STYLE.BITER at BYT!

rock creek pin-up at BYT!

click click for BYT and the $40 fashion spread! thanks to shervin of shervinfoto for the amazing pictures and the lovely laura burhenn for modeling!
love
morgan

west egg: white in august party.

poolside: scott rattler.

beat it over to BYT today for more scorching hot rattler action.

off 18th st: adams morgan.

OMG/SB/BYT

rock and roll hotel: garutachi.

FD at BYT!

click over to BYT today for my style column this week: fashion district: upcoming events (and other pleasantries)!
love,
morgan.

panda head features...

name: johnny
age: 20

how would you describe your style?
a hybrid of hip-hop, old school-punk and carpet-bagger styles though i'm sure i haven't found my signature style yet...i feel like that doesn't come til later in life.
do you pay attention to trends? how do you stay current?
i of course pay attention to trends though i hate to say it...i mean i read tons of magazines, a million fashion blogs a month and i would never ever go anywhere without my skinny jeans. haha i can't even fathom wearing bootcut jeans again so yes i'm a sucker for trends...you got me!! i stay current by taking cues from nylon, w, metropop, pop, paper and useless magazines just to name a few...i also frequent marykate and ashley fan sites they always look incredible and i love looking to them and the misshapes website for inspiration.
what are your wardrobe staples?
most definitely my american apparel 50/25/25 tri-blend short sleeve deep v-neck, i wear it when all else fails. i feel like everyone should have in their wardrobe a great pair of high top sneakers, a pair of pointy-toed boots, a nice pair of skinny jeans that fit you like a glove and somthing metallic, whether it be a bag, necklace, shoes or top. with that you can get through anything. i can walk into my closet, pull out anything, and be sure that it looks great
do you keep an organized closet?
hmm it's somewhat organized. i keep all the things i wear most frequently or am currently in love with in the center so i always see them first thing...but i have a rather small closet so i run into the problem of "where does all this shit go?" i have an armoire crammed full and a hamper not for dirty clothes but for clothes that i can't fit anywhere else...it's really sad! someone come remodel my closet!!
where do you like to shop - locally and otherwise?
i love of course american apparel for my basics like t-shirts, undies and hoodies...if there's a trend i want to try and don't have the balls to fork out 300 bucks then i go to h&m. the best place for sneakers that you won't see anyone in is kickballers in georgetown...it's so cute, well-designed and the staff is soo nice. my all time favorite shop though is seven new york, everytime i step through the door i fall in love with every single item of clothing. it's so smart and i feel like anything i buy is well worth the price.
who or what are your style inspirations?
i get inspired by the people i surround myself with. i feel like they keep me fresh and i hope they don't take it as me copying them but i love to take cues from people i meet out and about in my daily life. i also love anything the olsen twins wear or anything hedi slimane sends down a runway. i'm constantly trying to recreate their looks.
any favorite designers?
oh my god here's the list in no particular order: brian lichtenburg, dior homme, april 77, marc jacobs, viktor & rolf, raf simons, bless, alexander mcqueen, chanel, and jeremy scott - just to name a few. but i want to make it clear i'm in no way a label whore... i kinda hate that.
what's your current favorite item of clothing?
at the moment it's my marc jacobs for pan-am bag, or as most of my friends know it, "my boyfriend marc." he's oversized and amazing. i'm also in love with my april 77 "marky overdrive" skinny jeans.
how do you define 'stylish?'
it's a lot about attitude. i mean if you can wear anything and be as comfortable in it as you would be in a pair of sweats, sitting at home, then you most likely have style. but in the same instance don't leave the house in a t-shirt that has american eagle written all over it and try to pass it off as being stylish...it's just not...no questions asked
what's your take on DC style, in general?
i think we are really making a name for ourselves when it comes to fashion. i know we all have it in ourselves to be just as stylish as new york or l.a. but our recources are very limited. i think most of us rely on ebay, online boutiques and h&m to get our fashion fixes but it would be nice to have a shop that catered to smaller name designers that we can only find in the bigger cities. i especially find it as a male a million times harder... i mean it's really getting old, shopping in the junior department at bloomingdales and nordstrom.

