Hey Questies, welcome back to QueStyle! As you may have noticed we’ve been on a brief hiatus, but the great news is that we’re back! Over the next few months, we will be releasing a series of articles on some of the fashionable people who have worked with Quest Crew over the past few years. This segment is about a very special woman with a passion for fashion (I had to add that phrase) and just so happens to be one of Quest’s stylists, Lyndzi Trang!

Here are a few things you should know about Lyndzi. Before becoming a stylist, she worked at retail stories such as American Eagle Outfitters and Planet Funk. She was scouted as a model, landed many gigs, and ultimately became a stylist. Apart from working with Quest, Lyndzi has also worked with many celebrities, such as Ashley Tisdale, Booboo Stewart, and Far East Movement.

“Fashion and styling are my passion.  I can’t see myself doing anything else.

I had the privilege of being able to chat with Lyndzi, and found out about her job as a stylist, as well as her experiences with Quest Crew.

Being a stylist has brought many opportunities for Lyndzi to meet and work with celebrities. On the subject of celebrities, Lyndzi said “If you’re a star struck person then yes, my job would be awesome!” However, Lyndzi does her job because she loves fashion, not to meet celebrities. Loving fashion and having a vast knowledge of it is one of the things that distinguishes her from other stylists. When asked what makes her different, she said “I think my forte is capturing what looks best on the carpet and tv aside from their style. I understand lighting, movement and photography really well from my background, so I take that in when I’m styling.”

When asked if she had anything to say to Quest, Lyndzi said “They are the most dedicated, hardworking bunch of dudes (& Lydia) I’ve ever seen. They work really well together and it’s great to see that synergy on set. I can truly understand why they have such a great following aside from talent, their personalities are very kind, humble and down-to-earth.” Along with that, I asked if she had a favorite memory with Quest, with which she replied “I think after we did their promo shoots some of us went to grab all you can eat Korean bbq. It was more time to talk and get to know them on a deeper level. When you’re on set, you’re everywhere, running back and forth!”

And finally, the fun facts that we all love! Even prior to working with Quest, her favorite color has always been purple. Her favorite article of clothing she owns is a “bright red cape like coat, with scallop like collars.” It was her sisters back in 1993! Not only is it cute, but it’s also sentimental. She is, as she puts it, a “hot mess”without her Blackberry. Finally, I’d like to note that we both share a mutual love for glittery gel pens!

If you’d like to know more about Lyndzi, you can follow her on her twitter twitter.com/lyndzitrang, check out her facebook facebook.com/lyndzitrang, or her tumblr lyndzitrang.tumblr.com. Her tumblr also has an “ask me anything” feature, so that you can ask her any other questions you may have! Thanks for reading and see you next time!

“Fashion and styling are my passion.  I can’t see myself doing anything else.  When I style, I look and engage with the [CLIENT/MODEL] to grasp their personality and image.  Textures, lines and colours are very important to me and I focus and integrate that into what they wear.”~Lyndzi

Entry numbers 5, 6, and 10 have been chosen to be the new members of QueStyle. Congrats to Shamima, Natasha, and Ally for winning the contest.

As I said before, it was hard to choose who would become the new members of QueStyle. There were many entries and the choice of who’s entry was best was difficult. Everyone who entered don’t be discouraged, keep fighting for what you want. Don’t give up, you can still volunteer, you can still help out, just keep trying. Again thank you everyone who participated in the contest.

There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.

1. If you are entered in this contest, you cannot vote.

2. You may vote for one person only. Your votes are have a big effect on the outcome of the contest.

3. The bloggers may not reveal which post is their own.

4. Vote for who you want to continue reading from.

5. You have until August 1st to vote.

The people intrested were given 3 questions to choose from. They were :

1. What do you consider Fashion/Style to be?

2. How does Quest influence the world around them, through their style and their dancing?

3. Write about why you think Quest chooses to wear purple for their shows.

Here are the answers to blog Question 1 :

#1

Through my eyes Quest crew has had a major impact on their fans around the world in so many ways.To their own style,their signature color purple,to their amazing head spins,windmills, freezes or just them being themselves off stage. They have encouraged my generations and a younger generation to get up and dance or just to do what ever it is they have a passion for and go for it. Quest Crew maybe just a dance crew but the funny fact is there all so diffrerent and talented in so many different ways and thats what makes them stand out from the rest. You can tell that they have made an impact on their fans judging by the response they get from their performances,workshops, or just from their youtube videos. Their are so many sites dedicated to them and the love they get from their fans is amazing especially with the gifts they have gotten from them it surprises me sometimes but that just goes to show how much love and passion their fans have for them. For example Ryan recieved a photo album from one of his fans for his b-day with little things from a fans website with a dvd or D-trix gets candy and other goodies from fans as well. If you where to go to youtube and type Quest crew you will see the views range from 2,302 to 65,931 or just on there twitter pages they have more then thousands of fans worldwide following them if thats not impact then I don’t know what is lol. Fans have even been following some of the members when they where on So You Think You Can dance days and where inspired just from their solos and have been following their careers ever since I know I have I was and still am a big fan of Ryan back then. But they all completed the package when they came together and formed Quest Crew and where competeing on America’s Bes Dance Crew Season 3. There 1st performance is what impressed me and had me cheering for them through out the whole season as so many others where too. There Hip Hop Decathlon and there final Dance piece which they created there own music is what really opened my eyes and had me mesmerizied to how special and talented they all where in there performance. In closing Quest Crew has made a deep impact on the world and they show no signs of stoping and continue to strive for greatness in there dancing.

