LIFE: Jordan Brand Classic Opening Night x Hosted By Spike Lee x BAM (4.10.13)

Posted on April 11, 2013 by vashtie | 4 Comments | BLOG, life

Thanks to Kiran Prasher and the Jordan Brand Classic Family for inviting me out for an interesting evening. I didn’t know what to expect. I was told that the high school basketball stars playing in Saturday’s big JBC13 Game at Barclays would be in attendance and that Spike Lee would be also. Needless to say, I was stoked…stoked on Spike and not so much the underage boys, come on people!

Although I knew who would be in attendance, I had no idea what to really expect – or better yet, what to wear!!! I figured, I could always wear something that none of the fellas have – my very own Violette Jordan 2′s.

I greased up my legs real good because ya’ll know I stay ashy. Some people #BEENTRILL and I #BEENASHY.

I took a cab to Brooklyn…


As I walked in, I was approached by a very tall young man who immediately and politely introduced himself. “Hi, my name is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and I’m from Philly. I’ll be studying Criminology at Arizona”. He was very sweet and very funny, I should have taken his picture – but, I found one online instead.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Elle met up with me since I was in her hood. There was a photo booth setup and we took some awkward “Glamour Shots”.

There was also lots of food, candy and ice cream which basically meant – nothing that I could eat (*cries vegan, raw tears).

Datwon Thomas, 13th Witness and Hawaii Mike

I met Spike Lee! It was the second time I’ve met him actually. The first time I met him was at a party during my very first weekend living in New York City (another reason why I love this city). Anyways, of course he didn’t remember me and I didn’t bore him by bringing up the details. He was cool even though I hate meeting idols. It’s just never ever how you picture it. You always concoct some grand fantasy of how awesome it will be and you don’t factor in that (famous or not) people are people, and they have good moments and bad.

Afterwards, Spike and Sway had a live Q&A where Sway asked Spike questions and they screened clips from his greatest works! It was a great night!

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LIFE: Video of Trap Paradise II x WMC 2013 x Mannie Fresh, Vashtie & More!

Posted on April 10, 2013 by vashtie | Leave a comment | BLOG, life

If you weren’t there, peep the video for the fun we had at TRAP PARADISE!

“The creative female duo known as the 2DopeBitches held their second installment of their Trap Paradise party. If you didn’t get to go, just take a look at the recap video to see at what you missed out on. Hosted by Vashtie and 40 Oz Van, along with Mannie Fresh, who celebrated his birthday that night as well.” -via THE305.COM (http://the305.com/2013/04/08/recap-of-trap-paradise-video/#.UWXWe6tg8yE)

LIFE: Joe Fresh One Of A Kind x 1 Year Anniversary x Modeled by Vashtie, Dee & Ricky, Kilo Kish & DJ Kitty Cash, Mr. Mickey, Michael Musto and More!

Posted on April 8, 2013 by vashtie | 3 Comments | BLOG, life

On April 3rd, 2013 Canadian Fast-fashion retailer, Joe Fresh, celebrated their 1 year anniversary in New York style. Select New York City residents were asked to model color-blocked ensembles up and down the Joe Fresh flagship store elevators. Models included; yours truly Me, Dee & Ricky, Michael Musto, Mr. Mickey, Steven Rojas, and more! Peep it!!!

Joe Mimran aka Joe Fresh and Me  (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Me  (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Dee, Brendan Fallis and Ricky (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Michael Musto & Mr. Mickey Me  (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Lynn Yaeger (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Ricky (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

DJ Kitty Cash, Janjay Sherman, Me and Brandee Brown (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

(Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

(Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

Photobombed by Dee (Photo Credit: BFA/ Neil Rasmus)

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Following Photos by Elle Clay

DJ Kitty Cash and Kilo Kish

Rickster pouring up some Champagne

Brandee Brown

Dee photobombing me and Elle’s selfie

Me, Dev Hynes and Tracy Antonopoulos

Me and Peter Davis!

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The End!!!

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Kenzo Quilted Blanket via Paris Fall 2013 Show x La Samaritaine

Posted on March 27, 2013 by vashtie | 3 Comments | BLOG, life

As you guys know, I was just in Paris for Fashion Week to play attend the Kenzo Fall 2013 Runway Show and to play their after-party at The Balajo.

The Runway Show took place at La Samaritaine, which was an incredibly beautiful vacant space originally used as a large department store and built in 1869. The place was decorative and filled with these massive and intricate stairways. The space was phenomenal but bone-chilling cold.

