When and how did your line begin?

I launched my accessories line in the Fall of 2010 with a concept design of epaulets.  I created a small collection in different styles and they ended up in the hands of some fashion influentials. I’ve since introduced earrings, bangles and eyewear.

What inspires your work?

I watch a lot of nature documentaries. I’m in love with the beluga whale. I watch the same documentaries over and over.. I’ve seen the Blue Planet series over a hundred times and I now watch Microcosmos fanatically. Have you ever seen ladybugs make love? It’s a fascinating and a gentle experience.

Where do you finding the amazing leathers and animal skins that you use on your accessories?

I buy my leather at the same place that Helmut Lang, Diane Von Furstenberg and Oscar De La Renta buy from. Its expensive and the best in the city. Libra Leather. I work with Sam Jones, The Leather Queen. She has great taste and instincts when it comes to leather. Libra Leather has been pioneering leather trends in New York for decades. They provide the selection designers conceptualize their entire leather collection from. They are best in the biz.

The Feather Spray Earrings seem like a big deviation from some of your previous designs. What was the inspiration behind those?

When I launched my line in October 2009 I used feathers in the fabrication of many of those epaulet designs. The feather was lying on my desk at a certain angle and it came to me.. that should be attached to an ear. I guess it’s all the nature videos I watch.

What celebrities have you worked with?

I grew up in NYC so Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill and Beyonce were the soundtrack of my life. I attended borderline ruff schools and their music was uplifting and their voices strong, I adored them. Now as an adult, this entire experience as a designer has been transcendental for me. I often can’t believe who I’ve turned out to be. Just three years ago I was the most unhappiest girl in the world. I’ve designed for all them. I’ve also created custom accessories for Lil Wayne’s and Prince’s musical tours.. I used to make out with posters of Prince. I’ve designed for Alicia Keys’ Freedom tour.  Lauryn Hill just bought my entire collection for her European tour.

What’s your favorite part about being a designer?

The actual design process is probably my favorite part of being a designer. I often struggle between concept and application.. I’ll think about a construction for months before I even attempt to piece it together.. My own thoughts intimidate me. There is an element of anxiety I experience and I know that I’ll figure it out eventually. There are some designs I’ve constructed, not many, that I will never share with the world. I hoard special pieces.

What are the biggest challenges as a designer?

Figuring out which tradeshows to do make me pretty dizzy.

Three must haves to have in your wardrobe?

Combat boots, a black fur and a balaclava.

What is your best moment that you’ve experienced in your career?

All of them have been extraordinary. Getting picked up by Nordstrom, a tour order from Alicia Keys, selling at Patricia Field and having my mom and dad say that they’re proud of me.

What advice do you have for aspiring designers?

Organize yourself. Have a decent website, take good pictures, get a press list, don’t get tired, get motivated.  Surround yourself with good people that want good for you.  Love yourself and visualize yourself in the place you want to be.

How would you describe your personal style?

My look changes drastically, often. Recently my style is Le Femme Nikita.. assassin chic.

What is the inspiration behind “in love and good fashion” and “good taste must be shared”?

I tend to curate everything. My friends, my wardrobe and words.. I love language and assembling words together.. In Love and Good Fashion fell into place in the first weeks of creating my first collection.. it represents the head set I was in at the time..

Good Taste Must Be Shared is a personal philosophy.. Good taste crosses over into all aspects of living.. food, clothing, jewelry, travel and all of earths spoils.. Everything that is good about anything should be shared and enjoyed.

What’s currently on your iPod?

I don’t have an Ipod but I have been listening to Amy Winehouse, Wu Tang Clan, Florence and The Machine and Lauryn Hill recently.

Describe Mary Had A little Scam and the other short films you are working on based on your line?

I decided to make a short film when the concepts in my head began to move and could only be expressed through video. I’ve watched enough documentaries and films to understand the shooting style I like.  I titled the film Mary Had  A Little Scam to represent the duality between innocence and  a calculated menace. I wanted to create a sexy film that captures the private moments strong women experience when alone.. the awkwardness, paranoia, struggle, uncertainty and ultimate perseverance.  The character Mary in the short film Mary Had A Little Scam has a public persona of  a fierce rebel leader with the American Accessories Coalition for Good Taste (AACGT). Her mission is to collect rare jewelry from around the world, sharing good taste with the masses.

What are you currently working on for your line right now?

I’m preparing a trip to Paris, meetings, meetings, meetings!

Where do you see Seville Michelle Anastos 5 years from now?

I’m excited for the future.  Nothing I’ve done has been planned, my line has swept me off my feet!

You can follow Seville Michelle’s line and updates on twitter too @SevilleMAnastos

-How would you describe your blog in a few words?
Quirky downtown NYC.

-When and how did StyleDefinedNYC begin?
It began almost 3 years ago. I was a big fan of Scott Schulman/the Sartorialist but felt like he wasn’t
seeing “my New York” that is a bit more urban than urbane and has a strong nightlife streak. So I decided
to start my own blog!

-What is your favorite part about StyleDefinedNYC?
Sharing my experience of New York City with everyone else. I grew up at the end of the “club kid”
era and I love giving props to the nightlife peeps and their personal style. At the same time I’m a big fan of
emerging designers so have expanded to include a new section called UP|Coming that profiles them and
that I’m really excited about.

What is the hardest part of StyleDefinedNYC?

Staying true to my vision. I get tons of requests from PR companies to cover their events or products and
I have to be really careful about what I agree to write about. It’s also really important to me to have
all original content –not just grab things from other websites.

Three favorite Fall 2011 must have items in your closet right now?

I’m kind of obsessed with outerwear at the moment, so I’d say a black leather vest with an
asymmetrical hem and big faux fur collar -it’s “instant glam”, a cropped and boxy vintage leopard coat and a
black wool Alexander Wang coat.

-What is the best moment so far that you have experienced as a fashion blogger?