#2

fashion is whatever you think it is. it maybe jeans and a t-shirt or even a dress. but no matter what your style is or what you think is in style, it will always be in style to you.

#3

The problem with people nowadays is that they think fashion and having a sense of style has to be learned from other people, according to someone else’s rules and trends that are set by the fashion world. I think that makes it too complicated. That implies that there’s right and wrong, but even if you wear something that is fashionable “right” and follows the rules, you can still look bad. Why? Everyone has style, but in order to pull off what you’re wearing, you gotta WEAR it.What the heck am I talking about – that’s not even real grammar, is it? What I’m talking about is the magic that a fashionable person seems to have inside them, no matter what they’re wearing. I’ll give you an example of the opposite: One day I saw a girl walking down a neighborhood street wearing a cute outfit. Granted, she was pretty far away so I couldn’t get a great look at all the details of her outfit, but I could see that she had a cute white tank top on, a nice hair cut, a flowy black knee-length skirt and some black flats on. But she wasn’t WEARING it. She was a little slumped over, not walking with the pride of a cute girl wearing a cute, simple outfit. The combination of these things was working against her, so she looked like she just had a nice outfit on. She wasn’t WEARING it though. Being able to WEAR it doesn’t even mean having 100% confidence. It’s being happy that you fit into your clothes, you bought them at a really good deal, or you’re really glad you picked out that outfit because it’s way more comfortable than the other one you were considering. That girl that I saw should remember that a cute outfit leads to a good mood which is a great way to have an awesome day and an awesome strut when walking down the street. I used to be a big fan of the show “What Not to Wear” until I realized that I break a lot of the rules they set for their clients. Then I started not to care, and then started feeling really good about myself. So-called fashion experts set these criteria for developing a good sense of style that inevitably makes everyone look and act the same way. Expert advice eventually begins to sound repetitive: Wear this kind of pant because it makes you look taller, avoid over accessorizing, don’t ever wear too many patterns or else people won’t know where to focus. I have news for them on all three counts: nobody in the world nor any law of physics ever said taller is better, accessories set dull people apart from boring people with no taste, and playing with the combinations of colors and patterns on your clothes, shoes and makeup is makes a person’s sense of style interesting instead of ordinary. If everyone followed the rules set by high-end fashion designers and personal consultants, we wouldn’t have the awesome hair, outfits and kicks of Quest Crew to drool over every time we watch them perform. Quest Crew members WEAR their wardrobe, whether it’s formal vests or swing dancing jackets or plain hoodies or QueStore gear, and no expertise can challenge the fact that their sense of fashion and style has positively impacted their crew image. Fashion is about finding comfort in your own skin under your own clothes at all times. We can’t all be decked out in an amazing fit all the time, but that shouldn’t stop everyone from WEARING what they’re wearing. Own it! Say you’re wearing some flannel sweats and a soggy t-shirt cause you don’t plan on leaving your apartment today. Wear it. Put your shoulders back, smile at yourself in the mirror and be grateful that you have a roof to stay under all day. Where’d you get that shirt? That’s right, you’ve had it for years because it has sentimental value. Or it’s your workout shirt and represents the good health you’re aiming for. Or you don’t even know where you got it or whose it is or why it has that funny smell – great, everyone loves mysteries and surprises. Wear your outfit, pull it off, and nothing can stop you. Personally, I wear what I want and feel good about it because it represents who I am. I know what I’ve done in my life to earn the money I used to buy these things. I love the people who gave me outfit components as gifts because they love me and know that I frickin’ love accessorizing. Having style means pulling off what you wear because of how it represents you, not because it’s your response to what others think about you. It’s about looking damn good WEARING what you have on right now.

Answers to Question 2:

#4

if i could explain Quest Crew in one word it would be inspiration. inspiration to people in the world that want to dance, dress and be like them. Quest influences people through their style by just being themsleves they dress for themselves and no one else. there dancing influences people because their moves are so creative they get you to want to learn them. when quest performs they all decide to wear purple its their colour everyone knows. i think thats why so many people like the colour purple. this influences people because people just want to be like quest crew in a way of their style. Each person in Quest has their own indvidual style, if a fan looks up to a member of quest they will want to duplicate their style but with a twist of their own.

