What Is.. Gua Sha

WARNING: you might want to avoid Google-ing ‘gua sha’ without the word facial, for the practice of Gua Sha is an ancient Chinese medicine in existence since before the age-old methods of acupuncture + more scarily perhaps, it translates directly to “scraping” - not something you might consider helpful when you’re looking for your next facial try-out. The therapy originates as a body massage + the results leave beetroot red marks on your back or the specific area worked on. However teleporting ourselves from Gua Sha’s ancient Chinese roots to 2019 + the era of self-care enthusiasts who know the importance of personal attention, not to mention a love of anything that’s truly anti-ageing + a general boost to our wellness - we come to the ‘Gua Sha’ (pronounced gwa sha) in a whole new category, the Gua Sha Facial. 

Conducted very differently when used on the face, Gua Sha can be worked into your daily skincare routine at home. Simply apply facial oil all over the face + use a flat stone of your choice (not the infamous rollers seen all over IG right now, the Gua Sha tool is much more powerful than rollers), in upward motions, very gently gliding in minute strokes. It’s a massage technique that was originally designed to relieve any tension in the muscles of the face + works very well to promote the body’s natural lymphatic drainage system while also boosting blood circulation, resulting in something we all love: the banishment of bloat. Taking stock of the day-to-day stresses of modern day life that inevitably take their toll via our facial expressions + consequently the fine lines that find themselves making their permanent mark, the stimulation that occurs as a result of the Gua Sha practice, either in your daily skincare routine or as part of a professional facial with a qualified therapist, you can be sure it works to reduce all stresses life in 2019 can play on our skin. 

Also known as coining, spooning or scraping, benefits include stimulation of the immune system, reduction of pain like headaches + jaw discomfort, it’s anti-inflammatory, it decreases puffiness under the eyes + works to plump the skin as a result of collagen rejuvenation. Unlike the more traditional Gua Sha massage, it does not leave any markings when done as a facial - unless, in choosing to do a DIY job at home + you go too intensely. It is highly recommended you watch tutorials (the best ones are linked below) to see how best to practice the method by yourself.

So although it may be only just taking over IG in recent years ( wrote this piece in 2019 so it’s even more prominent now), this practice has been around for thousands of years + if you’re willing to put in the research + wish to add Gua Sha into your at home skin-care routine, I suggest following Rachel of Relax with Rach - the treatment designer + trainer at one of my favourite skincare brands GROUND. Rachel has a quick but brilliant tutorial on her IG. Find the video here.

Another amazing follow is Britta Plug @britta_beauty, one of NYC’s top Gua Sha experts, Queen of holistic self-care + the founder of Studio Britta.

Oh + another of my go-to oils for self Gua Sha is Organic Cold pressed Jojoba Oil by Irish brand The Nature of Things which you can find here..

Shop all the best oils + tools below..

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Shop the Best Gua Sha Products

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Hello, World!

7 Online At Home Workouts

Sometimes going to a gym and getting sweaty with strangers just isn’t what feels good. Whether it’s that you’re kind of shy or simply just too busy to get your butt there, if you like to get your heart rate up and move your body, there’s never an excuse to not find time for exercise in your day and life with this list of at-home workout plans.

L O U I S A D R A K E M E T H O D

Louisa Drake is London’s hottest exercise goddess. Focusing on a very a unique fusion style of working out that combines her expertise as a professional dancer + choreographer with her incredible knowledge of the body + how to make movement fun + effective, Louisa’s personalised method brings you on a shape-changing journey, resulting in longer, leaner lines + a strengthen body tone. Having travelled the world working with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow + Victoria Beckham, in 2017 Louisa set out to create her own method, opening her very own studio in London + it’s HOT AF. Incorporating resistance, conditioning, cardio + stretching, LDM is available online with videos to buy that you can enjoy on repeat or live classes to attend via Zoom. LDM is a complete non-negotiable, just give it a try!

louisadrake.com

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M E L I S S A W O O D H E A L T H

Melissa Wood-Tepperberg is a Mom, wellness coach, avid meditator, certified yoga and pilates teacher and plant-based eater, working to shift the way we live and help her fans thrive from the inside out. The former model’s goal is to help you find your best self through movement methods, intuitive eating and mindful meditation. Her method is a monthly subscription with membership including 12 workouts available at all times, exclusive workouts published every Monday by Melissa herself and bonus flows and guided meditations throughout the month. Her upbeat personality and infectiously positive attitude is completely contagious and she is the perfect workout companion whether you’re at home or on the road. Get a 5 day free trial before committing - but trust me, you won’t be able to give it up. 

melissawoodhealth.com

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L E S M I L L S

If you’ve been to a Les Mills class you’ll know what I mean, these workouts mean bin.ness. And Les Mills On Demand is no different and just as kick-ass. With membership you obtain access to over 800 online workouts, creating a plan to suit your overall goals. As a member you also gain access to the Les Mills online global fitness community to help you stay motivated and accountable. New workouts are published each week with none ever expiring. Train your way with Les Mills, no matter where in the world you are. Try it out before fully committing for a free 10 day trial. 

lesmills.com

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P. V O L V E

From your own custom dashboard, you can plan and track your progress with P.volve. From there P.vole is all about making sure your form is working for you. With form being everything, P.volve teaches you exactly how to do every movement correctly to reduce pain or injury and of course bring to life the results you are aiming for even faster. Choose from over 150 workouts with more being added every week - all accessible online or the P.volve app. Also, with access to a motivating private Facebook community group and discounts on P.volve equipment, if you’re looking for great results and something a little different, try this amazing new addition to the at-home workout sphere. 

pvolve.com

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G L O Y O G A

Glo is perhaps one of the only, if not the sole, online based yoga classes that equals the feeling of being at an in-person class. It’s fabulous yoga at it’s best.. and on the familiarity of your own mat in the comfort of your own home. Whether you access it through online or the app, it’s staggering how many types and the volume of classes available. With many famous yoga teachers accessible on the platform too you can literally find anything you want. The classes are honestly endless, from duration to type to classes specifically focused on a particular pose like Crow or Chaturanga. Also, an enquire month of unlimited yoga on Glo costs less than a single yoga class in New York City at just $18/month. So go get your zen on with Glo.

glo.com

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T H E S H O N A V E R T U E M E T H O D

Shona Vertue found her fame by becoming the lady that helped David Beckham find his flexibility. Known for her amazing strength training, HIIT workouts and yoga flows, Shona Vertue created her Vertue Method to help you find the strength in your yoga and the flexibility in your weights training. She incorporates all aspects of health and wellness in her plans and if you follow her on Instagram, you’ll find all her top tips for finding your flow and creating the healthy body you’ve always dreamed of. 

shonavertue.com

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S W E A T

Made famous by creator and fitness industry disruptor, Kayla Itsines, SWEAT is the ultimate quick and effective sweat session for those who are ‘busy busy’ but still need to get that heart rate going and feel like motivated to workout everyday - even on your off days. Created by females; Kayla has on-boarded some of the top female personal trainers in the world so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for in a PT, it’s the perfect all female community to help you feel at home in your body. With weekly fitness goals and plans (including days off) and weekly meal plans and shopping lists, SWEAT is a monthly subscription plan that is totally worth the $19.99 fee. 

sweat.com

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Who Is.. Tracey Emin

Known for her autobiographical and self-revelatory work, Tracey Emin is one of Britain’s most respected and revered artists of the 21st century.  Using immense personal disclosure, Emin produces work using a variety of mediums from drawing and painting to photography and film, her infamous neon texts, sewn appliqué and her life-size installations. 

Born July 3rd, 1963, in Surrey, England Emin grew up in Margate with an early life that played out rather brokenly. Living in a seaside hotel with her mother and mother, Emin claims she was treated like a princess and it was only when her father, who was Turkish, stopped living with them for half the week and left to live permanently with his other wife and family, taking all their money and leaving her mother completely bankrupt that life began to show it’s darker side to her. Continuing from this devastating burden, the young Tracey along with her mother and brother lived in poverty. 

Emin left Margate to start her studies and chose fashion at the Medway College of Design where her intimate relationship with the avant-garde personality Billy Childish was the foundational beginnings that would play a very influential part in her maturing as an artist and creator. Following their breakup in 1987, she decided to move to London, where she graduated with an MA in painting at the Royal College of Art in 1989. The few years following her graduation proved a difficult time for her and she went through an emotionally traumatic period which included two abortions. During this arduous stretch she destroyed her entire portfolio of work from her time at the Royal College in an impulsive act of self-rebellion. 

Her time in London gained her the reputation as a bit of a badass, befriending other artists of the time who would later become known as the Young British Artists, a group which included other majorly successful artists like Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas. This budding group gained massive recognition thanks to Charles Saatchi who is often credited with their discovery. He bought their entire collections from the beginning, showcasing them as a group at his gallery in March 1992 which he titled “Young British Artists”. Saatchi’s support played a major role in landing them in front of the contemporary art scene, with the value of their work instantly skyrocketing as a direct result of the Saatchi effect. Anything he supports becomes ‘valuable’ overnight. The Young British Artists - or the YBA’s as they were referred to - became so infamous that they are now understood as an actually historical reference for the time. 

Some of Emin’s most celebrated and remembered works are Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995 which she created in 1995 as a shout out to everyone she ever a bed with, sexually or otherwise. For the piece she embroidered every name in her own handwriting on a sheet. Another of her greatest pieces was My Bed (1998) which she was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1999 for - one of the art world’s most notable accolades. It was a turn of events seeing as just two years prior she had appeared on a television program about the Prize as an institution where she showed up on live TV drunk and aggressive, swearing on live British TV in front of a panel of art academics. The piece though was utterly important - inspire of it’s overt controversial nature. It was bed - as it stood during a depressive phase of her life in which she personally spent four full days in bed eating nothing and wrinkly heavily. It showed everything from sexual stains and pubes to empty bottles and a mess that that mirrored her mental state at the time. It was received with gravely critical reviews and the age old claim that “well anyone can make that”.. to which she cleverly responded “Well, they didn’t, did they?”.

