RAINE MAGAZINE Volume 21 | Fashion & Style

INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E] 

F A S H I O N & S T Y L E 

VOL 

21 

QUARTERLY 

EFFORTLESS STYLE 

WITH NICKY HILTON 

A BILLIONAIRE’S STORY - FRED MOUAWAD 

THE FASHIONABLE MELANIE IGLESIAS 

DREAM BIG AT JADE MOUNTAIN 

THE SMOOTH SOUND OF LAURIANA MAE 

T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T F A S H I O N A B L E B U S I N E S S M A G A Z I N E

Two E Bar/Lounge 

Blending classic elegance with modern mixology 

Two E Bar/Lounge at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York 

2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065 

www.twoeny.com

RAINE 

INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E.] VOL 21 

MAGAZINE 

FASHION TO LIVE FOR 

Fall Forward 3 

Be the Best Dressed in the Room 10 

Three Looks for an Entrepreneur 22 

Anita Patrickson 17 

Flirting with Fall 47 


Fresh Faces 60 

Touch of Couture 70 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Melanie Iglesias 52 

Katherine Bailess 54 

Jillian Rose Reed 56 

Lauriana Mae 58 

ENTREPRENEURS TO WATCH 

Fred Mouawad 16 


MY|TRND 18 

Byron Lars 19 

Jamie Gottschall 20 

THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX 

RAINEMAKER 

Nicky Hilton 74 

BEAUTY + FITNESS 

Stay in Shape 64 

Fall Blossoms 65 

Beauty Trends 68 

Samuel Gonzales 25 

Justin Coale 26 

Lincoln Heller 27 

Corporate Central 45 

Rose Smith 46 

TRAVEL | EAT. STAY. CHILL 

Jade Mountain 80 

St. Lucia 84 

BUSINESS + TECHNOLOGY 

6 Things to Know... 30 

3 Innovators in Business in Alleywire 31 

Must Read 32 

FashInvest 33 

Accelator Program 34 

Gift of Wonder 36 

Kickstarting Innovation 37 

HeadFunder 38 

Tech Toys 39 

Wearable Technology 42 

CULTURE 

Chef Luis Dominguez 88 

Sue Phillips 89 

John Solo 90 

Chantelle Fraser 91 

Charm Management 93 

Peter Popps 94 

INTERNATIONAL 

Bags that Jump 96 

Fashion Week 2015 Spring Preview 97


Fall Forward 

Fall Forward 

Photography - Brandon Hart 

Makeup & Hair - Faye Smith 

Styling - Florence Leung 

Model - Dakota Fellows

RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 21 5

RAINE 

INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E.] VOL 21 


EDITORIAL TEAM 

Nova Lorraine - Founder, Creative Director & Editor in Chief 

Marilyn Wilson - Senior Editor 

Derron Forrest - Business Development 

Janet Igah - Style Editor 

Kristopher Johnson-Hoyle - Sr. Associate Editor 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

Lisa Archibald 

RESEARCH EDITOR 

Bryson Littlejohn 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

David J. Freschman 

Javin Forrest 

Michelle Brown 

Maik Wiedenbach 

Liz Belivoskaya 

SPECIAL THANKS 

Carlotta Harrington 

Frederique Porter 

Javier Hernandez 

Natasha Gabriel 

Tina Littlejohn 

ART DIRECTION 

Martina Micko 

WEBMASTER 

Mredul Mani 

INTERNS 

Iesha Coppin 

Danielle Murray 

Dominique Barchus 

Taylor Kelly 

Jasmin Forrest 

COVER CREDITS 

Photographer – Luis Guillen 

Rita Vinieris gown, Pico earrings and cuff. 

INQUIRIES 

General: talktous@rainemagazine.com 

Advertise: advertise@rainemagazine.com 

Submissions: submissions@rainemagazine.com 

RAINE MAGAZINE 

NEW YORK * LA * SAN FRANCISCO * MIAMI 

CORRESPONDENCE 

Raine Magazine 

PO BOX 3021 

Windermere, FL 34786 

Raine Magazine is a trademark of Raine Creative Holdings LLC and is published quarterly. All contents, logos, and articles are copyrighted materials 

and all rights are reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of Raine Creative Holdings is prohibited. The publisher 

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EDITOR’S NOTE 

WELCOME TO RAINE MAGAZINE 

Fall is here! Who doesn’t like the smell of autumn leaves 

or the feeling of a crisp breeze that this glorious season 

brings. After all, it’s the dawn before the holidays and the 

first snow fall. 

It’s an exciting time for everyone, especially those that 

anticipate the end of a great year or the beginning of an 

amazing one yet to come. We are thrilled to bring you 

another labour of love - our Fall Fashion and Style issue, 

featuring Nicky Hilton. Nicky, although a little shy, doesn’t 

hold back when it comes to business and style. With 

fashion being the love of her life, Nicky introduces an easy 

guide that will help you bring style into your wardrobe 

365 days a year - with no fuss and no big bank accounts 

required. 

As you know, style goes beyond clothes. Read on and 

discover some of the most stylish businesses, accessories, 

technology and of course, exotic destinations around the 

world! When you are done getting caught up on all the 

newest “must knows” - don’t be shy; if you haven’t already, 

subscribe and tell a friend! 

FASHION. ENTERTAINMENT. CULTURE. TECHNOLOGY 

INNOVATE! ISSUE 

VOLUME 12 

KENDALL 

JENNER 

what you don’t know 

MEET SHARK TANK’S 

DAYMOND JOHN 

PALAYE ROYALE 

ROCK & ROLL IS REBORN 

GILT.COM 

invitation only 

Nova Lorraine 

Founder and Editor 

D I S C O V E R T H E C R E A T I V E A N D U N C O N V E N T I O N A L E N T R E P R E N E U R

FASHION TO LIVE FOR


BE THE 

BEST 

DRESSED 

IN THE 

ROOM 

Photographer: Pitr Serafin; Stylist: Cezary 

Glusniewski; Model: Caro Niemiec @ AS 

Management; Make Up: Karolina Rodak; Hair: 

Jaroslaw Peczek @ Effectownia Hair Design; 

Assistant: Peter Blaszczyk 

Blouse: Sylwia Karin; Skirt: Siccone; Bag: Kazar; 

Heels: Kazar; Jewelry: Lewanowitz

Top: Siccone; Jacket: ModaPolska; Vintage Shorts: Sylwia Karim; Jewelry 


Top: Sylwia Karin; Skirt: Sylwia Karin; Sunglasses: Mami; 

Jewelry: Lewanowitz

Dress: KasKryst; Belt: KOD; Necklace: Lewanowitz 

Opposite: Suit: KasKryst; Necklace: Lewanowitz 


5 ENTREPRENEURS TO WATCH


GET TO KNOW BILLIONAIRE FRED MOUAWAD 

Billionaire Fred Mouawad is a global citizen, portfolio entrepreneur, and fourth 

generation Co-Guardian of Mouawad, the family jewelry business. If being a 

driven entrepreneur wasn’t enough, Mouawad might best be known for his 

company’s involvement in creating seven diamond-studded bras for Victoria 

Secret, ranging in price from $7 million to $12 million. Several of his luxury 

undergarments grabbed Guinness World Records for being the most expensive 

lingerie ever made. 

The parent company, Synergia One 

Group, operates in 16 countries across 

several industries including gems and 

jewelry retailing, diamond manufacturing 

and wholesaling, watchmaking, food 

service development and franchising, 

food development and manufacturing, 

interior design, IT development and 

consulting, publishing and trade shows, 

and private equity. 

His new venture,Taskworld, is a task 

management platform that not only 

keeps his teams organized, but also is the 

first to provide accurate, metric-based 

performance evaluations on assignments. 

The platform provides managers and 

employees easy access to the status of 

assigned projects and tasks. The cloudbased 

platform also equips managers 

with evidence-based feedback, making 

employee reviews more accurate and 

non-disputable. Furthermore, Taskworld’s Android and iOS apps help business 

travelers manage their employees from remote locations. 

RAINE: What has been the greatest challenge that you have overcome in your 

career as an entrepreneur? 

MOUAWAD: When starting a new venture, you will always encounter skeptics. 

The skepticism can come from all around, be it from customers, suppliers, 

employees, or even partners. The key in a start-up is keeping to your vision 

while still being realistic. It is important to be able to make adjustments based 

on the reactions of the market place. It’s about finding ways to achieve tangible 

results, moving from uncertainty to foolproof concepts in stages. I also feel that 

celebrating the small wins is important in validating the venture and figuring 

what to do next. I learned early on that when businesses go astray it’s seldom 

because of the idea, it’s either because the capital funding was underestimated 

or the people on the team did not have the right capabilities. The right idea, with 

enough capital, and the right team are the core ingredients to success. 

RAINE: You surround yourself with exceptional talent. What qualities do you 

look for when adding members to your team? 

MOUAWAD: I look for belief in the Company vision. Is the person really passionate 

about their contribution and how the company is making a positive impact in the 

world? Are they eager to learn and grow? How eager is the person to work on 

self-improvement and what is their drive for continuous improvement? It is also 

important to look for intelligence and aptitude. Intelligent people have a higher 

capacity for learning, adjusting, and contributing. Expertise is also a significant 

quality. In certain functional areas, it’s important for the team to have deep 

expertise to add value, but if the expertise can be taught then we make sure to 

provide great training to those with aptitude. High energy is vital to get things 

done, and energize others on the team, as it’s contagious. Without 

positive energy, execution falls flat. Honesty and integrity are 

also factors to consider. Dishonest team members always 

end up causing damage. Once trust is lost, I find it 

extremely difficult to put my faith in a person. 

RAINE: How do you feel Taskworld answers the 

need to a problem? 

MOUAWAD: Taskworld answers the need 

for several problems that managers have 

to deal with on a daily basis. It helps 

managers organize their work so that they 

save time. It helps create accountability 

within teams as clear delegation can be 

established and people are held responsible 

for their work. Consolidation is achieved 

as Taskworld enables managers to keep all 

information pertaining to a task in one location. It 

improves the follow-up process as all those involved 

in a task are notified of any changes. Evaluation is 

made easy as there is an established method of gauging 

performance that can be used by managers to give evidencebased 

feedback. This is very important as timely feedback gives team members 

the opportunity to adjust their performance, driving continuous improvement. 

Taskworld also improves visibility within teams as everyone is on the same page 

and has the same information. 

RAINE: How would you say that Taskworld is different from 

other time management programs that are available? 

MOUAWAD: The feature of Taskworld that sets it apart 

from other task management tools is its performance 

metrics capability. We allow managers the ability to 

provide immediate feedback upon completion of a 

task with a star rating system for a performance quality 

assessment and an on-time completion percentage that 

indicates the team member’s efficiency level. 

RAINE: You have continually succeeded at developing great products. What is 

the key to developing products that add value the people and businesses that 

will use them? 

MOUAWAD: It is important to have deep empathy with what the customer 

values so you can anticipate their requirements. To develop great products 

there needs to be an understanding of the problems you solve or how the 

company is adding value to consumers relative to its competitors. In all my 

portfolio companies we put customers at the center. We try to understand what 

the customer needs and what could delight them beyond their expectations. 

We also build a culture in our organizations that is very customer-centric. 

Whenever we plan, we keep customers in mind and give priority to the projects 

that add the most value to customers. 

RAINE: If you could only choose one experience in your life that has helped to 

define who you are, what would that be? 

MOUAWAD: I would say that the experience of growing up in a boarding school 

in Switzerland with 300 other students coming from 50 different countries was 

a big influence on me. I have been fortunate enough to live around multiple 

cultures, getting the value of perspective when it comes to people and 

understanding them. I believe this has led me to start ventures with a global 

scope from the outset. I don’t like to be confined and love the freedom to do 

business across boundaries. 

RAINE: Who has been the biggest inspiration to you on your journey as a 

creative entrepreneur? 

MOUAWAD: I am an avid reader and am inspired by many entrepreneurs. 

The traits that I admire the most are resilience and the ability to bounce back 

from any setback. I respect those with the courage to move forward, and the 

persistence to trying again with intelligence. Entrepreneurs that have failed and 

succeeded and continue playing the game for the love and passion of building 

a business from scratch inspire me. 

My father has clearly been a big influence in my life. I have observed him run 

his businesses and learned 

a great deal from the way he 

managed. 

RAINE: If could redo just one 

thing in your professional life 

what would it be and why? 

MOUAWAD: I don’t think 

I would change much. If I 

were to give myself advice, 

it would be, “Do fewer things 

and work less. There are 

many other hobbies and 

ways to get satisfaction out 

of life than working hard in 

trying to develop and grow 

all the companies in your 

portfolio.” 

We only have one life, and 

it’s a journey of continuous 

discovery and learning. I 

have clearly experimented 

and learned a great deal and 

continue doing so. I have 

been very fortunate for all the 

experiences I have gained in 

my life on both the academic 

and practical side. 

RAINE: What are your words of wisdom to other entrepreneurs? 

MOUAWAD: Stay hungry, be courageous, and make wise decisions. Staying 

hungry is critical. Getting complacent is easy, especially if an entrepreneur 

experiences success early on. Success is temporary, so it’s important to 

constantly push to drive continuous improvements. Courage is required for 

anyone trying to start a business. There are so many uncertainties, so it’s 

important to focus on doing and worry less about the probability of success. 

Trying to make wise decisions is important because as entrepreneurs our 

success depends on the key decisions we make throughout our journey. When 

you’re younger, making wise decisions requires that you seek the guidance of 

and listen intently to wiser people. It’s amazing how much you can learn from 

others by asking the right questions and listening rather than naively making 

decisions. 

Images courtesy of Synergia One Group 

16 

RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 21


NO LIMITS FOR CELEBRITY STYLIST 

ANITA PATRICKSON 

Photos by JSquared Photography 

Originally raised in South Africa, renowned Celebrity 

Stylist, Anita Patrickson has traveled extensively, 

gaining experience across a multitude of cultures 

and lifestyles, which has been vital aid to her eclectic 

and individual fashion aesthetic. Having had a natural 

ability to fashion and style, she made her home in Los 

Angeles. Shortly after, Condé Nast secured her as the 

Assistant West Coast Editor for Allure magazine. 

Eventually, Anita broke away to pursue a freelance 

career. She has dressed celebrities 

ranging from Emma Watson and 

Julianne Hough to Emmy Rossum, 

Rachel Bilson, Nina Dobrev, 

Chanel Iman, Taylor Kitsch and 

Chris Colfer and regularly styles 

the covers and editorial pages of 

Elle, Instyle, Vanity Fair, Esquire, 

Glamour and many more. 

Most recently, Anita has 

branched into television, film and 

commercials, working with brands 

and on successful campaigns 

along with big networks and 

studios like Paramount and 

Warner Brothers. 

Anita appears regularly on 

America’s Next Top Model, 

Access Hollywood, Popsugar 

and E!. She has hosted various 

design and style shows like 

‘Designer Spotlight’ as well as 

representing big brands like Target 

in their popular ‘Back to School’ 

campaigns. 

RAINE: What advice would you 

give another stylist that is trying to 

break into the fashion industry? 

PATRICKSON: Be resourceful and 

stick it out. Those people that stick 

out that last little bit, are those that 

make it in the end. Also, being a 

people person and saying: “yes” 

to things and being able to make 

it to happen rather than seeing the 

downside. 

RAINE: What was your big break 

that led you to Condé Nast? 

PATRICKSON I had been assisting 

another stylist for a year and she 

very graciously introduced me to the amazing folks at 

Condé Nast, I went in for an interview and amazingly, I 

got the job! 

RAINE: What is it about fashion that you find interesting? 

PATRICKSON: Every day is completely different from 

the next. I enjoy the challenges and working with 

people—top photographers, meeting young models 

that are on top of their game and of course the 

incredible designers. 

RAINE: What has been your most challenging situation? 

PATRICKSON: The most challenging situations arise 

when something goes wrong and you have to think on 

your feet. Like a zipper breaking as a client is about to 

step onto the carpet… these things happen more often 

than one would think! 

RAINE: As a veteran in the industry, what misconceptions 

did you initially have as a stylist that you soon realized 

were incorrect? 

PATRICKSON: It’s a lot harder than I originally thought 

and is a bit more of a grind. 

Being on the inside, you realize that it is not all that 

glamorous, and it’s not just about putting beautiful 

clothes on pretty girls. It can be challenging when you 

are working with rising actresses, especially when 

designers don’t know who they are because they don’t 

always like to loan out clothes for new talent. 

Ironically it’s often the big stars that tend to be the most 

chilled out, while those that haven’t quite made it - 

sometimes arrive with a chip on their shoulder. 

RAINE: How would you describe your own style? 

PATRICKSON: I like simple and clean. I love my jeans; 

t-shirts and I live in my motorcycle jackets. 

RAINE: What was the one opportunity that you had to 

pinch yourself for? 

PATRCKSON: When I first dressed Emma Watson 

for her final Harry Potter tour. It was funny how it all 

happened. The day I found out, my car had just broken 

down and I was waiting on the side of the road and 

suddenly, out of nowhere, I received the call that Emma 

Watson’s people called to ask if I would style her for 

her tour. 

RAINE: As a stylist, what era in time are you most 

influenced by? 

PATRICKSON: I don’t know if there is one era that I 

gravitate towards - I love that classic 90’s look, slightly 

more androgynous. 

RAINE: When working with clients, who are your top 3 

go-to designers and why? 

PATRICKSON: It changes depending on the client. Three 

of my favorite designers are: Valentino, Balenciaga and 

Celine. 

RAINE: You have traveled extensively around the world. 

Would you say that your travels have helped to develop 

your skills as a stylist? 

PATRICKSON: I think that having the opportunity to 

travel, as a stylist has been really beneficial. It has 

opened my eyes to different aesthetics. Other cultures 

are so fascinating— the accessories they use, the 

colors they wear and the patterns they mix. 

RAINE: What advice have you been given that has 

helped you navigate the fashion industry? 

PATRICKSON: Believe in yourself and be nice to 

everyone. You never know who will come back to give 

you an opportunity. 

RAINE: What advice do you have for budding stylist? 

PATRICKSON: Embrace your individuality. That’s your 

greatest asset. 



Long gone are the days of having to be a super fashionista or 

fashionisto by making attempts to attend any and every fashion 

show or fashion fair on the face of the Earth; in order to find the 

‘next big thing.’ Wouldn’t it be great to have one source for all your 

fashion browsing needs? Well, look no further, My|Trnd is providing 

that exact service and transforming the way professional buyers and 

designers navigate the industry. 

Created by co-founders Thomas Weikop, Taus Ansvig So 

and Kristoffer Rosberg in 2012, their online showroom was created 

as a way to give fashion professionals virtual access to thousands 

of fashion brands whilst supporting new brands, by giving them 

an outlet to promote themselves and showcase their talents. This 

Copenhagen-based international team spans over various countries 

including London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, New York, 

Manilla, Morocco and Bangladesh and is taking the fashion world by 

storm. 

My|Trnd allows fashion forward minds to explore, follow 

and connect with new brands, keeping them up to date on the latest 

creations and collections of their favorite designers, allowing them to 

be the first to get a sneak peek. My|Trnd is the leading pioneer in the 

way fashion professionals do business and seek new talent. Not only 

is it paving the way for alternative methods to navigate the fashion 

industry, but it’s also creating an innovative milestone in changing 

the fashion industry. 

RAINE: Describe in your own words what My|Trnd is, and how does 

your platform aim to add value to its fans and followers? 

ROSBJERG: My|Trnd is an online showroom created for fashion 

professionals to browse brands like never before. The main focus 

is to help professional buyers navigate the industry and help brands 

reach a global audience. We showcase the upcoming collections 

as you would see visiting a fashion fair, but instead of 200 brands, 

you can browse 2000 at My|Trnd - well a lot more actually. In a 

few moments a buyer can view his favorite brands upcoming 

collections, discover new brands or follow the upcoming trends. 

RAINE: What steps did you take as an entrepreneur to successfully 

take My|Trnd from its initial stages as an idea to a startup? 

ROSBJERG: After we decided on the concept, we agreed to launch 

the basic version and within a few months we were hosting over 500 

lookbooks. 

RAINE: Did you receive outside funding for your company, and what 

were the 3 most important elements that helped you secure funding? 

ROSBJERG: Yes, we did receive funding. I believe the 3 most 

important elements where a solid team and our vision paired with 

the possible market, in addition to the great progress we made in a 

very short time. 

RAINE: We have seen My|Trnd evolve over the past couple of 

months. Can you talk a little about your initial launch and where are 

you now with your re-launch? 

ROSBJERG: What I will tell you about is the new platform SpaceRebel. 

com we recently launched. We created a platform where designers 

of all shapes and sizes can rent in stores all over the world. We’ve 

seen so many great small designers struggling to get into stores. 

That is a shame in a world where we love diversity! 

We help them get into the countries and shops they want 

–and fast. Within a couple of days a designer can sign deals with 

a lot of shops for an agreed upon period of time with no effort. 

