#Makelove NOT Hate

I always love the creative things that companies do around the holidays. Gap, Inc comes out with very creative and imaginative ad campaigns. I come from a marketing background so that is why I have a greater appreciation for their work around Christmas. Gap usually has the BEST campaigns for Christmas. This year's campaign is no different. Gap decided to feature different activists in the print ads. The whole theme is to MAKE LOVE. Its surprisingly simple. Again I love the concept. The photo pictured above is one that is apart of their ad campaign. The man is the ad is Waris Ahluwalia. I do not know much about this man, so I won't pretend that I do. After I Googled him, I found out that this man is seriously a heavy hitter in fashion. He is a name around fashion circles and the art community. He is also a jewelry designer originally from India. He is also an actor AND he owns a tea house is New York.WOW! Check his resume and Google him!

His ad was featured in a subway and some bigots thought it would be cute to deface the ad. The bigots wrote anit-Muslim remarks. Gap swiftly reacted and change the skin on their to the photo above. They also physically went to the location of the defaced ad and handled it personally. I don't want to go into a rant. However if anyone is foolish enough to believe that we are living in post-racial Amerika you have believed wrongly. This man is not Muslim he is a Sikh! Even if he was Muslim that should not make a difference!  He is an American therefore he can freely practice whatever religion he chooses. I applaude Gap for acting so quickly and also standing by their decision to included him in their campaign. I'm sure that Mr. Ahluwalia isn't concerned by remarks made by people several tax brackets lower. Let's follow Gap's lead and #Makelove not Hate.

 

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

Fashion Show Journal

So its week 7! Time is flying by! Last week we had our model call. It was very exciting but we only got 11 models to come. *insert sad face here* Alas we have decided that the individual designers could bring models in. This takes a huge weight off of our shoulders. This week we will have class in our venue space. We have never seen the space because we switched to this particular studio because we got it for Free ninety nine! So I'm not complaining. We are having flyers printed and the invitations will be sent out hopefully by the end of next week.I sent some press releases out. I am still waiting to hear back from some people. I helped get three hair stylist and a makeup artist. I also had most of my friends come to the model call. What can I say? I deliver. Well that's it for this week.

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

To Abercrombie and Ditch...........

There is no time like now to talk about not always speaking what's on your mind. This is Mike Jefferies the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch. It was this past year that some statements that he said about his customer base have come into the light. He basically said, in so many words, that if you don't live like members of the O.C. you shouldn't wear his clothing. He wants pretty, cool, and popular people wearing his clothing. He said out of his own mouth that Abercrombie is exclusionary. Okay. Did you really think your people were going to take that laying down? There have been so many campaigns to rid the world of this man's dream that only a subset of people could wear his clothing. There is #Fitchthehomeless seen here.

Young people are getting rid of their A&F duds and outright giving them to the homeless to prove a point. There is an entire Tumblr page dedicated to this movement. I think its brilliant. Now you see more homeless peope wearing the exclusionary brand. Ironic? I would say so. For seven straight quarters, the stock has been falling. So far Abercrombie has lost 15.6 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!! I think its that the consumer has the right to say how they feel about the bad behavior of a company's CEO. I think that this is an amazing grassroots movement. Hopefully more companies take note that you cannot abuse the consumer and expect them to follow. I say good riddance to exclusion!

 

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

Fashion Show Journal

Well its finally time to have our model call!!! I'm so excited. I've never been apart of the selection process for the models. I hope we get some really good models to come through. We are looking for both male and female models. I have one of my friend's sister coming. She is really beautiful. Her name is Ashley and she is just starting her career out but she is really taking off. One of my friends Vic is coming. He is also another one who is starting his modeling career. My brother Jay Jay is supposed to be coming as well. Hopefully he shows up. I also have this teenager that I worked with before coming to the auditions. He is really good, he gives AMAZING face. Ashley is bringing some of her friends from a show she was recently apart of. I'm also trying to bring more people in to model. I was not responsible for bringing in models but I hope we get a good turn out.

 

I look up, He looks down!

Meanie Evie

Its the sexiest night of the year

As we prepare to become bombarded by Christmas decorations, music, and cookies. We mustn't forget that it is that time of year when Victoria's Secret has their annual fashion show. The show was filmed last night and set to air on December 10 on CBS.  I love watching the show. I think it is spectacular! However I do wish that there were more models of color on the runway but thats neither here nor there. I love the whimisical nature of the event. I especially enjoy the creativity.

