the chic scribe.

Arlenis Sosa. Harper’s Bazaar Spain - March 2011....

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:14:00 -0400

Arlenis Sosa. Harper’s Bazaar Spain - March 2011. She’s just as beautiful in person.

future husband? :-D

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:53:56 -0400

future husband? :-D

NAOMI CAMPBELL 1987 YSL. the definition of beauty.

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:04:34 -0400

NAOMI CAMPBELL 1987 YSL.

the definition of beauty.

“But if I get off my knees, I might...

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:36:00 -0400

“But if I get off my knees, I might recall… I’m TWENTY feet tall.”

This has been a really tough week for me and I have been trying to listen to music with a positive message. Erykah Badu’s soulful music is beautiful and always puts me in a better mood. 20 Feet Tall reminds me that even though life can be extremely difficult and unpredictable at times, you should never forget your unlimited potential. There is never a better time to appreciate and love

yourself.

Chanel - Noirs Obscurs Winter 2009 - featuring model Malgosia...

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:14:00 -0400

Chanel - Noirs Obscurs Winter 2009 - featuring model Malgosia Bela.

Chanel nail polish addict for 4 years. Rouge Noir started it all.

A Dominican Salon in Paris

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:31:00 -0400

On the bustling Rue Saint Martin in the 3rd arrondisement lies an establishment I never thought I’d see in Paris: a Dominican Salon. When my friend Taylor told me about Maria Dolores Institut de Paris I was intrigued but also apprehensive about making an appointment. The Dominican technique is much healthier for hair because it involves less direct heat manipulation than blowdrying wet hair. Unfortunately, professionalism is not always a priority at many Dominican salons. My mind flashed back to severely short bangs, a scolding hot blow dryer on my scalp, and hours melting away, forgotten under a hooded dryer. I really like Herbert Bauer, the hair stylist that I’ve been going to since I arrived in Paris, but my hair has been very dry and he seemed to have difficultly blow drying it so I decided to give Maria Dolores a try.

The small salon was different than the always lively environment of the Domincan salons I’ve been to in the past. Other than the familiar sound of Spanish music playing from the speakers, it was quiet and only a few customers sat patiently under hooded dryers. The salon was very clean and had a pleasant atmosphere. There was a waiting area, and a front desk with an appointment book which meant there was no need to compete with walk in customers for time slots.

None of the stylists speak English so a woman who works at the front desk acted as a translator throughout the process. I told her I wanted a wash, with a deep treatment by Alter Ego (an Italian haircare brand), and rollers. The prices were much higher than the average Dominican salon in NYC. The salon charges by the length of hair, so sadly my hopes of trying the Garlic Deep Treatment were crushed when I learned it would be 70 Euros. I opted for a regular washing with rollers using Alter Ego Shampoo/Conditioner for 47 Euros instead.

My first visit did not go very smoothly. The woman who washed my hair was not very professional and was somewhat judgmental about my dry scalp (a problem that my stylist in NY has no problem handling). My hair was washed, conditioned, put in rollers and I sat under the dryer for about 30 minutes. Unfortunately the woman that washed my hair did not wash the conditioner out of my hair properly so my hair had to be rewashed by another stylist because it was too “greasy.” To save time the roller step was skipped and I was charged the short hair price due to the inconvenience.

The styling process was much less problematic. A different woman blew out my hair and styled it effortlessly. My roots were left perfectly straight and my hair was full of volume and very silky. At first I thought my hair looked too curly was but by the time I got home I was in love with the end results.

I’ve been to Maria Dolores Institut de Paris twice so far and my hair feels much healthier. I haven’t had any other problems and the woman who made the mistake last time was much friendlier during my second visit. I recommend this salon to any woman in Paris who is tired of stylists that are afraid of Black hair. The first time I went to the salon I saw my stylist work on a women with the longest and bushiest hair I have ever seen. There were no complaints,surprised looks, or grunts of frustration. Only effortless styling. I finally found the Parisian salon for me.

Maria Dolores Institut de Paris

167 Rue Saint Martin

75003 Paris

WEBSITE: http://mariadoloresinstitut.blogspot.com/

In my Fashion and Power class I am doing a case study on the...

