FALL for a new season

This season has become a little bit more put together, a little cleaner: I think the word I'm looking for is CLASSIC. I am happy about this direction, because as much as this "originality" concept was a driving force and an excuse to sell hideous clothing. I think the true Fashion Forward individuals didn't get caught up in this mess of a trend.
This season; designers have been paying homage to Yves Saint Laurent. And I know his name is becoming quite repetitive in the last couple entries I've made. However where respect is due, repetition could never be redundant.
For Fall 2008, we will see alot of Blazers, some with shoulder pads, alot of shear dresses, and patented leather, whether it be in a classic pump, some gladiator boots, or suicide heels. The Ivy-League look has become a unisex concept and has produced alot of Oxford slip-ons for women, wingtips and Cardigans with stripes and Patches as emblems.
This fall is something to look forward to, so if you were one of those fools that got caught up in the 80's trend of spandex and all these hideous remnant's from the 80's, please hurry to your local dumpyard and burn these items, so that nobody else will wear them AGAIN!

Androgyny? or De-Feminism

Is the female gender's strength being measured by how manly they dress?
Androgyny was always a concept I embraced in Fashion. When Yves Saint Laurent made a whole show about women of strength, materialized the whole deal for me.
However until earlier this morning I never thought what the reason for androgyny being so widely embraced in the business world. I realized that men were always considered the stronger of the two and women were “emotional” and in order to match the two or at least create an image of equality women had to conform to a manly façade. “Look the part” they say. Women for centuries were subjected to this ideal, and whenever one of them went against that ideology, they were labeled as “butches”. The term butch, doesn’t necessarily refer to a lesbian with manly characteristics, it’s a woman taking on a manly image.
Today, we embrace androgyny like New York’s polluted air. However whether your androgynous characteristics is to be accepted in the business world or just to show variety in your fashion sense; androgyny is the sexiest concept ever to grace the Fashion World.

FASHION. The new crack?

Could this be the newest trend in Fashion? Over the years grunge has made an appearance on runways with layered looks that mimic that of Kurt Kobain as well as Perry Ellis by Marc Jacobs in 1992.
I must say, fashion seems to be the new crack. The same addiction that was once savored for drug-addicts has switched drug of choice into something that's wearable.
So the question in motion is, what's the next thing in Fashion? With looks that are tribal influence as well as the ever re-used layered look, what are these Fashion junkies going to look like for the fall?

DAI-ly DANCER

Dainene Baldwin, better off known as Dai is the embodiment of an individual. She bursts with personality that immediately grabs the attention of everyone around her. She's a dancer by profession but the girl is multi-talented. When I asked her what she wants to do? She replied, "I'm not saying I wanna do it all, but I dabble in it all...everyone should sparkle."
Her style is uncategorized, she mixes in pop colors with vintage wear polished over with her own touches. The girl has sex appeal, and when I asked what inspires her, she responded, "PRINCE, as crazy as that sounds to say a person inspires me, but he is raunchy, his performances get me opened." What can I say the girl doesn't miss a word.
You can find her on tour with Lil Mama, to the backstreets of Soho, the sidewalks are her runway; so watch out world!

NUDITY: Art or Pornography?

So the question is in constant rotation...When does nudity become pornographic in its content?
Picasso's Les Demoiselles D'Avignon which translates to the prostitutes of Avignon street consists of naked women in Picasso's impressionistic distorted manner against a wall or perhaps a building. This painting is hung in the Museum of Modern Art here in New York where it's in high regards for it's contribution to the art community; and obviously because it's the Great Picasso's work.
However, on the other hand R.C Horsch's photography is considered to be pornographic. His work is bondage themed, with nude bodies in cages, a bit raunchy at times. But is raunchy necessarily pornographic? Personally I prefer Horsch's work to Picasso' not because I am a photographer, but because eventhough it's more in your face, it has so much more laying under the surface.
My question is, where does the separation become fact and who determines that?

