The Cozy Zine: Vol. 5 - THE STEEZ

T H E C O Z Y Z I N E VOLUME V: THE STEEZ

what's Steez?

by The Cozy Nupe

Steez, derived from style, yet the essence of the word emanates a different vibe altogether Althougheachhaveacharmingobscurity,Steez feelsmoreinvitingandgenuineinnature;distinct yet ubiquitous In a way, Steez is akin to a phenomenon of sorts, as it’s not necessarily dependentuponthehumanexperience,butrather amomentwheregenuinegracecanbeobserved and celebrated. To put concisely, Steez is the embodimentofunapologeticauthenticity.

It does not require any particular form; admittedly,Itendtoassociate Steez withacertain visual, but it can be found anywhere and in everything;inmusic,aphoto,inthepronunciation andsoundofaword,inaccomplishingagoal,in thedigitalorphysicalrealms,inanime(sub>dub!

IFYKY), in the way you carry yourself, the approachormindsetyouengagetheworldwith, oreventhelegacyyournamewillleavebehind TheideaisthatSteezisn’tsomethingyouhaveor don’t,butrathersomethingthatjustis,andpurely forthatreasonitisdivineinitsownright.

Thus,inthespiritofSteez,we’vecenteredthisissue of the Zine on giving Steez its flowers, in all its shapesandforms Iwelcomeeachofyoutojoinusin ourexplorationofthecountlessmomentswherewe Steezwasemphaticallyandundeniablypresent. thecatharticserenadeofthesonicwaves. thecaptivationsofcreationsbornethroughgenuine self-loveandexpression. thetangentmonologuesofsonderandsilience. anodetothoseobscuremomentswherejustbeing reignedsupreme.

Wehopeyouenjoyandthankyouforreading.

T H E S T E E Z T A P E S

CURATED

BY: THE COZY BOYZ

Music...the melody of harmonious vibrations. When pondering about the definition of Steez, I found myself evermoreappreciativeofthegiftofmusic.LikeSteez,music embodiessomethingalluringlyobscure.Everysongoffers something uniquely different in and of itself, yet the all containthatSteezysomething FeelfreetousetheQRcode (nextpage)to listenasyougoorplayonyourcommuteor anyotherreasonyoumayhave,asthisplaylistissuitable foralloccasions.Enjoy!

BLEND IN OR STAND OUT

BY: DEMETRIUS MCCLOUD

Stand out in your own way as the tree leaves begin to change While Summertheseasonofboatparties, beach days and barbecues, Fall is widely touted as the season for fashionable, as well as one of my favoriteseasonstodress.

Theblueprintformyfalldresscode isfoundedupononeword–LAYERS! That’s right, it’s the COZY season. From pea coats, cozy sweaters, comfy patterned fleece jackets, the (in)famous gray sweatpants and a goodol’brunchboot!Whenmaking my everyday decisions on what to wear,ImaintainthethoughtthatifI look amazing, I will remain confident Here’ssomeofmygo-to fashioninsightwhengearingupfor theseason

Classic vests and puffers are also making their way back into our hearts(andclosets).Ialwayslovea nice olive vest or brown or black bomber.Neutralcolorsforcoatsand jacketsarealwaysawin.Youcan’t go wrong with camel-toned belts, overcoatsandChelseaboots.Itend to keep things simple underneath andpairmyfitwithapatternedcoat and a fashionable shoe to compliment.

Curating your style requires experimenting,and storeslikeZara, ASOS and Topman are ideal playgroundstoexploreforaffordable andqualitypickups Andifthestore floor underwhelms,thefittingroom returnracks,asyouhaveachanceto find a hidden gem . You may not alwaysbesolucky,butwhenyouare it’sworthit.

While neutral colors are forever timeless, lately a pop of bold really setsthelookoff.Thiscanbedoneby wayofyourshoesoraboldaccessory likeabackpackortotebag.Someof myfavoritesareoftenfoundfrommy new travel bag brand over at “47th Ave’’Fromtraveldufflebags,laptop bags,cross-bodybagsandbackpacks, they’llhavewhatyouneed

Neverneglectyoursenseofsmell! A fire fit is only elevated by an elite aroma.Forme,thearomasofFall–the smell of a dewy morning and cracklingleaves–oftentriggersabout of euphoric nostalgia. They remind meofbeingakidanxiouslyawaiting thefirstdaysofschool.Clotheslaid outthenightbefore,brandnewshoes freshoutofthebox,readytotakeon whateverthedaymayhaveinstore. You don’t need the same backstory, butyoudoneedascent

Do you ever get the feeling you ’ re alwaysbuyingsomethingtowearfor each outing, and each time continuously feel like you have nothingtowearatall?IknowthatI feelthatwayalmosteveryweekend Tobreakoutofthat,Ibegantocraft myclosetbyplacinganemphasison the core, long term pieces and integrating the quick fashion (1-2 wears)tocomplimentaccordingly.

Thecorepiecesarethepillarsofyour personal style, and once embraced, can manifest a style that makes a statement without saying anything at all. Whether you like to keep it simple and blend in or destined to standout,fallinlovewithyourlook and style Delve into timeless tones likenavy,red,greens,whitesandif feeling bold stripes Trifle with differentpieces,keepwhatyoulove andtakebackwhatyoudon’t.That’s whywelovetomorrow!

