X-Factor

From where I Sit, Your VSG ……………

 This is the last page of 2008, it was very difficult

to edit with so many stories to tell and discuss. I

hope that you and many others will join me in

2009 in more dialogue and exchange the concept

of Style in this business called Fashion.The goal

of VSG is to shine enlightenment on the Art of

styling a fashionable life and challenge an

opening of a few more gates locked by Size, Age

and still Color.

Our New President Elect has moved many serious

conversations into the living room but there are

still topics to be engaged. I am first an African American

Woman in stilettos heeling the doors of Seventh Avenue for

more change and posing questions to the inclusion of more

Size, Age and Color in the industry. I will beat the pavement

until it softens for You and change like this past November 4th

is true. I will continue to  bring a truth and an insight in

between the lines of my column titled “from where I Sit”. I

wish all logged in the Healthiest and a fulfilling 2009 I could

also wish you prosperity and happiest but I will leave those Up

to You…  Seasons greeting Now for some Style and Fashion:

Fashion (N) Prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette,

socializing, ETC as stated in Websters New Universal

Unabridged Dictionary. In a tribute to a style maven and true

Oxymoron the Quiet Icon, Odetta whose passing on December

6th called many emotions and a few necessary notes to be

shared. Here is my attempt to pay proper homage to a great

prevailer of a socialized style of doing yourself, your own

way. The Art of fashion is sometimes the measure in which you

style your own life and Odetta blazed a trail forgotten and

rarely taken by African American Women in Music as a

Folk songstress. I had the awesome pleasure to meet

her many moons ago and from it I was changed. These

thoughts come to mind while reflecting on my meeting

“Success is not reached by chance-it is reached by

choice and Leadership begins with defined goal that cut

through the fog like a beacon in the night”. I borrowed

these unnamed quotes as watermarks that echo styling

your own personal paths to your own measures of

success. Falling into to singing, as a child, was her

entrance; it was the honing of that realized talent that

took her from being politicized by Paul Robeson to

being scheduled to sing at the inauguration of our new

President elected Barack Obama.An original in style,

which includes what is an Afro or natural today, used to

be called an Odetta. Breaking rules and crafting a style

with help from notables such as the Nat King Cole trio

and Ella Fitzgerald, she began to mold her own sound

by singing prison songs. Singing these types of

hardship songs helped to release her own inner

prisonership during the volatile times of the 50’s & 60’s

for Black people in the World. Odetta’s intense

emotions marked and influenced many into legendary

status such as Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Bruce

Springsteen. Her unique style still inspires talents to

reinvent their own modern versions of prisoner love

songs from the likes Tracy Chapman; India Arie and UK

born Corrine bailey Rae works is undeniable. Martin

Luther King Jr. requested Odetta to sing at the 1963

Civil Rights March on Washington the old slavery

anthem “O Freedom” and she became one of the voices

that is the background of the movement, she was a

lifetime fighter for the Civil Rights.

Click here: YouTube - The Midnight Special / Odetta

Her first Album “Odetta sings Ballads and Blues” (1956),in 1999

presented the National Medal of the Arts by our 42nd

President, Bill Clinton. Her life was a life that spanned so full

witnessing the death of John F.Kennedy for whom she sang

for, to proudly participating in electing the First African

American President of these United States of America, fullness

reigned. Her voice Big, Bold belting out calls for pause and

action, like many of our lost jewels Mahalia Jackson and Marian

Anderson whose journeys provide wide shoulders we stand

upon, were also full in stature, girth and life lessons to be

learned. A Glamorous and flamboyant stylish group of

powerful Women with huge stories are now shiny and

sometimes sad examples of maybe what not to do as well as

why not just do it?

At 77 years young, a life span shortened in today’s

standard but sadly for black folks is still well lived

years. Odetta lived with and now died from Heart

Disease, stealing from her grasp one more great

moment is also sadly an issue for both Blacks and too

many Women, Still. Health and Size are not synonymous

as is not Fashion and Style so be more proactive and

take a loved one, maybe even your Grandmother, Mom

and or a Auntie and get them checked out, small

changes could make big impacts. I am not trying to

preach but do a little more teaching and learn from the

life lived and loved by others. Yes, this still is a fashion

blog page. In Memoriam of Odetta’s sense of style I

would like to kick it off with my Spring 2009 Picks from New

York’s fashion week and give you a peek into the future

promised up close and in-depth interviews and some juicy

insider information.Here are my Top Five picks and my must

have spotting & shopping list.    

Ports 1961  By Creative Director Tia Cibani *

launched In 2004 this Canadian inspired collection is

fresh with it’s signature prints and Boho / global

aesthetic is why I am looking forward to a conversation

soon.Click here: http://www.ports1961.com

Tracy Reese  Tracy Reese is another one with

her ladylike and girlie essence for Spring no one comes

close. Every season she just out does herself and 2009

is a solid well crafted modern luxury with no hard

edges. Keep a look out for a little Sister to Sister

connection Click here:www.TracyReese.com

Baby Phat  By Kimora lee Simmons, her maturity

has evolved from the street wear genre to real world

Gottexx by Gideon Oberson, every Spring his swimwear

pushes my tail into the Gym in hopes to claim his Art on this

body. What is so beautiful about his collection is that whether

I’m diligent about my training or not I still get to wear a well

made and stylish suit at any size and for this I give big props.

As the weathers starts to get hotter, don’t spend a dime on a

suit before reading the blog. Click here: Gottex-2008

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