December 2013Faces of Black Fashion: December 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013: My Year in Review

I have so much to thank God for, 2013 was a year of tremendous growth and change in my life. I grew leaps and bounds as an individual and as a woman. I've been blessed! Here are ten things I am thankful for:




1. Moving into a new apartment in Los Angeles

2. Finally getting my driver's license, I am a true blue New Yorker!!!

3. Buying my first car

4. Celebrated my first year living in Los Angeles

5.Getting an article published on Paul Brunson's website

6. Passing the New York State Bar

7. Becoming a Contributing Writer for Regalrealness.com

8. Celebrating two years of Faces of Black Fashion. Thank you!!!

9. Staring my fitness journey (it has been so beautifully life-changing)

10. Growing in my faith.

2013 was nothing short of spectacular, and I am excitedly awaiting 2014.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Best of 2013 Fashion Roundup


 Stylista of the Year: Zoe Saldana.  Zoe style embodies the definition of "effortless chic."   We admire her quiet confidence and excellent and timeless style both on and off the red carpet.


Sartorial Risk-Taker of the Year: Solange Knowles. We love the inimitable style of Solange. This year she contined to show us what it means to own your style.


 Television Stylista of the Year: Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal. I'm hard-pressed to find a woman who doesn't dig Olivia Pope's sophisticated work wardrobe.

(ABC Photo/ Michael Ansell)

Breakout Stylista of the Year: Lupita NYong'o.  Her heart-wrenching yet spectacular performance in 12 Years A Slave earned her rave reviews, but this starlet also shines off screen. Her elegant and fabulous style makes her this year's breakout sylista.



Mommy Stylista of the Year: Yendi Phillips.  This year we loved fabulous mommy, Yendi Phillips, chic style aesthetic.  Yendi is quickly emerging as Jamaica's fashion sweetheart.



Model of the Year: Joan Smalls. Joan Smalls represented like a BOSS this year. Her work on the   runway, fashion editorials,  brand ambassadorships among others landed her on Forbes'  list as one of the world's highest paid models for 2013.

Joan Smalls for H&M

What are your thoughts on this list?
Who are your favorite 2013 stylistas?

Cheers,
Nika



Sunday, December 29, 2013

Dear Black Women: A Letter to My Sisters for the New Year




Dear Sisters,

In a few days it will be 2014. For many, a new year is a time to reflect, create new beginnings and implement positive changes. It represents the chance to begin again, anew.  As we take the time to reflect and write down our goals for the new year, I hope that we also take the time to celebrate ourselves - our beauty, our resilience, our accomplishments and our being. 


A few short weeks ago, Haitian-American Lifestyle Blogger, Paola, wrote a post about some of her experiences as a black woman. She explored common threads that run through our experiences, and courageously examined  identity and desirability at the intersection of race and gender.  As Paola explained, there’s so much beauty in our experiences; but there is also pain.

This past year highlighted the difficult relationship between black women and the media. On one hand, movements like Black Women Rock celebrated our contributions and accomplishments, yet on the other, attacks came from varying angles including an attempt to belittle the very movement that sought to celebrate us. Additionally, we frustratingly and all too frequently bear witness to the vitriol hurled against sisters on social media platforms. Constant exposure to negative messages about our identity, can leave scars so deep that we begin to questions ourselves. If we are not careful, the negative messages lead us to adopt self-deprecating beliefs about who we are, what we are worth, and the value we bring to the world.

My response to the negativity and my message to you is that you are valuable and blessed with immeasurable worth. Your worth is not and will never be based upon anything that you have done or will ever do. Our Creator created us fearfully and wonderfully, you were born filed with worth and value. Who you are is enough, and sister, you are beautiful.

So as we enter the New Year, here are five steps you can adopt as you begin and/or continue the journey to loving yourself: 

1. Create a Confession List. Create a list of positive affirming messages that you confess to yourself daily. Speak these words aloud. This is a great way to combat detrimental internal or external messages.

2. Prioritize Self-Care. As a Christian, one of my favorite verses from Genesis is "on the seventh day He rested." After spending the first six days working, God rested on the seventh day. He showed us by example that we need rest and rejuvenation. Prioritize time in your schedule at least once weekly to do something that helps you to relax and recharge.

3. Spend time around Positive People. The people you spend your time with will influence you. Limit your exposure to anyone who devalues you or constantly tries to feed you negativity. 

4. Seek out therapy/counseling if necessary. Our mental health is and should always be a priority, because it affects our general well-being. If you are having difficulty locating a Therapist, try the search feature on Psychology Today.  

5. Tackle your goals. Implement small manageable steps to work toward and achieve your goals. Once you have established your goals, go after them with gusto. You will be surprised by what you learn about yourself and your capabilities on the road to reaching your goals.

Cheers,
~Nika





Sunday, December 22, 2013

My Personal Style: Maxi Dress with Thigh Splits

 It's quiet apparent that I am about the maxi dress right now. I like them in casual styles like this thermal maxi dress or elegant styles like the one that I wore to a holiday gala below: 






Dress: Similar HERE

Are you a  fan of Maxi Dresses?

Friday, December 20, 2013

Eva Wigs: Full Lace Human Hair Wigs

Voluminous Curly Wig

The beauty of wearing wigs is that they allow you to the versatility and flexibility to change your hair style in a matter of seconds. They can be saving graces for last minute events or on a bad hair day.  Additionally, they give you the option and versatility of a new look (and in essence a new you)with ease. For a look that brings out the best you, you need a quality flattering wig.  This is where EvaWigs.com comes in! Eva Wigs offers a wide variety of wigs in sleek styles to suit your style. whether you prefer long, short, straight, wavy or curly hair, they have a wig for you.


