Complex: Leaders of The New Cool

I think that you should invest about half an hour to look through the "Leaders of The New Cool" video's on the Complex video website. It is an interested collection of ideas from the new faces on the hip hop scene and it is something that you can definitely take something from.

SoHo

Complex Magazine: Travis McCoy

Complex magazine gets Travis McCoy to talk style. For the record the 3's are my favorite Michael Jordan signature trainers of all time. Oh and he said that he calls girls cookies rather than the obscenities that society label women, that's cool but the Nation of Cool refers to women as biddies and we have spread that all through NY. 

-side note-

The Nation of Cool is a comprised of the people in my family and the small amount of people that we really associate with, not the people that you see us in Myspace pictures with or the people that you have seen us at parties with, the people that we really associate with. Award Tour Family + The Dynasty = The Nation of Cool.

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Happy Birthday: Hugh Hefner

Sin at it's best.

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New Swagger Collection

Japanese born clothing line Swagger has recently released their newest collection and here are the looks. For the most part it is a street wear brand but I believe that everything in the world is affected by everything around it so fashion is one universal idea. There shouldn't be a division between high fashion and street wear. I like the creativity that went into the designs for the looks of this collection and I am impressed by a very thought provoking down jacket. It brings to mind thoughts of space and the unknown. The cut of the denim comes across as a surprise to me because Japanese denim is mainly cut wider and tends to be baggy. In a Complex interview 

(CLICK HERE) 

Lupe Fiasco admitted to being fascinated by Japanese clothing and in one of his songs he commented on Swagger so I think it would be safe to say that he is a fan of their work. To get your hands on some pieces: 

CLICK HERE

"This is just a little bit of freshness, you know what I mean, a little bit of Swagger" Lupe Fiasco

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Keri Hilson feat Lil Wayne - Turnin Me On

Energizer bunny/ the batteries never die/ I never turned her off/ so we have eternal life/ I'm so aggressive but yet and still I'm still polite/ you can't turn her on if you don't do it right/ I don't mean that she's upset/ when I say that she is tight/ we could do this all night/ only thing off is the lights/ only thing on is the socks but thats just for some traction/ enough of Seeing Sounds it is time for some action/ I will always turn her on so how could she turn me down/ freaky deeky off the wall now tell the world who turned you out.

Oh yea and watch the video too. 

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Throw On Your Play Clothes: First Collection

I proudly present to you: Play Clothes. This clothing line has been in the works for some years now. The whole world has been patiently waiting and looking attentively ever since rap duo The Clipse first hinted that they might be doing a clothing line. If you pay close attention in some of their music they slip in a shameless plug for the clothing line. Well the line is finally here and we have the first looks from the first collection courtesy of our friends over at Hypebeast. Get your hands on some Play Clothes here: CLICK HERE

"As I'm switching lane to lane/ in my Play Clothes as I'm gripping grain" Pusha T

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New Ellie Owens Dresses

While browsing the web today it came to my attention that Ellie Owens, a designer that I featured on L&F a while back, has some very interesting new pieces out. There is definitely an interesting selection of materials going on here and the first dress is a phenomenal piece of work. Every time I even glance at a dress that he has designed I am impressed and these new pieces haven't broken that cycle yet so indulge in the beauty that is Ellie Owens.

To get in contact with him: CLICK HERE

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Foxy Brown - Bust It Anywhere

CLICK HERE

The above picture was taken at Movado's concert in Queens. I don't do gossip nor do I follow celebrities or talk about them doing normal things like walking their dogs or drinking coffee but Foxy has had so much negative press and people have been making her out to be so bad. This industry is poisonous and if you don't navigate it carefully and keep a strong mind it will break you. I wanted to show the world that despite everything that has been going on in her life and all of the rumors she is still FOXY BROWN!

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60 Minutes: The Obama's

The old saying was behind every strong man is a strong woman but I think that it's time men admit that women make them better. A good woman will make a good man a great man therefor the new saying should read: Next to every great man is a great woman. Show me your girlfriend and I'll tell you about yourself.