Fake It Till' You Make It

By: Ehizokha Ihionkhan

Asmanythingsstart,IbegandressingbettersimplybecauseI wanted to stunt. Over time, fashion became an unexpected artistic release that helped me grow close with others while growingconfidence.

ARreading,standardizedexamsanduniformscomposedmost ofmyelementarythroughhighschoolexperiences,andthese ways of thinking can make you too methodical. When your mind-frame is overly rigid, anything that deviates from the normcanquicklybeclassifiedasunalluring.Isaythistoprovide contextaboutmypreviouswayofdressing.Isimplyworeapolo shirt,shorts,andSperry’sbecauseitgotthejobdoneanddidn’t deviatefromthenorm.

I remember sophomore year pulling up to the high school basketballcourtafterschoolinaredsnapback,redshirt,andred sockstomatch Lookingback,thefitwastrash ButIfeltlikea king, and you couldn’t tell me anything that day. More importantly,IlovedthefactthatIwasfinallyexpressingmyself andstandingout.

Nowadays, I like mixing and matching different shapes, textures,andtones.ClothingformenoftenlacksvarietyandI looktomyclothingtooftenbreakupthemonotonyofthedayto day IfImustgotoamandatoryschoolevent,Imightaswellgo inanorangedenimjacketorvelvetblazer It’safreestyleof sortswhenyou’repickingdifferentpiecesandhopingtheyform acohesivefit.It’stheperfectthingtofreeyourmindandhave somefunwithanactivitythatwedoeveryday.

Ofcourse,theheadturnsandcomplimentshelptoo!External validation of my outward appearance is not something I expected to enjoy as much. This may be a result of my insecurities or because I like when my effort is appreciated. Eitherway,asthecomplimentscamerollinginovertime,they slowlybuiltmy confidence Whatweresurfacelevelchangesto myappearancesendeduphavinganimpactonmydeepersense ofworthandself-assurance.

Lastly, clothes have served as a bridge between myself and others. Thereisnothingmorerewardingthanthejerseyswap. Someofmyfavoriteshirtsweregiveningiftexchangeswithmy closestlovedones.BeingabletoshoutoutmyfriendswhenIget acomplimentonafitorplugtheirclothinglineisanamazing feeling

Allthistosaythatdressingyourselfisanart Andarthasits largestimpactwhenthecreatorhasinsightintothemselfand theirreasonforcreating.Ilovethefeelingofmakingquirky pieces match and encouraging others to be even more adventurouswiththeiroutfits.What’syourreason?

DEAR HARLEM

BY: EMERSON LOVELL

Mylove,I'msorry.Ireadthepapersandseehow they try to maim you, they trying to rename you.Don'ttheyknowhowmanyniggasclaim you?! Don't they know history already hall of famedyou?Ican'tblameyoubutIcanreclaim you.

Seeyoutheplacethatraisedme,closetoyour heartiswhereIgotmystart 122ndAndLenox, coldlikecryogenicsbutyoukeptmewarmlike calisthenics.Lifewasn'talwayssweet,butyou mademinecomplete. Youwatchedmegrow, KeptaneyeonmeasIstartedtoletgo, Alwaysremindedmethatmymindwasmybest ammo YeahIwasaloosecannon ButIworeyourstripeslikeafanon.

Youtaughtmehowtofight, Andhowinspiteofthesehandseducationisthe light. OfthatIneverlostsight.

Youtaughtmehowtoball, EventhoughIwasnevernicewiththerock, youinvestedinmystock, Shityoureallyletmeballoneveryblock, AndletmefeellikeIwassomethingspecialas theprettygirlsgawked.

AsIbecameolderIwashungryforknowledge Andyouknewfirstthatthatmeantcollege. Mydesiretobeyourstreetdisciple,younever acknowledged. I'mnottryingtobangnow, Butonlycauseyouwouldn'tallowanyhow. Iwasalwaysinfatuatedwithyourhistory Whenitcametocultureyouwereourpeople's consistory DC canhouseAmerica’scapitolbutyou’remy capitol

CURATING THE COZIEST OF CLOSETS

BY: LEE BARNES

Don’t let the title fool you, this isn’t an article about sweatpants and

pandemic social lives, how do we make ourselves

through pieces that are classic, long-lasting, and are

are

Despitethecontinuedprevalenceof COVID-19,manyofushavereturned toasenseofpre-pandemicnormalcy thathasleftusconfusedwhenit’s time to get dressed. After a few yearsofpajamapantsandhoodies, we ’ re dusting off some of our old piecesforbirthdaybrunches,nights out on the town, and corporate dinners with our clients and colleagues.Ononehandthisisgreat news,butontheother,ourpersonal stylemighthavechangedquiteabit inthelasttwoyears–andevenifwe loveourclothes,thetruthis some ofthemdon’tfitanymore Sohere weare,needingtorebuildourcloset Whereexactlyshouldonebegin?

Withafewbasicpiecesitispossible to feel cozy – in this case being appropriatelydressedandconfident in our clothing choices – without needing an entirely new wardrobe. Now, let’s remember that drip is gender-neutral, so while the examples are masculine leaning, they’re still relevant regardless of howyouidentify.

