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Plaid is everywhere this season.  I recently spotted this gentleman in Union Square showcasing the trend with this green plaid blazer.  Very cool.

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IMG_7008 Hello beautiful people.  Have I got a treat for you!  To show my appreciation for your support of Scripts and Sightings, I teamed up with Prescriptives to offer one lucky reader a FREE bottle of Prescriptives’ Custom Blend Foundation ($75).  But get this, you don’t even have to leave your couch to redeem this offer.  Prescriptives is the first company to offer custom blend foundation via a live video chat.  Yes…video chat.  As a winner, all you would have to do is set up a bit of time to chat with a Prescriptives Beauty Genius who will ask you a few questions, look at a makeup-free photo of you, and observe your skin via the live video chat.  From there, you’ll have a Custom Blend recipe formulated for your unique shade and undertones.

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For a chance to win, leave a comment in the comment section below or send me a private email explaining what products you use and why.  If you don’t use makeup, not to worry, just tell me why you don’t.  The winner will be chosen randomly.

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I tried the service out this week and had my husband snap these photos of me using different light settings with no added filter.  I also kept my skin blush-free so you can get an idea of how it came out.

For years I’ve used Mary Kay foundation, which I love, so this was really a new experience for me.  I think the color came out okay.  What do you think?  I’m still at the ‘wait and see stage,’ but the great part about this offer is that if you’re not happy with the color, your Prescriptives Beauty Genius will re-work it for you.

I can’t wait to hear from you!

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Celebrate Your Best Asset

Lately I’ve learned to make the old saying, “if you’ve got it flaunt it,” my rule of thumb when it comes to fashion and beauty. We all have that one thing that makes us feel beautiful, whether it be full lips, a toned frame, beautiful eyes, or a nice butt. For me, my best attributes are my legs.

I didn’t always fancy them. I remember being in middle school and wishing I were shorter.  I was taller than almost all the girls and a good amount of the guys. As a fashion lover it was even more difficult to accept my height since I loved the chunky square heels and high wedge sneakers trend from the 90s.

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As I got older I began to appreciate them more. No matter if I’m wearing flats or 6-inch heels, my long, lean, cocoa brown limbs support my 5 foot 9 inch frame flawlessly. After I had my daughter, there were parts of me that I simply didn’t recognize, and that’s to be expected. But these legs stayed true to their usual form. So these days I celebrate them without reservation.

To highlight my legs in these photos, I opted for a vintage menswear blazer, short black leather shorts, a white button down shirt, and silver oxfords.

Don’t forget to play up your best asset.

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new 1 These days I’m all about keeping warm enough to battle the slight chill in the air while showing some skin before it gets too cold.  What better way to do it than leather shorts and a sweater?  This look works for me since showing off my long legs has become my obsession (more on that in another post).

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During a Saturday outing in Brooklyn with my husband, I wore these olive green faux leather shorts and grey funnel neck sweater (both from Zara) with an old pair of Armani strappy booties.  Since my hubby is a photographer, I had him snap these pictures of me.  I know, I know, how cliche is it for a style blogger to be married to a photographer, lol.  Check out more of his work on Ayodejiphotography.com.

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted a random style sighting that didn’t come out of an event.  So I was pleased to run into Eduardo on Halsey street in Bedstuy.

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Love the hat and frames.  His jacket also caught my eye.

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His Giuseppe sneakers finished off his street chic look nicely.

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new-2 For me, fall is more than a season for deep colors and warm sweaters, it’s about welcoming possible life changes.

Fall is upon us, so you’ve probably dusted off all of your chunky sweaters, trench coats, and boots. If you’re tired of the traditional autumnal color palate you’ll be pleased to see how designers are offering lighter colors like misted yellow, cognac, aluminum, and mauve this year. And though fashion is about breaking rules, there’s something about the season that makes any lipstick lover trade in her bright pinks and nudes for deep plums, burgundy, and even black.

But fashion and beauty aside, I love the way fall feels; not just the weather, but that intangible sensation one gets when there’s a shift in the atmosphere.  For me the mild chill in the air coupled with the subtle gloom ushers in a sentiment of imminent change. Along with the changes in the color of nature and the hues we wear, fall sometimes hints to me that my life is about to transform. Just as winter brings on the need for hibernation and intimacy, and spring brings about awakening and cheer right before summer comes calling for social gatherings and exciting retreats, fall represents the acceptance of what life has in store. As soon as that first crisp day settles upon us I purposely go within to access that feeling.  It’s as though I’m probing the universe for answers on whether something life-altering will happen to me in the coming months. Fall is like my January 1st, though I never need a resolution.  I’ve come to accept the fact that any impending life transformation is not one I can predict or force through a fickle promise; change is inevitable whether good or challenging.

