All Entries in the "Sinners & Saynt" Category

Sinners & Saynt: Fashion Indie Week Ends. The Rest of My Life Begins.

Lovie Dubie

As Fashion Indie Week comes to a close, I look to next season and the rest of my life.

Some of you may not be aware but there’s an interoffice romance afoot at Fashion Indie Media. See, Rebecca Alexander and I have been bumping uglies for some time and to make a long story short, we’re getting married on Saturday. I know some of you are like, “OMG, You’re crazy for getting married the day after fashion week.” And I’d have to seriously agree with you, but it’s kind of an important day for us, as it’s our one year anniversary. Yeah, we’ve only been dating a year, but it feels like we’re some sort of old married couple already.  It honestly feels like we’ve known each other for years, as if we’re some sort of “meant to be”, fated couple who are just soulmates. Oh god, that’s the gayest thing I ever said. 

We met last year during fashion week. Fashion Indie was hosting a show for Love Brigade and I was running around like a madman trying to make sure everything was set. She was interning for the Brigaders at the time. She noticed me first and hunted me down like Sarah Jessica Parker for a bottle of Covet (I had to have it).  She claims she didn’t steal my bag, but in the course of the night it went missing only to turn up at Love Brigade’s Williamsburg showroom, very convenient.  We met again at some smaller event we held for Love Brigade at Barna.  It was Rosh Hashanah and she was dolled up like a classic pin-up, full chested, round rumped, and with huge curls in her golden hair. She had me vexed.

She told me she had my bag and wanted to make plans to meet me in the city to drop it off. I offered to buy her lunch for doing me the favor. Lunch never happened, but we made plans to meet at the Planetarium for some concert to be held there. We spent the night taking shit about poorly dressed douchers on the dancefloor. It was love. 

On our six month anniversary we flew out to Paris and she proposed on the top of the Eiffel Tower. I said yes. On our seven and a half month anniversary I proposed under a flowering tree in Central Park. She said yes. And on our one year anniversary we will be married in the Park and will enjoy a reception of French Creole at Lola’s in Soho. 

It’s been one of the greatest years in my life and at 25 I’m happy to say that I have found the woman I want to spend the rest of my days with. She is the most engaging person I’ve ever met. She makes me happier than any man should be. She challenges me and makes me a better person. She makes every morning bright and is the warmth that brings to home every night. I wish all of my friends could experience this type of love at some point in their lives.

Well indies, that’s enough of the mushy stuff. Now back to your regularly scheduled bashings.

PreFashion Week Jitters…

Planning the first fashion show on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Over 50 fashion show invites already.

Getting married on September 13th.

Still haven’t purchased my weeks outfits.

Damn, it must be fashion week season.

Sinners & Saynt: Four Interns, Fashion Weeks and a Wedding (All in 12 Days!!!)

Is it lonely on the runway>

If it wasn’t for the fact that I live and work with my future wife, I’m not sure if I would see much of her with the schedule I’ve been strapping on lately.

Tomorrow, I’m giving a speech on the future of fashion to a bunch of Berkeley students, Gossip Girl Nights, our series of screenings for the highly anticipated show starts on Monday which also marks the start of a major contract with a major, hush-hush client, on Tuesday we’re hosting the first ever fashion show to take place on the Brooklyn Bridge (models still needed), Wednesday starts Fashion Indie Week Brooklyn, our fashion week featuring 15 of our favorite designers, on Thursday New York Fashion Week starts and we’ll be giving you coverage of every show that really matters, the rest of the week is a daily stream of fashion shows, on September 10th Fashion Indie Week Brooklyn closes with the biggest fashion event of the season, the New York Couture Fashion Show at Mansion (you’re all invited), on September 11th I have my bachelors party, and on September 13th I watch as the love of my life walks down the aisle and finally says I do to a lifetime as Mrs. Saynt (you all know her as editor-in-chief, Rebecca Alexander).

Not to mention the four new interns which have walked into our offices this week and the countless interviews and on camera bits I have to do for Fashion Week and you’re looking at a schedule that could make a normal man run for the hills. Of course I’m no normal man. I’m Daniel Saynt.

This should be a breeze in the park, but believe me if it’s not, you’ll be hearing my wrath on FashionIndie.com. Which, we can all admit has gotten a lot nicer lately, no?  I’ve been working extra hard to make this Indie Empire into something amazing. And everyone at Fashion Indie has been pretty amazing, hustling their asses off to create a company that knows how to have a good time. Basically, all is nifty in the world of Daniel Saynt, I just needed to get it off my chest.

