and when im not at work...

Im working...

photo by: Kwesi Abbensets
styled by: Jean S. Hall

I AM sorta Artsy

My friends will tell you I know NOTHING about art, but somehow I'm always labeled artsy. Anything other than Andy Warhol goes right over my head. I look at the Mona Lisa and screw my face, I simply do not get it. I know what I like, and that's all that really matters... On that note, I freakin adore Frank Morrison. He captures the very essence of black culture, no frills. He shows us exactly the way we are, beautiful. The pictures bring a fantastic nostalgia. They remind me of sights I've seen and places I've been. His work is on display at House of Art in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn through December 31.
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On the other side of the gallery are photos by Jamel Shabazz, a marvelous compliment to Morrisons paintings (cheers for the curator). Shabazz captures the rawest elements of black life. For example, there's a photograph of a mother and child immediately post birth (I think the cords still attached!). Sometimes they're a little too raw for me. He captures real life scenarios that I squeamishly avoid, the moments when I'd turn my head or shield my eyes, but he also captures our glory. These moments are beautiful, they make us who we are. Shabazz will also be on display through December 31.
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Later that night I attended another gallery opening at Fuse, a tiny gallery space inside of Lit on 2nd ave. The photography was perfectly suited for the hipster haven, underwhelming, but enjoyable if you've spent your day abusing substances. Cute venue, but I honestly didn't even notice the photographers name, my bad :(
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My evening ended at the Brooklyn museum with all of the other cool kids(see, toldya I was artsy!) . First Saturdays at the Brooklyn museum have become a staple, attracting immigrants from Jersey and Harlem. Its where we like minded Brooklyn individuals (who tend to follow each other around the city) begin our month. I applaud Target for creating an event that appeals to Brooklyn cool kids of all ages shapes and sizes. There's the bar (because there's a DJ and whats a DJ without a bar?), but IDs are not required (score for the college kids), and please beware of small children (their parents are still clinging to their youth).
You know an event is major when the Japanese tourist attend (I was once interviewed by a Japanese fashion blogger). The event has become so grand in fact, that ill be taking a winter hiatus, Ill return when the party moves outside for the summer (I don't do well in crowds).

Is this Aubrey or Stifflers Mom? Im pretty sure its Stifflers Mom

Oh Dear!Being a label whore will take you nowhere fast. Yes its Chloe... we love Chloe, but this is a complete disaster. The bright side, I am talking about her... Maybe that what she wanted?

A stella preview...

I attended the press preview of Stella McCartneys SS2010 collection. Shes never been able to motivate me into 600$ pleather shoes, BUT these denim bloomers are sensational. I want them now, with charcoal cable knit tights, and my brown suede booties. Or maybe a beige cable knit thigh high sock, with a beige turtle neck sweater. I want them later with LV wedges and cropped tee shirts. Yes! They make me wax poetic. I could go on for hours... I think I'm in love... lust...

She has a few other strong denim silhouettes, but I absolutely live for the washes. Theres an amazing acid wash, a yummy mandarin, an olive, and yes WHITE (perhaps its the new england in me, but i do enjoy white denim).

The only accessory worth mentioning is the Lucite belt (and matching candy clutch). I live for this belt! It reminds me of a barbie accessory. And like Barbie, I will wear it everyday, until someone inevitably steps on it and cracks in half :-(

Enjoy...

Banking: Fashions Alter Ego

New York is monopolized by two industries: fashion and banking. The rest of the world falls somewhere in between. The two industries are separate but equal, and frequently overlap in divorce court, the hottest restaurants, and most exclusive events . We work the hardest and play the hardest... 3 years ago, my best friend Lauren and I moved to NY, she accepted an offer from Citigroup, i signed up for slavery at Louis Vuitton. Our lives couldn't be more different. She's Barron's and the Economist... I'm Vogue and WWD. She lives with her boyfriend in the financial district, I live with my shoes in Bed Stuy Brooklyn. She's on her way to work, while I stumble in from my work related partying. My idea of appropriate work attire, she calls crazy. I'm what she might see if she looked in a fun house mirror. Whenever we have plans she calls to make sure I'm not wearing anything "crazy,"I'm known by her peers as her "artsy" friend. Ive come to accept her de rigeur kitten heels and oxford shirt. At a recent sample sale I went ape shit over a pair of camouflage Dior boots, she purchased a Marc Jacobs trench. While she's taught me enough banker lingo to make it through a six month relationship, Ive turned her into quite the fashionista. After work she trades her J. Crew- Ferragamo combo for Herve Leger and Christian Louboutin. She'd be just as welcomed on a runway as the trading floor. Her work bag is YSL! We've worked out a mutually beneficial arrangement. She trades expensive dinners for my personal shopping services...She may make the dough, but I have all the designer discounts!

One day it will all be worth it...

