RIP Michael Jackson - Pop Culture ICON

(August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009)

Hearing the news about the death of Michael Jackson was a complete shock and the feeling is still so surreal. We at Cut It Out! Apparel would like to dedicate this post to the KING OF POP. 

We thank you for your music that so genuinely moved, grooved, soothed and touched us beyond belief. You were a brilliant artist, humanitarian and entertainer, who dazzled us with your ONE OF A KIND moves...and fashion.  We are truly blessed to have had the time we spent with you. You will always be remembered in our hearts...and your music will live on forever!

We welcome any comments on your fondest memory of MJ! 

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xo

Cut It Out! Apparel x BAMcinematek Afro-Punk Festival

(Click picture to visit BAM Afro-punk site)

Cut It Out! will be out at the BAMcinematek AFRO-PUNK Festival this Sunday, July 12 from 12-8pm. Be sure to come check us out. We'll be featuring some new styles!!! Hope to see you there.

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xo

Made You Look!! South Africa

Our Destroy Stereotypes Tee!!

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Made You Look!!! Brooklyn NY

Cut It Out! Apparel was asked to donate some of our tees for a good cause to The Vanguard Parent/Teacher Fashion Show in Brooklyn, NY. The fashion show was held to raise money for the children's afterschool program. We attended the show and had a great time, check out a few pics we captured from that evening...

Cut It Out! Logo Tee...



Thank you for the pictures lady. We enjoyed ourselves and we love supporting our community!

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xo

Made You Look!!!

Check out Cut It Out! girl Christina Rodriguez, of South Richmond Hill rocking our Game Over tee...


Thanks for the photo Christina!!!

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Made You Look!!! New York, NY

Cut It Out! Logo T-Dress

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Cut It Out! Recognizing Great Black Women during Black History Month

bell hooks
(September, 1952 -)


Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by the pen name bell hooks, is an American author, feminist, and social activist. Her writing has focused on the interconnectivity of race, class, and gender and their ability to produce and perpetuate systems of oppression and domination. She has published over thirty books and numerous scholarly and mainstream articles, appeared in several documentary films and participated in various public lectures. Primarily through a postmodern perspective, she has addressed race, class and gender in education, art, history, sexuality, mass media and feminism. (more)

Source: wikipedia.org

Cut It Out! Recognizing Great Black Women during Black History Month

Marian Anderson
(February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993)

Marian Anderson was an America contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century. She possessed a rich and vibrant voice with an intrinsic quality of beauty. Most of her singing career was spent performing in concert and recital in major music venues and with major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe between 1925-1965. Although she was offered contracts to perform roles with many important European opera companies, Anderson declined all of these, prefering to perform in concert and recital only. She did, however, perform opera arias within her concerts and recitals. She made many recordings that reflected her broad performance repertoire of everything from concert literature to lieder to opera to traditional American songs and spirituals.

An African-American, Anderson became an important figure in the struggle for black artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid twentieth century. In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused permission for Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall. Their race-driven refusal placed Anderson into the spotlight of the international community on a level usually only found by high profile celebrities and politicians. (more)

Source: wikipedia.org

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Cut It Out! Recognizing Great Black Women during Black History Month

Nina Simone
(February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003)

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her stage name Nina Simone was a fifteen-time Grammy Award-nominated American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist.

Although she disliked being categorized, Simone is generally classified as a jazz musician. Simone originally aspired to become a classical pianist, but her work covers an eclectic variety of musical styles besides her classical basis, such as jazz, soul, folk, R&B, gospel and pop music. Her vocal style is characterized by intense passion, a loose vibrato, and a slightly androgynous timbre, in part due to her unusually low vocal range which veered between the alto and tenor ranges (occasionally even reaching baritone lows). Sometimes known as The High Priestess of Soul, she paid great attention to the musical expression of emotions. Within one album or concert she could fluctuate between exuberant happiness or tragic melancholy. These fluctuations also characterized her own personality and personal life, worsened by bipolar disorder with which she was diagnosed in the mid-1960s, but was kept secret until 2004.

Simone recorded over 40 live and studio albums, the biggest body of her work being released between 1958 (when she made her debut with Little Girl Blue) and 1974. Songs she is best known for include "My Baby Just Care for Me", "I Put a Spell on You", "I Loves You Porgy", "Feeling Good", "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", Sinnerman", "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" and "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl".

