Tailored

tai oredSummer ST YLE & M U S I C I s s u e

Leaving hisMARK

Mark Russell: the solo artistMusic you’ll want to hear.

APRIL 2011

Tips for EASY Summer Style

How to NOT LOSE a GIRL in 10 ways

Photo:Leah Lauber; Logo: milton-fashion.co.il

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

4 SUMMER STYLE & MUSIC ISSUE

April 2011TIPS FOR EASY SUMMER STYLELearn quick, easy ways to bring your style into summer with-out a lot of fuss

DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMENA photo feature that will show you how to effortlessly look like a polished man by combining dressy with casual.

STYLE

LIFE

HOW TO NOT LOSE A GIRL IN 10 WAYSGuest editor Nicole Lauber will help you keep your girl for the long haul.

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Summer STYLE & MUSIC Issue

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

APRIL 2011 tailored 5

MUSIC

LISTEN UP!Two new artists who are releasing music this summer that will cater to any music palate.

LEAVING HIS MARKMark Russell, our cover guy, is getting ready to take the music scene by storm, but this time as a solo artist.

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The issue that started it all...

Welcome to the inaugural issue of tailored. I began tailored as a magazine for men, college age to young professionals - the

guy’s guy -- as a guide to style, music and life. Like a good tailored suit, a man must have a tailored sense of style -- clothes that make you feel comfortable and showcase you in your best light. Like a well, written song, a man must have a tailored music taste - beats that keep you moving while giving some new stuff a listen some time. Like mo-ments where you feel at your best, a man must tailor his life to what makes him happy, whether it’s love, navigating the social scene or just being a better you.

This issue is more than just our first. It’s our SUMMER STYLE & MUSIC Issue. Each article has the upcoming season in mind and to get you ready. We open up with “Tips for Easy Summer Style,” things you can do to change up your style without fuss. In our feature, “Distinguised Gentlemen,” we showcase lightweight menswear that can be both casual and formal. In talking about summer music, we allow you to get to know our cover guy, Mark Russell, a singer/songwriter who is learning to make his way as a solo artist after being a part of a popular duo. He has a great story to tell. You’ll likely develop a bromance later. His mixture of pop and acoustic rock is something to look out for this summer. We showcase some other artists that will be wise to check out who are utilizing unconventional ways to get their music out to the masses. We close it out with “How to NOT LOSE a GIRL in 10 ways.” Let’s face it, we aren’t the best at relationships. I wanted to provide you some tips to keep that new or old love going for the long haul. As you can see, each article will help you tailor a part of you.

Becoming a tailored man is a work in progress and I hope that with this magazine, I can help get you closer.

Austin Arias EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BACK COVER

Design by Taylor Gaudens


tai oredPUBLISHER

Austin Arias

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFAustin Arias

GUEST EDITORNicole Lauber

CREATIVE DIRECTORAustin Arias

DESIGN & PHOTO EDITORAustin Arias

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHERSLeah Lauber

Jason MasseyCortney MillerBrandon Wise

style, music, life for the guy’s guy

tailored is an independently published fashion and music magazine based out of St. Petersburg, Fla. Writing and phot-graph contributions are welcome and should be sent to the magazine’s head-quarters.

tailored1515 Eden Isle Boulevard NESt. Petersburg, Florida 33704

[email protected]

Twitter: @tailored

FRONT COVER

The cover photograph of feature Mark Russell was taken by Jason Massey, a celebrity photographer based out of Orlando, Fla. who served as guest pho-tographer in this issue Photos were relased through Russell’s management. [email protected] 23

SPERRYT O P - S I D E R

An American original since 1935

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Photo:Austin Arias; Logo: Goodlogo.com

Photo: Leah Lauberwww.clinique.com


S T Y L E

tips for easy summer style

UTILIZE YOUR CURRENT WARDROBELook in your closet and find things that are lightweight, cotton and in bright colors. These are perfect for the summer!

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN

Style includes your appearance. When taking advantage of the great weather, be sure to take care of your skin by using a moisturizer with SPF. Moisturizing is not only for the ladies.

GET GOOD SHOES

Flip flops are great beach shoes but make sure you get yourself a good pair of sneakers as well. Good brands like Nike and Adidas have shoes that work for more than just the gym.

