Author: studiobypines

Wind of the nominees for the 2024 Oscars, announced by The Academy Tuesday morning, is making its rounds across the industry and the internet, and it’s already causing a stir. This year’s 96th Academy Awards come after the success of cinematic phenomenons such as “Barbenheimer,” involving of course Margot Robbie’s colorful patriarchal commentary and Christopher Nolan’s World War II biopic. The latter received 13 Oscars nominations, a record high in recent years that was closely followed by “Poor Things” which boasts 11 nominations, and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” sitting gloriously at ten.

“Barbie,” on the other hand, did receive its share of nominations this year, landing at eight, but many can’t help but raise an eyebrow to what some feels like a palpable absence of both Gerwig lead actor and producer Margot Robbie’s names among the list. “To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement,” Ryan Gosling, who received a nomination for his role as Ken in the film, said in a statement, adding that “their work should be recognized alongside the other deserving nominees.”

Another name notably missing from the Academy’s list of nominees this year is Leonardo Dicaprio, whom many anticipated would receive recognition for his role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Ahead, see all the nominees from every category. The 96th Oscars will air on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST on ABC.
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Performance by an actor in a leading role__

Bradley Cooper in “Maestro”
Colman Domingo in “Rustin”
Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers”
Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer”
Jeffrey Wright in “American Fiction”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Sterling K. Brown in “American Fiction”
Robert De Niro in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer”
Ryan Gosling in “Barbie”
Mark Ruffalo in “Poor Things”

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Annette Bening in “Nyad”
Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Sandra Hüller in “Anatomy of a Fall”
Carey Mulligan in “Maestro”
Emma Stone in “Poor Things”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Emily Blunt in “Oppenheimer”
Danielle Brooks in “The Color Purple”
America Ferrera in “Barbie”
Jodie Foster in “Nyad”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers”

Best animated feature film of the year

“The Boy and the Heron” Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki
“Elemental” Peter Sohn and Denise Ream
“Nimona” Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary
“Robot Dreams” Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal

Achievement in cinematography

“El Conde” Edward Lachman
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Rodrigo Prieto
“Maestro” Matthew Libatique
“Oppenheimer” Hoyte van Hoytema
“Poor Things” Robbie Ryan

Achievement in costume design

“Barbie” Jacqueline Durran
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Jacqueline West
“Napoleon” Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
“Oppenheimer” Ellen Mirojnick
“Poor Things” Holly Waddington

Achievement in directing

“Anatomy of a Fall” Justine Triet
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Martin Scorsese
“Oppenheimer” Christopher Nolan
“Poor Things” Yorgos Lanthimos
“The Zone of Interest” Jonathan Glazer

Best documentary feature film

“Bobi Wine: The People’s President” Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp and John Battsek
“The Eternal Memory” Nominees to be determined
“Four Daughters” Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha
“To Kill a Tiger” Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim
“20 Days in Mariupol” Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath

Best documentary short film

“The ABCs of Book Banning” Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic
“The Barber of Little Rock” John Hoffman and Christine Turner
“Island in Between” S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien
“The Last Repair Shop” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
“Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” Sean Wang and Sam Davis

Achievement in film editing

“Anatomy of a Fall” Laurent Sénéchal
“The Holdovers” Kevin Tent
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Oppenheimer” Jennifer Lame
“Poor Things” Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Best international feature film of the year

“Io Capitano” Italy
“Perfect Days” Japan
“Society of the Snow” Spain
“The Teachers’ Lounge” Germany
“The Zone of Interest” United Kingdom

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling

“Golda” Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby and Ashra Kelly-Blue
“Maestro” Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou and Lori McCoy-Bell
“Oppenheimer” Luisa Abel
“Poor Things” Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston
“Society of the Snow” Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí and Montse Ribé

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

“American Fiction” Laura Karpman
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” John Williams
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Robbie Robertson
“Oppenheimer” Ludwig Göransson
“Poor Things” Jerskin Fendrix

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot”
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie”
Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
“It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony”
Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson
“Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Music and Lyric by Scott George
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”
Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

Best motion picture of the year

“American Fiction” Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
“Anatomy of a Fall” Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
“Barbie” David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
“The Holdovers” Mark Johnson, Producer
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
“Maestro” Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
“Oppenheimer” Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers
“Past Lives” David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
“Poor Things” Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
“The Zone of Interest” James Wilson, Producer

Achievement in production design

“Barbie” Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
“Killers of the Flower Moon” Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
“Napoleon” Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff
“Oppenheimer” Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman
“Poor Things” Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek

Best animated short film

“Letter to a Pig” Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter
“Ninety-Five Senses” Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess
“Our Uniform” Yegane Moghaddam
“Pachyderme” Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius
“WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” Dave Mullins and Brad Booker

Best live-action short film

“The After” Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham
“Invincible” Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron
“Knight of Fortune” Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk
“Red, White and Blue” Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” Wes Anderson and Steven Rales

Achievement in sound

“The Creator” Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
“Maestro” Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
“Oppenheimer” Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell
“The Zone of Interest” Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn

Achievement in visual effects

“The Creator” Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould
“Godzilla Minus One” Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Theo Bialek
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould
“Napoleon” Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould

Adapted screenplay

“American Fiction” Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson
“Barbie” Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
“Oppenheimer” Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan
“Poor Things” Screenplay by Tony McNamara
“The Zone of Interest” Written by Jonathan Glazer

Original screenplay

“Anatomy of a Fall” Screenplay – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
“The Holdovers” Written by David Hemingson
“Maestro” Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
“May December” Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik
“Past Lives” Written by Celine Song

Just because someone is an “emerging” artist doesn’t mean they are necessarily “new” or “half-done.” À la Shelby Lynne’s 2001 Best New Artist Grammy’s speech — it sometimes takes “13 years and six albums to get here.” By rule, the Recording Academy governs the Best New Artist nominations by “[…] an artist whose eligibility-year release(s) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.” And in the case of Mexican musician Peso Pluma, it may take a few years to gain international traction despite becoming a 5× Platinum Latin-certified artist in 2022 (“Siempre Pendientes.”)

While it’s up for debate whether or not awards have become a stamp-of-approval faux pas, the Recording Academy also recognizes “new artists” as working professionals who recently achieved mainstream success, much like 2024 Grammy nominee Noah Kahan and his catalog of collaborations with Billboard chart-topping artists. Even without a Grammy nomination, there’s no stopping PinkPantheress or Chapell Roan’s bag as they prepare to open for Olivia Rodrigo’s sold-out GUTS world tour. And it won’t keep South African artist Tyla from conquering Billboard’s U.S. charts, let alone K-pop band NewJeans from drawing out a 70,000-person crowd at Lollapalooza Chicago.

Ahead, with the term “emerging” slightly expanded, these are the artists who should be on everyone’s radar going into 2024, from TikTok favorites to the industry’s up-and-coming.

