2. Zuleika also wears
Eckhaus Latta
EckhausLatta
new, hot, now,
and from New York
The designers Zoe Latta and
Michael Eckhaus presented
their first collection during
New York Fashion Week. They
want to offer clothes that
people identify with and un-
derstand as „part of their own
vocabulary of self-expression“.
Read on page 58

3. Mash FrAgrances
up
Don’t drink this at home:
Eternity Summer and
Sheer Beauty by Calvin
Klein, CK One Summer,
Chanel No. 19, Jersey by
Chanel, Davidoff Cool
Water Pure Pacific,
Sweet Delicious Creamy
Meringue by DKNY,
L’Eau de Chloé;, Peony
& Moss by Jo Malone;,
No. 2 from The Big Pony
Collection by Ralph
Lauren, and No. 7
White Patchouli & Cedar
Wood by Rituals
mini
Bar
Photographer Peter Langer
username: peterlanger from Berlin,
dishes out some fragrances.
15

4. Mash
up
right: Marzia Aloisi
(username: marzia)
from New York wears
sequinned striped
cocktail dress and
feather collar worn
as wig, both by Louis
Vuitton.
opposite page: Berit
von Enoch (user-
name: Berit) from
Berlin wears sleeve-
less mini-dress by
Victoria Beckham, and
turquoise leather bag
with golden studs by
Valentino.
Dressing
Room Piracy
Spring/Summer ‘12
It’s always difficult to imagine who
you want to be in the upcoming season,
or what you’d like to wear—which are
basically one and the same. Users of
ilikemystyle.net honed their SS 12
personae in seriously stunning pieces.
(To be continued in the next issue. Feel free to send your piracy
pictures to magazine@ilikemystyle.net)
27

5. below: Alison wears paisley
dress and safari jacket, both
Marc by Marc Jacobs.
above: Marzia wears lace wrap
dress and silk slip by Miu Miu.
above:Alison Mazur top right: Marzia wears mink
(username: alisonmazur) fur, black silk, and lace top and
wears crepe blouse and ecru lace skirt by Miu Miu.
sequin skirt, both by Diane
Von Furstenberg. right: Marzia wears gold metal-
lic sequinned top, leather skirt,
right: Alison wears and patent leather high heel
metallic cardigan by Marc sandals by Gucci.
by Marc Jacobs; electric
blue pleated skirt by Diane
Von Furstenberg.
Marzia wears asymmetrical
gold bathing suit with belt by
Lanvin.
31

6. Mash
up
top: Lucie wears map printed
dress by Carven, black jeans by
Acne; Max wears tweed blazer
by Marc by Marc Jacobs, sweat-
er by Alexander McQueen,
burnt siena jeans by Corporal;
loafers by Burberry, and scarf
by Larogy.
top right: Lucie wears neon silk
top by A.L.C., tribal jacket by
Thu Thu, and emerald green
dress pants by A.L.C.; Max
wears coral cashmere sweater
and checkered swimming trunks
by Acne, loafers by Burberry,
and black watch by Casio.
top: Max Krumm (username:
Maxx) from Berlin wears bottom: Lucie wears tribal
orange cardigan by Malo, patchwork jacket by Thu Thu
electric orange cashmere and pale animal print jeans
sweater by Ralph Lauren, and by Current/Elliott; Max wears
black jeans by Acne; Lucie striped polo shirt by Bottega
Tamborini (username: Veneta and patterned pajama
lucielua) from Berlin wears pants by Burberry Prorsum.
leather and fur jacket by
A.L.C., pale animal print
jeans by Current/Elliott, coral
cashmere sweater by Acne,
and her own vintage necklace.
left: Max wears uniform-
inspired jacket by Pinky
Laing, and black jeans by
Acne; Lucie wears olive
men’s T-shirt by Valentino,
and jeans by Acne.
35

7. FaShion
Altered
States
Fashion goes four-dimensional
(at least): artist Jasmine
Golestaneh and James Valeri
did a mind-augmenting round
of cut & paste with some of their
favorite looks of the season.
art work: Jasmine
Golestaneh (username: jasmineg)
photography and fashion director:
James Valeri (username: jv)
Models: Rita Violentij @ Elite NY and
Annabelle Tsaboukas @ Women NY
Make up: William Murphy @ Joe Management using MAC
Hair: Tiffani Patchett @ Bumble&Bumble
Photography assistant: Drew Vickers
Stylist assistants: Abdoul Diallo and Ellen Pande
A big thank you to: Alex Beck, David Schulze,
James Tinnely @ Women and Trecey Cunningham @ Elite
Rita wears a tulle shirt under
a lace cape and lace shorts,
all by Valentino
43

8. FaShion Altered
States
Annabelle wears a silk
jersey, white evening dress
with “diamante” belt,
all by Ralph Lauren
45

9. FaShion Altered
States
Rita wears a black shorts
suit, hat with veil, and patent
leather ankle boots, all by Jil
Sander by Raf Simons
55

