She said what??? (The Daily Black Woman Quote)

"I am so glad that I have matured and I have stopped choking the mess out of people. "

-Ellin La Var, entrepreneur and celeb stylist on WE TV's Hair Trauma. Said to Tacara, the diva, of ANTM fame.

At-home Beauty Treatments For the New Year

Hey Divas,


It's my birthday today and the first one that I can honestly say I feel older. Also, I'm using my wish to ask God for a miracle. Dealing with tragedy over the holidays is pretty rough. Nevertheless, I'll be going to a nice restaurant with my family today and having a bit of bubbly tonight. I'm keeping it low-key this year.

Now to you. Tomorrow is New Years Eve, right? As promised, I'm going to provide you with tips to have the dewiest skin, softest feet, and prettiest hands come new years... and all of these treatments can be done right at home.



BODY



Go into the New Years soft as a baby and glowing. If you haven't already, start with getting rid of excess body hair. I love NADS and the reason why is because its all natural, it's not too too painful, it does a complete job and the bonus... it also acts as an exfoliant. The sugary/citrus mixture adheres to the top layer of skin cells and removes dead skin, so it's a wonderful way to begin the beauty process.



Okay, this evening you'll want to take a hot, steamy shower (steam, remember, is good), allow your pores to get nice and open, and exfoliate. I suggest you two products. First, I love good ol' St. Ives Body Scrub. Why? Because it's just the right consistency to really remove dead skin and leave the skin smoothe. The trend for a lot of beauty makers is to combine an exfoliant with a moisturizing base (like a lot of the sugar scrubs) and the problem here is that while you get added moisture, you loose some of the product's exfoliating capacity. Also, the granules of St. Ives are just the right size, small and round, therefore capable of moving with ease over your skin. Exfoliants that use larger crystals can be a bit too harsh and they don't do as good of a job covering the skin.



Now, when I want to glow on with my bad self... I follow the St. Ives with Sunshine Spa's Herbal Salt Scrub. It contains mineral rich dead sea salt with a healing blend of oils including almond, safflower, grapeseed and avocado, as well as Vitamin E. Now I first learned of this product in a spa in Africa. I went in to have a "dead sea salt scrub" and this is what they massaged into my damp skin. After rinsing it off, my skin was so soft and radiant for days. I remember flying home the next day, crossing and uncrossing my bare legs as I admired their natural sheen. So, imagine my delight when I discovered this spa product in the beauty isle of Whole Foods! Today, it is part of my Sunday beauty ritual.

To use at home, while your in the shower turn off the water and pat skin drywith a wet cloth until it's damp. Then take a good amount of the salt scrub and massage into your body in a circular motion. This process should take about five minutes. Do a thorough job. Rinse off and allow your skin to AIR DRY. This is really important. You will notice the glow and intense moisture immediately. I promise.


After the shower, moisturize skin with a liberal amount of Johnson&Johnson's Baby Oil Gel. I like to use this at night because when applied to damp skin, it makes it baby soft and tender. Trust me on this one.




Face


We don't want to bring in the New Years looking tired, dull, or parched. So make preparations this evening to have a dewy face tomorrow. I like to exfoliate the face with a mild, natural alpha hydroxy. Combine lemon juice, a few red crushed grapes (tartaric acid) with some sugar. Smoothe over face and rub gently. Let it sit for about ten minutes and then rinse. The citric acids in lemon in combination with the mechanical exfoliation of the sugar crystals work remove any dull, dead skin cells from the top layer of the face. The thing about facials is that your face always looks better the next day, so do this now!

I also like using Queen Helene's Grape Seed Extract Mask the day before a big event because it does a marvelous job with the pores.

The next step to having a wonderful face tomorrow is to drink lots of water and cup's of jamal (yerba mate) today and cleanse the body of toxins, excess water, and SALT which will surely make you look puffy tomorrow. Holiday cuisine is usually salty.


