Although I am dying on the allergy side, I still love Spring! I can barely go outside without breaking out in hives! I need an herbal remedy ya’ll! … any who…
This is my STYLE idea for the day. I love FRINGE! In fashion, fringe is defined as : An ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists, used to edge clothing or material. Like this…
or this…
I wear fringe a lot! It’s reminiscent of the 70s, but has been used for centuries in clothing, mostly in pre-American tribes especially those traveling from the motherlands.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE
THE STYLE: I got my red fringe boots online from UrbanOg. They are no longer offered. If you Google red fringe boots, you will be able to find them. They are not Minnetonka boots. I prefer to pay less. The quality is descent enough. The shirt is from Dillard’s. It was only $10 on sale by a brand named Angie. The skirt was maybe $8 at Forever21.
Peace and love,
Queen Duafe for African Essence
Looking for some conscious music? Do you like Bob Marley? I am not referring to the “Bob Marley bandwagon hoppers that wear t-shirts and ACT all down-to-earth!” I mean do you really like Bob Marley’s music? It’s full of conscious messages about mankind. The song of the day: Who the Cap Fit… This music inspired the mood that I am in today. Let me know your thoughts.
This year, I am exploring longer (maxi) skirts for the Spring. I like them in this weather because they protect me from the changing elements that come with the season. For example, where I live, the mornings can be a bit chilly. Then by 1 pm, the weather will warm up. Wearing a lengthier skirt allows you to be prepared for all weather as well as various social situations such as work, lunch dates, or after work shopping. They are more versatile than shorter skirts because they are widely accepted and normally help women to appear more elegant.
Maxi skirts look beautiful as they have the tendency to scream maturity and feminine softness. You should try them!
floral maxi skirt from a local boutique; clearance $10
Sandals from Marshalls for $20
This nail polish is one of my favorites: Spanish Moss by Revlon
Leather bracelets from City Buddha
This is a faux leather wedge sandal that actually feels really good. Got them maybe 3 years ago… they were cheap. They are by Guess… I believe the line was G by Guess
I normally don’t dig floral designs, but this skirt stood out for me. I like it a lot and have been wearing it since 2009. It flows in the wind, making it very “queen-like.” You will love it! I encourage people to spend as less money as possible on clothes. You can have a nice wardrobe for cheap. If you like challenges, try dressing for less. Save your money and buy a passport or passports if you have a family, and travel the world.
Queen Duafe for African Essence
P.S. Need some music? Check out my QueenPlayList for Saturday…
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Ladies and gents, will you sleep or will you preach? Pass this music on.
Janelle Monae and Badoula Oblongata launch project Q.U.E.E.N. – A 21st century musical weapons program a.k.a. the Freedom Movement: disguised as songs, emotion pictures and works of art. Can you dig?!
“even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am”
Why is this song so great? The LYRICS and the ARTISTIC ANGLE! These two ladies continue to raise the level of CONSCIOUSNESS. Most won’t accept, but many will. I am not surprised to see them together because they both seem to refuse to sell out!
SOME OF THE AWESOME MESSAGES IN THE SONG
It’s hard to stop rebels that time travel.
I can’t believe all of the things they say about me
Walk in the room they throwin’ shade left to right
They be like ooh, she’s servin’ face
And I just tell em, cut me up, and get down
… Badu’s verse and Monae’s ending rap is great! The whole song is so wonderful and uplifting… “here comes the FREEDOM SONG! Testify!” Monae said “give me back my pyramid!”
It’s still a little cold in the Midwest, but it’s getting warmer! Hopefully the stockings season will be over soon! Enough with the April showers! This week, it should reach the upper 60s and believe me, we are all soooo happy! Tune in later this week for my style ideas for our warmer weather.
The last of the stockings…
THE STYLE: The stockings are from Target’s clearance bin.They were only about $5 for 2 pairs; the skirt is from Forever21 because I love their cheap skirts; $6; the shirt is from TJMaxx for $10; the legwarmers are from Claire’s for $7; the boots are from Kohl’s and have been featured on my blog several times for $21; the earrings are from Glitter for of course $1; the hat is from Spencer’s for maybe $15; the jacket was from Sears on an out-of-season sale and hopefully we won’t need that anymore! It was $10.