Thanks for sharing this moment for me to just vent. I’m quickly realizing the extents of my greatness and sometimes I just need a second to take a piss.

Sinners and Saynt: Torture Coutorture, Round Deux

Let me be the first to admit it, yeah I’m an asshole. I’ve never claimed to be the nicest person in fashion and I’ve never made it seem like I’d ever sugar coat my thoughts or views. I just want to be as honest as possible and give an opinion which is well within my freedom of speech and expression.

So I said some mean things. So I posted unflattering pictures of a rival. Sue me. It isn’t like I said shit that hasn’t been said before, behind peoples backs, without them knowing, said in jest so it’s “okay”. I’m saying the stuff some folks in fashion are afraid to say and now I’m getting flacked for it. Well, fine. I’m okay with being the media’s whipping boy for a few cracks, as long as I get my point across it’s all good.

Now onto part deux of Torture Coutorture in which Julie responds to her company’s idiotic practices, I try to make good with one of the few nice people in fashion, and I apologize (kind-of) for being a royal doucher

The email from Julie came in on Friday, soon after the Coutorture crew realized that the story had gone viral and was on sites like Gawker and Refinery29 (great Civil War pict, seriously).  The email had all the details we were initially looking for as to why we were kicked off their pubescent network.  Basically, Meghan and Sarah had been reading through Fashion Indie, red-flagged a post as offensive (just one?) and made efforts with Julie to kick us off.  When the issue was properly explained, kicking us off the network made perfect sense since they are try to foster a sedated message across their publisher sites. So, playing nice for advertisers (wait, they don’t have any) trumped freedom of speech and we were kicked off. Understandable. We never stated we we’re a PC site. We’ve been pushing envelopes since day one and we get it if certain folks don’t want to associate themselves with us. That’s okay. What’s is not okay is how the issue was originally handled with anonymous comments and criptic emails from the Coutorture crew.

Next Julie explained why they didn’t do the right thing from the beginning…

We are concerned with the culture of fear in blogging and indeed we had been concerned to address these issues with you and the Fashion Indie team for sometime precisely because we were afraid of your reaction given your preferred methods of engagement. Sadly we let that fear color our short email towards you ending our relationship because we did not wish to go into detail lest it be used against us. For this we apologize sincerely.

Hold up. Numero uno, I’m not a scary dude. Ask anyone who knows me or has met me in person and they’ll tell you that I’m a pretty easy going, rational individual.  I’ve never engaged in such “methods of engagement” before so it made no sense for Coutorture to assume (make an ass out of you and me) that this is they way we would respond if they had initially treated us with some respect and explained themselves properly.

Two, Julie, Sarah and Meghan all know me personally. I’ve known Julie for nearly three years and while she has remained the same cold fish she’s always been, I’ve been nothing but personable and friendly with the girl.  Personally, I think she’s suffering from an Anna Wintour complex, but that’s just from observing her sitting at runway shows, with her sunglasses on, not speaking to anyone, not even me when I go up to her and say hello.  Sorry, I just believe that people like that don’t belong in fashion.  Sarah is also another Coutorture chick I’ve known for sometime. Our editor IM’s her on the daily and we’ve maintained a friendly relationship. We’re always ready to blast anything she requested out to our email list and we’ve been more than kind to her. So her responding this way was also idiotic and childish.

And three, GROW SOME FUCKING COJONES. YOU’RE IN BUSINESS JULIE AND YOUR NETWORK MAKES MAJOR CLAIMS. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT SOME POINT OR AT LEAST LEARN TO CRAFT A PROPER EMAIL.

So basically, Julie admitted to not handling the situation well, apologized and all is once again good in the world of online fashion blogging. Congrats on being the bigger person, it’s not always the easy thing to do.

Next Up, I apolize to Fat Folks.

I know it’s not easy being fat. I tipped the scale at 270 when I was 17 and that was the worst time in my life. I’m still not the thinnest dude on the block (there hasnt been a pair of skinny jeans that have met the crease of my crack) but honestly folks, is it so wrong to call someone fat? They make it seem like I’m a monster for stating something that everyone else is aware of. You’re fat, it’s okay, it’s not the best thing in the world to be, and you’ll probably die earlier than those of a moderate weight, but it’s okay cause that extra slice of cheesecake is so worth it, right?!?  No one is forcing you to be overweight. No one is telling you to overeat. And in a society of liposuction, gastric bypass, and Alli, there is no reason why you can’t drop a few pounds, unless of course you like being fat, in which you shouldn’t be offended if I say you are.  Yeah, I would love it if this wasn’t the case, if we could all sing around the campfire and gouge our eyes out so we can’t see each others imperfections, but that’s not the way life works and if you’re are in an industry that stresses the need for lack of flaws, it’s a little difficult to get by with such a big one.

