Magazine Madness: Mary-Kate Olsen at allure December 2013

allure December 2013

Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986), also known as the Olsen Twins collectively, are American actresses and fashion designers. The sororal twins made their acting debut as infants playing Michelle Tanner on the television series Full House.

Charm the allure cover the second time, Mary-Kate and Ashley show up separately at allure December 2013 cover, share their beauty tips and talk about the turning point of their life to be designers. The sisters’ last cooperative movie project, New York Minute, was not, overall, considered a success, but still an enjoyable Hollywood YA comedy for a great laugh (I even own the DVD). For the allure interview, Mary-Kate is ‘wearing a crisp black blouse with bouffant sleeves from The Row; it is tucked into a pair of Earnest Sewn jeans, craftily ripped at the knees. A perilous pari of dark Manolo Blahnik heels lifts her three inches higher than Ashley. Mary-Kate’s hair falls loosely over a pair of pretty earrings from Croatia’ (Bachrach, 200).

The effortless style is what I adore of the Olsen twin. The sisters can always match with fast fashion and high-end, sometimes with vintage mix, to level the style to another represent. In Olsen Sisters: Fashion Style Book, it introduces their Boho style, ethnic one-piece, fur coat, maxi-length, leopard pattern, leather, tailored jacket, knit, shirt, cut & sewn, skinny pants, check shirt, stole, shoes, bag and sunglasses to analyse their dressing-up and down secrets. Over 350 pictures of Olsen sister’s chronicle fashion pictures, lately I consider even though owning rather low-intermediate Japanese reading ability, still, I would prefer continuously purchasing collection book rather than monthly magazine in the near future; since I would like to have my penny and inspiration, non-stop, without lousy advertisement, surprise at every page turn.

Photography & Works Cited:

Bachrach, Judy. ‘Doubling Down’. Allure December 2013. New York: Condé Nast Media Group, 2013.

Helsinki Late Night Shopping Event December 12, 2013: IVANAhelsinki & Piia Viitasen

From 19:00-20:00

In Helsinki, we are still waiting for the pure, thick, white snow! At IVANAhelsinki, the last Late Night Shopping Event of 2013, greets the goers with ginger cookies, hot glögi, salty popcorns, designed postcards, lovely staff, Christmas atmosphere, and of course, my favourite live music.

Downstairs, since IVANAhelsinki collaborating with Sony Plaza Japan, there are more kitchenware and daily goods to choose as Christmas gifts. Though usually brown is not my colour, the exotic print Russian Dolls (Maatuska-mummo) plastic cup is definitely going to be my cosmetics stand, perfect!! Cruising around the basement exhibition, darker dresses, wool cardigans and cotton scarves are the major characters, and the ‘blue corner’ portraits the slightly melancholic of Finnish December mood.

Upstairs, at 19:00 sharp, Piia Viitasen, red haired, pale and petit, with a bit shy cheeks, picks up the acoustic guitar and starts to sing. Her music decorates with folk genre, her voice is calm and sweet, without any hesitation. She has been in Nepal to learn how to speak what she wants from her mind by playing those strings; the silence and ‘boredom’ were exactly the reason to be at the country side of Katmandu. It turns out, at IVANAhelsinki, a deep and elegant echo cruising around.

Outside of the door, I hold my little black shopping bag, satisfied. Combining food, drinks, shopping, art and music is indeed a smart marketing idea and a great way to have as a pre-Christmas party. So, Hyvää joulua, and see you around next spring at shopping event, IVANAhelsinki!

Photography: Mindy Yuan

IVANAhelsinki

Uudenmaankatu, 15

00120, Helsinki,

Mon-Fri 11-19

Sat 11-16

Magazine Madness: ELLE UK November 2013, Natalie Portman by Tom Hiddleston

ELLE UK November 2013

What happens when one British hotshot interviews an Oscar winner? They talk sexism and punching faces, of course.

