Wifey Style You Never Knew You Needed

The Mrs. Luxe brings a new style and grace to life as a wife

Recently I spent the afternoon shooting a new kind of luxury. My sis @_surraya_starr and her talented self wanted on-location shots of new pieces from her boutique fashion line The Mrs. Luxe. So naturally we found ourselves in The Meatpacking district of NYC. Surraya Price Isaac is a bit of a fashion icon in our circles; she steps out in creative, unique gear on the regular and has always had an eye for design. Now she's sharing that style with brides-to-be and wives who want to be fly too.

The Mrs. Luxe is an online boutique that caters specifically to women who "got a ring on it" (sorry single ladies). Shopping for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, or even a special anniversary dinner will never be the same. These stylish exclusives, from garments to accessories, will definitely make a statement and announce to the world that the wearer is the woman of someone's dream. Mrs. Luxe will add a little bit of luxury to your entire wedding and the happily ever after.

The full boutique isn't up and running yet but it "soon come." Sign up to stay in touch.

Follow @themrsluxe on IG to inquire about gear that is already for sale on the low, like the hats she dons in the slideshow above. Don't say I never gave y'all the early tip.

It Goes Down With Team DIEM

LIfestyle Brand @DiemNY Hosts a Spring Popup Shop at @Bergnbk

We spent a beautiful spring day in Crown Heights Brooklyn, hanging out with one of the dopest fashion brands out there, @DiemNY (Does It Even Matter). Our good friends and a beautiful couple @brooklynsky and @nicnich curate and design this urban lifestyle brand (alongside Miami's @Philthemayor) and are at the top of their game with a new spring collection.

Does It Even Matter (DIEM) is a "lifestyle brand...the phrase is the pulse of the brand which exudes a sense of assurance, justification of one's lifestyle and the individual's daily approach to life." DIEM tells you to "never make decisions in doubt, always be sure, always be certain and if questioned...make sure DIEM is the reply."

Check out the scene at their latest Brooklyn popup shop. It went down at @Bergnbk, one of the coolest watering holes / food joints in the rapidly changing Crown Heights 'hood. Peep one of our #DCMCreative fashionistas @_Surraya_starr refreshing her spring closet.

人々 Hitobito in Japan

A night in Osaka highlights my encounters with Japanese people

I am a big fan of people watching. I do it all the time in New York but I live for the chance to do it while traveling. Architecture and museums are great and all but what interests me the most (besides food) are the people. Or should I say the "hitobito" ( 人々 ) in Japanese.

Take Osaka for example. I ventured away from Tokyo to spend one night in Japan's third largest city and met some interesting people. I arrived on a rainy night after having spent the day visiting Buddhist temples in Kyoto. After checking into @RockStarHotel and taking a quick shower, my trusty Canon and @Osirisandco strap joined me on my adventure to Dotonburi. I ate a quick dinner at a local joint (Densetsu no Suta Donya) and then set out to explore. Little did I know how interesting the night would become.

Being well aware of Osaka's Reggae scene, I followed signs to what I thought would be a bar with reggae music (images of a Rasta flag). Instead I ended up inside a 4-seat, pitch dark psychedelic bar on the second floor of what looked like a residential building. The adventurer in me said "f*ck it" and stayed. For the next hour, I sat here, enjoyed this Hemp beer (no, really), and used a translator app to chat with the Japanese hippie barkeep. We talked about art, food, partying, and Osaka's Tobita Shinchi area (Japan's lone remaining police-sanctioned red light district).

Soon I left that trippy bar and sauntered back into the excessively illuminated streets. Not more than 5 minutes later I befriended two 6ft+ black Americans guys who happen to play professional basketball for Osaka Evessa. On their night off, they were out looking for some fun so naturally I tagged along. That's how I ended up in @PURE_Osaka, listening to Hip Hop and Dancehall reggae. We partied with the stylish party promoter @aoi_takase and crew. It was dope to see Osaka Reggae culture in the flesh.

My night ended some time around 3:00am. I hopped in a taxi and did my best to pronounce the address of my hotel. When I awoke the next morning, I shook my head and smirked at how perfectly weird my night had been. It was exactly what I had hoped it would be.

From the wonderfully weird people in Osaka to the Kimono/Yukata -clad men and women in Kamakura, Japan's "hitobito" were great people watching subjects.

Superhero Fashion

@TereseSydonna designs with adventurous creativity

It's not often that you hear about a Wall Street person giving up the corporate desk for a sewing machine and a sketch book. But that's exactly what my friend @TereseSydonna did. Once part of the streams of "Finance" people crowding the NYC subway platforms, she left that well traveled path to follow her adventurous spirit.

"I wanted and needed a more creative outlet," she says to me as she adjusts one of her meticulously designed bow ties on Francisco Rojas. "Grey and navy suits just were not my thing. Fashion was the thing that forced me to walk my own path and truly begin to live for myself." And live life she does.

