Look up "swag" in the dictionary. This is who you'll see.
Yeah, there are no real words for this ladies.
Congrats to Mr. Elba on his Best Actor win at the 2012 Golden Globes. (Loving the studded loafers!)
Recommended Reading: A Belle in Brooklyn
While I’m not sure being born in Maryland allows one to qualify as a Southern Belle, this book is a must-read for any woman (i.e. adult, grown lady, not your baby cousin), single or otherwise. With humor, candor, and the willingness to tell (almost) all so readers can learn from her mistakes, Demetria L. Lucas proves she is definitely the “go-to girl for relationship and dating advice.” She definitely shows that all women aren’t busted and disgusted when it comes to relationships, nor are we all blue in the face from waiting to exhale. As the relationships editor for Essence, Lucas’ daily Real Talk blog posts edify, entertain and make us think, but this book was like settling in for a good session of girltalk. You will laugh, you very well may cry, and if you have lived life at all you will probably see yourself in its pages. And if you currently find yourself out on a limb, on an emotional ledge or are a hot mess when it comes to dating, please stop the madness and get this book. Read it. And do better.
Being (love) crazy over the age of eighteen ain’t chic.
Image via ABelleinBrooklyn.com
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Where Y’at?!
Aiiiieee! My family’s most memorable trip to NOLA has to be the weekend our vehicle was stolen while we shopped in the French Market (we can laugh about it now). The seductive City That Care Forgot with its beignets, bounce music and bon temps beckons like a long-lost love every time I visit and like the tourism ad promises, I’m just different there. If you’re in the Crescent City for the mother of all rematches between Alabama and LSU today, hopefully you have accessorized your team apparel with beads, a go cup, and a second line parasol. To maximize your fun, here are some of my favorite places to eat, shop, stay and play in the Big Easy.
EAT: New Orleans is a foodie’s gastronomic paradise. Stop by Central Grocery for its lipsmacking-good, authentic muffulettas. Deanie’s is known for its generous, mouth-watering servings of Gulf seafood goodness. Dooky Chase – the New Orleans bastion of Creole food run by Queen of Creole Cuisine Leah Chase – is a must-do. For pricier fare, try Commander’s Palace or Mr. B’s Bistro. Visit legendary Cafe du Monde and bite into a delicious, piping hot Creole doughnut covered in powdered sugar…chase it with a swallow of cafe au lait (go on, make a mess!). Want a burger? Head over to Port of Call. And it’s King Cake season, so head over to Manny Randazzo’s for one (plain or filled with a variety of tasty fillings). Eschew dry grocery store brands and have a real slice of heaven! Versions from Gambino’s will do just as well.
SHOP: Although Fleurty Girl is definitely biased toward purple and gold, the shop has cute apparel, accessories and home decor for Southern belles and Saints fans alike. Be sure to check out Hazelnut, an eclectic gift and home decor boutique owned by NOLA native Bryan Batt, of Mad Men fame.
STAY: Surely you didn’t come to New Orleans to sleep! But hands down, I recommend the W (French Quarter or Poydras locations). Period.
PLAY: NOMA is closed on Monday, but drop by Tuesday in Tide or Tigers regalia and receive 1/2 off admission. Or catch the St. Charles streetcar and ride it to the very end to view the lovely Garden District. After hours, the W Hotel’s super-chic Whiskey Blue bar (on Poydras) is THE place to post up and people watch. Or make your way to The Howlin’ Wolf to catch Rebirth Brass Band on January 9th. No trip is complete without a New Orleans Original Daiquiri (CRAWGATOR. Enough said.). The more adventurous imbibers should sample a sazerac at The Roosevelt or dash into the Old Absinthe House for a cocktail.
A final word of advice? Don’t pet the nutrias…or the honey badgers!
Images via Google and The Knot
A Girl’s Gotta Have it: The Go Cup
Blame it on my birthday this week: I’ve been thinking about all the accessories of my long-over childhood, like that Hello Kitty lunchbag and thermos I just had to have in fourth grade.
I know, I know…how chic can a “go cup” be? But if you’re from the Deep South, you understand its importance-nay, necessity-in adulthood: in the French Quarter you can carry (note: not operate a motorized vehicle with) your drink on the street if you have your beverage of choice in a non-glass container. And for those of you who don’t indulge, did you know Starbucks gives you 10 cents off your drink order if you bring your own tumbler?
This super cute and festive Prize Ball thermos by Kate Spade ($35) has a party on the outside to match whatever party beverage you prefer to pour inside it!
Speaking of which, if you’re in the vicinity of a New Orleans Original Daiquiri shop or Fat Tuesday, make sure you try the Cajun Eggnog daiquiri! Please indulge responsibly.
