All posts in: News

17 May 2021

Bottlerock 2021

We are back to our regularly scheduled festival announcements again! While Bottlerock is historically in the springtime, they’ve rescheduled due to COVID to be at the end of summer instead. I’m not particularly excited about the headliners, but I miss concerts and festivals so much, I would consider buying a ticket. San Francisco festival goers will be thrilled to have Bottlerock and Outside Lands back to back in September and October. Locals will know that these tend to be our summer months anyways. Readers, do you feel comfortable yet attending large scale events like these? I’m curious to know! Luckily, we’re many months out until this event, but it feels like things are opening up safely again.

[Source]

16 May 2021

BHLDN x Free People Bridesmaids

Given how long these two have been under the same parent company, I’m surprised by how long it took for this collaboration to come together. What I’m not surprised about however is their powers combined to create a magnificent and whimsical collection. It embodies qualities that belong to both brands – the elegance of BHLDN and free-spiritedness of Free People. As I begin to rack up weddings in 2021, I’ve started to think about how these collections have evolved. And given the overlap in the two brands, it has the potential to be wildly successful!

The collection was released May 10th and will range in pricing from $168-$398.

Here are just a few of my favorite looks and colorways:

Read more “BHLDN x Free People Bridesmaids”
24 Apr 2021

Prabal Gurung Bridal

For over a year, it didn’t make sense to talk about weddings. Now in 2021, we actually already have a couple to look forward to. That’s why there is no better time than for Prabal Gurung to launch his bridal collection. For the 22 season, the collection includes 13 gowns, dresses, and separates under the title, “A Love Letter.” According to a press release, “A Love Letter” is inspired by the “courage and optimism” of being in and celebrating love. There couldn’t be a more accurate representation. As I peruse the look book, each piece reminds me of a delicate romance. It’s the kind of visual you see when you think of a fairytale.

As for the details, prices for the collection will range from $2,895 – $10,000. Sizes in the U.S. will range from 0 – 14. Starting October of this year, everyone will be able to shop the collection. Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

[Source]

14 Apr 2021

Spotify’s Car Thing

Well, it’s certainly one way to name a new product. In Spotify’s latest release, “Car Thing” is a smart player that mounts to your dash easily allowing you to play your music while driving. I personally already have a set up that allows me to do just that with my phone attaching to the dash as well. The biggest difference here though is that the smart player is voice activated and can hear your commands leaving you fully hands-free, or rather, hands off of the phone. That’s one thing that my set up can’t solve for at the moment. Spotify Car Thing will likely retail for $80, but right now if you’re selected by Spotify to try out the product, you’ll get it for free not including the $7 shipping/handling fee. Add your name to the list [here].

[Source]

25 Mar 2021

An O.C. Rewatch Podcast

Growing up, there was no shortage in cult teen-centered television shows. There was The O.C., One Tree Hill, Greek, Gossip Girl, etc, but in 2021, why does this feel non-existent? With no show like this to latch onto, actresses and stars of The O.C., Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke are giving us a taste of nostalgia with a new podcast. Appropriately titled, “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” Rachel and Melinda, will revisit previous episodes of the series and share some of their behind-the-scenes commentary from when they were on the show.

A description of the podcast: “Zip up your Juicy Couture tracksuits and grab a seat by the pool while they deliver the ultimate O.C.-rewatch podcast. Each week they’ll take you back to a particular episode, share behind-the-scenes scoop, and interview guests who were part of the OC experience.”

If there was any show from back in the day that I would want to revisit, it would be this one.

[Source]

20 Mar 2021

A Note For This Week

Like many of you, I am still grappling with my feelings and my words on how to describe or even make sense of what happened this past week in Atlanta. I can’t. And it’s going to take me more than a few days to process. What I won’t do is mince words. If the media and the police dept. won’t say it, I will. This was absolutely a hate crime. There is no other way to see it. If you are someone that is publicly saying that 6/8 people killed having been Asian women at three targeted massage parlors is not a hate crime, you are making a racist statement. Ask yourself why you are defending a 21-year old gunman who has done this and what purpose this serves you. How do people begin to defend the gunman? Because he likes pizza, music, and God? And why is calling it a “hate crime” something you cannot acknowledge? Acknowledge human lives.

I’m sure when I’m ready, I will put together something more structurally sound – maybe more grammatically correct. For now, as I continue to gather myself, I want to share out a few pieces that have been written or created by other AAPI people on the aftermath of not only this week, but what we have been facing for the last year.

15 Mar 2021

Grammys Did BTS Dirty

If you’ve been with Yow Yow! for some time, then you know that we always cover awards shows. Every year, we discuss the winners, the red carpet, the snubs, and the things we learn after it all goes down. It’s not lost on any of us that the public are calling on award shows to be more diverse and inclusive. The pattern is that they give enough for us to be grateful, but also to shut us up. As a newly BTS stan, I watched myself become more invested in the group’s wins and aspirations. They are the group that you want to root for. Days and weeks leading up to the award show, their promos were everywhere. Celebrities were even getting in on this and it felt like there was a campaign rallying for a “Dynamite” win.

