Amore Magazine

Vin-T Bikini's Soiree at Loveland Boutique in Tempe, AZ

On Thursday, February 11th, 2010 AmoreMagazine.com's partner designer Robin Ashford Macy founder of Vin-T Bikini held a Soiree at LOVELAND Boutique in Tempe, Arizona featuring the latest designs from Vin-T Bikini. Loveland Boutique mixes funky with vintage and trendy wear. Vin-T Bikini's appearance was a huge success! Vin-T Bikini...hand-cut vintage t-shirts created into one of a kind bikinis are now sold in Arizona! Bikinis range from $135-250.

For more on Vin-T Bikini check out their web site at: VinTBikini.com

Follow AmoreMagazine.com on Twitter @AmoreMagazine

(Photo: Vin-T Bikini Designer Robin Ashford Macy at the Soiree at Loveland Boutique- Thursday, February 11th, 2010)

Virgin America Launches Inflight Wireless Internet Service

Addicted to the world of wireless internet? Want to stay in touch with your lover back on the ground while flying? Now you can with Virgin America’s Gogo InFlight Internet service which was launched on November 22nd high above the skies of San Francisco.

While on board the Virgin America Airbus A320 happy passengers participated in the first-ever flight live, air-to-ground video-stream—broadcasting to millions of people at the YouTube Live event in San Francisco and viewers online. 

[Virgin America]

Friday Feature: Amore Magazine podcast #36- Celebrity Fashion Designer Tiffany Alana

Tiffany Alana Wolff's sexy, shoulder-baring styles and uneven 'handkerchief' hemlines instantly hit the Hollywood big-time, with a legion of celebrity fans including Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Little Richard, Pink, Christina Auguilera, Paris, Nicky & Kathy Hilton, Britney Spears, Kelly Osbourne, Daryl Hannah, Jamie Pressley, Paula Abdul, Jewel, Nia Long, Ashley Judd, Tyra Banks, Courtney Peldon, Marketa Janska, Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, and Brooke Burns.

Retailers were quick to pick up the trend setting look, and Tiffany Alana is now a top-selling mainstay for major national department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney's New York, Nordstrom and Macy's, as well as more than 400 top boutiques across the  world.

With their figure-flattering diagonal drape and one-of-a-kind brooches, Tiffany’s signature tube tops and skirts are still held atop a style pedestal; her designs are consistently seen on celebrity clotheshorses, in fashion bibles, and were featured on 'The View' as 'Must-Have Spring Fashion' pieces. Tiffany moved to Southern California from her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri as a teen, and a year of studying fashion design and merchandising sealed her current fate. At the age of 21, with stints as a pizza delivery driver and nanny, she achieved the kind of commercial and design success that remain in the realms of fantasy for most young designers.

Direct download of the Amore Magazine podcast conversation with Tiffany Alana here.

[TiffanyAlana.com]

Friday Feature: Interview with Celebrity Stylist Kelly Brown

(Photo of Niia- KellyBrownStyle.com)

Kelly Brown- Fashion Stylist/Creative Director
New York City

When it comes to fashion, film, television and music Kelly Brown knows it well as a Fashion Stylist and Creative Director to some of Hollywood's A-Listers.

Born in Montreal, and now working from New York City, Kelly has worked on the Tyra Banks Show, styled the VJs of MTV World, assisted on Walmart Advertorials, continues to style developing artists in the music industry, such as Krishnar Lewis, and Wyclef artists Niia, D. Golder and Logik.
Kelly also styles fashion editorials internationally. Most recently she produced and styled the Rock Your Fashion Showcase for MTV Beach Blast.

Kelly has traveled extensively, is fluent in English and French. Everything can be a source of inspiration for her. She is a visionary and holds no finitude when it comes to pushing the boundaries of the entertainment and fashion industries.

Amore Magazine caught up with Kelly to garner an inside look at her world in the industry.

Amore: How did you get into your line of work? Was it something you always wanted to do as a kid?

Kelly: Well I was always into clothes. I started vintage shopping when I was
13. My parents hated it! Actually I was going to be an English Major
at Queens University, and wanted to be a novelist and a poet. I got
in, but changed my mind at the last minute and went into fashion. I
networked and interned a lot and started working while I was still in
school. I majored in Fashion Communication at Ryerson University. So I
had opportunities by the time I graduated. I always wanted to live in
New York, and after a stint in LA working on the Tyra Banks Show, I
moved here.

Amore: Your from Montreal originally and now you work in New York City. What brought you to the Big Apple? Was it solely for work?

Kelly: I just always loved New York and of course there are a lot bigger nopportunities here. Especially if you want to work in the fashion industry at a certain level, you need to be where everything is happening.

Amore: What's the biggest difference between working in U.S. and Canada?

Kelly: Well of course you have to deal with immigration and that can be quite
difficult. But if you are lucky enough to be able to work in the US
and Canada, that's the best.  So I'm pretty lucky, cuz I can go back
and forth if I want.

Amore: Besides Tyra Banks, who are some of the other celebrities you've worked with?

