Just TRACE it.

You know how you notice something, but you really don't NOTICE it? Well that's how it was with TRACE magazine. I used to read it here and there, but I never really appreciated it. Well, now I do. Just putting my stamp of approval, a subscription.

The magazine is a wonderful. With a raw representation of fashion, entertainment, and urban cities world wide. And what I love about it most is that it represents every color, size, whatever...on the COVER! Something these other fashion magazines hardly ever do.

Just a little background music; TRACE was established in London back in '96 by then 25 year old, Claude Grunitzky. It was originally titled TRUE and moved to New York in '98.

What they are about:
"TRACE is a TRANSCULTURAL Styles and Ideas magazine, a new expression in culture documenting the impact of the interconnected worlds of music, fashion, film, art, politics on today's multiethnic youth."

They also do an annual "Black Girls Rule" issue that has had Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, and the latest Keri Hilson gracing the cover. They have also added TraceTV to their resume, including Blogs and a TRACE UK edition.

Find out more at www.trace212.com

Knit One, Pearl Two

Sweaters just got fresher. I don't know why I'm in this sweater-lovin' mood, but I've just come across the coolest thing since velcro high-tops. This girl named Yokoo, makes knit, chain necklace scarves. And they are HUGE!


I especially love the Minnie Mouse knit bow.

I don't know much about her, but her knit creations speak for themselves. The prices aren't bad either. Based on her website, she has had over 450 sales. That's a lot of knitting....and a lot of monies.

Get some knit scarves from Yokoo at www.yokoo.etsy.com

Excuse Me Miss

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

I have a new favorite. The name Miss Bruno. The concept bad ass. The philosophy independent, direct, and simple.
Miss Bruno is a Brooklyn based, Haitian sister duo clothing line that mixes the raw, earthy vibes of their native South America, with the new, urban black fashionista of today.

They say: "our designs thrive on our philosophies on life: wholistic, lush, simple. we make things meant for sustainable living and other unassuming revolutions."
They use African batiks and prints, but they use it in modern ways like jump suits, deep v-neck dresses, and wide balloon skirts. I love everything. Even down to the way they style their models. It looks like they pulled a beautiful nature girl out of her grassy nook. The whole collection is clean and polished with a hint of do-it-yourself, which makes everything seem personal.

And my fav fav FAV is this scarf called 'My so called scarf' which is a scarf that is made from materials or fabric you wouldn't necessarily make into a scarf. For example, in one design they use strips of tweed and then added buttons. It's wonderful.

Right now, these crafty sisters have their 'My so called dress collection', with limited-edition dresses, rompers, bloomers, and jumpsuits. The colors are bright, beautiful, and strong clearly representing the company as a whole.

Keep your eye out for Miss Bruno because they are only going to get bigger.

For more information go to www.missbruno.com Go...GO NOW!!!!

Billy Cos? Is that You?

After seeing the new Kanye West video, "Welcome to Heartbreak". I was inspired to answer the age old question, "What happened to the Cosby sweater?" Now I know what you're thinking, but it's true the 80s are back, they've been back for about 2 years now, and yes the Cosby sweater is too back.

Kanye had a beautiful geometric print Cosby on in the Welcome to Heartbreak video and I must find one similar.

Side note: he's growing a fro mullet. (As reported by the Fug girls at New York Magazine.)

Now for those of you that have no idea what I'm talking about, the Urban Dictionary defines the cosby sweater as:

1. An oversized, hideous looking sweater with ugly patterns and colors, often worn by old men or hipsters with no taste.
2. A sweater a senile colorblind person would pick out.

Another side note: The urban dictionary also defines the cosby sweater as:

1. The multi-colored lint left in one's ass crack after wearing flannel boxer shorts.

LMAO! Oh Urban Dictionary, how I do enjoy your intelligence...

Anyways, if you would like to look like Billy Cos and Kanye W, fear not. I'm here to tell you where to get you some sweaters!

As reported before, Matthew Williamson for H&M is coming to a city near you, well equipped with colorful Cosby sweaters for men. Diesel has many a sweaters for the guy or girl who can handle all the Crayola crack. And well all can't forget Coogi. Once on white high-society golfers, now on young black men who wear the sweaters with matching jeans and a matching girlfriend compliment. Yuck.

For more info on well...Kanye? Go to www.mtv.com. That video is so good.
I'll be in search of my Billy Cos, Crayola Crack, Kanye cardigan. Thrift store here I come.

Is Bravo confused?

Project Runway, please hurry back.

