The General Principle

Well, now that the question has been posed, I'd assume most of us would respond with a boastful YES. Either answer affords us a great debate, but no matter what our response may be, I'm sure this stylist could teach us a thing or two as it relates to what "style" truly is.

Keyunna Phillips, most likely known as 'Key' has certainly dibbled and dabbled with the best of them. Her keen sense of mixing and matching and risk taking with threads have afforded her the opportunity to style Houston's fashion forward extraordinaries such as Model Dariel, Tracy of TAYLOR MAYDE Designs and Nikki of Jewelry Box Accessories, makeup artist Camille, rapper Maxx Paine and hosts more!


I shot Key an e-mail earlier today and asked her to tell me what fashion means to her, along with the classic 'Brown Sugar' question...when did she first fall in love with 'fashion'? When I received her response, I knew there was no way I'd be editing any of it...ENJOY~

KEY(via e-mail): Quick rundown (please excuse any misplaced/misspelled words lol):I Fell in love with fashion as soon as I realized what it was...in the 1st grade and couldn't wait to see what my teacher would have on EVERYday lol. Once the internet craze started I remember searching online for anything fashion related! After linking up and networking with fashion heads online via various social networks...(it started around 2003) I realized women outside of Houston took a liking to my style...I was shocked at first...chics in LA, UK, and NY emailing me for style advice. It dawned on me that this has to be my calling and I decided I had to do something fashion related on the side...then a tragic event took place in 2004 and I didn't want to mix and mingle with anybody, fashion was still my love but as far as me putting some foot work into...those dreams were shot. It wasn't until the Summer of 2008 that something came over me and told me I need to put the past behind me and set out and do whatever it was I WANTED AND KNEW I COULD DO...that was god folks! Heard Kanye say "turn tragedy into triumph" and I set out to do just that on the Houston style scene and beyond if need be. So in Fall 2008 I made SIDE OF STYLE (Wardrobe Stylist/Personal Shopping) official! My focus is to help people more than anything, that's what I pray for every night...the strength to be of help to someone. Clothes, shoes, and accessories can make a tramp feel like a champ even if it's just for a couple of hours lol. And if I can assist ANYBODY on their style journey that's what I'm willing to do...celebs and socialites make a portfolio look "GREAT" even if it's only "good"...I think that's why so many up and coming people make celebs and socialites their focus. That's all fine and well but I try to reach out to the unknowns just as much. After my 8 to 5 it's on to SIDE OF STYLE...I stay up past midnight on most nights studying the art, brainstorming, and inhaling fashion/style. Not sure where SIDE OF STYLE may take me but as long as I'm here I'm more than willing to see!

Below are a few of Key's clients:

So it's Friday night, or Sunday morning for that matter, and you don't particularly desire to look like the rest of em'. Your whole approach is unlike theirs, so why should your attire resemble anything less than what's deemed funky, witty, and untouched! What if I told you I knew just the brand for you? Well I do...C.R.O.S.S. which stands most certainly for 'Creative Resurrection of Symbolic Style'. The brand is definitely a creative approach to the symbolism in which style should consistently convey.

Take a look at the classic C.R.O.S.S. button up; calm in pattern,treated classically by the brands bold acronym from shoulder to shoulder. Clothing designer, Jeremy Phillips has been a major contributor to the fashion/high fashion circuit for nearly 10 years, and most who know him typically refer to him as the stylish one in the crowd, always representing his brand and jammin' to tha music.

You can catch his latest private collection(s) at various fashion shows around tha city. Phillips multicultural collection was most recently featured in the "Summer Rendezvous Fashion Show" which showcased an array of approaches to style. Although all of them were noted as having an edge, C.R.O.S.S. managed to catch additional nods from the right people further solidifying his image in the eyes of a much larger audience. Be on the lookout for this non conforming, righteously positive brand of Men's apparel.

You may also contact Phillips for style consultation, no matter the occasion.

Do become an advocate for this classic inspired brand by visiting www.crossbyjphil.com and following Phillips on Twitter @Crossbyjphil

As a growing child, my mother and father were consistently there for me. Now, I don't mean because they bought me anything or took me places, but just because, in hindsight I can recognize easily that just their presence as a team, and that obvious balance of power in raising 3 boys made all the difference.

I have my own pick of things that I would've arranged differently as it relates to my own childhood and my mom and dad's parenting skills, but don't we all? We are conditioned as students of our parent(s) and their 'rearing ways' to find even the minimalist of things to focus on and pick apart, but then again, that's not really a bad thing is it? Our goal is to strive onward and upward.

At best, my parents were there with me and for me; the way they showed it sometimes, is questionable (to me), but it's clearer to me now that I'm a parent, that my parents love me without thought.