Let’sstartwithabasicuniform. Formethislookslikeawhitecollared shirtanddarkwashdenim.Foryou thiscouldbeablackv-neckteepaired withblackchinosorevenawell-made grayhoodiewornwithkhakijoggers. Thekeyhereistopickauniformthat –intheory–couldbeworn2-3daysa week without someone noticing. Thesepiecesareflexible,canbeworn toavarietyofplaces,and–ifstyled correctly–arestillflyaf.

Youwanttospiceitupforbrunchor happy hour with the crew? That’s cooltoo. Now,ofcourse,wemustberealistic No one is wearing the exact same thingeveryday,butyouruniformcan beagreatstartingpoint.Inmycase,I can take the white top and denim bottomformulaandrunwithit.Here are two completely different looks that follow the exact same pattern. Even better, these pieces can be mixed and matched, creating more flexibilitywithinyourcloset.

As your wardrobe becomes more flexibleitwillbeeveneasiertospice thingsupforspecialeventsorwhen you ’ re trying to flex on the gram. Howso?Takethatuniformandthrow inastatementaccessory.Aboldshoe, jacket, belt, or hat. And never be afraid of jewelry! With just the 10 staplepiecesabove,thinkthroughthe many aesthetics you could create using the small sampling of accessories shown below. The combinations are endless – and requireminimaleffort.

And guess what? We can make it work for a classier nighttime occasionaswell.

Theeasiestwaytoelevatealookisto add a tailored (or purposely deconstructed)blazer.Takeitastep furtherwithaqualitydressshoe,and with the exception of events requiring cocktail or business professionalattire,you’llbegoodto go. White button down and dark jeans? Yup. Sounds good. The allblackv-neckandchinoslook?

family reunion tees As we step back into our pre-

comfortable through the clothes we wear? Not with casual attire, but

easy to dress up or down when it’s time to remind folks exactly who we

CURATING THE COZIEST OF CLOSETS CONT'D

As long as your blacks match, its giving effortless swag Gray hoodie and khaki joggers? It’s a more casualfit,butwe’restillpassingthevibecheck.Witha blazer and elevated shoe, we ’ re ready for almost anythingincludingbirthdaydinners,industryevents, ordatenightwithbae.Itiscuffingseasonafterall. Withsomevariationsofthebasicuniformoutofthe way,expansioniseasy.

Onceyourclosetisfullofbasics,wantingvarietyis normal.Butasweattempttomoveawayfromfastfashion and consumerism more generally, it is still importanttothinkcriticallyaboutthepiecesthatyou bring into your wardrobe. Do they blend well with yourexistingpieces?Aretheywell-made?Ifnot,do theyatleastlookthepart?Thesearethequestions you’ll want to ask yourself if you’d like to be intentionalaboutreducingyourdependenceontrends while creating a longer-lasting signature aesthetic. Herearesometipsonhowtodothisasyourcloset expands.

Pick a color scheme: I’m not saying wear black everyday,butcomeupwithacolorpalettethatmakes iteasiertomixandmatchyourclothes. Solidcolors,limitpatterns:Inthesameveinasacolor scheme,trytominimizepatterns.Whiletheycanbe great and you should certainly cop pieces that you love,complexpatternsgenerallymakeithardertopair piecesandmaypushustobuymoreitemsthanwe need

Investwhereyoucan:Beyondthingsgoingoutof styleorourbodieschangingovertime,oneofthe many reasons people frequently find themselves needingtorebuildtheirwardrobesisduetoowning cheaplymadegarments.Inflationisveryreal,but, when possible, invest in pieces from reputable brands–whilealsobeingcarefulnottoequateprice orbrandnamewithquality.

Qualityisnotalwayseasytoevaluate,butstartwith looking at how pieces are made. What fabrics are used?Arerandomthreadshangingout?Areseams straight? Moreover, as you begin this investment journey,startwithyourcoreuniformpieces.Evenif yousplurgeabit,you’llneverbemadathavingwellmade white button downs, soft black v-neck tees, qualitydenim,orversatileaccessoriesinyourcloset They’llalwaysbeontrendandhopefully,they’lllast foryearstocome

This doesn’t happen overnight, but a closet transformationcanhappenfasterthanyou’dthink.

Afterjustafewpurchasesitispossibletocuratea closetthatwillhaveyoufeelingcozynomatterwhat room you enter – because remember, coziness is aboutpersonalcomfort–andcomfortcomesfrom confidence. Even if your confidence doesn’t come fromhowyoulook,lookingthepartisneverabad idea. At the very least, you’ll know you ’ re putting yourbestfootforward,andatbest–dependingon whatyou’relookingfor–youmightmessaround andgetcuffedup Andyoucan’tgettoomuchcozier thanthat

Fashion, Food, and Fun With Your Friends Fashion, Food, and Fun With Your Friends

By: Sean H. Palmer

Anybodywhoknowsme,knowsthatIwillcleanmy house and watch fashion shows all day long. It’s a secretpassionofmine.Assuch,itprobablydoesn’t surprisemanypeoplethatI’mafashion-head,inlove withpointofview,texture,style,andaesthetics Ilike bothhighandlowdesign Ilovemixingclothesthat shouldn’t go together. I love experimenting with things…andIlovethinkingaboutthebodyasart.