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Should You Really Stop Smoking?

What you thought I didn't care about topics like this? This is a lifestyle site too. Tune in and learn something.

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A Quote From Hov

"Everybody look at you strange and say you changed (ugh)/ like you worked that hard to stay the same/" Jay-Z

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Rihanna for Gucci 09

RihxGucci
by ch1c

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A BBC Winter:

CLICK HERE

This is über cool (look it up). BBC is working day and night to make me a fan of their work and it is working.  The suggestive lifestyle brand has gotten into the habit of designing these thick knits that remind me a lot of the Coogi sweater that the world of hip hop fell in love with due to the late Biggie Smalls. One sure thing that I can say about this cardigan with a shawl is that it will keep you warm this winter when layered properly. In my opinion it was beautifully crafted and it has the BBC seal on the left arm so you know that your getting a quality product. As far as the second sweater which is simply beautiful, I'm just lost in the way the Astronaut is printed on the front. If I owned it I think I wouldn't make it out of the house being the narcissist that I am I might die in the mirror just looking at it.

CLICK HERE

SoHo

New York Magazine: Alex Goldberg

You may have seen the video's on Personal of Alex and I chilling in SoHo scaring the mess out of tourist due in large part to boredom but you don't know Alex unless you read this extensive body of work that our friends at the New York Magazine did on him.

CLICK HERE

SoHo

Theophilus London: New Interview

Theophilus London Freestyle & short Interview from Theophilus London on Vimeo.

This is the latest installment of Theophilus London interviews. I like to think of these interviews as puzzle pieces and as you know with puzzle pieces the more pieces you connect the clearer the big picture becomes, so watch the video.

SoHo

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

This Victoria's Secret fashion show is nothing short of exactly what you have been waiting for. It's sexy, elegant, beautiful and most importantly of all it's Victoria's Secret. This is where a lot of well known models in the industry today got their shine and they haven't forgotten it (mainly because the media never gave them a chance to). The Victoria Secret runway is the former home of super model turned television personality Tyra Banks, the legendary Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum to name a few. As for what Victoria's Secret is, sometimes your better off not knowing so much.

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GQ: Man of the Year

The gentlemen's quarterly has named Barack Obama man of the year. Sources tell me that regardless of the results on election night, November 4th, win or lose he was still going to be man of the year; wow! Never before has a presidential candidate created such a stir in society. Well not in my generation at least, my parents may have experienced this feeling before with a former president by the name of John F. Kennedy but Obama is the closest that the youth of my generation is going to get to that feeling.

Doesn't he just look presidential?

SoHo

Naomi In Russia

Ahhh le Campbell on the cover of Vogue Russia. Can a photo shoot go any better? This face is one to be remembered and the photographer does a great job of capturing her.

-style note-

I'm a huge advocate of women going natural but when you need it to look your best I'm not against you applying make up.

SoHo

Beyoncé Covers GQ

It is a well known fact that Beyoncé doesn't have to do much to look good (just apply powder, get eye brows done, nails done and wig in place) so why oh why wouldn't the powers that be at GQ headquarters place Sasha on my GQ cover? This cover is only for GQ Germany, I guess they figured that they need more B in their life.

SoHo

Surface Magazine Photo Shoot

CLICK HERE

If You Don't Know: Terry Richardson

This is Terry Richardson and I think it would be safe to say that he is of iconic stature. His work is noted all over the world and he has shot for everyone from high fashion lines like Miu Miu and Gucci to Barack Obama. He has also done music video's, books and commercials. Some may find his work offensive or just vulgar but I ask you today is it not the people that push and stretch the bounds of societies acceptance that are regarded as mavericks? So many people are afraid to do something because no one else is doing it but here is a thought for those people. If you want to do something and no one else is doing it that means that their is an entire market out there just waiting for you to tap into; go for it.

You figure it out.

