Next Time Models

Go-see's July 09

Nadine W at Storm

Dominika G at Storm

Paulina at Next

Holly at M&P

Jasmine Poulton at M&P

Mecia Simson at Models 1

From The Archives: Caring For Naturally Textured Hair

Check out beauty and wellness expert Chanelle Washington's tips for Caring For Naturally Textured Hair, which were first published in MIMI's Summer 2007 issue:

1. First, explore & learn your hair for its unique qualities. No two people are created alike- that applies to hair also. Value and respect your individuality.

2. Implement a hair care regimen with plant based products.

3. Establish a relationship with a knowledgeable natural hair specialist or locktician.

4. Pay attention to the products that you use on your hair. Be sure to ask your natural hair care professional questions such as: "Does this product have ingredients known to be beneficial for natural hair?"

5. Replenish your scalp & hair monthly with herbal rinses and deep conditioning treatments.

6. Cover your hair at night with a silk or satin scarf. Purchase a satin pillowcase to minimize hair breakage.

7. Massage your scalp for 5 minutes 3 times a week to promote healthy circulation and to stimulate oil glands.

8. Avoid hairstyles that create stress & tension on the scalp. These include tight ponytails, tight braids, etc.

9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes:fresh fruit and vegetables; pure water; whole grains; plant protein; regular rest; and occasional detoxification.

Get more beauty and wellness advice from Chanelle Washington by visiting www.indigofera.com

(Photo Credits: Iconogenic) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

From The Archives: Me, Myself, And My Pretty Little Secrets

When Me, Myself, And My Pretty Little Secrets was published in the summer of 2007, readers reactions were mixed about living a "fabulously faux" lifestyle, but with the downturn in the global economy, how do you feel about buying knockoff designer goods? Before making up your mind, revisit article again ....

* * *

"Wow, are those real?" "Of course!" I retort. There it was, the big fat lie. No, my one-carat diamond earrings were not real; the only thing real about them was their cubic zirconium material. I had faked and lied, and this wasn't the first time.

It seems that I've become rather deceptive in my appearance. The linking C's on my favorite black quilted pleather bag do not stand for Chanel; rather, the only thing that they stand for is cheap. I've become a fashion wannabe; lured in by gold-plated designer names and cubic zirconium creations glistening from kiosks in the middle of the mall. It does not end with bags and products, even my appearance is fake. My hair is courtesy of a South Korean lady. And thanks to a lady named Victoria and a few secrets, even the busty look that I sport day in and day out is not au naturel.

This got me wondering, when did I become such a fake? Since I have been lying about my earrings, my hair, my bags, ... my everything else, I have second guessed my confidence level. Who am I fooling? Am I fooling myself? When a woman on the street sneaks a glance in my direction, what is she really thinking? Does she admire my style or is she on to me and my impostor ways? And what about when someone flat out asks me if my jewelry is real; are they questioning my wealth or my style ... or just curious about nothing? Am I that superficial? Why it is so important for me to appear rich when I am obviously not anywhere close to that? And how about my hair ... well, that is the subject of another article!

My first reaction is to defend myself. My post college bank account is not exactly an all expense limitless pool of money. I simply cannot afford designer things. So, for now, living the fabulous life means faking the fabulous life. Besides, I know that I am not the only person out there buying faux.

I cannot speak on behalf of all the women in the world who are keeping it fake, but for me, it is not that deep: buying faux is merely a matter of practical style, and that's real. It is a way to keep up with trends (long hair, hobo bags ... whatever) without hurting my bank account. Wearing my push up bra happens to make some shirts and dresses look better on me when I wear them. And my weave, it lets me protect my hair from constant heat and chemicals as well as change up my look when I don't want to have short hair. My faux designer bags let me look trendy from season to season. Like I said, practical style.

I know that there are many women out there who will read this and only be irritated by my approach to style. Maybe as I grow older and can afford the real deal, I'll get over my little habit. Or maybe I'll save my money and keep it fake (I know that my credit report will appreciate it). Either way, I know my true confidence comes from within; my great taste in bags, is just icing on the cake ... oh, and my pretty little secret.