N E X T
Long dresses that are made of a light-weight fabric are great for the Spring. You can lighten up dark colors with bolder colors. Check it out.
THE STYLE: The headwrap fabric is from JoAnns (like $3 by the yard); the leggings which were just back up because the dress is s bit see-through were $10 at Kohls; the dress is from H&M on clearance it was $7; the necklace- I was getting my hair twisted and a guy came in the salon selling jewelry! Yes, I gave him $15 for it (lol); the belt is from the Body Shop for $10; the sweater is from TJMaxx for $11.
Jambo! Welcome. I am Queen & I come to you in the spirit of DUAFE, an african adinkra symbol that symbolizes beauty, cleanliness & desirable feminine qualities. I represent the women of the world who fight to control their own destinies and avoid being characterized as VICTIMS. We are not victims. We are the Mothers of Civilization who hold WISDOM and TRUTH.
I intend to reach into the past to reclaim visual images and rhetoric of revolution. I am here to raise the consciousness and reject attempts to control the powerful identity of woman through stereotypes. WE are more than what you see. I take the past for guidance because it allows me to take a closer look at feminism and female empowerment. We are living in a time where the identity of the woman has become highly-sexualized. Women really believe that they do not look “good” unless their bodies are exposed. Self-esteem is at an all time low, and large companies are making so much money off of bringing the image of the WOMAN down.
Women seem to gladly give away their money to purchase hair, make-up, and name-brand BS that just makes them blend in. I am not opposed to any of these things when bought and used in moderation. Sometimes you might see something that you just love and it just so happens it is name brand. A little make-up is cool, but a lot is not. You have to understand that you should not RELY on these superficial elements. They should ONLY be used as ADORNMENT.
Sometimes it seems like everyone is trying to be someone else. The light women want the brown girl features and the brown girls want the light girl features. Why can’t we just be happy as we are? We can love each other and be friends without wanting to be the other woman. I am trying to break the notion that we have to be exposed to look good; and that we have to lighten or exaggerate our features to be accepted. You do not have to be this way because, guess what? You are beautiful without all the glam. So check this out…
It’s springtime in the Midwest and we can expect varying temperatures. Dressing for the weather is important. Don’t get caught standing in the shade freezing or standing in the sun burning up! It may not be the best idea to pull out the shorts just yet, so try some colorful jeans and light weight fabrics that will give you just enough protection to enjoy the weather. Since it is still Spring, 60 degrees means that you still need to carry a jacket with you. If it was 60 degrees in the Summer, you would not need the jacket, but Spring is fickle so stay on the safe side.
A colorful springtime idea…
THE STYLE:
Earrings, $2, on sale at Icing by Claire’s
Shirt, $4 end of season sale at Sears
Pants, $20 at Forever21
Red Wedge shoes, Payless BOGO $10 ( I do not suggest buying these shoes- they are cheaply made and make a noise when I walk. They do not feel great)
Red Wedge sandals, Nine West Outlet, $20 (these shoes are all leather upper and they feel great- bought at least 4 years ago)
Brown Fornili Shoe by Aldo, $95
Queen Duafe for African Essence
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I live in Midwestern United Sates where the weather changes day-to-day. Yesterday it was very nice out- sunny and warm. Today it is rainy and chilly! Here we go!
I think I’ll try bell bottoms today. Actually, many people are in to skinny pants, which are fine in some cases, but I am a flare-pant girl. I like my pants to fit on the top and flare at the bottom to compliment my shoes. Check it out. Click on the pictures to enlarge them. Haven’t quite decided on my shoes, but it will probably be the Aldo Fornili.
(Note: the photos may appear different depending on the browser speed you have)
I also like bell sleeve shirts and sweaters! They are great. This is not the greatest pic (the rugs from my car in the background), but I got this bell sleeve sweater from JCPenny’s and underneath, I am actually wearing a bell sleeve tunic/dress that I got from venus.com.
