Rex Lee from Entourage

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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HBO’s Entourage was made even more delicious with the appearance of series regular Rex Lee. Lee plays Lloyd, the engaging and extremely funny assistant to Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).When Lee landed the role, it was a four-episode arc. His portrayal of Lloyd was so well received that the role was expanded and he was added as a regular. Entourage is currently airing its fifth season. In addition to receiving two SAG Award cast nominations, Rex’s performance won him the 2007 and 2008 Asian Excellence Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Television and the “KoreAm” Achievement in Entertainment Award in 2007. Lee can be seen as part of an ensemble comedy cast in the ’08 independent feature Shades of Ray, along with Brian George and Kathy Baker. Lee has a solid background in theatre and has several independent features to his credit. He’s guest starred in several shows, including Dave’s World, Son of the Beach, Lucky, and Andy Richter Controls the Universe. In commercials, Lee is best remembered as the “Annoyed Customer” for Domino’s Pizza and starred in national spots for Dr. Pepper, Chevrolet and Wendy’s. He was born in Warren, Ohio, but he’s been a Southern California resident since age nine. His parents encouraged him to play an instrument, and at age six he chose the piano. Lee, a good student and “Math Whiz,” attended private schools from middle school until he was accepted to the prestigious Oberlin School of Music in Ohio. After two years of study, Lee decided to explore other creative outlets aside from music.When he sampled the theatre department, he says, “The light bulbs clicked on.” He transferred his interests from music to drama and received a BA from Oberlin. He returned home to Southern California to pursue his career as an actor. Rex took jobs in retail and worked at a coffee house by day while acting in local theatre at night.While co-starring in such productions as the controversial AIDS polemic, Queen of Angels, the revival of Charles Ludlam’s Camille, and Letters to a Student Revolutionary at East/West Players, the actor discovered how art can make lasting statements and generate debate about important issues. This experience shaped his passion for significant and controversial work.

After hanging out one night with Rex Lee at Axis Radius in Scottsdale, Arizona, I knew someone with such class and style had a definite place in the pages of Runway. Rex is a one of the nicest people in Hollywood, and truely in fashion both on the screen and on the town..

Badgley Mischka World Wide

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka are known by Runway to be among the “Top 10 American designers” creating ultra luxurious red carpet favorites. It all started in 1988 where Mark and James used the label “Badgley Mischka” to launch their line of women’s eveningwear. Badgley Mischka’s fashion line caught the immediate attention of prominent retailers around the world with their refreshing glamor in which seemed to cater to those of a younger and more modern couture customer, without forsaking women of any age. Both tall and movie star handsome, Badgley and Mischka together personally and professionally have proved to be a worldwide success. It seems as though Badgley and Mischka were both born with a strong passion for fashion. Badgley was born in East St. Louis, Missouri, in 1961, and grew up along side of his twin sister O’Hara in a suburb called Belleville. The future designer claimed to have sketched evening clothes since he was a small child. “I remember drawing women and clothes when I could barely hold a crayon,” he told Min in People. Mischka was a native of California, the eldest of three boys and born just before Christmas of 1960. The family moved from the beach town of Malibu to New Jersey when he was 12. “In Malibu we would make love beads and dye our clothes, “he said in the People interview with Min. As their mainstream look refers back to the glamorous Hollywood of the forties’ the signature style is simple, sleek and thoroughly elegant. “One zip and you’re glamorous” says Badgley. We like to keep things effortless. It’s fabulous if you can spend hours getting ready, but a woman should also be able to bring a dress to work and change there for an evening out.” The famous red-carpet evening wear holds a tradition of rhinestones, cleavage, sweeping trains, but made modern with lighter fabrics and a reduced amount of structure. This allows for an easier and more comfortable wear, yet still holding an amazing dazzle to the look. Mark Badgley and James Mischka said that “the golden age of ocean travel“ inspired their Spring 2009 collection, which they showed on Friday, Sept.12, the closing day of New York fashion week. Sitting in the front row were actresses Heather Graham and Joan Allen, joined with swimmer Amanda Beard and gymnast Nastia Luikin, along with newlyweds Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen.The designers kept a goal of keeping things light using only featherweight fabrics such as silk gazars with bead and ribbon embellishments, eyelet lace and shredded chiffon, tallying an extra dimension to the visual stimulation, giving a definitive break from earlier seasons. “Each gown only weighs two or three ounces. It definitely makes them much easier to wear,” said Badgley. The change was surly welcomed as it also ensured that the few sparkly gowns, in which they did show, really stood out to the crowd. It’s been 20 years since Mark Badgley and James Mischka joined together. Their everlasting designs have appealed to a wide variety of fashionable women, including celebrities such as Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Garner, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ashley Judd. The consistent integrity of their collections has pushed them to the forefront of fashion. Badgley Mischka is sold in the most prominent stores around the world including Bargdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Those that are seen wearing Badgley Mischka are representing a look of true elegance and can, without a doubt, walk with their head high knowing that they look glamorous.

