30

Jan

Darrius Peace Hopes to Redefine ‘Beauty’

The natural hair phenomenon  – which has remained a topic of discussion thanks to enthusiastic transitioners, social media and films such as Good Hair – shows no signs of slowing down.  Birmingham master barber, stylist and instructor and 12 year hair industry veteran Darrius Peace is introducing MyHairAintNappy.Com,  a resource he hopes will “help redefine what we consider, or what we’ve learned to [think of as] beautiful and incorporate organic beauty into that definition, [and to help others learn] to love and embrace themselves in their organic form.”

How did you get into the hair industry?  When I got to UAB [where he received a bachelors degree] I decided I would grow my hair out.  Because it was really difficult for me to find someone to do the styles I wanted – I thought every girl could braid, and was disappointed to find out every girl can’t – it got me into [styling my hair] myself .  [When] people inquired who did my hair,  I told them I did it myself.  Soon I established a small clientele on campus.  Then I decided to legitimize myself and get certified, and there was a barber college close to Rast Hall.  I went there to get proper licensing and certificiation so I could become a professional hair stylist.

What motivated you to launch MyHairAintNappy.com?  At some point I am going to retire from doing hair. When I do that, I want to leave a legacy.  I want to have a mark in the industry so my children can say, ‘Here was my dad’s contribution to the hair industry.’  It’s been beautiful in the four walls of the salon, and now I’m able to [share expertise I’ve only shared in the salon]  with the world.

Peace’s plans for his brand’s footprint extend beyond an online resource; he has also written and published a companion book, My Hair Ain’t Nappy: A Black Man’s Introspective on Natural Hair, which can be purchased on the website and at amazon.com.   

“The book offers information on how to effectively transition – both mentally and physically – into accepting, embracing and loving your natural hair.  It’s a must-read for all those that are transitioning or even have a thought of transitioning to natural hair,” Peace says.

Are you against the use of chemical relaxers?  I don’t want anyone to think I’m opposed to relaxers – I’m not.  I prefer that if you’re going to wear anything that isn’t native to your natural curl pattern, that you don’t wear it because you think your hair is nappy.  I hope that black people begin to employ more positive terminology in reference to our hair textures and omit words like “nappy” and all those other words that are antithetical to our being beautiful.

What’s the biggest mistake you feel naturalistas make with their hair?  I think the biggest mistake I’ve seen is people not seeking professional expertise.  YouTube has been a very valuable resource, but it’s mainly comprised of amateurs who have learned to master their own texture.  But a professional hair stylist has encountered various hair textures and can offer custom solutions to help you optimize your hair growth.

What do men really think about women with natural hair?  To be frank, brothers don’t care.  It ain’t even about your hair; it’s about you.  We love confidence, we love beauty, and we love you when you love you. 

For more information, connect with Darrius Peace via email: dpeace@myhairaintnappy.com.

Image courtesy of Darrius Peace

14 years ago Short URL Comments

Birmingham Live!/Love That!/Scene and Heard

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25

Jan

The Look: Skirting the Issue

Hemlines that fall gracefully below the knee to mid-calf  or maxi length are one of this season’s biggest trends that will carry over into spring.   Expect to see some high-low versions as well.  It’s a welcome departure from the much shorter hemlines that have dominated the runways for seasons.  If you dare to wear it, go for ladylike chic or edgy coolness, but remember: the “frumpy librarian” look is definitely not in season.  Keep it neutral or try an unexpected color combination.  I am loooving the crispness pleated skirts add to separates for the office, especially when paired with a silk blouse and cardigan or even a button down.  Footwear should be kept sleek: a pump,  bootie, ballet flat or smoking slipper are super cute options.  Stay away from anything clunky!  Whether you choose a knife pleat (a narrow pleat turned in one direction), a sunburst pleat (similar to a knife pleat except it has more of a flare) or a box pleat (a wider pleat; similar to old-school cheerleader skirts), this is a classic piece that should have a permanent place in your closet.

