miss new bootie

Say it's not so! Bootie NYC is over for the season? I've been dying to go to one of their mashup-dance parties and now that I'm done with school and liberating-ly unemployed it seems as though they've up and gone on some sort of "summer hibernation" not to come back until September. Excuse me Bootie NYC but everyone knows you dance your best in carefree summer heat.

I guess I can forgive them because they've expanded their parties to 8 different cities on 3 different continents and managed to keep things fresh in the process. For those of you not on the east coast, you might have one last chance to catch them in action. Bootie founders, DJs Adrian & the Mysterious D of A+D fame have two more Cali parties:

SATURDAY

JUNE 28

SAN FRANCISCO

BOOTIE, DNA Lounge.

San Francisco's bi-monthly mashup bootleg party. 9 pm – 3 am. 375 11th St. at Harrison, San Francisco

SATURDAY

JULY 5

LOS ANGELES

BOOTIE LA, Echoplex.

LA's monthly mashup bootleg party. 9 pm – 2 am. 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park

But if you're like me and confined to the East, be sure to hit up their website- it's full of free downloads so you can stage your own mashup party. I personally recommend Decepta-Freak-On (MISSY ELLIOTT vs. LE TIGRE) and An Honest M.I.A. (THE BRAVERY vs. M.I.A.) .

More info at APLUSD.

take a bow

For years Steven Meisel has worked his magic for Vogue, specifically Vogue Italia, gifting fashion lovers with intricate editorial after enticingly intricate editorial. He's also a close friend of Madonna's and is responsible for the photographs in her book, Sex.

And yet, Meisel is probably one of the most anonymous people in the industry despite his extreme importance. I use the word 'anonymous' loosely. Very loosely. The sheer quantity of his work alone should make him a household name. But as I've always said - fashion photographers do not get enough credit for their role in making the world go round and so I'll do my small part to change that. While we all anxiously await the release of the "all-Black" edition of Vogue Italia, I thought I would share one of my all time favorite editorial spreads that Meisel did for Vogue Italia in December of 2007.

Images courtesy of fashionaddictdiary.

hat topic

Call me old-fashioned, but there's just something about hats that just makes me swoon. Maybe it's the fact that I recently watched My Fair Lady or that I drooled over some photos of my grandmothers back in the day, but there's just something about a hat that adds the perfect amount of sophistication and flair to any outfit.



This being said, I am definitely not denying the difficulty that inevitably ensues when trying to find the perfect hat. Unfortunately for us, we no longer live in a society that requires the proper head attire to gear us up for our special events. The days of the ascot are over (at least for those of us in the states) and thus those couture hats I pine over are a bit inaccessible, although still absolutely drool-worthy.



Additionally, hats are particularly hard to pull off. However, any sophista-funk's closet isn't quite complete without a statement hat- and summer '08 is as good a time as any to get started on that collection, especially since the hat has seen somewhat of a revival in the past few seasons. Here are a few picks to ease you in:


enjoy!

more bang for your buck

In light of summer's rising gas prices (and the pain you feel as you pay to fill your tank) it might be worth your while to check out the ever-so- handy gas price directory on msn.com. The directory lets you find the cheapest gas in your area, which may not seem like much but could make all the difference (especially for all you recent unemployed grads...)

dance yourself green

As the world is propelling itself into its new and much needed green mantra, we are being bombarded with interesting and clever ways to be eco-friendly, making sustainability our new best friend. While, I'm sure, many of us have read about different ways to go green, spanning from supporting organic farming to solar powered homes to cars that run on vegetable oil, the green revolution is running full throttle, and frankly, i'm just trying to catch up. However, a new experiment out in London has me thinking, maybe there's some hope for me. For all my fellow dance-a-holics out there, Dr. Earth has come to the rescue. This "doctor," founder of the organization Club4Climate , has managed to harness the power of dance for the betterment of the environment. The organization's mission statement goes as follows,

Dr. Earth wants you to be environmentally aware, but he sees no reason why
environmental awareness and hedonism shouldn't go hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive. With the profits from the music, the nights and the destination going to Friends of the Earth, all you really have to do is dance to save the world.

