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Woodie White takes tennis style off the court – Andscape

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The term lifestyle is usually seen merely as a marketing pitch for products or brands, but when applied to a Chicagoan Woodie Whitestays a much simpler concept: get out and do exciting things. The first time I saw him was inside a series of videos on YouTube he did it with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He starts by visiting the team’s facilities and learning about the every day lifestyle of skilled hockey players. But soon, he adds ON protective equipment, jersey, skates and ice heads. By the end, he watches the Coyotes play live and is totally absorbed in the motion. “Man, I had so much fun,” White recalled excitedly. “I think that’s what I’m looking for in life. It’s always nice to pick up new things, like new hobbies and new interests, and that’s what I do. Just what interests me.”

Oyster Tennis Club founder Woodie White wears On trainers and items from the Oyster Tennis Club clothing collection.

Sam Macon from Oyster Tennis Club

White founded the brand Oyster Holdings in 2014, with a business ethos of “Travel is Sport” and offering a wide selection of styles to wear while traveling. Over the next decade, Oyster expanded to incorporate the Oyster Expedition, a mountain climbing and outdoor adventure group, and the Oyster Tennis Club, a weekly gathering of individuals playing tennis on public courts. The goal is to extend the number of individuals, especially Black people, usually participating in these sports and activities. Now Oyster Tennis Club has began cooperation with the Swiss sportswear company On Roger Clubhouse Properformance-ready sneakers designed for tennis and on a regular basis life.

The clean and restrained design refers to the history of the sport. The ivory and evergreen color scheme pays homage to the grass courts of Wimbledon, where the sneaker’s namesake, former tennis player Roger Federer, won a record eight times. The same CloudTec performance features that make the brand beloved by runners also point to the way forward for the sport, making the model playable on multiple surfaces and worn in quite a lot of contexts. “For me, these are performance shoes. But they feel like a modern shoe that you want to have,” White said. “It means when I leave in the morning, go to work and run, and then on Wednesday at 6pm we have the Oyster Tennis Club match, I’m in the same shoes.” The Clubhouse Pro also comes with extra cushioning along the midsole. White is hesitant to call the lifestyle shoe collaboration On. “I do not really imagine on this category of lifestyle footwear. For me, lifestyle is something you reside, not something you create in terms of product.

Tennis sneakers have a deep cultural history, from Adidas’ legendary Stan Smith shoes and the cool Rod Lavers that debuted in 1970 to the brilliant neon Nike Air Tech Challenge shoes worn by Andre Agassi and the Reebok Court Victory Pumps worn by Michael Chang, each in the Nineteen Nineties. However, the sneaker’s place in the cultural zeitgeist has as much to do with how extraordinary people wore them each day as with their athletic achievements. Tennis can seem confined behind the tall hedges of country clubs or the closed doors of prohibitive training complexes. U.S. Open finalist Francis Tiafoe was only introduced to the sport through his father’s work as maintenance chief at a suburban Junior Tennis Center outside Washington, D.C., where he and his family sometimes slept in a warehouse.

A well-known theme in fashion, especially black fashion, has been to take the traditionally elitist aesthetics of country clubs, Ivy Leagues – polo shirts, button-down oxfords, striped rugby shirts, tennis shoes – and transform them right into a more democratic, accessible and classy look. Changing the different canvases on which clothing is presented – from suburban to urban, private to public – can completely change the context of the garment and its wearers. Roger Clubhouse Pro is each a part of this tradition and separate from it. “It’s like we took the green and white aesthetic of a country club, put it on a professional tennis model and then brought it to the park,” White said. “It’s the same aesthetic of luxury, but now you can see it in a park with cracked courts.”

Oyster Tennis Club is attempting to further this subversion by changing the context around where equipment ought to be worn, who’s playing and where it ought to be played. “The social part and my involvement in spaces that are not traditionally ours was just an interest of mine,” White said. “I’ve had experiences in some neighborhoods where people have come up to us and asked if you live here,” White said, recalling events at the Oyster Tennis Club. “Because you are playing tennis on a public court in Pacific Palisades, but the attitude is, ‘What are you doing driving through the hills in search of a tennis court?’ And you then realize that you just should not welcome there.

The next time I see White, I’m on a Zoom call. Due to a little bit confusion about time zones once we planned our chat, it was early for him. But he’s punctual and able to talk as soon as he drinks his coffee. He’s in quite an excellent mood. “I was just looking at the gram and saw (footage of) the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Roger Federer pulled up and I thought, “Oh, great.” He’s at the Rolex Masters. He is a Rolex athlete. He jumps out of the car and what is he wearing?: Oyster Clubhouse professionals,” he said with a smile. What’s next for Oyster Tennis Club after its sneaker collaboration made waves around the world? “More tennis. We wish to expand to Atlanta. We wish to keep the free urban tennis movement alive, attract people and construct community.

Greg Whitt is a author from Washington, DC. His work has appeared in VIBE, Genius, Consequence of Sound and several other other publications. He likes freestyle when he’s alone in the automotive.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.


Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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