The final step to being fresh faced tomorrow is to sleep well tonight.





Hands


For smoothe hands the best thing to do is to rub hands together with the Sunshine Spa dea sea salt scrub or another moisture rich exfoliant for about five minutes and rinse. If you don't have time to get a mani/pedi, be sure to push back your cuticles and shape nails. No hang nails on New Years! Polish them with a color that pops or sparkles. Your nails want to celebrate too!


Here are some of my favorite colors, and they can all be purchased at your local drugstore!

~Milani Glitzy Stilleto, a sparkly pink for the girly girls


~Milani Glitzy Stars, a clear polish with silver and irridescent sparkle (very New Years appropriate)


~Loreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish, Breaking Curfew (as you will be), a sumptuous, sophisticated and deep plum. Loreal also makes a special mistake-proof brush that leaves you with professional-looking results.


And don't forget to brush on Milani's top-coat nail polish. It's as shiny as the one they use in the nail salon.














Feet

Remember the scene in Boomerang with Murphy's character looks at his date's feet the next morning (Lela Rochon) and cringes. Well because you may very well be in that situation New Years morning (I know some of my divas are naughty), don't let your crusty feet be the deal breaker.

Having said that, I will now suggest that you slather your feet in plain, sugar free, yogurt.... yes I said it, yogurt, for about twenty minutes this evening. Yogurt contains enzymes that penetrate calluses and rough spots. As a former dancer, I have searched far and wide for rough feet cures.

The best way to do this treatment is to buy a tub of yogurt and dump it into a plastic bag, like a shopping bag. Then sit down with both feet in the bag. It feels kind of gross, I should warn you. When you're done, wipe your feet, tie the bag up and discard.


Rinse off the yogurt, and then with St. Ives exfoliant and a foot smoother (those rough paddles you scrub your feet with), go to work.

Finally, rub them down with the same sunshine spa dead sea salt scrub and then send me a thank you letter at flyfunkydiva@gmail.com. Seriously. You'll want to. Rub them in Johnson and Johnson's Baby Oil Gel and sleep in sweat socks. You know the routine.

flyness and funk,
Ike

SPOTLIGHT: Jocelyn Jee, Black Hair in the Rain

She's a comedian out of the UK.

Tacky Christmas Yards

Thanks to Bloggers "Blogs of Note" I stumbled upon this site, http://www.tackychristmasyards.com/. What a wonderful idea, putting festive Americans on blast for creating nativity/winter wonderland scenes with poor taste. Take a look at some of the fiercetrocities.

She said what??? (The Daily Black Woman Quote)

"The older I grow the more I see the influence of my family on my life. I didn't always see it. It was up to our parents to see that we had our education in a town that hadn't yet realized what racial prejudice was but actually knew and practiced it on occasion. "
-Katherine Dunham

Rolex Ad "Class is Forever"

Hey Divas,


I am bogged down with back up work and I'm miserable. Yes it is a week after the semester's end and yes, I am still writing papers. Fortunately, do the emotional toil I have incurred because of my family crisis my professors are understanding. Anyways, I was taking a break from writing and I decided to flip through the January issue of Vogue. I've had it for two weeks and I've still yet to really go through it. Items of note: a fierce pair of nude Loboutins, a doting profile on Ivanka Trump whom I personally believe to be one of the flyest women on the planet (her low-key status simply adds to her flyness) and this partcularly Rolex ad.

It features 76 year old legendary model Carmen Dell' Orefice with sexy tousled silver hair and a mean kohl-lined eye. The message: "class is forever". Carmen truly has eternal grace. I had to post the ad because this is a mantra for us to live by. Trends fall like perky breasts, but a woman that swears by sophistication, and taking good care of her mind, body, and soul will always be a femme fatale.





Flyness and funk,


Ike

New Years Beauty on the Way

Hey Divas,

I'm taking care of some very important business so pardon the lack of posts. Nevertheless, I'll be back tomorrow with a Get-Ready for New Years Beauty to-do list... it's so necessary.

