A Look I Love - JoitheStylist Pick!

So you went back to school with style, HUH? You sure?

Well check this out! I LOVE THIS LOOK!

Byron Lars dress shirt, paired with a drama free Cashmere boyfriend cardigan,. Don't forget the skinny jeans! I refuse to give them up!

PLS

The Lisas - Real Women of Color

Style, artistry, sensitivity, creativity, honesty, quality, individualism, inner Fire, inner Fight, intelligence, exuberance, Faith, Passion, Respect, and Confidence! Whether you have it already or still in the midst of trying to get it, check out the Lisas! They had it and capitalized on it. It's what every man wants, what some don't deserve, and what few know how to handle!

With one glance Prince Akeem was certain that Lisa McDowell was his Princess; with her fabulous smile an audience reached into their pockets for chicken bones and money "the kind that folds"; with his spray can in tow, the Soul Glow king himself made consistent efforts to court Miss Lisa out of her Independence and into matrimony. But outside of this unnecessary validation, Lisa pretty much had it GOING ON! The Queens bred "around the way" girl strategically placed her swag where she felt it was most deserving. Lisa was ALWAYS well put together, and every word that came out of her mouth was said with passion and heart touching honesty. She was a woman of service, class, and purity. We dug her blatant intelligence, her audacity to throw a beanie on over her fro, the hostility behind her entry through the Subway's turnstile, her thought out decision to turn down Akeem, the hand on her hip as her accent's take over forced her to pronounce father "fawtha", but most of all we dug her Ola Ray meets Tess McGill tribute outfit, as she justified the horrible sounds of Randy Watson and Sexual Chocolate. Lisa is our girl! "She always gets the good ones" ~Patrice McDowell

Lisa Turtle's ultimate goal at Bayside High (wait wasn't the Jr. High Bayside too), was dodging the annoying advances of Screech Powers, charming her parents out of their Visa, holding the hottest black boy hostage, making exceptional grades, and effortlessly taking home the Gold in the Best Dressed Olympics. Lisa was the flyest Token television had ever seen! Her creative edge set her apart from anyone at her school (not to mention anyone we'd ever seen on television before). Amongst a sea of Malibu Barbies and Kens, Lisa held her own when it came to social issues, sassing who ever got in her way, and literally being the only one with rhythm in the "I'm So Excited" video (I couldn't handle Spanno). She made being a candy striper stylish and she was the sole reasoning behind black women wearing cowboy boots. Lisa had us all getting up early in the morning to tease our bangs, to match the lining of our jackets to the trim of our hats, and to think outside of the box when it came to career choices.

Her denim cropped high collared jackets, her multi tiered tulle bustled dresses, her shoulder paded rompers, and the prints, OHHHHHHHH the prints. Floral, polka dots, zig zags, checkard, OMG, red and yellow lightning bolts. But no one wore Leopard the way Lisa did! The girl killed us with high waist belts, color conscious scrunccis, plastic jewelry, a fresh manicure, and red lipstick. LOVE! Every trend, every accessory, every thing (we didn't think of), every creative boundary, Miss Turtle stepped right over it! Not to mention her hair was ALWAYS on point.

One of my favorite episodes/outfits ever: The "Mystery Weekend" episode, Lisa walks through the door of the mansion with the most fabulous paisley printed tote. The girl is wearing a blazer inspired dress reminiscent of the Joker; color blocked with red, yellow, teal, green; architectural lapels, padded shoulders; paired with red velvet flats. HAUTENESS. The chick asks for a Mango tonic with a kiwi twist, because it matched her outfit! FLY! For dinner, she enters the room wearing a black pencil mini dress with oversized bubble butterfly shoulder detailing in magenta, cerulean, neon yellow, and orange. Drama for yo Mama! Confidence at its finest.

