In His Closet – Naeem Reid

By Fatima Payne

Name: Naeem Reid, Jr. Age: 15

Hood:    Park Slope, Brooklyn, N.Y.
School:  Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School Music & Art and    Performing Art
Major:   Art

SIL:  How would you define your personal style?
Naeem: Classic, clean and versatile!  I enjoy sporty clothing as well as urban wear.  Comfort is extremely important to me as well.

SIL:  If we were to take a trip in your closet, what would we find?
Naeem: A nice selection of options such as: cargo pants and  slim boot cut denim jeans.  Various tees such as, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Ed Hardy, H&M,  Ralph Lauren, Old Navy and of course the simple white tee.

Plenty of zip up hoodies, plaid button up shirts, Ralph Lauren short and long-sleeved shirts, linen shirts, dress pants, basketball Jerseys, basketball shorts, various Nike Basketball sneakers, track sneakers, boots, dress shoes, and Nike flip flops.

SIL:    What inspires your style?
Naeem: My upbringing and my hometown.  Music & entertainment, or sometimes the mood I am in for that particular day.

SIL:  Who are your favorite designers?
Naeem: I have many, but, Ralph Lauren  and Nike are two of my favorite designers.

SIL:    What are your favorite stores?
Naeem: Lord & Taylor, Swagga 360, Something on 5th, Jean Stop, Century 21, NBA store, H&M, American Eagle, Old Navy.

SIL:   Favorite Accessories?
Naeem: Watches, single earring, wrist bands

SIL:  What are your fashion “must haves”?
Naeem: A presence!  A fitted cap, a pair of stylish frames, a fresh cut, and sweaters and hoodies

SIL:   Personal style quote:
Naeem: Fashion is form of art and self expression, so on that note -
Let Me, Be Me!

Summer Fashion Cool & Affordable for Real Girls with Curves

Stylist: Kimberly Johnson

Fashion Director: Sonya Magett

BALLIN’ WITH BASKETBALL AT THE NIKE HOUSE OF HOOPS PRESENTED BY FOOTLOCKER

Article By: Octavia Obermuller

Are you a basketball lover and admirer, or look up to your favorite player? Or, are you just an ordinary person who watches basketball? Have you ever went to a sneaker store and couldn’t find anything you liked, and when you went to another sneaker store they had the same exact thing? Well, you won’t have this problem anymore at the NIKE HOUSE OF HOOPS, presented by FOOTLOCKER. This sneaker store is devoted to basketball and its fans. House of Hoops is located at 268 W.125th street in Harlem, right across from the famous Apollo Theater.

HOUSE OF HOOPS is filled with excitement and inspiration. It has a full force of history that’s never been told, which amazes you in every aspect. When entering the HOUSE OF HOOPS, the first thing that sparks in your eyes is the player wall. The player wall is dedicated to the 6 most valuable players; Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, and Amare Stoudemire. What shocks you the most is a glass wall filled with signed sneakers from some of the leagues most valuable players. It’s not just an ordinary sneaker they signed, its their own sneaker that they have worn on the court.
HOUSE OF HOOPS has a variety of exclusive apparel from top players and special teams. It includes exclusive footwear and matching apparel from Jordan, LeBron, DWade, and Carmelo.  Each section is dedicated to these players and special teams. In addition to the locker room set up, there are numerous trophies and awards symbolizing each player’s achievements. There is also a Hoops essential made by Nike. Its apparel that basketball players wear to warm up and practice in, it has a wide selection in sizes and color. Now you can also warm up in the same as your favorite player or team color gear rain or shine.  Even better is the fact that local New York City high school basketball teams can order their sneakers adorned with their school’s team colors.  Now, how’s that for originality?

If you want to relax from shopping, take a wonderful break in the “VIP Section”, where you can sit back and have fun! Take time to watch basketball history and tips on the game on a flat screen, or take part in a Bball game on the Play Station 3. If you are the active person, you can run up front to the half court and shoot some hoops! Feel like being a little creative, check out the “T-Shirt Bar” where you can design a t-shirt of your choice with prices ranging from $20-$25 bucks.  Not a bad deal, considering that it only about takes five minutes.  Before leaving the HOUSE OF HOOPS , stop and take a good look at the breathtaking, Patrick Ewing mosaic. This fabulous piece of artwork honors one of the leagues greatest players.

