Posts made in September 2018

Look For Less

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At last night’s Emmys, TVs hottest stars brought their A-game and did not disappoint.

From strappy sandals, to elegant pumps and even a perfect-for-fall bootie, the ladies (and gents) were showing off the hottest trends in footwear for the season.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorite looks from last night’s show and found some fantastic alternatives from JustFab and ShoeDazzle that will have you strutting like an A-lister without having to spend like one.

LOOK FOR LESS – Emmys 2019 Shoe Edition

Mandy Moore

Get the look with ShoeDazzle’s Myrcella Platform Heeled Sandal

Millie Bobby Brown

Get the look with ShoeDazzle’s Malika Cone Heel Pump

Chrissy Teigen

Get the look with JustFab’s Carolina Heeled Sandal

Jonathan Van Ness

Get the look with ShoeDazzle’s Laine Bootie

Vanessa Hudgens

Get the look with JustFab’s Monika D’Orsay Pump

NUE Drops EP “U Met Me At A Strange Time”

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Toronto native, NUE releases his latest EP, U Met Me At A Strange Time.

NUE made waves in 2017 with his critically-acclaimed mixtape, Iroquois. Now the anime illustrator is back with a 10-track project that reflects on the many losses he experienced this year. The lost of his close friend, Kosi Modekwe (Koba Prime), who died alongside Drake affiliate, Smoke Dawg and the lengthy prison sentences that have plagued his friendships and family.

Understanding that it’s strange timing for love interests and music lovers to meet him, NUE welcomes everyone into his narcotized world of pain, careless partying, and self reflection.

NUE is currently on a Canadian tour with Grammy-nominated hitmaker, Fetty Wap. Earlier this year, he released the single “Nightfall,” which premiered on Noisey, who referred to the record as “nasally harmonies reminiscent of “Lollipop”-era Lil Wayne.” Additionally, he released “Nightfall’s” music video and remix with Toronto’s Pressa. Growing up in a Jamaican household in Scarborough, NUE developed a great a love for anime and basketball. After encouragement from his family, he began recording music in his brother’s basement. NUE’s unique sound and clever storytelling has garnered the attention of Hypebeast, PAPER, Noisey, Complex, The Fader, Pigeons and Planes, Earmilk, Dirty Glove Bastard, Rap Radar, Hot New Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop DX, and more.

Take a listen below and be sure to look out for the “Chances” visuals coming soon.

U Met Me At A Strange Time Tracklist:

1. Link Up

2. Deathstar

3. Part Time Lover

4. Rattlesnake

5. In2deep

6. Night ‘N Day

7. Chances

8. Say Nothing

9. Emotions

10. Neverland

Where Angels Meet: A Cinematic VR Experience

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an angel? Where Angels Meet, a new cinematic VR experience, launching today exclusively for Oculus Rift, follows the life of a young African-American man named Marcus from the perspective of his guardian angel. The VR experience allows viewers to don their wings and visit heavenly landscapes, as well as transcend time to witness key moments in Marcus’ life.

Where Angels Meet is available for $4.99 at: Oculus.com/experiences/rift/1741878345881014/

Where Angels Meet was created by Angeles Vista Creative Ventures (AVCV), one of the winners of 2017 Oculus Launchpad program. AVCV has released a trailer for the experience at WhereAngelsMeet.com/trailer/

Where Angels Meet is a unique, narrative VR experience which touches on themes of the afterlife, spirituality, faith, racism and the common challenges of life. The story follows important milestones and events in Marcus’ life. Having grown up with the understanding that his mother died in childbirth, Marcus finds solace in his imagination and strength in his beliefs, as he transports himself to the marvelous “Garden of Light” where he can meditate and find comfort from life’s worries.

“Although Where Angels Meet is a fictional story, the aim is to provide insight into the life of a young African-American man, from a unique perspective,” said Micah Jackson, CEO of AVCV and creator of Where Angels Meet. “Marcus’ story parallels many of the issues and challenges that people of color face in the modern age and virtual reality is a powerful medium to convey this message.”

The “Garden of Light” is a wondrous, lush and beautiful place and serves as the central hub of the experience, as throughout the story different sections of the Garden will be visited. The “Garden of Light” is one of the most beautiful environments to ever be created in virtual reality. It will truly leave a lasting impression on viewers and can only be seen using the Oculus Rift.