(Photo Credits: © iStockphoto AndiPants) (Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Outfit: Summery flowers

The sun is shining, so today I went for a very fresh summer look. This flower shirt is waiting in the closet for months and now I finally wearing it!

jacket: Zara
shirt: Zara
Purse: Balenciaga Box
Jeanslegging: Pieces
Jelly flats: Gucci

Paris Street Style...Marion Rocks!

Marion from Marion Rocks! (see post below)

My French is pretty much non-existent but I gather, from trying to translate Marion's blog, maybe Marion, Charlotte (from Tinky Minky) and their friend Bouchra from Boubouteatime were on a petite bloggers expedition around Paris: shopping, chatting, Ben&Jerry's, photos- a bit like us London bloggers!

Paris Street Style...Pink Bow-Tie

Okay, so I only had a little time in Paris on Saturday morning to make some photos (phrase borrowed from the very sweet Jack Daniel from Daniel's Graphic Life) and I completely forgot that many Parisians leave for summer holidays in late July/August....so I only managed to get a couple of photos for the blog. But what I lacked in quantity, I made up for in meeting some very lovely people (apart from the fab bloggers that I was on my petite Paris jaunt with, that is). Like Elle here*, Marion from Marion Rocks (photos in the above post) and Charlotte from Tinky Minky! .

Elle has been stopped in the street before by a Spanish street style blogger (she said she was wearing the same denim dress as she has on here) and many of you are probably already familiar with Marion and Charlotte's blogs, or, like me, you have seen their faces on the blogs of other street style photographers!

*I am really hoping her name was Elle....I didn't write it down, and I had 4am-wake-up-call-brain going on.

Outfits: destroyed jeans

I love my destroyed jeans legging so much that I am wearing it for the last two days....

Glasses: Ray Ban
Shirt: H&M
Gilet: Zara
Jeanslegging: Pieces

Scarf: Cavalli for H&M
Shirt: Topshop
Purse: Balenciaga
Destroyed jeans legging: Pieces

From The Archives: My Virginity Is Ruining My Sex Life

Vivian Elebiyo, author of My Virginity is Ruining My Sex Life, is real, and unflinching. She speaks bluntly about the issues single women deal with in today’s society. Whether dealing with lack of self-control, or hurt from participating in sexual activities, or with emotional and out of control relationships, My Virginity is Ruining My Sex Life encourages and challenges readers to make better dating choices. Vivian also shares her own journey of transformation from wanting physical satisfaction to spiritual contentment. “I wanted to stay a virgin until I got married, this is the belief of my heart, but it is a belief that I have let become tattered and soiled. Temptation is like a whirlwind, and it fills up the world when you are not taking shelter from it. Like so many others, I got tired of holding back; I began to give myself away in bits and in pieces…”

Here is an excerpt from My Virginity is Ruining My Sex Life which was originally published in MIMI's December 2007 issue.

* * *

Everyone can remember the first time they fell in love, the feelings that somehow shaped our existence and attitudes. To feel the warm fuzzy feelings of one’s first kiss, and believing that their new love was the greatest of all things. Toes curling up, that tingling sensation, the flopping wings of a thousand butterflies in the pit of your stomach, the starry eyed innocence of your first kiss.

For some it was the best time in their lives and for some the worst: first kiss, first love letter, and for some, first time they had sex or at least wished they had or had not. I found love in my English class in eighth grade. We were to write letters to someone in a nearby town as a part of the class’s lessons on letter-writing. I was given a boy to write to, and at first I was embarrassed, but soon I was thrilled. His name was Kenneth and his letters were breathtaking. Very soon thoughts of what he was like and the beautiful things he said filled my mind and he was the center of my day. I imagined and wished above all else that he would kiss me when and if we eventually met. After several months of writing, we were finally able to meet.

It was magical. We were so innocent and full of words to share. We talked about everything and nothing during our brief time together. I could not imagine anything being better than to just be with him, walking in the warm sunshine, our hands occasionally brushing against each other’s hands. Far too soon, it was time for us to go. In the shade of a spreading tree, Kenneth took me into his arms and embraced me.

