Inaugural Fashion

I'M BACK!!! and I'm talking inaugural fashion at the desk at NY1 News, with our very own Kristen Shaughnessy!

On January 20th 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the day, I had to talk about the fashion!!

We saw Melania Trump make her first appearance as the FLOTUS, dressed in a baby blue Ralph Lauren mock turtleneck dress, coupled with a criss cross cropped jacket (say that 10x fast!). Her look was reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy's 1961 inaugural ensemble.

We also saw former FLOTUS, NY Senator, Secretary of State & most recently Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton, also in Ralph Lauren, sporting her signature pant suit, in white giving props to the suffragette movement.

Finally we have Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, looking very patriotic in a red white and blue Gucci coat. As per "the internets", this look was a hit for some and a miss for others.

Check out the segment here.

Miss Jackson if you're nasty...DIY Halloween costume

23 Years later and this look is still kickin' ass! Crop tops never went out of style and somehow chokers are back en trend! In case you missed it, this look is from Janet Jackson's "If" music video. The song was from her 1993 album "janet." and this video solidified her sex symbol status FOREVER!! 

Because I love all things Jackson, I decided to take a stab at this iconic look (minus the smokin' abs). In true NaY form if I was going to do this, it had to be affordable and from #mycloset. Here's a list of things I bought or already owned to get the look!

The look is fairly simple, black pants, black vest, and a choker, the details are what make it stand out. The choker is Buffalo bone style jewelry usually seen on Native American garb, the vest has the same Buffalo bone accessories. Finding a vest with that same detail is nearly impossible, so I bought the 3" beads (pack of 25) and sewed them on with the same needle and thread you would use to sew in a weave (trade secrets, lol). I originally used regular thread but it wasn't strong enough and the beads kept falling off. 

In the video Janet's rocking bell bottom pants which I traded in for a pair or stretchy black jeans I already owned and instead of a chunky heeled shoe I opted for flat, knee high boots for all day comfort. I completed the look with a curly wig from the discount bin of my local beauty supply store. 

The final piece is make-up. I'm by no stretch of the imagination a make-up artist or good at following make-up tutorials, but this one by Jamie Sykes was most helpful. There's also this one by Destiny Godley which was also exceptional and recreated Miss Jackson's look for "That's the Way Love Goes".  Both Janet video's were from the same album so the make-up and styling are very similar.

Here's a list of what you'll need to pull off this look:

Choker: $7.99 ebay

Vest: $9.99 Amazon

Buffalo Bone Hair Pipe Beads: $10 Amazon

Wig: $15 local beauty supply store discount bin

Black pants: $9.99 H&M (already owned)

Black Boots

In total I spent $42.98...Not bad for a very specific costume!

NaY

Guru Gear

ICYMI (in case you missed it) Ankara fabric is trending. What was once the garment our mothers and grandmothers donned, is now an international fashion sensation. From Beyoncé to Gwen Stefani and of course yours truly, all the biggest celebrities have been spotted sporting this bright, pattern heavy African fabric.

Beyoncé

Gwen Stefani

Those of us of African descent have watched the evolution of Ankara fabric or  "Liputa" as we call it in the Democratic Republic of the Congo go from big shouldered tops with matching two layer wrap skirts (liputa), to the western standard. 

Mom

Me & My Grandma

Just about every designer is tapping into this market. Not only are African's wearing African wax prints but non African's are too. And now a relatively untapped market has been tapped...Athletic apparel!!!

Guru Gear is one of the first, if not the absolute first to make African print athletic gear. The multi color African print leggings are vibrant and capture the stylish ankara fabric look. They fit true to size with a little extra length, they hug you in all the right places (tummy & thighs) and offer four-way stretch for your comfort.

Currently they've got stretch pants for sale from $40- $55 and plan on expanding. If you want to work out in style check out the website. 

NaY

Dress Form

I'm not a seamstress, but I own a dress form and it all started as a DIY pinterest project. Like many others I troll pinterest for ideas from decorating my home to hairstyles. Two years ago pictures of Christmas tree dress forms went viral and I was fascinated! I vowed this would be my next DIY!!

When I posted this picture to my social media December 10th 2014 the caption read "Next year's Christmas tree" and I made good on that!

This was my version of the Christmas tree dress form! I loved it so much I named it "Belle", she's now part of the family people come from near and far just to lay eyes on her. She's the Rockefeller Center Tree of Queens, NY.

When I started this project the hardest part was figuring out how to make the hoop skirt. I took my curiosity to youtube to find my answer and this tutorial was the best, easiest  and free!! This one is good too!

There are plenty of others out there but they charge for the good info. If you want to save  your coins you'll have to get creative and thats what I did, I made a couple of amendments to accommodate what I had, and purchased very few new items. Unfortunately I didn't do my own tutorial...maybe this year.

