With poise and Grace.

 

Grace Coddington. More to come soon. 

If you don't know who she is...that is a problem.

Frost Yourself: A Little Holiday Opulence

So over Thanksgiving break, I was sitting at home on the couch with my family watching "How To Lose A Guy in Ten Days", a romantic comedy about a journalist that is doing research for her article by dating (and severely traumatizing) a guy by doing all the wrong things. Of course, there's a cozy and predictable ending, but what I thought was particularly interesting was the jewelry featured in the film. During the film, Ben (Matthew McConaughey) is vying for an advertising account with De Lauer, the distributor of 70% of the world's diamonds, and the film culminates in an event allowing women to wear a variety of expensive and luxurious baubles at a gala. Ben wins the account on the tagline, "Ladies, Frost yourself."

Of course the wheels in my mind started turning.

In jewelry specifically, there is a rekindled interest in dramatic opulence. Bling-bling, ice, frosting or whatever ridiculous misnomer is popular today, has re-emerged transformed and updated for 2010. So what does this look like? There's something particularly trendy about the newest bling, yet there is something particularly refined about the pieces. One particular line that is the essence of this new definition is nOir, a line by former stylist Leeora Catalan. Catalan, after working for Ralph Lauren and Oscar De La Renta after school, created nOir fourteen years ago.

These are two of my favorite pieces from nOir's collection. "The CW Claw" earrings have an interesting and fresh shape, while having the perfect amount amount of sparkle. While "The Artisan" earrings offer something more timeless and the insertion of the yellow stone adds a surprising element. This holiday season, as Ben might say, "Frost Yourselves." Check out these items and more at karmaloop.com and noirjewelry.com 

Minimalist Maximus

Minimal, I would like to introduce you to Maximal. You may now fall in love and live happily ever after.

Volume. Color. Sharp Lines, yet Ballooning Silhouettes. What more could you ask for?
Good looking out, Jil Sander.

WWWW? What Would Whitley Wear?: Ode to an Iconic Southern Belle

WWWW? No that isn't a typo at all. It's an honest question: What Would Whitley Wear (if her character were living in the 21st century)? I've come across a number of different designers that I could see Whitley Gilbert, southern belle extraordinaire, from the Spring 2010 RTW Collections.

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Whitley Gilbert, southern drawl, structured suits and Chanel purse in arm, redefined fashion for the average college student at Hillman College, the historically black college featured on The Cosby Show spin-off,  A Different World. If cost didn't matter and Whitley's 20-something character was moved to the 21st century, what would she wear?

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent surprisingly reminded me so much of Whitley. If she stepped into 2010 she would love YSL's puff-sleeve blouses, the bright red colors and of course the ruffles! Whitley's southern mentality would definitely approve of the this collection. 

Marc Jacobs

Whitley was best known for her Southern Drawl and over-the-top accessories. I think MJ's new collection with an updated 70's style pant-suit and large sun hat would be a quintessential Whitley-in-the-21st-century look.

 

 This post is inspired by my wonderful and southern LS, Lauren Vickers. 

Please baby, pleasebaby, please baby, baby baby please!

Right this very second I am currently in the library struggling to write a 4-5 page paper on She's Gotta Have It by Spike Lee. So of course I decided to take a study break and check out one of my favorite shoe and accessory designers Melody Ehsani and I come across this gem. A timeless tribute to the over animated, hyper-sexual, Brooklynite biker Mars Blackmon. Thank you Melody, for paying tribute to the one and only man that has probably ever had sex in his Air Jordans (maybe...)

A New Take on an Old Black Aesthetic.

"We are the intellectual prep, preparing the steps for success dressed in the attire that evidently reflects an inner drive that can rival a sustenance farmer cultivating his harvest. So we sew the ivy, invoke the flavor and reap cool.."

  


I do love a well-dressed black man and the Black Ivy feature on the website Street Etiquette displays a variety of meticulously styled black men dressed to the nines. The feature is an ode to the roots of black academia, the variety of historically black colleges and universities.

The project is an exquisite entanglement of character, style, education, perspective and art to produce a new vantage point on an old aesthetic. One of the many facets of the black man is presented handsomely through an array of color and black-and-white photographs. Without further ado, please check out Black Ivy and then have a gander around Street Etiquette. You won't be disappointed.

My Summer in a New York Minute!

Hi my lovely (and probably few) followers. Unfortunately balancing a full time job, taking two classes AND blogging posed to be fairly difficult! Alas, I am back in business and I know you guys have missed me so I'll fill you in on what I've been busy with in the big apple...

Interning in the Fashion District.

I was very lucky to be able to obtain an internship with the Manhattan based showroom, Point A Showroom. Point A Showroom showcases a variety of different women's contemporary lines including Corey Lynn Calter, Whitney Eve and Riller and Fount. I had an amazing summer working in the showroom amongst women who were knowledgeable about the fashion industry and more than willing to answer my questions. From my experience at Point A, I gained a breadth of knowledge about showrooms, buyers and designers in the industry. Some exciting highlights were meeting two of the designers that are featured in the showroom and working three days at the fast-paced ENK Trade Show.

Musicals.

This summer I had the opportunity to see a variety of on and off-broadway musicals and plays. Some of my all-time favorites were Fela! and Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson. Fela! narrates the story of Nigerian musician turned political activist, Fela Kuti.  The theater was recreated into a nightclub with bright lights, paintings and tons of color. Known as environmental theater, the entire space was transformed into a night club with color, texture and paintings so that you felt like you were apart of the musical versus watching it from the sideline. If the theater alone didn't take you back to liveliness of The Shrine (the club Kuti played at), the ensemble of dancers (who were featured as Kuti's flock of wives) would make you feel as if you were sitting in the nightclub itself.

Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson also employed the use of environmental theater to tell our 7th president's life story via a rock musical. Bloody, Bloody was intensely decorated with rich fabrics, chandeliers and walls decorated with portraits of Presidents past. With catchy tunes like "Populism" and "Life Sucks", its difficult to not be impressed by the story-telling through emo rock that this musical displays. Check it out on Youtube and make sure to keep an eye on this one; it's going to Broadway!

Enjoying the Culture of the City.

Between cooling off after sunset in Washington Square Park and admiring the ease and agility of skateboarders in Union Square, I spent a lot of my time observing the culture that the city has to offer. Contortionists and Sand artists alike, I think the most enjoyable aspect of the summer was how much New Yorker's utilize their parks. It's wonderful that in a concrete jungle (lol) much like NYC you can find a little piece of mind in green oases known as New York City Public Parks.

Contortionists in Washington Square Park

Sand artists.

The crazy fashions of characters like Dandy.

Wonderful Company. 

Duke-In-New Yorkers

 In addition to enjoying the perks of the city, the company that I kept was wonderful. The Duke in New York program is 11 weeks long and it's safe to say that out of all the people I met this summer there are some that had more of an impact than others. Between the influx of visitors, the various strobe light dorm parties and spending an idyllic summer in the big apple I know for sure I made some wonderful new friends, solidified existing bonds and had an amazing time all the while. 

Lovely Line Sisters Visiting the Big Apple.