MAKE USE OF ACCESSORIESMen can accessorize just as much as women. Find a good pair of UV protection sunglasses at stores like Target or Sunglass Hut and a good backpack or tote bag to travel with.

STAY HYDRATED

Grab yourself a reusable bottle. Cop-manies like Nalgene have great plas-tic bottles that are large and shatter-proof. No one likes being dehydrated and it’s definitely not in style.

DRESS SMART AT NIGHTWhen going out for a night on the town, make sure to dress smart. Don’t pile on layers but also don’t show up in your board shorts from the beach all day. Good cotton t-shirt and shorts will be stylish and smart.

- Austin Arias

Photo: Leah Lauber

- Austin Arias

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dist inguished gentlemen

Photos by Cortney Miller

Looking like a DISTINGUSHED GENTLEMEN this summer can be simple and fun. Each look uses lightweight fabric to combine dressy with casual so that you can find something that will fit any occasion.

S T Y L E


S E C T I O N T I T L E

01 tailored APR 2011

For Mark Russell, the future is sure to be bright. The singer/songwriter recently sat down with Austin Arias

to discuss how his past success as a one half of a popular duo have led him to his solo career.

“My roommates would make me walk around the dorms and I would knock on the doors of the girls dorms and ask them if I could play them a song to build my confidence to perform in front of people,” singer/songwriter Mark Russell said.

It has certainly been some time since Russell has played the dorm room scene while in college at the University of Central Flor-ida. The now groomed performer has had quite the career up to now and he is slowly working to make his mark. But tonight is a different story.

This isn’t the choice performance space for Russell, nor is it like ones he has played in the past.

Walking in the front door, you are engulfed in dark lighting in a small room with a large bar, high top tables and booths. Eclectic art covers the wall from inch to inch; cartoon type art that show-cases characters drinking wine, eating at a bistro – much like the atmosphere. The people in the room are just as unique – everyone from mid 20 something’s searching for good drinks with friends to older couples. Caffeine Wine Bar and Bistro is tonight’s venue and Russell is it’s “background music,” he says.

But he does not mind. It simply gives him the chance to just play his music, the music he loves, which makes him happi-est. He’s hoping to use his past experiences to his advantage, in launching himself now as a solo artist.

After many months of writing and performing in his dorm, Mark

formed a group with then best friend and classmate James, sim-ply called “Mark & James.” Soon after, the group was lucky to be picked up by Wright Entertainment Group, a management label lead by music mogul Johnny Wright. Wright has been credited with managing the successful careers of popular boy band NSYNC, The Jonas Brothers and worked with Britney Spears and Janet Jackson for some time.

The group gained success fast, with followings beginning at the university and expanding through avenues like MySpace and through opening up for major recording acts such as One Republic, The Jonas Brothers, Avril Lavigne and Robin Thicke.

After years of pursuing their careers as a duo, it all came to a halt in the Spring of 2010 and Russell’s focus took a very different turn. Band mate James decided to not only leave the band, but also leave music for good to settle down to an office job. Management approached him to discuss his future. They were eager to help his talent grow. But, Russell had to be the one to decide if he could be the main attraction.

He admits that it was a hard decision. Going out solo meant that it was “all on me,” he said. If he did not put in the work on a song or take the time to rehearse, he would only have himself to blame. He couldn’t rely on someone else anymore. Although nerve-wracking, Russell is pleased with his decision.

In the beginning, finding his sound was a bit difficult. He often


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Russell recently went on an acoustic tour this past February. He shared some of his photos with us.

Photos 1 & 5: Russell performes at the Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi, Miss. (Credit: Ja-son Massey)

Photos 2, 3 and 4: Valentine’s Day Show at ICE in Santa Monica, CA. (Credit: Bran-don Wise)

Photos 6 & 7: Russell was treated a shop-ping spree at the Reebok showroom in Los Angeles, CA. He loaded up on shoes and shirts from the company’s recent collec-tion. (Credit: Jason Massey)

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asked himself, “Who am I as an artist? What do I want to write, record and perform?” While his work in Mark & James had a strong pop sound, he began finding his footing in doing that same pop music he loved, but in a more mature, edgier way The maturity is shown in his lyrics – based on both personal experiences and those of his friends with love, heartbreak, happiness and tragedy.

