Monique Billings stands in front of the mirror. The UCLA forward needs some practice.
Shoulders down. Back straight. Eyes up. Squint.
She’s working on her “smize.”
That would be smiling with your eyes. Supermodel Tyra Banks coined the term on her TV show “America’s Next Top Model.” It’s a model’s secret to a perfect photo, one Billings is determined to perfect the same way she has refined her face-up game and footwork because the 6-foot-4 senior from Corona refuses to let the dimensions of a 94-by-50-foot court limit her potential.
“She’s a renaissance woman,” UCLA head coach Cori Close said. “She’s an incredible model. She’s an incredible passionate teacher of youth. She’s a trailblazer.”
Billings, who earned her second straight All-Pac-12 and All-Defensive Team honors Tuesday, is climbing to the top of the UCLA record books as the No. 9 Bruins start postseason play Friday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament in Seattle.
The record-setting forward, who already owns the school’s all-time blocks record (218) and is third in rebounds (1,109), grew from an insecure fourth-grader with big feet who towered over her classmates. On the court, she found a place to celebrate her height.
She found role models in former Stanford standouts Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike and Tennessee superstar Candace Parker. To nurture her off-court passions, Billings looked to model-turned-mogul Banks, who has inspired Billings the way she hopes to inspire other young girls.
“(Banks) just inspired me that it’s OK to be different,” Billings said, “and I can inspire other people to be different and that different is cool.”
Billings stands out from her basketball peers with her potent combination of athleticism and skill. Fellow senior Jordin Canada calls Billings the most athletic post player with whom she’s ever played.
As her four-year UCLA career winds down, Billings, who dunked in a warm-up last year, has added a mid-range jump shot and impeccable footwork to counter the double teams in the paint. She’s shooting a career-high 70.1 percent from the free-throw line this season, up from the 47.7 percent clip she is embarrassed to admit she shot as a freshman, and has 34 assists on the year, already matching a career-high for a single season.
“The athleticism has always been there, I just had to put the talent with that and that just came from work and reps,” Billings said. “Just really beating on my craft.”
The extra work earned her a tryout with Team USA last summer. She had just averaged a double-double (16.7 points, 10.5 rebounds) and grabbed a spot on the final U.S. roster that won gold in the Under-24 Four Nations Tournament in Tokyo. She wasn’t a McDonald’s All-American like many of her peers. It didn’t stop her from wearing her red, white and blue USA jersey.
“This was her chance to show really anyone in the country that she could compete at the highest of levels,” said Close, who was a court coach at the training camp. “Don’t overlook her.”
Between trying out, making the team and winning the tournament, Billings did an internship at Ivan Bitton Style House last summer, working behind the scenes to style Hollywood celebrities. She even got to model a few items, putting her “smize” into action.
Billings bristles when people ask her whether she prefers basketball or modeling. To her, there’s no need to choose.
“That concept was important to me, coming into college, not just being a basketball player, but to do more than one thing,” she said. “Something we always say in our program is basketball doesn’t define who we are.”
Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinal: No. 4 seed UCLA vs. No. 5 Cal/No. 12 Washington
People line up for a free trolley giving tours of historical San Clemente sites with a Ford Model A, left, also on display, February 24, 2018, for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Cynthia Bisharah of San Clemente holds onto her 7-year-old daughter Soshana Bisharah and her husband Munir Bisharah as they look over historical maps and photographs of San Clemente on display by the San Clemente Historical Society during San Clemente Day at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Katie Kerr, left, and Donna Vidrine play a giant game of chess as 2-year-old Jolie Jocozic has a better idea of how to play the game during San Clemente Day at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Jocozic mother, Meg Jocozic, is behind her. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Mike Gould and his wife Launa Gould look over historical documents and photographs, including that of Richard Nixon, on display at the Ole Hanson Beach Club for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
An inflatable horseracing track was among the attractions for kids during San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation, at the Ole Hanson Beach Club. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Cupcakes were among the treats given out on San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Maureen Ohnstad, playing the part of Nelly Rose Hanson, has her photo taken with Mike Fitzsimmons, playing the part of San Clemente’s founder Ole Hanson, during San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation at the Ole Hanson Beach Club. Both Ohnstad and Fitzsimmons are members of the San Clemente Historical Society. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
Three-year-old Clemmie Rubinoff of San Clemente gets ready as her mom, Jessie Creel, blows bubbles as families gather at the Ole Hanson Beach Club for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
People line up for a free trolley giving tours of historical sites of San Clemente, February 24, 2018, for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
The Meraquas of Irvine, Synchronized Swim Team, performs to the music of Singing in the Rain in the pools at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, February 24, 2018, for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
The Meraquas of Irvine, Synchronized Swim Team, performs to the music of Singing in the Rain in the pools at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, February 24, 2018, for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
The Meraquas of Irvine, Synchronized Swim Team, performs to the music of Singing in the Rain in the pools at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, February 24, 2018, for San Clemente Day, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the city’s incorporation. Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer
of
Expand
Where San Clemente’s Sit ‘n Sleep store now stands, once there was a restaurant known up and down California Highway 101 as the Sea Shore Café, famed for its chicken, seafood, steaks and jumbo shrimp.
