Curl/Fashion Envy: Solange Knowles

I don't have many personal style icons.  But when I do get in my feminine groove, Solange Knowles is definitely one of those chicks that I look at and say "I need that".  I like to think of myself as a "silhouettest".  I am all about silhouette and her latest fits are calling my name.  Not to mention, I love her natural hair pride.  She's been natural for a while, but has now decided to start wearing natural styles after her big chop last year.  

I need this in my life!!!

8920: Charm City!!!

Over the past week, I've been testing out some jewelry ideas. My better half fell in love with the idea of a charm bracelet and immediately started telling his friends. Within days, we've sold enough to start taking this little idea to the next level. Now, because I am a super tomboy, everything I construct in fashion has a masculine twist. I would like to market these charm bracelets as unisex, but I don't want to take the Y chromosome from my alpha-male clients. So, I'll keep it black and white (men and women).

This bracelet collection is called Good and Evil. The bracelets are all a mix of black onyx and include your choice of one charm; a skull or a cross. Any custom orders including color and extra charms will be an additional charge.

For right now, the base price of the bracelet is $35 and includes a toggle closure. For sales inquiries please contact me: 89twenty@gmail.com

Below are just a few pictures of satisfied customers. These will be available for sale on-line at our store, so please stay tuned for more information!!

Frugalista: William Rast for Target Clearance

When this collection released, I went to my local Target to check out the threads in person.  Unfortunately, my Target was late and it did not debut it on-time.  I went back later that week and got a good glimpse of the line and I thought it was nice.  There was nothing outstanding about it, but it was certainly "cute".

Yesterday, while on a mission at Target looking for Covergirl's answer to MAC's Ruby Woo red lipstick, my step dad picked up a leather jacket and said "is this lambskin?".  I quickly darted over to him and upon further inspection it was the infamous $200 William Rast for Target lambskin leather jacket that I apparently missed during my other visits.  Not only was the quality of this jacket exceptional, it was on CLEARANCE and it was my size.

I was afraid to put the jacket down.  I held it under my arm as I looked through my beloved boy's section and then cosmetics.  After searching relentlessly for Covergirl's Lip Perfection in Hot Passion (305), they didn't have it.  Target.com had the lipstick cheapest at $5.99.  However, my Target (which I am learning is not so great) didn't have any of the Lip Perfection line at all.  I ended up getting it from Rite Aid for $7.19.  By the way, the lipstick is amazing and I'll have a review with pictures very soon.

So, what happened with the jacket?  I bought it..................

Say Yes to Dress!!

Over the past few months I've been quite the insomniac, making my usual bedtime around 3am.  Sometime last week, after flipping channels for about an hour, I finally decided to watch TLC's Say Yes to the Dress.  I'm usually not a fan of wedding shows because of my unwillingness to elope.  Not to mention, I usually get irritated behind all the money spent on weddings anyway.  So, within the first 20 minutes of the show I'm already annoyed by the brides and their families, but I continue to watch because I am easily entertained.   During the last 10 minutes or so, they showed a P'nina Tornai gown and I fell in love.  For the first time ever I pictured myself in a wedding dress on my wedding day.

Everything about that gown was authentic Aja.  The next day, I google stalked the designers collections from 2008 to now and I was impressed.  For the first time ever I wanted to actually get married and have a real wedding.  For years, I've told friends and family that courthouse nuptials would do me just fine.  While that still may be the case, I want a dress, that dress to be exact.  Although I couldn't find pictures of the gown, this bodice below is almost identical.

I absolutely love this bodice!

The trumpet style silhouette is amazing!

Frugalista: L.A.M.B. Pier in Cognat

Guess who just got a pair of L.A.M.B. Pier's for $90?  Me!!!!!!!!  These shoes originally retailed at $395 and I found them in my beloved Loehmann's for $199.99.  Well, I had a 50% off coupon and with my gold card membership I received an additional 10% off.  If you look closely at the pic you can see why they were in Loehmann's; there is some kind of watermark/burn on the inside of the lower heel.  SO WHAT!! They are still full retail on Zappos and they come in black and brown.  I'm glad I only had one choice; I can be so indecisive at times!