#5

“Americas Best Hair Crew,” proclaimed judge JC Chasez to Quest Crew in his final words to the last two remaining crews Americas Best Dance Crew Season 3.  Many individuals (including myself) at that moment thought to themselves “or perhaps Americas Best Dance Crew?”  Both were of course correct.  Along with being asked about their dancing skills, hair was also a topic of interest.  Why would such a thing raise all these eyebrows and intrigue such a vast number of individuals?  One word: Presentation. Dance, to me is a movement, an emotion.  Being a writer, my instant reaction to the world has been to put it into words, but watching dance over the years in music videos, on the streets in NYC, and now on TV with ABDC and SYTYCD, I can see that it speaks a language not spoken or taught in school.  As a viewer, it’s about what you see and what you hear, which together creates the emotions. But much like a painting colors, strokes, textures matter as well. This is where the hair, the clothes, and all the purple come to play because when you see headspins it is somewhat hard to not notice the piano very skillfully being played underneath it. Later on that night, Lil Mama goes on to say “It’s kinda hard not to fall in love with such charming guys” and what a true statement that was as fans not only voted them into becoming the winners but remain in constant high demand for performances, meet and greets and dance lessons.  This charming, down-to-earth personality is very much a part of their style, mixing comfort with an eclectic, sophisticated hip-hop edge bringing in the dance vibe originating in the “streets.” Whether it is a jacket or a pair of shoes, something catches your eye beyond the swift flow of choreography, enhancing the look and art form.  In fact, wardrobe helped Hok in creating the effect that he was on his hands, so perfectly executed, in the Wack Track Challenge. Yet, it wouldn’t be Quest if style just ended on the dance floor. While I am not much of a dancer, my interest in dance definitely multiplied, as well as my desire to want to learn how to dance and even break, which unfortunately was unsuccessful.  Regardless, their drive, their passion and countless videos on youtube of their insane stunt or attempts at them make it seem and feel easy, making one asked themselves why aren’t I trying to do this? I definitely have come across videos of Questies all around the world following the example set by these eager boys.  From learning the choreography of performances on ABDC to attempting some replica of the infamous Quest hairstyles, the influence is evident across the spectrum.

#6

From the energy they give out every time they dance, to the unique hairstyles they rock on their noggins, and to even the clothing apparel they choose to sport, the boys (and girl) of Quest Crew are constantly influencing the world around them. Quest Crew is most notably recognized for their dancing on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. Their dancing alone on national television opened up so many doors for them, and earning the title as ABDC Season 3 Champions only made those doors limitless. Everybody hopes to have a job that makes them happy and it just so happens to be that the members of Quest Crew have been blessed with that opportunity; they’re making a living out of what they love to do with the ones they love. Every single time you watch a video of any of the Quest members dancing, whether it’s on the television, computer screen, or even your phone, you can tell by the smiles and expressions on their faces that they’re having a good time. They’re having such a great time that you just want to get up and dance with them even though you’re not there. If you’re already feeding off the positive energies that they’re giving out through a screen, then you cannot even imagine the feelings you’ll experience seeing them perform live. Through their dancing, Quest impacts its audience/viewers with happiness and inspires them to fulfill their dreams knowing that it is possible after watching its members. Just like dancing is a form of expression, so is style. And as you may already know, Quest Crew has A LOT of style. ABDC Judge and ex-’N Sync member JC Chasez commented that Quest should be called “America’s Best Hair Crew”. From Victor’s red-dyed hair, to Feng’s purple-dyed hair, to D-Trix’s blonde-dyed hair, to Steve’s spiked hair, to Hirano’s faux hawk, to Hok’s braids, to Ryanimay’s who even knows how to explain his hair hair, etc, each member has their own one-of-a-kind signature style. Individually and together their hairstyles alone are memorable. On top of that, the clothing apparel and accessories they choose to wear only adds on to each member’s unique style, more specifically fashion-wise. One of the brands of clothing you see Quest wear numerous times is Kallusive. Kallusive’s motto is “Leave your mark” and that is exactly what every member of Quest Crew does; They leave their mark. Their hairstyles alone leave their own marks since they’re so striking and remarkable. But more in depth, Quest leaves its mark by influencing and making an impact on not only those around them, but even those who have never even met them before and have only seen them online or on TV, fans or not. The members of Quest have such a tremendous impact on the lives of others so much that they are sometimes oblivious of their influence. Whether they are the little things such as flashing a smile to their fans or dancing their hearts out for charity (on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew: Champions for Charity), they are always touching and moving people internationally. Every time you read, hear, or even think about Quest Crew, you just can’t help but smile. Everything they say or do is truly genuine and they’re continuously influencing people positively by showing them to leave their mark, make an impact on those around them, follow their dreams, and to find happiness. The members Quest Crew consists of are beautiful people, inside and out, and they make thousands, if not millions and billions, of people all over the world happy. Quest Crew will always be an inspiration.

Answers to Question 3:

#7

Out of all the colors known to man, purple has become a very important part of Questies lives. As a Questie, we’ve often heard the question “Why purple?” asked a lot, whether it is to other Questies or to Quest themselves. Other than being the favorite color of adolescent girls, something that may have worked in Quests advantage, the color purple also has several other meanings. Purple means creativity and creativity is something we know the Quest members are full of. Most, if not all, of us have seen their creativity touch thousands as they captivated the hearts of America on ABDC. Whether it was the sassyness of Britney Week or the moving OrQuestra, their creativity has touched us time and time again. Have you ever found yourself locked in your room, after a super stressful day, listening to Ryanimay or Victor’s music on youtube? I know I have! If listening to music isn’t your stress-reliever, what about drawing or photography? Looking up Hok’s drawings or Feng’s photography has always cheered me when I was in need of it. I know you’re next question already, what does this have to do with the color purple? Well, other than meaning creativity, purple is also a calming and uplifting color. The members of Quest always seem to have these affects on people, whether it is through their many talents or simply through their personality. So the next time you find yourself wondering “Why purple?” remember this: it stands for creativity and using your imagination to the fullest. It can energize you or it can calm you down. It is the color of purpose. It is the color of Quest.