Call me crazy, but this has me intrigued. Apparently, the club floor functions as some sort of energy sponge, equipped with springs and power generating crystal blocks that absorb the energy your dancing feet impart on the floor. This energy is then pooled into nearby batteries (therefore charging and recharging them) which provide the power for the entire club. Crazy, right? Club4Climate claims this dance energy can produce up to 60% (!) of the energy needed to fuel your night out. Additionally, entrance is free if you can prove you got there in an eco-friendly way (i.e. walking, biking, public transportation). So get those dancing shoes on, it's good for the environment!

For more information on the logistics of the club floor, check out this article.

i pledge allegiance

photos by Dean Isidro

Big thanks to Emily for alerting me to Dave Colman's article about early '80s fashion on The New York Times site . His article, "Recalling the '80s? Try Selective Memory", was a much needed intervention into the art of buying vintage and a reminder that dressing in red, white and blue isn't just for squares. I also appreciated his shout out to Trash & Vaudeville, yeah... on St. Mark's. The slide-show that accompanied the article, with photos by Dean Isidro, really invigorated me. I won't say much more, read the article - and enjoy the photos!

do the shuffle

Even the unemployed are allowed to celebrate the weekend!

Here are eight songs that got me through the week and might help to ease you into the rainy weekend. Please note that I included a song by The Filthy Youth not because of Ed Westwick, of Gossip Girl fame, but because I actually enjoy their sound.

gratuitous photo of ed westwick courtesy of cwtv

Good, with that clarification behind us, I also thought I would share my favorite music video of the week. In the past I've been known to be sippin on some haterade when it comes to both Maroon 5 and Rihanna but the video for "If I Never See Your Face Again" has me changing my tune. Girl looks super fly.

Now, where the party at?

wear the rainbow

numero 74 editorial

In spite of all the fantastic press that they've received recently, We Love Colors has managed to stay affordable, one of the reasons that Lucky magazine named them one of the best shopping websites of '08. None of their tights cost more than $15, which is a steal when you consider the quality and the variety!



They also offer fishnets, leotards, unitards, and just about any other 'hosiery' item that you can think of for men, women, and children in a spectrum of colors that beat American Apparel . In addition to their 45 'standard' colors they also have 13 "unique splash colors" that deserve some serious consideration.


I'm loving these gloves. They might be just the motivation that I need to start lifting dumbbells.

save the date!

photo courtesy of Bendib Cartoon.

Today is Juneteenth! For those of you who don't know, Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It stared in Galveston, Texas in 1865; June 19th is marked as African American Emancipation Day! Sadly, not enough people know about the significance of this date. Time has done an overview of the history and cultural impact of Juneteenth and the continued struggle to have it recognized as a federal holiday; get educated!

Celebrate and support:

Shoot Films, Not People Productions is having an amazing event in conjunction with the Slave Theater in Brooklyn. The 2^nd Annual 'Link Up and Get Free' Juneteenth Celebration is a FREE event that will feature some of Brooklyn's finest performing artist, local fashion designers, vendors and food that reflect the spirit of the holiday.

Sunday, Noon – 7Pm

Slave Theater 1215 Fulton Street Brooklyn, NY 11216

The Slave Theater is in danger of closing so be sure to show your support! For more information on this event and the history of the Slave Theater, log onto Save 'The Slave Theater' More information about Shoot Films, Not People Productions can be found at their website.

got a secret

You kids have probably been getting emails about the Modest Mouse secret show, making you stop and wonder, just how secret can it be? But a well connected pal of mine (i.e. hipster royalty/queen-e/know-it-all) says it's not forreal sold out, like the website professes. Tix will be available at the door. If you're a die-hard fan, you might want to take the chance... just don't blame me if it doesn't work out!

Modest Mouse

Fri 6/20

18+

Doors at 1:00am / Show at 1:30am

details at /photo courtesy of: Music Hall of Williamsburg

bidding for a cause

Can't get enough of Project Runway? If you watched Bravo's recent A-List awards, you probably caught the grand finale, which boasted a special fashion show featuring past runway favorites' (Michael Knight, Laura Bennett, Allison Kelly and Sweet P. among others) designs. What you may or may not know about this surprise catwalk is that you now have a chance to get your hands on those one of a kind creations. Bravo is currently auctioning off each of these dresses and using the proceeds to help support UNICEF's relief efforts out in Myanmar. You can check them out here.
Happy bidding.

it's almost here...

