An Art Nerd’s Night In: Project Runway All-Stars on the DVR

Season five of Project Runway had three of my favorite designers in the history of the show: Korto Momolu, Kenley Collins, and Leanne Marshall (the winner). The judges no doubt had a difficult time deciding between the three women’s stellar collections! I personally thought there should have been a three-way tie. A few years later Heidi decided to bring back the best of the best for Project Runway All-Stars. Korto was among them. I was intent on seeing Heidi and her crew send Korto home with the prize —her collection was breathtaking. But again they placed her at the cusp of victory only to dash her aspirations. I was highly annoyed.

Kenley's Designs from Project Runway

Kenley's designs for the finale

I stopped watching the show after that episode. When I saw that Kenley was coming back for this this season of Project runway All-Stars, I couldn’t resist; so I broke my moratorium. I want to see her win! Kenley makes the most irresistible clothing. I would wear absolutely anything that she makes. Right now I’m coveting her Houndstooth Mini Beret. I can’t wait to see what she made last night…

Lookbook Love: Julia Sarr-Jamois Looks Breezy and Beautiful in Tibi : Lucky Magazine

Lucky Magazine's Alison Syrett writes:

Instead of hiring just any model for its Spring 2012 lookbook, Tibi enlisted the help of Wonderland Magazine editor Julia Sarr-Jamois. It looks like the all that practice posing for street style bloggers has paid off: she looks totally gorgeous. Click through the slideshow to see the entire campaign.

She has one of the most coveted wardrobes on the planet.  Now her pieces are accessible to all of her adoring fans.

I'm L♥ving This App: Pose

And not just because they featured my boots for the day.


Pose is a really cool way to see what your favorite people are wearing. It's like having shopping buddies or a second set of eyes...

Here's my handle:
http://pose.com/u/afroartnerd#poses. I would love to see you all!

A Perfectly Polka-Dotted, Purple, & Particularly Pensive Day

I taught Mini-Me well. She said "Mom you should wear a belt." But I said, "It's a Mod style dress; A-line and it needn't be belted. Trust me."  However, when I saw this picture I became particularly pensive--how in the world did I make such a misstep? I'll chock it up to experience...

Sweater & Boots: Express | Dress: Anna Sui for Target | Jeggings: Torrid | Gloves: Vintage

An Unplanned Shutdown

Last week, while I was smack dab in the middle of writing a post, my computer malfunctioned and eventually became useless. I did everything in my power to fix it. But my knowlege is minimal so my attempts were in vain.

Last Sunday a friend with advanced knowlege of computers fixed my laptop and here I am! I have so many posts to share with you. I'll be up and running tomorrow. Oh, how I missed blogging !

P.S. I will never buy a PC again!

#occupymlkday?

When I saw Gap’s advertisement I closed my eyes and disturbing images began to flood my mind (art historians are the keepers of the pictures…)   Maybe I should be excited that MLK Day is being exploited as a shopping holiday just like President’s Day or Labor Day. Now there is true equality in corporate opportunism, at least.  

What are we opening the door to?  I see this scenario going a couple of ways:

People of all colors and creeds could get ripped off for overpriced and poor-quality merchandise side by side, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand in perfect harmony...*

...as they contemplate the days when it was not possible for African Americans to even try on clothes in a department store (if they were even allowed in the store at all).

I hope that as consumers walk the aisles side by side they remember the multitudes who marched in front of segregated establishments and braved police brutality unarmed. Perhaps there could be a moment of silence at the cash registers. 

These sales must be stopped or we run the risk of losing the memory of MLK’s accomplishments and their legacy for worthless trinkets. #

Oh wait…

* http://independentfilmnewsandmedia.com/chaos-stores-u-s-thousands-shoppers-scramble-nike-air-jordans/   "Brawl over Jordans: Arrests, pepper spray, gunshots, brawls and doors pulled off hinges” December 12, 2012
# http://functionalshmunctional.blogspot.com/2010/11/black-friday-crazin

Fashion Imitates Art: Jackson Pollock's Action Painting

My very own digital action painting that I creating at http://jacksonpollock.org/

Tights & Top: Target | Cardigan & Skirt: Gap | Cape: BX | Gloves: Vintage | Shoes: Aerosoles

My Fabulous First Lady Responds to the Labels

It's truly unfortunate that some people have decided to carry the same prehistoric and divisive rhetoric into 2012. I'm glad that Mrs. Obama has finally responded because she's tired of it. And so am I. My personal opinion is that if her detractors label her as "some kind of angry black woman" they can attempt to negate her true brilliance and undermine not only her White House agendas but (and dare I say) more importantly President Obama's. I knew 2012 would be grimy... 

JASON WU! Jason Wu? Jason Who...

When I heard that Jason Wu was creating a line for Target I was elated. I imagined a collection of sophisticated sheath dresses and gorgeous ballet flats in beautiful colors and a myriad of textures like the wardrobe he created for First Lady Michelle Obama.