Despite not winning, her nomination was something of a moment as her piece, portrayed the dire situation she found herself in personally and it played on emotions of a dark nature - something completely related to many who suffer with mental health. It played a huge part in catapulting her to fame and the piece’s notoriety has continued to this day. Another of her more recent pieces is a neon light sculpture at St. Pancreas International Station in London. The 20-meter long installation greets travellers with the words “I want my time with you” as they enter the station.

Tracey Emin has exhibited extensively including major solo shows at Château La Coste in France, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh among many others. She represented Great Britain at the 52nd Venice Biennale, an honour in which she invited to show a commissioned body of work as a solo exhibitor at the British Pavilion, titled Borrowed Light. 

Marking her true arrival and finally gaining a seat at the table of high-brow British artists, she was made a Royal Academician at London's Royal Academy of the Arts in 1997, a moment in which she was undoubtedly and ultimately accepted by the establishment. Emin has also been named as one of the most powerful women in Britain and awarded a CBE for her services to the arts in 2013. 

From an impoverished childhood, smeared with experiences children should never be subjected to gaining recognition as one of the top contemporary artists of our time, Emin - intelligent and wounded - has settled slightly in her controversial ways. However, she continues to work with an astonishing sense of urgency and determined vision that continues to push the boundaries of society and what is deemed “normal” despite her personal life and appearances lessening in their sensationalist ways. She is represented by White Cube and will open another major solo exhibition, entitled The Loneliness in the spring of 2020 at Oslo’s Munch Museum. Following that she is set to unveil her permanent public commission The Mother for Oslo’s Museum Island. The exhibition will later tour to the RA, London in November 2020.  

Designer Spotlight; Mother of Pearl

The perfect amount of classic with a flawless touch of twist, Mother of Pearl is a brand on a mission to evolve the way we consume fashion: reducing the impact we have on the planet while always remaining style forward. Never boring and always on trend, the London based sustainable label is one of the industry’s leaders in terms of quality and contemporary design while also being uber conscious of bringing an all important element of heart and spirit to the market: a transparent label that celebrates individuality and authenticity. 

With a base in East London, the relatively young fashion label never compromises on design, creating inspired collections that bring strength to our intricacies and a softness to the power dresser within. Printed luxe fabrics and carefully designed details come together to form it’s foundations with an equal focus on casual and luxury. Each piece has a voice of it’s own and can play both roles, that of an effortless everyday wardrobe staple or with a little elevation, can be brought out for something more significant and special.

The British luxury womenswear brand was founded back in 2002. It’s current Creative Director, Amy Powney,  who joined in 2006 - just 4 years after it’s formation, began her journey within from the bottom, sweeping the floors of the cutting-room floor, working her way up to the top and stepping into the role of Creative Director in 2015. Understanding each and every element of the company as a whole, she has brought the label the forefront of the industry and continues to build the brand’s stellar reputation season by season. Informed and inspired by her upbringing in Northern England, Powney draws upon her love of the 90’s and 2000’s - the era of her teenage years and is often creatively motivated by the critical social photographers and fashion shoots of those times. 

Showing at London Fashion week and stocked at some of the world’s most prestigious retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter, Harrods and Goop, Mother of Pearl is something of a modern day beauty, combining a distinctive elegance with that cooler-younger-sister-IT-girl vibe.

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SHOP MOTHER OF PEARL

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Images: AW19 Mother of Pearl Campaign

Eating Out in Los Angeles, 10 Hotspots

M A R G O T

8820 Washington Blvd #301, Culver City // Monday - Sunday 11am - 2am

Margo is the ultimate any-day spot that can take you from morning to night, Monday to Sunday. 

Designed by Thomas Schoos, the space is a mix of California cool and unreservedly decadent rooftop terrace chic. The food is top-notch classic plates, headed up by chef, Michael Williams, with the menu consisting of elegantly presented classics - think avocado for breakfast, past dishes for lunch and meaty delicacies for dinner. Enjoy a cocktail by cocktail guru David Kupchinsky or a beautiful glass of wine, chosen with the guidance of sommelier and general manager, John Snowden. 

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C E C C O N I ‘S

8764 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood // Monday - Thursday 8am - 12am, Friday 8am - 1am, Saturday 9am - 1am, Sunday 9am - 11pm

L.A kinda cool, Cecconi’s is a West Hollywood staple. On the corner of Melrose Avenue and Robertson Boulevard, the Soho House created restaurant is a contemporary Italian with a classic twist. The vibe is scene-y, let’s just say, you might see Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian and the kids rock up for weekend brunch. It’s very L.A. Menu highlights are definitely ahi tuna tartare and the wood oven pizza’s, not forgetting any or all of the hand-made past dishes. 

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S U S H I P A R K

8539 W. Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood // Tuesday - Friday 12 - 1.45pm & 6 - 9pm, Saturday 6 - 9pm

Unassuming yet utterly unmissable, this quintessential sushi joint is hidden away on the second floor of a undistinguished strip mall on Sunset Boulevard. It’s a local hotspot where seats are like gold-dust and opening hours are limited, creating an exclusivity in a place you’d otherwise pass by without a second look. Upon dining at Sushi Park though, you just get it. The hype is real. It’s an Omakase situation only at the sushi bar or à la carte options are available if you chose to sit at a table. Wherever you sit though and whether you can get a seat, it’s worth every single (however pricey) dollar. 

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G R A C I A S M A D R E

8905 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood // Monday - Friday 11am - 11pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am - 11pm

Mexican delights with a twist: everything is vegan at this famed West Hollywood hotspot. Fear not though as every single dish has all the qualifications of a Mexican delight, spicy, zesty and full of flavour. It’s another somewhat too-cool-for-school spot that plays home to one of the chicest outdoor patio area where tables and lined with trees that sparkle with little fairy lights. Thanks to executive chef Alan Sanz, menu highlights have to be the guac and chips to start, any or all of the bowls or jackfruit carnitas tacos as a main and their signature mescal margarita or the CBD snow cone.. perhaps the most adventurous cocktails one can find in the vicinity. 

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L A U R E L H A R D WA R E

7984 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood // Monday - Friday 5pm - 2am, Saturday 3pm - 2am, Sunday 9.20am - 2am

Named after the original WeHo hardware store that once occupied the space, Laurel Hardware is a sleek peak at L.A’s beautiful crowd who casually hang out in the hotspots magical back patio. With the crowd typically just as gorgeous as their surrounds at the funky L.A eatery, the feel is definitely ultra scene-y. The creators are all about those unique craft cocktails with an inventive mid-priced New American food vibe. Menu highlights include allllllll the small plates, the grilled avocado & citrus salad and the delicious coconut curry grain bowl. 

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T H E L I T T L E D O O R

8164 W 3rd Street // Sunday - Thursday 6pm - 10pm, Friday and Saturday 6pm - 11pm

Nestled away in the hearty of 3rd Street, this tiny super romantic date night spot is one of the cities most reliable and trusty restaurants. The brasseries style eatery boasts a vanquishing combination of intimate character and delicious fare. Famous for it’s cutesy and intimate, dimly lit courtyard and classic Californian cuisine with ample French touches, you could say it’s a match made in dining out heaven and somewhere that, no matter how many places come and go in Los Angeles, will always be there to stay. The wine list is of note too with an impressibly extensive range, offering bottles from all over the world.

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R É P U B L I Q U E

624 South La Brea Avenue // Sunday - Wednesday 8am - 3pm & 5.30pm - 10pm, Thursday - Saturday 8am - 3pm & 5.30pm - 11pm

Replacing one of the most famous restaurants spaces in Los Angeles (previously Campanile), Republique had a hefty expectation placed upon it by simply opening where it has. However, in true LA style, the modern eatery has exceeded all such expectations with it’s contemporary French plates and friendly communal tables. Interiors here are something of a show and nothing short of magnificent with an impressive three kitchens, each opening out onto the main dining space. Along with the cleverly created marketplace-in-a-c courtyard and communal feel, an experience at Republique is a serious education in good dining. Menu highlights include (just about anything on there.. but specifically) the salads, the freshly made white corn agnolotti and the lamb shank or beef short rib. Also for the sake of humanity, do not pass on the bread basket, I repeat, do.not.pass.on.the.bread.basket. 

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R O S A L I N É

8479 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood // Sunday - Thursday 6 - 9.30pm, Friday & Saturday 6 - 10.30pm

A large, open space Rosaline is located right at Melrose and La Cienega and stands to be that trusty friend you can reply on for just about anything. Famed for it’s modern yet completely unpretentious take on Peruvian food - think traditional staples like paelle, ceviche and arroz con pollo; it’s got a little something that will suit every kind of eater. The space is cool, playing more in line with LA’s contemporary indoor-outdoor dining movement of late and boasts a Kevin Tsai architecturally-designed interior, bringing a very relaxed and modest feel to your evening out. Menu highlights have to be the crispy calamari marinated in yuzu kosho (a Japanese spice) and the solarito, a lima bean salad with avocados and feta. 

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C R A I G ‘S

8826 Melrose Avenue // Monday - Sunday 5pm - 12.30am

Rightly demanding the title of “the best place in Los Angeles to spot celebrities” Craig’s is that mystical place to experience even just once in a lifetime. Admittedly it’s not much more than overpriced American fare in the menu department and wouldn’t be our first choice for those looking for something mouthwateringly delectable but if you can overlook such details when dining out then it’s the most LA LA can get in terms of people watching. Guests are seated depending on their level of fame and from Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro to Larry King and the Gerbers, George Clooney and Amal, Kate Upton and just about anyone who’s anyone. Go even just for a drink at the bar; the $15 cocktails are worth it just to people watch. 

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T H E  B A Z A A R  BY  J O S É  A N D R É S 

465 La Cienega Boulevard // Wednesday & Thursday & Sunday 5.30pm - 10pm, Friday & Saturday 5.30pm - 11pm

Sexy and playful, this destination style restaurant was a $12 million collaboration between the famously hot-headed Spanish chef José Andrés, hotelier Sam Nazarian and designer Philippe Starck. Bringing to life something of a welcomed yet disorienting feel, the dazzling hotspot is brought together with a shockingly fabulous interior design, a patisserie, a Moss design store, two main dining rooms, a bar and an itinerant palm reader no less. The food is just as nonplussed, offering the likes of foie gras cotton candy and elegant cones filled with caviar which only once eaten can truly be understood; much like the overall experience of The Bazaar, it’s an experience comprehended as something truly special and bazaar. 

