black girl bravado

hi passionistas!
long time, no hear, i know.  that only means that i've been quite the busy bee.  several projects have been occupying my attention since we last spoke.  the current passion that i've been diligently working on is called black girl bravado. {black girl bravado} it is a website/blog dedicated to how awesome black girls are.  it's aim is to empower and celebrate our young girls, boost their self esteem and self worth.  if you've followed along here, you know that it in alignment with what i've always been about.  a few girls who have been featured include quvenzhane wallis, the gold olympian, claressa shields and chimamanda ngozi adichie.  please show your support by visiting the blog and donating, if possible.  this blog is destined to become a movement with many other positive programs emerging from this.  anyhow, i look forward to catching up with you guys there until posh brown returns.  
http://blackgirlbravado.blogspot.com/

besos jenna pearle*

stay tuned...the carrie diaries edition

alas, my once favorite and most fashionable show, gossip girl, has finally ended.  it was past it's prime quite a few seasons ago really.  still, it was hard to say goodbye.  but before i could shed a proper tear, the cw came along with something fresh and fierce to fill in my monday night slot.  enter.......the carrie diaries!!!  this show is a prequel to the sex and the city hbo hit.  we find a teenage carrie bradshaw navigating her way through the suburbs on her way to the fabulous new york life she's known for.  there are quite a few reasons why i love this show but i'll narrow it down to three for you.

1.  the great storylines...
 although some parts are a little far-fetched (magically becoming an intern at a prestigous magazine at                sixteen by chance?  yeah, right!), most of the show show is fairly realistic and relate-able  (especially if you're a teenager or was once one).  boy trouble, sibling issues and drama with friends and frenemies abound.

2.  the fashion, of course
although i was far from a teenager, i did witness the wild and wacky and sometimes tacky eighties fashion for myself.  (droops head in shame) and yes, i even participated in it.  that's why i look forward to seeing eric daman's interpretation of what was worn in the era of excess.  so far, i think he does an excellent job of showing what kids were rocking to school and lets his creative juices splash all over the blank canvas when dressing the ny it girls.  
check out this blog for more about the clothes:  http://thecarriestylediaries.com/

3.  the diversity of the cast
by now you've heard of the controversy with the hbo show girls and how they've whitewashed the rainbow that is new york.  according to lena dunham, a diverse nyc has not been her reality.  if that's true, the sheltered writer  should certainly get out more.  in the carrie diaries, people of color are more than cab drivers and homeless people taunting the main characters.  in fact, we are play central roles in carrie's life (unlike the grown up carrie) even in the burbs of connecticut.  her best friend (mouse), nemesis (donna la donna) and it girl mentor (larissa) are all women of colour and charisma.  her guy pal (walt) is teetering on whether or not he's gay (he is) and her other bff maggie...well, she just might be white but her ethnic features are gorgous as well as ambiguous.  

check out carrie diaries-le book for more.

besos jenna pearle*

everdeen, ever shining (the hunger games)

hey, y'all!!!  i'm back from my break.  so much has happened since we last met.  i'll try to touch on some of the things i find most important as we travel on.  the latest thing is, of course, THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!  i read the first book awhile ago and finished up the addictive series before february.  needless to say, i was eager to see the movie.  happy to report,i was not disappointed.  this girl, the lovely jennifer lawrence, wasn't at all what i pictured for katniss everdeen.  i thought her face was a bit too chubby and soft for a character who seemed a bit hard and hungry.  angular would have been best (and i rarely say that as a chubby cheek chick myself).  anyway, this young lady was excellent, as was the rest of the cast.  so, on behalf of the hunger games craze, here is a pic of the new inguenue reveling in her newfound fame. 

besos jenna pearle*

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*

kristen, the cover girl

no words.......

besos jenna pearle*

a poem for thought-tupac shakur

this is the last post celebrating national poetry month.  the poet i chose to feature, as you can see, is a tad bit more modern.  the talented tupac amaru shakur.  many are unaware of his other gifts besides acting and rapping.  poetry was yet another passion of his.  here are two of my favorites from him:

the rose that grew from concrete

Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.

