Your Life, Your Art blog is now Urban Fashion Lab!

Welcome to Urban Fashion Lab! 

"...fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."- CoCo Chanel (fashion designer/founder of Chanel) 

Urban Fashion Lab (UFL) is a space for creativity, innovation, self-expression, inspiration and skill building through fashion DIY (Do it yourself) projects that are free and collaborative and a means of unifying and mending society. 

Urban Fashion Lab uses cities as a backdrop. Our cities have always been the centers of fashion style.

By using open access course ware and collaboration and free open meeting spaces Urban Fashon Lab seeks to educate and develope clothing alternatives that are open, free, and made in America.

Occupy our homes! Take back our clothes!

Founded in December 2011, by Carol Meyer & Patricia Rogers  

Hat City Kitchen Happy Hour Event!

The organization I work for owns this amazing restaurant. Great food, drinks and company. Live music... great art on the walls. The best part, sexy and ridiculously cool bartenders.. This coming Thursday they are hosting a pretty awesome Happy Hour!

Dont forget to add the blog on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Life-Your-Art-Blog/242101825809611

'90's Primetime TV Fashion Series... Part One: Elaine Stritch

Elaine Stritch as DA, Lanie Stieglitz on Law & Order 

I love old shows. I have always gravitated more towards older shows for many reasons. There is something inspirational about them. One of those reasons being, the FASHION! It is always nice to see how trends and style come back into rotation. I will do future features on classic tv fashion, but I have been on a Law & Order kick. The early seasons that were on in 1997 & 1998. Great show, even back then. I love watching mysteries unfold.

Elaine & Jane Fonda

Watching these seasons I could not help but notice how fabulous the district attorney, Lanie Stieglitz. She is played by, Elaine Stritch. Her style is so classic and feminine. I like to think that when Chanel was envisioning women wearing her line, Lanie came to mind. Co Co Chanel had her faults but one thing she knew was how to style strong, confident and classic femininity.

I love how she accessorizes. She adds a nice personal touch to all of her looks. Elaine Stritch is also a Broadway star and she never misses the chance to show some character in her wardrobe. Whether its classic pearls, a funky hat, tie, cool frames or leopard print!

Stay tuned for the Golden Girls....

Best Mimosas Everr!

Tale Thai Cuisine  
www.talerestaurant.com
501 Columbus Ave
86st Street (A,B,C,1,2 Trains)

Skimps & I discovered a spot on the Upper West Side that serves the BEST Mimosas! I was never really a fan of Thai food but their Fried Calamari appetizer and flavored mimosas are to die for! I had the pomegranate flavor and I had to get another one!

I also loved the ambiance of the restaurant. It was dimly lit, and had cool decorations. This is definitely some place I would eat again and again.

COOL ACCESSORY: Tee's Snake Ring!

There is this ring guy that is always on the corner of Kingsbridge & Jerome Ave. in the Bronx. He has like three long tables of rings, all different shapes, sizes, colors. I swear I spend like 10 minutes looking for a ring.

The prices are: 3/$5, and 8/$10. He gets me every time! Here is one that I picked up... for the fabulous Tee..

Great Quality too! Dont you just love great deals! Have you caught any lately????

What Inspires You?? Beyonce's 'Year of 4'

I have always loved Beyonce, as well as Destiny's Child for many reasons. Their music, fashion and most importantly their message. Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle taught and showed me that it was ok to be a fabulous, confident and independent woman.

Now, Beyonce is one of the most fabulous and talented artist and performer ever! She went solo and really just shut the industry down. I really enjoyed every one of her solo albums, Dangerously in Love, B'day and I Am..Sasha Fierce. I was super excited when I heard she was releasing a new album titled, 4. Along with this album was a documentary about the year she took off from her career and how that, along with her marraige to rapper Jay-Z, inspired this album.

One of the messages that she has always wanted to send through her music was to empower women. The first single of the album, 'Run the World' does just that. I listened to her album and you can tell that each song comes from a much deeper place of inspiration than her other albums.

Watching that documentary bought tears to my eyes and really inspired me. Beyonce is such a humble, sweet and powerful woman. It made me believe in myself and come to realize that I have the power to do anything I want in this world. I liked that with all the fame and success Beyonce has received, she is still able to remain grounded, and appreciate the little things in life. She is still very close to her family and loves her husband and being married. She became emotional thinking about Destiny Child's humble beginnings as well. 

Beyonce has taught me that I can become anything I want. Also, to always keep pushing myself towards even bigger goals. Never settle for no. Keep your private life private and let your art speak for you. There is always room for improvement. Dream big! She is fabulous and is seen rarely wearing flats. Not only is she beautiful on the outside but she has a big heart.

These are some of the messages I also want Your Life, Your Art Blog to convey. Buy Beyonce's new album 4 at Target!

Capture the Moment.

Greenwich Village, NYC

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




Boredom at Work Breeds Creativity !

In the last two weeks of my hostess job...it has been super slow and boring! So me and a couple co- workers decided to draw a city. It was so much fun. We all added our own piece to it. I love it!

I did the three houses, the two cards and tree. Victor drew the sun and well. Ann drew the two pal riding on the bicycle..

Steven drew the "cock" and scary face. Ralph decided to add some NY flavor.

Capture The Moment.

72nd & Broadway

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




Best MARGARITA Everrrr

Eastside Billiards on the Upper East Side has the BEST MARGARITAS!

The bartender there makes them from fresh fruit and they are DELICIOUS!

INFO: Eastside Billiards
163 East 86th Street
(4,5,6 Trains to 86th Street)

Tricia's Style: Floral!

Romper from Charlotte Russe

Everyone that knows me, knows how much I love floral. It is so feminine, versatile and goes with everything. At least I make it go with everything. 

