COMPLEXD WOMAN: CANDY RENEE

Name: Candy Renee
Age: 22
Occupation: Merchandiser/Personal Shopper/Fashion Writer
Place of birth: Jamaica
Current residence: Jamaica/New York

I was brought up by my mom so she’s not just my mother, she is my father and my best friend. I travelled a lot when I was young so I have been exposed to various cultures, lifestyles and trends. I visit New York frequently where I attend runway shows, network with influential people and build strong business partners. By the evening I report all my daily happenings on my blog Fashion.For.Dessert.

I started my blog because I wanted to educate young ‘fashionistas’ in Jamaica about international fashion trends. Fashion reportage is widely accessible via the internet, so I make my posts more personal and opinion based. My blog allows me to break the stigma that Jamaican women don’t have any style. When I am featured on websites, stereotypical views of Jamaican women are prevalent in the comments which suggest that I couldn’t possibly be Jamaican because I have a good sense of style. Even though Jamaica is a small island we have produced some of the most influential people in the entertainment industry.

I put all my energy into my blog and my retail company, which involves merchandising and personal shopping. I am a young lady from a small island with big dreams and I would  love to become a recognised style icon. I also hope that prejudice can be wiped out of the fashion industry so everyone can enjoy it. I am Complexd because I am a young woman going against the idea that you have to change yourself to be fashionable. I am trying my best to be myself and I hope that my followers appreciate me for who I am.

Read Candy Renne’s fashion blog here

July 15, 2011 | Posted in Complexd Women | 1 Comment

COMPLEXD WOMEN: JAMES BLACK

Name:  James “JB” Black
Age: 25
Occupation: Fashion Designer
Place of birth and current residence: Kingston, Jamaica

I grew up in a strict Jamaican Christian home, so every Sunday is church day. My parents have strong family values and we enjoy lots of quality time through family trips and always having dinner together.

Even though I don’t have a 9-5 job, I wake up early because I know what I have to do if I want to accomplish anything. I start the day with a cup of green tea or coffee, and then I have some fresh fruits like papaya with my cereal. I work from home so I can stay in pyjamas unless I am walking or driving down the road to fabric stores. Jamaica is extremely hot at times, so I opt for something cool and casual like shorts, shades and a loose t-shirt.

I manage my clothing line ‘YC’ (Yahdie Conscious). The line is distributed in two stores in Kingston that stock the YC clothing range and accessories. At the moment I am designing a range of hair accessories called ‘GlamHEAD’, a selection funky and affordable handmade headpieces for jazzing up outfits. I am inspired by other designers and stylists but the Jamaican dancehall scene is one of my major inspirations. I like taking elements of dancehall fashion and toning it down to create something classy and unique.

I run my business with 100% passion and put all my energy into what I do.  While building my concept and expanding ideas through ‘YC’, I hope to one day have my own store, and my label becoming a household name in Jamaica and recognised internationally.

My personal style philosophy is ‘don’t take an outfit from a rack and put it straight on your back’. It’s good to experiment by mixing and matching colours and patterns or adding funky accessories. It’s important to put a piece of your personality in your outfits so that even if you end up at a party in the same dress as someone else, yours might just have that extra wow factor!

Yahdie Conscious clothing is available for purchase online at www.yahdieconscious.com.

James’ on the Jamaican party scene…

July 13, 2011 | Posted in Complexd Women | Leave a comment

COMPLEXD VISUALS: YASMINA ROSSI

These images of Complexd cover woman Yasmina Rossi where taken by Anwer Sher.  Women are often encouraged to dye their hair at the first sign of grey so it was the strong contrast between Yasmina’s grey/white hair and the horses dark black mane that made Yasmina stand out as a confident Complexd woman.

Horse (euwe) owned by Hoofbeatz trained by Eileen Verdieck

July 9, 2011 | Posted in Complexd Women, Visuals | 2 Comments

JO’S INSPIRATION: ELEGANT WRAP

Jo tells us what’s inspiring her fashion this week.

I’m not a Kate Moss fashion fanatic, but I will give some credit to her outfit compositions.  She is a woman who wears her clothes and doesn’t let them wear her, which is why she always looks effortless in her garments. This picture of Kate wearing a Marc Jacobs dress and turban designed by milliner Stephen Jones, was taken at the MET Costume Gala in 2009. When I am looking for fashion inspiration I don’t look at what the high street is stocking  or what the red carpet and runways are dictating right now. I look for what I feel like wearing in old magazines and archived fashion images. That way, I have a lot more fun recreating the look to my taste. Inspired by Kate’s 2009 outfit, I styled myself in a gathered Grecian style dress and tied a summer shawl into a turban.

Photographed by Frederique Rapier

Find tips on how to tie turbans here

June 29, 2011 | Posted in Editor's Diary, Fashion & Lifestyle | Leave a comment

COMPLEXD WOMAN: MASUMI WATANABE

Name: Masumi Watanabe
Occupation: Craft Artist
Current Residence: Sizuoka (Japan)

I was born and brought up in Sizuoka, Japan and I lived in London for over ten years.  London culture is now in my blood and has become my second home. London is so unique because of the mix of cultures you can socialise with.

I have just moved back to my hometown and forgot how relaxed and carefree it is. You can leave your bag on a chair in a café to go to the toilet and find everything there when you come back. Everything is safe and clean…even the fashion! The best way to describe fashion in my hometown is immaculate. That’s why I miss the personality in people’s fashion in London. People wear what they want to wear, not what they are expected to wear. I like that a lot, which is why I would describe my style as beautiful imperfection.

I illustrate, knit or draw creatures I have imagined in dreams or when I’m drinking tea from my favourite Scandinavian mug. My work has no practicality nor does it have an amazing story behind it.  I just want my work to be like ‘a cup of tea’ for people. It’s just something simple that I hope can put a smile on someone’s face.

June 28, 2011 | Posted in Complexd Women | Leave a comment