Gwen Stefani on V Magazine

Gwen Stefani graces two covers of V Magazine this month.  I completely forgot that she was pregnant with her second child.  The spread is fierce, but what else do you expect with Gwen? (Images from popbytes.com)

Let’s try this again

What in the Susan Summers is this mess Beyonce?   She was spotted out yesterday wearing a wig straight jacked from some poor 3rd graders Barbie Style Head.

 Or maybe she let Solange borrow one of her good wigs and had to make an unexpected run while she was waiting for her to bring it back and this was all she could find. 

Or maybe Kelly Rowland just stole it to see if she could stand in as Beyonce for a day to go from Endorsing Sims games…..

to having her own phone. 

It could have been worse though…..

That Chick…..The Originators

Most kids are afraid of clowns, monsters, the dark and so on……but when I was little, it was Ronald McDonald(any man in white face and a James Brown wig just ain’t right), Thriller….and Grace Jones. She just seemed like she would eat kids for fun.

It wasn’t until I got older that I started to realize there was something kinda fly about the androgynous  person with the piercing(crazy) stare.  Then, after she repeated “p*$sy” in Boomerang, I knew she was alright with me.  Then, the fact that she was banned from Disney World for showing her breast/chest..(I dunno whatever she has going on in there), I decided she was forever added into my list of bad b*#ches.

So while I can’t say I’m ready to get a Patrick Ewing box and start wearing chandeliers as headwear, I still respect Grace as a fashion icon for her fearless, I don’t give a f#%k attitude and always daring and gender bending style.  You can call her a lot of things….crazy, scary, weird, strange…..but in the sense of a fashion icon….the one word that has to come to mind is fierce.

Giving that famous fierce stare while getting fitted by designer Azzedine Alaia…The King of Cling

One of her more softer looks that is still sultry and sexy

One of many edgy photos taken by photographer Jean Paul Goude, who made Grace his muse

Her Island Life album cover by Jean Paul Goude is one of her most famous

Another one of her many works by Jean Paul Goude that showcases her comfort with pushing the envelope

Giving that stare on her Portfolio album cover

Wearing her famous shoulder pads….as a child this is the exact look that scared the HELL out of me…but now its my favorite.

And obviously one of Erykah Badu’s who recreated the Nightclubbing album cover.

One of my favorite moments of Boomerang where Grace fittingly pushes her perfume, correctly named with the perfect name, Strange’.

So what current fashionista is channeling Grace?  Although there are women that may follow in some of her footsteps such as Naomi Campbell  who is known for her anger problems and Erykah Badu who is known for not being afraid to try new looks….there has yet to be a woman that has pushed the envelop of androgyny like Grace….which means that todays children can have sweet dreams unlike I did due to waking up in cold sweats after having a nightmare of her in the Private Life video.

Donyale Luna..The First Black Model

I had to get one last tidbit on Black History Month in before the month ended, but of course I don’t need to save these for the month of February so expect more. Before Beverly Johnson and Iman made their mark in the fashion world, there was the first noted black model, Donyale Luna.

Donyale moved from Detroit to New York to pursue modeling and became the first black model on the cover of Vogue in 1966. Her hand is shown covering her face on the cover to not offend the regular readers at the time.

At only 20 years old,”Time” magazine called 1966 “The Luna Year” after Donyale due to her tall, thin frame and frequent use of blue contacts and a blond wig that they related to a moon that would “remain on high for many a season”.

The media’s interest in her mixed heritage made her uncomfortable and she was known for being secretive with the subject.

Unprofessional behavior resulted in the decline of her career, and a drug overdose resulted in her death in 1979. Ironically she has unintentionally opened the doors for black models that have come after her although she attempted to distance herself from the community throughout her life. For more on Donyale, click here.

Eric Roberson…You Need to Know Him!

 

I cannot say enough about Eric Roberson.  I discovered him a few years back in the same way many of his fans, especially those in Chicago,  may have through his house influenced song Change for Me.

After hearing a few of his songs from his Estoeric cd from his website, I immediately purchased the cd, and soon after bought his cds Left and The Vault Volume 1.5.  Imagine if the feel you get from De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu merged into one person…yeah its that serious.

