Thank God for Essence

For those of you who were upset after reading Posh's post on Vanity Fair's March 2010 cover, you'll be happy to know that Essence Magazine has an article on Black Women In Hollywood in their March 2010 issue, which is on newsstands now! In the issue, they feature Zoe Saldana as a "Star to Watch" and Gaby Sidibe as "Best Breakthrough Performance". I think both titles are extremely fitting for these two bright, young stars. If you are interested in reading more about the women they spotlight, go out and purchase this issue of Essence. Essence Magazine is always filled with interesting articles that cater specifically to black women; we should support those who support us.

Also, read Gaby and Zoe's comments regarding the Vanity Fair controversy and let us know what you think:

Gaby: “Was I satisfied? Yeah, well… I mean, I come from a world where I’m not on covers and I’m not in magazines at all. And so I was happy to be in the magazine. At first I thought, ‘Hmm, should I be there? Then I very quickly got over it. I think if I were a part of that shoot I would have felt a little left out anyway. I would have felt a little like… whether or not I should have been there. [It] doesn’t matter, because I wasn’t on it and I’m excited to be mentioned anywhere, and it doesn’t matter to me where I’m not mentioned.”

Zoe: "I feel like we can spend a lot of time bashing our beautiful country, but we don’t give it enough credit…"

"[The media] might be a little slow and it might not be on par to how we, as American civilians, would like it to be, but it is still an amazing country. So, when I look at magazines like Vanity Fair and Vogue, I know that it's just a matter of time, the same way Obama took his time and he got to office and became President… it's just a matter of time until magazines, the media, our art, our culture, our colloquial lifestyle, tags along to our today reality."

"I was taught by my mother, who was an immigrant, to be very grateful to this country. It is no different than when you have a dysfunctional family – it can be very dysfunctional –but it is still your family… and America is still ours. I think we can waste a lot time throwing it down the drain and not knowing the amazing things about this country."

Blogging Spotlight: TheCultureCynic

Chioma B and I added an 'About Us' page so check it out. Moving on...

I read a poem on TheCultureCynic's blog and HAD to repost it here. I'd advise all of you to check her out, her style is phenomenal and she's very creative; she's definitely an asset to anyone's blogging list. If you visit her blog make sure you let her know that we sent you!

Clicking on the poem's title will take you directly to her post with the poem so if you make any comments here don't forget to also go to her page and let her know how you feel.

 Enjoy :=)

"Who Says" 

by TheCultureCynic

I don't like the idea of being able to figure someone out based on the clothes they wear

I hate  style labels....Obvious Identifers

Prep, Punk, Rockstar, Urban...one word anything bugs me..

Style should be more complex than that..

Style should inspire interest beyond the limitations of someone else's expecations

Style should be a combination of everything that ever inspired you and will inspire you...

It is in your mind, it is not of the moment...it is everything and nothing..

to subscribe to one particular 'style' is limiting and BORING

Studs don't make you punk

Rhianna hair doesn't give you edge

Tatoos don't make one hard

people are so eager to carve out a style 'niche' when they could be exploring ...

refuse to be categorized into a box

Style is subjective, you don't have to be everyone's cup of tea

or be something you are not...

People place so much emphasis on mass appeal..

'Just 'cause everybody likes it don't make it cool'

Cool is what you make it

I like style contradictions

I wanna see rockstars in urban clothes

i wanna see rappers in hipster clothes

i wanna see preps in grungy clothes

mixed and matched to the individual's style sensibilities..

Not the 'new' or 'next' anybody just you...

Who says it has to be perfect

Who says it has to match

Why should it appear to make sense all so someone can 'love it'

I have a profound respect for people who express themselves without compromise

that's why i opt for Street Style instead of Runway

I appreciate the allure of regular people doing 'them'

In this culture where people 'DIE' over thousand dollar shoes

it is refreshing to see the antithesis of that ... it is the girl you want to be, the girl without a stylist, who probably charity shopped her entire outfit but still exude that 'thing'..that's what pumps my heart, not images of couture dresses that most people will never afford .

 I like to see people, not the people they are dressed as, if i wanted to see another Rhianna i will look at the real one....lets leave the 'literal flattery' for costume parties or haloween...

My response:
I love it! I think it's so important for people to know that fashion and style are so entirely different, and that dressing the way YOU want, the way that materializes you're personality, and even ur beliefs, is what's important. I've seen people whose outfits I would NEVER wear and whose style is so different than mine but I couldn't stop looking at them because how they were dressed was so unique and it looked completely RIGHT on them, you could look at them and see that it fit their aura.