“My American Boy” The Story behind the Cougars and the Cubs

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Have you ever heard of a cougar? How about a cub? No, I am not talking about the animal kingdom. I am talking about an older woman dating a younger man. Why is it that so many of us can accept the fact that an older man can date a younger woman but a younger man cannot date an older woman?Well, that is exactly what Jeffrey Serpa and Susie Merwin, founders of AQBanz Productions, discuss in their innovative documentary “My American Boy” which is set to premier in the Sundance Film Festival in January, 2009. The film is set with four cougars and four cubs who discuss openly and candidly about their experiences in dating younger men and older woman, the ups, the downs, the sex and the overall attraction between the two of them. There is no doubt that some men are fascinated with older women and some women are enthralled to younger men but what is it that draws them to that taboo region of the dating arena where so many of us venture out into? Jeffrey and Susie have set out to answer this and many other questions with their creative and unprecedented film. On October 4, 2008, Jeffrey and Susie did something that no other cougar and cub film has ever done.They set up a stage at the Black Card in Scottsdale, AZ to openly discuss the relationships between cougars and cubs. All of their volunteer men and women were on stage with them in a talk show setting where they not only answered Jeffrey and Susie’s questions but the audience’s as well.This was a huge success and brought a lot of exposure to the film. This talk show experience will be a big part of the film so if you missed it, don’t worry, you can see it again when “My American Boy” comes out. Upon meeting with Jeffrey and Susie, I learned they, too, were a part of the cougar and cub population. She is 44 and he is 23 but you would never know it if you ever bumped into them. A funny thing about it all is that they did not create this film because of their love for each other. In fact, when Susie came up with the idea to produce this film, they were only just friends and hadn’t even seen each other in a while. But through common interests, a strong friendship along with a growing love for each other they have come to build a beautiful and what I think to be a long lasting relationship with each other. I would also attribute the hard work that they both have put into this film as a team to be another major factor that has most likely brought them together. They seem to work well together and have done so in the birth of their “baby”. Balancing between each other’s strong points, they have covered all of the important aspects of film making and have personally promoted it to an extent that they have become more and more recognized in the Phoenix, AZ community. One thing I learned from them is that they have more ideas in the works and have a dream of one day hosting a talk show together. If you have ever sat down with the two of them, you would soon learn that really do make a great team. They seem to feed off of one another and would surely make a fresh and impresive talk show duo. I have no doubt that someday soon we will be seeing a lot more of Jeffrey and Susie on this and many other projects. “My American Boy” has been talked about in the Arizona Republic, on the news and they are talking with the people from the Tonite Show and would love to be on there as well. It just goes to show that with a lot of hard work and ambition along with a great subject that affects many of us today, we can give birth to something that not only may change our own lives but possibly help others along the way. Jeffrey Serpa and Susie Merwin have done just that and I am sure there are many people out there who would love to thank you for all of your efforts to bringing to life a subject that is very real and for some of us, very hard to talk about without the worry of being scrutinized for a decision that is not always a choice but a materialization of something special and more fulfilling than what we have ever experienced before.The love between an older woman and a younger man also known as the cougar and the cub.

Bergdorf Blondes

By
Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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I’ve been a fan of Plum Sykes for awhile. I followed Runway as the chronicled her wedding, I noted with glee her cameo in the Sex and The City movie, but oddly, her book, Bergdorf Blondes sat on my shelf for three years. Oddly, I received a call from a friend of mine a few months back, who said ” Oh, I’m reading Bergdorf Blondes and it reminds me of you! “ Hmm,” thought I. “I only wish… I wish my days as a finishing school girl in New York City were still here.” I remember my best friend (born and raised in Beverly Hills) and I had no clue about money.We would spend as only two Sarah Lawrence girls out on a romp could. “sighhhh” Anyway, I finally removed the book from my shelf and began to read. Like all things that feel “like Home” I couldn’t put it down. Bergdorf Blondes is an ersatz, modern day, Jane Austin novel to my mind. I did love it. Sykes’s writing is witty, smart, and quite female in thought pattern. The characters emerge from frivolous, image based, existing into thoughtful, determined, goodhearted heroines. OK, so the object was to marry a rich guy. In the end, noting that who someone is as a person counts far more than flash, coolness, and facade, each finds Mr. Right The main characters could not go forward until they self actualized and stopped focusing on the external. Somewhere it dawned on them that like attracts like and in order to find a good guy, they had to be good gals. Nice read.