Tate McRae

Tate McRae already made a name in the dance world as the first Canadian finalist on So You Think You Can Dance. Now, McRae is putting that fancy footwork into her savvy, baby-voiced single “greedy,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (with the help of TikTok’s “Tube Girl.”) McRae was already making the TikTok rounds with viral singles “you broke me first” and “10:35,” but her jaw-dropping dance breaks swept late-night television and spawned an iconic Billboard Music Awards performance, leaving people seeing a Britney Spears reincarnate– complete with teeny bops about heartbreak, self-reflective ballads, and downright bangers scaling her debut album, THINK LATER. Now, the “exes” singer makes an official bid to pop stardom with her 54-date world tour starting in April 2024.

PinkPantheress

The PinkPantheress world domination started with the earworm intro: “Take a look inside your heart / is there any room for me?” Since then, the English singer-songwriter has become a pillar in the Y2K movement. While the quick drum-and-snare of the UKG genre has transformed into Billboard chart-toppers with rising stars Ice Spice (“Boy’s a liar pt. 2”) and Central Cee (“Nice to meet you”), the Londoner radiates a singular aura through her “anti-fashion” looks, nostalgic mixed-media music videos and candy sweet verses that attract nearly 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Although losing out on a Best New Artist nomination at the 2024 Grammys, her eight-date U.S. tour and opening slot on Olivia Rodrigo’s sold-out GUTS world tour will undeniably keep PinkPatheress busy enough.

Peso Pluma

The Mexican singer-songwriter was already a RIAA-certified multi-platinum Latin artist before becoming Variety’s 2023 Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Whether collaborating with reggaeton heavy hitters Karol G and Bad Bunny or regional Mexican group Eslabon Armado, Pluma’s streaming numbers always skyrocket– to the point where his Top 5 Spotify tracks alone amount to 2+ billion streams. With Música Mexicana as the focal point of his third album, GÉNESIS, the rising star displays a raw duality that delivers cultural sounds from the requinto, the bajoloche, and corridos tumandos to audiences worldwide.

NewJeans

A No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart? Check. The first K-pop girl group to perform on the United States’ most-watched New Year’s Eve special program? Double Check. Despite debuting in July 2022, NewJeans are the type of super rookies that can draw in 70,000 concertgoers to Lollapalooza during a Chicago heat wave and non-headlining time slot. The contrast between the quintet’s bubbly UKG sound and powerful (yet re-creatable) choreography makes for a memorable 2023 Billboard Music Awards performance while driving ten of their songs across the 100-million stream threshold on Spotify.

Noah Kahan

As one of Time Magazine’s TIME100 Next for 2023, the Vermont native never thought he would be famous, especially with the two-year-old hometown-momento “Stick Season.” But here he is with a shiny Best New Artist nomination at the 2024 Grammys, along with his breakout folk-Americana surpassing one billion streams across all streaming platforms. With Olivia Rodrigo as the newest member of the Kahan fan club, along with country legend Zach Bryan and Maisie Peters, the singer-songwriter generates irresistible A-list collaborations with Post Malone (“Drunk Dial”), other Best New Artist nominee Gracie Abrams (“Everywhere, Everything”), Hozier (“Northern Attitude”) and more. Beyond headlining Red Rocks and performing with the Lumineers, Kahan established enough buzz to nearly sell out his “We’ll All Be Here Forever” beginning in March 2024.

Tyla

While putting her mining engineering degree on pause, who knew South African artist Tyla would end up going on tour with Chris Brown or earning a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance? There was no way TikTok could solely contain the virality of “Water” to a 15-second clip of rhythmic booty shaking. Instead, Jimmy Fallon invited the amapiano artist to his late-night television show, marking her debut U.S. performance, and indomitable international presence. In a sample singles package released in December, Tyla proves “Water” (and the Travis Scott remix) is one of many sexy, bodacious hits off her self-titled debut album releasing this March.

Tezzo Touchdown

It’s almost a shame how Tezzo Touchdown isn’t hip-hop royalty already. In between guesting on works with Lil Yachty and Travis Scott, he modeled for Moncler and Marc Jacobs’ Heaven campaign and even toured with Colombian star Kali Uchis and idol Tyler, The Creator. Tezzo’s multi-genre artist friends filibuster his unique vibe, notably heard on Tezzo’s verse on Drake’s track “Amen” (For All The Dogs), and prepares new fans for his genre-bending tendency present on his debut album, How Do You Sleep at Night? and his much-anticipated headlining tour starting in April 2024.

Chappell Roan

Nothing spells a killer debut album better than keyboard pop artist Chappell Roan on The Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess. Once a struggling Atlantic Records artist who sought refuge in her home state of Missouri in defeat, Midwest Princess was Roan’s heavy-handed last-ditch effort at fame, one powered through 14 brilliant displays of genre-spanning pop spanning from electro-pop dance tracks to folk-soaked ballads. Filled with flirty, kiss-smudged choruses, Roan topped Rolling Stone’s year-end list with a special acknowledgment from the Recording Academy. Now on everyone’s radar, Roan will go international as another opener on Olivia Rodrigo’s sold-out GUTS world tour.

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter may seem like a newcomer, but the “Feather” singer has been releasing music since her Disney Channel days at Epic Records. Now five albums deep, the 24-year-old finally arrived at the pop precipice with social media pages dedicated to her freestyled “Nonsense” outros, a coveted opening act on the Eras Tour, and a Marilyn Monroe-inspired performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. While netizens thought Carpenter deserved a 2024 Grammy nod for Best New Artist, the singer left the year on a high note with a holiday EP and a newfound confidence only found on the South American leg of Lollapalooza.

Del Water Gap

From 2020’s “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” receiving social media endorsements from actresses Margaret Qualley and Kaitlyn Dever to collaborating with music prodigy and NYU friend Maggie Rogers, Samuel Holden Jaffe (known professionally as Del Water Gap) is that one too-cool-for-school indie kid who’s a closeted romantic at heart. As an opening act for other well-known indie acts like Arlo Parks, girl in red, Holly Humberstone, Jeremy Zucker, and Mt. Joy, Jaffe slowly built a sonic reputation that filled many New York Fashion Week venues last September. His latest album, I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet (2023), is a lyrical eulogy to heartache, addiction, and life yet to come, which was brought to life with a 2023 headlining tour and festival sets at Austin City Limits and Newport Folk Festival.

To kick off the 2024 award season, the 81st annual Golden Globes were hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, honoring last year’s achievements in both television and film. Whether you found yourself leaning team Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s “Barbie” last summer, or Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy’s “Oppenheimer,” or where you stand following that scene (you know the one, or few) of the Jacob Elordi, Barry Keoghan and Rosamund Pike led “Saltburn,” the nutshell of facts are the same — The past year ushered in new heights for box office records and streaming for both film and TV, somehow all after a three month long industry strike.

