All Rise Rick the Ruler is Here

Uncle Ricky will you teach us Hip Hop Fashion Pleasseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,
Back in the 80's America had another British Pop invasion.  Duran, Duran and Culture Club were two of the groups. Hip Hop had its own British Invasion by Slick Rick. I know, I know he was already in the states when his career began.
He didn’t look like members of Furious Five, Run DMC, or The Fat Boys. Yes, he wore a signature Kangol; however he wore in a Slick Rick style. In my opinion he was decked in more gold than Mr. T. I still think he had the largest gold medallions in the world and to top it off he were suits sweaters, and hold up wait a minute he wore his eye patch like an accessory.
I remember when he came out his music was all over the neighborhood. You couldn't walk pass a guy without a boom box blasting his music. The "boom box crew" was usually dressed like LL Cool J or RUN DMC. However our local "street pharmacist" or the spoil brat boys (that's what my mother called them) were dressed like Slick Rick. He started a new fashion trend in the neighborhood. Guys were decked in, suits, sweaters, Bally's  with Gucci, Fendi or Louis Vuitton bags in hand. Thanks to their fashion icon Slick Rick they always looked fly, dope or funky fresh lol you know what I mean.
There will never be another Slick Rick he changed urban fashion and music at the same time.

Mirror, Mirror, Mirror On the Wall Diana Ross is the Fiercest of Them All

Excuse me while I turn on It's My House, now I can proceed.
Diana Ross has always been apart of my family. She's never came over for dinner or any family functions, however a large picture of her was always in our family album. For the longest I thought it was a picture of my mother. When I was about seven  I asked my mother how old she was when she took the picture. She laughed and said that's Diana Ross. See my mother is a huge Diana Ross fan. If you're in her house and you say a negative thing about Diana you will get it! Back in the Supreme days my mother looked to Diana for fashion inspiration and boy my mom could have been mistaken for her or at least her sister.
After years of looking at her albums covers  I was always enchanted by her tyle. Sexy and Chic never trashy.
When I saw her in the movie Mahogany I fell in love with her wardrobe. Her look in this movie can never be recreated. I'm sure the costume designer had to pat himself or herself on the back after completion. Berry Gordy did a superb job on this movie. Great fashion and great plot. Who can ask for anything more?
After I post this blog I'm going to watch Mahogany for the 99th time.

Pose Molly Ringwald

If you grew up in the 80's you never missed a Molly Ringwald film.The first movie I saw her in was Sixteen Candles, next  The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. In all of these movies Molly was unique. She had the beauty, fierce wardrobe, and let's not forget about her fiery  hair. I could totally see Denise Huxtable and Andie Walsh walking through the village shopping together.
This Blog is dedicated to the Queen of the 1980's Molly Ringwald.

QUEEN CELIA CRUZ

Long, Long, Long ago way before Queen Nikki Minaj was the ruler of colorful hair and music  there lived Celia Cruz The Queen of Salsa. Her voice could make a wallflower dance.Her smile could make a grump smile. Her costumes could brighten a dark room. When she greeted her people you always felt great inside.
The Queen of Salsa will never be forgotten. Especially her voice and style.

The Glamorous Shelia E.

Back in the day Shelia E. gave women a chance to dress like Prince without feeling you they were dressing like Prince. She was his clone with drumsticks.
She was and still is still fashionable and talented. Who knew you could play drums and make a fashion statement at the same time?
Sometimes I wish I wasn't a kid back then, because I think I would've taken a shot at a Shelia E. look.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ........MADONNA

. When I was a child I use to get Madonna and Cyndi Lauper confused. I still don't know why.  My confusion was stopped by my big sis. She told me Madonna wears lace and Cyndi has colorful hair.
 I now know why I was confused. These Queens of Pop had a New York Style about them and they were changing the face of music.
Jump to the first grade talent show. I had never really heard her music because Menudo, MJ, and Devo ruled in my home thanks to my siblings. My school had a talent show and a girl danced to Lucky Star. My classmates were so excited she was dancing to Madonna. After hearing the song I understood. I felt out of the loop.
I think my teacher was a Madonna fan, because everyday she would tell my classmate she looked like Madonna. She said, it so much the girl started wearing a Madonna shirt.
When Who's That Girl came on video my sister rented it. When she popped in the VCR and pressed play I was confused. I told my sister I thought Madonna was in this movie that’s Marilyn Monroe. After my sister explained Madonna's new look I was ok. I really liked her look in the movie. She looked fierce.
After watching the movie I slowly became a fan of Madonna's music and style. As a teen I was always looking forward to seeing her. To be honest we have never seen a piece of work like Madonna before. On second thought the Mona Lisa is first. You have to give credit where credit is due.
Now that I'm a fashionista I've done my research of Madonna's style. I love her early days as an up and coming artist in New York. She represented the unique style New Yorkers had back then...the Downtown Style.
We all know Madonna has changed her style through the years. She brings a new meaning to reinvention.  We all have our favorite looks. I often wonder what her look will be in her senior years. Will she give Tina or Iris Aphel a run for their money? Time will tell.
 I dedicate my post to the Material Girl MADONNA

The Fierce, The Fabulous Ms. Grace Jones

The first time I saw Grace Jones was on the cover of Essence Magazine. I had to be about 5 years old. My sister had a subscription of the magazine. I had never seen a woman of color who looked her. I asked my big sister, how come this lady has mans haircut? She said, that's Grace Jones! Now that  I think of it she said as if I was  suppose to know. It was the early 80's I only knew who Strawberry Shortcake and Punky Brewster. After a while I learned who Grace Jones was. She is a work of art from head to toe. There will never ever be another Grace Jones. You can't make a clone of her. They broke the mold when she was made.
If I ever decide to design hats like my ancestors did I will truly use Grace Jones as my muse. She could work anything on her head.

