ON SECOND THOUGHT...........

I was just thinking about fashion moving forward and I couldn't get past the need to remove the following articles of clothing/accessories from women's closets:

1) Ridiculously high, bulky platform shoes - these have been around for 3 1/2 years already. Let's move on y'all.......I am feeling low heeled (2") strappy shoes, strong heeled suede pumps (think early 90's Calvin Klein) and flat and high heeled tall boots in suede.

2) Sunglasses - I know these are a staple, but I like to look people in the eyes. I find that people use sunglasses as a stamp for stylishness, meaning, throw on anything and top it all off with a big, bug eyed pair of glasses and they make everything alright. Sunglasses are the accessory of choice of poseurs.

3) Skinny jeans - The problem is that most girls wear skinny jeans with a too tight top or a shrunken bomber jacket - this is all wrong. You have to have a play on proportion (a boyfriend jacket, a slouchy sweater, etc), unless you are Raquel Zimmerman. Plus, most people who wear skinny jeans are not doing themselves justice. A frowzy shape in a skinny jean is not cute. Let's ease it up a bit with flares, bell bottoms, trousers, boyfriend pants.....

4) Bad makeup - I see too many of my chocolate sisters wearing eye makeup that they copy from music videos. I particularly hate white shadow just above the lash or just beneath the brow. WHO IN THE HELL TOLD THEM TO DO THIS. STOP IMMEDIATELY!!!!! I am also sick of over contoured noses, overly thin brows and visible lip liner. I wish people realized that makeup is supposed to generally look natural and not like a mask.

5) Bad weaves and extensions - I think there is a trend of hair that is supposed to look like wigs or weaves. No longer do people try to make it look natural. No longer do people want you to ask "Is that her hair?". No longer is a real skin part necessary. Hollywood actresses all have that same 'center parted, softly waved around the face, with tumbling cascades of extra long hair' weave that is so annoying. Ride the train any day and you'll see hair that looks like hats. In urban areas, black women have become so dependent on fake hair that wearing natural hair is passe'. I see little girls, aged 5 or 6, with weaves and I just want to slap the hell out of the stupid mammy! Doesn't she realize that she is teaching the child that her hair, her natural beauty is not good enough? They start them at that age and then they are hooked. It damages their hair, their scalp and their esteem. I have seen time and time again how the natural beauty of a girl bursts out when she cuts her hair off, removes her wig or de-weaves herself. Think Roshumba - early 90's - sheer simplicity, sheer perfection.

6) High waisted jeans - This was a trend that worked on .01% of the population. They are highly unflattering and should be destroyed.

7) Knee High sneakers and Gladiator type boots - Generally worn with skinny jeans, need I say more?

EARTHA, BABY!!!

The legendary icon Ms. Eartha Kitt left us on Christmas day. She will be greatly missed. She was an ultra modern renaissance woman who crossed the color line, worked and spoke out for human and civil rights for all, was a stage, screen, TV and recording superstar and was a real man-magnet, attracting some of the world's most wealthy and attractive men.

Eartha was far ahead of her time in many ways - she oozed sexuality and sensuality in a time when that was considered improper. It was that raw, unapologetic energy that drew people to her for well over 50 years. Now that is a career, dammit!!! And mother kept that body SNATCHED all those years!!!!!

During her long career, she had more than nine lives thanks to her sold out cabaret act, her Emmy winning TV appearances, her UNFORGETTABLE appearance in Boomerang, her stint as Catwoman (BRILLIANT!) and her brutally honest views on war, homelessness and bad politics. Her truest essence was always put forth at the right moment and those moments kept propelling her forward and deeper into our hearts.

Eartha - you were a one-of-a-kind Lady!!!

GIRL ON THE EDGE

I will preface this by saying that, yes, dammit, I LOVES me some Bey!!! But when it comes to style, I try to be completely unbiased.

Baby Bey, as I like to call her, has been pushing the fashion envelope recently. Gone are the days of the old hat Elie Saab and Versace flowing chiffon gowns with a highlight of some beaded schmutz thrown on somewhere. She has replaced this Miss Universe look with much edgier looks - Thierry Mugler, Alaia, Gareth Pugh, Alexander McQueen and Dolce & Gabanna. I particularly love this fashionable move forward. I think it is very reflective of our times as well. She is looking more singular, sleeker, more focused, more streamlined, hipper, much more modern and dare I say it, younger.

I love that this new step frees her from her seemingly self imposed role of Little Miss Perfect (as does her saucy performance as Etta James in Cadillac Records).

One very interesting tidbit of news is her newly announced collabo with Monsieur Theirry Mugler as Creative Advisor and wardrobe designer. He will be doing about 58 looks for her and directing 3 segments of her tour, as well as advising on choreography and lighting. Mugler, through many ups and downs, was a true genius. If you have ever seen a Mugler show, you know that this man thinks big, thinks dramatically and thinks out of the box. His own shows were always more about the drama of showmanship than they were about the clothes anyway. She has to be aware of not just being throwback or too draggish, but constantly taking his genius and bringing it forward so that it is ALWAYS modern, feminine and youthful.

Was this inspiration for her Bey's famed robo-glove?:

Yes, children, the 90's are back!!!

DOING MY PART

Hey guys,

I am off to Philadelphia for 2 days to canvass for the Obama Campaign for Change. Our initiative over the next few days is called GOTV - Get Out The Vote. This campaign has inspired me in ways like no other campaign in history. I have sent money, bought products and given time and cell phone minutes. I have donated because I truly believe in Barack Obama's message. I have the feeling that I will be participating in and contributing to a great time in American and world history. I have friends and acquaintances who will also be going down to help out. Jeffrey, Joshua and Richard will also be hitting the streets to remind people to vote and to make sure they know what to take to the polls on Tuesday.

I come back Monday night for class and then on Tuesday morning.......drumroll......I GO CAST MY VOTE FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES - MR. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!! For the past 2 years, I have been dreaming of the day that I pull that big metal lever. I will leave the polls and go directly to a phone bank to continue the drive to get people out to the polls.

I sincerely hope that you guys all get out and cast your ballot to change the course that our country is on right now. We cannot allow this to slip through our hands. Barack's win will be our win. We will then have the proof that HOPE is real and that by hoping and through action, we can truly make our dreams come true. This will only be the beginning. My next post will be a celebration of A HISTORY MAKING VOTE!!!