Flyness and funk,
Ike

FIERCE

I love Keisha Cole's glamorous make-over as seen in her latest video "I Remember". Yes, she did it again, another soulful yet raw love ballad. She's got that Mary J. quality. The new hair style works, the dress is phenomenal, love her smokey eye, and we can see she's been in the gym getting pop star svelte.

Okay, not to be picky but if someone can just give her walking lessons or something... She's still lacks grace.

FIERCE

Mary J. Blidge at her album release party December 20th at the Solo Grand in NYC. Sorry PITA, but this white fox on top of winter white ensemble is muy elegante. Get it girl!

... Now if only I could say the same thing for her shoes.

FIERCETROCITIES

Kiely you look crazy!

Cheetah Girl Kiely one the red carpet of the Spirit of Life Dinner and Awards looking like a witch. This blousy black and white gypsy-goth get-up is completely unflattering to her figure and particularly to her breast. Where is her stylist? Why would you allow a teeny-bopper star to be photographed in this. Let's not influence the tweens with bad taste. Thanks.

Jennifer Lopez you look crazy!

Jenny from the block has a little diva in the oven, but has she lost her mind? She kicked off her tour with Marc Anthony in Vegas in this disco get-up that she borrowed from the costume room of Mamma Mia. There are much more stylish ways to conceal a swollen belly. We excuse her because she is pregnant and subject to mood swings and compromised decision making, but after baby, Jennifer, don't do this again. Thanks.

FIERCETROCITIES

Beyonce you look crazy!

Okay B', we all know your gorgeous and we love your voluptous S-shaped figure but I vowe to blast every shapely celebrity that wears a skinny jean until the blasphemy stops. Stop endorsing this style to the countless women that look up to you. Way to distort the line of a fabulous leg... Thanks.

She said what??? (The Daily Black Woman Quote)

"There ain't nothing open past midnight except hospitals and legs."
-somebody's old school grandma

SPOTLIGHT: Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song

Because I don't forego the holiday spirit until the second, I present to you one of the flyest men to every walk the earth: Nat King Cole.

Getting Ready For New Years: The Holiday Detox

Hey Divas,


Watching a loved one show promise of recovery was the best Christmas present I could have recieved. This Christmas, I wasn't preoccupied with gifts, visiting, or eating until the 'itis had me layed out on the couch.... I just wanted relish in the joy of having my amazing family beside me. It was a special holiday.

Nevertheless I did manage to eat a fair share of cookies, mom's cranberry stuffing, cake, pie, yams, turkey.... ummm, this list continues for a minute. On top of all this, I am contemplating a skin tight black number for New Years. So I need to get it together.

Not a fan of crash dieting but ocassionally our bodies do need a detox. The best way to deal with a holiday's binge is to one, not feel giulty because life's too short for all of that, and two, resume your normal eating pattern the next day. Don't try to starve yourself out of a little end-of-the-year pudge. The hidden benefit of a large holiday meal is that it actually jump starts your metabolism, and by starving yourself you'll lose that momentum, slighting your body's ability to burn calories. Rather eat 4-5 small meals through out the day and drink a ridiculous amount of water. If your trying to cleanse the system I would stick with fruits, vegetables, and fruit juices, like "Super Food" smoothie by Odwalla, a low-calorie, balanced blend of fruit juices and grains.

I will also down about three cups of jamal per day. It stimulates the metabolism, curbes your appetite, and errr ummm, keeps you regular. If you enoyed the holiday with spirt (i.e. alcohol) try teas made with rooibos, an african red bush with amazing detox properties. I suggest "Get Gorgeous" by The Republic of Tea. Also, in the begging of the day combine room temperature water, three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a little bit of honey together. Apple cider vinegar stimulates the metabolism and helps the body detox.

