All About Fashion: September 2013

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Rick Owens RTW Spring 2014

Hello All,

I know I am a couple of days late posting this, but I have been so busy. If you all follow fashion, like I do, you will know that Paris Fashion Week (PFW) is going on. One collection I was excited to read about is Rick Owens RTW Spring 2014 collection. I have always been a fan of Rick Owens and his designs. He has impeccable skills when it comes to design and construction, but this Spring collection that he showed for PFW had me taken by surprise when I read about it on Women's Wear Daily (WWD).

Owen's signature color for all of his collections is black, but what excited me about this collection was that instead of using models, he used women from four American college step teams, the Zetas, Momentums, Soul Steppers, and Washington Divas to step down the runway in his collection! Each young lady look like warriors in Owen's garments, each stepping and dancing, and also purposely making angry faces.

Being a member of an African-American sorority, I am very familiar with the step teams. According to Owens, "step teams are an American phenomenon!" Step teams are a huge deal in America, especially in the South. It is tradition for schools, colleges, and churches to have a step team. What I really love about this show is that he put real women in his collection. None of the women look like a size 0-2, they are all healthy, beautiful women.

If you would like to read more about this collection, it can be found on Women's Wear Daily. Here is the link: http://www.wwd.com/runway/spring-ready-to-wear-2014/review/rick-owens

Until Next Time!

Friday, September 27, 2013

New Illustration

Hello All,

After many discussions with my mom about designing for plus size (her definition of plus is over 300 lbs), I drew her a plus-plus-size fashion croquis (the figure used to create fashion illustrations).

l-r: small croquis, large croquis

After she screamed in excitement because I actually drew this for her, she designed a look for it.

I have been getting great feedback on this illustration. Although this is out of my element, I am quite happy with it.

Until Next Time!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cute Shades from Black Radiance

Hello All,

Tonight, I went to Walmart (although I dislike Walmart very much, there is no Target in my area, so I had no choice but to go here). I was only supposed to buy hair color, but the beauty aisle compelled me to buy other products. While browsing the different selections of makeup, I started looking at lipsticks from the brand, Black Radiance. Although I am familiar with this brand, and I bought their baked eyeshadow, I was unfamiliar with their lipsticks. Not only do they have a different shades of lipsticks, liquid lip color, and lip glosses to choose from, they also have this lip gloss that creates a unique shade of pink for your lips.

I found two shades that I really liked; Pink Dahlia

Pop of Pink

and Pale Rose

Cute Nude Color

These colors are cute for fall, since pastel colors are popular this season. Not only does Black Radiance have a different range of lip colors, but they are also very affordable, ranging between $1.74- 2.84. The baked eyeshadows are affordable as well (under $3). You can buy Black Radiance at the following locations:

Walmart
Walgreens
CVS Pharmacy
Rite Aid
Duane Reade
Kmart
Kroger
Winn Dixie

Find your perfect color of Black Radiance at a store near you.

Until Next Time!

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

The Disappearance of Style Network

Hello All,

I am a lover of Style Network. It was one of my favorite networks on television, and I always browsed the site for fashion tips and ideas. I loved this network because of shows such as:

Tia & Tamera

Jerseylicious

Tabatha Takes Over

How Do I Look

Although there were several shows that were shown on this network, these four stood out because I always stopped everything I was doing to watch them. During commercial breaks, the network also showed what trends were in season, what fashion shows to watch, and where to shop for the best clothing. This network was everything to me, which is why I am so sad and angry at the fact that it is now off of the air.

Monday, September 23, I was browsing for channels to watch while making patterns when I noticed that Style Network was gone! I immediately went in to panic mode. What happened to Style Network?! Did DirectTV delete it from their package?! When I googled this question, I was shocked and surprised by the answer: "Style Network is Now Esquire Network!'

This was the decision of NBCUniversal. NBCU felt that because of networks such as E!, Bravo, and Oxygen, there was no need for Style Network (which is not true). Esquire Network, the network that officially replaced Style Network, is geared towards high-fashion, upscale men, since NBCU felt there were no channels geared for this target market. The network is still airing Sex and the City, while also showing original series such as Knife Fight, Brew Dogs, and movies like Ocean Thirteen.

So, the burning question of the week: what is going to happen to Tia & Tamera, Giuliana & Bill, Jerseylicious, and the other shows that were aired on Style Network? According to Channel Guide Magazine, some shows are expected to end their run, while others will more than likely be worked into schedules on E!, Bravo, and Oxygen. E! will run the most recent seasons of Giuliana & Bill and Tia & Tamera in mid October. Although that is good news, I am still sad at the fact that NBCU got rid of Style Network.