Well the best opportunity that came from blogging happened last summer: J&B Whiskey was having a party in Madrid with a theme of the Manhattan cocktail. They invited me over as an “iconic New Yorker” and had my photos blown up wall sized for the party. I am far from iconic, but it was an amazing experience! That’s one big event. But in smaller ways it’s the daily connecting to different people. I’ve met so many really amazing people simply by taking their photo and I feel I can go pretty much anywhere and see people I know, now.

-Do you have any favorite fashion/ photographer muses at the moment?

My two favorite fashion photographers are Steven Meisel –whose ongoing work with Italian Vogue is off the charts– and David Lachappelle. David doesn’t do fashion so much anymore but he has a great eye for the whole photo and really plays with color in a brilliant way.

- What advice would you give to an aspiring street style blogger?

Decide on a particular “angle” that will make you unique. Advanced Style does this really well! There are so many street style sites and sites that allow people to submit their own images that you have to figure out a point of view. Alternatively maybe you can contact a fashion or style site that doesn’t have streetstyle and offer your services as the street style photographer. That could give you experience and exposure. Finally, you can’t afford to be shy – but if you are just keep doing it and work through it!

-What music are you currently listening to on your iPod?

I have given up the iPod for Pandora and am a total Pandora junkie. Right now I’m switching between
a station I made called “Katya Chills” which is an electric mix of my favorites like Thievery Corporation,
the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and old classic bands like The Talking Heads on it and a Jazz Standards station that
plays Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

-As a street style documenter, what part of NYC would you say has the best style?

Well since I kind of focus on nightlife style I’d say currently I love some of the style I’m seeing at ZigZag – thursdays at Le Bain- but this is always changing up!

-How would you describe your personal style?
Constantly evolving! I am a platform heel addict because I need the height and I prefer jeans –either
skinny or super wide– to skirts or dress although there are exceptions. I recently went to the Daphne Guiness’ exhibit at FIT and found it utterly inspiring. I’d love to be able to dress like her, but since that’s not practical it has inspired me to eliminate t-shirts from my wardrobe. They’re sooo boring!

-Where do you see your blog 5 years from now?

Five years?!? I’m not sure! But I’m interested in pushing the photography angle further. I’d love to do shoots
with some of my favorite nightlife people that are a bit more controlled as well as shooting lookbooks for designers and adding video to the repertoire. But above all I’d like it to be a little time capsule of downtown New York fashion and style.

Make sure to follow more inspirations by Katya on Twitter! @Katya_NYC and check out some original first hand glimps at the street style in New York City on StyleDefinedNYC

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

When I had free time, I enjoyed going to the beach, the movies, traveling and working out. I have an extremely spontaneous personality, and I like to go with the flow.

What do you do to find calm during the crazy-filled fashion days?

If I have an hour to spare, working out is my outlet for relaxation and it de-stresses me.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Aside from food, splurging on an article of clothing for myself to complete my outfit, which makes me feel extraconfident.

I can always go for an extra-large pizza slathered with cheese. My other guilty pleasure is warming up homemade chocolate chip cookies and covering them in vanilla ice cream. I’m really an obese guy stuck in a skinny man’s body.

What was your last indulgence?

My last indulgence was during my recent trip to New York where I snagged a new pair of Marc Jacobs boots… and then I ate pizza.

What are you doing this weekend?

Friday, my amazing team is working out of our L.A. office and then we are covering events. Saturday is going to be my relaxation day, so I’ll spend time at the beach and pick out my L.A. Fashion Week outfits. Sunday I’m picking up three members of my New York crew, we’ll have a meeting, and then party it up in L.A. But, I can’t stay out too late since I have to wake up early to renew my passport at the Italian consulate.

For more on Rocco, visit Fashion News Live‘s Web site. Also check out our full interview with him.

Here are some great quotes from her interview:

On being heavy when she was younger…

“I will tell you that when I was heavy, people would say to me—and it was such a backhanded compliment—they would say, ‘You’ve got such a beautiful face,’ in the way of, like, ‘Oh, isn’t it a shame that from the neck down you’re questionable.’ ”

On whether or not she’s had plastic surgery or wants to change anything about her body…

“No, I have never tried any of that stuff…. I don’t have parts of my body that I hate or would like to trade for somebody else’s or wish I could surgically adjust into some fantasy version of what they are.”

On what she thinks her life will be like in five years…

“I don’t want to know. As long as my kids are OK, I think it is really good for me not to have the answers.”

To see the full list of the 50 Most Glam, click here. The April issue will be available on newsstands nationwide and digitally (on the iPad and the Barnes & Noble NookColor) March 8.

With steady, prominent clients in his pocket Orlando now prefers the role of a flexible freelancer. He splits time between New York City and Miami, lending his photography skills to both high fashion and more avant-garde companies.

Recently I was granted the chance to quiz Orlando about his career and views of the fashion industry. The following is how our chat went down.

Josh Linam: What’s your passion for photography? What draws you to it?

Orlando Behar: I’m motivated by fashion itself. I’m a fan of beautiful clothes, and I enjoy interpreting fashion for others in lighting and in a narrative I control. I get paid to do what I love.

JL: How did you get your start?

OB: I studied advertising in Miami at Florida International, but I realized that I didn’t like that side of the process.  I started at the bottom as a studio assistant washing windows and taking out the trash. I didn’t think I could make money as a photographer initially. But, eventually, I moved up to shooting. Now I know the freedom of a freelancer.

JL: How would you describe your photography style?

OB: Much of what I do is editorial as a narrative. It’s a love story between the models and attire from a cinematic viewpoint. It’s my duty to take a story beyond just models and pretty clothes on hangars. Simple is always best in my opinion. I always use one main light source in my shoots because that approach models real life; it models the sun.

JL: Off the top of your head, what’s your favorite shoot you’ve done in recent times?

OB: I did an editorial a couple years ago that enabled me total control; it was a shoot for Noise Magazine. Everything came together. The model was cool and very laidback. The stylist pulled together amazing clothes and stunning jewelry. She fashioned a homemade turban. It was very cool. You don’t have to have a Prada label to come up with an amazing outcome, but it doesn’t hurt.

