A Diva State of Mind

Join Dress For Success Washington, DC Affiliate as they celebrate 10 years!  The Mix It Up Toast It Up rooftop event is not only a celebration; it’s also a fundraiser to help Dress For Success continue to grow and help women transition toward self sufficiency and independence.  Guest will have the chance to vote as three of DC’s premier mixologists face off in a cocktail competition.  The celebration will also include complimentary hors d’oeuvres & wine and beer from 6-7pm.

For more information and to RSVP, click HERE.

SNOBSWAP, the ultimate online destination for designer consignment has teamed up with Labels for Love to offer SNOBSWAP members the opportunity to shop the closets of Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of DC Mary Amons, founder of Labels for Love, and Lynda Erkiletian.

Labels for Love was founded in 2006 and produces fashionable events to raise funds and awareness for local and national women’s and children’s causes. 2012 initiatives include Cancer Schmancer and Girl Power 2 Cure . “I am thrilled to have the perfect opportunity to continue our mission of promoting fashion to benefit charity.” says Mary Amons.

The joint venture will offer SNOBSWAP users exclusive access to the reality stars’ coveted clothing and handbags including Lynda’s Zac Posen dress worn at the Real Housewives of DC Premier. SNOBSWAP offers Labels for Love a cutting edge, online platform to raise funds.  With its priceless pieces and deals to die for, SNOBSWAP continues to lead the way as the premier online marketplace for luxury lovers across the country to swap, sell and shop for designer goods with a simple click of the mouse.

To learn more or to become a member of SNOBSWAP visit: www.snobswap.com. For additional information on Labels for Love please visit: http://www.labelsforlove.org/about.html

Jay-Z & Kanye West have released the visuals for one of the best song (and my favorite) off their Watch The Throne album.  The video is a dramatic one, showing a tense situation between rioters and police officers; a strong presentation of the chaos we’ve seen all over the world in the past year.

Check it out!

Source: Island Def Jam

Dear Fantasia,

I’m going to get straight to the point. Your wardrobe team has failed you miserably! While I didn’t catch Wednesday’s episode of American Idol, I did see many tweets referencing your outfit. Thursday morning, my blog reader was full of post related to the American Idol performances; however it’s not your performance that received the most attention. Instead it was the “catsuit” you wore on stage.

Now I know when you’re performing, you want to stand out and make a statement on stage (I thought your voice was supposed to do that). But honey, the outfit you wore Wednesday night is not the way to do it….at all!!! Do you have a stylist? If so, you may want to reconsider their services.

The catsuit was horrible and it didn’t compliment your figure at all. Depending on how it’s worn, black isn’t always slimming.

This isn’t the first time your performance outfits have raised eyebrows. From photos of past performances, I can tell you like to wear fitted attire (that is often times short). There is nothing wrong wwith that if worn appropriately! If you want to wear something fitted, throw on skinny pants that will show off those curves but also leave something to the imagination. Want to wear a short dress? That’s fine, but it should skim your frame so that it’s not ill fitted. And every woman knows, shapewear (i.e. Spanx) are a women’s best friend!

Women to women, it’s important that we help each other do better. Often times, that help comes when we’re making life decisions, but that help is also needed when making wardrobe decisions. Maybe your stylist told you no to the catsuit but you wanted to wear it anyway. If that’s the case, I highly recommend you start listening to your stylist. After all, you’re paying them to make you look your best (or that’s what they should be doing).

If your stylist recommended this outfit, you may want to think about having a new person on your team, because they aren’t doing you justice at all! You have the potential to look great, so stop selling yourself short with these horrible outfit choices. Take note from other curvy women in the business that fabulously flaunt their figure like Alicia Keys, Jill Scott and Ledisi.

Sincerely,

Keri aka A Diva State of Mind

Alicia Holiday is not only a great hair stylist (she’s responsible for my fabulous cut!) but she’s also a makeup artist.  I have a habit of wearing the same make up looks over and over again, so I was excited when I found out she began creating video tutorials on how to create fabulous looks.

