Men wear jewelry now??

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Image provided by Koza Jewelry from 2016 lookbook (www.kozajewelry.com)

Somewhere out in the distance walks a man on a hard path. He loves fashion and has been subjected to all matter of hardships searching for acceptable jewelry. Not just any type will do. This jewelry has to be of the particular sort as to pass society’s taboos-and not look too much like women’s jewelry-otherwise, this man will be subjected to ridicule and silent responses from his potential partners on his favorite dating site.

I know this because I have walked in this man’s shoes before, and there’s been a considerable gap in the availability of tasteful jewelry for men, excluding, of course, those of the old, boring, and conventionally acceptable variety (cuff links, belt, watch, etc). Still, something that channels that inner James Dean in us has been missing for some time.

That open space now, my friends, is being consistently filled up with shot after shot deepΒ from the 3 point line by Koza Jewelry. For further clarity on what I’m describing, just close your eyes and envision Steph Curry launching that beautiful jumper into the air, and it falling down into the basket with an enourmous swishing sound!

To be clear, Koza Jewelry has picked up on something special happening in fashion right now, and that is the growing amount of retailers offering men fashionable, masculine jewelry which is upscale enough to wear with your work outfit and is also stylish enough to wear with your outfit after leaving the office. They make their jewlery with unique materials that cause them to stand out from the crowd, all while maintaining a sense of good taste, and without being too loud.

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From left in order: Black Stingray with Sterling Silver and Screw Connector; Sterling Silver Screw Cuff. Images provided by Koza Jewelry (www.kozajewelry.com)

 

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Black Diamonds, Sterling Silver Nail Spike Necklace. Image provided by Koza Jewelry (www.kozajewelry.com)

These materials include genuine leathers, stingray skin, brass, and diamonds. There are many artfully done pieces to choose from, and their unique individual designs serve to enhance one’s outfit in special ways. I like the fact that they are an online store only also because now everyone can get a little taste of LA’s style without having to actually be there.

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From the right side of the screen in order: Black Diamond, Sterling Silver Biker Spike Necklace; Brass Nail Spike Necklace; Sterling Silver Hex Bolt Necklace. Images provided by Koza Jewelry (www.kozajewelry.com)

You can check them out at: Koza Jewelry Online Store)Β and add some life to the otherwise stale boringness of conventional men’s fashion.

The owner & founder of the company-Timur Koza-remarked to me that with him being from L.A. and all, he wanted to create jewelry that would embody the lifestyle and sprit of the heart of Los Angeles. By viewing some of the pictures of his work, I think you get the idea! With beauty like this being created in LA, no wonder it is securing its place as one of the hubs of the world’s best fashion.

 

 

Beware of linen!πŸ˜‚

This coffee was so good that I had to drink it with both hands!!πŸ˜‚ 

Actually, I did it because the shirt I’m wearing is a blend of cotton and linen, and it is not particularly forgiving when it comes to coffee stains. It is definitely kinder and gentler than linen though!! If you don’t mind, I’ll tell ya why real quick.😊 

Before I went to Vegas for the first time, I went to the mall in Atlanta to try and get fresh. I think, however, the reverse happened: the resulting outfit I put together was kinda weak (πŸ˜‚). 

The problem is, I bought some white leather shoes, a fake Prada belt on Ebay, a linen longsleeve shirt (from Guess), and matching white linen pants (also from Guess), and walked around Vegas as a baby faced twenty something trying to look DESPERATELY older; it was either that image I was projecting, or just that of a horribly lost and confused person attempting (and failing) at a misguided effort to channel the all-white aesthete pulled off so well by Puff, I’m not really sure (πŸ˜‚). 

