Something About Iggy

Amethyst Amelia Kelly, better known as Iggy Azalea, is one of hip hop’s newest rising stars. Born in New South Wales, Australia, Iggy has always had a love for hip hop and started rapping at the age of 14. She cites Tupac Shakur, Andre 3000, Missy Elliot and Eve as some of her greatest influences.

In the Beginning

​At the age of 16, Iggy decided that if she wanted to make it as a rapper, she would have to move to the U.S. She told her mother she was going on vacation in Miami, but she had no intentions of returning to Australia.

I was there for two weeks when I called home and said, ‘I don’t want to come home yet. I want to stay longer.’ So I stayed another three weeks. I was there for like a month and then I called again and said, ‘I’m not coming back.

Putting In Work

​After spending a few months in Miami, Iggy decided to move on to Houston, Texas. Before moving to the US, Iggy had been in contact with Houston-based producer Mr. Lee, who’d heard some of Iggy’s work through her MySpace page. Once in Houston, Iggy said Mr. Lee taught her how to “rap like a girl”.

Houston is where I started getting good at rapping. I had to have someone tell me, “You’re still imitating what you think it’s supposed to be, but it doesn’t have to be that. Just be who you are and sound like a girl.”

Rapper Vs. Model

​After a few months in Houston, Iggy moved on to Atlanta where she attempted to pursue modeling as a way to pay for her burgeoning rap career. She sent photos to Elite Models but, despite being a size two, she was told she was needed to lose 4 inches off of her hips and two inches off of her thighs if she wanted them to represent her. In the end, Iggy chose not to purse modeling with Elite because she didn’t want to become so focused on losing weight and cause her rap career to suffer.

Interscope Comes Calling

​While in Atlanta, Iggy uploaded a music video to YouTube, piquing the interest of Neil Jacobson and George Robertson of Interscope Records. After attempting to contact her for several weeks, she finally flew out to L.A. to meet with them. Much to her dismay, they tried to mold her into a crossover artist. Determined to do things her way, Iggy initially decided not to work with Neil and George. After returning to Atlanta, she uploaded two freestyle videos to You Tube “Two Times” and “Hell of a Life”. After viewing the videos, Jacobson and Robertson finally got on board with Iggy’s vision. They told her they now understood what she was trying to do as an artist, and would allow her to have creative control of her image and sound. They have managed her career ever since.

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Looking Ahead

​Earlier in 2012, Iggy was featured on XXL’s Top 10 Freshman List, solidifying her spot as an artist to be reckoned with.  2012 continued to be a good year for the budding artist, as she joined forces with T.I. and became one of several artists on his Grand Hustle record label. This summer she released two singles “Murda Bizness” and “Flash”. Her debut album “The New Classic” is set to be released in 2013.

First Date Fashion

A little nervous about making a great first impression? Worry no more. I’ve got you covered on the perfect outfits for that first date.

Whether you’re a man or woman, the prospect of a first date can often be high pressure. With so many thoughts going through your head, the last thing you should have to worry about is how you look. Your good friend Tee is here with advice on what to wear for a first date, from fine dining to bowling and everything in between.

Dinner at a 5 Star Restaurant

Ladies:  The LBD never goes out of style, so you can’t go wrong in that regard. Make sure to stay on trend by adding a pop of color, whether you add a colorful pair of shoes or a handbag in a bright, juicy hue. Keep jewelry simple; think diamond or pearl studs and chandelier earrings. Although the statement necklace is hot this season, I would avoid it for this occasion. Elegant simplicity is always best at a fine dining restaurant. You don’t want the clanging of your jewelry to overpower your conversation!

Men: Dressing for this sort of date will usually be easier for you. Jackets, and occasionally ties are a requirement at most high-end restaurants. Given the warm weather we’ve had lately, I suggest jackets and slacks in light materials such as silk, wool crepe, linen and cotton. Whether or not you wear a full suit or choose to do separates is up to you. Being that this is spring going into summer, there are numerous colors you can choose from, but depending on how traditional the restaurant is you may want to stick to darker colors for your suits, slacks, and sport coats. A crisp button down or polo shirt is always in order and unless otherwise specified, you can go with or without a tie. Dress shoes and loafers will do nicely, whether you chose to wear a full suit, or mix it up. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum; I would limit it to a watch, at most.

