Project Ethos Fashion: 90s Flashback

by Sarah Clifford

Welcome back 1990s, we missed you.

Leather, plaid, boots, baggy jeans and messy hair – the 90s were grunge-tastic.  For all the girls out there who like to be fashionable without all the fuss, this trend is definitely for you.

90s-inspired fashion has been popping up all over the place; like the new Velveteen Docs by Dr. Martens (found at Free People) or high-waisted jeans that can be spotted on every 20-something with a sense of style.

Even brightly colored hair has made a comeback.  Back in 1998, Gwen Stefani rocked a blue do at the MTV Music Video Awards.  Fast forward to 2011: blue hair is totally IN. 

It’s been rocked by bridesmaids and flower girls, Katy Perry at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards (although hers was a wig), and Kat Von D earlier this year.  Even a girl in my econ class has blue hair.

And I don’t think I even need to mention the Hammer pants, currently referred to as Harem pants.

To get some carefree, grunge fashion tips, look no further than the Olsen twins.  Their constant pairing of baggy plaids, messy hair and ripped denim meshes perfectly with this trend.

Smells like teen spirit…

Project Ethos SF 08.11.11

Save the date!  We are coming back to San Francisco in August!  More details to come in the following weeks so stay tuned.......



Project Ethos Fashion: Turband Trend

by Sarah Clifford

I’m one of those people who really can’t pull off a full on turban, so the turband is the perfect alternative.  The turband is the love child of the headband and the turban…or just basically an elastic headband with a slipknot in the front.

They’re easy to find pretty much anywhere that sells hair accessories (try Nasty Gal or Gold Saturn), but they’re even easier to make.  All you need is a scarf or long piece of fabric.

The ‘How To Tie A Turband 3 Ways’ video gives a step-by-step guide for tying 1) The I Love Lucy, 2) The Hermes Way, and 3) The Moroccan Princess (my personal favorite).

The turband has been seen on everyone from boho queen Ashley Olsen to countless fashion bloggers.  The hassle-free headband is ultra-chic and added bonus: it can stylishly hide a bad hair day.

Now just pair with some cat eye sunnies and you’re set.



Project Ethos Fashion: DIY Time

by Sarah Clifford

With July 4th quickly approaching, I couldn’t help but feeling patriotic.  I needed some new American swag for the holiday.  I turned my sights to some American flag shorts, but seeing as how the ones I wanted from Topshop were around $70, I improvised.

I took a quick trip to Goodwill and after hardly any digging, found a killer pair of mom jeans that fit like a glove: $3.  When I got home, I cut them into shorts.  Then tried them on and re-cut them again and again until they were just the right length.

I had some fabric paint from a previous project, but WalMart has some for super cheap that you can pick up.

After the shorts are cut, paint the right front side solid blue and the left front side solid red.  I think it looks cool to only paint to the side seam and avoid the pockets, but to each his own!

After the paint is completely dry, you can either draw stars on the blue side or use a stencil.  Fill them in with the white fabric paint.

Then on to the last step, the stripes.  I just used a ruler to space them out then filled alternating ones with the white fabric paint.

After your shorts are totally dry, the last step is just to wash and dry them so they fray a little.  And tada, you’re ready for some 4th of July action.

Project Ethos Music Spotlight: Jhene Aiko

by Marra Camille Manansala

Los Angeles has been blessed with a lot of great musical talent lately, and the city has another up-and-coming talent by the name of Jhene Aiko. You might recognize the airy and angelic voice from the chorus of “July,” a song that was released last summer on Drake’s Thank Me Later, which has found its home on Jhene’s mixtape, Sailing Soul(s).

This mixtape was released back in March, but it’s definitely something that will be in rotation for all seasons. As corny as this sounds, we all know that girls have a go-to song for all highs and lows of a relationship.  Just in time for your summer fling, the songs on Sailing Soul(s) is a fine addition to your summer playlist.

Sailing Soul(s) is the process of frustration, heartbreak, and the art of getting over all wrapped into one. For any girl who doesn’t quite have the ability to get her feelings down in words, no need to worry. The songs are all too relatable, and quite frankly, there’s a lyric perfect for any situation you might be in. So to all boyfriends in the dog house, ex-boyfriends, and failed flings, I’ll just warn you now: Any Jhene Aiko lyric as a Facebook or Twitter post by your girl is a subliminal message directed at you.

