Tag: black fashionistas

Printed Headwrap + Trousers

September is one of my favorite months of the year because it gives us all four seasons in one month. This can easily be seen in the streetstyle looks worn by fashion mavens all across the country attending NYFW. Slip dresses, leather pants, suede miniskirts, knee boots, and more filled the streets of NYC last week. Swooning over killer looks I noticed a lot of print mixing. While this isn’t my specialty I’m trying with this week’s printed headwrap and trousers.

These pants from H&M are so comfortable and can be dressed up or down. Having previously styled these with sneakers, as seen here, I felt heels were in order. Mules are all the rage this year and these criss cross beauties fit perfectly. A pearl buckle adds the cutest touch to the black satin.

A loose fitting tank in cobalt blue gives a simple yet playful feel to balance out the bottom. Very thin cotton calls for a tighter tank underneath. Which is more appropriate for my dress code at work. Tying a knot in front keeps it laid back. Finally I took this printed headwrap, which was part of a skirt set, and used it to accent the print of my trousers. The orange, yellow, and blue colors are vibrant againt the black and white print.

The combination of these deep waves with the headwrap guve such a carefree feel. To accessorize I went with a cute bucket bag and my go to sunglasses. These sandals are seriously just what the doctor ordered in this steamy weather.How do you style mixed prints? Let me know in the comments below!

Top/Trousers//H&M , Shoes//KG Fashions , Headwrap//Cici’s Boutique

Neon Biker Shorts

This past weekend hubs and I did absolutely nothing and it was perfect. Slept late, ate big breakfasts, caught up on movies we never got around to watching, and ate comfort food. Two full days of uninterrupted boo loving was just what the doctor ordered. Our baby girl is back to school, but summer’s not over yet. We still have three weeks till the official start of a new season. Which means y’all gone get these brights until then. Starting with these neon biker shorts.

I’ve gotta be honest, I was leery about wearing such a trendy piece. Especially since Philly jawns neon greened err body to DEATH this summer. But then I remembered I wear what I want (obasha) regardless. Once a decision was made finding these in store proved to be tricky. Forever 21 was sure to have them right? Wrong. I tried all my fast fashion go to’s only to end up where I should’ve started. The hair store.

Yes beloved, if there is anything I’ve learned it’s that the trendiest streetwear pieces can usually be found in the neighborhoods of those who set trends…. the hood. Make no mistake, that’s not shade at all. Black culture is pop culture and black women are trend setters. This is not up for debate. I’m actually mad myself for not going there first. I know better.

After finding a pair for $10 dollars I now had to decide how to style them. All signs pointed to a chunky sneaker and an iridescent fanny pack. Maybe add a visor and denim jacket as well? But failure to purchase said fanny pack eliminated that plan. Instead I opted to get another wear out of my favorite neon sandals. These Rachel Roy sandals circa 2010 are one of my favorite purchases. Perfect for doing the most. I figured why tone down the look when I can amplify it with more color.

To counter balance all the color below, I kept the top simple… so to speak. This fishnet peplum top adds a little edge to the entire look, which keeps it from being too campy. No purse or jacket needed, especially in this summer heat. If you find yourself avoiding a trend because “everyone” is already wearing it, remember that no one is quite like you. There’s room in this fashion universe for all of us to shine!

Top//Grazia , Shorts//Unknown , Shoes//Rachel Roy

Colorful Romper

Some days I feel super sassy, other days I feel refined and sophisticated. Then there are days I want to curl up in bed and eat chocolate. More often than not, those are usually the same days I’m scheduled for a blog photoshoot. So what do you wear when you’re hot, bloated, and you don’t want anything hugging your belly? My dear you wear a romper. A bright colorful romper to be exact!

After doing some digging I’ve discovered that I only have three posts on this here blog in shorts. You heard me, just three. All you shorts lovers out there, cut me some slack because I’ve only added them to my wardrobe recently. For two years I’ve been actively trying to incorporate shorts into the rotation. This romper has to count right?

This beautiful baby was found on another successful trip to Marshall’s. Although it’s pretty colorful, the bright coral caught my eye. It’s one of my favorite colors to wear in summer. The halter neckline was also appealing since I have few pieces that let me show off my shoulders. One trip to the fitting room and I was sold. The super silky lining feels amazing against the skin. The romper is tiered, making the waistline defined without being too tight. Considering these photos were shot during my period, I seriously appreciated that.

