Sunday, August 31, 2008
Random Thoughts / Quick notes: Vicente VIllarin
Yay! Joanne Cordero Reyes, designer of Vicente Villarin is one of NYMag's Designers to watch!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Random Thoughts / TGIF!!
Click pictures to supersize
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I'm having a quite good Friday now and it's just exactly what I needed. I had a pretty tough week so yay for a happy day! Oh well, so much stuff and work had piled up already and I can't quite keep up! But I love this better than being stuck at home with nothing to do (although there are days I want to do that).
So why happy? First, I got Style: magazine today! I was thinking earlier today that I've set a sort of record for not buying a magazine (or anything for that matter) for a week. I mean for the longest time...this is a one super needed break. And besides, funds are really getting low and the to-buy list just grows longer and longer.
Another thing that made me happy is the news of H&M in my dear third world. Yes, friends, an H&M store will open here in the Philippines! (This is what I mean with that getting longer and longer list. Time to start saving...) Earlier today, I thought/dreamed/fantasized/prayed about having H&M here. I (jokingly) thought it would be funny if it would team up with SM. H&M/SM, get it? haha And it did. Super answered prayer much? hehe
The last thing is a new magazine coming this September (a few days from now...). Another budget-buster (which i don't mind! hehe): Garage in Semptember 08. Finally, a men's style magazine that is, how do I say this, quite more up my alley. But we'll see.
The rest of the August 08 mags coming up later. Better late than never ahahahahaha :-0
Monday, August 25, 2008
Magazines / Pop September 2008—The Prada Nuns
Agyness and Jourdan
Naomi and Natalia
Oluchi and Amber
Click the pictures to Supersize :-)
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Photos: Bunny Bisous
Related: The Imagist; Bunny Bisous
Random Thoughts / Public service/whatever post)
I still have a few more (oxymoron much) August magazines to put here but I made the most of this long weekend doing real world stuff. Real world as in waking up early for the morning cartoons, a movie marathon (sort of) with friends (thanks Dana!) and other stuff. Hopefully wifi will still be available this week (slow and intermittent but better than none at all).
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Magazines / Vogue Hommes Japan on 9/10
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Vogue Hommes Japan on 9/10 2008. If I could. I would.
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Photos from Nicola Formichetti
Photos by Hedi Slimane (TOP), Oliviero Toscani (Bottom)
Monday, August 18, 2008
Magazines / Mega August 2008
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I used to buy Mega back issues then but I eventually stopped because I didn't like what I was seeing. I almost decided to get fresh issues monthly (or subscribe) but I just can't justify the purchase. They had good editorials here and there but, I don't know; maybe I just had other things to buy and Mega is not (yet) one of them. Plus I didn't like the layout/look/feel of the pages/cover so, I thought until they impress me, I'll settle for their back issues. This year, I started to like their covers and finally, this month, I bit the bullet and got Mega. The covers were good this year (except for that Isebel oli (??) cover; I just didn't get that[not the person ok, the look/feel of the cover]). The pages inside look good as well; I find it better compared to the past issues. (very little change I know but well, little details count)
That fierce Apples. She's one of my reasons why I bought this issue
She's so (thin and) beautiful. :-)
But her face almost looked the same on all her pictures here. Like a paper doll, the clothes change but not the face. At least it's a super pretty face so...I don't mind! hehe
The editorials were nice too. But, just like other fashion magazines out there (coughPreviewcough) it's bitin! At P150, I think there should be more. :-p
Jasmine Maierhofer is fierce; she's one of my favorite local models. Mega actually makes great editorials; but sometimes, I have to take a second look to notice that.
The good cover and inside pages' paper they used also was a factor that convinced me into buying this issue. After seeing this issue, I think Mega is a great magazine afterall. Or maybe, Mega is a magazine where you have to take a second look before liking it. Or maybe it's just me. hehe The price is also too much especially if you compare it to other competing titles. Probably production is more expensive? I still haven't decided if this will be included in my regulars because there's just too much to buy! Mega has yet to prove that P150 damage monthly is worth buying begging or stealing for. As for this issue, it is! :-)
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PS: Two of my favorite bloggers are inside!
CVS of Chuvaness.com gets a mention on the blogging feature. I wonder why Bryanboy was not included.
