That GOOD GOOD Blog

LAURENCEAIRLINE

2012-01-23T14:41:00.002-05:00

Hello! I hope 2012 hasbeen treating everyone extremely well thus far. Today, I would like to share a brandthat I have been following for quite some time with you all. LAURENCEAIRLINE isa fashion label based out of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the hometown ofLAURENCEAIRLINE’s chief designer, Laurence Chauvin Buthaud. The concept that “fashionand ethnic cultures can successfully collaborate to create possibilities forthe future” is the driving force behind this line and also provides a vehiclefor creating job opportunities in Abidjan amidst the aftermath of thehumanitarian and political crisis in the Ivory Coast. LAURENCEAIRLINE’s SS/12 menswearcollection entitled “ABIDJAN” features shirts and underwear composed of brilliantlycolored poplin, chambray, and wax cotton fabrics which display an aestheticsimilar to that of traditional African wear. I must say, I have seen wax cottonand ankara overused, misused and abused within the past couple of years so it isextremely, extremely refreshing tosee this fabric used so well. LAURENCEAIRLINE brings beauty and hope to a landthat has been impacted by pain and despair and has thus earned the good goodseal of approval. Please enjoy the photos & video, and make sure you clickon the LAURENCEAIRLINE website link at the bottom of this post as well.

www.laurenceairline.com

Source: http://www.laurenceairline.com/About.html

The GOOD Life: Mike Schreiber

2011-12-19T15:59:00.000-05:00

In the past 1+ years that I have been running this blog, I have been afforded the absolute privilege of interviewing some of the most awe-inspiring individuals from all around the world.To call this experience incredible would be an understatement. Amazing does noteven begin to break the surface either. This feeling I have is worth more thana 1,000 words, much like a photo. It's no secret that I am alover of photography. I am captivated by a photographer’s ability to catch asingular moment in time and to have that moment live on for eternity. Thisbrings me to today's The GOOD Life feature, hip-hop photographer Mike Schreiber:

I had seen samples of Mike's work all over the web;they were these breathtaking black and white images of major, major hip-hop icons. The photo that caught my attention initially was of my favoriterapper Mos Def (Yasiin Bey). I love Mos Def.

Scratch that, I loveMos Def.

There was something sovulnerable about this photo that tugged at my heart the first time I saw it. Perhapsit was the manner in which Mos’ hoodie & hat obscure some of his face. Maybe it was his furrowed eyebrows and slight smile. The far off look inhis eyes could have been it too. Whatever it was, I knew that I had never seen Mos Def captured thisbrilliantly and that I had to identify the individual who took the photo. The photographer was none other than the incomparable Mike Schreiber and after viewing the rest of his work, I was 100% certain that I needed to interview him for this blog. I sent him an e-mail, crossed my fingers in the hopes that he'd respond, and did a lil' dance the next day when he e-mailed me back saying he'd love to participate.

Please enjoy my interview with Mike accompanied by a few of the stunning photographs from his photo book entitled True Hip-Hop.

What is your definition of a“good” life? Do you feel as if that is what you are living?

Tome, a good life is one with as little stress as possible, staying true to yourselfand living peacefully. I really hate drama, so I try to stay away from peoplewho cause drama and mayhem everywhere they go.

To me,having peace and love is the good life.

How important do you feel it is forpeople to follow their passions, even if doing so doesn't seem like a"secure" life choice?

Well,I don't think there is such a thing as a "secure" life choice. Everyonewith a job can lose that job. Then what? I'd rather have at least some controlover my destiny. I think it's important for people to follow theirpassions, but it's equally important to be realistic. It's one thing to bepassionate about something, making a living doing that thing is a wholedifferent animal.

What aspect of your work makes you thehappiest? What aspect do you like the least?

The processmakes me happiest. The process of interacting with people and shooting. Travelling,seeing new places and people and cultures. That's what being a photographermeans to me. The thing Ilike the least is the game of trying to get work. It's exhausting.

If you could photograph anyone in theworld that you haven’t photographed yet, who would it be? Why?

Hmmm...there'snot really anyone in particular. I'm happy shooting anyone that I think isinteresting. It really makes no difference to me who they are or what they door if they're famous or not. Maybe Tom Waits or Keith Richards.

What’s your favorite song lyric?

"I amwhat I am, thank God" -Jimi Hendrixfrom "Message to Love"

Is there anything you know now that youwish you knew a few years ago that could have helped you along your life path?

Nope.

Where do you see yourself and yourphotography in the next 5-10 years?

I see myselfdoing personal projects, having shows, selling prints and making little books.

I thinkthat'd be cool. I'd like to just keep moving. Doing things. Seeing new placesand people.

If you could give someone a quote tolive by, what would it be?

"Liveevery week like it's Shark Week." Tracy Jordan, 30 Rock or

"The single mostimportant component of a camera is the 12 inches behind it." Ansel Adams

www.mikeschreiber.com

Additional photo credits: http://artobserved.com/ & http://www.mistryofhabs.com/

My 'Finals Week' Playlist

2011-12-10T21:48:00.001-05:00

Here aresome of the songs that have been getting me through these strenuous hours ofstudying for my finals. Some are fairly new, some are quite old. Just click onthe little play buttons and/or the songs and they will play in the little mediaplayer located in the bottom left corner of your screen. If the songs do notplay, just refresh your screen and try again. Enjoy & the best of luck to all of you studying for finals too!

Love Song by The Internet

Lady Brown by Nujabes feat. Cise Starr

Wondering Why (You Don't Talk To Me) by Jill Scott

Sleep by The Roots

You Got Me by Tab-One

Three Ladies by Tab-One

This Way by Tab-One

Inside My Love by Minnie Riperton

Bye by J Dilla

He's Got That Good Good: Curran Swint

2011-12-08T01:34:00.001-05:00

Hello all! I hope thatDecember has been treating everyone well so far. Today, I am pleased to presenta brand-spanking new ‘He’s Got That Good Good’ post! It has been forever and aday since the last time I did one. Today’s feature is a young man named CurranSwint from Philadelphia, PA. What I like most about Curran, besides is sense ofstyle, is his go-getter attitude. I have a lot of respect and admiration forpeople, especially young people, who allowtheir creativity to blossom by indulging themselves in a host of activities.Curran is a wearer of many hats and keeps himself busy as a stylist, eventplanner, blogger, and philanthropist. He has styled for the 2010 PhiladelphiaFashion Week and The Source Magazine, and has been featured on major sitesincluding the New York Times, GQ, Complex, The Source, Essence, and Ebony. Without further ado, itis my pleasure to introduce you to..

Curran Swint from Philadelphia, PA

How old are you?

I'm a 24 year old King

What do you do for aliving?

I’m a fashion stylist & owner of a blog called kingsruletogether.com

What 3 words would you use to describeyour style?

Inspiring,Philly, Sub-urban

Where are your favoriteplaces to shop?

House of Ra'oof & Kamouflage Concept store

What is the 1 article ofclothing that you couldn't live without?

