Tag Archives: Chick

Chick of the Month: Christine Lai

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You may know Christine Lai as half of Christeric and a designer for Unif and Play Me Jeans. With a cult-like following for both her blog and brand, Christine poses pretty for high-quality style shots when she isn’t busy developing her latest collection. We listen as Christine delves into the origins of her brands, her favorite shopping district in Tokyo, and her unique sense of style.

Tell us about your attraction to fashion. Did you always imagine a career in design or were there other lines of work you planned to pursue?

I take after my grandma who could never buy anything and not alter it some way or another. I guess growing up with her and watching her rip and sew her clothes to fit to her liking made me naturally interested in design.

What is your biggest influence? We see a lot of grunge and 90s elements in both Unif… of all the decade’s fashion icons, whose closet would you want to raid?

I can’t really pinpoint what my biggest influence is since I’m kind of all over the place but the 90′s look has apparently been an element that is most prominent in my wardrobe/design. I’ve never even noticed until blogs kept saying how grunge my outfits were…I guess it just comes out naturally, being that I was raised in the 90′s.  I would definitely like to raid Jimi Hendrix‘s wardrobe for his trippy fur lined coats!

How has the intersection of your clothing lines and your blog Christeric affected the development of both? Which came first?

UNIF definitely came first. Eric and I were struggling to keep the line afloat before we started the blog, the twitter, the facebook, the instagram.  I can’t even begin to describe what a tremendous help it has been to open up our line to the cyber world. It was as if all the freaks and weirdos that shared our aesthetic came together.  UNIF and its customers finally found each other…it’s actually quite romantic if you think about it because UNIF had been struggling for years before that. It feels nice to be able to connect with people that appreciate your work and I don’t think it could’ve been possible without the blog and other social media tools. Thanks interweb!

Much of your wardrobe seems to be from nameless vendors in major Asian cities or killer vintage buys. If you’re willing to spill your shopping tips, I would love to know how to acquire similar pieces!

I wear a ton of vintage and am constantly searching for more.  It’s kind of a problem. The Koenji area of Tokyo is by far my favorite place to buy vintage pieces.  Most of the stuff comes from the States, so it feels a little weird paying for it in Japan, but definitely worth it.

How did you and Eric meet? What are the benefits and challenges of working together?

We met at my old job, where we worked in the same building.  Believe it or not, working together has actually been pretty easy these past 4.5 years!  As trite as it may sound, we have a lot of respect for each other’s work and in the end, I think it helps us to encourage each other as best as we can.  We also get to carpool!

Who designed your Christeric (Christine + Eric) logo nameplate?

Eric did! It’s funny because that’s actually a necklace he designed for me as a Christmas gift 4 years ago.  We had just started dating and Hysteric Glamour was my favrorite brand…and I would always joke that we should do a brand called Christeric Glamour…He actually went out and made a necklace!

Speaking of Christeric signatures, who develops all the kickass wordplay on Unif tees (i.e. “Jesus Saves, I Spend”)?

Eric is definitely the master of the witty tees although I have contributed to some (probably the bad ones).  He’s a genius. If you go through the UNIF blog I guarantee you some good laughs.

The Unif crew is smaller than I anticipated with only a few employees, all wearing many hats. How do you guys pull off such a hit making brand?! It’s really impressive.

Thank you! We just work together really well and hope to build this thing into something we can all be proud of.  Everyone contributes a little bit of everything regardless of their job title, which I think is important to keep everyone feeling relevant and important.

Can we expect to see more footwear offerings from Unif? Maybe something in between the towering HellBound and the comfy Hellraiser? …a sandal perhaps?

I hope so! We are trying to take it slow with the footwear and not do a million styles at once. I am working on a couple designs that you guys will probably see this coming Project!

Sum up your sense of style in 10 words.

Anything but track suits and whatever makes me look taller.

*Vintage Boutique
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Chick of the Month: SOFI

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SOFI (SomeOtherFemaleInterest) is an emerging talent on the EDM scene with vocals on tracks from deadmau5′s Grammy-nominated album 4×4=12, “Sofi Needs a Ladder” and “One Trick Pony”. But her artistic touch extends far beyond that with past collaborations, vocals, and choreography work that span genres. With her career on the upswing, we think it’s in your interest to get acquainted with her name and her unique style. We had the chance to get insight on her inspiration, the influence of the web on EDM music, and her holiday highlights.

