The BET Awards this year seemed a bit underdone...the fashion the preparation and glamour. We really are in a recession aren't we? Jamie Foxx, did however perform to his fullest and if anything kept the award show going and interesting. If you thought the award show was bad, don't blame it on Jamie~!
The people and the fashion could have been a bit more uppity..(if that's the word to use) Very few people had dresses that suggested that they dreamt or dared to do anything spectacular! I'm so disappointed...
But I can say that Amber Rose looked outstanding and amazing (who would have cared if she came to the Awards with Kanye West). Her haircut her dress her pretty pink shoes. She stood out not only because she was not in a conventional gown and hairdo but the sexiness and confidence she exuded in that style. Moreover, her ensemble worked, within her boundaries of bodaciousness.
Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Latoya were all in short hip-hugging dresses, Latoya looked like she was wrapped in torn leftover material from some Designer's Dress room. Oh and Beyonce, haven't we seen that outfit before in a different color? Unfortunately, Beyonce is becoming more generic with her fashion and is not trying to be creative anymore... Maybe its coz now she is wifey? On the other hand Alicia Keys did look outstanding in her dress, not to over the top, conventional as she was receiving a Humanitarian award but at the same time the texture and sequined details gave it a slight pizzaz that told you it wasn't just any kind of dress... Score 8. Back to the dismalness... Estell needs a stylist...or at least a good one because that dress does NOT work for her body! Even celebs have problems discovering what they can and cannot wear~! Just because its designer don't mean you should wear it! I had the option once of purchasing a Dolce and Gabbana skirt or a Dior dress, the Dior dress was lovely and daring but with my butt I best stick to the skirt...
Keri Hilson did look young and lucsious with a crazy cute short hairdo and a colorful short dress. I liked that~! Taraji Henson, went for a simple long look that brought some Oscar elegance to the BETs! Its simplicity was great, but she could have added some bedazzling jewelery to it and it would have been a score 10 instead of 8. Finally, second to Amber Rose of My best dressed list (only because she looked glamorous) is Wendy Raquel Robinson. Her hair got "DID" well and the layers complimented her making her looking 5 yeas younger. The diamond details of the dress proved that she was glaming it up. However, she should have added a contrasting color so it would not look much like a prom outfit. I give it a score 7. Anything I have not given an official score is 5 or below. I wont get into details! But I know some may have their opinions and they may be different...Comment please!

Oshun

SAFFRON RESTAURANT REVIEW: SHIVA HOUSTON

Indian restaurant

Best samosas ive had in a long time.

went to dinner with my friend jackie for my last dinner in houston. loved the decor. very bright, which instantly put me in a good mood. reminded me of a bollywood movie. lol

..had tandoori chicken tikka malai- the meat was soo tender and succulent, naan, saffron rice and malai curry on the side ,with a glass of chilean red wine.

portions were huge! so i had to take some to go...

great evening. great food, huge portions! - so big i had to get a to go box! great ambiance and friendly staff.

SAFFRON SUMMER NECESSITY: SWIM SUITS!!

Currently packing to go to Jamaica in the next couple of days and Im sooo excited. I cant wait to see my friends and family down there, go out, eat some AMAZING food, revel in the easy going atmosphere -which, might I add, is grossly lacking in the US and ofcourse, THE BEACHES!!

So, Im busy packing and realize..I NEED SWIM SUITS!! Now, bare in mind, I AM NO  SCARY SPICE!! NOR DO I LOOK LIKE HALLE BERRAAY, HALLE BERRY ! OR HAVE LADY GAGA'S CAKES! (Im STILL working on my summer body people!! bare with me! lol). I have hips and thighs and an ass, but that doesnt mean I can't look wicked in a bikini too! What's important is that you find a swim suit that is flattering to your body( well..as flattering  and forgiving as a swimsuit could possibly be anyway..), AND you muster up the confidence  and courage to pull it off.

Here are a few I like for the not- so -deezed but still oh-so-confident fly girl!

Juicy Couture

**This swim suit has been on my wish list for almost 2 yrs now! Iam IN LOVE with this cut! Truthfully,  I love anything with ruffles! lol..sue me.

J. Crew

** this cut is flattering on almost anyone. I alos love this color. Its soo beautiful on dark skin too! ( haha..but really, what isnt though? :P)

Kim Cattrall in a 50's inpired bikini on the set of SATC movie 2.

