Atlanta’s Hottest Boutique Owner and Celebrity Stylist…
March 28, 2009 by Jami
Filed under Blog, Industry Spotlight, Interview
Boutique name- DYMOND WAYZ Accessories Heav’n
Where were you born? Riverside, California
Where do you live? Castleberry Hill- Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
When did you decide that this is what you want to do? My freshman Year of College I was 19 working for $8 an hour with Sisley(united colors of benneton), & I was hired @ Phipps Plaza but I was 2 be moving to the new perimeter location when it opened. This experience really was the birth of my Brand “Dymond Wayz”. I gained visual and store build out skills, I already had 4yrs experience in retail; because I landed my 1st job @ 15 with Macy’s @ the Beverly Center. I worked for Sisley for 9months & had my 1st $2,500 sale with a wealthy client, who basically purchased everything that I picked out. Funny thing about it the young mgr, I was cool with rang up my sale under her I’d # 2 get my commission, so when I confronted my mgr. she showed me that she was really not cool &, I even got written up about confronting her, oh but I got my commission. After that experience I realized maybe working for some1 else was not my destiny & I might want 2 consider working 4 myself, 6months later I made a trip 2 NyC & bought my 1st merchandise & returned to Cau in the Fall as an Entrepreneur Sophomore with Dymond Wayz, and I have been working for my self ever since.
Do you sew as well as style? Yes I’ve been hand sewing since I was 7, I learned on the machine when I got 2 College, it is not my favorite thing cause I’m a bit antsy & sewing you must have a lot of patience.
Do you do personal styling? Yes I do personal, wardrobe reconstruction, image mgt, personal shopping, product knowledge & Rolling Out Magazine dubbed me as “Atlanta Fashion Forecaster” in August 2007.
Are there any celebrities that you’ve worked with? I have worked with Mr. Bangladesh of Bangladesh Prod., Tiny(T.I.’s wife), Mz. Shanicka (107.9), Megan Rochelle, Nikki Turner, Redd Xmaz, 5 Mic’s, Don Cannon,Nikki Minaj, Muffy Cupcakeopia, & host of other celebrities I can’t remember off the top of my head.
Which Celebrities fit your boutique style, and that you would want to work with? I would like 2 work with more male artist like umh… Young Jeezy or Diamond & Princess of Crime Mob, for some strange reason in Atlanta, labels leave image as last on the budget & usually don’t outsource stylist. That job will be left to the artist mgr or the artist themselves, its sad to me because Image is so vital in a celebrities career it should be more like # 1 on the budget and all other components fall after Image, just my opinion based on my experience of working with celebrities.
Which celebrity could put on anything and look good? (male or female) Female of course Beyonce. Male I must say Diddy.
Would you rather style something around a pair of boots or open toe pumps? I’m a Cali girl all day break out them toes girl. (Giggles) Who would you rather see in a fitted mini dress…a size 7 with curves or a size 1 with no curves? I love all shapes & sizes, I can work with all silhouettes.
Do you have a favorite color or fabric that you like to work with? And why? Right now I’m in Love with Green, but 2mrrw it might be Blue, I love all colors like a Vibrant Miami Rainbow. I love natural fibers like cotton, linen, but my favorite is fur I am mesmerized by dyed furs Sabel, Mink, Chinchilla, vintage Leopard, I even love faux Suede & Mink. I can create such a great illusion when working with furs, I can use the annual, thanks 2 fashionista’s like Lil Kim (chinchilla bikini).
What is some advice for girls out there that want to model? I feel like if you are pursing a career where your face or body is the product 2 be sold, than you must love yourself unconditionally, inside & out. I believe with that foundation you will have a healthy mind, & you can manifest a successful career.
A past video/magazine experience on set…Good and Bad… OMG bad, I was styling for a new artist video & one of the extras was wearing a ring I purchased in Paris @ a flea market 5years prior, she comes up to me with maybe an hour left 2 shoot saying she can’t find my ring & she thinks she lost it @ the last set location. Instantly I’m thinking why are you just now telling me this? But I kept my composure & brought it to the casting company that hired me as the stylist. They said well if the ring does not surface @ wrap time than the extra will have to pay for it out of her day rate. I was still a bit frustrated because even though I would of been monetary compensated for the lost, my ring that had sentimental value would be gone 4ever. I knew it was time for me to project my ability to work under pressure, I worked with the extra and directors interns as a team & within an hour the extra found my ring. A good experience is seeing all the ppl that I style happy faces when they like my final decision for there wardrobe & seeing them walk around set with confidence knowing the look Swagged up by Kesh.
What helps you get creative (music,people,movies) MUSIC,MUSIC,MUSIC, everyday people(mainly my college girls & boys) All movies even Sci Fi stuff. My biggest creative moments come from Daydreaming, and reading Fashion Magazines that I subscribe to.