The full lace human hair wigs styles range from professional conservative to fabulous glamazon.  Eva wigs also provide a number of celebrity style replicates including Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, Rihanna and Solange. I personally love the Kelly Rowland Kinky Curly lace wig and the Solange Voluminous Curly wig. You can also have your wigs customized in a size, cut ,color , texture and density to suit your personal style and preference.You can also choose from their u-part options if you want a more natural looking style.

Kelly Rowland Kinky Curly Lace Wig




Eva wigs offers premium quality wigs, that are long-lasting.  The company is currently offering deals to new customers so go take a look and get your versatility on!



This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of EvaWigs.com. All opinions are 100% mine.



Thursday, December 19, 2013

Throwback Thursday: Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993

Kenya Moore made history when she became the second African-American woman to win the Miss USA crown in 1993. I must say, she looks "gone with the wind fabulous" in these photos. 





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Holiday Party Dresses: My Favorite Picks

A few of my favorite holiday party dresses from around the web.  

Bianca Sequin Dress: Le Couture Revolution 




Hervé Léger Bandage Dress - The Outnet



Bronze and Black Sequin Dress - ShopRuche


Ralph Lauren Sequin and Lace Dress - Ralph Lauren

Lulus Royal Blue Dress - Lulus

Cheers,
~Nika

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Teeny Weeny Afro: Defining My Curls/Coils

On a daily basis, I usually wash my hair, run some eco styler olive oil gel through it and go. It's a  quick process, and I love it's, that's the beauty of natural hair when it's short. Yesterday, I took some time to try the finger shingling method to define my curls. I used Miss Jessie's leave in conditioner and eco styler gel to do this method and was really pleased with the final outcome. I think I will be using this method more frequently.


My hair: finger shingling method

I used Colored Beautiful's (amazing Youtuber) video as a guide. She does a great job showing you how to finger shingle your twa. 


Cheers,
~Nika

Friday, December 13, 2013

Erykah Badu: The New Face of Givenchy Spring 2014

One of the most dynamic and original fashion muses of the day, Erykah Badu, is the new face of French haute couture house Givenchy. Givenchy’s creative director Riccardo Tisci described Erykah as one of the most stylish women he has ever met (we agree!). Kudos to Erykah. This is a well-deserved honor and I am excited to see the fruits of this collaboration. 



Thursday, December 12, 2013

Holiday Gift Guide for the Dynamic Women in Your Life

The Student: Gift cards
You may think that gift cards are impersonal, but college students are often  living on a tight budget so extra money (in whatever form) will be welcomed for the holidays. Cards to purchase purchase clothing and/or electronics are always a good idea for students.




The Fashionista
Your fashion loving friend and family in your life will definitely love the pieces on my friend's new online boutique, Inside Sasha's Closet. The boutique carries clothing that are chic and one-of-a-kind like the spike out mini dress below.




The Natural Sista
For the past month I've been using Curly Queen Whipped Shea Butter and my hair LOVES it. The whipped consistency melts into your hair  and is super moisturizing. It's a great product that can help you combat dryness especially in the colder months.  It can also double up as a skin moisturizer. Her All Over Mango Shea skin moisturizer works wonders for dry skin, and her products are super affordable. 



The Career Minded Sista
One of my favorite books on Career Development is Marshawn Evan's Skirts in the Boardroom. Marshawn shares a lot of wisdom and advice  on personal and professional development. Whether you want to run your own business, climb the corporate ladder or just learn the tools to navigate the  corporate world, this is the book for you.




The Beauty Maven
SHEEQ Cosmetics is a Luxury Makeup and Skincare brand for Women of Color founded by Beauty Expert, Melissa R. Hibbert. Sheeq carries a plethora and rich makeup that goes perfectly with brown skin. I am currently drooling over the Parisian Nights eye shadow duo, the combination is perfect for the holiday season.





The Mommy-to-Be
Pregnant and nursing moms have no reason to feel left out this holiday season, because now they can enjoy delicious alcohol free mocktails. Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen is chock full of recipes for these yummy drinks.


Cheers,
~Nika

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Winter Chic: Stylish Winter Outfits

Photo Inspiration for looking stylish during the winter months. 




Let's Get Social!!!!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Office Holiday Party: What to Wear


 Holiday party season is upon us! For those who work in a more conservative or traditional office environment, decided what to wear can be nerve-wracking. Below are a few fun but professional options to help you get the party started (in the most sophisticated way possible!)


1.   Embellished skirts provide a fun and elegant way to have fun with textures, tones and sparkles. An embellished pencil skirt is both classy and chic.


2. Brocade Pants is a way to make a sophisticated statement with your outfit.Pair them with a structured blazer or a soft feminine blouse and heels.   





3.   Classic Pencil or Wrap Dress. You cannot go wrong with a classic pencil or wrap dress especially if you work in a conservative office environment. To make your look more festive, add fun accessories and/or shoes.

Untitled #10

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Monochromatic Red Outfit

There are tons of options available to spice up a monochromatic look. You can mix textures, add layers, play around with proportions or add spice with accessories . I will be trying the monochromatic red look for the holidays. Can you tell I'm all about red for the holidays?





Have you tried this trend?