Why Are Critics Blasting Kanye West For Wearing a Women’s Silk Shirt at Coachella?

Kimora Lee Simmons Makes Statements Alluding to Anorexia and Then Retracts Them, But Which Are True – The fashion industry has long been scrutinized for its portrayal of unhealthy body images. Models are encouraged to be rail thin and though a few designers go against the grain each season, their ideas are not industry-wide. Kimora Lee Simmons has been an internationally-known powerhouse in the fashion industry for years and has managed to stay in amazing shape after the births of her three children. Her former clothing line, Baby Phat, and signature brand, KLS, have always featured curvier models so it comes as a shock to hear that she has lost 25 pounds in the last year by allegedly not eating. (Continue Reading @ C+C…)

Why We Love: Melody Ehsani Spring 2011 - Los Angeles Fashion designer Melody Eshani recently revealed her Spring 2011 collection and once again, we’re reminded why we’re diehard fans of her work. Each oversized statement piece boasts innovative shapes and eye-catching colors that make it more like wearable art than a mere accessory. Larger-than-life studs and ethnic-inspired necklaces make this collection more abstract and imaginative than previous offerings. (Continue Reading @ C+C…)

Closet Crush: VV Brown – It’s hard to decide whether we love UK songstress VV Brown more for her music or her style. While VV (born Vanessa) bopped up the music charts with her funky sound, we were enraptured with her look. Her eclectic fashion choices are always spirited, playful and bold. Her signature bang and fearless makeup (blue lips!) only add to the fun. The statuesque beauty (she stands at 5’11) is not afraid to go digging through thrift shops for her stylish finds. As she told the UK’s Metro: “I got into vintage because I was broke and had to learn how to shop creatively. I like the fact that, when you go into a second-hand shop, you have to search for your look; it’s not spoon-fed to you like in high-street fashion chains.” (Continue Reading @ C+C…)

Spring Scents – Spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate the season than by spraying on a new fragrance. To help guide you in your search for the perfect scent, we have put together a list of our favorite perfumes for the spring months. (Continue Reading @ C+C…)

• Kerry Washington and Diahann Carroll for O Magazine
• Ataui Deng for Bergdorf Goodman Spring 2011
• How-To: Bright Eyeshadow
• Celebrity Fragrances: 5 That Are Actually Worth The Hype
• Evoking: Solange Knowles
• Natural Beauties: Companies Changing the Way We View Beauty
• Oversexed, Overdone: Booty Shorts

It’s that time again Clutchettes – one of our fave designers Melody Eshani has dropped her latest accessories look book – “Final Frontier”. Check out Melody’s statement on the collection –

“This series for me was very much inspired by being my true self. Interconnectedness, Intergalactic, Inter – related. ONENESS. And the belief in looking back to Nature- the source – to reconnect with the Divine Design….remember who you are….and the belief that you can teleport to where you want to be as soon as you close your eyes to see….”

The look book was created with the help of Lady Art – Azelle (Hair) and Alana Dawn (Makeup), modeled by Xian Quon and photographed by Linus Shentu. Futuristic and fab!

There’s one section that still hasn’t burst at its seams, mainstream multicultural e-tailers. Women of color represent billions of dollars in buying power but there’s still a shortage of e-tailers that offer furnishings for their needs.

Thai Randolph noticed her chance to fill that void. Using her marketing skills, she launched Dezigner’s Den – a place where women can find the duds of Elizabeth Cole, Ghita and Trina Turk among other multicultural designers.

With the company’s plans for expansion by Fall 2009, Randolph is a busy woman. Taking a few minutes out of the daily tasks of running her own site, she discusses her strategic game plan and why out-of-the ordinary indulgences exemplify the meaning of luxuries.

Clutch: Tell us a little about yourself and how you came up with the idea for Dezigner’s Den?
Thai Randolph: My background is in marketing, but I’ve always been very interested in fashion. I do a great deal of my shopping online and realized that multicultural women are underserved, and multicultural designers underrepresented in the high-end women’s wear market. So I conducted some research and decided to launch an online boutique that would celebrate diversity in fashion by embracing a diverse cross-section of women and design perspectives.

