THE COOL KIDS

If I had an idol, Tom Ford would be just that.

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:44:27 -0500

If I had an idol, Tom Ford would be just that.

Spotted: How To Rock A Fur Vest @INTERMIX

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:51:10 -0400

This cutie I saw on the streets is a buyer for Intermix and she knows exactly how to layer for this Fall season. A fur vest instantly adds some glam to your everyday work-wear.

Fashion. Crafting. And Everything In Between.: 2011 Fall & Winter Trends {Hits}

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:50:44 -0400

Fashion. Crafting. And Everything In Between.: 2011 Fall & Winter Trends {Hits}:

thekoreanpanda:

Obviously these are my personal opinion. I’m not a fashion designer, but I do have an eye for design.

Hits
Navajo Print

I like this trend. I prefer the more understated navajo print, especially on short fitted skirts like this one. I think the pattern looks best with understated…

First Look: Versace for H&M

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:01:41 -0400

First Look: Versace for H&M

water-reign: Hermès has launched a limited-edition line of...

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:47:06 -0400

water-reign:

Hermès has launched a limited-edition line of saris for sale to its customers in India.

The 27 designs, which will sell for $6,100 to $8,200, will be based on the luxury label’s famed scarves.

Patrick Thomas, chief executive of Hermès International, told the Financial Times that the saris were a ‘wink’ to Indian consumers.

He said: ‘There have been a lot of connections between Hermès and India.

‘Designing these saris for Indian customers is a way to pay light homage to India, and say, “Hermès admires India and has a lot to learn from India.”’

Hermès’ Bertrand Michaud, regional managing director, for India, Middle East and Southeast Asia, said that the garments would be sold with a metre of extra twill silk so that, in accordance with tradition, a top can be tailored in the same fabric.

‘It is the first time printing has been done over fabric measuring 5.5 meters [18 feet] long by our ateliers of Lyon,’ he told WWD.

‘The sari is a very sensual object, particularly in twill silk or mousseline changeante, when it reflects the light. It is very feminine and elegant.’

The company’s decision to specifically target the Indian luxury market demonstrates how important the country’s rich have become to high-end brands.

Though Hermès is the first luxury label to create a collection of saris for sale in India, many retail experts have expressed their surprise that it hasn’t happened earlier.

‘You have to create products that consumers like. Why would you not do saris in India? Companies should have done it much earlier’

Domestic sales of luxury accessories in the country have been estimated at $2.2billion, a figure that is growing by a staggering 20 per cent each year.

Luxury expert Neelesh Hundekari, of consultancy AT Kearney told the FT: ‘You have to create products that Indian consumers like. Why would you not do saris in India? Companies should have done it much earlier.’

He added: ‘Many of the brands think that India is a market that will evolve to western norms but it will not. It will evolve in its own way.’

Indeed, Hermès is taking the Indian market very seriously, having opened a brand new Mumbai flagship earlier this year.

‘We want to communicate and be in touch with Indian society, not in a ghetto where you have all the luxury brands together,’ Mr Thomas explained.

And though the saris will only be available for a limited time, he has not ruled out a more permanent offering.

‘It depends on how people receive them,’ he said.

Shouting to Silence: Homophobe to Homosexual.

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:59:00 -0400

A few months ago Pastor Eddie Long was a proselytizing homophobe. Today, Bishop Long is, by public opinion, a homosexual.

“I don’t want it here. I’m tired of people telling me I should accept them in my church. It’s not biblical!” Bishop Long delivered this epithet to cheering congregation, immediately before God via Bishop Long roused the crowd into a Pentecostal celebratory dance.

Today, Bishop Long is silent on the issue, despite the implications and assumptions that smother his public image. Not even a single, apology, explanation or even direct acknowledgement.

What an ironic place for the Bishop? Silenced by shame; the same shame that propelled the gay members of his congregation to silently concede to his berating tirade. Long now relates more to his gay congregants than in his entire career. He empathizes (though not publicly).

NewBirth Baptist remains intact; Bishop Long still writes checks; the congregants are still shouting (thank you Jesus!), but their pastor is still silent. Either, they vehemently believe in his innocence or they don’t care. The latter is more plausible.

Nonetheless this phenomenon is troublesome. This is not the first instance of this occurring in Atlanta, and a much more famous Ted Haggard endured a more damning indictment and yet he still he preaches. His wife is also by his side.

Yes Jesus forgives… but not the gays. They and them alone are exempt from God’s grace. Even pedophiles may sit on the throne at his side one day but not homosexuals. Not one! So where does this leave our beloved pastor.

Wherever he ends up…at least his hair will look nice.

-@housej2

How to Deal With Passive Aggressive Patty

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:01:00 -0400

I must admit, when it comes to being an office drone/clone, I am certainly not the shining example. And even though I’ve grown to tolerate a lot of shit, there is one type of cubical succubus whom I just CAN NOT FUNCTION around: The Mrs. Infamous herself- Passive Aggressive Patty.

We all know her. The clear heaux in the office who bombards you with questions on Monday morning like, “How was your weekend?” & “So, did you hang out with friends?” You try to give her the one word, “fine…” in return, but it just seems that her unrelenting and incessant barrage of prying questions won’t seem to let up.

And just when it seems like you have finally dodged every prying inquisition she could possibly come up with, she slinks back over to your desk and revs up her passive aggressive BS. “Hey, do you feel like…yadayadayada?” “Do you think you can…blah, blah, blah?” Well, my friends, fear not. For I have penned an open email that you can use as a template for your very own Passive Aggressive Patty-Be-Gone needs:

12:17pm

Hello Passive Aggressive Patty:

Look, I’m going to cut right to the chase. I am tired of you coming over to my desk and asking me if I FEEL like doing something. I guess you were in for a huge fucking surprise when I told you earlier today that I, in fact, didn’t FEEL like doing whatever the hell it was that you asked me I felt like doing. And in turn, you were mad because you ended up doing the project by your own damn self.