Recommended Reading: Mikki Taylor’s Commander in Chic
From the beautiful photography to the warm commentary to the priceless “Mikki-isms”, this book is a style resource to have at hand. Celebrating the effortless style of FLOTUS Michelle Obama and jam-packed with Ms. Taylor’s expertise from years as Essence ‘s final-word beauty editor, Commander in Chic was such a great read and wealth of information on building one’s personal style that I couldn’t put it down…it was more like having a one-on-one conversation with a style-savvy friend!
As Ms. Taylor notes, “At the end of the day, style in the broad stroke is about being on purpose. It’s about being comfortable in your skin and not following the trends but setting them. Finally, it’s about being your most bold, empowered self and using that awareness to color your world–from your inner and outer beauty to your fashion sensibility, from the love that you share to the hand you lend in service to others. It’s about showing up ready to stand and deliver and not only looking the part, but being just the woman for the opportunity at hand. That’s what being a “commander in chic” is all about. And we, like Michelle Obama, are just the women to do so.”
Whatever your politics are, who can’t agree with that? Fab ones, I loved this book so much that not only did I purchase one for myself, I’m giving a copy away! So tell me how you “keep it chic”: how do you express your personal style (and I don’t care if you shop the Salvation Army or Neiman Marcus)? Leave a comment below between now and December 31, 2011 and a copy could be yours!
We Love a Man Who…
No. Just....no.
…keeps it simple.
Are you wearing square-toed shoes? Buttoning every button on your suit jacket? Stepping out in a suit jacket with more than three buttons (SIGH)? Rocking suspenders AND a belt (ahem: it’s either/or, never both)? Sporting more than one ring on both hands (and if either of them is a nugget ring, go sit in the corner)? Do you have nails (finger or toe)so long that your nickname is Shredder? Are you rocking a suit so small that it looks like you stole it from Webster? Then you, sir, are doing the most. Take it down a notch.
Take it from us: dress your age, not your shoe size. For the love of God, manscape. The Grizzly Adams/unwashed look is not the business; go “occupy” a bathtub and get thee a manicure and pedicure! And the hipster look is not for every physique.
Remember: less is sometimes much, much more.
You’re welcome.
You’re Never Fully Dressed Without….
Fragrance! I feel naked unless I’m wearing my signature scent. And as Coco Chanel once said, “A women who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” But it isn’t as simple as picking up Beyonce’s Pulse. (We’re not too keen on celebrity scents; who wants to smell like Khloe Kardashian or Lamar Odom combined? No thanks.) Fragrance is very personal. The very memory of one’s cologne or perfume can trigger powerful memories for a family member or loved one (or even a former loved one) years later.
Want to smell like a lotus flower and not a bomb? Remember that fragrances work in conjunction with your own body chemistry, so what works for Halle Berry or your homegirl may not work for you. And there is as much an art to wearing it as there is to producing a scent. Don’t bathe in it. Be mindful of where you plan to wear it: loud fragrances are a fail. And don’t rub your wrists together after spraying it on; you will crush the fragrance’s notes and could alter the scent.
Are you still wearing Hai Karate, Tabu, Tommy Girl or Charlie? I used to love my Love’s Baby Soft and Jessica McClintock, but as I grew up they no longer fit with the young woman I was becoming. While I believe in staying with a perfume or cologne that works, I also believe in being open to trying something new. And there are so many great ones to try, in sprays, solids or oils…from CREED to Coach’s Poppy! Why not have a different “smell good” to suit the temperature, occasion or your mood?
Excuse Us.
We’re having a moment. Enjoy.
Iron Bowl Cocktails & Couture
We’re a little (okay, a LOT) biased at SCDD, but we fully appreciate that all bets are off during the Iron Bowl. So whether you’re heading out for celebratory cocktails after the game, or just need one to console yourself after the final score, here are our picks for what to sip (courtesy of Birmingham’s own Bottega Cafe). Enjoy. (Oh – and these super cute gameday/cocktail dresses are by Judith March).
Roll Tide!
Roll Tide Roll (Also known as a Scarlett O’Hara)
Ingredients: 1 jigger Southern Comfort Juice of 1/2 lime 1/2 jigger cranberry juice Lime slices for garnish
Preparation: Pour the Southern Comfort, lime juice and cranberry juice into a shaker with cracked ice, and shake well. Strain into a sour glass.
War Eagle!
Wayne’s Orange Thing (Created by Wayne Russell)
Ingredients: 2 cups ice cubes 1/4 cup vodka 2 tablespoons orange liqueur 1/4 cup fresh orange juice Orange slices for garnish
Preparation: Combine first 4 ingredients in a martini shaker. Cover with lid, and shake until thoroughly chilled. Remove lid, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired. Note: For testing purposes only, Grand Marnier was used for orange liqueur.
Images courtesy of Judith March
Same Chic Different Day 