Yuletide Greetings!

A Christmas Treat at WAH nails, Dalston, London

Nail art for Christmas? Yes please! I have been wanting to visit the cult nail art salon in Dalston for ages but have never got round to booking an appointment. Until yesterday when my friend and I decided to take ourselves off and get sparkled up for Christmas!

Wah nails is a revolutionary new nail art bar (opened for just over a year) in East London making nail art cool with their up to date styles influenced by the latest fashion trends. It has completely taken off as the latest 'must have' and they have now opened a boutique in Topshop and more to come. The brainchild of Sharmadean Reid, who is a stylist and fashion editor and has always had a passion for nail art. Sharmadean wanted to create somewhere that not only was a professional creative nail bar but also a community space for girls, where artists can display work, and girls can hangout and drink tea! The name 'Wah' comes from an expression of attitude, it is also the name of her online magazine.

I decided on studs whilst my friend Famie went for Chanel c's both on black!

BLACKLOG EDITORIAL #2: Karen Walker S/S 2011 A Perfect Day by Yasmine Ganley

Karen Walker's Spring/Summer 2011 collection made a colourful splash at New York Fashion Week in September, and with summer upon us, what better to shoot as our second Blacklog editorial. Black fashion director Rachael Churchward mixed a selection of super cool desirables from the range with Karen Walker accessories, shoes by Beau Coops and Pointer - both for Karen Walker. Yasmine Ganley captured new face Liza @ August.

Photographer: Yasmine Ganley
Fashion Editor: Rachael Churchward
Hair & make-up: Natalie Dent using M.A.C cosmetics
Model: Liza @ August Models
Fashion assistant: Helle Weston

Eco Bottles - Where It's At

The forward-thinking folk at ESP (EcoUsable South Pacific Ltd) have teamed with Huffer to create a drink bottle for your entire summer. No point in buying thousands of plastic water bottles that could end up in a swirling maelstrom in the middle of the Pacific when you can buy one, stylish, reusable one. They say that this is the bottle that puts sustainability in your hands. Nice line. To add another, Huffer's Dan Buckley says, "Eco bottles are where it's at, buying plastic bottles twice a day for your water supply isn't where it's at." We've been trialling one and the other valid point is that it tastes better too as after a couple of refills the plastic ones taste, er, plastic. The bottles are on sale at Area 51 stores nationwide and online at The Huffer Store.

Pearly Queen of Mulberry

Two queens and a jack

Those of you that have read the latest issue of Black will have noticed the story about our London Correspondent Lucie Marquis (above left) and her foray into creating 'walls' of fashion in various locations with Supermarket Sarah and designing t-shirts and jewellery as one half of the Pearly Queens. Lucie is a talented designer and plans to launch an eponymous label in the future. In the meantime she started work this week as a senior designer at Mulberry, suggesting the British label knows talent when it sees it. Very proud of her and can't wait for the Lucie bag!

BLACKLOG EDITORIAL #1: Ann Demeulemeester @ Wunderkammer by David Shields

As mentioned in a previous post we are going to shoot and publish editorial specifically for Blacklog. For the first of these we shot a selection of current and recent Ann Demeulemeester at the Wunderkammer showroom. David Shields took the pictures and Rachael Churchward teamed Ann D with Wunderkammer Jewellery. Thanks to Mark and Zora for letting us have the space for an afternoon and letting us play amongst the many things of wonder within.

Photographer: David Shields
Fashion Editor: Rachael Churchward
Assistant Fashion Editor: Mark Crane
Hair & make-up: Natalie Dent using M.A.C Cosmetics
Models: Taren Cunningham @ 62 Models, Jason Kramer @ Red 11
Fashion assistant: Helle Weston
All clothing and jewellery available at Wunderkammer, Ponsonby Road

What a Rekkit!

We really like the look of a new club night happening at Auckland's superbly-tucked-away venue, Tabac. Rekkit is the brainchild of one of Auckland's musically knowledgeable young impresarios Dylan Cherry, and launches on January 14, 2011 with the talented (but nervous) Pikachunes supported by Mellow Grave, Forest Spirits, The Be Cool Experiment, Brian Foster and Strange Beast. According to the snazzy opening night video animation, entry is free if you dress as a Pokemon and they may even buy you a drink.  Rekkit was of course a great 1997 tune by Death In Vegas. Auckland's emerging, intelligent, alt. generation. Love it.

