THELOOK&LISTEN

floral & fur

2012-01-10T23:49:00.000-08:00

I've finally managed to pull myself out of the "all black everything" phase and have dived head first into vintage prints, bright colors, and fur. It may have something to do with the fact that it has been 70 degrees in Los Angeles for about two weeks now. We were all longing for a splash of winter rain or cooler air so that we could whip out our favorite cold weather accessories. But the closest we can get to that right now is a mere vest...and even with the no sleeves deal, it get's a bit warm. Although, mixing fun prints in with elements of what a winter season wardrobe should look like has been a blast. Here are some of my favorites!

1.Silk Haiwain Shirt by Stella McCartney 2.Faux Fur Vest by Sanctuary 3.Simple Metal Necklace from Style by Marina 4.Fox Fur Stole by Alexander McQueen 5.Floral Trousers by Etro 6.Floral Silk Shirt by Rodarte x Opening Ceremony 7.Forest Forge Ahead Boots by Betsey Johnson 8.Faux Fur Vest by Walter Baker

gangsta lean

2012-01-03T00:46:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and wish you the best as you work hard at following your dreams this year! As it is still sunny in Los Angeles, I've been leaving my house without a jacket and taking advantage of all the vintage prints in my wardrobe. Here I am wearing a wool fedora from BCBG Max Azria with a vintage paisley top and gold oxfords from Forever 21.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

who says you can't fly?

2011-12-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

santa baby by simone battle

2011-12-24T01:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! Thank you for reading The Look & Listen! I hope you enjoy this rendition of Santa Baby by the beautiful and stylish, Simone Battle.

sutphin boulevard

2011-12-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

And the red lips continue! I've become a bit obsessed with lipstick lately, whereas before I was terrified of the thought of it on my face. I guess things change. Here, I an awesomely spiked faux leather headband from Forever 21, vintage Levi's jeans passed down from my mother, and a cropped grey sweater.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

life.style.

2011-12-14T01:46:00.000-08:00

In Los Angeles, running into entertainers is an everyday occurrence. But it is not everyday that you come across a family like this. Looking like they just stepped out of vintage style heaven, this talented mother and her children caught our eye and just had to get a few pictures! As though this woman's style isn't awesome enough, she sings and plays the drums as well. The cool gene trickled down to her well dressed children who play the drums and bass guitar. I asked the bassist what his favorite song to play is and he replied, "Another One Bites The Dust". Insanely adorable, down to the matching Air Jordans!

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

exile by bread

2011-12-09T02:37:00.000-08:00

With mainstream culture eating rappers alive, it is refreshing to see new artists come to surface in efforts to fight the beast. I recently came across an artist who's music does just that. Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, Bread of Language Artz may be the lyrical fix you've been craving. Bread's latest, War of the Mind: Prelude to the Brainstorm, is not your average mixtape. Kicking off with a John Legend sample and lyrics to pierce your soul, this mixtape draws you in and holds you captive until the very end. Whether he's rapping about fashion, politics, or hardship Bread's message is one to be heard. The simple combination of those subjects is a rarity among artists today, while the majority of our generation can relate to them all and are yearning for such art that communicates this truth.

Click here, to download War of the Mind: Prelude to the Brainstorm

sunrise

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is upon us and I've been in LA thus far, still rockin' denim shorts and light jackets. Seen on the blog before, this black top is one of my favorite pieces in my closet. It's vintage, baggy, and oh so versatile. I could wear it over something or even under a jacket. It comes with detachable shoulder padding, for when I want to feel like a 1980's rockstar, and it has long dolman sleeves that make it a little more fashionable than your average black sweatshirt. What can I say, I'm in love. Here, I am wearing it over a denim cutoff shorts and metal tribal necklace from Forever 21.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

six sweaters

2011-11-28T00:23:00.000-08:00

1. Reindeer Sweater by 3.1 Phillip Lim 2. Crew Neck Sweater by Rodarte 3. Spotted Snowfall Sweater by Madewell 4. Shaggy Cropped Sweater by Helmut Lang 5. Seeing Stars Sweater by Wildfox Couture 6. Riveted Sweater by Miaje

queen of wonderland by j*davey feat. thundercat

2011-11-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

I saw J*Davey perform at the Key Club in February of 2011 where they performed Queen of Wonderland from their (then) upcoming album, New Designer Drug. About 3 seconds into the song I was sold! Lead singer, Jack Davey poured her heart and soul into this song about the love of her life and I think it is safe to say that she left a piece of her self on that stage. Eight months later, New Designer Drug drops and I am a proud owner. I couldn't waist anytime getting this to those of you that haven't heard it, as I'll be listening to it on repeat along with the rest of the album over this fine holiday weekend. I hope you enjoy!