10. FaShion
Urban
Wizardry
When fashion director
James Valeri accepted
an invitation to see Zoe
Latta (username: princelattal)
and Michael Eckhaus’
(username: toothofangel) first
collection of their label
Eckhauslatta, he
discovered something
Willy C. @ Re:Quest
truly otherworldly: the
inventiveness of Tokyo,
a Paris elegance, an Antwerp
deconstructive vibe, and
London’s deadpan humor.
photography:
Andre Herrero
styling: James
Valeri (username: jv)
text: Eva Munz
(username: evvaa)
hair: Brittany Mroczek
shoes: made in collaboration with Ian Horowitz
bags: made in collaboration with Elise McMahon
59

11. FaShion Urban
Wizardry
Rafael P. @ Re-Quest Shane @ Marilyn
63

12. FaShion
Proof in
process
A bunch of fashion arbiters
check out what really works
this season: fit, silhouette,
quality, fun factor, and
philosophy. These gentle-
women behind the website
styleproofed.com
took on new collections
and crash- and crush-tested
Julia wears neon print dress
the precious pieces.
by Mary Katrantzou from
Apropos—The Concept
Store and platform lace- photography:
ups by Carven for Robert
Clergerie. Tini wears dress Cathleen Wolf
by Mary Katrantzou from (username: cathleenwolf)
styling and production:
mytheresa.com, neon printed
sandals by Carven for
Julia Freitag
Robert Clergerie, and ring
by Alexis Bittar from
mytheresa.com
(username: freakyfriday)
hair and make-up: Abra Kennedy
(username: abrakennedy)
and Lena Schleweis
styling assistant: Ella Josephine
Ebsen (username: josi)
and Claudia Becker
71

13. FaShion
Juli (front) wears “Lucky” print
overall by LaissezPasser and
flower boots by Miu Miu. Josi
(back) wears silk paisley tunic
by Etro via maendler.com, pink
wide-legged trousers by Rika, belt
by Kaviar Gauche, and necklace
by Akkessoir.
75

14. FaShion
Julia wears skirt and top by Issever
Bahri and shoes by Bally. Pia
wears red dress by Liebig, python
pumps by Missoni, and jewellery
by Alexis Bittar from mytheresa.
com. Tini wears green dress, white
shoes, and beanie, all by Jil Sander,
and pearl bracelet by Prada. Alexa
wears dress by See by Chloé from
stylebob.com, leggings by H&M,
and green sandals by Ballin from
luisaviaroma.com.
models: Tini Solms (username: tschinni1) @Modelwerk
Julia Freitag, Styleproofed founder and publisher
Pia Sundermann (username: PiaS), Styleproofed editor
Alexa von Heyden (username: alexapeng), Styleproofed editor
Ella Josephine Ebsen (username: Josi), intern
Julia Riedel (username: JuliYeah), intern
and Silke Wichert’s mask (Silke, founder and publisher of
Styleproofed was gone for fashion week)
85

15. FaShion
new
shoes
They say the right footwear makes
up for even the worst wardrobe
mistakes. Sounds easy, so it might
be wrong. But who needs a
philosophy when a simple pair of
Louboutins will do? Here’s what
users of ilikemystyle.net wear
down there these days.
Etienne Descloux / username: etienne from Berlin
I don’t have these shoes and that’s the story. I want them but they don’t exist for men, so they’ve
been my screensaver for five years! They are the perfect match between classical form and crazy color.
These shoes are the pedestal of style.
87

16. FaShion new
shoes
Brook Banham / username: brook from Detroit
This pic shows a brand new pair of Nike Air Jordan 1s in front of a red horse. The reason why I
love these shoes is because Dave White (davewhiteart.com), a UK artist, created the graphics. When you
see his graphic art style, you will know what I mean. The horse is a piece from Aylin Langreuther.
The original Nike price was $195, but, as they were limited, the price quickly skyrocketed
shortly following their release. I paid $350 from Bob’s Classic Kicks, a sneaker boutique at Robin Kranz / username: robin from Hamburg
4717 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. I saw these shoes on a blog and instantly realized that I needed
a pair, so I went to Bob’s, THE local street dealer, who I knew would stock such a rarity. My friend Yves from Boysboysboys called today and said if I wanted these Rick Owens shoes,
These shoes fit into my style, as I normally wear sneakers, and normally Nikes. I usually go for I’d have to be very, very quick; he sold most of them at lightning speed.
the ones with artwork from interesting artists. I think they’re extremely cool.
89

