Real Friends, Real Gucci's and The Real Deal According to this PrettyFashionista

My time here is drawing to a close. I have exactly two weeks left in NY until I return in September. I plan on making frequent trips so I don't loose my buzz. Yes NY gives me a buzz :)

I went to Canal Street again and immediately after exiting the subways station a little Asian girl approached my roommates, their fam and I about out interest in buying purses. We confirmed our interest and followed this girl that looked to be about 10, 5 blocks from the station. Once we arrived at the unmarked building we were escorted down the hall of a building that held many "studios". We passed women who gave us advise. "Haggle, Haggle Haggle!" they told us. Studio 2 held some of the most amazing replicas of Prada, Fend,Gucci, Louise Vuitton, and Coach bags that you could imagine. The one that I had my eye on, a Coach scribble tote bag was $45 and came in multiple styles. Along with bags you could also purchase, sunglasses by everyone from Christian Dior to Chanel and even Tiffany toggle bracelets and necklaces. The rest of the evening we were courted other merchants of reproduction. Asian women would whisper to us as we walked by " Want Gucci, Coach, Prada??" Its almost interesting. A few weeks ago while shopping with Grace, a man proceeded to attract his clients by repeating "ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX" at litening speed. I must say, I was almost compelled by his persuasive marketing tactics to buy three or four... They were only $5.


This past Thursday I went to see Jaguar Wright with a former Spider, Jen Coles. The concert was nice and I'm glad I went. I would have otherwise went home had dinner while stealing glances at the cute NYU boy then chilled until gym time. It was good to get out and do something fun instead. I'm looking forward to my friends coming in the next few days, I know I'm gonna have fun with them. They're gonna help me enjoy and wrap up my NY experience. Tamara will be here and I know were gonna have tons of fun. Like I said earlier, go away and you learn who your friends are. I've known Tamara since the 9th grade back at John Marshall High School( JAYEM JUST...ICE) She really knows the meaning of KIT. When I moved to NOVA she wrote me, when I graduated from TC she came up, when I needed to go college shopping she took me, and though I haven't seen her in about two years or so, she's coming to visit me this Monday. Tamara is one of the most intelligent women I know. Ever since Mrs. Carters class, this girl has been on top of her game and handling business like a real women does. She's now graduated from William and Mary and progressing to bigger and better things. Real friends are truly priceless. Following one fabulous friend comes another. Mrs. Erica Engleman is coming and though she annoys the hell out of me most of the time I couldn't ask for a better friend. When you join a Sorority they tell you, or at least my organization told me, point blank, you wont like all of your Sorors. They tell you that you will get to know and you will bond with women that will change your life, well she hasn't done all that, but I do love her crazy self! Ask this girl anything, she's got something to say and has contemplated it to come up with the best solution she can. Why listen to her, well look at her she has her shit together. She is definaltey one of the UR women that I probably would not have known had she not been my LS. And though she is mean to me sometime like the following example...


Auto response from CassandraGarnett: My FRO is like WHOA:-*
covergirl322: ur fro is like no
covergirl322: I love you! Nite
covergirl322: :-D

...She's still fabulous. It's all good Erica, I love you anyway thin haired hooker
Next weekend will be a mini Rho Mu reunion, though missing many of Rho Mu's best we will still have fun like the good old days of yester year. After that its time to pack it back into the van and ride down 95 with the fam to back to Richmond. I'll get to see some of my other real friends who couldn't make it to NY but still show me love. I'll go to the India Arie concert, move into school, help my mom move, start work and prepare for my Fall 05 line . Well its 4 am and the sleepy that came from the 3 glasses of wine at dinner has returned so I'm going to bed again.

Peace

Random Stuff

Its been a crazy few days, doing a lot for work and just trying to enjoy the last weeks I have left. I cant believe that I've been here for 5 weeks. Its all a blur. I feel like it was just June 12th and I was arriving, matter fact it feels like it was just May and I was sad that all my friends were graduating. Time is on some otherness. Its amazing the changes it makes. I have two and a half weeks left and its gonna be a sad day when I gotta turn my back to the city until the next time I can get up here. I'm gonna end it real crazy though. I still have a few visitors on the way. Go away and you really will learn who your friends are. They'll be the ones coming to visit you and talking to you on a regular basis really keeping in touch.

