My Letter to the Year Called 2012

Dear 2012, 

You were good.  No, you were a great year for me.  I personally deem you as the year of change.  Many lessons learned as life always serves and because of you (2012) I am a better woman because of them.  I examined what I had tolerated for so long.  Some friendships lost but I gained valuable and amazing ones mid year.  Discovering the value of my art and my craft and how it affects others all around the world.  My re-connection with my other side of my family has filled a void that I've missed and longed for. I love getting to know my ancestry history and where I actually came from.  I no longer feel lost.  I know why I am the way that I am.  When you can stand firm on your values, know your history,  know your beliefs and your spirituality, you are truly a powerful person.  I am not trying to sound like I am so 'Enlightened' that I am not human but, 2012 thanks to you my 2013 can only get better for me. Also, discovered that FEAR IS A BIG, FAT LIAR.

Many talk about New Years resolutions but, I'm not that traditional anymore.  It's never worked for me in the past so I choose to do a different 'resolution'.  It's called "The Act of Now".  I stopped talking so much future and started talking now.  I pray for patience as I continue my journey and have the confidence to know that through God anything is possible.  God may not answer when you want him to but, he's ALWAYS on time.  So, I am continuing my journey of life on the path where the light shines and look to HIM for the answers because you and I both know man (meaning the human race) may not have your best intentions at heart. My spirit of intuition is stronger, my mind set is changed for the better, my heart is ready to receive and I am ready to give and bless others no matter how big or small.

So, thank you 2012 and tell your brother 2013 I will see him soon. 

Love, Robin

The Creator of LeMahogany Fashionista

Loving "Losing You"

Loving this music video from Solange Knowles!

The imagery in this video's perfection and I learned about a culture that I wish I had knew about before.  The very dapper South African gentlemen featured in the video are called Sapeurs, they hold themselves with such pose and elegance.   I love it and I am currently researching about them.  There's a sort of meaning behind their clothing, somewhat of an art form.  It's a perfect example of fashion becoming wearable art.   Clothing tells a story which means you might as well tell a good on everyday :).

Now Listening to: Kimbra: The Vows

Kimbra

Born in New Zealand 22 year old Kimbra  was noted to be a mixture of Nina Simone, Florence Against the Machine and Bjork all wrapped into one.  Pretty lethal combination considering all of the music artists mentioned in my opinion are pretty eclectic and amazing. You probably had seen her in the famous song: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye.

Illustration by Ellen Schebor

Now Playing - Lana Del Rey

Many are calling her a modern day Nancy Sinatra, or the new "Amy Winehouse".  Her name is Lana Del Rey  and I am starting to like her more and more everyday. I discovered her on twitter because I kept seeing Kanye West tweeting out these crazy screenshots of some sort of video.  I was wow'd by the images and asked myself.  Who the heck is Lana Del Rey   and I gotta know who the she is because she is an artist.

Lana Del Rey-A Gorgeous female Johnny Cash

Take a look...beautiful imaging.

She has a song called "video games" I love it.  She's definitely one to watch.

We Found Love:Rihanna

Great video direction.  Very Symbolic. I love this.

Love On Top by Beyonce...hearts, hearts, hearts.

New York City Penthouse Background. 6 Microphone stands.  5 Guys and Beyonce in a Black Leotard.  Medal-Adorned Military Cap.  With New Edition Dance Moves.
Stamp of Approval from Le Mahogany Fashionista.  Just a sneak peek full video premier next week. :0)

Yes!

Womanifesto.

Womanifesto-Jill Scott

Jill Scott Everybody.

Extreme Fashion: And I like it, like it: Thierry Mugler

Thierry Mugler

I am known for being pretty good with weird.  So, there really shouldn't be any question if I like Thierry Mugler a french designer whose designs are really out of this world.  His collections are strong, bold, angular and could be a bit offensive to those with the sensitive eyes. But, I am all about pushing the envelope of conventional fashion.  Wearable Art pieces of Thierry Mugler is can be found on the bodies of some the best performers: Lady Gaga and Beyonce

Here's Thierry Mugler Womenwear Fall 2011 collection: featuring Lady Gaga

My favorite vintage piece by Thierry Mugler is this Robotic piece.  It so cool.

