MVL Radar: Digs via Airbnb

By Katrice 

I can't remember what mag I was reading recently that mentioned Airbnb, but I marked the page and meant to look it up online later. I forgot about it until a conversation this past weekend about apartment swaps when someone brought up renting rooms via Airbnb.com. There are places available all over the world. What a fantastic concept.

What you do: Do a quick search on airbnb.com by entering the location and dates you want to travel. You can arrange a private room in a place with other people or a home by yourself -- for a night, a week or a month at virtually any price point. And before booking anything you can read reviews of previous guests' experiences where you're interesting in staying. If you have any questions, just message the host directly through the site. 

Payment: When you're ready to book, you put in your request and Airbnb holds your payment {which includes a 6-12% booking fee} until 24 hours after you've checked in. 

A couple things: Sign-up is free as is listing a space. Airbnb charges just 3% of each accepted reservation. 

This just may change the way I travel.

P.S. If you're trying to get to NYC for Fashion Week, you're in luck. There are places available all over the city. 

J. Mont Studios Hosts Beauty Chat w/ Stephen Moleski

By Katrice

I was disappointed that I would miss the beauty chat with celebrity makeup artist Stephen Moleski at J. Mont Studios in Atlanta last Friday. But, thankfully MVL correspondent Jasmine Jones was on hand for the intimate meetup with Moleski and J. Mont Makeup & Waxing Studio owners Jennifer and Terry Holmes. Bloggers enjoyed cocktails, networking, makeup demos featuring Moleski's new line -- Smoke and Mirrors Beauty Lashes and private shopping. Nice. 

{Stephen Moleski with bloggers}

{Smoke and Mirrors Beauty Lashes}

{Terry and Jennifer Holmes}

San Francisco Bound

By Katrice

I'll be taking my first excursion to San Francisco tomorrow and I'm so excited to see the beautiful city that I've heard so much about. I already have a pretty full agenda planned {seeing the Ira & Gertrude Stein exhibit at the SFMOMA, and "Beach Blanket Babylon" as well as a trip to the farmers market and dining at Luce, among other things}. I plan to do a lot of walking so I'd love your suggestions for places to go and things to see. 

J. Simpson Stiletto Frenzy

By Katrice 

I was in Dillard's this afternoon with my brother and passed by a display of Jessica Simpson pumps that were everything! Each pair was simply more spectacular than the last. Few style moments are so urgent that I resort to posting BB photos. This was one such occasion.  

{Plum!!}

Copy That: The Coordinates

By Katrice

Get June Ambrose's Look

Pieces Doctor Bag, $88

Black Jewelled Waist Belt $36, Cream Chiffon Lace Trim Blouse $36
Dusted With Gold Skirt $60, Miss Kg Capri Heeled Slingbacks $52

GOOD Advice {Use What You Have}

Chappell Ellison's GOOD.is post today queried, "Can designers change the world without creating more stuff?" I almost bypassed the piece, but I'm glad I didn't.

I was expecting to find a cataloging of the most revered designer-sponsored relief and world-aid campaigns. Don't get me wrong, I have loved a great many of those offerings; however, I wasn't in the mood for that. And good thing I took a chance on looking further because I was wrong. Ellison was actually building out on a premise of "real-world economics and politics." Hers was a posit of sensibility {from a designer's perspective}.

"In his books, By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors in the Hotel Louis XIV and Other Object Lessons, Ralph Caplan advises us not to underestimate the power of situation design or "the concept of moving from the design of others to the design of the circumstance in which things are used." He asserts, "The most elegant design solution of the fifties was not the molded plywood chair or the Olivetti Lettera 22 or the chapel at Ronchamp. It was the sit-in." Finally, a definition of design that emphasizes the economy of time, an understanding of resource availability, and most importantly, using what's at hand rather than producing more goods to solve a problem."

I can't even count the number of reusable bags I've purchased. IKEA, Walmart, Marshall's, Macy's, Target, Forever21, Whole Foods ... Some because they were cute and others because I honestly intended to use them. I recently picked up a nifty hot pink bag receptacle from IKEA to neatly store all of the shopping bags I'd brought home from the grocery store when I forgot one of those eco-friendly totes. A classic example of my not using what's at hand and purchasing more goods to solve a problem. 

Not a designer ... but lesson learned. 

Find Me Here: Bronner Bros. Hair Show, Ribs & the Arts

By Katrice

Every summer since I moved to Atlanta, I say: I'm going to all of the festivals this year. And yet, I'm winding down my fifth summer in the metro and have only been to one festival -- NBAF. I'm not even sure what happens. But, this weekend, I'm hoping to increase that number by one. So many great things happening in the city. 

The 11th Annual Dekalb Medical Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival
Harmony Park in Oakhurst
Saturday, 4-10 p.m.

Radcliffe Bailey: Memory As Medicine

Atlanta-based, internationally known artist Radcliffe Bailey explores American history and memory to encourage healing and transcendence through art. The exhibition features 37 works ranging from heroic to intimate scale including installations, painting, sculptures, mixed media, photos on metal and works on paper. 
The High Museum of Art Atlanta
Thru Sept. 11, 2011

Bronner Bros. International Hair Show

Georgia World Congress Center
Aug. 20-23rd
*Anyone who wants to master eye lash application and more can register for Makeup Artist Extraordinaire Danessa Myricks' Eyelash Boot Camp from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

If you're planning to attend the hair show, let me know. I'd love to meet you.

Hat Hair

By Katrice

All summer, I've been trying to work this hat into the rotation. The problem: My hair is too dense for it to fit if not plaited or in two-strand twists. Until today. For some reason, it just worked. Barely ... But, I'll take it. 

