By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

An article was forwarded to me in which there was a celebrity allegation that Kanye West was " dressing gay". I was astounded, so fans I really felt that I should comment on this.

 

In London, Rapper Kanye West has lashed out at people claiming that he dresses like a 'gay', insisting that it is just his creative mind that is responsible for his bizarre outfits. Lashed out? I'm sure it was more of his getting the media's attention. Also he is correct, not all male designers are gay. But probably most. (smile) The 'Good Life' hitmaker, who will soon be launching his own jeans label, claims that he is immensely creative, and that is the reason why his dressing statement is likened to gay men. I agree with Kanye. Not every black male wants dress like Puff Daddy or L. L. Cool J. Kanye's designs will also change what is considered dressing straight and dressing gay. And at the same time it might be that much needed connection through fashion that will unite society.

"I really think it's because society tries to dictate the way a guy is supposed to dress and the way a guy is supposed to act, and I refuse to conform," The Sun quoted him as saying during an interview for American magazine Complex.

Amen to Kanye. "A lot of these dudes would never be accused of being gay just because they all look exactly alike. If people could just realize the amount of madness and followers that lack creativity… I think people's mentality is like, 'Only gay people are that creative," he added.

There's a lot of truth in regard what society has pigeon-holed what's considered gay. Many of us claim to know who's gay, sometimes by profession.

But the truth being, we don't have a pattern gay related professions, if you are comfortable with your sexuality, it shouldn't matter your preference sexually. Kanye stressed that people should have a little broader outlook towards fashion, as each man his own style of dressing.

Mr. West could start a fashion revolution where straight men and women will learn to express the gentler and stronger self through fashion. A time when men can dress like Prince and feel comfortable. Yes, I said it! It's great for Prince, but for the neighbor construction worker, it ain't gonna happen.

Or dress like K.D. Lang and not automatically have people think that you've lesbian. Perhaps this will be the start of a Grace Jones lyric, "Feeling like a woman, looking like a man" from her song, "Walking In the Rain". "And it's true there are a lot of gay people who are incredible creative minds, but there are straight people who are incredible creative minds - and there's gay people who can't dress or create at all, too. Closed-minded gay people probably say they dress 'straight," he said. I totally agree and funny too, Mr. West. You read it here at GBMNews.com

By Fashion Correspondent, Rudy Reed

It is no secret that trends come…then go, only to be reborn again. On many occasions we have seen designers be motivated by various periods of time… Although the years are gone, that most certainly doesn't mean that the looks are forgotten, and if you live long enough, you will see them time and time again.


 

For those of you who couldn't part with your huge rope chains, Gazelle glasses and cotton twill tuxedo pants, now is the time to dig in the back of those closets and bring them back out. If you need to refresh some of your key 80's pieces don't worry… The twin dynamic duo Dean and Dan Caten of D-Squared already took care of it for you. Sure, for most it shouldn't come as a complete surprise that this will be a big trend for Spring being that the "kids" have already began rocking the Run DMC-with-twist type garb.

D-squared however has decided to take a more polished approach to the look by adding tailored fitted blazers and vest with contrasting lapels to their collection. The collection is also sprinkled with trucker hats, bow ties, and argyle.

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By Rudy Reed, Fashion Correspondent

As a child I can recall a conversation I overheard my mother having with a dear friend of hers. "You can tell a lot about a man by looking at his shoes," she boasted. I never knew what she meant until she almost knocked my head off one day after seeing me bump the back of my church shoes on a wall I sat on. "I didn't spend all that money on those things for you to scuff them up!!! Now get down!!!" she yelled. 

