Jumping out the jungle, Iggy Azalea, an Australian songwriter and rapper. Yes, a rapping Aussie. She came to my attention via Youtube and Twitter like the rest of us. There are so many words I can’t afford to say. No room for a music critic. Just watch and listen. Iggy Azalea drops by the FLuD headquarters to discuss the single “Pu$$y,” her first public experience, and Australian meat pot pies. Click link to give her mixtape a listen. | Iggy Azalea-Ignorant Art Mixtape Video inside! –>Inside Story
Title: Beyonce’s Creative Director, Jenke-Ahmed Tailly is welcomed. With no official background check available for public viewing–I’m hesitant to report his online resume. So I will politely decline in doing so. But let’s not lose focus here, this series is about the FASHAWN! And tapping into the ego. It works for me. As the curtain lifts for “the creators” to perform, and coming off a string of much-publicized style choices for King B’s “4″ album (cue his memorable appearance on “Year of 4″ documentary). Tailly is undoubtedly a monarch of style (even his tag-along fashion moments with Shala Monroque is so “Big Pimpin”). Girls run the world. But who runs the girls? –>Inside Story
Knock, knock delivery! Timberland Crystal Mountain Tall Lace Waterproof Boot gifted by Team Epiphany. Who you feel about these purple snowflakes on my feet? I’ll be cosy and warm until summer flowers bloom. Gee, ain’t life sweet? Get out and stay out as long as you can with the Crystal Mountain Tall Lace Waterproof Boots. Fleece lining made from 30% recycled PET from plastic bottles are warm and comfortable and durable Green Rubber lug outsoles made with 42% recycled rubber provide traction on any surface all while keeping the environment in mind. With anti-fatigue technology for comfort, you’ll want to wear these boots all day long.
Thanks Team Epiphany!
Sham Shirley
In my most Southern accent, everybody knows: I meet Fonzworth Bentley through Coltrane Curtis–you know us Morehouse brothers gotta stay together. Bentley is somewhat of an advisor, I’ll hit him up sporadically whenever I need advice or a kick in the…he keeps me grounded consistently reminding me to stay focus—and in school. “I expect big things from you”-His words, or it was something like that lol. But BC (before connections) I’ve always always always loved Fonzworth’s style, it’s like he inaugurated the dandy gentrification into the hip-hop industry. Although Bentley is known for his colorful flare, well, America’s Perfect Gentlemen is now apart of the Marriage Group. Today’s typical hip hop artist generally lives a very fast and “on the go” lifestyle, working 24 hours a day it seems, and remaining single and/or divorced in their personal lives. G.O.O.D. Music’s Fonzworth Bentley drops knowledge on how he balances a marriage with “Benjamin Button” star, Faune Chambers and his music/movie career.
–>Inside Story
Filled to the brim with couples, Galleria shoppers and fashionably dressed girls-night-outers, the Grand Lux Cafe gives off a gilded glare – both from the actual 30-foot-high ceilings and a spacious dining room that feels more palatial than cavernous (the resturant comes wrapped in embossed gold Mylar). But the tone here is serious, sober, weighty – service is snappy and personal; booths are deep and romantically dim, lending a comforting aura to the dining experience. This feels like “luxury dinning.” The expansive menu rides the line between fine cuisine and nouveau comfort food, with an overarching Asian influence. This is an encore on encore on encore of another vicarious experience of opulence! –>Inside Story
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW PERORMANCE
A film by Harrison Boyce and Nathan Brown of Boyce & Brown, London performing Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes” for New York Times Magazine. “Picking a holiday song is harder than people think,” explains the Trinidad-born, Brooklyn-based rapper Theophilus London. “If you’re not going to write your own modern classic like George Michael or Run DMC, you have to cover something a lot of people don’t know.” The original is really stripped down and trippy,” says London, “so it inspired me to make my own weird version.” Pictured (from left): Elijah Austin, Omar Grant, Theophilus London, Aja Grant. –>Inside Story
Oh, this feels like a tour. The Yoko Ono Tour. The platinum french frame team came out to play–sociopolitical frames. Black at it again. Who you wit? Rollses and Maybachs and Gulfstream jets, five-star hotels and Audemars Piguet watches could not keep us Texas boys away from a reunion. Hey, let me speak it into reality! Lastnight, I had dinner with Terrance Phearse (pronounced Fierce) and his silver jewels. Darling, Terrence Phearse is a contributing fashion editor at ESSENCE.com and market editor at The Blay Report. Currently, he “Works It” at InStyle magazine and is a former HarpersBazaar.com, Louis Vuitton, Vibe, Teen Vogue, LuckyMag.com, and Paper Magazine intern. Terrence holds a B.S. from the Fashion Institute of Technology and lives in New York City. Twas wonderful to catch up with my fellow Houston Monarch! –>Inside Story
Investing in yourself is the #1 GIFT OF ALL TIME. This book highlights the fact that some of us are a walking business. Carefully craft your name, brand and image, in return make money. And that’s just by having a good idea. This item is the classic bestseller that taught the business world that safe is risky; very good is bad; and above all, you’re either remarkable or invisible. In 2002, Seth Godin asked a simple question that turned the business world upside down: What do Starbucks and JetBlue and Apple and Dutch Boy and Hard Candy have that other companies don’t? How did they confound critics and achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind formerly tried-and-true brands? Godin showed that the traditional P’s that marketers had used for decades to get their products noticed-pricing, promotion, publicity, packaging, etc.-weren’t working anymore. Marketers were ignoring the most important P of all: the Purple Cow. –>Inside Story
I should not be in Texas giving all this fever. And liking vintage fur as a boy this much is somewhat alarming. I don’t know, I am not a big fan of vintage stuff unless it’s a wine. I love vintage clothing but never found the patience to really dig around. If I don’t see anything in plain site-then usually I don’t go digging around. I am not a digger. If you’re lusting for some designer pieces, better off somewhere else. But if you’re looking for some tattered skinny jeans and a throw-on print tshirt – you’ve arrived. Taxi Taxi is a thrift/vintage store in the Montrose area in Houston. It’s resale at the lowest level, but it’s still resale so I dig it. The shoe selection comprises of a great deal of new, but cheaply made currently-in-fashion heels, sandals, and the like. And the clothing selection is along the same lines. I do give them major kudos for having a rather large vintage fur selection – did you see the pics?