Her music and message made a strong and lasting impact on culture, illustrated by the numerous contemporary artists who cite her as an important influence (among them Mary J. Blige, Elkie Brooks, Alicia Keys, Jeff Buckley, John Legend, Lauryn Hill and Peter Gabriel. (more)

Source: Wikipedia.org

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Cut It Out! Honors Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month we wanted to highlight a few of the women who have made an impact on Black History in America. We will be continually posting throughout this month. Here is our first woman of honor:

Hallie Quinn Brown
(March 10, 1850 - September 16, 1949)


Educator, lecturer, clubwoman, reformer

Daughter of former slaves, Hallie Brown grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Chatham, Ontario. She graduated from Wilberforce University in Ohio and taught in schools in Mississippi and South Carolina. In 1885 she became dean of Allen University in South Carolina, and studied at the Chautauqua Lecture School. She taught public school in Dayton, Ohio, for four yeas, and then was appointed lady principal (dean of women) of Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, working with Booker T. Washington.

From 1893 to 1903, she served as professor of elocution at Wilberforce University, but served on a limited basis as she lectured and organized, traveling frequently. She helped promote the Colored Woman's League which became part of the National Association of Colored Women. In Great Britain, where she spoke to popular acclaim on African American life, she made several appearances before Queen Victoria, including tea with the Queen in July, 1889. She also spoke for temperance groups and represented the United States at the International Congress of Women, meeting in London in 1899. She took up the cause of woman suffrage and spoke on the topic of full citizenship for women as well as civil rights for black Americans. In 1925 she protested segregation of the Washington (DC) Auditorium being used for the All-American Musical Festival of the International Council of Women, threatening that all black performers would boycott the event if segregated seating were not ended. Two hundred black entertainers did boycott the event and black participants left in response to her speech. (more)

Source: About.com

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Made You Look!!

Random Photos of Summer 2008

Cut It Out! Girl, Tirinda rocking a "My Name Is NOT Shawty! Tee...with Dave of De la Soul at Rock the Bells (DC).

Tirinda with Mase of De la Soul at Rock the Bells (DC).



Brooklyn We Go Hard! TastyKeish donning an orange CIO Logo T-Dress...

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At Last - Barack and Michelle Obamas First Dance at the Neighborhood Ball

Just in case you missed it.

Beautiful, graceful, love...

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xoxo

USA President Elect Barack Obama Takes Oath as 44th President

Congratulations to our 44th President!!!

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xoxo

Happy Birthday - Martin Luther King Jr.

Cut It Out! x Westside YMCA Teens

Yesterday evening (1/14/09), we had the pleasure of speaking to teens at the Westside YMCA's Teen Center located on 63rd St in the city. We were invited to speak to the group for their Career Week and got to share the mission and inner workings of Cut It Out! Apparel.

The teens were very receptive. They asked a number of questions, gave us some feedback and solicited us for advice on business. We gave away shirts to teens who answered questions on what they learned about Cut It Out! and ended with handing out stickers, and information about our brand. (photo above of teens that won the shirts)

The teens at the Westside Y were a fun group and we enjoyed spending time with them. We would like to thank the Teen Coordinator of the program, Gia Harris, and the Westside Y staff for inviting us to the center and for the warm welcome.

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xoxo

Michelle Obama - USAService.org

Make sure to do your part!

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xoxo

It's 2009!

Nneka - Heartbeat

Hello everyone!!! We hope you enjoyed the holiday season. :)

We wanted to kick the new year off with some ear candy - Nigerian artist, Nneka. This video, Heartbeat, is just a taste of how dope her music is...check it out!

Here is her brief bio, (courtesy of www.Deezer.com):
"Born in Nigeria, Nneka relocated some10,000 miles to Hamburg, Germany, at the age of nineteen to pursue acareer in singing along side a degree in Anthropology. Having landed inthe German port, the singer hooked up with DJ and Hip-Hop beatmaker DJFarhot and ever since, their strong musical relationship has been thebackbone of Nneka’s success. Her influences reflect her younger days inNigeria as well as her time in the Western world. The distance she has traveled shines through in her voice as does her diverse musicalinfluences. She cites famous compatriot Fela Kuti and legend Bob Marleyas well as contemporary rappers Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep and Lauryn Hill as key influences in her pursuit of musical recognition." (READ MORE)

We wish you much love and prosperity for the new year.