On the benches arranged for the show were these complimentary quilted Kenzo blankets, with buttons so that it could be worn as a poncho. They were printed with a giant Kenzo logo and the name of the space and the date of the show. There were different colors; from yellow to navy to mustard…


I sat on mine and then post show ran to take some footage of the models who had gathered across the staircase to be photographed.

I came back to find that my blanket was gone and I was terribly sad. I told the fine folks at Kenzo and they said they were fresh out…BUT THEN, out of nowhere…they found one and sent it my way!!! I am so happy and I am thanking my little stars for being bestowed this incredible piece!

Special thanks to the lovely folks at Kenzo and Letizia for taking care of me!


SCHOOL GIRL CRUSH: Method Man AKA Clifford Smith

Posted on March 25, 2013 by vashtie | 2 Comments | BLOG, school girl crush

I first got an eyeful of Method Man back in the early 90′s in the Wu-Tang “C.R.E.A.M.” video. As he intro’ed the video shaking crazily over a flaming barrel like a homeless man, it was even there that all my homegirls took notice. He was actually the massive crush of my best friend growing up, La’Kea.

Shirley, Me and La’Kea (circa 1990-something)

Recently, Elle and I were discussing 90′s boy babes and she reminded me about him…how could I forget!

Method Man was so cool and so hood. He was the kind of guy that scared and excited me, like he would snuff a stranger for looking at his girl the wrong way, but could hold an intellectual conversation about the universe with a foreign exchange student. The type of thug dude who wasn’t as weird as me, but was open to my strange interests and eclectic mix of friends.

His Wu roots added even more to his appeal, but it was also his style. He was different. He was down to go outside the box and at that time, no one in Hip Hop was trying to be “different” or “weird”. Take for instance the cataract contacts he first wore in the “Bring The Pain” video and then again in “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” with the half-braided hair. His top and bottom gold fronts with fangs and that time he wore black contacts, piercings and metal fangs for a video…I mean, no one did anything like that and he’s even inspired rappers today to be a bit bolder (maybe he even inspired Tyler The Creator to wear the black contacts he wears).

Of course, it didn’t hurt that he also made music about love which exposed that he was a thug with a heart…ladies, who could say no to that? Take for example, the song (and video) that changed my life ”I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need”…what a street love ballad! Years later, he had the incredible track (and video) with D’Angelo “Breakups 2 Makeups” (which stars the incredible Vita).

FACTS ABOUT METHOD MAN:

-He was born on March 2nd 1971, which makes him 42 years old.

-His real name is Clifford Smith.

-He’s a Pisces.

-Is a member of Wu-Tang (I mean, you all must know that…)

-He was born in Hempstead Long Island, and split his time between his dad’s Long Island home and his mom’s place in Park Hill Staten Island (also nicknamed “Killa Hill”. He has 2 sisters named; Terri and Missy.

-In 1996 he won a Grammy for his song “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” with Mary J. Blige which was based on ”You’re All I Need to Get By” recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell  in 1967.

-In 1999 he became engaged to his wife and they married in 2001. He has four children: two sons (born in 1996 and 2001), and two daughters (born in 1997 and 2003 ).

-He can act! He has been featured on shows like; HBO’s “Oz”, The Wire, The Twilight Zone, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He has also acted in films like; Garden State, One Eight Seven, How High, Soul Plane, The Wackness, Meet The Spartans, The Sitter.

-Method Man is the first of the Wu-Tang Clan to produce a series of eponymous graphic novels for Hachette Book Group USA’s imprint Grand Central Publishing (to be followed by GZA and Ghostface Killah). (via Wikipedia)

INVITE: 2 Dope Bitches Presents Trap Paradise in Miami x Hosted By Vashtie x Featuring Mannie Fresh, 40 Oz. Van & More (3.22.13)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by vashtie | 2 Comments | BLOG, invite

If you’re in town or you live in Miami, come through and say hello!

SUPPORT: Please Vote For My Friend Edward In PETA’S Sexiest Vegan Next Door Contest!

Posted on March 15, 2013 by vashtie | 2 Comments | BLOG, support

Eddie, Dave and Me. Denny’s Parking Lot, Guilderland New York circa late 90′s.

I’ve known the boy since I was 12! He (and my other dear friend Dave) was one of the only white people in my neighborhood. I’d see him and Dave skating around and I can’t remember how exactly we met, but once we realized we were neighbors – we hung out all the time! Edward, known affectionately as “Eddie” back then, put me on the the world of Straight-Edge and Veganism. I had already been Vegetarian for a minute before meeting him, but after getting to know him – he taught me so much about animal cruelty and the food industry. Hey, who says kids are always up to no good? He took me to buy all my Vegan groceries at age 14 and although I had relapses here and there, I pretty much haven’t looked back. Come to think of it, he really shaped my outlook on food and diet.