JL: How did you develop your style? Who have you worked with previously?

OB: I started assisting for George Kamper, an ad photographer who shoots some fashion as well. He knows lighting set-ups that range from one basic light to lighting a set with 20 plus.

Elliston Lutz is another photographer I worked with that influenced my take on fashion photography.  He has a completely different style; he’s an organic shooter. He keeps it simple with natural light from one main source.

Personally, I like the look of having dark shadows, which you can always modify for an Art Director.

JL: What are some ways you think fashion photography has evolved and will evolve in the next decade?

OB: Digital has taken the industry by storm.  People can use a consumer-grade camera and deliver beautiful results. It gives creative power to the people.

In the next 10 years video will be huge. GQ used a Red camera to shoot Megan Fox in an editorial. This will be a trend that continues to evolve as the technology is further developed and becomes more affordable and accessible.

For more on Orlando’s work, stop by his Web site.

Based in L.A., Kate is a go-to makeup master for a slew of celebrities, including names like Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and Keira Knightley. Kate is a first-pick favorite among top-tier photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Terry Richardson and Karen Collins. Her signature style has been described as “a flawless complexion with a sultry, smoky, defined eye — an irresistible come-hither look created with an impressive array of colors.”

Thank you, Kate, for keeping our hottest celebrities looking hot and feeling sexy!

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?

I love to walk in nature, at the beach or on the trails with my Dog Biscuit. I don’t have so much of it these days, so when I do, I make it count!

What do you do to find calm during the crazy-filled fashion days?

I try to live my life in day-tight compartments. A deep breath and returning to the present usually helps.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Facials with Faith Taitrow and Korean body treatments. I Love having my skin feel super clean and smooth.

What was your last indulgence?

Rhubarb crumble….   For breakfast!

What are you doing this weekend?

This weekend I will be with the beautiful Anne Hathaway, prepping for The Oscars.

To view Kate’s work, see her PORTFOLIO at Starworks Artists.

Here is a preview of the Jenner sisters’ Teen Vogue interview:

Teen Vogue: Keeping Up with the Kardashians debuted in 2007. What was your initial reaction to having your lives filmed?

Kendall: I’ve always been a shy person, so all the attention around my family was weird in the beginning. But we’ve come out of our shells, and now it’s cool for people to see how we’ve grown.

Kylie: It’s our lifestyle now—it’s just normal.

Teen Vogue: Is your family accurately portrayed on the show?

Kendall: That’s literally us. We wake up in the morning, and the cameras are there. We go to sleep at night, and they’re still right there. It’s reality. We don’t have scripts.

Teen Vogue: Any moments you wish hadn’t been caught on camera?

Kendall: I’ve looked back at episodes from the first season where I’m wearing some of the craziest stuff—like green jeans. I don’t know what I was thinking!

LINK LOVE: Racked

In the year 2010, there might not have been a time in your life where you didn’t hear or see the following lyrics:

“Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard when we drink, we do it right, gettin slizzard/ Sippin sizzurp in my ride, like Three 6/ Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6?

Your first instinct may be “What the fuck does Slizzard mean and is a G6 some type of car?” It then goes to “I need this song as my ring tone right now” and “I need to spam my BBM status with these lyrics, oh my god! So hip!”

After your mind goes through that, oh so intense process, you draw back and think about something else. Who the hell is that girl singing the hook?

Well on your iTunes purchase receipt it says “DEV” and that’s who it is, it’s not Uffie and no it’s not Ke$ha. It’s DEV. Well who is DEV? Pop class begins….

DEV is a singer/songwriter, discovered by LA Valley-boy group “The Cataracs.” To some that C-word might just be any other Snoop Dog lyric, but to others it may be the name of the group that is brewing up all the youthful pop music that today’s radio stations, iPods and Facebook statuses are screaming for; basically brain-washing teens with fetch lingo and simple beats that will live in your brain. The same things Dr. Luke & Max Martin did in the late 90s to early 2000s with Britney, N*SYNC and The Backstreet-Boys. Coming strong with her recent Billboard hot 100 debut “Bass Down Low,” The Cataracs’ self-proclaimed “mainstream top 40 revolutionizing muse” is ready to use her debut album to tell listeners that she is really more than just the “G6? girl. Before even going into writing/producing this album, she is coming off headstrong as ever with creative ideas employed by executive producers & non-stop collaborators “The Cataracs.” Just coming back from studio sessions with 50 Cent & Travis Barker and getting ready to fly to Costa Rica to begin her debut album sessions. I decided to call her up to find out what the whole “G6 movement” is about and how annoying it is to be only known as the “G6 girl.”  When a pen, a paper and a Universal Republic contract seems to be living proof, she is so much more than that.

Dev: Hi Alex.

Alex Kazemi:  Hey Dev, where are you right now?

Dev: I’m good, in Florida!

Kazemi: Touring?

DEV: Yeah, Just wrapped up the tour and then I’m playing a show in Canada on the 20th.

Kazemi:  Exciting, so I don’t know how this works. You were a professional Olympic swimmer, swimming all your life and then one day you just decide to sing the hook to one of the biggest pop songs of the year 2010 “Like A G6.”  Does California Valley boy production duo “The Cataracs”  have anything to do with this decision and transition? Two S’s, swimmer to singer.

DEV:   I was a swimmer for a long time and I guess I was pissed off because of my ex boyfriend’s new girlfriend, you know when your young and aggressive..  I decided put up this song on MySpace. MySpace was the place to be at the time, you know I recorded a song off my MacBook, it was basically a “diss track” and I didn’t expect anything out of it? It was just to make me feel good like how music should but Niles came across of my page and was really  into my voice and they kind of got me into singing and opened up my eyes to business opportunities.  I didn’t know we’d ever be connoisseur’s of party pop like “G6? and “Bass Down Low” when we first met up and now we live with each other in LA and are on some real shit! [Laughs]

Kazemi: Real shit eh? How do you three sort out ideas as a constant collaborative group, what is a typical session like with DEV, Niles & Dave (The Cataracs.)