interview and photo (of johnny with his amazing devi kroell-for-target bag): morgan.

black cat: let's french/greenland/nunchucks, and also evil disco.

i'm so blushing.

big thanks to corinne, rob, and jake of the awesome website threadbanger, they interviewed me a few weekends ago and it went up today! check out the video, if you're so inclined, for some stuff on panda head and a quick DIY for a paper bag-waist skirt (and some other neat stuff that their viewers sent in). then be sure to spend some time on thread banger - they've got tons of other DIYs and designer interviews and all of them are totally rad!
...and a big huge thanks to blog on the cusp for featuring me as an 'it girl' today! you all are TOO KIND.
bon weekend,
morgan.
PS. i almost forgot! style.biter at BYT!

in an alley: adams morgan.

au revoir!

though the news has already spread through the city (like wildfire, or a dirty rumor), i thought it worth more than a mention that panda head friends let's french are bidding adieu to DC! according to their press release they've been deported, but i've got it on good word that randy's actually running for president. give them a proper send-off tonight at the black cat when they play their farewell show with greenland and nunchucks. au revoir, mes amies!
randy 08,
morgan.

panda head interviews...

edie sedgwick is 'our throwaway culture’s favorite poor-little-rich girl;' edie sedgwick was 'reincarnated by mysterious means as a transgendered being in 2004' (thanks to justin moyer); and perhaps most importantly, edie sedgwick gives GREAT show and DC loveloveloves her/him for it. catch edie, sentai and eyeball skeleton tonight when they close fort reno in the last show of the summer.

how would you describe your style?
Post-drag queen, pre-grunge, 60s-meets-80s-meets-00s, heavy-eyeliner, catch-as-catch-can, dress-low-budget-and-look-low-budget, yes-that-is-a-beauty-mark, what-would-I-do-without-black-tights, blonde-on-blonde, sparkly-silver-dress-wearing media whore.
how do you stay current - do you pay attention to trends?
I do admit that I track hair trends---but not in magazines or on runways, but how different hair styles resonate with me internally. When I first began performing, I thought, "Well, Edie, blonde hair doesn't suit you, so you simply must work it as a brunette!" I was so committed to being a brunette that I sported this dowdy brownish look in early publicity photos and on the cover of my first album, "Her Love is Real...But She is Not." Little did I understand the freedom...the glory...the sheer power of blonde! Once I overcame my initial anti-blonde prejudices, I found that my blondeness is, in many ways, my destiny. I can only imagine that Malcolm X faced the same decision when embracing white Muslims after his break with the Nation of Islam.
what are your wardrobe staples?
I simply cannot leave the house without my sparkly silver mini, my black tights, my silver hoop earrings, and my sparkling silver clutch purse. If I am headed to a formal affair or state dinner, I will often bring a string of Mama's pearls. Oh, and I simply never wear shoes, even in the coldest wint'ry weather. Shoes, which constrict lower-ankle energy flow, are simply a no-no!
does what you wear onstage differ from your offstage choices?
Offstage, I would never go clubbing or French kiss a lover with a handlebar mustache or other ironic facial hair. However, I must admit that I like the effect such ironic facial hair has on my audiences. A soul patch or muttonchops can inspire the most mediocre crowds. The women in the audience soon find themselves lusting after my lush, bountiful beard, and the men...well, let's just say that (tee hee) some of them are interested as well!
what's your favorite item of clothing?
Clothing is very situation-dependent. For example, when vacuuming, I prefer no clothes at all, a la Melanie Griffith in "Working Girl." When playing basketball, I often go to the court wearing tights and nothing more than tights. I find that tights provide much-needed lower body support and give me the little push I need when I approach the hoop for a slam dunk. However, when scoring amphetamines, I prefer to wear my sparkly silver dress, but sans tights. Often, street dealers will have pity (and offer a lower price to) a struggling young thing with skinny legs. Little do they know that I take their stash back to my $1,000,000 loft, snort a few lines, and light cigars with $100 bills!
who or what do you find inspiring, style-wise?
I always felt that Norman Bates' mother was well-dressed in "Psycho." On the surface, she is the perfect portrait of a good mother, sitting so quietly in a flower print dress there in the hallway. But then, close up, she has cultivated a skeletal look that provides a striking contrast to the mother archetype. Quite revolutionary, if you ask me. Also, I simply must say that Steve Guttenberg's tropical ouevre in Cocoon, and especially Cocoon 2, is awe-inspiring.
how would you define 'stylish?'
One of my recent compositions is called "Sissy Spacek." The song details the empowering elements of telekinesis as viewed through the main character of the Stephen-King-novel-turned-celebrated-film. The chorus of this song is anthemic, yet quite simple: "Gonna sing about what I'm about/Gonna be about what I'm about." I feel that one must approach fashion the same way. "What am I about?" one must ask oneself. Based on one's answer to this question, one must dress oneself appropriately. For example, when I ask myself, "Edie, what are you about?" I think of a sparkling silver dress and hoop earrings and a beautiful blonde wig and control-top tights. So that is what I wear! In another words: "Gonna dress about what I'm about/Gonna be about what I'm about."
any favorite designers?
I was sorry to hear that Bill Blass passed away some years ago. I thought the matronly-look he had cultivated so passionately for so long well-served many enterprising young women and men, especially those from the suburbs and inner cities of America and elsewhere
do you make or customize any of your own clothes?
No, dahling. That is what I pay my harem of little lads to do.

