India.Arie - Purify me

India.Arie is a beautiful and talented neo-soul artist. I love her voice, her easy style, and her confidence. She has a quality that is so unique and pure that it makes me want to be a part of it. India.Arie is earnest and she seems to believe in her music. When India writes her songs, sings and plays her guitar, I get the impression that she is doing it for the love of the music and not to capitalize off of it. She is the real deal and it shows in her work, album after album.

India.Arie - Video

Video was India.Arie's first single and right away I knew that she was someone special. The song was catchy and lyrics were meaningful. They left me with a sense of pride and I could relate to what she was saying. Every song that she has released since then has also had a special quality. They have honesty and truth in the lyrics.

I also love India's sense of style. I believe that India's mother designs her wardrobe. They are unique designs with an Afrocentric flair. The clothes flatter her figure and are vibrant in color.  She often wears long flowing maxi dresses that expose a shoulder.

I really appreciate the female neo-soul artists and their fashion sense. I love artists who are earthy like India.Arie, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott.  In this technologically advanced world of the internet, blogs, twitter, and facebook, I can become so easily influenced by international haute couture. I need to remember that there is more to fashion and style than haute couture.

Get Me Bodied (Timbaland Remix)

Jill Scott "Golden"

Jill Scott, an incredible singer, actress, and poet, brightens my day with the inspirational song "Golden." I could play that song everyday to lift my mood.

Jill Scott "A Long Walk"

Jill Scott is one of the best things to ever happen to neo-soul music. I have seen her perform live a few times and she is engaging and phenomenal. I knew she was something special from the release of her first single "Gettin' In The Way" but when this single was released it was confirmed.

Jill Scott "Gettin' In The Way"

Jill Scott burst on the scene with the single "Gettin' In The Way" but she has proven to be a woman of many talents, a woman with great influence in hip hop culture, and a woman with staying power. She can sing, act, write and perform poetry on an open mike. When Jill Scott performs at "Def Poetry Jams" the audience becomes electrified with excitement.

Jill is a versatile singer. She can sing neo-soul or jazz. Jill is a confident woman with her own sense of style. Many people view this curvy lady as a trendsetter. Keep your eyes on Jill Scott because she never disappoints.

"No person is your friend (or kin) who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow and be perceived as fully blossomed as you were intended."- Alice Walker (via onceuponapoet)

“No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us waiting to be born.” - Dale E. Turner (via D. R. Fortune)

“People will accept your idea much more readily if you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first.”
- David H. Comins (via Steve Ramirez)

Chanel - Spring Summer 2010 Full Fashion Show Part 2 - High Quality

This is an awesome Fashion show. The unexpected combination of the glamor of couture fashion, a rustic barnyard location, and rock music makes this entertaining to watch.

Norma Kamali Plus Size Collection from the CurvyFashionista

Open publication - Free publishing - More plus size

Plus-sizes hoping to jump from high street to catwalk

This is an interesting story about plus size models in England. They seem to be increasing in visibility but the progress is slow. This video is temperamental so you'll have to play it on YouTube.

Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. – Mother Teresa (via @Inspired Ones) (via Steve Ramirez)

"Buzz me, I'm Fashion !" - Fashion Week Illustrée sept 2010

Stéphanie, the Cape, and Chanel

This is model Stéphanie Zwicky in
a fabulous cape and Chanel shoes. 

This is model Stéphanie Zwicky and she is in a fabulous cape and Chanel shoes.  This look is completed with a lovely scarf and gloves and it is perfect for Autumn.

Oh how I want to see Europe, especially Paris, one day.  I would love to see a fashion show in Paris and experience the culture. The people, language, music, food, architecture, and fashion in Paris are all things that I would embrace.

Stéphanie Zwicky is a French blogger, model, fashion coach, TV personality, and writer.

Her blog is one of the best ones out there and truly inspirational because she shoots in different locations. She also chooses great plus size fashions for women with curves. Check out her blog http://www.leblogdebigbeauty.com

Girls Sporting Ties

Girls wearing ties is nothing new. It became trendy in
the 1970's with Diane Keaton in the movie Annie Hall.

Is the Annie Hall look coming back or is a funkier version of it returning? Did it ever leave?

Girls dressing like boys has probably always been accepted since the Annie Hall craze, if the girls were cute enough and if their outfits had a hint of femininity. 

The girl in the picture is definitely cute enough. She couldn't look bad in any outfit.