#8

After reading this article. I thought about why I choose to wear the color purple and about how my color selection in the past has actually said a lot about who I was. I used to wear a lot of dark colors- being like everyone else, having thoughts to myself. I think the majority of the population wears dark colors- blue, black, brown, etc. It is a common color that everyone wears, but it is not necessarily a bad thing . I think it means they are common colors that everyone can enjoy. Then I think about why I chose to buy purple. True, I was inspired about Quest Crew, but every time I choose to wear purple it feels a little different. People do a double take and have a slightly different look on their face when they see me wearing purple. It is not a common color, it’s…different. The color purple sends a message that someone is different and it may be even extended to say that someone is unique. I feel thatwhen people wear purple, they are unconsciously saying “hey, I’m a little different”. Although many people may wear purple, they are all unique individuals. The color purple encompasses people’s individualism but it is also a color that these unique individuals can come together in. The color purple harbors all the unique individuals under one roof, without saying a word. So whenever someone is wearing purple, I know they are being bold, being different, but above all, being an individual: being unique. They don’t need to say anything to anyoneto get their message across. Quest Crew does not need to say much about their choice of the color purple. Look at what they’ve done for people, look at what they’ve done for me just by wearing the color. Just look at the increase in everyone wearing the color purple. So go out, wear some purple. Be bold, be an individual, be unique, send your message.

#9

Quest members clearly all  the color purple. They wear purple all the time and not just at home or rehearsal, for almost all their performances too! They definitely stand out with their purple and may just be the only crew in the world that has such a revolved around color theme. I think standing out might be what Quest was aiming for. Now, do they not only different with their amazing dance variations but also their style. Since purple is such an unisex color that be why Quest likes it so much. Also purple is a unique color so wearing purple when performing can show the audience how the unique purple represents Quest. When Quest performs they want to entertain and keep their audiences happy and wearing purple adds to that happiness!There’s not many purple things in the world and purple is a happy color so bringing all that purple on stage with them just equals a whole lot of happiness along with their routine. A whole lot of happiness equals more love, and more love equals more fans. There may be other hidden reasons why Quest wears purple for their shows but this might be what comes to mind of an outsider. :]

#10

When looking at footage from Quest performances, all Questies notice one of the most striking features in Quest’s style; most of the time, they are wearingpurple. Some may ask themselves, why purple? What is so special about purple?Purple is a color that symbolizes many eccentric things, not only in history, but in modern times as well. From the first time period purple dye came around, it was a color associated with royalty, and class. Purple dye was so rare in ancient times that only extremely wealthy people could afford to wear purple clothing. Seeing a person dressed in purple on the street would leave the working class utterly mesmerized. While doing my research, I have found many traits of those who are attracted to the color Purple. I noticed that many of the traits related to Quest represented them well. Upon researching the symbols of the color, I found one word associated withpurple which describes Quest perfectly; Creativity. Quest is one of the most creative dance crews time has ever seen. Each member is unique and creative in their own way. Some are musicians, some are artists, and they are all astonishing dancers. Could the color purple help boost their creativity? Experiments have proven that a purple bedroom can help boost creativity in young children. By wearing the color purple, Quest is boosting their creativity, which helped them claim the title of America’s Best Dance Crew. I also learned that people who love purple have an eye for detail and precision. This could help explain Quest’s flawless performances. Quest spends hours upon hours practicing for their shows, which shows dedication and the love for what they do. The color purple enables Quest to perfect their performances and amaze countless amounts of people. Another fun fact I learned in my research ispurple is also a symbol of sharing. Wearing purple may be a symbol of Quest sharing their talent with the world. I could go on and on. I have found so many different ties purple has with Quest. However, I think the most important reason as to why they wear purple is one people can not find online. Purple is the definition of Quest. All the symbols associated with purple mix together to form Quest Crew. By taking all these traits they have and coming together as one, Quest has been able to achieve greatness.

#11

When I first tried to think about the theory to this mystery, I’m thinking that it’s probably their favorite color or that it’s that one color that helps them look feminine, (or to attract the ladies). Well, now this is my thought…When you hear the name, Quest you probably think of traveling and probably even dancing. Quest themselves are a bboying crew that may appear mysterious, clever, fascinating, and maybe dancing geniouses. And maybe that’s why they chose to wear that color when they travel to supposedly give that message to the audience. But it seems that the color purple also means uplifting, calming to the mind and nerves, (which makes no sense when they’re doing these wicked, insane tricks), and encourages creativity. I have once read that the color violet may be used in life when you want to to use your imagination to its fullest, re-balance your life, remove obstacles, and to calm overactivity or to energize from depression. And perhaps these are some of the goals they wish to fulfill for everybody and to inspired dancers. And “According to surveys, almost 75 percent of pre-adolescent children prefer purple to all other colors” and “A purple room can boost a child’s imagination or an artist’s creativity.” Maybe another goal they want to accomplish as dancers. And as they travel and preform for countries and people who may share the same dreams, that is probably their “Quest.”

