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Please Respond: Ant Saunders

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Shop the Look: Pants by Off-White

 


 

“Did you ask them to play this?”

 

Ant Saunders’ “Yellow Hearts” is pouring out of Pinz Bowling Center’s speakers on this Los Angeles afternoon, and the singer-songwriter is wondering if I encouraged a staffer to spin his hit single. It’s been played upwards of 330 million times on streaming platforms and its music video has more than 5 million watches. But somehow he still has to ask.

 

No, I didn’t. “Oh, okay!” he says exhaling, almost relieved. It’s easy to forgive Ant for his skepticism. He’s new to this. Saunders only signed to the Arista Records division of Sony Music last year. And since then “Hearts” has simmered from viral smash to certified gold status to playing-everywhere ubiquity. “It just boggles my mind to see all that ‘Yellow Hearts’ has accomplished,” Saunders says. “The song has changed my life.”

 

 


We brought Ant Saunders some of the best pieces from our Los Angeles shop for him to incorporate into his wardrobe. This is FITTED.

 


 

Prior to joining the big leagues as a pro musician, Ant’s life was simpler. An Army soldier’s son, Saunders was born in Germany, then moved to Woodbury Heights, New Jersey at age 3, where he pretty much spent his time avoiding attention. “Growing up, I was always the nice, shy, sensitive kid,” he says. “Generally, I was the type to stand in the corner at a party and stick with my other shy friends.”

During his high school days, time alone was spent quietly teaching himself to play guitar, singing into his laptop via USB microphone and self-producing tracks with Audacity software “in hopes that someday it would be noticed.”

 

ANTSAUNDERS2Shop the Look: Windbreaker by Martine RoseTela Placcata Bicolore Pants by Stone Island

 


 

As his senior year crept towards graduation, it seemed that enrolling in college would be a reality before his dream came to fruition. “I didn’t have much time left to have my big break,” he says. “I thought that I had the talent, but I wasn’t sure if my creative abilities were strong enough, or if I was able to reach many people. I was always so doubtful that it would ever happen.”

 

As if that wasn’t stressful enough, Saunders was also in the midst of a confusing digital love story. A girl that he was crushing on kept signing Snapchat messages to him with yellow heart emojis. Confused by her mixed signals and deliberate choice of hue (Why not red?!), he did what we all do: Googled it. Urban Dictionary told him yellow hearts typically stand for friendship. So he wrote and produced a song about it.

 

 

“I turn to music to figure out what I’m trying to say,” he says. “Most of ‘Yellow Hearts’ was just everything that I wanted to say. Like, ’I feel misled. What’s going on?’ I didn’t know how to say that in person.” Saunders whipped up the track’s artwork using Microsoft Paint and released the cut on his graduation day in June through independent digital music service DistroKid. Then when summer passed, he hopped on TikTok to ask his buds to share it. And they responded.

 

ANTSAUNDERS1Shop the Look: Shirt by Raf SimonsNike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage 

 


Two million TikTok videos—ladies playing the role of the “crazy” girl, guys starring as a bewildered Ant, and more—were created. In the following weeks, Saunders was courted by record labels, eventually signing to Arista in November. And now less than a year removed from earning his diploma, Saunders is dropping a major label EP, entitled Bubble.

 

“You’ll learn about my weird personality,” Ant says of the handful of R&B-tinged pop songs. “How I’m vulnerable. How I have trouble communicating with people. I didn’t tell [the girl who inspired ‘Yellow Hearts’] how I felt and that I was basically talking about our experience until she found out after the song released. That’s how bad it is.”

 

Soon he’ll have to share his feelings with many more. Multi-platinum songstress Camila Cabello just announced that Saunders will open for her during the North American leg of her Romance Tour this fall.

 

“It’s just so motivating to see that people really do like my music,” Ant says. “I really hope to keep this momentum going. My goal is to keep touching people with my music.” He spent years fantasizing about the stardom he’s on the cusp of. And now that Saunders is here, there’s no way he’ll let his bubble burst.