Marc Jacobs

So I've recently noticed people's obsession with Marc Jacobs. I admit the man's a creative genius, however people have seem to lose sight of the Marc behind the Perry Ellis' Kurt Cobain inspired line that got him fired in 1993. I think it's beautiful that his career has heightened since then, however I am one of those old-hearted fans.
I loved the grunge era, and I still transfer some of those elements into my daily routine, I think an oversize sweater should be an essential for every female, and fashion forward male.
I must admit, Marc Jacobs has become a penthouse, get-a-way home and household name, with his own labels as well as being the Creative Director at Louis Vuitton. However, I'm standing in the back of his show hoping that he won't forget where he's coming from, and incorporate some of this grunge background in his future endeavours.
For the Spring 2008 Marc by Marc Jacobs for Men featured a knitted Cardigan, that should've been a women's item, because I purchased it. And it gave the female form a certain contour that although it was draggy, it still showed that there's a female under there.
The rules of fashion say that short people shouldn't wear lenghty clothing because it makes them look shorter. However, in street wear fashion that rule has it's exceptions.
Keep in mind my fashion forward individuals, although there's rules to fashion, don't be subjected by them. Bend them if need be, because individuals are never collective.

Re-revolution of the pantsuit

Yves Saint Laurent, the father of androgyny would be proud of this years fall collections. The pants-suit seem to have made an extravagant comeback, with looks ranging from the wide leg high waist to the boot cut low rise to mid-waist skinnies. The pants suit gallivanting on runways ranging from Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, D&G, Derek Lam and the new YSL, would make Laurent smile in his grave.

Yves Saint Laurent

Boy by Band of Outsiders

Derek Lam

Dolce & Gabbana

Artist of the Month

Our choice for this month, and our first artist feature; is Kingdom.
Kingdom is a DJ from Brooklyn, New York. His sound is club/hip-hop with a dash of electro. He's an up and coming artist, and his stage presence is amazing. When Kingdom takes the stage, it's all his, he dances and his energy is mesmerizing.
His logo is a diamond cube embedded with himself as a cartoon character.
Kingdom has hosted parties all over the states and has spilled over in the United Kingdom. Go pick up his second volume mixtape.




This was initially suppose to be a single feature, but somewhere in mid-stream, Robot developed a fascination with Lady Gaga. So we decided to make this a double feature.
The 22 year old upper east side native, is a dance-pop phenomenon with a look that's futuristic-glam. She's not only a performer, but she also designs most of her outfits. This girl is THE fag-hag, with muses ranging from Cyndi Lauper to Andy Warhol.
She's a very talented individual, and she learned piano at the age of four, by ear; and wrote her first ballad at 13yrs old. She writes songs for the Pussy Cat Dolls, and has been asked to write for a series of Interscope artists.
When asked about fame, Gaga says, “The Fame is about how anyone can feel famous,” she explains. “Pop culture is art. It doesn’t make you cool to hate pop culture, so I embraced it and you hear it all over The Fame. But, it’s a sharable fame. I want to invite you all to the party. I want people to feel a part of this lifestyle.”

In my bag

There are certain items that should always be in every female purse. Foundation is a must; I personally prefer a mineral based foundation, because it doesn't clog your pores as much as a liquid based one would. Eyeliner to lift the eyes, a gel eyeliner has a more satin feel, and it lasts all day. Moisturizer is necessary to give the face a glow from the inside. A blush to give contour to the cheeks. Lipstick to get lip attention, or a conditioner for shine as well as to make your lips kissable. Now the law of attraction are through the sense of smell, so dash on some perfume ladies, and remember subtly is the best seduction tactic.

Euro-men or Ameri-men

European men maintain their charm in fine suits, women to adorn their arm and wine to savor each moment. Je ne sais coi reeks on them like the cologne they apply so diligently. Europe pays attention to men's fashion, which could be the primary reason they're eye candy; and I have a sweet tooth. I was watching Alfie just the other day, and Jude Law gave me insight on the Euro-man's way of life. Clothes tailored to perfection and ready to wear for Euro-men are like the polo button-ups that American men wear on a daily basis.
American men are more concerned about comfort as opposed to trends. Slacks and a blazer are just about how dressy an American man is willing to go. Khakis are more the everyday look for the Ameri-man, he doesn't put much thought into what to wear or how it fits his body type. It's a clear choice for me, the Euro-man is a lover, he thinks about his appearances and as shallow as that maybe, I'm floating at this level with no fear of drowning in the depth that everyone wants to swim in.

EURO-man




AMERI-man

Retro vs. Vintage?

Is there really a difference between the two? And if there is what is the difference.

VS.