Variety !

Different Colors: I love that floral print can be a variety of colors, which gives you the chance to mix and match it with everything.

SiZeS: With floral print, the flowers can come small or BIG which gives the piece a totally different look.

Sheer dress from H&M

A great place to go to for floral prints are Forever 21, Charlotte Russe & vintage boutiques.

Skirt from Forever 21

I like to pair floral with cardigans & blazers to give the floral a classic look. 



Shirt from Macy's
Blazer from H&M



Capture the Moment.

View from Riverdale, NY

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




Do GREAT Things... featuring FASHION DESIGNER Sequin Slim !

Fashion Designer Sequin Slim is from West Palm Beach, Florida. 

♥biZaRre AzS fAsHioN♥

Sequin Slim's Creation

Her creativity and love for fashion derived from her mother, a seamstress.  In 2000, Sequin Slim's clothing line started out as a line of fancy and embellished hand-made and styled tank tops and t-shirts. 



Another creation



Today, Sequin Slim's designs include a line of heavily embellished bizarre couture 'KupKake' dresses and accessories.  Sequin Slim's greastest fashion inspirations are Betsey Johnson, 80's fashion, and Heatherette. 

Her ultimate goal is to have her designs shown on fashion show Run-Ways WORLDWIDE!

Capture the Moment

Corner of 42nd Ave & 6ave

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




TRICIA'S STYLE: MY $7 STEVE MADDEN SUNGLASSES !

Every summer I go through like 15 pairs of sunglasses. I am just not good with them. I either lose or break them. This summer however, I vowed that I was not going to invest too much into a pair because it could be such a waste.

Luckily, I found these Steve Madden shades at Marshall's for only $7. And shockingly I have been able to hold on to these one pair alllllll summmer!

What kind of glasses do you like? Aviators? Round shaped? I want to know!

Capture the Moment.

Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




New York Character: Yalitza Rodriguez !

Age: 20
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Interesting Fact: "I wake up sometimes in the middle of. The night and write ideas"

Memorable Quote..."Im eating pancakes and I think I just ate a fruit fly" -_-

HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?

Ugh I guess I'm not like most people who can go off on a tangent about themselves. I find talking about myself one the most challenging things because it all stems back to being defined. And being defined isn't my thing. I mean don't get me wrong defining things in your life isn't a bad thing, but I'm just infatuated by being uninhibited...

WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING AT JOHN JAY?

Cultural studies and deviant behavior. I feel like I'm just starting to live! I mean I am 20 years old, a junior in college, and I have this extreme thirst for knowledge. A lot of people have labeled me as rebellious, but in life if you don't question everything you will just be another person going with the grain. Thats just not my style. I do really love theater. I discovered this when I joined this City At Peace program with a group of innercity teens who all have my same drive they just needed the right influences and what better way is there when you learn to express yourself and tell someone's story through improvisation acting. I love working with teens and children they possess so much hope for our future. Ask any kid what they want to be when they grow up and they will voice it loud and proud, but sadly I find that if they aren't given the right tools and encouragement they tend to follow with whatever everyone else is doing. I think at some point in my life I want to be that tool for youth, give them confidence and most importantly believe in them. That being said I also want to travel, learn how other people live and experience their culture first hand. From the beginning I said I love to be uninhibited and I mean that in every sense I don't want to settle I want to constantly being moving, learning and dancing. Lol

WHAT ARE SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT YOU?

 I don't even know where to begin on some of the fun facts about myself.. I love to dance not in any conventional way although I do hope to take a few classes someday. Uhh being active is super important, its one of the only true things that keep me sane in my life.
Whether its through Bikram yoga or martial arts, which by the way are two things I am very passionate about. It helps me maintain balance and discipline in my life.

Capture the Moment.

Walking in Union Square

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....




Do GREAT Things...featuring rapper C-Ro Del Fresco

C-Ro Del-Fresco

Mr. Del Fresco....
Age: 18
Hometown: Cleavland, Ohio
Interesting Fact: I learned how to play piano by listening and watching people play

Listen to his MUSIC: C-RO'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
LIKE C-Ro on Facebook. 
& FOLLOW him on TWITTER


WHAT DOES MAKING MUSIC MEAN TO HIM?

"Making music is the world to me. It is my only real getaway. It helps me just remove myself from the stresses and problems of the world and takes me to a place where I KNOW I belong."

WHAT MAKES C-RO DEL- FRESCO'S MUSIC DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS OUT RIGHT NOW?

"I pride myself on my lyrical content. Most rappers out only rap about girls, money, cards and bullshit like that. Me, I rap about things people can relate to- like everyday problems, teenage drama, wanting to fit in , and things like that."

WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO CONVEY?

"My main goal is to let people younger than and even older who are trying to be successful with music or life that they can do it. I want to be an example to them that anything is possible. It may be hard, but they can do it."

WHERE C-RO WILL BE IN 5 YEARS?

"Still working hard to be one of the best emcees in hip-hop. I hope to be more known than I am now but even if I am not, I am still going to be doing everything I can to get to that point where I want to be, the top."

MEMORIES...

"In 5th grade we did this lunchtime competition. A couple days before I had shied away from it because I was scared. But I practiced the day before to get myself ready. Since I did not write my own raps then, I chose to do Lil Bow Wow's "Thank You". Next day, I got up there, nervous as heck, rapped the verse and when I was done the lunchroom went CRAZY! I felt like a star. I knew, from that point on, this was what I wanted to do. And I know now that this is the path God chose for me. This is my destiny."

Capture the Moment

14th Street B, C Trains Station

Being a New Yorker, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of it. It is good to slow down and really capture moments that make this city so full of life & character.

You never know what can serve as inspiration....