February = Black History in Fashion... Past & Present

This February I’ll be publishing as many posts as I can of African American contributors to fashion in honor of Black History Month.  Feel free to post comments, and let me know if there is any one in particular you’d like to see featured.  Warning: some of these people, I’m just getting to know myself.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=shun+melson&view=detail&id=AD7A0EF0AE468E444EE6A976303E3C3B1772705F&first=1&FORM=IDFRIR

Today I’m featuring stylist Shun Melson, fashion stylist to many celebrities.  I absolutely love the styling’s she’s done with Jennifer Hudson, Monica, and Kandi!  Check her out at http://creativesolutionzllc.com/.

Oldest Trick in The Book

                                             

Wad’up tweens?  Hope life has greeted you today with love and happiness!  If it didn’t, you probably didn’t expect it to.  I just want to get something off my chest today.  Young ladies, it is not necessary to dress provocatively to get what you want out of life.  It is always so disappointing to watch a new talented singer arise and fall prey to what society, the media, their managers or record companies, and sometimes their parents are telling them they have to do.  Am I the only person that remembers L’Boogie, AKA Lauren Hill?

Girls you have to remember that many of the singers you hear today aren’t all that talented.  But they get in front of you for the six months to a year that their career lasts, and parade around nearly nude, getting you to believe this is how you should dress too, if you want to be successful.  If you don’t know who Lauren Hill is the google her for further data.  Let me just say this… when true talent, gratitude, and love surrounds everything you do, the 5 or 6 Grammy’s, an Oscar, a Toney, or an Emmy will come.  Follow your souls and life will give you what you intend.

Don’t become victims of tasteless fashion, and don’t use the excuse that it’s okay as long as you’re making the decisions to dress that way yourself.  It is NOT!  That’s the oldest trick in the book.  I fell out of love with Madonna when she made the statement, “As long as I do it to myself, it’s okay.”  She was responding to a reporter who was questioning her motives of dressing so provocatively, being chained, and bare most of the time.  Slavery, or more specifically William Lynch, has taught us that the easiest way to get people to do what ever it is you want is to have them do it to themselves.  His infamous speech ends… “My plan is guaranteed, and the good thing about this plan is that if used intensely for one year, the slaves themselves will remain perpetually distrustful.”  

We only need change the words to women themselves will remain perpetually distasteful and dress the way lustful men would have them.  What do you think?

???'s = tweenstylist@live.com or twitter.com/tweenstylist

L

P.S.

Check the white cotton shirt and cropped jacket, items on my Top 10 Tween Must Haves (homage to Tim Gunn) list, in the pics above;-)



Retail Talk!

     

When you are out shopping, especially those of you who are allowed to shop for yourselves be aware of the tricks retailers like to play, and they do it all the time, since it usually works.  If you walk into a store and everyone that works there says that every single thing you try on or even look at looks good on you, know that they are lying and just trying to get a sale to boost their numbers.  The most beautiful women in the world know they don’t look good in everything… no one does.  Yes, even if they are not on commission, every time they ring a sale it goes under their employee number, and the manager keeps up with who’s selling or not. 

 

If the salesperson or persons helping you keep try’n to push certain items in your hands or dressing room, know the company is probably having a contest and the highest seller of that item/s will be rewarded.  Just a couple of tips on how the system/industry works, and how to keep all that crap you really didn’t want in the first place from building up in your closet.  These tips will help you buy things that are right for YOU, and not waste money on things you got tricked into buying.  There is nothing worse than having a closet full of clothes and literally have nothing to wear.  Don’t feel bad if this has happened to you.  Grown women fall for these tricks everyday.  Take it as a lessoned learned, keep it move’n, donate the clothes to charity, make some money on Ebay, or sell them at your local consignment shop.

Rules 2 Follow:

1. You can try on any and everything, hey it’s fun!  So go ahead, and have a blast!
2. Ask yourself these questions before you Just Throw It In The Bag;~)
1. Do I really need this?
2. Is this okay for my age?
3. Does this look great on ME?
4. Is this in my budget?
5. If I don’t get this I’ll be unhapppy?

                                                               i.      If you answered YES to all of the above, then you’ve       probably made a good choice, and should go ahead and buy it. 

1.      If you don’t answer yes for at least 4 of the 5 = leave it!!

                                                             ii.      If you answer yes to all of these questions all of the time for everything you touch or look at, SEEK HELP!  You are a shopaholic, and clothes won’t fix the love that you’re missing!

???'s = tweenstylist@live.com or http://twitter.com/tweenstylist
L

Body Shapes?

OMG!  LOL!  I’m already cracking myself up just thinking about my body.  I think God must have had uncontrollable hiccups when he put me together.  I have short legs, which in and of its self is perfectly fine, but add in the waist length of a super model and it’s just darn right funny.  You know how on the Ugly Betty show when they keep switching different eyes, noses, and mouths.  Well that’s what it looks like happened to my body, but somebody forgot to put the pieces back together.  On top of that stir in the weight I’ve put on in the last 10 years and it’s just hilarious.  Trust me girls eat healthy and exercise everyday, cuz whatever you think you don’t like about yourself is only exaggerated about 100% with each and every extra pound you gain.  The weight makes me look like a weeble wobble toy person (tell’n my age).  My legs have all but disappeared. 

