Rings & Things

I'm Back!

It's been quite sometime since ChiomaB and I have posted anything (please excuse those last two posts, there weren't supposed to be published!). I had way too much going on near the end of the semester to do any posts. Now I am fully refreshed and ready to blog my little heart out!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an accessories fiend, and I especially love rings. During my hiatus I've purchased and been gifted some gorgeous baubles, which you can see below (minus the one by nOir which you'll see farther below).

(rings from Bebe (House of Harlow), Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, BCBG, nOir, and a jewelry show, kind of in that order)

As you can see I love big rings and I love to sparkle. I was especially pleased with a few purchases and as a result I must share them with the masses.

IMPROVISATION!!!

Sometimes you just gotta make do with what you can get your hands on...that's what this post is all about. If you're loving the shoulder pad look as much as I am right now, but can't find the perfect shoulder padded shirt or dress then IMPROVISE!


I was reading one of my fav mags, People Stylewatch, while shopping with my cuz at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and saw this fab bra in their current issue. Isn't it great?! It's not too expensive either...you can find it at http://www.shapefx.com/.

Speaking of improvising...looks like I improvised without even knowing it. I think this is what my faux fur scarf thingy was originally intended for:


LOL oooh wells...I think I like it better my way ;-)

FUUURRR-ocious FASHION!!!

Sorry PETA, but this season I am a fan of fur!

Wait, before you animal lovers get your panties in a bunch, let me clarify - FAUX fur! YUP YUP YUP faux fur is all the rage right now, and I'm loving how you can accessorize it with just about anything and instantly feel glammed up. I wore a faux fur scarf thingy (lol don't know how else to describe it) to a party last week and I felt like a celeb, all I needed were some shades and a couple hunky bodyguards to complete the look lol.

Sorry I don't have more pics, but digital cameras and I don't get along :-/

Are you a faux fur fan? If so, let us know how you rocked the look!

Oh and btw I took Posh Powell's advice and got some colored tights on Black Friday! I'll show you how I rocked them once I decide to wear them...

Fashion Flashbacks

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY SHOPAHOLICS!

ChiomaB

GOLDEN GIRL FLY

I used to dress these gold peep-toe wedges up, down, and I def wore them all around. I wore them ouuut the summer of 2007! I really can't explain why I loved them so much...Needless to say I wouldn't be caught dead in them now!

POSH Powell

Inspired by ChiomaB, I'll let you see some of my favorites from way back. Thank goodness they're not that embarrassing. Here we go.

Juicy Couture Velour Bowler Bag, 2006

Actually this one is very embarrassing. I look a mess...blame it on the AWFUL Massachusetts weather we were experiencing at the time, it rained the entire time. I digress. I looooooooved that bag. At the moment I was such a Juicy girl. I think the shape of the bag was what I love most, I love structured bags, give me a floppy bag and it's like giving me rare meat in that "what the hell am I supposed to do with that?" sense. I wouldn't be caught dead with one of these bags now, a Juicy Velour Bowler is not for the grown and sexy.

Gap Corduroy Jacket, 2006
I can't lie, I'm looking quite cute and fabulous! I looooooooved this jacket. It was such a pretty color on me. And the handbag I'm wearing is definitely one of my all time favorites. It was a mustard color Marciano bag, a birthday gift from my darling of a mother. And come to think of it another one of my favorite items is in this picture, the grey shirt I have on, which had nothing much to it, but I loved the sleeve openings.

What I need is a scanner so you can see from REAL fashion flashbacks, LOL.

And, for some reason or other, Teyana Taylor's dopelips.com is no longer up and running. I hope she's not taking an L.

ENJOY YOUR SHOPPING!

I'm a Winner!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DARLINGS!

Hello everyone! ChiomaB and I haven't been posting a lot for the past two weeks as I'm sure you've noticed. My apologies :=( I've been so busy with schoolwork and one my dearest friends has been a houseguest for the past couple of weeks. Next week I will be back on track. Before ending this post I do have to share some good news:

I HAVE A WINNING STREAK!

Two weeks in a row I have won fabulous prizes from two fashion blogs! Check it out:

1st Prize

PRIZE: Be&D Garbo Wallet retailing for $445. On the Be&D website it's only available in black with gold studs as shown here, but the version I won is creme with silver studs.
BLOG: A Few Goody Gumdrops created by Betsy Brown


It looks much better in person. In the picture the studs look flat but they are actually the pyramid-like studs.