Kelly: I have worked with Sean Paul, Faith Evans, Niia, Krishnar Lewis, and
Natalie Martinez who is in Death Race which comes out this Fall.

Amore: Who was your favorite(s) to work with?

Kelly: They are all cool experiences in different ways. I just love
collaborating creatively with different people.

Amore: Any celebrities that you want to work with that you haven't yet?

Kelly: Good Question. Sarah Jessica Parker and Patricia Field. That show
definitely inspired me to be a Stylist.  Kate Hudson, Chloe Sevigny,
I'd love to work with more singers and musicians maybe, because it
would be really fun to style outfits and costumes for shows and live
appearances.

Amore: Any upcoming projects?

Kelly: Well New York Fashion Week is coming up and I am also assisting Sofia Achaval on a fashion editorial for V Magazine issue W56. Then I'm going to Milan for fashion week to see the shows, and work on a shoot while there.

Julia Allison + Meghan Asha + Mary Rambin = NonSociety

(Pictured l to r: Meghan Asha, Julia Allison, and Mary Rambin)

NYC's favorite socialite Julia Allison is back at it again. Blogging that is... but in a new way. Julia has joined forces with the fabulous duo of Meghan Asha and Mary Rambin to form what is the 'founding sisters' trio of a new form of lifecasting.  The Gawker favorites are reinventing (sort of) how we follow our friends. What is their form of lifecasting? We're still digesting the idea, but if you check out Julia, Meghan, and Mary's new pet project NonSociety, you'll get a taste.

Julia dubs herself as the 'Dating Columnist, while Meghan is the 'Geekette,' and Mary is the 'Style Snob.' Each has a vertical blog with up to the minute updates of text, photos, and video of their lives with a discerning take of each her own area of expertise.

One can only imagine the road they are about to pave for themselves and for the rest of this tech society.

Note: Julia graces the August cover of Wired magazine. For a look back at how Julia viewed the world last year at this time you can listen to her Amore Magazine podcast interview, episode #19, here on AmoreMagazine.com.

[NonSociety]

(Photo: NonSociety.com)

Friday Feature; Amore Fashion: Vin-T Bikini

Ladies, so here it is mid-summer. Yeah, you've already bought all the swimsuits you could possibly want and you've wore each one a few times this season. But now you have your friends pool party coming up and you want to look chic, get a a conversation going with the cute guys at the party, and impress your girls.

Now is the time to add a Vin-T Bikini to your collection. You're probably asking yourself what exactly is a Vin-T Bikini and with this hip new line the product is in the name. Robin Ashford-Macy started taking old t-shirts and making them into bikinis. Sounds simple?  There's more to it than that. Amore Magazine sat down with Robin and asked her a few questions about the concept.

Amore: How did you come up with the concept?

Robin: I was cleaning out my closet and my youngest brother suggested an idea for my t-shirts to be made into bikinis.  The next day I bought a sewing machine and made my first proto type. 

Amore: What is Vin-T Bikini all about?

Robin: Vin-T Bikini is about wearing your favorite rock band, sports team or slogan as a bikini.  These suits are made from an actual t-shirt.  They are nostalgic and one of a kind..hand-cut by me personally!

Amore: What age / type of girl would wear a bikini like this?

Robin: My key target group is 20-30.  Although, I have experienced a much wider range in age groups in sales lately. 

Amore: Do you have any retail stores that carry your line?

Robin: Yes, Hotel Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ and The Beverly Hills Bikini Shop in Beverly Hills, CA (245 So. Beverly Dr./ Beverly Hills).

Amore: Have you had a lot of buzz from other media besides of course Amore Magazine about Vin-T-Bikini?

Robin: Vin-T Bikini was featured in the Business section of the New York Sun, on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNBC, and The Arizona State University school newspaper The State Press to name a few.

The bikinis range in price from $198-$398, and you can also purchase Vin-T Bikinis online at: VinTBikini.com

(Photos: Mikael Vojinovic)

Friday Feature: Tito's Handmade Vodka

Every Amore Magazine bachelor and bachelorette’s swank home bar should include a regular stock of Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

We know Tito is a Mexican name and you would assume if Tito were to create such an alcohol it would be in the form of tequila, but fear not this vodka is impressive. Yes, it's from Texas!

Tito Beveridge (his real name) has a story behind his vodka. He was in the mortgage business and it was then that he started making flavored vodka for his friends as Christmas presents in the early 90's.  At a friend's party a guest said to him 'Hey you're the vodka guy' in which he replied, "No, I am the mortgage guy." It was not long after that conversation on that night that he took the possibility of producing his own vodka seriously. 

With no knowledge of how to even distill vodka he found a bunch of pictures of old moon shiners and built a still that looked like the still from the photos.  With his first still he started cooking up batches of vodka and letting friends try his batches until he got it right.  He went as far as having lined up shot glasses of every major brand vodka along side his own. Without knowing his got the best rating.

He built a one-man distillery with some money he saved up from previous employment, and max out some 19 credit cards to the tune of $88,000. He would make it and go out to sell it, and come back and make some more.

