"Blood On The Snow: A Fashion Experience" was definitely a show worth the money and definitely a Fashion Experience. There was a total of four designers that had clothes modeled by stunning and poised High School students. The Arts High School Fashion Show Committee was able to take their school's Atrium and turn it into a classy and chic, New York Fashion Week-styled venue. Audience members who were friends and family of models and strangers and veterans to the world of Fashion, all enjoyed the production and were simply amazed by what was being presented to them. "Blood On The Snow", a pun of the popular urban phrase "slaying the runway", the production amid the snowy outdoors and the prologue of three of the women from Chicago's "Cell Block Tango" number on Broadway, was a phenomenal show and ultimately resurrected Arts High School's legacy for beautiful Fashion Shows and showcased the product of artistic and creative minds coming together with one common goal. This show featured designs by Mumin McBride, Sharonda Salaam, Eric Jernigan, and a student who goes simply by Kendi, that put the crowd on their feet and their voices to the roof! If you missed "Blood On The Snow", you missed out on a historical event that was fun and FIERCE and showcased the talent and artistry of Arts High School students!
NAME: D'Mahdnes Lavaughn Failey LOCATION: CT/ NY AGE: 18 STYLIST - I grew up in Connecticut. A pretty small state, no real action with very little artistic ideas being created. I remember as a kid I'd sit in my room and sketch outfits that I wish I could wear and more than likely not be able to afford. I grew up with a single mother who spoiled me as best she could while handling to pay the bills and keep food on the table. I spent most of my childhood living under the influence of what others considered fashion. What was right and what wasn't. I tried so hard to "fit in" that I was forgetting about the true essence of who I was. So around the time of middle school I decided it was time to really show who I was whether people liked it or not. I would put on obnoxious things like bright colored socks and cuffed trousers as statement. I can't tell you how many people would refer to this statement as "Gay" because it was so different from the typical idea of what a guy should wear, but this was a statement that somehow said, "I'm going to be me and I don't give a shit!" I remember the day I came in and I saw someone mimicking this style that I had created. It was so rewarding because so many times I had been told what I was wearing was wrong. Even from family members. So, to see that was beyond words. I knew from that moment what I wanted to do with my life. And that was styling. So around my later years in middle school people would start asking me my opinion on outfits or what not or ask if I was free to take them out shopping. Fashion, to me is not just putting on expensive clothing brands in a specific color pattern. It's feeling. It's breathing. It's owning and being. It's like a living piece of art. Every step in that outfit, every gesture you make in that outfit should make you feel different. It's not about "matching". It's the way one owns the garments they have on that sells your outfit. It's like smoke, it's very lucent, you can't grab it, you can't contain it. So, I started styling on the side. I would even get paid a fair amount for my services. Once I hit high school, I knew fashion and styling was something I was going to get into in the future and I knew I would need connections. So, I spent a lot of time on Instagram networking and following other fashion icons and accounts that inspired me. Instagram became my personal outlet to another world that I couldn't get to from Connecticut. Quickly, others artists really loved my work and would follow back and even engage in conversation with me about what was my overall concept for creating the looks I had because they found them aesthetically pleasing. I gained such a large fan base from Instagram because I wanted to be exposed to more ideas and other artistic creation from other artists around the world. High school was that "transition" stage for me. I continued making statements but reasonable ones. I transitioned from wearing things for the sake of reaction and started wearing things for the sake of art. I wanted to make fashion more of a professional things so I started taking in clients or family members out when asked or would sketch them looks for proms, graduations, etc. Currently, I still work as a stylist on the side either sketching looks for clients or going out and shopping with them. Having a stylist who knows what they're doing is such an important thing because some people really would appreciate the help. My life is still forever evolving but I'm so proud of how far I've come. From a child who was beaten down every time he tried to be himself to a man who continues to do what he loves forgetting all about what others might think "Fashion, to me is not just putting on expensive clothing brands in a specific color pattern. It's feeling. It's breathing. It's owning and being. It's like a living piece of art." - D'Mahdnes L. Failey You can contact me via email: [email protected] Instagram: @dmahdnes.jpg Twitter: @dmahdnes MODELING - I wouldn't consider myself a major model. Yes, I model but I wouldn't consider myself a model. Before considering yourself as a specific art I feel you must be well rounded in that art and it must be your focus. I'm still learning. I started modeling in high school. I was contacted by one of my Instagram followers who was looking for promoters and wanted a fresh face to model some of his pieces. We exchanged emails and addresses and be sent me a few promo products to model in. This was one of my first ever photo shoots. I was so nervous. I wasn't sure how to use my body or face because taking a selfie and modeling are two completely different things. However, I got on set and I felt so at home there. It made me happy being in front of the camera in front of talented photographers (Shout out to photographers because they don't get enough credit). So ever since then I'd connect with local photographers, friends or local designers in need of a portfolio and model for them. I enjoyed this because I felt so free on the set. I love modeling. It's not about having a pretty face when modeling. I think it's more of selling your flaws and accentuating your inferiority as well as your beauty creating a great work of art. I recently started connected with more photographers in the Connecticut area in hopes to in the future go further with it. You can contact me via email: [email protected] Instagram: @dmahdnes.jpg Twitter: @dmahdnes