Across the highway was San Clemente’s first building, erected in 1926 at the corner of El Camino Real and Avenida Del Mar, town founder Ole Hanson’s office.
Over time, the building reincarnated as, among other things, the Bank of San Clemente, a liquor store, a travel agency and Baskin-Robbins.
Hundreds who attended San Clemente Day – an event that the city hosted Saturday, Feb. 24 – thumbed through San Clemente Historical Society scrapbooks evoking simpler times.
The city was celebrating its 90th anniversary of incorporation, Feb. 28, 1928. The town is actually 93 years old, dating to 1925 when visionary developer Ole Hanson began grading and selling lots to create what he called “The Spanish Village.”
Guests at San Clemente Day learned that Hanson set up a tent on Dec. 6, 1925, on the then-barren site of today’s Hotel San Clemente. He offered a free chicken lunch to all comers who would hear his sales pitch. By day’s end, he had sold $125,000 worth of lots, and the San Clemente story had begun.
All around the town
San Clemente’s summer trolleys offered free Feb. 24 tours to view historic sites, like San Clemente’s first church – St. Clement’s Episcopal – and the Hanson family’s elegant 15-room home, now Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens.
Guests at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, built by Hanson in 1927 as a municipal pool, viewed a home movie from the early days and exhibits courtesy of the historical society.
A May 6, 1927 picture page from El Heraldo de San Clemente included photos of the downtown business district, Ole Hanson on horseback and a Sunday School class being taught on the beach.
A picture of historic Mission San Juan Capistrano carried the caption, “Six miles north of San Clemente, it’s the favorite stop of many motorists on their way to San Clemente.”
Displays included a 1920s bathing suit, a poster-sized photo of 1950s-60s era Avenida Del Mar and Ole Hanson’s original tract map of a town he predicted would swell to 50,000.
San Clemente today has some 65,000 residents.
End of the Hanson era
The historical society proclaimed that between 1926 and 1946 more than 500 Spanish-motif homes and business sprinkled the landscape, but the Great Depression burst Ole Hanson’s bubble.
Well-to-do Los Angeles residents who had comprised most of the population of 1,000 walked away from their summer San Clemente homes. Foreclosures took over.
The city rescinded Hanson’s decree that all buildings must be Spanish so that cheaper architecture could spur continued building,
Still, the Depression introduced landmark buildings like the Casino San Clemente ballroom, which opened in 1937 to 5,000 dancers and Sterling Young’s Columbia Network Orchestra. The Casino hosted live radio broadcasts and celebrities like singer/actress Judy Garland. Admission was 40 cents.
In 1938, an adjacent landmark opened, the San Clemente Theater, later known as the Hidalgo Theater, eventually as the Miramar Theater.
Guests learned that San Clemente’s first mayor, Thomas Murphine, lost his posh blufftop home to a 1933 earthquake and then, in a political feud, barely survived Ole Hanson’s efforts to recall him from office.
The Nixon years
Horse stables built by Hanson’s financial partner Hamilton Cotton at the south end of town in 1929 would later become the J. J. Elmore Ranch, largest horse-breeding farm in California, the historical society reported.
Then in 1969, President Richard M. Nixon would purchase the Cotton estate and San Clemente would become known worldwide as Home of the Western White House.
A quote from newspaper satirist Art Hoppe described San Clemente during the 1969-80 Nixon years as “15,000 conservative Republicans, 2,000 surfers, five poor people, roughly the same number of liberal Democrats, and a guard at the gate to keep any more out.”
San Clemente Day photos showed the Hanson-era L.M. Bartow mansion on a bluff between the pier and T-Street Beach, then a 45-unit condominium that replaced it in the 1970s.
The Bartow home had been featured in Chamber of Commerce literature, the historical society wrote, but developers wanted to replace it with condominiums.
