SUPER BOWL STYLE

On February 5th, Super Bowl Sunday hits Houston, TX with the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. In addition, we're all excited about Lady Gaga when she hits the stage for this year's half time show.

If you can't get to the game, or Houston, we suggest watching at American Whiskey at 247 W 30th St NY, NY 10001 to cheer on your team, as well as to get great eats!

YANDY Pullover Hoodie

ADIDAS Superstar

90 DEGREE BY REFLEX Leggings

| YANDY Raw Edge Pullover Hoodie | ADIDAS Superstar Silver Toe | 90 DEGREE BY REFLEX  Ankle Mesh Ring Leggings - Black Label Collection |

Read more from the Jan Issue.

NATURALLY NERVO

With the new year, we're all about getting on the right foot from being well to truly taking on those goals. We took a moment to chat with EDM DJ's NERVO - super cool and focused Australian twin sisters who have been taking the world by storm! As models, songwriters, producers, DJ's and more, we could seriously bottle their energy for any time we need a pick me up! 

We talked with Olivia and Miriam Nervo them on what they are up to from being sisters who work together, how they travel so much from set to set, their personal style and more! 

ATHLEISURE MAG: So how did you two realize that you wanted to be DJs and what was your background to getting there as we know that you started as songwriters. 

NERVO: We used to be full-time songwriters, working purely for other artists. When a song we wrote for David Guetta and Kelly Rowland - “When Love Takes Over,” won a Grammy, we thought we should give it a try ourselves at being artists. Besides, we had so many songs on our hard drives that we thought it would be such a waste to leave them there - so we had to become artists to release them. And NERVO was born :)

AM: As writers, producers and DJs what has been some of your favorite projects and people that you have worked with?

N: Everyone we have worked with has been truly amazing, but writing our own album and having it reach #1 was truly an honor. We were able to work with some really awesome artists like Afrojack, Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, Alisa Ueno, Kreayshawn, and of course a favorite of ours and truly one of the funnest projects was getting to work with everyone on “The Other Boys,” with Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers!

AM: You guys travel quite a bit, how do you stay centered when you're on the road going from stage to stage and where is your favorite place to perform?

N: Well we have become experts at the quick nap. We can literally sleep anywhere, on planes, in airports, in lobbies - literally anywhere, probably even standing up. To be honest, the energy we get from our fans always brings us back to life. Even when we are dead tired, we get to a gig and we see their smiling faces or their signs and we find some more energy. 

We love performing in Ibiza and also Mykonos. Actually, everywhere in Europe during the summer is incredible. Europeans really enjoy their summers. They stay out late, they eat great food and they party hard. Of course playing the major festivals like Tomorrowland and Creamfields is also a real buzz.

AM: In addition to being talented songwriters, composers, producers, DJs etc - you have also left a fingerprint on the fashion industry as well from modeling, spokeswork and just having great distinctive style. How has all of these skills advanced your brands collectively as well as individually? 

N: The fashion side of our business is just a lot of fun. We are lucky enough to travel to some of the most fun places in the world where we often pick up unique pieces of clothing. Tokyo is a favorite city of ours to shop in. We also wear clothes that are practical. We are constantly touring so Lycra is always good as it washes and dries quickly and is also very light weight - it’s a win win.

AM: As sisters, what is the process like in working with one another from behind the scenes as well as on stage.

N: We couldn’t imagine doing it without each other. Being able to travel and see the world with your sister is truly an amazing experience. We are each other’s support and also best critic so it really works out. There is an honesty that we have with each other that really helps our creative process too. We wouldn’t change it for anything!

AM: When you're about to play a set, what is the day like leading up to it and after, do you guys have rituals or things you do to relax after it?   

N: Honestly, usually it’s traveling to that specific show, maybe catching a nap and a good meal, preparing a strong set for that specific venue, getting girl ready and then just having the most energy we can to put on a great show. We are constantly working on something new for the shows - whether it be a new intro, a new edit, new visuals, so we always have a bit to discuss before the gig. 

AM: Describe your personal style, what do you wear on stage versus what you wear when you're going to brunch or running errands?  

N: On stage, we love leggings or short leggings with platform tennis shoes (that must be comfortable) and a body suit or comfortable top because we do jump around a lot, so our clothes need to be something that do not affect the performance.  In everyday life, we also really like to be comfortable and love comfy tees and cool jackets and definitely no makeup. We like to let our skin breathe whenever possible.

AM: What artists are on your bucket list that you have yet to collaborate with it?  

N: We have had the pleasure of working with so many great artists and each one brings their own texture and vibe and would work with all of them again! But our future bucket list would include Lauryn Hill, Imogen Heap, Eminem, London Grammar, Jack Johnson… we could go on foreverrrrrr :)

PHOTO CREDIT Chloe Paul

AM: With so much time on the road, how do you stay in shape and where do you like to go to get away?  

N: We stay in shape on stage!  Think we must burn so many calories on each and every show haha… 

We love to get away when on the road and sometimes take extra days in great locations like Mykonos, Ibiza, Mexico, and even skiing in Austria! Oh, and we always take a few months off a year to be with our family in Australia. 

AM: Tell us about #TittiesTittiesYeah and will you continue to do shows that include this initiative?  

N: We will continue to do everything we can to help raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer. Our mum is a survivor so we saw first-hand how important charities were not only for cancer victims but for their families, providing emotional support and also of course to the research that goes into finding a cure.  We started #TittiesTittiesYEAH so we could raise money and donate it to various hospitals or organizations and can’t wait to do more in 2017!

AM: As female DJs who have received phenomenal achievements, do you feel that you're role models to women who are looking to be in the space?  

