Music is a healer of all wounds. But if you think it sounds amazing coming out of your iPod, then you’ve never been to been to a live performance. And that is where this post comes in to play. Tonight is the night that you can quite possibly hear the next best artist or group so I advise that you listen up. In the heart of Brooklyn, there will be an open mic held by Phashionably Loud Inc. It’s only 5 bucks but don’t step out in anything less than your best because I got the word that the performers are being styled by professionals. You don’t want to be left out in the cold. View flier for details. Come ready to clap and snap!!!

Yes, I am starting the all green everything movement. Jay-Z had his run with all black but now it’s my turn. You probably thought I was talking about the environment. No not this time. While I am all for saving the Earth, I’m actually referring to fashion. Spring is here so naturally, I’ve got to acquire a few new items for my warm weather wardrobe. A friend of mine recently told me that he likes to remain “economical but stuntastic all in the same breath.” That’s what I had in mind when I went vintage shopping this past weekend. I was pressed for time so I only made my way to two shops, but they are definitely two of my favorites in NYC. 10 Ft Single in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has gems for days. Both women and men can go in there and find amazing deals on vintage clothing in great condition. Their military section is the best part and it is where I found my vintage Army mail bag. It’s perfect for my camera and whatever book I may be reading so I had to snag it. From there, I made my way to Amarcord in Soho where I found my best vintage pickup to date; some vintage Italian Army sneakers designed by Armani in the 70’s. Well, that’s what the staff told me. Whatever they are, I love them! Check out both Amarcord and 10 Ft. Single when you can and tell them Nicky Famous sent you! By the way, all photos are courtesy of yours truly…

My prayers have been answered!!! Have you ever seen someone committing a fashion crime so heinous that you wanted to arrest them on the spot yourself? Unfortunately, you can’t, and it isn’t exactly polite to say “So you do know that you look like an idiot with those boot cut jeans and that over sized button down, right?” Well GQ magazine comes through for the male race yet again so that now all you have to say is “So….GQ.com.” Their new “Undateable” article is spot on and an instant classic. It gives gentlemen a blueprint on what not to wear, unless your purpose is to never attract the opposite sex. Check out my top three tips from the list below and see the entire article and slide show here.

1. Sports Jerseys: Only acceptable at a sporting event. Actually, we take that back. This whole look is just plain queer. And by queer we don’t mean gay. A gay man would never be caught dead in one. They make you look like a big, lumbering seven-year-old.

2. Sunglasses Indoors or at Night: Comedian Larry David put it best… “You know who wears sunglasses inside? Blind people and assholes.”

3. Tighty Whities: Just plain creepy.

Clothing brands are dropping some very serious pieces for the warmer weather! It doesn’t even seem like Spring is right around the corner, with all the cold, inclement weather we have these days. DC is covered in snow and NYC is freezing so it’s about time for me to take a vacation very soon. But first, I’ll need to acquire a few things for my wardrobe. My first stop is going to have to be J.Crew. They have new pieces in store and online for men, women and children. The linen herringbone blazer, gingham shorts, and Persol sunglasses are must haves for my next vacation. There are a few women’s items I’m a bit jealous of, though. I really wish they made the white denim jacket and golden McCallister boots for men. The boys even got stuff that made me wanna be a kid again. That “greatness” sweatshirt is classic, as is the cashmere shawl collar cardigan for girls. Ok my J.Crew rant is over. Rugby’s Spring collection is a bit more colorful and preppy than that of J.Crew. There is a lot of red, white, and blue incorporated, like this fleece baseball jacket. A.P.C. took a more subtle approach and kept it very classic. The highlight of their collection for me is the shoes. These blue desert boots are sick! I think I’ll be ready for the next 3 Spring seasons after my next shopping excursion. How bout you?

We are officially one month into the new year. If you’re anything like me, you already had it in your head that 2010 was going to be a great year for you. If you are ME than you’ve gotten off to a slow start due to the fact that you haven’t quite shaken off all of the prior years bad habits just yet. Well you’ve still got time to change and grab this year by the horns and GQ Magazine will tell you how. Although it is a magazine for gentlemen, the GQ 10 Point Plan for 2010 can be applied to females as well. You just need to know how to flip the script so that it fits into your lifestyle. This 10 point plan covers everything from eating properly to self grooming. Some of the key points are self sufficiency, productivity, confidence, and being well rounded. This has got to be one of the most helpful articles I have ever come across and I’m most definitely going to print it out and take heed. I suggest you do the same…

Fashion is such an amazing art form. Everyday, people are creating masterpieces, whether they know it or not. Sometimes, I find myself just going to places like Union Square to just take it all in. It’s pretty cold outside these days so I just settle for magazines like Vogue. They recently did an article on a fashion trend that has grown on me over the years and it is becoming more and more common. Men’s clothing fitted to a woman’s silhouette is huge right now, and also very sexy. Vogue Hommes editor in chief, Anastasia Barbieri, has certainly taken notice to this and is using it to her advantage to create her very own style masterpieces. Utilizing everything from men’s suits to watches, Barbieri manages to put together amazing outfits that not only look great, but also very feminine. Men’s clothing are very comfortable ladies, so take notes and view the article here!