On the other side we help stores discover new talent, create popup 

events for their customers and offer a new business model for 

increased income—increased income. 

RAINE: What are your thoughts on the current state of the fashion 

industry? Do you think there is too much pressure on designers to 

continually push out collections with an overall emphasis on profit 

over creativity? 

ROSBJERG: Yes and no. I am sure there is too much pressure on 

most designers to constantly deliver new items and styles. I am sure 

there is too much pressure on most designers to constantly deliver 

new items and styles. Again, comfort kills creativity – we all need a 

little push sometimes. 

But fashion is too much about money, we all know this. I love the 

small designers who are passionate about their collections and 

eager to tell and share their vision. 

RAINE: As someone that is a veteran in the fashion industry, what 

business advice would you offer to budding entrepreneurs who 

would like to start a career in fashion? 

ROSBJERG: Fashion is a great industry for entrepreneurs. It’s 

tough and even though fashion is ever changing and innovative, the 

business is grounded in solid principles. If you create something 

new, be consistent and patient. Also, be ready to work 18 hours a 

day! 

RAINE: You surround yourself with exceptional talent. What qualities 

do you look for when adding members to your team? 

ROSBJERG: The qualities that we look for in new team members are 

dedication, ability to learn, skillset and vision. 

RAINE: If you could only choose one experience in your life that has 

helped to define who you are, what would that be and why? 

ROSBJERG: Traveling has offered me the time to discover, think and 

get a perspective on things. 

RAINE: The pursuit of happiness. What does that mean to you as an 

entrepreneur? 

ROSBJERG: Freedom, creativity and helping others. 

Images courtesy of My Trnd


AWARD WINNING DESIGNER Byron LarsPUSHES FORWARD 

Images courtesy Byron Lars Beauty Mark 

Introducing Byron Lars an American fashion designer, who came onto 

the scene under his own label in 1991. As part of that season’s success, 

Women’s Wear Daily named him “Rookie of the Year”. Since then, Byron 

Lars has designed dresses for many notable names including, Michelle 

Obama in 2011 and Olympic gold medalists Sanya Richard-Ross, Carmelita 

Jeter and Allyson Felix. 

The label started with a small collection of sportswear focusing on 

what Lars refers to as “twisted American classics.” He took 

his inspiration from everywhere, including his grandfather’s 

hunting jacket, crossbreeding it with a “Dior New Look” to 

create a look that resembles a Dutchess of Windsor meets 

Field and Steam hybrid. As soon as audiences saw these 

innovative creations carriers including Bergdorf, Saks Fifth 

Avenue, Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel, Neimen Marcus and 

Anthropology snapped up his line. 

Lars’ designs became even more apparent on his 

Seventh on Sixth runway presentation where he created 

accessories as mere fashion show props. He attracted the 

attention of licensees in handbags, furs and hats. His fame 

and creative designs led to his designing a limited edition of 

designer Barbie dolls for Mattel. 

By the end of his licenses Lars chose to direct 

his energy away from the designer collection and focus 

on a contemporary line, crossing out the lofty prices. He 

took cues from his previous collections and made them 

more affordable. This redirection was the beginning of 

“Byron Lars Beauty Mark.” Lars’ label has a non-conformist 

aesthetic that has helped the brand stand strong. “I wanted 

it to be more about the clothes and less about the ‘hype’,” 

says Lars. Beauty mark has now enjoyed eight years of 

success with highly sought out chic and sexy shirts and 

expanding to include knits, sportswear and dresses. 

Meet Byron Lars an American success story. 

RAINE: Your design philosophy mixes contrasting elements 

for a fresh take on fashion. How has being a non-conformist 

helped your brand to succeed in the fashion industry? 

LARS: I think that my brand’s non-conformist aesthetic is 

the only reason why we’re still standing today because, 

once our stores introduce these clothes to their customer 

and she experiences for herself all the inside love that 

goes into every single piece, she knows that she’s found 

something special and understands why she’s spending 

that kind of money for it. 

RAINE: As a creative entrepreneur where do you draw your inspiration 

from? 

LARS: Quite literally anything can inspire me to create but lately, I find the 

most fertile ground to be in pondering the wants and needs of my customer. 

Questions like, “What does the day dress look like that she wants to wear 

so often that she’s totally bummed that she wore it the day before”, really 

get my creative engines revving. 

RAINE: Mattell toys tapped you to design a limited edition collection of their 

iconic Barbie doll. How did it feel to be recognized by Mattell as being a 

premier American designer? 

LARS: Far more exciting than any ego-boost I may have gotten from the 

idea of Mattel seeking out li’l-ole-me to design for Barbie was the profoundly 

positive reaction that I got from so many women of color who expressed 

such gratitude of FINALLY having their brand of beauty so thoroughly 

represented by the iconic doll. 

I never in my wildest dreams would have expected anything near the kind 

of impact that those dolls would have on my community. 

RAINE: How would you say that Beauty Mark differs from your namesake 

label you created in 1991? 

LARS: The only distinction between my collection of years past and Beauty 

Mark now is price point really. 

I love the fact that so many more people have the means to access my 

clothes now than were able to at that time. 

RAINE: Since its inception, Beauty Mark has always been about the clothes. 

Do you have any plans in the future to refocus on the designer collection? 

LARS: As Beauty Mark continues to grow, there will be expansions in both 

price-point directions, with the addition of even more affordable options 

(which excites me most) as well as a peppering of higher priced luxury 

items that definitely have their place in the grand scheme of things. 

I don’t however have any plans to ever enter back into the collection 

business because Beauty Mark is a collection...it’s just a collection at a 

contemporary price-point. 

RAINE: As someone that is a veteran in the fashion industry, what business 

advice would you offer to budding entrepreneurs who would like to start a 

career in fashion? 

LARS: The advice I can offer to any budding fashion entrepreneur is to 

firstly learn on someone else’s dime. Work in the business to learn as much 

as you can about it from an insider’s perspective before setting out on your 

own. 

As long as a direct line to her 

is maintained and nurtured, I 

believe a fashion brand can 

weather any storm because, 

she will have been there all 

along guiding the direction of 

the brand with her interests, 

likes and dislikes, thus 

keeping it relevant. 

RAINE: In the fashion 

industry, designers come and 

go. To what do you credit 

your longevity and your ability 

to navigate the cycle of ups 

and downs that the industry 

is known for? 

LARS: I’m sure that the key to 

our longevity has been simply 

sticking to what we’re really 

good at which is building 

a well made product that’s 

not run of the mill, in spite of 

market trends that have at 

times veered away from these 

goals as ideal notions. 

RAINE: What are the 

foreseeable challenges facing 

your brand, Beauty Mark in 

the future, and what steps are 

you taking now to successfully 

navigate those potential 

obstacles? 

LARS: The biggest challenge 

for my brand is getting our 

message out there and letting 

the woman that we’re not 

currently dressing know what 

we stand for and that we are 

here to facilitate her access 

to her best self (in a fashion 

sense of course). 

Social Media is thankfully 

a direct line to her but, it is a 

world unto itself that takes an 

enormous amount of focus 

to get and keep her engaged 

in the eternal conversation 

that is designed to permeate 

her conscience with brand 

DNA. That all sounds so 

insidious but it can only be 

successful if there is some 

kind of pre-existing synergy to 

allow for it. 

RAINE: What are three fun 

facts that you would like 

people to know about you? 

LARS: Three fun facts: 

I live for roller-coasters...but only for GOOD roller-coasters that really thrill! 

My musical taste is about as varied as it gets. I love everything from Adele 

to Bach to Cibo Matto to Loretta Lynn to St. Vincent to...well, you get where 

I’m going with this. 

I make a mean carrot cake.


Jamie Gottschall 

Master multi-tasker and the Martha Stewart of style, Jamie Gottschall 

dominates the DIY lifestyle with her IndomitableStyle brand and her mission 

to inspire, educate, and empower those with big dreams on a budget. 

Sticking to the mantra of “affordable luxury” Gottschall is perfecting the art 

of living, with everyday style. 

Don’t let the stylish exterior fool you; This “Jill of All Trades” has 

years of industry experience with financial firms Merrill Lynch & Wasserstein 

Perella, that paired with training alongside the top style experts. There’s 

nothing she doesn’t know a little bit about. 

RAINE: You have a positive outlook on the amazing possibilities that life 

holds for each and every one of us. 

How did you come across this nugget of 

wisdom that is widely known, but seldom 

practiced? 

GOTTSCHALL: It is through both instinct 

and experience that allows me to possess 

this wisdom you are talking about. Please 

allow me to explain both. Instinct is when 

we allow our natural 5 senses to show us 

the way. I believe the use of our natural 

senses is becoming a lost art. All too 

often, individuals rely on the internet for 

answers, doctors and friends, but the truth 

is (in my opinion) our answers are all within 

each and every one of us. Example; I can 

taste something and recreate it without 

the recipe, simply by tuning into my 

heightened senses to recall taste, scent 

and texture. 

As for experience, there is no 

better schooling than the school of hard 

knocks. While my friends were out getting 

their Masters degrees, I had already long 

mastered my passions and crafts. I am a 

listener, an absorber, a person who can 

see something and recreate it 10x’s better 

and do it the first time around. 

As for what keeps me so 

positive? My craft, which is work for 

many, is a true labor of love. I have always 

seen my future, so a positive outlook is 

what gives me my vision to create what 

I have seen my entire life. If you dream it, 

you can live it, as long as you believe in 

your dreams. 

RAINE: Who in your life has helped to 

influence your decisions as a creative 

entrepreneur? 

GOTTSCHALL: My late father believed in me, he taught me to dream and 

dream big. He was always dreaming and creating, it’s sad he couldn’t live 

the dream to the fullest, but I think instead, his mission in life was to inspire 

me to reach what he couldn’t. He showed me the way. 

RAINE: What one piece of business advice would you offer budding 

entrepreneurs that has helped you more than any other advice? 

GOTTSCHALL: If I had to offer budding entrepreneurs a piece of business 

advice, it would be two simple things; to believe in yourself no matter what 

and by that I mean, change for no one. A successful person truly believes 

in themselves. They believe in what they are branding or selling and they 

do it with absolute conviction. My second piece of advice is to build a 

platform so big, that no one but you can take center stage. 

RAINE: As an entrepreneur, what has been your biggest challenge and what 

steps did you take to successfully reach your goals? 

GOTTSCHALL: My biggest challenge as an entrepreneur was learning how 

to chase and find success on my own. I have never done business with 

THE NEXT QUEEN OF 

DOMESTIC LIVING 

a publicist or an agent. I had to rely on those instincts to find my way, a 

challenge well worth the risk. 

RAINE: You are considered a “Jack of all trades” by many in the industry. 

Would you say that being well versed with many skills has been one of the 

keys to your success? 

GOTTSCHALL: Being well versed in diverse industries has been a blessing, 

with training from the top experts in the genres in which I cover. Next to 

hard work, time and experience-- this component has provided me with 

credibility that has been invaluable to my personal success. 

RAINE: Your body of work points to the fact that you are driven to succeed. 

What can other entrepreneurs learn from 

your accomplishments? 

GOTTSCHALL: What other entrepreneurs 

can learn from my accomplishments is to 

take any negative energy that may pose 

as a roadblock, and use it as positive fuel 

that catapults you forward. 

RAINE: Inevitably, we all have failures in 

business and in life. How do you view 

failures? 

GOTTSCHALL: I view failure not as a 

weakness, but our greatest stepping 

stones to success. 

RAINE: You have a great sense of style. 

What are 3 pieces of advice you can give 

to men and women who would like to 

develop their own style? 

GOTTSCHALL: The 3 pieces of advice I 

would give to any gender when interested 

in developing their own sense of style: 

Seek inspiration in what you love. I 

sincerely believe people find comfort in 

familiarity. 

When you have finally developed 

your style, wear it like you mean it. There 

is nothing worse than a stylish guy or gal 

that is not as confident as their clothing. 

There is nothing better than 

diversity in life and that includes your 

wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to practice 

mixing and matching; colors, patterns 

and textures. Soon enough, you will be a 

walking work of art. 

RAINE: Your ultimate goal is to host a 

daytime television show. What will you 

bring to your viewers that will be unique and different from other talk show 

host? 

GOTTSCHALL: My uniqueness is what has always separated me from the 

rest and that comes from several beliefs; 

My ability to trust “instinct” when creating and empowering others. It’s an 

untouched perspective. I want to show my audience that to create is to 

trust the natural gifts we are born with, in effort to bring vision to fruition. 

I firmly believe in my mantra, “affordable luxury.” Demonstrating 

how being resourceful and sometimes thrifty doesn’t have to mean 

shabby. A fabulous lifestyle has nothing to do with how full your purse is, 

but how resourceful you are. 

There are many chefs and talk show hosts on television, but none 

that has the diverse experience that I have or can bring to the table. 

RAINE: The pursuit of happiness. What does that mean to you as an 

entrepreneur? 

GOTTSCHALL: The pursuit of happiness as an entrepreneur for me is what 

I can ultimately do for others in the end. When you can give and not seek 

anything in return, well, there is nothing that could bring me more joy. 

Photos by Jason T. Jaskot 

20 


BESPOKE MEN


THREE LOOKS 

FOR AN 

ENTREPRENEUR 

1. The Big Meeting 

Photographer: Jason T. Jaskot 

Stylist: Larry Underwood 

Hair and Make-up: Juliette Laracuenta, assistant Beverly Sanchez for AMA 

Model: David Rodriguez, RED NYC 

3 piece suit: Howe, Mesh Shirt:,Underwood NY, Shoes:m Steve Madden 

22 


2.The Night Out 

Vest and pants: Underwood NY

3. The Weekend 

Cargo Jacket: Cockpit USA, Shirt: 

Underwood NY, Jeans: 34 Heritage

ENTREPRENEUR 

S A M U E L G O N Z A L E Z 

IS INNOVATING HOW MEN GET STYLE 

Cinch Men’s Wear is a new online clothing subscription service created 

just for men. Born out of the daily frustrations of putting a stylish outfit 

together each and every day, Cinch Men’s Wear offers a unique alternative 

to shopping. Cinch Men’s Wear offers a styling service to help customers 

select their favorite outfits. Whether they do not have the time, do not know 

what to buy, or simply looking for an easy method to build their wardrobe, 

their styling team will help customers style their clothes. 

Cinch Club Members enjoy the convenience of having a styling 

team put together outfits for them, and then the selections are emailed to 

them. This method puts their members in the driver seat and in control of 

what their stylists are choosing for them. With other clothing subscriptions 

already in the market, Cinch Men’s Wear distinguishes itself from the rest 

by offering two different membership plans. This allows them to provide 

a more affordable option for members. They also strive to bridge the gap 

between new up-and-coming labels and potential customers. “With larger 

and established brands having a strong hold on the clothing market, we 

feel that it is important for us to connect new up-and-coming labels with 

our customers,” said CEO Samuel Gonzalez. As a new business, they 

understand the challenges that newer brands face. 

Cinch Men’s Wear has recently developed a working relationship 

with BYA Sports Group to provide their service to professional football 

players. This is an effort to help spread the word of their service among the 

country’s most popular sport. 

So what is next on their list? Cinch Men’s Wear is currently 

working on an IOS app that will allow for easier communication between 

members and their stylists. The app will also utilize push notifications to 

alert members when their outfits are ready 

for review. 

at the office with a blazer and a tie, and it can be relaxed for cocktails 

that same evening by removing the tie, jacket, and unbuttoning the first or 

second buttons. Once your foundation is built, then you can begin to take 

new risks with your wardrobe, for example a blazer in a different color, a 

vest over a button down, or even a button down shirt in a color you normally 

wouldn’t go with. Lastly, be open-minded. We recommend members to go 

slightly beyond their comfort zone when it comes to new styles and looks. 

RAINE: What has been a memorable experience that a client has had while 

working with one of your stylist? 

GONZALEZ: One of the most memorable experiences to date has been 

our work with one specific member who initially requested a subscription 

box. Shortly after receiving his request and sending out his clothing, he was 

so impressed with both the quality of the clothes and excellent customer 

service that he asked us to custom create outfits for additional events that 

he had coming up. Working with him has been a wonderful experience, and 

it re-affirms my belief in our mission and commitment to our members. 

RAINE: What brands does Cinch Menswear work with? 

GONZALEZ: We work with both established brands and new up-and-coming 

brands, including Mavi, Seven Diamond, Esposito Collecion, One90One, 

OPNK, Los Angeles Third and Army, Big Star, J Shoes, Suburban Riot, and 

many more. 

RAINE: As an entrepreneur, can you tell me about a time when you were 

unable to meet your goals and what steps did you take to turn your short 

RAINE: From a cultural perspective, do 

American men place enough emphasis on 

fashion and style? 

GONZALEZ: American men are all over 

the map when it comes to fashion. Some 

men are comfortable in their go-to jeans 

and t-shirt, while other men are risk takers 

and try new things in regards to fashion. 

Whichever category a guy falls into, 

whether it’s the same old and new and 

risky, there is always room for change. Our 

service helps men try new styles, colors, 

and fits in the comfort of their own home. 

We strive to take the guess work out of 

selecting a great outfit for a great price. 

Images courtesy of Cinch Menswear 

RAINE: Confidence being one of many 

keys to a creative entrepreneur’s success. 

What role does Cinch Menswear play in 

helping its clients feel confident? 

GONZALEZ: One of the cornerstones Cinch Men’s Wear prides itself on is 

helping men look great without the fuss, hassle and headaches of traditional 

shopping. We do this by getting to know members on an individual basis 

via our styling questionnaire, open email communication, as well as our new 

messaging platform which allows our members to instantly communicate. 

RAINE: As an entrepreneur who also has a degree in psychology, would you 

say there is a psychology behind style? 

GONZALEZ: When a man looks good and knows he looks good, he exudes 

confidence. There is a form of psychology when it comes to style because 

when we introduce members to new styles, we try to help them see beyond 

the same clothing they are used to. It builds a psychological confidence 

because the way you look reflects how you feel and your confidence level. 

RAINE: What two pieces of advice would you offer men who are trying to 

build a stylish wardrobe? 

GONZALEZ: First and foremost- build a good foundation. One of my favorite 

analogies is building your wardrobe like you would a house. When you build 

a house what do you start with? The foundation. Just like a house, you must 

build a solid foundation within your wardrobe before you can branch out and 

try new things. A solid clothing foundation offers versatility. For example a 

pair of khaki chinos and a button down shirt can be dressed up for a day 

comings into future opportunities? 

GONZALEZ: I would say the toughest part when I started my business 

was the first couple months. Like many other entrepreneurs you get 

excited about your new endeavor and expect great things from the start. 

Realistically, being a new online business with a brand new website our 

Search Engine Optimization was non-existent. It took nearly a month to get 

one person to sign up. It was very frustrating but we continued to work on 

our website, social media, and reached out to bloggers to help spread the 

word of our new service. In time we saw that our effort was paying off and 

our membership growth picked up steam. 

RAINE: Who has been the biggest influence on your life as an entrepreneur? 

GONZALEZ: My wife has been my biggest supporter. The investment in 

starting a business can be tiresome and worrisome. I had many restless and 

stressful nights. The support of my wife gave me the fuel needed to keep 

pushing forward. 

RAINE: What one piece of advice would you offer to budding entrepreneurs? 

GONZALEZ: No matter what the idea is, just go for it and don’t give up. You 

don’t’ want to live your life wondering what would have happened if you did 

pursue your business idea. The best way to live your life is to at least know 

you tried, if you never try, you will never know where your business could 

have been. 


BESPOKE MEN 

J U S T I N C O A L E 

A MAN ON A MISSION 

BY JASON T. JASKOT 

When featured in a magazine, most models would take to social 

media to post their photos. But not Justin Coale. When he first saw 

his feature in UK magazine, Vanity Hype, the first thing that he put 

on-line was a close-up shot of his pit bull Armani in sunglasses, with 

the caption, “He was so excited when he found out I got into the 

magazine!” 

Not one to be idle, Justin keeps busy—from his very first 

magazine feature in Philly fit to his likeness being used on the cover 

of romance novel that appeared this summer, Justin is a man on a 

mission. Recently, he was cast for the next season of Orange is The 

New Black and the Starz new drama, Flesh and Bone. If keeping 

up with work wasn’t enough, he also finds the time to stay in-touch 

with his fans and followers on social media, posting almost daily, 

inspirational messages and his thoughts on life. 

Determined to succeed and make his star rise, we talked to 

him about what’s happening now and what’s coming next. 

Questions: 

RAINE: On your Facebook Fan Page, you say you‘re “just a regular 

guy trying to make his mark on the world. My story might help you 

and you might help someone else after hearing it.” So what is your 

story? 

COALE: Man, I grew up with DEEP depression hating who I was. I 

was always the kid, “alone in a crowd.” I use that quote on my fan 

page with the hopes that people will read my bio about my battle 

with bi-polar disorder and will see hope for themselves. 

