Jazzi McG » inspiration

Inspiration: Vintage Look Mags, Diana Ross, Mia Farrow

Jazzi — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:30:17 +0000

Diana Ross re-enacts Aquarius for LOOK magazine, 1969. Scanned & restored a bit by me.

Diana Ross. I’ve written about her here before, but that could never satiate the obsession. From karaoke nights at Shakey’s pizza singing “Stop In The Name Of Love” long before I knew what a broken heart was, to continually being stopped by old men in the street who point out the resemblance – Diana Ross has been a huge influence on my life & style. I connected with her story long before I realized we looked alike and strive to break the kinds of social, racial and fashion boundaries that Diana did.

Anyway… these scans. I haven’t been finding as much of my usual inspiration in current glossies, but found myself ordering some vintage mags on ebay. These are from 1969 issues of the long defunct LOOK magazine. It’s not really a fashion mag, but as you can see there are some beautiful visuals (and the stories are great, too). I’d never seen these images of Diana Ross, so I’m living for them right now.

There were also great shots of Mia Farrow (or Tavi, you be the judge), hilarious vintage cigarette ads and a story about (gasp!) co-ed dorms. See below.

Elijah Wood called it too, but seeing this confirms: Tavi most definitely has a Mia Farrow thing going on!

Co-ed dorm story image and a 1969 Salem cigarette ad

I would appreciate a credit should you re-blog any of these, thank you!

Required Reading (Viewing, Thinking, et al.)

Jazzi — Thu, 06 May 2010 22:43:53 +0000

Will be compiling lists like this regularly – sharing things I love that wouldn’t necessarily warrant their own posts otherwise.

Sneak Peek: Me in my new stripper boots last night (the ones that hilariously came in “discreet” packaging). I swear my Gaga shoe complex existed before Gaga, though she has worn a version of these well on numerous occasions. Still test-driving them with various ensembles as to not look like an actual stripper, but after seeing them styled fantastically in this Oyster mag spread yesterday – I have no doubt I can do it.

via fashion copious

Getting excited for Industrie magazine – the magazine about behind the scenes. BoF got a peek inside.

I love love love Susie’s DIY adventure in NY (and its follow-up here). She found some cheapo shoes and had some height added at East Village Shoe Repair to approximate this $460 Opening Ceremony look. A crafty girl after my own heart.

THE fashion forum, the Fashion Spot interviewed me for their Blogger Style series. Woo!

And if you’ll allow me to hog the mic for another minute, I also did a recent Q&A with Hellz Bellz! They make some bad-ass clothes, so check it out.

My current mantra:

“One breath at a time is an acceptable plan” – Ani DiFranco, Tamburitza Lingua

NYT Complaint Box: The E-Snub by Neil Hirschfeld

A typical job-hunt scenario with an empowering twist. I know this has happened to me too many times to count: You’re qualified enough to land an interview, conquer the interview, complete the requisite edit-test, sweat it out for days with no response, follow-up, wait weeks, still nothing. Crickets. Wind. Tumbleweeds. Nada. You get left in the dust and eventually, take a hint. We know you’re busy, but in the wise words of Stephanie Tanner, “How rude!” Given the time the job-seeker puts into this relationship a simple “thanks but no thanks” wouldn’t hurt. I love Neil having the guts to take a – albeit totally unprofessional – stand on the e-snub:

Back in the good old days, people used to duck your phone calls. Or just not return them. But in this, the electronic era, a whole new brand of disdain has come into vogue. The age of the e-snub is upon us. I have grown weary of this kind of “dissing.” People who seem to go blind, mute and limp when all you are seeking are a few keystrokes in reply. Prospective employers whose computers appear to crash when asked to give something resembling a definitive answer, one way or the other.

Annoying e-mail messages plague all of us, but those of a more legitimate nature are surely deserving of a simple reply. Unfortunately, basic e-courtesy is in short supply. So, having been burned in the past by e-boors, I decided that enough was enough. The magazine had left me in limbo. I was going to have my revenge…

AnOther’s list of Most Commonly Used Adjectives & Expressions in Fashion Magazines. As a writer, I know it’s easy to go on auto-pilot and use the most cliché of fashion terms. Ok, so this list isn’t that great BUT it is good enough to consult next time you get the urge to say “boho-chic” in your heds & deks.

Julia Chesky’s thoughts on Miu Miu Spring/Summer ‘10

“Stylists had a season off. [They] just used the entire collection for one editorial.”

