Since 1987, New York Cares has been creating opportunities for New Yorkers to volunteer in meaningful ways, providing a vital lifeline of support to hundreds of thousands of under-served people in our community.  Our staff works with partner organizations to identify their most pressing needs, creates projects to bridge the gaps, and recruits, trains, and deploys teams of volunteers to make a difference.  New York Cares is now the city’s largest volunteer organization, running volunteer programs for 1,200 nonprofits, city agencies and public school.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Coat Drive New York Cares endeavors to collect 100,000 new and gently used coats from caring New Yorkers. All of the coats are distributed to struggling men, women, and children at homeless shelters, community organizations, and agencies serving seniors; free of charge.  The coat drive runs until December 31.

There are multiple drop off locations throughout all five boroughs.  To find one closest to you, please click on the this link:http://newyorkcares.org/downloads/CDPublicCollectionSitesforWebMap.xlsx.pdf

Happy Holidays!

Photographer: Marc Tousignant

Art Director: Inoisell Miranda

Grooming: Blue Michael for Blue Michael Cosmetics

Nails:  Nail Lounge

Model(s): Fernando@Q & Angelina@angelinaassereto.com

VERSANI isn’t just Jewelry. Versani is a lifestyle, an experience, a philosophy. Founder and famed jewelry designer ARA has his way to combine strength and beauty into each piece. Established in 1992, Versani began as a contemporary jewelry company.

Nowadays, at Versani you can find innovative combinations of gold and silver with wood, leather, denim, semi-precious stones, and diamonds.  Also, there is a wide selection of wedding bands, bracelets, necklaces, rings, cuff links, earrings, and accessories. Our client service is unmatched, a jewelry piece or just a smile, everything you get at Versani comes from the heart.

Versani retail shops are more like treasure chests.

Regularly noted as one of the only places to get amazing jewelry for men and women, today’s SoHo headquarter and on-site production supports Ara’s vision: to bring the magic of Versani jewelry to his clientele around the world.

The Gemstone collection uses a modern technology known as Tension Setting, which portrays the gemstone in its maximum beauty. Versani has mastered the art of preserving the stunning, dazzling quality in the most iridescent stones.

Each collection reflects the juxtaposition that inspires the Versani slogan “Stay Cool Be Strong”.

The Wood collection pairs Bocote, a beautiful, warm, and exotic South-American wood with precise, gleaming platinum, gold, or sterling silver.

The Key Design collection comes directly from the heart of Versani, based on an enchanting keepsake Ara had as a child.

A modern mix of structure and design, elegant, yet profoundly simple

XEX-CLUSIVE VERSANI INTERVIEW

1.- What is Versani?

In one word, Versani is a lifestyle. Bringing out the fun, strength, adventure and uniqueness in your life! Daring to be unique! That’s Versani! Going where most would not.

2.- A man should never wear…

Costume Jewelry. I feel that accessories are a very important and critical part of a man’s wardrobe and not only builds confidence but adds character. A fine designer suit just adds to a man’s saunter, in a similar way so does real jewelry!

3.- A woman should never wear…

Anything else but a smile. I feel that women can wear anything. 

4.- What is the source of your inspiration?

I am inspired by a lot of things but I would say nature is my greatest inspiration. I love the unpredictability of nature, it’s richness and abundance of shapes, textures, colors. I love being in nature and my stores and collections reflect this.

5.- Did you always know you were going to design jewelry?

I am innately creative, however I never thought that I would be designing jewelry. It has truly been a blessing to be able to express love and creativity through it. 

6.- What will you tell young designers at the challenging beginning of their careers?

Have a strong heart, be persistent, keep moving forward and go out and get it! PERSIST, PERSIST, PERSIST!

7.- New York is…

My Home! A place you definitely need to visit once in your lifetime! 

The American dream!

Be sure to visit the Versani website! CLICK

ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE

Stylist – Hayden

Makeup Artist – Andrea J. Archer

Hair Stylist – Nicola Augustine

Model(s) – Anouschka Dap (Q Model Management)  &  Auguste Stephanie (Unsigned)

ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE

Short Film By

Director-Roy Raz
Producers-Roy Raz and Eitan Tal
Cinematography-Roman Linetsky
Editor-Ornit Levi
Styling-Gustavo Matias Franco
Make up / Hair-Tomas Shemesh and Noga Tamir
Post production-Assaf Yeger

LOVE THIS! This video captures everything XEX is! Fashion, Art, Design, Bizarre!

Love the pacing and the imagery vs. the music by The Irrepressibles.

A MUST WATCH!

When we think of the term “Classic” in America we tend to think back to a very specific time in our history.  The 1950′s. It was the end of World War 2 and America had formed a new Identity. The Era of mass media and consumerism had began and corporate america boomed.
This classic depiction of men in suit’s and thick framed glasses harks back to the days of those who pioneered  fashion into corporate culture.  College educated men refined for the new corporate world were young lawyers, Ad executives and bankers  full of ambition and fresh ideas they understood the value of ‘”image’” and embraced fashion to express themselves marking the birth of what we now refer to as Metrosexuality.