Below is a tutorial by Alicia on how to create a smokey eye.

To view all of her videos, click HERE.  You can also check out her hair styling work on Facebook.  She is also offering $5 off your first salon visit. She is located at The Edge Hair Studio in Wheaton, MD. If you’re interested in receiving the $5 coupon, please let me know.

Summer is right around the corner and warm months are the perfect time to wear a playsuit. Last year I played it safe and purchased a black one from Old Navy, so this year I’m looking to find a bright color or patterned playsuit to my wardrobe.

Last week, a picture of Solange Knowles out enjoying Mother’s Day in a mustard playsuit flooded the internet and I absolutely loved the look. It’s simple and great for a casual day, but still vibrant and fun because of the color of the playsuit, her bright red bag and studded sandals.

I know the Azzedine Alaïa Studded Suede Flat Sandals are out of my price range and I’m sure the playsuit is too, but Solange’s look can easily be recreated for less.  If you’re looking to add a vibrant color playsuit to your wardrobe this summer like me, check out these pieces to create Solange’s looks for less!

More Aldo…

More Marc by Marc Jacobs…

What do you think of Solange’s look?

Interested in personal styling services? Please contact me at [email protected] or (301) 836-1451.

My line sister tweeted last week:

“I know it’s time out for them but I want a nice color blazer. I might need to call @DivaStateMind.”

I was confused by her phrase “time out for them” because in my mind, blazers are always in!  She later asked that since it was close to summer, wasn’t it time to put blazers back in her closet? Absolutely not!

Blazers are a wardrobe staple and as long as it’s not extremely hot outside, you can wear a them.  The spring season is the perfect time to wear them. They look great with anything: jeans, skirts, shorts, pants and dresses.  Find blazers in bright colors or pastels to incorporate this season’s most popular trends into your wardrobe.

My line sister was specifically interested in a red, blue and orange blazer which are great colors to add to your wardrobe this season. Here are a few suggestions:

RED

More Forever 21…

BLUE

More Victoria’s Secret…

ORANGE

More Forever 21…

The following retailers offer a great selection of blazers in a variety of colors: Nordstrom, Zara, JC Penny, The Limited, Eloquii and H&M.

Style questions? Submit them to [email protected]. Seeking a personal styling stylist? Please click HERE to view a list of services available.

As long as I’ve known Lourdes Laguna, she has spent one month each summer traveling to the Dominican Republic to work with AYUDA.

AYUDA is a nonprofit volunteer organization that empowers youth to serve as agents of change in diabetes communities around the world. AYUDA is dedicated to supporting local diabetes communities to develop and implement sustainable diabetes programs throughout the world, with its initial focus emerging out of Latin America.  AYUDA’s innovative peer learning model uses international volunteers as catalysts for empowering local youth living with diabetes to live happy and healthy lives.

Not only is Lourdes tasked with working with AYUDA, but her job as a volunteer is to also fundraise.   Fundraising by volunteers contributes to the majority of the costs to run AYUDA’s programs and sponsor local diabetes projects.

To support her fundraising efforts, Lourdes is hosting “A Toast To Diabetes” Happy Hour.  Donate $20, $40 or $60 and receive extended happy hour specials.

Date: May 23, 2012

Time: 5:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: Vinoteca (1940 11th Street NW Washington, DC 20001)

To purchase tickets in advance please click HERE. You can also make your donation at the door.  For more information about AYUDA and Lourdes’ trip, click HERE.

Hope to see you on May 23^rd!

Calling all expecting moms! This event is for you!

Baby Bash and Bling Expo & Show is an interactive lifestyle expo celebrating expecting moms! Discover new and interesting parenting tools, health and safety products, fashion trends, nutrition tips, and baby furnishings while viewing the “Bump the Runway”™ maternity fashion show. Enjoy an afternoon of signature Pregginista Punch™, swag bags, hors d’ oeuvres, and an opportunity to visit the candy and cupcakes corner to satisfy your bump cravings.

