Boys To Men -- Harlem Haberdashery Guy Wood Sr. & Louis Johnson Jr. Keep It Classic

So for me summer is over. I wrapped it up with some pretty amazing new finds. I re-discovered Harlem, and fell in love with its history through fashion again.
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So for me summer is over. I wrapped it up with some pretty amazing new finds. I re-discovered Harlem, and fell in love with its history through fashion again. This summer I found a new gem in Harlem that I will be able to share with my children, that find may bridge our gap in fashion and style.

"Pick up your pants!" I am constantly hollering directions at my son. I have still not adjusted to my children's generation of style. I swear I want to call the fashion police on all of them.

But then again, it may be due to my age and my past fashion obsession with the 1920s era, where men were dressed impeccably, that taint my opinion. Those men donned hats, shoes and blazers. Women wore dresses, skirts, and heels even to go to the grocery store. What a difference a day makes.

But this is not to say change doesn't work for this generation because, as we know, every era has had its rebels who dared to revolutionize fashion. The inventors and early adapters always take an avant garde approach to what society views as acceptable to fashion in their stand against being just average.

But I ran into a great find in Harlem. If you know anything about Harlem Renaissance, you know it was the era in which individuals expressed themselves in society with some of the most fabulous ways of dressing. At the time it was positively garish. Today, as history shows, it's almost expected from the youth.

My children often think they are setting trends, but if they did their research they would see that it was during the Harlem Renaissance that women started to rebel and wear mens' clothing. It was those gals who started to wear boyish clothing, top hats, tuxedo and suits. But make no mistake -- they represented themselves with grace and style. That is what made them different, what made them game changers.

I am not against change and individuality. There just needs to be a sense of style that makes a positive statement.

So running into Harlem Haberdashery was definitely a plus for me. And the fact that the shop is located right in the heart of the most influential place in New York City, Harlem, was the icing on the cake.

Guy Sr., and Louis Johnson Jr. have definitely found their niche in this market of fashion-forward houses. They are keeping the past very present in the aesthetic of their stores and in the designers they represent.

From the moment you walk into the store and take your first look at the merchandise lining the walls and filling the space, you feel an ambiance your grandfather would have expected when he stepped into a shop.

Their clients range from heavy hitters like the late Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shukar and Heavy D. to iconic figures such as P Diddy, the mogul known for his fashion style. Andre 3000 also makes the list as well as Kanye West. If that's not a great roster, I don't know what else to say.

This family owned business is comprised of tastemakers. They will continue to keep the Harlem brand of style going.

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