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A Birthday Gift (From Myself)

10/13/2019

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I crave a good creative project so I decided the best gift for my birthday would be just that.  Glamorous birthday photoshoots have been done before, but I took things up a notch by producing a curated event, replete with art and design, family and friends, music, and cuisine.  See more images below!
Wakanda-Classic
The overall theme and dress code was inspired by my personal style, a vintage decorated venue I'd been saving for the right occasion (pinned to an online vision board), and a dress that I dubbed my birthday outfit eight months prior to the actual date.  Friends were given a dress code description and advised to dive into their own wardrobes first before spending any money. Everyone freaked their style without busting a sweat. The venue, the bold colors and patterns, the structured natural hair--all of this resulted in an unforgettable statement of effortless cool and regality.

The Dress, the Fascinator, and the Boyfriend
What I like most about my dress is that the designers use drawings by children as prints for fabric. Seriously!  Check out Asos x Made in Kenya to learn about their ethical clothing manufacturing and the difference it's making for Kenyan locals! I had the smock dress altered into a bodycon, added a zipper, and then purchased a second dress a month before the shoot (and not a day too soon because the dress is now out of stock!) to use as matching fabric for my hat and my boyfriend's ensemble.  I handcrafted my large disc-shaped fascinator hat with the help of a YouTube tutorial. The remaining fabric was used to make a coordinating outfit for my boyfriend. We sat down with a measuring tape, pencil, and paper and co-designed how to accent his longline grandad collar shirt. Then we took our sketch and materials to a local seamstress who brought our vision to life in just a few days (God bless her hands!).

I also have to shout out one of my besties who sewed her own skirt and then used the remaining material to create her necklace. We so crafty!

A Masterpiece Collection
Here's a list of all the talented people and the vendors that made the final product a masterpiece:
  • Shanel Smith aka Ms Paparazzi aka my oldest best friend and favorite photographer.  Check her out at @MsPaparazzi and her dope assistant, Chris @vagabond_vbs 
  • Tribeca Artist Parlor
  • Rosa's Alterations and More Corp - dress alterations
  • Sandra’s Shop (Guy R Brewer btwn 106 & 107th) - restructured men’s shirt
Outfit:
Dress (Original Shape)

Fascinator Hat Tutorial
Longline Men's Shirt
Sunglasses 
Necklace (Serenity Prayer Medallion) 
Necklace (Philippians 4:13) 
Earrings (Clip-ons) 
Clutch 
Sandals  
Fabric Loc Accessories  
Gold Loc Jewelry


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ALLOW ME TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF

10/9/2019

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The ways in which I identify as an artist continue to expand.  I've added stylist and creative director to my repertoire.  To me, people are canvases, adorning is art-making, and the final ensemble--a masterpiece.  My favorite looks are carefully curated to tell stories that reflect my creative spirit and desire for fantasy.  Sometimes the rich history of an item's origin speaks for itself.  I need only to put it on "display". 

Please enjoy this gallery and learn more about the products, locations, photographers, and my process through my blog.

Photos taken by 
@MsPaparazzi and @vagabond_vbs
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    The Fine Art
    ​of Fashion

    A gallery of personal style showcasing curated looks for events and photoshoots.

    ​Curated by Abeje Leslie

    Fashion is the most powerful art there is.  It's movement, design and architecture all in one.  It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be. -Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl

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