New Designer Drug is available now! Click, here.

diligence by brette sims

2011-11-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

For more, click here.

penelope

2011-11-15T23:46:00.000-08:00

Its all about the wide brim! The wide brim fedora, I'm telling you. To be honest, I knew I had to have a wool hat like this one ever since I saw Cowboys and Aliens a few months ago. Nerdy? Yes, indeed. On another note, I apologize for the lack of posting but I promise that I've been working on some awesome things for The Look & Listen with all of that time. You soon will see! I can't wait to share it with you all! The weather in Los Angeles has cooled down. I had been itching for colder weather so that I can play around with my layering. Here I am wearing my wide brim wool hat by BCBG Max Azria, a sheer vintage pilgrim blouse (as a dress), jacket from Forever 21, and knee high socks.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

nap on the bow by new look

2011-11-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

new hat sunday

2011-11-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

The rain came just in time for me to take out my new wide-brim fedora from BCBG MaxAzria. I tried it out with my faux fur scarf and Silver Screen nail polish by BCBG MaxAzria.

leather & shine

2011-11-02T00:09:00.000-07:00

1. Metallic Gold Nail Polish by NARS 2. Cropped Leather Jacket by Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair 3. Leather Beaded Bracelets by Michael Kors 4. Pleated Woven Pants by Missoni 5. Chain Bib Necklace by Fiona Paxton 6. Double Wrap Bracelet by Alexander McQueen 7. Wide-brimmed Hat by Lanvin

grace jones

2011-10-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

"If you're out there you're vulnerable. People prefer to disappear in   life, to repress their personality. That's not living. It's dying. I  see  them all over the place, the walking dead."

love gun

2011-10-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

Oh hey Favorite New Sweater, meet Favorite New Scarf. I could literally live in my new Sweater from Urban Outfitters. It's very sheer and easy to layer, so I can wear it in almost any weather. I love the fact that it has an open back and is the coziest sweater that I own. I wore it with a vintage fur scarf and mini skirt from Forever 21.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

three questions with danielle schnur

2011-10-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

I never thought of myself as the type to want a naked lady hanging on my bedroom wall, but Danielle Schnur has changed all of that around! When I first met Danielle I had no idea that she was such a talented artist. I just knew that she was a really cool girl with an extremely fun and positive spirit. But the best part about getting to know someone is watching the layers unfold over time. Danielle's art is something that I can't say I've seen before. I instantly fell in love with the abstract backgrounds and the bare images of women. Her pieces expose femininity in a simple and honest way that are not only pleasing to the eye, but stimulating to the mind. I had a lot of fun chatting with Danielle about her journey thus far, inspiration, and personal style.

How did you get into art and where do you see it going in the future?
"It's no accident that I became an artist, I was somewhat forced into it. My family is full of artist. At every dinner my Dad would just hand me a piece of paper and tell me to draw something, we'd make a game around it. This past year, two friends of mine asked me to paint a mural on a wall in their apartment. So I sketched up some really graphic images, that really looked like a lot of the background for the stuff that I draw now. Then I just thought, 'You know, It would be really great if I just put a naked lady in the middle'. This was kind of silly at the time, but they thought it was pretty dope and wanted me to come paint it. The mural never ended up getting done. However, it catapulted me into this whole genre that's really taken over right now. I do want to see where it goes. last Friday was the first time I actually went out and tried to sell anything and I got a great response. It was at Oakland Art Walk and we just went out there with a bunch of pieces. A lot of different people were able to look through my lookbook and the response was amazing. I realized that if I do want to do this and get things going that I can, it's just a matter of effort. I'm looking forward to moving to LA after graduating from UC Santa Cruz and getting more into my art."

Who do you look to for inspiration?
"Well absolutely my father. He was so wild with how he decorated our house. It definitely shows through my art, there are naked women everywhere in different ways (laughs). It's also really graphic images, a lot of contrast, a lot of black on white or even bold colors. Things are really bold in our home. I also look to other artists like Keith Herring and Basquiat. My mother brought me up on Matisse, which features a lot of caricature images of people with amazingly bold colors."

How you describe your personal style as far as clothing and fashion?
"Something that I like to think about in terms of clothes as well as art is the ratio of a woman. I think that the things that really signify femininity to people are not just ass and breasts, its the ratios between our neck and our shoulders or our shoulders and our chest and our chest and our waist or waist and hips. I think that is what makes someone feminine. It doesn't matter what those ratios are, every woman's got them in some way. When I dress I'm pretty simple, but I definitely like to play up those ratios. I'm really into accentuating things, but at the same time I don't like cleavage or anything that is to overtly sexual. It's the lines of a woman that I think are important and beautiful."

