This edition was lensed by photographer/model Leonardo Corredor giving the spotlight to  Ioanna Ntenti & face of Givenchy Chris Moore that perfectly illustrates XEX’s rebellious mood this season leading up to our summer issue.This feature also honors the memory of Leonardo’s best friend and fashion stylist Fabiana Negron on the last time they created magic together before her passing.

Remember to LIKE your favorite model stories as at the end of the season the Model story with the most likes will have an exclusive editorial in an upcoming print edition.

Attention photographers: Do you have models you will like to see XEX-POSED? submissions are now open and editorials with new faces are being considered. We cannot wait to hear from you! Email: submissions@xexmag.com

Cameron Palatas stars in MTV’s scripted comedy, “Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous,” an all-new, half hour single-camera scripted comedy series starring comedian Bo Burnham as Zach Stone, a fresh-out-of-high school teenager who opts to pursue a life of fame and stardom instead of attending college. The series follows Zach, who hires a camera crew to film him throughout his daily life as a part of his quest to become an over-night celebrity – even though he possesses no real talent. Palatas plays Zach’s brother, Andy : all American athlete, star student, and ladies man. Palatas’ other television credits include  Disney’s A.N.T. Farm, October Road, and iCarly.

From Disney’s A.N.T Farm and now to MTV’s Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous. Tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming an actor. 

My journey as an actor has been incredible. I came from Kansas City, Missouri where I did print jobs and background work in commercials, to being a series regular on a TV show in Los AngeleS. I consider myself very blessed to be doing what I love. I think the main thing that people miss in life is just that. They chase money instead of dreams. Chase dreams and money won’t matter.

In the new MTV series “Zach stone is going to be famous” you play Zach’s little brother, Andy stone. A Golden Boy, ladies’ man, straight A-student, and sports star- how much are you like Andy in your real life?

Haha, actually I was a bit of an athlete throughout high school and I got good grades. I don’t know if I’m a ladies man like Andy though. Maybe in a different way. I don’t feel like Andy would hold the door for a woman and I definitely would. Chivalry is not dead to me.

Your character Andy Stone had been described as an all American athlete, star student, and ladies’ man. How much of yourself do you see in Andy?

I see myself in Andy, Just not as self-centered. Andy is self-centered, much like Zach, but Andy shows it in a different way. I try not to be like that.

Working on a set with other young actors and comedians must keep everyone on their toes. Do the practical jokes ever go off camera? If you had to say, who is funnier- You or your costar Bo Burnam?

Many jokes go on off camera. As for comparing my comedy with Bo Burnham’s, I’m flattered. Bo’s definitely funnier. He’s one of the funniest people I’ve met.

How would you describe your person style versus that of your character Andy Stone?

My personal style is a bit different from Andy Stone’s. Andy dresses very preppy. Andy would wear a polo shirt with J. Crew shorts and some boats shoes, whereas I would wear a v-neck, Diesel jeans, and high tops.

Any work out regimens to maintain your athletic figure for your character, we understand you practice Martial arts and kick boxing? Any MMA style brawls between you and Zach this season? 

It’s actually funny that you ask that. A year went by between the time we filmed the pilot episode and the time we had filmed the rest of the series, and in that time frame I had gained about 10 lbs of muscle. This wasn’t a character choice, just more of a personal choice. I do practice MMA and boxing; those are some of my favorite hobbies. We were going to add a scene into the show where I put Zach into an arm bar for a credit sequence, but we just ended up wrestling instead.

What activities do you enjoy in your free time; we understand that you are a selfproclaimed HALO expert & gamer?

I love gaming, but there isn’t enough time in the day anymore. I also love boxing, singing, rapping, writing music, and swimming.

Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous is one of the few new scripted on this season, ironically being about reality television. What is your take on the domination of reality television as an actor?  

For me, it depends on the reality show. Some shows are bearable, other shows I can’t stand. It really just depends on how ridiculously outlandish the show is.

Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous has been out for a little over a month now. What has been the public’s response to the show? 

To my knowledge, you either love the show or you hate the show. I don’t think there’s an in-between. Most people I’ve talked to that have seen it really love it.

Tell us about your new leading role in feature film Pass The Light? Any other feature films in the works?

In “Pass The Light” I play Steve Bellafiore. He’s a kid in a small town that’s trying to bring the city together by loving one another rather than hating and judging one another. Other projects are in the works but I can’t leak what they are at this point.

As a socially aware young person with your support of Children’s Hunger Fund and having received an award from Mayor of Los Angeles for your work with Drug – Free America, what advice can you give for other people your age with becoming active with their community?

Do your best to help your community. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up. If you see someone that needs help, help them. We all fail at this at times because each one of us is a human being, but do your best to help out.

Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous Airs 11:00 PM ET/PT on MTV – TUNE IN!

