Heart, Print & Style

Grammys '25

2025-02-03T12:08:00.002-05:00

Kendrick Lamar rockin' a Canadian Tuxedo.
Not Like Us was 5 for 5 last night, including Best Record and Best Song.
Hence him cradling his 5 Grammys.

Truly didn't want to have the next post be about an awards show...but here we are, about to get into the 2025 Grammys.

Hosted by Trevor Noah (this has to be, like, his 10th time or something...shit, it feels like it), the 3.5 hour concert turned out to be a good one. I can't think of any performer who faltered on stage or made me zone out. Everyone kinda sorta brought their A-game. Oh and the show must run it back with the Best New Artist performance block for next year and onwards. Because, that? That was a success and so enjoyable to watch.

They even found time to insert a Luka Doncic trade joke. It was funny but too damn soon. Too soon. I'm still hurt.

When Kendrick Lamar (and DJ Mustard) won Best Record of the Year for Not Like Us, the song was playing as they walked towards the stage, much to the audience's delight. See folks dancing and rapping along. Eventually, it got to the part of "Tryin' strike a chord and it's probably...", and tell me why damn near the WHOLE audience loudly with their full chest yelled out, "...A MINORRRRRRRRR!" Oh my word. I was tickled. My word.

Also, the Grammys folks ain't slick. There was NO NEED to start playing the song around that part. They were feenin' for the audience reaction. And it delivered. I was very much tickled. Like, damn, this is really happening in 4K. That was a personal dig at Drake. Cause years ago, Drake got on that stage after a win and was in the middle of calling out the Grammys when his mic got cut off. And he never showed up to the awards show since.

Kendrick has won in life.

Speaking of winning, big up to him, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, Shakira, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga (won as a duo), and Beyonce who won the coveted Best Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. Total BS, by the way. This was definitely a sympathy, "Damn, here!" win. I mean, Lemonade was right there. RIGHT there. But nooooo. Give it to Adele and the mid-ass 25. Whew. Don't get me started, man.

Fashion time!

Alicia Keys in Dolce & Gabbana
I haven't been noticing but she's back to wearing makeup.
Her outfit sucks. Too much going on that doesn't make sense.
I'm sure there's a meaning behind what she's wearing. But nah.

Cardi B in Roberto Cavalli
How folks are bothering Rihanna about her next album, that's how I am with Cardi.
Cause, where IS the album?
Her dress is nice. She's a fashun girly, afterall.

Doechii in Thom Browne
I pronounce her name with a thick Igbo accent cause her name reminds me of the Igbo name 'Udochi'.
She hands down had the best performance of the night AND the best speech of the night.
Do I like what she's wearing? Not really.
However, the Thom Browne brand fits her aesthetic.

Jaden Smith in Louis Vuitton
Apparently the castle on his head is worth $4K+.
Whatever.

Miley Cyrus in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello
Besides the overly large stomach cut-out, she looks great.
Pure rock star vibez.

Paris Hilton in Chrome Hearts
Believe it or not, the aviators make the look.
The nude color matches her skin and, of course, boring!
Color would've set this off and truly brought the 70s vibe.

Sabrina Carpenter in JW Anderson
For me, her performance was one of the best of the night.
She's bringing old glamour. Her makeup is too harsh, tho.

Shaboozey in Diesel
Ah! My Igbo/DC area brotha!
~~Obinna Chibueze~~ Shaboozey didn't win any awards, unfortunately.
Love his jacket from the color to the design.
I just wished the top and pants had a bit more pizazz.

Taylor Swift in Vivienne Westwood
T-Swizzle is my girl but, my word, is she blah.
She needs a fashion and hair intervention, like, yesterday.
And you just know, she thinks the "T" tattoo is genius.
"Yeah, it's for Travis. But if we ever break up, the "T" will stand for me and my strength."
The biggest eye roll.

Willow Smith in McQueen
Similar to her brother, she came through with a slightly gimmicky look.
But it works.
LOVE the hair.

Zuri Hall
While I'm not feeling the hair style much, the dress is stunning.
I'm a sucker for brighter colors on the red carpet.
Enough with the blacks and reds.

If you're up for some more reading, check out the Grammys 10 years ago - Grammys 2015

Golden Globes '25

2025-01-06T07:37:00.001-05:00

Janelle James in Christian Siriano

Awards season has officially begun!

Thank you, Golden Globes, for gracing our various screens last night. I, for one, was delighted. So much so, I decided to blow off the dust on this blog and do a red carpet fashion recap.

The host this year was Nikki Glaser, famous for appearances on a number of tv roasts. She brought a lot of the same vibes to the show and I gotta say, she did great. I genuinely laughed and gasped throughout her opening number. And prior to the show was, of course, the "esteemed" E! red carpet. Big up to Zuri Hall and Heather McMahan for being great hosts and mixing up the questions for a bit of interest. Giuliana Rancic and Laverne Cox were NOT missed. At all. Like, at all. Please don't ever bring them back. Thank you.

Congratulations to Zoe Saldana, Shōgun and its two leads, Baby Reindeer and its two leads, Kieran Culkin, Sebastian Stan, Demi Moore, and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear is NOT a comedy, by the way. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Great show, though.)

Alrighty, fashion time.

Pamela Anderson in Oscar de la Renta
I'm loving the resurgence of Miss Pamela.
And this is a prime example of not using the excuse of being 'makeup free' to half-ass a look.
From the hair to the chic vintage inspired black dress + gloves combo, Pamela looks great.

Colman Domingo in Valentino
He has quickly become one of my favorite best dressed men on the red carpet.
Yay to mixed prints!
What's crazy, though, is this look is just okay. Maybe putting him at such high standards is a bit unfair. But hey, he's worn better.

Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton
Ah. The lady who loves fashun.
This is pretty.
Yes, the middle "peplum" is too much. Looks removeable, too. Which kinda cheapens the dress.
But overall? It's pretty.

Elle Fanning in Balmain
Those damn Fanning sisters love themselves some nude.
Hair and makeup, A1.
The more I look at the dress, the more I like...?
Cause at first, the animal print threw me off.
But now? It works.
Nude coloring and all.

Felicity Jones in Prada
She looks like she got lit up. Straight up. The dress got bullet holes.
Bullet holes and glass fragments, apparently.
Her hair and makeup aren't helping, either.

Eddie Redmayne in Valentino
Wearing prints on the red carpet will always garner brownie points from me.
His suit is a smidgen too tight. The shirt is giving priest.
In fact, the look could've been elevated if the shirt was in a bold color instead of a color that not only matches the print but also his skin tone.

Zoe Saldana in Saint Laurent
When she appeared on the red carpet, I gasped.
Cause was I seeing a deep chocolate sequin dress with a chocolate overcoat?
Immediately my best dressed of the night.
When she appeared on stage after winning Best Supporting Female Actor, I sighed.
It was a black sequin dress, all along.
No longer my best dressed of the night.
Is it brown or is it black, dammit?!
And the necklace wasn't needed.

Jeremy Strong in Loro Piana
What in the Jamiroquai world is going on here?
I had myself a good hearty laugh when Jeremy popped up on my screen.
Cause, whaaaa?
Well, the color is nice.

Zendaya in Louis Vuitton
Another person who knows what she's doing on the red carpet.
The hair ages her but I understand why it was needed.
With Law Roach (her forever stylist), there's always a story to tell. From head to toe.
She's worn better. But can't deny she's looks great.
I peep the wedding ring, too.

What's some more? Let's rewind: Golden Globes '15.

A Brand New Year

2024-10-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

Alternate Title: It's Your Gyal Birthday.

It's gonna be a pretty chill day...I think. I mean, it's only 7:33 am - a little too early to predict how the whole day's gonna turn out. But, hey, doesn't hurt to call it.

The past year has been good to me. Yes, the highs and lows happened but at the end of the day, I'm still survivin' and standing. We thank God! I try not to dwell too much on the what ifs. I'm more of a it is what it is.

Funny how I've been bitchin' and moanin' to my sister and some of my friends how much I've missed blogging. And yet, I'm finding it difficult to fill up this entry. A complete writer's block. On my birthday. Even if I end this post here, at least I published a post, right? Something I've been willing myself to do for the past year. Well, I can't end this post without some kinda reference to my style. That's pretty much the foundation of this blog.

So here's me wearing this beautiful colorful dress to a wedding out in Houston earlier this month. When considering this dress for purchase, I kept in mind Houston's weather. I was like, okay, it's sheer in the sleeves...it's off shoulder. I'm good. I can manage an 80s fall weather in H-Town. Turned out to be closer to 95 degrees under the clear blue sky, the sun pouring its mighty steady rays on us. The only saving grace was the low humidity. But I survived! Another aspect to consider with this dress is the corset bust - barely covered my DDs. It'll fit perfectly for the A-C ladies, though. Completed the look rocking this iridescent beauty of a bag from Brandon Blackwood and statement earrings from KHOI.

And here's how you know your girl has a lot of fine tuning to get done: I have no full outfit photos. None. Just selfies and group photos. Oh dear.

Dress - ASOS Curve

Baby steps.

Tom's Watch Bar National Harbor

2023-10-18T09:19:00.004-04:00

Fall season is here. The best time of the year, indeed. And you know what this means for a lot of folks: sporting events are in full effect!

Here in the DC area, there are plenty of sport bars. But what about a sports bar and restaurant with Topgolf Swing Suites? Such a place exist and it's called Tom's Watch Bar.

photo c/o John Robinson via The List Are You On It

photo c/o Tom's Watch Bar

I was invited to their newest location at National Harbor for their soft launch event. Y'know, as much as I really LOVE to watch certain sport games (looking at you: NBA, tennis, gymnastics, figure skating...), I rarely hit up my local sports bar to watch these games. On this particular April evening, the launch event coincided with the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game.

I met the co-owner of Tom's Watch Bar, Mr. Tom, himself. He shared his plans to open more locations nationwide and potentially another location here in DC (the recently opened Navy Yard location). Speaking of which, he truly loves DC - especially its thriving food scene. In fact, he said DC is where he comes to have fun! I've been trying to tell people: DC is all work. But when Thursday rolls around, that's when the weekend truly begins and we know how to play.

Okay, back to the venue.

Tom's Watch Bar is the ultimate place to have a true sports watching experience. It's massive! TV screens everywhere so there's no way you'd miss a sports play. For those who enjoy a competitive match, the two Topgolf Swing Suites will scratch that itch. You'd still get the sports bar vibe but the elevated dining experience kicks in with their expansive food menu and specialty drinks. Plus the fantastic outside wraparound dining area provides stunning views of the National Harbor Ferris Wheel.

If I lived in National Harbor (and I was thisclose), Tom's Watch Bar would absolutely be one of my weekly stomping grounds.

Spring/Summer Lightweight Cardigan

2023-06-06T14:04:00.005-04:00

The weather here in the DC area has been cooler than normal (no complaints from me!) This Misook cardigan was the right choice for a recent outdoor happy hour.

Initially, I wanted to wear it with blue ripped jeans but something about a pair of straight faded black jeans against the white cardigan with sharp black applique spoke to me. I guess it's the vibe of preppy + casual. Hence why I finished the look with faux fur lined black mules.

And this is what Misook wants potential shoppers to know - yes, they're a luxury brand but a wearable luxury brand. A high quality Misook sophisticated cardigan can be worn with your favorite pair of jeans to run errands or have a quick bite or go for happy hour with friends.