Bowling Alley Date

Probably one of the most casual of all first dates, this one is probably the easiest to dress for. The only wild card will be if you’re going to your local bowling alley versus hitting up a spot like Lucky Strike. (See Dinner and a Movie for Lucky Strike tips)

Ladies: Cute graphic t-shirts, tank tops, jeans, and shorts are all okay for this date. Don’t pay TOO much attention to your shoes since you’ll be wearing those AWESOME bowling alley shows, but bring a pair that’s easy to slip into after bowling. Honestly, there’s not a whole lot you can’t wear to the bowling alley, but I’d avoid too short shorts, tube tops, and heels for obvious reasons.

Men: Like with the ladies, feel free to pull out graphic tees, shorts and jeans. Sneakers are a good shoe choice, but, as with the ladies, don’t focus too much on the shoe, since you’ll be wearing bowling shoes for the majority of the night. You can also throw on a hat, if that’s your style.

Picnic Lunch

Dress for this type of date calls for casual wear, whether it’s bohemian, preppy, or sporty. The key is to wear light fabrics so you don’t look sweaty if it gets too warm outside.

Ladies: You’ll be sitting on the ground, so you don’t want something too short or too tight. Shorts, sundresses, maxi dresses, floral, gingham, seersucker, wedge sandals, flats; it’s all up to you and your style personality. If you’re a hat person, a straw fedora or floppy sun hat will help to complete the look. Jewelry, in this case, is also up to you. My handbag pick for an outdoor adventure would be a large tote; you’ll have somewhere to stash your jacket or cardigan if it gets chilly.

Men: Polo shirts, linen pants, and anything seersucker, or cotton. You’re going to be outside, so you don’t want to wear anything too heavy. Throw on a pair of aviator sunglasses to complete the look.

Dinner and a Movie

The dinner and a movie date is more casual for both men and women, but not as casual as the bowling date. The key is finding the balance because if this date goes well, it can turn into a drink or two at a bar, so you want an outfit that is appropriate in several settings.

Ladies: I’m going to put a little bit of a spin on “What to Wear” for this one. For this particular date, you can basically wear whatever you want (a dress, jeans, heels, flats, a cute top) but the key thing you’ll want to wear is a memorable FRAGRANCE. You’ll be sitting next to him in the movie theater, not talking, but you still want him to be thinking about you. Fresh and fruity or sweet and floral are the way to go. You won’t overpower him, but he’ll remember how you smelled when he goes home that night.

Men: Whether you choose jeans with a dress shirt, or button down, a V-Neck T-Shirt and a Blazer or a cashmere hoodie, you can’t go wrong. Plus, if all goes well, you’ll be able to lend her your jacket if she gets cold during the movie (You’ll get major points for that!)

A final word of advice to the ladies: The great Edith Head once said, “Your dress should be tight enough to show that you’re a woman, but loose enough to show that you’re a lady.” The last thing you want to do is go out there in your freakum dress and get em girl heels on the very first date. You have GOT to leave something to the imagination and give him a reason to call you for a second date.

A final word of advice for the guys: Ladies will look at your shoes and your nails, not necessarily in that order. Make sure your nails are clean, neat and trimmed, and be sure that your shoes are nice because women gauge your attention to detail based on these qualifiers. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

I hope this has helped you with your fashion choices, but of all the fashion advice I have given today, this next piece of advice is the most important. When choosing what to wear on a first date there is really only one rule: Be yourself. No matter what you’re wearing, remember to be confident and genuine. Those are the most fashionable accessories you can wear and they never go out of style.

Men’s 2012 Spring/Summer Fashion

Just like the ladies version, last winter I wrote an article on men’s spring and summer fashions. Stay tuned for this year’s article coming soon!

Okay, Fellas. Don’t feel left out. I know I wrote about what the ladies should have on this spring and summer, but I’ve got the inside scoop on what items you all should be wearing as well. There’s nothing sexier to a woman than a well-dressed man, so here are my picks to make sure you look dapper all season.

Suit Up

In the world of high fashion, the past few seasons have been all about slim-cut suits for men. Well this season, slim pants and fitted jackets are getting phased out, and designers are returning to boxier cuts. Jackets are getting longer and pants are getting looser, but at the same time, with some designs, the pants are getting shorter. That’s right, fellas, some designers are encouraging you to show a little skin…in the ankle region. Although grey, black and navy blue will forever be staples, for spring into summer, suits are showing up in electric blues and checkered patterns as well.

 

Man vs. Wild

Much like ladies fashion this season, mens fashion is going back to nature. Tribal and animal prints, camouflage shorts, safari jackets and eco-conscious accessories are showing up all over the runway and beyond. Usher, Justin Bieber and Carmelo Anthony have been seen rocking YSL’s Mohave leopard sneakers and Meek Mill has been spotted wearing Duckie’s Confetti leopard hoodie. For the fashionably adventurous gent, McKenzie Liautaud designs boast eco-friendly bowties, neckties, and pocket squares from recycled fabrics, metals, and swarovski crystals.

