people.places.things

I Just Had A Baby! BLACK BRIDAL BLISS is Born!

2010-04-26T08:32:00.000-07:00

Howdy, folks!

I know, I know. I have a lot of nerve, right? Not updating PPT in a month of Sundays. (Even my mother started asking when I was posting again.) I'll spare you guys the lame excuses but trust that I am going through all sorts of life changes professionally and emotionally. And some of those changes will become clear to you by the end of this post.

I have just given birth! And her name is BLACK BRIDAL BLISS. She's brand, spankin' new and you can check her out here.

While Black Bridal Bliss has been a dream of mine for the past couple of years, I decided I needed to really make her happen after getting bitten by the layoff bug last fall. I had been putting her off and putting her off, (Remember this post?) working on someone else's dream instead of tackling my own. (And remember this post?) God sure knows how to get your attention, huh?

So, let me tell you a few things about my new little one. First and foremost, although I just popped her out I sense that she's going to grow fast. She's fiesty I tell 'ya. There's a lot she wants to share and she finally has the proper platform to do so. She'll be updated every weekday and every Tuesday she'll highlight the nuptials of "real" people. There will also be posts on style, honeymoons, planning, budgeting ideas, expert tips and tricks and more! This baby is something else, y'all.

Be sure to have a look at Black Bridal Bliss and comment here or there to tell me what you think. (Good, bad or indifferent -- this mama can take it.)

Thanks for rocking with me through the "down" time. I'm back y'all. And Bsqaured is now double trouble. Enjoy the bliss!

Nairobi's Knapsack: Exclusive Q&A, Plus Special Discount for PPT!

2009-12-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, so whoever said that life slows down after you lose your job lied. My life has done anything but. I'm not complaining though, idle time is (usually) the devil's time. Since I felt so bad for not posting in a month of Sundays, I called a huge favor in for my PPT family! Because I know you're still shopping for your loved ones (admit it) and Christmas is less than a week away I know you'll really appreciate this post.

Below is a Q&A with the co-owners of a funky little toy store and gallery space in Brooklyn named Nairobi's Knapsack. It. Is. Fab. Totally the type of place I would want to host birthday shindigs, princess parties and other fun gatherings for my little one. (I'm definitely taking my nieces there during their next visit!) Continue reading to find out more about NK and how you can redeem an exclusive PPT discount for yourself. You're welcome.

(This model is not affiliated with Nairobi's Knapsack. I just think she's adorable.)

PPT: When did Nairobi’s Knapsack open and who are the owners?
NK: Our online store launched the end of 2006, while the Toy and Play Gallery opened in November 2008. Felicia Stevens-Niles is the founder and co-owner and Letena Lindsay is a co-owner.

PPT: What was the catalyst to open such a store in Brooklyn?
Niles: The store is located on the dividing line between Prospect Heights and Crown Heights in Brooklyn. Nairobi's Knapsack Toy and Play Gallery was born from my love of reading great books as a child and my experience as a mother searching for toys and books for my children. We decided to add the play space component after realizing that it was hard to find a suitable space to hold birthday parties for children [in the area]. While lots of families were in this neighborhood, we noticed there weren't many structured classes for kids offered in the immediate area, and many of us found ourselves traveling for this.

PPT: What are the benefits to parents (or anyone) shopping in Nairobi’s over a mass retailer like Toys 'R Us?
NK: Nairobi’s Knapsack Toy and Play Gallery is the quintessential toy boutique that combines classic books and toys with a multitude of children’s novelties that reflect our culturally diverse world. One key point of differentiation for us is that we’re very selective of the types of items we put in our space and on our website. We don’t want to overwhelm customers with too many options, so we pride ourselves on being “personal shoppers” of sorts by culling through the vast quantities of product and offering only the best quality books and toys that are also at affordable price points.

PPT: Any plans to open other locations in the near future? If so, when and where?
NK: For now, we’re taking baby steps. We were thrilled to celebrate our one year store anniversary in November and look forward to long-term expansion opportunities. Our key focus for 2010, however, will be on aggressively marketing our Toy and Play Gallery to members of our Brooklyn community as well as creating a stronger web presence for our brand for continued e-commerce growth.

PPT: Please share with us the top three sellers in the store and on the site right now.
NK: Those are the Karito Kids Travel Charmers, the Automoblox Mini Wooden Cars and the Keats’s Neighborhood: Ezra Jack Keats Treasury.

Check out my girl and NK co-owner Letena dishing on why this BK jewel is a must visit and sharing info on the store's unique age-driven gift guide!

EXCLUSIVE ONLINE DISCOUNT FOR PEOPLE.PLACES.THINGS READERS - Letena has extended a 10% discount through December 31, 2009. Just enter the code PPT10 at checkout to cash in on the savings.

Happy Holidays, everyone! In the midst of your shopping, let's all remember to do something for someone else this season.

Life is for the Living

2009-11-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday, folks!

I have a confession to make: It is Friday at 2:33PM and I haven't showered yet for the day. I hate to admit it but this has been a regular occurrence since getting laid off earlier this month. Of course this isn't the case if I have an appointment, meeting or other business to take care of outside the comfort of my home. But, if that isn't the case. Well...Yeah...What had happened was...Sigh.

Now, don't get it twisted, your girl has been grinding -- working on stories (one down, two to go and lots more to pitch), scheduling meetings and informational interviews and working hard on other projects. I'm no slacker and I tend to be a night owl. Often, my juices don't get flowing until after 10PM. But two things that my father used to preach to my brother and I decades ago are finally starting to sink in. The early bird gets the worm and if you look good, you'll feel good and you'll do good.

My relationship with time is admittedly in need of some fixing. I'll save those details for another post. And while "looking good" is subjective, I think it is fair to say that bathing is the first step before debating on which boots should be rocked with what sweater. See, my regular routine, the one that I had become so used to, was removed from my life when I got laid off. So now I have to create my own routine. That is going to start Monday. I will be up, showered, dressed (even if that means a tee shirt and sweats) and ready to "work" by 9:00AM on weekdays. Period. If I could do that for a company, I can definitely do it for myself. I know that the hardest part of this will be the first few weeks but after that it should be easy breezy. We are creatures of habit. The truth is, in order to accomplish all that I want to do, I can't afford to wait until 10:30AM to start my day.

And since I'm trying to avoid unnecessary spending these days, I have locked myself indoors so to speak. I figure, if I don't go out, I can't spend money and I don't want to be tempted. (I'm not a big online shopper.) Naturally, I stay indoors during the winter more than I do in the summer...that isn't changing for anyone. But, I have a feeling cabin fever is going to set in soon. Very soon. Which is why I have decided to treat myself to see the play FELA on Broadway! I think it is warranted in light of all the money I'm saving not buying clothes. Plus, I've found that money spent on experiences (travel, cultural activities) goes much further than money spent on things (clothes, shoes). (Leave me comment and tell me whether you agree or disagree.) These two glowing posts from fellow bloggers Cori and Erika gave me the final push I needed to see this play. I'll post my own review after I see the musical for myself.

I also want to see Race (I think Kerry Washington will be awesome.) and Alvin Ailey (I've gone many times before but this is Judith Jamison's 20th year with the company as artistic director. It seems monumental, no?) I'll keep ya posted.

Life is so much better when you engage. (Thanks, Rasheda!) I'm trying to find ways to live it up and live within my means. Not an easy feat but I'm dang sure gonna try. ;-) Work hard, play hard and enjoy your weekend everyone.

I'm Going on a Diet!

2009-11-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, you read correctly. I'm going on a diet. No, not that kind of diet. I'm cool with my size and weight (although your girl needs to step up her sit-up game with some crunches). The diet I am embarking on has nothing to do with food and everything to do with shopping.

Let me explain. Earlier today, I was checking out one of my favorite sites, Glamour.com. I came across this post about The Great American Apparel Diet. Quickly intrigued, I checked out the main site for TGAAD and decided I had to be down. These are the specifics in a nutshell:

* I can't purchase any clothing (ready-to-wear or outerwear) for myself before August 31, 2010.

* I am allowed to purchase footwear, accessories and undergarments. (Thank goodness! Truthfully, this caveat was what made me agree to sign up.)

* Gifts and swapped items are also okay.

Why am I doing this? Well, there are the obvious reasons: I just got laid off and drastically need to curb my non-essential spending. But, I've been attempting to cut clothing spending for a minute. And I was pretty impressed by the other women who are already on-board with the diet. They are seemingly women who really have their ish together. My fellow dieters are primarily business owners, living in two-income households and have exciting, fulfilling careers (sure people often "color" their bios but still none of these chicks appear to be wanting for nada). You know what they say about birds of a feather... After losing my job three weeks ago, I was reminded that my savings wasn't close to where I wanted it to be and where it should be. (I don't count my 401k account. I prefer to pretend that money is untouchable.) Better late than never. I know it seems crazy to think I will be able to "save" now of all times but I'm determined to try. Plus, I kinda appreciate the challenge of having to get creative with what is already in my closet.

So, please leave me your comments of encouragement and support. I will need it. I have four closets in my apartment at home and a long dresser drawer filled with clothes -- I enjoy shopping. A lot. But because I own so much daggone stuff, I know that I can pull this off if I truly try. And I know that I will be stronger (and my savings greater) as a result.

Well, one day (almost) down and about 300 days to go. Yikes!

Keeping Up with the Obamas

2009-11-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

I've expressed my appreciation for Mrs. Obama shopping in her closet here on PPT before and even wrote a story about it for the old gig that was picked up by Shape.com. As the wife of the U.S. President who is currently leading a country facing a massive recession, she's wise not to boast new, expensive looks every week.

Well, the First Lady recently did it again. The mom-in-chief wore a J. Crew ensemble that we first saw last year during her first Jay Leno appearance. Mrs. O rocked the same blouse, pencil skirt and cardigan again last week at a health care event at the White House. This time around she flipped the look by losing the brooch and adding one of her signature wide belts.

Loves it!

Here are a few key points for all of us to remember when shopping in our own closets like Mrs. Obama:

1 - Investing in quality -- not necessarily expensive -- clothing is key. Remember that a bargain isn't a bargain if it falls apart after three washes. By the same token a good deal loses it's value if it just sits in your closet and never sees the light of day.

2 - Taking care of garments to ensure a longer lifetime is crucial. Washing whites with the other whites. Handwashing delicate items. Dropping our boots and shoes off at the cobbler when necessary. Taking clothes to the cleaners and tailor when appropriate are all important in extending the lifespan of the clothing and accessories we love.

3 - Stacking up on items that fit our lifestyles and paying less attention to trends. Mrs. Obama frequently wears pencil skirts and separates that she can easily mix and match. She's also a fan of shift dresses. All of these items are ideal for a wife and mother on the go and are essentials to most female professionals working in an office setting.

Attempting to keep up with the Jones has put many of us in debt. Let's try something new.

I Got a Crush on You

2009-11-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

No, I don't have a crush on the woman pictured, Lesley Elliott. However, she recently launched a snazzy Web-based retailer called Shoe Crush. (I just had to get cheesy with the title because I heart the 80s classic by The Jets.) If I did have a crush on Lesley however, it would certainly be warranted. Not only is she the founder of Shoe Crush, an online resource of stylish footwear and accessories, but she's a Spelman College and Columbia University B-school grad who throws fabulous launch parties at equally fab Soho boutiques like Bo Concept with DJ Beverly Bond spinning during New York Fashion Week.

Lesley's brainchild, Shoe Crush, is a fashionista's guilty pleasure. The footwear, which range from strappy stilettos to over-the-knee boots, are arranged in fun categories like One Night Stand, Ultimate Commitment and Honeymoon. There are even bridal selections available and the designers this site carries are fashion industry faves who always bring the fire. Aren't you swooning over the sequin pumps from Badgley Mischka above? Plus, Lesley didn't just stop at shoes and boots. Handbags --from compact clutches to hobo satchels-- are also in the mix. I dig this vintage-inspired style from Rebecca Minkoff (pictured below). The site is quite user friendly and new offerings are added regularly. A couple of downsides are that the prices are pretty hefty for most working gals and as I've experienced in the past, purchasing shoes online can be tricky.

It hasn't taken long for the crush on Shoe Crush to spread. A few sexy numbers from the site were recently featured on The Wendy Williams Show in a Tai Beauchamp fashion segment. Pretty cool, right?! So, I highly suggest you check Shoe Crush out soon. Even if you don't purchase anything on your first visit to the super-cool online boutique, I guarantee you'll be just a little more inspired to chase your own dreams. I know I was.

P.S. - While at the Shoe Crush launch fiesta, I was also put on to a hot new nail polish line called Ginger + Liz, founded by two young, ambitious women of color. I’ll be doing a post on that line soon too so stay tuned!

Good Convo on Good Hair

2009-11-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday evening, I headed to my old stomping grounds of Time Inc. in NYC for a panel discussion about the Chris Rock film, "Good Hair". The discussion was moderated by my homie, Pamela Edwards Christiani (she will host her own talk show one day; mark my words) and featured a dynamic group of four other women including culture critic Michaela Angela Davis, beauty blogger/author Tia Williams, celeb hairstylist Tippi Shorter and political journalist/author Farai Chideya.

BE@T (Black Employees at Time) organizes awesome events regularly and I'm glad I was able to enjoy many of them at some point in my career but this one seemed a extra edgy for them. I was looking forward to the conversations that would take place during and after the event. I actually interviewed Chris Rock himself along with Nia Long before "Good Hair" hit theaters and I, like so many Black women, was interested in hearing folks really talk about the historical, political and cultural catalysts for this type of film rather than simply providing more banter about surface issues the flick attempts to address.

The panel discussion began with an approximate five minute clip of the movie. Following that, all of the panelists --including Pamela-- revealed that they were pretty much disappointed by the so-called documentary. Then Michaela said something that I found so profound which was, "We wanted Chris Rock to tell our story but that was not his objective." (In hindsight, Mr. TK basically told me the same thing after hearing me vent about the movie. Sigh.) The panelists were then all asked by Pamela to share how their first relationships with their tresses started. The revelations were just as varied as Black women themselves. Tia, who currently rocks her hair relaxed and just inches above her tush explained how her southern parents placed straight, long hair on a very high pedestal in their household, while Michaela who wears a curly red fro, told a horror story of being taunted as a newcomer to D.C. in the first grade and having older girls in school threaten to cut her thick, kinky blond plaits. Tippi, who hails from southern California and wears her strands blown straight and colored, shared that she and her friends were strongly encouraged to embrace different hair lengths and textures (she dreamed of Lisa Bonet locs as a little girl) and Farai who moved from NYC to Maryland in her formative years broke down how she wasn't encouraged to appreciate her natural hair texture by her peers growing up in Baltimore unlike in the Big Apple but now sports shoulder length locs.

This discussion covered most of the predictable topics that stem from conversations about hair in the Black community: class, colorism, racism and even parenting. Michaela pointed out that a child's first association with beauty standards typically comes from their mother. The blatant sexism exposed against Indian women in the film was even addressed. (By the way, if you're into weaves, be sure to check out Tippi's Web site, getgorgeoushair.com. She and her partner ensure that no women are exploited for these extensions.) Stereotypes were laughed at: Yes, women with twists and locs can still rock 5-inch stilettos. It was a rich, lively and engaging discussion that I wish could have aired on Centric, BET or even CNN. Admittedly, I think there was a lot of preaching to the choir in the room but I guess we have to start somewhere if we ever want to begin healing. Are you thinking we don't need to heal? Humph. While I wrote and produced the Michelle Obama Daily Diary on Essence.com, I lost count of the number of times someone left an ignorant comment like "Malia needs a pressing comb to her head if she's going to be living in the White House around all those White people." See? We need healing and fast, folks.

Michaela strongly encouraged the mostly female audience to tell our own stories and to stop depending on rich men to tell them for us. This is much easier said than done, I know. But I also know many of you reading this work in media...let's take Michaela up on this challenge. I used to take my power for granted but now I get excited every time I am able to profile or interview someone who defies the odds. Even if little 'ole me is able to help break myths with this blog by proving that a dark skin woman with short hair (by choice) can genuinely be content with her life and comfortable in her skin (most of the time and the times that I'm not has nothing to do with my complexion or hair length/texture); we're getting somewhere. At least that is what I hope.

So, did you see the movie "Good Hair"? What did you think of the film and why? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Home Sweet Home

2009-11-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Hump Day!

My best friend and her husband recently purchased a new home. I'm beyond excited for them. I have been thinking of a thoughtful and inexpensive welcoming gift to take them during my first visit which I hope will be this weekend. Once they get settled and I am financially able, I plan to give them a much bigger gift.

Almost as if she knew my inner-most thoughts, my girl Nina shoots me an e-mail about her fab Chayil Candles. Her candles will be the perfect gift! I've known about these candles for a minute but Nina's reminder e-mail arrived to my inbox at an ideal time. I'm thinking about snagging the Rejuvenate and Ch'i for the new homeowners. I've burned these candles in my own digs before and besides the packaging being gorgeous, the candles are soy-based (it pays to be green!) and the scents are longlasting so a little goes a long way. I am disgusted by "scented" candles that look pretty but that you can't smell on the other side of the room. Lastly, I'm always looking for ways to support people (especially women) who are trying to build their own businesses.

For those of you who are going to be guests at someone else's home for the Thanksgiving holiday, consider taking a Chayil Candle as a hostess gift instead of an Enterman's pumpkin pie. It is much more chic. If you do decide to give Nina's candles a try, be sure to tell her Bsquared sent ya.

P.S. - How fab were the Glamour Women of the Year Awards Monday night??!! I love that First Lady Obama rolled up with a few Girl Scouts in tow. Take a look at some of the other notable women who were in the house, courtesy to the ladies at Parlour. **My fave frocks from the slideshow were worn by Iman and June Ambrose.

Shopping in My Own Closet

2009-11-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

Hey, folks! Last week I was laid off from my job. Yep, my position at ESSENCE.com has gone bye-bye. Thank God for discernment and an awesome circle of loved ones, because I am more at peace than I have been in a long time. When I mentioned this to my good friend D, and added that I was feeling somewhat guilty (and confused...Was my hurt/anxiety coming later? I am notorious for delayed reactions after all...), he assured me that it was quite alright for me to have a positive outlook on the situation and not to force myself to be bitter, angry or depressed. "B, you should own your serenity. So what if people think you're not normal? You've never been normal." See why I think my peeps are so dope?

Moving along, I actually wanted to post about shopping in my own closet weeks ago but now the timing feels just right. Last month, I attended the wedding of a close family friend in North Carolina. The wedding and reception were both taking place indoors; at a church and a loft space respectively. In preparing for this wedding, I did what most of us do and made the decision to buy something new to wear. I had convinced myself that it would be worth it if I found something that I could also wear to the office later. (Isn't God funny?)

So, on one of my rare lunch breaks just days before the nuptials, I head to a Banana Republic a stone's throw away from my former j-o to find an appropriate frock to wear for this occasion. En route I remembered that I already owned a perfect dress, also from Banana Republic, I had only worn once or twice before. Hmmmm. I decided to check out Banana anyway since said dress might not read "fall" (I picked it up on sale over the summer in New Orleans). Well, nothing in Banana that day tickled my fancy enough to purchase it so I stuck with the dress I owned.

The outcome: The dress was perfect. I received many compliments and more importantly, I felt great in it. I paired it with a pair of metallic gold slingbacks and a vintage gold clutch from my mother. These accessories help take the dress from summery to fallish. Plus, since the dress contained neutral colors, the wedding was in North Carolina (temps don't really drop there until late November) and everything was held indoors, my fears that my dress would appear too "summery" were quickly dismissed. Nice!

Me wearing my "old" dress (on your right) and my cousin at the wedding reception. She just might flip that I posted this pic but it's the only one I had access to from the wedding.

Ironically, I spoke on a panel recently and urged the audience (the majority of them were residents of NY's Queensbridge Public Houses) not to buy something new just because society pressures us to do so. As the holidays are approaching and invitations to cocktail parties, office soirees and like start floating in; I strongly suggest we ALL reevaluate what we own before purchasing something new to wear.

Remember this post? Well, now ya girl will really have to practice what she preaches in this career transitional phase of my life. Regardless of what God has in store for me, shopping smarter is an absolute must.

Have you learned to shop in your own closet recently? Leave me a comment with your stories.

The Makings of Me

2009-11-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

As I read more and more rhetoric in the news about everything from about the state of inner-city youth to the Obamas, I constantly think back to my upbringing. Here's why:

I am grateful that I grew up in a solid working-class home, raised by a set of parents who deeply loved me and my brother and loved each other. I think that is the reason I rarely missed what we didn't have.

I am happy to be a born and bred New Yorker who can give most southerners a run for their money with my knowledge of life below the Mason Dixon line. (Spending summers in Chatham County, North Carolina made me well-rounded in that regard.)

I am thankful that I've attended both private and public school in New York City and can say without a shadow of a doubt that either can help a student to flourish or fail.

I am honored to have received a stellar education from Allen Christian School (an all-Black school with an all-Black staff in an all-Black neighborhood). Yep, it is indeed possible.

I am so glad my parents encouraged me to join the Girl Scouts, take piano, clarinet, ballet and swimming lessons...and practically every other extra-curricular activity they had access to/could afford for me to participate in although neither of them did any of those things during their childhood.

I am downright estatic that my adolescent ears heard Aretha Franklin's gospel and The Last Poet's spoken word, in some cases back-to-back on our living room record player on a regular basis while growing up. It gave me a good ear for quality soul music in all it's variations.

I am so overjoyed that I got to witness how clean my maternal Grandma kept her home and everything in it. I almost told a former coworker off who claimed that "poor" people live in dirty conditions because they just don't know any better. My grandmother was "poor" and you could eat off of her floor.

I am humored that I have partied in the former Jamaica, Queens establishment, the Q-Club, but have also had tea at The Plaza Hotel. How many people can say that?

I cherish memories of Kool-Aid, Shake and Bake and 75 cent slices of pizza.

I love that my parents raised me to always remember: You are no better than anyone else and no one else is any better than you.

Now, I know you've got some too. Please share!

Summer Lovin'

2009-09-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

Can you freakin' believe the summer is almost over?! I can't. (I know most of you consider Labor Day to mark the official end of summer but I hold on to every last minute...) I still have so many things to do and see. The great news is I can (hopefully) still complete these tasks well into October since it shouldn't get too cold in the NY tri-state area for at least another two months. Plus, most of these things are free or very close to it which means they won't interfere with my Capri saving!

On my staycation wish list:

The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park
It's no secret that I adore this place and I didn't make it up there at all this summer. Phewy. Thankfully, I plan to go next weekend. I still consider this gem to be one of the Big Apple's best kept secrets.

