Ward Stegerhoek: The Man, The Myth, The Legend

What are your first memories in the salon?

Well, I started cutting hair at home. After a few months, my mom kicked me out because she had carpet in the house and was tired of the mess. I ended up meeting a very funky guy in Holland called Leo Spindellar, and he was kind of a jet-set hairstylist in Holland that did pop singers and stuff like that. He was very into nightlife so he would show up late for work sometimes, and one day he showed up so late he gave me a pair of scissors to start cutting his client, and that’s basically how I got started in the salon. I was there for three weeks and then I became a haircutter.

As one of the most renowned hairstylists in the world, do your clients give you free rein over their hair?

Sometimes, I would say they trust me. My approach to hair is not so much about doing intensive hairstyles or things like that, but more treating people with their hair in a way. I like to make people feel like they have character through their hair.

How has styling hair influenced your career as a fashion designer? Are there lessons/values you have carried over into your more recent projects?

Of course. I’ve been around fashion shows and worked with the best stylists and designers in the world. I’ve seen them all work on branding themselves so even though you’re just doing the hair, you’re kind of like a child in that you’re absorbing the creative environment. It feels like my whole life has kind of been like working and learning in the higher academies of fashion.

When exactly did you decide that you wanted to start creating and building your luxury streetwear label, Wardements? Can you describe a specific moment?

Well, it was a funny coincidence of things because I basically already made clothes at a very young age—I actually made clothes before I cut hair. Throughout my whole career, I made some funny t-shirts and stuff like that for myself and my friends, and then it turned into making some really funny stuff that would make everybody laugh on set. Wardements is widely known for its humorous takes on popular culture.

Why is it important for you to incorporate humor into your work as a designer?

Basically, it all came together with those funny tees that I made for myself. At one point in 2017, I made a couple of sweaters for myself that some models on set started asking me for, like Gigi Hadid, for example, and some photographers- they wanted these sweaters. So I was like, okay, and then I made twelve that I gave away as a gift to my colleagues or clients that always laughed at them… not really planning on making a brand at all. Then, when those were given out several of them ended up on the internet and Instagram and on my wall, friends’ walls, and then I got this spontaneous reaction. At that time, we had no plan to become a brand or anything. I started seeing my sweaters all over the set and on fake billboards in Tokyo that a fanbase made. One day, a request came in on my DM’s for sweaters that basically I was ignoring because I had no production or plans to be a brand. After a few months, I went through the DM’s and there were over 250 requests for sweaters. That’s basically how we started. Your label recently launched a collaboration with Orange Babies, an organization that helps mothers and children fight against HIV in Africa.

How did you come about this project? Why did you choose to partner with Orange Babies specifically?

Well, Orange Babies are celebrating its 20th year anniversary this year, and I was already there with the very first fashion show they decided to do. Because in the very early stages it was just very few hair, makeup artists, and set designers from Holland coming together to do this show, we managed to pull it together pretty well! We managed to get people like Mario Testino and a few big-time models to help us. The tickets for this show went to the babies. Now, going forward a few years, the soccer wives from some famous soccer players in Holland got involved, which created a lot of publicity and donations started coming in. By putting up a few hoodies—I don’t make a single cent from the hoodies, all the proceeds go to Africa—I’ve probably touched the lives of 850 somewhat children with the proceeds of the signed hoodies, which isn’t a huge number, but every life matters! Many of the big-time models like Christy and Cindy and Gigi started signing the hoodies and putting it on their feeds, and this is how Orange Babies has attracted renewed focus from the outside. We want to generate publicity, really just any awareness we can get. I’ve got big plans for this.

What’s your mantra (if you have one)?

Oh, I never really needed one it seems! Every day I wake up ready to get started on whatever the day brings. I can’t really work very well around people that have a lot of pretenses, that’s not really me. Instead of trying to make all these achievements on my own, I like to pool the achievements together—it’s the bigger picture that counts for me. I don’t want to cut everybody's hair, I just want to create one amazing haircut that inspires everyone to go out and do it. I just want to be generous with my talents and gifts.

What’s one beauty product you never leave the house without?

I have this oil that I put that on my face every day after or before I shave. It’s the most beautiful oil I’ve ever found. It’s the True Botanicals Renew Pure Radiance Oil. You only need a few drops. I put it on my face before I shave and I’ve never had a shaving rash since I started using it. I don’t need any other moisturizer. I put it on right after the shower when my skin is still wet.

What’s in this season in terms of hair color?

There is a resurgence of brighter colors, like in the 90s- we had those East Village kinds of grungy people in fashion with dark blues and orange hair and pink hair. Then it kind of disappeared but it seems like multiple hair stylists brought this back into the industry. I guess it’s inspired by pop music artists. However, I think what’s really important is that people make sure their hair stays on their heads! Do these trends, do these hair colors, but make sure it’s done in a gentle way—add conditioners and masks, just make the process of hair dying as gentle as possible.

Name a hair trend that you hope never comes back.

