Support your Friends Like you Support these Celebs you Don't Know

I find it very discomforting when I see people publicly proclaim their support for their friends but not follow through when it truly matters. The generation we live often makes us feel the need to compete with any and everybody, and that’s truly unfortunate because there is enough room for everyone to win— especially when it comes to people we have close relationships with.  I find it hard to believe you can call someone a friend and not be one of their biggest cheerleaders, especially when we go so hard for random people who have no clue we exist because of their followings or status.

​Recently, I had the opportunity to support my dear friend Johnny at his first solo art show. Not only did I show up because he was my friend or because he is extremely talented but because there was no way I would miss out on the chance to hug him and witness this amazing milestone in his life first hand. A few months back Johnny, Laci, Darwin, and I sat at a Parisian bar in the wee hours of the night discussing our passions and encouraging each other to truly go after them. Talk about full circle. See his amazing work below or visit his website  http://www.thejohnnysmith.com/ or social media platform @thejohhnysmith for more information. 

“Johnny Smith (born Jonathan Smith) hails from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, studying theater. He graduated from the Univ. of Texas at Austin with a degree in film before landing in Los Angeles. Since being in LA, he has acted in over 35 commercials, written, acted in and directed numerous short films and was featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when his YouTube series “Scaring Evelyn” went viral.He is an avid fan of comedy and tries to share that through his collage work.He enjoys image manipulation while listening to old episodes of Howard Stern or half watching Dateline NBC or The Bachelor/ette”

http://www.thejohnnysmith.com/about/ 

images courtesy of Instagram- @thejohnnysmith

I am grateful I could support my friend and I am so very thankful that Yah has placed vibrant, passionate, hard working people like Johnny in my life. Just watching my friends live out their dreams’ and fight for the purposes’ brings me so much joy. I make it my business to show up for them with no stipulations and should do the same for the people you care about. 

If you have a song- I’ll listen, an event- I’ll attend, a product- I’ll purchase, so on and so on. The good things about being friends is being able to appreciate the little things, so show them you care in any way. Support your friends. Calm their stressful life. Make better memories with them. Personally we know how good it feels to accomplish something and look out in the audience and see your “team” or people who know your story, why not keep that feeling flowing amongst your circle? 

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

So clearly I have things that I rycle often in my fashion rotation, I call them my “favs” . This list includes:

- Ruby Woo lipstick by Mac,

- Thrifted vintage tortoise frames,

- My black leather jacket decked out with my super black ass pin collection,

- Camouflage anything

- A hat of some sort (usually a beret)  

I Want it to be Fall so BADDDDD!

I’m a Summer baby so naturally the summer has my heart— but the Fall, the Fall is a close runner up for my love. Unfourtunately, I have lived and currently live in locations that won’t allow my Fall “fashions” to prosper. But when has 75 degree weather ever stopped me from being great? Never! 

Fall is so much fun in regards to fashion. You can wear things that make no damn sense in the Fall, like shorts and knee high boots or a fur with any and everything. The part I enjoy the most about Fall, is pairing my outfits with super cute coats. A peacoat can literally turn up or make any outfit. Especially if it’s plaid! Bazar, Elle, and InStyle all dubbed the plaid trend the go to trend of the Fall. See how I’m starting my Fall fashions off below featuring a trend debut by plaid. 

I burned up but killed it in a cashmere thrifted sweater, high waist plaid pants, DIY feather heels, a brim, and of course a plaid peacoat! 

Hillary Banks meets Tyra Banks in Life-Size

I was thinking of some cool commentary to write with this post, but I don't have anything. So here, enjoy these dope photos of me at the super cute Beverly Hills Hotel. 

Wait I lied, I do have some things to say about the hotel.

The Beverly Hills Hotel, also called the Bungalows, is located on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. The hotel is one of the world’s best-known hotels, it is closely associated with Hollywood film stars, rock stars, and celebrities. The hotel opened in 1912 and has a guest list of some pretty big time white people (I didn’t have to say that, but I did because it’s true. While looking at the history I saw names like John Lennon, Liz Taylor, and a lot of other rich face that didn’t look like my own).

It is really important to me to do research on the places I choose to visit or shoot content at, it’s deeper than pictures, it’s about exposure and education. So, while the Beverly Hills Hotel is super cute the hotel has faced some pretty big controversy over the years (as recent at as 2014), they have been boycotted against for discrimination against the LGBQT community and a few other things. Probably wouldn't spend my coins there but I def looked cute poising against their infrastructure in my Hillary Banks/Black Barbie inspired look. Enjoy!