Originality

Can originality ever be overdone?
This is a question I'm forever phased with, when people like Andre Leon Talley of Vogue wears floor-length capes, he's very exaggerated, simplicity is a thing of last century. It seems to me that Andre Leon's motto is "the bigger the better." After all the man is bigger than life, as he stands at 6'4 and 310pounds.
Heatherette's Richie Rich's exaggerated make-up and the use of Amanda Le pore(the tranny) on his runways, are a bit what can I say? Heatherette-esque, their style is incomprehensible, and unable to duplicate.
Michael Alig who's known for throwing the best underground club parties, has a certain a look that I would call a fashionable clown. He's a risk taker, in every sense of the word and he isn't concerned about what's the new trend, or what's fashion; because he sets his own rules.
Let me go very underground and refer to Akeem Bazar of Brooklyn New York, who is very club-kid meets thrift. The man wears a dress and a wig, and hey that's just what he does; from the ghetto neighbourhoods to the trendy tribeca; Akeem will wear whatever he feels like.
The question is then left, can originality reach a peak to where it becomes tacky? You tell me.

HOOD by AIR: Prince

Prince is the epitome of streetwear, he carries a silent cockiness and an unspoken charisma that turns head everytime he walks the street. His line, HOOD by AIR, has no correlation to anything I've seen before, it's very outside the box with a touch of futurism. This 20 year old exudes talent that cannot be challenged, and a look that's undefinable. Fashion wasn't a choice for him, it was embedded in his D.N.A, you can find him in the backstreets of L.E.S, to the streets of Harlem. Hood by Air's clothing can be found in Seven New York which is located on 110 Mercer on the backstreets of Soho; as well as in Classics.
What can I say about him? Except that he's an individual who's not afraid to take risks. He's high fashion with street slang, he's passionate yet very laxed. When I asked Prince what's his inspiration, he said, "the air around me, and the fact that I'm from the hood. Fashion isn't subjectory, it's room to express myself and that's what we wanna do, show that you can do more than that ghetto shit. Hood is being fearless, and the air is uncontrollable."

Paulina

The exemplar of a glam- trust fund baby with an edge. Paulina stands at a beautiful 5'7'' with legs that can knock out an insomniac. She runs her own website, consisting of S&M items and is also a designer as well as a performer.
I've recently discovered that she's working on an album, this girl doesn't sleep, she works a full-time job and still manages to record until the break of dawn. She is the manager at Anna Sui boutiques, a promotion she just recently accomplished. The beautiful girl with the exaggerated eyes and strong features can be seen walking the streets of the lower east and west villages. She manages to demand attention, without saying a word. She's domineering but never controlling and I find that she will be a vixen of the fashion world. Watch out world, here she comes in her suicide heels ready to kill.

MASSACRE

Robot's a young aspiring rapper/performer with a big dream of one day dancing on the moon, who has already started to set foot into the Fashion World. Not only as a muse for Kevin Amato, David Bergman and Devon Comming; but he has already started working on his own magazine co-founded with Tishka DuPera called "Nystagmus".
You can find Robot walking the backstreets of the Village or on Broadway with his crew of young stylish aspiring artists. With his street swag and humility; this talented and young powerhouse is destined to make it far. Robot isn't subjected to the boundaries that many of his peers seem to be concerned with, he's ever-evolving and his imagination is so vivid that it's surreal the ideas that spurges into a Technicolor world. His charisma is contagious, it's the art room of our youth whenever he's around, because he's playful as well as creative and very passionate about his visions.

SILENT

Mysterious and sexy are two of the many words used to describe Tishka DuPera; this young photographer with a flair for fashion and a dream of one day owning her own Boutique with an Art Gallery feel, was born in Nassau, Bahamas. This beauty's cultural background all contributes to her obscure features. She has become one of New York's street fashion trend setters, with a versatile style ranging from Mod-Punk-Glam.
I once asked her, where did you get your style from, she responded," I'm an artist, I'm not a 'fashionista' or any of those ridiculous labels they wanna subject me to, I love art, fashion happens to be within that element, so I guess I had no choice but to merge them."
With her edgy unique look and her bold walk, Tishka stands out at a strong 5'10; she is sure to be the Amazon of the Fashion World.

Breaking Grounds

This is our first posting. We're two starving artists(I know you've heard that in almost every interview) looking for an outlet.