Ill Narative :: Miranda Priestly & Nigel

Ill Narative :: Miranda Priestly & Nigel

The Devil Wears Prada is one of my favorite films! You know, one of those flicks you could watch a million and one times and never get tired of it. I purchased it the first week it came out on DVD and have been watching it habitually, at least once a month, since. Beyond all the great fashion and glamorous nature of it all, it serves as constant motivator to continue to pursue my dreams in this industry and always be true who I am. Below are my 2 favorite quotes from the movie. Powerful stuff...

The Devil Wears Prada - words from Miranda Presley

This... 'stuff'? Oh... ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don't know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise, it's not lapis, it's actually cerulean. You're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar De La Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn't it, who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of 8 different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic casual corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff.

The Devil Wears Prada - words from Nigel

Andy, be serious. You are not trying. You are whining. What is it that you want me to say to you, huh? Do you want me to say, "Poor you. Miranda's picking on you. Poor you. Poor Andy"? Hmm? Wake up, six. She's just doing her job. Don't you know that you are working at the place that published some of the greatest artists of the century? Halston, Lagerfeld, de la Renta. And what they did, what they created was greater than art because you live your life in it. Well, not you, obviously, but some people. You think this is just a magazine, hmm? This is not just a magazine. This is a shining beacon of hope for... oh, I don't know... let's say a young boy growing up in Rhode Island with six brothers pretending to go to soccer practice when he was really going to sewing class and reading Runway under the covers at night with a flashlight. You have no idea how many legends have walked these halls. And what's worse, you don't care. Because this place, where so many people would die to work you only deign to work. And you want to know why she doesn't kiss you on the forehead and give you a gold star on your homework at the end of the day. Wake up, sweetheart.

LAFW :: EM & Co x Angela Dean

LAFW :: EM & Co x Angela Dean

I absolutely loved the intimate, invite only event that I attended last week! EM & Co Presents 'UP NEXT: L.A. DESIGNERS: BRAVE NEW WORLD' was great! The event was a fashion installation featuring collections from designer Angela Dean and EM Reconstruct (upcycled army gear reconstructed by Krys & Jack and EM). DJ Gabriel Diggs set the mood for the evening. Event Sponsors & Partners included Agenda Magazine, HONEST Beverages, Cinema Makeup School, Habibi Bath & Body.

About Angela Dean/Deanzign:
With critically-acclaimed designs, celebrity designer, Angela Dean, has a loyal following of Hollywood's top celebrities, and her fashion design powerhouse has evolved into one of the hottest 'best-kept fashion secrets' in the music and entertainment industry. Founded in the 80s, Deanzign's statement-making creations made the wearer look and feel like a star. Angela Dean's gowns have been worn by Paris Hilton, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry, and Queen Latifah, to name just a few. Angela was asked to design for Hollywood's eight leading ladies, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Michelle, Elise Neal, Lorretta Devine, and Regina King, featured on the Collector's Edition of the 30th Anniversary Essence cover, the highest-selling issue in the history of Essence magazine. Angela's beautiful, red silk taffeta ball gown in the 2007 fall collection, was featured in Paris Hilton's perfume ad campaign "Can Can." For more information, please visit: Deanzign.

About EM Reconstruct:
EM Reconstruct represents the latest trend in eco-conscious fashion: Up-cycling of garments. Combining edgy trend-setting style with eco-friendly practices, existing garments are re-fashioned and modified, sometimes beyond recognition, into new garments. Each garment is individually created and is generally unique; no two are alike. The EM Reconstruct line, first introduced in 2005, releases a number of mini-collections per year, sometimes grouped around a theme, exclusively available at EM & Co. The March 2010 mini-collection is a collaboration from designers Krys-N-Jack and Eveline Morel. More information on EM Reconstruct is available at: emandco@sbcglobal.net.

