Esperanza Spalding For Instyle Magazine

Esperanza in Prada's Spring 2011 RTW.

Check out the rest of Esperanza Spalding's fashion spread from the May issue of Instyle Magazine on Deana's blog, Black Beautee's to see more photos of the beautiful Grammy Award winning songstress.
(Source)

Need To Hear: Les Nubians"Afrodance"

                                                                        AFRODANCE!

"Former "Top Model" Julie Woodson"

"Former "Songstress and Activist, Jean Pace"

I'm been doing the "Afrodance" for a very long time and it's nothing but a straight out love affair with who I am.



Be sure to get your copy of Les Nubians' latest CD, Nü Revolution.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Model: Ana Paula Costa

Photo: IMM

DEFINING FABULOUS: SHOWSTOPPING MARSHA HUNT

"Afrolicious Marsha Hunt!"

 

In the late '60s and '70s, only a few Afros were as powerful and majestic as singer, model and actress, Marsha Hunt's. The Philadelphia-born beauty made a bigger name for herself in London, when she began starring in the British production of  the ground breaking musical "Hair," instantly becoming the toast of London. Hunt's beauty was so stunning, it left Mick Jagger smitten enough to fall in love with her and write, "Brown Sugar."

From the pages of VOGUE UK.

After a decade of modeling, acting, and singing, Marsha Hunt became a writer, releasing novels and memoirs, including "Repossessing Ernestine: A Granddaughter Uncovers the Secret History of Her American Family," a recount of her search for her father's mother, a free woman of color who was mysteriously banished to an asylum for 50 years. In 2004, Marsha Hunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, and after a complete mastectomy, she celebrated her survival by recreating her 1969 cover pose for British Vogue on the cover of her book titled, "Undefeated."

Some only remember Hunt for posing nude for the cover of British Vogue's January 1969 issue (below), she was much more than that iconic cover which eventually introduced her to a whole new legion of admiring fans, Marsha held Europe in the palm of her hand. Today, Marsha Hunt still calls London home, along with she and Mick Jagger's daughter, Karis where she still holds London in the Palm of her hands and she's still a beauty icon.

One of my favorites: Oh, no! Not the Beast Day.

Marsha Hunt as she is today, and just as beautiful as ever.

Photos: CV/GUK

THAT WAS THEN...

That Was Then...

And This Is Now...

Check out the site: As I Am Naturally for the details.

Naturally Exquisite and Frolicious!

Photos: Avalon

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GERALDINE MORIBA

Soledad O'Brien and Geraldine Moriba



CNN'S Geraldine Moriba, Darius Walker and Soledad O'Brien

Geralidine Moriba is an award-winning producer and most recently has been named the executive producer of CNN's "In America" unit, the network's newly created division which will extend the “In America” franchise anchored by Soledad O’Brien. Moriba has more than 20 years of journalism experience.

Moriba comes to CNN after 16 years at NBC News, for 12 years she served as a producer for Dateline NBC. Most recently she has served as senior producer for Broadcast Standards, monitoring news reports on all NBC News platforms. During this time, Moriba also served as an executive and senior producer on various multi-platform projects including: Obama’s America 2010 with Chris Matthews and Tom Joyner, an MSNBC special town hall on race; About Our Children with Bill Cosby, a two-hour MSNBC special on education; Making Your Vote Count, an election unit covering election fraud and irregularities in the 2008 elections; and the critically acclaimed Father’s Promise with Al Roker and Tiki Barber about the crisis of absent African American fathers.

While at Dateline NBC, she produced numerous breaking news reports, as well as an investigative report on a NYC Child Services, various 9-11 stories, and an in-depth report tracing the lives of students in a 1982 fourth grade class photo to determine the impact of crime, poverty and broken homes. While at NBC News, Moriba was appointed a prestigious Visiting Ferris Professorship of Journalism position at Princeton University. During her tenure she developed and taught a seminar on how to use digital journalism skills to get more untold stories on the air.

She was also the co-chair for NBC News’ Diversity Committee developing diversity programs to support leadership development and diverse content across NBC News programming. Moriba has won five Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and numerous other awards and accolades. Moriba received her honors bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies from the University of Western Ontario. She is married with two children. The second of four children, Moriba grew up in Toronto, Canada. To learn about this beautiful and talented woman click here.


