By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado (AP Storyshare)

Colorado would guarantee the right of Native American students to wear items such as eagle feathers and other traditional clothing at graduation ceremonies through a bill under consideration this year.

Federal law protects Native American religious and cultural rights. But students sometimes run into issues or find flat-out prohibition at schools when it comes to wearing regalia at ceremonies, advocates say. They say families must then fight to make districts aware of the importance of traditional clothing. Or students running into a lack of understanding might choose to skip graduation ceremonies altogether.

Senate Bill 202 would ensure K-12 schools, colleges, and universities create policies to protect Native American students so they don’t run into issues.

Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, said she’s heard of school officials telling students they have to hide, remove, or even throw away regalia because of policies that maintain uniformity at graduations. She said some students have even reported school officials touched or confiscated students’ eagle feathers, a cultural and religious symbol.

“This bill clarifies for the school that you do not interfere with this,” Danielson said. “You cannot harass these students and prevent them from wearing their traditional regalia.”

Schools asking Native American students to remove or throw away items is like a school asking a student to get rid of a Jewish or Christian symbol, said Melvin Baker, Southern Ute Tribal Council chairman, during a Monday hearing.

He added that the United States has a history of trying to erase Native American culture, and the bill would ensure students get to honor their identity and their achievement.

“Tribal regalia plays a unique role for graduating native Native students,” Baker said. “These items are often gifted to students by parents or tribal elders in recognition of this achievement.”

The Native American Rights Fund receives many calls every spring from families across the country looking for support on how to ensure they can wear regalia at graduation ceremonies, said Matthew Campbell, the organization’s deputy director. It’s been a few years since he fielded a call from Colorado families, but he said families do sometimes run into trouble with schools.

“Usually, when we reach out to the schools and explain the importance of these items — once they understand — they usually will allow them to be worn,” Campbell said.

In recent years, some states have added teachings about Native American religion and culture. Other changes that try to create more respect toward Native American culture have happened, including a law Colorado passed last year that bans Native American mascots.

Colorado would join eight other states in ensuring Native American students can wear traditional regalia.

Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat co-sponsoring the legislation, said the goal is to make sure that every Colorado district understands.

The bill defines qualifying students as members of a tribe, eligible tribal members, or those of Native American descent. The bill says that immediate family members would also be allowed to wear traditional Native American dress during their students’ graduation ceremony.

Speakers at a Senate Education Committee hearing said traditional dress might include clothing, bracelets, necklaces, or eagle feathers. The bill needs a final vote in the Senate before heading to the House.

The bill doesn’t say how schools will ensure students have the right to wear traditional items, Jaquez Lewis said.

“We leave the details up to the school districts and the schools but what we do in this bill is we set guardrails,” she said.

Some districts have started to create policies.

Cherry Creek School District has created a ceremony for Native American students and is working on graduation ceremony policies, said Aspen Rendon, a partner with the district’s department of equity, culture, and community engagement. The district also has an indigenous action committee working toward creating a more inclusive district, Rendon said.

Jeffrey Chavez, the district’s indigenous and native student community liaison, said it’s important to recognize native traditions, especially in urban districts like Cherry Creek. Ensuring students get to wear their regalia at ceremonies helps carry on traditions.

“That’s how we honor ourselves and our community and family with those traditions,” he said.

Indigenous action committee member Donna Chrisjohn said a principal didn’t allow her son in 2020 to wear Native American regalia at his graduation ceremony. Her son ended up not participating in the ceremony.

She is glad the district is changing and happy to have helped make lawmakers aware of the issue.

“This is so impactful for all families to know that someone will not push back when their child decides that they want to show up as who they really are,” Chrisjohn said. “That’s a huge step in the right direction.”

Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.

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Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole. 

Earth Illuminated Announces New Seasonal Installations and Level Up Mini Photo Sessions

Interactive Art Installation Presented by Award-Winning Production Team at Blazen Illuminations Unveils Eight New Scenes for Fall, Holiday Photo Opportunities

DENVER, Sept. 29, 2021 — Blazen Illuminations, a Colorado-based experiential creative services company, announced today its selfie museum at the Denver Pavilions, Earth Illuminated, has unveiled eight brand-new interactive scenes. With the new additions, Denver’s photo playground now boasts more than 45 photo-worthy interactive scenes showcasing our planet’s beauty from air, land, and sea in an immersive environment.

To celebrate the new additions, Earth Illuminated invites guests to Level Up their cosplay and fall photography with the launch of a brand-new series of Level Up Mini Photo Sessions and a unique promo code to visit the Denver attraction in October.

1. Beginning Saturday, October 2 and running each Saturday through October 23 from noon – 6 p.m., Level Up Mini Photo Sessions pair individuals and/or groups with a professional photographer for 30-minute photo sessions. During each session, guests can choose three scenes to pose in front and get into character or simply dress as themself. Each guest will receive five edited, high-resolution digital images with additional images available for $5.00. Photo sessions run $50 a person, which includes the cost of admission to Earth Illuminated. Book sessions here. 

2. Not interested in mini photo sessions but still want to capture your best selfie at Earth Illuminated? Enjoy 20% off general admission tickets through October 31, 2021 using the promo code LEVELUP20 at checkout. Click here to schedule a time to visit.

“Earth Illuminated is a living form of art and we feel that it should always be growing and changing,” said Heidi Webb, chief operations officer and co-owner of Blazen Illuminations. “With our limited-run mini photo sessions, guests will be able to share their experience in our exhibit in ways that they may not normally get to.”

Earth Illuminated is an Instagram-friendly interactive art installation for all ages that graphically explores the beauty of life on Earth on every scale. The attraction spans 13,000 square feet and is divided into a series of colorfully themed sets that are designed for taking photos and videos featuring unique perspectives and interactive props. Eight brand-new scenes debuting for fall include:

• Mexican Floral Wall: Celebrating the artful beauty of all cultures, the team at Earth Illuminated find that the brilliant colors of the Mexican culture bring vibrancy, life, beauty and honor to nature and wanted that to be a part of how we Illuminate our Earth.

• Anime Floral Wall: Shattering the “real” with lighting and paper flowers, Anime brings story to life through art. Here you get to tell your story through your camera while surrounded by an altered reality.

• Buddha Mandala: Technology and natural wood carvings combine in this scene to honor the beauty of Tibet. Tibetan culture is full of earthy art forms with deep colors which carry blessings and peace.

• Underwater Sparkle Wall: Swim in an ocean of sparkles while surrounded by water lilies – because everyone needs a sparkle wall to take pictures with at some point.

• The Tiki Retreat: Transport to a tropical paradise to relax and take fun photos!

• The Magical Gazebo: Created to make every girl’s dream come true, Webb found joy bringing this scene to life with her daughters, Mercedes and Madeline, and they are thrilled to see others make memories with it.

• Fall Fantasy: The spirit of the season is brought to life in this art zone designed to allow guests to take magical photos with pixie dust and lanterns lighting the way.

• The Moss Wall: Moss is found in places of peace and rejuvenation. Guests are invited to take a moment to enjoy this serene piece of nature inside.

Earth Illuminated is a limited-run engagement that will be open to the public through 2021. The elements of the exhibit are designed, developed, and produced by the award-winning production team from Blazen Illuminations, a Loveland, Colo.-based business. As seen in their first exhibit launched at Denver Pavilions last year in partnership with Distortions Unlimited, Distortions Monster World, Blazen Productions’ experience in film, theater, music, and TV results in a high standard of excellence when it comes to set design and construction.

Earth Illuminated is located at 500 16th Street Mall in Suite 280 on the second floor above Distortions Monster World and next to Express. Tickets are on sale now online at earthilluminated.com.

Ticket prices:

• Age 12 and above – $25.00

• Below age 12 – $18.00

• Ages 0-5 – Free

Hours of Operation:

• Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m.  – 8 p.m.

• Friday, 3 p.m.  – 9 p.m.

• Saturday,  12 p.m.  – 9 p.m.

• Sunday, 12 p.m.  – 8 p.m.

About Blazen Illuminations:

Founded in 1998, Blazen Illuminations is an experiential creative services company based out of Loveland, Colo. Integrating the latest in lighting and multimedia technology advancements with theatrical techniques and immersive storytelling, Blazen produces award-winning integrated event productions. Husband and wife team Nate and Heidi Webb founded Blazen Illuminations bringing together years of entertainment, event and technology experience along with a large network of relationships with some of the industry’s most talented people. The Blazen team consists of highly trained and skilled artisans that produce award-winning creative events and productions. Learn more at blazenilluminations.com.

The post Earth Illuminated Announces New Seasonal Installations and Level Up Mini Photo Sessions | Press Release appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole. 

Newly Opened Ramble Marketplace celebrates Boulder-born Gifts from Local Artisans, All with a Special Purpose

November 4, 2021 | Boulder, Colorado

The Ramble Collective has announced the opening of its second retail store, Ramble Marketplace, a “Boulder-Born” gift shop located in the heart of the East Pearl Residential and business District. Ramble Marketplace joins Ramble on Pearl, Ramble’s flagship store, as a host for a unique job training apprentice program that assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to secure competitive, integrated employment. In addition to operating using a social enterprise business model that supports an unmet need in the community, this local business is a promising solution for the countless holiday shoppers
searching for the perfect gift with a special Boulder connection.

It’s no secret that the countless problems in the global supply chain are making shopping this holiday season more difficult than ever before. According to Adobe Analytics, consumers will have fewer product options to choose from and are twice as likely to come across an out-of-stock item online. A solution everyone can turn to is to support local businesses, with Ramble Marketplace being a prime example. 

Ramble Marketplace is a brand new gift shop that features products and hand-crafted works of art from passionate local artisans and suppliers based in Colorado. The store carries a wide range of thoughtful products born right here in Boulder, including books, prints, paintings, jewelry, hats, toys, and linen products, to name a few. In addition to supporting small local businesses, every purchase at Ramble Marketplace contributes to a great cause by supporting adults with IDD in their quest for purpose and community. 

“We’ve opened Ramble Marketplace at just the right time this holiday season,” adds Co-Founder of The Ramble Collective, Andy Minden. “Not only does every purchase support local businesses and artisans, but by shopping with Ramble, you “Shop with Purpose” and therefore do so much more!”

Ramble Marketplace is located at 3075 Pearl Parkway in Boulder, Colorado. The store is open 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and from 11:00 am -5:00 pm on Sundays. 

To learn more about Ramble Marketplace visit https://bouldertreasures.org/ramblemarketplace. 

About The Ramble Collective 

The Ramble Collective (formerly Boulder Treasures) is a Boulder-based nonprofit organization that turns disabilities into possibilities. Our innovative, community-based programs create pathways to purpose and community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We provide valuable on-the-job training programs and job placement assistance at Ramble On Pearl (shop.rambleonpearl.com) and Ramble Marketplace. We also support projects that make affordable housing accessible to adults with IDD and offer programs that help them thrive in independent community-based housing. To learn more about The Ramble Collective visit theramblecollective.org.

Media contact: Sarah Nelson | sarah@theramblecollective.org 

The post Newly Opened Ramble Marketplace celebrates Boulder-born Gifts from Local Artisans, All with a Special Purpose | Press Release appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

DENVER—Sept. 1, 2021—The Denver Art Museum (DAM) today announced a $25 million endowment gift from an anonymous donor. This gift will support programming, art acquisitions and outreach of its Textile Art and Fashion department, creating a new Institute of Textile Art and Fashion. Florence Müller, the museum’s Avenir Curator of Textile Art and Fashion, will lead the Institute of Textile Art and Fashion, established by this transformational gift.

“The museum is deeply grateful for this significant and powerful endowment gift,”
said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. “The goals of the new Institute are to support the development and sharing of the museum’s Textile Art and Fashion collection and create a basis for scholarly research and exchange in ways that are engaging and valuable for our community. Textiles have been wonderful ambassadors and connectors between diverse cultures for thousands of years. They were used to communicate ideas and stories, share religious beliefs as well as notions of style and taste. Then, as now, they are among the most beautiful documents of human creativity.”

Crazy Quilt. C 1876.

More specifically, $15 million of this gift will provide an endowment to support the ongoing departmental programming and scholarship, and the remaining $10 million will support an endowment fund for new acquisitions to the Textile Art and Fashion collection. Ongoing work will include the restoration and care of all works in the collection, as well as the programming of the galleries on the 6^th floor of the soon-to-open Lanny and Sharon Martin Building. Dynamic exhibitions, learning and engagement programs and opportunities, ongoing lecture series and Textile Art and Fashion Symposia will also be funded through this new departmental endowment.

The museum’s collections of textile art and fashion encompasses more than 5,000 objects from Asia, Europe, and North and South America, ranging from archaeological textiles to contemporary works of art in fiber, as well as fashion from the 18th century to today.

The origins of the department of Textile Art and Fashion date back to 1927, with the gift of a Saltillo serape and a Kashmir shawl to the museum. Over the ensuing decades, the diversity of the collection developed dramatically under the tenure of several curators, alternately specializing in textiles and fashion, starting with the appointment of the first curator, Lydia Roberts Dunham in 1955. Imelda Gatton DeGraw was the curator from 1965 to 1992, followed by Alice Zrebiec until 2014.

In 2012, the Avenir Foundation endowed the department, which allowed for the remodeling of the sixth-floor Textile Art and Fashion gallery. Completed in 2013, the renovation includes the recently named Avenir PreVIEW textile conservation lab and the interactive Nancy Lake Benson Thread Studio. In 2015, Florence Müller became the curator and under her leadership, the museum has successfully grown the fashion collection through international and local acquisitions.

Exhibitions from the department have generated excitement and engagement, including Dior: From Paris to the World (2019), Shockwave: Japanese Fashion Design 1980s-90s (2017) and Paris to Hollywood: The Fashion and Influence of Veronique and Gregory Peck (2021).