For you Gossip Girl fans out there you'll recall that Blair Waldorf carried this Be&D bag in one of last season's episodes. It's the Be&D Kan Kan Tote. It retails for $1, 390.

2nd Prize

PRIZE: $100 Gift Card to Armani Exchange

BLOG: Princess Domonique Dishes Fashion created by Princess Domonique

I suggest following these blogs! They showcases wonderful merchandise and aren't stingy with their subscribers as you can see.

Current Giveaways

TheHoneyRoom.com Sunglasses Giveaway at Princess Domonique Dishes Fashion - Ends December 6th so you have time to enter NOW!

And don't worry, eventually ChiomaB and I will be able to give away prizes, keep hope alive!

XOXO

How Dope Are Your Lips?

Now my lips are dope, but apparently Teyana Taylor thinks she can add some umph. Recently she had an interview with New York radio personality Egypt in which she briefly discussed coming out with 'Dope Lips', a line of lip glosses. (EAT YOUR HEART OUT LIL' MAMA!)

Dope Lips by Teyana Taylor

'1 Kiss and He'll B Hooked'

All pictures are from dopelips.com.

There's nothing spectacular about this venture, but I'm definitely not knocking her hustle. Hopefully she develops interesting marketing strategies and campaigns. A collaboration with Pastry Shoes would be excellent; she could kill two birds with one stone by targeting mothers and daughters. Salute the Nude would be a great color for young girls/ladies. I can't help but wonder about the consistency of the gloss, not too thick and sticky, but not too thin either so that it feels as if it's worn off after 15-20 minutes. Time will tell.

And honestly, why didn't Lil' Mama do this first? SMH. Who knows, maybe she can do a gloss line for Roc-a-Wear, and A. Keys can do the ads...HA.

MY DOPE LIPS: I'm hands down a MAC girl, and I don't wear much else except for the Chanel glosses that  I "borrow" from my mother. I love pink colors and red lipstick. I'm even rocking a purplish color at the moment. What's in my purse at the moment:

Purplish colors: Fierce & Fabulous (gloss), Up the Amp, Most Popular
Reds: Venetian (gloss), Russian Red (gloss), Brave Red
Pinks: Lickable, Big Bow, Nice Kitty (gloss)

All MAC of course! I think these colors would work for most people, unfortunately some of them are no longer available (namely Fierce & Fabulous, Big Bow, and Nice Kitty) because they were not apart of the regular MAC collection. I would have provided pictures of the colors but they only show up on the MAC website. So this link will have to do: MAC Lipsticks and MAC Glosses.

And I just realized that I'm carrying nine glosses/lipsticks in my purse.

As far as all time favs it would have to be Beauty Rush by Victoria's Secret. I put it on before bed and wake up with GORGEOUS lips! Then there's CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, and anything by Burt's Beeswax. CO Bigelow can be purchased in Bath & Body Works ( who has like a shrine to the line) and Burt's Beeswax can be purchased from any drugstore (CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreen's, etc.).

One last thing. Ladies when wearing lipstick/gloss please keep in mind:

1. No chapped lips. This should go without saying.
2. Use lip exfoliator. Your boyfriend or husband will thank you. You might even thank yourself. Try these from Sephora.
3. Moisturize before applying lipstick. Put on a THIN layer of chapstick about 10-15 before applying the first coat of lipstick, especially if it's matte.
4. Make sure that the lipstick compliments your skin tone. If it "kind of does but not really" then try playing with the color by adding a lipgloss over it, using a slight variation of the color of the lipstick might help.
5. Don't entirely trust the people at the counter. I know I'm not the only who's seen the woman behind the cosmetics counter looking frightful.
6. If you're unsure of trying a new shade, take a picture and send it to a friend.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVS? WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Fashion Flashbacks

ChiomaB
CELEB FASHION FLASHBACK

Amber Rose (back when she was just Amber lol) and her Wet Seal looking top/dress. Before Forever21 took over Wet Seal was the shhhhhh...I know ya'll remember that!

POSH Powell

Now I don't know if these were only popular in the DMV:

That's right, mini backpacks! Can you say 1996-97? LOL. I had two or three of them, and I carried them both at the same time. I was such a bag lady in middle school. I had my bookbag, a small tote bag, my purse, and the bag with my cd player and CDs...I shudder to think. Like really, what was I doing??? I was literally carrying 13 year old life around. Are people still wearing these somewhere? I'd actually really like to know.

