CITYist

The oh-so-chic & affordable shoe company, Nine West, has dipped a toe (okay, a whole foot) into the digital age with the launch of their fashion-focused video-centric network that spans across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.

The idea of the holidays in California seems rather nonsensical—what with the palm trees, lush greenery and abundant sunshine. Nevertheless, pure California-bred line Odylyne has debuted a look book video for its holiday collection, featuring lace, sequins and a whole lot of virginal white. While certain instances appear unintentionally laughable (the evil woodland fairies come to mind), the video is overall a visual dreamland, complete with Big Sur forest views, Pacific ocean vistas and nymphs dressed in suitably nymph attire.

We’ve talked a lot about Wavves this summer, mostly because we think their California lo-fi punk sound is quintessential summer tunage. And now, they’ve released a fittingly juvenile SoCal video to go along with it. Watch as the Wavves guys, ensconced in suburban boredom, meet an alien who shows them how to party in the video for “Post Acid.” It’s the perfect way to start your weekend.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard of Joaquin Phoenix’s descent into madness, aka performance art. Whether or not Phoenix really did intend to retire from acting, grow a Zach Galifianakis beard and embark on a rap career (or simply engage in some sort of public prank), there’s still a documentary following the whole spectacle, I’m Still Here, directed by Phoenix’s brother-in-law Casey Affleck. And now, a ridiculous, vaguely philosophical teaser trailer has arrived to whet our appetites (watch after the jump). We’re just wondering whether it’s worth seeing for sheer camp value.

The trailer for the Serge Gainsbourg biopic, simply titled, Gainsbourg, has hit the Internet. With frightfully dramatic, stereotypical instrumental music and appearances from all the key players (Bardot, Birkin), the clip is an ostentatious, deliciously over the top rendering of the life of the French musician. While we can’t say this is dramatic gold (perhaps the story of a musician who rises out of despair into a life of wild success and hedonism has been told one too many times), it certainly looks like great fun.

CITY favorite Janelle Monae has just released the video for her single “Cold War.” A minimalist, emotional affair, the video is shot entirely in close up of Monae’s face as she belts out the tune. Her face a nude palette with the exception of her expressive, coal-rimmed eyes, the focus here is entirely on the song and Monae’s own emotions (she bursts out crying at one point). “Cold War” comes off critically lauded album The ArchAndroid, which Monae produced at The Wondaland Arts Society, her home studio in Atlanta. In our interview with Monae, she explained, “We were listening to what our minds were telling us, but even more so from our hearts and our souls.” That’s certainly evident here.

Recently, we expressed our excitement over Kanye West’s upcoming album, Good Ass Job. Now, the video for the new song “Power” is out, and it’s a rather short, artsy and, well, powerful affair. Wearing what appears to be the Egyptian-influenced jewelry he designed, Kanye stands out like a Greek God against a backdrop of stormy sky and pillars of columns. Mythical, horned creatures, lots of draping Grecian garb and what appears to be an angel surround him as the song seems to blast from an unseen stereo. It’s like a gothic Botticelli painting come to life. Enjoy it after the jump.

Arcade Fire’s new album, The Suburbs, is out today, igniting a thousand adolescent fantasies from its original fans. The subject of the Montreal-based indie mega-group has always been childhood and suburban living, so it doesn’t hurt that the new album’s title fans the flames of nostalgia. In an interesting turn, Arcade Fire has also produced a trailer of sorts for the album, in what seems to be a first in the music world. Watch the video after the jump and be sure to get your hands on the new album—which has already been deemed “Best New Music” on Pitchfork.

It’s about time. That song was simply begging for a clothing line. Now, Madonna is finally cashing in on her 1985 song, with input from daughter Lourdes, on a new juniors line for Macy’s debuting August 3rd. The influences are clear (original 80s Madonna) the references are numerous (the cowgirl phase, the punk phase) and the target audience is obvious: tweens and teens who want to look like Taylor Momsen, at least in theory. Momsen is, in fact, the face of the line, although you won’t get a good look at her in the teaser video (after the jump). We do, however, have a video interview with Madonna and a first look at the line itself, consisting of a floral mini, a biker vest, button-front pleated shorts and a lace-detailed plaid button down. While we can’t say it’s original, we can say this: Madonna fans, and those simply looking for cheap, digestible fashion, won’t be disappointed.