“Fashion and textiles are exciting to me and our audiences because they are so accessible – everyone has fashion and textiles in their home and everyday lives,” said Müller. “This gift will enable us to build upon the museum’s great collections and tell more stories with them.”

# # #

About the Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its mission is to enrich lives by sparking creative thinking and expression. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro voters support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations. For museum information, visit www.denverartmuseum.org or call 720-865-5000.

Media Resources

Online Newsroom: www.denverartmuseum.org/press

Facebook: www.facebook.com/denverartmuseum

Twitter: www.twitter.com/denverartmuseum

Instagram: www.instagram.com/denverartmuseum/

Image Credits

Crazy Quilt. C 1876. Hand pieced silk with silk embroidery. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Young.

The post Anonymous $25M Gift to Establish and Endow Institute of Textile Art & Fashion at the Denver Art Museum | Press Release appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Woven Wisdom vests at Umba. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

It’s a fact that before colonization, the Apache nation, the Arapaho nation, the Cheyenne nation, the Pueblo tribes, the Shoshone tribe, the Ute nation, the Comanche tribe, the Kiowa tribe, and the Navajo tribe inhabited the land that’s now called Colorado.

Yet, while doing research for this article, it was difficult to find many stores that sold Indigenous-owned fashion in Boulder.

When I asked, store owners pointed to traditional Native decor like feathers but told me they weren’t produced by Indigenous people. Therein lies the problem. Many people can admire the art and style of Indigenous cultures, but it doesn’t matter to them if the product is made cheaply from someone who is not indigenous or the branding is misleading.

At the same time, many Indigenous people make a living off of selling their art and merchandise. With the privilege of admiring and buying Indigenous-inspired clothes comes the responsibility to research where those products are coming from and if they actually benefit indigenous people. To this end, we’ve found a handful of Boulder stores that honor Indigenous people by selling their products.  While we’d love to see more – or any – native-owned clothing and apparel companies in the area, we’re in love with buying local and supporting indigenous communities around the world.

“It’s totally cool to honor the styles, but you know you don’t want to be borrowing from another culture without actually honoring the people making it.”

Zuni

This family-owned shop opened in 1992 and partners with artisans of the Navajo Nation, the Zuni Pueblo, and the Hopi Tribe. Members of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association, they only sell authentic items from indigenous communities.

Native jewelry at Zuni. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Woven Wisdom piece found on the clearance rack. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Umba

Umba is a family-run business with a mission to celebrate sustainable living solutions. Umba began its business by selling wearable art at music festivals and transitioned to a store. Their profits support their organic farm in Oregon.

Umba carries boots, jewelry, vests, and shirts from Woven Wisdom, a non-profit, conscious collaboration with Indigenous Mayan artisans from Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Their jewelry line uses the traditional beading technique of the Tz’utujil Mayans. Their non-profit funds education, social entrepreneurship, and health and nutrition efforts in Lake Atitlan.

Umba carries indigenous-made, beaded jewelry. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Woven Wisdom boots sold at Umba. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

El Loro

Opened in 1977, El Loro is a Boulder mainstay that was founded before Pearl Street Mall was conceived. The couple who started the store wanted to share treasures from their travels with the Boulder community. The store currently sells authentic jewelry from Indigenous communities with merchandise clearly labelled with the community’s name and sometimes the artist’s name.

“We’ve been buying from the same groups for the last 20 to 30 years, and that includes the Native American work,” said manager Angel Brick. “If you’re going to sell Native American work, you definitely want the census number for artifacts. That’s a pretty huge thing to have. If you look at our pieces, they do have that. Anything you have that’s the artist’s name, the area where they’re from, the specific styles that they’re working in is a huge thing with Native work. It’s totally cool to honor the styles, but you know you don’t want to be borrowing from another culture without actually honoring the people making it.”

It’s worth noting that El Loro has some pieces that are in Indigenous styles but are not produced by Indigenous people. An example is their selection of shoes by Minnetonka, a non-Native owned company. Their branding and the fact that they sell moccasins can be misleading to some, and in 2020 the company committed to work more closely with and donate some proceeds to Native communities.

“We can definitely tell you what’s Native and what’s not,” Brick said. “If something isn’t marked as Native, we won’t claim that it is.”

El Loro labels all Indigenous-produced items. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Art Mart Gifts

Art Mart is a woman-owned and operated art, jewelry, and gifts store opened in 1989. They sell collections of jewelry made by indigenous artists. The Indigenous-made jewelry comes from Peyote Bird designs in New Mexico, Al Zuni Global Jewelry, and Navajo Shiprock Santa Fe.

Art Mart’s Indigenous jewelry selection. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

Fair Trade Winds

Fair Trade Winds sells fair trade merchandise from all over the world. They work mindfully with sustainable and ethical businesses that don’t benefit from exploitation of people or the planet. Their bamboo infinity scarves are hand woven by women in an Indigenous cooperative in Guatemala. Currently the scarves are the only item in the store made by Indigenous people.

Additional items made by Indigenous businesses can be purchased on their online store. The kids knit animal hats, and adult mittens are knitted by indigenous women in Peru and Bolivia. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable on what in-store merchandise was made by indigenous people. New merchandise is always being rotated into the Boulder store.

Fair Trade Winds’ infinity scarves. Photo by Zoe Jennings.

The post Shopping Native On Native Land: 5 Stores In Boulder That Sell Indigenous-made Fashion appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: This article was written by an intern, with support and additional writing by our editor, De La Vaca, based on a recorded interview. 

Jessie Mathew, left, and Jenny Wright. All images by Kenneth Wajda for Yellow Scene Magazine

COVID may have hit everyone hard, but check out how these two Boulder born women flipped this tragic pandemic to a safe space for people to express themselves in their community. Two (kinda) former hairdressers, Jenny Wright and Jessie Matthews are co-founders and co-owners – as well as partners – of the hottest new art and production studio in the North Boulder Arts District, New Magik. 

New Magik was created after Matthews and Wright’s jobs were impacted by COVID. They were brainstorming about what some of their passions were and what they could do to put these passions out and create a community. They wanted to create a space for people to come together to work on what they love and make new connections, to be a bridge and a conduit for creativity in their community. They wanted to provide something that is COVID safe and reliable to lean on while the world is forced to be online and distanced. 

New Magik is a space that is working to bring the local BOCO art community together to share skill sets and create new connections amongst hopeful collaborators in a very special – and intentional – way. This business has as inspiration and motivation the incorporation of social justice, activism, and empowerment for women, people of color, aspiring artists, and entrepreneurs. By using these inspirations they are creating a space to not only bring people together but to have people learn new things from each other. 

This is a place where you can go to either connect and do collaborations with other people in the community or have the opportunity and space to do your own thing. “The space itself isn’t bound by limitation,” they tell Yellow Scene in an interview, masks on, beers available, in their beautifully decorated space. It was a cool interview because the community was evident, as neighboring artists specializing in pottery stopped in to say hi and celebrate their opening and family popped in for the same reason. 

The idea to create this space with a foundation of social justice, activism, and empowerment for women was something that was brought to them from their origins. Growing up in Colorado, for example, means there isn’t a large number of black people or people of color in general. Looking at Boulder county specifically, non-white people only account for 12.81 percent of the population. Of a population that continues to grow and is currently at nearly 108,000, it’s important to realize there aren’t many POC here to identify and build with; many that are in BOCO live in East County, as well, where properties are affordable and more rental units exist.

Matthews has used this space and this year to connect with her black roots and “the rising power of women,” telling us that, “We are surrounded by badass women who have their own sense of magik”. These are the type of people that she wants to work with and empower. She grew up in a divorced household with a black father and white mother. Her entire life, she points out candidly, she was surrounded by mostly white people, in a very white community, which led to identity issues. She found herself not wanting to identify as white or black and wasn’t feeling accepted by either community, a common experience of mixed race people. The rapper Logic, a black and white mixed rapper, said on the song Everybody:

But he was born with the white privilege!

Man, what the fu*k is that?

White people told me as a child, as a little boy, playin’ with his toys

I should be ashamed to be black

And some black people look ashamed when I rap

Like my great granddaddy didn’t take a whip to the back

Not accepted by the black or the white

I don’t give a fu*k, praise God, I could see the light

Everybody talkin’ ’bout race this, race that

I wish I could erase that, face facts

I’m reminded of the song as she talks, telling me how she used this year to connect with her roots and start truly claiming herself as a Black woman, and now a Black business owner, and all the #BlackGirlMagik that goes with it. Her overall hope is to discover what “Black joy” is for herself and to embrace it. 

As for Wright, she grew up in a white household wanting to be an alley in any way that she could, since she was born white; she wanted to use her privilege as a tool. Wright is clear that she “grew up with privilege” in the middle class, which used to be Boulder’s “norm”. This has changed over the years as Boulder becomes a much wealthier, exclusive, and higher class area. The only renters Boulder wants are students at CU on the Hill. 

Zillow points out that in 2020 “the typical home value of homes in Boulder [was] $781,082.” Neighborhoodscout put the median home value in Boulder at $846,748. Currently, median home prices in Boulder approached their 2020 high in August at $1,124,253. Times, they are a changin’.

During her 20’s, Wright went through a bout with addiction and experienced discrimination based on that – ableism – with attendant  judgment and criticism. This was a transition period having to go from being a privileged person to being seen negatively by society. She learned to work through her own issues in a safe space, and wanted to create this same safe feeling for other people. 

Overall the both of them come from humble roots. Even though they grew up with a comfortable lifestyle they both still had to work very hard to get where they are, no matter what the privilege was that they grew up with. “Using our privilege for the better” is how it was put to us.

They see themselves, rightly, as the “daughters of the old hippies” and they want to bring the soul back to people in the Boulder community… so they are bringing us New Magik. 

So… what exactly is New Magik?

New Magik is a space that offers several tools, designed in a way so that they are easy to move around the space to be used in the way you want or need. Everything that is inside the New Magik studio is designed to be mobile so that many different platforms can be used for whatever people need to use them for. There is a greenscreen, a darkroom in the bathroom, and other amenities. This space is meant to be used and rearranged, and the unfinished floor leaves areas that can get messy; “all you have to do is roll back the rugs that cover the ground”.

The space is both comfy and industrial, pulling both of their styles together and referencing their hairdressing aesthetic. They have shelves built by local friends, chic adornments, and a banging sound system with a record player. 

On top of the creative space, they also have acupuncture, meditation, reiki, massage, divination/tarot readings, counseling/therapy sessions, sound healings, yoga, and many more options. The opportunities at New Magik are endless and open to whatever your mind can think of. Mediums go from drawing and painting to photography and videography. The New Magik space is an intersection and fusion of all things that they both love. They are looking to explore both old and new mediums and everything in between. 

Another option that New Magik offers is for the space to be rented out, either for your solo purposes or to be safe and COVID friendly, with a limit of two socially-distanced people who are wearing masks, with another person to share studio time with. 

Mathews and Wright like to call the New Magik space a ‘creative incubator’ for people to become inspired and explore opportunities, and they are currently accepting new members who want to join in this special little creative endeavor. They are also accepting donations from anyone interested in being a part of building up New Magik and helping financially with expansions. 

Due to the way COVID is hitting everyone and changing the way people interact with each other, the main goal of New Magik is to have an online creativity-sharing platform. They want to give people the opportunity and safe feeling of having this platform available virtually on an ongoing basis. Through this online platform, you will be able to take classes that will be offered, or participate in the limited in person capacity. 

New Magik wants to bring back and indulge in the old Boulder, a scarce recalled world of hippie magic and solidarity, creativity, and community. They say that it’s hard to exist in the Boulder of today if you’re not wealthy, which is something that has developed over the years as developers and politicians have worked to insulate Boulder from expansion, driving up housing prices even as Colorado has seen a surge of in-migration. At New Magik, they worked very hard to build everything themselves without any help, a reflection of their roots, the values they were raised with, and the goal to honor the past while creating today.

We expect that New Magik will be something that no one forgets. These two women bring their personalities, passions, and profundities right into the business. Stop in, where you will be greeted by the good vibes emanating from this new space, a space that could be your workspace, and be greeted by women that fill this area with love and hope. Come see what you can get involved in and meet the people of this new community. This could be just the place for you. This could be just what you need to get rid of those pandemic scary’s, the doldrums, and bring the new you out for the world to see. 

The post NOBO has New Magik: A Safe Art Space for Everyone appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The world has been in disarray lately, due to America’s never ending pandemic (psst, it’s our own fault). Has getting out of bed been a challenge? Is keeping up with personal hygiene, #SelfCare, a daunting task? Well, honey, you’re not alone! The Yellow Scene team sat down with Boulder’s very own drag connoisseurs, Lola and Ms. Felony Misdemeanor, to talk face. These queens opened up about how COVID-19 has affected their daily routine and how to make your personal care routine just right for you! Self care is not just about baths, facewash, or your hair anymore. Makeup has become a major part of men and women’s lives on a day to day basis. Let’s face it, some of us need professional advice on how to create a look with makeup that best suits each of our unique facial structures. Who better to give you advice then the most glamorous of all?

COVID impacts

The pair got real with us on how the world’s current state has affected each of them as individual people. Lola seemed a bit relieved, saying, “I welcomed the break with open arms. Drag is super mentally and emotionally taxing to the point that it’s easy to lose oneself to the superego that they create. This break really put things into perspective for me and my routine seemed to be centered around more emotional and spiritual self care, rather than care of the vessel. It was a chance for me to hang up my wigs and box up my costumes and just breathe.”

Ms. Felony touched not only on the novel virus but on the world’s current focus on the Black Lives Matter movement, “I am not terrible. I am trying to stay positive, and I am trying not to go crazy. But, I am exhausted. That is where I am at today. Seeing and reading the same sh*t day in and day out takes a major toll on me, and I am 100% sure on many others. It is heartbreaking to hear that people want a change but see that nothing is being done. But it is also to be expected.” She talked about how COVID has completely altered her daily life. “I am now unemployed,” she says. “I had a great job in the community at Planned Parenthood, helping people get screened for HIV and providing education and treatment if it was needed.”

