My BrownBox

6 Trends To Jazz Up Your Spring Wardrobe

By: Jaida McKie

Spring has finally arrived and it’s time to pack up the sweaters and boots for good! Bright, bold colors and prints are some of the staples each season, but we can’t forget about our classic staples. Here are six trends you Brown Beauties will love!

Neons are always a hit during the spring and summer. They’ve been extremely popular the past two seasons and it’s a fun way to be bold without going over the top. Whether it’s a clutch, top or skater skirt, it doesn’t take much to incorporate this trend into your personal style.

Prints can give you a standout look that’s sure to be a hit. You can mix and match prints and colors and come up with an effortless look. Brown Beauty, Solange is known for her love of bold prints. Follow her lead!

The gold watch is another must-have piece and you can’t go wrong with having a nice classic watch as arm candy. It goes with just about anything and you can dress it up or down depending on the look you’re going for. Keep it simple and go for a menswear inspired look by rocking it solo or pack on the arm candy with cute bracelets for a feminine look.

Small bags are ideal once the heatwave arrives. Put away your oversized totes and carry your essentials in a cute cross body bag or clutch. These are perfect for park visits, spring concerts and trips to the beach. Brown Beauty, Erykah Badu once said, “Pack light!” It’s a must!

Metallics can be hit or miss depending on your personal style. If you want to go the extra mile, pick up a metallic skater skirt or jacket. If you want to give this trend a try and you want to keep it simple, try a cute metallic clutch or a piece of jewelry.

The strappy sandal has been around for some time and it is definitely a classic shoe to have. Whether you prefer heels, wedges or flats it’s a must have this season. You can keep it simple in neutral or basic shades (black, nude, white, etc.) or you can mix it up to add some interest to your look (See the neon & metallic trend).

Remember, you don’t have to break the bank or revamp your entire wardrobe to keep up with the season’s trends. Invest in a few pieces you can wear in three or more different ways and you’re all set!

Shadow Shields

Greetings #BrownBeauties!

Scrolling through my Instagram timeline, I came across several photos of women with half moon shaped patches underneath their eyes. Intrigued by these photos, I was inspired to do a little research. These self adhesive patches are better known as shadow shields. Created by makeup artist Michelle Villanueva, shadow shields catch fall out from makeup application which often causes raccoon looking eyes. They are easy to remove and apply and will save time from clean up.

www.shadowshields.com

-Te Quiero. Paz. Cheynus.

Images Are Everything

I own a television that is essentially a very fancy computer monitor. I can’t view network television. I don’t have cable. Everything I use as a source of entertainment comes from the internet. I’m sure you can guess how excited I was when during a recent business trip I had unlimited access to cable! My days were suddenly split between meetings, trainings, room service and drowning myself in the joys of reality TV.

Imagine my surprise when during what was supposed to be my all cable everything week, I was greeted with several confusing ways to define myself as a woman of color.

Seriously, I could be:

Gone with the wind fabulous

Barbie

Or even the baddest bitch in the land

Seems harmless right? How horrible can it be to describe yourself as a Barbie doll? The problem begins when those descriptions create damaging comparisons based on dimming the light of another woman of color. I like to call it comparison confidence. You see in order for me to be the “baddest bitch” I have to view all of you as lesser women.

I felt the sinking feeling in my stomach that happens when I am angry about how my people are represented and I assume no one else cares. There I was having a decidedly womanist moment out of the blue! Fed up with it all, I decided to reenter The Door.

The fifth installment of The Women’s Tales by Miu Miu, a line from the Prada fashion house, The Door is a short film written and directed by cinematic powerhouse Ava DuVernay. Along with the stars Gabrielle Union, Alfre Woodard, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Adepero Oduye and singer-songwriter Goapele; DuVernay crafts a visually stunning representation of African American women and the strength of true friendship. As the film unfolds we see Union rebound from the depths of despair as each of the most important women in her life arrive at her door with nurturing spirits in tow. Their individual gifts, from encouragement to creativity to imparting wisdom, appear to be exactly what Union needs to recover from heartache and face the world again a woman fully realized.

Images that portray African American women as overtly sexual, angry, and primal creatures are flooding all media outlets. It is comforting to see ourselves as bold, stylish, joyous, and most of all compassionate towards each other. In The Door, we witness friendships that are not based on hierarchy or mutual dislike of a common enemy. Their friendships reflect my own and are based on mutual respect and genuine love.

I have a feeling that I am not alone. I believe that the vast majority of women of color open their doors to similar friendships and define themselves proudly as women. We know that there is immense power in embracing ourselves as we are.