17. new
shoes
clockwise from top
left: Black plaform
shoes by Céline,
dress by Marc Ja-
cobs; white high-heel
boots with flower
print by Walter Stei-
ger, jacket by Manish
Arora; plateau heels,
kristalls by Christian
Louboutin; green
dress vintage D&G,
high heels, Sex by
Christian Louboutin
clockwise from top left: Pink
shiny sandals by Paule Ka;
multi-colored heels by Pierre
Hardy, leather jacket by Louis
Vuitton; high heels with
pants, two-in-one by Manish
Arora, pullover by Kenzo
Melina Popp / username:
girlfromparis from Paris
Since I work in fashion as a journalist and
stylist, I always pick my favorite pairs of
shoes for the next season during fashion
week in Paris. The main criteria are look
and comfort. After a ten-hour day, I don’t
want to go home with bleeding or hurting
feet. A high-fashion pair of shoes can
make a cheap, secondhand outfit
glamorous. Great when you live in a city
like Paris, where rent and life costs an
arm and a leg. Shoes carry you through
the day like a princess, even when you
feel like shit!
101

18. FaShion
School
ofVol. IV:
Fashion
Maison
Martin
Margiela
All photos were taken by
Charli Lung at the Maison
Martin Margiela show in Paris
for spring/summer 2012.
105

19. FaShion School
of Fashion
Since its launch in 1989, the
highly influential fashion house
has followed one rule, and one
rule only: Break every rule. Despite
its founder leaving some years ago
the label is still a powerhouse of
creative rebellion. When asked
to answer Ilikemystyle’s questions
in the ongoing series School of
Fashion,* the design team kindly
accepted—or so it seemed.
Whatever the message might be,
one thing is for sure: the mystery of
Martin Margiela remains untouched.
*previously taught by Luis Venegas, Dries van Noten, Rodarte
107

20. FaShion
wild
Palms
Nothing makes you feel more
naked than the gaze of a fortune
teller into the lines of your hands.
A slightly supersticious accessory
story, Berlin-based sorceress
Patricia Woerler-Horzon
(username: Patricia21) deciphers
what these hands reveal.
photography: Alex
John Beck (username: ajb)
styling: Avena
Gallagher
concept: James
Valeri Amdanda King jv)
styling assistant:
(username:
manicurist: Kelly B. @ Defacto for KISS
Preston wears jacket with pearl
beading and pinstripes by Thom
Browne, ebony signet ring with
large white mabe pearl (on left
hand) by Patricia von Musulin,
pearl and gold ring by Ambergris
(on right). Rosalie wears pink
lam and black cotton cowl-neck
dresses by Electric Feathers,
black resin and rhinestone
camellia cuff by Chanel, and her
own diamond ring.
117

21. FaShion wilD
PAlms
Amanda wears elongated
lady ring in brass by Arielle
de Pinto, a gold watch by
Salvatore Ferragamo and a
pink resin bracelet and ring,
both by Dinosaur Design.
You are a friendly person
with a sunny disposition. Your
health is stable because you
receive love and support from
your community, and will for
the rest of your life. There is a
strong indication for substan-
tial wealth and professional
success on the horizon. You
reach your goals easily, but
you know that you can only
count on yourself. You know
that relying on luck gets you
nowhere, and that only your
capabilities count. You do not
necessarily seek self-expres-
sion in your career, but you do
in other areas. You’re willful
at times and very reliable.
Bailey wears (left to
right) 24-karat gold and
enamel ring by Jen Kao;
double-finger ring, and all
following rings made of maple-
wood and deer antler by Sticks
and Stones; all painted ceramic
bracelets by Jordan Aiello,
silicone BRB bracelet by Gerlan
Jeans, white G-Shock Baby-G
G8900 by Casio, and off-white
cuff by Alexis Bittar.
You have an unpredictable
temperament, even moody. You
have a lot of imagination and
strong vision. You are driven
by your brain and prefer facts
over feelings, but will excel in
the arts. You’re seeking stable
relationships based on strong
intellectual exchange. You occa-
sionally drift into daydreaming.
121

22. StOries
I’m Every
Woman *
Introducing Olga IwogO
(username: MissO) from Paris, a girl
with multiple faces and outfits, yet
a single desire: to express herself
though art. That means costume
changes, lots of props, and an
occasional culinary performance
with rainbow horses. Meet Olga
Iwogo, Cindy Sherman’s fierce baby
sister. A self-portrait ghost-written
by Nika Scheidemandel
photo and styling by Jonathan Icher
(username: JoIcher) and make-up by
(username: nikabianca) from Cadiz.
Anastasia Make Up Pro. Olga wears
epaulettes by Pauline Peyronnel *this headline might seem a little random. But it is a tribute to Whitney Houston.
131