The Bronx Botanical Gardens
ESSENCE magazine produced a fashion shoot here back in 2002 and I've been trying to get there ever since. The lush and serene atmosphere here evokes memories of the quaint island Dominica. I love that it is off the beaten path and I think it could be a really cool date spot.

The Rose Garden in the Bronx Botanical Gardens.

Roosevelt Island
This place just tickles my curiosity. It's an island...right next to an island (Manhattan)! Pretty cool, right?! I've been once very shortly a few years back for sh*ts and giggles with my cousins but I'd like to go back and stay for lunch or dinner and soak up a little more history about this mysterious part of NY.

A Bus Tour on One of Those Cheesy Double-Decker Buses
My coworker Marcia and I vowed to take a tour of NYC on one of those tour buses with fanny pack wearing families from Iowa and North Dakota before summer's end. We might miss our deadline slightly but I'm determined to make this happen. Soon. I'm looking forward to viewing the Statue of Liberty up close again (I think I was in grade school the last time), people watch from the top deck of the bus and learn about the city's rich history as a tourist in my own town.

Did you take a staycation in your town this summer? If so, where did you go? If not, where are you hoping to visit in your own backyard before it gets too cold?

I'm in a CAPRI state of mind...

2009-09-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day Folks!

I'm hanging out at Mr. TK's office today and while he finishes up some work I thought I'd use this rare free time to catch up on my PPT blogging. Labor Day is usually a time to reflect on the summer just passed (although technically we still have 2-3 weeks of summer left) and this year is no excepttion for me. While I am blessed and thankful for the vacations I have been able to take this year, most recently to Cabo, Mexico; (YEAH!) I still have Capri, Italy ranking pretty high on my life's bucket list.

Project CAPRI in 2010 is in full effect!

My fasination with Capri began back in 2000 when I went to Rome to visit my amiga Akhira who was in Italy for a study abroad program. She and her suitemates ventured to Capri for a weekend and every single one of her pictures looked like a postcard. Every. Single. One. I vowed then to witness it all with my own two eyes one day. Then, thanks to my girls G.B. and A.L. who yesterday returned from a super-duper two-week stay in Monaco (they also hit up Canne and...well, just know they had a FLY trip!) I am even more determined that I will make it to Capri (God-willing) in 2010. In addition to their fantastic voyage, reading this post over at All About the Pretty has sealed the deal for me about this Mediterranean excursion.

As I plan my trip to the Almafi coast and the surrounding areas, I will refer to this book, In the Spirit of Capri, to help me keep this state of mind going. I have already taken a small step in getting a little bit closer to this dream vacay. I decided not to go to the last day of the Barneys Warehouse Sale today (this was a huge decision for me, folks) in an effort to save some money for my bigger travel goals next year. Aren't you proud of me? Well, I'll be sure to keep ya posted...

What travels are presently on your life's bucket list and why?

Fashion Bits & Pieces

2009-08-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, folks!

I'm just returning from a relaxing vacay in Cabo with Mr. TK. If you go for the first time in the near future, be sure to check out El Squid Roe (a local informed me that Christina Aguilera had her bachelorette fiesta here) for sh*ts and giggles and then pop into Mandala right next door for the downtown, grown and sexy vibe.

Here are just a few of the moment things that I thought you'd be interested in on the fashion tip.

- I've raved about how fly specialty retailer Liberty is before. The thing is however, during my London stint I could only window-shop there because the prices were too steep for my pockets. Well, WWD is reporting that the store is in advanced talks with Target about a stateside collabo. As early as spring 2010, an array of funky Liberty prints could be worked into clothing and accessories at Tar-jay prices. NICE!

The super-cute and talented Keke Palmer is making (more) moves. The teenage actress who is the star of "True Jackson, VP" is the inspiration of a new tween line at retail giant Wal-Mart. Nickelodeon is launching the label that just hit stores just in time for the Back-to-School rush. Selling for less than $14, Mad Style by True Jackson will be available in sizes 7 to 16 and targets 7-11 year-old-girls. I had the pleasure of meeting Palmer last year and she's certainly one to watch. I'm quite proud.

- I don't know how I managed to not inform you of Onion by Whitney Mero before now but put it on your radar, please. Onion is a well-edited line featuring figure flattering dresses that are created by Spelman grad and all-around diva Whitney Mero (so trite that d-word but Whitney just is one). Full of feel-good fabrics, the ultra-feminine collection has a cult follwing of ladies who like to stand out in the crowd a bit. I just learned that there will be an Onion trunk sale in Los Angeles on Saturday, August 29 at 1PM (PT) in Villa Gloria (1819 S. Norton Ave). All you West Cost chicas should check it out. Extra bonus: if you're preggars, most of these dresses will fit over your bump but still make you feel sexy. How cool is that?

My Brother & Me

2009-08-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

It's been a LONG, LONG time. I'll spare you any excuses or explanations...I'm back though. Missed PPT but needed to get my mind right. Still not sure if my mind is "right" but I know that blogging helps me and my spirit in more ways than one and posting here is no longer a luxury.

So much has happened since my last post. One major event of course was the death of Michael Jackson. By now you're probably MJ'd out. Let the man Rest In Peace for goodness sake, right? I feel ya. But before I can begin to post on new boutique finds, hot designers, fledging trends and such, I had to share how the King of Pop's death (and life) relates to little ole me and my family.

Since my full-time gig is in the media, I learned of Jackson's passing before most of the world. The very first thing I did when my boss confirmed to my coworkers and I that it was true? I called my big bro. There was no long, drawn out convo -- I had work to do. But he was the person that I immediately thought off.

See, my brother was a mere toddler when "A-B-C" hit the airwaves; all of two years old. I wasn't even thought of yet. But my mother loves to tell the story about how my brother blasted that record (by himself) on his Fisher Price record player. All. The. Time. It was one of those legendary stories in our household growing up. My mother said she, as a new mother, was a tad bit concerned at first, but quickly rationalized that it couldn't have been too bad since at least her baby boy was learning his alphabet and numbers (kinda, sorta).

Well, I am convinced that this helped spark my brother's love affair with music. It's crazy because even though I wasn't even born when the song was popular, hearing "A-B-C" causes a big Kool-Aid smile to appear on my face. I instantly think about my big bro.

My brother and me, circa 1980. (We're both Bsquared, by the way!)

What I love most about music is it's power to transform us to another place and time. Sure, I can get a mean little two-step in on a classic Jackson 5 cut, but the memories of my brother and I walking to the store growing up (and hearing my father instruct as my brother got to the front door "Take your sister with you!"), the letters my bro and I wrote each other when he first went away to college, recalling how he helped me as I struggled with statistics in high school...Those are the things I fondly recollect when I hear a vintage J5 or MJ record. When Janet so elquently informed us all on this year's BET Awards, "To us, he was just family," I felt her pain.

The Younger Years: Janet and Michael

They say "it takes one to know one" and from one doting, younger sister to another, my heart still feels for Janet. However the world saw Michael Jackson -- good, bad or indifferent -- he was her big brother. And he always will be.

Fin.

Black Ballerinas: Remembering my Father

2009-06-22T03:55:00.000-07:00

Last month I had the honor of attending not one but TWO events where Mrs. Michelle Obama was the keynote speaker. As I mentioned before, I have been given the plum assignment at work to cover the First Lady. Quite honestly though, May 5th was the first day that I had a real "AHA!" moment about it all.

In the morning, I had the chance to hear the Mom-in-Chief herself speak at the re-opening of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. Any excuse to visit the MET is right up my alley as it is my fave museum in the Big Apple. But furthermore, there were children from all over NYC attending the ceremony – even Cambria Heights, Queens (a mere 10 minutes from where I grew up). The genuine, warm hugs Mrs. Obama gave those students (most of whom looked like me) even after the event was over and some of the cameramen begin to leave, gave me a feeling I will take to my grave.

Later in the day I went to NYC’s Lincoln Center for the American Ballet Theater opening. It was a huge deal and the attendees were a who’s who of NYC society. Guests included Renee Zellweger, Caroline Kennedy (who introduced Mrs. Obama) and Susan Fales-Hill. There were a whole ‘lotta other folks there who I didn’t recognize but from their seat’s closeness to the stage I know they sign big checks. People were dressed to the nines and since I LOVE to people watch I enjoyed the "show" way before the curtains were raised. This was about the time I had my "AHA!" moment.

My father (RIP) was adamant about me learning ballet at an early age. While he didn’t necessarily want me to become a professional ballerina (although he wasn’t opposed to that either), ballet dancing, like piano playing, was a skill he thought a little girl would just benefit from having. He would tell me that it would help me with my posture. He thought most ballet dancers had a graceful walk. And while I took ballet lessons as a little girl (along with piano) I never perfected the dance form. Never perfected piano playing either…

While I watched the ballet in Lincoln Center that evening of May 5th, I felt my father’s presence stronger than I had in a long, long time. I imagined telling him all about it the moment I left the center and giving him a blow-by-blow of the day’s events. I then imagined his roaring gut-belly laugh when I reenacted certain scenarios. I cried several times that night (as I am crying now) – I’m sure the people around me thought I was a little nuts. Here I was, this young Black woman from Jamaica, Queens at major foo foo, chi chi events twice in one day with the First Lady of The United States of America! I knew, on that day, my father was smiling right along with me.

Long before we even knew Barack Obama existed my father would tell my mother I needed to know how to properly set a dinner table because I might eat with the President at The White House one day and I would need to know what fork to use when. I haven’t eaten in The White House (yet) but it isn’t nearly as far fetched now as it was back in the 80s when he called it. And I actually did break bread with the then Mayor of NYC, Rudy Giuliani during a black-tie affair for a scholarship I received my senior year of high school. A man who grew up on the gritty streets of South Philly and South Jamaica, Queens envisioned all this (and much more) for his little girl. Pretty special, huh?

Despite the success of Alvin Ailey and The Dance Theater of Harlem, the very idea of Black ballerinas used to be an oxymoron to some (and still is for others). Black women were supposedly not built to be great ballerinas. But, sorta like Michelle Obama, lots of Black young ladies defied the odds and succeeded at it anyway. Now I know that is what my father was trying to teach me all along. It was never just about ballet, piano or even table etiquette as much as it was about being able to hold my head up high wherever I was – be it Gracie Mansion, The White House or a greasy spoon in South Central L.A.

Thank you Daddy. Happy Father’s Day.

Looking Back to Go Forward: My Introduction to The Fisk Jubilee Singers

2009-06-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Durning Memorial Day Weekend, I had the pleasure of hearing my lil' cous' sing with his college choir at The Schomburg Research Center in Harlem. I have heard my cousin sing before and our entire family is well aware of his musical talents. I was excited, sure, but I had no idea what I was in for during this concert. He (a resident of North Carolina) was in the Big Apple for a bunch of shows and I was looking forward to seeing the kid on my turf (normally we're in N.C. when our fam gets together) and showing him around the big city. But, my baby cous' was actually the one who taught me something during his visit.

Said cousin just happens to attend Fisk University (the recently deceased John Hope Franklin was a grad) in Nashville, Tenn. and is part of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Now, in my opinion, ALL HBCU's have a rich history but I had no idea that Fisk was the owner of such an OUTSTANDING legacy. While this country was barely (just barely) out of slavery, Fisk students were over in Europe singing before royalty to raise funds for their school. That tradition continued and now the singers travel the world (still) to perform in front of all sorts of folks.

My cousin (yes, I'm bragging) has trekked all over the United States, Europe and even Africa exposing the young and old alike to beautiful traditional gospel music and Negro Spirituals. The acappella hymns these students belt out are nothing short of amazing and each song tells a story of resilence and tenacity. To hear these young voices carrying on this legacy...well, it's pretty darn impressive. The African-American stuggle is rarely celebrated. I am extremely proud of my lil' cousin and the other Jubilee Singers for reminding folks of how fly we truly are. You too can expereince their talent here and even purchase one of their cds.

Take a listen and tell me what you think. ;-)

My Top 10 Tried and True Style Tips

2009-05-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been way too long. While I have been very busy, I have also not made the time to stop in and post as I should have. Tsk, tsk. I will try to do better. In my absence, I whipped up a list of style tips for a family friend who asked me to speak to a group of women who were looking to polish up their image and transitioning from unemployment to the workforce. I couldn't speak to the group because I was out-of-town but I did send her the list of tips below to distribute to them as a takeaway. Although I have shared most of these tips here on PPT before in some capacity, it is still pretty useful and timeless info and I thought it was worth reposting in this comprehensive list.

Enjoy!

Bsquared's Top 10 Tried and True Style Tips

A trench coat is typically a staple in the wardrobe of most working women.

1 - Start with a good foundation.
The right undergarments are key to ensuring everything else falls and lays the way you ultimately want it to. Bumps and lumps are distracting. One last word: Spanx.

2 - Wear the size that fits and stop obsessing over the physical number.
Self-explanatory. Calvin Klein’s 6 is not the same size as Banana Republic’s 6 anyway. Everything looks more polished when your clothes fit properly.

3 - A tailor or seamstress is your friend.
Now in order to pull number 2 off successfully, chances are you will occasionally need to have things altered for a perfect fit. If everything you wear always fits perfectly off the rack then skip to number 4. That’s rarely the case for any of us. Men understand the importance of a tailor, women are late to the game. While it might seem costly initially, just remember that investing in a good tailor will more than pay for itself in the long run.

4 - If you take care of your clothes, they will take care of you.
Okay, I got this one from my southern mother. It seems like a no-brainer but so many people don’t do it. Wash the whites with the whites and the colors with the colors. If laundry isn’t your thing, send your clothes to the dry-cleaners. Too costly? Invest in a steamer. It makes a world of difference in your overall look when garments are crisp and clean.

5 - Know what looks good on you.
Once you learn that wrap dresses are a flattering silhouette on your hourglass figure or that emerald green compliments your cocoa skin-tone, it all becomes a lot easier. While it is certainly fun to experiment occasionally, everyone should have her go-to pieces that she looks and feels confident in without a lot of guesswork.

6 - Back to basics.
I strongly suggest that every woman own the following items. They are timeless and virtually seasonless and excellent basics to build any wardrobe around.

· A classic suit (pants or skirts) - Try pairing a traditional suit with a simple tank or even a lacy camisole to mix it up a bit. For those working in a traditional corporate setting, a less bare top would probably be more appropriate. For starters, black, navy, grey or chocolate brown are probably the best colors to invest in.

· A "crisp" white shirt/blouse - My mom has always said you can never have too many and I now have to agree. Whenever you’re in a bind, pop one on with a black pencil skirt or trousers and you’re bound to look professional and pulled together.

· A sensible pair of pumps - Classic black pumps are a wardrobe staple for any woman. Period.

· A substantial bag (that can hold resumes, recco letters, a portfolio, etc.) Since we are in the midst of the digital age this might not be a big deal to some but there is something so authoritative and professional about walking into an interview or important meeting/presentation with a portfolio case or tote bag versus a purse. (Is that sexist? Shrugs shoulders...) The choices are endless as the handbag market constantly grows. I suggest sticking to something in solid leather.

· A trench coat - The trench is so ideal in the spring and fall. It too is a classic. While it always says "I mean business," something about cinching the waist with the belt screams femininity. It is always disappointing to see someone wearing a dressy suit under a casual bubble jacket to a professional occasion. A trench in khaki or black is ideal but use your judgment when picking the best color for you.

7 - Your time to shine.
The above items might seem stuffy but you can always let your jewelry display a hint of personality. Accessories in general are an excellent way to inject individualism into a look without compromising professionalism. Don’t be afraid to pair a vintage brooch or colorful scarf with your traditional black suit.

8 - Be a denim diva.
An effortless way to go from day to night is with a pair of trouser cut indigo jeans. They can be dressed up for a date with strappy heels and a sexy but tasteful top or worn with a tee shirt and sneakers to run errands. Helpful hint: Wash dark denim with a capful of vinegar to maintain color longer.

9 - Quality over quantity.
Money can’t buy style. It is more important to own ten timeless items that you love and look great on you than to have fifty that are trendy and ill-fitting. Remember, people don’t remember how often you wore something as much as they remember whether you looked good in it or not.

10 - It’s a wrap!
A wrap dress is the quintessential clothing item for the modern woman. It is a one item wonder since the waist cinching silhouette flatters all body types. You can wear it to the office, to church or on a date. Try to own at least one with a ¾ sleeve so that you can wear it all year long.

Wanna Read Michelle Obama's Diary?

2009-05-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Well now you can! Check me out here for a daily rundown of the First Lady's comings and goings. While I get Michelle Obama's Daily Diary together for the j-o, I might be posting here a little less (just for a minute) so forgive me in advance.

Lemme know what 'cha think!

P.S. - Oh, I finally had a chance to check out Topshop (remember how excited I was about the NYC opening?) and Matthew Williamson's collection at H&M. I was completely underwhelmed by both. :-(

Wardrobe Makeover

2009-04-23T03:31:00.000-07:00

So I picked up a bit of fascinating news during a seminar I attended last weekend. One of the facilitators of a workshop there shared that roughly 80 percent of people only wear 20 percent of their wardrobes.

Huh?

Of course I had to research this "stat" myself. While I couldn't find any hard facts from a recent clinical study, it unfortunately appears to be true.

My closet does NOT look like this.

I guess I shouldn't be totally surprised since I am well aware of how most of us are overconsumers but that info still made me pause. Seriously. It made me think about the roughly 20 purses I have hanging behind my closet door and about 7 or 8 clutch bags on a nearby shelf that I cherish but rarely ever see the light of day. And then there's the tote bags...The huge grey satchel that fits everything from my change of shoes to my lunch to my magazines however? It is in constant rotation and although I just purchased it last December, I've carried it a gazillion times more than most of the bags I've have for years.

So I get it. We're creatures of habit and some of us like me are pack rats. (Mr. TK recently informed me with a straight face that I have a clutter problem when I told him that my email inbox was full...again.) But still, why so much stuff? Don't we know that stuff can't make us happy? The latest designer jeans can't spoon with you at night, right? We've all read the self-help books, the service articles in women's magazines...right? One of the best dressed women I know is in her 50s, far from rich and has a mere fraction of the clothes that I have. But she looks great in everything she wears and rarely impulse shops. She shops like a man -- typically only buying something when she needs it. Shopping isn't receation for her. Why though, after all I just typed, do I still feel like I need another purse (a LV speedy) at this very moment? (I'm being honest.)

What's your take? Are you part of the 80 percent? Do you, like me, regularly donate clothes, sometimes unworn, to charity and rarely ever pay full price for anything but still occassionally feel guilty about having so much stuff, especially knowing what you're NOT a trust fund kid? If so, what are you doing about it? I wanna know, what percentage of your wardrobe do you wear on a regular basis? Leave me an (honest) comment.

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ON ESSENCE.COM!

2009-04-23T03:10:00.000-07:00

Folks, don't you love weddings? Of course you do! Even those of you who are cynical about marriage or just flat out think weddings are a waste of time and money are secretly intriqued by them.

Admit it.

Well my cyberfriends, each and every Wednesday on ESSENCE.com, you can read about a different (brown) couple who jumped the broom and learn a little about the hurdles they hopped to get there too. Plus check out pics of the the cake, the dress(es) and possibly view a video. An extra bonus is the practical advice in the form of a "Bridal Budget Bite" that each newlywed shares. The feature is called Bridal Bliss and it sort of my new baby and your support will help me with a much bigger project I'm working on.

Check out yesterday's Bridal Bliss pics here and read the story here. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone you looked. It'll be our lil' secret.

BTW - Happy Belated Earth Day!

Is It More Than A Crush?

2009-04-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

While thumbing through the New York Times "T" mag earlier today, I stumbled upon this beauty below:

Done drolling? Okay. Now imagine this in bold, piercing red. (That is the color T shot it in.) The baby sells for $1,799 at bludot.com. I'm thinking that it is worth the money especially since I envision having my living room decorated in primary colors. So this red couch will go quite nicely with a blue chair and yellow throw pillows. I also love that it is a sleepr sofa and will really prove to be handy when my nieces come up to visit.

Hmmmmmm... It is about time for me to invest in another grown-up piece of furniture so we shall see. First, I need to investigate whether or not I can score this baby any cheaper through a hook-up of some sort. LOL! Hey, it is what it is.

Big Easy Fun: Chillaxin' on Magazine Street

2009-04-15T17:27:00.001-07:00

Happy hump day! This past weekend I had a heavenly visit in The Crescent City aka New Orleans. I traveled down to The Big Easy for a good friend's wedding and ended up having the time of my life. She and her husband are a couple that make me love love even more, I ate like a pig, listened to great live jazz and discovered a new shopping haunt that I'm excited to tell you guys about.

While I had read about the trendy shops and hip restaurants on Magazine Street in mags like Lucky before, this visit was my first time in the area. After a $15 cab ride from the French Quarter, my girls and I ooohed and awwwed in boutiques up and down Magazine Street. A vintage lovers dream, the strip of about 7-10 blocks was a nice retreat from the often loud and crowded Bourbon and Frenchman Streets. I scored a sweet little vintage purse from Funky Monkey while my girl Big C snagged a beautiful Petro Zilla sundress from the retail goldmine. I'm also totally siked about my long Indian inspired drop earrings for a mere $12 from the nearby Ah-Ha boutique that I ended up wearing to my friend's wedding.

Me (in the purple dress) and my girl Shay during the wedding reception. I'm wearing my new earrings in this pic. ;-)

A true highlight of our excursion was the dip into Sucre for a sweet treat. Everything from gelato to marshmellows are for sale in this adorable space. Apparently Oprah digs their delectable desserts as well.

Sucre on Magazine Street in The Big Easy is a must-visit. I can still taste my blueberry treat -- part custard, part tart (called a Bluet). Mmm, mm good!

If you happen to make your way down to Nawlins in the near future, be sure to do something off the beaten path as well. Take a walking tour of the historical Treme neighborhood and learn about the free Blacks who were doin' it big in the South long before slavery was officially abolished in the U.S. And then get yourself a plate of catfish and grits from Lil' Dizzy's. Tell Ms. Lucy I said "Hey!"

The One&Only And Other Cape Town Bits

2009-04-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Long time! Today, I wanted to blog about something I should have a long time ago...

Yesterday, I caught up on some WWD reading and learned that the billionaire investor Sol Kerzner hosted what seemed like a fab party in Cape Town to celebrate the opening of his One&Only resort there. (Looks like the property is scheduled to open later this year.) Well, Kerzner certainly brought the big dogs out. Nelson Mandela was invited (not sure if he actually attended), Thandie Newton was in the house, Bebe Winans, Hugh Masekela, Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower and Mariah Carey were all partying it up in the new space as well. I've been to the One&Only resort in the Bahamas and folks, it is SICK. Simply beautiful and you don't have to want for anything while you're there.

