H is for (H)AIR

/he(ə)r/ [hare] (noun) : your beautiful mane

In December 2012, right before my 20th birthday I decided to go natural, and I took the most drastic route...the BIG CHOP! I was finally free from the creamy crack and I was finally ready to start taking care of my own natural follicles for once. Since my big chop, I've tried so many cool things with my hair. I've done afros, twists, curls, braids, puff puffs, wigs, weaves and more, but I'm not quite finished exploring all the newfound discoveries on natural, Black, kinky hair. In this Era, natural black hair has become sort of a fad, which sucks because, I personally believe natural hair should be something natural and not a trend, but hey, I'm not complaining. The more natural hair the merrier. With all that being said, I truly believe my natural hair has a lot to do with my outlook on fashion. As girls we all know, if your hair isn't looking it's best your outfit just won't add up. And with such high maintenance hair, as Black girls we must keep it looking right at all times. Here are some cool ideas from my hair journey you can try & a list of some of the cool products I use on a daily basis:

Cornrows and rubberbands(in front) bantu knot out (in back)

Wash & Go Afro

Day old Bantu Knot out

Three days old Bantu knot out

Braided Kanekalon hair bun

Wig

Wig with bang & high ponytail

Co-washing (Not a hairstyle!)

Curly quickweave

frohawk

first day Bantu Knot out

week old Bantu knot out

quick puff puff

Neat sculpted and picked out puff puff

Most recent (Jumbo box braids. 15 Braids= 2packs of Kanekalon hair)

Shea Moisture: Deep Treatment Masque  ($10) For deep condition,  styling hair, locking in moisture, softening hair and co-washing

Shea Moisture: Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk ($10) For styling, moisture and co-washing

Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel ($3) For styling, wash-n-go and laying down edges

By the end of the summer I hope my afro gets a little bigger because I'm more than ready to do so much more with this hair. What should I do next?

signed,

ms.fashionably late

G is for (G)OLD

/gōld/ [gold] (adjective) : the color of wealth

Hey readers! It's been a while since I've kept you all updated on the latest fashion trends, but fear not, the hiatus is finally over. Today is all about GOLD! Gold jewelry, gold clothing, gold EVERYTHINGGG! I actually prefer silver, but there's something extraordinary about Gold that we just cannot deny. These days, Gold is not just limited to jewelry. You can find Gold in any article of clothing or accessory there is. 

Here are some great gold finds to fit any style:

Gold Coast Shades ($40.00 Nastygal.com)

Gold Standard Bad ($50.00 Nastygal)

Gold Holographic Satchel ($38.00 Nastygal

                                             

Gold Foil Exposed Leggings ($16.90 Love Culture)

Gold can bring life to any boring outfit. Here's how I played with some gold accessories the other day:

What do you think?

signed,

ms.fashionably late

F is for (F)ASHION

Credit to http://salkisre.tumblr.com/

 

/ˈfaSHən/ [fash-ion] (noun) : YOUR OWN person style or trend

These days, everyone is daring to be different, but when did different become "the same." It seems like the streets are all fashion runways, which is absolutely fine, although I'm confused as to whether people are competing against their own personal style or against who followed and executed a popular trend the best. Either way, fashion is fashion. The most upsetting part about fashion is that EVERYONE rushes to get the latest knick-knacks, resulting in a trend lasting about a week or two not even giving it time to settle. Is this a problem? ABSOLUTELY! Daring to be different doesn't mean opening up a magazine when you should truly be opening up your closet. Revamping and recycling what you already have is how you make YOUR personal style, YOURS! I would be lying if I said I never followed a trend, but my initial thoughts are always ... how can I take this trend and make it my own? what can I do different? It's not that I'm TRYING to look different, I just rather not look the same. Following a trend to the T is limiting yourself to so many possibilities you have stored up in that big head of yours. That's why, the goal of AUF is to school you fashionistas so you can make the best fashion decisions depending on your own personal preference. It's obvious why F is for Fashion, isn't it? Because we all live, breathe, eat and drink fashion.  Believe it or not, our appearance is what defines us all... so make the most of it.