Usually wearing cardigans in the summer months would have me dry heaving; I run hot. However this cardigan not only looks great and feels great (recycled knit) but it's lightweight. A win all around. I'm wearing an XL/18. Currently, I'm a size XXL/20 so I was slightly worried about the fit. Thankfully, it's has a bit of stretch everywhere except the shoulder seams.

Misook is so excited for their upcoming campaign - "With Jeans" - they've offered you a discount code to use on your next purchase - HEARTPRINTSTYLE10Jeans. And don't forget to check out the sale section, too!

Met Gala '23

2023-05-02T21:21:00.001-04:00

Everyone's favorite red carpet fashion show (well, everyone who loves and/or appreciates FASHUN) happened on the 1st Monday of May. The theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.

Basically, if the well-known person chooses to, they'll dress in homage of Mr. Lagerfeld (see above photo of Ke Huy Quan in Dior Men for example) or the many houses he oversaw including Balmain, Chanel, and Fendi.

Compared to years past, this red carpet was just okay. No "WOW!" moment. Or even a viral/watercooler moment...besides the cockroach who made an appearance.

Let's get into some of my favorites:

Cardi B in Chenpeng Studio

Anok Yai in Prabal Gurung

Kerry Washington in Michael Kors

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Thom Browne
I absolutely LOVE when men appreciate fashion.
Since his team didn't make the NBA playoffs, Shai is clearly using his free time wisely.
He looks fantastic.

Teyana Taylor in Thom Browne

Michaela Coel in Schiaparelli Couture
This is actually an ugly dress but it has a lot of impact.
The hair, makeup, and accessories are all on point.
Small nitpick - wrong shoes.

Halle Bailey in Gucci
See our Ariel looking all angelic and sultry at the same damn time.

Sora Choi in Thom Browne

*photos c/o NY Times and Vanity Fair

Two-Piece Skirt Set

2023-04-13T22:34:00.001-04:00

I'm delighted the matching set/co-ord set/two-piece set trend is still going strong after so many years.

This look was worn for dinner at Parlour Victoria. The one shoulder crop top and the high thigh slit on the skirt makes for interesting details. And because the ruched skirt is high waist, at times the matching set looks like a dress.

Crop Top + Skirt: ASOS Curve
Bag: Louis Vuitton via The RealReal

Which leads to why this trend is so versatile - because it can be worn together creating a standout look (in some cases, folks may think it's a dress or a one piece). Then on the other end, the items can be worn separately with other pieces creating multiple looks. For example: the crop top can be paired with jeans and the skirt styled with a tank top and a cropped jacket. The possibilities are endless.

Being Nigerian, I'm used to matching sets (or "up and down"). It's quite the norm for men and women, boys and girls to have the tailor/seamstress create a top and bottom in the same beautiful fabric to be worn together.

Since spring/summer is here, I made sure to curate season appropriate matching sets:

Parlour Victoria

2023-04-12T18:54:00.000-04:00

I was invited to have dinner at Parlour Victoria, a fine dining seafood tavern located inside the Moxy DC (City Center neighborhood).

After taking the obligatory outside photo, I stepped inside to the sound of groovy music. It turned out to be the live entertainment for the evening.

Kevin Koa

Parlour Victoria, a remodeled two-story row house, immediately felt cozy and luxurious. A winding staircase divides the two floors and exposed brick walls exude warmth. The seating areas are a nice mix of chairs and cushy couches while vintage inspired mirrors adorn the walls. The overall effect? Sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere where you feel right at home.

The 2nd floor is a bit more relaxed, perfect for intimate conversations. And hey, you may even end up having fun banter with the table next to yours (this happened to me).

The food was delicious. No seriously. Perfectly cooked seafood, tasty creative dishes, yummy drinks. Man, we left outta there beyond full. While we didn't take advantage of their raw seafood, we took advantage of, well, everything else including Seared Rockfish and Maryland Crab Cakes.

Seared Rockfish with mussels, pancetta potato gnocchi, sea beans, buttered leek brodo

Fried Oysters

Loaded Crab Fries

Ebony & Ivory Pot de Creme (left)
Warm Cosmic Crisp Apple Cake with Honeycomb Ice Cream (right)

Despite a slight issue with our initial seating (table area wasn't cleaned and while the waitstaff did their best to rectify the situation, we felt more comfortable with a new table on the 2nd floor), the service was top notch. Our waitress was amazing! And Delroy, the general manager, stopped by our table throughout to ensure everything was great.

After dinner, Delroy gave us a sneak peek of the hotel's newly launched rooftop, Lucha Rosa. With a retractable roof, an expansive terrace and colorful decor, Lucha Rosa will bring their upscale South Mexican vibes to DC.

Overall, I was impressed with Parlour Victoria. Please visit and tell 'em Vivi sent you.

Parlour Victoria

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Casual...with a Twist

2023-04-05T22:08:00.003-04:00

Sweatshirts and hoodies with a twist? Count me in!

It should be noted, I don't immediately gravitate towards casual, sporty looks. In fact, I'm still, to this day, trying to perfect an athleisure look that'll work for me. There's only one pair of tennis shoes (what up Atoms!) in my closet. One.

During the 2020 Shutdown, I realized there were no sweatshirts in my closet either. None. I'm now happy to report I have a grand total of...two. As for hoodies, there's the one I purchased back in 2017 at the Backstreet Boys Vegas residency concert. Thankfully, I've added another to my sparse collection. Let's get into it.

I kinda went ham purchasing damn near everything from the Kahlana Barfield Fashion Collective for Target line last year (no longer in stock however try consignment stores like Poshmark to find pieces). And one of my favorite items was this cream hoodie with shoulder cut-out.