With a predominant focus on acting performances,Golden Globes recognitions also cover original scores, animation, and stand up comedy, as well a newly added award category honoring ‘Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.’ It’s a night that, in the end, becomes just as much about the outfits on the red carpet as it is about the acceptance speeches that happen on stage.

With Emma Stone walking away from the awards stage with a win for her role as the enigmatic Bella in “Poor Things,” along with Kieran Culkin for his role as Roman Roy in HBO’s succession, and Billie Eilish for her musical contribution to Barbie, it goes without saying these heavy hitters made just as much of impact in the wardrobe department for the occasion. Ahead, here’s a look at some of the best fashion moments of the night.

Nominated for Best Actress in a TV Series (Musical or Comedy) for her role in “The Great,” Elle Fanning wore a strapless archival Balmain gown with a bow detail, styled with pointed toe pumps and timeless silver jewelry.

Breakout Star of “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri took home the win for Best Actress in a TV Series in a red strapless, a custom courtesy of Prada, styled by Danielle Goldberg.

UK born Barry Keoghan, riding the high of “Saltburn” stardom, arrived wearing a Louis Vuitton from Pharrell’s latest collection for the brand.

Star of Sophia Coppla’s latest film “Priscilla,” Cailee Spaeny donned a custom Miu Miu dress featuring corset-like detailing for last night’s occasion.

Up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, pink continued to take over Margot Robbie’s red carpet wardrobe, this time channeling 1977 Superstar Barbie with a Georgio Armani gown, netted boa and pink clutch.

Oppenheimer co-star Florence Pugh wore a floor-length Valentino gown with all-over floral rosette detailing, complete with gold jewelry and a punky haircut to set off the look.

Golden Globe nominee Dua Lipa arrived in a mermaid gown by Schiaparelli, fitting for referencing her cameo in the Barbie film.

Wearing a particularly daring shade of green, Taylor Swift was dressed in a floor length Gucci gown for the evening, finishing off the look with matching emerald heels and dangling silver earrings.

Euphoria and Hunger Games star Hunter Schaefer hit the red carpet in a billowy Prada dress, custom made for the actor for the event, which featured a high neckline and sheer mesh overlay that became even more striking when hit with the wind.

With all eyes on her from “Past Lives” fame, and the Best Performance nomination to prove it, Greta Lee opted for a backless Loewe gown for the evening.

Most known for her role in ‘Gone Girl,’ Rosamund Pike is turned up to celebrate her nomination for Best Supporting Actress in “Saltburn,” vintage lace gown from Dior and a matching veil. The dramatic ensemble felt on par with Pike’s on screen character, however the actor told reporters the choice of a veil was ironically thanks to a skiing accident she’d had just last month.

To feat no a nomination for her role in “Only Murders in The Building,” Selena Gomez arrived in an asymmetric Giorgio Armani gown, which had a bit of a Marilyn Monroe moment on the carpet.

Everyone’s favorite heartthrob wore a custom Calvin Klien suit with a sheer button down, Jeremy Allen White won in the category for Best Actor in a TV Series (Musical or Comedy) for his spectacular performance in ‘The Bear’.

Nominated for Best Actress in a TV Series (Musical or Comedy) for her role in ‘Poker Face’ Natasha Lyonne arrived on the red carpet wearing a white Schapperelli Couture gown with micro fringe detailing and an exaggerated pointed bust.

Wearing a powder blue Prada jacket and lavender trousers, the young star is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama) for her performance in ‘The Last of Us’.

Wearing Dior Couture, Jenneifer Lawrence looked classic in a black gown styled with a silver clutch and jewelry – she is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for her role in ‘No Hard Feelings’.

Looking darling in Prada, Hailee Steinfeld wore a long pink satin gown with a rectangular train and sheer black opera gloves. The singer opted for a middle part bun and a silver necklace to bring this sweet look together.

For her role in ‘May December’, Natalie Portman is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), she arrived wearing a stunning Dior Couture gown covered with multi-colored jewels.

For his new role in the ‘Wonka’ Timothee Chalamet is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), wearing an all black Celine suit with a sequined blazer and a black and white necklace.

For her role in ‘Love and Death’ Elizabeth Olsen is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress (Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television). Wearing a Vivienne Westwood white lace paneled gown with floral detailing throughout and corset detailing at the waist, styled with silver jewelry and paired with a bold red lip.

In 2024, fashion is the emerging designer’s stage. With social media progressively encouraging the democratization of the industry in a way that leaves trade secrets, once kept tightly sealed away for the eyes and ears of the who’s-who only, more accessible to newcomers by way of social media, up and coming players are met with the tools to compete with industry giants, even without investors or significant startup capital. New industry darlings are just as likely to be self-taught designers cultivating a tribe on social media as they are to be graduates of a prestigious trade school with inherent industry connections. What’s more, in a hyper-trendy and homogeneous sartorial climate, many offer a unique point of few and satiate a collective craving for innovation.

With the barriers for entry to the industry lower than ever, it seems every year breeds a new name (or more) to pay attention to. Especially as younger designers continue to better meet consumer needs around sustainability, inclusivity and transparency, they’re more and more becoming just as key of an industry player as brands backed by Kering or LVMH. Whether employing new technology, presenting a unique and compelling approach to brand story-telling, there is already a line-up of industry insiders, celebrities and fashion fans alike are eyeing closely, and they’re bound to play a part in shaping out the fashion landscape of the year.

DIOTIMA

Jamaican designer Rachel Scott infuses Diotima with Caribbean influences and experiences, resulting in a strong brand aesthetic and a vision that feels true and resonates with audiences. Characterized by its use of color and intricate crochet designs, the brand limits production to two collections a year, all handmade to order in the designer’s home country.

PRODUCTS LTD

Betsy Johnson, London-born multidisciplinary artist and former Visual Director for YEEZY has spent the year foraging a path for her own brand. Debuting in September under the name PRODUCTS, the brand’s first collection was a unisex mashup of apparel, accessories and footwear, each design rooted in cheeky exaggeration and irony. Exploring culture, class and commercialism in the fashion space, Johnson operates with principles that criticize the wasteful industry in which it exists by ethically sourcing materials and production.

ELIZABETH SHEVELEV

The namesake brand of an independent New York designer and seamstress, Elizabeth Shevelev has already graced the likes of Kylie Jenner, Rosalia, Megan Fox and more, and is becoming a frequent name in the press. Thoughtfully designed right in the designer’s own apartment, Shevelev leverages texture and illusion to blend art and fashion, and her designs have even earned a spot in the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Costume Institute’s ‘In America: a Lexicon of Fashion’ exhibit.