“Denied a permit to demolish the building in 1972, the property was bulldozed in the middle of the night,” the society wrote. “Enraged, members of the community came forward to found the San Clemente Historical Society.”
Site for a new museum?
On San Clemente Day, society volunteers staffed a roomful of memorabilia they fetched from storage. The society’s collection has been housed in rented storage since a steep rent hike forced the society to close a 683-square-foot museum that had operated from 1999 to 2007 at the top of Avenida Del Mar.
The society asked San Clemente Day guests to help find donated space or low-cost space for a new museum.
“We could get by with 400 to 500 square feet,” said Larry Culbertson, society president. “Our only income is pictures, books and memberships. We need some help.” Call 949-492-9684.
Mayor Tim Brown declared San Clemente Day a success. “It’s had a really nice effect,” he said. “Everyone has their one thing that they love about this town. Everyone has their history. It’s all unifying. It’s a great day. Why not celebrate what we love about the town?”
As Richard René eases into his position — he joined the house last September — he’s pointing to an edgier direction for the house, though the hair and makeup helped.
The Art Brut movement — since founder Guy Laroche collected works — was the starting point, expressed in rectangular constructions, a crumpled gold collar ornament at the neck of one look, and free, unfinished metallic embroideries depicting scribble motifs.
The materials included laminated cardboard, double-layered Neoprene leather and lame striped chiffon with a scratchy motif that was echoed in the models’ black and gold lips, and embroideries on dresses. But it was lacking any real sense of rawness.
The designer experimented with color, including a run of deep purple looks. But the strongest proposal was the signature graphic tailoring like the ivory and black caftans, and tuxedo looks, including a roomy robe coat that had deep patch pockets and was edged with black stripes, elegantly.
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…
It may have been bitter cold outside, but Nehera’s cozy offering for fall, built from layer upon layer of protective fabrics like wool, shearling and quilting, was particularly appealing.
The collection was inspired by the contrast of temperatures between going to the bathhouse — a popular activity in the brand’s native Slovakia — and then wrapping up warm to face the winter climes of the outdoors.
Blanket-like layers were used to make outsized cocoon shapes in chunky hand knits, and the cowl necks of sweaters could be pulled up above the head like hoods for added warmth.
Technical fabrics created extra layers and touches of modernity, as in a pair of mustard pants with slits up the sides and giant pockets with tie tops to keep the hands nice and warm, worn over cream cashmere blend jogging pants. Elsewhere, a thin skirt doubled up as another hood when pulled up and around the head.
Quilting, meanwhile, was particularly effective when used to create a quirky cross-body dress.
The bathhouse reference was knocked home in more feminine designs that were paired with the snug outerwear, as in a tile print worked on a long, fluid viscose skirt. A matching top had straps that crossed across the
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…
For fall, Tuomas Merikoski built on past obsessions, including volume and logos, and paraded the results in a foggy school gymnasium with spotlights. Light also emitted from an oversized neon sign proclaiming Love Records, an alternative Finnish music label from the Sixties.
The designer pushed his volumes into new territory, which he used to feed his theme of asymmetry. Tailored coats and suit jackets had mismatching sleeves, often puffing out wildly on just one side. Chunky sweaters took on new forms altogether, transformed by elevated shoulders to project a cape-like feel. Even silkiness took on new texture, with a new bubbly purple jacquard used for a diagonally cut skirt.
“Everything is bolder,” Merikoski said of his sculptural shapes.
The accessories were bolder, too. Long, oversized gloves were cinched past the elbow — elegant in leather and equally inviting as mittens, snowboarder style. Repack’s recyclable nylon delivery bags were back, rolled up this time and tucked under wrists.
Another theme: the Finnish epic “Kalevala,” a historic poem of creation — folklore at the heart of his country’s national identity. “It’s this kind of fantasy world which is still anchored in reality, of real topics, of life,” said the designer. Which is kind of how the
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…
It was tempting to go into Unravel with a bad attitude. It feels like fashion has already sold its soul to jeans, sweatshirt and puffer jackets. Do we really need another designer jeans, sweatshirt and puffer jacket brand? But Ben Taverniti’s fall Unravel collection was a pleasant surprise. His versions of the streetwear staples had an attitude and level of sophistication that, while not groundbreaking, brought something worth looking at to the genre.
