Tis the season for Spring/Summer previews in the fashion world.

Meaning...that designers and clothing lines are pulling out all the stops and showing off their collections for the spring and summer. I don't go to many of these events, but I always jump at the chance to attend the ones that my coworkers don't have time for. Usually they aren't the most exciting ones like DKNY...Shin Choi...Rebecca Taylor...etc. However, I'm a humble gal and I'm thankful for every opportunity that I can gain. AND, there is always the possibility of a GIFT BAG!!!! Gotta love the free stuff :o)

Soooooo, last night I got the chance to attend the LANDS' END preview event. I know, I know...not fabulous at all. We all associate Lands' End with khaki pants, canvas totes, polo shirts and people who have the time/money to vacation all summer in Cape Cod. Yuck!

Well, I must say I was surprised! The clothing didn't deviate from my description above. HOWEVER, I was really surprised at how much detail was put into everything they presented. Lands' End is also coming out with intimates with the slogan: "The secret's out." Very cute:o)

My favorite innovation was the custom fit bathing suits. Listen to this....you can actually order the suit with your correct bra size! Amazing~! See some of the styles below...

I also really loved the new idea they have for their classic tote bags. You can send in your own art work and have it either transferred to your bag or have the image embroidered on to the bag. The one style looks more like the art was actually drawn onto the bag and other style is a cleaner version due to the threading. Either way, you will have a one-of-a-kind bag!

Last, but certainly not least....the GIFT BAG! I have to give it to Lands' End this was one of the best gifts I have seen. As one of the representatives walked me through different looks, a tote bag was being personalized for me! And they threw in a great towel! FABULOUS!

Love and Light...

Tune in....TiVo...DVR....

I have exciting news! This coming Monday (December, 4th 2006) I will be appearing on the Today Show (NBC). My job is doing a segment on party dresses and I am going to be modeling one of the selections! (Note: I'll be the fabulous black girl in the red Banana Republic dress :o)~

The segment will be in the 8am-9am hour...Prime time!!!!!

Hopefully I don't fall flat on my face, so pleeeeease start praying for me now!

If you need more of an incentive? Beyonce will also be performing live on Monday's show :o)

JULEE and BEYONCE....who can top that?

Love and Light....

Take a bite... CANDY APPLE MAGAZINE--- "Hard But Sweet"

Candy Apply magazine has launched! It's a fabulous new magazine for fierce and fabulous city dwelling ladies. I am the executive editor of the publication and I worked alongside a group of amazingly talented women.

Please check it out and remember to SIGN UP/REGISTER. And please let me know what you think...I would LOVE to hear your feedback!

Official Website: http://candyapplemag.com

MySpace Site: http://myspace.com/candyapplemag

Love and Light....

You do the math...

7 beautiful BAPs + 7 table cloths + a whole bunch of Masons= 1 fabulous weekend in Philly!

This weekend Jen and I traveled down to Philly to help our college friend Erin celebrate her stepdad's promotion with the Masons organization. I don't know too much about the Masons, except that my grandfather is one, they are distinguished men of color in their communities and they know how to throw a party! Basically, all of us ladies dressed up in fabulously fashioned white table cloths and sprinkled rose petals as a makeshift tomb carrying Erin's stepdad was rolled in and presented to the crowd. Think..."Coming to America" meets the "Prince of Egypt" :o)

Here are some photos from the weekend. You never knew table cloth could look this good, huh?

Love and Light...

More Patrick McMullen LOVE.....

I'm on a roll guys. I've been trying to attend more events these days and not only am I having a lot of fun but the flashbulbs are popping. Granted, I could work on my picture taking skills...however, the love is pouring down and there is no time to run inside and grab an umbrella. Sooooo, let it rain and I'll learn along the way!

This photo was taken at an American Legacy and Tracy Reese event @ the Tracy Reese Boutique. I wasn't entirely ready for it, or else I would have been beaming a smile since I LOVE T.Reese and she's my BFF (in my dreams).

The next two pics were taken at the White House Black Market NYC flagship store opening. My gril Nia came with me and we had a great time. We even got $50 gift certificates in the "thank-you-for-coming-to-our-fabulous-event" bags.

P.S. Sorry, I can't take off that PMC watermark. I would have to buy the print and a 4x6 print costs $10!!!!!!!!!! It's hard being fabulous but BROKE!

Love and Light...

It's NOT a phone....



Or so they say!!!!!!!!!



Soooo, I attended at the launch party of Helio (the "phone") at Henri Bendel's the other night. I'm sure you've seen the commercials for this cell phone, which they are calling a non-phone. Whatever! You talk on it and does everything that most phones do (it takes pictures, videos, and all your money)!

