Cocoa Connection

Hip?

I've always had a strange relationship with my hips.  First I thought I had no hips and was pleasantly surprised when told for the first time at age 21 that I had nice hips.  Then I loved my narrow hips.  Then I thought they were not proportional to the rest of my body.  Sound familiar?  Of course, this is not a life-threatening issue, but it does come up when I look for skirts.  I tend to pick my skirts based on visual appeal alone.  If it looks great visually on the rack and it fits, I am usually sold. 

Recently though, a few people I have shopped with have pointed out shapes that I typically would bypass without a second glance.  Not one to miss an opportunity to try something new, I tried a few new styles - and I was not sold.  Why? Because I am so used to buying the same skirt over and over albeit different colors and patterns.  But recently, I have found that material really matters in a skirt. 

Black Model Watch: Ajuma for Baby Phat

There aren't alot of black models out there. This Fashion Week I'll post photos of black models that I can find. Here, Ajuma is strutting for Baby Phat, whose collection I am not fond of (which is why I've spared you gentle readers the hideous pictures of models with whatever the heck that stuff is on their teeth).

Originally uploaded by coutorture.

BCBG Blue

 
   

Thanks to Coutorture we have access to photos from Fashion Week practically right after the shows.

Check out this dress from the BCBG Spring/Summer 2007 collection.  I can see myself in this...blue is my favorite color, too!

  Originally uploaded by coutorture.

Late Thoughts on Emmy Fashion

The 58th Annual Emmys were broadcast last week and the only part worth watching or rather, discussing the next day was what the actresses wore to the event. This year one actress in particular stood out to me. The actress Chandra Wilson, from the television show "Grey's Anatomy,” looked absolutely fabulous in her perfectly form-fitting Bradley Bayou red dress. She looked effortlessly put-together. She was elegant and did not look uncomfortable. Robin Givhan said it best – “red-carpet-perfect!”

The Long and Short of It

I love shorts. For me, I love the way they feel and how good they make my legs look. But every woman is not like me. In fact, there are many women who fear wearing shorts because of the appearances of stretch marks, cellulite or veins on their thighs. Don't let leg appearances stop you from showing some skin this summer. There's a great solution to your problem: Bermuda shorts. Bermuda shorts have been around for years but have only been seen on older women until now. I love these Bermuda shorts because they are longer than "daisy dukes" but short enough to still show a nice amount of leg. When you decide to go and buy a pair, do be sure you have the right length. The shorts should only go as low as mid knee and rest right on top of the knee. Wear them with a tanks, t-shirts, blouses, whatever, and you're good to go!

~MeltednMilky

Wrap It Up!

“Dress to Impress.”

We’ve all been told that after asking the question “What do I wear?” The real problem is  what does it mean? Which clothes represent which occasion?  Nobody wants to be over-dressed and certainly nobody wants to be under-dressed! Well, no worries. I have an impressive solution that you can wear all day going from point A to B without any wardrobe changes, an item that could impress a future mother-in-law as well as the fiancé! A wrap skirt. They are feminine, fun, and sexy. Wear it with flats or flirty pumps and you are good to go! So “wrap” up the worries, dress to impress, and do it confidently!   

~MeltedNMilky

Blaze it Up!

There is something about a blazer that can make a woman look fabulous! In every woman’s closet there should be a blazer. They are versatile and can stay in your closet for the entire year. No storing it away when summer comes!

Accented by a solid top or a nice blouse, a nice blazer will never fail! Mine have saved me the many times I’ve been in a fashion rut.

And without a doubt I always feel fabulous in them! So if you have one wear it! If you don’t, GO GET ONE!

~MeltednMilky

Stocking your fall wardrobe, part II

Jackets are an essential part of any fall or winter wardrobe for most of us. I have already begun the hunt for a nice fall jacket. I am 5’9 and have very long arms and relatively wide shoulders so the hardest part for me is finding a jacket with long sleeves. I generally have to wear a bigger size to get a decent fit and that means I swim in most of my jackets since I  wear a small size. If anyone knows designers who make really long sleeves, do tell!

Mackage makes lovely coats, though they are a bit pricey and one has to be careful to make sure the quality (buttons, hems, etc) is good and worth the price.

Rudsak designs bags and clothing. Here is one of their looks for fall:

 

I love the color and length. My goal for this winter: do not buy another black jacket to add to your closet full of black jackets! Wish me luck!

source: www.fashionshowroom.com

Stocking your autumn wardrobe, Part I

Autumn is approaching and I bet some of you have already started stocking your fall wardrobe.  If you fall into this group, then good for you! It’s never too early to begin putting together and buying fabulous pieces you will want to wear.  I live in Montreal and winters are quite long so I look for pieces that I can wear in layers. Knee-high boots are a must-have for me as are warm black pants in anticipation of the dirty slush of on the street. And let’s not forget jackets. Autumn is a great time to show off all those cute jackets that provide minimal to average warmth.

I like several looks from Anna Sui’s fall/winter collection this year.

On Being Fierce

Fierceness is a state of mind.

This year I decided I was going to expand my fashion eye. For me this means when I go shopping I pay special attention to what draws my eye then I proceed to disregard a lot of it. Why?Because I am notorious for buying the same style of clothing over and over: what I would describe as sharp conservative wear. Now, I have not started wearing spandex, leggings, or low-cut midriffs but I have definitely stopped pigeonholing myself into one fashion category. So far, the work has seemed to pay off but there have been shaky moments.

A month ago I was walking to work wearing an outfit that had been in my closet for some time, but I had not felt comfortable it wearing prior to that day because the style was bolder than the typical style I wore daily. The outfit was not even revealing. I saw a woman walking in an outfit that I would call *scandalous* and took heart, telling myself “I may doubt if I made the right fashion decision but at least I don’t look like that!”