LUCILA SAFDIE

Lucila Safdie may have only just launched its first collection in 2022, but it didn’t take long before the brand began cropping up on industry darlings, having recently made an appearance in the popular K-Pop group New Jeans’ “Super Shy” music video. Led by Argentinian-born Central Saint Martins alum, India Lucila Safdie, the brand explores the concept of girlhood and playfulness through signatures, embellishing hot pants and bandeau tops with signature details such as varsity number emblems, and ruffles.

SPENCER BADU

Helming from Toronto, Canadian-Ghanaian designer Spencer Badu launched his namesake label as just a freshman in college. Artfully referencing the ‘90s and 2000’s in his presentations, Badu’s designs explore the idea of uniforms (“YOU-niforms” as he calls them), deconstructing them through tactile design. Infused with nods to African American culture and built on the idea of collaboration, the brand centers on community, and takes a modern approach to construction and aesthetics, allowing masculine and feminine design principles to co-exist in a contemporary way.

IZZY MCKINLAY

With a stint first at Loewe and Givenchy, designer Izzie Mckinlay explores material, sculpture and form within her own brand by way of 3D printing and unconventional materials. The result? Unexpected statement pieces such as the brand’s fiberglass handbags. Typically pulling from everyday garments for inspiration, Mckinlay’s creations interact with the body in motion with a minimalist flare. Described best as surreal, Izzy Mckinlay is a home for fans of the abstract and unconventional.

VICTORIA LEBRUN

With a graduate collection that won the SOFAM prize in 2022, Belgian designer Victoria Lebrun’s designs explore the developing relationship between two dimensional and 3D components, creating a world rooted in the abstract, and color. The brand’s most recent collection, titled ‘CARRÉMENT,’ was born from the designer’s early memories playing with images in magazines, drawing on top of pages and cutting out images to scrap together her vision.

JC THE LABEL

Jina Cappo is the designer behind the Los Angeles and Shanghai-based brand JC The Label, which infuses womenswear with streetwear elements. With the help of Instagram, the brand’s styles have steadily grown in popularity, being picked up by the next generation of retailers, such as Ap0cene. Cappo borrows from nostalgia in her designs, with love letters to her childhood in China throughout, and a sprinkle of whimsical details such as frills and pleats in each piece.

LAMARCHE LAB

Julie Lamarche, the mind behind Lamarche Lab, comes with an impressive professional background, having worked as an embroidery stylist at Christian Dior. Now, the designer’s work is rooted in innovation, and evokes the mystique of feminine mythical creatures. Catapulted by Lamarche’s personal obsession with glass and her desire to be able to wear it, the brand’s couture pieces are best described as fantastical second-skins that embody fantasies of the imagination.

If it weren’t clear, music has officially entered the era of the viral moment. Reflecting on 2023, it’s challenging to identify a genuine hit beyond a 15-second clip, and thus, we’re perhaps left with more contenders than usual. While the summer blockbuster Barbie produced numerous chart-topping singles, the year featured a surge of emerging talent poised for Grammy nominations, and the coveted spot for the biggest song of the year.

It’s evident that Taylor Swift’s influence with “Midnights” transcended music, with newcomer Tate McRae offering a taste of old-school pop fantasy on “Greedy,” and K-pop group Newjeans providing listeners with a sonic slice of heaven. Meanwhile, 2023 also marked the rise of Bronx rapper Ice Spice, whose sprint to stardom included a TikTok frenzy, an RIAA platinum-certified collaboration with PinkPantheress, and an opening slot on Doja Cat’s Scarlet tour.

Beyond streaming, radio airplay propelled country artist Morgan Wallen to Billboard’s No. 1 artist of 2023 with the powerhouse single “Last Night.” The charts also witnessed an alluring surge of rock-pop entries from Olivia Rodrigo and Post Malone, compensating for the sudden fatigue of dance-pop. As the year concluded, TikTok officially crowned K-pop group Fifty-Fifty’s “Cupid” as the platform’s top song of 2023, along with other year-end lists.

Ahead, with streaming and trending numbers in mind, these are the tracks that defined the year most, from the TikTok breakouts to the comebacks of some of the industry’s biggest names.

1. “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

Self-described by Swift as “one of [the singer’s] favorite songs [she’d] ever written,” “Anti-Hero” is the glimmery lead single from Midnights, Swift’s tenth album which, at its core, celebrates the mega-star’s past music “eras.” All 10 songs of the album had, at one point (and the first time ever in Billboard history), come together to construct the entire top 10. Needless to say, it’d be a severe understatement to dub the No. 1 track as a social media phenomenon.

1. “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

While“Flowers” reads like a basic self-love mantra, the sparkly 70s synths turn the Gloria Gaynor-interloped single into a scream of joy– one heard from the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks.

3. “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj ft. Ice Spice

The year undisputedly belongs to Ice Spice, who championed the Billboard Hot 100 with her instantly recognizable ad-libs and catchy hooks. The summer’s runaway hit, “Barbie World,” offers a fresh reinterpretation of Aqua’s “Barbie Girl,” complete with a bubblicious pink music video, complete with a feature from the industry’s own beloved “Barb,” Nicki Minaj.

1. “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen

With his third album, One Thing At A Time, Morgan Wallen had plenty of country hits up his sleeve. With five tracks from the album making the Billboard Top 10, “Last Night” is undoubtedly the most memorable.

5. “Kill Bill” by SZA

“I might kill my ex, not the best idea,” SZA riddles off the third single from her Grammy-nominated sophomore album SOS, and was the sound bite heard around TikTok.

1. “Boys A Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress ft. Ice Spice

Ask a PinkPantheress fan, and they’d argue the London artist deserved a Grammy nomination solely for ”Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” — The singer’s hit collaboration with Ice Spice. The bubbly single tackled a niche spectrum of pop, cementing both emerging talents as formidable pop forces.

1. “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta ft. Bebe Rexha

Anything Davis Guetta touches turns to gold — Or, in the instance of the French DJ’s hit with Bebe Rexha, blue. In this iconic Eiffel 65-sampled single, Guetta enlists the Brooklyn-born artist to deliver high-energy vocals for a rejuvenated summer hit. With a Billboard longevity of 48 weeks and over a million TikTok videos (across all audio versions), Guetta and Rexha made EDM palatable for every season.

8.“What Was I made For?” by Billie Eilish

You would think the “Bad Guy” singer would take a break after her sold-out Happier Than Ever tour and a stint of headlining international festivals. Instead, Billie Eilish surprised fans by joining the rosters of A-listers that was the Barbie The Album artist lineup with a song that emphasized the film’s existential crisis-centered storyline and popularized a neutral social media space for vulnerable, yet universal girlhood experiences.