Keep it Tights II: Patterns & Prints

Now that you know how to wear'em you need to know where to find'em.  I've been scouring the net for the best and funkiest tights. Here they are:

mytights.com

This is a European site so make sure to click on the US Flag icon located at the top right to ensure you are viewing American prices.

Jonathan Aston Footless Ringers $13.49$ / Celeste Stein Heaven Flowers Tights (218)$19.95 / Religion Union Jack Leggings $51.99 / Bebaroque Tawney Tights $37.14 / Jonathan Aston Spot Seam Tights $11.89

My favorites: Religion Union Jack Leggings, Jonathan Aston Spot Seam Tights

footraffic.com

Pablo Adult Tight $18 (a part of 3 for $39)/ Cotton Tights, IvoryPeacock $19.50 / Turq Paisley Adult Tight $18 (a part of 3 for $39) / Fuscia $12

My favorite: Cotton Tights, IvoryPeacock

And I've saved the best for last:

americanapparel.com

RSAPHTC Opaque Two Color Pantyhose $16

Solange wore these on the August cover Rap-Up. The tights come in a variety of colors, my favorite color combo of the pantyhose is picture above (raisin/twilight).

And of course there are the usual unicolor, lace, checkered, and seam tights.

If you're unsure about revealing a lot of a bold pattern, wear the tights with shorts or a tunic top/shirt dress and then for shoes wear a pair of thigh high boots like the ones here (which I actually just purchased). This way you can be bold without feeling really exposed or "out there."

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

venuShoot: Capturing Fabulosity in Motion in the DMV

It's very rare that you see an outfit that makes you stop, stare, and appreciate someone's style and admire the accent, detail, and fit of their clothing. Is it really that hard to assemble a well put-together outfit, something eye-catching and unique? One thing ChiomaB and I want to do is keep our eyes peeled for these rare sightings that inspire us and remind us what we love about fashion. We want to inspire you and show you what other fashionable trendsetters are wearing around you in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). It's always interesting to see how others chose to work what you already have, what you're coveting, and what you're too scared to try. Checkout the first ladies to de-virginize this unique section of our blog.

venuShoot Location: 

Lucky Strike Lanes, Washington, D.C.

Tiffanie Coleman / 36 / Prince George's County, MD /

Blogger, Writer, Government Employee

"I was born in the 70s, so I love anything with a butterfly collar, paisley print, funky pattern or a shoe with a grotesquely chunky heel.  I frequent thrift stores for fun weekend finds and am usually successful."  --Tiffanie

Why She's Fab: Tiffanie's overall appearance is eye-catching. I love her haircut and it presents an interesting contradiction with her ensemble. I absolutely love this look for many reasons:

1. Hot pink/fuschia tights paired with a black and white jumper. This look would not have been nearly as attractive had she chosen to wear a skirt/shorts and shirt combo.

2. The pattern of the jumper goes nicely with the colored tights.

3. The outfit has an old yet modern feel. I'm thinking a mesh of the 50s, 70s, and of course the 21st century.

4. Her shoes and purse compliment the outfit perfectly and are consistent with the 50s and 70s look of her jumper.

5. Wearing tights transitioned a summer outfit into fall/winter.

Any Changes?: Be gone Tiffanie's necklace! What you can't see is that she's wearing a turquoise pendant necklace. I'm bothered by the style of the necklace, not the color.

How I'd Rock It:  Different necklace and 1-2 rings.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME???

The Fall of 2002, one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. Not only was it the beginning of my final year in high school, but it was also the period in time when two men would make the DMV stand still for what seemed like eternity. About a year after 9/11 when we were still grieving over the lives that were taken at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, the DC snipers once again left us on the edge of our seats. Football games were cancelled, homecoming dances were postponed, and my friends and I fled everytime we saw a white van. Tonight John Allan Muhammad will be executed for the crimes he and Lee Boyd Malvo committed that fateful fall. Although Muhammad's life will be taken away, the memories of the DC sniper rampage will never die.

What do you remember about the DC sniper saga? In what ways did this event alter your life or way of thinking? Can crimes like these ever be prevented?

venusFlection: MARTIAN LOVE - You won't wife her if you do this and more!

