Denim of a New Generation

Photo from fashionwindows.net

This week, we caught up with Genetic Denim fit specialist Davey Napoli, who will be helping customers find the perfect pair of jeans at Dahlia during the Genetic Denim Trunk Show this Thursday (3/25), 6-9pm. Davey studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology and has worked with the designers of the New York-based line Heatherette. He went on to represent Galina Sobolev, the designer of Single Dress (recently featured on Bravo’s Launch My Line), before joining the Genetic Denim team in 2009. Look for Davey to match you with your perfect celeb-worth jeans this Thursday, and enjoy a DJ, champagne, discounts and a chance to win a gift card for the store for everyone who tries on a pair of Genetic jeans. Here's some background:

What is a fit specialist? Someone with an in-depth knowledge of what makes Genetic different from other jeans. As each person has a different genetic code, they have a different shape. We make jeans that accentuate women’s assets and fits to their body types. We offer fits for every woman.

What advice do you have for women trying on jeans? It’s all about comfort! We all have a variety of different fits, but there’s one pair of jeans in every one of our closets that we wear the most. Picture your favorite pair of jeans. Chances are, they are your most comfortable pair, and when you are wearing another pair, you would rather be wearing that favorite pair. A well-fitting pair of jeans should give you a surge of empowerment, knowing you look amazing.

What do you like most about Genetic Denim? The way they feel. Celebrities love Genetic. Countless A-List celebs wear our jeans and are often spotted in airports wearing GD. Why? Because they are sooo comfy!! Our denim is the softest denim in the market. The lightweight, super-soft denim often surprises customers at how structured they feel on. They really hold you in and make you feel your slimmest and most comfortable!

Any good stories about fitting someone or helping a celebrity? We’re fortunate to have a lot of celebrity fans and support. We’re often told we are their favorite by them or their stylist. We’ve seen photos of Reese Witherspoon, Shakira, Halle Berry and Ashley Tisdale in the same jeans photographed multiple times in the same week! That’s the ultimate compliment.

—Lane Nieset

Roundup: The Saddest Celeb Deaths of '09

1. Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. The Gloved One. Whatever you called him, he was one of the most prolific entertainers of our time. He gave us the moonwalk, and he made it ok to grab your crotch while dancing. His milky smooth voice and indelible songs will live on forever.

Cause of death: Homicide

Check out: This Is It, Jackson's tour rehearsal movie. It shows Jackson in his element on stage and in a way we've never seen him before.

2. Patrick Swayze: Swayze was the only man who could dance like a graceful 12-year-old girl and still look like a badass. Even though he made quite a few sappy romantic movies, most of them were awesome (Dirty Dancing, Ghost) and he made quite a few sweet action flicks too (Red Dawn, Point Break.)

Cause of death: Pancreatic Cancer

Check out: Road House, the quintissential bar-fight movie. Swayze has a philosphy degree from NYU, and uses ballet-style roundhouse kicks to clean up the fictional town of Jasper, MO.

3. Bea Arthur: The Golden Girls is a timeless classic. The lightning in the bottle chemistry between the cast of the show leads to some of the most memorabe sitcom plots in history.

Cause of death: Cancer

Check out: Nick at Nite, they re-run the show all the time.

4. Billy Mays: So, he wasn't an actor or anything, but those Oxyclean commercials were like a lighthouse on a stormy night when you're lost at sea. You could always count on seeing him on late night TV, and that was comforting.

Cause of death: Heart Disease

Check out: Pitchmen, a show where you get to meet the man behind the magic (of Oxyclean).

5. David Carradine: He was in Kung Fu, a 70's show about martial arts. In Kill Bill he had what is probably the coolest death scene ever filmed.

Cause of death: Autoerotic Fatality

Check out: Kill Bill: Vol. 2, where the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique makes its unforgettable debut.

--Jon Silman

On the Set of Extreme Makeover: Day 4

Carpenter Paul Dimeo poses with UF cheerleaders

Today on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the University of Florida's Albert, Albert and cheerleaders visited to encourage volunteers and meet the cast and crew.

Shopping/style expert Didiayer Snyder mingles with the crowd.

Check our web site and blog later for more exclusive interviews and pics from the set.

Photos by Rodney Rogers

JT Woodruff of Hawthorne Heights

INsite got the chance to chat with JT Woofruff, lead singer of Hawthorne Heights, in between a lengthy highway sojourn en route to a show in South Carolina. The band will perform Sunday, Nov. 22, at Common Grounds.