Soimaginemysurprisewhenagroupofmalefriends gottogether…andmanyofus,havinggainedweight during the pandemic…wanted to refresh our wardrobestogiveuslightforthenewyear Inour conversationoverbeersandagoodfirepit,brothers wereabletotalkabouttheirinsecuritiesaroundstyle, bodyimage,andlife.Forme,thiswasabitofanah-ha moment as I’d already begun transitioning my wardrobeandtryingtomakesomechangestohowI understandmyfashionsense.And,Ioftenfindthatthe holidayseasonisthePERFECTtimetoreinventone’s self,andtorefreshyourownpersonalstyle. Iwanttoacknowledgethatstyleisfarbeyondbeing abletopurchaseapairofGucciloafersoraLVscarf Style, meaning a point of view that says I am intentional and I think about my body as art, is somethingyoucandevelopandstudy…butitisn’tadd money and stir. Although, money does make style easier,unlessyouareabombthrifterandsewer.

Thus,whencreatingthisevent,Ithoughtalotabout notjustwhatmyfriendsneeded,butwhatIneededas well Being a Black man who is seeking to be body positive,agewithgrace,andmakepeacewithwhatI haveanddonothave…hasallbeensortofdifficult.

Here’showI’mdoingit.

First off, I began by researching fashion style influencerswhohelpedmetounderstandfashion.Ilike alittlebitofeverybodyfromCarlaRockmore,withher amazing outrageous wardrobe to instagram’s TheChicCityGirl,whoabsolutelyknowshowtowork with patterns. But, my favorite, given my own size, complexion,andvaluesisDestinundertheInstagram name carpe dmg Destin’s style is typified by an appreciation of hip hop culture, custom suits, high fashionpieces,alongwitheverydaythingsyoucanfind inTargetorWalmartinBigandTall.Heseemstohit therightnoteof“IknowwhatI’mdoing”and“fuckthe rules.”Forme,lookingatthevarietyoffashioncontent is helpful because you can begin to imagine possibilitiesinyourownwardrobe.Ilovethatsomeof myfriendsevenposttheirfashionsoftheday.Andan importantpartofplanninganeventlikethis,isbeing abletocultivatecool,affordabilityandaspirationinall shapes,sizesandcomplexions!

My color scheme is leather brown (conjuring notions of actual leather goods and cigars), olive green (with its decidedlymetropolitanmeetsthestreetsaesthetic),andthe oftenforgottenmetallicbronze(withitsrichundertonesof red, pink and orange in conversation). I use these colors becausetheypairwelltogether.Theyaresophisticated,and sometimes often forgotten because of the copious use of Blackinfashion.ButthesecolorslookgoodonanyBlack skintone.

My soundscape features a mixture of the ever popular Roddy Rich and A$AP, and vintage sounds by Jay-Z and Pharell I’mpairingthatwithbounce,trap,andchopped& screwed versions of Anita Baker And then finally, AfroBeatsinterspersedthroughout becausethemotherlandis infulleffect.

Visually,Pyer-Mossfashionshowsareonaloop,alongwith fashiondesignersinspiredbyVirgilAblohatLouisVuitton. Again,thevisualisimportanttothegroove,becausefashion isvisual.

I’mpouringupclearcocktailsforthiseventthatareginger andginforward.Witha“NewNegro”takeonacharcuterie board, featuring pickled okra, strawberries, pineapples, smoked cheese, smoked salmon, white wine chicken skewers, “Atlanta” shrimp & crab salad, and breads and crackersofallsorts

Thisisanactivityheavyexperiencebecauseit’sallabout learning Sobeforehandafewassignmentshavebeengiven Oneofwhichisorganizeyourclosetandtakepicturesof thatorganization,makingnoteonwhatyoudon’thavethat makesoutfitswork,andmakingnoteonwhatyouhavealot of.AcoupleofmyfriendslikeBlack…sotheirwardrobesare Black heavy. I, on the other hand, have a navy driven wardrobe because of my preppy nature. Another friend doesn’tactuallyknowwhathehasbecauseeverythingis literallyonthefloor.Andbeforewecandoanything,we havetoassesswhereyouare.

So this is literally brothers doing good in the neighborhood. Also, you must bring the following items:1.aclothingitemthatinspiresthewardrobeyou want, 2. your signature scent, and 3. an item that somebodygaveyou,butyouhavenoideawhatyouare goingtodowithit.Thesethreeitemssetthestagefor whatwearegonnadoduringtheRe-FRESH. Inthemeantime,I’vesnaggedtwentydifferentcologne samples from local stores, for our very own cologne counter,laidoutonaleatherservingtray.Thisallows mygueststotakehomeascent,andwearitforafew daysbeforebuyingsomethingtheyhate.Andwecan talkaboutwhyorwhyitdoesn’tworkforthem.Isee thisasastarteractivitypairedwithaworksheetthat gives you notes to pick up on: musk, floral, vanilla, maryjane,cinnamon,lavender,citrus Isthisscentfor day,evening,workorspecialoccasion?Thiswouldbea partofourstarterconversation.

And now I either invite a male stylist to tackle one issue:sneakercuration,wearingAfrica,orderingsuits (andtakingmeasurements)tohelpusbuildoutthe wardrobe with knowledge. Thankfully my guy, KashmereonInstagram,canprovidesuits,shoesand takemeasurements.Nowwiththisdone,Iinviteeach ofustolookbackatthethreeitemswe’vebrought,and then let’s make a list of things we need and want looking through the pictures, wardrobe, and inspirationsbroughtbyeachparticipant.