I love that each scene has a theme that is fully realized. The show usually costs between 10-15 million dollars! Wow! But that is a small drop in the bucket compared to their yearly sales of 6.6 BILLION DOLLARS!!!! Again wow! Victoria's Secret has been making women feel their sexiest since 1986 and their brand is rapidly growing. In retail, sales are usually measured by square footage. The average sale per square foot for Victoria's Secret is 817 dollars. Now the average store size is 7,650 square feet. You do the math. I've always loved the Limited Brands and wish to one day work for them (fingers crossed). I'm really excited to see the fantasy bra worn by Candice Swanepoel. I'm a little bummed that she will be the first model out on the runway according to USA Today. I think that when they edit the show they may out her in another position in the show. I'm excited to see the show and see the Parisian Night themed section.

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

Fashion Show Journal

So its week 5! Yay! Can you believe it? I can hardly believe. We have our model call next week and I am putting the final touches on the flyers to hand out. I've emailed the editor of the Style section from our local newspaper. I've also contacted my friend who works at a news station. Things are coming together nicely. At least on my end. But the sad thing is that I still have to take midterms. I hate taking tests. I really do. My school is very project intense and sometimes you just forget to that you still have to read. I will get through it though. I have no worries. Last week, we had the opportunity to look at the space we are using for the event. Its absolutely beautiful! Very New York! Tres Chic! The event looks like it is turning into something great. We also looked at hair and make up ideas. I'm most excited about our model call. I'm interested in seeing who will respond. I have a few friends that will be auditioning. Well that is the latest and greatest from me. Ta ta for now.

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

Fashion News and Reviews

So as the autumn leaves fall, Drake begins his Nothing was the Same Tour. I've seen Drizzy in concert twice once BEFORE he was signed to Young Money and once right before the release of Thank Me Later. I must say he is somewhat decent in concert but I prefer mix tape Drake to this 'wanna be hood' Drizzy.  But I digress. For this tour, he has teamed up with Calvin Klein's creative director Italio Zucchelli to wear looks from the Spring/Summer 2014 line.

This is a MAJOR switch for the Canadian rapper, who is usually seen onstage in jeans and a college hoodie. Famously representing HBCU Howard University. The designs align with Drake's aesthetic as well as Zucchelli's. There will be three in total, one that is very similar to his latest album cover.I think this look is the most like Drake because it is a hoodie.  The next look is class Calvin Klein with denim on denim. 

This look is my personal favorite and I think its perfect for autumn even though its for spring/summer. The final look is a geometric print bomber jacket paired

black jeans. I think this is a step in the right style direction. Drake's overall style needed to evolve. You can't live in jeans and a t-shirt forever. I like all of the looks and I would to see more young men dressing in a more pleasing aesthetic.

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

Sanctuary Style: Harvest Time

 

I love Autumn! Its back! I love layering! I like sweaters! This look is can be worn just about anywhere. This is a pretty standard look for the fall. Leggings check. Sweater check. Boots check. Cross body bag check. This look is simple and clean. I'm not sure if you would wear this on a Sunday morning. I would but that depends on the type of church you go to. This autumn don't be afraid to layer. Don't be afraid of leggings no matter what shape you are. Always, always, always remember to cover your rear! It doesn't matter how nice your rear is leggings are not pants! I repeat LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS! If you understand this basic principle then you are good for this season.

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie 

Black Girls Rock!

 

It is that magical time of year! The magical time of year when BET actually does something right! That time of year when instead of demeaning black women we are celebrating them! Instead of a Beyonce focus trance (I don't hate her I'm jsut saying), we are celebrating women who are business owners, singers, dancers, and who give back to their communities. W.E.B DuBois said that the turning of the 20th century "The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races." Mr. DuBois is simply saying that the most educated of our race SHOULD reach back and help others. However more times than imaginable, we only shake our heads at the single mothers.

We overlook the highschooler forced into over crowded classrooms with 'teachers' with no education background. Often times we are disgraced, treated poorly, and mocked in all forms of media. Even the media that we ourselves create. However it seems that we have started to celebrate ourselves for our positives. Black women let's support one another. Let's not tear each other down. It does nothing but create more rifts in our communities. Talented Tenth, let's help our brothers and sisters and not walk past them in their need. We should keep our communities and not wait on anyone else. Black Girls do Rock! Its time we shared this with our children. Its time we give them confidence in their pigment. Its time we showed them how awesome it is to be themselves. Its time we tell them they can be anything they want to be. They don't have to settle. If the world can be the oyster of our counterparts of other races, why can't the same be true for us? I rock. You rock. We all rock! #blackgirlsrock

 

I look up, He looks down!

 

Meanie Evie

 

Meanie Evie