URBAN RAG

Fashion’s Night Out, Houston 2012

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:55:00 -0400

Fashion’s Night Out, Houston 2012

Not too long ago, The Limited (Limited Brands) bought Henri...

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:56:05 -0400

Not too long ago, The Limited (Limited Brands) bought Henri Bendel, and has expanded the store outside of NYC. The new stores, in shopping centers around the US, carry primarily handbags and jewelry and small accessories that epitomize the Henri Bendel brand. Just 2 months ago, Houston, TX received their first of these new chains in their Galleria Mall.

Since the Limited acquisition there have been complaints as to their NY mainstay about how the brand has suffered since the drop of their clothing line. Others have commented that the brand is not the quality it was before.

How did you come to the concept of a store that sells only...

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:55:00 -0400

How did you come to the concept of a store that sells only American designed and manufactured goods?
It was important for us to find a concept that was engaging not only on the superficial, fun, interacting-with-nice-design level, but in a community based, positive change way, too. I’ve always felt as a designer that the most important thing you can do is give legs to something you believe in fundamentally, and improve your community in the process.

Selling American-made products is a nice way to improve the quality of goods in my country, as well as improve the quality and integrity of goods available to my neighbors. It’s an idea that we as people wanted to see implemented, so we went ahead and did it ourselves.

Each item is hand-picked; how do you choose what you will include in your collection?
We travel to different parts of the country and meet with designers. We do a lot of research on each brand, and try to find brands that have a large amount of integrity, as well as a unique take on making and selling products. From that point on, it’s just a combination of a good eye and product availability.

What can we hope to see at Settlement Goods in the near future?
We’re always adding interesting new brands and products to the store. Beyond that, a goal for all of us is making a difference in how people in Houston think about the things they buy. You’ll see more outreach in that area as we expand.

Visit Settlement Goods at 3939 Montrose, Suite M, Houston, Tx 77006 or online settlementgoods.com and on tumblr!

Hello Vara , I loveeee your work !! I have a question , what digital camera did you start off with or using now. I'm going to the Art Institute of Charlotte and I'm going to be a photography major and you inspire me to do my best :)

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:01:21 -0400

Thank you for your kind words! I learned how to shoot on film, and my first camera was an old, Minolta X-700. When digital cameras started coming out in DSLRs, I started shooting with a Nikon D200 (quite out of date by today’s standards). I now shoot with a Canon 5D MK III. I highly recommend the Canon 5D series, and you can probably find an older version, a MKII at a serious discount now!

NameAly Loren Occupation Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:01:57 -0400

Name
Aly Loren

Occupation
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselor at the Houston Area Women’s Center

Who is your style icon?
Bettie Page, of course!

What inspires your style the most?
Anything with a retro, atomic age feel… I like unique items that feel sexy but are simple and classic all the same

Name:Yossuana Aguilar Occupation:Media Production Student What...

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:02:00 -0500

Name:
Yossuana Aguilar

Occupation:
Media Production Student

What things inspire your personal style?
My mood every morning. My emotions lead me to my closet to choose specific clothes for that day. I dress in black more than any other color. However, lately I’ve been feeling gray and sometimes pink. One of my fun colors to wear is electric blue.

Who is your style icon and why?
I love Felice Fawn, I like her general outlook and her personal style.

Some fun retro fashions in a shoot I recently did with Minnie...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:55:00 -0500

Some fun retro fashions in a shoot I recently did with Minnie and Kitten!

varapappas:

Models: Minnie d’Moocha and Devil Kitten

Name:Brandon WestOccupation: Musician/EntrepreneurDoes music...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:02:00 -0500

Name:
Brandon West

Occupation:

Musician/Entrepreneur

Does music ever inspire what you wear?

Yes, music sets the tone for many things in life for me, including on more than rare occasions, what I wear. Whether it be another artist that I am listening to or a song that I have written, music has the ability to set a mood, a tone. So when I am listening to something, which I usually am, my style will reflect that. From edgy to refined; from Coroner to Schubert.

What’s your favorite accessory and why?
I am truly reticent when it comes to picking so-called favorites, but I do own, and to a great extent cherish, an old faux gold Timex watch that I have had for quite some time. It has long since faded and is more than an hour off depending on whether time is supposedly being rolled back or forward during the year. It has an alarm that goes off at the same moment everyday for about fifteen seconds. I care not to change any of those things because it is simple, it wears well with anything, never fails to receive a compliment (sometimes to my surprise), it is consistent and it has never stopped working.

