PS/CW: Personal Style with CopyWrite - Lexi's Weekend in Cali

PS/CW: Personal Style with CopyWrite

Not all looks are meant to turn heads and break hearts. Fashion can be transitional, functional, and simply a way to feel confident in your own skin living your life, and not keeping up with the Jones's.

Our Editor-in-Chief Lexi a.k.a Dirty, recently took a weekend trip to the Bay (San Francisco & Oakland to be exact). On her quick trip, she reflected on her personal style, crossing over from travel, business, artsy pass times, and of course exploring the city. Here are some snapshots of a few of her looks, reflecting style with purpose.

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After shopping, packing and catching a flight to Cali and all while getting things CW approved, Lexi’s look shows she is ready for comfy Urban business handling; networking, running errands or meeting with people. In this photo, she’s styled her in an all-purpose outfit.

Suitcase Check List:

• Black fitted bodysuit
• Black/White Adidas kicks
• Black hoodie
• Embellished Army Fatigue jacket
• Big sunglasses

The next outfit you see Lexi wearing was inspired by her blond hair, adjusting to weather changes and busy day. Here she is on Berkeley's campus after attending an Urban Design critique.  As you see she is prepared for the summer day with the black and white pinstripe romper & cover up. This definitely brings out her hair style (sassy new blonde). Lexi is ready to handle business in style.

Suitcase Check List:

• Romper
• Lightweight coverup
• Fitted choker & chain
• Tie up flats
• Gold earrings
• Large gold bracelet.

The last look is awesome & my personal favorite!

For Lexi’s day around downtown San Francisco, shopping, seeing art exhibits and visiting design studios, she wore an oversized blouse, paired with every girl must have, black leggings. Everyone loves this lazy look but Lexi made it look professional and stylish. With her heels, matching her choker and her purse, she gave her look a consistent pop that is played up by accessories.

Suitcase Check List:

• Flowy button down dress shirt
• Black leggings
• Camel colored bootie Heels
• Camel colored choker
• Matching handbag

*As you can see black and white was the main colors pallet for this trip; this gave her lead way to adjust the outfits for the appropriate activity. Transitional looks keep you prepared for any environment.

You never know what may be on the agenda, but you always want to look good and be yourself doing it.

/Vato

Vatofied Experience Pop Up Fashion Show: Take One

Our Fashion Editor is back at it again. This time to take his Vatofied Experience to new levels. 

Displaying the fall must-haves with a touch of his personal style on his models. Vato's first Pop Up Fashion Show for his Vatofied Experience took to the streets of Mason and Water to serve up some on-the-street fashion.

Though the weather was gloomy; the support was not. Making Vato's vision become reality. 

Check out the Full Experience in the video captured by our CopyWrite shooter Mahdi Gransberry... 

& CopyWrite has heard a rumor that this is not the last one to come. Let us know what you think. 

Presented by: Paid with Roots // Sponsored by: the style hub

MKE Street Style with Ashleigh

MKE street style with Ashleigh // FB: Ash Ashleigh Early

Ashleigh is a good friend of mine. We go way back to our high school days. We always had common interest but as we got older; style became a priority. When I linked back up with Ashleigh she definitely has something to say in the way she dressed. Ashleigh and I met for our interview at a park in the Eastside area. As she arrive; she comes walking gracefully through the bushes with this long light denim color trench flowing like a sweet sweet aroma. 

Leaves were everywhere and the sheek look she had complimented very well. Under the trench she wore a wool grey cardigan and a long sheek floral dress with a beautiful maroon fedora. The colors was setting for the season. 

Ashleigh's is all about thrifting at the inexpensive and expensive thrift stores, we both caught each other one time shopping in the same thrift store. When shopping she loves searching for heavy and thick materials. Overall materials is important; the feel of it, the texture, the color, basically making sure it's the right one. 

There's a few people that inspire Ashleigh but most importantly women who can walk in there own identity and help her find what it looks like to dress with confidence. Solange is a great example of Ashleigh inspiration in her style. 

She enjoys gaining inspiration from other cultures to liven up her style once in a while. Being herself, loving herself, and being comfortable in her own skin creates a personal style all her own. 