Tomorrow I'll also be starting the day out with excercise. I like to run about three miles each morning, but if you're not into running a brisk walk or even a round of Tae-Bo are good cardio routines to get you together for New Years. Pump some work-out tunes on the ipod like Real Love by Mary J. Blidge or Together Again by Janet Jackson and get that body back into fly shape for the start of the year.

Flyness and funk (-y bodies)

Ike

SPOTLIGHT: Mahalia Jackson, Silent Night

Merry Christmas!

Pleasure Principle Scents

Evening Divas,

This evening I'm munching on mom's gingerbread cookies and spagetti, listening to the sugary laughter of my neice and nephews as they run around. However, yesterday took a major emotional toll on me. Tragedy begets maturation; taking people, life, and opportunity for granted is truly a mark of youth. I'm a week from my 22nd birthday, and watching a loved one fight for their life is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Honestly, I became an adult last night. It is one thing to be mature, or knowledgable or even sophisticated but shedding the narcissm of youth is the hallmark of adulthood.

Nevertheless, feeling undone, my friend and I decided to catch the last hour of a holiday party at a lounge in my town. It was horrible. Well, the ambiance was cute, but the crowd was much too large and a bit uncouth for my tastes. It wasn't my scene. People I haven't seen since high school feeling themselves, young girls trying to front as grown, sexy girls trying... too hard, and other disdainful fiercetrocities. It didn't help me in my time of grief.

But Ash and I looked cute. We wore similar knee length, embellished, chiffon dresses. Her's was aqua blue and mine was saphire. I love my BFF.

I also wanted to tell you about my latest fragrance find. Last night I wore a roll-on essential oil by Pleasure Principle, a line of bath, body, and erotic products for women. It's run by a fly woman of color out of Connecticut, who is an entrepreneur, attorney, author,wife and mother. Last night I wore "Night Star", a fragrance of juicy strawberries with a hint of musk. It's naughty and nice. The scents are artfully designed by Rayna, Pleasure Principle founder and CEO, and are all sophisticated, complex, and ravenously seductive. Other popular scents include "Come", "Day dream", "Naked", "Bump n' Grind" and "Desire". Wear these to conjure your passionate, sensual side or to entice your man. Hey, it's a great way to seduce him and with your clothes on. (hehehehe) But seriously. You'll turn heads.

The essential oils, made of grapeseed, rice bran and sunflower oils are sold in larger sizes as excellent daily moisturizers. Find out more or purchase here.

Flyness, funk, and fa la-la-la-la,

Ike

Holidays

Hey Divas,

I hope you are all enjoying your families over the holiday. I will be taking a break until the 26th but please enjoy the numerous posts that are already up; SPOTLIGHTS, FLY ALERTS, FIERCE, FIERCETROCITIES, etc. 

Oh, and cherish the day.

flyness and funk,

Ike

Reflections on my adolescent crush... Congratulations

I may be a fly diva, but I do have a funked up love life. So I'm dedicating this song, "Congratulations" by Vesta Williams to myself. Leave it to facebook to inform me that my very first crush (we're talking seventh grade) is engaged and, from what it sounds like, has a baby on the way. Now truly, tastes change as people mature and yes, he has lost his original appeal... But do we ever really over come our first crush? Possibly not. Anyways, I definitely wish him the best in life. And although, I didn't think it would be me (lol), as Vesta says, I wanted an excuse to go back to the eighties. Please notice the tangerine orange tarot nails and matching lipstick. I love the eighties.

Charlize Theron's Dress in the J'adore commercial

Hey Divas,

Most of you are doing last minute X-Mas shopping, but for those of you spending a little time on FFD today, I thought I'd dwell on the J'adore commercial that, as you all know, I LOVE. I adore the dress Charlize wears. It has amazing movement, the split is sexy, and it just seems to be the right combination of vixen and sophistication.