One of his Ad Campaigns which looks so unreal.

What made me think of Thierry Mugler is picture of Beyonce on her world tour concert.  Now, noted its not the first time I seen this Harley Davidson looking motorcycle corset.

It was featured in 1992 George Micheal's video "Too Funky".

Did you see Tyra Banks?   I loved the era of supermodels. Aww...the early 90's when size 6 was considered a model size.  Haha!  To those who live in the U.S. Happy Independence Day! Stay safe!

Now Playing: Des'ree

We all go through our days, our weeks and sometimes our months when it seems like everything is literally out of wack.  Trials and tribulations sometimes hit us like hail with no mercy in our lives.  Confusion and/or disappointment seems to set in like its a part of our everyday lives. And then the storms starts to die down and things start to get a bit better.  I think the bittersweet is what we've learned when its all over.
 Des'ree 'You Gotta Be' is that kind of song for me.

Supernatural

Beyonce.

"Did you see the video?"  "Girl, did she have work done on her nose?" "I know she got a boob job" "She looks lighter than usual?"  "I hate that song."  "She's gone crazy"  "She looks okay."  "Why did she look like that?"  "I loved it."  "I love anything she does"

Those are just some of the comments I heard as I was getting my hair done at my favorite hair salon.  Of course I was one of the ones that watched it online right when Beyonce's new video premiered.  When I saw it for the first time, I had to see it for a second time and then a third and a fourth due to the overload of amazing dancing and.....its freakin' Beyonce people!!! She is truely one of my girl crushes and my mouth dropped open from all the mouth watering designers she was wearing.  I recognized three designers she was wearing right of the bat:

Alexander McQueen +Beyonce and her female army.  Sic (that's a good thing)



Givenchy Couture

Gaultier Couture

And last but not least the Gareth Pugh Starship Enterprise Shoes. Rid-ic-lous! Love them. Wow.



Her album entitled 4. (Genius) Comes out June 28th, 2011.  I will buy it.  Just for the album cover alone.



Here's why I love Beyonce: 

This woman's work

1. No one can deny she is one of the hardest working women in show business.

Always incorporates the unexpected

2. 3 women, in dance leotard tights and black and white footage: SINGLE LADIES enough said

(yes, she copied off of the dance style of Fosse and some Broadway musical which leads to may third one)

She's a PERFORMER.

3.  I would pay money to see her perform.  She sings, she dances, she's fierce all at the same time.  

Okay, I'm done praising her achievements because I am a true fan of her's 

 Here it is: Run the World(Girls)-Beyonce

Oh and check out the bizzare but, amazing footwork dancing sequence in the beginning:

Inspired by:  Mozambique African dancing: Tofo Tofo

Adele 21 tomorrow beyond excited!

It's been awhile since I blogged about music.  Because its rare to find music nowadays that I would actually go out and buy.  Yes, I still go to the store and buy CD's because I like the cover art and to know what the lyrics really are instead humming over the words.  haha!  She is real, raw talent.  She's not shaking her butt down to ground, not wearing the most outrageous outfits, not overtly sexified,  because her voice speaks volumes.  Her songs are amazing.  I absolutely love this song and can not wait tomorrow for Adele 21 to drop in the U.S.  This is my future heavy rotation album.

Now Listening to: Erykah Badu Pt 2 Return of the Ankh

New Amerykah Part Two: Return Of The Ankh

Erykah Badu

In Heavy Rotation and listened all the way through.  (Which is seriously hard to believe these days)
This is my favorite song:

Kanye's Runaway

So, with much anticipation I have been waiting to see Kanye West's directorial debut of Runaway.  And I loved it.  Cinematically, the colors everything about I loved.  So, many symbolic elements used it's gonna take me probably a few months to figure it out.

