SizeAppeal.com

Above: April, $48, www.sizeappel.com

Left to right: Malin, $28; Aziza, $28; Alice in Mint, $29, all available at www.sizeappeal.com

So the other day my co-worker and I were having yet another frustrated conversation about how stores don’t carry pants wide enough for our hips or jeans big enough for our booty. Then my other co-worker yelled “shut the hell up” from down the hallway since none of us knew what it was like to be over a size 14 trying to shop at the local mall. Granted she had a point but what’s up with all the hostility? I’m just playin’! This sista is always dressed to impress. You would never know the trouble she goes through trying to find clothes that flatter her figure. It was her who suggested I do a write up on www.sizeappeal.com. She’s bought many of her summer items from this online store and I can tell you first hand that the stuff is cute! Now I have another place to complain about. Can a sista get that green dress in a size 8?!

A week or so ago I went to a Bridal Shower for my dear friend Amanda. It was a lingerie shower and I know that she loves vintage, so I made her this special gift. I took a navy blue vintage slip and added thin roping around the bust, an anchor patch to the center and red and white striped ribbon to the back. I found a little white dolls trunk and added some small vintage travel stickers. In a stack of vintage photographs was a photo of a woman sailing on a boat probably from the 1940's. I used it for a card and printed this message on the back:

"Marriage is an adventure, so pack your bags and get ready to sail away!"







Here are some lovely pictures I took at the shower hosted by my friend Janelle. I believe much of the lovely decor traveled with Amanda's "vintage extraordinaire" Mother from Arizona. Thank you for a beautiful afternoon!

Dresses that Twirl, the sequel.

When I wrote the first segment of "Dresses That Twirl" I was trying to make a short movie clip from some footage I took at our last photo shoot. I attempted to use iMovie for the first time and as with every other program I try to use, I am completely lost at the beginning. I feel like a survivor of Oceanic flight 815, or maybe just a viewer who's trying to figure out just what kind of game Ben and Charles Widmore are playing? Anyways, I am just not very good with computers. It took me several days of coming back to this to make it work and to figure out how to compress the file so I could put it on my blog for you to view. Everyday I have struggles and everyday I grow...I guess I can't complain. Sometimes I get dizzy and sometimes I fall down, but I always get back up and keep twirling! Enjoy Katie's video metaphor for my life.

Reach New Heights

Liya Kebede at a recent event in New York City.

Top: Dessire, $149.95, www.stevemadden.com; Whipped, $59.99, www.ninewest.com; Zanna, $49.99, www.bakersshoes.com
Middle: Charles by Charles David Luau Wedge, $114.95, www.endless.com; Matosinhos, $295, www.aldoshoes.com; Slingback cut-out wedge, $22.99, www.gojane.com
Bottom: Champyun, $79.95, www.stevemadden.com; Chain Sculptured Wedges by Alberta Ferretti, 4895, www.net-a-porter.com; Levett, $159, www.maxstudio.com

A sping/summer wardrobe must-have is a sturdy and versatile pair of wedges. I usually play it safe and get classic wedges or espadrilles that I can wear season-after-season but this year I may indulge in an edgier pair. Cut-out heels and curvy soles are what’s hot in the streets but if you don’t want to go too new age, pick a wedge with a crazy heel and more traditional straps. This staple shoe is taking a few risks this season. Why not join them?!

Hair Stories: Make It Shine

Amerie, Porschla Coleman and Jessica White brighten the red carpet with ultra shiny tresses.

1. Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural Conditioning Wrap & Set Lotion, $4.99, www.walgreens.com; 2. Phytospecific Beauty Styling Creme, $24, www.sephora.com; 3. Platinum Silkening Gloss by Kenra, $12.35, www.brightonbeautysupply.com; 4. Tui Hair Oil, by Carol's Daughter, $18, www.sephora.com; 5. Tui Jojoba & Shea Butter Sheen, $17, www.carolsdaughter.com; 6. Silken Seal Liquid Sheen by KeraCare, $18.70, www.thebeautyauthority.com; 7. Silk Finishing Gel by Mizani, 411.49, www.mountainbeautysupply.com; 8. Serious Shining Spray by Elucence, 48, www.curlmart.com

Black hair can be dull and lack natural shine compared with other ethnic groups, but that doesn’t have to become the story of our lives. Encourage a natural state of glow by regularly conditioning your hair. Just slather on a crème conditioner after washing your hair in the shower and leave it on for ten minutes. Remember to rinse your hair afterwards with cool water to close the hair cuticles. For a little extra gloss after styling, avoid products with mineral oils. If you see it listed as one of the top three ingredients run for the hills! Products with a high mineral oil content are purely cosmetic and just sit on top of the hair shaft instead of nourishing it – which should be the objective. If you like using a particular product with minerals oils be sure to wash (and condition) your hair once a week. Silky smooth hair is only a healthy regimen away!

Street Style: The Satorialist

The original documenter of street style The Satorialist has been busy photographing the most stylish cities in the world. Never straying far from home, he always returns to New York where there is never a shortage of stylish women sashaying in this season’s (and next's) hottest trends. Though all his fashion picks/photos are inspiring, nothing delights me more than seeing the spring and summer outfits that are starting to pop up all over place. Just today I noticed a woman in D.C. dressed in a crisp, sleeveless, white shirt; a high-waisted navy A-line skirt; a brown leather belt wrapped high around her waist and 3 inch tan sandals – she looked fly and knew it! Above and in the slide below are some of the Satorialists' traffic-stopping sistas.

Estelle Covers Bleu Magazine…

U.K. singer and rapper Estelle grace the latest cover of Bleu magazine. I knew of Estelle almost 4 years ago when her music was still playing on underground radio stations in London. I’m really happy for her recent explosion into the U.S. market although I’m fascinated to see if her image will help or hinder her. She is after all the antithesis of the light-skinned, long haired beauties that are saturating the market these days. I with her much success!

Bleu magazine is a great publication for “urban” men. Think GQ for the sophisticated black man. I say visit the site, snoop around, then if you like what you see, recommend it to your male friends. This issue hits stands April 29th.

Credit: ConcreteLoop.com for photos.