You Wanna Bet?

You know when you look at someone who is reading a book and the person keeps smiling or laughing out loud and you get curious because you want to know the whole story, that's what happened when my roommate was reading "The Bet" by Rachel Van Dyken. In my previous post, I wrote about how I love to read, well, if you get good books that's what will happen to you. Aren't you glad it's not a bad thing to like to read? Okay, so in the past I have had the opportunity to read books that were just so good that they were page turners and couldn't be dropped for a second. I have read books that I couldn't put down because they were so good but I had to hide their covers because, well, let's just say I didn't want anyone gloating at me because they couldn't believe I was reading that book. But now, I get excited when I realize that there are still books out there that are really good. There are authors out there that still know how to write and make their readers giddy with excitement. That was exactly how I felt reading The Bet. Not only was it a page turner, the story caught my interest because it was one that could be related to. It was funny and at times I just wanted to pinch the characters for the stupid things they did. I liked it because it could have been real. It was real. Enjoy!

Just for the sake of recommending a book that I think is one of the most intelligently written books out there, check out "Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg"

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Natural Beauty

Sometimes I see things that stop me in my tracks. This happens to be one of them and I had to take a photo to share. Nature expressing beauty.

Boylston, Boston MA.

I Think I Read a Lot

If you know me, you know I love books. If you don't know me, well, I do really love books. I find myself sometimes having the free time to pick up a book and read. I'm still into novels but I promise myself to try and read non-fiction. It will take coaxing my will-power, but I will get there. It's not yet Summer, when I do a lot of reading, but I have found time somehow to read more books than I imagined. I still have an uncountable amount of TV shows I still watch, I still go work, so I too wonder how I've done it. I guess I have had great picks that's why I've finished more books. It also helps that there is a Barnes & Noble nearby. I pray bookstores never get replaced by coffee shops. Instead, let both co-exist like my local Barnes & Noble. I go in, browse and then end up with a book that peaks my curiosity. I order a cup of Chai and I'm well on my way to "mind land" in a few minutes. Reading novels is freeing and relaxing. I'm reading something that is already solved for me. I just have to make the journey. Reading textbooks is a different story because I have to really focus and solve. That's not the definition of relaxed reading for me. Although, I'm sure there are people out there who just read everything at the same pace, be it a mathematical text book or a James Patterson novel. Right now, I have nothing less than a dozen books to read and I have already gone through more than double of that this year. For readers out there, pick up a book; if you're not sure of what to read, listen to suggestions. Google the kind of books you would like to read and there are people out there who give constructive criticism and suggestions on books. You can also check out recommendations from book stores. Out there, small time writers also have great books. You can find out about them online. Refresh your brain like I do to relax and you'll be a happy person.

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Transported

Sometimes I watch shows that are dated and get transported to that era in my imagination. I am fascinated by their fashion and often wonder what may have driven them to sew and wear garments of their time. Of course I think some ridiculous because of the styles and the difficulty they impose on the wearer. Then I ask myself if they fashion the clothing that way for a reason that is more than what the eyes sees. One thing I'm able to do is compare. We are well aware that styles are recycled, they come back. Maybe not exactly as they used to be but the similarities are evident. Though these similarities are capturing, I pay more attention to the differences. I ask myself why something was changed for another. Is it because in these modern times, more research has been done for what is more suitable to the times? Then sometimes I wonder if the difference in that garment is just something that was lifted from another garment? With this in mind, I tend to notice that, indeed, some things have been remade or improved. These details, though minor, may give the garment it's modern twist. It was as a result of paying attention to a TV show that made me realize that garments are not too different from what we have these days but they are getting less formal as the years go on. I found out that a majority of suit styles that men wear these days were casual clothing in the early 1900s, meanwhile what we call casual now is majorly jeans and T shirts. I wonder what would be casual clothing in decades to come. It's fascinating to learn I tell you.

Trench It

Gone are those days when superheros and law enforcement individuals enjoyed the privilege of not being misjudged for wearing trench coats because somehow, it was made for them. This is the time when everyone, no matter what shape and size, can pick out a good color and fit of trench coat and wear it on their favorite outfit for styling as well as protection from the weather. I have often wondered if trench coats should really have a season to be worn. I mean, the weather these days have stayed unpredictable. The trench should be that coat for unpredictable days; days that are neither too cold nor too warm; days that have some drizzles or flurries. Mind you, trench coats come in different fabric and one should be aware of which fabric is suitable for the weather in question. Tan and black colored trench coats used to be the norm but now designers are giving us the opportunity to spice up our looks with prints and colors that pop. Switch out the cardigans and hoodies and try the trench look for a nice change.