I personally think HOUSE OF HOOPS is an amazing, inspiring, and unique establishment.  It’s not just your ordinary sneaker shop, but a store with plenty of enjoyment centered around the theme of basketball. The staff is great and is willing to show you around. I encourage all basketball lovers to visit this place. You’ll have the time of your life and will not want to leave!

In HER Closet: Laura and Kathryn

By Fatima Payne

Name: Kathryn Louis Age: 19

Hood: Northwest side of Houston Texas
School: Dillard University
Major: Psychology with a minor in Journalism

Personal Style: Laid back but when I step out I STEP OUT.
Deciding What to Wear: Whatever my head is when I wake up in the morning that’s most likely how I will dress.
Favorite Accessories: Jewlery
Winter Must- Haves: Scarfs and Cute Sweaters

Favorite designers: Don’t really have one whatever I find is cool!!
Favorite Stores: Forever 21, BeBe. Nine West
If we were to take a trip in your closet what type of things would we find? Any and everything.
Personal Quote: Just do you!

Name: Laura Lawrence  Age: 19

Hood: Houston, Texas
School: Dillard University
Major: Nursing

Personal Style: All around
Deciding What to Wear: How I feel when Iwake up.
Favorite Accessories: I love them all.
Winter Must- Haves: Hats…i love hats.
Who Inspires your Style? People in the everyday life…watching TV and just seeing new styles everyday.
Favorite designers: N/A…I like them all.
Favorite Stores: White House Black Market, Limited, Nine West

If we were to take a trip in your closet what type of things would we find? All types of things…my style depends on how i feel when i wake up.
Personal Quote: “I just like to be me.”

In HIS Closet: George

By Fatima Payne

Name: George Young, Jr. Age: 23

School: Dillard University
Major: Business Management

Personal Style: Fashionably eclectic.
Deciding What to Wear: Depending on how I feel, I choose the color, I then coordinate my outfit.
Favorite Accessories: I like watches and Neckties!!!
Winter Must- Haves: Leather and Tweed Fedoras
Who Inspires your Style: ME, sometimes things I see on TV I recreate. (Kanye West, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Rogers(lol))
Favorite designers: Coach, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Gorgio Brutini, Burberry, Express, Aldo
Favorite Stores: Express, American Eagle, Banana Republic, GAP, Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, THE THRIFT STORE
If we were to take a trip in your closet what type of things would we find? White Shoes, HATS (Fedoras), Button downs and hundreds of ties, t-shirts
Personal Quote: You feel as good as you look!! Style is about being creative and what makes you happy! I decide if I’m stylish or not. Nobody else can decide that.

In HER Closet: Appollonia Spivey

By Malon Lawson

Name: Appollonia Spivey  Age: 18

Hood: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
School: Medgar Evers College

Personal Style: I don’t like to match straight to the T.  I like real girly things like shoes, belts, jewelry and handbags.  I like to mix things up.

Deciding What to Wear: It depends on where I’m going.  If I’m going to school it’s casual, to church it’s dressy and I have the party outfits.

Favorite Accessories: My Michele watch, Louis Vuitton Bag,  Juicy Couture sweat suits, and mink coat.

Winter Must-Haves: Leather gloves, cashmere hat and scarf set, fur coats, cowboy boots.

Who inspires your style? I love the way Angela and Vanessa Simmons dress.  Also, Ashante, Kanye West, Linsday Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.

Favorite designers? Juicy Couture, Gucci, Dior, Luis Vuitton, Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, True Religion, Antik Denim.

Favorite Stores. Bloomingdales, Saks, Barneys, Michael K, H&M

If we were to take a trip in your closet, what type of things would we find? Citizens, 7 Jeans, True Religions, Joes, Rock and Republic, Habituals, Juicy. I love Graphic Tees like Armani exchange.  I also have a fetish for denim.  I love denim so much that I have 54 pairs.  I recently
donated 15 pairs of denim jeans to Katrina
victims.

Quote: “Anything you want you have to work very hard for.  Also, a woman should look her best at all times because first impressions last forever.”