These bloggers answered more then one of the questions

#12 – Answered both Question 2 and 3 :

I could see how Quest influence the world. Their dancing make everyone else motivated to practice more and more (one thing for sure, that’s what happen to me and my friend).

They put a higher standard for dance crew.

I know how people in youtube compare Quest to others ABDC champion.

And how many people start to dance just by watching them.

Quest Crew is No. 1!!!

I can’t write how’s Quest influence the world one by one, since it’ll keep me writing for days.

Their dance style always amazed me.. I love the way they dance..

(Oh, before I forget to mention it.. I have a friend in Singapore who said he wants to be a dancer right after watching Quest performance @ TBG 2010)

That’s how Quest influence everyone guyz!!

Honestly, I really have no idea why Quest pick purple for their color..

But since I love purple too, I’ll be OK with it (LOL).

Here’s my thought about why Quest pick purple instead of many others.

It’s different!! Many dancers use white, black, red, silver or gold for their color. But I never heard bout any group who pick purple as their color.

So, maybe it’s slightly because no one ever use it??!!

I don’t know..

LOL

Or…

Because purple means passion, friendship and wisdom.

That’s how Quest show the world that they dance with passion, friendship is everything and they hope they become someone who has wisdom??

Maybe??

One thing for sure, I’m glad they pick purple coz it’s suite them the best.

#13 – Answered Question 1, 2, and 3:

1-  I consider Fashion/Style to be something unique. I wouldnt like to see someone wearing the same outfit on the streets. I always wished to design clothes especially for myself, but due to time constrain (school etc) i dont have the chance to do so. But mix and matching top and bottoms, accessories, do show some sense of individualism as well.

I believe in wearing what you look good in, not just following the current fashion.
Performance/Photoshoot fashion is different from normal day outs. For performances/photoshoot, i would go for unique, striking, statement making fashion – as im sure everyone would agree that first impression counts, and i strongly feel that a performance outfit brings out the dance even more! The outfit to fit the dance theme/song/style is key!
Fashion definitely makes life more interesting, something i look forward to every morning when i wake up. Fashion is something that allows me to express my style and current mood as well. Grungy, Classy, Chic, Girly, Sporty, Nerdy, Anything you like, can be expressed via fashion, i think fashion is truely amazing.
My friends and i love discussing about the current fashion, old fashion, fahion we like, fashon people prefer etc. I see fashion as a form of religion, something you choose to believe in. An interesting analogy is that the men decided to take revenge on females (male fashion designers, often gay and wants the guys to themselves) therefore they make females look anorexic – stick skinny = beauty. Therefore, TRUST YOURSELF not just blindly following the advices of magazine editors and current fashion. (no offence to any magazine/fashion editors!!) Haha its all up to what YOU define as beauty/fashion, of course, dont harm yourself while finding your own definition!

2- Quest influences the world enough by doing what they’re doing, inspiring all dancer-to-bes and dancers out there. To me, Quest’s style is very individualised, every member have their own talent and style, which is a very interesting concept, shows every crew out there that the team dont have to be SIMILAR in looks or anything to put something so coordinated and wonderful together.

3- I associate purple to be a colour of royalty, there are different shades of purple, and my favourite shade is royal purple. It gives a sense of power, and the colour is calming to the eyes, and i must say it is indeed a unique colour to pick as a crew’s symbolic colour.
A colour to signify victory, royalty of dancers!
Purple can be sensual also, thinking about the toxic dance by Quest, haha thats an amazing piece! Royal purple is easy to spot as well, so royal purple banners/royal purple wordings on white banners and fans in purple can stand out to Quest as they perform/compete
I think the best part would be purple isnt a colour that clashes with any other unlike something like orange?
Most people would associate purple to gay, even though i think the international gay colour is colourful now? Haha, it might also be one of the reason that Quest chose purple, which is unlikely but one thing i admire about Quest is the ability to add comedy subtly or obvious in their dances, i think thats one of the many reasons Quest is unlike the other many crews in the world!
That is my point of view on why Quest chooses to wear purple for their shows!