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Dressing Tights

I'm not a big fan of substituting tights for pants because some girls take it too far. They fail to realize that their tights may be transparent and end up showing the whole world the type and color of panties they have on. Some do not have the flattering shapes for tights but do not care and end up embarrassing others on their behalf. Even though I have reservations about how the modern girls wear tights, I still like them and I have found a way to wear them without putting myself and others around me in an awkward situation. I think it is best to wear them under tops that are long enough to cover the bum. I used to wear mine under tops that were a bit loose and at thigh length. These days, I experiment with body hugging tops and I must confess that the look is flattering. The trick to wearing tights is wearing it in a well lit room in order to see how transparent or opaque the material is. If you're bold enough to wear it without covering the bum area, then wear thicker ones, preferably ones with patterns. If not, wear it with tops that cover the bum area and flatter your shape and you'll be all set.


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Fisherman Sweater

I learned from Scott Schuman, photographer and owner of The Sartorialist blog, that fisherman sweater on girls has to either be undersized or oversized. In his words, let it be small like it is borrowed from your little brother or large like it is borrowed from your dad. I can't agree more. The fisherman sweater style plays with thick patterns on wool that can immediately make a normal sized person look bulky. Sometimes, the trick to wearing it is going sizes smaller or bigger. Try both looks and see what works for you. I think of preppy girls going smaller and free-spirited ones going bigger! Which one would you rather wear?

(Ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Inspired by Michelle

Believe it or not, this look was inspired by the first lady, Michelle Obama. I went into Arden B to purchase a dress. While I was contemplating buying the entire store cause everything looked so gorgeous, I finally went with the sales girl's suggestion. She said, "...then you will have the cool Michelle Obama look." When I tried the dress I thought, "not so shabby for the President's wife's double." Here goes...I wore it on my birthday. The First Lady is known to pull off well-fitted dresses that show her incredible toned arms. Mine may not be as crazy fit but it sure does look great too. Need I say what the colors blue and red represent. All in all, I wanted a classy and chick look. I think I passed.


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

High

I claim to be 5ft10" tall but my roommate thinks I'm not less than 5ft11". Others who've met me think I'm over 6ft. The point I'm making here is that I'm a tall girl. I don't strut in heels all the time because I think I don't need them but when I see a pair I really like, there's no saying no to buying them. I don't go for over 4" because I don't want people feeling self-conscious of the dandruff on their hair. Yes sometimes I tower over people and see the top of their heads. Well, I saw the perfect heels recently and I didn't mind how many inches they were because I did not care. I just wanted them but something really cool happened before I got them. When I picked up this pair of heels, I looked for an attendant to find my size for me. It took forever before she came out and told me that she could only find the right leg and didn't know where the other was. She was going to check for it in the back where shoes were stored and I went to check around the store racks just in case. After what seemed like a long wait, she came back and apologized because she could not find the other leg. I was disappointed and went home without looking at any another shoes. A friend of mine who was shoe shopping with me on that day decided to go back to the store the next day. She found the right leg we were looking for the day before. It was on display. She hurriedly told an attendant about the situation and asked for the other leg to be brought. Guess what? It could not be found. What could have happened to it? Another attendant heard them talking about the shoes and knew exactly where it was. It was no ordinary shoe. It had a charm to it that could not be ignored. My friend bought my perfect heels and I squealed when I heard they were found. I can't wait to wear them when the weather gets warmer. 


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

You Are What You Do

deseretnews.com

People tend to start out the new year with promises to themselves of things they'll do to make their lives better aka New Year's Resolutions. We all know how long that lasts. The most popular resolution has to deal with leading a healthy lifestyle and this has proven difficult for most people because of the challenges of a total overhaul of bad behavior and an introduction of something completely new and foreign to the person. Healthy living stands in the minds of people as expensive living and the act of giving up delicious meals. It's no secret that most fatty foods are very tasty and people haven't learned to make their healthy counterparts also tasty. We have stuck to old recipes that used blocks of butter; we can get newer recipes that replaces the butter with olive oil. We should not wait till the beginning of the year to start taking care of ourselves and then fail after four days. We should learn what it takes and how to gradually incorporate healthy approaches to our daily lives. There's an adage that says, "You are what you eat." As true as that is, what about "You are what you do?" Leading a healthy lifestyle is not all about reducing portions and giving up certain foods. We have to think about making ourselves stronger by adding exercise. Now, I don't mean a gym membership because I know how I wasted my money by not going. I mean doing active things that can get your blood pumping. Little things like taking the stairs or jogging on a spot can add up. But it pays well to think of a type of exercise that you would enjoy or think of something you've always wanted to try. Do not wait another day. Take the step and be determined to commit to it. Change does not happen in a day. Some people give excuses about their bad knees and back but they have no idea that exercise can improve the situation. You can start now and make healthy living your goal. In my case, I love to fit into my dresses nicely so guess what, I exercise!
 

