Art Factor: Supermodel JOAN SMALLS For POP Magazine

I'm loving this simple expression but vibrant-color enhancement of supermodel Joan Smalls for POP Magazine. whoever put this together did a great job; loving the use of coppers and blues around the eyes, mouth, and Joan's perfect cheekbones. It kinda gives me an idea of where I want to go as far as my next photo shoot, which will be for my new necktie line, Vintage Ties by JAIDEN Detroit.

Pic: Fashion Bomb Daily 

BODY ART: The Story Behind NY Giants' Devin Thomas's Tattoos

It's always so cool and interesting to see a story behind a tattoo or tattoos. In New York Giants' Devin Thomas's case, his BODY ART is a book! See below to see what they mean, in Devin's words:

The tats include a spartan, a Wolverine (name of the college team in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan) , a prayer that use to be located on his mom’s wall (he had it inked after she passed away) and a scene from ancient Egypt. He also had a Broken Heart and HK (Heartbreak kid) inked behind his ear after his heart was broken by a girl during his second year in the NFL, a cartoon warrior name Goku on his back (to protect him) as well as the words ‘Love, Live Life’ (to represent his key to happiness: “Love and then you’ll be able to live life”).

“Obviously, being in D.C., it was very stressful. After the season, I was ready to get to a needle.” He’s now, with the Giants team, happier than he’s ever been, he said, and so “I don’t have to express my anger so much.” The tattooing has slowed and is more subtle, but that’s not a precursor to the complete end of his inking.


-Wall Street Journal, via Necole B***hie

Pic: Necole B***hie

Are Not Beautiful Women (Especially Yours, Guys) Like Artwork? Check Singer MIGUEL's 'Adorn'

I don't usually endorse music videos with my fashion blog, but one of the exceptions is --here-- desiring a painting like desiring a beautiful woman. The feeling connects more when a guy has a beautiful woman whom he loves. Singer MIGUEL expresses that thoroughly in his music video snippet 'Adorn.'

It's nothing but the dude, admiring a painting in front of him, but you can tell subliminally, he's talking about his 'beautiful woman.' Take a look (above). I love when people are viewed as 'ART.'

Pic: Necole B***hie /  Fashion Bomb Daily /YouTube

Pics of MEAGAN GOOD, LETOYA LUCKETT, and VANESSA SIMMONS: Young Black Beauties (Who's The Best-Looking, Style-Wise?)

BOYY, BOYY, BOYY... I'm celebrating Black History Month in a big, big way, starting off with Beyonce, and leading to the next three black beauties:

Meagan Good, Letoya Luckett, and Vanessa Simmons.

Both were spotted at the same venue wearing 3 very different looks, but are EQUALLY, STYLISHLY INFLUENTIAL. Meagan is known as the tomboy who can still effortlessly handle a couture dress, like she did above. That dress is FIYAH! And on top of that, it's the guys' favorite 'GET ME' color: RED! The satin stilettos are great, too. Makeup looks...a little plastered, but otherwise great overall look.

Rating: 8.5/10.0

Letoya Luckett has the BEST all-around attire fit for several occasions, in which each fashion piece can be separated and worn to a certain event (I LOVE A GOOD MIX-AND-MATCH). She got my attention with the sexy dinner jacket, studded Louboutins, and PERFECT makeup.

Rating: 9.5/10.0

Vanessa Simmons is a great example of YOUNG ICON. She's always demure in her attire and while her dress may elicit a few negative responses, I look at the dress as ART, not too much as fashion or a trendsetter. Vanessa's look draws up an aura of rather more of a young billionaire heiress than 'party girl', which the latter is more on MEAGAN's side. The makeup is excellent as well.

Rating: 7.5/10.0

Overall, these three young women have done STYLE in Black History Month plenty of justice, ladies and gents..

Pic: MTO

Kardashian Sisters Do Artful, Tasteful, Topless Photo Shoot To Promote Brand; Is It Appropriate Or In Poor Taste?