All those Marie Antoinette styles and all the wigs. I mean, I’m very good at wigs and I do it when people ask- all the freaky stuff, too. But I like trying to make people’s own hair look spectacular. It’s more that I try to make the people look incredible, rather than just their hair... their hair travels along, but I’m more into character than style if you know what I mean. In the younger years of my career, I did more creative things- more arts-and-crafty hair. But I’ve learned to fine-tune my hairstyling in that less is more. A good cut can change your life. My favorite style would be a cut that flatters a person’s natural state.

Who cuts your hair?

Anyone. I’ve had models cut it, kids cut it, babies cut it, assistants cut it. It really doesn’t matter everyone's had a hand in my hair. That’s how I baptize people, pretty much (laughs.)

Beauty

It's Good, it's Weird, it's Evan Mock's Latest Skincare Brand

December 04, 2023

It’s Silly Bandz, Japanese denim, Maui Punch Pixy Stix, the model "dressed as the giant fur ball at the Christian Cowan show,"; it’s the highest compliment. Founders Jon Wormser and Stephen Yaseen have coined the term “Good Weird” to celebrate the beauty found in being athentically and uniquely yourself, as out there as that may be.

From the “Back from Vacay” bronzer to the “Balmy Weather” stick, Good Weird understands that beauty can be defined by universal experiences rather than conventional standards. Creative direction by Maui-born skate icon Evan Mock ensures that the brand takes a genderless, inviting approach to cosmetics. In our conversation with the trio, we delved deeper into what makes something truly good and weird.

Interview by Soph Lucina
Photos courtesy of GoodWeird

Sophia Lucina— Hi, I’m so stoked to have you all here. I’ve been loving your brand for a minute now. So, give me the rundown.

Stephen Yaseen— Yeah, well I’ve always been super into skincare, and on the beauty side, one of my first favorite products was this tinted sunscreen. It kind of introduced me to the idea of having a beauty product that also acted as a skincare item, something with immediate payoff. That was my conduit into me realizing that beauty doesn’t need to be reserved for a subset of people.

Jon Wormser— I’ve always been one to experiment with beauty products, which meant stealing products from my mom’s makeup … I was always wearing things incorrectly [laughs]. But that led me into this world we’ve built where beauty doesn’t need to fit the heavily pigmented, complicated product … something that doesn’t require a bunch of tools to use. Good Weird was founded out of frustration with the current product offering.

Evan Mock— For me, my earliest memory of using beauty products has to be when I was growing up in Hawaii and applying Shiseido sunscreen before going surfing and being on the beach.

SL— I think one thing that immediately stands out to me about you guys is how you’ve infused pop culture into your brand approach. What’s that been like for you?

JW— Well, obviously when we’re serving consumers like Gen-Z, it would be remiss to leave out pop culture. I think some people might see our branding and ask, “Why are there skateboards and surfboards?” ... for me, that’s the antithesis of mainstream, we wanted to emphasize that Good Weird is all about embracing your own shit, not letting societal structures and norms set expectations for what you should do.

SL— For sure. I can tell you bring in a certain crowd of people, and it’s dope. If you could tell me, what was the first idea you had for Good Weird?

SY— Yeah, so we wanted to go forward with this idea of minimizing the footprint of a product by combining a bunch of steps together, so it’s the concept of infusing skincare and low-pigment beauty, for a “beauty routine in a bottle”. Operationally, that concept didn’t actually work at first, so we ended up focusing on the “white space” in the beauty world, for people who are curious about entering a world that might not feel so welcoming.

JW— And that’s been the fun part for Stephen and I. We’ve gotten to experiment with how much pigment goes into a product, how much of a serum goes into a product. We’ll chat like “Well, I didn’t see much of [blank] at the store,” or “I like [blank] concealer, but it’s really intense,” and be able to share our ideas towards creating something new. We really jive when it comes to product development.

SL— Especially because you guys don’t have a precedent to go off of. You’re building something that we don’t see.

JW— Right, we’re trying to create a new lane. If we’re going off the beaten path, then it’s important that our products reflect that.

SL— How has the process of creating a “genderless” beauty product been? Why is that important to you guys?

EM— There really aren’t any other options for everyone that exists, until now with Good Weird. It's important that all aspects of life are inclusive to all, but also, who doesn’t want to look good?

SY— I think that the products that are super pigmented, part of “transformative” routines … don’t necessarily have to do with gender, even so we wanted to make products that anyone can feel comfortable using. With anyway you identify, from a gender perspective, everyone deserves to have beauty products that are accessible.

SL— I see. A less intimidating approach, so to speak.

SY— And of course, historically, the cohort demographic for the beauty industry is overwhelmingly female. So it’s really about giving everyone an intuitive, simple product with a low barrier to entry.

JW— A big barrier to entry for me growing up was having to use all these tools. If you look at our products, there are no tools required. Additionally, the way we’ve named our products — yes, “Back From Vacay” is a bronzer, but the name of the product is more emotive. It’s less intimidating to tell your friends, “I use this Good Weird product, called 'Back from Vacay’, instead of 'I use this bronzer.'"

... historically, the cohort demographic for the beauty industry is overwhelmingly female. So it’s really about giving everyone an intuitive, simple product with a low barrier to entry.

