Street Chic

                OK truth moment: I love hip hop music. That ratchet, thugged out heavy bass, make you wanna juke or twerk type music. Its a whole other category from any other genre. It has a whole life and beat and soul of its own. And just as well so do it's artist. But what people seem to occasionally over look is that hip  hop and high fashion are increasingly collaborative fields. A plethora of industry heavy weights have not only worn haute couture but are also producing it (more on that later). So allow me to bring to your attention a couple of chic individuals who deserve a little due credit: 


Soulja Boy: 

                                                    

 I figured I'd start the list off with a surprise =). Soulja is probably the sole reason guys in this generation walk around with what they try to portray as "swag". He has come a long way from his baggy tees and jeans splattered with his name on them. But he still kept a little bit of himself while also demanding his grown and sexy title with the chains. You can take the soulja out of a baggy fit but you cant take 'em out of his chains. Soulja Boy Tell Emmmm!!! 

Ashanti:

                                                         

 I think a lot of people over look Ashanti's amazing style one, because she chooses to be low key and two, because she's like me: sometimes we're lazy and simple but when we do dress up, best believe we show out. She definitely has that sexy vixen thing going on and likes to show off her curves, but why not? If you got it flaunt it! 

T.I:

                                                  

Mr T.I.P Harris! Another gorgeous man with duper threads. He is the epitome of 'street chic' He can be both hood and professional. And he looks delicious in both. His style is a little Scarface and a little Michael Kors. But its all TI. 

Rihanna: 

                                                       

 My second confession is I'm secretly in love with Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Not only is she gorgeous and talented but she has amazing personal style. I probably have every magazine with her on the cover. She has such a dope, modern take on dressing. She is a trendsetter by every sense of the word. I mean who else can make Ronald McDonald red hair and tattoos chic?! The girls just amazing. When I grown up I wanna be a bad bitch like Rihanna. 

Bow Wow: 

Growing up Bow Wow was my dream, he was so gorgeous and talented I would run to the TV every time one of his videos came on. Unfortunately when I grew past him (physically speaking) I lost some of my lust. However, I still occasionally catch a pic or two of him and I must say his twenties fit him nicely. He is a master of less is more and really pays attention to fit and colors. Those combinations make him the prince of dress at least if not the prince of hip hop. 

                                                       
Fergie: 

                                                     

I love Fergie because her sense of style is so varied and wild.She is not afraid of taking risk or standing out. How else would she get noticed in a group of men? She definitely shows off her lady lumps but does it in a non vulgar or suggestive way. She takes any trend but makes it her own and does it in a way most people wouldn't think of. And she has a very "fuck the haters" type of attitude which allows her ultimate creativity with her style. 

