KOLOR
KOLOR
ISSUE 1
1
CONT FASHION
8. In The Pink 10. Eff It 11. If The Shoe Fits 12. Wide Legs 14. The Kollections 16. Aunt Dot 18. Funny Style 19. #Wear Black 20. Jack Him! 30. HER-LEM
2
TENTS MUSIC 25. She Spits 26. Trip Down Missy's Lane 27. British Spit-Vasion 28. Currently Streaming 29. Plug In!
On The Cover: Photographer: Ammar Thomas Fashion Editor: Nigel Isaiah Model: Briana Michelle (RED Model Management) NINA TIARI Jumpsuit, ninatiari.com
3
I've always been a magazine fanatic! Growing up, before I ever got my hands on an Elle or a Vogue (and before I probably knew those publications existed) now defunct reads like Word Up! and Right On! catered to my then pre-teen content needs. Whenever my sister and I accompanied our parents or grandparent to the grocery store, the magazine aisle was our first stop as the adult(s) shopped for produce, and my choice glossy of them all was Vibe. The 1993 founded music and entertainment magazine was a hub for all things popping to me. The features, the covers, the fashion, black and brown faces on every page decked out in everything from Fubu and Rocawear to Prada and Costume CoSTUME NATIONAL with thoughts and ideas relevant to the happening in our culture supporting as content, Vibe was my culture bible. 4
The older me wanted to create that same kind of black and brown space but with a focus on fashion. In my best Mo'nique voice, I say humbly that black and brown people create and curate what is and isn't en-vogue. Our current slowly diversifying runways and fashion media outlets may not always include us or give credit where it's due but make no mistake, how we walk, talk and interpret trends is watched and then regurgitated into "mini buns" (Bantu knots) and Dapper Dan inspired Gucci jackets. It's about time a magazine flips the script and present fashion content that looks like the folks who influence the fashion industry at large. So I present to you the first issue of Kolor Magazine, your new fashion magazine anchored with black and brown faces, thoughts, ideas, opinions and culture. I hope you enjoy everything you find beyond this page. -Nigel Isaiah
THE EDITOR'S LETTER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nigel Isaiah CONTRIBUTING MUSIC EDITOR D. Love CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ammar Thomas & Bryan Joel CONTRIBUTORS
5
Read Nigel Isaiah Present's The 25 Most Stylish Black Women and Men in Fashion Magazines on Issuu.com
Second Editions coming soon 6
FASHION
Photographer: Ammar Thomas Fashion Editor: Nigel Isaiah Models: Lue Doris (Fusion Models) & Briana Michelle (RED Model Management) Location: Fairway Studios & Harlem
7 MICHAEL KORS Shirt, Pants and Sandels, MichaelKors.com
Zero + Maria Cornejo SS18
EMILIO PUCCI Ruffle Sneakers $525, SSENSE.com
STAUD Bucket Bag $375, Net-A-Porter.com
CALVIN LUO Jacket, calvinlou.us 8 GUDRUN & GUDRUN Dress,
MAGGIE MARILYN Cropped Sweater $325, Net-A-Porter.com
IN
PALM ANGELS
Track Pants $398, Farfetch.com
You're living in t consider the bub baby girls. In our voice, pink is "Fo
DRIES VAN NOTEN Oversized T-Shirt $160, Mrporter.com
BUSCEMI Cap $395, Farfetch.com
N
The Pink
the past if you still bblegum hue for r best Kash Doll or Everybody."
MICHAEL KORS Shirt, Pant michaelkors.com
TED BAKER Thorr Palmelato Backpack $459, Bloomingdales.com
COMME DES GARCONS SHIRT Pleated Shorts $495, Farfetch.com 9
F
FENDI Log Print Shoes $1,100, Nordstroms
eF Following up Gucci and Louis Vui on in all logo everywhere trend is Rome-based fashion house, Fendi.
IT
According to the 2013 documentary, "Karl Lagerfeld Sketches His Life" it took the designer 3seconds to come up with the double F Zucca Print back in his earlier days when he took the creative reigns at Fendi. The print, along with interlocking G's, LV, MCMs and other logos ruled the 80s and 90s, and now almost 20 years later, the craze for logo and monogram prints is back. Gucci is leading the current 2018 revival of the trend, but Fendi is gaining momentum.