interview: morgan. uncredited photo and intro quotes from edie sedgwick on myspace - visit there, at ediesedgwick.biz, or at the desoto records site.

$$$$$$ at BYT!

click click for my BYT style column this week: show us the $$$$$$, and be sure to comment with what's on YOUR wish list for fall/winter 07!
love,
morgan

croquet: walter pierce park.

panda head interviews...

shervin lainez takes photos of people, places, and things in DC and makes each and every one of them look, well, amazing. you've more than likely seen the shervinfoto credit attached to the bio picture of your favorite local band or artist, and with the release of happy accidents (a photo collection of 25 DC musicians and bands he shot over a 2 year span), a whole new audience will get to experience his innate ability to capture both personality and persona. the book release party is wednesday night at DC9; stop by for a beer and to shake the man's hand.

how is your personal aesthetic reflected in your photography?
I like simple colors and textures; I think that’s pretty apparent in my work. It seems to be the most direct way to communicate an idea.
Other than that, I try and keep my personal aesthetic out of my pictures, mainly because my personal aesthetic is boring!
do you pay attention to trends? how do you stay current?
To be honest, I know embarrassingly little about current trends. It's so hard to keep up these days. That’s why I read PANDAHEAD.
who or what inspires you, fashion-wise?
I am just recently learning about fashion.
There are some amazing photographers who effortlessly capture clothes. Most of what inspires me fashion-wise is music and music iconography. Bjork was a big deal to me when I was younger. Her videos, photos and concerts taught me about color and style.
what kind of role does clothing play in your photography - is wardrobe a big consideration when you're putting together a shoot?
It is really important, because clothes can set a mood or convey a message that sometimes I, as a photographer, can't. In most cases I rely on the person to dress as they want to be presented. I have worked with a stylist a couple of times, and it is a HUGE luxury. You explain the concept to them and they can find the right fabric to match it.
do you enjoy fashion photography? how does the process differ from shooting a band or artist?
Fashion photography is a really interesting challenge, and i really go about it in a completely different way than music. For music photography there is much more emphasis on the individual personality of the musician. Fashion photography requires more attention to detail in terms of color, textures etc...taking pictures of fashionable musicians is fun!
and haha, now to make you name names - what DC bands or artists do you find especially stylish?
In no particular order: Carol Bui, Georgie James, Pash, Greenland, Soft Complex and of course, Laura Burhenn.
what's your take on DC style, in general?
It's fun, it's colorful. Especially the girls, I have seen some amazingly dressed females in DC. I think it's time the dudes started taking more chances.

interview: morgan. photo by, you got it, shervin lainez. for more of his work visit shervinfoto.com or the shervinfoto myspace and BUY HIS BOOK!
aww and for even MORE shervin love hit up brightest young things!

black cat: kitty kawk, garland of hours, shortstack.