 

 

Graphic Content

Graphic print t-shirts are still going strong for Spring/Summer 2012. Belchez, a somewhat underground designer out of Harlem, designed these graphic-print shirts. Givenchy’s Birds of Paradise t-shirt has been seen on Waka Flocka Flame and Theophilus London. Graphic print t-shirts are great because of their versatility. They can be combined with jeans, shorts, and even blazers or summer suits. Feel free to mix it up with this trend.

 

​Prep School​

Taking a page from the 1980’s classic book “The Official Preppy Handbook”, everything preppy is in this summer. Take the summer’s hottest hues, such as pastels, bright primary colors, oranges, mint greens and bright blues and apply them to polo shirts, button ups, shorts and pants, in both prints and solids. Fedoras in light summer materials are also around for another summer. Can you feel the summer breeze yet?

 

A Man’s Right to Shoes

The great thing about men’s shoe fashions this season is the sheer breadth of choices.
Loafers, oxfords, sneakers, deck shoes, the possibilities are endless. Bright colors and interesting textures are also a plus. Kanye West and Drake have both been spotted wearing Balenciaga’s Arena Sneakers. The only rule for this trend is “If the shoes fits, wear it.”

 

 

 

Women’s 2012 Spring/Summer Fashion

This is an article I wrote last winter right before it got warm. Enjoy and keep an eye out for the 2013 Spring/Summer Fashion Guide!

 

Given the past few warm days we’ve had lately, it’s beginning to look a lot like summer. Gone are the coats, boots, and winter hats, and here come the sandals, sundresses, shorts and skirts. I know this winter wasn’t too wintry, but nonetheless, I’ve missed spring and summer and I know you all have too. To prepare for you for those hot summer days and warm summer nights right around the corner, I’ve compiled a list of summer fashion trends you’ll want to look out for. The beauty of this season’s trends is that there is such a variety of colors, styles and materials, that I guarantee there is there something for everyone.

Iron Woman

Top designers showing at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week utilized metallics on everything from handbags to shorts, and everything in between. Guiseppe Zanotti’s heel less sandals in varying metallics have been seen on everyone from Christina Milian and Keri Hilson to Nicole Ritchie and Amber Rose. If the metallic look is a little too heavy for you to handle, there are subtle ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe, such as metal-cap detailing on shoes.

The Block is Hot

It looks like the color-blocking trend isn’t going anywhere and is carrying on into Spring/Summer 2012 in a major way. Primary colors, fun, fruity hues or jewel tones are the way to go. You can use the “color wheel” method to pick colors that complement each other, or you can be a rebel and mix and match how you want.

Wild Kingdom

Another fashion trend this season is “Nature”, whether we’re referring to eco-collections, prints inspired by nature, or even the four natural elements. This trend is alive, wild, and kicking in python, cheetah, or tropical prints, and eco-friendly materials. H&M has a line out for Spring/Summer 2012 called “The Conscious Collection” which uses organic cotton and other sustainable materials. Guiseppe Zanotti’s python kicks have been seen on both Cassie and Angela Simmons and Alicia Keyes rocked Prada’s Flame wedges while attending The Met Ball afterparty. So whether you’re an Au Naturale girl who’s trying to get her wardrobe to go green, or you’re a wild child who wants to conquer her urban jungle, these styles are right up your alley.

Put Some Pep in your Step

Carried over from Oscar Season, the peplum look was all over the runway for spring and summer. Long dresses, short dresses, and tops…even swimwear!  This silhouette is almost universally flattering, and available in a variety of shades, materials, and lengths.

Pretty Girl Rock

Mint greens, pinks, purples, and blues can make you feel like a kid in a candy store. For those who aren’t bold enough to rock the bright color-blocking trend, fear not! The designers at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week showed a number of designs in these light and airy hues. Pretty as a picture!

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Spotting Fakes

No matter what city you live in, if you want to find knock-off merchandise, your search won’t be too hard. From New York to LA and everywhere in between, knock-offs are a dime a dozen. Now, it’s one thing if you are purposely setting out to find a fake, but it’s quite another if you think you’re getting a good deal on authentic merchandise and end up with a knock off. Your friendly fashion specialist Tee is here to teach you how to spot a fake.