I’m all for big is beautiful and I’ve had my share of thick loves in my life, but enough is enough.  It’s okay if you want to be fat, just be ready for the occasional stare, chuckle or thoughtless comment.

I’m sorry for offending anyone with my fat jokes or commentary.  Just don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s not easy being a big girl in a size zero world.

Sarah, I am honestly sorry if any of my comments hurt your feelings. That was never my intent.

Now on to Terrorist.

Terrorists,

I’m sorry for associating Turbans to your practices of mass terror and destruction. You see, over here in America we have magazines like The New Yorker and a station called Fox News which is run by super racist-bigot billionaire Rupert Murdock.  On it, all the men who attack and attempt to destroy our country wear turbans, have beards, and weird names I don’t understand like Akemed Ikahina bin Laden.

Really? Who decided this was a good idea?

These images of turban wearing terrorist fester in my weak mind and I begin to associate all terrorist as turban wearing middle easterners.  I realize that not all terrorist wear turbans, so it was wrong to associate all of you together and adhere to such a stereotype. I now understand that some of you may enjoy wearing fitted New Era caps or knit hats, some of you out there may wear Sunday Derby sunhats or may choose to rock a nice suede kippot when you’re feeling fiesty.  It was wrong to think all of you wear turbans and I’m sorry if I offended you with my comments.

Hugs and Disses,

Daniel Saynt

To other Turban wearers.

I’m not an idiot. I know you’re not all terrorists. Homeland Security doesn’t, but I do.  It was a joke. Hell, you can’t really consider it a religion if you don’t suffer a little persecution, right?

So that’s about it indies. I know it’s been a harrowing ordeal for some of you, but the whole thing was pretty easy for us. This week we plan to launch an initiative to prevent such things from happening to bloggers in networks and to provide a means to identify sites that aren’t censored by their networks. We’ll be wearing our badge proud and will continue to give you the type of stories and posts you’ve come to expect from the sons of bitches at FashionIndie.com.

P.S. In one day Fashion Indie was compared to Fox News and the Bush Administration for stating the facts and reporting on our experience.  Damn, there must be something really wrong in the world when battling a larger power, defending your freedom of speech, and speaking up against censorship is considered Republican.

Sinners & Saynt: New Interns, New Offices, and Steve Aoki

It has been a bit of a hellish week at Fashion Indie.

We’ve been revving up, prepping for our biggest project yet, Fashion Indie Week Brooklyn. It will be a massive undertaking featuring over a dozen designers, boutiques throughout New York, and two major parties that are being created by us. We’ve already begun securing designers and it seems like we may have already found two major presenting sponsors to help us make this event a huge success.

The new offices kick major ass and are right between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridge in Dumbo. There’s this awesome park right outside our doors which provides ample breathing room when the office gets too cramped. Bruce Wrobel (serial social entrepreneur and founder of All for Africa) stopped by on Friday to discuss some goodness about our work with his charity. We’re incharge of piecing together some major online auction packages for the cause that will hopefully fetch upwards of $400,000 (if only we had that kind of capital backing for FashionIndie ;-). We’re setting up some pretty killer packages, including a James Bond Experience (with the help of Jeffery Wright) which includes tickets to the premiere, a Tom Ford suit, killer gadgets, and an exotic car rental. There’s a New York Fashion Package being put together as well and we’re reaching out to host committee member Russell Simmons to help us piece some things together. See that indies, that’s called name dropping. Learn it, live it, love it.

On another note, our new interns are flipping awesome. Corey is hilarious and his articles are pure snarky joy. He hails from Buffalo, NY and is exactly the type of person we love at Fashion Indie.  Our other intern newbie, Hilary comes to us from upper crust Westchester. She’s the epitome of polished grooming and has impecable manners, which totally throws me off.  I mean honestly, how many 15 year olds do you know who want to one day be the Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair?!?  Scratch that, how many 15 year olds do you know, know what Vanity Fair is?!?  We have been seriously blessed with two of the best interns ever.

In other news we’re on the verge of securing a major partner, a major client, and a major round of funding. We’ve been growing quickly and our dedicated readers have been returning on the daily.  By the end of July we’re expecting to hit the eyes of over 500,000 readers, a number comparable to any international issue of Vogue. In addition, we’re launching an offline marketing campaign to raise awareness of FashionIndie.com to the general public. Our organic growth has been substantial, but now it’s time to spark a fuse.