I've been trying to locate it, but I think it's a custom Dior creation. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I did however locate the inspiration for it. He took artistic cues from a nude on black corsetted creation of Christian Dior in his Fall 2005 haute couture collection. The first picture on shows a model wearing one of the versions of his three mesh cocktail dresses on the runway, to the next is Kate Moss wearing a modified version to the CDFA Awards in 2005. I think I want to have a replica of this fabulous creation made for me. To watch the commercial click here.

CLICK HERE FOR REPLICA.

flyness and funk,

Ike

SPOTLIGHT: Miss Omokorede, the Pushy Mum, Lenny Henry Show

Hillarious, especially that many of us can relate.

FIERCE

Omarosa at the Miss DC USA pageant here, photographed here with Miss DC USA and Miss Teen DC USA 2007.

(Let's make no mistake, brown divas glow in yellow. Why do you think Motions made that the signature color?!?!)

SPOTLIGHT: Miss Omokorede, the Pushy Mum, Lenny Henry Show

FIERCE FILES: Remembering Our History Through Fly Women of Color

Supremes, and friends, 1965 Shamrock Hilton Hotel. Ladies, check out the photo-ready model's t stance. This is how to be poised.

Fly Alert: Diane Von Furstenberg Kiami Belted Jacket

Purchase at DIANI for $465. Okay, my date is actually waiting outside but I had to list this. You, fly black pants, stilletos (with the toe cleavage) and this jacket... the talk of the party.

The Tailored Women's Vest

Hey Divas,

It's 3 AM and I'm staring at a heap of books that I really don't want to be reading for the paper that has yet to be written. One day. I haven't eaten all day, so when my friend made a fast food run I tagged along. Right now, my stomach's going... what in the hell??? I don't feel too good.

But I'm not too queasy to blog, especially about the unmistakable sex appeal of a tailored vest. After my arabic exam (a fiercetrocity) I went to J. Crew for some retail therapy, bought a gourmet vanilla cup cake and then my January 2008 issues of Vogue and In Style. The Vogue cover this month looks a hot mess, but Katie looks fierce in this Spring 2008 Christian Dior Suit.

This tailored vest made quite a few appearances on the runway this past season, especially at Dior, and I'm so excited. A style phenomena of the nineties, this vest is sexy in a "I'm wearing my boyfriends button-down" sort of way.

This trend will trickle down, but for now is relatively hard to find. Here's what I scoped:

Patrizia Pepe makes this glorious halter neck vest with diamonte detailing for $148 at YOOX. Pair with dressy, slightly wide-leg pant and be fly.

Bebe is doing a winter-white velveteen racer-back vest available for $98 at the website and it can be paired with the coordinating wide-leg french cuff pant. I see this look with a fierce pair of gold or jeweled tone heels, like this gold weaved "Turban" pump from Stuart Weitzman with matching purse. Add a center piece necklace and a gold cuff. Flyness.

I'm off to sleep.

Flyness and funk,

Ike

On Dignity and Jamie Lynn Spears Pregnancy

Morning divas,

I'm sort of strapped for time as I'm doing some last minute studying for an Arabic exam in a few hours. I really want to take it just so that it's over. I'm so done with the semester.

The fly advice for today: Dignity is a woman's most beautiful quality. Really, a woman that can maintain grace and equanimty through out life's most challenging situations is a beautiful woman, inside and out. I hate to witness an angry woman lose her composure, or show signs of desperation. Like ashy blue mascara, it has a way of making her seem much less attractive. So when life throws you a curveball, remember, keep your head up, be calm, and stay beautiful. Afterall, the best revenge is to do well and to look good.

And while we're on the subject of dignity I'd like to address the media sensation of the moment: Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant. Ummm... I'm reluctant to dwell on the obvious, like the fact that her tweenage career as a Nickelodean star is ruined. Or, hasn't she learned from her big sis? And, if her boyfriend is 19, should he be running from the law? I'll let you ponder these realities at your own convenience.

