30 Day Style Icon Challenge: Day 3 - Michelle Obama

Boy is it a busy time in politics right now. Our nation's chief, President Barack Obama attended the World Trade Center memorial yesterday for the 10th anniversary of the catastrophe that occurred on September 11, 2001. And today he is pushing out his $447 billion jobs bill to Congress. And let’s not forget that we are officially in campaigning days. In light of this political frenzy, I thought I would dedicate today's post for the 30 Day Style Icon Challenge to the woman who stays on the grind just as much as her husband. The woman behind next to the man, First Lady Michelle Obama.

Michelle Obama

Staff or no staff, team or no team, entourage or none, clearly Michelle Obama is a woman who was born with style and grace. She is the epitome of refinement, sophistication, and elegance without being a big ol yawn. She is the first First Lady since Jackie O  who effortlessly presents a polished look mixed with the right amount of sex appeal courtesy of figure flattering cuts and ever so slight baring of shapely shoulders, arms, or legs. What??? Yes, the First Lady is a sexy mother... (that's it, she's just a sexy mother guys).

See for yourself...

And please don't mistake her for some frivolous diva. Sensibility is key in Mrs. Obama's day to day fashion. She's been known to thoughtfully re-purpose outfits and shop at affordable stores like Talbots and Target.

Stunning in McQueen

And casual with the hubby...aww

Gosh I love our President and First Lady!

Bonus: Because our President isn't slacking in the style department himself ;-)

Until Next Time!,

SPC

30 Day Style Icon Challenge: Day 2 - Erykah Badu

 

So apparently this 30 Day Challenge is going to take me the rest of the year to complete. But moving right along…

If I had my way, I would change my look everyday according to my mood. I wouldn’t be afraid to have fun with fashion and not take myself so seriously. My wardrobe, makeup, and hair would be the paint, and I ,the canvas. My style would be an endless array of creative expression. And whoever didn’t like it could kick major rocks. The next style icon on my list  certainly embodies that …

Erykah Badu

I’m not ashamed to admit my serious girl crush on Erykah. She just oozes confidence and errr um what’s the word?…ugh…Swag. She is a true chameleon who always keeps her fans guessing about what she’s going to pull off next. Afro, locs, braids, blonde, disco, boho, sporty, sexy, freaky. She remains undefined by set standards of beauty, though she is definitely no stranger to gorgeousness.

When Erykah arrived on the scene in 1997, this was  her signature look …

Nobody on the scene was doing it like this. Erykah’s trademark sky high head wrap and eccentric attire was the billboard through which people came to recognize the supreme talent that is Badu.

When Erykah revealed that this was what she was toting under there…

…and that they were indeed extensions and not her own, boy were people up in arms with many things to say about her “realness”. Soon she let it be known that she was not the type to be pigeonholed…

BOOM!

This girl is so dope, she has even been credited with turning this…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Into This--->

 

and…

 

 

 

 

 

 

  into this --->

 

LMAO!! Luckily these fine specimens were able to recover from Badu’s freakquencies and tone it down a bit to preserve their sexy.

Check out some of my favorite Erykah looks:

Preppy meets A Clockwork Orange Perhaps?

Erykah,bold and fearless at 2010 Lollapalooza in blonde mohawk

and sweet little floral dress.

“Earwings” are from her own jewelry line, Funktional Art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erykah effortlessly transforms from b-girl…

…to glamorous vixen.

Fashion Designer Tom Ford chose Erykah to be the face of his fragrance,                    

White Patchouli back in 2008 and she WERKED it out

Erykah is even more fabulous…after the break!

30 Day Style Icon Challenge: AALIYAH

How fitting for my #1 Style Icon to be on the 10th anniversary of her untimely passing. And in my humble opinion, she’s still a style visionary to this day…

Aaliyah

When Aaliyah debuted in 1994, I was immediately intrigued by her style. The sleek hair, the dark shades and lips (it was at this moment that my fascination with super dark lipstick began lol), and tomboyish clothing that surely didn't cover up what a cutey patootey she was. Her age was a mystery, but obviously she was a teenager. And she wasn’t one of those sugar pop sickeningly sweet artists. She was down-to-earth, mature, and pretty but rough around the edges.

I could relate to this girl.

The next time she resurfaced, it was 2 years later. She had definitely grown up, oozing sexuality in her style, movements, and music but keeping that "round the way" tomboy quality that her fans came to associate her with. It was my sophomore year in high school and I too was finding a sense of sexy. Oh boy did I become obsessed with all things midriff! (And I probably still would be if I weren't post two kids. lol!)  I had her style down to a science complete with baggy pants and swoop of hair over the eye. Gosh I wish I had a photo of me doing my best impersonation.

By the time her final album came out in 2001, Aaliyah was a movie star. She began to make bolder choices with her hair, makeup, and fashion choices, introducing glamour into the mix.

 

Perfection!

Her image, her style, her music were so important to me growing up. I clung to her like we had a personal bond. And when she passed, I was at a loss. She remains an important icon defining what it means to be edgy and sweet, sexy and classy, bold and mysterious. RIP Aaliyah

 

30 Day Style Icon Challenge via Pearls and Peacocks

I love blog challenges. You know, when a blogger posts about a certain topic or topics for a set period of time. Often, I find myself thinking "oooh, I'm gonna do this one". But I'm such a sometimey blogger that I don't complete the task. But this one, I think I can dig...

My girl Eclectic Ivy from fashion blog Pearls and Peacocks created this challenge highlighting 30 icons who have influenced your style and/or you just love their style, period. So far she's profiled Sex and the City stylist Patricia Fields, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kourtney Kardashian, Audrey Hepburn, and even the Rat Pack. Can't wait to see who's next!

Electic Ivy writes:

"My mission is to find 30 people who have influenced my style. 30 people who I absolutely adore their style. 30 people who have swag (for lack of a better word). Some may be models. some may be designers. Some may be actresses. Some may be new some maybe old. That's not the point. The point is to learn more about those dolls/gents that ooze style! To express why I  love them  and help refine my definition of style. The bonus where applicable is to mimic a part of their style. The limitations are to choose only 12 photos that showcase the depth of their style. (why? because I get photo happy)."

Thanks Girl! This is gonna be awesome! Now I don't promise to make these posts everyday (you know me) or even to get through all 30 but I'll do my best ;-)

SPC

Bantu Knot-Out on Blow-dried & Flat Ironed Hair

Happy Friday Yall! I just had to post this because it was hilarious first of all. And the style was really really cute. Well...was

Check it out...

Been there before. All that work and cuteness just to have the look destroyed in a couple of hours. Anyway, shout out to whoissugar on youtube for this hilarious video.

Peace,

SPC