StyleWhipped

Jennifer Corcione: A Little Bit of February...

February is always one of my favorite months, because it has my favorite form of GTL… Grammys, Tunes, and Love! On February 10^th, like millions of others, I curled up on my cozy couch and prepared for a night of epic live performances, tear-jerking moments, and some of the best acceptance speeches I have ever heard. For those who know my Twitter handle (@jennyrockstar), I managed to ‘live-tweet’ during the entire show. Of course I couldn’t help adding massive amounts of exclamation points at my favorite wins (Mumford and Sons!!!!!), coupled with witty tweets about the celeb reactions in the audience and various wardrobe “no-nos”. (On a related note, Editor-in-Chief Alison and I were SO close to creating a Taylor Swift drinking game based on how many times the camera panned to her. Sheer hilarity.)

But most importantly, the music! The performances and nominated artists were as diverse as they are talented. From artists just emerging on the scene (how amazing was “Carry On” by Fun…seriously?!?)  to returning artists (:::cough, cough::: Justin Timberlake), my boyfriend Matt and I relished in every little part of the show. (And even though it wasn’t shown on the main event, I do know Matt was happy to know even Brian Wilson, one of his all-time faves, won a Grammy too.)

If The Grammys weren’t enough, Valentine’s Day shortly followed, coupled with every attempt made to squeeze love into anything and everything possible. Even greeting cards have now become a means to propose to your significant other. Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of sharing love with those who mean the most to you, but aren’t there 364 other days to also worry about? (However, it didn’t stop me from being a cheesy romantic, even on the actual holiday.)

Yes, February was full of momentous moments, from Grammys to Valentine’s (and everything in between), there were several opportunities to find and appreciate music in all its forms. And as a special treat, to bring together all the wonderful parts of February for each and every one of you, here’s a special Jenn’s “Little Bit of February” playlist:

1)      Phil Collins – Groovy Kind of Love: What would romance be without a little throwback to this great cover? (It was originally performed by The Mindbenders.) Also, it has partially solidified my love for the show New Girl, especially since this song was used in one of the early episodes of the first season.

2)      Alabama Shakes – Hold On: There’s nothing sexier than a band that can give me the gritty rock sound with a female lead! Cue lead singer Brittany Howard on Saturday Night Live singing in a Brian Wilson-esque style, making her Gibson howl in sync with the rest of her bandmates. And for anyone that missed Howard’s performance at the Grammys for the Levon Helm tribute, it was magical!

3)      The Lumineers – Ho Hey: This may be my favorite song of 2013 (so far!) It’s perfect in every way that one can imagine. It’s got the best rhythm, the words are endearingly romantic, and by the end of the night, it’s a great drunk song. And if you want to go one better, be sure to listen to their self-titled album! (Each song on there is enchanting and comforting – be prepared with to chill at home with some lit candles and a glass of wine.)

4)      fun. – All Alright: The band fun. is everywhere right now…and it’s amazing! And while I do love all their hits at the moment, this particular track off the album Some Nights resonates stronger with me than ever. As lead singer Nate Ruess laments about loss and coping, there’s still that hope that everything will be just that…alright.

5)      Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire: I am in love with this song…and even Alicia Keys just a little. (As a fellow pianist, she amazes me with what she brings to music – it’s refreshing!) Also, her Grammys performance with Adam Levine? That was pretty hot.

6)      Rihanna – Stay: While I may not agree with her life choices, there’s no doubt that this heart-wrenching track about loving someone against the odds is one that I just can’t stop listening to. The Grammy performance was wonderful, but the music video drives the emotions home even more…check it out here.

7)      Miniature Tigers – Easy As All That: Best known for their indie pop sound, Miniature Tigers have become my favorite go-to for car music. And once you hear this catchy little tune, they might become your favorite too! (Trust me, you’ll find yourself singing along after hearing this track at least 2-3 times.)