I found an apartment, its a wonderful one bedroom with a home office, 1.5 bath, large living room, in Brooklyn. Its only $700,000 . Its gonna take me a minute to get that down payment.

I went to a tradeshow with Johnny the other day and got to see the buying side of the fashion industry. I SAW KARL KANI, he's shorter than I thought (isn't it funny what the camera can do to make a person seem larger than life but in person they're so normal) He was getting a drink from the bar at the Project Tradeshow and like everyone was spilling it on the floor. It was a men's show so there were tons of SEXXY MENS there and had I known I would have worn something more revealing (just playin) I guess I looked ok cause the press took my picture, I'm telling you the fro is like whoa, it gets them everytime! The best part was seeing all the little Asian men thugged out. Not thugged out on no stupid ass 50cent shit but on some Air Jordan, Nice Denims,and Soul Rebel shirts, baseball caps and a nice chill over the arm. A little thug is always good, you don't want your man running beside you when there's a bug that you need him to kill. I must say I got a little caught up with them and couldn't help but to stare. I have a friend who really loves Asian men and I thought she was crazy but these ones really had me lookin. I called Erica for reinforcement and she reminded me of the well known fact that our Asian friends aren't as well endowed as our black friends(which explains the Asian infatuation with ginseng and the WG groupie love that black men get) and you know that aint cool! So I called it off and started paying attention to more of the men's fashion instead of the men :(


I still haven't found MOS DEF!!

I saw a look alike last night at a party (which turned out to be a waste of cab
fare, no further comment). The look alike kinda walked up to the club and just stood there and that blew his cover. If it were him, I'd think he would get out of something nicer than a cab. I mean, I know he's not on that Landcrusier, Double R type deal but I know he has a fly vehicle and a small entourage of poetic soul croonies.

OH WELLL
Back on the Hunt!

America's Next Top Model

Today was such a busy day! I had to be at the publicists at 9:45am. All too early for my regular schedule of leaving the APT. at 11:15...ok more like 11:45(Been tryin to get this time thing together since Spring 04 ) I had a photo shoot today that I was the stylist for. I must say that it embodied all the stereotypes that you see on television about a fashion shoot. I had a girl act as my assistant that got in my way more than anything else, the photographer communicated like he was the only creative person there and explaining what he wanted was of no use to him. The hairstylist thought she was hot shit even though she kept doing the hair the opposite way of the photographers directions, and the makeup artist was cute but clearly gay (I guess that's what I get for fawning after Metro's) Though all the styles that Johnny and I picked out were hot, the photographer and the damn hairstylist thought they knew best. In the end the pictures came out wonderfully. The most interesting part of the experience was the foreign models who were on their first visit to the US. 6 foot 16 year olds who didn't understand" put this on", I ended up dressing lanky girls from the Czech Republic, and other places in that area. It was like America's Next Top Model in person. I kept hoping Tyra would appear so that I could ask her if she was serious about that song she put out earlier this year or at least Janice Dickinson so that I can see what's preserving her so well. Neither appeared though. Its funny how hair and makeup can change a person so much. They all came in looking like overgrown 10 year olds but left with bouncy hair and makeup that made them look like they were at least 25. We kept wondering why the cleavage just wasn't working and the sequence tube tops kept slipping down but later realized why, looks can be deceiving.