Top Hat, Top Hat, Top Hat on Stevie Nicks

Just take a look at Stevie Nicks, a long look at her- 10 seconds. Who knew wearing a top hat could be sexy?
The first time I saw her in top hat I was watching a Fleetwood Mac video on YouTube. A female wearing a top hat never crossed my mind. Why would it? I'm not Stevie Nicks. She’s the only woman I've seen look FIERCE in a top hot. I'm sure others have tried, however no one can top Ms. Nicks.
I wish I was bold enough to wear a top hat while grocery shopping or walking through Central Park Zoo. One day I should try it, but I would wear a shirt that reads, "Stevie Inspired Me." I have to credit where credit is due.
This blog post is dedicated to Ms. Stevie Nicks she can twirl a baton, wear a top hat, and sing her blank off.

Funky Fresh B-Boy Style

Growing up in the 80's in New York was something. Music, fashion, and graffiti were all over the city. One of the places you could catch some new looks was Coney Island. Every other Friday and 4th of July the family would go to Astroland located in Coney Island. 

In Astroland there was a ride called the Polar Express. I think it's still there. There was where I saw my first a B-Boy I don't know who he was. He had style, he was cute, and he had the right moves. I remember he was wearing  dark blue track suit with a blue baseball cap  and white Adidas.I must have been looking to hard because my mother looked at me and said, "I read about this knew dance. He's probably going to break his neck."
Thank God, he didn't break his neck. He didn't know and I didn't know he introduced me to Hip Hop style. Astroland no longer exist and people aren't dancing in front of the Polar Express, however I always think of him every time I head to Coney Island.
I wish my parents would have stopped to take his picture with my mother's flip flash camera. It would have been nice to look at the picture now.
I dedicate this post to the first B-Boy I ever so. I don't  know his name, but I know he had style. He was Funky Fresh.

 Thank you Ebony, La Toya, Jakiya, and Tania for your help.

CYNDI'S GOT THE BEAT;-)

I discovered Cyndi Lauper before I discovered Madonna. I don't know who came first.  I remember the first time I saw Girls Just Wanna Have Fun video. I had to be 4 or 5 years old. I had never seen anyone dressed like her. I was confused by her style. Who was this girl and why did she want me to have fun? Everything changed when I saw the the parody of her song on Sesame Street Kids Just Love to Brush. I said to my big sister that's Cyndi. I was happy she was a muppet. After I saw that I became a fan.
I wanted to meet her. I even wanted a skirt like her.
One day I was with my mother in the city and I saw a woman dressed like Cyndi. I was convinced it was her. I said, Mommy, Mommy look it's Cyndi Lauper. She said,”please that's not Cyndi that just a punk rocker dressed like her, keep it moving."

Cyndi had a look no one can recreate not even a fan on a busy NYC street.
Style on Cyndi, style

LISA BONET'S GOT THE LOOK

When I was kid watching the Cosby Show I wanted to be Rudy's best friend and Denise Huxtable little sister.  Don't get me wrong I love my big sisters I just wanted an extra sister with a "Downtown Wardrobe". She was ahead of her time. I often wonder if Ms. Bonet was her own stylist for the show. Did she take one look at her "costumes" and say to the costume director “this is a costume let me show you how "Denise Huxtable should dress.”
I was a youngster when the Cosby Show began. I couldn't tell my mother I wanted to dress like Denise Huxtable because she was my stylist. Now, I can dress how I want.  The next fashion show I attend I will try to take a shot at the Denise Huxtable/Lisa Bonet style.

 To me she was a woman with a fabulous style and name. Lisa Bonet sounds like a designer’s name. She also represented New York Fashion in the 80’s. Those were the days.
Lisa Bonet was way before her time. You deserve a Fashion Award.

MOVES LIKE BIANCA JAGGER

Since I was born the year disco died. I always love looking at pictures from the era.I feel like I missed something. One day I was looking at pictures of Studio 54 and I came across a picture of  a fabulous woman on a horse. I opened the picture and I learned it was  Mrs. Mick Jagger a.k.a Bianca Jagger.
She was and is Chic, Fierce, and Beautiful. From  her wedding day to her disco nights. She was WORKING IT!
I dedicate my first ODE TO FASHICONS blog to Bianca Jagger. She's one of my fashionable inspirations. One day I will find a vintage Halston dress and enter in my 40th Birthday Celebration on a horse.Even if it's only in my dreams.