If only...like Deadly Ponies

Deadly Ponies' Liam Bowden has given us his three remaining scarves - as per this image from Black 13 by Stephen Tilley & Rachael Churchward - to give away to Black Mag FB page or Blacklog readers. All you have to do is fill in this sentence in a comment on the post on our Facebook Page to be in to win one:

If only..................like Deadly Ponies!

We'll choose the three most interesting ones this Friday. Offer open to anyone, anywhere...here's a pic of the scarf itself....we have one of each colour: beige, mint green and rose...

Helle's Fine Feature

Photo: David Shields

As we are about to publish our first Blacklog editorial, shot last week by David Shields at the Wunderkammer showroom here is a shot from the day of Helle Weston who was on the shoot for work experience as a fashion assistant. We were quite taken with her style close to the ground; wicked tattooed feet by her boyfriend Luke MacPherson housed in a pair of Costume National heels - the stylish Mallard duck was impressed too. Luke has been a tattoo artist for eight years in Auckland, Melbourne, Amsterdam, Prague, Tokyo and Los Angeles. You can contact Two Hands Tattoo in Ponsonby for bookings and more info in 2011...

Play It Again, Strangeways

Strangeways Radio music library from A Fine Frenzy
 to Zwan (below) is extensive and growing quickly 

There is no shortage of good radio here in NZ, the BNet stations for example would all rank highly on a global standard of good radio, but a recent proliferation of online radio stations means that there is even more opportunity to streamline your listening tastes to suit any given mood. One such station, Strangeways Radio, will be of interest to indie fans as an alternative option, although 'indie' is too generic a description. Strangeways sounds British, partially because it is the name of a famous Mancunian prison, but also because much of the station's sound could be described as British - "dreampop, trip hop, Brit pop, shoegaze, electronica, indie pop, indie rock, post punk, dark wave, alt. classics" - the genre tag on the station's front page announces. Strangeways Radio is based in the USA, the brainchild of one DJ Mikey and is only 6 months old but is gaining traction fast with shows by the likes of Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), Detroit indie legend Darren Revell and Matt Sebastian, founder of legendary college music blog 'Slicing Up Eyeballs.' Highly recommended...

Kia ora Santiago!

This morning we discovered in the admin insights on the Black Magazine Facebook page that we have reached the not insubstantial number of 500 fans that reside in the beautiful Chilean city of Santiago. That puts the city up with New York, Sydney, Paris and London and ahead of the next best South American city Buenos Aires on 416. We are unsure why so many people from Santiago have gravitated towards our page but we are really happy about it. Maybe we should talk to LAN Chile about a trip over there.... In the meantime we will buy a nice bottle of Chilean wine to celebrate. Thanks Santiago...

Naveya & Sloane's romantic jewellery

Photo by Daniel Max

It's no secret that we are big fans of jewellery here at Black Mag and there are an increasing number of local jewellers to be excited about. Rachel Sloane's Naveya & Sloane is one of these. Sloane was womenswear designer at Huffer for three years before working as a patternmaker for NZ's longest running and most loved TV show, Shortland Street. Whilst creating one-off pieces for "The Street" Sloane started to sketch jewellery designs on her pattern paper and her first range is now realised a little over one year later. Sloane describes herself as "a hopeless romantic," and her sentimentalism is inherent throughout, including in the genesis of her thinking; "a notion of a parachute falling from the sky and into my hands." The parachute motif appears on most of her pieces, usually within the clasp, and she pulls no punches on the fab packaging - large, magnetised glass boxes that give many a luxury brand a run for sheer desirability and usefulness - ours now houses a special piece of crystal - but of course, is just as useful as a safe place for the jewellery. Naveya is a fictitious character created by Sloane as a muse for her design and branding, we love the stories and thinking behind the collection which is broken down into four parts; Tulipa, Stain Glass Secrets, Miss Me and Killed By Kisses. Naveya Sloane is stocked at Platina and Steve Haywood.