There’s also a piercing partition in this store – a little creepy, but nothing like thrifting to work up a deep desire to pierce some fleshy part of you, I guess? On the weekends, they have the $1 bins and racks outside. Can’t say I’ve ever spied anything worthwhile peeking out from the masses of highly unwanted articles of clothing, but if I was more of a good sport, I’m sure there could be a gem or two buried deep within the dozens of questionable looking attire. Happy hunting, I guess?
Taxi Taxi
1657 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77006
Marquis Phifer
This item was made popular à la Kanye West 2010. The Cartier Love Bracelet (styled L⊝Ve, with the horizontal line inside the letter “O” alluding to the bracelet’s locking mechanism) is a famous piece of jewelry designed in 1969 by Aldo Cipullo for the French jeweler Cartier. Unlike traditional bracelets, which are either wide enough to slip them over the hand onto the wrist or can readily be opened in order to put them on, the Love Bracelet is designed to be opened only using a special screwdriver that is supplied with every bracelet. The screwdriver allows for the bracelet to be “locked” onto one person while the “key” is kept of another as a symbol for their commitment to the relationship. An iconic luxury classic, the Cartier Love Bracelet has a high entry price. The retail price for the classic 18k yellow gold locking Love Bracelet retails in the thousands at $5,575 per bracelet. Some of Cartier’s Love Bracelets with diamonds or ceramic can exceed $9,000-$37,000. Now do you see why I’m such an advocate for the progressive nouveau riche upstarts; civilians who are out here moving their own cash, or cashing checks. The ones who rather marry their dreams than to play house with no address. This shit is real! Cartier Love Bracelet comes at #2.
The Phifer Pick’s Shop: 25 Days of Christmas Gifts #2 Cartier Love Bracelet
Product Details: Cartier has offered the Love bracelet in 18k yellow gold, 18k “pink” (rose) gold, 18k white gold and in platinum. Some bracelets are offered with diamonds in place of or in rotation with the screw-motif. Ceramic details and special colored precious gems have been offered as well. Cuff versions that do not close or lock are also available. Image is Cartier 18kt Love Bracelet(s) worn by Kanye West. Available at Love.cartier.us
#2 Marquis Phifer
Back by popular demand, the editor of LateBoots has created an all-new guide to giving extraordinary gifts this season. Celebrate the holidays Phifer countdown-style. What’s catching the eyes of P in the new series The Phifer Pick’s Shop: 25 Days of Christmas Gifts –highlighting the top twenty five Christmas essentials and selections. Shop Phifer goodies, twenty five items that the discerning gift giver should add to their Christmas list. This item is one for the boyzzz. In true Christian Louboutin fashion, these Tasselissimo Men’s Flat are definitely a conversion piece that will go unnoticed. I. die. Christian teamed up with the House of Lesage to create the perfect tassels for this unique loafer. Wha wha. Hands down, the most interesting pair of Louboutins I’ve seen. And want! I’m thinking graduation day shoe! Exclusively overdone. I want something, anything, with this many tassels. The low-key beige suede is the perfect match keeping the style wearable. The material choice works year round. These work for both casual and dressed up situations. Shop away boys. Christian Louboutin Tasselissimo Men’s Flat comes at #3.
The Phifer Pick’s Shop: 25 Days of Christmas Gifts #3 Christian Louboutin
Product Details: These loafers are offered in a beige colorway and designed with premium suede with a series of tassels on the upper. Collection classique, color beige, material suede. Available at Christianlouboutin.com
#3 Marquis Phifer
Christmas in Georgia: Ello ello ello ello feeling what some only know. Experiencing the beauty of mountain air from my birth place. Moo-moo’s and gallops exiting my block. And when I crank she roars down the windy country roads — I call her big red. One hand in the air if Christmas is your one excused day off. As young as yesterday, on the 5th floor I can see the world go around below me. There is no key to my game — Only dead fish swim with the stream. Your job is to make something happen. When they must do something and you are the best available champion, it’ll get done. To keep a handle on this I am anchored. One more week and I can take a nap for 15 minutes. This is not for commercial usage. I was just in the neighborhood and I thought this would be fun. Off to the races.
I found my four leaf clover,
Sham Shirley