 

Once I arrived home, I took off my black leather loafers to see all the scratches I created. She suddenly appeared in my room with newspaper, and shoe polish and had me to fix the damage I had done. "The way you treat your shoes tells a lot about you, and no child of mine is going to be ripping and running in dress shoes, now clean them up, and don't get any polish on the rug." Hell, I was just happy I didn't get the beat down.
We didn't have Dfax back then (lol). From that point, I realized just how important shoes were and what they meant to various types of people.
		Zuriick's  Jack Jack Aqua high Top
Almost instantly I became obsessed with them... Looking down to see all the different types and styles people were wearing, then trying to figure out what line of work they were in. And let's no forget the most important…to see if they actually matched. I quickly grew out of it because I was bumping into too many people. I did however pick up another hobby…Shopping for them. Whether it's basics, something with a little zip, or just down right flashy Zuriick is a Utah based American brand that offers just about all. These affordable kicks come in an array of colors, both high and low tops and are extremely comfortable. The Jack Jack is one of the newest designs and is priced around $79. Average shoe sizes are 8-13.
For those of you who like to own shoes that you may not see on many others, lines such as Premiata or Fessura may be ones you would like to consider.
		Fessura

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By Rudy Reed, Fashion Correspondent

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that most magazines rarely feature minorities in fashion editorials. I find it somewhat amazing that the likes of Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Alek Wek, and the ever so gorgeous Liya Kebede has been blessed which such staying power. And let us not forget the fellas… Aside from Tyson Beckford, how many of you can seriously name any other black male super models? 

We have heard stories about this time and time again, and yet nothing has really been done about it. True, Sean Combs featured all men of color in his fall/winter collection, and though I was very proud to see this, I was slightly disappointed as well. What is the message that he, or his caucasian counterparts sending to the masses? Sure, I am well aware that some fashion shows have particular themes, but come on!!!! Is this ever going to end? Will designers ever widen their variety of casting calls when they book models for shows? As I sit and have a glass of wine, I begin to flip through on of my favorite magazines, Flaunt (issue97). I gasp as I see a dark chocolate brother wearing an edgy outfit with the bold word PRADA across his mid-section. I recognized the face as new and upcoming model Courtney Taylor. On the next page was the cocky posed Shawn Sutton, who had his crew dressed just as sharply behind him on what appeared to be the stoop of a Harlem brownstone. I held the page and flipped to see how many more delightful images were to come, and to my surprise, there were a number of them. A chess cat grin spread across my face as I heard the words of our new president, "It's time for a change."

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Sexy Trend or Train Wreck?

By Rudy Reed, Fashion Correspondent

I have always been one to admire a person who has the courage to display their individuality, especially when it comes to their attire. Sometimes it allows us to get to know a little about the person without having to say a word. But what happens when a trend or person's free choice of expression is compromised?

Though the origins of this trend- that many now see as a lifestyle can't fully be determined, Saggin is a look that is raising many eyebrows(some good/some bad) in some areas, while causing uproars in others. One of the first environments that this look was to appear was in our prison systems.

 

Gay men wore their pants low as a code to let other inmates know that they were "down." A source who chose not to be named responded by saying, " I am a slim dude, and when I went to jail they took my belt and my laces cause they didn't want nobody hanging themselves or using them as weapons and sometimes those pants they give us were just too big.
There is a different way that the gay dudes wore theirs though." When asked to clarify, the former inmate said, "the gay dudes have there whole ass out on purpose. Yeah they have on drawls but the pants are right below their cheeks. The straight bros' pants just look baggy. Nobody in jail want to walk around with they ass all out unless they want something else back there," he concluded smiling. As the conversation progressed, I couldn't help but notice that this gentleman before me was still slim and yet he appeared to be wearing pants that were twice his size. This led me to ask him why he continued wearing pants that would be considered sagged even after his release.

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By Rudy Reed, Fashion Correspondent

Not to put all of my business in the street, but yes it is true, I have been known to have a smidget of an underwear fetish. How can I
not? Although I don't walk around showing mine off, I consider them to be a great accessory.

While on the subject of speaking of the truth, I must go on the record by saying "YES, YES, YES!!!" Rapper Nelly is the new spokesmodel for Sean John underwear. Although this isn't new news, it isn't all that old either. The deal was confirmed on July 28th of this year, and what an interesting birthday treat it was for me I must say.