RAINE: You’ve 

never been shy 

about showing 

your body, and 

a Google search 

brings up tons 

of amazing body 

shots. Some 

actors, like Chris 

Evans, have tried 

to shy away from 

taking their shirts 

off in movies. What 

are your thoughts 

on showing your 

body? 

COALE: If it wasn’t 

for this body, 

there wouldn’t be 

the Justin Coale 

you are talking 

to today. Like I 

said previously, 

I HATED myself, 

and the pictures 

you see on Google 

are just a guy who 

loves to have his 

shirt off. My body 

is my temple. I 

don’t see anything 

wrong with it, and it 

even helped me get 

this interview! Also, 

I have tattoo’s that 

tell a story so it’s a 

little different than 

Chris Evans, but I can 

see where he comes 

from. People always 

think that since I do 

body work, that’s all 

I must be good at. 

You just have to know 

where to draw the line 

and with who. When I 

heard RAINE wanted 

to shoot clothes, I 

was extremely happy 

because I know I can 

rock some style in 

cool outfits! 

RAINE: Speaking of 

tattoos, you’re 

covered in them! 

What is your favorite 

tattoo? 

COALE: My favorite 

would have to be the 

one on the left side 

of my chest. It covers my heart and represents so much to me. Jt 

is my middle name and also happens to be the first name of my 

grandfather. 

RAINE: You’ve got tens of thousands of followers across social 

media, and you always post uplifting messages. Can you speak a 

little bit about your social media success? 

COALE: Success on social media was one of the coolest things ever. 

I love waking up to new “likes” and followers; because my whole 

modus operandi is to help people become more confident in their 

everyday lives. I like to believe that my posts help people across the 

world become the person they want without having to be judged. 

RAINE: You’ve filmed for Orange Is The New Black and you’ve shot 

with many noted photographers. What is your dream project? 

COALE: I’d love to do a romantic comedy with my idol Ryan Gosling, 

or an action movie with Jason Stratham. Photography wise, I’d love 

to work with either Bruce Weber or Mario Testino. 

RAINE: Any other big projects or new ideas you want to share with 

us? 

COALE: Well this (interview) is pretty big, isn’t it? I mean RAINE 

magazine stands for so much, and I am grateful for this opportunity. 

Other than that, I have a couple book tour stops in the US, and I am 

working on a clothing line with a company from Germany. 

Photos by Jason T. Jaskot 

26 


ENTREPRENEUR 

M A K E A S T A T E M E N T W I T H 

L I N C O L N H E L L E R 

BY MARILYN R. WILSON 

The road to designing leather handbags was a journey with many 

stops along the way for Lincoln Heller of fiveleft - art school, graphic 

design, photography and more. It was while speaking with customers 

at high end craft shows that creating things from leather moved from a 

pastime into a business he loves. Handbags in particular fascinate him. 

Why? “The fascination is not with the material or the styling. What really 

fascinates me is how they function and the objects they carry. They 

carry the things in our lives.” 

Heller grew up in a small logging/agricultural town in 

Washington state. His father – from humble beginnings – was the town 

lawyer. His mum was an artist at heart who had varied jobs including 

antique store owner, high school teacher. real estate agent and more. 

He was an enigma. The appearance was privilege, but the reality was 

many of his dad’s clients only could afford to trade for his services. 

From an early age Heller had a talent for attracting and getting along 

with people that made him welcome in most circles, but he was closest 

to those he respectfully calls the “salt of the earth.” 

Art was always a huge part of Heller’s life and by the end of 

high school he had taken every class available. Regular subjects were, 

however, uninteresting. Fortunately he had the kind of mind that could 

quickly absorb lectures and remember them weeks later at test time. 

His parents were supportive. “For my graduation present, they sent me 

to a student camp at Kansas City Art Institute. You lived on campus a 

week or two and then they gave out 4-5 scholarships. I did well at what 

I was supposed to be doing, but also created a whole extra project on 

top of everything else.” He was awarded one of the scholarships. 

After a year of studies in Kansas City and a year back in 


Washington working, Heller discovered Emily Carr University 

of Art + Design in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was here that 

inspiration took hold and education came alive. Photography was 

his main area of study, but this discipline also allowed him to take 

classes in other areas of interest. Time was taken off randomly to 

earn money by working in logging camps up north, and then it 

was back to school for more studies – a process that continued 

over 8 years. 

Heller had been working with leather since he was 

young. These creations offered a extra source of income, but were 

a random a mix of styles and materials. Then one day he picked 

up a couple hides of vegetable tanned leather and there was 

no turning back. Unlike traditional tanning with toxic chemicals, 

cured through a time-consuming, ancient process using plant 

extracts. The final product is stiffer to work with, but has unique 

qualities that offer their own magic. “Vegetable tanned leather has 

its own way of going forward in life when it’s new. Each individual 

is going to smash it and beat it in their own way.” This interaction 

affects how the bag ages – over time it becomes an expression of 

the owner’s life. The artist took the hides, pressed random bicycle 

parts and metal bits into them to create texture, dyed them and 

created cuffs which sold out in one day. 

In 1996, the fiveleft brand took form with the creation of 

the messenger bag – daygoods (the first), careercarrier and the 

computer bag are all still a part of the collection today. Heller 

didn’t own a leather sewing machine at the time which meant 

careful thought was put into how they would be constructed. 

“What is interesting is the mechanics of where the shoulder strap 

is. The bag is like a big origami piece. It lays flat and then, when 

folded up, the shoulder strap laces it together. The only stitching 

is the pocket.” Although the company now has several machines 

in use, a large part of the work is still done by hand including 

cutting, dying (sometimes two to three pigments on a single bag) 

and imprinting them with the unique textures. Each bag is signed 

and numbered. 

Heller’s vision for fiveleft has always put people first. He 

and his wife both chose to work part time while they had small 

children, alternating days to have one parent home. His staff is an 

integral part of the business, trusted to handle everything when 

he is not in the studio. Interacting with customers and creating a 

story line for them is an intricate part of what he offers as an artist 

– and he is a master story teller. Before one fashion show he 

pushed an ancient harness machine down the runway, stopping 

randomly to finish sewing a piece by hand cranking the device 

and then offering it to a lucky audience member. 

Heller’s brand is on the brink of change. Participating 

in runway shows has opened a second market for bags with 

a different style. The fiveleft collection will feature five bags in 

three colours that honour the line’s elemental roots – accessible, 

sell-able and perfect for wholesale. A separate collection under 

the label Lincoln Heller will offer luxurious handbags featuring 

unique, more complex hardware and finishing – perfect for the 

fashion conscious client looking for an eye-catching, statement 

piece. Both are sure to find a strong client base. 

In the end, what is it about fiveleft that brings Heller 

the most joy? “My favourite part is creating this little bit of a 

work and environment. The shop is a magical place. I really love 

how it’s become my life and not just as an entrepreneur. It’s an 

enjoyable way of working.” For more information or to shop the 

fiveleft online store go to www.fiveleft.ca. 

28 


BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

BUSINESS | TRENDS 

6 Things You Need to Know 

BEFORE Starting Your Business 

By Tomer Dicturel 

I don’t need to repeat all of the scary statistics. On second thought, 

maybe I do, since the numbers haven’t improved much over the years. 

Let’s throw out a couple of big, frightening facts: 

1. According to Bloomberg, 80% of businesses fail within the 

first 18 months. 

2. Another outlet reports that approximately 50% of 

businesses fail within five years. 

PIECE OF ADVICE #3: 

Select the appropriate insurance. Two types of insurance to keep in 

mind are Key Man insurance and a Liability Insurance. Key man is 

necessary if your business is built around one person. This way, if 

anything happens to you, you’ll be covered. Liability kicks in if you get 

sued for any reason. 


Ok. So now that we got that out of the way, I’m here to help you avoid 

becoming a statistic. 

Most people start a new business venture to fulfill a dream and follow 

their passion. There’s the lure of independence, freedom to do what 

you want and the hope for financial success. And I’m not here to burst 

that beautiful bubble. I just want to make a stronger bubble for you to 

ride all the way to retirement. 

Whether you’re launching an indie online accessories line, a fashion 

empire or an artist’s agency, there are some important things to 

consider and put in place in order to protect yourself. 

By following these steps and making a plan, you’ll put yourself and 

your business in a much stronger and smarter position. Plan ahead 

and think about what might go wrong. This way you can hopefully 

avoid some of the most common mistakes made by small business 

owners. 

Here’s some of the best advice I can give small business owners: 


Put a buy/sell agreement in place. A buy/sell agreement allows you to 

buy partners out or covers you if a partner dies. You also want to make 

sure you’re prepared if anything happens to your partner. 


Have a lawyer draft an Operating Agreement. This describes the 

agreements between the members of an LLC. Think of it as the by-laws 

of your corporation. It will include a listing of members, distributions of 

profits and losses, the rights of each member and an overview of what 

happens to each members share when he or she leaves. 


Prepare an exit plan (for best case scenario) and a bankruptcy plan (for 

worst case scenario). Instances where you might need an exit plan 

include if your company goes public, you sell the company or merge 

with another company. 

With the proper planning, you’re giving yourself a solid foundation 

to build your company on, adding layers of protection if the worst 

happens. By thinking and planning ahead, you’ll save time, headaches 

and money. 

One of the first things you’ll need to determine is which kind of 

corporation you’d like your company to be. Your choices are S Corp, C 

Corp and LLC. By making the right decision, you’ll avoid a potentially 

hefty tax bill and realize tax savings. 


File your taxes on time. This one seems obvious, but it needs to said. 

And I’m also going to throw in here that you need to save all of your 

receipts. 

Now go out there and follow those dreams! 

Tomer Dicturel, Managing Partner of 

Advanced Wealth Professionals, works with a 

wide range of clients, from small business owners 

to some of the country’s wealthiest individuals, 

and largest private and publicly held companies. 

He has helped these individuals and companies 

strengthen, plan and execute well-informed 

financial decisions. 

Image courtesy of AWPROS 

30 


Photos courtesy of: Issuu, Invest Diva, Tablelist 


3 INNOVATORS IN BUSINESS 

FROM ALLEYWIRE 

Invest Diva’s mission is to help you 

trade the right way, avoid possible 

scams and manage your own profitable 

forex trading portfolio. 

With this incredible new step-by-step 

online education program, investing 

pro and TV personality Kiana Danial 

and her team show you exactly how 

to understand and take advantage of 

foreign currency trading: 

• How the global currency market 

works 

• Why social, political, and cultural 

events shape trading 

• The smartest short- and longterm 

strategies 

• Best practices for navigating the 

economic calendar 

After years of studying the principles of the foreign currency exchange 

market, financial expert and trading strategist, Kiana Danial gets to 

the bottom of today’s most curious investment phenomenon: Why are 

women suddenly making a fortune trading currencies? Kiana spent 

years studying the habits of investors and discovered that women 

frequently make smarter, wiser, and less-risky investment choices than 

their male counterparts. This is precisely why she founded InvestDiva. 

com and designed her award-winning education platform; a beginner’s 

guide to smart, safe, and profitable trading. 

Learn more at www.investdiva.com 

INVEST DIVA 

ISSUU 

With more than 20 years of tech and publishing sector 

experience and a proven ability to successfully lead 

companies from the startup, growth phase and beyond, Joe 

Hyrkin began working with Issuu in early 2013. As CEO, he 

has been instrumental in pushing Issuu into the coveted spot 

as one of the fastest-growing digital publishing platforms 

around. 

Readers around the globe turn to Issuu to discover 

new content on whatever interests them. Millions of 

publishers leverage the Issuu platform to make their content 

available for today’s cross-screen reader at a low-cost. 

Issuu helps publishers reach readers on tablets, desktops, 

laptops and smartphones, while giving them access to 

new business models. Publishers can upload visually rich 

content and gain granular insight on reader behaviors and 

preferences. 

Issuu delivers 6 billion page views across 16 million 

magazines to 85 million global unique visitors each month. 

Issuu’s base of subscribing publishers is comprised 

of hundreds of thousands of publishers, including major news 

weeklies like Huffington magazine and retail brands, like 

XO Group Inc.’s The Nest and 

The Bump, VICE, NASCAR, V 

Magazine and Armani, to deliver 

a world of content including 

long-form magazines, luxury 

catalogues, and stylish look 

books that cover everything 

from fashion and parenting, 

to gluten-free cooking. Issuu 

is headquartered in Palo Alto, 

California and is backed by 

Sunstone Capital. 

Learn more at www.Issuu.com. 

There are over 10,000 nightlife venues in the US 

that currently offer VIP tables or bottle service. This 

amounts to an $8B per year annual market. However, 

in spite of the opportunity of the market and the 

success of its inhabitants, the nightlife space has 

historically suffered from a host of problems that 

consistently lead to a poor experience for customers, 

as well as inefficiency and strained scalability for 

venues. Boston-based startup Tablelist believes all of 

these problems can be improved simply with the right 

technology. 

Considered the OpenTable of after dark, 

Tablelist provides its members with instant access 

to the most exclusive nightlife venues in New York, 

Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and beyond 

by letting them book VIP tables and bottle service 

anywhere, any time, and from any device. With 

Tablelist, members can select their favorite venues, 

pick a table location, customize their bottles and 

chasers, split the tab, skip the line, avoid the cover, 

and get straight to celebrating - all while racking up 

reward points towards future nights. Oh, and did we 

mention an on-call 24/7 personal nightlife concierge? 

Yeah, there’s that too. 

However, for Tablelist, focusing on the 

nightlife space is about more than just making the 

most of an admittedly sizable opportunity. At its 

core, the mission of Tablelist is to directly contribute 

to the happiness of those people who use nightlife 

as an outlet for positive fulfillment and expression. 

By leading the charge to democratize the nightlife 

industry and connecting venues directly with their 

consumers, Tablelist hopes to solve the problems 

that have historically plagued the space, providing a 

better, more fulfilling experience for both sides. 

Tablelist is available on the web, iOS, and Android. 


MUST READS 

CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES 

C H A N G E Y O U R L I F E 

George Brescia has spent the last twenty-five years working with 

top fashion and beauty leaders, including Ralph Lauren, Donna 

Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, and the fashion directors at Bloomingdales, 

Bergdorf Goodman, and Lord & Taylor. As the man behind 

George B Style, he’s also a top-tier NYC-based stylist and image 

consultant with clients ranging from A-list celebrities to everyday 

men and women looking to improve their appearance and gain 

confidence. 

His newly publish book, Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life, is 

An eye-opening look at the secret language of clothing. More than 

a style guide, this innovative book teaches a method of conscious 

dressing that begins with a powerful internal change. Instead of 

desperately grabbing for whatever’s on hand, you’ll learn to set 

your goals for the day, determining how you want to be perceived 

and then dressing in a way that helps manifest those intentions. 

“Clothing is about so much more than style. Every single thing 

you wear communicates something about you to the outside 

world—and it also winds up having a significant impact on the 

way you feel. From color to style to fit to fabric, every aspect of 

your clothing has the potential to either enhance or hinder your 

personal brilliance. 

Finding the wardrobe that makes you feel confident and beautiful 

is such an important part of living a life you love, because how you 

feel impacts everything you do. 

ASK YOURSELF - WHAT DOES YOUR OUTFIT SAY 

No matter what you are wearing, your clothes will always say 

something about your personality, your mood and what you are 

trying to achieve. 

DRESS FOR THE LIFE YOU WANT 

Your clothes don't only affect the people that see you, they 

also affect the way that you feel about yourself. 

IF IT DOESN'T FIT, DON'T WEAR IT 

Clothing that is Ill fitting make you appear apologetic and 

accidental. 

IT MATTERS IF IT FLATTERS 

You will see the best results in your appearance when you work 

with pieces that flatter your shape. 

DRESS FOR THE IMPRESSION NOT THE OCCASION 

Dress for the experience that you want to have. 

I truly believe that when you feel amazing, amazing 

things start to happen for you.” – George Brescia 

Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life, reveals the true power 

your clothing has to affect your life, a second skin that speaks 

volumes before you even open your mouth, impacting your 

job prospects, your romantic life, your income, and—most 

important—your deepest sense of self. Translating his styling 

methods into a philosophy anyone can apply on her own, Brescia 

delivers tips and tricks of the trade to help convert even the most 

hapless dresser into a happy and educated shopper—one who 

not only looks great but feels more confident, too. From major 

closet overhauls to a whole new philosophy on color, this is a 

comprehensive manual for anyone who’s ever looked at her closet 

in despair. 

32 



OUR EDITOR’S PICKS FROM 

FASHINVEST.COM 

BLUEJEWELZ is designed by a woman with 

a woman’s needs and desires in mind. We create elegant 

smart jewelry that combines fashion, function and flexibility. 

We are unique among other emerging smart jewelry 

companies in several ways. Our biggest differentiator is that 

we built a platform for the technology that enables her to use 

the BlueJewelz Notif in any of the stunning pieces in the 

BlueJewelz or BlueJewelz-compatible collections. 

Our interchangeable technology empowers women 

to have choice in the accessory she wants to wear instead 

of making a choice to be connected or not because her 

technology doesn’t go with her outfit. We are focused on 

creating beautiful first. Our pieces are specifically designed 

for elegance and discretion. We use precious metals, stones 

and gems in our designs that can be dressed up or down, 

targeting premium and luxury consumers. 

• There are no distracting flashing lights or sounds to keep 

the focus on the jewelry not the technology. 

Lastly, we are focused on solving a problem for women. We do 

not create overly complicated “full of features” gadgets. As 

women gain more responsibility in life, the less time we have 

to figure out gadgets. Therefore, we’ve made BlueJewelz 

very simple and easy to use. Features include: 

Images courtesy of: BlueJewelz; PopShop 

• Discrete alerts though a gentle vibration 

The interchangeable system, allowing one BlueJewelz Notif 

notification disc to be used with any BlueJewelz-compatible 

jewelry, sold at BlueJewelz.com or through participating 

jewelers and online partners. 

• Compatibility with Apple iOS and Android devices 

Ability to customize 3 separate lists of VIPs, each with a 

distinct vibration via the smartphone apps 

Lost phone warning: Users are notified if they stray 

too far from their phone 

We currently have several 

things in the works 

at BlueJewelz. The 

technology has been 

developed and tested. 

Now that we have the 

basics complete, we are 

tweaking the industrial 

aspects of the hardware 

and apps so that women 

will have the best 

experience while using 

the product. We are in 

talks with other designers 

who will be designing the 

Valentine’s and Mother’s 

Day Collections. We’re 

down to a short list of 

manufacturing partners, 

scheduled to launch 

web pre-order sales in 

November for Valentine’s 

Day shipment and 

planning to be in stores 

for Mother’s Day 2015. 

POP-IN-SHOP brings your favorite independent 

designer to your favorite local boutiques. 

We all want to find that perfect shirt, bag or shoe. The 

product that speaks to us, with its unique story and style. The 

problem is that it’s hard to find these items. They aren’t at Target 

or Macy’s, where you get mass market goods, and if you find 

them online, you have to purchase something that you’ve never 

actually seen or touched in the real world. Enter PopInShop. 

We work behind the scenes with emerging designers, artisan 

producers, and up-and-coming brands. We connect these 

makers to amazing local boutiques across the country, and help 

them work together. Our goal is simple: that you, in whatever city 

or town you live in, can easily find your perfect product in your 

favorite local store. 

So what is PopInShop? We are an online marketplace 

where designers and brick & mortar boutiques can collaborate 

on alternative retail arrangements - things like consignment 

deals, pop-in shops, events, and anything that looks different 

than the “normal” wholesale relationship. It’s this flexibility that 

makes PopInShop special. Our marketplace brings together two 

extremely fragmented sides of the industry and our tools support 

the retail formats that make sense in an omni-channel world. 

Backed by Wharton Innovation Fund and DreamIt 

Ventures, we launched the PopInShop platform in summer 

2014. Since then, we’ve found overwhelming demand for our 

marketplace. Stores and designers alike have been signing up 

and referring their friends. We’re now focused on growing our 

community and providing even better services to our target users. 

Looking ahead, we’re excited to help boutiques and emerging 

brands stay competitive this holiday season. Enabling stores to 

bring in the right brands at the right time and showcasing this to 

the right consumers will keep boutiques ahead of the curve. So 

if there’s a designer you’d like to see in a store near you, spread 

the word about PopInShop! We can’t wait to help you find your 

perfect product or gift this year. 



WHY EVERY TECH ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD 

PARTICIPATE IN AN ACCELERATOR PROGRAM 

An accelerator program is like a boot camp for early stage ventures. 

They usually last anywhere from three to six months to help accelerate 

their startup and most provide a small amount of seed capital. More 

importantly, they offer experienced entrepreneurs who help mentor the 

new entrepreneurs within the local community and other resources that 

give ventures the fuel that they need to accelerate. Many accelerator 

programs provide their entrepreneurs with a curriculum focused on 

creating a viable business model. 

