DC Edition 1

I’m Inspired By People Around Me Who Are Constantly Producing, Creating, Crafting, Building…

Story submitted by Grant Harris
instagram @image_granted
imagegranted.com

‘Fashion was never at the forefront of my mind growing up. In fact, I thought it was against the law to match, which ironically may have been my inner style auteur speaking to me.

I’ve held several jobs and tried my hand at several failed business ventures, but never found a career, a passion, or a calling until fashion, better yet style came to be a part of my life. I was always living it, but didn’t know that I could make (or attempt to make) a living at it, until I dove both feet in.

I’m inspired by people around me who are constantly producing, creating, crafting, building, and I want to do the same in my own way. The need to feel part of the club, not of the fashion elite, but the successful network who live life stylishly on their own terms when and where they want to is what drives my daily pursuits.

As an entrepreneur setting goals is deceptive because once one is reached it’s on to the next without enjoying the last. I enjoy what I do right now. I just hope to be blessed to be able to do it bigger, better and longer in the future.'

'I’ve always tried to present myself well and dress with an air of sophistication, but I never thought that I could have a voice to share with others. I did not know that I could inspire others through my daily regimen and ultimately help individuals and groups find their own style.

It wasn’t until I was well into my professional career that I decided to take on an internship with a custom clothier which was my indoctrination into the classic world of men’s style. This was the beginning  of my writing, speaking, and consulting career.

Never having studied fashion formally put me behind the eight ball so to speak. However, I looked at it as an advantage because I had to strive to read, watch, and listen more, longer and harder than those who had learned it in school.

My passion and my business in the end is knowledge and enlightenment. Knowledge of self and enlightenment of purpose. It isn’t the clothes or the shoes or the watches that are important. Its the comfort, the confidence and the charisma with which each man wears them that accomplishes the goal.’

Daily Fashion 202

Basketball Came First. I Consider It My First Love…

Story submitted by Eli Infante.
instagram @elisoul01 site NorthOfMan

‘Basketball is a love of mine as style is. I played in college and I was inspired by an image of the legendary street ball player, Ron Beals.

There is something to say about how harmonious basketball and fashion can be. In my mind, anything done with passion exudes an effortless style and grace.

Basketball came first. I consider it my first love. It is where I learned to walk my walk and talk my talk. It is where I learned to envision myself as something greater than just the average man.

Basketball was something I wasn’t great at to begin with but countless days and nights playing till after the street lights turned off, whether rain or snow, it became my thing. I would travel to basketball camps in other states during off season and compete against other talented players from around the country. Taking that from high school to college basketball, the game was still the same, always bringing your A game and presenting it with the utmost style and grace.'

'After taking a break from basketball, I began to focus more on the arts and that lead me to photography. I would shoot landscape, portraits, events, and soon even runway shows, where I then got a chance to put the camera down and model.

After booking a few shows to model for, my eye for fashion began to truly flourish and all the visions of becoming someone greater than myself came. Fashion allows one to be who they want to be and say what they mean to say without even having to say it.

It’s all in the style and grace.’

Daily Fashion 200

I Was Always Infatuated With Style And Fashion And Even Beauty…

Story submitted by Christiana Greene.
instagram @bum_cake

‘My style is always changing, but one thing that remains the same is including at least one vintage piece into my daily style–it’s of good quality, it’s unique, and eco-friendly.

I find that fashion can sometimes confine people to one certain type of “look” or “trend,” but personal style is liberating. I wear what works for me and that’s pretty much how I’ve always been when it comes to style and fashion.

I started reading Vogue magazines amongst others since I was about 5 years old. I have an uncle who used to be heavily into fashion in the early 90s, so he used to buy a lot of fashion magazines and they’d be laying around my grandma’s house at the time and I would just read them. I was always infatuated with style and fashion and even beauty.

'While growing up, I watched a lot of old movies with my grandparents and was just inspired by what they wore and I would also go thrifting and just shopping in general with my mom and aunt pretty often.

I think style and fashion are just important to me because they’ve always played a key role in my life. I also have a fashion merchandising degree.’