23. StOries StOries
I’m Olga. The talented, innovative, eccentric, and crazy Olga—though if you met me as a child,
you’d think I was boring. My parents are from Gabon, and I was born in Paris, where I grew up in
St. Germain with a grey cat named Gribouille and a black dog named Ralph. I was ugly—it was the
rather large teeth—and extremely shy. I was the only black kid at school (more on this later), and it
was horrible. My break came when I was 8, visiting my Uncle Gaston, a painter, philosopher, and
a great man. I became fascinated by one of his paintings—it was of a pregnant black cat sitting on
a chair. Looking back, I’d say that was what triggered my early obsession and foray into drawing
and painting.
I became fascinated and began to study art. At first the Surrealism, then sculpture, art history,
applied arts, performance art, modern art, and advertising. I studied and then I started making. In the
beginning I painted like a cursed artist, like life was very difficult and complicated, and I wanted to
find solace in art. Very pretentious. I haven’t completely changed my mind about it, but I’ve moved
away from painting, into video and performance art, branching out in many artistic directions.
I’ve exhibited paintings and drawings, done radio and TV work, and done performances.
Lately, I’ve been writing films and collaborating on projects with other artists, some friends, others
not, and sometimes just for fun. Art is what I know. In the morning, when I wake up, and at night,
when I lie down—even in the middle of the night—I think about making art. Life without it would
be boring and impossible to imagine.
Because of this, I could never love someone who doesn’t like my work. It’s a part of me,
like my soul, and my body, and my tattoos. Of course, sometimes I hate my art because making
it is anything but simple, and the path of a project—bringing it to completion—can be extremely
difficult. Then again, it’s always worth it. Making things happen is a natural extension of myself.
That’s what I like to think.
I surround myself with artists, filmmakers, actors, bands, fashion designers, painters, sound
designers, filmmakers, dancers, and performers. I love art movies, those small French films nobody
has heard of, and especially Gregg Araki’s work. It’s so pop art: surreal, decadent, disturbing, funny,
colorful, and insane. I want to live it. A friend from Spain asked me today about some crazy photos
I had posted on Facebook, wanting to know if I actually went shopping nude, wearing weird masks.
photo by Jonathan Icher
styling by Laurence Camacho
make-up by Julien Jaunasse
137

24. StOries
Citizen
Can
There is new hope in the spectacularly
rundown megapolis. Achille
Bianchi (username: achille) is a Detroit
thoroughbred. Together with
Jonathan Ryan Rajewski
(username: jonathanr) and photographer
Karpov The Wrecked Train,
he interviewed friends, acquaintances,
and other locals to end the lame recession
narrative and write an ode to Detroit.
The view from Broderick
Tower, down Woodward
Avenue. Canada is on the
other side of the Detroit River.
143

25. Citizen
Can
Ivan Gamboa, musician, poet, artist
I work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The city has really offered me a lot in
the last year: lots of new friends, a great job, new perspectives, and good times. I have
been really lucky to get so deeply involved in the arts here. I’ve been getting my hands
into music, painting, and poetry in ways I never imagined possible. When I lived in Los
Angeles, everything seemed slightly out of reach; things were already happening and I
was just a spectator. I try to look slightly professional for work. Otherwise, I like wearing
beat-up, torn, and stained clothing. northendstudiosdetroit.com
“I see a lot of women who’ve
been here for a while.
These ladies are badass.
I think they’re amazing.”
Lindsay Sebold, works at MOCAD
Larita Triplett, server, guitarist, fashion blogger
I work as a server, practice my guitar, go to local shows, and hit the streets in search of
people to profile for my fashion blog. I like being busy. This week has been crazy: meet-
ings, appointments, packing, moving out of my place, moving into my new place, helping
organize an event, practice and rehearsal, and performing two shows (my own acoustic set
& backup for Housephone at the Metro Times Blowout). Whoa! I do wish there was more
style and originality in Detroit, but the fashion that I have seen here is amazing. There is
fashion here, it’s just not every which way you turn, like in a larger city such as Chicago.
It’s part of Detroit’s underground, gritty appeal. thislovenote.blogspot.com
147

26. Citizen
Can
Rob Smith, musician, carpenter
Well, my roommate and I built this place which is why it’s different than other
places. [The heating pipes are] loud as fuck down here. Dude, if you’re watch-
ing something super-baked, you just hear CLANG! And it will scare the shit out
of you. It can be so loud. I’m like, “What the fuck is going on?” There are other
problems here though. There’s the green pipe that goes through my roommate’s
room and whenever it rains it starts to leak. One time it flooded our whole place
because we weren’t here. We walked in and the floor was all shiny … It ruined
some stuff, some records on the floor—it sucked. There’s nothing that can be
done afterwards, so what are you going to do? I do floors mostly. Carpentry
—mainly floors. It’s my specialty. I also do concrete countertops. More fancy
high-end stuff when it comes to countertops: it’s the highest turnover rate for
In the ‘90s I used to materials and the money. I just scored another flooring gig in East Village—some
press my hair in a dude hooked me up. I was like, “Cha-ching!” Mainly what I like to do is music
mop top. That was
my jam for a minute. —hence all this shit in here. I’m doing a band called Dark Red and I do another
band called Feif. The girl from that band Jill is coming over; we’re going to work
on some harmonies. It’s the first time I’ve been in a band with male and female
harmonies—basically it’s matching your vowels, that’s harmonizing. We’ll play
something at MOCAD or something. It’s like Fleetwood Mac; it’s weird shit.
We’re kicking around some different ideas, trying to come up with a slow way
to do “Boys Don’t Cry” and have her sing it and call it “Girls Don’t Cry.” I liked
the mod thing in the mid ‘90s: three-button suits. I used to press my hair in a
mop top. I have some pictures of that. That was my jam for a minute. “This is
kind of awesome.” I started dressing like I did when I was little, and it worked
out. My dad was a pretty hip dude, he dressed tight and I just remember things—
like when I skated, I’d always wear big clothes and stuff—and my dad was like,
“Why don’t you wear clothes that fit? If you’re not doing anything athletic why
are you wearing tennis shoes?” Things like that. That’s when I started wear-
ing boots and stuff like that. It’s the truth…to press your hair all the time is a
big pain in the ass, and I remembered being on tour for two months when I was
in Paik—you can’t maintain that shit on the road if you don’t have your own
bathroom. I let all the chemicals wash out and I picked my hair out and people
were like, “Holy shit!” Turns out everyone loves afros—because of the size or
whatever, people just like afros. Especially old black dudes. They’re like, “I used
to have my hair just like that!” I’m like, “Thanks man!” I just started rocking an
afro. My dad was a cool dude – he’s a painter. I think style in Detroit is awe-
some. We have some of the best-dressed kids anywhere. An ex-girlfriend of mine
was up for the summer, and she lives in Frisco, and she came and said, “I totally
forgot what a unique hipster thing Detroit is.” So many kids get it half right.
Even in New York.
159

