BET Awards 2015: Fashion and Performance Highlights

Last night, many of you were entertained by the televised concert (because there were more performances than awards given) better known as, the BET Awards.  If not, don’t worry. We are here to give a brief recap and to also share some of the most fashionable moments both on and off the red carpet!

Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross were this year's hosts. They kept the crowd entertained with funny sketches, bizarre wardrobe changes and many celebrity impressions. Aside from their great chemistry, Ross looked stunning the entire night. Her fashion was just as equally impressive as her comedy. Anderson cleaned up pretty well too.

The show opened with Kendrick Lamar, performing "Alright" from his latest album, To Pimp a Butterfly. Lamar rapped on top of a graffiti covered police car with an American flag waving behind, and several dancers below dressed in all black. His performance was very uplifting, tributing the recent racial events in America, and was a perfect show opener.

Janelle Monae graced the stage next with her new single, "Yoga". New artist, Jidenna, later joined Monae on stage and performed his single, "Classic Man". Neither disappointed, but it was Jidenna who stole the show with his impeccably dressed dancers.

Other performers included: Chris Brown and Tyga, The Weeknd and Alicia Keys, Donnie McClurkin, Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj, Empire Cast, Anthony Hamilton and Gary Clark Jr., Big Sean and E-40, and Fetty Wap.

The tributes were also crowd pleasers. Bad Boy Entertainment surprised us all with a full on 90s flashback concert with 112, Faith Evans and even Lil Kim. Diddy, however, had a little too much fun, and had a slight mishap when he fell through a hole on stage that was used to bring a new artist from underground.

Tori Kelly amazed everyone with her pitch perfect pipes again during the Smokey Robinson tribute. She was joined by Robin Thicke and Ne-Yo.

Janet Jackson also received a tribute. Tinashe, Jason Derulo and Ciara all performed a few of Jackson's greatest hits. Jackson looked better than ever as she received her award and announced her music return and also her upcoming tour.

We were all surprised to see a performance by Tamar Braxton and K. Michelle, who recently ended an ugly feud. They stayed true to their word and looked as if they were truly over the drama. The two were later joined by the great Patti Labelle. Unfortunately, viewers were more interested in Braxton's makeup than her performance itself. 

Aside from the entertaining performances, the red carpet was also filled with pleasing and not so pleasing appearances:

Karrueche

August Alsina

Gabrielle Union

Chris Brown

Michael B. Jordan

Justine Skye

Se7en Streeter and B.o.B

Cassie 

Laverne Cox

Zendaya

Natalie La Rose and Flo Rida

Tinashe

LaLa

Nicole Parker and Boris Kodjoe

Naturi Naughton

Brandy

Blac Chyna and Amber Rose

Jidenna and Janelle Monae

Michelle Williams

Stay Stylish,

FS

Keeping KOOL: 5 Tips to Stay Cool and Cute in the Summer

Staying cool in the summer is hard enough. Trying to stay cute as well is practically impossible. Nothing is cute about melting foundation and back sweat. Luckily, we have five flawless tips to help you achieve the unachievable:

1.    Less is More

      Try to wear little to no foundation. Instead, focus on certain features such as your eyes or lips. Play with your eyeliner or test out a new lipstick. If you must wear foundation, try wearing just concealer and a light powder foundation to minimize oil buildup. If concealer and powder still isn’t satisfying enough, make sure to use primer and setting spray. Also, use oil absorbing wipes throughout the day to keep your makeup looking fresh.

2.    Loose and Light

It’s no secret that darker colors attract the sun’s rays more than lighter colors, but close fitted garments also add to body heat and discomfort. Wear loose, flowing dresses or pants made of lighter fabrics. Play with summer pastels or the always dependable, all white or neutrals.

3.    Straps Be Gone

      Ankle and calve lines do not work well with any ensemble. Limit your usage of those painful stripy sandals. Instead, wear shoes that provide full coverage to keep your toes cool and happy.

