LM

LM Lately

2011-10-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

If your waundering what look LM is sporting now days. Fest your eyes.

LM's interview with PMD...

2011-08-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, its true. I finally let someone pick my brain.

You work... we shoot!

2011-08-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Brand: Circa 24 (swimwear)
Photographer: Diego Jeanty
Stylist: Leah Misika

Heatstroke photo shoot; Hot sun, hot models. I love making people look beautiful!

LM Grad Look !

2011-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Get the scoop on where and how to get my LM grad look. It's as easy as 123...

1. Provocative lipstick by Mattese Elite ($12) rickys.com

2. Asos-Pleated dress with drape front ($68) asos.com

3. Antwerp platform peep-toes ($439.com) theresa.com (This is not the actual shoes from LM's look. Her shoes was a one of a kind Sergio Zelger look. Worth? Priceless.

A Matter of The Sole

2011-02-20T20:59:00.000-08:00

Ever heard the saying; "Good shoes take you to good place." Well it's true. If you are having trouble figuring out how to put your attire together. Start from the bottom up. It has always been about the shoe.

I create ART... you make clothes.

2010-11-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

By Leah Misika

There is a fine line between believing in yourself and encouraging yourself. At times they are exactly the same thing. One implies; I know I can do this, and the other implies; I can do this. Both phrases are one and the same, besides the slight certainty in the first. Depending on how you read them, both could mean; I believe in myself or that I am encouraging myself . If you read it in a positive manner, you probably imaged someone with a smug look on his face telling another individual he could do something he should not be able to do. However the same phrase can be used to encourage one's self. So people who believe in themselves, are just really good at encouraging themselves.

The reason I felt the need to explain the similarity between the two is that usually as artists we tend to use our belief/encouragement against each other. "I know I am the best, therefore you are not". It turns out one's belief in one's self is also one's disbelief in others. Now this only stands true when it comes to peers who share the same talents and same career goals. As a student in school studying to become the designer I already thought I was, it was hard for me to see the good in what others did, unless it was "undeniably good". And for it to be "undeniably good", I would have to want to be the artist behind the piece or the master piece if you would rather.

It's some sort of complex I think we all suffer from. Amongst my peer designers, I recall only three times that I ever wished to be the designer behind another designer's work. It is a rare feeling. It's not jealousy or envy. It is respect; someone has created something you did not make, yet you genuinely love it like your own. It can be a pretty nasty business where self belief is highly required. However it should not be without recognizing your peers. Karl Lagerfeld once twitted; "Some designers think they do Art, but they think other designers do not." I could not have said it better. Designers look at their work and think; I am an artist and my work is genius. Then they look at other's work and think; what tasteless apparel is he creating.

At the end of the day, what we crate is beautiful. However, our art; just like beauty,expression and perception is relative and is solely dependent on the beholder and his or her followers.

P.S. Karl Lagerfeld has 379877 followers on twitter, yet he follows no one... If that is not the perfect statement, I am not a designer.

Deliver Us From Mass Production.

2010-10-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

By Leah Misika

As part of the "Fashion Industry" I am ready to denounce mass production and expose it for what is truly is. I am all for buying inexpensive apparel and making it look like a million dollar outfit, but this booming industry is killing fashion. Everyone looks the same. One of a kind pieces are over priced because of mass production. If we apply this fashion crisis to a simple supply and demand theory, as demanders you potentially have everything you want in your reach. If what you want is one of a kind pieces, then raise the demand for it.

Take one for the team and spend a lot more money on something that is worth it. By purchasing these goods, you are increasing the demand for it. In turn suppliers have to react and they have to start producing more of these one of a kind pieces to satisfy the demand. Once this happens, the increased supply of these goods should cause these goods to became cheaper. Thus you will get the special garments you want at lower prices.

