Two of our previous Fab Friday's, Lady Starlight and Tommy Cole have joined forces, along with Roy Caires to bring you 'The Fix'. The Fix is a pop-up fashion house serving everything from deconstructed garments to vintage rock pieces all from the Genius minds behind two amazing clothing stores, Alter and Consume. A blog was just launched with ALL the details - Get More Info Here!
Why hello there little weapons! It's Fab Friday! Where every Friday (well almost every Friday) we give you a dose of fab by interviewing or covering a person that truly embodies everything Fab! This morning we have none other than Breedlove! For those of you who may not know that much about Breedlove, read on to catch up!
SPWW:So, Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Breedlove: My name is Breedlove, I'm a singer/songwriter/performance artist who has been living and working in New York City for the last ten years. I was born in San Francisco to two performers, my mom was a popular cabaret singer in the '70s and '80s and still has a strong following, my dad sang with my mom and is also a well known actor in the Bay Area. I spent the first 5 years of my life on tour with them, living mostly in hotels or the houses of nightclub owners (one in Texas actually had a pool in the living room) until a truant officer came to our door and told them they had to put me in school.
I was born into Dirty Fucking Showbiz.. In fact, it's all I know really. If I'm not schlepping a heavy suitcase of costumes and music to a venue to put on a show half the audience isn't paying attention to, I'm not really living. The glamour of the unglamourous side of showbiz is what interests me most...the body odor and safety pins and blood stains.
Living and performing in NYC I've met the friends I always dreamed I'd meet. I can honestly say I'm now living the life of my childhood dreams.
SPWW:What does it mean to "Dress to Depress"?
Breedlove: Dress to depress means what it says; wear what makes you feel the worst about yourself and makes others feel depressed just looking at you. You can also substitute "depress" with "amuse" because I often make myself laugh when I catch my reflection in a shop window and see how ridiculous I look. That's how I decide how effective an outfit is, by how sad, amused, or even scared I am to wear it (I guess scared of being pulled off the street, thrown in a white van, and locked in a mental hospital). My favorite thing to do is go someplace fancy in an ill-fitting sweatsuit or an outfit consisting of clothing made for children. People get really freaked out and that's the point. The best part is, it's very inexpensive, in fact, the cheaper the better.
SPWW:What are some items of clothing that you consider to be "Must Haves"? You know some people say, you HAVE TO HAVE a certain pair of shoes or a black dress...
Breedlove: I'm "infamous" for a tank top I had airbrushed with a giant picture of my face (see latfh.com and the fashion "Don'ts" page of the February issue of Glamour magazine). I'm having it reproduced and will eventually be selling them at my shows, and I can't imagine a more important garment for people to own. But until those are available, I'd say a pair of sweatpants from a discount store...the more ill-fitting the better. In fact, I'm going shopping for a pair today!
SPWW:Justin talked about your band in the NME feature and said, "If you heard them and didn’t know who they were you’d be positive it was 1977." What inspires your music, and if you were to pick a genre for it what would that be?
Breedlove: My music is inspired by pretty much every genre of the 1970's, top 40 rock and pop from the era, folk, soul, disco, glam, metal, prog, experimental, and art rock. My performance aesthetic is very theatrical, so I call the whole thing Rock 'N Roll Cabaret.
SPWW:You have a supremely catchy song called "Love on the Telephone" that is currently our ringtone. What are your thoughts on Telephone lovin'? And did Lady Gaga and Beyonce steal your concept?
Breedlove: I wrote Love on the Telephone in 2006 while house sitting for my friend Maria who co-wrote the Jennifer Lopez hit Waiting for Tonight (I think there's magical songwriting energy in her apartment). I was watching TV late at night because I couldn't sleep, and there were all these ads on for various phone dating lines. I just got the hook spinning over and over in my head, and the first verse wrote itself pretty quickly. I sat on it for a few years then finished it in 2008 in order to perform it at The Anna Copa Cabanna show.
People often assume it's about phone sex, which is fine, but I wrote it about a reclusive man who has made a New Years resolution to start meeting women, and figures out a way to do so while laying in bed in his pajamas. It's set in a time before cell phones and the Internet, where party lines and the like could be a legitimate method for meeting new people, not just to talk dirty.
When the Gaga/Beyonce track came out a bunch of people contacted me saying they heard similarities. When you have a group of friends as creative and tight as we all are, you get inspired by each other on a moment to moment basis. If my tune inspired them in any way it's an honor because our songs sound completely different, and I LOVE theirs and the video they made for it. At the end of the day, where my friends and our artistic visions are concerned, I'm of the mentality that whats mine is ours.
SPWW:Do you have any projects your currently working on? What's next for Breedlove?
