pearles of wisdom: get cultured

so, i have this new feature which is bestowing a pearl (of wisdom about improving your style and developing your personal style) on all my twitter and fb friends and followers (you can join me here on twitter @missposhbrown or the posh brown fb page). when i can, i will post the fashion pearle of the day on this blog and even go into detail at least once a week (i'll try, no pressure, please! lol)


just in case you haven't followed me on either page yet (and why haven't you?), i'll share today's pearle with you now.

pearles of wisdom:

"look to unexpected places to find inspiration: museums, foreign cultures, movies, architecture/home design, literature...ect"


there is inspiration all around.  be sure to recognize and then utilize the world around you.  this week, i visited two impressive museums: the brooklyn museum and the museum of natural history.  both had fabulous exhibits that got my creative juices going.  one was called youth & beauty: art of the american twenties.  this is one of my favorite eras of history.  i will definitely be incorporating some of what i saw into my fashion and my blog in the near future.  i'm also reading the last installment of 'the hunger series.'  the main character's tomboy, i'm a surivor characteristics have certainly seeped into my fashion soul.  so to conclude, i insist you get out and get cultured as much as you can.  and then, bring it back to your closet.  you'll feel better for it!

http://theposhbrownboutique.bigcartel.com/

besos jenna pearle*

video voyeur: rihanna rude gal edition

well, i was forced to take a break from the video voyeur feature because i no longer knew how to embed or export the videos.  now that i've figured it out, i feel so silly.  its so simple! duh, jenna.  anyway, iguess i'll double up on the videos to make up for lost time again. 
here are two faves from rihanna: rude boy and man down.  i really like rihanna and her voice when she's sticking to her west indian roots.  both of these videos have a strong island presence as well as beautiful cinematography.  and of course, ri ri looks gorge in each one.  there was a lot of hoop-lah made over man down from concerned parents.  i think her music is no longer meant for kiddies since its so explicitly sexual.  however, at least this song/video addressed an important topic kids should be aware of.  anywhoo, enjoy the lovely vids. 

   besos jenna pearle*

harlem church lady

martine barrat harlem 1940

i thought this photo was fitting for a sunday morning.  i have no idea if the subject is headed to church or not.  in fact, it looks pretty late at night or maybe early morning.  in my vivid imagination, martine is a dedicated church lady on her way to worship.  amen!       

besos jenna pearle*

kahlo kraze

apparently, i'm not the only one obsessed with the fabulous frida kahlo.  since i last posted about her the other day, i've come across other odes to frida.  the first one is amy winehouse, of course, paying tribute to the other rebellious talent.  the second is a pic from a spread in mexican vogue where the magazine honors their native artist.  the third is a pic of frida herself.  i recall that i posted another nod to frida several months ago done by the models jaslene (antm winner) and victoria brita.  check it out here (artistic fri-dom).   

besos jenna pearle*

kahlo

frida kahlo is on the illustrious list of my favorite artists.  her work is the kind that has charisma, depth and an ugly beauty.  plus, frida was a tough broad who survived some of the biggest obstacles.  back in the beginning of my blogging days, i wrote about her and how you might achieve a sliver of her style.  if you didn't read it (or need a reminder) be sure to click frida frenzy for more.  if you ever get a chance, go see her work when it comes to your town.  in the meantime...besos jenna pearle*

pink panther

besos jenna pearle*

american boy

what'chuknow 'bout roy lichtenstein?  this guy is one of the talented american artists as well as one of my faves.  as you can see from the piece above, pop art is his thing.  recently, i watched a segment about him on a cbs morning show.  i was thrilled to hear what a happy person he was.  none of that tortured soul business. refreshing, isn't it?!  besos jenna pearle*

black and white bombshells

besos jenna pearle*

lovely

pic courtesy of aminah.tumblr.com

oh my god!  this was so breathtaking and powerful, i had to share.  makes me happy to be on a planet with such beautiful people and things.  sorry if i'm being dramatic but thats just how i feel about these things..............besos jenna pearle*

colour me badd

pic courtesy of the fab naturalbelle.blogspot.com

friendly fashion fwd reminder:  don't forget to utilize bright and vibrant colors in this season's wardrobe planning.  not only will it keep you at the center of attention, it can assist with curing those bah humbug winterblues...besos jenna pearle*

major

feast your eyes on this bronzed beauty.  black girls certainly do rock!!!!!!!


besos jenna pearle*
(pic courtesy of juicysistas.tumblr.com)

Beyoncé's Why Don't You Love Me-video voyeur

so, i promised you guys a new regular feature before my unexpected hiatus.  that was the video voyeur posts every week that celebrates the aesthetics and overall awsomeness of a great music video.  this week, i'm shining the spotlight on beyonce knowles *as if she needs it*.  this diva has a slew of phenomenal videos under her cinched in belt but today we're discussing "why don't you love me?"  really, there is nothing here not to love.  so, here are a few reasons why i Do love beyonce and this video:

