Don't let the Dow bring you Down!

I've started asking my favorite fashionistas if the economy has affected their shopping habits. Thankfully for me...AND www.cocolah.com it hasn't :) KEEP SHOPPIN!!!!

If you ask me the MUST HAVE accessory for the economic slump is a pair of YakBlak Vintage Sunnies to mask the expression of sheer fear and gloom....just a thought.

So!!!! Here are a few tips on how to move forward in the next...few years? Yikes.

OK let me focus...here goes:

COAT! Note to my East coasters....I think more and more folks are FINALLY starting to pay attention to their Outerwear..thankfully!!! SNTDC. (Say No To Down Coats) unless you live in Antarctica there is really no excuse unless its 20 below zero which is rare thanks to global warming.

There is such a large range of beautiful coats in interesting patterns and textures. BE CREATIVE!!!! You'll only be wearing it for more than half of the year and when your (would be) fans see you in the street. YOU'RE STYLIN!!!


If you wear jeans...invest! splurge!!! Yes splurge in a new pair of killer jeans that fit you like WHOA! If you're anything like me once you find a pair that FITS. FITS. you won't take them off till the crotch starts fading away...that's when they really start looking good...why is that?! You try and try but fall right back into your trusty pair that hug your butt like so...sigh.. I'd stick to a dark wash or black for the winter months, you'll definitely to get the most wear and they can also cross over to semi dressy events.

Same goes for a great pair of slacks, get them altered if you have to....a dope suit if you can spare the change...might as well get it now while you can...you might need it later considering all the layoffs...sigh. Let's stay focused.

Shoes. A nice pair of dress shoes will take you a long, long way. If you're into sneakers, I can't help you there cus I dont know nothing about sneakers BUT my man "The Stuntman" will help you out in that area...he'll be featured here on cocolah.com next week with his column "A Stuntman's Style Guide". Stay tuned!!!!

Where was I?

Ah...yes shoes. Try getting a shoe that would look great with your suit AND jeans. See where we're going with this...they're called essentials.

Crisp white shirt NEVER, ever fails, makes you look crisp, clean and it is truly a timeless look..in layman's terms makes you look grown. Wear it while hanging out and/or to work. Switch up one of your many scarves and you got a completely new outfit every time. Leave it open for a more casual look. Tuck it in, buttoned up and out, under a cardigan or v-neck sweater...catch my drift?

Right now you have to figure that every piece that goes in your closet has to be versatile.

OH!!!! AANNND since we're sooo not getting our clothes dry cleaned...hand wash your precious white shirt!!! PLEASE! OR wash in the washing machine and HANG DRY!! Never, ever use bleach; it will yellow your shirt, try baking soda instead.

Pay extra attention to the collar and always add a little detergent and let it sit for a bit before hand washing...thank you very much.

Moving on.

Most of us are well aware that the best way to get gear on a dime is thrift BUT!!!! Like attracts like so if you have fly friends...have a SWAP MEET!!! I had a swap meet a while back and it was a true success sooo much fun. I got rid of a lot of stuff in my closet I didn't want anymore but couldn't part with (story of my life).

Swapping with friends makes it easy to let go when you're getting that burgundy velvet blazer you've been secretly hating on. Now it's all yours!!! Try not to hate when you see your friend rocking that sweater you thought you were over...just let it go boo. Let it go.

That's all I gotta say about that.

Your favorite cocolah,

Yah

WHOOOOOP!

The Agytators in 15 Questions

My granny would often look at me square and say "Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres" which means....Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are....mmm hmm you know that's right!

These ladies right here!!! I'm honored to call them my friends! LOVE EM!! Soon as I met them I knew there was something truly special about these ladies. That they'd someway, somehow make history. They are not the type of women who fade into the background.

Point blank they're Agytators.

Not only do they have style for days and days and days but these chicks are HUSTLAS!!! The Agytators understand the visual and psyche game the masses love to play these days and they play it well. They're quickly becoming super talented photographers, scratch that MEdia Queenz, style icons, social butterflies, one of those "need to know people"....Buzz Queenz. Is that an official term?? Might need to copyright that.

I asked my favorite girls a few questions...wanna hear um? here it go!!!

What is the first thing you think about before getting dressed?

COCO BLACK: I think… I need to watch some Best of Soul Train from the 80’s. And I do (Got it recorded).

MELLY SHABAZZ: First thought: I gotta make more money! My desire to develop fresh new looks for myself will probably drive me to become a millionaire (or insane) faster than any of my art forms.

