Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Sunday, June 10, 2012
All the Beautiful Traditional African Dresses
Africa's prolonged history involving colonization, interior
strife, in addition to being a method to obtain slave job has stirred these kinds
of cultures outside of just land borders. Descendants of slaves often try and
connect, thus, to their roots by simply rediscovering their cultures and
cultural dresses. And right now, many people are refugees off their homeland,
bringing cultures into unusual countries within just and outside of Africa
along with potentially joining together them while using customs with their new
residences.
Wedding Dresses themselves differ between nations, cultures,
beliefs and customs. In Morocco as well as Sudan, wedding brides wear
elaborately stitched robes. Nilotes wedding brides, whose individuals live
across the Nile and therefore are nudists, wear the bead apron along with a
half-skirt, together with sandals, feathers, lung burning ash, clay along with
a necklace. Kente fabric, historically weaved in Ghana, is most likely what
many people are thought to be associated with traditional Africa garb.
Red-colored, gold and green-symbolizing bloodstream, affluence, and home--are
freedom colors repetitive in patterns of numerous meanings. Generally, bright colors,
whether or even not individuals of Africa liberation, would be the norm. Africa
royalty is shown through the purple with gold highlights. Brides subsequent to traditions
associated with this wear a good ensemble rather than just a single dress; a
headpiece, cover skirt, scarf and slack blouse.
Even though money won't always influence wedding practices,
wealthier brides could possibly afford a lot more elaborate robes and enclosed
ornamentation when compared to a bride with less money. Cost may well mean a
less complicated interpretation regarding traditional wedding party attire or
simply just more reliance upon other sources; making your own personal gown,
asking for jewelry, passing straight down items found in the marriage
ceremonies of household or close friends. A richer bride may want to follow
this kind of route at the same time, or could have such alternatives dictated
from the traditions by themselves.
Through the entire diverse country of Africa, weddings have
got two things in accordance: the centrality regarding family and the significance
of the bride being a link among any unborn children and the ancestors regarding
both sides with the family. Traditional dresses and custom play a very
important role in every part of African weddings.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
How to Look Pretty With African Dresses
Africa dresses possess complicated patterns and incredibly
simple structure. Long-established Africa dresses, based on Africa Design,
aren't known for the stylish designs or complex stitchery. The material and patterns
would be the important part of these gowns. In truth, if you need to create
your personal African gown, you need extremely little sewing skills whatsoever.
As long as you choose conventional African brocade or even aso oke (hand
crafted cotton wool fabric), your dress will appear both conventional and
stunning. All which matters, following the cloth, may be the drape, which
complements the majority of women's structures.
All you will be required to have are: Yardstick, elastic
measuring tape, and Traditional African cloth. First off, measure across the
fullest section of your torso. Double the particular measurement and also add
13 inches to determine the width of your fabric. As an example, if an
individual measures thirty-six inches across the chest, the ultimate width
measurement will probably be 85 ins wide, or even a little above 7 ft. This
looks excessive, yet these wrapper attire are usually flowing and also full.
Determine the size of your outfit by measuring from your
nape of the neck for the backs of your heels and also add a couple of inches.
You need a friend's help to determine this kind of measurement; you must stand
still while the lady measures. Place any yardstick on your own cloth. You will
find traditional African cloths to get online or perhaps in neighborhood
cultural retailers, if your home is in any diverse location. Draw any rectangle
around the wrong side of the cloth which matches the measurements. Minimize out
the particular cloth together with scissors.
Crease ½ inch in the edges of your respective cloth to make
hems. Pin your hems available and stitch these down which has a sewing
appliance. Remove your pins because you don't want to separate your stitches
machine needle. Place the midst of the prime hem against the body just down
below your chests. Wrap your cloth throughout the back of your respective body,
cross your corners down the middle of your rear, and take in the front of your
respective body.
