Our evening at the W Hotel’s Rocked event began with the artist of the hour himself, Mick Rock—a man who is so rooted in the very fabric of rock ‘n’ roll history that to list all of his subjects here would be long and drawn-out (Bob Marley, Lady Gaga and David Bowie are among them). Meeting the illustrious Mr. Rock was everything you would expect from a British rock ‘n’ roll legend and so much more. Sitting in an upstairs studio in the W Downtown Hotel, we listened to Mick unfurl rock history as he himself lived it, though he insists there are secrets he’ll never tell.

While Mick has built a career shooting icons, the Rocked event is also about celebrating new icons, realized as electro-rock duo Phantogram. Bandmates Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter were the epitome of cool, calm and collected as we talked inspiration, living upstate and the night’s set list. We ended the interviews with the man who made the entire evening possible, Michelangelo L’Acqua, the Global Music Director for W Hotels. L’Acqua had just stepped off the plane from business in Shanghai but somehow was as on-point and charming as ever. L’Acqua is one of those people who makes his job look easy, even though you know he is working around the clock. Anticipating a night where rock lives, both on stage and in legendary images, L’Acqua confessed his hope that the Symmetry Live series of performances will give shine to emerging bands like Phantogram, much like Rock once shot a young East Village singer, fresh from Detroit (yup, we’re talking about a babyfaced Ms. Ciccone).

Finally the stage was set in the tent. The lights were low and a glass of champagne was in every hand. L’Acqua took the mic, introducing Mick and Phantogram. The night was officially in full swing. The rest… is rock ‘n’ roll history.

Greville and Mayer of Best Friends Brooklyn go way back to freshman year, when they met in cheerleading practice, no less. Today, the stylish duo is devoted to their burgeoning line, now available at Cynthia Rowley stores. The heart of BFB’s latest collection is realized in wooden statement jewelry—bold cuts of marble ebony and burl wood—juxtaposed with chains of vintage glass beads. An incredible amount of love goes into each piece, from the hand-rendered baubles, to the bit of wood polish Greville tucks into mail orders, for longevity. Like a true friendship, these pieces are built to last.

BFB has a little treat for our Arcade Players. Use the promo code ARCADE44 to receive 30% off when you shop the collection.

Visit the OGJM Facebook page for the skinny on their sample sale, and check in with Of A Kind for their limited edition sale on Sunday, December 11.

A big thank you to Brooklyn band Small Black for supplying the dope tracks. Check them out and download the Moon Killer mixtape.

A big thank you to stunner Becca Schack for supplying the dope tunes, co-produced by Rich DeCicco and Gil Talmi. NYC, don’t miss Becca onstage at Arlene’s Grocery on January 31!

It all started when she was a schoolgirl in Bristol, making beats on computers she discovered in a school storeroom. Emika was temporarily sidelined by a long illness, which led to her seeking new horizons in Berlin. The dubstep head found her new city the perfect inspiration for a moodier, more atmospheric sound, realized on her debut album Pretend, which was released in September among a flood of live performances. Chatting in the Brooklyn Masonic Temple, bass reverberating around us, we found the Pretender realer than real as she told us about the inspiration behind her sound—all synths and shudders—and a belief in the spiritual qualities of techno.

European Players, catch Emika on tour through December, including a stop at Moscow’s 16 Tons on Friday.

We spent a couple days nestled within the hubs of designers-on-the-rise, William Okpo and MadeMe, riding shotgun as they realize their respective collections. Though they are both female-run, NYC-based, steady-climbing operations, you’d be hard-pressed to find two lines with more different approaches and aesthetics.

You may have spotted William Okpo’s earthy-ethereal looks at Opening Ceremony, and possibly noticed the striking Okpo sisters there (they moonlight as shopgirls at the impossibly cool boutique). Named after Lizzy and Darlene’s father (who wanted his girls to grow up to become doctors), the line isn’t just the product of a lot of proverbial blood sweat and tears—it’s also their legacy. The sisters divide their time between school, day jobs and long nights at the Brooklyn studio where they invited the Arcade for a peek at their inner workings. Sisterly tiffs, divine inspiration, and all.

Meanwhile, across the East River, Erin Magee of MadeMe is masterminding street wear for tomboys, city girls and their stylish little sisters. Take the MadeMe x Schott custom moto jacket (lined, like a secret, with Liberty of London florals), a perfect storm of downtown references and devilish little details. We met up with Erin on a typical night in the East Village (oh, just a little pink Manic Panic in the bathtub, nothing out of the ordinary) when she shared the secrets to breathing life into MadeMe while also running production over at Supreme. Not a bad day gig, if you ask us.

They are all women with full plates, irrepressible style, and futures so bright, we’ll all be rocking shades—hopefully their own (hint, hint, ladies!)

LIKE THE SONG? CHECK OUT MORE SWEET ELECTRO TUNES FROM LOS ANGELES’ THE NEW DIVISION AKA  JOHN KUNKEL HERE.

We’re at the storied East Village boutique Trash and Vaudeville, an institution for rockers and people who want to dress like them for the last 35 years. We knew there’d be fireworks when we brought Natalia Kills to T&V. The 24-year-old singer/songwriter has been making waves ever since being discovered by wil.i.am and signed to Interscope/Cherry Tree Records. But don’t assume that Kills, whose debut album Perfectionist drops next month, is just another pretty face on the scene. A remarkably self-assured artist, she writes and produces her own material and directs her own videos. Edgy, dark and sexy, her clips add to a self-created mythology of the girl who grew up in Northern England dreaming of one day leading her own motorcycle gang.

Shopping proved to be a welcome return to norm after spending the past few months on a tour bus. Kills has been dotting the country as she opens for Robyn’s North American tour, and has hardly had a moment to breathe, let alone visit the local haunts. Guided by T&V’s legendary manager Jimmy Webb, who regaled us with tales of everyone from Slash to Angelina Jolie stopping by the shop over the decades, Kills tried on an eclectic mix of gear. Designer Prince Peter, a friend, even stopped by before it was time to pack up and head to Radio City for the night’s performance.

It’s just another night in the life of an artist poised on the brink. Outside Radio City’s backstage entrance, Natalia stopped to give hugs to a pair of fans who waited in the rain for a glimpse of her. We were stunned by how open and giving the singer is one-on-one, in spite of her badass stage presence. Natalia certainly kills, but she also has a lot of heart.