FENDI Logo Print Skirt $990, Farfetch.com
Founded in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi, the brand's initial venture was furs and leather goods. It wasn't until 1965 when the founder's daughters Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla, and Alda -who all had become more hands-on with Fendi brand-- brought on Lagerfeld that the logo became a stamp for the brand. Today the emblem is plastered all over knit skirts, sock pointy toe pump, keychains, jackets, belts; you name it. The logo print may be a fad, destined to be overshadowed by a new version of normcore or shiny suits (cues dancing all in your videos) in the upcoming years but the beautiful thing about fashion is every that was once old can be new again. So, invest in you classic logo-wear now and be ahead of the trend another 20 years later when it resurfaces again. L to R: Premadonna (@premadonna87); Lil Kim (@lilkim); Tommie (@tommiee_); Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) with Accessories Designer Matthew Harris of Mateo New York (mateonewyork) 10
m
Sneakers! It's not that fashion never embrace the athletic footwear, but it wasn't until 2010 when Phoebe Philo -then Creative Director of Celine-- wore her Stan Smith Adidas on the runway that the industry would "stan" over kicks nearly four years later in 2014. With help from Riccardo Tisci collaborating with Nike, Kanye West working with both Nikes and Adidas, and a new wave of fashion-obsessed rappers who are walking posterboards for hottest and most exclusive sneakers we have today's current fashion landscape, where sneakers are now just as important as heels.
IF THE SHOE FITS Yes, fashion still loves sneakers.
L to R: Reebok (reebok) x Pyer Moss (@pyermoss) DMX Fusion Experiment; 2 Chainz (@) Versace (@versaceo) Chain Reactiosn; Gucci (@gucci )Fall 2018 Runway Sneakers
Fashion houses like Gucci and Versace, who has Salehe Bembury as their head Sneaker Designer has taken notes on how essential trainers have become in recent years and have releases chunky sole sneakers for #solocollectiors consumption. Reebok recruited Kerby Jean- Raymond, designer for Pyer Moss to put his spend a few pairs of kicks including the DMX Fusion Experiment. The first released pair, an all-white low top shoe features oversized laces, translucent outsoles, removable toggles and simplistic branding. These fresh kicks only fuel the current streetwear frenzy happening in fashion right now, which in return helps streetwear have its long-lasting moment in the trend spotlight. So lace up, because sneakers are here to stay. 11
12
KRAMMER & STOUDT Shirt, krammer-stoudt.com MICHAEL KORS Pants & Sandals, michaelkors.com
MARQUES'ALMEIDA Wide-Leg Jeans $338, MatchesFashion.com
Wide Legs
UMA WANG Wide Leg trousers $825, Farfetch.com
European, Skinny, slim fit, whatever you --or brands-choose to label them, tailored jeans and trousers aren't going anywhere. But fret not, like Jet Blue designer have heard your call for even more space and are expanding your leg room with wide legs pants guaranteed to give your limbs some breathing room. Michael Kors SS18
MARNI wide trousers $570, Farfetch.com
FACETASM Wide-Leg Trousers $510, Farfetch.com
13
MICHAEL KORS
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
You're always going to find clothes that both men and women like to wear from Michael Kors Collection. Spring brought us wide leg pants, Hawaiian dad shirts and leather sandals for the guys. As for the ladies, large handbags, tropical print dresses sexy bathing suits round out this beach vacation ready Spring lineup.
ALTUZARRA WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Spring 2018 Altuzarra is super sexy with the bad ass twist. A punkish fish net layered over many of the printed spaghettistrapped slip dresses and knee-high gladiator sandals toughened up tops with voluminous sleeves and skirts with high slits. There was also crochet separates, blazers patchworked with scrap fabrics and metallic eveningwear fit for dressing in Paris, where Joesph Altuzarra debuted his Spring offerings.
14
Th
Kolle
he
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Tibi's Spring 2018 Collection is easy, breezy, beautiful and full of KOLOR! Hues of orange, light blues, yellows, lilac and lime green painted free-flowing dresses with structured hems and ruffled necklines. Perfectly tailored power suiting was in abundance with the plaid options being the most successful and accessories ranged from low heel mules to PVC belts and corsets.
ections
TIBI WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Updated 90s sportswear was the name of the game at Lacoste. The immediate standout was the deconstructed signature polos which came in off the shoulder styles with misplaced collars and shoulder buttons for the guys to show a little skin as well. Oher notable looks included the colorblocked tracksuits oversized in fit for the fellas and revamped into mini dresses for the ladies.
LACOSTE
15
Stylist Law Roach (@luxurylaw) on the set of America's Next Top Model with Model Ashley Graham (@theashleygraham).
SELF-PORTRAIT Asymmetric Polka Dot Shirt $410, Modaoperandi.com
RIVER ISLAND Plus Polka-dot jumpsuit $50, RiverIsland.com
AUNT DOT
They're the kind of spots you'll welcome with open arms. The repetitive circle pattern is bold but delicate, fun yet can be taken seriously when need be. If you're trying to be seen you'll be spotted in polka-dots.