Do Better Blues, featuring L.A. rap artist H.O.P.E, takes us on the all too familiar situation of a couple at its breaking point. Through back-to-back verses from a male’s and woman’s point of view, lyrics remind us of the truth of the situation. Most, at least.

If I could do better
Then you can do better too
But I don't want better
‘Cause I'm only better with you
If you could do better
Then I can do better too
But I don't need better
It only gets better with you

You v. Them sings of a love that can’t happen. Jhene’s soft voice is hypnotizing in this song, but don’t discredit the lyrical value of her verses.

It's the wanting you, never getting you
Keeps me wanting you, missing you
Just to picture you is what gets me through
Fit for you, I was meant for you
What I was sent to do, meant to do
Wasn't meant for you

Sailing Soul(s) features rising talent out of Los Angeles, Kendrick Lamar, H.O.P.E, and Lite. Miguel, a performer at last year’s Project Ethos show in Los Angeles, also makes a guest appearance alongside major hip-hop artists Gucci Mane and Kanye West.

Download Jhene Aiko’s Sailing Soul(s) now! http://jheneaiko.com/

"Sailing not Selling" feat. Kanye West

Project Ethos Fashion: Say Hello to Crochet

by Sarah Clifford

Summer’s finally here and we are all looking for ways to stay cool while looking cool.  Well all the fashionistas out there are in luck because this season crochet is making a come back.  And all I can say is: I’m in love.

Crochet can be seen in everything from dresses to swimwear and is easy to work into any outfit.  Clearly, you’re going to need to put something under it for the most part, so bodycon dresses and skin-tight rompers (found at places like Free People and American Apparel) work great under crochet dresses and skirts.

If you’re working with a crochet top, keep the undershirt tight and simple, with cutoff jeans shorts.

Pulling from 1960s fashion, crochet is very popular and becoming increasingly easier to find.  Vintage shops and consignment is still the best way to go when you’re crochet hunting, but if you want something that’s a little less labor-intensive, mainstream stores like Forever21 have some great options.

Project Ethos Fashion: DIY Time

By Sarah Clifford

Every now and again, I have this urge to create, whether it’s art, a piece of clothing, or an accessory. This past weekend I was out shopping and realized that friendship bracelets were everywhere. Free People was selling them for $18 a pop and just before I added one to my shopping bag, I realized, “Hey, I can make this myself!”

So after a quick trip to a local crafts store, I headed home to create a friendship bracelet of my own. I had a vague memory of making this when I was a kid, so I figured it’d come back to me. Not so much.


A little internet browsing and I was back in the game. Honestly…WTF: http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-friendship-bracelet has an awesome tutorial that I highly recommend. All you need is embroidery thread, tape and some scissors (and then a little patience).

They’re a little addicting, so be prepared to have a lot of thread on hand for all the color combos you come up with. After you have a few, you can mix up patterns, add rhinestone embellishments, and change colors.

Pile them on to add some flair to any outfit, be it your work attire or your get up for hitting the beach. Happy DIY-ing!

Project Ethos Fashion LA: Sample Sales

By Sarah Clifford

If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend and are looking for some sweet deals on designer duds, well you’re in luck. This weekend is jam packed with sample sales from asymmetrical dresses to leather handbags. Here’s a list of a few to check out:

LA Eyeworks: Have you recently fallen prey to the hipster movement, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and thrift store clothing? Or maybe you just need some new shazy frames. You’re in luck – LA Eyeworks has retro frames for 30-70% off and 20% off prescription lenses. They’ll be at 7407 Melrose Ave., at N. Martel Ave. in West Hollywood Thursday thru Saturday, (June 23 – 25) from 12:30-4:30p.
Rebecca Minkoff: Prepare to get stoked. Rebecca Minkoff’s handbags (seen on celebrities from Vanessa Hudgens to Lindsay Lohan) will be marked down on Friday and Saturday (June 24 & 25) from 11a-5p at Confederacy, 4661 Hollywood Blvd., b/t Vermont & Hillhurst Aves., Los Feliz. Riller & Fount: simple, comfortable styles with an asymmetrical edge – and you can get them for up to 80% off. If you’re down for some summer dresses that will keep you cool and comfortable, head down to the Emil Brown Building, 308 E. Ninth St., at Santee St., Suite 407 (Downtown) from 10a-3p, Saturday, June 25.