Not long after, he got a phone call to come to the World Spirits Competition but was fixing a boiler so he just sent a couple bottles there and ended up getting the double gold medal, the unanimous judges choice- And that was up against 72 vodkas around the world including flavored vodkas.

And with that the editors here at Amore Magazine recommend all our readers to pick up a bottle of Tito's Handmade Vodka and try it for themselves. It’s great with any vodka-based mixed drink or on the rocks. You won’t be disappointed.

Fast Facts:

-Tito went from producing 1,000 cases in '97 to 165,000 in 2006.

-Tito's Handmade Vodka is produced in Austin at Texas' first and oldest legal distillery.

To learn more about Tito’s Handmade Vodka or on how to purchase a bottle visit their website at: TitosVodka.com.

(photo credit: CoryRyan.com)

Friday Feature: Worn Free t-shirts

Vintage t-shirts that rock stars of the 60's and 70's once wore were a reflection of their own personality. 

Where did they get them? Who made them? Only they had the authority to wear them... wear them well they did.

Now girls and guys can play the likes of their favorite rock star icons from the 60's and 70's with Worn Free t-shirts.

Worn Free is a rock and roll t-shirt label with a mission to resurrect the most iconic t-shirts of our time.  Worn Free reproduces famous vintage tees worn by rock legends including John Lennon, Joey Ramone, The Doors, Frank Zappa, Debbie Harry and Joan Jett, among others.

The brand is really more about rock and roll history than just t-shirts.  Founder Steve Coe has amazing stories behind the shirts (and the rockers who wore them) and how fashion and music have influenced each other for decades.

Worn Free has taken a unique approach to fashion.  It is somewhat of a reverse product placement...where many companies these days are trying to get their products onto celebrities, Worn Free has taken products already worn by celebrities and bring it to the public. 

That's not to say that celebrities of today's generation haven't taken notice- celebrity fans who have dooned Worn Free include- Mischa Barton, Jennifer Aniston, Naomi Campbell, Ellen Page, The Kaiser Chiefs, Johnny Depp, Keith Urban and Robert Downey Jr.

You can order Worn Free t-shirts from their website: WornFree.com

Friday Feature: FOXERS

Ladies, you may have never heard of Foxers, but someday soon you might be wearing a pair. The battle of the sexes has been just that- a battle for years. When it comes to undergarments there is no exception.

Foxers simply put- are boxer tops on women's underwear. Possibly giving you the advantage in showing us your underwear. We all know the days of showing us the backside of your thong is far over, but you can still be sexy, yet classy with a pair of Foxers.

April Spring who invented Foxers told Amore Magazine of her concepts origins

How did you come up with the concept?

While sitting at on outdoor café in Malaysia, my husband and I were having a fun conversation over whether women wanted their under garments to stick out above their jeans . My husband said most men believe that we intended to show our panties, but I thought this was not true. Then it came to me, if it’s OK for men to show their boxers, why not add the boxer top to women’s under garments to imitate the look and build on the style?

What is your product all about?

Fun, functional, fashionable, and sexy in one great quality product. We believe FOXERS is a great accessory, outer wear and underwear for all year and all body types. As I can afford the expansion I wish to add more sizes.

Who is your key target group?

Two target markets for women; 16 to 25 boy shorts, and 30 to 55 for the lace boxer; men's 18 to 30. That said we have a saying at FOXERS, “We sell by the inch not the age.” We have customers from 10 to 70 buying FOXERS and each loves them for their own reason.

Any thing unique or interesting about your product that you want to tell us that we may have not noticed?

FOXERS boxer band on all types of women's and men's styles of underwear, lounge wear, and swim wear is patent pending and just the beginning of a full range of apparel from the brand. FOXERS are being purchased by University book stores across the U.S. for a subtle way to show off their school colors and show their pride and support.

Where can we purchase the product?

At FOXERS.com and over 100 boutiques across the United States, Dubai, Canada, and preparing for several locations in Australia, Europe, and India.

Friday Feature: Sexy Slang Board Game

Having couples over for drinks this weekend? Looking to have some fun and spice things up then try Sexy Slang.

Sexy Slang is a combination of pictionary-esque drawing games and charades, but with 500 "sexy slang" terms. Teams race to act out or draw sexy slang terms. For example, the first card in the deck is "pocket rocket." You must draw a pocket rocket for your team faster than your opponent. Players shout out guesses and the results are hilarious. (There are 500 terms, from "reverse cowgirl" to "little man in the boat.")

It is a party game, not a bedroom game that couples & singles play with friends. Sexy Slang is for sale nation-wide at select Barnes & Noble stores and many other retailers.

Sexy Slang is a great game for singles, for obvious reason, but it can also keep a long-term relationship spicy. Play a few rounds with your boyfriend/girlfriend and friends, and you'll definitely get "heated up" and you'll probably learn something new about your partner.

Sexy Slang starts conversations and can lead to couples trying new things in the bedroom. I can hear the conversation ...

Boyfriend: "Reverse cowgirl? I've never heard of that one."
Girlfriend: "Sounds fun. Want to try it?"
Boyfriend: "Oh hell yes."

Hence the "thank yous" the company claims they receive regularly. [Sexy Slang]