Julien-K, made up of Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh founding members of Orgy, just released a video for “Cruel Daze of Summer” which is the first major single from their latest album We’re Here With You. Fast cars and hot girls, but with nice styling and details. Of course the main thing that caught my eye was the awesome leather and chiffon dress, it looks great by day causal with hair down and with avant-garde makeup and a pseudo deathhawk! Much like this song… perfect for a summer day or the club.

- Jennifer

image source playdeadcult.com

There are some brands, that no matter if you have been following them since the beginning, or if you’ve just recently stumbled upon them, you just love. Playdead Cult is one of those such brands. Stu and Bean, the duo behind Playdead, have been doing T-shirts and one-of-a-kind pieces since 1999. Infusing art and music into their clothing and keeping it out of the mainstream while still being relevant. The Drum’s T-Shirt, both for men and women, is a fun design we’re digging for its simple, yet definitive style artwork by co-owner Stu.  It wraps up a love for the local music scene and our love of something a little abnormal. You can find this T and much more at the boutique located in Kensington Market, make sure to say hi, as most likely Bean or Stu themselves will be at the counter.

The Drum’s T-Shirt is available online for $25 at www.playdeadcult.com.

- Tasha Farrington

featuring fashions by Plastik Wrap, Futurstate, Victory & Vice, Cyeoms Clothing, The Rogue and the Wolf, Guy Latulippe, Christopher Bates, and more

photographer : Adam Zivo
creative director : Pretty Deadly Stylz
fashion stylist : Pretty Deadly Stylz
makeup artist : Larissa Palaszczuk of Blonde Moxie Makeup
hair stylist : Larissa Palaszczuk of Blonde Moxie Makeup
models : Sam L. at Spot6  and Madison D. at Spot6

view the full editorial in the June/July 2012 Issue

image source retroagogo.com

It’s a hot one out there and this fun and edgy parasol by Retro-a- go-go will help save those pale complexions from one nasty burn. They’re mixing old school style and fun art prints for a new twist on the classic cherry blossom standard. Picking through the designs, I’m feeling it big time for this Bettie Page print by artist Olivia. Her sweet skill with a brush capturing those oh so lovely curves just makes me swoon. Pick up this parasol for taking a stroll, hanging out at the beach, camping out, going to concerts, and more. And when you aren’t wandering the great outdoors, you can hang it on the wall for instant art! In any case this parasol is definitely something worth taking a peek at.

The Retro-a-go-go Olivia Red Devil Bettie Page Parasol is available online for $21.99 at www.retroagogo.com.

- Tasha Farrington

The New Rules of Attraction
written by Arden Leigh

reviewed by : Jennifer Link

In December 2011, when Auxiliary contributor Arden Leigh’s first book The New Rules of Attraction came out, I picked it up right away. I however didn’t read it for a few months. I wanted to read it but also it wasn’t a top priority on my large book shelve of things to read, as I am not in a position in my life to need advice on dating and getting into a new romantic relationship. Having now read the book I realize, this isn’t just a book about seducing new romantic partners, it is so much more. Arden doesn’t just offer a guide to seduction, she offers a guide to life.

New Rules starts off with tips on polishing your persona and appearance. As a person who believes in beauty in one’s life and the value of shaping one’s appearance and style to fit their aesthetic, this chapter spoke true to me. Next she moves on to building a good social status, and taking concern and an active role in how those in your scene and social circles perceive you. Next she lays out the steps to attracting people to yourself. Then she gives advice on taking that attraction and turning it into emotional connections. The last part of New Rules gives tips on how to manage and maintain your relationship once you get there. Then lastly, she offers insight on viewing seduction as a generous and life improving act rather than a manipulative and hurtful act. She states her code of ethics and that if we are hurtful and selfish in our seductions in life, we will get results that reflect our carelessness. She advises that all people have strategies for getting what they want, whether they are conscious of it or not, and that if we choose to actively think about them, we can improve their effectiveness. Throughout the book, I felt Arden was reinforcing the things many of us already know to be true, putting them into words, and telling you the things you need to hear, that we often forget. Things that seem so simple but when stated out loud you realize might have gotten lost in the messiness of living life.

I really valued the information in this book. I feel most anyone could gain something from it too. This book teaches you how to seduce beyond the dating world, it offers advice on seducing new friends to add value and excitement to your life, it offers advice on seducing new clients and fans, it offers advice on bringing to you the people you need and want in your life. The tactics in this book have many applications. New Rules is told from a viewpoint that those in the fetish scene, a subculture, or any way of life or thought that doesn’t fit perfectly into the mainstream, will really enjoy. There were tons of great stories on Arden’s time as a professional dominatrix that I am very excited and hopeful she releases the book on her life story as a pro-domme in NYC that she promises in the book.

for more from Arden Leigh check out her advice column Ask Arden in an issue of Auxiliary Magazine

interview by : Vanity Kills
photographer : Collective Chaos Photography
models : Marlo Marquise and Elegy Ellem