For more information on Danielle Schnur, visit www.danielleschnur.com

jeffrey campbell f/w 2011: downtown girl

2011-10-17T03:15:00.000-07:00

It seems as though Jeffrey Campbell has become a movement over the years, the cherry on top to every funky fashionista's eclectic ensemble. With Jeffrey Campbell remaining a few steps ahead in the world of funky shoes, I was overly excited to see the brand's vision for their Fall/Winter 2011 collection. Downtown Girl speaks to the often young, working, and artistic girl who would die over a pair of crushed velvet Lita booties. Showcasing the shoes as accessories in the life of this girl, Downtown Girl carries the Jeffrey Campbell aesthetic into our Fall and Winter months to come.

To see the entire lookbook, visit jeffreycampbellshoes.com

get together

2011-10-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

Oh hey, it's me. I feel like it's been forever since I've been on here. But to give you all an update, it's about a million degrees in Los Angeles and I've fallen back in love with Beyonce! Silly-ness aside, I've got some great things cooking up for The Look & Listen that I'm very excited to share with you! So keep an eye out! Here, I am wearing vintage olive colored slacks, platforms from H&M, and a racer back tank from H&M. Casual tanks with dress pants are one of my new favorite combinations. Mixing business with comfort can be so chic!

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

small carpet bag by simone camille

2011-10-04T01:14:00.000-07:00

In all honesty, I ditched carrying a purse about three months ago. But after seeing this Small Carpet Bag by Simone Camille I began missing that extra weight on my shoulder. This bag's combination of genuine leather and ethnic detail caught my eye, not to mention its metal trim and the fact that its printed material is a collection of pieces from vintage carpet! Simone Camille is a line of handcrafted bags made by former wardrobe stylist, Simone Harouche. Harouche started making handbags as a side hobby to her career as a Wardrobe Stylist. She loved to collect antique pieces and textiles for her creations, giving them a unique flair and luxury quality. It wasn't until Simone's designs had been widely recognized after she gave one of her bags to one of her high profile clients that she fell into turning her pass time craft into a business. Since launching in 2009 Simone Camille has maintained its vintage and antique roots, only recently beginning to incorporate leather with this Small Carpet Bag among others. With designer handbags being a huge staple these days, it's nice to see something that is a bit more original. . Perhaps I was just on a handbag strike until I found the right piece of art to call my purse. For more Simone Camille, click here.

little wing

2011-09-29T01:47:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been running around the city in all black, even with the sunny weather that we've been getting in Los Angeles. I'll be happy when it actually gets cooler and I can layer my outfits the way that I've been wanting to. If you can't tell by now, I'm completely over my summer wear! Today I wore two of my favorite black pieces, a bold shouldered vintage sweater that I found a few weeks ago and my snake print leggings from BCBG MaxAzria.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa

spice up your life

2011-09-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

waterfall by young yeller

2011-09-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

I came across Young Yeller's bandcamp page one morning while putting together a fashion post. For anyone who listens to music on bandcamp, you know that it allows you to listen to the entire album without interruption. After hearing the first few seconds I found myself lost in the music and inspired to create, only taking notice after the last song finished. His voice has a rock edge with a surprisingly smooth delivery, what girl wouldn't want to listen? While four out of five the tracks on Yeller's latest Make Me EP are on the upbeat side, Waterfall seemed to pull at me the most. Waterfall is one of those ballad's that I can see myself listening to around this time again next year and the years to follow. Fall/Winter fashion and music are the absolute best! Nothing better than a beautiful ballad to warm your soul, and a fabulous layered outfit to protect you from the physical cold. For Young Yeller's full Make Me EP, click here.

DIY: paint splattered shorts

2011-09-20T01:17:00.000-07:00

DIY- Do It Yourself. It's always fun to play designer for a day and make a wearable piece to add to your closet. I was flipping through Nylon Magazine and came across an adorable DIY idea for yellow paint splattered denim shorts. The process was so much fun, and wearing something that I'd made myself was a great feeling.

First I took a pair of white jeans by 7 For All Mankind made a small cut on the side of each leg, ripping it across to make rough edged shorts (using my favorite pair of cut-off shorts for measure).

Next, I dyed my new white shorts yellow with iDye from my local art supply store.

The paint splattering was the real fun.

After allowing the paint to dry, I applied gold studs along the pocket lines.

Photos by Joseph Poakwa