Black Friday

For the first time in 5 years, yesterday I did not have to work.  Working in retail for most of my adult life I have started to loathe malls and the entire shopping experience.  I love everything about fashion, but you will rarely find me at the mall or anybody's department store.  I love to shop on-line and at my favorite discount stores: Loehmann's, Gabriel Brother's, Filene's Basement, Century 21, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Nordstrom's Rack.  Oh and the holy grail: Target's boys section!!!  I sometimes frequent Off Saks and Neiman's Last Call, but A LOT (not all) of the items they sell were made specifically for those stores and were never even in Saks or Neiman's.  There is nothing wrong with that, but psychologically, I want to feel like I'm getting the best deal of my life and I want a real markdown.

So, I went to Loehmann's yesterday in search of some wardrobe staples: black pumps and a new black purse.  I came out with a cute little top, a pair of black pumps and a pair of red pumps.  Those 3 items cost me $58 (Buy one, get second half off + 15% birthday discount + 10% gold member card).  Not bad!  I have about 4 pair of black pumps now:  Church, Interview, Casual, and Dressy.  Now, that I've justified each of their purposes, I no longer want to vomit.  I hate bright red shoes, I'm usually a burgandy or merlot type of girl, but they were just a bonus for those nights when I complain of nothing to wear and the price was excellent!!!

Switch it up!!

 

I love the photos of Alicia Keys in Vogue Italia this month.  I especially enjoy the CHANGE; she is rocked out and glammed up! 

 

 With that said, I'm seriously hair and wardrobe depressed!  I am in need of a serious change and some new shoes!  I'm thinking cut, color, and a shopping spree!! Oh wait, I need a sponsor :(

Coco Before Chanel

Okay, this is not the Lifetime movie with my beloved Shirley MacLaine. This is the Audrey Tautou, pay attention because it's in French so read the English subtitle, version. I loved this movie!!!  It really didn't focus on her fashion too much at all, it was about her life leading up to her success.  What I loved most about her is that she was, like me, a tomboy and was very much into androgyny.  People would often tell her to wear heels, corsets, and overall "just be more feminine".  She would take men's suits and construct them into dresses.  So in a room of pretty pinks and powder blues, she was wearing black pinstripes.  It was so comforting to watch the real woman behind the brand.

Obsessed: Burberry Prorsum

After joining the company in 2001 as creative director, designer Christopher Bailey, at 38 years of age, is now the chief creative director and is in charge of all the brands collections, overall image and just about anything you can imagine.  

Burberry London and all of the other classic lines are cool, but Burberry Prorsum is my absolute favorite!  It must be the muted color palette, military inspired silhouettes, and the effortless androgyny that have me hooked.  Every time I see an ad, I'm in awe.

Although I won't be purchasing any Burberry Prorsum anytime soon, I can definitely say that I am truly inspired by Mr. Bailey's collections; especially Fall 2009 to now.   
GO CHRISTOPHER!!

Check Me Out!!

Check out my feature on Nappy Style!!!

Obsessed: Pretty Boy....

Most people who know me, know that I am a bit of a tomboy. My girlfriends double check dress codes to make sure I can get in where ever we go because I'm usually the "sneakerhead" sneaking past the horribly dressed dude at door.  I don't know what it is about me, I just feel more comfortable in flats than heels and I love looking relaxed.  I've always had a thing for androgyny and the older I get, the more I experiment. I find myself constantly wandering over to the men's or boy's sections whenever I shop.  I have no trouble with men either; they usually love it at first and then ask: "Do you ever dress up?"  Yes, I dress up whenever I go somewhere worth the time it takes to get ready.  Most of them don't get to see that side of me, if you know what I mean!  It all came to me the other day when I caught a glimpse of Romeo Must Die.

Not only did I grow up in a time when was cool for girls to wear extremely baggy clothes, but coming of age, Aaliyah was my "go-to" celebrity.  I loved everything about this chick and she made it cool for girls like me to be who they really were.  Now, that I'm in the 25 and over club, I feel the need to embrace my tomboy style even more.  It gives me a sense of youth and keeps her alive in my mind.  Don't get me wrong, I own heels (as did she); but even my 6 inch Louboutins can't make me loose my "contemporary Aaliyah" look. The next time someone asks me about my style or what they perceive to be lack there of, I'll just say, "Blame it on Aaliyah!".

