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Intellectual Property: Trademarks
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Summer Sunflower Stroll
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Unapologetic; The Reasons We Should Advocate for Natural Hair
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A Memorable Shoot
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A King’s Landing
I grew up on an island. Water was never far from me and I have always found solace by the sea or in front of the fresh waters of a river.
Real bush gyal, as we would say dung a yad! English translation; I’m a real earthy girl raised in a rural area surrounded by nature. “Bushness” has a bit of a negative connotation in Jamaica but I want to remove the negative connotation from rural living. There is something incredibly peaceful about being connected to the Earth in it’s natural state as humankind did before all of these largely unnecessary and needless inventions and distractions.
Anyhow, I digress.
While visiting Florida I became antsy being constantly surrounded by cement and concrete. I was therefore elated to visit King’s Landing.
King’s Landing is described on the website as one of the tributaries that feeds the Wekiva River Basin. It is a designated National Wild and Scenic River. It truly is a gorgeous site, with pristine, crystal clear waters and wildlife. These waters were truly stunning because it is almost glass like in clarity; you can make out the bottom, your feet walking on the bed, the animals, leaves and critters in the water. King’s Landing has one of the clearest waters I have seen.
King’s Landing also offers several types of tours. I did the kayak tour with Martin @spybreak47 who was gracious enough to introduce me to the site. Many people, when they think of Florida associate the state with Disney World or Universal Studios however Florida is also home to some truly incredible nature spots such as springs and parks. King’s Landing brought me back to the clear waters of Portland Jamaica for a few hours. Actually, several people mistakenly thought the destination was Jamaica!
For any nature lover I would recommend checking it out!
Special thanks to Martin @spybreak47 for introducing me to this great spot and for being so gracious and patient with taking photographs! Be sure to check him out for more great nature photography!
What are some of your favorite nature spots? Let me know in the comments below!
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IAMDJRD REVIVES CLASSIC HIP HOP WITH A MODERN TWIST
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PAUL FEARON CONNECTS FASHION, FAITH AND FATE
One thing I can recall that I have always admired is a well-dressed man.
I am not sure why this is, but for some reason I have always admired men who take pride, thought and care in how they dress. Of course, what constitutes “well-dressed” can be argued as being entirely subjective. Every person is different and what may be considered fashionable to one person may not be to another. For me personally, I have always admired vivid colours on the male form, a blending of colours. I admire the man who will shed ideas of hyper-masculinity and sport pink proudly, the male who has no problem with experimenting with colours and looks.
Imagine my delight then when I stumbled on an Instagram profile which showcased all these things! Paul Fearon is a male fashion lover who can be connected with on his incredible Instagram page @malefashiongeek! His bold, bright, vibrant style seems to be uniquely Caribbean with the use of colour and is totally daring and fun.
Not only is Paul Fearon fashionable but he takes great pride in connecting fashion with his own personal creativity and unwavering faith. His new book is titled Tailored Faith/Fate (check it out on Amazon, linked in the title). Fearon describes the title as having a dual meaning; his love of fashion as well as his belief in God to help him persevere through life and his trust in God to make his dreams come to fruition.
In fact, Tailored Faith/Fate divulges just as much about hope in the tribulations of Covid-19 as it does about fashion.
Fearon describes that his inspiration for writing Tailored Faith/Fate was to bring hope to those who are experiencing hopelessness amid the pandemic. Fearon himself describes losing his job because of the pandemic, and the uncertainty he felt as to what he should do next.
“There are times in our lives when we sense a period of hopelessness…it maybe that our experiences make us feel there is no hope…. if I can speak to [the jobless situation and mental situations men are experiencing during the pandemic] and bring hope to a seemingly hopeless period…it would lift the spirits of people.”
Ultimately, Fearon describes that “Faith” is the tool that will bring us all to our “Fate.”
Fearon maintains that without faith, we cannot embrace our true fate!
Fearon has agreed to an interview with www.howeonearth.blog to shed light on all there is to know about his life, his incredible style and other fashion tips for the male fashion lover.