Edelle Kenny, The Interview

Edelle Kenny is an Irish, New York City based photographer, videographer and freelance TV producer. She has worked on major global campaigns, shooting top models and influencers, not to mention her work as a producer with the Discovery Channel. Edelle’s work is a beautiful mix of sultry and sexy with a depth of meaning very distinctive to her style. She lives and works in Manhattan and here we speak to her about her life as a photographer, her thoughts on comparisons and competition and what her dream shoot would be..

Edelle, tell us about your path into the photography world?

I’ve always been a very visual person and loved to document moments on point and shot cameras growing up. When I was 18 I started a PLC in Media and Communications and one of our modules was photography. It was probably my favourite module but I decided to pursue television and documentary and unfortunately my interest fell by the wayside for a few years. When I moved to New York I had access to different cameras in my day job and I started taking them home on the weekend to teach myself. I actually still have the first 60 photos I shot. I remember being too nervous to take photos of people. I used to go to Tiffany’s on 5th Avenue because they would have models as door men and I would creepily just shoot them standing outside. From there I decided to try make a side hustle and began shooting portraits and ‘looks’ for influencers to try build up my skills . Eventually I started booking more and more jobs via photography with private clients, brands and companies. 

 You’ve made a professional career of your passion which is something so admirable and not many can truly say they’ve achieved, how do you balance between personal preferences as a creator and your clients wishes when working on commercial work? 

This is a tough one. Like any artist or creative knows, if your work is your passion, but you are only willing to take jobs that are your creative preference, you will most certainly go hungry and broke.

For me, if I am not 100 percent invested and excited about a project I am unfulfilled. For a long time I found myself taking every photography job offered to make ends meet and then essentially not enjoying what I was creating and loosing interest in my passion. So I came up with a solution. I decided to spilt my time, I went back to working freelance in television and when a photography job came up that I was really really excited about, I would take it. 

How does the creative process happen when you’re working on a shoot?

While working on a shoot creative process always starts with a concept and deciding ‘What is the story behind what we are trying to create”? Even if the end results don’t necessarily project that story as a narrative, it’s a good vibe to remember on the day. No two minds are alike so I will usually ask for the client to present me with some visuals that inspire them and I will also create a mood-board of what is in my head and only then do we merge. On the day of the shoot, you shoot and adapt. Sometimes we’ll be trying to capture something we thought we wanted and instead the opposite will feel right, so you adjust to go with that. Everyones input is considered, make up artists, hairstylists, assistants, absolutely everyone gets involved.

On the relationship between you and the subjects you work with, how do you cultivate an environment that allows them to come to life in a way necessary for the shoot?

THE most important thing, in my opinion, is cultivating a comfortable and relaxed environment for your subject. If your photo is technically perfect and your model is uncomfortable, it means nothing. If your photo is slightly out of focus or under exposed but your model is showing their personality, then you can say it’s a great photo. You can fix photos in photoshop, you can’t fix emotions. I always sit and chat with the subject, get to know them, and ease them into a shoot.

We live in a very digital focussed generation, with so many people now creating content directly on their phones, what are your thoughts on it all and would we ever catch you using yours to capture moments in time?

I hear a lot of photographers give out about iPhone photography saying slightly passive-aggressively ‘Oh everyone is a photographer today’, and frankly, in my opinion, that’s the truth. Everyone can take a photo much like everyone is able to sing. But, it’s subjective, and I think artists need to find solace in that concept. Know that it’s subjective. Your vision of beauty is and never will be the same as someones else’s. If you have the ability to capture something that at least one other person can say beautiful, then settle for that. And if someone else is able to create that happiness with an iPhone picture, then it’s just another piece of good in the world.  Good photography is not about a beautiful person with a blurred background and perfect skin texture, (which iPhones can do amazingly now), that is good advertising! Good photography is about the beauty of this world and how you see it and sharing your point of view with the rest of us. So long story short, I am here for iPhone photography, the more beauty we can share the better. 

In saying that, I try not to use my phone for photography because I don’t think I would ever switch off. If I know I will want to take photos I bring my camera. But, if I feel I need to switch off, I leave it and home and don’t take pictures with my phone either. My camera roll is shamelessly full to the brim with screenshots of memes. 

How is photographing a celebrity or model different from photographing a regular person?  The only difference I find is the crew size. I never behave differently. I get one on one with the subject and find the connection between us. Whether it’s an international super model or if a 14 year old getting her portrait taken and we bond over favourite school subjects.People are people and everyone is a human on set in search of making that connection to feel comfortable.

Where do you find yourself most inspired?

I find myself most inspired in lower Manhattan; the personalities, the style, the stories are amazing there. It’s at times overwhelming. I walk by these two men every morning who sit and play music on their stoop and chat with all the regular neighbours. They wear very unique clothes and I always think, I just want to follow you all day with a camera. 

Do you ever get creative blocks? How do you deal with them?

Creative blocks are something I used to think where crippling and I would let them own me. I would stop posting on social media and watch other people thrive and beat myself up over it. Until I learned to give into creative blocks and see them as creative breaks. I think that’s something that is important to realise, when you’re a creative, you never switch off because you’re pulling inspiration from everywhere and everything; from the light than comes into your bedroom window the moment you wake up to the way the street lights catch a silhouette in the dead of night, it’s exhausting! Allow yourself a break and let your creative mind readjust and grow!

When do you know you have the perfect shot?

I wish I had an insightful answer for this but I just feel it. There’s always that one shot you take and you just shout, ‘this is it, we got it’ . Ironically, when you go into edits, it’s not the one you choose but that feeling on the day is usually where I put the camera down or move on. 

Living in a big city where creatives relocate to thrive, there’s so much competition; to what do you attribute your success thus far?

Competition. A word and concept I’m learning to remove myself from in every aspect of my personal and professional life. If you can lay your head on your pillow at night and know that you gave everything you had that day, it’s good enough. I remember one time I applied for a Photography Incubation Space. I went to the open day to meet the organisers to do an interview. I brought what I thought was my best work. They told me I wasn’t suitable and then referenced the excellence and creative intelligence of what was currently in the incubator. The series of photos they referenced, was a self portrait photo of a man’s testicles sticking out of his fly with a piece of pink bubblegum stuck to them. I’m not doubting this as art, but I remember leaving the studio and crying the whole way home on the subway because I was comparing myself to a testicle poking out through a pair of yellow cords. I considered giving up on photography. But trust me, DO NOT compare yourself and never ever give up. 

What’s your favourite photograph that you’ve taken.. and the one you wish you’d taken?

I go through phases but the one that immediately comes to mind is of a dear friend Ruthy. Ruth is a beautiful girl who modelled before and we see each other every week, on paper it seemed like the perfect match to shoot immediately but, we didn’t. Something didn’t feel right and I am glad we waited. When we met we were very chalk and cheese and as our friendship developed we began to understand each other more and right before she left New York I asked her to shoot. This photo is the perfect merge between our personalities. Sharp, blurred lines, sexual and reserved.

The photo I wish I had taken, with out a doubt, is ANYTHING shot by Vivian Maier.

If you were to land your absolute dream shoot, what would it be, where and with who?

Dream shoot would defintitely be with Nat Geo, photographing lost tribes. 

Who in the industry inspires you?

On a fashion visual standpoint, Matteo Montanari. His ability to photograph fashion in an effortless and documentary style is beautiful. 

For commercial and street photography, it’s a fellow Dubliner turned NewYorker, Rich Gilligan.  

Do you have any tips for those wishing too build a career as a photographer?

Take photos of what you love and take loads. You don’t need the best equipment on the market. Do it on a disposable. Curate your eye and don’t be afraid to stop people in the street and say, can I shoot you.

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Edelle Kenny's New York City Hotlist

Edelle Kenny is an Irish, New York City based photographer, videographer and freelance TV producer. She has worked on major global campaigns, shooting top models and influencers, not to mention her work as a producer with the Discovery Channel. Edelle’s work is a beautiful mix of sultry and sexy with a depth of meaning very distinctive to her style. She lives and works in Manhattan.

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Favourite way to spend a day to yourself?

Wake up early. A run along the east river. Then, scoot to Williamsburg and get a take out breakfast and sit in Domino park. Followed by a trip back into Manhattan to spend hours, walking around aimlessly soaking in the ample culture that New York has to offer. with a disposable camera in hand.  Also on a more practical note, I’d probably find an hour to go to Trader Joes and do a food shop mid day while there are no lines. It’s not all dreamy folks. 

Favourite breakfast?

My favourite breakfast is disappointingly oats, in my own apartment. I recently just got my own lease on my first Manhattan apartment, which is a big deal for freelancer, and my kitchen thankfully overlooks not one but two of the beautiful community artists gardens in the East Village. It’s a rare sight of green in the city. 

Favourite brunch?

My Favourite brunch is Cafe Collet in Williamsburg. It’s an aesthetically well thought out cafe with impeccable food. Everything on the menu is delicious and get the dark chocolate toast for the table. 

Favourite dinner?

My favourite dinner is a hard choice! For an intimate group or one on one with a friend I’ve been going Hanoi House on St Marks. At times there’s a wait time of over an hour, but I’ve never been disappointed. 

Favourite cocktail spot?

Apotheke in China town. I’ve been here a few times over the last year and I really like it as a treat. It’s good cocktails, atmosphere and amazing music.

Favourite hotel?

My favourite hotel is the Whyte hotel or the William Vale in Williamsburg. I recently spent the evening in September with a friend and her family who were staying in a water facing room. Wine, the sun setting over manhattan and friends that feel like family is the best feeling. 

Favourite night out?

Honestly, anything and anywhere intimate with my closest friends. a dinner followed by a few drinks and good conversation. 

Favourite hidden gem?

