Brickhouse

Forever 21 Green Galaxy Print

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:16:00 +0000

We had some unusually nice weather over the weekend. For me that meant skinny jeans and one of my favorite galaxy print tops. (I have TONS of space-y, galaxy, cosmic-style shirts.) This top is from Forever 21. Yes, my age is closer to 41 but I like a lot of the casual top and tees offered by Forever/Faith 21. My hair looks completely undone here, but what do you think of the outfit?

Galaxy Top: Forever 21
Grey Jeans: Old Navy Rockstar
Mary Janes: Nine West
Earrings: Etsy seller Gianne's Creations (You can barely see them bit I'll be doing close-ups of these later.)

Ahhh, That's Better. Fall dresses.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 15:51:00 +0000

After my short romance with all things casual, I'm back in dresses. With fall weather sweeping in, it just feels natural to get back into dressing up and putting on my clothes. What do you think?

Snake Print Dress: A.B. Studio
Boots: Dollhouse
Black Cardigan Tunic: Unbranded
Sunglasses: Vintage
Hoop Earrings: Etsy

What I Wore This Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Ultra casual. Grunge-y sport. I don't know what you would call it but I spent the summer experimenting with laid-back style. Trust me, it was truly an experiment since I usually think that today's super-casual/sporty styles don't suit me AT ALL. It always seems to me that my style doesn't translate well to leisure outfits, but this time around I think I managed to find some looks I can live with. I wanted some get up and go ensembles for work and for play that would help me get out of the door. What worked? Hats galore, headbands, tapered jean capris, lip gloss (beware - I'm wearing no other makeup in these pics), cropped blazers for work, brass studs, my standby shoe-boot-wedgie thingees, black, hot pink and edgy jewelry. That said, I'm now ready for more dressy outfits! So stay tuned for more dress up posts after you check out my attempts to dress down over the summer.
A very casual Friday.

Cute print, VERY unflattering cut. I look like I'm 9 months pregnant. lol. But my kid looks cute.

Blue toes, as ever.

I only put on a dressy dress to go out with the hubs. (Pictures and reviews are coming up.)

Asos Leather Peplum Belt Review

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:44:00 +0000

A funny thing happened during my blog hiatus. I got caught up on my reading and actually became interested in a couple of new trends that will probably carry over to spring and summer. Here's one I got into pretty late - the peplum trend! I actually like this but not when it's over-done. Of course that didn't stop me from buying a leather peplum belt during a sale at ASOS Curve. It arrived quickly and was well-packaged. But, wow. This was one serious accessory. I wasn't sure about it at first, but it fit great and did NOT make me feel like a dominatrix. So I bit the bullet and wore it to work with one of my vintage dresses and my light velvet coat. I ended up loving it and getting lots of complements. What do you think?

Dress (Vintage)
Boots (Wild DNA)
Jacket (Newport News)
Peplum belt (ASOS Curve)

Now, I'm feeling super-inspired by my bloggy friends at FatGirlsLikeNiceClothesToo and TheCurvyFashionista to create my own peplum belt for the spring. Wish me luck on that! Oh, and forgive the blogger-in-the-bathroom shots. Now that the sun is out I'll be taking snaps a few times a week outside.

Chubby Girl, Skinny Jeans

noreply@blogger.com (African-American Brides) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:21:00 +0000

And, what? Who says non-skinny girls can't wear skinny jeans? I say anyone can wear them if you get a style that fits and flatters. In fact, I've been wearing all flavors of The Rockstar Jeans from Old Navy, which are described by O.N. as "super-skinny". Here are the royal blue ones I wore for casual Friday at work.

Jeans (Old Navy)
Top (Merona/Target)
Geometric graphic scarf (eBay)

Vintage and Other Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:28:00 +0000

We had dress up yesterday at the job so I decided to wear one of the vintage dresses I've collected over the years. For the most part, my outfit ended up looking like some "office rockabilly". (Is that a thing?) All I needed was a silk flower in my hair and some horn-rimmed glasses on the bridge of my nose. But I didn't have either of those so here's what happened.