I especially love the part about rappers in hipster clothes. One of the most attractive things is to see a black male wearing something that the typical black male wouldn't, especially hipster or rockstar clothes (lets not forget those nerds with swag!). I love when a a guy can step out of the box that society, his culture, and more immediately, his friends, tell him that he belongs in and should stick to.

I must say I am a fan of runway fashions, particularly the more creatively done pieces that are more artistic than functional. But indeed, sometimes it is like, who can actually afford those prices?! LOL

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Blogging Spotlight: Karla's Closet

I think it's very important to give others props when they're due, so if you haven't done so already (which I'm sure most of you probably have b/c this girl is FAB!) you must check out Karla's Closet! Karla's sense of style is amazing and her outfits are ALWAYS on point! Take a look for yourself: http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/. If you like what you see then you'll be happy to know that she just opened her own online store. Check it out: http://shopkarlascloset.com/. If you see something you like, I suggest you act fast because most of the items have been sold already and she just opened the store on Monday... Only draw back is since it seems as though most, if not all, of the items in her store were previously in her closet you will have to wear the same size as her to fully enjoy your shopping experience. Hopefully with time that will change...stay tuned!

TREND WATCH SP10: Acid Wash

ACID WASH

For info on the jeans see bottom of post.

Sometimes you need to know if what you were a season or two ago is still cool to be wearing now, and I'm happy to see that acid wash is starting to appear again for the spring. It's one of my favorite trends and it's such a different look from the jeans we've gotten so used to wearing (destroyed, embellished, and paint splattered, and whiskered denim). I've seen acid wash jeans in some very nice colors in Urban Outfitters, unfortunately they're not available on the website (which is weird). The jeans came in navy blue and purple acid wash. I'm hoping to come across the purple again in my size. The purple looked kind of like these jeans:

If you haven't tried acid wash, I seriously suggest that you do! You might wonder "What in the hell would I wear with acid wash jeans?" but you can wear with everything you were wearing with the jeans already in your closet (I am speaking a bit loosely, but you get the idea).

POSH Powell Summer '09

In the above picture I'm rocking some acid wash jeans with 80s color inspiration. The jeans are a blue acid wash and I wore them with EVERYTHING. The color, print, and material of whatever else I wore (top, jacket, etc.) doesn't matter.

And if you're going to get a pair...

GET THEM IN COLOR! 

Do not be afraid to take risks and step outside boxes. As I've said before fashion is more than trends, allow all aspects of your personality to be reflected in your style! If your fun-loving and have even the smallest crazy side, then some acid wash jeans are right up your alley. Just be sure to properly pair colors and accessorize so that you don't end looking like an adolescent...unless you are an adolescent (no offense...).

I recently purchased these in grey from forever 21:

Heavy Mineral Skinny Jeans / $29.80 / Forever 21

Shown in blue, also available in grey.

They're a bit different than regular acid wash.* They don't look nearly as cheap in the store as they look online. They have a very forgiving fit and feel more like leggings than jeans.

*Acid wash is more streak-y and has more places where the original color of the jeans is completely washed out by the acid wash. Mineral wash is more pebble-y/grainy, if that makes any sense at all. The difference is obvious when you view for Forever 21 jeans in comparison to the Siwy jeans at the beginning of the post.

And on a tangent, I also wanted to purchase this pair:

Norma Washed Skinny Jean / $$27.80 / Forever 21

Unfortunately, there was too much material bunched up at the bottom since I'm so short. I don't mind some scrunching at the bottom but it was just too much for this pair. Anyway, they look great in person and fit nicely.

Jeans shown at the top:

Siwy Hanna Crop Jean in Tambourine / Sale $151.38 Reg $302.75 / bunnyhug.com

This were found on a European site, however they are made in the US so you should be able to find them available for sale on a US clothing site, and if you do let me know!

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

DEAD HIM...I'll Pay for the Casket!

For those who have not been paying attention to the news or blogosphere lately, former presidential candidate John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth have legally separated. When I first heard this, I knew I had to write about it. Before I start, let me give you a little background information on what has been going on with these two. From my understanding Elizabeth has cancer and John cheated on her after he already knew of her diagnosis. He fathered a love child with his mistress, which he initially denied, and allegedley there's a sex tape out of him and the other woman. To top all that off, there are rumors that John may have put his hands on Elizabeth!

John Edwards is not the first politician to cheat on his wife, nor is he the first (or last) man to betray his wife. Elizabeth, though, is one of the few wives in the political spotlight to leave. Why is that? Why is it that women stay in bad relationships?