liberty needs glasses

excuse me but lady liberty needs glasses
and so does mrs justice by her side
both the broads r blind as bats
stumbling thru the system
justice bumbed into mutulu and
trippin on geronimo pratt
but stepped right over oliver
and his crooked partner ronnie
justice stubbed her big toe on mandela
and liberty was misquoted by the indians
slavery was a learning phase
forgotten with out a verdict
while justice is on a rampage
4 endangered surviving black males
i mean really if anyone really valued life
and cared about the masses
theyd take em both 2 pen optical
and get 2 pair of glasses

besos jenna pearle*

a poem for thought-sonia sanchez



fellow virgo, sonia sanchez



I gather up,
each sound,
you left behind,
and stretch them,
on our bed.
each nite,
I breathe you,
and become high

a pic of vonetta mcgee to illustrate the poem

besos jenna pearle*

a poem for thought-langston hughes

if i had a choice of what time period i could go back and take part in, it would be a stiff competition between the rebellious sixties and the roaring twenties harlem renaissance era.  but for this post, lets go with the latter.  and if i had the choice of who i would want to hang out with during the harlem r., it would be zora neale hurston, madam c.j. walker and langston hughes.  langston was the cool cat of the times.  he made being black en vogue.  in fact, these talented trendsetters made harlem THE place to be.  i can see myself now, dressed to the nines in my flapper dress, cute hat, and fingerwaved bob, pontificating on race relations in america across the table from mr. hughes in his spiffy suit at a blues set.  later, we'd head over to one of those rent parties to dance and eat. 
ok... i got a little carried away with my dream sequence.  the point is langston hughes was one of our greatest and most respected poet/writers.  and he went to my alma mater.  #lincoln love  enjoy one of his most celebrated works "mother to son."

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes


Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

                                                                    besos jenna pearle*

a poem for thought-maya angelou

maya angelou is a legend.  her poems were the soundtrack for my rebellious teenage angst.  quite frankly, there is little in life that madam angelou hasn't experienced.  being a confidante to some of our great civil rights leaders and artists (baldwin, macolm, martin), reciting poems for millions at president clinton's inauguration, having a movie written around your work, breaking rules and records on new york times best sellers list...these are just a few accomplishments.  (oh, did i mention that she is the go to person for our resident go to person, oprah?)  i rest my case.  maya IS a phenomenal woman...and she knows it.  read poem for more:

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
besos jenna pearle*

a poem for thought-nikki giovanni

well, its national poetry month.  i really meant to address that earlier but oh well.  with the remaining days of april, i thought i would highlight some of my favorite poets.  the one featured on this post is my absolute favorite female poet.  she is nikki giovanni.  i actually got a chance to meet her and get her to sign one of my books.  nikki is just the absolute coolest.  an older person who appreciates and has empathy for the young is rare these days.  anyway, find out more about her when you can.  in the meantime, enjoy a poem from her catalog. 

Nikki-Rosa

By Nikki Giovanni

childhood remembrances are always a drag   

if you’re Black

you always remember things like living in Woodlawn   

with no inside toilet

and if you become famous or something

they never talk about how happy you were to have   

your mother

all to yourself and

how good the water felt when you got your bath   

from one of those

big tubs that folk in chicago barbecue in   

and somehow when you talk about home   

it never gets across how much you

understood their feelings

as the whole family attended meetings about Hollydale

and even though you remember

your biographers never understand

your father’s pain as he sells his stock   

and another dream goes

And though you’re poor it isn’t poverty that

concerns you

and though they fought a lot

it isn’t your father’s drinking that makes any difference   

but only that everybody is together and you

and your sister have happy birthdays and very good   

Christmases

and I really hope no white person ever has cause   

to write about me

because they never understand

Black love is Black wealth and they’ll

probably talk about my hard childhood

and never understand that

all the while I was quite happy

besos jenna pearle*

THE gossip girl, wendy williams

so, it turns out wendy williams can't do it all.  she was booted from the hit show dancing with the stars in second to last place.  hey, at least she tried!  anyhow, she has been blessed with a more prestigious honor (in my opinion).  she is the new cover girl on the may issue of essence magazine.  and, she looks fantastic!!

