“When in doubt wear red.” –Bill Blass
“Red is the ultimate cure for sadness.” –Bill Blass
“Oh, I love red. I”m very loyal to my colors. I love violet.”–Elizabeth Taylor
“Red is a warm colour, lively and agitated; it is forceful, a movement in itself.”-Wassily Kandinsky
This is a space for all I find beautiful and inspiring in fashion. My favorite colors are red and purple, so much of what I highlight will be of those hues. I have an addiction to finding cute, unique pieces that are thrifted and will be sharing some of those finds here as well. Enjoy! Find theQUEENwearsRED on Pinterest
Me @ 6-years old in a fabulous red dress!
Winter in Red
Red is still a girl’s best friend!
Bijoux Uniques Posted on August 13, 2012
Bijoux Uniques Posted on August 13, 2012
I love purchasing street or handcrafted jewelry and living in New York City I always have the opportunity to do so (probably more opportunities than I need). Whether I am on 125th Street in Harlem or hanging out in Union Square downtown I am always tempted to by one more pair of earrings or another funky ring, see some of my finds below:
Various pieces that were gifted or brought from vendors on 125th Street in Harlem. The cuff is from Venus Visuals.
Gifted from my friend Ayana
Purchased from an African Jewelry designer on 125th street, the bracelet is copper which is said to have healing properties.
- Cross purchased from a street vendor on the Upper West Side of Manhattan
Cross by Tracey Ramsey & Mary Pendant gifted
Earrings from Harlem Vendor, Necklace-? & Amber Stone which is great for creative energy.
Show-Up! Show Out! A Celebration of Natural Hair Saturday July 28,2012
Show-Up! Show Out! A Celebration of Natural Hair Saturday July 28,2012
I am currently in Saas Fee,Switzerland doing a short term Philosophy & Media program and today we looked at the work of the German Philosopher Theodor W. Adorno who speaks of “Natural Beauty” vs. “Artistic Beauty” and this reminded me of the agony many Black women have over their natural beauty. Adorno was speaking of nature vs. art and the fact that art tries to capture what is seen in nature but cannot.Many Black women have difficulty accepting their natural beauty which is unfortunate because natural beauty cannot be duplicated. As Black women we possess Mitochondrial DNA and from this DNA all of humanity was born, therefore the Black woman is closest to nature and natural beauty. Sadly, we fear and often resent our natural beauty. As the Bible says “we perish for a lack of knowledge” and as Black women we are not loving ourselves because we lack the knowledge of who we truly are. We attempt to look like everybody else yet we are the prototype of humanity, which does not mean we are better than others but it does mean we are valuable.
On Saturday July 28th I attended a fabulous event: Show Up, Show Out hosted by Imena Salon and I Love My Fro. This event was a night of fun to celebrate women with natural hair and the men who love them. The celebration was held at the fitting Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center in Harlem. As I walked up the stairs of the center I saw a powerful quote about beauty from Malcolm X where he talks about true beauty or what I would call “natural beauty”.
“Love is disposition, behavior,attitude, thoughts,likes, dislikes-these things make a beautiful woman, a beautiful wife. This is the beauty that never fades.”-Malcolm X
The night included a hair show, massages, dancing, vendors, belly dancing and more. I loved seeing so many sisters in their natural beauty, confident in the crowns God gave them. See the pictures below.
Amen! (I don’t know where the light orb came from)
Preach!
Imena Salon has helped my hair grow and get healthy!
Me and my friend Paris who modeled in the hair show!
Me, my hair stylist & owner of Imena Salon: Tami & my soror (and fellow Imena client) Nina!
Forever is not long enough…
Dress-Forever 21 & Bracelet-Gifted
“Grown-up Clothes” Shopping Trip
Palm Sunday 2012: Hat-Old Navy, Dress-Anne Taylor, Swan Pendant Necklace-Thrifted from The Family Jewels
My “Church” Hat Wall
I love hats and have more but wanted to highlight these three As a African-American Christian woman I love the church hat tradition my elder women carry on and since I believe that all I do is an act of worship and that God’s temple lies inside of me all my hats are “church hats”, because church is wherever I go to glory God-work, dancing with friends or Sunday morning worship. I plan on building a hat collection that will rival Civil and Women’s Right’s Activist Dr. Dorothy Height!
Light Straw Hat-Housing Works Thrift Shop & Dark Brown Hat-Old Navy, Ghetto Jesus & Mary Collage created by me but inspired by cards created by Youth Ministries for Peace & Justice in the South Bronx
My silly church hat, I brought this at a cute boutique in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia and it makes me happy.
For more information on the Church Hat tradition read Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats
Civil Rights Icon Dorothy I. Height, her hat collection and activism are legendary!
40/40 Reunion
My seminary school friend Danielle returned to NYC to visit and though we did not make it back to the seminary we surely made it to the 40/40 Club for some dancing!- Pray for us, LOL!
Dress-Banana Republic, Tights-Spanx, Shoes Gifted, Belt Thrifted, Necklace H & M
“The Good You Do Comes Back to You.”
Shoes(Madeline) Thrifted from Housing Works & Bag Gifted from Yuan Tang via China
Tights-American Apparel
Bag Thrifted from Housing Works
Bracelets Thrifted from Housing Works & Necklace Thrifted from The Family Jewels
“Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Our mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts.” When I shop at Housing Works I can get what I need to look good, while doing good.
Royalty
Pashmina Scarf NYC street Vendor & Necklace Thrfited from The Family Jewels
Purse Thrifted from Vintage Thrift Shop United Jewish Council
Purse & Wallet(Stratton of London) Thrifted
Black & White & Red All Over (but mostly red)
New Year’s Eve 2010-Dress (Ronnie Nicole) & Scarf Thrifted
March 1, 2012: St. John Scenes of a Woman starring Kate Winslet
I love Kate Winslet and St. John so the two together are style heaven for me. I am not much of a pink person but the classy and understated styling of this shoot could win me over. St. John has tapped Winslet for Scenes of a Woman which includes two videos ala James Franco’s campaign for Gucci Made to Measure.
I like the idea of using video as a supplement to an ad campaign, you gain a different perspective on the designer’s vision by utilizing a different medium.
Kate Winslet Scenes of a Woman Video
Serena Williams at 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Spring 2012 NY Fashion Week: 5 Fabulous Black Fashion Bloggers
Lydia, Style is Style
This African sister via Olso, Norway currently resides in British Columbia, Canada where she serves up sweet, colorful, vintage looks. Her post will inspire you to have fun with fashion.
Gabbi, GABIFRESH
This sister is taking the fashion world by storm! She first made a splash as the creator of Young, Fat and Fabulous, one of the premier fashion blogs for plus sized women. Her unapologetic style empowers women of all sizes to be bold and beautiful.
Folake Kuye Huntoon, Style Pantry
This LA lady attended NY Fashion Week as the Chictopia Influential Blogger of the Year. Chictopia is the leading Social Media site for fashion bloggers. If her brightly colored vintage looks are not enough to get you hooked, Folake also blogs about art, design, beauty and music among other topics.
Miss Modja,Rock’n LOve
This African-Parisian Singer and self-described “green, vegan-friendly sober while being cranky” blogger highlights her unique, fun-loving style drawing inspiration from rock and her African heritage. She encourages her readers to find their unique style and live it out for the world to see.
Nichelle Gainer, Vintage Black Glamour
Want to see Dorothy Dandridge, Diahann Carroll, Eartha Kitt and Etta James all in one place, then check out this blog for candids, movie posters, magazine covers and fashion spreads of the Black & Beautiful back in the day.
