SHOP LoveBrownSugar: Ladylike Accordion Skirts

From left: Chloe Spring 2011, Derek Lam Spring 2011, Derek Lam Spring 2011

 One of the biggest trends for Spring 2011 is the return of the ladylike skirt in mid-calf length. Showing up on runways from Marc by Marc Jacobs to Chloe to Derek Lam, you won’t be able to avoid this retro silhouette in trendy stores this season. This week in SHOP LoveBrownSugar, I’m featuring five different Ladylike Accordion Skirts you'll love. Here's a sample of what's in store:

Grand Opening: SHOP LoveBrownSugar

 So by now you guys know that I absolutely love the cyclical nature of fashion. I’m a self-proclaimed vintage addict and I’m not ashamed. Considering I can't seem to do an outfit post without having one item of vintage in the mix, it's pretty obvious I'm obsessed.

Two questions I get very often about my thrifting adventures are “How do you pick such great items?!” and “Next time you go, can you find something for me?” Well, I’ve listened to your questions and I finally have an answer! Welcome SHOP LoveBrownSugar.

 Those of you who have been following my blog since the beginning (July 2009) know that I used to have an online Etsy store with all my vintage collectibles available for purchase. I’ve decided to relaunch my vintage store but this time with a different concept.

 SHOP LoveBrownSugar will be an extension of my overflowing vintage “closet”. Not items I’ve ever worn, but items I’ve sifted through vintage racks for, and have fallen in love with. All the items will be in good condition and reasonably priced! The only catch? At this boutique, the items you see will only be on SALE for 10 days after which they will go back into the vintage vault. Each week or so I’ll be featuring a new themed trend. All the items in the shop during that particular week will be under the chosen theme. Once the week is over, that themed shop is closed, the items are cleared out of the store and it’s on to the next! My items will be curvy-girl-friendly (as the curvy silhouette is my expertise) but I will try my best to find items for everyone from XS-XL.

So let’s get right into it. Click HERE to see this week's trend - Ladylike Accordion Skirts!

Behind The Scenes: Video Shoot for Frenzy TV

 Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Franny of TheFrenzyTV; a soon-to-be-launched video portal with interviews from artists to bloggers and more. While the site hasn't launched yet, I thought I would give you guys a sneak peek at what she's working on. 

Flavor of Friday: Solange & Julez for Japan Tees

 

 Yesterday Solange took to Twitter to announce the brainchild of her own baby boy Juelz. He was hard at work designing a collection of painted tees of which 100% of proceeds will support disaster relief in Japan via Peace Winds Japan.

Whoop Ash Giveaway

 

If you follow me on Twitter you know that a few weeks back, I had the pleasure of attending the retail launch of beauty brand Whoop Ash. That's right, you read it correct the first time - Whoop Ash! How clever is that? Whoop Ash, a new beauty brand that happens to be the brainchild of entrepreneur (and ex-wife of Will Smith) Sheree Fletcher, debuted their body butters and lip balm at the acclaimed black-owned Georgia NY Spa in lower Manhattan on March 3rd.

Sam Fine, Sheree Fletcher

 I had an intimate chit-chat with founder Sheree Fletcher for UPTOWN Magazine and she told me all about the brand and the inspiration behind it. You can read all about that HERE.

Soft skin after using Whoop Ash body butter

 Well let me tell you, after using this product for a matter of 3 weeks, I am absolutely in LOVE. And with all honesty, as an editor I get tons of products on a regular basis from event invites, samples sent to the office and more. You guys know, if I write about it I truly LOVE it and this product lives up to its word. It leaves my skin super soft, it has a light (not overpowering) scent and it's all-natural. Can't beat that.

Because I love the product so much, I've partnered up with Whoop Ash for a special reader giveaway! One lucky reader will receive the Whoop Ash "Bag with Swag" which contains: Whoop Ash Body Butter Cream (Whipped) 8 0z, Whoop Ash Body Butter Travel Size (Whipped) 2.6 oz, SMACK your LIPS (lip balm) and a Whoop Ash t-shirt!

 Rules for Entry:
1. You MUST be following @LoveBrownSugar on Twitter OR Facebook
2. Comment below with the answer to this question:

The season for shedding layers is just around the corner! Whoop Ash is here to get your dry skin glowing again just in time for the highly-anticipated warmer months. What are you looking forward to most this Spring?

Visit www.whoopash.com to learn more about the brand and shop online. Follow Sheree Fletcher’s ash-whoopin' adventures on Twitter and Facebook.

Can't wait to see your responses! Contest ends March 31st, 2011 at 11:59PM EST.

In Memory Of: Elizabeth Taylor

The English-American actress and style icon Elizabeth Taylor, known for her roles in classic Hollywood flicks like Cat On a Hot Tin Roof and Cleopatra, has passed away at the age of 79. 