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Relationships and Drama: Understanding the Balances of a Relationship

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Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Why is there so much drama in relationships these days? Ask yourself, how many relationships do you know of that are based on a solid, loving, positively passionate foundation? Having studied relationships for the better part of two decades, I would also guess that honestly, you could count these types of solid relationships on one hand.The lack of relationships that are solidly based in passion says something about our society and the way we go about establishing and maintaining them. What are we doing wrong? Are we doing anything right? Why is there so much drama in relationships these days? One of our first downfalls is the fact that we have placed too much emphasis on our potential partner’s style and perhaps not enough emphasis on their content. That is, we think that if someone is physically attractive enough to warrant our attention and therefore our affection, we will attach our emotions to them and pray everything works out in our favor. Then what do we do when our relationships “go south”?We start over, trying even harder to become more physically attractive. It’s as though as a society we are stuck in junior high school.Why did we like anyone during junior high school? Answer: “Oh, he is soooo cute.” The divorce rate in this country hovers around the fifty-percent mark. There is even a term for a society experiencing such a high rate of relationship failure: divorce culture. What if every other time you went for a drive you were involved in an accident?Would you still want to drive? I would guess that you wouldn’t. Under these adverse conditions, perhaps walking would seem like a more attractive option. So why is it that we treat relationships in this manner?Why do we still try to establish them despite the overwhelming odds that they will fail? Perhaps it’s all about denial, hopeless romanticism, or that we like to pretend we will be the ones that overcome such odds. In order to address these questions, perhaps we should first further deconstruct the failed logic that has come to define how our relationships develop and evolve over time. Let’s see how our relationships start out and why they tend to veer off into divorce culture. After many years of studying relationships, I have noticed that most of them go through three distinct stages before they fall apart.The first stage I call positive passion. In this stage, we are alive with pleasure! Birds sing a little louder. The sun shines a little brighter. We often feel so good that we feel like nothing troubles us. We tend to enjoy this stage with all its fun, excitement, affection and attention! With all this positive energy surrounding us, we feel alive; and others can sense our often unbridled sense of happiness. While in this stage, others can sense our joy and “offers often come out of the woodwork.” What can we do to perpetuate the passion we feel during that initial stage? Is it possible to keep this stage alive forever? I haven’t seen much evidence of this happening over a lifetime. So how do we keep the passion alive in our relationships? After all, it is good for our love lives. If a couple looses their passion for love, they become mere friends. This is what happens to many people who stay together for so many years.They no doubt love one another, but are no longer “in love.” They are good friends, but are usually lonely for love. So to avoid such a scenario, couples manage to keep the passion alive alright, but it inevitably transforms itself. The second stage of a relationship unfolds as follows. I call this second stage the tipping point. The relationship slowly “tips” from one of positive passion to one of negative passion. As we get to really know our partners, we begin to go through power-struggles with them.To make matters worse, in most relationships routine begins to settle in as we tend to our careers and other social demands. I’m not the first to say this, but routine is not passionate. Plus, power-struggles tend to cause resentment. Thus, routine plus power-struggle equals double trouble. But as couples experience problems, they also tend to engage in make-up sex. Make-up sex is romantic and you guessed it, passionate! The ability to feel again is passionate and gives us the often futile idea that the passion we felt in stage one can be resurrected. Make-up sex is powerful and often intoxicatingly passionate. It takes us out on the precipice and makes us keenly aware of our feelings. But in order for make-up sex to keep having the same effect, the drama we mistake for positive passion (and hope) has to keep increasing in its intensity. It’s sort of like a drug addict having to increase his dose in order to achieve the same level of “high.” Sometimes a partner will start a fight on purpose just to get their “fix.” This is where the trouble begins to get us into real trouble. Once a relationship reaches this third stage, one defined by negative passion, it’s very difficult to regain the positive passion felt during the beginning stage. Because the negative passion is associated with negative drama, the relationship begins a downhill spiral in which the centrifugal force keeps it in such a negative state. These days, how many women are attracted to nice guys? Like the flames of hell that create a piercing burn, the negative passion in these types of relationships make us “feel” again; we experience our emotions in an acute fashion and thus we become intensely aware of our “feelings.” There is no argument, this type of negative passion keeps our attention and is definitely not boring.The drama factor keeps the routine factor at bay and can create some of the most exciting times of our lives. But what happens when the negative drama reaches a point where the drama becomes the norm: routine? Trouble times two. Once the drama and the negative passion associated with it become routine, such a state of affairs then become normal and even expected. This type of passion can be so normal that it begins to define any subsequent relationship potential in the future.That is, persons accustomed to this negative passion will begin to find its manifestations attractive and will actually seek out signs of such negative passion. This is why “bad boys” are so attractive; and they are hardly boring. To be sure, they will keep their partner on their toes. The danger of these relationships is that they are not very healthy. Another serious concern is that individuals who experience these types of negative passionate relationships vicariously (such as children who grow up around them) begin to feel that this is what constitutes a “normal” relationship. Thus, they will see nothing wrong with these types of relationships and will likely seek out partners who will engage in such negatively passionate relationships. After all, they already have the training to deal with them. Thus, these types of unhealthy relationships are perpetuated. Perhaps Sex and the City’s Carrie character was correct in her assumption that women who are in relationships without drama actually feel as though something is wrong with them. Perhaps this explains why the divorce rate is so high and climbing. If this is so, who is going to turn this phenomenon around so that a “normal” relationship is once again perceived to be based on positive passion? As a society have we traveled too far down this path of negative passion? Is there any hope for the future generations? Until something is done to remedy this turn of events, many more hearts will ache and many more tears will be shed. But who is to blame? If you pursue this type of dramatic relationships, or tolerate them, then in some way you yourself are to blame. But we are also guilty as a collective for condoning these types of relationships in our media. We are also guilty in our hedonistic quests to please ourselves. But consider this; the clock is ticking and many people are alone and lonely as they reach their twilight years. Unless you do something about this turn of events, you will be a statistic of the lonely, bitter divorce culture.