Anyway, the party was pretty fun. I took my intern Elinor along with me. It was her first industry event! Here she is giving the "WTF-face" to the Heilo. My thoughts exactly...




We also bumped in the a few ex-coworkers of mine....Sarah and Jennifer. It's always great to see fabulous friends out and about. Especially these two girls....since they are both so wonderful and hard workers. We had a blast flirting with all the obviously gay waiters and doing the next new dance craze....the "Snwell"! I can't really explain it, so I'll have to videotape it and put it up on the site one day soon.


The highlight (and lowlight) was the event's celebrity guest....Oksana Baiul!!!!!!!!! Give me a break! She was hot about one hundred years ago, and no one really cared that she won the Olympic gold medal because we were too caught up in the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding fiasco! Nevertheless, she was there and looking a hot-ghetto-mess in my opinion. You be the judge....


We had to show her some love though :o)




Love and Light....

"Make new friends...but keep the old...one is silver and the other's gold





A few weeks ago my best friend from growing up, Autumn, came to visit me in the city. We had an awesome time! We had not seen each other since high school graduation... 6 1/2 years ago!!!! But, every time we get around each other it seems like only a few weeks have past. I'm so thankful for our friendship and overjoyed that we have continued to keep in touch over all these years. She reminds me of my childhood and what a great time I had growing up...that's a priceless feeling. We should always surround people like that around ourselves.



Love and Light...

Euphoric, Amazing, Inspirational, Fun, Excellent, Hilarious, and completely Unforgettable… are all words that describe my evening last night. (This morning I literally had to ask myself: “did last night really happen?”)

I had the honor of dining with one of my idols…Robin Givhan (!!!!!!!!!!!)

Yes, it happened. I mentioned in my Fashion Week review that I had met the Pulitzer Prize winning fashion journalist (for the Washington Post) at the Jenni Kayne show. Being the fabulous woman that she is, Robin agreed that when she got back from the shows in Europe that she would schedule a dinner with Zandile and I.

I was skeptical. Someone of Robin’s status in the fashion industry are extremely busy and cannot always stick to their word and frolic with the common folk. However, after keeping her word and sharing a night filled with non-stop chatting, smiling and laughing… Robin has proven that kindness, humility and excellence can coexist in this industry! Amen.

We talked about everything from her woes and wows of becoming the writer she is today…to our common love for the Ali G Show! Don’t get me wrong; you know we HAD to talk about fashion and what she thought of the shows this season.

Surprisingly one of her favorite collections was Valentino. I say “surprisingly” because we haven’t really heard of anything super-fabulous coming from that house in several years. She mentioned that Valentino’s dedication to his vision was what won her over. Robin also noted that Phillip Lim, Derek Lam, and Jil Sander also topped her list of favs (you can check out all of their collections at www.style.com). (pics below in the following order: Valentino, Phillip Lim, Derek Lam and Jil Sander)


When asked what she looks for in a collection, Robin said that: a collection needs to support a clear vision and furthermore remain consistent in that overarching theme. The clothes also need to be intriguing and not just another old pair of pants or frilly top.


I love that word…”intriguing.” I have to agree with her. My favorite collections are the ones that make me wanna leap out of my seat and touch the pieces…and examine their structure…put them on…dance around in them…and ultimately cause me to temporarily lose my mind and believe that they are worth their ridiculous prices!



I love that fact Robin was so free with extending her wisdom. Another piece of advice that she offered us in regards to pursuing our careers was: “Don’t take everything so personally.” Fashion (along with many other fields) is an extremely difficult career to work in because of the strict deadlines, high stress, vanity, and competition. She says the best way to combat all of these issues is to stay focused and worry about your own individual responsiblities…and knock them out of the park!


This might seem obvious, but we often get caught up and don’t realize how sensitive we’re being. It’s about having thick-skin! However, being tough mentally isn’t an excuse for being unkind. The truly fabulous, are those who can balance being tough, successful and kind all at once.

I truly hope (and pray) that I will be able to enjoy even just an ounce (ok, maybe more) of the success that Robin has experienced. She truly is an amazing woman, writer, role model, and fashionista.

P.S. If you're anything like me, you'll want to know exactly what was worn to an event as monumental as this. Well, I was in head to toe black with vibrant accents... I had on a black cashmere short-sleeve Uniqlo top, a DKNY jersey knee-length skirt, black opaque tights and my black suede Miu Miu wedge heels. I added my fabulousness by wearing a pair of my rhinestone shoe clips, large antique rhinstone stud earrings and a heavy coat of red Chanel lipstick. Very classic chic!



If you aren't already reading Robin's work, I advise you to start immediately! No true fashion-mad person should got without her unique perspective on fashion, politics and art! Oh, and did I mention she won a Pulizter??

Check her out: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artsandliving/fashionandbeauty/index.html

Love and Light…