Too HOT to be Haute…

Maybe it’s NYC’s skyrocketing temperatures that have our style coda all up in arms, but it has been hard for us (of all people) to concentrate on fashion when the barometer- at 93 degrees and rising- is telling us that we should be stripped bare of clothes, but here we go…

Now, we love the idea of egalitarian access to fashion- in magazines, online blogs and the like, as well as on television.  However, between the hosts, personalities and self-appointed fashion arbiters featured on E! Channel’s “Fashion Police”,  Bravo-TV’s “Fashion Queens” and NBC’s “Fashion Star”, we’ve become painfully aware that there are distinct differences between being a Fashion Stylist, being someone who is Fashion Style- ish, and being a Fashion Style MISS, and sometimes the three end up in the same room (we’ll leave it to you to decide which is which). We won’t do a “who wore it better”, a “fash-hole of the week”, or a “best dressed” list, but as the temperatures in New York have elevated the hum of our air conditioners out of their 8-month slumber, here are the things that have raised our fashion eyebrows this time around…it’s time for “Quiet As Its Kept- The Hot HAUTE edition…

1- Quiet as Its Kept…Its Lacroix, darling…and its FABULOUS- Again!!!

Like the rest of the global fashion clan, we were really excited to hear that venerated Paris design house Schiaparelli has chosen legendary couturier Christian Lacroix to re-launch their label for the Paris couture shows in July! It will be the first runway show for LaCroix in 4 years (since his label went bankrupt), Schiaparelli has not shown since the 1950s. Its great to see Lacroix make a turn back toward high-fashion, as recent years have seen him designing costumes for opera and theatre productions, a furniture line as well as fragrance.  We haven’t been this excited to see a change in fashion reigns of a house since Marc Jacobs took over Louis Vuitton as their creative director in 1997.

To keep us on the edge of our seats with anticipation each year, however, Schiaparelli will feature a new guest designer every year. Many folks would like to see if uber-talented John Galliano can strike gold twice, having revived the house of Dior before his racially-charged descent into madness in a Paris patisserie and subsequent firing.  We LOVE the idea of talented designers stepping in to take over older, established/worshipped (if not currently relevant) fashion houses. Quiet as Its Kept, We’d like to see Haider Ackermann revive the 80’s fashion house of Montana (one of our FAVORITE designers), since it seems- as of late- that Ackermann has been, shall we say, “gentlyinfluenced” by Claude Montana’s famous silhouette for his last few collections…

2- Quiet As Its Kept…Some of y’all are focusing on the WRONG Knowles sister…

There is no question that Beyonce Knowles-Carter, who has sang her way from being a Single Lady to a Girl that runs the world to (now) a Grown Woman is BEYOND!!!! However, since we are talking about fashion, its baby sis Solange that takes the cake. She has been giving us serious fashion for years, occupying the fashion space between fashion icon Julia Sarr- Jamois (fashion editor at Wonderland magazine), 70’s funk singer Betty Davis (former wife to Miles) and 80’s pop diva Jody Watley with her seemingly innate ability to always be ahead of the sartorial curve.

We have always known that Solange was headed toward becoming if not an eccentric, non-categorizable music artist then definitely fashion royalty. She cemented that feeling last week during the Cannes Film Festival, where she showed up (and showed OUT!) in a beautifully-diaphanous Stephane Rolland couture dress.

Quiet As Its Kept, Solange Knowles is MAJOR…

3- Quiet As Its Kept, The Tax Man Cometh for Dolce & Gabbana…

It doesn’t matter who you are: a gangster (Al Capone), a billionaire real-estate and hotel magnate with a mean streak (Leona Helmsley), an action-film star with hundreds of millions in box-office receipts (Wesley Snipes), a rap impresario-slash-music producer (Swizz Beats), a prolific female rapper with an iconic debut album (Lauryn Hill), or the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul (Mary J. Blige), the old adage is true; there is nothing certain in life except death and taxes. However, there are reports in the fashion atmosphere that a certain designing dynamic duo might not have gotten that memo. It seems that decades after paying their fashion dues, there are those in the Italian government who think that Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana haven’t paid their monetary dues. Not since Naomi Campbell strutted her well-heeled self into a grimy New York sanitation garage to clean floors as part of her community service has the fashion cognoscenti seen one (or two) of their revered community this close to flirting with imprisonment. After being cleared of tax evasion back in 2007 (the case was dismissed), both designers are now being charged again with tax evasion (to the tune of $400 million) as a result of the 2004 sale of the Dolce&Gabbana and D&G brands to the Luxembourg-based holding company Gado Srl (which is alleged by Italian tax police to be, essentially, a tax shelter). Prosecutors are going after a jail sentence of 2.5 years for the duo and their general director. D&G’s defense team will make closing arguments on June 12th…Quiet As Its Kept, we would be shocked if D&G weren’t celebrating their own independence by July 4^th, right along with their legions of American customers…

4- Quiet As Its Kept, Gaultier shouldn’t be “Sari” for his Spring 2013 Haute Couture Show…

There’s no arguing that Jean Paul Gaultier‘s Spring/Summer 2013 India-inspired Haute Couture collection was especially beautiful. He paired wonderfully-crafted dresses and gowns with exquisitely vibrant Indian Saris (a customary garb worn by Indian woman); woven dresses in tribal prints reminiscent of the scorching Indian desert were paired with wooden wedges that screamed luxury, and (just so you remember that its Gaultier), he revived the iconic cone bras made famous by his collaboration with Madonna.