I definitely had to post a response to ChiomaB's post. I think I'll focus on the dating aspect of what she posted. I've had issues with all of her major points except dating a cheapskate. Fortunately, I've never dated someone who expected me to pay for anything when we went out. I believe the man should always pay, however the woman should be considerate of his pockets every so often and treat him to dinner, etc. However ladies, if you should happen to be on a date with a guy and he informs that you you have to front your half (or...gulp...the entirety) of the bill, SHELL IT OUT GRACEFULLY! He already looks bad, but catching an attitude will then make you look bad. Stay the victim! LOL. If you were really interested in the guy before the "payment mishap" then find a blunt but nice way to inform him of how you feel. Quite frankly, before dating someone, gauge how much it means to you if a guy does or doesn't pay, and make sure your date is aware. Guys need and want to know what's expected of them. Most guys won't mind paying if they know upfront that's your standard. In fact make sure he knows how you expect to be treated on a date in general, and YOU should know how to be treated on a date as well!

How to be a Girl on a Date

underlined text is excerpted from "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" by Steve Harvey

1. Don't tell him where you'd like to go. I hate when a guy says he wants to take me out and then I have to pick everything we do. A date is supposed to have romantic elements fellas, so find out what your potential date likes to eat, where she likes to dine, and then, YOU pick the place.
2. Don't tell him you'll drive - let him get you to where you all need to go. I'm flexible on this one, and there are things about him that have to be on point in order for this to work. My mother did tell me that I am not a taxi cab.
3. Don't tell him you want to go dutch - let him pay. 
4. Don't invite him up for a nightcap - kiss him goodnight. Ladies, keep it simple, sometimes we get ahead of ourselves. PACE YOURSELF so you don't get caught up and get attached to soon. Point blank, don't make yourself to available and keep your legs closed for at least 90 days! The same goes for you fellas!

And let me point out that much of this I already felt strongly about prior to reading the book, the book just confirmed it from the older male perspective.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

Keep it Tights

Tights season is back ladies! Pair them with shirts/tunics, shorts, skirts, and dresses to create a variety of different looks.  Peep the Polyvore sets and keep reading. Enjoy :)

Keep it Tights by vBARBIEv featuring Dorothy Perkins

What's so Fab About Tights?

1. Create an aesthetically pleasing look. Tights add dimension and texture. 
2. Turn a shirt/tunic into a dress. If there's a  shirt/tunic you'd love to wear as a (mini) dress pair it with opaque tights. Make sure that the shirt/tunic covers your bum and that it isn't too form-fitting. I've done this look before and it worked really well!
3. Summer look turned winter.  Whether or not spring/summer items will look good with tights depends on the material and style of the piece. 
4. Expands the "fun" and "interesting" elements of an outfit. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF COLORED AND PRINTED TIGHTS! While pairing colored/printed tights with an outfit can be very tricky, it's also easier than it looks. Make sure that the tights coordinate with your outfit!  A couple of things you can do to avoid feeling and looking a member of Barnum & Bailey Circus:
1. Completely match the tights with your outfit, i.e., purple tights with purple dress. It's ok to match sometimes.
2. Pair bright tights with darker colors.
3. When pairing printed tights with other printed clothing, only the top or the bottom should be printed, not both. Top, bottom, and tights can be printed but you had better know what you're doing!

Pictures from imagenandstylenews.com

I encourage everyone to own at least a pair of dark purple or navy blue  tights. Black tights are a staple, but in my opinion dark purple are navy blue are also "neutral" colors as far as tights are concerned. They are an interesting addition without being too out there.

DISCLAIMER: Tights are NOT leggings or pants! Some tunics will simply be too short to wear with tights, plus, nobody wants to see your underwear!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Fashion Flashbacks

ChiomaB

So I'm in line at Marshalls one Sunday evening feeling really good about the bargains I just found when I look down and notice a well pedicured foot entrapped in a pair of high heel thong sandals (or as I like to call them high heel flip flops). I say entrapped because I know if the lady's foot had a mind of its own it would have refused to have taken any part of being put in that shoe. First of all it was quite chilly outside and every other part of her body was covered up (she was wearing jeans and a sweater - why she chose to make her toes suffer is beyond me), and second of all that shoe trend is a blast from the past that, I believe, should be left in the past!

Posh Powell

Before I begin my Fashion Flashback, I have to say that I owned two pairs (black and white) of "high heel flips" back in the day. If I recall correctly, it was circa 2002-2003 when those were in style. I thought I was too cute!