Reading about Cape Town's newest luxury hotel made me think back to my own stay in the Cape last fall. I lodged at the 12 Apostles and it too was SICK. My friends and I had no idea we were going to be staying at such a posh spot when we first booked the trip but once we were there, people thought we were a singing group (real talk). They just couldn't imagine seven young Black women being able to afford the 12 Apostles. (That's a whole 'notha post.) Well the 12 Apostles has a top of the line spa, movie theater, 3/4 restaurants...all the bells and whistles. We got a GREAT deal (told y'all I don't like paying retail, that includes my vacations) and were practically treated like royalty during our stay. Now it looks like the 12 Apostles will have more competition for those taking a holiday on the Cape.

This is one of the 12 Apostles restaurants I ate at during my stay in Cape Town last fall.

But you know what? There's a lot of poverty in Cape Town. Still. PLENTY. I saw miles and miles of shanty towns while visiting and it made me SICK at times to be staying in such a SICK hotel. Poor me? Nah, I'm not about to have an American guilt trip moment -- it is what it is and I don't regret my stay but I am grateful that I managed to dontate to a worthy cause while I was visiting. One of our tour guides told me of the volunteer work she does with orphans and although I didn't know the woman from Eve, I believed she was sincere. I whipped out a U.S. $20 bill and gave to it her right then. In hindsight, I should have given much more. She called me at the hotel later on to thank me again and assure me that the money would be put to good use. Then an email was sent to me from an administrator of the group she works with, Little Angels to thank me. I'm sure lots of similiar orgs exist in Cape Town but now Little Angles holds a special place in my heart. Mr. TK and I plan to go to Cape Town in the near future (he's still salty he couldn't go with me in September) and I hope that we can spend a couple of days doing hands-on work with Little Angels then. In the meantime, I'll donate what I can, when I can. Orphans and foster children have a special, special place in my heart whether they live in South Africa or the South Bronx.

An example of a shanty town in Cape Town. There must be hundreds of them.

So if you consider treating yourself to a stay at the Cape's new One&Only or 12 Apostles, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. But just consider checking out Little Angels too. Tell them an American lady sent 'ya. ;-)

Girl Power

2009-04-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

When it rains, it pours. As a child, I never understood when my mother told me that but I sure as heck do now. At this very moment I need to get a new phone, schedule a dentist appointment, fax documents to my tax guy, pack for a weekend getaway, return (personal) calls to about 6 people...and that is only half of it -- LOTS going on.

Whew, I had to get that out. Now back to business.

I had the plesaure of speaking at The Young Women's Leadership School in Jamaica, Queens (NY) on Tuesday. I spoke to a group of 10th graders as part of the school's Cool Women, Hot Jobs program. Every single time I participate in something like this I feel partially guilty as I always get just as much out of it (if not more) than the students. Talk about gaining perspective. While I have spoken at a school in Queens before, being in JAMAICA where I was born and raised meant a lot to me. The girls I met on Tuesday have so much promise, so much talent. They were bright-eyed and actually seemed interested in hearing about little 'ole me and what I do for a living. In me telling them to never give up and work hard even when it seems no one is paying attention, I was reminding myself of what matters most too. God is so awesome like that. Why am I sharing with you guys? Well it is probably the flyest thing I've done all year.

How can you not look at this picture and smile?

Then, last night I spent the evening in Harlem for a lovely shindig to help launch Shaun Robinson's new book, Exactly As I Am. Just as the title suggests, Robinson's book encourages young women to nuture their self-esteem. Interviews with everyone from Gabrielle Union to Nancy Pelosi are included. I mingled with more inspiring women there and picked up a copy of the book for my nieces. They can't appreciate it now but they certainly will one day.

We are blessed to be a blessing to others. The youngins are watching us y'all. They really are.

P.S. - Topshop is FINALLY opening in (Soho) NYC today! More on that later.

Kelis's Hair Revolution: She's Still Bringing Them To The Yard!

2009-03-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

Peep this little diddy I did for the j-o:

I really enjoyed working on this photo gallery. So ahead of her time that Mrs. Jones...

Matthew Williamson at H&M!

2009-03-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I have a thing for British fashion designers and Matthew Wiliamson is at the top of my fave list. And now the genius behind Kelis's bold and ridiculously fly green wedding gown is designing not one but two lines for H&M.

Yes, I'm serious.

WWD broke the deets on Thursday and I couldn't be happier about it. As much as I admire Matthew's talent, I can't afford his stuff (yet) so I honestly don't own any of his pieces. But come April 23rd, that will all change. Williamson's first, limited edition women's collection will debut at 200 H&M stores nationwide. As an encore, H&M will unveil styles for men and women by M.W. in all 1,700 locations.

Williamson shared with WWD that he was inspired by the idea of the colors of a peacock feather for the collections. Of course, he's turned to the peacock often in his work as he did for his Smythson of Bond Street collabo. The first limited collection is scheduled to feature cashmere, leather (!), sequins and embroidery and retail prices will range from $49.90 for shorts to $349 for a ruffle gown.

I just hope that I'm not disappointed with the looks up close in personal as I was with the Marimekko line at H&M last year. The prints were not nearly as rich and memorable in person as I had hoped they would be. I'll let you guys know how I do with Matthew next month.

Off to take a disco nap before I meet up with the amigos to go bowling. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Shoe Bargain!

2009-03-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Check these babies out:

Cute, right? And can you believe that they are only twenty bucks??!! I am truly a bargain shopper and rarely ever pay retail so these Payless wedges even got me more than a little excited. I can start wearing them in about a month or so with jeans/pants and then pair them with skirts and dresses throughout the summer. Now, I'll be the first to admit that these shoes might be hideous in person but I have no problems returning them should I not like them in person. Payless has definitely stepped up their designs and quality in recent seasons (peep the site for all the higher-end designer collabos). I am not ashamed (in the least) of wearing Payless shoes if I like them and they're made well. I will however be ashamed if I haven't made a move to own my second property within the next 2 years. I'm trying to remember that my wants are very different from my needs (according to Suze Orman and my mother, not enough of us do) and I certainly don't need another pair of shoes. Oy vey, being a grown-up... Anyhoo, I will probably order them later today so I'll let you know what they look like in person next week! (LOL)

P.S. - Any Payless shoe wearers out there? Leave me a comment and tell me if your Payless shoe purchases have helped or hurt your shoe game.

P.P.S. - Is anyone else strangely drawn to BET's Harlem Heights besides me? Sure I have my issues with it --trust-- but I have been watching. For those of you who have been too, how ADORABLE is Jason's daughter???? The cornrows, the beads, the big brown eyes, the way she looks up at her dad...that father-daughter relationship is probably the best (and most "real") part of the reality show. Do you agree or not? Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Have You Seen Her?

2009-03-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

2003: Near my London flat.

I'm very proud of the young lady in the above picture. She quit her "good" job to chase a dream of living abroad, in expensive a** London specifically. Nevermind that she was unemployed for over a year when she returned home to the States. Somehow, she managed to never get behind in any of her bills with freelance work and a part-time retail gig. Never mind that she didn't stay as long as she originally planned to either. She still jet-setted all around Europe and even spent an eventful night at Gatwick Airport trying to get to Prague (never made it to Prague but the memories are priceless nonetheless).

I'm also proud of the young woman who purchased her maternal grandparent's home (and the acres of land it sits on) because she wanted the property to stay in the family. Had she thought about it too much she probably would not have done it. Sure becoming a homeowner was an important goal of hers but making sure that her kin's strong legacy was maintained was far greater. The process all went by sort of quickly and she even impresses herself to know that she pulled it off and is not only a homeowner but a landlord. All by age 30.

And then there is the woman who took a chance on love (and still is quite frankly) simply to please herself -- no one or nothing else. She honestly still questions her decision from time to time but always comes to the same conclusion: He makes my heart smile. Love is one thing but forgiving? That forgiving thing is strictly for grown folks. I'm not talking about blind forgiveness either, that would just be dumb. But letting your guard down long enough to allow yourself to be happy...I'm overwhelmingly proud of her for that.

So where has this woman gone? If she's been able to accomplish all these things, why won't she get out of her own way long enough to complete that project she's been talking about for over a year? Maybe it is because she worries that at 33, she isn't where she "should" be in her career. Maybe it is because she wonders if she is indeed too idealistic in thinking that she can have it all (in due time): the career she dreams about, the hubby and the kid or kids. And while everyone tells her how proud he would be/is of her accomplishments, she still occasionally ponders on whether she has made (and will continue to make) her father proud.

But lately, she realizes that her career path is not straight but she really wouldn't have it any other way. The hubby and the kids will not be enjoyable if she's not happy with who she is first. (She got that gem from DVF herself.) And truthfully, she's gonna disappoint her Dad and herself here and there. But how lame would life be if she didn't make some mistakes? Every now and again we all lose sight of ourselves but thank goodness I found the woman in the picture. And thank God she's back and ready to rock!

(Writing about myself in 3rd person is wierd but I had to do this. It was like therapy. Thanks for understanding that I needed PPT to be my journal for this post.)

I don't wanna toot my own horn but...

2009-03-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying this weekend so much and it just started. It's the little things like wearing my wifebeater and sweats while reading the Real Estate section of the New York Times on my comfy sofa in between my mom catching me up on the N.C. fam on a Saturday morning that make me happy. Awww, life is good.

Remember this? Maybe those chicks at Vogue read PPT??? LOL! (I kid, I kid.)

But on to business. Be sure to read the article, "Heavy-Metal Manicure" on page 154 of the April 2009 issue of Vogue. (It's the issue with Bouncy on the cover.) My girl, manicurist Lisa Logan got a huge shout-out for her Minxing skills in the piece. Yep, the same Minx I wrote about here on PPT months ago. Big C, a fellow magazine junkie, alerted me of the piece. Lisa is so modest (and busy) that she forgets to tell me these things herself. Lisa, the best is yet to come!

Shopping Like A Rich Woman

2009-03-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

So in yesterday's WWD, I noticed a charticle on spending habits that I found quite amusing. The piece shows a snapshot of the top, midtier and discount stores where consumers with annual incomes of $250,000 or more said they've been shopping. Interesting, right? Now, perhaps because I was an advertising, marketing and communications major I tend to take surveys like these with a grain of salt. I'm sure the sample was small, I know first-hand that folks say what they typically think others want to hear, etc. Still, the result of this research is pretty telling. See for yourself:

1 - Target, 46.2 percent

2 - Costco, 39.5 percent

3 - Macy's, 38.6 percent

4 - Nordstrom, 31.9 percent

5 - Wal-Mart, 25.9 percent

6 - Kohl's, 20.6 percent

7 - Bloomingdale's, 19.3 percent

8 - T.J. Maxx, 18.6 percent

9 - Sam's Club, 18.2 percent

10 - Neiman Marcus, 16.4 percent

11 - J.C. Penney, 14.2 percent

12 - Lord & Taylor, 12.5 percent

13 - Saks Fifth Avenue, 12.3 percent

14 - Dillard's, 11.5 percent

15 - Sears, 11.1 percent

16 - Barneys New York, 7.2 percent

17 - Kmart, 6.9 percent

18 - Bergdorf Goodman, 5.8 percent

Now keeping all things in perspective: is an annual personal income of $250,000 high? (in most parts of the country it certainly is), were most of the people surveyed married and/or have children, what part of the country was the survey conducted in...yada, ya... I still think it is safe to say that over half of the top 10 stores (including the number one spot) being discount retailers gives us a real window into the minds of those who what to make their dollar stretch. I happen to LOVE Target (where else can I get a mop, a scented candle, a dress and deodorant under one roof?) and make far less than 250K a year but I've long noticed that Target, Sam's Club, Costco, and T.J. Maxx stores are rarely ever in the neighborhoods that seem to need them the most. Hmmmm.

I'm clearly opening up a much bigger can of worms and I will certainly revisit this topic later. But, in the meantime I'd like to know of the stores listed above, where do you shop most and why? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

Btw, I thought that title would grab your attention. ;-) A whole 'notha can of worms is what constitutes someone being rich, right? All relative my friends, all relative. But do remember that the survey consisted of those with personal annual salaries of 250K or more, NOT household salaries of 250K or more. Huge difference.

What Recession?: Vintage Shopping 101

2009-03-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

Okay so the recession is very real but I refuse to moan and groan about it. That old saying about the happiest people not having the most of everything but rather making the most of what they do have couldn't be more timely. And it applies to how we dress as well.

Enter vintage shopping. Vintage has been "hip" for a minute now but folks are looking to vintage and secondhand (or third or forth) even more to make a dollar stretch. Um, keeping your home off the foreclosure block or ensuring Junior stays at University is more important than a new Gucci purse, right????

But I know many people are intimidated by vintage shopping. So, I dug up an article I penned for a custom published mag nearly 4 years ago on vintage shopping. Here are a few highlights:

*The first lesson on vintage shopping is to understand exactly what it is. Constance White, fashion expert and style director for eBay explains, "A garment generally has to be at least 10 years old for it to be considered vintage."

*The best vintage items are probably right under your nose, or in your attic. Search through Grandma's chest and you just might uncover the perfect little clutch you've been looking for. Remember this post about shopping in your own closet?

*If you're saving your pennies (Who isn't these days?), stay away from vintage stores in places like NYC's Soho or Washington's Georgetown. Vintage doesn't always mean inexpensive and touristy areas usually mean higher price tags. Instead, opt for Goodwill, Salvation Army, garage/yard sales and flea markets off the beaten path.

*Fret not if you don't strike gold on your first vintage adventure. It might take a few visits to the same store before you land that must-have item.

*Before determining whether you really have a bargain, check for missing buttons, permanent stains and other damage like rips. Only you can know for sure if the repair costs will be worth it in the long run.

*Wearing head-to-toe vintage is quite a challenge to pull off--even for a vet. Try to stick to mixing elements of vintage into your existing contemporary wardrobe. The result is more likely to be modern and sophisticated than dated and weird.

One to Watch: Miguel Antoinne

2009-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's been too long. *Sigh* I have no "good" excuses for not posting either so I'll just get to it.

Fall 2009 Fashion Week wasn't a big "to do" for me this season. While I didn't get invited to much, I didn't hustle as I have in the past for invites either. I have delayed reactions so perhaps the reason for my blah attitude will be revealed to me later. Although I only went to a handful of fashion week events last month, there was one designer I discovered that I must sing the praises of: MIGUEL ANTOINNE.

Looks from Miguel Antoinne's Fall 2009 debut collection.

My coworker invited me to attend Miguel's event at a posh east side NYC hotel penthouse and I obliged. Tastemakers like Lloyd Boston were in the house, drinks were flowing, complimentary hand massages by Aveda were plenty. (Love Lloyd btw! Check him out on his new Fine Living show, Closet Cases.) The vibe was cool, this is the same event I met Kwame at, but the clothes were FIRE! Miguel specializes in menswear. A fellow F.I.T. alum, his foray into fashion began with him working as a buyer for one of the nation's leading retailers. Miguel's Fall 2009 debut collection is made primarily from Italian and Japanese fabrics and was inspired by gangsters of the 1920s. The details are ridiculous: oversized pockets, constrast top stitching, unique blending of cashmere and pony-hair. His color palette is pretty basic with grey, black and pops of white and beige but the garments were anything but. Miguel's collection put me in the mind of Paul Smith and that is always a good thing.

Miguel (front and center with arms folded) poses for a pic with models during his Fall 2009 presentation. Isn't he a cutie?

Time will tell whether or not Miguel will make it at retail for seasons to come. One thing that makes me feel confident he will (so many young, talented designers don't unfortunately) is his experience as a buyer. While the price points were way out of my league or most that I know, there is certainly a market for his offerings. Plus, Miguel's clothes are investment purchases not a wear for 2 or 3 seasons and then toss type purchases.

Check his stuff out for yourself here.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

P.S. - As of tomorrow, I'm back to posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Paula, I'm sorry!

First Lady Sleeveless Drama

2009-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

My bad. I'm swamped y'all. I plan to post (late) tonight but in the meantime, check out this gallery I worked on for the j-o. It has been getting an enormous amount of feedback so I thought I'd share with my PPT folx.

I personally think that Mrs. Obama's arms are the LEAST of America's worries right now. What do you guys think?

Enjoy and Happy Thursday!

PPT's Black Female Style Icons (Part II)

2009-02-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

I promised it so here it is, on the last day of our so-called Black History Month. Peep last year's list here. And do leave me a comment to let me know who I missed.

GRACE JONES

I honestly don't know too much about Ms. Jones, the Jamaican native who started her career as a model in New York City and Paris. Apparently she was a regular at infamous spots like Studio 54 and became a muse to cats like Andy Warhol back in the 70s. I most remember her for the 80s hit Slave to the Rhythym and her role in the 90s flick Boomerang. But chick is a bad ass fo' real. From sporting a short natural do when everyone wanted long, flowing locks to pushing the envelope with her androgynous look. Every now and again the game needs someone like Grace Jones to shake things up a bit.

RIHANNA

I might catch some heat for including RiRi in the midst of this Chris Brown drama. Know that I don't take domestic violence lightly, not in the least. But one thing that Rihanna has demonstrated in her brief career is the ability to evolve and 50 years from now, folks will still be giving her props for being a trendsetter -- trust me. (Hopefully we'll be giving her props for having the strength to walk away too.) When she first came on the scene with her dancehall inspired Pon the Replay, she was heavily styled with the A&R prerequisites for an up and coming R&B singer: long, light weaves, Seventeen mag-friendly gear and an all-around middle-America ready image. It didn't take but a minute for Rihanna to get her mojo together and bring her own distinct fierceness to the world. From her short tresses (yeah, I admitted that she wasn't the first to sport this look but she took it mainstream) to her risk-taking garb. Baby girl looks so much more comfortable now with her rocker edged look then she did during her pop bubblegum debut. Now I sincerely hope she gets her mind right emotionally.

DIANA ROSS

From her days as a Supreme to her memorable role in Mahogany, Ms. Ross has been the boss. When I look back at old pics of her in her hey day I'm in awe. She was bringing it long before artists has professional stylists to dress them. The feathers, the sequins, the platforms...I'm so jealous that her daughter Tracee has access to all this ridiculously fly gear. Even with all her over-the-top costumes, she was equally (if not more) beautiful in shots like the one above wearing a simple tee and jeans. Modern-day divas take note.

LISA BONET

I have a confession: I LOVE The Cosby Show. And Denise was the Huxtable who made the show just a little more interesting for me every Thursday night during my formative years. See Lisa is one of those actresses who you know told the costume designer on set, "I got this". To me, she is a pioneer of the boho-chic era of the 90s to present. She never matched, never had perfectly coiffed hair yet still managed to look fly in every episode and whenever photographed out and about. Sure, she was/is pretty but lots of pretty girls still can't pull this off. Then Lisa and her ex-hubby Lenny went and passed that "it" factor to their daughter Zoe. Geesh.

JAN'ET DUBOIS

Ja'Net played the beloved Willona Woods on the hit sitcom Good Times in the late 70s. Thanks to TVOne, I've been catching up on some old episodes and I admittedly want everything Willona (and Thelma) wore. Everything. I can't say that Good Times demonstrated amazing acting but Willona's character was probably my first introduction to a strong, independent Black woman on the small-screen (I wasn't around for Julia.). Plus, her character adopted which is one of my life long dreams. All the while she was as sexy as she wanted to be in her body hugging frocks and jumpsuits. HA! It's so good to see that Ja'Net is still out and about too.

EARTHA KITT

Last Christmas, while my family sat around and ate second and third helpings of grub in between games of Taboo, I received a text message from a coworker about Eartha Kitt's death. Initially I was a little annoyed; it was Christmas and I was with my fam after all... But after I shared the breaking news with my loved ones, I actually appreciated the info. The older relatives present began to share with the younger ones about how gangsta Ms. Kitt was. My cousins and I listened in awe of stories about how she spoke out against the Vietnam War at The White House, causing her to lose a lucrative Hollywood career for standing up for what she believed in. Dang, they don't make 'em like that anymore. Sometimes I feel like my generation are such cowards (another post for another day). Anyhoo, Eartha demonstrated such tenacity and grace all the while demonstronating oodles of feminity and sex appeal. She showed that it is possible to rock a sick pair of heels with a booty hugging pencil skirt and still keep abreast of global affairs and be a voice to the voiceless. What a fabulous personification of "smart style".

R.I.P. Eartha Kitt.

Bridal Bliss

2009-02-24T03:55:00.000-08:00

It's Fat Tuesday! (Shout out to everyone enjoying Mardi Gras and Carnival all over the world.)

So let's get to it. I need your help. Don't worry, it's fun. I'm working on a project at work that invloves something I love: WEDDINGS. Sure I'm a semi-hopeless romantic but weddings have less to do with love than most folks think in my opinion. (People often confuse marriage with weddings.) However, I am smitten with the endless ways one can display their personal style through a wedding ceremony and reception, whether their budget is $500 or $500,000. Read the deets below and either submit your story and pics or pass on to your newly wedded friends and family. Many thanks in advance for your help.

ESSENCE.com is creating an exciting new feature and would like newlyweds from all over to take part. Were you and your beloved both divorced and cynical about getting remarried before you fell in love? Is your new hubby an Iraq vet? ESSENCE.com wants all these stories and more.

All you have to do is send an email to realweddings@essence-online.com with your name, your husband's name, both of your ages, date of the wedding, city of residence and a 150 word description of your special nuptials and why they should appear on ESSENCE.com. Also be sure to include 10 to 15 photos from your big day.

Please note only weddings that have taken place in the last six months will be considered.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I'll get right back to ya.

Tied Up: Krimson by Kwame

2009-02-23T04:38:00.000-08:00

Why do Mondays always pop up so fast? Geesh. Recently, I went to a shindig for a new menswear designer here in NYC. I plan to post on the designer (he's SO talented) later but in the meantime, I needed to dish about a tie line I've been sleeping on and was reintroduced to at said shindig.

Between chatting folks up at this fashion fete, I met a charming young man named Kwame Jackson. I admitedly have delayed reactions so I didn't realize he was from The Apprentice until after I left the event and my coworker told me. (I only watched that show a couple of times with Mr. TK.) However, Kwame and his friend were quite the dapper duo so when he told me that he had a tie collection and was actually wearing one of them, my interest was peaked. His colorful creations are sold at select Macys and Belks stores and retail for about $75. Go to the site and check out the complete assortment of Krimson ties and learn more about the line. Primarily made of silk, I really am feeling the polka dot ones. These ties are true conversation starters (the colors and the prints pop and will surely add dazzle to any stuffy suit) and are timeless. Unlike a lot of other items from "celebrity" lines, these ties don't have an expiration date and don't scream look at me. They're for grown-ups. We like that, no? In hindsight, I had read about these ties before but something about seeing them in person on the creator of the line made me excited about them again. How's that for good marketing? I'll have to snag one for Mr. TK soon.

R to L: Kwame with his friend and frat brother Dave. They're Kappas. (Don't they look like Kappas?)