Anyways, I got word that he is entered in PETA’s Sexiest Vegan Next Door Contest and I absolutely had to share the word! I haven’t seen this guy in a long time, but according to this photo and his Instagram (and his site EDBAUERFIT.COM) - he looks great and deserves the title. Please, please vote for him – it takes 2 seconds, literally!

GO HERE TO VOTE!


 

LIFE: MADE for Macy’s Impulse Launch Party at Milk Studios #Made4Impulse (3.11.13)

Posted on March 15, 2013 by vashtie | 4 Comments | BLOG, life

Vashtie March 2013 at Milk Studios, NYC #Made4Impulse (via My Instagram)

Post-Flu and I’ve lost so much weight! I even got confused for the headlining performer, Angel Haze, who if you don’t know is a slim little thing! Ugh, I’m going to binge on tofu steak dinners and cashew milkshakes tonight.

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Vashtie & Yara Flinn (Nomia NYC)

On Monday I ventured out into the cold. I was suffering from the flu for about 5 days and was feeling much better in my delirious mind. I had to attend since the lovely folks at Made had invited me to their event in such a classy way…they sent me clothes and paid my hair and makeup team to jazz me up for the evening. They even gave me a car service to and fro…I felt like I was on the best date of my life.

Elle’s footwear for the evening. I customized her Timbs for her. I went for a Pollack motif. What’cou think?

Galaxy Girls

An old drag queen and Ty


ELLE CLAY was my partner in crime for the night. The event was lots of fun, but after an hour I started to feel sick and woozy all over again. I realized that I may had jumped the flu-gun and decided to hustle home and throw on my jammies while seeking refuge on the couch.

Anyways, you should definitely check out the collection. Basically, MADE is sort of like the CFDA and how they sponsor up and coming designers and help to facilitate their fashion show needs for fashion week. Instead of working with bigger designer and helping them get to Lincoln Center, they help smaller and more avant-garde designers fulfill their fashion dreams…which is super cool if I do say so myself. Some of their designers teamed up with Macy’s for their Impulse Collection to create greatness…affordable greatness, I might add! Find the full collection, HERE…

Discuss: To Blog Or Not To Blog…How Social Media Continues To Confound Me!

Posted on March 13, 2013 by vashtie | 21 Comments | BLOG, discuss

This Digital Age of Social Media and Mass Communication is a strange one for many reasons. It’s mostly a strange place to be in because so much information is being thrown at us for process that it’s hard to make sense of it in the moment…like “Is having a Facebook account a good idea?” or “Do people need to know my personal opinion on everything that goes on in the world via Twitter?”. We’re in a difficult space to form a routine around constantly changing digital trends…

Also, because this place is so new and ever-changing…we have no previous existing model to compare it to. It’s not like we can call our Mom’s and ask “Hey Mom, how did you find your voice and form a routine within Social Media when you were my age?”. We all have to figure it out as we go.

But – if you’ve noticed, not all Social Media channels are created equal. Of course they all specialize in different areas, but even the criteria for being popular varies significantly. For example…I’ve been on Twitter since 2008 (5 years) and I have 38,000 Followers and I’ve been on Instagram since 2011 (2 years) and I have 83,000 Followers. I don’t even know how to explain that…

I’m constantly battling which Social Media channels to keep on and which to turn off. Right now, I reluctantly have all of these:

Blog// Vashtie.Com

Instagram// @Vashtie

Twitter// @Vashtie

Facebook// Facebook.Com/Vashtie.Kola

Tumblr//Vashtie.Tumblr.Com

I mean, I love Instagram but do I seriously need Facebook AND Twitter? Does having a Tumblr make any sense? Is Blogging what is used to be? Its hard to answer these questions. Others offer advice, but we all do different things – what works for one person doesn’t work for another.

Anyways. This long rant is coming from Social Media overload. I love blogging and have been doing it since 2007 (6 years), but it feels like Instagram is a quick fix for satisfying the visual share in the actual moment. I love engaging with people who follow me and my work on Twitter, but does that leave Facebook obsolete? I just don’t know ya’ll…BUT I guess I couldn’t really have a conversation like this anywhere else, huh?

Let me know your thoughts and thanks for your well wishes! I hope you all are doing well!!!

