The Daily Beast: Will.i.am, Fashion Designer?

For Newsweek/The Daily Beast, I wrote about Will.i.am's collaboration with Japanese designer, Rynshu. From my article, "The singer met Masatomo Yamaji, the designer of the Japanese brand Rynshu, after filming the music video for “Can’t Get Enough” in Tokyo in March 2011, when he stumbled into the shop with a few of his band members. Captivated by the clothes, Will.i.am requested an on-the-spot meeting with the designer. Instantly, the pair hit it off—so much so that four months later Will.i.am walked in Rynshu’s June 2011 runway show in Paris. “I attended a number of shows, and this is the one show where I was inspired to walk the runway because of the outfit Rynshu created for me to wear,” Will.i.am told The Daily Beast by phone. “Rynshu is the coolest Japanese guy I’ve ever met. He’s an amazingly talented designer.” That first encounter has flourished into a fruitful (and barely publicized) fashion collaboration between the two men, which is now in its third season."

Life Lessons in Leopard

With perfectly parted hair, Lanvin shades and a leopard-print shirt, Peter Davis and I sat down to have lunch at The John Dory Oyster Bar in the ACE Hotel some years ago for our first meeting. Over shellfish, Peter taught me the importance of dayglo accessories, the significance of Supreme (The brand) and the severity of being the "nice guy" always. At this moment, if he liked it or not, he became my mentor. Mr. Davis is the Editor-in-Chief of SCENE Magazine, a graffiti-guru, stylish storyteller and maharajah of the outcasts. He's undoubtedly the most interesting person I've ever met-- I'm lucky to call him a friend. Follow Peter on Twitter for his colorful, kind and sporadic thoughts of genius. 

The Accidental Executive

Working in fashion, you meet the most supremely dressed and elegant women. I'm lucky. But, the pretty is kind of repetitive-- a trifecta of trust funds, marching Manolos and lunching ladies. My girl-crush and friend, Shannon Fitzgerald keeps me bewitched with her anarchy-approach to style, and well, life in general. Shannon has insane taste. I'll never forget the time we were walking out of Lincoln Center during fashion week; she was wearing this caveman-like fur coat, skin-tight leather pants and a brightly colored Mexican craft bag. Shannon kept it real as we air kissed with Elle Magazine's editor-in-chief and in the same moment, she would compliment outfits of no-name bloggers and wannabes-- treating the two types alike. A brain-in-Balmain, Shannon is an executive at MTV who can dish the best life/industry advice by way of her blog, The Accidental Executive and Twitter. Follow and worship.

New Adventures at Newsweek

For my first post on Newsweek/The Daily Beast, I reported on Cathy Horyn's assumption that Alexander Wang was to fulfill a position at Balenciaga. How will the design-dialogue of Wang’s opulent-oppidan aesthetic conflict with the luxury conversation of the 98 year old brand Balenciaga? For now, I don't care. The result of filing that story at 2:15 am has given me serious zombie-eyes. I'm thrilled to be working with the ultra-talented Robin Givhan and the staff at Newsweek/The Daily Beast.

(Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) 

A Ranting Reunion

Sitting across from me, wearing all black and juggling a cigarette between sips of coffee, Ryan Karner and I discussed the fading fun of his new town, L.A. To most, Ryan is a complete freak; his way of dress mimics that of a grunge-gypsy a la Marc Jacobs (via 1990's), his topics of conversation would suggest he's a drug addicted time-traveler, but I would have him no other way. For our bi-yearly reunion, we met at our favorite spot, Liberty Market in Gilbert Arizona. The coffee is supreme and the customers are conservative; just the kind of setting Ryan and I like to inhabit-- we're obvious outsiders. Ryan continues his rant on L.A "It's all a about superficial presentation and everyone acts like someone, which is a pile of vomit". It wasn't what Ryan was saying during our visit last week, but how he was saying it-- a whirlwind of waving arms and cig-smoke. Dramatic.

Productivity Cavity: A New Platform

Alas, I've discovered another cavity of productivity. Though direction is still to be decided, I'm thinking this blog will be a personal page of rants, raves and an online scattering of my stories. For those who don't know me, I'm a fashion journalist. I write for the New York Times, Newsweek/The Daily Beast and the Financial Times. In addition, I'm a  contributing editor at the New York Observer's SCENE Magazine. If you're not one for words and prefer pixels, check out my Tumblr page. Also, I'm on Twitter. 
(Sean Redahan's illustration of me)