NewFace: Andrew Ruffin

Glutton For Punishment

The best documentary I've watched to date. Sit back & enjoy.

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H&M Menswear Fall09

Rihanna @ Cipriani

Rihanna attends the 3rd annual DKMS Gala at Cipriani in New York City. This chick is dope! Like on some 3008 shit lol. The whole outfit is Louis Vuitton btw.

BET Launches New Channel

BET is shifting towards a much needed change. They plan on launching a much more refined channel for our veiwing pleasure. Centric is the name of the new channel.

BET C.EO Debra Lee marked the election of President Obama as providing "the perfect time for BET Networks to re-examine where we are as a company and what we can be for our audience".

Centric will mainly be geared toward an older African-American demographic. The new channel, set to launch in 45 million cable homes by this year's end will be built around music and entertainment programming.

Some of the shows set to kick the launching off are: "Keeping Up with the Joneses", following high society in Houston, "Real Life Divas", a bio series on music stars; and "Urban Livin'", an interior design and home makeover series hosted by Helen Bailey. The channel also includes a reality show revolving around Terry Crews from "Everybody Hates Chris" and his family; a talk show hosted by Mo'Nique; "First In", a documentary following the lives of emergency response crews; and a game show; "Pay It Off", which allows contestants a chance to pay off their bills.

The one im looking forward to the most is "Model City, below)" which follows the lives of male models in New York; but not just any male models; more importantly the show will be following around the Red Boys from Red Modeling Management. I'll definitely stay tuned. Will you!?

Smart Models-Minus Pants=Comedy

So Channel Iman (which is one of my favorite models btw) shows up at Matthew Williamson's & H&M Spring 2009 Collaboration Collection launch party tipping as usual. But when asked what she was wearing this was her oh soo model appropriate response...

"[pause] It’s not H&M. It’s Topshop! Ahhh...I would have worn H&M if I knew I was coming here earlier! But I just sort of got out of the car. I had on pants earlier, but I just took them off."

And models wonder why the dumb and pretty stigma hovers over them like that UFo in "Independence Day" did over the White House

Their Back

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

I'll be there!

Matthew Williamson for H&M

Yet another designer is added to the ever growing H&M guest designer rap sheet. This time around it's Matthew Williamson. He's on board to provide H&M with this seasons pop of color; some of the pieces include a wide-sleeved sequin minidress, priced at a hefty $200, a cobalt bluesilk suit with fuschia piping, and a tan leather jacket with neon piping. I'm excited to see what comes about. I'm just tired of all the dam stampedes that occur when these designers drop their name on H&M prices. The line is set to hit the sales floor on April 23rd. So start training and get that upper body ready to knock the girls over!

Stampede!!

A huge stampede of model wannabes shook the New York streets this past week for the 12Th season of America's Next Top Model. These girls are bold. Running in stilettos is a dangerous sport. There were 3 arrests and about 6 people injured during the chaos. Personally I would of been across the street laughing. Tyra needs to organize her girls their all over the place. Not to me!

Best New Menswear Designer Competition

Six designers attended a cocktail fueled event earlier this week (Wednesday to be exact) in hopes of becoming America's Next Top Menswear Designer (sound familiar? lol). The event, which was held in the ever so posh Rockefeller Plaza, was host to the "who's who" of Men's fashion. Everybody from Tommy Hilfiger, David Lauren to Thom Browne and GQ editor Jim Nelson.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges & announced this Friday (the 20th). The reward you ask? well a sizable cash prize and a capsule collection for Levi's is all included for these menswear designers. Keep posted for the details on who the winner shall be.

The contestants are:

• André Benjamin for Benjamin Bixby
• Robert Geller
• Alex Carleton for Rogues Gallery
• David Mullen for Save Khaki
• Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos for Shipley & Halmos
• Yigal Azrouël

"I Wasn't Thinking Really!..."

I've been meaning to post this for a while now and as I was making my rounds online I stumbled upon it on R. CALIEL's blog. This extremely comical clip of mother Crystal LaBeija, founder of the House of LaBeija (ball scene get into it) is from the 1968 documentary The Queen. The Queen is a hour-long documentary about the "Miss All-American Beauty" pageant judged by Andy Warhol & others, held in New York in 1967. Please sit back and enjoy the battle of wit amongst these fem queens. My group of friends always quote this!

I Refuse To Stand...

This economic deficit has hit mighty freaking hard in the United States. Obama is doing his best to improve the unfortunate mess that Bush passed down; but in the mean time all we can do is hope for the best & live through the worst.

Of course nobody is safe not even the ever so popular Marc Jacobs. We all cried when news that his biannual return to glam after party was canceled due to budgets cuts. Well that dreadful budget cut daemon is back! & this time it forced the MJ company to downsize their entire production for their up coming NY Fashion Week show. Instead of sending out the usual 2,000 invites this year only a lucky 700 will be sent. Usually about 1,100 guests sit to enjoy the show while the other 900 stand in the background; now, instead this time around, 500 will be seated while 200 stand and watch.

The show will still be held in the same place luckily, because the 69th Regiment Armory was booked beforehand last year. As for celebrities, Jacobs's business partner Robert Duffy said, "There may be one or two.". Duffy went on to say...

