Dress Code :: The Summer Wedding

Dress Code :: The Summer Wedding

Hard to believe but before I looked up I suddenly reached the age where my friends are running off, falling in love, getting married and having children. No, seriously, where does the time go? I haven't been to a wedding in years and honestly haven't been to many in my life. So when 3 of my friends announced that they were getting married and ironically on the same day, I knew I was going to have to dig deep for a little creativity.

I decided to go to my friend Amanda's wedding because we are the closest of the 3 while I did manage to make a cameo at Ashley's reception, but Mel's was completely out of the question as it was in Jamaica. Amanda had a garden wedding in beautiful Manhattan Beach, CA, blocks away from the beach. So I elected to wear: $100 light grey suit (3 Day Suit Broker), $2 yellow Geoffrey Beene shirt (thrift), $1 black knit tie (thrift), $25 Kenneth Cole tie bar (Bloomingdale's), and $80 Kenneth Cole shoes (K&G). The combination of colors and textures (pictured above) was perfect for the location.


To quote GQ Style, "What you wear to a wedding doesn't just depend on the season. You also need to consider the location—and the crowd. Like, are we talking an East Coast prepster fest on a Nantucket beach? Or a Wayfarer-addled hipster bash in a SoHo loft? [You should look sharp] wherever you end up on the summer wedding circuit."

Click here to read GQ's Summer Wedding Survival Guide. They give you everything from the beach wedding to country casual to the after-dark city wedding.

Click here for additional tips from Valet Magazine.

Interview with The Examiner

Interview with The Examiner

"They like me! They really like me!" Hahaha! That sound bite keeps playing over and over in my mind when I think about all the recognition I've been getting for what I do. I was recently interviewed by The Examiner by Budget Fashion columnist Chrystal King.

The article discusses what else but my passion for thrift shopping! I really enjoyed this interview because she dove a little deeper and posed questions people had never thought to ask like, When did you start thrifting? and What are your favorite retail stores? All and all it was a great exchange and I was happy I got another opportunity to get my name out there and spread my message of smart shopping!

Click here to read the rest of the interview.

Download :: Westcoast Edition

Download :: Westcoast Edition

One of the most frustrating things as a native Angeleno is not having the world recognize the evolution that Westcoast hip hop has taken on in the last 20 years. It seems as if every other region has gone through their changes and received widespread praise. But everyone still believes our story and sound can be summed up by the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and The Game alone. That couldn't be further from the truth! Here is are the future of Westcoast hip hop...
TAE BEAST x THE TAE BEAST TAPE

In the spirit of J. Dilla, young producer Tae Beast just released a mixtape chock full of some of the most of amazing beats I've heard to date. No loud mouth rappers setting the tone for each, just beats, taking you on a journey of kicks, snares and subtle samples.

Click here to download.

TRACK LISTING
1. Bill Cosby Intro/Believe
2. El Campo
3. Harlem Apollo
4. Blue Ship
5. Another Go
6. Together/Keynote Speaker
7. Gorilla Monsoon
8. Verocai
9. Jamaican Gold
10. Adrianna's Dream
11. Kayden's Interlude
12. Speak Low/Richard Pryor TV
13. The Love Blue
14. Love +
15. Left Me
16. Sunday Nite
17. Chi-Town/Congressional Skit
18. History 03:34

AB-SOUL x LONG TERM 2: LIFESTYLES OF THE BROKE & ALMOST FAMOUS

I'm especially proud of this mixtape because it comes from an artist from my very own hometown of Carson, CA. Ab and I have some mutual friends and I've heard his music over the years. The evolution of his talent is truly something to marvel at. His vocabulary has expanded, ideas more abstract and beats even more epic. This mixtape is incredible. OMG! He goes through all the complexities of growing up a Black kid in the suburbs, the struggles of a talented artist and his journey so vividly and honest. To my delight he even has a feature from Little Brother artist Rapper Big Pooh! How insane is that?!

Click here and enjoy the ride.

TRACK LISTING

1. Still a Regular N*gga (ft. Javonte) [prod. Sounwave]
2. No Pressure (ft. Jay Rock) [prod. Statmajor]
3. Drift Away [prod. Pro Logic]
4. Livin Like (ft. Rapper Big Pooh) [prod. Tommy Black]
5. House Party 5 [prod. Sounwave]
6. Be a Man [prod. Tae Beast]
7. Soul Cry [prod. Willie B.]
8. Turn Me Up (ft. Kendrick Lamar) [prod. Tae Beast]
9. Passion (ft. Alori Joh) [prod. King Blue (of Sore Losers)]
10. Bankrupt [prod. Soundwave]
11. Mayday [prod. Willie B.]
12. Rush [prod. Tae Beast]
13. Pass The Blunt (ft. Schoolboy Q) [prod. King Blue]
14. My Dream Girl [prod. Neffu]
15. Can Anybody Hear Me (ft. Punch) [prod. Tae Beast]
16. Long Term 2 [prod. Curtiss King]
17. Budget Ballin [prod. Soundwave]**
18. Thought It Was Love (ft. Sore Losers)**

HABIT x CLOSE TO ALMOST

One night I went to the Dakota Lounge for a Yoo-N-LA event and had the chance to see indie artist Habit perform. I have to admit that one of those people who when told to "put my hands up" by someone I don't know will give the coldest blank stare. Although didn't initially follow directions, I was definitely doing so after the first song! Habit's music and stage presence was a breathe of fresh air - very clever and energetic! The young spitter says of himself, "Born and raised in LA...moved to AZ for college...I rap about everything that happened before that, and all the greatness to come."

Click here and zone out.

Flash x Flair.

Flash x Flair.

You all remember the scene in Office Space where Peter asks Joanna, "Doesn't it bother you that you have to get up in the morning and you have to put on a bunch of pieces of flair?" While it was hilarious, I'd say to Peter HELL NO! Flair has been one of my favorite accessories this season. Since we are experiencing such a bipolar summer, I picked up a few lightweight jackets during my last trip to the thrift --- like the $2 fatigue you see above. They're perfect to have around for the many chilly days we've been having here in Los Angeles.

To add some much needed character to the jacket, I gathered all the various "flair" I had laying around and tagged them on in no particular order. Its an excellent compliment to all my understated summer attire. I've gotten a ton of compliments on it and it's a definite conversation piece. People love to ask questions about all the the different add-ons.

Gather all your buttons, pins and broaches you have and do the same to breathe new life into an old piece!

Ill Narative :: Old Spice 'Experience'

Ill Narative :: Old Spice 'Experience'

Old Spice - Experience ft. Bruce Campbell

If you have it, you do not need it. If you need it you do not have it. If you have it you need more of it. And if you have more of it you do not need less of it. You need it to get it. And you certainly need it to get more of it. But if you don’t have any of it to begin with, you can not get any of it to get started, which means you really have no idea how to get it in the first place. You can share it. You can even stock pile it if you would like, but you can not fake it. You can want it, need it, wish for it. But if you have never had any of it, ever, people just seem to know.

EXPERIENCE.