BBFW 2015 Review

This year marked the 10th year of Barbados Bridgetown Fashion Week and it was once time again for fashion lovers to gather and see the SS 16 collections of up and coming designers. I’m still basking in the glow of the collections that were featured on November 21st and 22nd. I have to admit the students of the Caribbean Market Center, D’Marsh Couture, the Barbados National Dress Project as well as the Yendor bag collection stole the spotlight for me as they produced some very outstanding collections, each with it’s own unique artistic voice.

Here are my favorite looks from the designers of both nights:

When I saw the Him by Mark Pierre, three words came to mind. All I think was punk, edgy and androgynous. This collection would be ideal for the man who loves to push the fashion boundaries.

As for the collection I Am Nyvek, let me just say that every woman present that night wanted at least one piece from this collection. There was great detail paid to these pieces and in my opinion the whole collection was clean and looked effortless.

 

D’Marsh Couture from the USA showcased both a men’s and women’s collection that both had a fun flamboyant side to them. The looks were polished but still a relaxed vibe.

The Barbados National Dress Project by Rodney Powers was themed Wear It With Pride and as the blue and yellow stripes came down the runway being a fellow Barbadian I felt extremely proud and I would love to cop the shift dress from this collection.

The showcase of the Yendor bag collection titled Body And Sole also by Rodney Powers peaked my interest as the bag were made using the leather of the black belly sheep, which is an animal indigenous to our country Barbados. The bags came in a wide variety with something for every taste level with clutches, chain strap, backpacks and other styles. My overall opinion was that they had a sophisticated look with great detail and craftsmanship.

 

*Photos have been edited for this post, original photos are from Muze Caribbean*

Click the link below to see all the collections that were featured.

Muze Caribbean

Fashion Fridays _ Overall Impressed

The Overalls Edition

Overalls are everywhere, you can get them in pants or dresses, long or short, even in colors and textiles other than blue denim. This look gives an simple effortless appearance that is not only comfortable but trendy as well. Once a wardrobe staple reserved for farmers during the depression era, hence dubbed the name “farmer browns”; they then later popped up throughout the history of fashion in the 60’s and 70’s with the hippie movement and then with rise of pop icons in the 80’s and 90’s. Nowadays, overalls are apart of modern day street style and when done right, you can look really superb and not like if you just walked off a farm.

Short Pants Overall

This look consists of: floral crop top, seaweed green overall and laced-up heeled booties.

Midi Dress Overall

This look consists of: white crop top, sage green midi dress overall and white converse.

Happy Fashion Friday my trendsetters.

The Scarfs For Summer Campaign

Hey there again my trendsetters, I know the title of this post probably will have some of you thinking “what!?!” some of you may even be already saying “this girl gone and lost her mind, talking about scarfs and summer in the same sentence!!!” I know, I know, summer is all about shedding away the layers of clothing and soaking up the sun, but as I was browsing through my closet I came across my collection of scarfs and the wheels began to turn in my head. I thought to myself that it was such a shame to keep these beauties tucked away; for sure scarfs can be used for more than just covering a pair of cold shoulders or for wearing during the colder months. I love scarfs, I think they are great accessories and simply amazing as they can be tied and styled in so many different ways.

Of all the many options available out there, I chose these chic ways to utilize scarfs which I found to be great for summer time.

Wear as a Head Tie

Summer was meant to be enjoyed to the fullest, minimize time spent on hair with a quick fix on a lazy day or for a bad hair day.

Accessorize A Hat

Add spunk to a simple hat.

Wear As A Halter Top

Because you never have enough halter tops during summer.

Wear As A Wrap

Who says swimsuit cover-ups have to be boring.

Hopes this gives you some inspiration to rock some scarves during this summer.

Until next time keep it cute and classy.

Fashion Fridays_Fantasic Florals

The Flower Edition

Happy Fashion Friday to all Trendsetters, hope all is well with you. Yesterday I posted a DIY tutorial “Rock It Yourself: Summer Florals” where I showed you how to make a floral headband and a floral bralette top. Today I’m going to give some inspiration on how you can incorporate these beautiful DIYs into your wardrobe. After all it’s summer, it’s time to have fun!

Floral Headband

This look consists of: Floral Headband, Circle Frames Shades, Custom Made White Top, Olive Maxi Skirt,Tan Belt and Tan Gladiator Sandals.