Clutch: Was an online boutique always a plan for you?
Thai Randolph: It has been for some time. I came up with the idea when I was college, but just launched the site on January 20th, 2009 (Inauguration Day)

Clutch: What criteria do you use in selecting the designers sold through Dezigner’s Den?
Thai Randolph: We carry established mainstream designers like Trina Turk and House of Dereon but love to highlight emerging brands like Sukari and Shree Moni. The one requirement is that the clothing has to appeal to the Dezigner’s Den customer: She’s smart, driven and not afraid to express herself. So we provide her with what we like to think of as “statement pieces”.

Clutch: Dezigner’s Den caters to such a carefully targeted audience, what advantage do you have over your competitors?
Thai Randolph: Online boutiques are showing up every day, but very few cater to multicultural women the way we do. We believe our advantage lies in our dedication to and understanding of our customer base. We have a dialogue with our customers so we have our fingers on the pulse of their fashion needs.

Clutch: For summer 2009, what can the Dezigner’s Den customer expect?
Thai Randolph: We’re adding some new designers, some really hot swimwear lines and we’ll be holding some exciting giveaways and promotions including a contest that will give the winner an opportunity to be featured in our Fall ad campaign.

Clutch: You offer some of our favorites like Ghita, Trina Turk and Melody Ehsani, what brands can we expect to see in the future?
Thai Randolph: We’ve just started carrying some styles from the Shree Moni shoe collection as well as a new handbag and accessories line called Sukari. Both designers were recently profiled on your site. We’re expanding this Fall and will nearly double the number of designers we carry. So, you see can expect some really famous brands that you already love and new names that you’ll definitely fall in love with.

Clutch: What’s your philosophy on luxury and style?
Thai Randolph: We believe luxury is about out-of-the ordinary indulgences. In terms of fashion, that doesn’t have to mean a high price tag, just special, high-quality pieces that make you feel good about yourself. Our goal is to fill our boutique with little “luxuries” from a diverse pool of talent.

Clutch: If we opened your Clutch, what would we find in it?
Thai Randolph: My Dezigner’s Den business cards, an extra pair of earrings (I swap out constantly) and lip gloss.

For more information about Thai Randolph and Dezinger’s Den please visit www.dezignersden.com.

In between modeling and maintaining her blog, Model Liberation, the freckle-faced beauty talks to Clutch about her first encounter with stilettos, the perks of being a model and how she maintains humility in an industry known for its pretentiousness.

Clutch: How old were you when you put on your first pair of stilettos?
Nikia Phoenix: I don’t remember how old I was, but I do remember the shoe. It was an electric blue suede Donna Karan stiletto. They were my mom’s, and I was in love.

Clutch: You’re a model so you’re already fabulous but tell us about your style?
Nikia Phoenix: I like to wear simple clothes with really funky accessories. I tend to wear a lot of white, black, and grey. I like stripes. I have mastered dressing down. But I also know how to turn up the heat when I want to make a statement.

Clutch: What are some of your favorite places to shop?
Nikia Phoenix: Being a model means I get lots of FREE clothes. So I support brands that support me like Melody Ehsani, Future Heretics, and Candice Held. But I’m going to be very honest… I don’t really shop. Living in La-la land is way too expensive for me to go splurge. So when I’m looking for something on a budget, I go to thrift stores and discount stores.

Clutch: What songs are you feeling right now?
Nikia Phoenix: I’ve been listening to a lot of Nat King Cole’s “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” John Mayer’s “Vultures,” and Steely Dan’s “Peg.” These songs are on my playlist called “Out of the Funk” to help me get and stay in a good mood. I’m also really feeling Maxwell’s new song “Pretty Wings”. I really missed his voice.

Clutch: As a model of color, what is the most challenging part of your job?
Nikia Phoenix: Staying positive is tough. Unfortunately there are not nearly enough jobs out there for models of colour. So when one job pops up, we are all vying against one another to get it. For instance, I went to a Wal*Mart casting the other day and it seems like every African American model or actor was there.