We held each other close like the movies showed it; I closed my eyes and tilted my head just enough. He moved so close I could hear his heart beat, my heart stopped for a brief second as I gently caressed my lips with his. I did not want more than just that one kiss. It was perfect, sweet and innocent. The memory of that one kiss fills my heart with happiness, even now after all this time.

That was the first and last time I ever saw Kenneth. We were children, really, and our lives and hearts quickly moved on. My heart never wished I slept with him. Once in while he runs across my mind and I think about how kissing him was such a big deal for me then, how I left town to go to another state just to get one, sweet kiss from him. How I wish all of my experiences were so innocent.

Now times have changed and I have bigger demons to deal with; the cravings that bring about discontentment, the choice between my sexuality or sexual cravings and my spirituality. So many of my prayers are geared towards purity, and fleeing youthful lust and desires; that I sometimes do not have time to pray for the world. I am filled with outrage and disgust at myself, and my prayers are full of grief for my lost innocence.

I plead with God, “You just have to heal me now, deliver me from this bondage or else…..” and I don’t know what to pray after that. I am not an addict who has to have sex; I am definitely far from that, but I get lost in the fear of my cravings and the helpless feelings I have when my desire overtakes me. The idea of losing myself to the clutches of lust and sexual desires scares me, the fear that what I hate the most can someday be my downfall.

For me, chastity and my person go together, or should go together; if I lose my virginity, I lose myself. I will lose myself to someone else, and not knowing if that person is ready to take all of me, my dreams, my laughter, my tears, leaves me uncertain whether having sex is a good idea. To give myself to someone I am not married to is a great injustice to that person. He will have to love me, keep me and never leave me, and that is too much to ask just anyone. It is enough to ask of true love. It is exactly what true love asks, “Take all of me, take all of me.”

This is the belief of my heart, but it is a belief that I have let become tattered and soiled. Temptation is like a whirlwind, and it fills up the world when you are not taking shelter from it. Like so many others, I got tired of holding back; I began to give myself away in bits and in pieces. First it was just staying a little longer than I should; then it was allowing the touches that danced like fire across my skin. For that moment, when caresses flowed across my skin and I lost myself in the breath and body of a man, I felt so alive. How could this be wrong? Surely the man felt his heart and soul move in him like a great force, like a wonderful possibility of love and faithfulness when he touched me. Apparently not. Finally I got lost in the hands of an undeserving man who wanted to take it all away. Though I won the battle over my virginity, I lost the fight over my virtue, integrity, and purity.

I dove into other sexual habits that I felt were without consequence; all my belief system failed me and I was once again looking for love in places where there was no love. My virtue shriveled up and died slowly and painfully as I began to define what virginity really was and how that defines me; who or what I really am and how all my life, at least my dating life, had revolved around the hymen tissue and its validity.

Handicapped by the same standard I had set for myself, I set out to rebel against my own standards. It was like fighting against oneself, beating the air and losing. The very thing I was proud of being began to irritate me. How could it be important, this thin veil of flesh? I tried hard to get rid of it, pushing the limits of my own morality, but when the time came to cross into the unknown, I could not bring myself to lose it. Before I had thought that what was between my legs was what made me a virgin, but I now realized that it was so much more than any tissue or bleeding, it is a state of mind.

“Most young women cannot remember exactly when they began their journey to womanhood, but the transition from adolescence to womanhood is often muddled in a smooth procession of events and activities that make it difficult to visibly distinguish the chances of survival. My sexual transition was not so smooth. I did things because I wanted to experiment; I did things because of the messages on television and in magazines that had power over me. The allure of the images and the way they inspired me to look at myself were powerful. It wasn’t simply about being well-groomed; it was about being devastating to a man’s senses. It was about centering my focus on the one aspect of my self that I knew was powerful to not just me, but to a man. Although I saw my virginity as some type of trophy I should present to my husband when I got married, I never thought about what it really meant. I had to deal with my inability to contain my lustful desires. There were things I did, and I could not understand why I did them. There were things I watched on television that I could not understand. Memories of two naked bodies having sex right on my television would haunt me for days, maybe even weeks. I walked away from hard-earned principles and dabbled in things that were not pure, and somehow I yearned for more. Nothing satisfied me.

