AKOO CLOTHING NOW IN STORES

After appearing at the Magic Fashion Convention earlier this year, rapper T.I.’s clothing line, Akoo, has finally hit the shelved of popular fashion stores. Even though T.I. was involved with some personal issues, he did not allow it to stop his business venture in realeasing the Akoo line. To celebrate the release, T.I held a party in New York City at the Taj Lounge. At the party he showed off coats, jeans, jackets and other fashion items. The line released earlier this week and has been receiving a lot of buzz on the streets. If anyone is wondering what AKOO stands for, it is an acronym for “A King of Oneself.” Akoo clothing is now available at select Villa locations.

By: Adrian Gonzalez

FEEL ME?

T-shirt wearers around the world seem to be endlessly searching for that ideal t-shirt that is so soft and comfortable that you never want to take it off. However, have you noticed that this search is decreasing in difficulty? The feel of the tee shirt has drastically changed over the last few years. Do you tend to favor the softer clothes in your closet over abrasive ones? Gone are standard weight jersey cotton tees, the stiff fabric that may be ideal for the ball court but not so great for the bedroom. Designers have broken down fabric fibers to make shirts thinner and more gauze-y, making fabric softeners almost obsolete. You can pick up 2 almost identical T-shirts and they can feel very different to the touch. The difference is due to a variety of factors. For starters, quality makes a huge difference. That’s why softer tees are more expensive, while cheaper tees are relatively inexpensive. Thread count is another huge factor. If the tee is made of high quality fabric, it most likely contains a 200+ count, referring to how many threads make up an inch of the fabric. Also, manufacturers are implementing many new methods and technology to create a softer feel. Combing techniques remove tough fibers before cotton is spun into thread. Enzyme washes, peaching, burn outs and slub cottons have also made the new tee shirt generation more comfortable than ever. Warning: This trend may have you feeling yourself – literally and figuratively speaking.

By: Andréa Nelson

BARACK YOUR GEAR!

In the months leading up to the general election on November 4th, politics have flooded popular culture with more intensity than Lil’ Wayne’s hottest track and Facebook combined. All the mayhem has been prominently on display – literally. Obama’s face graces t-shirts, his inspiring words grace buttons, hats, jewelry – you name it. Fashion designers worldwide have responded to Obama-mania by making great clothes so people can express their political preference. Many websites specializing in custom clothing have now added a “Barack the Vote” section, where Obama fans and artists can upload artwork that may end up on the chests of other Obama supporters all over the globe. Also, sneaker fanatics can find incredible custom Obama sneakers online. Whether or not Barack fashions are for you, they certainly influenced the polls, as a united party jumped on the Obama bandwagon. And whether or not you were a Barack fan from day one, support his vision by rocking some paraphernalia now and again. History has been made. Are you fired up and ready to go? YES WE CAN!

By:Andréa Nelson

ACCESSORY WATCH: THE CHAIN REACTION

The wallet chain trend is spreading like ketchup, originated from the punk-rock culture and links fashion and function – no pun intended. Even in a recession, having the right accessories is important– including a hot jean wallet chain. This old school accessory has been catching on in hip-hop fashion as an innovative new style that as usual, all the hip-hop stars are wearing. Pocket watches of the last century were the inspiration of the modern day jean wallet chain. As a historically functional accessory, it has catapulted to popularity by serving a fashion purpose – (cause let’s face it, wallet chains look kind of hot), and a function purpose (cause we’re in a recession and thieves may jack your wallet – even if it’s on fire and the fire department are on their way.)

Men have usually kept their wallets in the back pocket of their jeans, either with or without a jean wallet chain due to the wallet’s bulkiness. However, a few things have changed. For starters, carrying a wallet in a back pocket makes it an easy target for theft and pick-pocketing, unless you have a jean wallet chain. Secondly, trends have changed. Dress pants and high-end trousers, no longer always have rear pockets – and the wallet chain was born. These chains are manufactured in various finishes – gold, chrome, brass, etc, various lengths – from short and sensible to long and ornate. They also can incorporate trendy detail – skulls, cross-bones, studs, etc. To get the chain that suits you best, you just need to know where to shop. Also, many wallets from all brands and price points now feature chrome links so that the customer has the option of attaching a wallet chain at will. So try to incorporate this trend… your swag – and your stacks, may thank you and return the favor.

By:Andréa Nelson

PINK’S THE NEW BLACK?

All shades of strawberry can now be found in men’s fashion. From Lacoste to Sean John and from Larry King’s suspenders to Cam’ron’s you-name-it, pink is a common color for contrast-collared shirts, many fine dress shirts, ties, and pocket squares. Pink polos in particular were extremely popular in the 1980’s, and have made a huge revival in the past five years – largely due to great marketing by many top designers and brands. Softer pink dress shirts offer a very formal yet approachable look – it does not compromise one’s manhood. Actually, a light and fresh pink looks very complementary on most men, especially those men with darker complexions. As with most trends however, to be a successful pink-wearer, you absolutely must be able to pull it off. The social stigma against certain colors seems to be over, but even the most confident brotha should be prepared to face some suspicious glances. Even still, that’s a small price to pay for a playful, stylish, memorable image.

By: Andréa Nelson

FASHION VS. FUNCTION: WHY CHOOSE?

Why choose between shoes that make a fashion statement and footwear that actually serves a purpose when you can have the best of both worlds? The bottom line is that fashion conscious and athletic shoppers no longer have to choose. Hybrid fashion-function shoes are making a heavy impact for everyday wear. We can find shoes that are meant for inclement weather and rocky terrain with one too many buckles, running shoes with excess fashion stitching in some blinding neon hue, or even basketball shoes trimmed with snakeskin – yeah – baby blue and grey snakeskin. Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but when last have you seen an actual snake slide out from under any rock with skin THAT color? Anyhow, I digressed and I’ll admit that most fashion-function footwear serve more of a fashion purpose that a function one. But it’s a small price to pay for looking your flyest while soaring through the air during your NBA-worthy dunk. So go score yourself some sneaks and play both sides of the fence. Heed this warning: if you’re about to run a marathon of sorts, I suggest you leave the baby blue and grey snake skin sneaks right there in the closet next to the dominatrix-looking ones. Please buy some proper running shoes if you want to give yourself a winning chance. Thank you.

By: Andréa Nelson