Fashion/Beauty Friday: Lashes Anyone?

I had never really considered them. In fact, until recently I had never seen any that I liked. Tammy Faye Baker was always the image that stayed in my head and that was way over the top. NOT Diva Approved! 

Honestly, I do admire them on  beautiful celebrities. But I always thought that those were "special" and cost prohibitive. So, needless to say,  they were off my Diva radar. That is until I became friends with  Alicia. Her eyelash extensions are simply beautiful. And when she bats those eyes, OMG! Men just melt.

Alicia had a lot of good advice and answered all of my pressing questions about her lashes, but I was still very very nervous. The more time that I spent with Alicia on her visits to Chicago, the more I considered having them done.  Then a few months back celebrity makeup artist, Tia Dantzler did my face for a Jet magazine photo shot and I was hooked. 

There are so many words to describe how eye lashes extensions made me feel. Glamorous, Beautiful, Fabulous, Girly, Feminine... The list just goes on and on. I concluded that they were DIVA approved!

I called Alicia immediately, "We have got to find me a place to get lashes!" I exclaimed.  Alicia is always game for new adventures, her "just do it" spirit is one of the reasons I love her so much. Anyway, she I and hit cyberspace and started tweeting. People were responding from all over the U.S. Alicia, living in Los Angeles, received a ton of west coast recommendations. I received recommendations from places that range from $30 to $300 around Chicago. It was all so overwhelming just trying to make a decision.

Then I remembered Brittany's lashes. She's the national coordinator for the Ambassador program for the Red Pump Project. But Brittany explained that her lashes were strips and she removed them each night and reapplied them in the morning. Glue in my hand near my eye was not a good idea. NOPE! Out of the question. 

I became so obsessed with lashes that I was making a stop at the Mac store right before each speaking engagement. For Real! One night after a gig I wanted to keep them on because I had another speaking engagement the next day before Mac opened.  But it is not advised to sleep in strips. You should have heard Brittany trying to explain to me how to glue the lashes over the telephone.  Too funny! I needed my reading spectacles just to see what I was doing and you cannot apply lashes with reading glasses on your face. Glue was everywhere. 

It had been confirmed. I was definitely getting eye lash extensions. My budget was a huge consideration in the deciding factor of where to get them, but so was my health. I have AIDS and I'm not confused that my immune system is not good. I didn't want to take a chance on an Asian nail shop so I settled on Amazing Faces.  Her prices were in between. Maureen is a licensed esthetician who specials in permanent makeup, lashes and no chip nails. (More to come on the no chip. I'm currently putting Maureen and no chip polish to the test.)

 Brittany came with me for moral support.  First, Maureen taped my bottom lashes down so they wouldn't interfere with the work being done on the top lashes. I have to admit, I was a little claustrophobic with my bottom lashes taped down, even if they were anti-winkle beauty pads. 

This is what my face looked liked before the lashes were applied. I was not allowed to talk which was also torture. LOL! But when you talk you change your face structure. During the lash application I felt absolutely nothing. I knew she was working but there is no pain involved at all. She applied the lashes individually with a permanent glue that will last approximately 3-4 weeks. 

This is what my face looked liked after the lashes were applied. They seem to open your eyes and complete your look. I simply LOVE them! Now I am going to be honest. They do take some time getting used to. If you have used the strips then the individual lashes will be a breeze. They are comfortable to wear, but those first few days you do know that they are there. 

The only thing that changed in my daily beauty regimen was using an oil-free makeup remover. Mary Kay's brand was highly recommended. I called my Soror for that hook-up! Other than that, I wash my face and apply make-up just like I did before I got the lashes applied. 

 Yes, this was a big plunge for me, but you only live once! The great thing is that they are semi-permanent, you can always change your mind, at no additional cost. After I got my lashes it was a call for celebration. Brittany and I made our way to Tavern on Rush for a light dinner and my wonderful assistant Jenna joined us. The suspense was way too much. She just had to see. All in all, everyone agreed that my new eye lash extensions were Diva Approved!

Note: Photos by Jason E. Jones Photography

Press My Way Through...