4.    Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Keep your hair out of your face and off of back. Accessories such as headbands and clips are both practical and stylish. Various styles of braids are also a fun and cute way to keep your hair up. Get creative and add some color as well.

5.    Stay Hydrated

How can you follow any of the steps above if your body isn’t taken care of first? Drink lots of water throughout the day. In order to look and perform at your best, you must feel at your best.

Keep KOOL!

Stay Stylish,

FS

Big Chop...Now What

Frenchie Fridays

Heyy Naturalistas!!!! It’s the one and only Frenchie back with all of your natural hair needs. Last week segment talked about transitioning your hair versus doing the big chop. If you decided to do the big chop then today’s segment is definitely for you. Let me be the first person to welcome you into the wonderful world of natural hair. This is not an easy journey, but it is definitely one where you learn to be completely in love with the person that you see in the mirror.  For me the big chop was one of the most liberating things that I had ever done. I was no longer confined to the box that society built for me and I finally felt free.

Right now somebody is looking in the mirror at their newly chopped hair and thinking NOW WHAT OR OMG WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO THINK OF ME OR WILL MY HAIR EVER GROW BACK!!!! But please don’t panic, this stage can be a lot of fun once you learn how to manage your hair.  The first step in this journey is figuring out your hair type. The way your hair curls or coils define your hair type. Below you will find a chart of common curl patterns found within women of color.

              Curl Patterns(Photo Cred: Google)

Once you’ve defined your curl pattern, the next step is to build a hair regimen.  The length of your hair will determine your hair regimen. After the big chop most people have what we like to call a TWA, which means Teeny Weeny Afro. Please don’t be afraid, this is honestly the easiest stage of your process.  Washing and detangling your hair will be a breeze. The most important thing will be finding a moisturizer that works for you. Please keep in mind that oil is not, I repeat oil is not a moisturizer. It is a sealant, which means its job is to seal in the moisture. You should apply the oil after you’ve already applied the leave-in conditioner and a cream product. This process is known as the LOC method. LOC means Leave in, Cream, and Oil.  This method will become very useful when trying to moisturize your hair. Moisturizing your hair is very important because natural hair tends to become very dry and brittle at times. The last thing you want is to be walking around with dry unmanageable hair.

Once you find a moisturizer, you need to decide what will be your hair routine.  Will you continue to shampoo your hair or will you just do co-washes? What will be your everyday hairstyle? For me I personally grew to hate shampoo. It made my hair feel dry and brittle and that was something that I just wasn’t comfortable with. Instead I decided to use cleansers, some of which I made at home in my kitchen and others that I purchased at my local beauty supply store or target. I became very fond of the Miss Jessie’s line. I didn’t cleanse my hair on  a daily basis but when I did I used Miss Jessie’s Crème De La Curl Cleansing Cream. This product left my hair unbelievably soft and easy to manage. Following that I would use Miss Jessie’s Crème De La Crème Conditioner and I would end with the Miss Jessie’s Leave In Condish. These products range from $11.00-14.00 but are worth every cent if you ask me.  

           

         So now that you've decided on a daily or weekly hair regimen you have to now decide on a hairstyle. Sometimes in the early stages of your natural hair journey you may find that hairstyles are very limited. But please don't be discouraged because there is plenty that you can do with your TWA. The option range from everyday wash and go’s (if the weather permits it) to finger coils to mini twist. Some of these may sound foreign to you but let YouTube be your bestfriend. You will find almost any and everything on YouTube. As your hair grows out, hairstyles become easier to find and your stress level will decrease. 

       Sometimes busy schedules don't always allow you to do something spectacular with your hair. That's when you'll need to turn to your handy dandy spray bottle. Inside this spray bottle you should have a mixture of water along with your favorite leave in conditioner and essential oils. This is perfect for days when you're in a rush and your hair is in need of a refresher. 
         

