Friday, August 7, 2009

Eccentric Glamour


Eccentric Glamour by style writer, window dresser and Queen Elizabeth II impersonator Simon Doonan is a wonderful book about glamorous eccentrics, people who are irreverent, mysterious, self-invented and above all, non-conformist. I'm a glamorous eccentric! He talks about the three roads that lead to the kingdom of eccentric glamour;

The Gypsy is the ethereal, poetic, crafty, artsy, bohemian face of eccentric glamour. Though stylish, she privileges sensuality, freedom and comfort over fashion....

The Existentialist is infinitely more severe, dramatic, graphic and intellectual than her wayward Gypsy sister. While the Gypsy is all about the flesh, the Existentialist is all about the mind. Think edgy. Think beatnik.......

The Socialite is heavy on the gloss, light on the eccentricity. She's laquered, designer clad, high-heel addicted, manicured, elegant and slightly bitchy.......

I think I'm mix of all three, a beatnik gypsy who occasionally turns up at certain events looking like a socialite!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Naomi Sims


Naomi Sims, sometimes referred to as the first black supermodel,, has died of cancer. She was 61.

Sims said childhood insecurities inspired her to become “someone really important”. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology where counselors and classmates encouraged her to give modeling a try. Every agency turned her down, however, some even telling her that her skin was too dark.


Sims then decided to try a different approach. She began directly contacting photographers herself and within a year she was earning $1,000 a week and modeling for top designers such as Halston, who told the New York Times in 1974, “Naomi was the first. She was the great ambassador for all black people. She broke down all the social barriers.”

Hollywood took an interest in her and offered her the title role in the movie Cleopatra Jones in 1972, but Sims was appalled by the racist portrayal of blacks in the movie and turned it down. The following year, she retired from modeling and created a successful wig collection. It expanded into a multimillion-dollar beauty empire, and Sims authored a number of books on modeling and beauty.


Monday, August 3, 2009

Zoe Kravitz



My favorite socialite quirky Zoe Kravitz is the new face of Vera Wang’s Princess perfume. The actress-and-musician is the daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. Bohemian Zoe, 20, fronts Philadelphia band Elevator Flight, and has appeared in a number of films including 2007’s ‘No Reservations’, and ‘The Brave One’, featuring Jodie Foster, which was released the same year.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Green Tea


Green tea is a great appetite suppressant and an even better anti-oxidant preventing cancer and other ailments associated with natural aging by fighting free radicals in the body. White tea is even better.

The little black dress




Coco Chanel invented it, Audrey Hepburn popularised it in Givenchy in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. Chic, simple, sophisticated, classic.

Anti-aging supplements

I am in search of the fountain of eternal youth! It's not enough to use anti-aging products on the outside, you have to feed your skin from within. I take 2000mg of antioxidant Vit C, 1000mg of antioxidant Vit E, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, fish oil (essential fatty acids keep your skin supple from within) and a multi-vitamin daily.

Challenge!


I challenge all readers of my blog to eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables and drink 8 glasses of water every day! Water's the hardest bit for me, I don't like the taste!

Iconic RiRi.



One word, iconic.

Supplements for hair growth.


Black girls can grow long hair too! It just takes a little more TLC and effort, especially if your hair is relaxed. These are great supplements for feeding your hair. Horsetail herbal extract, Biotin, Vit B complex, MSM, Flaxseed oil/Essential fatty acids, multi-vitamins. Popular oils to put in your hair to enhance health and eventually length, jojoba oil, wheatgerm oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, organic and unrefined is best. Mix with a few drops of rosemary essential oil for a scalp stimulating massage. There's also an indian oil called Amla Oil that's great. Great protective styles are the bun, bantu-knots, braid-outs and twist-outs (braid outs and twist outs are when you braid or twist your hair and then loosen it for a wavy, crinkly look). Keep ends trimmed and healthy. Happy hair growing!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Chrisette Michele


Check out rising soul singer Chrisette Michele's debut album.

I'm not obsessed.


Did I mention that Amber Rose has the body I want?

Ghetto Fabulous


Amber Rose and lil Kim wannabe, rapper Nicky Minaj, looking ghetto as hell!

Mahogany





Love, love, love Diana Ross' iconic seventies style in the 1975 movie Mahogany. House of Makeda is all about the seventies.

How to Keep a Man by Coco


Here's rapper Ice-T's wife Coco's advice on how to keep a man......

How do I keep a man? Well, I can only speak from experience because I'm not a doctor, just a woman that knows what she wants. To lay out my history with Ice, we have been married for 8 years and still going strong. We met in California on a movie set and have been inseparable ever since. Now we live in NY and at the moment we don't have any kids together. Everybody says relationships get boring, but it doesn't have to be that way, its entirely up to the both of you. As for me, I totally remember the feeling when I first fell in love with Ice.
The conversations, the kissing, the touching, the joking, the politeness, the feeling of always wanting to be near each other. Take that reminiscing and apply it to where your relationship is now. It is important to rekindle the moments.

I always like our "Date Nights". Always set aside a day out of each week and do something fun together and then end the night in love making or just plain HOT SEX! Ice and I also like Sundays, that's our "Movie Night" where I get cute for him and he appreciates the effort (men do notice..they're just not always verbal).

