Inspiration Board

When the trend dies...

...who's left standing? The thing about trends are, they come, they last for a while and then they fade. The truest of them all are the ones who aren't phased by the trends, but remain true to self regardless of whether or not it's "in".

I was in a writing mood

I wished I could write you into being
But somehow you never materialize
You feel like a dream
And every time I awake
You become a part of a memory
A memory that cannot be real
So best word for use is fantasy
I fantasize about you
In ways that should be written about in storybooks

So I guess this is of a fairy tale conjunction
A conjunction that makes no sense on its own
Because you make no sense when you stand alone

How can it be just a figment of a dream
When I feel you in a crowd
When I breathe you from a distance
When I'm mesmerized
Fixated to a point where the world becomes a blur

How can you just be a figment of an unimaginary being
Such as me?
I can't seem to gravitate that concept
And I'm livid because other's cant see
What I see
When I look beyond the obvious
And see the real

So if I have to write/type until my fingers bleed
I will write you into being
Because this can't be a figment of a dream
Because I don't sleep
For fear of drifting into death
I can't fantasize when I am tangible
And you are; every time I feel you near
Or see you in a distance
This must be real
Or else my whole existence is a figment of a book once read to me in my youth.
- Tishka DuPera

Man of the Week

Took a stroll down Nevins street and found Nirvana in the man they call the "Bearded Man". His style more or less blew my mind, just the essence of the 1950's gentleman with a Philadelphia urban swag. Words don't sum it up, so let's give some visual.

Black Fashion

Let's talk about the uproar in "Black Fashion", I discovered a magazine a couple months ago, completely dedicated to the lifestyle of us as a people. There's more concentration on fashionable black people who's consistently overlooked in the media as far as the positives are concerned. Arise has truly captured the essence of rising above the commercial appeal and broadcasting what's being done amongst our people.
Here's an image from this month's cover story.

AFROPUNK

The evening of Monday July 6,2009 started with bmx-ers and skaters showing off their talent. All that fell in between is just rants of my stroll around the park, looking at the unity of all these black people.
Zoe Kravitz hits the stage in an oversized shredded t-shirt and a bathing suit. Fingers laced with beautiful rings, her image the stamp of Lisa Bonet in the early 90's. Elevator Flight took me to new dimensions with her raunchy vulgarity disguised with the image of a sweet rebel.


The follow up was no stranger: Janelle Monae, she opened her act with "Many Moons". Let's just say she took my heart when she performed acapella in respect to the late and great Michael Jackson.


The closing act indeed closed the show, Saul Williams; the man who knows God personally, infact God let's him call him, me. He hit the stage with a scroll and as the words slipped off his tongue I felt my world slipping off it's own axis. His energy fueled me like the sun, and all I was left to do was place my fist to the sky.

The Black Woman

THE BREAKING PROCESS OF THE African WOMAN! Take the female and run a series of tests on her to see if she will submit to your desires willingly. Test her in every way, because she is the most important factor for good economic. If she shows any signs of resistance in submitting completely to your will, do not hesitate to use the bull whip on her to extract that last bit of bitch out of her. Take care not to kill her, for in doing so, you spoil good economics. When in complete submission, she will train her offspring in the early years to submit to labor when they become of age. Understanding is the best thing.

"Reflection of Glamour" by Steven Meisel

Saul Williams

"Never question who I am, God knows...and I know God personally, infact he lets me call him me." - Saul Williams
July 6, 2009, he comes to New York. Great minds are like finding gold in your backyard(nearly impossible to find). So when a man write masterpieces such as s/he(she is the square root of him), the seventh octaves, said the shotgun to the head and the emcee scrolls; it's definitely an event that needs to be attended. One man said, "sitting in a Brooklyn cafe listening to Saul Williams, it felt like a meteor fell from the sky." For me, I gravitate to his every word like the breath that sustains me.

Fact

T-shirts are an $18billion industry

Gianfranco Ferre

GENIUS!!!

I haven't gotten to the article, but I was fixated by the cover of this month's W Magazine, starring Amy Adams.

Talking Heads

David Byrne of the Talking Heads is back and collaborating with Brian Eno on a new tour. David Byrne, is a genius in every realm he has ventured in, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of him. He's not afraid to go out on a limb, he takes great risks, and they always seem to pay off. In April of this year Byrne performed at the AIDS benefit in a pink tutu. With that kind of courage, and "I don't give a fuck attitude" it's no wonder he's still an icon.

Without Sanctuary: Lynching in America

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The clarity of these pictures aren't that great, but it's just a peak at the mindstate of the United States between 1860-1960. The lynching of black men, being sent across the country as post cards. Innocent black men hung high on ropes hanging from trees of their own making. "Souvenirs" are what they call the photos of the murders of innocent men.

Butterfly Blue

If you enjoy Live Jazz and the great taste of Soul Food with a Caribbean Kick, then this is the place for you. Butterfly Blue, is a small cozy restaurant/bar in Harlem, it's located on 150th street and Amsterdam Avenue. Yes I have been doing alot of cultural pieces on Harlem, so check it out.
There's a happy hour drinks special between 6-9pm, and the drinks are amazing

Taste of Harlem

Triple shot latte, a pen overflowing with words waiting to be dispersed on paper. All sorts of artists and thinkers sit at the society cafe on the corner of 114th and Frederick Douglas Boulevard. The ambience alone was the selling theme for me. Cafeteria-esque wooden tables are located right in centre of the cafe, light jazz playing in the background, the chef and the servers move in unison within clear sight. The owner comes over and speaks to me, as if he knew that I was a tourist to this side of town, he then gives me some insight on the cultural background of Harlem. He happened to be the owner of a night club called 67 Orange, which is located exactly a block away on 113th street.

The man with Sole

British shoe designer, Nicholas Kirkwood, is showing up and putting on a show. His designs are impeccable, and not to mention the sole, it's like walking on cloud nine and causing a traffic jam doing so. Kirkwood has blessed Rodarte with their "Punk Duchess" shoe line, worked on Belstaff and Phillip Lim's 2008 Spring collection, and continues to wow shoe lovers with his decadent designs. He's been called the Da Vinci of shoes, so need I say more?

The state of Fashion

As I sat down to brunch with a pen-pal, we endeavoured in a conversation of the present state of fashion. The theatrics at Christopher Kane, Comme de Garcons and Galliano were some of the names brought up. Where is the line being drawn? I've been an avid fan of "style" and I feel like fashion has come to a point where there is no line being drawn as far as what's wearable and what's just a show. I took a gander at the RTW trends and even that's a bit over the top. What happened to the simple chic that graced the backs of old hollywood starlets? The house of Chanel that's known for it's classicism has become Crazy (for a lack of a better word). I feel like experimenting in fashion is key in order to set yourself apart, but I feel like it's come to a point where designers have just thrown every, and anything together just for an "effect."

Minimal

There's one element that never goes out of style, and that is classicism. This season, for Milan Fashion Week Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein gave us this clean palette, but didn't forget that shapes are a key element to giving an edge to classic looks. Raf Simons at Jil Sander is an utter genius, the color palette was magnificent, and the contour more dynamic than mount Everest. Tomas Maier at Bottega Venetta incorporated menswear in s/s09 womens ready-to-wear and it was brilliant.

New Givenchy Ad

So I was concerned of how Givenchy would progress considering the strong statement they made in their fall/winter 08 collection. I feel like they've taken the high road by not drifting too far from the statement they made in 08. Here's an image of the spring ad.