Any projects coming up that we should know about? Yesss I’m so excited to finally be at a point where I can give back, Clark Atlanta University Fashion Design & Merchandising Dept & Bauder College & myself will be hosting a workshop the 3rd week of April. The workshop is free and I will be interviewing & selecting 10 interns to work with 5 different avenues of my Brand Dymond Wayz, I plan to bring in a small panel of about 2 of my close friends so they can speak to the students & possibly select the candidates that Dymond Wayz does not select so this way at least 20 students out of about 400 will be selected to complete an hands on internship working with some1(me) they can relate to because there is not that much of an age gap & I was in there shoes less than 5years ago.
Any shout outs? Yesss Thank you Jami Z at The Carinae Agency for this great interview. Dymond Wayz Alwayz, Dymond Bar Music, and Thank you for every1 who has supported & believed in my Brand, especially GOD.
Website, myspace, links etc… www.dymondwayzonline.com www.myspace.com/dymondwayzaccessories www.blogspot.com/streetschic www.myspace.com/keshmonroe Youtube: dymond wayz commercial
Emails: kesh [dot] dymondwayz [at] yahoo [dot] com Keshmonroe [at] gmail [dot] com
Clothing Line….RichKidz
March 28, 2009 by Jami
Filed under Blog, Industry Spotlight, Interview
Where were you born? Chicago Illinois
Where do you live? Hazel Crest IL suburb outside of chicago
When did you decide that this is what you want to do? I wanted to design clothes since high school 1999 I always loved to dress fresh and create my own trend so I felt with my fashion sense, hustle and drive I could create my own brand of clothing so I did
Do you sew as well as style? No I have people who sew for me
Are there any celebrities that you’ve worked with? Project Pat, Kia Shine, Sean Paul, Isley Brothers.
Which Celebrities fit your style, and that you would want to work with? Mikkey Halsted, Cool Kids, Cool and Dre, T.I., Tyga, Lil Wayne, Muffy
Which celebrity could put on anything and look good? (male or female) Keri Hilson
Are your clothes for male and female? Both male and female
Do you draw all of your characters for your shirts or do you have a team? I come up with my ideas sketch them out and give my team of graphic designers my vision and they implement my vision
Whats a word that would describe your clothes? Legendary
Would you rather style something around a pair of boots or open toe pumps? Boots Who would you rather see in a fitted mini dress…a size 7 with curves or a size 1 with no curves? Beyonce fitted mini dress
Do you have a favorite color or fabric that you like to work with? And why? I love to work with purple because it stands out and so many colors can be matched with purple its just my ish
What is some advice for girls out there that want to model? send all media kits to ceothepolitician [at] gmail [dot] com we are looking for models for upcoming shoots and ads
What helps you get creative (music,people,movies) just sitting down and doing what I call power thinking on my goals while sitting back listening to Mikkey Halsted and Voyce G.I. Go
Any projects coming up that we should know about? The Rich Kidz Music Video as well as The Rich Kidz Cartoon
Any shout outs? Def whats up to my partner Rico Nance, Mikkey Halsted, Voyce G.I. Go, Dice Clay, Dropaband, Nikki Lynette, Project Pat, Kiashine, Resse P, Effie, the whole Rich Kidz Staff , The whole Official Hustle Staff, Tenn St Univ, Dj Fingatipz, Dj Paperchaser, Tyler Brown, Kendall, Flare everyone thanks for your support
Website, myspace, links etc…Myspace.com/Richkidzclothing2k www.Richkidzclothing.com
Celebrity Stylist: Betrice Benbow
March 16, 2009 by Jami
Filed under Blog, Industry Spotlight, Interview
Celebrity Stylist: Betrice Benbow
Where were you born? Memphis Tenn.
Where do you live? ATL
When did you decide that this is what you want to do? I have worked as model in the industry for 13 years and I’ve always had a strong eye for fashion, I officially started wardrobe styling in 2005
Do you sew as well as style? yes if I have to…I really like sewing swimsuits(risky ones)
Are there any celebrities that you’ve worked with? yes, Chilli, The Game, Elise Neal, Jeff Johnson.. to name a few
Which Celebrities fit your style, and that you would want to work with? Beyonce of course! Posh the fashion diva
Which celebrity could put on anything and look good? (male or female) Nicole from the pussycat dolls…she’s HOTT!
Would you rather style something around a pair of boots or open toe pumps? I’m all about the highest, most sickest heel…boot or pump
Who would you rather see in a fitted mini dress… size 7 with curves or a size 1 with no curves? hmmm… that depends on who can work that camera the best, and what project I am working on at that time. If I just had to choose, I would go for the size 1…I love my high fashion girls!!!
Do you have a favorite color or fabric that you like to work with? And why? I love bold metallic’s, sequence and gold! I’m sooo extra!
What is some advice for girls out there that want to model? its all about investing in yourself and getting good pictures. Clients see your pics before they see you.
A past video/magazine experience on set…Good and Bad… Its been all good…I can work through a storm
What helps you get creative (music,people,movies)? Makeup and hair does it for me.
Website, myspace, links etc…google me Betrice Benbow