Lola presented herself as somewhat of a fashion philosopher, explaining how the virus directly affected her art, mental health, and daily self care routine. “I have been forced to vacation from my art. In stepping back I have realized that performing in drag is a taxing experience. I have started asking myself where is the balance? How do I keep a balance between my boy-self and my performer self? I’ve been given the opportunity to rebrand the character, and I don’t know what the necessarily means yet, but when performing is unpaused I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”

Ms. Felony adds that, “Expression is still happening. Still, lockdown has changed things. I have been a performer for 20 years… Then it was March 17th, and I was forced to take a vacation.” The glam pair is making the best of the situation. “I am thinking that maybe it is okay to keep this break going. What if it was more about quality and less about quantity from now on?”

Drag As Expression

“Drag is about self-expression; it may be the most pure form of it. It’s about body language and the levels of body communication. From painting on a face, to the way that fashion is a social statement, that is expression!” Lola’s energy and excitement began to show. “Ultimately I have no set inspiration, rather my inspiration is more of a conglomeration of different artistic methods and people. When I had to pause performing, I think that the character of Lola paused with it. Thus my inspiration for the character hasn’t changed but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped looking. I like to go beyond the art and comedy and into, let’s say, Monty Python and Dolly Parton. Drag lets you have the confidence and the medium to express yourself on a whole other level.”

Ms. Felony, on the other hand, pulls her inspiration from an entirely different wavelength. “My looks are my ideas from something as simple as a piece of fabric that I like. Now that being said, we aren’t over here reinventing the wheel. Pop artists also inspire me: Prince, Janet Jackson, Bjork. I didn’t grow up with drag in the 80’s and 90’s. It was all about the music artists back then.”

The Art of Makeup

We as human beings are infinitely unique. Makeup can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know exactly how to cater to your personal facial structure. Lola stepped up to the plate with advice like, “Makeup happens in layers and levels. If you respect the order of the layers then it can be easier to have a look hold throughout the day.”

Yes, honey, you have to layer your makeup like you would layer paint on a canvas. “Eyes go last ladies! The order is as follows, Foundation first, then highlight, contour your face, powder, then set.” After that it is time to focus on your soul’s windows, the eyes! Ms. Felony chimed in, “Keep in mind: your eyes are sisters, they are not twins. Let them go; they will not be perfect, and that is just fine.”

Lola looked back at her first experience with makeup. “I learned to do makeup from crappy YouTube tutorials in my bathroom by myself for the first 10-15 looks I did. They were rough and ultimately never seen by anyone aside from my roommates and then it would be taken off almost instantly. Only one of those 15 looks was worn to a Holiday Party. But since then I’ve had teachers and mentors help me along the way to ‘perfect’ my style of makeup. But a performer who rests on one face and doesn’t branch out to experiment with different shapes and motifs and experiences is a boring performance in my opinion. So I challenge myself to do a different makeup look every time I put a face on. As my drag mother has said “Makeup is too much fun to do the same look twice.”

Ms. Felony explained, “My best makeup tip will always be, practice. You can’t expect to get your face the way you want it the first 50 times, sometimes even more! I still have issues and I have easily painted my face over 2,000 times!” Every budding makeup enthusiast needs to hear, “GO FOR IT! The first time you do your makeup it will not be your best. Some people are prodigies but honey, that’s probably not you. Do it alone and then do it ten times. Do not be afraid to ask for help. I think every human should try drag once, though I understand that is not a popular opinion.” Lola went further and said, “No judgement is fair judgement. Please go for it, get at it, experiment with different looks. Make sure to take your time, be patient and do not forget to BLEND!”

The pandemic has put many Americans in a financial bind. This can pose a challenge for anyone trying to get their hands on new materials to experiment with in the mirror. Ms. Felony looked back, “My first makeup palate was so cheap but you have to use what you know. Quality product is key, and higher cost does not always mean higher quality. Do a brand check. We all go to Walgreens when we have a makeup emergency but get to an actual makeup store to get yourself some standard products. Graftobian is cheap but it is quality. La femme is an old Hollywood brand and girl, it lasts!” For my male makeup enthusiasts out there a big tip from the best, “Make sure to shave as close as possible. After all, Covergirl does not Cover-boy.”

Lola provided a pearl of wisdom, “Your body is a temple. Listen to it, it will tell you when you have had enough. Find a balance between the you that you show the world and the you at home on your couch. Accept life and find a way to enjoy it.”

Last Word

As for our seemingly increasing unease with the never ending pandemic do not forget to breathe. “Go out and to do things they wouldn’t normally do and try things out of their norm or comfort zone. Life is bountiful and beautiful, and experiences that expand our spiritual and emotional knowledge make us more empathetic to our fellow humans. Expand and extend your experiences and you may surprise yourself to find that there is beauty out there!” Just because we may be feeling isolated does not mean you can’t treat yourself during these hard times. Don’t forget to pamper yourself during this pandemic. Just remember to layer.

The post The World (Lately) is a Drag: Makeup Tips from Drag Stars appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Shay, Dress

It’s the dog days of August, and the pandemic lingers on. We’ll state the obvious: COVID-19 has changed the way we shop, the way we dress, and the way we collaborate. Meanwhile, Boulder was once named by National Geographic as the worst-dressed city that looks the best naked. And who could blame them for calling us out? 

“a t t a c k e d,” as the kids say.

We’re just as likely to find a look reminiscent of Kitson in LA as we are to find someone out of the Patagonia catalogue. Perhaps our reputation is due to our easy attitude, or the fact that so many of us spend so much time in the mountains.

Yet behind these kitschy stereotypes lies a fashion sense that is underrated and rarely explored. We poked around at the shops to see what’s out there, keeping COVID in mind. We wanted to ensure that the advice we found squared with Boulder’s casual attitude. We spoke with Gorley, model Shay Burton, actor Travis Signus, as well as two notable stylists, Anne Liebman and Kyle Albrecht. In doing this, we kept these questions in mind: What do we wear, and when? How has COVID changed the way we shop? Where are the places to go, and what are the looks to find? The result of our research? Boulder is a dark horse for great fashion: you simply need to know what to look for, and where to find it.

We started out by speaking to Anne Liebman, founder and stylist at SheStyles Colorado. Based out of Denver, Anne helps men and women find their own signature look for any scenario. Liebman took time to clue us in on her style goals: a healthy respect for on-point trends with a practicality reminiscent of the quintessential Colorado outdoor lifestyle.

“Balance, pop, and purpose,” she said, when questioned about her style philosophy. “These are the three key elements to incorporate into each outfit.” We asked Liebman to suggest looks for date nights, casual get-togethers, and workwear. Liebman recommends a collection of high-quality, timeless pieces. Dark denim is a must. Flattering and classic, a high-quality denim can be worn to chuck tennis balls with your pups at the Valmont dog park or be dressed up with a silk or chiffon camisole and a piece or two of statement jewelry for a dinner out on Pearl Street. Burton, our model, showcases the type of statement jewelry about which we’re speaking with a pair of beaded lemon-themed earrings. When working with a wardrobe of high-quality basics, accessories like these can make a normal outfit into a stunning look. 

Shay, Earrings

When it comes to date nights, combining statement pieces like Burton’s earrings or headband with classic elements is the “pop” that Liebman promotes. It might be a pair of leopard-print stilettos, an ethereal dress with a classic leather jacket, or a kaleidoscopic necklace: date nights are your chance to shine. If it’s a more relaxed atmosphere? Liebman suggests wedges in place of stilettos, but the convenient thing about Liebman’s style philosophy is that she aims for comfort: people should always feel like themselves, rather than aspiring to a style that isn’t their own. With a collection of staples – Liebman suggests brands like Madewell, Paige, and Mother Denim, all of which can be found in Boulder on Pearl or Twenty-Ninth – anyone can feel free to build upon that solid foundation with accessories and pieces that accent their own personality. With Boulder’s plethora of art shops and small boutiques, there’s something to find for everyone.

We couldn’t resist asking Liebman about trends – after all, with that scathing review of Boulder style, we wanted to know how to look fresh and fun. Liebman’s suggestions? Scrunchies are still in, a bit of nostalgia for us 80s and 90s kids. And when she mentioned tie-dye, we were thrilled; it’s a look that meshes perfectly with Boulder’s DIY aesthetic.

And what about the menswear side of things? We spoke to stylist Kyle Albrecht of Social Garb, a fashion startup currently based out of San Francisco. Besides being a stylist ranked in the top-five nationwide, Albrecht’s company specializes in creating fashionable varieties of the clear plastic bags required at music venues like Red Rocks. Albrecht’s easy candor was a perfect match for a conversation about Boulder menswear. “I wish I could come shopping with you,” he said. And frankly, we did, too. Like Liebman, Albrecht’s style philosophy is based on a core wardrobe of classic pieces.

Travis and Jason, Back-to-Back

Travis in Chinos

Jason and Shay, Bridge

“K.I.S.S.,” he said, when asked about his style philosophy. But Albrecht brings something else to the table, and that’s a healthy respect for streetwear. He also favors dark denim, because it can be casual for an afternoon lunch meetup or dressed up with a great button-down for a sushi date night. For a more refined atmosphere, he suggests chinos with a tucked-in but layered look: yet, in keeping with the casual Boulder atmosphere, his footwear suggestions are a pair of clean and classic Vans or flip-flops, a look that our model, actor Travis Signus, wears well. Pair it with a nice watch and a set of high-quality shades, and you have an outfit that transitions from day to night with ease.

Jason on wall

If you’re looking for something a little extra, Albrecht suggests a salvaged look with your denim, and offers brands like Paige for a great fit and an edgy detail. When we asked him how to incorporate streetwear into an outfit, he suggested a statement piece. Gorley’s style incorporates this beautifully: classic black jeans with a short-sleeved hoodie you won’t find anywhere else, or a head-turning burgundy hat that invites conversation. If you’re not the adventurous type, don’t worry. Albrecht’s most sage advice was that with menswear, “it’s the way things fit that makes the difference.”

We also asked Albrecht how COVID has changed his professional life. If we’re honest, this article has been a bit of a challenge. Without the opportunity to try on looks at local shops, we had to put together outfits largely from our own wardrobes. Albrecht welcomed the opportunity to advise us, and welcomes the changes that the pandemic has brought to his business. He’s transitioned to styling almost completely online. With a clientele that is composed largely of former military personnel, doctors, and people otherwise normally in uniform, suggesting online shopping makes it easy for the fashion-reticent to dip their toes into a more unique style. All of the brands suggested offer easy-to-browse Web sites and generous return policies, which are important in an environment that is financially uncertain for so many of us.

We know that in many respects, though, we want to see the things we purchase: we want to try them on, see the fit, and maybe get our friends’ opinions. Fashion is tactile by nature, making the new era a nuisance. Our models for the shoot are three whose style we trust, so we asked them where they shop, and what looks they’re favoring for the end of summer and going into fall.

Signus owns his classic look: a casual California type, he pairs relaxed tops with staple jeans and shorts, but he can turn up the volume with a well-fitted suit or a relaxed button-down with chinos. He suggests Banana Republic for a polished look, but his statement streetwear piece is a set of clean Nike slides or a great band tee. Gorley is what we consider a bit of a streetwear icon. He describes his fashion as “eclectic,” and favors “bright colors and matching flows.” He’s got a focused, yet mellow personality, a talent for bringing people together, and a knack for those statement pieces. His curiosity for the world around him leads him to venture beyond staple brands like ASOS (a favorite) and into stores like Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack, affordable options that are found right here in Boulder. 

It’s the luck of the draw when shopping at those stores, something that Burton appreciates as well. When we chatted with her between looks during our photo shoot, I kept Albrecht’s experience with online shopping in mind. I asked her about online brands that we see tagged on social media, like Shein or Fashion Nova. She said she shops them frequently. Warning that “the higher the price, the better the quality,” she was quick to assure us that she buys most of her clothes at thrift stores. 

We agree with this. Boulder is an absolute gold mine for thrift store shopping. Whether it’s CU Boulder students lightening their load following the end of the semester, or community residents cleaning their closets with the extra time at home that COVID has granted, stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army are loaded with quality pieces from Hudson jeans to vintage dresses to boots from Sorel and sandals from Sam Edelman. And don’t forget the consignment shops: Crossroads, Buffalo Exchange, Plato’s Closet, and Rags are stocked with unique pieces that are affordable no matter your budget. 

The bottom line? For the fall, we’re cultivating a capsule-style wardrobe of timeless pieces that we can find at thrift or consignment stores almost as easily as from the brands themselves. Accessorizing is part of the outfit: a statement necklace or a great pair of shoes speaks as loudly as a printed camisole or a pair of patterned chino shorts. Ultimately, the fashion is where you find it: we may need to dig a little deeper in Boulder, but our style is already here.  

The post What to Wear, Where: Looks for the Boulder Lifestyle appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Summer is here and we’re making our way back into the swing of things, one slow, stylish step at a time.

If you’re anything like us, you may have spent the past couple months lounging in your comfy clothes… you know the ones we’re talking about. No More! We like getting fancy, we like to wear suits, and dresses, and fun hats, shiny earrings, and beautiful rings. And we’re so ready to open that neglected wardrobe, pull out our very finest, and hit the town for a well deserved socially distant date or friendly outing. But for every runway worthy outfit it’s the accessories that tie it all together, that turn beauty into divinity, just like a good editor.

We’re talking about the feel good pieces of fashion that not only resemble who we are, but maybe even how we feel. So we’ve come up with the best we could find, from heteronormative to gender neutral, from Black owned to corporate, we’ve pulled the hottest accessories to make sure that no matter who you are, we’ve got you covered for your big day.