Madison, Park, 5th Avenue

This weekend I enjoyed the finer parts of New York City with my dear friend Grace Holcomb. New York has been her stomping ground in the past and she was more than delighted to come up for the weekend and show me around along with be a great mentor and friend from Richmond, which I miss so much. I was so glad to have her here. I felt like I was in a different New York. One that I liked better and enjoyed much more. New York can be such a lonely place, regardless of how many thousands of people are around. We visited all the fashion capitals of the fabulous NYC including Bergdorf, SAKS, Tiffany, Chanel, Dior, and Bloomingdales for the less expensive side of the fashion world. I enjoyed most Chanel and Tiffany. We visited a place called Serendipity for Frozen Hot Chocolate, which was very good and we ate at a number of fine restaurants that I can still taste! We also saw the Chanel exhibit at the MET and let me tell you, it was splendiferous. I love the city, I really need to be here as soon as possible. I spoke with my boss on Friday about where the best places were to live in NY and he suggested Brooklyn, I agreed with him considering it is the birthplace of my first love MOS DEF :) Maybe I'll end up as his neighbor and we can climb into each others window at night and make love. Just playing...No I'm actually serious...
Goodnight

Summer Summer Summer Time

I saw that video by Will Smith and its amazing how that song can really put you in the summer mood. Listen to it and you really feel like your on a hot July day in the old neighborhood trying to look cute for your summer crush, staying outside allllll day until like 8pm ripping and running. Anyway, I had a great time today at my bosses cookout. The invite was as follows...

Johnny and Patrick
invite you to an
Italian-American
4th of July
Celebration!!

Release your inner guido/guidette this 4th of July in Carrol Gardens, the heart of old-school Italian Brooklyn!!

BBQ starts at 2:30-ish and lasts until.....well, fuhgeddaboudit!!!


To Dress the Part:
Ladies: Big hair, big nails, beach baubles
Gents: Wife beaters, gold chains, smelly cigars

I arrived to find my boss donned in multiple silver chains a visor and silver shoes. I had so much fun as he encouraged me to take shots and try the "snausages" as he put it. We chilled for most of the evening, and I chattered with his over the top friends seeing, just how they got down as an Italian troop. When it got dark and I had had two drinks already we retired to the roof top to watch the fireworks which was definitely one of the top things to do on my "Do Before I Die" list. Really beautiful sight to see from that far up, much better than watching them on the television as I normally do in Richmond. After the fireworks I decided it was best I headed home, I didn't want to encounter all the Brooklyn crazies as I walked back to the subway. The train, coming from Coney Island was as the whole of New York seems to be, filled with young couples that effing make me sick. I stood in the middle of all of it and just held on the the pole waiting for Broadway and Lafeyette to arrive. One tear. No work tomorrow so I may just hang around the Palladium or go to the Beach with my boss and his partner. Everyone really should have gay people in their lives, they make it so much more entertaining. Next weekend Grace comes and the weekend after the next one Erica comes! I'm excited to have people I know around, they'll help me to really enjoy my last 5 weeks here. Time is flying by like I don't know what. Its July 4th already, before you know it, it will be August 1 and its all down hill from there. The count down begins and your sitting in somebody's class trying to remember how to write because its been that long. You'll be excessively excited about the (AKA, Alpha, Kappa, DST, Q, ... )Party at (UR, VCU, State, Norfolk State, JMU, UVA, William & Mary...). You'll rush to the nearest cheap clothes store to buy a cute shirt to wear with jeans and pumps and get back into the swing of college life. Next year will be my last year so I'll definitely by trying to milk it for all its worth. After that its the real world for this PrettyFashionista and who knows what else. NY ...for sure, Marriage...who knows, Kids ... well as my favorite Italian would say ,"fuhgeddaboudit"!!!

Peace Yall

Untitled

Im in a bit of a funk tonight, just feeling a little indifferent. I had a pretty good day today with Johnny. We worked on a garment that he wants to put out in the fall and its gonna be hot shit! I sewed on coins and ran around Brooklyn looking for RIT dye in Golden, Teal and Brown. I feel a little preoccupied with something but I cant quite put my finger on what it is. I just dont know what to do about it. Im iching to get that Keisha Cole(The Way it Is) and Raheem Devaughn (The Love Experience) CD. Ive been waiting for them since like May! Tommorrow that might be my goal and be the way I wrap up my evening. I suggest you go and pick them up as well. Im going to an African Art festival tomorrow and Saturday evening and Sunday, just because I think it might be a good environment for me. Im going BMS cause I dont really feel like coordinating anything and I'd hate to drag someone to something like this and it end up being wack. Oh well, we shall see, hope I meet Mos Def and he falls in love with me and we run off to his Brooklyn Penthouse and he sings "The Panties" to me and we have hot sex until 12:00 Tuesday afternoon then I can go back to work... I do have an internship to be at!