But at least he's still featured! hehe
Scans: Edrick
Videos / PiKAPiKA!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Magazines / Preview August 2008
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A day before I bought preview, my brother and I tried to guess who will be on the cover. I jokingly guessed Marian Rivera. Again. hehe He replied, maybe Angel Locsin? Ting!! Do you know the tagalog saying "nag dilang-anghel"? Man, so predictable! I still give my kudos for Preview for at least making good covers. Aside from the 'always celebs and stars and now predictable' cover girl selection, they seem to be too flawless it almost becomes a flaw. Too polished? To restrained bordering on stiff? US Vogue isdatchu? I remember a post of Nagali Manila about how Preview is like the US Vogue of Philippine Magazines (because the models are always manicured or something like that)?
But the editorial was really nice. Are those black blocks giving you a hint of Vogue Paree? hehe
Louis Vuitton/Richard Prince nurse is that you? hehe I think it's good. Their good visuals and creative output make up for the 'always celebs and stars and now predictable' cover girls.
The olympics/sportswear/08 08 08 special was stunning. If the cover photo was from this ed, it could've been fiercer. Ah, yes, the saleability. Of course...
The Fahion Watch special was fantastic too! (I'm pertaining to the design, look and feel.) I didn't see a credit on who did it (except for the photos, which were shot by Daniel Tan and compiled by Mariane Perez), so kudos to whoever did the thing. As for the designers featured, they did well too. (Anyway, why do we have two fashion shows/events? Why do we have Philippine Fashion Week AND Fashion Watch?)
The same with the Fashion Week 08 feature. But it's kind of hard to look at the spiraling set up of the photos. In daring design choices like this, there is always a compromise, no?
(Left photo: This issue is one of the few issues where I actually liked the cover that didn't make it) Mmmm, this depends on the person's preference, but IMHO, the way the photos are laid out and the use of a lot of different fonts (in some pages) can be a bit chaotic and tiring for the eyes. Maybe considering the use of negative space and overall flow would improve it.
Preview always gives something nice and almost, if not always perfect stuff, but 'nice and almost, if not always perfect stuff' always can border into something boring and predictable. This issue was not half bad, but...surprise us Preview!
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PS. Let's bet! Who do you think will be on their next issue's cover? Me, I think it'll be
Scans by Edrick
Magazines / Bounce July-August 2008
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Bounce is a new magazine created especially for the college set. Their covers so far are nice and interesting but it's just now that I bought it because this issue's cover is much more special. It's done manually! Mano-mano! The masthead/cover words (Bounce, Culture on the rise, Style and Design) is finger painted on a large glass panel and behind it is the model. Very creative. When I found out that the cover is done by Everywhereweshoot!, I understood why the cover is so gooooood. I Love them really. I think they are one of the coolest and creative-est minds today.
The over all look and feel of the magazine is nice. It's not earth shattering or groundbreaking or anything, but it's well done. I especially loved how the titles of the articles were done manually—it looks really nice and creative (..and Tokion-ish! hehe)
James Younghusband playing with water...
...and kicking paint cans.
Go lomo!
If there's one thing that quite put me off..it is that it's kind of like a school magazine/paper for the major metro schools. I get the feeling that it was tailor made for a specific college. It's like a magazine of, by and for the major colleges in metro Manila. Maybe it's really that? I don't know..but other than that, this magazine is nice. Like You Magazine, it's not something that would send you straight to magazine heaven (YET!) but at least you'll be glad you got it. And at P90, I'm not complaining. Again. :-)
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PS! Congrats to Paola Ebora (extreme left) for being part of this magazine!! She interned for this mag and wrote the article about SoFA (School of Fashion and the Arts, see first photo). Congrats! She used to be my classmate in the Korean language class I took years ago. :-)
Scans by Edrick
Magazines / Rogue July 2008
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Oh, Rogue, why did I just get you now? Why did I have to miss the last 10 or so issues before finally deciding that a month would not be complete without Rogue in my desk/backpack? My first Rogue was the one with Jasmine M. on the cover. It was not bad I thought but at P180 I was not yet ready. But month after month of seeing the fantastic covers...and missing them..I finally bit the bullet last month and got it. Their look at the past 12 month/issues had me thinking and saying to myself how silly I was why I got it just now. And oh, another
The photos* are superb..and so are the articles*. For a person with the attention span of a goldfish like me, it has to be good to have made me read most of the stuff. The Seek Ye Whore* story is really good..but strange! It's about mail order brides from Siquijor, Philippines (Seek-Ye-Whore/Siquijor, get it?) and how they will make the lives of their husbands wither miserable or heavenly, depending on how you look at it. It's a good, if not so strange a read.