N: We hope so and would love to be the inspiration for any woman in any career field to help them show that achieving your goals is possible and hard work and determination breeds success.  We recently did a campaign for our “People Grinnin’” release alongside Made By Me in Australia that helped show how women can get into engineering and that even though some of these fields are male dominated it shouldn’t stop women from going after what they want. 

AM: What are you working on that fans should keep an eye out for? 

N: More music and touring.  We have a big release coming out in February, as well as some great collabs we are super excited about. We’re also really excited to be launching NERVOnation in the snow in Solden, Austria this April. And of course, we will be launching NERVOnation in Ibiza at Ushuaia. 

To stay connected to NERVO while they're on tour or enjoying their next trip to destinations unknown, follow them @NERVOmusic on Instagram.

Read more from the Jan Issue here.

VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE 2017

VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR HER | STERLING FOREVER Gold Solid X Layered Ring | ISOLA Rose & Vanilla Cream Perfume Body Oil Set | RALPH LAUREN FRAGRANCE GIFT SET Ralph Lauren Romance Fragrance + Dylan's Chocolate Gift | DEEPA BY DEEPA GURNANI Chantel | LATIGO Kick | COLDWATER CREEK Scarf |

VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR HIM | LULU DHARMA Argyle Weekender | HUCKLEBERRY 18K Satin Brushed Yellow Gold Black Diamond "Lucky You" Horseshoe Ring | THE BODY SHOP Maca Root Rescue Kit | DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB Subscription Kit |

VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR THEM | GOOP Fragrance Edition 01, Winter l | ILUMINAGE  Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask | PIKOLINOS Bolsos MHA | TULLIANI Desire Sunglasses | AMARTE Max2 |

Read more from the Jan Issue here.

I WANT YOUR HEART

Our cover shoot took place at DOGPOUND, NYC's hottest new gym. This boxing haven brings celebrities, Victoria's Secret Angels, models, athletes, and those that are truly enthusiastic about perfecting their look. DOGPOUND has become the prime location where this all comes together through their focus on training members through personalization of their individual goals.

After spending the afternoon shooting here for our anniversary issue, we had some questions for this temple of fitness. What started from a group of workout buddies, has grown into DOGPOUND founded by Kirk Myers.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Can you tell us how DOGPOUND came to be before coming to your present location in Tribeca? 

KIRK MYERS: DOGPOUND was originally called Kirk Fitness. I was working as a personal trainer, but my business started growing really rapidly. It was then I met Breylis Pena, who wanted to become a trainer, and we formed a group in the morning made up of clients who wanted to workout but didn't have a lot of time during the day. We started calling ourselves DOGPOUND. At the time we were renting space out of multiple gyms, but it wasn't long before we outgrew the spaces--even getting kicked out. So, we decided to build our own. 

AM: What is DOGPOUND and what is the meaning behind the name? 

KM: Some of our clients started bringing their dogs to the workouts. 

AM: What is your background and what led you to create this studio? 

KM: I was a chunky kid, but my health took a pretty big downturn when I suffered from heart failure. I knew I would need to make some pretty serious changes. I started working out, I started to see the results, they wanted to work out with me. My training business started to grow. I started at 23, and I've always been an independent trainer. I realized that in order to be the top trainers in the world, we needed our own home base. 

AM: It's clear that beyond being a studio and a method, that it is a culture - what about it has made it a destination for models, celebrities, etc as a place to get the physique that your members want? 

KM: I think there's a couple reasons why. It's because we are so passionate about what we do, and people see that and recognize it. That type of energy is infectious. We are in an up and coming neighborhood, we want our clients to feel safe and comfortable in the space and we are results oriented. We've created a community, so most of the celebrities and models who workout here, their friends workout here too. 

AM: On the same note, how do you select trainers that you onboard to the DOGPOUND family? 

KM: We hire passionate and positive trainers. That's our number one and number two. Our roster of trainers is pretty diverse. It is not really about what you've accomplished, but where you want to go. You really want to be a trainer, you really want to help people? That's the kind of trainer we want. We can develop the trainers and give them the education they need. We have our entire boxing program. No one ever boxed before the program, but we brought someone in who was a world class boxer and he taught us how to box and now we have a boxing program. You have to want to learn. Some of our top trainers weren't trainers when they started. We look for trainers who want to constantly seek improvement. Just like our clients come here to be a better version of themselves.

AM: We like that those who are members of your gym have the ability to be trained by a number of your trainers, what was the thought process behind that and how do you feel that that is beneficial to them? 

KM: Because it’s always been my own business, I've had long term clients. The issue is that they can get bored working out with only one person. Not only do the clients get bored, but the trainer gets bored. When you have a team, you can offer strengths that you don't have personally in your service. It creates variety. Just today, I had a client who likes boxing, but I don't box, so I had him warm up with some boxing techniques with another trainer. Another client has a knee bothering him so I had a trainer that has more physical therapy background work with him. Workouts don't get stale. And, simply for a time standpoint, it allows for clients to make sure they can fit their workout in. If a client want's to workout but their only availabilty is at ten, but I'm booked at ten, they can work out with someone who has an opening at that time. Here you can always get into workout with somebody. 

AM: Besides the location at Tribeca, are you planning additional locations? 

KM: Yes. 

AM: Do you sell apparel that is branded with DOGPOUND or other brands? 

KM: As of right now, you can't really get apparel unless you come directly to the location. It's available only at the gym. 

AM: What types of workouts are offered at DOGPOUND? 

KM: Boxing, HIIT, Strength Training

AM: How important is offering nutrition as a service? 

KM: It's extremely important. I think nutrition is 70% of your fitness goal. 