You’ve collaborated with major industry players including Mötley Crüe, and most notably, deadmau5. What do you seek in an artistic partnership and what lessons have you learned along the way?

I guess I’ve learned to be able to adapt in a way, to understand what kind of show I am part of and what needs to be delivered. Sometimes it’s more about the overall theatrics rather than your own personal expression, which in a creative and artistic way both is fun and liberating. You know being on stage with Mötley Crüe requires a completely different character than being on stage with Avril Lavigne. With deadmau5, it’s different simply because I am performing my own songs, put together my own wardrobe and do my thing as it comes naturally.

Like any influential entertainer, you are well-rounded with plenty of dance experience. Do you have any signature choreography?

I think so. My friends mock certain moves I apparently always do (lol).

What is your most memorable moment on the deadmau5 tour so far?

The most recent one is our last show of the Meowingtons Hax tour in Toronto. Playing in front of 20,000 people and streaming parts of the show worldwide was a nice mind blow.

Describe your personal style in a sentence.

It’s very reflective of my personality and mood. I like to have fun with fashion, but hate to be uncomfortable. I’d say it’s edgy, sometimes punk rock chic and futuristic at times.

Who or what inspires your music? Your work ethic? Your style?

Everything! Lyrically, it’s been personal experiences, and musically I’d say I found my current “sound” while working on “Sofi Needs A Ladder” with deadmau5. I’ve always loved rock music and bands like The Clash and that raw energy and attitude. At the same time, I’m very influenced by late ‘80/’90s hip-hop and pop such as Michael Jackson and Madonna and Neneh Cherry. On top of that, house and electro have always been part of my life growing up in Europe and going to clubs at a really young age. As far as my work ethic goes, I feel like if you’re gonna do something, give it your best and do it 100%. I guess that goes with anything in life.

What are your thoughts on the EDM scene gaining mainstream popularity over the past few years? How do you think the web, social media, and hubs such as Beatport have affected its growth?

I definitely think the internet helped spread “the word” immensely! I feel like it made it much more accessible to a much younger crowd that doesn’t hang out at clubs where electronic music is mostly played. Then again it’s always been more mainstream in Europe than it has been in the States. It’s crazy to see this huge explosion over here now and very exciting to be part of it. It’s cool that you can basically sell out huge shows without being on TV 24/7 and having to rely on that kind of exposure.

When you are getting ready to perform, what pump-up (or cool down) tracks are playing on your iPod?

I actually don’t play any music before or after I go on stage. Usually, it’s the throbbing bass you can hear backstage while another DJ, producer or band is on stage. I like some peace and quiet before the show. I need my 5 minutes to myself.

Favorite holiday food?

Sweet potato casserole.

If you could spend New Year’s Eve 2012 anywhere on Earth, where would it be?

Really anywhere with loved ones… You can have a great time ANYWHERE when you’re in great company. Hopefully I’ll be rockin a stage somewhere!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you anticipate expanding your personal brand to industries other than music?

Well, it all depends if we even make it past December 2012 (lol). I don’t really know. Hopefully I’ll still be making music and have people like it. I love doing all sorts of different things that revolve around performing arts and fashion.

Photo: Teghan McGinnis

Tripp NYC The Deville Pleather Pant Tripp NYC
Tripp NYC The Fishnet Underlay Jean in BlackTripp NYC
Motel The Lotte TopMotel
Boutique 9 Shoes
*The Extras
Navoh
*Sole Boutique
Ray Ban
Melody Ehsani
Civil

Chick of the Month: Jazzi McGilbert

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Meet Jazzi McGilbert: a stylist, blogger, writer, and an overall cool chick. Her self-titled blog, JazziMcG.com, has opened doors for her at NYLON, Fashionista, and Teen Vogue. We checked in with Jazzi to discuss internships, high-low style advice, and LA living.

 

You have worn many hats in the industry over the years, from stylist to blogger to camera personality. What do you do both inside and outside of work to maintain balance while juggling various career paths?

I try my best to focus on one thing at a time. I’m a morning person and a homebody, which definitely helps by adding a few more hours to my day to get things done. I wouldn’t say I’ve found true balance quite yet, but a time-out for a beer or Korean Spa visit always helps.

 

Considering your standout resume and internship experience, do you have advice on how to score internships at major industry players like Teen Vogue and Fashionista?

I’ve blogged my way through a few of my internships, so there’s some really practical advice in my archives, but in general: be early and be professional but maintain your personality. Inquire about the internship months in advance via email (better to email an assistant editor than the editor-in-chief in most cases), check your spelling/grammar and do your research. A resume or cover letter with typos won’t do you any favors.

