MAHOGANY GLAM

People Magazine Reveals Most Beautiful List 2009

The annual People Magazine Most Beautiful People list is on newsstands now. I was actually surprised that so many women of color were included this year. First Lady Michelle Obama is absolutely striking and well deserved to be on the list. "I had a father and a brother who thought I was beautiful, and they made me feel that way every single day," says Obama, 45. Of course, no list is complete without the lovely Halle Berry.

Singer Ciara looked like a natural beauty without a stitch of makeup, which is pretty brave I think. Gorgeous nonetheless! "Being beautiful is all in the attitude,"says Ciara.

Mi Amore' Freida Pinto should've been on the cover, I'm just saying. She is the ultimate mahogany glam!

Motherhood never looked so good for Latin bombshell Christina Aguilera. The 28-year old singer posed with her 15-month old son Max for the spread. She seems to revel in her beauty as a wife and mother. "Being a mom has made me do things I never did before," says Aguilera. There's even more bevy of beauties inside the beautiful issue on newsstands Friday.

photos courtesy: people.com

Jean Jackets Are Back!

If you haven't already bought a denim jacket, my fellow fashionista's it's time! Of course, if you still have yours hidden away just dust it off! You don't have to spend a fortune if you need a new one. This one is $29.90 at Forever 21. It's absolutely insane to pay any more than that. Denim jackets are one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your closet. It goes with everything except jeans. Do Not, I repeat Do Not rock an entire denim outfit in public! It's against the law in several states and it breaks several rules of fashion. You'd definitely get fined, stoned, or both! With that said, I prefer a darker rinse jean jacket myself. The lighter color denim is too eighties for my taste. I don't mind going back to the eighties, I just don't wanna go aaaallllll the way back!

Nicole Richie

photos courtesy: forever21.com & denimblog

OPI NAIL COLOR FOR SUMMER 2009

I've been completely obsessed with OPI Nail colors "You Don't Know Jacques" (France Collection) and "Plugged In Plum" (OPI Brights) My fashionable friend who just so happens to be an OPI fiend, suggested both hues to get my digits summer ready. "You Don't Know Jacques" is kinda of a taupey lavender color that always gets attention. It's just the right amount of diva on your nails without looking like you're trying too hard. At the other end of the spectrum is the saucy color "Plugged In Plum." It's a towering inferno hot fuchsia that screams ready for anything. I love, love, love it!! It makes quite an electric impression and is the perfect psychedelic color for summer 09!

photos courtesy: OPI.com

Distressed Denim--Hot Or Not Trend

 

My fellow fashionistas it's the eighties all over again, distressed denim is the in thing for Spring/Summer 2009. I remember when Salt-N-Pepa pushed it real good in their shredded denim. I wanted to be them, but my parents thought I was too young (wink wink) and the tattered jeans were too "risque."

Now, I don't mind a few holes here and there on my jeans, but I don't like it when it's so distressed that I look unkept. There's nothing fabulous about that! I'm not willing to spend $200 bucks for holey high-end denim either. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Cali-girl and I looovvvveee wearing jeans, but I get the latest trend for $27.80 at Forever 21 versus $230 at Bloomies. The other thing is you can make em yourself. Buy a plain pair of jeans and cut them up with a razor, then wash and dry them and voila! A trend is a trend, which means it won't be en vogue for long. So there's no point in breaking the bank to be in style. I haven't jumped on the distressed jeans bandwagon...I probably won't. Do you guys plan on getting a pair of ripped denim?

photos courtesy: forever21.com and brownsugardiaries.com

Scarlett Fringe Sandals Only At Payless

Just in time to bring my fingerlike toes out of hibernation, I found these uber magnificent sandals at Payless ShoeSource. The Scarlett Fringe sandals looks blue in the picture, but they're actually a vibrant teal in real life. This color makes me happy and looks great against most skin tones and adds a sweet splash of color to any ensemble. Payless as BOGO aka buy one get the other half off going on right now. I wonder if the high end department stores will match that offer, hmm probably not. This suedesque pair was only $24.99 but it's totally worth it. Especially since this Calvin Klein look a like retails for $98!

Calvin Klein "Nonda"

The payless "knockoff" is really comfy and fringe is completely in style right now. However, they run a little big, so I went a half size down. If you like options like I do, the Scarlett Fringe also comes in ebony as well. Shop smart ladies!

Photos courtesy: payless.com & dilliards.com

CAN NORDSTROM SAVE THE ECONOMY?