27. StOries
Brazilliant
Cultural critic Suleman Anaya
(username: vertiz136) went to Fashion
Rio in January this year. Eschewing
runway shows, private dinners,
and parties he hit the street and the
beach to find people who are gifted
with talent, enthusiasm, and sheer
hotness. Here are his Rio favorites.
photography: Rosario Morabito
(username: mrmorabito)
Junior, 20, future stuntman
Junior works as a waiter at Fashion Rio and
couldn’t care less about the scene. His ele-
ment is the beach, where pullups on a city bus
stop is his daily routine. Junior doesn’t speak
any English, or know much about US pop-
culture, but he does know who Oprah is and
dreams of becoming a stuntman.
169

28. StOries BraZilliant
Nicholas, 22, model from Chile
Nicholas ended up at Fashion Rio because a
girl on the beach liked him and left an invita-
tion to a show for him at her hotel reception
desk. He used to be a flamenco dancer before
he gave it up to become a model. From his
dancing years he retained a discipline that’s
borderline manic: he wakes up at 5 A.M. every-
day to meditate, practice Ashtanga yoga, and
Rafa Borges, 25, photographer train for endurance. He has a thing for classic
Rafa Borges didn’t have much to say, Russian literature too, and his favorite book
other than that he’s a photographer from is Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita, a
Belo Horizonte. critique of Muscovite society of the 1930s.
171

29. StOries
who
i am
and how
many
For SARAH HESS (username:
Lordhenri) home is outside and
ideally by the ocean, so what
better stage for this New York
actress to try on her many
characters than Far Rockaway?
With photographer KATHARINA
POBLOTZKI Sara writes her
story in six wildly different acts.
Sarah wears golden swim-
suit by American Apparel,
pants by Sparkle & Fade,
vintage bolero, and shoes
by Jeffrey Campbell.
179

30. StOries who i am
and how many
One stays at home and doesn’t need much else. Home is anywhere—ideally out-
side, by the ocean or in a forest, and hopefully warm. One does yoga to seek quiet,
goes running to seek calm, and swims just to contemplate. One draws for clar-
ity, hems her skirts shorter to practice self-love. One loves to study and read, and
wishes to speak every language. One calls another One on the phone because she
is her good friend. She is doing exactly what she loves: is an artist, is successful, is
good at being alone, and therefore One admires her.
Oh Two, you little party animal. Were you the last girl standing at the club
again this morning? Did you move to a new country again? Did you dance in the
middle of the restaurant? Did you laugh on the subway when everyone else knew
to be quiet at 7 A.M.? You have no boundaries, Two—physical nor personal. A real
fence-jumper, you are!
Two can be hell if you are afraid, but don’t be! Two is a rollercoaster, and
people pay good money to ride those. Take Two out to karaoke. Watch as Two
disappears and you can’t find her for weeks. Two makes animal noises when she
walks. Two is excitable. Two eats like an orphan, licks the bowl clean. Two isn’t the
best driver, but will take the radio’s reins if you let her ride shotgun.
Three can’t decide which hat to wear today. Her collection surpasses 100,
and she lives for the fantasy of being whomever she wants. Three knows which
skirt she’ll wear though: the same one she always does!
Four looks in the bathroom mirror, and sees a Chuck Close painting staring
back at her. Pretending she has something in her teeth, she leans in closer inspecting
each frame. There is an actor’s headshot, a sewing machine, a martini on a tray (up,
with a twist). Behind each face is a story. There is the a salesgirl at the Gap. She
helps a man choose a Christmas sweater for his wife, but clearly cares more about
the chocolate chip cookie sandwich waiting for her lunch break than what color
sweater any woman who’d marry this man would want. The man will later go to jail
for embezzlement—he’s the first of many white-collar criminals she’ll meet. There
is the receptionist at a Japanese salon. Twirling her orange hair, she moshi-moshi’s
into the phone, trying not to giggle at the anguished scream erupting from the wax-
ing room. Too busy checking out the Belgian cycling team that just walked through
the door is the bartender who spills beer on the counter of a Dutch youth hostel,
while, somewhere in North Carolina, a pet store clerk steals the most expensive
dog food she can find from her anti-Semitic boss. A video store employee, barely
legal, checks-in the Chicks with Dicks DVD for the third time that week, but it will
take her years to understand the video’s psychosexual appeal. A radio station DJ
Sarah wears mermaid
dress by California
Costume Collections.
185

