Fly

James Brown

I said I wouldn't post this week but I had to pay my respects to the Godfather of Soul...

When my parents got divorced and my father moved back to his home state of Indiana, I spent my summers there with him so we could get our quality father-daughter time. Before I started taking the plane alone, every June my father would drive to Maryland to pick me up and together we would head back up the road to Indiana, driving for twelve hours. Whew!! I remember so much about those trips on highway I-76 to I-80. I remember stopping at the different rest stops always excited to get McDonald's or Roy Rogers, and I can recall the feeling of putting my hands out the window catching the summer air on my fingertips, but the biggest thing that stands out in my memory from those trips was the music.

When traveling across the country back in those days, the radio would go out and you couldn't catch a decent station. So my father would dig through his stash of tapes and pop one into the cassette player (remember those?), and thus began my love for soul music and my relationship with James Brown. I loved listening to The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Gladys Knight & the Pips but it was Mr. James Brown that always made my fingers snap and made me wish I was not in the car but on a dance floor shaking my little hips. I loved the power in his voice and the passion in his music.

I kept this picture of James Brown from a 2002 issue of Vanity Fair. The picture itself was taken in 1980. I kept it among all my other magazine clippings and whenever I came across it I would think to myself that I had to use it for something. Sadly it's for this occasion, in remembrance, but with love, I share it with my earliest memories of Mr. James Brown.

A Blog Break

Next week I will be taking a break as I will be traveling and visiting with family and friends. I will be back on Jan. 2 with new and exciting things for the New Year. I wish you all the best! While I'm away please visit some past posts such as these:
More about Me, More about Fly
Photo Circa 1984, Brazil is In Me
Colors and Trends
African Inspired, Mexican Inspired, Let Them Eat Cake
And anything under Fly Girls

Banana Sunshine

It’s never too early to talk about a spring/summer color. I’m ready to wear this gorgeous color now! It’s perfect for your wardrobe or when decorating your home. If it’s too much for you as a wallpaper or an entire dress, try some earrings, a pretty headband, or a little decorative dish.

Autobiography Doodles

A few years ago I created this piece based on different periods of my life.

My New Scarf from Matta

I really don’t have that much time on my hands but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the pictures below. Lily, of Matta, was showing me different ways I could wear my new purchase and when I got home I decided I wanted to find even more ways to rock it. With my experimentation I had to get out the camera so I could share. The great thing about the scarf is that it’s length and weight is really versatile. It’s light enough for the summer but it’s long enough to wrap around a few times to get that needed thickness in the winter. I love it!

Matta

This past Saturday when I was on my way to the closing of the 11 Spring Street Building I stumbled upon a boutique that really intrigued me. You may not remember, but a few weeks ago when I did my Indian Inspired post I added a link to this boutique, not knowing that they had this beautiful space in Soho. So I wandered in and fell in love. The colors were delicious and the space was so airy and bright. At Matta, the designer uses new and vintage fabric from India to create unique dresses, skirts and tops. There was also a beautiful collection of woolen scarves that ranged in a variety of vibrant colors and distinct patterns. I splurged a little and purchased a scarf that I could not take my eyes off of, more on that later. Oh, and they also carry great pieces from the Orla Kiely line which fits into the store’s look perfectly. Anyway, the ladies at Matta were so sweet to me and I really appreciate them answering my many questions and letting me take pictures. Matta, 141 Lafayette st. NY, NY 10012 212 343 9399

Fly Girl of the Week

When browsing around flickr.com I came across Tricia's styling photos and fell in love with her style. I'm big on color, and I always admire people who can pull off stylish looks with color combos that I wouldn't consider. Thanks, Tricia for being Fly Girl of the Week. Oh, and before I forget, there will not be another Fly Girl of the Week until the New Year. Look for her January 2nd.
Who: Tricia Royal
Where: San Francisco, California
What: I'm an editorial assistant, blogging professionally and working part time for http://www.stylehive.com, a social style bookmarking website based here in SF. I also design and sew clothing and hand-knits, write on a freelance basis, and I started the DIY street fashion community, wardrobe_remix: (http://flickr.com/groups/wardrobe_remix/) 
What inspires you?: EVERYTHING. I try to constantly keep my mind and eyes open for interesting things and try to stay curious, asking questions and looking for answers. In particular though: unique, stylish people on the city streets, history, travel, patchwork, modern conceptual art, color theory, mid-century modern design/furniture, 60s and 70s fashion, anyone who is creative and thinking and different than the rest of the pack.
Why are you fly?: I try to push limits, ask questions, and follow my own drummer, especially when it comes to the way I dress. I am unafraid of color. I work really hard at everything I do and create, and I believe in cultivating knowledge, honesty and unpretentiousness.
Advice: Keep your eyes and mind open, try new things, and reach inside yourself with honesty to find your true self. be original. don't follow any drummer but the one inside yourself.