Here’s the look as seen on People Style Watch, in shorter versions:

Images courtesy via People and BCBG

14 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio/The Look

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24

Jan

If a Kardashian Can Do It, So Can I

Hold your horses: I mean I can COUPON for thrilling deals, not sign up for a 72 day marriage!  I clip coupons for groceries and shop sales, but I only recently discovered how to shop smarter via sites like RetailMeNot. A quick search recently returned a sales code for a deep discount at one of my favorite shoe stores; how did I not know about this?!  

Since sharing is caring, I’m passing on a few highly recommended favorite deals and steals sites for your shopping pleasure.

1. RetailMeNot offers coupon codes and printable coupons at over 150,000 popular stores (even for groceries!).   The site  features an Offer Portal with top deals and coupon codes for certain popular gifting periods.  The website also offers a Mac dashboard widget.  I don’t think I’ll be able to ever shop again without consulting this website.

2. ShopStyle is excellent for “cross-shopping hundreds of thousands of apparel, home decorating and kids products — all in one place.  Featuring products from the most popular designer brands and big name fashions, to the up and coming boutiques, ShopStyle lets users search the most stylish stores at once — by designer, brand, store, sale items, price point, and color.”  Use it to set sales alerts on your favorite brands;  the website sends you email blast when the item is marked down.  ShopStyle also offers a free mobile app for iPhone and iPad users.  Fun feature: the Community Looks section, where users can play fashion stylist and put together looks.

3.  Indea L. recommends My Habit (a membership-only website, but you can sign in with your amazon.com account).  MyHabit describes itself as “a private fashion sale site offering up to 60% off hand-picked selections from designer and boutique brands.  Most [sales] start daily at 11 AM CT and last 72 hours.   Prices are up to 60% off list prices.”  There were so many to-die-for designer and boutique labels to drool over that I barely got this post written (do the names House of Harlow, Catherine Malandrino or Fendi ring a bell?)!  Perks include “fast, free shipping and returns in the U.S.”  The MyHabit mobile app alerts members to new designers and sales.

4.  Designer Apparel is a “members-only personalized shopping experience, providing exclusive access to designer sales and customized email alerts on the top fashion brands. Designer Apparel scours the web to find the best prices and promotions so its members are the first to know when items from the most coveted designers go on sale. ”  With pieces from Marchesa and Balenciaga and members-only private sales, what’s not to love?

5.  Kesha T. recommends Yowza!!, a free mobile app which provides location-specific coupons to over 15,000 sellers nationwide.  No more handing over tattered coupons; just show your iPhone to the cashier.  Yowza!! also has a piggy bank feature which shows you how much you’ve saved.

6.  Gilt City, another gem suggested by Indea L., allows you to search for deals by city.  The site describes itself as “the key that unlocks the very best your city has to offer for less,  [having] combed through hundreds of neighborhoods, [and] countless things to do and boiled it all down to the most sought-after experiences and services just for you.” 

7.  Ideeli.com is yet another members-only, designer apparel sales site that hosts a sale at 11 AM CT each day.  The site and its mobile app feature “more than a dozen new sales showcase fashion for men, women and children, home décor and travel at up to 80% off.”  A neat perk?  Refer friends to Ideeli; if 10 become buyers you receive $250 in credits to use on the site.

8.  Looking to treat your feet? Jessica C. finds super shoe deals at Heels.com.  This women’s shoe mecca offers free shipping and returns, and has a loyalty program that allows you to earn points with each purchase.  I also love its sales page  and the fact that the site utilizes video to show you what the shoes actually look like while worn.

Enjoy!

Image via StyleHive

14 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Shopping is My Cardio

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23

Jan

Please Don’t Wear Your Jammies to Work

No ma'am, Rachel Roy.

Nightwear as daywear is a trend that’s shown up on runways (and recently on the front page of shopbop.com), and I’m warning you: this does not mean your Forever Lazy footie pajamas, slinky negligees, or saggy Hello Kitty  flannel bottoms from freshman year are now in style and meant to be inflicted upon the public.  Those fashion choices will make you a perfect candidate for People of Walmart, not anyone’s best dressed list.  If you’d like to incorporate the look into your wardrobe smartly, here are some tips on how to wear pajama-inspired looks with flair and good taste.