8)      Imagine Dragons – It’s Time: One of my fave finds thanks to Glee (and Darren Criss killed it!) That signature mandolin lick, the rhythmic clapping you find yourself trying to perfect, and a chorus so hauntingly familiar for every 20-something attempting to figure out their life after college…it’s all there.

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February brought musical opportunity unlike any other! I hope that all of you take time to embark on your own music journeys and discover your own playlist.

- Jenn

Jennifer Corcione: A New Year's Resolution to Stick To!

If there’s one thing I always look forward to with a new year, it’s not only the chance to make resolutions to improve on the previous year, but anticipating new albums to improve my music collection! While 2012 may have been considered a bit of a slow year for music, 2013 is gearing up for some familiar faces, as well as some of my new favorite finds! Check out my top four most anticipated for this year:

1)      Justin Timberlake – As a JT fan through-and-through, this tops my list purely based on excitement for years of boy-band devotion. (Trust me, the many years of making crazy posters and painting my favorite band members’ names on my face cement my music nerd-dom.) But nobody can mess with Justin, especially since he draws major inspiration from the original King of Pop, Michael Jackson. And after a six-year drought, Timberlake is back with a more mature look (and music style) for his adoring fans. His newest single, “Suit & Tie”, is only the first of many soulfully delicious hits we can expect from 20/20 Experience, set to release later this year.

2)      Frank Turner – Now I am a big advocate for having random conversations about music…and picking up a music suggestion or two in the process. And if you love the songwriting style of Mumford & Sons, then you are going to adore Frank Turner (as much as I do!). With his folk/punk mash-up, each song (especially my favorite, “Photosynthesis”) will have you craving a seedy dive bar and a freshly poured pint in your right hand! Look out for his latest, Tape Deck Heart¸ set for a March release! (And for those who want something a little more, check out Frank Turner at the Bowery on March 13^th!)

3)      Vampire Weekend – These Columbia University alums are one of my favorite indie rock guilty pleasures! Ever since I heard their music on I Love You, Man and How I Met Your Mother, I’m always playing their music when I’m in need of a diversion from every-day life. They’re fun, the hooks are catchy, and I can listen “Holiday” whether I’m in a cleaning mood or a ‘lay on the couch’ mood. And it’s not a moment too soon that these NYC boys drop a new album chockfull of those signature vocals and pop-rockiness on May 7^th!

4)      Phoenix – Kudos to our fabulous editor-in-chief for introducing me to the awesomeness that is Phoenix! This alternative rock/synthpop sensation from Versailles has a sound unlike any other I have ever heard…I’m not sure whether to air guitar or bounce around with a strobe-light! (Maybe both, I’m not picky.) Even now, almost four years since its release, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix can be found in constant rotation in my car – “Lisztomania” always blasted on repeat. Be sure to check out the band’s website www.wearephoenix.com for some new album teasers – their next album, Bankrupt!, hits music stores this April.

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Whether you’re looking forward to these albums (or the several others set to drop this year), 2013 is gearing up to be one incredible year of music! Make a resolution to treat yourself to it. 

Letter From the Editor: Custom Menswear from Clifton Charles

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Clifton Berry, who along with Wayne Taitt, is one half of Clifton Charles, an amazing custom suit & shirt destination. According to Clifton, who I finally had a chance to sit down and chat with (there we are in the photo below), they are "selling confidence." And there is nothing more of a confidence-booster to a man than a perfectly fitted suit and shirt combo. And here in NYC, Clifton Charles is THE place to go to buy some confidence...

In 2008, Clifton and Wayne, who were college friends that both ended up working in finance for 12 years, realized there was a major missing piece of American menswear, quit their jobs, and launched Clifton Charles. Not only were off-the-rack shirts not fitting them the way they really wanted, but while on his honeymoon in Shanghai in 2005, Wayne had discovered how quickly you could get custom suits made. But being the business-savvy guys they were, both Clifton and Wayne also knew that they had to somehow straddle both the luxury and value markets (we all remember what happened to our economy in 2008...). 

