THE SPRING ISSUE
Posts Tagged ‘Jan/Feb 2013’
Parralox
When the Australian duo known as Parralox put “I Fell in Love with a Drum Machine” up on their MySpace page in 2008, it went viral, causing a sensation in the international club community. The tune is slightly autobiographical, referencing the early life of the band’s songwriter and keyboard player, sci-fi enthusiast John von Ahlen. […]
Owen
Ten years ago, Manhattan’s Meatpacking District was in the process of gentrifying from a once desolate neighborhood—historically for slaughterhouses and derelict factories—to an emerging gritty-turned-glitzy, club and restaurant scene. In the 1980’s, the area was known for drug dealing and prostitution. With what seemed like an overnight regeneration, New York’s hippest hotels, like the Standard […]
Aussies Got Talent!
From the humble Hills Hoist invented long ago to dry our threads in the outdoors to ear worms “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye or Tame Impala with their album “Lonerism,” topping many global best-of album lists in 2012, Australians create a stir beyond their far-away Southern Hemisphere borders. Perhaps it’s something in […]
Nike ‘Flyknit’ Collective
When does an athletic shoe transcend its initial function and become art? How does said sneaker-cum-objet d’art inspire a host of artists of various disciplines to pay tribute to it? It does so when it’s the Nike “Flyknit”—footwear so unique that last July the corporation was granted an injunction against Adidas, who may have disregarded […]
Poetic Time Objects
What would happen if we dislocated time or perhaps split it in two? While the concept of changing time or perhaps stretching time in its mechanical and precise terms is an interesting thought, a much more appealing concept is getting more quality time and staying more focused on what really matters. We honor anyone who […]
Editions of You
Used throughout: Skin/Base: YSL Pore Refining Skincare, YSL Touche Express Wake-Up Eyecare, YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat No B10, YSL Touche Éclat Concealer No 1 & 5, YSL Anti-Cernes Concealer No 2, YSL Poudre Sur Mesure. Brows: YSL Neuilly Brow Pen. Eyes: YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara. Lips: YSL Re-Plumping Concentrate. […]
Pattern Recognition
Silk patchwork print dress and pleated peplum belt by Lie Sang Bong; Necklace and ring by Laruicci; Cuffs by Mordekai By Ken Borochov. Family Chair by Takeshi Miyakawa Design. Silk satin geometric print gown with raffia yoke and belt by Carolina Herrera; Earrings and cuffs by Robert Lee Morris. Mark-8 Room Divider by Uhuru […]
Breaking the Mold
Frank Lloyd Wright. Charles and Ray Eames. The legacies of these designers and architects tower above those of their contemporaries. But exactly why is their contribution so much more lasting, their place in history so outsized? Saarinen, Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, and many others have also given us beloved designs, but theirs are not […]
The di Rosa
A quaint cobblestone home situated on 217 acres of gardens and vineyards in Napa Valley was where Rene and Veronica di Rosa’s dream began. The large collection of art was originally compiled on the grounds by the collectors over the years and continues to grow to this day. When Rene di Rosa purchased land in […]
Marcel Wanders
Fighting for a world bearing more sustainability and durability through his cleverly manipulated interior and product designs, Marcel Wanders is the Beethoven equivalent to others in his field. Gaining recognition in the late 90s for his simple structures played against elaborate and opulent designs, any product of his can be appreciated from a mile away […]
Bernadette Alice Francis
A kaleidoscopic happiness explosion of epic proportions would be one way to describe the work of 23-year-old fashion designer on the rise Bernadette Alice Francis. Based in Melbourne, Australia—and also head-buyer/visual merchandiser at much-lauded Alice Euphemia—Francis is fascinated by the human condition, particularly “the fine line between the ephemeral, permanent, and the pursuit of happiness—how […]
Kristy Barber
A mere three years ago saw the birth of womenswear label Kuwaii, the creation of designer Kristy Barber. Following her award as Student Designer of the Year at the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Barber cut her fashion-teeth through internships with cult Australian brands Arnsdorf and Lover, as well as a stint in New York at […]
Legally Blonde
The beauty of the Scandinavian woman—fair skin, light eyes, waif figures, and that ethereal wispy blond hair—is sought after by women around the world for decades, with hair that American women have been constantly trying to replicate. Enter Mirjam Bayoumi, THE brunette that reins queen above all the best blondes in Manhattan. What sets her […]
Sara Ferrari
Sara Ferrari was born in Brescia, Italy. After her graduation at MACHINA Lonati Fashion and Design Institute, she moved to London where she started different collaborations with product and interior design practices. In 2009 she founded Sara Ferrari Design. Her work is already recognized internationally: the cardboard chair PAD was selected as a winning entry […]
I-Pose: The Winner Is…
I-Pose is the latest addition to SOMA’s ongoing tradition of introducing unique, cutting-edge features to our magazine. This section portrays the winners of our online competition, where SOMA readers posed as their favorite icons. In this issue, we feature the best of 2012. These young creative minds from Tokyo were asked to explain the reasoning […]
Elin Ruth
Elin Ruth looks like she just stepped out of a 1940’s pin-up calendar. Her long blonde hair, red lips and nails, and vintage dresses give her the presence of a World War II beauty queen. Although the tattoos and piercings let you know that she’s a modern woman. “I love everything that has to do […]
Street Pulse: New York City
1. When you dress, are you more likely to choose comfort or style? 2. Have you ever bought something based on package design? If so what? 3. What’s your favorite font or typeface? 4. What’s your favorite color combo? 5. Do you have a favorite logo and if so, what? Serena Dykman 1. Style 2. […]
Huli Pau!
Scouring the globe for mixologists harboring the most exotic and intriguing cocktail recipes in their repertoire, SOMA stumbled upon this Big Island jewel. You won’t have to fly across oceans to feel transported. Just a sip from this tantalizing treat conjures warm, tropical breezes and sand beneath your toes. THE BIKINI MARTINI 1 oz Ketel […]
Best Drinks
Inside the extravagant SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, the collaboration between celebrity chef José Andrés, world-renowned designer Philippe Starck, and retailers Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell is a eclectic undertaking, to put it mildly. Arguably, the four pillars that comprise this lavish undertaking are: Rojo y Blanca, a play on the traditional Spanish tapa-teria; the Patisserie, […]
Salon Urbain
Albert Einstein said, “Logic will get you from A to Z… Imagination can take you everywhere.” Logically, creating a lounge-style area out of what used to be a parking lot next to a famous concert and music hall is a good idea. That was the general concept behind Salon Urbain at the Place de Arts […]
Elena Kriegner
The instinctual desire to adorn ourselves is as ancient as our desire for utility. When a designer is able to fuse beauty with function, we pay attention. And in the past year art and jewelry lovers have been paying particular attention to a jewelry designer with an extraordinary eye for constructing gemstones and precious metals, […]
Mykita
What do Lenny Kravitz and Beth Ditto know that most of us don’t? Well, aside from how to put together massively successful, award-winning albums, they’re both loyal customers of the eyewear brand Mykita. Never heard of them? Don’t worry, there’s a good chance you’ve seen their work. In fact, if you were simply living in […]
Acne: Style & Usage
The newest ACNE addition is located in the Aoyama district of Tokyo—one of the hottest shopping, eatery, and nightlife spots in Tokyo right alongside Shibuya and Harajuku. Cacophonous youth gather and mingle in the storefronts and in the alleyways—each of their fashion-forward, personally styled, and nonchalantly worn ensembles more creative and eye-catching than the next. In […]