LAFW :: Project Ethos

LAFW :: Project Ethos

Since this past Fall I've anxiously awaited Project ETHOS this Spring! Friend and designer Jenny P, once again hooked me up for the show at The Music Box in Hollywood , this past Friday, March 19th. Project ETHOS, known as the “incubator for emerging artists in fashion, music and art,” is a quarterly, red carpet event in Los Angeles that showcases all emerging Millennial Generation forms of creativity in one house, on one night. By merging fashion, music and art into one giant display of genius, Project ETHOS creates an innovative form of exposure for artists, a new scouting location for talent representatives, and a fresh outing for event goers. Project ETHOS is on a mission to bridge the gap between the Indie and Mainstream worlds and provide opportunity for previously unrecognized talent. With a potent ear to the street, the ETHOS team seeks out extraordinarily talented fresh faces, creating a link to decision makers and industry professionals. Project ETHOS is the next generation of exposing all artistry to the media, public and industry.

I enjoyed this show as much as I did last season! It was so well coordinated and even bigger with even more attendees boasting a packed house! The show featured 10 fashion lines, 80 models, live music performances by Bruno Mars ("Nothing on You") & Love Grenades, DJ Sets from Mando Fresko of Power 106, 12 visual artists, and 5 fashion vendors. I was most delighted with the fact that this season's show featured a menswear line ironically called Seth Wellington, III! Awesome collection of minimalistic basics, well tailored and designed.

Great night!

Pre-LAFW :: Lynn Dee

Pre-LAFW :: Lynn Dee

Getting a headstart before all the rest, friend and designer Rhonda Persons (above) gave us an amazing LA Fashion Week kickoff with her collection Lynn Dee, showing at Falcon in Hollywood last Monday! I've seen Rhonda's collection before, but what made this occasion so special is that she debuted her menswear line alongside her chic line of women's clothing! She made me pinky swear that I'd come cause she wanted to get my honest opinion on her work. My thoughts? She did a great job! Lynn Dee's menswear extension is definitely new and refreshing. Check out the photos below!

Click here to follow the designer and get updates on Lynn Dee!

"We" Invented Cool

"We" Invented Cool

February is over, but like Kanye so eloquently put it, "[we] make Black history everyday, [we] don't need a month." My favorite men's style magazine, GQ, just published an article of their picks for the top 20 Black Style Pioneers. They included one of my all-time favorite signers, Marvin Gaye, so I'm all for it!

Click here to see the rest.

Ill Narrative :: @MissesLA

Ill Narrative :: @MissesLA

Last night after work I got caught up with my old buddy, Elyse, over crab salad and Crystal Geyser. It's been quite a while since we've seen one another. Life and everything in between has kept us apart, but we finally said enough is enough. It truly was one of the most therapeutic, hilarious heart-to-hearts I've had in a while.

One of the things that she said that stood out the most is the quote you see above. Fashion is indeed my girlfriend right now. I have the most extreme case of tunnel vision and couldn't be hungrier to make my dreams come true and attain all my goals...

I can't wait till we get married. Courting her has been rewarding enough. It's only going to get better from here!

Androgynous Fashionistas

Androgynous Fashionistas

In the spirit of all things men's life&style, I want to highlight a few female fashionistas I really admire. These women took the traditional rules of style and slammed dunked them in the garbage! For them, being ladies has nothing to do with frilly dressed, bedazzled jewelry and 4-inch heels...and in some cases their sexuality. Not at all. They all take different elements of menswear, make them their own and somehow manage to maintain their undeniable sense of femininity.

Sham Shirley is the other half of the LateBoots team along side Marquis Phifer, as well as member of The Brooklyn Circus creative team. Her cheek bones, affinity for varsity jackets, perfect denim, attention to detail and natural makeup make her one of my absolute favorites of the androgynous movement.

Does anyone really need an introduction to comedienne/daytime talk show host Ellen Degeneres? She's been a household name for the past 20 years for her talent, infectious personality and advocacy for the gay community. She's one of my personal favorites because her ability to pull off those perfectly tailored suits. She has the BEST taste when it comes to pulling the most classic elements of men's dress clothing.

I've seen Italian designer Alessandra Colombo's picture many times on renowned photographer Scott Schuman's site, The Sartorialist, and have followed her style ever since.

