Nothing to do? Why not meet someone at the MET. Catch The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, closing August 9th. It examines the changing ideal of beauty from 1947 to 1997 and the people that helped project them. This riveting exibit features photography, video and articles of clothing from Yves Saint Laurent to Versace. Go on a sunny day to see Roxy Paine on the Roof:Maelstrom, a 130 foot by 45 foot stainless steel sculpture that looks like a tree on steroids. Ok maybe not exactly. There’s plenty else to see including Michelangelo’s First Painting. If none of this tickles your fancy, feel free to pout in the room full of Monets’. I mean, really, how many brillant works can you have in one building? … I guess that’s why they put one of the roof.

Here are a few photos of The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, courtesy of the special exhibitions page.

Cristobal Balenciaga (French, b. Spain 1895-1972)
Day dress, 1955-56

Gianni Versace (Italian, b. 1946-1997)
Evening dress, spring/summer 1991

Bert Stern (American, b. 1929)
Twiggy in Yves Saint Laurent, Vogue, March 15, 1967

Ok, I’ll cut to the chase. Mug shots are usually ugly. Seriously. No criminal says, “Hey I should definitely put on some more lip balm in case I get arrested tonight. Wouldn’t want a busted mug shot.” And the photographer certainly doesn’t care about capturing your good side… no pun intended, or the guilty twinkle in your eye. Too bad now-a-days mug shots don’t look like they use to. These next few, most likely taken by police photographers, look art gallery worthy when they were really just functional; full body and a head shot and into jail you go. Little did these old time criminals know they’d be plastered all over the internet…

Check out A Time to Get for more mug shots.

If a diva is the female version of a hustla then Marquita Loving, owner of Beauty MarQ, is one bad chick.  Housed in Baltimore, Beauty MarQ encompasses all aspects of fashion from make up to styling, and recently designing clothing. This self made fashion mogul is “making you pretty from head to toe” as her motto says. 

We met Marquita doing a recent blog for Cut & Sewn called “A Shopper’s Diary” and fell in love. So we caught up with her to find out a little more, here’s what she had to say.

Crystal: How and when did you first get started in the industry?
Marquita: I got started in the beauty/fashion industry by just loving Fashion. I love making people look pretty. I started doing hair professionally in 2005, makeup in 2007 and making clothes for others this year. Nevertheless, before going to school for it all, I always had the passion for it and the drive to become a fashion mogul.

With so many titles, how do you do it all?
It is not hard at all. I kind of juggle them all around. For one event, a client might need me to make them a dress and do their make up and so on. I think that you have to enjoy doing it all to make it work and I absolutely love to do it all, right down to the little details.

What were some obstacles you faced starting your own company?
One of the major obstacles I am facing even now is that I do not drive. It’s really crazy because most people my age drive everywhere I just chose not to. Other than that, everything else kind of flows together because I don’t need help from a financial provider for my business.

How would you personify a Beauty MarQ client?
A Beauty MarQ client is everyone. If you need my service, I am here to help. All ages.

How do you see your career progressing in the future?
In the future, I see my career expanding. Beauty MarQ is not just a business, it’s my brand. This company is everything that I am plus more. I see my clientele growing all over the world.

And finally in keeping with tradition, if you could write anything on a t-shirt, what would it be?
LOVE LIFE (heart) LIVE FASHION

Marquita doing what she does best.

Products of Beauty MarQ.

With nearly two million views to her YouTube page, Kina Grannis is scurrying up the ladder of musical success. There’s not much to it, Kina, her guitar and the lens of a Mac. But then there’s the amazing voice, original songs, and before you know it it’s been an hour since you started watching her videos. Maybe it’s the hypnotizing quality of her music or her eternally youthful face but either way you can’t ignore Kina’s talent dubbed the 32nd most subscribed to musician on YouTube.

Below are some of our favorites.

Can’t get enough? Check out Kina’s site

Banksy is an English artist more undercover than an FBI agent. Even his birth name is a mystery. And good luck on sending a birthday card; was it 1974? ‘75? … Is he real? This graffiti writing and stenciling talent focuses his work on satire, politics and culture. You may never be able to shake his hand but you’ll sure enjoy his unconventional work like anarchist rats and homicidal ATM machines. And if you happen to be in the U.K., check out his exhibit at Bristol Museum now until August 31st. Mystery man isn’t a penny squeezer either, you can see his crazy pieces for free.

Banksy vs Bristol

We would like to give a big THANKS to our good friends at Uncle Magazine  for helping us get hammered the right way!

Friday night at Public Assembly, formally known as Galapagos, (we all remember Cut & Sewn’s epic Everyone Wants a Piece Party) brought good vibes, good people and excellent exclusive reading material.

Sponsored by New Rome, the night kicked off right with mix-masters Indian Giver. There wasn’t a single booty in the crowd that wasn’t shaking. Using a Girl-Talk minded mix, they spun their own original flavor with a very energetic guitarist, drummer and singer. Singing along with Bono takes cajones. Here’s a video quicky if you’re curious and feel free to download their sweet album, Taking It All Back: The Mixtape Album.

Closing the night was DJ Swaaan. He rocked the house, we danced until bedtime aka when our motor skills began to shut down.

So why were we there anyway? To celebrate Uncle Magazine’s launch of Issue II . To read it in full, click here.
In only a matter of days will you be able to get your hands on a hard copy. We assume you don’t want to have to look long for it, so here’s an answer to the savenger hunt.

If that’s not enough for you, put on Indian Giver’s Mixtape, load up the photo album of the night, and let the slideshow begin.

For more stuff about the Uncle Empire, click here.

I met Janine Martel, the creator of Thumbook a few months ago. Not knowing if this was an undercover scheme, Janine pulled out a set of different colored stamp pads, asked me to smudge my thumb into the color of my choice, press it onto a page of her teeny tiny book, and draw a self portrait with her matching colored markers. As if my finger print couldn’t be more of a self-identifier, she had me write a quote or philosophy that I live by on the opposite page (see below).

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That picture comes from this manual we’ve uncovered to hack construction signs. We’re not suggesting you do this, very illegal, but if you do, please send in your photos. (VIA geekologie).

Over at Flavorwire, I found a list of words that should be stricken from the English language. Have some to add?

Intrigued by Circuit City’s Liquidation Sale? Don’t be, it sucks.