Healthy Glow: Healthy Eating, La Mode & Ramblings
This past Saturday, a group of my colleagues and I headed to Mexico City from our little town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Mexico City is an amazing city with so much personality! I did take some pictures but I wanted to share two pictures of me in my gown during the Ball.
What I Wore:
- Free People Dress
- Shoes: BCBG
- Vintage Jewelry
I am in love with Mexico City and I am already planning another trip ASAP!
My boyfriend and I attended Africa Underground and I decided to wear my favorite Boxing Kitten x Urban Outfitters dress.
What I Wore:
Dress: Boxing Kitten
Earrings: Vintage
Purse: Wallis
Shoes: No Name
Dress: Urban Outfitters (It has pockets!) If you buy it, it is cheaper in-store.
Shoes: Crocs
Necklace: Bought in Quito, Ecuador
Hat: Target
Have a great weekend!
Healthy Glow Travel: A Little More a Month Until I Move to Mexico
I am shocked that I only have such little time left in the United States. No matter how many times I move around the world (on average twice a year) I am always extremely nervous. I have to pack, start a new position, learn the culture, make new friends, start a new routine, etc. I’m not whining just stating the facts of my move.
What are some activites that I must do before I leave DC? Today, I am volunteering at the Washingtonian Magazine Best of the Washingtonian Party on behalf of the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Volunteering and attending a super “DC event was on my to-do list!
What I Wore:
When is the last time you’ve seen a grown women wear jellies?
- Dress: Boxing Kitten X Urban Outfitters
- Earrings: Forever 21
- Shoes: BCBG
- Ring: Charlotte Russe
- Bracelets: From India
- Sunglasses: Amazon.com
What I Wore: Nice Day for a Indiana Wedding
I revel in planning an outfit for a special occasion. Call me vain, egotistical, or whatever else, but I think of dressing up as a form of artistic expression. Good style transcends price or brand name. This past week, I headed to Bloomington, IN for my linesister’s wedding. I loved being back in good old Indiana!
What I Wore:
Dress: Calvin Klein
Cuff: Banana Republic
Earrings: From India
Shoes: Deniblack
Ring: Charlotte Russe
When it comes to clothes I usually need one of these descriptions involved: short, black, and backless. It is rare when I find a piece that fits all three pre-requisites!
The Playsuit with Mex Tex Embroidery is now $37.28. It is the perfect piece for a chill night out! I wore it during a night out to Lost Society DC. My favorite aspect of the playsuit are the sleeves! They are light enough for a hot night out but can still protect you from bug bites when you venture out to rooftop parties.
I paired the outfit with my favorite strappy Michael Kors Sandals and Forever 21 Feather earrings.
Healthy Glow Fashion: State of Style w/ the Influential Editor of the Fashion Bomb Daily, Claire Slumers.
My Foundation
When I was young there was thing that I loved more than anything: recieving my parent’s weekly subscription to Time Magazine. I read each magazine cover-to-cover. I loved learning about international events, political commentary, and Joel Klein’s weekly column. Then in 1997, my parents decide to subcribe to InStyle Magazine. InStyle and Ebony magazine were my windows to fashion. I was able to learn about trends, styles, beauty, etc. You could say I was a peculiar young child, but today these three publications have developed my interests in international affairs and fashion. My early foundation into these subjects have given me a great career as a U.S. Diplomat and my blog as well.
Diversity in Fashion
After awhile, the magazines were not enough. Yes, I went on to unversity and graduate school to devel deeper into the studies of international affairs. But I needed to feed my constant appetite for fashion. Three years ago, I stumbled upon the website, The Fashion Bomb Daily. The website featured insider fashion information, issues of diversity, styles and beauty trends that reflected my diverse background. With every post, the Editor, Claire Sulmers brought a refreshing spin on trends.
Claire is also impressive too. She had a career in the magazine industry, has traveled extensively, speaks French, and is graduate of Harvard University.
I hope you enjoyed this video as much as I did. Cheers to the women, who like me, develop their interests, and take them to the next level. Who said you can’t do what you love and make it a career?