“It’s L.A. moves back to Paris,” Taverniti, who’s French but based in Los Angeles, said backstage. Aware that his core tenets are basics, he focused on elevating them. His eye for DIY deconstruction was spot-on. Sweatshirt hoods were cut off and disembodied from the rest of the top and worn with balaclavas, shaping up to the be the accessory of the season. The waists of jeans and leather pants were cut off and refashioned as corsets — a red suede style layered over a long, draped red jersey dress, for example. And his most clever idea was fusing puffers and bombers with sweatshirts and workwear shirts at the collar for a little trompe l’oeil effect. Rather than having to affect the jacket-falling-off-the shoulder look, he did the work
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…
A “strong but free” woman walking in winter, “and as she walks, her clothes come undone.” That’s one of the things Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran imagined, yielding a collection that was as graceful as it was layered up.
The designers built tonal ensembles, pairing skirts over pants with jackets, coats and matching bandanas. A lot of the looks had transformable systems using buttons and ties, with pieces spilling open.
Masculine tailoring was still a strong element, as were long shirtdresses with collars, while softer options included a white dress with sleeves covering the hands and button-front pants in an eggshell marble silk wool jacquard that looked as delicate as lace. The drape-y black tops in a dry silk evoking leather were arresting.
A romantic, historical theme leaked through. The more literal nods included minimalist loafers topped with buttoned gaiters, and high-collared tops with balloon sleeves. But theirs was a deconstructed take on retro ideas that never felt vintage looking.
A stronger sporty, urban touch could also be felt. As the seven-year-old label matures, the duo seems to be moving away from their signature basics and getting a bit more daring, whilst losing none of the elegance and ease that the label is known
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.Read More…
French furrier Yves Salomon looks to take its business a step further. To offer clients a full gamut of lifestyle purchases, the brand will introduce accessories.
Footwear and bags, as well as boots produced in collaboration with Moon Boots and hats made in partnership with Maison Michel, are to be introduced for fall.
“We had soft accessories business, a little scarf range, but had never put any big effort into accessories because we were too concentrated on expanding the main line. We have been expanding a lot of our retail stores in the last few years and now we’d like our woman to be a complete woman with accessories too,” said the brand’s general manager, Thomas Salomon.
Rather than proclaim the accessories launch as a strategic new source of revenue, Salomon said: “There is no specific strategy about accessories; we are expanding the category to answer our customer’s request for a complete wardrobe. We wanted to use the collaboration with Moon Boot as a springboard to promote the rollout of our own footwear going forward, along with new hats, bags and other fur accessories.”
Salomon said that the accessories category would ideally comprise 20 percent of the brand’s general sales within three to five
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
FAB FOUR: In their first public engagement as a foursome, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Wednesday laid out their long-term plan for charity work at the Royal Foundation Forum in London.
Set up by Princes William and Harry in 2011, the Royal Foundation is the main platform for the young royals’ philanthropic efforts. The Duchess of Cambridge became a patron in 2011 and Markle, who will marry Prince Harry in May, will soon become the fourth patron, Kensington Palace said.
The theme of the event was “Making a Difference Together.”
“When we work together, we are greater than the sum of our parts,” said Prince William. “All of the projects have seen us working to change mind-sets to make a real and lasting difference. They have all seen us trying to tackle the biggest challenges of the day. They have all seen the foundation listening and taking advice from charities and experts rather than showing up and pretending we have all the answers.”
The duchess — who wore a tailored dress from Seraphine — spoke about Heads Together, a mental health charity: “The mental health of children and adults is one area where a long-term view will
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
Manish Arora, known for his psychedelic colors and extravagant design, is set to launch his first fragrance in mid-March. He’s also celebrating a new studio space in a vibrant, arty suburb of New Delhi, not to mention marking 10 years of showing at Paris Fashion Week with his collection on March 1.
Along with the fresh start in a new creative space, Arora paid homage to the past. Installations representing some of his finest work, as well as favorite pieces, brought together memory and a sense of celebration.
“Ten years of Paris Fashion Week,” Arora said looking it over, his eyes brightening. “I can’t believe it. And I’m still there.”
Does he take his longevity for granted?
“No,” he replied. “Settled. With a new studio, it’s going to be a new, improved Manish Arora. Like how they say on the detergent packet. I’m ready for the next phase.”
Manish Arora
Gulshan Sachdeva
The Manish Arora fragrance will be launched in three 40-ml. variants and will reflect a theme Arora has long espoused; it is called “Ready to Love.” “It’s inspired by a mix of my loves,” Arora explained. “Intense Red is about passion. Deep Orange is my connection to India, so it has a strong flavor of
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
