Blackbookmag.com September, 2011

Known to his fans as dapperlou.com, 24-year-old Haitian-American style blogger Ludget Delcy relishes the idea of throwing people off with his personal style. It started back when he was a high school sophomore in Brooklyn, New York. Amidst a sea of velour sweat suits and Air force Ones, there was Delcy (pictured here), wearing crisp white pants, a blue shirt, white tie, and a black blazer. Donning the kind of ensembles that were more Details than XXL, he was often greeted with puzzling stares and laughter as he walked down the halls of Sheepshead Bay High School. “Everyone would ask me where am I going so dressed up,” he recalls with a chuckle, “I’ve always liked looking neat and well-dressed because it speaks volume about who I am.” [Read more...]

Tags: Black Dandy, Dandy Lion, Dapperlou.com, Fort Greene Brooklyn, Guerreisms, Ludget Delcy, Monica Miller, Slaves To Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts.

Refinery29.com July, 2011

If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent many Saturday afternoons drooling at interior design star Kelly Wearstler’s line of furnishing gems (and literal gems) on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman, before or after tucking in at BG, the department store’s haute-canteen that Wearstler also decorated. While getting Wearstler to work her visionary magic in our apartments may be a long shot, we’ll gladly settle for donning her deft mix of vintage, mod, and glamour where everyone can see—on our backs. [Read more...]

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, home decor, Kelly Wearstler.

Blackbookmag.com June, 2011

 Even though Georgia native Audrey Estilette had heard about the counterfeit designer handbags sold in New York’s Chinatown, on her recent trip to the city, the fourteen year-old was more interested in exploring the authentic side of the neighborhood—or so she thought. Standing on Canal Street, surrounded by a swarm of vendors vying for her attention with whispers of Louis Vuitton and Chanel, it quickly became obvious to Estilette that sightseeing might have to take a back seat to bargain shopping. “Everywhere you turn, someone is trying to sell you a bag,” she says, she and her girlfriends proudly toting the knockoff Longchamp “Le Pliage” handbags they scored. “You don’t have places like this back home. You know, all out in the open and stuff.” [Read more...]

Tags: Chinatown, Counterfeit bags, David Louie, International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition, Margaret Chin, Midtown Authentic.

Blackbookmag.com January, 2011

For the last few years, high-street chains like H&M and Zara have provided women with tight budgets and big fashion aspirations the chance to indulge in runway trends without breaking the bank. Where those stores pair with haute designers to produce limited-edition collections (take Alber Elbaz’s recent collaboration with H&M), flash-sale sites like Gilt Groupe deliver actual runway duds at hugely slashed prices to women not lucky enough to receive those ‘Friends and Family’ invitations to sample sales in their Inbox. But when savings rule, where does that leave higher-end shoppers who are ready – and more than willing – to spend big bucks on fashion? “There hasn’t been a lot of focus on doing special things for the shopper who wants the latest thing and is going to pay full price,” points out Aslaug Magnusdottir, former head of merchandizing at Gilt Noir (Gilt.com’s elite member group), on the inspiration behind Moda Operandi, the revolutionary new e-commerce site she co-founded with Lauren Santo Domingo of Vogue. “There’s a real need for a new luxury experience at the high-end level.” [Read more...]

Tags: Aslaug Magnusdottir, Fashion Week, Lauren Santo Domingo, Luxury, Moda Operandi, Runway Fashion.

ESSENCE.com January, 2010

While there may be an endless supply of pretty faces decked out, with the help of stylists, in head-to-toe au courant, designer pieces making the red carpet and party rounds, to catch our eye here at ESSENCE.com, one must approach fashion with a truly individualistic approach, have savvy personal style, be adept at interpreting trends to make them her own, have an understanding of what looks good on her frame and, by all means, she must possess impeccable taste.

Finding someone like that these days can be rather difficult in a sea of style copycats, so you can imagine our giddy, school girl excitement when we discovered Shala Monroque… [Read more...]

Tags: Essence.com, Fashion, Fashion Week, It-Girl, Pop Magazine, Shala Monroque.

HarpersBazaar.com April, 2008

After 10 years away from New York, haute couture designer Christian Lacroix celebrated his return to the Big Apple by hosting a private dinner, followed by the unveiling of his much-anticipated first store in the city, across from the Four Seasons Hotel. “It’s always like home here,” said Lacroix, who made his U.S. retail debut back in 2006 in Las Vegas. “Yesterday was the first time I saw the store. I’m very proud. I love it, love it.” [Read more...]

Tags: Christian Lacroix, Gilles Bensimon, Hana Soukupova, KimRaver, Robin Givhan.

Blackbookmag.com March, 2009

Shoe maestro Brian Atwood’s come-hither skyscraper heels in elaborate skins and blinding jewels are always the stars of the show. Nevertheless, at last night’s fete at the OpenHouse Gallery for the designer’s exclusive new book — Role Play Rene, featuring his candy-hued Spring 09 collection — his killer heels played their first supporting role. A seductive, barely clothed Rene Russo modeling the footwear line was the main attraction. [Read more...]

Tags: Brian Atwood, Fashion, Rene Russo, Role Play Rene, Shoes, Tony Duran.

Time Out New York.com, April 2010

This minimalist Japanese sneaker boutique houses an extensive collection of kicks ($50–$400)—including Adidas, Puma and Atmos’s exclusive collaborations with Nike and New Balance—all of which are displayed in backlit mahogany cubbies. The sneakerhead haven also dabbles in streetwear like T-shirts, jackets and jeans from Stüssy, Black Scale and Atmos’s own signature line. Accessories such as G-Shock watches and Amongst Friends baseball caps will keep you looking fresh from head to toe.  [Read more...]

Essence.com March, 2010

It’s nearly impossible to have a discussion about the relationship between music and style without mentioning one of the mavericks of celebrity styling, June Ambrose. Ambrose, as we’re sure many of you already know, is an iconic stylist who has been instrumental in creating the looks of some of the music world’s biggest stars like Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, P. Diddy and Jay-Z. It was the ingenious Ambrose that came up with the idea of putting then-new artist Missy Elliot in a blown up garbage bag in the video for “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” That’s just one of the many looks she created for her clients that will forever be etched into music video history. You would think assisting celebrities in developing their image, dressing them for every occasion from press conferences to world tours, giving out style tips on her numerous TV appearances and running Mod Squad, her successful branding firm, wouldn’t allow any time for the premier stylist, and mother of two, to devote to her own personal style. Nevertheless, for a fashion addict and clotheshorse like Ambrose, taking pride in how she presents herself is as important to her as making sure her clients’ sartorial needs are met. [Read more...]

Tags: Celebrity Stylist, Hip-Hop, June Ambrose, Mod Squad.