A Look Back on Michael Jackson Inspired Style

Remember the time

by

Izetta Henderson

Michael Joseph Jackson blew this world wide open with his musical ingenious and impeccable style.

As a child growing up in Brooklyn, NY during the 80s, my brother and I rocked Micheal Jackson inspired jackets.

Zippers adorned the pockets and almost every other open space, the shoulders were garnished with studs and glittery patches. EXTRA. EXTRA.

When I really wanted to give it to them, I removed the sleeves and rocked my jacket as a vest with high water Lees and Nike sneaks and a ponytail to the side. Michael made us feel alive.


DON'T STOP TILL YOU GET ENOUGH!

We can't forget the signature style of the Jackson 5.

A time where Afro's were tough and bells rocked all night long. Polyester never looked so good. The style of the 60s is alive and well today, hell right here in BK.

Plaid pants incorporated with tight fitting button downs and men shoes, coupled with locks, tapered fro and hot shades (preferably from YAK BAK - fix you face son).

In 1979, Micheal Jackson released Off the Wall and graced his album with his well mannered Fro, Black suit, white shirt, black tie. His smile lept off the cover and you just knew, his pants were high, white socks a gleaming and loafers were rockin.

Only he could make a tux look so hip.

How many of you pushed up the sleeves of your suit and tux jackets, flipped your collar to show your cool....He was definitely a smooth operator.

In the 80s, Michael reunited with his family and blessed us with Can You Feel it....damn that song made me feel like I was 10ft tall!

The Jackson 5 refined their style and took straight to outer space. Fros were updated and the curl was added, with tight jeans and rockin tees and tops.

Don't forget moon dust sprinkled across to give those tops a certain kind of 80s flair.

Though the decades, Michael brought us many variations of his personality. Whether it was bedazzled gear reminiscent of a military general, or garments that made the Jetsons look like a bunch of lames. Michael Jackson did up his way. He made me look forward to a time when cars will fly and holograms will be the next hottest thing.

Even now, I have seen his style grace the stages of Madonna, Usher, Justin Timberlake, even the Dream is MJ style and fitted denim, yet baggy denim, a phenomenon i still don't understand...hahaha

I can go on forever about MJs out of this world style. But i just wanted to jog the memory and remember the times....take some time, look up his style resume, reminisce over glittery gloves and buckles.

Love it or hate, MJ contributed so much to our lives....I am deeply sadden that I will not see this powerhouse grace us with his upcoming tour that was in the making. But I will never forget how fly I felt, standing on Fulton street mall, standing in front of Fayva, rocking my red Michael Jackson vest and white sweatshirt with a sliver glove...thank you sooo much Michael Jackson for visiting our realm, you were simply to big to be contained on this tiny planet....

Over and Out!

I.H.


Yah's 2 cents:

First off, I never had said jacket...sigh. My family was just off the boat and we couldn't afford it...but in high school I had a Bedazzler and EVERYTHING. I MEAN EVERYTHING was studded. Hat, jacket, shirt pockets, jean pockets (not comfy to sit on but mad cute). So I think I'm almost over the trauma.

Just recently the fashion world was thrown for a loop when Mike (as I affectionately called him) was spotted in pieces straight off the runways of Balmian and Givenchy.

Womenswear, no less but who has shown us the dopeness of androgyny in fashion better than Mike. No one.

Givenchy

BTW if anyone wants to buy me the whole Givenchy's Fall 2008 Collection please email me for sizes. Thanks. Straight fire!

Balmain

Also, feel free to pick up the military/Michael Jackson inspired Demim Balmain spotted on Rihanna...totally MJ and TOTALLY me.me.me.me.me. sigh.

OK...I'm done.

Thanks ZETTA!!! Let's keep the articles coming!!

RIP MJ

Take It In.

The Fitter. The Better.

Cocolah says.....

Boom chaka laka BOOM! with BoomThreads

You have fashion designers, you have film makers, you have entertainers then you have artists. Artists who live to create. Create to live. To the artist, hustle comes secondary. They create because it's the way they communicate with the world.

Cocolah.com is thrilled to introduce BOOM.THREADS. Brought to you by the mystic Ogechi.

Self described as:

My work channels the mystique of Black skin, charged with the feminine sexual power, to examine sexual roles and urges. Sexuality is the key to the continuum of life, as we know it. My video work draws on the representational authority of the photographic image as a means of engaging the viewer in my alternate reality to comment on the biological past, present and future of the darker-skinned children of Africa on planet Earth.

Deepness.


1. Tell me a little a...Multi-media artist from the time I was a small child. I am inspired by all art forms. I experiment a lot and it usually works out. But when
it I don't love it, I just try again.

I just have one of those spirits that won't give up on my ideas.

I got into filmmaking as an umbrella to record all of my ideas and creations. But umm... I'm really hands on with what goes on before my lens...

And I'm a healer.

> 2. Your tshirts seem to tell a story, can you tell me a bit about each.

I let each shirt inspire me with a different mood. I don't plan them in advance. Sometimes I get a vision. I just paint.

Painting relaxes me. I go with the spirit.

"Sun Rays on a Cloudy Head" happened very organically. I was trying to communicate a feeling and the elements just came together. A lot of men respond to that design.

The ideal boom.threads wearer will let each shirt inspire them and be open to the experience of inspiring other folks by wearing something out of the ordinary. These T-shirts are conversation pieces.

Trust, they are empowering to the wearer. I did a focus group and the results were unanimous. Consider yourself warned. ;)

> 3. What is your personal style?

Eye on Africa. Futuristic. Cultural. Expressive. Soul searching. Trend-setting.

In my experience, I've noticed that my personal style is about 3-4 years ahead of the fashion industry.