Next time, if you would like me to do something, just ask me to do it. We are not friends or acquaintances. Honestly, I loathe your presence. But, we are co-workers so I am forced to tolerate your existence. So there’s no need to attempt to create small talk with me, before getting to the real reason why you Cupid Shuffled your ass over here to my desk.

Oh, and I dare you to bring up an issue you have with me in our staff meeting next week. Just because you didn’t mention names or look in my direction when you were voicing your “concerns in the office,” I knew what was up. Try me if you want to. Don’t let this calm demeanor fool you. Remember… I am a scary Black man.

Oh and one more thing, you were in such a rush the last time you were over here that you forgot your ID card on my desk. I will not be walking over to hand it to you. I brought my lunch today, and I need to go get it from the office kitchen. But I DOUBLE DARE you to come over to my desk while I’m not here, and take something off of my desk. So, I’ll see you in a few.

Best,

Fed Up Freddy

What's going on in "The District"

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:39:00 -0400

The N Word by Quinn Alston @ Wonderbox, D.C.

Friday July 15^th, 6:00 PM, $17 Presale

Wonderbox
57 N St. NW (Rear)
Washington, D.C.

Sulu DC presents Miss Fortune: Spotlight on AAPI Women in Hip-HoP

Saturday July 16^th, 7:30 PM, $10 Presale-$15 at the door and after party will be at Jin Lounge (2017 14^th St. NW)

U Street Music Hall
1115 U St. NW
Washington, D.C.

Dating in Your Twenties: Fun or Epic Fail?

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:34:00 -0400

So as a twenty-something I realized that in my early twenties I had a super power that a number of older women do not have and that power was the ability to not care!

A collegiate atmosphere is surreal for both males and females allowance of an array of seemingly endless dating options, yet there are still feelings somewhere in there, right? I mean I remember having them, but still had the ability to not care.

As I get older and join the ranks of those whom I thought to be the “older” gals, I notice that my powers are fainting…. I look around and more and more of my girlfriends are getting picked off by their soon-to-be hubbies one by one. But meanwhile I and a number of other dolls remain on the dating scene.

This observation brings me to my question: is dating in your twenties, fun or an epic fail?

I asked a few women from various backgrounds and ages what they thought and here’s what they had to say:

“I honestly think dating becomes an epic fail when women in their 20’s go after guys in their 20’s (cause them dudes usually be on different ish). In general, I try not to get myself too jaded and I like to think that my negative feelings about dating now come from my (1)-bad location, and (2)-recent break-up.”
-OooLALA, L.A.

“Sometimes I really just hate the dating scene in DC, but I would not necessarily say that it is an epic fail. Our twenties are supposed to be about experiences, lessons, adventures, and trials when it comes to jobs, life, or even relationships. Although it may suck at times, we really end up finding out more about ourselves and others, which prepare us for the more serious relationships down the road….My advice, would be to not take yourself too seriously and not letting your career or ambitions get in the way of your romantic life. Also understand that most young professionals in DC are focused on their careers, therefore it’s a constant struggle to balance ambition and romance. So let’s stop looking at the failing rate of relationships in DC… and instead focus on the fact that we are here to have a good time.”
-MissTwentySomething, D.C.

“Yes, dating in your 20s is fun. But it becomes significantly less fun once you are closer to 30 and the quality (and quantity) of people you meet diminishes. Also by 27-29 you’ve been there done that - so the experience as a whole is sort of stale. That being said when you meet someone you like and everything clicks in the right way - it’s always a fresh and exciting thing - at any age.”
-Chi-City, Chicago

I do believe that dating in your twenties can be fun, but as we get older it becomes more of balancing act as you have read from most of these ladies asked this same question. Whether, it is career and time or feelings, desires, and reality, there is a delicate dance we must do to hold it all together and maintain perspective.

It is personal belief that the dating game for women is about numbers. Now not numbers in the same sense that it is typically thought of for men, but instead to get closer to what you want or to get all that you want you may have to seek out those qualities from a few individuals all at once. This can go really well or it can go bad if you don’t know how to…. (Throat clear) dance!

Follow these steps that I have learned along the way to keep the fun going in dating and to avoid failure. (Disclaimer: this advice will work if your guy(s) are not complete paper gangsta[1]—see definition)

1. Do not sleep with any guy you date until you have some commitment from him. Realize that men will tell you anything that you want to hear if it gets them closer to what they want! Holding out will allow real feelings to develop and sift out the real from the fake.

2. Do not be too available. Just to be clear this advice is not necessarily aimed at playing games but instead to keep the man’s interest. Men do not desire anything that does not pose a challenge to them. So don’t become their “Yes Man”, but remember ladies keep it soft. This brings me to my next point…

3. Keep the sass to a minimum. Instead of giving them the heat or the sharpness of your tongue that they so very much deserve, it’s better to just ignore them. Or as they say just cut things short and they will all come back for more.

4. Last but not least remember your worth. Man wants to drive that Maserati, but cannot afford the upkeep….need I say more on that topic.

In closing I believe that we all can develop or restore our super powers that we once had before we entered the real world, but it takes will power. So instead of sweating all the details just roll with it and just see what happens.

[1] Pa×per Gang×sta noun \ˈpā-pər\ \ˈgaŋ-sta\: “Someone who’s got the flavor, but don’t got no follow through”…Lady Gaga