l i p s t i c k m e m o i r s

Do you still have Love for the Lita?

2011-12-28T12:11:00.013-05:00

If you're an avid fashion blog reader you have seen this shoe EVERYWHERE. Jeffrey Campbell first released this shoe in Fall 2010 and it's been taking the blogger world by storm since then. A lot of people have been complaining that this shoe is overkill. You really can't get away from it. Others still want Lita in every color, fabric, print, and glitter. JC has no sign of stopping. They are featured in his Resort 2012 lookbook in even more colors and patterns.

I personally think it's become somewhat of a staple in a lot of girls' wardrobes now. It's not as classic as a nude or black pump however if people keep buying the Lita, Jeffrey Campbell is obviously going to keep making it. They are stylish, fun, and extremely comfortable for a high heel. Why not wear something you like?

Creamy Crack VS. Kinky Naps

2011-07-07T19:17:00.000-04:00

One of the biggest debates to date in the black community. The battle between relaxed and natural hair has only escalated due to the rise of females doing the big chop. I do feel like this is a huge trend to be proud of. I think all of the natural hair blogs have definitely influenced many women because they are more educated on how to maintain their hair. However, I do not like the natural hair "snobs" who think they're better or more Afrocentric because they choose not to relax their hair. Right now I'm in between stages and deciding which way to go is harder than I thought. I haven't relaxed my hair since January. Mostly because I colored it in April and I don't want it to break off. Black girls, what do you chose and why? Do you think relaxed hair is more "acceptable" society?

Sparks that inspire my style fire.

2011-04-07T12:46:00.032-04:00

Somebody asked me on my tumblr who inspires my style. I never really thought about it until then because I feel like I get my inspiration from all over. I was raised in the suburbs, go to school in the city, and work at an upscale store at the Westchester Mall. So I guess my style is very..all over the place. I don't label myself as anything. One day I'll be wearing a leather bomber, combat boots, and a beanie, and the next day I'm in Tory Burch flats, chinos, and a blazer. Depends on my mood. Depends on where I'm going. However I did think for a while of some celebrities style I really do like and get ideas from. These are not in any particular order. I love all these women!

Cassie
Umm..what does she do exactly? Don't ask me. All I know is she is spending Diddy's money and is always the baddest bitch in the room. I always liked some of Cassie's music and she had great style since she came out. When she shaved the side of her head I admit I honestly did not like it at first. Everyone was giving her credit for something I've seen done by other women who did it first and better. From Kesh, to Jack Davey to Alice Dellal. However, Cassie has made this haircut work for her and She looks great now! I love how she mixes boyish shirts or jeans with heels or something feminine for a little girly touch.

Nicole Richie
She is like my QUEEN. my favorite celebrity EVER besides Beyonce. She is hilarious, sweet, and has matured over time. She totally transformed when she lost weight and became a style icon. Nicole is definitely the bohemian queen. Making the balenciaga giant city and maxi dress her signature look. Her style is always so effortless yet perfect in my opinion.

Solange
Solange "Don't call me Beyonce's sister because I am my own person" Knowles has made a name for herself in the music and fashion industry whether you like her or not. If you know me or follow my blog you know I adore Bey but her baby sister clearly has better every day style. She is a risk taker and doesn't care if you like it or not. She loves mixing patterns, tribal prints, and metallics. She is always changing her look and I definitely admire her for that.

Kim Kardashian
Kimmy is a one trick pony to be quite honest but she always looks amazing. Don't hate. Key pieces in her wardrobe: leggings, t-shirt, and blazer. Her hair always looks great and has amazing shoes. Every once in a while she does something different but Kim places it safe yet it always works for her. I'm definitely inspired by a lot of her looks because I love wearing blazers to work.

Rihanna
Last but certainly not least, Riri. I think she is overstyled sometimes but to each his own..there's no denying the impact she has on a lot of women. I do love how she makes quirky things work for her like bright red hair, socks and pointy toed shoes, claw like nails, etc. She looks beautiful most of the time.

