Fashion, Music, Dolls

Apparently 'Barbie' is definitely making a comeback!
I have been seeing it at Fashion Weeks - at LGFW in Toronto this spring you could get into a booth and have your picture snapped next to a real-life Ken model. (ugh!)
Judging by my reaction, you might realize that I wasn't the biggest Barbie fan..
Yes, I did have one or two, but that's just cause I am a commie-girl (as my husband likes to jocking-ly call me!). I spent my early childhood in Bulgaria, was born before '89 (for those of you who don't know, that was before the fall of the Berlin wall), and was very lucky to have had a father who travelled around the world and brought me cool things! (I was apparently the only baby back in '85 who had Pampers on and the nurses had no idea how to change me during my monthly check-ups. I find that funny now!)

Back to Barbies and dolls...It was the coolest thing when I got my "Preggers Barbie" - the only thing that turned me off (and put an end to my fascination with dolls), was the fact that you pretty much had to snap her in half at the waist to get that baby out. I wonder if that's the reason why I don't want any babies now, hmm?!

Anywayz..back to my original thought! Again..
As much as Barbie encompasses the kinda chick I don't want to be (kinda high-maintanance), I am loving Santigold's doll in the new Beastie Boys "Don't play no game". And in true summer fashion trends (I've been reporting on my obsession with knuckle-rings on the 'Fashionably Present' blog) she is rocking the bling rings and pairing it with matching gold-painted nails! Don't even get me going on the cat-eye!! Briliant!

Did you see the boys' orange jumpsuits?! Definitely not looking like they be sitting behind bars! (Seriously though!)

Graffiti, Artists, Bans (?)

In recent weeks, Toronto has been buzzing with a slightly disturbing (at least in my eyes) campaign - getting rid of the graffiti in the streets!

They say it makes the city look ugly, but those who do, don't quite understand the idea behind this Art. It's a self-expression of the surrounding of the anonymous artist behind the piece.
Let's face it - if it wasn't for Toronto's graffiti pieces seen in back allies and little streets Downtown, the city just wouldn't be as 'cool'. We, personally, have friends who come visit and spend a whole day shooting numerous walls across town!

Anyhow, when art is art it should be appreciated.
Enter Tanina Jackson, who's painting have created a viral boom, not only shows amazing artistic skills but manages to push them through mixing in a little (a lot) bit of Fashion in there.
The Arizona-based artist's latest collection - Babe and Butter - is rep'd by a series of pretty catching illustrations printed on clothes, bags, accessories, shoes, etc. All in all the collection represents the power of the well-dressed woman, who is proud of her wardrobe and style and ain't afraid to flaunt it.

Check it out:

I am vigorously searching for her pieces online! Anyone come across one - be sure to e-mail me!

So Fresh: EDWIN Factory Video!

EDWIN gives us a great perspective into these process of making their very unique jeans. Honestly, I never knew how much time and efforts go into making one pair of jeans. EDWIN claims that every single pair is unique in some little way, I believe it! Their precision and dedication is staggering to uphold their element of creating the "perfect pair".

Check the clip and tell me that your next pair of denim won't be EDWIN!

Enjoy and thanks for the journey EDWIN!

Factory from Edwin Europe on Vimeo.

Daily Happenings

There is one thing that I 'dislike' (hate would've been a pretty strong word to insert here) a lot: rushing to get up at 6 am, just to make it to class early in the morning and find out that it was cancelled about 5 min prior to my arrival.

So, what do I do, since I live an hour away and riding the subway just for the sake of it is definitely NOT an option: sitting in class discussing Strip-Pole Dance classes with the girls (now don't go ahead and assume the worst, its the latest buzz in fitness workout!), blogging and tweeting random fashion news and pounding cups of coffee (yes, I got my vices back, the occasional cigarette as well; not proud of myself, but in my defence its much needed).

Life decisions:

A few big dates are approaching in the next couple of months and the suspense is building, as I try to keep my cool and have everyone happy. But since, in life, there will always be someone who isn't entirely pleased with the course of certain actions, I've decided to put it out there but make sure I (and the ones most important to me) are left happy in the end. The rest will just have to sort itself out - I'm not anybody's life coach.

