Amerie's Fashion is "Fly"

I have always loved me some Amerie, ever since the "Why Can't We Fall in Love" days. Lately, it seems she is really trying to take both her fashion and music to the next level-I dig. Such a doll baby, who, for whatever the reason, is so slept on. Chick had only an hour and a half to style and shoot four looks? Talk about fashion in a flash! Get inspired by her and her advice on putting together hot looks in minutes at a recent Complex mag shoot:



That dark lipstick @ 00:28 is on point. Try to recreate with a dark brown lip pencil similar to Bare Escentuals in Shell ($11, Sephora) and a vamped-out lipstick like Milani's Black Cherry ($4.99, drugstores).

American Apparel Helps You Take Big Bird Home

Closer look at the detailed t-shirt design

Since I am on a retail diet, one of the things I love to do now is what I call "online window shop."  While doing so the other day I came across these fantastic t-shirts from American Apparel, which captures the loveable characters from the landmark TV series "Sesame Street." My personal favorites being Elmo and Kermit the Frog, who I think I might have a slight crush on, although Miss Piggy has always been Queen Bee.

The uber trendy/quirky store and Sesame Street have joined forces to create limited edition classic t-shirts that will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street this year.

According to A.A. graphic designer Carolina Crespo, it took some two months rummaging through eight discs and four decades worth of archived artwork from the late Jim Henson, famed puppeteer and creator of the groundbreaking television show and its legendary Muppet characters.

"The end result is a cast of characters and images that bring a modern feel to Sesame Street and a heritage to American Apparel," she said.

The unisex line is now sold in over 25 American Apparel stores worldwide including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Berlin as well as its online store.

Visit http://www.americanapparel.net/ to view the entire line.

BEHIND THE MUSE: MY INTERVIEW WITH RIHANNA'S HAIR STYLIST, URSULA STEPHENS

There is only one word that need be used to describe Def Jam recording artist Rihanna: Fire. Now while her musical attributes and personal life are at the forefront of public debate these days, her fashion sense has unarguably, and rather quickly, transformed the Barbados beauty into an icon like no one has ever seen in recent years and my personal fave fashionably. NOBODY, not anybody does it like RiRi…period. While watching her now infamous interview with Diane Sawyer, I could not help but notice her stunning new blonde hair courtesy of her hairstylist, Ursula Stephens.

During her 10-plus-year career, the Brooklyn-born native has hustled her way from the neighborhood beauty shops of BK all the way to Hollywood, styling the likes of Keyshia Cole, Michelle Williams and Paula Patton, making a name for herself along the way. I had the opportunity to interview and get a few tips from the woman behind "The Rihanna," as she shared her life as a celebrity stylist and how to make it in the hair biz.


On breaking into the business...
"Professionalism is the number one thing. You never know who is watching. I was a client before I was a stylist and the thing that would turn me off was their attitude. So I would say just be approachable. You trust them (hairdressers) to put chemicals in your hair, you should be able to talk to them more than anybody."

On suceeding in the business...
"Wow, it's really a combination of a lot of things. One thing, I would say is you have to be fresh. You have to stay fresh. You have to stay consistent."


On "The Rihanna" ...
"I had NO idea it would be as big as it got. I really didn't foresee it at all. We started with the bob and we just kept cutting it shorter and shorter (laughs). We (Rihanna and I) just wanted to do something different. I think people were ready for something new....I do a lot of weaves and extensions; I do everything. In (hair) school, everyone had their thing. Cutting was my thing."

On keeping her celeb clients ahead of the curve...
"A lot of it is my own feelings. If I am getting bored with a particular style, then that probably means the rest of the world is getting bored with it, too. I go overseas a lot and styles and trends evolve quick and dictate what is new."

On creating your own opportunities...
"I would say the main thing is to be open-minded. There are so many things you can do in the beauty industry, it's crazy. Don't have a one track mind. There are so many avenues you can take. I was talking to a young lady and she was a chemist for a hair company. I am also working with Motions, so just think out the box."


On the perks of the job...
"Getting my work out there for the world to see and to please other people makes you feel really good. I could have never dreamed of doing the things I am able to do. I travel a lot; I travel so much. A lot of young stylists start out thinking it's all about the glitz and the glamour and the celebrities but it's a lot of hard work and long days away from home."