Pull your corners way up over the breasts along with cross
these again up your throat. There you go. Your traditional African dress is
ready to go!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
On fashion, beauty, and anything in between
And I woke up this morning with my head reeling off with a lot of wonderful things to write about – a sure sign that I am finally getting back to the cyber world after a long and tedious hibernation. I have suddenly felt a sudden vigor to be back on my tracks with a surprising urge towards productivity that had been dormant for these past few days. Yes I am back to blogging about my favorite topics: fashion, beauty, and anything in between.
We are all indeed blessed with the potential to be amazing. I used to believe that success only comes for those who labor and I was dubious about the fact that victories can happen to be painless. Yes you can find success on fashion, beauty, and anything in between if you believe in yourself, and that doesn’t have to hurt. Okay, I acknowledge that I’m sounding a bit too eccentric. But do you know that the promise of beauty or the sense of fashion fuels a desire to appreciate human nature even better? With that conscious state of mind, anything from a simple mix and match to power dressing can bring out the success in you.
There will be continuous ramblings on fashion adventure and misadventures as well as beauty experiments and successes. The many great things about being a woman are a nook on its own and it is great to be one. With the many choices and hurdles that we face, decisions toughen us for the long haul ahead. The feeling of contentment doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple thoughts and simple things, they can totally be amazing when coupled with the right mix of inspiration.
And this is why, something as trivial as a thought of a blog, matters. It can transform into a myriad of other thoughts altogether – like inspirations on what to wear the next day, keeping up with the latest fashion trend, finding options to look even more beautiful and feeling good about it. Thoughts on fashion and beauty is endless… the journey continues… and it would be fun if you join me in this adventure.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A Dose of Inspiration
What makes you look forward to waking up in early mornings? To a teacher, it could be seeing her pupils learn how to read and write. To a doctor, it could be seeing her patients heal and recover. To me, what inspires me on Monday mornings? Working in the corporate world may not be as rewarding as being a doctor or a teacher, and sometimes mornings can be a totally drab routine of rushing to work. So what makes waking up a totally new and exciting experience?
Simple as it is, I make dressing up in the mornings an interesting event instead of being an obligatory routine to start the day. I dress up for myself because I find it as a liberating experience to express myself in fashions that are defined by who I am. Every day is a reason itself to be happy and have fun. Finding the right dress to work is just a head start, ultimately it sets the mood for the entire day. Trust me; if you feel good with the way you look, no one can put you down. You may think it’s trivial to dress up, but its effect is quite soothing much more than you realize it, it has that uplifting effect on women!
So think about how you can load your wardrobe with stuff that makes waking up worthwhile. Make shopping for the right clothes as an investment instead of just mere impulse. Choose those that make you feel pretty and happy. Give yourself time to look for bargains and search online, whichever suits you. This is something that you owe yourself after a hard day’s work.
For my friends in Afrawear, I’m pretty sure each morning is a new day to celebrate African fashion and share this passion with other sistahs out there. It is in knowing that with a piece of an item sold, it means that a child in Africa can eat three times a day. It is always inspiring to read a beautiful slogan to greet each morning: Buy a Dress and Feed an African Orphanage. Isn’t that great?
What about you? What makes waking up an exciting experience?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Tips to Beautiful & Healthy Nails
Amidst all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often neglect the state of our nails. While we are all dressed up for an important occasion, to our utter dismay, our nails are not in the condition that we can be proud of. The dress looks fabulous, hair perfect, make-up flattering, and then we realize that both our toe nails and finger nails are not all glam up for the occasion. Okay, so we can hide our toe nails by wearing close shoes, but what about the hand nails? Of course, it's crazy to wear gloves to a party!
Even if we have to do a hundred things with our hands, a moment of simply checking our nails wouldn’t hurt right? So here are a few tips to ensure that we can maintain beautiful nails and say goodbye to dry, brittle, and weak nails.
- For dry nails, a tad amount of petroleum jelly works wonders on the cuticles and skin around them. If petroleum jelly is not to your liking, try castor oil or olive oil. It helps if you do this every night before heading for bed. This can also make your hand softer and healthier.
- If you have to do gardening or washing of dishes, protect your nails by wearing gloves. It does not only protect your nails from dirt and harsh cleaners, it maintains the softness of your hands.