Blacklog Status Update

There have been a few changes lately on Blacklog and over the next few months you will see many more as we ramp up the quality and quantity of content that we create specifically for Blacklog. Black Magazine publishes twice a year so there is plenty of time in between to publish blog specific fashion shoots, interviews, profiles and stories. Over the past couple of weeks we have published lengthy interviews with James Dobson and Kevin.Murphy style master James Furness, several more are in the pipeline. Yesterday we also shot our first Blacklog editorial; Ann Demeulemeester and Wunderkammer Jewellery with photographer David Shields. Black fashion director Rachael Churchward worked with Wunderkammer's Mark Crane to style Taren Cunningham @ 62 Models and Jason Kramer @ Red 11, hair & make-up by Natalie Dent using M.A.C Cosmetics. We'll post that shoot shortly.

Our belief in the value of both online and offline platforms for independent publishers dates back to 1995 when we published Planet Magazine here in NZ. We decided there and then, when most people didn't even have email, that we would publish Planet online - we could see the future. The only problem was that we were too far ahead of our time, it took over a day to download one large picture, so an image heavy online magazine, despite being a great idea, has only recently become a reality due to the advent of broadband. Interestingly, the photographer for the main shoot of our first online issue of Planet was none other than Paul Empson, who is right now in Sicily with June Nakamoto and crew shooting for Black 14. So please do click the wee tab on the right and 'follow' us or 'like' us over on our Facebook page, if you haven't already. Your support means a lot to us....have a swell day...

Grant & Rach

TalkBlack with Kevin.Murphy's style master James Furness

50's is good!

Kevin.Murphy style master James Furness was recently in Auckland to educate and spread the good word about the fab Australian hair brand. Grant Fell and Rachael Churchward sat down with him to discuss his path from opening United Notions salon in Ballarat at age 18 through to the K.M products like Powder.Puff and Motion.Lotion that are taking the hair world by storm. All photos from the Stephen Marr, Department Store event by Stephen Tilley.

Thank God it's sunny...

....because in England it's freezing. Here is a pic from our London correspondent Lucie Marquis yesterday. As the Pohutakawas blossom and the cicadas start to sing here in NZ, the snow falls in London. Both scenarios, beautiful...

High St. Guild's Lucky Christmas Shop

Love this idea from the enticingly named High St. Guild. Opening on Dec 9, High St Lucky Christmas Shop is a pop up store held within a venerable High Street location, downstairs at 33 High St. The sweaty, low-roofed, strangely-angled space formerly known as The Box, arguably Auckland's greatest nightclub, is set to become an enchanted forest of mystery gifts. The gifts are already wrapped but will include donated goods from High St. retailers Workshop, Zambesi, Kate Sylvester, Hotel De Brett, Cassette #9, Pauanesia, Rakinos and many more. Best of all though, all proceeds go to the City Mission, who offer so many with so little, a better Christmas. As the invite says, "the surprise is in the giving..."

New Face: Liza @ August Models

Photographer (among many other talents) Yasmine Ganley worked with Black fashion director Rachael Churchward and hair & make-up artist Natalie Dent to shoot Liza, a beautiful new face from August Models on the weekend. Liza is of Ukranian descent, and ticks all the right boxes effortlessly - definitely on our Blacklist of new faces to watch for 2011. Liza wears: Dress by Kate Moss for Topshop, brogues by Pointer for Karen Walker, vintage hat.

Jess Grubisa's otherworldly glamourous 80's African Queen

A Jessica Grubisa creation

All backstage photos by Matt Benns

When Whitecliffe's third year fashion student Jessica Grubisa designs a collection she always does so with one woman in her mind. This year, her fantastic collection entitled 'More Money, More Problems' was built around an "otherworldly glamourous 80's African queen," that basically, "jogged in Chanel." To accessorise her signature pieces Grubisa busts a move with high top fade afro headpieces and black full-face make-up, creating a classic hip-hop (think BDP, Schooly D) vibe entrenched in the mother continent. "The headpieces are my interpretation of a high-top fade - the birth of hip hop in the 1980's - everybody donned high, flat afros. I love this look and wanted to have a bit of fun with it," says Grubisa.