Niambi Moore: When it comes to being black, it’s like people expect something from you. Stereotypes are so prevalent, they’re literally everywhere and many people hold these stereotypes so near and dear to their hearts because it’s all they’ve been fed through art. It’s all they know regarding our lives and as a race we’re generally held to this. It’s fun to combat these stereotypes with my art and I hope to help peoplerealize that we’re people too. Whether it be a photo series, a drawing, a poem or whatever the case, I’m going to show that we live. We’re not in this constant state of depression because we can’t find a decent man, not every second of our lives is spent bashing white people. We’re not full of hate for ourselves and our culture. We love too, we aspire and work hard too. We have fun, sneak drinks and party without it ending in some sort of blowout or drama contrary to what is being shown on television. We have stories outside of what you’ll normally see in popular media outlets. We live too and that’s not shown through art at this current time. Life is not just for white people and I’m showing that through my art. I want my art to allow us to be kids again without us worrying about how we look to others outside our race.
. Taylor Best: As an African American as well as a female, working in my field comes with the struggle of always being assumed as the weaker link amongst your colleagues. I work for Atmos Nyc and there’s a connotative meaning behind the title of a well-known sneaker boutique but regardless of that, I have to push myself a lot harder because of who I am and what I look like. It’s sad but I’m not seen as good quality to most but I make sure to put all of my amazing qualities out there so they see I’m more than meets the eye. On top of worrying about my race, I’m also faced with a double standard by being a female. I can’t help but worry about the fact that I’m not as developed as most females and this comes into play when the customers are mainly men. So now not only am I constantly over-compensating with the fact that I’m African American, but I’m also worried about “who is more developed?” or “who is more attractive to most”. To not get wrapped up into this circle of ridicules, I’ve learned I can’t put my attention into those thoughts. I keep my head high because I know I came from kings and queens and overall greatness Ké- I don't understand why we kill each other. I don't understand why everything is such a competition. And I really fail to grasp a subtle understanding of why the world has to be so fucked up. I know how for the most part but getting into the “why” is beyond this occasion. I rather address self empowerment. Particularly for our people. Our black people. We've become way too numb to the low-vibrational pollution dumped onto our people. In Layman's terms: a brother shoots another brother and he puts it in a song... and then everybody in the ’hood is dancing and singing to it. And it's nothing to us. Shoot! I'm guilty of it. But sometimes, I take a step back and really take in and digest what's going on. One thing that I've promised as an artist is to start openly encouraging my brothers and sisters to be aware of where the culture is headed. I think it's important to channel that through music because music is undeniably influential and I like to think of myself as an artist who can be of relevant influence. It's a challenge to do that because it's like everyone WANTS to hear that “4-5” bars. Everyone wants to blast that music that allows them to tote up imaginary guns. Luckily for me, I've spent all of my music career discovering innovative ways to captivate listeners so I don't need to rely on the “wave”. I'm all about encouraging my brothers and sisters to vibrate on a much higher frequency for our own good. We desperately need more positive energy among our community and I plan on extending that to others even beyond the music. We all have a responsibility. We all have a purpose. Samí - The hard part about aspiring to inspire as a black artist is that -- believe it or not -- there are many of us actually trying to inspire through music and I feel like that's very beautiful but it's become a competitive dog eat dog situation, instead of trying to uplift each other. We TEAR each other down -- crabs in a barrel -- and that makes it difficult because that's where insecurities come in. Styling an outfit is everything. A single detail can change a whole outfit. The trend of wearing matching color on tops and bottoms are becoming more and more in style. With matching tops and bottoms, you should always have an opposite shade of color as a jacket, hat, shoes, etc just to give the outfit a sense of pizazz. Denim on Denim is in style, was always in style and would be forever in style. Depending on what look you are going for, you can wear different shades of denim together which adds a mix to the outfit or wearing the same shade of denim adding a different color jacket. Due to denim going with just about every shade of color, you can add any color jacket to it.
