Sergio and Joe...Public Alley 438

Kadesha in Harvard Square

Emir....still on Newbury, Boston

Misty on Newbury, Boston

Misty matriculates to FIT in the fall.

Sergio....Public Alley 438, Boston

Melissa on Newbury...Boston

Melissa is a stylist at I Soci Salon. She was recently featured in Stuff@night.

Anya in Stripes...Newbury Street...Boston

Dynamic trio...Boylston Street, Boston

I'm having problems with my camera thus the reason why this picture came out so soft. Hopefully, I'll figure it out soon...These guys were a lot of fun to shoot. Am diggin' their outfits.

A shot of color...Dartmouth and Newbury, Boston

Liesel on Clarendon Street, Boston

On the T: Leticia at JFK UMass

Bob and Dante...still in Davis Square, Somerville

Bob? Bob Dylan! Is that you?... Davis Square, Somerville

It’s a cool Sunday evening. My friend Shelly and I are walking to the T after a short stint at Diesel Cafe. We cross Dover Street and there sits a young man smoking a cigarette and swinging his feet back and forth outside Mr. Crêpe. I look a Shelly incredulously. She’s off to Parson’s in August and whenever we hang together, we usually exchange expressions about the ensembles you crazy Bostonians choose to wear.

I tell her: This is too good, I have to take his picture.

I introduce myself, and Dante is completely chill as if he’d been sitting there waiting for us to talk to him. Yes, he’s been told that he looks like Bob Dylan. No, he’s not in a band though he plays music and is a model. You just can’t make these things up.

Group shot at the ballet

In college, a dancer friend and I would queue for rush tickets at the ballet. Years later, I attend almost every show. Last night's performance, Three Masterpieces, was indescribably riveting. Boston Ballet’s, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen (the sole man in the picture above) describes Three Masterpieces as “a beautiful collection of works by three ultimate masters of choreography [Balanchine, Antony Tudar and Twyla Tharp] each in a distinctly different, yet American style.”

All I’ve got to say is, wow! I didn’t want the Twyla Tharp piece, In the Upper Room, to end. The audience was on their feet as soon as the curtain rolled down. What a night! I enjoyed it so much that I’d see the show again. You should too, even if you don’t like the ballet or dance, this show is pure magic and runs through Sunday, May 18.

I liked Talia’s bold print dress (second from the right) and followed her out after the Tudor piece. I’m always hesitant about going up to random strangers to ask to take their picture. I’m just glad I didn’t chicken out this time. I met Talia’s kind friends and got to meet Mikko in the process. Not a bad night.

More brown at the ballet

Katrijn at the Boston Ballet

Meet Katrijn (Katherine in Flemish). She works for Nirvana Chocolates, which imports Belgian chocolates to the US. Turns out she and I lived less than a quarter of a mile from each other during my short residence in Brussels. Though I don't miss Brussels' awful weather, I do miss the great chocolate and French fries. Apparently Nirvana Chocolates can be found at Whole Foods...as if I need an excuse to eat chocolate.

Refresh yourself at Mint Julep...Cambridge

I love, adore, and am grateful for Mint Julep, the store, not the drink (though if you’re making the drink, my friend Laurent swears that a mint simple syrup is the secret…though no longer a secret now that I’ve typed that sentence…désolée, Laurent). The girls at the Harvard Square location are forever kind, don’t mind answering my gazillion and one questions, and have always steered me away from tackyville.

I have a fondness for dresses and they carry Milly, Nanette Lapore and TIBI. They have funky jewelry; their clothes are tasteful and for all ages. In short, if you want to be elegant yet have fun with your wardrobe, Mint Julep’s your place. The girls will take excellent care of you too!

Sara works there and her whole wardrobe, except the Kate Spade shoes, are from Mint Julep. She’s yet to get the skirt altered, but she does look mighty cute.

May on Church Street, Cambridge

May is visiting Boston from Cairo. Love the layering.

To work...Ted on Summer Street, Boston

Model attire...Rowan in Harvard Square

Bostonians have a reputation for being crazy drivers (very true, we have to admit), for being a bit uptight (those darn Pilgrims are to blame) and for being cold and unsmiling (honestly, who wants to smile when it’s 2° with a wind chill factor of -10°). However, I want to thank all of you thus far for being open and friendly to having a complete stranger (albeit a charming one) take your picture. Sometimes it takes a minute to take pictures; sometimes we end up talking for a good fifteen minutes. I lost track of time, but I think Rowan and I must have talked for at least twenty minutes.

Usually when I start taking pictures, most people become self-conscious and stiff. Some say, what do you want me to do? I usually respond, relax and act natural. With Rowan, once we started shooting, she gave me a variety of poses. I had to ask. She smiled shyly and said, “Yes, I’m a model.” She then gave me her card. Rowan is represented by Click Boston. I have to say, she’s gorgeous and a sweetheart.

Rowan's style is primarily influenced men’s fashion.

More dressage show attire...Marshfield, MA

Equestrian inspired...Ralph Lauren, Spring 2008

Equestrian style: Anna in dressage show attire ...Marshfield, MA

Equestrian style...Ralph Lauren Spring 2008 Collection

Source: nymag.com

Maura...Guess where

Erin on Garden Street....Cambridge

Mr. Lee at the Marriott in Copley...Boston

Still on Elliott Street

Elliott Street...Cambridge

Sarah works at the new clothing store, LF on Church Street, in Harvard Square. LF is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Week on Sunday, May 10th. Drop by, make a donation, and have a LF stylist update your look.