- To prevent fungal infection on the foot and avoid damaging the nails, make sure your foot is dry before wearing shoes. As much as possible, wear pure cotton socks as it is best in absorbing dampness and sweat.
- Polished nails are pleasing to the eyes. Clear coats and nail colors protect the nails and make it stronger. However, do not be lazy to remove the color if it is already flaking off. It is disturbing to see nails that are untidy and messy.
- A touch of color always looks good on the nails, so try to apply fresh top coat every day. This way, you are always ready to go anywhere even with short notice. Depending on the occasion, just make sure that the colors are not too striking to make the wrong impression.
- In removing polish, use acetate-based removers. Avoid using color removers with acetone or formaldehyde
- as they dry the nails tremendously.
Take care of your nails and you're in for a big surprise. Clean, healthy and beautiful nails can always enhance your over-all appearance.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Part 3: Beat the Summer Heat
When it’s Too Hot to Wear Make-up
Summer is usually way too hot for your usual make-up, so the key to achieving the best look this season is to lighten up. Getting away for a while from your usual routine can be easily done when you opt for the more natural bare-bone routine. To complement your favorite summer dress, it’s all about playing up with little make up as much as possible and still holding up that fabulous look longer while beating the heat on your face, cheeks, eyes, and lips.
Let’s start with the face
It is always best to keep your face always moisturized most especially in the hot months. A properly moisturized face can bring out a smooth finish and keeps the base longer even with little amount. Foundations gets heavy as the temperature rises, but if you must wear foundation, go for the mineral-based sheers that can easily build good coverage. The ultimate idea for a cooler face against the heat is to go bare or go for tinted moisturizer that can also achieve the same coverage as the foundation. And if you intend to go around under the sun, a good sunscreen must come in handy.
Glow with the sun
If you want to maintain a good glow that lasts long, go for the liquid blush or cream bronzers that are easily absorbed on the skin since powder may not go well with sweats. Use your fingertips to apply a subtle blush and tap onto the apples of your cheeks.
Go easy on the eyes
For a defined look that is not overdone and heavy, choose mascara that does magic on lengthening and curling the lashes instead of thickening it. Go for the lighter and neutral shades for the eye shadows. If you want to play with colors, go easy on them. See how Beyonce did it.
Subtle hues
On your lips, choose sheer lip tints with moisturizers as well as SPF to get away with cracked and dry lips. If you already have chapped lips, hide it with a primer and lipsticks with cherry and pink tones.
In a final note to a beautiful look any season, always keep your skin healthy, clear and glowing. Nothing beats natural beauty!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
How to Dress Like Tyra Banks
Dress like Tyra and rock that supermodel / host look that exudes poise and confidence. Since I have been featuring her consistently in my last two blogs, so I might as well write something that is solely dedicated to capture the way she dresses. I love the way how she influence fashion and absolutely adore how she changes people lives.
Tyra’s fashion sense is a wonderful mix of simplicity and elaborates. In casual occasions, she can look nonchalantly elegant in jumpsuits with a touch of fashionable belt and pretty colorful pumps. To look fierce casually, she likes to play with leggings, sheer tops, and bold wedges. She can also look strictly businesslike with a pantsuit paired with a tailored blazer or tuxedo inspired dresses. She is often seen in belts of varied styles from simple to bold details which she wears together with jumpsuits and sophisticated skirts.
Her red carpet fashion is always dazzling in floor length embellished gowns in sheath silhouettes or refreshingly sweet tones in knee lengths with nice shoulder details. She pairs it with remarkable high heels and luxuriant clutch and she’s all done and pretty. During her shows, she can be amazingly donned with a variety of fashion statements that can range from a figure-skimming white dress to basic black pantsuits to a play of African prints.
To pull off a look that’s truly Tyra, you have to maintain a flawless skin and well toned body. So always make it an effort to stay fit, eat right, and a regular dose of exercise. Hit the gym and develop your own healthy beauty regimen.