** I love this cut too..apparently she caught alot of flack for wearing this because it showed her cellulite..come on poeple!!! really?! PEOPLE  WITH NATURAL BODIES HAVE CELLULITE! IT DOESNT MATTER HOW HARD YOU WORK OUT!  GET OVER IT! ppl are way too critical of body types.  I think she looks stunning! I only pray that I look this Major in a bikini when Im 51 yrs old!

Victoria Secret

** This suitwuit is perfect for women who are shaped like me...I have narrow shoulders, a medium to small chest , a smaller waist  and a bigger bottom half. I like the fact that this bikini bottom covers your hips a little more that the traditional brief or string bottom, so it gives you a smother slimmer look rather than that dreaded double hip action thing going on.

Which ones do you like?

Outfit Wars: Zoe vs. Fergie

So who do you think won this balmain battle?

SAFFRON ART APPRECIATION: KEITH HARING

(May 4, 1958 – February 16, 1990) 

Born in 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, Keith Haring developed a love for drawing at a very early age, learning basic cartooning skills from his father and from the popular culture around him, such as Dr. Seuss and Walt Disney. 

In 1978 he moved to New York, where he found a thriving alternative art community that was developing outside the gallery and museum system, in the downtown streets, the subways and spaces in clubs and former dance halls. Here he became friends with fellow artists Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as the musicians- like Madonna and Grace Jones( umm MY FAVEEEE :D), performance artists - like Bill T Jones ( also one of my faves, im a HUGE fan!..studied his choreography in college!) and graffiti writers that comprised the burgeoning art community.

In addition to being impressed by the innovation and energy of his contemporaries, Haring was also inspired by the work of Jean Dubuffet, Pierre Alechinsky, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and Robert Henri’s manifesto The Art Spirit, Christo's Running Fence and Andy Warhol’s unique fusion of art and life. With these influences Haring was able to push his own youthful impulses toward a singular kind of graphic expression based on the primacy of the line. 

Haring experimented with performance, video, installation and collage, while always maintaining a strong commitment to drawing, producing hundreds of public drawings in rapid rhythmic lines, sometimes creating as many as forty “subway drawings” in one day.

During a brief but intense career that spanned the 1980s, Haring’s work was featured in over 100 solo and group exhibitions all over the world, many of which were created for charities, hospitals, children’s day care centers and orphanages. Haring devoted much of his time to public works, which often carried social messages. By expressing universal concepts of birth, death, love, sex and war, using a primacy of line and directness of message, Haring was able to attract a wide audience and assure the accessibility and staying power of his imagery, which has become a universally recognized visual language of the 20th century.

The now famous Crack is Wack mural of 1986 has become a landmark along New York’s FDR Drive. 

Like many gifted artists in the late 80's and early 90's Keith Haring was diagnosed with AIDS and died of AIDS related complications at the age of 31 on February 16, 1990.  

Since his death, Haring has been the subject of several international retrospectives. The work of Keith Haring can be seen today in the exhibitions and collections of major museums around the world. Most recently rihanna was spotted making HUGE fashion waves in a Haring inspired Jeremy Scott Jacket that had all fashionista's yearning.

above, Rihanna in a Haring inspired Jeremy Scott Creation.

Here are some of my favourite Keith Haring paintings:

I'm Into Bright Sparkly Things!

We all need to brighten up our lives with lovely bright light luxuries, especially in situations when Legendary Artists are dying! We need beauty and Motivation to continue!

Michael Jackson's Unique Style

Michael Jackson not only showered us with amazing talent; his music, dancing (the moonwalk), passion and dedication, MTV and humanity; he also had a smooth sense of style. The shades, jackets, polished suits, hats, crystal gloves all complimented with his swagger. No wonder the world mourns!

Bag Lady!

Women are often chided for having so much baggage; emotionally and...literally... I don't mind the second! I mean what would women be without handbags? I was out with friends at a bar on the lower East side and one of my friends commented about women and handbags stating that we over-estimate them..He was directing this to the females surrounding him and the ladies in the bar with accessories.

Well I gave him my Marketing 2 cents about this...A Handbag is necessary, it carries everything that we need to keep us together as ladies, mothers, sisters, wives, friends and individuals. Why would they not be important? And Why would we NOT be creative in how we present them? Our handbags, both internally and externally reflect who we are as individuals, women and hold true our beliefs and strengths...Yes it is all in a handbag!

So to end of on a good note I decided to post some of the gorgeous goddess bags that hold all our goods :) Spring 2009 Runway. Lights, camera, action!