Perfection, right? Great mix of casual and cute. Dare I say, even sexy. See, I can definitely rock sweatshirts and hoodies with fun details.

Recently wore the hoodie to play crazy mini golf and upped the sexy factor by wearing black faux leather leggings and stacked heel booties. Even added statement earrings.

The photo above is a screenshot from a video clip. Your girl forgot to take legit outfit photos. D'oh! But hopefully, you get the idea. Sweatshirts or hoodies with trendy details like off shoulder, cut-out, or cropped can provide plenty opportunities to add some pizzazz to a casual outfit.

Swingers DC

2023-04-03T14:04:00.001-04:00

An indoor mini golf experience catered to the 21+ crowd? Say less.

Let's get into Swingers.

Deeming themselves 'the crazy golf club', Swingers is mini golf with a party atmosphere. And you can visit without even playing golf! It's a great destination for after work, night out with a group of friends or a date night. There are beautifully decorated bars with top shelf drinks, numerous aesthetically pleasing lounge sections, live DJs, a stage-like photo booth, and , the "crazy" installations at the golf courses. Starting off in London, Swingers expanded locations to NYC and DC. In fact, DC has two locations - Dupont Circle and Navy Yard. I went to the Dupont Circle location.

Food is provided by some of DC's well known street-food vendors. We tried the garlic knotties with herb butter from Kneadza (yum!) plus cajun fries and cheddar cheese burger from Lil' Succotash (double yum!). For drinks, my friend really liked the Cocktail of the Month - The New Romantic which contains Espolon Reposado tequila, Ancho Reyes, raspberry, ginger beer, and lime juice.

On my end, I had to try one of their Hampton Water Rose cherry blossom inspired drinks - Hampton 75, their twist on the French 75. Keeping to the theme, I had the drink at the Cherry Blossom Fairway Bar. The bar stood out in the venue because it was lit pink. Both the bar theme and the cherry blossom inspired drinks are available until April 16.

The New Romantic (l) and Hampton 75 (r)

As for my golf abilities. It could be better. Interestingly enough, weeks ago I watched Full Swing on Netflix (fantastic docu-series, by the way; like who would've thought golf = drama) and came away feeling like I was a pro in the game. Ha! I definitely had some struggle moments. All in good fun, though.

While there's no dress code, I highly suggest for those ready to golf to wear comfortable shoes, breathable clothing and for my purse/bag holders, a cross body. Because man, golf is a sport. One minute you're feeling cool, next minute you're sweating from all that swingin', the drinks consumed (which are allowed on the golf courses thanks to the 'caddies') and *ahem* wearing a sweatshirt, faux leather leggings, and heeled booties. Oops. Thankfully, there's a coat check. I'll utilize it for next time.

Swingers

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A Thousand and One

2023-03-30T12:32:00.003-04:00

This movie is gonna have a lot of discussions on social media platforms.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend A Thousand and One movie screening before its release date. The movie follows the 15 year journey of a mother and her son in New York City, beginning with her release from prison to her son preparing for college.

Inez the mother and Terry the son. Both raised in the foster care system...and the NYC streets. And Inez wants to forcibly change that trajectory. Their journey is not a smooth one. Filled with so many emotions, so many obstacles, and so many struggles - it'll have the viewer going on a roller coaster ride of their own emotions. Various people enter their lives: some to help, some to judge, some to turn their world upside down. And a huge secret between the mother and son hangs over them throughout each of their journeys, ready to bring chaos just as things are beginning to finally settle down.

This is not Teyana Taylor's first acting role but it is her first starring movie role. And she definitely held it down. Granted, being from Harlem (and a mother) certainly helped with her channeling the grit and determination needed to bring Inez to life. All 3 actors who portrayed the son did great as well. Terry is quiet by nature but within time we realize he uses it to shield himself from his mom's wild behaviors. Deep down, Terry loves Inez but he's also cautious of his mother. "What will mom do next?", was probably running through Terry's mind. Another actor who made their mark in the movie was William Catlett who played Lucky, Inez on-again-off-again boyfriend (and later on, husband).

The ending was something else. Nobody in the audience saw it coming. As the credits rolled, I sensed a bit of displeasure from most of the viewers. Me? Well, not all movies will have a happy ending. And not every character will be well liked.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Thousand and One even with its abrupt ending.

A Thousand and One

#athousandandone

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Denim x Denim

2023-03-23T14:07:00.003-04:00

My love for denim on denim aka the Canadian Tuxedo is everlasting. Honestly, truly.

It'll never ever ever go out of style in this home of 1. When done right, denim on denim can look chic and effortless.

If you really think about it, denim on denim is basically monochromatic. Which leads me to the most popular take on this trend: wearing similar denim shades. It usually gives off a "complete" look. Doesn't matter if the denim bottoms are skirts, shorts, or jeans (2015) - if the top is around the same denim color, you're good.

Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Fashion Collective with Kahlana Brown x Target
Sleeveless Sweater Dress: Adam Lippes x Target
Tights: Sheertex

Light denim + dark denim works, too. I remember back in 9th grade, a classmate walked into our health class wearing a blue denim shirt with black jeans. Decades later, the combo still work wonders. Here's my version with grey jeans (2010) and dark blue jeans (2013).

Keep in mind, it doesn't always have to be a top + bottom pairing. To ease yourself into this timeless trend, try denim outerwear. I did this with pairing a sleeveless longline chambray jacket with jeans (2016). But the easiest, of course, is rocking a denim jacket with a top and denim bottoms.

Since denim on denim is a spring/summer trend again, twas only right to present this post. I aim to please. And I aim to be back here in the next 5 years proclaiming once again why denim on denim will always be top tier.