“I have to admit; the pressure to define myself by exhibiting my sexuality through my clothing, my make-up, and my movements is intense. It feels good to turn heads, it feels good to have men appreciate me and desire me, it feels good to look in the mirror and see that I can compete with other women for attention. The ways men make me feel when they flirt and pursue me with gifts and attentions are gratifying. I feel strong and powerful for a moment, when the man I am attracted to is caught up in my youth and beauty. For a moment, I believe that, maybe, he might love me. It is a frail dream, built on my most fleeting quality, yet I want to believe it will last forever. This is not of God and I know it.

I put the essay down, and sighed. In the morning, I would share it with my friend that was in so much pain. That is the result of sin, pain and regret. As a girl brought up in a Christian home, my morals were set by the standards my parents taught and lived. But by the age of 18, I had learned all my ideals about purity, sex, and virginity had been altered by my peers and through the media. Like so many others, I began to reconstruct my idea of what the creation of my mortal body was about in order to deal with the guilt I felt for not living by the standards I knew to be the best for me. It has been a painful experience, healing from the past. Now I have come back to where I started morally. I have returned to the place of innocence, altered by my memories, but pure and firmly held in God’s hand, prayerfully trusting that He will guide me to my marriage bed.

* * *

To read the rest of the Vivian's article, take a look at My First Time: Excerpt From My Virginity Is Ruining My Sex Life.

(Photo Credits: © Zulufoto Dreamstime.com) (Models Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

From The Archives: The Single Girl's Dating Rules

In September 2006, African-American chic-lit author Nina Foxx shared her Top Five Dating Rules. Here they are again as a reminder for the single ladies:

Follow the little voice in your head. If it says, “Run”, don't waste your time.
Don't hope that it will get better. It never does.
Baby Momma Drama. Hmm. How much can you really take? It's okay to date a man with children, but realize that you are also dating his kids and their mothers.
Being real about relationships will help you realize which ones are keepers. Not all are. Just because two people have sex does not mean they have a relationship. That iscalled a situation.
You can never go back, time doesn't work that way. If it didn't work the first time around, it probably won't the second or third time either. He might still look and feel good to you, but chances are you will remember why you broke up eventually.

Learn more about Nina Foxx by visiting her official website www.ninafoxx.com

(Photo Credits: © iStockPhoto/Green Pimp)

MIMI's Representing African Women

MIMI has changed it's cover page to reflect the African women from around the world who read the magazine. What do you think?

Karl or Marc bag

I am a big big fan of Karl Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs!
Now there is a limited edition bag with their style and faces on it, I love it!!!
Order them on http://www.hintmag.com/shop/shop.php

Karl who? Karl Lagerfeld, that's who. Exclusively for Hint, our friends at Pattern People—who've created prints for Adidas apparel and Estee Lauder perfume packaging, as well as cutting-edge wallpapers and huge wrap-around room murals—have come up with these two limited-edition tribute totes. The noble busts of Karl Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs sit nestled in a shrine of their trademark goodness, from pearls and gloves to plaid and skorts. Never again will you have to be separated from your own personal icon.
Details: 18"w x 15"h excluding handles, black ink on 100% natural cotton canvas.

Love Her Style: Adama

What's not to love about Cornish-Nigerian singer Adama's style (read all about her in Adama's Dream World and My All Time Favorite Albums: Adama)? Her natural 'do is fierce and fabulous (check out her gold necklace which is adorned with a pendant of a woman with an afro). She embraces color and works trends in a way that reflects her unique style.

Get more insight about the stylish singer and what inspires her by visiting Adama's official website, www.adamaworld.com and Adama's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/adama.

(Photo Credits: Yaniv Edry)

Doreen Mashika: Effortlessly Afri-Chic

These sandals designed by Tanzanian designer Doreen Mashika are the perfect Afri-Chic choice for the summer! Learn more about what the talented designer describes as a "one-stop 'Fashion Cradle' of shoes, bags and exotic costume jewellery that reflects the beauty of a glut of indigenous cultures from across the globe" by visiting her website: www.doreenmashika.com

From The Archives: Hot Topic: 10 Signs It's Time To Return To Africa

MIMI Hot Topic, 10 Signs It's Time To Return To Africa was first published in MIMI's March 2006 issue. Even though the list is from three years ago, so much of it remains true.