I adore the revision of ELLE UK since this February, the layout, the colours, the fashion campaign and the twitter mania, are the pleasure of visual satisfaction. Though, beyond my dissatisfaction of the cover girls presenting, from Rihanna to Cyrus, none of them being qualified enough for permanent collection value.

Fortunately, ELLE UK November issue exhibits this multi-profession heroine, she was a Lolita-like killer, a hear-broken lover, a sensual seducer, a cleaver scientist, a perfectionist ballerina or twice a Queen. Natalie Portman, both elegantly beautiful and brilliantly intellectual, interviewed by a God she punched so hard in Thor: The Dark World, at a Middle Eastern restaurant in California.

For the first few paragraphs, they are Tom Hiddleston’s monologue and memory: on his encountering with Natalie, on the shooting of Thor before Christmas, on how he got stuck in car for 3 hours in order to chat with this Oscar Best Actress and those abundant meals and drinks that Natalie ordered for him. Entering the Q&A sessions, we readers realise that Natalie’s admirable directors are Mike Nichols (Closer) and Terrence Malick; the enjoyment of being a mum; sexism, racism and ageism make her angry; Berlin, Madrid, Santa Fe and Tunisia are her unforgettable shooting locations, and of course, punching Tom in Thor is feeling so good.

Under the lens of Chinese photographer Feng Zhikai, Natalie Portman portraits Rodarte embroidered silk jumpsuit in rarely sexually, and not surprisingly, which, wins on the subscriber cover.

Photography: www.elle.uk

Helsinki Design District Market: November 23, 2013

At Mannerheimintie 3, November 23, 2013, 13:30-15:00

Joining Design District Helsinki on Facebook fanpage allows me getting the latest notification, besides, it’s still sunny and (a bit) warm at the end of November. Ciao, Mitä Kuuluu!Fashion Design Market!!  

Hosted by Design District Helsinki, the scale is not on abundant as Fashion Stock Sales in May, 2013, yet, it summons more home deco design owners/artists to exhibit and contact in public. Chatting with designer of 2OR+BYYAT, from his candlelight design to flight tickets on Chinese New Year holidays, I also check around the stalls and find Saana ja Oli fabrics fabulous. I really would like to try some wool accessories or cardigans to welcome the ‘who-knows-hell-chilly’ winter in December, but just realise this pair of rose-pattern mittens from ovvn on my hands would make me look like a bake-loving housewife. 

Attracted by some mini purses, either giving as gifts or collecting as my own pleasure a great investment, hence, I bought 2 Lumi leather coin purses and 1 miun mini satin bag(10e), whose layering hues are unique, chic and very vintage boutique look. After shopping I read some magazines at bookstore; surely, yet another great Saturday to spend in Helsinki.

Photography:Mindy Yuan

www.designdistrcit.fi      

Magazine Madness: Interview Scarlett Johansson on October 2013

Interview October 2013

Even appreciating her performances in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation and Joss Wehdon’s The Avengers, I seldom collect magazines featuring Scarlett Johansson at front cover, until Interview October 2013 issue. Shot by professional Patrick Demarchelier, Scarlett’s cat eyes are gazing firmly, full lips are alluring sensually and her curly hair is falling downward, elegantly. By adapting black-white and metal-brown hues, the close-ups sexually exhibit Dolce & Gabbana bodysuits. Especially the third picture, which shows the use of light-dark of palm tree shadows creating the spotlight-alike effect on Scarlett, and her lazy sitting posture pops up the features of Prada heels.

For what I love most about Interview magazine, not only because of those amazing cover designs (and astonishing fashion campaign shoots) after April 2008, but also the Q & A among the professionals and celebrities, such as Sofia Coppola by Richard Prince or Scarlett Johansson by Darren Aronofsky. Those direct without modifying conversation is what most readers (I believe so, because I am one of them) want to spend precious time to enjoy and digest. Between the casual chat lines on the actress and director, we know their exact SAT scores (one got 1080 and the other got 1360), the lives in New York (since Scarlett Johansson still keeps the rejection letter from NYU Film School), those perspectives in Taiwan (Darren quotes from his friend that the best Chinese food is Taiwan) and the curiosity toward hairy-crab in Shanghai. 