While it was indeed a fashion home-run based on the wearability factor, it was also especially smart, seeing that India’s luxury market is estimated to be at $60 billion and growing (just behind the $75 billion in the US luxury market). High net-worth individuals has increased in India by 200%, so Gaultier stands to make some serious rupees, as he has joined other lux brands such as Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Canali  who have set up shop in the new fashion frontier of New Delhi. Missoni will also launch in India soon.

Quiet As Its Kept, it would behoove you public relations mavens to learn a few of the 455 languages spoken in India…just saying…

5- Quiet As Its Kept, Who WOULDN”T want to spend eternity at Bergdorf’s???

While it only takes a phone call or an email to get us to come to a fashion show (or a Sunday afternoon tea dance!), it takes a LOTto convince us to drag ourselves to a Loew’s or Ziegfield’s (or City Cinema) to watch a movie that will inevitably be on cable in a few months thereafter. However, in this case, Netflix be damned! All of you fashion folks need to get to the nearest theatre to preview the new docu-film (which really doubles as a 1.5 hour commercial), “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s”.

Ever since Barbra Streisand spent the night at Bergdorf Goodman cavorting through couture while belting out show tunes in her “My name is Barbra” television special back in the 1960’s, many a fashion fiend has fantasized about making the mother of all haute retail outlets their resting place in the hereafter. Quiet As Its Kept, we’re glad someone put these visual fantasies on film…

Until next time…Peace. Love. STYLE!!!

THE STYLEMONSTERS

www.thestylemonsters.com

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Check out these tips and product suggestions from our panel of esteemed grooming professionals!

Edward Cruz

Credits: People Magazine, Elle Magazine, Out Magazine, Chris Brown, Estelle

Website: edwardcruz.com

CLINIQUE Men’s Face Scrub $20.00 at Macy’s

Use it before shaving or as a way to maintain smoother & even skin tone. Fights ingrown hair on all skin types, and contains Salicylic Acid; a classic ingredient known by dermatologists for renewing skin cells.

Shiseido Future Solution LX Total Regenerating Night Cream $260.00 at SAKS

You WILL wake up with brighter, more vibrant looking skin. Stick to the motto “A little goes a long way”, when using this formula. Shiseido has patent protected their skin technology, which guarantees results that you will not find with other skin care lines.

OXY Maximum Face Wash $5.99

I found the beauty industry at a young age, in my struggles with acne. From time to time, as an adult, I still deal with breakouts. After spending thousands, and using EVERY prescribed and over the counter solution, to combat breakouts, I still to this day haven’t found a better solution. It kills bacteria, treats existing acne and preps the skin for the skincare you choose to follow with. Also note, the primary acne fighting ingredient in this face wash, is the same ingredient used in ProActive.

There is great value in drug store brands; Always remember that often times, the laboratories that create grooming products for luxury brands, are the same labs using the same ingredients for drug store brands.

Merrell Hollis

Credits: GQ Magazine, Details Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, Usher, Sean Combs, Matthew McConaughey

Website: merrellhollis.com

ANTHONY’S  Logistics For Men “Instant Fix Oil Control”

CLINIQUE “Dark Spot Corrector”

Fades Blemishes even those scars from razors  or razor bumps

BENEFIT “The Porefessional”

Make lines, Pores , Scars seem Invisible

Blue Michael

Credits: Owner of Blue Michael Cosmetics, Nylon Guys Magazine, Instinct Magazine, Romeo Miller, Jackson Rathsbone, Cynthia Bailey

Website: bluemichaelcosmetics.com

First wash with a great product from Garnier “Moisture Rescue” face wash. Then after drying your face use  Moisture Rescue. After I apply a little bit of Blue Michael Cosmetics Complexion Primer. Under your eyes , for dark circles, with my ring finger, tap a little of Blue Michael Cosmetics concealer. For the fresh well rested and ready to go grooming look for all men and lifestyles.