Those stockings are really cool now that I think about it! Look below.
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THE STYLE ABOVE:
(bell bottoms with mustard-colored shirt)
The shirt is made of viscose from Dillards, $17 on sale; The pants are from Forever21, I think they were $25 or cheaper; the Fornili shoe that I will wear is of course from Aldo, $95. Don’t spend that, though!
I live in Midwestern United States where the weather can swing drastically, hitting above 100 in the summer and below zero in the winter. The Springs are cold and warm, and hot, and cold again! It’s nothing to fear, you just have to be prepared and accept the reality of varying temperatures.
Living in the Midwest allows me to get super cReaTiVe with my wardrobe. I can be laid back, conservative, athletic, but most of all JAZZY! My attire is most often referred to as Jazzy. People ask, “where did you get that?” If I can remember, I tell them, but I shop all over. Mostly in thrift stores and specialty-clothing boutiques. I do not discriminate! Anywhere I go from, TJMaxx to Steinmart, I can always find the most “jazzy-ethnic” attire they carry. That’s my thing, that’s my style. My favorite stores are thrift stores, but like I said, I go all over.
I love being able to create my own style!
Many people enjoy living in the Midwest, although it can be depressing sometimes! Nine months of cold weather can have you visiting a psychoanalyst! No need to complain, just get with the program. When its cold, love it, when it’s hot love it even more! Our seasons seem to be all over the place and are highly unpredictable at the present time.
So I keep my closet fully equipped with all types of light and heavy clothing. Every morning I put my foot out the door to see what the weather feels like and I go from there…
THE STYLE… The shirt I am wearing above is one of my favorite pieces. It is a very light fabric and I normally wear a camisole underneath it. I got it from an African Boutique years ago named SeneAfrique, $25. It closed down. The shirt has gold accents so I wore gold jewelry to match. It’s a gold cuff bracelet which you can get from anywhere these days. The necklace is a beaded brown and gold layered style and I have no idea where I got it (maybe Dillard’s on clearance years ago?). The earrings are a costume-like gold from Glitter (in malls), $1. The jeans are from Charlotte Russe, $10. I like flare jeans. The shoes are from Aldo, $95. They are leather inside and out, that is why they are pricier. They are called the Fornili shoe and date back at least two years. I won’t spend that much anymore, but there was something about these shoes that made them awesome. I like them a lot and they don’t hurt. Of course I wouldn’t do crazy amounts of walking in them either.
HOPE THIS HELPS YOU CHOOSE SOME COMFORTABLE ATTIRE THAT FITS YOU.
Chrisette Michele is looking pretty fly these days. I like that she explores hair color. I’m feeling colorful too!
I am not sure what happened with her music. I purchased her very first CD and it was really good. Ever since, I haven’t been able to get into her lyrics. Her voice is amazing, though. It’s mature and sophisticated. The songs she did with Jay Z and Nas were the best collaborations I heard from her. On her debut album, Love is You was my favorite song and Let’s Rock which had a Wu-Tang beat was nice as well.
POETIC FACES IN APRIL – My favorite picture of the “mos-eccentric” Erykah Badu… really love the simplicity in this photo.
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- Erykah Badu is lovely, not just because of her wonderfully HomemadeVINTAGE&eccentric look, but because she is an exceptional artist with some of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard. Every single album is greatness!
Chaka Khan & Erykah are great!
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - NNEKA
Nneka is a very hot artist! Her lyrics are expressive and socially relevant. I admire that she is not “contemporary- sounding” and she has a very distinct voice. She can sing, rap, and do poetry- I’m all on board the Nneka train! I love her album cover for SOul Is HEaVy
She’s got a lot of FLAVA!
Nneka is deep.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - THE FLOACIST
The amazing voice of NATALIE STEWART
The Floacist- I follow Natalie because she is one of the most successful female recording and performing poets I know of. Her lyrics mean a lot and I really appreciate her level of consciousness. She always looks so comfortable, no matter what look she takes on. Money doesn’t seem to drive her- the art does. Peace to this QUEEN. I dig. (I’ll have to blog about her body art later on- very nice!)