Floral Bralette Top

This look consists of: Floral Bralette Top, Aviator Shades, White Watch, White Cardigan, Denim Cutoffs, White Belt and White Converse.

Hope this has you Trendsetters thinking of some cool ideas.

Until next time.

Healthy Hair Journey Update _ Protective Styling

I know some of my Trendsetters maybe wondering how the healthy hair journey is going, so this post it to give an update on  how my process is coming along. On one hand, thanks to my hair regimen I have experienced some steady hair growth and on the other hand, I did a mini chop eliminating all the straight relaxed ends which felt so liberating and that makes me now fully telaxed. However, because of the mini chop I went from shoulder length to just below nape length which may seem as if it my hair hasn’t grown much in terms of length comparison but on the bright side it has gotten much thicker.

One of the factors that played a part in my decision to cut away the relaxer ends was when I saw the  above pic on Instagram and it made me really think, “do I really want to hang onto to these ends just for the sake of saying my hair is now at a different measurement level?” Honestly, no, I  prefer health over length as with time healthy hair will grow but damage hair will just break off eventually. My answer to the pic would be A, unfortunately I didn’t take a pic before I cut off the relaxed ends but here’s a pic of my texture at 20 weeks post my last telaxed process on January 25 2015.

Apart from wearing milkmaid braids here’s a look at the protective styles I’ve done over the last couple of months……

Before this hair journey I always used extensions and braids as my protective styles, but I have found the use of wigs to be fun I can achieve a natural look which takes less time to acquire whether it be a different colour, long, short, curly or straight. I’ve found it easier to do than going through the time-consuming process of styling my thick mane, while dealing with a busy toddler and my day-to-day activities. The wigs aid with my relaxer stretch where I can prolong the time period longer, help to avoid the risk of damaging my hair and scalp from excess combing and pulling as some styles it requires a lot of manipulation and they allow me still have full access to my hair where I can moisturize,wash and condition weekly.

I don’t sleep in the wig I only wear it when I’m going out, 

I allow my natural hair to breathe otherwise

and at night I tie my head with a silk scarf.

What protective styles do you use and do you have hang-ups over wearing wigs and other faux hair?

Fashion Fridays _ Athleisure Trend

The Active Wear Edition

It’s Fashion Friday Trendsetters and today we’re keeping it cool, calm and collective. I’m going to show you how I rock the Athleisure Trend. It’s a playful fusion of athletic wear and regular fashion pieces, where you can express your personal style and still feel and look all dressed up without looking like your going to the gym. The key is to mix and match textures, patterns and use pops of color all the while keeping your look more leisure than athletic. Hey you can’t go wrong, its comfy and versatile.

Here are a few ensembles:

   Sometimes it’s good to show off a little bra…..

Sports Bra Options

Beware of leggings posing as tights, as they are unforgiving and the devil in disguise….

Workout Tights Options

When chic and comfort collide…..

Sneakers Options

Athleisure Trend

These are just a few options to get the wheels turning in your heads because I know that you Trendsetters can recreate this trend in so many other different ways. Side note, please ignore my “ let me show how strong I am ” facial expression ….. So until next time, remember it’s always style over fashion; style is who you are and fashion is what you buy.

Fashion Fridays _ Mommy Chic

The Fashionable Mothers Edition

Hey my lovely Trendsetters, it’s Fashion Friday and today I’ve written this post in dedication to all the wonderful, fashionably, inclined mothers out there. So without going any further I would like to wish all my Trendsetters that are mothers and those play a mother’s role a Happy Mother’s Day in advance. When we fashionistas think of the word mother, she is the woman that we’ve all asked for styling advice, borrowed clothing, chatted about the latest fashion craze and of course hit the stores for some retail therapy. Then when you become a mother, your realize it’s like an unspoken rule to become second fiddle to your children and now you have to juggle caring for them and still keeping your look together. As a new mother, it’s easy to see how some women become overwhelmed and find themselves in a rut and as the saying goes “let themselves go”; but you have to find a balance and think comfort yet chic while you quickly create your look on your busy schedule. It’s always good to give credit where credit is due, so I tip my hat to all the mothers who manage to always look effortlessly chic when stepping out.

Here are a few of my fashionable mother looks…….

A casual day for some shopping….