Ryan Nickulas

Credits: Owner of Ryan Darius Salon,

Website: ryandarius.com

For Skin I prefer:

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery for Eyes (Gently pat 2 drops under and around eyes)
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Apply 2-3 drops of this overnight treatment to clean skin before bed)
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer (Massage a small amount into clean skin for all day moisture relief)
OCC Skin Concealer (Use for opaque but adjustable coverage)
OCC Tint Moisturizer (Vegan and paraben free tint)

For Hair I love:
Oribe Shampoo for Brilliance & Shine / Oribe Conditioner for Brilliance & Shine (Lather and massage into hair for at least a minute before rinsing the shampoo and conditioner)
Oribe Rock Hard Gel (This cream gel gives hold, style and shine – work a small amount through wet hair, style and go!)
Oribe Fiber Groom (Fiber paste creates bounce, separation and elastic hold – rub between palms, run through hair and style as desired)

i-stubble by ConAir If you just need to trim your side burns or line up your whole beard – this is one of my top choices. I love this tool because it holds a charge for a long weekend , and it’s 15 precise length settings with advanced blade technology gives a quicker and more effective trim.

Billy B

Credits: Vanity Fair Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine, Sharon Stone, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Cindy Crawford, RuPaul’s Drag Race

Website: billybbeauty.com

My best recommendation would be Loreal Men’s Expert Hydra-Energetic Ice Cold Eye Roller; especially for the plane. Keep in fridge for extra cool!

Here are some tips to make you feel and look your best.

* SKINCARE If you aren’t lucky enough to visit Barber Bart, Smart Shave is the next best thing to getting a professional barber shave. The kit has exfoliating pads to prepare the beard, a shave cream and a calming toner.

* EYEBROWS Eyebrow grooming is important, but be careful not to get carried away, boys: You don’t want to look like your mother. Trim and shape your brows and, most importantly, trim your nose and ear hairs. Use small, blunt-end scissors; a tiny snip can cause a nasty bleed

* EYELASHES If, like me, you’re not ready for mascara, eyelash tinting is a great solution. This quick salon service is maintenance-free, lasts for three months, can brighten a dark eye to a more interesting color and make a light eye pop. Another tip: Some of us were born with “horse” lashes, so invest in a billybBEAUTY eyelash curler and gently curl your lashes to make them look fuller and open up your eye. (Just make sure to hide it when you’re done.)

OTHER PRODUCTS I LOVE
Kiehl’s Baby Lip Balm (in a stick)
Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree line. They use this at Barber Bart.
Kiehl’s Pour Homme Essence Oil. It’s my favorite fragrance. Try it—men and women alike will ask what you’re wearing. Who says girls have all the fun?

Mann Nance

Credits: American Salon Magazine, V Magazine, Nylon Magazine, Snoop Dog, Laz Alonso, Ed Asner, Courtney Love

Website: mannatwork.info

Enjoy Molding Paste for separation and texture

American Crew Fiber for form hold definition and MATTE finish
Bumble and Bumble SumoTech finishing paste. A cross between a wax and a pomade. Perfect for creating texture and light hold with a medium shine.
Mizani Rose H2O conditioning Creme Hairdress for ethnic hair  for moisture, shine and control
Tend Skin Astringent for cleansing the skin after shaving. Perfect for preventing and treating razor bumps.
The MEN PEN….. concealer stick made specifically for men… naturally covers up blemishes and discoloration in real life and in media
4V00 silk enrich shine reduction powder…. a translucent powder that absorbs oil and shine
Kiehl›s Facial Fuel No Shine Hydrator….. a moisturizer that controls oil and shine throughout the day
Kielh›s Facial Fuel UV Guard Spf 50+…. Sunscreen with spf 50+ for uva/uvb protection YEAR ROUND

Mario Anton

Credits: Owner of Anton Acero Beauty Studio, Ocean Drive Magazine, People Magazine (Español), Eduardo Verastegui, Dayanna Mendoza

Website: antonacerostudio.com

Clinique Face Soap For Men Clinically formulated to meet men’s skin needs, leaving it fresh and clean. Go for regular strength if you skin is dry to average or extra strength if it is oily. Use twice a day, in the morning before shaving and at night before bed.

The Art Of Shaving Cream There are a lot of great things about this shaving cream, to start I would mention that is hypoallergenic, and alcohol-free which is ideal for men with sensitive skin, ingrown hair, razor burns or tough beards. It comes in different formulas depending on the skin type and it does not contain any synthetic fragrance. It has a whipped cream texture and it could drip if not applied correctly, a little bit does the trick.

A/Men/ity After Shave & Face Moisturizer.

Best thing about this product: Two in one.  It is lightweight and helps maintain skin healthy and hydrate. It heals shaving related redness and irritation. Use every day after shaving or washing your face.

GO24.7 Shampoo and conditioner.

Shampoo: Nutrient rich, paraben-free, vitamin enriched, sulfate free, and infused with botanisil. An excellent source of vitamin for the hair in just one bottle.

Conditioner: Botanisil, gluten-free protein and menthol which stimulates the blood supply to the follicle and promotes hair growth.

Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy. Daily Anti-dandruff 2 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner.

