My Notorious To Do List

I am not resentful of much - I promise. But there is one thing. Tall, long, and all - on white paper with tacky little numbers that stare out at me on a regular basis. And the worst part about it is that I need it. We have a love hate relationship. I love myself when the list is smaller, or complete, and I hate myself when I let a day go by without being able to cross out at least one thing. To Do Lists are the pits - and my list runs my life.

I have always been ambitious. And in my youth, I was known for taking on more than I can handle. But I thought that I worked through those issues. I normally don't question myself, but sometimes, on days where the list is in its prime and towering - I wonder if I am a victim of overdoing it.

Black Hair - A Photo Essay

Black Hair is part of my culture. I can remember hearing the best stories in the barbershop, or having my grandmother discuss what went down in the hair salon. To put it simply, blacks have always taken pride in their hair - this is no surprise. Recently, I was inspired Willow Smith's anthem, "Whip My Hair." Such a young girl who made a song that is catchy is so many ways. I applaud her for being chic, but still making sure that her kitchen was taken care of.

Black Hair is: beautiful, strong, multi-faceted, amazing, soulful, and full of rich texture and culture. Our roots tell an amazing story of struggle and strength that is as old and varied as the dust on the ground. We are  children of them that created and cultivated the very ground that we trot. Our hair is our swaggar, and our come up story... this is a feature on Black Hair. 

Click below to see my photos:

Muhammad Ali: Float Like a Butterfly, Style Like a Bee

Muhammad Ali was way more than his 1+2 punch. He exhibited true style in the ring and outside of the ring. He truly is a style icon with an attitude and swagger to match. Click below to check out my editorial:

What I am reading: ELLEments of Personal Style

The publicity team at Gotham books recently sent over, "The ELLEments of Personal Style," and I have had my head inside of the book ever since. Not only is it a great style reference, but the editors thought about each entry. With some, it is hard to believe that they would receive icon status - mostly because it would seem to be too early to tell, but the folks at Elle are tastemakers. And if it is good enough for them, I guess it is good enough for me. When turning to the first entry, it is the actress that plays Rachel from Glee. I love Glee, but I think that the character of Rachel Berry is tacky - and annoying. Also, the actress, isn't particularly stylish either. To sum the book up, it is a compilation of editorial and trend pages - something the staff at Elle are particularly talented at composing. No men were selected for the book - which is something that doesn't necessarily make the book even better. The book was released in conjunction with Elle's Anniversary - and it is indeed a tribute and consistent representation of the glossy.

I do get it. Elle has been one of those publications that is always abreast  of what's new and hot in fashion. Their selections are more like predictions - however, I would have liked to have seen more: Rachel Zoe, Blake Lively, Taylor Momsen, or even Amber Rose. The book is $30 and can be purchased anywhere books are sold.

FW Wish List

The fall brings incredible items to wear even in the harshest of weather. Truth be told, I prefer the winter because then we get to embrace layers, draping, and dark colors. Below, I have chosen some of my favorite items for the fall and called it my wish list. The set features all kinds of wonderful items that are strong enough to stand on their own. The market information is below:

Fashion on Film: A New Trend in the Industry Might Resurge Fashion

We all know how much the fashion industry loves trends. This industry is all about indulgence, and when one trend comes about - everybody engrosses themselves in it, until it becomes a thing of the past. The new it trend, is fashion on film. Several designers have done it, and many continue to do it. Its hard to say whether or not the trend happened overnight. It has been in the making for a while now. I would say, that the spark that lit the fuse was super-designer Tom Ford's directorial debut in his vintage film, "A Single Man."

In, "A Single Man," Ford captures the angst that was very relevant in the 60s. And the clothes are of course fabulous! Then there was Louis Vuitton, and Kenzo Homme with video fashion advertisements. The trend is getting larger and larger. Gone are the days of designers just showing collections in a simplistic format. Video is being integrated into runway shows with more happening each season. Check out this story that I did for MM33's Radar Newsletter on fashion videos.

Collaborating With FEMI

One of the best things about what I do is the collaboration. Working in fashion is great because you get to meet a lot of new and emerging brands. A couple of years ago I met Lency Whitaker. Her label is called FEMI. The brand started as a swimwear line, but the designer will be going dresses and separates for her next collection and I am consulting on the line. Once it is done, I will be styling the look book, and handling the runway styling as well, but for now, I am assisting the designer with the overall direction of her apparel collection. FEMI is hard to describe, but I would say that the FEMI girl is daring, regal, and edgy all at the same time. Here are some samples of her work. As the process goes into full throttle, I will be posting more...

Why I Want to Dress Like Brad Goreski

Photo taken from New York Times

Brad Goreski was made famous as Rachel Zoe's director of styling on Bravo's The Rachel Zoe Project. But most recently, the stylist has been actually called a style icon. I wouldn't go that far - in fact, I think that the fashion industry is quick to use the word, icon. Still, Goreski's style is definitely something that people should notice. His style is dapper, old fashioned and very chic - and the New York Times thinks so too.

 

I Love That it is Okay for Me to Not Feel Guilty About Shopping Anymore

 According to a story in Details Magazine, compulsive shopping isn't just for girls anymore. Whew! what a relief. I have been a compulsive shopper ever since I got my first piece of plastic. I am not going to lie - I get a rush from swiping my card, and being given a bag with amazing things inside. I have a problem, but I knew that already. I wouldn't say that I am as bad a the girl from "Confessions of a Shopaholic," but going to one of those anonymous meeting wouldn't hurt me either. I guess that is part of the reason why I do personal shopping. I love buying things.

Why I Adore Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs is quickly becoming synonymous with the term, "fashion." His collections are popular. His shows are always the most anticipated, and the designer is also the creative director for Louis Vuitton. He truly has the world on a string - or at least the fashion world. I adore Marc Jacobs because the designer is the ultimate multi-tasker. To date, Jacobs is heading up, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Luis Vuitton and his flagship Marc Jacobs label. 

He was born in 1963 and studied at Parsons where the designer did a line of knit-sweaters before he even graduated. That was impressive! Jacobs is the face of his brand which I especially admire. Speaking of his brand, the designer is forever expanding with book stores, fragrances, and boutiques making the Marc Jacobs brand more accessible than ever before.

Rain Clothes

It's no secret that I hate the rain. I let it be known to random strangers and my friends. The main reason why, is because I style almost everything that I wear. I rarely have, 'I don't care' days. Still, after putting together a look - and spending time merchandising said look, nothing is badder than stepping outside into the rain. I am still meeting my friend later today, to help her pull fall/winter options. Because I know it is going to rain, I am changing my outfit and now I am having a style block of sorts. I am scouring my favorite blogs and magazines for some kind of inspiration. I am even browsing through my own personal archives, but nothing is working!