Read the full interview on our Web site!

Director Brett Ratner speaks at UF

Last night, we attended a talk by Brett Ratner—acclaimed director of the Rush Hour series, X-Men 3, Money Talks, Red Dragon and Family Man—at the University Auditorium. Ratner, November’s ACCENT speaker, explained to a crowd of about 200 what it's like to lead a lavish rockstar life, and how his ambition and take-charge attitude allowed him to become one of the highest grossing directors in Hollywood.

"I didn’t expect this to happen to me," Brett said in his 45-minute speech. "My dream was to only make movies … I never wanted the expensive house, the supermodel friends, or any of that. I just wanted to make movies and tell a story." To accomplish his dream, Ratner began making short films when he was eight years old; by 10 he gave up doing homework and spent all his time directing. After skipping two grades, Ratner graduated from high school at 16 and applied to NYU to follow in the footsteps of Martin Scorsese. Despite his low grades and young age, Brett used his charm and personality to get into NYU.

"I learned early on that it takes more than just talent," Brett said. "Ninety percent effort and 10 percent talent will get your farther than 90 percent talent and 10 percent effort." Through networking, Ratner met hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, who offered him a spot directing music videos. Since then, he has directed more than 100 videos for artists like Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Wu Tang Clan, Jay-Z and P.Diddy.

"Throughout the whole ordeal, I learned to never take ‘No’ for an answer. You just have to love what you do and be passionate about it," he said. Ratner also owns Rat Records, Rat Press (a publishing company), Rat Entertainment (a production company), a corporate branding company called Brett Ratner Brandsm, and www.shootseries.com (a Web site that showcases his music videos, commercials and short films).

"I’m constantly learning," he said. "I use commercials and music videos as an opportunity to use a new piece of equipment or use a technique that I’ve never used. Every time I make a movie, I experiment. Everything I do is a learning experience."

—Attiyya Anthony

Jenn Brown Talks Shop

Last month, we chatted with the very friendly Jenn Brown as she drove around her new hometown of L.A. Check out the interview in our November issue, in which this UF alum and Inside the NFL's only female correspondent tells us about her life on the road, fitting in fitness, and being one of the only girls in the boys' club. Check out the interview on our Web site!

Gators go GREEK

What would UF's homecoming be without a little Greek participation? This year, it’s coming in a different form. While in the middle of filming episodes for their spring season, Scott Michael Foster and Amber Stevens—two stars from the hit ABC Family show Greek—will take a weekend off to visit UF and participate in the homecoming festivities.

Scott and Amber — otherwise known by their “Greek” alter egos Cappie and Ashleigh - are representing the “Pledge Yourself to Do Something” campaign. The campaign is a partnership between the show and the Do Something volunteering organization, which encourages people to seek out and work with charitable organizations in their own communities.

“We want to get the word out that [volunteering is] not just for people you see on TV,” Scott says. “Anybody can do it.”

“It’s really important to get involved with your community,” Amber says.

Each fraternity and sorority on the show is working with a different organization. Scott and his fellow members of the Kappa Tau fraternity have done work with the Will Ferrell-endorsed Cancer for College charity; Amber and the other female cast members are working with Girls, Inc. Global Green USA is also part of the campaign.

This weekend won’t be the first time a little Greek has hit UF. Last fall, the show’s cast members traveled the country visiting colleges to promote voter registration and encourage college kids to vote in the election. Scott and fellow cast member Dilshad Vadsaria, visited the UF bookstore to sign autographs.

“It was awesome,” he says. “It’s so cool to see the fans come out and support the cause or meet us and get autographs.”

Scott and Amber will take part in several of the weekend’s events: They will be riding a float in the homecoming parade, participating in Gator Growl, announcing the homecoming king and queen at the game on Saturday and signing autographs in the UF bookstore on Friday (10/16) from 3:30-5pm.

Amber and Scott are excited about their upcoming visit and about getting away for a few days.

“I actually have some family that lives in Gainesville,” Scott says. “I’m going to try to meet up with them.”

“It’s kind of an unexplored area for me,” Amber says. “It’ll be cool to meet everyone and to go to a college football game.”

“From what I hear,” Scott added, “those things are hard to get tickets to.”

--Amelia Marty

Choose the next INsite cover star!

Help pick our November cover celeb! Visit INsiteMagazine.com and vote in our homepage poll. Will it be Cameron, Kristen, Penelope or Amanda?

While you're there, check out some of the best stories from this month!