 

You are a natural in front of the camera! Do you ever get pre-shoot jitters? Which do your prefer — having the spotlight or working behind the scenes in styling?

Thank you! Flattered to hear that I’m anywhere near natural in front of a camera because that’s not at all how I feel inside (or even when I watch footage later)! I get major pre-shoot jitters every single time. I strongly prefer being behind the scenes styling and I’m definitely more comfortable there, but I do enjoy the challenge of stepping in front of the camera and I feel lucky that people have responded well to me there.

 

When writing the NYLON daily LA newsletter, how did you manage to keep tabs on all the events happening around town?

My eyes and ears are always open. I grew up in L.A. and I have lived all over the city, so that helped. I like to stray from the usual boulevards and love stopping into random stores and restaurants and uncovering those hidden gems. I’ve also built some great relationships with local shops, designers, PR firms, etc. who email me about sales and events.

 

What is your favorite thing about living in LA?

Weather aside, I love the ability to turn off the hustle from time to time. I can zen-out a lot more here than I ever could in New York, but both cities definitely have their moments!

 

As someone with a great sense of high-low style, do you have any hidden gems you want to share for budget-conscious shopping? What about for snagging an amazing deal on designer goods?

You’d be surprised how many sick deals you can get from misspelled designer listings on eBay. Make sure you’ve got eBay alerts set for every possible typo. I get the best deals online and I rarely shop without a discount code – Karmaloop is always great in that department. I’ll wait it out for 20% off and free shipping and even after I buy, I keep checking the price reductions for a potential price adjustment. As a freelancer, money can be here today and gone tomorrow, so I’m always watching my wallet!

 

Since you like to DIY, we are wondering if you have any fall-inspired projects up your sleeve!

Every DIY I do is totally random: if I see it, want it and could make it – I’ll try it. I’ve been getting into more home-related DIY’s which will end up on my blog at some point. In terms of fashion, there one Comme des Garcons DIY I have in mind but I don’t want to give it away… you’ll have to keep checking my site for that one!

 

5 things you cannot leave home without…

1. iPhone, which serves as my calendar/iPod/email/etc. on the go.

2. My red Moleskine notebook and my favorite black Le Pen.

3. Mascara.

4. Chapstick.

5. A kiss from my dog Chewy.

 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I envy people with real answers to this question… I guess I hope that I’m financially stable, healthy, in a cute apartment with big windows, great shoes, and at the top of my game. A loving boyfriend wouldn’t hurt either. I would love my own boutique, but only time will tell.

 

What fall trend do you plan to wear into the ground?

I don’t know about trends, but I just got this amazing pair of pale pink sateen cropped trousers that I know I’ll be wearing non-stop! Those and hair barrettes.

 

AGAIN - The Pittsburgh Sweater 

AGAIN
NOOWORKS - The Big Emily Pillow in White

NOOWORKS
Unif - The Shoulder Peek Button Up in Sheer Red Leopard

Unif
Grey Antics - The Dolphine Shorts

Grey Antics
Boutique 9 Shoes - The High Roller Shoe in Brown

Boutique 9

 
Free People - The Rough and Tumble House Dress


Free People
Dr. Martens - The 1460 8-Eye Boot in Black Topos Hair


Dr. Martens
Super Sunglasses - The Lucia in Black


Super
Joyrich - The Ambush Floral Leggings in Black


Joyrich
style stalker - The Damned Collar Shirt


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Introducing: For Love & Lemons

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At Karmaloop, it’s always been our mission to stay ahead of the game when it comes seeking out new and exiting brands, thus we are pleased to welcome  For Love & Lemons to our roster. The Southern California Lifestyle brand combines fashion forward silhouettes with unique detailing for an altogether contemporary look.  According to the brand’s creators Gillian Mahin and Laura Hall, the For Love & Lemons girl is “effortlessly chic. She loves life, freedom and only the best parties. She is controversial and adventurous, but never reckless. She stands out on her own. She is the new tomboy. She knows what she wants. And exactly how to get it.” Sounds like a pretty cool chick to us.

The Top 7 Vehicular Chick Magnets

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Girls will swear up and down that a car has no effect on them whatsoever when it comes to who they’re attracted to. Like many of you out there, I can tell you from firsthand experience that this is a line of B.S. Looking to even your odds of landing a fine woman? These rides might just take that passing glance and turn it into a longing stare.

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