It’s easy to say that Eric is an emerging, almost unheard of artist, but if you go to one of his concerts then that is hard to believe.  I have seen him a few times and each time the audiences are larger and filled with fans that sing along to every word never missing a single one of his beautiful lyrics.

Aside from his own music, he is also a songwriter and producer that has worked with Jill Scott, Musiq, Floetry and even the great J Dilla. 

Every time I listen to one of his songs, from Obstacles to Pretty Girl to Def Ears, and then try to listen to lyrics to (fill in the blank) a lot of current artists that currently receive airplay, I can’t even begin to imagine why Eric is such a hidden gem and not racking up Grammys.   

http://www.myspace.com/ericroberson

That Chick…..The Originators

“The nonstop elegance of Bianca Jagger in the ’70s — a frothy mix of luxury, glamour and attitude.”~Badgley Mischka

Being fashionably late to a party is cool and all, but showing up on a white horse has to go down as the best entrance to a party that I have ever heard of. The only thing that could top that is Britney showing up to a club to battle Justin Timberlake (why wasn’t there youtube then!).

A self proclaimed “unintentional” style icon, 70s jet setter and Studio 54 regular Bianca Jagger was proclaimed a style icon after famously showing up for her 30th birthday party at Studio 54 on a white horse.

She is also known for her then daring wedding day suit…because she was just too fly for a dress.. that oozed sex appeal with a plunging neckline sans a bra.

The Yves St. Laurent shirtless suit worn for her 1971 wedding to Mick Jagger was unintentional….Bianca opted to go shirtless because she was pregnant at the time….with Jade Jagger.

Badgley Mischka’s Fall 2008 collection was inspired by Bianca proving intentional or not, she is a true fashion icon.

So what fashionista is channeling Bianca Jagger today? I would have to say because she is not afraid of plunging necklines and wore one of the most talked about dresses in fashion history….one of my favorites…Jennifer Lopez.

Everyone Can’t Be In Your Front Row

This is hella long but a worthy read.  The first step to a life free of drama and filled with positive and motivating people is to let go of those that don’t deserve a spot in your front row.  I know from personal experience that there are certain people, even family, that are just not positive influences on your well being and in your life.  Sometimes you just need to allow those people to grow and eventually allow them a front row seat back into your life.

“Front row is like being in the center of your life. Be careful who or whom you invite to attend the show or exclusive episodes of your life.  Better yet whom you give a reoccurring roleTake inventory of who is in your front row…………….

Life is like a theater, so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships, and even family!!!
Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to:
Which ones lift and which ones lean?    
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill or just standing still???
When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know, and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?
The more you seek God and the things of God, the more you seek quality, the more you seek not just the hand of God but the face of God, the more you seek things that are honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the BALCONY of your life.
You cannot change the people around you…but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life.
Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in Your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.
Everyone Can’t Be in Your FRONT ROW!!! “~Unknown

 

That Chick…..The Originators

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same”~Coco Chanel

A fashion icon stands the test of time, takes risks creates and perfects a signature look and influences others in doing so.

I’ll have to get back to you to answer who would be a fashion icon relevant right now…but I can say there are a lot of fashion forward entertainers that are killing it and always come with a new look that keeps you wanting more.  I plan to feature women that to me stand out for their fashion sense and have potential to one day hold the title of a fashion icon, but in the mean time, want to feature women that one way or another have already left their mark.

Lets start with a woman that may not influence anyone except a drag queen in Las Vegas now…but at one point in time….was “That Chick”

Mz  Love hangover herself, Diana Ross.  Now…. before I lose you, please forget anything of the likes of this…..

And remember when Diana was looking more like this….

Forgot she had it like that huh!

So who is “That Chick” that is emulating Diana today?……Easy…….

Beauty Industry…Know Who Owns Them…

I first saw this post on a blog I love, http://fakinggoodbreeding.blogspot.com and had to repost it because it was so informative. Know what corporation makes your beauty products, you may be paying a lot for products that make comparable products much cheaper.

L’Oreal: 2005 revenues of $19.78 billion U.S. dollars. Only owns cosmetics, haircare and fragrance brands (29 in total).