Well said, as much as I continue to love & lust over this collection.

Never Confuse Being a Nice Guy for Weakness by Peter Shankman

“Nice guys finish last” are fighting words to me and clearly Shankman, too. The classic Wintour/Coddington dichotomy if you will. Of course it’s not as simple as that, and any successful person will embody a bit of both, but this is a rant I’ve been meaning to write for a while and a great read.

Style.com’s the Future of Fashion series. Hedi Slimane’s Q&A in particular is worthwhile for anyone currently in or aspiring to be in the fashion industry.

Pop’Africana is now on sale!

Camille’s Mega Hose mesh leggings by Complex Geometries. I’ve had these bookmarked since I saw them. Really hoping a certain someone saw them and made a birthday note… (my birthday is May 9th! Mother’s Day!)

Beyoncé’s new video for “Why Don’t You Love Me?” Seriously. Who. Styled. This. Video!? Hated the song at first, but it’s growing on me. Visually, completely and totally my steez. In love.

This video tour of Milk Studios Los Angeles. One of the best places to work (or party) in L.A.

Another from Milk, this recap of Fashion Week Fall 2010. Great video with lots of very familiar faces.

Alrighty, going to end here. The longer I have this post sitting in my ‘drafts’ the more shit I keep adding… Have at it.

Favorites on the list? Anything you’ve seen lately worth sharing?

Inspiration: Ashley Banks Style

Jazzi — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:29:03 +0000

Ashley Banks’ awesome 90s ensemble in the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Season 4 clip-show “For Sale By Owner” (1994)

Who can resist a Fresh Prince re-run when it pops up on the TV guide? I definitely can’t. In my opinion, it’s the BEST 90s sitcom & possibly my favorite on-screen family ever (right alongside the Bluths, the Fishers & the Addams). Come on, Will! Carlton! Jeffrey!?

Anyway, considering the Fresh Prince comes to mind every time someone calls me “DJ Jazzi Jeff!!!” (on average – twice a week, though I like letting everyone think they’re totally original in coming up with it. I much prefer “Jazzercize”), I don’t know how Ashley Banks has managed to slip my mind as style influence for so long. I should start a blog full of all her awesome outfits! I want to approximate this one asap. Maybe Chloe Sevs can pop it in her next Opening Ceremony collab?

Oh, and yes, that’s Donald Trump looking exactly the same in a 1994 cameo. And speaking of Ashley Banks, remember Tatyana Ali’s Daydreamin? She was like a mini-Janet Jackson.

Anyone care to walk down 90s memory lane with me? Other favorite families? Shows? My short list: Daria, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, My So Called Life, Roswell, Clarissa & Blossom… and Freaks & Geeks but let’s be honest – who actually watched it in the 90s? If you did, props.

Inspiration: Styling by Panos Yiapanis for AnOther SS10

Jazzi — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:53:03 +0000

Eniko Mahalik by Willy Vanderperre, styled by Panos Yiapanis for AnOther magazine Spring/Summer 2010 via tFS

May be a teensy bit “old” in Internet-years, but I’m still not over the genius that Panos Yiapanis lent to this spread (and video) for AnOther mag. Too many editorial stylists feature looks that are more or less straight off the runway. While one could potentially blame advertising contracts, general trepidation or just the Anna Dello Russo ethos, I personally find it completely uninspired and even more so – lazy. And as a consumer, it doesn’t give me any new incentive to buy the clothes. I’m a firm believer that if there’s a will, there is a way to be innovative with even the most commercial of jobs (which AnOther is not, but you get the point). Luckily, AnOther is always food for the vision-starved and this spread especially highlights Panos’ artistry. This signature stylist/magazine combo is definitely one of my favorites.

I would also like to point out & applaud the AMAZING credits that AnOther includes with their shoots. It is so rare to see a publication crediting everyone for their work. Sometimes great ideas on-set originate from someone other than the leads and it can take a lot of people to pull off a great shoot – yet very rarely is everyone (Photo Assistants, Fashion/Stylist Assistants, Studio, Post, etc.) given due credit. I speak from experience.

Oh and of course, I’ve already begun twisting and cocooning up my shirts and cutting the cups out of my old bras… We’ll see what becomes of that IRL…

Inspiration: Oroma Elewa & Pop’Africana

Jazzi — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:26:30 +0000

(top) A preview of Pop’Africana’s stunning first cover; (bottom) Oroma Elewa

Another character I had the pleasure of hanging with in NY was Oroma Elewa of my new favorite project Pop’Africana. We met up at her place for wine and bonding over shoes & art. Oroma is a beautiful Scorpio who hates wedges, and I, a Taurus who hates stilettos, but we share a love of this seasons Miu Miu. Our personalities compliment nicely.

