All that Jazz!!

The Jazz shoe trend has been around for the past few years and it's not going anywhere!
From the real deal to jazz inspired...here are some cute vintage looks for your dancing feets!!


Proxy...Size: 9/9.5


Ipanema...Size: 7


Anna Mariano...Size: 7


Supa Dance (The real deal dance shoe, from the UK)...Size 7.5

The Goods! above are now available for purchase at Marmalade NYC! I wanted to somehow slip "Jazz Hands" into this post but the flu I have right now has turned my ability to slip in witty (or is that corny?) comments into mush...so "Jazz Hands"!

Snake Charmer!

Sorting through some of my recent come ups, I geeked out and put together a photo shoot. What else would I be doing at 2 in the morning?? Up first...some charming snake skin items...











Vintage Kenneth Cole...Design Marvels...Size 7/7.5 and now available for purchase at Marmalade NYC...go get The Goods!

It runs even deeper.

I wrapped up my week in Vegas with a visit to the family. My Aunt and Uncle live out there and it's always the perfect way to end my trip...relax, home cooked meal, laughs and the love of fmaily. My memories of my aunt from growing up are of her fabulousness: so fashion fancy, so tall and so beautiful!! She was a dancer from school days and her dancing feet brought her to Las Vegas in the 60's were she became a showgirl at the famous Les Folis Bergere at the Tropicana hotel. On this last trip I went through her portfolio of photos from back in the day. It only confirmed for me that my life makes sense. That I am a product of my environment. From junking with my mom and grandma rose to the fashion plate diva that was and still is my Aunt Yvonne...it is in my blood, the love and passion for what I do, fashion: old or new...it runs deep.

Showgirl fancy...



Doing the thang on the run-way! Besides dancing, she modeled too! Many designers would come through Las Vegas and she had numerous opportunites to work the runway!



DVF! Here are the ladies with Diane Von Furstenberg modeling different variations of her famous wrap dress!



A close-up. My Aunt told me that the eye-lashes she wore at the time where called "The Cher", made popular by Cher herself and applied my the make-up artist that did Cher's make-up!



Now when I saw this picture, I almost fell over!! I explained to my Aunt that I have this plan and vision for how I will dress when i get older and much more sophisticated and this picture hit it to the t!! Fancy three piece lady suits and huge hats!! I will now be adding the head scarf to this vision...so fabulous!!



And my favorite picture of all...no explanation needed.

UNDRCRWN / Fruition / Adidas Par-tay!

What's Vegas without some party action! And what would be even more appropriate but a party at LV's premiere vintage clothing store, Fruition!! Yup, the Undrcrwn homies teamed up with Fruition to showcase their new collection and new line of Adidas sneakers! Please note that I am a die hard Nike wearer BUT Undrcrown has managed to design some Adidas that I would wear anyday!!!

Partay People!


The Ladies: Fruition, The Goods and Mama!


Edgar (Fruition) and Jay (Undrcrwn)


Mer and Touch (Fruition)


The Goods!, Mama, D. W. and T.O.S.C. (Undrcrwn)


Them Shoes!! Adidas x Undrcrwn.


Geeking out with the shoe display...


The Lovely Lady Dree and the Gucci Crew!


And some picts of Fruitions fineries...enjoy!

Dear LV Boot Bandit...

As I rolled into Las Vegas Monday morning, I headed straight to shopping! It was early, the stores where just getting open and we all know what the early bird gets, right?!?! Hopefully it's really great boots!!!!!! Yeah, got the boot fever these days...the ladies want them, my accounts want them, and I just can't get enough of them!! My first stop is Savers, the thrift department store. I head straight to the shoes...some great heels, ankle boots and them, this little gem...



Now please notice, there is only one boot in this photo. Well that's because there was only ONE BOOT! Yeah. This happens sometimes, they get missplaced, lost in the store OR someone hides the other to come back later to buy...perhaps waiting for a sale, etc. I was so annoyed. So, I hide the other one, I know it's childish but I did it and felt better on some level...whatever, silly, I know. On to the next Savers...Straight to the shoes...really good stuff and then it happened again, one lovely boot. ONE BOOT. again. Now I know this may seem like a silly thing to get worked up over but boots are serious bussiness these days. And good sizes in great condition are hard to come by...and both of these boots fit the bill but do me no good without there mate. I do the drill, search high and low, under things, over things, in things, ask the staff (knowing what they are going to tell me). I am convinced that I am following the path of the "Boot Bandit" and really hope the rest of my trip, regarding boots that is, goes much better.