Grandma's Apron

2009-02-20T04:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Today is the last day of Fall 2009 NY Fashion Week, more on that later, but I can't bear to dish on trends right now. I read the passage below a few moments ago as it was sent via email from my mom and (partly) because my other posts are not ready, I decided to share with my PPT fam because I was so moved after reading it. While I've touched on the cultural significances that clothing often has, after reading this I realize it is something I want to revisit here deeper very soon.

I do realize that not everyone has a biological grandmother to remember fondly. And not everyone's grandmother even wore an apron. This is much bigger than that though. EVERYONE has SOMEONE (blood related or not) who is looking out for us or has looked out for us unconditionally. And if you still think you don't or never had that, then be that person for someone else.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress
underneath; because she only had a few, it was easier to wash
aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with
that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was
even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy
chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the
warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the
hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.. After the
peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen
from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how
much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved
her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields
to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will
replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know, and love, the story about
Grandma's aprons. Or it can be a good history lesson for those
that have no idea how the apron played a part in our lives.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to
cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were
on that apron.
I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron......
But Love !!

***This passage was a forward so I don't know who the original writer is to credit them.

P.S. - If you're in the New York tri-state area, stop buying the NY Post. Seriuosly.

My New Crush

2009-02-17T03:29:00.000-08:00

STOP staring at MY crush. Oh nevermind, I know you can't help it. Aren't these Liberty-print Nikes just SICK??!! It's no secret how fond I am of Liberty (I gotta get back to London this year.) and I'm really feeling this juxtaposition of ultra-feminine and sporty. The genius collabo officially debuted last year but I didn't jump at them then. However, the folks at Daily Candy put me on to the fine pair above this morning. These lovely kicks are available exclusively at Opening Ceremony who is celebrating the grand opening of e-commerce on the site today.

The damage is $100 which isn't too bad considering I would probably wear them for years. (I'm still rocking a pair of blue and brown Le Coq Sportif kicks I copped in Paris six years ago!) But there are things I need a heck of a lot more right now than these sneakers. Like a new lamp and bookshelf for the cribo. But the beautiful thing about crushes is that there is no pressure to act immediately. One can just admire from afar...

I'll be sure to let you know if anything serious like a purchase comes from this crush.

Finding Your Barack: A Crash Course

2009-02-16T05:58:00.000-08:00

I have the day off. YAY!

So in honor of President's Day and the recently passed Valentine's Day, I'm linking to a story I worked on a couple of weeks ago for the full-time gig. Check it out here. It honestly didn't even feel like work. My coworker Queen, another coworker and myself so enjoyed brainstorming for this gallery and writing the captions plus I was forced to check myself ; like I had to do just this past weekend actually. Be sure to read until the end, there's a real jewel from the Prez in the very last caption.

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY!

My First Lady Covers Vogue: A Critique

2009-02-15T08:48:00.001-08:00

I was/am in a funky mood. I shoulda gone to church but I didn't for silly reasons and now I'm regretting it. Hopefully the smoke will clear soon (real soon) and I can get back to being happy. I'm about to get into some Proverbs right after I finish this post. That always helps me put things in perspective. Hopefully blogging, especially about my First Lady, will be theraputic too.

Despite my funky mood, I did manage to find pleasure in reading the March 2009 Vogue cover story. Admitedly, I have been anticipating it's arrival for weeks now, ever since I learned that Michelle Obama was going to grace the cover. So I picked it up yesterday. What do ya think?

First and formost, Vogue sure isn't suffering in the ad department by the look (and weight) of this issue. The older East Indian woman at the NYC Penn Station store where I purchased my copy went out of her way to tell me how many people are buying the issue and it literally just hit newsstands this week. Very telling. But NYC is another universe. I wonder how it will sell in the Bible Belt and Middle America...

I like, but don't love, the cover. I think Michelle looks good but there are a couple of post-production things I'm not too thrilled with. However, her arms look fantastic and the fuschia shift dress works on her and for the seated shot. There is also a spread of Michelle writing wearing a J.Crew ensemble that I really like because she looks comfortable and at ease and the colors work for her complexion. Don't care for the opening spread of her on the phone though.

I don't want to give too much anyway as I realize most of you might not have read the piece yet. I will say that I think Andre Leon Talley did a good job. While the article did leave me wanting a little more (but maybe that's because I already know so much more about her than the average Vogue reader). At the end of the day, Vogue is a fashion pub. Still, I think Talley was able to get some real jewels in and I've shared a few of my faves below:

Michelle on growing up in a modest, working class community:
"We like to joke that the South Side of Chicago is our Kennebunkport. We learned in our household that there was nothing you couldn't talk about and that you found humor in even the toughest times."
Don't know where Kennebunkport is or what it represents? Don't worry, I had to Google it myself. It's an upscale town in Maine where many of the world's wealthiest go to "summer". I love that Michelle doesn't come from money and wasn't even involved in most of the things middle/upper class Black folks are supposed to participate in (no Jack & Jill meetings for her or Craig as kids, no Link galas for her mother Ms. Marian, no vacations in Sag Harbor) yet she still became our country's first Black First Lady.

Talley on his first meeting with Michelle:
"I first met Mrs. Obama at an impromptu dinner at Oprah Winfrey's house in Santa Barabra, CA, on the eve of the divine Ms.O's Legends Ball in 2005. I was seated between the then Senator Barack Obama's wife and Tina Turner. Do I remember what Michelle was wearing? Not at all. What I do remember was how informed she was on so many topics."
For those of you who are wondering why everything this woman wears sells out in hours and why she's being lauded as a style icon when you think she usually looks mediocre at best, reread the above quote from Talley. Hopefully, you'll start to get it soon.

Oprah on Michelle:
"Michelle Obama is a full-blown, grown-up woman. An authentically empowered real woman who looks and feels like a modern woman in the 21st century, allowing us to see the best of ourselves in her."
Point blank, this is just a dang good quote. And it is making me feel a whole lot better about the current growing pains I'm having.

Talley on the Whistle Tour:
"As we rolled along, I thought of my own journey. How many among the crowds gathered to watch us pass were like me--an African-American who grew up in the Jim Crow South, whose father drove a taxi, whose uncle Lewis was a barber, whose grandmother was a maid her entire life--and turned their eyes to the Obamas not just with hope but with recognition?
Wow.

Other highlights in this issue are the feature story on Melinda Gates which I haven't finished reading but I look forward to doing so because she seems to be a real grown-up woman too. I was not too thrilled with Liya's fashion well story, Desert Fox. Don't get me wrong, Liya looks as gorgeous as ever. But how cliche is it to use an African model in yet another safari inspired story in 2009? After taking a real life safari last year in South Africa I'm really annoyed by it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed Wintour's editor's letter. I appreciate when an EIC takes the time to share their genuine thoughts and feelings with their readers. Here's a snippet:

"There is no doubt that we live in the toughest and most trying of times: wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza; a global economic recession of historic proportions; and a planet whose physical and biological health grows more imperiled by the day. These are the facts, and we are forced to face them whether we like it or not. However, there is another fact that bears mentioning: We are resourceful and resislient people who have survived far worse. (Couldn't help but to think about my maternal Grandma here.) As I talk to fellow members of the business and fashion communities, it seems that we can too readily succumb to doom, gloom and fatalism. I'm not a Pollyanna. But it is critical that we not exchange one bubble (euphoric consumerism) for another (funeral pessimism). The truth is we are blessed as ever with drive, talent, and practical, proactive measure can be taken to improve our lot."
Way to go Anna!

Did you read the March 2009 Vogue yet? Please share your thoughts about the cover story or any other article in the issue.

Black Male Style Icons Part 2

2009-02-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

Click here for last year's list.

RUN-DMC

Often credited for bringing rap to the mainstream, Run-DMC are truly pioneers in music. (This April, they will be inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame.) But with their unprecedented Adidas contract, slick black fedora and Lee jeans getups, they definitely made their mark on fashion as well. I remember as a little girl looking up to them with their gold rope chains and leather bombers and thinking their influence was just local. But now as an adult who has traveled the world, I know that they have inspired folks globally as well. And oh yeah, they're from Queens too. R.I.P. JMJ

BARACK OBAMA

He almost made my list last year but I had no choice but to add him this time around. Yeah I know we really only see him in (kinda boring) suits, but it's the way he wears those suits. Based on a convo I just had with women who are all several years my senior, I am reminded that a lot of folks still don't realize that true style has very little to do with clothes. Poor things. Obama is swagger personified. His confidence is so palpable that regardless of what he wears, he looks like he's the man in it. He and his family are going to play a major part in changing our country's obsession with materialistc things too - mark my words. (The recession might help do that a little bit too, lol.) The desire to wear $500 Evisu jeans and drive a car with rims that cost God knows how much is quickly dwindling. A lot of that is because of our new Prez whether people immediately recognize it or not. I think a lot of folks will start to say Hey, if he can be that cool without flaunting, then so can I.

KANYE WEST

Now I have to admit that Ye has been getting on my nerves a little bit as of late but I'm gonna cough it up to him still mourning the lost of his mother. Speaking of his mother (R.I.P. D.W.), she was a college English professor. Perhaps that had something to do with Kanye's style. He made being (or dressing like) a nerd cool. His obsession with LV is a bit much at times but I dig Kanye for coming on the scene and not being afraid to go slightly left with his backpack and snug fitting jeans. Today's popularity of the preppy kid meets b-boy look is very much because of Kanye. (Maybe Pharrel will make next year's list.)

PRINCE

C’mon. Who else can pull off roller sets (tight ones I might add), purple britches, ruffles and high heels yet still manage to be one of the biggest sex symbols to women for the past three decades? No one. Prince paved the way for guys like Andre 3000 (who I bigged up last year). Even the hardest cats I know give Prince his props for being that dude. Oh yeah, and he's only like 5 feet tall but he never, ever seems like he's not in control. Like ever. And both Prince and I adore the color purple.

ANDRE LEON TALLEY

He's been holding down a coveted position as editor-at-large of American Vogue for years. Talley is reportedly 6'7" tall and far from a string bean but he slides into a room as graceful as someone half his size. He's a very big Black man, which in the fashion and publishing industries is beyond rare, but that doesn't stop him from wearing whatever he wants. From velour track suits to velvet slippers... Who can't respect that? I secretly think we have a special connection too because we both have roots in North Carolina. And though he never responded to the corny letter I sent him after reading his book a few years ago, I have learned a thing or two from Talley, even if it has all been from a distance.

Did I forget someone? Leave me a comment and let me know. The female list is coming next week!

Maternity Wardrobe Woes: I Actually Liked M.I.A.'s Grammy Look!

2009-02-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

It's Hump Day! I plan to post later on tonight too but I wanna get some other folks opinions on something in the meantime. EVERYBODY is still speculating about the whole Chrianna drama but allow me to diverge your attention for a bit.

One of the highlights, by far, of the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Show on Sunday night was the Swagger Like Us performance. Now, I'll admit that I was just as shocked at how preggers M.I.A. was while she sang the hook and moved around on stage. (My girl Mija pointed out that Jay was very reluctant to stand next to her in the beginning of the performance because he was probably thinking to himself, I don't know nothing about birthing no babies. HILARIOUS!) So now that we've gotten how just how pregnant she was out the way (I mean it was her scheduled due date and all), can we discuss her outfit?

Folks are so not feelin' it! I have heard and read people cutting up the House of Holland by Henry Holland Spring/Summer 2009 getup she was wearing something awful. C'mon people it's the freakin' Grammy Awards! We (collectively) always say we hate when everyone plays it safe and rocks the same boring red carpet frocks from designers we're all kinda tired of seeing. I quite like that M.I.A. thought outside the box. And for those who claim that she was too pregnant to wear the ensemble, you get the gasface. Bringing life into the world is, to me, the biggest accomplishment known to man. A pregnant woman can wear whatever the freak she wants. She's earned that right for what she is enduring and what she is about to endure. Plus, M.I.A.'s "important parts" were strategically covered with the polka dots. I also loved that she completed her look with a pair of fresh white $54.11's and bright yellow nail polish (I always adore an unexpected pop of color).

Of course, M.I.A. is an artist and known for her sorta avante garde style - preggo or not. But even I hope to keep my personal style up while I'm carrying (when and if that day ever comes). Sure certain items don't fit the same, but I love to see women add their own personal spin to their maternity garb. I'm thinking you're probably already uncomfortable, maybe not feeling your prettiest... why not let your clothes express your individual taste up until the very end? Layer a funky accessory or two with that Pea in the Pod gear every now and again. Who says that one needs to start wearing muumuus the moment that little wand reads positive?

So what does my PPT fam think? Am I tripping? Leave me a comment and let me know. For the mothers who are reading, did your style completely change when you were carrying? Why or why not? Oh and Big C, since you actually saw the outfit up close, I really want your opinion.

By the way, Henry Holland is a British designer and reportedly debuted M.I.A.'s Grammy look on the runway during the shows at London Fashion Week last fall. Y'all know I dig those Brits!

Black Men Need Sweet Potato Pies

2009-02-09T04:34:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday cyberfam! So much I’m itching to blog about this week: I went to the best bridal shower of my life yesterday, I finally found the perfect Freakum’ Dress and I am getting the scoop on the best places to score a fab cocktail ring. It’s all coming up soon so stay tuned….

But on this beautiful Monday morning, I had to get a story off my chest that I’ve been thinking about a whole lot lately. And it has nothing to do with "style" in the traditional sense. But, I’ve been wanting to share this conversation I had with my mother some years ago for a minute and that desire has increased since Barack Obama became President. And then last night when I learned of the allegations against singer Chris Brown involving songstress Rihanna, I knew I had to post it. (Please read this to get my thoughts on Black women and domestic violence.) It might take me a minute to get to the point of this but stay with me please, there is a definite jewel at the end of this (kinda long) story.

About seven years ago, a friend and I were discussing being away at college in my kitchen while my mother cooked. I joked that although my mother sent food to my brother while he was away at college, I never remember her doing the same for me. It was one of those moments when I was joking, but not really joking. I proceeded to share with my friend all about how my mother would bake sweet potato pies from scratch, freeze them and overnight them to Virginia from New York and how my brother and his buddies in his dorm would inhale them in less than 48 hours of receipt.

Now while circumstances were indeed different when I went away to college (I didn’t live in a traditional dorm and had access to a full kitchen so I could always cook when I didn’t want the café food, I wasn’t as far away as my bro was, etc.) I still felt some kinda way about not getting those pies overnighted to me like my big bro did. My mother being the type of mother she is could sense this and politely said to me, "One day when you have a son of your own you’ll understand."

I didn’t get what she meant by that until a few years later. But when I did finally get it, it was like someone dropped a piano on my foot. The world, yes even with Barack Obama being President, has a way of putting Black men through the wringer. Really, through the ringer. And no I’m not claiming that all Black men are created equal because in my opinion, they are not. For every Barack Obama there is a shiftless, non-child support paying dude who thinks the world owes him something. Please understand that I realize this. But there are also a lot of Black men who have unfortunately never been told their worth. Never been introduced to the likes of Thurgood Marshall or Vivien Thomas or even Floyd Flake. And so when you’re only shown negative images of yourself, constantly at that, you typically start to believe them. See, now I understand how homemade sweet potato pies help to balance that a whole lot. They let you know that someone is rooting for you. That someone has your back unconditionally and is supporting you and your dreams and aspirations. As a woman, I am now usually able to tell when a man has had someone bake sweet potato pies for them at some point in their lives. It isn’t always their mother either. It might be a grandmother (I think that was the case for Barack), it might be an aunt or grandmother, it might even be a teacher.

There is an old adage that goes something like "Black women raise their daughters and love their sons." On the surface, some might think that is what I’m reinforcing in this blog post. But it so isn’t. On the contrary, I hope that folks see I’m saying it is even more important that we encourage Black men to get and keep their ish together. Sweet potato pies, to me, can actually help to do that. These pies can be in the form of genuine encouragement, a hug or a smile. I’ve had situations occur with my brother, male amigos and Mr. TK of walking into a "posh" hoity toity boutique to know that they experience ish I don’t even think twice about, even as a Black woman. (By the way, for every time that my mom baked a sweet potato pie for my bro, my father was going in on my brother and riding him about something. Trust. But that’s a whole ‘notha post for another day…)

My mother has actually been sharing her wisdom on life with me over food for a while now, perhaps that is a southern thing. Mom, thanks for the love and the lessons, as always. Now, can you teach me how to bake a sweet potato pie?

Cute Cocktails

2009-02-08T04:27:00.000-08:00

So, while I was down in the "urea" for Inauguration Weekend, several of my peeps gathered for a celebratory brunch at our friend's new house in northern Virginia. I've been friends with these folks for forever and we always have a ball when we get together. Isn't it great to be around people that you can TOTALLY be yourself with and vice versa? But since life (mostly careers) has us pulled in such different directions, we can't get together as often as we would like. We had a great time reminiscing on college road trips, sharing dreams about life ahead and of course breaking bread. We were so proud of ourselves for the huge spread that was prepared. Tress, we couldn't have pulled it off without your warm maple syrup, LOL. Everyone chipped in and I'm confident that B. Smith and Martha S. would have been proud. The hostess even garnished most of the dishes with fresh parsley (numerous jokes proceeded).

My contribution to the brunch was a signature cocktail. Funny since I probably drink the least out of the crew. I was too excited about this lil' "drank". I got suggestions from the sales guy at the liquor store for my Obamatini (I insisted that it be blue) and here's what I ended up getting:

Blue Curacao (one part)
Cranberry flavored vodka (one part)
Tonic water (a splash or two)
*Use a martini shaker to mix and chill the beverages.

Mr. TK helped me prepare the cocktails which eneded up being kinda strong (funny since he drinks even less than me). We quickly figured out that we had to add a little more water for most people's taste. It could have been that everyone was also drinking mimosas... I also garnished the drinks with pineapple chunks (very pretty). And drumroll: Everyone loved my Obamatini! We toasted to our new prez and positive change and the entire shindig was pretty daggone fabulous. We totally planned it at the last minute but I've learned that those are the times I tend to have the most fun.

Have you ever created a signature cocktail? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!

BTW - The above pic is not of my Obamatini. I forgot to take a picture of it so I just used this pretty cosmo to give you a "feeling" instead.

Oh and one more thing, be sure to check out my girl Cynthia's recent blog post about folks mean muggin' Prez Obama on his office attire. Seems as though many are claiming he's a bit too casual for the Oval Office. Oy vey. I think it's all quite ridiculous. What about you? Leave me a comment on this too please.

I Finally Got Minxed! (And My Nails Will Never Be The Same.)

2009-02-04T04:32:00.000-08:00

Although it now seems like it was decades ago, I recently traveled to Washington D.C. for Inuaguration Weekend. I had to return to work Tuesday so I missed the swearing in but I was determined to take in at least some of the energy in the District for my new prez. Plus, I got to spend lots of QT with Mr. TK. And don't go feeling sorry for me, lots of folks don't have jobs now that need them so I tried not to complain about having to return a day early. I'm so glad I followed my gut and went for the abbreviated trip. (More on that in the next post.)

Anyhoo, in preparation for my getaway, I got MINXED! (see pics below) The fabulous manicurist to the stars, Lisa Logan, wanted to hook me up for the festivities and who am I to turn down such a sweet perk? Lisa figured giving me the MINX treatment was a good way to show off her work to some new potential clients. And boy, she was so right! I received compliments from a jillion people on the Gold Lightening MINX she applied to my nails. (They sorta looked like shimmering coins on my fingertips and became a real conversation starter.) But when folks saw Obama's face on my thumb, they darn near lost it! Different races, ages, income levels - you name it, everyone had something (good) to say. In hindsight, I think folks in D.C. were high on Obama love that weekend. LOL The best compliment probably came from Jesse Jackson, Jr. who I bumped into at a brunch honoring Hill Harper, Kerry Washington and others for their contributions to Obama's campaign. JJ Jr. literally stopped me and gave a thumbs up after he peeped my tricked out Obama nail. Who woulda thunk it?

I have to admit that my MINX were very delicate; I wished they lasted a bit longer. But I kept them for a week and that is pretty standard for a basic manicure. I would certainly get them (and pay) again for a special occasion. However I don't think they are too practical for a working gal like me who washes dishes regularly. And I highly doubt I'll get someone's face on my nails again but it was a fun thing to do once, especially with the President.

Are you based in the NYC area and interested in getting the MINX treatment for yourself? Leave me a comment and I'll put you in touch with Lisa.

CALLING ALL DESIGNERS!

2009-02-03T05:05:00.000-08:00

So, this isn't a real post but I couldn't let another day past without spreading this info (been meaning to since last week). It just might help put the next Tracy Reese or Ozwald Boateng on the map!

As appeared in WWD:

What: Bloomingdale's is hosting their FIRST EVER Designer Open-See for Women's Ready-to-Wear and Accessories

When: Noon until 4pm starting this Friday, February 6th (And every first Friday of each month going forward: March 6th, April 3rd, May 1st...)

Where: Bloomies Fashion Office - 155 East 60th Street, 11th floor
***Designers will be seen on a first come, first serve basis so I suggest showing up around 10am. When Bendel's does their similiar open-see, folks show up hella early!

Please call 212.705.3437 for more info.

It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times

2009-01-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

This was an interesting week for me. I made a couple of mini-power moves that I'm proud of. Getting a little closer to a much larger goal I have. And I'm still high on the fact that Barack Obama is my president and that he and his beautiful family are living in the White House. I really am. But I realize that, as Q so eloquently pointed out in her recent blog post, the work has only just begun. Which leads me to the down side of this week. I found out that 7 people I know were laid off from their jobs. SEVEN. That is bananas. And then someone very near and dear to me received some unfortunate news about their health. What a week it was.

I also found out that one of my fave mags is folding as of their March 2009 issue. Now, I'll admit that I never had a subscription to Domino (it's been on my to-do list for about a year though) and I didn't even buy it that regularly. But whenever I did, something in it put a smile on my face. And I will miss it. The last page of every issue of this cool shelter mag listed the ten things that made some hip mover and shaker happy. One of my favorites was when VIBE magazine EIC Danyel Smith was profiled. (She's a fan of lemon water, too.) So, in honor of the soon-to-be defunct Domino, I decided to post my personal list. I might not be a hip mover and shaker to Conde Nast, but I really dig this stuff and think you will too.

Oh and before I start, the point of this post is to remind us all that despite what craziness is going on in our lives, there is always something to be happy about. ALWAYS. My father often used to tell my brother and I this (probably after we complained about not having some silly toy): I used to complain about not having new shoes until I met a man with no feet. Now that didn't mean very much to my adolescent ears at the time, but like so much of the wisdom my father bestowed upon me as I child, I am very appreciative of those words now.