If you've been living abroad for a while, then chances are you feel you're losing a part of your cultural connection to your home country in Africa. As the saying goes, “Change is inevitable”; but if you begin showing any of these 10 signs, you may be due for a visit to the motherland for a cultural re-connection now!

You start re-thinking immigration policy because there are too many people who are “fresh off the boat.”
You think there's nothing wrong with living with your partner before marriage.
You frequently use your credit cards to purchase items.
You consider yourself a “minority” or “ethnic”, rather than classify yourself as “African.”
You would prefer that your family that visits you from Africa stay at a hotel instead of staying at your place because you need your “space.”
You have to explain that you're from an African country to strangers because you don't speak with an accent.
You cannot form complete sentences in your traditional language, and start mixing in English when you speak with your parents.
You find men who braid their hair attractive.
You crave burgers and fries over plantain when you're hungry.
Lately, all your conversations with your family back in Africa end with “When are you coming home?”

(Photo Credits: © Dreamstime/MaxFx)

(Model Used Solely For Illustrative Purposes)

Eurostar: Little Break, big difference- Paris!

Okay, so pretty much I haven't ever won anything in my life, a colouring-in competition and a meat tray excepted (actually, I don't even think I won the meat tray- I think my friend Jen claimed the win and gave me a couple of sausages as compensation!). So when I got an email from a communications agency asking if I would like to join a group of fashion bloggers from London on a "Little Fashion Break to Paris" with Eurostar I thought all my Christmases, Easters, birthdays, anniversaries had come at once. Within 5 minutes of the email, my passport was packed, my euros were pocketed and I was firing off emails and texts to my friends in excitement: "Soooo, I'm off to Paris for the day next week" "Seriously, VJ?" "Yep, that's just how I roll these days: London one day, Paris the next ;-)"

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I adore Paris, so the opportunity to head over for the day to do some shopping, some eating, a little (lot) of champagne tasting and maybe take a few photos sounded brilliant. And it was. Despite those "first day of school nerves" that always seem to surface when one is plonked into a group situation with new people, and despite the 4am wake up call most of us had, everyone was soon chatting and giggling, talking blogs, fashion, design, art, study, work and everything else in-between.

So what did we get up to in Paris? There was shopping for some (which kicked off at Colette), while others ran around madly trying to find stylish Parisians to shoot for their blog (okay, that was maybe just me :)), lunch at B4 restaurant (with champagne), a visit to the Les Arts Décoratifs to see the Madeleine Vionnet exhibition , a cruise down the Seine with a tasting of 3 different champagnes, followed by a 9pm-ish journey home on the Eurostar (with more champagne!)

For me, one of the highlights of the day was getting to meet Marion Cointot over lunch. Marion is a talented fashion designer and stylist, who recently won the Concours de Style award. She presented some of her beautiful designs while we sipped champagne*, talked us through her career so far and allowed me to take some photos of her after lunch. You can read more about Marion here.

So was the day long enough? Hell no! Of course, I wanted to stay longer BUT I will always want to stay longer in Paris, no matter how much time I spend there. As I said to Sandrine, one of the organisers, it was an amuse-bouche: a little taste of Paris to whet the appetite, excite the taste buds, and limber up the senses for future visits.

If you are keen for your own taste of Paris, you can get Eurostar return journeys for only £59 at the moment. Click here for the "Little Break, Big Difference" deals.

*oh yeah, do I LOVE champagne!

Running with the Fash Pack....Paris Men's Collections SS 2010

This guy just oozed style. What he was wearing was fairly simple but the little details- the nonchalantly wrapped scarf, the heavy glasses and the jewelled ring- made him intriguing. Obviously he was in Paris, but I could equally imagine him sitting on a rooftop terrace in Marrakesh on a steamy summer's night drinking G&T's, cigarette in hand ...

Running with the Fash Pack...Paris Men's Collections SS 2010

Great Legs
Great Dress (love that split.... so sexy, especially when she walked!)
Great Shoes

Outfit: lace and chains

I love when outfit has 2 opposites. Like with this outfit sweet lace is combined with rocker chains and pastels are combined with black.