When not writing, you could either find Russell in the studio, practicing with his band or just kicking back playing some volleyball or playing in an university alumni lacrosse team. These moments off stage are ones that he shares with his fans through social me-dia, an effort to keep connected that he takes great pride in.

“I like keeping my fans updated. I do it because I get to know them on a more personal level. Instead of saying, that’s so-and-so – calling them by their username on Twitter – I can call them by their first name, develop a stronger relationship because they com-ment on my posts and show an interest,” Russell said.

With Twitter, comes Facebook and YouTube – two more pages he updates regularly. His YouTube page showcases videos of his covering various artists – some which are on the top of the charts some that are just his favorites to sing. It all brings it back to his want to play music that people love because the fans are what it is all about.

Russell is confident that creating these personal relationships early on is going off, as he can update them on what’s in store for the future. Still being a part of one of the biggest management labels in the business, with an infamous manager at the top, op-portunities have been shaping up. The glow on his face when he talks about them proves that he truly loves what he is doing.

Russell just shot a pilot for a reality television show about him, his band and his quest to find his place in the industry and do what he loves. His recording scheduled has stepped up and he is hop-ing to get an EP out to fans this summer, along with a tour. He is

eager to continue building those fan relationships by seeing many of those loyal fans at upcoming shows.

Much more success is within reach for the young star, but for now, he is spending his evening in this moody wine bar, behind a keyboard or acoustic guitar, performing his “background music.” It’s his chance to get practice in, while hopefully collecting some tips in the jar he has in front of him. He’ll play a mixture of his own music and his favorite covers.

The crowd seems preoccupied with their own company, enjoy-ing their evening and not paying much attention to the young per-former. The body language and feeling in the room screams, “Oh, he’s just another singer/songwriter, trying to make a buck. He’s probably just alright.” As he gets into his first of three 45-minute sets, the crowd’s demeanor is not changing much. But Russell does not seem phased. He is in his zone, enjoying every minute of his chance to just play.

He takes a short break and soon begins his second set. Half way through the first song, some of the bar goers take a little notice. As he continues to play others, the room begins to shift. People are starting to pay attention. His soulful voice, with a range that could give some of the best singers a run for their money, is spreading through out the bar. The tips are being dropped in front of him and they are rocking in their seats. Attitudes are changing and many cannot help but listen. It’s slowly turning into a great night.

Russell is one humble guy. The tips do not mean that much to him. He just loves getting the chance to play. This uncommon ven-ue is just a stepping-stone to those larger ones to come, thanks to his many projects in the works.

“I’ll keep making music, if people will keep listening. I cannot wait to show everyone what else I can do.” Russell said. “I love my job.”

“I’ll keep making music, if people will keep listening. I can-not wait to show everyone what else I can do.”

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M U S I C


listen up!Two new artists releasing music this summer, but making it happen in unconventional ways.

Photo: SimonCurtis.com

Photo: Matt Doyle - facebook.com/pages/Matt-Doyle

Simon CurtisSimon Curtis may be well known by tweens as one of the popular characters from

Nickelodeon’s television musical, “Spectacular.” But his current day job - pursuing a career in the music industry - is the thing he really wants to be known for.

In 2010, Curtis, a Los Angeles based artist, independently released his debut album “8 Bit Heart” on his website. The album was self-funded and produced by Jeff “Jadion” Wells, who has gained notariety from his work with other young stars from Nickelodeon and Disney. The album features songs pop/dance songs that were written by Curtis and based on experiences with love. With the help of social media like Twitter and Facebook, the singer gained popularity and his album exceed 100,000 downloads based on his grassroots efforts. Curtis gained crticism from the online music community for releasing the album for free as opposed to indepenently putting releasing it via iTunes.

“I don’t look at giving away the album for free as a missed opportunity for making money. I look at it as a really great first step, as an artist building a successful busi-ness.” says Simon Curtis, 24, of his first album “8 Bit Heart” in a recent Billboard.com article this past March 2011.

Curtis has been working hard on his sophomore album release, “R Δ. which he hopes to release in the next few months. He hopes to release this album on a major record label under music management as well.

Download “8 Bit Heart” at www.simoncurtis.com.