Project Ethos Artist Spotlight: Chelsea Brown

by Sarah Clifford

San Francisco artist Chelsea Brown transports people into a supernatural world, filled with powerful women and references to the almighty power of Mother Nature. She is well versed in Native American tradition and fills her art with meaningful symbolism. The up and coming artist is beginning to gain a strong following (including myself) and has been showing her work at local galleries.

Feathers are in almost all of Brown’s pieces because they embody a link to the spiritual world, referencing a bird with the ability to fly to heaven. The abundant supernatural symbols harmonize with the women in the art.

Women dominate Brown’s pieces, painting them in their natural, nude state. This is meant to empower women, suggesting innate strength when women are organic. Also, the lines between man and animal are often blurred as Brown blends the two together seamlessly. This is because in Native American culture, humans, animals and nature cannot be separated. Brown even explains, “In some Native Amer­i­can lan­guages, there is no word to dif­fer­en­ti­ate ‘humans’ and ‘ani­mals’ because they are in essence the very same thing.”

If you’re in the SF area and feel a need to connect with Mother Nature, Native American culture or just be inspired, Chelsea Brown’s artwork was displayed at Project One Gallery earlier this June, but for right now, only original pieces are available for purchase.  I’m dying for the day she’ll start making prints for her poor, college-student fans like myself.

Not only would her art look amazing hanging on a wall, it would also make for a lust-worthy tattoo. Her artwork is on display at Soul Patch Tattoo on Haight Street.

To see more of Chelsea Brown’s work, check out her website: http://www.chelseadraws.com/

Make Music Pasadena

All ages and FREE! Check out past Project Ethos participant, Robotanists, perform live on the Majestical Roof Stage in Pasadena this Saturday June 18th.

For more info check out: http://www.makemusicpasadena.org/program.html

Eye of the Cheetah

by Lacee Blancer

We love to hate our animal prints, yet these always seem to make a comeback to high street fashion. Spring/Summer 2011 trends indicate to be a compelling year so far as animal prints are concerned. Blumarine, the Italian fashion design company known for being one step ahead with their fashion forecasts, constructed one of its entire Spring/Summer 2011 lines on animal print garments. Blumarine is one of the few designers promoting this look in a substantial manner. Forget the old and basic brown and black cheetah; imagine vivacious and dazzling colors that create an ultramodern definition of cheetah print.

 

Spice Up Your Paws

To compliment the revival of animal prints, the Sally Hansen Nail Writer Nail Art Pen allows for a creative and unique design for your nails. This one-of-a-kind invention lets your mind run free with new experimental ideas and an array of playful colors for the present and upcoming seasons.

Purrrrfect Accessories

Wild animal prints have withstood the many years of disappearing in and out of wardrobes and has come blazing back into the fashion scene. From handbags and belts to sunglasses and watches, this hot, fun and funky craze is here to stay! With these accessories your look will turn heads because of your fierce pizzazz.



FREE Project Ethos & Atticus Clothing Present: Curaidors 5.26.11

Project Ethos & Atticus Clothing Present: Curaidors
FREE!!!
Thursday May 26th
7:30pm - 11:30pm
Music
Art
Photo Booth
Food Truck
And MORE!!!

Project Ethos "On The Spot": Moi Navarro

Moi Navarro is an extremely talented singer/songwriter based out of LA.  Check the video, know the name and come see him at Project Ethos & Atticus Clothing Present: Curaidors.

Thursday May 26th
7:30pm-11:30pm
Atticus Clothing
7664 Melrose Ave
LA, CA

FB Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184251461625655

Thanks!

Project Ethos "On The Spot": Famous

Shout out to Famous, a talented upcoming rapper based out of Venice, CA.  Watch the video and enjoy.

Project Ethos Music Spotlight: Pac Div "Mania"

PAC DIV: Mania!


by Marra Camille Manansala

As a full-time student, part-time employee (at what could be one of the best examples of retail hell), intern, and everything else in between, I’ve learned that a cup of coffee can’t keep me awake during my commute to school from Los Angeles. And no, energy drinks at 8 in the morning is not an option either.