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- These are great photos of Natalie. Have you listened to her CD? It’s really nice.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - LIANN LA HAVAS
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- I am lovin’ this chick right now! Her LYRICS ARE awesome as is her voice- Extremely and soothingly POETIC! My favorite pic of her.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - the LES NUBIANS will never die!
Have you seen them? I remember going to their concert and being completely amazed by their voices and their movement. I felt like I was in a cyclone of culture! It was such a HIGH. If you can ever catch them in concert, please go. They give a great show.
The Les Nubians have so much style and flava. Amazing looks.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC FACES
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC
JANET’S POWERFUL VELVET ROPE YEARS& THE DESIGN OF A DECADE
How can we ever forget the wonderful Velvet Rope years of Ms. Jackson? She was at her peak during this time. Her movement and vintage beauty brought the world to tears.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - L. HILL
Yesterday and Today
POETIC FACES IN APRIL. The misunderstood Lauryn will forever move me. The MisEducation was awesome! Every word and every song. I have yet to hear an album like this. I even loved loved loved her MTV Unplugged. She was so beautiful and humble. We remember you Queen!
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - GOAPELE
Goapele’s music continues to be wonderful. I even enjoyed her last album which she added a bit of a “neo-pop” twist to a few of the songs. She is powerfully POETIC.
BEAUTIFULLY POETIC - JANELLE MONAE
POETIC FACES IN APRIL- She is extremely expressive and animated and I love every bit of it! Her lyrics are amazing as well.
I use NATIONAL POETRY MONTH to teach people about poets and writers who have influenced and ARE changing culture. I practice different forms of poetry and study vocabulary words and expressions that will help me in storytelling. I find things that are “poetic” in nature and I try to help young people understand what it means 2BaPoEt. I define poetic as having the power to be persuasive, and get people to support your messages.
These are the FACES of the wonderful women who have influenced me artistically.
It is National Poetry Month and as a verbal artist, I love it!
These boots are amazing! I would wear them in the summer with shorts! Yes, I sure would. What do you think?
I love these amazing riding boots!
They were posted on Etsy, but sold. Do you know of any boots that are similar? I would love to have them. I cannot seem to find anything like them anywhere.
It’s that time of the year where the weather is turning from cold to warm. I typically choose to wear rain boots during this season. If I want my feet to stay extra warm on those days where it is cold and rainy, I add leg warmers to this style. I love these boots! I got them for under $25 at Kohl’s in 2011. However, I recently saw them there, so in many cities you may still be able to get them. Actually they were cheaper. These beautiful purple rain boots were originally $59.99. However, remember, I rarely pay full price for anything! Now why would I do that? If it matters any to you, I receive tons of compliments about these boots because the color is so vibrant. I do not mind telling people where I got them- from older ladies with gray hair to gentlemen, they all seem to like these ones.
You can cuff your jeans and wear them this way.
I have not had any problems with these boots falling apart or being made cheaply. The quality seems to be ok, with only the label on the back of the boot peeling (bottom heel). Actually, I can do without the label. If it comes off, so be it. They are durable and I would give them a 5 out of 5 stars.
… wear them with leg warmers…
Outfit elements: Purple rain boots by Aqua Stop(Kohl’s); Different Colours All Beautiful Say No to Racism sweatshirt by H&M (on clearance $5); Nail polish: Green With Envy by Orly ($6); Watch by Fossil (shops normally in malls); sterling silver jewelry from Passport to Peru and Red Geranium; leg warmers (check stores like Claire’s or DSW)
When speaking with teenage and pre-teen girls, the most popular and sometimes most difficult things for me to discuss are…
1. how to dress
2. how to stay clean (hygiene)
HOW TO DRESS
It can be difficult to influence the way a young girl dresses because the world is mostly telling her to wear the tightest and most revealing clothes she can find. However, finding acceptable attire that makes a young woman look respectable is possible. The trends have shifted since the early 2000s, but it seems that they are stagnate right now. For the past 8 years or so, it has been all about skinny jeans and leggings. I can barely stand either! It is an easy way to say, “I don’t really care about how I look, so I am going to buy what is on display in the stores because it is easier to just blend in.” Honestly, when shopping, it is hard to find a nice pair of jeans that are NOT labeled skinny. The most popular item for women right now is leggings and blue jean button up shirts that are priced way too high! Come on, you can get one from the thrift store for 3 bucks! You should never buy clothes unless they are on sale! Yes, I said it.Young girls are always growing so why spend loads of money on things they will grow out of next month? Why spend loads of money, period?