Fearon has agreed also to answer a few questions for howeoneearth.blog on how he achieves his sleek, effervescent looks plus tips for all the males out there on how they can achieve a fashionable look and maintain faith in these difficult times.
HOWEONEARTH Q & A
Q:
How did you get into fashion?
PF:
“Fashion has been a part of my life from I was younger. Growing up in Jamaica my dad was always neat and dressed up for church and my mom worked at a clothing store. She would purchase outfits for me and that’s where it started for me.”
Q
“Where are you from?”
“I’m from Jamaica, Spanish Town, Saint Catherine.”
Q:
What inspires your amazing use and blend of colours in your looks?
PF:
“I love colours and I love the idea of combining them. It’s the creative side that I really love.”
Q
What is a must have item for any male to have in their closet to have an amazing look? What do you believe should be an absolute staple in any man’s closet regardless of their own personal style?
PF:
“To be honest a must have in a man’s closet is hard for me to say as I have so many different pieces, textures, fabric and colors. I would encourage a man to be flexible and versatile so as not to find himself wearing only dark colors or only one kind of style. Have fun and try to have unique vibrant colors and pieces.”
Q:
Who is a male fashion icon for you?
PF:
“To be honest – I Don’t have a Male Fashion Icon for myself. I tend to go with my intuition, and I try to create my own style while being diverse and versatile as I dress, be it in casual, formal or business casual, streetwear etc.”
Q:
What can people learn about male fashion from your new book Tailored Faith/Fate?
PF:
“People will learn from my book Tailored Faith/Fate that I am a spiritual man, one who seeks to encourage and uplift the disenfranchised at all times. They will learn that I am relatable and practical in my approach and I am crazy about others winning.”
Q
Which items do you think make for a great casual wear look?
PF:
“The items that I think that makes for a great casual wear are a nice pair of slim or skinny fitted jeans pants, polo shirts or short sleeves, a nicely fitted shirt with a pair of sneakers or loafer and a nice classic man watch with a couple nice bracelets or a nice man bangle.”
Q
What makes you a male fashion geek?
PF:
“I think what makes me a fashion geek is how unconventional and unpredictable, bold and dorky I believe I can get with my outfits for my age!”
Q
Which brand would you say in today’s time epitomizes the best style for men?
“There are a few brands I wear for formal attire which are available online and they’re always having sales. Like Paisley & Gray, Suslo etc.”
Q
For a male fashion lover on a budget, what can he do and/or where can he shop to get great looks at an affordable price?
“For a male Fashion lover on a budget a great place sometimes to go are places like Old Navy/Aero[postale] or even Ross for casual outfits and always look for online deals for stuff going out of season.”
Q
What do you think about black men specifically in fashion? Should there be more representation of black men in fashion? What do you think is important for black men to know about fashion?
PF:
“I believe more and more I’m seeing a lot of black men really stepping to the front with their fashion and I would encourage more black men to get more involved with looking good and being creative in their style while making a mark on the fashion industry. I think there needs to be more black men represented in fashion. I always want black men to know that being fashionable doesn’t not make them less of a man. I want black men to know that fashion is actually a reflection of how you feel inside. Fashion helps to express one’s persona. It speaks to creativity; it forces us to pay attention to details and I believe it is a great vehicle to assist with our self-confidence while causing us to make good impressions while feeling good about ourselves.”
Q:
Do you believe there are stigmas/ prejudices attached to men who like fashion? If so, what would you say to any male out there who battles with stigmas/prejudices because of his love of fashion. How may they overcome this?
PF:
“There is definitely stigma/prejudice attached to men who love fashion, but one should never be scared to express themselves fashionably regardless of the stigma that might be attached to fashion. Also, a man who loves fashion should not allow the stigma/prejudice to prevent them from fulfilling their love in fashion. At the end of the day we do should do what we do because we love it. Go for it!! Dress well and be fashionable nonetheless.”
Q:
Any other fashion tips or advice for someone seeking to improve their wardrobe?