like all of the greats in history, she  has evolved over the time. from the infamous shock dee-jay you could count on for all the gritty, inside gossip to the respectable princess of morning tv talk, wendy has transitioned into a hero.  how u doing, wendy?!

the music-elle

i can't wait for this edition of elle to reach my mailbox!!!  its the first music issue and it features quite a few of my favorites like qwen, nicki and adele.  others include the likes of jennifer hudson and that ever present little willow smith.  above is a sneak preview of the issue.  enjoy!

besos jenna pearle*

front page

just a few beautiful, inspirational covers from some notable periodicals.

besos jenna pearle*

book smart- jenna's guide to gifting

as you know, the holiday season is here.  i assume that you are all in the gift buying/giving spirit.  so, the thoughtful person i am, i decided to give you a few ideas i know your family and friends will love.  for this post, lets focus on books, one of the best presents one could ask for. 

• 20 under 40 Stories from the New Yorker edited by Deborah Tresman (for the bibliophile in your life).  i'm in the process of reading this right now and i am thoroughly enjoying it.
• The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (for the teenage set...great adventure with a fearless heroine, check it out)
• Happy Chic Colors by Jonathan Adler (for the friend who is creative or at least appreciates great style)
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Boxset by Jeff Kinney (for the kids who like to read as well as the kids that don't.  these books are that good.  hilarious is a better description) 
• City Chic: The Modern Girl's Guide to Livin' Large on Less by Nina Wildorf (great for your bffs or a little cousin coming out of college)
• Decoded by Jay-Z (excellent gift for the fellas {and the ladies} in your world, especially if they are music buffs)
• The Ellements of Personal Style by Joe Zee (perfect present for any fashionista)

many of these suggestions are books you may want to add to your own library.  by the way, many magazines like elle, marie claire and glamour have great gift deals for one year subscriptions.  look out for another post on other holiday gifts that spread happiness and style. 
besos jenna pearle*

bookmarcs and question marks

are you aware of the fact that there is a bookstore on bleeker st in the west village in nyc?  did you know that this yet another marc jacob project (he has several businesses in the area)?  will you be supporting?  just asking...
besos jenna pearle*

icons of style

twiggy, bianca jagger, gabrielle "coco" chanel, sofia coppola, rachel zoe, carrie bradshaw, grace jones, brigitte bardot ect...this book is filled with the faces who shaped fashion. its a must for anyone interested in style icons or at the very least strong women.

xoxo jenna pearle*

ps. the author is simone werle

fashion lit

the teen vogue handbook...an insider's guide to careers in fashion

i just borrowed this book from the library yesterday and i must say, i am IMPRESSED! see, i didn't have high expectations since i am no teenager (apparently, based on the title, the chosen dempgraphic). but surprisingly, this book is chock full of great information for ANYONE who is interested in a fashion career. it gives useful tips and first hand accounts straight from the mouths of those in the industry. teen vogue handbook also tries to hit on a diverse group from several different aspects of fashion. fashion stylist, editor, blogger, photographer and so much more. and did i mention the graphics?! well, they are lovely colored and clear photographs (many from past issues of teen vogue), fantastic sidebars and quotes. when i return this book to the library, i will be headed straight to my mecca (b&n) to pick up my own copy.

xoxo jenna pearle*

dirty dawn

above are a few pics from dawn's (dirty money) layout in ghubar magazine. what a transformation from the making the band days! she looks hot!

xoxo jenna pearle*

twilight zone

twilight time is back. yes, ladies and gentlemen, eclipse will be out on the 30th ( thats almost tomorrow). therefore, i found it fitting to post some pics of the eclipse stars. plus, in the one on the bottom, kristen is sporting that side braid i'm crazy about. both look gorgeous in all three images.

reporting live from team edward headquarters, jenna pearle* xoxo

again

apparently, miss fenty will be gracing the covers and sheets of elle in june. she was not kidding when she sung "that rihanna reign just won't let up." stunning as usual. not much more to say about that.

xoxo jenna pearle*