The three resources I found most useful when participating: 

COMMUNITY PERKS 

One of the main goals of an accelerator program is to build successful 

start ups, with the hope of increasing the entrepreneurship within the 

local community. This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to take 

advantage of potential local customers and partnerships. For example, 

one of the reasons we were selected to participate in Velocity was our 

target market, fraternity and sorority chapters. It just so happens that 40- 

50% of national Greek chapters are headquartered in Indianapolis, which 

was about an hour away from our office. 

CUSTOMER DISCOVERY 

One of the most valuable lessons we learned at Velocity Indiana was 

learning to talk to your customers. The first two weeks the program highly 

encouraged us to get out of the office and speak to our future clients, 

something we never did during our first two iterations of Greekpull. I would 

drive up to University of Kentucky and Louisville knocking on sororities 

and fraternity doors asking questions like, “What are biggest problems 

you are dealing with in your chapter?”, “What are you currently using to 

try to solve this problem?”, “What would you like to see improve?” By 

understanding our customers problems we were able to build a 500-dollar 

MVP website, and started generating revenue. 

MENTORSHIP 

As young entrepreneurs there are tons of questions you constantly have 

and don’t have an answer too. Like many entrepreneurs you learn by failing 

and falling on your face. The biggest foundation an accelerator program 

provides the entrepreneurs with is mentors to help along the way. Usually 

they provide experts in all fields from accounting to product development 

to marketing. Having such resources allows you to accelerate your start 

up in a shorter period of time. 

Eghosa (Iggy) Aihie is the Co-Founder and Head of Business for Alumnify. 

Their aim is to improve alumni engagement by connecting alumni with 

current students, and therefore also setting students up for success after 

graduation. 

Twitter - @iggyneversleeps 

Facebook – eghosa.aihie 

Image Courtesy of Rapid Eye Photo 

34 


TECH TRENDS

ENTREPRENEUR 

GIVE THE GIFT OF WONDER 

COO & Cofounder, Wonder Technologies, Inc. 

PAIGE CATTANO 

BY PAIGE CATTANO 

As the lazy days of summer are replaced 

by the bustle of fall, reminders that the Holiday 

season is imminent fill my inbox. My usual reaction 

is panic. But this year, despite being both the 

cofounder of Silicon Valley-based startup Wonder 

Technologies and CEO of my family of five, I am 

calm and cool. I’m going to enjoy this season of 

giving and impress loved ones with thoughtful 

gifts. 

How? The simple answer is the Wonder 

eGift Card, a truly modern way to gift. Users only 

need a smartphone and a credit card to instantly 

send Wonder Gift Cards to two million local and 

national merchants anywhere in the U.S. Instead 

of sending my sister in San Diego a generic gift 

card, with Wonder I can treat her to a gift she’ll 

love to her favorite local spa without the hassle 

and waste of a plastic gift card. Here’s how it 

works. Once the gift recipient accepts the Wonder 

card via their smartphone or the web, they link 

their Visa, MasterCard or American Express. To 

redeem, they pay as usual with their linked card 

and the gift amount is automatically credited. The 

Wonder card never expires, and can’t get lost or 

forgotten in a drawer like inconvenient plastic gift 

cards. Simply, your credit card becomes your gift 

card. 

I co-developed the free Wonder app 

because a digital gifting marketplace where 

consumers could enjoy ultimate choice, and 

merchants of all sizes could be included, didn’t 

exist. 

Wonder is disrupting 

the $140b gift card 

market whose payment 

infrastructure and 

redemption processing 

systems have changed 

little in 20 years. 

While the holidays are obvious, I invite 

you to express gratitude throughout the year to 

friends, colleagues and teachers. Wonder gives 

back to your favorite cause through our Gift for 

Good program. 

With the Wonder app I’ve saved time, 

given great gifts, now if only I could get the gift 

of sleep! 

Find out more at www.gowonder.com. 

Images courtesy of Wonder Technologies 

36 


TECHNOLOGY | TRENDS 

KICKSTARTING INNOVATION 

YesMan Watches 

Images courtesy of Intellipaper and YesMan Watches 

Most people consider a watch just a sleek way 

to tell time. Time is invaluable and everyone has 

the same 24 hours in a day, yet so few actually 

consider how they spend their day. This is more 

than just a watch; it is a way to consider your 

use of time. 

Right now all watches with leather 

straps have holes in them. This damages the 

leather and restricts the wearer to a certain 

number of sizing options. We’ve developed 

a new patent-pending buckle that allows for 

twice as many sizing options and a sleeker fit 

while keeping the leather on your watch strap 

fresh. Stop rocking worn out watch straps! 

After looking at thousands of watches 

to design our very own and dialing in our supply 

chain, we needed to find a way to fund our 

first production run. We turned to Kickstarter, 

launching in January and reaching our initial 

$15000 goal in our first three days. By the end 

of our 32 day campaign, we had raised over 

200% of our initial goal, totaling over $32000. 

We continued to sell pre-orders as we fulfilled 

production. Our first production run has now 

been completed and all pre-orders have been 

shipped. Revenues to date total over $40000 

and over 300 units. 

We currently have about 300 watches 

in inventory. We are primarily based online, 

besides a few pop-up shops. We drive traffic 

and sales through our social media pages and 

media outlets. We’ve been in Entrepreneur, 

Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Bro Bible, to 

name a few. We are going to continue to push 

sales online until we have the cash on-had to 

expand to retail. We’re expanding our watch 

line and adding on new products. Licensing 

is also an option for us. Our patent-pending 

buckle is a major innovation in the watch 

market and we’ve already been approached 

by some major brands in regards to licensing. 

We have yet to finalize contracts because we 

see Yes Man Watches as a way to validate 

the assumption that people are looking for 

this buckle apparatus. The more we grow Yes 

Man Watches, the more valuable our buckle 

becomes. 



CROWDFUNDING DREAMS COME TRUE 

BY SUNA SENMAN, LMSW 

Two Millennials exemplify their generation by taking in the “now” and getting 

creative. Nolan Thompson and Chris LaBonty, founders of Headfunder, 

realize that a dream does not have to wait until tomorrow, but a dream 

can manifest as quick as the body reacts to thought. At 21 years old, both 

young men are making a new win-win platform for people to engage in and 

uplift society. 

Coming from a household of hardworking parents, Nolan started 

working as a cashier at McDonalds at the age of 16, while Chris lived 

engulfed in the internet world learning everything he needed to know. 

When business-minded Nolan envisioned having his own company, he 

teamed up with techie Chris, who had a novice idea, and together they 

birthed Headfunder as their effort to make a difference in the world. 

Raine: What is HeadFunder? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: HeadFunder is a social crowdfunding platform 

where we focus on giving back to the world in a positive way. We have 

combined social media features with our crowdfunding platform to help 

campaigns get more exposure online which can result in more funding. 

Raine: How is the concept of HeadFunder similar and different than other 

crowd funders? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: HeadFunder is similar to crowdfunding 

platforms: We have the choice of fixed or flexible funding for campaign 

creators. Fixed funding is where the campaign creators only get the funds 

if the goal is reached before the end date. Flexible funding is where the 

campaign creators get the funds whether they hit their goal or not. The 

funds are only pre approved and your card is never charged until the end 

date of a successful fixed campaign or a flexible campaign. 

HeadFunder is different to crowdfunding platforms: Our fees are the lowest 

in the industry! We charge only 2% for fixed campaigns and 4% for flexible 

campaigns. There is no upfront cost to create a campaign when using 

HeadFunder. 

While on HeadFunder, you can be social like never before on a 

crowdfunding platform. Users can send direct messages to each other. 

They can also follow each other and view a live activity stream. Users 

can also earn badges for their involvement with HeadFunder so they can 

show them off to new visitors to the site. You can also create a custom 

HeadFunder to have as your profile picture which keeps our site fun and 

entertaining. 

The Magic Box is a feature we added to our site to allow 

HeadFunders to help us decide who we should give 10% of our earnings 

to each month. We select a few campaigns that are impacting the world in 

a positive way to be featured in the Magic Box. Users then vote on which 

campaign should receive the funds. We know as we grow the Magic Box 

will be at amounts that can change people’s lives. 

On HeadFunder, we have more categories that you can raise funds for. 

You can raise funds for your business ides for profit, a cause for a verified 

non-profit, or your personal needs such as a loved one’s medical bills or a 

party bus for you and your friends to your next event you go to. We want 

crowdfunding to be for everyone so we made a platform for everyone. 

RAINE: What inspired you to start HeadFunder? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: We got inspired to start HeadFunder after seeing 

all the amazing campaigns being funded by people all over the world. We 

were so happy to see that everyone was working together to help others 

achieve their dreams. We felt that crowdfunding was a positive industry to 

be involved with so we figured out how we could help benefit the industry 

and jumped in. 

RAINE: When did you decide the time was right to invest yourself into this 

venture? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: The thought of making that first step towards 

being an entrepreneur is always the hardest step to take, but in the end 

it is the most rewarding. We both were working jobs and wanted to start 

working on our own dreams. We were looking at all of the companies in 

our world and wondering how they did it. Then we realized that they just 

went for it! They stopped talking about doing something and took action to 

make it happen. We realized that there was no right time to start investing in 

you, so we just had to go for it. Now here we are with HeadFunder making 

positive things happen in the crowdfunding community. 

RAINE: Why did you choose to develop the system of HeadFunder? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: We love the crowdfunding industry! Everyone 

here is so supportive of one another and the people really focus on 

positivity. We chose to create a social crowdfunding platform because 

we felt that the other platforms were not supportive of their users. So 

many users were reaching out to them on social media, but were not 

getting any response. We try to respond to every HeadFunder whether 

through the site or through social media. We felt that if there was a social 

platform dedicated to crowdfunding, that more like-minded people 

in the crowdfunding industry could interact and share ideas easier. 

RAINE: How will this system change the way people manage their 

business, their lives?LABONTY & THOMPSON: We feel that HeadFunder 

will change how crowdfunding platforms function. With all of these new 

social tools, users can be entertained while on HeadFunder. This will make 

crowdfunding more fun for the people visiting our site. 

RAINE: Who are the people that will benefit most from HeadFunder? 

LABONTY & THOMPSON: We believe that everyone will benefit from using 

our site. Campaign creators can benefit by gaining funds contributed by 

other users on the site and if their campaign is positive, it can potentially 

win the Magic Box. Campaign contributors will benefit from the good 

feeling they get when they back a campaign and if the campaign gives 

out rewards, then they will receive something from a campaign creator on 

HeadFunder. Who doesn’t love to get a gift in the mail? Even the users who 

just come to vote on the Magic Box will leave the site knowing that they 

just helped someone get closer to winning the Magic Box for that month. 

Images courtesy of HeadFunder 

38 



Tech Toys 

THE COLLAR PERFECT 

Have a busy life? Travel often without room to carry an iron? 

Well then life on the go is about to get a lot better for you with… 

Collar perfect! With very little setup time the Collar Perfect will 

not only iron out the wrinkles that a traditional iron would but it 

is also built to reach the places a traditional had difficulty with. 

It’s flexible design will now you can easily straighten your collar. 

The streamlined contour will also let you reach around buttons, 

lift the wrinkles out of dress or skirt hem line, and even straighten 

out pocket while wearing it. There is also a 90-degree tip that 

opens up to cover more surface area for broader ironing. This 

light weight patent pending travel buddy will fits right into the 

palm of your hand and will be a must for any would be travlers. 

Website: http://www.collarperfect.com 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/699125038/collarperfect-let-us-iron-out-the-wrinkles-in-you/?ref=kicktraq 

Price: $29.95 

THE CONTOUR ROAM 

Whenever on vacation or just on the go, say during a bike ride, 

we have all had those moments where had thought, “Man, I wish 

I caught that on camera!” Well now you will have a much better 

chance to catch those moments with the Contour Roam. This slim 

lightweight camera can be strapped onto a helmet, your bike, your 

body, and even a surfboard to catch the once in a life time moments. 

It has a 270-degree rotatable lens along with a 170-degree field of 

view. The +2 model has built in GPS Video Mapping, an external 

microphone jack and not to mention live streaming capabilities. The 

Roam 3 model can go underwater up to 30 feet (9meters). Both 

models include the laser alignment feature for aiming the camera 

lens and the instant-on record switch that allows the camera to 

start recording when you toggle the power button. All your featured 

footage can be stored onto internal storage as well as an external 

SD card up to 32GB. The Contour Roam give you options and now 

you all you have to do is choose which is best for your life style. 

Website: http://contour.com/cameras/ 

Price: Roam +2 $300; Roam 3 $200 


THE TYPO 2 

This fall… brings along new fashion, the changing of the leaves, and… 

the iPhoneberry Keyboard. Well, it’s not officially called the iPhoneberry 

Keyboard. However, it does bring together the functionality of a Blackberry’s 

physical keyboard on an iPhone. So now all those who are still clinging 

onto a Blackberry, can release it and type to their hearts content on their 

iPhone. Officially called the TYPO 2, this device is a iPhone case with a built 

in keyboard that connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth. The TYPO 2 comes 

with it’s own rechargeable battery, a lock button, a home button, and also 

is backlit. So if your still attached to your crackberry, now is your chance to 

migrate to the iPhoneberry case… I mean the Typo 2. 

Website: http://typokeyboards.com/ (available now for iPhone 5(5s) or 

Preorder iPhone 6 series) 

Price $99 

THE LOGITECH K480 

These days many of us have more then one mobile device. While on the go we have our 

choice of using a laptop, a smart phone, a tablet and even smart watches. Now if only there 

was a way type on one keyboard but reach multiple devices. 

Oh but there is a way. Now presenting the Logitech k480 Bluetooth Keyboard. Buy using, you 

guessed it, Bluetooth, this one keyboard can connect to multiple devices. By not being limited 

to the operating system platform of the device, the k480 can allow you send a message on 

your Windows Smartphone, while continuing to work on the iPad, and/or Apple computer. 

There is a dial on the keyboard that allows you to switch between devices and it also comes 

with a built in cradle to hold your smartphone and tablet simultaneously. 

Website” http://www.logitech.com/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480?wt.mc_id=global_ 

news_k480 

Price: $49.99 

THE LIVESCRIBE 3 SMART PEN 

These days we live in a world driven by technology. A world in which we have… smart cars, 

smartphones, smart watches and even smart pens. Yep, your eyes do not deceive you for indeed I did 

say smart pens. Now I bet you didn’t see that one coming. 

This smart devices caters to those particularly who like to take notes by hand but wish that somehow 

there was a way to translate it into a digital format in which it could be saved. This evolutionary smart 

pen uses an app that can be downloaded into your tablet and/or smartphone to not only save what 

you have transcribed but also record live audio into your paired device as well. This way you won’t 

miss any important details while you are taking notes. After your notes have been recorded in the app 

it can be saved into a text document, save as a photo, and saved into third party applications while 

also converting annotations into calendar dates and events. The Livescribe 3 will last up to 14 hours 

of endless writing between charges and even has a built in stylus tip as well. The Livescribe 3 can 

save you countless hours while giving you a piece of mind that important notes are being lost in… 

translation. 

Website: http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/smartpen/ls3/ 

Price: $149.95 (pro edition $199.95)

WEARABLE 

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY 

Audio LLC (www.SMSAudio.com), a premier audio headphone and 

accessories brand from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, together with Intel 

Corporation announced a collaboration to develop the first heartpounding 

personal audio system converging lifestyle and technology 

innovation for an exceptional fitness experience. The SMS Audio 

BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered by Intel will bring smart exercise 

capabilities to athletes of all levels later this year. 

Intel and SMS Audio are merging lifestyle requirements with 

technology innovation to enhance the fitness experience. The SMS Audio 

BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered by Intel will extend the recently 

launched SMS Audio Sport Collection and harness advanced technology 

features to deliver high-quality audio while gathering actionable data on 

fitness progress. 

A global audio headphone and accessories brand, SMS Audio 

is dedicated to improving the way people around the world experience 

music by combining technology, function and style to bring a high-quality 

sound, comfort and fashion to every product. Intel and SMS Audio 

have partnered to fuse fitness with technology by combining the latest 

in fitness-monitoring biometric technology with high-quality audio and 

style. 

“The wearable technology collaboration between SMS Audio 

and Intel elevates our capability to bring smart exercise to consumers,” 

said Brian M. Nohe, president of SMS Audio. “With the introduction of 

the SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered by Intel, we’re now 

the first to provide this level of integrated, seamless and helpful biometric 

information to inspire customers to advance their fitness experiences.” 

SMS AUDIO BIOSPORT IN-EAR HEADPHONES PRODUCT 

HIGHLIGHTS: The SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones powered 

by Intel will deliver an exceptional experience while working out without 

sacrificing audio quality for those who demand more from life and more 

from music. The headphones will integrate biometric sensors in a custom 

heart rate monitor in-ear headphone to empower athletes to collect 

fitness data and achieve peak physical performance. A patented earhook 

design ensures a comfortable fit while an energy-harvesting audio 

jack removes the need for extra batteries or chargers. 

FUSING FITNESS WITH TECHNOLOGY: A built-in optical sensor 

that continuously measures heart rate during intense exercise, states of 

relaxation and every moment in between - while dynamically removing 

noise signals caused by body motion and ambient light. 

ONE-DEVICE WORKOUT ACCESSORY FOR ULTIMATE 

COMFORT: A jointly developed heart rate monitor in-ear headphone 

will put an end to the less convenient, less comfortable chest strap-style 

monitor while delivering reliable and consistent heart rate monitoring to 

enable peak performance and progress tracking. 

TUNED-IN FITNESS: Listen to music as a way to stay motivated 

and reach optimal levels of fitness while gathering useful data about the 

user’s health. 

NO BATTERIES OR CHARGING REQUIRED: Eliminate the need 

to charge the headphones with a 3.5 mm gold-plated audio jack that 

powers the biometric monitoring capabilities so users have the freedom 

of on-the-go power. 

SWEAT AND WATER RESISTANT: No need to worry about working 

out too hard or in the rain – the SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones 

are IPX4 rated for protection against sweat and resistance to water. 

BIOMETRIC HEADPHONES 

Will Optimize Workouts 

for Ultra-marathoners, 

Aspirational Exercisers and 

Everyone in Between 

SYNC WITH RUNKEEPER: To help track your heart rate, pace, 

distance, elevation and calorie burn, the SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear 

Headphones will be compatible with popular mainstream fitness app 

RunKeeper, with additional application support planned in the future. 

RunKeeper support will enable users to plan fitness routines and track 

progress – pushing enthusiasts to reach peak performance. 

ACCESSORIES: The headphones will come with a tangle-free cord 

with an in-line microphone, neoprene carrying case, and three sizes of 

ear gels and hooks. 

Availability 

The SMS Audio BioSport In-Ear Headphones will be available at 

SMSAudio.com in Q4 2014. Specific pricing will be announced later this 

year. 

Images courtesy of Audio LLC

Image Courtesy of Beacon & Lively 

BEACON & LIVELY 

The idea for Beacon & Lively was born in a bar. But I 

guess that’s not very unique. 

It was 7:30 on a Thursday night when my 

wife and 6 of our friends gathered at a local bar 

before heading to a concert. We quickly realized that 

our phones had better seats than us. All the phones 

were out on the table. The problem is simple, a phone 

on the table is bad manners, but staying connected 

shouldn’t have to be disruptive. For women, who 

don’t always have pockets, phones end up in purses, 

which means missed calls. We talked about the 

solution…”wearable technology could send you an 

alert!” But we all felt that wearable tech wasn’t, well… 

wearable. 

What is something that people wear for 

the sake of being wearable? Jewelry. The next day 

we started forming a team which would define 

our character and make us unique. Our first team 

members were focused on the design of the jewelry, 

not the technology. Our design team has experience 

with fine jewelry and integrated product design. 

A couple months later we had actual castings of 

the Beacon that we were wearing around town… 

without any technology in them. We wanted to create 

something that people would want to wear, even if it 

didn’t have notification functionality. 

Today we have several functional prototypes 

(app, bracelet, circuit all working together) and we’re 

just a few months from releasing the Beacon. 

What makes Beacon & Lively unique? It’s 

been our fashion first approach. We’ve been able to 

keep things stylish and simple.When we’ve added 

features, we’ve made them part of the design. Our 

bracelet notifies you of calls and texts through 

illuminations that vary in color, pattern and intensity. 

Be as bold or as subtle as you like. You won’t miss a 

call and you’ll look great at the same time.

OMsignal 

SMART SHIRTS 

FOR 

THE MASSES 

In the early stages of their partnership, OMsignal cofounders 

Stephane Marceau and Frederic Chanay 

were tuned into the interconnectivity of wearables and 

mobile health. While their initial concept of a bracelet 

with an accelerometer and skin conductance sensor 

did not come to fruition, in the process creating 

that design they discovered that there was a better 

platform with which to build their product. This was 

the first step toward launching OMsignal. 

