Toni Accentuates her Shoulders!

As you all remember, Celeb MUA Toni Acey wore my beaded shoulder pads on BET's My Black Is Beautiful (watch it here--> http://myblackisbeautiful.com/tv_show/#episode2 )! It was only right that she have a pair of her own, right?! OF COURSE!! So here they are!!! Sewn and beaded all by YOURS TRULY!!

Toni Accentuates her Shoulders!

CLIENT PICS!!!

SonnyBoy Langston is finally coming together slowly but surely! I am working everyday, being patient and taking steps to make sure everything is going great with the line. The business plan is almost done (like a couple more days). Then its off to phase 2: meetings with sponsors and investors. It's coming together guys!! One of my very good friends and aspiring singer, Ebony, wanted one of my hand-crafted pieces for herself! She LOVES my designs that I'm working on until everything gets ready for SBL to go into production and launch.
NOTE: I have come to the conclusion that there are various AWESOME eyewear designers currently in the industry. I want SBL to go into the direction of necklaces, bracelets, etc (I have lots of ideas), and not going in the direction of eyewear. (You know when you try something, then say...meh I can do it, but it isn't what I want to do for myself...yeah that's how I felt). Although, It was great making these just for fun and expanding what I can do in handcrafting accessories.
Anywho, Eb sent me a picture of her fabulous-ness with eyewear that I designed and constructed! Doesn't she look fab?!

My Black is Beautiful Feature!!!

Hey Beautiful People!!!

SonnyBoy Langston was featured on BET's My Black Is Beautiful on Episode 2 Sunday November 14th!!! Celebrity makeup artist Toni Acey is a great friend of mine and decided to do me the honor of wearing SBL beaded shoulder pads on one of her looks!! I was so excited when I heard the news!! Didn't catch the episode when it aired? No problem! Check it out online here... http://myblackisbeautiful.com/tv_show/#episode2 and check out past episodes online at http://myblackisbeautiful.com or future episodes on Sundays on BET @ 12:30pm EST or Sundays on CENTRIC @ 8:30am EST

My Black is Beautiful Feature!!! Part 2

Dedicated to Connie...

Revisiting where it all Began...

PAINT PAINT PAINT! Ive been working on a little project and bringing back my first love... painting. Painting has always been a passion of mine. In fact it was my first passion before I discovered my love for fashion. When I was asked to design a breast cancer logo for a tee, I never thought I would be asked to paint again. I’ll have to admit, I miss painting everyday. This task has really brought me back to where all my creativity started. A designer’s client wanted the painting to hang in her home and dedicated to her mother Connie. So this is the work in progress:-) *

*Thanks to Swizz Beats and following him on twitter, his love for art helped me get back to what I love to do! Follow him @THEREALSWIZZZ

PS after this...back to the SBL business plan!! woohooo!!

Now Watch me Paint!!!

BREAST CANCER PROGRESS

Featured on AKPON wall!!

ARTPIECE by Kaiyoon!!
He's done it again! Friggin SICK! Graffiti wall at its best!! This wall makes me look so super dope and cool! And that I am lol...

Actual comp size... http://www.sokaiokyoon.com/akronwallpeep2x4.jpg

Freakin Awesome!!

Photos/ News/ Announcements coming soon...

Still keeping my love of styling in the works... Just helped my fellow designer friend Loren James with her first official Bridesmaid Collection 'Mamie&James'!! Can't wait for her to show you guys her skills LOL!

SonnyBoy Langston jewelry is still in the works. Business Plan & Shoots have been in the wraps. As soon as I get some photos from the shoots, i will share with you guys!! I promise!

LaVie Couture is a new, upcoming and amazing clothing and accessories brand I have the pleasure of sketching for. Designer Vanessa Masters is expected to release the collection very soon!! Samples from Italy, shoots and the release date coming soon!!

BIG personal project announcement coming VERY soon!! :)

*Message to the world: My journey is just beginning. I have so much creativity that is bursting to get out! God-willing... everything will work out in the appropriate time and catch you all by storm... GET READY...

Vintage.Inspiration.Love.

OWWWW!! Get it ladies!!! lol... loves the free and sexually in this vintage photo. These ladies were all about expressing themselves. Being free to be themselves. Loving who they were.

Kimmi J Updates!!!!

Hey guys!