On another note, I have decided that in the next couple of weeks, I will make a joint-blog to 'ShearFusion' that I will dedicate entirely to my Fashion World. An addition of such sort, will help me focus better on my career path and keep me motivated to update more. I am not ditching this one - no worries - ShearFusion continues with joint-forces to bring you the best of our lifestyle and all that moves us! So stay tuned!

Fashion News (and more):

- I mentioned before that McQueen's Exhibit at The Met was on my list this summer - unfortunately, with such a busy summer coming ahead, that trip might turn out to be pretty hard to fulfill.
Fortunately for me, Jean-Paul Gaultier's work will be exhibited at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts this summer and THAT is definitely going to be a destination that I will be travelling too (perhaps, interspersed with some much needed cottage-time).
Gaultier is definitely a favorite on my list of Fashion Icons - his eccentricity and liveliness is much appreciated! Images to come soon.
For more info on this exhibit click here.

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Mario Testino - one of my favorite photographers and personal fan of Kate Moss (he describes her as 'one of the 5 people I love to shoot the most") - is reportedly going to be shooting the model for her upcoming wedding.
In an interview with "The Daily" he says that he can't wait to "capture the happiness that Kate is going through at the moment." (Fashionista)

And finally, a slightly celebrity-related news bit:

Yesterday I was told that Richard Phillips has put together a short documentary movie on the story behind the house-arrest of one of the most controversial 'actresses' in today's Gossip Websites - LiLo. I put actress in quotations, as (pardon me for daring to be so bald) the girl hasn't really done a lot of work, since the news of her substance-abuse came out (Was it years ago? Time's been slipping away from me..)
I'm definitely not one of Miss Lohan's biggest fans, but I'm just wondering what could possibly make this movie a success?

View the reel here.

Places

April was a cold month here in Toronto!
Not only that but our schedules were so off that we never really managed to attend all the events we wanted to!

We missed Redman at the end of March, ONYX a couple of weeks ago...But when 'HA' called us up to let us know of this year's Freestyle Battle "King of the Dot" we knew we had to get out and support his boys from MTL. It was definitely a Saturday well-spent: it's good to see people doing their thing and know that Hip Hop is still alive in the hearts of some. Those with passion shined-through, the rest - well they just 'fell off the platform' as their Egos started flying around without any sufficient rhymes to back 'em up!

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A week later we headed over to 99 Sudbury - the exclusive location of this year's Alternative Fashion Week.
99 Sudbury is an Event Venue, which houses many Art and Fashion Events; this time around it was the setting of an Art Market, where many local (and international) artists and designers/labels showcased their work.
We fell in love with many of their inspirational creations and I am currently in the works of contacting the ones that really grabbed our attention! It is great to to be a part of/and support emerging artists - we love unique pieces and at times 'detest' commercialism!

Check out the Set-Up of the Venue and its surroundings:

The Entrance.

Through the door to the chill-out lounge:

I love T.O. for its never-ending Graffiti Art:

Forgive me for this, but I am a fan of hidden-messages:

The Wonder that was McQueen

"I don't know why you get so excited at the sight of such...thing! Is that really Fashion?"

What many people - especially those fashionably-oblivious - don't understand is that it's not just about the expected, conforming fashion anymore; it's rather the opposite - those with the real insider-scoop on newest trends are rapidly looking for something to shock/shook them to their very core. Fashion is not just clothes (sadly that is how many see it), it's Art ...

It's about that place that others hardly turn their heads to; that place which others ignore because they see no beauty in it, but rather fear.

Alexander McQueen was an Unbelievable Talent - his intricate work can hardly be described in words, as only his creations could silently speak.
His was not only Fashion - it was Art! The kind of Art that will never really be again, the one that happens once...
I keep a McQueen archive close to me - it helps put me in a different place, where I can escape reality and sort of level with myself!
I was reminded of him once again today, while reading an article about The Met's Annual Fashion Exhibition, which this year "will focus on McQueen's "Savage Beauty". The Exhibition will be open to the public from May 4th till July 31st and I will definitely be treating myself to a NY Birthday Trip this summer - is there a more glorious way to celebrate one's birth but a day among the Best Art ever made?