signed,

ms.fashionably late

E is for (E)spadrilles

/ˈespəˌdril/ [es-pa-drille] (noun) : canvas shoes with plaited fiber soles

Here's an article of clothing that I'm new to and looking forward to getting acquainted with before the summer ends! At first I wasn't so much a fan of these weird looking things, they just looked so uncomfortable to me. Now that I've seen a variety of these awesome shoes at select stores, I think it's time to buy some espadrilles that will fit me best!

Here are some REALLY cute finds I found online:

Espadrille Thong Sandals ($19.80 Forever 21)

 

Here's some cute nude thongs I found. Very "organic" looking and great for the summer and spring!

CRAVER (Embroidered Espadrille Wedges) ($34.99 ALDO)

For those of you, like me, who don't like to show your feet, try these cute wedges. I'm definitely loving the white embroidery patterns this summer, and these can just about go with ANYTHING.

Here's another embroidered variation that's a little more expensive but STILL very cute!

 

DREWEL ($80.00 ALDO)

These in my opinion are even cuter! Great for anytime of the day, any occasion and ANY location. And here at AUF, that's what we like, a versatile shoe that's great for any time and any place!

Naturalizer Women's Sarah Espadrille ($37.69 Amazon.com)

 

Beware of the infamous AMAZON.COM! Don't sleep on these guys, because you just might find THE best deals and offers. I love these flats, very cute color, summer friendly and I heard they are very comfortable! (Comfort is ALWAYS a plus)

If you're not a fan of blue (you're a fool!) But they come in a variety of other colors like...

And last but not least, the most common espadrille I've seen thus far:

SOLUDOS Classic Espadrilles ($29.99 J Crew)

 

Most likely if you're an espadrille lover you have these, or have been planning on getting them. The problem I have with these kind is that I always see someone's big toe print poking out at the front. Stay tuned for later reviews when I finally buy a pair or two for myself. 

Espadrilles can be worn with ANYTHING from denim to a skirt, a dress or even a business suit if you find the right kind. That's all I have for today, see you next time lovelies!

signed,

ms. fashionably late.

D is for (D)aring

/ˈde(ə)riNG/ [dar-ing] (adjective) : one BOLD fashinista(o)

 

Today's topic today is all about being bold and daring. And what better way to start this lesson off with a little quote.

"Champion the right to be yourself; dare to be different and to set your own pattern; live your own life and follow your own star.”

                                                                       -Wilfred Peterson

This is dedicated to all the fashinistas and fashinistos out there who take their personal style to the highest level. When it comes to my style, I'm still in the process of building my wardrobe and finding the outfits that best represent my taste. But enough about me, meet Mojo Disco. I can't stress enough how much this guy has grown, with both his style and attitude. With his own eyewear line, he has leaked his fashion juices into something great called Ubiquity. In my opinion, these glasses define his personality and style to the T! funky, different and DARING! 

For those of you who DON'T know, I released the first issue of Black Magazine on June 4th 2012

 

 

There on my very first cover is Mojo Disco. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

 

Mojo has become a HUGE motivation for his peers and fans, myself included! Keep up the good work Mojo, hope to see your name is lights one day.

To see all of Mojo's Wonderful projects visit: mojodisco.com !

that's it for today...

signed,

ms. fashionably late

C is for (C)argos

/ˈkärgō/ [car-go] (noun) : baggy shorts or pants made of thick fabric that has lots of pockets for bulky items.

First and foremost, I would like to wish everyone a happy belated 4th of July. I didn't get to do much but I definitely witnessed some of the coolest patriotic fashions all throughout NYC. Today's letter is C, and C is for cargo's. Masculine yet feminine fashion that can be worn in so many ways!

For the 4th of July I went out in my favorite cargo shorts...