Anyway, remember these ladies:

Yes, that would be THE good ol' Old Navy Performance Fleece from 1998. Do you remember the pandemonium??? Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE had performance fleece; entire families were clad in performance fleece, looking like fleece rainbows. At the moment this is the only trend I can think of where children didn't mind dressing like their siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. My mother and I were no exception to this trend, hers was black and mine was a periwinkle-like color (yes periwinkle-like, not purple!). I basically lived in my performance fleece. I did everything but sleep in it...aaahhh the good old days. That was when shopping at Old Navy was soooooo cool. The lines in at the Old Navy near my house used to be outrageous every single weekend. And remember the commercials? Old Navy and Gap used to have the best commercials. I still remember them quite vividly. Does Old Navy even sell performance fleece anymore???

Because I love you guys:

Performance Fleece

Oh, it's fine.

Performance Fleece

I'll be there at nine!

Old Navy, Old Navy

Old Navy Performance Fleece!

Old Navy, Old Navy

Old Navy Performance Fleece!

And I had to do this:

Old Navy Performance Fleece commercial with "The Jeffersons"

YOUR THOUGHTS?

Leggings Game on Lock

What I love about leggings is that they're ultra comfy, and you can throw them on with just about anything and look fabulous. They should come six to a pack like socks! I wear them so much I'm sure people wonder if I own a pair of jeans or pants.  Enjoy :=)

6126 by Lindsay Lohan

The line of leggings debuted about a year ago. The brand's name is Marilyn Monroe's birthdate. I like the line, however, the words "HUGELY OVERPRICED" come to mind. $223 for plain liquid leggings? No bueno. A basic pair is only $66, and I say only because I'm hoping that the inflated price is because they are of a heavier material than say the basic leggings for $4.50 from Forever21that feel paper thin in this increasingly cool weather.

I must say that in some cases the more expensive the leggings, the better the design concept and detail when it comes to all of the extras (slits, buttons, zippers, lace, metallics, etc.), and durability. Peep the more interesting pairs from Lindsay's line:

laddered leggings / $187 / farfetch.com

lace leggings / $143 /  farfetch.com

distressed leggings / $200 / farfetch.com

dom / $124 & flash / $110 / both at shop.6126collection.com

hyde extra long legging / was $78 now $9.99 / shopintuition.com

The line also has metallic leggings. Hosiery will son be added to the line. Check out farfetch.com, shop.6126collection.com, and shopintuition.com for more styles.

For those with a little less money to blow:

mix jersey leggings / $78 / frenchconnection.com

blade leggings / $88 / frenchconnection.com

For those with a lot less money to blow:

metallic lace legging / $19.80 / Forever21.com

metallic acid stretch legging / $11.80 / Forever21.com

metallic leopard leggings / $10.80 / Forever21.com

slashed leggings / $22 / Forever21.com

slashed metallic / $19 / Forever21.com

sheer mesh legging / $10.80 / Forever21.com

For more metallic and slashed/ripped leggings check wetseal.com. Also, shopbop.com, bloomingdales.com, neimanmarcus.com, urbanoutfitters.com, bebe.com, and ardenb.com.

And don't forget to check out the Where the Wild Things Are leggings mentioned in the previous post "Where the Wild Things Are...To Be Purchased." They're super cute.

With some of the above leggings it will be too easy to go from classy to trashy. The key is to dress yourself in moderation, i.e., if you're going to wear leggings that show a lot of skin and have slits or lace (and let's be real, seem as if something a prostitute might wear, like the sheer mesh leggings) then make sure your whatever top you're wearing isn't too revealing in the chest or midriff area. You also might want to layer the leggings by wearing black or another color legging, or even tights, underneath.

     And before I end this...Doesn't it suck when someone you're a huge fan of goes on a steep, seemingly never-ending downward spiral and their life is appears to be super glued in the depths of...WACKNESS? I used to adore Lindasy Lohan. It was so obvious that she had "it." When she resurfaced to the big screen and filmed Mean Girls  her talent and potential was extraordinary.  She offered something different than what was currently out. So what in the hell happened?! The saying "what goes up must come down" comes to mind when I think of her, however what went down apparently has gone waaaaaay down and sinks further still.

     I won't bring up her past and current issues, but I will mention her most recent epic fail during Paris Fashion week. She's the artistic director of Emanuel Ungaro and the ready-to-wear Spring 2010 collection received horrible reviews. The line has been called "misguided," cheesy," and "dated." Check out the line at style.com, the link will take you directly to the complete collection. I can't completely disagree with the reviews. Sigh.

WHAT DO YOUT THINK?