Critics Choice Awards '23

2023-01-17T12:34:00.003-05:00

Thuso Mbedu in Louis Vuitton

Yo. Tell me why one of my favorite awards show ALL OF A SUDDEN decided NOT to telecast live on any broadcast or cable network. But instead, to stream.

Grrr.

It was a struggle bus trying to find where I can watch the show. Alas, it wasn't meant to be (unless I had Hulu Live or DirecTV Live). However, I do know who won thanks to the countless entertainment news outlets.

So congratulations to Zendaya, Jeremy Allen White, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary, The Dropout, Amanda Seyfried, Angela Bassett, Better Call Saul (impatiently waiting for the final season to hit Netflix), Bob Odenkirk, Giancarlo Esposito (fantastic actor, yes, but he does seem to lean into the same-ish roles, no), Niecy Nash-Betts, Ruth E. Carter, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Did I rent Knives Out on Amazon Prime to watch in preparation of Glass Onion...? Yes. Yes, I did. Which movie did I prefer? Not sure. Both had entertaining moments), and Janelle Monáe who was given the SeeHer Award. Meanwhile, she was THE best thing in the Glass Onion... movie.

Fashion time.

Janelle Monae in Vera Wang
The styling absolutely is carrying the dress.
Sure, it's sexy. But it's leaning in the tacky territory, too.

Aubrey Plaza in Louis Vuitton
Ignore her pose and facial expression. The harsh makeup. And the severe hairdo.
Focus on the dress and its beauty. Absolutely gorgeous.
Me want something similar.

Quinta Brunson in Robert Wun
Oh no no no.
This is definitely fashun but not in fun away.
As usual, though, the fit is perfection as is the proportions.

Cate Blanchett in Max Mara
This made me smile. Because it has a 'no effs given' appeal.
This is a lady who is guaranteed to win an Oscar in a few months.
And yet, she breezes through in this casual, cute dress.
Or is it a two-piece? Can't tell.

Busy Philipps in St. John
Busy also got the casual memo.
This one made me smile because, again, 'no effs given'.
But the whole look overall doesn't have any appeal.

Julie Garner in Ferragamo
She should wear bold bright colors WAY more often.
The dress is meh but love the shoes.
And the necklace wasn't needed.

Michelle Yeoh in Carolina Herrera
Came through like the movie star she is.
But let's be real, the cape jacket IS the outfit.

Paul Dano in Dolce & Gabbana
This dude is 38 but easily looks 10+ years older.
The suit embellishment placements are not stylish.
And why in the world would he wear that bland work shirt, tho?

Kerry Washington in Armani
LOVE the hair and earrings.
The dress isn't working for me.

Sheryl Lee Ralph
LOVE the hair and makeup.
I don't mind fabric nor the color.
However, the skirt portion is way to rumpled and crinkled.
Making it look like aluminum foil.

Viola Davis in Valentino
Rare to see her in a dark color.
She looks good. Would've opted for a brighter lip color.

Onto the next awards show.

Golden Globes '23

2023-01-11T12:48:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year and all that jazz. We've come upon the 2023 awards season. And starting us off, per usual, is the Golden Globes.

Based on most of the reaction I've seen on social media last night, Golden Globes may have wished to turn back the hands of time (like 10 years ago) and grab Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host again. Cause folks were not feeling Jerrod Carmichael.

Personally, I enjoyed Jerrod's outfit changes more than his hosting like the the all white outfit above by Atelier Cillian and this one by Bode:

To be fair, his style of comedy doesn't really work in a lighthearted awards show setting. It did as the SNL opener. But Golden Globes? Where folks are tipsy af and waiting to scream with laughter to release all of that tipsy-ness energy? Yeah...no. I'm sure everyone involved with this hosting choice have learnt their lesson.

Congratulations to (and there are many): Angela Bassett (first Marvel comic winner), Steven Spielberg (have no intention in watching his latest work however props to the man for still doing his thang in the directing game), Abbott Elementary, House of the Dragon (Golden Globes stay dashing awards to the 'buzziest' nominee; planning to watch even though Game of Thrones series finale still hurts), The White Lotus (really liked this second season compared to the first), Zendaya, Jeremy White Allen (Yay!!!! His work in Shameless was criminally overlooked so thankfully he's getting his correct dues for The Bear), Quinta Brunson, Amanda Seyfried (Yo. Her performance in The Dropout had me done. She deserves all of the awards!), Julia Garner, Tyler Jesse Williams, and finally, Eddie Murphy who was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award (and can I add - Eddie looked FANtastic on the stage).

Let's get into the red carpet fashion:

Letiticia Wright in Prada
She looks amazing! No critiques.

Michelle Yeoh in Armani
The color of the dress is gorgeous.
However, she looks like she's wearing a short strapless dress over a maxi skirt.
Not a good look.
The hairstyle could've been better, too.

Jennifer Coolidge in Dolce & Gabbana
It's a regular shmegular dress. And the hair is a mess.
She's definitely a fan favorite for many. However, her character on The White Lotus was hella annoying.
Honestly, as an actress, she does nothing for me.

Emma D'arcy in Acne Studios
Her red carpet game is so interesting.
A bit off kilter but it says something, y'know.
I really like this look.
LOVE the pop of blue in the hair and gloves.

Colman Domingo in Dolce & Gabbana
Quite handsome.
The suit is perfection with the right amount of embellishment.

Natasha Lyonne in Givenchy
Here's another one who's acting is...slightly overrated.
Mainly because she plays the same role.
Anywho, I like her version of All Black Everything. The hair and makeup brings a nice contrast.
A bra would've done wonders.

Tyler James William in Amiri
Man, look what a few years can do for someone.
He exudes charisma and swag (I truly hate that word but it's true).
The outfit, while not for me, was made for him.

Sheryl Lee Ralph in Aliette
And she's enjoying the hell outta her resurgence.
Well deserved.
Love the color and dress. The hair length? Not so much.