Red and Green

Some days that are given special recognition on the calender have colors associated with them like red, which is used on Valentine's day and the color of a country's flag used on their independence day celebrations. I have always been curious about red and green that are mostly used on Christmas day. I decided to do some research to find out answers that are out there for the reason why people wear and decorate with red and green during the Christmas holiday season.

An online blogger explained that red and green have Christian symbolism. "Red symbolizes Christ's blood shed on the cross for our sins (John 19:34). Green symbolizes Eternal life in Christ (John 3:16-17)." If Christmas was originally a Christian celebration, I would thoroughly enjoy this answer. I once learned that Christmas used to be a pagan celebration and when I read the next explanation for red and green as "Christmas colors," it made more sense.

"Many of the early Christians were originally pagans who celebrated Yule. They brought in some of their old traditions when they started celebrating Christmas; among them were the Yule log and the Yule colors red, green, silver, and gold."
*Yule was a religious mid-winter festival celebrated by Northern European peoples, which overtime absorbed into Christmas celebrations.

I'll like to hear your theories about the origin of red and green as Christmas colors.

Merry Christmas!


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Oxfords for You and Me

I was excited about my new oxfords and couldn't wait to put them on the next day. They were a grey suede pair with pink soles. I wore them the next day on my way to Boston to meet a friend for lunch. I felt my cool meter going really high. When I got onto the train I got a look from a guy that made me think something was wrong. I was confident about my outfit so I was sure that wasn't the reason for the weird look. Then I saw his eyes linger on my shoes. I took a look at them and they seemed fine to me. Then I saw it. He was wearing the same pair. Same grey and pink soles. Okay so I don't know who got whose first but I was not going to feel out of place wearing them because they were amazing. They were in the girl's section of the store, by the way, so he wasn't going to make me feel guilty for getting them. What's his problem? I thought. He didn't look my way until I got out of the train. At my side, I heard someone say, "Nice shoes." I looked at the person and it was the guy wearing the same pair as I. I replied with a winning smile, "thanks I like yours too." 


(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

MASS-ART PT II

Unique garments made by students of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design continues...

10

Designer of 10: Jessica Tenczar

Project: Non-Textile

Inspired by the texture and grain of birch bark. This dress is made from birch bark gathered from dead trees.

11

Designer of 11: Marcia Roseme

Project: Costume

Inspired by Black History Month, "Afro-American" is a tribute to Americans of Africa descent expressing hardships of the past, the blessings of the present and hope for the future.

12

Designer of 12: Sarah Koval

Project: Non-Textile

This dress was made from 30 feet of acetate sheeting (24 feet just for the shirt), 2 cans of gold and blue spray paint.

13

Designer of 13: Shawna Healey

Project: Non-Textile

1300 guitar picks. 7 bass guitar strings all sewn and stapled onto the sturdy base made from gaffers tape.

14

Designer of 14: Shenendoah Aldrich

Project: Non-Textile

Made from 8 yards of netting, 7 yards of raffia, and 1 trash bag. The bra is made from a pencil case backed with black construction paper. The hat has a wire armature covered with wrapping paper and googley-eyes.

Tall Socks

Fall is here and we are beginning to search the bottom of our dressers to bring out the tall socks. While our leg warmers can wait, how about I suggest some ways to dress up with our tall socks? It's Fall but we should not neglect colors. Where's the fun in sticking with grey and black? This Fall is really cold and you have an excuse to wear those longs socks. Try out these fashionable ways and keep all eyes on you this season for good reasons.

Put on a pair of tall socks with a thigh-high A-line dress. The dress should either be a plain color or patterned but ditch neon colored socks and stick with secondary shades. Make your look fun and flirty with polka dot or pin strip socks on a solid or plain colored dress. Flats always works but how about a pair of platform sandals?