Ice and I work all day together on the set of his show "Law and Order", because I have an office there. But as soon as we get home, I'll change into a skimpy outfit like booty shorts and heels because it changes the mood from being business oriented. LADIES & GENTLEMEN...the most IMPORTANT advice I can give is to make sure you listen to one another!!!!! TALK A LOT!! I think the reason that Ice and I have made it in the celebrity world for so long is because we constantly communicate. Remember, relationships will always have those bad moments and it won't be rosy all the time. You have to be strong for one another and don't chicken out when you come to a bump in the road.

It may seem a little old fashioned but here are some pointers that you can do to cater to your man:
  • Make him a cold drink
  • Cook him his favorite food
  • Give him a body rub
  • Dress in his favorite outfit or item
  • Draw him a bath
  • Watch all his favorite shows for a night
  • Play video games with him
  • And finally, kiss or lick his feet. Hehe- LOL. - very optional


Until my next thought....

Love,
Coco

That licking his feet thing better be optional!



Reverse Crunches

Reverse crunches are the only kind of crunches I do. They strengthen your abs without overdoing the six pack and focus especially on the lower abs which are the hardest part to get in shape once you've had a baby. You lie on your back, legs stretched out in front of you and then bend your knees up in to your stomach lifting your hips off the floor as you do that, then return legs to starting position. Repeat 15-20 times.

Princess RiRi


Looking fly as ever..... Love the blue.

Teyana Taylor



I love teenage socialite, stylist, designer, rapper, singer, choreographer extraordinaire Teyana Taylor. She is too cool for school.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Coco Chanel




Original mama of fashion, the legendary Coco Chanel said.....

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.


A woman has the age she deserves.

A women who doesn't wear perfume has no future.

As long as you know men are like children, you know everything!

Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.

Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress.

Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.

Elegance is refusal.

Fashion fades, only style remains the same.

Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions.

Fashion is made to become unfashionable.

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.

In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.

I love Coco Chanel's attitude!

L'Wren Scott




I love former stylist L'Wren Scott super chic, sexy yet understated designs with a rock and roll edge.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

1930's dresses



Bias cut, velvet, beaded luxury.

Dorothy Dandridge




1940's triple threat, singer dancer, actress was the first African-American nominated for an Academy Award.

Betty Davis



1960's funk, rock, soul screamer and model Betty Davis, Miss "They say I'm Different". She was Miles Davis second wife and his muse infusing a new found funk/rock into his jazz by introducing him to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone.

Josephine Baker



Josephine Baker was the jazz singer and dancer who took France by storm in the 1920's. Her exotic, sensual act reinforced the creative images coming out of the Harlem Rennaissance in America.

Pocahontas


I am heavily inspired by Native American style. I love Pocahontas!

Saturday, July 25, 2009

A little positivity


Michelle O looking sunny at the National Design Awards.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Queen Latifah



Queen Latifah, legendary rapper and actress is a beautiful curvier woman who shows that you don't have to be a size 6. As long as you eat right and exercise you can be in better shape than the size 2's of the world.

Johnny Mad Dog


I'm watching a bad ass Liberian movie at the moment called Johnny Mad Dog. It's about child soldiers in Liberia. No offence but if Liberians can make these kind of movies, we Nigerians should be able to do better. We're meant to be the giants of Africa.

Solange Knowles' buzz cut


This is what Beyonce's quirky, intelligent sister had to say to those making noise cos she took her lace front wig off and cut her hair;

listen. if. i. wanted. to. make. a. statement. i. would. have. twitpic’d. photo shoot. ect. i. was. simply. taking. my. son. to. school. stupid. paps. took. pic. ive. had. my. hair. cut. like. this. for. two. weeks. i. was. NOT. inspired. by anyone. but. my. self. i. have. done. this. twice. in. my. life. i. was 16. i was 18. did. not care about your opinion. then. dont. care. now. dont. need. your. attention. or. your. co-sign. dont. want. a. edge. up. or a perm. because. im not trying. to make this “a style” or a statement. i. just. wanted. to. be. free. from. the. bondage. that. black. women sometimes. put. on. themselves. with. hair. this. phase. of. my. life. i. want to spend . the time. the energy. and the money. on something else. not in the hair salon. im. not. mad. at . all of you. that have made your opinions known. and have sent negative. energy. my way. i expected this of you. you. have. the right to have. an opinion. so. do. i.

Go Solo! Tell it!

My girls





Amber Rose and Rihanna are the truth! No breast or butt implants, no nose jobs, no weave just natural beauty and ridiculous swag. I think they have the same stylist. Rihanna's going to be in Vogue Italia soon.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Future

Makeda is a lifestyle, from womenswear, menswear, children's wear, mama's wear, accessories, for the home, leather, jewellry and very soon an all natural cosmetics line starting with just one product that's currently being mixed up in my magic lab and a simple, earthy mineral makeup range. We do yoga, pilates, dance African style for the world... And music. It's crazy in here. It's a movement and it's African.

Michelle Obama



Michelle Obama is the most stylish woman the White House has ever seen. I love how she boldly shows off her toned arms and banging body no matter what the haters say. Obama is so proud of her. She puts even Jackie O to shame.

Recession proof.

The House of Makeda is a recession proof company.

3 boyz from my hood.....


Seun Kuti is Fela's son whom I've talked about before. He makes contemporary afrobeat.


Ayetoro is an amazing jazz pianist that I collaborate with and he's also a filmaker. We're supposed to be working on a film together in Ghana.


Shank is a dope ragga inspired Nigerian artist. He sang "Julie." Everyone here knows him!