Let's Go... if you want it you can get... with free shipping

Even if you're a hip hop fan, you probably have a little rock n' roll in you... From Run-DMC, to Mos Def to yes, even Trick Daddy, rock music has a way of bringing out the rebel in people. CX London has style... the boutique not only scouts the latest trends, it offers them instantaneously...
And the best part is CX London offers
FREE DELIVERY WORLDWIDE
I know it's kinda cheesy but there's just something cool about getting a package from overseas... Especially when it contains original T-shirts you can't really find here.
With summer fast approaching it's time to kick back, relax and get back to you who you are (at least that's what I plan on doing when I'm not sitting in an over-air-conditioned office)... to me there's nothing like a warm day at the beach with good friends.
There's also nothing like those favorite t-shirts... they always fit, they always look good and they're always worth the splurge.

Can't Stop Won't Stop....

(Origin is also running a special... offering a mixed CD with the purchase of any book-inspired t-shirt... while supplies last)
Some people think a t-shirt is just a well arranged jumble of thread meant to keep the breeze off your back. Not Ørigin. Ørigin gets religious when it comes to t-shirts. A t-shirt speaks volumes about who you are. You like the Ramones? Been to Key West? Want to buy Tommy Hilfiger his new vacation home? A t-shirt can be a holy thing — there's magic in them there cotton — and we think it should say something of substance. Weird — maybe. Funny — sometimes. But always with some type of political, social or cultural commentary, and always with the dopest design at the party. - From About Ørigin
Doesn't sound weird to me...
Origin has created a series of exclusive T-Shirts in conjunction with Jeff Chang and his book
"Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation"... Hate it or love it... hip-hop culture and music have become staples in our society. I don't profess to be an expert on the subject, but any student of culture or fashion (isn't that all of us?) should understand this important contribution to american music and Black history. In the spirit of Hip-Hop appreciation week, May 15-22, I urge you to put down the 50-cent and Chingy* (can't change the fact you picked 'em up in the first place) and discover the roots of this modern day phenomenon.

For a good mdern-day alternative to such artists I suggest Tahir and his new album "Hood Economics"...

(X, KRS-ONE)

(Thanks to gues Urban Socialite Ayzee for the inspiration)

Boston's Best Kept Secret...


From top: Enamel on Wood Print, "Urban Weed" handbag, Belt with Phrase, Denim Messenger Bag and T-Shirt.
(click on the individual item for link)

A few days ago I talked about trends, and the ultimate trend setters. What if I told you I had the buzz (taking from yesterday, of course) on the hottest Urban Boutique in Boston, featuring original designs, fabulous bags and the hottest T-Shirts in the city? Then, what if I told you that most of the T-shirts and accessories in the shop can be yours for less than $40? Then, what if I told you that by purchasing these tees, belts, bags you'd be contributing to one of Boston's best and most creative institutions? You'd buy right?
Artists for Humanity,
located in Boston, MA is cultivating some of our country's best artistic talent. From wearable art to breathtaking paintings and photography (the prices on fine art vary but are extremely reasonable), I am consistently blown away by the talent these young artists possess.
I'm a handbag person and love both the hand and messenger bags currently for sale on their website... in fact I love them so much I was reluctant to share them with you... I selfishly wanted to keep this spot B's little secret... But guest Urban Socialite "G" who is becoming more of a regular contributor to this site, convinced me to share.
Just keep in mind they have limited quantities of all their items AND the first "Urban Weed" bag is mine :) !

To bee or not to bee...

We here at Urban Socialite are always working hard to expand and create. Recently, talk began about incorporating a Bee logo with our name (you know, we'd like to think we bring you the buzz on the lastest...). Little did I know that the fashion market was already buzzing with many bee-utiful brands that definitely deserve some praise.

Take for instance Queen Bee Creations...
They feature dozens of adorable handbags, wallets, and cases...