"The best way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement." – Charles Schwab (via D. R. Fortune)

India.Arie - Brown Skin

India.Arie - The Truth

 "If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it's because they take better care of it." – Cecil Selig (via Ruth Polanco)

Ain't no sunshine - Tracy Chapman & Buddy Guy

I first heard this recording of "Ain't No Sunshine" by Tracy Chapman and Buddy Guy last week on Tumbr and I was truly impressed. It is a classic song that they put a new spin on and I truly enjoyed it. I really want to hear more from Tracy Chapman which means that I need to invest more time in listening to her music. I just checked Amazon and she has 21 albums. That does not seem possible. I'll look further into that matter later, but for now I'll just enjoy the Tracy Chapman CDs I already own. I also own a Buddy Guy CD or two. Happy listening!

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope [feat. Big Boi] (Video)

Talented and fashionable singer Janelle Monáe has amazing moves in this video of Tightrope. She is an artist to watch because she is an original.

Naomi Campbell With A Killer Afro

Naomi Campbell is shown with an afro and a
fur collared suede coat in a  militant posed.

Naomi Campbell, the fabulous supermodel, is sporting an afro, a suede coat with a fur collar, and sitting in a militant pose.

This is 60's retro fabulous and I love it. Here are a few of the protests from the 60's: Make love and not war. Flower power. Power to the people. Black is beautiful. 

This photo of Naomi in an afro and in a militant pose makes me feel empowered and believe that we can change the world.

Sesame Street:Song: I Love My Hair

Sesame Street has become the coolest street and the most multiculturally inclusive place to be. I love how they go out of their way to keep up with what's going on in this ever evolving world.

Dixie Chicks - Cowboy Take Me Away

Retro Flair Is The Cat's Meow

Retro Flair is very now as demonstrated
by the singer Janelle Monáe.

Project Runway is one of my favorite shows. Each week Heidi Klum delivers one of the best lines on the show and it goes like this, "In fashion you're either in or out and you're out."

Retro Flair is in thanks to the success of Mad Men. We see the influence in dresses, tops, swimsuits, and styling. The unique and talented singer Janelle Monáe has took the retro flair and made it her own.

Gaultier Paris Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture Collection

Chanel - Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010 - Preview

Five minutes with Beth Ditto on her new collection from Evans

Absolutamente Posh!: beth ditto + evans: segunda parte

Beth Ditto + Evans: Part Two from the blog Absolutamente Posh!  Beth Ditto introduces her much anticipated second collection and there are mixed reviews. Many of the shoppers like the retro look and fit but there have been some criticism about the quality. Like always you can't please everybody.

Please check out the link below. Unfortunately the whole page is in Spanish but I have a translator on my blog  and the page can also be translated in Goggle Reader. There are interesting fashions in this article and an interview with Beth Ditto in English.

Absolutamente Posh!: beth ditto + evans: segunda parte: "Cómo ya os comenté la semana pasada, la grandísima Beth Ditto presentó la segunda colección que ha diseñado para Evans, y yo prometí que h..."

Smell Like A Monster Sesame Street Spoofs The Old Spice Guy

Over 40 and Fabulous: Three Women Prove Life Gets Prettier With Age

http://www.stylelist.com/2010/10/05/more-magazine-2010-beauty-search/?a_dgi=aolshare_twitter

Raven-Symoné - The Wendy Williams Show (FULL) - 9/14/2010

Vintage Swimsuits Fit the Retro Craze

The Vintage Swimsuits that would be perfectly suitable and fashionable today.

This is a picture of ladies in one piece Vintage Swimsuits but their suits would be perfectly suitable today because of the retro craze.

This marks the end of my swimsuit postings and the end of summer. Autumn has come to Florida and the weather is changing.

Black Fringe Swim Suit and Stéphanie Zwicky

Black Fringe swim suit by Monif C.

Confidence, style, and a fabulous black swimsuit really works for this woman. This is Stéphanie Zwicky from Le Big Beauty, a French blog for plus size fashion, fashion coaching, and modeling.

I must admit that over that last few months Stéphanie has become my favorite model, blogger, and fashion TV personality, which is saying a lot, because I can't understand a word that she is saying.


Check out her blog Le Blog de Big Beauty

Swimsuit Glamor

Two very different but glamorous swimsuit looks. 

These are two very different swimsuit looks that are somewhat glamorous. Both swimsuits have flattering cuts for a curvy figure.  I can't help but wonder how the beige and green will look wet.

Brown Spicy Perfection

This Brown Swimsuit is
figure flattering and perfection.

This Brown Swimsuit is smart, figure flattering and just about perfection. The key-whole neck line reveals just enough cleavage and the suit appears to suck you in.

Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z - Upgrade U ft. Jay-Z

Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder

Rachel Maddow's Advice To Democrats Is Run On Their Accomplishments

Watching a video on Rachel Maddow advising Democrats to run on their accomplishments:http://bit.ly/d75R6c