PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC!

I love the genius that is Charo. I was first introduced to her as a child staying up to watch THE LOVE BOAT and FANTASY ISLAND on Saturday nights. Her sequined gowns with thigh high slits, sparkly fringe and plunging necklines were only topped by her HUGE blond cascading wigs, pumped lips, gyrating hips and her cries of COOCHIE COOCHIE COO - I lived for her!!! She was the perfect blend of comedy, glamor and trashiness.

Well, mamacita has stepped into the modern age and taken on modern day diva Rihanna's addictive hit, DON'T STOP THE MUSIC. I betcha RiRi never envisioned this for her song. Flanked by 2 cheesy dancers in lame' shirts and chunky black shoes, Charo serves it up like a bowl of spicy salsa - muy caliente! I LIVE!!!

FACEBOOKED

Well, it has truly been a while since I last posted. I have started a project of my own (which I will discuss later) which has kept me VERY busy. So busy that I have neglected my blog. But after joining FACEBOOK at the urging of many friends - it sort of prompted me to get back to it. After all, the blog is about inspiration, creativity and seeing beauty in the world. I truly need to see and feel more of that right now, so what better way to grasp it, than to seek it out and grab hold of it myself?

So in the name of true creativity, inspiration, individualism, ingenuity and being from Detroit - here is the incomparable, singularly sensational, legendary, ICONIC - Miss Donyale Luna:

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK

Hello all!!! It has indeed been a minute since I last posted. I have been working on a really big project that has really taken up all of my time. I will be able to share it with you soon!!! In addition to not blogging, my personal life looked like that of a 17th century Lutheran monk - NOT CUTE!!!!

But if there was anything or anyone that could force my hand to get all back up in throughout here, it is the FIRST LADY, MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA. The Obamas have been on their European tour and Michelle has made quite a buzz with her wardrobe. I love that Michelle has been such a staunch supporter of American fashion (Where are the black designers though? If we get a black Attorney general, can't we have a black designer's dress on the first lady?! I am sure she understands the importance), but her mix of European designers has been refreshing. I love that she is doing her and to hell with the naysayers. The Moschino bow blouse got mixed reviews, but I think it was representative of the joy and optimism that she represents - classic fabric, exuberant expression!!!!! I even noticed that mother's hair and makeup have enjoyed a fierce upgrade. Honey, that 'do and face beat are working!!!!! She is looking more gorgeous than ever.

Above are my faves from the trip. And, I have to tell you that hands down, Michelle's BEST look of all time is the Azzedine Alaia knit dress. GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The gorgeously toned arms, the bare legs, the high heel and the sheer simplicity/complexity of the dress adds up to one thing - FIERCE. A first lady wearing Alaia - how bleeping modern can you get?!?!? Work girl!!!

SUNDAY DRAWING - GOOD LORD!!!!!

In the combined classic words of two pop culture icons, RuPaul and Florida Evans:

"I have one thing to say: DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!!!!!!!"

I will just leave it at that and leave you these pics to see for yourself. Praise Jesus and Halelu-yer.

Amazing Face - Ridge

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Beautiful boy

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Lord, this beyond gorgeous man had enough dark chocolate to put Hersheys and Godiva out of business. Lawd have mercy!!!!!!!

AND LET THE CHURCH SAY...AMEN!!!

Michelle was pretty and luxe in chartreuse brocade and pashmina, Sasha and Malia were the embodiment of kid-cute in their fab jewel tone color mixes and, surprisingly, Laura Bush was ultra chic and modern in her beautifully cut, minimal, neutral ensemble. But it was the original ReRe (Sorry Rihanna), the icon...living legend...diva...the Queen herself, Aretha Franklin, that made the biggest and boldest fashion statement on Inauguration day.

I absolutely LOVED her hat!!! What many critics failed to understand was the connection to the age old tradition of 'Crowns' in the black community. Large, fanciful, embellished, bedazzled, ladylike, fierce, dramatic toppers are de rigueur at Sunday church services, special events, fashion shows, plays, graduations, etc, in the black community. They are a show of wealth, status and class in the same way that designer bags are. They also represent a regal connection to our African ancestry. I believe Aretha's fashion statement spoke to something deeper than just 'I wanna wear a big ole' fancy hat'. I think it spoke to a reverence and respect that she held for the momentous occasion and it's direct connection to her history - a history filled with church, civil rights, marching, shoutin' and making it to the mountain top.

For a woman that is known to show far too much skin, especially her never-ending cleavage, Aretha looked rather chic and understated in her melange charcoal lady-coat and chapeau. The hat has been requested by the Smithsonian - for sure, a great honor. I hope she donates it because it is about more than just the Inauguration, it is a great nod to a rich, little known aspect and aesthetic of American culture and history.

OH NO SHE DI-IN'T!!!

No one loves a legend more than me. I go UP for Ross; I LIVE for Patti; I LOVES' me some Dionne; Gladys make me glad; I give all R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the queen, Aretha .......but the recent outburst of the legendary icon Etta James is just unacceptable.



Etta should be ashamed of her damn self. I know that sass is part of her schtick, but her derogatory and extremely unfunny comments about our new president were despicable. This is a woman who lived through segregation and the civil rights movement. She should be onstage PRAISING GOD that times are a-changin'. It is her generation that should see something extra special about Barack's presidency.

Also, she should be sending roses to Bey for introducing a new generation to her story, her song, her legacy. Beyonce did a fabulous job of portraying her in CADILLAC RECORDS (great movie!). AT LAST is a really obligatorily great song, but it is one of those songs that I have heard so many damn times that I never wanted to hear it again. Bey breathed a bit of freshness into it in my humble opinion. Etta James is indeed a living legend, but it is because of Bey that her name is back on the tip of the collective pop-culture tongue.

When Etta was being serenaded and honored by Bey, everything was hunky-dorey, but now that the attention has shifted away from her, I think she is a little attention starved. I find it funny because AT LAST was a 19 year old song when Etta sang it - it was originally written by Mack Gorgon and Harry Warren for the musical, ORCHESTRA WIVES and became a pop hit in 1942 for Glen Miller (with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday). Mr. Nat King Cole then recorded it in '57 on one of his many #1 albums. It wasn't until 1960 that Etta had a moderate hit with the song, only reaching #47 on the pop charts. So, how in the hell is it her damn song??!!?? Get real, lady. You are too accomplished and too much of a survivor who has so much to be grateful for to stoop to such unladylike behavior.

Count your blessings, Miss Thing....more class and less sass.....

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UPDATE!!! - Now, Mother is coming out saying that she was just joking......no, ole' girl, your coattails got pulled and you got read for being nasty and ungrateful!!!

ÜBER UBAH

Ralph's Spring 2009 campaign

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Italian Vogue's iconic all-black issue
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Bruce Weber - Italian Vogue

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Closing out Ralph
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Backstage

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She could be the next big thing.....Ubah Hassan of Somalia, via Canada. I love that she represents a very different type of African beauty than we are used to seeing - one that is soft, delicate and ultra feminine. Most recent African girls of note (except Liyah) have been very strong, dark skinned, short haired and almost androgynous. Believe me, I love the beauty of all of them and I love to see all the chocolate girls working, but it is great to see some newness. She bucks that trend and I love it.

She also bucks the prevailing trend of rail thin, shapeless blondes. This girl has body and legs for days. I love that she has a very potent sexiness and vivacity about her. She closed Ralph's Spring 09 show and is the newest face in his Spring campaign. Let's hope this is a launching pad to a great, long, illustrious career. You better work those legs, girl........