We selected SAMANTHA MOELLER as one-to-watch in 2007 cuz she’s just dropped the second issue of our favorite new magazine! Aimed at the street-savvy downtown gal, Missbehave is a much-needed breath of fresh air. We dare you to find anything comparable on the newsstand today! The premiere issue featuring superstar Nelly Furtado sold out immediately and this new one with Lily Allen is even better! Since we’re practically besties now, Samantha and Fred chatted about high school days, dreams come true, and “missbehaving” in the city… For more about Missbehave check out missbehavemag.com. Samantha is wearing our heart doorknockers, yo!

You opened your store, Missbehave, in the Lower East Side of NYC. Was that something you always aspired to do or was it a total fluke?
Definitely something I always wanted to do. A total dream come true!

It seems like you really devoted a lot of yourself to the store. How did you balance shopgirl life with party girl life?
For the first year or so, I was doing everything myself and had no girls helping me run the shop. It was super fun though, a fantastic experience. Sometimes the party came to me! There were always people coming by.

Missbehave was probably one of the cutest stores ever! It had this really retro classroom vibe. What were your high school days like? You were probs the girl that was too cool for school, huh?
I loved high school. It was a carefree time and that’s why I gave the shop that theme. I wanted girls to come in and be taken back. I had all these cool little nostalgic details around the shop: trophies, ribbons and old textbooks. There was also a bench you could write your name on. People would be like “whoa, remember this?” It made me happy to see people get excited over this little space I had created.

We know that your husband Adrian is one of the founders of Mass Appeal mag. How did you transition your “missbehaving” ways from the retail to the publishing world? Was that another dream of yours?
Well before I had the shop I had interned at Teen People magazine to check out the publishing world. I definitely liked it. Then, when I met my husband, I started to be around the magazine and really see the process. Eventually he needed some extra help over at Mass Appeal and I offered to come over and run the shop from a distance. I got really into the magazine and while I was there, a lot of the shops started to move off of Eldridge Street, so I ultimately decided to close and be at the magazine full-time.

There are so many magazines out there, it’s crazy! But yours feels like a breath of fresh air. What are you looking to provide us readers with that we can’t find anywhere else?
When Adrian and I conceived the idea for the magazine, it was to provide the street culture to a female reader. There just seemed to be an open niche there. With all the male-skewed urban/street wear magazines it was surprising that there was nothing for women. So Missbehave magazine was born one night over a long talk at dinner.

Nelly Furtado made an awesome premiere cover girl. Who’s at the top of your wish list for the next issue?
Our issue #2 cover girl is LILY ALLEN. She’s super dope and is going to be HUGE this year! For the future, I would love to see Gwen Stefani or Scarlett Johansson on the cover.

The style of your mag is so full of distinct flavor. What’s the ideal Missbehave girl like?
The ultimate Missbehave girl is a sassy, fun-loving, downtown girl with oodles of style. One day she’s a tomboy, and the next, a total glamour puss. She has as many pairs of sneakers as she does high heels. The Missbehave girl is creative, beautiful, and full of energy. She loves the nightlife and she loves to boogie!

Besides Missbehave, what are your favorite reads?
Well, of course Mass Appeal is the best men’s urban lifestyle book out there. I really like the French titles Jalouse and Muteen. Neo 2 from Spain is another favorite.

How do you have fun in the playground that is New York City?
I love to take advantage of every part of this amazing city. One day could be spent smoking hookahs on Steinway in Queens and another spent shopping for gold jewelry at the Fulton Street Mall in Brooklyn. I love that you can do something like visit a Russian bathhouse on a whim. You’re totally transported to another world right here in your own backyard. I also love the nightlife. I’m always down for a night at the bars and clubs.

Hey Miss DJ… What’s on your playlist these days?
Geez, I’m so old school! I’ll never get sick of listening to 2pac and Mobb Deep. At the moment, I’m really into Paul Wall, Goldfrapp, and Ghostface.

Do you have any insider tips for our readers with entrepreneurial dreams of gold?
Time, dedication and money are key factors. There are lots of ups and downs, and don’t expect a regular paycheck. Starting your own business is super hard work but the reward of people supporting and loving your product is priceless. If you can perfectly balance the business know-how and creative aspect, you’re good. Nothing happens overnight, so stick with it; it’s a great trip.

Right on. Okay, time for a SPEED ROUND!!
FAVE DISCOVERY OF 06: Perez Hilton
MUSICAL HIGHLIGHT: Shooting Nelly Furtado for our first cover!
MEMORABLE MEAL: Fondue on my birthday with hubby.
2006′s VIBE WAS SO VERY… CelebReality
2007 IS ALL ABOUT: Blowing Up!

7 IN 2007 INTERVIEWS:)
designer Alison Kelly
musician Erika Forster
retailer Stephanie Deleau
artist Chris Uphues
illustrator Marilyn Patrizio
blogstar Grace Bonney