DEV:  Were all completely random, unique and weird individuals that make each session very different and complicated in a way. It really depends, some times the boys will come to me and say “I’ve been wanting to do this song but this is more of a DEV track” and from there Niles will show me the beat and me and David will come up with lyrics or some times I go to them when I have written some sort of idea and they will help me elaborate on it to the point where we can have a song.  Its great having their two minds and two different personalities and it’s great that I live with them.

Kazemi:  I assume they will be executive producing your whole album?

DEV:  You assumed right! We’re going to go to Costa Rica for a month and lock ourselves in this incredible beach house and do my whole album together. Producing and writing, I couldn’t have asked for better people to work with on my album.

Kazemi: The Cataracs are really geniuses when it comes to the Dr. Luke formulaic sound that the audience of this generation wants to hear but will any other additional song-writer/producers be flying out to Costa Rica for the debut?

DEV: I might work with some people,  I’ve been contacted by a couple people that you might know of but it’s hard to say of right now but I think me and The Cataracs are on a really good streak right now and it’s not intentional. “G6? was not planned, nothing has been planned and it’s always been really natural and I think were going into this album with the natural mindset we’ve gone into with any other session. If any of the producers really want me to come out and fly from Costa Rica, maybe I will but as of now I’m focusing on working with The Cataracs for the time being in Costa Rica.

We’ll see, I guess?

Kazemi:  I think working with other producers isn’t a bad idea. You are becoming notoriously known as the hook-girl, you just reprised that role on a track on the new 50 Cent record, did your voices collide and compliment each other?

DEV: YES! Oh my god, it’s so cute! I was so excited because I’m such a big 50 fan. I remember when “In Da Club” came out and being obsessed with it! The track is really cool; our voices definitely complimented each other in the bridge.  The coolest thing about this was it was over a Cataracs beat and that was really comforting. The roughness of his voice contrasted really nicely with my little soft voice. It was dope.

Kazemi: Travis Barker and yourself were in the same studio, did you guys happen to cut anything?

DEV: We did! I actually got on one of his songs that will possibly be put out on the album he’s working on.

I’m on the hook with a song that has verses from E-40, Snoop & Ludacris. He liked it enough, kept it and hopefully is  out on the album. It was really cool as well, same kind of situation with 50. I had a big poster of Travis on my wall and I was obsessed with Blink.

Kazemi:  That’s fandom at its best, what was the story with “Booty Bounce” and “G6? were they produced and written around the same time? Whose idea was it to use the ” Like A G6 ” hook from “Booty Bounce” for the final track “Like A G6.”

DEV:  They were made in the same summer; it was a time where The Cataracs and myself were grinding it out in the studio pretty tough together. We made a bunch of simplistic random tracks, the sounds are similar and I can understand why you thought they were made around the same time. It was a really cool phase, swagging it out basically and telling the world we were the shit! Super sassy tracks, it was actually The Cataracs idea to take the bridge of Booty Bounce and put it over “G6.” The bridge became a hook basically.

Kazemi: Did you write this bridge/hook?

DEV: No, The Cataracs & Myself did it together, we were all kind of sitting down and I had to approve it before I sang it. They approached me like any other time they have written lyrics they thought I’d like and I was obviously down, that beat was amazing and to switch it from “Booty Bounce” to “G6? was not a problem for me. Everybody thought it was a great idea and we swung with it.

Kazemi: On the topic of Lyricism was the line ” And we sip champagne when we thirsty” from “Bass Down Low” a tribute to the Biggie classic “Juicy.”

DEV: It was a tribute to the big poppa, yes.

Kazemi: I think this needs to be said, it’s going to be hard drifting from being the “Like A G6? girl and its going to take time but what do you think will isolate you from that tile music wise. On the debut album, will there be a balance of icy pop songs like “Bass Down Low” but then other material that could be seen as different and could be the DEV-edge, DEv- aesthetic. Your own sound that could make people thinks differently.

DEV: You are the coolest dude in the world.

Kazemi: Thank You.

DEV:  Your Welcome!

So yes, thankfully “G6? gave me enough attention and it gave me a good amount of success and obviously has put me on the pop music scene, it’s a good time to push my music to more people rather then before when a demo would only have a couple thousand hits on MySpace. I’m playing bigger shows, traveling different places but with that,  it comes to the point where people put me in a box and everyone says “Wow, is that all she can do?” People should be more curious, my voice is weird and it is capable of things and that hook everyone knows from “G6? has given me a lot of attention but not too much. I’m confident in The Cataracs and myself that this album is going to speak for its self and I won’t just be known as the “G6? girl.  Pop songs with the feel of “Bass Down Low” will be included but I grew up being into helluva different music! I know that my intricate influences and The Cataracs simple influences are going to come out on this album as one.  Typical pop music is not what I am only good at doing; I have a lot of ideas and hip-hop influence records, some electro ballads. I’m really excited for it; my sound is going to come out. I think when my album is out people aren’t going to say “So did you hear The G6 girl has an album?” It’s going to be “I just bought DEV’s album on ITunes and it’s sick as fuck.”

Wait till April bitch!!!

Kazemi: [laughs] Every artist gets compared and I was wondering what it’s like being a white girl coming up on the scene who has saliva and can spit on a microphone and then is all of a sudden  sinked  towards more mainstream artists like Uffie and Ke$ha.  Every-time you hear a white girl rapping on the radio, an avid mainstream music listener will say “Like, Oh my god! What a Ke$ha wannabe.”

Who the fuck is DEV? Why isn’t she Uffie & Ke$ha?

DEV: I just feel that I have a lot more to say and the ability to have an eclectic sound, a very diverse pop album. I’m not bashing either artist, but I’m going to be able to give you a little bit more then what you’ve heard on those record. When my album comes out, hopefully I won’t have to hear another reference or comparison.  I am such a brat, I don’t want to be compared to anyone, I don’t care if it’s the greatest person in the world. Fuck it.    Both artists are cool but whatever, wait till April.