My favorite fashionista and I were hanging out at our neighborhood Nordstrom at the Grove in Los Angeles. The dreamy shoe department is chocked full of goodies such as Jimmy Choo, Chloe, Cavalli, and Marc Jacobs to name a few. The place was a mad house with women elbowing each other for the perfect designer shoe. The sales men looked haggard. We drooled all over the shoes we coveted, then slowly backed away cause we knew we could afford these luxurious must have's plus we'd feel bad if we splurged with our credit cards. Of course, pretty much 95 percent of the divas in the store didn't have a problem nurturing their id.

The bottom line is people are freakin' shopping, I mean really shopping... which if you watch the news apparently no one is doing. So what gives...unemployment checks, 401ks, trust funds, rich aunts, or wait for it... stylish women with jobs! Yes Jobs! Is it only LA or is this shopping phenomenon going on in your city. Do tell...maybe Nordies can help save our economy, one glorious shoe at a time! photos courtesy: nordstrom.com

Padma & Sharon Nude for Allure Magazine's Naked Truth 2009

It's here... Allure Magazine's Naked Truth Issue featuring five sizzlin' celebrities in the nude. Yep naked! To my four male mahogany glam fans...hold on...and take a deep breath!

Two women of color showed off their bare essentials for the beauty mag. Actress Sharon Leal who's arguably one of the most beautiful women on the planet, went on faith when she dropped her robe. "I just breathed and said to myself, 'I'm comfortable, I'm beautiful; I'm comfortable, I'm beautiful,' until I didn't have to say that anymore.... It's liberating, but posing once may be enough," said Sharon. I think the strategically placed chains was a naughty but nice touch. She looks ga-ga-gorgeous!

Top Chef's resident hottness Padma Lakshmi certainly sent pulses racing with this revealing shot. "I like the way I look. I think I look better now than I did in my 20s, because I'm more confident about my body—and I don't want to look like anyone but myself," said Padma. The 38-year old could run circles around a 21-year old that's for sure. I'm gonna try posing like that at home just for fun:-) I say good for you, Padma! The other celebs featured include: Eliza Dushku, Chelsea Handler, and Lynn Collins. The May issue of Allure Magazine featuring all these nude actresses hits newsstands on April 21.

photos courtesy: allure.com

EXPRESS IS HAVING A SALE!

I usually avoid the store Express like the plague. Most of the time I think their style is sophomoric and the quality of their clothes is cheesy cheap couture. However, when I'm dragged while screaming fashionable obscenities I dare venture into this nylon and/or polyester abyss. My girlfriends wanted a pair of Express skinny jeans, so tagged along and found a canary lightweight v-neck sweater (like the one above) for $21 bucks. Everything looks better at the right price and Express is having quite a sale right now, so it's a good time to score some trendy basics. Actually I've heard a few fashionistas say they love Express pants (Editor) for work, but the fit is always a little off on me but what the heck. Check out the store or visit the sale section at Express online for some super deals on slacks, dresses, blouses, sweaters et al,  plus an additional 20% off.

 

 

photos courtesy: express.com

Zoe Saldana Sophisticated Lady In Giant Magazine

The stunner aka Zoe Saldana is looking muy caliente' in the May issue of Giant Magazine. These pictures are so old school glamour, that it makes me want to do a boudoir photo shoot. Zoe's beauty just leapts off the pages of the trendy mag. Even though Zoe is not a megastar, she's certainly on the raise and I'm glad she's finally getting her due. In case you didn't know, she stars as "Uhura" in "Star Trek" the movie in theaters May 9th. Expect Zoe's popularity to go where no man as gone before, well probably not but I couldn't suppress my inner Trekkie:-) 

 

 

Photos courtesy: urbancelebs.com

Flirt Lash-A-Delic Fast Defining Mascara

My fabulous fashionistas I recently discovered Flirt Lash-A-Delic Fast Defining Mascara at Kohl's. Yep, Kohl's deep in the belly of the valley called Alhambra. I had no idea they even carried a line of cosmetics. The hot pink and shag-a-delic yellow tube is soo super girly that I couldn't resist. I fell in love with the hue Groovy Blue.

It's the perfect indigo to flatter my peepers. I thought the color would be kinda of obnoxious, but it actually highlights my brown eyes! It also defines and lengthens my itty bitty lashes. The weird thing is you have to wash it off with warm water Only, cause it totally gets all clumpy if you don't. Bizarre for sure, why doesn't plain old water work? I guess it's not such a big deal, but I wonder which four out of five mascara geniuses thought that was a brilliant idea. Not to mention Flirt Lash-A-Delic is also a tad steep at $14 bucks, so I tried Maybelline's Great Lash in Royal Blue for $4.69 plus tax. Sweet! The colors are pretty much the same and tres' chic!

photos courtesy: kohls & drugstore.com