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Meet The Candidates:
Barack Obama
www.barackobama.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

John McCain
www.johnmccain.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain

Hello Clutchettes! I want to talk to my fellow “size sexy” ladies for this post. I am a size 16 and sometimes have a difficult time finding trendy, moderately priced, high quality clothing to fit my curves. Well, my new best friend, Ashley Stewart, has given me hope! Ashley Stewart’s fashions are geared towards the urban professional woman that also knows how to get her party on!

Since the early 1990s Ashley Stewart has been fashion heaven for my fellow stacked sistas! From denim jeans to Chiffon printed dresses to your basic cami, in sizes 12-26, Ashley Stewart has got it all! Below are a few items I spotted on their website.

Visit www.ashleystewart.com to place an order or to find a location near you.

John McCain picks Alaska’s Gov. Sarah Palin as his VP
The Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, has pulled a fast one on his Democratic opponents, who spent much of the last 19 months arguing over whether they’d be the party to have a female on their 2008 presidential ticket. The rumor is true. As The Ticket reported just before dawn this morning, minutes ago, McCain confirmed that his vice presidential running mate is Sarah Alaska Governor Sarah Palin mother of five and lifetime National Rifle Association member and Republican presidential nominee senator John mcCain’s pick as his vice presidential running matePalin, the first female governor of Alaska and the first woman on a national GOP ticket. (Continue Reading…)

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Obama: I’m Ready to Beat John McCain
Sen. Barack Obama laid out his plan for change in America as he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night, securing his place in history as the first African-American to lead a major party ticket. “Change happens because the American people demand it — because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time. America, this is one of those moments,” he told supporters at the Democratic National Convention. “I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming.” Obama pitted himself against John McCain, repeatedly countering attacks from his Republican rival while casting the election as a choice between change and failure, as he addressed tens of thousands of cheering people and millions of primetime TV viewers. McCain would continue the policies of the Bush administration, Obama said. (Continue Reading…)

Oprah on Obama: ‘I cried my eyelashes off’
Oprah Winfrey is leaving Denver with the candidate she wanted, but reportedly without her eyelashes. The talk-show host said she was moved to tears by Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. And those must’ve been some serious tears. “I cried my eyelashes off,” she said in the bowels of Invesco Field, moments after Obama accepted the nomination for president before an estimated 84,000 people. “I think it’s the most powerful thing I have ever experienced,” she added, calling Obama’s words “transcendent.” On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream Speech,” Winfrey compared Obama’s words to those of the civil-rights leader, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. “He’s not an African-American candidate,” she said. “He’s a candidate for Americans.” (Continue Reading…)

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Obama to Accept Nod on Symbolic Day
Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28,1963, Martin Luther King Jr. shared his vision for a new America: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,’ ” he said before a crowd of hundreds of thousands. King’s dream for a land where his children would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” would be repeated, meditated upon and memorized for generations to come. On the 45th anniversary of King’s rousing call, Sen. Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination at INVESCO Field in Denver, Colorado. In what represents at least a partial actualization of King’s dream, Obama will officially become the first African-American to lead a major party’s ticket for president of the United States. (Continue Reading…)

Damon Dash Loses Pro-Keds, Sells Rights
Stride Rite Corp. has reacquired the rights to the Pro-Keds brand from financially struggling hip-hop mogul Damon Dash. The change for the iconic, 60-year-old shoe comes a week after Dash, who once boasted that he never wears the same socks twice, reportedly may lose two of his properties to foreclosure. Lexington-based Stride Rite insisted Dash’s financial woes had nothing to do with the rebranding. “It was just a matter of timing,” Stride Rite spokeswoman Debra Fernandes said yesterday. “We just wanted a new direction.” Pro-Keds was launched in 1949 as a performance athletic shoe. By the 1970s, the round-toed sneaker was synonymous with some of the biggest names in professional sports - JoJo White and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar endorsed them. (Continue Reading…)

Stylistic is just one of the many exciting additions and changes coming to Clutch this October. If you are a designer, stylist or brand and would like to be featured on Stylistic please email us at stylistic@clutchmagazine.com.