Breedlove: I'm continuing the long but thrilling process of recording my first album. The tracks on myspace are just a preview, I do have more completed and am currently working on a few that I'm very excited about. It's already been over a year since I started, and I'm letting it take as long as it needs to because I don't believe in rushing the natural flow of creative energy. In a lot of ways what I'm creating right now is an aural collage, and I'm still gathering scraps of sounds and ideas. I had the album mapped out at the start, but new songs keep writing themselves and pushing to the front of the line, so even I haven't a clue what the finished album will look like.
There's a chance i could be doing a little touring soon. It's kind of a magical time right now, every day I get some more exciting news about myself or my friends. I like waking up every day and being surprised by all the good news. ___________________________________________________________________
Thanks again to Breedlove for giving us the opportunity to interview him. For more info on Breedlove and to check out his fucking amazing tunes, visit his MyspaceAND be sure to follow him on Twitter!
We're really excited about this Fab Friday because it's our first Fab Friday that we've interviewed! Plus this person is SO fabulous, well, you have no idea.
First, a little bit of back story for those of you who may not have the pleasure of knowing who Tommy Cole is... By Tommy Cole!
"I'm Tommy. Some of you may know me as Tommy Couture. I am a hyper-creative individual with with a passion for fashion, design, photography, retail, rock stars and cocktails. I have managed to turn all of these passions into a successful career with hardly any formal education or training. In 2003 I moved to NYC from Boston at the eager age of 23. I immediately started working at boutiques in SoHo and going out at night, camera in hand, to shoot the characters of the downtown club scene. In 2004 I met my lover, fashion design mastermind Roy Caires. Roy taught me how to sew and in early 2005 we started a line together called This Old Thing?, a collection made of reconstructed vintage garments. The looks were over the top, abstract, inside out/upside down, ripped & shredded works of wearable art. It was around this time that make-up artist Jenny Brown introduced us to a singer named Justin Tranter. Our first (and only) This Old Thing? fashion show was the opening act for Justin's final performance as a solo artist, he was ready to rock & roll. A few weeks later Justin called to inform us that his band was established, they were to be called Semi Precious Weapons, and that we better start working on some looks for the first show.The vision was clear from the very beginning: glamour, madness, FAME and fashion. Photo's were snapped, clothes were made and the party was non-stop. In February 2007 Roy and I opened our first boutique, Alter, in Greenpoint- Brooklyn. After a successful first year we opened a second Alter location (directly across the street from the first) one for men, the other for women. As of today we are a thriving multi-brand boutique, stocking brands from all over the USA, Canada and Europe."
SPWW: We all love using your "garage glam" terms. I believe kunt has become an everyday staple. Is their a definition for the term carol? And are there any other fierce terms you'd like to introduce?
TC: Those "vocabulary" vid's on youtube were done very, very late one night back in September 2007 and I think they're hysterical. I was just rambling on and being silly, and three years later people are still talking about it. The definitions are endless! Carol? Not telling...
SPWW: Justin says you're the man that "put him in heels." do you remember when you woke up and thought, HEELS!!
TC: We would do fittings with Justin in our studio 'till all hours, practicing fashion stunts and looks for their shows. One night We slid a pair of fire engine red, high heel boots (womens size 12) on him and it was just right. Tights, heels and outrageous tops were the uniform from then on.
SPWW: What were some of your favorite or more outrageous outfits that you created for Justin?
TC: There were MANY looks that I am fond of. I think my favorite might be the one we created and shot for the original cover of We Love You in July 2007. The look was layers of shredded athletic t-shirt jersey, a bra on backwards and a cummerbund, with black tights and red high heel boots- with that platinum blonde hair and his shocked expression the look is burnt in my head for ever. Very simple but had a lasting impression, and was easy for fans to emulate.
SPWW: As an aspiring designer with no formal training I think its really fucking inspiring to see how much you've accomplished already. What's some advice you can give other weapons that have big dreams and aspirations?
TC: If you want to do something right you have to do it yourself. Learn how to sew. Learn how to sell. Take pictures and smile pretty. Life skills.
SPWW: Are there any celebs out there that you personally think look busted? Or look like they have some problem H?
TC: HAHA!! Problem H!! busted celebrities? I don't pay much attention to celebs, and hating on people is a bore.
SPWW: Could you make 29 tops in 29 minutes?
TC: Yes, I'll make 29 tops in 29 minutes. That song is genius... It was a birthday gift to me a few years ago.
SPWW: What's next for Tommy Couture? What should the world be looking out for?
TC: What's next? Well, we're plotting a Pop-Up retail shop with Lady Starlight & the Alter Boys in NYC for 4 days next month (April 2010) so stay tuned! Fashion WILL happen!
Thanks again to Mr. Couture for taking the time to answer my questions and for being such a FABULOUS Friday. Make sure you visit his boutique Alter in person or on the web and check out their fabulous selection of clothing and accessories (it's seriously the best).