Not to be confused with Queen Bee Stuff which also specializes in designer handbags as well as my favorite item on their site, these adorable little summer skits:


And what about ready-to-be-the-next-big-thing My Flat In London's : Queen Bee Couture....


As long as this brand doesn't go Juicy on us, I think it's actually pretty hot. Of course I can't really afford most things on the site, but the designer's attention to design and detail is exquisite and the entire concept is adorable....

At the end of the day we've scrapped this particular idea and decided not to bee... but we do love those that bee and bee it well!

Fancy Pony Land... YA!


"YA/YA (Young Aspirations/Young
Artists), Inc. is a non-profit arts and social
service organization whose
mission is to provide educational experiences and
opportunities that empower
artistically talented inner-city youth to be
professionally self-sufficient
through creative self-expression. "


Programs like YA/YA are so important... and so are the people who donate their time and money to insure that they succeed. That's why I fully support Fancy Pony Land and the line's creator Lorna Leedy. She offered her expertise as a mentor to YA/YA's Inner-City Threads program in 2003... and continues to make fantastic designs today... I don't know about you, but I continue to be bored with what fashion is supposed to be and continue to be inspired with what fashion is... the originality of brands like Fancy Pony Land and the styles created by inner-city kids (whom I've always thought bring the best ideas to this industry) are what keep fashion alive.

In a very contrived sense, the fashion world works like this: Trend spotters, who work for various trend spotting/ fashion companies, get paid to scour the world looking for the latest "trends". The best place to look for trends, a fashion designer and former trend spotter once told me, is on the streets. She said the kids in the cities are the ones who dictate where fashion is going... The trend spotters watch the kids, take extensive notes on their style and sell it back to the big design houses who then repackage it and sell it back to us as fashion and couture. Now I'm not saying every trend comes about this way, and I'm not putting down the concept of trend spotting or what it can do for haute couture. But like most things, fashion is simple and the ideas that seem so large and exciting on the runway are just as large and exiting in the places from which they originated... I guess it just depends on where you want to look, and who you want to support.

Illegal Art?



Download anything illegal lately? It seems things are getting a little bit out of hand... the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is getting serious... suing everyone from old ladies to 15 year old honor students. Although I understand the argument made by record companies with respect to illegal downloading, my feelings always tend to side with the musicians. Not only does this form of file sharing take power from those who tend to bully musicians into horrific contracts, it allows for a new form of creativity and a means by which to get it out to us... case in point:
DJ Dangermouse's "Grey Album" in which he combined the Beetles White album and Jay-Z's Black album. It's pretty hot, and if you click on the picture there's info on how to download... You can also view a summary of the legal battle over this album.



Speaking of legal battles, I can only image what would have happened if he artist(s) in Providence who created this or works like it had been caught. I'm a big fan of graffiti art, but we all know the legal battles waged over this are a lot... shall we say... messier than the ones waged over music.



Bird in a Skirt that shouldn't be worn with Uggs



From clothes, to notecards, Bird in Skirt has it all...
As "Suzie" from Bird in a Skirt reminds us...."notes are like little hugs on paper". I'm always on the look out for cool note cards, journals and stationary... it makes writing that ever-so-necessary thank you letter almost as fun as the getting the gift (at least that's what I tell myself). Bird in a Skirt has a little bit of everything, including a pretty cool web-based flea market... who knows what you'll find!
Plus, the site has some very reasonably priced gift ideas (mother's day and my mom's birthday are both in May, so you know I'm busy looking)... and it has an ever important sense of humor :).
Speaking of sense of humor... the joke is over. Ugg boots and skirts just aren't funny anymore.
The only funny thing about it, is the fact that some great PR and marking people were able convince women that these boots: (1) are worth $110 AND (2) that they look good with everything. They're fine even perfect for winter days. They're comfortable and warm... great for snowstorms and such. But please, take the boots off in the summer.

Are we as women really this gullible??