Photography: Lenox Fontaine-(www.lenoxfontaine.com)
Grooming: BP Carmouche
Hair: Scott Wasserman
Fashion Styist: Hayden

Model(s) Jullien Herrera@RED| Trent@RED| Miles@RED| Josh@RED

PHOTOGRAPHER BIO
“Everybody has something to offer to an image, its something that’s within them – an energy – I love capturing this energy with my camera.”
Lenox Fontaine – Photographer

Lenox’s life as an artist began at a very early age by discovering self-expression and creativity within theatre arts and dance. Unleashing his distinct and original viewpoint, he found a niche in photography, allowing him to write, produce, direct and style all of his own artistic visions….with the ability to interpret the ideals of top fashion and media clients and a degree in cinematography, his images reflect style and emotion reaching beyond a still photograph.
Lenox specializes in people photography, beauty, fashion and portraits. “I have always been fascinated by beauty, photography is a form of exploration for me to find the inner light.” He has worked with a wide range of photographers in fashion, honing his technical skills. His roster of clients include The New York Times, NBC, Atlantic Records, top fashion publications Elle Girl and Essence. ” Unlike other artists, I don’t feel that shooting commercial work is selling out, I see it as an opportunity to influence pop culture.”

ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE

An artist’s work speaks for itself.  Nowhere is this more true than with celebrity make up artist and grooming expert, Merrell Hollis, whose body of work crosses all categories of the beauty, fashion and celebrity worlds.
     
As Key Groomer for Sean Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment, Merrell is responsible for the make up and grooming of all Bad Boy artists. His work appears in the music videos of scores of industry greats including Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Mary J. Blige, Nelly, Usher, Faith Evans and Ludacris.  Merrell’s celebrity clients run the gamut from supermodel, Naomi Campbell to fashion icon, Diane Von Furstenberg to actress, Kim Cattrall.

Tune in to Oprah, America’s Next Top Model, MTV Music Video Awards and TRL and you’ve seen his work.  Hollis has also shared his cosmetic expertise on camera with Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and The CBS Early Show. No stranger to the editorial world, Merrell Hollis’s artistry has graced the pages of top magazines including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, Vanity Fair, Essence, GQ, Details, Interview, Rolling Stone, People and Men’s Health.

Over the past decade, Merrell has consulted with beauty industry leaders Clinique, Bobby Brown, MAC, Lancome and Versace.  His work appears on the product packaging for L’Oreal Paris and Soft Sheen Carson where Hollis’s talents are also on display in the company’s advertising. Ever the consummate artist, Merrell believes that good skin is the foundation for great makeup.  Or, as this Georgia native likes to say, “Beautiful skin is the cake.  Everything else is the icing.”

Merrell Hollis holds a degree in Fashion Marketing Design from American Inter-Continental University and is also a licensed barber and esthetician.  He currently resides in New York City where he is a member of the American Cancer Society’s advisory board to help raise awareness of the unequal burden of cancer among communities of color and to support ACS services dedicated to changing that equation.

MERRELL HOLLIS XEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

1-. XEX: What inspired you to get into the beauty industry? Watching my mom in the morning enhancing herself. I love the way she would use different colors on her face and she would look totally different. So from a young age I knew I wanted to put my colors on people to change or alter there appearance.

2-. XEX:  What is one thing upcoming makeup artists should know? Only do it if you LOVE it! Don’t do it for the fame or the celebrity! Educate yourself on all product knowledge! You need to know what you are putting on your clients faces.

3-. XEX: You have worked with many A -List celebrities, any favorites or memorable moments to share? I have my favorite right now! Wendy Williams! She’s awesome and is so much fun to work with!

4-. XEX: What product is a must have for women this season, or in general? This Season would be Spring/Summer! So I say SUNSCREEN!

5-. XEX: You have done so much, whats next for Merrell?A Book is definitely in the Near Future ; Following in the footsteps of Pat Mcgrath and Gucci Westman which would be to help formulate color and foundation for a Major cooperation like Proctor and Gamble or L’Oreal

ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE

For more videos and more info visit www.tinageorgy.com or subscribe to her makeup channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TmakeupG

MIKE RUIZ XEXPOSED

By Inoisell Miranda

XEX went on a journey to discover the surrealistic and fascinating world of fashion’s hottest, “Most go to” Celebrity Photographer & Reality T. V star Mike Ruiz. From the minute we walked in his fancy, high-rise condo building in Chelsea, NYC, it was clear to us we were walking into the life of someone that is on top of his game.

The door opens and we were welcomed in with a perfect smile & immediately captivated by the charm in his personality and his sexy, hilarious sense of humor that set the tone for an afternoon photo shoot that will be hard to forget.

Mike Ruiz is best known for his high-impact, surreal brand of fashion and celebrity photography. He constantly shoots for countless American and international magazines. The impressive list of subjects that have stood before his camera are stars like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Zac Efron, Lindsay Lohan, Jonas Brothers, Betty White, Kathy Griffin, Queen Latifa, Tyra Banks & many more…

Mike Ruiz’s expertise behind the camera, stunning looks & charm landed him on several reality shows including “My Life on the D-List”, “America’s Next Top Model” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (appearing as a celebrity photographer and guest judge).
He also rounds out the panel of expert judges on the upcoming season of Canada’s Next Top Model. Mike is also currently starring in LOGO’s ”The A-List: New York”.

XEX INTERVIEW SNIPPET

1-. XEX: I rather be tortured than caught in_________________?

M: Those “Uggs” boots

2-. XEX:  I will always wear______________?

M: Alexander Mc Queen.

3-. XEX: Every man should own?

M: Black motorcycle Jacket

4-. XEX: How did I ever wear that?

M: It’s got to be those home made outfits with bottoms out of Karate suits from the 80s

5-. XEX: Fashion is______________?

M: Wearable Art.

To learn more about Mike Ruiz & our XEX_TRAORDINARY shoot with Mike Ruiz  CLICK ! ISSUE ! – ISSUE 2

ARTICLE FEATURED IN XEX MAGAZINE: SPECIAL EDITION ISSUE