City Breathing

Its raining up here in the city and it kinda brings a peaceful sense to the chaos.Ive really been doing a lot of thinking about things. Mostly pertaining to my future and after graduation but in general too. I walked around Brooklyn more today and saw downtown, saw the people and really just absorbed the atmosphere. If you haven't understood me yet, I love New York. I had a long conversation with my sister today and I'm trying to persuade her to move up here too. I think it would be great for my niece and nephews and even better for her. She lives in Arkansas and I think that's too slow for the person she is, just the way Richmond is too slow for the person I am. I'm excited about the fall and getting things rolling but I'm also trying to hold on to the weeks I have left here in NY. I think I'm undergoing that "change" that most people experience when they go abroad. Its a good thing, a little self reflection, a little growing, a little getting to know what you want out of life, all that jazz. I'm glad, when I look at my future I'm excited, I don't feel confused, or scared. I don't know where I'm headed but I know its gonna be off the hook. I know I'm gonna be happy, and I know I'm gonna be satisfied cause I think that's the person I am. I like to take things as far as I can, that's how my mind works. Sometimes that can be seen as annoying, extra, stuck up or just being damn right overbearing, but If I'm gonna put CASSANDRA BROWN beside it, it's gotta be the shit, nothing less.

LOVE

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to obedience and warmth.

In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was ruthless, cold-blooded, and sarcastic.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you thirst for. You'll do anything for love, but you won't fall for it easily.

http://www.blogthings.com/keystoyourheartquiz/

What you wont do,do for love\you try everything\but you dont give up

Sucker for love

Cleavage

Today I learned some disturbing information. Today I was assaulted with information that I was better off not knowing. Today I learned of Ass cleavage.

As far as I knew any siteing of a persons ass crack was 100%, completely, totally, accidental. According to the New York Observer the only persons with true accidental ass cleavage were plumbers, and old men who have abandoned belts for whatever reason. Apparently, this expose is not only purposeful but considered attractive. Women are very much familiar with the field of cleavage, considering the various forms that we use and abuse for good and evil. There is the up and coming Toe cleavage, and every mans favorite, boob cleavage. With the invention of low rise pants more and more women have been subject to ass cleavage, as many of us know it comes with the territory of hip hugging jeans. Though viewing each others ass cracks is disturbing, the tasteful women simply looks the other way and rubs her eyes to ensure that her retinas are still intact, rather than shout out in disgust. Tact is needed, for we would hate to have someone say to us in public, " Hey ______ your ass crack is hanging out of your pants."

More disturbing though is the idea that not only are women bearing all but men are too. I'm not sure about anyone else but a mans ass is not attractive, big or small, it matters not ( though small is preferred as a mans ass should not be bigger than his women's). Particularly disturbing for me is the information I learned about my boss from this article. Brace yourself...

Johnny Rocco, 31, owner of an eponymous boutique in Boerum Hill, often wears Seven
jeans for women, which better complement his body type. "The jeans for boys are
made for straight bodies. I have curves! I'm not a skateboarder boy! I come
in, and I come back out." On this particular Sunday, X-ray vision would have
shown that underneath his low-rise cut-offs, he was just wearing a take a big
step back...a "microfiber" jock strap. It's "breathable for summer," he
explained. "Nothing is worse than having tight elastic around your skin." Men,
do you love yourlowrise jeans but don't want to spend all day at work in your
jock strap? Are you too prudish to go commando? Try 2(x)ist No Show briefs:
low-cut for low-riding jeans or pants! One hundred percent cotton! Plus,
they're guaranteed to make your dick look 12 times its normal size.) Back to
Johnny Rocco: Why flash crack? "It's naughty. I was being naughty! It's more
like flirting with your body instead of words. It's the truth! "

At that point I wished that I had not read the article. His excitement at being quoted in the NY Observer is what prompted me to read. He asked that I pick up 2 or 3 copies before our meeting last night, as I waitedpublicistspublicist to arrive I read and after spending two hours with
Johnny and his partner I have from then on been unable to look him in the face.