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Perfect Skin Tips

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Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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By Susan DiStaulo

I received the most wonderful beauty product ever for Christmas: A Clarisonic. This battery operated apparatus does for one’s complexion that the Sonic Care toothbrush does for teeth. In fact, it is made by the same company. I love this slim, small, machine. It cleans my face and prepares it for all the anti aging serums I love so much. Currently, my skincare specialist has me on the Sonya Dakar Ultra Luxe system. I team this system up with my Clarisonic and I am in good stead. This Clarisonic has me enslaved. I cannot live without it, and do not know how I have managed to go this far in life without one. It comes with three different bristle heads, and cleans out those facial pores like it was spring cleaning. I am willing to swear on the proverbial stack of bibles that after using this for one month, I look ten years younger. What exactly is a CLARISONIC? According to their site: Clarisonic is the sonic technology proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores. The Clarisonic Skin Care Brush uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth your skin. In just 60 seconds a day, the Clarisonic micro-massage action cleans more than twice as effectively as manual cleansing. Geeze, I just love this gadget. In continuation of the quest for clear, flawless, perfect skin, I asked around to find out what others use. Mary Lynn, in Memphis, swears by Ponds cold cream, Cetaphil cleanser with a Clarisonic and follows this regimine with retinol. Judy, in Trenton, New Jersey, loves organic products like Caudalie. ” i love the way their stuff smells, and I love how soft it leaves my skin.” Beth, in Michigan, loves La Mer moisturizer after using Ivory Soap and water. And Katie, in Virginia, loves Merle Norman facial products. Her friend Samantha, In Washington DC, loves Dior’s Lor d’vie. Using the products correctly are of vital importance in allowing for maximum benefits. Over doing lotions, potions, serums and toners can do more harm than good. Eyes become puffy from too much eye cream, skin gets dry and flaky from too much toner, and breakouts occur from rising thoroughly. Facial Masks, too, have a catch 22. “I loved my exfoliating mask SO much, i began too use it daily!” One of my staff confessed. “well, after a week, my face was dry, raw, and cracking!” i had to use soothing cream, Sonya Dakar’s cream for irritated skin helped immensely. I concurred with her, as I too had a microdermabrasion once that backfired. The Dakar cream for irritated skin did a world of good for me as well. What do we use when our skin is less than perfect? Concealer. Everyone has bumps, discolorations, scars and the like to conceal. Cover Fx and Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer seem to rock the vote rather high in the concealing domain. ” I guess it is hereditary.” says Joanna, in San Francisco “But i am Greek and just have had dark circles under my eyes since i was a little girl. I find the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer to cover and last all day long. It truly is one of my miracle products.” All in all, good skin requires attention and dedication. Monthly facials, avid use of sunscreen, and daily cleaning keep the dermis firm and supple. The correct color products aid in hiding the flaws, and using these products as directed are key. Some of our Favorite Products are: Rodial Glamotox, Trology Vital Moisturizing facial cream, and Zelen’s Cellular DNA Protection Day Cream.

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Top 10 Fashion Schools

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Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Do You Have What It Takes To Become The Next Fashion Icon?

By: Emily Rogers

Have you always had a niche for fashion? Maybe you are able to envision new designs and styles, although you are not sure where to begin. The fashion industry is thriving and, in all areas of the world, trends change with every season, sometimes even sooner. While learning about textiles, accessories and styling, fashion designing can be both satisfying and terrifying. If you are determined to leave your mark, in a world full of designers, make sure you choose the right school in order to succeed at becoming the next fashion icon.

It takes more than originality and a lavishness for design to make a living as a fashion designer. In a Fashion Design degree program, you can obtain knowledge in all areas of this industry including; clothing design, color theory, marketing and management courses, just to name a few. Many professional fashion designers start off by specializing in a particular area of fashion and later immerse their individual ideas one step at a time. The smaller and more specific the market, the more likely a company is to get the right feel for their designs. It is also easier for someone, to become established in this industry, if a company is known for the one type of product, rather than several. Then, once the firm has made a name for oneself and has been successful with it’s product, and/or design, it’s more likely that their buyers will trust the new merchandise that is being produced. So, whatever ideas you may have in creation for fashion, you must take all the right steps before achieving your dream in the art of design. With dedication and the willingness to succeed, while taking one step at a time, this may certainly lead you to becoming a success in the immense world of the fashion industry.