Denoucing mass production is not an easy task, because they have convinced us that even though we have what everyone else has, its how you wear it that makes it your own. This is true, but not for the money you spend and how often you spend it. Mass production has taught us all how to get a quick fix; you buy something inexpensive and it feels good because its cute. Then after the second wash its done for; quality wise. Not to mention everyone has already seen you in it so, it's time for a new item. Shopping used to be seasonal and now its by occasion. There is no value in our closets anymore. If I invite every fashionista out there to a Fashion Mixer, how many of us can truly go into our closets and say; I know exactly what I am wearing? How many will say I have to go buy something to wear? It's time to put value back into our closets and denounce mass producton.

A few reasons why we should denounce mass production:

1. It is killing our environment. Garments die as fast as they are being made. We throw them away because they are useless and can't be repaired. At the rate that we are going, recyclying can't keep up and Goodwill can't resell them. We are polluting!

2. Think of the places these garments are made. They may not all be sweatshops (even though most of them are), but the conditions and workspaces created to feed our fashion appetite are just as harmful to the environment as the apparel they make.

3. We are all tired of seeing clones of ourselves walking down the street and getting upset at each other for wearing the same dress or shirt. "Ugh, I can't believe she's wearing my dress." First of all it's not your dress if Forever 21 sells a million of the same dress. If you really want to own something you have to be willing to pay for it.

The Solution: I'm not insisting that we abandon all these nifty shops that get us what we want fast. I'm saying lets cut back. Buy less of these mass produced apparel and invest in more long term apparel, that will save you more money in the long run and save the environment while your at it.

Splash... and Ripples Soon Follow

2010-10-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

N.E.R.D Listening Party Miami

By Leah Misika Starting the night off with the song Party People from the N.E.R.D's new album titled "Nothing"; I meet a few party people myself. Conversations buzzed in the room, whilst the N.E.R.D's new album set the tone. Overall the night consisted of dressing hard, looking hard, talking hard and listening hard. Some conversations I was personally involved in revolved around travel, adventure, life, future artistic ventures and confessions of listening to Taylor Swift (mentioned with an arched eyebrow and a smirk). The point is, life is funny but people are funnier.

Meet Some of My Party People

BB Photos: Leah Misika

Real Men wear LM

2010-03-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

I recently took part in a fashion show during Miami International Fashion Week. I showcased one garment under the menswear category. It was exciting, but it also made me realize my hunger for my own runway. Sharing a runway with 100 designers teaches you to be selfish in the sense that you want more for yourself. I'm dreaming big and my only fear is that life my not be able to keep up with it.

Go Green

Photo: Runway Shot
Designer: Leah Misika
Model: David

Inspiration: Many might say this is very "Miami Vice" ,as many have already stated, but that was not the case at all. It was about taking a risk and making the odd look just as beautiful and as sophisticated as the ordinary. I firmly believe I accomplished that.

Details: The jacket is reversible. The jacket and pants are embellished with buttons, the inside has lilac binding on the seams, along with lilac pockets.

The Sphere of Life

2010-03-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

If you have never heard the phrase;what goes around comes around, then you have not heard about life. Life is all about the curves of this journey we all try to make. Around every curve is a present or the present(depending on how you look at it)which is filled with surprises. I recently met a few people that have changed my life both dramatically and minutely, nonetheless they have changed me.The first person I met was a teacher, one that has seen the world and inspired me to be and do more than I think I can. She has in some way reinstalled hope in me, hope that life; as unexpected as it can be, can always turn out exactly how you want it to or not so far from it. She recently gave Diego Jeanty and I an opportunity of a life time.

The second person I met is someone I have known for two years, but has officially become the love of my life. A man with poise and stature. He was, is and will always be my saint rose. He has inspired me just by being with me and best of all has ignited in me the zest I have always wanted as he has never failed to support me in anything that I do. Allowing me to be the spunky,sensitive, christian woman that I am. He has shown a skeptic lover just to love and be loved in return.

The third person I met is a lady that owns a thrift store on Biscayne BLVD in Miami. A woman filled with such style and pizzazz. She skips in her walk and sways in her talk, making you believe that life is just a shimmy here and there. This woman and I had just met yet she showed me generosity as if she had known me for years.

Why aren't all people like this? One might ask. Well life shapes us all differently and certain shapes just sort of fit together. That might be how people are attracted to each other. Maybe they recognize each other's shapes.

