She’s a DIVA

So I’m doing my daily blog round and www.thefashionbombdaily.com introduced me to Mariel Haeann, stylist to Rihanna. I’ve always wondered who the mastermind behind the puppet was. I did a little digging, just a little and came across an article on www.latina.com/fashion/stylist-spotlight-mariel-haenn that listed Mariel’s top ten must haves for women. The list is below. Enjoy!

1.“A black blazer makes any look edgy and fashion forward,” says Haenn. “You can wear with it jeans or a pencil skirt, or even a dress, with the sleeves pushed up.”

2. “A thin cashmere scarf in a bright pop color,” says Haenn.

3. “A trench coat is a great, classic way of dressing up any look.”

4. “An oversized sweater is both comfortable and chic with a pair of leggings.”

5. “Black leather leggings by Helmut Lang” are a must-have, according to Haenn.

6. Her favorite brand of denim: “J Brand skinny jeans are great for getting dressed up and wearing with boots.”

7. Every girl needs a vintage belt, says Haenn. “Anything vintage is usually a great bargain, as well as a special piece that you know no one else will have.”

8. “A pair of leather driving gloves from LaCrasia Gloves in red or purple will add instant style to any look,” says Haenn.

9. “A cashmere cardigan by Theory is good to throw on over any outfit and cashmere always adds luxury,” says Haenn.

10. “A men’s white button-down by H&M is cheap but always classic,” says Haenn. “Throw a belt over it, and that’s an easy way to look timeless and chic.”

Great advice, right, sans the designer labels? For more about Mariel go to www.marielhaenn.com she’s also styled Ciara and the Smiths (aka Will and Jada).

Darkskin vs Redbone Party in 2009?

So I am cruising the net like usual and I get on MediaTakeOut for my daily dose on foolishness and boy was I blown away. So in Atlanta they are promoting a Dark skin vs. Redbone party. Really in 2009? What would this party look like, the best dark skinned sistas with low self esteem and the best redbones with low self esteem bumping and grinding on some broke dude pretending to be Gucci Man? First of all I hate ‘versus’ parties. No good can come out of it, but dark vs. light? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????!!!???? I hate to say it but it’s a set up for brown skinned women to be humiliated cause let’s be reality the people who are caught up in this whole ‘bling, bling,” she Baddd, stanky leg party, party culture are brainwashed by the media anyway and the media says, “No dark butts allowed, unless you’ve got an incredibly fat ass.” I’m lying?

So the dark butts gone be sweating and exploiting themselves extra hard and then the ‘prize’ if there is one is gonna go to the everyday, regular, garden variety ‘red bone’ cause she light. Am, I lying? No sir. No woman should degrade herself at one of these versus parties based on nothing but skin color or looks period. Now I could understand if it was a dance battle between coasts a la America’s Best Dance Crew, but to base the winner on if you pass the paper bag test is ludicrous.

It only gives light to that gaping wound of low self-esteem and self hatred that the black community doesn’t even attempt to cover. I mean this is no knick or paper cut this is a gruesome, bloody, painful wound. The kind of wound that transformed Lil’Kim to Kim Ming Ho and little Mike Jackson to some white lady. It’s the kind of wound that has little brown girls carrying their worth in the size of their caboose and prevents an entire people from experiencing true sisterhood. Instead we got hateration, jealousy, malice and greed running rampant.

I don’t care what anyone says, there is no such thing as color blind and we all ain’t treated equal and we know it. Just like racism, colorism is alive and they ain’t trying to conceal it. The proof is in the picture. I can’t believe that in 2009 we are still standing at square one. Everyone involved in the planning and promotion of this party needs some self esteem, a kick in the ass and a hug. Don’t them ninjas know beauty’s only skin deep?

She Rocked That....Don't Let Them Clothes Wear You

Black Barbie. Black IS the new BLACK!

I came across this post on www.thefashionbombdaily.com. Vogue Italia will follow-up last year's super successful 'all black' issue with an issue full of black barbies. Say what? Is this a ploy for mo dolla's or a sincere nod to us as fashion gods? Any way you know the issue will be uber fierce click the title to learn more and see some fab pics.

Day26 Stan Reporting

So HoneyMag is doing the dang thang! They did an interview with Dawn Richard and now Day 26. Oh joy! The photos are photos I’ve seen before, but I liked the interview. Read it here http://www.honeymag.com/message/story/view.castle?g=679901&m=6281966.

I like how Willie stands up for his relationship now. Before they wouldn’t own up their significant others. I follow both Willie and his wife Lashonda aka Niyana on twitter and YouTube and I heart this couple. That twitter fight was a mess though. I don’t care how much we in love you ain’t gone say I fudge up everything every time and have me apologizing on no internet forum. NOT GONNA HAPPEN! Any who his wife is a sweetheart and you can tell she loves him and their kid. She is also hella funny. Sometimes I admit I laugh at her but I also laugh with her too.

Robert was so right about the jump-off question. The major difference between wifey and the jump-off is conversation, if there is any. Ha! And Willie with his “Can we go on a date first?” comment too true. I cannot fathom for the life of me how you can share your body with a man who you can’t even talk to and hasn’t even taken you anywhere in public and spent his resources on you meaning mind, time and money. Then they like the girl know the difference too which I’m not so sure about. She may know the difference initially, but she may be fool enough to believe she’ll be promoted. Then again she may not know. A lot of women have that ‘golden coochie’ hang up.

BTW. Congrats to the guys to winning the "Best Group" BET Award for what it's worth.