A romper is a great way to ease shorts into any wardrobe. They tend to be less restricting and more forgiving in the abdomen. The beautiful print reminds me of a tropical paradise. Extremely comfortable and affordable at just $16! What say you? Have you added any rompers to your wardrobe? Let me know in the comments below.

Romper//Marshall’s , Shoes//Diamond Collection , Sunglasses//CVS

White Button Down Dress

A friend of mine asked me to describe my style last week and it took a moment to give her an answer. After some thought I told her that my style consisted of boardroom and the block. I pride myself on having a healthy blend of haute and hood and I make no apologies. That’s the great thing about style, there are no limits. When I shot today’s look, I was feeling minimal. The focus needed to be all about this v-neck white button down dress.

Summer is all about ease for me in terms of wardrobe. Dresses are always my go to because they require little effort. Just slip one on and go. The perfect routine when temperatures are high and humidity is a beast. With most of my summer white pieces now too small, a new white dress was a necessity. Before heading to Amazon I decided to try Zara.

Clearly that was a great decision. Since the brick and mortar store at 18th and Chestnut closed, I haven’t shopped there lately. But this dress was waiting for me and it was on sale. A cool $20 this lightweight knit dress is a steal. You may be thinking “Isn’t it too warm for knits?” However, the dress is thick enough to keep you warm on a cool night, and thin enough to keep you from sweating buckets.

The shoulder straps on this dress are actually a bit too long for me. A common problem I encounter being a petite woman, but that’s an easy fix. Something one trip to the cleaners will handle. The large round buttons going down the front are what attracted me to this piece. They stand out against the off white and add an unexpected twist to your basic white v-neck dress.

To ensure the dress alone was the center of attention I kept it simple with my accessories. For footwear I opted for low black wedges to match the buttons. Then chose these white and gold statement earrings. They are far from minimal but against this big curly wig, they are somewhat muted. No purse, no bracelet, no necklace. Just me and the dress. What are your thoughts? How would you rock this dress?

Dress//Zara , Shoes/Earrings//Aldo

Gold High-Low Dress

After wearing headwraps every day for two weeks I felt the need to switch it up… and do the most. This new “Game Changer” lace wig from the Sensationnel Curls Kinks & Co line is just that, a game changer!! The texture is bomb but the volume is what won me over. I’m in a big hair mood and this is as big as it gets. Its synthetic and can easily be washed and air dried. What do you wear with a wig like this? A dress that’s equally as eye catching; something like this gold pleated swing dress.

For as long as I can remember I was opposed to wearing anything high-low. Being a 5’3 petite woman I’ve never liked the way I look in that style of dress. However, when you find a metallic gold dress that’s lightweight and perfectly pleated, all bets are off. While this dress is at least four years old, it’s still one of my go-to’s for a steamy summer day.

It was 100 degrees during this shoot so I kept my accessories simple by pairing this dress with a matching metallic mule. These high heel mules are by Zara, but I found them at Marshall’s for only $13. Yes hunny, THIRTEEN BUCKS!! I chose a simple black tassel earring and black clutch to complete the look. It’s not my normal practice to play down my accessories but this year I’m trying to vary my approach.

Get used to this wig because you’ll be seeing it all summer. It’s the perfect no fuss protective style for my every day. I make sure I keep my hair moisturized and braided underneath. How about you? What’s your go-to protective style for summer?

Dress//H&M , Shoes//Zara , Purse//H&M

Green Maxi + Headwrap

“Summer time and the living is easy…” Ella Fitzgerald had it right with this classic opening verse. Summer is in full swing right now and Philly is in the midst of our third heatwave. You already know I have wigs on deck until summer leaves. I’m not a summer baby at all. I prefer the fall when I’m not sweating my life away! To combat the humidity I’ve been adding more headwraps and turbans to my every day ensembles. Today’s look features this cotton green maxi dress and colorful headwrap.

A while back I ordered quite a few dresses from Boohoo. Cotton, sleeveless, brightly colored, and down to the floor – these dresses were perfect for those smoldering summer days when you just need to be comfy. I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived and were super soft and fit like a glove. However, this was two years ago. Before my weight gain and my myomectomy surgery (I’ll go into more detail about this in a future post). I’ve been apprehensive about wearing them now.

