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

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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

Random Photos / Sleepyheads

Random Thoughts / Current Desktop

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How do you 'the secret' your way to getting things? I've been reading Chuvaness' posts about how she 'secreted' things and it sortof convinces me that it actually works. How do you do it? Is this (see photo above) how you do it?

Oh well, it worked. Somehow. Or maybe not. But I'm happy (albeit broke) because I got the fantastic, diecut-tastic, and mahaliastic Rei kawakubo/Zaha Hadid/Louise Bourgeoise Wallpaper*. More of it later. !!

Random Thoughts / Needs vs Wants

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Magazines, and more recently, books top my list of weaknesses. My want/need meter fails miserably and stops working whenever I try to use it with mags/books/similar things. In my trips to bookstores/magshops/stands, I've collected a lot of quick snaps of books I'm planning to buy (or in case of super expensive for my student budget stuff, just dream). Then I keep a mental note of these stuff and their prices.. If I can only have it all..

I actually wanted to buy at least a book per month but oh well, so far I've only bought one (two months ago I think). I've tried to add all my recent magazine expenses and boy, I'm quite surprised how I made it. Really, if you'll allow me to be spiritual for a sentence or two, the Big Guy above has really been doing some serious blessing here because I was able to get the stuff I have now. And still eat a decent meal three times a day. And have ok clothes to wear.

Of course, aside from constant super prayer (give Edrick his daily bread and magazines...), I have made Erasmus' super quote my mantra.

Blog Updates / Excuse the silence...

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Finally, a blog post again after 10,582 years. I actually don't know where to start. Oh well, let's just say I'm a slave of time and circumstances. haha I have the materials ready to be posted (heck, i've prepared the pictures weeks ago) I just didn't find the chance and time to do it. Maybe if I have 24/7 unlimited fast internet connection,a faster machine and 1tb drive? haha In reality, I only have a neanderthaltasticly slow lappy, tons of jobs piling up, and some extra time (spent mostly catching up some sleep). And oh, school stuff too—I prioritized things and thought the blog posts, etc could wait. hehe

I still have a few few stuff to finish but things are slightly better now. I guess.

The September mags preview/review will be posted either as a 'mag that was' post or with the current issue.

Yayay! Sembreak starts today.