Blog spotlight: with contributor Ivan Vega

 

Unabashedly Prep Presents: The Black Ivy

"One flip through a 1940s Skull and Bones year book and it becomes apparent that the Ivy League was essentially a white experience. Twenty years later, Take Ivydocumented within its iconic pages that the demographic had not really changed (there was one black student featured on page 83). Joshua Kissi and Travis Gumbs, of the New York style blog Street Etiquette, embody an appreciation for that very Ivy League aesthetic in their own style. Although inadequately represented as blacks in the definitive document of this particular style, they champion it. Today, the lasting effects of affirmative action have granted minorities a significant place in Ivy League universities. The duo felt compelled to introduce The Black Ivy in the spirit of T. Hayashida’s collection of candid photographs some 45 years ago. It is this appreciation of Ivy League style that made collaborating with Kissi and Gumbs a likely partnership.

City College of New York serves as the landscape to The Black Ivy. And suitably so. Ivies scale the 160 year old brick and stone exteriors with vim. Its neo-Gothic campus was used to depict Harvard in the 1990 film Reversal of Fortune and more recently played host on several occasions to the American teen drama Gossip Girl. Kissi and Gumbs rounded up two dozen of their most dapper friends to hit the books...and the Shephard Hall lawn for a game of football."

Jam of the week

The Black List, Vol 3 Hill Harper

Form + Function

ARISE Magazine


I was beginning to fall out of love with print all together. Preferring now adays to get everything from my news to my fashion editorials online exclusively. Though magazine subscriptions are supposedly up by large margins, I feel like every magazine I was in love with in the recent past has folded. Or switched their style up to boost subscriptions. Sometimes that means making the magazine smaller, limiting issues, or content for that matter. But I digress... the good news is that I've just recently discovered  Arise Magazine. Though still in its adolescence at just 10 issues old, I'm already loving the frequency. This is a magazine about Africa, that feels very much made for Americans. Although I'm sure that's only part of the thought process for its creators, it most definitely serves to re-frame how people globally think of Africa (the continent). 
The content feels fresh and there are cultural parallels throughout illustrating the ties that bind African and African Americans. There  are no lines dissecting where one Black issue ends or begins geographically, which I love! Its about damn time. And very late might I add. But good things do come to those who wait. 


Try it:
To learn more about Arise go to: http://www.dev.arisemagazine.net/
To become a subscriber go to:   http://www.arisemagazine.net/subscribe.html   

More on Arise Magazine
ARISE – Africa’s first international style magazine – has been awarded ‘Launch of the Year’ at the APA International Customer Publishing Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding editorialized branded content, were held at London’s Old Billingsgate on Wednesday, November 25. Judges commended the international title, published by Velo, as “a great example of a launch that everyone wishes they had come up with.” ARISE also took Highly Commended in the ‘Best International Publication’ and ‘Best Use of Photography’ categories at the APA awards. These accolades come hot on the heels of the British Society of Magazine Editors awards, in which ARISE took Highly Commended in ‘Launch of the Year’ category. Helen Jennings, Editor of ARISE, said: “ARISE has had a stellar first year, launching at a time of renewed interest in black influence globally. This award underlines the success the magazine has had mirroring the spirit of these times.” 

ARISE is a celebration of African achievement in fashion, music, culture and polity. A media first, it provides an unashamedly positive portrayal of Africa and its contribution to contemporary society across the world. The magazine had its successful soft launch in October 2008, after which the high-end, large-format glossy hit international newsstands as a monthly on February 13 2009 – the date of the ARISE African Fashion Collective show debut at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week (NYFW). The magazine’s commitment to fashion also brokered the sponsorship deal for ARISE Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg and Cape Town, which brought together over 50 designers from 20 countries throughout the continent. ARISE is published on behalf of THISDAY Magazines Group (Lagos, Nigeria).. THIS DAY Group Chairman and ARISE editor-in-chief, Nduka Obaigbena, said: “Africa has much to celebrate, contrary to what much of the international media would have you believe. ARISE communicates the landmark successes that Africans, and people of African descent, have achieved in fields as varied as music, fashion, business and politics. Arise breaks new ground BY celebrating Africa ’s best and brightest...