The Kardashian sisters have really gotten some flack since the whole Kim Kardashian-Kris Humphries divorce tainted the family brand. That's most likely the 'EXTRA-EXTRA' for this topless photo shoot to promote their new denim line(s), either for DASH and/or Kardashian Kollection.

It's ARTFUL taste to use long and slender legs to create an abstract 'K', and I don't know the purpose of the whole topless thing and while I'm trying to think from a 'body art' perspective, my mind is still telling me 'PUBLICITY'...

The pic on the right is definitely cool for the masses, but the pic on the left is probably the 'sales-driver,' like it or not... that's the way TODAY'S SOCIETY works....

Pic: MTO

Art and Fashion Fusion: KEITH HARING x NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD Platform Pumps (Could Pass For Art Gallery Shoe...)

Ladies, check out these platform pumps by KEITH HARING x NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD collabo. I spotted this on WETHEURBAN and thought YES!! Art IS Fashion!

So needless to say, these platform pumps would do very well in drawing attention towards the woman wearing them, as well as gracing an ART GALLERY like the Detroit Institute of Arts or your local major art musuem.

Pic: WeTheUrban

Art Inspiration: ASHANTI 'Teaser' Pic for Album

As I would state many times, I don't blog about music, but the 'FASHION AND ART' of people in music.

Feast your eyes on Ashanti's teaser pic of her upcoming album. She's reportedly been in the studio for about 3 years perfecting her work... and perfecting her great look as well. I'm liking the braided updo, big golden hoop earrings, a bodice with a gold metallic gown that steals the whole show.

Too hot to go on....

Pic: Celebuzz

Style Warp: An Interesting Twist On the Classic Denim Shirt

The label GOODHOOD released their denim shirt in collaborations with R. Newbold. Check out the detailed dots all over. INTERESTING. PURE ART.

 I just love seeing new brands all the time; there's just an ENDLESS LABYRINTH of labels and collabos that are yet to be discovered, and I'll keep discovering for you.... and for my own good, too!

Pic: Selectism

More Pics of CHRIS BROWN's Artful Tattoo Sleeves... and My Tats, Too.

As I have posted in recent weeks about Chris Brown's tattoos, I said that they were very artful and unique in the way he expresses himself. His tattoo sleeves are like the latest Air Jordans which have designs that represent Michael Jordan's years in the NBA. I showed a few pics of his tattoo sleeves before; I'm going to show more now and explain what the designs are.

I got a couple tats that are deep in meaning, giving reverence to God in Latin. I will show you one after Chris Brown's.

FAME - Forgiving All My Enemies

A Twitpic of Chris with his chest tatted up very cleverly. Check out the wings.. My GOSH, who is the artist?? He is GOOOOOOOD!!

Check out the sleeves from late last summer. He's got stars, messages, an image of Jesus, an "angry paint can," roses, a skull on his hand, "Nintendo Mario"- looking characters, a torch, several faces, and more. They all seem to blend together so seamlessly, like one big story.

Even if Chris has these PERMANENT tattoo sleeves that most people are admittedly scared of getting (for me, I will always keep my tats where they are hidden for business purposes, and just for knowing WHAT MY NATURAL ARMS LOOK LIKE, instead of seeing it scribbled all over for the rest of my life), it's undeniable that his tattoo sleeves are a work of art compared to jailhouse sleeve tattoos like Lil' Wayne and other guys out there. No offense, but going for ART instead of "jailhouse" tats is much better. REALLY.  

Me & My Tattoos



Picture #1: "Deus Caritas Est" - GOD IS LOVE.

Picture #2 (Partially hidden): "Amor est vitae essentia" - LOVE IS THE ESSENCE OF LIFE.

I have more... but you don't need to know everything *LoL*

Four Artists/Designers As "The Golden Girls"; CLASSIC...

I know it's supposed to be "Sneaker Fetish Thursdays" but this is mad funny and caught my eyes.. I just had to pass this on. I saw this on Radcollector and basically these are a bunch of designers (I don't really know them, maybe you do) who portray themselves as "The Golden Girls." Man...

INSTANT CLASSIC.