Vintage Fly Girl: Carmen Miranda

I wanted to feature a Vintage Fly Girl who represented my Brazilian background, and I remembered Carmen Miranda (1909-1955). She was a singer/actress/dancer who made wearing tropical fruit on her head look sexy, stylish even. I found this great site about her life and come to find out, technically, she's not Brazilian. She was born in Portugal and her family moved to Brazil when she was one. My mother was too young to remember Carmen Miranda, but she did remember people saying that this woman only perpetuated the stereotypes of Latina women. Hmmm...I may have to do some research on that. Either way I think Carmen Miranda is beautiful. Check out the site to learn more.

Sugar-y Sweet Calendar

This was a holiday gift from the designers at Sugar, a graphic design studio here in New York. I love the throwback to the vintage calendar dish towels like the ones my grandmother used to hang in her kitchen.

I Love New York...Sometimes

If anything fabulous, cool or new is happening in New York City expect any and everybody to be there. Expect long lines, crowded spaces, and the possibility of just not seeing it. It’s especially tough this time of year because so many people flood to the city during the holidays. BA HUMBUG!!!! I got the latter this weekend. It was the closing of a building famous for the graffiti art that covers it, and this weekend well-known street artists were invited to cover the inside and out of the building for it’s last hurrah. It was opened to the public to share the magnificent work by artists such as Swoon and Shepard Fairey. I knew it would be crowded but I didn’t expect a line wrapped around two corners. Had I stayed in line my wait would’ve been two and a half hours. So I didn’t stay. Instead, I took a few pictures to share the transformation happening outside.  The four pictures below mine are from the Gothamist, go there to see more and click here for an article in the New York Times about this fantastic event. Click here for a previous post on street art.

Bergdorf's Display Windows

This year's window displays at Bergdorf Goodman range in themes from Curiosities to Circus Side Shows and Holiday Baking. I always love how detailed the scenes can get, everything is so thought out and perfectly placed. I hope you can see what I captured, some of the photos came out a little dark.

Craft Magazine

Am I late on this? Does everyone already know about this magazine but me? Yesterday, I discovered this great find at my local Borders bookstore. It's packed with great funky craft ideas and articles with superb DIY illustrations and photography. Craft Magazine is tiny enough to fit in your handbag so you can take it everywhere you go. Oh, and if you somehow can’t make it to the bookstore, check out their extensive site to see the fun craft projects and interesting interviews.

Levi's Jean Contest

I collected these images from a book featuring submissions for a “design your Levi’s jeans contest” that took place back in the '70s. A lot of the entries were these really intricate embroidered designs on the backside of jeans. Others had beautifully sewn appliqués like example 1a. It was funny that a few months after seeing the detail of that jean jacket I stumbled upon these Chloe jeans in Elle Magazine (example 1b). Hmmmmm...someone was inspired.

Me

My brunch buddy took this picture of me outside of Kitchenette in Harlem. I really liked this shot because of his angle, I like how the building looks like a background pattern, and I love the subtle hint of magenta overlaying the whole image. Thanks, Dave.

Fly Girl of the Week

This Fly Girl is one of the friendliest and sweetest people I know. We call her mama because she’s so wise beyond her years.
Who: Neek, 23
Where: H20 Club in DC at Howard's Homecoming
What: Online production but I have a passion for working with children.
What inspires you?: My family, I will do anything for them, and my need for success stems from the need to take care of them.
Advice: Don't be afraid to be who you are, it's okay to be dynamic and think outside the box. Live your life for yourself. Being beautiful and smart can run parallel and always remember that looks may fade but a beautiful spirit will last forever. You only live once, so maximize your happiness...and say please and thank you!