The article poses a very good question...

What next? Will men become late adopters of every female fashion trend of the
last decade? Will great herds of dudes stampede over to Bliss and the Red
Door for Brazilians? Will Western civilization relinquish its standards
altogether about what actually constitutes clothing? Will men amble about in
Xtina-like chaps? Will the banana hammock become acceptable not just at the beach, but at the office?

I say, Metro is one thing, gay is another. Both are ok, but my man better not ever ask to borrow my low rise thong so he can were his low rise Sevens!!!!

Anybody feel me?

Kinky Twist, Micros and Cornrows Oh My!!!!

My first day off. Ahhhh, as if I've been working hard. I have, but I have a much better internship than many of the other"Dreamers" in the Uof Dreams program. 12-5 work hours, Mondays off mostly, running around the city shopping, magazine clipping, online shopping...Hardworking!

I ventured into the infamous Harlem today, not nearly as bad as one would think. I encountered no crack heads and had no trouble with crazys. My purpose was to find a place to get my hair braided for as cheap as possible. I was pursuing a $150 hair style for $40. I was told this was possible by the lovely Torera Akinola who said that talking them down was very doable. In the end I went to the first place I could find and haggled down from $90 to $75. Not my goal of $40 but pretty good for what could have been $150 if I were desperate(which I was but stupid and loaded with money I am not) When I walked in you would think I was naked b/c everyone turned and looked at me like I was crazy. A women ushered me outside were I told her I only had $50 somehow she found another $25 that I could spare and we settled. An ATM visit later I was in her chair and she was pulling the skin off my head :) I suppose I should have visited a few other locations before I committed because the lack of English spoken was baffling. The African women did speak English but I suppose decided that there were things that only they needed to know and discuss. Around 5 the kids started to arrive and that's when all hell broke loose. The children ran up and down the very narrow aisle in the middle of a shop the size of ...Some small place. The smell of African food permeated the air and I soon grew nauseous :) Five hours later, I was released from the death grip clutch of Miss Fatima at Good Price African Hair Braiding. I visisted the Ab Fab Julee Wilson, and got a tour of her tight ass apt. I'm so excited to graduate and move to NY. To so many that's a pipe dream but its what I really wanna do. I love the city, as I'm sure you can tell, and I love the whole atmosphere.
The Dream

• Entry level Job
• Mid level salary say 35-42 ish(It says dream at the top for a reason!)
• Nice size, well kept apt. Single occupancy
• Low rent/mortgage
• Small social circle, with satellite friends
• Metro Gentleman Caller
• Wealthy Mentor ( better know as a Sugar Daddy)

Hopefully I can walk in the stiletto prints of my fabulous #10. We shall see, we shall see

BTW- Fast food restaurants up here have drink bags! The drink comes in a bag, a cup, and a bag so your to go food can really be to go and not , To go but be careful you don't spill your drink while your trying to have fast food.

-Also I saw like six subway rats on the way home, not as big as they are legendarily said to be but rodents none the less.

Going to bed, even though I don't have to be at work until 12 I still get up for breakfast and less crowded gym time.

Smooches

Go Cassandra It's Ya Birthday

Atlantic City, what can I say? A great place to vaca and get away from it all but in a fun and active way. Perfect place for a couple as I saw many :( one tear. Atlantic City has everything you want in a vacation: Casinos, the Beach, the Fair, great restaurants, nice hotels, outlet shopping, everything. We stayed at the Sheraton, which showcased everything you ever wanted to know about Miss America.
I celebrated my birthday with a few friends at the Hardrock Cafe beside the Taj Mahal, after a few sips of Caramel Apple Martini's, 50cents worth of gambling, A birthday sundae and cheer by the whole cafe, and a little bit of holleration we left to walk to the boardwalk. Bars by the beach is the hottest thing I've ever experienced. Being 21 is pretty hot shit! Beach Bar had a lovely array of people there. Old gamblers and young partiers. The music was interesting in a Catch 22 kind of way (some of you know what I mean) lots of Reggaetone b/c that's what's hot up here in the North and lots of 50 cent for the WB/G's. I chilled at the bar for a while and was offered a drink by an older white gentleman who was buying drinks for his five friends. He introduced himself as Lance, I introduced my self as Tiffany. The Watermelon Mojhito was refreshing. Later on the dance floor an older black gentleman proceeded to dry hump me.
:( Very bad
I expected the bar to stay open till at least 4 but it closed at 2. I thought of Catch 22 again. In the end it was excessive amounts of fun, I enjoyed it. Happy 21st Bday to me :)