The secret to "good hair"...
"I wouldn't say it is a particular product or good line. It's really about moisture because our hair tends to be naturally dry and we put in chemicals that makes it even drier. So to combat that, you need moisture, moisture, moisture."
 

Here are a few of my favorite looks my Miss RiRi (literally just a few):

Heart it. Heart it all. Just ridiculous. Flawless. RiRi, I can't.

Plato's Closet's F@#ked Up Business Model Reforms A Shopaholic

Ok, I realize that I am starting this entry off at a ten and that I need to bring it down to about a four. Please excuse, as the angst is merely withdrawls from my addiction talking already. Off top let me emphasize I have nothing against Plato or the good people working at his establishments. Whoever Plato is, God bless him because he is getting over major. Buying people's designer duds for pennies and selling them back at an inflated, discounted rate=a genius hustle.

After hours and weeks spent purging my closet, I finally found the time to drag three-count them-three huge, black Hefty garbage bags in heels, in the rain on a bum knee with my handbag in tow to the nearest Plato's closet. Praise Yahweh it was only a few minutes away.

Upon arrival, I am told to come back in an 30 minutes when my clothes are done being rummaged through. And so I did, after briefly taking a gander at Plato's merchandise of course. I return with my pockets itching for the dough, not that I was expecting to get rich or anything. The sales girl immediately hands me my same three big bags and a whopping $9.56 for only 3 items, all cute brand names I might add.

With that, I haul all my bags, now riddled with holes, back home feeling a bit dejected and disappointed, can't even lie. Mostly disappointed in myself that I had invested so much of my time and resources on my wardrobe. While I wouldn't classify myself as a label whore, I am an absolute slave to fashion, really anything creative and beautiful. For me the clothes, hair, makeup, or whatever that I wear are just another extension of self-expression. I wake up exhilarated at the thought of having a new opportunity to be creative and express myself differently each and every day; hell I fall asleep surrounded with my UK edition fashion mags, head swirling with ideas. Yeah, I have it baaad. So I guess I am really just a slave to being creatively inspired. See, the moment I see an item that strikes me, I instantaneously think of all the innovative ways I can rock it out and make it seem new. Fashion for me is an artful challenge that has very little to do with impressing other human beings.

But now the kid has decided to be creative, inspired AND resourceful as I stare at a closet still bursting loose with clothes, handbags, hats, shoes and dozens of price tags from neglected,unworn clothes. All of it translates into time and money I could have used toward buying my first piece of property, a piece of art or buying something for someone I love-things that actually appreciate in value vs. buying the next piece of trendy threads, especially since it apparently is going to just end up discarded, thrown in a garbage bag then sold off for 9 bucks anyway.

Saying buh-bye...for now.

So with that in mind I am working with my financial planner to allocate a specific amount to spend on "expressing myself fashionably" each month and the next thing I buy I vow will be for someone I care about for the holidays this year. Please believe, it will not be easy for a girl who can happily turn a quick trip to Walgreen's into a full out shopping spree. So I guess I have Plato to thank for inspiring me to invest in something that is retail priced higher than even the most luxuriant piece of designer wear -my future.

Wish me luck.

Official Video For Common's "Make My Day" Featuring Cee-lo

I was delighted this morning to see that Common aka One of the Best MC's Breathing aka Chicago's Own aka My Boo has a new video for one of my favorite songs from his latest effort "Universal Mind Control." My man Cee-lo Green was on the track, so you know the visuals had to be artistically off the chain. I love artists who challenge the mold and take risks outside of all the cookie-cutter rump-shacking that apparently will never die. Also, if you would, please note that the song makes no mention of clubs, after parties, Henny or hotel lobbies-just the intoxicating feeling of infatuation of when you first start diggin on somebody hard. Creative. Me likey. Enjoy!

Chicago Fashion Week Wrap Up at Gen Art Fashion Show

How appropriate that my first official post is about fashion? Any-who, here are a few pictures I took from the runway during the Gen Art Fashion Show, which each year showcases the designs of young, emerging fashion leaders and culminates Chicago Fashion Week. It was a perfect fall evening and all of Chicago's fashion elite were present, exquisitely dressed I might add. I was able to score seats for my big brother and I right near the runway, so you know I was super amped. The event was excellently put to together and the designs were gorge.

One of my favorite looks of the evening...before my camera died. Womp.







And how cute is he?







STRONGE!

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