Photos: Wire Image/CNN

SHOES: THE MUSICAL

Just when we 'shoe-a-holics- thought we'v seen it all, now theres a London based play dedicated to shoes. They should have cast me in this. LOL! Shoes was written by award-winning playwrites Richard Thomas and Stephen Mear and choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Aletta Collins. Shoes-The Musical is at the Peacock Theatre from 8 Feb 2011 - 3 Apr 2011.
Source

Photo: Manuel Vason

I Am Legend: Fashion Maven Audrey Smaltz

"It's all about hustle, and those who relax are destined to be replaced." ~ Audrey Smaltz, CEO of The Ground Crew


There are only a few people in the fashion industry that I want to meet today who are on my "to do list" before I leave this earth and I most definitely want to meet Audrey Smaltz because this woman, along with Andre Leon Talley are walking encyclopedias of the fashion industry.
 
For years the glamorous Audrey Smaltz, was a commentator for the EBONY FASHION FAIR traveling fashion show. There she sat high on her stool on that stage and began and ended the show with a flourish. You'd have to be there to listen to her commentary to witness it. I had my first experience listening to her diction as she discribe the couture worn during my first show while living in Texas and left there feeling that I had left an YSL showing or some other exclusive fashion showing. I was hooked and tried to attend as many FF Shows regardless of where I was living.
 
Historically, Mrs. Johnson brought couture to us in a way like no other. Now in the age of technology we can view live shows on our computers, yet Mrs. Johnson had already done that and all we had to do was buy a ticket. Audrey and Mrs. Johnson were also part of the front-row fixtures at many couture showings as Mrs. Johnson picked out the best designs to bring to us the best from Paris, Milan, New York and London.
 
Audrey worked as a model in her earlier years and was the first black woman allowed to participate in the Miss New York contest, that eventually became the Miss America pageant. Audrey was Mrs. Johnson's right-hand when it came to reviewing collections because of her discerning eye for style. Audrey has shown that there is life after the runway because she now helms The Ground Crew, which is a NYC based company that provides behind-the-scenes support services to fashion shows, ranging from seamstresses, to assistants who unpack and steam clothing, to dressers who change the models during fashion shows.


I Salute you Audrey Smaltz for Being an inspiration.

A Woman You Should Know: Dr. K. Aletha Maybank

"STYLISH RIGHT DOWN TO THE DETAILS"

While some people look to the stars for style inspiration and beauty to imitate. I look to real everyday women for their style and beauty, those under the radars of everyone else who eventually end up being on their lips. So far I have picked four beauty's who were under everyone else's noses and now they're the talk of the world.

I have an eye to pick out stylish women who have an imitable style that stands apart from the pack. They don't wear a "uniform" and they don't look like everyone else and Dr.Maybanks style says just that, she stands out from everyone else and she's her own woman. I've seen her photos on the social pages of essence.com and had to find out more about her. The woman is accomplished, not just by her choice of fashion, but how she contributes back to her community as a whole. Giving back by supporting your community is more beautiful than any red carpet look.

Bio: K. Aletha Maybank, MD, MPH, is the Assistant Commissioner in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, serves as Director of the Brooklyn District Public Health Office located in Central Brooklyn since April 2009. The mission of the District Public Health Offices is to reduce health inequalities and promote health equity across New York City by targeting resources, programs, and attention to high-need neighborhoods in the South Bronx, East and Central Harlem, and North and Central Brooklyn.

To learn more about this fascinating woman click here.

Photos: Darryl Calmese, Jr.

A Moment In Afro Herstory: Aminata Moseka née Abbey Lincoln

Abbey Lincoln, profound jazz vocalist, actress, composer and role model not only gave the world the gift of song but reminded America of it's shame at a time when America refused to release the reins of Jim Crow in the southern United States. If you don't know of her "Herstory" read more here.

BEAUTY

THEY SAY THAT BEAUTY IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER, SO WHO ARE YOU LETTING BEHOLD YOUR BEAUTY?

BEAUTY IS AS BEAUTY DOES.

SOW BEAUTY WHEREVER YOU GO.

SOW BEAUTY IN YOUR DAILY LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF YOUR CHILDREN AND IN ANY WOMAN YOU MEET BECAUSE THOSE SEEDS BECOME THE ROOTS OF THE BEGINNINGS TO STRONG SELF-ESTEEMS.