Check out the Terry Richardson homepage: 

CLICK HERE

SoHo

Neil Barret SS 09

Friday I happened to be going through some 09 collections and I thought that I had covered all of those that you needed to draw your attention to but it appears that I missed a few. One of them would be a line that I have taken a liking to; Neil Barret. The majority of his pieces aren't eye catchers if your looking for flash and pizzas but the construction of the pieces merits a second look. The cut of all the pants are perfect, the fall exactly where they should fall revealing just a bit of ankle. The tailoring in the blazers is noteworthy and if all of that doesn't impress you then maybe your in to the lime green pants.

Enjoy:

SoHo

Comme des Garçons for H&M: London Release

I bet you thought that Japan was going to be the only place to go wild over the Comme des Garçons collaboration with H&M? Unfortunately I was not on site to record to antics of the store opening the morning of the US release. Enjoy the events across the pond.

SoHo

This Just In: Price Cuts!

The following fashion houses are planning on cutting prices on their goods in the US by up to ten percent: Chanel, Versace, Chloé and Christian Louboutin. 

Thats right ladies up to ten percent less than the current prices so stash those coins now and as soon as you see the prices drop; consume!

SoHo

The Fader 10th Anniversary Issue: Oh Boy

Lets talk theoretically for a second. Lets say you've had a productive magazine for ten years now and you want to celebrate your tenth anniversary so you go through your contact list and you see some big names that you might want to grace the cover. After a long discussion with your team and days of emails and phone calls you finally decide that Kanye West is right for your cover. So now Kanye is your man and believe it or not the two parties have actually come to an agreement and Kanye is going to be on the cover of the magazine. Now your so happy that your gleaming with pride, you want to engrave these words in stone: Kanye West is going to be on the cover of our tenth anniversary issue! So you book the best photographer that you have in your contact list, you, the photographer and (most likely) Mr. West spend some time coming to terms with where you are going to do the photo shoot for this monumental cover and after long deliberation the three parties finally agree. Now the day of the shoot your walking on air, partially because you were so excited the night before that you couldn't sleep, now you aren't usually present for photo shoots but this is big this is your tenth anniversary cover with Kanye West so you have to be there. The shoot goes great, Kanye enjoys the time he spent with you and your team, you love the shots. The rest of the month is spent deliberating with your team over which shot you like the most and which one should be the cover shot and when its all said and done you choose this one? To each his own but this is just wrong.

SoHo

At Least Somebody Still Speak From They Soul

Kanye West divulges more on how he really feels about his current situation and position in the world as far as what he likes to do and what he wants to do with his life.

"My friend showed me pictures of his kids and all I could show him was pictures of my cribs" Kanye West

SoHo

Beyoncé on Oprah

Watch as Oprah pries into the mind of Beyoncé to get the answers to the questions that you refuse to stop asking.

SoHo

Award Tour: The Private Rebellion Collection

Ladies and gentlemen I proudly present to you the collection that you have all been waiting for and one that was well worth the wait; Award Tour. I find it simply amazing how the creative mind of Phil, better known to the world as Lochness, never seems to reach a limit as he puts together another thought provoking collection. The entire time Phil was telling me that I was going to love the collection and that it would be my style of dressing but now I see the day will come when I only wear Award Tour clothing. The most exciting part about the whole ordeal is the beautiful scenery which is the grounds of Princeton university, the set of the photo shoot and if your looking at the shots thinking to yourself that they are too good to be amateur thats because they aren't the camera man was Devin Christopher, a contributing photographer for the slam hype website Hypebeast. The models sprinkled throughout the look book should register as familiar faces to L&F readers, I'm sure by now you've seen all of the videos and know all of their names.

-side note-

Coolness P and SoHo B are always down for a photo shoot.

 I'm sure you've waited long enough now enjoy the collection of ideas by Award Tour.

CLICK HERE

SoHo

The Re-Designed Colette

L&F trip to Paris coming soon.

On a personal note if you are trying to catch up with Suzy Menkes, I say to you good luck. She got up and literally ran out of a show in New York fashion week as soon as the last model walked off the runway. I have a lot of respect for reporters like herself, Charlie Rose and Sway from MTV to name a few.

