Freeing the FRO

I’ve been wearing my hair natural since February 28th. So a little over two months now, and I never thought I would fall this much in love again with my OWN hair. I started thinking about it after seeing girls like Lineisy Montero and Samile Bermannelli strut down every high-end designer runways with their tightly coiled tresses; meaning this is NOW a look.

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The black girl with natural hair is now an iconic image for the runways of NYC, Paris and Milan and editorial pages of Vogue, Bazaar, W magazine. So why on earth am I covering mine with a lace closure wig/weave?

IMG_4168IMG_4172IMG_4176It’s typical for women to believe that beauty is what you see in the pages of a magazine. This is what girls aspire to, as early as their teenage years. Right now the off-the-shoulder ruffle blouse is all over magazines, the runways of Johanna Ortiz, fashion websites and on the Petersyn racks at Bloomingdales and other big retailers. So naturally it becomes a trend, and a look women aspire to own.

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IMG_4063 IMG_4106 IMG_3963 The black woman has been so underrepresented in the fashion industry that it leads us to believe that our natural image is not what is considered beautiful. Even I’ve been guilty of this. It’s not necessarily that I didn’t feel beautiful, or think that I was pretty but more so that I thought to have straight hair or long hair was a better image or look.

IMG_3923 I felt that straight hair was more polished, refined or elegant as opposed to a wild, coily, fro-do typical of artists and eccentrics alike.

IMG_3850 IMG_3825 IMG_3827The question I ask myself now, is why is this bad? The answer: reiterated in an article in W magazine on Ebonee Davis. She quite eloquently states that “as black women – we live in a society based on white privilege, so all of the standards of what is beautiful starts with whiteness.”
It all comes down to wanting to feel accepted and wanting to fit in. This raised another question. How important is social acceptance for me versus being my authentic self? I’ve pretty much been a black sheep all my life, so what am I doing trying to fit in anyway?

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Two months later I’m still FROtastic and having so much fun wth my look. Redefining elegance all over the streets of New York City. Having my hair this way gears my outfits towards textured skirts with longer hems, blouses with sleeves, frills and ruffles and shoes that are suitable for a princess or unicorn.

IMG_4166 IMG_4170 IMG_4195People love, love, LOVE my hair. Women and men alike, all ask me how long I’ve been wearing it this way. When I show them pictures with my hair extensions they believe the hair I have now is so much better.

IMG_3843 IMG_3802 IMG_3819One Saturday, a beautiful tall, leggy blonde at Harry Cipriani exclaimed ” I LOVE YOUR ENTIRE LOOK!” I as wearing this exact outfit.  “Your hair is so soft and pretty,” she went on, ” it’s like cotton candy, I wish I could have hair like that.”  Now isn’t that something.IMG_3937IMG_4217IMG_3936

All this isn’t to say that I won’t ever be caught dead in a wig or weave again. I love playing with fashion and experimenting with different styles or looks. It’s always great to embrace a more authentic version of yourself, and  I’m just really enjoying being fro-ly-locks right now. xoxoSB

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GET THE LOOK

StyleKeepers off-the shoulder ruffle blouse

H&M patent skirt

Gucci leather double G buckle belt

Christian Louboutin Explotek

Chanel Boy bag

Photographer : Ramone Reynoneiko

Feeling PINK + Red

Happy Sunday Lovies,
What a sun-filled and glorious day it is. It hasn’t been as warm as I would like these past few days but not having torrential rainfall is a plus today. Surprisingly I’m pretty productive on rainy days; it’s the snow days that put me in slow motion. Ok, I’m not your weather woman, so let’s move on to our fashion forecast.

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You’ve probably noticed that it’s impossible to avoid PINK this season. There are pink shirts, pink pants, pink dresses, pink pumps, pink purses, pretty much pink everything and I love it! I’m totally a pink person. For me, pink is not just a colour but an attitude. It’s bright, upbeat, girly and fun. All things Sherece.

IMG_3608IMG_3620If you feel like a full on pink ensemble is just way too much for you, you can get in on the pink action by incorporating pink accessories into your look. A pink purse, pink velvet mules or pink pumps will instantly recharge any basic look from your closet and give it a very now appeal.

IMG_3542I’m a lean, mean, colour combining machine, so of course, a pink top with exaggerated sleeves and a bow is not enough for me. I went ahead and added, cherry red, asymmetrical flare pants and a Gucci Dionysus covered with beaded: birds, lightening bolts and strawberries (#FAVE )

IMG_3637IMG_3639I suppose when you type it all out like this, it sounds like a lot, but sometimes a lot is so good. I can think of plenty of things that I like A LOT OF! Can you?

movingI’m obsessed with these pants and how amazing they make my new derriere look (in my Patsy Stone voice) SO VERY SMASHING!