The four ladies who will be gracing the cover: Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell

I cannot wait for the all-black July issue of Italian Vogue. We've been hearing about it for months now and I really believe it's not going to disappoint. This issue has the potential to revolutionize the business, taking note of the serious lack of black models (and all models of color) from important fashion publications and runway shows. This debate, which unfortunately only came to light as a serious problem this past year after the New York Fashion Week shows, is now taking center stage in the industry, causing a well deserved stir.

Sessilee Lopez, photographed by Steven Meisel

World renown and respected photographer, Steven Meisel, was chosen to apply his genius to these soon to be historic pages. The work that has been leaked out thus far is stunning; I can't wait to get my hands all over a copy. You can read about his experience and feelings on the matter as well as some insights into Italian Vogue's editor Franca Sozzani's thought process in developing this issue in today's Thursday Styles on the New York Times website.

Naomi Campbell, photographed by Steven Meisel

photos courtesy of the New York Times

legendary women

Coco Before Chanel, directed by Anne Fontaine, will tell the story of Gabrielle Chanel (that’s Coco to you) before she became so terribly, terribly, famous. Of the film, Fontaine has said, “I wanted to follow the interior path of this young woman who was poor, without education, but who had an uncommon personality that was ahead of her time”. Audrey Tautou will play Chanel; which seems perfectly believable to me! While this news has been floating around for a while now, I still have yet to hear who is in charge of the wardrobe! I can only imagine the competition was quite stiff.

Additionally, Tautou will be replacing Nicole Kidman as the official face of Chanel No. 5. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, of Amélie fame, will be directing the ad campaign and the commercial. 2008 is shaping up to be a pretty incredible year for Tautou.

Ps- the rumors are true, Harry Potter actress,Emma Watson, will be replacing Kiera Knightley for Chanel. That choice is a tad bit questionable.

Sister Sister

Design duo Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato's jewelry line, Lizzy Fortunato Jewels, is not your average run of the mill fad jewelry. This sister act, which is being likened to the genious and phenomenon that is Rodarte (check them out- they are FANTASTIC), began as a fledgling business during their time at Duke University.

Keeping it in the family: Kathryn (left) and Lzzy Fortuanto

These twin sisters, who, by the way, are only 24 (there's still hope for us!), are taking the fashion world by storm and are set to have their unique, bold jewelry walk down the runway this September at New York's Fall Fashion Week. What I like about their look is the collage-esque feel they create through the use of everyday objects. Their collections are filled with interesting and vintage looking objects that are simple yet make a definite statement.





You can check out their website here.

Photos courtesy of Nylon Magazine.

fashion alliance

You could buy your scarves for cheap in Chinatown or you could buy them from A Peace Treaty and be a part of something bigger. A Peace Treaty is a company started by two unlikely friends, Farah Malik, a Pakistani Muslim, and Dana Arbib, a Libyan Jew. The company's goal is to create employment opportunities for skilled artisans who are living in the midst of socio-political strife.

Meg Cuna, editor of Lucky Magazine (swoon)

Each of their collections focuses on a particular region and accessory and the selection is purposefully kept small and marketed as "limited edition". The 2008 collection is all about finely woven or hand-loomed scarves from the Punjab Province of Southern Asia.

J2K of Floss

The scarves are a bit pricey($88 and up), considering imitations are everywhere, but you're supporting an earnest company and you'll also be buying some peace of mind- at any given moment there can only 29 other people walking around with the same scarf! Oh yeah, and you're totally helping people. Totally.

atrak

Plus Atrak likes them so it's gotta be hot shit.

name to watch: William Tempest

For all of you aspiring designers and artists out there, you know the beginnings of stardom is everything but glamorous. We spend our days slaving away, creating beautiful things while trying to convince the world of their worth. However, one young gentleman is making it seem like a piece of cake, and we are all living vicariously through him.


23 year old, William Tempest all but caused a stir last year with his graduate collection at the London College of Fashion. The collection, which was inspired by 1940s film noir, demonstrated the young designers talent and vision. Tempest recreated the glamorous feel of the 40s yet still managed to give his line an edgy, modern sophistication. Lucky for us, Tempest's talents have not gone unnoticed; the designer recently launched his own label and is set to send his collection down the runway this September in London. If you're still partial to Tempest's debut designs, you still have a chance to get your hands on them- they are available on Ninaandlola.com.

the audacity of racism

Supposedly, these pins first started appearing at Texas Republican convention but now it seems as though they- along with hatred and bigotry- have crept across the nation. I'm not naive and so I won't say that I'm shocked but seriously people, have some shame. I will personally offer to buy anyone, I see wearing this button a copy of bell hooks' killing rage: Ending Racism.