Check out this blog on thrifting. You can do a youtube search for thrift store hauls to see how people transform thrifted clothes into masterpieces. Adopt styles that are colorful and vibrant instead of revealing and dull. thriftionary.blogspot.com
Check out this wonderful blog!
You don’t want to end up looking like this! Absolute no no!
STUCK ON STALE
I do not desire to tell a young woman to stop wearing what is trendy. My initiative is to encourage her to find the type of clothes that best fit her and to stop buying what is “hott.” It is not hott when everyone is wearing the same uniform. Isn’t that just like being in school? I always hear young people complain about school uniform. So why buy the same things that everyone else has? The same shoes, the same fake long hair, the same shirts, the same jeans- the same style! Try something different and wear your own hair young lady! This is what I have seen the constant use of hair weave do to a woman’s hair.
I tell girls to try to listen to whats inside of them. Go with what’s natural and leave the fake in the store. A good place to start is to ask their parents to take them to the thrift stores, Salvation Army’s, and Goodwills. There, they can find unique items that speak more to their personalities. It is also cheaper and will allow them to have 3 shirts instead of 1. Sometimes variety is good.
It can also be difficult to explain to a young lady that Air Jordan’s (the tennis shoe) are not really designed for a woman’s foot. These shoes look hideous on women to me. They are too masculine. This is just my opinion. The girls always show resistance to this when we talk about it. Some listen, some continue to ask for these expensive ugly things. It may just be something they have to mature out of.
TRY THIS…
HOW TO STAY CLEAN
FEATURED BLOG : http://www.africanexportsblog.com/
Yes, we have all smelled an unpleasant young woman before! We have seen weave tracks, and plaque on teeth, and dirty bra straps. We have seen clothes that are too small, what appears to be ash on ankles, necks, faces, and feet. We’ve seen nail polish that has gone bad 3 weeks ago, we have smelled bad breath, saw body parts falling out of clothes… these ARE ALL THINGS THAT SIGNIFY BAD HYGIENE. You have to be careful when teaching this to a young person because many of the girls I talk to, have not been taught how to be sweet young ladies. By “sweet” I mean smelling good, feeling good, talking good, looking good.
Hygiene always starts inward and it oozes outward. What you are on the inside determines how you look. This starts with KNOWLEDGE. Put a book in a young girls hand. Visit your local library and request books on “teaching young girls about personal hygiene.”. Talk to them. Address hygiene issues head on. Pull them to the side and talk about it in a passionate way so that they can feel comfortable. Take them to stores like JCPenny’s or Victoria’s Secret where they can get properly measured for bra sizes. Get their feet measured at Famous Footwear or any department store. Buy measuring tape from the dollar store and show them how to measure the width of their hips and the width of their waists so that they can find the proper sized clothing when shopping.
Show them how to shop for sanitary napkins, getting the healthiest brands with the least amounts of bleach and chemicals in them. Tell them how to wash their bodies when bathing. Buy them soaps that won’t irritate their skin and that are sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate free. Give them scented oils that are natural instead of perfumes that are NOT. Many things can fall under this category and it is not easy to talk about it all the time, but you must. Show them how to take care of their own hair instead of funky weave! Girls should be wearing their own hair! Maybe adding a little color would be cool, but that’s it!
Love this girl!
More tips…
In the end, I like to stick with all homemade and natural products like coconut oil, shea butter, coco butter, olive oil, rosemary oil, aloe vera, etc.