I can live without all of my clothes but without my glasses,I wouldn't be able to see.

www.kingsruletogether.com

StyleLikeU

2011-11-30T11:06:00.000-05:00

styleLikeU.com is a refreshingly brilliant site and one of my top favorite places on the internet. Thissite takes fashion and transforms it into a language which is spoken by each of the different people they feature. Why I love it so much is because it's all about the personal styles of a host of individuals: fromdesigners, to writers, to students, to artists, and not just merely about theclothes. I am so intrigued by personal style because I feel that the way wedress expresses a bit about who we are as individuals, even if we don’t mean todo so. This site reaffirms that style is, perhaps, the broadest form of selfexpression that exists. I definitely encourage you to check out StyleLikeU andto watch the videos of these different people discussing what style means tothem and how their lifestyles influence the way they dress, you will not be disappointed!In the meantime, I will leave you with a few of my personal favorites..

Waris Singh Ahluwalia, jewelry designer & actor

Lizzy & Darlene Okpo, designers of William Okpo

Preston Davis, actor, model & surf instructor

Kaelen Haworth, designer

Lindsey Caldwell, DJ & singer

www.stylelikeu.com

A Look Through My Lens, Part 5

2011-11-20T13:47:00.001-05:00

A Look Through My Lens is an ongoing series on That GOOD GOOD Blog which featuresawe-inspiring photographers from all over the world. I have had the absoluteprivilege of interviewing 10 photographers thus far through this series andtoday I have 2 more amazing additions to the ‘A Look Through My Lens’ family.Please enjoy the stories of Andre Wagner from New York and Xavier Burgin fromTuscaloosa, Alabama as they share about their passions for their art forms andwhere their love for photography all began.

I've been shooting digital for almost two yearsnow. What initially caught my interest was black and white photos and filmdevelopment. I took a black and white film class in college for my initialinteractions.

For my personal work, I would say it's moreabout portraits. But I also shoot some fashion look-books, editorials, andlifestyle photography.

I would definitely say lifestyle, real andmeaningful are words that define my photography. For me it's really more aboutcapturing the feeling and emotion than creating it.

In most of my photos people are the mostimportant element. People just draw me and I love deciding on what still shouldlive on forever.

Gordon Parks is my all time favorite. Theway he captured beauty in his era was amazing. He was multi-talented by alsobeing recognized as a painter, music composer, and a writer. His personal storyis also something that people can relate to and realize they too can dowhatever it is they work for. He was also the first African American Voguefashion photographer breaking the mold for younger generations like myself.

I'm currently using a Nikon D7000. I'vestarted with Nikon so it just makes sense to me.

abstractelements.com

What set me into photography was (first and foremost)film. I'm a film production major at The University of Alabama and I was goingthrough stasis period of what I really wanted to do with myself. I started outbelieving I wanted to fashion myself as a new-age writer, but that fell throughonce I realized I wanted so much more. I started looking for something thatinvolved the creation of stories while pushing an idea to wider audience.That's when film and screenwriting became my focus. From there, I knew if I wasgoing to learn anything about the art-form I needed to dive in both theliterary and cinematographic areas of film. The first REAL device I picked up was a FLIP camera that only did video.Now that I look back on it I've jumped light years ahead, but it's interestingto see how my mode of progress and equipment changed. I took the Flip everywherewith me and used it to document my entire time at the Cannes Film Festival pluscatch footage for my first short film (which I laugh about now). I also used itto pick up random footage to play with in media lab library. Some nights Iwould be there so long the assistants would have to ask me to leave. Once Istarted getting better with making really short videos I started counting ducksand saving my money up till I could buy the camera I wanted. Unfortunately, Ikept on getting hit with setback after setback till the point I thought I'dnever get enough money to buy my first camera. My pops watched all of thisbehind the scenes and gave me a lifesaving proposition. If I could at leastsave up half the money he'd go in with the rest plus helping me with equipment.I snatched the offer and ran with it and we finally picked a camera up.

If had to summarize my photos I would say they are"Random Ideas In Progress." That just means I'm still learning manyof the in and outs of photography and I'm doing this on my own. Whether I'mreading a book or scouring the internet I'm just testing and re-tryingeverything I do. I want my photography to represent a testament of my growth. Iwant people to say my photographs have grown with me. As I mature, therelevance and craft of my work should age as well. My type of photos would be"growing pains" in a way. As for what I'm into, it's anything andeverything. I've done a few photoshoots, but they are for my enjoyment and themodel's benefit. I'm not looking for monetary gain. I just want to postinteresting pictures on my website. Aside from the virtual randomness that ismy desire for photography I end up taking a lot of personal photography dealingwith my family. It's probably one of the best ways I've reconnected back withthem along with giving me something tangible to look through. A good example ofthis is a good batch of photographs I took my grandparents just for myself.I'll probably post them soon, but they have literally never been photographedyears...or at least not in a way that truly focuses on their person. That madea big difference for me. My photos just seems to either be spur of the momentor personal insights that clarify who I am.

3 words that describe my photography are random, personal,and puberty.

My best photos have been ones of children. Even in aclosed environment where I've asked them to do something a kid will always havethat something about him or her that compels them to do what they want. Thisisn't a bad thing though. It's given me some of my most interesting pieces.

I use a Canon T2i (550D)rebel with a 50mm f/1.4 lens anda 18-55mm f/4. I'm still a work in progress so this is still my first camera,but I definitely see nothing wrong with it. Before I upgrade to anything else Iwant to fully understand the ins and outs of my work. I honestly believe aperson with mastery in an area and outdated equipment will beat a novice in afield with the best technology. I want to be that old master in a way.

Oneof my favorites is Philippe Halsman. He was able to influence the best of bothworlds. He not only was able to work with great actors during his age, but healso was given open fields to work in a creative manner all of his won. I'lljust say this. Go look him up and check out his work known as "Jump"pictures. It definitely gives you an idea of how a simple idea can make such animportant impact.

www.quethelights.com

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

That GOOD GOOD Around the Web

2011-11-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

It’s back! Thegorgeous Solange Knowles relaunched her personal site ‘My Damn Blog’ a littleover a week ago. This time around, she has taken to tumblr.com where she sharesstunning photography from her various travels. As I have said time and timeagain, I am a humungous fan ofSolange; I think she is a brilliant musician and I am so taken by her uniquesense of style. My Damn Blog is definitely worth a moment of your time, click here to check it out! Here are a few ofmy favorite shots..

mydamnblog.com

Like Smoke by Amy Winehouse feat. Nas

Like Smoke is the first songthat has been released from Amy Winehouse’s posthumous album, ‘Lioness: HiddenTreasures’ which will serve as record of Amy’s musical development throughout theyears. The album will be composed of a series of 12 unreleased tracks put together by MarkRonson and Salaam Remi, both of who collaborated with Amy several times duringher career. Amy Winehouse was and still is one of my favorite singers to everlive. I really look forward to hearing this album!

Gorgeous photos from a spread done by Nasty Gal Vintagehave been making their way around tumblr and a number of other blogs aswell. I must say, I am so in love with what I am seeing. The model isabsolutely marvelous (I am so in love with her hair!) and the clothing is greatas well. Kudos to whoever photographed this, they really caught some greatmoments. To see the rest of the photos and to check out Nasty Gal’s website,click here.