So, see for yourself Runaway, the opening song is ridic.  I Love it.

Selita Ebanks is gorgeous as the phoenix and I really felt she played her role very well.  And I found myself laughing at Kanye a bit because #1 I am definitely not used to him as an actor and #2 if he decides to go that route, acting classes are definitely needed.  Kanye as a director was amazing. Visuals stunning, the colors and camera angles done really well.  I loved Selita's twitching in the 'Power' scene and than starts to do this African dancing sort of movement.

The ballet dancers were very graceful during the runaway song. 

And the dinner scene was priceless.  The costume, feathered piece was done beautifully and the headdress was so Royal.  To me this was another symbolic scene.  Everyone dressed in all white except Kanye and his Phoenix.  Almost like a "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" kind of theme.

What I noticed the most about this short film is that Kanye never tried to change his Phoenix.  He did not tell her to do anything she did not want to do.  Even when the scene in which she sort of seems like she attempting to drink out of teacup.  She just did it.  Also, when she tried to break bread with the others around the table.  They weren't have it.  So, symbolic of discrimination amongst class or cast system or just with people who look different or maybe different from us.

Then, the Phoenix basically says I am outta here because I am not trying to turn into stone.  As you know stones are hard, solid objects.  To me the Phoenix represents free flowing fluidity.  So, when she explains to Kanye that Phoenix's turn to stone what I feel she is saying is that I wouldn't be me if I stay here.  And of course the whole epic scene of Kanye running (in slipper's by the way and hard too) and she flys way up in the sky and than the message of "Who will survive in America."

I loved it.

All of it.

BRAVO! BRAVO! Kanye! I admire his passion to be different and take hip-hop towards in upward movement.  Thank you, sir.

In Heavy Rotation: Florence+The Machine

I love this artist....she has some amazing songs and she's been out for awhile now....I guess I am a little late but, I absolutely love her music.  Rated: A

Nine years ago we lost an Angel: Aaliyah

I remember when I heard the news that Aaliyah died.  I was getting ready for class in the morning,  I was a borderline freshman/sophomore in college.  I turned on the tube switched the channel to MTV and had gotten the announcement that Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash.  I literally dropped my bowl of captain crunch cereal on the kitchen floor and watched MTV news in amazement that such a young, beautiful girl could die at literally the start of her mega stardom.  I mean I bought all of her albums, I mimicked her style: baggy jeans, dark shades, hair over the eye.  Back and forth was my anthem in middle school.   That was my "Jam" back in the day. Her smooth lyrics, Her dance moves, voice of an angel, her gorgeous smile. I absolutely loved her.  And realize there will be no one to even come close to her style.  So this day the anniversary of her death I have to say rest in peace, Aaliyah.  Thank you for contributing to my life's soundtrack and gracing us with your presence.  

My favorite song by Aaliyah.

Finally....Lady Gaga Telephone Video.

I have read some the reviews on this video...but, I have to say this is video boarder line genius. Here's my five reasons why:

1. The all women's prison with the tag line "See I told you she didn't have a d@%k. LOL! Hilarious. The prison yard scene, the soda can rollers, the girl fight (not fighting like girls, literally like dudes)

2. Micheal Jackson reference when she leaves the prison.
3. Beyonce's or should I say Honey B's ride "PUSSY WAGON" <---quentin awesome="awesome" br="br" reference="reference" tarantino="tarantino">4. Honey B's Betty Page Hair...Love it.
5. And with the Thelma and Louise satire at the end. Genius!

I loved it. This mini-movie was awesome!!

Rihanna's Rude Boy Music Video: Love the styling. It is insane in this vidjoe, yo!

Look at the part when she looks down his pants 1:24...LMAO! I love it.

Love Sade! Her Voice is Amazing!

I love her voice! Can not wait for her album!

Lady Gaga+Alexandar McQueen Spring 2010+ "Bad Romance"= Genius

:::..Applause..:::: Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour Book

KANYE WEST "Glow in the Dark" book promo by: NABIL from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.