I will address the reality that everyone knows about her predicament. I don't care if you are a celebrity, a 16 year old who becomes an accidental mother is a private, family issue. It should not be up for discussion with the rest of the world. That, divas, is dignity.

The bright side, if you want to stretch it, is that maybe this will be the wake-up call needed for the public school system in America to take sex-education more seriously. I don't see why health teachers can not promote abstinence and condoms. Many teens engage in sexual behavior and the saddest part of that reality is that many of them are not protecting themselves. Decades ago, becoming an unwed teen mother was the biggest fear for sexually active young women. But today sex can give life, and take it away. Our nation needs to increase the dialogue about safer sex practices.

Okay, I'm off to go study.
Flyness and funk,

Ike

PS: Here is CNN's fly reporter Lola Ogunnaike reporting on Jaime's pregnancy for those of you who are interested.

SPOTLIGHT: Janet Jackson, Got Till It's Gone, Velvet Rope

May all fly divas who have ever been broken-hearted raise their glasses. This is song is dedicated to a romance come full-circle. Joni-Mitchell never lies.

CHEERS!

Fly Alert: Casadei Leapord Print Slingbacks

On sale for $210 from $420 at Candy Shoes. Fierce with a black skirt or pant suit.

Fly Candy (The Men that Fly Women Adore): Idris Elba

Who is Idris Elba: A television, film and theater actor. Born to Ghanaian and Sierre Leonen parents. Major tv/film credits include Familiy Affairs, a UK soap, The Wire, American Gangster, Daddy's Little Girls, Sometimes in April, and This Christmas. He is also an underground hip-hop soul artist and DJ. He appeared on the cover of Essence magazine's "Hot Hollywood Men" issue in April 2004 and again in Essence's November 2005 "10 Hottest Men on the Planet" issue.



Why we love him: We love Idris because of his ability to smoulder on screen. Whether playing a rolling stone, jazz musician or an intelligent drug kingpin, Idris brings complexity and intrigue to every character. We also love his chocolate skin and rugged good looks. He's sexy in a very masculine way and he just may be positioned to be Black Hollywood's next leading man.

The Wearable Smokey Eye

Morning Divas,

Yes, I pressed snooze one too many times this morning, but the unpleasant medly of construction workers outside my window did the trick. Too bad. For my last two years at Yale, I have not been able to escape living close to a construction site. Wait... why must they start religously at 8 in the morning again? I think 3 PM is a much more agreeable time. But now I'm up, showered, and on my way to get a cup of jamal (it has been my saviour during finals) and cram the work load I should have been doing over the past three days into about 24 hours.

On to more serious matters. I feel like we, as divas committed to looking fabulous every day, should discuss what I call the wearable smoky eye. The smokey eye is an amazing make-up technique empoyed by the likes of show girls and film stars to create the illusion of a large, deep-set, doe eye. Smokey eyes look best on women with large, almond shaped, or slanted eyes. Sometimes they can have an unflattering affect on women with smaller eyes or eyes that are further apart. Be mindful of that. (Pictured here is the divalicious Sheryl Lee Ralph with a sexy smokey eye in shades of brown)

Deep shades of purple, blue, black, and brown help create the smokey illusion on women of color, but for day wear, stick with browns. The first step in creating a smokey eye is getting the right colors. Look for a duo or trio that combine a lighter color (champagne, bone , subdued gold, apricot), with a deep brown, and possibly a medium tone (burgundy, dark green).

Next, you need the right tools. You'll need a large shader brush that is relatively flat with a rounded tip. You'll use this to apply make up to the lid and possibly a slight high light to the arch.

A full angle brush will be used to apply the shadow to crease and blend.

Now here are the steps:

1. Fill in medium shade all over lid and crease. From outer corner to close to where the eye brow begins.

2. Fill in light shade on lid, from tear duct to three quaters of the way in.

3. With angle brush, fill in dark shade from outer corner, along the crease, to just under where the brow begins. And sweep from outer corner along the bottom of lid, three quaters of the way in. It should look like a side ways V.

