Major Changes Happening Today!

Greetings Essentially Major Readers!

I'm Michael Jeffrey, CEO of the newly formed enterprise, Essentially Major, LLC.

On behalf of the rest of the team, thank you all so much for checking out our blog.

Our blog has been in operation close to a year now, providing thousands of viewers around the globe with the latest fashion, fitness, and lifestyle information for today's contemporary man. In fact, the response has been so great that we've decided to take our project to the next level!

This is when I decided to form a management team of decisive, talented, ambitious, creative and fun professionals to develop an actual company, what is now known as Essentially Major, LLC. The management team and I are working diligently to prepare for the launch of the newly transformed and innovative integrated media company, Essentially Major (aka Essentially Major v2.0)!!

Therefore, in preparation for Essentially Major v2.0, we are decommissioning the blog posts until we re-launch this summer. Don't worry, we will continue to provide you updates on the transformation via our new weekly Essentially Major newsletter and our 'Teaser' site which will appear this week so stay tuned to the Essentially Major Facebook group and sign up for our email alerts for the announcement!

We can't wait to show you all that's in store for the new site!!! More up to date coverage of all the latest happenings in men's style, plus in depth coverage on all of your life's essentials: business, entertainment, music, finance, sports, food, and home.

PLUS many more surprises including strategic services and solutions geared specifically for owners of small and medium sized businesses!

That's right...MAJOR change is coming to Essentially Major, come be a part of it!

Thanks again to everyone for all the support.

Essentially,

Michael Jeffrey, CEO
Essentially Major, LLC
michael@essentiallymajor.com
http://www.essentiallymajor.com/
Fashionable. Informative. Essential.

Our Planet Needs You

Some Fast Facts

The rate of warming is increasing. The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia, according to a number of climate studies. And the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12 years are among the dozen warmest since 1850.

Industrialization, deforestation, and pollution have greatly increased atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all greenhouse gases that help trap heat near Earth's surface. Also, humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

Strong hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and other natural disasters may become commonplace in many parts of the world. The growth of deserts may also cause food shortages in many places. And more than a million species face extinction from disappearing habitat, changing ecosystems, and acidifying oceans. [National Geographic]

Global Warming PSA x MTV

Learn 10 Easy Ways to Go Green Everyday by clicking here.

Fashion Surgical Masks

What would you do if you were an out of work art director with some free time and you wanted to help fight the Swine Flu epidemic plaguing Mexico (and looking pretty grim all over the place)? Irina Blok decided to get creative with some fashionista surgical masks. She says: With all the paranoia about swine flu i think there’s an opportunity to do something cool - design fashion surgical masks! Not only they are aesthetically pleasing, they can save your life (well.. not really.. they mostly just look good).

My favorite by far is the awesome Domo-Kun reference (in the center). She’s going to produce limited quantities of these masks and sell them for $10, and you can email her if you want one! All proceeds go south of the border to help fight the flu epidemic. No word on where she’s donating though.

Public Servant

R&B crooner Usher unveiled a billboard with his childhood image on it in his hometown Atlanta on Wednesday. The “Love In This Club” star has been working to bring awareness to a national youth advocacy campaign in cooperatiion with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

The Naked Truth About Marc Jacobs'

There was a lot of buzz about Victoria Beckham baring it all for the Marc Jacobs skin cancer awareness T-shirt this past March. And since then, as well as prior to that, many other celebrities stripped in support of the Cancer Awareness campaign.

There are numerous iterations of the t-shirt that bear the slogans: "Protect the Skin You're In", "Protect Your Largest Organ" and "Save Your Ass" all strategically placed over parts of bodies of many celebs.
These are some of the shirts from the initial fund raiser:

Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington


Dita Von Teese and Hilary Swank


Julianne Moore and Winona Ryder


Robert Duffy & Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs


Rufus Wainwright and The men of Marc Jacobs

Bulgari's Save The Children

Prestigious jeweler Bulgari has created two special rings for their 125th year anniversary, of which $60 will go to Save the Children's "Rewrite the Future" campaign. Photographer Fabrizio Ferri also supported the cause by taking many wonderful portraits of the celebrities, all of which are shown in this post.

Made of sterling silver, the rings pay tribute to Sotirio Bulgari, the company's founder who began as a silversmith in the 1800's. It also features the Save the Children's logo engraved on the inside.



The ring is available in two sizes. A large band measuring 0.39" (10mm). And a smaller version measuring 0.31". Both sizes cost $290.00 USD. Buy either size here.

The Sunday Times

Sunday morning's I like to write and catch up on all the news I might have missed during the week. This morning, however, my friend and fellow writer across the pond Giles Addison shared with me a prolific note he posted on Facebook concerning the barbaric existence of slavery in our self-righteously sophisticated modern day world. It has changed not only the carefree tone of my Sunday morning, but my consciousness to the state of humanity around the globe as well.

This is something everyone should read and take a moment to evaluate how much your own personal finances are contributing to this tragedy. Thank you Giles for sharing, educating, and for sparking the responsibility to fight against injustice within us all.

Read Giles’ note entitled “27” right now on the discussion board of the Essentially Major Facebook Group. And if you haven't joined already ... what are you waiting on? :-) Join today by clicking here.

100 Years Old

The NAACP was founded 100 years ago. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded on February 12, 1909. After a race riot in Springfield, Illinois in 1908, "The Call" went out to Northerners to find a way to create social equality. In 1909, a group of multi-racial activists held a conference in New York City in response to "The Call" and decided to form the NAACP (originally called the National Negro Committee). Among the founders were W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells-Barnett, Henry Moscowitz, Oswald Garrison Villiard, Mary White Ovington, and William English Walling.