Hats

Goorin Big DDD – $300
With a shop in downtown Boulder, Goorin has been a wonderful purveyor of hats since 1895.
Available at goorin.com

ASOS DESIGN natural check bucket hat – $28
Bucket hats are back, but less fratty and more cute.
Available at asos.com

Masks

Lucky Brand 5 pack pleated cloth face mask – $25
Classy high quality face masks with a stylish design
Available at luckybrand.com

Vera Bradley Cloth Face Mask (non-medical) – $8
We all know and love Vera Bradley, and now we can complete the look.
Available at verabradley.com

Billie Blooms Karolina Kurkova Mask (M) – $28
Fun and incredible! Who says masks can spur a couple laughs.
Available at statebags.com

 PIN

Anti Gender Rolls Pin – $14.55
How can you not love this.
Available at etsy.com

Kimono

ASOS DESIGN Luxe chiffon maxi kimono jacket in scarf print – $90
Summertime, and the living is easy, breezy and the weather is hot! Grab this Kimono for cool summertime fun.
Available at asos.com

Shirt

Penguin Rainbow Pride Print Shirt – $79
Show your pride with this subtle accented shirt.
Available at originalpenguin.com

Belt/Bag

Anjuna Utility Belt Bag – $595
Belt, meet bag. Also easily worn over one shoulder and across the chest. Black owned
Available at ashya.com

Melah Boutique Trina – $56
Cute hands bags and Black owned.Available at melahboutique.com

 Anklet

Automic Gold Heart Anklet – $145
“Radically wearable fine jewelry for everyone to wear”. With the intention to break the mold of the jewelry industry, Automic Gold, has developed itself as inclusive and diverse.
Available
at automicgold.com

Earrings

L’enchanteur ‘Palm of Our Hands’ Studs – $125
Another Black Owned business, making absolutely stunning pieces like these stud earrings.
Available at lenchanteur.com

Urban Outfitters – Urban Renewal Vintage Large Circle – $8
Budget friendly, larger earrings that can’t not be noticed.
Available at urbanoutfiiters.com

 Rings

Third Crown Prizm Ring Set – 18K Gold Plated Brass – $160
Wear them separately or wear them as one, this amazing set strikes a cord, and stirs conversation. Black Owned.
Available at thirdcrown.com

Watch

Skagen Signatur Brown Leather Watch – $69. Sleek, simple, and high quality for a friendly price. Available at skagen.com

Pocket Square

Tie Bar Liberty Thorpe Navy Pocket Square $14
Boost your look in under 5 minutes. Wear it to match or wear it to stand out.
Available at thetiebar.com

Shoes

Kleman Padror – $160
Tyrolean shoes made in France. Comfy as can be and stylish as ever.
Available at kleman-france.com

Tomboy Toes – The Downtown Dapper – $67
LGBTQ+ friendly masculine shoes that come in smaller sizes for all people to wear.
Available at tomboytoes.com

It’s all about the flair, the pizzazz and elaborate tinge of something extra, something that pulls together that look of simplistic modern class with glamour and style.

It’s the pinpoint pieces of a greater whole, the centerpiece on the fashionista table, a single ring with a magnificent stone or wonderfully crafted leather shoes. Whether it’s your hand sewn leather bag gingerly demanding the admiration of the thoughtful and of those who know, or it’s the simple and subtle suggestive nature of a piece of social or political prowess, how we accentuate ourselves matters. It sends a signal of the process it took to decide, the care it took to pull the whole thing together.
The decoration of our bodies, be it tattoos or accessories, becomes a momentary (or permanent) extension of ourselves, and it’s important to recognize that, it’s important to understand that each piece matters, that each piece adds to the overall expression of who we are. And sometimes, it’s just the feel good experience of having a little pop in your look, from studs to pins, hair ties to shades. It’s all about the flair, and how you feel.

The post A Guide to Accents: A little guide to get the creative juices flowing appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic Denver designers have banded together to make masks in bulk for the local community as well as many others around the country. But as demand has slowed down, they have shifted their focus to more artistic endeavors – making masks with a more fashionable appeal. 

“At first we were making them out of necessity,” says Jana Smith, owner of At Your Service Event Planning and Producer of Denver’s Unique Week of Fashion. “We were initially just making them for healthcare workers and first responders. Most of the healthcare workers in Denver were given one mask per day when, typically, they would change them out in between every patient. They were essentially wearing our masks over their masks to protect the medical masks so they could wear them for longer.” 

Jana heard about the shortage of masks for healthcare workers and started reaching out to designers for help. “I reached out to 10 or 12 designers at the beginning,” she says, “but two designers have really spearheaded the movement here locally.” 

Smith said the art community really responded to the call to action. “It was a beautiful thing. A community that is normally competitive and full of introverts came together to make thousands of masks and gowns that have been distributed all over the country.” One of the designers Smith spoke about is Missy Caldwell, Owner of Misfitmissy, who said she had already started making masks because of a recent illness. 

“I had just done New York Fashion Week and gotten sick before I came back to Denver. So I just started making masks just in case,” Caldwell says. “I already had a stockpile of masks for an upcoming show and was going to give them out to the audience.” She had planned on using the masks as a way for the audience to participate in the show because she was going to incorporate masks into many of her designs. “Masks were already set to be a trend for the Fall shows before this all started,” she says. “The trend was more lace masks. They just shifted to making them for safety.” 

Smith spoke with healthcare professionals to make sure that what they were doing was effective and was told cotton and cotton-blend were the best fabrics. At the beginning, though, they didn’t really have much choice. “At first we were just using leftover fabric because with lockdown everything was closed; they really had to work with what they had,” she says. “We were heading into Spring Fashion Season and had all these gowns and designs ready for shows, so we started using the leftover fabric.”

As fabric started to run low, she tells us, some had to turn to ripping up t-shirts and sheets. “I started by using fabric left over from making clothes for my daughter,” says Julianna Aberle-McClellan, owner of Julianna’s Wardrobe. “In the beginning everyone was in a panic because we had to get things done.”

As supplies ran low, that’s when the community really started to come together. They created a Facebook page and used it as a resource for sharing supplies. “We were trying to band together to make the best of a horrible situation,” Smith says. “Regular people were donating supplies like fabric and threads and other supplies, and delivering masks.” 

Caldwell said she was working around the clock to make masks and only recently started taking days off again. At first it was just to help the medical community, because they were running out of PPEs, but then she started reaching out to those in her community and at one time she individually messaged every one of her friends to ask if they needed a mask. “I can’t even count how many I’ve made,” Caldwell says. “I sent masks to New York, California, Florida, Texas, people at the Post Office, Navy, Army, anyone that wanted one I’d send one. They’d ask for a couple and I’d send them extras just in case.” 

Caldwell’s daughter is in the Navy, quarantined on a ship, and asked for some masks, which is when her custom designs really started to take off. “The first one’s I sent had messages in them to my daughter, when you hold the mask up to the light you can see the message… like ‘thank you for your service’, and ‘you are beautiful’ and ‘love yourself’ or ‘the future is bright’.” 

The designers said at the beginning the healthcare workers and emergency personnel would take what they could get. But as the public started asking for masks the demand for custom masks went up. 

Caldwell has made masks in specific colors to match outfits with two-tone, rainbow, reversible and even McDonald’s colors to match workers’ uniforms. Then she started getting more creative by adding fabric flowers, charms, and nice trim, as well as creating matching accessories like headbands. But the modifications weren’t all for show; she also modified the designs to lower the mask off the ears, or tighten the fit, or adding cushions for the nose and ears. 

“To make them more fun and whimsical they were adding crystals, multiple fabrics, embroidery and other accoutrements,” Smith says. She has seen a lot of new designs in recent months, including company logos, super heroes, smaller ones for children, and Black Lives Matter themed. One designer made culturally appropriate masks free for the Navajo Nation when she found out about how the virus was affecting them. 

Aberle-McClellan said she has had her fair share of custom orders, including making dog-print masks for workers at PetCo, but her most popular were her sugar skulls fabrics. “I have a client in San Francisco that is the president of a medical company that was requesting specific colors and styles that set off the color of his eyes,” Aberle-McClellan says. “He told me, ‘If I have to wear this, I want to look great.’” 

Aberle-McClellan specializes in bridal and vintage restoration and redesign, and with weddings being cancelled and postponed she hasn’t really had many upcoming projects to work on. But she does have a couple of brides that are planning weddings for October. One of which is using the mask as an extension of her dress and ordering matching masks for her entire bridal party. 

As the modifications and customizations of the masks continue, the artists’ creativity is starting to show through even more. 

While the designers have modified patterns and went in different directions in their designs, they do have one thing in common, they all hope the trend of wearing masks continues and that it becomes more socially acceptable. “I think this is going to be a change in culture. Like in Japan where it is culturally acceptable to wear masks more,” Aberle-McClellan says. “I don’t think masks are going to go away.”   

The post The Fashionable Face: Masking Up appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Where to find local masks!

If you just want a functional mask head to your nearest pharmacy, but if you are a mask fashionista these local sources have a wide variety to choose from. 

Mi Casa Azul Mexican Crafts Boutique

Artisanal embroidered & sporty masks  

720-385-8221

carlacolin07@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/mexicancraftsboutique

*100% of proceeds benefit St Louis Catholic School in Louisville

Hidden Treasure 2

The Hidden Treasure has made and given out more 31,500 masks—for free—for anyone who needs one. They have donated to schools, medical facilities, and for workers.  

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/open/longmont-shop-using-closure-to-make-thousands-of-masks-for-the-community

720-340-9951

2330 Main St Unit D, Longmont

http://thehiddentreasure2.com

Face Forward

Kids to adult masks designed by North Boulder textile engineer Brad Poorman

faceforwardshop@gmail.com

www.faceforward.shop

Jacque Michelle Gift & Fashion Boutique

Hand-crafted, fun patterned masks by Boulder line Miss Magoo

303-786-7628

2670 Broadway St., Boulder CO

www.jacquemichelle.com

The Citizen Mask

Child to adult-sized masks handcrafted by local artisans using a double layer of a durable high-quality stretch cotton twill

thecitizenmask@gmail.com

www.thecitizenmask.com

Masker Aid

By local activists introducing a wide range of styles & medical grade masks with polypropylene filters to support Colorado nonprofits. Masks that can be autoclaved for medical professionals & even a mask that allows drinking from a straw!

720-481-0819

www.comaskeraid.org

El Loro Jewelry & Gifts

In-house made, adjustable masks with stylish designs

303-449-3162

1416 Pearl St., Boulder, CO

www.elloroboulder.com

LiliKoi Fashions

All sizes for Kids, teen, women and men

720-280-4993

www.lilikoifashions.com

Pitter Patter

Wide size range to accommodate smaller faces as well

720-485-3129

931 Main St., Louisville, CO

www.pitterpattershop.com

Mike’s Camera Boulder

Can print cloth masks with any design or image you want!

303-443-1715

2500 Pearl St., Boulder, CO

www.mikescamera.com

Bliss Boulder

Locally made, fashion masks with fabrics sourced from neighboring fabric shop Fabricate

303-443-0355

1643 Pearl St. Boulder, CO

www.blissboulder.com

Honey Pouch – Local Longmont artisan with Etsy Shop

Jack Byrd Handmade – Locally made in Louisville. A portion of each sale is donated to local organizations that assist people during COVID-19

www.jackbyrdhandmade.com

The post List of Boulder County Mask Makers for fun and style appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

All images by Paul Wedlake Photography

wedlakephoto.com | Paul Wedlake Photography

Hair Styling for Boulder Ballet by Cassandra & team at Voodoo Lounge | 2100 Pearl St, Boulder

Producer: Jennifer Arnone Diehl

Boulder Ballet

From origin through evolution, the Boulder ballet brings classic, contemporary, and theatrical ballet to venues across the front range. Co-founded by Barbara Demaree and Wanda Tierney, they are a preeminent dance company in colorado. They are styled by Aloha Trading Co. a second hand clothing shop in Longmont bringing the brands you love to Longmont at brag-worthy prices. 

His:

SuperDry flannel button down
Retail: $60 @ Aloha: $22

Paper Denim & Cloth Burgundy button down
Retail: $178 @ Aloha: $48

Calvin Klein Tee
Retail: $40 @ Aloha: $8

Hers:

J.O.A – Rust Polka Dot Top
Retail: $70 @ Aloha: $22

7 for all Mankind Jeans
Retail: $198 @ Aloha: $52

Old Navy Jean Jacket
Retail: $40 @ Aloha: $16

Banana Republic Suede Jacket
Retail: $180 @ Aloha: $46

Free People Dress
Retail: $128 @ Aloha: $38

Loft Quilted Dress
Retail: $89 @ Aloha: $22

Matthew Helm has appeared in movies and commercials,  has over 20 years of martial arts experience, and has danced in leading roles in ballets such as Giselle, Le Corsaire, Nutcracker, & Don Quixote, to name a few. He trained at Ballet West Company and worked with choreographers from Paul Taylor Co. and Christopher Wheeldon Rep. He travels year round as a guest artist and ballet teacher. Look for him in is 9th season with Boulder Ballet.

Emma Michaux is a dancer with the Boulder Ballet company. The 18 year old has been dancing since she was 4  years old and has loved every moment of it. She trained at Colorado Ballet Society in Colorado Springs and has attended San Francisco Ballet, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive programs. Emma will be involved in the upcoming performances with Boulder Ballet including the Nutcracker, FACES, a unique show featuring works created by the dancers themselves, a contemporary masters program in the spring featuring a piece called Airs by the great Paul Taylor, and in the Sleeping Beauty, which is a bucket list ballet for the young dancer. Emma’s favorite article of clothing is her shoes. With a good pair of shoes your whole outfit transforms, and as a dancer, shoes make a big difference.