Circa 24 Photo Shoot for Neetmagazine

Designer: Asanyah Davidson
Phototgraphy: Deigo Jeanty
Model: Leah Misika

I Design For sHE

2009-12-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

I design for sHE because sHE inspires me. Everything I design has sex appeal,in that it compliments a woman's body.LM is ready to redesign and redefine sexy. The world says sexy is more skin, bigger curves,higher hems, lower v necks and tighter silhouette. LM says sexy is full blown elegance, intelligence and hint of confidence. This is what I aim to create. LM will be a line that will allow women to dress modestly , with decency and propriety. All I will ask in return is please ladies when you decide to wear LM, wear the garment, don't let the garment wear you.

Designer: Leah Misika
Model: Donisha

sHE wears the dress, sHE carries the dress, sHe is the dress

Power Abhors A Vacuum

2009-11-12T21:31:00.000-08:00

With fashion comes great power. If you are fashion, you are like superman in the animation industry, there is no limit to what you can do. There is a void in the fashion industry which we all can not deny.Perhaps its that eerie silence before the art revolution begins. Nonetheless I can't help but feel that fashion is at a standstill and there is a large vacuum just waiting to be filled. The time is now to make an impact as a designer. I say this because the industry is lacking, The well known bore us, the new and up coming pacify us, whom then should we look to for inspiration? It always comes down to the streets, whether it be the streets in Namibia(Freezia Street), the streets in Uganda (Kololo Road), the streets in Paris (Rue de Passe), the streets in Miami(Biscayne Blvd) or the streets anywhere in the world, they never disappoint and are sure to inspire. So here I am in the midst of desire and hunger,Staring at the biggest muse that ever was. The world is begging for something to just happen because the silence is deafening. Shall I be the one to break the silence? Time will tell. One thing is for sure, I will be among the first. Where will you be?

Power Bleeds Black and White

photography: Diego Jeanty
Styling: Leah Misika
Model: Fabienne Polycarpe

Clothes from: Downtown Divas
275 NE 18th Steet
Miami, FL. 33132

We Shoot

2009-10-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

D & L Photo Shoots
Photographer: Diego Jeanty
styling: Leah Misika

Creating a picture is a beautiful thing, but it is not the easiest. I have worked with Diego Jeanty on four photo shoots and his passion to make everyone see the world and fashion the way he sees it; is amazing. Being his own biggest critic, his job is never done. He always strives for perfection. His mission? To re-define and refine fashion photography. The streets have accepted him, the fashion world has yet to know him, but I have met him and witnessed his work on the streets therefore I have no doubt in mind that the world will get to see what he sees.

Fall Blast 2009: For The Love of Art

2009-10-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

If you ever wandered what happens in downtown Miami on a Wednesday night, Look no farther. Its an artist blend from all parts of the world coming together to celebrate their one common passion; that is Art. Ball Blast takes art on the street to one venue and creates a massive energy of love just for art. This event allows street art to expose itself and not be exploited. The art revolution lives on...

Pictures By: Fabienne Polycarpe

To Fashion: My first love

2009-10-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

My Mini Collection 2009.

Designs by Leah Misika (Center)

I thought I would start my blog in a more personal manner. I first fell for fashion when I was 9 and fashion t.v finally made it to Namibia, on channel 72. I was amazed at the beautiful clothes I would see and these tall beautiful women that would grace the runway with their energy and elegance. I realized then and there that I wanted to be that, I wanted to be that person that created that. A person that had the right to tell people that this fashion, with this hairstyle, and this make up is what beauty is. I wanted to inject my notions on what women should look, feel, act and smell like.
So here I am 12 years later in my senior year of my fashion degree and it hits me, fashion was not what I thought it was. When I saw fashion for the first time on that screen, I saw a creation of beauty and elegance. Now I see fashion and I am repulsed by it. I realized the fashion I had seen was a canvas of beautiful art, but now that I have met the artist behind the art it is not so beautiful anymore, He was a thief. The real creators where on the streets, their attitudes and lives as I have seen them are sure to inspire, the side-walk is their runway and the fashion never really ends. So who am I? You might ask again. I am fashion on the streets.