Object of Desire: Keisha Whitaker’s First Lady Lip gloss

Fashion et al favorite, -Keisha Whitaker’s First Lady Lip gloss [Inspired by our First Lady, Michelle Obama] is a ‘must have’ -perfect nude lip gloss [suitable for all skin tones]. $22.00 http://www.kissablecouture.com/

January 2010 Birthday Celebrations.......

Happy Birthday to ya...Happy Birthday! ..Happy Birthday to ya...Happy Birthday!...

Michelle Obama Date of Birth: 17th January, 1964
Our 'First Lady' is on the February Issue of Easy Living....have you got your copy yet?
Muhammad Ali [born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr] 17th January, 1942

Martin Luther King, Jr. 15th January 1929
[The 18th January is a Federal Holiday marking the late, great Dr King’s birthday in the USA]...

Fashion et al Hearts Shala Monrogue

I've had my ‘fashion eye’ on Shala Monrogue [fabulous name –don’t ya think?] ever since I saw a photograph of her and her man [uber art dealer] Larry Gagosian at the opening of Dasha Zhukova’s gallery, 'The Garage Center for Contemporary Culture' in Moscow -some time back. This uber stylish lady is fabulous on soo many levels. From her butter-soft leather mac to her beloved LBD's, and the way she moves from 'First Lady Chic' to '80's animal print Diva' is an art form. Not only is Shala always well turned-out; and uber groomed -she was also voted one of the best dressed in American Vogue [alongside our first lady -Michelle Obama, Kim Heirston-Evans, Susan Fales-Hill and our very own -Genevieve Jones]. A Busy bee, -Shala is also working on her own fashion collection, contributes to Pop Magazine [Dasha Zhukova is the editor] -and continues to shine in all her natural hair fabulous-ness. I will keep you posted on her collection. xx

News Flash....Michelle Obama rocks Lanvin trainers....

Our first lady has been causing quiet a stir in the States lately. Her 'super-fly, badass' Lanvin trainers has -middle America's moral brigade -in uproar. What with her spending more than $50.00 on trainers -mid-Americans are now wondering what she will do next (the trainers cost $540 -that's £360 to you and me. And you know; -they were sent free of charge, in crisp white branded tissue paper and Lanvin box, -and ferried across America in a chauffeur driven Rolls-Royce, to our, 'first lady......please). Personally, I feel Michelle O needs to tell them to, 'SUCK ON HER FASHION'.

Hair & Beauty: Power Hair

Picture this, 'our first lady' -Michelle Obama walking down the promenade towards the White house, hand in hand with our newly inaugural-ed, -President Barack Obama. Picture also, millions of women of colour around the world, tentatively watching and praying for Michelle's crowning glory to -'behave'. And it did. The relief -as our first lady's beautifully, relaxed, shoulder length hair (Neat? Check. Soft? Check. Shiny? Check) -moved slightly and gently bounced back into its rightful place (on that windy and momentous day) -must be applauded. Because, we all know, -there are certain occasions (or days) -that demands, -nothing less than [head to toe] perfection -and bad diva hair, -just won't do. Such days are called -Power days. And they require, -'Power Dressing' and 'Power Hair'.

Of course, -some sisters have been rocking 'Power Hair' for years -and guess what? They are all 'Power Players'. Our 'first lady'- Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarrett (Senior Adviser), Desiree Rogers (White House Social Secretary), the former Secretary of State -Condoleezza Rice, Baroness Amos, Attorney General -the Rt Hon Baroness Scotland QC, -news presenters; Zeinab Badawi (UK), Christine Kelly (France), Katarina Sandstorm (Sweden), Vivian Brown (USA), Isha Sesay (CNN), Rachel Roy (designer and socialite) -Thandie Newton (actress), -George Pau Langeuin (member of the National Assembly of France), Rula Jebreal (Italian news reader and journalist) -Thelma Golden (art curator), and many more, -all have power hair.

Black or dark brown; -healthy and natural, -beautifully relaxed, or a subtle weave-on (a small amount of top quality weave -hidden underneath lush, healthy, shiny and well relaxed hair) or, -keeping it, -as close to what God gave you, -as possible -[a la Thelma Golden and Baroness Amos]. Power Hair does not shout or detract attention -away from the matter at hand. A beauty editor once said, 'Condoleezza Rice's hair was helmet like and didn't move'. And I partly agree -but, I had to point out -the obvious, -mainly, -even though, Power Hair is healthy and soft and moves -it also knows its place -and the more successful its owner, -the more 'Elnett' it demands.

Power hair speaks -volumes. Having Power hair, -means success, power, and living, 'La Dolce Vita', -because; unlike badly bleached, 'piled-on-top-of-your-head-like-a- pineapple -blonde hair or a full head of, 'in-your-face-weave', -it does not intimidate, alienate, segregate, eliminate, jar or, -block out the light of the person seated next to, -or in front of you.

The loud, brash, errm -avant-garde, glued down, over processed, brushed up, nutrient lacking 'street gal do' [-so prevalent on the streets of London], -is the antithesis of -neat and perfectly coiffured, -Power Hair . Wrong (maybe) or just blatant prejudice, -but the, 'part-up-part-down-over-the-top-jagger-jagger' hair, -funky plaits (yes they can be lovely), bleached blonde hair (I have done it, bought the t-shirt and moved on), Ghetto Red, Ghetto Blue or Ghetto Pink or 'whatever' hair, -will never read the news, be a broadcaster, marry a millionaire or turn on the Christmas lights (Oxford street -folks). Also, the aforementioned errm styleees -just doesn't work in the real world of business, or the upper echelons of politics and academia (professions we now excel in) -and taking a gamble, will keep you [firmly locked] outside. So remember, if you have an interview next week -keep it neat, healthy, shiny,soft and -firmly in place.

Art: Mickalene Thomas

There are many things I aspire to (and will definitely have when I grow-up) -like a savings account (with money in); a pension, a mortgage free life, membership to a concierge service (Quintessentially will do), an au-pair, learn to text, buy Lanvin dresses, own a chesterfield sofa from Mulberry, a Lalique lamp, have Zuber wallpaper, buy my stationery from Smythson, sleep in Frette sheets, wash my smalls with Tocca's Laundry Delicate, buy cashmere throws from Hermes and lots of art by my favourite artists. I love paintings by Henry Ossawa Tanner (The Banjo Lesson 1893 -Hampton University), Harry Roseland ('The Writing Lesson -part of Oprah's private collection), Romare Bearden (The Magic Garden 1978 -The Walter O.Evans Collections of African American Art), Horace Pippin ( Domino Players 1943 -The Phillips Collection), Ghanaian Abstract artist Tafa (Looking Back) and my favourite, Mickalene Thomas. Mickalene's evocative and intimate Blaxploitation-esque art explores power, femininity and keeps the 'gaze' firmly focused on the black female. Swoon over 'Why Can't We Just Sit Down And Talk It Over' 2006 (above) -like the rest of her paintings, it is adorned with rhinestones, enamel and colourful acrylics. Love them or loathe them -Mickalene celebrates the African-American female-like no other artist. Another favourite is her latest piece –a painting of 'our first lady', Michelle Obama –entitled 'Michelle O' 2008 (above). www.mickalenethomas.com/