However, the lookbook dashed my hopes. The shapes are very different from what I imagined--it was full of girlish frocks. Wu expressed that he had no intention of copying his runway show, but creating something fresh for the Target collection.  I understand. He can't have the entire female population of the U.S. walking around in Mrs. Obama's signature style.

The reactions to the lookbook on Facebook are split.
Wu's work is beautiful and he is, without question, a talented designer, but I was given a tricycle when I expected a Harley...Available in stores February 5th.

I CAN'T WORK UNDER THESE CONDITIONS!!!

I looked at this picture and was immediately frustrated by something I’d never paid much attention to before (other than the horrid lighting conditions). The wall file full of to do lists and a repulsively cluttered dry erase board hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles (a disaster is waiting to fall on me at any time)! 

No wonder the nook that I intended to be a comfy place for reading, sipping, tea, sketching, journaling, and hand sewing (you get the point) remained unused real estate.

I placed a dam on top of my head and expected my creative river to flow. This is the only creative space that I have left. I sacrificed the space that once held my drafting table and easel for my treadmill and bookshelves. I clear off my desk for large crafting projects and sewing projects that require my machine. My creative nook is the only place I have left and I’ve contaminated that too…

It’s time for a makeover!

My personal style is the Madcap Aesthetic, which is a much nicer way to say “crazy head.” To be even kinder let’s say eclectic and quirky, but never haphazard. There’s always a method to the madness.

Let the Redecorating Begin...

That's a Wrap!

I was exhausted, at the end of a full day, when my hubby took this picture. Although, I love my wrap-front dress, it was seriously time for some PJs!

Cardigan and Belt: Gap | Bracelet, Dress, and Tights: Target | Boots: Express | Handbag: TJ Maxx, Necklace: DIY

AN ART NERD'S NIGHT IN

Daughters of the Dust--

one of my to ten movies of all time!

A breakthrough movie by Julie Dash

I'm a HUGE BarbaraO fan♥
She is a co-star in the film &
plays the role of "Yellow Mary"

Gotta have my tea!

If I was going somewhere tonight, I would take a cue from BarbaraO's understated and eclectic glamour: bangles, coiled rings, classic white blouse, and ikat scarf; I improvised the rest :) 

Button Front Tops by Asos
Platforms by Fergie

Afro.Art.Nerd in "Wondaland"

Illustrations by Lewis Carroll from "Lenny's Alice in Wonderland Site" http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/

Cardigan & Tights: Target | Dress: Torrid | Shoes: Max Studio
Gee Whiz! Why in the name of all things fashion don't I have on a necklace or earrings?!?!?

This Wyoming Cowgirl Loves You @chescaleigh

While living in Wyoming for eight years I received some of these comments and seeing Franchesca act them out was hilarious and cathartic:

(My Daddy reads my blog; so I have to say sorry for the front page cussing but this was way too funny & relevant not to post)


Follow Franchesca Ramsey on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chescaleigh

TENDING MY MOTHERS' GARDENS IN A ROOM OF MY OWN: Spoiled Rotten!

I designed this inspiration board of French women and expats because I've been pretty uninspired to study for my French exam lately. I've let go of the bitterness left by my University's French department failing me because I couldn't get my Mum's death certificate in time to prove I wasn't skipping out on French class; but, I digress. French is one of the two languages required for my PhD and Yoruba is the other. A little visual inspiration should be just what I need to get in gear...

Left to right, top to bottom:
film still from Noir De, Bessie Coleman, Lois Mailou Jones, Josephine Baker, French Vogue, Nina Simone

But as I cut and pasted women into my montage their amazing stories made me feel so small and petty. Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman's level of determination made me hang my head in shame.

Bessie Coleman, the first African-American female pilot was born in 1892, the tenth of 13 children. Coleman got the idea of becoming a pilot while reading newspaper articles about World War I pilots. No flight school in the United States would train her, but Coleman didn’t let that stop her. She took a French language course in Chicago, then, using her savings and the help of some influential friends, she traveled to France. She learned to fly and got her license in 1921 from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. When Coleman returned to the United States, now a celebrity, she performed in airshows and raised money to open her own flight school. She died in 1926 in an aircraft accident, apparently while flight testing a Curtiss JN-4 (from Bessie Coleman: A Life Less Ordinary, AOPA Pilot Blog, January 26, 2009 by Jill W. Tallman, Associate Editor ).

Nothing kept Bessie Coleman from her dream: not racial barriers, financial barriers, gender barriers, and MOST CERTAINLY NOT A FRENCH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT. 

Sharing from Vogue.com: Julia Sarr-Jamois’s Statement Hair

A personal style article about Ms. Sarr-Jamois from Vogue. 

 

Photo: Vanessa Jackman/vanessajackman.blogspot.com

Sharing from Vogue.com