I generally have little interest in cars. My expertise in that matter stops after being able to distinguish between a SUV and hatchback, pick up truck and 4 door sedan. If given my powers of observation to rely on, after being asked what someone was driving I am apt to answer by color only, the “blue truck” or the “white car”. After that..I’m just not that connected to what one drives.

So it may shock you that I spend the day at the Peterson Automotive Museum and I fell in love with it. The museum, located on the Miracle Mile on Wilshire blvd in LA is a sweet reminder of days gone by. Being a big fan of the diorama, the Peterson really displays vehicles in settings that those cars would call home. It welcomes you to take a stroll down long gone roads in quaint towns near and far. Their collection encompasses examples of the wacky to the classic. From the outrageous to the undiscovered.

All aspects of the development of the automobile are represented here from how cars are modeled and sketched…

…to the crazy “what were they thinking” versions of alternative transportation….

…to the Matchbox Car exhibit and the alternative fuel vehicles from both past and present.

This museum is a great way to spend a day exploring automobiles and design. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a little adventure, perhaps even in an area that they might think isn’t their favorite. The Peterson has something for everyone, and at the end of the day I was left delighted, which happens to be my favorite way to find myself.

Words and photos by Barbie Brady

Below taken from the Peterson Automotive Museum website.

On June 11, 1994, Margie and Robert E. Petersen fulfilled a longtime dream when they became founding benefactors to start the Petersen Automotive Museum, donating $5 million to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. In April 2000, the Petersens contributed an additional $24.8 million dollars to the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum to retire the bond debt and establish the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation as an independent nonprofit organization. Overall, their gifts to the Petersen Automotive Museum total over $30 million. Today, the Petersen Automotive Museum stands as the nation’s premiere automotive museum, serving thousands of visitors each year.

 

For most of us, the day of the first Spring blossoms is one of the best days of the year. It signifies an end to the bone-chilling temperatures & incessant layering-up, & beckons with a finger full of promise. The end of dumpling-wear! Rejoice! 
With this, of course, come the questions. What can we expect to see ourselves in this season? After all, no matter how little you like fashion, what is in style dictates what is available for purchase. 
The recent Spring 2010 collections shown in Paris are the best indication of where the industry is at. So, where is it at?

Chanel
Karl Lagerfeld’s “neon baroque” collection for Chanel will surely be a huge influence. He has taken what was already mid-revival — say, studded footwear & oversized hair-bows — & simply done it better than everyone else. While most of us have just been wearing a big floppy bow on the side of our heads, he has made them ornate & frothy, & placed them smack in the middle of a heart-shaped bouffant. He has combined a high-heeled bootie with a studded platform (two huge trends in & of themselves), but made the shoe entirely silver with an extravagant heel & jewel-encrusted buckles. While Chanel’s immaculate & easily identifiable cuts are still there, they’re in frosting hues: pastel pink & sweet lavender, with glittery silver & shimmering grey-blue.  Just like a couture cupcake.

Valentino
Valentino went for candy colors too. From violet powder smudged around the eyes to multi-hued pink chiffon dresses, the collection described as “a Garden of Eden in cyberworld” was truly youthful, adventurous & chic. Influenced by Avatar & obviously following the scent of Rodarte’s recent tribal-infused style, Valentino’s new creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pier Paolo Piccioli are clearly looking towards a bright new future.

Armani
There was more silver over at Armani Privé. Influenced by the moon, Giorgio Armani said, “I always need a hook to get into a collection, & that was it — thinking about something romantic & dreamy, far away from our everyday life. Something less harsh.”  No recessionista chic here. From crescent moon-shaped belt buckles to delicious, scalloped jackets, Armani returned true to form doing what he does best — essential glamour.  His beautiful, long gowns were so perfect that you could practically see them on the red carpet — their obvious destination. 
How do these things add up to impact you & your wardrobe?  My vision is of bright eye make-up & very colorful dresses.  Tulip-shaped shorts, as seen at Karl Lagerfeld, might make it through, too. High heels & platforms, feminine to the hilt. Handbags will be bright, too — Balenciaga has already rolled out their their iconic City & Work bags in sorbet (hot pink), outremer (outrageously royal blue), palm tree (bright green) & sang (lipstick red). When it comes to silver, think psychedelic, futuristic & bold. It will be all over your accessories, so learn to love it! Finally, expect to see a lot of pastel — they’re going to be big. 
Donna Karan once said, “Pastel shades flatter any skin tone.  Let your personality be the color.” It’s a timely lesson for all of us. 
What do you envision yourself in once the temperature picks up? Will you embrace color or stick to your tried-&-true Summer uniform?

Words by Gala Darling, 
Photos courtesy of style.com

While they’re dubbed as an ‘indie electronica’ outfit, Hot Chip is (also like so many others) a conglomeration of several different beats and styles and techniques. Perhaps what’s most unique about them is their focus — mainly — is the variety of percussive tones here, many of which at first sound like something on a xylophone or a Casio keyboard. But forget the strictly drum-obsessed patterns and rhythms which so many electronica musicians focus on these days. Hot Chip eschews the hard-hitting electro beats or folkiness that so many indie artists focus on in exchange for something even more toned-down, perhaps even danceable, and also kind of just nutty (they’ve been known to conclude a concert now and then with a cover of Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”). Eclectic and exciting, it provides for a much more interesting, though subtle musical palette that is better heard for oneself that explained in a barrage of bad adjectives…see for yourself on Red Bull Music Academy Radio.