In recent weeks I’ve become more comfortable with where I am physically, so the maxi dresses have come out of retirement. Now I will be needing some spanx of course but I’m no longer apprehensive about wearing them. I grabbed this one for a recent photoshoot. Looking at the finished work, biker shorts were not the best choice underneath. A body shaper would’ve been best, but such is life. I’m allowed to make fashion mistakes.

The printed headwrap is actually apart of a skirt set. It can be worn as a bandeau top as well. I love garments that have multiple use, so this is right up my alley. I shot six looks in one day in 90+ degree weather. This was one of them and wearing a headwrap was a great decision lol. I finished the look with a small bucket bag and black wedges. Silver accessories make the colors pop and an orange lip adds some fun. I’m all about keeping cool in these high temps. What do you wear during a Heatwave? Let me know in the comments below!

Dress//Boohoo, Headwrap//Cici’s Boutique, Shoes//Aldo, Bag//Forever 21

Yellow Flares

It’s been two whole weeks and your girl is still feeling some kinda way about the Game of Thrones series finale. I have so many questions for the writers of the show. What was the point of the crop circles from the Army if the Dead? Were there no scenes with both Cersei and Daenerys in the same frame? Y’all really gone play my girl Brienne like that? Bran the Broken though, REALLY?? Let me switch topics before the anger returns. Can we get into these comfy yellow flares?

You may recall seeing these pants before in a rust color here in a previous post. Stretch lycra fabric makes them super soft on your skin. The ribbed detail not only adds dimension, but also gives the illusion of length. To top it all off they are high waisted making them crop top friendly. This is right up my alley right now because my summer body is on layaway.

To compliment the ribbing on these yellow flares I chose a striped top. The chevron pattern and ruffled hem add some more movement to the look. The top is slightly cropped and goes perfectly with the high waistline. These pants are the perfect bottoms for me as I work off this belly weight gain and scar tissue from my surgery last fall. Pesky buttons and itchy zippers are no longer an option.

Being petite at a cool 5’3 I never waste an opportunity to appear taller, so I opted for a platform wedge heel. These white slingbacks are nearly 115 years old. All leather with a cork sole from Aldo shoes. If you’ve followed me for a while you know I LOVE their shoes. A simple white envelope bag and gold jewelry complete the look. These round sunnies were a last minute purchase from CVS because the sun was practically blinding during my shoot.

Hope you all have a dope weekend. Summer is here so let’s get out, off our phones, and enjoy ourselves!

Top//Marshall’s , Pants//Boohoo , Shoes/Purse//Aldo , Jewelry//Kmart , Glasses//CVS

Green Floral Midi Dress

Hello beautiful people! I hope your holiday weekend was wonderful, I’m still buzzing from my church’s Resurrection Sunday service. Pastor delivered the story of Calvary from Judas’ perspective (chile… amazing). Hubs and I attended a christening and became proud God Parents; then we ended the night with episode two of Game of Thrones season 8. You guys, I’m truly not ready for this show to be over, it’s one of my favorites. Instead of crying over G.O.T, I’ll just focus on the fashion. Now we’ve all heard the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” right? Today I’m bringing the flowers a little early with this green floral midi dress.

Let me start by letting all my fellow fashionistas know, YES this is an H&M dress sis. In early fall of 2017 I purchased this dress on clearance for $20 (right before the whole monkey debacle). I keep releasing a disclaimer whenever I wear this brand because I know many of my favs have been quite problematic recently. Am I purchasing new items from H&M? Honestly, haven’t given them my coins in over a year and the jury is still out (shoulder shrug). For now, wearing everything I have while they still fit is the move for this season. A resale is in the near future because… weight gain lol.

Rather than style this dress predictably, I decided to give y’all a little drama. Adding green opaque tights immediately makes it more interesting and also highlights the floral design. The soft pinks and creams stand out against the abundance of hunter green. For the first time in SPS history, I wore sandals with my tights – something I’ve been trying to do forever. This was the right outfit for the job, so to speak. These blush sandals hurt like crazy but darn it if they don’t slay!

Minimal accessories and a bold green lip are all I need. My trusty trench coat was the icing on the cake, perfect for this spring weather. This may be my favorite shoot of the season thus far. What say you? Will you be wearing tights with sandals this season? Let me know in the comments below!

Dress//H&M , Jacket//DKNY , Shoes//Anne Michelle , Tights//Target


Join the village