AM: Clearly, you're a busy man, when you're not working, what can we find you doing on your "off time"?  

KM: Relaxing and snuggling with my Pooh Bear. Oh, and watching the Raiders. 

AM: When did you introduce the Machine Gun? 

KM: Four years ago. 

AM: What does the studio look like? Any signature decor? 

KM: It was designed by Fabien Baron. Black, white, and concrete. Very sleek look. 

AM: I know you have a varied clientele but could you generalize a bit and give me a brief description of the folks who go there? 

KM: There are finance guys and girls, artists, athletes, celebrities, models and a lot of people who just want to get results. 

AM: Can you be more specific about how the various disciplines are combined? Are you going from holding a yoga pose straight into a resistance exercise straight into a jump squat? 

KM: Just want to paint a clearer picture of the progression of the class.  The only class we offer is boxing, but we always start a one on one session with a dynamic warmup, but the workout is specific to each person's goals. All of our one on one programs are individualized. If you are a dancer, there will be more flexibility, toning and core work, but if you are looking to join the 1000lb club, there is going to be more strength training and heavy lifting.

Read more from the Jan issue.

ATHLEISURE MAG; JAN 2017

Our Jan Issue, the Anniversary issue is out tomorrow but you can take a peek now, right here!

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Paul Farkas

MILAN 2017 MEN'S FALL COLLECTIONS | PLEIN SPORT

When you can't find a luxury alternative to Nike, you create your own line - which Philipp Plein created with his new line, Philipp Sport. His runway show honored an array of sports including Cross Fit, boxing and more in a two floor gym entertaining presentation. You can see more pictures from the show here.

PHOTO CREDITS Giovanni Giannoni

LIGHTS, CAMERA, SWEENEY

Alison Sweeney has literally grown up on TV from her first commercial at the age of 5 for Kodak, various shows and then in 1987, she came to the soap opera, Days of Our Lives which she spent over 2 decades as Samantha Brady. She is also known for her roles as the host of NBC's Biggest Loser, Hallmark's Murder She Baked and more. This Daytime Emmy and Soap Opera Digest Award winner and nominee continues to share her love of life in Food Network's Kid's Sweet Showdown as a host (she has hosted and co-hosted various Food Network specials).

We took a moment to sit down to talk with this Soap Opera queen to chat about her Food Network special, how she keeps a healthy mindset, what she's up to for the holidays and her personal style.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We've been fans of yours for a long time as we got our first glimpse of you as Sami! How have you crafted your career to take on so many roles and opportunities beyond those of just the Soap Opera world? 

ALISON SWEENEY: Thank you for being fans! Growing up on a soap opera, where we learned so much dialogue each day, taught me how to be in the moment and how to plan. That upbringing has helped me throughout my life as I now tackle various roles. I make a point to continually push myself, but always to keep it manageable with a schedule and to only look at what’s next on the list. By focusing on what I’m doing in the moment, I’m able to give it my undivided attention before moving onto whatever is next. Plus, as my kids are getting older, I’m able to accomplish much more during their hours at school and with after school activities.
 
AM: We're Food Network fans for sure, how did Kid’s Sweets Showdown come about and what can we expect from this show?

AS: As followers of mine on social media know, I love to cook at home and I’m a big fan of Food Network. I’ve hosted several specials for the network so when they asked me to host Kid’s Sweets Showdown for the holidays, I jumped at the opportunity. 

AM: Being healthy is a mindset, but it's also about making a time commitment, how are you able to do this during the holiday season especially with children and so many other responsibilities?

AS: My family and I are incredibly active and we view the holiday season as a time to get out and do so much more because we don’t have limitations with work, school and other responsibilities.

Whether it’s taking a hike or skiing down the mountain, it’s a great time of year for us to have fun while still being healthy

AM: Outside of the holidays how do you stay healthy from favorite meals, workouts, etc that you do?

AS: I love cooking at home and with my kids helping me. I think by making our own meals, we’re more aware of what we’re eating. Our go-to favorites are shrimp and veggie kabobs that my kids and I prep and my husband grills. For workouts, nothing beats a long run with good music and it’s a great way to explore neighborhoods or cities if I’m traveling.
 
AM: How did the partnership with Arm & Hammer Spinbrush come about and why are they a perfect stocking stuffer?

AS: I’m a big fan of Arm & Hammer products and believe in having a strong and confident smile so when Arm & Hammer approached me about working together to raise awareness of their Spinbrush and toothpaste, it was an organic fit as they’re products I already used and a daily routine my family and I are committed to. Plus, who doesn’t love a fresh toothbrush for the new year! It’s a great stocking stuffer and one that my kids look forward to each year.
 
AM: With the holidays, it's literally almost 6 weeks of so many activities - do you have any traditions and how will you be spending it?

AS: My family and I always disappear to the mountains for some time in the snow. We love being first on the chair lifts and last off the mountain before curling up by a fire. 
 
AM: What's your holiday style suggestion from what you would wear to a holiday brunch, holiday activities with your kids, Christmas and New Year’s Eve - do you have any go to staples?

AS: I love to have a sparkly top or shoes to be extra festive over the holidays. I also learned a great tip years ago which is to carry a handbag so one hand is always full, providing less opportunity to
graze the food at holiday parties.
 
AM: When the holidays are over, how will you bring some much needed zen and centering back into your life as you embark upon the new year?

