My necklace heavy, my necklace necklace heavy.

Yet another week went by in the city that never sleeps, yet another week paced by heavy tunes and fun outfits.

Music and Fashion are constantly fighting for attention in that little brain of mine.

If you know me well enough, you know that I do have a big head, literally. I do wear the same size hat as my guy friends, always have, but no one has proved that the size of my intellect was proportional to the size of my cranium…so having sick tunes and amazing outfits fighting to be on top can be a bit overwhelming!

For the second week in a row though, I have to admit that music has won the battle. Why?

Because I am broke.

Lanvin wants $200 in exchange of the pretty Lanvin ♥ H&M dress while Kanye whispers in my ear for free (thank you Pirate Bay)!

Btw, people, what kind of name is Lanvin H&M....who doesn't love H&M? Huh?

But also because my one and only Jay-Z came out with his autobiography: Decoded.No opinion on the book yet. I am still working on it and shall get back to you when I am done.

Oh and, yes, I know what you’re all thinking, I am still on my Kanye high….and I am proud of it. If only he had stopped at that amazing album I might not still be dwelling on it (probably would be though…)but Mr. West keeps coming up with features and remixes that blow my mind! His new song “Chain Heavy” with Talib Kweli is beyond slick. It’s blazing, boy, blazing: Heavy bits and witty lyrics. Talib Kweli is the best lyricist out there….hands down.

So, press that little play button and let yourself drown in hip-hop’s finest tune of the week…but do keep your eyes open to take a look at the outfits that I put together in the past couple of days.

For the Love of Fashion and Music….!

xoxo

Juliette

and your pants are mighty fitted.

Dear Kanye... a letter to Kanye from Russell Simmons.

"Dear Kanye,

I have early recollections of Damon Dash calling me and forcing me to put you on Def Poetry Jam. I knew your record, Through The Wire, but I didn't know much more. When you took the stage on Def Poetry Jam that night, and spit those genuine, heartfelt words, I witnessed your specialness that Damon had emphatically told me about.

From that moment on, you became a poet who has inspired the poets. I have proudly watched your career since then, and in case someone has missed the obvious, you are making a historical impact on music. Your life story took a tough turn with the passing of your mother. Although we grieved with you, we never really knew how much pain you were in. We witnessed your moment at the MTV Music Awards and many of us dismissed it as, "oh that is just Kanye being Kanye." The hard part of all of this, is that we have all had moments in our lives that have been challenging, painful and hard to overcome, however most of us just hide our emotions and never deal with that inner struggle that we face on a daily basis. As an artist, Kanye, you have always looked inside for your inspiration... always exuding emotions that are in us, but that we never expose. That is what artistry is about... to look inside for what is unique. With your journey towards a higher level of consciousness, a journey that we all are on, you have shown through your art a commitment to greatness.

The 30-minute film you most recently made was beyond brilliant. Brilliance is not a word that can even begin to describe your ability to paint vibrant, vivacious, colorful, yet muted paintings of poetry, music, costume, art, design and most important, passion. The passion you put into your new album is why I stayed up all those nights in the early 80s trying to get DJs and radio stations to play our records. I knew this day would come. Actually, maybe I didn't know, but I really, really hoped it would. I didn't work this hard when I was your age to watch the culture go the wrong way. And you, my friend, just took us to another level. I am simply in awe.

With this power, as you know, comes great responsibility. I am saying nothing you haven't heard before. When you spoke about President Bush during the Katrina telethon, it was not the particulars of your words that mattered, it was the essence of a feeling of the insensitivity towards our communities that many of us have felt for far too long. It was the image of the president, our president, the President of the United States Of America, peering out the window of an airplane, as the people on the ground were drowning, that hurt us the most. For centuries, our people have relentlessly tread water as hard as they could to stay afloat, and here we were, literally drowning, and it felt like the president was insensitive. There is no need to apologize, Kanye. You spoke from your heart and that is all we will ever ask from you. Don't be afraid of the press, as your art is your blueprint, thanks to Jay-Z, your big brother, we will always carry our destiny in our own hands. You are are an artist whose art is masterful. You are a servant to this world who, no matter how hard it gets, keeps on giving. Giving gifts that inspire us, challenge us and motivate us to be better family and friends.