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:52:41 -0500

In my Fashion and Power class I am doing a case study on the depiction of Black women in fashion editorials and exploring how they are marginalized and how they are empowered. This beautiful picture of Sessilee Lopez is one that proudly portrays the beauty of black women. Even though she is of Dominican descent she is considered Black by industry standards and has even appeared in the Vogue Italia Black issue. I am always happy to see models of color breaking free from the fetishistic and exotic roles that so many minority models are forced to portray in fashion today. Hopefully, minority models will continue to break through these stereotypes in the future.

Does Casual Sex Exist?

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:58:58 -0500

In a study that asked 515 people why they went into a hookup, 50 percent of women and 52 percent of men reported that they hoped to trigger a longer relationship.

“Any kind of sexual stimulation of the genitals triggers the dopamine system in the brain and can push you over that threshold into falling in love with that person. And in fact, with orgasm, there’s a real flood of oxytocin and vasopressin, other chemicals in the brain associated with the feeling of deep attachment. So, casual sex is really never casual unless you’re so drunk you can’t remember it; something happens.” - Helen Fisher

Does casual sex exist? My boyfriend sent me this video by Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, that discusses this question that is so heavily debated in our society. It’s a complex question but I believe in most cases casual sex doesn’t exist. I think people enter sexual encounters with a casual mindset that they strive to maintain throughout the duration of a “strictly sexual” relationship. This mindset suppresses feelings that arise for some people but for others these feelings rise to the surface and an emotional attachment develops. The chemical interactions in your brain that occur during sex seem to inevitably lead to the development of emotions. Those who successfully have casual sex are just better than others at mentally blocking feelings but if this mental block was lifted I think they’d begin to see that casual sex is nothing more than a self created illusion. What do you think?

Camila Alves in a Kaufman Franco dress at the 2011 Oscars. This...

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:09:00 -0500

Camila Alves in a Kaufman Franco dress at the 2011 Oscars. This dress is FLAWLESS. It’s the perfect mix of sexy and elegance. I love the plunging neckline, her simple updo, and her tasteful choice of accessories. She is definitely on my best dressed list for this year’s Oscars.

source: Just Jared.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Couture at the 2011 Oscars. So...

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:56:12 -0500

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Couture at the 2011 Oscars. So beautiful! She deserves the title of best dressed this year.

pic source: socialitelife.com

Fashion week inspired Lanvin window on Rue du Faubourg Saint...

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:36:41 -0500

Fashion week inspired Lanvin window on Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in Paris.

My friend: “Is that Anna Wintour in the front row?”

MOVED.

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:26:00 -0500

I recently switched from blogger to tumblr! All old posts have been transferred here and the domain name is the same. If you subscribed to the old blog, these new posts should appear in the same feed on your RSS reader.

I am working on redirects that would bring visitors of my old posts on blogger to their new location on this blog but it’s a bit complicated :-/. For now feel free to access old blog posts in the archives of this tumblr.

Why the switch? I loved blogger when I first started blogging but it’s continued to feel outdated. I really wanted a change. I like the multimedia capability of tumblr and I thought it would be easier for my readers/friends on tumblr to follow me.

I will still be writing on this blog, it will not be only image based :-)

I also have Disqus commenting now for non tumblr users, and you can ask me anything by clicking the link in the sidebar. You can also follow me in the top right corner.

Thanks for reading !

<3 michelle.

LES ANNÉES 1990-2000 - LES ARTS DECORATIFS.

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:19:00 -0500

A few weeks ago I went to my first exhibit in Paris at Les Arts Decoratifs. The exhibit titled, “Les Années 1990-2000,” was a retrospective of one of the best decades of fashion. 150 awe worthy creations from designers such as Lanvin, Martin Margiela, Balenciaga, John Galliano, Chanel, Prada, and Vivienne Westwood were on display. TV screens played nostalgic runway shows featuring supermodel legends Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangalista walking in the prime of their careers. It was a beautiful exhibit and it really reminded me why I find fashion so artful and captivating. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the exhibit.