Style Spotlight: Marchesa

2011-01-31T12:48:00.015-05:00

Marchesa has been all the rage in the fashion world. This brand has only been around for 7 years but they've made a huge name for themselves on the red carpet. Tons of A list celebrities have been seen their gowns and I wasn't surprised at all to find out this line was done by two women: Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig. All of their dresses are spectacular in my opinion. My favorite person ever Nicole Richie even had her wedding dress made by Marchesa! I noticed most of their dresses are one shoulder and they always fit every body type perfectly. They are also usually paired with minimal makeup, no necklaces, small earrings, and simple up-dos because the details of the dresses are enough. Gossip Girl fashionista Blake Lively is always spotted in all their clothes. It's obviously one of her favorites. I can't wait to see what they do next season. Below I put together some of my favorite Marchesa celebrity looks. Flawless yes/yes?

King of the Christian Dior Denim Flow

2010-12-28T15:57:00.009-05:00

Need I say more? no. But I will. I think Kanye West is one of the most influential music artists. Ever. You can hate him, you can love him. It doesn't matter. He impacts music, fashion, and culture even if you don't notice it. I decided to post about him because he is definitely a fashion icon in my opinion. He has made so many things happen. He brought G-Shocks back, denim on denim, good wood chains, skinny jeans, polo shirts, etc. I think him and Pharrell made it acceptable for straight men in the hip hop world to wear something other than baggy chains, jerseys, and north face snorkles. All of his looks are so versatile. One day you will see him in timbs and a leather botton up, next day he will be wearing tight high waisted pants.

I think that's important for everyone when it comes to dressing yourself. Don't try to label yourself as preppy, glam, hipster, grungy, rockstar, afrocentric, etc. Dress how you feel and that's it. You don't have to stay in one lane when it comes to anything in life and I think Kanye is a perfect example of somebody who honestly doesn't care how people view him as long as he's feeling himself.

I hate velvet but...

2010-11-24T13:15:00.014-05:00

It was love at first sight. Why am I just now seeing these? As almost every one knows these are the Jessica Simpson Dany Platforms with a new twist. They've introduced two new colors and hopped on the velvet trend. I, for one absolutely hate this trend right now and it's only getting worse. I've been seeing it everywhere but these shoes are velvet done RIGHT. They are sexy, stylish, and attention grabbing and I must have them. You can see gray snake embossed HERE. and they're on sale for black friday! GET A PAIR WHILE YOU CAN BECAUSE THEY WILL SELL OUT! They look great with everything check out a few examples I put together.

SANQUON ONLINE STORE OPENING!

2010-11-23T11:36:00.007-05:00

Sanquon is excited to announce that the grand opening of the online store will be Black Friday (11-26-10). "I know we been gone a long time I know this, hopefully this store will help fill the Sanquon void that some people have been facing" said Javaris Squire, Sanquon Ceo. “With outstanding service and an amazing location open 24 hours a day, we think the Sanquon web store is going to be a favorite destination
for people around the world.”

Definitely check them out. Their blog is dope and I want the Marilyn shirt!

For more info please visit Planet of Sanquon.

Foot Loose.

2010-10-28T12:25:00.018-04:00

I was so impressed by Jeffrey Campbell's lookbook when I saw it over the summer! I was supposed to post this a long time ago I really don't know why I didn't but moving on, a lot of people are looking for sexy and stylish fall and winter shoes so it's not too late for this :)

Also, my sis Taja has a pair of the limited edition of ITs from JC x LF's fall 2010 collection and she says she it's her new favorite shoe! I definitely need the original Litas in black.

You view the collection in its entirety website.

Serena & Sequins

2010-10-07T08:59:00.010-04:00

I've gotten a few e-mails on one of the most epic outfits Blake Lively has worn on Gossip Girl. If you follow me on twitter you know I'm a HUGE fan of the show. This particular outfit had everyone swooning over S. They definitely have matured her style through out the years. She has came a long way from season one with her private school girl outfits paired with ties. She pretty much looks flawless this season and I'm loving it. My favorite character Blair however is definitely boring me. I liked her style better when she was in high school.

On to this ensemble, Blake is wearing a Emilio Pucci Spring 2010 blazer, white Joie linen tank, cropped Tibi silk pants, and Brian Antwood studded pumps in Coral.

My fab and frugal look doesn't really compare to the original but I did my best to find something similar! Hopefully you can take what you like, be inspired from Serena's look and make it your own.

VS Gold Sequin Blazer, forever 21 tank, Love Moschino Harem pants, and Urban Og Celena studded pumps.

Fall into the trend.

