Fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has never been one to stick to the norm and predictable so it comes as no surprise that his first biography isn’t in any sort of chronological order but rather a collection of personal retrospect told through flashbacks, poems and short fiction.

The book is co-written by Al Mitsuda, who also worked with Yamamoto on his previous publications ‘Talking to Myself’ and ‘Y’s – Yohji Yamamoto’. Continue reading “Yohji Yamamoto’s Bio ‘My Dear Bomb’” »

Stylelikeu, created by mother-daughter team Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum, goes way beyond the now ubiquitous and static poses of street-fashion bloggers The Sartorialist, Face Hunter, and all the rest, and instead, brings us into the homes–and more importantly the closets–of the most stylish people on the streets of New York, Los Angeles, London, and more.

Not interested in celebrities and the stylists who dress them, Elisa and Lily have an uncanny knack for finding and gaining the trust of people who march to the beat of their own, very chic, drummer. Often spending up to three hours with the most daring and original dressers they can find, Stylelikeu photographs each fashionable person in several different looks of the subject’s choosing.

To probe deeper into each subject’s personal style, they conduct intimate interviews on their ambitions, influences, and dreams, making each portrait so much more than yet another street photograph. From the most personal pieces in their subjects’ wardrobes, to the favorite books on their shelves, to the most precious objects in their houses, Stylelikeu goes far beyond mere appearances to showcase how creativity is fostered and manifested by living in the most stylish way of all: true to oneself. Trumpeted in the press for Elisa and Lily’s departure from the top-down nature of mass-market fashion, where the editors of popular fashion magazines tell consumers what is stylish, Stylelikeu represents the vanguard of a new, DIY, fashion-media paradigm. It is a bold and inspirational experiment, documenting fashion at its source-the individual.

A few of the 1000+ comments left by fans of the Stylelikeu website: “Was just talking about how he NEEDED to be on this site. So amazing.” “I find her absolutely mesmerizing. She is so full of life and charm. She has a wonderfully contagious spirit. She is such an inspiration and I would love to be like her someday.” “I love that you guys feature such a diverse group of people-all ages, races, sizes, budgets. It shows how everyone can have style.” “I don’t have any words to describe how amazing those two girls are! They are the true inspiration for all the girls in this entire universe!”

Pre-Order Now. On sale in March 2011.

Black Crack in Iran

Tehran has a drug problem. On the streets, in back alleys, and in small, crumbling, low-cost apartments, Iranian crack addicts are finding their fix in steadily rising numbers. The crack—a term used to describe many types of crystallized narcotics—currently flooding the streets of Tehran is different from that found in the West in a significant way: the “black crack” in Iran is made from heroin, not cocaine.

With neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan still ranking as world leaders in the production of poppies and their derivatives, and the demand for these products increasing daily, the flow of these drugs into Iran have been hard to stem. Despite severe consequences for possession, distribution, and trafficking, new customers are picking up needles and pipes at an alarming rate. Intent on documenting the plight of these masses of addicts, Aslon Arfa struck out into the underbelly of modern Tehran, camera in tow. The results of his mission, compiled here in Black Crack in Iran, are devastating images of men and women in the midst of a downfall. Some, including a young man with glazed eyes and infected burns stretching across his torso, are closer to the bottom than others.

Creating an accurate picture of daily life in Iran is a difficult task, and depicting addicts even harder. Due to strict religious and moral codes, even photographing a woman inside her home without a scarf covering her head is all but impossible. Add to the equation the shame of addiction, the misunderstanding and disapproval of drug use by outsiders, and the lack of trust from suffering people whose sickness is also a crime punishable by death, and the massive difficulties in completing this project become apparent. Yet, after months spent in the trenches, Arfa has succeeded astoundingly with Black Crack in Iran. The results are raw and humanizing, offering hope through exposure for an otherwise hopeless group of people.

