#fitleisure

Early Wednesday morning at St.Brigid’s church in San Francisco, hundreds of impeccably dressed students showed up to hear the fashion sermon. This was however not a religious event in the traditional sense but rather a panel hosted by The Academy of Art University where its grad and undergrad students got to learn from the publishing business elites. Walking through the pews were those who worshiped at the altar of fashion and wanted to know the tricks of the trade from Paper’s Mickey Boardman and Visionaire’s Lars Petersen. The panel was conducted by the Director of Fashion Journalism and Social Media, Stephan Rabimov and lasted approximately an hour during which Mickey Boardman instilled some priceless lessons on the attendees. Boardman, the Editorial Director of Paper Magazine has been with the publication for 23 years during which he’s seen it go through a large shift with the rise of social media and the internet. Here are the 5 key takeaways from Boardman’s experience at the top of the game:

Miley Cyrus on the cover of Paper Magazine. Image courtesy of Paper Magazine

1.      Do things that will get attention

First and foremost, the most important thing Boardman noted was that print wasn’t dead. It won’t die because people will always love holding a magazine and enjoy seeing beautiful images although that doesn’t mean Paper won’t continue expanding through the online platform either. He knows the importance of shock value and pushing boundaries no matter how big or small. Paper infamously did an issue trying to “break the Internet” that provided scandalous images which caught the world’s attention. The content you create has to be a combination of “memorable plus something that creates hysteria” which is bound to attract website clicks. When it comes to size or volume, it’s more about the quality as Boardman stated that “it has to be something that’s fabulous you can see, digest and share. A picture with a caption is plenty.”

The old versus the new Paper Magazine covers

2.      Be willing to change

When everybody is doing what’s always been done and not getting the necessary results that’s when you know you need to change. Figure out new strategies to get the attention of the reader whether it’s risqué editorials hoping to “break the internet” or branded content with Grindr which will be happening in an upcoming issue. “We’re in a landscape where we have some wonderful opportunities to embrace change and do things that are really different that will get attention, set you apart from other people” said Boardman. He recognizes the way that social media and the Internet drive content production so appealing to it will help you stay current. Be willing to innovate and you won’t be left behind.

Paper Magazine Instagram Account

3.      Customize per medium,

Know your consumer, what they want to see and how they want to see it. According to Boardman, “you have to approach print from a digital perspective. That works because most people see Paper magazine from the website.” Understanding the medium allows for you to tailor content to it and knowing your audience lets you know how to cater to them as well. “We don’t think of ourselves as a magazine, we’re content producers. We think about something differently when producing for Instagram and we do the same when we think about doing the magazine and the way we think about the website.” Although it’s a lot of work, it’s necessary to be aware that not all platforms are the same so don’t treat them that way.

A video posted by Vogue (@voguemagazine) on May 3, 2016 at 12:37am PDT

The Olsen twins by Gordon Von Steiner. Image courtesy Vogue Magazine

4.      Fabulous + Shareable = Success

A word that Boardman used generously was “fabulous” and he made sure you knew that it’s what you have to always strive for no matter the cost, “you have to go there and try to do something fabulous.” New content that’s done in a quick, accessible way is a winning combination. For Boardman, it’s important to show something that you’ve never seen before and won’t get anywhere else. “I don’t care about seeing something Behind the Scenes, I could care less about it. I want to see the Olsen twins dancing with neon tubes. I could watch that all day,” in reference to Gordon Von Steiner’s video portraits of celebrities at the Met Gala this year. When content is inherently fabulous and easy to share, then it’s success.

A retweet from Mickey Boardman’s Twitter account

5.      Raccoon videos are good for the soul

Stella McCartney All in One Onesie for adidas. Image courtesy adidas

April is Earth month and with the 22nd being Earth Day, taking care of the planet as well as the body go hand in hand. Healthy looks good on everybody especially the earth and the way to do this is by being more sustainable. Doing more for the planet can be easy and chic so learn more about it below.

Amrita Yoga legging. Image courtesy Sweaty Betty

1.      Reversible clothing

What’s better than getting two for the price of one? Not having to buy two pairs of one garment! For those who want a little more versatility in their wardrobe and hate repetitive clothing, buying reversible items is the perfect solution. This means less purchases and getting more use out of one pair of leggings or shirt. There are many reversible items available such as hats, tops and even jackets. This pair of Amrita Yoga leggings from Sweaty Betty are stylish and diverse offering a print and basic black to play up to your taste.