Rolex

The name Rolex is synonymous with luxury. These timepieces may have a price point of anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 a pop. Rolex has a wide array of watch styles, but for the sake of this article, we’ll just focus on the Oyster Rolex Datejust. Getting one at $1,000 could be an amazing deal, but here are some surefire steps to use to make sure you don’t get burned.

• ​Perpetual motion second hand: This is probably the most well-known way to spot a fake Rolex. Does your second hand tick or does it move in a sweeping fashion. If it’s ticking, it’s not a Rolex.
• Screws versus pins: Are the links in your watch smooth (denoting pins) or not (denoting screws)? If the links are connected with pins, you might be getting screwed…literally.
• Band Weight:  Does the watch feel light and hollow? If so, don’t buy it. It’s totally a fake.
• Sapphire crystal face versus a regular glass face:  This can be tested by putting a few drops of water on the face of the watch. Does it pool? If not, your Rolex is a knock-off.
• Clear backs: If you can see through the back of your Rolex, it isn’t an original. Some clear backs were made in the 1930s, but they weren’t made available to the public.

Louis Vuitton

Another name that evokes a feeling of luxury, the Louis Vuitton speedy bag has been a staple in many a fashionista’s closet. Created in 1965 at the behest of Audrey Hepburn (The 60s version of Carrie Bradshaw), this handbag became an instant classic and went down in fashion history as a go-to hand bag. But since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in no time, fake versions of the classic handbag were popping up everywhere. Here are the top ways to tell if your LV Speedy 25 is a fake.

• Stitching: This will be as close to perfect as stitching can get. Even the number of stitches will be the same from bag to bag
• Symmetry: The bag will be almost completely symmetrical if you are measuring from the middle of the bag to either side. If it is not, you most likely have a fake.
• Upside-down printing:  One side will be face up and one side will be upside-down print due to LV using one continuous piece of leather, no splicing is allowed. The integrity of the logo depends on this.
• Brown canvas lining: The Speedy 25 will only ever have canvas lining and one pocket on the inside. It will not say “Louis Vuitton”, “Made in France” or have any other writing on the inside. It will also never have a zipper on the inside. If your bag does, it isn’t authentic.
• D-ring inside: Your LV Speedy 25 should always have a d-ring on the inside. No exceptions.

Ray-Ban Wayfarers

Ray-Ban has been making quality eyewear for over 80 years. And with great popularity comes great knock-offs. The wayfarer might be the most duplicated eye-wear in history, second only to Ray-Ban Aviators. Here is how you can tell if you are getting taken advantage of when purchasing Ray-Ban Wayfarers .

• Luxoticca engraved logo: Luxoticca is the parent company that manufactures these shades. If there isn’t a Luxoticca logo, or if it appears to be painted as opposed to engraved, someone is probably trying to pull the wool over your eyes
• Engraving on the right lens:  If you look at your glasses and the Ray-Ban logo is located above the hinge, you might be getting great a good deal. If the engraving is below the hinge, you could be learning an expensive lesson.
• Lens labeling: The label on the lens should be made of shiny gold foil and be perfectly centered. It also shouldn’t be a regular “sticker” but the kind that adheres due to static electricity.
• High-quality metal hinges: The authentic Wayfarers will have large, well-made metal hinges. If the ones you are looking at are small or look like they are painted metal or plastic, you should pass on them because they most likely are knock-offs
• Ray-Ban signature nose pads: To me, this is the greatest test of an authentic pair of Ray-Bans versus a fake pair. Most purveyors of fake merchandise won’t even bother with this step, but since Ray-Ban is a quality product, they will pay attention to this detail. If you look closely at the nose pads, you will see a Ray-Ban signature on the inside. If you don’t see that, you are either A) about to purchase a knock-off, or B) the glasses were well-worn before you got them. Either way, you should be able to negotiate pricing. (Or not buy them at all because who wants used sunglasses?)

These are my tips on sniffing out a knock-off. In the more general sense, another way to tell if the merchandise you are thinking of buying is fake is the reaction of the seller. Does he or she get offended or upset when you ask probing questions? Do they attempt to rush the sale? Do they try to convince you that their merchandise is real without offering you any real qualifiers? If any of these situations apply, the seller isn’t a quality representative, and they are probably selling something that you definitely shouldn’t be buying. An honest 3rd party sales rep will understand your need to gather information and should actually appreciate and welcome your questions.  Never allow yourself to feel rushed into a sale and don’t let the seller make you feel like your questions aren’t valid. At the end of the day, it’s your hard-earned money that you’re spending and if you’re searching for authenticity at a discount, you need to make sure you don’t get taken for a ride.