Roosevelt Island is a small island on the east of Manhattan. There’s not a lot going on there, but bring a picnic and a concealed bottle of wine in the summer evenings, sit in the Four Freedoms Park and watch the sunset over Manhattan. It’s also the most amazing place during cherry blossom season. 

Favourite exercise class?

My favourite exercise class is Rumble or GRIT boxing. Sometimes you just got to punch it out. I don’t need to say more.

Favourite weekend escape?

My favourite weekend escape is The Rockaways in Queens. It’s a strip of beach in Queens that seems like a little island of it’s own! It’s about 1.5 hour cycle from the city or you can get a ferry out there. I’ve regularly seen schools of dolphins and whales from the shore. It’s a really quick fix when you need to escape the madness of Manhattan. 

Favourite boutique?

Awoke Vinatge. Without a doubt. My 2019 new years resolution was to be more eco-friendly so Awoke is the perfect match between a little luxury and second hand. 

Favourite artist?

Nadia Lee Cohen and AlexPrager. Neither of them have the same aesthetic style as me but I find both of them captivating. 

Favourite museum?

Museum of Moving Image! Its small and seems specialised but it’s so interesting. I have been to the Jim Henson exhibition twice and if you watched the muppets as a child, it’s a must. 

Image Edelle Kenny

What Is.. Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy has been around for decades as an, albeit quite controversial, source of mental and physical stress relief. Benefits are said to include reduction in arthritic pain and migraine symptoms, depletion of atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions, the numbing of nerve irritation, alleviation of low mood disorders and it is said to aid weight loss and the reduction of disease-causing inflammation. That’s a hell of a lot of benefits in one treatment right? As popular as the treatment has become in the past two years though there is yet to be any formal scientific proof of all the possible advantages. Yet, despite it’s lack of FDA approval just yet, it has undoubtedly joined the ranks of high-tech skincare with many high-profile doctors and dermatologists, medical aestheticians and facialists getting behind it as a major player in anti-ageing skincare and overall health. The therapy style treatment for your skin comes in a facial form or as a whole body remedy . 

A shortcut to brighter, tighter skin, the treatment has amassed a serious cult following, boosting cell rejuvenation and collagen while also stimulating the immune system; so there’s something good for the inside and the out and what’s not to love about that! Using it as a whole body treatment is often practiced by top athletes to rehab muscles and increase circulation. In the full-body treatment, users strip nude and are encased in a cryogenic chamber (similar to a tanning booth) where you are exposed to extremely cold temperatures - like say negative-225-degrees-Fahrenheit kinda cold - created by liquid nitrogen for a period of 3-5 minutes. Perhaps more popular in the beauty world though is the cryotherapy facial which has gained immense popularity in recent times among the beauty world’s elite and celebrities alike.  

A cryogenic facial is similar to that of a full body treatment and can be either an in-and-out treatment with just the cryogenic element or can consist of a myriad of steps, only one of which is the cryotherapy itself. Options around the main event include thorough cleansing, microdermabrasion to give a deep exfoliation after which the freezing, ice-cold air is blown across each area of the face, neck and chin, followed by LED light therapy. Avid followers of the trend claim to see benefits of glowing skin and anti-ageing elements bringing them back for more. 

Who Is.. Ellen Von Unwerth

Playfully erotic images of female pop stars and models have made Ellen von Unwerth’s photographic career a seriously sexy success. Born In Frankfurt, Germany in 1954, von Unwerth’s childhood was dotted with stints in foster care and was marred with unrest. Upon graduating from high school however, her vivid imagination saw her taking a job in the circus as an assistant. She regularly performed in the travelling show’s magic acts, it was her escape and she loved it. Soon enough though her great escape presented itself and her fashion career began to take shape when she was at university in Munich on her first day when she was spotted by a modelling scout. She modelled in Munich for some time before relocating to Paris where she signed with Elite and remained in front of the camera for 10 years, booking many prestigious jobs including the cover of Cosmopolitan.

It wasn’t until her boyfriend at the time gifted her a new camera on a shoot on location in Kenya that her inner passion and gift for being behind the lens came to light. She began taking her own photos and in no time she was shooting regular campaigns. In 1989 however she really found her footing, landing a monumental project, a Guess campaign in which she shot one of the era’s newly rising models, Claudia Schiffer. The two budding stars found major fame in the moment and von Unwerth became a hot commodity overnight. Just two years later she won first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography earning her her place in the industry as one of it’s top fashion photographers. Her photographic style was a refreshing take on the provocative, portraying women in playful settings while drawing a seductive story in every shot; something that would continue to dictate Guess’ notoriously suggestive campaigns for over 30 years since. 

Opulently feminine and luxuriously sensual, von Unwerth’s work is instantly recognisable. She has said of her craft that “Technique undoubtedly helps make photography magical, but I prefer to work with atmosphere. I think that the obsession with technique is a male thing. I would rather search for a new model or location.” Her work has been published in major fashion publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, The Face, Arena, and i-D.  and she has shot some of the most prolific and sometimes controversial campaigns in fashion history for brands like Dior, Ralph Lauren, Uniqlo, Thierry Mulger and John Galliano. 

She understands the sexy and makes it somehow sexier, something perhaps only a female photographer can do so powerfully and without objectification. Her creative prowess has spawned many mediums including her directorial work on music videos and the creative direction of some of the past decades most famed album covers, including Duran Duran’s 1990 Liberty album, Pop Life by Bananarama in 1991, Saints and Sinners by All Saints in 2000, Blackout by Britney Spears, 2007 and Talk That Talk and Rated by Rihanna. She has also been director of commercial films for brands such as Revlon, Equinox and Clinique. No matter her way of delivering beautiful images however, you can be sure that Ellen von Unwerth will always maintain her sexy distinctive style, holding her place as one of her generations most celebrated image makers. 

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SHOP ELLEN VON UNWERTH BOOKS

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Designer Spotlight: Gareth Pugh

Gareth Pugh is a British fashion designer renowned for his fantastical and futuristic designs, an aesthetic unparalleled in the industry since perhaps the dark and dreamy era of McQueen’s. Born August 31st 1981, Pugh grew up in Sunderland in the United Kingdom and was an avid dancer as a child. The famed designer started his career in fashion, close to where his passions lay, at the youthful age of 14 when he began working as a costume designer for the English National Youth Theatre as part of the Wayne McGregor Company, the celebrated resident choreographic company at Sadler’s Wells, London. 

Later he went on to study his craft, beginning his fashion studies at the City of Sunderland College and later completing his formal education at the prestigious Central Saint Martin's. Upon graduating in 2003, his final collection was selected for the cover of cult British magazine Dazed & Confused, something that catapulted him into a whole new realm of fame and popularity as a young budding designer.

In 2005, Pugh was asked to design for Kylie Minogue’s Showgirls tour, a project from which came the opportunity to design for Lady Gaga, Roisin Murphy, Beyonce and Rihanna on their world tours. His earlier life as a dancer has continued to have a thread throughout his career in fashion, seeing him design costumes for Alea Sands at the Paris Opera Ballet and Eliogabalo at the Paris Opéra. 

His creative tendencies do not stop at dressing the worlds most elite stars and fashionistas though; his love of film has seem him collaborate with director Ruth Hogben and creative genius Nick Knight on fashion films, one of which, A Beautiful Darkness examines our internal dispute between chaos and control alongside the journey we take through the fluctuating states of sanity. His work holds an immense profoundness and he consistently seeks to wow through his search for the dark, unapologetic depths of creativity that aren’t always perfectly placed or wonderfully beautiful. 

He opened his first boutique in Hong Kong in 2010 and is stocked in major international boutiques and department stores such as Opening Ceremony, SAKS Fifth Avenue, Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Selfridges and Dover Street Market in London, Colette in Paris, IT and Joyce in Hong Kong and Side by Side in Japan. His work has been featured in all the top fashion publications including W, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and LOVE.

Pugh lives and works in London where he currently shows at London Fashion Week and has an ongoing collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor. 

garethpughstudio.com

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SHOP GARETH PUGH

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Great Reads, November 2019

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What's Hot on Your Bookshelf, November 2019

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‘BEYOND BELIEF’ BY JENNA MISCAVIGE HILL

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church's highest ministry, speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.

In this tell-all memoir, complete with family photographs from her time in the Church, Jenna Miscavige Hill, a prominent critic of Scientology who now helps others leave the organization, offers an insider's profile of the beliefs, rituals, and secrets of the religion that has captured the fascination of millions, including some of Hollywood's brightest stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

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‘THENICKEL BOYS’ BY COLSON WHITEHEAD

Elwood Curtis has taken the words of Dr Martin Luther King to heart: he is as good as anyone. Abandoned by his parents, brought up by his loving, strict and clearsighted grandmother, Elwood is about to enroll in the local black college. But given the time and the place, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy his future, and so Elwood arrives at The Nickel Academy, which claims to provide 'physical, intellectual and moral training' which will equip its inmates to become 'honorable and honest men'.

In reality, the Nickel Academy is a chamber of horrors, where physical, emotional and sexual abuse is rife, where corrupt officials and tradesmen do a brisk trade in supplies intended for the school, and where any boy who resists is likely to disappear 'out back'. Stunned to find himself in this vicious environment, Elwood tries to hold on to Dr King's ringing assertion, 'Throw us in jail, and we will still love you.' But Elwood's fellow inmate and new friend Turner thinks Elwood is naive and worse; the world is crooked, and the only way to survive is to emulate the cruelty and cynicism of their oppressors.

The tension between Elwood's idealism and Turner's skepticism leads to a decision which will have decades-long repercussions.

Based on the history of a real reform school in Florida that operated for one hundred and eleven years and warped and destroyed the lives of thousands of children, The Nickel Boys is a devastating, driven narrative by a great American novelist whose work is essential to understanding the current reality of the United States.

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‘FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE’ BY TAFFY BRODESSER-AKNER

Finally free from his nightmare marriage, Toby Fleishman is ready for a life of online dating and weekend-only parental duties. But as he optimistically looks to a future that is wildly different from the one he imagined, his life turns upside-down as his ex-wife, Rachel, suddenly disappears.

