Nu Girl On The Blog

Fashion Fixes: Look Flawless From Day To Night With Bristols 6's High Quality, High Style Dressing Solutions

2009-01-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

Bristols 6 fans Eve, Gabrielle Union, and Rihanna love their essential styling products.

New from Bristols 6: Nippies Natural. Nippies Natural has been carefully designed and tested to provide the smoothest, undetectable coverage possible for women of almost every shape, size, and color.

Noticing there were hardly any adhesive foundation options for black women, Bristols 6 created a silicone nipple cover unlike any other in its class. Completely undetectable under clothing (even silks and jersey!), ultra-thin silicone with tapered edges blends seamlessly into skin to eliminate ridges and bumps. Semi-transparent silicone blends into multiple skin tones. A “paparazzi proof” matte finish won’t reflect light through clothing. Packaged in a portable faux-crocodile skin compact.

Available in two reusable styles: adhesive and non-adhesive. Adhesive Nippies Natural is the 1st thin matte adhesive silicone nipple cover in the market, and is best worn in place of a bra for fail-proof coverage. The non-adhesive version stays securely in place using body heat. Ideally inserted into a bra or tight top, it eliminates bulky padding while providing coverage.

Recieve 15% off at Bristols6.com using code NUGIRL. (Offer Expires February 28th 2009)

Sisters It Is Our Time!

2009-01-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Nubian Princess Meets J Crew; My 2009 Spring Fashion Inspiration

2009-01-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

Every year after the New Year has passed my mind always turns to Spring. I love the sun and I love not having to be weighed down by heavy winter clothing. It is also my time to be super cute. This year I am planning my spring look in advance. My inspiration is Contemporary Afrocentric.

This spring, I am mixing my Afrocentric pieces with neutrals and basics and using assesories to add culture to simple pieces like the above brown J Crew dress.

Why We Can't Afford to Settle for Scraps From Hollywood

2008-12-26T19:17:00.000-08:00

"Because what we see about ourselves often influences what we do about ourselves, the role of images and the question of how they control our minds are more important now, in our media-saturated society, than ever before." Dr. John Henrik Clarke

Film is not produced for entertainment alone. Film is very powerful. Film transmits ideas to the world about people, politics, history, sex, ideals of beauty, relationships, culture and the list goes on. We do not control Hollywood, so we do not control what they transmit around the world about us. This is a serious problem.

For every movie that tells the story of a powerful European monarch, there are none that tell the story of a powerful African monarch. For every European centered epic such as 300, Alexander, Troy and Gladiator, there are no African centered epics. Characters that have superhuman and supernatural powers are almost always caucasian. This is done very deliberately. Europeans use every resource available to maintain and increase their power, the entertainment industry is no different. They use film to help shape their images and everyone else's as well.

Danny Glover's epic about Haitian independence hero Toussaint-Louverture might not get made because producers complained that there were no white heroes. "Producers said 'It's a nice project, a great project...but where are the white heroes?" Mr. Glover has gotten 18 million dollars from Venezuela but needs a total of 30 million to make the film.

White producers were not willing to green-light this project because it does not provide an acceptable image of Europeans. Europeans being defeated by Africans who had less manpower and less resources is not in alignment with the types of ideas Hollywood wants to transmit to the world.

Why then are African-Americans not as shrewd in guarding and shaping our own images? A lot of us are just so happy to be invited to dinner that we will accept scraps in return. Halle Berry wanted an Oscar enough to perform a porno scene with Billy Bob Thornton. Why are black actors playing the Fairy God Negro, someone who helps to enrich the life of a white person with our good old negro wisdom. Why are black actresses not playing super-heroines, falling in love, sitting on a throne or having an outer-worldly adventure. The answer is a lot of black filmmakers are limited in their thinking when it comes to our experiences and they also know what white producers will green-light.

The fact is, it is not up to white Hollywood execs to tell our stories. We need to control our stories and how they are told. We need to use film to shape our own images. The cost of leaving this up to someone else is too high. As a filmmaker this is my goal. I want to tell the stories that will show the world that has chosen to forget, that as the oldest people on the planet our stories run long and deep into the root.