Make sure to visit our blog for updates on our Spring 2009 line of tees, and upcoming events.

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xoxo

Seasons Greetings...

Enjoy.
Be safe.
Stay blessed.

From the staff of Cut It Out! Apparel

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xoxo

Made You Look!!! South Africa

CIO ladies in our Logo Tee and Respect t-shirt.

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Made You Look!!!

Cut It Out! Apparel's logo scarf spotted in Europe.

At the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

In San Gimignano!

In Lucca!

Dining in Prato!

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xo

Cut It Out! Apparel Holiday Sale!!!

Happy Holidays Ladies!!!

Check out our SALE!!!

Are you a Cut It Out! Girl?!!
xo

Made You Look!! Video Edition: A Girl Like Me

Directed by Kiri Davis, Girl Like Me is an eye opening documentary tackling issues such as internal racism, stereotypes, etc. And how it affects them. This film was done a few years ago, but it's still relevant and we felt it is important to share. Speak on it!

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xo

Cut It Out! Apparel x World AIDS Day 2008

Cut It Out! Apparel supports World AIDS Day (December 1). HIV/AIDS affects millions around the globe, so we are dedicating this post to all of those out there dealing with the disease. Our brand's mission is to empower females so we would like to particularly point out some facts about how HIV/AIDS affects women:

Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Women of color are especially affected by HIV infection and AIDS. In 2004 (the most recent year for which data are available), HIV infection was

• the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
• the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years.
• the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years.
• the 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35–44 years.

HIV/AIDS in 2005

(The following bullets, except for the last one, are based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.)

• HIV/AIDS was diagnosed for an estimated 9,708 women.
• High-risk heterosexual contact was the source of 80% of these newly diagnosed infections.
• Women accounted for 26% of the estimated 37,163 diagnoses for adults and adolescents .
• Of the 126,964 women living with HIV/AIDS, 64% were black, 19% were white, 15% were Hispanic, 1% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native.
• The estimated number of HIV/AIDS in female adults or adolescents decreased from 11,941 in 2001 to 9,708 in 2005 .
• According to a recent CDC study of more than 19,500 patients with HIV in 10 US cities, women were slightly less likely than men to receive prescriptions for the most effective treatments for HIV infection.

Source: CDC

To find out more about the HIV/AIDS disease and prevention, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

If you are sexually active, it is extremely important that you get tested and take the proper preventative measures to protect yourself.

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xo

Superwomen

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Made You Look!!! GO Magazine Nightlife Party NYC

Cut It Out! Girl, Fiori (right), rocking our Cut It Out! emerald Logo Flower Shirt at GO Magazine's Nightlife party in NYC.

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Made You Look!!! President Barack Obama...YES, WE DID!!!

Cut It Out! Apparel congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama and looks forward to

"Change We Can Believe In!"

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Cut It Out! Apparel x Style Clash!!!

(click image to enlarge view)

On Friday, November 7th, Cut It Out! Apparel will be joining Harriet's Alter Ego, and a list of other designers for:

Style Klash: A Convergence of Style Across Mediums - A Benefit For The Gallery @ Harriet's

There will be performances and a fashion show!!! The benefit will be from 8-12am. Tickets are $25 For more information: 718.783.2074 / harrietsalteregoonline.com

WHAT'S NEW @ CUT IT OUT!??? - COME CHECK OUT OUR FALL 2008 LINE!!!

STOCK UP FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2009 - ALL OF OUR CUT IT OUT! T-SHIRTS ARE ON SALE!!!

We hope to see you there!!!!

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xx

Cut It Out! x West Harlem Public Arts Festival

Please join us at the West Harlem Arts Festival this weekend, October 18 & 19 and November 8 & 9, from 11am-7pm. We'd love to see you all come out to support this event!

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xx

Made You Look!!! New York, NY

Cut It Out! x The Atlantic Antic

It's that time of the year again...