#14 – Answered both 1 and 2

I was in the downtown core the other day, aka Business Central, where Serious People go to work. This is the place where Important Decisions are made. Everywhere I looked that day, I saw suits with people wearing them walking around. Ears were never too far away from their BlackBerry, and the buildings were huge walls blocking every ray of sunlight, casting the entire block into darkness. I work in one of the buildings in Business Central and see this setting every day, minus the days when it is raining. This day however, I saw something different. I saw a person walking around not wearing, if you’ll believe it, a suit. This person was not a passerby, this person was an EMPLOYEE. An employee where? An employee at the same bank where I was.  I noticed her first because of her amazing skinny jeans. She was wearing skinny jeans with amazing stilettos that had an evil grin as the design pattern of the heel, making the entire shoe seem like an evil grin of some kind. She had a skinny silk green tie acting as the belt, and part of the tie acting as a headband. (I’m only assuming she had two ties of the same kind, or that she knows how to manipulate them!). She had on a green top, a loose fitting shirt with a design of some sort imprinted on the front and with sleeves that were about elbow-length. Her hair, which was held back by the tie-band, was in curls, and there was a peacock feather tucked behind her ear. Why? I have no idea.  I just know that she looked so professional, yet so unbelievably creative at the same time. And she wore this to work! In the downtown core! Where Serious People go to work! I didn’t want to be too close in proximity to her, as I’d probably wind up staring at her (and as I’m a girl, it may slightly creep her out), so I hung back until she had entered the elevator already.  Then I stopped and realized: she was an employee at the same bank where I worked, surrounded by Serious People, surrounded by suits which wore people, by ears which owned a BlackBerry. She saw all this, she knew of the look of contempt people gave you if you tried to talk to an Important Person while suit-less. She knew it, she knew society’s standards and expectations of “a business person” (suit, tie, serious attire), and she still managed to pull off an incredibly creative look, and be successful.  She managed to be the green in the downtown core, the color among the blacks, greys, and whites. And while I thought about that for the rest of the day, I realized something else.  Quite simply put, she broke the rules and expectations of society with that one simple outfit. More importantly though, she made me realize the reason that I admire and love Quest Crew even today, more than a year later since I first laid eyes on them. Quest broke the rules of society with their sense of style, they broke the rules of society with their performances, they broke the rules of society with their actions, grace, poise, and personality. They were so comfortable and confident in their male sexuality, that they saw no problem with acting like females in their Britney Spears performance. They saw no reason to follow society’s rules that men must behave and act a certain way and that some things “guys just don’t do”. They broke the expectation society had of bboys when they dressed in suits and formal wear for their final performance. They broke the perception that bboys are uneducated, wild, and uncontrollable with their personalities and character. While performing at Club 141 in San Francisco, the rowdy and disruptive crowd threw glass on the floor during their performance. It was a mark of Quest’s true character when they kicked and brushed the glass out of the way and finished the performance. The members themselves are quite talented and have done well for themselves. Ryan Conferido is an amazing pianist and writer. Victor Kim has an absolutely beautiful voice and is not only a force to be reckoned with, but a very kind, and inspirational human being. Hokuto Konishi is a painter. Steve Terada is an internationally acclaimed martial artist with nearly 30 world titles. Ryan Feng is an inspirational photographer. Brian Hirano is an up and coming DJ. Dominic Sandoval is quite possibly the most humorous and kind person you’ll meet as you continue your journey of life. So to those who claim I am obsessed with Quest, I ask of you, how can you not? If you met human beings who brought you joy, who inspired you, who pushed you to keep going, how could you not love and admire them? And perhaps I won’t meet them in person, seeing as we live in different countries and I am not in the same industry. But it means so much to me just to see a smile on their faces and knowing I helped make them smile. To know that they are travelling the world and helping and inspiring others, as they helped and inspired me. This started as a post about a random girl’s outfit that I saw in the downtown core, but it ended as a post about Quest. It’s because the goodness I see in the world, I always find in Quest. And for that, I will be forever proud to be a Questie.

Vote here!

If you’ve answered yes to these questions, maybe you’re the right person for the job. With 2 of the QueStyle members having to focus on their personal lives we need help. If you think you can blog about how Quest’s style affects you and the world, send us an email!

Call it a contest. We’ll have the “contestants” answer some questions and have a example blog from each person. Then we’ll have you, the Questies, pick your favorite. You have the power, so pick responsibly.

If you’re interested email us at questyle@questcrew.com and i’ll send you thr questions. By July 24^th the excerpt from all interested bloggers will be up and you will be able to vote.

Excited yet ?

Think you’re fashionable?

If you have someone you would like to nominate for fashionable fan of the month (including yourself!) please send an email to questyle@questcrew.com with a representative photo and a reason that Quest Crew inspires your fashion.

In the store you can by t-shirts, tank tops, bracelets, bandanas, and backpacks. What else do you need? All your QueStyle wishes can come true.

Anything you want, but don’t see? Let us know ! QueStyle@questcrew.com .

Don’t Worry, Team Quest is coming up with new ideas every day for your enjoyment.

The spread, which only referenced dance in terms of the ABDC claim to fame, spoke to the versatility of Quest as a crew.  What they do on a day-to-day basis is try to represent beauty in life.  Their cohesive individuality in color, style, and flair offers a seamless mesh of starkly contrasted looks that stirss the senses as much as their killer moves on stage.

The sequence of individual moments allows members’ personalities to pierce the pages, allowing those glancing a peek into the characters behind  the faces that glide across stages all over this nation.  From the thoughtful look in Hok’s eyes to the childlike joy in Ryan’s face, their solo shots speak to the true selves we see in Assorted Tripe videos again and again.