So during my 50+ minute commute to school, those precious minutes of stop and go traffic are dedicated anything that’s full of bass to wake me up. Or maybe songs that make me feel like I’m on my way to a club with my girls, when I’m really running late for my 9 a.m. art class. And of course, songs that wake up the inner gangsta in me. I’m actually a huge fan of hip-hop, and if you follow the L.A. music scene, a new crop of talent is rising up, brining in a new taste of West coast hip hop.

Since I’m used to downloading singles from iTunes, I cannot remember the last time I listened to a whole CD. But when I came across Southern California-based rapping trio, Pac Div, things changed. Pac Div, short for Pacific Division, is signed to Universal Motown Records, but you can say they’re a bit under the radar. Thank the man above for the invention of the mixtape, because with their latest drop, Mania!, their fan base is quickly building out of SoCal.

Of course, Mania!, has been the soundtrack to my morning.

Put on “Take Me High” when you’re in the mood to chill. If finals are really killin’ you, or you’re just having one of those days, make sure you have “Nobody’s Perfect” on your playlist.

I like this mixtape so much that it’s gotten to the point, that if I hear their track “Anti-freeze”, I will sit in my parked car until it finishes.

If I’ve turned any of you into Pac Div fans yet, they’re working on releasing their first album soon. Catch Pac Div on the “Search for the Coldest” tour with N.E.R.D this summer.

Project Ethos "On The Spot": Shane Eli

Shout out to Shane Eli.  He's going to be rocking with us May 26th @ Atticus Clothing on Melrose just east of Fairfax as part of "Curaidors", which is our monthly Music and Art showcase that also benefits local charities.  Watch and listen.


www.ShaneEli.Com

Project Ethos Interviews: Music Professional Scott Warren

1.  Introduce yourself and what's your relationship and experience been with music?

Music has always been my passion.  I've played drums in bands, gone to countless concerts and spent too much dough on records.  I got into the music business 10 years ago, starting off as a talent booker/promoter.  Five years later, I joined Position Music, where I was responsible for A&R, artist managament, and film/TV creative licensing.  I've also been involved with the music portion of Project Ethos since the initial event. 



2.  How do you see the climate of music and entertainment shifting now with Social Media and the internet and how does that effect the aspiring artist?


Social media and the internet are changing everything.   It's an exciting time to be an independent artist because there has never been more opportunity to exploit one's music.  Through Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, etc. artists have countless ways to market themselves and be in direct contact with their fans.  There is so much interaction on these sites, anything can virally take off.  Look at Rebecca Black... no one would know her name without the social networks.  Indie digital distributors make it simple for anyone to get their music on iTunes, Amazon, etc.  The internet has also created countless revenue streams just like youtube's adsense. 

Unfortunately, the window is closing for traditional record labels, physical distributors and terrestrial radio.  The internet has broken the music business.  The fun part will be seeing how it's rebuilt.




3.  What do you see as the future of music consumption and how will continue to evolve and allow artists to prosper?


There will always be a demand for music.  The question will be how to monetize the distribution of music.  That may be a dying dream because no one wants to pay for it anymore.  Maybe the subscription model will expand.  Maybe P2P will become more widely (and legally) accepted.  Maybe major brands will to get financially involved with a band's career as a marketing effort.  Who knows?  Regardless, the door for new and innovative ideas is wide open. 

Project Ethos: Music Spotlight

The Ready Set

By Lacee Blancher

Attention!!! Up and coming band The Ready Set will be a common name on all
social media networks in the near future. Oh, did I say band? Excuse me, I meant Jordan Mark Witzigreuter who uses the tile "The Ready Set" as his stage character because he speculated it would be too difficult for most individuals to pronounce his last name. In fact, if you tune into MTV Music videos at approximately 6 am you can catch a glimpse of the new single "Love Like Woe". Yes, I did say 6am! So, that means all you individuals who are not early birds, make sure you set up your DVR recordings or take a look at The Ready Set Website. But patience is key, soon enough The Ready Set will be broad casted world wide as a music icon, inspiration, and all around centerfold on prime-time TV.