So they did their research and talked to endless potential clients. And they came up with a way to provide all made-in-the-USA suits and dress shirts from fabrics sourced from the UK and Italy (all of their shirts are made from sumptuous full Peruvian pima cotton) that can be made in a shockingly short amount of time (10-15 business days for shirts; 4-6 weeks for suits). There is no minimum of how many pieces you have to buy, and those shirts? 100% custom for $100-$150 (Seriously!) Wait, it gets better...their suits will run you anywhere from $895 to $1295. And in terms of quality, attention to detail and fabrication, a Clifton Charles suit at $895 is comparable to a $3,000 designer suit you'd find in a department store. Oh, and don't forget...theirs is custom...which means it is made from scratch according to your measurements...with your choice of fabrics, finishes, and free-of-charge extra perks like fabulous linings, monograms on your shirt cuffs, and more. The guys will even act as personal stylists, helping you to make your choices (wider leg or narrow? what kind of lapels? single-breasted or double?) with your lifestyle and preferences in mind. 

I know you are wondering if you fit into the average Clifton Charles customer. And while some of their clients are in fact CEO's of major banks, professional althetes, and the like, their clients are also lawyers, bankers (who aren't the CEO...) and every other type of suit-wearing executive. They come from all over the world (from as far as Australia) and flock to trunk shows the company hosts in other cities like Chicago, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. And because once your measurements and preferences are in their system, you can order new suits and shirts anytime online. No need to be in NYC...you just need to be aware that you need more of these beautiful pieces in your wardrobe! And just how beautiful are they? Well, I was personally excited enough to want to share the company with our readers here. The fabrics feel like the finest air. The details are perfectly tailored and finished. The cheeky extras (like purple iridescent silk linings...) will make you feel like a rockstar in a suit. 

My suggestion? Pay Clifton Charles a visit online or at their Manhattan showroom at 30 West 18th Street. Because that confidence? Yeah, you will have just bought it.

~ Alison.

(Check out our model starting the process of ordering a custom suit with Clifton's help...I have a feeling he is going to be very happy with the result!) Model: Kaolin Bass / All photos: Andrew Werner Photography

Letter From the Editor: Hair. Or with Temur Dzidziguri...HAIR.

Last week, I had what I can only call a religious experience. I went to the Sally Hershberger Downtown Salon and had my hair blown-out by Temur Dzidziguri. You can call him Temur...or you can be like me and happily call him my hair hero...                                                                                                                                 

Now, I have to backtrack a little before I tell anymore of this story. My hair is my "thing." I was a hair model for a local business as a kid, and while I started out life as a light brunette/slightly auburn-haired child, as I got older my hair ended up being a rich dark brown with tons of natural ringlet curl in it. Which, in theory, sounds great, right? Unfortunately, I always wanted to have big, bouncy, bed-head-y BLONDE hair. So starting around the age of 25, I started getting more and more highlights until I hit my current super-light shade of blonde hair. I make no secret about my monthly trips to the colorist where you can find me begging "blonder, blonder!" and my love (LOVE) of being a blonde. I did take things a bit far at one point though, and ended up having that wretched long-term Japanese straighening done to rid myself of the ringlets. While it did permanently change the texture of my hair and my ringlets are now a lot looser and free-er, it also did a lot of damage when combined with the heavy-duty bleaching, and I ended up with a ton of breakage (which translates to unintentional, unwanted, uneven "layers"). But I was finally happy with my beachy curls and my hair finally felt very "me." Until I met Temur, of course...

