In My Shoes ft. Jamiyl Peters
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]These are my second pair of Magnani dress shoes. MAGNANNI is a third generation family-owned company that has been producing fine Men’s shoes for more nearly 60 years. This specific pair is called “Montego Cognac”. I bought them a year and a half ago at Nordstrom’s in Pentagon City Mall in Arlington, VA. I absolutely love the contour, feel and class of this shoe. It makes every time I put them on special. I was definitely excited when I purchased them because they made me feel like a new man with great purpose.
[/one_half_last]
[one_half]
They look great with almost anything a gentleman chooses to lace himself in. This specific pair I have, have traveled all over the United States with me: Austin, TX, New York City, Newark, New Jersey, Portsmouth, ME, Washington, D.C. and New Haven, CT.
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
[/one_half_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30183" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_third]In our nation’s capitol of Washington, D.C. they stood out. Most men on Capitol Hill choose comfort over distinctive and exquisite precision when it comes to shoes. The halls of Congress are sturdy, battle tested and unforgiving on even the most veteran of political legs, but my MAGNANIS have yet to fail me.
[/one_third]
[two_third_last]
[/two_third_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30183" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Checking the time before my next meeting and making sure the gear is right. It’s always an honor to know that you represent your hometown and district well: with knowledge, class, patience and an open-mind. There are few who choose to up the ante. Most men stick to the classic and current Cole Hahn (with the Nike Air Sole) with the wing-tipped front. At every point a man should dare to step outside of the lines and choose to be different, seeing the world from their own view and more over their own shoes.
In the tail end of 2012, I decided to create my own fashion blog via Tumblr titled PremiumP. It's pretty much a personal diary of the fashionable things, people and places that I like. Whenever you create anything you should have a purpose, so I asked myself what's my purpose for this blog? My answer... I'm aspiring to inspire.
[/one_half_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30183" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_third]
[/one_third]
[one_third]
Big events call for effort and class and I try to play with the best of them on days like this and still try not to out do the Groom. Lol!
[/one_third]
[one_third_last]
[/one_third_last]
I believe that life should be approached the same way: with a careful eye for detail and approached with a slight tilt on the vision and direction that we are all to march. Dare to give each day a little something different.
In My Shoes ft. Torae
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Growing up in Brooklyn in the 80's was the coolest. Hip Hop was bursting on to the scene, the fashion was crazy & Michael Jordan was on his was to becoming a basketball God. Not only was I viewing his super human feats on the court, I was watching his feet on the court, and in February of 1988 Nike released what is in my opinion the greatest Air Jordan sneaker ever. It was the 3rd sneaker released between the two parties & it was a doozy! Now being a March baby I really wanted these sneakers bad for my birthday but kids my age were getting robbed left & right for their kicks back then. It was a long shot but I asked......and got rejected, we really didn't have money like that back then anyway but moms just hit me with the it's too dangerous excuse & shattered my hopes & dreams.
[/one_half_last]
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
It would be a number of years before I had another shot at obtaining these beauties. Without dragging you through my various failed attempts at getting the 3's I'll just fast forward to 2010 when I FINALLY got my first pair of retro Jordan 3's (black cement color way to be specific).
[/one_half_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30222" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_third]As an artist in the public eye it's important for me to always show up fresh from head to feet & the Jordan 3 never let's me down no matter what the outfit. I've walked the red carpet, hosted events, performed all over the world & have interviewed your favorite artists wearing this sneaker.
[/one_third]
[two_third_last]
[/two_third_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30222" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last] I can recall landing in about a foot of snow in Germany back in 2012 and all I had to rock was my trusty 3's.
[/one_half_last]
[spb_parallax bg_image="30222" bg_type="cover" alt_background="none" width="1/1" el_position="last"]
[/spb_parallax]
[one_third]
[/one_third]
[one_third]
They're fashionable, comfortable & durable. My oldest pair I've had about 2 years but they've been through it all with me. Anytime they retro I try to get a couple pair at least at retail price, but my latest pair I paid a pretty penny for (Thanks to Flight Club). My closet holds over 100 pair of sneakers, but none compare to my beloved Jordan 3's.
[/one_third]
[one_third_last]
[/one_third_last]
In My Shoes ft. Andres Jimenez
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Back in 2010 NIKE made a huge push on all of their vintage products and I felt the need to have a pair. I loved the silhouette, the fit, how light they were in my hands. The soles were so narrow yet they still gave me support. They also had a nice vintage patina on them, which made them look even better.
[/one_half_last]
[one_third]From a very young age, clothes and sneakers have been important to me. What I choose to wear on any given day will always let you know how I feel. The price tags never really mattered to me, it was more so about quality, construction and what the colors or brand represented. In regards to my closet, I always refer back to “Classics” or “Basics” when building my wardrobe.
In the same year I purchased these kicks, we (Tritonic – A Creative Agency) won another ADCNJ Award and I participated in a fashion blog called Hello Mr. Daily specifically as Mr. Friday.
[/one_third]
[two_third_last]
[/two_third_last]
[one_half]
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]Later in 2010 I did some traveling and my first escape was to Montreal. A mini get-away with a few of my Hello Mr. Daily friends, this trip was strictly to party and explore. The following month I went to Chicago for my creative agency Tritonic. At this time I was the creative director and principal of the agency, we were helping our client The James Hotel in Chicago and NYC. In November I flew down to Mexico to participate in my sister’s wedding, it was such a beautiful experience to be down there with friends and family. And finally my last stop was home, Colombia to be exact, visiting my family after working hard all year. It was truly relaxing to be back in the motherland with no worries at all.