Jordan Witzigreuter may be a familiar name to some individuals, because before forming The Ready Set, he previously performed with drums and vocals for a few bands. Currently, he writes and records his own songs, and tours with a backup band, which he followed his true passion by hard work and determination. Also, he was signed to Pete Wentz's label, Decaydance Records in 2009. Yet another fairytale success story. Congrats Jordan! Your almost there!

That is why Project ETHOS is so amazing. We help new talent emerging in the industry to strive  for a chance to show the entertainment bizz what they have to offer, in hope to make a name for themselves.This may be a new concept to most people, but in reality all these categories are interrelated, and Project ETHOS goes above and beyond any expectations you may have preconceived. But I can't sit here and tell you how astonishing our events are, I would end up writing a novel because the list of reasons are so long, But it is an affair you need to experience for yourself, I promise you will be blown away.

website: http://thereadyset.com/
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18phEYcqWI0

Project Ethos Fashion Thread: Inspire Me Apparel

Inspire Me Apparel
Article by: Connie Fang

    With 30 years of design experience, Inspire Me Apparel reaches out to the fun, intelligent, beautiful, and confident young women that knows how to get people's attention with their charm and style. With outfits from dressy day wear, evening wear, and formal wear, Inspire Me Apparel gives the opportunity to express and compliment with chic, bold, and classy looks at affordable prices. Originated in Los Angeles, CA, it is growing vastly in areas from California and New York with hopes to expand in even more cities and countries near you.

    Personally, I love shopping for great looks at affordable prices that won’t break my bank account at the end of the month. The dresses that they have designed can be worn on any occasion that fits almost anyone who isn’t afraid to make a fashionable statement. Each of these dresses can be made your very own by simply adding accessories like earings, necklaces, and really cute shoes. You will definitely find me purchasing outfits from their online store very soon.

 Here at Project Ethos, we support up and coming designers because we believe that they can be successful through people like you, who find their merchandise just as interesting, like we do. Learning about PR for a couple of weeks now has made me realize that there are a lot of talented people out there; they just need to be discovered at the right time and by the right people. We will continue to expose all the wonderful talents out there to make it a little easier for people like you to find on our blogs, websites, and most importantly at our fashion shows. Hurry and follow them and us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and stay tuned to get inspired.

http://www.facebook.com/InspireMeApparel

Project Ethos: Music Spotlight

Musician: Sky Ferreira

The great and yet crippling thing about the music, fashion, and art industry is that it is such a large arena. Where does one even know where to start? If you’re a designer how do you set yourself apart from the millions of other so called designers out there? If you’re a musician how do you get your voice heard above the millions of others trying to accomplish the same goal as you? Well it is a hard feat, but not impossible. Here at Project Ethos we provide a platform for such people to be seen and get their voices heard. Our goal is to reach out to those talents that would not otherwise have the opportunity on their own to be recognized. An emerging talent that recently caught our eye goes by the name Sky Ferreira. Ferreira is a Portuguese-American singer/songwriter and actress.  She is currently signed at capitol records but got her start like so many others through the social media networking of myspace. She uploaded various self-written tracks and caught the attention of Swedish music producer Bloodshy & Avant.

Ferreira recently debuted ASif! A digital EP containing five teaser tracks that showcase her electronic-pop sound, the entire album is due out this summer. “Sex Rules” is the lead track off of her digital EP which also includes, obsession, 17, and One. Ferreira has been mentioned as a rising talent and the next big thing to hit pop music. She has been described as, “infectious and surprisingly sophisticated.”  Her track obsession sucked me right in and now I’m hooked.  Her songs are catchy make you want to hit the dance floor. Ferreira doesn’t write about anything too serious for her first album, she keeps it light and relatable. Ferreira is a fresh face to music and is a self-described anti-pop star. In an industry where everyone is always trying to outdo each other with absurd tactics, it is a nice change of pace to have someone who isn’t interested in any gimmicks or whose voice is not ultra auto-tuned. In addition to a music career, Ferreira also stars in Putty Hill, directed by Matt Porterfield. Keep an ear and an eye out for this young fresh new face to the music, fashion, and movie world.

http://skyferreira.com/