As we segue into group shots I halt at this photo in particular because, to me, it says so much about Quest.  The different levels, the scattered poses, the candid faces coalesce to capture an essence of what Quest is all about.  It evokes a feeling of joy, amazement, creativity, confidence, action and so much more in a single flash.  It’s also remarkable how here it seems that the freezes are an accent to the fashion, as opposed to the clothes being the accent to the choreography.  It’s the flawless transition from performing to posing that gives Quest a unique edge – that makes them more than just another dance crew.  Whatever they do, they do with their complete dedication, holding true to the art form they are representing maintaining its purity as much as they can.  It seems that Quest is always able to maintain a delicate balance of maintaining a Quest-essence while also embodying the essence of the art forms that surround them.

A BIG thanks to Skinnie Magazine!  Make sure to check out the full spread on their site and be sure to follow them on Twitter.  They offer a lot of opportunities for fans to come hang with Skinnie folk all over the nation so check them out on MySpace and Facebook as well!  Let us know what you thought of the Skinnie shoot by commenting below!!

Have a fashiontastic day Questies!

~Lubna Grewal~

QueStyle: Tell us about these outfits and why you chose them.

Debbie: The pictures you have, were taken in the fall and they were to celebrate reaching my fitness goal of losing over 40lbs. Since they were taken I have changed my hairstyle and color, so I have included a couple new pictures.

I chose these outfits because they are flattering to my new figure and they are what I wear most of the time. The shirts are in the bright colors that I’ve come to like, in fact my friends now refer to royal blue as “Debbie’s blue” because it looks so nice on me. In the new pictures I have a dressier look and another everyday look with my favorite piece of clothing and a shirt in “my blue”.

QueStyle: Define your style.

Debbie: A typical day for me right now has me working or in class. I work as a cook on the weekends and I’m a full time Baking and Pastry Arts student, so I spend a lot of time in a chef’s uniform. Before and after being in the kitchen I find it’s easier to throw on jeans and a nice shirt, but I still have a couple of outfits for special occasions. I would define my style as a casual with a touch of class. I love jeans, t-shirts and sneakers, but nicer shirts, too. I have been slowly rebuilding my wardrobe since I lost weight and the dressier cloths have been the last items to be added. I don’t wear a lot of accessories because I have to take them off in the kitchen.

QueStyle: How does Quest influence your style?

Debbie: Seeing how Quest pulls off a variety of bright colors has had an influence on me. I’ve been more adventurous with color and I have found colors and even some styles that I never thought would look good on me.

QueStyle: What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

Debbie: My favorite piece of clothing is a hoodie I got this fall.

It’s “cookie monster” blue and it’s fuzzy all over the inside. I love it because it’s a bright color and the second I put it on I’m warm.

QueStyle: Who’s your style icon?

Debbie: For style icon I think I would pick Stacy and Clinton from “What Not To Wear”. I use to watch that show a lot and even though sometimes they are harsh on people, their advice is sound and their results are amazing. Dressy cloths can be comfortable, so you end up looking great and feeling comfortable.

QueStyle: What’s your favorite fashion season?

Debbie: My favorite fashion season if I have one would most likely be the same as my favorite season, winter. I tend to be drawn to the darker, richer colors and fabrics you find in the winter. Plus when you live on the east coast of Canada, it’s good to be warm as well as look good.

Many thanks to Debbie for participating in Fan of the Month!  If you have someone you would like to nominate for fashionable fan of the month (including yourself!) please send an email to questyle@questcrew.com with a representative photo and a reason that Quest Crew inspires your fashion.

Make sure to add a little extra flavor to your look today!

~Alice Huang~

I was taken aback especially by moving performances such as the lyrics of The reMINDers and the spoken word piece performed by Aasif Mandvi of the Daily Show.  But as I took in all these messages, one stood out to me amongst the rest.  F R E E D O M.  How different it sounded out of the mouths of politicians, now that I heard it being projected from these struggling artists.  Politically, freedom had become something we, privileged and civilized Americans, spread elsewhere, the underdeveloped third world.

Perhaps that is how it appears when the only information you are receiving is from the television.  But when you watch and listen to these people, you start questioning that reality that the Gods of TV expect us to accept.  Are we spreading freedom internationally as people amongst us remain just as oppressed?  Are we consuming ourselves with other countries because we are too afraid to look at our own shortcomings?

“I do it for the right reasons.   Fight back to get my people out their prisons” ~ The Reminders, Fight Back

Every minority experiences this feeling.  There is a struggle to carve out your place in society, to establish that you are American – and that as an American you deserve your own identity.  You are not on display as a representation of what others have seen only on television previously.  Your views are your own and don’t represent an entire community necessarily – i.e. just because I minored in Arabic at the University of Michigan does not mean that all Muslims speak Arabic.  Cultures, races, and ethnicities are far more complex than what a monolithic perspective offers.  You might as well argue you aren’t racist because you have a Black friend.  It oppresses the beauty other cultures have to offer.  It appears we have to repress so much of who we are to fit into what the general public expects us to be – that majority driven prototype.