Ella Mai Drops Visual For “Trip”

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10 Summers/Interscope Records songstress, Ella Mai, releases the music video today for her sublime new smash, “Trip.” Produced by Mustard, who discovered the half Irish-half Jamaican beauty on social media three years ago, the single is already blowing up the Billboard Hot 100, moving up nine spots this week to #23. Check out the video HERE.

It has been a remarkable year for Ella Mai. She sold out her first U.S. headlining tour and is featured in YouTube’s Artist On The Rise campaign. In addition, the British singer-songwriter was recently nominated for a pair of 2018 American Music Awards (AMA) for “Favorite Female Artist Soul/R&B” and “Favorite Song Soul/R&B” for her runaway hit, “Boo’d Up.”

After 13 weeks on Billboard magazine’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, that song is officially the longest running number one by a woman this decade. Floored by this latest in a long line of accolades, Ella Mai beams, “Without the fans none of this would be possible… I am truly grateful.”

Ella will be joining Bruno Mars on his 24K Magic World Tour, kicking off her run in Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center on October 4th.

Designer to Watch: Pierre Garroudi

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London Fashion Week 5519 saw the arrival of Pierre Garroudi’s Spectacular Fashion Show: a high-octacaine, glamorous, and unique mardi gras of style, creativity, and fun.

On Sunday the 16th of September at 9 PM, The Strand Palace Hotel played host to Garroudi’s riot of colour and exuberance, seeing his vision come to life on the catwalk. Distinctiveness made up the foundation of this show with a diverse cast of models, each dressed and styles uniquely, shunning the industry standard of uniformity.
“Outrageousness is in, get ready and dress up!” is the way designer Pierre Garroudi explained his show made up of 50 looks in total. Key looks from the show included a baby pink, lace, “show girl” outfit, complete with tulle boa, with the model using a children’s doll to cover her modesty, a ringmaster-esque outfit which saw hot-pants teamed with a copped-striped jacket and a show stopping head piece topped with a golden deer to DEMAND attention.

Other notable outfits included a cutesy ‘holiday’ look comprised of a ditsy floral mini-dress with peach sequin detailing matched with an oversized straw sunhat and completed with a pair of sky-high studded stiletto Mary-Janes. Perhaps one of the most eccentric of al the looks was dominated by a hat made from a child’s doll towering on the model’s head. This was matched with a  shoe necklace and belts tied around her ankles, making for a truly eclectric outfit which left Garroudi’s audience curious about his inspiration as well as desperate for an encore of his ‘circus of style.’

Each outfit was styled with one of Garroudi’s famous leather handbags, an accessory the designer is well known and loved for. Pink, blue and gold acted as the main color pallet, but certainly didn’t limit his use of other shades. Hair and make-up only added to the beautiful chaos of Garroudi’s fashion performances taking theatrical make-up to new levels , leaving any sign of minimalism truly outside the doors of the hotel.

Want to get to know the designer?

Now based in London, Pierre Garroudi was founded in New York City 1993. Garroudi is formerly known for mastering the techniques of draping and his attention to fabrication, shape, and detail. His design inspirations derived from futuristic elements experimenting with new shapes and fabric manipulations–appealing to those who are interested in the aesthetics of a futuristic world. With 12 collections, Pierre Garroudi has showcased at fashion weeks in New York, Paris, and London. His international experience enabled him to become more creative and original.

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

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Koshien Stadium (Photo by Joshua Mellin)