You know what I’m saying Kazemi?

Kazemi: I’m on it, I think.  Would you ever want to pen songs for any other pop artists, outside song writing?

DEV: I think when the time comes; I’m focusing on DEV right now. My energy is on finishing touring and making the best pop album I can. I plan to explore my artistry after this record is done and when I’m taking a break right before the sessions for the next record.

Kazemi:  Are you a morning or night writer?

DEV: I write the best from 4AM to 6AM, it’s super strange but this is going to sound really stupid but I use to have swim practice at 6AM.  I think all my energy is use to that hour and my mind can function the best at the hour from practice.

Kazemi:  That’s a fair change of workout. Alcohol, Sex and gossip and every element a youth talks about in there personal conversations is kind of translated in the pop music today, when you write do you feel you have to cater to this and join the whole “fuck yah partying, fake ID and underage sex” pop song movement.

DEV:  I personally don’t go into songs thinking about all of the misfits and each social clique at high school who will be into my song. The Cataracs are really good at doing that and they will know when to calm me down. I’m not going to be the one who says “Everybody underage get drunk and go fuck people!!”

I am not going to say that in a song, I feel like I can say a bit more then that but I know the teens are down with it and they want to hear words like “slizzard.”

The boys and me have that under control but listeners should understand music is self-expression and don’t take anything too seriously. In 2011 The Cataracs and myself have the ability to change the game, blend the music world by providing the weird California swag and sound were on.  The sounds, The Cataracs & me choose, the lingo we use, and we know what’s up. I feel like a lot of artists try to get there and it’s almost there but the lingo is off, the beats are wrong and I can tell those things because we’ve already started the movement, that  “pop revolution” everyone is talking about.

LINK LOVE: Alex Kazemi

Check out these questions I had for him!

FASHIONINDIE: How did you start StyleNoir? Being that your background is in music, when did fashion become your primary interest?

JAMES: In my mind, there is no difference in my goals whatever industry I’m in. The bottom line is that I want to inspire and motivate people to achieve what they have only dreamed of before. Taking that into account, all industries are governed by the same four parts, the seller, the buyer, the product, the producer. So in reality there really is no difference between the industries. I suppose if I am honest, the music industry rejected the changes it was going through and tried to ignore them, we used to sit in the studio and brain-storm every day on how we could revolutionise things, then one day I was talking to one of the guys from Sony and asked the million dollar question, what are they doing to beat the problem? The answer was just to pump more money into their biggest band at the time. To me that was the biggest lack of imagination I’d ever heard, I didn’t want to be in a pond where the biggest fish couldn’t take the courage to leap to the sea. A decade later and they still haven’t figured it out. The giant of the fashion industry knows how to adapt, I saw companies embracing change and taking risks and I wanted in.

FASHIONINDIE: What were you doing before StyleNoir was born? Ever work any horrible jobs?

JAMES: Since I was very young, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. Whether it was selling the latest craze in the school-yard, or dare I use the word, hustling, I knew that I wanted to do things by myself. I had a horrible and admittedly, embarrassing job at a grocery store when I was a kid. So when I was 14, I started out with t-shirts, within the 12 months it was producing £10,000 a year. At that point I knew I was capable and I didn’t look back.

FASHIONINDIE: Sometimes you cover some pretty sensitive subjects (Fashion Indie’s own pro/against Tavi’s blog comment argument, cats as fashion accessories), does this ever get you any hate, and does that bother you?

JAMES: I never started this for popularity. I couldn’t care less if you love or hate me, I find it hard to not speak my mind and maybe that is a failing of mine. But seriously, if a blog states “blogs are disposable” that sets alarm bells off in my head, that seems strange to me, something has to be said. I keep thinking that our time period is one that seems to be losing that desire for pioneering and advancement, so at Stylenoir we want to make people think, whether they agree or disagree is far from the point. The point is to make people think for themselves, come up with their own opinions and standing. Hopefully inspiring people to make a difference while they have the time.

FASHIONINDIE: Where do you come up with the ideas for your original pieces?

JAMES: I suppose it’s not so much where but how, and that how is listening. It’s astonishing how much you can pick up if you really pay attention to what is going on around you. It’s almost like producing music, you listen to what your audience is asking for, create that hook that will draw people in and run with it, putting your own passion into the final creation.

FASHIONINDIE: How do you choose which spreads you feature on the site each month?

JAMES: We look for the artists which inspire us the most, if it really blows us away, then we will feature it. It doesn’t matter who it is. Creativity, the message it is portraying and the meaning behind it are main factors. This is why Elias Wessel is one of our highly featured photographers, some how he takes this outstanding imagination he has and puts it in still images. It really is incredible, I truly believe if you could look into his mind, it would be nothing less than becoming a real life Alice in Wonderland.

FASHIONINDIE: What do you plan on doing next with the site? Any plans to expand StyleNoir.TV?

JAMES: We just launched a complete re-design of the site which is all very exciting. We wanted to create a more interesting experience for our readers so we added interactivity, with a great Facebook comment system, as they say participation is power! Stylenoir.TV is soon to become Stylenoir Films, we hope to produce some hard hitting documentaries in the near future, but you will just have to wait and see, I can’t give everything away, where would the fun be in that?

FASHIONINDIE: Any advice for hopeful journalists?

JAMES: Work, hard, and do what you love. Seriously, in 2010 there is no reason to do anything you hate. But you need to work, if you want the fancy parties and the exclusive interviews you need to put in the effort. Get your iPhone and your laptop and hit emails, social networking, cold call, I don’t care. It might sound aggressive, but there really is no better advice that to just DO. I run into people all the time ready to discuss at length their plans in media or journalism but the simple fact is planning is good, getting results is better.

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Check out Stylenoir, one of the coolest sites on the web (and they’re from the UK which is +1 for me!) and follow them, and James on Twitter!