Hair Coat by Maison Martin Margiela. Margiela makes a unique statement with his play on the classic fur coat.

Dress by Maison Martin Margiela

Dress by Tom Ford for Gucci during Gucci’s best years. Please come back Tom Ford, you are sorely missed!

Dress by Adeline André. I love the simplicity of this dress and the cinched waist that shows a tasteful flash of skin. It’s an immaculate combination of sexy and elegant.

Suit by John Galliano. The use of leopard print in this piece really brings life to an otherwise conservative grey suit. This suit evokes a powerful woman without sacrificing her feminine side.

Gown by Vivienne Westwood. Westwood pushes the boundaries of femininity by including bedazzled nipples in this piece.

Dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior. The proportions of this dress are so intriguing; the shape reminds me of a human flower. I wish I could see the back because I still am puzzled by what is connected the top portion to the bottom.

Dress by Jean Paul Gaultier. I love the unconventional choice of denim and ombré coloring used to create this flowy gown. Denim has never looked this luxurious.

Dress by Balenciaga. This is definitely one of my favorite Balenciaga silhouettes. The bodice and skirt

of this dress are very contrasting but together they create a harmonious and beautiful piece.

I bought these at the museum’s gift shop. I am keeping the postcard as a memento because it is too nice to send! The magnet is a perfect expression of my undying love for Naomi Campbell.

LES CHEVEUX - HERBERT BAUER COIFFURE.

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:08:00 -0500

One of my biggest qualms about going to Paris for 4 months was having to find a new hair salon. When you’ve finally found someone that has transformed your hair from a stringy damaged mess to long flowing healthy locks over the last 2 years, letting them go without separation anxiety is an impossible feat.

Trusting a hair stylist is a new concept for me. I have been going to salons since I was 13 and I’ve been let down by almost every stylist in the form of botched bangs, damaged hair, or unpolished roller sets. It was only when I started seeing Jasellynne at my NY salon, Antonio Prieto, that I was finally able to relax in that black leather salon chair and trust someone to give me exactly what I wanted.

When I began desperately searching online for a Paris hair salon I felt like I was back at square one except this time proved to be more difficult. Many salon websites had limited information or pictures and Google France lacked the myriad rave reviews that are found on websites like Yelp or City Search. Offline searching wasn’t much more successful. Most of the black women I’ve seen here wear weaves and the black owned salons seem to cater to that market. I continued my search online and after wading through the millions of Jean Louis Davids I finally came across Herbert Bauer Coiffure. The website looked professional, it had press clips, high quality products, and I was able to find more than 5 good reviews. I was sold.

Before making an appointment I went in person to check out the salon. I loved the relaxing vibe and the modern decor. The owner, Herbert, was very friendly and he spoke English which made it easier to explain what I was looking for. I made an appointment for a blow dry using Shu Uemera products (the salon also uses Bumble and Bumble products).

When Saturday arrived I was extremely nervous for my appointment. I arrived early and Herbert greeted me with a warm “Bonjour” and took my coat. A few minutes later the appointment started with a quick consultation. I showed him a picture of how I normally wear my hair and he summed up my wishes in 3 seconds: Straight towards the top, volume, and waves towards the bottom.

We headed towards the sink and he began shampooing my hair with Shu Uemera Full Shimmer Shampoo. I was excited to try this line of products because my NY hairstylist told me the products are great and I have never seen them in the United States.

While I enjoyed a relaxing scalp massage, Herbert told me about his hair styling career. He is from Austria, and started styling hair when he was 15. He worked in the Canary Islands for some time and 3 years ago he moved to Paris and opened his own salon. Herbert and I also spent a lot of time discussing the differences between Paris and New York. As he put a Shu Uemera mask on my hair I was surprised how much time had past already. “Here, we take time to do the hair,” he said.

After the mask was applied I sat under a hooded dryer that sprayed hot steam onto my hair. A cup of hot tea, a piece of chocolate, and a few page turns of a French Vogue and I was ready to be rinsed out. Herbert blew out my hair with a round brush and used a curling iron to create loose waves throughout my hair. When he was finished I was left with beautiful voluminous waves that quickly dissolved any anxiety I had when I walked in. My hair felt very moisturized and soft to touch. It was a little less silky than normal because no flat iron was used (I didn’t want to be too demanding on the first visit!) but Herbert was very flexible and I know he wouldn’t mind using one to create the waves next time.