Rarely do I fit into what a client is looking for. Although I try to ignore it, the pressure to fit a certain mold gets to me. I’ve been to very few castings where the designer wants a black girl, or even a black girl with freckles, but I can’t give up. It’s hard not to take it personal when someone criticizes what makes you, you. But as long as I just trust in God, I feel right as rain.

Clutch: Who inspires you to keep moving forward?
Nikia Phoenix: The people I love so dearly keep me going. My boyfriend motivates me everyday. He along with my best friend Stephanie and my mom and sister keep me grounded. And my grandmother prays for me every time she talks to God.

Clutch: What beauty products are a must-have for you?
Nikia Phoenix: I cannot live without chapstick, cocoa butter with Vitamin E, and eye cream. I have to be moisturized, especially in the Cali dry heat.

Clutch: If we opened up your clutch, what would we find?
Nikia Phoenix: Carmex, lipgloss, cell phone, and a pen.

For more information on Nikia Phoenix please visit modelliberation.blogspot.com.

DENIM JACKETS
One of the most unexpected fashion comebacks of the year, denim jackets have seemingly become all the rage. Whether classic, trench or motorcycle cut, everyone from Rihanna to Kanye West has stylishly proven this vintage outer piece has regained its modern purpose. No matter if you’re relaxing in a pair of crisp linen pants and tank top or just need something to wear over that sexy LBD, a denim jacket is sure to exude a cool and casual confidence.

SPIKED PLATFORMS
As most followers of the fashion faith would attest to, the shoes make the outfit! Show you’re a risk taker in a sexy pair of spiked platforms. Can’t afford those Balmain’s you saw Cassie in a few weeks ago? More affordable designs by equally talented designers such as Melody Ehsani and Jeffrey Campbell will set you apart from everyone else in the room just the same as their higher priced counterparts.

DAY CLUTCHES
When the notoriously chic evening accessory grew oversized a few seasons ago, clutches went from dinner to daytime. Having a fun afternoon with your fabulous girlfriends? Grab that large clutch. It’s now designed to fit just as much as you would be able to store in your faithful hobo. Are you secretly a large bag carrier with hardly anything in it? Trade it in for a day with a cute yet, practical sized clutch. The right clutch can add a sexy air of sophistication to any daytime look.

CLASHING ACCESSORIES
The days of matching accessory sets are over! Ladies, matching earrings, chains and bracelets are a thing of the fashion past. Don’t be afraid to wear your gold, silver and bronze bangles together. Yes, at the same time! Shoes don’t match your bag? Don’t worry about it. As long as you are combining the right adverse hues and show an overall consistency in your style choices, you’ll be sure to accentuate your summer appeal.

What are some of your favorite trends of the season?

Pacific Division is at the forefront of the Los Angeles hip-hop scene, bringing forth an innovative lifestyle and sound. Currently recording in the studio, Pacific Division’s highly anticipated debut LP drops this year on the independent label Two Tone Elephants. The group has already received the support of the Hip-hop community’s most elite including praise from Pharrell, ?uestlove, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, 9th Wonder, and DJ Khalil. The talented three recently took some time out to chat with our Music Editor, Rif Raf.

Like: Raf, what’s up, what’s up!

Rif Raf: So for those that don’t know who ya’ll are, go ahead and introduce yourselves.
Like: Well, three members to Pac Div (Pacific Division) “Like” that’s me, “Be-Young” over there, “Mibbs” over there.

Rif Raf: So, first of all thanks for catching up with us—and before I forget, Filthy said, “What’s up with the Roscoes?”
Like: Um tell him . . . I mean we can’t really send it UPS—come out here you know—I know he’s missin’ it out here, ya know.