2010-09-24T12:15:00.019-04:00

Summer is officially over. When seasons change so does your wardrobe and trend spotting begins. Fashion is always recycled. everything has been done before to be honest. It's up to you to personalize your style and take something trendy and try to make it your own. I put together a few trends I've been seeing lately so don't be scared to try something new if you like any of these. You never know how it's gonna look on you!

Cargo Pants. I haven't worn cargos since..like 4th grade but I've definitely ordered a few after seeing it this season. They've taken this trend and make it a lot more updated. Basically Cargo skinnys. It looks very chic and gives every outfit a little flair.

Sheer. Very feminine look. You can pair a cute sheer light shirt with dark pants. Be sure to wear something underneath though! Don't want to have a wardrobe malfunction.

Military. This trend has been going on for a few seasons and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. There's a bunch of military inspired clothing right now. From jackets to over-sized shorts to combat boots. I love June Ambrose's jacket.

Turbans. I've been seeing this a lot. I think it looks best with some hair in the front like the way Solange is rocking it. Chanel Iman is even wearing one on the new cover of Elle Italia! perfect for a rainy day or when you feel like you can't do anything with your hair.

Honorable mentions: lace, floral(still going strong), velvet(disgusting imo), animal print, camel colors and red wine colors.

Style Spotlight: Kidear Youmans

2010-09-22T11:29:00.010-04:00

Networking and knowing certain people has given me the opportunity to get my foot in the fashion door. I'm still a baby in the world and I have lots to learn. However, I've been having fun rubbing elbows with young ambitious people who are also making a name for themselves. I got invited to see an up and coming designer named Kidear Youmans's debut fashion show. His designer shade line called Fiction Mod is taking off. A bunch of celebrities have been spotted wearing his glasses. From Nicki Minaj, to Dawn from ~~Dirty Money~~ Danity Kane, Solange, and Natalie Nunn from Bad Girls Club just to name a few. I met him and he is a pleasure to chat with! Very humble and thankful for all of his success so far. Check out his website here. Also, here are some of the photos I took from the show.

Lmao. I invited a couple of my friends to this event. Here's one of my Bff's Mikey "modeling" Kidear's Glasses.

Mikey x Kidear

Angela! These are probably one of my favorite glasses.

what's your flavor?

2010-09-03T12:46:00.019-04:00

I was invited to Ginger and Liz's fall 2010 collection launch party in Harlem. This event was in Harlem at Carol's Daughter Backroom hand and foot spa. This place is soo cute and chic. If you haven't been there you should definitely check it out. They offer affordable manicures and pedicures with all natural ingredients. I loved it! You most likely have heard of G&L by now. A bunch of celebrities wear their polish and they've been feature everywhere. "Ginger + Liz Colour Collection is the new of vegan friendly and toxin-free nail lacquer with a growing legion of fashionistas and celebrity fans alike." Their new colors for the fall are: Blowing Money Fast, Ivy League, Not on the first date, and Tuck Me in. My favorites are Boy Toy, Got My Groove Back, and Not on the first date. I tried a BUNCH on and i would honestly wear all of them. I have on Ivy league right now and I've gotten so many compliments on it! Ginger and Liz are two fabulous ladies! I support any up and coming designers, stylists, companies, etc in every way because everyone is trying to live their dream just like me. On to the fabulous pics.

The color I'm wearing in the pic is boy toy. I made a post about this color a little while ago I'm glad I got to try it. It's so cute and fun.

Gift bags we got at the end. It featured a Ginger and Liz manicure set, G+L's Ivy League, Carol's Daughter Lemon and Jojoba Cuticle oil, and Juicy mag. Cute!

Cute for a Cause.

2010-08-22T14:06:00.034-04:00

I had the privilege of attending to Fashion Fights Cancer at the Audi Forum in NYC. Big thanks to Tyler from Haute and the City for inviting me! FFC is an annual event that has been going on for about 5 years now where models, fashionistas, bloggers, shoppers, etc come to mingle and shop. 10% of all the sales go to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and to raise money and awareness for cancer research. I had a lot of fun and got to network with a lot of people in the Fashion Industry. I'm still fairly new to this and it was a great experience! Enjoy some of the pictures I took.

Designer KariAnne Kerr and one of the models. Her clothes were very punk, edgy, and had a lot of spikes and studs! Loved it.