SL— For sure. These experiences “Balmy Weather”, “Back From Vacay”, aren’t gendered experiences. You’ll see other beauty products be labeled “Pure Seduction”, “Afterglow”, which evoke these sensual, intense, suggestively feminine experiences.

JW— And it’s not that we don’t like those words. But it’s all about making our products less intimidating. All of our stuff is buildable and sheer, so it can be another step in your routine, or it can be the main star.

SL— Evan, you’ve partnered with Jon and Stephen on creative direction. What's that been like?

EM— My job is to give the people what they want — do it with excellence and have fun doing it along the way. It’s been a great few months with Jon and Stephen, and the word is traveling fast.

JW— Evan was a muse to the brand before we even started working with him. He embodies the whole concept of “Good Weird”, he’s someone who can skate all day then wear a corset to a fashion show later that night. He also holds an amazing place in fashion and culture, and we wanted people in those spaces to feel open to trying the world of Good Weird.

SL— He’s someone that I can actually see reaching for these products, too. As the creative director, are you frustrated with any aspect of the current beauty climate?

EM— Yes, I think the general public’s view of what beauty is, needs to change. People need to realize that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes; it's also subjective.

SL— Subjective, yes. My last question for all of you — what’s something you’ve been recently thinking of as very “Good Weird”.

SY— Oh, yeah, let me think. Definitely what we’ve been posting on Instagram, the 90s vibes are very Good Weird, like those AI-generated yearbook photos.

JW— I’m trying to think of any moments from fashion week that stood out, even.

SL— The model dressed as the giant fur ball at the Christian Cowan show is very Good Weird, the smiley Collina Strada show — all of it.

JW— Exactly.

EM— Japanese denim, pickled mango … eating sunflower seeds with the shell still around it.

SL— Yes, heavy on Japanese denim. Even pickling your own vegetables?

JW— Any brands that feel like a nod to nostalgia. JNCO for sure.

SY— Anything that brings you back, anything that feels welcoming.

JW— Dippin’ Dots!

SL— Oh my gosh, and those spiky, jelly pens. I just saw a ring that was made out of that rubbery, jelly stuff. Well, you guys have created this great community, and I’m so excited to see where it goes. Thank you for taking this time.

SY— Thank you!

JW— Thank you.

EM— Thanks!

Beauty

NAILS FIRST!

Beauty

With Sitre, Sex is No Secret

September 25, 2023

Save the confusion for trying out that new position, not the back of your lube bottle. Sitre is the Danish disruptor in the world of sexual wellness. After feeling frustrated with the current state of intimacy products, founders Cecilie Hjelmager and Julie Herskin decided it was time to bring a gentle, honest take.

Instead of the usual million-ingredient, sticky substances on the shelves, they offer user-friendly products that prioritize pleasure, while maintaining all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients. Sitre believes that our perception of intimacy is shaped by the language and experiences surrounding it. office talked to individuals Yazmin Kazemi and Maria Barfod about their own experience with sexual wellbeing, and how Sitre has played a role.

Words by Soph Lucina
Photo by Petra Kleis and Ocean Productions

Sophia Lucina-- Right off the bat, in three words, what does intimacy mean to you?

Yazmin Kazemi— Sensual, it’s letting the nature of your body take the lead. Vulnerable, either letting yourself or someone else into your sphere. Excitement, the tingling sensation your feel on the inside but also physically. Private, intimacy is mine.

Maria Barfod— Trust. Magic. Everything.

What, if anything, frustrates you about society’s view of intimacy?

YK— It’s frustrating that we as a society have evolved away from ourselves, that external values are applauded to such an extent that there is a tendency of loosing touch with our inner selves. Intimacy in my eyes is about being able to feel a need and expressing it, wether its to a partner or with yourself. As a psychotherapist I will tell my clients, that only you, yourself knows what intimacy means to you.

MB—That we should limit our self.

When do you feel most sexy? And/or confident?

YK— I feel most sexy, confident when I am happy on the inside. When I have taken accountability of my boundaries, wishes and my body. I feel sexy when I have accomplished something, and that can vary between a small every day task or a bigger dream. For me it’s living on the verge of “this is scary, but I am going to try and do it anyway.” I feel sexy when I have silenced my primal brain, that at times is on overload and listen to my body. Dancing is the fastest way to make me feel sexy.

MB— When I step out of the shower. Dry and moist.

Yazmin Kazemi (Left) and Maria Barfod (Right) by Petra Kleis.

How has Sitre played a role in your concept of intimacy?

YK— Sitre has opened up a platform of a word we all know, but do we really understand? Sitre has put intimacy and the interpretation of what it means on the agenda. It’s a platform where everyone is invited in, no matter the gender, sexual preferences, or age. For me it has played a role in removing the shame that has been plastered to intimacy.

MB— Dunno where to begin. I have never befor been a lube woman before I tried sitre. I always felt like it was not given g me anything extra. But a new world opened up to me with Sitre. Im an NOT kidding. I have event had sexual partners asking for which brand it was!

Which Sitre product is your favorite?

YK— I am a huge fan of the gel silicone, because of the silky sensation, it makes everything smooth.

MB— No doubt, the first edition lube. I've tried it all but nothing beats it. It is god sent.