M.A.C AIDs Fund milestone in NZ - $1 million raised this year

Today is World AIDS Day, a day that is close to our hearts on Dec 1 every year, and this year, there is something special to celebrate here in Aotearoa. One million dollars raised in NZ for the M.A.C AIDS fund purely from the sale of M.A.C Viva Glam lipsticks, a significant milestone for the visionary make-up company and more particularly the NZ team headed up by Jodie Matthews and Tatum Savage. To date $190 million has been raised for the cause through the Viva Glam programme so $1 million in a calendar year from a country the size of NZ is a serious achievement. We were honoured to have been invited to a luncheon yesterday with media and members of the Body Positive and Positive Women organisations - both of whom spoke eloquently and openly about just how important the donation from M.A.C is to keep these groups going - it is literally the most important source of income in growing these support units for people living with HIV and AIDs related illness in NZ. It was fantastic to see a team of M.A.C make-up artists acting as waiters and assisting in the cause as they do on a regular basis, there is a genuine partnership at work here, and around the world, between the cosmetics giant and the many organisations dealing with one of the world's most deadly diseases. M.A.C NZ announced a further $70,000 in extra support for the Positive Women foundation in Auckland - utterly admirable and heart warming. Congratulations to all concerned including those who buy the lipstick and retailers who take no margin...you can wear a ribbon to mark or at least talk about the subject but as they say at M.A.C, "Every day is World AIDS Day."

Hanoi Rocks...

Good name for a band but this post is about a restaurant in Auckland, a very fine one in Auckland's burgeoning Britomart District that specialises in Vietnamese food, Cafe Hanoi. We like it so much that we've eaten there twice in the past week and felt it was well worth a blog. Tony McGeorge and Krishna Botica are no strangers to food and hospitality as stalwarts of Ponsonby Social Club and the legendary Prego respectively. The pair saw an opportunity for a quality restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine and knew that Britomart was the right place to set up. Along with chef Jason van Dorsten the duo spent plenty of time in Vietnam researching the food, decor and culture of a country steeped in tradition and taste bud titillation, and it shows.

TalkBlack with Jimmy D's James Dobson

Above: James Dobson by Guy Coombes. 

All photos below by Aaron K

After a critically and commercially successful show at NZ Fashion Week, Jimmy D, aka James Dobson is excited about the future of the semi-eponymous label which he describes as 'darkness and light' and is equally excited about his retail and online operation Children of Vision with Vicky Chan. In the first of an on-going series of TalkBlack discussions here on Blacklog, Grant Fell and Rachael Churchward pop down to the five and dime with Jimmy D to talk about Norwegian black metal, chiffon punk, Ms 45 and selling Bernhard Willhelm back to Europeans...

Lay Down In Splendour David Wood

So sad to hear of the passing of Straitjacket Fits bass player David Wood at the end of last week. David was a gentleman with a wry sense of humour, a cheeky grin and on occasion, a mean mullet. He was also an excellent bass player that underpinned many of the great New Zealand band's tunes including this one, Down In Splendour, which seems suitably apt to post in his honour today. Our commiserations go out to his family and of course Shayne, John, Andrew et al...

New Face: Krystian @ Ali McD/August

Rachael Churchward and photographer David Shields did a wee shoot with Krystian from Ali McD/August last week. Krystian has a great look and, as this image attests, the camera loves him. It continues to amaze us that a city the size of Dunedin can produce so many great faces. One to watch from the Ali McD stable, once again...

Faint Spells Good, This Friday

Photo: Olivia Hemus

Those of you who attended the Nom*D installation/show at this year's fashion week will have certainly seen Rebekah Davies (above) looking beautiful in a signature leather ensemble from the venerable Southern label's AW 2011 collection. She also sang beautifully, an ethereal lament which filled the room with a melancholic uneasiness. This Friday the talented singer-songwriter plays with her band Faint Spells at Tabac, 6 Mills Lane, Auckland. Featuring members of great local bands Dimmer and The Verlaines, Faint Spells Very Good Indeed. Support by James and Chelsea, members of Dimmer and Teacups respectively. Doors open at 8pm, $10 on the door.