Giving you a heads up...
a. the business plan for SBL is in the works!!! Woohoo!!!!! So excited about that... I have so many ideas jumbled in my brain that I just want to make as much jewelry as my hands would allow!!
2. I have been the sketch artist for LaVie couture! The sketches and samples are coming along great...
c. designed a sketch for a breast cancer tee... cute right?!----> just a little sneak peak :-)
IV. my secret special project is in gear...Im excited!! As soon as everything goes as planned...trust me, you guys will know... but for now shhhhhh!!

Vogue.1940s

Old Glamour...Classic

Fashion Week with BJ!!!!!!

Sooooooo, YES I went back to New York City to help and be a dresser for the Betsey Johnson for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week!!! The theme of the show was 'Le Tour de Betsey' based off of the bicycle tour of Paris. The show was filled with The Show was AMAZING!!! Ciara, Omarion, Carmen Electra, Kristin Cavallari, Angela Simmons, Denise Richards, 2010 Miss America Rima Fakih, Kelly Osbourne, and Gwen Stefani came after to show her love to Bets (I was star struck for 35.85seconds lol), among many others attended the festivities. I spoke with Betsey right before I left to come back to Atlanta and we expressed ow great the show went! She then gave me a copy of the show and our lovely picture together. Check out more pics and highlights of the show on style.com!! (BTW above is my model I dressed :-)

Artist Inspiration!!! EUGENIO RECUENCO

Eugenio Recuenco

Art has always been my background (painting since I was in the 5th grade)...its where my creativity began!! So I always have to go back to where I started to keep my artistry juices flowing. Besides being awesomely and insanely talented, this guy is awesomely and insanely talented beyond words. I was literally speechless while looking at his artwork. Growing up looking to artists, I can appreciate great outstanding work when I see it. So if you dont have an artist's eye... I suggest you proceed with caution.

CHECK IT OUT!!! http://eugeniorecuenco.com
*found the artist through http://asiancajuns.blogspot.com*

PHOTOSHOOT!!

Along with taking pics for the SWAPnista Styling Fashion Show in September, I wanted some new pics for myself!! Done in my very own apartment (use what u have haha!!)... *Im wearing my SBL shouler pads...*
PHOTOG: Kaiyoon
Celeb MUA: Toni Acey
STYLING: Kimmi.J

HAUTE HOUNDSTOOTH...

So Im browsing for my daily dose of Vintage inspirations.... I come across this awesome pic of 1950s inspired houndstooth fashion. I love pics, blogs, websites that catch my eye and this website www.mismatcherie.com is my dose of vintage. Very cute! Check it out... "The photo above titled “Race Track Fashions” by Nina Leen is from a 1958 issue of LIFE Magazine." -Mismatcherie

Vintage.Inspiration.Love.

SBLUpdates, Shows & Boutique Windows!!

Hey guys and dolls!!
A lot has been going on...work work and more work!! But no complaints here!! So here it goes...
*SBL (SonnyBoy Langston for you new comers :-) is still in the works! I have been getting my business plan together to present to some investors. Pops and I think that SBL can really grow how I want it to if I had some awesome people that believe in me to back me up. Which I am alllllll for!!! So the business plan is in the works as we speak! I have my great friend and graphic designer Kaye McCoy helping with my new and improved business cards, packaging, and all things graphic (check out her blog http://cookayecrumbles.tumblr.com)! On the business side, I have my other homie Evette Holyfield helping me with creativity, the business details, and all the nooks and crannies I may look over. As soon as I finish this business plan and get everything in order, I can get my creative team together and design NON-STOP!!! I cant wait!!
*All this work is done because of work lol...That makes no sense but I have also been busy working! It is important to me to keep my retail juices flowing only because I get a chance to style and help consult people who have NO idea how to dress themselves. That's where I come in. I also get a chance to style and merchandise the windows and appearance of the store. Its not just playing with clothes, its giving the store a visual appeal that helps customers visualize and get ideas on how to put their own outfits together... Enjoy Lovekins!! Talk to ya soon!!

New Editions to my SBL Family!!

Slowly but surely I am adding to the SonnyBoy Langston family!! These next editions are the Silver/Gold Shades and detachable shoulder pads (shown on blazer). Lots of people want to spice up their wardrobe, so I made another pair of the detachable shoulder pads to spice up a hot, simple blazer I got at MARSHALL'S...Yes Marshall's!! I decided this would be a perfect outfit to wear to my homie KodakBoi's 2nd Anniversary of KIDDUNOT.COM :-)

iREP SBL...