Let me see that thong-thong-thong-thong-thong*




When you grow up near the beach you realize the importance of a great pair of flip flops... I even wrote an article for the Cape Cod Times about it (I'm a wee bit obsessed). Mella USA has some of the cutest styles around....especially the terry cloth grey (above left) and if you want to be "like totally in style, ohmygod" this summer, the preppy trim thongs on the right should do the trick. I'd like to leave you with something deep and insightful, but it's supposed to be 70 degrees today so I'm about to, yes, put on my flip flops (as much as I love cute, trendy styles, I tend to flip for Adidas flops more than any other brand)... and get myself down to the Cape!

*Sisqo... without him, there would be no Thong Song...

Crazed Style in the Neighborhoodie!

Neighborhoodies suggested by guest urban socialite "G" who is deciding between a Cleveland, Roxbury or Cape Wind hoodie.

Carroll Gardens, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Providence, Cambridge, Jamaica Plain.... and lets not forget EAST Falmouth. All of the neighborhoods of my past, present, and who knows about the future. Neighborhoodies is this cool site where you can custom design a t-shirt, sweatshirt, bag or a number of other things to rep your neighborhood in style. For a site that specializes in t-shirts and sweatshirts, it offers a huge selection of creative options, so feel free to go crazy....

Identity Crisis!!

Click on Pictures for link to site!

There's no I.D. crisis here... these clothes are just plain hot. Fresh out of Texas, this one woman operation guarantees that the look you have will be your look alone. No more of those nights where you spend a hour getting ready only to find that (a) the super expensive look you've purchased and perfected (I wouldn't know about the super-expensive thing, but I do have lucky friends...) has been adopted by H&M or even worse (gasp) Target and the girl with the cheaper version looks better than you at the club (ha ha ha) (b) YOU are one of the people in the cheap version of the expensive look and you look good... but everyone else has the same thing on or (c) you're like me and usually spend 10 minutes getting ready to go out and can't quite figure out how to make the new trendy look work... and can't quite figure out why the look is even trendy because it's actually kind of ugly.
Phew... that was a long explanation for a quick conclusion. When you buy clothes like the ones offered at Identity Crisis you avoid all of the above. You can (a) get a reasonably priced piece of original design (b) that no one else will have and Target will never copy (c) and because you have something that's both unique and gorgeous, you don't have to spend hours trying to make it work... it works on it own!
****
Speaking of identity crisis.... have you been paying attention to the messages sent to us by the wonderful world of entertainment, fashion and beauty?
As we are subtly encouraged to straighten our hair and lighten the color (see Mariah, Beyonce and yes... even Alicia (so sad))... we are, at the same time offered self-tanning lotions and lip plumping glosses.... Is it me, or is our concept of beauty also facing some kind of identity crisis?


Bliss lip plumper at Beauty.com, (they say: Want big, full, fabulous lips without the discomfort of collagen?) about $20. Instant self-tanner, about $31 at Beauty.com. Wash and curl shampoo, about $5 ,Dark and lovely hair relaxer, about $6, Easy Straight, about $30 all at your local drug store.


What do you think? Do the media and entertainers effect how we feel women should look?

Social event and social commentary....

Wanna shop and network with some of the (Boston) areas hottest artists, designers and entrepreneurs? The Honah Lee is hosting yet another ladies night! For just $5 (my kind of event!) you can enjoy great vendors, a live fashion show and tasty treats (including a cash bar).
The event is this Thursday April 14th from 7-11pm.
It's being held at the Jorge Hernandez Cultural Center/ Villa Victoria, in the South End of Boston (85 W. Newton Street, South End, Boston, MA). For more info check out The Hona Lee. Hope to see you there!

Ba-da-da-da-boo!!!! I'm hating it!!! (the social commentary...)


Boo on McDonalds for their stupid double cheeseburger ad.
I would post Aaron McGruder's comic directly on my site, but there are laws against that, so instead I will direct you to the Boondocks in The Washingtonpost's comic section and let you laugh there. I mean... "I'd hit it?"...

Image from uComics.com, for more on the Boondocks, the best comic of all time, visit uComics or Boondocks.net.