AS: My family and I are creatures of habit so the first day of school is the first day we return to our normal routines and get back in the mode of school and work. The holidays always give us a great time to take a break so when the day comes, we’re ready to tackle life again in the new year and to make every day count.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Food Network

MILAN 2017 MENS FALL COLLECTION | ALBERTA FERRETTI

Remember when many of us were growing up, we used to have underwear that was for each day of the week. There was something about starting the day off in the right way! Yesterday in Milan, Alberta Ferretti included within its show, soft and cozy sweaters that let you promote your favorite day of the week. This is definitely in our sweet spot of luxe athleisure style. This capsule collection is called "Rainbow Week" which is for men and women. These cashmere-wool blend sweaters are not only the first capsule collection for the line and is available right now on the website which is a part of the growing trend of see now, buy now. You can see more the the Pre-Fall 17 collection here.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY Alberta Feretti

PROJECT RUNWAY JUNIOR X BUTTER LONDON | EPISODE 4

Earlier this week as we were attending a number of market meetings and previews, we happened to walk by Macy's in Herald Square which had Fitbit as the sponsor of a number of windows on the Broadway side of their building. In last night's episode, Fitbit was the focus of the challenge by looking at what a "Girl on the Go" needs. The challenge was to create a look that worked well from day to night. Of course, they would be accessorized with new products from the tracking accessory company.

As always the beauty sponsor for this season of Lifetime's Project Runway is Butter London. Check out what was used for this look!

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Project Runway Junior

KISS ME AT MIDNIGHT

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ATHLEISURE MAG: Nice shooting here, what amenities are offered at Nine52?

NINE52: Every detail of Nine52 has been designed to accommodate the modern city dweller’s needs and to provide the comforts and services of a luxury building. The full-service building is attended by a 24-hour concierge and offers a children’s playroom, a state-of-the-art fitness center with separate yoga and spinning rooms, private storage units, an expansive interior courtyard with a tranquil fountain, a large resident lounge with a bathroom and entertainment area with a full kitchen, a wine cellar with dining area and a co-working space complete with two conference rooms and individual workstations. Atop the building sits a fully furnished and landscaped rooftop deck complete with 360-degree views. Residents may also use a complimentary bike service offered, which includes twenty single-speed Joulvert bikes. The vast amount of amenities is incomparable to other buildings.

AM: What is the concept of the layout?

NINE52: Developed by Gaia Real Estate, Nine52 offers 155 residences with architecture by SPIVAK Architects and interior design by Erik Galiana. Danny Fishman, Managing Partner of Gaia Real Estate not only wanted to target “attainable luxury” for residents, but also include as many amenities within the building as possible. Gaia has a very large rental business and did a lot of research when planning this building – they did a survey with a few thousand tenants and asked them what they wanted.  Ultimately, instead of creating something they thought people wanted, they used direct results to actually give them what they are looking for - which, one of the top things was a co-working space. In terms of style, they wanted to keep it very "New York". 

AM: What are its selling points?

NINE52: Nine52 provokes a sense of discovery. This striking building in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen – a neighborhood rich with history and intrigue – features a brick façade and winding, maze-like corridors that lead to thoroughly modern and new condominiums. Like the city itself, Nine52‘s duality of space blends old with new, masculine with feminine, metal with wood, and thoughtful design with unique details to create a harmonious whole.

Comprised of studio through three bedroom and garden duplex homes, each residence is well-appointed with rich finishes, such as stained white oak floors, oversized windows and sleek kitchens with custom lacquer cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops.  Each home is also equipped with a washer and dryer.  

There is also a large array of floorplans, which helps cater to a wide variety of buyers and is unlike anything else available in the neighborhood.

AM: What is building's occupancy?

NINE52: The building is open and is now fifty percent sold.  Residences are priced from approximately $819,000 to more than $3,000,000. Park River Properties is the exclusive sales and marketing agent for the property. 

AM: What is the neighborhood draw?

NINE52: Located between 9th and 10th Avenues, with entrances on both 51st and 52nd Street, Nine52 conveniently located just steps from Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and shopping outlets at Columbus Circle, and residents will find a magnitude of resources and sought after destinations, including renowned museums, educational institutions, and a vast assortment of fine dining and shopping.

Read more from the Dec Issue

THE MORNING AFTER | GOLDEN GLOBES STYLE: BLACK + WHITE

Black, White and the combination of the two were worn on last night's red carpet by presenters, nominees and winners. Our favorite standouts are above! We will update more information on each one's look.

Check out more celebrities, their interviews, and more!

| HEIDI KLUM J. MENDEL Dress | JANELLE MONAE ARMANI PRIVE Dress JIMMY CHOO Shoes | JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS IN EDITION BY GEORGES CHAKRA Dress | SIENNA MILLER MICHAEL KORS Dress |

| Pictures courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images | REX Shutterstock (bottom left) |

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

| JANE IREDALE Lemongrass Love Hydration Spray | MALIN + GOETZ Lime Bar Soap | L'OREAL PARIS Pure Clay Mask Purify - Mattifying Treatment Mask | GARNIER WHOLE BLENDS Replenishing Legendary Olive Shampoo | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY Unsplash

Read more from the Dec Issue

IN OUR BAG | THE CARRY ON

| THE STRAP SAVER Wardrobe Solution For Too-Long Bra & Sports Bra Straps | DRAPER JAMES Plaid Travel Set | BLISS Triple Oxygen Instant Energy Eye Mask | ERNO LASZLO Double Cleanse Collection Duo in Soothe + Calm | M-61 Moisture to Go (Hand Cream, Body Butter + Lip Balm) | DECLÉOR Strengthening Nail Serum | GOYARD Travel Duffle |

Read more from the Dec Issue

PROJECT RUNWAY JUNIOR X BUTTER LONDON | EPISODE 3

It's another week of Project Runway Jr and in this week's challenges, contestants broke off into pairs to showcase Avant Garde looks. It's always hard when people work together (especially when you're not used to it) - but one partner that has been great in each episode is beauty sponsor, Butter London. You can see some of the products that were available for the winning look below.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Project Runway Junior

CARPETS, CARE & CHIC WITH ZURI HALL

We sat down with Emmy Winning journalist, E! News Correspondent and TV Personality, Zuri Hall. We chatted with her about family, her recent partnership to shed a light on MS, what awards season is like and her sense of style, as well as staying balanced in the industry. 