1. “Greedy” by Tate McRae

Tate McRae may have already been inching toward widespread popularity, but “Greedy” became the track to catapult the musician into pop stardom, landing McRae a number of late-night TV performances and a spot on the 2023 Billboard Music Awards stage. It was TikTok’s “tube girl” trend that was, in part, responsible for the number of times “Greedy” made an appearance on the app, skyrocketing the earworm single beyond to 500-million streams and beyond.
10. “Water” by Tyla

When the young South African singer went international with her bodacious single, no one knew how quickly it would result in a Grammy nomination or a Travis Scott remix. The pop-amapiano track boasts hearty rhythmic movements, and made a splash on TikTok with a viral dance trend averaging 65 million views per post on the artist’s page during its peak.

1. “Super Shy” by NewJeans

Everyone’s favorite rookie K-Pop group built upon its success with “Ditto” with a UK Garage-influenced EP, which they released in July. With show debuts for each of its singles, it was the sugary-sweet synths of “Super Shy” that stood the test of time, playing a large role in pushing the self-titled EP past “Barbie The Album” on the Billboard 200, to the No. 1 spot.
12. “Bad Idea Right?” by Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo’s sophomore album, GUTS, is nothing short of 12 inquisitively angsty tracks, sandwiched into pop-rock exclamations and bittersweet ballads. While the piano-driven “Vampire” explored a torrid, energy-sucking love affair, “bad idea right?” embraces temptation with an equally feverish and humorous inner monologue and chaotic guitar riffs.

1. “Rush” by Troye Sivan

Twink death does not know Troye Sivan. If anything, the 28-year-old Australian reached new heights nearly a decade into his music career with his third album, Something To Give Each Other. The album’s prized centerpiece, “Rush,” is a house-influenced, queer-positive anthem that came with steamy visuals and dance challenges, influencing the success of the singles to follow, including “One Of Your Girls.”

1. “Calm Down” by Rema ft. Selena Gomez

What Variety coined as the ‘Song of Two Summers’ was actually a plan for global domination that saw an unpredictable pair, Selena Gomez and Rema come together for a pop twist to the young Afrobeat singer’s then latest hit. Despite the remix not being an instant hit in August 2022, it cooked for another year around the Billboard sun until it cracked the Top 10.

15.“Escapism” by RAYE ft. 070 Shake

“Escapism” symbolizes more than a demur, anthemic break-up hit for English singer-songwriter RAYE. Whether teary-eyed while holding her first Official Singles Chart Number 1 award or receiving a standing ovation for a soul-crushing performance, RAYE and 070 Shake brought a dizzying chemistry to “Escapism” that left its mark on the world and social media.

1. “Cupid” by Fifty Fifty

Put simply: ”Cupid” was the TikTok tune heard around the world. 20 million videos later, it’s been officially crowned by TikTok as the platform’s top song in 2023.

1. “Dance The Night” by Dua Lipa

Along with a brief cameo as Mermaid Barbie, Dua brought her disco “Future Nostalgia” chops to the lead single of “Barbie The Album.” Before any hint of “Houdini,” this upbeat track had a hard time pulling a disappearing act while staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for 26 weeks (with a peak at No. 6), and inspired an onslaught of freestyle dance challenges.

1. “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” by Bizarrap & Shakira

In Shakira’s world, the best way to kick off the new year is with a proper diss track. Within 24 hours, the surprise release accumulated over 15 million streams on Spotify, topping the service’s Top 50 global playlist. It then broke the record for most video views for a Spanish-language song on YouTube, at over 55 million. The song all at once spotlighted 24-year-old Argentine producer Bizarrap and the feat that is his 53rd volume, while becoming a knockout hit for Shakira against her ex-husband.

1. “Paint The Town Red” by Doja Cat

Even if no one understood Scarlet as an alter-ego, Doja Cat this year employed a nuance missing from today’s popstars. Call it a palatable “hate train” or character versatility, it was of no concern to the rapper who continued to “Paint The Town Red.” The Dionne Warwick-sampled single may have unsuccessfully harped on Doja’s poor public perception; however, social media fed off its inventive and reckless debauch production, which secured her a No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and iconic VMA performance.

1. “What It Is (Solo Version)” by Doechii

Nostalgic pop isn’t lost on Doechii. The 2023 Billboard Woman in Music award recipient uncovers a multi-generational palette with her music, especially in the instance of “What It Is (Solo Version),” a pop-R&B masterclass in sampling that borrows from TLC’s “No Scrubs” and Trillville’s “Some Cut.” Besides being a top trending social media track, the single earned Doechii’s first career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1. “Seven” by Jung Kook ft. Latto

With his first hit away from his place in the K-Pop band BTS, Jung Kook shedded his “boy crush” image. “Seven” is a re-introduction to the beloved singer, who embraces a more mature concept with the song, complete with explicit lyrics, sexual tension and an unexpected rap verse from Latto.

1. “Unholy” by Sam Smith ft. Kim Petras

Pop music didn’t know it needed Kim Petras until the Grammy-winning single “Unholy.” The transgender pop sensation has a discography soaked in bubbalicious nostalgia, and although the single wasn’t a hit at first listen, TikTok eventually had a ball with the duo’s unforgiving and sexual lyrics.

1. “Chemical” by Post Malone

Equipped with enough RIAA diamond-certified hits to release a compilation album titled “The Diamond Collection,” Post Malone told Billboard he feels less pressure to make No. 1 records now. Although “Chemical” doesn’t allude to this fact, fans can undoubtedly hear a fresh authenticity through its guitar-driven, gritty proclamations and pop-rock production.

1. “Die For You (Remix)” by The Weeknd ft. Ariana Grande

Only the “Starboy” singer could summon Ariana Grande out of a music hiatus amid filming the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.” The frequent collaborators always strike a hit together, and most recently, a soft-disco deep cut from The Weeknd’s 2016 album, “Die For You,” received a facelift with a special verse from Grande. The shimmery entry relived the multi-billion-stream success of the duo’s “Save Your Tears” and other timeless collaborations.

1. “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan

Even this Vermont-born country artist was surprised at his own success following “Stick Season.” With a unique blend of folk and Americana, Kahan never figured mainstream radio would love his hometown homage enough to place No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite a lackluster social media presence compared to other entries, Kahan is wrapping the year with promising commercial success: a platinum record, a 2024 stadium tour, and a Grammy nomination.

Each year, Miami becomes a chaotic mix (the good kind) of art exhibitions, installations, glamorous parties and more during the highly anticipated art fair, Art Basel, and Miami Art Week. The 2023 edition of the fair featured 277 renowned galleries from 33 countries and regions, showcasing their notable artists. The Art Basel Miami Beach festival features a variety of genres and media of contemporary and modern art spread across six sectors.