Dress (Vintage) Blazer (Old Navy) Shoes (Fluevog) Jewelry (Etsy) Handbag (LM Designs) I'm always getting asked about this handbag. I bought it from someone on Livejournal who really needed the money to pay some medical bills, but the tag inside says it's made by LM Designs. I don't know if the company has gone out of business or is still around in some capacity, but I can't seem to find a stitch (no pun intended) of information about it online.

Court Jester

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:16:00 +0000

My husband calls me a harlequin when I wear these pants. Don't care. I love 'em. I love 'em so much I wear them with a plain white camp shirt to make sure I set them off. And yes, I wear them to work. Isn't that what casual Friday is for?

Hey, wrinkled-shirt police. Wondering if I own an iron? I do. I just don't know where it is because I don't use it. Because I don't know where it is.

Motto button down shirt
Tripp NYC split leg pants
Doc Martens "flats"

Links a la Mode from IFB

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:50:00 +0000

Edited by: Victoria of vmac+cheese

August is one of my favorite months. It’s that lazy time of year where summer lingers but fall’s on the horizon; when heading back to school means amazing sales and last minute vacation getaways. Okay, confession: it’s also one of my favorites because this is the month of my birthday! And this week’s links seemed made-to-order for the occasion, like little gifts that covered all the topics I’m interested in now: the Olympics, Autumn, interviews with great artists and craftsmen, and bloggers sharing true points of view on things like the YSL mess, Instagram, and more. Sit back and enjoy — these links are even better with a slice of cake.

Abby’s Road: My Favorite Olympic Opening Ceremony Uniforms
American Clouds: 7 Essential Summer Shoes
Arash Mazinani: 5 Ways of Using Pinterest to Enhance Your Image
Best of Brooklyn: How to Make Heels More Comfortable
Caitlin Schmidt: Craig Taylor Studios
The Dapper Bun: Week of Vintage: Thrifting Guide
Fashionopolis: Make it NOT Work!
Fashion Pastiche: Life is a Beach
Fear No Beauty: The Will to Stop Picking, Popping and Prodding Pimples
The Fitted Frame: An Analysis of Style
Happy. Pretty. Sweet: Basic Wardrobe Planning
Lady Eleanor: Worrying Fictional Girl Crush: Zoe Hart
Match Yourself: Trends to be carried over to Fall
Ma Derniere Addiction: Chained Jailbird
Moi Minnie: Instant
The Penny Rose: The Fashion Illustrator
Style by MJ: How to Not Wear Sweats During a Breakup
Stylish in Sequins: Your Summer to Fall Staples
Swim with the Current: YSL/SLP
Zsasa and Everything Else: Final Words on Letting Him Pick Out Your Outfit

SPONSOR:
Shopbop : Linkedin, Youtube, & G+, Chilvers, 30%, 50%, 70%, Yigal Azrouel, Ko, Kelly Wearstler & Kors Bags

E

Beauty and the Sunscreen

noreply@blogger.com (African-American Brides) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Since we're talking about getting outdoors this month, PLEASE don't forget the sunscreen. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about sunscreen for a parenting blog because a lot of folks still aren't using sunscreen on their kids. But it turns out that a lot of adults are stepping into the sun's rays without adequate sun protection on themselves. That's where I come in, with some tips on preserving the health of your gorgeous skin. Sure, we hardly used any sunscreen at all back in the day (no, my darlings, cocoa butter doesn't count - I wish I did). But with global warming and the dwindling ozone layer the sun is a whole different thing right now. You can enjoy it, but you've got to play it safe.

So what should you look for when you're ready to buy a sunscreen? First of all, not all sunscreens are created equal. In fact, some barely live up to the name. But here's one thing all the experts agree on - an effective sunscreen must protect against both UVA and UVB rays. That's because while UVB rays get most of the blame for sunburn, both kinds of rays contribute to skin cancer.

