In an issue dedicated to celebrating the intersection of music and fashion, V magazine’s editorial “The Queen Of Hip Hop” includes a top, skirt and shoes by none other than Kanye West. Looks fab, still adoring the shoes.
Other designers shown in this super fun shoot include Patricia Field, Prada, Reed Krakoff, Billionaire Boys Club, Versace, Manolo Blahnik, Calvin Klein and House of Dereon. Via Thecut via Models.
How can you not love graphic designer Brian Wood’s “Brooklyn Legends” sweatshirt, featuring ODB, Lil’ Kim, B.I.G., Mike Tyson, Michael Jordan and many more. Lil’ Kim appears to be the only female so naturally we’d like to see lots more ladies on any part II version. Via Thefader.
I know it’s a total b.s. topic that I should follow the angel on my left shoulder and resist commenting on, but eff it, I”m just gonna say it, she looks thinner.
On a tip from She Breathes we checked out Spain based Malababa, and have not been able to take our eyes of their handbags. The “Raimunda” bag, with geometric bronze plates, and removable strap artfully conveys an earthy glamour we find inrresistible. The kind of bag that looks better the longer you have it. View some of our favorite colors on the flip, all available here.
We caught up with designer Leah McSweeney recently to find out the latest developments with her Married to the MOB label. A pioneer on the streetwear scene when she started up MOB seven years ago, the label has had it twists and turns, including the recent conclusion of a partnership with an investor and is getting back to its roots, albeit with a second-act heaping does of wisdom. McSweeney = MOB so it’s no surprise that many of the bumps, bruises and joys experienced by the brand over the past few years found a parallel in the young designer’s own life. Compelling, frank, more than slightly intense, not to mention a bit of a lightening rod, this is one female whose next moves we will always look out for and cheer.
HS: A lot has happened in the past year. Can you catch everyone up on Married to the Mob and what happened to your brand? You had investors and now you are no longer partnered with them.
Leah: Legally I can’t get into details. In the long run, the only thing that matters is I got my company back. I have nothing but gratitude toward my ex-partners, they believed in me but we’re two different animals. They’re amazing at what they do with men’s brands and I will say the three years I had funding, it was the best education on the business. I worked side by side with super smart, successful people, but more importantly I learned how to make a garment, and I learned about fabric, production and design. I started out making tee shirts and I didn’t have any experience. When I went into the partnership I was 25 and on top of the world, thinking, this is the easiest thing getting this brand to blow up. I thought it was the be all end all and it was just the beginning.
In the Q&A continued on the next page, find out aobut MOB’s second act, McSweeney’s road to sobriety, favorite collabos, what she has to say about streetwear, the future of “bitch” in MOB designs, and the start of a new label.
Rihanna has had a not so friendly December. First she’s described as a “n****bitch,” by beyond ignorant Dutch magazine, Jackie:
“She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate n***abitch and she displays that gladly–for her that means what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it. But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican…”
Which the Tweeting Rihanna had a thing or two to say about:
“There are 1000’s of Dutch girls who would love to be recognized for their contributions to your country, you could have given them an article. Instead, u paid to print one degrading an entire race! That’s your contribution to this world! To encourage segregation, to mislead the future leaders to act in the past! You put two words together, with the intent of abasement, that made no sense…”N***A BITCH”?!….Well with all respect, on behalf of my race, here are my two words for you…F**K YOU!!!”
“I hope that you all believe there was absolutely no racist motive behind the choice of words. It was stupid, it was naive to think that this was an acceptable form of slang–you hear it all the time on tv and radio, then your idea of what is normal apparently shifts–but it was especially misguided: there was no malice behind it.”
In the midst of all this, Rihanna ran into further insults while in Purtugal:
“I just met the most racist c*** EVER!!! This man said the craziest s**t abt black women called us dogs, sl*ts, we don’t look like s**t, we don’t belong in the same hotels…”
Crazy! Hopefully she gets to spend some down time with family for the holiday.
Awards shows almost always make my stylist heart weep a little. While I’m sure that the intent is to make the artists look their best, the result often does not translate well into images. Miss Erykah Badu so far is my Snobette winner for the VH1 divas show aired last night. The cape, neon nails and eye wear were too fun to ignore. Get a glimpse of the outfit sans cape on the flip via Concreteloop.
By Brooklyn-born artist Jean Michel Basquiat, a “King Alphonso” coffee mug and plate (see next page). Always conflicted over the idea of putting images of great art on mugs and keychains. I guess why not. Available at Colette.
The concept of DIY is one we definitely love, and while the reality of applying ourselves to make it happen is a whole other topic, the latest Jeweled Heel by Honestly Wtf is a sparkly shoe dream come true.Learn the details here. Another angle on the flip.