The beautiful Toyin Odutola, an artist that I have previously interviewed & featuredon this blog, has become the face of the A/W 2011 collection of Pour Porter, an online boutique whichboasts incredibly unique pieces from original designers, which I initiallylearned about last summer through Toyin’s tumblr.The talent that Toyin possesses is nothing short of remarkable; not only is shean extremely gifted artist, but she also makes a splendid model as well. Tocheck out Pour Porter online, click here.Here are a 2 more of my favorite shots..

shoppourporter.com

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Fall Fashion: He/She's Got That Good Good Edition

2011-11-08T16:03:00.001-05:00

As I always say, thereis no season better than the fall! I am in love withthis time of the year; I truly believe it brings about the best of fashion. Ihave become quite fond of putting together style inspiration posts for everyseason and I have been trying to decide what I wanted to do for this fall post.Finally, the little light bulb in my head went off and I have decided torevisit a few of the amazing people I have had the privilege of featuring in my “He/She’sGot That Good Good” style series and to see what they are rocking this fall. You can click on each person's name to see their He/She's Got That Good Good feature & click on each person's link to be directed to their blog. Enjoy!

Ludget D. of DapperLou.com

Natasha N. of SNOWBLACKBLOG.com

Spencer E. of Proprpostur.com

Intriga U. of Intriguemenow.blogspot.com

Kadeem J. of Kjohnlasoul.com

What have you been wearing this fall? Leave it below in acomment!

I Miss The Fugees

2011-10-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

TheCaribbean influence, L Boogie’s tantalizing flows & stunning voice, the deepthoughts behind each and every word, the intention behind each and every beat...Fugeeswas such a brilliant group. I really miss them.

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The GOOD Life: Nikia Phoenix

2011-10-02T04:13:00.000-04:00

“…We wereborn to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just insome of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciouslygive other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” –Marianne Williamson

This is an excerpt from one of my favorite pieces of writingin the world, Our Deepest Fear. I’m sure that most, if not all, of you arefamiliar with it as well. It is so easy to forget how much of an impact we arecapable of having on other people’s lives. Even the smallest, most subtle, mostunconscious gesture has the power to leave a lasting impression. The questionis, what kind of impression do you want to leave upon others? How do you planon shining your light?

I had the absolute privilege of interviewing Nikia Phoenix, amodel & blogger from Los Angeles, California. Nikia is one of those rare people you comeacross who are just as stunning on the inside as they are on the outside. I amone of her blog’s loyal readers and I am always so inspired by the brillianceand positivity this woman radiates just from simply being herself. Themanner in which she completely embraces who she is as a person which issomething I know a lot of people, including myself, have difficulty doing is admirable. Asshe states in her bio, “Being a freckled-faced, natural-haired girl isn't easy.I've always felt different. Because of faith, I've been able to embrace who Iam and prosper. God created me this way for a reason, and everyday I thank Himfor that.” One of the most beautiful occurrences in life is when you are ableto look at yourself in the mirror and love the person looking back at you.Nikia is a testament to this; she has liberated herself from the fear of beingdifferent and, in doing so, shines her light for others to see and be impacted by.

What is yourdefinition of a “good” life? Do you feel as if that is what you are living?

I used to think that a good life was aboutperfection, but I know better now. A good life is a happy life that stillhas its moments of anguish and strife to help you appreciate the brightermoments. I think I'm living that.

How important do you feel it is for people tofollow their passions, even if following those passions may not seem like a"secure" life choice?

There was a time, about a decade ago, when Ifocused more on security than passion. It drove me into depression. If you fightagainst the talents you've been blessed with, then that sense of security isjust false. I still struggle with this myself, but I'm persevering. Don't bethe starving artist. Profit from your abilities. Find the balance and I dobelieve you can be successful.

What are 3personal characteristics that you possess that you feel have helped you in yourmodeling career?

Spunk, drive, and faith.

What aspect ofyour work makes you the happiest? Which aspect do you like the least?

I love working with really talented, humblepeople. Inspiration is infectious, so when you're creating with certain artiststhe possibilities are infinite. I do not like wasting time and talent onsomeone with a sour attitude. That bitterness will leave a bad taste in yourmouth, and I can do without it.

Is there anything you know now that you wish youknew a few years ago that could have helped you along your life path?
I wish I had known that you need a really strongteam to keep you going. You need a coach, cheerleaders, teammates and fans tokeep you amped up for those tough times. You can't do it by yourself.

What is it like being a woman of color in the modelingindustry?

It's achallenge to be who I am in this business. The opportunities are limited. I'vebeen turned down for jobs because of the color of my skin. But I think allwomen of color encounter similar situations. I feel like I have a duty to trymy hardest and represent for us.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?

Oh my goodness, I don't know. I hope that wherever I am and whatever I'm doing, I am content. All I really want is to be happy, fulfilled, and blessed.

If you could give someone a quote to live by, what would it be?

Know yourself. Love yourself. Be humble, because you didn't get where you are all by yourself.

modelliberation.blogspot.com

She's Got That Good Good: Chioma Wodu

2011-09-15T10:42:00.000-04:00

Hello! I apologize forleaving you guys high and dry without a ‘He/She’s Got That Good Good’ featurefor over a month now! Believe me when I say, the drought is over. I will bebringing you all fashionable faces from all over the world every other Thursday,like I used to do, from now on. Today’s feature is not only extremely welldressed, but she is incredibly talented as well. This girl has got angels in herthroat! Her voice is absolutely stunning. Chioma is 1/3 of the brilliant musicgroup known as A Yellow Man. I remember the first time I heard of A Yellow Manand watched their promo video; I was so excited by how eager they are toglorify God’s name through their music. It is rare to find people my age whoare so on fire for Christ and are unashamed to let other people know about it. Thattype of boldness is one of the most beautiful things on this planet. It is myabsolute pleasure to introduce you to..

Chioma Wodu from London, England

How old are you?

I’m 19

What do you do for a living?

I'm student studying Fashion Design women's wear and also part time musician (A Yellow Man)

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

Practical, simple, sometimesunpredictable

Where are your favorite places to shop?

I plead guilty but I thinkeverybody should some pieces from Topshop in their wardrobe. Also, my grandmothers60’s trunk box and a charity shop on Wembley Highstreet.

What is the 1 item you can't leave home without?

My mother’s precious stone necklace

A Yellow Man is currently working on a small EP that should drop later this winter. Make sure you 'like' their facebook page to keep up with the latest news!

Throwback Joint: Cherish The Day by Sade

2011-09-13T14:11:00.000-04:00

“You’re ruling the waythat I move.”

I neverrealized the degree of power behind that simple statement until recently.Sometimes we listen to a song so many times over and over and over but it isn’tuntil we reach a certain point in our lives that we can fully appreciate justwhat the artist is saying. Cherish TheDay has always been one of my favorite songs by Sade, if not my favorite.The effortless manner in which she was able to tell of this strong, burningdesire she had inside of her is astounding. She did not feel the need to useverbose and complex love language in order to get her point across, and shedidn’t need to. Those simple 7 words she says in the beginning of this song aremore powerful, to me, than anything I have ever heard in any other love song.Another line in this song that always sends chills up my spine is “If you weremine, I wouldn't want to go to heaven”. I can only imagine a love that deep. Sade definitely knows what's good. I also wanted to share this video because this past Sunday marked the 10 year anniversary of September 11th and you can catch quite a couple of glimpses of the World Trade Center in the background.