MAKE YOURSELVES VISIBLE AS A SYMBOL OF BEAUTY. KEEP LEAVING IT UP TO EVERYONE ELSE BUT YOURSELVES AND YOU WILL STAY INVISIBLE.

Inspiration: Joyce Walker-Joseph and Barbara Summers

Actress/Model Joyce Walker-Joseph

Author/Model Barbara Summers

Anyone who was a teenager in 1976 should remember these advertisements of Joyce Walker-Joseph and
Barbara Summers from the late '70s. As a teenager I remember them quite vividly because these two ladies were some of my favorite models and anything which featured Joyce on the cover was in my possession and still is. I was digging through my archives until two in the morning having no idea how late it was looking for certain magazines and came across these two photos. I read all the time about women looking for inspiration in women who resembles them in the media, well I had these two women and a host of other's that I was elated to see featured in mainstream publications. It's different today because the imagery that their now selling is that of the unattainable...basically the look of someone else.

The Seventeen magazines featuring Joyce and Whitney Houston were some of their #1 Bestsellers.

I went out and bought that carved rose necklace and earrings that Barbara was wearing because I wanted to look like her. My friend and I copied the whole look from the makeup to the Afro.Today Joyce works as an theater actress and is an activist. Barbara Summers is a highly noted author and historian, especially of the fashion industry with several well known books in publication. Skin Deep:Inside the World of Black Fashion Models is a large coffee table-book that has it's place alongside my other fashion books and is deffinitely worth a read.

A Moment In Afro Herstory: American Journalist Melba Tolliver

Melba Tolliver is a distinguished journalist, writer and journalism teacher. She accidently became an anchor woman in April, 1967, when on-air personnel at the three broadcast networks went on strike. ABC News executives tapped Tolliver to substitute for Marlene Sanders, anchor of “News With The Woman’s Touch.” and the rest is history.

Historically, Miss Tolliver became the first Black woman ever to anchor a network news program. Her academic work includes writer-in residence at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn; adjunct instructor in journalism at the College of Old Westbury, Long Island, NY; and Howard R. Marsh Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Tolliver holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Empire State College of the State University of New York and a nursing diploma from New York University-Bellevue, NYC.

An honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Molloy College, Long Island, NY; a political reporting award from Lincoln University; a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Association of Black Journalists, the John B. Russwurm Award from the New York City Urban League, the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications, and a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship to the University of Michigan are among her many honors.

Tolliver has served on the boards of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in New York, the Empire State College Foundation, and the Institute for Student Achievement advisory board. A longtime resident of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Tolliver moved to Lower Mt. Bethel Township, PA in 1994 and is currently at work on her memoir, “Accidental Anchorwoman: Chance, Choice and Change.”

WHAT'S HAUTE NOW: DORIS AND DORIS

My fab daughter turned me on to the UK fashion label Doris & Doris and I'm hooked on their lovely creations which are perfect for the Spring and Summer. She didn't won't me to share this great find until she bought the two tops that she was interested in.

I told her she didn't have to worry about that because my blog doesn't get that much traffic and it's just a hobby of mine, but I do like introducing those who do read my blog to the latest in fashion and style, otherwise known as real style, sans celebrities. She also told me that they started out selling their clothing at a stall in Brixton Market, London... talk about enterprising.

I say this all the time to emerging fashion designers, if you can't get your clothing(foot) in the store(door) create your own E-commerce site, give the public what they want and you'll be in business, but please don't overlook great customer service.

Flaviana Matata For Top Shop 2011 S/S Campaign

Flaviana is certainly one model on the rise as one model to watch and I can't wait to see what the rest of the future has in store for her. See the rest of her campaign photos for Topshop here.

Inspiration: Josephine Baker

It's still cold outside and looking through the web for ideas to protect my hair I came across these photos of the iconic Josephine Baker wearing these beautiful scarves on the rear of her head. Even though one looks like it might be a hat, I still like the idea of wearing one in this manner. The best scarves to use are silk scarves because they won't dry out your hair. 

How to wear them: A beautifully printed one works best combined with a neutral colored ensemble. Comb hair back into a bun or braid, wrap and attach the scarf  to your head and be sure to secure with bobby pins. voilà! A simple, yet elegant look.
Photos: Corbis