Last year when fall made its descent, my daughter had been in the hospital for over a month.  Born in August after just 25 weeks of pregnancy she was considered a micro preemie. She was tiny to say the least.   For the first few days after her birth, I was fine. I saw my sister go through the same thing years before with my nephew who was born the same way. I told myself I could get through it. But the day I went home from the hospital without her, I broke down. Day after day I was faced with the uncertainty of her future. All I could do is pray and trust that everything would work out fine.

By the time the chill in the air came that September, it was easier for me to accept the situation for what it was. I learned how to live in the moment. It was during the fall that I got a grip on patience and clarity. I knew she would be well—and that she was and still is.

The fall before my daughter was born I had the same feeling that change was upon me.  By the time spring came I found out I was going to be a mom.

This fall is no different.  I sense the feeling of imminent change.  So as I pull my season’s best looks from the old trunk in my closet, I embrace the idea of experiencing another major life shift.  I’m unclear on whether it could be personal or professional. I simply trust my own intuition and the season that, for me, has been the most telling.  There’s just something about fall.

Dear Autumn, bring me good news of great fortune in my days to come.

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Abi and John Ashford What’s a fashion show without the shoes?  Unless of course a designer calls for the barefoot look, great shoes are the key element in completing a standout look on the runway.

During New York Fashion Week, I spoke to John Ashford, the designer behind the eye catching stilettos used in modest designers Nailah Lymus and Amalina Aman’s spring presentation. Find out what he says goes into creating his handmade eleven inch heels and what inspires the aesthetic for his line, Authentic by John Ashford.

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“Less classically beautiful.” Those were the three words a New York Times reviewer used to describe Viola Davis, one of the most talented black actresses of our time. Davis who stars in ABC’s newest drama, “How To Get Away With Murder,” which premiered last night, plays a law professor who is smart, quick-witted, sexy, and strong. Despite Davis’ amazing performance, based on her looks, the New York Times seems to be baffled by the idea that she even got the role.

I woke up this morning and watched a clip of the interview Davis did on the View yesterday in which she addressed the New York Time’s irresponsible reference. To sum it up, Davis says:

“I’m glad that Shonda Rhimes saw me. That’s what makes her a visionary. That’s what makes her special. That’s why she’s iconic.”

“I think that beauty is subjective. I’ve heard that statement (less classically beautiful) my entire life, Being a dark-skinned Black woman. You hear it from the time you come out of the womb. And “classically not beautiful” is a fancy term of saying ugly, and denouncing you, and erasing you. Now, it worked when I was younger. It no longer works for me now.”

She continues,

It’s about teaching a culture how to treat you. Because at the end of the day, you define you.”

 

What more can be said after that? The New York Times article was yet another reminder of what so many black women face based on society’s bogus run-of-the-mill beauty standards. It’s an honor to have Viola Davis as our voice and representation.  It is my hope that Davis’ words will inspire young dark skinned girls who dare to dream of one day becoming an actress or pursue any other craft typically based on beauty. Let us all be aware that the lie we’ve been told about being “Less classically beautiful” will have little affect what we can achieve, so long as they define our own beauty.

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IMG_6870 Chef Roble and Saada Ahmed’s Everyday People monthly brunch party has become one of the coolest events for New York City’s cool crowd.  Beyond the food, musical performances, and celebrity VIP, some of the most fashionable people in the city show up to show off their unique style.  This past Sunday I attended the event to document all the fabulous attendees.  Check it below.

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I wore a pleated skirt I had made in Ghana during my trip there a few years ago.  I wanted the skirt to be the standout piece, so I wore a sweatshirt close to my flesh tone, minimal accessories, and camel colored wedge heels.

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The ladies looked great in flirty skirts and dresses.

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I loved her boots and NY Jet’s T-Shirt.

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Isn’t she beautiful?

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These ladies looked great.  Loved the ankara shoes.

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Speaking of Ankara…loved these pants.

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The guys looked casual cool.

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Loved his accessories.

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Cool look.

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Clearly black and white was the color palette for many of the guys.

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Some of the ladies kept it casual but fresh.

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I love this look on Joy Adaeze.

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Some of the men embraced color.

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Chef Roble included.

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Great hair, makeup, accessories, and beautiful complexions were aplenty.

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Chrissy Lampkin was there.  She was super cool.

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Beverly Bond’s DJ set was so on point.

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Amanda Diva was the host.

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Before the brunch party began, Dark and Lovely held a presentation of it’s Au Naturale Anti-Breakage and Anti-Shrinkage lines to members of the press.  The company brought a few of their models along to demonstrate the products, including Wakeema Hollis pictured above.

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Roble took a moment to take some press shots along with Les Nubians who performed at the event. Nice event overall.

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Me and jodie 2 The cosmetics industry has long neglected to meet the needs of women of different ethnicities. As part of my New York Fashion Week video coverage, I spoke to Jodie Patterson, Co-Founder of DooBop.com about how she plans to make her business the first successful cosmetic company targeting affluent brown women.  Press play for the full story!

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