Sad News.

LEGENDARY KING OF POP MICHAEL JACKSON DIES TODAY AT AGE 50.

HIS INFLUENCE, CONTRIBUTION AND TALENT LIVE ON FOREVER!!!!

HAIR DAZE: RUNNING WITH SCISSORS- THE NEW "CRAZE"???

First Cassie, then La La, now... Carmen Electra?? What is Going on? Im just sitting on the edge of my seat and waiting to see whose next...

Cassie

LaLa

Carmen Electra

The new trend in hair now seems to be the Half long- Half bald look..Im not sure if theyve coined the look yet with a name, but if they have Im unaware..I can just imagine how every "hot gyal" at a Jamaican dance is going to look now!! ( FYI- for those of you who arent familiar with Jamaican Dancehall culture, fashion trends in the US  and European pop culture are VERY VERY popular. Going to a session in Jamaica; especially for those who will brave a ghetto street dance or two ;) , are sure to witness nothing short of a spectacle! its where you will see the most creativity, originality and the most playful and whimsical takes on popular style). no

Though Cassie's plunge has inpired a new wave of people to do the same, this punk rock- meets- salt and pepa  inspired hairstyle has been lingering on from the 80's to the 90's and into the new millenium with the help of the underground and hipster circles.

Here are some folks who rocked the do' prior to Cassie..

80's Icon- Cyndi Lauper

Singer- Kelis

Model and Socialite- Alice Dellal

So You Think You Can Dance Choreographer- Sonya Tayeh

Trinidadian clothing desinger and blogger-Kesh

Voom Networks Vavooms out of the United States

For all those New Yorkers who reminisce and write blogs about Voom Networks, let me tell you, I am with you! I have never felt a sincere void in television since Cablevision stopped airing Voom Network channels; and I'm not an avid TV person! It especially hurts to find out that the reasons why the channels are no longer being shown in the United States is because of a bad business relationship. Trust me I am not the only one upset about it, others are blogging about it too! It all comes down to money...I guess...were they successful in the US, though? That really is a question I would like answered. All I remember is that the cable lady gave me attitude on the phone when I called to ask why the channels weren't showing... telling me basically that they were no longer available and that I should suck it up and get over it...I remember her... >-(

The network bragged of producing quality shows on 10 channels about fashion, art, architecture and design, travel, films, documentaries and gourmet food. For all those who are not familiar with Voom channels; they were/a group of channels that were 3 notches higher and more stylish than Style Network, HG TV, Travel Channel, Food and TLC. In addition, they had anime and film channels that showed classical movies and cartoons such as the Pink Panther and a channel dedicated to Kung Fu! ( I swear, I was becoming addicted). However, the Ultra channel stole my heart!

UltraHD gave the aura that you were living the high society life; (yet you were in your cramped apartment in Brooklyn New York...)

"Spa Seekers" was enchanting, exposing the beautiful Spa locations in Asia. It usually gave me the urge to splurge $100 on a massage at one of the top Spa's in the city, sigh...

"Behind the Label" was a show dedicated to discussing and revealing the fabulous lives of designers and artists, exposing their muses and inspirations. Nanette Lepore, Bagdley Mischka, Roberto Cavalli, Kimora Lee Simmons, Jonathan Adler and many others have been gloriously celebrated on this TV show... I have no idea who they have next on their interview list :(

Reservations Required revealed exotic mouth-watering treats and high style restaurants in New York City; Voom Potraits displayed the sincere boldness and beauty of the work of Painters, Photographers and Masters of Theater including Robert Wilson and Ultra Design dazed you with beautiful homes and home and office furniture that brought the prospect of Feng Shui to the modern western world.

Oh and the Runway shows, the Runway shows! I never had and probably wont for a while get VIP treatment at Runway shows in New York, Paris and Milan ;but the videos and reviews of collections for Spring, Fall, Resort, Summer within the past year gave me first dibbs on the trends, models, beauty and stories in the Fashion Industry.

In addition to these shows being so tantalizing and outstanding, the picture was perfect in HD, the clothing was so vivid and textures like you are in the showroom with the celebs and designers, gourmet food looked like it could be tasted from the screen and the painting and art could almost be dragged out of the TV and onto your bare boring wall...

Yes, this is a tribute to Voom Networks. From my understanding, it has become more exclusive and can only be purchased as a separate set of shows from Cablevision for a set price, yet it was free before :(

My ultimate highs now are now merely left to imagination without any assistance...

Oshun.