THE SPRING ISSUE
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The Natural
Fall products bring hair back to basics. The days of extravagant hairdos are gone. No more teasing and streaking in sight. Blame the deflated economy for fashion’s return to structure and understated beauty. This season’s subdued styles reflect the working girl’s sensibility for low maintenance, no-fuss chic. Think chunky waves, braids and twists, fringed bangs, […]
WORD PLAY
David Drebin: Love and Other Stories (Daab, 160 pages, $70) The visual narrative of David Drebin’s, Love and Other Stories, needs no introduction—a good thing for the editors over at Daab, as the book doesn’t have one. And why go and muddle-up Drebin’s photographic images with text? Drebin (a Canadian turned New Yorker) has a […]
Street Pulse: London
As fashion week partied its way into London, SOMA caught up with off-catwalk birds and blokes to talk about style and the perks of hosting all those tents. 1 What’s the first thing you notice about someone? 2 What do you like most about yourself? 3 What is your style trademark? 4 If you could […]
Standing Tall: Chloe Hooper
For some people creativity is akin to breathing—a seemingly effortless task without which they cease to exist. Australian writer, novelist and journalist, Chloe Hooper is one such person. Saturated with talent and a quest to engage with the world around her through the medium of words, the lithe Melbourne-based writer is on the cusp of […]
Street Pulse: Olso
One tiny population with many creative minds makes Oslo Fashion Week a stylish destination. SOMA captures individual styles during Fashion Week where fashion enthusiasts are showing that trends begin on the street. 1. Define fashion 2. Who is your favorite designer? 3. What’s your favorite fashion decade? 4. Where do you get your sense of […]
Why So Serious?
MAC’s new Holiday line goes smoky and bold I, like the rest of the world, was shamelessly enthralled with The Dark Night. While Heath Ledger’s Joker was meant to have a haunting and disturbing appearance, I couldn’t help thinking that with a few swipes here and there, it would be the perfect smoky eye and […]
The Denim Master
Mille Monferin’s cosmopolitan take on jeans. Sweden has produced some of the most sought after brands of the last few years, from inexpensive lines to cutting edge, avant-garde and innovative collections, falling just shy of fashion’s radars as the country on which to always keep a watchful eye. Denim is no exception, and the Scandinavians […]
Bland Is As Bland Does
For lack of a better descriptor, we’ll call Bland a “clothing line”—though that hardly encapsulates the cleverly subversive efforts of Theodoric Bland Willoughby and his co-conspirator Meghan Coleman that have included, among other things, hooded hats, cigarette broaches, armless vests, clear ruler sunglasses, mannequin pantomime, as well as some expertly constructed, unisex separates. It’s a […]
More than Manolos
In a society where Manolos can be more coveted than Monets, modern artists have adeptly found a way to mesh our keenness for kicks and adoration of art. They have spawned a vast spectrum of enterprise, which includes graphic art, photography, interior design and most recently, tennis shoes. By partnering with major brands like Adidas […]
Street Pulse: Los Angeles
Meet the TBWA/Chiat/Day’s Media Arts Lab. They design the advertising for one of the most design-obsessed and ubiquitous brands on the planet: Apple Computer. SOMA visited a few members of the team around their Los Angeles office. 1 If you could redesign an everyday object, what would it be? 2 What is your favorite product or […]
Word Play
Words Fail Me By Teresa Monachino (Phaidon Press) What will you get for that distant cousin who publicly insulted your haircut at the last family gathering for Christmas? Or that office colleague who always drinks the last cup of coffee? When an occasion for compulsory gift-giving arises, Phaidon has published a little book that will […]
Cellphones from the East
While beige Zack Morris–brick cell phones might have been de rigeur two decades ago, today’s phone had better be sleek sexy and functional – which nobody does better than Japan and Korea. Both of these nations embrace the idea that a cell phone is more than a device – it’s an extension of one’s personality. […]
Matt and Kim: Bubblegum Apocalypse
Text by Matthew Nestel Photograph by Nicholas Chatfield-Taylor A Sunday afternoon at a loft space in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, delivers a cluster of brownbaggers nursing tall boy Colt 45s and DIYers ready to dance to a Matt and Kim set. It’s a tame bunch compared to the norm of gigs bordering on Armageddon. Kids hoard […]
Smoosh Operators
Text by Lee Wang Photograph by Zen Sekizawa “We’re getting older, so yes, we sound different,” says keyboardist and singer Asya of indie pop sensation Smoosh about their new record. But while other bands say their sound has matured, it’s hard to doubt Smoosh. After all, they’re barely teenagers. Asya, 14, and her sister Chloe, […]
Relm’s Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Text by Steven Leckart Photograph by Jerome Gacula Whether it’s a chubby teen whipping around a homemade lightsaber or Midwestern trailer park kids doing backyard piledrivers, internet video clips are rocking our world. Missed Tom Cruise’s couch dance on Oprah? Just hit up the Internet, where sites like YouTube.com offer a look at seemingly everything. […]
As the Knife Silently Shouts
Text by Fiona Killackey Photograph by Elin Berge Olof Dreijer doesn’t like to talk about his favorite food. “I don’t usually answer those questions,” he admits from his studio in Berlin, “I always get so annoyed when I read [about] artists I like and their [favorite] food.” Probed to suggest a favorite moment or favorite […]
A Novel Distraction
Text by Steven Leckart Photograph by Kava Gorna It took Jack Kerouac three weeks (plus coffee and Benzedrine) to churn out On the Road. For the Walkmen, three weeks wasn’t enough to finish their novel, but it did get the ball rolling. Started during a 2004 trek through the Midwest, they collectively penned John’s Journey […]
Street Pulse: New York
The musicians featured below hail from the Big Apple, one of our favorite cities in the world. These rockers share their favorite music, thoughts on touring and stage style. The stage is where they make people go crazy, sweat like crazy and most importantly, rock out like crazy. 1 What do you think about when […]
Head Bling
Text by Robin Liss Respect your ears! That’s the battle cry of the many manufacturers who are trying to pry people from their beloved white earbud iPod headphones and purchase higher-end models. The reality is that while the iPod-included headphones may look cool, their sound quality is pretty poor. On top of that, walking around […]
Aero Luxe: First Class Amenities
Photographed by Kenji Toma LUFTHANSA JAPAN AIRLINES MALAYSIA AIRLINES ICELANDAIR CATHAY PACIFIC AUSTRIA AIRLINES US AIRWAYS
Street Pulse: Oslo, Norway
Oslo might not be Europe’s largest metropolis, but then again, that’s part of its charm. For the Travel issue, SOMA trekked over the green hills and open skylines that surround Norway’s capital to find some of the hidden secrets of the “City of Tigers.” 1. Where do you go to find yourself? 2. What do […]
The Polished Old Country
Text & photograph by Kristin Gifford When Americans think of Poland, three things often come to mind: the cold, disparaging Polack jokes, and Communism. Yes, it’s cold in the winter, but that’s where the similarities between the stereotypical Poland and the real Poland ends. For one thing, Poland is now part of the European Union, […]
Globetrot Gadgets
As a workaholic who routinely angers friends and family with my obsessive need to be connected to the internet whenever I travel on business or pleasure, I am the ultimate expert on technology for jetsetters. These gadgets help you work and pass the time while you’re running around the globe. Panasonic Toughbook CF-W4 | The […]