Where can we hear your music?
www.brandonwest.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brandon-West/331233173561738

Names:Tony & Jru Ibe Occupations:Mechanical Engineering...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:06 -0500

Names:
Tony & Jru Ibe

Occupations:
Mechanical Engineering Students/ Models

What fashion tip would you give guys to pull together any street style fast?
Tony Wear whatever looks good in your eyes, throw it together with something unique and rock it! The more funky, the better.
Jru I’d tell them to wear clothing that brings the hip out of them and to just be yourself.

What designer’s men’s fashion line are you dying to wear, and why?
We both dream of modeling for Express & Forever21! Express has a unique fashion sense, and we like that Forever21 is a Christian company.

Houston, TX

Name:Theresa Manchester Occupation:Traveling model What designer...

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:16:35 -0500

Name:
Theresa Manchester

Occupation:
Traveling model

What designer inspires you the most? Why?
I’m not one to follow specific designers, but I have developed a raging Jeffrey Campbell obsession! (Why?) Mainly because I find it more practical as well as more my personal style to splurge on great shoes, and secondhand unique/inexpensive pieces for clothing. You can make cheap clothes look great, but cheap shoes will never look, feel, or hold up like expensive ones.

What accessory can you absolutely not live without?
I’m not sure if I have a trademark accessory, but I’ve always loved wearing feathers in my hair, experimenting with handmade hair extensions, and choker type necklaces.

Shoes:
Jeffrey Campbell

*Hair and make-up courtesy of Angel Jagger
Houston, TX

Congratulations!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:23:36 -0500

Congratulations to Justin Duplantis for winning the Fashion on Sale contest! Courtesy of CultureMap Houston.

Win a pair of tickets to CultureMap's Fashion on Sale!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:12:00 -0500

Follow Urban Rag on tumblr, and/or like us on Facebook for a chance to win 2 tickets to CultureMap’s Fashion on Sale this weekend!

Act quickly! The contest will end tomorrow evening (Thursday) at 5 p.m. The lucky winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

Fashion On Sale will be THE premier destination for savvy fashionistas.At Fashion On Sale, you can buy designer clearance items, preview spring collections, dabble in select beauty products and enjoy cocktails while immersed in a fashion and beauty experience.

*Courtesy of CultureMap Houston

I love the outfits on Jeany Ngo!

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:21:13 -0500

Jeany has great taste! :)

Name:Sabrina Sin Occupation:Alt Model/Artist/Columnist How would...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:13:03 -0500

Name:
Sabrina Sin

Occupation:
Alt Model/Artist/Columnist

How would you define your personal style?
I am definitely influenced by an interesting mix of styles, ranging from 50’s Rockabilly to 70’s Punk to sort of Bohemian chic meets sexy sophisticated business woman. I’m all over the place because I love experimenting and sometimes wearing things that I know make absolutely no sense!

How does fashion affect your daily life?
I feel good about myself when I know I look good. In my line of work you are judged on how you present yourself, being well dressed and fashion forward is expected, which is as it should be in any profession. I am a model yes, but I am also an artist, and to me fashion is an art form.

If you want to see more of me and my fashion be sure to keep an eye out for my new website coming this Spring! www.SinfulSabrina.com

Houston, TX

NameJustin Myers OccupationHair Stylist How would you define...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:09:00 -0500

Name
Justin Myers

Occupation
Hair Stylist

How would you define your style?
My style is laid back, modern, blue collar, although I like to dress it up when the situation calls for it.

If you could choose one designer, living or dead, to style hair for a runway show, who would it be, and why?
I would love to style hair for Vidal Sassoon. He’s the grandfather of all stylists, and the inspiration of what we all want to be…

Houston, TX

NameJeany Ngo OccupationGraphic Designer What’s coming...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:10:05 -0500

Name
Jeany Ngo

Occupation
Graphic Designer

What’s coming your way in the new year?
Moving back to San Francisco from Houston!

How do you think your style will evolve this year?
I think it will change more as I experience the culture and styles of a new city. I’ll still have some of the Houston influences, but it will become more of a hybrid as I find new inspirations!

Houston, TX