Street Chic African Style: The Photography of Seydou Keïta

Whenever I travel, I research local papers to locate photography galleries. There was the time I wandered in a gallery in Soho and got to see several Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, and Josef Kouldeka prints up front. The composition and printing were so perfect that I almost cried with happiness. At the time, one of the Cartier-Bresson prints retailed for about $3,500. I was a broke college student but did conveniently have a $4,000 limit on my credit card. I couldn’t justify buying the print then. Cartier-Bresson has since died. I shudder to think how much his prints cost today.

Back to Keïta. I originally discovered Seydou Keïta from a Nigerian friend, and would later see an exhibit of his work at the Fogg Museum here in Cambridge and at the Contemporary African Art Collection in London. These pictures are from work he did in his studio in Bamako, Mali between 1943-1963. According to the Tate Modern, “Clients wanted to ‘dress up’ for their portraits and often brought precious objects or favourite items of clothing with them.” Though pictures are taken in a studio, they are dynamic and retain a street chic feel.

If you have plans to be in London, the Tate Modern has an exhibit on Seydou Keïta from now until April 2009.

Source: http://www.caacart.com/
http://www.tate.org.uk/

Shoes all around town

A tailored coat from Russia...Washington and Summer Streets, Boston

Sarah at Darwin's Mount Auburn...Cambridge

Big 'ole bag in front of Darwin's....Cambridge Street, Cambridge

Annette in skinny jeans....Dorchester Ave, Dorchester

The thing about skinny jeans is that they only work when you're overall slender, like Annette here. Annette looks relaxed and ready to run her Saturday errands.

The night before I took this picture I was at the Cambridgeside Galleria. A girl was wearing a similar look but her rotund behind had no business being stuffed in skinny jeans. Remember, just because you like a trend, doesn't mean it works on you.

At Swan Lake...Wang Center on Tremont Street, Boston

Imagine this, it’s the middle of the work day when your significant other calls to says let’s go out tonight. You say yes, thinking the two of you are going to dinner.

You won’t have time to go back home to change into something more appropriate, but that won’t matter, because you’re chic and are always well dressed. Instead of dinner, you go to opening night of Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake. People tend to dress with a bit more care for the ballet, but it doesn’t matter since you already look great. G&G dress like this everyday.

Tomo....Hereford Street, Boston

A suitable you...Noah at the Prudential, Boston

I'm at Sephora at the Pru at the mascara stand. I've always wanted thick eyelashes, so though I do not believe that a $32 mascara will give me supposed length and volume, I apply anyway. Out of the corner of my eye I see a linen blend jacket and lavender shirt. With one eyelash droopy from too much mascara, I follow the jacket like a beacon.

Noah's girlfriend Jenny, was totally okay with me stealing him to go outside the Pru to take pictures. I should mention that Noah dresses like this everyday.

Here are some words of wisdom from the well dressed gent. "I do have a few major influences: Will's blog, A Suitable Wardrobe , Alan Flusser's Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion, and Nicholas Antongiavanni's The Suit: A Machiavellian Approach to Men's Style are three sources that have helped me both learn about what works and develop my own sense of style." Looks like I have some reading to do.

Bell sleeves....Harvard Square, Cambridge

Brunch at Preston Road...Somerville

Psychedelic dress...Porter Square, Cambridge

High Schoolers Part 3: Lambert in Boston

High Schoolers Part 2: Anvrell, New Orleans, LA

High Schoolers Part 1: Caroline from West Virginia...Brattle Street, Cambridge

Some club on S. Peters...New Orleans, LA

Fun in NOLA has a way of sneaking up on you. At dinner the night I took this picture I had a scorpion bowl sized drink. No, I didn't order a drink that size, but I guess that's how they come in NOLA. It tasted sweet and fruity with almost no alcohol...or so I thought. Despite having paced myself with water and another two beers over the next four hours of dancing let's just say the pain I experienced the next day made me promise not to drink ever again.

So we're in line at a club on S. Peters looking to dance, and we see the gentleman above. I grin. He was obviously a VIP, so he went in while we had to wait in line. I would see him later in the club, but then would lose him. But as we were heading out for the night there he was right in my path.

This look, and I'll be posting others, always seems put together. These guys obviously had to think about their outfits. Their sneakers match their pants which matches their shirts AND there's sometimes a bit of bling. In short they look pulled together.

I still hesitate on approaching people, but it's amazing how a few drinks and a camera will give you a boost of confidence. It was loud in the club, so I didn't get to chat him up. I wanted to step outside, but he said, let's do it here (my silly self wanted to giggle and say, oh shucks, not in front of all these people).

BU girls in dresses....Commonwealth Avenue, Boston

A walk through Boston University

Boston University is creating the first dictionary for American Sign Language, they have WBUR, they have the only Jamba Juice stand I know of outside of NYC and they have Martin.

It reached about 80 degrees yesterday, and so I decided to take a walk up Comm. Ave. Without any destination in mind, my walk brings me to a bench near the river by the Law Library. No one is wearing anything interesting, but I’m operating on the How to Find Parking in Boston Strategy. You’re more likely to find a spot by staying put rather than driving around and around. About fifteen minutes later, I turn my head to enjoy the sun and there is Martin walking out of the Law Library. I grin and approach him. We talk of fashion, of the brouhaha on the Sartorialist regarding the first possible Sart makeover and we talk of his personal style.

He describes this look as European beach meets the Lower East Side. The sandals are Gucci and his favorite.

Bright flowers....Commonwealth Ave, Kenmore Square

John in Harvard Square...Cambridge

Snapshots of NOLA after Katrina

You can’t go to New Orleans, or NOLA as some friends refer to it, without thinking or talking about Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane’s presence is everywhere from the horizontal clay colored water stripe on the highway walls to indicate the 7 feet of water stewed the city for weeks, to the house shells that continue to litter the Lower Ninth Ward.

I particularly enjoy Boston in the early mornings when the city hums with a quiet energy.