        Now that we have a hair regimen and daily hairstyle now you have to find products that work for your regimen and styles. I have to admit that I am a tad bit of a product junkie. It's not necessarily a bad thing but you don't want to get sucked into buying products because they're suddenly the latest trend. My suggestion is to try one product brand and use the full line of products to determine if your hair likes it or not. Another option is buying travel size products as tester. It will allow you to experiment with the product and it will definitely save you money. There are also companies like curlBox that send out samples of different products for around $20 a month. This is a good way to save money and try out new products without spending a ton. The most important thing to know when finding hair products, is that high prices don't always mean that it's good quality. In most cases you are just paying for the name. Sometimes you’ll find that cheaper products can work just as well or better. One of my favorite everyday conditioners cost me $0.75 at Walmart and my favorite semi-deep conditioner cost me $2.97. My hair absolutely loves these products and I didn't spend anything on them. 
          

            The last thing you need to do is ACCESSORIZE. I can't not stress enough how important it is ACCESSORIZE. You'd be surprised how a pair of earrings or the right lipstick can turn your whole look around. In the early stages of being natural, you may not be as confident in your look as you would like, but adding the right accessories can change everything. My favorite accessories are head wraps or turbans, flowers and large earring. Along with my favorite accessories, I would also add just a touch of natural make-up. A little foundation and eyeliner truly went a long way and always pulled my look together.

I Love This Headwrap!!!!

      

 Frenchie's Final Thoughts: Now that we've taken care of some the essentials of the Big Chop, it's time for you to show the world the new you. Hold you head high and remember that your hair does not define who you are. Walk into the room with grace and confidence in your new look and people will feel the confidence. And don't fret about whether or not it will grow back because it will. It just takes time, love and dedication.

It Will Grow Back!!!!

XOXO,

Frenchie

Transition Or The Big Chop?

Frenchie Fridays!!!!

            Hey naturalistas, I’m Frenchie and welcome to my blog. I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about transitioning hair vs. the Big Chop. For me the answer was quite simple but for others it may not be as simple. On March 10, 2012, I decided to part ways with my damaged relaxed hair. My hair had been severely over processed; I had been relaxing my hair for as long I could remember. I remember looking into the mirror that night after 3 long hours of taking out my Senegalese twist, and being completely appalled by what I saw. My new growth was very thick and coiled while my relaxed hair laid limp and lifeless by my face. That’s when I knew it was time for it to be done. I knocked on my best friends door and asked her would she cut off the relaxed ends as I had did for a few months back for her. She happily obliged and ever since that day I have been in love with my hair. So the big question is how do you know what the right choice is for you.

                              March 17, 2012 (One Week Post BC)

 Deciding whether or not you want to transition your hair or BC has a lot to do with how comfortable you are with yourself. Many people are very self-conscious about what people will think about them if they have shorter hair than what others are use to. Being self-conscious is fine; most of the world is self-conscious about something. The first thing you need to do is decide why you are doing this. Being natural isn’t a fashion statement, being natural is commitment to loving yourself and the hair you’re born with. So before making the decision ask yourself a few questions.

Questions:
1.Why am I going natural?
2. Do I have enough time to fully commit to my hair?
3. Why am I still holding on to my relaxed hair?
4. Am I comfortable with having shorter hair?
5. Can I afford to properly transition? (i.e spending money on protective styles)

I’ve found these questions to be very important in deciding how to start a natural hair journey. I’ve watched my mother transition very unintentionally and for her it was a breeze. She simply wore protective hairstyles ranging from $80 to $150 for a year and the last time she took her protective style out her hair was completely natural. For others it’s not that easy. Below I will give you a list of the Hello and Good Byes of transitioning.


Say Hello to…

Deep Conditioning: This should be done at least once a week with conditioners geared toward moisturizing your hair. During the transitional period you will find that your hair may become very coarse and hard to maintain. Deep conditioning will definitely help a ton with that. After doing that for a few weeks consistently, you should notice a great difference in your hair.

Protective styles: Protective styles are going to be your best friend. There are many that can be done at home such as rod sets, straw sets, flat twist or braid/twist outs. These are easy styles and can be done once week depending on your upkeep. Other styles such as weaves and hair extension are also very good styles( but these may not always be within your budget). However they do allow your hair to grow and they can be kept long or short term.

