June-July 2008
Coastal Scents
Diorshow Mascara
Today, I decided to stop in the neighborhood Sephora to pick up a free sample mentioned in a magazine. So, this in itself is a joke, because when I go to Sephora I can’t just go in for what I went for. After spending 55 minutes more than I wanted to and was finally about to make my purchase, the cashier reminding me of one of the most talked about mascaras to date: Diorshow Black Out Mascara. I’ve avoided the mascara for months, but today I said “what the hell.” I immediately came home to try out this famous product. I was NOT dissapointed. The product was every bit of what I heard about it. It lengthened, provided drama and volume. I’m even privy to say that it was worth every dollar of the 24 I paid for it. My MAC Zoom Lash is the only other mascara that provides this kind of ‘WOW’ factor, but it takes more coats to get there.
This product gets two BEE’s up!
Pick up yours today at Sephora.
Yves Saint Laurent Broke Black Boundaries, says model Naomi
LONDON (AFP) — British supermodel Naomi Campbell paid a tearful tribute to French fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent on Monday for his role in promoting black models.
Campbell told Britain’s Channel 4 News that Saint Laurent, who died on Sunday of a brain tumour at his Paris home, had “done so much for people of colour.”
“My first Vogue cover ever was because of this man,” the 37-year-old told the broadcaster, referring to the fashion magazine.
“Because when I said to him ‘Yves, they won’t give me a French Vogue cover, they won’t put a black girl on the cover’ and he was like ‘I’ll take care of that,’ and he did.”
Known as the “prince of fashion” in the world’s designer capital, Saint Laurent dominated the international couture scene from the swinging 1960s until his retirement in 2002, revolutionising women’s wardrobes with a new androgynous style that mirrored women’s push for a stronger social role.
“He was the king of fashion,” Campbell said.
“He created pret-a-porter, he was the first designer to put women of colour on the runway, he was extremely important in my career, giving me one of my first jobs.”
She continued: “He has done everything, he’s done it, if you go to the museum you will see he has done it all. He has done so much for people of colour.” Taken from AFP
Why I Went Natural
Going natural is a big decision and not an easy one might I add. Alot of people have asked me why I decided to take the this huge step two years ago. Here is my response and a few products that have helped me get thru so far.
MAC’s Newest Collections
Neo Sci-Fi
If you are BrownFace that likes to play it safe with your make-up choices, I would sugges
t you run out and buy some products from this collection. It is very brown girl friendly. The shadows are for very natural looks and so are the lipglasses. Actually, the lipglasses are my favorite products in this collection. Other than that, this collection was not very impressive if you love color or drama. View the full collection at MAC Cosmetics or at your local MAC location.
Cool Heat
Okay, so upon viewing this collection at the MAC Pro Store last week, there was very a noticeable difference from Neo Sci-Fi. The eyeshadows in this collection are highly-pigmented for the woman that loves mucho color on her lids. Shades of green and blue eyeshadows stood out in their pots. This collection also added some more slimshines to the mix. So ladies, you have two very different collections. Choices, choices. What’s a girl to do? Run out and buy…duh? View Cool Heat at MAC. 
Broadway Review
Passing Strange reviewed by Blanche Mackey-Williams
Exuberantly & excellently crafted “Passing Strange” is a dynamic rock n roll musical built on a story that is more or less about the creator, singer –songwriter Stew’s life as a young man; Stew whose real name is Mark Stewart, is also the narrator of the play. “Passing Strange” follows the life of a African American young male (played by Daniel Breaker) living in South Central L. A. in the 70’s; in search of himself and his true identity; not the identity that most people, namely African Americans, believe he should adopt.
The play begins with Stew’s outburst “Clap for me goddamn it, I just paid my taxes and need applause” From this derives a thunderous applause and the audience fall into an ease eagerly awaiting the show.
Three musicians emerge from the stage floor and the play begins with Stew singing “Now, since it’s my job I’m gonna set the scene / In a big two-story black middle-class dream / With all the mod cons, the manicured lawns / Some savings bonds, a boy and his mom / Talkin’ mid-seventies South Central L.A. / A colored paradise where the palm trees sway / But this promised land wasn’t delivering the goods / Even in this best of all possible hoods.”
Eisa Davis plays Stew’s mother. Her character exemplifies most the life of most African American mothers; she is trying to get him to attend church with her. Her Negro mother/ holly roller dialect is familiar as we hear it from our own mothers, aunts and grandmothers who are certainly sanctified. He ignores her and hums Buddhist chants. The same chants she wants him to give up for her lord and savior Jesus Christ.
He soon gives in and agrees to attend church with her. However there is a turning point. At church, he finds his true love, after hearing gospel songs, “Rock & Roll.” Thus begins his quest for the “real”.
On to Europe he goes, hoping that it will help him shed his “expected identify” as a young black male. The first stop on his travels is Amsterdam. There he is seduced by the carefree easiness of the people he meets. An immediate offer for a place to stay is delivered with a suggestive song “Keys” by actress de ‘Adre that has him drooling for more. Alas, he quickly discovers that Amsterdam, with all its tantalizing qualities and big flashy lights reminiscent of Times Square, is just not the “real” he was in search of. Next stop is Berlin. Everyone is militant and the revolution is what’s paramount in most people’s minds including his own as he is trying vehemently to find his “true identity.” His new radical friends are his new family, here he can play his music and be respected. All the while his mother is begging him to return home to middleclass Dom if only for a visit as she has some important news to share with him. “We have a lot to talk about” she pleads. His vision is clouded with naïveté as he declares Berlin his home. He refuses to visit her for the holidays, claiming that anyone that is “keeping it real” is not celebrating Christmas.
Here in his new home he is a serious revolutionist “He is the black one” that has lived on the edge in the mean streets of South Central L.A. or so he would have them believe. Ironically, the exact label he wants to escape.
Conflicts arise within him once he realizes that his new found family values everything that he now rejects as a realist radical rocker.
He gets word that his mother has passed away. It is only then that he returns home looking for forgiveness from his mother. But it’s too late.
He now regrets denying what was always real in the first place, his mothers love. “People like me,” he says, “we feel like art is more real than life.” And that really gives you something to think about especially if you are at a funeral. Art imitates life. However it never replaces the real thing. See this play.
Trend Watch
These and many more can all be found and purchased at ASOS.com
Haute & Pieced Together (Celebrity Edition)
I am loving Jada’s overall look here. She looks very well put together and that clutch is uber cute with the purple satin top. Of course I could have done without out the belt but she still looks fab and sultry. Can I look like this when I become a mother of two??
Is this a dress or a gaucho jumspuit? Whatever it is, it is ultra chic. I can just see myself wearing this towindow shop on Fifth Avenue.