(Vest: Forever 21, Rasta Crochet top: Thrift store, Cargo shorts: Old Navy (men))

 Cargo's are great for a chill day, and don't mind them being baggy, you can still look girly in them. I always recommend buying cargo's in the "mens" section because the fabric is always just right. In my opinion cargo's for women try to LOOK masculine rather than actually BEING masculine, and it just defeats the purpose (if that makes any sense).Since I'm slim, I get my shorts in the smallest men size I can find (Size 25-26), preferably with a belted waist, or one that won't sag too low when I'm walking.  I looked around and found some cute, CHEAP buys:



Fatigue Cargo Short (DR. Jays $41.99)

    

Belted Cargos (Forever 21 $22.90)



Belted Cargos (DR. Jays $10.99)

 The great thing about cargo's is that they come in all length sizes: shorts, pants AND capri's (for women).  They can be worn with sneakers, combat boots, sandals or moccasins. What you wear on top is totally up to you. Everything else is pretty much self explanatory. And another thing..if you're petite, try looking in the "big kids" section, you might find something big enough that will fit you, so NEVER limit your options.

Cargo's usually come in neutral colors, but that doesn't mean you can't switch it up a bit. If you look in the right places you'll find cargo's like these:

Belted Cargos (Forever 21 $22.90)



Brand Nation Cargos (DR. Jays $41.99)


These colors are great for the summer, and GREAT for the ladies. Color can be your best friend if you take advantage of it when you dress, so don't shy away from it.


That's it for our lesson today! School's OUT! Happy Friday :)

signed,

ms. fashionably late.

B is for (B)andeau

/banˈdō/ [ban-doo] (noun) :(1) band worn around head to hold hair in place (2) strapless top fitting tightly around the bust

The summer is here and the bandeau's are out, and I'm not talking about the one's you wear around your head. The best thing about bandeau's for the summer is that it can be worn at ANYTIME of the day, with ANY outfit.
     

               Swiss Dot & Lace Bandeau Bra ( $7.80 Forever 21)

Ruched Bandeau ( $6.90 Forever 21)

 
In my opinion, Forever 21 has the BEST bandeau's. They hold a variety of colors, styles and patterns and best of all, they're CHEAP! Bandeau's are worn best and most commonly under blazers, cardigans, denim vests and jackets, lace sweaters or alone. They're great for the beach, a day in the park, going shopping, going out for lunch, or a party, but definitely NOT for the workplace or school. The cons? They tend to fall. Because MOST bandeau's don't have straps, they start to slip under the bust. BUT, fear not... introducing...

The Attached Strapped Bandeau

Swiss Dot Bandeau Bra ($4.80 Forever 21)

Great price, Great style and NO MORE slippage. This one is for the ladies with bigger busts! Not everyone likes the idea of the straps but u can always wear something over the bandeau to hide it.


If you can't seem to find a color or style you like best, try buying a regular strapless bikini top.. no one will ever know it's a bathing suit!

 

Retro Print Bandeau Bikini Top ($10.80 Forever 21)

I personally don't like the ring in the middle since it makes the bandeau look "bikini-like" but, like Tim Guns always says MAKE IT WORK!

Wanna know how I wear my bandeau?

This is the same lace bandeau worn at two different times of the day with two different outfits. I got it from American Eagle Outfitters for about $10 (don't quote me on this, I forgot!). In the first one I was going shopping, so I threw it together with a cropped blazer from Forever 21, some jeans and my favorite tan combat boots from Charlotte Russe ($20 *sale). For the second one, I wore it to a party. I sort of attached the bandeau to my mullet maxi skirt and added a skinny belt (see A is for (A)ccessory for "skinny belt") to create a "dress" and added a blazer, the whole look came out very classy an elegant.

So you see, you can wear your bandeau HOWEVER you like. It's all up to you! No limits.

That's it for our lesson today my little fashionistas. Till next time ...

signed,

ms. fashionably late.