The law according to Collective Chaos states that going green and staying true to your indulgent, hedonistic roots don’t necessarily have to be mutually exclusive concepts. Environmentally responsible living doesn’t confine you to a life of Birkenstocks and shapeless hemp-woven sacks. It does however force you to rethink your contribution to the local landfill. One way to put the brakes on the over-consumption madness, so prevalent in modern society, is to reduce textile waste. How, you ask? For starters, pondering your fashion purchases long and hard before plunking down the plastic for clothing that sacrifices quality, longevity, and, frankly often, originality in favor of a more attractive (read: cheap) price point. Sure, that out-of-the-box mass produced one-size-allegedly-fits-all latex mini will cost you no more than a price of a movie ticket and medium popcorn, but how many wears will you truly get out of it before it inevitably rips and begins its funeral procession to the city dump. Need I even mention that ten other girls will probably be rockin’ it too? On the same night, in the same club. No, thanks. So what’s the sexiest, most wardrobe-enhancing way to put less stress on our planet’s valuable resources? Collective Chaos’s latex pieces answer that pressing question by fleshing out the well known conservation concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” in the most sensuous way yet. Simply reduce the amount of filler apparel, by buying the highest quality pieces you can really shine in (figuratively and literally). Reuse by investing in exceptionally versatile garments, which can easily be styled in a thousand different ways (the V-Luptuous dress immediately springs to mind). And if you wish to part with your garb, you can easily recycle all of Collective Chaos’s 100% biodegradable, fair trade manufacturer produced latex. Sustainability has never felt so sumptuous.

What’s the best way to ease into latex for those curious, yet unfamiliar with its second-skin bodyhugging feel? Which one of your pieces would you recommend for a first time wearer?
Aliona : Wearing latex feels much more natural than you may realize. Most people are familiar with the comforting tightness of workout clothes and the sensual feel of leather. Well, if you marry the two, adding a dose of shine, sensuality, glamour, and invincibility, you might get an idea of what latex feels like. It’s impossible to describe, it needs to be experienced. My best advice for popping the latex cherry would be to, one, test your allergies, two, learn how to properly wear and take care of it, and, three, opt for spending a bit more, but on a higher quality piece, too many people get turned off by buying a cheap sample that does not fit or last.

view the full feature in the June/July 2012 Issue

New video from singer-songwriter Zola Jesus for “Seekir” from her 2011 album Conatus. Fun fact, Auxiliary contributor Ariana Paoletti designed the ivory patent leather pointed belt worn by Nika (aka Zola Jesus) in this video!

- Jennifer

Phil Western is an electronic musician whose work seems to transcend genres. Perhaps best known as one half of Download with Skinny Puppy’s Cevin Key, he has founded and contributed to various other projects working alongside some of the leading musicians in the genre. With his latest release, the compilation Laborandum a collection of materials from his various project and his solo project as Phil Western, he continues to forge ahead with his own career.

photographer : Adam Campbell
interview by : Hangedman

Auxiliary Magazine’s Hangedman managed to catch Phil Western for a conversation remotely while Western was working at a venue in Vancouver. As one of the founding fathers of Subconscious Communications and one half of Skinny Puppy related projects Download and Plateau, Phil Western talks about his history, his approach to music, and his obvious passion as an audiophile himself. Having worked in electronic music all of his life, Western has also ventured into solo work, transcending the work he does with his partner Cevin Key and the various other musicians and artists he has worked with. His latest compilation Laborandum due for release soon by Rustblade in Europe, is a carefully crafted selection of related work from across the Phil Western spectrum. Western shares with us his creative method, his foundation as a musician, and even hints that there’s more of Phil Western the solo artist to come on the horizon.

It goes without saying you have a number of projects that you have founded, collaborated on, touched, etc., then there’s your solo career. Can we get a debriefing of all things Phil Western?
Phil Western : That has changed a little bit over the years, just because my motivation to do solo work was kind of born out of frustration initially. (I don’t know how to put this without offending someone), I don’t know if you’ve heard about the Floatpoint and Off and Gone records? They came out before I ever worked with Cevin Key, so I had got it in my head that I was going to do electronic music either as a collaborative situation with Dan [Handrabur] who I was working with at the time, or by myself. Then Dwayne [Goettel] and I created this label, Subconscious Records, to release a 12 inch single and then Download was created and I was brought into that fold and I was doing that for a couple of years. We were making music [as Download] and we started to get a little bit of a following, but to me it seemed like that following was entirely the result of the fact that Skinny Puppy were such a huge band.

read the full interview in the June/July 2012 Issue

featuring fashions by Heavy Red, Fables by Barrie, and Too Fast

photographer : Zach Rose
creative director : Jennifer Link
fashion stylist : Jennifer Link
makeup artist : Nicole Barry
hair stylist : Erin Moser and Sarah Geraci
models : Paige Carson and Samm Haney

view the full editorial in the June/July 2012 Issue

Kent Kaliber, best known for his scene stealing run on two Emmy Award Winning seasons of the CBS series The Amazing Race, and for being one of the most photographed male models in the world of commercial alternative fashion. He has appeared as special guest at virtually every comic convention you can think of, as well as music festivals from Bamboozle to the Warped Tour. The current host of Bar Sinister every Saturday night in Hollywood, Kent is this issue’s PinUp.

photographer : Steve Prue
fashion stylist : Arden Leigh
makeup artist : Anna Victoria H. Scheumann
hair stylist : Anna Victoria H. Scheumann
model : Kent Kaliber
interview by : Arden Leigh

AUXILIARY ONLINE CONTENT
[ additional images not seen in the June/July 2012 Issue ]

view the full feature in the June/July 2012 Issue