Talking to: Michael Winkler from MicWinc

MicWinc who, you ask? Sixteen year old Austrian style blogger and photographer and cool t-shirt maker extraordinaire. He's been taking photos since he was knee high to a blade of grass and since his Facebook page in 2011 became even more popular which led to the creation of MicWinc in November, 2012. I was actually really excited to get to interview Michael, not only because he's a talented photographer but it's really great to see more people my age taking hold of their lives and just doing it for themselves.

Your photography is obviously a very important part of your blog. What got you into it?

I've started taking photos as a very young boy with my parent's camera, and I really fell for doing it. Since then I've grown my experience and specialised in portrait and fashion photography.

 

Michael's portrait photography
His portfolio is here.

Was there anyone who helped you get where you are today? And which photographers inspire you?

Of course there were many people. My first shooting with Laura Jurcevic in Kufstein was the beginning of my portrait photography.
There's one very special photographer, Christoph Schaller from Munich, who's in my eyes one of the greatest photographers in this sector. He inspires me a lot. Tumblr is a great source of inspiration too.

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

Get your camera, get your friends together, go outside and take pictures, pictures, pictures! You can't learn taking good photos from a book, you have to learn it by doing and living it.

 

Besides taking photos, what else do you like to do?

I love to travel, especially big cities, and of course I love to party with my friends!

 

If you could have dinner with any of the biggest names in fashion, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

That might be Karl Lagerfeld - he's a really brilliant guy with a very good sense for classic style.

 

Who are your favourite fashion bloggers?

My favourite fashion bloggers are MarkyMarc (he's not the type of blogger that writes about new styles etc., but he's a great fashion icon with very interesting style), Christoph Schaller, Scott Schumann and a few more - Kanye West is a big fashion inspiration to me, just as Hip Hop clothing itself has bearing on my style.

 

What is the fashion and photography scene like in Austria?

Austria is a very shy country on that score. Big cities definitely have a lot of well-dressed people, but these guys are very shy to try new and fresh things. When it comes to photography, Austria has a few really good photographers like Manfred Baumann or Andreas H. Bitesnich.

 

Would you say it’s a lot easier to be 'stylish' as a man or a woman?

Of course there are a lot more clothing shops for women, but being well-dressed and stylish does not depend on your gender.

 

Are there any specific rules you think men should abide by in terms of their dress?

Everyone should find his own way he dresses. Clothes can make you individual, no one should abide by some rules.

 

Name five items you never leave your house without and why.

My camera, my iPhone - to stay in contact and take quick pictures of things I should remember, my keys, money, matching clothes.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and whom from?
"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - this is the most inspirational quote I know, it's from Apple's Think Different advertisement. 

All images are from micwinc.
Check out Michael's Facebook, Lookbook and Instagram.

[Sunday Post] Hurry Up With My Damn Croissant!

I think I've just tasted the worst Oreo ever and I never thought this could happen. Like, I am chewing this in hopes that it'll get better but it doesn't. I'm seriously going to sue Spar for comprising my love. Or maybe this is one of those "growing up means growing apart" situations. Maybe after a week at a school that doesn't serve any sweets (no Jelly Tots, Sour Jelly Beans, Gummy Bears, Fizzers-- nay-thang!) it's taking me a while to adjust. Or maybe it's because I just sat threw an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and it's left a sour taste in my mouth.
Or maybe, possibly I just got a bad Oreo.
Gasp! Bite your tongue, dear sir.

Now that my life is lot (a lot, a lot) easier since I'm not travelling for up to two hours everyday with not one but TWO modes of public transport I think I'll be posting more regularly. All the time I'm not wasting catching buses and getting onto trains and walking to, like, everywhere is actually (here comes a surprise) being managed (somewhat) well. It's weird because I spend a lot more time at home now which is so, so great. I'm not as tired anymore or as hungry or cranky, really. It's fantastic.
And maybe I've gone italics happy but you know what? I'm like Yeezus - you can't touch me.

Yours,
Khenzo xx

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Talking to: Luisa Verdee from Green's Life Diary

 Luisa, Luisa, Luisa. She's approachable, fun, casual and unpretentious. If you had to bottle fun minimalism into a stylish Hispanic bottle you'd have Luisa. Definitely a veteran in the blogosphere; she's been around since 2010 when the fashion/style blogging world was still full of vacancies and filled with girls in pretty dresses with boyfriends who had fancy pants SLRs. When you read Green's Life Diary, it's kind of like listening to one of those cool-without-trying-girls talk and tell you about her day but in the way that includes everyone surrounding her, you feel me?

 

What got you into the world of blogging?

I wanted to create a place where I could share all my thoughts and find people who liked the same things I like. My first contact with the blogosphere was Andy Torres’s blog, and I found it because of Elle’s magazine.

 Who are your favorite fashion bloggers?

Right now I love Daniela from Nany’s Klozet, Adriana from Fake-leather and Johanna from Sketchbook Six.

 If you could have dinner with any of the biggest names in fashion, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet Grace Coddington; I love her work, her attitude and her sense of fashion.

 

 

 

 

When it comes to make-up and hair what are your favorite looks and styles?

Usually I don’t wear make up, but I love Smokey eyes, and for hair I love curly hair.

What is the fashion scene like in your city? Does this influence the way you dress?

Fashion is directly related with culture, and the city where I live is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. We love color, mixing textures and patterns, I feel that the Mexican’s are not afraid of “too much” and that’s what I love! Minimalism is really nice and chic, but being able to mix a lot of textures, colors and patters is what excites me the most.

 What were your favorite trends from the 1960s to the 1990s and why?

Definitely the 80’s is my favorite year, the minis, the beginning of the leggings, the shoulder pads and the oversized tops are trends that totally changed the path of fashion.

Are there any trends this year that you're in love with and any that you'd like to see die?

I have a hate-love relationship with the black and white trend, I love it because is chic, for everybody and is easy to create thousands of looks. But I hate it because I am getting bored of the same. Also I am in love with the hologram sunglasses trend! I find it very funny and youthful.

Lastly, what is the best piece of advice you've ever received and from whom?

Have fun and enjoy everything you do, being happy is your choice. And it came from one of my best friends.

 

 Find her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and don't forget to stalk her Instagram.
 

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But I Love it When You Read to Me and You Can Read Me Anything

It's a bit too serendipitous that while I'm writing this post that the season eight Scrubs finale is playing the same day I'm preparing for going to a new school tomorrow. If you're (for some reason I can't comprehend) unaware of what episode, or even what show, I'm talking about I'll explain: in the finale of season eight our lead, and most beloved, character Dr. John Dorian (J.D.) is leaving Sacred Heart Hospital (be closer to his son, aaw, J.D.).

Sacred Heart was where he cemented friendships, met the love of his life, learnt major life lessons, gained a father figure (in the form of one of TV's best doctors: Dr. Perry Cox, who made the angry rant an art form) and had a baby. And as a show of J.D.'s growth, he's not so afraid of change (as many of us are groomed to be) but now he looks forward to it. While he'll miss all the people he's met and all the memories he has created, he's ready for what the future holds. He wants to move on.
Not to say he's hunky dory about it all. There's still a lot to be worried about. Will anyone miss him when he's gone? Did anyone even notice he was there? Will he be remembered? Is Dr. Cox finally going to express his feelings (assuming you're still huddled under that rock, not enjoying 25 minute example of excellence in sitcoms; he does and it's amazing)? I think that's the really hard part about leaving, actually. Is anyone going to care? More specifically, are the people who you want to care going to give a rat's ass?

"Endings are never easy. I always build them up so much in my head they can't possibly live up to my expectations and I just end up disappointed. I'm not even sure why it matters to me so much how things end here. I guess it's because we all wanna believe that what we do is very important, that people hang onto our every word, that they care what we think. The truth is: you should consider yourself lucky if you even occasionally get to make someone--anyone--feel a little better. After that it's all about the people that you let into your life." - John Dorian.

Yours,
Khenzo xx

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All the gifs are from I'm no superman.

Top 5 Summer Trends x Flowboard

View on Flowboard - Presentation and Storytelling Platform for iPad

If you're like me and you spend all of your time looking at pretty pictures (it's the curse of loving so many blogs), it's great to have programs where you can put stuff together and make collages - stuff like Polyvore.
Flowboard is really great new app for tablet devices that allows you to do just that. It's really easy to use, the interface is great and who doesn't have fun collaging stuff?
I created a Flowboard featuring my top five summer trends: leather, all white e'rythang, go-big-or-go-home graphic prints, monochrome is not monotone and as part of the 90s revival: grunge.

If you have a tablet I definitely suggest that when you're looking for Angry Birds cheats - or is everyone still on this Temple Run thing? - you download Flowboard, for free, while you're at it.

And some Daria for the weekend.

xx
Khenzo

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Talking to: Lisa Jasmin from Dear Fashion

Nineteen year old German blogger and makeup artist Lisa from Dear Fashion is a treat. Sincerely so. She has the prettiest blue eyes and her bone structure makes the Tyra Banks in me excited. If I had to sum her style I'd say it was that casual chic you read about in magazines but when you try it out for yourself you're either under dressed or confused. I think being effortless is a birth right, you know? Putting her European aesthetic aside (seriously, how do they do it?) I also admired her, if you will, tolerance. I've grown around people who are very set in their ways and in the fashion community you see many people who believe that there's really only one right way to dress (which is dictated by the celebrities they idolise and the magazines they read) so Lisa was a breath of fresh air.