1.  Try a lacy camisole under a cardi or jacket for the office, or a vintage bustier with a pencil skirt or cigarette pants for evening.  The key here is balance.   If you pair these items with a super short skirt or shorts, or anything skintight, the effect will be more “streetwalker” than chic.

2.  Pair silky or print pajama bottoms with a structured piece on top,  like a cable-knit cardigan.  Or, try a menswear-inspired pajama top with skinny jeans and a pair of fun loafers.  The blend of textures will keep you from looking like you rolled straight out of the boudoir.

3.  Please leave anything with a cheeky phrase on it in the store,  or spare the rest of us and save it for wearing at home.  Your seat isn’t for advertising to the general public. 

4.  Several words to the wise about leggings: I’m all for them when worn properly.  And by “properly” I mean that the leggings should be opaque, not sheer, fishnet, etc.  One’s legs should not look like they are squeezed into sausage casings.  And a blazer, long cardigan or tunic-style top that skims or covers the rear is most flattering.  

5.  PajamaJeans are to be avoided at all costs.  The printed zipper and pockets are…strange.  There are too many other options for affordable, comfortable and flattering denim for women of all shapes and budgets to resort to something that pulls on and has a hidden drawstring.

6.  The last word: be sure to wear appropriate undergarments so that your silhouette is sleek and your “unmentionables” remain unmentioned by passers-by.  Smooth ripples and provide an extra layer under unlined items by wearing a pair of  fleshtone hosiery that has been snipped at the calf or knee.

Image via Gawker.com

14 years ago Short URL 2 Comments

Haute or Not?/The Look

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20

Jan

If the Shoe Fits…

A sharp-eyed reader pointed out that I recently cooed over the studded slip-ons worn by Idris Elba at the Golden Globes last Sunday, despite having come down hard against people who wear sneakers with formal wear in a previous post.  That’s the thing about fashion.  Just when you roll your eyes at someone in a Canadian tuxedo, O Magazine  decides it’s what’s hot and happening for Spring.

Sigh.

But isn’t that what’s wonderful about style?  We have the opportunity to have fun with it, to take one special piece, wear it in an unexpected manner and change the conversation about what’s fashionable.  If – as in Cinderella’s case – one shoe can change your entire life, imagine what a wardrobe of well-considered clothes and accessories can do?

I’ll go on record as saying I prefer evening shoes with evening wear, and that anyone who deviates should have an awesome pair of sneakers (studded, bedazzled or otherwise “dressed up”) to make me reconsider.  Beat-up Nikes just won’t cut it on the red carpet.

I’m not sure socks with sandals will ever be in style either, no matter what Donatella Versace would have us believe in this ad featuring Cindy Crawford’s doppelganger daughter Kaia Gerber, the new face of Young Versace.

But I’m open to being proved wrong.

Image via Versace

14 years ago Short URL Comments

Haute or Not?/He Said She Said/Learn From My Mistakes!/Random Acts of Fashion

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18

Jan

Our Lips are Sealed Today

…in protest of SOPA/PIPA. 

Because censorship definitely isn’t chic. 

SCDD will return to its regular schedule of fabulosity on Thursday.

-Alexis 

14 years ago Short URL Comments

C'est Si Bon/Haute off the Press

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12

Jan

Change is Good

One of my very elegant grandmothers once told me:  “If you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got.”  Now, she was giving me advice on finding a man (which is a post for another day and a whole other blog), but the same applies with fashion.  If your look needs a serious shot in the armoire, now’s the time to try something different.  I’m not suggesting you tattoo your neck or decide to wear a tutu every day.  But I’ll give you an example:  I’ve never, EVER shopped in Talbots.  I always peeked in the window as I passed by, but shop there? Never.  Why?  Because I always thought it was for someone far older, far wealthier, far more something [insert another totally off-base assumption here] than I happen to be.  But this recent photo shoot for O  Magazine  made me see the women’s store in a new light.