I won't lie. As an African-American, I've had to go through a few tubes of sunscreen before I found ones that didn't mess with my sensitive skin or make me look like the white shadow. Much could be written about the challenge of finding an effective sunscreen for darker skin. But find one you must. Despite what you might have heard, people of all races can indeed develop skin cancer. VERY dark skin can have a natural SPF of about 13. (Don't be fooled, most of us do not have SPF 13 skin.) But dermatologists say you need an SPF of at least 15 to be protected. They recommend wearing sunscreen daily. But if you're going to spend any significant time outdoors, it's important to not only slather on sunscreen before you leave the house, but also to reapply it after a couple of hours.

My personal experience is that anyone with sensitive skin should avoid most sunscreens with the ingredients avobenzone or oxybenzone. I wore a sunscreen with these ingredients during a trip to the zoo on Father's Day and got an itch on my legs that is just now starting to fade. If you're a Sensitive Sally like me, don't do it. Unfortunately the chemicals avobenzone and oxybenzone are in most of the broad-spectrum sunscreens found in your neighborhood drugstores and grocery stores. If you're trying to avoid them, that leaves you with natural/mineral sunscreens. Natural suncreen contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (or both), which used to leave a slight white cast to the skin. But nowadays many companies have discovered ways to get those particles very small - not nano sized, but- small enough to wipe-out or dramatically cut down on the ghastly tinge. For now I like and use:

Jason Mineral Based Sun Block SPF 30+
COOLA Face SPF 30 Matte - Cucumber
BurnOut Eco-Sensitive Zinc Oxide Sunscreen SPF 32
Loving Naturals Clear Vegan SPF 30+ Sunscreen Non-Nano Zinc Oxide UVA/UVB 4.3 oz.
Aubrey Organics SPF 15 Saving Face

You can find more options on the EWG list and on similar sites on the internet.

But now it's your turn. Please sound off. Did I leave anything out? What is YOUR experience with sun exposure and sunscreen? Or lack of?? Do tell!

Feeling At Home Near The Water

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Lots of curvy women who are entirely comfortable in their own skin feel feel self-conscious in their bathing suits. If you're one of those people, I want you to know I've found some simple ways to feel better about that than you do right now.
The first one is pretty obvious, but still important: get yourself a new swimsuit. Think about it. The swimsuit you had last year might have been to blame for any perceived awkwardness at the pool last year, especially if the piece was ill-fitting or just worn-out. Putting on a swimsuit that makes you feel comfortable and attractive is going to go a long way toward helping your overcome any lingering shyness.
Another way to give yourself a boost of confidence is to have a quick pep talk before you head out. I've done this with great results. Remind yourself about all your great qualities, and remember how strong and able you are. These are not small things! Once you acknowledge these truths it's easier to believe that you are what you are - BEAUTIFUL.
Grooming is an important part of this trifecta, too, and not just because we're showing more skin in the summer. Doing things like shaving or exfoliating and moisturizing our bodies makes us feel pampered and cared for.
Guys the same goes for you. Give yourself a pep talk, do some grooming, and if last years swim trunks are looking worn-out or threadbare get yourself a new pair. Thankfully, buying swimming trunks has never been easier. All you have to do is look online and you can find a huge range of trunks and swimming costumes. They come in all sizes and a variety of different styles, so there’s bound to be something to suit everyone.
Alright folks, go out there and have a great time!

Summertime "Army" Casual

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:20:00 +0000

I promised that this Summer would be all about comfort, but with an edge. This outfit has some of my favorite pieces even though it's pretty tame. Also, this is more proof that - yes!- I can wear more than black. ;)

Army green jacket (Torrid) Floral top (Old Navy) Jeans (Vigoss) Shoes (Dansko) Handbag (Valhalla on Etsy) Review coming soon!