Jam of the week

FULL SCREENThe Sounds of VTech / bilal_isthislove_web

the illest goes GIANT

My main man J Smooth is now doing some very nice commentary for Giant Magazine. Its a topical vlog about dissecting words and their socio-political meaning. Just when I thought the ill doctrine was not enough, giantlife.com goes and fills in the blanks!  


Try it
Fore more of the ill go to: http://www.illdoctrine.com/
For that new, new go to: www.giantlife.com 

YOU should know

Tucker by Gaby Basora  

is rooted in the kind of effortless flavor that city girls across the globe rock in the streets. Not quite thrift. Vintage. Not just sophisticated. Chic. For the kind of woman that makes other women turn their head. And not because she's a super model. She's just an everyday girl, doing her own thing with such flavor, that respect must be paid. That's what Tucker, a global brand in the making, is all about. Its fore-mother, Gaby Basora, uses her own fashion sense, lifestyle and personal anthropology as the impetus and inspiration.
Tucker's concept couldn't be more effortless, giving everyday girls with style beautifully cut pieces with an array of patterns to choose from. Each blouse, pant, jacket or dress comes with its own unique offering of custom fabrics for you to choose from. It gives the brand its own unique twist on personal style. And not a moment to soon... Gaby's coming out with a pocketbook-friendly collection with Target on September 12th. I'm so excited about this chick, you should be too. 


Try it 
to support this artist go to: http://www.tuckerbygabybasora.com/
for more on the Target collection go to: http://style.target.com/2010/09/03/tucker-up-to-targets-newest-designer-collection/ 
     

More on the Artist 

Hard-working, creative, talented, funny, flawed, genuine, unstoppable, mother, wife –Gaby Basora is all of these things and they are the definition behind her Tucker collection.  With the intention to create something easy and beautiful for her busy and versatile lifestyle, Basora designed the original Tucker blouse in the summer of 2005, made from silk with a button down front and shirred neckline. Everywhere Basora went women stopped her, friends and strangers alike commented on her blouse, and at that moment Tucker was born.  Within months, Barneys New York placed their first order for Tucker by Gaby Basora.

From a young age, Basora was drawn to fabrics, patterns and color.  Growing up in Seattle, Basora would roam the local flea markets and thrift shops with her three sisters on the weekends.  She learned to knit from her mom, and picked up basic sewing techniques from the local sewing shop in her hometown.  Travel also had a strong influence on Basora, where early on she had the opportunity to live in Amsterdam and traveled often to Paris before moving to New York to attend Sarah Lawrence College.  Following graduation, Basora worked as an assistant to stylists on editorial and commercial jobs until she went out on her own as a stylist for ten years, traveling on tour with top artists such as Lauryn Hill.

In five short years, Basora has gained international recognition for her Tucker collection and is found in over 200 retailers worldwide including Barneys New York, Harvey Nichols, Net-A-Porter and Bloomingdale’s as well as better boutiques around the world.   What started with a single blouse is now a collection of over 35 silhouettes, including dresses, coats and lingerie.

From her design studio in New York City’s Meat Packing District, Basora designs exclusive prints inspired by her life: magazines, novels, travel, nature as well as everyday objects that catch her eye. Today, Tucker has become synonymous with prints – sophisticated in content and color palette - and equally as appreciated and signature as the silhouettes. The majority of Tucker prints are now exclusively designed in house.

Tucker, which is derived from its definition “A piece of cloth draped over the bosom,” is the perfect expression of the collection, where each piece is intended to emphasize the woman wearing it and is not specific to any style or state of mind.  Tucker is free-spirited, brave and nostalgic. 

Jam of the week: legacy edition

The Black List, Vol 1 Russell Simmons