Showing posts with label Desiree Rogers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Desiree Rogers. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Fashion: Desiree Rogers
Saturday, 17 October 2009
BLACK FASHIONISTAS DO THE DUCHESS
“A woman can't be too rich or too thin” Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
“All my friends know that I'd rather shop than eat” Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
YSL A/W 2009
What do Zadie Smith, Cecile de Massey, Desiree Rogers, Susan Fales-Hill, Rachel Roy, Bonnie Morrison, Alek Wek and Genevieve Jones -have in common? Wallis Simpson.
I am often asked about style; -who has it and who doesn’t –and my answer is always the same, -there are people [around the world], who wake up and ‘just are'. Rich or poor, black, white or yellow, small or big: -their sense of style is innate. It’s about their knowledge and sense of ‘Self', -about celebrating their ‘individual thing’ –without fear. Possessing a style that is very much their own –they have nothing to prove, –and lacks nothing [not even the lack of finances can diminish their style].
I truly believe that Style is about celebrating yourself.....-or as Coco Chanel said –"it’s about refusal" and saying no -to the mediocre. Style has soo many components -and this is why I love writing about it.
When I think of style; -there are a few names that always 'spring-to-mind', -a few who have stood the test of time, -and even though I too love the usual suspects [Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn etc], -personally, I love Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor -she is my Numero Uno. Others include: Bjork [she laid an egg on the Red Carpet, who can top that?], Billie Holiday in that black dress –with white gardenias in her hair, Mona Williams [who later became Mona von Bismarck] in that gold lame dress, Elsa Schiaparelli in that exquisite LBD, with five strands of pearls and a white turban, Ebony Bones [so out there, so outside the box], the exquisite Liya Kabede, the late fabulous -Carolyn Bassette Kennedy, Adrienne Fidelin, Tahita Bulmer [New Young Pony Club], the late Alice Coltrane [ Composer] in a caftan [with a badass afro] -and off cause the uber hot Genevieve Jones –and many, many more.
Wallis Simpson –of the, "You can’t be too rich or too thin” fame -always fascinates me. Her waspish appearance was way before it’s time. The dark hair, the pale ‘flawless’ skin and off cause the red lipstick –neat beyond measure. There was nothing desperate or wanting about Wallis’ style. The neat silhouette, the turbans, the bold jewellery, the little waist and the LBD’s -the Duchess is as relevant now –as she was then. Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor is the next big thing.......xx
“All my friends know that I'd rather shop than eat” Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor
YSL A/W 2009
What do Zadie Smith, Cecile de Massey, Desiree Rogers, Susan Fales-Hill, Rachel Roy, Bonnie Morrison, Alek Wek and Genevieve Jones -have in common? Wallis Simpson.
I am often asked about style; -who has it and who doesn’t –and my answer is always the same, -there are people [around the world], who wake up and ‘just are'. Rich or poor, black, white or yellow, small or big: -their sense of style is innate. It’s about their knowledge and sense of ‘Self', -about celebrating their ‘individual thing’ –without fear. Possessing a style that is very much their own –they have nothing to prove, –and lacks nothing [not even the lack of finances can diminish their style].
I truly believe that Style is about celebrating yourself.....-or as Coco Chanel said –"it’s about refusal" and saying no -to the mediocre. Style has soo many components -and this is why I love writing about it.
When I think of style; -there are a few names that always 'spring-to-mind', -a few who have stood the test of time, -and even though I too love the usual suspects [Jackie O and Audrey Hepburn etc], -personally, I love Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor -she is my Numero Uno. Others include: Bjork [she laid an egg on the Red Carpet, who can top that?], Billie Holiday in that black dress –with white gardenias in her hair, Mona Williams [who later became Mona von Bismarck] in that gold lame dress, Elsa Schiaparelli in that exquisite LBD, with five strands of pearls and a white turban, Ebony Bones [so out there, so outside the box], the exquisite Liya Kabede, the late fabulous -Carolyn Bassette Kennedy, Adrienne Fidelin, Tahita Bulmer [New Young Pony Club], the late Alice Coltrane [ Composer] in a caftan [with a badass afro] -and off cause the uber hot Genevieve Jones –and many, many more.
Wallis Simpson –of the, "You can’t be too rich or too thin” fame -always fascinates me. Her waspish appearance was way before it’s time. The dark hair, the pale ‘flawless’ skin and off cause the red lipstick –neat beyond measure. There was nothing desperate or wanting about Wallis’ style. The neat silhouette, the turbans, the bold jewellery, the little waist and the LBD’s -the Duchess is as relevant now –as she was then. Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor is the next big thing.......xx
Monday, 27 April 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
My Kind of People: Mothers & Daughters
Some days -I wake up in a tidy bedroom; beaming with sunlight, cosy in my 300 plus thread count bedsheets (from TK Maxx), with my beautiful son snuggled up close -with the smell of fresh yellow roses cascading around me and I feel soooo alive and happy (and wonder if life can get any better). The above photograph of Desiree Rogers, her daughter Victoria, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and her daughter Bee Shaffer at the Marc Jacobs A/W 09 show gives me the same feeling. On trend, exquisite and warm (like a Comptoir des Cotonniers advert); this photograph gives you the feeling -of living in a world that -some how, seems fairer, more just, a world without prejudice, poverty or hate. I truly love this photograph -it is soo 'post black', 'post Obama' and beautiful.
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