While Toby tries to find out what happened - juggling work, kids and his new, app-assisted sexual popularity - his tidy narrative of a spurned husband is his sole consolation. But if he ever wants to really understand where Rachel went and what really happened to his marriage, he is going to have to consider that he might not have seen it all that clearly in the first place..

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‘GRAND UNION’ BY ZADIE SMITH

In the summer of 1959, an Antiguan immigrant in north west London lives the last day of his life, unknowingly caught in someone else's story of hate and division, resistance and revolt.

A mother looks back on her early forays into matters of the human heart - and other parts of the human body - considering the ways in which desire is always an act of negotiation, destruction, and self-invention.

A disgraced cop stands amid the broken shards of his life, unable to move forward into a future that holds no place for him.

Moral panic spreads like contagion through the upper echelons of New York City - and the cancelled people look disconcertingly like the rest of us.

A teenage scion of the technocratic elite chases spectres through a premium virtual reality, trailed by a little girl with a runny nose and no surviving family.

We all take a much-needed break from this mess, on a package holiday where the pool's electric blue is ceaselessly replenished, while political and environmental collapse happen far away, to someone else.

Interleaving eleven completely new and unpublished stories with some of her best-loved pieces from the New Yorker and elsewhere, Zadie Smith presents a dizzyingly rich and varied collection of fiction. Moving exhilaratingly across genres and perspectives, from the historic to the vividly current to the slyly dystopian, Grand Union is a sharply alert and prescient collection about time and place, identity and rebirth, the persistent legacies that haunt our present selves and the uncanny futures that rush up to meet us.

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‘THE FABULOUS BOUVIER SISTERS’ BY SAM KASHNER & NANCY SCHOENBERGER

A poignant, evocative, and wonderfully gossipy account of the two sisters who represented style and class above all else—Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill—from the authors of Furious Love.

When sixty-four-year-old Jackie Kennedy Onassis died in her Fifth Avenue apartment, her younger sister Lee wept inconsolably. Then Jackie’s thirty-eight-page will was read. Lee discovered that substantial cash bequests were left to family members, friends, and employees—but nothing to her. "I have made no provision in this my Will for my sister, Lee B. Radziwill, for whom I have great affection, because I have already done so during my lifetime," read Jackie’s final testament. Drawing on the authors’ candid interviews with Lee Radziwill, The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters explores their complicated relationship, placing them at the center of twentieth-century fashion, design, and style.

In life, Jackie and Lee were alike in so many ways. Both women had a keen eye for beauty—in fashion, design, painting, music, dance, sculpture, poetry—and both were talented artists. Both loved pre-revolutionary Russian culture, and the blinding sunlight, calm seas, and ancient olive groves of Greece. Both loved the siren call of the Atlantic, sharing sweet, early memories of swimming with the rakish father they adored, Jack Vernou Bouvier, at his East Hampton retreat. But Jackie was her father’s favorite, and Lee, her mother’s. One would grow to become the most iconic woman of her time, while the other lived in her shadow. As they grew up, the two sisters developed an extremely close relationship threaded with rivalry, jealousy, and competition. Yet it was probably the most important relationship of their lives.

For the first time, Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner and acclaimed biographer Nancy Schoenberger tell the complete story of these larger-than-life sisters. Drawing on new information and extensive interviews with Lee, now eighty-four, this dual biography sheds light on the public and private lives of two extraordinary women who lived through immense tragedy in enormous glamour.

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‘ME ELTON JOHN OFFICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY’ BY ELTON JOHN

Christened Reginald Dwight, he was a shy boy with Buddy Holly glasses who grew up in the London suburb of Pinner and dreamed of becoming a pop star. By the age of twenty-three, he was performing his first gig in America, facing an astonished audience in his bright yellow dungarees, a star-spangled T-shirt and boots with wings. Elton John had arrived and the music world would never be the same again.

His life has been full of drama, from the early rejection of his work with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar; from half-heartedly trying to drown himself in his LA swimming pool to disco-dancing with the Queen; from friendships with John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and George Michael to setting up his AIDS Foundation. All the while, Elton was hiding a drug addiction that would grip him for over a decade.

In Me Elton also writes powerfully about getting clean and changing his life, about finding love with David Furnish and becoming a father. In a voice that is warm, humble and open, this is Elton on his music and his relationships, his passions and his mistakes. This is a story that will stay with you, by a living legend.

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‘CHANEL’S RIVIERA’ BY ANNE DE COURCY

Far from worrying about the onset of war, in the spring of 1938 the burning question on the French Riviera was whether one should curtsey to the Duchess of Windsor. Few of those who had settled there thought much about what was going on in the rest of Europe. It was a golden, glamorous life, far removed from politics or conflict.

Featuring a sparkling cast of artists, writers and historical figures including Winston Churchill, Daisy Fellowes, Salvador Dalí, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Eileen Gray and Edith Wharton, with the enigmatic Coco Chanel at its heart, CHANEL'S RIVIERA is a captivating account of a period that saw some of the deepest extremes of luxury and terror in the whole of the twentieth century.

From Chanel's first summer at her Roquebrune villa La Pausa (in the later years with her German lover) amid the glamour of the pre-war parties and casinos in Antibes, Nice and Cannes to the horrors of evacuation and the displacement of thousands of families during the Second World War, CHANEL'S RIVIERA explores the fascinating world of the Cote d'Azur elite in the 1930s and 1940s. Enriched with much original research, it is social history that brings the experiences of both rich and poor, protected and persecuted, to vivid life.

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Who Is.. KAWS

KAWS, the subversive artist considered one of the most relevant artists of his generation has found himself as one of the industries most talked about creators in recent times. Something of a worldwide phenomenon, and a noted disruptor in an industry that typically has rules expected to be obeyed, he stands somewhere between the high-brow world of fine art and the very real temptations of international commerce as he plays to his own directives, sidetracking all the industries traditional hierarchies. His creations are exhibited in museums and galleries from New York to Tokyo and literally everywhere in between. 

Born in Jersey City, NJ as Brian Donnelly in 1974, the distinguished artist spent his teenage years graffiti-bombing trains, buildings, phone booths, advertisements and billboards around his neighbourhood. He graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration. It was before college though that his career began when he moved to New York City in 1996 and started by changing the images found on bus shelters, phone booths and billboards, tagging them with his signature KAWS. His graffiti tags garnered huge popularity and become progressively desired by the public. After graduating in 1996 he worked for a time at Disney as a freeman animator where he was part of the team that painted backgrounds that contributed to movies such as 101 Dalmations and Daria. 

Taking inspiration from art history and popular culture he has become famous most notably for his larger-than-life sculptures and their amazingly clever placement in a variety of different settings around the world, all of which have come together so successfully with added thanks to the power of social media and the influence of younger generations instrumental mastery of the ‘gram’. Possessing a sophisticated humour along with his incredible ability to deconstruct iconic characters he represents a whole new era in contemporary art and a luxury market that worships the pop in popular. 

His work influences a multitude of industries while he uses a myriad of mediums including painting, printmaking, sculpture, fashion, toy production and merchandise to reach his fixated audiences. Over the past two decades, his paintings and cartoon characters have garnered a cult following, including major collectors and celebrities such as Kayne West and Travis Scott - something the art world can’t ignore despite those at the top of the pecking order’s desperate attempt to dismiss his career as empty and his famed creations illogical. Engaging audiences far beyond the museums and collectors homes though he reaches us via his continuing collaboration with major brands such as Comme des Garcons, Original Fake, Dior, Supreme, A Bathing Ape, Uniqlo, Hennessy, Undercover, Kung Faux, Nike and Vans. In 2018 KAWS pieces generated a total of $33.8 million at auction and the average for each piece doubled from the previous year, proof of his pull when it comes to the devoted nature of those investing in art as a global market. 

Larger than life, in real life he works and lives in Brooklyn, New York where The Brooklyn Museum will open a major retrospective in 2021. His first Middle East museum show, KAWS: He Eats Alone, recently opened at Doha Fire Station (Qatar Museums) and will run until January 2020. 

What Is.. The Ricari Method

Born in Beverly Hill, Los Angeles the Ricari Method is something of a modern day take on a classic tradition. Created by wellness connoisseur Anna Zahn, the cult L.A lymphatic drainage treatment is a cellular approach to great skincare and the fundamental first step in bring your body to the next level. Ricari - which is an Italian word, derived from the word “ricaria” which translates directly to “reharge” is a wellness spa that aims to rejuvenate and restore our bodies to their best through the stimulation of the lymphatic system. 

Incorporating varying procedures - within the overall treatment - from deep dry-brushing and time in an infrared sauna to drainage massage with the use of a hi-powered medical vacuum style machine, the Ricari Method works to purify the inner workings of our bodies, boosting blood flow and circulation - all of which naturally plays an immensely important part of any extraordinary skincare routine. Ricari sessions mean you’re getting a clear foundation to a more comprehensively healthy body, leaving room for more effective aesthetic results.

Responsible for so many aspects of our overall health, the lymphatic system is in charge of the elimination of waste from the bloodstream, production of lymphocytes to take-down dangerous the absorption of fat and specific vitamins from food which have a knock-on effect on cellulite, bloating, moods, skin and your overall immunity. So taking care of it means taking care of endless other facets of the body. 

Zahn recently opened a pop-up on Mercer Street in NYC’s SoHo neighbourhood and in her successful launch on the East Coast, it seems the favourable outcome of her venture is that she’s been convinced to open a permanent location in the city by Spring 2020. And let’s face it, if celebrities and models like Camille Rowe, Romee Strijd, Amanda Chantal Bacon and Dree Hemingway have Ricardi Studio on speed dial, then I guess, treating your body like you treat your face has just become that bit more fabulous and alluring than ever before.

Book a session in Los Angeles // New York // London

Images Ricari Studios

Who Is.. Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons is a renowned American contemporary artist best known for his transformations of everyday objects such as puppies and inflatable plastic toys to vacuum cleaners and delicate trinkets, turning them into fantastical, larger than life masterpieces, including, most iconically, balloon animals in vibrant, garish colours, produced in stainless steel with mirror-finish surfaces.