LINK LOVE: Hillary Bankz

A friend referred me to David Alexander’s site, and on viewing his collections I fell in love with the fur, leather, mesh, studs, jewels, and all of my favorite things compiled into one fashion show. Once I began to speak with David, I found his quirky, enthusiastic and overly creative personality absolutely thrilling, and had to share it with you.

Here’s a little anecdote that got me hooked on David straight away:

So my friend Susan calls me and says ” your gonna be so mad at me.” and as I put down my Playstation controller and jogged over to my computer I see this email and I’m like…..who is that, and she goes “Well I dunno, but she is prolly never gonna buy another skirt from you or Curve again..” and Im like omg omg did i fudge up and the skirt zipper was broke because I do pride myself on an 100% usa made quality product…”She goes well I saw her in the skirt and I freaked out and ran over and I was lil drunk and I sort of shook her cause I was in the gold one and was like OMG OMG my friend made these arent they great”….So basically if you buy my clothes in NY and a crazy beautiful woman runs over to you its my friend Susan haha I cant be mad she is just all about my designs and gives me so much support.

I was also lucky enough to hear from David on a few questions that I asked:

FASHION INDIE:  How did you get your start in designing?

DAVID ALEXANDER: I started designing at 12 when I started drawing super hero costumes, and worked watched my grandma design wedding dresses for fun, then eventually went to FIDM and Parsons where I got my BA in Fine arts Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing. I have done freelance work for Juicy, DKNY, and Simon G.

FI: Your collection ‘Broken Princess and Her Secret Prince’ features a secret prince named David…any chance it’s named after you?

DA: Yah sort of I design clothing based on stories I come up so with every outfit I took all the women I know and work with and sort of designed around that, the princesses name was Alexis after my little sister.  I guess my ultimate ambitions of having a luxury line, a comic book, and an action cartoon television series haha.

FI: Can you tell us anything about your new line? I hear from a super secret source that it’s called Dahlia Dangeroux

DA: So far yes, it’s designed around inspiration from the Black Dahlia, and my non-fiction short movie ill be working on with an actress friend of mine….Im about 60% it will be called Dahlia Dangeroux or Fleeting Stars…but around the same concept, which is a young hollywood actress is kidnapped by mad man who is kidnaping the creme de la creme of Young Hollywood, and while knocked out in the drunk she dreams of all the movies, red carptes and wonderful things she could do if she survives…..and the unfolding of the story. it was inspried by a spoken word song called victim by the golden palminos. I know weird right? LOL im totally a nerdo

FI: I’ve noticed you shoot a lot with the fabulous Laura La Rue.  Has she, or any other models acted as your muse to your lines?

DA: I use people who i feel are truly beautiful inside and out, that brings out the best in a dress a confident sexy woman..Laura is also a red head like my mom and as an ode to her I always use red heads and brunettes …I also love love love Monica Bellucci she is a muse as well as Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and my other friend Iwona Lis. one of my new muses is Karen Elson (YSL model) and Chanel Iman.

FI: You make everything from evening gowns to menswear..how on earth does your brain balance all of that?

DA: I have no clue I think my skull is full of clouds red bull, anime and video games. I always make these collections and when im done im like does is this stuff go together at all and then when people read the story there like ya…and im like…….( O_o…..ok) I guess i just do my own thing and so far its worked…

FI: What’s next? Red carpet looks, diffusion line, world takeover?

DA: (Hehehe :::Twiddling Fingers:::: World Domination All My clothes have secret tracking devices MWAHAHA)……. Um well winter is always BOOM BOOM glamour because it can be heavier but my winter is gonna be very high end couture with a few actual everyday..well what I call everyday dresses if it were up to me everyone would run around in evening gowns and furs trying to one up each other….But I just got signed on by SAGA FUR for the Royal Vision Team so I will be taking a trip in October to see all the techniques and amazing things they can do with it im thinking Chains Metal Spikes and Sable… Im def working on some casual items that are more affordable but they will still retain there runway glamour look and probably only kick the price down a good 40 or 60 bux but hey save where u  can save and where the same dress every day…I wear the same jeans….they just fit so well!

FI: Any advice for hopeful designers?

DA: YOU GOTTA WORK!….Um I dunno…ya know the world of fashion is tough and there are moments you can get very heavy hearted my advice is to if you wanna be a designer get tough skin and a shit load of 5hour energy because when you think you have made it or you have caught up you realize its 2 months from your next show and your scrambling from fabric shop to shop looking for your inspiration …..Haha I guess I have alot of advice to give like dont judge any other designers work unless there an asshole then rip up there dress, but if there cool compliment them because everyone has there own style and when u see someone and out and your like OMG what are they wearing well there wearing someone design which is more then I can say for some other people who spend all day judging…but I wont give up to much info its best to learn as you do the ups and downs create great great collections.

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If you aren’t sold on David Alexander yet, see more of his looks on Envy. Check out his site, and shop at the following locations:

“how do u kill a blonde u give her spike shoulder pads and ask her a question ( raising shoulders) she answers “I dunno”

Meet DJ Loli, a fashion forward insanely bad ass DJ based in Los Angeles. From Rolling Stone Magazine to WWD Mag, Loli is definitely making her way around the public.

Loli is not only one of the top female djs in the world, she is also a performer, singer, producer, and business owner. Watch out Lady Gaga, you might have some competition.

To check out more of DJ Loli visit her myspace and Loliland.tv!

AND LISTEN TO HER NEW MIX HERE

Take a look at my exclusive talk with DJ Loli.

LL (FI): Where was the first place you ever did a gig at and how was it?

DJ L: My first gig ever was also the first time I ever DJed. It was at this ghetto, cheesy as hell club called DTM in Oxford. It was a pretty interesting experience. My friend, who was a resident DJ at the time, showed me what buttons to press and said Go.

