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

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!

One to Watch: Baltimore's Rye Rye

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!