Conferment.

30 years

You give pearls for a 30th anniversary . How classy.

Eric and I

Imani and I

New Alumni (me)

Ok so I am sitting on the line waiting to graduate an you could cut
the air with a knife. It is thick with parfums last nights bar smoke
and this mornings whiskey. But me... I reek of vanilla an head and
shoulders. I will post all during graduation.

Confessions Of Women

Confessions of Women



Savannah College of Art and Design Media and Performing Arts senior Whitney Stallworth presented the final performance of her undergraduate thesis show Confessions of Women, and she delivered. She delivered the umpteenth version of a story that we have heard one too many times and find utterly draining to sit through. Going in the dimly lit Mondonaro Theater Beyonce was gushing through the speakers proclaiming if “I were a boy, I’d make the rules as I go.” This for me was expected, though it opens my mind to the thought that perhaps she would tell me something more than it’s so hard to find a good man. The set designer must have been a minimalist, the otherwise empty stage consisted of a couch and two side tables that served as the headquarters for overly bitter sistas who needed to drown out their sorrows in the melodic melodies of Lauryn Hill or yet another glass of champagne. The play opens with the birthday scene from the 1995 film adaptation of the Terry McMillan novel, Waiting To Exhale. The lights fade in “Happy Birthday Bernie!!!” the lights fade out and back in, the four black women are now inebriated and the sugar high from the cake has since left the building. What does enter the scene is sadness and sorrow lubricated by a single magnum of champagne. The first song, which I could not identify, was sung by a fabulously thin bitter seemly amateur gospel singer which later proved to be a woman scorn by a cheating husband who left her after 10 years of marriage for another woman. Actress Kendris Myers (Bernie) took to the spotlight like a natural and portrayed a character that was obviously much older. The educated voice of reason amongst an otherwise raging sea of stereotypes was Gloria played by Fredericka Anderson. Who gave a glimmer of hope to this pity party but was snuffed by the audacious and loud mouthed Robyn played by Jasmine Richardson who’s job it was to provide the obvious comic relief all the while littering the audiences ears with expletives. Afterwards Savannah, played by Whitney Stallworth, strains to belt out “Cry me a River” originally written an sung by Ella Fitzgerald. The play takes a turn for the worst with an erotic interpretive dance exhibiting the practices of the cheating husband played by Derrick Parks. This body tossing, body rolling, bumping and grinding fellow went from good to bad to despicable all in the course of two minutes. This misogynous display of the black male I found to be offensive. Just because this is what you have encountered don’t discount all black men as such. Gloria said it best: “we don't pay attention to the ones that are good for us” and “that’s the shit she was talking about,” exclaimed Robyn in reference to what character Savannah had mentioned earlier in the play. I was just plane disappointed at the quality of the jokes which were the most obvious “Ya Momma” jokes. This was the reduction of the black woman in an hour or less. She presented stereotype after stereotype after stereotype and just when you thought it was over they did the electric slide to the 1996 Junior M.A.F.I.A hit “Gettin’ Money”. So the audience is left with this final thought: after heartache and struggle, money will help the downtrodden, golddiggin' black woman get hers.

I find her feelings about men so illegitimate the director of this play is 22 years old, what on earth have you possibly experienced in those years that would have provided the fuel for this raging flame of bitterness. After that 45 minute long regurgitation I now know that you have simply not experienced anything and that you simply can relate. You had the perfect venue to do something new. What is your spin? What is your story? What is your experience? Looking at the story you presented it is clear that you can just empathize with those fed up mad black women waiting to exhale who can’t seem to find a do right man. I will say this, if you relate to the views expressed then don’t hold your breath. Waiting for a man who does everything the “right way” that can handle all of your baggage is a pointless effort. After all Savannah said it best, “It does not matter how many new haircuts you get or how many gyms you join…” the search for love starts within.