Actress and celebrity mommy Tia Mowry will be doing a special book signing in conjunction with the launch of her first book OH, BABY!: Pregnancy Tales and Advice from One Hot Mama to the Next. Oh, Baby! is a pregnancy guide where Tia leaves no topic off limits while helping expectant moms stay empowered, pampered, and laughing out loud.

Who: Baby Bumps, Fabulous Expectant Moms, Fashionistas, and Pregginistas

When: Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 12p.m. to 4p.m.

Where: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, 2800 South Potomac Avenue, Arlington, VA 22202

To purchase tickets online visit http://dcticketsbabybashandbling.eventbrite.com.

This is one event you don’t want to miss.   Make sure you check out Season 2 of  ”Tia & Tamara” on the Style Network June 11 at 8pm. It’s a great positive reality show. Love it!

Last October I expressed my frustration with dating and asked the question Is There Something Wrong With Me? And while I still believe dating is becoming more difficult, instead of being frustrated or feeling defeated, I’m going to commit myself to doing some things that will (hopefully) increase my chances of meeting guys. I’m not saying I have to find Mr. Right, but I am ready to meet go out on some dates and have fun!

A friend and I were talking a few weeks ago about dating and I came up with the idea to give myself a dating challenge; better late than never right? Contrary to what many people think (specifically my friends), I don’t date often and the warm months aren’t usually filled with meeting new suitors. And I know I’m partially to blame for that so this year I want to be proactive and challenge myself to do things differently.

Over the past couple weeks, I’ve brainstormed challenges that I’m hoping will increase my chances of meeting new people, however I’m also seeking any suggestions you may have not listed below.

2012 Dating Challenge:

Contact Friends For Dates – I was reading ESSENCE and Modern Day Matchmaker Paul Brunson suggested to a single woman (who happens to live in the DC area) to contact three friends with strong social circles with who she shared similar values. As we get older our social circles become smaller so it’s important that we seek new ways to meet new people. To my close friends reading this, expect to hear from in the next few weeks

Diversity Events I Attend – One great thing about having a lifestyle blog is that I’m asked to attend various fashion related events in the city. Other times, many people I know or are familiar with (usually fashion bloggers) host their own fashion events. The only problem: the attendees are mostly women! While I love catching up with blogger friends over drinks at stores in Georgetown or U street, attending ONLY fashion events is not going to increase my chances of meeting new guys. So from this day forward, I challenge myself to diversify the type of events I attend. I love fashion events, but it doesn’t hurt to attend a networking event hosted by a young political group in the city either. Can we say men in suits?! If you looking to expand your dating options this year, I encourage you to do the same!

Attend Speed Dating Events – I attended my first speed dating event a few months ago and surprisingly I had a really good time. While I was a little nervous, I didn’t attend with any expectations. I wanted to try speed dating because it was outside my comfort zone. While I didn’t find a “match” at the event, it did provide a little confidence booth; talking to complete strangers about yourself for 2-5 minutes isn’t THAT bad as long as you have an open mind. Hopefully there will be more in the city this year to attend!

Online Dating – Ok so I’m not 100% sure if I’m ready to sign up for an online dating site. I listed it because some relationship professionals ask clients and dating challenge participants to create online profiles. I know we live in a social media world and the stigma that online dating is a desperate move has disappeared; but there’s something about signing up for a site that still freaks me out just a little bit. Shouldn’t meeting people be more organic (through friends, at events, running errands, etc) than by viewing a profile online? An old boss found her husband through online dating and I know a few friends that signed up online a couple months ago. I discussed online dating when talking to a friend about my challenge on Tuesday (we even researched free sites), so I’m considering it. If someone can convince me that it’s something that I should really do, I just give it a try!

Those are just a few ways I plan on challenging myself this year but I’m sure there are more ways than listed. If you have any suggestions that you believe are HELPFUL, please leave a comment below. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on if any of the challenges listed above actually worked!

If you are interested in giving yourself a dating challenge as well, leave me a comment below. We can make sure we hold each other accountable!!