Without further ado, here are 10 Things (And People and Places) That Make Me Happy (in no particular order). Recession and all.

1 - Smythson of Bond Street Stiletto Note Cards
I've blogged about these before. But I had to include them because they're just that fly. Writing and sending handwritten notes in this digital age is refreshing. And the red high heels are sexy (but tasteful). I save my pennies for these because I think they're worth it and they've become a trademark of mine.

2 - This is the first piece of "adult" furniture I purchased for myself and I'm quite proud of it. Still. There's nothing like the first, right? I like to sit on it and write in my journals or read the Style section of the New York Times on Sunday. And I got it at Macy's! Don't sleep on their furniture.

3 - Taking a shower in the dark with just the light of a scented candle is heavenly. It really is something to write home about I tell you. I like to pretend I'm back at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami when I do this, by far my best spa experience.(If your bathroom is large, you might need a couple of candles.)

4 - Drinking out of my purple martini glasses is always a quick pick-me-upper. I'm not a big drinker but my good friend Tamara gave me the glasses so they're quite special to me. I usually drink iced tea or cranberry juice out of them. I found these similiar ones at amazon.com

5 - Dancing in front of the mirror in my living room. This is one of my guilty pleasures. It has helped me get over everything from drama at work to a broken heart. I turn up the tunes in my apartment as loud as my neighbors can stand it and dance my little heart out in front of this huge mirror behind my couch. The best things in life really are free.

6 - Playing hand games with my 6 and 8 year old nieces fills my heart like nothing else in this world. "East, west, I met my friend at the candy store, she bought me ice cream she bought me cake..." Let's do it again, Auntie B! They get such a kick out of it and so do I.

7 - Getting together with my family, eating food and talking ish about everything under the sun. The last time this happen was Christmas. I love my family and we have so many great memories and I look forward to creating new ones. It doesn't take a lot of money for us to have a good time together. I used to take this for granted but now I know how blessed I am to have them.

8 - One of my favorite things to do in NYC is eating at Fred's. Located in Barneys New York (the flagship store on Madison), one would think it is stuffy but it isn't. I like to sneak in there by myself from time to time to eat and people watch after window-shopping. I never spend more than twenty-five bucks on my meal either.

9 - Kai Perfume Oil
I've blogged about Kai before too. I guess I'm pretty brand loyal, huh? Kai has a sweet and light scent that I love. It's an oil and not alcohol based like so many popular fragances. I can't really stomach the smell of alcohol in perfumes.

10 - Over the last couple of years, I've become a huge fan of dresses. They are such a no-brainer. My all-time favorite dress is a Levi's denim number I picked up in Chicago over seven years ago. (And I'm still rocking it.) I always receive loads of compliments on it but even if I didn't, I love it because of the unique details (it's longer in the front than it is in the back) and it is a rare item that looks just as good with kicks like my Air Riffs as it does with shoes. (This pic is so not doing my dress justice.)

What people, places and things make you happy?

Just My Size

2009-01-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Hump Day!

So my home computer was acting real funky this morning. (Picture me looking very sad.) My real post will be up tonight. In the meantime, check out this fun lil' something I put together for the main gig. Click here to see the gallery.

I dished on the style tips of folks like rapper turner actress Latifah and more!

It's full of tips, tricks and informative info about dressing for your size -- whether you're shaped like Queen Latifah or Jada Pinkett Smith. Check it out and leave a comment here or there telling me what you think.

Have a good one~
Bsquared

What Michelle Obama Owes You

2009-01-26T04:42:00.000-08:00

Absotively nothing.

However, some folks of the Black Artists Association seems to think otherwise. The group is livid that our First Lady has not notably worn anything by Black fashion designers. BAA cofounder and former model Amnau Eele said she will make a formal appeal to the First Lady's office regarding her outrage. "It's fine and good if you want to be all 'Kumbaya' and 'We Are The World' by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B. Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other Black designers do something too?" Eele told Women's Wear Daily last week. Eele added, "She [Obama] had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn't she wearing the clothes of a Black designer? That was out moment."

First Lady Michelle Obama rocking a Maria Pinto frock.

Sigh. I guess I better get used to this. For the next eight years (yep, EIGHT years), the Obamas will be placed under an enormous amount of pressure to "represent". I really think our First Lady's fashion choices are a matter of a tree simply being a tree, for the most part. She also appears to be a creature of habit, sticking to the folks she knows. Maria Pinto is a prime example. Quite frankly, I was happy to learn she was wearing Jason Wu because he wasn't really on anyone's radar for her to wear. Oscar (de la Renta) would have been kinda predictable as would Pinto have been at this point. She likes to keep folks guessing and the fact that he is only freakin 26 years old was a plus for me too! Yay for the underdog. Now, are there Black designers I'd like to see Michelle wear? Of course! I've already mentioned that Edward Wilkerson of Lafayette 148 would have Michelle even more smashing. He's a beast. And since she seems to favor flirty print dresses for day, Tracy Reese should certainly be a staple in her wardrobe. Because she is nearly 6 feet tall, I imagine that she wears at least a size 11 shoe. Samanta would be a great footwear choice for her since they offer stylish heels, strappy sandals and sophisticated stilletos for women who don't wear a standard size 8.

And we also don't know if Michelle's people actually reached out to any Black designers or not. I believe I'll hold on and see what the end will be. Let's give the woman a chance already before we start publicly pouting to reporters at WWD.

What do you think? Are the folks of the BAA being too critical or do you agree with their beef? Leave me a comment and let me know.

UPDATE: B. Michael tells the BAA not to speak on his behalf.

UPDATE #2: Eele defends herself on ESSENCE.com.

People, this is exhausting.

The Beauty of Olive Oil

2009-01-23T04:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Today I felt like exploring a topic I seem to be covering a bit more here on PPT: beauty. But, I specifically want to share a hair secret I discovered a few weeks ago courtesy of my hair stylist, Vikki of the Styles Salon in NYC. Vikki is superb with short, relaxed cuts and can really work a flat iron. She also doesn't try to slap a relaxer in my hair every 3 weeks which I can really appreciate.

Well, since my hair/scalp can get dry and I now have a relaxer again for the first time in 8 years, I decided it might be a good idea to get a hot oil treatment. I don't want my hair to break for lack of proper maintenance. (Remember ladies, a hair stylist can only do so much.) So I asked Vikki if I should get one during my next visit. She instucted me to saturate my hair with oilve oil the night before my next visit and keeping my hair covered (I use a scarf and then a head wrap) until I arrive to the salon for a shampoo the next day. Since I only use extra virgin olive oil for cooking, this is what I use in my hair as well. Now, call me a sucker but I thought this was genuis. While I've used olive oil in my hair before, especially when it was natural, I'd never thought of it as an overnight remedy for my parched strands. And best of all, it is cost effective as hot oil treatments can run upwards of $25 bucks in most salons. How many stylists pass up money nowadays??? The ones who really care about their clients and their hair do I guess...

And before I go, I must confess that I was a shampoo girl one summer while in college. What an experience that was. Between listening to man drama and getting the scoop on sales (the salon was located in a mall), I picked up a few handy hair care tips that I still use today. One nifty one being that you can apply an oil (again, I say use EVOO) to your scalp and roots for a hot oil treatment AND add a creamy conditioner to your hair stimutaneously. The trick is to add the oil first and try not to let the creamy conditioner overlap with the oil until the end of the process. Cover with a shower cap (aluminum foil or saran wrap work too) for a deep penetrating treatment (about 30 minutes or so depending on the length and thickness of your tresses) and then rinse. The combination will leave your strands ultra-moisturized and super soft!

P.S. - Vikki has no idea I'm bigging her up. I only did so because I think she shared a jewel with me and I wanted to pass on the love.

P.P.S. - I know some folks also use avocados and mayo, even beer to condition their hair. I can't co-sign on those though, sorry. However, if you have a DIY hair tip that invloves a kitchen staple like EVOO to share, please do so in the comments section. I will use them for a later post!

What We Can All Learn From Malia and Sasha: Living Within Our Means

2009-01-21T03:45:00.000-08:00

I'm still overjoyed and sorta numb right now so forgive me. I will post more about my new president and what he, his wife and two adorable daughters means to me on a personal level another time. Right now, I wanna get into practical matters: spending.

As all the world watched the inuaguration yesterday, many of us were waiting with baited breath to see what Michelle, Malia and Sasha would be wearing. Don't front, if you're reading this blog, you were probably one of those people. What? Are you thinking that it seems frivilous to blog about fashion after such a historic day? Well, keep reading.

Malia and Sasha were wearing J.Crew for their father's big day. Yep, J.Crew - that store you can basically find in any mall or on any Main Street, USA. (I must add that their looks might have been "budget" but they were very high on style.) I am even more grateful to Barack and Michelle for what I know is the beginning of a major shift in values throughout this country. Now everything is relative so I understand that for some people, J.Crew might be considered "high-end". But, in context folks - Malia and Sasha had EVERY major designer label throwing dresses at them - it is certainly budget. Trust me, I interned and freelanced at a childrenswear trade magazine and I am well aware of the types of clothes the Obama girls had access to. I'm talking the kind of stuff that can be found in Bergdorf Goodman or Barneys New York. I think a conscious decision was made to have Malia and Sasha wear J.Crew.

People, a very clear message is being sent here: We must start and/or continue to LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS! While Malia and Sasha didn't have on couture yesterday, I guarantee that they will both have their homework in school today. I am willing to bet (if I was a betting woman) that they will even make up the work that they missed in school yesterday. My mother pointed out to me that although there is hired staff to wait on them hand and foot in the White House, Michelle insists that the girls will still have chores (Michelle wants them to continue to make their own beds.). I've mentioned this here before, but prioritizing when we spend (especially for our children) is so important and I'm estatic that the First Family is leading by example.

When we instill these types of values into our youth, it prevents them from spending their rent or mortgage money on a Gucci purse later in life. Or, blowing 40k on a wedding without having a 6-9 month emergency cushion saved first. As President Obama (I love the ring of that) mentioned in his eloquent speech, the days of spend now, figure it out later are over. That is part of the reason we are in the mortgage crisis we're in now. Sacrifices might need to be made so perhaps Junior can't get those new Jordans this month after all. Instead of sulking about that though, let's make sure Junior can go to college debt-free. And I must add that I am in no way in a perfect financial state myself. I certainly have work to do in order to get where I would like to be financially. But thankfully, I can now look to my new First Lady for guidance in this department. (I wonder if that would have happened with Cindy McCain...)

Yep, change is here. (And I love it!)

Your Chocolate City To-Do List

2009-01-16T04:27:00.001-08:00

With the Obamas in the White House, D.C's monkier CHOCOLATE CITY will have even greater meaning. For the next few days, the weather is scheduled to be frigid, the crowds upwards of 4 mil (yikes!) - I'm exhausted already. There are a gazillion sites/blogs listing parties and "official" events that are supposed to be happening in the District but below are a few people, places and things that I doubt you'll read or hear about anywhere else. You're welcome.

LETTIE GOOCH - An adorable boutique that carries vintage and one of a kind pieces for those who like to stand out a bit in the crowd. Y'all know everyone is going to head to BCBG for a last minute dress, so keep this quaint shopping destination in mind if you need to find a unique gem at the 11th hour. Plus, while all of D.C. will be excellent for people watching this weekend, U Street, where Lettie Gooch is located, has a bustling scene year-round. Visit the site here.

SOUL DAY SPA - My girls and I had a pamper day here a couple years ago for my dear friend Cocoa before she headed off to fight Bush's war. Well, thanks be to God that Cocoa is back and Soul Day Spa has become a fave spot of hers. This full-service spa will be an excellent choice for someone who wants to get a quick massage (their hot stone is awesome) or body treatment after hours of dancing and walking. But Soul also has a salon with hair stylists that can really flip the strands on women of color. (Extra bonus: The owner is a former attorney who got tired of the corporate BS and decided to do her own thing. Don't we love those stories?) Visit the site here.

FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS - Pretty much every decent restaurant in the District and surrounding areas will be packed this weekend. I tried to make a reservation at Bodega (love this place) and they are booked solid until Wednesday, January 21st! If you desire a nutrious and tasty meal during your stay in the DMV area without all the hoopla, check out personal chef Tianna Feaster. Her company Feast Your Eyes On This supplies busy professionals specially prepared meals to their liking and can even hand deliver them. Word is the crab cakes are delish. Visit her site here.

Oh if you decided to head down to the Inuaguration at the last minute, there might still be availability in D.C. Again, tell 'em Bsquared sent ya.

· 2BR semi-furnished apartment available for rent in the heart of Washington, D.C.

· 5 minutes from two Metro stations

· 10 minutes (driving/train) from the National Mall

· Includes 2 Smart Trip Cards (Metro Cards) and a useful information packet on what to do, see, eat, etc. in the District during Inaugural Weekend

*** $400 per night or $1500 for a week***

For more information call: 202.487.9439.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!

Mascara and Men

2009-01-14T03:32:00.000-08:00

The other night, I was heading out with a friend and because we were rushing (I'm always rushing) I had to put on my make-up in the cab. Make-up for me consist of lip gloss, a little blush that reads like bronzer/highlighter on my dark skin and mascara. Oh and I have to fill-in my brows as well because they're so sparse. So I save the mascara application for last since I know it will be the most challenging to apply due to our cabby's defensive driving. Although I dig and dig through my huge purse, I can't find my mascara at all. I'm annoyed. Very annoyed. My friend offers me hers with this disclaimer: "I know you're one of those people who doesn't share mascara but if you don't mind you're free to use mine. It's really good." [PPT NOTE: It is so unsanitary to use someone else's mascara.] I say, it's cool (said friend is my authority on all things beauty) as I reach for her bottle. Hey, I'm not perfect and it's not like I'm making a habit of doing such things. Sue me.

Anyway, I quickly realize that it was destiny for me not to find my mascara. As soon as I brush on her Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara, I know my life has changed. Ladies, this stuff is the truth. My lashes were immediately transformed into long, thick extentions of my eyelids and actually made me reminisce on the time I had my individual lashes done by some fancy smancy make-up artist for a beauty story. I think it has something to do with the round brush. Whatever it is, I'm telling ya, this stuff is worth every bit of the 14 bucks it costs. I couldn't wait to bat my eyes! What is crazier is they sorta reminded me of my brother's eyelashes. Confession: I've always been jealous of my brother's teeth (they're perfect), eyebrows and eyelashes. Mr. TK's lashes are pretty long and full too. It's like a gender role reversal or something... Anyway, I have learned that a lot of women pine over the lashes of the men in their lives and say things like, "It's not fair! I should have those." Well, after investing in this Clinique mascara chicas, you won't have to utter such words again.

On a totally different note, I know many of you are heading to D.C. this weekend/next week for Obama's coming out party. I'm also looking forward to it as a good riddens fiesta for Bush. Anyhoo, I will be posting on the people, places and things to do off the beaten path in the District on Friday so be sure to check back for that. In the meantime, if you or someone you know still wants to attend this historic event but doesn't have a place to stay (I have friends that booked rooms in July!) don't fret. Read the info below and make it happen. (When calling, mention that you were referred by Bsquared.)

· 2BR semi-furnished apartment available for rent in the heart of Washington, D.C.

· 5 minutes from two Metro stations

· 10 minutes (driving/train) from the National Mall

· Includes 2 Smart Trip Cards (Metro Cards) and a useful information packet on what to do, see, eat, etc. in the District during Inaugural Weekend

*** $400 per night or $1500 for a week***

For more information call: 202.487.9439.

Golden Globe Glamour (less)

2009-01-12T03:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday. It is 2009 and time to step things up. Is this New Year’s Resolution residue resurfacing? Nah. Last week I received this email from a colleague:

So I'm reading your blog...admittedly I haven't read it in a minute due to your non-daily updates! ;) (Don't be offended, but if I really love a blog that doesn't update daily, I get frustrated and tend to not visit every day. Don't hate me, but it's the truth!)

Ouch. I had no choice but to respond to Paula with a "You’re right. I’ll post more often" response. No need for shoulda, coulda, wouldas.

So because of Paula’s kick in the tush, I will be posting three times a week as of today. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, I will make it my business to update PPT. Period. Now, most of the posts probably won’t be as long as they have been but shucks, I think that might actually be a good thing. And hey, I might even post more often if the mood hits me, I can’t get too robotic on here after all, but three times a week is the minimum for my posts going forward.

2009 is gonna be a-okay. I can feel the growth already and we’re only 12 days in. So, on with today’s post.

Jenny from the block lights up the red carpet.

I admittedly didn’t get into the red carpet hoopla for the Golden Globes this year (I was on the phone catching up with the real friends in my life) but I did manage to steal a few glimpses of a couple of gowns that made me do a double take. I was particularly feeling all the one-shoulder numbers that popped up this year. Wasn’t a big fan of Beyonce’s gown as it seemed ill-fitting to me but her make-up was flawless. Lots of folks clowned Jennifer Lopez’s plunging gold metallic gown but I quite liked it. It provided a wow-factor that was generally missing this year. Hey, Jennifer is a Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx with a sick body, she’s gonna bring the fire regardless of what her stylists "suggest" she wear. Gotta love her for that.
Bouncy's hip hugging gown and pretty nude makeup.

Of the looks I did see, both on-air and online, I think I am most impressed by Maggie Gyllenhaal’s leopard print, belted one-shoulder gown by Lanvin. I hope this dress has pockets too, I couldn't tell from the pics I saw. I might be the minority on this as some press are already dogging her choice this year. I happen to love the flouncy one-shoulder detail and have been inspired by it for an upcoming black-tie event I might be attending soon. For my shindig, I would like to see the top of this dress recreated into a blouse, paired with a super wide-leg, high waisted black pant and black patent leather pumps. A long, sleek clutch in red or yellow along with chunky gold vintage jewelry complete the look. Perhaps I can find all those elements in time for my possible event but chances are slim to none as I don’t have much time. (I’ll let you know how that turns out.) Whatever get-up I do end up donning, I hope to pair it with my black motorcylce jacket as I mentioned here. Regardless, Maggie's dress is bound to be an inspiration for something I end up rocking in the near future, I already have three weddings to attend this year and it is only January… Thanks Maggie!

What awards shows are you looking forward to and who do you usually rely on to bring it while on the red carpet?

Lanvin: from runway to red carpet...

P.S. - This is embarassingly late so I apologize but R.I.P to Oscar Grant. Maybe subconsciously I was hoping it was a bad dream. UPDATE: R.I.P. to Adolph Grimes III as well. *SMH* This ish here MUST stop!

French Connection: Chillin' with Catherine (Malandrino) Plus a Les Nubians Performance (sorta)!

2009-01-11T10:39:00.001-08:00

Hey, hey, hey! I had a "fashionable" evening Friday and I’m still kinda gitty about it. My coworker Eddy and I went to a party at Catherine Malandrino’s boutique in NYC’s Meatpacking district. I've crushed on Malandrino here before and nothing has changed. I still adore her ultra-feminine frocks with intricate details. So when Eddy asked me to join her for Friday night's event, I was all in. It worked out perfectly too since I had a birthday shindig to attend that was also downtown but didn't start until 10pm.

Not that I needed another excuse to pine over the clothes at the Catherine Malandrino boutique, but in addition to free booze, there was scheduled to be a perfermance by Celia Faussart of Les Nubians. Remember them? Very talented chicks that stayed somewhat below the radar in the States but the idea of hearing Celia sing in an intimate setting with live musicians was even more reason to go. She did her thing too and has a great band. The saxophone player can really blow!

Celia after her performance. Aren't we feeling the flowers in her hair?

Well, Eddy and I had a ball. Her fiance joined us and was sweet enough to take the pics you see below. Lola Ogunnaike was also in the house. That's her with Eddy on the right. After the perforamce we chatted with Celia and learned that she's raising her kids in Brooklyn, USA now and appreciates living in NYC since she doesn't drive. She assured us that she and her sister haven't broken up but rather are taking an unofficial hiatus.

We also met Catherine that night. She's cool as a fan. I was practically stuttering while telling her how much I admire her work. Very humble and gracious she was. She's such a talented designer and I've been a fan ever since she held her Spring 2002 runway show at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Yep, she made all those hoity-toity buyers and editors trek to 125th Street to view her collection. HA! She also chills with Mary J. Blige on a regular. Gotta love it. Trust me, I'm privy to a whole lotta PR gimmicks and folks exploiting culture of the African Diaspora solely for their own financial gain but I really believe Catherine is sincere and what you see is what you get.

Now if I could just afford to get her clothes at retail... LOL!

(L to R:) Me, Celia and Eddy cheesin' for the camera.

(L to R:) Me, Celia, Catherine and Eddy

My Top 8 People, Places and Things of 2008

2009-01-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

So uh, yeah, this is a lil' late. My bad, ish happens. Regardless, I'm quite interested to know what you guys agree and disagree with so please leave me a comment with your two cents. This post wouldn't be complete without acknowledging a few of the dope (and not so dope) things 2008 meant to me personally. I finally made that trip to South Africa (Maybe I will actually upload those pics in '09?), spent a glorious day solo in the Everglades and made significant strides in my career (it's all about the plan). I also lost a couple of family members (RIP David and Darryl), gained a new one (Welcome Khloe!) and learned what it really means to forgive someone and to be forgiven. While PPT is far from what I want it to be and know that it can be; it's like me, a work in progress.

So, here are the things that were on my radar in 2008:

HAIR: Keri Hilson, Victoria Beckham and Janelle Monae get my award for maintaining the hottest tresses in 2008. Keri's modern day 70's flip with blonde accents kept me interested when I became bored when everyone else was sweating Rihanna's strands. Victoria Beckham got shorty again the way only she can. And Miss Janelle brought back the French roll! I love French rolls and have been waiting for their return. Plus, Janelle is as cute as a button (Her skin is FLAWLESS!) and I like that she wears her naturally curly hair in a style we've really only seen on straight hair.

Hilson kept a fresh do in '08.

Monae rocking her updated version of the French roll.

FASHION: Michelle "I know I've been sweating her all year" Obama. No real explanation here. She's the epitome of fly to me. Even when she rocks something I don't necessarily get, I love her style. I guess if I had to choose my favorite look from her last year it would be the purple shift dress and the black patent belt worn during the now infamous "fist bump". Michelle was killing 'em that night! Our soon to be First Lady is this blog's tagline "Style goes way beyond clothes" personified.

Purple Power

MUSIC: About 75% of the music I listen to was released at least 10 years ago. All the more reason for me to be excited about Jazmine Sullivan's "official" debut in 2008. My homie Tress put me on to Jazmine a few years back and I was instantly a fan based on her rendition of Resentment. I had the opportunity to meet the Philly songstress last year, right before her album dropped, and she was such a sweetie. Oh and all those Grammy nominations she snagged? Lovin' it.