 A pillar in Tinseltown from her early days as a child star all the way up to her later days as a dear friend to the late Michael Jackson, Liz Taylor will forever be revered. 

R.I.P Elizabeth Taylor (February 27, 1932 - March 23, 2011)

Cece's Curls: The Fold & Tuck

Happy Spring everyone! I'm overjoyed that the weather has started to warm up. And I think my curls are happier than I am. Now that it isn't frosty anymore, I'm back to acquainting myself with my new natural 'do and trying out styles that are chic and generally fool-proof. I saw this new style called the "Fold & Tuck" over at Miss Riot's blog back in December and I had been dying to try it. 

Photo courtesy MISSRIOT.com

Absolutely love her hair and I thought it looked fab, so I finally tried it out last week! Mine was a modified version because I didn't blow out my hair. I just let it air dry in braids and then attempted to fold the hair and tuck under with pins using Oyin Handmade's Shine & Define and Oyin Greg Juice.

It went pretty well for the first attempt. A little messy, but overall I liked the final result. Just an FYI, I'm the youngest girl in my family and I grew up in a household full of females who knew how to style hair really well. So if my mom wasn't doing my hair then one of my older sisters was. And since I didn't have anyone to "practice" on growing up (Barbie didn't cut it), I've never been into doing my own hair. This year I'm really making an extra effort to be hands on and learn, so bare with me! There might be a few kinks out of place from time to time.

 Here's a shot of the back. I did three folds overall. This hairstyle will definitely be part of the rotation. It was pretty simple to do and didn't require much maintenance. I wore it like this for a few days.

Any other natural girls out there try this style before? What were your results and what products did you use? Soundoff below.

Fierce or Foolish: Jordin Sparks' New Figure

 So it seems every curvy girl in Tinseltown these days is taking to the gym and reemerging to the public with a newly slimmed down figure. American Idol Jordin Sparks is the newest specimen for observation. She showed up to the Muhammed Ali Celebrity Fight Night this past weekend in a little black dress with a slim & trim new figure.

What do you guys think about her new look? Furthermore, do you think curvy girls in the entertainment industry (ex: Jennifer Hudson) are lauded or frowned upon when they drastically slim down? Comment below and give me your honest opinion! I'll be using your commentary for a piece I'm writing. More details soon...

Image Source

ALDO + Elle Launch Party for Julian Louie Wedges

Last night marked the official launch of ALDO’s newest collaboration with designer Julian Louie and creative director of Elle Magazine, Joe Zee. At the ALDO store in downtown Soho, a collection of editors and bloggers were invited out for hors d’ouvres and cocktails to preview the new collection of Ikat wedges, and to meet the brainchild behind the operation – Joe Zee.

Deanna, $125

 I absolutely love the Ikat wedges. They come in 4 different color ways and two different styles. How amazing is this print?

Wendy Lam of Nitrolicious Blog

I bumped into Wendy Lam of Nitrolicious at the event. Love her blog! Isn’t she so petite and chic? Here's a pic of me at the event. 

Me at the ALDO + Elle Mag Launch event

 Right before heading to the event I stopped over at Sephora for some lipstick. The girls in the Makeup Forever area ended up giving me this amazing eye look. I wish I had a closeup of the eyes but needless to say, it was a very easy conversation starter at the event. I never wear this much color, but hey you have to live a little every once in a while, right?

Sobeslava, $125

  Courtesy ALDO Shoes, each guest was allowed a $50 shopping credit to scoop up a pair of their choice. And of course, I grabbed these up for my spring collection.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Joe Zee of Elle Magazine and chatting it up with him for a while. Take a look at what he had to say about the new collection release he spearheaded. 

 Love a good wedge and I love a good print! These shoes are perfection. Snatch a pair for yourself at one of the select locations nationwide. Click HERE for more info. 

Cover Girls: Rihanna for Vogue Magazine

Rihanna covers the April 2011 issue of Vogue Magazine in a Chanel Pre-Fall 2011 collection dress and flowing red hair. She looks absolutely beautiful. She puts me in the mind of a black Ariel from Disney's The Little Mermaid.That was my favorite childhood movie....anyway, I digress. Apparently she's also the youngest black female to cover US Vogue.

UPDATE: Check out this Behind-the-Scenes video of Rihanna's covershoot that I found over at Racked. In the vid, Rihanna discusses her curves and her love for everything fashion:

What do you all think? Soundoff below?

Spring Trend: Prints-A-Porter

 

So here I am stating the obvious: prints are big for spring! The lovely Georgie Badiel, who I had the opportunity to meet last February at Tracy Reese's show, modeled some amazing printed looks in UPTOWN's January 2011 issue.

I'm so looking forward to busting out the ladylike printed dresses in flowing silhouettes and pairing them with printed espadrilles and nude platforms. So chic!