Dream Turned Reality

Today we commemorate one American hero who has made way for another. Celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today being being your best self, walking in the spirit of the dream he had for our society, and by loving everyone around you just as much as you love yourself. Embody both the dream and the man; each independently worth celebrating.

Bye Bye Mr. Bush

... saying goodbye won't be so hard this time around ...

Public Service Announcement

From Your Mouth To Barack's Ears ...

In seven days we'll have a new President and this time around he actually wants to hear from you. Any ideas you may have on the economy, the environment, anything at all ... submit it for review by his aides and all of the best ideas will go home with Barack every evening in a Citizen's Briefing Book.

So please ... no more whining and complaining about how your voice is never heard. Now you have the opportunity. Do something about it. The floor is all yours ...

A Casual Cal Countdown

As the year draws to a close, I definitely agree with Major that a countdown is in order. So here are my picks for everything in 2008 that were all essential to every man of style.

1. Andre 3000

The man of style for 2008. Not only does he have an immaculate sense of style that stems from English-inspired vintage clothes, but he also debuted his own clothing line Benjamin Bixby with rave reviews.

2. Lil Wayne

The artist of 2008 would definitely have to go to Lil Wayne. His genius move of pushing his name into our homes and cars with free underground music had us all anticipating the release if his new album, The Carter III and I must say it did deliver. Not only did he transform as an artist but his style as well. Not sure if he made that decision himself, but he took the risk from letting go of all the oversize clothes to skinny jeans. Lil Wayne you made into my book for 2008.

3. Michael Kors

Designer of 2008 would have to be a run-off between Micheal Kors and Tom Ford, since Major posted on Tom, I am going to run with Micheal Kors. Not only was he a little underrated this year, but his entire Fall and Spring line of 2008 were full of hott ready to wear items.

__________________________________

Now essential accessories for 2008 fell into several categories. I chose items that should have been a staple in your closet, and some that may well run into 2009.

1. LIP France

Everyone owns a watch, but not everyone owns a watch that looks like a LIP watch. That alone is enough to make it something every fashionite should have.

2. Scent of the Year

YSL L'HOMME 2.0 oz. $ 53.00

3. Tom Ford Eyewear

Hands down to Tom Ford's Eyewear. Whether they vision frames or sunglasses, every a-lister had to have a taste of these this year.

5. Sneaker Game

Sneakers made a huge headway this year. It was all about the sneakers, but it had to be the right one. There were two brands that topped my list of absolute must haves of this year ... Supra and Creative Recreations.

Casual Cal

Looking Back & Counting Down

Funny thing about New Years, everyone feels the need to do a countdown of some sorts. It's the symbolic way of looking back, reflecting for a moment, and deciding what really made the past twelve months memorable and most importantly major.

While 2008 will probably go down as one of the most monumental years in American history (elections, recessions, gas prices etc.) it should also be remembered for the elements of style that were born out of such a chaotic period in time.

Trying to narrow it down was a bit overwhelming. Then as I thought back to our Fall Five Fashion countdown earlier this year, I decided to stick to what works best. If it ain't broke ... you know the rest :-)

5. An Essentially Major Launch

Hello? I know you didn't think we weren't going to make this list? :-) What started off as something very small has grown into a multifaceted endeavor that has reached thousands across the globe since our launch in August. Stay tuned for 2009 ... new site coming ... new contributing columnists ... new special events ... new ... well you get the point, right?

4. The Vogue Italia All Black Issue

While men weren't highlighted in the issue, this was a moment in fashion that should mean a lot to every person of color in the industry. Never before has the black female image been put on such a pedestal in Vogue or any other mainstream fashion magazine. Everyone was on board for this one ... Naomi, Tyra, Chanel, Jourdan, Iman, and plus size model Toccara took the top spot with the largest layout of them all (no pun or shade intended).

3. A Year Full of Yeezey

Love him or hate him, you can't deny the man has creativity and style that will go down in the history books. Kanye has given a face to a different type of man in the fashion world. He's urban, edgy, opinionated, flamboyant, and as fly as the day is long. Whether you love the music or wish he'd cut back on all his extracurricular commentary, every man of color in the industry has benefited from Kanye's mass appeal ... period.

2. Any and Everything Associated with Tom Ford

The man with the fashion forward golden touch reigned supreme in 2008. His flagship thrived, his ad campaigns continued to push the sexually suggestive envelope, and as for the clothes? Anyone with any common sense would kill for. Not to mention that after dressing James Bond for the Quantum of Solace, he's probably the only man in the world with Daniel Craig's intimate measurements and personal cell phone number to match.

1. Barack & Michelle Break the Mold

In style, in politics, in America, and across the globe, together these two shattered every image and misconception about the capacity for African-Americans to achieve their highest aspirations. And the beauty of it all lies in the fact that their story can't be contained to just the Black Community. It's about hope, change, and the ability of any oppressed individual to overcome anything that seeks to keep their dreams from becoming a reality. Michelle's Maria Pinto sheath with the studded black belt and gobstopper pearls weren't half bad either :-)

Big thank you to everyone who has and continues to support this blog and all of its efforts!!! Please believe me when I say that every kind word has meant the world to us and has only made us work harder at bringing our readers the most collaborative, diverse, and trendsetting information to online.

Happy New Year!!! The best is yet to come for us all!!

MAJoR