FILM: I'm not a big movie goer and in fact my friends clown me about all the flicks I haven't seen. But I, along with most of the world, got super excited about the Sex and the City movie. I know it got a whole lotta hype that many would argue it didn't quite live up to. However, what I appreciate the most about the film was that it crushed so many stereotypes and predictions about women not turning up in big numbers at the theater. Yeah, I tend to root for the underdog.

ECONOMY: The word recessionista replaced fashionista in 2008 and for good reason. Ish hit the fan. Between the bailouts, the layoffs and the crazy oil prices, it was a bumpy ride for all of us. I've been blessed to stay afloat financially for the most part but I've altered my spending habits and focused more on what really matters to me.

THE REAL (AND NOT SO REAL) SOCIALITE: Bravo's reality series The Real Housewives of Atlanta struck gold for the network, breaking records and getting a second season. But the five women left many wondering how "fabulous" their lives really were when the cameras were off... Maggie Betts on the other hand became a presence on the mainstream front (she's been a fixture in NYC society circles) and unlike Genevieve Jones... Well, I'm not gonna go there. It seems kinda silly to boast about Betts coming from a wealthy and "connected" family when folks are b-r-o-k-e. My point is simply that she was "that girl" in 2008 for the fashion and media crowd.

Betts out and about.

BLACK IS BACK (Hopefully to stay this time.): The All Black Vogue Italia had me and most of you reading this going nuts! Again, I give most of the credit for this to Bethann Hardison for fearlessly getting the conversation started about the lack of Black models on the runway back in 2007.

And last but certainly not least (insert drumroll here)... BARACK OBAMA. Yes. He. Did. Not too much to say about this man that hasn't already been said. I am grateful that in addition to donating to his campaign and making phone calls to folks in PA among other things, I was able to use PPT as a platform to encourage people to vote last November. That is a beautiful thing. But the journey has just begun and there is a lot of work to do. For all of us to do. Looking forward to what 2009 will bring and hope you are too!

MR. PRESIDENT

One to Watch: Baltimore's Rye Rye

2009-01-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS! I can't believe how quickly 2008 passed us by but I find myself saying that every January 1st about the previous year. 2009 is here and time waits for no man.

Earlier this week I caught up on my WWD reading from the week before since I was out of town. To my pleasant surprise I saw a young brown girl on the cover of the 12.23.08 issue (see below) when I retrieved my mail. Trust me, this doesn't happen very often. Turns out the cover girl is rapper Ryeisha Berrain aka Rye Rye. Miss Rye Rye, 18, hails from Baltimore, Maryland and is actually a protege of British import M.I.A. Rye Rye is the first artist signed to M.I.A.'s Interscope imprint label, N.E.E.T. Kinda cool, right?

Well, as I read on, I learn that Rye Rye has already appeared on a track called Shake It To The Ground which became an underground Baltimore club anthem and MySpace sensation. I have to admit I've only listened to that song and she's no MC Lyte but my interest is peaked because although Rye Rye is a rapper, she might finally bring the Baltimore club sound to the masses if she blows up. I attended college in Maryland for a minute before transferring to F.I.T. and was introduced to Bmore club music and the jaw dropping dancing that goes along with it. (Shout out to anyone reading this who ever went to Hammerjacks in the late 1990's. CRAZY!) It was much faster than the club music I was used to and reminded me of techno, in a good way. Anyhoo, Rye Rye has M.I.A. cosigning for her so I have high hopes.

Apparently the fashion industry has high hopes for Rye Rye as well. In her WWD spread, she rocked everything from American Apparel to Custo Barcelona. Thanks to M.I.A., Rye Rye is up on designers like Jeremy Scott and goes on shopping sprees at Topshop. She often even makes her own clothes according to WWD. And I'm digging her rainbow hued hair (but girls in Bmore were always left with their hair) because it is refreshing in the music industry's sea of copycat locks. Right now it is too early for me to tell whether this Bmore b-girl is a true creative stylista or just a new artist being heavily styled to fit a marketing plan. It's probably a little of both. Still, I am excited about a young lady on the come up in hip-hop who is (seemingly) relying on lyrical skills (plus fancy footwork) and not using t&a to get on.

Stay tuned.

I'm posting my 'Best of 2008' list next!

Getting To Know YOU

2008-12-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day, 2006 - Exactly 10 days after the biggest breakup of my then 29-year-old life. This has become one of my fave pics of myself. (Overbite and all, lol.)

A few weeks ago, I blogged about my eventful evening with Diane von Furstenberg. In this post, I mentioned what I think is a profound piece of advice from Diane:

Have a really good relationship with yourself.

I've been thinking about that quote a lot since I posted it here. Like most of you, the end of the year is a time for reflection and planning/setting goals for the coming year. Also, the domino effect of our grim worldwide economy has truly started to kick in. Several people I know have been laid off from their jobs recently, most companies had minimal to no bonuses for their employees this year and corporate holiday fiestas were basically non-exsistent.

What does this have to do with Diane's quote you're wondering? A whole lot. We put so much focus on our jobs (Note the difference between a job and a career - you can never be fired/laid off from a career.), our relationships and yes even our families that we too often forget the one guaranteed constant in our lives is always us. We must stop giving all our power to others. Jobs come and go. Sure, most of us have to work to eat and provide for ourselves and our families. But we can redefine what "work" is and recognize that our skills and gifts can be applied to more than one thing or place. We say things like, Oooh, he lost his good job at the bank and he and his wife just bought that new house. I feel so sorry for them. Let's change this mindset. Think of all the people who started successful, groundbreaking businesses after they got fired.

Sadly, significant others, spouses and family members can come and go too. That sentence might seem surprising coming from me as I'm always raving about the importance of family. But guess what? Marriages don't always last. I witnessed my mother become a widow when she was still fairly young. But she didn't wither away and become some shrinking violet. She lived and continues to live out her dreams like purchasing a home, traveling the world (she just informed me of her latest big excursion this week) and creating the type of life she wants for herself. Many of the things I've witnessed my mother accomplish solo are things I know she discussed doing with my dad but she has continued to roll with the punches. Ladies, (I hear women say this much more than the fellas) be careful of professing things like I'm nothing without you to your husband or boyfriend because you might actually start to believe it.

Children shouldn't dictate happiness or a total sense of purpose either. No matter how many Oprah episodes you watch and Dr. Spock books you read, children do disappoint their parents. (And sometimes parents disappoint children.) I don't have any offspring of my own but I've witnessed teenagers of Cosby Show like families become pregnant or father babies barely out of middle school. (Having a child as a teenager is not a death sentence by the way.) And even children come and go. I know someone who has had to bury 5, yes FIVE of her own children. So statements like My children are my everything are dangerous words to utter as well. Yes children are a blessing and I imagine can offer a renewed sense of self but they should not be the only thing that makes life worth living. Seems to me that in order to "raise" someone else it helps to be as complete as possible first.

I hope I haven't made anyone sad or somber and as everything else here at PPT, what I write is all my mere opinion. The beauty of this realization, for me anyway, is knowing that every area of my life: my career, my relationship with Mr. TK, my family; they are all sweeter when I'm good with me. Even the sour stuff is easier to swallow when I'm working on being a better Bsquared.

Thanks again Diane. And folks have the nerve to say that fashion designers are empty.

P.S. - I scored two fabulous DVF wrap dresses this Christmas! Anyone in the Charlotte, North Carolina area should head to the sales racks on the second floor of Neiman Marcus in South Park Mall immediately. Amazing deals folks.

The Procrastinator’s Official Holiday Shopping Guide

2008-12-24T07:45:00.000-08:00

Six Wallet-Friendly Tips For Scoring Great Gifts on Christmas Eve: From One Procrastinator to Another

I pride myself on giving thoughtful gifts. But I’m admittedly also a (recovering) procrastinator. For those of you who are trying to scramble last-minute gifts for your folks, this post is just for you.

Card ‘Em!
1 – Forget trying to get clothes or tech items at this late hour. All the good stuff has been picked over. Head straight for the register and pick up a gift card. But think outside the box this year. What about a gift card for a grocery store (Who wouldn’t appreciate that with the price of food these days?) or a loaded up gas card (ditto)? Airline gift cards are excellent as well. Think about the places that the recipient really frequents and don’t worry if you only have $25 to put on the card. That is $25 less for them to spend.

Letter Love
2 – Are you struggling over what to give that person who you love dearly and already has everything? Why not write them a heartfelt letter? If you know someone who writes decent calligraphy, pay them a few bucks to copy the letter for you on a snazzy sheet of paper from a store like Kate’s Paperie. If no calligrapher is available, just opt for a fancy-smancy cursive font on your computer. Keep it short and sweet and write from the heart. Roll the letter up like a scroll and tie a festive ribbon around it or place it in a pretty frame.

Regal Regifting
3 – Try the white elephant gift exchange. Kathy Finney over at thebudgetfashionista.com hipped me to this and I think it is such a cool idea. You and your loved one agree to exchange gifts that are items you already own of equal value. Hey, one man’s junk is another’s treasure! To add a personal touch, try including a note stating why you think the recipient would enjoy the item and why you wanted them to have it over keeping it for yourself.

Picture Perfect
4 – Have an old picture of you and your best friend during your high school senior ski trip? Is there a picture of you and your sister making Easter baskets when you were six that you both adore? Run to the nearest scanner, enlarge and copy the picture then mount and/or frame it. It will be cherished for years to come; trust me.

Reading Is Fundamental
5 – I am part of the rare breed of humans that still enjoys reading magazines in hardcopy form. Truth is, most people do. Websites are a fantastic supplement to print publications but are far from a replacement. Purchase a magazine subscription for your loved one(s) and try to think of something they will really enjoy but for whatever reason, haven’t purchased for themselves. Ideas to get your juices flowing are Golf magazine the Tiger Woods wanna be or Fortune mag for the budding business tycoon. (Shameless hint: I would love a subscription to ELLE Décor, ahem.) Purchase a newsstand copy and wrap it up with a note alerting your recipient that they will be receiving their own copy in the mail over the next year. (Visit this site for discount mag subscriptions.)

Don’t Believe The Hype
6 – Do you really have to get all your gifts by tonight? Chances are, you won’t see all your people by midnight on December 25th anyway. Prices will be cut drastically on the morning of December 26th. Take advantage of the after holiday sales; this year there will be tons of them. If you can wait…Wait.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

The Reason For The Season

2008-12-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

With Christmas officially less than a week way, lots of folks are doing last minute shopping for their loved ones -- especially kids. A few years ago I would have been one of those people too. I've opted not to purchase any Christmas gifts this year. Are you clutching your pearls? Well stop. I do plan to give my nieces and godchildren savings bonds next month when all of the hustle and bustle is over and I resolve a couple of personal financial matters. But the Christmas of 2005 forever changed the way I view buying Christmas presents, especially for the children in my life.

My nieces came up to NY to visit me for the Christmas of 2005 and I was beyond excited. For the first time since losing my father in 1990, I wanted to decorate and really get into what I thought was the holiday spirit. See my dad made Christmas decorating a production in our household. My brother had to hang lights on our terrace (he hated doing it), we hung our cards all over the apartment, a train set and the gingerbread house my father purchased for me annually were arranged on the dining table, we decorated our tree to the nines, all four of us wrote and exchanged wish lists, Christmas carols were played constantly -- basically our home became a mini-Christmas village. But after my father passed, most of this stopped and for years I didn't feel the same about any of it. But knowing that my nieces were spending the holiday with me caused a serious change of heart. I went overboard with their gifts, I bought them stockings, I purchased ingredients for us to bake Christmas cookies (we never did), I tried to anticipate their every desire and within my budget (and probably over my budget) I met it.

Well, fast forward to Christmas day. First of all, they slept until about 10am. My brother and I always woke up ridiculously early on Christmas morning to open our gifts (go figure). Once their gifts were all open, I soon realized I was a lot more excited about what I had purchased for them than they were. And then the next evening, I had a true A-HA moment.

My Little Bsquareds, December 2005. This picture stays on my fridge to help me keep life in perspective.

My brother (their dad), had them get dressed for bed and like most kids, they were fighting it as much as possible. While avoiding going to bed, they discovered my old hoola hoop. Well they got such a kick out of that thing! Seriously, no Wii, Dora doll or Limited Too gear could have come close. They loved it so much that I let them take it back home. For the rest of their stay, they played with that darn hoola hoop more than any other toy they received that year. And they received quite a bit.

So yet again, my nieces (at the time they were only 2 and 5) taught me something that I don't think any adult could. Sure they were fascinated by the hoola hoop but they were a lot more excited to have something that belonged to their Auntie B. Not only did I get a valuable reminder on what is most important about this holiday in the first place, but it made me realize why I had enjoyed those Christmases with my father so many years ago. It was never about the "stuff" - truthfully I don't even like gingerbread - but it was about the time we spent together. The laughs we shared, hearing my dad yell at my brother for the lights being crooked, counting who broke the most ornaments; the bonding is what I cherished the most.

I might not physically purchase gifts this year but I hope to spread lots of love and definitely want to soak some love up.

Think about what you already have to give before you spend money on another gift. You just might have an orange hoola hoop of your own.

Shopping In Your Own Closet

2008-12-20T13:29:00.000-08:00

I've been shopping in my closet a lot lately. I know it might seem lame or even impossible but it is actually kinda fun and most of all cost efficient. Since recessionista has become active in our vocbulary, I thought this post was very timely. Normally I only do this around Spring Cleaning time but I've put the practice into use more frequently and want to show you how to do the same. Check it:

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

Rethink your seasonless clothing and layer, layer, layer. Growing up, my family went through a daunting twice a year ritual of putting away our spring/summer clothes in the fall and putting away our fall/winter clothes in the spring. Perhaps it is because I have a lot more space now, but I don't really feel the need to do this anymore. I wear over half of my wardrobe year-round. But I've lately noticed that some items I've been reserving for the warmer months can work now in the dead of winter as well with the right manipulation. Dark tights under floral skirts and dresses, cardigans over tanks, even dresses over slim pants are all ways to effectively pull this off.

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

By now we all get that fashion is cyclical but the tricky part is knowing when things are going to come back into "style". I don't think there is a hard and fast formula to this and why would we want one anayway? This season, I've pulled out items that I literally haven't worn in years and put them back in rotation. They include my black leather motorcycle jacket from college (I remember wearing this jacket to a Howard Homecoming weekend excursion) and an olive green Coach duffle sac. The result? Crazy compliments and Where did you find that? queries. That question was primarily for the Coach bag. Wearing these items is nostalgic and adds some personality to a look. Always keep items that are classic (like my motorcycle jacket) because they are guaranteed to be more interesting as they get older. By the way, I like popping mine over an ultra feminine dress.

BACK IT UP

Americans are generally over-consumers. Most of us have more than we realize, even those of us who are struggling. Go to the back of your closet and dresser drawer to re-evaluate what you own. Guaranteed you'll find at least one item you can add to the wardrobe rotation you had forgotten about and at least one other thing you can donate to folks who really don't have what they need. The other day I wore a belted denim dress that I have had for about a decade (it's by Espirt) and haven't worn in years and I wondered why I don't wear it more often but I quickly realized that I had forgotten about the darn thing.

REMIX WHAT YOU HAVE

Go to the tailor and make your favorite dress that is now a little too snug in the hip area a top. Cut a pair a jeans at mid-calf and wear them with knee length boots. Wear your favorite adjustable waist skirt as a dress over a turtleneck. (See the first tip.) Break up a suit - it's okay to wear that blazer with jeans every now and then. Switch out the belt of your favorite dress or coat for one that is a completely different color or texture.

HOST A SWAP PARTY

Admittedly I still haven't been to one of these yet but I just might throw one in '09. Folks have been raving about them for a few years now and with the economy being what it currently is, I predict even more people will be planning these types of fiestas. Basically, everyone brings a designated number of items of a set retail value to the party and the attendees then swap items that they no longer want or need for someone elses . Apparently, when done correctly, everyone leaves happy, no one has spent any money and it is a great way to declutter.

Have you been shopping in your closet lately? What did you find?

8 Things I'm Happy About Right Now

2008-12-10T03:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Hump Day!

Today's post doesn't have much to do with anything. This right here is just for sh*ts and giggles. Okay maybe just for giggles. With so much depressing stuff in the news (If I hear about one more corporate layoff -- geesh!) I have decided to post a list of things I'm happy about. Feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what is on your happy radar today.

1 - This is the time of year that everyone plays Christmas carols and I love it. I actually listen to them all year (my poor coworkers can vouch for this) but for the next few weeks I can play Little Drummer Boy without the funny stares.

2 - My first article has been published in Real Simple magazine. This is a big deal for me folks. Be sure to check out '7 Ways To Return Anything' on pages 71-73 of the January 2009 issue. Not just because I wrote it, but because there are some useful tips in it too. Remember, I'm a returning queen.

3 - I had the willpower to pass on the Tracy Reese sample sale this week. Gotta keep saving for a rainy day.

4 - Two stories that I wrote for the j-o have been very popular with readers this week. See for yourself here and here.

5 - Did you hear? We have a Black First Lady to be that isn't the pastor's wife. Still wrapping my head around this y'all.

6 - While I'm bummed about my throat being extremely sore, I'm thankful and happy that I have health insurance and can call my doctor to hopefully get some relief for tihs bug. Real talk - I've been without health insurance before.

7 - Last week I attended the Victoria's Secret store opening in NYC, got a cute little gift bag filled with goodies and bonded with my dear friend Mija. It was one of those classic Big Apple moments as we had no plans to go five minutes before we rolled up. Oh and the Ugg store opening last week with my friend Eddy was pretty cool too.

8 - I found my all-time favorite song sang by my church's choir on YouTube this week. You have no idea how much I plan to listen and watch this now. Everything in me gets right after I hear this.

My Evening With Diane von Furstenberg

2008-12-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

Last week I had the pleasure of spending an evening with Diane von Furstenberg. It was lovely. She is just as charming, funny and fly as you would imagine. Diane shared her journey from being young, pregnant and clueless about the fashion industry, to landing on the cover of Newsweek at 28, to getting divorced, losing her mother (who was a Holocaust survivor), getting remarried, becoming a grandmother, moving to NYC's meat-packing district before it was sexy, virtually losing her uber-successful business due to over-saturation and rebuilding it to the cult label it is today. She even gave her predictions for what Michelle Obama should wear Inauguration Weekend. By the way, Diane thinks Michelle is just as gangsta as we do. Yes folks, she shared all of that (and then some) with me in midtown Manhattan last Wednesday and even gave me a cute little parting gift bag.

Okay so there were about 100 other people present too.

Last week Diane von Furstenberg was interviewed by Kate Betts (a bad chick in her own right -- Google her) for an event hosted by a women's organization at my job. The venue was packed. Radio personality Wendy Williams even showed up. How random? I guess everyone wanted to hear what the woman who created "the wrap dress" had to say. Well, while I stil have tremendous respect for her as a designer, I have even more respect for her as a woman after hearing her speak so candidly about her journey. She dropped several words of wisdom on the crowd that night but I'll share these with you now:

Have a really good relationship with yourself.

So simple yet so profound. I think I'll end on that note. Expect more gems from 'ol Diane to pop up in my Quote of the Week in the near future.

Below are a pic of the program from the night and Diane chatting it up with guests after the event.

Confession: I do not own a DVF wrap dress. Tragic, I know. But I might break down and get one soon (on sale of course) because it is such a classic that over time it will more than pay for itself.

Do you agree?

Budget Beauty Buy: BOOTS Bath & Body at Target

2008-11-29T11:41:00.001-08:00

I cannot believe that I haven't blogged about this before! During my stay in London, I grew to fancy several High Street staples: Topshop of course, Marks & Spencer (the U.K.'s sexier answer to Target) and Shelly's for funky footwear. These were pretty likely suspects for an American gal into fashion though. The unlikely suspect that I developed quite a crush on while across the pond however was Boots.

There is literally a Boots on every other corner in Central London. Sorta like there is a Duane Reade on every other corner in NYC. But Boots is like Duane Reade meets C.O. Bigelow with a sprinkle of Sephora and much better customer service. It was fabulous. My roommate and I would make excuses to go. The packaging on everthing they sold was sleek and cool looking as if it were from the first floor of Henri Bendel but carried a price tag of Conway.

Well, last year Boots decided to bless their American fans by offering a select group of their products in Target. Perfect fit as the companies seem to have similiar philosophies. Boots current bath & body collection contains one item that I have to sing the praises of and that is the Amazon Forest Mango & Babassu Bath Cream. Folks, it is heavenly. Containing mango butter and babassu oil, it leaves my dry skin totally moisturized and simply smells delicious. Plus, it retails for $8.99 so it won't break the bank. Unfortunately I take showers much more than I do baths but this product works equally well for both. All of the items in the Amazon Forest line are available in body scrubs, lotions etc. so they're great for gifts.

It is worth checking out the other bath & body lines available from Boots presently at Target like the Mediterranean as well. They also offer an extensive make-up line too but since I only really fool with lip gloss and mascara, I can't comment it.

I'm telling you, if you have a gift to buy for anyone who has spent significant time in London recently, consider giving them something from the Boots collection at Target. You're guaranteed to put a smile on their face. And if you treat yourself to a bottle of the Mango & Babassu Bath Cream, write me and let me know if it changed your life. Or at least made you and your bathroom smell really yummy.

P.S. - My niece digs her stationery. Looks like I'm back in the running for Auntie of the Year after all.

P.P.S. - Congrats on the engagement Kesha. If you like it then put a ring on it -- HA!

10 Holiday Shopping Tips & Tricks

2008-11-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

Hey, hey, hey!

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. I certainly did. I have loads to blog about too but Mr. TK will have my head if I don't hurry up. (In his defense, he is always waiting for me.) I plan to post a few things this weekend but in the meantime, it is Black Friday. So, check out the story I wrote for the main gig ASAP. I interviewed my girl and best-selling author Kathryn Finney aka The Budget Fashionista for the article and it has some really informative tips. I even learned a few things.

Gotta go -- happy reading! ;-)

Is Solange a Trendsetter?

2008-11-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

I hadn't thought so until earlier this week when I spotted these pics on YBF. (Don't front, you read it too.) I love the idea of pairing a chic, sophisticated pencil skirt with a playful tee shirt like Solange did for a recent NYC performance. The high heel grey booties in what appears to be suede is a fun addition and really complete the look as black would have been so expected. Normally I feel like the younger Knowles tries too hard to be the anti-Beyonce (with the exception of that Texas hair neither can seem to let go of). I rarely, if at all, look to Solange as a style influence but I'm totally impressed by this get-up.

A pencil skirt never fails to make the wearer feel sexy...

The sleeves on this shirt are S-I-C-K!

I might have to pay more attention to what Solange is rockin' these days. What do you think? Lovin' this look to pieces or think it is straight up hideous? Leave me a comment with your two cents.