Inspiration Found ...

By Katrice 

Two Things a Girl Should Be

By Katrice

Dream Sequence

By Katrice

{Ms. Ambrose twitpic-ed this image two days ago and I've been seeing 

that yellow Hermes Birkin Bag in my dreams ever since. #Love.}

I Love Rock 'N' Roll

By Katrice

Analeena Rock 'N' Roll Bowling Bag

Matt degraded python with hand-woven seams using rose gold metal thread. Yes, please.

All That Color ... Stylin' or Stuntin'?

By Katrice

I don't care what anyone says; the Giuseppe Zanotti I16141 Platform is definitely stylin'. If they were in my  closet, I'd be pairing them with everything from jeans to formal wear. 

Actually that goes for more than one of these styles.

Giuseppe Zanotti I16141 Platform Pump, $850

GEORGINA GOODMAN Romanoff Low Boots, $801

Shimmy, $140

ZARA Tricolour Elastic Sandal, $30

KG Kiki Courts, $115

Senso Wilma, $190

Giuseppe Zanotti Crystallized Platform, $1,495

Jessica Simpson VADIO, $99

Falling For Navy and So Much More

By Katrice 

As much as I love summer, I can't escape the reality that fall is right around the corner. The only thing that makes it a tad less dreadful to think about is cataloging my must-haves. Let the shopping begin.

Martin Grant Belted Crepe Dress

I'm loving the thought of navy and rust, and navy and pink combos for the fall. First up, finding 

the perfect navy sheath dress.

Topshop Black Stitch Detail Carryall

I've finally worn out my bag for work. The replacement must be sturdy but stylish. 

Karen Walker Pleated Skirt

Pleats are classic. Though they're on trend for the fall, they never really go out of style.

Jeffrey Campbell Lace-Up Platform Ankle Booties

I've been stalking Jeffrey Campbell for two seasons straight. It's time to take the plunge.

{MVL Access} Karl Lagerfield for Impulse Only at Macy's

by Katrice 

Macy's today released a few images of the much anticipated Karl Lagerfield for Impulse Only at Macy's collection. Few words are necessary except that the collection that will be available exclusively at select Macy's stores and Macys.com at the end of this month. {File this under femme fatale.}

Blush Dress, $119

Tweed Dress, $129

Top, $89  Vest, $49  Pants, $99

Blouse, $89

Textured Floral Dress, $109

Geneva S. Thomas' Letter to Every Black Woman

By Katrice

I used to watch Basketball Wives. And then I realized one day that I had stopped tweeting about it while watching and was extra careful to steer away from any fb comments associated with the casts' folly. Why? Because I was embarrassed for anyone to know that I was a viewer. So, I literally stopped. 

I stopped watching because I didn't want to support it {"it" being yet another show that depicts African-American women as attitudinal, shallow and frivolous -- prone to bickering, backbiting and even physical altercations}. I've also stopped engaging in discussions about the show with people who do enjoy it as those talks generally amounted to both parties {me and whomever} being at ideological odds. My position: I have a responsibility to the young women that I mentor to rise above the stereotypes and misconceptions that have plagued African-American women in American society {even upheld and perpetuated in our own communities}. I have a responsibility to my elders who, in the face of unthinkable tribulation and disrespect, conducted themselves with the utmost dignity because they knew that doing so would prepare a place for me. I have a responsibility to my sisterfriends who sometimes are the only ones who can speak life to me -- understanding what it's like to be disrespected and misunderstood and even invisible in a society that continuously brands us monolithic and indistinguishable. 

When I was in the 4th grade, I learned a very striking lesson. Girls who didn't look like me generally found me a bit scary; and I knew exactly why. I didn't take just anything from anybody. I would step to anyone at any time for any reason that I found reason enough. Interestingly, I'm not really sure where I learned to be that way, but I thought it was how every black woman was. So, I embraced and cultivated that behavior. However, over the years, I have come to understand that behavior as a survival socialization that black girls learn young {a topic for another day}. Over the years, I've made a concerted effort to re-evaluate myself and my habits because I don't want negative tendencies to become who I am. I don't know how many times I've heard "it" shrouded under the guise of someone 'just being real.' Augh! We need to do better. Period. 

So today, Geneva S. Thomas' Open Letter to Shaunie O'Neal for Clutch Magazine was a welcome change from the usual BBW commentary streaming in my Twitter and FB feeds. I appreciate when another black woman thinks enough of me to challenge me to be better, and though this letter was directed to Shaunie -- I receive it as a charge. We must all take responsibility for how we represent ourselves in society and in the media, if for no other reason than our girls. It really is all of our responsibility above all. 

Thank you, Geneva.

Karl Lagerfield for Macy's

By Katrice 

Macy’s recently revealed sketches of its collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld for “Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse Only at Macy’s”set to launch in departments Aug. 31st.
 
Featuring limited-edition women’s apparel pieces reminiscent of the designer’s signature style, the capsule collection will be sold in approximately 235 Macy’s stores nationwide and on macys.com.

A blend of refined dresses, airy tops, modern tweeds and his signature high-collared neck, the pieces are priced on average from $50 to $170. A juxtaposition of color and graphic pattern create a vision of modern styling, while a tailored tuxedo dress with pin tucking exemplifies eternal elegance. The color palette ranges from soft to shocking pink and grey to noir. Collectible T-shirts and comfortable jackets mixed with crocodile print combine with chic leggings to give the collection a refreshing rock ’n’ roll edge.

Sounds exciting!

Will you shop the line?