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That GOOD GOOD Around the Web

2011-09-10T20:31:00.001-04:00

I know I always say this, but I have fallen deeply inlove yet again with yet another street style blog. CURB APPEAL is a gorgeousstreet style blog started by the lovely Shanita Sims who manages to capture flawlessly fashionableindividuals from Atlanta and beyond in a simple yet brilliant way. It is definitely worth a momentof your time so click here and check itout! Here are a couple more of my favorite shots:

Have you been watching the herd?

I don’t know about you guys, but Herds of The Fathers’ latest bag preview has me speechless. This jumbo sized leather backpack has my name written all over it. I can’t wait until this new line drops! To see more of this beauty and to keep up with the latest Herds news, click here.

I just realized that I have never talked about Jesse Boykins III’s lovely mixtape ‘Way Of A Wayfarer’ and I’m sure a lot of you have already listened to it. For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure, click here to listen and/or download. I really love the magically mellow sound of the 6 tracks on this EP. I’ve had it on heavy repeat this past week because school is starting to stress me out a bit! Here is my favorite track:

Back Home (Mermaids & Dragons) by Jesse Boykins III

Click here to listen as Erykah Badureflects on her first album, Baduizm. It’s always so interesting getting tohear the artist’s side of the story.

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When I'm Not Listening to Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul, and R&B...

2011-09-02T11:36:00.000-04:00

It is no secret that Iam a lover of hip-hop, a neo-soul junkie, and an old school R&B fiend (Ibelieve that basically every song I have ever posted on this blog belongs toone of those three genres). While there is nothing wrong with loving certaintypes of music more than others, one has to be open to hearing and appreciatingother types of music as well. I’m not going to lie, I am extremely, extremely picky about the music I listento, my friends & sisters can attest to that. However, for the past year orso I have been making a concerted effort to open myself up to the variouswonders that the music world has to offer. In doing so, I have fallen in lovewith a host of different musicians from several genres and have decided toshare a few of these finds with you all. Enjoy the music and tell me what you think!

Blessa by Toro y Moi

Average Fruit by Quadron

Far Cry by Quadron

Unpatience by Quadron

You'll Find A Way by Santogold

Feather by Little Dragon

No More Room by Emily King

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Gold Coast Trading Co.

2011-08-26T00:50:00.000-04:00

I’ve had my eye onthis brand for quite some time now.

Whatinitially drew me to Gold Coast Trading the first time I came across them wastheir beautifully simple and refreshingly clean aesthetic. It was one of those situations when I could’t pull my eyes away from what I was seeingbecause it was just so perfect. The clothing this company creates manages tocapture the brilliance of both Africa's fashion and history in such a simple yet effective way.And as if having an aesthetic to die for and creating amazing clothing weren’tenough, Gold Coast Trading’s back-story gave me a million more reasons to love them. Thevision behind this brand is nothing short of exceptional. I feel that it is thesame vision that many Africans who find themselves living away from home have. EmekaAlams, the creator of Gold Coast Trading, takes us back to 1444 -the point intime when Africans were beginning to be taken from the Gold Coast and traded byEuropeans. As the Gold Coast Trading website reads:

“This trade has changed ourworld and reshaped our thoughts. Living by European standards throughout theAfrican Diaspora we have forgotten what makes our culture powerful, rich andunique. Here we strive for riches and neglect our families, we smile upon otherswhile wishing for their demise, all things associated with the mind frame ofthose who began this trade.”

Althoughthe people of Africa have been displaced and dejected, Africa itself is still aland overflowing with love and hope. It is this brand’s aim to take us back tothose days before 1444 when we weren’t so concerned with living by “Europeanstandards”. Emeka’s devotion to Africa is commendable; I admire how deeplyinvested he is in the continent’s past and how he is able to draw inspirationfrom moments in history such as the Soweto uprising. Although he is no longerliving in Africa, it is quite easy to see how much he still cares. Nomatter how far you travel from home, it should always have a place in yourheart. Gold Coast Trading is a testament to that.

before1444.com

He's Got That Good Good: Damola Sowole

2011-08-12T08:39:00.004-04:00

Before I get into this stylefeature, I would like to take a moment to apologize for my lack of posts thispast month. July was an extremely busy month for me and I had to put That GOODGOOD Blog on the back burner for a bit, unfortunately. But no worries! This blogis coming back to the front burner and I’m heating it up because I have somereally amazing things cooking for you all! (That analogy might have been a lil’bit too much. Please pardon my corniness). Alright, let me get back to thispost. Today I am featuring a lovely lad who I came across one day on Tumblr.What caught my eye about Damola the most was his really clean cut yet casuallook, something that so many people attempt but only a few truly master.

Damola Sowole from London, England

How old are you?

I am 21 years of age

What do you do for a living?

I am an undergraduate student studying Bsc inPsychology. I am also a part time home school educated photographer andblogger.

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

To describe my style in three words, I will say honest, welcoming,and natural, but I would just like to break it down by saying that my style isreally just an extension of who I am as a person and a tad bit of who I want tobe seen as. It is what I feel comfortable wearing without the stress of theopinions or stereotypical views of how a man at the age of 21 should dress (lolI talk too much).

Where are your favorite places to shop?

I’m not fixed to any store, I like trying new places andseeing what different stores have to offer and then I mix and match what stylesuits me. I would say shops I love are VINTAGE STORES(mainly because it savesmoney) ASOS , KONG store Coventry or via online shopping.

What is 1 item you wouldn't leave home without?

One item I wouldn’t leave home without; I wouldsay my BIBLE but if it was to do with something materialistic I would say mygranddad’s hat/ camera, (mainly because I can’t be bothered to keep combingmy hair).

In addition to his studies, Damola is also a splendidphotographer. Make sure you check out his Tumblr, InsideTheAfro, which features hiswork by clicking (here).

The GOOD Life: Poodle Pusher

2011-08-02T23:12:00.003-04:00

Back in May, I announced a new series that I will be constructing for this blog called The GOOD Life. For those of you who didn’t get a chance to read my first post of this series which featured an incredible artist name Brianna McCarthy, click here. The GOOD Life is a series that was inspired by an eye-opening concept my philosophy professor presented to my class this past school year; he challenged me and my fellow classmates to take a look into ourselves and decide what our definitions of “good” lives are. I was so inspired by this simple yet surprisingly deep exercise that I decided to incorporate this idea of “the good life” into my interviews from now on.

For today’s feature, I had the absolute honor and privilege of interviewing Nigerian sisters Chichi & Ogo Offodile, founders of the wardrobe & fashion stylist company Poodle Pusher. What makes this company truly special is the pure love and devotion that Chichi & Ogo have for their craft; their passion is woven throughout the very fabric of the pieces that they clothe their clients in. I have commented countless times on how deeply in love I am with Solange Knowles's style and, as it turns out, she is one of Poodle Pusher's prominent celebrity clients. Most of the amazing outfits that I have adored on her were pieced together by Chichi & Ogo!

The photos that accompany this interview are from Solange’s vibrant photoshoot for FASHIZBLACK Magazine, styled by Poodle Pusher.

What are your definitions of a “good” life? Do you feel as if that is what you two are living?
Our definition of a “good life” is one that is balanced and fruitful! It’s a lifestyle that promotes an elevated understanding of what it is that makes you happy, and content with what life has to offer. We are indeed living a good life because we are happy individuals; we always make a conscious effort to live everyday to its fullest, and strive to enjoy what we do. Life is already too short and nothing in life is worth cutting into the limited time we have on earth.