/Vato

Photographer: Tiandra Coleman, co-owner of Lotus Lion Productions

MKE Street Style with Shakayla Curtis

Shakayla Curtis (FB: Kayla Danielle)

What is your style?

My style... Hmmm I would have to say My style is very modern chic. Very stylish but extremely graceful. I'm always about updating classics when I choose my garments and pieces.

Who or what influences your wardrobe or style?

My influence for my style comes from the way I am feeling at that moment when I am getting dressed. If I am sad I tend to go for pieces that will uplift me... Make me feel good about myself you know. If I am happy and joyful it presents itself through my choice of clothing. I was also truly inspired by the fashion presented in "Sex in the city"! Those women gave me soooooo much life. Whomever the stylist was for that film did an amazing job!

How does your closet look?

My closet looks like a thrift store lol. I am a recent graduate from Tennessee State University and all the while in college I was unable to afford to shop anywhere but thrift stores. Being also a recent mother of twin girls my finances hasn't permitted for me to go purchase a completely new wardrobe! But the good thing about fashion IT ALWAYS REPEATS ITSELF! So my pieces work out just fine.

Favorite Places to shop?

I enjoy thrifting, any second hand store. I am really into H&m, Windsor and Akira.

What is your favorite clothing item, why?

My favorite clothing item that I currently have would be my smock shirt I designed and created myself. My intention is never to become a designer and creating that shirt in one of my required courses in college was a huge accomplishment for me. I will never forget me thinking "I'm going to fail this class" because I am not good at drawing or sewing, but because of my shirt that I created, I passed my course with an A. Very humbling experience that I will never forget.

/Vato

MKE Street Style with Rakim Wil

Rakim agrees to meet in front of my home on the porch. As I sit, awaiting his arrival, I hear wheels rubbing the concrete pavement. I look toward the sound and Rakim comes boarding down the block in full speed. He hops off his skateboard as if it wasn’t nothing. The homie was fly, he just skated with $800 kicks on (Yeezy’s); we sit and start the interview.

My 1st question for him was ‘How are you?’ he replies with a familiar phrase by saying "Sensational."

What is your style?

Rakim Wil considers himself to be the street prince. Pink Silk, Polyester, and Shiny Material are what you can catch him wearing. Very different from the usual

Who or what influence your style?

Prince, Theophilus London, Ken Rebel, Luka Sabbat and Ian Connor are influences; when it comes to his personal style.

Whats something you would wear all the time?

Rakim said he will wear his Yeezy’s everywhere. They’re $800 kicks, so why not rock them every chance you get. But he also says he doesn’t have to think about what he has to wear, its already envisioned; it’s a process that is already instilled in the fashion membrane.

Name places you shop to find your style of clothing?

Joann’s Resale, Value Village, H&M at Bayshore and GetBlatzed Vintage.

Rakim wants everybody to know he is a VISIONARY. And ready to share his passion with fashion.

After the interview Rakim wanted to acknowledge some of the individuals in the city he likes to believe has the juice in the fashion industry.

Here’s his top 10:

• KLASSIK

• Rakim Wil

• Debonair

• Vato Vergara

• Lamontrés

• Carson Kellogg

• Kane The Rapper

• EyeSeeYou (Lorde Fredde & FreeDOM)

• Chris G

• Cool Tay

/VATO

Street Style Interview with Meraki

Read out fashion editors interview with stylish and sultry artist, Meraki.

What is your style?

"I'd say my style varies. For the most part it kind of displays the person I am. Very carefree and simplistic. I enjoy wearing colors that compliment my skin tone. Since I am a brown skin girl my favorite colors are all tones of nude colors, grey, olive, and dark Browns. I like for my nails to be nude colors as well. I enjoy dark lipsticks (preferably burgundy), high waist denim, vinyl material type clothing, distressed stitching, cropped tops, etc.I think style is just a way to make yourself feel good inside and out, admire yourself, and to express emotion and creativity. It's apart of who you are."

Who or what influences your wardrobe?

"I'd say women like Vashtie influences my tom boy style. Sometimes I like to wear baggy apparel, boxer briefs, cropped tops and more. She also influences my interest in street wear. Karrueche and Rihanna influence my more girly side. They've put me onto a lot of sites for clothes. Their style is very dope and I've found myself merely mimicking them from time to time in HS."