16
TIBI Polka-Dot Midi Dress $895, Net-A-Porter.com DIANE VON FURSTENBERG Polka-Dot Midi Dress $700, Net-A-Porter.com
NINA TIARI Top and Skirt, ninatiari.com CUTLER AND GROSS Glasses, cutlerandgross.com 17
FUNNY STYLE
Marlon Wayne may be all jokes, but the comedian is making some serious style statements! If you let the goofiness blind you, you'll miss seeing Marlon Waynes for the weapon of mass destruction that he is. His weapon of choice, an arsenal of jokes that will send your guts into intense pain from uncontrollable laughter. And his one-liners have to stay in tip-top condition because with a Netflix special, "Woke-ish," a self-titled sitcom on NBC, and making his rounds on comedy club stages, the youngest of the Waynes brothers can't afford to slack on the funny. To keep the jokes contained, an armor of Fear of God, Balmain and Perry Ellis to name drop a few brands have outfitted the comedian during this first quarter of 2018 and we'd have to acknowledge that Marlon is looking quite dapper. See the ripped jeans paired with a Stampd hooded sweatshirt and Saint Laurent trenchcoat (middle picture) or different variations fashion boots that seem to be a staple in his wardrobe. In fact, it was a picture of him in a pair of Amiri Brown Suede Bandana Buckle Boots styled with distressed denim and palm print button down that first put the comedian on our fashion radar. Stylist Ugo Mozie II is partly responsible for the "Naked" actor's style choices, dressing Marlon for the Vanity Fair Oscars party and his appearances on The Tonight Show and The Late Late Show. The combined efforts of the duo have the actor and comedian looking his best. Marlon outfits are looking as good as his jokes sound, and if he keeps this up, fashion might become one of his new weapons of choice. 18
#WEAR BLACK
Janelle Monae (@janellemonae) wore a Mateo New York (@mateonewyork) pearl necklace and rings to the Essence Black Women In Hollywood Oscars Luncheon; Hannah Bronfman (@hannahronfman) donned a pink Victor Glemaud (@glemaud) dress during Paris Fashion Week; The Clemont Twins (@clermonttwins) were naturally twinning in Muehleder (@muehlederofficial); Issa Rae (@IssaRae) shinned in a gold Pyer Moss (PyerMoss) dress at the "A Wrinkle in Time" Premiere; Fabolous (@myfabolouslife) was all smiles in black Fear of God (@fearofgod) jeans; Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) stayed cozy in knit LaQuan Smith (laquan_smith) sweater; Dwyane Wade (@dwyanewade) chose a Romeo Hunte (@romeohunte) shit for his "Shot In The Dark" documentary premiere.
19
JACK HIM! It's jacket season, fellas. Photographer: Bryan Joel Fashion Editor: Nigel Isaiah Assistant: D.Love Models: Magor (One Management) Location: Fairway Studios
MASION KITSUNE Jacket and Hoodie, shop.kitsune.fr
STANDARD DEVIATION shirt, standarddeviation.nyc 20
21
LEFT: OAK Jac OXFORD LADS informati oxforlads@thepar KRAMMER & S krammer-s
RIGHT: OAK Ja oaknyc MASION KITSUNE
22
cket, oaknyc.com S Shirt, for buying ion email rkshowroom.com STOUDT Pants, stoudt.com
acket and Jeans, c.com E Shirt, shop.kitsune.fr
23
OAK Jacket, oaknyc.com DUVIN T-Shirt, duvindesign.com DOCKER Pants, dockers.com PUMA Sneakers, puma.com 24
SHE SPITS Edited by Nigel Isaiah & D. Love
Let's toss out the notion that we're used to only one female rapper. Its talk kind of talk that discredits the women in Hip-Hop who have and continued reigned together. Because like lionesses or a Wakanda woman army queens flourish when they work --or in this case rap-- together it holds the door open for others ladies to flood the scene. It's this concept that allowed the 90s and early 2000s to have a Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Eve, Da Brat, Trina, Angie Martinez, Remy Martin, Amil, Rah Digga, Heather B, Paula Perry, Nikki D, Bahamadia, Precious Paris, Sole' (shall I continue). Today in 2018, thanks to Cardi B, Kash Doll, Nitty Scott, MC, Ms. Hustle, Kiyanne, Bianca Bonnie, Azealia Banks, Dream Doll, Bia and more there's no reason to continue spewing that only one can hold the crown!
