the ELITE club

the ELITE talk: Style.Confidence.Substance.

Name: Gabriel Rojas

Describe your personal aesthetic? Do you have a word or a phrase that you think defines your style?

I don't think I have a specific style because I enjoy wearing urban clothing but I also enjoy a preppy style as well. I guess you can say I wear what ever appeals to me and catches my eye instead of just one specific style.

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t do without?

The one piece in my wardrobe I couldn't do without would have to be all of my footwear. Not just one pair, but every pair I own because I create all my outfits based off the footwear I wear. Its almost like a bottom-up process; I buy clothes to match my footwear as opposed to buying footwear to match my clothes.

What is your favorite quote?

"You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period." - Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness

Do you plan to give back to your community? if so how?

I definitely do want to give back to my community. Being a rapper, I consider my hometown my community but I also consider everyone that will help me get to where I want to be in life, and any fans of my music, my community as well. I feel that if I can make music for my fans that will love it and love what ever message they take from my music, then I can dedicate my time to doing anything for the people who support me. Whether it be donating to charities, making music for people to connect to, or simply just spending time with the people I love.

You can find more on our friend by visiting: GOOD WRAPPER

We TUMBLE

Yes we tumble. Reach out, connect, and follow us on tumblr.

www.itstheeliteclub.tumblr.com

the ELITE talk: Style.Confidence.Substance.

From the perspective of a college senior, meeting and connecting with other people is crucial to the college experience. I can attest to this after meeting Alex Delany, a fellow graphic designer and blogger. Getting to know someone that has a shared love, respect, and understanding for design and creativity is highly inspiring. Alex is an interesting, humble, and personable individual. It became evident after talking for only a few minutes that we have a lot in common and that this incident may well be the start to an ongoing friendship. We even discussed the possibility of launching a blog series on the Elite website called “Blazers & Chinos.” We will use this series as a way to further express our inspirations, love for menswear, and style in general.

Name: Alex Delany, Graphic Design major, Marketing minor.

Describe your personal aesthetic? Do you have a word or a phrase that you think defines your style?

I like to think of my personal aesthetic as a fusion of classic American and Italian styles. It's a timeless, casual elegance; understated, but bold at the same time. I like mixing texture and pattern while keeping a relatively conservative color palette.

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t do without?

That's a tough one, but I would have to say chinos. I wear them almost every day of the week.

What is your favorite quote?

"Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication" - Leonardo da Vinci

Do you plan to give back to your community? if so how?

I believe that people should use their gifts to help their community and themselves. As a designer, I give my resources to charities, organizations, and other groups who need help in the field of design. It makes achieving a goal easier, if you have your information and materials presented in an attractive and relatable manner.

You can find more on our friend Mr. Delany by visiting his blog: http://mypantalones.tumblr.com/

Lingering Love 3

Lingering Love is simply a tribute to Air Jordan Retros. It’s our way of expressing how much we appreciate Michael Jordan and the impact he has had on culture. Inspired by our upbringings and common love for J's this post features sneaker-lovers talking about their past experiences and their genuine love for them.

It’s safe to assume that if you’ve heard of a brand called Nike, you probably have some knowledge about their affiliation with the name Jordan. Michael Jordan is widely considered the best basketball player to have ever stepped on the court, yet it’s off the hardwood where he continues to build his legacy.

After getting drafted in 1984 with the third overall pick by the Chicago Bulls, Jordan signed an endorsement deal with Nike. During this time, Nike was a struggling shoe company trying to find its footing against brands like Adidas and Converse. Nike saw something special in Michael Jordan, they saw a chance, an opportunity. He was a champion with personality, charisma, and heart.

Air Jordan shoes have consistently been among the best selling basketball shoes since their creation in 1985. Air Jordan Shoes were a part of the Nike, Inc. family until late in 1997 when Jordan became its own sub-brand of Nike.

"He became, ultimately, probably the greatest basketball player of all time. And set the tone for what became, not just a great endorsement, but has now become a brand.”-phil knight

Some of this success can be attributed to the fact that the design of each shoes has been inspired by his life, hobbies, and ideas. The stories and feelings of his shoes are dedicated to significant moments in his career. Growing up everyone wanted to be like Mike, and to be like Mike meant buying his shoes. It didn’t matter if the shoes didn’t help one jump higher or play better. You just had to have'em.

The shoe sort of developed a life of it’s own, transcending basketball and breeding a subculture.