That’s right. It’s official, MESH. is now Karmaloop representatives which means you, our beloved viewers, get a few perks. The main one being that while shopping online using the MESHLIFE promotional code you’ll receive some lovely discounts on the wide range of clothing available on Karmaloop’s site. Never been to Karmaloop? Well, shame on you. Karmaloop offers a variety of clothing ranging from urbanwear to punkwear to almost anything. The great thing about the site is that it has both men and women’s clothing, always has sales, and now that we’ve got you the hook up–you get 20% off your first purchase and 10% off each one after that.

So now you can get hot items like these for the low.

What are you waiting for?

Click here to get your Karmaloop addiction on…

And don’t forget the promotion code: MESHLIFE

You’re welcome.

Cj..

MESH.

Today marks a sad day in the fashion world as famed and beloved designer Alexander McQueen was found dead this morning in London. Known for his modern and innovative designs, McQueen was a praised designer who understood what was new and next in fashion. Bold, experimental and daring, McQueen was a budding legend in the fashion world and him as well as his works will be cherish and missed.

[Source]

Cj..

Topshop has quickly become one of my favorite fashion outlets for the ladies. The British-based brand brings a legitimate dash of European style from over the pond that is cutting edge, trendy, and most important: affordable!

Here we have some offerings from the Spring/Summer 2010 TopShop line. Seperated into 4 categories: Parisienne, Meadow, Saloon, and Downtown, TopShop brings a ton of new, fun looks for  the new year. [didn't like the Downtown collection so I omitted it from this post.]

Parisienne

Channeling classic french glamour equipped with all the staples: polka dots, stripes, pearls, etc. The Parisienne line is fun and flyy.

Saloon

Complete with ruffles, lace, frills, and old [looking] leather and canvas, the American Cowboy is channeled with this collection.

Meadow

Merry o England at it’s finest. The Meadow collection instantly brings to mind images of Thrushcross Grange, Heathcliffe, and Helena Bonham Carter–waifish, brooding England at it’s best [no shade]. Employing what I believe is going to be a big spring 2010 trend [dark colored lipstick] waistcoasts, and intricate emroidery–this collection is a winner.

I’m not a conversion expert, but I think you can shop all these looks for under $150 USD. Not bad at all!

Shop These Collections HERE

or

Visit Topshop in Soho, NYC

478 Broadway

New York, NY 10013

AR!

PS: The male counterpart to Topshop is Topman. Located in the same store in Soho, Topman offers the same great array of fashions as Topshop–but for the fellas. Post coming soon. But until then, shop Topman online HERE

Fashion house Chloé (made famous in the 70′s by its famous former designer Karl Lagerfeld) is now known for one thing, its bags. The Paddington Bag is the house’s famous staple and a bag most girls aspire to own. Over the past couple of decades, the fashion empire has only catered to women. Well, shit happens and things change.  Introducing the Mr. Paddington Bag line, the first exploration of men’s bags by Chloé.

If they are anything like their female counterparts, they will cost a pretty penny. It’s good to know fashion is continually opening up more and more to the male audience. Guys can be fly too!

Cj..

Red Bottoms, as Christian Louboutin‘s famous high end footwear has been affectionately labeled, have become the most luxurious and sought after women’s footwear. In the hierarchy of heels, they basically reign supreme. Here is a preview of Louboutin’s Spring 2010 line. All I can say is #colorful.

hmm.

There is also a Christian Louboutin Barbie being released.

What will they think of next?

Cj..

This collection is anchored in history, and what you’re seeing is a roll-call of Burberry outerwear…”

-Christopher Bailey, Creative Director of Burberry

Let the roll call begin. The military inspired pre-fall 2010 collection of Burberry Prorsum has the fashion giant Burberry doing it once again-setting remarkably refreshing trends with classically traditional staples and elegant tailoring, design, and color. It’s hard for Burberry to do wrong and this collection is no exception.

Check out Burberry’s fun pictorial site ArtOfTheTrench.com

Cj..

Disclaimer: I want this to be perfectly clear. I am not the blog’s resident “Kanye hater.” In fact, I’m probably the one on the blog who bangs with him the most (he is one of my favorite artists).

Now that that is out of the way. I have another negative post about Mr. West (go figure).

It seems that Mr. West’s long anticipated clothing line, Pastelle, will never be released. I find it interesting that first his tour is cancelled then his clothing line he has been designing for year suddenly is no more. I was really anticipating seeing what Kanye would design and thought after his full dive into the high fashion world this year, he would deliver a couple good pieces (aside from that jacket he is wearing above). [Source]

Was anyone checking for Pastelle anyways?

Cj

Some photos from Spring 2010 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

[Backstage]

[Some celebs seen at the various fashion shows]

[Looks from the African Fashion Collective show]

Cj

For those who say screw classes, live fashion, here’s your Fall schedule.

If only I attended Bryant Park University this semester.

Cj

Howard University (the #2 Fashion school in America) has some competition. It’s one thing to have fashion forward students who turn heads wherever they go and for your institution to have it’s own legit, respected, fashion line. Harvard University has signed a ten year licensing deal to create the new fashion line, Harvard Yard. A lot of folks are skeptical because it’s been said that fashion and Harvard just don’t go together, but judging from the pics, it might be a big success.