Sycamore Jacket from Cozy Orange. Image courtesy of Cozy Orange

2.      Eco friendly garments

The stamina behind eco friendly clothing being “hippy” is being crushed by the new sportswear lines coming out specifically aimed towards style and sustainability. At the forefront is Stella McCartney whose sole mission is to create eco-friendly garments but she’s not the only one doing this. Lesser known companies like Cozy Orange, Alternative Apparel and prAna offer garments made from recycled materials and innovative technology that combine ethics with fashion.  

Klean Kanteen water bottle. Image courtesy Klean Kanteen

3.      Water bottles, not plastic

Plastic is notorious for being harmful for the environment and for a gym regular they can be quite costly. Instead of purchasing a new Smart Water before every session, carry your own water bottle. A reusable option is Klean Kanteen who avoid BPA, donate to help the environment and continue to reduce their carbon footprint. They’ve been making stainless steel bottles since 2004 and are recognized by the B Corp making them certified as a sustainable company.

eQua towel in spirit blue from Manduka. Image courtesy of Manduka

4.      Carry your own towel

Many gyms offer towels and while it’ s a great service, it is also a waste of energy. They are washed in bulk and strong chemicals that are needed to cleanse the towels of sweat and other grimy germs that are found at the gym. Go with a more eco-friendly eQua towel from Manduka that is made from recycled synthetic material that is soft to the touch and long lasting.

Stella McCartney gray studio bag for adidas. Image courtesy Stella McCartney

5.      Carry the right bag

What’s inside the bag isn’t the only way to be sustainable because the bag itself can be green. Stella McCartney’s gray studio bag is a great example of high fashion meets fitness that’s also not too damaging on the environment. It has a crocodile print though no crocodiles were hurt in the making of the bag. It’s athletic and durable, spacious enough for all the other sustainable items to fit.

   Make sure to plan ahead and research. Image courtesy Smack Bang Designs

6.      Do the research

Video still courtesy of Nowness

27-year-old Caroll Lynn is a blogger, artist, footwear and graphic designer who got her start thanks to the internet. Sharing her sneaker illustrations led to her showing her work at Jeff Staple’s New York boutique, Reed Space. Currently she’s designing for Filling Pieces Amsterdam, living in Sydney and traveling. Careaux was also recently the subject matter of a Puma commercial, part of their “First Steps” campaign.

Rebecca Minkoff speaking to the crowd. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Courtesy of The Chronicle

It’s not often you get to see a panel of women who've made individually successful careers with the help of tech but on April 11, I got to see just that.

I went to UC Berkeley’s Unleash Your Creativity With Technology talk sponsored by Intel to see Rebecca Minkoff talk about technology’s impact on fashion but got to learn a lot more. As a fashion journalism student, secretly my main incentive was to see a famous designer talk about her career. However, it was quite enlightening to also learn how women are taking charge within this field. A field that still feels distant despite my living in San Francisco.

The panelists on stage. Photo: Vivien Moon

On the stage in front of many undergraduate and graduate females, 7 individual women with great insight shared their secrets to succeeding in STEM related fields. The talk was led by the Director of EECS Diverstiy & Achievement at UC Berkeley, Tiffany Shaleen Reardon who helped direct the conversation in a way the attendees could relate to. Along with Minkoff the other panelists were Alexandra Bernadotte the founder and CEO of Beyond 12, Renee Wittemyer Intel Director of policy, Hillary Kerr the  Co-founder of Who What Wear, Jess Lee the co-founder and CEO of Polyvore and Brit Morin, founder and CEO Brit + Co. Each woman had her own background but explained how to use it to your advantage in a STEM job or as Morin referred to it, STEAM, “because you can’t have science without art.”