Lia by Imani Whyte

Imani Lia Whyte
Designer Biography

Harlem native, lover and maker of avant-garde fashion design, Imani Lia Whyte, has been making and designing clothes since the tender age of 10.Declaring to her mother, Debra, that she wanted to be a fashion designer and deciding that she wanted to be in fashion, she began making clothes for herself and friends while participating in fashion shows at church and throughout her native New York. Understanding the impact garments can have on their wearer is Whyte’s key to great design. Her ability to communicate ideas and concepts through extensive research show the importance of glamour in her evening wear. Majoring in Fashion Design and minoring in Accessory Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Whyte is well on her way to becoming the next best American evening wear designer.
“Fashion is truly what I love doing and it just so happens that it pays the bills,” says Whyte as she casually cuts out patterns for her senior collection. When asked her favorite pastime, she shares this: “ I love to create evening gowns and cocktail dresses that add drama and glamour to their wearer.” Interesting concepts, dramatic silhouettes, elaborated patterns, and luxurious materials define Whyte, and let’s not forget glamour!
As one would expect, Whyte is quite the diligent worker. On one of my recent visits to her studio during one of her umpteenth all nighters, I asked if she ever gets tired of doing this. She replied, “ As soon as I think that I am tired, I realize there is nothing else in the world that I would rather be doing.”
She was proclaimed Fashion Forward in the April/May 2009 issue of The South Magazine, which featured select SCAD senior fashion students currently working on their senior collections. Her collection takes inspiration from the mystical fantasy world of the Chronicles of Narnia and late ‘40s and early ‘50s eveningwear. The collection consists of silk evening gowns, silk taffeta cocktail dresses and even a bit of silk faile for good measure. Whyte’s designs make young Hollywood and old ladies that lunch keel over with desire.
This past winter Whyte interned with Tracy Reese. “I was doing everything from dying fabric and trim to conducting sales of luxury merchandise during the annual sample sale.” During the summer of 2007 she was an assistant to Head Women’s Wear designer at Rainforest Inc. From June2004- August 2005 Whyte interned at Birnbaum & Bullock assisting dress and veil makers in finishing garments.

Style File Interview
Interview Conducted by Najee Wilson
Questions from Ike Ude’s Style File: The Worlds Most Elegantly Dressed

Occupation: Fashion Designer & dedicated student

Place of Birth: Midtown, Manhattan

Ideal Place of Residence: New York City

Astrological Sign: Taurus

Current Residence: Savannah, GA/New York, NY

Favorite Job: Designing

What makes a person stylish?
How they carry themselves in whatever they wear.

What is the distinction between style and fashion?
Style is forever, Fashion is ever changing.

What does one become a fashion victim?
When they begin to change there look according to the latest celebrity or trend.

Who is your favorite designer?
Carolina Herrera, Oscar De La Renta, Karl Lagerfeld and, Balenciaga.
Would you ever shoplift an item of clothing that you just had to have?
Not really sure… I doubt it.

What is your favorite phrase?
“There is a thread of Glamour sewn through everything we do.”
-Mark Badgley of Badgley Mischka

What is your favorite artwork?
I am always inspired by art …to choose just one for all time would be unjust and unfair.

Who is your favorite artist?
Again to many to choose from.

What is your favorite architectural structure?
Anything from Baroque or Rococo

What is your favorite color?
I love BRIGHT colors!

What period costume would you most like to wear?
The French Revolution, I loved the way Marie Antoinette dressed.

Stylistically, what is your favorite movie?
I live by The Devil Wears Prada.

What is your greatest weakness when it comes to clothing?
Not looking at prices, when I shop I just dive in.

What is your most prized possession?
My BlackBerry and My sketches.

Which world leader has the most distinctive style?
Queen Elizabeth

For which famous person would you most like to do a style makeover, and what would you do?
Hillary Clinton. I would like to usher her sense of style into 2009.

What attire would you rather be caught dead in?
Perhaps one of my dresses bright pink of course!

What is your style philosophy?
Dress like you don’t care and everyone else will.

Walking Dakota

I have been frequenting this new park in North Charleston visiting when I am in town. Smack in the middle of the Old Naval Shipping Yard, it provides the perfect escape from noises of the city. On my most recent trip I took my dog with me to walk, an explore. Public Art is juxtaposed with the old industrial surroundings. It is a real slice of heaven in what is otherwise a less than desirable area. In one moment your breathing in air fresh from the river an in the next your view is being dominated by an enormous tanker. Even the bathrooms are artfully designed, the concrete slab appears as a wall slicing into the kelly green mound that quietly engulfes it only to revel a smooth monolithic structure once you stroll around it. Procession is so improtant here, it allows you the chance to just breath deep and ponder.

Show up and Show OUT!!!

So I have finally gotten back to my computer to say the Vuitton girl this season is showing up and showing OUT!!! That much can't be said for those late comers to the show. It was exaggeration it was excess it was 80's it was early 90's it was over the top and full of what we expect from Vuitton. The shoes were... soooooooo sever and hard but ultra feminine and luxurious. The bags, for me were not the star of the show the tailoring an odd proportions made me sit up and take note. That section of red tailored jackets I loved and I can't get enough of. The nude/camel color stuff that came after was amazing. She is full on French, this Vuitton Girl it is undeniable you tell that even the models enjoyed playing the part. So to Marc,I say yet another job WELL DONE but I expect this sort of thing from him. Im on a fashion high or maybe im just sleep deprived oh well where was that bottle of wine?

Fashion Week Viktor & Rolf

Ok. so V&R just let out and I can't wait until I can gather my thoughts to speak on this. But I will be posting soon on the other shows. Dior, Nina Ricci and later this week Mcqueen and Vuitton. But I did have the pleasure to meet Micheal Fink the buyer for Saks he is Tres Frais.