Was going to Herbert Bauer worth coming out of my comfort zone? Definitely. He exceeded my expectations, his products were high quality, and his friendly demeanor was very refreshing. I am excited to come back in a few weeks.

My friends are excited as well. One scheduled a blow dry and another is coming in for a haircut! I know they will absolutely love it.

PARISIAN LIVING.

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:33:00 -0500

Bonjour mes amis!

I am finally settled in Paris and ready to document my time in this beautiful city. Yesterday I moved out of my temporary hostel room and into my apartment in Le Marais, which has been described as a “trendy gay” neighborhood in the 3rd arrondissement. I live on Cité Dupetit Thouars, a quiet little dead end that is near many inciting restaurants (I’ve already had the pleasure of eating at 2 amazing ones!). At first I was apprehensive about living in what would be considered an ally in America but my fears quickly diminished after my landlord opened the door to a serene and well decorated apartment.

The doorway is covered by this floral tapestry. I love the light fixture that hangs above the entryway it is one of the many antique touches in the apartment.

This is the kitchen table. It is bursting with light and has gorgeous exposed brick and wood beams.

I love the clock and the light fixture covered with fake ivy. (My roommate said the ivy reminds her of the craft store Michael’s haha. I agree, but it works!)

The kitchen has everything you could possibly need and more. Dishwasher, Stove/Oven, a washer and dryer all in one, slow cooker, even a fondue pot that I’m dying to test out!

The bathroom has an antique mirror, a wooden sink top, and these cute lantern style lights. The tub has handles for chaud and froid and the shower head rests on a hook that reminds me of an old rotary phone.

This is the living room. It has beautiful big windows and a quaint fireplace. I really like the ornate frame on the mirror in this room. The bookshelves have a lot of books that I’m interested in reading even though my french is not very strong.

The master bedroom feels very peaceful. It also has large windows and tons of natural light. The dresser has this interesting abstract statue made of marble. The curtains are a vibrant orange color which always catches my eye when I walk in.

Here is my room. Even though it is the smallest room I knew it was the one for me as soon as I walked in. The bright purple color makes me happy especially after living in so many dorm rooms with drab eggshell walls. The room has tons of storage including two closets (one is covered by a purple curtain) a dresser, and under the bed drawers. On the dresser I put some of my favorite nail polishes from home and my new favorite perfume. The landlord also gave me these white woven baskets which are so useful for my many toiletries. I love the chandelier’s hanging crystals; it gives the room a luminous glow. The bed is very comfortable and can be pulled out to make a larger bed. All of the rooms are connected so I am happy that I was able to get a room on the end and I don’t have to walk through anyone else’s room to get to mine.

Hope you enjoyed the grand tour! I am getting ready to start the day at 430 PM, I can’t wait for this jetlag to go away. Thanks for reading. There will be more to come, I promise :-).

CENTRAL PARK.

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:58:00 -0400

On Monday I went to Whole Foods and Central Park with my boyfriend Chris. I had a really great time just walking around and relaxing in the grass. For the first time since school closed it feels like summer. I love central park. It doesn’t matter how busy or stressful life in the city gets, the park is one place where everyone can stop, breathe, and actually enjoy the simplicities of life.

I wore a blue racerback tank, fringe chain necklace, and grey flats (all Banana Republic) and Levi’s 501 Boyfriend Jeans that I am currently obsessed with. They are the perfect summer denim and a nice break from my usual skinny jeans.

Summer is here, I hope you are enjoying it!

THE POWER OF BROWS.

Tue, 25 May 2010 20:19:00 -0400

some of my favorite eyebrows: Arlenis Sosa, Hilary Rhoda, and Audrey Hepburn.

In many ways the eyebrow is a direct reflection of the soul. Those two masses of hair resting mysteriously above our eyes are a key part of our face, which is cemented into the memories of our friends and family. They are also an extension of the many idiosyncrasies that makes us who we are.