    

A tall, strikingly handsome guy with intense blue-green eyes and perfect hair (natch), Temur is originally from Georgia (the one near Russia, not the one near Florida...) and came to the U.S. when he was 18 to go to beauty school (after being the kid who was cutting all the barbie dolls' hair, he knew early on that being a stylist was what he was meant to do). Hired immediately afterward as the personal assistant to the famed Sally Hershberger (originator of her eponymous salons, the mutiple-hundreds-of-dollars haircut, and Meg Ryan's famous shag 'do), and was lucky enough to train under her as well. And 10 years later, Temur is an in-demand, well-respected stylist at the Sally Hershberger Downtown Salon in NYC's always-fabulous Meatpacking neighborhood. Now Temur caters to NYC's pretty people, celebrities like Lindsay and Ali Lohan...and the occasional editor-in-chief (ahem...) who really wants to do something new with her hair.

  

I asked Temur what he considers his 'specialty' and he enthusiastically said "I die for short haircuts...I feel like you can [just] get very creative with it...but basically it's all about what hairstyle feeds a woman's personality, face shape [and] lifestyle." Sounds like someone who actually listens (and how many of us have gone to stylists who just simply don't listen?!), but also someone who really looks at styling as his craft and as an artform. Because he will also "always try to change it up with clients...otherwise they get bored - and so do I!"

    

And here's what happened. Temur blew out my oh-my-god-do-you-have-a-LOT-of-it hair. He did some fancy little flick at the end of each swoop, creating a slight curl along the bottom (I told him I often have my hair blown-out pin-straight and really don't like it...I crave volume and was probably Texan in a former life). He then moved my part back to make it look like my damaged "bangs" were so much longer. Lastly, there was some simple curling iron action on just the bottom 1/3 of my hair, which created loose, sexy waves. Which of course perfectly complimented the feathery layers above that were somehow both straight, wavy and voluminous all at the same time (I wasn't kidding, this man is a genius...).                        

                       

So, the end result...well, just look at the pictures of the whole process. I have never felt more modern, more chic, or more like a rockstar in my life. I have spent the past 5 days attempting to recreate what I watched Temur do. I am about 85% there. But that last 15%...yeah, that I will never find. Until the next time I sit in Temur's stylist chair again, that is.                                                                                       

Now if any of you read that and aren't immediately picking up the phone to make an appointment with Temur, well...well, there might possibly be something wrong with you ;) So hurry up and call Sally Hershberger Downtown for Temur's rates, schedule and availability. Because believe me, your hair will thank you.

              

~ Alison.

Letter From the Editor: "Karma For a Cure"

Here at Stylewhipped, we love a great graphic t-shirt. Fitted, cool, edgy...but what if those qualities also came with a conscious? Enter Karma for a Cure, a fabulous new collection of both men's and women's graphic t's that gives an admirable amount of profits to charities.

                                                                        

Launching today and founded by 24-year-old (and adorably sweet) FIT grad Margaux Minutolo, Karma for a Cure was started after Margaux's own father battled cancer for ten years and she realized she wanted to fashionably make a difference (she says the line is specifically aimed at the "philanthropic fashionista"!). Margaux designs and hand-draws each of the graphics and they are almost all unisex and definitely all gorgeous. Each luxe, on-trend t-shirt and tank top (and even one sexy sweater) in sumptuous, super-soft cotton has a clever, tongue-in-cheek graphic design on it...and each supports a different cause. So whether you want money to be donated to breast cancer awareness or domestic violence prevention, animal rights activism or anti-bullying, Parkinson's research or drug abuse prevention, you simply purchase that shirt. And while many brands will donate 1-2% of profits, Margaux and Karma for a Cure are donating 5% of each total sale (not just the profits)...because, in her words, "we wish to make a difference, faster and further...give more selflessly, receive good karma endlessly, [and] support finding a cure optimistically..."                                                                         

As a young CEO, Margaux has managed to make this brand about giving. But she has managed to do so in a way that is isn't preachy but IS 100% fashion-y. Which is, I think, the very best way to reach the most people. So check out the brand new, hot site filled with enough eye candy (and everything between $35-65) to make you want to buy every shirt. And, hmmmm...considering there are so many amazing causes represented, I wouldn't be mad if you did just that ;)                                                                  

~ Alison.

