My Shoes, My Style: Scholar in Training

Hello Dolls and Daddy-Os!

Today I participated in my first professional conference where I presented a paper with 3 other classmates. I thought I would go for a professional look that was sleek and polished.

It all starts with the Libby Edelman "Gabriel" shoes. I love the black leather and gold hardware.

Here they are on my feet with tights from HUE

I paired it with a black Peplum dress from XOXO, gold accessories, and my brown Chanel glasses.

I kept the jewelry super simply. Gold hoops....and..

Gold Watch (gifted from my parents) and a silver scripture bracelet (from my aunt)

Gold chain necklace from Express

I hope you all enjoy my professional look of the day! :)

Wordless Wednesday: In Her Closet

Designer Josie Natori's Crimson Closet with matching Crimson Shoe Stuffers

My Shoes, My Style: Look of the Day

Per the request of my friend ThePrissyMommy (Yaki) over at Reality TV Fashion , I will share some of my personal looks and how I style my shoes.

Today, I'm going to have Tapas at a spot called Loca Luna here in ATL to celebrate a friend's birthday. I wanted to keep it cute and casual, as it is a rainy Sunday.

So I decided to rock blue booties, leggings, and a black tunic from Express. Here is my full look (starting with the shoes...of course):

Shoes: Blue Booties from Rack Room Shoes (not sure the brand...it was a BOGO special)

Graphic Leggings were a steal I got from the Beauty Supply of all places

Black Tunic from Express

Red Handbag from Nine West

Bling Bracelets from Express. Watch from Fossil

Hair by Nyesha Samuel of HealthyLocs....earrings...another Beauty Supply Find

Face by Me (lol)

..all make-up is  (mostly) IMAN, and NYX.

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Narcisse

Sephora Lipgloss in #20

IMAN Eyeshadow in Enigma

Stila Eyeliner in Black

IMAN Blush in Sunset Copper and Afterglow Bronzer

NYX EyebrowPowder in Dark Brown

(That's my lil sis/sorority sister Peaches..LOL)

Hope you all enjoyed my sense of style! :)

My Hautelook Haul: Sam Edelman Novato Slingback Pump

So prior to my self-declared shoe diet I ordered these Sam Edelman shoes from Hautelook that I blogged about a month ago. They were an adequate dupe for the Panama Geometrico Louboutin shoes that Tracy Ellis Ross wore....

I was so thrilled when I got them yesterday! To be very skinny platforms, they were surprisingly comfortable.

The true measure of how hot a shoe is is when you get the straight male stamp of approval . So when I posted them on Instagram I got a few comments like "hmmmmm sexy!" and "those are hot".

And when I showed my "sweetie-crush" he said " Sexy as fuck" so they got his stamp of approval . *blushes* I guess he liked them :)

Unfortunately, Hautelook only has sales for a limited time and things got gone fast! So why don't you join and see if you can catch another hot sale like I did :)

Wordless Wednesday: In Her Closet

J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons

Going Global: "Tribal" Prints for Black History Month

 Given that I am African-American...I am trying to incorporate something "black" related to the blog for Black History Month. It was difficult. There are not many "black" shoe designers (unless you count Louboutin who is of French-Egyptian heritage, a few sneaker/urban lines, and Tracy Reese who has a small shoe line) Instead, I wanted to go with a "global" motif for Black History Month.

(Tribal print shoes by Randa)

Tribal prints seem to be all the rage with designers. We have seen it with Boxing Kitten and their reuse and repurposing of "Kente" cloth in vintage inspired clothing. But there is also a movement with shoes as well. Tribal isn't about slapping some animal print on something and calling it "ethnic". Tribal is about tailoring fashions and patterns of a native land and bringing it to the forefront.

Here are some shoe styles that I adore which are "tribal" inspired:

Pikolinos "Formentera" $185

CHinese Laundry "Turn it Up" $73

Madden Girl "Hoops" $39.95

Blowfish "Sea Dream" $42

Blowfish "Timo" $69

Baker's "Kiersten" $90

Steve Madden "Pammyy" $100

Steve Madden "Kennyaa" $90.00

 Jeffrey Campbell "Tick" in Tan Tribal $169 (at Solestruck.com)

Stitched Tribal Wedge Bootie $28 (at GoJane.com) 

Rachel Roy Launches Shoes

Dark, gorgeous and smoldering....I LOVE ME SOME RACHEL ROY. The ex wife of hip hop mogul Damon Dash and mother of two cute girls, she is a maven in her own right. A native of St. Vincent and the Gernadines and raised in California, the Indian and Dutch designer has been a favorite for many a style diva. I love her timeless, effortless style.

So I was hype to learn that Rachel Roy is launching the "shoe" collection of her already popular Rachel ROy Collection.

Telling Women's Wear Daily:

"I don’t want shoes unless they are strong and sexy. My collection is just that — strong and sexy. It represents the woman I want to be.”

*sigh*...she might just be my girl crush. Seriously..I might be a little lesbian for her (LOL)

Her shoes will range from $196 to $600 respectively...boots, flats, booties, pumps and sandals..OH MY!

Here is a sneak preview of her line....

(Both images are from Women's Wear Daily)

Her line will launch officially in August 2012.