Hillary Clinton: Obama ‘Must Be Our President’
Sen. Hillary Clinton introduced herself as a “proud supporter of Barack Obama” at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday as she called on her party to rally behind her former rival. “Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future. And it’s a fight we must win together,” she said. Leading up to her address, there was a lot of speculation about what she would say and whether she would make a strong enough call for unity. But she made a very strident case for Obama’s candidacy. “No way. No how. No McCain. Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president,” Clinton said. Her speech, which was the last of the night, followed a line up of other Democrats who used their time at the podium to attack President Bush’s record and McCain’s policies. (Continue Reading…)

Serbs Unveil Statue to Bob Marley
A Serbian village unveiled what it said was Europe’s first statue to the late Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley on Saturday, to promote tolerance in a region still recovering from war. Two Balkan musicians, one from Croatia and one from Serbia, unveiled the monument in the village of Banatski Sokolac at midnight during a gathering of rock bands from the Balkans. “Bob Marley promoted peace and tolerance in his music,” said Mirko Miljus, an organizer. The event continued a trend of raising monuments to popular Western icons instead of local historical figures. Bosnians have erected a monument to Bruce Lee in the town of Mostar and Serbs have put up a statue to Rocky Balboa in northern Serbia. (Continue Reading…)

Harvard to Scrutinize Police After Black Student Complaints
Harvard will launch an examination of the campus police department after complaints that officers have unfairly stopped black students, professors, and other university community members because of their race. In an email to senior university administrators and faculty today, President Drew Gilpin Faust announced the creation of a six-member committee to review the police department’s diversity training, community outreach, and recruitment efforts. It will be led by Ralph Martin, former Suffolk County district attorney and managing partner of the Boston office of Bingham McCutchen. “All of us share an interest in sustaining constructive relations between our campus police and the broader Harvard community, in order to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all faculty, students, staff, and visitors….” Faust wrote in her email. “I am confident that this group’s efforts will help the University address this important set of issues in a constructive spirit and forthright manner.” (Continue Reading…)

Aint no party like a Nike party that’s for sure! On August 21st, Nike shutdown an entire block to host a Block Party for the grand opening of their Nike Sportswear Shop at 21 Mercer in New York City. The location was transformed into a stadium complete with astro turf and bleachers. Guests munched on corn dogs, cotton candy and ice cream while viewing the countdown to the the grand opening on gigantic LCD screens. Famed Dj Mark Ronson kept the party live on the 1’s and 2’s. The event was invite only with a guest list of names like Spike Lee, Serina Williams, Just Blaze, Solange Knowles, Dee & Ricky and Vashtie Kola to name a few. If your in the area swing by the new store and customize your own kicks starting at a measly $800, can you dig it?

Michelle Obama Touts Husband’s Values
On the first night of their National Convention, Democrats in Denver launched a charm offensive in an effort to reintroduce Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to the country and create a healthy gap in the polls against his Republican rival that has so far proved elusive. After one of the most bitter primary battles in modern political history, Democrats kicked off the convention with a focus on Obama’s life, his support from Democrats’ unofficial royal family and its ailing leader, Sen. Ted. Kennedy, D-Mass., and an address from his wife, potentially the first African American first lady. And tonight, the Democrats will hear from the party’s other first lady, Sen. Hillary Clinton. The woman who battled Obama for the nomination is expected to make an appeal to her disappointed supporters to back Obama and help end what Democrats fear could be a dangerous split in the ranks. (Continue Reading…)

Dozens Feared Killed in Darfur Camp
Sudan boosted forces outside a volatile camp for displaced people in Darfur on Tuesday, sparking fears of new armed clashes as residents prepared to bury dozens of dead from fighting a day earlier. Police moved into the impoverished and volatile Kalma in South Darfur on Monday. Casualty figures from subsequent clashes are impossible to verify, but residents have asked UN troops for burial shrouds and protection for funerals. (Continue Reading…)

Deputy Pulls Gun During Stop of Diddy’s Entourage
A sheriff’s deputy pulled a gun on members of Diddy’s entourage during a routine traffic stop over the weekend, but the situation was quickly resolved and a spokesman for the entertainer said the deputy was professional and respectful. The gun was never pointed at the hip-hop mogul, and deputies were “very respectful” during the stop early Saturday, spokesman Ed Tagliaferri said Monday. (Continue Reading…)

As a self-proclaimed budget-nista(yes…I made it up), I revel at the challenge of re-creating all of the runway trends of the season on a more cost efficient budget. I’ve learned over the years that quality is essential in a wardrobe, but going broke is not mandatory to achieve this. So you ask where does one start on their journey? Vintage and Re-sale stores are an excellent place to begin. There are countless bargains and fashionable one of a kind items waiting to be found. Let me give you a small example of the treasures you can find while thrifting. I scored a brand new w/tags ribbed Chanel Tank Top for $2, the retail price tag read $500! And that’s just one of the many deals I find on a regular basis. To give you a jump start on your new found mission I’ve compiled a few of my favorite online vintage shops for your viewing pleasure. Oh and one last reason why vintage shopping is a plus, its another great method of recycling and assisting in the conservation of the beautiful world we live in!