Now, we've entered the Christian Siriano segment of this post. See below for the designer's looks:

Billy Porter
One of his best red carpet looks! The color, the fit, the duality.
Amazing.

Nicole Byer
While the design screams wedding gown, it being black sequin elevates the dress.
Loving the hairdo.

Quinta Brunson
Her and her stylist (shit, her eam) knows fit, style, and fashion.
Her street style is on point. Her red carpet style is on point.
I'm a fan.

Hope you enjoyed the Golden Globes '23 post. See ya at the next awards show.

Pink Matter

2022-11-30T17:52:00.001-05:00

Why, hello there.

I'm chuckling while typing cause I just KNOW I'm getting some serious side-eyes. Like, where this bitch been? Or something way nicer than that.

Well, I've been here. Survivin'. Maintaining. Life has been life-ing. It's been quite a year for me. And to be honest, while I miss blogging so.damn.much, it just wasn't a priority of mine.

It's still not.

But I had to blog today. Had to. I promised myself I will. Even gave myself a timeline - before 6pm. It's now 5:33pm. Barely made it. But I made it.

I decided to share an outfit look from my birthday (Oct. 21). The dress is from the Cushnie x Target collab a couple years ago. This was my first time wearing the dress since it was purchased. Yes, after 2+ years, I finally wore the dress. Why? Because it finally fit my body the way I wanted.

It was the perfect dress for a birthday dinner at a sexy and hip restaurant. Styled it with black accessories to complete the look. Oooh, I wished there was a closer view of the earrings; it was so beautiful and matched perfectly with the dress! Ah well. Next time.

And there will be a next time.

Emmys '22

2022-09-13T22:13:00.002-04:00

Sheryl Lee Ralph in Brandon Blackwood
I recognized Brandon's bag immediately.
However, was stunned to find out he also designed the dress.
Not one of my favorite dresses of the night.
But let me tell you, it made a hell of an impact when she strutted to the stage
to pick up her award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

*ahem* Is this shit on?

I believe the reason for the impact was 1) her beauty and 2) her head styling from
the hairdo, hair accessories, jewelry to the makeup.
She also delivered an amazing speech.

Let's get into the Emmys 2022, which took place last night. Last time I did an Emmys recap was Emmys '19. Last time I did an awards recap was Oscars '20. At least I can blame the panorama for this. *sheepish grin*

Not gonna front, I made sure to record because I knew it wouldn't be possible to watch live since I was out celebrating my mom's birthday. Yet when I got home, roughly 1.5 hours of the show had passed and...I just fast forward through damn near everything. Fast forward the opening number. Fast forward Kenan's opening monologue. Fast forward the awkward jokes presenters ~~are forced~~ have to make before presenting the award. Fast forward the memoriam. Alladat. Fast forward. But I made sure to watch the opening of the envelope, announcement of the winners and some of the winners' speeches.

With that being said, congratulations to Zendaya (youngest two-time Lead Actress winner), Sheryl Lee Ralph (even though I was personally rooting for her co-star Janelle James, who plays the principal on Abbott Elementary), Quinta Brunson for her writing on Abbott Elementary (started from Vine now we here!), Lee Jung-jae (no need for a 2nd season of Squid Game; no need, at all), Matthew MacFadyen (stay forgetting dude is English), Succession, Julie Garner, The White Lotus (slightly overrated show; like, it was ohhhkayyy), and Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (haven't watched yet).

Alrighty, time for fashun.

Zendaya in Valentino
A classic strapless black dress...with pockets!
She looks beautiful.
No complaints.
Okay, one complaint. I've seen her in better.

HoYeon Jung in Louis Vuitton
I responded so much to this dress. It's so freakin' pretty.
However, is it a lil' bit too casual, simple for the Emmys?

Quinta Brunson in Dolce & Gabbana
One of her best red carpet looks.
Given her very petite stature,
sometimes the dresses worn on the red carpet tend to overwhelm her.
Not this time.

Molly Shannon in Christian Siriano
LOVE the styling and design and color.
The waist should be cinched in a bit more because it's giving shapeless.

Issa Rae in Sergio Hudson
She came through in that blunt bob 'do.
The hair color complements her skin gloriously.
Not sure I'm a fan of the dress. Can't go wrong with a classic monochrome.
But the bodice/waist design is a no for me. I see a smiley face.
And now, you see it, too.

Ayo Edebiri in Giambattista Valli
Too much train and floral embroidery (which is competing with the shoulder bows)
but doesn't matter because she looks very pretty.
Perfect hair styling and shoes.
Haven't watched The Bear because of a petty reason (I can't STAND Hulu's interface).
Still, I've only heard/read rave reviews.

Laverne Cox in Jean Paul Gaultier
From the neck up, it's perfection. Black tights and black heels, perfect styling.
She looks beautiful.
The dress, however?
I can get with the Madonna cone boobs.
But the exaggerated hips weren't necessary. Completely overdesigned.

Jerrod Carmichael cosplaying Puffy
When he won his award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special,
I gave a hearty laugh at this look.
Like dude was definitely channeling
Sean "Puffy aka Puff Daddy aka Diddy aka LOVE" Combs.
Come to find out, the fur jacket was worn in a music video by...Puffy.
He's legit wearing Puffy's jacket.

Amanda Seyfried in Armani Prive
Beautiful dress. Stunning, really.
Barely noticeable, the mesh wasn't needed.
But without it, the dress loses a bit of interest.

Megan Stalter in Norma Kamali
I see what she was trying to accomplish. Truly.
But nah, fam. This is tacky.
Also, if you're gonna do monochromatic,
go with different shades of the color.

Melanie Lynskey in Christian Siriano
She's wearing a prom dress. And not in a good way.
The color is pretty, tho.