Now in its third year, OMsignal, comprised 

of a team of neuroscientists, software engineers 

and fashion designers, launched their first line of 

biometric smartwear for men that can track your 

breathing, heart rate, calories burned, respiration, 

and movement, relaying that information in real-time 

to your smartphone. After all, clothing is the only 

wearable that we’ve all been using our entire lives. By 

developing smart apparel, the sensors are closer to 

the source for continuous reading, providing stronger 

and more accurate data. That data is then transmitted 

to your smartphone to provide actionable insights to 

help you make more informed decisions to improve 

your daily health and wellness. 

Less than six months after their launch, 

OMsignal announced a partnership with acclaimed 

American designer Ralph Lauren in an effort to 

take wearables mainstream. OMsignal provided 

the technology behind the Polo Tech Shirt, which 

was worn and tested at the US Open by ball boys 

during matches and tennis pro Marcos Giron during 

his practices. This marks the first item of tech 

apparel to be introduced by a prominent fashion 

label. OMsignal’s men’s apparel is available now at 

their website for pre-order and will begin shipping by 

Thanksgiving. Ralph Lauren’s Polo Tech Shirt will be 

available to consumers next year. 

Images Courtesy of OMsignal.

TECHNOLOGY 

APPS AS EASY AS 1,2,3 

CorporateCentral.com provides consumers and 

businesses the ability to quickly and cost effectively create and run 

full featured mobile and web apps, because it is entirely graphic and 

complimentary via the ad-supported offering. CorporateCentral. 

com requires no code and generates no code to produce an app, 

so the app designer does not need programming experience to 

use it 

CorporateCentral.com’s ad-supported version provides 

individuals and organizations, enterprise capabilities that previously 

have been unaffordable. Additionally, technical complexities for 

producing and delivering advanced apps are taken care of behind 

a visual, user friendly interface. Relationship management, user 

management, and delivery modules all combine with the visual 

application development module to empower individuals to deploy 

advanced online systems. 

“Billions of people out there love technology and 

have amazing ideas for apps, but they are unable to bring their 

ideas to fruition because there are large and growing barriers to 

programming and running commercial grade apps on a variety of 

mobile and desktop environments. WAG(tm) solves this issue,” 

Nisim Heletz, president, said in a statement. 

proven to be vital as thousands of organizations and people in 

recent years have flocked to CorporateCentral.com for rapid visual 

app creation within hours instead of months and years. 

RAINE: What has been the greatest challenge your company has 

had to overcome? 

HELETZ: The largest challenge has been marketing the platform to 

this huge audience and creating an onboarding process with which 

a user has an overwhelmingly empowering experience when they 

first experience the platform as they create their first app visually 

and try it on their mobile devices. We learned a lot about effective 

online marketing. Our onboarding process now walks users who 

clicked our ads through a 5 minute ‘holy smokes’ experience that 

keeps them coming back for creating more apps. 

Credit Images courtery of Corporate Central 

RAINE: What makes your brand innovative? 

HELETZ: The Corporate Central brand is changing the way people 

create apps. We call this Democratizing App Development. We 

introduced multiple disruptions to the app development eco 

system which still requires many months of programming to create 

a single app for a single device. The Corporate Central platform on 

the other hand allows everyone from corporate IT managers all the 

way to school children - to create advanced high-end apps visually 

without programming and to scale these apps for any size audience. 

CorporateCentral.com also enables professional programmers to 

create the same apps within days instead of months or years. 

RAINE: What inspired you to create Corporate Central? 

HELETZ: Corporate Central’s founder Nisim Heletz was inspired to 

create the Corporate Central rapid visual app creation platform after 

witnessing the escalating time and costs of creating cross platform 

apps. Nisim’s vision came in 2007 with the advent of multiple mobile 

device platforms. He realized that users and app creators would 

soon want their apps to work on all major mobile devices as well is 

on their desktop browsers. This was before Facebook had a mobile 

app and Android was just getting started. Today, many apps are 

available across mobile platforms but it takes an enormous amount 

of time and money to create and maintain these apps running on 

iOS, Android, Windows Phone and web browsers, and wearable 

devices are coming soon to a store near you. This early vision has 

RAINE: What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? 

HELETZ: Choose your team carefully and selectively. Work with 

people whom you can trust and that will stick with you in good 

times and bad. Communicate your vision to them and make sure 

they are genuinely interested in it. These are hard qualities to find. 

We had to look far and wide to solidify a team of people who are top 

notch and committed to the project. As the snowball gets rolling 

you’ll see many people jump on board. Remember the ones that 

started it all and reward them for it. Don’t be afraid to let people go 

if they don’t fit the team and the spirit. 


ENTREPRENEUR 

ROSE SMITH 

A WOMAN OF DISTINCTION 

BY: IESHA COPPIN 

In today’s modern world, a woman in power, strong willed and driven is the norm, 

but it was not too long ago where this ideology was frowned upon. In the early days of the 

women’s movement for workplace equality, Rose Smith stood at the forefront of American 

society, poised to break through the glass ceiling. Coming from humble beginnings, she 

came to New York City with a dream and $200 dollars in her pocket, and with an unrelenting 

determination, she rose to the top to become an international business woman. 

Her accomplishments in the high stakes arena 

of business are numerous; from being elected 

President and later CEO of Innova Pure Water Inc.; 

Editor-in-Chief at Worldstyle Magazine; honoree 

at The Women of Distinction Luncheon and 

working with Newsweek International in 

Europe, Smith has created a path of her own all 

while taking charge in a field she has dominated 

in. 

Before President and CEO of Innova Pure Water Inc., Rose Smith did 

an incredible job balancing business and creativity. She successfully navigated a 

career in the film and TV industry as a stylist and producer working with some of 

the most famous directors and photographers in the world such as Avedon, Hiro, 

Franceso Scavullo, Gina Lollobrigida, Henry Wolf and Bob Giraldi. Smith has also 

work with many famous movie stars and athletes such as Frank Sinatra, Meryl 

Streep, Jack Scalia, Brooke Shields, Kim Basinger, Bob Hope, Joe Namath, Franco 

Harris and Joe DiMaggio to name a few. 

Following her quick rise in film and television, Smith held the role of 

President of International, Military and Food Service for The Healthy Beverage 

Company (Steaz) for many years and is still an investor. She is currently VP of Sales 

for Seychelle Enviromental Technologies, a public company in water filtration as 

well as President of International Affairs for Glam Screen LLC, a mobile accessories 

company Co-Founded by Jonathan Cheban - the TV personality from “Keeping 

Up With The Kardashians”. Thinking most would stop there; not Mrs. Smith. She 

is on the advisory board for Bideawee, the leading pet welfare organization in 

metropolitan New York and Long Island. Smith is also Co-Chairman of the Board of 

Directors of IHOOT (In Honor Of Our Troops), a military foundation founded by Phil 

Strambler, who she did work with at the Walter Reed Medical Center. 

It wasn’t all about business for Smith; she also gave back to organizations 

such as, “The Foundation for Developmentally Disabled Children in Israel.” At a 

banquet hosted by the late Joan Rivers and The Trump family, Smith was honored 

for her selflessness and great efforts towards those in need; “because of your 

caring and your love and because of your untiring efforts, support and compassion 

the “children” can grow and live a life of love.”- The Trump Family 

Smith continued to stay both business savvy and proactive, while maintaining her humility 

throughout her career, also giving back to the Diabetes Research Institute, as well as an 

active committee member alongside Sophia Loren for the Community Alliance Against 

AIDS, of which Julio Iglesias was the honorary Chairman. Smith had become a commodity 

and everyone wanted her on board to drive his or her business or organization in the right 

direction. In the 1990’s Smith became heavily involved in the Summit of the Americas 

1994, hosted by President Clinton. 

Rose Smith is the true definition of a selfstarter, 

self-motivator, and innovator. It’s one thing 

to take on the world of business, but to become a 

success story and translate your marvelous efforts 

onto others is the true success of it all. 

Images courtesy of Rose Smith 

46 



Flirting 

with fall 

Photographer: Anna Tabakova; Model:Heather Seefeldt@ 

Maggie Inc; Designer: Tabbytha Ferguson; Make up: Nadya 

Rutman; All the clothes designed by Tabbytha Ferguson; 

Headwraps: Goodwill; Bracelets and necklace: So Good; 

Shoes:Forever 21

48 


RAINEQUARTERLY 


H O L L Y W O O D I S S U E 

VOL 

19 


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ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT 

THE FASHIONABLE SIDE OF 

MELANIE IGLESIAS 

Photographer –Lisa Ramsay; Wardrobe stylist – Angelina Scantlebury; Hair stylist- Alyn Martin; Makeup stylist – Juliette Laracuente 

Dress by Rebecca Taylor; Shoes by Zack Lo; Earrings by Melinda Maria; Necklace by Charles Klein

Top by Byron Lars Beauty Mark; Pants 

by Byron Lars Beauty Mark; Shoes by 

Zack Lo; Earrings by Charles Klein 

Meet America’s sweet heart with a twist, this 

model and entertainment host can charm you 

with the twinkling of an eye, but don’t let that fool 

you; she is one piping hot commodity. 

Melanie Iglesias, the Brooklyn born-native is 

known to keep it real sharing what’s really on her 

mind, staring in her own YouTube channel, “What 

Girls Really Do” featuring best friend and fellow 

model, Lisa Ramos. 

In the beginning of her acting career, 

Iglesias appeared in several episodes of the 

World’s Poker Tour, as a Royal Flush Girl. Iglesias 

has also appeared in MTV’s Guy Code and Girl 

Code in a no holds barge of what the opposite 

sex thinks of one another. Other related series 

include, Guy Court, where she portrays a bailiff; 

these reality comedies reveal a particular “code of 

conduct” that stands between men and women. 

Iglesias had her sights set for 

something a little out of her comfort zone of 

reality comedies, her next big break would be 

within the modeling industry. In 2010 she was 

voted Maxim’s Hometown Hotties winner, and 

was later elevated to one of the world’s most 

beautiful women on the “Maxim Hot 100” list. It 

was only up from here, Iglesias was also featured 

in Esquire and Vibe Magazine’s “World’s Most 

Beautiful” issues. In 2012, Iglesias launched the 

Official Melanie Iglesias Store, including various 

merchandise such as, posters and other signed 

products for her fans. Iglesias quickly became 

a household name; since her brush with instant 

stardom Iglesias has signed to Red Models Inc., 

where she continues to make her way to the top. 

Raine: Who was responsible for your first big 

break? 

Iglesias: I’m not really sure! People always assume 

Maxim was, since I won their annual “Hometown 

Hotties” contest in 2010, but they’ve had winners 

since then, who have not had the same success 

in entertainment/modeling. For me, I believe it 

was different; I had a few tricks up my sleeve. I 

didn’t let a competition become my only platform, 

but rather let it lead me in the right direction. From 

there, I released my own viral video series that 

drew in millions of views in a very short amount 

of time. This resulted in me landing a show that 

aired on MTV, not too long after I had won. I’d say, 

I owe my success to multiple people, including 

Darin Byrne from MTV2, who reached out to me 

about the pilot for Guy Code, which then turned 

into having four shows on MTV. 

Raine: What has been your biggest challenge? 

Iglesias: My biggest challenge is probably saying 

“no” to different job opportunities. Obviously, 

nothing is ever guaranteed in the entertainment 

industry, and you always want to make sure 

you’re working as much as you can, but not every 

job is the right thing to do. You always want to 

make sure you’re growing within the business, 

becoming bigger and better after each job you 

take. You don’t want to go backwards! The 

golden rule is being able to know when to pass on 

projects, and when to move on. Being stagnant 

in doing the same thing over and over is never 

an option, people become bored and wonder, “is 

that all she can bring to the table.” Elevation in 

the entertainment industry is always the answer, 

it keeps viewers wanting more. 

Raine: What has been the most exciting venture 

in your career? 

Iglesias: So far, the most exciting venture in my 

career was working on the MTV2 show, “Off the 

Bat,” from the Major League Baseball (MLB) Fan 

Cave. I grew up watching a lot of baseball and 

couldn’t wait to be a part of this project. When I 

participated in the MLB Celebrity Softball game, 

I had the pleasure of playing on the same team 

as MLB legends, which was extremely humbling. 

Not to mention, I’ve been able to develop an 

extremely versatile hosting reel, which has 

opened up so many doors for me. 

Raine: Who has been your biggest inspiration? 

Iglesias: I have so many inspirations in the 

entertainment industry. I really loved the late and 

great Aaliyah growing up, because I always felt 

she portrayed herself well. She was not willing 

to conform to the industry, or put up a front for 

anyone. In the entertainment industry today we’re 

in a world where everyone is doing outrageous 

and outlandish things for attention. It’s more 

about competing and outdoing each other for 

shameless promotion, but Aaliyah was never that 

type of celebrity; something I’ve always admired. 

On the other-hand, and I know this is going to 

sound a bit weird, but I also really look up to 

Judge Judith Sheindlin (Judge Judy, lol). I simply 

love her. 

Raine: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Iglesias: In five years I’ll probably still be on TV, 

hosting and hopefully even writing and producing 

my own show. I have great plans and I intend on 

both pursuing and executing them on a major 

network. 

Raine: Was it more fun for you working on Guy 

Code or Girl Code? 

Iglesias: Both of the shows were equally great 

to work on, but I feel like I had more fun on Guy 

Code because they allowed me to be more of 

myself. 

Raine: What do you enjoy doing outside of TV 

and modeling? 

Iglesias: I love anything that involves creativity. 

That would include writing and creating music 

for fun. I sometimes design and create my own 

unique swimwear just for me… No one else 

knows that, but I guess they do now. Other 

times, I like to hit up craft stores and make oneof 

–a-kind decorative items for my apartment; 

basically anything that can become a creative 

outlet for me. 

Raine: Do you have any hidden talents? 

Iglesias: I’ve recently discovered I’m pretty good 

in the kitchen. Also, my boyfriend thinks I’m a 

great singer, but I’m pretty sure he’s pulling my 

leg. 

Raine: What advice do you have for aspiring 

models and actors? 

Iglesias: I have never considered myself much of 

a model, because my modeling career was cut 

short due to my love for hosting much more. It 

just came more naturally to me. Modeling is 

extremely competitive these days, a lot of people 

want to pursue modeling, but the “catch22” 

is modeling jobs don’t pay as much as they’re 

portrayed. You’ll work your butt off for a long 

time and hopefully you book something that pays 

well. Don’t be fooled by Instagram. People think 

models are rich, but aside from a select lucky few, 

not many see much financial success without 

some sort of backup plan. It’s cool if you’re just 

looking for some exposure to lead to something 

else, but be sure you want to go through the 

grueling struggle of competition for very little 

financial stability in the end. 

Raine: What are 3 fun facts fans don’t know about 

you? 

Iglesias: 

I eat more than the men in my family. 

I hate putting on makeup and shopping. 

I don’t post much on the internet anymore, 

because I really value the idea of having actual 

privacy and enjoying life by living in the moment. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

HIT THE FLOOR WITH VH1’S 

KATHERINE BAILESS 

Mississippi’s southern belle, Katherine “Kat” Bailess 

is quite the triple threat. Since childhood, she has 

been pushing her talents as an actress, singer and 

dancer. So it came as no surprise when “Kat” decided 

to pursue musical theatre and dance at Marymount 

Manhattan College. 

To date, Bailess has starred in several films, 

including: From Justin to Kelly, Bring It on Again and 

Elle: A Modern Cinderella Tale, to name a few. She 

has also been featured in several popular TV series 

such as Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill and NCIS. Kat 

currently plays a role in VH1 TV series Hit the Floor as 

Kyle Hart. The series follows Ahsha Hayes played by 

Taylour Paige, a girl who joins the NBA Cheerleading 

team the Los Angeles Devil Girls, oblivious to the 

deceitful and irresistible life that comes with it. 

When she is not busy with her work she spends her 

leisurely time with Pilates, guitar playing, dancing, 

keeping up on the latest books, nature hiking and 

playing her part in her community. 

RAINE: What would you say was the jump start to 

your career? 

BAILESS: I’d have to say the feature film, From Justin 

to Kelly. I had just moved to Los Angeles from New 

York City and booked the lead. That definitely gave 

my career a big boost! 

RAINE: Who inspires you? 

BAILESS: The people that inspire me most are 

those people that have a dream, a focus and a goal. 

I can’t stand lazy people. The world is ours to take 

advantage of and there are no limits as to what we 

can accomplish. The one person that has continually 

inspired me is my Dad. I’ve never met anyone with his 

work ethic. Growing up I had a lot to look up to. 

RAINE: What do you enjoy doing outside of acting? 

BAILESS: I love staying active and when I’m not 

dancing for the show, I love to hike with friends, take 

hot yoga, Pilates, play my guitar, write songs and 

anything that makes me happy. But most of all I like 

to spend time with my friends and family—especially 

my little nephews. 

RAINE: How would you say that you have grown over 

the years from being in front of the camera? 

BAILESS: Over the last couple of years, I have grown 

as a human being for sure, which in turn, makes me 

a better actress. Also, my level of confidence and the 

ability to allow myself to be vulnerable have helped 

to further my success. Watching myself on camera is 

never easy, but I’m the type of person that can laugh 

at myself and I try not to be too critical. 

RAINE: What has been the benchmark of your 

success? 

BAILESS: The benchmark of my success has got to 

be my role as Kyle on Vh1’s Hit the Floor. I say that 

because, I have an opportunity to show not one, but 

a few of my talents. It’s not every day that I get to act, 

dance, be southern, sexy and funny in every episode. 

Now all the writers have to do is have me sing and 

I’ll be set! 

Photographer – Lisa Ramsay; Wardrobe stylist – Angelina Scantlebury; Hair stylist- Alyn Martin; Makeup stylist – Juliette Laracuente 

Jumpsuit by Catherine Malandrino; Earrings by CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane; Bracelet by Charles Klein; Ring by CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane; Shoes by Sigerson Morrison

RAINE: What has been the greatest challenge for 

you in the industry? 

BIALESS: The hardest thing has been rejection 

for sure. When you are on a show, life is 

grand, but the time in between jobs is the 

hardest. I can speak for a lot of entertainers 

out there, we hear ‘no,’ way more than “yes.” 

The only way I’ve held for this long, is the 

support from my family, friends and manager. 

Dress by Byron Lars Beauty Mark; Earrings by CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane; Handcuff by Collette Malouf; Hand Jewelry by Collette Malouf; Booties by Shop Priceless 

RANE: What advice would you give other aspiring 

actors/singers? 

BAILESS: I always tell anyone getting 

into the business to be themselves. Also, 

Follow your dream, know what you have to 

offer, stick to your instincts and never be 

afraid to ask for help. The key to success 

is confidence, focus and hard work. Once you 

have those down, success will come to you. 

RIANE: Where do you see you’re self-heading in 

the next 3 years? 

BAILESS: I see a number of things. I see my show 

Hit the Floor continuing for a few more seasons. 

Also, I would love to get my hands into producing 

and movies for sure! I hope to be married in the 

next 3 years, or I think my southern Mom will kill 

me! 

RAINE: How is Hit the Floor different from other 

productions you have been in? 

BAILESS: For one, Hit the Floor is the first 

TV show that I have been a part of from the 

beginning. The writers created my character 

off of my southern comedic craziness. 

Trust me, it’s definitely a compliment. 

RAINE: How have your southern roots helped 

your roles on TV? 

BAILESS: Land jobs basically! I have always had 

a strong Southern accent and my Dad paid a 

lot of money in NYC for me to lose it with the 

help of a dialect coach. But the minute I moved 

to LA at my first big audition, they asked me if 

I could do the scene with a southern accent. 

Enthusiastically, I said, “Yes! Of course!” The 

same thing goes for my role as Kelly Clarkson’s 

best friend in, From Justin to Kelly. My accent 

has helped to land me a few other acting jobs, 

but the biggest one to date is Hit the Floor. My 

character Kyle was not southern until they heard 

a slight twang in the audition and asked me to 

perform her southern. And that was the end of 

that— Kyle, the sassy southern stripper, turned 

Devil Girl was born! 

RAINE: Does your true passion lie with singing, 

dancing or acting for TV? 

BAILESS: I love them all, which is why I am able 

to do any of them on the drop of a hat. When 

you are a performer and a triple threat, it’s hard 

not to love all three. Performing is performing, 

no matter if it’s acting, singing or dancing! In the 

end, I would definitely say that having more than 

one talent has landed me some dream roles. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

RISING STAR JILLIAN ROSE REED 

Photographer - Joseph DeAngelis; Hair 

Stylist - Ozzy Delgado; Makeup Artist - Anton 

Khachaturian; Wardrobe Stylist - Ali Levine; 

Assistant Wardrobe Stylist - Rachel Lutsky 

Top by Blaque Label; Skirt by Lumier by Bariano; 

Rings by Vitrine Designs, AV Max & Elizabeth 

Knight Jewelry; Earrings by Jared Jamin; Shoes by 

Privileged Shoes

Dress by Creative PR; Jacket by Ted Baker; Rings by DipinLA 

The young and beautiful American actress, Jillian Rose Reed, is 

best known for her rise to fame on the hit television dramedy, MTV’s 

Awkward, where Reed plays the role of Tamara Kaplan. Awkward is a 

teen comedy about high school best friends, Jenna Hamilton played 

by Ashley Rickards and Tamara Kaplan played by Jillian Rose Reed, 

as they tackle the ups-and-downs of young adulthood. The series 

centers around, Hamilton’s high school misfortunes and the everyday 

social pressures that many teens are faced with and provides some 

surprising revelations along the way. 