That's been my mantra for the week. The only thing to get me through 17 hour work days. The only thing that kept back the tears as I received tweets from the VS show (while you all were taking your seats, I was starting shoot number 2 of 3). But such is life. This is the life that Ive chosen for myself, and frankly I love it, I just like to complain... All the procrastinating I did in college, all the all-nighters ... perfect training for my professional career (see mommy... it was worth the money!).
I had the opportunity to work with the amazing photographer Sebastian Kim, Hair stylist Kevin Ray (think Chloe girls), Make up artist Pep Gay, and stylist Karen Kaiser. We certainly had our work cut out for us. The day began with Italo Zucchelli of Calvin Klein. We styled the portrait that accompanied his profile in Interview. Next we styled Dianna Argon from the show Glee (never seen it? don't worry neither have I) She was uber late, as actresses tend to be... Her publicist seemed to be confused about her role in the process ( sit down and shut the eff up), but overall the shoot was amazing, she's a sweet girl. Finally the fun part... the models. I absolutely adore working with models. Models are little perfection machines that live to make my life easier. For our Ralph Lauren spread, we shot Ieva Laguna and Patricia van der Vleit. These girls are amazing! They produced absolute perfection, in the rain, at 230 in the morning, without a single complaint... Its a wrap!
On to the next shoot... With my dear friend, photographer Kwesi Abbensetts (spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com). We worked with a beautiful brown model named August ( I love my brown girls!). She wore my favorite vintage pieces, including the dress my grandmother wore to my parents wedding, and a chocolate brown mink form the Brooklyn flea. Enjoy a few pics from behind the scenes ( please excuse my janky iphone photography)...
Pics from the shoots are coming soon...

Tonight Kwesis work will be on display at a show hosted by Coup De' Etat Brooklyn at restoration plaza

get into this guy...

When he speaks... I listen...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/style/tmagazine/15tquest.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1258597365-DUN82y7+a0fX1mxFkCdMpg

for my fellow curly girls...

http://bglhonline.com/

photography

I don't take pictures, I leave that job to the professionals. All my pictures were taken by Spaceship George or Dawan Wryet Alford.Visit their blogs...

http://www.regalmonarch.com

http://www.spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com

All Press is Good Press...

Im featured in this article...
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB125806880019446147-lMyQjAxMDI5NTE4MzAxNjM4Wj.html

What I Do...

Wikipedia defines a "Wardrobe Stylist" as "someone who picks out clothing worn by people in photo shoots for commercial print, catalogue, television appearances, music videos, concert performances, and any other public appearances made by celebrities, models, or public figures." The profession has been popularized by figures like Rachel Zoe and June Ambrose. One out of five semi fashion conscious people you encounter will describe themselves as a fashion stylist. As simple as the definition sounds, the reality of our work is quite the contrary. There is no skillset to acquire, not class to take. The ability to style is innate. We dress noticably better than everyone else, even on our bad days. The amount of work it takes to succeed in this profession rivals that of doctors and lawyers (I have a tendancy to exaggerate). We begin as lowly fashion assistants at MAJOR fashion magazines. Our work is thankless. Our days are endless. We often work for little to no monetary compensation. A fashion assistant may spend an entire day combing the showrooms of Manhattan, carrying duffel bags twice their size, in the rain, while wearing this seasons most uncomfortable shoes, carrying this seasons hottest bag, looking fabulous and happy. For what? an invite to a party that they're far too tired to attend? standing tickets to fashion week? swag that you editors don't want?
The cherry on top? After all of the clothes are collected, edited, styled, and shot... YOUR finished product finally hits the stands. The heading reads... Styled by: your boss ( who was chilling on a yacht in the south of France while YOU produced the shoot). IS it worth it? Only to those of us who eat, sleep, breath, and dream FASHION. It will all pay off when our names are printed, in bold, next to the words fashion editor, in the masthead of our favorite magazines...

For my latest work see "Boot Camp" on page 132 of Interviews October/ November issue (observe my bosses name sprawled across the page).

Great exSPECtations

Lately Ive become quite obsessed with my specs. They're no longer reserved for nerds and old people, glasses have hit the streets hard. The fashion set has become bespectacled, and I couldn't be more excited! Call it school boy chic... This is a delicate trend to say the least. There's a fine line between geek chic and pain old geek... Follow my lead. Jay Z gave the look its street cred. Kanye gives the hipster stamp of approval. Observe stylist Ronald Burtons Flawless execution. My personal favorites are by Selima Optiques. Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith offer amazing selections as well. You can even snag an affordable pair at American Apparel or Urban Outfitters. Now you can wear glasses at night without looking like an asshole! Just promise me you wont overdo it...

Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

Heres a little bit about me...

Fashion Inspirations:

The Sartorialist, Flea Markets, My Grandmothers closet

Personal Stlye:

If I were to go missing, I could be identified by my jewelry. There are a few pieces I wear EVERY DAY: a purple jade bangle my aunt bought me in Korea, a silver tiffany bracelet, a yurman bangle, a yurman ring, my grandmothers wedding band, a gold ring with a big green stone, and a watch on my right wrist (but im not left handed)

Favorite Designers:

Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Chloe, Alexander McQueen

Most Prized Possession:

A Christian Dior charm necklace my mother bought in Paris for my 18th birthday

The First Thing You Notice about Someone Else:

EYES, closely followed by shoes

Fashion Rules:

Every rule was made to be broken

Never caught wearing:

Im a bag snob, must be designer or vintage, I would not be caught dead with a nameless bag

Favorite Store:

The Brooklyn Flea Market

Most Stylish Moment:

Penelope Cruzs denim jump suit in Blow