Interview magazine is purely genius, from the forbiddances of some reporters’ craps to the selections of photography. Nevertheless, one small thing annoys me is that those unfinished interviews always being placed at the last few pages, perhaps it saves some trees; truly, all we picky viewers just want to devour both texts and pictures at once, discontinuously.

Photography:

www.interviewmagazine.com

Magazine Madness: Malla Malmivaara on Costume October 2013

COSTUEM Finland October 2013

I love COSTUME Finland a lot, not only because of its usual capturing cover design, but also the fresh faces of Nordic models launching, the new inspirations of street-style snapshots publishing and Sovttuskopissa (In Fitting Room), a 6-page column about local artist wearing Finnish designers’ new collection, definitely a bright idea of team work.

On COSTUME October/November issue, under the lens of photographer Veikko Kähkönen, Malla Malmivaara’s orange-red hair contrasting dark blue knitted dress with metallic-yellow sunglasses is intriguing. This actress/singer talks about her style gurus are often the people on the streets or metro of Helsinki, for sure VOGUE is her style bible. Being a fan of Stella McCartney, she likes to pay visits at boutique My O My, but lately in Berlin, she just found a pair of secondhand shoes she really adores, costs her only 40 euroa. And her fashion icon? Marilyn Monroe.

Designer Milla and her sister, Lina Kettunen in 2010 created women’s wear Month of Sundays, whose brand name can be traced back to the 50’s England. The term refers to the everlasting sisterhood as well as the never-ending work of the design business. Month of Sundays produced ready-to-wear urban pieces by adapting high quality materials, such as cotton, wool and silk. The design colour is mono, which fits Malla’s particle needs in windy late-autumn time.

Having seeing Designer Milla herself at Helsinki Design Weekend, it’s great to read more of her introduction, in Finnish, certainly.

Photography & Works Cited:

www.costume.fi

Magazine Madness: ELLE October 2013, Where the Hell is Georgia May Jagger?

ELLE Finland October 2013

Half-veiled look, poppy red lips, happy teeth gap, golden sleek hair-fall plus those layering-hue fonts and only 3,90 euroa, I couldn’t help but purchasing ELLE Finland though my reading ability is still at the beginner’s phase. October issue front features rock ‘n’ roll Georgia May Jagger, rare but exciting cover girl to continuously discover deep.

In any case, it is available to have free pageviews at magazine stands, still, in order to keep the ‘readable availability’, I would like to save some surprises back home. Out of my surprises, though Miss Jagger graces cover front grasping my heaps of attentions, page by page, only 12.5x19 rectangle column, titled as ‘Tyylitaituri: Georgia May Jagger’ on p.21; there is none of interview or profile, zero page of fashion campaign of Georgia, Nothing, Nay, NO.

To Whom It May Concern:

ELLE Finland tiimi, may I have your thoughtfulness please, that shall you realise we readers most of time would judge the magazine by its cover, even though we know it’s wrongful to apply this tip on homo sapiens. Still, putting a cover girl, especially a quite well-known and interesting face on your front cover, should you understand that not inserting fashion campaign nor interview of her is nearly a rip-off scam, no matter you down-cost the magazine from 5,80e to 3,90e or whatsoever.  

Yet, your ‘Katu Tyyli’ is still well-edited and inspiring, ’92 Upeaa Syys-Takkia’ is lovely to read. Nevertheless, in the following months, please think twice when you decide the cover girl candidates, either reporting a good project with some fashion efforts or leave it without disappointing the readers for good, since you may never know what kind of readers you are going to confront.