Rif Raf: That sorta brings me to my first question, the first time that I actually heard ya’ll was on “sLAyer” . . . how did ya’ll link up with J*Davey? Or was it just by nature just by being in LA?
Like: I guess it’s just an LA thing. We knew them through a mutual friend; through a few mutual friends actually. And when we first heard their music we were like “Man this is Crazy!” Cause we were fans of it—so we just ended up meeting them and turns out they already knew who we were through mutual friends. It was a good bond and like I said we always try to stay around what they did, or at least hear about what they’re doing. They invited us a few times to the studio to record, then we did that joint (“sLAyer”) and we did a couple shows with them as well.

Rif Raf: Wow, now see that’s dope, because you never really get to see the shows and things. You just hear the studio work and assume that’s the only connection, but the shows are probably sick.
Like: Oh yeah, the shows are special.

Rif Raf:There’s actually a long tradition of what people would call “alternative” in the California hip-hop scene. For your music it’s not necessarily “real shit”, but real mundane type things that people can relate to? Is that by purpose or are you rapping about what you’re familiar with?

BeYoung: You know what man, I think it is real shit to an extent you know? Everybody has issues that they go through. This is kinda just . . . maybe not the gangster person’s life, but the regular young male or sometimes even females’ life with things that they go through. Working jobs, trying to go to schools, and all that and just manage everything. So, this is the real, real shit. Outside of the gangster life. Not to gangster bash or nothing, but the average person just trying to go to school and work. This is the real ish.

Rif Raf: Yeah, that ish gets pretty gully [laughs]
BeYoung: You know! Get ya lights cut off [chuckle].

Rif Raf: So the “Sealed for Freshness” blend tape, to anyone who hasn’t gotten it, for me it was funny because I’m in Atlanta, I get a pretty fair mix of music. When I first heard “Laffy Taffy” I was like “what in the hell is this?” So when I heard the “Sealed for Freshness” I was like I understand what they’re saying, but just to clear the air, what was the intent when y’all had that opening track? Cause you know how people get when they hear something and go “Oh what is that supposed to mean?”
Be Young: Ay, you know what it was just fun man, we don’t try to put a hinderance on anybody trying to live their life, and survive. So you know that wasn’t even a dis or something like that.

Rif Raf: Right, right.

BeYoung: We were just having some fun before we went in on em’ and came with that heat and started spittin’ them bars. You know, we ain’t trying to take no food off nobody’s plate, or hate on nobody. It’s not about that. It’s Black History Month right now too. . .

Rif Raf: And you ain’t trying to become history in Black History Month. And that’s the thing you know . . . the whole thing about trying to keep balance.
BeYoung: Rif raf, Rif raf, yo we be bangin that Shawty Lo song all the time too.

Rif Raf: On the blend tape you got clear influences: Souls of Mischief, Gangstarr’s “Mass Appeal”, Pharcyde—you could name the list of people. But if we ransacked your iPod right now are there any artist or genres we’d be surprised to see?
Mibbs: My music catalogue, you’d probably see Block Party, The Killers, um like BeYoung listens to a Flock of Seaguls, Michael McDonald, Sugarfree—a lot of Sugarfree, whatever that is—but Sugarfree goes there.

Rif Raf: That’s dope, that’s dope.

Mibbs: We’re not like pigeonholed to one type of music “Oh we just gonna listen to underground Hip-hop, Hip Hop, HIP HOP!”

Rif Raf: Yeah, exactly I think Like touched on that and we were talking about J*Davey, and it’s like OK if you got turned on by them. Clearly your catalogue isn’t monolithic, it can’t be one thing. So are there artist y’all like to collab with or are collaborations coming up?
Like: Yo, we’d like to collaborate with EVERYBODY, any and everybody who has a dope vision or fits good on a record we’re trying to do . . . it’s kinda like um, we’re really selective with who we work with, because there has to be some sort of a marriage. It has to be sort of like something that connects. And they don’t have to necessarily be “like us”; they don’t have to be rappers that are “like us”, or rappers who are “Hip hop.” It can be anybody and sometimes we’ll come out with a song – man I wish we had Jeezy in here, we’d throw him for that. I wish we had Trey Songs in here we might as well throw him in for that. It’s just kind of depends on the record we’re doing, man.