Early on in life, Reed had a desire to be on stage. So it was 

natural for her to pursue her dreams by taking part in children’s theater, 

plays, and musicals. Not one to stop pushing for her goals, she realized 

that in order to reach the top, she would need to focus her attention 

on the entertainment capital of the world; Hollywood. Among some 

of the first roles she landed, was a 

guest appearances on Nickelodeon’s 

Supah Ninjas. Reed also had guest 

roles on Disney Channel’s Jessie 

and Disney XD’s Pair of Kings, and 

in 2012 she was nominated for 

the Young Artist Award for “Best 

Performance in a TV series – Leading 

Young Actress.” 

Aside from her kid/teen 

friendly appearances, she has 

proven herself to be a well-rounded 

actress in her portrayal of a dark, 

edgy character in the Primetime- 

Emmy award winning TV series 

Weeds and preppy mean girl in 

NBC’s “Community.” 

Follow along as we get 

a glimpse into the life of one of 

Hollywood’s rising stars, making 

waves, proving that hard work and 

dedication are forces to be reckoned 

with in the entertainment industry. 

RAINE: Who has been your biggest 

inspiration? 

REED: First and foremost, my mom 

and grandma. I have been very lucky 

throughout my career and they have 

always been there to support me and 

keep me going. I am also inspired by 

the work of Sandra Bullock. I think that she hilarious! 

RAINE: Can you talk about why you love acting? 

REED: Honestly, I feel like this was something that I was born to do—it 

is the only thing that fulfills me creatively and emotionally. 

RAINE: What has been the benchmark of your career? 

REED: Working with Casting Director Kari Kurto, for the Showtime 

Television series Weeds. I auditioned for her and afterwards she really 

fought for me to be on the show, which turned into a recurring role for 

two seasons; it was my first big role on TV. I can still remember reading 

for the role of Simone, with Actress Mary-Louise Parker. She started 

reading her lines and locked eyes with me and at that very moment 

everything that I had learned up to that point she had done in one line. 

In that instant everything made sense to me. 

RAINE: What is your favorite show on television? 

REED: Right now, I am a big fan of Modern Family 

RAINE: Do you see yourself producing movies in the future? 

REED: It is funny that you should ask that, because I recently started 

to get into production. I, along with a family friend, have developed 

a script for a new movie, based on a psychiatrist that specializes in 

helping patients with eating disorders. As well as playing one of the 

characters, I am also the producer for the show. 

RAINE: What advice would you give to aspiring actors? 

REED: The one piece of advice that I 

would give to aspiring actors, is that 

if you don’t love it with your whole 

body and being –don’t do it. I would 

also say, don’t give up. 

RAINE: What is the biggest challenge 

you have had to overcome in your 

career? 

REED: A challenge that I have had 

to overcome is learning to deal with 

the disappointment of being turned 

down at auditions. Over time, I have 

learned that those moments help to 

build my confidence and push me to 

hone my craft. 

RAINE: What do you enjoy doing 

outside of filming? 

REED: I love to work out and stay 

active; I especially love to hike. 

Also, I would say that I am definitely 

a foodie. My mom and I enjoy 

going to different restaurants and 

experimenting with new and different 

cuisine. 

RAINE: Where do you see yourself in 

10 years? 

REED: In the next 10 years, I hope to 

be on a long lasting sitcom. I would 

also like to start a family. 

RAINE: What are three fun facts that you would like your fans to know 

about you? 

REED: Three things that my fans may not know about me are: 

I hate cotton balls. I compare them to the screeching sound of nails 

being dragged against a chalkboard. 

Recently, for my last birthday, my mom bought me a bike. When I 

am back home in Michigan, I like to ride my bike everyday around 

the neighborhood. When it comes to shoes, I am definitely a Steve 

Madden girl. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

RAINE: There is not a lot of substance in the music industry as compared 

to times past. What are your thoughts on the state of the industry? How 

do you challenge yourself to stay on message and create songs that add 

value to listeners? 

MAE: Oh my, it’s so hard to comment on the state of the industry because 

it can come out sounding like a sub-tweet these days. Everybody thinks it’s 

about them. I think self-worth is at an all-time low, and thirst and disrespect 

is at an all-time high. 

I’m all about making music that everyone can feel and relate to. 

RAINE: Would you say music is your passion? 

MAE: Yes, definitely! 

The singer/songwriter and blonde bombshell, Lauriana Mae, is taking the 

music world by storm and embodies the ability to grab you with her soulfully 

pop voice, catchy tunes and takes you back to a time when music made 

you want to dance like no one was watching. Her vast influences stem 

from the likes of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, The Notorious 

B.I.G., Jay Z, Kanye West, & Beyonce. Lauriana melds jazz vocals with 

contemporary pop, R&B and hip hop music reinventing the essence of 

great music from the past and present. 

Growing up perfecting her talents in her church choir, local talent 

shows and various singing gigs, Lauriana was able to gain the confidence 

to get into the recording studio and create a sound all her own. She’s 

been fortunate enough to rub elbows with the likes of top recording artist 

producer Kwame, hip hop/rap mogul Ludacris, and lyrist B.O.B. Her 3 song 

Love Mae EP, featuring songs “Like a Drum (Beat it)”, “Love”, and “Money 

Mae” will take you from dancing in your seat, tugging at your heart strings 

to knowing the words of the song before it’s even over. This solo artist is 

gearing up to break the mold of popular music. 

Captivating both mature and young audiences alike with her 

voice and her beauty, this songstress is on her way to creating something 

legendary. 

She is, Lauriana Mae. 

RAINE: You have said some of your inspiration comes from the likes of 

artist like, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James. Those artists were 

heavy hitters in their choice of subject matter as well as the uniqueness of 

their voices. How would you compare yourself to those musical greats? 

MAE: I’m inspired by so many different artists. But these women really 

had such a special tone in their voices. I look up to them, and it’s an honor 

every time I get compared to any one of them. As far as subject matter 

goes, I have my own perspective. Over the course of creating this album 

I’ve become much more comfortable owning that perspective. I’ve created 

something true to myself and my real life experiences. That’s what makes it 

for everyone. People can feel sincerity, in vocals and in lyrics. 

RAINE: Confidence being one of many keys to a creative entrepreneur’s 

success. Can you share with us how singing in a choir at an early age 

helped you to mature into a more confident singer? 

MAE: Singing in a choir teaches you harmony and how to work with a team 

to create something beautiful. The right choir/team will encourage you and 

bring out the best in you, but also humbles you. Singing in a choir also 

teaches you that you have to listen to others and not overpower them to 

get the best sound. 

RAINE: What has been an embarrassing moment on stage? How did you 

recover? 

MAE: Well all in one show I had to walk off stage because my top ripped 

open when I opened my arms. During that same show I lost my voice 

because I had been fighting a cold. My band “The Pains,” really had to 

hold me down and improvise that night. 

RAINE: If you could not be a singer what else would you do with your life? 

MAIE: I will always be a singer. Honestly, I can’t see myself doing anything 

else because I’ve never given up on Plan A. 

RAINE: Do you have a ritual that you perform before a big performance to 

get psyched up for being on stage? 

MAE: I get in a circle with my band and we pray. We give thanks to God and 

ask that he successfully get us through another show. 

RAINE: What advice can you share with aspiring singers either from a 

business or personal standpoint that has helped you navigate the pitfalls 

of the music industry? 

MAE: I received all my experience being told “no,” and “not good enough.” 

Also, you have to maintain a sense of humility and confidence. Of course, 

it goes without saying that you can never give up. 

Image courtesy of Matthew Salacuse 

RAINE: Your EP, Love Mae has various influences from other musical eras 

mixed with modern elements. What inspired you to pull your sound from 

past influences rather than doing current pop music? 

MAE: I did the Love Mae EP with the amazing Kwame 3+ years ago. These 

were among some of the first songs we ever recorded together. Neither of 

us have ever been a “do what everyone’s doing” type of artist. I inspired 

him to make the music and he inspired me to write and sing on it. “Pop” 

music is just whatever the masses love and decide on. So I just have to 

give the best of me every time. 

RAINE: In your song titled Love, you chose to have a reflective conversation 

with love as opposed to singing about it, can you share your reasons 

why decided to take that direction? There is a certain amount of passion 

that comes through in this song. Did you sing from your own experience 

regarding your dealings with love? 

MAE: Love is a song that I never get tired of performing. I feel it in my 

soul every single time. Love has ripped right through me without apology. 

And I have had to find it in myself to forgive it and keep believing it had its 

reasons. 

58 


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FRESH FACES | FASHION 

IVANA 

Photographer: Filip Konikowski; Make Up & Hair: Ana Makridis; Stylist: Candice Lewin; Model: Ivana (Chadwick Models) 

MODEL: IVANA 

HOMETOWN - Melbourne, Australia 

AGENCY - Chadwick 

HEIGHT – 5FT 9IN 

FUN FACTS: 

1. Two of my favorite books are Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman 

Capote, and Perfume by Patrick Suskind. 

2. Aside from modeling, I have been quietly styling for four years. My 

work has been published in the likes of Oyster, Contributor, Culture, 

Polanski, Pages Digital, Fashion Gone Rogue, Fault and S Magazine. I 

am also a brand consultant for shoe label Alias Mae, and I have a blog 

that I use as a creative platform to release and show my work. Check it 

out at www.imzcr8.com. 

3. My new hobby is photography, and I hope that I can take that further 

within Australia and around the world—I will never stop traveling. Work 

or pleasure, it is my freedom, my inspiration, and it gives me life. 

60 


FRESH FACES | FASHION 

LUKAS 

Photographer - Martha Jagodzinski; Model - Lukas Ziegele 

a 

MOdel: LUKAS 

HOMETOWN – STUTTGART, GERMANY 

AGENCY – VIVA MODELS BERLIN 

HEIGHT – 6FT 1IN 

FUN FACTS: 

1. I am a vegeterian 

2. In addition to modeling, I am a talented violinist 

3. I am a ballet dancer 


BEAUTY & FITNESS

FITNESS 

M A I K : H O W T O S T A Y I N S H A P E 

D U R I N G T H E W I N T E R M O N T H S 

Yes, it is a sad fact: summer is over (unless you own a house 

in fabulous in St. Barths) and for most of us that means we are 

putting on more and more layers of clothing, pushing our physique 

awareness into the oblivious. Then the unavoidable happens: the 

weight creeps on during the holiday season and come March we 

are in a frantic race to get beach ready. STOP! Let’s not do that 

again. How can one stay in reasonable good shape during fall 

without spending a whole day in the gym? 

We tend to move less as it gets colder, buses taxis and subways are 

more appealing in November than in June where we often walk a 

few blocks without even thinking about it. To make matters worse, 

most jobs are a lot busier in September/October than during the 

summer months, so we have less time to train. So it seems like 

the perfect storm to get of shape quickly, just in time to gorge on 

Christmas cookies and Thanksgiving pie, right? 

I will admit, it is a slippery slope but one that is not impossible to 

counter if one spends a bit of time and energy to plan properly. Let’s 

address the issues one at a time: 

1. Less time. That means you have to workout smarter and do 

exercises that will do the most for your physique, and nothing 

touches weight training. When it comes to shaping or toning your 

body, you simply must do some sort of resistance training, this could 

be free weights, machines or exercise bands. Body weight training 

will not suffice since the resistance there cannot be changed. Think 

two whole body workouts a week as an absolute must. You should 

be in and out the gym within 45-50 minutes. 

Cardio would be a second for about 90 minutes per week, if you 

have more time to spare, you can add yoga, Pilates and any other 

active recovery methods. 

2. Caloric needs. Yes, you will most likely use up less energy than 

you have during summer, which means you have to watch your 

portions. Try to stick to light summer cooking as long as possible; 

do not go for the heavy sauces. 

Another option would be to forgo starches for two straight days and 

add them in on the third day. 

3. Motivation. As the sun light fades, so does willpower. The antidote 

here is to get a training partner or join a workout group to create 

accountability. 

Author and world renowned fitness expert, Maik Wiedenbach is 

changing bodies with over 10 years of award winning experience. 

He is breaking barriers and showing people the secret to getting in 

shape the correct way. 

His recent book 101 Fitness Myths tackles some of the common 

fitness myths that hold people back from getting the body they 

want and deserve. In the book, Maik gives you everything you need 

to know to turbocharge your workouts to get leaner and stronger— 

faster! 

4. Keep it light. Being in shape is important but there is a whole 

big world out there that needs to be explored (with an awesome 

physique, of course). 

64 


BEAUTY 

Photographer: Nicole Marcelli; Model: Lauren Hogue @ Donna Baldwin Agency; 

Makeup & Hair: Jessica Rowell; Fashion Designer: J-Chan's Designs; Wardrobe 

Stylist: J-Chan's Designs; Jewelry Designer: Basteroid (Canadian Private Label) 

bstrd.com; Location: Paint Mines Interpretive Park (Calhan, Colorado) 

Cerulean Peacock Halter & Sheer Skirt: J-Chan's Designs; Seeing 

Double Necklace set in Silver worn as Headpiece: Bstrd; Silkwrap 

Bracelets with Antique Silver in Brown, Sea, Burnt Purple 

& Blue: Bstrd; Silver-plated Necklace worn as bracelt: Bstrd 

Fall Blossoms 


Multi-Color Cropped Body-con: J-Chan's Designs 

Silk-wrap Bracelet in Burnt Purple: Bstrd 

Prayer Hand-chain: Bstrd 

RIGHT: Gold Rose dress: J-Chan's Designs 

Swarvoski Fringe Necklace in Silver worn as Face-chain: Bstrd 

Silk-wrap Bracelet in Brown: Bstrd 

Rose Gold Hand-chain: Bstrd 

66 


Gold Rose dress: J-Chan's Designs; Swarvoski Fringe Necklace in Silver worn as 

Face-chain: Bstrd; Silk-wrap Bracelet in Brown: Bstrd; Rose Gold Hand-chain: Bstrd

BEAUTY 

BEAUTY TRENDS 

BY: IESHA COPPIN 

PIERMARINI BEAUTY 

From the golden bombshell, to a product 

of great naturalizing proportion that can 

turn back the hands of time, while leaving 

you looking young forever. John Piermarini 

of Piermarini Beauty introduces a line 

of cosmetic and skincare products that 

idolize the use of natural ingredients, which 

hydrate the skin as well as prevent, reduce, 

and reverse aging. So, you may be thinking 

what makes this the next best thing, well for 

starters, key ingredients include: Water Lily 

Extract, Avocado Oil, Aloe, Jojoba, Vitamin 

C and Vitamin K. All ingredients are organic, 

natural, and extremely healthy for your skin. 

What makes this product that much more 

impactful is that all these ingredients are 

simply things you can probably find in your 

kitchen or a health food store. Piermarni 

applies to the masses, while following a 

simple, yet sophisticated aesthetic. The 

curated collection of products allows for 

diversity in skin tones and types. Whether 

you are a light, moderate, or darker tone; 

to dry, oily, or combination skin there is 

a product for you in this collection. This 

product is efficient and effective for your 

skin, not only now, but in the future as well. 

As the saying goes, “let us stay young, and 

let us live forever” and with a few choice 

products you can do just that. 

EVOLUTION MAN 

“RESURFACING CLAY MASK” 

It’s no secret that good skin takes a lot of tender 

love and care, and men; there is no exception 

to that rule for you either. Evolution Man 

unveils the newest advancement in skincare 

with the “Resurfacing Clay Mask”. This is a 

new product sending shock waves through 

the men’s skin care industry. Noted as, “an 

innovative new product loaded with naturallysourced, 

beneficial ingredients, delivering fast 

and dramatic results”. Skin care no longer has 

to be subjected to women, men you too can 

transform your complexion from the inside 

out. Evolution Man has created somewhat 

of a “magical potion” for the everyday man, 

this powerful blend ensures: skin clearing, 

tightening pores, brighten, rejuvenate, and 

smooth out the texture of your skin. 

Working on the skin’s deepest layers 

infusing vitamins, minerals and anti-aging 

exfoliates. Pretty much seems like heaven 

placed on your face right from the comfort 

of your own home. Think of a spa being 

brought to you…. ahhh, a sigh of peace and 

tranquility after a long day of hard work. But, 

it gets better; of course the real power comes 

from the innovation of the various acids that 

penetrate your skin: Gycolic acid, Salicylic 

Acid, Kaolin Clay, Witch Hazel, and Lemon 

grass extract to name a few. The “Resurfacing 

Clay Mask” is enrichment to your skin that will 

thank you later. 

OROGOLD COSMETICS 

Your beauty is simply radiant; it shines 

like that of a thousand golden suns. 

Beauty and gold, although sounds like a 

rather odd combination works wonders 

when infused together. Let’s be honest 

who doesn’t want their skin to exude 

24k gold. Can you say…Living your life 

like its golden! Throughout history, gold 

has been recognized for its luxurious and 

beautifying properties. From the ancient 

Egyptians, to the Ancient Chinese and 

Romans, gold has been the secret agent 

for a more youthful, beautiful and glowing 

appearance. OROGOLD Cosmetics – a 

luxury, anti-aging cosmetics line helps to 

restores the youthful appearance of your 

skin by including 24K gold in their luxurious 

formula. In hindsight, you’re improving 

fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and age 

spots; all while moisturizing and ensuring 

healthy looking skin. By purchasing 

OROGOLD Cosmetics, you’re preventing 

future skin damage, with an innovative, 

yet life changing investment. With the 

help of their luxurious and affordable 

products including: 24K 2-Step Cleansing 

Kit, 24K Gold Milk Cleanser, 24K Gold 

Purifying Facial Toner, 24K Multi-Vitamin 

Day Moisturizer, 24K Multi-Vitamin Night 

Nourishment and the 24K Deep Peeling 

you simply can’t go wrong!

FASHION TO LIVE FOR


Photography: Luis Guillen 

Instagram @luisguillenphoto 

Model: Stephanie Auguste 

Makeup Artist: Ashley Rike @ Agency Gerard using 

MAC Cosmetics 

Fashion Stylist: Liz Teich @ Agency Gerard. Styling 

Assistant: Courtney McComb 

Touch of 

Couture 

Jewelry by Depuis 1924 Vintage 

Chanel Logo Cutout Quilted Bangle 

Head wrap by Hipknoties 

70 


Jewelry by Depuis 1924; Vintage Gianni Versace Silver; Chain 

Belt/Necklace with Safe Pins; Head wrap by Hipknoties

Jewelry by Depuis 1924 

Vintage Chanel Marge 

Red/Gold Leather Bangle 

Head wrap by Hipknoties

RAINEMAKER 

MEET NICKY HILTON

Effortless style: 

Nicky Hilton 

Photographer – Luis Guillen; Photographer’s Assistant - 

Gabriel Brandt; Hair Stylist – Takayoshi Tsukusawa; Makeup 

Artist – Griselle Rosario using Artis Makeup Tools, Chanel 

Skincare & Tarte Makeup; Manicurist – Angel Williams; 

Stylist – Liz Teich; Stylist Assistant – Nick Adedokun 

& Sydney Lawson; Georgine dress, L.A.M.B shoes, E. 

Kammeyer Bracelet, Parulina Ring, Nicky’s engagement ring 

(worn throughout) and custom bag by Sara Battaglia *Prices 

Available Upon Request*

Kevin Johnn top and pants, Rita 

Vinieris belt, Christian Louboutin shoes, 

E. Kammeyer Earrings, Pico Jewelry; 

Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18K White 

Gold *Prices Available Upon Request* 


Reaching far beyond the Hilton name, 

Nicky Hilton has made her mark not only in the fashion industry, but also in the 

business world. This glamorous socialite wears many hats as a businesswoman, 

model and fashion designer. Once upon a time, the last name ‘Hilton’ was 

simply associated with luxury hotels, but much of Nicky’s success contributes 

to the name seamlessly crossing over and creating a home amongst top high 

fashion brands. 

NYC native and bicoastal brunette turned blonde, Nicky Hilton, was 

always known by association with older celebutante sister, Paris Hilton, but 

began shattering that “little sister” persona and generated much success 

after launching her first fashion line, Chick by Nicky Hilton, and designing 

handbags for Japanese company Samantha Thavasa. The fashion 

aficionada burst onto the scene in 2007 and debuted at New York City’s 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with her second clothing line, Nicholai. 