If time allows, we each budget $50-100 for a minishopping spree in the local vintage spots with a vintageshopper.Iftimedoesn’twork,weschedulea daytobegintacklingourlist.Andlastly,weprovidean opportunityfora$25giftexchangewitheachperson bringingsomethingthattheywanttoputpeopleup on.IfI’mfeelingrealbourgeois,I’vealreadyordered assorted handkerchiefs and/or socks for their (fictitious)blazersforthemtochoosefromasasmall parting gift Again, the goal is to upgrade and REFRESHinanenvironmentthatbringsyourvision boardtolife.

DuetoFedExdelays thatshouldexpect when(im)patiently awaitingany importantpackage,I re-routedthepackage toalocalpharmacyso

thatIcouldpickupmynewtoyas soonasavailable(andthisisn’ta knock on FedEx, which ironically hasrunontheslogan“theworld ontime”overthepast~15years–just my glass-half-empty perspectiveofthewaylifeworksat times.) My relationship with the iPhone (and related Apple products) has changed since the lasttimeIupgradedmydevicein 2019. Since then, I’ve been introducedtoworldsthatIbarely knewexistedafewyearsback.

My middle-of-the-road familiarity andengagementwiththecomplex universesofETFs,REITs,peer-topeerlending,cryptocurrency,and intermediate and advanced-level fitnesswouldnotbepossibleifnot for the 21st-century palm computer.

We are all too familiar with the iPhone, and millennials’ (and later generations’) dependence on our smart devices. cNET writer Dan Avery reported that in 2021, the average time spent on mobile deviceswas4.8hoursadayinthe top10globalmarkets,anincrease of30%from2019.Granted,weare still dealing with (or in the immediate aftermath of) a global pandemic.Somewouldarguethese numbersareinflatedsincewehad nothingtodobutscroll.Thearticle goes on to mention, though, that the average American spent 4.1 hours a day on mobile devices in 2021, compared to only 3.1 hours watchingTV.

The negative mental and physical implications surrounding America’srevisedgreatestpastime hasalsobeenwell-documentedon pressandsocialmediaplatforms.A 2015 Cosmopolitan article titled18 WaysYourPhoneIsRuiningYour Healthmethodicallywalksreaders throughahostofhealthissuesthat provethemagazine’ssub-title:

Thepandemic reassured methatthereis.Istill remember the famous 2009Applecommercial from almost a decade ago–”theresanappfor that.”

Althoughit’seasytospendthat4.8 hours a day mentioned above perusing through Instagram and never-endingTwitterfeeds,there’s alsoexplorationandeducation-onthe-go, through Amazon’s Kindle app, and Apple’s industry-leading Podcastapp.

My middle-of-the-road familiarity andengagementwiththecomplex universesofETFs,REITs,peer-topeer lending, cryptocurrency, and intermediate and advanced-level fitnesswouldnotbepossibleifnot for the 21st-century palm computer Inordertostayphysicallyfit,Iama userandfanof“Fitbod”(@Fitbod). Users of the no-frills app can choose their training levels based on prior experience; the muscle groupstheywouldliketoworkon for the relevant training session; theequipmentthattheycurrently have available/are willing to use-downtobodyweight-onlyexercises forusersthathavenoequipmentat all; and a tracker of how many timesinagivenweekormonththe user has worked out previously. I haveheardofsimilarapps,suchas Nike’s Run Club, SmartGym, and Apple’sownFitnessapp

Iwon’tsellreadersadreamthatI’m notspendingcountlesshoursaweek still entrenched with mind-numbing socialmedia scrollingmyInstagram pageforthelatestsubtleflex;getting deep in the crevices of Reddit communities,whereIcanseewhatmy fellow Knicks and Jets fans, hip-hop and rap imbibers, and Lululemon aficionadoshavetosay(andyes,Isaid thatlastonewithmychest)I’vecome to live with the sad reality that I probably won’t ever curb my social mediacrave,andborderlineaddiction. I’mnotwritingthistoevenpretendI havethesedevices(andtheuseofthem to one ’ s real benefit) even remotely figured out. My only point is to see whatelseisoutthereinthemobile world.Exploreyourinterestsandthe thingsthatmakeone‘better’through these apps, even if it’s for a short periodin-betweenthelikesandTikTok reels

lfiguredthisoutonlyafewyearsago andhaven’tbeenshyaboutitsince moneyandaccesstoresourcesislike… really important For finance and investing,readersofthismagazineare likelyalreadyfamiliarwithMint,aonestop-shopwhereuserscanlookattheir checking account, savings, and debt. Homeownerscanevenaddtheamount that’sstillowedontheirhomesonthe app, and current and former college andgrad-schoolattendeescanseehow muchremainsontheirstudentloans downtothecent(justincaseweenjoy thedailyreminders.)Ireallydocheck theappeveryday,albeitIskippedthe studentloansyncfornow

By Chelsey williams

Six Steps to Style for the Style Novice

By: Kyle Atekwana

I have to say I'm pretty proud of my style progression up to this point. Don’t get me wrong-therewereafewquestionableoutfits alongthewayforsure,butitwasallapartof thelearningprocess.LookingbackonethingI dowishisthatIhadhadaguidetocondense whatseemsliketrillionsoffashiontrendsand opinions into something more basic and digestible.Lookingback,Ifeltlikethereare6 basicprinciplesIcouldfollowthatwouldhave helped demystify and get rid of all the noise whenitcomestofashioninformation,whichI hopecanhelpyouskiptheguessworkandbring outyourinnerstyleicon!

only to be greeted by the dreadful "Page 1 of 1002"isincrediblyoverwhelmingButstickwith me!It’stoosoontogiveup!