The source of the pins is largely anonymous as they could be recreated by any idiot with a button machine and too much time on their hands but now it seems as though there are people willing to publically capitalize on this racialized anti-Obama sentiment.
The SockObama Co. has created this "toy", a Curious George inspired Obama doll. Yes it is 2008, just in case you were getting confused. When asked why they would ever think that in this day and age, comparing a person- more specifically a Black person- to a monkey was okay, the company issued this statement:

We simply made a casual and affectionate observation one night, and a charming association between a candidate and a toy we had when we were little. We wonder now if this might be a great opportunity to take this moment to really try and transcend still existing racial biases. We think that if we can do this together, maybe it will behoove us a nation and maybe we'll even begin to truly communicate with one another more tenderly, more real even.

I'm sorry, what? Affectionate observation? Charming association?

Somewhere in the distance, I hear Nina Simone and Langston Hughes singing The Backlash Blues.

good clean fun

Have you ever written your name or drawn a smiley face on the surface of a dirty car? Or maybe a naughty lymeric on the side of a truck? If your answer was yes then you, my friend, should consider a career as a reverse graffiti artist. It’s legal, there’s lots of money to be made, and you can still get street cred.

Reverse graffiti, or "clean tagging", is the process of removing dirt from a surface leaving behind non-traditional, paintless, graffiti. This "new" trend is being used in advertising campaigns for companies like Microsoft and Smirnoff- you know, corporate empires looking to give themselves eco-friendly makeovers. But more importantly, reverse graffiti is being used to beautify cities across the globe and raise awareness about the fragile state of mother earth.

also, it's just plain dope.


If you want to know more about reverse graffiti be sure to check out The Reverse Graffiti Project in San Fransisco. Director, Doug Pray made a documentary about British artist, Paul Curtis (also known as Moose) and the 140 ft. installation that Curtis created in San Francisco's Broadway Tunnel. The mural was a promotional project for Green Works, an environmentally friendly line of cleaning supplies made primarily from plants.

images courtesy of treehugger, inhabitat, and reverse graffiti project

speaking up, speaking out

excerpt from the souls of black girls

Producer, Daphne S. Valerius, cites her own experiences as a young girl struggling with her own identity and self worth as inspiration for this project. Valerius hoped of becoming a performing artist but because of her low self-esteem and lack of confidence she repressed these desires. Later on in life, as an accomplished scholar at St. Johns, Valerius, with the guidance of Dr. Lez Edmond, started a project entitled Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence: The Effects of Mass Media on Women of Color...Forgotten. This project would continue to develop over the years and while enrolled in the Journalism Master’s Program at Emerson College, Valerius expanded her undergraduate project into her master's thesis- The Souls of Black Girls.

Daphne Valerius

This documentary includes commentary from Regina King, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gwen Ifill, Chuck D, and Michaela Angela Davis as well as interviews with young women discussing their own self image and thoughts on the media. The project was created in the hopes of provoking dialogue amongst women of color- honest dialogue that would challenge all of us to reflect on our own relationships with the media, our representations, and our senses of self.

For more information: The Souls of Black Girls.

felicidades

Congrats are in order for Wesleyan alum, Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast and crew of In The Heights. Yesterday they won the Tony award for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre.

The coveted Tony award joins this impressive list:

• 2007 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut, In the Heights
• 2007 Clarence Derwent Award, In the Heights
• 2007 Obie Award for Music and Lyrics, In the Heights
• 2007 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance, In the Heights
• 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical, In the Heights
• 2007 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, In the Heights
• 2007 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Off-Broadway Musical, In the Heights

name to know: Chanel Iman

christian dior, fall '08

Not all models make it to the big league but some just start there. In February '06, Chanel Iman made her runway debut in NYC for heavy hitters: Anna Sui, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, and Proenza Schouler.

anna sui, fall 08

Now, at the tender age of 19, Chanel Iman is considered to be Phillip Lim's muse. How does one go about getting a title like Muse? Well, I would imagine you start by being fierce 24/7.

At the Costume Institute Gala, May '08.

I don't think it hurts either that Chanel Iman is able to call model-legends Tyra Banks and Iman, "personal friends". Iman (who she was fortuitously named after) even interviewed her for an article in Vibe magazine in March of '07. Now that's major.

photos courtesy of nymag.