Pre-Order here

The Day After Tomorrow: Images of Our Earth in Crisis

The Day After Tomorrow takes readers on a journey to bear witness to the environmental destruction that is currently plaguing our planet; from a forest in West Virginia devastated by mountaintop removal mining, to a region in Florida left in ruins by the phosphate mining industry, J Henry Fair presents hard evidence that our unchecked consumerism is leading the way in the destruction of our planet, one natural resource at a time.

Primarily through the use of aerial photography, Fair captures spellbinding vistas of pools of toxic hog waste, streams of paper mill runoff, and the remains of hollowed-out mountains. These environmental abstractions lure the viewer in with unique asymmetrical shapes and striking colors; however, fascination quickly turns to horror, as the viewer realizes what lurks beneath the surface of the image.

Fair is a consummate environmentalist and after years as a corporate and portrait photographer he turned his lens on the industries that sustain us—oil, fertilizer, coal, and factory farming, to name a few—eager to uncover the dirty little secrets that he knew were well hidden there. It turns out the secrets, and the “dirt” they produce, are far too large to hide. For example: the factory farming industry is responsible for one of the largest environmental disasters in history, wherein a hog waste lagoon burst, causing 25 million gallons of highly toxic sludge to flood the New River in North Carolina, killing ecosystems, animals, and infecting water supplies. Just before Christmas in 2008, the Tennessee Valley Authority power plant was responsible for sending a billion gallons of coal ash waste into the Tennessee River; this spill was 40 times larger than the infamous 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Coal ash is toxic, containing a laundry list of hazardous substances such as uranium, mercury, lead, and arsenic. These are only two examples of the endless calamity we inflict on our environment daily. Now is the time to take action and make change. Continue reading “Guide Into 2011: Books” »

Spike Lee is stopping by The powerHouse Arena to sign copies of Spike Lee: Do The Right Thing, a new book that celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the film’s seminal debut. It’s his first signing in NYC, so get your copy signed here before everyone else!

About the book:

Spike Lee: Do The Right Thing is an unprecedented, insider’s look at the film, with behind-the-scenes visuals and interviews celebrating the impact of Do The Right Thing on American culture.

Do The Right Thing remains one of the most controversial films of its era. Employing director Spike Lee’s hometown of Brooklyn as the essential setting, this explosive film masterfully explores race and class relationships.

Both a critical and popular success, Do The Right Thing became a landmark film that brought serious issues in the African American community to light and established Lee as a major director in American cinema. Lee also wrote the screenplay, produced, and even starred in this deeply personal film, which was applauded for its commanding visuals provided by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, intense performances by an all-star cast, and an assertive soundtrack featuring Public Enemy’s Fight the Power.

The film is even credited with bringing President Barack Obama and the First Lady together on their first date!

Thursday, December 16, 7–8:30PM
The powerHouse Arena ·
37 Main Street (corner of Water & Main St.) ·
DUMBO, Brooklyn 718.666.3049

Assouline announces the launch of ART GAME BOOK , with a live interactive ART GAME SHOW on Friday, December 3 during Miami’s Art Basel.

To celebrate the launch Assouline, Van Cleef & Arpels, Brooke Geahan and Peter Tunney invite a select group of one hundred key members of the art world to participate in a provocative ART GAME SHOW bringing to life Assouline’s ART GAME BOOK. Contestants will team up and showoff their knowledge of the ins and outs of art history trivia during a cocktail and dinner reception at the Water Salon at Delano on Miami’s South Beach. Peter Tunney, artist, gallerist, and celebrated personality will be the Game Show Host of the evening, quizzing guests with creative questions based on the book. Points will be earned, score will be kept, and the most knowledgeable will be rewarded with prizes from Assouline , Morgan’s Hotel Group, and Van Cleef & Arpels, including the grand prize of a Vintage Alhambra watch. Continue reading “Art Basel Miami 2010: Art Game Book – Art In The 20th Century” »

Heel on Stovetop, Budget Suites of America, 2000

Despite being one of the world’s most sought after photographers, Albert Watson devotes much of his time to extensive personal projects. Five years in the making, Strip Search is a portrait of Las Vegas as seen through the lens of a legendary photographic artist. Over 250 landscapes, interiors and portraits, interspersed with dramatic reportage-style images, create a unique and visually stunning portrayal of one of the world’s most mysterious and sexiest cities. Continue reading “Strip Search by Albert Watson” »

