This is the first of many blog posts about a fabulous event that is everything anyone who lived in the 90s would want to experience & re-live the memories.
What event? The Fresh Prince of New York City fundraiser & birthday party, held on Sunday, March 7th to raise money for the organization Hip Hop 4 Life, which empowers teen youth through a college scholarship program.
The When/What Details: Sunday, March 7th from 8PM – 1AM at the Manhattanville Community Center, 135th Street between Broadway & Amsterdam
The Fresh Prince of New York himself? Derrick Sabater, the flyest boy from the south you’ll ever meet
How to get tickets? Pick ‘em up online here, $20 before March 1st, and $25 after.
Why you should get tickets? All proceeds benefit Hip Hop 4 Life, a non profit funding the pursuit of higher education among New York City youth.
Why you should get tickets, part II? I’m co-producing the evening’s choreographed ’90s fashion show with the lovely Ciara Walker of Clothes Minded, Inc. 20 minutes of house party dance-off style moves … with a mix of Janet Jackson, J.Lo, fly girls & In Living Color throw in to boot. You’ll be dancing & grooving to your nearest Urban Outfitters to pick up a piece of 90s fashion of your own [or, buying from my online store at Market Publique, launching March 1st!]
But more on the 1990s & why it rocks.
One statement needed: Because it was the decade of happiness.
Allow me to explain.
The decade of color. The decade of the internet. The decade of the summer Olympics in Atlanta (my favorite!). The decade of Napster. The decade of SUVs. The decade of Friends. The decade of Seinfeld. The decade of a stable economy, reasonable gas prices, and the Clinton administration. [‘Nuff said]
What else categorized the 90s? Um … fashion! Like any other decade, 10 years spans a whole lotta styles, and influences over those varying styles.
There was the house party, dance-off style
There was Miss Janet Jackson’s do-anything, bare-anything style
Then, of course, was the legendary In Living Color … featuring Miss J. Lo before she was anything less than Jennifer Lopez!
And we can’t forget fly girls, fly girls, FLY GIRLS!
Along with co-producing the fashion show, I’m styling Mr. Sabater’s looks for the evening. During a styling pow wow the other week, Mr. Sabater filled me in on his 90s accessories. Think Power Rangers, fanny packs, fitted caps and back packs.
The decade of happiness? I could get used to this!
Power Rangers wallet. YOU KNOW YOU HAD ONE!
Laminated pockets for easy view of needed identification as a 7-year-old.
90s sunglasses — made a huge comeback amongst hipsters/LES lovers alike summer ‘09.
The ubiquitous fanny pack. You may have hated it a few seasons ago … but now we all want one.
Even better than a fanny pack — a BACK PACK.
Fitted cap, exhibit #1
Red suspenders. The things you can do with red suspenders …
Fitted cap, exhibit #2, representing Charlotte, North Carolina [hint: that’s where Derrick is from!]