I remember a few weeks after that I was doing my set there, and at the time I didn’t have a deep knowledge of music or genres, as I was only 16. I bought this techno/Trance record that blue my mind it was called “Can You Dig It”. In the middle of my cheesy top 40s set I put down my head to mix in this record and at the scary part of it where it screams CAN YOU DIGGGG ITTTT I put my head up and it was like a horror film. The previously packed club was absolutely empty. Just the glasses and bottles left on the floor where people where standing. It’s a very funny memory…

LL (FI): On your new mix, what was the funnest track to work on?

DJ L: My Favorite tracks were the Ramstein, Adam Freeland, Trentemoller and Depeche mode…

LL (FI): If you could collaborate a track with any artist who would it be?

DJ L: I would love to colab with Madonna, Ramstein, Prodigy, and Iggy Pop. Also, Freddy mercury. He is my biggest idol.

LL (FI): What is your favorite type of clothing?

DJ L: Well obviously Military caps love leggings, gloves. ALL TYPE OF GLOVES! Right now I’m loving my white “server” gloves and Bunny ears (soon to come to the Loliland apparel store. Handmade)

LL (FI): If you could say three words to best describe your style what would they be?

DJ L: W.T.F.

LL (FI): Is Loli your real name? If not how did you come up with it?

DJ L: Its not my real name even thou I have been using it since I was a spoiled little teenager. I got it from the novel “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov. Cut it short to Loli.

LL (FI): Is there a tattoo or piercing you’ve always wanted but never had the guts to get?

DJ L: Well just got my nipple pierced and it hurts pretty bad right now…. I have the guts to get anything. I don’t currently have any tattoos. And I want to get my first one soon. A full back tattoo of this shaded abstract design. Just got to find a good artist. Any takers?

LL (FI): What is your all time favorite 90’s TV show?

DJ L: I come from a communist country. We only had Russian TV in my country, plus in the 90s I was a newborn… I wouldn’t know. Lets pretend that south park and Family guy where in the early 90s.. LOVE THEM!

-Lucas Logan

www.twitter.com/lucaslogan

(photos by Kris Kidd)

Four months ago a bunch of my favorite people to follow on Twitter were filling up my feed with news of a new magazine.  ‘Check out  @clichemagazine!’ so I did. I headed over to the site and saw the clean format of their first issue with Cody Kennedy on the cover, and started e-flipping through to pages, reading articles, and seeing photos from some of my favorite photographers.  From then on, I became a huge fan of Cliché, an online magazine based out of California that publishes monthly, and features spreads and content that you aren’t going to find anywhere else on the web, or at any store, for that matter.  I continued to check back monthly to see Brittany Flickinger on the cover, and an entirely green issue, all complete with great feature stories, interviews, street style photos, and spreads from the Cliché staff; but then I realized: outside of the photographers I already follow, I have no idea who is behind this magazine.

Naturally, I scoured the internet to figure things out and found the editor-in-chief’s name, Jeremy Fall, and I made one of those emails to a general address to try and get ahold of Jeremy in order to figure out just what goes on behind the scenes at Cliché.  After long chains of emails and iChat conversations, Jeremy and I have grown to be great friends (I’ve even heard him talk on the phone in French…it’s actually his first language), and I’ve learn that Cliché is definitely a magazine that is here to stay, and here to join Fashion Indie’s digital revolution by creating the ‘print is dead’ campaign.

See what Jeremy had to say on the start and growth of Cliché, and why the internet is way better than Condé Nast:

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FASHIONINDIE: Where were you at before Cliché?

JEREMY FALL: Before starting Cliché, I had an event production & artist management agency in LA called Mad City Entertainment. I started with that when I was sixteen, and we mainly produced all ages events in clubs around the city and represented artists from around the world. I also organized private events on the side ranging from fashion shows to corporate events to birthdays.

FI: Once you got the idea (and how did that even happen?), where did you go next?

JF: No one ever believes me when I answer this question, but I got the idea for Cliché at 5 AM when I couldn’t sleep. I suddenly felt the need to take on another project and always thought that there weren’t many magazines out there that take a completely different approach to their themes. I was looking through a few issues the other day at Barnes & Noble and found one with an “up and coming talent” theme. The issue consisted of 100 little biographies of people that no one has ever heard of, and it just seemed like the creators were crossing their fingers that at least one person of their choice would someday blow up and give them credibility. As for Cliché, I’m not saying that we don’t go for up and coming talent, I think that’s great, we just prefer showing different things in our issues. For example, in our July rising stars issue, we also showed a merging city, growing hotels, different types of designers, etc.. Sorry I might be getting a little off topic, to answer your second question, once I had the idea for the mag I immediately started looking for photographers and writers over the Internet and through people that I knew. This was probably the hardest part and I admit that I didn’t have any experience in creating magazines. It took about a month to completely assemble our team and then we started creating issues. The name was an easy pick for me, with my French heritage (where the é comes from), but also because I promised myself the magazine would be anything BUT a Cliché…meaning, the only thing Cliché about it would be the name (ha ha ha).

FI: Is this something you always wanted to do?

JF: Being the editor-in-chief of a magazine was something that I had never thought of doing. I’ve always had a passion for management and when everything started coming together, I fell in love with the idea.

FI: Did you anticipate it would grow so quickly?

JF: A lot of people ask me that too actually, and honestly I really didn’t expect this at all. I’m so grateful for all of our readers and the attention that Cliché’s been getting. I had projected around 100,000 readers monthly by January 2010 thinking that I was crazy for aiming so high, and we’re at over 600,000 monthly now. I definitely think that it’s not done growing yet and that there are still many improvements to be made.

FI: Where do you plan to take Cliché, assuming it continues to grow exponentially in viewers?

JF: I never say never but I really don’t think that we’ll ever become a printed magazine. In 10 years, glossy magazines will be considered luxurious items and everyone else will have theirs available online. The way technology’s growing right now, it would be surprising if the Internet didn’t take over printed publications, but you can never know, that’s just my opinion.

FI: Do you think you’ll ever switch to a daily update format, or just stick with the monthly issue?