Edgar L. Page: Feel the movement

Voted the 2018 Presenting Denver Dance Festival Audience Favorite and the 2019 Reader’s Choice for Best Artist through 5280 Magazine, Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement is emerging on the scene with an experience that is intersectional, multigenerational and one that investigates colliding truths head on through movement based mindfulness. See them in The Intersection of Truth and Beauty on #BLACKFRIDAY2019 in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Studio Loft and visit edgarlpage.com for more information. Both of the ladies, Naturelle and Alyssa, are styled by Barbara and Company. The gentelmen are styled by Edgar L. Page. 

Alyssa Henningsen is originally from Chester, New Jersey where she grew up doing competitive dance. She continued her dance endeavors at Bucknell University, minoring in Dance with double majors in Psychology and Women’s and Gender Studies. Alyssa is a founding member of Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement and is a featured performer in their upcoming production of “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” on November 29, 2019. Tickets are available at AXS.com.

Mohammed York is a proud Colorado Native and recent Colorado State University Graduate! He discovered his passion for dance while competing in sports which led to training and performing with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. A passionate social justice reform advocate, York is currently a member of the Hannah Kahn Dance Company and will perform in “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” presented by Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement on November 29.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Victor Adeniran, developed his love of dance growing up in Nigeria, West Africa. He was a United States Marine for 14 years and a graduate of the University of Colorado. An accomplished visual artist and aerial dancer, Victor is producing a Dia De Los Muertos performance with MOXIE Luxe on November 1 (www.dayofthedeadbymoxie.com) and will be featured in The Intersection of Truth and Beauty on November 29 (AXS.com).

Naturelle Garcia Taylor, is an avid interdisciplinary arts student with interests in dance, photography, and painting. Largely trained at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy, she is a current member of their Youth Ensemble. She is thrilled to be working with Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement on their production of “The Intersection of Truth and Beauty” on November 29, 2019 at 7pm in The Ellie Caulkins Studio Loft. Tickets are available at AXS.com.

Barbara and Company is a bastion of high fashion in a see of Boulder casual. Kathy King selects and brings high quality styles from Europe, New York, Los Angeles and local Colorado designers to her Boulder and Denver locations. 1505 Pearl St. #102 Boulder. Go to barbaraandcompany.net for info.

Naturelle: Black draped side french fleece dress from Veronique worn with a cropped faux leopard fur jacket from Velvet

Alyssa: Racer back open front vest over a crisp pleated sleeve cotton shirt from Hana San, worn with Ankle Jeans from AG

The gentlemen were styled from the personal collection of Edgar L. Page

Lauren & Brooke

Lauren and Brook are co-directors of Eunice Embodiment, an umbrella organization engaging performance, movement education and creative mentorship.

Brooke and Lauren are offering CULTIVATE creative practice labs on September 21 (free of cost), October 26, November 16, and December 14 from 1-4 pm at Block 1750 in Boulder, and a CULTIVATE creative practice retreat at Cocoon Portugal retreat center March 14-21, 2020. 

Lauren Beale, a Colorado native, is a performing artist, choreographer, collaborator and embodiment activist. She holds an MFA in Dance from CU-Boulder with an emphasis in interdisciplinary performance. Lauren has performed nationally and internationally with Michelle Ellsworth Artland, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, 3rd Law Dance/Theatre, David Capps/Dances, Interweave Dance Theater, Kim Olson/Sweet Edge, Curt Haworth and Dancers and Ellis Wood Dance. She has also collaborated with Wade Madsen, Ondine Geary, Kate Speer, Mark McCoin, Jessica Hendricks, and Amanda Leise.

Visit laurenbeale.com for information.

Lauren: Tie dye racer back body con t-shirt maxi-dress for $36 topped with black jean jacket at $49.

Accessorized with black half circle necklace for $12 and paired with heart shaped rhinestone stud earrings for $10.

Black cat eyed rhinestone sunglasses $12.

Brooke McNamara, originally from Encinitas, CA, is a dancer-choreographer, poet, mother, and zen monk, living in Boulder, CO. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and Dance, and an MFA in Dance. Brooke has danced professionally as a member of contemporary companies LEVYdance (San Francisco), Malashock and Dancers (San Diego), and Kim Olson/ Sweet Edge (Denver), as well as in the works of Dan Wagoner, David Dorfman, Eddie Taketa, and Gesel Mason.

Visit BrookeMcNamara.com for information.

Brooke: Black woven jumpsuit with button front and open triangle back is 3/4 length for $59.

Accessorized with gold and multi-colored Lucite bar necklace for $12 and drop earrings with faux pearl & crystal for $16.

Dressed by: Ivy Rose is a boutique full of ever changing on-trend clothing, jewelry & accessories for all women of every generation.

Located at 520 Main Street, Longmont.
Open Monday through Saturday.
Go to Ivyroselongmont.com for info

Shawnee

Shawnee is in her final year as a dance major at Metropolitan State University, where she choreographs, performs, and serves as one of the administrators for the dance program’s student organization. Metro State’s annual fall show, Sonder, is taking place on November 10th at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theater. You can catch the debut of her latest work, as well as her performing in pieces choreographed by her peers.

She is dressed by Ivy Rose, Longmont

Black jersey knit jumpsuit with spaghetti straps and side tie is 3/4 length. $59.

Accessorized with silver multi-circle necklace and matching earrings for $18.

The post Form & Fun(ction) appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Residents of Boulder county wear obscure outfits from time to time. Personally, I’ve seen togas and dinosaur costumes nowhere near Halloween, more capes than you can imagine, and people in public wearing their birthday suits. We’re known for Patagonia and Birkenstock – and there’s nothing wrong with any of it. Then there’s casual wear, some still arguably a bit “out there”, like Canadian tuxedos (denim top, denim bottom), and cacophonic combinations of tie-dye. The tie-dye is why we always have sunglasses on.

While athletic wear or jeans and tees all day, every day, may dominate the fashion scene in our neck of the woods, certain occasions call for upscale upgrades. Whether you’ve stepped foot into one or not, clothing stores specializing in designer wear for the whole fam abound in Boulder County. Read on so that next time you’re preparing for a fancy party, a fundraising gala, or the Academy Awards ceremony, you’ll know where to shop.

First, a brief rundown of what’s in vogue this summer nationwide (not specifically in the magazine, though their goal is to be on the same page). Let’s start from the bottom up, shall we? The feet. For those of you like me who struggle to keep sandals on your feet, I regret to inform you that sandals with minimal straps are the way to fancify your footsies this summer.

Moving on up to the legs: white pants are the stylish way to go, which seems illogical to me considering all the summer events that allow for easy spilling of stainable items. But hey, I don’t make the rules. Or…do I? Thankfully for my closet, because apparently they went out of style at some point, Bermuda shorts are once again desirable this summer. From denim to silk and everything in-between, you can find Bermuda shorts for any fancy-schmancy event.

For tops, animal prints like snake and leopard are in style once again, and guess what? Bright colors and tie-dye! Boulder residents can rejoice on that second one! Making a major comeback are crop tops and one shoulder tops, as well as one shoulder dresses. Jewelry wise, things which were popular with the 90s cool kids like chokers and shell necklaces are in again.

So there’s the rundown. It’s time for your red-carpet moment. You want to be the one who wore it best in People magazine (I mean, who wouldn’t?). If shopping for upscale fashion is new to you, fear not – Boulder and its surroundings are a mecca for clothing shops specializing in just that. 

Let’s begin with a stroll down Pearl Street in Boulder, where the amount of stores selling upscale clothing can be overwhelming, and take a peek inside Free People. Molly Love, the assistant store manager, filled me in on the summer trends doing well there. “We’re seeing a lot of utility pants, flowy pants, bright colors and bright florals in particular,” she mused. She mentioned that items made of sheer materials are flying off the shelves, and that trends from the 90s are making a serious comeback. “We’re definitely seeing a lot of (90s stuff) dotted into the trending summer style,” Love said. In particular, she mentioned one shouldered tops, dresses, and crop tops, and said they’d been selling a lot of animal print. “I’ve seen in store a leopard print romper and jacket.” Though they don’t carry shoes at that store, Love commented on the return of Doc Martin shoes, and said that shell jewelry like puka necklaces are immensely popular right now. As far as hair accessories, Love commented on the popularity and high sales of scrunchies and hair scarves.

Continuing down Pearl Street brings you past Chelsea, another perfect place to purchase high end fashion. I spoke with Jenna Bilek, a sales associate at the store, who filled me in on the hottest trends there. Just as Molly Love told me at Free People, Bilek instantly pointed out that “animal print is a really big trend for this season, particularly snake print and leopard print.” She also said that at Chelsea, “pink is really in as well; it feels like people shied away from pink for a while but now everyone is loving it, so we are carrying a lot.”

At Chelsea, tie front tops are flying off the racks, just as they are in less pricey stores. For me it feels like skinny jeans will never go away, not that I necessarily want them to, and that doesn’t seem likely to change. However, Belik mentioned that the skinny jeans of this season are comprised almost entirely of denim, instead of containing spandex and other stretchy materials. According to Belik, “for denim, skinny jeans are still very in so we are carrying them in different washes anywhere from black and white to light wash and dark wash.” She also pointed out a major trend Chelsea is carrying this season which is wide leg denim and vintage washes that are “softer and more buttery and that wear better with time.”

In terms of jewelry, Bilek informed me that things are turning away from large statement pieces to dainty and delicate necklaces that you can layer. Jumpsuits (one of my personal favorites, I can rock a jumpsuit hard core), she told me, are immensely popular as well. “We are carrying a lot of them this season, about an equal number of jumpsuits to dresses.” Speaking of dresses, Bilek noted that wrap styles are really popular because they tend to be flattering for every body type. 

It wouldn’t be right to talk about high fashion in Boulder without mentioning the Regiment Shop off of Canyon Boulevard. I spoke with Steve Jacobs of the Boulder Store, who mentioned that they turn to resources like the catalogues for Men’s Wearhouse and Suit Supply. They stand by their tradition of quality and service, and you know they’re good at what they do since they’ve been around for 60 years. That’s a pretty good sign. Their website even teaches you how to tie a tie, which for me only comes in handy when I dress up for Comic Con or Halloween, but still. They provide step-by-step instructions on tying a half Windsor, a four-in-hand, an ascot, and a bow tie.

Though I’m skipping over buckets of other upscale clothing stores in Boulder (if you could fit stores into buckets), it’s time to move on to Historic Downtown Louisville. There, you’ll come across Eleanor and Hobbs, a boutique founded and owned by Tracy Hobbs. The lovely shop offers top designer brands like Citizens of Humanity, AG Jeans, and Levi’s. Hobbs stays on top of the latest trends by visiting Los Angeles and New York.

Farther away we go, off to Broomfield! Josh Anderson, a sales assistant at Jos.A.Bank, said that trending this summer are bright colors, a lot more patterns, and clothing made of linen. “Shoe trends are moving towards a much more casual look,” Anderson noted, “so boat shoes are really popular right now as well as dress shoes without any patterns.” He specifically mentioned plain leather shoes lacking Broguing (which I had to look up). For ties, three-inch width is what’s in vogue, but more important than the width is the pattern. “Plaids on the ties are pretty big right now,” Anderson mentioned, “we have a yellow and blue really bright plaid that has been selling constantly.” So, there you have it, gents! Bright plaid ties for all of your formal events.

Boulder county is a fashion casual place. We know, you know, the world knows…we’re really relaxed and we prioritize comfort. Why wouldn’t we wear yoga pants everywhere and keep rock climbing shoes in the trunk, just in case? With Colorado weather, it’s best to be ready for anything, and, yeah, that can preclude wearing high end Italian leather loafers and a three-piece. Let’s be clear: we’re ready for anything, and that includes dressing to the  nines for a date night out, a gala event, or any number of celebrations. Make sure your wardrobe is updated and ready.

Note: by the time this article is published, these trends may have become “so yesterday,” but hopefully not. Good luck, friends.

The post Summer Fashion | Boulder County’s Fancy Fashion Finds appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

If you’ve ever been to a summer camp then you’re probably familiar with handmade art, but one Boulder-based jeweler is changing the game.

Designer and metalworker Davis Hatcher is more than just a craftsman, he’s an inventor. Hatcher has spent the last four years creating handmade accessories with a twist: he also makes his own tools.

With such a unique style and process for crafting it only makes sense that Hatcher would have an equally quirky introduction to designing jewelry.

“It happened by accident,” Hatcher says. “My brother asked me if I could make him a bracelet out of metal for Christmas. The first one I made, I literally hammered out on the sidewalk on this little metal plate.”

After his first bracelet, the requests continued to trickle in from friends and family. As an employee at Rio Grande, Hatcher would make bracelets and rings for his coworkers at the restaurant.

Interest in his jewelry grew organically until a friend put him in contact with popular men’s lifestyle Youtuber, Aaron Marino. Hatcher says at the time Marino had about a quarter of a million followers who he emailed with a link to Hatcher’s online store earning him his first 60 digital sales. Since that day years ago, Hatcher has continued to develop his designs along with new tools to match his visions.

With his background in math and engineering from CU Boulder, each bracelet, cuff, and accessory comes with a series of calculations that predict how the wire will behave. While many artists may not use as many mathematical formulas as he does, Hatcher says that’s just the way he’s wired.

“I think in processes,” Hatcher says. “Even more so than a final visual aesthetic, when I look at my stuff I think of it in terms of like a step-by-step formula. The further I go down that rabbit hole of making my own tools and having new ideas, the more unique my stuff becomes and then it’s harder for other people to copy it.”

Hatcher says his first few designs were simple, but as they grew more complex it was clear that he would need new tools to make his vision a reality. A quick trip to the machine shop is all it takes for the craftsman to create exactly what he needs to complete his next piece.

Hatcher specializes in creating handmade bracelets, luxury cuffs, and men’s accessories using silver, copper, and niobium. The young designer says his use of new tools, unique materials, and innovative techniques are the reasons he has been so fortunate in his career as a jeweler so far.