Picture via Fashion Bomb Daily
This weekend was jam packed and full of great things to do! I hosted my little sister and friend, Joanna. They took the bus down from New York and I wanted to make sure that their trip was one to remember. On Saturday I wanted to dress comfortably but I didn’t want to look like the typical DC tourist. I also didn’t have time to go home for the whole day so I wanted to be able to transition from sightseeing to a chic lunch with friends.
Tomfoolery.
What I Wore:
- Black Dress: H&M
- Pearls: DC Pearl Lady. I love layering pearl necklaces. I am wearing 3 strands of varying lengths.
- Earrings: DC Pearl Lady
- Shoes: Urban Outfitters
- Bag: Michael Kors
What a perfect weekend.
Happy Friday: Enjoy the Adventures of a Awkward Black Girl
“The Misadventures of AWKWARD Black Girl” a new webseries staring Issa Rae, a woman who has taken it in her hands to tell her own story. AwkwardBlackGirl.com, the series, ‘The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’ follows the title character and friends as she navigates through life, love and awkward situations.
Happy Friday: Duke Ellington & John Coltrane “In a Sentimental Mood”
In high school I was weird. Not that kind of weird were I felt socially ostracized and didn’t have a core group of friends, but I was definitely that quirky black girl. One attribute that was especially quirky was my four year obsession with John Coltrane’s music. I even wrote my senior dissertation on John Coltrane’s and free jazz. When my other classmates were going to pop music concerts, I was going to jazz concerts and festivals with my father. However, my love of jazz did not just come out of no where, I attribute my father’s extensive jazz collection to my fondness for this genre of music. I still love jazz and if I ever want to unwind or lull myself to sleep, I just put on my most favorite song, “In a Sentimental Mood.”
So in honor of my father, my quirkiness, and my love of jazz. I dedicate this “Happy Friday” post to John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. Happy Friday.
Enjoy.
As black women we are often put into a box of either vixen, Mamie, diva or soul sister. However, in our global world, what it means to be a black girl is becoming less and less concrete. From fashion to music, black women are stepping outside the box and breaking down genres and stereotypes with their beautiful, unique flair.
Enter the quirky black girl. She’s the girl listening to Little Dragon, reading Proust and wearing sunflowers in her hair. She’s less concerned with the latest trends as she is with expressing herself whether it be through an interpretive dance, a raging metal band or a vintage frock.
The originator of quirky black girl style is none other then the legendary dancer, Josephine Baker. An outcast in her own community, Josephine danced her way through Europe, breaking down barriers and stepping outside of the norm with her infamous “banana skirt dance”. She spawned a legion of African American style icons who aren’t afraid to be the “atypical” black girl.
Every decade has had its eccentric icon; from the 80s over-the-top antics of supermodel/singer Grace Jones to the 90s earth child Lisa Bonet, whom begets today’s own poster child for quirky black girl style Zoe Kravitz. Whether these women are wearing an avant garde designer or a pair of 5 dollar jeans they are comfortable in their own skin. They stand apart from the crowd, showing that black women are more than one-dimensional.
This really spoke to me! Thanks Cocoa and Creme blog!
My favorite famous quirky black girl is Shingai Shoniwa!
For Your Entertainment: Get to Know Emerging Music Artist Michael Kiwanuka!
He is SINGER-SONGWRITER, UGANDAN, LONDONer. MOST RECENTLY HE TOURED WITH ADELE. HIS EP ‘TELL ME A TALE’ DROPS JUNE 13, 2011.
She did it! She beat me to the punch! That’s is okay because I was just having this debate over “nude” pumps for women with darker skin. Thank the lord we have options. While I don’t think any of these colors are exactly my skin tone, I’m still pretty happy with these options!
Steve Madden “Russhh” patent pump $89.99, Dillards; G by Guess “Belanova” dress pump $34.99, Famous Footwear; Madden Girl “Oyzter” pump $39.95, DSW; patent slingback platform pump $30, Charlotte Russe; City Streets “Sara” slingback pump $29.99 (on sale, reg. $50), JC Penney
See her full post here.