Ariana Debose in Prabal Gurung
Pretty color. Way too many designs.

Sarah Paulson in Louis Vuitton
Sarah has come with her complicated fashun.
I'm digging it.
Even the belt which was definitely a last minute addition.
Cute haircut. The makeup could've been better.

And s/o to Brea who urged me to complete this recap tonight over happy hour earlier this evening. "I would know what happened at the Emmys if I had read your recap."

Touché.

*photos c/o Getty, NYT, Vanity Fair, and Page Six

Super Bowl Halftime (Rap) Show

2022-02-14T11:15:00.002-05:00

What. A. Time.

Who woulda thunk that in the year of our Lord 2022, we would witness a Super Bowl Halftime Show showcasing rappers? Well, 95% rappers - the 5% goes to the sole R&B singer. But still, this is huge!

Of recent, rappers were sprinkled into halftime shows for one quick verse. But this time around, it was all rap (and a bit of R&B) thanks to Dr. Dre, Snoop, Em(inem), Kendrick (Lamar), MJB (Mary J. Blige; meanwhile I truly wished she slid I'm Fine into her very brief set - now that's a song!) with surprise guest, 50 (Cent).

photo c/o Billboard

Honestly, my fangirling levels went up when Kendrick appeared. He's such a great performer; always ready to give us visuals. He performed a bit of m.A.A.d city and Alright. I peeped how NBC made sure to bleep "And we hate popo..." with a quickness, too.

Then when the Forgot About Dre beat dropped, a loud ass screamed escaped my throat that even shook me up a bit. I was like, really? All that for Em?

Yes, all that for Em.

photo c/o The Guardian

He also performed Lose Yourself which was cool but ehhh, not my favorite song of his.

Once everyone came together to close out the show with Still D.R.E., I was rapping along and clapped ever so loudly when it was all over.

Yes, the nostalgia level was high for this halftime show. But thank goodness these folks delivered. It was fantastic!

Cooperation Makes it Happen

2022-02-11T08:35:00.000-05:00

Briefly had to pause in the middle of (tele)working to search a tune that randomly came to mind and had me humming:

"Cooperation makes it happen. Cooperation...jakdjajsdkasjdka"

I knew the tune. I knew it was from Sesame Street. But for the life of me, what the hell comes after the second 'cooperation'?

I hit up my BFF, Google, and it led me to my other BFF, YouTube, and found what I was looking for:

Thanks, Internet. You'll forever remain undefeated.

Party Function Vibes

2021-02-01T10:22:00.001-05:00

And it's Black History Month, too.

Nothing much to ramble about on here so let's get into my outfit of the day...on this blog. 'Cause I'm sure as hell not wearing this outfit right now. I'm actually wearing a loungewear dress (well, more like a swing dress that I've deemed my 'loungewear' but it can easily be worn outside which I've done in the past). It's pretty light considering today's winter storm weather. Hmmm...maybe I should be in something warmer but I tend to get hot very easily. Besides, my house is warm. I'm good.

Oops. I rambled.

Anywho, I enjoy wearing items to create an illusion of some sort. Like here, I'm wearing a blouse and skirt to create a dress. Both items are in the same color theme and have similar shape patterns. This outfit gives me gala/function party vibes. All I'm missing is a champagne flute.

Excited to style the sheer shirt with neck tie and layered maxi skirt separately. Blouse with jeans. Maxi skirt with a fuzzy sweater topped with a moto jacket and tall boots. Skirt worn as a dress! The possibilities are endless.

Biden Harris 2020

2021-01-20T07:57:00.002-05:00

Yes, the world is in shambles but we gotta allow some positive news to lift the spirits. And today's positive news - Inauguration Day for Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the Vice President of the United States - is a HUGE lift for my spirit.

Four long years of utter nonsense from the previous guy who lived in the White House has finally come to a close. We have suffered greatly. Joe + Kamala have their work cut out for them to undo the madness the idiot created.

But I'll be right here rooting for 'em. They'll need a lot of our support and a lot of our patience.

Speaking of support, so many honks and hollering while posing in this Biden Harris 2020 sweatshirt. Initially, I was like, who the hell are they honking at?! I'm just over here trying to get my photoshoot on. But then I relaxed when I realized it was the sweatshirt.

While I'm excited for the transitioning, I'm keeping one eye open 'cause these days you never know with this country.

Indifference

2021-01-02T11:06:00.006-05:00

It's early in the morning, around 5:51am. Chloe x Halle album, Ungodly Hour, is playing in the background. Finished posting a photo of today's affirmation (from Nothing is Worth More Than This Day) on my Instagram Stories and couldn't decide if it should have a purple hue or red hue thanks to one of my best purchases from last year - LED+ Color Changing Light Bulb with Remote Control. I've been obsessed with this little item. Such things bring me joy and excitement.

The year that shall not be named completed its contract two days ago. If you've been a long-time reader of this lil' ol' blog of mine, you may have noticed there's no recap to read. Because on 12/30/XX and 12/31/XX my heart was not into taking time outta my chill days to concentrate on words and photos and bullet lists. Nah fam. It just wasn't.

Am I still gonna do one? Nope. We're in 2021.

Will I regret this decision further down the line? Maybe. I like to read my past entries to remember the good ol' days. But at this very moment, I'm just not there.

It's not like that year wasn't all bad for me. There were fairly okay moments I can reminisce and smile about. Like, hello!, I turned 4-0. Whew. What a number. I couldn't celebrate the way I wanted which was traveling to Napa Valley or Dubai for their expo. But to be gathered around my sister and friends at one of my favorite DC restaurants was awesome, too. Plus I treated myself to a staycation at one of my favorite DC hotels. See? Things to smile about.