Most recently Hatcher’s work has been picked up by Signet, a jewelry shop in Cherry Creek known for hosting imaginative pieces. His handmade accessories also caught the eye of award-winning artisanal designer Todd Reed, who quickly became a mentor.

Hatcher says Reed’s mentorship has allowed him to craft pieces that stand out and fine tune his craft, while also guiding him towards opportunities to share his work with more buyers. He now has plans to expand his business and get his jewelry in galleries and magazines across the nation.

“It’s this number game, but the connection has to be genuine and mutually beneficial. So that’s what’s really making a difference now,” Hatcher says.

To view his full collection or make a purchase, go to davishatcher.com. Check out Davis and his amazing creations below.

Davis Hatcher in the office, Photo by De La Vaca

Meeting Todd Reed, Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Signet Jewelers, Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Torch area, Photo by De La Vaca

Copper Bracelets, Photo by De La Vaca

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

Photo courtesy of Davis Hatcher

The post The Method behind the Metals: Davis Hatcher appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

For this Summer’s HOT look, what could be hotter than vintage? Colorado is a nostalgic place, no doubt. Simply search for events and you’ll find a deluge of 1920’s – 1960’s vintage, swinging, lindy hopping, jitterbugging goodness. My goodness, what a lot to say. We talked to the movers and literal shakers shaking up our scene with style to help us get to the bottom of what exactly vintage is and how we can get our style game up.

At The Hop

with Kristie & Adam Laughrey

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

Vintage is anything from the 1920’s to 20 years before the present year.  Woah, 1998 is vintage? Feel old?  Vintage to us is pre-loved pieces that were well made, had fabulous details, amazing textiles, pretty patterns, cool colors, and careful craftsmanship. A vintage piece has a story to tell.

What got you into vintage looks?

We’ve have been in love with vintage for over 20 years. We both used to rifle through our parents closet looking for anything old, cool and different. We both dabbled through different decades but found our love affair with the 40’s and 50’s. That era called to us because we had parents and grandparents that told great stories, shared old photos and played great music.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

Shop The Hop! The easiest way to get in, without breaking the bank, is to incorporate smaller pieces into your everyday look. That could be accessorizing with a great vintage scarf, purse, jewelry, or shoes. For guys try a pearl snap shirt with your favorite jeans.  It about how you style it. 

What’s your role in the culture?

We love the vintage and rockabilly lifestyle. We dress like this every day. It is a lifestyle, and people appreciate that. They see us dressed up, feeling good, having fun—and they love it. Rockabilly represents youthful rebellion through dress. We want people to embrace what they love and express who they are. What better way to do that than in what you wear?  ?

Last January we decided to turn our vintage fashion passion into a business. We bought a 1956 canned ham camper, gave it a makeover, named it Tootie, and turned it into a mobile vintage shop. June 2017 we opened the doors to The Hop! We specialize in 40’s-60’s vintage and reproduction styles for men and women. You can find Tootie at breweries, concerts, festivals, and car shows. You can book us for vintage styling and shopping parties at your home. The Hop is local to Longmont but you can find us all around Colorado. Visit our Facebook page @atthehopshop for a listing of events. 

The 1940’s Ball

with Khyentse George

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

Vintage to me is a sort of escapism that is very important in our hectic world; a way to temporarily immerse yourself in the music, culture, glamour and warmth of another time.  I am such a romantic at heart, vintage allows me to step into the romance of another time, another place. I love the class and style of the 40’s especially. There was such attention to detail. I appreciate that through rationing came stunning hairstyles like victory rolls, gorgeous repurposed clothing, beautiful stitching and embroidery and even drawing lines on your legs for nylons. I also admire the spirit of this generation and the sensibility and creativity that comes from having to make something out of nothing.

What got you into vintage looks?

I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up, they were radio performers in the 1940’s and really instilled a love of the music and culture of the 40’s and 50’s in me.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

We have some great local vintage shops with very affordable options.  And I love to accessorize…hats, stockings, hair flowers gloves are great and inexpensive!

What’s your role in the culture.

I’m the Creator/Director for the 1940’s Ball.  It’s an annual event celebrating the 1940’s at Boulder Airport, complete with real WWII airplanes, vehicles, re-enactors, and big bands under the stars…we also have a 40’s and 50’s themed Christmas event in Denver.

Rockin’ Robin’s

with Angele Wilke

What is vintage to you and how do you define it for yourself?

My guideline is any item made 20+ years ago. In my experience, vintage is in the eye of the beholder. A 60 year old woman may not consider her clothing from the 1980s vintage, but her daughter born in 1995 probably would. Vintage is a feeling, a nostalgia, a remembrance of (and often a longing for) a time that has already passed.

What got you into vintage looks?

I started my love affair with vintage shortly after getting into fashion about 5 years ago. Shows like Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire were high on my watchlist; I fell in love with the glamour of the past. I wanted to bring that to my everyday life and help other people find i. The best part of my job is people who bring in their consignments from 30+ years ago. I love hearing stories about individuals’ lives and knowing that with every garment, hat, shoe, or necklace there is a beautiful memory.

How do we get into the look without breaking the bank?

THRIFT STORES! You’d be surprised how many people don’t know the value of their old treasures. I’ve found some of my best pieces thrifting. I once found a damaged 1960s wedding dress at a Goodwill in Iowa. It was gorgeous so I just had to take it home. Lo and behold, buried between the layers a fabric, a Christian Dior tag! Like a dream come true.

What’s your role in the culture?

I am the store manager at Rockin’ Robin’s Retro, Vintage, & Resale, a consignment store specializing in vintage clothing and accessories (1800’s to the 1980’s). We organize items by decade so that everything is easily found. Our staff is incredibly knowledgeable and very stylish (if I do say so myself) each with an individual flare. We love helping customers costume for anything from a 1970’s theme party or a pin-up car show to Burning Man or the much loved local Left Hand Nitro Fest.

Connecting

The Hop – Vintage Shop on Wheels, Longmont, CO

Kristie & Adam Laughrey

atthehopshop@gmail.com

720-544-1693?

www.atthehopshop.com

FB | IG | Twitter @atthehopshop

Rockin’ Robin, 233 Main St, Longmont

303-652-4144

FB @RockinRobinsRetroVintageandResale

The 1940’s Ball

www.1940sball.org,
720-924-1945

kgeorge!1940sball.org

FB @1940sBall

Vintage Events:

The Hop: ?Find all The Hop’s events on their facebook page @atthehopshop

?Every Wednesday at St. Vrain Cidery in Longmont

Every Thursday June- August at Niwot Rock ‘N Rails in Niwot

Every Friday in June at Summer Concert Series in Longmont

6/16 at 1940’s Ball in Boulder

6/17 at the Punk Rock Flea Market in Denver

6/19 The Hop’s One Year Anniversary at 300 Suns in Longmont (bring your classic car and come celebrate with us!)

6/22 The Hop is putting on a Fashion Show with other local Longmont retail shops at the Summer Concert Series (4th & Kimbark) in Longmont

6/24 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/13 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/14 Horseshoe Market in Denver

7/22 Mash Lab Brewery in Windsor

7/28 on Main St. Longmont for Cruise Night

8/24-26 Modernism Show in Denver

9/14-16 Hot Rod Hill Climb in Central City

Swingin’ Denver

Swingin’ Rooftop Party Benefiting Youth on Record Comes to Heart of Cherry Creek With the Summer Soirée July 15

• WHAT:  Walk out into the sunshine and onto the stunning rooftop patio of Cherry Creek’s Room & Board to celebrate all the wonderful music, food, drinks and dancing that Denver has to offer at the Summer Soirée. La Pompe Jazz and Banshee Tree will be swinging live with original tunes and jazz classics, Swingin’ Denver will be providing swing dance lessons and performances throughout the evening, and the party will be rounded out with signature craft cocktails, an assortment of sips and samples from our liquor and wine partners, and tasty catered bites from Illegal Pete’s. This event is put on by Speakeasy Soirée Entertainment, hosts of the annual Speakeasy Soirée event.

Highlights include:

• • Live Music by two of Colorado’s finest swing bands – La Pompe Jazz and Banshee Tree

  • Cash Bar: Craft cocktails and beer. Ticket includes one complimentary cocktail

  • Food catered by Illegal Pete’s

  • Swing Dance Lesson and Performances by Swingin’ Denver

  • Charity Partner: All proceeds benefit Youth on Record, a not-for-profit organization empowering Colorado’s underserved youth to achieve their academic, artistic and personal best by employing local, professional artists as their educators.
    
    

• WHO: Hosted by Speakeasy Soirée Entertainment on Sunday, July 15, 2018; 7:30 p.m. – midnight at Room & Board, 222 Detroit St., Denver.
  
  General admission and donor-level tickets can be purchased at www.SpeakeasySoiree.com

Also from Swingin’ Denver:

The post Summer Fashion: The Hottest Vintage Looks & Events appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

We had the pleasure of attending 303 Magazine’s Denver Fashion Week 2018, the first full fashion week in Denver history. DFW is “Denver’s largest fashion showcase featuring emerging designers, local boutiques, national brands, hairstylists, makeup artists and models.” It ran from March 18-25, 2018 at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. And yes, there’s something amazing about a DJ booth with a fighter jet right behind it. While much has been written about it (hint: we suggest the coverage 303 provided. Absolutely stellar), we thought we’d say a few words and let the pictures do the talking.

All engines were go and Denver showed out both in showing up to pack out the venue, but also in the styles on display and the models walking the runways. The Children’s Show started the week off on a cute note, featuring Dimple For Kids, Heloise Children’s Boutique, Peach and Penny, and The Secret Boutique. Also on day one, the Bridal Fashion Show featuring Femme Fatale Intimates, Nuorikko, Marie-Margot Bridal Couture, Gino Velardi, Bloom, Denver Bespoke By Machete & Son. We love kids that dress up, let’s just start there. All I have from my childhood are pictures in wing tips, slacks, and suspenders. We were destined to love this.

Days two through four were industry insider events. Day two was the model workshop, day three was social media, and day four focused on designers. While we didn’t attend these events, we applaud the organizing effort to not just showcase fashion but to help take our local fashion industry to higher levels. At one point, on day five, we ran into two French girls on study abroad who stopped in to check out our local fashion scene. We asked, tongue in cheek, if they were here to make a little fun of Colorado’s efforts. They said they were not, “not at all” and were really enjoying the show.

Day five was a favorite for us. We love the idea that this show upends the eurocentric beauty model and highlights what “high fashion” often ignores or others. Non traditional models and local designers night was a feast for the eyes and for those hungry for representation in mainstream fashion. Black and brown bodies. Short and tall bodies. Thin and thicc bodies. LGBT bodies. We were in heaven and really didn’t take as many pics as we wanted. How could we? We were staring. We applaud the organizers for this very inclusive evening.

Day 6 was the infamous Paper Fashion Show and, even if we did walk in late because we got lost (this was the only night hosted not at the Air & Space Museum, but instead at the Denver Center For Performing Arts Seawell Ballroom in Downtown), this was mindblowing. Imagine high school students making origami into high fashion (ok, not really, cause they definitely used scissors). As fashion forward – or at least fashion loving – reporters, we’re excited to know the next generation of Colorado fashionistas are ready to go.

Day 7 was National Designers night and whoa, did things get serious. Divided over the first and second segement of the night, Velvet Wolf, Denver, Kouture, Denver, Hogan McLaughlin, NYC, Manfredonia, NYC, and Xuly.Bet, NYC showed up to show out. The models were on point; they sparkled, glided, and walked it out to a surprisingly tame audience. We loved it. We also love the bartender who recognized me and my tendency to tip well and poured my TinCup on the rocks very tall. Just as an aside, one of the photographers on the riser with us was super hype for Manfredonia. Apparently he’s a fan. #FashionPhotogs

The final night – aka, the night everyone was really waiting for – was also the most packed night at Wings Over the Rockies. A few photographers were discussing new angles and positions given the amount of people in attendnace. The Hair Show + South West Hairstyling Awards were truly something to behold. This night, akin to Non Traditional Models night, highlights unusual aspects putting the brilliance of hair (texture, length, adornment, design) on display. We were unable to stay for the second segment, which we regret, but we were thoroughly in love with the first half.

To close up this short recap, I must say: it would be way to easy (and premature, and wrong) to write off Colorado’s fashion scene. No, we’re not New York, but that’s a good thing. Style is created from diversity, nurtured in unusual and unassumed places, and grows into what it always will be: beauty. Locally grown, nationally known, 303 Magazine’s Denver Fashion Week was a moment to revel in the growth of our state. Colorado is growing up and putting its most fashionable foot forward. We’re just glad we’re here to take the pictures.

Photo Essay: Days 5 – 8

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Day 8 Favorites

Day 8 Favorites

Day 8 Favorites

Day 8 Favorites

Day 8 Favorites

Day 8 Favorites

The post Denver’s Growing Up: #DFW18 Recap appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

by De La Vaca

303 magazine’s Denver Fashion Weekend 2017, day two, was an absolute blast, if a bit overwhelming for the locals who showed up. Not that Denver isn’t fashion-forward, but sometimes when we perform fashion rather than live fashion, it shows up in our overdone attempts. Yellow Scene was not at Day 1, to our eternal regret based on the photos, but Day 2 made up for our miss with glorious lines, a red carpet to make us all feel fashion famous, and goodies from numerous local eateries, including Departure, Postino, Low Country Kitchen, Sweet Cooie’s, and HotBox Roasters. 

Presented by Denver’s own Garbarini (Runway Fresh, Served in Denver), and hosted by the lovely Raquel Villanueva with Brooke Wade, the featured designers/boutiques for November 11 included:

– Byron Lars / New York

– Milly / Los Angeles

– Zadig and Voltaire / Paris

– ADD Down / Milan

– L’atlier / London

– Trina Turk / Los Angeles

– Diane Von Furstenberg / New York

– Theory / New York

– Haute Hippie / New York, and

– Camilla / Australia

That said, think patterns, think freedom. That’s what the #DFW17 was about. Airy fabrics, colorful patterns, and heavily accented and sequined won the night.

One interesting aspect of the event is the use of exclusively local models. Kudos to Colorado girls strutting the catwalk and doing their best to follow the instructions given to them over the last few weeks. Unfortunately, some of the overly stiff or overly excited made for a less professional experience than expected. We can’t speak for Day 1, of course.  I’ve seen this play out in other spaces. An ex was a catwalker in New York through the early oughts and, in her post college pursuits, took time to [try to] teach a professional walk to girls for a local fashion show at UC Davis. Suffice it to say, the lessons are hard to learn. It takes a lot to get up there and walk like the pros in New York, LA, and Europe.

There were a few that really nailed the walk, however. Don’t let me act like there’s a dearth of talent here. The few that really walked it out got the applause they deserved. The ladies who walked for Zadig & Voltaire in the third line were probably the best of the evening and definitely made the show worth it. That fourth girl…whew. The lady in the seat next to me audibly gasped when she walked out and nudged me to make sure I was paying attention.

Zadig & Voltaire, Line 3 #DFW17, courtesy of 303 Magazine, Danielle Webster

Also, a quick moment of love for Camilla’s models, whose presentation was fabulous and whose exit was everything we love about runway. All wobbles and winks aside, all the models did a terrific job and represented well.

At the end of the night, the major take away from #DFW17 Day 2 for Denver was patterns. Patterns everywhere. Not that there weren’t beautiful solids, burgundy and beige, layers of grey from Theory, airy and bright designs from DVF,  and amazing necklines from Milly, but the patterns throughout the show, from Byron Lars to Haute Hippie to Camilla are what stood out and what caught Coloradan eyes.

To be sure, in spite of the haute fashion from some of the best lines, including the revered Diane von Furstenberg, to visit Denver, the most uproarious response was for Haute Hippie, a line you will definitely see in Denver and Boulders boutiques, whether Lodo, Lohi, or Pearl Street. Fun and comfortable hippie chic, the mix of warm colors and earth tones that made up the Haute Hippie line filled the runaway with the feeling of freedom and sex and wild, and was followed by Camilla’s bright patterns, sequins, and glimmering bohemian beautiful. I would expect to see these style replicated for the upcoming spring season in Colorado.

Haute Hippie can be found at Revolve, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and other locations online if you need it now. And for the fashion forward, fast forward to March 18-25 for 303 Magazine’s first full week of fashion, Denver Fashion Week Spring 2018. Plan ahead, Colorado.

For the full collection of looks from #DFW17 Day 2, see here. Meanwhile, here are some of our favorites group pics and stand outs (all photos courtesy of 303 Magazine, via Danielle Foster).

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

#DFW17, courtesy of Danielle Foster for 303 Magazine

The post Colorado Hippie and Haute: #DFW17 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

The age old question: How to be functionally fashionable when your days consist of daycare, play dates, date nights, play dough, juggling a job, and preparing your young ones for that Boulder life? Our hot moms how us with a little help from the boutiques that help keep Boulder beautiful.

Lindsay Winslow
39 years old. Full-time Mom. 3 kids (ages 20, 16, and 5)

Moms just want to have fun, right? Or something like that… Regardless, Lindsay’s ensemble from The Niche will leave you smiling. She’s wearing Folded-Leg Jeans with a deep cuff. Feel free to fold short or long, depending on your mood. Lindsay’s shirt is a Red Plaid Button Down with a sheer, floral back panel. She rocks an Active Basic long tank top underneath. It’s a great top for showing off your favorite strappy bralette or camisole. And to add a final, fun and playful twist? A CC crushable fedora to literally top it off.

Folded-leg jeans by LITZ – $44.95
Red plaid button down by Mystree – $49.95
Long tank top by Active Basic – $7.95
Crushable fedora by C.C – $19.95

Store: The Niche
409 Center Dr. Superior

Martha Hartney
50 years old. Estate Planning Attorney. 2 kids (ages 20 and 18)

All products available at Momentum are crafted by hand and tell unique stories. Martha is wearing some of the store’s favorite pieces, all created by fair trade artisans. The 100% cotton, screen0printed Artsy Traveler Dress, by Mata Traders, has a refreshing lightness to it. And what’s an outfit without a little bling? Check out the sparkle on that Athena Cuff bracelet and the playfulness of that Wood Burst Necklace! Finishing off Martha’s look is the Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag, perfect for carrying daily essentials.

Artsy Traveler Dress by Mata Traders – $68
Athena Cuff by Mata Traders – $20
Wood Burst Necklace by World Finds – $34
Tooled Leather Shoulder Bag by Altiplano – $172

Store: Momentum
1625 Pearl St, Boulder

Shoes: Johnston & Murphy Tricia Wedge in Black Suede

Store: My Saving Grace
909 Main St, Louisville

Staci Fall
38 years old. Graphic Designer. 2 kids (ages 5 and 3)

Ten-hut! Sometimes as Mom you’ve just got to lay down the law. With the Military Green Silk Ruffle Sleeve Blouse Staci is modeling, you can issue commands, look sexy, and still give your kids a motherly smooch on the cheek. The ruffles sleeves dance, giving the piece a lively feel. Staci pops her Suede Legging-clad leg from behind the flowing and elegant Beige Sleeveless Vest. The solid colors, clean lines and fluidity of this outfit just might make you the hottest mom around. Visit Elizabeth’s Embellishments to grab these garments.

Military Green Silk Ruffle Sleeve Blouse by Cobblestone – $72.95
Beige Sleeveless Vest by Cobblestone – $67.95
Copper Suede Charcoal Leggings by Mudpie – $55.95

Store: Elizabeth’s Embellishments
611 S Public Rd, Lafayette

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Prasad Sandal. Hand made with Italian Leather.

Rachel Dugas
35 years old. Writer/Photographer. 2 kids (ages 4 and 4 months)

This dress, from UMBA, is just the thing whether you’re going for a conservative look or trying to spice it up. Its long silhouette is eye-catching, but the hemline–landing about 2-4 inches below the knee– keeps it modest. lightweight, stretchy fabric falls in a flattering way for most any body type. Keep the braid in back if you’re going for sleek, or put the braid in front for a sexier, more sultry look. Rachel completes this minimalist yet confidence-exuding ensemble with the Black Pocketbelt.

Rachel’s daughter is wearing a dress by Simonetta, with a pair of Michael Kors slip-on shoes, provided by Childish Things.

Long Ladderback Dress by Umba – $48
Black Pocketbelt by Umba – $155

Store (Mom): UMBA
2043 Broadway, Boulder

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Matteo Black bootie. Handmade with Italian Leather.

Store (Daughter): Childish Things
3183 Walnut, Boulder

Kristin Christian
33 years old. Family Photographer. 2 kids (ages 4 and 2)

While dressing to the nines can be nice, it often comes at the sacrifice of comfort and functionality. But what if you could look great and feel great? Outfitted by Boulder Bodywear, Kristin shows it’s possible. The Burnout Burgundy Top, by Colosseum, is chic and effortlessly stylish, particulary when paired with these jeans from 1822, designed to fit women of all ages.

Kristin’s daughter, outfitted by Childish Things, is wearing a Ruby & Bloom lace shirt underneath a Land’s End puffy vest, a denim skirt from Zara Kids, and Nordstrom boots with a faux-fur lining.

Burnout Burgundy Top by Colosseum – $44
Vintage Stretch Denim Jeans by 1822 – $48
Scarf by VSA – $18-32

Store: Boulder Bodywear
2850 Arapahoe Rd. #104, Lafayette

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): A.S. 98 Salome Bootie. Handmade with Italian Leather.

Jessica Learoyd
35 years old. Acting Coach. 3 kids (ages 11, 7, and 6)

Moms are powerful. Period. In the Zip-Front Ruched Dress, available at Barbara & Company, you’ll turn heads walking down the street with your little ones in tow. The zipper down the front is an attention-grabber, and the root color gives the dress an earthy, edgy flavor.

Jessica’s daughter is wearing a Tea Collection mustard yellow dress. The shoes are a ballet slipper style from American Eagle. Find these pieces at Childish Things.

Zip Front Ruched Dress by XCVI – $144

Store: Barbara & Company
1505 Pearl St, Boulder

Shoes (from My Saving Grace): Eric Michael Blue Suede Lace Up

The post Hot Moms Fashion appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Emma Watson, actress turned advocate, partnered with British Vogue to release a video about gender inequality in the fashion industry.E

The four-minute video includes Watson talking about gender inequality with leading voices in the fashion industry such as British designers Stella McCartney, Jonathan Saunders, Bella Freud, and Erdem Moralioglu.

The designers were supportive of the idea of gender equality in the fashion industry, touching on issues such as maternity and paternity leave, increasing diversity in the industry, and equal pay.

“I think the fashion industry has a very big role to play,” designer Stella McCartney says. “It has a huge voice and the voice can be adapted. We need to give a better message to women of all ages, all sizes and all nationalities. We need to allow women to feel comfortable in who they are.”

Watson sees positive improvement in the industry, seeing leaders making positive changes to ensure gender equality within the industry. To her, there is “a lot of racism” and “a lot of sexism” in the industry. She wants to see a more diverse representation in the industry to make both genders feel more empowered.

Last September, Watson founded the #HeForShe gender equality movement, encouraging both men and women to support each other in the fight for gender equality. Her initial speech in front of the United Nations in New York went viral, causing both men and women to show their support for the campaign via social media.

The #HeForShe campaign has shown the world the true definition of feminism, not the stereotypical associations we have grown to know. With the campaign’s success, it’s allowed Watson to start focusing on one industry at a time, with the hope to fight gender inequality to create a world where men and women can be treated equally on all levels.

The post Emma Watson speaks on gender inequality in the fashion industry appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Instagram continues to dictate how women’s bodies are portrayed by banning #curvy from its search terms.

The word, which traditionally promotes positive body image, was banned not because of the term itself, but because the content violated Instagram’s nudity guidelines. Reports say that when searched, it would result in pornographic images, therefore violating the site’s guidelines.

Curvy is seen as a body positive word, associated with women embracing their bodies. Many think this decision is ridiculous, as they don’t see curvy as a harmful word.

Instagram has also been suspending users for posting inappropriate content. Artist Sam Roddick had her account deleted by Instagram for posting a vagina shaped cornice. It was found that vagina has not been banned from the social media service.

“Clearly it is unrealistic for Instagram to fully control or really be fully responsible for what people post—however I am disturbed by what Instagram are actually choosing to disallow and images they are censoring—they are showing that as a company their philosophy is emotionally and intellectually unhealthy and psychologically damaging towards women,” said Roddick.

Instagram has gone so far as to ban breast feeding, stretch marks, and even classical works of arts that respectfully portray nudity, before banning ‘curvy’. However, Instagram still allows harmful, body shaming words such as “bitch, fat slag, and hookers”.

For girls and young women, the way body positivity is handled on the site is dangerous for their self-esteem. As women, we are encouraged to embrace our bodies, and many of us feel ‘curvy’ is a perfectly accurate way to do so.

The post Instagram bans ‘#Curvy’ appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

For the first time, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is hosting a fashion week in New York solely for menswear. New York Fashion Week: Men’s is already underway in New York at Skylight Clarkson Sq. until July 16.F

In years past, menswear designers have been forced to show alongside women at New York Fashion Week, but the eight-day spectacle takes away focus on the menswear, only focusing on womenswear. Many designers show a handful of men’s looks alongside the women’s looks, but the looks are never as memorable.

The decision was made to have a separate men’s fashion week earlier this year due to the focus on menswear growing exponentially over the last few years. The event in New York joins other major biannual menswear shows in Paris, Milan and London.

Over the course of the four-day week, 60 designers are planning on showing their Spring/Summer 2016 collections, including Thom Browne, John Varvatos, Duckie Brown and Orley. The event has also drawn European designers such as Balmain, Hermès and Lanvin.

This is the second attempt at a men’s fashion week in New York, after an effort was started in 1995, but fizzled out by 2001. This time, menswear sales have increases tremendously, and so has the interest in men’s fashion, so the many believe this event will prove successful and further strengthen New York as a fashion capital.

“Today, it’s the men who are ready for their close-up, and New York Fashion Week: Men’s will only strengthen New York City’s role as the fashion capital of the world,” says Alicia Glen, New York City’s deputy mayor for housing and economic development.

New York Fashion Week: Men’s takes place July 13-16. Shows can be viewed at style.com.

The post Men’s Fashion Week underway in New York appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

For the past week, there has been a new hair trend that has swept the internet: velaterapia. Since the 1960s, velaterapia has been the chosen hair method in South America that involves twisting the hair into small sections and burning off the frazzled ends with a candle. The damaged ends stick out from the heat and is masked in a deep conditioner.F

The process takes about three hours and costs anywhere from $150 to $200. Professionals recommend that it should be done every three months to attain real results. The burning is said to open the hair follicles and help the hair retain the conditioner’s moisture.

What sparked this trend in the U.S. was Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosia, who posted a photo on Instagram of herself getting the treatment done. Barbara Fialho, another Victoria’s Secret model, was seen participating in the trend last year with many online news outlets covering it.

The trend, as bizarre as it seems, can be a valid solution to avoid getting a haircut. Many women dread going to the hair salon for fear the stylist will cut too much off. Velaterapia can be a solution to get rid of the split ends without getting a cut.

However, it is a dangerous process. Many women are saving money by trying it at home. There have been reports of many women lighting their hair on fire because of doing it incorrectly rather than going to an expert.

Another potential danger is causing damage to the hair fiber itself, resulting in weaker strands. Experts against the trend advise getting a trim to get rid of split ends rather than burning them off.

So for those who are afraid of lighting their hair on fire, or hate the smell of hair, velaterapia is not for you, but if you feel daring, go ahead and give it a try.