IMG_3653As if this wasn’t enough I topped it all off with a rose pink full-length coat. LOL! So I guess for me, it’s never enough! Haha !

IMG_3747IMG_3764IMG_3711After all, I’m a young single female from Jamaica, living on the Upper East Side. What’s the fun in looking like everyone else?

IMG_3737IMG_3742I typically dress how I feel, and these colours had me and everyone along Fifth Avenue feeling very happy.  Men, women and children, cheered me on in admiration while I shot this look.
Sometimes even if you feel like an outfit is A LOT, it might just be enough to garner the attention of that next special person in your life. A fun outfit is an excellent conversation starter. Just look how much I’ve had to say about pink and red today. xoxoSB

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GET THE LOOK

Pink wrap shirt (old) similar here

Zara asymmetrical flare pants

Zara gold sandals

Gucci beaded Dionysus bag (Spring/Summer 2016)

Celine sunnies (old)

Photographer: Ramone Reynoneikio

Feeling Springy

Finally, the weather angels have decided to bless women all over New York City with good weather. For a fashion savvy female, good weather is the equivalent of a shot of expresso in the morning for coffee enthusiasts; she’s on ootd overdose.

Untitled1I just got done watching Billions, “Golden Frog Time”, S2 E11. Is that a cool name for an episode or what? I love love LOVE this show. I don’t know if it’s because of my affection for the “Bobby Axel Rods” in my life or just the drive it gives me for wanting so much more! Unlike these finance wizards, I’m not one for numbers or analytics. Even though I took 9 CXC subjects in high school in Jamaica, additional Mathematics being one of them, I never took a finance course in my life. Unless I guess Economics 101 counts, which was to fulfill a GER requirement. Useful nonetheless because the law of supply and demand is one of the fundamentals of life in New York City.

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This show reminds me every Sunday to always have a plan and set out goals for myself. It doesn’t matter how small or large they are. I like to list things I’m good at other than the skill set I gained at university. Being creative is a passion for me. Whether I’m planning an event, doing wardrobe styling for a client’s upcoming vacation, choosing fabric for a custom design, or just working on my look for my next blog post, I feel deeply rewarded with the result. According to Taylor ( Axel’s new prodigy ) “action, purpose and the challenges that come along with these things” are what dictate our core or soul so to speak.

IMG_3342IMG_3349Ok, so what’s the point of my great big monologue on Billions?

My point is that I need to work on my core.

IMG_3236Sometimes I get so caught up with my responsibilities and my day to day routine that I give little attention to the things that I’m most passionate about. Case in point blogging more. Five of my readers have recently reached out via email and Instagram requesting more posts because they enjoy reading them and that sincerely warmed my heart and put a whole lot of pep in my step.

IMG_3286 IMG_3297Now let us get back to me feeling springy.

IMG_3237IMG_3368I’m eternally obsessed with colour, so colour blocking is always my go to palette when it comes to wearing my feelings on my sleeve. It was a 70 degree Sunday, so this was my look for brunch with a girlfriend who became my on the spot photographer  while we waited for our table at While We Were Young.

PRO : Extremely cute, stylish crowd, yummy instagram-ready food
CON: small, long wait for a table.

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I guess the wait was worth it as she did a great job for a first-time photographer. Thanks again girl.

IMG_3222Trousers are my thing now. I’m a SERIOUS skirt girl; I probably own over 12 dozen different skirts, no really, I do. Now by the grace of good old age and my bad eating habits, I’ve somehow come to inherit a BUTT, naturally increasing my affinity to pants.

IMG_3417There is a huge variety of styles to choose from now in stores with the whole 70’s and 80’s trends. So this is just one of many more pants appearances to come. Stay Tuned and Happy Monday my lovies.

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THANK YOU: A big thank you to my dear friend who got me this purse as a Christmas gift. Without my pretty pink pouch, I doubt that this look would have come together nearly as good as it has. You’re a great friend, and this was a GREAT gift, much better than the Swarovski crystal tree ornaments I gave you, lol. The best gifts are the unexpected ones; the best people are the ones who cherish you and your friendship as a gift in itself. xoxoSB

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GET THE LOOK

Zara yellow wool coat

Topshop green cigarette pants

H&M sweater

Gucci padlock signature shoulder bag

Topshop cherry necklace (old)

BCBG silver slingback pumps (old)

Photographer: Audit_Instyle