In my Amazon shopping cart....

Yes!  More gifts for me! 

Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa,

Hans Silvester

The Dress Doctor: 

Prescriptions for Style, From A to Z,

Edith Head

The Tokyo Look Book: 

Stylish to Spectacular, Goth to Gyaru, Sidewalk to Catwalk, 

Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe

Stay With Me Baby!

Just had a long conversation with a very fashionable friend (who wants to remain nameless... why? I don't know. *shrug*) about what makes a Fashion Icon. I say, it's anyone you can recognize by their silhouette or seeing their clothes hanging in the closet.  I would know, Diana Ross's clothes... I would know Karl Lagerfeld's clothes... I would know Betsy Johnson's silhouette .... wouldn't you know Isabella Blow's collection of chapeaus? 

...... anyway, we went on and on about who is recognizable and who isn't?  I say Janis Joplin's closet and silhouette are recognizable, my friend says not so much,..... that she is a music icon.. and her closet could belong to any flower child.  WHATEVAH!  LOL

Speaking of the great Janis Joplin, I haven't heard this cover of Lorraine Ellison's 'Stay With Me Baby' in forever. 
LOVE this version!

MRSmamaCASSELLIOTT

Philadelphia Designer's Market!

If you haven't "Liked" Philadelphia Designer's Market on Facebook or subscribed to their newsletter, you should do so ASAP.

You know I love all the big designers, but I REALLY love an Indie-Designer! So when I saw this invite.... I typed it into my calendar immediately and have been looking forward to it for weeks! ......should have posted a reminder for everyone else on the 17th... I promise, I'll make sure I post their Spring Market dates.


So... I was really in the mood for fashion, the night before I attended John Wind/Maximal Art's 25th Anniversary Bash at The Palm! 

Best Dressed

Ilene Griff (Graphic Designer) 

in Isabel Marant and Stella McCartney, John Wind Signature Necklace

Dina Wind (Artist, and Mother of John Wind)

in two classic John Wind Double brooch

 ..... after a whirlwind night of every neck, ear, and wrist being adorned with a John Wind bauble, I was prepped for more fashion and couldn't wait to see what the Philadelphia's Designer's Market had to offer.  And I wasn't disappointed ... I could hear the bustling shoppers and oohs and ahhs way before I started walking on the Market's yellow carpet (which was held at the Beautiful First Babtist Church on 17th Street.... took a moment to meditate inside the actual chapel... I highly recommend meditation, and I highly recommend a look at the beautiful architecture and history of the Church.

So... let's dive in!  There was an amazing energy inside the Market space.  Everyone was reaching and grabbing and trying things on.... and primping in mirrors... my kind of party.  Here are a few of my faves....

K. Louise Designs

Designer, Kelly Louise succeeds in designing jewelry that allows the wearer to become one with the elements.  She wants to show the balance and connection between all things. 

...Fell in love with her pocketwatches! 

Ohhhh and I ran into one of my new favorite designers Sultana Maria (met her at Eat your Art Out).  

Sultana Maria Jewelry makes the kind of jewelry that I'm so attracted to.... found objects, abstract, asymmetrical... Rocker Glam!  I bought a great pair of coin earrings... $20!

I Heart New Jersey

 Nesha Griffin is self taught and has a line called My Rever Jewelry Collection (site under construction) her inspiration is nature.... You can see more of Nesha's work, on An Dukes blog.  Bought a beautiful silver multi-chain necklace.... $35!  Yes! I bet you'll be shopping the Spring Philadelphia Designer's Market. *Wink*

Pic from An Dukes fabulous Blog

 

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Special for the Style Shepherd followers:

Of course I bought something for you! My Rever Jewelry had a great pair of silver plated and brass earrings (3.5" Long 1" at its widest) that I think scream Style Shepherd.  Very simple rules, you must be a follower of The Style Shepherd, and follow Philadelphia Designer's Market on facebook.  Easy! Not so fast... you must also leave a link to your favorite indie designer. Good Luck!  You may comment as many times as you like but your comment must be made by December 26th 11:59 PM EST.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Monday December 27th.  

Fantcha!

Fashion Friday Profile of the Week

Fantcha! 

 As I floated away from the Soho Atelier of Chado Ralph Rucci (wait until you read that post... should be up by Sunday) and jutted my hand out for a taxi... a little desperately.... I had just enough time to check out Studio Manhattan's Pop Up in Bryant Park's Annual Holiday Shops (tomorrow's post) and make it back to Philly for dinner with my Honey.  Stop the presses... the hell with the taxi, look at her gorgeous hair!  I walk up to Fantcha, tell her that the Style Shepherd followers need to see how fantastic she looks and may I PLEASE take her picture.... I'm so forward. *Shrug* 

Anyway, she gives me a look like, 'Who ARE you?'.... the normal reaction to being accosted on the street by a crazed fashion disciple. That doesn't slow me down (when I get excited, my personality morphs into a yapping chihuahua) I give her my card and explain all about Fashion Friday pic/profile of the week, and then...... 

Nonchalantly posing she says, "Go ahead.  ... You're from Philadelphia? Ever heard of the International House?"  

Of course I have. Well, it turns out she's performed there.  Wow!

She gives me her card, "My name is Fantcha ... Check out my album on Itunes". 