That’s usually how I get dressed. I start with shoes and work my way up. I believe that shoes can tell you a lot about a person and mine usually reflect how I’m feeling and where I’m going on that particular occasion. Most of the windows I open on my computer are usually designated to different sites with shoes I like so I figured I’d share some things with you folks.

1: I was recently introduced to a shoe site for women that is so unique that I immediately got jealous because there isn’t anything like it for men. Run by Kim Kardashian, one of the most stylish (and most beautiful) women in the world, Shoe Dazzle defines “recession proof”. Ladies, if you aren’t already a member of this site, I suggest you get on it right now. It’s so simple and sooooo worth it. You take a survey, which is used by fashion experts to get to know your style. After that, you get to choose 1 from 5 pairs of amazing shoes per month for only 39.95 per pair. You aren’t obligated to purchase every month so you can just browse until you come across that must have pair of shoes. Real men love women with sexy shoes. Especially if they look expensive but really aren’t. You’re Welcome…

2: If you love shoes as much as I do, you probably know the importance of originality. Osborn Design shoes are the epitome of original. Using patterns and materials not usually seen on footwear, these aren’t just shoes; they are art. Run by Carla and Aaron Osborn, this Brooklyn based company is really pushing the limits with this very dope and affordable line of unisex footwear. Check out their shoes here.

3: The mocassin style shoe is very much in style for men these days so a lot of different brands are capitalizing on this. Complex Magazine recently put together a list of the 14 best mocassin inspired shoes for men. It features brands like Quoddy, L.L. Bean, J.Crew, and Visvim. I actually just ordered the SeaVees boots to add to my closet. They are my first pair of moccasin inspired anything and they look so comfy. I’ll let you know how they feel when they arrive. Check out the list here and be sure to get yourself a pair by the time Spring rolls around. Your style will thank you.

This was very refreshing to see, I must say. I’m a huge fan of V Magazine and I always love their choice of models but they switched it up this time. This months issue features a different kind of model; the plus sized woman. Five beautiful models were photographed by Solve Sundsbo and the finished projected is truly amazing. I’m personally an advocate for a bit more meat on the bones but I don’t discriminate. Being comfortable in your own skin is important. Otherwise you will never be comfortable in your clothes. The entire issue is paying homage to women of all shapes and sizes and will hit the stands on January 14th!!! Check out more pics here!

Ladies, there is no need to follow the blueprint for a New Years Eve outfit that I laid out in my prior post…If you shop at The Conversation Piece (TCP). If you haven’t heard of TCP yet, you are surely in for a visual treat. For amazing photo concepts fused with affordable vintage gems without having to go to a gallery and 5 different stores just to find one piece, this is the site to check out. With brands from YSL to Ralph Lauren, you would think TCP would be a bit pricey but it is far from. This is the perfect online shop for ladies on a budget to find an outfit for New Years Eve! It’s even good for us men to find gifts for our ladies. I recently linked up with the creative director and fashion editor, Toni Burke and Carl Bailey, of The Conversation Piece for a photoshoot. It was amazing and it is the newest photo story, “Party Crashers“, on the site right now. Check out a recent feature of the site hereand be sure to keep TCP in mind the next time you go vintage shopping! Thank You and You’re Welcome…

But is also one of the most fashionable days of the year. Yes, I’m referring to New Years Eve (NYE). This is the last night that you can do the exact opposite of all your New Years resolutions and actually get away with it. I personally don’t believe that waiting for the year to end is what should prompt change but that’s neither here nor there. The fact is, NYE is less than a week away and wherever you go that night, looking good will be a high priority. So I’ve decided to put together two looks, male and female, that might just help you out when you’re scrambling through the mall this week trying to figure out what you’re wearing. For both guys and girls, black has been a very instrumental color in this year’s fashion trends. A lot of  great accessories, outerwear, and shoes have come out in “All Black Everything” and they still are so take advantage of that when shopping for an outfit. I personally think that gentleman should incorporate color in their NYE looks, but make sure it’s less than your female counterpart. Be the reserved cool guy and let your lady get the shine with her colorful fit with splashes of black while you do the opposite. The guy should have on the black eye wear like these new leather (yes..leather) Super glasses and dark jacket or sweater. The Rugby Tartan Blazer would be good as a splash of color if everything else is black or very dark. Or this John Varvatos shawl collar cardigan would look good with a plain white button down and black tie but offset all the monotony with these colorful Ralph Lauren corduroy jeans. Boots are the move these days so I’d go with these A.P.C. derby ankle boots. That sole is amazing. Now for the ladies…NYE is the night of unconventional…So don’t fall into the cliche of huge coat, small dress, and high heels. Show out and push the limits a little. This sickening Stella McCartney cardigan is a great way to start. You can still wear the small dress but do it different than the rest so you wont blend in. Under the cardigan try something that will add contrast like this Jay Godfrey one shoulder dress which can be worn with these cool Rugby sequin leggings or the colorful slim cords to add even more pop to the fit. Skip the heels because it’s gonna be a long night… Try these smooth Christian Louboutin patent leather shoes. You’re the best dressed and your feet aren’t killing you 3 songs into the party. A lot of these items are pricey but this is just a blueprint. Replicate expensive looks through inexpensive brands or go vintage! See you at the party!!! I’ll be late for that…