My Sartorial Roots :: Mr. Rogers

My Sartorial Roots :: Mr. Rogers

Fred Rogers is probably best known as the host of the television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, in production from 1968 to 2001. I grew up with Fred in my morning line-up right along side Sesame Street and David the Gnome. But little did I know while singing along with "Won't You Be My Neighbor" and learning about mathematics, tolerance and fictitious worlds in train tunnels, he was also teaching me about personal style.

In retrospect, one of my favorite parts of the show was at the very beginning when he changed from what appeared to be his work clothes comprised of a nice blazer and dress shoes into a colorful cable knit cardigan and canvas sneakers. Mr. Rogers dispelled all notions that style is a priority over comfort. He epitomized the term gentlemen; always classy with his button-collar shirt, patterned tie and perfectly pressed slacks.

Today, I find myself constantly borrowing elements from the man I admired and loved so much as a child. Everything he wore, even 40+ years ago, are still staples in my closet.

Fred McFeely Rogers. Educator, Presbyterian minister, songwriter, television host...STYLE ICON.

Style it You!

Style it You!

One of the greatest exercises of creativity is taking an article of clothing that upon first glance may not be you, but instead taking it as a challenge and styling it to make it completely yours. That's exactly what BLOW Clothing, by Los Angeles based designer Darryl Threat, does for me. Described by the creator himself as "urban couture," BLOW combines colorful American basics with a unique street edge in manner that I've never seen before.

I'd like to think my style is more classic and prep than anything. Most of the clothes I own are timeless basics that can be combined with just about anything. BLOW is the only "urban" line I've allowed access into my closet because its so thoughtfully designed and so well executed in its intention.

The latest piece from BLOW (an exclusive that hasn't yet been released online) is from the Black Diamond Collection - the "Please Don't Provoke the Goons" hoodie & sweatshirt. I LOVE it! Such an ingenious kitschy term! It reminds us that no matter how stylish you are, everyone has a little bit of a "goon" inside - and that can be interpreted in more ways than one. I'm a cerebral beast and when provoked my intellect, creativity and aggression are released!

See how I incorporated the 'Goon' into my style below!

Click here and purchase some BLOW for yourself!

"All Black Everything" Event

"All Black Everything" Event

Last night I attended friend and recording artist/producer Malcolm Harvest's "All Black Everything" event. I had an awesome time! What an intensely refreshing experience! It's very rare that I come across an event where people appreciate looking good, being professional and having a great time. Everyone looked amazing in their mostly all black attire. There were live performances by local artists and even a short set by Malcolm himself!

Amongst the Angeleno elite, the party was also attended by Chris Brown, producer Polo da Don (who refused to take a photo with me), and actor Tristan Wilds. It was crazy to be up in VIP standing right next to these guys...and the groupies who were throwing themselves at them. Haha!

I also had an opportunity to do some networking and met my newest partner-in-crime, Earl Grae. Definitely a pleasure talking to him about our outlooks on men's fashion and what we're both trying to do. We have big things in store!

Shout out to my TN fam and other friends Kianna, Keisa, Symphony, Tiffany, Asia, Bryan, Kitti and Trend! Many Kudos to Harvest! Awesome, awesome party! I look forward to many more!

Wardrobe breakdown --- $5 grey dress shirt (Goodwill), $5 black wool blazer (thrift), $10 black bow tie (Men's Warehouse), $0 sequenced pocket square (from Kianna's dress), $10 Kenneth Cole black flat front slacks (Marshall's), $4 black wingtips (thrift).

The Infamous Denim Shirt

The Infamous Denim Shirt

GQ Magazine recently had a great article titled "10 for '10" which includes all the essential basics every man needs for Spring. The article had a feature called "The Multi-Talented Denim Shirt."

It can be one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe. Dress up your denim by pairing it with a suit, buttoning it up under a cardigan, or knotting up a knit tie with a tie bar. It’s like getting four shirts in one.

I think of the denim shirt as the grown man's white t-shirt. It truly can be paired with virtually anything! I purchased the one you see above for $4 at my local thrift. They have one just about every time I go. I simply styled it with a camping vest, bandanna and the signature denim heart. Great look! Minimal cost. You know how I do!

Pick one up for yourself and get a creative with it. They're definitely in season, so even if you're not into thrifting, you should be able to find one at most retailers.