"This isn't the time to spend the money to entertain the entire world…. Everybody thinks it costs the same money to entertain 500 people as opposed to 2,000"..."It doesn't. All those 2,000 people still need to be seated, they still need to check in, this one needs this, that one needs that, and you know what? It's very costly."

Well I suggest that the invited bring a big bottle of water and something to keep them selfs entertained with, considering the show started 2 hrs late, especially if your one of the lucky 200 whom get to stand all show.

DUMBO

DUMBO IS LIKE THE SoHo OF BROOKLYN. WRECKED STREETS, POSH RESTAURANTS, CHIC BOUTIQUES AND CONSTANT PHOTO SHOOTS IN THE STREETS. THE RED BOYS MOST DEFINITELY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SCENERY AND THEMSELVES SOME FUN WITH THE CAMERA.

Laced In Gold

Just in case your walking around Broome & Grand Sts. on one of your shopping trips and happen to be on a exclusive sneaker hunt then make sure u stop by UES, A.K.A Upper Echelon Shoes. It's a casual, snug, somewhat upscale, but relaxed, well hidden sneakerhead sanctuary. Their signature laced sneaks aren't the best bet for somebody thats planning on roaming dark alley ways late at night but most def are encouraged for the exclusive ish fanatic. Everyone from P. Diddy to Slick Rick rocks 'em. So why shouldn't you and I own a pair?

The 10 Finalists

Only a handful of America's designers on the rise get the opportunity to compete for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
The prize? You ask....Well Money to start their line and renown industry mentors.

The 10 Finalists are:

Irene Neuwirth

Jason Wu

John Patrick

Richard Chai

Albertus Swanepoel

Alexander Wang

Juan Carlos Obando

Vena Cava

Alejandro Ingelmo

Obedient Sons & Daughters

Weekend In The City

This weekend was a pretty eventful one.

Friday was full of joy and excitement shared amongst my friends at my "brother's" posh Harlem Apt.. Saturday morning and afternoon was spent sleeping and playing with Dennis's guitar and recording miscellaneous videos of us buggin out. At night we all went out to eat with Carl to Sammy's a Chinese restaurant in the village and right after me and Dennis headed to the movies on 42nd St. to watch Saw5 with some of our high school friends. Sunday started off pretty boring with me being at home and sleeping for more that 14 hours collectively...depressing I know! At like 9 pm me and my best friend headed to the cafeteria one of our favorite restaurants due to them having the best Mac N'Cheese we've ever tasted. While there we stumbled across Jayms Madison had a quick photo shoot with her and then headed on home to sleep another 12 hours.

Wonderful weekend no?

AMAZING!!

I HAVEN'T POSTED SOMETHING IN COMPLETELY BOLD LETTERS IN A WHILE BUT THIS CALLS FOR JUST THAT.

THE HOUSE OF CHANEL (NOT THE GAY ONE) HAS JUST OPENED THEIR MOBILE ART PAVILION IN CENTRAL PARK. I'M AS EXCITED AS A FAT BOY ON THANKSGIVING! THIS MAGNIFICENT WORK OF ART, WHICH WAS BUILT BY WORLD RENOWN ARCHITECT ZAHA HADID, WILL BE HOME TO 20 ARTISTIC TRIBUTES TO THE CLASSIC 2.55 QUILTED INTERLOCKING CHAIN-STRAPPED CHANEL BAG, AMONGST OTHER THINGS. I'M SURE THIS PROJECT COST THE LEGENDARY FASHION LABEL A PRETTY PENNY, BEGINNING WITH SOME "LOW SEVEN FIGURES" PAID TO THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY PLUS THE CITY'S "USE FEE" OF $400,000 COINS; I DON'T EVEN WANT TO IMAGINE WHAT ELSE THEY HAD TO COUGH UP CHANEL COINS FOR.

TICKETS ARE FREE (THANK GOODNESS), BUT IS IT WORTH A VISIT? I DON'T KNOW! HAVEN'T BEEN THERE MYSELF YET, BUT NONETHELESS I'M SURE CHANEL KEPT UP WITH THEIR NAME.

*image thanx to NyMag

Beckham Report

Yesterday the Beckhams hit NY's Macy's for their His&Hers fragrance line release event with 2,000 screeching fans waiting for them under the drip-dropping rain. David Beckham looked dapper as usual with a vintage looking Tom Ford gray and brown pin stripe suit. Victoria being the fashion icon that she is stole the fashion lime light of course by hitting the event hard with a mini Giambattista Valli dress and the official show stopping Antonio Berardi thigh-high latex heel-less boots.

I previously posted some heels from this risk taking designer *click here for the post*.

This Whole Heel-Less revolution started with Marc Jacobs in his S/S '08 when he had his models strut in backwards heels. The rest, as they say, is history. Well ladies you'll have to learn how to walk all over again!

S'Mac is Life

If your a Mac N'Cheese lover as much as I am then you would appreciate this small exciting eatery located in the heart of Manhattan's East Village (345 East 12Th Street, between 1st and 2nd avenues to be exact). They have a small menu considering all they sell is Mac N'Cheese but that menu is so packed with flavor its not even funny. Owners Sarita & Caesar Ekya came up with the concept while hanging out at another comfort food restaurant. Ironic no? Check it out yourself at their website. I usually always get the Buffalo Chicken in the Major Munch size, its spicy as hell but I live.