Faint Spells:
Rebekah Davies - Vocals, guitar, bass
Shayne Carter - Bass, guitar, backing vocals
Tom Healy - Guitar
Gary Sullivan - Drums

Rookies On A Roll

Renuka Pana

After attending the AUT Rookie 2010 show at Rhubarb Lane last Thursday night we were left with the simple, inspiriting feeling that New Zealand fashion's future is bright indeed. It is a feeling borne of a higher standard emerging year-on-year from Auckland's two top fashion schools, and Wellington's Massey course, among others around the country. On Thursday night the quality of design, craftsmanship and creativity that marched down the runway (to great show music) from the 36 AUT Rookies was of a high standard across the board. Every designer showed promise, some showed a lot of promise and there were a plenty of winning garments and outfits to be seen. This year's Rookie show was also a quality event in other aspects; multiple bars and catering, grandstands, containers as film screens (that featured an opening Year 3 student's film, shot by Garth Badger), one of the most interesting front rows in a while, and a well-lit skinny horse-shoe catwalk all made for a classy, competent fashion show. We also loved the DPS programme that featured photos of the designers and a space for notes. We did make a few notes and asked AUT to send through an image from four of those designers, just a few that piqued our attention on the night. Congrats all round to AUT staff, tutors and students....

Wire Not? Colin Newman and co, like a 1979 heartbeat...

We've been thinking a lot about our much loved friend Johnny Pierce, original bass player for Children's Hour and Headless Chickens, who died 24 years ago last August. Wire, led by the consummate post-punk frontman Colin Newman was close to his favourite band and this tune, Heartbeat, recorded live in 1979, was one of his favourite tunes. It feels like a good time to post something in his honour...here's to you Johnny...gnrx

Stella Maxwell shoots Karl Lagerfeld look book

Photo: Dazed Digital

We discovered what a lovely person Stella Maxwell is when she shot beauty for Black 11 with Craig Owen. She's also a great model, and as her mother agent Aliana McDaniel says in this issue of Black, is "blessed with an amazing face and is incredibly lucky to have a genetic imprint on her physique that is actually quite unobtainable for most women, even for a lot of models." Karl Lagerfeld agrees. In the past month or so, the NZ model featured in his look book with photographer Xiang Sun and shot a campaign for Ermanno Scervino with model Anna Kalina in Florence. We tracked down Stella in Paris to find out more....

Black 13 cover: Derek Kettela, Michelle Cameron and Valery Gherman shoot Pauline Van der Cruysse in New York

We printed half of Black 13 at McCollams today with cuzzy bro Roger on the press. So important to have a rapport with your printers and Roger knows his colours from his black and whites. Here's the cover for Issue 13. Photographer Derek Kettela, stylist Michelle Cameron and Black New York editor Valery Gherman capture Pauline Van der Cruysse.

And You Thought A Sharpie Was A Pen

We are always fascinated by sub-cultures and this wee You Tube clip by Greg Macainsh about the 'Sharpie' culture in Melbourne in 1974 is indeed fascinating. Set at the Melbourne Showgrounds, a few thousand mulletheads are in attendance at the Lobby Lloyd and Billy Thorpe concert, and they're pretty amped. Check the hair cuts, fashion and dancing - unreal. Thanks to our good friend Bob Sutton for finding this...

Black 13: Preview - Paul Empson & June Nakamoto shoot Dioni Tabbers

Four four issues in a row, Paul Empson and June Nakamoto have teamed up in Paris to deliver beautiful, cinematic fashion editorial for Black. This issue they left the bustling French capital and headed for the hills, or fields more accurately, to shoot Dutch beauty Dioni Tabbers. Hair by Jean Luc Amarin, make-up by Tina Roivanien.

Review: Winter's Bone - directed by Debra Granik

Ree looking casually chic out front of her Ozark mansion

Around New Zealand, and around the world, in pockets hidden away from prying eyes, small backblock communities are living in the shadow of Hell. Methamphetamine use, and more exactly its production, has ravaged them beyond recognition, creating paranoia, fear, confusion and poverty. Isolation is the substructure of these tight-lipped communities where asking questions is asking for trouble. Whether nestled into the foothills behind Otorohanga, New Zealand or hidden in the forest down a winding, wintery road in the Ozark Mountains, Missouri, meth takes no prisoners and makes its own rules. The Ozark Mountains is indeed the setting for Debra Granik’s acclaimed feature Winter’s Bone. The film has all of the hallmarks of an Oscar winner and has already garnered Best Feature, Breakthrough Actor (Jennifer Lawrence) and Best Ensemble Performance nominations at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, considered by many as the harbinger of things to come over the awards season. Granik and director of photography Michael McDonough succinctly capture the essence of Daniel Woodrell’s book, underlining in candlelit perspective the writer’s classification as an exponent of ‘country noir’ and filling the screen with tension. Yet, it is the casting and performances, in particular by teenage actress Jennifer Lawrence which brings the film alive, as paradoxical as that statement may be.