Accepting Your Hair: Your hair is going to be different from others with natural hair that you see. It’s very easy to be caught up with comparing your hair to others. Love the hair that you were born with, different hair textures is what makes you unique.


Say Good-Bye To.....


Self Doubt: Don’t doubt the decision you made to go back to your natural state. Many people are going to look down on what your doing but don’t allow them to get into your head. As women especially women with kinkier hair we are taught to hate our hair. We are taught that you have bone straight hair to be beautiful and having kinkier hair makes you look less attractive. What’s important is that you feel beautiful and comfortable in your skin.

Using a comb to get through your hair: Wide tooth combs are generally seen as the best method to quickly detangle your hair. Although the comb is great finger combing is much better. The only time I use a comb is when I’m washing and detangling my hair which is always done while wet. When your hair is dry you should never attempt to detangle with a comb, gently use you fingers to part through and separate hair.

Heat: Applying an excessive amount of heat to transitioning hair can very damaging. When you apply direct heat from a flat iron or blow dryer, you're drying out your hair, and risking damaging your curl pattern. Your relaxed ends may be use to these methods but your natural roots are not. You don’t want them to be damage before they have had the opportunity to live.

Frenchie's Final Thoughts:

 To Transition or to Big Chop? That is the question…Well, honestly it's about what’s going to work for you. It’s about how much time you are willing to spend on your hair. If I had to do it over again I would still choose doing the big chop. It was less of a hassle for me and I didn’t mind having short hair. I honestly loved it and I didn’t care what anyone else had to say. I hope that I’ve been a help to someone. Thank you for taking the time out to read my blog.

XOXO,


Frenchie

Style Feature: Signature Beautique

FindStyle LLC recently had the honor of speaking with designer Sha Richardson, a North Carolina native and owner of Signature Beautique, an online boutique that sells one of kind womenswear, hair, and also home decor. Learn more about the powerhouse behind the brand and also what inspires her as not only a designer, but a businesswoman:


FindStyle LLC: Briefly describe yourself and your business.

Signature Beautique: My name is Sha (Shay) Richardson and I'm a 26 year old young fashionista in the corporate world. I work in the insurance field but my passion is fashion. My business is not a hobby; it's my goal to one day make Signature Beautique my full-time job.

FS: What inspired you to create an online "beautique"?

SB: I live in a small town where everyone looks almost EXACTLY the same. It's always been a pet peeve of mine and I wanted to create a space for those in similar situations who find it hard to stand out due to a limited amount of places to shop. What's worse than spending all your time getting dressed up, just to see someone else look exactly the same? Fashion should set an individual apart, which is where the name comes from. Signature Beautique represents confidently displaying your own signature beauty.

FS: What is your go-to source for fashion inspiration?

SB: I CONSTANTLY troll social media and pay close attention to new trends, cuts, colors, patterns, etc. Someone who really rings my fashion alarm is Solange Knowles. The girl is totally fearless and wears her pieces with confidence. That is rarely seen nowadays. You're never supposed to look like you are trying. I hope that I can help my customers feel flawless without breaking a sweat.

FS: Who is your favorite celebrity stylist, and why?

SB: About a year and a half ago, I was introduced to Olori Swank's instagram account and became hooked. OMG! That is what confidence and fearlessness looks like! She exudes "this is what I look like, this is what I'm wearing...deal." I think she's an awesome role model to young dark girls and just women in general. You are not required to look like the next woman to look amazing, and I think she does a great job of proving that. That blue hair is everything!

FS: Describe your aesthetic as a stylist/designer.

SB: I LOVE mixing pieces. I LOVE layers. I LOVE contrasting colors and prints. It's not about how much you have in your closet, it's about how you wear it. My friends are constantly telling me "it looks good on you, but I can't wear it." I would say I dress like "a grown ass woman." As a woman, your personal style should reflect the type of woman you are. You aren't required to be covered up completely at all times, but the WAY you wear what you are wearing is EVERYTHING. When I'm getting dressed, I POSE for my life in the mirror. I want how I feel about myself on the inside to shine bright on the outside.