In this photo: a african print shorts, white shirt, red jacket and a pair of white converse

Ideal for grabbing a quick-lunch…..

In this photo: a sun dress, a pair of khaki lace canvas shoes and a fedora hat

Great for a dinner date……

In this photo: a navy blue and khaki zig-zag shift dress and a pair of khaki strap heels

A social gathering never hurts….

In this photo: a black v-neck top, black and white geometric shape pants and a black pair of ankle booties.

Mommy Chic 

Cheers to the great weekend and I hope all your Mother’s Day plans are set.

so until next post, enjoy!

Hair Talk

It’s time again to address the beauty aspect and talk hair today my Trendsetters. We’re going to get into some terminologies and processes I have come across since starting my hair journey; as they say “sharing is caring” and “knowledge is power”. With healthy hair growth most people can grow between 3 to 6 inches of hair per year, giving an average of  1/4 to 1/2 inch a month, so don’t get disappointed by comparing your growth rate to others. However slow hair growth can occur that will slow down your growth rate and this can be caused by poor health, vitamin deficiency, improper hair care and bad practices. The question then is “What do you do to attain your desired result?” It’s simple, experiment until you find the right combination that works for your unique hair type, texture and needs. Never rely on only one method to provide results as it takes a combination of many methods to be successful.

How To Start Your Healthy Hair Journey

• Take A Photo Of Your Hair At The Current Stage For  Progress Comparison
• Choose And List Your Goals In Order Of Preference ( eg: Health,Thickness, Length)
• Research How To Achieve Your Goals
• Create Your Unique Hair Care Regimen
• Find Easy Go-To Protective And Low Manipulative Hairstyles
• Have A Well Balanced Diet and Take Vitamins
• Start Exercising
• Make Sure You Are Drinking Enough Water

What Do You Need For A Hair Care Regimen?

• Shampoos (conditioning, clarifying)
• Deep Conditioner Treatments (both protein and moisture based)
• Leave-in Conditioner
• Moisturizer (hair butters)
• Oils/Sealants (castor, coconut, olive)
• De-tangler

How Does A Hair Care Regimen Work?

• Moisturize And Seal Daily
• Co-Wash Bi-Weekly
• Deep Condition Weekly
• Clarify Monthly
• Protein Condition Treatment When Needed/Monthly
• Limit Heat Use
• Use Low Manipulative And Protective Styling Regularly

Does Your Hair Need More Protein or Moisture?

The ideal situation to encourage healthy hair growth is to have a balance between the protein and moisture intake within your hair regimen. Do an easy Hair Porosity Test to see if your hair is balanced or if you need either more protein or moisture. Simply,take a couple of strands of hair from your comb or brush, drop them into a bowl of water and let them sit for 2-4 minutes.

• If it floats to the top and then slowly sinks = Low Porosity (resistant to product)
  Apply A Moisture-Based Deep Condition Treatment
•  If it quickly sinks = High Porosity (absorbs product quickly but loses it just as fast)
  Apply A Protein-Based Deep Condition Treatment
• If It floats mid-way = Balanced.

When Should You Trim Your Hair?

• Dry Ends
• Split Ends
• Signs Of Breakage

Terminologies

What is Baggying?

• Covering moisturized hair at night with a plastic shower cap for the purpose of enhancing moisture to help reduce breakage, split ends and dryness.

What is Sealing?

• The process of applying a small amount of oil to the hair, locking in moisture into the hair fibers to keep the hair hydrated for longer.

What Is Pre-Poo?

• The use of oils, or conditioners applied to the hair prior to shampooing to reduce tangling and post-shampoo dryness.

What Is Co-washing?

• Using a conditioner in place of a conventional shampoo to cleanse hair and retain moisture.

What Is Clarifying?

• Cleansing and removing a build-up of oils, styling products, tap water minerals from the hair using a clarifying shampoo or an apple cider vinegar rinse.

What Is Oil Rinsing?

• This is normally done after a protein condition treatment the hair, it involves applying oil to the hair for 5 – 20 mins then rinsing out with water to increase moisture and  softness.

What Is A Condition Treatment?

• A moisturizing, strengthening, or damage-repair product that is allowed to penetrate the hair for 15 – 30 minutes with or without the use of a mild heat.

Hopes this helps out and if you know of any new terminologies feel free to let me know.

