Fashion
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A Memorable Shoot
When I left Jamaica to spend some time in the US, I was not anticipating remaining very long and so I did not pack a lot of clothing. This created quite the predicament and so I headed the Orlando Millenia Mall to do some much needed shopping.
I wanted to try some unconventional looks for myself, I wanted to sport things that I have never really worn before. I headed to Forever 21 and did some looking around and assembled all the looks you will see from this post from what I picked up at Forever 21. Shopping at Forever 21 in a pandemic was interesting. All the dressing rooms have been closed and so no try ons are permitted. It was busier that I expected. Several young women were there looking for their fits. I am still getting accustomed to the largeness of American stores and the fast pace of American culture.
After assembling the clothes I did a little shoot around my neighboring community. I was going for a vintage, distressed rock and roll sort of feel. Hopefully that was accomplished! It was super fun to do and very different from my usual attire. Everything was bought from the physical store of Forever 21 at the Millenia Mall!
Here’s a breakdown of the fit! All clothes are linked to the Forever 21 website!
Fedora Hat (the hat linked is not the same exact Fedora Hat)
“The Offspring” White Tee (again the website does not have the actual shirt from the physical store and so I linked an alternative cost and design wise)
The Offspring, I discovered, is an actual band. I never knew of them before purchasing this shirt. Not that I am not a rock/punk fan. I have listened to Green Day and Avril Lavigne. As the design of the shirt suggested and as I have alluded to it is a rock and roll band. If you are unaccustomed to that type of music, maybe check it out! You may find some songs you like! I thought the Kids Aren’t Alright by the Offspring was pretty poignant lyric wise.
These jeans are very comfortable with it’s baggy-ness. Mine are slightly large but I actually like the look of it baggy. The jeans are also very flattering for the waistline as well.
Converse sneakers (bought at another store elsewhere)
Well, that’s it! What do you think about this look? Would you wear something that you usually do not wear? Let me know in the comments below
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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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Look of the Week: DB Berdan x Smiley
This fashion of the week is brought to you by mayabosman! Maya’s a stunning model. The picture is from her Instagram, linked above, for the DB Berdan x Smiley’s “Race to Equality” Spring Summer 2020 collection.
DB Berdan (@dbberdan) is a “young and sharp London based hyper street wear brand” that gets their inspiration from “the social rights movements, streets and underground cultures,” taking pride in bringing a “sense of pride and freedom of speech to their collections.” Smiley (@smiley) is a brand born in 1972, that in 1997 created “animated faces that correspond to emoticons.”
I’m a shameless supporter of black natural hair and so I must confess that what I love most about this look is the accessorizing of the Maya’s beautiful locked tresses. The blue of the getup is gorgeous, funky and contrasts well with the bright yellow emoticon and white stitching. I like too, the tightness of the top and looseness of the pants.
A great splash of colour for summer!