How important do you two feel it is for people to follow their passions, even if doing so doesn't seem like a "secure" life choice?

We believe it’s very important. Passion and Happiness are inseparable; we view passion as a road-map to life. God has his own unique way of showing us signs, and revelations about where we should be in life and the gifts we possess. We believe passion is just that sign we are looking for from Him, it’s innate and is something we all have to listen to and let be our guide to life. When an individual is passionate and puts the needed effort to see his/her passions come to life that follows with success! We believe where we fall short as humans is with giving up and not listening to our instincts.

How did Poodle Pusher come about? And was establishing a name for yourselves difficult to do?

As sisters, Poodle Pusher came about from the chemistry and bond we share. Fashion Styling was an introduction to the talents we possess as creative’s, but there are additional future ventures we are interested in, and are continually establishing ourselves – It’s an ongoing process and we don’t feel the job is done! It is indeed difficult but nothing in life worth having comes easy.

What are 4 personal characteristics that you two posses that you feel have helped make Poodle Pusher a success?
The 4 P’s

-Prayerful (Put God first in all you do)

-Persistent (Never give up)

-Passionate (Love what you do)

-Prideful (Know your worth)

What is it like owning & running a business with your sister? Do you think the dynamic between you two would be different if you two weren't related?

We have always been very close sisters, and some might say too close :) our personalities are complementary – we balance one another. Where one lacks, the other makes up for it, and the same goes for our work aesthetic and method of delivery. We have had people we work with on different sets say it’s amazing to see us work because it seems like we are speaking a different language that only we can understand, and in all honesty, we probably do. The dynamic we share is a blessing to have in a sibling and business partner, and without a doubt the energy would be different if we weren’t related and close.

Which aspect of your work makes you the happiest? Which aspects do you like the least?

We are happiest when we see our work manifest like we envisioned; and the reversal will be when we are least happy.

Is there anything you two know now that you wish you knew a few years ago that could have helped you in building your business?

We wish we knew the full extent of how much talent and fluff is involved in the industry, just loving and being good at what you do sometimes isn’t all it takes. Politics are everywhere and you have to understand how to play into different sides of the fence, so to speak. This is an important concept to understand and learn to work with.

What advice would you two give to someone who is unsure about the career they want to
pursue?

-Know your goals and talent.

-Have drive, focus, determination, and be willing to learn.

-Timing is everything.

-Decipher between what you want and need, it’s important to make decisions in life based on needs.

-Understand the difference between wanting a job and a career.

-If you desire a job, choose one that pays the best.

-If you desire a career, choose one that you’re great at, passionate about, and will make you happy.

-Strive to get the best of both worlds in a job and career, one that pays well and you love waking up every morning to.

-Research. Knowledge is key!

Where do you ladies see yourselves and your company in the next 5-10 years?

We see ourselves surpassing our expectations! The end result we want from of all our hard work is to create an empire that aligns with our artistic expression and creative vision.

If you two could give someone a quote(s) to live by, what would it/they be?

“Above all: To your own self, be true” – William Shakespeare

To learn even more about Poodle Pusher, check out their website by clicking (here), follow them on twitter (@PoodlePusher), and ‘like’ them on facebook (here).

That GOOD GOOD Blog's 1 Year Anniversary Herds of the Fathers Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-07-26T23:59:00.002-04:00

On July 14, 2010, I published my very first blog post. There were no photos in the post. No audio snippets. No links to other web pages. I had absolutely no idea what types of posts I was going to be putting on this blog. All I knew was that I had this somewhat odd concept in my head that seemed to define the creative, entrepreneurial, and awe-inspiring revolution that is taking place amongst my peers. Has there ever been a time when so many young people, especially those of color, were indulging themselves so deeply into the diverse cultures of fashion, art, music, and commerce? Everywhere I look, I see someone my age starting a business, building a brand, creating a masterpiece, doing something! My generation is not sitting still; we are out here hustling. Hard. Bearing witness to so much greatness in the making has been such a beautiful and exciting experience for me. However, being able to share the stories of these amazing young people from near and far with all of you has been nothing short of a blessing. I am so lucky to have over 1,000 readers to talk to about the people, places, sights, and sounds that inspire me. I really am. Even on my worst day, I have something to smile about because of this blog. So thank you, to all of you who took a little time out of your day throughout the past year to visit this blog and to leave some love. There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe how much I appreciate it.

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For this giveaway, I have teamed up with one of my favorite companies that I have had the pleasure of featuring on this blog: Herds of the Fathers (click here to read my interview with Tobi Babajide, half of the Herds of the Fathers duo). A very big thank you goes out to Tobi for reaching out to me and offering to have Herds of the Fathers sponsor this giveaway.

To celebrate That GOOD GOOD Blog's 1 year anniversary, I will be giving away 3 Herds of the Fathers mini backpacks!

3 lucky people will be winning 1 of the 3 styles of mini backpacks from the Herds of the Fathers premiere collection. New mini backpack styles will be offered in the next coming collection!

Herds of the Fathers mini backpacks combine the aesthetic of their classic backpacks with the convenience of a wallet. These bags are perfect for holding keys, cell phones, money, etc. and easily able to be attached to belt loops & bags. Definitely something you want to own!

This giveaway is now closed. The 3 winners will be chosen at random and announced within the next week. Thank you to everyone who entered!

2011-07-24T13:11:00.002-04:00

October Song

1 Year of That Good Good

2011-07-14T21:43:00.007-04:00

Do you know what today is? It’s our 1 year anniversary!

Press Play.

Song: Anniversary by Tony! Toni! Toné!

She's Got That Good Good: Shirley Eniang

2011-07-07T23:48:00.002-04:00

Hello all! I hope everyone in the States had an amazing 4^th of July weekend and that all my international readers are doing fine as well. I apologize for my sparse posts the past few weeks; I’ve been pretty busy lately. Hopefully I can correct my rhythm soon and get back to doing multiple posts every week like I used to do. Today’s GOOD GOOD-er is one of my favorite personal style bloggers; everything from her clothing to her makeup to her hair is always beautiful. Without further ado..

Shirley Eniang from London, England

How old are you?

What do you do for a living?

I’m a full time student (BSc Mathematics Undergraduate)

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

Free, Uncommitted, Chic

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Vintage Stores, Topshop, Zara, H&M, River Island and Primark

What is the 1 article of clothing that you couldn't live without?

My Topshop Box Bag

www.meek-n-mild.com

That GOOD GOOD Around the Web

2011-06-30T15:33:00.000-04:00

Pop’Africana Magazine’s lovely website unveiled the Maki Oh Autumn-Winter 2011/2012 lookbook a few days ago. Maki Oh is an absolutely brilliant designer who hails from Nigeria; her garments have long captured my attention. I am so amazed by her attention to detail, the way in which she combines different textures in her designs, and the manner in which her clothing celebrates the female form. She truly is a gifted individual. Here are some of the photos; the rest can be seen on POPAFRICANA.com (here).

I predict very big things in the future for Herds of the Fathers. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this company, Herds of the Fathers is a men’s accessory brand which was started by Tobi Babajide & Jason Akoi (check out my interview with Tobi by clicking here & Tobi’s “He’s Got That Good Good” feature by clicking here). Herds of the Fathers recently launched their new website, new tumblr, and announced that their new line of bags will be released within the next few months. I am extremely excited to see what these Tobi & Jason have come up with for this new line; judging by their premiere line, I know it will be absolutely amazing. Make sure you like their facebook group so you can keep up with all the latest developments!

