Keeping The Closet Creative

As many of you know I recently moved. Translation?  My desire to shop for clothing has to go on the back-burner for now as I furnish my new space.  I’m loving seeing it all come together, however, I do miss my weekly treats to myself in the form of a brand new garment.  I’ve decided to challenge myself to shop vintage until I’ve reached my goal of a fully furnished home to my liking.  Moreover, I feel I’ll be doing my part to be kinder to the planet by doing so.  I planned a jaunt recently, and look what I found…I quite like this little denim dress find…I coupled it with my Brixton hat, current accessories and a great sandal.  It was under $10, $15 with dry-cleaning, and it received many thumbs up.  I can do this!

Fall Snapshot & Today’s Stylista Muse

It’s beginning to feel a lot like fall, after a long run of unseasonably hot, humid, triple digit temperatures. The hues, fabrics and layering that mark the beginning of the season are so appealing. On a recent trip to Anthropologie, I found several versatile pieces I’m sure to get plenty of wear. I’ll share them with you over the next few days, starting with this striped & lace pullover.

Top: Deleeta lace & lines pullover in the grey motif from Anthropologie/ Classic with a fitting twist of rust lace. I like the fact it can be dressed up as seen or down with boyfriend jeans and flats. It is also available in a blue motif.

Slacks: Zara Woman/ I purchased these slacks either last season or the one before, they are crafted impeccably and I have definitely gotten my money’s worth, the cut and colour are timeless/ Shoes: vintage mary janes

And for today’s Stylista Muse pick…

Elisha Suarez has such a quirky style sensibility, it is quite the accurate representation of her personality, and what I absolutely adore is her ability to have fun with fashion…the quintessential muse

The top and skirt are both from her vintage collection

A Worthy Celebration

This weekend I attended an event hosted by, Eastern Sky, my favourite theatre company in Southern California.  The live productions they produce are phenomenal, riveting, absolutely life-changing. This event was held as special recognition and thanks to all those who have contributed to the success of Eastern Sky Theatre Company over the years, whether in the forefront, or behind the scenes.  The Last Appeal, which is the production currently being performed, is the most touching story of redemption I’ve ever seen.  In addition to partaking in a night with no shortage of roaring laughter, fellowship and scrumptious cuisine from Marmalade Cafe in Calabasas, California, I also helped with set up, under the direction of Event Planner, Christine Hess.

This is a bit of the work in progress…

and voilà!

Oh, did I mention it was a ‘black and white’ function?  This did not register at all with me, which is why I showed up in my favourite vintage canary yellow shirt dress.  I’ve always liked shirt dresses, especially when it’s 100 degrees, they are easy and effortless.  Although I tend to look a tad like a waitress when I wear it, this works for me… trust me the waitress look will be all the rage one of these days (lol)…totally uncharted territory.  This one is by Saks 5th Avenue; which is indicative of it’s age.  In the 50’s before designers became stars, shoppers wore store labels such as this one, Henri Bendel or Bergdorf Goodman to name a few.  It was given to me by a costume designer friend in mint condition several years ago.

The belt (Kimchi Blue) was purchased from Urban Outfitters a few years ago,

and the shoes (N.Y.L.A.) are about five years old, and super comfortable because of the hidden platform.

Many thanx to Pastor Trey & Ariel Fernald for a celebration well done, from the food to the entertainment and fellowship, this was truly a night to remember.

Stylista Muse-Special Edition

One of my personal favourite segments on Musings Of A Stylista are the Stylista Muse posts. I have such an appreciation for women who make fashion choices based on individual tastes, preferences and personality, versus wearing trends simply because the fashion industry dictates whether it’s “in” or “out.” As much as I love fashion, it is not at all difficult to allow it to become an obsession, coveting every new trend on the horizon. After many years I finally wised up, and kudos to those Stylistas who’ve mastered the art of making fashion their own.

Deanna Lawson is wearing a vintage dress with boutique shoes, and this is further confirmation of my adoration for vintage shopping. This dress looks modern, feminine and effortless with the integration of Deanna’s choice of accessories.

Tanya Diallo wears this tribal print maxi dress very well. The pattern is great with the perfect balance of colour, definitely the ideal dress for a walk along the beach, vibrant city streets or a great summertime al fresco dinner… this dress is so versatile, and apropos for many occasions.

Quiana Grant is wearing a Rag & Bone blazer, top and skirt, the mix of edgy and soft is so appealing to the eye. The pop of colour creates such a seamless look, and these pieces are also great apart from one another as well, which allows Quiana to pair them with other pieces to achieve a completely different look and style.

Nadine Hounkpatin is wearing a vintage mix from Paris, and the flow is like the perfect melody of your favourite song. From Hounkpatin’s hairstyle to her feet, this is such a great illustration of the marriage (albeit polygamous) between relevant pieces to create a fabulous outcome. White shoes are an absolute ‘no-no’ for me, however, this put-together stylista proves they can be done quite well.

I am not one to mix more than three colours at a time, however Ms. Enyinne Owunwanne has helped to change my perspective. I see more than four different colours here and wouldn’t change a thing about how she pieced each together. The jacket is Hayden Harnet, the blouse Heritage 1960 (for which Ms. Owunwanne is the founder), and the shoes are Calvin Klein. The frames, hairstyle, scarf and handbag add so much flavour to this look, Enyinne owns this style.

Courtesy: Essence/Photos: Hannan Saleh