Rif Raf: So based on the song “Taste” – a girl is about to whip up your favorite dish which is…
BeYoung: A girl just recently almost stole my heart. She told me she was gonna make me some shrimp alfredo.

Rif Raf: Damn. Aight she could win with that.

Mibbs: I’ll go last, I’ll go last . . . I gotta think.

Like: She ain’t even gotta make me nothing man, she can just order me some pizza man.

Rif Raf: Wait, wait, wait who is this?

Like: This Like.

Rif Raf: Yeah, yeah I saw you eating the pizza in the F.A.T. Boys’ video! I knew it was you!

Like: I’m down like that man. Everybody was like “Man we doing the video . . .” I was like “Man! I’m finna eat this pizza.” Everybody that knows me [knows] I eat pizza like seven days a week.

Rif Raf: Damn dude you need to move to Brooklyn.

Like: Y’know how fools be wine tasting? I’m like that with pizza.

Mibbs: I want a chick to fix me the hood n**** tacos.

Rif Raf: Laughing. Aight what’s the concept of a “real n**** taco”?

Mibbs: A real n**** taco like in Baby Boy and he’s like “You gonna go in there and make some tacos ain’t you?” That’s exactly what I would like. The turkey tacos with the tacos seasoning, all the works, tomatoes, – that’s a Los Angeles hood.

Rif Raf: Wow. Real n**** tacos, I’m writing this one down.

Rif Raf: So based on the song “Gorgeous,” pumps or flats – if you saw a girl which one?
Like: Aw man, that’s a hard question. I like flats man.

BeYoung: Ay man, this is the type interview I like here! You know what there’s something about when chicks get in the pumps, and the legs start flexing and you see all the muscles up and down on the back of that thigh—on the back of the calve muscles. I gotta go with pumps right there. All the girls look like they ran track.

Rif Raf: Sassy or Classy?
BeYoung: Need a combination of both.

Mibbs: Man I say PUMPS! And keep them on while we’re doing our thing too. Tell them to keep them on man! I got something for them nice . . . them whatever kind of pumps.

Rif Raf: Stilettos?

Mibbs: Yeah, stilettos. It don’t matter—them six inch joints.

Rif Raf: You’re talking about those health hazard joints!

Mibbs:Yeah, exactly. The ones that are unsafe to dance in at the club. Dude I recently went to a rooftop party and I seen somebody with some pumps on that blew my mind!

Like: Sassy or classy? I mean it depends. She kinda gotta be both. She gotta feel classy, but sometimes she gotta . . . I want the “Thong Song” sometimes!

Rif Raf: So ladies gonna want to know: Do you have “Women Problems” or are you looking for women solutions right now?
Like: Hmm, looking for women solutions.

BeYoung: Nah man, no problems. I ain’t had no girl since 10th grade. I’m looking for these women solutions!

Mibbs: I’m looking for women solutions!

Rif Raf: Aight, cool, cool we got a consensus here, unanimous ladies! Understand it!
Like: That was a song—cats wrote, well maybe I was going through women problems but the solutions—like my brother say, “I’m sucker free right now.” I have no type of women problems. I got LIFE problems.

Rif Raf: Yeah you don’t need any extra ones to go on top of that.

Rif Raf: People never pay attention to the dude behind the beats, cause the arrangement of beats and tracks you can’t really pinpoint. You might hear Detroit, East Coast, or West Coast. So who’s behind all that and what are all their influences.

Like: It’s a mixture man, because like Swiff D, our in house producer. We all grew up together, so we grew up on all kinds of stuff. We grew up on Tribe, De La, Pharcyde, and all that and real West Coast DPG, Twinz. . .

Rif Raf: Kurupt and all that.

Like: But respected the East Coast and what they had with the whole Bad Boy movement, lyricist lounge, sound bombing like all the underground Hip hop over there, and all the Primo stuff over there. Pete Rock and down South stuff, we really feelin the production down there too. Like we don’t feel like we’re in one box, we feel like our music is one collective of how we feel at that particular time. Like nobody is in one mood all of the time. Nobody is one way all of the time. Sometimes you feel like going to the club, and sometimes we feel like we just want to chill and create music. We try to reflect to the music.