ATHLEISURE MAG: You're a busy lady! As we know you're constantly on air, we'd like to know about your connection to this survey about MS.

ZURI HALL: I was excited to partner with Genentech as my Aunt was diagnosed with MS 3 years ago and for me, it was my first personal connection to the disease. I had done a human interest story about this for a local news story – so I was getting a little familiar. But it wasn’t until it hits home that you started to say, “what does this mean, what does it do.” 

So she was diagnosed and over the last few years her symptoms have delveloped and progressed, and unfortunately, have gotten worse. When  I partnered with Genentech, we found that MS Mindset Survey – a lot of their findings reflected what I was seeing my aunt go through when it came to her symptoms. My big takeaway from the survey was the unpredictability of MS symptoms. Some of the things she is dealing with is wobbly legs. Sometimes it's cognitive issues, blurred vision, and she’s hit with fatigue. So she knows roughly what she’s dealing with, but she doesn’t know when they will pop up. So since it is so unpredictable, it’s hard to know or plan around those things whether you are directly dealing with it or are the caregiver that is involved. You can’t plan a week in advance when you have no guarantee of how you will be feeling tomorrow. 

So one of the big findings was that about 85% of those with MS have said that they have missed social engagements because their symptoms have come into play when they didn't think that they would. 87% oddly enough, a higher percentage of support partners and caregivers, have also missed out on events because their partner had a flare up or had an issue. 

For example, my aunt told me that she went to a baseball game once and it was a big venue, so while she was excited to go out with your co-workers and friends she had to commit to it. She gets to the field and then 30 minutes in she realized she had to go because she sensed that she had issues with her wobbly legs as they had been giving out over the previous days and that anxiety of not knowing if that would happen during the game was something that she was dealing with. She would rather remove herself completely from this social situation that she was looking forward to then risking something that she couldn’t predict to happen during the game and having to explain herself or to create a socially awkward situation to those that were there. There are also issues with urinary problems, like not being able to control your bladder – she’s nervous when it hits, then she has to go. For her, it’s not just about being awkward for her but she doesn’t want it to be weird for others and having to have them figure out how to talk about her disease. She is an independent, small and feisty woman and we love her. So it’s interesting to see how this disease begins to dictate the social decisions that she makes. 

Another finding that this survey focused on is the day to day activities which hits home for us. She is the person who loves to host and she has a beautiful home that she has decorated with love and she invites all these people and we are a massive group. Brothers, sisters, cousins and more – we come over, she cooks, and cleans. She is the domestic goddess as well as a corporate goddess. Nowadays, this is really hard for her. We’re going home for Thanksgiving and I don't know why she is going to do this, but she wants to do all the things that she has always wanted to do. She loves hosting our family and dinners. I love her because she refuses to let this disease get the best of her but it does steer the decisions that she has to make leading up to doing so. For me, I look inside and figure out what I can do to support her to make things easier. 

One of the findings in the survey was that more than 80% of the people that live with MS were asked how they could be helped and what service could be offered to them, the top takeaway was that they wanted someone to help them with groceries, in the kitchen, household chores, etc. I think a lot of us, me included, underestimate the impact that this can make. You sit back and say, “really you just want me to put a box of cereal away for you?” But for someone who is dealing with fatigue and is exhausted – it helps. She has told me that mixing a bowl of dressing for more than a few minutes tires her out depending on the day. Her muscles don’t do what they used to do and they don’t act the way they used to. 

There was a time when she visited me in LA this summer. She was teaching me how to make her baked bean recipe and she went to check on it in the oven and accidently flipped the pan and the beans went everywhere.  It was sad because she was frustrated in that moment and she doesn’t want to show signs to the disease and we had had amazing days together with her husband (my uncle) and everything was fine and things were great. It felt great as you know she had the disease, but you felt like not really and then it comes out and reminds you. It lets you know that it could happen at anytime and you have to deal with it.

Some of the things that I want to encourage other people to do is to be patient and understand what your loved one is going through and the symptoms. This way, when it happens you know what they are going through and you can be considerate. When the beans happened, there was a moment when I thought about the beans, but then I had to remember this is what my aunt is going through because we’re not at a point where there are daily constant reminders. I caught myself and knew it was beyond her control and so I came from a place of love and patience and I let her know that I would clean it up and we’ll buy more beans, take a seat etc – it let’s her feel more comfortable and less of an awkward situation. I don’t want her to feel that she is a burden and it helps. She says that she feels like it is her own burden to bear as she doesn’t want people to pity her. But I have found that offering my help and services in specific ways – she takes me up on those offers. 

During the holidays I will be offering to put the dishes away, to run out to Kroger or the grocery story to get something that she has forgotten. I will say, "Aunt Mel, take  a rest." I was talking with one of our nurses yesterday and she was saying that the big things to keep in mind that asking “what do you need” is not enough as it’s so open ended. For fiercely independent people they don’t want to give you a laundry list. But when they are specific asks it helps and gives them the time. Plus we take this for granted. 

The survey, after diving in, lets me see how much the findings there are mirroring my aunt’s experience as well as my own. With the holidays here, this encourages support partners and caregivers to be more proactive during this time as well as all year around. 