Brooklyn's own Atlantic Antic - October 5, 2008. Come out and join in the festivities! There will be great food, live performances, rides for the kids and tons of other things for ALL to get into...and of course, Cut It Out! will be there (between Bond St & Nevins St). Make sure to stop by and say "hi!"

Here are a couple of pics from last year's Atlantic Antic:

(Photo source, www.atlanticave.org)

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xx

Rye Rye and K-Swift @ Artscape

Interscope artist, Rye Rye and dancers perform onstage rocking Cut It Out! Tees.  Look out for Rye Rye's album (Produced by M.I.A.) coming soon!!!

Made You Look!!! - Rye Rye Performing @ MAD DECENT BLOCK PARTY IN PHILLY!

She is sooooo talented!!!

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xx

Bloggers - We Appreciate You...

This post is a special thanks to all the wonderful bloggers who support Cut It Out! and have added a bit about us on their blogs! We appreciate the love...

YMIB



LICHIBAN


THE HOTNESS GRRRL


DEFINITELY AMAZING


TI KE DI


If we have missed any blog, please contact us and let us know! We'd like to thank ALL for supporting Cut It Out!

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xx

Made You Look!!! - BUAM Edition

NEW STYLE ALERT!!! MICHELLE OBAMA TEE!!!

Check out our NEW - Michelle Obama tees at our online STORE!!!

Cut It Out! @ BUAM Tomorrow!!!

Hey Everyone,

Posting a friendly reminder that Cut It Out! will be out at the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market tomorrow from 12-8pm. We're having an end of the Summer Sale!!! Make sure to come out and get tees at our lowest price of the season!!!!

Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Summit will be performing, so it's sure to be a good time.

Hope to see you there!

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xx

Made You Look!!!

Check out the lovely A.K.U.W.A. on a Caribbean Cruise rocking a "My Name Is Not Shorty!" tee. We see you A.K.U.W.A. looking laid back and FAB!!

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xx

BACK TO SCHOOL BLOWOUT SALE!!!!

Michelle Obama - Our First Lady '08

This post is to acknowledge the fabulous Michelle Obama!! Her speech at last night's Democratic National Convention was amazing!!! Her words were spoken so eloquently about the American experience and we love her for her sincerity. She is a wonderful woman, mother, role model and a perfect match for Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama. To the Obama family, Barack, Michelle and their 2 beautiful daughters, Cut It Out! thanks you for being you!!!

Michelle, you are definitely our First Lady! (Click the link for our Michelle Obama tee)

Visit the Barack Obama website to support the Obama Campaign.

Are you a Cut It Out! Girl?!

xx

Made You Look!!! Cut It Out! @ the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market

We had a great time out at the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market (BUAM) this past Sunday, 8.24. Peep the pictures below:

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xx

Cut It Out! x Brooklyn Urban Arts Market THIS SUNDAY!!!

Hey everyone! We just wanted to remind you that the Cut It Out! ladies will be at the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market this Sunday, August 24th from 12-8pm.  We're having a special Back To School SALE!!!!! So make sure to stop by our booth to pick up some Cut It Out! tees before school rolls around! 

Can't wait to see you there!

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xx

Cut It Out! Apparel x The Brooklyn Urban Arts Market

We took a break for a couple of weekends to enjoy some of the summer but we will be out at BAM's Brooklyn Urban Arts Market on Sunday August, 24th and September 7th! Come out and visit us while catching performances by Slick Rick (8/24) and Afrika Bambaata (9/7).

We can't wait to see you there!

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xx

Cut It Out! Apparel x Black Beat Magazine

Check out Cut It Out! in the September 2008 issue of Black Beat Magazine!!! On newsstands now!!! (Page 77) .

Special thanks to Chanda Renee of Black Beat magazine!!!

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xx

Cut It Out! Apparel x Vanessa James of THE BEAT - Miami, FL

(Click image for larger view)

We'd like to give a special shout-out and thank you to Vanessa James at The Beat - Miami Radio Station (103.5FM)!!! Vanessa linked Cut It Out! on her blog, check it out here. If you're in the Miami area, make sure you listen to Vanessa's show, she airs from 10am-3pm. You can also listen live online!!! Thanks again Vanessa! We appreciate the love.