Matt DoyleMatt Doyle has a list of credits that any theatre actor would die for - “Spring

Awakening,” “War Horse” on broadway to just name a few and a recurring role on the popular CW teenage drama, “Gossip Girl.” Matt has been working for the last year to prepare a EP that he is planning to release in May. But what is most interesting about this upcoming release is how it all came to be.

Last October, Matt created an online campaign through popular fundraising so-cial networking site, Kickstarter. He put a call out to his fans on Twitter and ask them to donate money to fund the album’s recording, production and release costs. Fans were able to donate anything they could or donate a specfic amount that came with swag. The swag ranged from a physical copy of the album, signed prize packs to trips to New York City to the album’s release concert and the opportunity to spend time with Doyle at a personal studio concert. The campaign’s original goal was $8,500, which was surprised quickly. Doyle changed the goal to $20,000 and by November 12, over $21,000 was raised.

Once Doyle received the funds, he quickly began recording the EP, sending prog-ress updates to his backers via blog and video posts. In February, Doyle announced that “Daylight,” the much anticipated EP was complete and launched a Facebook page for himself to continue the buzz and post previews of the music that he calls, soulful pop music “inspired by the golden age of soul music.”

“Daylight” will release in late May. More information on how to get a copy of the album will be posted at Twitter.com/mattfdoyle and his facebook fan page.

- Austin Arias

Photo: Cortney Miller- Austin Arias

Fall issue hits newstands August 18.

tai ored


L I F E

07. Give your input.I love to plan things. Most girls do. But that

doesn’t make it okay to constantly tell us it doesn’t matter what we do on the weekend, where we go out to eat, what movie we go see… you get the idea. I love that my boyfriend is usually up to do anything, but I also love that he suggests we go eat Chinese instead of having pizza (I al-ways want pizza, and it would probably happen if he did whatever I wanted to do).

10. Open up.I’m not saying you need to divulge everything

on the first date (or second… or third…), like when you were shamelessly teased in middle school for being a mathlete and it’s scarred you ever since, but do tell us what makes you you: your hobbies, your interests, where you would like to travel. The dark-yet-mysterious type can quickly become the boring-and-bland.

09. ...And let us open up!

Unless you’re completely self-centered and ab-sorbed with how awesome you are (which in this case, stop reading now), let us talk too! Ask us questions about our interests, and why we’re in-terested in it. Don’t grill us like it’s a job interview, but do ask us things that spark conversation.

08. Have your own life.Of course, we girls absolutely love spending

time with you. But if you’re there all the time, the whole “getting butterflies” thing starts to fade. Whether it’s going out with your friends every Monday night or fixing up cars, being indepen-dent at times is a good thing.

how to not lose a girl in 10 waysGuys, we’re not always the best at being part of a cou-ple. Guest editor Nicole Lauber is sharing the tips to help keep your new or old relationship going.


06. Don’t smoke.Nobody like to kiss an ashtray.

05. Have backbone.I once dated a guy who would let me win every fight.

He wasn’t the type that had to win when it came to sports or beer pong, so I suppose that could be the rea-son why. Regardless, he got mad at me for bailing on him one night, and then he was the one who apologized for the fight… what?! If there’s an issue between you and your girl that you want to bring up, then at least stick your ground.

04. Be honest.If you have to lie to us about something, that’s

probably a red flag that either you’ve done some-thing that will piss us off, or you’re just ashamed to tell the truth. We’d much rather you tell us the truth upfront, no matter how much it hurts to hear it, than to lie and have us find out the truth later. And trust me, girls always find out the truth.

03. Compliment us, not our new purchase.

To guys, it might seem like the same thing, but we’d much rather get complimented on how we look than on how we can shop. If you like how we look in a new dress, compliment us, not the dress. Wrong: “I love that dress.” Right: “You look gorgeous in that dress.” There really is a difference – promise!

02. Be YOU.Maybe it’s not your thing to go skydiving and

be spontaneous. Or maybe you would much rath-er spend a Saturday night watching movies than going out to a club, and that’s perfectly fine. We’d much rather get to know the real you than some-one you think we want you to be. And with that being said…

01. Don’t force it.All of these tips will help you keep a girl, but

let’s be honest: if the chemistry isn’t there at first, then it isn’t there. If you stick with a girl you’re only slightly compatible with for once rea-son or another (looks aren’t everything, and yes it’s fine to be single!), then who knows if you’re passing up your dream girl?

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