Blue Toes

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 22:26:00 +0000

To the reader who asked "What's your favorite pedicure color for spring and summer?" My answer: Turquoise! Oh, I'm always changing up and I'm sure it'll be something different down the road. But right now I'm loving my throwback "For Audrey" by China Glaze. (And yes, I have chubby feet!)

What Have I Been Doing???

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:19:00 +0000

What have I been doing? Way too much shopping for one thing. Each yeah I seem to be prepared for Fall and Winter months but completely befuddled by warmer weather. What to wear, what to wear? No matter how many clothes I have I always fell like I have nothing to wear in the Spring and Summer. This week I'm going to be sharing some of the knick-knacks that will - hopefully - allow me to remain a cool mama when the temperatures heat up. Stay tuned!

Last Blast of Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:14:00 +0000

Even though we had a really mild winter, the season gave one last gasp last week. So, of course I took the chance to wear some of my favorite pieces altogether. It could have been a mess, but I thought it turned out OK. Stand back for the blogger-in-the-office-bathroom shot!

Puff sleeve cardigan - Bisou Bisou

Boots - Torrid

White cotton blouse - not sure

Corduroy flare skirt - Cotton Ginny

Hat - Emerald Angel UK

Ring- Alchemy Gothic

Adele on the Cover of Vogue

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:27:00 +0000

The beautiful British singer Adele has always been known for her outspokeness and flawless style. Now, she is gracing the cover of the March 2012 edition of Vogue. I love what I've seen so far. What do you think?

Brickhouse is On Pinterest, too!

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Yes, I've joined the rest of the world in pinning my favorite images over at Pinterest. If you're over there, please stop by my little lemonade stand. I'm just getting started, but I'm planning on stirring up some plus-size glamour, alongside the mason jars and DIY goodness already found on that site. ;)

Beauty and fashion reviews coming later this week!

New Year, New Changes!

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:28:00 +0000

I'm back! I took an extended break from blogging but now I feel I'm bursting at the seams. There's a good reason, though. I've decided to make some changes to the blog. In addition to cosmetic updates to the design (see what I did there?), I'm also making a change in content. In 2012 I will be posting more of my personal photographs - with a better camera! - and daily outfits, as well as clothing reviews. And I welcome your comments. It's all part of my new push to open up my closet and (lack of?) style to those of you who have been so loyal. Let me know if there's anything else you would like to see in this space.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Thank you all for making 2011 a wonderful year! Enjoy the holidays and we'll see you back here on January 2, 2012. Until then, smooches. XOXOXOXOX

Links A La Mode

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Links For Your Holidays!

Edited by: Collette Osuna of Statements in Fashion

At the risk of sounding like a Christmas song, isn’t this the most wonderful time of the year?

I love hearing all the Holiday music playing in the stores! Trees are getting trimmed, gifts are being purchased, and people for the most part, haven’t forgotten the true meaning of the season. I’m taking some time over the next few weeks to re-vamp my closet, bake up some Holiday goodies, and make some new memories with my family and friends. However you may be spending the Holidays, be safe and keep the ones you love near to your heart. I will see you in the New Year!

THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: DECEMBER 8TH

Acquaallegoria: December dressing: How to rock a festively fug-a-licious jacket

Ambassador of Fashion: Village Style: Thrifting in NYC

Arash Mazinani: A guide for those wanting to buy clothes as gifts for Christmas this year.

Boyish Chic: Home decor gift ideas for the boyish chic fashionista in your life!

Coming Unstitched: How to be a really cute snow bunny.