Fashion drives me mad!
Fashion drives me mad!
Fashion drives me mad!

When dressing for an event what's more important: being cute, comfort, dress code or weather?

COCO BLACK: Being myself… which is undeniably cute.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Confidence is the most important item in any wardrobe. Without it, you’re not going to be cute or comfy.

What's your hustle?

COCO BLACK: Today I’m a Superhero Artist. Photography, film, music, and events. And tomorrow? Anything I want!

MELLY SHABAZZ: The Church of Manifesting Your Destiny Through Multi-disciplinary Arts Youth Outreach Ministry.

Does your hustle pay rent or do you have a side/day job?

COCO BLACK: I only write what will be. It pays the rent.


MELLY SHABAZZ: A hustle that doesn’t support your needs i.e. shopping, rent, mortage (if you got it like that), and food, is a dream deferred. I feel like a bootleg fortune cookie.

Who has a better style, you or your alter ego?

COCO BLACK: They both are pretty dope and keyed in. If Coco picks the dress, Tasha picks the shoes. Both say BE BOLD.BE BOLD.BE BOLD.BE BOLD.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Both are pretty fly. Mel is more of an emotional dresser than Melly.

How often do you shop?

COCO BLACK: Everyday! How? It’s a MYSTERY!

MELLY SHABAZZ: Every extra dime goes to fashion.

Has the economy affected your shopping habits?

COCO BLACK: A little little bit. Shop thrift, then you won’t have to worry about recessions cause you get the good sh*t dirt cheap. Valuable advice.

MELLY SHABAZZ: You can’t lose what you never had. Recession or no recession, I’m thrift store pimpin all day!

What is your fashion pet peeve?

COCO BLACK: Extreme Jodhpurs. They can’t be worn anywhere (even on horses) and they make everyone look like fauns. (Think Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.) Yuk!

MELLY SHABAZZ: Man capris…utterly digusting!

Share one of your fashion secrets?

COCO BLACK: Ebay. I will say NO more.

MELLY SHABAZZ: I gotta agree with Coco….EBAY.

Name a recent fashion inspiration.

COCO BLACK: Jeremy Scott, Viktor Rolf, random 80’s castoffs that can be reinvented.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Coco Chanel, 80’s and early 90’s sitcoms, and Rock Music.

Rock Music is a chief influence in what I’m transitioning into. It’s been very hard for me to accept rock music because of it’s blatant stealing from Black musicians without proper recognition. But since I’ve been able to get pass the thievery and embrace rock music, it has given me an exciting ambiance in which to consider my style and fashion.

What trend do you see in the future for underground fashion?

COCO BLACK: Big Russian Fur hats + foxtails with chains. ;)

MELLY SHABAZZ: Red lipstick on dark skinned girls = Super cute! Multiple chains + long pearls

What trend do you wish would just die, die, die?

COCO BLACK: Those hoodies that zip up over the head. Talk about stupid and pointless. Fashion should always have utilitarian value… no matter how ridiculous/audacious it is.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Square tipped nails--I hate them. Round-tipped nails are classic. Square tipped nails are gaudy and awfully tacky. I wish nail salons would refuse to shape nails in such a hideous manner.

Who is your fashion muse?

COCO BLACK: Myself. Hmmm… Grace Jones, Kelis, Soul Train dancers circa 1980’s (that’s a good secret), Peggy Moffit, David Bowie if he was a woman. So many.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Grace Jones- she’s the mother of fierceness and i’m extremely taken by Coco Chanel.

What would you choose: a personal tailor or unlimited shoes?

COCO BLACK: Personal tailor. I can always bind my feet, steal my mom’s ever-expanding mountain of shoes, and fit my size 9 foot into her size 5 shoe. Ha ha.

MELLY SHABAZZ: Personal Tailor—oh the magic we’d create!

Any advice for the wannabe fashionistas?

COCO BLACK: Be innovative and unique. Nothing worst than looking like an H&M mannequin. Nothing worst in the whole entire world! (Well, maybe this depression is pretty bad!)

MELLY SHABAZZ: Develop good taste. There’s nothing worse than good clothes on a person with bad taste.

Fashion Challenge Anyone, Anyone, Anyone?

I've thought long and hard about what to do with this blogspace....something different, interactive....hmm...fashion but innovative....gasp!!!

Fashion Challenge anyone?!
anyone? anyone?
Bueller?

Send your pics of an outfit inspired by the picture!!

Dope!? Yes, I know. Let the games begin!

yah@cocolah.com
la cocolah