SBL @ KodakBoi's 2nd Anniv Party!!

I decided to rep SonnyBoy Langston @ KodakBoi's 2nd Anniversary Party at Cloud IX July 9th!! Check out me and my homie KodakBoi (KidduNot.com)... me and 1/2 of eyewear designers Cocoa&Breezy (www.cocoandbreezy.com)!! So much fun mingling with the fashion peeps!!

**Sonnyboy Langston** is born.....

And so it begins...
I want to share my journey with you guys from ground up :-)

My accessories collection: "Sonnyboy Langston", has been born... Upon getting a possible opportunity for a photoshoot very soon, I decided this would be the perfect time to show what I can do and build my brand. First let me begin with the name... My dad's nickname is Sonny. I wanted to dedicate this to him. Both my parents are very supportive in whatever I do, but my pops is my pops :-). James Langston is my eldest cousin on my dad's side that intrigues me to the utmost degree. I wanted this to be a dedication to both of them because when they get together, the stories of how they grew up are priceless. I can listen to them AAAALLLL day. How they grew up in the country, Arkansas, and picked cotton, had farms, and grew up to be 2 of my favorite guys in my life. I want my collection to tell a story... Vintage pieces with a modern accent... Eyewear, Brooches, Necklaces, Hair Accessories, Shoulder Accents and Bracelets are hand-crafted and beaded by me :-)
**pictured here is the SBLZipper-Pull Necklace**

SBL necklaces...

Long Chain-on-Chain necklace with vintage-styled beads... All details are Hand-crafted and beaded

Accentuate the Shoulders...

Many people are doing the beaded shoulders on garments, so I hand-beaded shoulder accessories... this will be the first in a series I will be creating....

Throwing 'Shades'..... SBLeyewear

Featured Sketches!!

Hey guys!!
Check out www.purpleflowerjewels.com for jewelry and leather collections by celeb MUA Toni Acey and model Taimia Miller! My sketches of the accessories are featured throughout the website!! xox

On My Own...

SOOOOOO GUYS....
Yes it has been a while! So to update you on some things.... I have been talking about my jewelry for a while and now I am finally getting a push. Creating a few pieces and starting small is my goal and working my way up. Not unveiling the name yet, but it will be awesome...trust me!!! So I do have a couple of projects going forward that I am excited about. I will update you on my other projects as well as my jewelry as things go... so stay tuned... :-) BTW <=== I made a charm bracelet for my mommy to get in the groove of things... Fashion+Victorian inspired!!

Now since I have been back from NYC... I can say it was a learning experience. Love Love Love the people that contributed to my daily inspiration of life though. Betsey Johnson is THEE coolest designer I have met as of yet! Hands down! All in all it gave me a little nudge to love fashion and do ME even more! ....and travel... and paint more of course...

Updates to come my loves xox...

ONE MONTH 2 GO!!!

Hey guys...
Man its been a while since i wrote on my blog!!! :-( I'm slacking I know... But the good news is I have survived NYC!! Well so far... I have learned so much (not in design but within myself) in who I want to be and where I want to work towards when I finish here. I have officially stepped out of my comfort zone! I dont think this internship was to help me learn design and to enhance my design skills (because I havent gotten a chance to show them) but I think my purpose here was to clarify why I shouldnt be intimidated. Not to toot my own horn or say that Im better than someone, but I have seen behind the scenes and I am most certain that I can do a great job if not a little better than some people in the industry... if not, then I am open to learn.

Everyone has their side hustle in NYC...whether they work at a museum, but paint on the side, or work at a Souvenir shop but DJ at night. Their determination and willingness to do what it takes to make it surprises me in a good way. I was in Central Park the other day and I was walking through 'the mall' and there was a girl sitting on the bench with her guitar singing. And her voice gave me chills which rarely happens. Sometimes I wish I was in that position to make her dreams come true as an artist or knew someone legit who could take her that next step in her career. I think that's what separates me from some people in the industry...its simple... I want to help others. Everyone is out for themselves these days. No one is willing to be that person that believes in you to give you a chance to 'per say' work with a designer or give you that chance to show your skills or help you be something you've always dreamed because they are afraid you'll succeed more than they will. I have experienced it first hand and let me tell you, it isn't a good feeling being overlooked. Even when you speak up and take that chance not caring what the other people think or perceive you as, you take that chance and speak up for yourself... It seems like the people that have that ability to be my mentor or help me take that next step don't want to risk their job. Which I don't understand because that would mean you aren't secure in your craft/ skills...