We can't forget to also give thanks to a special Cut It Out! Girl, Damaris De Jesus - Director of National Promotions at Clear Channel Miami. Have a Happy, Happy Birthday... and thanks for the love!

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xx

Made You Look!!!

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xx

Cut It Out! Apparel x Harriet's Alter Ego ReCap

(Click image for larger view)

Cut It Out! set up shop this past Saturday at Harriet's Alter Ego's (HAE) Backyard Couture, a monthly installment of fashion, art, music and more....Brooklyn style!!! Of course, we had the pleasure of connecting with great people with wonderful energy. We are thankful that our brand was well received by all the ladies and gents who attended.

We kept busy through the night, as we cut our T-dress into a new, amazing style, that many ladies purchased on the spot. We also had a surprise visit from a Cut It Out! customer who wore a t-dress dress she'd previously bought at another festival (peep the photo above). Make sure to also check out the cut version of our t-dress, that our Cut It Out! girl, Janay, rocked at the backyard event. (also pictured above)

We had a great time, and want to especially thank Ngozi, of HAE, for inviting us and the helpful HAE staff!!! If you haven't already been to HAE, you MUST visit their shop which carries wonderful pieces, fashion and art. Make sure to check them out...here.

Next up...

We'll be out at Habana Outpost this Saturday from 11-6pm. Make sure to check us out!

Attention Cut It Out! Girls!!! - If you submit photos that you've taken in your Cut It Out! tee (dress, bag, etc.) , you could possibly be featured in our "Made You Look!" posts on our blog. Send photos, with your name, state, and how you like to rock your tee to madeyoulook@cutitoutapparel.com

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xx

Cut It Out! Apparel x Harriet's Alter Ego - REMINDER

Make sure to RSVP if you plan to attend!!! We can't wait to see you there. :)

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xx

Made You Look!!!

(Click image for larger view)

One of our favorite Cut It Out! ladies, Rye Rye - HOT young artist - sent us love from Baltimore, rocking our signature Logo T-Dress!!! If you're in the Baltimore area this weekend make sure to check out her performance at Artscape, it's guaranteed to be a dope show!

Attention all Cut It Out! customers!!! If you have pics of yourself, out and about, chilling at home, or whatever it is you do while in your Cut It Out! tee, send us a photo and it just might make our Made You Look!!! posts on our blog. Send all photos to madeyoulook@cutitoutapparel.com

Are you a Cut It Out! Girl?!

xx

Cut It Out! x The YMCA's Teen Action Summer Program

(WIHS Students and Director pose for a pic 

with the tees given to them by Cut It Out! - 

Click image for a larger view)

Today we had the pleasure of visiting students of Washington Irving High School (WIHS) in NYC, enrolled in the YMCA Teen Action Summer Program!  The program, which runs for six weeks, teaches WIHS students the fundamentals of starting a t-shirt business. Starting from developing a concept, transferring their ideas to a silk screen, printing on to tees, coming up with their business name, learning what it takes to structure a business, and eventually setting up a booth to sell their tees at two events this summer.  

We visited the students to talk about how we got started with our tee business, the mission of Cut It Out! and the business strategy that works to keep us going!  The students also shared their work with us. ALL of which were very creative, and intelligent ideas.  

We had a really great time talking with the WIHS students and would like to thank them all for welcoming us to their classroom. We would also like to thank both Amelia and Candy for inviting us to come and talk with the students. We really appreciate it!

Be sure to check us out this Saturday at Harriet's Alter Ego's Backyard Couture event!

Are you a Cut It Out! Girl?!

xx

Cut It Out! x Harriet's Alter Ego

Cut It Out! has been invited to vend at Harriet's Alter Ego's monthly Backyard Couture event next Saturday, July 19th from 5pm - 11pm!!! We are excited (to say the least), to share the night with good music, beautiful people and great vibes. What a DOPE way to celebrate the middle of the summer!! It's going to be a HOT one ladies so please make sure to come out, chill and of course, get your Cut It Out! tee. You'll also be able to purchase tees with a simple custom cut, at a low extra charge.

Check out how the event at Harriet's Alter Ego went down last month here and here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Are you a Cut It Out! Girl?!

xx