That's usually how long I look "unusual" before people start copying. But I never let that get to me because I'm always adding to and refining my style.

It's always changing and growing and that's how I stay unique.

> 4. How would you define underground fashion?

Underground fashion is what the fearless trend-setters wear. The going shelf life is about 3 years before underground fashion is xeroxed into the fashion industry machine, but that time is decreasing in the information age. I think that we are going to see a rise in individual
style.

> 5. Ok....predict the fashion future...what do you see for fall?

Emphasis on personal style and identity. Things could definitely get tribal. Look out for Boomthreads Fall 09 Collection.

> 6. How would you describe your local LA based fashion?

I'm an east coast transplant. On the east coast the temp is always changing so we do layers. And more tailored items.

West Coast style is about comfort and not trying too hard, being able to blend into different activities, day & night. There is more of an emphasis on personality.

Going too hard on with random trendy style without a well developed persona comes off fake.

Imitation won't take ya far in this environment. At least, that's my opinion.

When the style and persona work in conjunction, that's when you're living it in color.

> 7. What do you see in your fashion future as a designer and fashionista?

I've got my sights on fabric design. Show costumes. Sculpture.

> 8. What is your fashion pet peeve?

Ed hardy. Just kidding. No really.

When people wear symbols and insignia of a culture they know nothing about. Negative & limiting statements on T-shirts. Words & images have power. They carry energy.

I've very selective about the energy factor of symbols and statements with which I choose to adorn myself.

Christian Audigier is a great business man, however... ;)

> 9. What other projects do you have on the burner?

A DVD of my video art is upcoming on Epistrophik Peach Sound label. I'm participating in a really exciting art show called M3: MC's Mic and Metaphors in July in collaboration with Declaime. It will be occur in conjunction with DC's Hip Hop Theatre festival.

> 10. What's the one MUST HAVE product on Cocolah.com?

The "So Boom" Logo Tee. It's Unisex and so versatile. You're gonna love running your hands all over it. It has a lot of... texture.

Here's a little moving picture treat from the Ogechi....just genius.

BOOMTHREADS "SO BOOM" LOGO TEE PROMO from ogechi on Vimeo.

Get Your Eyes Right

Cover your right eye with your right hand.

Read the first line, pause and repeat until you reach line 10.

Switch hands and cover your left eye with your left hand.

Read through line 10.

Now...go to the mirror and if you don't have YakBlaks on....

FIX YOUR FACE!!!!

YakBlak as SEEN on Cocolah.com!!


Now go Fix Your Face and Say Ahhh!

Subscribe to the Cocolah Newsletter.

If you wanna be my gLover you gotta get with my friend. Miss Numa!

I LOVE MY JOB!!!

COCOLAH.com brings much joy to my life...that is...when I'm not pulling all nighters photographing, retouching, blogging, web designing, marketing and researching. Sigh.

On the rare occasion where I can sit back and enjoy being able to bring you dynamic and unique items from all around the world is when I can really sit back and say ahhh!

This is one of those occasions; COCOLAH.com is super excited to introduce Miss Numa the Glover!

Gloves are oh so sexy.....and they're an accessory that really sets you apart because although they've been around since the beginnings of fashion...they're a rare treat.

Takes a special kinda girl to have to fashion sense to pull these on.


1. Gloves....aah gloves. Gloves seem to be the forgotten accessory which were once a staple of fashion. Where did they go I wonder...

What inspired you to create the Miss Numa Glover line?

It is my love for gloves that inspired the line. the way they feel when i wear them, and the way people respond to seeing them. i wanted to share this with women and men alike.

2. Tell me a little bit of your design process.

my designs often start with a color combination i see or a fabric that i love touching. i ask myself how can i make that into a glove? will the fabric behave properly? if not what fabrics can i combine to get that pattern on my hand? i wrap things around my wrist and imagine.

3. You're also a photographer, how does photography influence your sense of fashion.

my work as a photographer is a high influence on my choices in fashion. clothing that photograph well are generally bold yet fluid. allowing the person wearing them the flexibility for expression yet completely standing on their own. when a photograph is black and white yet the clothing still stands out with beauty and sensuality then you have really created something special.

Take a peek at Miss Numa's Photography on Lah Galleria.

4. What other projects are you involved in?

i am also a filmmaker, actress, and exhibiting visual artist. i am directing my first feature film titled la petite mort which deals with women, love, life, and death. all told in an experimental/non linear fashion. pun intended :)

some of the women will wear gloves in the film of course :)

6. What is your fashion pet peeve?

although i wore my first pair in three years just about a week ago -(thanks to a friend who gave me a crazy fun thrift store pair from the early 80's) i have to say my fashion pet peeve are jeans.

jeans are so very boring. and the status symbol some designers make of them is annoying me! i also think louis vuitton bags are ugly. not that they aren't constructed well, but people make themselves walking advertisements with that LV all over the place. and a lot of times it boils down to look at me and how much i paid for this.

7. What can we expect from the Miss Numa line in the future?

That's my favorite questions as it gets my imagination churning...You will definitely see more dynamic gloves with unexpected color cut and fabric combos. You will also see very soon one of a kind limited edition jackets and gowns which i am very excited to introduce soon.

8. How would you define your personal style?

this question is hard to answer. i am drawn to wearing lace and soft fabrics. i love flowing dresses. and when i am running around the garment districts of la and ny or just doing regular errands you can catch me in a simple cotton jumpsuit from american apparel.

i wear heels at night and flat boots or sandals in the daytime. and i of course love pantyhose and gloves and wear them frequently as well.

9. If you could choose between unlimited shoes and a personal tailor what would it be?

the tailor.

10. What is the MUST HAVE item on Cocolah.com?

miss numa's tuxedo gloves of course :)


Thanks Miss Numa!


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