AM: What is your partnership like in terms of your role in this initiative?

ZH: For me the partnership is about this moment, this time and getting people to understand the results of the MS Mindset survey. Don’t just end there with the info, but this survey is telling you what people with MS need and let’s do something about it. It's about sitting down and encouraging support partners/cargivers to what they can. Many times, you forget about the other party. There is a person who is there dealing with MS and so of course you’re not thinking about the support person; however, they are there and they need to be educated. People should go to your local support groups, advocacy groups and learn more via National MS Society.

AM: Obviously, I was aware of MS, but not the depth of it until a few months ago, when I styled one of my clients who is an entertainer and although she performs, is on stage etc – behind the scenes there are a lot of struggles. It’s amazing that she is able to stay on tour, hit the road, dance etc with the unpredictable nature of this disease!

ZH: When I sat down with Tamia (R&B Singer) who is very public about her disease, so many people are dealing with this and we are all so close by just a few degrees to someone who is. It’s ok to know that you don’t have everything figured out as you can’t really prepare for it as things get dumped in your lap. But to know there are resources is the most important thing. There is education to be had across the board from those with MS and those who support or are the caregivers to someone who is. 

AM: What was your journey to get to E!?

ZH: Getting to E! was a long winding road. I started out winning a competition to be the face of a local TV station in Indiana. I was there for a year and MC’ing for the Pacers and then that opened the door to another job in Ohio and I was hosting another show which allowed me to anchor the evening news down in Texas and that got me to NY to host a show for Fuse (music countdown show), which led to MTV and then E! It was all over the map. The last year and 3 months at E! have been like the best. They chal-lenge me in really good ways. My skillset makes sense for what they need and what they want. Everyday is different. We just launched a new daytime show, E! News Live recently. Exciting times.

AM: How do you prepare for your celeb interviews?

ZH: It’s really about – I mean for us being that we’re E! and they’re celebs, so we want the scoop. I tend to know a lot about their personal lives and what is going on. Because I come from a creative background I actually really appreciate the art in what they are creating and what they are there to talk about. I feel that most celebs, musicians, etc appreciate and recognize those that appreciate and recognize that. So they are more likely to open up about the extra stuff if they believe that you care about the stuff that you should be caring about, and I do. So my preparation is understanding what the film is about, why they took on a certain project – have they had past ones that led them to this point and what it took for them to get into a certain character. Reading any article or interview surrounding that project before I talk to them. Because the last thing that they want to do it to regurgitate the same thing that they have said about 73 times during that junket. They want to be challenged and sparked and they get excited. They’re working but they prefer to enjoy it and it makes it fun!

AM: And for the Red Carpet?

ZH: Red Carpet is chaos and I just get stressed when I think about it. It’s one of those things that you do as much as you can and then you just throw it out the window – you go with the flow. You have so much talent – Brad Pitt for one second and then you have Angelina Joli and you have her and all these people bottle necked. As you talk to Brad, you  have George Clooney walk by and the publicist is pulling people and you only have a few questions that you can ask as you’re getting wrapped as you start. It's a high pressure situation. So it’s one of those things that it’s just like I know a little bit about a lot – so you go with the flow, you make moments as you can’t really tackle issues there. You just want people to toast champagne with you or to make a joke or slip up and say something silly. Carpets are about moments and they make great content for the internet.

AM: How do you stay balanced during this season?

ZH: For me I need to get more into the fitness side, I'll be honest – I’m lazy and I have my mom’s genes which works for me. I am getting to that point where you feel it - you walk up the stairs and realize that it takes more time than before - just a moment guys. So I go to the gym with my boyfriend every now and then as he is healthy. For me, it’s about mental health honestly and I’m really into and value mindfulness and trying to be present and balanced. I’m reading a book right now – 'Present over Perfect' because especially in my line of work I am open to public scrutiny and waiting for people to judge you, Instagram you etc. You post a photo I’m waiting for comments, likes etc. I go on E! News I’m going to get tweets from people - maybe they liked what I wore, what I said about Rhianna etc and you get caught up with not being in that moment. We do these carpets and awards shows and I have to look back and say wow you were at the Oscars – my pictures tell me what my last year has been. I have started to dedicate time for me. I will carve out 60 minutes to say I’m busy so that I can not be busy and take time for me – mindfulness above all so that I can be happy/peaceful, whether it's taking time to read or whatever it takes to get to my happy place.

AM: What is your personal style versus what you wear on the show which we love?

ZH: Thank you! I would say that personal style is casual chic - I know that that sounds generic! I'm a midwest girl through in through - I'm from Ohio and I like to be super comfortable, you will never see me wearing heels that I don't have to be wearing. Because comfort over everything is key for me. So I'm a jeans and T-shirt girl. I feel the most confident and sexy and in control when I am in a fitted pair of high wasted jeans with a loose v-neck t-shirt and bootie. If you see me in a bootie, then you know that I'm trying. If I'm not on a red carpet, I'm in sneakers at this point.

I would say overall, E! News - Urban Chic with a dash of glam. My style is very much influenced by my years in NY as I was here for about 2.5/3 years. So definitely I appreciate the leathers and dark colors. I appreciate the black on black on black. My stylist is convincing me to put color back into my wardrobe.

For the glam, I'm in LA now - come on it's E!, The Kardashians you have to have a bit of glam. I like to do the full face, the hair, I let my glam come through in this area. The clothes tend to be more timeless, chic and classic. 

For the most part, I'm pretty chill and for the most part I LITERALLY love athleisure and I'm not just saying that because you're here as I don't work out. But I just discovered gym wear and it's a whole new world! I just discovered Fabletics and I love Kate Hudson's line. I tried it for the first time when I met her and I was like, "this jumpsuit is amazing." I can move and I'm so free! So they  sent me more stuff and now I just pretty much live in athletic wear.