In HIS Closet: Jonathan Prophete

Name: Jonathan Alexander Prophete Age: 16

Hood: Southside, Freeport, New York
School: Freeport High School, 11th grade
Major: Art
Personal Style: “Unique, that is how I
define my style. It is a mixture of prep,
coexisting with skateboard. I love to switch
the style of my clothes from fitted to loose,
and from punk to hip hop; all along, keeping
in line with my collection of vintage
sneakers.”
Deciding What to Wear: “I love to be comfortable,
but yet still flashy. My decision is
based my mood and where I am going for
the day.”
If we were to take a trip into your closet,
what would we find? “If you were able to
fit in my closet, you would find a variety of
sweaters from Polo to Coogi, a stack of
jeans, not limited to but including iceberg
and Gap, and laid back skateboard shirts.”
Who inspires your style? “My style is
inspired by Kanye West, Pharrell, Nico,
Camron, Common, Fabolous, and my sister
who used to choose my clothes for me
when I was younger.”
Favorite designers? “The Neptunes. I
enjoy their clothes because they have the
best selection of styles ranging from punk
to hip hop. They combine a hip hop feel to
traditional style to skateboard apparel for
a new generation”
Favorite stores? “H&M, Urban Outfitters,
Alife, Supreme, Dave’s Quality Meat, GAP,
and A Bathing Ape.”
QUOTE: “If someone has it on, I can’t wear
it. I need to bring something new to the
table that will break necks and have people
asking, “Where did you get those
from?”

In Her Closet: Gabriel

Interview and Styling by Kaydee Williams

Name: Gabriel Cruzado Age: 14

Hood: Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY
School: LaGuardia H.S
Major: Fine Arts and Design
Personal Style. My personal style is very
unique. I like to be noticed as the girl who
has her own way of dressing. I really like
starting new trends.

Deciding What to Wear. I just go with how
I feel for the day. If I feel like its hot outside, I like to wear light colors like pink, light blue,
or yellow. If it’s a day that I don’t feel good, I wear sweat suits, but stylish sweat suits.

My Accessories. Bangles, my name earrings, and belts with nice, big buckles. I also like hats;my Kangol hats.

Summer must-haves. I like low-top sneakers, and the sequence shoes.
Who inspires your style? My mom! My mom, because she’s very stylish and she knows
how to put things together. I also like the way Ciara dresses because I like the
sweaters and shirts that she wears, as well as the low-rider jeans.

Favorite designers? My ultimate favorite is
Guess because I like the way they make
their jeans and I like the way the jeans look
on me. I also like how the shirts hang off
your shoulders.
Favorite Stores. Old Navy and the Gap;
Ladies Dr. Jays in down town Brooklyn,
Century 21. Transit Active, Sloppy Joe and
Dirty Jane, and Yellow Rat Bastard.
If we were to take a trip in your closet,
what type of things would we find? You’ll
find a lot of pink clothes, shoes, as well as
shirts. Many hand pocketbooks, a lot of
bright colored shirts. Lots of hip-hugger
jeans, lots of sneakers, mostly Jordans and
unique shoes.

In her words:

“To me, image is very important. The way you dress says a lot about yourself. Your image is everything!”

In His Closet: Malon

Interview and Styling by Kaydee Williams

Name: Malon Lawson Age: 16

Hood: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY
School: BASE High School, 10th Grade
Major: Science & Environment

Personal Style. Hip-hop meets rock. I like
urban wear but then I like to mix it up with
stuff that you wouldn’t normally see other
people with.

Deciding What to Wear. It depends on the
weather. In the winter I wear darker colors.
Spring is my favorite season because I can
wear the brighter vivid colors.

My Accessories. I like different types of
hats, mostly, Gatsby’s (paperboy hats) and
buckets. Also, western belt buckles.
Summer Must-Haves. For the summer I
must have boat shoes, cargo shorts, blazers,
graphic tees and sunglasses. Also, nice
bucket hats.

in his closet…

Who inspires your style? Kanye West,
Farrell, Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Jay-Z and
Good Charlotte.
Favorite designers? Chip & Pepper
because they have a variety of fits and
styles for every body type. I also like
Aem´Kei because they are different but
yet still urban. It’s like hip-hop and rock
already, you don’t have to change it up or
add anything to it.

Favorite stores? Michael K., Atrium, H&M
and The Coop in Barney’s.

In his words:
“I’m not afraid to take chances and risks
with what I wear. Where I’m from in
Brooklyn most people my age have the
same style of dress, I like to stand out.”
Credits: Malon’s hair by Primrose @ Xclusive Hair Salon/barbershop, Brooklyn, NY 718.930.4033