Listen to this:

Stoops Parks & Rooftops by The Stuyvesants

This is definitely my idea of a jam for summer, I’ve been vibing to this track for the past week. For those of you who don’t know, The Stuyvesants are an instrumental hip-hop duo composed of Darien Victor Birks and Allan Cole. I love The Stuyvesants because the beats that these 2 produce are nothing short of utterly magnificent. I urge you to listen to & download their album, Brooklyn’s Finest, by clicking (here). This song in particular can be downloaded off of Darien Victor Birk’s blog (here).

One of my past “He’s Got That Good Good” featurees, Spencer Edwards, asked me to share his style book for Spring-Summer 2011 with you all. Unfortunately, the video link is not allowing me to embed the video directly in this post but you can still click (here) to watch & listen to Spencer as he breaks down what style means to him.

Blogs to love: Here are just a few of my favorites fashion based blogs. Click on the photos to go to the blogs.

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A Look Through My Lens, Part 4

2011-06-23T12:07:00.002-04:00

For all of my new readers, “A Look Through My Lens” is an ongoing series on That GOOD GOOD Blog which features remarkable photographers from all over the world. I am a huge fan of photography and I have such a massive amount of respect and love for photographers so I knew that creating a series that shed light on these amazing individuals was a great move for my blog. I have done 3 “A Look Through My Lens” installations thus far which has allowed me to interview 8 incredible photographers: Nakeya Brown, Shako Oteka, Rog Walker, King Texas, Chris Charles, Mambu Bayoh, Dana Shum, and Brandon Hicks. Today, I present you all with 2 more immensely gifted photographers to add to the “A Look Through My Lens” family: Cameron Davis & Naima Green. As always, I have interviewed both of these photographers and their responses to my questions accompany their photos. Enjoy!

I've always been into photography in some form or fashion. When I first started delving into my art side, I used to draw, so I would find photos that I really liked and would free-hand draw them out. So maybe it started out there or when I saw this photo my Dad had shot of my mother before I was born, it was so classic and such a timeless photo. I still have it to this day and look at every now and again as a reminder of what I want my images to say years from now.

I'm a photographer so I take photos of whatever interests me but if I had to put myself in a category by industry standards, it would definitely be an editorial photographer. I try to capture emotion, feelings, moods, certain tones, and mold them in a way to tell a story through the photographs and create a sense of thought. This means I want people to look at the picture and start to think "what was that day like", "what was he thinking when he photographed this" "what was her mindset" etc...

If I had to think of certain words to classify my style of work only a few words come to mind, first would be nostalgic, old school, classic. Nostalgic because I want my work to create that feeling of longing to be there, to be in that photograph, to experience that day, to experience the moment. Old school because my work takes inspiration from great artist before me and classic because I go thinking that everything I take is classic even when it isn't, I think photographers need to have a sense of pride and self but not in an arrogant way but in a way that exudes confidence in the work that you do.

What is my favorite thing to capture in photos? People! People are my favorite type of subject matter to capture. Taking a photograph of someone is truly a unique and different experience every time because each person I take photos of is different from the last. It’s sort of a worldly experience you get to have. Everyone I shoot for the most 98.5% is either a friend or someone who I end up making a friend and I wouldn't get to do that if I wasn't photographing people.

Right now, I use a Sony Alpha that I've been using for the last 4-5 years now and it’s honestly a love/hate relationship with this camera. I've learned to embrace its negative attributes and turn them into positives which, in turn, make my style as it is today. I also started shooting with a Minolta x9 but I'm really in need of an upgrade as soon as possible for both cameras. The next camera I get will be a Canon, I've been sold ever since I got to shoot with one awhile back. Hands down, they have some of the best lenses in the industry.

Admiration is so tough for me because I honestly take admiration to the greats to photographers who just started yesterday, but Annie Leibovitz is definitely a huge inspiration for me. She has to be one of if not the greatest editorial photographer of all time. Richard Avedon for his timeless portraits, he inspired some of my recent portraits, and of course Andy Warhol for his amazing use of contrasting and over exposure. If there was one photographer that I shared a key trait with in terms of photography style it would definitely have to be him but as much as we look at greats, we miss amazing artist right in front of us right now, so if I had to think of a current photographer who is just amazing and has inspired me it would have to be the photographer Billy The Kidd from New York. Something about his portraits are unreal to me. One day I'm going to intern for him or just meet up with me and pick his brain.

To check out more of Cameron’s iconic images, click (here).

I took my first photography class when I was 9 years old at the Harlem School of the Arts; we made our own pinhole cameras and developed our own film. From there I travelled for a few years only using disposable cameras. Then I started working with a Pentax ZX-50 and Canon DSLRs. In terms of inspiration—my parents are art collectors. I grew up around art and was always encouraged to make it.

I love daylight portraits; it’s like magic when the light is perfect. I also really enjoy shooting inanimate objects some may fail to notice as beautiful. Those items we work with day-to-day: telephones, pans, furniture etc.

3 words to describe my photos? Intentional. Detailed. Simple.

My favorite things to capture in photographs are personas. I like to go into my subjects’ space and capture them how they are most comfortable. Some of my favorite work is when I show up not having scouted a location and am forced to adjust to what I find.

Right now I shoot with a Canon 7D. I’ve been devoted to canon for 7+ years; it just feels right.

I love fashion photographers like Peter Lindbergh, Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, and Scott Schuman. I admire Lindbergh and Avedon because the quality of their images is unmatchable; they are icons. Two of my favorite art books are Peter Lindbergh: Untitled 116 and Avedon Fashion 1944-2000. Testino and Schuman are contemporary photographers, equally as talented, who take part in creating and documenting our incessant culture.

To check out more of Naima’s lovely still life images, click (here).

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

And The Winners Are...

2011-06-22T16:42:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the winner of the PeaceImages Cuff, Kasturi, & the winners of the Alex Folzi Briefcases: Lemo, Xavier, & Vivi! An e-mail has been sent to each of you.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!

If you didn’t win this time around, don’t fret! I will be holding another great giveaway next month (July), so stay tuned!

He's Got That Good Good: Ludget Delcy

2011-06-16T14:46:00.000-04:00

I meant to do this post last Thursday since I do these features every other week but, for some reason, I never did. Not to worry, today’s Good Good feature is well worth the wait! Ludget Delcy is one of those rare individuals you find that who is simply overflowing with talent and passion. He runs one of my favorite men’s based street style blogs called Dapper Lou and I urge every single male (and female alike) who may be reading this to visit his blog and get inspired! He really has a way with capturing the purest essence of style in New York. His photography is absolutely exquisite and so his personal style so, without further ado, here is..

Ludget Delcy from Bed-Stuy, NY

How old are you?

I'm 24 years young.

What do you do for a living?

I'm a Fashion Blogger and Photographer

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

Sophisticated, Eclectic and of course Dapper

Where are your favorite places to shop?

To list a few: Opening Ceremony, Paul Smith, online shops, Flea Markets, Uniqlo, Zara, Blucker, John Varvatos and Y-3.

What is the 1 article of clothing that you couldn't live without?

