How To Walk In Stilettos

Ok, so not a day goes by that I don't wear a shoe with a heel. Even boots. So I may have a thing or two to say about how to walk in stilettos. Since graduating from high school where our uniform limited me to Sperrys and DocMartens, I've worn them to class every day, so I have always had questions about how I can manage heels this high.

I just do.

But, to break it down to a science, by quoting someone else:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2081877_walk-stilettos.html


I make my attempt to explain how it works. This is applicable for this season's all-too popular wedges!

So happy stepping!

Much love,
<3 SF

TFM: Prepster Central

Wow, so let's just say Southern Proper at 310 Rosemont was the highlight of my Thursday evening. Preps from all over came out of the woodwork for this one. We are few and far between in these parts. But this guy, one of my best freinds, cozied up to Channel the resident mascot of 310:

 

We can see why he's one of my best freinds. Just kidding! ;) 

So, as with any fashion event, this blogger began taking pics like no other and there were a few key pieces that I simply could not ignore!

 Ohh lala! A Lilly P. dress! So yummy! The asymetrical shoulder lends the dress a young, fun twist!

This young woman was absolutely chic in this dress she was just trying on! I wonder if she bought it? I would if I looked this good! :)
  

Look at these cuties! New to the SoPro collection this spring are the Preppy Camp Shorts! Great for pairing with your favorite polo and boatshoes for a carefree jaunt. For more info on where you can get your own fantastic pair, click on this link:
http://www.southernproper.com/store/gentlemen/pc-shorts.html

So, let's just say my bestie and I started bonding with Regan. Little did we know this petite powerhouse was one of the masterminds behind Southern Proper.

We all agree without question that it's Springtime.


So here's the product we are here for! :)

SO YUMMY! :) 

Yum, yum yum! :)

In all honesty, I have a fantastic time every time I visit the fabulous women of 310 Rosemont. 

Hey! They have a blog too! http://www.310rosemont.blogspot.com/

Keep posted for more events ladies and gents! Keep it classy and preppy. Make mummy proud! 

Much love, 

<3SF

 

 

I finally organized a fashion show. Long overdue :)

It's about time? Yes, it's about time that I threw my own fashion show. Let's just say that my friends at Chantilly Lace were the ULTIMATE LIFESAVERS and let me borrow over $ 2,000 worth of merchandise overnight!

Wow.

At first, the coordinator emailed me about 2 months ahead of time, offering me the opportunity to model for the intermission show. My immediate response, without question was a resounding yes. Or maybe it was "ABSOLUTELY" or something more expressive perhaps, but I digress. SO, I arrive at the first meeting excited, and cramming it in between 2 other meetings, I had no idea what to expect. Expect the unexpected little Soufa.

So as a reasult of that meeting, I was to organize a short 15 min segment to showcase fashions of a style yet to be determined. Fortunately, I already had a list of models to work with. Nonetheless I had a little over a month to outfit 5-9 models in whatever clothing I could muster up.

Ok, THINK THINK THINK...who could I count on to trust me with their merchandise...hmm. I've worked with the fashion organization on campus who regularly works with a boutique downtown where I've dropped $200 on a dress that I've never worn out. Buyer's remorse much? I've paid less for higher quality brands and mother, who I swear should be a professional shopper, to this day continues to wag her finger at my purchase. Sorry mum.

So I thought I could borrow clothes from them right? Not really. After a half-hearted reply and an unreplied email later, I was up the creek and two weeks out from the fashion show, one of which was Spring Break.

Bummer.
SO that meant that I had to secure clothing for the show in less than a week. But I certainly did have a back up plan.

After a long-winded daily phone conversation with my mother, I remembered I was pretty close to the owner at Chantilly Lace, a bridal store on Main Street. Worst case scenario of Marla didn't say no, I could have my friends from White House Black Market ship something over.  It's good to have friends.

I put off calling for 2 days. One excuse after another propelled my procrastination and finally, the Wednesday before break arrived. You can do this, you can do this. You've interviewed them before and hung out with the staff at several bridal shows. You can do this, you can do this... Sometimes--ok, most of the time, I have to pshych myself up.

I finally called, she was at her other store and would be back later for a fitting. Well, I thought, I'll just stop by later at her jewelry store downtown, but my class schedule and timing facilitated me calling.

To make a long story short, I asked if I could borrow dresses and the answer was a resounding yes. I was credited for having the gift of gab, but I credit my unwavering commitment to professionalism and tact.

So, I arranged for the girls to come in and try on anything they wanted in the store, granted they were allotted 2 dresses to set aside  for borrowing, in case their first preference sold. So we had loads of fun trying them on and of course I had to take pictures:

 

Absolutely delicious! :) 

 

Hrm, viable options here! So many beautiful gowns! 