Living Within Our Means: What We Can All Learn From Dame Dash

2008-11-20T21:22:00.000-08:00

Damon Dash with his driver next to a luxury Macbach in 2006. These rides typically go for $400,000.

Music mogul Damon Dash has some serious money issues. How serious you ask? Well, according to The New York Daily News, it's pretty daggone serious. Check it:

* Last week, a Manhattan judge ordered the city to seize Dash's Chevrolet Tahoe, since he wasn't making the $714.99 monthly payment on the leased SUV.

* Eastern Savings Bank foreclosed on the $7.3 million mortgage for two trendy Tribeca condos where the monthly $78,504.26 bill went unpaid for months.

* Dash faces an outstanding $2.1 million tab with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, a $4,500 bill from the state for not paying workers' comp and a suit that says he stiffed the law firm that handled his child-custody case.

* Dash even got dumped by another firm representing him in a $3.5 million suit against accountant-to-the-stars Barry Klarberg, who is accused of bungling his tax returns, costing him millions.

Dang Gina.

Now I know there are folks right now saying (or thinking) that Dame is getting what he deserves. Apparently he hasn't always been the easiest cat to get along with. I can't do that though. Never actually met the dude and he hasn't done anything to me.

But what I can do is remember Dame tossing around all that expensive champagne a few years back in music videos. And I believe I caught some crazy spending on his BET reality show The Ultimate Hustler a couple years ago (Yes I watched it once or twice - forgive me!). Then there was the New York magazine article that quoted him stating he had 1,300 pairs of sneakers.

Hmmm.

Doesn't take a genius to figure this out folks. Dame spent more than he had. And hopefully he will dig himself out of this hole. We've seen this before though - MC Hammer anyone? Truth is, he's still probably not broke. His wife Rachel does have a clothing line which is seemingly doing well but the fashion biz is more gangsta than the music industry so who knows what kind of deal she has. Still, I think broke is sending your kid to bed hungry or wondering if your rented or borrowed furniture will be waiting for you on the sidewalk after you get evicted, again.

My girl E told me the other day that we are all living better than we have to (materialistically speaking) and now I agree. And some really wise person once said that the more we make, the more we spend. Let's all learn from Dame's mistakes people.

Living beyond our means is so not stylish. At all.

And The Auntie Of The Year Award Goes To... (The Beauty of Stationery)

2008-11-15T13:23:00.000-08:00

Not me. My oldest niece's 8th birthday was last Friday and I forgot it. The next day my mother informed me of my oversight so I called my niece immediately. She came to the phone sluggish, still tired from her slumber party the night before, and listened to me apologize profusely. Then she says, cool as a fan mind you, "It's okay Auntie B." After we discuss her big day: how being eight doesn't feel much different from being seven, the cupcakes at school and her cool new bookbag, I ask her what she wants from me. Nonchalantly she responds, "It doesn't really matter. Whatever you want to give me is fine." This kid and her sister never cease to amaze me. But she does add one important caveat: "I would like something girly though."

No prob. Auntie B can handle this...right? As I start to rack my brain about what to get - nothing too expensive (I'm trying to save more), not clothes (she doesn't need 'em) - I remember that I never got her the stationery I wanted to buy her and her sister last Christmas. Perfecto! It's certainly girly (at least the design I pick out will be) and American Stationery has a plethora of affordale options for children. Plus, while I am always buying my nieces books, I also want them to learn and appreciate the joys of writing; especially in this digital age. No email, text message or IM will ever take the place of a handwritten letter. Ever. Furthermore, I will be continuing a special family tradition. Her grandfather gave me my first set of stationery when I was about her age.

Letter writing is an art that I'm happy to expose my nieces to.

I'm hoping to make hers personalized as well. How fun! I'll be sure to let you guys know what she thinks of her belated birthday gift especially since many of you will be searching for frugal gift suggestions (if you're not already) in the next couple of weeks.

Check out American Stationery items for yourself as well here. My red stiletto notecards from Smythson are a must and I also love the detail of Atlanta-based Bluorchid designs. Are you into stationery? If so, where do you score your finds?

EXCLUSIVE: Michelle Obama's Fashion Stylist Speaks

2008-11-10T21:01:00.000-08:00

Gotcha!

I don't have any exclusive with the stylist of Michelle Obama. The last I read, the Chi-town native wasn't officially working with one but I'm sure that is going to change very soon if it hasn't already. Now, let's get a couple of things out of the way. I am officially a proud member of the Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama Fan Club. Need proof? Read this and this. But even I think constructive criticism is appropriate when it is well, constructive. In the words of fellow Chicagoan Common, "If I don't like it, I don't like it. That don't mean that I'm hatin'."

A runway shot of Michelle's election night frock.

Runway to Realway: The much-talked about Narcisco Rodriguez dress on Michelle.

So, here it is - Michelle usually gets it right in my humble opinion. I think she is always dressed appropriately for her age and she has figured out her body type (she has an hourglass shape). But she does have the occassional miss (like on election night) and I have a few suggestions of things her stylist might want to adopt (and a few things she should continue doing) to make her look even more fabulous consistently.

Lady in Red - Michelle is not afraid of color.

Hometown girl Maria Pinto has been holding it down for Michelle and should certainly continue to do so (she is responsible for the fab red dress Michelle wears in the above pic) but below are a few other folks worth our future First Lady's consideration. These designers also create clothes for real women with real bodies:

Lafayette 148 - Edward Wilkerson is slept on by the masses. His tailored pieces will take Michelle from power lunches and brunches to PTA meetings for Malia and Sasha.

Donna Karan - This NY native has long been Seventh Avenue's darling and for good reason. Karan's innovative usage of jersey will compliment Michelle's curves.

Oscar da la Renta - The Dominican designer should be a go-to guy for Michelle when she starts preparing for the black-tie dinners that will quickly start to fill her calendar come January.

Other Style Notes...

Shoes with a heel - Michelle steers away from heels and at 5'10 one can only assume it is because she doesn't want to tower over her husband. Still, a 2-3 inch heel can be slipped in every now and again to give her look more of an overall polished punch.

Hair - Michelle's tresses are always shiny and healthy looking. Keep doing what 'cha doing Michelle!

Make-up Artist - Michelle's make-up can be hit or miss - early on in the campaign her brows were a bit hard. I suggest she get one great make-up artist and stick with him/her then get an equally fabulous back-up. Someone she should consider is Sam Fine.

Lastly, I think that Michelle should continue to embrace bold color as it looks so right with her complexion but prints can be tricky and don't always read well on camera. Solids are probably best when cameras are around (which will be the next four years...).

Now when all is said and done, Michelle probably doesn't give two hoots about what me or any other blogger, critic or reporter has to say regarding her style. And why should she when she has this?

Awwwww!

Still, this was fun to write. Do you agree or disagree with my advice? Did you like the dress she wore last Tuesday night? Leave me a comment and sound-off.

If You're Gonna Be In Chocolate City This Weekend...

2008-11-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

This could be a cool lil' event to check out. A co-worker put me on to it yesterday since I was considering going to D.C. today myself. Well, my plans changed so I won't be able to make it but I thought I would share the wealth.

Designers you can expect to find at this shindig include fashionista faves like:

Diane von Furstenberg
Jill Stuart
Botkier
Gucci
Marc by Marc Jacobs
James Jeans
J Brand
Juicy Couture
Hudson
Kooba
Theory
Loeffler Randall
Mike & Chris
Tucker
Tory Burch
Lewis Cho
Prada
LeSportsac
Catherine Malandrino
Tracy Reese
Wayne
& more!

RSVP to val@valstyleonline.com for location address.

Just remember ladies (and gents), sometimes 30% off means paying 70% for something you really don't need. Now more than ever, we need to live within our means.

Have a GREAT weekend! I'm looking forward to mine. (hee, hee)

President-Elect Barack Obama - A Picture Is Worth A Thousand and One Words

2008-11-06T03:47:00.000-08:00

Hello PPT fam. I am still numb. Tuesday night and all-day Wesnesday, November 5th was filled with so much emotion that I honestly don't know what to write today. Yesterday, friends and colleagues happily emailed loads of pics that evoked what people across the world were feeling about this historic win. They all struck a cord with me, even after I started to get the same pics multiple times.

But the one below of an adorable little boy in Indonesia says it all.

Yes. We. Did.

It's SHOWTIME!

2008-11-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

They didn't complain about waiting in long lines...

V-O-T-E.

(For Barack Obama and Joe Biden. This is my blog and I don't have to be objective.)

Questions about where to vote? Visit this site NOW!

Project Runway's Korto Momolu: Losing Never Looked So Good

2008-11-02T07:26:00.001-08:00

Korto Momolu: The People's Champ

I admittedly am not a huge fan of Project Runway. Reality tv just isn't really my thing. But I had the pleasure of interviewing last season's runner-up Korto Momolu from the popular Bravo series for my day gig and I must share with my PPT folks. I was so inspired by Korto's can-do attitude. She is a sweetheart, she's driven (has that immigrant do-or-die spirit) and clearly loves her family. Oh and Ms. Girl is way talented.

Read the interview and leave a comment here or on the other site to let me know what ya think. As I get updates on her collection, I'll be sure to pass them along.

I'm about to get ready for church but I hope to make some calls to PA for Barack Obama later today as we are in the final stretch of this historic election. If you would like to do this as well, visit this site for the deets. You can make calls from home or go to a phonebank center in your area. We're almost there!

Every Ghetto, Every City And Suburban Place I've Been

2008-10-31T05:09:00.000-07:00

L-Boogie declared that traveling always took her back to growing up in Jersey. Well, I haven't traveled nearly as much as she has but I've done my share of country hopping (toot, toot) and like Ms. Hill, I always think about my family when I do. Like last month after one of my South African safari excursions, I couldn't wait to share the leopard chasing story with my big bro. (By the way, I gotta blog about that; it was a real doozy.) Or when I quit my job to live in London and though I was scared as all get out I remembered what my father always told me about what it meant to have our last name. (It was much more about tenacity and less about the slave name.) And when I saw how green the grass was in Scotland during the middle of winter I wanted my mother to be with me to witness it too. Those of you who read PPT regularly probably know how much I adore my fam but sadly I still take them for granted at times.

Last week, I along with most of you, received a painful reminder of how precious family is when Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were found murdered. And then Monday when her nephew was found shot to death as well? Shucks, I don't even know how baby girl is coping to be honest.

I decided to share with y'all a little something I have found so much solace in over the last year or so - especially in times like this. Aside from my journal, I keep a gratitude book. Everyday or more like every few days, I write down five things I am grateful for. These things range from getting a raise at work to catching a train I was sure I would miss to having healthy godchildren. Yesterday, after crying on the bus thinking about Jennifer and her recent loss, I made a list of five things I am grateful for about mi familia. Sadly, I won't have them forever and I feel like giving them some roses to smell before it's too late. I highly suggest you do the same for your loved ones.

Sweet Sweet has been with me through it all. And no I don't sleep with him.

1 - I am grateful for my mother's undying support. It is so comforting to know that she is always praying for me.

2 - I am grateful that my nieces know their dad loves them. Hopefully, this will help them spot the real from the fake when they get older.

3 - I am grateful for still having Sweet Sweet. He was a gift from my dad about 25 years ago.

4 - I am grateful that although he has been deceased for 18 years, I am still benefiting from lessons my dad taught me when I was a child.

5 - I'm grateful that my mother has her own laundry room and garage. Sure they are both teeny tiny, but for most of my life she sacrificed not having either. No more pushing carts or lugging groceries for my mama!

6 - I am grateful for the pure joy that my nieces bring to my life. They never fail to make me smile. At five and seven years old, they still get excited over things like bubblegum and butterflies. The teenage years might change that though, huh?

7 - I am grateful for all the wonderful, hilarious and crazy memories my family has to reminisce about like my bro locking himself in the bathroom, the Plantation Inn in Selma, AL and sweat inducing visits to Aunt Julia's HOT house in the dead of summer.

I couldn't stop at just five. Betcha you can't either!

P.S. - I was gonna apologize that this post wasn't about "fashion" but I won't be doing that anymore. Style goes way beyond clothes and gratitude is ALWAYS in style.

Beats, Rhymes and Fashion: Q-Tip, H&M and Realizing That NYC Still Rocks!

2008-10-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday night. It was one of those times I am a little more thankful for living in NY and working in media. While I am a proud native New Yorker, I have a growing love/hate relationship with The Big Apple (the working/middle-class here is shrinking fast!) and I’ve already expressed my complicated feelings about my full-time gig here on PPT. But Thursday night made even a semi-jaded homebody like me cheese from ear-to-ear and remember once again how great this (dirty, overpriced, crowded) city is.

Around 6:20pm, my girl Big C asks me if I want to roll with her to a Q-Tip taping for VH1 Soul. WHAT?!?! I’m all about it even after she firmly tells me we have to get there by 7:30pm. Love Tip and the opportunity to hear him spit in an intimate setting is more than enough to make me hustle and finish up my work before we catch a taxi down to 26th Street. On our way there, I remember an email my friend Mija forwarded me about the H&M fiesta for Comme des Garcons. We plan to check that out afterwards. Then C also recalls a "little shindig at Bergdorf Goodman" that we can roll through too if we have enough time. Fashion parties usually have good gift bags. (The next day I read that the "little shindig" was actually the launch of Le Metier De Beaute cosmetics hosted by L.A. Reid. Ha!)

So C and I arrive to the VH1 taping about 15 minutes before Tip hits the stage. The show was dope. He gave the performance his all and while I steadily tapped my foot to his new joints (the upcoming album drops on Nov. 4th by the way) I kinda lost it when he did the classics. Check the Rhime (Q-Borough STAND UP), Award Tour (the soundtrack to my senior year of high school), Vibrant Thing (my first girlfriend getaway to MIA) - I, along with the rest of the place, was two-stepping like it was nineteen ninety something again. Margeaux Watson was there too and also covered the show on her new EW blog. Good, good times.

Before we made our way to the H&M function, one of C’s colleagues tells us about Stephen Hill’s birthday party later on that night. Dang, there is a lot of stuff going on in the city tonight I think to myself. Apparently Stephen’s bday festivities are always loads of fun and he often sings (yes, he sings) for his guests. We continue as planned though and make our way to the H&M party. For reasons I don’t care to go into, I end up doing H&M solo. I wasn’t by myself very long however; soon I see some familiar faces and start chatting up folks. The small but well edited collection is primarily black and white and is very true to Comme des Garcons. I see a couple of pieces I would consider buying but personally the line is nothing to blog much about.

Mr. Allen has styled Selita Ebanks and Takashi Murakami.

Veteran fashion scribe Lynn was a sweetheart and happily posed for my camera phone.

But seeing legendary fashion journalist Lynn Yaeger (that’s her above) and fabu stylist Alexander Allen (he’s sporting the sick Louis Vuitton gear) in the spot? Always worth blogging about. Lynn has been covering fashion for The Village Voice and other publications for over 20 years and never bites her tongue. Digs her. A lot. I bump into Alex pretty regularly but what made my encounter with him Thursday night special was the wisdom he so willingly shared with me. And it had nothing to do with fashion or styling and everything to do with gumption and faith. Thanks again Alex!

After H&M I decided to call it a night and headed to mi casa. Honestly, the H&M gift bag was just eh. And for the folks that hang out at "industry" parties all the time, this is probably the norm (or maybe even lame) but I haven’t really party hopped like this in a minute. For me, getting to hear a member of one of my all-time favorite groups perform and checking out an affordable new clothing line while catching up with genuine folks at a fashion industry party is a beautiful rarity.

All of this and I was still home by 11:30pm in time get a little phone QT in with Mr. TK before bed. Life is good.

Below are my favorite pieces from the Comme des Garcons for H&M Collection which is scheduled to arrive in stores early November.

Beyond Barack: We Need To Be More Aware And Get Involved Folks

2008-10-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

Other other day Mr. TK said something that has been on my mind kinda heavy since. He was frustrated about a business situation when he mumbled, "Sometimes knowing a little about something is worse than knowing nothing at all." After I let his statement marinate for a bit, I realized how much it related to the way I (and most of the folks I know) associate with politics. While it is fantastic that we are all on Team Obama and eat, sleep and dream about the presidential election, I think most of us have forgotten about the other politicians who have a strong impact on our lives as well. Everyone (even my five and seven year old nieces) knows the importance of voting next month. And it is certainly important - without a shadow of a doubt important. But guess what? The pothole on your block that took six months to get filled? A local politician tends to that. The disgust I often have when shopping in my local supermarket because of a lack of fresh(er) veggies and poultry? A local politician. Your kid's after-school program slipping with quality extra-curricular activities? A local politician yet again.

In light of Mr. TK's comment, I want to make it known that I am far from knowledgable about politics. But, over the past year or so, I have been much more aware of what is going on with the federal government simply because of Barack Obama. And yes, this is a beautiful thing. But, me not knowing who my councilman, congressman, borough president, school district president (it shouldn't matter that I don't have children), local judges, and even the folks who run my co-op board are is pretty pathetic. NEWSFLASH: Even after Obama gets to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, we can't go back to being zoombies. Having just returned from South Africa, I am reminded of how much most Americans take democracy for granted. (Yeah, our democracy is f**ked up but try voting in Jamaica.) Add to that I'm a Black American, and there is an entire extra layer of guilt for me because some of my folks truly fought for me to have this right. And I know they didn't intend for me to just exercise it every 4 years.

Michelle Obama was on Larry King a couple of weeks ago discussing how great it is that this election has gotten people engaged again. As if we have been awoken from a deep slumber. And now I really get what she meant. (Told y'all I have delayed reactions.) I have challenged myself and I challenge you to research your local politicians so that you can really be educated. And after November 4th, keep up with what elected officials are and aren't doing in your 'hood. Yes, I'm busy, you're busy -- everyone is busy. But we all make time for the things we find important.

We've been sleeping long enough.

Sorry I have yet again posted about something not related to "conventional style" but this is what is on my heart and mind to blog about today.

PPT EXCLUSIVE: Beyonce and Solange Rocking MINX - The Latest Nail Trend

2008-10-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

Everyone is buzzing about Mrs. Shawn Carter’s new video for Single Ladies (I am predicting a lot of hush engagement rings will be doled out this Christmas…) so I managed to get the insider scoop on some behind-the-scenes action of Bouncy and her younger sis Solange. These days, they are both sporting a new development in nails called MINX. My girl, celebrity manicurist Lisa Logan gave me the 411 on MINX recently and admitted that she is quite excited about this creative treatment because of the versatility it offers. (Know that Lisa doesn’t easily excite.) Obviously both Beyonce and Solange have ridiculous schedules: shooting ad campaigns in Bermuda one week and videos in NYC the next. With MINX, Lisa is able to take her clients from sizzling gold metallic to striking platinum in mere minutes without sacrificing the nail’s health which is of utmost importance to her.

Basically, MINX is a film; not a polish so there is no smudging, no chipping and no drying time. This flexible film is applied with heat and pressure and also allows for logos, graphics and other designs to appear on the nail in much less time and effort than the airbrushing of the 1990s. Plus the nails don’t look fake. Ladies, you can even apply MINX to your toes to enhance a pedicure as Beyonce did with the Gold Lightening film in the pic below. Solange showed her support for our next president Barack Obama on her MINX nails (peep his image in the 5th pic from top) while shooting her latest video T.O.N.Y. How freakin’ cool is that? Guess we can expect a cameo from Cee-Lo in that upcoming T.O.N.Y. video, huh?

The "glove" above made an appearance in Beyonce's Single Ladies video...

For more information about how you can be the first person in your town to rock MINX, click here. Are you willing to try this latest nail trend? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Get Shorty: Victoria "Posh" Beckham's Fab Haircut

2008-10-13T03:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Despite not accomplishing everything I wanted to this weekend (when do we ever), I had such a good time: ate at a cool Brooklyn restaurant that helped me relive my recent South African vacay, partied at a friend of a friend's bday celebration in a sexy little nightclub (I rarely party on the weekends), caught up with some of my favorite folks on the horn, worked on a story and even chillaxed for a bit. Pretty productive all in all.

But this post isn't about my weekend, it's about hair! Victoria "Posh" Beckham's tresses to be exact. With all that is going on in the world, the specifics of Victoria's new-ish haircut seems trivial but I really wanna know how you guys feel about it. I'll be honest that I was a tad late to learn of her cut since she debuted the look during Spring 2009 Fashion Week in NY when I was on the other side of the world. Never one to shy away from risks, Mrs. Posh has long been a chameleon when it comes to her strands. Some people are still debating on whether she or Rihanna are responsible for the infamous bob trend of 2007. (I'm leaning towards Victoria myself.)

Well, the reason for this post is as much as I'm feeling Beckham's new 'do, many are saying that she went too short this time around. I beg to differ. And something tells me that before long, copycats galore will be rocking the same cut. True trendsetters are rarely understood in the beginning. Read what the glamazon had to say to London's Telegraph about her hair:

"You know, I just like to change things up. I get bored very, very quickly and I just fancied a change."

I so dig this chick.

What do you think about this new cut? Love it or loathe it? Leave a comment and let me know.

P.S. - I must come clean and admit that I might be bias since I cut my hair super short earlier this year. Too bad I don't have a hairstylist on call like I'm sure Posh does to help me on bad-hair days like today...

Najwa Moses Fly Accessories Line: Add A Little SALTE To Your Wardrobe

2008-10-10T05:24:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling you get when someone you know, and have known for a minute, does something real good for themselves? It’s kinda nice right? Well, I’m feeling like that about a few of my folks as of late. One of my best friends D (I’ve known him since we were 14) just became a father on Wednesday. He’s going to be a great dad and I’m so proud of the man he has become. And then my girls Nicole and Cocoa just purchased homes. (This is the second for Cocoa!) I am always proud of my friends but sometimes there is an extra sense of pride for the amigos, ya know?

Well, my girl Najwa Moses (that's her in the upper left corner) hit me last week about her fly jewelry line and I had that feeling yet again. Najwa and I went to F.I.T. together many moons ago and she has been creating her own path in the fashion and media lanes for a few years now. Her latest baby, SALTE, includes a collection of bold hand-painted, one-of-a-kind earrings, necklaces and other funky accessories. She has given each style cute names like "the blogger", "the stylist", and "the publicist". I like the idea of pairing her unique designs with an understated white tee and blue jeans or even a simple black turtleneck and slacks. Prices start at just $25.75.

So check out Najwa’s SALTE collection and this weekend be sure to tell someone you care about how proud you are of them.

*** Today is the last day to register to VOTE in New York so please, please do so if you haven't already. And if you are registered, encourage someone else. Yes, I'm begging. Click here, for more info.