Born in York, Pennsylvania, on January 21, 1955, the celebrated artist is something of a living legend. After finishing high school he attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. During his time in Maryland, a school trip to the Whitney Museum in New York to see a Jim Nutt exhibition would prove a major turning point as he was so infatuated with the Chicago artist’s work that he up and left Maryland, leaving to enroll at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the very establishment that would afford him an honorary doctorate some 30 years later. 

Swiftly making a beeline for New York in 1977, Koons took a job at MoMA in an administrative role. His presence was always noticed due to his brightly coloured and outlandish attire and hair, sometimes he would adorn himself with an inflatable plastic flower and large brash bow-ties - the first signs of his now infamous sculptures. In 1980, he jumped ship and got a job working on Wall Street, selling mutual funds and stocks at First Investors Corporation. This job was a strategic move however as it allowed the young artist fund his creations which would eventually appear in his first solo show, The New series (1980–83) in which he had vacuum cleaners and shampoo polishers displayed in clear Plexigas vitrines.

In the years since his first solo show in 1980 his work has been shown at all the world’s major museums and galleries, in cities around the world, from Berlin to Sydney, New York to Los Angeles, London and Paris, Oslo, Venice, Zurich, Shanghai and beyond. His most recognisable pieces are of course his larger-than-life balloon animals but beyond his Neo-kitsch materialisations is his artistic love of a variety of other art forms including human sculptures and paintings, all born of his eclectic portrayal of his misunderstood vision. 

Astute and media-savvy, the self-proclaimed crowd-pleaser is not one to shy away from applause or acclaim. In 2014, the self-assured and extrovert artist posed naked in his gym for a major Vanity Fair profile, shot by Annie Leibovitz, which was published to welcome one of the most crucial points in his career, a retrospective of his entire body of work shown at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. This is one of many solo exhibitions the artist has enjoyed internationally. Not only is his work enjoyed by millions, the world over, he has influenced many other artists over the past few decades, most notably perhaps, Damien Hirst, another of the 21st century’s most prolific contemporaries. Of his hero’s work, Hirst has said “The first time I saw his work, in the late 1980s, it just blew me away”.

Commanding a team of over 100 in his New York City studio, in the Chelsea neighbourhood, Jeff Koons continues to test the boundaries between high-brow art and the pull of mass culture, not to mention the potential as an artist found in the mass market following he has cultivated. In his long standing career to date, he has created something very unique: the combining of the art world and celebrity, his status as both artist and celebrity firmly rooted in our innate interest in both his art and him as a person. Koons has noted that there are no hidden meanings in his art and he leaves the world deeply divided, some think his work is innovative and holds a major place in art-history, while others feel it is vacuous, tacky and full of self-importance, some even referring to him as the “king of kitsch”. However despite the critical divide, Koons continues to have the last laugh - as do those who invest in his work; he is the most lucrative living artist, his famous Rabbit fetched the highest price ever for a piece by a living artist in May 2019, selling for $91 million. The epitome of Neo-Pop, investing in a Jeff Koons is definitely worth the hype whether you’re after high art or something more culturally popular. 

12 of the Best Red Lipsticks

Whether you’re more into something silky and smooth or mate and moody, a good red lipstick can change everything.. and I mean everything. It’s a statement of confidence and one of the most instant attainments of an" “ok world, I’m ready for you” kind of mood, of course not forgetting the tiny detail that takes many an outfit from day to night in the simple swipe of an application. High-pigment is vital for a power play while slightly more subtle options that can be worn during the day are also a good addition to your lipstick wardrobe. Here we look at 12 of the best on the beauty market, from MAC’s cult favourite Ruby Roo to Tom Ford’s ever classic take on the world of red in Armie 33 from the Boys & Girls II collection and of course one of my all time favourites, Modern Matte Powder Lipstick in Flame 509 from Shiseido.

CHANEL

ALLURE Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Pirate // £31

Shop here...

L’ORÉAL

Color Riche Matte Addiction in Haute Rouge // £7.99

Shop here..

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TOM FORD

Boys & Girls II in Armie 33 // £30

Shop here..

BOBBI BROWN

Luxe Lip Color in Parisian Red // £25

Shop here..

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SHISEIDO

ModernMatte Powder Lipstick in Flame 509 // £25

Shop here..

RIMMEL

Lasting Finish By Kate Moss in shade 01 // £5.49

Shop here..

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LANCÔME

L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipstick in shade 507 Dramatic // £27

Shop here..

GIORGIO ARMANI

Rouge d'Armani Matte Lipstick in shade 401 // £31

Shop here..

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CHARLOTTE TILBURY

Matte Revolution in shade Red Carpet Red // £25

Shop here..

NARS

Semi-Matte Lipstick in Jungle Red // £23

Shop here..

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MAC COSMETICS

Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Roo // £17.50

Shop here..

REVLON

Revlon SuperLustrous Matte Lipstick in shade Reds Rule the World // £7.99

Shop here..

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Laura Beckford of Supernova Living, The Interview

Laura, how tell us a little about your journey into the health industry and how Supernova Living came to be..

Hello, firstly thank you so much for wanting to interview me for your beautiful website. 

My journey into the health industry was a pretty spontaneous one, I have always lived a holistic life, being brought up on homeopathy instead of pharmaceuticals, living in a vegetarian house, my dad is a Reiki Master and my aunt is a Naturopath, this way of living was just ‘the norm’ for me and I only realised it wasn’t for most, the older I got. After being a TV presenter for a few years, I opened a children’s casting and modelling agency, Ology Kids Casting, aged 22, which is still going strong but I wanted to spend more of my life living my passion, which is health and wellness. So after years of people continually asking, “how was I always so positive, rarely ill and always have so much energy?” I thought it’d be great to create products which we, as a family use, and helps us in all areas of life on a daily basis, presented in a luxurious and modern way. The first product came from a need to initially help my husband, who was a professional footballer at the time, to create super pure, plant-based protein powder and support what a professional athlete needed, which was much more than just protein. Ingredients to reduce stress in such a high pressured environment, reduce fatigue and inflammation, increase stamina, focus and endurance and help with gut health which most men don’t acknowledge or talk about at all. This was the start of Supernova Protein and we’ve since been developing products specifically tailored to the needs of men and women, which we did a lot of market research on.

As a tried-and-tested customer, it feels the essence of the brand is about living a beautiful life from the inside out, how best would you describe the philosophy and heart of the company?

What a lovely description of the brand, thank you. Quite simply we’re creating products that we, as a family need and we’re genuinely passionate about; our brand is our way of living with honesty and integrity which is so freeing. I couldn’t release products which I didn’t believe in or use every day. I do love being surrounded by beauty, as Marie Kondo says “it fills me with joy” and raises my vibration but that beauty comes in so many forms. It could be the mist of our lawn at 6am, the contagious giggling of our children or the smoothness of our hand carved coconut wood scoops, made from a small village in Vietnam. It sounds cliched but I do find beauty, joy and inspiration in so much. Our philosophy is to create the highest quality wellness products, with integrity, to elevate the body and mind as a whole. To help create balance in all areas of life as we lead such fast faced, demanding lifestyles.

You currently have three proteins and the (most amazing) cans to shake up delicious drinks in, can you explain to us your process in creating each product thus far..

I briefly mentioned that the MAN 02 product was the one we initially developed, for my husband, as a substitute for the whey proteins n the market that are so full of chemicals, sugars and artificial ingredients that he was being given at the professional football clubs he played at. For such a high pressured profession, we felt he needed much more than ‘just protein’ to succeed and thrive. He also suffered with digestive problems so we wanted gut health to be a focus, more energy, as well as ingredients to reduce stress, anxiety, increase focus, stamina and endurance and aid with recovery and fatigue. His statistics went through the roof after using Supernova Protein, instead of the ones he previously used and all his teammates were wanting his blend, so we thought we’d try and make a bigger batch and it sold out within weeks. From experimenting myself with this powder, I personally wanted an easy, go to blend that ticked all the things I wanted! More energy, gut support, anti ageing ingredients with masses of antioxidants, anti stress ingredients, hormone balancing and immune boosting. So we developed the WOMAN 01, which is now our best seller. The NAKED 00 was born from the desire to create the purest powder, without stevia for those who might not want a cacao based blend. The Supernova Can was always in the pipeline but we just couldn’t find one that ticked every box, I always used to use a glass bottle, but it was so heavy and I would constantly smash it when I put my handbag down and end up with water all over a shop floor, restaurant or my car! I then bought stainless steel bottles but when in the gym or driving they were too difficult to drink from and I would regularly spill water or the shake all over me! Plus they were really difficult to clean or put the powder into with a small opening. So we developed the Supernova Can, which is Stainless Steel, not plastic, so doesn’t leech chemicals into the drink. Lightweight, easy to carry, non drip, keeps it cold or hot for up to 12 hours and is a great travel size of 400ml. Plus it has a wide straw which is a pleasure to drink from and a durable outer coating in a sleek, modern design, unlike anything else out there. We love it.

Is there a plan to extend the product range?

Yes, creating and developing is my passion. We hope to release a product in Spring 2020 which we feel a large majority of our demographic will need and we’re also working with a factory now to create an innovative product inspired from something my mother gave to me as a child which I know you will love. As a brand we want to stay innovative and pioneering in the wellness industry, as it is so saturated. Unfortunately, as a small business this takes time but we want to get it right and only release products we’re super passionate about and know are not only beautiful but also highly effective.

Your branding is stunning, what inspired you to create such a beautiful, sleek and elegant vibe?

Thank you so much, branding is something I adore and although it seems a little superficial, it is the initial perception of a brand and ours had to show quality and luxury from the outset. There is a still a big stereotype of protein brands being a big black plastic tub with a huge body builder on the front. We wanted to get as far away from that as possible and show that protein is also essential for overall wellness. Amino acids are necessary for hormone production, hair, skin and nails as well as to replenish muscles after a workout! We’re a lifestyle wellness brand and want to show that health is not just about taking a powder, including ours! It’s a mindset, daily rituals, nutrition and exercise to elevate your life. Health is not a destination, it’s a continually evolving journey and needs attention every day which is why we show our personal experiences and how we live as a family too on social media. We also felt simplicity is important in our branding for ‘wellness’ as a concept can sometimes be overwhelming and people don’t know where to start, Supernova Living is about elevating your mind and body with ease. One to two scoops of powder a day with plant milk, it couldn’t get much easier!