31. KUltur
kriTik
Yasmine
Hamdan Paris-based musician
Yasmine Hamdan
couldn’t care less if
Tamil M.I.A. hijacks an
Arab aesthetic in pop.
The energetic firecracker-
on-legs coos in her Beiruti
mother tongue instead of
English. Insh’Allah, her
upcoming album with
Nouvelle Vague’s producer
Marc Collin, will make
us find a way to sing along.
interview:
Michael Ladner
(username: appolinaris)
photography:
Adrian Crispin
styling:
Ann-Kathrin
Obermeyer
Yasmine wears knitted sweater by Stella McCartney, flame sandals by Prada,
necklace by Ca & Lou, and stockings by Falke.
191

32. KUltur Yasmine
kriTik Hamdan
Michael Ladner: Tell me about the new album. It’s the first album since Arabology?
Yasmine Hamdan: Yes, Arabology came out in 2009. While promoting that album I met dif-
ferent artists and, eventually, a year ago, I found two people I wanted to collaborate with:
Marc [Collin] and the guitarist Kevin [Seddiki]. I wanted this project to be song-centered; I
wanted the instrumental to surround the lyrics, and the melodies, and the voice, and to give
me the space to be in the center.
What’s it called?
It’s under my name; it’s called Yasmine Hamdan.
How did you originally get into music?
In school in Beirut I started singing rock music. I was in love with artists like Nick Cave and
PJ Harvey at that time, and then I discovered Björk and Radiohead and stuff like that...Nina
Simone… At first I was into singing in English, but then I started listening to very old Arabic
music. At that time, old recordings were rare, and I immediately fell in love with one singer,
Asmahan. In a way, this started my career because it made me want to become a singer, an
Arabic singer, but to do Arabic music in an indie, alternative way.
Then what happened?
I initiated a project with my musical partner, Zeid Hamdan, a friend [not a relative]. We
formed the underground band Soap Kills and started touring in the region and in Europe. It
was all very thrilling because we were a pioneer band, in a way. We were doing a new sound.
There had never been any space or structure for independent, or alternative, or underground
Arabic music, so we had to do a lot of funky events, play concerts in weird places—in
churches, in old houses. We used to do a lot of on-the-spot events in bars in Damascus or
Jordan. There was a different energy at that time. We’re talking ’98 and Beirut was still very
tired after sixteen years of war. Half of it was still destroyed. Now it’s more of a sexy city;
everyone wants to go there. But then there was still an underground-ish vibe. There was a
feeling that there’s space for things to be done. There was a feeling of change in the air.
Soap Kills has more of an indie sound, and YAS sounds more electro. What’s the sound of the new album?
I think it’s in the middle. There are two tendencies: one is electro, where we used vintage
synthesizers, and then there are more folky songs, or ballads. There is also this ethnic, but
decontextualized sound. You know the band Cocteau Twins? With the singer, you could
never tell if she was singing in English, Arabic, Indian, or what. I use Arabic the same way. I
don’t care very much about localizing. After YAS, I wanted to come back to something more
roots, and create a sound that revolved around the voice, something that resembles me. YAS
was a collaboration with Mirwais [Ahmadzaï] and he was driving the whole project, so my
role in it was very contextual. With this project, I’m the one driving it.
How did you pick the songs?
I tried to have a balance and I picked the songs very carefully. Some songs are in Egyptian
dialect, some in Lebanese, some Kuwaiti, a little bit of Palestinian. It makes an incredible
difference if you say the word with one accent or the other. The dynamic of the word and the
way it interacts with the melody is completely different. So, according to where I wanted to
go, I would choose which dialect would work with the melody.
The album is definitely vocally driven.
Yasmine wears dress by Stella McCartney, bracelet by Elise Dray, and stockings by Falke.
195