In the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan will play host to a series of noteworthy sporting events taking place across the country throughout 2018 and 2019. Made famous on the world stage for baseball and sumo wrestling, the country offers a wide variety of events of interest to sports enthusiasts and active travelers.
Nippon Baseball Series – October 27, 2018
Considered by many to be Japan’s most popular sport, baseball was first introduced to the Japanese as a prep-school game by an American schoolteacher in the 1870s. Today, both Japan’s professional and high school leagues (or K d;shien) are extremely popular, drawing millions of fans from around the country. Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league has even been compared to the United States’ Major League; the league’s reigning champions, the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Giants, have been nicknamed “The New York Yankees of Japan.” The 2018 Nippon Professional Baseball series begins on October 27th and will take place in one of the many stadiums surrounding Tokyo. For more information and schedules, click here.
Cycling Shimanami Bike Tour – October 28, 2018
In October, approximately 7,000 cyclists from around the globe will come together for the Cycling Shimanami Bike Tour, Japan’s most famous cycling event. Known throughout the world as a “Mecca for Cyclists,” the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido is comprised of a handful of picturesque small islands. Unlike other cycling tours, the courses allow participants to travel from island to island via expressways and bridges. Participants will be matched with one of seven different courses based on their personal skill level and preferences. Throughout the tour, participants will enjoy major scenic attractions, including views of the Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido. The tour will begin in Hiroshima at the Onomichi U2, a renovated warehouse and home to Hotel Cycle, a cyclist hotel with cycle-through check-in and café, bicycle shop, restaurant, bakery, bar and boutique. For more information, click here.
c;mato National Archery Competition, Kyoto – January 13, 2019
The c;mato National Archery Competition is a special archery tournament held each year in Sanjusangen-do, a temple in eastern Kyoto, to commemorate the coming of age for young Japanese men and women. In celebration of their 20th birthdays, approximately 2,000 young adults from across Japan convene at the temple to participate in a contest of aim and skill. The yearly ritual is based on a traditional archery competition called the T d;shiya. After a master archer fires the first shot, the competition commences. Each contestant has two minutes to shoot two arrows at a target set 60 meters away; only those who manage to hit the target both times move on to the next round. Taking place from 9am to 3:30pm, the event is free and attracts many visitors every year. For more information and how to get there, click here.
Marathons Across Japan – January through March 2019
Between January and March of 2019, Japan will host a number of marathons all across the country. Taking place in late January, the Amakusa Marathon is just a 90-minute ferry ride from Goto Island, home of the newly appointed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, the Hidden Christian Sites. Also taking place in January is the Ibusuki Marathon (January 13); after the marathon, runners can unwind at the beachfront Ibusuki onsen. Taking place in February 2019 is the Kita-Kyushu Marathon (February 17), the OSJ Amami Jungle Trail Marathon (mid-February), Ehime Marathon (February 10) and Kochi Ryoma Marathon (February 17). In March, runners can participate in the Tokyo Marathon (March 3), the Kagoshima Marathon (March 3), Yoron Marathon (early March) and Tokushima Marathon (late March).
Rugby World Cup – September through November 2019
First held in 1987, the Rugby World Cup is a men’s rugby tournament that takes place every four years, at which 20 of the top teams from across the globe participate. The Rugby World Cup is the world’s third largest sporting event after the Summer Olympics – which is also coming to Japan in 2020 – and the men’s soccer World Cup. From September through November 2019, the Rugby World Cup’s 48 matches will take place at 12 venues throughout Japan including Tokyo, Kumamoto, Yokohama and Sapporo. The tournament will kick off on September 20, 2019 at Tokyo Stadium and will conclude with a final match on November 2, 2019 at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa. For more information, click here.
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About Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
As the official tourism board of Japan, JNTO is involved in a wide range of promotional activities to encourage international travelers to visit Japan. Through a variety of campaigns and initiatives, JNTO is inspiring more American travelers to visit Tokyo, Kyoto and beyond, and is raising awareness of Japan in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nine Inch Nails

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COLD AND BLACK AND INFINITE NORTH AMERICA 2018.

NEW DATES ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND.

November 30th and December 1st at The Joint Las Vegas On Sale This Week.

Due to popular demand, Nine Inch Nails have extended their fall tour with the addition of two shows at The Joint in Las Vegas. Tickets for the November 30 and December 1 concerts go on sale 9/20 at 10AM PT. The Jesus and Mary Chain will provide direct support and HMLTD will open.

Nine Inch Nails came out swinging at the COLD AND BLACK AND INFINITE NORTH AMERICA 2018 tour opener in Phoenix, ripping through 1992’s Broken EP in its entirety to begin the show, before diving into deep cuts and classics from the band’s vast catalog. Performances of songs from 2018’s Bad Witch and last year’s Add Violence showcased the unrivaled live acts dynamic range. The surprises in the setlist left expectant fans, many of whom earned the best seats in the house by spending hours in massive lines at the Physical World presale events, wondering what they have to look forward to as the tour barrels through their town.