Hey there divas! It's Friday and you know what that means, right? FAB FRIDAY YA'LL! Today we're featuring, LaQuan Smith, who has been recently titled, "The New Wave of Fashion" LaQuan is a 21 year old designer born and raised in Brooklyn NY. His brilliant designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Aubrey O'day, Amber Rose, and other celebrities but most important he has designed for our boy and resident diva, Justin Tranter! He has been designing and shooting his own clothes for 8 years and has a serious knack for designing high-end beautiful clothing. Persona magazine recently covered LaQuan's beautiful A/W 2010 Collection and this is what they had to say, "An enthusiastic crowd of downtown fashion “It” boys and serious fashionistas gathered in an intimate location in midtown Manhattan to view Queens native, LaQuan Smith’s F/W collection during NY Fashion Week. A refreshing, bold and exuberant collection, Smith’s Fashion Week debut was a flawless blend of daring pieces and wearable garments. His “Water Goddess” collection was made up of mermaid inspired silhouettes, oceanic influenced prints, leggings reminiscent of fish scale, blue neoprene jackets and sand colored pieces made this collection the embodiment of daring yet accessible fashion.
The models presented each piece with the confidence and the attitude embodied in each garment. Smith’s collection included barely-there mini’s, jaw-dropping body-suits, see through tops, bold statement jackets and body-hugging dresses. Vogue’s Andre Leon Tally clapped while models exhibited the valiant yet ultra-feminine Fall/Winter collection. Eye-catching, daring and dripping in sex appeal, it is little wonder that this 21 year-old wonder kid has already become a favorite of the sirens of music. Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Ciara have all donned his designs.
Soft–spoken, humble and gracious, LaQuan Smith is a young designer at the foot of his promising and exciting career. An American designer with hopes of taking his eye and influence to the couture houses of Paris, LaQuan Smith is truly the next wave of American design. Just ask Andre Leon Tally. - L.E Flores" Check out some of the beautiful items Justin donned that were designed by LQ:
And this video from his A/W 2010 collection featured at NY Fashion Week
Today on "Fab Friday" we're featuring Lady Starlight!
We chose Lady StarLight because I, being a major music buff was so impressed with her extensive knowledge. As soon as I learned she had the band Sparks on her podcast, I was in love.
(FYI. I went through a phase where I was listening to really Japanese inspired pop music like Aneka and then found Sparks & was just obsessed)
But nevermind all that, Lady Starlight is an indescribable artistic phenomena that's also part of the precious empire. We looked to her fansite for a proper description and they hit it on the head perfectly referring to her as "The queen of downtown New Yorks nightlife"
They write "she's been an influence on the Lower East Side club since since the early 2000's. Starlight is also known for her extravagant and unconventional street style. Inspired by the glitz and glitter of Ziggy Stardust to the spandex and leather of Iron Maiden, her look is always rooted in the sights and sounds of rock! Lady Starlights mission: to push rock n roll back into the pop culture spotlight while introducing this decadent world to a new generation of fans. "
And she is doing just that, with her outstanding knowledge of all things rock and her Fucking Fabulous store, Consume, Lady Starlight is the perfect rep. for anything fab.
Wanna rock some vintage SPW style? Visit consumestore.com to get your fab fix!
Breedlove: I wrote Love on the Telephone in 2006 while house sitting for my friend Maria who co-wrote the Jennifer Lopez hit Waiting for Tonight (I think there's magical songwriting energy in her apartment). I was watching TV late at night because I couldn't sleep, and there were all these ads on for various phone dating lines. I just got the hook spinning over and over in my head, and the first verse wrote itself pretty quickly. I sat on it for a few years then finished it in 2008 in order to perform it at The Anna Copa Cabanna show.
Hey there divas! It's Friday and you know what that means, right? FAB FRIDAY YA'LL! Today we're featuring, LaQuan Smith, who has been recently titled, "The New Wave of Fashion" LaQuan is a 21 year old designer born and raised in Brooklyn NY. His brilliant designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Aubrey O'day, Amber Rose, and other celebrities but most important he has designed for our boy and resident diva, Justin Tranter! He has been designing and shooting his own clothes for 8 years and has a serious knack for designing high-end beautiful clothing. Persona magazine recently covered LaQuan's beautiful A/W 2010 Collection and this is what they had to say, "An enthusiastic crowd of downtown fashion “It” boys and serious fashionistas gathered in an intimate location in midtown Manhattan to view Queens native, LaQuan Smith’s F/W collection during NY Fashion Week. A refreshing, bold and exuberant collection, Smith’s Fashion Week debut was a flawless blend of daring pieces and wearable garments. His “Water Goddess” collection was made up of mermaid inspired silhouettes, oceanic influenced prints, leggings reminiscent of fish scale, blue neoprene jackets and sand colored pieces made this collection the embodiment of daring yet accessible fashion.