Vest: Zara
Tunic: H&M
Skirt: H&M
Belt: Miu Miu
Purse: Marc Jacobs

WOUND magazine: The Girls

Squeaaaaaaaak. Rummage, Rummage Rummage. Thwack. YEOW!

That would be me opening my closet door, fossicking around for my white flag and getting thwacked in the head by a zillion things I've stuffed in there in an effort to be "tidy".... Yep, its been a long time between posts and I am madly waving my little white flag around in a hopeful attempt that I may still have some blog readers left.

I could tell you that I've been busy (true), my blogger photo upload button broke (false), my camera broke (also false), but the truth is, I think I just lost my mojo a little somewhere between Gare du Nord and St Pancras 3 weeks ago. It may have been that I left it on the station bench in Lille (we had a unscheduled Eurostar stop there) or maybe it slipped down behind Seat 17 in Coach 8 while I was napping- either way I haven't been "on the streets" very much at all since I got back to London. Fortunately, I am heading back to Paris tomorrow for the day* and will be able to collect my mojo on the way :)

One thing that did lure me out of my self-imposed home detention was the launch last week of WOUND magazine's WOUND digital (an on-line edition of the magazine) and iWound (a bespoke application for iPhone which gives you the magazine plus music and video content all at the um, touch, of a screen). The launch was held in the very beautiful "Nash" room on the first floor of the Institute of Contemporary Art, which is situated on The Mall and has wonderful views across St James's Park and Big Ben. The Rose champagne was flowing freely, the art work- from artists featured in the magazine- was fabulous (note to self: heavy camera + alcohol + v v expensive sculptures = dangerous), drag queen Jonny Woo was doing his thang dressed as a goose (damn he is a fine looking man under all that makeup!) and the music at the after party in the bar downstairs was pumping (the editorial director, Ken, was throwing moves that even I would be proud of!). It was an excellent night and I don't think it would have been just me who felt a little bit happier with the world the next morning- it is amazing how a fashion/art soiree can lift the spirits.

Rick Owens dress and Burberry boots:

Back of the Rick Owens dress:

Right then, I'm off to track down my mojo :)

*I will tell you all about how this little adventure came about next week!

WOUND magazine: The Faces

Some of the girls at the Wound party at the ICA:

The light was a bit tricky inside and my camera doesn't like ISO's above about 400 (and I wasn't using flash) so I did what any photographer who can't be bothered messing around in lightroom/photoshop for hours does: I converted to black and white! And, in the case of the very bottom photo, I processed the absolute crap out of it in photoshop :)

I have photographed my Brooklyn girl before-at London Fashion Week way back in Feb! You can have a peek here.

And I have photographed this model (she is with Models One) before as well: at The Clothes Show, London. She is a studying at university and models part time in her uni break. She was demonstrating the iWound application for iPhone which was rather intriguing....especially for me who is without an iPhone (I have a bad track record with small, expensive electronic items: some of you might recall the incident involving my new mobile phone and the toilet earlier this year ;-))

WOUND Magazine: The Boys

The Boys at WOUND magazine's launch of Wound Digital and iWound.

Y'all remember Tamer (above)? This is the third time I have photographed Tamer for the blog (click here for Tamer in his cowboy boots and trench way back in April). In a weird twist, I picked up a copy of LOVE magazine a few days after the party and lo and behold there is Tamer featured in an article! Not only is he a stylist, he also makes up 1/3 (vocals) of glam electric trio Pandering&the Golddiggers. Check 'em here on MySpace. Their song Disco Bloodbath is freakin' naughty hot- it is the kind of song that would never fail to get me on the dancefloor to show off my, um, moves :) Love their influences: "Words and Wigs, Dictionaries and Designers, Linguistics and Lashes, Colloquialisms and Couture".

He was sporting all Tom Ford:

Paris Street Style....Red and White Stripes

Red and White stripes in the Marais (above) .

Red and White sripes in the Palais de la Bourse (below).

They were the sweetest couple-I asked if I could take their photo but this image was actually one I sneaked after they walked away and forgot about me and my camera....Sometimes it is nice to have completely candid photos, no?