Ephemera

Check out more from the collection below.

Fashion

Walking on Fire

This daring creation, aptly named the Puffer Sneaker, bursts onto the scene like a bolt of lightning, capturing attention with its bold colorway and avant-garde design. Collaborating with the visionary minds at Zellerfeld, renowned for their groundbreaking 3-D printing innovations, Rains has elevated the sneaker game to new heights, transforming footwear into wearable art.

Just as raindrops descend from the heavens, creating mesmerizing patterns on the streets, Rains' Puffer Sneaker leaves its own distinctive mark. Crafted with meticulous precision and expert craftsmanship, this shoe not only epitomizes style but also embraces functionality. Its waterproof construction, a trademark of Rains, ensures that even in the most torrential downpours, your feet will remain dry, offering the wearer a sense of invincibility against the elements.

Fashion

BAPE Celebrates 30 Years

June 30, 2023

In light of BAPE’s 30th anniversary, the iconic Japanese brand celebrated streetwear and Nigo’s brainchild with the BAPE HEADS SHOW at Terminal 5 on Wednesday. Here, dozens of celebrities and streetwear lovers were endowed with the brand’s rich history and influence in the fashion industry.

BAPE debuted Fall/Winter 2023 menswear and womenswear, as well as the brand’s sub-labels BAPE BLACK, APEE, BAPY, and AAPE. In total, there were over 100 looks and notable figures on the runway including Jalen Green, Ajani Russell, and many more.

We spotted some familiar faces in the star-studded crowd like Fivio Foreign, Fiffany Luu, stars from Bling Empire, Jaylen Brown, Mia Khalifa, Trinidad James, Jalen Mills, and Pardi — all dressed in BAPE from head to toe. There were also highly-anticipated performances from Coi Leray and Lil Baby, with a surprise performance from Lola Brooke.

Text by Marisa Kalil-Barrino
Photo courtesy of BAPE

The show began with 25 looks from BAPE. This collection had three main themes; “Sport Mania,” “College Classic,” and “Denim Painter.”

“Sport Mania” explores ‘90s hip-hop in the West Coast and Y2K details with a modern twist. Here, they utilized the brand’s original camouflage motif and vibrant colors. “College Classic” coined American collegiate style from the ‘90s – a consistent inspiration since BAPE began. However, this time they added leather jackets, knit sweaters, outwear, messenger bags, and accessories. “Denim Painter” paid homage to American artist Jackson Pollock. They introduced a new brushstroke pattern and combined it with distressed denim.

Next was BAPE BLACK; the sister label that specializes in black and gold details, embroidery, faux fur, and outerwear like coats and knit sweaters. The theme for this collection was “The Retro Outdoor,” with lots of European-inspired looks. This season, the sub-brand consisted of more luxury and elevated garments like trench coats, colorful knit sweaters, blazers, cardigans, and slacks.

Following BAPE BLACK was AAPE; a sub-label that fuses with BAPE and includes more sportswear, jerseys, and functional fashion. Models emerged on skateboards as AAPE takes influence from skateboarding and hip-hop in the ‘90s. Here, we saw a lot of vibrant-colored, movable pieces such as tracksuits, cropped jerseys, Moonface Monogram, and AAPER graphic t-shirts, hats, and two-piece sets.

APEE was unlike any of the collections throughout the show so far. The womenswear sub-label presented an elevated, chic type of streetwear; two-piece denim sets, handbags, platform boots, legwarmers, micro skirts, and cropped tops. This collection, titled “Gen-Z Gyaru Winter,” honored Japanese Gyaru subculture and Gen-Z pop culture. While BAPE and most of its sub-labels consist of baggy clothes, APEE experimented (and achieved) with creating tighter, more revealing clothes.

Last but not least was BAPY; a dramatic, and unexpected twist to end the collections. “The Office Essentials” theme serves the “Busy Working Lady.” It gave a new meaning to the employed woman with a wide range of corporate chic looks. There was also evening wear for as soon as you clock out for the day. Down the runway were sharp-tailored suits, plaid motifs, opulent dresses (including a wedding dress), workwear denim, and modern accessories with quality materials all-around.

Just as we thought the show was over, giant Bape Heads came out in the signature BAPE tracksuit…this time with inflatable wings, BAPE chains, and sneakers.

There will be a limited edition merch to commemorate BAPE’s 30th anniversary available on July 1 in BAPE stores and online. The collection includes t-shirts, baseball caps, totes, towels, stickers, and badges.

Fashion

Lust Travels from Paris to New York

June 29, 2023

Love. Desire. Sensuality. Sex. “Lust,” as a concept, is a Dionysian display of queer power. Ludovic de Saint Sernin’s Spring/Summer 24 collection celebrates the joy and individuality inherent to the queer experience. In the face of societal attempts to push a censored, purist, and palatable vision of queerness, LdSS responds with “a wardrobe imbued with a libidinal elegance,” that celebrates sexuality instead of suppressing it.

The looks play on duality, reflecting Saint Sernin’s history in androgynous design. Gender lines are blurred and traditional fashion standards are uprooted. The mini skirt is no longer exclusively feminine, becoming the universal garment of hotness it was always meant to be. Shirts open, a sense of summery ease fills the runway, and collarbones become the erogenous zone of the season.

Text Izzy Capulong
Runway photos courtesy of Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Party photos by Christos Katsiaouni

After the show in Paris, Nick Vogelson, Ana Kirova, and Ludovic de Saint Sernin, who lead Document Journal, Feeld, and LdSS respectively, came together to commemorate Pride and celebrate LdSS Spring/Summer 2024 presentation. They, along with co-host Mia Khalifa, gathered at the Times Square EDITION, where they warmly welcomed a mix of familiar faces and new acquaintances.

Leather meets airy fabrics, with flowing see-through mermaid skirts paired with BDSM-reminiscent leather bodices. The Lust looks are meant to entice, transforming models into sirens emerging from the ocean, but remind viewers that softness does not always mean safety. “Look, but touch at your own risk.” The most striking look was the fully sheer gown, expertly bunched and perfectly mimicking a wet look; LdSS has this siren thing down.

Lust’s jewelry comes out of a collaboration with the brand Vagujhelyi, New York-based artist Diego Villarreal Vagujhelyi. Made of white brass, the pieces once again pull inspiration from BDSM, an often-shunned component of queer history and community. Discipline chokers, courtship cuffs, and knuckle rings remind us of the eroticism inherent in the trusting act of surrender, and the declaration of autonomy that comes with willingly submitting control. At its heart, Lust is an ode to those who refuse to abstain from pleasure, for those who refuse to censor themselves, for sirens, and for those who love to be wet.