Until next time, happy growing……

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional hair consultant however, this is a procedure that has worked for me results may vary. Information posted is offered to you as tips….you are not obligated to incorporate any tips into your practices.

Fashion Fridays _ 1 Shirt, 4 Ways

The Short-Sleeved Denim Edition

Hey my Trendsetters, it’s Fashion Friday and today I want to show you the versatility of the short-sleeved denim shirt, by wearing it casual, tied, lose, or smart which can either dress down or up your outfit. The trick to achieving this is simple, be selective when shopping for that key piece that would be the core, that meaning, it could be worn many times and can be successfully paired up with other pieces in your wardrobe. Hey, they’re your clothes after all, so why shouldn’t you wear them more than once.

Now let’s get down to the matter at hand; here’s how I creatively styled and rocked my denim short-sleeved shirt in four different ways……

Casual

In this photo: Denim short-sleeved shirt paired with a romper, belt and a pair of Converse for a casual look.

Loose Fit

In this photo: Denim short-sleeved shirt worn buttoned down and paired a lighter shade denim jeans, a straw fedora hat and a pair of Kenneth Cole canvas shoes

Tied 

In this photo: Denim short-sleeved shirt buttoned down half way then tied in a knot, then it is paired with a pencil skirt, sandals and sunglasses.

Smart

In this photo: Denim short-sleeved shirt is smartly used as a head wrap to help pull together the look.

The possibilities are well, …..endless, there as so many other ways to wear this shirt. So I hope this encourages you to go through your wardrobe and create some new looks. Until next time, keep it chic and classy.

The Newbie

As you may know I have started a healthy telax hair journey  and the time to end my relaxer stretch had come after a slight set back in December 2014, my relaxed hair in the nape broke off at the line of demarcation(where the new growth and relaxed hair meet) leaving behind just 2 1/2″ of unprocessed hair. I think I may have prolonged my first relaxer stretch too long as you’re suppose to build up your amount of weeks gradually  as my last relaxer was August 6th 2014, a little over 5 mths post-relaxer (face palm).  Today I will take you through my first telax experience which took placed back on January 25th. At first I was left stuck with the decision of if I should relax (possible limp bone straight look) or go natural (poof and shrinkage) and I wanted neither option. I actually wanted a bit of both as I wanted the full hair look that naturals have but not the kinky and coily look, so when I came across “telaxed hair” I was floating on cloud 9 as this was the balance I was looking for. Basically, telaxing it is using a mixture which consist of part carrier oil and part relaxer to slightly loosen the hair coils so as to still have a curl pattern.

* Some of you may ask “how do you know when to end the relaxer stretch?” well the signs are easily visible such as:

• unmanageable new growth makes scalp and roots unreachable to apply products
• when there’s excess breakage at the line of demarcation
• when the ends look shaggy and limp while the mid-shaft to root of the hair is full.

My Telax Process

*I had pre-shampoo, washed and deep-conditioned my hair 2 days prior to prepare and strengthen my hair for the process.*

• apply Vaseline to the hairline and relaxed hair
• mix coconut oil with relaxer (approx. 2 tbs) and stir well
• apply the relaxer mix to hair working from the nape to the front of my head
• comb through once and leave in for remainder of required time according to relaxer timeline guide (my time was 30 mins)
• rinse hair making sure hair is completely free from relaxer
• apply neutralizing shampoo, lather and leave in for 10 mins as to allow the hair to fully returned to a neutralize state
• rinse hair completely, lather with neutralizing shampoo and rinse out completely if needed again.
• apply a protein treatment for 30 mins
• rinse
• apply a deep-condition treatment 30 mins
• rinse
• blot out the excess water
• lightly moisturize hair using the Liquid.Condition.Oil method (leave-in conditioner – moisturizer – oil )
• trim off the uneven ends
• air dry hair

Afterwards I applied oil to the ends and followed up by flat ironing my hair on low heat to achieve a straight look so as to do a length check pic. So overall, I can say my first telax experience was a success as you can see that I was still able to maintain a curl pattern.

Do any of my trendsetters have telaxed hair? If yes, please feel to share your telax process and results.

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional hair consultant however, this is a procedure that has worked for me results may vary. Information posted is offered to you as tips….you are not obligated to incorporate any tips into your practices.