Remember that the best way to be like Tyra is NOT to copy the way she walks in the runways or the way she dresses, it’s when you stand up tall and confident, ready to face the world. It’s not just about the clothes; it’s about how you carry it that means everything. Be the person that you are, beautifully inspired and fabulous in your own way – believe and live it! The right attitude towards life is something that Tyra always advocates in her shows, true beauty is skin deep, it is the beauty that can make you glow from inside out.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Be Bold, Black and Beautiful
“It had always been my personal advocacy that all women possess natural beauty – inside and out. It was a long and arduous journey for me, and it is with great passion that I walk a beautiful life now.”
Like you, I grew up being the ordinary girl in the neighborhood. I went through the awkward stages of bad skin clad with zits, dull kinky hair, and a crazy set of uneven and protruding teeth. Of course there is obviously nothing wrong with being ordinary, but I had this silly thought that I had to get the validation from someone else. And mind you, I had the strangest feeling of wanting to be someone else. After years of learning the tricks and trades to be beautiful, after every roadblocks of countless trials and errors - - I managed to be get through it alive! All I ever needed was a dose of inspiration, and I need not look far and wide, I had it right before me, I wanted to make a difference and make my Momma proud… that was the most powerful passion that has led me to a beautiful life and a beautiful me.
Decide and make the conscious decision to live your life with conviction and grace. Strive to create a world of balance to fuel your life for the long and exciting journey ahead - on self discovery and self expression. Live each day to pursue your dreams and discover the things that matters most. Yes, I wanted to be beautiful and I want people around me to gravitate from that happiness. I was inspired, I was glowing inside and my life was full.
Of course, I still love dresses, and I love everything about fashion. I never forego my beauty regimen towards beautiful skin and healthier lifestyle. And I still have bad habits and careless mistakes.
I still have occasional bout of insecurities (trust me that’s normal!), but that never get in the way to overpower what’s already there – the passion and inspiration to stay beautiful inside out.
Now sistahs, it’s your turn. What was your bold, black and beautiful story? I am happy to invite you to join me and take part in my advocacy.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Beauty and Fashion under Pressure
Are you running from end to end trying to keep up with yourself in the middle of all the frenzy? Or do you have a really stressful job keeping you off your levelheadedness? How do you manage to keep your composure under extreme pressure? How do you pull yourself together after a fashion faux pas? Are you often stressed out at a slightest degree of criticism? These are just some of the questions that I want to ponder on as I try to elevate myself to a new level of maturity wherein I can step up with an air of confidence no matter how crucial or frantic the circumstance might be.
Maintaining a cool and calm aura amidst all the chaos around us can be difficult, that’s why, based on experience, poise and beauty to go about it is acquired and practiced over time. I mentioned my so called maturity right? Yes, attaining that tranquil state while everyone is tormented is a good sign of maturity. It doesn’t happen overnight but we can sure do start to practice now. For starters, I can spell out a few tested techniques.
- Staying beautiful and fashionable everyday is a “conscious decision”. So no matter how long your day might be or no matter how tomorrow worries you, each new day you wake up, you do your best to keep your hair in a secure up do or half-do and a touch of optimistic make-up. I’m not telling you everything would go easily, but I know that caring for oneself is one sure way to go.
- Take a deep breath and relax your nerves before you face the world. “Choose” to be calm and composed.
- “Keep it easy” with your wardrobe. Don on your most comfortable and favorite outfit suiting for work or the occasion. This way you don’t need to stress yourself even more planning what to wear.
- Always prepare the “quick fixes” – meaning vibrant lip gloss, elegant scarves and a pretty pair of shades must come in handy. This will keep up with your outfit as you run around and go about your day.
- Invest on a few pieces of “timeless” jewelry and handbag. These are the pieces that can keep you pulled together no matter how casual you are wearing. Hey, I’m not telling you to splurge. Think about it.
Did you experience extreme pressure all the while needing beauty and fashion to stand by you through the day? So what did you do? How did you cope up with it? I would be happy to hear from you… You’re thoughts would surely mean a lot to our sistahs out there… reach out and post your suggestions or ideas or what have you.
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