Afrique C'est Chic
Kofi's mission is noble and his shirts are hot, so his line Annansi Clothing definitely deserves a post:
In 2003 G. Kofi Annan started Annansi Clothing Co. as his way of helping redefine the world’s view of African people and culture. Kofi had become frustrated by the constant misrepresentation of modern day Africans in the media and the effect it had on how people viewed them.Born in Ghana and raised in Liberia, Kofi was exposed to fashion early on by his mother, a Ghanaian seamstress who created and sold both traditional and western-styled fashions out of their home in Monrovia. Emulating his mother's drawings, he developed a knack for creating complex designs using the few art supplies he got from his father’s travels to Europe and the United States. In 1989 Kofi moved with his family to New Jersey and was shocked by the dated view of Africa expressed by his neighbors and friends. It was then that Kofi decided to try to reshape that false perception and the idea behind Annansi Clothing Co. was born.
This emerging designer has already made a name for himself in the more informed wing of the hip-hop community. The best part about his designs is that they're both aesthetically pleasing and subtlety political... a designer after T's own heart!
Get Refined
With so many of you headed to New York for fasion week don't forget about the great independent designers who call NYC home. Where better to start than Refinery 29?
Refinery 29 is "the preeminent guide to the best in independent fashion, shopping, designers, and trends in New York City and beyond."
Their entire site is entirely devoted to the designers, stores, trends, and must-haves that make the independent shopping and fashion experience like no other, no matter where you live.
Relying on simple ingredients: Inspiring spaces, extraordinary products, and proprietors with a distinct voice and a discriminating vision, Refinery 29 distinguishes itself from other New York shopping destinations as one that cannot be missed.Personal Plea
So this is just a personal plea... I had a few of them last year with respect to a certain brand of boot that I won't mention, because I promised I would never mention them again on this site. This plea has to do with leggings. No matter what people tell you and no matter how good Kate Moss looks in them, leggings are not cool and you should never wear them. Period. This whole 1980s shiny fabric/ legging thing has me really concerned. Almost as concerned as our current political situation... but clearly that's a whole different level of fear.
I am baffled by the fact I've actually seen women wearing them around Boston. This one woman the other day had the cutest outfit on... an adorable skirt/ blouse combo. But for some unknown reason she paired it with leggings and those dreadful 1980s suede short-boots. What made her do that? She clearly had an acceptable outfit on and made a concerted effort to ruin it with cropped leggings and those hideous boots. Please don't let this happen to you. I'm on your side. I would never give you bad advice. I'm not making a profit from your clothing choices... the advertisers and fashion magazines are... for the love of all things fashionable (for my own aesthetic peace of mind), please... put down the leggings.
