Random Thoughts / The kind of store I want to have in the future*

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So many magazines!

Anyway. Sembreak happened so friggin fast I didn't feel much of it. 1/4 of the time I spent doing school stuff (last requirements, enrollment), 2/4 trying to read new stuff on my reader and finishing my own blog posts (which I only finished half) and the rest trying to do sembreak stuff we planned to do (e.g a quick shoot, cubao x, tv, movies, etc).

Being the penny pincher that I am, I don't want to spend much on internet again (as I have a lot of mag bills to pay hahaha. and more coming!) so I'll just finish the posts maybe this weekend. (Really, I'm saving up for the book/s I've been lusting for weeks, no months!) I have the pics up so you might want to go ahead—click here or here.

Cheers!
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Video: here, here

*If that happens, I think I want it to be in Cubao Expo. hehe Wala lang.

Magazines / Garage August-September 2008

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Yay!
Congratulations to Sesame Seed Creatives for releasing a new super nice magazine, Garage! We have quite a number of style magazines locally but there's only a few that's dedicated for men. Cool editorials, smart articles, great photography, nice printing/paper—it has the things I'm looking for a magazine. And more I guess. Plus it's got stuff that I might actually buy. (Might! If i only had the time and money haha)

Nay!
Hmmm. Truth to tell, I didn't fancy that big main fonts they used (see the words Manual and Agenda on the pics above). It's ok, I just didn't fancy it. BUT hello? Hello telephone?? It's just me and the darn font so there. Not a big deal, no? And just to add: Akihiro Sato is a muscle-y and big-built person so that skinny style (see photo 2nd row, left) would probably look mucho better with Ash Stymest types. hahaha LOL Seriously, I really didn't see much to disagree about.

I say...
I love it. Like I said, it has the things I want in a mag—cool editorials, smart articles, great photography, nice printing/paper. Another addition to my regular mags-to-buy list. It comes out bi-monthly. I'm wondering where the next issue is because this is the August-September issue and it's October already. Oh, wait that's a good excuse to those who don't have their copy yet—buy it now while it's still current issue! hehe
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UPDATE!
THIS JUST IN! Garage 2 will be out next week but the cover is out online na! Click here!

Magazines / September 2008 Mags (that were) Part 2 - T3, Rogue, Rustan's Index

Click to Supersize
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For those who missed last month's magazines...
(2 of 2 (overdue) posts)
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T3:



Yay!
Isn't it interesting to see gadgets get destroyed and melted and hammered and tortured? hehe I love my gadgets alright but a little spice like this feature won't hurt. (Unless those things are mine!) haha Yay for a feature like this.

Nay!
Cheeky-est cover. Yet.

Rogue:




Yay!
It's Rogue style issue! What I like about Rogue is that when they do a 'something' issue e.g. style issue, appetite issue, etc, it's really that from start to end (unlike other mags who I don't feel much the theme of the issue, if you know what I mean. Then again, it may be just me..) It's got a sneak peek of a famous photographer's Versace tribute book, a The Sartiosialist-ic street style fashion feature (featuring NY-ers), the cover model wreaking fashion havoc (e.g ripping Armani suits, cleaning shoes with an Hermes scarf, burning a fashion book with Chanel No. 5, those kind of things), a Pepper Lunch review (is it because the owner is a 'style' person? hehe), and many more. And oh, I really loved their concept in that button-down shirts feature (See photo: 3rd row, right). Nice!

Nay!
Too western-y? Maybe the next style issue would have more Filipino style in it?

I say...
The best style issue (locally) so far. I think. Plus it came with a really nice supplement with it, Rustan's Index! Really nice that I will do a separate review for it. hehe

Rustan's Index:



Yay!
Good design, great photography, and for a supplement that is free, good printing/paper. I loved the eds (see photos above)! I think it's a beefed-up version of a promotional/marketing tool (read: catalog). I really liked it and thought it was really, vreally (very+really!) nice until I noticed something...

Nay!
Super nay. First, its fonts/styles resembled a bit of W magazine/T magazine. Not too bad. The super nay here is the cover itself. I'm not sure how they came up with the look/concept but...just look at the photo below. The pose, the color, almost everything. I mean come on, right? That's why I had a feeling something is strange with the cover when I first saw it. Click the photo below to find out, just in case you cannot decode what I'm talking about:



I say...
A really good one, if not for that sad, sad cover.

Magazines / September 2008 Mags (that were) Part 1 - Preview, Mega, Philippine Tatler

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For those who missed last month's magazines...
(1 of 2 (overdue) posts)
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Preview:






Yay!
I loved how they used new fonts in the editorials. They've used the same font in the eds in the past issues and this was a welcome change (although this was not the first time). And the separate trend report! I love how they made it into a supplement instead of just a feature in the magazine. It's not just an added value (they said it was like getting two for the price of one), it also gave way for more pages which basically meant more eds/features. The trend report (it used to be inside) usually used up a lot of pages and maybe if they didn't do this, they'd end up cutting some parts and that'd be sad, I think. The editorials too, IMO, were really cool.

Nay!
I didn't like how the ads were placed side by side with an editorial feature. I don't know much about this ad things but I prefer that when the main features/eds start, the ad spaces end. Imagine a TV show with commercial breaks every 2 minutes during the climax.

I say...
I just think it gets better and better every issue. Yun lang pow.

Mega:



Yay!
I liked the 10 Most Stylish feature. The selection was good, as well as the way it was laid out. It was also nice to see a day-by-day account of the collections of the Philippine Fashion Week. Although I have to say it was more on the safe side (compared to the presentation of Preview's previous [!] issue). But what it lacked in creativity (design-wise), it made up in the day-by-day report. hehe

Nay!
Mmm, it was overall ok but it could still be better. Like the Best of What's New feature, I think it looked too posed. Also, the styling/make-up looks quite on the mature side, no? If you know what I mean.

I say...
Like what I said earlier, it is in general alright, but it could be better. Or maybe it just doesn't fit my preferences/aesthetic? Oh well. But it got me buying despite of a much needed magazine consumption cut so there must be something good about it. hehe And there is—not just tailor fit to my exact aesthethic chuchu. haha

Philippine Tatler:



Yay!
The layout/design/fonts wre really nice. And the printing/paper! I might sound crazy when I always mention this technical thing but it's just really good. Something that's really expected for a 'high-society' magazine like this. I tried to find info on where this magazine was printed but I found none.

Nay!
Not exactly bad but, I'd mention it anyway. One problem (IMHO) with "franchise" magazines (I don't know what those things are called exactly) is that they usually use the contents of the other editions of the magazine. I'm pretty sure our local edition can produce its own fashion spread but I'm not sure why they had to (what looks to be borrowed) 'borrow' eds. Ok, there has got to be some explanation but oh well.

I (dare) say...
A high-society magazine for high-society people and magazine junkies alike. hehe Really, what got me buying this is the special printing of the magazine title and the thickness! haha It's their seventh year anniversary issue too and I thought there might be something really nice inside.
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DISCLAIMER!! (of sorts)
Just a little note to those who are reading this (and my other mag "reviews") and thinking what the hell. The things I'm saying are based on my own thoughts and opinions. I'd love to write and say technical stuff and magazine-y stuff but I don't have enough experience, etc to back it up. Yet. And besides, I'm still on my way learning those and forming my own (solid) ideas. But I'm trying my best to be a super-reviewer as much as I can (like MagCulture, Boicozine or Printfetish, the other full-time mag/book blogs that I love and look up to—check them out!) so there. hehe :-D Anobayan. I just had to let this one out. hahaha