Vogue.it

 

LaQuan Smith is a young 21 year-old designer who overcame the hardships of cancer and persevered with a greater focus on his passion for fashion. After graduating from high school and interning with New York based magazine Blackbook, he pursued his love for design and set the fashion world abuzz with his unique pieces. With high praises from Tyra Banks and Vogue’s Andre Leon Talley, LaQuan has gained the recognition of the fashion elite, which has enabled him to design custom outfits for celebrities such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, Amber Rose as well as Cassie, who was spotted a few months back wearing his Sea Urchin dress.

The LaQuan Smith label made its New York Fashion Week debut to much acclaim with a Fall/Winter 2010 collection titled the “Water Goddess”. Take a look at a few of the highlight pieces from the LaQuan Smith Water Goddess collection with Tyra Banks and model Sessilee Lopez, after the jump.

 

via:www.upscalehype.com

Kwesi Abbensetts conversation along with his work.

Kwesi Abbensetts lives everywhere and nowhere but New York based, he grew up in Guyana, Barbados, and Trinidad. Abbensetts is  33 old West Indian man. It has be stated that Abbensetts has never went to school for photography, he consider himself self taught, he also admit hasn’t worked with any big names that matter at this moment.

NatalieAnn:   What is your background in photography?
Abbensetts:   None really I started shooting  3 years ago on my fuji 5600 digital camera
and from there it was instant. I should say I was in film school at the time
and maybe I was drawn more to the singular aspect of doing photography. As a
photographer you have more control as opposed to being on a film set with
tons of people. And well photography found me.

NatalieAnn:   What type of camera do you use?
Abbensetts:   I use a pentax k100d and 200d. I think I will be getting a fuji instamax
soon, since there is no more Polaroid.

NatalieAnn:   What are a few things that being a photographer have given you?
Abbensetts:   The joy of creating and doing experiments. Photography has given me the ability to put my stamp on beauty and adding dignity to the lives of people that I capture. Photography
is my high, my drug, nothing else is, oh the beautiful women I shoot too.

NatalieAnn:   Where do you plan for photography take you?
Abbensetts:  On to becoming bigger, higher, and always pushing the limits - literally. To
doing shows, building my business, magazines, galleries, books, and travel and
being able to be the best at what I do.

NatalieAnn:   What other photographers do you look up to?
Abbensetts:   A Few to start; Koto Bolofo, Richard Avedon, Hedi Slimane, Ellen von Unwerth - she is great, and Andrew Dosunumu, Barron Claiborne etc.

NatalieAnn:   What is your favorite photographer and why?

Abbensetts:   I don’t have favorites, but right now Hedi Slimane, he gives you so much information with so little, its like poetry

NatalieAnn:   Who do you enjoy working with?

Abbensetts:   Women, I shoot them all the time. I can shoot men too it just happens that I
don’t as much. With women you always find something new, never a dull
moment.

NatalieAnn:   What is your favorite type of photography?
Abbensetts:   I just photograph, never a deliberation of what is favorite.

NatalieAnn: Who would you love to work with?
Abbensetts: Everyone, the culture influenced, the advertisers, fashion folks,
humanitarians. I just want to build relationship with people and grow and
learn.

Abbensetts: Life is not short, its infinite once you see and learn something new
everyday. There is rushing in the process of thinking life is short, you
miss the moments. I want to know those moment, so life takes its time for
me.

NatalieAnn: Thanks for your time, look forward to see more of your work;

Remember the name Kwesi Abbensetts and make sure you stop by his site at: www.kwesiabbensetts.carbonmade.com

A New York lawyer (Nathan Sawaya) quit his job to become an amazing lego artist. I am not talking about cities or spaceships but true ART.

This guy has amazing talent, check him out at http://www.brickartist.com/

“‘Yellow’ has emerged as the iconic sculpture in my nationwide art tour. I really see this piece as someone pulling themselves apart”said Nathan Sawaya.

Pam and I have been friends for years, so it’s no surprise that she is this week’s focus for the Overachiever Designer to Watch segment of our blog! This is a post that runs close to my heart, because I know her passion. Pam has a dynamic spirit that has always been open to the newness that life offers each day, and that’s where the story of Naturally Divine Co. begins. N.D.C.  pieces are created from precious stones, wood, leather, as well as,  recyclable items (i.e. compact discs, computer chips, bottle tops), which not only speaks to fashionable essence of a woman but also the progressively empowered Diva that dares to make a difference each and every day. The composition of her wares are handmade with care, and these one of a kind pieces will definitely direct your way a nod or a wink. Check the commercial and click on the link (give here a shout to let her know what you think)…..

OA Ray: What is the message you’d like your supporters to associate most with
your brand?

P. Robinson: Evolution- Naturally Divine Co’s ear décor is a fashion
cocoon with aspirations to become the biggest and flyest ear décor line
ever made.

OA Ray: At a party, which of the following would you most likely do upon your
arrival?

a. Headed to the Bar
b. Posted up People Watching
c. Doing a Mean Two Step on the Dance Floor
d. Making Your Rounds to See and Be Seen

P. Robinson: D. I can compare that answer to our ear decor collection. When
you wear a pair, it is because you want to get noticed *wink*

OA Ray: When you aren’t working, what/where/who helps you to relax?

P. Robinson: Relax, what’s that? When God blesses you with a gift you sleep, eat and breath
creativity.

OA Ray: What would you like to see happen with your brand over the next 90
days?

P. Robinson: WOW factors! More colors and textures. Mixing material that one
would never dare to put together.

OA Ray: Who’s rotating in your IPOD right now?

P. Robinson: Well I am a big lover of music from the 80’s and 90’s, so I will say BBD and Troop…lol!

Girl SWEET NOVEMBER is the jam!

Pamela Robinson-Owner Creator-Naturally Divine Co.

RF/OA/Naturally Divine, I got mine, get yours @  www.naturallydivineco.com

The Ferrari  brand has marketed themselves far beyond the automotive arena. So its no secret the coveted roadster company is exploring a whole new high with an addition to their family of footwear. Move over Puma,  Ferrari has found FILA.  Ferrari’s old business partner, wants to spice up their relationship by the creation of concept sneakers with Ducati. The concept footwear was conceptualized by Oregon designer Oliver Henrichot.  The Superleggera carbon fiber heel never made it off the showroom floor (as beautiful as it was), so let’s keep our fingers crossed on who gets the endorsement (I’m thinking Michael Vick, he could use a break) for this new venture.

RF/OA/Fast Shoes, Fast Feet, Fast Cars!!!!