AM: We always say that athleisure can be broken down into core, essential and luxe. Core is that which is meant to hit the gym (sport bras, tap shorts, etc), essential items that are a hybrid that can be worn in the gym and out (the capris,  tanks, etc mixed with layers or not) and then luxe which are the jetset components that include your leggings paired with a fun cashmere and a leather jacket which allows you to hit the ground running once you touch down.

ZH: Absolutely - so many ways to style it and again it's so comfortable. At this point in my life, comfort is key girl!

AM: We love your #AlphaBabe movement. We're a huge proponent of it but can you tell our readers about this  and what made you want to do it?

ZH: For me when I first have a vision for #AlphaBabe, I wanted a place where young millennial women could go to support one another and to develop tools where they could navigate the first few years of their career. 

I got where I got to by the grace of God and stumbling into things and figuring it out as it went. Looking back, I felt like it didn't have to be that hard honestly. If there had been just one person to tell me about the right way to make a demo reel, to craft a resume, or the right way to go to my boss' office to ask for a raise - certain things would have been easier. 

For me it is a place where we can celebrate substance and style. You don't have to choose. That's what I'm trying to get across with the message. You can be Alpha and strong and unapologetic as a leader - a boss in your work environment and you can totally be a babe. There is nothing wrong in saying that. You're pretty, you can style yourself up and these two things can co-exist. That's exciting when you find that balance and it doesn't need to be one vs the other which is really hard in a culture of comparison (via social) where people tend to focus on the babe part. At the end of the day the likes, re-tweets - it doesn't really matter. This is a place where you can be both and it's great to be so!

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Zuri Hall

Read More from the Dec Issue

XOXO, BOY MEETS GIRL

Brands are born for a number of reasons, but some emerge to simply mark a moment as well as an extension from a lifelong passion that needs to be shared with like-minded individuals! Stacy Igel is the powerhouse behind Boy Meets Girl® which she states is the original athleisure brand and is coveted by celebs, "IT GIRLS," and more. We talked with her about how she came to fashion, the story behind the advancement of the brand, upcoming brand achievements and of course how she stays on top of it all as a wife and mom of her young son.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We think it's pretty appropriate to have you in this issue as our Style Director has always mentioned your brand as one of the early athleisure brands. Walk us through your journey in fashion that led you to creating Boy Meets Girl®!

STACY IGEL: I knew at a very young age - I tell people in the womb, who I wanted to be – a fashion designer. It was a pretty direct path in terms of getting here, but also there are hurdles. I dressed my classmates, had my own little lookbooks in 1st or 2nd grade and would make catalogs. I would make them without Instagram or social media. I just used polaroids to create them – this was pre-photoshop or even using computers! 

My mom was an entrepreneur. She created a lumbar support and she was always going to Hong Kong and Taiwan. She would bring back these trinkets from these places that were super cute. I just loved them and I started making catalogs and selling these items in there. Like I had the first charm necklaces back in the day so it was so cool. So I was this budding entrepreneur and I learned how to run a business. 

Then, while my mom was building her business she went from doing it at home to expanding to factories, tradeshows, etc. So even though it wasn’t designing, a clothing collection, it was a back machine that came in one color and one price point and she was a physician’s assistant – she was still making something and it was the things that you did to start a business. Creating something, selling, producing a product and dealing with factories. So when I was young, I knew I wanted to have my own business and to design. She definitely inspired me. My father was also very encouraging in my dreams. He is a doctor. Therefore, I had no family who was in the fashion business.

I started taking classes – there were opportunities at Columbia College in Chicago as my grammar school and high school at that time didn’t have the opportunities that people do now to learn those skills. I had to take a lot of extracurricular classes to learn more about design.  

I worked in retail at the Gap and in college worked in a retail store in Madison-Wisconsin where I made my first product and sold it there. I was always just on this track that I knew I would do this as well as understanding all facets of this business. My mom taught me that you can’t just do one thing you have to understand all facets from design, retail and manufacturing.                                                                                                                                                                     

Rosario Dawson in Boy Meets Girl

When I went to school I triple majored at the University of Wisconsin in Design, Retailing and Business. I got a Certificate of Business and I was able to carve out the 360 of how to be in business, do design and more. I took internships where I was able to learn more, did fashion shows etc. During my Junior year, I was able to study in London with Zandra Rhodes who is a very famous designer. I also worked with Donna Karan and Elsa Klensch (host of CNN's Style With Elsa Klensch), I was dabbling in a lot of areas and I even interviewed in '98 Marc Jacobs at one of his first NYFW shows in SOHO and I got to see behind the scenes and what it took to be in it. Seeing all these things, my parents asked did I still want to do it?  Of course I did!

When I graduated, I designed for Elie Tahari and was hired by him. I left there and went to Izod and learned high fashion as well as mass and branding. In 2001 right before Sept 11th, I left to pursue my own thing. Then the 11th happened and my first tradeshow was right around that time. 

My collection at that time had a lot of ribbons as well as the original Boy Meets Girl collection as it was focused on the Fourth of July and I was showing it in Sep as it was showing my Spring/Summer collection for the following season. My first department store who bought the line was Bergdorf Goodman at this trade show which was my first in NYC. It was crazy to sit in this booth showing it there and my mother kept nudging me saying, “it was the best store in the world.” There were about 60 designers that were showing; however, I was a hot booth as I had something new and fresh that resonated with all the customers (not to mention I had my awesome mom working with me at that show ... those were the days). I had a purchase order that was a nice amount and I was handmaking and screen printing everything – I did it all myself and then I realized that now that this was a thing, I’d have to get a factory as it was a big company and I was in business and had to ship all these goods. 

