You shouldn’t need a daily reminder that Kimora Lee Simmons is an icon and goals af, but you may have forgotten about Baby Phat, her label, until recently.
Thankfully, due to 2000s fashion’s resurgence, people are upcycling their OG Baby Phat threads on Depop for dineros and scouring thrift shops so they can get the ultimate Y2k lewk.
Baby Phat’s pieces were so flossy and dope, way cooler than other TBT brands we’ve embraced lately.
Here are some of our fave Baby Phat pieces that we’d totes rock today – some of which you can still buy on re-sale sites!
Denim dresses are back in a big way, and we’ve been searching for one of these bad boys in thrift stores all summer.
3. This silk bomber
Silk bombers are still cool, right? Well, what better way to stand out from everyone who bought theirs at Forever 21 than rocking this throwback Baby Phat piece? Sadly, it’s sold out, but keep your eyes peeled for another!
Juicy who? JK, we’re still obsessed with Juicy, but this millennial pink Baby Phat trackie is also goals. You can buy this rare piece here.
5. This freaking Baby Phat lingerie
UM? Cheetah print and black lace? Yes please. This piece is still for sale on Depop – get it while it’s hot (or before I do).
6. These hoops with sass
Hoop earrings are a classic in my opinion, but they’re def having a moment right now. What better way to break out some OG Baby Phat hoops? These are being sold on Depop for just $7!
7. Whatever TF this is
Is this a matching set? Is that fur thing actually a sleeve? How about that gold cuff looking thing? Many things about this look are unclear, but one thing is for certain: we’d wear it to the club tonight if we could.
8. This perfectly styled puffer
I swear designers were coming out with this exact same coat this year and acting like it was groundbreaking – but BabyPhat did it first! Well, actually some other designer probably did it first, but Baby Phat did it in 2000 and this zip-off sleeve thing looks off the chain.
Unless you’re one of those people who works out every day or was genetically blessed with naturally occurring abs, what I’m about to say might drive fear into your beating heart.
Lower abs are officially back.
Now we warned you about this four months ago, but this time, it’s serious. The threat level has moved from blue to orange because lower abs aren’t just popping up on lesser red carpets and Instagram thirst traps anymore. No, this time lower abs managed to wrangle a much more high-profile appearance.
Now they’ve got their own COVER in a glossy fashion magazine.
And it’s not just anybody who’s wearing them, it’s Bella Hadid, which means pretty much everybody who’s into fashion and social media will see it and slowly but surely they’ll be brainwashed into thinking they like lower abs, they love lower abs, and they’ve got to have them.
While there are lots of great clothing trends from the 2000s, low-rise jeans, the premier showcase for lower abs, are not one of them.
Sure, they may show off those abs you’ve worked diligently to get, but they’re just not worth the hassle.
For one, lower abs are a bitch to get in the gym, and for a second and less obvious reason, sitting in low-rise jeans is a nightmare. Before you even lower your butt one fraction of an inch towards the chair, you have to stand there and hike your jeans up until you’re serving camel toe realness and then maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to keep your butt crack from being exposed.
But more likely than not you’ll have to scooch yourself forward, rise up just a little, and hike your jeans up yet again.
In the 2000s, it wasn’t an uncommon sight to see thongs peeking out of low-rise denim. And while sometimes that’s a choice that makes your outfit stronger, sometimes it just looks like an embarrassing mistake.
And it looks like this is the future we’re creeping towards once again. It may take another year for low-rise jeans to become mainstream, but now that they’re creeping back into fashion, it’s only a matter of time.
Consider yourself warned. Again.
History does always have a way of repeating itself.
Now that we’re in the golden age of athleisure, sneakers are basically the coolest thing since sliced bread. Sorry, sliced gluten-free bread.
And California brand Creative Recreation just launched a new line of sneakers that everybody can get down with, whether you’re more of a sporty spice, or if it’s strictly the poshest life for you.
Partnering with rising artists like our fav, rapper Leaf, Creative Recreation’s new campaign is all about the hustle.
These are shoes you can wear all day that’ll make you stand out without killing your feet.
Shoes you can wear when you’re being professional during the day, but are still lit enough to go to that super hush-hush party that guy you hooked up with last week invited you to at night.
Peep some of Creative Recreation’s new shoes below as modeled by our girl Leaf.
And girls, let your bf know Creative Recreation sells men’s shoes too. Don’t let him keep wearing his wack ass pair of sneakers from three years ago. Tell him, either they go, or you go.
As much as we may like to say that when it comes to the zodiac there are some signs that are 100% the worst, let’s face it, we all have our faults.
Leos are so prone to jealousy they might as well not be allowed to interact with the outside world, Scorpios can’t open up to people but then get pissy when people don’t “understand them,” and Aries are so mean they literally can’t understand why you’re acting butthurt after they blatantly insult you.
And the list could — and does — go on and on.
Even though astrology posts tend to skew aspirational, there’s a new zodiac trend emerging on Tumblr right now: zodiac roasting.
Okay so this last one was less of a roast and more of just a quick lowercase lol to end things on, but hey, you went through a lot of verbal abuse just now. You deserve a break.
Although live-streaming herself listening to Cardi B while stroking her Versace bedsheet was a good initial response to Rob’s decision to harass her and post her nudes on social media, today Blac Chyna decided it was time to really make him pay.
She hired a lawyer and is looking to get a restraining order against her psycho ex this Monday.
And she didn’t just hire any lawyer, she hired Lisa Bloom who gets shit done.
She specializes in sexual harassment cases and recently she’s represented a number of Bill Cosby’s accusers, including the self-proclaimed first supermodel of the world Janice Dickenson and the three women whose complaints about Bill O’Rielly helped get him fired this year.
You know, NBD.
And just a few minutes ago, Lisa Bloom tweeted:
“I represent Blac Chyna. I just gave Rob Kardsahian notice that we’ll be in court Monday seeking restraining orders against him. More to come.”
I represent Blac Chyna. I just gave Rob Kardashian notice that we’ll be in court Monday seeking restraining orders against him. More to come
After an amazing shoot celebrating their culture, we sat down with music artists Polly A and Kat Dahlia. The dynamic singing best friends drank their favorite cheap wine on the balcony of the photographers Hollywood home, while overlooking the hills, to chat about their cultural influences in their world of art. Let the fun begin.
What is your background and how has it influenced your overall sound?
Polly A: Im Jamaican! My love for music started with reggae and dance hall. Artists like Yellowman and Bob Marley were some of the old school tunes that my mom played growing up. My approach to the things I talk about and write are heavily influenced by reggae because it was a lot about struggle music. Songs like Mirror and Chosen, talk about the light in all of us thats dimmed and we always have to remember to shine that.
Kat Dahlia: Im Cuban. I was influenced by salsa, merengue, and bachata. However, growing up in Miami I was also influenced by hip hop, southern hip hop and reggae, thanks to the diversity, the Kat Dahlia signature flow was perfected.
The Jamaican and Cuban culture have some bomb key food choices that require meat. I heard that both of you are vegetarian or vegan, whats it like going to visit family?
Polly A: I’m vegetarian and “‘fegan” until my mom cooks. Then all bets are off. I love curry goat and brown stew chicken. You definitely get a pass when grandma or mom cooks.
Kat Dahlia: I always go to my grandma’s and she usually cooks me about 5 lbs of food. Steamed yucca, flan [and everything else]. She knows that I don’t eat meat but she would still make some of my favorites, like palomilla. I really try to avoid it but I can’t, she doesn’t like that I don’t eat meat. Then when I come back to LA I’m on my vegan shit, trying to do mad hikes to work it off.
When was the last time you’ve been back to your countries to have some of the very authentic food and visit family to get a refresher on your hood?
Polly A: I don’t really have a lot of family that I know there because they all relocated to the States or to Canada. So when I go back I’m usually more of a tourist. I have family in Kingston that I met a few times. But besides that I usually do the resort, very regular. They see me as American so yeah, haha.
Kat Dahlia: Its hard to fully connect to my roots when were not even allowed to visit family [because of the embargo ban . We were never able to visit certain relatives. I never saw where my grandparents or my dad lived or grew up until like a year ago when the doors were opened to do so. Now we are making more effort to go back as a family.
More than we realize those times make up a lot of who we are. And we can’t forget important things about where we came from. It was always harder for me because I wasn’t able to go back to where my ancestors are. But thankfully Miami turned into a little Cuba.
Pretend you’re on an episode of Cribs, what are you super excited to show the world?
Polly A: Jasper! Everyone loves Jasper. [her dog]
Jasper is pretty awesome! Look at him chilling on your lap, loving life.