With not that Best Regards,

Mindy Yuan 

Photography & Works Cited: www.elle.fi

Magazine Madness: Blue Oh Land, Nylon September 2013

NYLON September 2013

I have been fascinated by Marvin Scott Jarrett’s collaborative outlet: NYLON USA, for over 7 years, though I’ve never commented any single issue at Magazine Madness column because of the delayed arrival (to Finland, perhaps of the custom) leading to my procrastinated laziness of writing. Anyhow, it’s a deal that I try not to miss any single chance to remark this long-term favourite anymore, since NYLON deserves its many LIKES.

Compared to other mainstream fashion magazines, NYLON can be counted as an alternative one: rather smaller magazine title font; 27.5x23(cm) format; pure white background; neon-coloured subtitles and sometimes amazed-worthy cover girls to steal my gazes from the bookshelves. For its contents, the fashion campaign pages are usually full of street vibes and East Village styles, still bring some romantically rock ‘n’ roll touch at the bones. The column titles refer to certain cultural terms (such as ‘Boy Meets Girls’ is about menswear inspired feminine fabrics, NYLON, SEP 2013, p.110-111). Editor-in-Chief Mr. Jarrett would contribute on campaign shootings at every issue, and most important of all, the music sections are as intriguing and avant as any professional music magazine on earth.

Oh! Land! My Google search bar wasn’t key-in(ing) this name until the article ‘Out of the Blue’ presenting this Copenhagen native. First pursing ballet but later devoting to music, Nanna Øland Fabricius doesn’t want to ‘do anything just to please’, even though she acclaims that her new album, Wish Bone, is ‘feminine, almost ethereal’ (Pedersen, p.246). Under the lens of Photographer Mads Teglers, Miss Fabricius’ purple blue hair matching playfully with the polka-dot pink blouse and the beach scene.

As to ‘2013 Beauty Hit list’(p.176-196), it’s a bit awful that those chosen cosmetics look a bit too cheap under the rough settings and photography; nevertheless, Kat Dennings’ modeling highlights the whole beauty shooting pages, with her nearly innocent blue eyes, fair spotless skin and pulp full lips. And her favourite beauty products? Caudalie Beauty Elixir.

This is NYLON, that magazine title combines 2 abbreviations of the major cities: New York and London, but it always turns out, unnoticeably, to lead you around the corners of the world. 

Photography & Works Cited: 

www.nylonmag.com

Pedersen, Chris. “Out of the Blue”. NYLON September 2013 Vol.14, Issue 8. New York: MPA, 2013. 

Magazine Madness: Clémence Poésy, Tatler Vol. 308 2013

Tatler August 2013 Vol.308

This is French Actress/Model Clémence Poésy’s second time on the cover of Tatler, which, a high-end reading not just targeting on bourgeoisie’s interest, but more for aristocracy’s pleasure. Miss Poésy is the spokeswoman of Chanel, under Jem Mitchell’s lens, Fleur Delacour from Harry Potter looks once more graceful on cover shooting. Lace dress and Angora cardigan with various purple Canterbury bellflower as backgrounds is amazing contrast; while Wool and tweed Chanel jacket conveys the autumn spirit, but tweet skirt aggravates the bottom, shorten the length of the whole look of slender figure of Miss Poésy.

Furthermore, a cover girl’s interview shall be as equally ‘quantity’ as fashion campaign pages, while Talter provides single page profile of Poésy without juicy fresh information. Perhaps French usually keeps their private life private, but on movie/modeling topics, Poésy’s remarkable depth and opinions on styles are capable enough to furnish Tatler interviewer’s writing materials, if not for Q&A format but article, is satisfying enough for the readers. 

An elegant fashion house dress can be easily shown through the lens to the pages, but profound thoughts of human minds shall be necessarily performed from alphabets, words, sentences, to paragraphs. Tatler, shall you recognize, that Clémence Poésy is not just what I want from a French girl? 

Photography:www.tatler.com

Magazine Madness: The Rise of Elizabeth Olsen Dazed & Confused September 2013

Dazed & Confused September 2013

Dazed & Confused has been changing conversely, from article fonts to content layouts. By adapting Courier, the grids and margins become weirdly wide between lines, which makes the whole layouts present as world wide web screen pages, and some smaller illustrations even pop up as some annoying pop-ads page by page. The revision of the magazine just reflects its dazing and confusing design to some readers.