Imagine the tall socks with thigh-length boyfriend shorts, not jeans, and a pair of sneakers to complete the look. Lets not forget that the tall socks can work with both an A-line and pencil-styled skirts, not longer than below the knees of course.I'm sure you all can come up with a variety of looks with tall socks. Stay warm!

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

MASS-ART

I was at the Copley Mall in Boston and came across fashion exhibits designed and crafted by students from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I want to share these designs because of their uniqueness. The outfits are made with objects we see around us and they are crafted so perfectly that they can actually be worn. It's just going to be funny seeing a person in an outfit made with tree backs, newspapers, paper clips, guitar picks, sponges, tea bags, and bottles.

1

Designer of 1: Aris Segura

Project: Non-Textile

127 Sponges were used to create this garment. Using a variety of different methods to shape and mold them into unique shapes.

2

Designer of 2: Ashley Cushon

Project:Tailoring

Inspired by fortresses, this garment is made from upholstery and wool. The wool has a heavily embroidered look with metallic fibers. 

3

Designer of 3: Becky Lafrate

Project: Non-Textile

Made from 7 full newspapers with stamped newspaper flowers.

4

Designer of 4: Chloe Davis

Project: Non-Textile

Made from over 3,000 tea bags and 17 pounds of tea. Hand-dyed in tea to create the gradation. Utilizing all of the different aspects of the tea bags in the details.

5

Designer of 5: Erika Williams

Project: Non-Textile

Made from screening and over 6000 paperclips attached with copper wire.

6

Designer of 6: Hadley Dombrowski

Project: Bridal

This elegant silk wedding dress was inspired by the hand beaded applique found by the designer.

7

Designer of 7: Fiona McTeigue

Project: Non-Textile

Made from approximately 300 matchbooks. The bodice is made from the matches and the skirt from the balance of the matchbook.

8

Designer of 8: Faith Garland

Project: Non-Textile

200 Aquafina bottles, 1000 staples. Constructed over a fitted duct tape base with Velcro fastener.

9

Designer of 9: Evan Michael

Project: Tailoring

Made from wool boucle. The fastenings are actual hardware.

To be continued...

It's a Guy in Skin Tight Jeans

The first time I ever paid attention to a guy in tight jeans was when I saw a Jonas brother donning a grey colored pair and I thought it wasn't pretty. I honestly felt uncomfortable for him. But then I noticed that it looked different on other body types. I guess the error that the singer made was wearing the wrong fit. Guys who love the straight tight jeans style should pay attention to how it fits on their waist, and most importantly, crotch, butts, and thighs.The tight jeans can easily hug the wrong places. You may have worn it just because you like it but trust me, you'll get attention for the wrong reasons. My advice, try different stores for different fits. when you wear the tight jeans, spread your legs and if it doesn't tug back and pose too much resistance, you're one step closer to picking the right pair. Then try sitting down and if it not tight around the waist and hip, you're good to go. Don't make the fashion police have you on his radar!!

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Belt the Loop

It never occurred to me that it is a no-no to leave out belts when wearing pants that have belt loops. It was until a friend of mine mentioned it that I saw how bare and incomplete the look could be. I now find that many people leave out belts especially when they wear shorts with belt loops. Sometimes we feel like it's a waste of time wearing belts if the waist of the pants or shorts fit perfectly. I use to feel the same way but now I think that putting on the belt completes the look. The belt doesn't need to be worn tight. I went belt shopping recently and noticed that there are some fashionable belts out there. The belts for guys are limited in both colors and designs but for women, there are some over-the-top designs to plain belts. I found myself tweaking outfits on people by either adding a belt or switching their belts for a particular style I had in mind. It was fun. I would advise that people should wear belts more often. It makes, not breaks, an outfit if the right one is worn the right way.

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

A Style Icon To Remember

nydailynews.com

vogue.com

While doing my daily browsing of nothing but fashion, I came across a photo of a lady that stood out to me in the real sense of standing out. This lady wasn't just clad in numerous colors but also in numerous clothing articles. Her outfit, composed, yet not composed, comprised of almost all pallets of both primary and secondary colors, I'm not kidding. She combined different textures of cotton, polyester, fur, and many more into one look. Did I fail to mention her electric-blue hair? What shocked me the most I think, was her age. Her age did not define her style at all. She had cultivated this show-stopping attitude, the attitude that gets everyone quiet in a room and all focused on her look. While some may have hated it, the fashionistas of the industry definitely appreciated her ability to create a chaotic fashion statement that managed to tell a story in an artistic way. I look at photos upon photos of this lady and I'm wowed. I can't understand her reasoning of her combinations but I immerse myself in the arrangement of it all. I'm left wondering if it took her a long time to figure out what she wanted to wear or if she was one that picked from the pile of the bedroom floor and threw them on. I am speaking of the one and only Anna Piaggi. May she Rest In Peace. 