25
A TRIP DOWN MISSY'S LANE
Nicole Wray - “Make It Hot” Tweet - “Turn Da Lights Off” Ginuwine - “I’ll Do Anything” Destiny’s Child - “Get On The Bus” Total - “ What About Us” SWV - “Can We” Aaliyah - “If Your Girl Only Knew” Keyshia Cole - “Let It Go” Jazmine Sullivan - “Need You Bad”
"#FunFact #TBT I remember when I wrote this record. It came from me hearing @MonicaBrown on the phone blacking about something so I listened and was like this is some tea. I'm about to turn this into a song, a HOOD ANTHEM for the ladies, " Missy Elliott shared on Instagram on February 22nd, reminiscing on Monica's 2003 classic "So Gone." That was the post that started it all, because aside from Elliott's sick collection of music --"Teary Eyes from her sixth studio album "The Cookbook" is my personal favorite-- the Virginia born artist production discography that's out of this world. From there, the "All In My Grill" rapper shared even more, detailing background information on more hits from Fantasia's "Free Yourself" and Mya's "My Love Is Like Whoa" to Total's "Trippin" and Aaliyah's "One In A Million." With so many hits, it's only right to put them all in a playlist for yours and our listening pleasure. Visit KolorMagazine.com to check out our Trip Down Missy's Lane playlist.
SHE'S COMING!
26
Connie Diiamond m********a
She may favor Missy Misdemeanor Elliott, but Connie Diiamond has a dope style of her own. "Rapper-dextrous," she can fit right in with today's sound with tunes like "Trippy Bitch" featuring Bali Baby or the Bronx, New York can fuck a beat up with vicious bars on other people's beats including her Dem Franchize Boys "White Tee" freestyle or her version of Black Youngsta's "Booty." Follow Diiamond (@_conniediiamond) to dive into her already fire catalog of music.
BRITISH SPITVASION Stefflon Don "Hurtin Me" Lady Leshurr - "New Freezer" Ms Banks - "Come Thru Little Simz - "One in Rotation + Wide Awake" Paigey Cakey - "Hot Tings" Shystie - "Bluka"
The female rappers ladies stateside aren't the only ones holding it down for the culture. Across the pond, ladies are making noise and spitting rhymes as greasy, grimy and jaw-dropping as a Funk Flex freestyle. See Stefflon Don, Lady Leshurr and Ms. Banks for example. Leshurr has blazed the social media scene with her freestyles. Her Queen's Speech and #UNLESHED series combined exceeds over 100 million views. Stefflon Don has crossed over and is heating up the US Billboard charts with her single "Hurtin Me" featuring French Montana. And Miss Banks has received a cosign from Queens, New York's very own Nicki Minaj. Not familiar with these ladies, listen to our British Spit-Vasion playlist on KolorMagazine.com
27
Lil Kim "Spicy"
Mariah Lynn "Tab Reloaded"
Ni y Sco "Creature"
CURRENTLY STREAMING
Kamaiyah "Successful"
28
PLUG IN! BOSE In-Ear Headphones $99, nordstrom.com
The Throwback Music: Listen to these MC get busy the next to plug in! Rah Digga - "Tight" Missy Elliott - "The Rain Remy Ma - "Whatever" Foxy Brown - "NaNa Be Like" Queen Latifah - "Unity" Lil Kim - "Queen Bitch"
Blasting music through your ears!
Charlie Baltimore - "Stand Up" Bahamadia - "Uknowhowwedu
B&O In-Ear Headphones $249, neimanmarcus.com
BEATS Beatx Wireless In Ear Headphones $155, lanecrawford.com
If you're a public transportation user or an active gym member you probably never leave the house without your headphones. Whether you wait to be settled and situated on the bus or train seat or you plugged in before you step out the door, headphones connect you to another world, your music. Aside from being the ultimate public display of do not disturb, these earbuds will have your music blasting, zoned out and matching pitch with all of your favorite tunes in no time. 29
CALVIN LUO Jacket, calvinluo.us 30
HER-LEM It's her style and her world up in West Har... HERLEM
Photographer: Ammar Thomas Fashion Editor: Nigel Isaiah Model: Briana Michelle (RED Model Management) 31
SON JUNG WAN Top and Skirt, sonjungwan.com CUTLER AND GROSS Glasses, cutlerandgross.com STYLIST'S OWN shoes 32
CALVIN LUO Shirt and Pants, calvinluo.us SARAH& SEBASTIAN Bracelet, sarahandsebastian.com 33
NINA TIARI Jumpsuit, ninatiari.com 34
CALVIN LUO Shirt and Skirt, calvinluo.us CUTLER AND GROSS Glasses, cutlerandgross.com STYLIST OWN Shoes 35
NINA TIARI Dress, ninatiari.com CUTLER AND GROSS Glasses, cutlerandgross.com 36