The Bogans according to Lara Parker

Black fashion director Rachael Churchward recently worked with photographer Stephen Tilley on a second Lara Parker look book for the season and we have no doubt this talented local designer is one to watch. Parker released her SS10 range in two parts, the more demure Geeks collection and this West-is-best-we-love-Stevie-Nicks-when-she's-all-dressed-up range, entitled Bogans. The range is not quite as literal as the title would suggest however and playfully flirts with proportion, texture and a lateral interpretation of bogan sensibility. Ankle-grazing hemlines, as featured on the 'Stevie' skirt are juxtaposed with the A-line flirtiness of the "Peaches' dress. The ruched "Roxanne" mini confirms Parker is as accurate with her names as she is with her designs. Black is the foundation colour of the range but the mood is airy and feminine. Perfect for blatting out to the West Coast in the Holden Kingswood with the windows down... Hair by Lauren Gunn @ Stephen Marr, make-up by Kimberley Hill for M.A.C Cosmetics. Model: Imogene @ Red 11. All shoes by Maurie & Eve. We asked Lara about the range...

Black 13: Preview 6 - Jonas Bresnan and Katie Felstead shoot Kristine Drinke

At the printers with Black 13 so it's time for another preview. Our London crew; photographer Jonas Bresnan, fashion editor Katie Felstead - who is shooting for her third consecutive Black, hair stylist Mark Daniel Bailey and make-up artist Mel Arter have captured  Elite London's Kristine Drinke in an edgy yet sophisticated editorial. Shoe fiends will particularly covet these heels by Christian Louboutin...

Black 13: Preview 5 - Stephen Tilley and Rachael Churchward shoot Eve

Eve wearing bespoke Tanya Carlson 

gown and Huffer beanie

The weather has changed dramatically since the day Stephen Tilley and Rachael Churchward shot Eve @ August and Peter David @ 62 in a derelict factory in Helensville, thank God! Peter is a seasoned pro with plenty of European experience including a notable appearance in Love Magazine but Eve is still pretty fresh. We love her look and think she has a great future. Greg Murrell on hair, Shirley Simpson on make-up and Jessica Grubisa, assistant fashion editor. We're now on the home stretch with Black 13, thanks to all of those who participated in our Wunderkammer ring giveaway...

Wunderkammer Jewellery launches online - Win these rings!

 Ring 1

 Ring 2

 Ring 3

Ring 4

To celebrate the online launch of the brilliant Wunderkammer Jewellery range the talented jeweller Zora Boyd has kindly given us four rings to give away to Blacklog and Black Magazine Facebook readers. This competition is open to our Blacklog or FB readers anywhere in the world - all you have to do to be in to win is go to our Facebook page and post below the Wunderkammer story on the page why you deserve to win one of these rings. We've kept it simple by naming each ring, Ring 1, Ring 2, Ring 3, Ring 4 so don't forget to tell us which ring you desire. Have fun, be witty and be in to win...oh and you'll have to 'like' us on our Facebook page to enter, if you haven't already!

Black 13: Preview 4 - David Shields and Rachael Churchward shoot Ella Verberne

Here is a shot of rising local model Ella Verberne from our 16 page shoot this issue by photographer David Shields and fashion director Rachael Churchward. Built around the current Louis Vuitton ready-to-wear range which was flown into NZ for us to shoot for a day, Rachael teamed the gorgeous collection with locals Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester plus a few vintage pieces like this 70's Skellerup trench. Greg Murrell battled the rain and wind all day to deliver natural hair and Stacy Lee-Ghin applied the make-up. The two other models on the shoot were Victoria and Caity who, like Ella, are both at Clyne.