For those men looking to control sclap problems and dandruff, this is my favorite shampoo.

Clinically proven to help eliminate dandruff symptoms at the source. Gently cleanses and conditions to leave hair clean and manageable. Active cooling formula leaves scalp and hair feeling ultra-fresh. 
Formulated with Bio-Nutrium 10™, a blend of 10 nutrients and botanical actives, including ginseng, tea tree, and natural mint.

Unite 7Seconds Condition. Leave In Detangler.

What I recommend you to do after washing and towel drying your hair is to apply the perfect leave in conditioner even if you are just staying home, it will help the hair to dry in control and fight the frizz. What I love about this product is that works as an UV protector, it is perfect for every type of hair, and it is Eva Langoria’s favorite product! Just apply before any other styling product to achieve the best results.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Cream.

Awesome styling product because is very versatile and it has a subtle fresh essence. Styles the hair leaving it with a great texture and definition depending on application. If applied on wet hair it dries down to matte finish. On dry hair it defines and separates hair helping you achieve a define look and the appearance of abundant hair. It could be re-define by wetting your hands and playing with your hair style after hours of application.

Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer and Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed.

What you would love about this concealer is that creates the appearance of perfect young skin. It covers, blemishes, tattoos, birthmarks, dark circles, and any skin discoloration leaving it with an even, perfect tone. It is light weight, water-resistant, protects from the sun, and it could be applied with your fingers, there’s a wide variety of colors so you could perfectly match your skin tone. To finish apply the finishing powder, which is transparent and is perfect for every type of skin, it could be use by itself and it takes the shine out of your skin cause by oil and sweat.

Contributing Editors: Maya Kramer and Lauryn Stone

Coachella first hit the scene about 14 years ago and back then it was a Mecca for indie music loving hipsters looking to escape Los Angeles. Flash-forward to 2013, it’s now one of the largest music festivals in the U.S. with over 100,000 in attendance and boasts some the music industry’s biggest names on it’s stages. However, statistics aside, the real fascination of this festival is it’s profound influence on today’s fashion scene. Come April, everywhere you go in Los Angeles is filled with pre-‘Chella promotion. Showrooms like Space 25 Twenty and Soul Roots host private preview/shopping events catered to helping you get styled up for event. And, with festival goers arriving from all over the country, the shopping goes far beyond the borders of L.A.

Weeks before the first performer even hits the stage under that hot Indio sun, retailers like Forever 21 and Nasty Gal along with mega-blogs like Refinery29, have their “festival shopping guides” ready. Campaigns are dedicated solely to inspiring customers to get “festival ready” with lookbooks and capsules collections centered around the style. Fringe is everywhere, tie-dye is kind of cool again, and cut-offs are a necessity. Anyone –even those who aren’t actually hitting up the festival- can look like they are ready for some rad jams and lots of sun. However, the question is, what is the Coachella look?

It is a “Grunge Isn’t Dead” kind of look

Grunge was made popular by bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Pearl Jam back in the 90′s and it is far from dead in fashion today. Achieving  the look is simple, search for items that are comfortable and practical rather than stylish, it should be heavy metal and outdoor inspired and very low maintenance.

Trevor Powers

The Bohemian Trendsetter 

Kate Bosworth is the epitome of a trend-setter; she is confident, daring and always ahead of the curve when it comes to what’s next in fashion. If you’re a bohemian belle like Bosworth, take a style cue from this effortlessly cool look she rocked at this year’s festival. Mix rugged statements with flowey, romantic styles for an outfit everyone will be dying to emulate.

Kate Bosworth

Festival Goer (No name) 

Do you know Alex Chung, Diane Kruger or Kate Bosworth? How about Rita Ora, ASAP Rocky and Sky Ferreira? The Coachella look is an enigma in itself in that there truly are no parameters for rocking the style. Edgy super models like Cara Develigne can stand next to bubble gum princesses like Paris Hilton, at the same stage, and neither would look out of place. While most would argue that Coachella has become an overly trendy “it” scene where there is no real sense of style, it’s quite the contrary; Coachella is a fashion venue in which anything goes and fashion has no rules. It’s like Halloween in the summer except instead of playing the part of a goblin or ghoul, you f-up that pretty pencil skirt with dunks and a band tee.

It’s curious to now think about the towering Ferris wheel that has become synonymous with Coachella because, in a way, it’s perpetual rotation is a subtle allusion to recycling of trends. It wasn’t too long ago that the youth culture of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and even during the grunge scene of the 90’s, were profoundly impacting the mode of fashion. There was the “flower child” with her long locks and mid-driff baring tops later followed by the torn to shreds denim of those heavy metal lovers. Just think, in ten or twenty years from now, when fashion schools are talking style history or industry tastemakers are looking to the past for inspiration, Coachella and this whole scene will be a vital component when it comes to defining today’s fashion zeitgeist.