[/one_half_last]
At this point in my career, it was important for me to remain excited and fulfilled in everything I did. So I matched my hard work with hard play, by exploring the world, because I’m aware that staying fresh on what’s new is important to staying creative. I also felt the need to try working on something new, something to balance myself. Having Tritonic was fun and surrounded me with people I enjoyed. But I needed another outlet, and I found that in digging and spinning music. Throughout it all, I kept traveling to places like Boston, Montreal and even London.
[one_half]DJing and Records went from a hobby to a passion, which developed into a Vinyl Culture Collective called Open Crates. We’re now approaching our second vinyl release with Pat Van Dyke being our first and DJ Center coming out in April of this year.
[/one_half]
[one_half_last]
[/one_half_last]
Since I’ve had these sneakers, I’ve closed up one creative agency, joined another agency as a joint venture, left and started one all over again. In 4 years, I’ve put thousands of miles on these sneakers. I’ve been blessed to have traveled all over North America, South America, the Caribbean, even hit the UK with them. They’ve been with me during hard times but also at my feet for moments I’ll cherish the rest of my life.
Styling the Intern
OVERVIEW While now a days we all wear many hats just to make it in this crazy world, we also find ourselves accommodating our style to match the many hats that we wear in order to suite our lifestyles accordingly. But not everyone understands how easy it can be to create different looks without going too far left. Our intern Guru N is taking huge steps into learning the creative industry, so we’re prepping Guru for each possible scenario. Of course we have to school him on his fashion presentation as well. Without breaking the bank a.k.a shopping on a budget, we put together six scenarios and environments that you’ll catch creative’s like ourselves in on the daily. Enjoy!
At the Agency – As he aims for the Jr. Content Creation position it’s important that he sets himself apart from the rest of the snot noses within the pack of youngsters. This look will show his boss that he’s mature, clean cut and focused on detail. This look is simplistic, traditional and safe.
MEN EASY CARE CHECKED LONG SLEEVE SHIRT This soft, wrinkle-resistant shirt features special tailoring to keep its shape in a vibrantly colored gingham check.
SOURCE: UNIQLO COST: $34.90
BOTTOM – MEN SLIM FIT CORDUROY JEANS These slim-fit corduroy jeans offer warmth and a lengthening look. Dyed for extra-sharp color. 99% cotton, 1% spandex
SOURCE: OLD NAVY COST: $34.90
SHOE – OUTDOOR CVO TRAINER SNEAKER Classic trainer sneakers with color block cotton canvas uppers topped with rolled cotton laces. Complete with a cushioned foot bed and a color block rubber mid sole. Finished with a textured rubber sole for optimal traction. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: Urban Outfitters COST: $29.00
After Work at the Cafe – When he’s on top of his game the colleagues will take notice and want to be around him. This look is for the quiet moment that he’ll get outside of the office, when he’s dodging all the employee gossip talk. The highlights of this look is the All-Son Runt Shirt Jacket paired with a Brixton Supply beanie, layered on top of a basic yellow Uniqlo henley for a pinch of color.
TOP – All-Son Runt Shirt Jacket Awesome jacket from All-Son. Durable woven cotton in an allover leopard print with a button placket and topped with a removable hood. Complete with front and chest pouch pockets and finished with button closures at the cuffs. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $69.90
BOTTOM – Stapleford Utility 5-Pocket Pant Classic 5-pockets pant from Stapleford. Faded cotton construction topped with side pouch pockets and a zip fly with button waist closure. Complete with rear flap pockets with button closures and cinch tabs at the waist for a snug fit. Finished with a slim fit leg and a side coin pocket. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $59.00
SHOE – OUTDOOR CVO TRAINER SNEAKER Classic trainer sneakers with color block cotton canvas uppers topped with rolled cotton laces. Complete with a cushioned foot bed and a color block rubber midsole. Finished with a textured rubber sole for optimal traction. UO Exclusive.
SOURCE: URBAN OUTFITTERS COST: $29.00
Urban Exploring: Harpers Ferry
During the Christmas break, my lovely wife and I took a mini vacation to West Virgina to visit family. During the trip, we were suggested to take a vacation from the vacation and visit Harpers Ferry.
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States that's situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where the U.S. states of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet. Little did we know that we were walking on US history, we later learned that Harpers Ferry is best known for John Brown's raid on the Armory in 1859 and its role in the American Civil War. Initially, we parked at the north end and were very confused on what we were supposed to see. All we could see were facility buildings, trees, and mountains (which were extremely beautiful and refreshing) and we thought we'd see more. Though we were confused and disappointed we took the opportunity to snap some photos of the scenery.
Luckily, we ran into some facility employees that nicely directed us to the suggested area and my god what a big difference it was! This section was a tiny old school town filled with restaurants, coffee, ice cream, and novelty shops. It was easy to tell that each and every building was well maintained. The type of facades that you see in historical-themed movies.
The highlight of the mini trip was a short walk (0.3) from the Bolivar Heights parking area that provided great views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, the Potomac River water gap, and the Shenandoah Valley. At this point is where we had the most fun. See below...
Lastly, we decided to stop for a bite at The Coffee Mill, where we had a light snack and some coffee. The fresh baked peach pie was Aleesha's choice, while I enjoyed a warm slice of pumpkin pie. Overall, we really enjoyed our one hour there (it got dark) and look forward to going back with the kids. I wouldn't recommend traveling to this place if it's not on the way to another destination, but if you're into camping, hiking, and researching/documenting history, then this is definitely the place to go. That's it for now, enjoy the photos below!
[AFG_gallery id='6']