Am I right or am I not wrong if I said this is the best Anne Curtis feature? Plus the clothes they used..Balenciaga...Vanessa Bruno...Acne....!!
A look on the past issues. I feel really bad missing that controversial Joey Mead issue. I think it's ok body painting the flag on her body. Yes, it was
I think a magazine is great and super if you felt you want to fast forward the days so that you can get the next issue. Have you experienced that??
If there's one more thing I need/want to see in Rogue, It would be editorials on men's fashion/style. It would be interesting to see how they'll do it. They have style sections but it's just the clothes...and somehow it's sort of for the
Hooray for Rogue! I think Rogue is the best local magazine today. Photos, articles, design and layout, the paper, printing...everything is superb, high quality and world class. It makes me feel proud that it's Made in the Philippines! Run don't walk to the nearest bookstore/stand and get Rogue because it's too good to skip and pass up.
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*Ok, I forgot the magazine at home and I forgot who did this and that..so check back for the credits later.
**Sorry for the late posts...! The last few weeks and days have found me busy finishing plates, beating deadlines, or just sleeping (procrastinating). Plus I'm too cheap to pay half a thousand grand a month for Wifi in our dorm room. I'm only here 4-5 days a week..and besides..it would just be a another distraction hehe. But now that I got to think of it..it may not be a bad idea..)
Scans by Edrick
Magazines / Flow May-July 2008
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This is the kind of magazine that sends you straight to magazine heaven. The cover is very simple and the look is very contemporary. I even thought it was a foreign mag!! That's the little danger of making a super magazine—most people might think it's a foreign mag and might skip it because of the price maybe? Or the content? or whatever. But hey, I think the days when local magazines look crappy are over. Local, Philippine-made magazines are starting to get their games up. It hurts in the pocket I tell you, it hurts. But magazines like these are worth your investment!
Flow is creativity put on paper, compiled and made into a magazine. This issue was curated, yes, shushal, CURATED by Miguel Rosales. If I got it right, every issue (released every quarter), there will be a different curator that would show his/her aesthetic/taste/style/what have you. You know Lula Magazine with Kirsten Dunst as guest editor? Something like that.
According the this issue's curator, he chose things that will show his passion for "contemporary design and urban development". He included features in the local art scene, be it in photography, video art, installation art, etc, and how it was recieved abroad.
Flow is like several art galleries rolled into one. The paper they used is really good, as well as the printing. Everything is world class...even the ads!
One minor (or major) thing that put me off is the use of foreign (or foreign-looking) models. Isn't the world is going crazy about other races (other than white)? hehe It could've been better if they featured more of our local models like Ana Sideco, Ria Bolivar, Anne Casas, etc. But I have to admit that it contributed to the international feel of the magazine. BUT in the event that they will feature blue chip models like Raquel Zimmerman, Iekielene Stange, Coco Rocha, Naomi Campbell, Liya Kebede or Jourdan Dunn I will not complain. HAHA! jk Of course, if that happens, I hope at least the photographer is Filipino (cue: When you wish upon a star...). If not for the unmistakably Filipino stuff like the Metropolitan theater..or the Metro Streets..or Manila bay...this magazine couuld easily be mistaken as foreign.
But, hey,can I just take out of my mind this idea that superb design, look, and feel is foreign? hehe This page is fantastic. And so are the other pages. Although it's a few steps away to text sturm und drang, I love how they had little or no restraints in the play of texts, paragraphs and photos, etc. It could be a little unreadable, but with little patience and eye-squinting, you'll ge able to decode it. hehehe (see first and second photo from the top, after the cover)
This conceot of "Pool City" in Manila is interesting. Imagine if it would happen no?
Even though this magazine is so mahalia (read: expensive) at P399 (it took me a few weeks before finally deciding it's worth the splurge) I think it's fantastic and it's worth my every centavo. (Do I sound like a broken record already with all that worth your moolah thing? LOL) It comes four times a year only, thankgoodness. If this was monthly, I might have to sell my extra kidney and start begging on the street!! hahaha
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Scans by Edrick
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