Haven’t had enough personal styling tips yet? Then keep checking out XEX-STYLIT every week and in the meantime fill out a fun questionnaire at: www.mystylit.com/q to receive weekly outfits based on you and your style.  Each outfit has direct links to the online stores making shopping online convenient, easy and quick!

Shop… Shop… Shop…

Photography: Amber De Vos

Humanity’s fascination with combats has been present since the beginning of times. We still have the ruins of arenas warriors, gladiators and fighters left their souls in the battle to proclaim power over another around the world. It can be traced back to the ancient Olympics where one of the earliest documented systems of codified full range unarmed combat was utilized in the sport of Pankration, or even more recently the combat sport of “Vale Tudo (Everything Valid)” that had developed in Brazil from the 1920s, and which was brought to the United States by the Gracie family in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion company worldwide.

It is pretty interesting how Andre Gusmao became part of the Gracie family. He was called in to replace an injured fighter in an IFL (International Fight League) match and began his career fighting for Renzo Gracie’s New York Pitbulls. He has studied different kinds of martial arts including Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Taekwondo, but it was not until his sister introduced him to Capoeira that he found his true calling. Andre was just a child when he started training, and by being bullied by older kids, who always thought he was much older because of his height, Gusmao had to defend himself. –“I always trained so hard, much bigger guys would always push me around but I would not care and kept training, I didn’t care about being beat up anymore. Until one day, when I was around 17 or 18 years old, I felt so strong that I just punched the guy in the face, I realized then I was a fighter, after that it simply became worse by the minute”. Shared with us, the now Capoeira Contra Mestre.

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of music, acrobatics, and dance moves into one. More than a fighting style, it was created in the beginning of the 16th century as a hope of survival, a tool with which an escaped slave, completely unequipped, could survive in hostile, unknown lands. Capoeira evolved from a survival tool to a martial art focused on war back in the day. Many began to use “Capoeiristas” as bodyguards, mercenaries, and even hit men. Groups of Capoeira practitioners, known as Maltas, used to terrorize Rio de Janeiro. In little time, around 1890, Capoeira had become illegal in the whole country. Today, we show gratitude to Mestre Bimba, a fighter of all battles that founded the 1^st ever Capoeira School in Salvador – Bahia in 1932. His exceptional teachings and efforts finally paid off when in 1940 Capoeira left the Brazilian penal code and definitely left illegality.

Andre Gusmao is part pioneer of the global Capoeira group Nago along side one the most accomplished Capoeiristas in the world and founder of the group, Mestre Pequines. They used to be part of the group Candieas. -“We had a very unique style about playing Capoeira, if you watched us play in the roda, you knew it was Capoeira Nago, it was very unique and everyone could tell… So inside the group we had our own style and we started doing our own thing, our own style of training”. Nago was founded in November of 2001. Andre’s story is truly impressive and inspiring, he has followed his instincts ever since he can remember, and today inside the fulfillment of his dreams, he trains and teaches people every day, with the support of his Contra Mestre brother Turracha, in his own academy, in New York City. He is the living example of all that we can do when we set our minds to it and focus.

He kindly tells us: “I don’t even know how many countries the group is in by now, it is all over, when I think of the amount of people that teach, how many students we have per teacher, its amazing. There are Colombia, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Spain, Italy, England, France, Germany to name just a few…”

INTERVIEW

Where do you think our bizarre fascination with watching battles and fights comes from?

 I think its primitive instinct like sex. If you look at the animal kingdoms, animals always fight to become something like the alpha male, and all the other animals usually stand around and watch. If you think about it, naked people on the streets don’t cause such a commotion, like placing 2 people fighting, everyone comes to watch, its a primitive instinct we posses and we have not gotten over it yet.

What is the scariest injury you have ever had? How did it happen?

 I cannot say it’s the scariest, but during one round in a fight, I broke my jaw, ribs and hand. I realized I was in trouble during the 1^st round’s brake. It was my third fight and we all thought it was going to be an easy battle, but I sat down and realized I was destroyed. My coach, a really amazing guy said to me “now it’s when you are going to find out what you are made of, are you going to quit or get up and try again? ”. I went back for 2 more rounds and won the fight by points. It was the roughest night of my life.

Word of advice for readers wanting to practice some form of martial arts or self defense, but are stopped by fear or similar circumstances?

Researching about whom you are going to be training with should be the most important thing.  There are a lot of schools out there, where guys are not ready to teach, they just open up an academy and start teaching out of the blue. You should know about the instructors, professors or teachers, where they come from, who are the teachers of the instructors, and the teachers of the teachers, go back in the school’s time and find out where they competed and what they are all about. You cannot just show up somewhere and sign up, you could be signing up your own death sentence. There is a school and a method for everyone, find the one that suits you best.

What will you say to those fighters that feel stopped or not motivated anymore?