Last week was no walk in the park for me. My body is currently being attacked by something that the doctors don't know and it seemed as if everything stopped. I barely had energy to go the bathroom. By Friday night I was in a real funk. I thought the week was an absolute bust! I missed important deadlines; barely got my blogs posted and did no work toward completing my Breast Cancer Collection bracelets.

My prayer was that people didn’t lose faith in me because I didn't produce like superwoman and couldn't really explain what was happening to my body that shut me down and gave me a funky attitude. Among other things last week, I had promised Jessica Walden a fellow jewelry designer and blogger, that we would do tea and cupcakes and share war stories on designing jewelry and I even failed at that. Later that evening, out of guilt and “over achiever syndrome,” I looked at Jessica’s blog and read her post about the Smart Jewelry Show.

I was so intrigued that I tweeted her about it. But right after I had done it, I regretted it. I wasn’t feeling well and wondered if it was the wisest thing to do. But in no time flat, Jessica was sending an e-mail to the PR team on my behalf. It was late in the evening and I had no reason to believe the show would respond positively. But to my surprise, by the morning I had press credentials. My first as a blogger and I was VERY proud.

 I knew I could not let this opportunity pass me by. I wanted to get there for the ribbon cutting but my body said NO! I listened and decided to take my time. Jessica was definitely in sync with me. I walked into Navy Pier at 12:10. She had arranged for us to have a briefing with the press staff at 12:30. In its second year, the Smart Jewelry Show had 543 vendors, 1200 storefronts and an estimated 5000 participants. After the briefing, our first stop was the social media seminar learning how to use Facebook to expand your business. And yes, it was overflowing with people. We didn't stay long with Jessica being an expert in this field and most of the information was a refresher for me.

 After that, Jessica and I were like two kids in a candy store. We were a tag team all day long. Tweeting about jewelry, taking pictures, meeting designers and distributors. The vendors made it easy. Everyone was nice and approachable. The jewelry was unbelievable! Y'all know that pearls are my favorite gemstones. I’ve talked about it in several past blogs. So my first stop was Honora Pearls. I actually own some of their designs and was delighted that the staff was so cool. Before it was over, their Digital Marketing Director, Michael Schechter and Honora were following me on Twitter. I was so inspired by their bracelet designs. (More on that in a Fashion/Beauty Friday Blog.)

 For Real, Honora Pearls have given new life to your grandmother’s pearls with color and designs that have a modern twist. Their denim line is absolutely fabulous showing the versatility of pearls from jeans to dress. They are Diva approved! The funny thing is that the staff at Honora told me their designs have become so popular that grandmothers are actually wearing them. That just goes to show that you are never too old to update your look.

Jessica and I were among several bloggers and Tweeter's JewelryBizGuru, Trace Shelton and YaelDesigns were there too. You can also search Twitter hashtag #smartjewelryshow. But the vendors' responses  to us varied from: “What’s your Twitter tag,” to “Twitter who? Blog what?" But no one denied us the opportunity to discuss jewelry designs and techniques.

 I saw fabulous jewelry and tried lots on. I met female CEO’s, visually impaired designers, saw pearl necklaces designed with 45,000 peals, each pearl hand drilled.  Beautiful Carbon Setting Diamonds and Sterling that can easily compete with Yurman, but at a better price; Diamond Hoop earrings  that I can't stop thinking about, designed with oxidized sterling silver. The list goes on and on. I had a blast and learned a lot. Just in its second year, I  think the Smart Jewelry show is something to keep an eye on.

 Jessica and I ended the day with a great dinner at Mity Nice Grill. I was so tired that I went straight to bed when I arrived home and spent the following day resting. But it was well worth all the exhaustion my body felt.

 At the Smart Jewelry show I was inspired to be a better jewelry designer and to take RLT Collection to new heights. But most important, attending this show was one way that I fought back! I didn't allow AIDS take all of me! Sometimes you just have to press your way through... On the other side of the press is a blessing waiting on you!

 Post Script: To my surprise there were many questions about HIV/AIDS from designers and vendors to me. I was struck by the most basic questions people were asking and how shocked they were to learn that I had AIDS. The questions become so regular that Jessica even tweeted about the education I was giving at each stop we made.