From my 20 something years of observing women in unhealthy relationships I've come up with three of the most popular reasons why women remain in them: Comfort, insecurity/fear, and "for the kids". In some ways all three of these reasons tend to feed off of each other. At times when a woman becomes comfortable in a relationship her vision gets cloudy and it becomes hard for her to see herself with anyone else. If the relationship turns from good to bad, she may endure it because she is fearful of being alone or because she feels she can't do any better. This leads her to make excuses like, "I need to stay with him for the kids." What we, as women, need to realize is that we don't need a no good man for anything! Question is, how do we come to realize that?

First thing's first, KNOW YOUR WORTH!!! You have to understand that you matter. If the man in your life doesn't recognize that then get rid of him...plain and simple! Next, you have to open your eyes and let yourself see what you've been refusing to pay attention to. Learn how to differentiate between good and bad by trusting your gut. Nothing I'm saying is new. The same thing has been said in many different ways before, but the dialogue won't get old until more women follow the lead of Elizabeth Edwards and others like her.

I could go on and on about this topic, and perhaps I'll do a Part II on this subject, but for now I just want to get a conversation going. Why do you think women are so prone to remaining in unhealthy relationships?

RIP Alexander McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen

March 16, 1969 - February 11, 2010

I'm actually at a lost for words. To have such a tragic end to a spirit overflowing with creativity and aesthetic genius is dumbfounding. He has created some of the most dramatic, unique, and memorizing pieces that the fashion industry has every seen. Look below:

 

Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear

Gorgeous! What I love about this piece is that it manifests the unconventional lady. This outfit is feminine, powerful, and exceptional. His work was not just about clothes, but about limitless imagination and defying societal norms and standards.

I'm really at a lose for words...My condolences go out his family and loved ones. It's so cliche to say "he will truly be missed", but well...it's true. RIP Alexander McQueen. 

Take a look at his major collections here.

Read more about his tragic death here.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

nOir Rings Up Close & Personal

Jasmin McNeil, one of our loyal readers is now the proud owner of the gorgeous baby below. In December I did a post on nOir rings and after reading it she mentioned that she would somehow get the hubby to buy her one. She recently received the Pave Pyramid ring as a birthday present. Thanks hubby!

Jasmin McNeil wearing her nOir Pave Pyramid ring / noirjewelry.com

(click the above link to see the ring on the site)

I'm jealous Jasmin! It looks even better on the hand! 

Happy Belated Birthday!

Check out the post Rings Et. Things to see amazing rings and earrings by nOir. Rihanna, Fergie, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Amber Rose, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga are all fans of the jewelry line. Pieces from Nicole Richie's accessories line, House of Harlow 1960, are also featured in the Rings Et. Things post. If you weren't sure of what you wanted for Valentine's Day, you'll know after reading the post! (I'd email the post to my boyfriend/husband with those "Oh honey aren't these cute?!" type of comments, and maybe throw in something about the reasonable shipping costs, LOL.)

Can We Talk: Women of Color vs. Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair March 2010 Issue

(photo via vanityfair.com)

Before reading below please read this article: Vanity Fair's "New Hollywood" Issue Completely Lacks Diversity"

This is absolutely ridiculous. There isn't much more for me to say that the author of the article hasn't already pointed out. This article says to me: "Hey, don't worry! Non-whites won't be rising too much in Hollywood, there's still enough young, white tail on the come up." ......... Oh yes, I'm definitely "riled up."

(photos via vanityfair.com)

L-R: Carey Mulligan, Kristen Stewart, Abbie Cornish, Mia Wasikowska, Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall, Emma Stone, Evan Rachel Wood, and Anna Kendrick

TREND WATCH SP10: Oxford Flats

OXFORD FLATS

A classic look that has made a much deserved comeback. This trend started earlier this fall in the US, but it hasn't caught on as much as it should have, which is why I'm posting on it. It's such a casual look, yet it has more "umph", if you will, then say...regular ballet flats. For those of who you prefer a boyish twist to your feminine look, or more of a European flare, oxfords are right up your alley.

Steve Madden "Tuxxedo" Sale $49.95 (Reg. $89.95)

Shown above in black. Also available in black/white, cognac, and grey.

This is one of the more classic looks I've seen out. They look really nice in person in all colors, however, personally I feel that the grey looks more beige-y. I own them in black and they're comfortable and my new favorite pair of shoes. I wear them with leggings and with shorts and tights. In the spring I plan on wearing them more with skirts and floral dresses. I might purchase them in grey as well.

TREND WATCH: Wiggle Hem Dresses

Looking for a fun way to glam up a simple look? Try a wiggle hem dress; as seen above on two of my fav fashionistas Solo and Rih Rih. I wasn't quite sure what to call this trend at first, but I found a similar dress on asos.com and saw that they named it wiggle hem so I stole that and I'm sticking with it.