It was as I was thinking all of this that Mos Def graced the stage.  Mesmerized by the amazing performer he is, I also realized that he in no way needed this stage to express himself.  He had an established career in mainstream America – on screen and on stage.  It was his choice to stand beside the unheard voices of the masses, to speak with them.  And for me, that was one of the most inspirational points of the night.  It reminded me, in fact, of Quest’s persistent connection to their community.  Although they have an established dance career, they have not forgotten those they represent.  It is a choice minority performers have to make: establish a career because of their identity or establish it despite that same identity.  I don’t necessarily think either is more correct.  There is validity in trying to base a career solely on talent and not have people look at the color of your skin – but people do look at the color of your skin, and with that acknowledgement maybe it becomes better to embrace your community.  That is why Mos Def chooses to make Friday prayer in Brooklyn, and spend a Saturday night at an almost exclusively Muslim event.  Unlike T-Pain and other “closet” Muslim rappers, Mos Def wants to be seen as Muslim and not just as another Black rapper.  Similarly, Quest Crew is beyond a group of Asians working in the dance world.  They are part of a community – in Artesia – and across America as they support the community center itself and also support movements like the AADP and it is for these reasons that Quest Crew is honored at events like East-West Players.

And so, after a landmark night in my life, I sat down to write this – reaffirmed in my love for the arts, my respect for Quest, and my ambition to make a difference in this world.  I am who I am because I’m South Asian, because I’m Muslim, because I’m a woman, and because I am American and my connection to all of that is inextricable.  I will not oppress one identity to maintain another.

~Lubna Grewal~

Hey Questies!  For our latest QueStyle post we have some special treats for you!  If you recall, we had an earlier post about Shoeture (which can be found here).  Well we actually got an exclusive interview with the founder of Shoeture, Grant Hooks!  Check out his answers…

QueStyle:  Can you tell us a little about your inspiration behind creating shoeture?
I wanted to make accessories that are different and unique. The idea started as simple charms and lacelocks, and we found that it’s actually very difficult to balance functionality with style. But after lots of iterations it evolved into the great product line we have now.

QueStyle: Shoeture works to rejuvenate the classic look of sneakers.  How do you think that translates into our communities?
The fundamental ideas behind Shoeture connect with our community in many ways.  Probably the most important being that Shoeture helps you ‘love your sneakers again’ -it brings back that excitement and joy of having a new pair of shoes.  Given the economic times, it’s nice to be able to revitalize your favorite oldies and pretty much recycle them instead of buying a whole new pair.  This the idea of creatively reusing what we have resonates in our communities.

QueStyle: What qualities do you think make Quest Crew and Shoeture a sensible fit?
First, Quest Crew has a fan base that’s fashion forward with their own stand-out style.  Second, the guys (Quest) are each artists in their own sense, and aren’t afraid to share that with the world.  Third, Quest is awesome!  What better fit with Shoeture could there be!? =)

QueStyle: Would you design a specific Quest Crew shoeture line, as you have done for Beat Freaks?
Yes definitely!  We’re very interested in creating some custom Quest pieces and getting the guys involved in the design process.  The custom designs will probably be a limited run which will make ‘em even that much more special.

QueStyle: What has been your favorite memory since starting Shoeture in 2008?
My favorite memories are simply hearing from friends saying “hey I saw somebody wearing Shoeture the other day”.  It’s exciting hearing that people actually love our products as much as I do.

QueStyle: Where do you hope to see Shoeture progressing in the next few years?
We hope to get more exposure in the entertainment world and help promote the dance community at the same time.  We’ve gotten so much support from our dance industry friends, we need to return the favor as our fanbase and distribution grows.  Limited edition pieces, guest artist designs, gemstone encrusted bars, they’re all in the works.

QueStyle: If you were to move onto different accessories, where do you think you would go?
People that wear Shoeture enjoy unique style, so anything we can do along those lines would fly.  Custom sneakers, rings, even tees would be fun.  But we’d always keep in touch with our fundamental “shoe couture”.

QueStyle: What do you love about Quest Crew?
Well Quest symbolizes a lot of great qualities that Shoeture is always striving for: unique style, artistic freedom, and respect within the community.  We’re constantly trying to find new ways to give back to our fans, and Quest does just that.

In addition to answering our Questions, Grant has graciously donated 2 sets of SHOETURE for us to give away on the site!  So now it’s YOUR time to show us how much you want to love your sneakers again!

For a set of KINGS BUCKLES SHOETURE WINGS:  we want you to identify which Quest member is sporting which shoes in these pictures.  Please send in you answers (please place the answer next to the number given to each picture) to questyle@questcrew.com.

For a set of KINGS BUCKLES BF GHETTOBLASTERS:  we want to see YOUR idea for a Quest Crew Shoeture.  Please send in an original design to questyle@questcrew.com.  Please make sure that if it’s not your artwork directly (i.e. a sibling or friend’s design) you have explicit right to use their idea in this content.

One entry per household, please.  Please either enter the Photo ID contest OR the Design contest – NOT BOTH.  Those who submit to both and those who submit more than once to either contest will be disqualified.  ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR EITHER THE PHOTO ID CONTEST OR THE DESIGN CONTEST ARE DUE JANUARY 30TH 2009.

Please email questyle@questcrew.com with any questions!

Winners will be notified via email and also will be announced in the February Quest Xclusive – so make sure you sign up as a questie to receive it!

A special thanks to Grant Hooks and all the folks at Shoeture for answering the questions and offering Questies a chance to love their sneakers again!  If you haven’t already, become their fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!