 


 

 

Video Executive Produced by BradWeteHe Tells Stories
Video Produced by Sir Fleming
Photos by John Marquez
Story by Brad Wete
Location: Pinz Bowling Center

 

Listen to Ant Saunders’ Bubble
Special Thanks to Arista Records and Sony Music

Raf Simons Spring/Summer 19 Editorial

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Raf Simons’ latest collection was shown in a BDSM-laden warehouse on the outskirts of Paris. His mission was simple: Bring couture grade tailoring and fabric to menswear. After the show, Simons was quoted saying ““We need it! We need a new outline. I know I was part of it myself, but too many hoodies with prints! You know, something needs to shift.”

 

References to New Wave and Punk culture shone through, with bright pops of color juxtaposed with punk-inspired graphics and details; each of which is subtle and suggestive. As you observe the collection, you can see a bevy of piercings, safety pins, and fetish gear.

 

Shop the full collection online and in-store in Chicago & LA at RSVP Gallery.

Raf Simons Fall/Winter 2018 Editorial

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Raf Simons Fall/Winter 2018 Editorial by RSVP Gallery. Simons reflects the 90s underground fashion and music subcultures of Antwerp with bold colors and deconstruction of classic pieces. The full collection is available online and in-store now, with exclusive items in LA & Chicago.
 

Fall/Winter 2018 Outerwear Editorial

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September rolls in once again, reminding us of the colder weather to come. We headed to the plains for our Fall/Winter 2018 Outerwear editorial, featuring coats from Sacai, OAMC, Off-White, and Reese Cooper. Gear up for the months ahead in outerwear from RSVP Gallery.
 
Tackle the harshest winter with Sacai’s ultra warm pieces. The Combo Fabrics Blouson, woven from pure wool, is a layered blouson featuring colored quilted panels at the front and an interior lining throughout the jacket. The Wool Check Coat features a half zipper closure, faux-fur collar, and plaid pattern. The coat incorporates an oversized fit, ensuring maximum levels of warmth.
 
If you’re looking for more plaid options this season, look no further than the Reese Cooper Plaid Wool Anorak and the OAMC Woven Cage Coat. The Reese Cooper piece features a drawstring hem, gunmetal-colored hardware, and Italian zippers from legendary manufacturer Raccagni. The OAMC coat features a removable shearling tag at the collar and welt pockets at the front to complement the straight fit tailored mid-length piece.
 
Cold times are ahead. Prepare accordingly with outerwear pieces from RSVP Gallery, available online and in-store.

Feature: Military Style

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Military garment design has been influencing fashion at an increasing rate over the years. Classic renditions of flight suits, MA-1 Jackets, and bombers from early Raf Simons and Maison Margiela collections are some of the most sought after pieces to date. In the ever-evolving landscape of fashion, designers continue to push boundaries and offer up new renditions of classic military pieces.

 

Many are doing this in a literal sense, as brands are taking vintage military garments, repurposing, and rebranding them to be “new.” Others are only pulling inspiration from the silhouettes, and modernizing them with slim fits, prints, and different fabrics. Readymade has done a bit of both; they take old military canvas from duffel bags, tents, etc., and repurpose them into new flight jackets, bombers, overnight bags, and novelty items.

 

The inspiration is unsurprising, as the military plays a significant role in the contemporary era. OAMC realized this in their latest collection and decided to juxtapose the narrative of their collection with the violent history of the military. Replacing bombs with olive branches, a symbol of peace, and incorporating doves into their designs, they attempt to soften the harsh realities that come with militaristic endeavors.

 

We picked out our favorite military-inspired pieces in the shop to display in our latest feature. All of the items are available in store or online at RSVP Gallery. Check out the gallery above to see what we have in store. If you have any questions or want to place an order email please@rsvpgallery.com or call (773) 770-6666.