Photo credit: Mia S.

So the big day arrived, and the models had a fabulous time trolling up and down the stage in gorgeous gowns and I was grateful to have worked with such poised and beautiful young women. Of course this is only a preview of what is to come. Be prepared for the awesomeness to follow in the fall of 2011!

Backstage, before the show! SO much anticipation!

Photo Credit: Mia S.

 

 

 

 

 Photo Credit: Chloe Q.

Be ready.

Much Love,
<3 SouFa

Hello Spring! :)

So I ran into a dear friend downtown who was DISTRAUGHT that I hadn't posed in awhile...so with out further delay:

Welcome back Spring!

Rebel, Rebel

Here is an essay that I composed for my Black Aesthetics class. There was no prompt, so this is a response to my thoughts, the society I live in and a culmination of my studies in Sociology from the African American/African paradigm. Do respond with your thoughts.

  As a black artist or musician, is there ever an expression of your experience that can be accepted for mere virtue of its quality and aesthetic quality instead of being judged as a "black artist". In an attempt to understand the idea, I considered the idea that race may be central to the lived experience. It depends on if you define yourself and your art by your race or your humanity. Additionally, if art is the expression of the art is central to the self, then is race central to the self?
   
    As an artist that expresses herself through fashion, I do not count race as central to my influence or even a factor at all as to what I chose to wear. What one chooses to wear is an external manifestation of the inner self. This self, which has largely not been acclimated to the ways of black pop culture first- hand, I consider my manner of dress significantly influenced by my surroundings. As a matter of fact when I come to think of it, no one else I know dresses the way I do, so my identity is so individual to myslef that it is neither defined my race or my surroundings but rather the antithesis of my lived experience. I look within and to other artists/celebrities to derive my way of dressing. So in my case, race is in no way central to my expression but rather a an additional characteristic that others use to differentiate me from my peers at  a superficial level. Some may say that my manner of dress is an attempt to assimilate into mainstream culture, but most Tech students are complacent with sweatshirts and jeans. So not me.

    So is race central to expression as an artist? Can a black writer write about their lived experience without race being an issue? Quite often not. Black identity is often pegged as the antithesis of mainstream "white" culture. Essentially if you are not a mainstream writer adhering to cultural "norms" then you must be the only other alternative, a "black" writer. And that should be ok right? Not! As artists and vessels of expression our work should speak for itself and be free for interpretation that is free from the confines of social prejudices. Art is transcendent and expression of life. If we consider art as a bridge to bring us together, then race is in no way an indication of one's validity or limitation as an artist.

    Some may argue that race is central to identifying the artist, as much as gender is an indicator to understanding the artist and coming closer to understanding where their art is seated in its expression. In that light, race is as important as geographic location or the individual's age. These factors should never be an arbiter of the art or artists' validity or be used to marginalize and limit their ability because of where they are from or because of their lived experience. So can an artist ever transcend the lived experience? Maybe. But our understanding of each other can be molded by lived experience, and never confined to it. We can be molded by our lives, but in essence we cannot be confined by it. It can be used to guide our experience and help to understand but not limit our understanding of artistic expression but rather use it as a facet of understanding.

SLAP IN THE FACE!

Ok, so a visit to the Bloomies at home this weekend rendered me speechless, Mummy and I discovered they NO LONGER sell Juicy Couture.

Not ok. And to top it off the sales clerk, whom I've never met before (slightly disturbing) had the audacity to mock our dismay and confusion. "What is this here? Marc Jacobs? What happened?", Mom asked me. The Juicy Couture display had been otherwise replaced by another designer I like. But still, it wasn't Juicy.

I couldn't answer, my mouth was agape with dismay and confusion. "I have no idea Mum. Where else could it be? I need it in my life!" So she proceeded to ask the sales clerk 'Where is your Juicy collection'


"We don't sell Juicy anymore" the salesclerk replied Mother and I took a synchronized 'GASP!'
"B-b-but, what happened?"
"I dunno"
"What do you mean you 'Don't know'?"
"Uuuhh, uuummmeee, I guess you'll have to ask our buyer?" Her voice raised in confusion. Get on that, I thought. Mental to do list number 2,456 of things to do and know. I was violated and someone needs to hear a piece of my mind. The online selection pales in comparison to what I could get in the store. What am I going to do!

Be prepared to get a piece of my mind Juicy Couture/ Bloomingdale's! This is NOT OK!

Signed:
Your favorite Southern Fashionista

Style Sightings