I could say to keep trying, train harder, etc. However, it is a very personal matter. Fighting is not for everyone, sometimes is just not for you. If it is for you, then get in the ring and fight as much as you can, get to know what you want, if you really want it, then go to the gym and train your ass off, but you cannot doubt about it, if you have doubts, you probably should find something else to do.

The best thing about being a leader is?

Being admire for what you do, for who you really are. To have people follow you because of who you are at the core of your being, is an amazing feeling.

XEX Magazine and fashion editor, Capoeirista “Suado” acknowledges Andre Gusmao for his hard work, his commitment to martial arts and all of his students around the world, XEX-Ceptional job!

Note: All XEX readers get a free class at www.nagoacademy.com. Email andre@nagoacademy.com to find out more and where you can train Capoeira in your city if you live outside of New York.

On April 5th, revelers and industry heads alike ventured to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to enjoy a night where Fashion, Art, Design and Bizarre collided. Neither the party nor the fashion disappointed, in celebration of the Spring 2013 Men’s Edition, XEX Magazine hosted an amazing gallery mixer to celebrate cover features Ryan Nickulas, Romeo Miller, and Laz Alonso.

Ripped directly from the pages of XEX and brought to life on canvas, attendees previewed a display of editorial images from the current and archive issues curated by Art Editor, Bryen Bumbarger and Magdalena Lazare. DJ SpeakEasy, whom has been a part of the XEX family since its debt kept the night going, spinning pulsating beats while drinks ceaselessly poured courtesy of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Video footage featuring editorial material since the magazine’s conception set the pace for a live “Fashion x  Art” model exhibit curated by Fashion Editor, Inoisell Miranda, Stylist Omar Alexander and Colby Model Management. To top off the night Editor-in-Chief, Sailey Williams invited attendees to bring their looks in front of the camera to take part in a live fashion photo-shoot as Video Editor, Adolphus Amissah captured the night in its entirety.

Special thanks to our sponsors for filling our gift bag with tons of goodies from Kinky Curly, ConAir, The Abster, OPI Nail Polish and other amazing treats courtesy, of Fashion & Lifestyle liason, SMG and The PR Circle.

Hot Off The Press

“The first men’s edition of XEX has the right amount of substance and features fabulous editorial material styled by some of New York’s hottest stylists. The “mode home” is everywhere to see, trying hard not to alienate the classic male, while still catering to the fashion forward. This launch had all the ingredients for a good party, and if you like a good party then you’ll love a good read!” stated Vladimir Armand of JoonBug

Born in Catanzaro (1962-Italy), Parentela has been creating his striking and eclectic work, full-time, since 1995 and has been very involved with the international underground scene.  He tended to draw in black and white for the first 13-14 years with tons of black Indian ink but over the last few years has experimented with color and mixed media.  He says, “We’re all different and we mix and share our feelings and thoughts every minute of the day.  From all my thoughts I will take one idea and work on it again and again, cutting it and pasting it with a lot of weird materials, hitting it with many colors and black lines”.  Cutting and pasting images in new, thought provoking ways, layering photographs with pencil renderings with paintings, his result is always something unique.

Could it all be for shock value, unsimply “riding the contemporary wave of schizophrenia” or just the genuine love of art and self-expression?  Whatever the intent, Parentela is on the cutting edge of contemporary art and continues his growth collaborating with Sequoia Tees and turning his art into fashion, exhibiting at the Museum of Porn Art in their 100^th exhibition,  and pursuing his calling as a professional tarot card reader and creating two tarot decks from his artwork for Tarocchi Evoluti.  As he continues to work on some pieces for an exhibition this year in Detroit plus two other shows in the next few months, as well as a new comic book, Claudio Parentela tells us in a recent interview, “I firmly believe that we are each traveling our own path, but this path is one of millions of possibilities for us – each major decision we take and those we are offered but decline, can change our path for another”.

Check out this Article in The Men’s Edition!

Contributing Editors: Maya Kramer and Lauryn Stone

XEX Magazine has joined forces with a talented and dynamic team of fashion stylists who are out to bring a personal stylist directly to you weekly.  And guess what? it won’t cost you a dime! Stylit (www.mystylit.com) offers you the luxury to be styled by a team of personal shoppers who focus on tailoring your outfits based on your size, budget, style and figure.

The XEX – STYLIT section will feature shopping advice as well as style tips and tricks on how to rock fashion forward looks. No hassle, no cost; just the enjoyment and exclusive feeling of having a personal stylist right here, in your favorite magazine.

For this week’s XEX-clusive fashion and styling tips, we bring you the latest from the Spring/Summer 2013 runways with looks from some of our favorite designers…

A BOLD TOUCH: Inspired by Salvatore Ferragamo

When it comes to looking dapper less is often more, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a fashion risk by infusing your ensemble with a bold pop of color. Inspired by Salvatore Ferragamo’s modern and citrus fresh spring presentation, we suggest you hire some cool hues for your wardrobe by rocking bold colors in your accessories. Think colorful cravats and killer kicks in island brights.