33. KUltur
kriTik
clOSe-
upS Aesthetic authorities from
around the globe cast a
sharp eye on ilikemystyle.net ’s
sparkling fashion diaspora.
Are you into feet?
by Francesco Vezzoli
Dear Maxx,
Thank you so much for sending your pic.
You seem to be a fan of Grace Jones, a Nan Goldin “collector,” and a BUTT reader. You must
be a well-read and well-traveled guy. Your left eyebrow, when raised in that mildly arrogant way,
is very endearing; and those calves that are gently beginning to show from under your tight jeans
are certainly quite arousing. Unfortunately, none of this is telling me anything about your sexual
preferences or fetishes. Are you a top? A bottom? Are you into feet? Sneakers? Rubber? Leather?
Bondage? Watersports?
I’m not a time waster and certainly do not want to waste yours, so forgive me if, before send-
ing my own picture, I would like to know a little bit more about what you’re into.
maXx Berlin
from Yours, FV
Francesco Vezzoli is an artist who works with different media. He has collaborated with Veruschka
von Lehndorff, Natalie Portman, Roman Polanski, and Miuccia Prada, among many others.
201

34. KUltur
kriTik
Nika at age 19 at a disco
bar on Rhodos, Greece.
opposite page: Adriano
at age 28, shot by Ralph
Mecke and styled by
Klaus Stockhausen
Is good
Taste a
bad Habit?
Nika Scheidemandel (username:
nikabianca) from Cadiz and Adriano
Sack (username: adriano) from New
York discuss stylistic hits and misses
during childhood, adolescence,
and whatever people say comes after
(growing up? having children?
behaving?). Talking points: the
soothing effect of knitting, General
Franco, girls as boys and vice versa,
and a baby giraffe on a dress.
215

35. KUltur Is good
kriTik Taste a
bad Habit?
Nika jumping out of a
cardboard cake celebrat-
ing her 23rd birthday
I’ve known Nika more or less all my life, which means I was 25 when we met. Everything before
that was a mess. We spent days at the pool and nights inebriated together (no sex, no fights). We
share a lot of friends, yet we never really were close friends. Once in a while, we catch up—at a
birthday party in Ibiza (mine) or with a beautiful little girl named Carlotta (hers)—but somehow
there is always too much to do and too many people around to ever talk in-depth and at-length.
When the idea came up to discuss fashion sins though, Nika seemed like the perfect partner: witty,
smart and absolutely not afraid to deliver punchlines, confessions, and odd observations. We chat-
ted on a rather busy Friday—Carlotta was sick and I had various deadlines to juggle. Yet gabbing
back and forth with Nika, it seemed like an early summer evening with lots of vino rosado in the
south of Spain. Animated, a trifle melancholic and, in a funny way, full of hope.
Adriano: Let’s start super stupid. What is the first article of clothing you remember and why?
Nika: My first piece of clothing was a blanket that I used to call “blanket.” I refused to let any
other garment on my naked body. It was baby blue and yellow and I still slept with it (naked)
when I was 22 years old.
Adriano: Where is it now?
Nika: It got lost on an airplane one day, and I had terrible withdrawals. I could not sleep for a week
and had the shivers... no kiddin’! I still dream of it.
Adriano: Was it made of cotton? Does your daughter Carlotta have anything equally crucial to
her well-being in terms of wardrobe? And how did you replace “blanket” (what was the Ger-
man word or did you grow up speaking English?)?
Nika: I grew up in Florida. That’s why it was called “blanket.”
Adriano: Does one actually need a blanket in Florida? It’s so hot and humid, even in December
as far as I remember from my visits to Art Basel Miami. And did you have an alligator pet
toy?
Nika: No, Carlotta does not experience this attachment to one piece of clothing—but I guess par-
ents today are able to give more love. And yes it was hot, but I put it in the refrigerator—kind “I had a lot of
of sick, I know... In any case, it was acrylic for sure. drindls in Florida.
Adriano: Acrylic for a German girl? Are you kidding?
Nika: No! And as for the alligator, I had a real turtle, one of the huge ones, in the swimming pool. A Bavarian look
My favorite dress was orange with a yellow giraffe on it. I still have it —Carlotta wore it last for the beach”
year. And I had a lot of dirndls in Florida. A Bavarian look for the beach. Nika Scheidemandel
217

36. Back
Stage
Vivienne is my queen but this is way
The Fashion of the sharpest tongues in its community. Writers, critics,
Ilikemystyle recruited some
Critics too explicit. I also love crap but I don’t
need my clutch doing the talking.
and designers loved, loathed, and laughed at this Spring Summer season’s runways. username: RIPyourself
If you can’t keep your mouth shut about fashion’s fantastic blunders, and terrible
successes, sharpen your pencils for next issue’s backstage. I don’t like crap, but I like the bag.
username: olrik
Eka Yu (username: Olrik Kleiner
eka) from Shang- (username: olrik)
hai is the Creative from Berlin is an
Director of Modern executive producer
Weekly China and for commercial
produces art projects films. His walk-in
for artists such as closet is the size
Wolfgang Tillmans of an NYC two-
and Michael Lin. bedroom.
Joachim Perret Schaad
Bessing (user- (username: perret-
name: jbessing) schaad) is a Berlin-
is a writer. He based fashion label
lives in Berlin. founded in 2009 by
Johanna Perret and Can she read?
Tutia Schaad. Their Does she speak English?
style has oft been username: clark
described as neo-
minimalist.
Emily Segal, Martin Cho,
username: username: bucnam
RIPyourself from from New York is
New York is a a designer working
cultural critic. for Marc Jacobs in
She works for New York.
Wolff Olins
in brand
development.
Clark Parkin Kathrin Bierling
(username: clark) (username:
from Jachenau, TanteMJ) from
writes about fashion, Munich is a fashion
food, and wine. journalist (How
Occasionally, he to Spend It;
goes Nordic skiing Fivetonine; and
in the Bavarian InStyle) and blogs
valley, where he re- as modejournalistin
sides with his wife. at modepilot.com
Karo Brandi
(username: karo) is
a freelance fashion
illustrator and stylist
based in New York.
Vivienne Westwood
227