“But I can’t teach you my swag, you can pay for school, but you can’t buy class”

About a couple days ago, Kanye posted the now all the rage Louis Vuitton Dog Bag created by artist Meryl Smith on his blog. The idea of walking down the street with that bag has been debated and given the side-eye. The peculiar but yet extremely creative bag is called, “Excess Baggage” and was created by Smith for an independent gallery, Honey Space. Now ladies, is this a subliminal attempt to poke fun at some of us who carry around puppies in Louis Vuitton carriers or an artistic attempt to turn heads? As always, Clutch knows that we have some trend-setting aficionados out there that will take risks, but tell us what you think. If Louis Vuitton we’re really selling the baggie would you rock it?

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Famous Stories on HBO’s The Black List
Each person’s experience is his or her own. And if that experience can be summed up in just a few minutes, that’s all to the good of “The Black List: Volume One.” Debuting tomorrow at 9 p.m., the HBO documentary showcases many African-American notables - from entertainers Sean “Diddy” Combs, Chris Rock and Keenen Ivory Wayans to Gen. Colin Powell, author Toni Morrison, the Rev. Al Sharpton and athletes Serena Williams and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - talking about their lives and times in a direct-to-the-camera style. Despite the range of subjects and perspectives it covers, the project has been edited to an impressively tight 90 minutes by its originators, film critic and historian Elvis Mitchell (also the host of the Turner Classic Movies interview series “Under the Influence With Elvis Mitchell”) and photographer-filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. (Continue Reading…)

All Eyes on Michelle Obama as Dems Open Convention The Democratic National Convention opens Monday, a choreographed show of unity more important this year after the rough-and-tumble primary contest that put Barack Obama days away from making history as the first black presidential nominee of a major political party Opening night at the Pepsi Center, the main venue for most of the four-day gathering, aims to tell the Illinois senator’s personal story to the millions of voters nationwide who will begin tuning in to the contest to replace the unpopular Republican President Bush. Who better to tell his story than Michelle Obama, his wife of nearly 16 years? The stage Monday night belongs to this potential first lady for a prime-time speech meant to serve a dual purpose: humanize him and show up her critics before her largest audience yet. (Continue Reading…)

Symbolism in Obama Acceptance on ‘Dream’ Anniversary For Deborah Ross of Greenbelt, the sight of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama standing on stage this week to accept the Democratic nomination for president is something she knows her daughter, Miranda, has to experience even though it means she will miss her first week of her senior year at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Although she is not a party delegate, Ross, 48, is in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, and Miranda is with her. “This is history,” said Ross, an African American who was an early Obama supporter. “It is something that I knew I had to see and I wanted her to see. It is something she will never forget and something that she will be able to share with her children.” (Continue Reading…)

I don’t know if there is anything more satisfying than finding a low cost beauty item that really delivers. Part of you wants to tell the world about the great deal you found. The other half wants to keep it your little beauty secret. That’s how I felt when I discovered Wet ‘n Wild Beauty Benefits Triple Fusion Eye Shadow ($5.99, available at Wal-Mart, Meijer, Pathmark and HEB).

These affordable mineral-infused eye shadow trios come in six glamorous sets of three shades that blend perfectly to create beautiful looks. Mineral infused natural sun filters work in synergy with light reflecting properties to open and enhance the eye area. The three coordinated shades in each trio allow you to define, highlight and brighten your eyes. And with long lasting wear you can put it on in the morning and not worry about the color fading throughout the day. After a long work day my Triple Fusion Eye Shadow was still going strong and the color was still true.

Application Tips
Step 1. Lid - Sweep medium shade from lash to brow bone.
Step 2. Crease - Apply darkest shade in crease for definition
Step 3. Brow bone - Blend the lightest shade underneath eyebrow to highlight brow bone.