COLD AND BLACK AND INFINITE NORTH AMERICA 2018 includes sold out, multiple night stand in marquee venues, with six dates at the Palladium in Los Angeles, two nights at Red Rocks, three at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, and two at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall. New Orleans, Detroit and more. See below for itinerary. Visit www.nin.com for ticket information. Additional opening acts along the tour route include Kite Base, Daniel Avery, Gabe Gurnsey, (Factory Floor), Death in Vegas, HMLTD and Soft Moon.

The tour comes on the heels of the release of “Bad Witch,”the final volume in a trilogy of releases that NME praised as Nine Inch Nails best release in a decade. The Atlantic noted, “Bad Witch” is enveloping and relentless: satisfyingly terse, built with an ear for energizing rhythm, and as adventuresome as anything Reznor has done. Pitchfork said, “Like his greatest albums, it works best as a whole, played loudly on headphones in a dark room.” The Hollywood Reporter hailed the recent collection of releases as Reznor’s version of David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy.

Cheat Codes x ESPN’s Monday Night Football

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Tonight, ESPN will feature a special performance from multi-platinum, electronic/dance/pop group Cheat Codes (comprised of Trevor Dahl, Matthew Russell and Kevi Ford) during their broadcast of the Chicago Bears against the Seattle Seahawks. The performance of their hit “Feels Great” will include an appearance from track’s featured guest, CVBZ. Kick-off for the game is set for 8:15pm ET, with the performance slated to air during the Genesis Halftime Show (#GenesisHalftimeShow).

This performance marks the second National television appearance behind “Feels Great,” following Cheat Codes’ appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this year. “Feels Great” is approaching 2 million singles sold around the world and broke top 30 on U.S. pop radio.

2018 has been a banner year for the trio, with their single “No Promises” ft. Demi Lovato approaching 5X platinum certification globally including 1.7 million sales equivalents in North America. Billboard interviewed the trio earlier this summer for their Beat Break segment, in addition to a high-profile appearance at their Hot 100 Festival. The group were also hand picked by The Chainsmokers to join them for select dates this year, in addition to sets at Electric Daisy Carnival, Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest and Ultra Music Festival in Europe.

More recently, the trio collaborated with UK girl group Little Mix on the track “Only You” which is already generating buzz on streaming platforms having passed over 500,000 equivalents globally. The track reached #1 in the UK and is currently #38* in the U.S. and on rotation at 70 radio stations.

K-Expo

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All That Group and DramaFever are bringing K-Expo to New York City for the first time at Pier 36 with special performances and fan meetings from Astro, Infinite L, A.C.E and The Rose on Sunday, September 30th. This is the inaugural K-Expo event here in the United States and will consist of a variety of exhibitions, auditions, workshops, special guests and performances exposing K-Culture.

One of our special guests, Jeff Benjamin is Billboard’s K-Pop columnist who has written for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue and The New York Times referred to him as “the most knowledgeable person in America about K-Pop.”

I Love Dance will be performing and holding a dance workshop open to everyone who might want to learn or try K-Pop dance choreography.

Beauty Influencer, Fei Yang, who has 1.1M YouTube subscribers will be stopping by our numerous K-Beauty booths to film contents around K-Expo for her own channel.

FNC Entertainment will also be holding a global audition in search of the next big Actor or K-Pop Idol Star(s).

There will be many K-Beauty brands such as TONYMOLY, Kosette Beauty Market, YADAH and K-Fashion brands such as VINSMOKEUSA and Infono hosting booths with freebies and tutorials. Also, we will have NongShim and Binggrae as K-Food representors for those who are hungry. There will also be a performance by Woorigarak Korean Culture Arts Center (WKCAC) who will be doing a drum troupe performance to modern K-Pop music.

Reebok Classic x Pintrill

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Reebok Classic has partnered with Pintrill to create an #AlwaysClassic set of pins in celebration of an all new Aztrek colorway, available now.

Drawing on Pintrill’s passion for all things pop culture and Reebok Classic’s rich heritage, the two brands have united for their first collaboration—just in time for the latest Aztrek drop. The two brands are working together to complement the style’s newest colorways by offering a limited-edition gift with purchase for a limited time only.

The Aztrek draws on Reebok’s rich heritage from the past and knowledge of the modern-day fashion landscape to make something old, new again. The latest colorways feature vibrant neon orange and cool baby blue piping to complement the classic Reebok white.

Be sure to you snag your pair today and use the code AZTREK at checkout to get your pins, available now on Reebok.com.