37. Jil Sander Alexander McQueen
Releases a stream of confusing and uneasy associations in me:
Taking sleek to its absurd spider webs, camembert, butterflies’ chrysalides, and, well, unfortunately
the designer himself at the very last stage. But that’s just me.
conclusion. I love anything in plastic username: jbessing
shrink-wrap: amazing.
username: RIPyourself
Wow! Madness gone elegant.
username: eka
Great on skinny people with wet hair, hence not on me. I become my own dream, I am mysterious and live in a trunk in my
username: olrik grandmother’s attic. I am spider web and wedding gown, dusty and beautiful.
username: karo
The PVC fourth sex!! Raf observes and portrays the restless territory
of adolescent extremes. The way he decontextualizes complex Below the waistline comes 2012’s most popular detail.
constellations of meaning sparks a series of emotional fires in me. It’s getting even bigger in fall/winter, so invest in McQueen!
username: eka username: TanteMJ
231

38. Back
Stage
The only way to drown in this suit
is at the pool bar.
username: olrik
Oooh dirty, naughty Lolita!
username: eka
The Prada proposal of a time-traveling ’60s housewife is, from head
to crotch, a collage of feral sweetheart: the sweaty, fugitive, post-coital
bangs that scream Long Island Railroad southbound coupling;
the 20s swimsuit under Good Christian Belles floral daywear,
all jazzed up in Sour Patch colors and an indecent number of beads.
Miuccia is giving Rei Kawakubo a toe-to-toe run for lording my world!
username: bucnam
What a great party outfit!
Just take grannie’s old bathing suit,
add some baubles, and off you go!
username: clark
Prada
243

39. KUltur
kriTik
Remember
where
you lost it
For NY Fashion Week Ilikemystyle
and the Tribeca Grand Hotel teamed up
Matthew Mazur and
Ilikemystyle host Cyril
for the “This Is New York” party.
Duval. more on page 248 photography: Bailey Rebecca Roberts (username: baileyrebecca)
245

40. KUltur
KUltur Remember
kriTik
kriTik where
YOu LOSt it
“I drank water
and sucked on ice”.
Luisa Opaleski
more on page 249
247

41. KUltur Remember
kriTik where
YOu LOSt it
only ever champagne
and dirty martinis
by Candice Lake from London
Who? From? Candice Lake from Australia. I live in London.
What/who made you come here? This party is one of my favorites during fashion
month. Also, I’m the host, so lots of friends were coming.
Most important people? Tommy Saleh, for always making our party dreams come
true. Also, Tommy put on my first NY exhibition here six months ago, so I have
lots of respect for him for believing in my work.
Topics? The “Shit Fashion Girls Say...at NYFW!” parody, because EVERY line is
true, and everyone here has used at least one of those lines sometime this week.
What are you wearing? Rue du Mail fur coat, Topshop jumper and skirt, Preen
heels, lots of mascara to distract from my tired, red eyes, and Tom Ford Black
Orchid perfume to distract from my lack of sleep.
Best outfit besides your own? Bryanboy. Fur-tastic and always super fabulous.
Worst wardrobe? I spotted no malfunctions in the building tonight. I did see some
suspect getups along Canal Street though.
What was special? I’m at a party in my favorite NY hotel, hosting it with some
great friends. Pretty amazing.
Sound track of the night? “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Actually, anything by
Gotye. I love him, and he’s Australian, so I love him more.
Other people? I know all the hosts: Rumi, Susie, Tommy, Phil and Bryan, because
we see each other so much during fashion month. Also, my awesome best friends
who live in NY, whom I rarely see since I left and moved to London.
Transportation (how did you get here and away)? I walked out of my room, got in the
elevator, and rode down to the party. Best form of transportation, EVER.
Drink/Stimulation? Champagne. Only ever champagne and dirty martinis.
Highlight? Taking over the photo booth downstairs with Peony Lim.
Who was missing? Bo Diddley. Because I love him and always want to dance to
Diddley’s music.
Sex? No action that night; my love was on the other side of world.
Sleep? My thoughts at 3:30 A.M.: “Oh shit. I have to get up in three hours. Where
are my melatonin pills?”
253