Being the Bitch to become the BOSS

                 My whole college educational career my teachers would always stress that retail was the gateway, the first step to breaking into the fashion world. They swore that doing so helps you understand the fundamentals of the industry. Although I have  previously held a few retail positions, it took my last gig for me to realize that they weren't just blowing smoke and trying to make the unemployment rate look better. After 6 months at Wal - Mart I finally had an epiphany in how the retail world is actually not a distant cousin 4 times removed from the fashion industry. This realization led to the unlocking of bits of knowledge and training I had subconsciously learned in my other positions.
                My first ever job was working as a sales assistant for Discovery clothing in Orland Park. I was eager to claim my financial independence from my parents and all bushy tailed and green. I worked 4 to 5 days a week and usually had no less than 7 hours shifts aside from my initial training. My back and feet hurt everyday from the long hours spent on the sales floor. I struggled to meet my quota and being the accident prone person I am, frequently had self - inflicted injuries via the ticket gun. I lasted all of a month before I was pulled off the floor and discreetly told I was fired. At the time it was a relief because I was tired and ready for lunch. However, after my potbelly sandwich was safely digesting in my stomach, reality set it. I had been fired. It was my first rude awakening to retail.
               The only thing worse than not having any experience, is being fired from the only job you've ever had. It took me months to lock down another job. I started working for Nautica by some sheer stroke of luck and blessing from my big homie upstairs.
               Working in Macy's in the Water Tower as a freelance vendor was the polar opposite of my first encounter with retail. I didn't have a set schedule just set hours I had to complete, I loved my supervisor, I could virtually wear whatever I wanted, got paid double minimum wage and left and came as I pleased. It got lonely as some points but the Macy's staff was super cool and sweet. I loved that position so much I was seriously (not really) thinking of dropping out to do it full - time. But as all things must come to an end so eventually did my job seeing as it was a seasonal position and my supervisor unexpectedly vanished.
                Upon moving to De Kalb and realizing my savings were finally depleting I landed a position as a cashier at Wal - Mart. Being the spoiled and lazy suburbanite I am its funny I ended up working in the last resort option. Turns out it was the best decision for me. At first it was fun I loved all my coworkers and we eventually became a family (rather I became apart of the Wally World family) and customers were so nice once I got down the operations of the register I was cruzin'. 
               Somewhere around 3 months when my probationary period was over is when it started to wear on me: the undertone racism, the crazy attendance policy, the long hours, and the sheer boredom of doing the same thing everyday and having to falsify enthusiasm when my true passion left. I was officially over it. I liked my job during short shifts but I dreaded 8 and 9 hour days. And then came the subtle transformation from my job description being cashier to sells person. The promotions, the charities, the competition. It seemed like crap to me I was OVER IT!
           After 6 months I finally couldn't take it. It was bittersweet because I truly miss my coworkers but I truly wont miss the work. Needless to say out of all my retail endeavours to date I've taken away some valuable lessons from being the bottom bitch of a company:

1. Be a yes girl (or boy)
2. Careful collaborations are easy ways of getting ahead 
3. Adding onto that... a freelance position is definitely one to consider in your career
4. Learn how to work a price tag gun...fast.
5. Save your call off days until when you really need them not for when you're just feeling really lazy
6. Make friends with coworkers; it makes work bearable
7. Always try to out due the competition if at least only by a little
8. Ignore rude customers, at the end of the day they aren't worth your paycheck
9. There's no crying in fashion
10. Supervisors and managers play favoritism, if you're not one, learn how to become one
11. Retail is a stepping stone in fashion, you have to be some one's bitch before you can be some one's BOSS!

Obssessory Report

        Everybody has their kryptonite. My best friend is a shoe whore, my sister is a bag lady, and my great aunt has an extensive elephant collection. Me personally, my  passion is for accessories. If I was down to my last twenty and had one of those 'I have nothing to wear days', I would still spend my last on rings, earrings or a necklace. At work, my coworkers are always looking forward to what big ring or exotic earrings I'm going to show up in everyday. And customers always take notice.                  
        I see my accessories as a necessary part of getting ready everyday I feel naked if I have none on. The thing I love about them is its a simple way of transforming an entire outfit. A simple necklace or ring can transform day wear to club attire; can take an outfit from outdated to fashion forward. My accessory taste and love for them has grown with me, I went from matchy matchy headbands and bows in high school to a more sophisticated selection of adornment now that I'm vastly nearing the end of my college career. I recently realized my new batch of accessories have been both my gateway into a trend I've been hesitant to explore (prints) and also a reflection of my nomadic childhood and the places I've lived and visited. Guess that's the self - expressionism at its finest. Here are a couple of my new loves for summer time chi:



Earrings. $15. Random Beauty Supply. Can you say #score?!
Reminds me of when I lived in New Mexico and my parents would buy me dream catchers

                                      

Necklace. $7.50, K&G
The stone reminds me of petrified wood from camping in Arizona mountains



Ring. $3.50. Discovery
Has a kind of Aztec feel to it super comfortable and versatile

                                                       

Cross the Shoulder (Satchel) Bag $11. Pay-Half.
My new staple the different colors and prints makes it easy to wear with everything