FS: It's clear that your designs have sex appeal and celebrate a woman's body. With that begin said, how important is it for women incorporate this into not only their fashion choices, but their daily lives?

SB: Being a woman in 2015 is HARD. Very hard. There are so many derogatory names for us now, I literally can't keep up. Personally, I think there is a time and place for what you wear and how you carry yourself as a woman, but you should not be shamed out of being proud of your body. Big, small, skinny, tall; I try and offer pieces for all aspects of awoman's life, whether it be lingerie for the bedroom, and tiny bikini for a Miami vacay, or a nice bandage dress for a date night with your man or your girls. Knowing when and where is part of a woman's personal maturity, I'm here to make sure you have what you need when you figure it out.

FS: Where do you see yourself and your brand in 5 years?

SB: I hope to expand from an online shop to having my own storefront in my home state of North Carolina. Being more hands on with helping woman find the confidence they are lacking to be the diva I know every woman can be. Sometimes, all you need is a little push and I'll be able to do that soon, one-on-one with my customers.

FS: With all of the competition in the fashion industry today, how do you remain positive and motivated?

SB: I make it a point to stand out from the competition by offering pieces not available with other shops. On more than one occasion, I've made the decision not to sell pieces that are available with other boutiques, regardless of how popular they may be. I hope that when you follow Signature Beautique on Instagram, you immediately see something you haven't seen before, and fall in love.

FS: What has been your proudest moment in your career?

SB: Our page was deleted back in February 2015 with over 4,000 followers. We had to create a brand new page, and not only have we gained 4,000 followers back, but we've more than doubled that. Also, I've begun to offer plus size clothing because I LOVE to see a fierce thick woman. My plus size customers have been very supportive and I really appreciate it.

FS: What sets your "beautique" apart from others?

SB: I'm not willing to risk the integrity of my business for anything or anyone. Signature Beautique's motto is "You CAN buy class" and I try very hard to stick to that. Like I mentioned before, regardless of how popular a piece may be, or how much money I can make from it, if it doesn't fit inside my personal "classy bubble" you will not see it on Signature Beautique. With that being said, some pieces are VERY risque, but it goes back to what I said before: it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it. I am not a black boutique or white boutique. I offer pieces for everyone. You may see a petite model on my page one day, and a beautiful curvy model the next. Signature Beautique is for everyone, ratchetness excluded. :)

FS: You also feature hair and home decor. What inspired you to explore these genres as well as fashion?

SB: Fashion isn't just what you put on, it's a way of life. Your hair is a MAJOR fashion accessory for most woman, if not the most important. I do sell Mayvenn hair products currently, and soon will offer discounted bundles of hair of various lengths, colors, and styles. Aside from Signature Beautique, I have a separate business called Signature Kustoms which offers personalized pillows for your home. They make for perfect gifts and unique home decor. Very soon, Signature Kustoms will offer street and urban wear for both men and women.

FS: What advice do you have for new designers/entrepreneurs just entering into the industry?

SB: Signature Beautique was formed in November 2013, so I am fairly new to this industry. But I think what will make me successful in the long run is the uniqueness of my business and customer service. As a consumer myself, customer service is THE most important part of purchasing anything. I do my very best to respond quickly and answer questions in a timely manner. From the feedback I've been given, I think my customers really appreciate that. I wake up in the morning and try and think of how I can improve something, change something, add something. I'm never satisfied with what I'm already doing. I keep my long-term goals in the back of my head at all times. All in all, if you don't have anything different to offer, don't be prepared to stick around too long.



Here are some of the beautique's signature looks:

To learn more about Signature Beautique, visit their website at signaturebeautique.com, or one of the following:

Facebook: Facebook.com/SignatureBeautique

Instagram: Signature.Beautique

Email: shopatsignature@gmail.com