Once the curtains rose, the theater really came to life. From the rustling taffeta of evening and cocktail dresses to fun printed playsuits and rich satin, lace, and nylon lingerie, provided by reVamp Vintage, Ragg Mop, and  Threads in Time, the originals and replicas on display were just impeccable. Some pieces had even been previously worn on-screen by the likes of Jean Harlow, Ava Gardner and Ginger Rogers. Ten models flaunting the polished make up and elaborate hairstyles of the time strolled across the stage to the sound of live piano, pausing only to strike their foxiest pinup poses.

Visit The Art Deco Society of LA website to learn about preservation of beautiful spaces around town and to meet other deco-enthusiasts at vintage-inspired events. I just signed up for the mailing list myself.

Words and Photos by Zoetica Ebb

Annamarie von Firley of reVamp Vintage appears in image #26

 

Maybe you’ve heard of Patrick Douthit, also known in the Hip-Hop world as 9th Wonder. Maybe you’ve even met 9th Wonder, worked with 9th Wonder, or maybe you’re a long-time fan of 9th Wonder. If so, then you obviously know his catchphrase Oh the Pressure! whenever the heat is on again and it’s showtime.
Originally from North Carolina, 9th Wonder currently teaches a course called “Sampling Soul” at Duke University, which focuses specifically on music from the civil rights and black power movements. You might call him an enlightened social activist hip-hopper. He’s also one of those soulful cats who can come up with unique ways of intermingling his unique brand of music with a plethora of other genres. Also: He doesn’t consume beef or pork, but loves himself some turkey burgers.

On January 26th, Red Bull brought renowned hip hop producer 9th Wonder to Memphis to headline The Second Annual Plug in Memphis Music Expo at Minglewood Hall. The Plug In is designed to connect local musicians and music industry service providers together for one exciting and riveting event, and 9th Wonder’s participation in the Red Bull Experts Lounge provided upcoming artists and producers with one-on-one consultations and sage advice on how to navigate the music industry. Other professionals included were 8ball (8ball and MJG), Greg Lane of GMotion, the manager for India.Arie’s Reen Nalli, Marvin Stockwell, attorney Malcolm Futhey and Scott Bartlett of Saving Abel. Between all the talented industry pros in the room, artists were filled in on techniques and advice ranging from web design and publicity to artist management and internet radio.

Plug-In Memphis featured exhibit areas with booths representing all types of industry-related businesses — from merchandisers, entertainment lawyers, promoters and publicists to recording studios, engineers and retailers, as well as a songwriter’s showcase, and keynote addresses on crucial music industry topics.
9th Wonder began his career as the main producer of the group Little Brother and has gone on to work with such artists as Nas, Mary J. Blige, Jean Grae, Wale, Buckshot, Jay-Z, and Destiny’s Child. He soon found himself awakening artists to Memphis’ grass roots after spending the early part of his day at Stax Museum and Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music, aka Soulsville, prides itself on being the one and only Soul Museum in the world. Of course 9th was right at home and found himself totally emerged in the essence of the soul, especially when he had the chance to meet Al Bell, recording industry legend, Chairman of Stax Records and president of Motown Records. At Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios’ “Home of Memphis’ Sound”, Boo Mitchell (grandson of the late great Willie Mitchell) gave 9th Wonder the tour of the historic studio where artists such as Al Green recorded many hits.  After spending the day with so many legends, 9th Wonder had a lot of praise to give:

“…they had the same dreams and aspirations, that I have now except they had them in the 60’s, an era where blacks weren’t suppose to have a dream… the biggest thing to me about the whole experience is that they know and understand what we are trying to do as hip-hop producers… It’s a humbling experience.  I had to tell them- man we suck! To hear all the stuff he (Al Bell) spoke about that it took for them to record a song… And the thing about it is, I don’t think people realize what is still standing here in Memphis.  The music that came out of Stax makes them the Bad Boy of their time.  It’s crazy… I urge every hip hop producer in this generation to visit either Stax or Hitsville (Motown) and if you don’t then you’re not hitting on nothing.  It’s nothing like seeing where it came from and the inspiration.”

Now that’s Pressure.

Words by Nyah Nile, Photos by Lee Taylor

The unleashing of the Red Bull Music Academy Radio application for the iPhone has turned into quite the event — the iTunes Application Store editors in Europe are already touting it as the next big thing to download, so add that to the already burgeoning list of Red Bull-related apps available online. What’s impressive about the application itself (and what’s pleasing so many of its newest fans) isn’t so much its sleek design or user-friendliness so much as its wide array of music:  there’s hundreds of genres here, from the latest in hip-hop, to indie, to old fashioned rock n’ roll.