I see that having 2 parents in the home is a rarity now, and I know for certain awesome children come from single parent homes, where the woman is typically the present one. It still doesn't take away from the fact that our children need a man in the house as a statue of what a man should be for his family. It trickles down to their experiences in the real world, and even in the classroom, where they meet me...

I observed my Open House sign in sheet when I got to class today, and I noticed how, out of about 40 kids, only 2 of them had both parents present on last night. Feel free to guess whether the single parents were men or a women.

I just feel so blessed to be a father(.) Does that mean that I don't worry sometimes whether I'm doing good enough, giving her the very best, or whether she interacts with me enough etc? The point is, as a father, I am fully committed and most of my black and white counterparts are not up to this same challenge. It's disheartening, and I'm embarrassed to be quite honest. Do you realize how much of an honor it is to be blessed with the opportunity to be parent/Father? The experience is a continuum of pride!

Single women, eventually it seems, or could it be a constant, that some single parents get tired. I have many many parents that I never see or hear from...To me that's unfathomable, since I'm there child's teacher. Since I see how the effects, this lack of attention, hinders the child's self esteem,
perception of life, and a host of other factors, it's not even logical that I could be unbiased.

The viscous cycle is literally unfolding in front of my eyes, and I live many days feeling winded from the emotional roller coaster I've been on all day. Children no longer say good morning, boys aren't wearing belts, no haircuts, no deodorant, Children cannot spell, or pronounce sight words. It gets to be draining, but I ask God for the strength. I know I cannot be their fathers, but I can do my best to model what a father should be, because many of my kids hardly know theirs.

I can't say that I can identify with their experiences, because my father was ALWAYS there, but being in the trenches with these children, you began to know so much about their lives; they want to tell you about their days, or their weekends, and their dying to talk to someone. I'm really into listening, because I know it's a comforting feeling for them to have someone to just talk to. I've been reading this book Entitled "Teach Like your Hair's on Fire" by Rafe Esquith, where he talks about replacing fear with trust. He spoke about not caring how many random questions his students asked him, he'd always answer them, even if he was tired. Some of his children compared him to an older teacher they'd had, citing, "Last year, I tried to ask my teacher a question. She became angry and said "We've been over this!"...Rafe will go over something five hundred times until I understand." It's something such as this which can make a drastic difference when molding self sufficient individuals who will soon run our Universes and Universities. We shouldn't depend on our teachers solely for this; this mentality must also take place in the home. Replace fear with trust at home~

My students who are the most disruptive were not present at Open House, and those were the parents I needed so desperately to meet. A note to the fellas, YOU HAVE to step up to the plate and handle your business, no matter what it takes. These are little lives that are literally at stake if they don't get the right parental fellowship which they deserve.

Don't wait for child support to make you be a support, DO IT; not grudgingly or of necessity, but because it's what you're supposed to do. Life is hard enough, children need both parents! Fellas, it's our faults most of the time which put women in these circumstances. Be a man, and handle your business; take care of your family; be a driving force in your child's life. It shouldn't even be negotiable!


I'm done,

Rheeghordliss

Many of you may not even know this, because I'm generally right on the money with resounding music! I will usually be playing some of the best music you've ever heard.

Music is immensely instrumental in everything I do, and I take it to heart when anyone especially children haven't been exposed to the sounds of good music. Anyone from Enya to Little Brother, and beyond, our ears need to travel to places in which our minds can willingly diagnose. Music is the epitome of everything!!!

With ALLLLLLL that said, I bid you Maxx Paine; the social scientist with logical lyricism, and what makes him even more of a commodity is that he actually doesn't favor to listen to rap; He's into it, don't get me wrong, but he's all about the neo-soul/r&b. You can hear it in his production. Don't never say that rap and r&b can't cohabitate! *YOU HEAR IT HERE FIRST*

I first came across Maxx through a mutual friend, who was even featured in his "Listen to the Rain video" http://www.indeetv.blogspot.com/

I listened and viewed the video via our mutual friends Face book page, and was instantly sold! I felt almost as if everyone in the world had heard of this artist, and for some indescribable reason I was presumed the last to know...could it be?

The reason I felt this way is because he appeared to be that of a seasoned artist. He didn't present himself like a newborn in tha game, and that says a lot about anyone in my opinion.

I reached out to Maxx via Facebook and told him I thought his input on tha mic was wicked, and I don't give that title out to just anyone. Check his "The 48 Laws of Power" mixtape at www.maxxpaine.bandcamp.com and you will also agree, he's infamous for issuing only the best in music.

The production is well thought out, it literally mimics the plot of each story told. If you heard it instrumental, you'd still be able to hear the words...IS YOU HEARIN' ME?


Maxx Paine: hear.him.out. www.maxxpaine.bandcamp.com MJroyPR


Signin' off,

Rheeghordliss