This phenonamon happens often and all across the country, perhaps a secret society? And deffinetly related to the missing sock situation. Last year while in Reno, I fell victim to the Boot Bandit, when the most amazing boot, on all levels: Brand (Sibicca, similar to Famalore or Cherokee), platform, stiletto heel, round toe, slouchy, black suede and did I mention, my size, came up solo...I searched for at least an hour, had shop staff helping and even considered buying one boot. Here she is...*sigh*



The Update!!!! There is a bit of a happy ending...6 days later I went back to the fisrt Savers, curious, if maybe, just maybe the boot would show up. Well the one I hid had been moved but not too far and just when I thought I was asking for the impossible, there she was, hiding on the shoe shelf, pinned down by the biggest, ugliest chunky heeled, square toed mess of a boot...I think the heavens shined down at that moment...reunited and it feels so good!



I tried my luck and thought maybe the other would pop up at the next Savers but no go...it's all good, I was happy with the one pair!

To Whom it May Concern...

Dear Charleston Outlet of Las Vegas,

Being an avid thrift store shopper I often see odd and sometimes shocking things. I would have to say that your shop imparticular has managed to "take the cake" in the "WTFWYT" category...that would be "What the f&^k where you thinking". Imagine my surprise, utter disgust and disappointment when I saw this on your shoe shelf. And not just on on one pair of shoes but on several. Somehow, someone managed to ruin a perfectly great pair of 80's 9 West electric blue pumps by ever-so-cluelessly writing the price ON the shoe...and following the lead, proceeded to write the marked down price below it...the fact that it has gone on sale probably has nothing to do with the fact that people do not want to walk around with big ol' grease pen prices on there shoes...riiiiiight (did the sarcasm come through on that? I hope so.)

Now, experienced in the art of price removal on second hand items, I know there is a chance that the pen can be removed but more than likely with the some sort of reminder left behind of the brilliant pricing technique. I have come up with a suggestion for where to write your prices, it works for many other stores, Savers is one thrift that comes to mind...It is called: THE BOTTOM OF THE SHOE.

Thank-you for your time and consideration on this matter. I have attached a photo below.

Kind Regards,

The Goods!

Ouch! The Slouch.

Vegas! What to say...always fun, always hectic, always dry and never enough time! My reports for my trip won't be on what's hot in the streetwear scene....go to Mama's blog and M.I.S.S. Crew not that...Yup, I'm reporting on my experiences in and around the tradeshow...the mall, the thrift stores and the Fruition x UNDRCRWN party...so stay posted all this week!

Spent the earlier part of the week hitting up the thrift stores and the mall. You never know what random gems you may find. Like slouch socks. Early last year, while diggin in South Central L.A. I started noticing the young ladies rocking the slouch socks, and rocking it like we did back in the day, at least two pairs stacked. I saw them for sale at the malls down there and when I got back home, they where for sale there too!! Now, I am talking about the spots in the hood, I reside in East Oakland, so the hood stores where stocking these joints...not Nordstroms. I haven't seen them make there way into mainstream fashion or even hipster fashion...But there they were again, in Las Vegas at Champs in the mall...50% off, so perhaps a trend that didn't hit too hard. I always thought they made your legs look a little tree stumpy but we thought we were fresh anyway!

Slouch Socks today...


"Original Goods"...


Can we get a close up of that fancy packaging artwork...


Now to acheive the ultimate look with your slouch socks you needed to be rocking the zipper jeans tucked nicely into your slouch socks...


Now if you didn't have the zipper jeans, that were already so perfectly tappered, you would have to do the deed yourself and "peg" them tight...a simple 4 step procedure...one...


two...


three...


peg...


And of course the finishing touch to this look would require the "china" flats, slip on or maryjane style (preferably with an embroidered rose)...

or a pair of Nike Cortez would work, but that's a different post ;)

And there you have it, your guide to rocking the Slouch Socks today, based on key elements from back in the day!

The Reebok Freestyle Turns 25!