This fashion forward icon and entrepreneur is now adding to her author 

to her already impressive resume. Nicky shares her personal stories, style 

successes and fashion mishaps in her ultimate guidebook to fashion, 365 

Style. 

Her name is more than just a name, it’s an internationally recognized brand 

that is flourishing faster than anyone could have imagined and by the looks 

of it, there are no plans of that slowing down anytime soon. 

RAINE: Can you talk about your new book 365 Style? What would you like 

for the takeaway to be for readers? 

HILTON: I love fashion so I wrote this book for people who love fashion or 

are interested in it. I cover all sorts of different things from style advice to 

quick fixes and tips. I’ve dedicate a whole chapter to travel: what to pack 

and what to wear as well as educate the reader on what to save on and 

what to spend on. 

RAINE: What was the “Ah Ha” moment? 

HILTON: A few years ago I became active on my social media and people 

starting writing in to me and starting asking style advice. I then thought it 

would be fun putting all of what I learned into a book. It balances all sides 

of the spectrum from behind the scenes, a spectator to designer. I had this 

front education in style and I wanted to share what I’ve learned. Fashion is 

supposed to be fun. Don’t take it too seriously -- it is a really fun thing for 

people to dress up and present themselves. 

RAINE: If you could offer one tip to style conscious men and women, what 

would it be and why? 

HILTON: Wear what makes you feel good. Don’t be a slave to trends - that 

is the fastest way to burn through money. And really ask yourself—“ is it 

me, is it flattering, does it fit?: And..., be unique! So don’t copy your favorite 

celebrities’ style head to toe. That is so boring. Also, create a mood board 

to help you find yourself. This is a collage. It can be anything, flowers, 

colors, architecture, clothes, etc. 

RAINE: How would you describe your own sense of style? 

HILTON: I would say - it is pretty reflective of my lifestyle in NYC - 

sophisticated with an edge. 

RAINE: Do you have a signature go to piece? 

HILTON: I love blazers—in many variations. That is sort of my staple. They 

look good and I feel good in them. Also, ballet flats - love them! They are 

chic, simple and comfortable—which is a bonus. 

RAINE: In your own words, why should be people take an interest in their 

own personal sense of style? 

HILTON: I think when you look good, you feel good. I read this book the 

Happiness Project - one of its mantras—“act how you want to feel.” My 

Mantra—“dress how you want to feel.” 

RAINE: At the age of 17 you were already a budding entrepreneur and 

designing hand bags for Samantha Thavasa. Would you say that starting 

early prepared you for your future endeavors as a business woman? 

HILTON: I am glad my father instilled that work ethic in us - me and my 

siblings. At every step of the way I found myself waning to out-do myself 

and be better than I was. 

When we started making all this money from our own endeavors—it was 

very fulfilling. We have worked for everything we have. We bought our first 

cars and home with the money we made from working. We’ve made some 

mistakes along the way. We were young and thought we knew it all, but at 

the end of the day—your parents know best. 

RAINE: Will you tell us about your forthcoming capsule collection, Eluxe? 

HILTON: Eluxe is a Canadian retailer that carries some of the coolest 

brands, and they came to me with the idea and I loved it. As a bonus they 

agreed to give me complete creative control. 

RAINE: Can you talk about your design inspiration for Eluxe? 

HILTON: I divided up this collection into three women: 

California transplant - The bohemian girl with some cover ups and dresses. 

Uptown NY – A preppy uptown girl. 

Downtown NY - The sexy downtown girls with lace tops and dresses. I love 

lingerie inspired pieces. They are effortlessly sexy 

RAINE: Where can readers find the collection? 

HILTON: It will be available on the Eluxe site by the end of September. 

RAINE: Has being a Hilton allowed you more access as an entrepreneur or 

business opportunities of which have helped to build your brand? 

HILTON: I would be lying if I said that my last name didn’t open doors for 

me. At the same time it has closed doors. I have always felt the need to 

prove them wrong. At the end of the day - the product will speak for itself. 

RAINE: What’s one piece of business advice would you offer budding 

entrepreneurs that has helped you more than any other advice? 

HILTON: Be humble. My first job, I was taking out the trash and taking lunch 

orders. It didn’t discourage me because everyone starts from somewhere— 

don’t think you are too good for menial tasks. 

RAINE: As entrepreneur, what has been your biggest challenge and what 

steps did you take to successfully reach your goals? 

HILTON: I would say when I was younger, I had some people in business 

that mistook my shyness and tried to take advantage of me because I was 

young. I was baffled—why would people want to do this to me? Ultimately, 

I worked hard to prove them wrong. 

At the end of the day, I love fashion and I love dressing up. I couldn’t 

imagine doing anything else. I feel grateful that I found my calling at a very 

young age - I ALWAYS knew what I wanted to be in fashion. 

RAINE: What is your ultimate goal in fashion? 

HILTON: I don’t look at it as a race, but I know I will definitely plan on 

expanding my brand. I love accessories: eyewear and footwear. Something 

that has always interested me is home decor. I love picking up things for 

my home. 

RAINE: Who has been the biggest influence on your life as an entrepreneur 

and why? 

HILTON: My sister, because she is a business woman. She has over 20 

brands and really has a vision, and it’s very reflective of her--even the logo 

with the tiara is very her. It wasn’t an overnight thing. She was very strategic 

about it. 

She was also one of the pioneers of reality television—getting paid to show 

up somewhere. Once she conquered that, she evolved the brand and 

started DJ’ing—now getting paid to entertain the party. 

RAINE: What are some of your other passions? 

HILTONI love to cook, especially Italian. I love reading, especially now, since 

having written my own book. These days I am burning through a book a 

week. 

RAINE: The pursuit of happiness. What does that mean to you? 

HILTON: Balance, in your personal and professional life. If you can achieve 

both of those, and not let one take priority over the other... you are in good 

shape. 

RAINE: What words of wisdom would you like to share with other 

entrepreneurs? 

HILTON: Write your ideas down, or type them in your cellphone. The best 

ideas come when you least expect it.

ELUXE by Nicky Hilton dress, L.A.M.B. shoes, 

Parulina Earrings and Cuff, both rings by 

Larucci *Prices Available Upon Request*

Kevin Johnn top, belt and skirt, ELUXE by Nicky Hilton 

camisole (worn underneath), L.A.M.B shoes, Pico Jewelry 

Diamond Earrings in 18K Gold, Diamond Cocktail Ring 

in 18K White Gold and Diamond Necklace in 18K White 

Gold *Prices Available Upon Request*

CULTURE

TRAVEL | EAT. STAY. CHILL 

ONE THE WORLD'S MOST INSPIRING DESTINATIONS 

J A D E M O U N T A I N


Awaken to enjoy the chirping of sweet birds as a cool 

breeze grazes your cheeks. Listen even more carefully and 

you’ll notice the soft sound of ocean waves in the distance. 

This is how each morning begins in beautiful St. 

Lucia at the magnificent Jade Mountain Resort. How could 

one not want to unplug - even if it’s just for a few days. 

Approaching the Award Winning Jade Mountain 

resort can be a little daunting as you make your way up the 

very windy and rocky road. The bumpy drive makes you 

very grateful that you never have to make that particular 

trek in ice or snow. Once at the top - you are greeted 

by warm staff members bearing gifts of cool minty hand 

towels followed by a refreshing melon flavored drink. You 

are then led to your impressive abode which is set at the 

end of a long walkway of which gives you a bird’s eye view 

of the mind blowing architecture that surrounds you. 

The only word that could describe the view as you 

enter your suite for the first time is - breathtaking! The sun 

was just on the horizon as I remember it, with a glistening 

shimmer bouncing off the Carribbean sea in the distance 

as well as the blue water of the incredible edgeless pool 

that is situated at the opposite side of your room. Yes - 

that’s right, an edgeless pool inside your room. 

Once you recover from the completely open 

room which gives you the feeling of being in the most 

luxurious setting atop the highest tree - only furniture and 

a few cables separate you from nature itself. 

When you think it doesn’t get better, your personal 

butler shares with you the amenities that await you after 

allowing you to sample some of the most delicious home 

grown chocolate you’ll taste. These special treats are 

right from their chocolate factory that is located on this 

beautifully landscaped property. 

To top it off, you are entertained daily with 5 star 

service, delicious and creatively presented meals as well 

as activities from snorkeling, sailing, yoga or just plain 

relaxing. It is important to find your own Jade Mountain 

to reinvigorate and allow yourself the rewards of living 

creatively. 

This is what every day should be like: rejuvenating 

and inspiring. If you need to get away to brainstorm your 

next million dollar idea or to come up with your first...this is 

the place to dream. 

Images courtesy of Jade Mountain Resort

For Work or Play 

riudavetsusa.com 

For Sun or Shade

TRAVEL | EAT. STAY. CHILL

Y 

ST 

O 

Lucia 

U R 

B U C K E T L I S T 

1. For avid hikers, test out the Gros Piton, which towers 2,619 feet above sea level. Hikes typically take 

anywhere from four to six hours (six hours start to finish. For people that are looking for something a little 

more mild,) the Tet Paul Nature Trail boasts some of the most spectacular views in Saint Lucia including 

Jalousie Bay and the Pitons as well as stops at the Cassava House and Organic Farm. The 45 minute trek 

is rated easy to moderate and led by a well-trained guide. Other hiking tour locations include Barre De 

L’isle, Des Cartiers Rainforest, Edmund Forest Reserve or Enbas Saut. For more information visit 

2. Views of Saint Lucia are just as amazing below sea level. Divers can indulge in colorful coral reefs and 

abundant marine life at popular spots like the Key Hole Pinnacles. Or get carried away by the currents at 

Superman’s Flight, the drift dive named after the movie, located at the base of the Petit Piton. A total of 

23 diving locations can be found just off the shoreline island wide. For a less extreme alternative, SNUBA 

excursions ease divers into the water and descend no more than 20 feet. 

3. Zip-lining serves up a healthy dose of adrenaline. Utilizing zip cables extended as high as 150 feet 

above ground, visitors are transported through lush foliage for panoramic views of the rainforest, the city 

of Soufriere, or the Pitons at one of three zip-line locations on-island. 

4. Jungle Biking is not for the faint of heart. Visitors interested in kicking cardio into high-gear can 

head to Bike Saint Lucia at the Anse Mamin Plantation on the Anse Chasanet Resort. Custom trails 

accommodate both rookie and seasoned riders using specially designed Cannondale suspension bikes. 

A skill course training area is available for those new on the scene or seeking a quick refresher. 

5. Spices Cooking School, a relaxed cooking class located in Cap Estate at the northern end of the 

island of Saint Lucia. Cooking classes are held in a specially designed professional home-style kitchen 

which accommodates small groups of 4-10 persons. The cooking class endS with ‘Grande Mange,” 

where students eat the feast they’ve created, complemented by rum punch, Spices special non-alcoholic 

iced brew or seasonal juices. 


6. Sulphur Springs ”Drive-in” Volcano are considered the hottest and most active 

geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles. The park is approximately 45 hectares and is 

billed as the Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano. 

7. Gros Islet Street Party, the island’s largest street party is a Friday-night ritual 

for locals and visitors alike. Huge speakers set up on the street in this little fishing 

village blast Caribbean music all night long. Sometimes there are live bands. When 

you take a break from dancing, you can buy barbecued fish or chicken, rotis, beer, 

and soda from villagers who set up grills right along the roadside. It’s the ultimate 

“lime” experience. 

8. Castries Market, Rated #3 food market in the world by National Geographic, 

Castries Market and Vendor’s Arcade is the largest open-air market in Saint Lucia. It 

is located in the middle of the capital and has over 300 regular vendors and a hundred 

or more local sellers on market days. 

9. Kite Boarding takes surfing to new heights with the constant tradewinds. A 

common spot for this popular activity is the Vieux Fort area at The Reef Kite + Surf. 

Clinics, seminars and workshops are available for those willing and ready to take on 

the challenge. Windsurfing is also available. 

10. Deep Sea Fishing offers a chance to explore the great Caribbean Sea through a 

number of different charters. Guests can choose between whole or half-day fishing 

excursions. Depending on the time of year, the Catch of the Day may include mackerel, 

king mackerel, white marlin, barracuda, kingfish or sailfish. 

11. Become fully immersed in Saint Lucia by cruising with an all-terrain-vehicle 

(ATV) along peaceful forest roads en route to the beach. Located at Davie Estate Ltd. 

riders can sample fresh fruit right from the tree and see first hand how it is cultivated. 

Paradise ATV tours are located in Micoud towards the south eastern portion of Saint 

Lucia. 

12. Sailing and yachting give sea lovers a 360 view of the island with the freedom to 

travel beyond the Saint Lucian waters. There are plenty of opportunities to experience 

a heart thumping good time out on St. Lucia’s waters, with annual events such as 

the bill fishing tournament in September and the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) in 

December. 

Images courtesy of St. Lucia Tourism Board


F A S H I O N & S T Y L E 

VOL 

21 

QUARTERLY 

EFFORTLESS STYLE 

WITH NICKY HILTON 

A BILLIONAIRE’S STORY - FRED MOUAWAD 

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THE SMOOTH SOUND OF LAURIANA MAE 

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CULTURE 

A T A S T E O F P A S S I O N W I T H 

C H E F L U I S D O M I N G U E Z 

They say that the best wines can take hundreds of years to come 

into perfection – fine wine takes time. However, it has taken owner 

of Vinus & Marc, Frank Locker, much less time. With over twenty 

years of restaurant and bar experience in fine dining, Locker opened 

the doors to Vinus & Marc, an old world Paris and New York nightlife 

restaurant in 2013 and it’s already making its mark in the New York 

food industry. With an extensive menu inspired by a Latin French 

fusion and an atmosphere appropriate for any occasion, this “sultry 

yet sophisticated” restaurant is a welcomed addition to the Upper East 

Side. 

Locker, known globally for his exquisite wine palate and ability 

to create lush, cozy lounging environments includes that and more in 

a dining experience at Vinus & Marc. A well learned businessman and 

wine connoisseur is nothing without a right hand man, and for Locker 

that would be culinary artist, Chef J. Luis Dominguez. Dominguez is the 

man responsible for the fusion of mouthwatering and savory cuisine 

spicing up every plate making its way from the Vinus & Marc (V&M) 

kitchen to your taste buds. Dominguez, not straying from his Mexican 

cooking roots, has made his rounds in New York and expanded on his 

skills before teaming up with Locker to create something beyond their 

wildest dreams and now they’re on their way to taking New York by 

storm one dish and bottle of wine at a time. 

Raine sits down for a chat with Frank Locker, Owner and Manager and 

Chef Luis Dominguez. 

RAINE: What is the premise of Vinus & Marc and how did you come 

up with the name? 

LOCKER: This is Latin for “wines and spirits”. Vinus is Latin for liquids 

from the vines and Marc is a term used for grappa and brandies. It 

was fitting for our place - where we were serving many wines by the 

glass and spirits and cocktails. The 1920’s and 1930’s were a time that 

V&M was created after – combining the look with a European flare. We 

wanted to bring a little bit of downtown uptown. 

RAINE: Luis, how did you enter this business and where did the two of 

you connect along the journey? 

DOMINGUEZ: I started cooking in Mexico at a very young age and 

then came to NY and worked for some big chefs learning the trade. 

Frank hired me at Duane Park Café down in Tribeca and I worked in the 

kitchen under the Chef there. 

LOCKER: I saw something special in Luis and when creating V&M 

asked him to join me here. 

DOMINGUEZ: I’m excited to run my own kitchen and work with Frank 

in this exciting venue where I can highlight my dishes 

RAINE: Frank, you surround yourself with exceptional talent. What 

qualities do you look for when adding members to your team? 

LOCKER: I create a “family” and a “community” whether for the staff 

or for the customers. Everyone works together on a common goal 

and is highly customer centric with high customer touch creating an 

exceptional customer experience. It is not only about the staff but the 

atmosphere, the music and lighting that bring it all together so that 

you do not hear other’s conversations, have intimacy if you want it and 

conversation if you want it. 

RAINE: How do you decide on the cocktails and the food to serve? 

LOCKER: We work closely together to decide on new items based 

on our customer’s preferences and what they like as well as seasonal 

ingredients and how to highlight them. We continue to expand our 

menu to serve our customers and are focused on the main entrees, 

bar items and brunch, which is very popular on the Upper East Side 

of Manhattan. Our cocktails were all created by Aziza Omar and have 

an influence and story from the Pre-Prohibition era. Our syrups are 

house made and we do all our own infused liquors for our house made 

cocktails. These also change based on the seasons and ingredients. 

RAINE: What does success mean to you and the V&M team? LOCKER: 

Success is customers continuing to come back and a community that 

enjoys being in the space created. It’s understanding the customer 

and delivering what they want to enjoy while being there. It is serving 

the best quality food, cocktails, wine and service that we can. 

RAINE: Your restaurant, Vinus & Marc, draws inspiration from a chaotic 

time in American history. What is it about the 1930’s that fascinated 

you enough as an entrepreneur to recreate that period within Vinus & 

Marc? 

LOCKER: The 1920s and 1930s were chaotic but also a time that 

people enjoyed each other– writers and artists spent hours together 

eating and drinking and having great discussions– not in a rush– not 

constantly connected with phones and media and not watching TV but 

enjoying music, atmosphere and each other. That is what V&M is all 

about. Yes, we have TVs for special events and sports – those shows 

that bring people together to enjoy an event as a group – festive and 

fun. 

RAINE: Luis, what is your favorite item to cook at Vinus & Marc and 

why? 

DOMINGUEZ: I love everything 

on the menu. We change it 

by the seasons and create 

great entrees and bar snacks 

for everyone. My signature 

dishes are popular with our 

customers and that makes 

me happy – My Beet 

Salad, Tuna Tartar and our 

Chicken Entrée and Shrimp 

and Grits are all favorites and 

mine as well. 

RAINE: What about New 

York City inspires you? 

LOCKER & DOMINGUEZ: 

The energy, the people, the 

family life combined with 

creative and the ethnic mix 

of people living together. It is 

like no other city in the world!

CULTURE 

T H E F A C E B E H I N D Y O U R 

F A V O R I T E F R A G R A N C E S 

Images courtesy of Scentarium 

From Elizabeth Arden to Tiffany and Company, Sue Phillips has tackled 

roles at world renowned brands with fervor. Proving that she is the Queen 

of her craft, she created the 150th anniversary “Tiffany,”“Tiffany for Men”, 

“Society by Burberry,” and “Burberry for Men” fragrances. 

After climbing the corporate ladder for many years, Sue decided 

to begin her own entrepreneurial venture and became Founder and CEO of 

Scenterprises- a Global Consultancy in the area of product development, 

creative marketing, strategic brand building and custom perfume events. 

Scenterprises has worked with many reputable brands like Chanel, 

Elizabeth Arden, and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

Under the Scenterprises umbrella, Sue opened New York’s 

newest perfumery The Scentarium in February of 2014. Here she holds 

seminars and workshops for fragrance lovers wishing to create their own 

personalized fragrance. These workshops 

take participants off the busy streets of New 

York City and into an oasis of relaxing scents, 

where they participate in scent personality 

tests and learn all about the intricacies of 

smell. Bringing Sue’s zeal for the fragrance 

industry, The Scentarium asks consumers, 

“why wear what everyone else wears when 

you can create your own unique signature 

scent?”. 

Growing up, Sue always wanted to 

be a singer or an actor- starting her journey 

in America in the theater. Now, a global star in 

the personal care industry, Phillips leaves one 

piece of advice: “never give up.” 

RAINE: What is a memorable experience that 

has helped to shape your career? 

PHILLIPS: It was a confluence of all 

‘sensory’ experiences! Growing up with 

an artistic mother who instilled in me an 

appreciation of Art, Music, Dance, Flowers, 

Presentation, Home Decor ...- and all these 

aesthetics made me aware of the “Senses”, 

and how important the ‘senses’ are in 

branding. 

RAINE: You have partnered with many iconic 

brands in the perfume industry, which client 

did you enjoy most working with and why? 

PHILLIPS: Developing the fragrance and 

launching one of America’s most iconic brands—TIFFANY for Tiffany’s 

150th anniversary was exciting, and an honor! Little did I ever imagine, 

when growing up in South Africa, that I would become VP Fragrance for 

this seminal company. I always believe that it is important to be relevant 

and authentic to the brand ‘ethos’ and to put one’s subjective opinions to 

the side when creating fragrances for brands. 

RAINE: At the onset of creating Scenterprises, was there ever a time when 

you thought that running your own business was not for you? How were 

you able to get past that moment in your career as an entrepreneur? 

PHILLIPS: After I left Tiffany & Co to have my daughter and to start 

my own consulting company, I never looked back! I love being an 

entrepreneur as well as the opportunity to work and consult with so many 

different companies AND to have my own fragrance initiative with our new 

perfumery in downtown Tribeca - The Scentarium, which has been called 

an ‘oasis’ for the senses! www.scentarium.com Every day brings a new 

adventure and opportunity. Of course there are always challenges when 

one is an entrepreneur. However, the rewards are so great and as long as I 

am passionate about what I do, I don’t feel it’s work! 