I had the chance to see some of the pictures of Nelly taken by photographer Randee St Nicholas and loved what I saw. No, I am not a fan of sagging jeans, but in this instance this "trend" made sense. I believe the pictures were very tastful, and the rapper looked great. Whether the pictures were enhanced, I dont know, but I am sure that some cleaning up was done before they actually went to press. When asked why Nelly was chosen to be the new face for the line, Mr. Combs responded by saying," to me Nelly is the quintessential definition of the Sean John man. He has the physique and the attitude."

 

By Rudy Reed

For as long as I can remember, I have been called fashion forward, edgy, or stylish. Even today as I dressed for work I made myself laugh at the garments I proceeded to coordinate. Wearing a navy and white pinstripe shirt and blazer with a pair of vintage plum colored slacks and a tie composed of slate, burgandy and taupe( pinstripe of course), may seem like a bit much to be worn together, but strangely enough the look worked. The look was very dorky, especially after putting on my glasses. Nothing like having a slim body and a confident attitude. LOL.

 

The outfit caused me to think about certain aspects of fashion, its evolution, and bad stigmas past looks may have today. During the 70's and 80's and even decades before men wore fitted clothes. Very fitted clothes...Ones sexuality was never a queston. So why is it now? Why is it that when some people see men in tight jeans/slacks they automatically assume that he is gay?

Jimmy Hendrix When did this all happen? Sure, I hear some guys wearing baggier clothes saying "I need to breathe,"and I can understand that, but what makes a fitted trouser turn into something more than a fitted trouser? Its silly... Were Jimi Hendix, Sammy Davis Jr., Malcolm X, The Beatles, all closet cases? They all wore fitted pants. It steams me because these same men who have problems with a more tailored fit, are walking around with pants so big, they are falling off them exposing their butts, and showing them intentionally mind you. Now which look is more "gay?"

Are all men who wear baggy clothes thugs? Of course not. Let's get real about all of this.... Naturally, most men have bulges, and what do bulges do? They stick out, sometimes causing our focal points to be drawn to them. This of course leaves the homophobic men to call even the slightest of fitted pants gay. Why...Cause they snuck a peek at the goodies and are now embarassed, or dare I say slightly turned on? Just my thoughts...

 

A law that landed a Florida teenager in jail for having sagging jeans that exposed his underwear is unconstitutional, a judge has decided.

The 17-year-old spent a night in jail after police arrested him for exposing 4in (10cm) of boxer shorts in Riviera Beach, south-east Florida.

Town voters backed the law in March after supporters raised a petition.

However, a circuit judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional based on "the limited facts" of the case.

Carol Bickerstaff, defending teenager Julius Hart, had urged Judge Paul Moyle to throw out the law, saying: "Your honour, we now have the fashion police."

Before making his ruling, Judge Moyle said: "We're not talking about exposure of buttocks. No. We're talking about someone who has on pants whose underwear are apparently visible to a police officer who then makes an arrest, and the basis is he's then held overnight."

Gaining popularity

Moves to ban baggy or saggy jeans are gaining popularity in several parts of the US.

Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia are among the larger US cities considering similar measures.

However, civil liberties groups say such laws will unfairly target young African-Americans.

The fashion is believed to have originated in prisons, where inmates are given baggy uniform trousers and have their belts removed to prevent hangings and beatings.

The trend made it to gangster rap videos in the 1980s and then spread to skateboarders and high-school hallways.

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By Fashion Correpsondent, Rudy Reed

If you are anything like me, you are asking yourself, "Is it really September already?" That's right fall is walking up our stairs and and about to knock on our front doors. You can almost expect the season to deliver a certain chill depending on what city you may live, but not to worry. 

