O'Mast - Neapolitan Tailoring Documentary

I came across this traier for an upcoming documentary on old-school Italian tailoring. OMG, can't wait for the final film.

O'MAST from Kid Dandy on Vimeo.

SNAP OFF MINUTE:

Why do some big girls rock Apple Bottoms, when they know that the booty is beyond an "apple" shape? Right?!?! OMG, why did I see 2 big girls in line at the grocery store today. Full on make-up, nails done, hair done, everything did, standing in fierce pumps. You couldn't tell them nothin'!! Did you know the rapper Nelly owns that brand? Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Money comes in one size. Okay??

http://www.applebottoms.com

In My White Tee

From defining the lower-class blue collar industry during the 40's - to Michael Jackson ripping his open during the 90's - the white tee is one of the most powerful creations of our times. And now, even in the year 2010... the white tee still stands out as a phenomenon. An iconic fashion chameleon: always the same, but yet able to change the way you see it.

A few weeks ago, I was on the bus and I was talking with a young black guy, about 20-something and he was rocking a white tee. I asked him why so many young men are always rockin' the big baggy white tee during the summer. (I've also seen it during the winter as well!) The original stigma behind the white tee, was about being blank of power - this was due to working-class/blue collar men that first wore tees as industrial underwear back during the early 1900's. But this young man told me that it was now being used as a way of not being profiled or wrongly accused. My eyes widened. And then, for the first time, I got it.


Cop: "Mam... did you see anyone? What the guy look like?"
Witness: "Well... he was a young black man, 'bout this tall, wearing baggy jeans, and a white tee."
Cop: (Looking around the block) "Well... $#*! that could be anybody."

See what I'm saying?

But I also think it says a lot about how some in society view younger African-American men who they see dressed in this manner: as lower-class, uneducated, and... BLANK OF POWER.

But at the same time... don't get it twisted. Yes, the big baggy white tee is being rocked with the latest skateboard and Sean White sunglasses. Yep, white boys love the way black rappers and 'boyz n' the hood' rock the tees with the NBA logos and the latest gym shoes. You see... today the "hoop dream" is no longer a 'black thing' - and the white tee serves as a defining symbol of "brotha-hood", crossing racial, community, and class lines.

As men, we all connect to the white tee due to how it has allowed us to grow up, live our lives, and experience various situations that have involved REAL blood, sweat, and tears. And who can deny all of those late-night stains from Oreos and Thai food leftovers?

In closing... the white tee is and always will be a neutral platform for expression. No other item of apparel has made such a social, emotional, and psychological impact. It's neither evil nor good, Democratic or Republican. It's Liberal but yet, Conservative. Bi-Partisan, but yet, Independent. No matter where you at. True 'dat.
_______________________________________________________

Check out 'Dem Franchize Boys' video: "In My White Tee"

EnVogue in VOGUE??

Sooo... while I'm on the topic of Anna Wintour... why is it that EnVogue was never on the cover of VOGUE?? Exactly.

Right??

I know why... and you do to. Because to have put them on the cover of Vogue would have said to the fashion world and to people around the world: "Black women are EN VOGUE."

Meaning, "in fashion". That's what en vogue translates to in French. So, I get it.

I remember being in New York, August of 2008, and finally being able to get an Italian Vogue that was selling out like crazy. Remember that? It was an exclusive magazine with all the current blacks supermodels around the world. It was AMAZING. But get this... it was ITALIAN VOGUE - NOT AMERICAN VOGUE!! The issue was so successful, that they had to do a second print!! People were waiting for weeks.

As I flipped through it, I was almost in tears. I remember going out to dinner and just dazed at how fabulous everyone looked in those editorials. It showed that black women are just as bold, beautiful, and deserving of the same spotlight within entertainment, advertisement, movies, etc. and I feel as if VOGUE dropped the ball on putting EnVogue on at least one of it's covers back in the day.

EnVogue was such a bold female group. They made a name for REAL SINGING and they had great fashion sense that inspired so many designers around the world. It was like an entire group of supermodels that we all knew from the hood or around the way. EnVogue was and still is GORGEOUS and it's a damn shame that VOGUE never noticed or gave a damn enough to say: "Wow, we should feature them." I mean, come on... they are one of the top female groups of all time. They basically DEFINED the sound of Female Group 90's, but yet, they never got the due credit they deserved in the fashion industry.



From 1989 to August 2008, EnVogue sold over 24 million albums, making them the 18th most successful act of the 1990's and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time - spending over 2,800 weeks on the Billboard charts.

Their second album, 'Funky Divas' is a bonafide classic. Those girls give you RANGE in various genres. It's like Broadway, meets Motown, meets Sunday morning, meets Rock. Amazing. Go to amazon.com or run out to Target and pick it up.

EnVogue - always.

