Monthly Archives: September 2012

Chucks.. All Stars.. Converse = Global Fad

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How can this lightweight, rubber sole, canvas body shoe, never become extinct?  Converses have been around for a little over a century now, and yet people still wear them (the more modern version that is). Starting out as a basketball shoe, in the late 70s to 80s, these little shoes have now transformed into skateboarding, causal and even dance shoes on a global scale. The world seems to love there Chucks.

In the music world, rapper/ songwriter Wiz Khalifa has become the new face for Nike Converses. This 25 year old, Pittsburg native has taken the plain average converse and transformed it into so much more by creating a personal label based on this sneaker.  His record label Taylor Gang derived from his previous high school Taylor Allderdice High school has fully embodied this stylish phase. They formed a collaboration with the common Converse shoe with a record label therefore resulting in a successful clothing line.  If you every run into a picture of Wiz or see him in concert a pair of chucks are always on his feet. 

 He made wearing red Chuck Taylors a fad worn by inner city teens everywhere, representing Taylor Gang.

 

Now besides chucks being a popular shoe, have you ever thought what makes them so popular?  I have come to the conclusion that it is a result of its versatility. These shoes come in every color, pattern high-top or low-top, or  size you can think of and if they happen not to have the right cheetah print on the left side you can customize it yourself. There so easy to match with any outfit, whether it is something causal to a punk rock theme.

Converses are an all-around shoe benefiting nearly teen. So the next time you slip on a pair of chucks ask yourself how you can make them original. Have fun and be creative!


Fashion Do’s and Dont’s- Fall 2012 Cali Style

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Now, this post goes out to all my fellow ladies who commit the horrible crime of

FASHION DON’TS but luckily I’m here to set you free in the world of FASHION DO’s. 

Its beginning to get a little nippy out, and that means nothing more than, fall shopping ! Fall has to be one of the best times to dress up, it’s usually not to hot or to cold, its a good compliment in between to make you look like a fashion goddess comfortably. One of the most important things, Fall does not mean sweats, hoodies more sweats and more hoodies. Theres still a way to look a fashionably nice while being warm in the shade and cool in the sun. The answer is = SHORTS

How many girls love to wear shorts, it brings out your legs and no restrictions, what more can you ask for? But shorts in the winter ? yes ladies. Easy to make and DIY ( do it yourself) You could use a random pair of old jeans: trace, cut, fray, dry or even dye/ stud to add personality ; put those babies on with tights ( holes or colored) and you transformed into a FASHION MUST. You could throw a blazer on or a warm sweater and you are good to go .

Often times we tend to over look the options in our closet as just summer clothes or just winter clothes , what makes the style in California original is due to the level if broadness making it unique.  Your not limited to colors, patterns, shapes or sizes making one free to express their inner them. The retro movement taking place in the west coast is the primary cause for this fashion, pop culture is fully embraced by designers such as YSL. Fashion is impacted by its environment, skateboarding and surfing are popular and yet converse chucks never seem to go out of style. ( That will be for next week). 

As for now, get up and start experimenting with those old items in your closet you’ll be surprised to what outfits are produced. Bring out your creativity.

Does Rhetoric Scare You ?

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Often times the word “rhetoric” is said with a negative connotation, therefore receiving a bad rap “ as a form of oratory manipulation”. I view rhetoric as a  productive way of getting ones point across, it is the key to communication.

Think about how much meaning is behind the everyday commands we say to one another. For example, we want something done from another person, what do you do ?

You word your command in such a way that it appeals to the individual in order to fulfill your need. “ Please go get my book, my feet hurt “- whether realized or not your appealing to ones pathos, through the usage of the sympathy card. There is rhetoric all around us especially here at Penn. Such as the big blue  “respect responsibility poster” that is hanging up in nearly every resident hall. It asks a ton of rhetorical questions, “ How do you show respect for the individuals in your community?”..” How do you influence your peers to live in a respectful community?”.. “How will you be responsible for your academic and social success?” Each one of these questions appeal to ones logos to get up, get out and make a positive difference within yourself ; it lets you know your bigger than just yourself you effect your community. Pssst! those are logos.

Rhetoric is all around us,  hidden in the strangest places but yet effects each one of us. It brings us together and gives each of us a voice.  So for this week I dear each and every one of you to pay attention to how we communicate amongst ourselves, you’ll be surprise at the power of words.

It’s time to CHANGE !