Top 10 fashion colleges…

Parsons The New School for Design: offering a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts. A school that holds victorious names like Marc Jacobs, Claire McCardell, Narciso Rodrieguez, Donna Karan, Derek Lam, Kay Unger and Patrick Robinsion. The fashion design department of this school is positioned smack in the central point of all fashion activities. That’s right, 560 7th Avenue New York City is where the Parsons sits. This school has held it’s name since 1906 and it’s always been on the front position of design.

Pratt Institute: located at the fashion forward Clinton Hill, just a few miles from the ritzy Manhattan.

This institute gives students the opportunity to combine their studies, in the fashion field, with courses such as jewelry design, printmaking and photography, utilizing all areas of the School of Art and Design. The Fashion Design major prepares students to design apparel, for a variety of markets, by emphasizing both the technical and creative aspects of the industry. Obtain a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and set sail to the fashion world of icons.

Drexel University: located in Philly as they welcome guests such as Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson. Students get the opportunity to explore and participate in the vivacious fashion community, in addition to their coursework. Get the experience of a life time with their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and take over the world with your designs.

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising: is only considered one of “The Best” in the world as they have accumulated over 30,000 graduates and the numbers have not yet failed to increase over each year. They offer choices from Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts Professional Designation Degree and Associate of Arts Advanced Study Degree. You can gain all your knowledge in the midst of fashionable Orange County, San Francisco, San Diego and LA.

Academy of Art University: with the slogan “ Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only,” you can rest assure that this University means serious business. With the choices of becoming a fashion designer, product manager, pattern maker, textile designer, fashion buyer or product developer, this school is perfect for you. You can decide from degrees such as Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts and Personal Enrichment. Although they are located in San Francisco, for your convenience, you may also choose to go through online courses.

California College of the Arts: completing 100 years, it’s superiority in fashion only increases over time. It’s CCA fashion design program is one of only fifteen to be part of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. With two campuses to choose from, one in Patrero hill San Francisco and the other in Oakland, it offers the finest design training in the country.

Kent State University: located in the heart of Ohio offers one of two fashion courses, being Bachelor or Arts in Fashion Design and Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising, you can also opt to an MBA degree in Fashion Merchandising. With former students like Andrea Ramsey Lauer, Stephanie Will of Estee Lauder and Karen Barbeire of Saks fame, you couldn’t go wrong with the choice to join Kent University.

University of Cincinnati: allows you to focus on digital design, Product development, Graphic design and Industrial design. The University of Cincinnati believes “today’s fashion designer must produce beauty and excellence in design, as well as a marketable product” Here, the focus is to offer training in both creativity and technicality. This school can offer the finest of advanced training in fashion design.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago: is one of America’s premiere fine arts colleges, located in Chicago, Illinois. Once known as the Chicago Academy of Design, this school is a great way to keep up with the fast pace of the ever changing fashion industry. With former graduates such as Halston, Gemma Kahng and Cynthia Rowley, this school is the largest museum school partnership in the country.

Savannah College of Art and Design: in Georgia holding top of the line operational sewing studios and computer labs, this school strives to give the best all-round fashion education possible. They offer skilled training in sketching, forecasting, promotion to presentation and garment construction. Offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the United States, the Savannah College of Art and Design is uniquely qualified to prepare talented students for professional, creative careers.

If you believe the fashion industry is right for you, and you think you have what it takes to succeed, there are some important steps to take before entering the vast world of design. The main steps to take into consideration are cost, reputation, length of the program and location. The last can be an especially important consideration, as you will want to attend a fashion design college in an area where you will eventually be able to settle in. This way you can begin making important contacts while you are still in school.

After narrowing it down to your final choices, it’s vital that you look into the faculty of every fashion design. Do they still maintain contacts with their industry? Are they current with contemporary trends? Are the courses hands-on or just based on texts and lectures?

Last, make sure that the college of your choice has been approved as a reputable school in faculty, facilities, classes, finances and procedures by one of several regional governing bodies. A fashion design school that offers non-accredited diplomas will not have near the reputation of an accredited college.

Once you choose the school that fits your needs, make sure you are ready to put your all into learning the central keys to opening up your own door to the world of fashion design. There’s such a vast world in the fashion industry awaiting you upon your graduation from a fashion design college. The most important step of this entire experience is the dedication you put into learning all you can while you are enrolled in college. The opportunity awaits you and the amount of choices you have are incredible, it’s what you choose to do with the knowledge you obtain that will lead you to your destiny of becoming the next fashion icon.