[Source]

Come on HU, where’s our clothing line?

Cj

Kanye West has certainly been making the rounds within the fashion industry–leaving his mark in the house of brands such as Louis Vuitton and the Gap, his frequent front row visits to fashion shows by Mariegla and Hussein Chalayan, and effortless trendsetting day-to-day style. Recently, he has entered the realm of styling and assisted in the October issue of ELLE Magazine alongside it’s creative director Joe Zee. The girl he styled for the shoot remains nameless at this time, yet his work has not gone unnoticed. Kanye is one of two rappers to be completely embraced by the high fashion industry, alongside Pharrell.

I enjoy people who know how to bring their vision across and Kanye is very specific with what he likes and doesn’t like – Joe Zee (Creative Director, ELLE Magazine)

How do you feel about this? Should he just stick to the music?

- Aisha

P.S. make sure you vote for MESH. in the Black Weblog Awards 2009 [here] (questions #8 & #16)

First black supermodel? Oh that’s easy, Beverly Johnson–afterall, she was the first to cover VOGUE. Or perhaps Donyale Luna, the first black woman to be named VOGUE‘s model of the year in ’66..

More like, Naomi Sims–who actually paved the way for these women to advance their careers.

In the 60′s Naomi was determined to get her name, and most importantly–face, out there. With constant rejection from agencies in such a rigid industry, she decided to go straight to the photographers. Gosta Peterson was the one daring enough to do her first shoot, which landed on the cover of The New York Times Magazine‘s Fashions of the Times in 1967. Though this was after Donyale Luna’s award by VOGUE, Sims earns the title because she was considered to truly break down barriers.

At first, agencies felt she was too dark and still refused to hire her. It wasn’t until her televised debut that Naomi finally landed her big break. In an AT&T commercial, which featured two other models, she was able to be seen on the television screens of many. Naomi quickly became a hot commodity within the fashion industry and was modeling for top designers such as Halston, Teal Traina, Fernando Sánchez and Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.

Unfortunately, she died this past weekend of cancer at the age of 61. Though her stay in the modeling industry was short lived–she decided to pursue another career path after just 5 years, Naomi’s legacy lives on through the Black supermodels who came after her.

It’s ‘in’ to use me, and maybe some people do it when they don’t really like me. But even if they are prejudiced, they have to be tactful if they want a good picture. – Naomi Sims

- Aisha

Ask yourself, Are you sure this world is for you? And are you sure you are the right person to survive in this world — the world of fashion, a world with no rules, no laws? – Karl Lagerfeld

On October 5th VOGUE staffers will release the official how-to guide on breaking into the fashion industry. Quipped with advice from the likes of Marc Jacobs, Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld and other fashion icons, the book lays out the necessary elements from the insiders on how to snag a career in fashion.

Do your homework, go online, visit every museum, and intern. You just need to have a love for what you’re doing. It’s not about thinking that it’s the cool thing; it’s about really believing in it. – Anna Wintour

Interested? Pre-Order your copy [here]

- Aisha

I love the Sartorialist. It’s a minimal site that shows amazing fashion produced by ordinary people. On August 12 Scott Schuman will release in the US his long awaited book that features the same simple style and elegance of his famed site. I think it’s cool that there will be a book (although you only have to log onto the site to get the same thing). Wonder how the sales of this one will do. Check out the site [here].

Cj

Above is a video of the fall preview for Beyonce and Tina Knowles‘ House of Dereon and Dereon collections. I really like the dresses she has in the House of Dereon collection. Dereon, on the other hand, reminds me too much of that Babyphat type stuff that was popular back in the day. Then again, it is the juniors collection. I’m tryin to see more of this Sasha Fierce clothing line that Beyonce is cooking up. What do you all think ?

- Aisha

Above is a snapshot of the newest addition to the Givenchy family, Leonor Scherrer, backstage at the Givenchy Haute Couture show. Leonor is the daughter of retired couturier Jean-Louis Scherrer. By the looks of this picture she seems pretty fly, i’m loving the shoes.

I’m completely in love with her. For me, she represents France in all senses: the elegance, the aristocracy, the darkness of France - Riccardo Tisci

Aisha

Just moments ago Teyana Taylor announced via her Twitter account that she’d be collaborating with Kanye West on his upcoming women’s clothing line for his Pastelle brand.

Who else do you think will be part of the line’s making ? Amber? Rihanna?

* Teyana also said that she recently graduated with Honors, congrats girl !

Aisha

..the concept behind Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2009 Ad Campaign featuring Madonna.

I like the kind of Playboy, French coquette aspect to it – Marc Jacobs

Aisha

It’s no secret that people are obsessive about how their asses look in jeans. It’s a routine movement that once you pull them up you automatically turn around to see how they look from the back. The people at the Madrid Diesel Store have come up with a high-tech mirror that can give you clear view of your rear. This new 360 degree mirror gives you the exact shot of how your jeans look in the back. I wonder when this’ll catch on in the U.S.

Aisha

I swear I haven’t been scowering YouTube for posts, they just all happened to be videos!

We posted the silent trailer a few weeks ago, but here’s the English version for Coco Avant Chanel, the biopic about Coco Chanel.

Aisha