Dark and Stormy

Perhaps it was all the blustery walks on the Oregon coast growing up, because I love my beaches dark and stormy. Sunbathing is too static for me, I feel like a roasting chicken rotating on a spit. Sure I love reading US Magazine while simultaneously drinking a Diet Coke and eating Cape Cod potato chips (epic combination), but the damn sand gets everywhere.

So I opt for the Veni, Vidi, Vici approach, I come, I surf, I conquer. That was how it went on Friday at my new favorite place in New York City, Far Rockaway. And thanks to my friend Billie and a truly excellent boardwalk, my feelings about stormy beaches have remained unchanged.

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Who wore it better?

You buy a dress, it looks great, you wear it to a party. But wait, another bitch is wearing the same mo-tha- fuck-ing thing. That ain't right. But apparently, it happens to boys too. Hence the nearly coordinated arrival of Nick and Dave in the same spectacular J Crew shirt. Obvs, these guys got style.

But who wore it better? I guess Dave wins purely because he had the cutest little puppy in tow. But Nick's Met's hat put up a good fight.

Big Rock Candy Mountain

Are Shelby Lee Adams images fine art or are they another example of white trash photography? 

Adams' photographs of Appalachia are simultaneously reminiscent of the WPA photographers and Diane Arbus. He studies a place were extreme poverty is rampant and strangeness is endemic. While all the photographs were taken between 1989 and 2008, there is the feeling that the depression never left this place and neither did the people. 

Adams devoted an entire book to the Napier family, residents of Beehive, Kentucky. The family live at the end of a holler, the local name for an Appalachian valley, giving rise to strong family ties and an even stronger Kentucky accent. So when the mama of the house talks about splitting firewood in the winter with bare feet, you know that she isn't lying or exaggerating. And best of all, I don't think the family could come up with a full set of teeth between them

But while the family is real, the photographs are debatable. They are not candid, but are in fact, staged productions. The extent of the production is really at heart of the question. That pig on a stick in the picture below, was bought by Adams but prepared by the Napiers. Did he coax them into performing or was he simply helping the documentary process along?

 

For a much better analysis on this question, check out the documentary on his work, The True Meaning of Pictures 

All photographys by Shelby Lee Adams
Thanks to LPV Magazine for some inspiration

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White Trash: Don't it Look Fun?

White trash. Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Let's try. Hillbilly, Redneck, Cracker?

Trash. The others don't quite work. This is the name for the discarded, or for those who simply got passed on by. It's a mean slur but a slur that our society doesn't seem to mind and in fact perpetuates as a running joke.

And I'm not immune because when I think of white trash I think NRA. Rick Santorum. Pleather Coaches. Methamphetamine. I think of awkward encounters in rest stops and confederate flags. So I am trying to understand why the idea of 'white trash' fascinates the fashion world, and more importantly why it is a legitimate source of inspiration.

White trash fashion is essentially the glamorization of poverty, where trailers suddenly become home to La Vie Boheme, a life of smoking cigarettes on plastic patio furniture in a tube top and push up bra. The girls are blonde, skinny, with big boobs and a look like they just got felt up. And they always always look like they got stuck in the 80s.

The truth of it is, most girls don't look so good in tube tops, that push up bra isn't doing nearly enough, and the cigarette she's smoking is starting to look more sad more than sexy. But by making white trash look good we can brush over what it means to be poor. Because being poor in America, no matter what color you are, now that ain't sexy. And maybe we need to start to think about what that actually means.


Photographs by
Mark Kean for Wonderland Magazine
Jason Lee Parry for Oyster Magazine
Angelo Pannetta for Doing Bird
Hugh Lippe for Russh #42

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Neon Mamacita's First Video

At our last photoshoot, we had an extra half hour of studio time, a light set up, and a pair of computer speakers. That was enough- our first music video was born. Its a silly little thing, just me doing my dance routine in my outfits (which also happens to be my favorite thing to do). But thanks to Brian Papish, video editor extraordinaire, I think this video has some spunk.

Shot by Nick Shepard
Assisted by Andra Georges
Edited by Brian Papish
Clothes by Neon Mamacita

Hip Hop Style gone Wrong

When it comes to rap artists, it can be hard to separate bad style from good style. The line overlaps way too much. Someone with bad style–think Rick Ross or Snoop Dogg–can push it far enough that the line between ridiculous and genius leans more toward the latter. 

Artists who don’t have the genius but just have bad style either lack originality or their execution is off. Because in this industry, it’s not about what you wear but how you wear it. And they definitely need a trip to the swagger coach.

With that, here are my thoughts on some of the worst-dressed rappers out there. 

Shirtless men with a lot of tattoos: I feel like I could devote an entire post to rappers’ bad tattoos (For starters, I would call Gucci Mane’s facial tattoo of an ice cream cone a poor choice), but I’ll try to limit myself. Lil’ Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Jim Jones all make the mistake of confusing a couple of tattooed sleeves and an inked torso for a shirt. Yes, they are all pretty ripped, but the look has become a copycat trend, and a regrettable one at that.

Foxy Brown: I’m all in favor of a little cleavage but nipple is best left to the bedroom. Foxy clearly feels differently though, because in every photo of this girl her boobies are falling out. But I do have to hand it to her, Ms. Foxy Brown definitely has some chutzpah.

Bizarre of D12: Bizarre serves as inspiration to all men who might be carrying a little extra paunch around the middle. Instead of hiding his rotund belly, Bizarre chose to embrace it with one of the least flattering tattoos ever inked. And for all those guys worried about a little balding, take a cue from Bizarre and cover it up with a frilly shower cap.




Nick Cannon: It’s not that his style is so bad, it’s that’s it is so ‘mehh’. Somehow, whether Nick Cannon is wearing a suit and tie or a hoodie and jeans, he manages to look like an overgrown boy. That this strange photos of him and Mariah belongs on awkwardfamilyphotos.com does nothing to help his cred.




Mickey Avalon: Call me traditional, but I just can’t get behind a man who wears eyeliner on a regular basis. Also, the hand constantly cupping his balls is just a little off-putting.

Want more Bad style?

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And be sure to check out my post on The Best of Rap Style

New York Greys

After several days of nearly perfect springtime weather, the grayness of today felt all the more acute. What better way to chase away those blues than with sequins? 

Dress by Intermix, Jacket by Iro, Shoes by Ninewest

Photos by Nick Shepard

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Belle du Jour

Pretty in Pink in Paris

Via The Sartorialist

Fur and Feathers: Fashion Week 2012

Tommy Ton has the rare gift of finding beauty in the details, and the rarer gift of being able to capture that beauty for the rest of us. Here are some of my favorite pics of his from Fashion Week 2012. Best of all, we still have Milan and Paris left to go.

All photos by Tommy Ton for Style.com

More Photos after THE JUMP

Jingoist Fashion

One night in high school, a dozen of my friends met at the Veterans Memorial in Riverside Park to do what we do best; underage drinking. Unfortunately for us, a couple of undercover cops who usually bust perverts and dogwalkers, sat us down, demanded our identification, and lectured us on sacrifice for our nation. So, dear Mr. Undercover cop, I dedicate this photoshoot to you.

Topshop Dress, Smythe Jacket, Corso Como boots, Fur Bomber Hat