After the Christmas season was over I thought "What the heck am I going to do with this thing?!" the dress form that is. I thought about selling it, but didn't want to in the event that I'd do another tree dress the following year. I'm not a seamstress so I didn't need it for that and all my seamstress friends already had dress forms. So I got creative! 

I've always secretly wished I could make my own clothes, but because I can't, I used my dress form to put together outfits I already owned and played grown up dress up!! every season I change her outfit like a store front mannequin and I rename her. Check out some of her past looks.

"Diva"

"Mbilia La Belle"

"Summer"

Like past seasons my dress form has changed clothes like Jay-Z, she's shed her warm weather duds for a cold weather frock. Meet the newest look "Misfit"

NaY

Ankara Bazaar

Studio Arte, in Manhattan's garment district was the setting for The Ankara Bazaar Saturday September 17th. The shopping mixer was part of a 2 day event hosted by Afropolitan Insights an organization committed to highlighting positive images and narratives of Africa and Africans living in the diaspora.

Upon arrival you were met with a pink carpet where event goers stopped to pose for pics.

Pink Carpet

Pink Carpet

Tees in the trap T-shirt
Zara leather pencil skirt
lace up peep toe booties

The event space was literally transformed into an ankara bazaar with wearable fashions from wall to wall.

Rahyma

A'maze Africa

The DJ played the latest Afrobeats, the henna artist adorned hands with decorative designs

while patrons shopped & sipped...YUP!! there were adult bevy's and delicious eats by Grace Specialty.

The energy in the room was explosive reminiscent of a market place in "Anywheresville", Africa, minus the persistent, borderline pushy vendors. Men and women ran to and from the fitting room making sure they got the right fit before finalizing their purchases.

Forever Audacious

Beriqisu

Midget Giraffe

Rahyma

In the midst of it all, organizers pulled off a fashion show featuring creations from the very designers showcasing at the bazaar! Models set the runway on fire with their fierce walk while their frocks dazzled the eyes.

Not only were there fab fashions for grown ups, but  you could dress baby too...AND your home!! There were gorgeous throw pillows and art work to beautify your home.

 Yacine

African Prints in Fashion

Alana Ladson Art

 There was an array of accessories to chose from like hand bags, shoes, bracelets and head wraps that will enhance any look!

Elvira Clayton Accessories

Ma'am

African Prints in Fashion

Rebellerie

Nishkami

Forever Audacious

In all it was a shoppers paradise. For more deets on any of the items or vendors seen on this post or to view some of the vendors who participated but did not appear in this post please see the links below.

Alana Ladson Art

A'maze Africa

African Prints in Fashion

Beriqisi

Elvira Clayton Accessories

Forever Audacious

Ma'am

Midget Giraffe

Nishkami

Rahyma

ReBellerie

Yacine

Zizi Africa

NaY

New York Fashion Week: Today's Look

As New York Fashion Week comes to a close, here are a couple of looks I rocked during this week long celebration of fashion. Though I only made it to two events I still managed to make my on air looks very fashion week chic. 

On Saturday Morning, like all other Saturday mornings, I had to work. Most days I enjoy dressing up for work and I try to get creative with some of my looks. I'm lucky enough to work for a station with a fairly lenient dress code. I always try to keep it as professional as possible, or try to at least make it appear professional on air. My Saturday Morning look comprised of my fab find from the June Ambrose closet cleanse I attended a few weeks ago. The lime colored BCBG Max Azria blouse  complemented the faux leather fringe skirt from H & M. I wouldn't advise anyone to EVER wear a skirt this short to work...EVER!!! the beauty of my job is I get to choose my camera shot, and on that morning I chose a tight shot so all you can see was the top portion of my skirt and my upper body(like in this picture) and you can't tell the length of the skirt. BTS secret...I came into work that morning in workout stretch pants and I kept them on underneath my skirt the entire morning...mainly because its always freezing in the studio...lol

Here is a more work friendly version of the same outfit. Instead of the rocker chic short fringe skirt, I paired the blouse with this knee length faux pencil skirt from Zara. I finished the look with suede black pumps from Aldo. 

On Saturday evening I attended the Adirée Concept store in Soho. I rocked this yellow mini dress from Zara with nude sandals embellished with large faux diamonds. 

Sunday Afternoon I found myself smack in the middle of fashion week action, covering the Jenny Packham runway show for NY1 News! For that event I went 60's mod chic with this orange A-line mini from Zara and my fashion week signature tight top knot. Shoes are nude black and gold peep- toe sandal from France: Studio Pour André.

On Monday I was semi back to business, I went a bit more casual than normal in this handmade denim button down from H& M paired with a yellow and navy ankara fabric skirt and navy strap sandals...don't forget my trusty team natural top knot. 

It was a fun weekend and I enjoyed dressing up...but what else is new?! Stayed tuned, next week I'm taking you inside the the ankara bazaar happening here in NYC September 17th & 18th at Studio Arte 265 W 37th St 17th Floor, NY NY 10018. Click here for tickets

NaY