                                                                                                                           

 

(Click to enlarge. All photos by Jason Koontz & courtesy of Karma For a Cure)

Letter From the Editor: "Gritty Gold" Editorial

Recently, I had the pleasure to style an extraordinary editorial that exclusively featured pieces and accessories from Diesel Black Gold. Conceptualized by the always-amazing photographer Andrew Werner, we wanted to highlight certain key pieces from Diesel Black Gold's current collection, but in a new light. Not a direct replication of their runway show and not a typical, expected editorial. So, gathered together was a team who could make Andrew's vision come to life. Avant-garde make-up artist Daniel K, the most incredible assistants (photographer assistant David Pereira Oliveira, who I've had the pleasure of working with before, and the uber-helpful styling assistant Lucio Abruzzi), Andrew behind the lens, myself as the stylist, and our gorgeous, somehow-ok-with-being-barefoot-on-the-streets-of-New-York model Keenan Brill, now with Major Models. 

Shot in a gritty alleyway (hence the "gritty" in our title) in the heart of Tribeca on a beautifully sunny day (not sure who to thank for that...), we made a mad-dash to shoot all the looks in a matter of three hours. We used only Diesel Black Gold pieces, including all the jewelry, watches, shoes...even the scarf! In sumptuous fabrics, saturated colors and unsual silhouettes, Diesel did not disappoint this season. Even the accessories are perfectly edgy with just enough of a twist to make you look twice. This is a tale of a hot young guy, living an exciting life in NYC...who leaves us at the end in his emerald green satin tuxedo. Minus a shirt, but in shoes he could easily run down the street in. Makes you wonder where he's off to, huh?

So, to tease you no longer, here are the photos (click on each to enlarge). And I have a feeling any guy would be willing to be barefoot on a Manhattan sidewalk to wear those perfect pants, too.

~ Alison

Jennifer Corcione: America has voted...for music!

As most of you know (or have read), I’m a sucker for music awards shows. When the Grammys came up in February, I was ready and raring to go, studying the nominees like sports fans study the stats on their favorite athletes. And for the most part, I was spot on about my picks winning the coveted gramophone. But, that was chosen by a committee of professionals in the music industry, while the American Music Awards, which aired this past Sunday, was chosen by the fans.

The American Music Awards this year were…to say the least, underwhelming. Well, at least a few of the auto-tuned performances (aka, everyone EXCEPT P!nk, who always rocks any televised performance she has ever done) and fashion statements (Nicki Minaj needed to up her extreme fashion and NOT copy an already-worn style). But when it came to the nominations, I was on pins and needles – hoping for an outcome that screamed more head-bopping and less teeny-bopper. (Even though Beiber seemed to score the most awards – I am still confused as to how.)

I managed to call every winner (even though I may not have agreed with the fans for their choice in music – such is the life of a music critic!) And even though I was (slightly) sad to see my favorites not make the cut with the voters, I decided to share with you my picks for some of the top categories on the AMAs.

1)      Artist of the Year:  True, Beiber snagged this category and did possibly the cutest thing by dragging his mother up for his acceptance speech, yet I would not have minded seeing Maroon 5 snag this award. It’s been a banner year for Adam Levine and Co., especially with such hits as “One More Night”, “Stereo Hearts”, and “Payphone”.  (All of which are in current rotation in my iTunes collection!) And sorry Beibs, but Levine is just better eye candy!

2)      New Artist of the Year: Without hesitation my boyfriend, Matt, and I called Carly Rae Jepsen as the winner, clearly based on principle that “Call Me Maybe” was parodied more than “Somebody That I Used To Know” by roller derby girls, the Harvard Men’s Baseball team, and one of the most famous of all – the 2012 Summer Olympics. All of that aside, it would have really been wonderful to see Fun. win this award instead. “Call Me Maybe” had catchiness, but  “We Are Young”, coupled with “Some Nights”? Fun. (and their music) have anthem quality!