This year, the event witnessed many notable moments, including the inaugural Tribeca’s Talks for Tribeca Festival at Art Basel. In addition to the traditional Art Basel exhibitions, the festival featured numerous installations from creatives, designers, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Cartier, and Nike.

If you didn’t get the chance to fly to Miami or visit any exhibitions this year, here is a roundup of our favorite highlights at Art Basel Miami 2023.

Virgil Abloh Skate Invitational

Nike collaborated with Virgil Abloh Securities and his Architecture studio for the second annual Virgil Abloh Skate Invitational. The event offered two days of community programming at Miami’s Lot 11 Skatepark, including freeriding sessions, a best trick competition, public skate sessions, workshops, training sessions, and moderated panels with global design, art, and skateboarding leaders.

PATRON’s Beach Presentations

The gallery showcased contemporary artists who adapt historical archives and historiographies to express modern issues. The artists present critical responses that draw on historical representations of national, gendered, and artistic identities through ethnographic presentation, literary techniques, iconography, and visual culture. The presentation includes new work by various artists, including Charisse Pearlina Weston, Samuel Levi Jones, Lucas Simões, Jamal Cyrus, and more.

IKEA’s Art Basel Debut

IKEA debuted its first-ever activation at Art Basel Miami. The Swedish design giant entirely transformed an old nightclub on Lincoln Road to showcase a new furniture collection, unique sound designs, and the first-ever IKEA sports collection, DAJLIEN. During the immersive experience, 19 versatile products from the limited home training collection were highlighted; the collection addresses challenges and frustrations associated with exercising at home.

SCOPE Art Show

SCOPE Art Show returned to Miami Art Week this year with 110 participants from 23 countries. A highlight of this year’s programming was a variety of large-scale exhibitions within the New Contemporary, such as Lucy Sparrow’s Feltz Bagels pop-up shop, an homage to the bagel culture of New York. Among the distinguished participants was Jeremy Pope in conversation with Tarell Alvin McCraney.

Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry

Architect Frank Gehry collaborated with Louis Vuitton to create a collection of handbags, trunks, perfume bottles, and more. The collection featured Gehry’s signature wooden and cardboard trademark and 3-D designs, such as bold, red-crafted fish on a handbag. Gehry was the first artist ever to be allowed to tweak the original Louis Vuitton logo in his work.

Vans: Atiba Jefferson’s Skate Photography Exhibition

Atiba Jefferson, Architecture c/o Virgil Abloh, and OTW by Vans partnered for a solo exhibition that was a chronological retrospective of Jefferson’s 25-year journey to becoming one of the most recognized skateboard photographers ever. The exhibition showcased his photography techniques, including dramatic lighting and being one of the first people popularizing the fisheye lens in skate photography.

For the first time, Tribeca Festival and Art Basel are partnering for Talks for Tribeca Festival at Art Basel Miami Beach from Dec. 6-9, 2023. The Arts Basel and Tribeca Festival event series might be a first, but it builds on the success of Tribeca’s Music Lounges at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn and Understory in Miami. The event features four nights of live music at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, alongside the 21st edition of the international art fair at Miami Beach Convention Center from Dec. 8-10, with preview days Dec. 6-7.

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden will host four nights of exclusive conversations with headliners such as Robert De Niro and John Stamos, while other talks include Tribeca’s co-founder and CEO Jane Rosenthal in discussion with acclaimed speakers on the evolution of the creator economy. Then, a music lounge will feature live performances from artists such as multi-instrumentalist vocalist Eartheater and DJ Dangerous Rose, Beyoncé’s recent opening act. More artists such as Actress Yussef Dayes are also on the lineup.

While many activations and events at Miami Art Basel are invite only, the Talks for Tribeca Festival are actually open to the public. Here’s a quick and detailed rundown of everything happening at the remaining programs to come.

AT&T Untold Stories: Diversifying the Narrative with directors Nardeep Khurmi and David Fortune

The winners of AT&T Presents: Untold Stories, directors Nardeep Khurmi and David Fortune, will discuss how they reached wider audiences with their debut feature films “Land of Gold” (2022) and “Color Book” (2024), starting from an idea to a festival premiere. Parts of the talk will introduce the program and provide tips for creating a million-dollar application and pitch.

When: Thursday December 7, 1:30PM-2:30PM. Doors open at 1PM

Soul in the Horn: Live performance by Yussef Dayes, DJ Set by Natasha Diggs, and L3ni

Soul in the Horn is an NYC dance party turned Global Movement that features horn-infused sounds from around the world. Joining Natasha Diggs, Co-Founder and resident DJ of NYC Dance Party, will be the South London-raised drum prodigy Yussef Dayes and New York-based musician DJ L3NI.

When: Thursday December 7 6:00PM-10:45PM. Doors open at 6PM

Miami Community Radio

Miami Community Radio is an online radio platform and Decentralized Autonomous Organization designed to promote Miami’s creative talent through innovative infrastructural equity by providing a platform and an infrastructure to scale their careers. The program includes five performances over two hours.

When: Friday December 8, 12:00-2:00PM. Doors open at 12PM

Tribeca Storytellers: John Stamos

A fireside chat with Emmy Award-nominated actor, author, and producer John Stamos about his New York Times best-selling book, “If You Would Have Told Me.” The conversation will also cover his creative process and be moderated by journalist and writer Leila Cobo.

When: Friday December 8, 3:00-4:00PM. Doors open at 2:30PM

Redefining Artistry: The Creator Economy and the Evolution of Entertainment

Hear from Neil Waller, Co-Founder of Whalar, Jane Rosenthal, CEO of Tribeca Enterprises, and actress and creator Delaney Rowe as they’ll discuss creators’ influence as the next class of storytellers redefining the Creator Economy beyond social media. VIBE Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas will moderate the discussion.

When: Friday December 8, 5:00-6:00PM. Doors open at 4:30PM

As Heard On: “Rap Sh!t”

Join a behind-the-scenes discussion with the Audio Everywhere company’s label and music supervision teams about the making of the RAP SH!T Season 2 soundtrack, produced by HOORAE. Much like the show, the talk will shed light on the complexities of making it “big” in the music industry as a creative. Tthe Rap Sh!t Soundtrack artists will also perform after the conversation.

When: Saturday December 9, 8:30-10:45PM. Doors open at 8PM

Miami Community Radio Stage Takeover

Miami Community Radio is back for a second day of music programming featuring more MCR residents as its continuous efforts to provide Miami’s creative class with platforms to support their thriving careers. The program has six performances over three hours.

When: Saturday December 9, 12:00-3:00PM. Doors open at 12PM

Tribeca Storytellers: A Conversation with Robert De Niro and JR

Robert De Niro will converse with French photographer and street artist JR about film, art, and continuing family legacies through creative expression. The two will discuss their previous collaborations and offer a glimpse into their upcoming project.