We don’t think we were the only ones perplexed by Kanye’s last album, the auto-tuned departure 808s and Heartbreak. So it’s nice to hear news that he’s returning to form with his next effort, Good Ass Job, expected this fall. Now, some videos are drifting about the Internets of Kanye performing in a rather strange venue—the Facebook office, that is. Regardless, the three songs dropped, even without a back beat or any accompaniment, are making us pretty excited. Check out the videos after the jump, as well as Kanye’s blog-released statement in regards to the reception, and let us know if you think this album will help Kanye weather the post Taylor Swift storm.

If James Franco has been surfing a wave towards a mixture of high brow avant garde figure and A list movie star, then Howl is the climax of his transformation. Franco plays Allen Ginsberg in a movie based on the poet’s most famous work and the beat writers surrounding it. It’s the 50s, and the social tides are just beginning to churn: the Howl is deemed profane and a lawsuit seeks to block its distribution. Jon Hamm takes a turn as Ginsberg’s defense attorney Jake Ehrlich, while Mary Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels and David Strathairn play the squares (the latter two appear in Good Night and Good Luck, a movie that shares the same beautiful black and white cinematography). If it feels a bit similar to Milk, that’s because it is: the filmmaker’s directed the documentary on which that film was based. Excited yet?

The trailer is out (with Spanish subtitles, no less) for Woody Allen’s latest neurotic, intellectual, adulterous ensemble cast romantic comedy (though this one takes place in London, not New York), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. And with Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones and Slumdog’s Frieda Pinto, the cast isn’t too shabby. The story follows two couples with shaky marriages. The elder husband leaves his wife, prompting her to seek out the advice of a fortune teller (hence, the title), while Naomi Watts and Josh Brolin’s characters seek some fun outside their union. Crazy, tangled love mix ups? Check. Older men attracted to younger women? Check. Must be a Woody Allen film. Read on for the trailer.

Oh lucky day. In anticipation of Mad Men’s premier on July 25th, Flavorpill has drawn our attention to this gem of a video, mashing together most of the show’s ingenious pick up lines (we say most, because all could never fit into one clip). Is it hilariously hokey, in a 1960s kind of way? Certainly. Could it be more politically incorrect? No way. Shockingly, Don is nearly left out of the study altogether, though we do get to see a lot of Ken Cosgrove and Roger Sterling. And if you’re like us, and have watched the show from the beginning, it’s nice to get a little refresher on Mad Men’s romantic history.

The trailer for the American remake of the Swedish childhood goth love story Let the Right One In, changed to Let Me In, is finally out. Yes, vampires are the theme, but Twilight this is not. For one thing, the subjects haven’t yet hit puberty, and for another, the targeted audience is not hormonal teens, but adults. And this time, the vampire isn’t the guy, but the girl. The pint-sized assassin from Kick Ass, Chloe Moretz, takes the lead as said vampire, while the kid from The Road, Kodi Smit-McPhee, plays her human counterpart (the fabulous Richard Jenkins rounds out the cast). Film buffs who idolized the dark original film are already nervous about this American adaptation, and we’re a bit worried too. The trailer seems to focus more on action and gore than the actual relationship; watch it after the jump and let us know what you think.

Cee-Lo has covered one of our all time favorite songs, “No One’s Gonna Love you” by Band of Horses. The Gnarles Barkley singer is going solo with his upcoming album, Cee-Lo Green Is the Lady Killer, and this is our first listen to the mix of soul singing and electro pop. Shunning Band of Horses’ quiet alt country emotion for a more grandiose, synth-injected arrangement, the song holds up nearly as well as the original. In the video, a couple goes on a sort of rambling road trip adventure, and we see their relationship morph through a series of quick jumps of convertibles, cliff-jumping, nudity and American flags—somehow very suitable for this Fourth of July weekend. Watch and listen after the jump.

Two videos have us yearning for the decadence of Studio 54 and 80s pop. One, a shimmering trifecta of sparkly makeup, sparkly clothes and plucky music, is the brain child of the UK’s Test Mag. Photo shoots are one thing, but the behind-the-scenes footage that show the model in action can sometimes be just as visually stunning. The other video, for the Holy Ghost! remix of LCD Soundsystem’s “Drunk Girls,” shows some fashionable bikers in the midst of a jousting competition. Sounds weird—but not as weird as the original, where James Murphy and Co. get beat up by a bunch of people in panda costumes.

CITY fave Damir Doma has just debuted a line of drapey, minimalist menswear duds for Spring/Summer 11. Covered in blanket-like kaftans, often wrapped around the head and draped around the shoulders in slightly tricky arrangements, the models had a very Slavic/Middle Eastern vibe, including Shriner-like caps and billowing Aladdin pants. In a curious detail, they also sported pierced ears Jack Sparrow-style. The palette went au naturale with beiges, greys and dark charcoals on vests and boots, even transitioning into Luke Skywalker territory as the show progressed. Watch the video of the graceful, dreamlike presentation after the jump.