Fall 2008 focuses on brighter colors that will keep the warmth in all of us... Rich berry colored shirts and jeweled toned printed ties will be spotted almost everywhere you go. One of the best ways for any of us to add a little personality and our own individual stamp to our look is layering. It can be as simple as wearing a V- neck sweater with a contrasting tee underneath, but if you want to appear more in the know, I suggest investing in a few vests. They are available in pinstripes, boldpatchwork, and a multitude of other prints(let's not forget how well they work back with a pair of jeans).
Not expecting you to walk around only half dressed, be on the look out for light weight wool trousers varying in shades from light, to heather, to dark charcoal grays. A great many of these trousers from lines such as Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, and Paul Smith will have more of a slimmer fit and tapered leg, more "Brit Pop" as my tailor likes to call it. Naturally not all men will feel comfortable wearing attire cut so close to the body, and by no means should they... With any article of clothing, you show buy clothing that best compliments your umm assets. Ralph Lauren, Armani, Sean John, and even Y-3 are just a few lines that gentleman will be able to find pants with more of a relaxed fit.
Naturally, outerwear will be something reappearing for the crisp season. While Diesel and G-Star will be adding hints of toughness and edge by incorporating soft leathers into their lines, soft plaids and checks made of the most amazing tweeds will be spotted in collections from Yves Saint Laurent and Loro Piana. For those who are a little more practical and choose not to spend as much money on the revamping of their wardrobes, Theory created an inexpensive trench coat that is both chic and classic. The structuring will allow you to have this particular silhouette in your closet for years- never having to worry that it will ever go out of style.

By Rudy Reed, Fashion Correspondent

Why is it that we dress as though we live in the 80's when it is 2008? Why do we wearsneakers with suits? Why do we wear t-shirts and blazers? Trends, Trends, Trends... that's all they are. Some lasting very short periods of time, while others last way longer than they should.

 

Probably one of the longest running trends that we see with men today is the earring; and although it is pretty much something that we accept nowadays, it was something that caused many brows to be raised in the beginning.

From Michael Jordon, to Shaq, and now Kevin Garnett, we see all three of these men adorning their precious jewels, but how often do we question their sexuality?

Just when things are trying to settle back into the “norm” another shocker begins to emerge...What ever you want to call them...Murses, Totes, errr Clutches... Man Bags are here for the moment, and from the looks of it, they may be here for a prolonged stay.
	Terrence Howard at last year's Oscars with an alligator clutch any girl would envy.

The Man Bag is something that we should probably welcome into our wardrobes depending on our lifestyles. Sure carrying a gym bag or backpack is perfectly acceptable if you are traveling to and from the gym or are in the process of carrying necessities involving other physical activities, but if you are in business attire, or dresser sportswear ( Etro, Dolce and Gabanna, Paul Smith), a flimsy gym bag will most definitely be a faux pas.

Proving that boys can have fun with designer handbags too, Usher  showed off his fabulous Louis Vuitton carry-all.

Kanye West was one of the first to adopt this risky trend, and has since been collaborating with Louis Vutton on his own line. Pharrell Williams, Omarion, and even Bow Wow have decided to join the race, incorporating some the worlds top designers lavish totes with their daily attire. I know what you are thinking, and trust me, the names of the clan just named and their sexualities is a completely different topic. Concentrate on the bags guys...THE BAGS!!! No matter what we may think about these individuals, we could and probably should give them more props than we want to for being man enough to carry them.

No, they may not be those most masculine articles for a man to possess, and some of us may own a few that may even make our mothers jealous, but hey...there are worse things we could be holding. My suggestion is to either get on the bandwagon, or get over it. ITS A BAG!!! At least explore the variations and sizes that are being made before trying to bash someone's fashion sense simply because you don't comprehend the look. Chances are that some of these chic stylish

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Beautiful model "Sugar Ray" Naomi Campbell, according to The Gay Community newspaper, "Pink Paper" claims that she will work for five weeks, at "Food Chain", a London based charity as part of her 200 hour sentence of community service as punishment for fighting and "cussing" out the captain of British Airways. This could not be confirmed.

It's no surprise that Ms. Campbell has temper issues, however, she also has a strong gay following, probably because of her beauty and the drama that she causes.

