actually take the time to make it happen. Whether it's a nude leather jacket covered in grommets, or 12 foot champagne bottles with my face on it, Jimmy makes it happen.

MF: And thank the loooord he does! You're visual presentation is insane. How do your music and performance elements fit into the way you dress/your style aesthetic?
JT: I dress the way I feel: Beautiful. I write music that makes me feel amazing. I guess my music and fashion make sense together because it's all just me. Luckily people view a man wearing heels as dangerous. Ha! So that makes the essence of my fashion choices dangerous.

MF: Where do you/the band/Jimmy shop? For stage? For regular life? Oooor are they one in the same?
JT: We dress exactly the same on stage as we do in real life. Cole, Dan and Stevy buy clothes in thrift stores and small shops all over the world as we travel. Jimmy makes all of Stevy's signature "half jackets". And my clothes come from designer friends - Tommy Cole, LaQuan Smith - and then Jimmy Knehans creates all my custom signature pieces. Stuart Wietzman makes all of my custom heels, and my pantyhose come from dance stores and Wolford. Phew...that was a lot.

MF: Worst mainstream style trends of the last decade? Best?
JT: Flats and ironic t-shirts give me my period. Best? I'm really into the early 90's stuff that is coming back.

MF: Word association time! Respond with the first word/phrases that come to mind:
Hot pants//Love
Hipster//Abercrombie kid who found a thrift store
Turtlenecks//I prefer a Dickie
Midnight Snack//Champagne
Astrology//Creepy
Tube Tops//Always
Prince Albert//Serious
TV//I look great on it

MF: Ha! Abercrombie kid who found a thrift store..there's about to be a widespread tantrum in Billyburg. Anyway...so obviously I have to mention GAGA. Lady, that is. What are 3 things that nobody knows about that tour?
JT: 1) SPW is a crazy rock band, GaGa is a crazy pop star, but we all take music REALLY seriously. 2) Whenever we have free time, which isn't often, we always find the nearest dive bar with the Lady. 3) Glamour is contagious.
MF: It most certainly is! After seeing SPW live, I just kept thinking - you guys are so quintessentially New York City. How has this fair city of ours influenced your style - musically and aesthetically?
JT: Well thank you much. We like to think that we are very NYC. What's very odd is that NYC really doesn't want to claim us. The Brooklyn "intellectual" indie pop craze is owning at the moment. But we actually started the band hoping to bring back the NYC we were obsessed with as kids. Max's Kansas City, The Factory, and so on. But at the moment NYC is convinced that if you have fun, you can be taken seriously. We will change that, but its a hard battle to fight.

MF: It definitely is - but I can think of some musical NYC kids on the come-up who are on that war path with you. So when you're not fighting the battle what do you guys do in your time off? Does time off even exist anymore?
JT: There is sooo much touring - and promo and all of these amazing things...there really isn't time off. And when we do have time off I spend it hanging out with my friends talking about ridiculous artistic ideas, so it ends up not being time off. But when you're literally living your dream, fuck time off.

MF: If you had to wear the same outfit every day for the rest of your life what would it be?
JT: I would wear pantyhose, nude fishnets, 5 inch sparkle heels, and nude leather jacket covered in gromets. Boom! Actually, Jimmy Knehans does wear the same outfit every day - an army green pant/skirt and a tshirt.
MF: Ah yes I saw him running around at the Bowery. If anybody can pull off the pant/skirt it's him. What's your intention when you head on stage?
JT: To make everyone have a really really good time. Including myself.

MF: What's worse...
Too much makeup or not enough?//Not enough.
No sex ever again or no music?//No music.
Uggs or kitten heels?//Uggs.
Fox News or...wait, maybe there's nothing worse than Fox News?//I love Fox News. Its so ridic, its like performance art.

MF: You're interviewing a celeb. What's the first question you ask him/her? Who would you want to interview most?
JT: Mae West - Where you this intelligently dangerous as a teenager?

MF: Final words from the Justin Tranter?
JT: You love You.

Photos by Roger Kisby & Jimmy Knehans