The Retrospective

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In Memoriam - Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009)

June 26th, 2009 by Yanick Saila-Ngita
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Like so many of you, I was shocked and saddened yesterday upon hearing of the sudden passing of the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. In the hours since his death, millions of people have come together to mourn this man who is arguably one of the greatest entertainers to ever walk this Earth, but we all know that he did so on “the moon” as well. What can one really say about Michael that hasn’t been said already. He was a showman who’s perfectly assembled pop songs invoked strong feelings from all of us. Whether it was the excitement of “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” or the aggressiveness of “Bad“, Michael’s music was a soundtrack for several generations of folks all across this world. I would go as far as to claim that MJ’s global notoriety was on the same level as Christ himself. His distinct fashion sense and lightning quick dance moves were also undeniably part of his persona. If it weren’t for Michael, you wouldn’t have an acceptable reason to grab your crotch in public! I will always remember listening to “You Are Not Alone” incessantly on the radio when I was in the 2nd grade.  Despite all the controversy that followed him in the later years of his life, Michael was still the consummate performer. Let us now remember this man who had an impact on so many lives, both young & old, “Black & White“. Cry, laugh, sing, and celebrate his achievements, and “if they say ‘why’, tell ‘em that it’s human nature.” We love you, Mike.

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Chris Piascik Solo Show at Chorus Gallery

June 9th, 2009 by Gitamba Saila-Ngita
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Our good friend Chris Piascik who was kind enough to participate in our We Are Each Other series, has a solo show coming up that we think you should go check out.

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From Japan with Love - An Interview with Mimi Tamaoki

June 8th, 2009 by Gitamba Saila-Ngita
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Photo Credit: JAY ELEGANCE

The internet has changed everything. When you look at contemporary culture—youth culture especially—people are tapping blogs, social networks, and other online resources to scout trends and entertainment from places that fascinate them but may be just out of reach. This type of innocuous transmission isn’t new and we’ve seen it before. MTV did it when they introduced suburban kids to things like grunge, hip-hop, & punk rock for example in the 80’s and 90’s.

Thanks to the internet, today’s youth culture is influenced from every corner of the globe. That kid in Iowa just copped the latest jeans to drop from Hiroshi Fujiwara in Japan because he’s glued to Hypebeast, while another kid in Kansas is all about the new Foals record because he lives and breathes websites like Stereogum. With brands being so visible on the internet how do they connect with audiences they have yet to meet? We had the pleasure to catch up with Mimi Tamaoki who is the PR/Branding/Marketing director for Japanese brand Swagger, in the US. Mimi has also worked with brands such as TI$A(Taz Arnold), Phenomenon, Trilly & Truly(Lupe Fiasco)  and Dee & Rickey. She herself faces this and many other challenges in her day-to-day. Read on for Mimi’s insights on streetwear, Japanese culture, and how global brands make a big splash in the US.

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Tags: Fashion · Interview · New York · street wear1 Comment

Big Time Sensuality - Spring Break in Iceland

May 20th, 2009 by Yanick Saila-Ngita
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Many college students make traditional spring break getaway plans, hopping flights to Cancun, Fort Lauderdale, and Las Vegas. I made the decision to pack my bags and reserve a roundtrip ticket to the nation of Iceland. I know it sounds random, but this was definitely a trip that I will never forget. Due to the recent economic collapse, Iceland has seen the value of its currency drop significantly, and subsequently an increase in tourist traffic in a country once known for being rather expensive to visit. From the moment I landed at Keflavik Airport and drove in the early hours of the morning into the capital city of Reykjavik, I was amazed by the sheer beauty of the natural landscape.

As I began exploring the tiny city, I saw young people dressed in skinny jeans with keffiyehs tied around their necks. It was as if I hadn’t left Washington. Continue Reading…

Tags: Culture · Travel2 Comments

A Night of Danger with the Virgins

May 19th, 2009 by Whitney Jefferson
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The Virgins recently released the video for their single, “One Week of Danger.” The vibe of the video recalls frontman Donald Cumming’s teenage years growing up on the Lower East Side, complete with tooling around in pimp rides and the *cough* ubiquitous hot dog fight.