Part1:FindingYourFit

Part3:ModelYourMotivation

A major key to being well dressed is having solid,qualitybasicitemstomakeupthebulkof yourwardrobe.Fortops,you’llwanttoacquire t-shirts,polos,andbuttondowns,3or4ineach category spanning the base colors of white, black,gray,andblue.Forbottoms,apairofblue darkwashjeans,andtwopairsofchinos(navy blue and brown are my go-tos, but any 2 generally neutral colors should do). Once you haveafoundationofafewsolidpiecesthathave noticeablygoodqualitymaterials,youcanbegin togenerallylookwelldressedallthetime,with littletonoeffortatall. You’dbeamazedbyhowmuchgoingfroman ill-fillingtoawell-fittingshirtcandoforyour overall look. While general trends can lean towards one fit over another during certain phasesofstyle,ifitfitsyouwellyoutrulycan’t gowrong.Inmyopinion,aslimmerfitisbetter, andwillalwaysbeinstyle.Atailored$300suit fromJos.ABankwilllookmuchbetterthana $1000 suit from Suit Supply that doesn’t fit yourshouldersorhasyouswimminginyour pantlegs.Mygeneralruleofthumbisthis:if youtryonwhatcouldbetheperfectpiecebutit doesn'tfitinawaythatmakesyoulookandfeel good,putitback:it’snottheperfectpiece

So,you’vegotasolidfoundation,butnowwhat? Anotherareawherefolksstrugglewithfashion is finding inspiration. To move beyond your basics,youreallywanttothinkaboutwhatkind of look really embodies what you want to express to the world. There is a plethora of options when it comes to finding inspiration, butmyfavoritewaytogaininspirationisfrom look books. There are often links to all the differentarticlesofclothing,andasfarasI’m concerned,there’snoreasontotrytoguesshow toputafittogether,whenyoucanbuyevery piecethatthemodeliswearingrightthere! Establishing your fashion foundation in some waysmightbethehardeststep Justlookingat asinglebrand'sonlineshoppingsite,

Part2:BuildYourQualityBasics

Six Steps to Style for the Style Novice

Part4:FindYourFlair

Next,wehavetheaccents Thesearethe piecesthatwillhavetheflairtoreallyturn itupintheroom Thiscouldbesomething like a vintage green leather jacket, the perfect paisley shirt, or a pair of ninja cargopants.Thesecanbewornwithmore basicpiecestostandoutasahighlightor combinedtogethertocreateeyepopping outfits. Once you have a foundation of solidpiecesaround,takesomerisksand branchout!Evenjustasingleeye-catching piececanestablishyouasthestyleicon thatyoutrulyare.

Part5:BuildQualityBasics(2.0)

Asoflate,Ihavereallyrecognizedthevalue ofaveryhigh-qualitybasicitem.Storeslike Theory and Boss provide a lot of simple, well-made basics that feel--and most importantlylook--verylushtotheeye.This isoftenbecausetheseitemshaveahigher thread count than some cheaper options This higher thread count makes the threading on your clothes look more continuous,thereforegivingthemahigher luster that makes your clothes look, well, luxurious.Havingoneortwooftheseitems (sayawhiteorblackshirtandagreatpairof jeans),canreallyhelpyoulevelupyourbasic togivetheoccasionalsubtlyrichflair.

Part6:AccessTheAccess

Therightaccessoriescanturneventhe simplestofoutfitsintoaboldfashion statement,sodon'tsleeponthem!Mygo-tos areasimplewatch,abeadedbraceletortwo, andacoupleofgold-toneringsoneachhand. Formyshoes,Ihavethreemainpairsthat workwithmostofmyoutfits:1)whiteleather sneakers(cleanssomucheasierthancanvas), 2)asolidpairofdressboots(fordayswhen you,say,needtogostraightfromchurchto brunch),and3)apairofathleticsneakersfor everyday,casualstyle.GetstartedwithlowriskinvestmentsfromshopslikeASOS,Zara, andH&M,thathaveawidevarietyofstylesof jewelryandshoestofitvirtuallyeverystyle preference

GoForthAndBeFashionable

Albeitcliched,theoldsayingisright:youwear theclothes;theclothesdon’twearyouFinding yourtruestyleisaboutmakingsomething yourown--areflectionofyourinner confidence.Ican'tcountthenumberoftimes I’veheardsomeonesay,“Icouldneverwear that.”Thethingis-Iwouldhavesaidtheexact samething5yearsago.ButthemoreI branchedoutandchallengedmyself,themore confidentIbecamewithmyfashionchoices. Whetheryou’rewearingasolidgolddressshirt orabikerjacketwithawhitetee,yourinner confidenceisallyouneedtotrulyownyour style.