And as soon as I get back in front of my Mac (one of my favorite places in the world) I listened to snippets of her new album, Amor, Mar e Musica.  It's beautiful, .... like a mix of Sergio Mendes and Hugh Masekela, in a strong feminine voice. Yup, I bought it... rockin' my neck and listening to it right now. 

mskvision                                                                                                   

The whole time I'd been chit chatting with music star Fantcha! I love NY! .... The woman knows how to strike a pose.... click on IMAGES to see some really fab pics.  

IMAGES

Video Look Book                                                                                         

 Excerpt from her bio -
“Fantcha, a talented…Cape Verdean beauty based in New York City, is a musical ambassador from the African archipelago nation of Cape Verde.” ~Afropop Worldwide Cape Verde, the cluster of islands off the coast of West Africa's Senegal, is best known for its poetic, bluesy music epitomized by the morna, full of yearning or sodade. But, mornas are not the only form of music there, equally popular is the infectious, danceable coladeira. The heart of this music lies in Mindelo, the fabled cultural capital of this Island nation.
Fantcha was born in Mindelo and grew up singing in a musically rich household while, her brothers played guitar and cavaquinho. At the age of ten, she came to the attention of Ti Goi, one of Cape Verde’s most famous composers who recognized her talent and encouraged her to continue singing. He believed in her talent so completely that he went onto introduce her to Cesaria Evora. Cesaria was so taken with the young singer that she became her mentor and, took her touring frequently so that she could open for her.
A charismatic performer, Fantcha, developed her own, unique musical style with African, Cuban and Portugese inflections. Her rich, sensuous voice is memorable when she sings the soulful mornas, evoking the ache of longing and loss. She is equally compelling with her renditions of coladeiras, those danceable tunes, that time after time has audiences on their feet dancing.

Fantcha moved from Cape Verde and now makes her home in New York. Her music has continued to evolve through several albums including, Lusafrica’s Criolinha and Viva Mindelo and the compilation album Putamayo Presents Cape Verde where she performs alongside famed Cape Verdean vocalists such as Bana and Cesaria Evora. She has toured throughout Cape Verde, Europe and the US and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Chicago World Music Festival, New York’s Summerstage and Joe’s Pub among others.

Lobo Mau

If you're going to be in Philadelphia on October 16th (this Saturday) don't miss the Lobo Mau Runway Debut.....

Vincent Michael Gallery presents: 

Lobo Mau 

Fall/Winter 2010 Runway Debut

Saturday, October 16th, 2010

Reception 7:00 pm

Runway Show 7:30 pm

1050 N. Hancock Street

Philadelphia, PA 19123

  Join Lobo Mau to celebrate the official launch of the Fall/Winter 2010 runway collection at Vincent Michael Gallery (located in the Piazza at Schmidt's).  Drawing inspiration from graffiti and street art, the textiles for this collection were designed and custom printed in collaboration with local artist Ryan Parker.  Designer Nicole Haddad incorporated styles and sensibilities she observed in street art from both Philadelphia and Rio de Janeiro, two cities where she has lived.  She used techniques such as bleaching, stenciling, and screen printing to capture the gritty vitality of urban art in this collection of edgy separates. 

AIDS Walk Philly 2010!

Philadelphia's AIDS Walk is less than two weeks away, 

please support my team!

Click here to Donate!

Diana Ross, Radio City Music Hall

 So, you all know that I've been waiting for this day for a long time, and it was everything I thought it would be, costume changes, all the hits I wanted to hear, and her voice is better than ever. She is the Diana that I imagined.  The thing that touched me the most, was my 20 something cousin, singing along word for word..... the music lives! 

from Jetmetset

Profile Pic of the Week, The Body Beautiful by Allegra

Exercise Guru Allegra Feamster

Happily exercising.... now there's a concept! 

The Body Beautiful by Allegra

The Body Beautiful by Allegra said... Thanks for the recognition! Over the years we've made fitness into a chore, something laborious. You know the phrase "No Pain, No Gain"! We'll that was 20 years ago. But today, fitness is about the activity, it's about moving more, so why not choose something fun to do. The more fun you have, the more you'll adhere to your program.

Yours in health & fitness,
~ Allegra ;-)

Profile Pic of the Week, Ms. Nikki Bruce!

Well, if you must post a profile pic, go all out!
It's Vilma Banky, Marlene Dietrich, Pam Grier, and Josephine Baker all rolled into one modern day... I'm just relaxing after work, ...wait let me take my glasses off, ... profile pic.
You bettah werk Mama!



And our Cover Girls favorite quote is by the late great
Marilyn Monroe.

I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you damn sure don't deserve me at my best.
-Marilyn Monroe



I've been friends with Nikki since 3rd grade... no need to say how many years that has been... let's just say, birds of a feather, flock together, ..... forever. Even though the Marilyn quote is VERY Nikki, when asked for another she sent me this one, I'm not sure who to attribute it to but Nik is the kind of friend who acts like nothing ever happened. Thanks Nikki!

A GOOD friend comforts you when you are humiliated, a GREAT friend, acts like nothing ever happened.

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Would you like your profile pic to be featured on The Style Shepherd? Send your profile pic and your favorite quote to styleshpherd@yahoo.com