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Speech Planning

  1. Attention 
Grab attention of my audience through 
  • statistics of African American men in inner cities who have been killed by gun or any type of violence.
  • Explain why such acts take place
  • Where  and when similar acts are most likely to occur
     2. Need 
Explain the problem of violence and young adolescents loosing their lives in order to stress the problem and share an understanding 
  • Share the stories of my past experiences with violence within my neighborhood
  • Dukens… Daniel Baker.. and finally Rashad 
  • suggest a need to stop violence and the reasons why
      3. Satisfaction 
Bring up the STOP THE VIOLENCE walk as a plan to solve the problem
  • Talk about past events that have taken place
  • Current event for recent killing
      4. Visualization 
Describe the difference it makes in the community 
  •  makes people more aware of what is happening around them
  • goal: to motivate people to take action
  • bring the community together
  • County Executives take notice
My opinion on gun violence and being incarcerated..
Why take someones child out of the world, someones brother, sister, cousin , no one should have to endure the plan of loosing a love one due to something as mean less as an argument or over anything materialistic or social standing. The way my town is now, its going in downward spiral with children and teens on the street. For the most part the argument of someone being a product of their environment, is logical to me but also not an excuse for the behavior being portrayed. I understand that sometimes the resources are not available and an alternate route must be taken in order to progress in life but one must be accountable for their actions. I feel that most often times its overlooked on how much help some teens need, instead of blaming people we need to help them . 

After all, you bleed the same blood I bleed

You live the same way I live

we are one.

 

Passion #1- The Basis

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Jacket: $300

Shirt: $60

Belt:$95

Jeans:$250

Shoes:$225

Having money to pay a phone bill?

“ Money-less” -__-

What would posses people to spend that massive amount of money on something as materialistic as clothing? Well, heres the answer.. welcome to New York. Most males on average spend that about on money on a daily outfit. “But why?” One has to remember that New York is a fashion capital, therefore expensive brand name clothing is a “must” to own. Ranging from high-end fashion such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci to True Religion and Nike (Jordans) when it comes to sneakers. Especially sneakers, men are willing to camp out for days and stand in ridiculous long lines for a pair of shoes. In some cases deaths have occurred on Jordan release dates due to fighting and arguments that arise.  I work at Finishline ( a sneaker store) and some customers will go through a lot to get their hands on a pair of limited sneakers. Outrageous right ?

Designers are not the only element to influence styles, music plays a role too. In the Northeast a new rapper called 2Chainz has a motto, “ I’m true to my religion” hence the reason why he wears True Religion brand. Since then this brand has become popular among teens who are willing to spend nearly $250 – $300 on jeans or a jacket. Style is regional, in the West where 2 Chainz is not as popular opposed to a group called The Cali Swag District , that  dressed in plaid shirts, skinny jeans, glasses, a very retro style made the 80‘s come back in the new millennium. Most often, the link between style and music regionally is not a thought that appears in our mind, we as people are so caught up in what happens around us interfering with what we perceive as “normal”.  That once you leave your home state and venture out across the United States you really see how different people are in terms of social aspects. The materialistic view that exists in the mindset of New Yorkers is non realistic, but its what I am used too.

So with my time here at Penn State its going to be my mission to expose and bring to light the different styles and music that exists across our nation.

Do the Right Thing Reaction

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Being from New York and spending most of my childhood in Bed- Stuy, Brooklyn, watching “Do the Right Thing” illustrated an exaggerated yet partially realistic view of a predominantly African American city area. Realistic in terms of the segregation among ethnic lines, the boroughs of New York City and the surrounding suburbs are some of the most segregated areas in the NorthEast.

One point mentioned during the discussion touched on how even here at Penn State its very clique oriented, whether right or wrong is debatable. I feel like polarizing to your own race is a common human ideology often overlooked, that was depicted in the film successfully. People tend to group with people who share common interests and are relatable with race being the most leading but not limited example. Language within this film served as power not only verbally but through the use of visual rhetoric to depict a message. From the word LOVE written on the glass of the radio station that demonstrated the bond shared amongst the people of the town shown through the riot after the death of Radio Raheem to the scuff mark on the pair of Jordan’s which served to show the attachment to material items and how it depicts power. Those expensive shoes gave the character power in terms of his peers, it made him have a higher “cooler” status just like the radio Radio Raheem carried around, with it being bigger and louder than all the other guys on the block, made him retrieve a higher status in town. That ideology of material items representing power is still present amongst the black community today especially in New York, everything a child growing up must own has to be name brand but not just any name brand, the clothing and accessories that are expensive and high-end, ranging from Ralph Lauren, Air Jordan’s, to even Burberry and Louis Vuitton. Moreover, there was point made during the discussion that addressed how many African Americans have progressed in society in terms of politics and cooperate america but are still regressing at the same rate through criminal activity, from going to jail or dying. That was seen through the movie with Mookie’s friend not taking the “opportunity” that was given to his friend to get a job, and that thought was the basis on argument of regression, that many African Americans don’t take the opportunity to move forward.

I can say that most of my male friends that are black have ether been to jail, in jail or dead due to their choice of lifestyle to some extent. I believe that sometimes opportunities aren’t present therefore an alternate route is taken. If a child growing up is from a single parent household, or from a household where there living with another relative because their parents are ether dead or in jail, you cant expect them to be able to reach the same heights someone from a two parent well off household can. Sometimes its the environment in which you live that holds you back, but their are people that slip through those cracks and make it but majority wont, not because they don’t want to but because they don’t have the means. Sometimes its more than a race issue, sometimes its about helping someone else..think about it and be grateful for what you do have. Lend a hand