How do you define yourself? If you would like to continue the discussion hit me on twitter @CDioneJones! I’d love to set up a chat with you all! Are you too shy for social media? Email me at cdionejones@gmail.com and share your thoughts!

Shine Bright BrownBeauties,

Cassandra

Must Haves: Prabal Gurung For Target Collection

By: Jaida McKie

Every year Target teams up with a high end designer to bring customers designer pieces for less and this season they teamed up with Prabal Gurung for a bright and modern collection. This collection features pieces for the minimalist and the showstopper. If you’ve been pondering what to choose from this chic collection, you’ve come to the right place!

If you’re looking for a bold and feminine look, the peplum top in floral crush print is perfect for you. It gives you a super girly look with the peplum detailing and the bold floral print is sure to stand out. Make your peplum top the focal point with a pair of black pencil slacks or a midi-length pencil skirt.

If you live for comfort or you want to try the color blocking trend, but you’re not sure how, try this sweatshirt in First Date print on for size. This would be a great transitional piece for the spring and fall. The sweatshirt would be the focal point with its kaleidoscope-like print while keeping the rest of the outfit simple with skinny jeans or a midi-length pencil skirt for a sporty, feminine look.

Are you a lover of color, but bright and bold isn’t your forte? Don’t fret, they have something for you too! Keep it pretty in pastel in this Colorblock Long Sleeve sweater in Atlantis Green for $29.99. Rock this with a pair of light wash skinny jeans on the weekend or pencil slacks for the office.

Plan on attending a day party, barbeques or even a date this spring or summer? Consider adding this pretty Colorblock Dress in Dresden Blue to your closet for $44.99. This is another great piece for you Brown Beauties who are into the colorblocking trend and don’t want to put too much thought or effort into it. It hits above the knee and the crew neckline is perfect for dressing your look up with a statement necklace.

And last, but certainly not least… the shoes! It’s imperative that we Brown Beauties have the perfect shoe to complete our flawless look so here are two must-have shoes from the Prabal Gurung collection:

To all the heel lovers out there, these ankle-strap pumps in black are to die for! This shoe can be paired with just about anything in your closet! You could throw these babies on with a white tee and skinny jeans paired with a leather jacket and voila! You have an effortless, laid back look. You could also throw them on with any of the pieces I mentioned above. The possibilities with this shoe are endless! If you’re looking for that perfect pop of color, they’re also available in Sulfur Spring, Apple Red, and Dresden Blue for $39.99.

If you’re all about style and comfort, this flat sandal is perfect for you. They can be paired with tons of looks and you don’t have to sacrifice looking stylish just because you’re wearing flats and they’re only $29.99! A loose fitting tank and shorts are perfect for this cute sandal.

Introducing Rosco Spears: BrownBeauty of the Month

Meet Rosco. A BrownBeauty who exhibits creativity, courage and beautiful individuality. She’s a gorgeous Criminal Justice graduate turned freelance fashion stylist. Definitely, our kind of girl! Anywho, welcome Rosco as our 5th #BBOTM pick!

“Detroit is my heart and Brooklyn is my new crush. I am a creator, a painter, a fashion stylist, a master’s degree holder, an over lover to the point that it’s utterly disgusting and your favorite muse’s favorite muse.” — Rosco

Harlem nights and Brooklyn mornings.

lipstick:Night Owl by The Lip Bar. varsity jacket: vintage. transformers t-shirt: thrifted. floral print harem pants: thrifted.

Introducing Sara Twyman: #BrownBeauty of the Month

Meet Sara. She’s a gorgeous “twenty-something” graduate of an HBCU with Midwestern roots. Currently residing in the DC area, Sara strives to get the most out of her life by surrounding herself with family and friends. Not only do we love her style, we love her outlook on life. Welcome Sara as our 4^th #BBOTM pick!

“I rarely ever have a dull moment thanks to my amazing church home; great circle of friends; and my involvement in various cultural, alumni and volunteer activities.” - Sara

The Art of Reuse: Refashion YOUR Fashion

DIY projects have quickly become my favorite pastime. They’re fun, clever and often save me precious coins! But DIY + fashion has a special place in my heart, especially when it involves repurposing things that I already own. I mean, what’s not to love? Old items become new items and old ratty t-shirts or sweaters taking up space in my closet earn their keep!

Patchwork
Update basic sweaters, blazers or even sweatshirts with cool elbow patches.

http://www.leblogdesushi.com/2012/03/diy-heart-shaped-elbow-patches.html

Open Heart sweater/t-shirt/sweatshirt surgery
Show a little skin during the cooler months by cutting fun shapes into the back of your long sleeve sweaters and sweatshirts.