SoHo

The Lethal Small Movie

This just in from our friends over at Lethal Inspiration. The video is in promotion of the new collection. Hope you enjoy. To really get into Lethal Inspiration click the link at the side of the page.

SoHo

Who's Ad is This Anyway?

If I told you this was a Sean John ad would you believe me? Its amazing what Cassie and Lauren London can do for a clothing line, with the smart and very business savvy direction of Sean Combs of course.

SoHo

Band of Outsiders: Spring 09 Video Collection

Max Minghella For Band Of Outsiders from Seth Bernstein on Vimeo.

If you read L&F then you've seen this collection already but everything goes over better when you add music to it.

SoHo

Dior Homme, Pornography?

So KVA has employed well known photographer Jeff Burton to do the promotional shots for his self entitled line Kris Van Assche. However these were no ordinary shots judging from the fact that he used three porn stars for the shots. 

" Van Assche says. "I didn’t involve myself in the shoot, though — I wanted to maintain the viewpoint of a witness or spectator."

To see the shots: 

CLICK HERE

SoHo

Essence Magazine: The Family

Will and Jada have been selected to grace the cover of December's Essence magazine. What a good choice, one of the few couples in entertainment to last and still be as in to each other as they were in the first year. In a land where hollywood relationships are only as interesting as the hollywood break up one has to wonder; what is their secret? Despite the media and all other distractions they have remained a prime example for what family means. When you find your equal its hard to lose interest in that person, maybe that's their secret.

SoHo

Happy 15th Bape

Bathing Ape's head honcho, Nigo sounds off on five major topics regarding his brand and it's 15th anniversary for the complex magazine.

 “I don’t think our clothes are so expensive; we make things in a very similar system to high-fashion designers… But we are interested in casual clothes. People get our jeans, tees and sweats confused with mass-produced consumer items. We respect the spirit of what we want to do over financial considerations—that’s consistent with our motto, I think.” Nigo

To read the rest of what Nigo had to say:

CLICK HERE

SoHo

The Bond Girl:

Vanity Fair ran down all of the Bond girls from beginning to end but my favorite bond girl will always be Halle Berry when she played Jinx a National Security Agency operative. Heres something that you all may or may not know: In the 1985 Bond movie A View to a Kill, Grace Jones plays a character by the name of May Day who was originally in allegiance with a villain named Zorin but switched sides and became a Bond girl.

Who knew?

SoHo

Good Morning Luv

How about this after your cup of coffee on this beautiful veterans day. Kate Winslet in Vanity Fair, I have my Kate now here is your share of Ms. Winslet. A picture is worth a thousand words but right now so few come to mind. For shots like this you don't really talk, just marvel at the seduction of the moment. The inspiration for the shot is so 1920's glam and she does it with such ease. The photographer, Steven Meisel and the stylist Jessica Diehl have worked well together to capture a moment of seduction that is rarely conveyed through photography; its all in the eyes.

Vanity is everything.

SoHo

Comme des Garçons for H&M: Japanese Release

I couldn't have said it better myself. No, wait, I did say it about two months ago when I first reported that H&M would be doing this collaboration with Comme des Garçons.

To track back: CLICK HERE

SoHo

New Bape Outerwear

Japanese lifestyle brand Abathing Ape has just released their fall collection of outerwear and I have made my pics of the best pieces. The varsity is a nice remix to the first varsity that they ever released while the vest come across as predictable but nevertheless good pieces to have at your disposal. The real shocker is the duffle coat, every season I see this line and its sister lines BBC/ Ice Cream become more mature and branching out into fields previously unchartered, possibly attempting to reach a new demographic. Regardless of what the intentions are I think it's a good move because despite the fact that the idea behind the lines is big kid attire the reality of the situation is that there are going to be times in life when you need to put on a blazer; why not Bape?

Hurry and get your coat while supplies last.

SoHo