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Yet, today it’s not just about the look. It’s about banking on the look and creating a brand. Artists are taking it to the next level when it comes to fashion. They are creating their own brand by banking on the look that they already wear. It’s no longer just about styling yourself, but now artists are styling their fans and the public.

Musicians like Sean Combs, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake are each incredibly successful musicians turned fashion designers. Each had a very distinctive style of their own as performers and took a chance to lend that style to their fans. Each of these stars now has launched incredibly successful lifestyle brands in the fashion industry. Sean combs launched sean jean, gwen Stefani created L.A.M.B, Jay Z created Rocawear and Justin Timberlake is backing the most recent William Rast line. Each of these musicians made the transition into fashion designer smoothly and with flare.

What makes a musician a great designer? This is a question that is often mulled over and poked fun in the industry. Yet, in all reality these musicians/artists are incredibly smart to take heed and follow through with creating a brand. In essence these people are artists and many artists are jacks of all trades. They can dip their hand in every pot and genuinely create a beautiful work of art. What each has proved is that they have an innate sense of personal style along with an eye for the graphic appeal of art and what the public wants and needs.

Gwen Stefani always had an interesting look during her heyday in No Doubt. She definitely made her share of fashion don’ts, but overall she was an artistic piece of fashion iconography. She took risks and made statements which, in turn, caused many of her fans to follow suit. As she matured and ventured off into solo-dom she began to mature in her fashion sense. As a solo artist she made more couture choices and was always looking for the unknown fashion types. It was a trip to Japan that definitely lead to her inspiration for the LAMB and the Harajuku Lovers fashions. Her line was colorful, bright, feminine yet edgy and different than the cookie cutter looks you saw at the time. Her artistic flare and ingenuity truly accounted for her success at creating a refutable line!

Most recently, the critically acclaimed pop tart, Justin Timberlake, flipped the switch and started a collaborative effort fashion line titled William Rast. Timberlake joined forces with Trace Ayala and created a full force, in your face fashion line that is one part bad ass and one part vintage chic. The line bleeds with American inspired looks that encompassed Thelma and Louise meets the high fashion streets of New York. The strength behind the line is the fact that Timberlake already had a large fan base while Ayala had some mad skills in the fashion industry. Timberlake made a wise choice to embody his own personal style within his line and brand it with smart looks, decent pricing and market it to his fan base.

This trend of musicians turning designers is in no way a new trend. It’s been around for quite some years, but it seems that today’s new breed is a bit wiser and all the more talented and are able to truly bring a brand (themselves) to the next level. They have creative streaks with a business mogul’s mind. They are the revolution of the artist as we know them today. Take heed in what they offer and why not follow suit. We need to move away from plane jane brands and truly create clothing that is inspirational.

Keep checking back for more (*MUAH*) Jenny Lezan

Labels: chipped red polish, fashion, gwen stefani, harajuku girls, jay z, Jennifer Lezan, justin timberlake, kanye west, lamb, music, roca wear, sean combs, sean jean, william rast

Yet, today it’s not just about the look. It’s about banking on the look and creating a brand. Artists are taking it to the next level when it comes to fashion. They are creating their own brand by banking on the look that they already wear. It’s no longer just about styling yourself, but now artists are styling their fans and the public.

Musicians like Sean Combs, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake are each incredibly successful musicians turned fashion designers. Each had a very distinctive style of their own as performers and took a chance to lend that style to their fans. Each of these stars now has launched incredibly successful lifestyle brands in the fashion industry. Sean combs launched sean jean, gwen Stefani created L.A.M.B, Jay Z created Rocawear and Justin Timberlake is backing the most recent William Rast line. Each of these musicians made the transition into fashion designer smoothly and with flare.

What makes a musician a great designer? This is a question that is often mulled over and poked fun in the industry. Yet, in all reality these musicians/artists are incredibly smart to take heed and follow through with creating a brand. In essence these people are artists and many artists are jacks of all trades. They can dip their hand in every pot and genuinely create a beautiful work of art. What each has proved is that they have an innate sense of personal style along with an eye for the graphic appeal of art and what the public wants and needs.

Gwen Stefani always had an interesting look during her heyday in No Doubt. She definitely made her share of fashion don’ts, but overall she was an artistic piece of fashion iconography. She took risks and made statements which, in turn, caused many of her fans to follow suit. As she matured and ventured off into solo-dom she began to mature in her fashion sense. As a solo artist she made more couture choices and was always looking for the unknown fashion types. It was a trip to Japan that definitely lead to her inspiration for the LAMB and the Harajuku Lovers fashions. Her line was colorful, bright, feminine yet edgy and different than the cookie cutter looks you saw at the time. Her artistic flare and ingenuity truly accounted for her success at creating a refutable line!

Most recently, the critically acclaimed pop tart, Justin Timberlake, flipped the switch and started a collaborative effort fashion line titled William Rast. Timberlake joined forces with Trace Ayala and created a full force, in your face fashion line that is one part bad ass and one part vintage chic. The line bleeds with American inspired looks that encompassed Thelma and Louise meets the high fashion streets of New York. The strength behind the line is the fact that Timberlake already had a large fan base while Ayala had some mad skills in the fashion industry. Timberlake made a wise choice to embody his own personal style within his line and brand it with smart looks, decent pricing and market it to his fan base.