JF: Actually, we’re in the process of integrating a blog called Kitsch on our site to give a more “frequent update format”. This should be out soon and we really want to give our fans a more personal feel and interaction with who’s behind the mag. The goal right now is to make it daily, we’re just figuring out if that’s going to start right away. As far as the issues, those will remain monthly.

FI: We love you for it, but why jump on the ‘print is dead’ bandwagon? And why did you decide to turn your magazine entirely ‘green’?

JF: (laughs) The “print is dead” bandwagon, like I said earlier, is something that’s really growing exponentially. I honestly don’t see what the point of printing is aside from making it “look pretty”. I mean, I do agree on the fact that holding a mag in your hands on the plane or at the dentist is a nice feeling (when its a good publication) but in the end, the result is the same as when it’s online. In a few years from now, you won’t remember how nice it was to flip the pages, but how interesting an article was. Whether you read it online or on paper, you retain information the same way. Sometimes it is scary to see how technology is quickly taking over, but we also can’t live in the past when new mediums are being developed everyday. If you still don’t agree with me, take a look at how blogs have grown and how you mostly read the news online now, or how you’re sending e-mail more than paper letters, or how you text instead of sending notes (for high schoolers), or how you’re reading this interview on Fashion Indie. The list goes on and on and on.

FI: How do you decide on a theme for each month?

JF: Honestly this might really sound cliche but I really get inspired from anything that happens around me! I know that everyone always says that but its seriously true in my case. I don’t sit in a field pondering for hours but themes come to me at random times throughout the day. Usually it starts when I’m reminded of a topic that interests me a lot and then I develop it from there and find a way to turn it into an issue. It can get hard sometimes, but I try to think ahead.

FI: Tell us a bit about the rest of your staff, you’ve got some younger talent working for you, do you think young people are taking over the industry?

JF: Our staff for the most part is pretty young. I definitely think that we are taking over the industry and feel like the generations to come will start even younger.

FI: Who have been some of your favorite people to work with?

JF: I truly think that every single person I work with strongly contributes to the mag. Now, I’m not just saying this because they’re going to be reading this interview, but honestly everyone has helped a lot. Its actually really cool because the team that you see now was built really quickly, most people have been around since day one.

One of the best additions to our crew was definitely Dirk Mai (www.dirkmai.com), one of our main photographers. He’s an amazing artist and one of the best people to work with. You’ll find his work throughout every single issue that we’ve done so far and I honestly believe that Cliché wouldn’t be what it is today without his contribution.

FI: What has been your favorite part about this experience?

JF: My favorite part about this experience is seeing the number of readers grow and communicating and being able to directly communicate with them. I do as much as I can to be in contact with our fans and love hearing feedback, that’s really the only way to get better.

FI: What are some of your favorite magazines?

JF: I actually didn’t read many magazines before starting mine. If I had to pick one to read for the rest of my life, it’d have to be Vanity Fair. The reason being that it’s probably the most intelligent mag available in the US and the photography you find is truly amazing. I also read Nylon monthly and open GQ when I stumble upon it.

FI: If Condé Nast offered to print Cliché, but you had to give them full ownership of it and would only collect royalties, would you?

JF: I would never do that, it would completely negate everything I just said in this interview, and make me look like an idiot.

FI:  You’ve got 1 hour until stores close and $500 dollars to spend, where do you head first?

JF: I’d probably head to a restaurant first to eat, and then with whatever I have left head to Alexander McQueen (my favorite designer).

FI: Any secrets you can give away?

JF: I can’t really say anything except for the fact that we’re going to be getting better and better. We have our new site launching very soon, created by my wonderful web designer Michael Gramling (http://www.thevintageskeleton.com), new amazing writers and photographers. You’ll have to take a look to see what I mean.  I’m also working on building my own social networking platform outside of the magazine, so keep a look out for that, too.

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And that’s what you should do!  Check out the new issue of Cliché that is out TODAY on their site, see the new webisode on Cliché TV, and follow them, and Jeremy Fall on Twitter to keep updated on their world takeover(I smell a blog coming soon??!).

Best Sartorial advice from your parents?
Do wear a jacket at dinner.

Style icons?
My Grandfather. His style was classic and sartorial, a jacket or suit for every occasion or time of the day. He had a passion for horses, sporty cars and holidays on French Riviera or the Italian and Greek Islands (and he was often taking me with him).

Describe your personal style…
Smart-casual, traditional tailoring.

Favorite designers?
Dries Van Noten, Prada, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Alber Elbaz, Thom Browne, CCP

Most cherished item?
Supreme skate-decks.

I feel best wearing?
A crisp poplin shirt, trousers with creases and a blazer with surgeon’s cuffs.

The first thing I look at in another Sartorialist’s outfit…
Sharpness and comfort. Then the lapel, shoulder, back and cuff.

I never break this fashion rule…
Wear it with a rebel touch.

Never caught wearing?
A tie!

Dress to impress who?
The lady next door.

Shine your own shoes?
I wish, is a skill that only professionals have!

Your next “must have” purchase?
Supreme x Nike SB Bruin

Favorite item of clothing?
At the moment a Dries trench coat and my 30th navy-blue blazer.

How do you balance the suiting and skate wear in your wardrobe?
I like to mix skate wear with my more formal outfits to break-up the lines and add a touch of “me” to my more formal style. It takes me back to my childhood, and all of the youth-movements that were a part of it.

Most stylish city?
London.

When I was high school I wore?
The same style as Umberto I, king of Italy. I had to wear a uniform blazer, trousers with tape down the side of the leg, a fully buttoned shirt and a cape. My hair was cropped in the back and longer in the front.

Sports?
Pilates, horseback riding, polo and tennis.

Favorite vacation spot?
Where sand is white, sky is blue, water is green and the fish come to you ready to be cooked on a grill. Anywhere in the Mediterranean area, also the little islands in South of Italy.

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
My kitchen.

Favorite cocktail?
Gin and Tonic, 2 ice cubes and a lime wedge.

Interview by Tracy Rosenbaum