Bad Boy. Come on. Sean Combs (I will leave nicknames up to the imagination of the reader) has been trying to leave his mark on the world in his entrepreneurial ways for most of his adult life. Associated with pop-flavored mainstream rap hits, he has been trying to make his own name in the fashion industry independent of his hip-hop persona.

Rap artists have been developing their own clothes since the days of Naughty by Nature's O.P.P. days, and to this day it remains the en vogue power-move to make once you hit it big and cross over. Don't believe me? The following artists depend on newly-franchised self-moniker clothing sales for about a quarter to half of their total revenue: Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, Outkast, Eve, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Fat Joe and Master P. To his credit, Fat Joe is the only one who beat the crowd to the craze, and was one of the originators of the "eggs in many basket" approaches to the industry.

However, Combs has put a lot of effort and clout into making a name-brand line of clothing to last the trying times of trendiness. Building an empire off of urban culture, his clothing line has hip-hop flavor, but he also has styles that compete with the big boys. Trying to become the Tommy Hilfiger of his generation, his clothes get as much wear from rich white celebrities and fashion aficionados as they do from gangsta rappers and the ghetto fabulous (the new term is "hood rich", mind you). Combs has invitations to every major fashion show in the world, and his runway shows get praise from even the most caustic critics.

Design

The point is that you can wear stylish, comfortable clothes that impress the ladies without feeling like you're Bubba Sparxxx when you sport Sean John. There's no need to feel awkward if rapper-wear isn't your forte. On the flip-side though, it still has credibility and gets respect in the streets. Rappers and hood personalities alike may tease "Puff" for his soft ways, but they flaunt his recognizable signature every chance they get. It's the best of both worlds. Completely unlike his awful collaboration with Jimmy Page a few years back.

Cozy and comfortable as well as stylish, the knit sweaters are more conservative and sure to warm like eggnog at holiday parties. These come off more like Polo than Phat Farm. These lifesavers during freezing hours in the office are the perfect blend of Abercrombie & Fitch and Triple 5 Soul. The subtle Sean John logo quietly shows people you're not afraid to take risks with your wardrobe.

Several leather jackets come in various colors and styles, and the butterscotch jackets bring home the flavor of the "I need a girl" video. A pair of aviator shades make the aviator jackets look like you're a superstar yourself. Perfect for winter driving, when you want to keep warm and stay cool all at once.

Also crossing cultural barriers are the classy yet sporty long-sleeve signature tees. Coming in current "in" hues of your favorite colors, these shirts are perfect for throwing on when you want to hang out with the buddies and play video games, or when you're mixing with the girlfriend's social circle for the first time. Be warned though; they may be hip on everybody, but remember they come a little oversized. They are meant to be worn with t-shirts over top of them, or underneath jackets and sweatshirts. Having said that, they are also fairly thin, so that they layer well. Believe me, Diddy wants you to be wearing as many layers of SJ clothes as possible. Even down to your boxers.

Quality

It's easy to see Combs trying to blatantly advertise his clothing dynasty on the new MTV show Making the Band II, but will the wearability have as much success as the design? Sean John logos abound on the new series, especially with video-chronicled trips to Sean John offices and franchise stores, as they have in rap videos for years. Nowhere are they more prominent than on the signature t-shirts.

Make no mistake, these are thick, rugged shirts with an agenda. Diddy's trying to make you look good playing sports, so he wants to make sure your shirt can survive sweat stains and getting tackled, and last you a long time. And since you've dirtied your SJ shirt playing football, you can go right back to the store and buy a more stylish, expensive shirt. Again, keep in mind that they run baggy, and they tend to run a little long. Buying these online can be an unpleasant surprise if you are dealing with this brand for the first time.

For more of a rough-edge look, the jeans come in following the grid design of all urban jeans in the past 5 years. Nothing new here, although they are thick and rugged. They aren't the most comfortable jeans; they are like Buddy Lee Dungarees, but less comfortable and much more expensive. With the uncouth coloring schemes, you may be fading them sooner that you would expect. Don't forget they are going to run loose as well.

Back to outerwear, nothing quite stands up to the elements like the nylon hooded jackets. Perfect for walking through the city before it gets dark, these loud jackets definitely make you look cooler than you are. They are very subtle and sturdy, so you don't have to worry about ripping the shell as you brush up against anything (or anyone).

Overall

The clothes don't have the highest level of comfort, but the colors are bold and the impressions are long-lasting. Even simple designs like the racing tees make you more noticeable at social events. Especially when all your friends are wearing American Eagle. Conceptual shirts like the vision shirt are eye-catching and durable, garnering attention at every appointment, except at the optometrist, I suppose.

Clear winners like the velour jumpsuit are current hits, being the big thing right now. Fuzzy and furry, they give off a sort of pimp appeal that Don Knotts could pull off without looking out of character. Lavishly comfortable and sickingly stylish, there's no going wrong.

Getting past the initial impression of Puff Daddy having a decent clothing line may prove tricky, but once you start taking notice of all the coverage in magazines and TV, pick up a few threads that will spice up your holiday wardrobe, before you're the last to know. "'Cause if you don't know, now you know."