A moment of Peace, while I reminisce over the Powers of His Soul:

Shot by David LaChapele

Coachella 2011 - Dictating Summer Trends

It's that time of the year again, when Coachella - the Arts and Music Festival, which is held down in California every year - comes to an end and many eyes look to its guests for Fashion tips regarding the summer months.
I was going to refer to the Styles that were worn at the Festival, but if my 'Fashion History' class taught me well, I'd have to say that I will look more into the current Fashion displayed throughout the multiple-day Event.

Every year, as 'Coachella' happens, I sit behind my computer a couple of times a day and catch up on the Fashion Gossip, while gathering some Visual Food for the Soul. As my paths are leading me closer and closer to Photography, Styling and Fashion Production it is not just my love for new trends and fresh inspiration that drives me to discover further - I somehow MUST feed my brain more knowledge, if I want to keep up with it all. It's refreshing, that's exactly what it is!

I follow many blogs, read many magazines and have turned the Cyber Fashion World into my own little sanctuary - in any case, I can only really choose to thank and credit all those people, whose talents and passion allowed me to somehow be a part of it:

[Images by Cara Sticker/ http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/street-style-the-scene-at-coachella-2011/]

Maxi Dresses are definitely still in and I have been a fan of them for a couple of summers now. Def-definitely happy that they are sticking around.

If you didn't catch on the whole visible-pocket trend last summer, consider yourself lucky because it is staying in. Y'all better get your hands on one of these and bust out the old vintage leather belts and straps - I'm sure someone in your family kept them around. I know mine did!

We were watching some old 'Fresh Prince...' episodes last night and despite Will's loud rants that make me laugh till I drop to the floor, I couldn't stop thinking about his color 'preferences' - it was like looking at S/S11 Runway Looks - purples, oranges,limes, greens, mustard yellows, bright pinks - the 80's are seriously back aren't they? I like that, yet it somehow scares me! However, I was reminded of those same colors once again today, when viewing Dita von Teese's dress - she's definitely a true inspiration walking.

And of course, who else to round it all up but Erykah Badu, whose style is ever-so flawless yet significantly scattered, that somehow only She can pull it off!

...Catch y'all later!

In the Beginning...

I've thought about starting a blog for awhile...a couple of years maybe.
Procrastination took over, of course - I mean, if I can't be honest how else am I supposed to go about it? It wasn't the lack of inspiration, no! Inspiration has always been around me - from the moment I put on my first dancing shoes at the age of 4, through the numerous spontaneous decision to just pack up and leave to yet another new continent [and country]. Yet, there was still something to it; even though 'Inspiration' was still one of my closest friends, and 'Procrastination' was trying to kick it's behind and replace it, the moment never felt right.

I thought about starting the blog [yes, again!] a few months ago - it was the night Karteezy and I watched "New Jersey Drive" [we somehow have that appreciation for old[er] movies and prefer them as entertainment;CLASSICS if you may say]; great movie, but I somehow couldn't stop thinking about how Jason's jacket was the exact replica of Burberry Prorsum's F/W collection! Don't know why, but I felt like writing a blog about it...It's obvious that one is long overdue, but somehow in the past couple of days Miss Inspiration has returned into my Life and I had to do something about that!

With the help of the One and Only - Masked Marauder - and MY One and Only Mr. Kid Karteezy, I decided that it's about time we fused our efforts together, joined forces and REP'd IT UP the only way we know how: with blunt honesty, overwhelming passion, and  cheesy love for all of you that get easily offended by it!

I, myself, am going to immerse into the wonderful world of Fashion as I know it and add a little bit of this and that from my daily world and adventures!
So...Keep yourself updated and Stay current!

In the meantime, I'll let the other half of this part of the Blogosphere blabber about himself [I know I did] and I'll leave you with one of the most powerful and inspirational voices that I've grown to love and live through!
Enter Ms. Badu

ERYKAH BADU IN STUDIO from Creative Control on Vimeo.