Then there’s the live interviews, and live performances by DJs and other musicians from all over the globe. This includes everything from Now all of this is all conveniently available on your iPhone, so it’s easy to browse through, whether by song, category, artist, music genre, whatever. It also streams concerts live as they happen, offers a full set of our personally-written biographies about the different artists. Also look for live sets by featured guest DJs, and updates on what your favorite artists are up to, with the opportunity to share what you’re looking at and listening to with your friends. What you’re looking at in this post are a few sneak peeks at what the iPhone app has to offer.

]]> http://www.chinashopmag.com/2010/02/the-red-bull-music-academy-radio-iphone-application-believe-the-hype/feed/ 0 http://www.chinashopmag.com/2010/02/street-style-round-up/ http://www.chinashopmag.com/2010/02/street-style-round-up/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:26:52 +0000 Gala Darling http://www.chinashopmag.com/?p=20342

From New York City’s Upper East Side all the way to Helsinki & even New Zealand, street style photography is big business. With an internet culture fixated on immediate updates from the world of fashion, snapping pictures of well-dressed “real people” is one of the fastest ways for a photographer to create a name for themselves. The Sartorialist is an internet phenomenon, & he’s not the only one. Tommy Ton of JAK & JIL recently shot teen blogging sensation Tavi for Vogue Paris, while Craig of Altamira regularly shoots for the Vogue franchise. With books published, advertising campaigns secured & a rabid online fan-base, it seems like photography skills & an eye for style is a sure route to success. 
But when it comes to really being inspired by street style, what are you most influenced by? The Sartorialist, Tommy Ton & Altamira all hang around outside fashion shows, shooting the cream of the crop — the men & women, editors & models who can afford (or are given) the very best in designer names. Most of us can’t afford that kind of luxury — so how much does what you see on those blogs really affect your day-to-day aesthetic?

Here are a few of our favorites:

Hel Looks was one of the originals, & it’s still going strong.

Vanessa Jackman is a relatively new street style blog, but all her subjects have great personality & a flirtatious style.

Drop Snap serves clothing compulsives with the very best of Japan.

Swagger 360 focusses mostly on men’s style, with lots of thoughts on what being a gentleman is all about!

Tricia Royal’s Wardrobe Remix group on Flickr is still one of the most realistic places to see what real women are wearing around the world.  With over 15,000 members contributing regularly, the diversity is fantastic.

Playlust’s Model Citizens showcases some of the most interesting looks from party-goers & underground style pioneers.

Advanced Style proves that style doesn’t have to disappear once you qualify for the early bird special!

Borderline brings together style from all over the world, using many different photographers.

Easy Fashion focusses on the fringe of Parisian chic.

Reykjavik Looks is a celebration of eclectic looks in Iceland.

Copenhagen Cycle Chic is the answer for anyone who ever wanted to know how to look stylish on a bicycle!

Trønderhunter showcases the excellent Scandinavian style in Trondheim, Norway.

The Catorialist is equal parts hilarious & genius.

Words by Gala Darling

Amanda Blank is, in her own words, a “Make It Take It Girl”– an artist who’s built an impressive resume on blood, sweat, and tears and already at the tender age of 22 (or maybe 23 — no one’s really sure). Already renowned for her work with Ghostface Killa, M.I.A., and being featured (as a lot of ChinaShop’s acts seem to be as of late) on C.S.I., Amanda Blank’s name has clearly made the rounds with a fair share of hip-hop artists. Maybe it’s this sort of lumping-in that’s earned her the reputation as a rapper, about as appropriate a label as death metal! Sure there’s hip-hop (amongst other things) in there, but through listening to her music one gets an even greater sense of Amanda’s extensive palette of musical styles, ranging from not only R&B and hip-hop, but to 80’s new wave, bubblegum pop, catchy dance tunes and more. Red Bull Music Academy has more on her ever-expanding, multi-generic sense of style.

Hudson Mohawke is a series of wandering blips, beeps and noises coming from a collection of turntables and synthesizers from the days of yore — from Casio to Korg, from what sounds like theme to Airwolf to an almost stream-of-consciousness solo on an old-school synth. It honestly could remind you of anything from the soundtrack to any old NES game or like deluge from an old Phil Collins-era Genesis track. It’s no surprise then that “The Hawke” sports the 80s logos and wrestlers of the old WWF on his myspace page — and it’s apparent this is what the guy loves to do, imagine a world that was and shall forever be permanently 80s. Every soundtrack from every Jean Claude Van Damme movie of the time, every one-hit wonder that filled the radio and airwaves of MTV, re-imagined with a hipper sound. Check out Red Bull Music Academy Radio for more.

A Rapture Party, San Francisco-style! And what better place for Armageddon to take place than Sugar Cafe, located at 679 Sutter Street, this time at 9 P.M. And of course, the usual rabid Little Sisters and Big Daddies, and a Rapturian cocktail party afterward. BioShock 2, drinking, and you. What else do you need?

http://twitter.com/BioShock2

http://www.facebook.com/2KGames

www.cultofrapture.com