Because of the legal issues regarding Project Runway and Bravo and the fact that it may go to the Lifetime channel someday soon, has Bravo in a stupid panic. Rumors last year surfaced that they were looking for a replacement show to fill the void. Alas, they are now recruiting for a show called "The Sew Off" in which established designers are paired with other artistic individuals (i.e. architect, fashion editor, model, etc. etc.). They will have weekly competitions creating garments until a winner has been awarded.

I don't know about this. I mean, fashion designers already get mad about people who have collections, who know nothing about fashion or sewing. Is this any different? No it's not a celebrity clothing line, but it is meshing people together who probably can't sew, into a SEWING competition.

And then...Bravo has the nerve to create ANOTHER show. Called "The Fashion Show." Hosts will include Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child) and Isaac Mizrahi.

Bravo's states: "The Fashion Show follows professional designers as they strive to make their mark in the dog-eat-dog world of fashion and compete for a chance to have their designs sold for the mass retail market. The designers will face off in challenges and have their fate determined not only by the professional judges, but also by a studio audience. In the end, the winner will have their designs available for sale by a major retail outlet."

Um....the studio audience? Will 'The Fashion Show' be in front of a live-studio audience like Full House or will we have to call in or text are opinion's like American Idol? WTF!

And the retail outlet that the winning designer will have their designs sold in, better not be JCPenney. Although I love their sheets, the fashion is worse than Wal-mart.

This show...UGH! I mean the name is wack, the hosts are kinda wack, and the prizes are EXTRA WACK!

No word on when either of these shows are debuting. Who knows, they might mesh together and become a made-for-tv, "Crossover Event."

I feel deceived and bamboozled. Where are you Project Runway? Heidi? Tim? Anyone?

Roy Joy

A old favorite is new again. Underdog, Rachel Roy is becoming quite the buzz at New York Fashion Week this year. Still no runway, she opts to do photoshoots. I don't know if this is because of the price tag that comes with being in the tents, or because she wants the focus to be on the clothes and not the elaboration of the show. Either way, I'll be looking at it online.

For those of you who don't know who she is, she is a Manhattan-based fashion designer, put on the scene when she married Damon Dash back in 2005.

For Fall 2009, she stated,"Bottom line, I wanted it to be strong." And that it is. Her line is very neutral, grown-up, and sexy. She got rid of a lot of the bells and whistles, and focused on design elements. Critics are a little bothered by her choice of hair and makeup (loudly resembling YSL's Fall 2008 show) but they are saying it is very sophisticated and beautiful. And I agree.

See more on Rachel Roy at www.nymag.com.

Savage Girls are Stylish Once Again

What's hard, black, and leathery in the winter time?

No, not my ass..........but
Alexander Wang.

He is one of the first to show his Fall 2009 collection during New York Fashion Week and the shit is nice. There is some kind of fur (possibly squirrel or foxtail) on blazers and jackets, made for a girl who isn't afraid of anything. There was leather and croc, metal rivets and maybe even some bells and whistles too. I fell in love with the entire collection. I would wear the skirts, the body-hugging dresses, the hats, the circle scarves, and especially the shoes. The collection is sexy and very very dangerous.

Celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Zoe Kravitz, and Santogold graced the front row, with only good words and cool vibes to send his way. Wang is said to be letting his girl, and his line mature. "We're evolving," he said a couple days before the show, in his studio. "We're asking: What does growing up mean for our girl?"

He said things like tailoring and luxury, but tailoring and luxury laced with a savage thread.

And men don't you fret, you can wear Wang too. He's coming out with a limited edition condom very soon.



Find out more at www.nymag.com. Pictures provided by www.nymag.com

H&M....you are genius.

So every once and a while...the men get some love in the style and fashion category. This spring, they will get one of the largest love taps known to the retail world. Yes, thats right. H&M will carry a new designer collabo collection by none other than Matthew Williamson. The same Williamson from the Pucci reinvention.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not jealous of the men. Williamson wouldn't dare come out with a line with H&M and not include us ladies. Yeah right.

The official date for the first line...that's right I said FIRST line is to drop April 23rd and the second sometime in May. I guess since people were getting shanked and stabbed after the Comme de Garcon collection for H&M, they wanted to give us a little more time to get some of this one-of-a-kind merchandise.

The picture ads were shot in Mexico and Brazil for the TV ads, but they have only leaked a few photos. :( He is said to model the men's collection himself, and model Daria Werbowy for the women's line.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on anything I here about this wonderful collaboration. Some may say I have the inside connection when it comes to H&M. (wink wink)

Find out more at www.nymag.com. Picture is a sneakpeek for the men's line provided by ww.nymag.com.