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CariDee English Interview

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Runway Magazine Editorial Team
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Runway Exclusive Interview With CariDee

America’s Next Top Model Winner, Host of Pretty Wicked, and Runway Magazine Spotlight Feature

Bold, witty, and completely unforgettable, CariDee English became one of reality television’s most recognizable breakout stars after winning America’s Next Top Model. From high-fashion shoots to television hosting and advocacy work, CariDee built a career that extends far beyond the runway. In this exclusive interview with Runway Magazine, she talks fashion, music, career ambitions, and the moments that shaped her journey.

So, what are you working on right now?

I’m modeling, hosting Pretty Wicked on Oxygen, and working actively as a global ambassador for psoriasis awareness. I also spend a lot of time volunteering with charities that support abused and abandoned animals. Beyond that, I’m doing fashion shows and taking the first steps toward launching my own sunglasses line.

What is your favorite thing in your closet?

My closet is basically dedicated to shoes. But my favorite piece is definitely my black leather Dolce jacket. I’m honestly so bummed it’s getting too warm to wear it. I’ve joked about traveling to Antarctica just so I could keep wearing it because I love it that much.

Who is your favorite designer?

Michele Bohbot is a good friend of mine, and of course I love Chanel because it’s timeless and always classic. I’m also obsessed with vintage fashion.

Who are your influences?

The streets of New York City inspire me constantly. I also admire Tyra Banks tremendously. And honestly, single parents inspire me because they’re doing one of the hardest jobs in the world every single day.

Where did you learn to model?

Mostly through bathroom mirrors and by playing dress-up in my mother’s old clothes. That was basically my first runway.

What do you do for fun?

I love listening to music. Honestly, my career is more fun than any other job I could imagine. I love the beach, hanging out with my closest friends — who are mostly guys — and playing music. I own two guitars and I also play the drums.

What has been your most memorable experience in show business?

Getting selected as one of the Top 13 contestants in the America’s Next Top Model house changed everything for me. Winning the competition was surreal. I also loved appearing on Live with Regis and Kelly and making Regis Philbin blush. Another unforgettable moment was going on Mike and Juliet and joking that I wished Cindy Crawford would sexually harass me.

What can you tell Runway that the rest of the world doesn’t know?

Sometimes, in the middle of my sleep, I still suck my thumb.

What are your plans for the future?

Mogul. Mother. Money.

What is your favorite movie and why?

Anything Disney. It takes me back to a time when life felt innocent and the biggest worry was deciding who I was going to play with that day.

What fashion trend are you loving right now?

Old band T-shirts are completely my thing right now.

Where is your favorite place on Earth?

My mom’s and dad’s arms.

What’s the earliest call time you’ve ever had?

3 a.m. for hair and makeup before a sunrise shoot in Hawaii.

Are you a day person or a night person?

Definitely night.

What advice would you give aspiring talent?

You’re going to hear a thousand “no’s” before you hear a “yes.” But the moment you finally hear that yes, all those no’s disappear from your memory.

What’s next for you?

Pretty Wicked is still airing, and I’m getting ready to walk in New York Fashion Week again. This will be my third year participating, and I’m incredibly excited about it.

 

Hair Extensions: The solution?

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A client sits in my chair with tears in her eyes, “I did it! I got the trendy bob haircut and hate it! What can you do?” 4 hours (standing in 6 inch Louboutins) later, I am watching as she tosses her long, beautiful, natural looking locks in the “Don’t hate me because I am beautiful” kind of way, smiling as she sees her reflection in the mirror. The solution? Hair Extensions. Below are some pointers I live by and strongly recommend to anyone looking to transform their hair; *The kind of hair used is crucial. My choice is 100% Russian and European Remy human hair, the highest quality, so that it looks the most natural and doesn’t tangle as easily as it’s synthetic or cheaper human hair blend counterparts. The brand isn’t as important to me as is the quality of the hair. *There are several methods of application. Which methods used depends on the hair texture, color, and the results that I want to achieve. I prefer to customize the following methods to each individual client. A strandby- strand application attaches small sections of hair to the natural hair closest to the roots. Hot Fusion uses heat to warm the protein to create a smooth bond. Cold Fusion uses an ultra sonic machine to attach the bond without using heat. And Micro Locs or mini links uses small metal/copper tubes or rings to attach to the hair. Skin wefts are thin, wider tracks or rows of hair that use heat to bond to a larger section of the natural hair. *The strand-by strand methods take 2-5 hours to apply, and are the most natural looking to me. Each strand moves with the head shape, can be expertly cut to a desired style, and customize for a correct color match. The Hot and Cold Fusion methods are best on normal to fine texture and dry hair. The Micro Locs are best for coarse and oily textures. Skin Wefts are the preferred method for a quicker application time, usually 1-2 hours, and can be used most textured hair (not best on oily). *Extensions can lasts from 2-5 months, depending on how well they aremaintained. I recommend shampooing every 2-3 days with a gentle cleansing shampoo. Conditioner should be used only on the ends for detangling and moisturizing, and not near the scalp where it is attached so as not to “slip” from the hair. Brush the hair gently, starting from the ends moving up near the scalp. Using a leave-in conditioner is great to help with any tangles from shampooing. You can let the hair dry naturally, but I do not recommend sleeping with the wet hair. *If you are looking for extensions on a budget, and a temporary fix for longer, fuller hair, clip ins are the way to go. I prefer a more permanent method, but clip ins are great for an inexpensive change of style. This means no commitment -for a special occasion, one evening event, or a fun change. The downside? Clip ins do not look as natural or move as smoothly to the natural hair. Tina Dizon Juan Florentino Salon, Beverly Hills, CA

