Fan Mail, 12/20

Photo: Wireimage/Getty

Thanks to loyal reader Bird for this link to a post on Wikipedia which describes the history of the traditional Muslim headdress called a keffiyeh. I incorrectly called it a jalabia which is a traditional Muslim dress.

In response to the following email from a loyal reader, I did not say the trend was new to the urban community, I said it was a new trend in Hip Hop. Although Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley and producer Pharrell Williams wore the scarf last year, they did not inspire many artists to wear it regularly as they do now.

Jermaine Dupri was the first to popularize the scarf among other Hip Hop artists. After JD wore the scarf months ago to an industry event, Jay Z wore a similar scarf to the David Letterman Show and that’s when the trend really took off in Hip Hop circles.

Ms Rose,
Love your page but just need to correct you that the statement you made the new style first made popular by Island Records president of Urban Music, Jermaine Dupri is completely FALSE! being a Stylist for 10 years and styling many celebrities, the jalabia has gained notice for over a year and a half now as I should know I have styled the likes of Pharrell Williams and have worked closely alongside André Leon Talley, who was pictured wearing one last year. I would just like to correct you on that and also celebrities in Europe i.e. London have been seen wearing it rotatiously – JERMAINE DUPRI was not the first to make it popular.Happy Holidays
Nikki Denza

CANT TAKE IT NO MORE

cant believe your actually dragging this out.
ms.peaches

Exactly
howardhughes

Rotatiously? I’ma need a spell check.
brinabelle

still looks like a scarf
Coo Coo Bananas

Hmph, I posted that link TO Bird in that post and I aint get no shine. Whatever though lol.
imdone

i don’t understand why hip hop is getting credit for this trend. It’s not new. College students in NYC were rocking these scarves in the 80s.
missamerica

Love the new site, Sandra!

Ok, actually the “scarf look” (I won’t address it as muslim garb because none of these fools are wearing for spiritual reasons) has always been worn in Hip Hop circles predominantly in New York where Islam has a lot of influence in regards to slang and fashion. I can recall Wu-Tang Clan back in like 1993 as far as mainstream is concerned. But this look is not new. Nothing is new. And in this climate we live in, you’re a fool if you wear it to make a fashion statement.

Now Jay-Z, Diddy, and Talley I have only seen them wear designer scarves like this. JD appears to have the actual garb.
http://www.myspace.com/birdshu Bird

Coo Coo Bananas Says:

Hmph, I posted that link TO Bird in that post and I aint get no shine. Whatever though lol.

*********************************************************

Girl, I was like “What link did I provide?” People just think of me because I’m the trouble maker. Damn.

howardhughes Says:

Rotatiously? I’ma need a spell check.

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Not only is “rotatiously” not a word, but she referred to it as a jalabia which it is not. I guess it’s safe to assume she’s not really a stylist or ANYONE can be a stylist. Even those with a Don King vocabulary.
http://www.myspace.com/birdshu Bird

No offense Sista Denza, but I had to get you on that word.

Special Announcement:

I have been invited to be a panel member on a talk show similar to The View in Atlanta based on my opionated blogs that I post on MySpace. I assume it is no big thing as money has not been discussed and I am a big fat NOBODY. My guess is it will be on public access in the wee hours of the morning, but when I get the details I will fill you in. Come check out the Bird in her infinate knowledge.

I’m gonna try to get them to let me go by Bird instead of my real name.
WeezysBaby

OK my thoughts exactly she cant be a stylist or she doesnt know what she has been styling these people with because she is still refering to the scarf as a dress.
PaigeyWaigey

Kanye has been rocking that scarf since last year as well…JD’s little ugly self always wanna claim he was the first on shyt…negro sit down…lollipop guild azz. So if JZ was wearing it then you know he got that idea from West…Cause he couldn’t come up with that on his own. He ain’t that bright. But I do believe Andre and Pharell were probably first and West followed suit.
imanih

To clear all the smoke about what some call the “shemagh” (one of many of it’s names), let’s just agree on this note and move on. The fact is we the people on the streets create trend, fashion, or style. While we are trying to follow the latest trends on the runways, most celebrities and fashion designers are trying to follow us, the trend setters. So it doesn’t matter who started it first or who made it popular first. Just remember their style came from us, the trend setters. We run them, they don’t run us.
banginglooks

In NYC this scarf has been worn forever, every body in the Pjs had one either black, red or blue cause they was cheap, warm and only $10 from the man on the street. LOL

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