Black 13: Preview 3 - Rupert Tapper and Paul Bui shoot Natalie Keyser

Black Australian fashion editor Paul Bui has once again teamed up with photographer Rupert Tapper to shoot Kiwi model Bruce Raubenheimer and Aussie Natalie Keyser in the desert wastelands north of Newcastle for issue 13. It is a shamanic trip into the wasteland that perfectly demonstrates just what a free-thinking stylist Bui can be and confirms the creative bond between the pair. Hair and make-up to match by Sinden Dean @ DLM.

Flock Yeah! The Moped Army mobilises...

For many years MOtors with PEDals lay dormant in garages across America, skinny half bikes consigned to the tool shed, a nerdy victim of bigger is better and machismo. If the Los Angeles Latebirds and many other chapters of the Moped Army have their way though, those days are gone. Mopeds are the go, the antithesis of gang-banging and the misunderstandings that come with riding a two-wheeled motor vehicle in large groups. In recent times enclaves of intelligent, creative Young Americans have been rebuilding them, reviving them and riding them all over the place. The moped may be the ride, the well-paved roads of America the journey but the Moped Army is really about the people and in Silverlake, California, The Latebirds are the people. A family where kinsmanship, shared experiences, well-tuned bikes and freedom of the road is king. We love this clip of the Latebird rally heading into the foothills behind L.A to one of the greatest rock tunes ever, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird. Anyone who has been on a scooter run or skated in packs will love this...

Black 13: Preview 2 - Michael Schwartz shoots Sara Blomqvist in Berlin

Incumbent Black photographer Michael Schwartz travelled to deepest, darkest Berlin for this issue of Black. The New York-based photographer shot Sara Blomqvist, one of our favourite faces and captured her strength and beauty admirably. Fashion editor was Raffaella Campeggi, Shawn Mount worked his magic on hair and Daniela Klein worked hers on the make-up.

Black 13: Preview 1 - Erdmann/Iles shoot Stephanie Rad

As we move into the design phase for Black 13 we're going to be busy like bees and will have little time for blogging so we figured we would pop up a few sneak peeks from the issue - as it is laid down. First up, a shot from the hair editorial that Robert Erdmann completed in London with hair legend Wendy Iles. Wendy styled up a few gorgeous, simple looks on the lovely Stephanie Rad with fashion editor Sarah Cobb - formerly fashion editor at Dazed & Confused and current contributing fashion editor to Another Magazine - styling. Make-up by Kirsten Piggott.

Sherie Muijs' Building Blocks AW 2011

As mentioned in the post below, we shot the Sherie Muijs AW 2011 look book just prior to fashion week and were amazed by the continued development of this young Auckland designer. She has a great crew on board too; Des Rusk who needs little introduction to local fashion people has had a hand in the label and also Linda Jones, the highly respected lecturer at AUT's fashion school. Sherie says that Linda is currently working on her masters and the pair have collaborated for this collection on rain wear. "We have found that there aren't any absolutely waterproof raincoats, in a fashion context, that have the same sort of integrity of a raincoat that you might find in our camping or farming industries." Form meets function. So how would Sherie describe the range, cleverly titled Building Blocks? "I have designed pieces in this range that are key pieces that I think everyone should have in their wardrobe. This range is about building up a wardrobe that has staple garments in there, that you will go back to season after season. Then of course, fun colourful pieces, to brighten up a winter's day." The range will be in store Feb, 2011. Meanwhile her SS 2010 range is in store now and selling like hot cakes, you can view that range here.

Photography: Russ Flatt
Styling: Rachael Churchward
Hair: Greg Murrell
Make-up: Karenina Jackson
Model: Lauren @ Nova

Out and about London Fashion Week by Dan and Steph

Marshall wears vintage fur hat,

 Zara jacket, pants and boots

Dan McGlashan was admin manager at Black HQ during our formative years but has now spread his 'fro to Europe - London at first, then Berlin. He attended a few shows at the London Fashion Week with partner Stephanie and they snapped these snazzy dressers for us...

Favourite M.A.C looks of Fashion Week

Huffer

M.A.C was omnipresent again at fashion week and for the third year running Russ Flatt took some great pictures. Congrats to Tatum Savage, Amber D and of course Jodie Matthews on a successful week. Here are our favourite looks of the week.

Nom D

Salasai