What grasps my attention is Elizabeth Olsen, whose face is too recognizable to ignore, especially I pretty much admire her twin sister’s design and styles. The colours of front cover of September 2013 issue is just perfect: White fonts, raspberry pink background, Elizabeth with smoky-smudged jade eyes, covering with black lace veil and wearing milk-white collar, nightly-dark zipper button coat.

For the campaign pages, Stylist Robbie Spencer puts both romantic and casual feelings on Elizabeth, especially Saint Laurent jewelry stockings bring out a very delicate but rock ‘n’ roll touch. Moreover, Miu Miu polka dot jacquard coat suits Elizabeth elegantly more than Chloë Moretz at InStyle UK campaign. Photographer Angelo Pennetta polishes the camera light from the right side of this Olsen sister, portraits Elizabeth an individual temperament. However, Interviewer Caroline Ryder at the opening paragraph, writes about that Elizabeth ‘growing up in the shadow of her elder sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley….[she] has pointedly remained her own woman’ (Ryder, p.111), which is, an unconfirmed false illusion topic sentence that too many reporters would commit (How do you know Elizabeth & James are growing under shadows of their twin siblings, do you guys live under the same roof or what? Caroline?). It’s not a denial that I love to read some public figures’ profiles ‘retold’ by the third person, but sometimes I prefer Q&A contents to understand a celebrity stranger more, since by this method, the words and tones might be more authentic and ‘original’. 

Fortunately, Dazed & Confused chooses a beautifully appealing cover picture this time. The settings are not too complicated, but the eyes of the cover girl reveal a lot. 

Photography Works Cited: 

http://www.dazeddigital.com/

Ryder, Caroline. “Sweet Valley Idol”. Dazed & Confused, VOL.III 25 September 2013. London: Waddell Limited, 2013.

Helsinki Design Week: Design Market September 15,2013

September 15, 2013 From 12:00-16:00

Annual Helsinki Design Week is a great event to know Finnish design, from furniture to fashion, from pop art to avant garde. On September 14-15, Kaapelitehdas, Tallberginkatu 1, an old factory transforms into a great shopping/exhibition market, over 133 stalls to entertain, inspire and explode art lovers’ minds.

Since I have duty at R/H minishop on Saturday, I must pay a visit on September 15 th by 17:00. Taking bus 103T is the easiest way to reach Ruoholahti, walking less than 300m, then I enter the major area Merikkapelihalli, checking carpets, chair and lamps, say moi to staff at IVANAhelsinki and try some pumps at Minna Parikka.

Later I turn to Puristamo+Galleria, meet my R/H colleagues. They told me that everything was crazy on Saturday, which is so nice to know! After trial wearing 14K pearl ring at Chao&Eero, I keep taking a look at some pieces at Acolyth, and Paloni, also search Tyra Therman’s lingering at Liike. Surprisingly I found Annika Huurrekorpi and Polkka Jam illustration/paper production are extremely romantic and girlish, but far away from being too pretentiously gaudy. Afterwards, within 10 minutes, I put on this knit off-white skirt at Month of Sundays, and sign my name via iphone credit card processor.

I meet my folks and then we take a rest at Moko café, then go upstairs, Parvi, where displays more men’s and children’s wear, still I test some wool hat at Varm and random suunies. 

Design Market is bad for window shopping, because there is no any. My shopping upshot? A knit skirt from Month of Sundays, 10 postcards and 1 notebook at Polkka Jam, and one triangle, very Portuguese style pillow from IVANAhelsinki; all in all, a very special thank for Designer Hanna of R/H, since now I have a denim+ reindeer backpack to go to my suomen kurssi intensiivi, very stylishly :) 

Photography: Mindy Yuan
http://www.helsinkidesignweek.com

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405410109561133&set=oa.638516439512241&type=1&theater