You work alongside your co-funder and husband, Jermaine, how do you navigate a high-pressure working relationship with your husband and do you have any tips on working with a spouse?

I always said I would never ever work with my husband. I thought it was a recipe for disaster. He’s so laid back and I’m so motivated and driven, that’s why we work as a couple and ironically that’s why our working relationship is also proving to be great and epitomises Supernova Living philosophy of balance. Jermaine said in an interview recently that we are each other’s adaptogen, we keep each other in balance which is so true!

We wanted to work together as we simply wanted to spend more time together, as a family, as a couple and to travel together. I’ve always thought if you’re lucky enough to find someone who you adore and want to spend your life with, why do you go to work 10 hours a day, five days a week, with other people?! It’s great that Jermaine and I still have other passions that we work on each week, my other business, Ology Kids Casting and Jermaine is commentating and presenting for Sky Sports, Talk Sport and BBC Sport so we till have other ventures to discuss with each other which I think this is important.

My main advice would be to find what each of you excels in, this has taken us 12 months. Inevitably as a small business you both have to do everything to start with, whether you like it or not! Always listen to the other person’s perspective and opinions as it makes you think outside of your own mindset. Make time for you as a couple, not work related, time not spent talking about work or you could risk becoming colleagues first and a couple second! Appreciate each other, when you’re working together, you don’t have a boss to say ‘good job today’ or award you with ‘employee of the week’ so to just be grateful of each other and vocalise it.

What has been one of the most formative experiences thus far for you in building up Supernova Living?

So many lessons have been learnt on our journey with Supernova, which I love as we always want to continue to grow and evolve as people and a business. I feel my childhood and mindset instilled from my parents has been the most prolific experience to set a precedent for Supernova Living. The foundations of listening to your body, we usually know instinctively what we need and to work on acknowledging that instinct. To look at what we’re putting into our bodies, question whether it’s right for us and don’t always trust huge companies just because they say it’s ‘ok’ and have the strength to go against convention if necessary. My mother taught us about manifestation so it’s always been a natural part of our lives, visualising and being grateful creates more opportunities. My experiences of holistic medicine from homeopathy, acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine have had such a positive effect on our lives it’s definitely had an influence on developing Supernova Living. Have integrity and do the right thing when no-one is watching, that’s one of my favourite philosophies, along with ‘to thine own self be true’, which my dad wrote on my 18th Birthday Card. Also life lessons such as never expect anything, be humble and kind.

And perhaps you’d share your most notable failure to date and how it helped you grow both personally and professionally…

I’ve been racking my brain for this one and think I am struggling because I try not to see experiences as ‘failures’ I just don’t compute them as a ‘failure’ as they are simply lessons that I can learn and grow from. I don’t see them as a negative. There have been lots of things that I have done wrong; I apologise, rectify it and most importantly make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’re currently out of stock of all sachets, which I am very frustrated about and could see as a failure but it’s because we have had an influx of stockists and demand. So although this could be viewed as a ‘failure’ (and is very frustrating to me) I need to see it as a fantastic progression that they’re in such demand. I know this isn’t probably the answer you’d like so I do apologise and trust me I do get things wrong but I feel it’s all perception and there is no benefit to acknowledging anything we do as a failure, it will only create negative energy.

Seeing a gap in the market for a simplified but high-quality protein powder, sans all the horrible additives that so many are privy to, Supernova is really making a mark on the industry, positioning yourselves as a truly reliable substitute to other well-known market leaders - how difficult is it in reality to break into that kind of oversaturated market?

I think starting any business is incredibly difficult, on so many levels, emotionally, financially, physically. To develop a product with USP’s and to get awareness for the product is a real challenge, especially as a small business when we’re up against companies who have millions of pounds of investment or have global awareness from being in business for decades. We’re crazy aren’t we?! We obviously did do research before we developed Supernova Protein but I’m a big believer in focusing on your own journey and not worrying about others around you. We do find it very difficult to get awareness for us as a new brand, as some still see it as ‘a protein powder’ when it is so much more than just protein. We find educating our customers and the press on the unique ingredients is the key and giving them the opportunity to sample the powder. There seems to be an association with wellness powders and vegan proteins as awful tasting and gritty texture which we focused on in our development process. We still have a long long way to go and we’re a very ambitious company. We really do appreciate all the magazines, influencers, bloggers and customers who we have never paid, who can see our vision and have supported us since the beginning, it’s these people and companies who can make or break a small business so it means a lot.

Starting any new business is a huge risk and comes with many complications, what advice would you impart to those at the beginning of such a process?

Jump and the net will appear! I am pretty spontaneous and don’t have the same cautiousness that most do, apart from money. I don’t worry about what people will think but I am careful with money. Fear plays too much of a role in peoples lives and prevents people doing things they love and are passionate about. I would recommend to plan and do research before starting, look at your finances and plan how you will invest money in the business and also have enough to live, it’s boring but imperative. Aim high, I have huge expectations and I work incredibly hard to achieve them. I see from people we interview for jobs that not many have so much drive or desire to succeed, if you are your own boss you HAVE to have self discipline and drive to succeed as no-one else is going to tell you to get up and do the emails or be proactive in the business. To find the drive you have to start a business that you’re passionate about or it will feel too much like ‘work’ and you won’t succeed. Surround yourself with likeminded, positive people and get help from specialists with skills that you may not be the greatest at. Perhaps invest in a PR agency and a business coach for guidance now and again. I’m nowhere near where I want to be yet but I know I couldn’t work any harder, I plan to work smarter to get the same results….it’s a work in progress!! Create a life that feels good on the inside and not just one that looks good on the outside.

What does a day in the life of Laura Beckford look like and what role do you play in the daily running of the company?

A busy one! I get up at 6am, drink a pint of water when I wake, go over emails and highlight important ones I need to address urgently. I then do a mini meditation or yoga to wake me up and put me in a positive frame of mind. I body brush and if I have time I’ll do a 10-15 cardio in our gym to raise my vibrations and mindset to start the day. This can take no longer than 20 minutes in total as I then have to get the children up and ready for school and is my ideal way to start the day, it does not happen every day though!! My husband and I are a great team in the morning and have specific roles to get them out of the door on the school run by 7.30am, if I take the kids I listen to a podcast about business on the way to the office or back home, then I make lists! I love lists. A list to our creative team, a list to our executive assistant, a list for Jermaine and myself for life jobs and also Supernova jobs all whilst having a WOMAN 01 with plant milk! My days are so varied, I can be meeting a new stockist, journalist or sampling at events, festivals or partnerships like Barrecore, Lululemon or Facegym. I do spend a lot of time on emails, as I do everything for Supernova from designing, developing, invoicing, marketing, social media. I am trying to delegate and we are starting to hire people but it’s difficult as I have very high expectations. It’s especially busy at the moment as we’re improving and making a new batch of each blend which is always difficult as I’m so conscientious to get the right certification, organic, processing etc to make sure it’s as pure as we want. If I have to pick the children up, my day is short, as I leave at 2.30pm, then I’m mum and take them to tennis, netball, football, swimming, horse riding etc! I do try to be present with them but it’s difficult especially when I have emails coming in every day that are important and I need to reply to. I always put them to bed and then maybe do a Peloton session, or yoga at home or a couple of of times a week I go to play tennis (which is my sanity saviour!) I get my laptop back out at 8pm and will usually work until at least 11pm. I love to unwind at the end of the day in our far infra red sauna with Headspace on, followed by an episode of Working Moms on Netflix!

You’re a busy lady Laura, with your young family, two flourishing businesses (Laura also owns Ology Kids Casting) and generally just being a superwoman, how do you find balance in your life or time for yourself though?

I’m certainly not Superwoman! It’s a daily challenge and I have to remind myself that it is not an ultimate destination, as things are always changing we have to adapt. Which does fit in with the Supernova Protein as the adaptogens literally adapt to what your body needs at a certain time!!  

Ironically it is a challenge for me everyday whilst the business is still so young but it is at the forefront of my mind as I believe balance is so important for a happy life. My children give me the balance I need as they are my first priority which makes me cook healthy meals, get outside and exercise with them, play and be silly, which is underrated as an adult. My husband also makes me switch off by dragging me out for brunch or for a bike ride if I’m super stressed. I also always make sure I go to play tennis if I can as it’s my two hours in fresh air that’s just for me. I am always busy but I like it that way. I also write down every few weeks the areas of my life such as friends, family, me time, work, exercise etc and see where I am spending most of my time and perhaps reassess which areas need more attention.

Do you have any daily routines or rituals you can’t survive without?

A pint of alkaline water on waking, Supernova WOMAN 01 every morning, lists, Neom Face / Body oil, being outside, preferably on the beach, in the woods, in the countryside where we live, kissing my children goodnight.

What's your guiltiest pleasure?

A vegan chocolate mochi ball by Mini Moons…..SO good but I don’t feel guilty about it!!

What is your beauty routine and what are your favourite brands?

I’m pretty low maintenance with regards to beauty, I’m a big believer in if you eat pure organic food and a lot of filtered water, your skin will glow naturally. I am at my happiest without make up, hair in a bun on the beach in the sun. I always body brush and use Neom oil and Ren shower products. That’s all I use!!

If you’re hitting up the gym, which classes or trainers are you loving right now?

We’ve just partnered with Hero Wellbeing and their new space at Angel Gardens in Manchester which is just fantastic for all types of workouts, it’s inspiring. I love yoga and have practiced since I left ballet for yoga at 15. I regularly do Tara Stiles workouts at home and whenever she’s in the UK, Claudia Mirallegro does a great hip hop yoga class at Lululemon in Manchester and Barrecore too. When in London I love Louisa Drake and Simone De La Rue as I used to dance as a child so love the choreographed classes. I do try to get to a pilates reformer class whenever I can and although I’m not a lover of high intensity classes I’m really looking forward to trying The Trip by Les Mills in the Cycle Studio at Hero. I also love outdoor tennis too.