4. Blend. (You should be followin the v back and forth as you do this. Not side to side.)

5. Line eyes. I use a liquid liner. It's crisp, dramatic, and easy.

6. Use tip of shader brushes rounded tip to sweep a bit of the dark color under the outer 1/2 of the bottom of the eye.
7. Add mascara. Because a smokey eye looks best with long, dramatic lashes.. I use fake lashes in a bottle. Fiber Wig. It's only available at Sephora . It's $22 and wonderful.

And here are some colors that I love: L'oreal HIP Duos in Playful and Dynamic, Clinique color surge eyeshadow duo in coffee shop, Milani Eye Shadow quartet in Sedona Sunset (pictured here) and Revlon's 12 Hour Eye Shadow quartet in Coffee Bean.

Fly Alert: Judith Leiber and Anthony David Swarovski Handbags

A woman's purse makes a statement about the kind of life she lives. Classic designer tote with lots of space; a woman with status and a lot of responsibilities. Colorful crochet sack; she's a free spirit. The 'it' bag; the 'it' girl.

What better way than to state your decided preference for luxury and all things fabulous than with a swarovski studded handbag.

This New Years, it's the only way to make your entrance.

Judith Leiber's name is synonomous with this blingtastic bag, and yes, you will pay for her notoriety. Pictured here is "Glisten", available at the Judith Leiber website for $2495.



















Anthony David also makes amazing studded bags with all the quality of a leiber, but only a fraction of the price. This Cherry Blossom bag usually retails for $649 but can be purchased on sale for $349 here.

FIERCETROCITIES

Wait, I thought Dorothy killed the wicked witch of the west. Oh wait...That's just B's lil sis.

Solange, you look crazy!!!

She showed up with this wrinkled, shapeless, tired black dress at the People Magazine Grammy Kick-Off Party. To make matters worse she paired it with these ugly purple tights that remind me of the ones I wore in the fourth grade with my denim skirts and mary janes...ummm, that's when the look was cute.

Solange, this is all wrong. I grant you permission to steal clothes from big sis' closet. Please. America wants you to.

FIERCE

Sharon Leal at the This Christmas Premiere.

SPOTLIGHT: Cece Winans, "Oh Holy Night"

I love that they call her the "crown jewel of gospel".

This Christmas

Morning Divas,

So last night my friend and I saw "This Christmas". This modern day interpretation of "Mama I want to Sing" was suprisingly cute. It had a rich plot and a great cast; Loretta Devine, Sharon Leal, Chris Brown, Regina King, Mekhi Pfeiffer, Idris Elba, that guy from Soul Food... And it really spoke to the importance of family. Friends come and go, but family is the rock.

Now I must say, I adore Sharon Leal. This is like her moment as the 'it' black actress. Dream Girls, Why Did I get Married, and now This Christmas. But she's stunning, multi-talented (she's a singer), and she has this wonderful charisma on the screne.

I didn' t know why little girls went crazy about Chris Brown but now I do. Yeah, he can hold a tune, but more than that, he has presence on par with Little Michael. He really can light up a screne with just his smile. Both of his performances in the movie, Try a Little Tenderness and This Christmas had me bopping my head and grinning.

And finally, thank you Regina King for looking amazing! Regina had two scenes in nothing but bra and panties, a rarity for actresses who are over 35 or size 2. May I just say, Regina's is a Brick House Diva, with beautiful hips and thighs, but she was so toned and fit. She reminded the world how beautiful the Black woman's body is... God's greatest work of art. Thank you Regina!

With flyness and funk,

Ike

Fly Alert: Christian Louboutin Very Prive Paillette Platforms (Sequin!)

Sequin in it's finest form yet. I didn't know that Louboutin could get any more fabulous. Don't you dare wear things with something below knee-length. These shoes are for gawking only.