Pants: for function purposes and style.

Ludget’s style is incredible. It doesn’t matter if he is dressed up in a trench coat and a tie or dressed down in a tee and a pair of shorts; he manages to maintain this sense of effortless cool in every single outfit. I am also a humongous fan of Ludget’s taste in shoes, I have never seen so much amazing footwear belonging to one person! Thank you Ludget, you’ve got that good good, indeed!

Make sure you check out & follow Ludget’s phenomenal men’s street style blog, Dapper Lou, by clicking (here).

That Good Good Music: Ntjam Rosie

2011-06-14T11:43:00.008-04:00

Last week, I was perusing GHUBAR Magazine’s latest issue when I came across this gorgeous individual. Ntjam Rosie is a Holland-based Cameroonian jazz singer with a look reminiscent to that of Grace Jones in her nightclubbing days and the voice of a modern day Afro-European Ella Fitzgerald. For me, it was love at first listen; Ntjam’s voice is so soothing and so genuine. And as if that isn’t enough, she has a smashing sense of style as well! From her amazing music to her gorgeous natural hair to her unique taste in clothes, Ntjam has definitely got that good good. You can learn more about her by checking out her website here & make sure you 'like' her facebook page here.

Here are a couple of my favorite tracks. Enjoy!

Click here to enter my Alex Folzi & PeaceImages giveaway.

My 1,000 Followers Giveaway Extravaganza! (CLOSED)

2011-06-10T23:59:00.000-04:00

On May 31^st, That GOOD GOOD Blog reached over 1,000 followers! You all don’t know how exciting this achievement is to me, especially since I haven’t even been blogging for a full year yet. It is so humbling to know that there is such a large group of people in the world who are interested in the things I have to say. I want you all to know that I really, really, really value your readership; it is your continual support that keeps me going.

1,000 is a big number so, in true good good fashion, you guys know I have to do something big to celebrate! To show my thanks, I have teamed up with 2 companies that I have featured on this blog: Alex Folzi & PeaceImages (click here & here to read the interviews, respectively). A BIG thank you goes out to Fola, Fela, and Camille for being kind enough to sponsor!

I will be giving away…

3 Alex Folzi briefcases:

A green briefcase,

a dark blue briefcase,

and a grey briefcase.

and 1 PeaceImages fluidity cuff:

The Alex Folzi briefcases are originally worth $152.oo each & the PeaceImages cuff is worth $44.oo so this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

This giveaway is CLOSED. The 4 winning names will be selected from a bag at random and announced within this coming week. Thank you & good luck to all of you who entered!

Add These To Your Reading List

2011-06-08T12:22:00.002-04:00

I have been so into online magazines lately; they provide all the beautiful visuals & interesting articles that a normal magazine does minus the price. What’s not to love? Here are a couple of my favorites..

I am so taken by the clean & beautiful design of Pickmix Magazine. From the photography to the layout, this publication is definitely on point. The cover above was shot by one of my favorite photographers, Kwesi Abbensetts. Here are a couple photos from the amazing spread he shot in the magazine:

Click (here) to check out Pickmix Magazine’s blog & click (here) to read their latest issue.

Like Pickmix, Nonverbal Magazine is another publication with a really clean and beautiful design. I love the artistic point of view that this magazine possesses; it features some truly incredible photographers, models, artists, and designers. The cover above was shot by another one of my favorite photographers, Nakeya Brown (check out my interview with Nakeya in ‘A Look Through My Lens, Part 1’ by clicking here). Here are some photos from the gorgeous spread she shot in the magazine:

Click (here) to check out Nonverbal Magazine’s website & click (here) to read their latest issue.

Other online magazines well worth reading (click on the names):

Ghubar Magazine, NU-MODE’ Magazine, & Au Courant Magazine

Songs For Summer

2011-06-03T14:33:00.006-04:00

Here is That GOOD GOOD Blog’s official playlist for Summer 2011. Summer is all about relaxation for me so I wanted to choose some mellow tunes that everybody can just lay back and vibe to. All you have to do is click the first song and the rest will play automatically one after the other. If the songs don’t work, just refresh the screen and try again. Enjoy!

Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World) by Common

Sun Is Shining by Bob Marley

The Way You Do It by Little Brother

...& On by Erykah Badu

Sunrays/Elle's Theme by Madlib

The 'Notic by The Roots feat. D'Angelo

Tainted by Slum Village feat. Dwele

All That I Am (Something For the People) by Bilal

Sunshine by De La Soul

Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest

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She's Got That Good Good: Cynthia E.

2011-05-26T21:53:00.002-04:00

I was perusing one of my favorite blogs the other week, Natural Belle, when I came across today’s stylish individual. She is originally from Cameroon, West Africa and runs a fantastic blog called “Addicted 2 Etsy” in her spare time. Not only does she have a great sense of style, but she also has some of the most GORGEOUS hair I have ever seen! Without further ado, here is..

Cynthia E. from New York City

How old are you?

I'm 29

What do you do for a living?

I'm an attorney by day, wife and blogger by night.

What 3 words would you use to describe your style?

Make it work (thanks Tim Gunn)

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Zara, H&M, No-name NYC street stores, Brooklyn Flea, ASOS, Etsy of course (mostly for accessories).

What is the one article of clothing that you could not live without?

Underwear. No seriously, it would honestly have to be my “had them for too long” super comfy PJ's.

Cynthia has such an effortless sense of style. I’m a sucker for vintage clothing so I definitely appreciate the vintage pieces that she incorporates into her looks. Her outfits have a lot of balance which I absolutely love. Thank you so much Cynthia, you’ve got that good good!

Make sure you check out Cynthia’s amazing blog by clicking (here).

Summertime Fine

2011-05-24T12:46:00.004-04:00

With summer rapidly approaching, I think it is really time for me to kick my closet out of winter mode. I am such an odd shopper; I have this addiction to buying only sweaters and jackets. Of course this is fine during the cold months, but by the time the weather gets warm I never have anything to wear. Because of this, one of my friends and I are organizing a shopping trip to NY very soon so I can update my summer wardrobe. Here are a few things I am hoping to get and a couple of the looks I will be going for this season..

Most fashion lovers have style muses and Solange is definitely one of mine. This woman is a master of mixing patterns and I love the subtle yet effective manner in which she does so. I think she looks smashing. Both of the looks above are great for the summer.

Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while probably know that I am an absolute vintage fanatic. I even used to do thrift store haul posts where I would display all my vintage finds (you can view them by clicking here). Vintage dresses are one of my favorite things to buy from thrift stores; I absolutely love their unique fits and interesting designs (and you really can’t beat the low price either which is $7.oo at the store that I frequent the most).

Like I mentioned before, I have an odd addiction for buying coats. Fortunately, it does get a little chilly on some summer nights so my addiction doesn’t go to total waste. My idea of a good summer coat is something light and loose, like the 2 coats pictured above.

This is a trend that is catching like wildfire. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this concept, color blocking is the combination of different colors that complement each other in an outfit. There are some people that could color block an entire outfit from head-to-toe and look smashing, but I don’t think I could pull off such a look, personally. I am a fan of more subtle color blocking like in the outfit seen above.

These are nothing new, but I have yet to purchase one! Usually I just use my own scarves to make turbans. However, I feel these simple pull-on turbans will be a great purchase for me, especially when I’m in a rush and I just need something to throw on.