LIFE: A Weekend In Paris x DJ’ing Kenzo’s AfterParty at Balajo x Lady Miss Kier x Fun at Le Pompon & More!!!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by vashtie | 9 Comments | BLOG, life

Selecting at Le Pompon, Paris 3/2013

It has been so long that I have blogged. I got busy like we all have, but then I got called away to work in Paris (which you are about to read about) and then I got sick when I got returned. I was blindsided with the flu! Today is the first day I’ve felt somewhat normal and so…Vashtie has returned to her .Com. Are you with me?

A couple weeks ago my old friend Nadege Winter from Paris reached out asking if I was available to play music for the Kenzo afterparty during Paris Fashion Week. I was more than down! As some of you may already know, Paris is probably the only other city I could ever live in outside of New York…and I base that solely on the handful of short trips I’ve spent there and my love for French New Wave Cinema (don’t judge me).

via My Instagram

I met Nadege in 2004 and was reunited with her when Oscar and I did 1992 in Paris at the end of 2007. She was one of the guest DJ’s that our friends Pain O Chokolat had booked for our Paris/Amsterdam dates…POC has now gone on to do bigger and better things; Pigalle, Le Pompon. Nadege has also continued making strides and now has her own agency, Nadege Winter Agency, which is adorably nicknamed NWA.

It’s amazing how much has changed in just 6 years. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to revisit Paris…

DAY 1

The Louvre

Shame I’ve never been there. Double shame that it was the first Sunday of the month and admission was free. I had so much to do and only had time to get equipment from the Apple Store. Took a couple picks though…

Wolford Tights.

Ladies, if another lady friend hasn’t told you about these gems then it’s time you know. My friend Cristina Vallecilla put me on years ago and I haven’t looked back since. Basically this lingerie/hosiery company has super soft products that will live for years…run-free. They are pricey, but when you consider how long they will last – it’s worth it. I also wear these Merino tights under jeans during the winter for an extra layer of warmth. These were cheaper to buy in Paris…score!

On our way to the our friends club, Le Pompon. I forget this beauteous things name. Feel free to add below.

We ran into our darling London babe friend Irene!

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DAY 2


Some of the clothes that Kenzo let us borrow for the show and the afterparty. I had some decisions to make…

Later that evening I played selector alongside DJ Lucas Tutus at Le Pompon

Lucas Tutus and Deirdre Maloney (Capsule)

Me, Deirdre & Ty

Jay Strut, Natalie Levy and Me.

Best virgin drink I ever did have…look, I can’t drink on the job.

Ben Detrick & Natalie Levy.

Basically everyone I knew in New York was in Paris for Fashion Week.

My dear Charaf Tajer

Stephane Ashpool! He’s a super sweetheart!

…and Stephane and I in 2007 (Patta Store, Amsterdam).

I met a nice young lady who follows my work. When taking a cell phone selfie didn’t work, I offered a blog picture post! Nice meeting you darling!

via My Instagram

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DAY 3

My Kenzo head to toe look for the runway show…

via TMAGAZINE BLOG x NYTIMES

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After the 10 am morning show, we headed back to our hotel rooms and tried to nap. My jetlag mixed with the guilt of trying to nap while in Paris would not let me rest. My friend Tom Brunet planned on scooping me via scooter. It was a good thing I was so dazed from lack of sleep, otherwise I might not have agreed to the ride. He assured me that it’s the way most Parisians travel and although I was scared for dear life – it turned out to be the best and only way I could have seen Paris the way I did.

There was so much I had never seen of the city before, I fell in love over and over again. Tom took me to meet with our mutual friends Valentina and Alex Sossah in the Marais. It was a really nice time…

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THE KENZO AFTERPARTY…

via VMAGAZINE: Oscar & Vashtie at the Kenzo Afterparty, Paris 3.3.13

Nadege Winter & Vashtie

Yara Flinn swarmed by Parisian Men, Tom Brunet & Friend

Capsule Crew!

Valerie Von Prisk, Tyann Jackson & O.

Robyn & Me.

I love Robyn and her music so much. She’s the tiniest and sweetest thing in person.

Carol Lim & Me.

Carol and Humberto do so many incredible things! They totally inspire me!

Oscar and Humberto Leon.

I loved my shoes for the evening…although I didn’t dance much in them.

Champagne!

Technically those 2 bottles were mine and I only got one glass. It’s ok, because I don’t think I could have finished all 3 bottles myself. Well, I could have…it just wouldn’t have ended pretty.

Solange Knowles came through after her show, which I heard was amazing.

Mixed-ed Girls…

Lady Miss Kier!!! I could have thrown up upon seeing her. She’s so exciting and incredible! I love her.

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Phewwww! That was a lot of blogging after a lot of non-blogging. My head hurts now, are you happy? Just kidding, but it does hurt – it’s just not your fault, pumpkin.