Phoenix’s breakthrough album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, is an opus of electronic pop exuberance—which is why it’s so interesting to see their six-song set on MTV’s Unplugged. Watch the performance, featuring acoustic guitar and a xylophone, after the jump. It’s also interesting to note that Phoenix will be providing the soundtrack for Sofia Coppola’s upcoming film Somewhere. And, if the trailer is to be believed (which features an acoustic Strokes song), the soundtrack should be all sorts of mellow and soothing, perhaps further showcasing Phoenix’s stripped-down talents.

The Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2011 men’s pre collection was broadcast to the world via live steam from Milan on Saturday. If you missed the show, you can check it out after the jump, along with a peek at five looks from the collection. All featured outerwear and accessories are currently available to order through June 26th, so don’t miss your chance to get an early advance on Burberry’s vision for next summer, including mid-thigh grazing trenches, tawny leather bomber jackets (and classic black motorcycle ones) and slim navy suiting. All in all, a well-rounded Burberry collection: a modern take on traditional menswear that’s both utterly wearable and infinitely stylish.

If you’d like a slice of California to go along with the weather’s chill summer vibes, we’d recommend you take a listen to Wavves and Best Coast. Those are the bands/monikers of two 60s-inspired, lo-fi, punk, Beach Boys-infused West coast fixtures. Wavves, aka Nathan Williams, will be releasing a new record appropriately named King of the Beach that’s now available for pre-order and will be ready at the beginning of August. Best Coast, who happens to be Williams’ girlfriend, has a girl group take on the music with a similar SoCal vibe. Look for her full-length release in July and check out both Wavves and Best Coast’s music after the jump.

So, lot’s of people have lost all hope for MGMT ever since they turned their backs on the infectious pop melodies of their first album Oracular Spectacular with their less accessible follow-up, Congratulations. The video for the first single was similarly strange, although the music this time around sounds like old-school Pink Floyd era psychedelia to us, and isn’t that the point? Perhaps audiences will be more pleased with their new video for “It’s Working,” featuring rainbow lava lamp colors, a floating ballerina and a giant machine. You tell us.

While Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette was something of a “love it or hate it” experience, we were in the “totally worship it and listen to the soundtrack every day” category. That’s why it’s so momentous that the trailer for her followup, Somewhere, is finally out. This returns to more of a Lost in Translation vibe, which is fine by us. Stephen Dorff plays a melancholy bad boy actor whose life is meaningless until his adolescent daughter, played by Elle Fanning (yes, the Fannings are taking over the world) is dumped on his doorstep. The trailer is a quiet exploration of this situation, with suitably lo-fi music from Julian Casablancas and the emotional imagery that Coppola does so well. Enjoy it after the jump—and hold your breath until December when it comes out.

The Black Keys do not want you to watch their video. Literally. In the video for their single “Next Girl” off their new album Brothers, a dinosaur puppet mimes singing as a bikini-clad girl writhes on a beach chair. Across the bottom of the screen, a scrolling message denounces the video and claims it’s purely the result of the record company. “They [The Black Keys] disavow any responsibility for it and wish you would stop watching,” the message reads. Well—fat chance. Until we’ve got the record in our hands (which is a bit of a comeback for the Ohio-based blues-rock duo), the music is too good to turn it off. Watch the horrible kind of awesome video after the jump.

The new Neon Indian video for low-fi single “Sleep Paralysist” feels like wandering through the inside of a series of Polaroids—colors and images distort around you as the environment is shaken for developing. The Austin-bred artist, who just signed to Fader, broke from working with Brooklyn video and visual artist Alicia Scardetta to partner with Focus Creeps, the filmmaking duo behind many of the Girls videos. The result, three minutes of psychedelic nostalgia and paranoia, is pure shock art.

What goes into making the finale dress for a fashion show? In the case of Phillip Lim’s Picasso-inspired layered get-up for 3.1 Phillip Lim, five dress makers, five days and a whole lot of inspiration. And that’s not to mention the abundance of lace, crystals and chiffon. Before Karlie Kloss treated the dress to her swaying ballerina walk on the spring 2010 runway, Phillip Lim had to conceptualize the frock, from the minimalism and emptiness of recession scarcity to the thriving and thrashing of a Picasso painting. Luckily for us, he captured the process in a video.

Video after the jump.