STYLE SUGGESTIONS: TRANSFORMING OLD CLOTHES
I really the It’sMyRayeRaye Channel on Youtube
After looking at these videos, you will come up with many many more ideas!
Peace and love,
Queen Duafe for African Essence
My Duafe Throne- When I do poetry, I sit on my Duafe Throne!
I understand that Solange is big in the media right now because of her modeling and the types of clothing she wears. I am not into jumping on bandwagons but after looking at some of her pics, I definitely agree that she has style. She is going against the grain, choosing to cultivate her natural beauty rather than mimicking the fake identity that is labeled “trendy.” That is evident in this video:
Solange’s uniqueness is oozing out in all of her artistic endeavors. The video above is cool in many ways. I like the design and setting, the people, and even Solange’s dancing. She is moving to her own beat and I can dig that. The stylist responsible for her look in this video is Ty Hunter. After doing some research on Mr. Hunter, I learned that his styling is definitely worth following. Although mainstream, he brings a wonderfully earthy and colorful angle to his client [s].
In addition to Solange’s music and modeling, she is a DJ and budding fashion ICON. She seems to have a good attitude and knowledge of herself so perhaps she can tackle fashion and identity. I like that she wears head wraps and “ethnic” designs. I’ll keep an eye on her.
________________________________________________________
Ever once in a while I look at style magazines. Most of the time I cannot bear to look in them because I do not like the images of women that I see- painted faces showing no traces of reality. Often times the clothes are a bit overbearing as well. I have learned how to have a discerning eye.
THIS IS THE COVER OF THE APRIL/MAY 2013 ISSUE OF TODAY’S BLACK WOMAN STYLE REPORT MAG. I LIKE the golden dress on Megan Good (I am not sure if I would wear it, though!)
I can appreciate some things about these sorts of magazines. My wishful thinking makes me think that perhaps one day, the world won’t be so consumed with sex and the physical. If you are conscious of who you are, you won’t buy into these things. Sadly, many of us are not and we end up thinking this is what we are supposed to look like.
Material things are not what defines us. Black and beauty are not synonymous. If they were, women would not spend so much time trying to change into something that they are not via clothes, make-up, etc.
The outfits that I am sharing may encourage you to find your own style. They are not meant to encourage you to copy someone else’s. In saying that, I saw a few good pics that I want to share that could add some flava to your wardrobe. What do you think?
I LOVE THE STOCKINGS IN THE MIDDLE!
I LOVE THE COLORFUL SUIT ON THE LEFT!
I LOVE THE HAIR AND THE GRAY SUIT AND SHOES! THIS IS GARCELLE BEAUVAIS.
Akua Naru, lyricist, is the definition of femininity IN poetry at its finest. Redefining hip hop, her lyrical prowess is a sultry caress to my ears- so much soul.
Aziza Yasmine, natural hair stylist, softly caresses the tresses to bring out the best in every woman. She has been transitioning women back to their natural roots since the 90s after returning from a trip to Africa where she learned many hair techniques.
These two women visually remind me of one another. They have similar spirits and do a great job at their crafts. Upon listening to Akua, I get butterflies. For me, this means that I am learning and believing and feeling a kindred spirit. When in Aziza’s chair, I feel a level of trust that I have not felt with many others. I adore these women and in celebration of WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, I want to honor their contributions to WOMANHOOD. They are very much alive and moving and are helping women to define what they are. Choose to cherish your true identity, and not live in vain. BE YOURSELF. Start listening and start appreciating what you are. Check out the video below to hear what Akua has to say about telling stories and about womanhood. I like her message. What we must realize is that the way we talk, the way we look, and the things we do, define us. Your physical identity tells the story of your existence, just as your words and actions do. Make sure you’re living righteously and putting out love. What you give out is exactly what you will receive. Live, learn, and change. Grow up, not down. Peace!
I was browsing and I found this wonderful shop that I want to share.
With the spring and summer approaching, you’ll want to invest in additions to your wardrobe. I do not think these clothes are too expensive because of their design and exclusivity.