If you had one more hour in your day how would you spend it?

Going to the beach with my children.

To what do you attribute your success thus far with Supernova Living?

Tenacity. I don’t look left or right, I solely focus on our journey, how we can continually improve and I don’t accept no for an answer!

With all it’s pros and cons, social media can, at times, be a real pressure to depict the picture-perfect life. Do you feel it and how do you deal with that strain?

Yes, I think it is inevitable. We were having this discussion in the office earlier this week and I started Instagram on my personal account as a ‘photo album’ of our life. All the best bits to look back on, I wouldn’t choose the pictures of us arguing or crying to put in a photo frame so I don’t do it on Instagram. It has now, however evolved into this facade of life and becomes worrying when people see it as ‘real life’ not just a highlighted showreel to be inspired by. From a business perspective, it is frustrating as it’s a full time job in itself to promote a brand on social media and you can be judged by the amount of followers or engagement you get which is crazy. Life is not perfect and I do like that there are more and more accounts on Instagram, especially for young girls with women showing cellulite and rolls of skin which is completely normal, even with a healthy diet and exercise. My focus, as I briefly mentioned, is not to look at other brands in our genre and just follow inspiring businesses and accounts who I am motivated by. 

Do you have a personal motto that you live by?

Oh wow, I have so many. I love a quote and positive affirmation.

“To thine own self be true.” // “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” // ‘Carpe Diem” // “Happiness and balance are not something you find but something you create.” // “Just do it”

If you weren’t doing what you’re doing where might we find you?

I’d be expanding my other business Ology Kids Casting which I’m also passionate about.

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Who Is.. Yayoi Kusama

You may already be aware of and completely in awe of Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist, who despite many personal difficulties is one of the most revered contemporary artists alive. Born on March 22nd 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama was born into an affluent merchant family where her artist tendencies and creative disposition were completely unaccepted by her family. She began drawing and painting at a very early age and determined as she was, Kusama never steered off her path as a born-to-be artist. Enraged by her daughters most undesirable behaviours, something the family believed brought endless shame upon them, her mother would intentionally rip up her creations, leaving the young artist even more determined and purposeful. It was about this time that she admits to her hallucinations beginning. Involving vast expanses of open space, filled with polka dots, these imaginative delusions would prove to become the matter of her most iconic pieces and haunt her for the entirety of her life. 

Despite much unrest and turmoil at home, she somehow persuaded her parents to allow her attend art school to study as a painter. It was at the Kyōto City Specialist School of Arts that she attained a not-so-influencial and brief training. Amid immense family conflict which very much hindered her yearning to work as an artist, she moved to New York city in 1957. Before immigrating, she destroyed much of her early work. 

New York was her ticket to freedom, something she’d craved since childhood. There her obsessive repetition flourished and she began what she called her “infinity net” paintings - large canvases consisting of millions of tiny dots that she never let the edge of the canvas limit, their presence a reflection of the limitlessness of infinity. This early work was her contribution to the emerging Minimalist movement however her transition into performance art meant she was seen as a leader of the Pop art group soon after, a movement well-known of that time. She found herself at the centre of the city’s avant-garde scene and around this time her creations were beginning to gain major recognition, exhibited alongside some of the era’s most notable artists including Donald Judd, Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg.

At the height of the 60’s in New York, her work mirrored the issues of the time, especially her performance pieces which saw her touch on politic themes and society-induced limitations around homosexuality and the rights of women. She sought to be a voice for those who were silenced by the time’s controlling constraints. Her performance pieces were hugely successful, despite the many controversies surrounding them, what with her overindulgent use of nudity in public. Her public performances saw her arrested several times, yet these dangers never dampened desire to convey sensitive themes and her longing to help those she felt needed a platform from which they could be acknowledged and heard. 

Her work has been shown in endless exhibitions around the world and is part of the permanent collections at the LACMA, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, MOMA in New York among many others. In 2014 and 2016 she was regarded as the most expensive artist. She has acquired world acclaim, both from those deeply imbedded in the the art world and those who, simply embarking upon a must-do visit to MOMA while in New York, tend to fall for her madly beautiful masterpieces. 

Kusama never married, and amid the endless rumours that surrounded her and many of the artists she worked with during her time in New York, she only ever admitted to her relationship with Joseph Cornell, the legendary artist who, 25 years her senior, was an obsessively controlling figure in her life. The union was non-sexual though, in fact they never had sex and were simply bound by a pure love for almost a decade. 

After Cornell’s death in 1977, her mental health deteriorated rapidly and she permanently relocated to her home country where she voluntarily checked herself into a psychiatric hospital; she resides there to this very day. She has remained an outsider to her peers ever since and, despite a certain self-consciousness, she keeps it that way. Her studio is across the road from the hospital where she works on new works, all while fighting the hallucinations and mental illness that have plagued her her entire life. Known as the ‘princess of polka dots’, the celebrated artist has known many hardships in her life. Turning her demons into something beautiful, her life is a story of survival and endurance and her art some of the most sought after pieces of her generation. Known for her mirror rooms, polka dots, mushrooms, pumpkins and at one time the repeated drawing of penises, her compulsion to repeat patterns is her way of dealing with her demons. Yet thanks to this unwavering desire to create, her desire to die has always been outweighed.

Designer Spotlight; Eudon Choi

Born and raised in Seoul, Eudon Choi is one of fashion’s hottest young designers right now. The London based womenswear designer originally studied and worked in menswear in his home city in Korea before moving to London where he attained his MA in womenswear in 2006 from the Royal College of Art. Sitting somewhere chic between designer and contemporary the outrageously talented designer creates exquisitely tailored pieces that have won the hearts of fashionistas the world over.  

So notably talented for the get-go, Choi was offered a job with All Saints a year before graduating, with the company holding a job for him as a Senior Designer upon completing his course. In the meantime his final collection was swooped up by one of the industries most prestigious stockists, Dover Street Market, which for any designer stands as a mark of reaching the top - which for Choi was a mark set before he even began. Despite his ‘arrival’ as such, Choi decided to take the opportunity to hone his craft learning from others; taking a job at Twenty8Twelve. He worked as one of the brands Senior Designers white also playing a part in the the overall picture of the company, working with top casting directors and stylists during the brand’s London Fashion Week shows, all of which gave Choi a taste of what it’s like to put together a show. This experience proved all too valuable now that he is creating his own collections which he began doing in 2009 with his eponymous label Eudon Choi. 

For his collections, he cuts every pattern by hand and works very closely with his seamstresses on the process of each single garment, finalising each piece with any concluding tweaks. Describing his designs as ‘unique, understated and intellectual’, Choi is known for his in-depth knowledge of tailoring techniques and his flawless eye for detail. With a distinct emphasis placed in his origins of tailored detailing, he tends to draws upon the beauty at the crux of more masculine cuts, reworking them into his vision for his now predominately female customer base. 

Supported by the industry from the beginning, Choi has received many awards for his work. And deservedly so, including backing from the British Fashion Council and the Fashion Trust through the Fashion Trust Initiative.  

Classic but with a contemporary twist, he continues to develop his own aesthetics and evolve his signature style season on season. Its safe t say that investing in a piece of Choi for your wardrobe is likely to last a lifetime, marrying it’s way into your style like the most perfectly fitting glove. 

FOLLOW @eudonchoi // SHOP @ farfetch.com

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5 Brands to Love this Fall

A N I N E B I N G

FOLLOW @aninebing // SHOP aninebing.com

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S L E E P E R

FOLLOW @daily_sleeper // SHOP the-sleeper.com

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T O T Ê M E

FOLLOW @toteme // SHOP toteme-studio.com

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C H I M I

FOLLOW @chimieyewear // SHOP chimieyewear.com/en/

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B E V Z A

FOLLOW @bevza // SHOP bevza.com

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What Is.. FaceGym

Maybe you’re a spin enthusiast or a resistance-goddess, perhaps you love your morning run or sweating it out at Bikram? Whatever your chosen method of movement you understand and agree with the benefits in time spent working the body and a dedicated commitment to strengthening the muscles of our body; simply put it pays off to workout, right? Why then have we never connected such dedication to the face? Step forth FaceGym, the world’s first ever gym session for the face.

FaceGym was founded in 2016, by ex-beauty journalist Inge Theron who as a contributor for the Financial Times, documented her search for the next big thing in beauty in her column ‘Chronicles of a Spa Junkie”. Over a 3 year period she visited 57 spas, tried 25 anti-ageing treatments, tolerated 15 detoxes and sweated her way through 32 different types of movement classes. In her extreme search she underwent a face-lift procedure that left her house-bound due to complications and with a new outlook on skincare and the search for what works, she wondered if perhaps there was a less invasive was of ageing gracefully?

FaceGym is her resulting creation, the fruits of a two-year study that saw her travel the world to work with fitness experts, doctors, gurus and facialists. It’s a non-invasive facial workout requiring no knives, needles or recovery time; just 45 - 60 minutes in the hands of one of the company’s expert trainers. Exercising the face works to increase the blood circulation (allowing oxygen and nourishment to reach skin cells) and develop the 43 muscles in the face, making the shape of the face more full and defined. The ‘training’ part of the workout varies depending on the outcome you desire, so whether it’s a lifted look, tightening, detox, de-puffing or sculpting there is a varying custom-created workout. However the overall aim of a session at FaceGym is to stimulate the muscles, bringing back the skin’s natural elasticity and promoting collagen production. 

With similar steps to a body workout, the trainer will take you through the warm up, cardio, sculpting, and cool down stages of the workout. Using high energy kneading movements, a carefully selected selection of high-quality products from around the globe alongside optional vitamin boosters, a jade gua sha tool, a yoga ball and an electrical muscle stimulator (EMS), a session at FaceGym leaves your skin looks instantly tighter and brighter with your face visibly more sculpted. Fresh skin, the natural way, what’s not to love?

Available in London, Manchester, New York & coming soon to Los Angeles // Book your workout here // Workouts cost bewteen £50 and £225 or $70 and $270

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