Camilla Barungi from Project Runway season 3. She is such a sweetheart! Very humble and a joy to chat with.

This little firecracker was so funny. She was dancing and posing the entire time lol.

My favorite line of the night. Dutchess Designs. I LOVED all her clutches! I had a chance to speak with the designer and she says every bag is one of a kind. They're affordable and stylish and you can get them custom made.

Bonus pic! A Twitpic of me (left) Kareena from Gilded Glam Society took of us!

Martin Louis the King Jr.

2010-07-28T13:09:00.013-04:00

Kanye's back. I haven't been so excited for an album since The Blueprint 3. I've always loved Kanye West since the day came out. A lot of people say the old Kanye is back. Some say 808's was that great. Well I don't think he has ever made a bad album. 808's and Heartbreak is artistic and I felt like it was his blue period. I do agree though that he is giving us a flow that reminds me of College Dropout. He gave the people over at Facebook a taste of his new album. A Capella. This man was performing on a shakey table and sounds better than 95% of these rappers do on stage with lights, smoke machines, hype men, and all that other crap. Mama's boyfriend is simply AMAZING. Onto the videos.

video source

my favorite trends for summer 2010

2010-06-27T13:17:00.004-04:00

I'm not one to follow every latest and greatest trend there is because sometimes some thing that is so called "in" today can look stupid tomorrow. For example, clogs. They're supposedly big this summer however you will NOT be catching me in a pair just because of they're completely hideous in my opinion. I basically made a list of things I see a lot of in NYC and online that I love wearing/trying.

Denim short shorts. This basically never go out of style. You can wear daisy dukes 10 years from now and still be fashionable.

Side braids. This is a real boho chic look that is simple and cute. Especially for those sticky summer days wear you get so frustated with your hair. It's easy and fast.

Nude tones. This is a big one that I'm loving! Nude louboutins, nude shirts, nude lipstick, all nude everything! This also never really goes out of style it's just very big this year. A cute bright floral dress with nude pumps. Or a nude dress with bright pumps looks so classy and dainty. You really can't go wrong with it.

Splurge vs. Save

2010-06-11T10:32:00.016-04:00

Ginger and Liz Boy Toy, Chanel Nouvelle Vague, China Glaze For Audrey

Everyone keeps raving about this nail color since Queen Bey's "Why Don't You Love Me" video so I decided to find out about them! As most may know I'm obsessed with nail polish and I love doing my own nails. I'm pretty damn good at it if I do say so myself. Nouvelle Vague by chanel is so popular right now that it is sold out! I really was trying to get my hands on it so the best option in my opinion is "For Audrey" by china glaze. Why? Not only is it the least expensive but it's more reliable. I have a bunch of China Glaze nail polish, the polish last long, and does not chip easily. Ginger and Liz is about 8 dollars more but it's very new so I'm not really sure about the quality of it. You can research and find out though. I will be getting For Audrey! It's available at a Sally Beauty Supply Store near you. If you're a big nail polish buyer you can get them from Trans Design for about 3 dollars less. It's only worth it if you buy a haul of polish though. If you can to see how it looks on nails click here.

Peace, Love, and Jewelry.

2010-06-04T11:18:00.015-04:00

I absolutely love BIG jewelry. Pieces that make a STATEMENT when you wear them. When i was browsing around and saw these rings on tumblr i had to find out who makes them! Peace Images. They have all types of jewelry. My personal favs are the Tugela earrings and I'm definitely ordering them. They would look great when i get my curly afro back. Anyways, check them out and get something for yourself here.

Wale ft. Marsha Ambrosius - Diary (Acoustic)

2010-05-20T12:44:00.026-04:00

This acoustic version of one of my favorite songs on Attention Deficit has been out for a while. Why have I just now heard it? Anyways, I love it better than the original. It was produced by the sleepwalkers. If you haven't given Wale a chance you should definitely listen to this and the rest of his album. The entire album is great. It's an album you can listen to without skipping a track. He is very underrated and he's honestly become one of my favorite rappers. Trust me!

I see your true colors.