What got you into the world of blogging?
It came naturally, I just wanted to show my relatives my pictures from my travelling experiences and I searched for a way to make the pictures visible for everyone, everywhere. That was the beginning of my blog.

Who are your favourite fashion bloggers?
Definitely Kristina Bazan. There's no other blog that I love as much as hers.

 

 

If you could have dinner with any of the biggest names in fashion, dead or alive, who would it be and why? I really have no idea because I have so many designers [and] journalists that inspire me so much.

How would you describe the way you dress and what influences your style?
I think that my style is really versatile. I love to dress casual chic; like wearing pumps, nice chino pants and a pretty blouse. But there are also many days where I feel edgy and start wearing Jeffrey Campbell Litas or just something really crazy. My mood creates my style every day.

Are there any style rules/guidelines you follow or rebel against?
I don't follow any rules, because I think if you like the way you dress, it doesn't matter if there's a mix of pattern or anything like that. I totally rebel against the rule that you shouldn't mix styles! I think it's cute to wear a really cute dress with a dark leather jacket.

Describe yourself in ten adjectives.
Chic, trashy, weird, versatile, casual, different, make-up addicted, nuts, classy and girly.

Name five items you never leave your house without and why.
My boyfriend (because he simply belongs to me), my iPhone 4S (because it's just a life saver, haha), my purse (because we need money to survive, right?), my MAC cosmetics Myth lipstick (because it's the most gorgeous lipstick ever) and last but definitely not least my hair tie (because I hate eating with my hair open).

How did you become a make-up artist?
Well, I'm still in training. I currently visit a make up school in my region but I'll finish school in a month. I just had a passion for makeup and my parents are really supportive, so I just went ahead and started and I love it.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to pursue a career in make-up?
Just learn, learn and learn. Suck up tips and tricks like a sponge and try to get to know make up artists that can help you to become better every day. But the main thing is: have passion for make up and love what you're doing!

What are your favourite styles and looks in regards to hair and make-up?
I love the fishtail braid. But for me personally I just love having my hair really sleek. For make up I love freaky, colourful looks! I love coloured eyeshadow, lipstick, whatever. I also love smokey eyes with really flawless skin. But without nice eyebrows, no look will look perfect!
Are there any trends this year that you're in love with and any that you'd like to see die?
I really like the trend of casual pumps. The last year it was really trendy to wear plateau shoes or boots and I liked that as well but this year I am really pleased with the simple high heels. There's not really a trend that I hate because if someone likes it and feel comfortable wearing it, why should I complain? I don't have to walk around with it, right?

Lastly, what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and from whom? The best advice I got was at an after show party from a hair stylist/make up artist that I really liked. He told me that if I can put make up on somebody that had, like, a plastic surgery "all over her face", I could put on make up on everybody.

 

 

Keep up with Lovely Lisa on Facebook, Twitter, follow Dear Fashion on Bloglovin and Blog Connect and stalk her Instagram - I know I will.

All images are from Dear Fashion.

Innercity Duchess

"Look at them. Just look. They have chipped nail polish and lipstick on their teeth. They trip over themselves sometimes and they attack their lunch like they've been in exile. But they're beautiful. There are so many things wrong, imperfect, misguided, plain ugly about them but that's why they're so beautiful. Even when we find something so terrifying, so gross we can't stop looking at them. We can't stop loving them. They're creatures of the city. They see skylines of land being used up for shabby flats and Nigerian hair salons, they're surrounded by the sounds of vehicle motors and train tracks, bitter women of age and colour, men with absent father syndrome. These girls are so beautiful but they are so lost."
 

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Diet Mountain Dew (Sunnyside City)

Say hello world, Khensani did a whole lot of 'firsts' today. Today was the first time I got to know Sunnyside pretty well (read: got lost and lost, like, a kilo in sweat alone - why is Pretoria so hot all of the time?), visited the Metrorail station for the first time and I, God forbid, went to the Pretoria Gautrain Station (and I'm quite sad I never gave it a chance, it was pretty cool).

Left to right: KT, Lesego (who was horribly absent), BP and Kate.

I've been wanting to work on my photography skills or, at least, be able to build a portfolio and since I had so much fun doing the photoshoot in Newtown with my friends I decided to rekindle the romance. Got those beautiful girls outsides and we got photo happy. We went to the Metrorail Station in Sunnyside (the trip further instilled my deep dislike of old people who frequently use public transport), then Kate's flat building and then when we were done we sauntered (read: stampeded) to Fish and Chips and pigged out. It was a fantastic day, really. The photos from our exploits will be up tomorrow but until then (which is thirty-nine minutes from now) here are some 'sneak peaks'.
Sounds glamourous, right?

The prep:

 The struggle:

The Fireworks (afterwards):

 Puppies hate striped ties and unicorns never cry
xx Khenzo

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