3)      Favorite Album Pop/Rock: Ahhhhh, another Beiber win…but I was (secretly) rooting for One Direction! Yes, they’re a little boy-bandish for my taste – although my high school self would have gone absolutely NUTS for their perfectly coifed look and even more cheesy harmonies! (Yes, I was in LOVE with boy bands for many years…I hang my head in a bit of guilty shame for this one.) Yet 1D had all the components to clearly win this category with the fans. Maybe next year?

4)      Favorite Band, Duo, or Group – Country: Oh, Lady Antebellum clearly had this one in the bag. “Need You Now” catapulted their country stardom into the mainstream and they never looked back. But while country is a genre I clearly know very, very little about, Zac Brown Band has all the makings (in my mind) for a powerhouse! (Well, that and Matt played “Chicken Fried” and “Toes” so many times during the summer that I could sing those songs in my sleep.)

5)      Favorite Artist – Electronic Dance Music (EDM): It was announced on the AMAs that this is the first year Electronic Dance Music has been acknowledged as a growing trend…hence this new category! David Guetta obviously had this one all wrapped up, especially with some of the artists he has had the chance to work with recently (Usher, Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO…to name a few!) Calvin Harris also has great musical charisma, but my pick? Have to go with Skrillex. He has an original sound in the industry and normally, while I am dead against the idea of electronic music having any bearing on the music industry…its growing popularity has caused me to adapt to respecting the trend.

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Whatever your preference, be sure to check out the full list of nominees and winners from the 2012 American Music Awards by clicking here. And for next year’s show – remember, like the election season, your vote counts!

- Jenn

Jennifer Corcione: Looking back never sounded so magical...

October is always sort of a weird month for me when it comes to music. Between all the Halloween-themed soundtracks and “Rock"tober in full swing…I’m always at a bit of a loss at which musical direction to take. Instead, classic scary movie marathons, coupled with picking up my favorite thriller novels curb my constant need for new music…at least for a moment or two.

I consider October a bit of a lull period before November kicks off another one of my favorites – the American Music Awards…more on that next month. (And oh yes, I’m ready with commentary on my nomination picks before you can finish “and the winner is…”)

But in this lull, I couldn’t leave my trusty readers without some great new music to check out! So I’ve found a re-kindling for my musical excitement with Ben Gibbard’s new solo album, Former Lives.  If you’re not familiar with Ben Gibbard’s work, I’m sure you’ve heard of the bands Death Cab For Cutie (you most likely consider “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” to be one of the greatest indie alternative love songs of all time) and The Postal Service (you’re still trying to figure out all the words to “Such Great Heights,” because it’s perfect). In Former Lives, Gibbard sheds the group dynamic and proves that as a solo artist, he can truly stand out on his own…in songs chock-full of the pursuit of love and the loneliness that lack of love can bring.     

Gibbard creates a sound reminiscent of a mixture of Aimee Mann and James Taylor: clean in instrumentation, yet keeping those signature lyrics we all know and love. For the quintessential tear-jerker, check out “Teardrop Windows,” a melancholy tale in loneliness through life…wishing that there was at least someone to share in those simple moments. And for those who have a larger than life view on love, then “Lily” is the perfect song for you. The way Gibbard describes ‘Lily’ using descriptive and bold metaphors…it made me swoon and dream of Ben Gibbard writing that song for me.

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Gibbard perfectly blends his "past self" with a sound unlike any other. While most of the songs reflect around the singular romantic theme, the music is perfect for the mellowness of fall, with just a touch of pep! Check out Former Lives, now available on iTunes...happy listening!

~Jenn

Letter From the Editor: Golden Door Film Festival

Last week, I told everyone to buy tickets to see the fantastic independent film "Bomber Jackets" premiere at the 2nd Annual Golden Door Film Festival of Jersey City. Well, not only did I get to see that this past Saturday (it was even better on the big screen than it was when I got to see an advance copy in my living room!), but because my brother-in-law, Dino Matis, is one of the stars of "Bomber Jackets," I also got to go to the Friday night red carpet premiere of the headlining "Union Square" starring Mira Sorvino (her father, the great Paul Sorvino, was even there to support the film).