I am the direct line of having the passion, wanting to do it, being involved in every facet and a budding entrepreneur. I never stopped working – I have been working since I can remember as it’s what you do when you love it.

AM: Who is the Boy Meets girl customer?

SI: We like to say that she has a young attitude, she has a bit of an edge, she’s fun, she doesn’t take life too seriously. She really believes in being good and doing social good to help change the world. It’s not one specific thing, but she is into music and what’s happening. She loves going to concerts, traveling, etc. We like to say that it’s not only runway, it’s about being on the go and not taking things too seriously and having a good time. We’re the original athleisure brand which is why we love that this is in Athleisure Mag!

You’re on the plane, you’re on the go it fits your personality and it’s not about a specific age - just our attitude and how you feel. It’s amazing for me as the person who has built it to see what they come for, how they come to the brand, what they buy and why they buy. It makes me pinch myself sometimes.

Eva Longoria wears Boy Meets Girl

AM: How did you come up with the logo?

SI: I have a cool story on this – as it came from meeting my husband. I was going to dinner for the first time with my husband – at that time he was my boyfriend to meet his parents. On his wall, he had silhouettes of his brother and sister. When I was younger, we had something like that of me and my sister. The logo isn’t us per se but when I looked at it I was like, oh “Boy Meets Girl” – the first time you meet someone, the first concert, travel experience. It’s a moment and a story. 

After that night, my husband (who was also a graphic designer) and I started playing with the silhouettes, poofing the hair up, playing with the layouts etc. We then focused on trademarking everything, did the IP, spent a lot of time to protect the name across all apparel as well as internationally. You have to learn about all the protection and we deal with IP and protection on a daily basis. I always say that the logo is us in some ways but it’s really everybody as it’s about the story. Being young and having a good time.  I am also grateful my husband is a fashion/entertainment lawyer so the early days of putting this all together definitely inspired him too!

AM: What collabs have you done that you liked and of course, tell us about Care Bears.What collabs have you done that you liked and of course, tell us about Care Bears.

SI: One of my latest collabs that I partnered with was a very intimate NYFW show this past Sept where we partnered with Justine Skye and subway talent that were dancers into this space. I worked with Randy Jackson and he had an artist from Singapore named Will. What I did in this show (I’ve been known to partner with a number of artists/talent such as Wyclef Jean, Pharell, Leah Labelle, Natasha Bedingfield, and many more) was different then my other shows due to venue space. We could only invite 120 people and showcased the brand alongside new artists. A lot of artists I have worked with, we work together right before they hit. I mean when we worked with Justine she had never performed a NYFW live show before and then right after, she was opening for Beyonce which was crazy! It was really about showcasing the talent and infusing them in a great spot with great people and it’s the heart of who we are as a brand. I love this! Working with Wyclef was amazing as it was 3 months of working with him and it was a dream for sure. He is a musical genious.

I love working with artists on the rise and infusing music into our shows and keeping it fresh. We also did a Buy Now Wear Now concept in 2016 in partnership with Shopify and we did the same in 2012 with Wyclef and made a microsite which seemed crazy then compared to how you can do it now. For me, I am always doing things before its time.

Care Bears is iconic and I love being involved in bringing them back. Working with them has been great. We did a sneak peek collection back in Aug which was also at Collette (an iconic store in Paris) and it sold out. I am doing it again in a much bigger collab for 2017 as they felt our brand had a lot of synergy and it is their 35th Anniversary! They felt it would be cool as they are collaborating with a number of brands but no one has created what I have for this collab! Excited to share more. Follow @boymeetsgirlusa and @stacyigel on Instagram as we reveal more in Jan/Feb 2017!

Justine Skye stuns in Boy Meets Girl.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Stacy Igel

Read more from the Dec Issue.

DEC ISSUE IS LIVE

The Dec issue is live - our last issue of the year! It's so exciting to have this issue which is filled with a number of great interviews from Boy Meets Girl - Stacy Igel, NEW YEAR, N3W YOU from celebrity trainers, fashion designers, Olympians and even wellness trends. Check it out below!

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Paul Farkas

ATHLEISURE THROUGH THE WEEK

Athleisure is such an easy look that can carry you throughout the week as it's all about comfort. It's all about having great leggings, boyfriend style pants, overcoats, hoodies, sneakers, tees and more. With many of us on vacation or out of the office, here are some great pieces that you can rock during the year to add a little extra zip to your look as you head to your studio of choice, errands and brunch with friends!

PROJECT RUNWAY JUNIOR X BUTTER LONDON | EPISODE 1

Project Runway Junior which is hosted by Tim Gunn and Hannah Jeter launched its recent season this past Thurs. Throughout the season, we'll share the beauty looks from the show's makeup sponsor, Butter London.

We love the natural glow from this look which is perfect to rock from the gym onto brunch and makes the skin look so healthy. Check out what Butter London pieces you can add to your cosmetic bag.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Project Runway Junior

REEBOK QUESTION MID X MELODY EHSANI - ALLEN IVERSON 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Celebrity designer and serial collaborator, Melody Ehsani released a ladies exclusive colorway of Reebok's Question Mid X Meloday Ehsani. These shoes are in honor of the 20th anniversary of Allen Iverson and reflect his personality, style as well as his signature cornrows.

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The campaign was shot and included Hall of Famer Iverson's wife, Tawanna as well as his three daughters. The three don matching tan sweatsuits to bring his style and distinct look to life.  

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Reebok