COOL CHICK : Inspired by Phillip Lim

Fashion’s most stylish ladies are trendy risk-takers who often opt to wear the unexpected. Phillip Lim’s recipe for spring 2013 called for one part high-fashion and all parts cool-chick.  Juxtapose your lady-like essentials (i.e. that classic blazer or feminine pencil skirt) with a grungy band-tee and some rad essentials like patent leather, heavy metals and loads of mascara.

IT’S ALL ABOUT STRIPES : Inspired by Dolce & Gabbana

Whether you’re a buttoned-up sophisticate or a laid-back lad, implementing stripes into your summer wardrobe is a great way to make a statement. An easy-to-wear print, stripes are an effortless staple that can be styled in a myriad of ways. Dolce & Gabbana took the look to the shores of Sicily by pairing the print with casual cool basics. Get the look by rocking your stripes with summer staples such as a straw fedora, chilled-out chino shorts, sleek sunnies and some stylish boat shoes.

BLACK, WHITE & CHIC ALL OVER: Inspired by Marc Jacobs

Black and white is irrefutably this season’s fiercest trend. A simple formula of nature’s two most basic hues, designer’s like Marc Jacobs went ultra “mod” with this chic color palette reminding us fashion lovers that the classics are always the best. Dare to wear the trend by styling it up in  stripes, checks or solids and don’t be afraid to get funky with accessorizing and print pairing, because who doesn’t appreciate a little pattern on pattern action?

Would you like a personal stylist? Then wait no more and fill out a fun questionnaire at: www.mystylit.com/q to get started and receive your weekly outfits.  Each outfit has direct links to the online stores making shopping online convenient, easy and quick!

And don’t forget to keep coming back to check out what XEX Magazine has in stores for you with this new STYLIT section.

Shop… Shop… Shop…

Grant has broken international barriers by transforming from a noted Australian television host to an American TV/film star. Recently, Bowler was featured in Lifetime’s “Liz & Dick” alongside Lindsey Lohan in her signature role as the late great Elizabeth Taylor. He is soon to be seen as the male lead in ‘Defiance’, set to air on SyFy this April.

XEX recently had the chance to interview Bowler about his transition between international media and how he stands out in a city full of competition and diversity.

Interview: Louie Garay Jr.
Photos: Darren Tieste

As a successful Australian television star, what was it like for you to transition into American media? 

It was Difficult at first, because like with any market, if the producers and networks haven’t seen your work, then it may as well not exist. Having found a home in the industry here though, I love the incredible degree of creativity, innovation, the quality of the script writing and the work ethic of everybody involved in the North American television industry.

Living in Los Angeles, one of the biggest cities for acting opportunities, how do you separate yourself and stand out next to the many actors vying for the same roles? 

I don’t try to get anything right! Instead of focusing on what I think will please the person auditioning me, I think about the audience…I think about how ‘I’ as an audience, would most like to see this character played and ways that I may not have seen a character like that played before. That’s the performance I take in and from there, it’s fit. If the vision of the showrunner is along the same lines, then hopefully my idea will add something or excite him or her…and off we go. But no matter what, it won’t be the same as the next guy’s.

Shooting 5 movies back to back is an accomplishment. What was it like having to be in 5 different characters right after each other? Did you have time to grow into each character or did you find it hard? 

I find character is behavior, and I start from the inside out. So although playing five in a row is exhausting in total, it’s also incredibly energizing in the process. Each character reacts and responds differently to the world and to his or her fellows and to the situations and challenges it faces. It’s never a repetitive process. Repetition is what’s tiring to me. Discovery is always energizing and exciting.

How did it feel working with Lindsey Lohan in “Liz &Dick” in your role as Richard Burton?  

Working with Lindsay was the first time I had worked with an actor with the degree of pop culture attention and notoriety as Lindsay seems to have. It was extraordinary to me then – and still is how – much attention can get placed on someone having a cigarette or what soda they’re drinking. For me, I was terrified of taking on Burton and didn’t have an ounce of energy to spare to think about how I looked or appeared to anyone doing it. I can’t imagine dealing with all that scrutiny and being able to do a good job.

What can we expect that is different from you in your new role in “Defiance”, set to air on SyFy this April?

I think what’s new and different is that I’m in love with this character for the long haul. Kevin Murphy and I have talked a lot about the character arc of Nolan, and he and I are definitely committed to giving the audience as big a ride as possible. I think that this role crystallizes a lot of stuff I’ve been exploring for a number of years now, and the beauty of having the central character in a series is getting the screen time and a long enough run to fully develop all the aspects of the character that I most want to have a conversation with the audience about. For me, it is a conversation. The beauty of series drama is that there is time to get that feedback, to make adjustments and to explore again.