If you have read these before you know that I’m hearts about Steve Aoki.  Well on Monday at 3PM I will be speaking to the legendary DJ’s manager about partnering with Fashion Indie Media.  Partner in crime Busie Matsiko secured the call. Expect a slightly crushed Daniel Saynt on Tuesday if things go badly.

Well I think that’s about it indies. I know I haven’t been on the site as much as before, but I hope Rebecca’s editing and our new slew of writers are keeping you entertained. I’ll be periodically writing so watch for the goodness.

Fashion Indie Sold Out: We Are Now On Facebook

(we can be friends but not this type)

As if tuning into this blog wasn’t enough for all our lovely and fashion enriched friends, you can now be our friends on Facebook. We all know it’s not official until it’s on Facebook so feed your Facebook addiction and get over there and start clicking. We have a Facebook group called Fashion Inide that you can join as well as a Facebook Page that you can become a “Fan” of. The link for the page is in the group so get there and be our friends or we will be forced to ake fun of you more than Agyness Deyn.

Click here to join pronto.

Sinners & Saynt: Fuck, I Think We’re a Real Company Now

Oh god, please no suits.

So in the past Sinners & Saynt has been a great means for me to just vent out about the behind the scenes of Fashion Indie Media, as we grew from a small event development site to a full fledged media company with deadlines, responsibilities and investors.  Strangely, through this whole process I guess it was not as apparent as it should be that Fashion Indie Media is a real company. Obviously I realized we made money and were noticed by other companies but recent development of a investor board and editorial standards are starting to make me get the corporate itch. 

Now, we’re moving into bigger offices to handle all the new hires, writers and interns who will be starting in June.  That’s right folks. We are getting official.

There’s a lot you can expect, but the most important thing to watch for is less of me, Daniel Saynt. I will still write daily, but as we move towards increasing our daily posting to 40 - 60 stories a day, my presence will be less apparent. But don’t worry indies, I still love you. Realize I’m just working more in the background to get Fashion Indie Media to hit the milestones we’ve set in our plan. It’s all very scary to me, as if I’m losing a part of myself by not being the full time voice on the site, but alas with growth we change.

I guess it’s all a part of being a real company.  Promise we won’t go too corporate, too fast.

In order to prevent the corporate strain here are some rules we are setting for Fashion Indie Media staff.  It’s all part of our “corporate” culture.

• Pets are so allowed, just as long as they get along with Calvin and Foxy, a pomeranian and shiba inu which are the official office mascots.
• At any time during the work day you are allowed a 30 minute siesta on the Fashion Indie day bed.
• The fridge will be regularly stocked with anything you want. Seriously, just let us know and we’ll be sure to pick it up.
• Dancing is encouraged.
• You will be filmed so dress like you’ve got some sense.
• There’s a company shared idea board. If you don’t contribute we will think you’re dumb.
• Everyday is show and tell. Be sure to have something new and fresh to tell us about. It can be a new band, scene or fashion label. Whatever it is just make sure it’s new.
• There will be a goodie bag and freebies closet. Take what you want, contribute when you can.
• Cursing and talking shit about people not in the office is perfectly allowed. Be sure to add it to the site when appropriate.

Peace in the Lower East,

Daniel Saynt

Sinners & Saynt: Black Attack

So, maybe I’m a bit behind, but there is an all “black” issue of Italian Vogue that is set to hit the stands pronto. Chanel Iman, Iman, Veronica Webb, and Jourdan Dunn are set to be the models of choice for the issue that will surely detarnish Vogue’s current position as least Afrocentric of all style tomes.

The Vogue name has endured it’s fair share of scrutiny for recent exploitations, most recently Lebron James/King Kong cover, and I’m guessing this is some way to make good to the black community.  Of course, there are some questions I must ask about the intentions of this issue and whether or not an all black issue of Vogue is not just another way to sell more magazines by taking advantage of an entire color of people.

Is an all black Vogue really necessary?

While African American’s, Africans and just about every other race of person who isn’t “fair” skinned have not enjoyed much attention in the pages of high fashion glossies, it seems that a black issue of Italian Vogue is just a bandaid over the  blood wrenching decapitation that are the countless years of segregation, racism and the overall lack of diversity that has permeated the fashion world.  While changes need to be made to incorporate race into fashion, I feel that a Black Vogue will only be a minor fix, as if some high level executive decided to throw tan folk a bone by giving them the chance to be on every page of the famously pale tome.

While it is appreciated, in the long spectrum of what will bring on positive change, this will only be a baby step on securing more spots for blacks in fashion magazines like Vogue.

Why not American Vogue?