Keep on, Kanye. Keep on. We love you. We cherish you. And we will always have your back.

Russell Simmons."

You can find out more about this letter on the Huffington Post website!

Hip-Hop saved my life.

Lupe was right. The power of music on my happiness is beyond my understanding...and I love it. On top of a few creatively satisfying outfits that I put together using only items I already own, my week was marked by the come back of one of a couple of my favorite artists and the purchase of a pair of brand new headphones!

But what does she mean by creatively satisfying outfits?

Outfits that I put together using only items that I already own! Yes ladies, it is possible to feel like a brand new you, using only items that you already own! I know, it's difficult and requires a little imagination and strategic reorganizing of pairings, but you can do it...! If you want any tips on how to do it, well, I read magazines or I sit at a cafe and do some intense people watching with a visual map of my closet in my head. As long as you let go of your pre-established notions of what top goes with those pretty navy shorts you wore all summer...you should be conditioned for a eureka pairing moment! Just be a free spirit and remember to layer, layer, layer... and that there is no reason why your winter wardrobe shouldn't resemble your summer one....why did they make tights and stockings for? Huh?

I am not just trying to justify the fact that I am wearing booty-shorts in both pictures....I mean it!

Anyway, why am I reminiscing on styling advice when the title of my blogpost is so far from stockings and booty-shorts?!

What do I mean by Hip-Hop saved my life?

Let me drop two names for you kiddos: Kid Cudi and Kanye West. The music fans should get it right away. These two musical geniuses recently released their new albums and I couldn't be happier. Wait, no, that's a lie, I could be...if I had a job...and a million dollars.

Both albums are outstanding. Duh, they're two of the top rappers...But while I have unconditional love for both of them, Kid Cudi's new album Man on the Moon II: the Legend of Mr Rager is kind of a downer. Don't get me wrong, it is very coherent as a sequel of Man on the Moon I and it's good. It's just not the most cheerful music for an unemployed gal! So, saying that Hip-Hop changed my life is sort of an overstatement...but it sounds cool. Look at me, I can quote rap songs!

It is not so much Hip-Hop that changed my life...but Mr. West. He has been in my building with a swagger of a hundred thousand, trillion! And when I mean in my building, I mean in my brand new Sony Extra Bass Headphones. Yes, I am an extra bass kinda girl. Oh boy! Excuse my French but the quality in these babies is orgasmic. Yep, it is. Try it ladies! Let's calm down for a bit and get back to the point.

Mr. West's Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy saved my life...lol...that sounds wrong....Gotta loveKanye. I encourage you to listen to all of it...and IN ORDER please! Any good artist puts his song in a certain order on purpose, and this should not be messed with. k Thanks. My favorite songs are All of the Lights ( and its amazing prelude) and the Blame Game but the whole album is worth your time, really.

Kanye's Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a very majestic album with amazing lines and trumpets. Yes, trumpets.

Kanye's Beautifuly Dark Twisted Fantasy is to Hip-Hop what Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries was to Classical music.

A good song such as "All of the Lights" brings me as much excitement as a Balmain Jacket...if not more! Combine both, and I am in heaven...and add a glass of champagne to the cocktail. Champagne makes everything better...Birdman would encourage you to try it.

While I can write pages about the wonder that Kanye's new baby is, nothing will speak better (not even me...) than you, listening to the album yourself.

So I am going to go ahead and be quiet. I am going to post a couple of pictures of the my creatively satisfying outfits as well as a link to my favorite song of the moment..."All of the lights" and let your enjoy yourself.

xoxo

For the Love of Fashion....and Hip-Hop...!

Juliette.