A Ghetto Christmas

For some reason... I'm in the mood for Christmas. Right?? Am I the only one?? Mann!! To me, it seems like Christmas was like yyyyeeeaaars ago. I'm serious. Is it because from 2008-til now... America has felt more like Halloween?? Okay?? But right?? Exactly. That's it. Tomorrow, I'm rocking some Santa boots and a doo rag.

Yes She Did.

_____________________________________________________________

Over the weekend, I saw that movie, 'The Devil Wears Prada'... AGAIN. And every time I see it, it brings to mind an experience I had back in college with my late best friend, Orenthal.

First, let me break down the movie's leading character:

Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a cold-blooded boss-lady/editor-in-chief of RUNWAY magazine - (a fictional version of VOGUE). She's blunt, non-apologetic, and rocks fierce fashion and attitude throughout the entire film. So as I’m watching I couldn’t help but to be transported back to the day when me and Orenthal encountered our very own real-life “Miranda” on the Gold Coast of Chicago.

It was the summer of 1993... a perfect sunny day... and we had just purchased some buttons and trims at Vogue Fabrics, which was located in Water Tower Place at the time. We were coming out of the north exit beside Fannie May(now Nuts on Clark) and as we were crossing the pedestrian lane towards the Hancock Building, this “socialite-looking” white lady comes waltzing out of the Hancock building’s revolving door exit. She was walking like she owned the place FOR REAL.

She had solid grey hair, but cut in that classic “Jackie-O” style and she was dressed in head-to-toe navy Chanel: the signature boxy suit, the huge sunglasses with the double-C logo on the side, along with matching opaque hosiery and 4” navy stilettos on her feet.

So anyway… she comes towards us and just as she’s passing on our left, Orenthal turns to her and says: “Alright, b**ch… you better work! Work the look! WORK IT!”

He ended all of this with a fierce snap of the fingers and a slight shake of the head, as if to say, "that's right diva..."

The lady stopped dead in her tracks.
Fresh off the bus from Mississippi at the time,
I'm like: "We 'bout to get killed."

“I beg your pardon young man… what did you just call me?” she said, a bit pissed.

Orenthal didn’t flinch. He put his hand up to his chest, gave a shake of his left shoulder, and with grace and charm, replied: “Yes mam... I called you bitch. I called you power.” - ending this with another precise snap.

The lady primped her hair with the palm of her hands, adjusted her shades over her nose, and replied: “Well, in that case… thank you...” and gave Orenthal a swift finger snap back in return and walked away as if nothing ever happened.

I looked at Orenthal and screamed, “Ooooh, no she didn’t!!!”
Orenthal looked at me and said, “Oh honey... yes she did.”

Okay???

Granny Grills

Hip-hop is everywhere.

A few years ago, 3-6-Mafia won an Oscar and the genre got taken to a whole new level. Mary J. Blige is now a household name, thanks to a boost from Oprah Winfrey, telling the whole world on a show that Blige’s #1 hit, “Family Affair” was her favorite jam. There was Oprah - front row, pumping her fist, singing every word.

But you know… funny how lyrics aren’t the only thing in people’s mouths these days.

I was at Macy’s back during the holidays, standing at the guest services counter and these two heavy-set white guys were being helped. They were both dressed in the latest high-end urban gear: sweaters with Sean John scribbled across, big, baggy jeans, and NBA caps cocked to the side, finished off with fresh camel-colored “Timbs”, short for Timberland boots.They were talking to the little old lady behind the counter about doing something with B96.

So, I thought to myself, Hmmm… maybe these are those funny guys from the radio!”

So I asked in a very “homey” kind of way: “Hey man, you guys from B96?”

And the guy closest to me replied “Naw’ll man… but we tryin’ to get up in ‘ner.”

He might have said something else to me, but by this time I was frozen still. I literally stood there for about 3 seconds trying to believe what I was seeing before my very eyes.

Dude was all “grilled out” – the top and bottom rows of his teeth covered in solid silver with diamonds and intricate engravings in each one. I took a startled step back and went into full gag mode:

“Oh! Okay… I see… you’re all grillllled out!” I said, in that universal “I’m hip to what’s going on” kind of way, motioning my hands in a circular motion around my mouth, bopping my head up and down. Sort of diggin’ it.

“It’s cold in the Chi... might as well rock dat’ ice.”

I almost fell out.

And then… just when I thought I’d had enough, the lady behind the counter replied, “Yeah man… he’s all grillllled out…” floating her hand in the air, as if to say, “Yeeaahhh… boyyy!!” like Flavor Flav or something like that.

Absolutely hilarious.

I thought to myself… Oh Lord… I can see it now… some little old lady walking into a jeweler somewhere in Chicago, plopping her dentures onto the counter and asking,”Hey there baby, how much to pimp these out?”

Right????

Right.

Until next time, that’s the cut!