Brands: Kérastase, L’Oréal Professionnel, L’Oréal Technique, Matrix, Mizani, Redken, L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, SoftSheen-Carson, Biotherm, The Body Shop, Cacharel, Diesel Perfumes, Giorgio Armani Parfums and Cosmetics, Guy Laroche, Helena Rubinstein, Kiehl’s, Lancôme, Paloma Picasso, Ralph Lauren, Shu Uemura, Victor et Rolf parfum, Dermablend, La Roche-Posay, SkinCeuticals, Vichy Laboratoires, Innéov, Ombrelle.

Proctor & Gamble: 2006 revenues of $68.222 billion U.S. dollars (this includes all brands). Beauty sales alone equaled $21.1 billion. P&G sells many different kinds of consumer products (their brands range from Tide to Gillette to Pampers to Iams to Tampax and many, many more). You can read the entire list here

Beauty brands: Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay, Pantene, Wella, Aussie, Clairol, CoverGirl, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23, Ivory Soap, Max Factor, Natural Instincts, Nice’n Easy, Noxzema, Secret, SK-II, Vidal Sassoon.

Estee Lauder: 2006 revenues of $6.746 billion U.S. dollars. Only sells cosmetics, haircare and fragrance products.

Brands: American Beauty, Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Daisy Fuentes, Darphin, Donald Trump The Fragrance, Donna Karan, Estée Lauder, Flirt!, Good Skin, Grassroots, Jo Malone, Lab Series, La Mer, Kiton, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, MISSONI, Origins, Prescriptives, Rodan and Fields, Sean John, Tommy Hilfiger, Coach Fragrances.

Unilever: 2006 revenus of $53.97 billion U.S. dollars. Sells food, beverage, cleaning and personal care consumer products.

Beauty brands: Caress, Degree, Dove, Lever 2000, Pond’s, Suave, Sunsilk, Vaseline.

Johnson & Johnson: 2006 revenues of $53 billion U.S. dollars. Manufactures consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Beauty brands: Aveeno, Clean and Clear, Neutrogena.

Avon: 2006 revenues of $8.1 billion U.S. dollars. Sells cosmetics, fragrances and some clothing and jewelry.

Beauty brands: Avon Color, Anew and Solutions, Skin So Soft and Naturals, Avon Fragrances, mark.

I’m a Grown Woman..my lipSTICK is poppin…

Lipstick.Lace.and.Brassknuckles sums up three sides(there we go with the three’s again!) of me and my interests, mainly in fashion, and also sums up the fashion I’ll feature on my blog.

Lipstick…..

Lace….

And Brass knuckles

Now Snap For The Kids!

Welcome…Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself..

Welcome to my page….my THIRD page in THREE weeks! They say the third times the charm, and I obviously took this a little to literal. Long story short, I misspelled the address to the first page(and I’m a former teacher…smh) and just didn’t like the lay out of the second, so I’m giving it another try and one way or another will make it work. So in the mean time, imagine one of those construction signs up saying to please excuse my dust as I figure what I’m doing here.

Anywho, I’m so excited about my blog because of the direction I hope to take it. I frequent blogs at work(did I just say that out loud) and go from fashion blogs to music blogs to urban entertainment blogs throughout the day to keep me sane, so I figured since I spend so much time on other peoples blogs, why not start my own!

I’m a very complex person that cannot place my particular interests into a specific category because they are so diverse. I appreciate art in the form of Fafi, fashion in the form of eclectic sneaker heads to fashionistas and trend forecasters, music in the form of classic hip hop in Tribe Called Quest, neosoul in Jill Scott, R&B in Beyonce, Rap in T.I., Jazz in John Coltrane,New Wave in J*DaVeY, rock in The Doors, Underrated Artists like Eric Roberson and Alice Smith….and so on and so on.

Basically to sum me up, I’m a young, educated hip hop head in heels that hopes to bring to you my witty bantering on urban pop culture and entertainment, fashion forecasting tips at AFFORDABLE PRICES, new artists, products and movies you have to know about, advice and positive ways to better your mind, money, future and relationships, and everything else that I feel like….cause this is my sh*t! LOL! So enjoy, make yourself comfortable, save me as a favorite, and check back frequently as I plan to update a lot as I learn what I’m doing here!