I didn’t know the value of eyebrows when I was younger. I just saw mine as thick unruly blocks of hair that didn’t match the thin and unnaturally arched brows of my middle school peers. So I waxed them, I even let my mom “shape” them with a razor. I’d do anything to get rid of my “undesirable” brows. But now when I look back at those pictures from middle school I barely recognize myself. I can only see a girl whose generic eyebrows fail to reflect the ideas, passions, and emotions that make her an individual.

Today I celebrate my thick eyebrows. I brush and darken them with pride. I don’t try to change their shape to match someone else’s ideal of beauty because my eyebrows are me. They’re not perfect, but they’re real, natural, and never afraid to stand out.

RESURFACING.

Wed, 19 May 2010 12:41:00 -0400

Hello world, I am back after an extremely long hiatus. School is over and I couldn’t be more relieved. Now it’s finally time to relax…well sort of. I am taking a 6 week class and will be working as a Beauty Intern at StyleCaster.com this summer. Even though I won’t have too much relaxing time I am very excited to have something to do this summer instead of becoming an expert at being a lazy bum and living in sweatpants. No more hours after hours of watching TV and aimlessly browsing online. This summer will be different!

I am also making a commitment to blog regularly! (for real this time lol.)

I bought my own domain, so you can now access my blog at: thechicscribe.com. (The old address will work as well.)

Thank you to everyone that reads my blog and encourages me to continue to write it. I really appreciate your support.

Tomorrow is my first day at StyleCaster, wish me luck!

Photo credit: Alla Kostromicheva by Sølve Sundsbø for Vogue Nippon May 2010 via Paper Mode

A JOURNALISTIC MILESTONE.

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:05:00 -0500

This week I bought my first voice recorder of my journalistic career for my Inquiry class. The Olympus VN-6200. This digital voice recorder boasts impressive features such as voice activation, noise cancellation, USB connection, and 1 Gb of memory. It’s lightweight, sleek, and sexy in black.

Here’s to the many interviews to come with the intriguing, the esoteric, the unconventional, the eminent, and the inspiring people that I am bound to encounter. Let the adventures commence!

FENG SHUI-ING LIFE.

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:56:00 -0500

Today I came back to my NYU dorm to face a reality I have been dreading for weeks - spring semester. Normally, the idea of a new semester beginning seems less frightening in the great company of friends but in the last week my life has dragged me through an unexpected and jagged road. I will now be without two important people in my life this semester, one being my roommate.

As I glanced at the dismal blue of my roommate Annette’s bare extra long twin mattress, I decided to rearrange my room to avoid the heavy feeling of being alone. My friend Brittany has recently delved into the world of feng-shui and I decided to do some research of my own before transforming my room. With the help of my friend Mallika I transformed my room from this:

(circa one year ago)

to this:

Feng shui is all about “balancing energies of a certain space to promote health and good fortune to the people inhabiting it.” The main goal of feng shui is to direct Chi (universal energy) inside the home and body.

Having proper feng shui in a dorm room is very difficult but I did my best with my space constraints. I began by moving my bed to the opposite side of the room so that it wouldn’t be in line with the door and my bed wouldn’t reflect in my mirror.

Bed in line with a door: If your feet point towards a door when you’re lying in bed it is in line with a door. In feng shui doors have a pulling energy and a bed in lined with a door allows your energy being pulled from you at night.

Mirror Facing The bed: A bed that is reflected in a mirror depletes your personal energy.

I also switched to a higher bed and removed the majority of my clutter from under my bed to allow energy to flow freely.

(clutter free desk)

I created an inviting day bed with my extra bed that opens up my room and creates a peaceful area for relaxation.

Lastly, I added some serenity to my closet (which is usually a place of stress - I never know what to wear!) by enlisting the colors green and blue. The color green brings the energy of health and vitality and the color blue brings “a refreshing energy of calm, ease, purity and freshness.”

Hopefully this change will give me the positive energy I need to combat the changes in my life and my anxiety about this semester.

To learn more about feng shui visit fengshui.about.com