Kat Dahlia: I have a lot of cool colored lights around my house. Its very trippy in there. It’s a vibe for sure. That’s where the “Friday Night Majic” really happens. Oh yeah!
Polly A: Its like a trippy nightclub.
Okay, lets talk about the music! Both of you ladies have new stuff on the way. What can we expect?
Polly A: I just released the first single, “Just Like That,” off my upcoming project, “Like Colors in a Waterfall.” It was fun creating it.
That’s a cool title, why did you chose it?
Polly A: Each song is its own hue, a different side to my personality. Each song was a gift from God.
Kat Dahlia: I just released three new singles, “Friday Night Majic,” “Sirens” and “Manipulator” off my upcoming project, “Naked Lady and a White Horse.”
Kat, There has been quite the uproar from your core fans about the new sound. Some people love it and some people miss the grit. What are your comments about what everyone’s thoughts?
Kat Dahlia: Creativity is playful, my art is so playful I never intended on making the same album, ya know? If you write the same song you’re not really growing. I did it to express my love for all types of music. But the whole album has things on it for everyone, there isn’t just one sound.
Both of you have unique yet similar sounds because of your influences, and you’ve written songs together like “Sirens.” What’s your favorite collaboration to date?
Both: “Mirror”!
Polly A: Its my favorite because of the second verse.
[At the same time they started reciting the lyrics…]
“We’re all crossing path. For a reason I know that. Hoping just to share some
laughs. Avoid the broken glass. Have I met you in the past. In a life that I lived last.
You know they go too fast. God knows they go too fast…”
Those are some amazing lyrics, ladies! Before we run out of wine and the sun goes down I want to chat really quickly about your fashion.
Polly A: Well Kat can give you indie goddess or pop star of all pop stars. I love it. You never know what you are going to get. Whether it’s on some androgynous kickback, tomboy type shit or sparkles bedazzled boobs out, everything! We want it all.
Kat Dahlia: Polly, she can throw anything together and make it dope. She finds gems at any time, in any place. She can just pull it off. That’s low-key one reason I roll with her, because she gets us into the all the cool clubs. [both laugh]
Polly A: On the streets, on the sidewalk, is really where it goes down though. If you wanna catch a vibe you can find us outside, dancing to our own shit.
Kat Dahlia: Outside the velvet rope. So damn extra casual.
[Both laugh hysterically and twerk a little]
Is this why they call you Polly Alpha? Is that like your Sasha Fierce?
Polly A: Polly Alpha was born out of the evolution of Polly A. Representing for the women who are leaders, the lioness, running things. I’m an alpha female. It’s who I am. I’m a lioness.
Follow Polly [@akaPollyA] and Kat [@KatDahlia] on all social media for new music, tours and all the other amazing things they are doing! Jamaica and Cuba stand up!
Now onto our last and final stop, wardrobes. I was surprised to see that both of them described each other’s style instead of their own, here’s what they had to say.
“Well, Kat can give you indie goddess or pop star of all pop stars,” Polly A says. “I love it. You never know what you are going to get. Whether it’s on some androgynous kick back, tom-boy type shit or sparkled bedazzled boobs, everything! We want it all.”
Kat follows that up by saying anything Polly puts on is dope. She finds gem statement pieces, everywhere, and it’s low-key one of the reasons she rolls with her, because it lands them both in the coolest clubs.
(Both start laughing hysterically and twerk a lil.)
Double slit skirts have been sold at an Urban Outfitters near you for years now and dresses with slits all the way to the pelvic bone have been red carpet staples for almost as long. Just ask Bella Hadid. She can’t getenoughof them.
But recently, these two skirt trends have evolved into their ultimate thotty level: the loincloth.
Although the loincloth was spotted in the wild as early as 2014 when Kendall Jenner used it to announce to the world she was all grown up and model-y, it took the rest of the world a little longer to get on her level.
And while you may not have noticed it, if you look around you, and you’ll start to see loincloths everywhere.
There’s this sequin-covered $78 polyester blend loincloth:
Every summer, I go through this existential crisis where I think I have to go to the very extremes in order to prove that I am LIVING, and this usually results in me either chopping off eight inches of hair or dying it some crazy color. This summer, I decided on the latter.
But instead of getting store-bought powder bleach and raiding Hot Topic for the perfect color of Manic Panic hair dye, I got my hair colored professionally at Pierre Michel Salon by their colorist Yoshico Alexis. If you take a peak at her Instagram, @yoshico_alexis, you’ll see all the colors of the rainbow painted on hair.
A post shared by Alexis Hair Colorist (@yoshico_alexis) on
Let me just say that I’m used to dying my hair in my bathroom with an old towel around my shoulders so that I don’t stain my skin. 16-year-old me was all about the DIYs. But 19-year-old me? Oh, she is living. When I walked into the salon, I was given a robe to change into, and the t-shirt that I was wearing was put on a hanger so that it wouldn’t crease. I was offered beverages served in wine glasses and chocolate just because I said I was hungry. I have never felt more like a bougie bitch in my entire life.
Yoshico greeted me at her station and started off with bleaching my hair to lift it to a blonde that could be a canvas for any color of the rainbow. She did mention that Asian hair is the hardest to lift because it is so dark and usually thick, so she had the patience to sit with me while the bleach did its thing.
Yoshico has been doing hair for around 16 years now, so you could say she’s a pro. Her own hair has been through its ups and downs, with going red and chopping it like a boy being her lowest of the lows.
“A guy I was dating said I looked like his little brother, so naturally, the hair had to go,” she told me. “And so did he.”
But even through the lows, Yoshico’s fascination with hair being able to transform a person keeps her committed to the game.
A post shared by Alexis Hair Colorist (@yoshico_alexis) on
Although she’s able to do hair like a true prodigy, she says to always leave your hair jobs to another professional. To get better angles and precision, one should n e v e r grab a pair of scissors and start chopping. And to anyone who still believes that DIY hairdos are acceptable, Yoshico recommends going to a professional because “they know when to stop, how much your hair can take, and what will make you look your best.”
“If you get sick or injured, wouldn’t you want to go to a doctor or hospital instead of looking it up on Google and putting a Band-Aid on it?,” Yoshico says.
After my hair lifted to a light enough blonde, Yoshico went to work. We started off with washing my hair and deep conditioning it so that my hair wouldn’t be completely dead after the bleach job, and then I was presented with the holy grail of hair dye: Yoshico’s color chart.
A post shared by Alexis Hair Colorist (@yoshico_alexis) on
I could choose from highlighter yellow to lavender to turquoise and every color in between. I decided on a mix of a few greens and blues and let Yoshico decide what would look the best. Fast forward to twenty minutes later, the mixing bowls of dye were blue and green, and I was on my way to looking like Kylie Jenner when she went through her blue hair phase.
The process of coloring my hair took around half an hour, and Yoshico made sure to massage each strand to ensure the evenness of the dye. And even though it seems like just about anyone can do this, Yoshico says, “It’s not even about the money. Going to a salon to dye your hair will save your hair from unnecessary damage and be better for you in the long run.”
Time went by quickly because I started engaging in all the gossip and salon talk that you see in movies, and before I knew it, I was a blue headed baddie! We decided on keeping the top of my head natural so that it would come out looking like a balayage, and I was instantly feeling myself. Yoshico wine-and-dined my hair by putting more conditioner in it to keep it shiny and healthy, and she finished by blowdrying it into soft-curled-perfection.
After this experience and knowing that places like this exist, I definitely knew I could never go back to dying my own hair. Once you go professional, your hair never goes unexceptional.
How many times have you heard somebody ask some variation of the following questions:
Who are the Kardashians? Why do people care about them? What do they even do?
Now assuming the person who’s asking this question isn’t either a: under the age of 10, b: over the age of 40, c: grew up off the grid, or d: has never been exposed to American culture, these are ignorant questions people ask so they can sound smart in front of all the pretentious people they’re friends with.
Even if you’re not a Kardashian scholar, you know the basics about what they do and how they make money: they’re reality TV stars who promote things on Instagram.
If you say you don’t get them, you’re just saying that because you want to telegraph to the world that you don’t support them or what they say about the things we value as a society right now. Which doesn’t make you smart, it just makes you a snob.
But lots of people do care about the Kardashians, and even if you say you don’t, you’ve still probably googled them late at night when your roommate had gone to bed and couldn’t pop up to look over your shoulder.
And believe it or not, the first search terms that pop up when you Google each member of the Kardashian family say a lot about what makes people care about them.
Kourtney has never been the star of the Kardashian clan. She’s never seemed to really care about the whole celebrity thing. Like it’s her life and she’s not gonna fight it, but there’s a reason why she doesn’t have her own TV show or launch her own brand of makeup.