How does your closet look?

"My closet is full of stuff I'm ready to get rid of lol. I go through phases sometimes and get an urge to switch everything up. I have lots of street wear things, selection of heels and tennis shoes, and random stuff lol."

Favorite places to shop?

"My favorite places to shop are of course American Apparel, Matte Brand and NastyGal."

What is your favorite clothing item, why?

"I'd say my favorite clothing item would have to be my supreme hockey jersey or my grey suede jump site. My hockey jersey bc it displays my Tom boy side and it's just dope as hell. Very rare. My suede jumpsuit because jumpsuits compliment the figure of a woman and suede is one of my favorite fabrics."

And if you want to hear Meraki do her thing, listen to her song, "HurtALitte" featuring the homie Von Alexander below.

- Vato

"HURTALITTLE" ft. Von Alexander Written & Performed by Meraki Produced by ClntFrd (@ClntFrd) Recorded, mixed, master by @JBMIXEDIT Follow Meraki on Twitter: twitter.com/Merakicsl Follow ClntFrd on Twitter: twitter.com/clntfrd Follow Von Alexander on Twitter: twitter.com/whatsupvon Follow Meraki on Instagram: instagram.com/merakicsl it might hurt a lot.....

"HURTALITTLE" ft. Von Alexander Written & Performed by Meraki Produced by ClntFrd (@ClntFrd) Recorded, mixed, master by @JBMIXEDIT Follow Meraki on Twitter: twitter.com/Merakicsl Follow ClntFrd on Twitter: twitter.com/clntfrd Follow Von Alexander on Twitter: twitter.com/whatsupvon Follow Meraki on Instagram: instagram.com/merakicsl it might hurt a lot.....

On the Street Fashion - Oby Nwabuzor ( @obyoso )

I’d just arrived to the coffee shop and Oby comes in seconds behind. And as she walked in I promise you her theme song should have been, I’m The Plug while you hear “draped in all designer, draped in all designer” in our Future voice playing in the background.

Black frames, black leather tote bag, black leather gloves, black long fit trench with a black fur collar, blue jean denim with ½ inch cuffs, and black boots! “Oby OhSoFly has just entered the building,” I said with open arms.

Oby style is very hard to be placed in a box. She likes to reference style as a genre, a mixer between business and urban. Because of her family traditions and proper upbringing she was held to a higher standard of presentation. Oby is very clean and neat in her everyday attire but you can see her very cultural background as she represents her Nigerian roots through her style.

Professionalism is key when it comes to picking out her outfits. With a traditional Monday through Friday work life, why not add some style in the business world? And did we mention when she’s not killing the professional world with her style, she’s working with local brands like Mission10Eleven and the House of Renji.

Inspiration for Oby comes from artist like Teyanna Taylor and Janelle Monae, but she continues to create her own lane in fashion. As a true shoe-a-holic we might say, Oby owns a wide variety of shoes such as Jordans, Timberlands, Nikes, and loafers; combined with a more feminine collection of heels from classy to retro, to switch up the game when needed. One of her favorite pieces is this vintage bomber jacket shown below.

Favorite places to shop: H&M, Boston Store, K&G Fashions, for jeans - Levi only

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Follow her Instagram for more fashionable updates @obyoso

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IMAGES AND INTERVIEW BY VATO VERGARA

On The Street Fashion - Virgilette Adams (@artsyqveen)

Virgilette refers to her style as a timeless era. What she wears usually matches her mood; always being unpredictable in her everyday outfits. She titles it - Modern Vintage.

Favorite Shopping Locations: thrifting at Goodwills and taking trips to Chicago for a store called Belmont. 

 

Virgilette gets her style inspiration from the 40s and 80s. Colors Patterns and artwork influences what wears in the beginning of her day. Musical talent Janelle Monae and Virgilette shares similar taste when it comes to fashion.

Favorite Item: Virgilette prefers to be comfortable when she makes a final decision on her outfit of the day. One of her favorite items being her vintage acid wash high wasted jeans with 3 buttons in front of the waistline. She says it's easy to be versatile when incorporating them into her outfits.  

Follow her on Instagram to see more of her looks: @artsyqveen

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IMAGES AND INTERVIEW BY VATO VERGARA