Grumpy Monday


Well, it's Monday. I had planned on writing about something else, but they always say "write how you feel" - and this morning I'm grumpy. Not annoyingly grumpy... more like "just had a nice, sunny, relaxing weekend now I have to be somewhere at 8:30" grumpy. It's comforting to know that even in this state I can feel very cute thanks to grumpy-girl.com... I mean, did they sneak in my apartment, past my obnoxious roommate, and snap a picture of me this morning?

grumpy-girl looks urbansocialite (and currently in Nepal) D
One thing I've learned in grumpiness is that it's often better to quit while you're ahead, especially when it comes to conversation. When I'm grumpy, my filter is... shall we say...compromised? When my filter is compromised, watch out...
Anyway, that being said (as the news screams about Red Sox opening day in the background) be back in a bit.

Do You Vibe With Tribe?


Fancy Flirt? Afro Love? Global Chic? Downtown Doll? Rock Punk? Technoid Subculture?

Which fashion tribe do you belong to? Fashiontribes is a website with 6 monthly "tribe-specific" magazines with features on everything from Parties and Entertaining to Beauty and Fashion. With the 6-separate-magazine format, Downtown dolls don't have to get bogged down in the Technoid Subculture and Global Chic gals aren't forced to read about the lives Fancy Flirts... unless of course they want to...
The site also has a Fashiontribes Daily Blog the self proposed "daily scoop for the style insider". I tend to stay away from fashion magazines, mostly because they bore me and usually have the same stories every month: Get Beautiful! , Get Great Hair! , Hot Trends for under (amount depends on what magazine you buy)... etc. etc.
Personally, I think the site is fun and there's definitely a lot to see... at the same time I think I failed their multiple choice "fashion personality" quiz because none of the answers to any of the questions applied to me...

So I guess the real question is, do you vibe with tribe?


or


Fred-est-flare


L: Yes... there is such a thing as an ipod hoodie M: Cute tank R: T's formal choice..a tuxedo T.

Where else can you find an at-home silk screening kit, a hoodie for your ipod, log pillows (?) a guitar sling bag and a make out kit? Not to mention some really cute clothes... and yes Travis, a Tuxedo T-shirt (for both him and her).
Fredflare.com actually leaves me speechless (or maybe I should say, typeless)... it's a site you really have to see to believe. I mean, an ipod hoodie? Part of me is repulsed, yet I kind of want one... kind of like an SUV... but in this case succumbing to an unreasonable purchase at least contributes to some very creative artists (as opposed to contributing to: pollution, limited parking spaces on my narrow street and debt-by-gas-prices). Plus it protects your ipod... kind of like an SUV protects... oh wait... never mind.


Boston Style and NYC/ Chicago Renegades


I used to live in Brooklyn... Sunset Park* (Represent!) to be exact. Currently I live in Boston. I'm sure all of you know about the Boston/ NYC rivalry which seems to have its roots in baseball... or other things which I refuse to get into here because not only do I live in Boston, but I was born in here as well. Anyway, luckily for us each city is hosting cool events this spring. On May 12th Stylefixx.com is hosting an event in Boston which will feature: "An evening of fabulous shopping, cocktails, great giveaways and gift bags stuffed with goodies." For a cover charge of just $15 (if you buy today so hurry) or $25 after April 1st, you can drink, socialize and shop the night away with other fabulous area fashionista's (is that word getting old is it just me?).

If NYC is more your style you should definitely check out the Renegade craft fair June 26th and 27th. The Renegade Craft Fair, "an edgy D.I.Y. event showcasing a ton of the coolest crafts from all over the country," is literally packed to capacity with amazing vendors from all over and features everything imaginable... knitting, jewelry, sewn items, paper goods, silk-screened items, woodworking, comics, zines, cosmetics... a little bit of everything! This event is also being held in Chicago later on in the year so be sure to check back with them in the late summer for details. I'll also have friends in the area so I'll be sure to get more details as well!
*

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