My All-Time Favorite Hip Hop Moments

2008-10-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

This really has nothing to do with style or fashion. Sue me. I was inspired by the VH1 Hip Hop Honors that aired tonight. I couldn’t watch it but a couple of my peeps went to the taping last week and said it was pretty good. I’m sure I’ll catch it later. Hip hop has been with me for most of my life and although I rarely listen to new stuff lately, I have some very fond memories of the genre. Every generation has a golden era and loves to harp on the good ‘ole days, right? I recognize there are some dope artists on the come up - most of whom I’m not up on, but right now I just want to reminisce.

(in no particular order)

2004, Nas and Olu Dara at VH1 Hip Hop Honors, NYC - Since I mentioned VH1 already, I figured I should start with this one. Nasir and Olu Dara crushed stereotypes about Black father/son bonds when they did Bridging the Gap live for what I believe was the first time ever. I darn near cried watching this performance. The love and mutual respect between the two of them was palpable. Nas told us about the complicated relationship with his dad on Poppa Was a Playa so to witness their chemistry as two musicians on stage was incredible.

~1985, Jamaica, Queens - I scored my very first autograph from DMC of Run-DMC while walking with my mother to the store. Living in southeast Queens, I would go on to see the trio countless times later on. (Jay, R.I.P., apparently dated to a girl who lived in my neighborhood.) I was over autographs shortly after that but I will always cherish that first one. D wrote: Go to school don’t be a fool. I know that is beyond corny now but I was a freakin’ kid and that autograph stayed on my bedroom wall for months.

1997 or 1998, Philly - One of my best friends went to the University of Pennsylvania so Penn Relays was a must-do every spring during my college days. I saw the best concert (and I’ve been to some pretty good ones) of my life for all of ten dollars , at most twelve. Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, The Lost Boyz, Redman, The Fugees - there was even a couple of dancehall artists thrown in the mix. The line-up might not seem that hot but the energy each act brought to the stage was the best part. (Tress, help me out on the year. It’s all a blur now, lol.)

Spring 2002, Guinea, West Africa - During my first trip to the motherland, I got into a pretty intense convo with some local dudes about the then Jay-Z and Nas beef. This was such an eye-opening experience for me. Sure, I’d heard/read rappers describe the love they got overseas. But to witness in person the passion these cats in Guinea (a very small, underdeveloped country by American standards) had for the artform was priceless.

Summer 2008, Central Park, NYC - The 25th Anniversary of Video Music Box Concert was without a doubt one of my highlights this summer. And it was free! Anyone who grew up in the NY tri-state area in the ‘80s and/or ‘90s understands the sincere love and admiration I have for VMB. Ralph McDaniels was honored for his contribution to hip-hop and NYC and there were performances from Nice and Smooth, Special Ed, The Lost Boyz (Hey, I’m from Queens.), Naughty by Nature, Chubb Rock (He murdered the stage!), and a bunch of old-school acts my brother would have loved to see. By the way, in the early days of VMB, Uncle Ralph played videos from Madonna (yes, Madonna) to Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. It wasn’t solely hip-hop.

I have many, many more but I gotta go. What are your fave hip hop moments folks?

P.S. - Why does this post feel so Brown Sugar-ish?

Halle Berry Is Going To Have Another Baby?

2008-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Halle Berry is giving birth to another bambino soon! Well, sorta kind of. The Oscar winner isn't actually pregnant (that I know of) but WWD reported yesterday that she plans to launch a fragrance in conjunction with Coty. Halle by Halle Berry is scheduled to hit stores in March of 2009 and will be fairly affordable by my standards. Prices are reported to start at $17 for .5 oz.; maxing at $35 for 1.7 oz. A shower gel and deodorant spray are also going to be in the mix.

Top notes are supposed to be Sicilian bergamot, fig leaves and pear blossom; the heart is of freesia petals, hibiscus flower and ultra mimosa, and the drydown is of sandalwood, driftwood, cashmere musk, olibanum absolute and sensual amber. I have no idea what that will smell like. It seems like a lot though. I think I'm sticking to my fave oil, Kai. Anyhoo, the new mother had this to say about her scent: "I have a baby and this baby -my fragrance- is about to be born. If I'm going to call it Halle, it had better be something that I'm really invloved with and proud of."

You guys know how I feel about celebrity designed lines. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Halle is the face/name behind this new scent and not really "creating" anything. Coty produces half (give or take) of all the other celebrity scents on this very saturated market. When I was studying at FIT, there was actually a major called Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing. This is a very serious (and lucrative) business and takes much more skill than 'add a little more vanilla here'. But, I cannot be mad at Halle for this venture at all. Kudos to her for making (more) moves.

By the way, if you are really into fragrances, be sure to check out my friend Barney's blog. He gives the lowdown on all things scent related.

Enjoy your weekend!

I Know What Men Like, Part Dos

2008-10-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

So as promised, below is the second part of the candid convo with my friend Anslem in a quest to find out what men truly think about what women wear. In part one, we got an idea of what he liked (sweatpants!) and didn’t like (make-up) among other interesting tidbits. We also played a game of Rate This Look. Here are Anslem’s responses to pictures of some women who generally have a style I dig. Anslem didn’t always agree. Check it out:

Michelle Obama: Michelle falls into like the Wall Street type and that can be extremely sexy. She’s an older woman and she definitely has it going on.

Vanessa Simmons: She looks approachable here. To me, this is sexy even though she’s just wearing a [basic] top and jeans with her hair in a ponytail under a hat.

Rihanna: Rihanna is tricky because she has a lot of different styles. Sometimes she is too much for me. The yellow jeans look is the cutest. I could talk to a girl wearing that. And the white dress on the right is extremely elegant. The haircut works for her too, she has a big forehead.

Lauryn Hill: She just has a beautiful face. Some might argue that she looks like a little boy here [with the hat and scarf] but she has gorgeous lips, eyes and complexion. I knew her style better back in ’98 when she was wearing locks but she’s still an attractive woman.

Kelis: She can be a hot mess sometimes. To me, this is not attractive. She’s trying too hard. That side hike is too high. Sometimes different isn’t good. I had to hold my laughter in when Ans responded to this one. I happen to love Kelis in this dress!

Gabrielle Union: This dress is form-fitting but not too much. She’s wearing it well; the color compliments her skin. When she smiles, her whole face lights up. By the way, Gabby is still my girl crush.

That’s all folks. Some of Anslem’s responses were kinda expected: confidence is sexy, trying too hard isn’t. Ya know, the sorta thing men say "on record" all the time. However other stuff really surprised me: sweatpants and long , flowy skirts can be a turn-on, over-the-top lingerie (often) is not. How many times have I freaked out in the past because (ahem) I didn’t have on a "matching set"! Geez…

Were you surprised by any of Anselm’s thoughts? Why or why not? I wanna know so leave me a comment and share your own opinions por favor.

I Know What Men Like (Garter Belts and Bright Red Lipstick ? Nope. Sweatpants? Absolutely!) - Part 1 of 2

2008-10-01T04:47:00.000-07:00

I hoped that title would get your attention. Truth is, I interviewed one man, Anslem (at length) to get his opinion on what women wear - from our hair to our shoes. I got this post idea while having dinner with Mr. TK one night and him calling me out (he’s good for that) about looking another woman up and down. I know, I know: shame on me. But, it got me to thinking that women often check out what other women are wearing much more than men notice what we’re wearing. And just in case you still think that your crush will notice your Nine West pumps are actually Christian Louboutin knock-offs, I interviewed my friend Anslem to prove you wrong. (Oh and if your crush does notice the difference well, you might need to re-evaluate some things…)

I interviewed Anslem because I think he’s honest, has his ish together and is representative of many guys I (and you) know. But again, he’s one man. I cannot confirm that his opinions reflect those of your man or even the man you want to be your man. But, if you continue reading ladies (and gents since I do have some male readers - what up Barney!), I guarantee you’ll learn a few things. I surely did. And by the way, Anslem holds down a blog himself called Naked With Socks On where he skillfully writes about everything from politics to relationships. Good stuff.

So, I started the interview off by asking Anslem what female celebs always make him do a double-take in the style department. Here’s what he said:

Kerry Washington: She glows. And she has a very warm smile and a cute overbite but it works for her. Her teeth are sparkling white.

Jill Scott: She seems real through her voice and her words. She carries herself very well for a full-figured woman.

Jada Pinkett Smith: She’s getting older but she is even more attractive. When I think of her, I think of strength and confidence.

Ciara: Surprised? Me too. Seems Anslem is mucho impressed by Ciara’s maturity and grace. He claims that she is very level-headed for her age. He also said he likes the way her style has evolved from tomboyish teenager to classy young woman.

And although he didn’t mention her during our interview, apparently Res makes him do a triple-take…

Next, I had him tell me his preferences on a few things that almost always seem to come up in grown folks convos…

natural hair vs. relaxed hair - Natural hair is his weakness -- locks, twists, afros, he loves them all. He also appreciates a woman with a short cut. There is a certain confidence that she evokes he says.

lingerie vs. a wife beater and boy shorts - Both have pluses according to Anslem but those over-the-top va, va voom corset, garter belt situations make him think of hookers. Which he goes on to admit might not be a bad thing depending on his mood, but generally isn't his preference.

heels vs. flats - He's not opposed to flats but thinks woman strut differently when they're wearing heels. There is even something sexy about the 'clicking' noise they make.

make-up vs. well, no make-up - I wanna know what you look like says Ans. He no likey the foundation and powder plus he thinks it makes a woman seem like she's trying to cover up something.

I also found out his biggest turn-ons and turn-offs:

turn-offs- [tight jeans/pants that create] muffin-tops
- panty waste (You gotta read his hilarious post about this.)
- ashy feet/heels in sandals

turn-ons- sweatpants (without words or logos on the butt area) - Anslem says, "If you can attract me when you’re wearing sweats, then when you’re really dressed…"
- high heels - They add to her walk, they raise her bottom, draw attention to her calves. Who knew that heels alter the way our butts look????
- long, flowy skirts (The way it moves around the body is what gets him.)

So it looks like men (or at least men who think like Anslem) certainly do notice what we wear and how we wear it but couldn’t care any less about labels or even trends. The fact that you managed to score the same clutch that Rihanna carried during Milan’s Fashion Week certainly might impress your girls. But that cutie pie you’ve been eyeing in the gym? Not so much. And please know that I’m in NO WAY encouraging anyone to dress (solely) for a man’s attention. How lame would that be? Mr. TK loathes my animal print rain boots but that surely hasn’t stopped me from wearing them. But, I do hope that everyone keeps this post in mind when agonizing over what to wear on that date with the cutie pie from the gym. I’m not suggesting you wear sweats (although that just might be what got you the date), but don’t fret because you don’t have a new DVF wrap dress to rock either.

Ladies (and gents), what do you think? Did you learn anything? Are Anslem’s views similar to yours or those of your significant other? Discuss, please. And Anslem, muchas gracias for your patience and letting me pick your brain!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for part 2!

The "Historical" All-Black Vogue Italia: What’s Next?

2008-09-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

Alrighty now, let’s get right to it. The all-Black Italian Vogue was nothing short of a phenomenon. If you recall, I certainly had my doubts about the concept initially. And as far as the motivation and philosophy behind it goes; I still kinda do. Again, Black women are not novelties. Although I sorta felt like one when I visited Italy back in 2000 and every third man I passed in the street was calling me "bella" and seemingly undressing me even though I wore jeans and loose tees most of the trip. However, even I can’t deny the significance this issue has made (and continues to make) on the fashion and publishing worlds.

There was a bunch of hype and buzz about the issue from the moment it first hit the world wide web. Then an even greater reaction when it finally got here. (Remember how EVERYONE was losing their minds looking for it?) And now that it has come and gone, I think we’re seeing a significant domino situation. We Americans are great at following… Are we really surprised that Italy beat American Vogue to this? Nah. Think back to all the folks like Josephine Baker who went across the pond in order for their careers to flourish because the U.S. didn’t embrace them. For the record, Europeans most definitely have their share of racial hang-ups. The colorism that exist even between Northern Italians and Southern Italians is real. (Folks in the north tend to be lighter than those in the south.) But back to my point - I wasn’t at all surprised that Italy did something like this before American Vogue. Anna did try to save face with that Is Fashion Racist? feature in the July issue but it was a day late and a dollar short.

The issue itself actually wasn’t all-Black at all which I found umm, interesting. But what I find even more interesting is that it sold more issues than ANYONE expected. As I mentioned here on PPT before, the "J" months are typically slow times in publishing. In January, the perception is everyone is all spent out from the holidays and in June and July, folks are traveling/on vacay. So, advertisers don’t spend a lot of money to be in these issues. The fact that this was a July issue and is reported as being the best-selling issue for Italian Vogue - ever - is amazing. Not to mention, it kills any and all myths about Black faces not being able to sell on mainstream covers. Not only can they sell, but they can sell-out! No longer can a Conde Nast, Hearst or Hachette editor sit in an edit planning meeting and utter the words that people of color "don’t sell". Folks, that is MAJOR!

Below are the biggest and most noticeable events that have taken place since the now infamous all-Black Vogue Italia hit newsstands:

- Dominican model Arlenis Sosa landed the coveted gig as the new face of Lancome. It’s about time the industry recognized that Latinas can be dark brown too.
- Sophie Theallet used all Black models for her Spring 2009 show in NYC earlier this month.
- Chanel Iman scored the cover of the current issue of Time Style & Design.
- People mag put the Obama family on a cover in July. Original photography too, not pick-up. Apples and oranges? I don’t think so. Remember, "trends" in fashion are usually a reflection of what's going on in society. I hope this is more than a trend though.
- More and more brown faces are showing up in features for mainstream mags.
- People of color are increasingly hired in top positions (that they deserve and earned!) at major publications, design houses, model/casting agencies and advertising agencies. Okay so this last one is simply wishful thinking on my part. Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?

Do you think I forgot something? Are you feeling my sentiments about this issue or do you think I’m all wrong? Leave me a comment and let me know.

By the way, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the woman who, in my opinion, started all of this: BETHANN HARDISON. I still don’t agree with all of Bethann’s opinions on this matter, but I’m glad she had the courage to start the conversation. Kudos!

P.S. - I’m finally going to see In the Heights this evening. I’m so excited!

Handbags, Voting and Other Randomness

2008-09-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post my (long overdue) feedback to the Italian "All Black" Vogue today but no cigar. I'll try to get it up this weekend. I have an interview to transcribe for PPT that will post later this week, phone calls to return (MJ, are you reading?) and a lucrative but tedious freelance gig to work on. And I have fam (my mom!) visiting me from out of town this week. But this isn't a "woe is me" post. I'm actully feeling good, although VERY sleepy. I love having my fam around me, epecially the immediate folks. Love and my mother's potato salad (she made some for me Sunday) really does conquer all. Plus, I received the sweetest text message from Mr. TK on Monday. It was not too sappy but contained the perfect amount of sugar to make me say "Awwww!" outloud in public.

And then, I discovered the bag below. Isn't she a certified cutie pie? I think so too. She's one of my latest crushes. Surprising too since I'm not a female that typically likes pink. Actually, I tend to avoid it. But here, it somehow works for me.

The size is just right (roomy enough to hold all my stuff), the nickel hardware looks on point against the hue and the "is it or isn't it patent leather?" sheen adds the right amount of panache. I'm on a spending fast of sorts so I have no plans on purchasing this bag. Nada. But my mother taught me that it doesn't cost anything to look. For those of you who aren't fasting in the finance department, she can be yours for $450 bucks. Oh and she's only available via J.Crew's website or catalog. Like most crushes, I'll probably be over this very, very soon but in the meantime, I wanted to share. Cole Haan's accessories this season are pretty sick too...

One more thing before I go, I sincerly home all PPT readers in the U.S. of A. are registered to vote. Seriously. But just in case you aren't and/or know someone who isn't, click here. And to find out exactly when the deadline to register is for your state, click here.

The British Are Coming! (Well, a lil' bit later...)

2008-09-19T05:12:00.000-07:00

So after all the hype about Topshop coming across the pond, owner Sir Philip Green just announced that the addictive British retailer has delayed their American debut until spring of 2009. Green stresses that the delay has nothing to do with our current economy and everything to do with logistical hiccups. My Mr. TK works on construction/contracting projects all the time so I know all about a job being scheduled for completion a few months before it is actually done. Ish happens.

In the meantime and in between time, folks who can't wait to get their hands on some Topshop finds can head to their new U.S. website. For those of you still out of the loop, Topshop is the biggest and most popular place to shop on the British High Street. They offer everything from earrings and leggings to coats and boots. Shopping there is often just an experience in itself, especially at the flagship store on Oxford Street. I still think part of the thrill of snagging a Topshop find as an American is feeling that it is at least somewhat exclusive - but I digress. And when I go to London next summer (yes, I'm already plotting my next vacay) I'm still hitting up Topshop whether the U.S. store has opened or not. Big C, are you with me?

THANK GOODNESS IT IS FRIDAY!

Money, Money, Money, Mo-ney: We are in an economic catastrophe but guess who’s still shopping?

2008-09-17T04:02:00.001-07:00

FALL MEANS BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING! Don't believe the hype...

Okay, so I didn’t plan to blog on this topic until the weekend when I had a moment to flesh out my thoughts but I gotta get some stuff off my chest. In light of the recent ish that has gone down in the finance world, I needed to post now and find out what others were feeling. In hindsight, maybe my boy Ans was a catalyst for this post. First off, I must admit my knowledge of the financial industry is quite limited. However, one of my friends who traveled with me to South Africa is an auditor and over dinner one night she attempted to explain the significance of the recent Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae events. I still don’t understand most of it but I know that basically, ish is really effed up. And then the news of Lehman Brothers on Monday and AIG yesterday just put alcohol on an open wound. (And am I crazy for wondering where our country got $85 bill from?)

And I’m sure there is more to come.

Hey, I have no right to criticize how other folks spend their dough because my own financial house is not completely in order. I’m trying but I certainly have my moments. C’mon, do I really need a Freakum Dress? (Btw, I am going to find one for much less than $200 now.) I believe in balance and moderation. You know, working hard and playing hard. But folks who break their necks to get spanking new outfits for themselves or their children to wear on September 2nd is bananas to me. In most parts of the country, it is still hot when kids return to school. Who made the mandate that "summer clothes" couldn’t be worn after Labor Day? Said person should be fired! I plan to wear my summer threads well into October and will transition in fall pieces as necessary. Sure I already have my eye on a couple pairs of boots and a coat or two but I know those items will probably be on sale in a few weeks. Most retailers will be aiming to get their holiday merchandise out by mid/late October. And because of the disappointing year most have had in terms of sales, they will be trying even harder than usual to make up for it last quarter.

Perhaps because I wore a uniform to school from first through eighth grade, I don’t get the desire to wear something new the first time a little chill hits the air. Especially since I’m not a trust-fund kid. Truth be told, old money is rarely pressed to show off new wares every season anyway. It is the rest of us (and the new money having peeps) who have accepted that role.

I realize how important image is to most of our careers but as my mother says, I can’t let my wardrobe get on my dinner table. (Leave me a comment if you don’t get that.) In a couple of weeks, I am gonna try to make another trip out to Beacon’s Closet. And I’m keeping my rule of waiting at least 24 hours before I buy something - if it is meant for me, it will still be available the next day. Although I don’t have children of my own, I am not buying any of my nieces or godchildren clothes for a minute. Books, savings bonds, dance/piano lessons are much less depreciating.

How are you trying to save money in our current grim economy but still stay fly? Have recent events with the stock market and such made you rethink dropping a G on that new purse?

Happy Born Day BLB, Sr.! I miss you much.

My Very Own Fashion Week in South Africa

2008-09-16T04:40:00.009-07:00

So as I mentioned, I traded in the Bryant Park tents this season for a jaunt in the motherland. My usual recap of the NY shows will resume in February 2009. In the meantime though, I advise those of you who want a fresh perspective (beyond the celeb rehashing) of what went down during Fashion Week in NYC to check out Robin Givhan's blog here. She also covers the Paris and Milan shows. She didn't win that Pulitzer for nuthin' honey.

In the meantime though, I thought it would be cool to compare what I did in South Africa last week to what I would have been doing here in NY had I stayed home and share it with you. By the way, a post (or 2) on the trip itself is coming - I'm still uploading photos and getting my life back in order. *sigh*

THE TOP THREE WAYS SPRING 2009 NY FASHION WEEK IS MORE LIKE SOUTH AFRICA THAN I THOUGHT...

1 - I always do a lot of people watching at the shows. What folks are wearing in the tents and the off-site venues is practically as important as what they are wearing on the runway.

1b - I did a whole lot of people watching on my vacay. From the time I left JFK (the airline stewardesses on S.A. Airways were rocking these funky scaves) to the moment I boarded my last flight in Jo'burg.

2 - Everyone at the shows was buzzing about the upcoming election I'm sure. Really, how could they not?

2b - I had no less than three in-depth convos with native South Africans about Obama. It reminded me how much the rest of this world is watching and are anticipating November 4th as much (perhaps more) as we are.

3 - For me, going to the shows is obviously about trend spotting for the next season but it is also a way to get inspired about well...everything. Runway is typically driven by fantasy (things are scaled down considerably for retail) and after viewing a few shows I get all sorts of ideas on everything from how to decorate my kitchen to trying out a new haircolor.

3b - While Cape Town was certainly the more cosmopolitan part of my trip (Madison Avenue has nothing on the V&A Waterfront), I was styilshly inspired by the safari and game reserve leg of my journey as well. God makes no mistakes and the way colors and textures blend and contrast with each other in nature is brillant. Not even the best trend forecasters could pull it off. It is no coincidence that designers are always claiming to get inspiration for their collections from "the bush", huh?

P.S. - My Freakum Dress update and the long overdue Italian Vougue recap posts are coming soon and very soon.

Greetings From Cape Town!

2008-09-08T10:29:00.001-07:00

Hey, hey, hey!

It has been a minute since my last post (my bad) but I've had a lot going on over the last week. I had to get ready for my (insert drumroll here) vacation to South Africa! That's right, I finally made that voyage I've mentioned many times before on this here blog. In a word, I am PROUD.

I plan to post a full report on this trip when I return to the States next week. It will be complete with pictures, links and maybe even a video - I told y'all I have a new camera so watch out! Because my girl Cocoa brought along her handy laptop, I had a moment before dinner to check my email and decided to update PPT a lil' bit. Despite the weather (it is kinda cold and raining here), I am having a ball. Today I went to Cape Point (where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet), went to a warm penguin beach, read up on Nelson Mandela at a museum and checked out the V&A Waterfront. And there is still so much else to do and see. I am pumped! Later in the week we are checking out Jo'Berg.

Well, I gotta run. It's time for me to get changed for dinner. I know that I'm missing NY Fashion Week but this is SOOOOOO (yes, I needed all six o's) worth it. Besides, I'm getting a good dose of international style right where I am. Don't worry, I'll blog all about it.

Life is good. Rain and all.