Friday's festivities were held at the incredible Loews Landmark Theater, and the venue was simply spectacular. What I like to think of as "going to the theater" (even if it is a movie), this now-used-as-a-not-for-profit-arts-&-entertainment destination was opulent and ornate and really quite a retro experience. We saw Mira Sorvino's film "Union Square" there that evening (which originally premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year and was beyond good...), walked the red carpet, and had a great time meeting so many actors and directors involved with the festival's films. And then on Saturday, Art House Productions hosted the "Bomber Jackets" official premiere, shown to a packed house and starring some amazing, should-be-really-proud new actors. 

Check out the photos of Dino and I on the red carpet, as well as some of the stunning Loews Landmark Theater (I think it's a general consensus that we'd all like to just move in there!). And don't forget to look for the next year's 3rd Annual Golden Door Film Festival...you definitely don't want to miss being a part of such a fantastic event!

~ Alison.

Letter From the Editor: "Bomber Jackets"

No, I'm not suggesting we go back to the popular style of the late '80's (but oh man, did I love my dark green suede bomber jacket in 8th grade...). Instead, I am referring to an Official Selection at the Golden Door International Film Festival of Jersey City, called "Bomber Jackets." The festival itself runs this week from October 11th - 14th, and "Bomber Jackets" is premiering on Saturday the 13th at 4pm. I will be there to see it again, even after having the fabulous opportunity to privately pre-screen the film this weekend. Why will I be there? Well, to start, the movie is gritty and gripping, with break-out performances by talented new actors. It also brings a powerful message about acceptance and the fatally damaging effects of hatred...and someone especially close to me is one of the afore-mentioned talented new actors (I'll keep you in suspense and let you guess who it is...). 

A true independent film, "Bomber Jackets" was produced and directed by Rob Santana on a shoe-string budget of a mere $8,000. Filmed 100% on location in urban Jersey City, NJ (right across the river from where I'm sitting now), "Bomber Jackets" was originally an off-Broadway play produced by Miriam Colon in 1996, and brings its audience a disturbing but important lesson in the importance of ending homophobia and violence towards the LBGT community. I don't want to give away the ending, but this is basically the story of an organized group of hatred-filled, homophobic young men in modern-day Jersey City, recognizable by their matching bomber jackets. When a small number of gays start moving into their old-school neighborhood, they become angrier and more violent in their sentiments. That violence escalates into physical attacks when the group's leader can't stand the idea of a cross-dressing gay man living right in their same building. Unbeknownst to him, though, one of his own buddies has fallen for the transvestite and will do anything -- anything -- to come to "her" rescue. To follow is the story of how all of their lives are changed forever.

With especially strong performances from the main character 'Patrick,' played by Robert James Ramirez, 'Tommy,' played by Dino Matis, and 'Patrick's Mom,' played by Kathryn Neville Browne, the ensemble cast has great chemistry and I look forward to seeing many of them in many films to come. Robert James Ramirez and Dino Matis both managed to convey a perfect juxtaposition of anger, frustration, and a secret, introspective softer side that separates them from their peers. And Kathryn Neville Browne brings a character to life you really aren't sure what to make of...in a good way. At only 83 minutes long, I was left wanting to know more about each character's individual story...which I think is a sure sign of an engaging film, especially one that still manages to touch on additional topics like domestic violence, dead-end jobs and infidelity. Which is exactly why you should buy tickets to the official premiere of "Bomber Jackets" at the Golden Door Film Festival. You can purchase them simply by clicking on this link - and at only $10 each, you can spread the word to anyone interested in being moved by the movie's important message...or buy tickets for more than just one of the festival's diverse feature films.

See you at the movies!

~ Alison.