Plus working in the healthcare industry came with an 'essential worker' tag meaning I was able to work throughout the ~~panoramic~~ ~~pandemonium~~ pandemic. I will never (never never ever never ever) take this for granted.

Then there's America finally getting something right by voting in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of this country, respectively. This matters.

But overall, 20XX was pretty damn shitty. Like, what didn't happen? And I can't even bring myself to breakdown everything that went wrong. I went through it, you went through it, we went through it. We're still going through it. Truly, everything's on your favorite browser. Mine's so happen to be Google and I use it constantly. My BFF.

We deserve a do over. But it's not the way the world works. All I can do is what I've maintained to do from last year - take it one day at a time and hope for the best.

My future starts when I wake up every morning.

That's when it starts - when I wake up and see the first light.

Then I'm grateful.

(Miles Davis)

Intertwined in Fine Crossbody Bag

Rumble DC

2020-12-07T08:17:00.001-05:00

Finding new, creative ways to workout brings more excitement to, y'know, working out. This was me when I tried Rumble, a full-body, boxing-inspired fitness studio.

Let's get ready to rumble!

Honestly, I needed a safe place to let out pent up frustrations, and let's face it, anger. I remembered my time at Rumble last year and wanted to give it another try.

Thankfully, the DC location reopened briefly last month.

The 10 rounds, 45 minute workout will have you exhausted but revitalized. Split into two sections within the duration - boxing skills and resistance training - your ENTIRE body will feel each and every impact. Trust. It should be noted due to safety, we were masked up and spaced out, six feet socially distanced apart. Doing so limits the amount of people allowed in a class, giving off a truly intimate setting.

The trainers are seriously on point, bringing so much energy that'll have you pumped up even though you're ready to faint on the spot. I've quickly found a favorite - Mona Garcia. Okay, kinda biased over here because I've known Mona for years through the DC fashion blogging scene. Her style was one of my favorites. She has since left to focus on her true passion - fitness, especially running.

(l-r) Mona, some woman, Brea

Before the workout, it'll be suggested to bring wraps to protect your hands inside the Rumble gloves (both items are sold onsite and online; if not ready to purchase the gloves, one will be provided only for the workout and must be returned once done). The studio has plenty of personal lockers and bathrooms with all the bells and whistles needed for the DC work crowd to quickly freshen up after a successful session. Currently, since we're in a pandemic, the showers and sauna are closed.

I'm all about aesthetic and this studio's artwork is quite creative: a perfect mix of DC + pop culture. And they bring it with the music, too. Mostly hip-hop and rap, which is alright with me.

So, are you ready to rumble? Until locations reopen again, try out their Rumble TV.

Rumble

2001 M St. NW, Suite 12

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Small Business Saturday

2020-11-28T13:56:00.003-05:00

Discovering fantastic local businesses in my city and its surrounding area has been high-key one of the best thing about having this blog. Heart Print & Style has afforded me the opportunity to meet amazing creatives who in turn have created amazing businesses.

Today is Small Business Saturday and I'd like to shine a light on some of the local small businesses (alphabetical order) -

Own Your Wonder

Arielle Lewis Studio - Photography

Cera Wax - Beauty Services

Curvy Girl Boutique - Plus Size Clothing + Accessories

Pablo Raya

Fia's Fabulous Finds - Plus Size Clothing + Accessories

Huemon Beauty - Permanent Makeup

Skin Beauty Bar

Jesus Be Knowin' - Apparel

Krem Lashes - Lash Extensions + Permanent Makeup

More Than Your Average - Vintage Plus Size Clothing + Accessories

The Brown Beauty Co-Op

Olive & Loom - Artisanal Home + Gift Products

Own Your Wonder - Makeup Studio

Pablo Raya - Photography

She's Unique

She's Unique - Jewelry

Skin Beauty Bar - Beauty Services

The Brown Beauty Co-Op - Beauty Supply Boutique

The Glow Up Beauty Bar - Beauty + Makeup Services

Arielle Lewis Studio

Support in whichever way you can - buying, sharing, word-of-mouth, following social media pages. Every little effort helps.

Consigned Plus Print Dress

2020-11-20T18:09:00.002-05:00

It warms my heart whenever I discover a consignment boutique catered specifically for plus sizes.

Curvy Girl Boutique is located in Laurel, MD; roughly 25-30 minutes from DC. The plus size boutique truly shines on Facebook; damn near everyday, there's a live 'closet' sale categorized by sizes and type of accessories. This works out perfectly for those who 1) doesn't live in the DC area and 2) still not comfortable shopping in public spaces due to 'Rona.

A few weeks ago, I went to drop off my stuff to be consigned and walked out with a shopping bag stuffed with dresses and skirts. Blame the 20% off discount happening that day. One of the items purchased is this Eloquii printed dress.

Felt brand new. Looked brand new. Felt cute while wining and dining at Cafe Riggs with Dani.

I even matched with the center table. This is how my mix print eye works.

Below are similar dresses:

Do it for the 'Gram #2

2020-11-19T19:05:00.001-05:00

A few thangs you may have missed if you're not following me on Instagram. *wink wink*

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On November 07, 2020, majority of U.S. of A (and damn near the whole world) breathe a HUGE sigh of relief when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were declared President-Elect and Madam Vice President-Elect respectively. Oh happy day!

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Election Day. Whew. What a day. I definitely drank a whole bottle of wine that evening.

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Book reading this year has sucked. The end. Okay, not the end. I finished one book - More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say), Elaine Welteroth. And I'm almost done with another - God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the Bronx, Desus & Mero. There are two more books I've started but have yet to finish - Open Book, Jessica Simpson and The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss. Let's see if I can complete all three before this year runs out.

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40th Birthday staycation suite view from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

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A fantastic DC mural done by Creative Theory Agency.