Can BOGO be Fierce?

Project Runway 4 winner, Christian Siriano is said to be designing a line of handbags and footwear for Payless. The line will be unveiled during New York fashion week this month and will be in Payless stores and payless.com in the Fall of 2009.

The prices for the line will range between $25-$45. I am so excited for this pairing, not only because of Christian's dramatic style, but his ability to understand all facets of design.

Siriano says, “I’m so excited to design and create with such an amazing brand that is all about fashion and trend but, most importantly, is also about affordability.”

And don't worry if you miss out on the first go round of this collaboration, the Christian Siriano for Payless collection is a reccuring situation, multi-season deal...so we can all be FIERCE eventually.

Find out more about this and much much more when the collection debuts next week. For up-to-the-minute shows go to www.nymag.com. and www.christianvsiriano.com

Power can be Beauty

Mrs. Michelle Obama is to grace to cover of Vogue next month, wearing a magenta dress designed by Jason Wu. Wu is the same designer who made her cream inaugural ball gown.

The Washington Post's DeNeen L. Brown notes the cover's cultural significance:

Even if you take race off the table, there is an awe of how this new administration can bring energy to the conversation around how beauty can intersect with power. And how power can be beauty. And how a black woman from the South Side of Chicago and with curves can become a symbol of beauty.

I'm excited that Michelle Obama is on the cover, following Jennifer Hudson just a few years before.

"Change is here."

Mc-BULLSEYE!

Just announced late last year, that Target will be launching a new fashion series called 'Designer Collaborations', which is different from their Go International campaigns. And guess who's first in line...Alexander McQueen!!!

The Alexander McQueen for Target collection is supposed to resemble his younger, less expensive McQ designer line. The collection will include leather blazers, swimwear, Punk detailing, and lots and lots of choices.

Now the tricky part about these "designer" collaborations with Target is to find which Target actually has them. I have also noticed that many Target employees never know what the hell is going on. When it comes to these collaborations, they hardly even pronounce the designers name...all in all, very frustrating. So my dear friends, the best advice I can give you is to try to find out what month the collection is coming out and check the Target website every damn day until you find the date. All I know is that this Alexander McQueen for Target collection will be out in March....that's it.

Looks like, I'll have to set an alarm or something to remind myself to check the website, because I must get some of these items. Like I said, I'm a shop-a-holic.

To find out more visit www.target.com. Pictures provided by www.nylonmag.com

I'll Read It If I Want To...

So you know how sometimes growing up you wanted to play with the boys and jump around and run like them too? I mean, I wasn't a tomboy at all, but I am the type of girl that says "Anything you can do I can do better." I still say that shit all the time. To the point where, guys are a little scared of me. :)

Anyway, for those of you who don't know, NYLON is my fav fashion magazine. And a few years ago, they came out with NYLON Guys. In the title, it strictly says, "Not for Girls." But because they say I can't read it, I read it...cover to freakin' cover. I used to talk to this guy who loved that magazine, and I would act like I was buying it for him, but it was really for me. I don't really know why, because it's not like I'm going to buy anything in there...but I just couldn't resist.

This month, they have my favorite pretty boy Pharrell Williams on the cover...and he looks so cute. On NYLON Tv they show the photoshoot and a little bit of the interview. He talks about growing up in a middle-class family, and not being able to afford all the stuff he wanted. Williams would say if 'I had those shoes, I would want them in purple, and yellow, and polka dot.' He said it was because he couldn't have everything he wanted. And this thirst for 'material things' has fueled his success.

I feel like, OMG, I am the same way! I am often saying, if I had this or that, that I would want it in every color and texture and size... (This has fueled my credit card debt)
Now I don't know if thats because I'm greedy and a shop-a-holic, but I do want everything I see. And I want it in every color. (Men included)

So I guess the main reason why I'm blogging this is to say ladies, grab whatever the F you wanna grab...including NYLON Guys. It may not be for girls, but who cares. If you're nosy like me and love clothes and music, then its perfect. And they always have sexy boys on it and in it. So just squeeze yourself in the middle, and make a man-sandwich.

That sounds like a party to me...

Find out more about Pharrell Williams and NYLON Guys at www.nylonguysmag.com and you might as well get a subscription to NYLON which is the best damn magazine ever invented.


Picture provided by www.nylonguysmag.com