When it comes to jewelry such as necklaces/chains , rings and bracelets, you never want to over do it. The length of a necklace/chain does matter depending on the cut of your top. " Prototype 09 " this collection is about creativity and the loss of it, for within this modern era a majority of the people in the fashion/style world tend to just copy or bite off others work, thus in a sense they're clones or "prototypes". The bold slashes of REVOLT define other wise, to break this chain, influence one to open their minds and think for themselves, to impact culture in their own ways. Gray PeaCoat - L Train Vintage $60 Black Knitted Sweater - Ralph Lauren $80 Black Jeans - 21 Men $40 Flannel Shirt - L Train Vintage $20 Hat - $60 , Hat can be bought in a variety of stores such as UO or local thrift shops. Nike Duffel Bag - $40, Duffel Bags are easy to find, each store has their own brand so it's up to you on which brand you would like to go with. "I'm a New York native so there are many options I could choose and many things I was exposed to. But I decided to study fashion. I love it a lot and it's fun when you can just pair things together and then change it a little bit and give it a new personality. I definitely don't have the biggest, most extravagant closet but I can make it work, which is really the meaning of style."
Fashion goals- I want to be able to make a mark in some way in the fashion world, no matter what my job consist of and for myself to be able to inspire others. Fashion inspirations- My fashion inspirations are Christina Caradona & Troprouge. Fashion struggles- My fashion struggles is the issue of the fashion industry being competitive right now and for myself to try to make it to the top. Even starting at the bottom is quite difficult including getting an intership. What made you become an artist? Artistry is common amongst my family. They played a huge role in stimulating my creativity and were always supportive of me following my passion. Whether it be drawing, performing, editing or song writing, I was exposed to all types of art growing up. When did you know you had a gift? I knew I wanted to perform when I first saw the Lion King on Broadway at age 5. After that, I would always put theatrical shows on in my living room for family and friends. I've been writing since I was 10 but began taking the pursuit of music seriously at 14. What inspired you? From Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey to Miles Davis and John Coltrane, I draw inspiration from literally every genre I grew up with. Even show tunes and alternative music played an influential role. What struggles did or do you have? In this day and age, art is perceived as something that obtains immediate success. It's presented as if you don't have to do to much to get up and that's where most young artists go wrong, by only thinking about the passion and forgetting the business aspect. Confidence is important but you can't get too ahead of yourself. What are my goals? My goals are to keep taking risks and build on material for my upcoming EP, "L$Q." Bio: Combining melodic R&B hooks, soothing harmonies, hip-hop infused with psychedelic soul, electro-funk, and ambient trap-influenced beats, Nick Eliscu sets out to achieve an honest, unique and relatable sound. Growing up in a creative household on NYC's Upper West Side, he began the pursuit of music while attending the Professional Performing Arts High School. After the release of his pop-rock mixtape ("Making a Change,") and emergence of his alter ego, NickNasty, he started experimenting with other genres in his follow-up projects -- “Back on Track,” “XII.XXI.XII” and “Balancing Act.” All NYC models, make up artists, creative directors and stylists. need a photographer to bring your ideas to life? book me for this winter season. special rates and prices available. instagram: @yungoddess email: [email protected] |
ZiggyYour everyday fashion guide. Archives
August 2015
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