“The idea for the video, we came up with in, I think, a minute,” he tells Spinner. “We were just sitting in the van on tour just completely crammed and squished together, and we were like, ‘Remember when we used to like going around in big vehicles, like when we were younger?’”

Cumming also told Spinner that back in high school, a “big night out” would be chipping in $30 and spending the night driving around in an Escalade, listening to music.

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Of Sneakerheads, Subcultures and Neon Orange Unicorns – The Retrospective’s Night With Nike iD

May 5th, 2009 by Caitlin Schiller
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Until recently I had never heard the term sneakerhead, nor to my knowledge had I met one. Over three hours with Harley Carrara, owner of Mass Appeal Skateboard Shop in Plainville, Connecticut, and three Nike Design Customization Experts at Westfarms Mall’s Nike iD Studio, I learned that though I hadn’t realized it, the mythic sneakerhead is most decidedly among us, walking just a little taller than the tatty-Keds-clad masses. The sneakerhead looks just like you and me with one crucial difference: their footwear is far, far finer.

Nike’s latest retail innovation, the Nike iD Studio, holds the golden ticket required for entry into elite sneaker subculture–a ticket that just so happens to come in the form of swank custom kicks. How do you get your own pair of one-off Nikes? It’s as simple as finding an iD Studio near you, stepping up to a virtual customization station and designing the footwear that inspires you.

A few Fridays ago Nike invited The Retrospective to Westfarms Mall for a night of private customization. Carrara and a team of Nike iD  experts guided us through the customization process, plied us with prime swag, and laid down the sneaker gospel. Read on to see what we learned.

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Tags: Art · Design · Fashion · San Francisco · Technology · The Retrospective · street wear6 Comments

Holding Court with UK Artist V V Brown

May 4th, 2009 by Yanick Saila-Ngita
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British singer-songwriter, V.V. Brown is on the verge of becoming one of the big acts of 2009. With her mix of 1960’s pop and contemporary soul, Brown has the music scene abuzz about her upcoming debut album. Not only does the girl have a great voice, but her lyrical content takes the listener on a musico-emotional adventure. V.V. can currently be seen in the pages of Vogue magazine and her fans in the United Kingdom can grab her album Traveling Like The Light when it hit stores in June. I was lucky enough to snag an interview with V.V. in which she talks about her music, new fame, and being compared to other artists.

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Wexley School For Girls: World Widening The World Wide Web

April 22nd, 2009 by Caitlin Schiller
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Wexley School For Girls commands a cheeky, quirky, downright gutsy online vibe that falls somewhere between a Monty Python skit and a Yo’ momma joke competition. The Seattle-based marketing, branding, design, and interactive agency holds clients that range from car dealerships to Italian soccer boot purveyor, Diadora. The best part? Despite its varied clientele, everything that leaves Wexley for a client–be it retailer or service–retains a delicious, exotic Wexley flavor. I’m thinking mangosteen. Wait: mangosteen with bacon!

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Tags: Advertising · Art · Design2 Comments

dear bianca, your duds are amazing. love, the retrospective.

April 21st, 2009 by Shaan Kirpalani
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For her Fall 2008 line, Bianca Benitez sought inspiration from Scandinavian folk art, mid century textile designer Alexander Girard, and the artwork of Mary Blair (best known for designing “It’s a Small World” for Walt Disney). In Spring 2009, she found inspiration in the iconic stylings of Sharon Tate and Priscilla Presley. With each line, Bianca finds a way to blend unique sources of inspiration with signature style, giving her LA-based label, Dear Creatures, a look that is getting noticed. Fall 2009 (hitting stores August 2009) promises to be no exception for Dear Creatures – Bianca tells me it is a collection inspired by photographs of 1960s girl scout troops.

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Tags: Fashion · Los Angeles1 Comment

The Retrospective: Weekly Round Up

April 17th, 2009 by Gitamba Saila-Ngita
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It’s been a red letter week for The Retrospective. Pieces on Fred Flare and fashion firm Dolan Group broke through to the cool-o-sphere known as Notcot while Picocool picked up our first ever bilingual feature on Barcelona, Spain designers Alan The Gallant. We’re excited to be spreading the gospel of new, hip and happening to an even greater number of eyes. For returning readers, thank you for being a friend, and to our new readers, welcome home. We like you already.

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