But she has always had a very compelling love life, and people wanna read about it.
Kim Kardashian: Net worth
Forward this to the next person who says the only thing people care about Kim is her body.
They actually care the most about her bank account.
Khloe Kardashian: Twitter
Honestly, this is rude to Khloe.
She has her own TV show, her own denim company, and her own love life that makes headlines on a weekly basis.
But the thing people care most about is her Twitter?
Kay.
Kendall Jenner: Pepsi ad
Yikes.
Pepsi may not have ruined Kendall like some people thought it would, but clearly people haven’t forgotten. That, or Google has beef with Pepsi.
Kylie Jenner has a lot going on for her right now, but let’s face it, gossiping about the twists and turns of her love life is more fun than talking about her makeup line all day.
Kris Jenner: Twitter
While it warms my heart that millions of people want to hang on to each and every one of Kris’s brilliant thoughts, I think this is a sign. If you’re a celebrity and your #1 Google search is a dying social media platform, it probably means people don’t really Google you that often. Or that you’re boring.
But since Kris isn’t boring, let’s just say it’s the first option.
Yes, Caitlyn Jenner wrote a book recently and that’s pretty much the only thing she’s made headlines for since she decided it would be a good idea to stan for Donald Trump because how could he possibly be that bad?
Girl…
Rob Kardashian: Twitter
Well, knowing what we know about this Google result, this makes sense.
Although, if you wanna be formal and search Rob’s full name, Robert Kardashian, you’ll get this infinitely more descriptive search result: Jr.
Everything that’s going on with Rob and Blac Chyna aside, Rob is such a blob of nothingness that his #1 Google search is just his name. Because the people searching about him don’t even know what he’s doing. Or why they should care about him.
I know I went on a whole thing before about how you’re ignorant if you pretend to not know about the Kardashians, but Rob is an exception.
Honestly, I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate.
There’s a wave of Instagram baddies taking over the social media scene, and they’re Asian.
Of course, Asian girls are just as stylish as any other race. But it’s surprising that these particular girls are becoming influencers, because of how they defy the stereotypes held against Asian women.
Asian beauty standards are different than American ones. Women are considered beautiful if they are fair-skinned with smaller, feminine facial features. Their skin is supposed to be free of tattoos, and their hair is sleek, straight and black.
And not only are the beauty standards different, but so are the ideals of what a woman should be in the household and profession. We’ve all heard the jokes about Asians becoming doctors and engineers because they’re just all so good at math, but the truth is that some people wanna do their own thing.
Girls like @sacheu and @therunwaygirl on Instagram are telling the world that they don’t give a f*ck about what anyone thinks they’re supposed to look like or who they’re supposed to be. It’s okay to be thicc (with two c’s!) and show off your body. Get tattoos and become a blogger instead of what your parents want you to be.
These Instagram baddies are redefining what it means to be a proper Asian woman.
Sarah Cheu, Instagram influencer and YouTube beauty guru, grew up in a Chinese household with two immigrant parents. Her mother was a housewife, and Sarah was raised to be one as well. From cooking to cleaning, everything she learned was to make her more marketable as a wife in the future.
Seeing that Sarah is now 21 and still isn’t married, she has already escaped an expectation of young Asian women: to get married and have children. She says her mom was “not able to be financially independent because of her dependency on [her] father.”
Her mom was the backbone of the household by doing the chores, taking care of the children, and supporting her husband. Although Sarah appreciates all that her mom has done for her family, she says, “I could never do that. I want to have a say in every aspect of my life, and I want to be different.”
Sarah’s lifestyle of being an online influencer is the complete opposite of what every Asian stereotype about careers says, which is be a doctor or a pharmacist to make the family proud.
Although her family didn’t understand it at first, they’ve warmed up to the idea of her making money off of the Internet. She laughs, “My mom even asks me to post pictures of her and tag her now so she can get more followers on Instagram.”
Her friends back in Hong Kong, however, are still stuck in the mentality that one has to pursue a certain career to get the “right” husband. Although Sarah says she isn’t “too fussed about getting married,” she knows her friends don’t see marriage as an option. It’s the next step in life, and they make themselves marketable to bachelors in order to have a good life in the future.
Unlike the Asian beauty standard of needing to be thin, Sarah embraces her body’s natural curves and shows them off in her pictures. Some people could see this as too revealing, and her family “always tells [her] to cover up or lose some weight” to look more like their idea of what an Asian woman should be like. She knows her family comments on her appearance out of love because they want her to be attractive, but she doesn’t take their comments too seriously.
Sarah has a booty, let’s be real, and she’s not afraid to show it. She says, “Whenever I go to family events, they always slap my ass and tell me I’m like Kim Karadashian.”
Grace Quin, another badass Asian girl and Instagram influencer, has the same experiences when visiting her family. Her grandparents always tell her she needs to “lose twenty pounds and start wearing more sunscreen because [she’s] too tan.”
She’s gotten used to the comments but feels like she doesn’t need to change anything about herself to conform to any beauty standard. Being on the tall side for an Asian girl (5’8), thick, and tan, Grace is happy in her body.
The stigma about Asian girls needing to be thin and fair-skinned upsets her because “not every girl is going to be the same.” It makes sense. A girl who loves individuality and herself is not going to change herself to make other people comfortable.
Grace’s Instagram pictures show her sporting the sickest ‘fits, and sometimes her clothes show off her body. This isn’t common in Asia where girls usually cover their bodies to be conservative and to also keep their skin from tanning.
She even has tattoos and her nipples pierced — two things that Asian cultures don’t necessarily accept in society. Back in the day when our grandparents and parents were in our homelands, tattoos and piercings were associated with gang members, but now that we’re in 2017, a girl like Grace can get both and not be a gang member (although, she’s def a G for doing what she wants).
Her parents are unaware of her tats and piercings, but she doesn’t think it’s that big of a deal. She says, “They just worry that I won’t be sure of it later on or a future employer might not like it.” Her tattoo is an upside down triangle, and she got it for her 18th birthday because she “honestly just wanted a tattoo.” And her nipples? “I was drunk in Paris,” Sarah laughs.
When it comes to Grace’s career choices, her parents are pretty lenient because they’ve become westernized since being in the States. Of course, she grew up with her family teasing her about becoming a doctor, but Grace soon realized that she was shit at math and science, so she had to make it clear that becoming a doctor wasn’t something she wanted to do with her life. She says, “I’m blessed with parents who value my happiness over how much money I’m going to be making.”
These girls have a happy ending to how their lifestyle choices have made their family see them, but it took a lot of courage to rebel and do what they want instead of listening to what they were supposed to do. In true baddie form, Sarah and Grace have complete control over their lives despite the obstacles they faced in being comfortable with themselves.
As much as I love super long hair extensions, it’s damn near impossible to survive with them during the hot summer months.
I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with my hair without looking breaking the bank. So I’ve compiled this list of popping braided hairstyles that will be so dope for the summertime. Check it out below and let me know if you’ve tried these or plan to.
I know what you’re thinking, “I’m too grown to be wearing beads in my head.” But it’s a childhood style that has made a comeback and it actually looks cute and non-immature on adults. You don’t need a lot just a couple at the end of each braid or one at the start of it. It’s a very cute new trend.
I love Ghana braids, even with them showcasing my 5-head.
This is such a simple style that doesn’t cost much and you can do over and over without it getting old. There are so many ways to spice up this style like getting them in different variations number-wise or getting different braid sizes. Either way this is a classic braid style you can’t get caught slipping with.
Literally my hair goals. This is probably the most expensive style on this list, depending on where you live. Stylists are charging $150+ for this style, which is stressful lol.
Honestly, I’m sure it’s worth it because they last about two months so it’s definitely giving you you’re money’s worth. I love how some girls dress it up with different colors, beads and strings to their locs to make them pop.
Is another style on the pricer side but honestly I haven’t seen this style not look good on anyone’s who ever tried it.
It’s definitely a lot of braids and can be a little heavy but if you’re use to wearing extensions this won’t be any harder to manage. Box braids take a few hours to achieve but also can last you a good 2-3 months. Make sure to wash your scalp out with dry shampoo to keep your hair clean.
When Lemonade came out last year, we were all dying over Bey’s visuals and hair.
It’s crazy that a year later this is one of the biggest trends this summer. This style is a cheaper alternative than some styles on the list. It really depends on who you can find to do this style because prices can range anywhere from $50-$150.
Adding color to your braids like Bey did is a cute way to stand out in the crowd.
With all these styles listed above you can put it up in a bun or ponytail. It’s a simple way to add a little spice to your look.
I get tired of wearing my hair a certain way after a few weeks so I’m constantly changing my look, you can do the same with braids. Some people get their hair braided into a high ponytail, which is a trend I’ve been noticing more and more on Instagram or in person.
Since these braids are smaller it might run you a little more money, maybe around $100. Either way these are cheaper alternatives than extensions and are a dope way to do it for the culture this summer.
Singer and songwriter Teenear has accomplished much more than the average teenager.
As a member of Slip-N-Slide Records, she has partnered up with names including Trina and Sage The Gemini at only 19 years old. This year alone Teenear has released two singles, done a high school tour, and been featured on the Rolling Loud Festival roster. You can confidently admit that she is not here to play any games!
Teenear recently sat down to discuss what it’s like being in the music industry at such a young age, using YouTube as a platform to reach her fans on a more personal level, and of course we had get the spill on her summer product go-to’s.
Check out our interview and listen to her new single “Something Else” below.
At only 19 years old, how do you juggle the commotion of being a music artist between and your teenage life?
At this point, I feel like it’s time for me to focus on what I want right now. I do have times when I want to take a break and hang with my friends but, I also love what I’m doing. So I understand that I have to make sacrifices. I have a goal and I’m reaching for it.
Did growing up in Miami have any influence on you and your music?
Yes! I feel like Miami is a really artistic place. Every corner you turn its either someone drawing on a wall, playing an instrument, or singing. People inspire me just by working and doing what they love and showing other people what they love to do.
How long have you been singing for?
I’ve been singing my entire life, since I was a little girl. I didn’t start putting everything into it until I was 15 though. That’s when I released my first cover and I just kept going from there.
Who has been your favorite artist you have worked with?
I definitely would say Sage the Gemini. He was super nice. I’m all about being positive and spirit was overly positive. I was happy he was a part of my first project that represented me.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I would definitely say Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. I love their music so much. They also started at such a young age and grew through music. They built a brand for themselves that’s going to last forever and that’s my ultimate goal at the end of the day.
Just as they started young, you did as well with your covers of popular songs. Would you have expected that you would’ve been where you are now back then?
Umm, not really. I would say it hasn’t gone super-fast, but it’s definitely gone at a speed I didn’t expect so I’m really grateful for that. But, at the same time I feel like over the past year or two I’ve been trying to see things, take distance, and now things are finally speeding up for me. So I’m really happy with the process.
What message did you want to get across with your singles “Last Night” and “Something Else”?
Well, “Last Night” is more of a women’s empowerment song. It was a way for me to explain to girls who went through a bad breakup/relationship to let go of whatever happened, realize who you are, and move forward. “Something Else” was based around me being young and focusing on my career. So the song is about someone coming in and throwing you off your game and no matter what you do you can’t find it in you to tell them, no! When you just can’t explain your feelings but can only describe them as ‘something else’.
How did you enjoy the BET awards?
It was really good. While I was in LA I was able to meet a lot of different people and ultimately experience a lot more in the industry. It was awards time and it was sooo much going on so it was a really big experience for me.
Since the demographics of LA and Miami are pretty similar, which do you prefer?
I actually like the weather in LA a lot better. Miami’s so hot like all the time. 24/7! At least over here you’ll get a nice breeze in the morning when you wake up. The people in LA are so nice as well! You can walk past and they’ll greet you and it’s definitely not a lot of that in Miami.
You’ve been active on your YouTube for a minute now, and I noticed some of your baking videos? Is that a hobby of yours?
Yes, I enjoy baking a lot! My favorite thing to bake is any cake from scratch. I’ve been doing it for a while, but I’m no Betty Crocker. I like never follow the directions haha. It’s just a fun way for me to relax. I really wanted to show my supporters a side of me they didn’t know.
What are some of your go-to beauty products this summer?
My go-to’s would definitely be Clinique’s foundation stick, and Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder. It’s has yellow undertones so it’s perfect for people my skin color. Maybe a little highlighter but that’s about it. It’s too hot this summer to be running around with a face full of make-up. When I go out though, I do like to use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eye shadow pallet, their powder contour kit, and the glow kit. You have to get them! I don’t go anywhere without it.
How would you describe your style/aesthetic and who influences that?
Maybe my mother. She’s the biggest helper in the universe. We go shopping together but she definitely sees things that I don’t see. I don’t really have a specific style that I stick to right now though. If I like a look on me, I’ll just go with it and that’s pretty much the process.
So, what mark do you hope to leave with your artistry?
I want people to feel happy when they listen to my music. A lot of my songs discuss topics that many can relate to, so even if it a subject that can make you upset I’d like to turn it into something positive. Even when it comes to performing and speaking with my supporters, I want them to receive a good energy from me.
Finally, what do you have planned for the rest of 2017?!
I have sooo much more planned for the rest of the year and it’s no stopping at all! I will be focusing on building my fan base but there will be a lot of new music coming out very soon that I’m extremely excited about. The beginning was just the start but the rest of the year is going to be amazing, so keep looking out!
And a message for my young girls: Just stay positive, believe in who you are, and don’t change yourself for anyone… no matter what. It’s so easy to shift away from who you are whenever people decide to give their input, but always stay true to yourself.
Over the past few years, the fashion world has been flooded with different elements of what most think is “90’s fashion.”
You can go to any clothing website, look under trends, and one of the first trends you will see is “grunge” or “90s grunge.” But what people aren’t realizing is that many of the trends we are beginning to follow are completely from the 80’s.
The 80’s were all about “maximalism,” an aesthetic filled with wild, bold, shiny and striking clothing. Basically, any article of clothing was maximized af.
And ever since Alessandro Michele took over at Gucci, clothing has been becoming more and more extra. After years of normcore boredom, extra is in. Here’s a list of the most popular trends for Summer 2017 that are straight out of the 80’s. These items are essential if you wanna kill the fashion game this summer. Beware if you are a minimalist.
Remember pinstripe jeans? They were HUGE in the 80s. Now those stripes are back, but they aren’t just on jeans. Striped culottes, striped wide leg pants and even striped skirts are almost everywhere you look. No such thing as looking like a clown these days!
Sequins, sequins, sequins GALORE! Have you ever seen a photo of girls partying in the 80’s? They were probably wearing some sort of sequin clothing. Sequins can be frowned upon, but its 2017 and you can wear whatever you want. Whether you’re attending a cocktail party or a music festival, you can rock those sequins however you’d like.
When you hear the term “80s”, what’s the first thing you think of? Bright ass neon colors is what you think of. Guess what? They’re back. Pair a cute pink bodysuit with some high waisted wide leg pants, and you’re a show stopper. Stop in your local Forever 21 and you might feel like you’ve gone back in time, because they’re everywhere.
A few years ago, you might’ve veered away from wearing a bright red patent leather skirt. Well, not anymore! Patent leather skirts and boots are everywhere, and they’re the perfect touch to any simple fit you want to make shine.
Watch any TV show or ad from the 80’s, and you’ll see girls and guys wearing their mom jeans with a belt and t-shirt tucked in. Mom jeans are HOT. They’re great for showing off your booty and they aren’t as constricting as skinny jeans. Wear them with a crop top or graphic tee you got the ultimate classic 80s look.
See that girl wearing ripped boyfriend jeans? Look a little closer, and she’s wearing fishnets underneath. Madonna was the ultimate icon for rocking fishnet, whether she wore a tight fishnet top under a graphic tee or fishnet tights to add some flare. Fishnet bodysuits, shorts, and even fishnet unitards are in.
Looking at old albums of proms in the 80s is pretty painful, but what’s on every girl’s prom dress? Ruffles. Ruffles have taken the fashion world by storm within the past two years, with designers like Gucci and Balenciaga being the main supporters of their revival. Collared shirts with flared ruffle sleeves, and even ruffle pants are in. Ruffle it up, girl.
In the 80’s, all you needed was your neon leggings, legwarmers, and a bold print on top to be the funkiest girl on the dancefloor. Bold, stark contrasts such as checkerboard print and color-block clothing are on fire right now. How many times a day do you see someone wearing checkered vans? I’m wearing them right now.
Jean jackets covered in studded designs were the shit in the 80’s. Watch Pretty in Pink and almost any jacket Molly Ringwald wears is covered in embellishments. Look at Gucci Spring 2017, and there’s literally jean jackets with Gucci studded on the back, along with a handful of intricate embellishments.
Floral pants, dresses, skirts and shirts were a big trend in the 80s. If you wanted to be sweet and simple, you could wear a floral dress. If you wanted to be cute and bold, you could wear your floral printed mom jeans and a crop top. If you wanted to be summery, you could wear your button up tropical shirt with hibisci all over them. A touch of floral can make any boring outfit adorable.
Show them shoulders, girl! Right now is a beautiful time for off the shoulder dresses and blouses. After all, it’s summer and they’ve never been more in. This photo of Kelly Kapowski’s outfit looks like something I just saw a girl wearing on the street.
A post shared by PrettyLittleThing.com (@prettylittlething) on
12. Oval Sunnies
Okay, so oval sunglasses are definitely pretty 90’s, but they were also around in the 80’s! They were basically revamped to be bigger and more dramatic in the 90’s. Check out these sunnies from the 80’s!! Look familiar?
Once upon a time, I used a razor to style my eyebrows.
It was a weekly ritual until one day I woke up and I realized that the way I held the razor caused half of my eyelashes to be cut off.
I was trying to achieve the perfect, clean, slim, eyebrow. I couldn’t stand the little hairs that grew under, above, or next to my eyebrow. I wasn’t even really into the beauty trends of the time, but I grew up around girls plucking their eyebrows to thin lines that accentuated their brow bone.
Eventually, I wreaked absolute havoc on my eyebrows and stopped plucking them all together. My hair was black and I used dark brown eyeliner to draw them on, and then my middle school math teacher told me I looked like Elvira. I’ve been afraid to touch them ever since.
Ever since Cara Delevingne caused a storm in the beauty world, most girls I know try their best to grow them out and keep them thick like it’s the 80s again.
“Eyebrows are super important,” they say. That’s true, but that doesn’t mean you have to have Taylor Hill’s brows to make a statement. Recently, I’ve come across girls who are doing the complete opposite of this, and they’re rocking this 90s/early 2000s look.
Thin brows actually originate from the 1920’s flapper era when women wanted to their faces to appear more dramatic and expressive. An extreme arch and a long tail that curved downward was desirable until the 1940’s.
They were reintroduced to the mainstream in the 90’s, with stars like Drew Barrymore, Pamela Anderson, and Gwen Stefani rocking pencil thin brows to highlight unique features on their face. And of course, there are also subcultures — chola culture comes to mind — that rock thin brows no matter what’s considered on-trend in the mainstream.
We got the scoop from a few of our favorite Instagram baddies about their thin brow inspo.
For Los Angeles Native Aisling Cummins (@l.3.3.n), there hasn’t been one continuous beauty inspiration in her life, just a lot of little ones. “Lil Kim, Grace Jones, Courtney Love and Slick Rick all have really distinct looks and I’ve taken a lot of cues from them,” she said.
Aisling has never had natural eyebrows, but she thinks they are really beautiful, along with unibrows.
“I always get shit for over plucking my eyebrows and it’s really annoying,” she said. “People are like, that’s gonna ruin your eyebrows, you should let them grow out. For me, I’m more interested in creating a distinct look than maintaining natural beauty.”
The creepy-cool goth-esque @lilith_levisis has one beauty inspiration we all know very well, Harley Quinn. “She is always in white clown face with dark eyes, red lips, and exaggerated features, wearing smeared makeup like she just got fucked all the time,” Lilith says.
Lilith thinks the natural look is nice, but she doesn’t think people should only praise natural beauty: “I feel like a lot of men shame girls who wear a lot of makeup, like guys always hate my eyebrows,” she says. “My look has gotten more natural over time, I used to to wear makeup down from my eyes to cheeks. Now I just do less because I feel like I look better with less.”
For the doe-eyed Catherine Richmond (@douxkitten), Angelina Jolie has always been one of her main inspirations.
“Any look they had her in for a film, she pulled off with her certain edge,” she said. “More recently, drag queens like Sasha Velour and Farrah Moan have been beauty inspirations for me.”
Sometimes it’s hard for girls to grow in super thick brows, and that’s totally okay. “I think the natural eyebrow trend is great, I really love most peoples natural eyebrows except for mine,” Catherine says. “I wish mine grew naturally thicker but my eyebrow hair is really light and wont grow in as much.”
Shoutout to these ladies for being beauty inspirations throughout the era of caterpillar brows. If you got an urge, pluck those eyebrows girl!
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is not only a policy that forced military personnel into secrecy, but side chicks too.
Many men (*cough* boys *cough*) embark on the journey to have their cake and eat it too without informing their significant other. In recent times, the girls who guys cheat on their girlfriends with have been known as side chicks — and there’s been quite a stigma attached to holding that position.
But now, it looks like the side chick stigma is getting shaken up a bit.
Along with anti-slut shaming and feminist movements, songs like “The Weekend” by SZA are flipping the concept of what a side chick really is and tearing it down. In an interview with the Breakfast Club she explained her meaning behind the lyrics by stating:
“I feel that it’s a male bred term. What I’m saying in the song is ‘My man is your man’…We all share the same dude. Saying that I’m aware, I don’t care, and I don’t need to be his girl. Not even saying that you are his girl. None of us are his girl! All of us are out here trying to get different things for different reasons and my particular reason is just get here and say what you was gone do.”
Ultimately SZA’s song gives the woman a more dominant role, rather than the damsel in distress.
Listen below:
Fashion brands are catching on, too.
-Cide is a Brooklyn based label founded by Dashawn Mckenzie. They offer many dope pieces but their release of high-wasted jeans and shorts cleverly named “-Cide Chick Denim” definitely serves this story’s purpose. Each pair features -Cide’s red box logo and a comic on the back pocket that reads “I told you not to fall in love with me”.
He explained the method to their madness, saying:
“When you add ‘-Cide’ to the end of any term it basically means to kill that thing. whatever that may be…whatever you’re doing. So a -Cide Chick is basically an empowered woman that is doing what she has to do. Independent. She’s killing whatever she put’s her mind to and whatever is in her path. Totally different from slang term ‘side chick’.”
In most cases, women don’t realize that they’re the side dish to their guy’s two piece combo until some sessions of intense lurking. Even better, the main chick is usually unaware of the other as well! Surprise, surprise.
Yet, the conversation surrounding side chicks pushes the idea that women actually choose to be side chicks rather than being bamboozled into the role.
Who’s winning between Side Chicks vs. Main Chicks is a popular debate that puts women against each other and always fails to put the actual guy involved under scrutiny. Fortunately, many women are feeling the need to speak up and tell their stories of being the side chick and even meeting the side chick. Just type ” Side Chick Story Time” into YouTube’s search engine and the results speak for themselves.
I even took the liberty of conducting a few anonymous interviews and received the wildest responses. Yet, the man in the situation was consistent. Typical FUCK B*Y!
One girl actually thought she was someone’s main chick, until a confrontation went down in the DMs:
“My, what I thought was boyfriend, had a side chick. I found out when she came in my DM asking if I knew who he was. Like, of course I did but she didn’t know how. She asked me all these questions and they were mad personal. How long did I know him? Did we have sex? Was it protected? and things like that. I questioned her questioning me and then she sent over the screenshots of their messages! At that moment everything came full circle. I confronted my guy and he denied it. Typical reaction but he came clean a few days later. What’s even more crazy, is that he was traveling to see her! I was over it and him.”
Another woman was also taken by surprise to learn the guy she was seeing had a girlfriend:
“I was actually the side chick! I was shocked as fuck when I found out and kind of mad at myself. Like, what girl ever thinks she’s going to be in that position? We were together for a few months and I felt that he was giving me all of his time. This dude definitely had time to spare for his ex though. I would see messages between him and her but he always said they were still ‘cordial family friends,’ ‘didn’t end on bad terms.’ A lot of bullsh*t when I think about it but he told me I was trippin’. Come to find out, they were going on dates… hooking up… the whole nine yards! The funny thing is I stayed around based on him saying she was going to be out of the picture. Of course that didn’t happen. I felt goofy but hey, you live and you learn.”
Now this girl was one of several side chicks, and didn’t really mind:
“I was a…this term is so funny, ‘side chick.’ But so was the other female. The difference between me and her though, I knew it. I honestly wasn’t ready to settle down. I just wanted the perks, without the commitment or someone being over me and so did he. Although he didn’t say it, I mean what guy is?! I was convenient for him just like he was convenient for me. I knew there were others in the picture but I had a couple family portraits of my own too, Okayyy? She wanted a relationship from this dude, and he made her think that he was going to give it to her. On one hand its sad that he would go to that extent but on the other know your role, girly — and who you’re dealing with.”
Moral of the story: It’s not about what you do or did while you were the side chick; it’s about what you do after finding out you have been his side chick.
Most importantly, though, we need to stop treating the side chick like a bad person. The guy who’s two-timing his girlfriend is the villain here.
If you’ve ever heard the song “I Don’t Get Tired” or you’re a fan of Kevin Gates, then you should already know who his wife, business partner and manager Dreka Gates is.
But for those who don’t, or haven’t read much about her because she’s private af, we got the chance to sit down with her and learn about her upbringing and how she manages her husband’s career. Check out our interview below to learn all about Dreka.
What’s your background and how would you describe what you do? Tell us your story.
I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with very hardworking, loving parents. I was the oldest of two kids. My parents were well off so I never really went without. Whatever I wanted, I got.
It wasn’t until I met Kevin that people felt that I started “bucking the system.” People always saw me as this good girl. I never really had any boyfriends. I was the chick that everyone wanted but couldn’t get. I was super cool with all of the athletes. I was the “little sister.” I think this was because they couldn’t have me, lol. Seeing how they were, I vowed to never be with an athlete!
When I met my husband I sort of just wanted to break free. I was about to graduate from high school. I was going into pre-med at Louisiana State University. I did that curriculum for about year but realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do anymore. I love helping people but becoming a doctor just wasn’t the route for me.
So I went into fashion merchandising which I really enjoyed. I’m into anything creative. When I did this, my parents didn’t really like it too much. They thought it was all because of Kevin but really this was something that I realized on my own. I realized that as long as I did what my parents wanted me to do, the money would flow freely. When I stopped, they stopped supporting me financially and I had to do everything on my own.
So I went and got a real estate license and mortgage loan, originators license and worked a few odd jobs. Kevin has always been into writing and he said he wanted to become a professional artist so I was like, let’s do it! I read books, I talked to the people I could talk to, I would get dressed up and go to nightclubs to get the DJ’s to play his music. I would just try to get as many as people as possible to listen to his music. We just worked super hard.
Today, my work load is super crazy. I manage Kevin’s career and run several other businesses such as my clothing line, skincare line, energy drink, dog kennel, rental houses/flipping properties, and our nonprofit. I’m also in the developing stages of two TV shows and apps. I’m like a jack of all trades.
Being married to one of hip hop’s biggest rappers, how do you balance the fame and motherhood?
It’s a little difficult but I’ve learned to accept the fact that there is no such thing as managing my husband and not being “famous.” I don’t really like to refer to myself as being famous or being a celebrity. I still live in my own little box, lol.
As far as motherhood. I try to be as present in my kids’ lives as much as possible, but that is very difficult because they don’t always travel with me or us. Sometimes it’s just too much for them, so they have to stay behind with my mom or the nanny.
When we’re at home I’m like up at 5:30 a.m. and headed off to work out and they go to school and other various activities, so I won’t really get to see them until night time. I just try to do as much as possible with them, like going to Disneyland, having water balloon fights in the backyard, trying out cool new toys, and they’ll come and sleep in mommy and daddy’s room on the weekends, and just little things like that.
You dated your husband for over 10 years before you got married, how did dating for so long strengthen not only your relationship but friendship?
I feel like it’s the best thing we could’ve ever done. Things haven’t always been the best, of course he strayed quite a few times, lol but when he got down on his knees and cried and asked me to marry him, I knew it was real. Just being completely honest, had he asked me to marry him any earlier, I may not have told him yes. He had a lot of maturing to do, as most men do.
At the end of the day, we’ve been through so much. We’ve been broke together, we’ve been rich together. We’ve fought and had amazing makeup sex. We’ve built this amazing life together, just me and him, by ourselves!
He’s my best friend. He knows me better than anyone else and I know him better than anyone else. I couldn’t see me living my life without him being a part of it. We always joke about how if we were to get divorced how we would have these so-called “business meetings” and be hooking up on the low and our new spouses [would be] tripping out on how involved we’d still be in each other’s lives, lol.
What made you forgive Kevin for cheating on you in the past? How did you two get past that as a couple?
I knew that we were supposed to be together. I’m not making any excuses for him but I knew that he needed to get that out of his system.
My dad was the star athlete in high school and my mom was the dance team captain and they had me at a young age. I literally watched my dad mature and grow up. It’s sad to say but I sort of watched my mom go through the same thing with my dad and they finally got to the light at the end of the tunnel.
So, with Kevin, I knew that it wasn’t forever. If he would’ve continued to do it, we wouldn’t be together today. We were friends before we became a couple so I think that played a major part in it. I would break up with him and go on my separate way.
Months passed and he would come back and apologize and realize that I was the best person for him. We worked out our differences! We talk to each other about any and everything and we find solutions to our problems. We may argue or disagree but that usually doesn’t last longer for more than a few hours.
How did your upbringing shape you into the young woman you are today?
My parents were really strict. They taught me the value of hard work and how it really does pay off. They taught me to have a mind of my own and to not be a follower.
My dad would always tell me, “If better is possible, then you’re not your best.” So I push myself to the max every single day. Even though my husband is gone my days are completely consumed with the many different projects and businesses that we have. I’m always just improving things and just trying to make life better for us and our kids.
Being a public figure, you deal with just as much hate as you do love, how do you handle this and how long has it taken you to adjust to this lifestyle?
Oh jeez. I don’t know if I have adjusted to that just yet. I never read any comments. I don’t read articles. I never go surfing on Instagram. I couldn’t even tell you how many likes I get on pictures.
I’m scared, because I’m a really sensitive person and I’m sort of a perfectionist and one thing I hate is for people to speak on things or just make rude comments for the hell of it. So I’m working on that.
I don’t really care what people say about me, which is why I live my life the way that I do. I surround myself with people who are super positive and supportive of what I have going on. If you aren’t, you have to go! I do not allow any negativity into my space!
Tell us about a difficult time in your life that you overcame and explain how you do so.
Damn! I’ve had a lot of those! The one that really shaped me and prepared me for the rest of the hard times to come was when my parents cut me off.
They took my car, stopped paying for school and really cut my ass off because I wasn’t doing what they wanted me to do. I had nowhere to live or anything!
I remember that day like it was yesterday. I had to go drop my car off to my parents, and I had to walk with my bag to meet Kevin to come pick me up. He and his grandmother took me in and let me stay with them. From then on, I had to do everything on my own without any help. That was probably the hardest time in my life.
From then on, I told myself that I would never depend on anyone for financial help or anything. That was a hurting feeling, having everything taken away from you. That shit made me hella strong, though. No matter what, I will always find a way. I will never be without.
It took me years to get to where I am right now. I started off in a one-bedroom duplex and now I own several different businesses, live in an 8,000-square-foot house in Calabasas, have six cars, am married to the love of my life, having two beautiful children with him, getting to travel the world and live this amazing life!
One thing, though, that I feel like everyone needs to know is that this stuff doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve never lived beyond my means. All of the things that we’ve acquired have happened over time and not overnight. The size of homes and number of vehicles and the type of trips and clothing and all of that has grown over the years.
Shoot for the stars and allow yourself to grow! There are levels to this shit!
Did your parents cutting you completely off affect your relationship from them? Are you all in a better place now?
Yes, it did. I went years without seeing or speaking to my parents. I was hurt and I was alone. I was forced to find my own way.
The relationship is a lot better now. When Kevin and I were having our first kid, Islah, that’s when things changed and got better. I love my parents for all of things that they taught me as a kid. A lot of the stuff didn’t make sense then. It wasn’t until I was an adult and on my own that things started to click.
Where did you love for music stem from and what made you decide to be a part of the industry?
Music was always in my household. My dad had me listening to everything from Jazz to Biggie, Tupac, & Warren G.
I remember one of his favorite songs being “Regulators.” “It was a clear black night, a clear white moon, Warren G on the streets.” That was our shit! So naturally I love music and listen to every genre there is.
Kevin is my favorite artist, of course! No bias, I swear. Right now I’m really into dance music, though. Times can be a little difficult for me right now especially missing Kevin, so I prefer to listen to the happy, walking on the sun type dance music to keep my spirits up!
My husband is the reason why I actually work in the music biz though. He’s a real artist. He wanted to make music professionally so I was like “Let’s do it!” I learned the business for myself.
Being a beautiful woman in a male-dominated industry isn’t easy. What tips do you have for women looking to join the music industry as a manager like yourself?
I would tell a woman to stand your ground. I don’t know what it is, but men don’t respect women in the business. You have to let people know that you’re about your business and nothing else. You have to show them that you’re serious and you don’t play!
My story is funny. I learned EARLY on that women weren’t really respected in this business and it made it hard for me to get shit done. So, I always worked through other men. Men that knew me knew that I was the one that really called all of the shots.
For years, people didn’t know who the hell I was or that I even existed. This one time, one of the guys that we had been dealing with, but he always dealt with the guy that I would “work through,” I finally met him in person and he was like, “So, you’re Dreka! You’re the one that everyone’s been telling me about. You’re like this queen that sits up in a castle and making all of the decisions!”
I was like, “Yeah, something like that.” So it may be beneficial to a woman to have a male partner in the very beginning just to start making moves and then be like, “Bam, yeah. I’m the one that’s running shit!” It’s so sad but so true. I need my men to start respecting women as equals in business! That’s something we really need. My husband gets it, though. He got it from day one! We work really well together.
From starting your record label alongside your husband and being where you are now, what are some things you would have done differently?
I don’t know. I feel like the journey is as it should be. I love learning through my own experiences. I know that we could have avoided a lot of things if we would have had the proper guidance but no one was really willing to help us so we had to learn it all by ourselves. Our journey has been a good one. I don’t regret anything that we’ve done.
Recently, your husband has been dealing with a serious legal battle. How have you kept the business going, taking care of your family, and most importantly yourself? What advice do you have for women who hold it down during hard times?
I’ve just been maintaining the things that I can in his absence. We were gearing up to release his next album but we’re missing a few key songs so now we’re working on another mixtape project.
I basically have to stay strong for everyone! My kids, my husband, my employees. It gets overwhelming at times. I’ve started back working out and I try to do as many fun things as possible. I’ve been playing tourist at home in Los Angeles by going down to Hollywood and going to museums and stuff like that. I’ve also been going to theme parks and stuff just to free my mind up and have a little fun. I don’t really feel right traveling and going on vacations and stuff without my hubby.
My advice to women is number one, stay strong. It’s not forever! Accept the situation and look for ways to improve it. All you can do is work your ass off to maintain and to improve yourself and to improve the things that may need improvement so that when your spouse comes back things are just better than they were before.
I don’t just mean this in a financial way. Get yourself together. Show yourself some love. Fix something that you’d been dealing with yourself. But most importantly, have a little fun, do things that allow you to let your hair down. Don’t dwell on the situation and just know that it’s just a test. Don’t fail it! It’s not forever!
What is something about you that people can’t read about online? Something you don’t share with most?
I have a heart of gold which is why I’m so protective of it and the people that I allow into my life. I will go to the end of the world for someone that I care about. I’m goofy as hell and love to have fun. I’m super adventurous! I’m up for just about anything.
I’m also really sensitive to people’s energy. If your intentions are wrong, or if you have bad energy, I sense it immediately!
What do you really want your followers to take away from this interview?
I want people to know that managing my husband is one of my many jobs. I want people to know that anything is possible. I had everything taken away from me but I worked my ass off and knew that it wasn’t the end of the world. I kept pushing and pushing and now I’m living my dream.
There are a lot of things that come out of Kim Kardashian’s mouth on a daily basis. Some of them may inspire you to dip into your bank account and buy yourself some Fittea, some of them may inspire you to investigate whether you too have the ability to smell cavities, and some of them are just inspiring.
Over the weekend, while showing off the tiny vegan flower Miley Cyrus decided to get tattooed on her body forever, Miley managed to throw a dig at Kim K while quoting what might be the most iconic thing to tumble out of Kim’s pouty lips:
Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?
Kim said this in reference to the fact that she has no tattoos. The implication is that her body is a Bentley, and a tawdry, classless tattoo would demean its value.
It’s a fun one-liner, but pretty shady to the tatted set.
So now Miley has done her duty to remove the tattoo stigma.
As we all know, when Miley Cyrus decides something is important to her, she purposefully makes that quality a part of her brand. Like when she became a stoner or when she stopped being a stoner.
So it can hardly come as any surprise that over the weekend Miley made a point of showing of reminding everybody just how serious she is about being a vegan.
Here’s the clip of Kim dishing the original shade in 2009 on the Wendy Williams Show. Wendy asked Kim if she had ink, and Kim responded by saying, “Honey, would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?”
And when she finally got her tramp stamp removed, Kim’s sister Khloe was quoted as saying, “I should have listened to Kim when she told me, ‘Don’t put a bumper sticker on a Bentley.’ Bye-bye bumper sticker!”
But Miley Cyrus didn’t quote Kim to champion her opinion about tattoos, instead making the argument that her body was still a Bentley even though it’s surface area is almost completely covered in so many bumper stickers she didn’t have the patience to hashtag them all.
And while this might not be the most savage use of celebrity shade, there was no reason why Miley had to pull a Kim K reference out of her back pocket. There are lots of words she could have used to make her argument. But she chose to use a phrase that Kim Kardsahian has famously been identified as a Kim-ism multiple times.
Maybe it wasn’t strictly shade, but it’s impossible to say it wasn’t shade.
And while I’m not here to advocate that getting tattoos makes you any less beautiful or valuable, you have to admit that what Kim said is true.
You never do see bumper stickers on expensive cars.
While you probably already know everything there is to know about what happened between Rob Kardsahian and Blac Chyna last week, it’s safe to say that the general mom, dad and grandparent population is pretty clueless.
Or at least they were before Blac Chyna and her lawyer Lisa Bloom went on Good Morning America today to talk about revenge porn and why Blac Chyna is asking for what GMA correspondent Linsey Davis called a domestic violence restraining order against her ex.
This is a huge deal — revenge porn can and does affected the general population, not just celebrities. This conversation happening on GMA will make the world much more aware of the issue and how to deal with it.
Sitting down for an exclusive interview with Good Morning America, Blac Chyna showed she wasn’t afraid or embarrassed to make a public statement about Rob’s decision to harass her and post her nudes alongside degrading, slut-shaming comments on social media.
“I was devastated, of course,” Chyna said, describing her mindset after she learned what Rob had done. “I’m like, how could somebody, like, post these pictures of me? And I’m like, ‘Wow, okay.’ This is a person that I trusted. I confided. I felt comfortable, you know, with even sending these pictures and even talking to him about certain things, you know. I just felt… betrayed.”
Asking a question likely on the lips of every conservative person over the age of 40, Linsey Davis asked Blac Chyna, “Where do you draw the line? Because you do expose a lot of your life,” which includes “some semi-nude photos”
Confidently Chyna replied, “I draw the line. I am Angela White. I am Blac Chyna. I can do whatever I want. It’s my body.”
And then her lawyer chimed in to point out that, “any explicit photos that she may have chosen to post in the past, that’s her choice. That’s like saying a woman can’t be raped if she previously chose to have sex with someone. It’s her body, it’s her choice, each and every time.”
Which is a powerful point to make.
Just like women don’t deserve to get raped because they’re wearing loincloths and crop tops, women don’t deserve to get their nudes leaked just because they post thirst traps all the time. Or even because they send those nudes in the first place.
Asked why she chose to seek legal action instead of just dealing with the dispute privately between themselves, Blac Chyna explained that Rob gave her no choice.
“The moral of the story is, he doesn’t respect me,” Blac Chyna said. “So if you can’t respect me you have to respect the law.”
Blac Chyna ended by addressing all the women out there who might be going through something similar with a psycho ex saying, “To all the women out there, you know, you’re not the only one that’s probably going through something. So I feel as though if one person speaks up, maybe it, hopefully, it will be a domino effect.”
And that’s exactly what needs to happen in order to start stripping away the stigma of being a target of revenge porn. High-profile women need to start talking about it and how it’s not okay on the biggest platforms they can find.
Because it is embarrassing to have your nude photos leaked or to find yourself getting harassed on social media by an ex who won’t stop harassing you. And a lot of women don’t seek legal action in these situations because they feel like it’s pointless or they don’t want to draw any more attention to themselves.
Even if Blac Chyna doesn’t get granted a restraining order against her ex, at least she succeeded in putting the full force of her celebrity behind the issue.
It won’t solve the issue, but maybe it’ll help make more women feel comfortable seeking help when it happens to them.
I’m calling, but she can’t hear the phone because the sewing machine is so loud. Shortly after, she calls me back. Tlazsa is gracious, calm, and very humble. I admit to her without an ounce of embarrassment that she has been one of my muses ever since my discovery of her on Tumblr.
She’s the designer behind some of Kylie Jenner’s hottest outfits, specifically Kylie’s snakeskin Coachella outfit. You’ve seen Karrueche, Sevyn Streeter, Keke Palmer, and Tokyo Stylez rocking her designs. She believes in fashion with a purpose – finding and representing the deity within us all.
Adorned in tattoos, the one many of us know her by is the line of script that starts at her collarbone and ends just at her waist. She got it in Romania with a friend. It reads: “For Death Notes Tend To Dominate.”
Everything about her has an element of style embedded in it. From her hair to her nails, accessories and outfits – she’s the poster child for Too Much Sauce.
Originally inspired by her older sister who recently passed away, Tlazsa keeps her sister’s memory alive within TLZ L’FEMME.