In search of the pink pants pictured, I stepped into Talbots at the Summit earlier this week.  And while some of the items were not my taste (which is probably going to be the case wherever one browses), I did find several pairs of  kicky flats festooned with bows, a bright turquoise suede clutch, and other pieces that fit my lifestyle, budget and aesthetic. (The  fact that the store was in the middle of a serious sale didn’t hurt, either.)  I left the store empty-handed, but it occurred to me: what have I been writing off that I should be trying?

My challenge to you this week is to stop in a store you’ve never considered.  Try something on that you previously thought was too daring, too colorful, too young, too old or out of your league fashion-wise.  If you only buy high-end, saunter into Forever 21 for something fun and frivolous.  And if you stick to fast fashion that is heavy on trends, consider an investment piece that you could own forever.  You might be pleasantly surprised.

Or you could play it safe, blend in with the wallpaper and remain age-appropriate.  How’s that working out for you?

Riiiiiight.

Image via Talbots

14 years ago Short URL Comments

Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio

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11

Jan

Baby, it’s Cold Outside…

…and the days of running around without a coat, shivering in our work or partywear are SO over.  Catching the flu because you’re inappropriately dressed for the cold is definitely not what’s haute in the streets! So what’s a chicster to do?  Make sure your outerwear is every bit as fab as your outfit, of course!

The past few days have been blessedly warm(er), but slow your roll before you replace your boots with flip flops.  Now is the perfect time to catch deals on winter coats and accessories, according to Frugal Living.  But don’t settle for just any old coat; make a statement!  MSN offers old Hollywood as inspiration, and I {heart} a vintage (or vintage-inspired) coat, like the Kate Spade swing coat shown.  Similar wool and cashmere versions with quality linings with fur or “fur” collars and cuffs can often be found at your local thrift or consignment shop.  I scored a camel-colored mid-century model with mink trim and three quarter sleeves at Hanna’s Antique Mall last year that is adorable.  I love that these coats often have linings embroidered with their previous owner’s initials; it kind of gives each piece a story.

If you’ve got a good, heavy winter coat, why not try a smart, all-weather trench that can carry you into spring,  something in an unusual color (a white coat against an all black outfit is so chic!),  or invest in a dressier evening coat?  Many veer to furs or wraps for after five, but a satin opera coat or velvet cape is just as lovely.  And don’t forget your gloves and scarf as a finishing touch!  If you’re feeling particularly crafty, P.S. I Made This has super-cute Lanvin-inspired ear muffs you can make (whip up the faux version, so you don’t end up in PETA’s doghouse with Dr. Dre and Oscar De La Renta).

Image via Kate Spade

14 years ago Short URL 2 Comments

Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio

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06

Jan

Calling All Target Shoppers: Jason Wu Collection Launches February 5

Let's Get Ready to Rummmmble!

Jason Wu, whose cutting edge (pun intended!) designs and the inaugural gown he designed for FLOTUS Michelle Obama have made him a darling of the runways, recently announced plans to release an apparel and handbag collection via Tarjhay.  If the haute mess that was the Missoni for Target release is still fresh in your mind and you are dead set on owning a piece without spending your 401K with Ebay carpetbaggers (I rebuke you, hot pink Versace for H&M dress!), you have one month to make like the Christmas Champ and appropriately plan vacation time, map out your plan of attack for storming the store, practice your best shopping cart drive-by, and plot your chic sleepover in the store parking lot (just kidding; I’m sure the po-po will relieve you of that notion).  For more images, click here.

Jason Wu

Pieces range from $19.99 to $59.99 and Target has graced us with this teaser:

Images via ology.com and Target

Connect with Same Chic Different Day via Facebook!

14 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Shopping is My Cardio/The Look

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05

Jan

Caped Crusaders

Plaid "Sophie" Cape by Kate Spade

Snuggie and Forever Lazy wearers take note: this is the hautest way to keep warm!  Wrap up in a super cute cape and add a touch of drama to your looks for work  or play.  Layer it over a long sleeved blouse or tee and skinny jeans or cigarette pants plus your flat boots, loafers or ballet flats  to pull off this polished look.  I have a feeling this camel version by J. Crew will make its way into my closet.

Images courtesy of Kate Spade, Net-a-Porter and Snuggie Humor

14 years ago Short URL Comments

Love That!/Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio/The Look

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