Hi Y’all … you may have noticed that there have been no updates for sometime - Looking Fly is going through a renovation, and should be back up sometime this summer - thinking of broadening content topics outside the realm of fashion. Thanks for your support and I’ll be sure to let you know when I am back in action. Peace.

Marimekko is releasing a clothing line, in the spirit of Jackie O, through H&M. New York Magazine has the story, and here is an image that I grabbed from that article (which you can read here)

I’m not sure I am a total fan. I love the stuff on bedsheets, shower curtains, even plates - but on clothes…. I think you would have to be in extremely good shape and have your fashion sense really tuned to pull this off. The reason being that these patterns which are so big and bright will otherwise call out whatever you think is unflattering about yourself. I mean, I stand pretty firmly that any sized person can wear whatever they want to… in theory. In practice, it will make you feel uncomfortable to be having these crazy patterns making your butt look huger than it is, or calling out your lack of curve.

But, keep on making those sheets, Ms. Mekko.

 Pete Wentz, Bassist and Lyricist for the band Fall Out Boy, and all around reneaisannce man, has agreed to partner his clothing company with Nordstrom. According to an article in the Portland Business Journal, Wentz’s company, Clandestine Industries, will make and design the clothes, which will be sold in the juniors department at Nordstrom’s. When asked what he thought about the partnership, Wentz replied, “I am stoked to collaborate with Nordstrom.”

After reading this article, I did a little more research (i.e. went to wikipedia) and read up on Pete Wentz. In addition to being a bassist, lyricist, backup singer, clothing designer, clothing company owner, he is also a children’s book author, an owner of a record company, and the owner of a film company.

Pete Wentz Looking Fly (photo by GBDAM)

Some might critisize Wentz for “selling out,” as he is clearly not just about The Music. But I don’t feel that way. The only way to do that would be to associate any use of business savvy with selling out, which I don’t do. But then maybe I just don’t believe in the concept of “selling out” any more. I think that a person has a right to try to make something of him or herself, and a right to try to make money. Especially here in America.

Furthermore, I’d like make a general point about small businesses by talking about the world of journalism. On one hand, the media is completely built up and systemized to the point where news companies are owned by weapons manufacturers and the word of main stream journalists is almost impossible to take without a grain of salt. On the other hand, the voice of the individual is louder than ever through blogs, message boards and podcasts. But a blogger must take responsibility for his or her own income, thus benefitting from the financial structures in existance: sole prop, LLC, C Corp. This is the way that a individual can protect him or herself from being sucked into the other side.

Drawing this back to Pete Wentz, man of the world, I think that he is doing the right thing - recognizing that music, fashion, media is all connected on a financial level in a very smooth and flowing way, and that anyone who wants to position him or herself to take advantage of this connection, can do so. Pete, I’m stoked for you.

I was just starting to root for Paris Hilton, what with her going to jail and all, when I find out she is working on a new reality show with MTV:

According to New York Magazine’s ”The Cut”, which is their online editorial section,

the real Paris Hilton is currently working on a reality show for MTV, in which twenty guys and gals will compete to be her “best friend forever.”

Really?

OMFG, Paris, Really?

I guess I am getting old. The article is actually about how at Fashion Week in India, some of the designers were mocking the attitude of some of the young and fabulous in America. Read it here.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to talk for a minute about how lovely the free wireess here at the Westfield mall is. I think it is faster than my office. And I’m at the mall.

No one was at work today so here I am, observing fashions in their natural habitat. Signing off so I can order my Orange Julius….

diesel store window, soho nyc, originally uploaded by ernest.borg9.

Paul Pope, an artist known his “slopily brilliant” style in comics and graphic novels, is emerging in the fashion design world. Last year, he did the store art for the SoHo (NY) Diesel store. (Pictured). Recently, he was hired by DKNY to design a line of jeans.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Pope and the charming urban stalwart of a label met to discuss the possibility of working together, and within 6 weeks, the project was underway.

Mr. Nipon was impressed by Mr. Pope’s wide-ranging creative interests and his pointed technical questions about the line.

Some tasks Mr. Pope worked on are tee shirt designs and patterns for hoodies.

Guys, go put Resevoir Dogs and/or Pulp Fiction on your netflix because you are about to start to put together (if you havn’t already) a plain black suit with skinny black tie combo.

GQ has been bringing this up for about three issues. ThisNext tells us that it “Seals the Punk Look.” Seal wore a skinny black tie to the grammy’s this year (see previous post).  Justin Timberlake uses this look all the time. Brad Pitt too.

Vanessa Valiente, personal stylist, describes the ins and outs of the skinny black tie. She says,

On the occasion when a suit is necessary the skinny tie is so hot and so easy.

Check out the rest of her informative article here.

In the Grammy car, originally uploaded by sealsong.

Here is Seal with that look I was describing, but in patent leather instead of cotton or a cotton blend.

Hypebeast, the street style blog with just the right balance of street to style, showed me these unbelievable Adidas Gazelles today:

They have a few other pairs, but this is my favorite.

Gazelles are the shoe that all of my soccer playing buddies from high school said were ”The Best Shoe Ever.”

And now they make them in pastel!

From http://www.independent.co.uk