Lisa Simpson was everything that every member of her family wasn't. Growing up, I wasn't allowed to watch the Simpsons, but just like "Martin" "Reasonable Doubt" and "Boyz in the Hood" I played catch up later on in life. Lisa had it all; confidence, artistic expression, intelligence, patience, perfect grades, and the ability to simply stand strong for what was right and what was wrong. (The first Female President in the making). Lisa was a girl of power. Her talents and awards were consistently unappreciated and usually uncelebrated but she continued to the top! Lisa was totally aware of all the frivolous ignorance that surrounded her, but she pressed on, overlooking the clueless negativity of society (and her Dad). She rocked common sense and book sense. (Who has both?)

Lisa was an activist and a realist. She was health and body conscious, she cared about her future, and she always planned ahead! She trusted her family and supported their dreams even when they didn't support hers. She was driven and with held the dopest ability to act as a human thesaurus. She was a fighter with just the right amount of sweetness. But she was a sass when necessary and a smart elick when no one was paying attention, which was usually all of the time. She had no need to succumb to peer pressure she was always a lady, besides, her solo during the opening score screamed sex appeal. She was classic. Always working with a look that simply worked best for her. A red strapless tunic with a feminine set of matching Mary Janes and the chicest pair of pearls. Timeless! "Your victory is tainted, asterisk asterisk"

The Lisas, the Real Fly Girls!

Now think, what if all of these women created 1 LISA? Could you handle her?

PLS

My Obsession

So if ANYONE knows me, like truly truly know me, then you know that I have obtained, maintained, and every other tained a style obsession with Miss Tracee Ellis Ross. The ONE who rocks my style world. Tracee, hands down, does it for me. Now I can go into this ridiculously long spiel of my extreme admiration of the versatility of her hair; hair that should easily be torture to deal with. Instead its vintage architecture floats on smoother than Anthony Hamilton's octaves. Or I can continue on bragging about how she forced me to fall in love with the solid gold, chunky, half moon hoops that I'm now a collector of. OR I can keep it moving and talk about her incredibly risk taking wardrobe; that of a real woman for sure. Tracee keeps us in a happy place with her daringly darling loubous, her chiffon friendly frame, and the way she kills the game in her leggly pencil skirts. The girl does it big.

Oh yeah, and the ONE happens to be talented.........

But I don't want to harp on my obsession; instead I will let "Your Flyness" speak for herself.

Go ahead girl, speak your mind!

And the Obsession is to be cont........

(My dream: A partnership, Tracee Ellis Ross and Matthew Williamson)

PLS

My 27th Birthday!

On October 8th, yesterday, I celebrated my 27th birthday! One of my most favorite things to do is celebrate birthdays! Another year, a blessing, an opportunity to grow and experience all that Life has to offer! Another chance to over come challenges and thrive in success. Another year that wasn't promised! I thought to myself, SELF, "use this day to reflect on your growth into this woman you've become; get on your knees and say thank you for this day of celebration; hug your friends and walk the streets with a big smile on your face because today is YOUR day girl! (Still talking to SELF) Use this day to recognize all the characteristics that make you, you and transition out of all of the characteristics that slow you down. " hmmmmmmmm*reflecting*hmmmmmmm *reflecting a little longer*

3 min later

So I decided not to do that. Instead, I made the decision to simply celebrate the most stylish person I know. MYSELF!!!! hehehehehehe

I partied with some of my most special friends, shopped, visited my sister, hugged, kissed, laughed, and got oh so fly!

but during those 3 min of reflection

I remember growing up in Little Rock and I was always insecure and self conscious! It so nice for me to look back because it was tough! Kids were mean and life wasn't always easy to understand. Now, I look at myself and my life and I'm quite proud and quite excited about the possibilities! Day by day I take it one step at a time. I get scared, nervous, unsure, but through it all you gotta do what you gotta do! I'm strong and I only get stronger. It was a celebration ya'll and I did it in STYLE! For all you FABULOSOS who celebrated with me, THANK YOU. God did me so good when he put you in my life.

PLS

A Look I Love - JoitheStylist Pick!

Michelle Obama for Yo MAMA!

We see her do it relentlessly and flawlessly! Ok, now you try!

I love this Look! Cashmere Cardigan Wrap with a funky collared oxford and a risk taking belt!

PLS