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Negative Passion

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The feeling that passion brings to a relationship is awesome! There’s no better feeling in the world. Passion is one of the most powerful and most addicting substances a person can experience. But there is a catch to willingly partaking of this “drug.” Passion has a downside; a dark side. The odds are that the longer you stay together, the more likely a relationship will get “routine.” Why is it so hard to keep passion alive in a long-term relationship? What do we do to try and keep passion alive in our relationships?

Relationships tend to start out strong, and then these days they seem to fizzle out just as fast as they ignite.Not all do this of course, but many do just that: fizzle. But because passion tends to go missing, couples find different ways to replace such a grand feeling. The rub, however, is that they tend to replace one type of passion with another type of passion. They resort to replacing positive passion with negative passion. This phenomenon fits with the old adage that negative attention is better than no attention at all. But what type of positive relationship can be built on negativity?

The reason that negative passion has taken the place of positive passion is similar to a drug addict “chasing a high.” The initial rush experienced when a relationship is new and still exciting is a feeling that normally dissipates as a relationship settles into a routine. So how do people keep the adrenaline flowing? They act in ways that keep passion in the relationship. However passion is an absolute value. Passion can be both negative and positive. Passion is passion nonetheless. So couples often engage in games that keep their relationships exciting. Only the excitement in these cases may not be such a good thing.

The first type of game based in negative passion is rooted in activities that involve sneaking around. Getting away with something tends to jumpstart a relationship with passion from the get-go. People that engage in this type of activity seek out other people who are either completely offlimits or are “restricted” in some manner. Sometimes students like their teachers. Sometimes teachers like their students. Sometimes supervisors and like their workers. Sometimes workers like their supervisors. Sometimes people are attracted to their best friend’s girlfriend or boy

friend. These sneaky types get their passion, their rush, from the illicit nature of their crime or indiscretion. This game, however, falls short of being ultimately satisfying. Because once these types of relationships transform into something “legit,” the very nature of the alteration kills its roots, the sneaky passion. So, just about the time one of these types of relationships become socially acceptable, the wind is let out of the sail and a new sneaky situation catches the eye of the deviant. In short, the types that enjoy this game tend to jump from short relationship to short relationship, avoiding legitimacy in the fear that the routine factor will have any chance of snuffing out the passion factor.

The second type of game rooted in negative passion is the relationship based in crabbiness or bitchiness. The type of people that are attracted to this sort of relationship are always upset, and the negativity of the relationship keeps them in the game.The raw resentment, anger and frustration keep the passion, or in this case the raw nerve, open and alive. This type of relationship may be rooted in a negative passion, but it’s definitely always a challenge- and the sex in these relationships tends to be very passionate and exhausting. It sometimes the good sex itself is what makes the whole thing endurable. Examples of these types of relationships are evident in television series such as Everyone Loves Raymond and the couple featured in Home Improvement. The crabby partner definitely keeps things from becoming too comfortable; and thus keeps the relationship from being anything but routine. In the long run though, a partner’s resentment from the continual crabbiness may cause too much of the nerve to become raw and the other partner may then be repulsed into the arms of a less crabby partner that seems just as passionate minus the built up resentment.

The third type of game rooted in negative passion I call the “cliffhanger.” In this game, the passion is created by pushing your partner to the precipice of the cliff and then the challenge is to stop them from falling over and permanently ending the relationship. The partners guilty of this game tend to come alive under these circumstances. Suddenly they realize what is at stake and the challenge of “saving” the relationship tempers any boring routine from developing. These cliffpushers truly believe in their cause; to save the relationship from doom. In fact, in counseling these types are the most passionate and believe in the romance of the chance to show their partner their true dedication to the relationship. The problem is that once they pull their partner from the edge of the cliff, “things” are okay for awhile and then they once again begin the push-to-save cycle in earnest.The troubled relationship eventually solves itself as the partner being pushed builds up enough resentment and then voluntarily seeks the cliff edge as their escape. Game over. The problem with intimate relationships is that their very nature makes them candidates for these games rooted in negative passion.The positive passion of a new relationship is difficult to keep at initial levels of intensity.Thus, couples have sought ways to keep the passion alive and intense. They have however, resorted to playing these three types of negative passion games. And because these types of negatively-rooted games have endured so long, they have become institutions firmly rooted in our relationship culture. In fact, an episode of Sex and the City called Drama Queens deals with the fact that some women have come to think that if there isn’t any trouble in their relationship, then something must be wrong with it. How sad.