A fully illustrated history of bespoke tailoring—the custom-made men’s clothing that made a small London street a globally known brand to generations of sartorial connoisseurs. Savile Row is renowned for fine custom tailoring—”bespoke” in its own parlance. The term originated when cloth for a suit was said to “be spoken for” by customers who have included generations of stylish and tasteful men, from rakes to royals. Bespoke is the epitome of male sartorial style, exquisite quality, and craftsmanship, and has been worn by a veritable who’s who of famous and important men: Winston Churchill, Cary Grant, Russell Crowe, David Beckham, and countless world leaders. Bespoke charts Savile Row’s contribution to fashion and culture chronologically and features twenty-six profiles of today’s master tailors from historic firms such as Gieves & Hawkes and Henry Poole to more recent ones like Nutters and Ozwald Boateng, who was the first Savile Row tailor to stage a catwalk show in Paris.

Available to purchase here.

From the singer of NYC’s legendary Cro-Mags and the author of Evolution of a Cro-Magnon comes a new book that takes on all the meat eaters of the world. Meat Is for Pussies more than pleads the case that vegetarianism is the way to go; it screams it in your ear. Beware: reading this book may convert you into living a healthy lifestyle. It’s hard to argue with John Joseph, a 47-year-old man who still does backflips on stage night after night. We expect another winning performance at the book launch party of Meat Is for Pussies.

John Joseph proclaims “meat is for pussies!” in his second book. In true punk fashion, Joseph exposes what is making us so fat and sick. He also takes aim at the corporations profiting from it. Joseph makes sure you never look at meat the same way again in this how-to guide for dudes who want to get fit, kick ass, and take names. The book, which includes a seven-day meal and workout plan, proves that consuming a plant-based, whole-food diet makes men strong, athletically competitive, and virile. A play on the popular “For Dummies” instruction manuals, the book is far from a dry medical journal, instead peppered with Joseph’s conversational-style writing, rough-hewn humor, and firsthand experiences with the subjects.

Book Launch Party with Special Appearances by :
Moby and Dr. Fred Bisci
Wednesday, November 17, 7–9PM
The powerHouse Arena · 37 Main Street (corner of Water & Main St.) · DUMBO, Brooklyn
For more information, please call 718.666.3049

One of the most successful fashion and commercial photographers of the last four decades, Albert Watson will release his new monograph, UFO (United Fashion Objectives). A 40-year look at his best work in 364 pages with a forward by photo historian and curator Gail Buckland.

UFO features Watson’s inimitable photographs of some of the world’s most celebrated figures, including Michael Jackson, Prince, P. Diddy,  David Bowie, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix,  Quentin Tarantino, Grace Jones, Sade, Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Brooke Shields, Lauren Hutton, Janice Dickinson, and Christie Brinkley, among countless others.

The celebrity portraits are interspersed throughout fashion stories for Vogue Italia, Arena, and The Face, as well as select fashion campaigns. Also featured are Watson’s inimitable personal work, creating an electric atmosphere that combines photography, fashion, art, and style into one glorious whirlwind.

View more images after the jump Continue reading “UFO (Unified Fashion Objectives) by Albert Watson” »

One of the most prolific musicians, Bob Marley died when Ky-Mani was just 5, but nearly 30 years later, Marley still looms large in his life, as seen in Ky-Mani’s new memoir, “Dear Dad”.

“I told my story from my heart and soul. After writing the book and reading over the first edit, I didn’t realize some of the stuff I had bottled up inside of me. So this book, for me, became therapy,” Ky-Mani said. “If I was to follow in my father’s footsteps, then what would they say? ‘Oh, he’s trying to be like his dad.’ Then if I take a different path, they say, ‘He’s supposed to be like his father.’ So you can’t please everybody. I just have to be true to myself and true to my art and do what comes naturally to me.” Continue reading “Ky-Mani Marley’s letter to his Dad, Bob Marley” »