•  the retro ambience is absolutely impressive
• beyonce (and those lovely curves) look amazing in that make up, hair and costumes
• not usually a fan of her (ahem) acting skills BUT here she demonstrates her desperation and frustration quite well
• the cocky cheekiness thatS become typical of bey(dusting her numerous grammys on the mantle)
• a catchy song that you can't help but like

conclusion:  ms. bey is a bad mama jama!

besos, jenna pearle*

welcome to the jungle...enjoy

just another beautiful image to gaze at...

besos jenna pearle*

my so called life

as you already know, my internet/computer situation has been a mess.  that doesn't mean, however, that i was not keeping busy.  in fact, my schedule was filled to capacity with interesting adventures.  i took on an internship with a french designer who opened a boutique on the east side of manhattan.  unfortunately, it became obvious that wasn't the right situation for me and i left after a week.  also, i think i mentioned before that i've been taking courses at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology.  this past fall semester was the most classes to date.  one of them was called "wardrobe for television, film and theatre."  it would be a dream come true to have an opportunity to be a costume designer/stylist on great shows like gossip girl, gilmore girls or general hospital.  

i also sharpened my skills with another image consulting course and a class called "styling for the celebrity image."  total bliss! last but not least was a course called "fashion in film & media."  my teacher was like a facsimile of liza minelli.  she had the look, the voice, the same kookiness.  !muy interesante!  anyway, above is my final project for the image consulting course.  my assignment was to have my partner from class act as my client and update her current look.  claudia was a bit conservative working in a corporate environment but had a creative flame inside of her.  she wanted to step her game up in terms of her casual outfits and add a bit of effortless sexy.  obviously, you're not hearing the actual presentation but still...what do you think?  was i successful?

besos jenna pearle*

fell in love with a girl-sade edition

the epitome of sophistication and class, ms. sade adu.  as soon as i saw this, i fell in love.  not very different from my reaction to sade's soulful music.  she does us proud everytime. 

besos jenna pearle*

the bitch is back...gossip girl

hi guys!  just a friendly reminder that tonight is gossip girl night.  make sure you're tuned in because this season (unlike the last two) is juicy and superbly stylish.  yes, gossip mongers, gg is back on track.  here is a beautiful black and white of the talented, leighton meester who so brilliantly portrays my favorite character, blair waldorf. you KNOW you love her...check out more leighton here the gorgeous gossip girl       xoxo  besos jenna pearle*

down with the kings of queens-run dmc

 

run dmc, the godfathers of rap.  it goes without saying we owe these pioneers so much for helping to bring hip hop music/culture into the mainstream.  they are also credited with showing that rap could be infused with any genre successfully(specifically rock).  i know you remember their hit with aerosmith, "walk this way."  for me and many others, run dmc are considered fashion icons.  all black everything (usually in leather), adidas with huge laces, gigantic gazelle glasses, heavy rope gold chains, bucket kangols and loads of badass attitude...what more could an impressionable lil' hip-hop loving girl in the 80s ask for?  unfortunately, during the earlier part of the decade, we lost the legendary dj, jam master jay.  despite that, these rap rebels remain tough as leather and in our nostalgic hearts forever. here are some essentials you'll need in your wardrobe in order to be down with the kings of queens.  keep an eye out for great accessories and clothing that meets the kings' criteria at http://theposhbrownboutique.bigcartel.com/


besos jenna pearle*

by the way, this artwork (up top) is by the artist, alberto russo.  check out his work when you get a chance, passionistas...

precious

found this at blackfashion and i LOVE it!!!

besos jenna pearle*

Michael Jackson, Keep It In The Closet...video voyeur

i came across a post about the top top 15 stylish music videos on coco and creme. and in true carrie bradshaw style, it got me to thinking...what beautiful music videos took my breath away over the years?  so, i've decided to share some selections i found visually stimulating once a week.  at the beginning of my blog, i shared with you 16 reasons why i love cool by gwen stefani.  this time, i chose one of my favorite michael jackson songs/videos "keep it in the closet" starring the one and only stunner, naomi campbell.  michael beefed up for this one, showing off his muscular tone in that wifebeater and black jeans.  he pulled back his signature curls into a ponytail and proceeded to give us sexy mike.  the sepia coloring give both them and the scenery a sensual aura.  there is really nothing to dislike about this art, as far as i'm concerned.  as usual, these talents do a superb job.
besos jenna pearle*

artistic frid-om

this combines some of my favorite things: frida kahlo, fashion and models.  these beautiful young ladies are none other than jaslene (former winner of antm) and victoria brita.  frida kahlo has always been a style icon (well, an icon in all respects) and i think these gals do her and her artwork justice.  wouldn't you agree?

besos jenna pearle*