When: Saturday December 9, 5:00-6:00PM. Doors open at 4:30PM

Live performance by Actress, and Takuya Nakamura

ACTRESS, aka Darren Cunningham, is one of the most acclaimed experimentalists of the 2010s thanks to his unpredictable style that draws inspiration from various genres, including funk, art rock, house, and more.

Producer/DJ and multi-instrumentalist Takuya Nakamura has become has become integral to NYC’s live/electronic scene ever since moving to the city and distinguished himself by composing distinct musical styles.

When: Saturday December 9, 8:30-10:45PM. Doors open at 8PM

Tickets are currently available for purchase here.

What one would typically envision as the early life of a fashion designer is someone immersed in fashion magazines, tirelessly studying design, and dreaming of their first runway show. However, Sami Miro, the creative director, founder, and designer behind her own eponymous label, charted a path that is far from typical. Raised in San Francisco by her father alongside an older brother, Miro’s early years, as it relates to fashion, were marked by passed-on garments from her family, and a tomboyish disposition. “I started designing [with] hand-me-downs from my dad and brother [at around] 12 years old. [For example], I’d have a size large button-up and have to figure out how to make it work for me.” Unbeknownst to Miro, it was these moments that would later form the beginning of her designing journey.

Embarking first on a completely different career trajectory — Miro earned a Master’s degree in Global Entrepreneurship, with a stint first at a tech start-up — it wasn’t until a pivotal move to Los Angeles in 2013, a city that embraced creative communities, that Miro’s eyes were opened to a new ideal. “Before I came to LA, I didn’t know styling was a job,” Miro says. “Maybe a few months after I [moved], I realized there was a creative thing in me that I wanted to explore, and I took the risk of quitting [tech] to pursue modeling and styling.” Hailing from a traditional family whose idea of security was a 401K and substantial health benefits, Miro’s parents were, naturally at the time, less than enthused. “My family was terrified because I quit a job before having another job lined up.”

Working in the industry both in front of and behind the camera, Miro later grew a curiosity that led her to designing over styling and modeling alone. With no formal schooling, she took the most radical risk of all in starting her own company. “I literally knew zero. I just designed in my own way,” Miro says. “I didn’t know anything about manufacturing, how fabrics react to different patterns, or how to make a pattern — I didn’t know what a pattern was, so I had to figure out how to source the whole thing.”

Given her early years of repurposing hand-me-downs, Miro knew vintage would hold a special place in her fashion philosophy, and the decision to model her business around ethical practices in garment sustainability, even if no one else was at the time, was a no-brainer. “Back when I started SMV in 2016, upcycling wasn’t a thing. Reworking vintage was not a thing. Caring about being ethical and eco-conscious was not a thing.”

Now, seven years later, Miro has grown and scaled Sami Miro, the brand, to exponential heights, collaborating with major companies such as Levi’s and FWRD, designing for fashion week, dressing A-list celebrities such as Selena Gomez, sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Hailey Bieber, and actively advocating for ethical practices in fashion, garnering recognition from the likes of the CFDA. Now, the designer oversees a small team of ten, juggling both her denim-centric clothing line and her personal brand, which involves collaborating with brands such as Burberry and Ferragamo.

Because the latter can often pull the multihyphenate away from her design studio in Los Angeles, be it to attend fashion weeks across the globe bi-annually, or to quickly participate in a campaign shoot, Miro notes that while glamorous as it may seem, there is always a battle for balance. “Fashion month is always tricky for me because it is very long. It’s early mornings to evenings, and you have to be very present to [what’s] in front of you — the photographers, the fashion shows, the events, and it takes a lot of energy in that way.”

With so many moving parts to her day-to-day life, Miro’s creative process is one of chaotic brilliance, with sometimes very little time to actually design due to her hands-on involvement in other aspects of the company, or other projects. Instead, Miro is often deconstructing and reconstructing garments on the fly, fashioning them into wearable outfits within minutes. Without traditional training, it’s no surprise the designer’s process involves what she calls “happy accidents” in lieu of sketches, moodboards, and manufactured samples. “I don’t mood board. I only very recently kind of started sketching. But mostly, I sketch in my brain… If I’m picturing a design in my head, or if I’m looking at a vintage garment to rework, I either stare at it and figure it out, or I’ll put it on my body and then just start cutting and seeing what it becomes.”

The California-bred creative seems to move a mile a minute but never loses focus. “I really have to compartmentalize every moment of every day,” Miro says. “I’ve gotten really good at staying present and focused on what it is I’m currently working on, and giving that however short or long the duration is to complete that task or project. I’m able to move on really quickly. That’s kind of the only way that I’m able to function and be as productive as I am.”

For Miro, the sustainability element of her brand goes beyond the positive brand image that comes alongside attaching her label to the term; it’s woven throughout every aspect of the brand and its supply chain practices. “Caring about sustainability is how I was raised. It wasn’t really intentional — it wasn’t a business plan or marketing scheme for branding. I just thought if I start a company, it needs to be authentic to me,” Miro says. “I want to make a positive impact. I want to care about how my company is affecting the world and the planet, and its carbon footprint.” For example, Miro manufactures locally in Los Angeles, with almost the entirety of the Sami Miro supply chain located within a 25-mile radius of its headquarters. Miro notes the brand also exclusively works with family-owned sewing facilities that pay their employees a living wage.

Impressive both personally and professionally, Miro has meticulously built an empire from her passion, infusing her philosophies into the partnerships and projects. As a pioneer in sustainability methods that, at a time, once didn’t exist on such a scale in fashion, the 36-year-old leaves a growing mark on efforts to push the fashion industry toward a more ethical path. More than just a designer or influencer, Miro has built a world around her brand that operates to educate people on the impact of their purchases.

In between working and playing hard, Miro lately turns a focus to inner peace and self-love. “Beauty is, I think, reaching that level of self-awareness and understanding, and the corny thing that everyone says, you have to love yourself, but it’s the truth. It takes a lot of work,” the designer says. “Something I’ll always be working towards is how to be the best person, kind, gracious, hardworking, always be learning and treating people well and respectfully, and also figuring myself out. To me, that is the most beautiful thing, is really knowing who you are and getting to a place where you can love that person too.”

Emerald Fennell’s latest writer-director project, “Saltburn,” prompts more than one lingering question at its end. One of the most pressing — What was Oliver Quick (the film’s deceiving protagonist) really after? While the feature received widespread praise and acclaim across its series of world premieres, including opening the 67th BFI London Film Festival (2023), and boasts an impressive cast lineup — Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Banshees of Inisherin), Jacob Elordi (Priscilla, Euphoria), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, I Care A Lot), Archie Madekwe (Gran Turismo, Midsommar), Alison Oliver (Conversations With Friends, Best Interests), Richard E. Grant (Withnail and I, Can You Ever Forgive Me?), and Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, Promising Young Woman) — it ultimately leaves glasses half-full. Fennell’s attempt at an art-house thriller feels mostly stocked with shock value, made up of a half-baked story, leaving its actors to embellish.