Has drama, high maintenance, and negativity become the hallmarks of our American love lives? This may explain the emergence of a negative social phenomenon so pervasive that we have labeled it divorce culture: an entire culture built on broken relationships. Yet who has a magic solution that will keep alive the fresh passion inherent with a new relationship? Is it inevitable that our relationships must turn negative just to keep the passion intact? I don’t think so, but I also offer no solution here in this piece. I hate to leave the readers hanging, but each one of us must figure out the solution for themselves. Suggestions? Email Dr. Padilla pete.padilla@gmail.

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Bobbie Thomas Interview

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Bobbie Thomas is a seriously busy gal, so getting the time to chat with her is no small thing. If she’s not covering red carpet festivities for E! Entertainment or doing a segment for The Today Show, the New York- based senior editor for In Touch magazine is hopping cross country on a PR campaign for Gillette’s Venus Embrace razor or partaking in charity events like the PGA’s Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas.

This latest red circle on the calendar left an impression on the effervescent hip chick, who found herself in her favorite place working alongside Timberlake’s mother, Lynn: talking to women about women’s issues while helping them improve everyday areas of their lives through her endless stockpile of beauty and fashion trends and tips.

But what about the other side of the ever-widening sex divide? Sure, many women would be curious to learn about how they can fall back in love with their old favorite clothes and update their image while doing so, but can Thomas’s insights extend to the majority of fashion-backward guys who prefer sweats to suits and think only of boxing when they hear Oscar de la Renta? Let’s see:

KL: Generally speaking, what are women looking for in a guy they are getting to know concerning his style?

BT: It’s really basic, but the first thing guys need to do is just be clean. Dirt under the fingernails, dandruff, hands that are cracking with dryness; all of these things can be taken care of to make sure that your basic appearance is sound. Smell should be obvious, but don’t put on cologne right before a date; it’s usually too much at that point and should be put on earlier in the day. Don’t forget the other senses, like touch. Is a girl going to want to kiss you if your lips are all dry and cracking? I don’t think so.

KL: Ok, so the basic hygiene is out of the way; what about fashion and style?

BT: I put it this way for men: how would you feel about a girl you’re taking out if she shows up with a stain on her blouse or her clothes are all wrinkled? This is basic stuff, but some guys don’t know that lint and pet hair on your clothes gets noticed. As far as fashion goes, I think a guy’s best option is to have one of his friend’s girlfriends help him out. A guy’s personal fashion should be a mystery for the girl; I don’t want to play ‘dress up’ or have to tell my man what he should wear. It’s like asking someone what they want for their birthday and wrapping the present; I’ve never understood that. There needs to be an element of individuality that is backed up by what he’s wearing.

KL: What do you mean by a guy ‘backing up’ what he’s wearing?

BT: Women love fashion because of the possibilities it gives us with different appearances; it allows us to experiment with our look. With guys, fashion is more intimate, in that the outside matches the inside; for men this is more important. It’s great if you want to wear plaid pants and an orange crush t-shirt, just make sure the look fits, and know the kind of people you’re going to attract. There’s nothing more uncomfortable when you’re talking to a guy with multiple piercings and tattoos who speaks in whispers and lives with his mom. Guys need to reflect who they are on the inside with how they appear- more so, in my opinion, than women.

KL: How can a guy decide which look he wants to put out there if he’s unsure?

BT: Catalogs target lifestyle, and there are thousands of clothing catalogs out there. If you’re a guy looking to get new clothes, I suggest finding a catalog with a look you identify with the most.

KL: Tell us dumb dudes a secret we probably don’t know:

BT: When guys are most attractive is when they’re at a sports bar or game: women get to see their real personalities, without all the posturing and fakeness that goes with trying to impress someone. Women love seeing men in their element, and sports is one way to do that. Guys need to hang out in the shoe department to see what I’m talking about! Also, remember that when you’re out with your friends, be engaged with the group you’re with. Other people will find that attractive and want to come meet you. It’s a turnoff when guys are hanging out with each other, not talking to one another but just checking out girls.

KL: You got any tests that guys need to pass in order to meet your intellectual requirements?

BT: It really depends on who you’re looking to attract, but it’s nice when someone’s connected to current events. It’s difficult to converse if you don’t have hold on what’s happening around you. I think men and women both want someone smart, but they really want heart; I don’t care if you’re a garbage man, but I care if you’re passionate about your work.

KL: Give me your five absolute deal-breakers:

BT: 1- Again, hygiene is very important.

2- Trying too hard when it’s negative, being disingenuous.

3- Not being polite; manners are important.

4- Self importance, superficiality.

5- I’m not into metro-sexual, effeminate men. I still need a ‘guy’.

KL: Thanks so much Bobby! We’ve learned a lot today…

BT: It was a pleasure. I hope it helped!

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