African Fashions

Because not all women are born with a very well proportioned body, I want to feature some styles that are fitting for some specific body types. If you are bottom-heavy or top-heavy, then this feature is for you.  Be your own stylist and never allow those extra pounds to keep you from looking good and flattering.  Now take a closer look at yourself (while stark naked) in a full-length mirror and determine your own body type.

Whichever is your body type, there’s always a dress, a suit, a pair of pants that can flatter your figure.  So play up with your best assets and down play with the problem areas.

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?

Make-up done in three minutes?  You must be kidding me…

While I was looking through some dresses at a specialty store, I unexpectedly heard something that caught my attention.  So I walked across the hall, stood there amazed as I watched and listened to the demo on some tricks to looking good despite all the demands of the daily grind. I learned some tricks from one make-up artist of a popular cosmetic brand and I tried it right away when I got home. To my surprise, it worked on me.  Now it’s your time to do the trick in just 3 minutes.  You can even set a timer if you want!

So here it is, the 3-minute make-up magic:

There you have it sistahs.  The basics always come in handy.  In just three minutes you are all set for the day. Never allow a busy day to keep you from looking pretty.  So good luck and have a great day!

Nail art is no longer exclusive for models and celebrities. You can actually do nail art at the comforts of your own home without the price tag.  Of course, let’s leave the most intricate details to the professionals and make the most of our creative and feminine side.  Nail art can actually add a fabulous zest to your usual look and gives a touch of unique flair to any dress.  With a few tips and some tools to get you started, you too can begin to spice up and brighten your nails with colors and patterns that are surprisingly amazing.

First things first, make sure that your nails are healthy, clean, and shaped nicely. Before starting the designing routine, get all the materials you need in place to avoid ruining the mood while you are doing the art as well as avoid messing the paint.  To start off, give your nails a pretty and neat canvass, meaning you have to apply a base coat in any color of your choice.  Make sure the coat gives a neat finish and dry enough for the designing layers.

There are a lot of ways to make designs on nails.  You can use jewels, stickers, and glitters to make versatile and fascinating innovations. To make more intricate patterns, you can airbrush your nails and use stencils or masks. Pre-printed artificial nails also come in handy if you prefer the readymade once.  But for me, I would prefer that you bring out the creativity in you by trying some artistic patterns that truly gives an expression of nail fashion at its best.  For starters, simple dots forming a floral pattern can do magic.  You can use a nail art pen, bobby pin or even tooth picks.  Make simple abstract patterns with trailing dots, swirls and swish strokes.  To ensure that the design lasts, apply a clear top coat.  Trust me, its fun, easy, and invigorating!

Found this online for inspiration, see if you can recreate the dots like this… simple yet elegant.

Remember that art is the product of your creativity and you can learn it with enough practice and patience. So go easy on yourself, give enough leeway to perfect the craft and not be stressed out while doing it.  Be the artist that you are and enjoy painting and embellishing your nails!

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.   

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.

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.

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.

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! 

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.

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.