That was then though, and this is now. I’ve learned to embrace my mistakes. Good can come out of it: now I know to stay away from 100% linen! You’ll look like a paperbag!!πŸ˜‚ #theblackaesthete #stylist #photographer #writersofinstagram #writer #fashionblogger #fashion #style

Jean Paul Gaultier’s art, design, & sheerΒ 

image.jpegThis isn’t something you see everday!πŸ˜‚

Jean Paul Gaultier designed this see-through shirt with with an image of Christ and the Virgin.πŸ™ŒπŸΎβ€οΈ

To me, there is not much difference between art and fashion-unless it’s bad fashion; that isn’t art!πŸ˜‚

The shirt is from a collection released back in 1993. The photo was taken in the “Sheer Dressing” section of the “Reigning Men” exhibit at the LACMA earlier this year. This was another gem in my archives that warranted more than some time spent looking at it and then forgetting about it. Lol. This is one for the gallery and looking at it once just isn’t enough!πŸ˜„β€οΈβœŒπŸΎοΈ #art #fashion #fashionblog #photography #french #design #style #beauty #writersofinstagram

For the aesthetes☺️

In 1882, playwright Oscar Wilde publicly wore a velvet lounge jacket with satin breeches to general disapproval. However, his flamboyant dress was ardently followed by like-minded Aesthetes-writers and artists whose aim was “to exist beautifully.” 

Caption From LACMA Reigning Men Exhibit April 2016

I have a velvet jacket that I broke out at a company meeting years ago; it was a two button sportcoat, dark blue in color, and was designed by Versace. I couldn’t help but buy it when I saw it on the sale rack at the Saks in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta.πŸ˜‚ Sale rack?! You kiddin’ me!!πŸ˜‚ It was like a sign from heaven: “John! Thou art commanded to wear this blue coat. Obey my commands, and you will be blessed.” 

Or so, I’d like to think, but I was actually making an impulsive decision enabled by my trusty Visa; it truly is “everywhere you want to be”.πŸ˜‚

As I was looking back at my pictures, and what were my favorite portions of the LACMA “Reigning Men” exhibit, I found one I had been meaning to write about. Besides it being super inspiring to me, it was pretty much confirmation of my dreams, what I want to write about, and how I will be striving to live out my life-as an “aesthete”.😊

It’s so wonderfully described in the quote above, and it pretty much sums up why I named my blog this, why I dress the way I dress, why I love art so much, etc. I always wanted to be a writer, but I didn’t have the confidence to pursue it, so I settled on becoming a cog in the large corporate machine that opresses us and is so wonderfully exposed in the movie “The Big Short”.😊

Thank you mom for encouraging me to do otherwise. I’ll be walking in the footsteps of Oscar Wilde-the footsteps of thr aesthetes before me (like you!!πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚).❀️✌🏾️  

10 year old rocker shirt comes in handy

I tippeth my hat to thee

I’ve been watching a lot of westerns lately, and maybe that is the reason I’ve taken such a liking to hats.😊 During the 1800s, and right on through the 1950’s, hat wearing was quite customary (I’m generalizing on the time somewhat, but I think that’s about right). For some reason, however, but they started to fall out of fashion and were seen less and less on the heads of men. I’m not sure why that is. I LOVE how in the old movies, the man will tip his hat to a lady or something like that. Just a all-around cool thing to do!πŸ˜„πŸ˜‚

I really started paying attention to hats when Pharrell and JT had the trucker hats in the video for “Like I Love You”.πŸ˜„πŸ˜‚

Next thing you know, they were everywhere. The baseball cap finally had some company on the often lonely journey in men’s fashion. Still, the NewEra fitted cap continued in its immovable status as a the preeminent wardrobe staple of hip-hop heads and streetwear aficionados.

A lot has changed since then, and now it is easier to find different varieties of hats. I found this A.P.C. hat (called a fisherman’s hat) at Hypebeast’s “HBX” online store. You can browse their things and more hereπŸ‘‰πŸΎhttp://hbx.com/sale. There are other awesome hat stores out there I’m sure, but where the heck are they? Sometimes its hard as a fan of hats & fashion to find a place that sells them and actually puts time and effort into having a tasteful collection available. If you are one of them, let me know in the comments. I”d love to help get the word out about your stuff and you already know I’ll support you!πŸ˜„ Until then, I tip my hat to you all as a show of love and respect.☺️ Peace!!❀️✌🏾️

*Shirt I’m wearing is by “18 Waits”, and I purchased it at the #OFY store in #Miami. Jeans are PRPS, and I got them at one of my favorite stores in #Tucson (@loopjeancompany).πŸ˜„ Also, special thanks to the amazing @shanebakerstudios for the assist with the photo!* #blogger #fashionblogger #photographer #photography #writer #streetart #streetstyle #style #fashion #instagood #outfitoftheday #Arizona #phoenix