  

Anyway, if I can put together clothes and look just as good as anyone there is, then you can too.  Even when I had only 3% body fat my body was just weird… beautiful but weird.  When I was in middle school my chest was flat as all get out; I had wide hips, muscular, thick legs, and big feet.  Let Clinton and Stacy try to solve that dilemma.  See the pics in my photo album.  And while I made many bad fashion choices, I usually could choose things that kind of balanced my body out a little bit more.  I eventually learned the monochromatic outfits, long-waisted pants and skirts, and (back in the 80’s) shoulder pads would make me look and feel great. 



So, the moral of this story is, as bad as you may feel now about certain parts of your body, you’ll be wishing you had it all back if you don’t take care of yourselves now and forever.  I just didn’t want anyone to think some outta work fashion model was writing this blog.  I’m just a regular person who happens to know a whole lot about fashion and styling a body to make it look its best.  I also think I do a great job dressing my daughter, and can give great advice on dressing growing/developing tweens.  Most of the tips I give have been around long before me (mom’s 70’s fahion/beauty books), so it’s just a matter of pulling together what’s right for you.  Trust me. I’ve had a lot of work at it.  So, if you have any questions, feel free to grab your mom or dad and ask or email me, and I’m sure we can figure it all out together. 

???’s = tweenstylist@live.com or twitter.com/tweenstylist

L



Swagger Tight or Fright?

     

So, the fall/winter trends have been out for a while now, and everyone has gone B2S with their new digs on.  I’m interested in hearing what 2010 trends made tweens go BOOM… BOOM… POW! 


Which ones are so popular that you’ve already began to hit the DELETE button because you’re tire of seeing them?   Besides that, are there any outlandish trends you feel are just unrealistic or unwearable?  And what’s still in your closet cuz you either don’t like it or haven’t figured out just how to wear it yet, but maybe all your friends want to borrow it?

     

???’s = tweenstylist@live.com or twitter.com/tweenstylist

L

Top 10 Tween Must Haves: #10 Dress

I was a huge tomboy growing up, and while I loved being fashionable at a very early age, I couldn’t fully appreciate dresses until adulthood.  However, I did think they were very pretty, and as long as I had a pretty one to wear, I never fought when I was told I had to wear them.  My rule of thumb is, if you have to wear anything you might as well look good wearing it.  Now, I adore dresses and can’t imagine my life without them, especially since we’re passed the slips and stockings era (so uncomfortable).  Fashion 09’ brought back lengthy, ground scraping dresses and they are my absolute favorite, and I’ve been gliding around in them since the early nineties… makes me feel like a queen. 

 

So, look out 2011’, girlz rule and boys drule:-p  This winter try rock’n last summer’s sack dress, shift dress, trapeze dress, or a sundress under your cardigan, cropped jacket, or blazer from the Top 10 Tween Must Haves list.  For all you budget busters who have spent all your money, marry thick sweater tights, knee high boots, and the black turtleneck under or over the dresses to stretch your favorite summer looks further into winter.  For those of you who are looking to spend Christmas money, try finding a long-sleeved shirt, denim, or velvet dress to kick off 2011 right.  Sweater dresses are probably the coziest during winter, and have been in stores more and more over the last 2 or 3 years.  If you don’t like wearing dresses, but that’s the only thing you and you parents are at odds over, do yourself a favor and just wear one every now and then to make them happy.  Pick and choose your battles gilrz!



Tip:

1.      If you’re built like Beyonce or Angelina Jolie… don’t look like a call girl; put too short or mini dresses over jeans.  My daughter always has and still gets rave reviews everywhere she sports this look.



2.      Don’t know how to iron very well, try getting an inexpensive travel steamer.  Helps a lot with all those poet and ruched sleeved shirts too.

???’s or feedback = tweenstylist@live.com or

                              twitter.com/tweenstylist

       

                   L

   

Top 10 Tween Must Haves: #9 Cardigan

Hey again tween peeps!  Today we’re gonna add some flava to your shopping list and cardigans will add class, grace, and a lil’bit of spice (depending on your taste). 

A cardigan makes the list of Top 10 Tween Must Haves for several reasons.  Basically, you girlz are busier than ever with school, gym, arts, athletics, and other extra curricular activities, and a cardigan lends itself to your fast paced lives.

    

Found this on http://poshposh.com/sweaters/index.php?page=2

Zipped or buttoned up gives you the look of a regular sweater, while worn open gives the feel of a jacket.  A cardigan can be worn with all of the other items on the Top 10 Tween Must Haves list, and it’s another great choice for most all events tweens attend.  If the First Lady, Michelle Obama, can rock this look to all sorts of events, then so can YOU.  It’s also a great layering item here in Georgia and any place that has drastic weather changes throughout the day.

Sporty girls may want one with a hoody for a more athletic look.  The intellegencia crowd may decide to try a thigh length cardigan with a button front and tie at the waist for a smarty pants feel.  Fashionistas and RMD girls may opt for the couture or avant-garde vibe, like the one above.  Artistic tweens may want to find a beaded cardigan or one with threaded ribbons.  Daddy’s girlz may choose a single top button with the rest free flowing for a princessy look.

Tips:

1.      Try belting any of your cardigans to change the look/feel.

2.      Be sure to always carefully read the label for care of your sweaters.

3.      To be safe, always wash in cold water on the gentle cycle and lay flat to dry (unless it’s dry clean only).  Laying it flat will keep it from stretching out of shape.

4.      To soften it up again after it is completely dry; toss it in the dryer with the setting on cool for about 10 – 15 minutes.

???’s or feedback = tweenstylist@live.com or twitter.com/tweenstylist
L