Available for $995 at Net-A-Porter.

The Sequin Stilleto

Christian Louboutin has created an undeniable trend. You may be in city for the holidays, but your feet will be in Vegas baby!

Catch on before it becomes passe.

Here are some other versions.

Donna Karan Sequin Peep-Toe, $750 at DIANI.

Report Signature Sequin Stilletos, $175 at http://www.shopbop.com/

Betsy Johnson Kye Black Sequin peep toe. On sale for $150 at Zappos.

The Seduction of a Red Dress

Morning Divas,

And an early morning it is. Hitting the gym at 6 AM today, spending a little time in the sauna so that I can "glow on with my baad self", finishing a paper (that's not really started) and meeting my newest guy friend for dinner later this evening. Okay, the latter part of my agenda is what brings me to today's style advice: the Red Dress. As Jay-Z might say... "It's soooo necessary".

When a woman wears red she can't help but evoke confidence, sensuality, and femininity. It is a passionate color that makes a statement whether you want to or not. This is why it must be used sparingly, but when done so with precise elegance (and great accessories) it can make you appear to be the most desirabe woman in the room. I like to call it the Carmen effect.

I never really liked red, but this summer on a whim, I was at the Loehmans in NYC on 73rd and Amsterdam and I found a great red dress. It was knee-length, fitted at the waiste, spagetti strap, and it skimmed my body perfectly. The color, a deep red, like the saturated garnet gem stone was too my suprise, entirely flattering on me.

That evening I wore it out to Duvet with fly silver shoes and it was like I had this crazy magnetic power. Everyone wanted to dance with me. Prowling eyes followed me as I walked through the crowd. And I... I felt this incredible sense of power and intrigue. Like I was this smoldering femme fatale. I ended up hitting it off with a great guy as well.

Damn, this dress was dangerous. I put it away until this past Saturday night. There was a holiday party and I just wasn't feeling my green cocktail dress, nor like wearing a predictable LBD. So I pulled it out. This time I paired it with bejeweled crimson BCBG heels. Well, the magic worked again. The DJ's friend came towards the end to help him pack his equipment. He was gorgeous. I walked past the dj's booth. No, I sauntered. Danced a little. Moved away. Let's just say he followed.

Case in point. Every woman needs a RED DRESS. Keep these tips in mind when purchasing one. First of all the color red is so provocative that the dress needn't have a host of other bells and whistles. It's about sensuality here. Choose a dress that does the best feauture of your body justice. If it's your legs, do a short mini dress like the Jay Godfrey pictured below. If it's your silhouette, the classic Nicole Miller will look stunning. My friend is wearing a version of the Nicole Miller in the picture above. If it's a formal affair, also pay attention to the silhouette the dress creates, and choose a simple, luxurious fabric (not that satiny stuff).

Finally, picking the right color red is essential. If your skin has yellow undertones, you want a warmer red with yellow undertones. These may be deep reds like the jewel-toned garnet red. You may also look good in an orangey tomato red. If your skin has pink or reddish undertones, go for cooler reds, like those that border on the line of berries, and plums in addition to brick red. Choose reds with a blue undertone.

Also, red looks best with metallic accessories. So think metallic strappy's or d'orsay pumps and a sophisticated version of the classic hoop. Red also looks great with pearls. Avoid pairing with black accessories. The two colors are too strong.

Here are some fantastic selections.

Eliza Jay Tiered Dress, http://www.nordstroms.com/, $138.

Jay Godfrey one shoulder mini dress, $450, http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/

Faviana Strapless Dress, $218, http://www.edressme.com/

Jill Stuart Bubble Dress, $765, http://www.shopbop.com/

Jovani Mermaid Dress, $370, http://www.edressme.com/

Nicole Miller rouched dress, $275, http://www.edressme.com/

Nicole Miller twill key-hole dress, $355, http://www.edressme.com/