“My tip would be for men and women to be flexible. Try not to allow your wardrobe to be one dimensional with only dark colors but to incorporate multiple colors and different styles. That allows for your fashion sense to be broadened.”
Q
Why do you love fashion? Why is fashion important to you and why should it be for others?
PF:
“I love fashion because it’s expressive. It allows me to be creative and my love for clothes makes fashion more fun. The way we dress is usually a reflection of who are. So, I would encourage men and women to develop a love for fashion as it allows one to be creative and expressive and helps to enhance oneself.”
Special thanks to Paul Fearon for speaking with www.howeonearth.blog!
Follow the link to his book provided above to purchase Tailored Faith/Fate on Amazon.com, connect with Paul Fearon on his Instagram @malefashiongeek for more looks! All photos belong to Paul Fearon and were taken from his Instagram page.
Which one of Paul Fearon’s looks are your favourite? Let us know in the comment section!
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The Recurring Empress
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Sza’s Hit Different, Hits Different
I can safely say I am a lover of SZA.
Sza’s debut album, “Ctrl,” was the soundtrack to my life on the Kingston university campus. I was struck by a female voice so startling in her honesty and vulnerability. Her airy vocals weaved a tale of heartbreak, insecurities, female sensuality, infidelities and struggling to find herself through her 20s.
In Supermodel she assures her lover that “I could be your Supermodel if you believe.” The unhealthy codependency she has on her lover becomes apparent throughout the song when she ask herself “Why I can’t stay alone just by myself” “Wish I was comfortable just with myself, but I need you, but I need you, but I need you.”
In my favourite song from the album Drew Barrymore, her insecurities about her attractiveness are again on full display. She asks her lover erotically, “Am I warm enough for you?” the question tying her worth in a relationship to the warmth of her body. And the next line, her heartbreaking admission that “I get so lonely I forget what I’m worth, we get so lonely we pretend that this works.” She admits the shame she feels within herself for her actions and dependency, “I’m so ashamed of myself think I need therapy.”
The exposure of herself like this both shocked and resonated with 2017 me, in my little dorm on campus and many women and men. The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards, and SZA nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist (an award she was robbed of but I digress)
I could go on and on about this masterpiece of female vulnerability but this is not a Ctrl album review.
For the three years since Ctrl, we have been eagerly anticipating another drop from Sza. On September 4 she finally released her new single Hit Different featuring Ty Dolla Sign.
The song is a vibe. The pace it steady, sultry, smooth and slow moving. Spin. com describes the song as kicking off “with Pharrell’s classic four-count start and works its way into a repeated line from the king of features himself in Ty [Dollar Sign]”
Again Sza explores interpersonal relationships, the song exploring the actions of a distant lover. The imagery is rich; one scene she is dancing in denim in a junkyard, she is also featured in a barn filled with white animals; in an empty field; on top of a haystack wearing an oversized tie-dye shirt. Throughout the video, flashes of her covered in blood appear. She refers to the blooded images on her Instagram as “Rebirth Entropy. beauty. chaos. Devine feminine.” At one point she even incorporates karate in the choreography. Her dancers circle around her while they take the horse stance, punching as rhythmically as one could punch in a music video.
I do not know if this was intentional but I thought of menstruation when I first saw the blooded images and not in any negative way but in a way of reclaiming and appreciating all aspects of femininity.
Towards the second half of the video, the song changes to a different, unreleased song where she laments in her husky vocals “…I’ve been on my empty mindset, I should have kept from loosing the best of me, it would be that I wasted the best of me on you baby you don’t care.” If this single is any indication of the album in store it appears she has not shied away from vulnerability in the least in the three years since Ctrl. A vulnerability we can all draw something from.
Sis SLAYED the look in this excerpt, her lids and lips glossy, sporting a swimsuit and beautiful braids with thick wooden beads.
Hit Different is also Sza’s directorial debut. I hope she directs more of her videos because both the look and feel of it is of a refreshing summer ballad.
What are your thoughts on Sza? Do you like her new single? What’s your favourite Sza song to date? Let me know in the comments below!
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Raspberries and Lavender
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Steel Wool