Anna Wintour is quick to play superhero at the MET, but when it comes to being a champion for all people it seems like her super vision is set to white.  Anna’s main fault as an editor has been her inability to diversify. The cover of Vogue, which once was graced with models, is now filled with the images of top light skinned celebrities (though rare talents like Jennifer Hudson have once graced the cover).  The pages are filled with top models who vary from shades of eggshell to tan eggshell, but rarely do we see spreads devoted solely to black talent.

So why didn’t Anna take this opportunity to showcase black models in a special edition of American Vogue?  The reason is really unknown, but I’m sure the idea didn’t sit well with Wintour or controlling company Conde Nast.  I feel in a magazine marketplace like America, where African Americans have formed their own niche with magazines like Essence, Jet, and Vibe it has become increasingly difficult for companies like Conde Nast to infiltrate and attract an audience of African American readers.  No increase in readership, no desire to diversify.  In business terms it makes sense, but is it good enough reason to ignore an entire race, especially when considering the power magazines like Vogue have in the fashion world?

Do we need to instill Affirmative Action Initiatives in fashion? 

Answer after the jump…

Sinners & Saynt: Super Zeroes at the MET

The MET Costume bash is tonight. And I could give a flying rats ass.

Yes, I’m bitter cause I’m feeling like a total Zoe (spread it like wildfire indies: Zoe - to be excluded as in Rachel Zoe’s dis-invite to the MET ball by matron Anna Wintour).  Like a true fashion lover, I am excited by the lure of events that are only for the fashion elite and if my invite had showed up weeks ago (or through some magical courier service tonight from the desk of Anna Wintour with a personal note saying “Can’t Wait to See You Tonight, Saynt. P.S. Here’s a thousand bucks to make yourself pretty”) then without a doubt, the tone of this Sinners & Saynt tonight would be very different (I’m thinking it would be a more “Haha, bitches guess who’s going without you losers”-ish, but I’m only guessing). But alas, no invite came and I’m stuck watching the festivities from the sidelines, which got me thinking. Why in the fuck should any self respecting individual care about a party they aren’t invited to?

Suddenly, I had a bunch of flashbacks from my days in elementary school. I remembered Rooney Dutchman, the middle school cool kid who through some miracle of modern hormonal imbalancing had a six pack in fifth grade. Rooney used to throw the coolest parties and I was never invited. For three years Rooney was the man. He’d throw big huge bashes at the end of the school year and it seemed everyone was there, except me. Year after year, I was excluded until one year when Rooney was throwing his biggest bash yet, an end of middle school party, I got invited. We were headed for High School and Rooney wanted to end the time in Monroe-Woodbury Junior High right.

I  was more excited than I had ever been. I forced my parents to drive me to Abercrombie & Fitch to pick up a new outfit (hell, it was Upstate NY cut me a break). I got a haircut, picked up new shoes, and got to the party right on time. Hour One. About 20 people arrived and began drinking from pitchers of Koolaid and checking out Rooney’s Star Wars collection. Hour Two. Rooney finally decides to put on music but has no good CDs. Times were dark before the iPod. Hour Three. MTV goes on.  A Real World Marathon. For the first time I contemplate suicide. Hour Four. Some chick high on Grape Ice Pops decides that we should all play Truth or Dare. Finally the festivities begin. Hour Five. Realizing we are surrounded by the biggest group of prudes in the world, we end our game of Truth or Dare. It is revealed that no one has a crush on me and that “give me a BJ” is not an appropriate dare request. Hour Six. Parents arrive to pick me up, but not before hearing a mouthful from Rooney’s mom about my “daring” request.

All in all, the party I was so excited to attend sucked.  So basically, everyone and their still in the closet brother are all excited about the Costume Ball, which is probably just a modern day version of a Rooney Dutchman party. A whole bunch of hype, but a total bore to all in attendance.

Sinners & Saynt: Thank God Someone Out There Likes It Tight

1. Anti-Advertising Agency Strikes Again
2. Fashion F*cks: Why Middle America Scares Me
3. Spring/Summer Hair Trends 08
4. Whitney Port Must Really Hate Lauren Conrad’s Shadow
5. Comme Des Garcons for H&M
6. MTV True Life : I’m Going to Fashion Week on SATURDAY at 2PM
7. Miss Bimbo aka The Simple Life Game
8. Stuff Fashion People Like #17 Runway Falls
9. How Tight Do You Like It?
10. Fashion Controversy: Is It Still Fashion Design If You Use a Butterick Pattern?

These are the most popular posts of the past month. According to this list you like it when we talk shit about “Middle America”, hate advertising, and really can’t wait for the Commes Des Garcons H&M collection.  Nice job indies, I think we can be friends.