Natural Hair In Hollywood

2008-12-17T16:14:00.000-08:00

Halle Berry
Kerry Washington
Jennifer Hudson
Beyonce
Gabrielle Union
Sanaa Lathan
Jada Pinkett Smith
Angela Bassett
Meagan Good
Nia Long
Joy Bryant
Taraji P. Henson
Zoe Saldana
Vivica A. Fox

These talented black actresses are all known for their beauty, sexiness and red carpet style. But what do they all have in common?

Whether they are sporting long flowing locks, a perfectly executed boob, or a short sassy pixy cut, they all keep it silky and straight. Nothing wrong with their choice, but is it a choice? Name me one working black actress who is an object of desire and sports a natural? In Hollywood where roles are already very limited for black actresses, what would happen to the careers of any of the above actresses if they decided to go natural? Like it or not natural textured tresses are still put in a box when it comes to the entertainment industry. If you are a neo-soul artist natural hair is accepted and embraced. But in other entertainment segments a natural can be deemed 'unmarketable."

There have been huge strides in the natural hair movement. We as women of African decent now have more natural hair options in terms of styling and hair care than ever before. Natural hair can be tailored to fit an array of lifestyles and style aesthetics. But even with these choices, there are still professional arenas and social settings where black women may feel that natural tresses may hold them back. In these cases the choice to straighten is not a choice at all.

If Michelle Obama sported a natural hair style such as a locked boob, how would that choice have affected her husband's political career? Is it possible for a natural haired first lady?

What do you think?

Social Issues Important to Black Women

2008-12-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

Although I love blogging about beauty, fashion and lifestyle. There is another side to my blogg content that is just as pertainent to women of African decent if not more.

Visit my Nu Girl Social Issues Page where the following discussions are going on:

How Forgiving Infidelity Can Kill You

Single Black Mothers Beware

Porn Principle: Women Measuring Up To The Porn Standard

Keep It Simple Keep It Fabulous

2008-12-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

I am a mommy of two children (both under the age of two), wife and entrepreneur who works from home, so it can be easy to get up and go about my business without taking time to put myself together. Khadija over at Muslim Bushido ask the question "Are You Ready to Feel Flawless" and I say yes I am!

But first we busy ladies need a beauty routine and a fashion plan that allows us to be fabulous while keeping things simple. So lets upgrade our beauty and at home fashion game with the following finds.

1. Trade in slumping around the house in PJ's for this pretty one piece cotton wrap dress.

2. Trade in the run over slippers for a comfortable but pretty sandal or a jeweled ballerina flat.

3. Turn your shower into a spa with a sugar scrub like this one from Bath & Body Works. This scrub allows you to skip the lotion and leaves skin buttery smooth.

4. Create a tinted moisturizer by combining one pea size amount of foundation to two pea size amounts of moisturizer.

5. Dab on some lip long lasting lip stain.

Glamour in Soho

2008-11-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

Check out these beautiful finds by soho jewelry designer Anne-Marie. I passed by her table over the weekend in Soho and could not leave without picking up a few pieces. Her pieces which transcend time are also available online at www.braceletssoho.com.

The amber and silver ring is not one of her pieces. That piece was purchased for me at The Museum of Natural History.

Special thanks to my husband and business partner Marcus for staging the pieces.

Black Elegance in the White House: Mrs. Obama Will Make a Fine First Lady

2008-11-05T20:25:00.000-08:00

Pursuit of Nappiness

2008-11-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I attended the opening reception of The Pursuit of Nappiness; Bad Hair at its best! The event was given by Mireille Liong (3rd picture down) founder of Going Natural: Black Natural Hair Care Magazine. I had a wonderful time exchanging natural hair stories with other sisters who were natural or just naturally curious. I had a sisterly chat with Anu Prestonia (bottom picture middle sister) of the famous Khamit Kinks Salon. She gave us the 411 on the different grade of hair we use for twist, braids and weaves. Word to the wise, if it ain't sold by the ounce it ain't 100% human hair. What you buy in a pack labeled "human hair" is more like small amounts of low grade human hair mixed with yack.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Maria Thompson of Twist & Curves (top picture) an award winning natural hair artist and educator. It was also great to see mothers and daughters at the event. It is so important to teach the next generation love and self acceptance. I am diffently looking forward to attending the upcoming Pursuit of Nappiness events taking place this November.