Based in Philly, Terese stays on her grind, hosting pop-up shops and trunk shows in multiple cities. The Terese Sydonna line of women's wear and men's accessories is brought to life to make you feel "powerful and confident while navigating an ever-changing busy lifestyle." @TereseSydonna lives that crazy lifestyle every day.

How does one come up with the ideas for bold bow ties and #GothicRomance jackets? "My creativity comes from my need for adventure. As a kid in the bronx, I had the biggest imagination; I would sew clothes on my grandmother's machine for Barbie and team her up with X-Men to save the day in my creations," Terese says with a laugh.

Her creativity has come a long way from playing with Barbie and watching Superheros on TV. As she fiddles with a printed bow tie on @Jkicka, she turns to me with a look of determination and says: "I want my clothes to start conversations that never end. I want to make a bad-ass outfit that makes everyone stop and stare."

I know I'm already staring.

Now you can too. See more photos of her men's accessories line: Terese Sydonna

P A S S A G E S

Buddhist temple paths lead to self-reflection in Japan

Japan has been high on my travel bucket list since my teenage years. I've always been drawn to Japanese history and culture (and of course the food). Isolated from the rest of the world for centuries, if not millennia, the allure is fueled by a powerful uniqueness that is pervasive throughout Japanese creativity, language, and spiritualism. Of those things, the spiritualism and it's places of worship took a hold of me on my recent trip to Japan.

For 10 days I battled the incessant rain of Tropical Typhoon Etau to travel around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Using bullet trains, buses and famous Philosopher walkways, I managed to experience 12 serene Buddhist temples. Although a number were chock full of other tourists (the not so quiet types), I was lucky to get a few almost all to myself. In those moments, I couldn't help but be overcome by a sense of pure wonder and self-reflection.

I quickly noticed the importance placed on paths and passageways. Meticulously manicured gardens and shrines were preceded by walkways designed to prepare the journeyer's senses for what was to come. Without fail, temple passageways induced a pause and a deep breath, actions that helped me realign my mental state amidst the permeating dampness from constant rain.

Reflecting on those moments, I am still affected by what I saw. These images above strike a cord that sounds a reminder to craft paths in ways that can keep us well aligned.

See more images from my time in Japan on Instagram.

Energy in the City was electric

Kerwin Du Bois, Lyrikal and others kickoff Boston Carnival 2015

Boston Carnival Weekend, an annual Caribbean Festival, is the biggest weekend of the year for West Indians and their friends & families in my hometown. My crew, @TeamSIent, has been involved in this scene for almost 20 years. Each year, there are countless fetes { that means parties for the uninitiated } leading up to and throughout the last weekend of August.

A few years ago, party promoter @lion_entertainmentboston put together a kickoff concert with some of the biggest names in Soca and Reggae music and called it Energy in the City. It was an instant smash hit and has taken place every year since. This year was no different and the list of entertainers did not disappoint.

What did almost disappoint was me. Somehow I arrived at Energy in the City without my Canon 6D. A genuine "Smooth move, Ferguson" moment right? But, it was @UBER to the rescue since I'd already had a few drinks { don't drink and drive kids }. After a quick 30 minute round trip with a cool dude from Brazil {shout out Joao Carlos}, I was back inside "di people and dem fete" { as we Trini's say }, armed with my weapon of choice. I missed a few artists but managed to capture two of my favorites, @iamlyrikalace and @KerwinDuBois who was joined on stage by my good friend @frankieplease from @SpoilBratzSound.

Dope event and a great fete. Check out the shots above and see more of @iamlyrikalace and @KerwinDuBois in the Music is Life gallery.

Dre's Compton Sparks Creative Fire in Two Artists

@SurefireSCal & @TermanologyST draw inspiration from @DrDre's latest heat

Just after I released the teaser site for D C M Creative, I had a twitter chat with the homie @SurefireSCal, a talented rapper/producer and audio engineer. He was excited to see that I was set to provide access to my photography work. "Out of nowhere, I see you start sharing straight fire on Instagram. I'm happy to see you provide a tailored avenue for people to view your work and become fans," he said.

When I mentioned this forthcoming blog, we immediately started discussing opportunities to collaborate. That's how I ended up at Surefire Creative Studios in Lowell, MA one Friday night with @SurefireSCal and the immeasurably talented @TermanologyST.

@DrDre had just released Compton the night before and we all admitted to playing the new album on repeat. "Yo, I just had to get in the studio after listening to that shit all day," said @TermanologyST. @SurefireSCal couldn't help but enthusiastically agree: "I've been listening to and thinking about that shit all day; it's amazing to learn from such dope music."

With that energy in the room, these two creative masters got to work on a track that @TermanologyST produced and had held in reserve, waiting for the right type of inspiration to come along. As the instrumental played on repeat, @TermanologyST took out a notebook, sketched out a concept, and crafted a verse. With @SurefireSCal behind the controls, he stepped to the mic and put in work.