Ive always been the type to want to help others or be that person that helps to make someone's dreams come true because from being in NYC and I've learned first hand what its like to be overlooked and underestimated. You never know what someone can do unless you give them a chance. You never know why this person came into your life or what lengths they can help you succeed in, without giving them a try. Only with God's help am I going to survive this and prosper. Even if I don't gain a job from this experience, I've met some of the best and worst people in my life and have learned and added the experience to my Life's resume. And with that being said... 4 more weeks to go and counting...

ONE MONTH COMPLETE!!

Wow guys... It has been a minute since Ive been back... Well i hope you totally understand... the internship has been an interesting and learning experience for me since I started. Meeting great new people and visiting all over New York and Jersey... March 16th will be officially 2 months of living in NYC and 25th will be 2 months of my internship. Can't say that it has all been a learning experience as far as my design abilities go :-/, but as far as how things are behind the scenes, dealing with the different personalities of people in the industry and the amount of work that goes into a collection has helped me grow thicker skin. I think that was my purpose for coming here...is to truely find out my plans for the future and what I hope to accomplish once this internship is complete. I have somewhat of an idea, but hey this is only month #1 and I have til May... who knows what opportunities could come up by then... Only time will tell and I'm keeping faith and an open mind... XOXO Kimmi

My First week on the BJship (Betsey Johnson Internship)

Hey Guys!!!! It has been a little minute...but believe me it has been crazy! Well I'm in New Yooooorrrrkkk!!! Very exciting... who would've 'thunk' a girl from Memphis, Tennessee would end up in NYC trying to make her dreams come true?! Well...that be me!! I came here early to get a feel for the area and find housing while I was here. From staying in 2 hotels, I got a chance to get out on my own and ride the TRAIN! I was so excited when I did that on my own!! lol... My first week was AWESOME! And might I add...AWESOME! Let me tell you that I was soooooo nervous coming in on the first day... I had the whole vision of 'The Devil Wears Prada' stuck in my head. But it is nothing like that...at least where I am its not :-) The staff is very inviting, they are open to answering your questions if you have any.... Ms Betsey is in the office alot, with us...she is an awesome person and very easy to talk to (even tho I was star-struck when I first saw her). But believe me, it is NOT easy.... Running around NYC is tough sometimes (and painful), but I did get to go and visit places I would NEVER get a chance to go if I were on my own... to name a few, Ive gone fabric shopping at so many places, but one particular place was Mood Fabrics! I went from Canal Street to Vintage Boutiques to the awesome photo-shoot studio PIER 59 (which they mention in Devil Wears Prada) to get clothes for a WELL KNOWN/TALENTED/GREAT singer/performer's photo-shoot, I've been able to go to the SoHo Grand, which is a gorgeous Hotel, Women's Wear Daily, various manufacturing companies, and most recently, I went to the Empire State Building! And this was all just my first week!! I know that there is much more work and errand running to get done, but even though my I cant feel my feet sometimes and my legs feel like noodles lol, I know that I am doing this to make not only for my family and friends proud, but also myself. (I just gotta remember Dr.Scholl's, IcyHot and Epsom Salt are my three best friends...) There aren't a lot of people who are able to do an unpaid internship, with no time to have a part-time job. But my family has my back and they believe in me... (and they know when I get rich and famous...I have their backs lol!!!)

But my journey is nowhere near being over! I still have to meet Shia LaBeouf lol!!! I will try my best to keep you guys updated every week on my progress, my up and downs, and struggles...

Week 1 COMPLETE!! xoxo Kimmi
ps shout-out to the interns Whitney, Joti, English, Amy, Caitlin, Lana, Julie, and Vicki

Dress for ______________...hehehe

Just wanted to show this with you guys... I was asked by Kontrol Mag to design a Grecian-style gown for __________ for an event in Atlanta. I was honored that they asked me...(they are awesome over at the Mag btw shout-out to Julian!!) Anywho... made the dress, but the artist felt it was a little too dressy for the event (sometimes it works out...sometimes it doesnt *shrug). But I was very proud of myself for the construction and handed- beaded detail so I wanted to show you guys what I did!