EAT IT at BYT!

panda head interviews...

amy domingues is THE cellist in the DC area, and i don't mean she's the ONLY cellist - i mean that she's the only one who matters. she's played on tons of records (for bands from fugazi to fairweather) and manages to do it all while looking incredibly, enviably put-together. while you may have caught her last week with benjy ferree at fort reno, that's no excuse to miss garland of hours (her very own band) tonight at black cat with other DC faves shortstack and kitty hawk.

describe your style.
a mix of thrifted, vintage, and lux pieces (when i can afford them!)
do you pay attention to trends? how do you stay current?
i'd be lying if i said i didn't, but i won't drop a ton of money on trendy stuff - i'll get a few things at Target or Forever 21 instead.
i enjoy fashion magazines, i like W for its hoity-toity-ness although i can't afford anything in there. it's good for ideas which you can translate to stuff at Goodwill and vintage shops. And there are some good blogs out there, like The Sartorialist and PANDAHEAD!!!
what are your wardrobe staples?
last fall/winter it was my vintage maroon boots, leggings, and minidress. that was pretty much my uniform on tour. this spring/summer its all about dresses with flats. I have to do a "cello" test when I go shopping for dresses and skirts. It involves sitting and spreading my knees...I get a lot of funny looks in the dressing room.
how do you pack for tour?
I usually don't take too much because I love to shop when I travel. Shopping usually meaning thrifting. I've been known to mail packages of stuff home because there's not enough room in the van. When I go to Europe I usually pack clothes in my cello case to save space and carry less luggage!
does what you wear onstage differ from what you wear offstage?
It's good to dress up for a show, people are going to look at you and you don't wanna look bad in pictures. I feel better when I'm wearing something which expresses how I feel, just like playing music! So yes, I wear jeans and a t-shirt around the house and around town sometimes, but when I'm playing a show my clothes are part of the experience and part of the creative expression.
what's your favorite item of clothing right now?
i love my Mayle turqoise/gold flat sandals, i also have a white See by Chloe dress I've been wearing with a gold belt. It makes me feel very 70s Riviera-ish.
who or what do you find inspiring, style-wise?
My dear friend Alicia is my fashion icon. She lives in NYC now, but she used to run an amazing store called Niagara back in the day, in Adams Morgan. She pre-dated all of those boutiques on M St. Anytime I am about to make a major purchase I ask her opinion. She manages a high-end designer boutique in Soho.
any favorite designers?
I adore Mayle, Built by Wendy (I've got many past seasons of her stuff), I really am obsessed with those Tory Burch Reva flats right now. I have the black 7-ways Wonder Dress that Leann Trowbridge made at Meeps a few years ago. It's served me well on many occasions!
do you make or customize any of your own clothing?
Yes, I sew. It's been a while since I made a full piece of clothing but generally I like to tailor the stuff I find at thrift stores. I've got short legs so I always have to hem my pants!
what's your take on DC fashion, in general?
I wish people in this town would be more imaginative in general with the way they dress. We live in a paper-pushing town so the overall feel is very conservative. There's a preponderance of the idea of a "uniform" (preferably from the Gap, Banana Republic, and other chain stores). But things are definitely changing for the better, there's definitely more vintage specialty and small boutiques than there used to be.

interview: morgan. photo of garland of hours (with amy front and center) by brian liu; photo of amy at sxsw uncredited from garlandofhours.com. for more on amy and the band, hit them up on myspace.

redeem: plastic heaven trunk show.

TR at BYT!

click click click over to brightest young things for my style column this week: trend report: JEWEL TONES!
thanks love love,
morgan

pharmacy bar.

fort reno: yell county, benjy ferree, the aquarium.

BITE IT at BYT!

bobby fisher memorial building: aleatoric.

dos mas de julyoween...

saddle up at BYT!

click over to brightest young things later today for my style column this week: DIY saddle shoes!
love, morgan.