It was amazing to watch the whole thing unfold. This scene, one of musicians charged up by the talent of another, reminded me that one must draw inspiration from those that you respect. Their greatness can fuel yours. Just as they were energized by @DrDre, I too was influenced by @SurefireSCal & @TermanologyST. Creativity is contagious and it's a highly flammable thing; it only needs a little spark.

Check out more music from @SurefireScal on Soundcloud and shop @TermanologyST's extensive catalog and gear at Termanologymusic.com.

Creativity is the sweetest ingredient

@MyMiniCakeShop bakes up specialized deliciousness

The other day I had the chance to capture some stock images for my big sis Valissa and her bakery, @MyMiniCakeShop. My Mini Cake Shop, located in Boston, MA., creates sugary confections in the tastiest petite form. So we're talking about specialized cakes and cupcakes made to order by a baking magician.

In a short amount of time, @MyMiniCakeShop has gained a loyal fan base, grown by positive referrals from satisfied customers. But, what makes this made-to-order bakery better than the average run of the mill?

"The secret ingredient is my passion for creativity," says Valissa. "I'm a nontraditional baker who likes to push the boundaries on flavor combinations, like a green tea matcha cupcake with brown sugar frosting or a deconstructed coconut key lime pie cake. I'm definitely not a simple, chocolate & vanilla baker."

So what feeds this hunger for creative bites? "This is my canvas. I get to work sugar into edible art," she says. "Also, nothing beats a happy face on a client when they pick up their order. It's the most awesome feeling ever to know that your creativity has made somebody's life a little bit brighter."

@MyMiniCakeShop grows and grows with each passing week, fueled by a Valissa's passion for pushing the limits on what baked goods can be. With creativity as her sweetest ingredient, there are big things in the future for this "mini" cake shop.

Fashion Yourself Your Way

Fashioning Originality

What's fashionable these days? Well, everything. Your style is whatever you choose to make it, but be sure to rock it with pride.

My good friends @SurrayaStarr & @Cocojoi took me out for a day of shopping to talk about the creativity in their styles. These ladies are two of the most stylish that I know. From flashy to subdued, they make this fashion thing look easy. But they both say it's taken time and effort over many years to define their looks.

"I always loved fashion and style," @SurrayaStarr says over Sunday brunch at @ChalkPointNYC. She's been a professional stylist and a fashion blogger over the years and works in the fashion industry. "As a teenager I would spend all of my little allowance money at the stores on 86th street in Manhattan. I always had to be cute."

@Cocojoi, a lover of all things pink, says she got into fashion and style to stand apart. "My sister and I were dressed alike as kids. So the minute I could pick out my own clothes, I chose to create my style and look." She uses top brands like Intermix, Kate Spade, and Manolo Blank to craft her originality.

And their advice to others?

"Don't force it, but definitely put thought and effort into defining what you want to look like," says @SurrayaStar. @Cocojoi agrees: "Yes, always be yourself and wear what makes you look great, but also what makes you comfortable."

In other words, fashion yourself your way, always.

See some more of @Cocojoi's style in High Fashion

The Sneaker Prophet :: @JKicka

The Creativity within...

Sometimes I feel like I was adopted by a group of Haitians from Boston. Two members of the group are close college friends and over time I was drafted into their inner circle of childhood brothers. We endearingly refer to our group as the Brotherhood: a circle of men who teach and learn from each other as we grow.

@Jkicka is a talisman for the Brotherhood. He's also a premier voice in the sneaker game. An avid "SneakerHead" since his days as a teenager, @Jkicka curates a collection of 200+ pairs of the hottest, most unique, and impossible-to-find kicks, many unworn and in mint condition. "This is my creativity man," says J. "I've been doing this a long time now. I know this art, like any person knows their passion."

Passion is something that J is known for within his circles. He speaks to me, and others, with the cadence and charisma of a devout preacher. "Never fight the creativity within you," he commands me with an activist's emotion. "Find an outlet for it, and don't fear putting it out into the world."

He's encouraged me over the years to continue to be creative. When I stopped DJing regularly, J was disappointed because he loves my creative spirit and energy. He was thrilled when I began to pour those elements into visuals. "You're up next, guy, I see it. I feel it," J says to me. "Keep putting your passion out there, and one day someone will curate a collection of your art, like I do with these kicks."

Check out the shoot

M U S E

/mjuːz/ Noun: a goddess that inspires a creative artist

Creativity needs inspiration, or a fuel of any source. Whether its self-determination, individuality, or passion, creativity has to be fed and nurtured. I have my M U S E.

A woman of incredible will and determination, of love and heart, and of support and inspiration. She encouraged me to feed my passion for photography, something that began as a small flame but now burns strongest of all my passions.

It's only fitting that the first blog post on D C M Creative is a dedication to her. This photo shines brightest when I look back on early images that made be believe in my creativity. She is the center of this image just as she is the center of my inspiration.