While I am still grieving the loss of Style Network, I still have the internet to look at fashion website, and Hulu is still available! Plus, I still have Tia & Tamera recorded, which means I can still watch episodes whenever I want! Even though I am still sad about this, there is a bright side, and everything is going to be okay.

I want to end by showing this picture of Tabatha Coffey, famed hairstylist and host of Tabatha Takes Over.

Tabatha has always been gorgeous to me, but WOW! I love seeing color on her face, especially her lips. I also love the androgynous look and hairstyle. Kudos to the hair and makeup team for creating this look for her. She looks awesome!

Until Next Time!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Chanel Iman with a Gold Grill?!

Hello All,

So, as you all know, NYFW (New York Fashion Week) ended on Thursday, Sept. 12. So many pictures are posted of the looks on the runway, and who attended the show. Many celebrities and fashion enthusiasts were in attendance for the Jeremy Scott show on Wednesday, Sept. 11 (story and pictures found on www.yodonbleekraps.com). Among them were Nicki Minaj, the Jonas Brothers, and celebrity couple, model Chanel Iman and rapper A$AP Rocky. While looking at pictures, I noticed Chanel Iman is rocking a GRILL!! (For those of you who are unfamiliar with a grill, it is a gold plate shaped to fit on someone's teeth. It can be solid gold or platinum, or accessorized with gems).

Now, I expect this from A$AP Rocky, but Chanel Iman? Chanel? Ms. Iman? Sweetie, how could you? Just because you are dating a rapper does not mean you put a grill in your mouth to accommodate him! I cannot stand to see someone wearing a grill, and to see a beautiful girl like Chanel Iman wearing one is appalling!

I think a grill is the most disgusting, most country, and most ghetto/hoodrat product ever created. It was bad that the individual gold tooth was created (Fact: After getting paid from his first fight, Jack Johnson had gold put on every tooth in his mouth to show his worth to black and white people!), but when the grill came around, it made the mouth look much worse than with a gold tooth! Some people think putting this product is a power move, especially for a woman. To me, it shows that you are ghetto, and you are wasting your money buying a product that will make you look nasty!

Please let me know your thoughts on this. You already know mine. When I see someone with a gold tooth, this is what I see

Until Next Time!!

New Fashion Illustration

Hello All,

I wanted to take the time out to show a new fashion illustration that I created over a week ago. What do you think?

Kanye West Collection

Hello All,

Lately, for some reason, I have been browsing Kanye West's collection with APC. Now, I have to admit, I am NOT a fan of Kanye, but he is popular in fashion. I especially loved when he revamped girlfriend, Kim Kardashian's style, which was shown on TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. When it was reported that the APC website crashed because his APC Kanye collection was selling like crazy, I had to see what items were displayed. This is what was shown.

I actually saw this on Sadiddy Magazine's Facebook page. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sadiddy Magazine, it is an online fashion magazine based in Atlanta, GA (check it out, www.iamsadiddy.com and Facebook, www.facebook.com/SadiddyMagazine). When I saw it, I was like, "these basic garments are what's selling like crazy?" Then, I saw the price! I was blown away by how expensive these basic garments were. You can buy the shirts and hoodies from American Apparel for much cheaper than $120, and the $265 pants, you can buy from the mall for much cheaper! I could not believe these garments were this expensive. Of course, I knew people were buying these basic garments simply because Kanye West's name was on them.

Kanye, you are a rapper, and you are also coming up in the fashion world. You could have done better than this! Graphics on the shirt, and on the sides of the pants legs would have been nice. Something to spice up these clothes. Your "Jesus Piece" necklaces looked better than these clothes!

Here is a picture of Kanye West wearing the clothing from his signature collection

I said it before, and I will say it again......very basic!!

What are your thoughts about this collection?

Until Next Time!

Sunday, September 8, 2013

New York Fashion Week

Hello All,

As you all know, it is the New York Fashion Week, the start of a new fashion season. All designers, emerging, independent, and established, have begun showing collections for Spring/Summer 2014-15 (sorry I have replied so late...I have been busy looking at the new looks that have been shown during NYFW). The most talked about designer and collection has been Alexander Wang.

He had great silhouettes, and I love the fact that he had his name stitched in the bodice of some of his garments, but I feel he should have had more colors instead of black, white, and gray. The only pop of color that was shown through this collection was a very light pastel pink, which looked almost white.

Even though I am not a fan of Victoria Beckham, I am gravitating towards her collection, which has tennis-inspired touches.