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Sheer Comfort

Forever 21

A girl goes into her favorite clothing store and she sees different colors of sheer tops. She recognizes that this is a popular trend and she sighs in exhilaration when she sees the color she likes and her size. She had already envisioned the look she'll put together with the sheer top while she picks it off the rack. A day prior to the day she had plans to wear her sheer top she sees another girl on the street wearing something close but that girl dressed up the style differently. She smiles to herself and says; maybe I should try out this style with my sheer top. The day comes when she wears her sheer top. She has abandoned her original styling idea and wears the sheer top the way the girl on the street did the other day. She walks out of her house and thinks wow I'm loving my sheer top. Ten minutes into her stroll, she thinks everyone is scowling at her. Two minutes later, she finds that she begins to hunch her back and look at the ground. Another minute later, she contemplates going back home to change. Twenty seconds afterwards, she started making her way back home. She reaches home and after ten minutes, she comes out with the same sheer top. Only this time, she wore a tank underneath, not showing her lacy bra. She walks out smiling with her head up high and headed to her destination with confidence. The moral of the story is that if you like to follow trends, you are allowed to tweak them to your comfort level. Fashion allows room for uniqueness. Sheer material is light and comfortable in this summer heat and remember ‘it is transparent.’ Keep up the decency and cover what needs to be covered. Play with some colored tanks underneath a sheer top, dress, or skirt. Happy trending!

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

E x E x E

Africa cultivates Art

As what grows is Extraordinary

Africa molds Art

As what takes form is Excellent

Africa is Art

As anything that comes out is Exemplary

Natural - Kinky, Coil, Nappy, and Fro

What is it with people hating on nappy coils? why do people with natural hair have to prove to you that they want it that way? It truly doesn't make sense to me that individuals with natural fro should straighten their hair if they do not want to. I think leaving hair the natural way is liberating and adds less to the headache of spending too much money on styles, only to change them a lot because one has to keep their hair clean and healthy. When did it become okay to tag natural coils as "unkempt" and "homeless people style?" Nappy hair has its own unique texture and look and is not supposed to fall flat. It could easily get dry but steaming, creaming, oiling, and spraying it properly can give it a clean sheen. I have natural hair and would love to keep it that way because I despise hair relaxers. Relaxers are dangerous when not applied the right way. They can cause burns and also break hair. It's time for people to embrace the fact that there isn't one kind of hair texture. Let people be free with the kind of hair they want to carry, as long as they keep it clean and it does not harm you in any way. I admire Solange Knowles for  keeping her natural hair and she definitely doesn't owe anyone an explanation for choosing to do so. I love my hair and if you do not have anything nice to say about it, how about keeping your opinions to yourself :)

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

To Rock that Two-Piece

I don't necessarily slack off from my exercise routine in the winter, but I have to say I'm one of those who amp up their routine in the summer. I hope you're not asking why because it's as obvious as the smell of coffee. We wear lesser clothing and therefore show more figure. Shouldn't we at least try to flaunt the fact that we've been living at the gym? Kudos to those who actually succeed in their fitness endeavors because if there is one thing I know, it's not easy to get the "toned" look, believe me, I try really hard. Yes, you can be slim or full, but it takes a lot of dedication to doing the right exercises to be toned. I'm not an exercise junkie, but I think I do enough to have achieved the toned look by now. But, that is not the case. It's definitely possible that I may be missing key exercise regimens that can give me what I'm looking for. At the mention of plank I shiver. Not to talk of wall sits and other strength training. I always wish exercise was less-painful but we all know that's not how it happens. To flaunt you must go through some daunting experiences. I don't like daunting. I like fun. Zumba is my go-to exercise because I love to dance. It's not as easy as it may look but it is fun. I don't grunt but sing and laugh. I move about and drink as much water like I would have done doing strength exercises. But sooner or later, I have to wake up and know that I need to incorporate some strength exercises if I want to rock a two-piece.

(ukoemem - Author; Ola Y - Editor)

Beach Day Trends

Style - Vintage Inspired High Waisted Swimwear

Color - Yellow

Style - One Piece

Color - Rust

Style - Ruffled

Nike Cut-Out Floral Burst Women's Tank Swimsuit - Black, 28