This trend of musicians turning designers is in no way a new trend. It’s been around for quite some years, but it seems that today’s new breed is a bit wiser and all the more talented and are able to truly bring a brand (themselves) to the next level. They have creative streaks with a business mogul’s mind. They are the revolution of the artist as we know them today. Take heed in what they offer and why not follow suit. We need to move away from plane jane brands and truly create clothing that is inspirational.

Keep checking back for more (*MUAH*) Jenny Lezan

Labels: chipped red polish, fashion, gwen stefani, harajuku girls, jay z, Jennifer Lezan, justin timberlake, kanye west, lamb, music, roca wear, sean combs, sean jean, william rast

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I’m a hair colorist at Art and Science Salon in Lincoln Park. I handle the dos and don’ts, what’s in or out, and what’s good and bad for your hair and its color. I, also, am a music theory/instrument swap wiz. I have been buying/selling instruments for 9 years, and studying music theory and playing multiple instruments for 17 years. You can come to me for where to take lessons, percussion deals and care, and where to buy and sell. In a nutshell, I’m a tragically blunt, brutally honest, and highly inappropriate smart ass from Chicago. Life is too short to give a shit about what everyone wants from you so I tend to be unapologetic yet still believe in karma. You act like an ass, you get treated like an ass. There is a difference between holding your own and straight up being a cunt. I come off as harsh but I mean well. I’m a total bunny in a panther suit, hard exterior but a little squishy on the inside. As long as I have family, friends, music, and yoga I’m straight forward. As far as musical taste goes, I am all across the board. My all time favorite bands are The Distillers, Bikini Kill, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Municipal Waste. I’m currently spinning The Music Tapes, Humanwine, and Arther Brown.

for graphic/fashion work email me at victoria.deldin@gmail.com

Hey guys, my name is Jenny Lezan and I am the co-owner and one of the designers at Thrift – for the good find. I work with my business partner Victoria Deldin (owner and founder of Thrift) on creating new designs and innovative fashion for women and men. I am also a freelance fashion journalist, fashion consultant and graphic designer. I work for multiple Chicago publications including: The Chicago Examiner, Chicago Splash Magazine, CHIRemezcla and Philly’s very own The Wave Mag! You can ask me anything about what’s hot or what’s not in fashion as well as keep up to date with the latest and most innovative trends I am reviewing. I love researching trends and understanding the historical cycle of where fashion evolved from. I grew up in Humboldt Park Chicago and am of Puerto Rican, Mexican and Spanish descent. My mom was a single mom and we never had much, but I made a choice early on in life to never become a victim of my circumstance. I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am now in life. I am a 23 year old mom with a 1 year old daughter, 2 college degrees and aspirations to achieve all that I go after. I believe that I can make a difference through my art and my hope is that I will make a better world for the little girl in my life. I am a self proclaimed geek with street smarts. When it comes to my musical influences, I am all across the board. Then again, I come from an eclectic background which would explain my crazy taste. Music inspires me every day and I love everything from: The Killers, Band of Horses and Jimmy eat world to Britney Spears, Madonna and Aretha Franklin. I have an ongoing affair (which was a well kept secret till now) with Jazz music including: Chuck Berry, Etta James and Sade. I love the old greats like Earth Wind and Fire as well as Rock legends like The Eagles, Boston, Blondie, The Ramones and Joan Jett! We can’t forget old school dj’s like Too Kool Kris and of course I love my merengue, salsa, bachata, and latino alternative groups like Calle 13!

I've had many interesting jobs giving me some pretty interesting talents. From BK Lounge to making store front signs & screen printing tees. From Abercrombie slave to producing/managing street festivals that draw over 50,000 people in a weekend. This little head has a big brain packed with tons of useful and random knowledge. Now, you can find me just about everywhere. Part-time model, Part-time cocktail server, freelance graphic designer and marketing/events consultant. I'm a hustler baby, I want you to know. It ain't where I've been but where I'm about to go.

Design is the shit & I'm knee deep in it. I'm the one that will spend hours in the grocery isles & department stores just swooning over new packaging and genius products. My life is clutter but it's all inspiration. For me, life in itself is art. I get creative simulation from just about anything. I feel emotions times ten and will be the first to tear up over just about anything that makes a person smile, laugh or frown. I enjoy a chaotic lifestyle that is filled to the brim with adventure after adventure. Through the mayham, I still have a homely heart that strives on helping others, is strong in my faith, and loves baking for no particular reason. God knows I plan on saving the world one cupcake at a time.

Married to Art and living for love affairs with Beauty. Plays in playgrounds without the rubber floors and soft edges. Prefers the rusted metal jungle gym where the paint peels off when we grab with our little hands and decorate our palms with colorful confetti over safe, sterile plastic. Plays different roles exquisitely- from the joker, to the sage, to the mother, to the child, to the Father, but always prefers the one of the Artist or the Human. A girl of a peculiar breed. A girl who would rather have your faith than your faithfulness. Inspired absolutely by Oscar Wilde, Anais Nin and my mother.

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