I'm a Hustlah' Hommie

I'm so tired, and my gums hurt like all hell, goddamn cupcakes :( I had to transport about 8 pairs or sneakers from another shop to Johnny Rocco. I had a Club Monaco bag and a Home Depot mesh shopping bag(similar to the kind they use at DSW) on my arm on the train. I looked like a high class street vendor in a black tank, black pants, and black pumps, black beads and a pump(my solution for bangs cut too damn short, goddamn black hairstyles who don't fucking understand what the hell trim means). I got a few stares which were either interest in the sneakers or interest in my chi chi's . Another man on the F had two big black bags(those signature NY bags LOL) filled with DVD's and some type of exercise machine. He gave me a look like I was a part of his club, funny.

I'm off to Atlantic City this weekend, to celebrate my b-day and chill a lil. Hope I don't get too fucked up and gamble my summer savings away.

Aspirin/Shower/Packing/Bed

Peace

BTW Cassidy alleged that he had murder charges in Philly to hype up his album drop two weeks from now. Crazy ass Miss Jones calls PAPD and it aint true. Well then Mr. Cassidy, you may be able to sell salt to a slug but you cant sell your own CD's 2 for $5 on Canal.

blog blog blog

Work is getting hectic, but I love it. I get to run around Manhatten all day. Soho, Brooklyn, Canal, I love it! On Monday were going to see the bag maker which should be fun. My days are so laxed. I get up at 8 to eat breakfast and dont leave my apt. until 11:20. I listen to crazy ass Miss Jones and her crew who say whatever they want. This aint Power 92 and Russ Pars lame ass. Anyway, Im chillin, trying to find someplace to do my hair for a reasonable price and close to home, cause I dont think Im quite ready to walk the streets at 3 or 4 in the morning. First week done only 7 left. (sad face)

HB

New York State of Mind

I cant stop saying how much I love the city!

I love how everything comes in a black plastic bag,

I love how when your walking down the street your alone but with sooooo many people.

New York makes me wanna say FUCK. Its something about the attitude of the place. Just walking down the street... what the FUCK? FUCK this, FUCK that, FUCK you, What the FUCK is that smell?, FUCKIN wait, who the FUCK, Shit MotherFUCKer FUCK Shit, Why the FUCK, FUCKING...., Well FUCK me hard!, Stupid FUCKER, Get the FUCK out of the way, Why the FUCK is...?............

Shit, FUCK it im done

.

I'm [in] New York, New York! (that ones for Sam)

Ok... So... June 13, 2005 I am 21, I'm in New York for the summer and I'm semi single( I haven't decided yet). So here I go...

To Do

1. Find metro-sexual Mos Def protege who was fathered by a descendent of Malcolm X and mothered by a black panther.
2. Meet, touch, and get picture with Mos Def
3. Attend poetry club
4. Shop
5. Drink
6. Visit Museums
7. Reconnect with NY Fam
8. Scope out areas I'd like to live in.
9. Go to 106& Park ( just kidding)
10. Go to a club that doesn't close at 2am

I'm so excited to be in NY, I really wanna see the people, have some fun and just browse around. I love the energy, I love the grimmyness, and I love the individuality. I start my internship tomorrow so wish me luck! This University of Dreams program is really nice, NYU is a pretty fly dorm and my roommate is cool. I was a little nervous that this program was a scam and that I would get here and 140 East 14th Street would be an abandoned building or some shit! I hear the 8 weeks fly so I'm gonna make the most of them.

Peace Y'all