Ethical Fashion Blog: Ethical outfit competition winners - some very stylish and sustainable ladies

Fact This Blog is Awesome: Quick Under Eye Circle makeup tutorial

Fashion is Evolution: How I made a belt from an old Dior keychain I never used

High Point Shoulder: How to dress comfortably & warm in the winter and still be chic

In Her Glam: Style inspiration from Ashley Davenport, Victoria Grayson's assistant on ABC's hit drama Revenge

Joyful Outfits: How to wear a denim shirt in the winter

Little Miss Makeup: How to do wedding makeup the modern way

Over 50 Feeling 40: Beginning to Process how bloggers can make a difference for small businesses

Pandippo: Killer heels and a necklace stolen from my mom

Pippa Holliday: Get out of bed hair - Bed Head

Statements in Fashion: Our Christmas Home

Synthetic Elegance: Illustrated holiday gift guide

The Dapper Bun: Outfit Of The Day: Decorating the Christmas Tree

The Frugalista Diaries: DIY Jeweled Collared Sweater

The Style Confessions: Three inexpensive yet glamorous red lipsticks from the drugstore

Have You Ever Wanted to Buy Something Out-of-Season?

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Well, the weather outside isn't frightful just yet. But Summertime is definitely a distant memory in this chilly Autumn. So, why do I have the strong, sudden urge to get one of these lace party dresses from LucieLu?

I mean - there will be parties over the holidays, right? And I could possibly Winter-up these dresses with some nice tights and a cardigan, right? Ideas?

Halloween: The Saga

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:10:00 +0000

The office costume party sort of sneaked up on me this year. But I'm not going to run out to the mall in a panic. Nope, that was the old me. I'm thinking that with my quirky background, surely I already own more Halloween-y things than the average chick. So I'm going to "shop my closet" for the perfect pirate get-up. And if I need anything else, I'll make it with my own widdle hands. I've spent the last couple of days doing research on (Googling) female pirates and the one with the best swag in my opinion is whatever character Penelope Cruz played in that movie.

I'd like my attire to be something like that, but a little more fancy. I've already started decorating a crushed velvet hat I bought a few years back and I've added a felt flower blossom to a plain eye-patch. I have a tiered lolita skirt, striped bloomers and some big lace-y shirts (one of them will surely work, right?). I think if I pile on enough seaworthy jewelry and accessories after that, I'll be all set. What do you think? And more importantly, are you dressing up for Halloween this year. If so, who or what are you going to be?

Top left picture from Hostess with the Mostess

But On The Other Hand...

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:46:00 +0000

Have you seen Australian plus-size model Robyn Lawley? The size 16 beauty graces the latest cover of French Revue de Modes. Very glam, don't you think?

So Long, Crystal Renn

noreply@blogger.com (African-American Brides) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Well, we knew this day would come.
You ladies know we love to champion plus-size models here to be sure they get the love they might not get other places. So, it was obvious a few months ago that we might eventually have to say goodbye to Crystal Renn as a subject on our blog. Not as a person - she has the right to do whatever she wants with her body. But as a woman who used to show the world that curvy can be beautiful, she no longer fits the bill. Yes, she's virtually unrecognizable since her most recent weight loss. But it's not her it's us. We're just not here to shed light on everyday stick thin models. That's what those other style blogs are for.

As EntertainmentWise.com wrote last week, such a dramatic change after years of Renn's talk (and a book!) about plus size beauty seems to promote the idea that "everyone wants to be thin, regardless of how many times they say 'I love my body the way it is.'" And we can't be part of that.

A Vintage Inspired Look

noreply@blogger.com (Brickhouse) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:40:00 +0000

I just received some pictures of Mad Men's Christina Hendricks at the premiere of "I Don't Know How She Does It" in New York City. I think she's a curvy girl who knows how to wear vintage-inspired looks in a modern way. What do you think? Who are your fashion idols when it comes to this style?

Jewelry by Katerina Maxine

Crazy Month!

noreply@blogger.com (African-American Brides) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:31:00 +0000

What a weird and wacky month. East coast earthquakes, hurricanes, and power outages. If we haven't been blogging as much as usual, it's because we've sort of been through the wringer. On top of that, my little one started Kindergarten on Monday and turned five on Tuesday. (Happy Birthday, Pumpkin!) But you know what? We're making the best of it. Plugging away, barreling through, grinding it out, making headway. I don't know where we're going, but we're getting there! So expect lots of new and exciting posts for next week. As for you, August 2011. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.