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Fashion history tripπŸ˜„

Took this photo at one of my favorite places in the world: the art museum!! This caught my eye back during the “Defining Moments; Fifty Years Of Fashion” exhibit there a month or so go. Seeing things like this was like a virtual time-warp; it made me imagine what it was like to dress like this. I wonder how much something like this would cost nowadays? Probably a lot because this Livery dating to 1825 (made of wool), was gifted to the #PhoenixArtMuseum by Miss Carolanne Smurthwaight, and its totally museum worthy. I very much appreciate her benevolence that made it possible for me to see this work of art!πŸ˜€πŸ™πŸΎ What if all your clothes were so good that they could be put up in a museum for people to see them? LOLπŸ˜‚ They’d have to be pretty stellar-like what is seen in this image. Enjoy! #art #fashion #fashionblogger #style #English #British #design #history #artlover #phoenix #Arizona

Collage And CollabπŸ˜„

This collage is a collab!πŸ˜‚ So first, a special shoutout to the homie @nyheat305 for a great deal on these #Balmain #sneakers from the H&M collection released last year!πŸ˜€πŸ‘ŠπŸΎ I wasn’t lucky enough to get a pair when I camped out online! LolπŸ˜‚

The skateboard in the photo is some #art by my tattooist @tattootony602. Its pretty dope. All the artists at Lady Luck are, and Tony was gracious enough to help out with the picture here of myself (thanks homie!) I wanted y’all to see the whole thang in order to elicit the proper “respek on” the outfit!πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

The other pic of the shoes I did just for fun and for practice; shooting photos outside with natural light-which I LOOOVE!πŸ˜€ Until I can afford my own studio, this is where I’ll be; out here gettin’ it in these streets. ✌🏾️ and πŸ’–πŸ’™β€οΈ to all!πŸ˜„ #photography #photographer #theblackaesthete #writer #blogger #Arizona #LadyLuckTattoo #streetart #streetphotography #style #fashionblogger #fashionimage.jpeg

“Your blinded. U can’t see me.”

“Can you see me now?! Am I clear to you?”

“Can’t See Me” by Tupac Amaru Shakur

At first my friend (@nyheat305-who I also owe credit to for this photoπŸ˜€πŸ‘ŠπŸΎ) and I both said: “They must be going blind?!!😱” After all, how could you “NOT” see us? Still, our requests to be seen were met with ostracism; relegated to the lives of outkasts by those who wanted to end creativity, we sat back as men-and we put our chins in the cusp of our hands, and we THOUGHT. Not deep thoughts. Just thoughts inspired by Eric B. And Rakim: “Thinkin’ of a master plan….because ain’t nothin’ but sweat inside my hands.” See, we were both working extremely hard, but we weren’t getting paid in proportion to our work. So, we continued to think; after we had made up our minds as to the mission, we proceeded to leave the residence thinking to ourselves: “How can we get some dead presidents?” Now we are way past that bro!πŸ˜‚ We’re at the part where you act on your dream. And what is left to do now? You keep workin’ it.

Along the way, serpents come up and slither hate. We answer as Pac would: “You can’t see me!” *this time, however, meant in a TOTALLY different senseπŸ˜‚ READ BETWEEN THE LINES😈* #writer #blogger #theblackaesthete #photography #art #poetry #hiphop #ericbandrakim #tupacshakur #fashionblogger #style #arizona #phoenix #photographer

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Looks better sans gutπŸ˜‚

The last time I wore this denim G-Star shirt (few years ago, a picture was taken of me, and I couldn’t believe how it looked; there was all this fat hanging over the waistband of my jeans!πŸ˜‚ I made a decision that day to get back in shape, but it wasn’t until over a year later-and cutting out all alcohol consumption and gluten-that I started to really see good results. It was hard at first, but its been very rewarding. Now, I don’t have to worry about my stomach digging into the metal belt buckle I’m wearing (more info to come on these and more in the future), and I can tuck my shirt on without concern of channeling Homer Simpson’s aesthetic unknowingly.πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ #fashion #fashionblogger #writer #blogger #art #photographer #photography #style #outfitoftheday #collage

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