More to Come!

Two Shades for Women of Color: No Thank You!

2008-10-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Women of African decent come in an estimated thirty five different shades with a variety of different undertones. But in 2008 cosmetics companies are still giving us the short end of the stick. Shout out to the Ready to Wear line of cosmetics on HSN who provides three shades of foundation for its Caucasian consumers and then has the nerve to throw us a bone by providing two measly shades for Nubian consumers. They want our money, but they don't want to risk their makeup line being labeled a black line by providing more shades for women of color than they do for Caucasian consumers. This consumer would prefer being totally left out than being an afterthought. Two shades to choose from of which neither matches my skin tone, no thank you. I'll just stick to the array of other companies that provide as many as 20 different shades for this Nu Girl to choose from.

Modesty Can Also Be Fly

2008-10-28T12:16:00.000-07:00

I came across a link to this magazine Muslim Girl over at Make Fetch Happen. Even through I am not Muslim the pictures and fashions in this mag are beautiful, feminine and classy. I am considering getting a subscription.

Four Gems for Throught

2008-10-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

I first learned of this very talented spoken word artist De De Hunt aka Quietstorm on you tube.

I have posted four of her poems on the sidebar above. For more of this talented sister's work visit http://www.myspace.com/dedehuntakaquietstorm.

Recession Proof Your Natural

2008-10-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

Rocking hair in all its natural glory can be liberating, healing, unique, bold, sexy and beautiful. It can also be expensive. having natural hair often means saying farewell to the days of 20 dollar blowouts and 15 dollar wraps at the Dominican hair dressers and say hello to more expensive two strand twist, coil outs, braids and locks depending on your particular type of natural. What we are paying for is the fact that these styles require more time and skill. Styling natural hair is usually done by a hair professional who specializes in natural hair, so you are paying for the craft. I have paid as much as $115.00 before taxes and tip for a coil set over at Turning Heads Salon. If your funds are plentiful then these salons are a great way to treat yourself. If you are like me and you are looking for ways to save funds but you still want to stay fly, then you need to recession proof your natural. Don't be reliant on the hair salon. Turn that lazy Sunday into an opportunity to practice styling your own hair. Every natural girl should know at least know how to achieve basic styles such as two strand twist or become proficient in whatever your style choice is. If you already are proficient then take that time to take your style to the next level. I learned what worked for me taking the time to experiment. Remember the key is patience, patience and more patience.

Look up natural hair expos and events in your area. These events usually contain a wealth of information, inspiration, and support for your natural. One that I will certainly be attending is, The Pursuit of Nappiness: Bad hair at its best! The event is given by Mireille Liong over at Going Natural: Black Natural Hair Care Magazine. The cost is free!

Redefining Sexy

2008-10-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

Sexy, that adjective is thrown around so much today, from how to be sexy, to who we think is sexy, to bringing sexy back. Sexy is all up in our faces. We are obsessed with it. But has the American woman become so obsessed with sexy that we have forgotten all of the supporting attributes such as grace, elegance and femininity? I live in the Bronx where for the most part sexy is video vixen on a budget, a pair of tight, derriere hugging jeans and a tight and /or revealing top. Where I live this is how sexy is almost always interpreted. But what does sexiness, elegance, grace and femininity look like? We know it when we see it. Is it the woman who's rocking a sundress and keeping everything else simple? Is it the woman who can humbly accept a compliment and keep it moving? Is it the woman who can keep her composure and get what see wants without resorting to drama? Is it the woman who complete strangers hold doors open for? Is it the woman who knows there is a way to do almost anything and keep it classy? In this Nu Girl's opinion just sexy is a dime a dozen. Just sexy alone has very little value and eventually gets old. Sexiness, elegance, grace and femininity is something that will always keep a woman beautiful.