She's known for throwing cell phones and assaulting her personal assistants. But Ms. Campbell isn't a fool, she picks her fights wisely as she hasn't had a fight with one of our Afro British or Afro American sisters. Now that would be a fight hotter than the 4th of July.

"Food Chain", this HIV/AIDS charity, I'm sure will benefit from the press, as I'm sure the media will be there to police whatever assistance that Ms. Campbell can provide.

You read it here at GBMNews.com

 By Kirk Shannon-Butts, Fashion Editor

In a monumental fashion move, the July issue of Italian Vogue features only Black models with all the features related to Black women in the arts and entertainment. Considering the displays of tokenism on the runways last season, model Jourdan Dunn at Prada, and in only one look — an entire issue devoted to Black models could be seen as controversy rather than ground-breaking.


 

The July issue of Italian Vogue is the result of the creative forces of legendary photographer Steven Meisel and Franca Sozzani, Editor in Chief, Italian Vogue. In an interview legendary photographer Steven Meisel said, "I thought, it's ridiculous, this discrimination. It's so crazy to live in such a narrow, narrow place. Age, weight, sexuality, race -- every kind of prejudice."

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LEBRON JAMES YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER!

By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

Photographer Annie Leibovitz had NBA star, LeBron James, pose as King Kong and super model, Gisele pose as the white blond girl.

 

I'm surprised that Ms. Oprah and all of the Black American celebrities are not upset by this. And as for Mr. James, stupid is as stupid does. For too long it appears that our successful athletes, mostly the men, forget about our women of color and go after the white women. What does that say to our beautiful black and brown women? Just think about it. The ones that are or have been married to our black women, will get a divorce and the next time you see or hear from them, it's a white women that he's holding on to.

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By Kirk Shannon-Butts, Fashion Editor

Jamaican "it boy" model Oraine Barrett lands on the cover of the big "Hot List" June/July 2008 double issue of Out Magazine. Feast your eyes on the super gorgeous cover of one of Out¹s biggest issues to date.

This year's "Hot List" features designer Jean Paul Gaultier; Cry-Baby's hot, young, hip-shakin' thespian James Snyder; reunited synth maestros Yaz; a sit-down with Sex and the City creator Michael Patrick King and actress Sarah Jessica Parker; Mamma Mia! star Dominic Cooper; and Black lesbian hip-hop duo KIN. But who is the hottest of them all Oraine!

 

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Yves Saint Laurent, considered by many as the greatest fashion designer of the 20th Century, has died in Paris at the age of 71.

Saint Laurent changed the face of the fashion industry when he became chief designer of the House of Dior at 21.

He designed clothes that reflected women's changing role in society: more confident personally, sexually and in the work-place.

He retired from haute couture in 2002 and had been ill for some time.

Saint Laurent died on Sunday evening in the French capital, the Pierre-Berge-Saint Laurent Foundation announced.

Pierre Berge, a long-time friend and associate of the designer, said he had died at his home after along illness. He did not give details.

Kanye west arrives at the Yves Saint Laurent Fall Winter 2008/2009 fashion show on February 28, 2008 in Paris, France.   Photo by Julien M. Hekimian

'I draw on woman'

"I found my style through women," Saint Laurent once said.

"That's where its strength and vitality comes from because I draw on the body of a woman."

He changed forever what women wear, introducing trouser suits, safari jackets and sweaters, BBC arts correspondent Razia Iqbal notes.

Saint Laurent was a great innovator, helping to revitalise haute couture while making ready-to-wear design popular.

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By Kirk Shannon-Butts
Style & Fashion Editor
Images courtesy of Men.Style.com

The temperature is rising and the showers are about to drop but don't fret as Spring/Summer trends are here to brighten your spirits.

Summer Suit

Air it out. Try a light blue, slate, tan or patterned white suit.

 

Bottega Veneta   Jil Sander

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By Kirk Shannon-Butts, Fashion Correspondent

As the audience tickled in for the Duckie Brown Fall 2008 Collection from designers Steven Cox and Daniel Silver one could barely sit still due to the blasting music. Once editors, stylists, celebrities, buyers and future fashion designers took to their seats and the first model emerged the music was abruptly turned off. This is when the show was turned on taking the audience back to the an haute couture age when models walked in silence and clients focused on the clothes.