The story, set in the gothic and gritty world of “Saltburn,” isn’t quite interested in dissecting the psychopathology of its characters and their vapid, mostly unclear reasonings. Instead, it explores the underbelly of the green-eyed monster that lives within us all, told through the lens of an unreliable narrator who is an outsider gazing longingly at the fine elitist world of excess and simultaneously destroying it all in a summer’s time. There is seemingly no reason — at least not one the viewer is given — only envy.

Opening in the year 2006, the film centers on Oliver Quick (Keoghan), a middle-class, friendless student attending Oxford college on a scholarship, who finds himself infatuated with the quintessential campus-favorite prepster, Felix Catton (Elordi). A chance encounter wherein Oliver stumbles upon a stranded Felix, lending him his bike, marks the beginning of an interesting friendship dynamic — one stuck in a perpetual child-like imbalance wherein Oliver’s growing obsession with Felix only fuels the latter’s own neediness. The film’s best moments come from the pair’s innocent post-adolescent boyhood, forging identities from Oliver’s addict parents and Felix’s misunderstood too-good life.

The second act opens after Oliver receives news of his father passing away, after which Felix extends to Oliver an invitation for a summer getaway at his inconceivably glorious family estate, called Saltburn. It’s an untouched Gatsby-esque mansion where black-tie family dinners are the standard, decorated with Bernard Palissy ceramic platter and sitting on a grassy expanse, one-upped with rolling fields, little ponds, and a dizzying garden maze. Inside the sodden walls, Oliver, along with Farleigh (Madekwe), unknowingly are the blasé Saltburn residents’ primary source of amusement. Before, it was Poor Dear Pamelia (Mulligan) whose self-inflicted death upon leaving Saltburn Felix’s gossipy mother, Elspeth (Pike), wrote off as a call for attention.

With his intelligent brain and pretty blue eyes, Oliver similarly objectifies the family by indulging in their specific guilty pleasures (i.e., gossiping with Elspeth and seducing Felix’s absent-minded and sexually frustrated sister Venetia, portrayed by Alison Oliver), slowly weaseling into the standoffish Saltburn clan. However, as Oliver’s true background enters the family premise, his games take a vengeful turn of life and death (Venetia herself eventually vocalizes the presence of “stranger danger,” but it comes too little too late).

“Saltburn” director Emerald Fennell’s previous directorial pursuit, an Oscar-winning dark comedy “Pretty Young Woman,” starring Carey Mulligan as a rape victim seeking vengeance on her wrongdoers, was a critically acclaimed knockout. While the young talent has a knack for skyrocketing heart rates, “Saltburn” possesses the suspense levels of a surprise birthday party: it’s almost too predictable. Instead, all the dialogue-depth budget went straight to the aesthetically picturesque set, along with what can be assumed to be a high price to subject Keoghan to prancing naked throughout the estate and enacting sexually overkill while perhaps true to unhinged insanity bathtub-licking and grave-fucking moments.

That’s not to say Fennell is devoid of one-line antidotes, but most felt unrealized and reduced to the drunken drivel spouted by Venetia. “I think you’re a moth,” she tells Oliver, “quiet, harmless, drawn to shiny things, and desperate to get in.” Rather than expanding the imagery around Oliver’s unprecedented ascent in Saltburn — aside from the painfully obvious meaning behind Oliver’s birthday party deer antlers — the film’s final portion laments on the dissolvement of Elspeth and Sir James’s pointless banter as the best analogy to Saltburn’s downfall.

Even Felix’s distant friend Farleigh, the film’s token Black character, only ever hits one note in the two-hour film, hating on Oliver. Truthfully, Fennell could’ve created a more well-rounded rivalry that tied in both the character’s “play toy” statuses and personal situations that left the bedroom, but Farleigh simply doesn’t have the screentime to do anything but blow steam.

Beyond the lack of a hearty plot, no sustenance rooted Oliver’s devious plot other than pure mind-racing obsession, leaving the British 2000s soundtrack the only supplement to his unbeknownst inner workings. Though pumped with every party anthem imaginable from MGMT, Arcade Fire, and Girls Aloud, there was a breathtaking rendition of “King Of All Hopefulness” by York Minster Choir, which, in its three-minute duration, gave great depth to Oliver’s unrealistic sadness, further unsettling Venetia — one of a handful emotionally tangible moments from the 127-minute runtime.

Although “Saltburn” isn’t an outright failure, it doesn’t live up to Fennell’s promising and extremely limited director catalog of “Promising Young Woman” and “Killing Eve.” At a glance, the film sets an amazing groundwork for a one-way ticket to being an art-film critic darling. Instead, Fennell leaves the championed actors to pull up the movie by the bootstraps despite a lackluster script cosplaying pseudo-existential dialogue. Together, the surface-level writing and directorial inexperience make for a slow-paced and frankly boring two-hour introduction to the expansive Saltburn property and Fennell’s poor take on toxic elitism via watered-down residents who think sexual frustration is a personality trait.

In the heart of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Formula 1 fans witnessed a gripping showdown at the F1 Grand Prix this weekend. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, demonstrated his skill yet again, maneuvering the demanding circuit to clinch victory against tough competitors such as Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.

While the initial reception of the new circuit was mixed, it ultimately delivered an exciting race, earning the respect of both fans and critics. The return of the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a hiatus of over four decades transformed the iconic Vegas Strip into a vibrant hub, attracting both race enthusiasts and celebrities alike.

Elsewhere, in the crowd, a slew of well known attendees never fails to turn the Grand Prix into a high-profile affair. Hollywood heavyweight Brad Pitt, deeply immersed in the world of Formula 1 for an upcoming film project, was among those in attendance, as well as the likes of Rihanna and rapper beau ASAP Rocky. With a convergence of movie stars, models, and musicians, crowd watching becomes as much the spectacle as the hours-long race itself.

As engines roared and tires screeched against the neon-lit backdrop, Beyond The Pines’ Mat Abad (Bad Boi) snapped photos of all the biggest stars in attendance. See them below.

DAMSON IDRIS

SIMONE ASHLEY

BRAD PITT

DRUSKI

NINA DOBREV

LEWIS HAMILTON

ANTHONY MACKIE

JOHN LEGEND

GORDON RAMSAY

RIHANNA, A$AP ROCKY

COREY GAMBLE, TOMMY HILFIGER

LUPITA NYONG’O

KARLIE KLOSS, ASHLEY GRAHAM

GAYLE KING

CARA DELEVINGNE

GIANNI INFANTINO