The panelists discussed a variety of topics from how they got started online, breaking the glass ceiling to more personal topics like knowing when to let go of toxic friendships. When asked about facing rejection, Minkoff doled out a bit of advice in the form of her own mantra, “no is just the beginning of yes, it’s never a failure.” She gave examples from the start of her career when she’d have to pass out flyers to get customers to never settling or being complacent with current success. According to Minkoff, as women we’re part of the maker movement, literally and figuratively because we can do both at which point Morin pointed at her pregnant belly. The speakers were gracious, inspiring and motivating in the pursuit of jobs in an area socially women haven’t been encouraged to pursue. They reinforced the need for more women to step up and tackle issues that men wouldn’t understand. Minkoff is proof that some job’s are  better done yourself, “they don’t know what a fat mirror is,” in reference to her new “smart” dressing rooms.

Rebecca Minkoff demonstrating how to use the “smart” mirror. Image courtesy Fast Company

As the panel discussion came to a close we were encouraged to go and network with the other attendees. I found out that there were just as many from the technical sciences programs as there were from fashion. Breakout sessions followed with some of the panelists discussing millennials in the workforce or the merging of fashion and tech. The final event was a raffle draw for Rebecca Minkoff bags and a smartwatch presented by Minkoff herself. The first prize was won by my colleague, Courtney Wilkins who ran up and got her picture with the designer. I was surprised but excited for my friend to get such a great prize but the raffle wasn’t over. Up next was a bag, wallet and a ticket to Minkoff’s Fall/Winter 2016 show in New York. This got the crowd excited as everybody gripped their tickets.  As she read the numbers I saw each one on mine be read aloud. In a frenzy I quickly shouted “Woo!” and got the attention of the entire room before quickly scurrying through the crowd to the designer. As she handed me the bag with the ticket sticking out of it, we got our picture taken together and though it was all a blur it’s one I’ll never forget.

The newest musical talents around the world have a lot of fashion savvy music videos that anyone can take style cues from. Here are 5 stunning videos to take note of.

Canada/Bahrain: Majid Jordan

R&B duo Majid al Muskati and Jordan Ullman are the soulfull creators behind hits like “Something About You”, “Learn From Each Other” and “Her”. Their names are familiar because they are signed to Drake’s label OVO Sound and appeared on his hit “Hold On, We’re Going Home” in 2013. One of their first videos, “Her” is a sensual, monochromatic love song with painted models, strategic silhouettes and a bit of black paint. Everything from the tailored jackets to the all white ensembles gives off a cool modern vibe that’s symbolic of their sound.   

UK: FKA Twigs

One of the more eclectic pop stars on the scene, FKA Twigs has made a lot of waves in the fashion world. Her music video for “Two Weeks” pays homage to Aaliyah in Queen of the Damned with the opulent crown and gold painted dancers. It’s tastefully over the top but so much of her music and style is like that. She’s a charismatic individual not afraid of embroidery, layered gold jewelry and oversized garments. The lyrics are incredibly racy, not what you’d expect from a pop star but the execution in styling is flawless.

Armenia: Sirusho

Armenia’s Sirusho is not only stunning but her style has gotten her just as much attention especially in music videos like ‘PreGomesh’. The talented chanteuse mixes folk with pop and although her songs are in Armenian, there is no denying their catchy rhythms. In her hit ‘PreGomesh’ she can see her wearing a number of distinct looks one more eye catching than the next. From a traditional headdress paired with a red lace gown to an Aztec printed vest cinched with a metallic belt it’s visually stimulating. Take note of the effortless styling of the coin embellished accessories.

Morocco: Jamila El Badaoui

‘Blach Blach’ is  a playful hit from Moroccan Jamila El Badaoui whose lively sense of style is prominent in this music video. Each outfit corresponds to the background though Jamila stands out despite matching the wallpaper. Her enigmatic personality and strong vocals make the video even more entertaining despite not understanding the lyrics. While most prints are expected, the florals and girly pink polka dots, they don’t compare to the baby blue lyric covered gown. Though these looks would be hard to recreate they are the embodiment of fashions fun, dreamy side.  

South Korea: CL

The hottest thing to come out of South Korea recently is K Pop star CL whose style can really be describes as fearless and ‘more is more’. CL’s music video ‘The Baddest Female’ has her in a number of hip hop inspired ensembles, leather eye patches and graphic prints. Her many looks add to the absurdity of the video but the highlight is her playing around with gender roles dressed up as a man with a Dali-esque surreal mustache. The rapper is encouraging of her “bad girls” and with an extensive wardrobe, she’s a fun musician with some catchy tunes worth paying attention to.