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brian

Denim: A Love Story

December 20, 2011 By brian In Fashion

It could be my obsession with style.com, but I love a good trend. Don’t judge me. Look at what you’re wearing RIGHT NOW and I can guarantee that at least one item is a “trend.” Let’s face it, we can try to be as “different” and “unique” as possible, but if you’re fashionably inclined (to put it nicely) you’re most likely wearing something inspired by a look on the runway from the past few seasons. AKA, a trend. That being said, I must admit there are certain trends I run away from immediately. I won’t go into detail, but let’s just say not every trend has “inspired” me.

One trend has emerged, or rather re-emerged, on the runway the past few years. Denim. Doesn’t it sound lovely? Say it out loud. Denim. Mmmmmmmm. Anyway. This is a trend that I cannot indulge myself in enough. The denim look, however, can easily go sour. One must be careful when mixing and matching. It is best to contrast when wearing multiple denim pieces. Pair a dark denim jean with a light washed denim jacket, for example. Or pair the jeans with an hombre denim button down. Be sure to break up the denim with accessories and color. A printed scarf or a bright handbag complete a look and make for a more interesting silhouette.

Designers such as Celine, Dries van Noten, Dolce and Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Jeremy Scott are some of the countless designers who have impeccably incorporated the denim trend into their most recent runway shows. Dries van Noten’s Men’s Spring 2011 show with it’s acid washed denim was arguably one of the most well reviewed shows of the season. Stella McCartney’s Spring 2011 denim heavy show was also one of the most talked about shows of fashion week.

One of my favorite things about the fashion world, and those involved, is the way people are inspired by these couture looks. It is truly amazing the way men and women incorporate their own twists on trends from the runway. The lookboards I’ve composed give an in depth look at some of the aforementioned runway shows. To compare, I’ve created a mixture of street style looks inspired by the denim trend on the runway. Each look is unique and well thought out; they are perfect examples of taking a trend and making it your own.

I’m sure this trend will eventually fade out over the next few years, but I will enjoy it in excess until that sad day when denim is out.

THE GENTS:

THE LADIES:

Music Video: Beyonce’s “Party (ft. J. Cole)”

October 31, 2011 By brian In Music

Beyonce’s third solo album, 4, dropped on June 24th, 2011. Since that time she has released 6, yes SIX, music videos: “Run The World (Girls),” “1+1,” “Best Thing I Never Had,” “Countdown,” “Love On Top,” and just now “Party.” Now, if you don’t know me, and I’m sure a lot of you reading this don’t (sorry ’bout it), you know that I am a GIANT Beyonce fan. She can do no wrong, and she hasn’t.

Her video for “Party” is everything I could dream of and more. Trailer Park. Neon platform heels. Slutty bathing suits. Hotties on bikes. Hood cars. A girl sipping from a hose pipe. Solange. AND KELLY ROWLAND. Read over that list again and tell me this is not a recipe for the most hilarious and amazing music video you have ever seen. I grew up in a white middle class small town family, so I hope no one takes offense, but I always want to go to parties like the one in this video instead of boring white people parties.

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Brian Falgoust grew up in a small cajun town not too far outside of New Orleans, but quickly fell in love with the city when he studied at NOCCA in high school. Now, he’s proud to call the French Quarter home and falls more in love with NOLA on a daily basis. In college he studied theatre and dance, but his second passion has always been clothing and the fashion industry. Brian has worked retaill in the French Quarter for three years, working part time on a few films, and he prides himself in his vast product knowledge and eye for trends. When he’s not working, he’s usually out running around and dancing to some live music. “Never trust a man who doesn’t dance.”

Album Review: Phonte “Charity Starts At Home”

October 19, 2011 By brian In Music

Phonte, previously a part of the Grammy nominated duo The Foreign Exchange, recently released his first solo effort entitled Charity Starts at Home. Having jumped from one independent rap group to another, Phonte Coleman’s latest solo project is his biggest project to date.

As I flowed through the album, having no previous knowledge of Phonte or The Foreign Exchange, I noticed the solid beats and R&B licks reminiscent of those of the early 90s with a mix of harder and more layered sounds that R&B and rap have evolved into over the past few years. It was refreshing, to say the least, to hear a simple almost Lauryn Hill-esque beat in the opening track “Dance in the Reign.” And with a lyric like “This rap shit is not the life I live / It’s a tool that I use / That’s it,” this first song immediately caught my attention and put Phonte on a new level of musicianship for me.

The entire album is a rant, so to speak, on the troubles of being a modern adult in this world. A theme visualized in great detail by Phonte in the second track “The Good Fight,” with passionate and sometimes graphic lyrics, but never unnecessarily so.

A highlight of the album, for me, comes about midway through with the song “Ball and Chain.” Aptly titled, this song explains the complications of being tied to a relationship that is great on the surface but is controlling and heavy in all actuality. There’s an almost flowing, airy melodic lick that runs throughout the entire song with a heavy beat keeping rhythm that helps squeeze out a more in depth meaning to the lyrics.

It was a nice surprise to see Big K.R.I.T. featured on the track “The Life of Kings,” having been a fan of his for a year or so. The song is another personal favorite on the album. A simple beat with this xylophone riff and a layered voice gives the song an incredibly smooth, traditional feel.

The album, as a whole, is filled with rhymes and lyrics that pour through the deep crevices of the beats Phonte has created. That being said, this album is one of the better Hip Hop albums I’ve heard over the past few years. It seems that rappers as of late need to produce music with shock and awe factors that immediately, though briefly, catch the attention of mass markets but eventually dissipate into fleeting fame. Phonte has created an album with a timeless sound and a ton of passion and heart.

Phonte’s first solo album Charity Starts at Home is a welcomed addition to any hip hop fan’s collection and is available for download on iTunes or Amazon.com.

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Brian Falgoust grew up in a small cajun town not too far outside of New Orleans, but quickly fell in love with the city when he studied at NOCCA in high school. Now, he’s proud to call the French Quarter home and falls more in love with NOLA on a daily basis. In college he studied theatre and dance, but his second passion has always been clothing and the fashion industry. Brian has worked retaill in the French Quarter for three years, working part time on a few films, and he prides himself in his vast product knowledge and eye for trends. When he’s not working, he’s usually out running around and dancing to some live music. “Never trust a man who doesn’t dance.”