What would you say your earliest experience with fashion is?
The one that keeps blinking in my mind is from when I was a little girl. My sister…brought the idea of designing to me when we were probably like, little girls. I think I was probably maybe six or seven and she said she wanted to do that. It always just stuck out to me and I thought it was really a beautiful thing. That’s pretty much I think where it started. We’ve always collaborated on what we wanted to do together. That’s where it started for me – with her.
What is your most memorable fashion experience?
When I put out my first piece and people really liked it. That was cool for me to see that people were interested in [my art].
When you talk about your sister being a muse of yours, do you think her style and her influence on you still lives on within your designs?
Yeah, absolutely! For sure. The embodiment that she had. That fly, confident, sexy, fun, carefree type of woman – smart, that whole energy, the whole flair – that’s what she was. That’s what I take from her and put into the brand for sure.
How are your designs inspired?
It could be anything that takes me to a certain type of place. Something that draws me in. It could be me chilling right now outside in the back yard talking to you, looking at the trees. I take that beauty and say it gives me a vibe. Or it’s a person. The way they’re sexy, the way that they’re a tomboy. Whatever it is, that’s going to give me that inspiration.
When did you realize that the fashion world needed a TLZ L’FEMME?
I don’t know if I really ever had that moment. I do it not because I’m like, “People need it.” I do it because I want to and it’s fun for me. I love giving it, it’s all fun for me.
If it’s a day where you’re like, “I have to slay!” what do you put on?
It’s probably going to be something like a slicked back look, maybe a poppin’ lip would be nice too. Clean, light, dewy makeup that’s me when I want to, you know — spruce it up [laughs]. I’m usually very chill, I do it. Get dressed up and say, “All right, I’m about to kill it.” I like to do that on the chill with a little bit of makeup, nothing too crazy.
Tell us one of your beauty secrets.
My favorite beauty secret is skincare. When you have good skin you don’t have to add a lot of different stuff to really bring out what’s there. You just enhance little things. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a full beat down – don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying for me that’s my favorite beauty tip.
Well, my name is Tlazsa so it’s a play on that. And that’s where I put the acronym for truth, light, and zenity. I just kind of combined it all together. In the beginning, it was just for my name, and then I added more to the meaning for me as I grew as a person because the brand has really grown with me.
Truth, Light, and Zenity — why are those themes important to you?
I believe that that’s what life’s about and being connected with the universe and within and making change and influence in the world in a positive way. Those things are important and to me you have to live in that truth, have that light, and be at peace, which is zen… I want to spread that message so people know what it’s about and what it stands for besides, “Oh I look fly.” It’s, “I’m fly, but I’m here for a great purpose.” You know what I’m saying?
When people wear TLZ L’FEMME, how do you want them to feel?
I just want them to feel like themselves. I want them to feel good in what that is to themselves, and just feel sexy while doing it.
What advice would you give someone who wanted to join the fashion industry?
One of my favorite tips to give is be organized – I think that’s really important. For joining the fashion industry I think you should definitely work with what you have. Don’t let things stop you from doing what you need to do. Do what you can. You’re trying to build a brand, don’t wait for too many things because something’s always going to pop up. Just go with it, go with it because it’s going to work itself out as long as you’re doing the work and putting that energy into it, you’re going to start to have turn around in some type of way.
When Kylie Jenner wore the snakeskin swim set to Coachella, what was that like for you?
That was really cool, it was actually the second time she wore something so I was like, “Dang! She wore something again! Okay go girl. Thanks!” Just like I feel with anybody that shops with me – whether it’s their second time their third time – it makes me feel good. Especially when they come back. To see someone of her status be so comfortable and so powerful in wearing the outfits was really dope.
What can we expect from TLZ L’FEMME in the near future?
New stuff, new content, more branching off into different lanes doing different things – but still part of the brand. That’s the main thing that I’m focusing on right now besides continuing the clothing for women’s and menswear. Expanding that, but also branching off into different lanes.
Who doesn’t love sweats and sneakers? Even if you like to dress up occasionally, you’d prob pick sneaks and a dad cap over a bodycon dress pretty much always (unless there will be hot dudes at the place we’re going, then expect me to be practically topless).
There is however, a fine line between being adorbs in your athleisure, and looking like you rolled out of bed to go on a coffee run.
Wearing streetwear is an art form — attempting to make it partially feminine, part badass and part comfortable is like trying to make the perfect cocktail — you know if it’s too sweet, you’re gonna have to pour that shit out, so like, don’t fuck it up.
I went in search of the coolest female street brands to get some tips to stay on trend, and keep me out of tragedy territory. And since I’m not willing to wait in a long ass line for the Snoop Dogg x Opening Ceremony collab, or spend $400 on a shirt from the Jay-Z x Revolve collab, I needed some other options.
You’ve likely stolen your boyfriends’ hoodie by the popular brand The Hundreds. Well, time to rejoice, because the brand just released some cool shit made just for the females.
Designer and founder “Bobby Hundreds” made the comfiest line I’ve ever worn — and let’s just say I’m a hoodie aficionado. The brand is called Jennifer USA and is meant to be oversized, but is equally feminine and cool af.
Bobby decided to call the Jennifer version of a dad cap a “daughter cap” — if that’s not cute, I don’t know what is.
“Jennifer is a women’s brand,” he says. “It wouldn’t make sense for us to be selling ‘dad hats,’ but it would also be weird calling it a ‘mom’ hat to exclude all the non-mothers. I think ‘daughter’ hat makes the most sense considering all women are daughters, so this is the most inclusive approach,” he says.
The lettering on their comfy af shirts has an old school 90’s Stussy puffy paint typa thing happening. But perhaps my fave piece from this line are the “Weekend” shorts — which are long, cutoff sweat shorts.
If you like the basics, but you like ‘em soft and fresh and fly, then Bad Decision Adventure Club will be your jam. The brand is a philanthropic, unilux (unisex-luxury) and eco-friendly brand that offers comfortable pieces that can be worn multiple ways, and most importantly to make bad decisions in.
Co-founders Rachel Grant and Alyssa Gudino have traveled and partied together, but also think it’s cool to have a positive impact and stand up for the issues you believe in. “Just because you are adventurous and sometimes make bad or risky decisions,” they say, “doesn’t mean that you can’t care about taking care of earth and being socially aware. It’s all about finding a balance of the two — having fun and helping how you can at the same time.”
For a recommendation straight from the designers: “We feel like Chance the Rapper put overalls back on the map — we like a tonal set up for the Oxely Overall styled with our Jameson Tee underneath, with your favorite cool sneaks,” Rachel and Alyssa say.
Ladies wearing menswear is always hot af — especially if you can mix and match and wear some fly heels with a bomb ass blazer and trousers. My dream is to own a custom made gold cheetah blazer by Anthony Franco — you’ve likely seen his work on Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie. But until that dream happens, I’ll be buying all the jackets from Wildfang.
A good mix for streetwear is to add a super fab blazer with some rolled up boyfriend jeans or shorts. Throw the blazer over a printed bodysuit, or even a plain T-shirt and pair with some rad oxford loafers — add a boater hat for a summer-y gender-bending street-savvy yet polished look.
While you’re obsessing over the Gevinson Blazer from Wildfang, imagine yourself with it over one of their sick “Wild Feminist” T-shirts, paired with some pleather leggings and heels. Or just go all out, and rock the Newton Long Blazer in white over a lacey bodysuit, with matching Cho Trouser — then throw a bomb ass white or nude heel with it.
If you aren’t the suit type, Wildfang has some killer casual jumpers which are great to dress up or down with just a swap of the heel. My faves are the Camo Jumper Dress with fishnets and Doc Martens, and the Petra jumpsuit with a lace bralette and my rose-gold sneaks.
back when I only dreamed of having my own lip line. 16 yr old me would be so proud 
@kyliecosmetics this new kit is so important to me #deadofknight
張右思 (@sacheu) on 
(@braidsgang) on 
(@kaliyahimani)
Follow the link in our bio. #TopshopStyle Shop the look by searching “Nirvana slogan t-shirt”, “Stripe wide trousers” and “Embroidered trench coat” at Topshop.com.
in the Black sheer fishnet lip applique bodycon dress + Cobie pink holographic rain mac 
#jadedbabes
#TopshopStyle Click the link in the bio or search “Dreamy Maxi Dress by Flynn Skye” at Topshop.com.
: @djenebaaduayom hair & mua : @keemachang stylist : @styledbycristina assisted by @kikistylist
I should’ve listened to Kim when she told me “you don’t put a bumper sticker on a Bentley.” Bye-bye bumper sticker!!! Thank you Dr Ourian!!!! You are the best!