I’ll tell you what though, as far as artistically, we wild out to the beats, the choppy drum beats. We wild out over that. We definitely respect the art to that. Like our boy Swiff D, we always go and support. We be in awe of the things these producers can do these days man. And Dilla is our all-time favorite producer.

Rif Raf: His influence was so profound. Really people didn’t know how much they loved him until they found out he was the person who did the song. He did “Got Til It’s Gone” – how many people love that song?
Like: Like and Mibbs – we been Dilla fans since like 4th or 5th grade. That was especially abnormal coming from L.A. when everybody, I mean everybody was on some West Coast Gangster shit at the time—because it was really raining. But we were the type that when we’d hear Pharcyde “Runnin” play on the radio, we’d go wild.

Rif Raf: Exactly.
Like: We was like, “Who is Dilla?” I remember the first time we saw the “Stakes is High” video and we was like “Man this beat is CRAZY!” And then Friday Night Flavors we heard “Get this Money” and we was like “Man whoever doing these beats—got to be the same dude.” And then we all heard Tribe Called Quest “1nce Again” video, it all made sense. . .I have so much respect and love for Dilla. That’s one of my favorite producers of all times.

Rif Raf: So this year A3C in Atlanta we got Del the Homosapien, Aceyalone, we got I think your homeboy Blu, we got a couple of West Coast cats coming. Are Y’all gonna be here?!?
Like: Man we’re trying to do our best we can to get out there. Man we never been to Atlanta. We’re trying to go, we’re trying to get out there—holler at ya peoples! Let them know what’s up!

Rif Raf: So on that note, next video, tour, expected EP in 08′.
Like: All of that! But I can’t give you a date on neither one of them. It’s just going to happen! We got something real special real soon coming up . . . I’ll say about April. Filthy—that’s a cool dude by the way. Shout outs to Tanya Morgan. Can we do our shout-outs real quick?

Rif Raf: Yeah, yeah! Do your shout-outs, do your shout-outs . . .
Like: Our DJ Sean G, the homie Swiff D, the homie Blu, the homie Teron, y’know Dom Kennedy, 87 Stick-up kids, Cool kids, Carl Weathers, Carl Winslow, Eddie Winslow, Orlando from the Lakers, Ernie Hudson, Charles S. Dutton, all them is the homies. Uh, what’s it called? Grace Jones. Shout-outs to Wilt Chamberlain.

BeYoung: Lou Gosset Jr.

Like: Lou Gosset Jr! Comet from Full House; that’s the dog if you didn’t know.

Like: Damn. Going too far back.

Like: Shout-outs to Quincy.

Mibbs: Shout-outs to Filmore Slim. Gorgeous Dre the Pimp.

Like: Shout-outs to Montel Jordan, Montel Williams, Montay Ellis. Shout outs to Clutch Magazine!

Rif Raf: Yeah Dede’s doing things. She’s major, major. She’s making her moves. She’s doing her business.

Like: Shout-outs to J*Davey and my homie Diz Gibran. Uh, that’s pretty much man. Shout-outs to Rif Raf, uh Garfield and ummm. . .that’s about it.

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For more information about Pacific Division log-on to www.pacdiv.com and www.myspace.com/pacificdivision

It was a fashion “Aha!” moment when we were first put on to super fab shoe designs by Melody Ehsani. With come hither styling and opulent details these are the pumps you’ll reach for when it’s time go glam or go home. We got in step with the designer to find out more about the line that’s currently at the top of our covet list.