In 2019, BTS presented an award for the first time and said on stage, “we’ll be back.” Sure enough, they did return in 2020 to perform “Old Town Road” alongside Lil Nas X.” While it was a performance on the Grammy stage, the guys wanted a chance someday to perform their own song. It was 2021 in which they not only were receiving a nomination, but also invited to perform. It was supposed to be their year actually. Plenty of media outlets predicted a win and that they’d have one of the best performances of the night and it was! Now, no one here is saying that “Rain On Me” wasn’t a summer bop. It was a great song, but if we’re looking at the numbers, there is no comparison. That begs all of us to wonder, “how are winners actually being determined?”

For an award show who boasts about BTS being a part of their program, they sure have a funny way of showing their love to the group. BTS participated in numerous interviews with the organization leading up to the event. Ahead of the award show itself, they did a special performance for MusiCares – a virtual concert featuring a number of artists. Tickets were $25 and while BTS was headlining, they only played one song at the end of the event. Best Pop Duo/Group – the category that they were nominated for was not going to be a part of the main show. Of course, every year there are too many awards that they have to present some before the main event. You would think a category like this would be primetime, but it’s not. The disappointing part of this is that if they had won, they wouldn’t have had the chance to give their speech in front of everyone else the way others have had that opportunity previously.

As someone who worked in events, I understand production logistics. I’ll let that part slide. The thing that I cannot forgive though is the award show teasing in every commercial break that BTS “was coming up next.” As ARMY, we know better. American awards recognize the pull and influence that BTS has on their fans. Keeping them hanging onto the very last minute of the show with BTS performance brings up their viewership. Well the joke is on them because despite doing that, the Grammys last night pulled in its lowest ratings at 8.8 million. Jungkook’s VLive a couple weeks ago pulled in 22 million viewers alone.

We’re not exactly saying the Grammys are racist or xenophobic, but we call it like we see it! ARMY root for BTS to receive the Grammy award because they know how much it means to the group. It’s the thing that they’ve been working towards that they haven’t achieved yet. Given all they have done, they don’t need it and in fact, it’s the Grammys that needs BTS more than they need them.

07 Mar 2021

Blog Roundup

  • 13 Things A Designer Would Never Do In Their Living Room [My Domaine]
  • The 43 Breathable Face Masks to Shop Now [Vogue]
  • FKA Twigs Discusses Shia LaBeouf Allegations in Gayle King Interview [The Fader]
  • Margaret Zhang Named Editor-In-Chief of ‘Vogue’ China [Fashionista]
  • Marin County May Be the Fakest ‘Woke’ Place in America [The Bold Italic]
  • Ten Years Later, ‘Greek’ Remains TV’s Gold Standard for the College Experience [The Ringer] not my college experience, but a series I loved!
  • Trailer for Michelle Obama’s Waffles + Mochi [Source]
  • Why I’m No Longer Staying Silent About Anti-Asian Racism by Sophia Li [Vogue]
  • Chloe Zhao’s America [Vulture]
  • We said goodbye to Daft Punk after 28 years
  • Swallowing Our Bitterness [The Cut]
  • The Future of Work Might Look Like This [Surface Mag]
  • I Love You, Please Get Vaccinated [The Cut]
  • The Invisible Artistry of Asian Actors [The Atlantic]
21 Feb 2021

Harry and Meghan Resign From Royal Duties – What Does That Mean?

We don’t follow this drama as closely as other people, but my guess is that Harry and Meghan are going to be just fine. Now expecting their 2nd child, the couple are announcing that they are leaving behind their days of royalty. So what exactly does that mean? Haven’t they already left? The previous announcement was merely stepping back from duties to care for their first son.

It seems that this announcement, however, means that any official work going forward is done. In a statement made by by the Palace’s official website, Queen Elizabeth II shared that their titles and appointments will be redistributed to other members of the family. While the formality of all this seems to be tying up, at the end of the day, they are still family.

Sharing more of their story, the Harry and Meghan will sit down with Oprah on March 7th for a primetime interview which will likely detail the drama of the last year.

[Source]

15 Feb 2021

Blog Roundup

Patricia Chang
  • Instagram Really Isn’t Optional For Restaurants Anymore [SF Eater]
  • Ella Emhoff and Amanda Gorman have been signed to IMG [Fashionista 1/2]
  • Even the White House Logo Got a Makeover [Fast Company]
  • How to Make McDonald’s Hash Browns At Home [The Takeout]
  • BTS Is Heading to ‘MTV Unplugged’ [NYLON]
  • The Most Popular Brand in Every Country, Mapped [Digg]
  • This Concept Video for Virgin’s Hyperloop Transit System [Mental Floss]
  • Why Aren’t More Asian American Costume Designers Helping Tell Our Own Stories? [Fashionista]
  • Former FBI Agent Analyzes First Date Body Language | WIRED [Source]
  • How to Adjust Covid-19 Social Distancing Pods When Someone Gets Exposed [Vox]
  • The Many Lives of Steve Yuen [The New York Times Magazine]
  • Jenny Han Talks ‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ [Call Your Girlfriend]
  • ‘My People Are Dying in Silence – and I’m Here with A Megaphone’ [AdWeek]
  • Nordstrom Introduces Black_Space to Amplify Black Designers [High Snobiety]
  • I’ve Never Been More Prouder – Or More Heartbroken – to Be Asian American [Byrdie]
  • 38 Moments to Talk About From the “To All The Boys” Series [The EveryGirl]