They say things get better with age...This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Reebok classic, the Freestyle aka the 5411. They came out with about 6 different styles, one being a collabo with Basquait. Here we have the O.G.("original goods") cow print version and the new...I don't know about you but hang a plastic cow off my shoe anyday! Somethings were never ment to be changed!

The 25th Anniversary Edition:


The "Origianl Goods" Version:






A bit of background info, thanks to the ladies over at Around the Way Girls: The Freestyle was nicknamed the 5411's because they almost always retailed for $49.99 and with tax well...it came up to $54.11 hence=5411...Thanks for dropping the Knowledge ladies!

Vegas Baby...it's about that time!

Yup, it's been six months and it's time again! The tradeshow action will be in full effect next week in Las Vegas...Magic, Pool, Project, etc...For the past 14 years I have attended the Magic Show. My business there was legit, in the early days I worked for a streetwear brand called Pernicci...those where the days when the streetwear section was in a large tent in the parking lot across from the LV convention center. I then assisted a friend of mine that represented a couple of different lines...I was still in high school, it was all very exciting!! Once I wrapped up college I did a 7 year stint designing clothes for Emily the Strange and continued on my bi-annual journey to Vegas.

Seeing how life is what you make of it, I didn't let the fact that I no longer worked for a clothing company that shows at the tradshows stop this ritual. I made it work!
I have a client from Japan that comes to the show that carries vintage in his 10 stores in Japan, we hit up all the thrift stores and antique malls. I help out my friends by transporting their samples to the shows, help in the Mama camp and this year will be promoting M.I.S.S. Crew even harder!

Here are some picts from the last tradeshow this past August...stay posted for action from next weeks tradeshow maddness!!!


UNDFTD Party with Mama and the Fruition Family!


Mama and I at the UNDFTD party!


The Fruition Family at the shop...a must if you are in LV!


Pile-o-kicks...


more of the vintage love...

Rolling out on Sunday as the weather forecast for Pasadena says showers all day, so no Rosebowl Fleamarket for me! Vegas here I come...again!

Oh, Lando'!!

A zillion thank-you's, hugs, kisses and all that goodness to my man, Mr. Lando'Kicks for the amazing and sweetest post ever!! Peep his blog often and shout-a-holla if you need to tighten up your sneaker game...he's got kicks for daaaaaaaaaze!

Because weekends are made for FUN!!

Hot damn, the hustle was on this past weekend!!! Saturday I opened the "palace" to my lady friends for one of the two shopping parties I do each year. This being the first for the new year, it was a GREAT day...hope that is a sign of what is yet to come!! All sorts of lovely ladies in the buildin'...check out dem goods!


Camo Cuties!! M.I.S.S. Marina rolled out from NY and brought the San Jo' click!


Um, what to say about this one...I HEART U MARINA!!


Sexy in shoe formation: Charles Jourdan stiletto ankle boots, FIYA!!!


M.I.S.S. Michelle and M.I.S.S. Pauline model a couple of fur looks fresh from the fridge!


"What's Pimpalating?" Well that would be Nicacelly! I think we'll be seeing more of this coat in Vegas next week!


Alicia of Good Girls fame made a special request a couple of weeks ago...and you know I had a couple of these laying around...Satin Starter Jacket, a must for 2007 and beyond!


And I can not stress the importance of the one piece romper!! Get at me if you are in need...I have been hunting and gathering these for days!!


M.I.S.S. Susan walked away with one of my favs...60's wool Saks Fifth Ave trapeeze dress, another must for '07.


MAMA came through and I had a few things set aside for her, like this gem, Oooo-lala-Sasson!!


And of course the leopard print windbreaker!!


And then there are these...ESPRIT canvas and leather boots, button up, animal print lining, straps, buckles...WTF! And a size 5 1/2, perfect for Pauline!! What's going on with those color blocked jazz shoes?!?!?


Yipes Stripes!! Tiny Dancers aka little feets aka size 5 1/2 and smaller, I got you!!


Of course I couldn't function with out a nugget...Michelle keeps me hooked with the cookie dough, thanks lady!!

And lastly a little geek-out with Gabriella..Here we experience the power of "beaming" for the first time...NERDS!


Much thanks and love for all the support, laughs and goodtimes!! I love my job!!! For more flicks check The Glamorous Life, thanks Gab!