I went to this show to learn about jewelry and in the end shared knowledge about HIV/AIDS. It illustrated to me, that there is still so much education to be done on this topic. It seemed to me that people’s basic knowledge about HIV hasn’t matured with technology about HIV/AIDS. The thing is, I’m always willing to share what I know wherever I go. My ministry never stops and there is never any shame in what I do. It is what it is... Just like having AIDS is what it is.... I Keep It Moving (KIM)!!!

Fashion/Beauty Friday: Back of the Closet - Part Two

Last Friday I explained how I was one of those people that always had to have something new for every speaking engagement. Remember I said, "I had it bad! And to make matters worse, I always had some stupid ass rationalization of why I just had to have something new. But that reality has changed for me."
Well, a couple of days after I spoke at FAMU, I spoke at Davidson College. I was plagued with a different kind of problem that almost became rationale for a new ensemble: Facebook and Twitter. Yep, I knew that pictures of FAMU would be all over cyber space. And true enough, on my layover in Atlanta, half way home, my best friend Luke was already telling me how "wonderful" my pantsuit looked. Oh Brother! The challenge was on. Could I go to the "back of my closet" and pull together something equally as fabulous?


This time I went all the way wild. I broke a cardinal rule: Never wear a St. John Knit jacket with anything other then St. John separates. At least for a St. John purest and I've been a member of that club for the last 15 years. But I did it! This top picture is me and the Red Pump Ambassadors from Charlotte.  Brittani on the left and Tawanna on the right. They met me fresh off the plane and were a part of #teamRae all day. They had no idea what the other was wearing. I thought it was soooo cute how they were matching. They illustrate how you can have similar looks with different pieces. I also think them showing up in the similar ensembles showed that the Red Pump team was in sync. 

My starting point was basic black. I was speaking for the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and I wanted to wear at least  one of their colors. My slacks are a European designer, Faconnable that I have owned for seven years. I paired these light weight wool slacks with a black shell from Ann Taylor that's five years old. By the way, Ann Taylor has some of the best classic, well made designs that last for years. I choose narrow pants, straight lines and a solid color so that my soft pink, white and black striped jacket would sit center stage. 


I remember the day I purchased this St. John jacket. I thought it was toooo cute! It took all of five minutes to make the decision that I had to have it for an upcoming appearance on BET with Tavis Smiley.  It's approximately 7 years old and is atypical in that it's not santana knit. This fact was also another rationale to buy it. It was a "different" St. John look. I remember the next day watching the View, Star Jones was wearing the same jacket and I was feeling even better about the decision to buy. Say what you want, Star does have good taste in clothes. She paired it with pink St. John, also another solid color look for this jacket. 


 This light weight wool St John jacket was perfect for Charlotte's climate. The fringe outlines the entire jacket and sleeves giving it a youthful appeal. And the fringe is the highlight of this very typical plaid design.

As usual, accessories are important. They help to pull an ensemble together. I choose a very wide black patent leather belt to give my waistline a slimming effect and 3 1/2" heel pumps to add even more length to the straight lines under the jacket. Both are Ann Taylor. My jewelry was simple. It completed the look. I choose multi-color pink and white pearls and layered it with a white gold and diamond cross. My earrings were the 12 mm south sea pearls highlighted last week. 

Of course, I completed my ensemble with 12 mm black onyx bracelets from RLT Collection, a preview for the fall 2010 collection. I think I pulled  my outfit together pretty nicely, proving two things. You can go to the "back of your closet" often and still look fabulous and you can create your own rules. Paring this St. John jacket with something other than St. John separates gave it a fresh look that still had that St. John allure.

By the way, the event was wonderful!  These Alpha men were the perfect hosts! I was proud of these young African-American men!  I was not only honored that they featured me as their Alpha Week speaker, but that they put HIV/AIDS and women at the top of their agenda. In conversations with them they clearly understand that African-American women continue to be the largest rising group being infected with HIV. 


It was a packed house, a great audience and God gave me something to say. As always when I speak, I don't come with some arrogant idea that I'm going to save these young lives. I know that they have to make their own choices. My prayer is that my honestly and transparency will be enough for them to take and use to save themselves. At the end of the day, the only person that can save you, is you.