In the simplest of words – Oroma is inspiring. I could sit and trade inspiration or play dress up with her all day. The photographer & former model is so captivating, epitomizes personal style, and speaks like the artist she is… the way I still think in my head, but have outwardly somewhat diluted or even repressed due to years of trying to make people understand. Does that make any sense? Anyway, her baby, Pop’Africana is the coolest new shit – she’s redefining the mainstream view of Africa & fashion I can’t wait for you to see the rest.

What drew me to Pop’Africana initially was the art, and I continued to be sucked in from there. After hunting down the preview issue & scouring the blog, I saw style – real steez – that was Black, sure, but so much more than that. It is really just beautiful and it’s SOOO nice to see fashion on a color palette that resembles my own.

You can buy the magazine on newsstands in April, but til then check out a sneak peek on the Pop’Africana blog. There’s a more in-depth post on the magazine & Oroma coming soon! Aaand it looks like Oroma & I will be teaming up in the near future! I look forward to what out brains could do combined.

PS – Oroma introduced me to lots of cool stuff on our playdate – check out Baloji the best & most hypnotic new video/music I’ve seen/heard in a while. SO RAD!

Inspiration: Prada Fantasy Lookbook

Jazzi — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:16:37 +0000

Prada Fantasy Lookbook Spring/Summer 2010 (via fashioncopious)

I don’t know the full story behind these Prada S/S 2010 images yet (i.e. who shot them/art directed), all I know is they rock. I may have to reinterpret the top image for myself somehow. SO Alice. Definitely my dream portrait.

Inspiration: Mercedes Helnwein in Lula magazine

Jazzi — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:31:42 +0000

Mercedes Helnwein for Lula, by Glynis Selina Arban, styled by Aya T. Kanai

So I thought about it and decided that while this entire shoot from Lula is stunning (as is their entire catalogue), this particular image is one of the most beautiful & striking images I saw all year. The colors are just perfect, the mood is right, and it was absolutely no surprise when I found out it was styled by my friend & brilliant stylist Aya T. Kanai. After falling for Mercedes Helnwein in her in all her redheaded glory, I decided to check out more of her artwork and – no shock here either – it was awesome. Her pencil drawings are like stills from a fashion-bent arthouse film that will make you swoon because… well, what’s not to like about a gorgeous redhead (I think I’m redhead fetish-status) with hot style and the talent to draw even more gorgeous girls with hot style? Exaaactly.

Inspiration: Hint Magazine’s Mind Trip

Jazzi — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:40:56 +0000

Hint magazine – Mind Trip via urbn

Hint magazine’s interactive editorials are one of very few things I’ve found that, with a little tweaking, could potential outdo the buzz I get from a glossy. When I looked at this trippy editorial I was completely mesmerized by the use of fashion, art, design, and the web. Only wish there was a click-to-buy & full screen option, since I could totally get used to this.

My Work: Style Section LA Q&A with Gale Parker, Clothespin Boutique

Jazzi — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:19:51 +0000

My first piece for Style Section LA, a new website started by two former LA Times editors, is up. I did a Q&A with the inspirational lady mentioned in my last post, Gale Parker, at her new boutique Clothespin. Gale is pretty fucking rad; she was muse to YSL, Valentino, and friend of Andy Warhol, DVF, and my personal style idol, Diana Ross. When I met Gale, she approached me to tell me just how much I looked like “her friend Diana Ross” and I just about died.

Read the Q&A, some of Gale’s amazing life story, & learn about her gorgeous new boutique here.

I will go and bake a honey cake and that’s all.

Jazzi — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:32:15 +0000

I spent some time speaking with an incredible woman yesterday, interviewing her for a story (that I’ll post asap). Upon noticing my tattoo (i have the word “contrariwise” on my arm/wrist) and subsequently my Alice in Wonderland obsession, she lent me The Principals of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman, a whimsical book of illustrations and musings about life. It is beautiful and reminded me of my buddy Kris Atomic’s work in a way. I figure it’s always befitting to share a little inspiration. My favorite line from the book (so far):

I WILL GO AND BAKE A HONEY CAKE AND THAT’S ALL.

On a simplicity kick this week? Maybe.