A Guide to Picking the Perfect Handbag

By: Peyton Chaney

Are you in the market to buy the perfecthandbag? Maybeit’syourfirst designer bag and you have been itchingtotaketheplunge. Maybeyou want to build a collection and are thinking of your next purchase. Or maybe you always thought handbags were gender-specific even though these handbags can be worn beautifully by anyone! Regardless of yourreason,thisguidewillaskyouthe necessaryquestionstohelpyoumake therightdecision. Now,I’mnoexpert, butassomeonewhohasspentthelast fewyearsbuildingacollection,Ihave learnedathingortwoonpickingthe perfecthandbag(30tobeexact!)and wouldlovetooffersomeadvicetoget youtotheperfecthandbag

Thinkaboutwhyyouwanttobuy a handbag in the first place. Considerwhetheryouarelooking foraneverydaybag,abagthatcan transition from day to night, a statementpiece,orsimplyanother bagtoaddtoyourcollection. Your purposewillalsodrivethetypeof bagyoumaywant. Maybeyouare looking for an item that is longlasting and durable, so you may consider buying a leather bag. Maybeyouareafrequenttraveler, andyouneedalargepersonalitem to fit all your essentials. Maybe youaregoingoutwithfriendsso anythingthatcanholdyourcards, keys,andphonewilldothetrick. Ormaybeyouwantthebagjust becauseit’scute! Focus on your purpose and your search will becomeeasier.

Forexample,Iamatapointinmy collectionwhereIamlookingtofill gaps.InoticedovertheyearsthatI wearalotofwhite,andyetIamstill withouttheperfectwhitebagto elevatethoselooksandlastfor severalseasons.Eventually,Iaspire tohaveabagforanyoccasionandin anycolor(unfortunately,Istillhave alongwaytogo).

Somefolksmaytellyoutoconsider theresalevalueofthebagbecause it’saninvestment.Letmetellyou,I amnotoneofthosepeople. Excludingahandfulofdesigners, yourbagwilllikelydecreaseinvalue andthat’sokay!Thereisnoneedto harponthosethoughtswhenit comestochoosingabagifit’snot importanttoyouChoosethebag thatmakesthemostsenseforyour ownreasons

A Guide to Picking the Perfect Handbag (Cont'd)

Lookatyourcloset.Howwouldyou describe your personal style to others? What’s your inspiration? Whatdoesyourlooksayaboutyou? Yourbagwillbeanextensionofthe style you portray to others so the bag should reflect your likes, creativity, and lifestyle. For instance,doyouwearalotofcolors or tend to stay neutral? Do you preferabagwithlogosalloverthe material, or would you prefer a minimalist,label-freehandbag? Do youcareifthebagistrendingfor thisyear,ordoyouwantaclassic piece that will stand the test of time? Figure out what’s most important to you and that should helpnarrowyourdecision. Anotherthoughttoconsiderishow doyouseeincorporatingthisbagin yourlife Are you sticking within thecomfortofyourpersonalstyleor areyoulookingtoswitchthingsup? Whether those considerations are clear or not, I would recommend seeing the bag in person before purchasing if you can There is nothinglikethefeelofanewpurse onyourbodyversuspicturesonline. Andifyoucan’tseethevision,don’t buyit. Butontheotherhand,ifyou findyourselfdecidingthatyoumay want a little bit of everything, welcometotheclub.

Buy now, cry later! Kidding, kidding As much as I love to splurge on certain brands, I know my limit and so should you. And the perfect bag does nothavetobreakthebank! This is where your research skills should kick in Look up your favorite designers or search for new brands that are unfamiliar toyou. Thebeautyofbuyinga bag is that your options are endlesssodonotfeelrestrained because of your budget And even if you have a champagne diet on a beer budget, consider looking into vintage and prelovedoptions.

Styling Your Temple: A guide to picking your tattoos

By: Emerson Lovell

The story of my life can be told through a glance of my bare body. Adornedwithink,myskinishometo over50tattoos.Overtimeindividual pieces have been condensed into a larger work, so if you hear a lower number from me that is just my artistic interpretation at work. My tattoos are a reminder of the places I’ve been, destinations I aspire to go andasourceofinspirationintimesof necessity If you ’ re debating whether you ’rereadyforatattooofyourown, here’s a guide to illuminate the process.

showofftheirculture,pledgetheir support to their favorite team, inspire themselves, etc. Once you ’ re set on what tattoo you want, give some thought as to why. Having a reason for why makesthetattooimmenselymore intimate.Thereisnothingwrong with an impulsive tattoo session, I've been known to do that from timetotime,butyoualwayswant tobeabletoanswerthisquestion: Whatdoesthistattoomeantome? However, no matter the reason youchoose,youdon’toweanyone anexplanationastowhyyougot it!Thisisforyou! Step 1: Solidify Your Step 1: Solidify Your Reasoning Reasoning Step 2: Consider the Step the Step the Consequences

Therearemanyreasonsforonetoget a tattoo. Some people get tattoos becausetheywantto:payhomageto aperson(fallenfamilymember,new member of the family or for some celebrities),shoutouttheplacewhere they are from, memorialize the perfectdayorscenefromamovie,

This is true for everything, always consider the consequences. There are a lot of health implications associated with tattoos. It is quite dangerous for someone that has heart conditions, diabetes, hemophilia, epilepsy or is on blood thinners.Forsomeonewhokeloids,

itmaybeill-advisedtogetatattoo becauseakeloidcoulddevelopand alterthefinalversionofthetattoo. Alwaysbeforthrightwithyour doctororpotentialartisttomake sureitissafeforyoutogettattooed Evenposttattoo,infectionscanoccur whichcouldresultinyouneeding antibiotics.Infectionsusuallyhappen fromnotcleaningyourtattoo appropriately,exposingyourtattoo toanuncleanenvironmentoreven soiledtattooequipment(always makesurenewneedlesandinkis beingusedwithyouInfectionsare

STYLING YOUR TEMPLE: A Guide to picking your tattoos (Cont'd)

Thoughnotasprevalentasbefore, thereareprofessionalimplications

Some employers do not appreciate tattoos (no matter how beautifully they are). Apparently, the stigma around tattoos stems from employers not wanting something that could offend their clients/stakeholdersvisibleontheir employees.Isthatlame?Absolutely!