What will you be wearing this summer? Leave it in a comment!

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The 2011 Black Weblog Awards

2011-05-23T11:33:00.000-04:00

I would like to take this time to officially announce that That GOOD GOOD Blog is, indeed, a finalist in 3 different categories of The Black Weblog Awards! The 3 categories are: Best Blog Design, Best Fashion or Beauty Blog, and Best Culture Blog. Thank you so, so, so much to all the people who nominated this blog. I really mean it. I haven’t even been blogging for a full year yet so I definitely was not expecting to be a finalist in 3 categories. Knowing that I have the support of my readers means everything to me.

Now comes the final leg of the competition that will determine whether this blog wins an award: the voting round!

HERE IS HOW TO VOTE

1. Click on this link: http://blackweblogawards.com/2011vote/

2. Enter your e-mail address

3. Look for and click the button next to That GOOD GOOD Blog under

a. The 1^st category (best blog design)

b. The 4^th category (best culture blog)

c. The 7^th category (best fashion or beauty blog)

4. In all the other categories that you choose not to vote for, click “NO VOTE FOR THIS CATEGORY”

PLEASE NOTE:

-You must scroll to the bottom of the page in order to click the “next page” button. There are 5 pages in all and the “SUBMIT” button is found on the 5^th page.

-Only 1 vote is permitted per computer

-Voting lasts up until June 17, 2011

Thank you all so much again!

Much Love,

Dee

The GOOD Life: Brianna McCarthy

2011-05-18T11:06:00.009-04:00

For the past month or so, I have been trying to think of ways to improve the “People You Should Know” interviews that I conduct from time to time; not that these interviews weren’t already excellent. I wanted the questions I asked to go a little deeper but I wasn’t sure which angle to approach them from. Interestingly enough, I found my answer in the philosophy class that I took this past semester. My professor created this eye-opening concept of “the good life” and challenged each of us to take look at our own present situations, think back on our past experiences, consider our future goals, and ask ourselves this question: What is my definition of a good life? This level of introspection was fairly new for me and, although it did give me a mild headache, it really forced me to look into myself and determine the things in my life that I place the greatest stock in.

Later on in the semester, we began reading some of Henry David Thoreau’s essays and assessing his ideologies and it was at that point that I had my Oprah-esque Aha! Moment. You see, Thoreau didn’t feel like he was placed on this Earth to please everyone or to conform to the narrow beliefs of society; his main purpose in life was to live it as deliberately and authentically as he possibly could. I felt so inspired by Thoreau’s mindset and, having realized that this was his idea of a good life, decided that I wanted to take this exploration further. Because of this sense of ‘knowledge of self’ that I gained from my philosophy class, I really want to carry this theme of “the good life” into my interviews from now on in the hopes that all of you reading this will feel challenged to look within yourselves and discover what your idea of a good life is as well!

The first individual that I will be interviewing in this new set of features called “The GOOD Life” is an artist who hails from Trinidad and Tobago and whose vibrant artwork entices the eye and sweetens the soul.

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Brianna McCarthy

What is your definition of a “good life”? Do you feel as if that is what you are living?
A good life is, for me, when the things that make you smile are more powerful than those that don’t; when what is gained through sharing with others and having them share with you vast outweighs what is taken by day to day living. It isn’t about money or material possessions; it’s about having love, respect, communion with people you want to share with, tasks you enjoy, having some kind of work to do and the option to just rest sometimes. It’s fulfilling, I think, and so important. I think I do have a “good life”, yes. With a lot of support I have that as a real possibility for which I am very grateful.

How important do you feel it is for people to follow their passions, even if doing so doesn't seem like a "secure" life choice?
It’s critical I would say. Maybe not immediately but I, in deciding to practice art full time, just had to look around, to listen, to observe in order to see the impact of not following those innate passions – everywhere there are people who feel stunted, wasted, a little bitter because of that disconnect from what is essentially the thing that they’re meant to do. I’m young, it’s easy for me to say “Go for it!” but that’s ok, that’s a part of being young. It’s something I hope never lose really and something I hope to pass on to my children when they come; take a few wise risks, believe, work hard, play hard, respect others and never give up. It’s not always an easy decision to live with, not always easy to believe in myself but everyday I wake up with the anticipation of making something today, working on something today – knowing I have this freedom and being challenged to not waste it. That’s the worst thing I feel I could do; waste this. So, as discouraging as it can sometimes be, I have a gift, I have a blessing, I have been given something, decided something – however you choose to see it – and I have to make the most of that.

What aspect of your work makes you the happiest? Which aspect do you like the least?
I enjoy that the ladies seemingly have their own personalities. I’m most pleased, I find this to be a part of what makes me keep going, when I see something positive come out of my work for someone else. People contact me – women contact me – when they say that my work has helped them see themselves as beautiful beings I’m thrilled. That’s worth it. I’m my biggest discourager at times. What I dislike most is when I feel like what I’m doing is irrelevant. It’s heavy.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew a few years ago that could have helped you along your life path?

That things are alright! That I shouldn’t be so afraid all the time (I’m still working on that). That it’s sometimes fine to not know exactly what I’m doing. That although some things feel like they happened a long time ago, they didn’t – my life just started at 27; I know nothing, I feel everything. Life might be short but I’m trying not to rush through to some preconceived end. Had I believed this some years ago many things may have been different, however, I can see very plainly how I needed to have NOT believed that then so that I could be here now.

In your opinion, what does it mean to be a black woman today? Are these ideals represented in your artwork in any way?

I’ve been feeling for a while, perhaps only because of my relationship with the internet in a particular context, that there’s a resurgence of the Black is Beautiful movement. It’s everywhere and it’s lovely. I’m black and West Indian – which is a unique dynamic (some might say trauma) and I do find it incredibly stimulating to attempt to understand my society at work in me and in my work. In most ways my work is about myself. By extension, it’s about women, West Indian women, Black women, girls becoming women, what does that even mean?, how am I, are we, perceived by our societies and how to we negotiate with our unique challenges. I’m deconstructing myself – sometimes literally.

Where do you see yourself and your artwork in the next 5-10 years?
Is it bad to say I don’t have a clue? I’d like to think I would have found the next step by then and would have not been afraid to take it. I would want to have challenged myself or to have been challenged into being more. I can’t predict what that is at this point but I’m working now to ensure that I’m still making things then.

What advice would you give to someone who is unsure about what career they want to pursue?

When you’re most content, genuinely fulfilled, challenges and all; stick with it, work hard. Doesn’t mean everyday will meet you delirious and dancing with happiness but it will mean that everyday, should you feel like it’s not working, if you gave it some thought you’d be able to see that you have much to dance about. The day you can’t see that, take a break. Allow yourself to cry. Laugh as much as possible. Know your value. Choose your advisors very carefully and remember that every person struggles, every day with something– you can’t legislate for others. Make time to play by yourself or with those important to you. Be thankful for what is and make provisions for what isn’t. In Trinidad we say, “what is to is must is” – I believe that in some ways.

If you could give someone a quote to live by, what would it be?

I have a few that speak to me. I can only go with what I have learnt myself; this one changed my life quite literally - “A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.” -Abraham Maslow. Whatever it is you are; be it with discipline, with commitment and with love. I’m trying to do the same.

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