Check out the full editorial spread over at UPTOWN Magazine.

Will you be rocking mixed prints this season?

Fashion Week Flashback: Robert Verdi's Luxe Lounge

Photos courtesy Luxe Laboratory

Although it was only a month ago, NYFW Fall 2011 seems like it was so long ago. While prepping a story for UPTOWN, I came across these images of my day at the Robert Verdi Luxe Lounge during fashion week. Robert's Luxe Lounge is an oasis where editors, stylists and bloggers indulge in beauty treatments, enjoy cocktails and get a chance to test out and sample specialty Verdi-approved products and services.

Above I'm pictured with celebrity manicurist Dawn Sterling giving me a Ginger & Liz manicure.

Photos courtesy Luxe Laboratory

Here I am getting a tutorial about the NOOK Color. Just when you thought the NOOK couldn't get any better! I haven't snagged myself a tablet yet, but if I had to get one this would be it. It's the first full-color touch reader's tablet. I kept hearing rave reviews about it, and after getting to test drive it myself, I see what all the hype is about.

Photos courtesy Luxe Laboratory

I uncovered the coolest products via Robert Verdi. Here I am with another editor, sampling beauty products from Lifetherapy. They smelled amazing! I'm a sucker for good-smelling lotions. I think I'm obsessed actually.

Photos courtesy Luxe Laboratory

Here's Liz from Ginger & Liz getting her makeup done in the VISINE corner. Love that eyeshadow color.

Photos courtesy Luxe Laboratory

I also bumped into June Ambrose and her mini-me (daughter) getting their nails done. Isn't the little one adorable? This was right after the Vivienne Tam show. I sat right behind June and Deborah Cox and she told me all about her adventures with her daughter Sam. I really admire working moms that find time for the kids. That's no small feat!

Well, that's my little trip down memory lane for the day. Now back to work! Can't wait to go through those Luxe Lab doors again. It's a magical place.

Fierce or Foolish: Chrisette Michele at Jackie Robinson Foundation Gala

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw me tweeting last night live from the red carpet of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Awards Dinner. Although I didn't get a chance to interview Ms. Chrisette Michelle, she was in attendance and she provided the music for the evening's festivities. I personally hadn't seen Chrisette Michele's new look but it appears that she's gone platinum blond!

I'm loving those shoes. What do you guys think of Chrisette's new look? Soundoff below!

Also, check out my EXCLUSIVE interview with Chrisette Michelle at Carol's Daughter, before she went platinum.

The PJ Chronicles: Huetiful Steamer Review

Hey product junkies! So the lovely people over at Huetiful were nice enough to gift me a Huetiful Steamer to try out and review for you guys. As you may now I chopped off my permed locks in November of last year and ever since I've been growing out my naturally kinky-curly hair.

The curls circa November 2010

Just an FYI, the big bouncy curls you may have seen me trotting around town in recently aren't all mine! After going the first few months of winter as a natural, I experienced lots of breakage and damage to my ends due to dry harsh weather, cold winds, snow, you name it! So I figured until the weather warms up, I would rock out with a natural style that protects my strands. Hence, the wig. I named her Shirley. 

 Hopefully with the help of amazing products like this Huetiful Steamer, my natural curls will be making a re-debut come springtime. So here goes my review!

Spotted: Lala Vasquez Attends Book Launch in NY

Let me just say how excited I am to see that Lala Vazquez is back in NY and trotting around town. For those of you non-sports buffs (like myself), Lala and new hubby Carmelo Anthony have just moved to NY as Carmelo was recently traded from the Denver Nuggets to the NY Knicks.

 Yesterday, Lala was spotted out with her son Kiyan at a book launch in NYC. Cozy Friedman, founder of Madison Avenue salon and celebrity parent hot-spot, Cozy's Cuts for Kids, celebrated the launch of her first book - Cozy's Complete Guide to Girls' Hair and Lala was in the building with her adorable son.

Lala Anthony & Cozy Friedman

What do you guys think of Lala's look? Soundoff below!

LoveBrownSugar Chic: Sunbeams in Soho

 At the conclusion to NYFW last month, I had the pleasure of meeting up with the lovely Christina of ProfreshStyle to have lunch and blogger chat in downtown Soho.

Photo via ProfreshStyle.com

 Before we sat down for Thai deliciousness at Peep Soho, this lovely lady snapped a few shots of me. Isn't she gorge? I was super happy she suggested we take street shots. It was a gorgeous day...

LoveBrownSugar Feature: Edge Magazine

Special thanks to my friends over at Edge Magazine for spotlighting me as one of the "Edge Elite" features on their site. Here's a snippet of my interview, done by mt good friend and former BET coworker Kori Fields. When I first started my blog in July 2009, I highlighted these really cool scarf necklaces Kori used to make. She's amazing. anyway, here's part of the interview...