The post Velaterapia: the hair-burning trend appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

On July 1, CNN launched CNN Style a separately branded site on the CNN website that covers fashion, design, architecture, arts, autos and luxury.O

Similar to CNN Money and CNN Politics, the site has its own unique design featuring a dark grey background and modern typography. The stenciled typeface of the word “Style” is a cross between a fashion magazine and something more industrial. The story pages themselves are similar to the main CNN website, while the homepage of the site has a creative feel that catches the reader’s eye.

George Webster, the editor of CNN Style, released an editor’s letter describing why a site solely devoted to style is necessary.

“Whether it’s a building that connects us to a shared history, an artwork that brings new clarity to an emotion, a pair of shoes that puts a spring in our stride, or a product that eliminates an annoying task in an elegant fashion — design touches our life at every turn.”

Webster describes the content to include international coverage of art and design, so for any fanatic of those areas, the new site seems intriguing.

CNN Style also welcomes architect Daniel Libeskind as their first guest editor for the month of July. He’s going to explore the “interplay between architecture and emotion.” In his introductory post, he introduces why this subject matter in particular is important to him.

“But to me, there’s nothing more important than architecture. It creates your world and influences how you feel both mentally and spiritually.”

His content is aimed to communicate ideas about architecture and cities and explore the historic role architecture plays, and the emotion tie people can have to it.

The site has a nice balance of content covering all aspects of art and design, diverse enough for CNN’s already global audience, focusing on people, places and things worldwide. It adds variety to the news content CNN already produces, and will help grow the CNN brand to reach out to all interest areas.

The post CNN releases CNN Style appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Skinny jeans have caused a media frenzy over the last few days – they caused one woman to be hospitalized.S

According to a study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, a 35-year-old woman was hospitalized because she lost feeling in her legs because of the jeans.

The study found that squatting in skinny jeans could damage the wearer’s nerves and muscles.

The woman spent the day helping a relative move, squatting for hours as she helped clean out the living space, packing and picking up boxes. When she was walking home at night, she felt her legs numb, and fell, left immobilized until she was found and rushed to the hospital.

She lost circulation in her lower legs, unable to move her ankles and toes, forcing doctors to cut off her jeans at the caves to help restore circulation. If she had not come to the hospital, the compression could have caused further nerve damage.

It was later found that the woman had compartment syndrome, where compressed muscles and nerves can cease to function properly.

In reality, skinny jeans might not have been the cause of the woman’s hospitalization. It was more likely because of the compression syndrome the woman had that the jeans exacerbated because of how close the jeans were worn to the body.

As a precaution, it is best to avoid wearing skinny jeans when moving excessively to prevent compression of the leg muscles.

The post Skinny jeans found potentially dangerous appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Lucky Magazine announced Monday they are no longer producing a print edition.L

This news came after Condé Nast, the magazine’s publisher, announced last month that the magazine would be published as a quarterly as opposed to a monthly. The Lucky Group let go of 14 members, including the entire print team in light of the announcement. Some of the employees have been with the magazine since its beginning 15 years ago. However, the LuckyShops.com digital team remains safe from layoffs for now.

Major changes at the magazine began last August when the magazine announced it partnered with BeachMint to create The Lucky Group. Lucky also moved out of Condé Nast headquarters in November to a temporary office space, and by the end of April of this year, the then editor-in-chief Eva Chen announced her resignation.

The magazine was founded by Kim France in 2000 as a fashion and lifestyle magazine. With three editor-in-chiefs during its run, Lucky grew to have a circulation of over 1.1 million and published 10 issues a year.

The future of the Lucky Group is to be determined, as they are negotiating with investors for acquisition.

The post Lucky Magazine Shuts Down appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Fast fashion retailer H&M announced Wednesday that they are launching a new currency, Unicoin, that can only be spent on educational supplies. F

Unicoin is a part of the H&M Conscious Foundation, an independent organization that works to drive long-lasting positive change for people and communities. The Foundation complements the company’s sustainability work, and is currently focusing on education, clean water and strengthening women.

Science shows that the early years of a child’s development, birth to 8 years, is the most critical time for a child to learn. The initiative is aimed to enable children to support the right for children around the world to access learning opportunities from a young age.

Children, with the help of their parents, can upload a drawing depicting their dreams for the future on unicoins.org. In return, they’ll receive a Unicoin, which represents a child’s right to education. H&M Conscious will match each Unicoin with a notebook and pencil.

This initiative is part of the Global Program for Education, a collaboration between H&M Conscious and UNICEF that began February 2014. H&M gave a grant of $9.3 million that was used to reach 73,600 children in early development programs.

According to the Unicoin press release, more than 200 million children under the age of 5 in developing countries are failing to reach their full potential in cognitive development because of poverty, poor health and nutrition, and deficient care.

The post H&M Launches Unicoin to Aid UNICEF appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Last night was the annual CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) awards, which honor the best of the best in the fashion world.L

This star-studded event had an impressive list of presenters and attendees, including Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian West, Katie Holmes and Zachary Quinto.

The awards were presented for menswear, womenswear, and accessories. There was also the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented each year to a designer that has made a significant impact in the fashion world.

The Menswear Designer of the Year winner was Tom Ford. Ford designed for major labels such as Perry Ellis, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford left Gucci and began designing for his own label in 2006. Ford won the Lifetime Achievement Award last year.

The Womenswear Designer of the Year winner was The Row, the couture apparel brand started by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The Row was launched in 2006, named after Savile Row in London. The Olsen twins also won Womenswear Designer of the Year in 2012.

This year, the Lifetime Achievement Award winner was Betsey Johnson. At 72, Johnson surprised the crowd by doing her signature splits on stage when accepting her award. Johnson began her own fashion line in 1978 and is known for her feminine and whimsical designs.

The other winners were as follows:

Accessories Designer of the Year: Tabitha Simmons

Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Rosie Assoulin

Swarovski Award for Menswear: Shayne Oliver for Hood by Air

Swarovski Award for Accessory Design: Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel for Mansur Gavriel

The Media Award in Honor of Eugenia Sheppard: Instagram

The Founder’s Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert: Millard “Mickey” Drexler, CEO and Chairman of the Board of J.Crew Group, Inc.

International Award: Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli for Valentino

The post CFDA Awards Recap appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Two types of people exist: those who tan and those who cannot. Or more specifically, those that are afraid of the consequences that can result from tanning either in the sun or by using a tanning bed or the people caking their bodies in baby oil, wanting to leave the pool with visible tan lines.T

Now with the sun finally shinning in Boulder, I am excited to say I will be laying out at the Buff pool on the CU campus during my days off. I do know the dangers of laying by the pool for too long on a bright summer day, and I do know the harmful results that I may have faced being in denial of what I was doing to my skin while laying under the bright UV rays during my last two high school years.

One of the most obvious worries that comes from spending too much time in the intense Colorado sun that hits even harder at the high altitude we are at, is of course cancer. Having both blonde hair and blue eyes, I have am pretty fair, so it is important to put on a lot of sun screen. It is embarrassing to say now that, not only was I laying in a level one tanning bed for 13 minutes a day, but I was also coating my skin with baby oil before partaking in my daily 9-5 pool routine.

Making sure one gets the right amount of sun, while using a protective lotion containing at least an SPF of 30, the sun can have positive effects. Not only does vitamin D help with maintaining bone health, it can prevent heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate and colon.

The sun provides these benefits and many more, but the sun does have a dark side. Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Three types of skin cancer exist: basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. So even though many benefits exist from basking in the sun, it should not be made your summer day job.

A few tips to stay safe but still get tan in the summer are: Spend shorter amounts of time in the sun on a daily basis (around 30 minutes a day), use sun screen when you are going to be exposed at longer periods of time, make sure to always protect your eyes with sun glasses, and even ask your doctor how much vitamin D he or she thinks is right for your skin to be getting.

Trust me, laying out under the burning sun feeling my sun getting darker with every passing minute is probably one of my top summer hobbies, but I also understand the huge risks of cancer, and I do not want to harm my skin and expose it to pre-aging. I now make sure to put on SPF 55 instead of coconut tanning oil, and I leave the sun before I turn into a lobster, but yes I still get a tan in the summer.

The post To tan or not to tan appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

On May 26, an 18-year-old high school student in Toronto organized “Crop Top Day.” This was about more than rebelling against the dress codes set forth by school, it was more about how dress codes make girls feel.O

High school girls are oftentimes judged in a place where the focus should be on learning, not what they are wearing.

“Crop Top Day” was the brainchild of Alexi Halket, who remembers being sexualized back in middle school when all the girls her age started to hit puberty and were told to cover up to avoid the attention of boys. In Halket’s defense, the boys should have been told that women aren’t to be objectified, and looking at them in that way is disrespectful.

Halket also explained that it’s always the girls that are criticized more than the boys. This is a common problem, even in the adult workplace. Women are criticized more for what they wear than men are.

Last year, there was an article released about a male Australian news anchor who noticed his female co-anchor getting criticized for what she wore, while he didn’t. He conducted an experiment by wearing the same suit everyday for a year to see if he got criticized for it. He didn’t, proving this form of sexism does exist.

Halket made the event on Facebook, inviting only 300 students from her school, but to her surprise, over 500 students at her school of all genders participated. The event spread to gain participants worldwide, with the hashtag “Stand In Solidarity” on Twitter.

The event was a matter of women’s rights, for women to be able to make decisions about their bodies and the sexualization of women in today’s society. The only question that stands is: how much longer will it be until women are not sexualized by society anymore?

The post “Crop Top Day” was about much more than just dress code appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Since we are in the midst of prom season (some would argue it’s too late for prom, but I know high schools who are yet to have it), there has been an issue that has been prevalent in many high schools: appropriate prom dresses.S

Teen girls are being sent home for wearing what school officials think are “inappropriate” prom dresses.

Many schools deem prom dresses as a violation of their dress codes; often the dresses are too revealing, or leading boys to think “impure thoughts.”

Consequences for violating the dress code have included getting kicked out of the prom, or in some drastic cases, suspension.

In some cases, some dresses girls wear are rather conservative still deemed inappropriate by the high schools they attend.

It’s not fair to the girls who hope to have the perfect prom complete with the perfect dress, especially when these dresses come with a hefty price tag of $300 or more. In anticipation of prom, some schools are going so far as to approve girls’ prom dresses before the event.

What constitutes what is appropriate or not? If girls are allowed to wear daisy dukes and crop tops, why not prom dresses? Being a high school alumna myself, the dress code was never strictly enforced. If other high schools were like mine where dress code is hardly enforced, then how come it is during prom season?

The post Controversial prom dresses: an issue of appropriateness appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Borrowing elements of style and fashion from other cultures is no new thing but, as the world and indeed our region embraces multi-culture on a broader scale, it’s inevitable that the lines will get blurrier when it comes to clothing. Here in Boulder County, for example, we have a strong hispanic population with plenty to offer when it comes to color – traditional clothing that is both vibrant and earthy. Now, we’re not suggesting that everybody rushes out and dresses in full Mexican, Japanese or Ugandan costume, but we do urge readers to look outside of the box when it comes to putting together a season’s wardrobe.

Whether it be the Middle East or Japan, India or Africa, Brazil or anywhere in Europe, there are plenty of ways that we can respectfully borrow and adapt ideas, and make them work in an everyday Boulder County sort of way. With that in mind, we spoke with photographer extraordinaire Joe Friend about the idea of having a model dress in clothes that tip a proverbial hat to just three of the many and varied world cultures. The results, as you can see, are phenomenal.

Stores like Rags Consignments and Bella Frida were delighted by the concept and, once we had found a willing an able model, it was all systems go. From accessories to pants, head-wear to shoes, and everything in between, we’re happy that we have provided proof that the blurring of cultural clothing lines can and does work, and maybe we’ve added a few items to your online wish-list.

But don’t stop here. We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to clothing around the world. Go forth and explore. Google the most far-away nation that you can think of, and see what the indigenous folk wear. Imagine what one element of the outfit might look like worn with a pair of Levis or a designer jacket. The world is your oyster.

And so it was that we met with Joe Friend, plus model Jeanne Eisenhaure and stylists Allison and Natalie Toth in Boulder and a huge selection of clothing. We settled on South American, African and Indian themes. We also shot Eisenhaure in both traditional dress, and a fresh, modern take on the styles.

Indian clothing has evolved from loin cloths, or Langotas, to the elaborate and festive outfits of today. The colors in the clothing are important for more reasons than appearance. For example, Hindu women wear white when in mourning. Saris remain popular on the Indian subcontinent, while the Ghagra Choli, the Salwar Kameez and Churidaar Kurta are worn in other regions. The Salwar is a sort of loose, trouser, while the Ghagra Choli is a flowing dress popular in traditional dance. There’s more, but the connecting factor in Indian clothing appears to be vibrant color and material that is loose-fitting yet compliments the figure.

Hispanic clothing has a rich history too, stemming from a variety of countries and cultures. The colors are vital, as they are in India, but the dresses seem to have poofy sleeves and lots of embroidery, with roots in the 17th century Mexican peasant dresses. Dance is a huge factor, and the women’s clothes reflect that by being elaborate, brash and fun.

Africa is a large continent that, over the years, has seen other cultures infiltrate its countries thanks to the likes of Britain and France stomping around. Still, traditional African clothing remains colorful and usually made from natural fibers, giving it a earthy and practical yet festive feel. Moroccan clothing differs greatly from, say, Ethiopian wear, but color is a connecting factor. Like most ethnic clothing, the need to dance has had a big say over the years, and that’s true in Africa too.

We feel that we’ve captured an ideal and attractive combination of traditional and contemporary – outfits that have one eye on these cultures’ pasts while keeping another firmly in present-day Colorado. Practicality, fashion and comfort were all taken into consideration, resulting in outfits that feel respectful and artistically vibrant. These are to be considered guides, not blueprints. See what combos you can create yourself.

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