But the bills must be paid If you think your employer would care aboutyourtattoos,filethatnote-toself. It doesn’t mean do not get tattooed,butinsteadconsiderwhere yougetitandhowyoucancoverit up(shoutouttomyfolkswithneck tatts!).

Step 3: Do Your Research Step 3: Do Your Research 3: Your

Withthepermanenceoftattoos,itis

imperative to pick the right artist forthejob.Alotoftattooshopshave walk-ins which are tempting but booking a consultation with an artistisbetter.Thiswayyougetto talktothepersonthatwillbringthe worktolife.Youcantellthemthe story behind why you want your piece and in many instances, they will offer suggestions to enhance your vision I tend to talk to my artist about the sentiment behind my tattoo, suggested location for thetattooandhowlongtheythink it’lllast However,forafirst-timer, youshouldasktoseetheirportfolio!

You want to see what the artist specializes in because you want theirareaofexpertisetocoveryour piece Sometypesofspecialistareas are: fine line, single needle, microstyle, minimalism, black and gray realism, abstract & geometric art, watercolor,ornamentaltribal,floral, calligraphy and illustrative color. Youshouldnotbegoingtosomeone thatspecializesincalligraphyfora geometric art tattoo. At the beginning of my journey, I always asked if they’ve tattooed on someonemyskin-tonebefore.That applies more to medium and dark toned people because ink doesn't pickupwellonourskin.

STYLING YOUR TEMPLE: A Guide to picking your tattoos (Cont'd)

Step 4: Follow Through Step 4: Follow Through 4:

You’ve picked your reasoning, you considered the consequences, you ’ ve done your research,nowitistimetogoget thatink!Itisalittlepainful,but itisyours.It’suniquetoyouand theretorepresentwhateveryou want or need it to Rock whatever you get with pride whether it is on display for the worldorit'sforyoureyesonly Oncewhateveryouconjuredup in your head comes to life on your skin, it becomes part of yourSteez!

ItoldmyfriendIwantedsomething that represents balance because I found that whenever I temporarily achieve balance, I feel invincible. She added the wisdom knot on her own accord to convey that there’s wisdominbalanceandinherdesign lockedtheYing-Yangsymbolinthe wisdom knot so that balance will not be as fleeting as I described to her.

Not all my descriptions work so if my friends can’t make my vision cometolife,IcheckPinteresttosee if I can find something close and then make a consultation with a tattoo artist noting the changes I wantmade.

If I want a scene, it’s almost always going to be anime! My obsession with anime is directly correlated to my obsession with self-progression. The anime I watch focuses on the main characters pushing past their limitstoascendtoanotherlevel The concept of working relentlessly to attain your final form is relatable to a perpetual overachieverlikemyself.Plus,the protagonist usually has to overcome a lot of obstacles to become the best/strongest version of themselves, a great reminder that shit ain’t sweet!

Here's some insight into Here's some insight into Here's my process: my process:

If I want something abstract, I firstgotomyfriendsandseeif they can draw it out I give themasmuchdetailaspossible on what I envision. I also explainthesentimentbehindit. Thatlastpartiskeybecauseit can help them add a layer of depth that makes your peace totally unique An example is my back tattoo that has the wisdom knot Adinkra symbol andtheYing-Yangsymbol.

IfIwantwords(oftenasareminder orinspiration)IlooktotheBible.I rereadtheversesthatresonatewith me.Sometimesit’sthethemesthat motivate me like the ones around stepping out in faith, they always usetheword“Perhaps”orthefruits ofthespiritasagreatreminderto be kind, loving, disciplined and constantly seek joy (there are 5 moreIknowlol).

The anime tattoos I have are Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z, Yusuke and Hiei from YuYu Hakusho, Garou from One Punchman (yes you can be inspired by a villain and still be good!) and Deku from My Hero Academia the embodiment of goingbeyond,PLUSULTRA!

A Guide to Home buying

By: James Walker III

Let’s start with the obvious, the marketisnotidealandifyoudonot havetobuyahomerightnowIwould notadvisebuying.Ontheotherhand, somerealestateadvisorswouldargue that buying a home today and refinancing a few years from now is justfine.Regardlessofyourbelief,the ABCs of home buying are vastly the sameandshouldbemastered.

For clarity, this estimate is separate from a “PreQualification”whichcomesalittle laterintheprocess Nowthatyou have an estimate of your budget you can use Zillow or Redfin to find suitable properties I have outlinedafewquestionsbelowfor youtoaskapotentiallenderthat areveryimportant:

VISIONS OF STEEZ: THE COZY SHOOT