RAINE: What are some of your favorite ingredients that you like to work 

with when creating custom fragrances? 

PHILLIPS: I have categorized my different perfume blends into 4 main 

‘fragrance families’– Fresh, Floral, Woodsy, Oriental. My particular favorites 

are the Floral Oriental families and the combination of exotic rose with 

jasmine, ylang ylang and gardenia mixed with the sultry amber, sweet vanilla 

and sensual spicy accords. This is a sophisticated sensual combination 

and an extraordinary perfume. 

RAINE: What has been the most memorable experience that you have 

witnessed while working with a client? 

PHILLIPS: The look of absolute joy in their 

eyes when they finally select the blends they 

like and try their unique formula for the first 

time. In every case, there is uncertainty at the 

beginning of the process, and they don’t really 

know the outcome of their creation. But when 

they finally try it and name it, the happiness 

they experience is palpable. I just LOVE 

seeing the process unfold, and the happiness 

that people experience with their own unique 

creations. 

RAINE: Your mother, and renowned South 

African artist, Grace Phillips left you a legacy 

that endures today. What is your legacy to 

the various industries you have served in 

fragrance & perfume, cosmetics, and personal 

care? 

PHILLIPS: Yes! It’s because of her that I have 

an appreciation and love for art and music. 

My legacy to this industry is that I always put 

the brand message and ‘ethos’ at the forefront 

of the positioning. 

RAINE: If there was only one word that you 

could use to describe who you are, what 

would it be? PHILLIPS: Authentic. 

RAINE: Other than your own custom 

fragrances, what other brand of perfume do 

you like to wear and why? 

PHILLIPS: I love JAR fragrance Golconda – it is my special indulgence and 

is a beautiful rose accord. 

RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with entrepreneurs who look 

to you as the model for their success? 

PHILLIPS: Have faith in yourself and believe in the wonderful person you 

are! I truly believe that gratitude and prayer are also very compelling factors 

for success – and one of my most important beliefs is....“Never give up!” 

RAINE: If you could redo just one thing in your professional life what would 

it be and why? 

PHILLIPS: I don’t like to think of ‘re-doing’ because it doesn’t accomplish 

anything. The well-known author Eckart Tolle wrote in “The Power of 

Now” not to dwell in the past, not to focus too much on the future, but to 

concentrate on the ‘present’ and quoted Buddha: “Do not dwell in the past, 

do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” 

– Buddha. 


CULTURE 

JOHN SOLO-BALANCING FILM AND BUSINESS 

With a political science degree from New York University, John Solo 

transitioned from student to business professional. Working right out of 

college with a 9 to 5 job, John soon realized he craved something different. 

He began investing in a few acting classes, and after many years of toil, 

now has over 21 credits attributed to his name. John Solo is an actor, 

producer, and entrepreneur from New York, known for Man on a Ledge 

(2012), Newlyweds (2011) and Love Magical (2014). 

Following his passion, John later took his first steps as a 

restaurateur. John now owns 5 restaurants, including a new juice bar, Ginger, 

which serves 100 percent organic cold press juices to health conscious 

New Yorkers . Also, taking a giant entrepreneurial leap of faith and opened 

Republic Astoria with partner ‘s Stu Chase and Nick Chase and hit maker 

DJ Jus Jack; the coolest brick oven pizza lounge to host the hottest DJ’s 

and screen the freshest new filmmaker’s in the Art and Film world. This 

includes his new feature film production, “Love Magical” directed by Justin 

Foran that premier’s this fall at the BET Urban Film festival. 

With the challenge of balancing all of his responsibilities, John 

makes a point to prioritize his daily schedule. It is clear that this is one man 

who knows what he wants is not afraid to work hard to achieve his goals of 

being a better actor and person. 

So, what do you get when you cross a highly accredited college 

degree, entrepreneurship, multiple movie debuts, and lots of passion? John 

Solo. 

RAINE: How did you get your start and what steps did you take to get from 

A to B? 

SOLO: I graduated from NYU and like most; I had a corporate 9 to 5 

job. I realized soon into it that I did not “Feel” right in that environment. I 

started bar-tending, took my first few acting classes and saved my money as 

aggressively as I could, knowing that I will eventually have an opportunity to 

invest somewhere. 

RAINE: You have over 21 credits to your name. What has been your most 

challenging roll as an actor? 

SOLO: My most challenging role as an actor was Stan from “Love 

Magical”. He is illogical, passionate to a flaw and very nervous. It was at my 

most vulnerable point by unveiling that side of me truthfully and also finding 

the humor in his tragedy was a balance. Also, on the other side is New 

York Legendary Director Edward Burns film “Newlyweds” where I basically 

played “myself,” organically. That’s always the biggest challenge for most 

actors and it felt so good that I was able to achieve that! Eddie as a Director, 

his crew and the actors on this film made it the perfect environment to make 

me feel comfortable to find that. 

RAINE: What is the creative process you undergo to help you develop your 

characters? 

SOLO: My creative process is pretty simple. I try to “live” with the characters, 

problems and issues. I try to find my association and my compassion for 

the characters dilemma. I get to know their world, by reading any books or 

novels that help the feelings that might be similar that I have gone through- 

-lots of “walking and talking” to myself for the preparation of these roles. 

for me because I prioritize well 

RAINE: What skills did you bring from acting that you were able to apply to 

running several well-known restaurants? 

SOLO: My main skill is “feeling” the culture of a place, understanding 

its aesthetic and maintaining positive interactions with our customer 

base. Part of my job as an actor is selecting my temperament at will. So no 

matter what is happening in my pedestrian life, I try to maintain a positive, 

hospitable attitude with my customers. Sometimes I do lose my “moment,” 

but that’s rare. 

RAINE: Which of your restaurants best expresses your personality and why? 

SOLO: My personality changes with time, so all of them have a part of 

me. Currently, “Ginger Organic,” is my baby! It represents my belief and 

philosophy that through a positive and healthy lifestyle, everything is 

achievable. 

Ginger is the warmest, prettiest and the most comfortable Juice bar in the 

whole Universe and I am so proud of “her”. She represents everything my 

Mother taught me of what an ideal person should be!! 

RAINE: One of your newest ventures is Ginger; a juice bar. If people 

could only incorporate one of your juices into their diet which would you 

recommend over all others? 

SOLO: The one Juice I would recommend would be the “Super Greens” 

every morning. There is not a better way to start your day. It’s power for 

the rest of your day! 

RAINE: In your own experience, what defines your idea of success? Aside 

from giving up, why do you think people fail at being successful? 

SOLO: Success only comes from loving what you do. The pursuit! Pursuing 

something that “never ends” because you love waking up every single 

morning and getting better. I am excited about becoming a better actor. A 

better person. A more consciences person. If you just want the RESULTS 

then you will never achieve. You have to be obsessed with your daily rituals. 

One of my favorite quotes from Khalil Gibran “But if in your fear of Love 

you would seek only Love’s peace and love’s pleasure. It is better that you 

walk out Love’s threshing floor, into the seasonless world where you should 

laugh only half your laughter and cry only half your tears” 

RAINE: What else could you see yourself doing if you were not an actor and 

business owner? 

SOLO: Psychiatry is the only other thing that interests me....I love people. 

Especially people who want to always GROW! We all have issues to work 

on. I am compassionate for people who unveil their issues. I do not like 

people who keep their emotions tight like they are playing poker. I love 

open people. 

Images courtesy of John Solo 

RAINE: As the producer of your recent film Love Magical. What words of 

wisdom can you share with aspiring producers? 

SOLO: Find people you “Love” to work with. Find people who have as 

much “Passion” as you, if not more. Find people you like to hang out 

with! Making Independent film is HARD! It’s a battle and you need to make 

sure you surround yourself with people that care for the project as well as 

for you. 

RAINE: You own 5 restaurants. How did you decide to make the leap from 

acting to restaurateur? What were some of your initial challenges and how 

did you overcome them? 

SOLO: I invested in restaurants, because I met amazing partners who 

respected and appreciated my work as an actor. They understood the 

freedom and flexibility I needed in my schedule. When I am not auditioning, 

or working as an actor, I make sure to spend quality time at the restaurants 

and bar. The challenge is the balance and the juggling act—that is simple 

90 


CULTURE 

Photographer – Jason Jaskot; Hair Stylist – Magda Bonheur; Makeup Artist; Juliette Laracuente; Stylist – Darryl Glover; Eyelash Artist - Nadia Afanaseva 

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& Yellow Sapphire Ring; All jewelry is credited to Pico Jewelry *Prices Available Upon Request* 

A Flawless touch 

to Entertainment 


Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? The epitome of 

beauty and brains lies in the essence of Chantelle Fraser. If you haven’t 

noticed, be prepared to witness her having her cake and eating it too. 

Meshing her knowledge of management and her experience in the 

modeling industry, Fraser has created one of the most sought after 

promotional talent and booking agencies in New York city; Flawless 

NYC. Established in 2006, Flawless NYC humanizes luxury, fashion, 

corporate brands and private clients at prestigious events by bringing 

glamour and beauty to brand marketing, while transforming a static 

message into one with dynamic, beautiful drama. 

The British native began her career as a booker for Elite 

Model Management in 

Los Angeles and has 

since launched her own 

enterprise, branched 

out and worked with the 

some of the industry’s top 

luxury leaders including 

Ted Baker, Yves Saint 

Laurent (YSL) and BMW. 

But don’t take this 

bombshell at face value, 

or deflect attention from 

her sharp business mind, 

eye for beauty, talent and 

professionalism, because 

she knows exactly how to 

leave a lasting impression. 

At the helm of Flawless 

NYC, Fraser’s mission is to 

offer an unparalleled guest 

experience and increase 

product sales for her 

clients. 

Flawless NYC 

capitalize on the fact that 

there is no need to skimp 

on any aspect of business 

and it’s all about being a 

chameleon in an industry 

that’s ever-changing and 

demands their clients 

to stand out; Fraser is 

providing just that with 

style, beauty and grace. 

RAINE: At What age 

did you have your first 

entrepreneurial experience? 

FRASER: My first 

entrepreneurial experience 

was at about age 13. I 

would wash cars around 

my neighborhood - I always 

had to work growing up. 

From a young age, my 

parents instilled in me an 

entrepreneurial spirit. 

RAINE: What inspires you 

as an entrepreneur? 

FRASER: As an entrepreneur, I am inspired by the prospect of living a 

prosperous life. So many people live unhappy lives, unfulfilled with that 

they are doing, because they are not living up to their true potential. 

I, however, want to leave a legacy for the world to see. I love having a 

vision and bringing it to fruition. 

RAINE: You have a reality TV show in the works, can you talk about 

that? 

FRASER: It’s a reality TV show about a successful career oriented 

woman that lives in New York City. I have been cast as one of the main 

members and it follows my life, the ups and downs of living in NYC and 

the daily hustle of the working girl lifestyle. It should be fun! 

RAINE: How would you describe your company Flawless NYC? 

FRASER: Flawless NYC is a luxury promotional talent and entertainment 

booking company, established to elevate your brand and image, by 

connecting individuals and companies to their audience through 

exceptional entertainment, brand ambassadorship, music, and 

creativity. 

There are five divisions to my company, Flawless NYC: DJ, Entertainment, 

Burlesque, Contortionist, Belly Dancers. Our clients have exceptional 

creative visions and we 

help bring those visions to 

life. Our main division is the 

modeling division, which 

gives brands a real and 

human way of connecting 

to their customers. 

RAINE: What is the most 

significant piece of advice 

you have been given in your 

career? 

FRASER: The best piece 

of advice that I have been 

given, is always say “yes”. 

It sounds very basic, but my 

ability to always say “yes” 

allows me to grow to levels 

I thought I would never 

reach. I never let barriers 

get in my way. I don’t need 

to know the whole journey, I 

just need to know the next 

step, which opens up new 

opportunities as well. 

RAINE: What is the biggest 

obstacle you have had to 

overcome? 

FRASER: At one point in 

my career I lost a really big 

client. It just happened to 

be, that they were one of my 

main sources of income. As 

a result, I had to learn how 

to adjust to change. At first, 

I was really resistant, and 

I would ask myself, “why 

is this happening to me?” 

Once I was able to embrace 

change, I realized I had to 

keep it moving. With the 

change in how I decided 

to view my new situation, 

I was able to grow from it. 

When you are a business 

person, you have to always 

anticipate change and 

embrace it. If you can learn 

to do that as an entrepreneur, you can stay the course. 

RAINE: What three words of wisdom do you have for other 

entrepreneurs? 

FRASER: I would tell other entrepreneurs, always have an attitude of 

gratitude. If you can keep that in mind, you will attract more to you. As 

entrepreneurs, we have to realize that you attract to you, those things 

that you focus most on. Also, I would say read, The Purpose of the 

Conscious Mind and Think and Grow Rich at age 13! 

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92 


CULTURE 

Top: Model: Molly Randall; Agency: Charm Model Management; Photographer: Al Rodriguez; Left: 

Model: Anastasia Matveeva; Agency: Charm Model Management; Photographer: Fiona Melder 

Mary DePetris founder of Charm Model management was born in 

Brooklyn, New York where she got an early start in the modeling 

world when a fashion designer & family friend put Mary in her 

fashion shows around the age of 5 which ignited the love of the 

business. 

In her teens she attended Barbizon modeling school 

which were popular in the 1970ʼs. Mary taught part-time after 

graduation. While raising a family she would take her daughters 

on auditions when the opportunity to work on the other side of 

the business as an agent came along. She worked for Classic 

Model & Talent which was a large commercial agency in NJ & NY 

at the time. 

In early 2011 Charm Model Management became a 

reality. Mary heads Charm Models with a down to earth approach. 

She believes you must have innate sense along with honesty, 

dedication and strong work ethic to compete in this market. 

Charm Models represent fashion and commercial 

models for runway, showroom, trade shows, print, television 

and high-end events. Mary is currently involved on a project for 

television which she cannot divulge on, but stay tuned. 

For business inquires and model submissions please contact us 

at: info@charmagency.com 


CULTURE 

SHOES THAT 

DEFY GRAVITY 

Photo and MUA by Helene Jaspers; Shoes the “The CiRCLE” by Peter Popps; Model+Outfit both Yusura Entertainer 

94 


Photo and MUA by Helene Jaspers; Shoes the “The BOW” by Peter Popps; Model+Outfit both Yusura Entertainer 

At the age of 18, Peter Popps started out as one of many sales 

people, before he became an assistent and then soon after 

a store manager for a fashionable shoeshop. He did this all 

while studying architecture before really breaking into the shoe 

industry where he found his love for avant-garde and young 

fashion. 

With 24 years of experience as a professional shoe 

designer, Peter Popps created his namesake label of innovative 

shoes after being tapped for many years, helping to shape 

the brands of other well-known shoe designers. “I have never 

felt a strong urge,” states Popps; to design opposed to the 

mainstream cultural values as they are forced on us today. 

In 2003 he started his own freelance design studio 

by approaching companies that he had connections with 

throughout his career. Immediately his creations were a success 

and more work came to him from shoe brands that wanted 

exclusive collections based on his unconventional vision. His 

method of design has always been to make something unique 

and different as compared to the everyday mundane. Popp’s 

love for the creative process lies somewhere between fantasy 

and reality - a place without boundaries. 

Popps’ current works are inspired by a fascination for 

creative freedom and architectural sensibility intertwined with a 

sense of novelty, innovation and revolution. His creative genius 

has always gravitated towards the development that comes 

from rebellion, liberty and to show that world that anything is 

possible when you believe in your own ideas. 

Peter Popps takes a moment to share his viewpoint with Raine 

Magazine. 

POPPS: I was done with what the market offers to the 

customers. Its all looks pretty much the same. A copy from a 

copy from a copy and an outrageous price compared to the 

quality. People are always ready for novelty and innovation. 

There is this quote by Diane Vreeland, in which she 

said: 

….“Give ‘em what they 

never knew they wanted.” 

That has always been my method of designing, even 

back when I started working for the 1st company in the 80’s. 

You feel that people around you desire certain things, and there 

are also certain things that you desire yourself, and from those 

desires you create and search for something new which is an 

answer to those feelings. 

I love to create for the woman who knows how and 

when to wear my designs. 

I adore the feminine power that comes from a woman 

who is in charge of her vulnerability in a different way than most 

people know or who’s confident in beautiful heels when she 

uses the street as her daily catwalk. 

Popps’ artistic creations are influenced by avantgarde, 

60’s space-age, comics and Sci-Fi. They are wearable 

mostly un-walkable pieces that look deeply into the life of 

the emancipated woman. His work closely identifies with the 

struggle, freedom and revolution and begs to answer the 

question, “What could we possibly wear in the future?” 

The answer he found in this quote by Barbarella, in which she 

said: ...” Just a moment I’ll 

slip something on”... 


INTERNATIONAL 

BAGS THAT JUMP FROM PAPER 

At Jump From Paper, we believe that creativity is the new form of rebellion, and 

we love to push ourselves and make people think outside of the box, this is what 

makes Jump From Paper innovative. As a stylish accessory brand, designing 2D 

bags, we walk in to the fashion world with a bold and playful attitude. 

Fashion for some people is quite serious; it’s about fame and money. For 

us, we don’t like to take things too seriously. The team behind Jump From Paper 

stands for the passion to make our customers laugh! We encourage people to let 

their imaginations run wild. We believe that being different, means being who you 

are, and that is a part of the appeal of Jump From Paper. 

The design team combines 2D graphics and a mix of 3D illusion to 

create a truly distinct line of bags. Jump From Paper not only serves as a perfect 

expression of individualism and uniqueness for a new generation, but it also speaks 

the philosophy of Jump From Paper, “I Give Myself Permission to be me.” 

We are addicted to collecting funny and weird pictures and quotes, and 

take inspiration from everything in our daily lives. We love to confuse people with 

our bags, because they don’t always know what to make of us. It is interesting to 

watch them burst into laughter when they realize that these are functioning real 

bags, meant for everyday wear. Jump From Paper is all about having fun—that’s 

the spirit! 

Images courtesy of Jump From Paper 

96 



NEW YORK FASHION WEEK’S SPRING PREVIEW 

MICHAEL COSTELLO 

www.michaelcostellocouture.com 

Michael Costello – Michael Costello presented his highly anticipated S/S 2015 collection to a packed house of fashion aficionados. This season Costello proved 

to be no less than a superstar in the making, as he used structured silhouettes defined by the kind of unapologetic sexiness that modern women crave for. 

Staying true to his nature, the collection featured stunning gowns, highlighting plunging necklines, beading and lace, in beautiful aqua, navy and black. 

MALAN BRETON 

www.malanbreton.com 

Malan Breton – Known for his signature prints and details, Malan Breton’s S/S 2015 collection incorporated many elements of traditional Taiwanese tailoring 

coupled with modern forms. His bold use of color and the ability to expertly mix textures spoke to the heart of his namesake label. For men, tailored three 

-quarter and full length trousers in bright iridescent colors with patterns filled the collection. For women, there was much of the same, with strong use of 

traditional tailoring and colorful fabrics that made for a celebration of beauty and culture. 

MISTER TRIPLE X 

www.shop.mistertriplex.com 

Mister Triple X – Entitled “RessureXion ColleXion,” for S/S 2015 Mister Triple X focused on a spiritual revival highlighting their use of bright prints and 

tropical flowers intermixed for a refreshing take on spring. The collection also featured leather to play up a bold interpretation for the season while 

asking us to embrace our inner rock star. 


MESKITA 

www.meskita.com 

Alessandra Meskita – Not to be outdone by last season’s success, Brazilian born designer Alessandra Meskita’s collection was bold and beautiful, making 

phenomenal use of pleats to execute perfect movement in the garments. It goes without saying that the collection was largely influenced by Egyptian culture 

with a modern twist. That being said, there was a certain opulence built into each piece, with gold featured throughout. The clothes were sexy and daring with 

silks and chiffons coupled with leather and neoprene - mixing in perfect harmony. 

VENEXIANA 

www.venexianaltd.com 

Venexiana – Designer Kati Stern captivated Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week attendees with gorgeous evening gowns, mixing silk, chiffon, lace 

and sequin embellishments. The use of rich fabrics in feminine pastels in yellow, aqua, and turquoise matched perfectly with the elaborate crystal details 

seen throughout the collection. 

photos by Jason T. Jaskot 

ZANG TOI 

www.houseoftoi.com 

Zang Toi – Marked as Zang Toi’s 25 th year as a designer in the fashion industry. His presentation, appropriately enough, was titled “A Privileged Life: The 

American Dream.” The collection showcased glamorous looks from beginning to end, featuring tailored suits, colored-blocked knits and gowns for every 

occasion, including an ornate gown covered in hand-beaded purple orchids.

RAINE MAGAZINE Volume 21 | Fashion & Style

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