Symphoni Design Studio

This Saturday I was invited to the grand opening of Symphoni Design Studio, a full service Fashion Design Shop and Working Studio.  At Symphoni, you can find an eclectic mix of apparel and accessories by local independent designers and a list of design workshops like: Fashion Illustration, Sewing, and Fashion Apparel Design.  The owners of Symphoni Design Studio Dionna Waller and Marsharelle Tolbert wish to "enhance, improve, empower, and elevate" the lives of women and young ladies through the avenues of Fashion, Art, and Design.

It was such a great event!  So many came out to support the duo on their new endeavor.  I love that they are providing a creative outlet to uplift and inspire women of all ages, shapes, and sizes!  GO GIRLS!!

Owners Marsharelle Tolbert and Diona Waller rockin' original tees by Oni Nicole

Obsessed: Ticked Off

Jeffrey Campbell is by far, one of my favorite shoe designers.  Every other day I stalk solestruck to see if they've added any newcomers to his collection.  When I love a pair of shoes, I usually have them in more than one color.  That's what happened last year when J.C. released the "Tick".  I'm usually an "all black everything" type of girl, but I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone lately so my first "Tick" purchase was the natural burlap.  I had no idea what I was going to wear these with, but I still bought them.  Then, I discovered the tribal version, but they were too safe and similar to everything else in my wardrobe.  A couple of days later I saw the cheetah fur version and I was sold!!

Cheetah Fur "Tick" by Jeffrey Campbell; 8920 tee

Obsessed: Haute Heels

When I was in NYC this weekend, of course the girls and I went to Topshop. Now, if you read the previous post, you know I left my wallet home, so there was no big spending for me...sigh.  But, my girl Naeemah snagged some fab heels.  Check out the shoes.... RIDICULOUS!!

Obsessed: Fall Boots

There is no season like fall!  You can pull out your favorite tights, blazers, turtlenecks, scarfs, and on the colder days: gloves!  Last but not least, LAYER, LAYER, LAYER!!!  I love to put on all of the items listed above together.

My biggest fall obsession would have to be boots.  I have scrawny little calves, so I prefer knee and over-the-knee for my personal silhouette, but I love all types.  Frye and Jeffrey Campbell top the list as my favorites, but can be a bit pricey.  So, when I see a pair of fly boots over $300, you know the frugalista in me is checking Steve Madden and every thrift store online and in town to see if I can get a similar style.  

Sigh...during my virtual window shopping spree, I stumbled across my latest fundraiser, "On Fire" by Jeffrey Campbell.  I have the same type of boot without the buckle details; so it will be hard for me to clearly justify this purchase.  On top of that, I hate to spend money on items that are too trendy.  I think I just talked myself out of a purchase, lol.  Check it out!!

  

source:  www.solestruck.com

Hello world!!!

My name is Aja.  Just in case you were wondering, yes, I was named after Steely Dan's 1977 release.  Who is Steely Dan you ask?  The most awesome jazz-rock band ever!  Even if you don't know their music, you at least know the sample of "Black Cow" used by Peter Gunz and Lord Tariq's 1998 hit "Deja Vu/ Uptown Baby".  Yeah, that was all Steely Dan!

I am from Baltimore (born and raised) and attended college at Philadelphia University.  I decided to stay in Phillly 4 years after graduation to waste my time and work like a field slave in the beautiful cosmetic industry.   The entire 8 years I was in Philadelphia, I didn't get a chance to know the city and what I did know, I didn't like.  So in June 2010, I decided to quit my job, move back to Baltimore to work on my clothing line and spend time with my family and friends.  Ironically, I've been back and forth to Philly since I left and I have a new appreciation for the city that I never learned.  I even considered moving back, but who knows.  Although I love my friends and family in Bmore, I'm ready to make my next move, very soon!!  

Anyway,  this blog is going to be about me, duh.  I'm going to talk about MY hair, MY make up, what I'M wearing, and who I'M listening to because I'm so DOPE.  JUST KIDDING!!!  However, I will talk about my favorite hair and makeup products, dope music, great fashion and post pics galore!  So, stay tuned!!!!