Each season Duckie Brown continues to evolve the label into one of the most exciting contemporary menswear lines. The collection was uniformly dark and the fabrics were luxurious. The collection's quiet classicism - pinstripe, herringbone, shearling, Prince of Wales and windowpane checks was nearly transparent due to the duo's design and color palette. Classic menswear themes were reworked into a modern masculine silhouette with just a hint of military influence. Cox and Silver's signature short-over-long proportion appeared time and again in a newly restrained version as a nylon parka over a suit. Evening looks were the essence of masculine chic. They included a lace sweater and sweatshirt in a Prince of Wales check made up of Duckie Brown's signature extravagant beading. The union of formal and casual definitely contemporizes and offers new boundaries for the modern men's outfit whether office or lounge. Sending out just 21 well tuned outfits and a wonderful mix of models Cox and Silver allowed the audience to truly enjoy the lux of silence

.

For Sean John's return to New York Fashion Week to celebrate its 10th anniversary after a five-year absence, Sean Combs wanted to tell the story of a young king who matures into a great ruler. To this end, the chandeliers were raised, a star-studded high profile front row was seated and most importantly the princes' began their reigns on the runway.

Designer and mogul Sean John also cast all male models with a visible African heritage.

The collection Combs sent out was modern and full of reference whether sartorial or street he cleaned his lines, pulled the clothes close to the body and made a modern fashion forward collection.

Sean John is a privately held company created by music icon and producer Sean Combs. Sean John made its fashion debut in 1999.

In 2004, Sean Combs received the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Men's Wear Designer of the Year.

Happy Birthday Sean John and many more!

Colony South Conference Center (April 6, 2008) Demour Inc proudly presents its 3rd Annual Fashion Clash Fashion Show: The Fiercest Show Ever!

Hosted by Ra-Ra

With show performances by Ellis Uniques, Rayshun LaMarr, Champion Era, Afficial & Flex Mathews to guest appearances by the fashion & music industry's leading moguls, you can not slow down the inevitable fashion
heart attack.

Fashion Clash will acknowledge the Hungry for Music charity based in Washington, D.C. by donating a portion of the night's proceeds.

The showcase includes designs by Diallo, Alek Risimnic Couture, Earle Bannister and Christian Anthony's designer J.W. Moore with the UCME Edition line. This line comes from the creative minds of St. Lunatic's very own
Kyjaun and Murphy Lee.

Advance Tickets are on sale NOW @ www.demourinc.com or can be purchased in person March 22, 23rd, and 30th at IMEG Studios located at 15873 Commerce Court , Upper Marlboro, MD 2077 from 2pm to 4pm on each day. Ticket price is $20.00 general and $40.00 for VIP seating

For more information on Fashion Clash, its sponsors or the capabilities of Demour Inc, visit www.demourinc.com. For more information about Hungry for Music please visit www.hungryformusic.com. Feel free to email
us at fashion@demourinc.com or 1-800-900-7501 for more details.

Bruce Darnell (born July 19, 1957) is an American model and choreographer based in Germany.

 

Darnell was born in New York City and grew up in Colorado. After studying sociology, he enlisted in the US Army and served six years as a paratrooper. In 1983 he began his career as a model in Germany. During the following years he modeled for Kenzo, Issey Miyake, Hermès and Calvin Klein in Paris, Milan, Tokyo and New York. Darnell has also worked since 1990 as a choreographer and coached models for the catwalk.

He attained public fame in Germany when he took part in 2006 in the ProSieben show Germany's Next Topmodel as a juror. In connection with advertisement for this show he became famous for his typically American accent and his effeminacy.

He has appeared in television advertisements for C&A and O2. He will host his own fashion-themed television show, called Bruce, on ARD starting 12 February 2008.

Source: Wikipedia

Darnell puts models through paces