Q: Tell us more about the lady behind the pumps?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. I’ve been designing shoes for the last couple of years, and I’m currently working on expanding my line. Design is my calling, and in following it I feel like I’m doing what I was really created to do, which is serve humanity. I’m particularly drawn towards helping young women wake up to who they are. I’m relentless and unshakeable when it comes to following things in which I believe are my assignment, so you’ll be seeing Melody Ehsani around for a long time.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a designer, particularly a shoe designer?
I always knew I was a designer, but I never viewed design as a career option growing up. I was brought up in a house with two artist parents who never made money off their art. My father passed when I was ten, so I always felt like I had to be super practical with my life. I went to UCLA and decided to go to law school, and eventually (after a lot of soul searching) I decided to drop out and follow my heart to study product design at the art center in Pasadena. I realized I had an amazingly intuitive talent for designing objects that functioned well and were aesthetically pleasing and that I LOVED doing it. Shoes are what carry you through the world, and I loved and understood them, so that’s where I started. But I am branching off into accessories and have some other products in the works that aren’t necessarily fashion-related.

Q: We have to admit, when we saw your line our jaws dropped! You are definitely an up and coming who’s who in the shoe game. What keeps you motivated and focused while traveling this road to international success?
I just learned how to meditate a few years ago, that’s been tremendous. Of course, friends. Keeping good company around me, people who continually love and inspire me huge.

And of course God – who is the ultimate resource. He’s like my business partner, so whatever I cant do…I’m like, “okay, it’s your turn,” and miracles happen, straight up.

Q: Give us the rundown on what type of things go through your mind or what you have to factor in when preparing to design a collection?
The practical side of me takes into consideration comfort at all times, so you’ll notice lots of straps and ankle closures designed to support your feet, in an aesthetically pleasing manner of course.

I’m also very conscious of detail. All of my heels have some sort of design or feature about them that makes them very unique. I call them the “I hate to see you leave, but I love to watch you walk away” heels.

Lastly, color combinations and materials are very important to me. They determine a shoe’s personality. I used to collect sneakers, and my first exposure to shoe design was an internship with the sneaker company Cr8tive Recreation. My favorite part of the design process would always be color blocking the different panels and mixing different types of materials together. I used to sit at work and dream of carrying that philosophy over into stilettos, so you’ll be seeing much of that aesthetic carry over into my upcoming collections, and I’m very excited about it.

Q: As an up and coming designer, what designers inspire you?
No designer in particular. I’m inspired by everything. I like to live as much as I can in the present and keep myself in the mix with everything, not just fashion and other designers but music, art, architecture, world affairs, movies. If you ask my friends they’ll tell you that every table and shelf and corner in my house is always filled with objects and documents that have at some point been sources of inspiration and pleasure to me.

Q: Tell us about your newest collection?
Lots of purple, coral, metallics and sea foam green. I like this collection because the shoe doesn’t wear you…in the photos they look all right…but when you put em on, it’s like whoa! It’s a very deceiving collection and the details are subtle but strong.

My inspirations were Donyale Luna, Female comic book heroes, the Slauson swap meet, ANKLE SOCKS! –ones you can wear with heels, Hollywood Blvd and Cleopatra.

Q: We know you have to stay on top of trends in fashion. When designing shoes we also know you have to take in additional details such as, heel height, sole and materials. What shoe trends are in for this year?
Culture specific patterns, pyramid heels, exposed platforms, laminated leather, the 70′s, revolution, teal, mandarin, purple and asphalt with hints of neon. Lace ups, small studs, snake skin, color blocking and fringe.

Q: Speaking of the show, what celebrity gets an A++ from you?
I’ve been working with Erykah Badu as of late, designing some shoes and jewelry for her, and her whole package when it comes to fashion is so ON TIME…it makes me want to cuss. So at the moment, she gets the grade.

Q: So far in your career, what do you think has been your biggest accomplishment?
Seeing myself and realizing that I am enough.

Q: Besides your collection, what shoes can we find you in regularly, kicks included?
My high top Nike terminators.

Q: One last question, if you had to give yourself a theme song for 2008 what would it be? Ooh that’s tough! I’d have to go with a classic… Kenny Burke “Keep Risin’ To The Top.”

You can purchase Melody Ehsani shoes online at www.melodyehsani.com For further information on select stores and boutiques in your area, you can email admin@melodyehsani.com

{Photo Credits: Estevan Oriol & Stephen Gilbert for Denacali}