2010-05-06T20:49:00.007-04:00

Anyone notice a pattern? Zoe Saldana is the last woman of color since Lil Kim in 2003. I think that's seriously a shame. Out of all these fashion and beauty magazines I would like to think a magazine like Nylon would be the most diverse. They pride themselves on being so edgy and different yet they put boring or plain girls like Hilary Duff and Megan Fox who have 0 style and 0 edge. I don't get it. They don't even dress like that in real life so why make them up to be be something they're not? If not they always fall back to their favorite girl Lindsay Lohan. Boring. I've even tweeted them and they actually responded back. I said I think they should feature real kick ass woman like Solange Knowles, Kelis, Zoe Kravitz, Nina Sky, Janelle Monae, J*Davey, etc. I know this subject is like beating a dead horse but I feel like these magazines don't reach everyone. Same for black magazines though. There are NO popular magazines for YOUNG women of color right now. the online magazine HoneyMag.com is probably the closest. I really wonder will there EVER be a magazine that will consist of TRUE diversity. Beauty and fashion tips for every type of girl. Tall, skinny, fat, short, black, hispanic, asian, middle eastern, white, blue, purple ETC. I know the magazine only cares about money so of course they are going to do what sells, but a girl can dream right?

i-D magazine is probably the closest thing we have so far when it comes to being diverse for fashion magazines so i do commend them on that. They have always marched to the beat of their own drum. tweet or e-mail me your thoughts and opinions until i get my comments sorted out!

Metropolitan Costume Institute Gala.

2010-05-04T19:01:00.008-04:00

The Costume Institute Gala Benefit celebrates the opening of the “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” exhibition.

I complied my favorite looks from Monday night.

Blake Lively in a Marchesa peacock draped chiffon dress. my absolute favorite. She has one of the best bodies in the business. She's tall, gorgeous, slim yet still giving curves in everything she wears.

Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein Collection

Gwen Stefani in L.A.M.B.

Chanel Iman in a Michael Kors one piece.

Nicole Richie in Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs, the most influential designer?

2010-05-01T09:24:00.009-04:00

Marc Jacobs landed a coveted spot on Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. His friend Victoria Beckham, who once starred in his ad campaigns, had the honor of toasting Jacobs—the only fashion designer to make the list—in the issue. “His passion for popular culture infuses his designs with irreverence, color and energy. It’s what sets him far ahead of his peers,” Beckham wrote. “You can always tell when someone is wearing Marc Jacobs.” Artists and entertainers also featured on Time‘s list include Lady Gaga, Robert Pattinson, Sandra Bullock and Glee‘s Lea Michele. The Time 100 issue hits newsstands today.

source

thoughts?

Solo Star.

2010-04-27T18:38:00.010-04:00

I love Solange if you didn't know by now (: she has a couple new songs leaked. I like both of them. Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams was so underrated! on to the music.

Warrior 4 Love

Whipped

a print called tribal.

2010-04-12T19:24:00.008-04:00

So as I gaze through the city and shop in every store i'm noticing a trend that is going to be huge this spring and summer. Tribal Prints! i've been seeing it everywhere from topshop to armani exchange, h&m, even forever 21. Big designers RTW looks set the trend for what's going to be next and this big craze was definitely seen in Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, Balenciaga, Diane von Frustenberg, etc.

I personally love this trend and i've always like the bright colors that are mostly inspired from Africa. Traditional print with modern day style. Definitely something Maya A. Lake from Boxing Kitten is doing. These are some cute pieces i've found for being fab on a budget. enjoy xx.

A. Tribal Maxi Dress

B. Shapely Contrast Skirt

C. Tribal Markings Top

D. Tribal V Neck

E. Tribal Triangle Top

F. Tribal Bottom

G. Mesopotamia Skirt

Kelis - A Cappella Video

2010-03-29T10:12:00.009-04:00

let me just say Kelis is one of my favs. She did weird before gaga. She did weird before Rihanna. Been in her own lane since the day she came out and has never tried to do what every one else was doing despite her lack of record sales sometimes. I love the song and the video is cute. I would also LOVE to see her on the cover of NYLON. She is PERFECT for what they represent and would be a way better cover girl than almost everyone they had in the past year. Onto the video:

smoke and make music i'm a modern day hippie.

2010-03-22T01:09:00.004-04:00

So I finally got to reunite with my best friends. The best most conceited bitches I know. I took the day off work and run NYC. We shopped in Soho, walked around the village, dinner in chelsea, etc. Just enjoyed the nice weather and it's just a little preview of our summer (: