That Christian Omeshun Love Part 2!

February 18, 2019 · Leave a Comment

Hey Everyone so Valentines Day just passed. I hope none of my single ladies let the day of love bring them down. For years, Valentine’s Day has been a holiday reserved exclusively for those in a serious relationship, dating or married, meaning those of us not spending the day with a significant other often felt like we were missing out.

However, if Valentine’s Day is a celebration of “LOVE” like they say, it seems only right that we should spend it with whoever we love doing what we enjoy – even if that’s not necessarily a romantic partner. It can be spending time with your self, a pet or even some close friends.

I don’t think anyone should let one made up holiday make them feel sad and depressed just because they don’t have a significant other. I rather spend the day surrounded by friends letting them know how much I love and appreciate the support they give me every day. Life is already hard as a woman and being a black woman it’s even harder. So this year I got to celebrate Valentines Day again decked out in a fabulous dress from Christina Omeshun .The founder A’Shontay Hubbard based out of a ATL makes custom made to dresses and outfits for women size 12-30+ ( Yesss to being size inclusive) I love that she caters to all body types in the plus size market whether big or small. My wonderful friend and fellow blogger Chardline gathered us all together to rock our custom made dresses to celebrate the joys of friendship and loving one another on Valentines Day.

The ladies and I all had fun feeling like goddess taking on the town. I loved being able to connect and chat with the ladies. Surrounding yourself with woman who support you and believe in you, tell you that you can achieve your dreams and that you are beautiful and intelligent, is invaluable. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of women to spend Valentines Day with. Now enough about that let’s get into these looks.

CO Velvet Sparkle Gown

CO Velvet Ruffle Flare Set

CO Reversible Sequin Dress

CO Iridescent Sequin Gown CO Kaftan Gown

CO Triple Ruffle Dress

Why I Am Proud To Be Afro-Latina

July 31, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Often as a child, I struggled with trying to figure out exactly where the hell did I fit in with everyone. According to society, I was always pressured to pick a side; I either wasn’t “Black Enough” or “Latina Enough.” I recall as a child coming home crying to my mom because the little Spanish girls in my dance class didn’t believe I was Puerto Rican. The girls were always mean and teased me because I didn’t have the same hair or speak Spanish. I was heartbroken as a kid dealing with the teasing, why did I have to prove to people what I am. Today as a proud Afro-Latina woman I am honored to identify with two incredible sides. It took time and growth, but I learned it’s okay to embrace both my Black side and the Latin side.

So I know you’re probably reading this like what is this Afro-Latin/a word I hear her using. Afro-Latin Americans or Black Latin Americans refers to Latin American people of significant African ancestry. Now that’s Wikipedia definition but depending who you ask the answer can vary. Afro-Latin in my eyes is someone like me! A person who’s not only Black but also mixed with Puerto Rican.

Celebrating Two Sides
As an Afro-Latina I have the privilege of having two different backgrounds come together. I have the best of both worlds mixing two cultures together. Family gatherings are always full of lots of love and food because you have everything from Arroz con Gandules, Fried Chicken, Pernil, and Mac&Cheese. It’s like an assortment of flavors all under one roof( trust me once you mix Mac&Cheese with Pernil you’ll never turn back lol). It’s also cool because I know so much about music; I grew up listening to salsa and bachata but also embracing artist like Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston, and Diana Ross.

Spanish
People assume that because you are an Afro Latina you should speak Spanish. So many times in my life folks have asked “How are you Spanish ,if you don’t speak Spanish?”. Easy because my house was Americanized my father is Black and we spoke English. Hence, on my mother’s side, the majority of my family speaks Spanish and English also known as Spanglish. Therefore I grew up speaking English, Of course, my mom’s mother talked to me in her native Spanish language, and I took a few classes, but I’m still not 100% fluent. At the end of the day, I’m not less Latina because I can’t speak fluently I just happen to be raised more Americanized than most fully Latin families.

Hair and Skin
Being Afro-Latina our hair texture and complexion is very unique because it can vary from person to person. Some people have curly thick hair while others have kinky straight hair. I use to wish my hair was more like my mom’s which is very fine and curly. Now I love and embrace the thickness and fullness of my Afro-Latina hair due to the endless possibilities when it comes to styling. My skin color is another unique trait being Afro-Latina . Afro Latins come in a wide range of skin tones from Chocolate, Caramel, White Chocolate, and Mocha. I know I’m describing it like food, but that’s the sweetest thing about us. No matter our skin or hair texture we are all beautiful in our own way.

Heritage
With having African and Latin roots, I descend from two powerful groups of people. I made it my duty to understand the trials and tribulations my ancestors faced and issues people of today battle. It makes me so overjoyed to identify with being an Afro-Latina. It feels incredible to stand next to my brothers and sisters in the fight for Black Lives Matter and come together to raise money for the influential citizens of Puerto Rico during such a tragic time. Both sides of my heritage are not only fighters but are strong trailblazing people who have all overcome so much adversity to be where they are today.

No matter how many times people deny me of being Latina because I can’t speak Spanish fluently. Or I’m not black enough to fight for black rights, I always remember I’m black and beautiful and just as Latina as anyone. I only have one little difference I am Afro-Latina, and that’s what makes me unique.

Thanks For stopping by

Vana

The All Pink Outfit

May 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Hey guys!! Hope you all had a great weekend either celebrating the Kentucky Derby or indulging in Tons of tacos for Cinco De Mayo. Sadly I didn’t engage in either of the weekends events. Which is kinda sad because I’m a HUGE Mexican food lover. If anyone mentions a word about Tacos or Elotes I’m asking where and when? All that means is this week I need to make sure to get some tacos in my belly to make up for lost time.

It’s a new week and MAY is here! I absolutely love May because it’s my Birthday month and we can you start losing the layers of clothing and bringing colorful clothing back into our lives. May brings flowers, pastels, and nice warm weather. Since my Birthday is in May, I indulged in some light shopping in case I make birthday plans. Now yall know I had to venture to my favorite store TARGET. I purchased the cutest all pink outfit by A New Day, and I just had to share it with my readers because it was totally out of my element.

An all pink get up is not something I normally would buy. I must admit though, ever since I seen J.LO do an all pink Monochrome outfit, I always kept the idea in the back of my mind to try it someday. I guess the fashion gawds must have remembered because I finally found the perfect outfit. I purchased a pair of pink pants and a pink blazer that could be paired as separates or together. As soon as I laid eyes on it I immediately thought of the J.Lo outfit. I put my own little spin on the look to really customize it to my style. I paired my pink pants and jacket with a pink suede crop top from Society Plus and some comfy block heels. The pants are super stretchy and easy to move in. I love that the jacket can be either styled with the pink pants or with jeans. I was just so excited. I got a cute pants suit for half the money of an actual suit. The colors all flow together so it’s not too overpowering, nobody wants to look like walking cotton candy lol. I think A New Day really hit this one out the park with these pieces.

What do yall think of my Monochrome outfit? Would you wear an all pink outfit or is that just to much color for one look. Let me know in the comments. As Owls ways thanks for stopping by and Owl see ya Soon.

Emerald Green Is This Seasons Hottest Color

December 4, 2017 · 1 Comment

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…….Can you believe that December is upon us already? I swear this year flew by in the blink of an eye right before me. I enjoy December a lot because it means food, family and most of all FASHION. This is the one time of year to bring out the faux fur, velvet, and sequins for those holiday parties and NYE events. One of the hottest colors this season is EMERALD GREEN.

Now when I say emerald green, I don’t want you thinking everyone is walking around looking like the cast for the WIZ lol. I personally think emerald green works well with any skin tone and matches a whole bunch of different colors when it comes to styling. Emerald green also happens to represent the universe, nature, and life, And of course, it’s my birthstone. So let us get into these looks below.

The first dress is from Xehear Curvy. Xehear sells a full line of outfits and styles for straight and plus size women. I love that the brand is very diverse when it comes to sizing, and wants all women to look and feel good. The Maya Floral Sheath dress is perfect for those office parties or parties that don’t require to much. I love that the dress accentuates your curves but also keeps the look very flawless. The black flower detail also gives it that feminine touch of elegance.

The second dress is from Windors. Windsor just introduced there new plus size section a few months ago. I really love that Windsor now offers more sizes so everyone can indulge in the beautiful clothing they sell. The dress I am wearing is the Emerald Twisted Body Con dress. This dress is a little more form fitting and may be better for a night with the girls or a NYE party. The green really stands out and has a hint of silver glitters for a sparkly effect. I love that the dress is super lightweight and the V-cut detail shows just enough to not give away all my secrets lol.

Last but not least was a lovely dress by Rachel Roy which I got from Gwynnie Bee. Gwynnie Bee is an online subscription-based clothing rental service for women sizes 10-32. Members pay a flat monthly subscription fee and are able to rent a collection of clothing to rent and return. The Ribbed Knit Faux wrap dress made me fall in love the moment I saw it. I just knew I had to have it and add it to my green collection. I love that the dress looks black in color but has a hint of the glittery emerald green in the material. This dress is perfect when you want to be the show stopper and really turn some heads.

So what do you y’all think of the Emerald green trend? If you don’t have anything emerald green then now is the best time to go and stalk up. I think Emerald will always be a timeless color in my eyes. As always thanks for stopping by and Owl see ya soon.

Love Vana

Tracee Ellis Ross for JCPenney

November 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Hey guys I know it’s been a minute since I’ve posted….I promise I am going to be better at being more consistent with my blogging and providing new exciting content for you. Make sure to stay tuned for that.

Anyway, lets get into the good stuff that you came here for. If you haven’t heard the wonderful news Tracee Ellis Ross dropped a limited edition Holiday collection this past Saturday at JCPenney and it’s BOMB! I have always been a huge lover of Tracee not only because she’s the legendary Diana Ross‘s daughter but her fashion and personality is AMAZING. Being able to have a little piece of her fashion magic in my closet is something I knew I didn’t want to miss.

I came home to a package a week ago and to my surprise it was the new TER4JCP collection. I was so excited because all the pieces they sent over fit my personality so well. I was sent 2 blazer jackets and a jogger set. The 45-piece collection includes a range of clothing —from pajamas, athlesiure, long dresses with lots of sparkle and fancy suiting designed with a feminine twist. Tracee really put a lot of effort into this collection catering to women of all body types with a size range of small-3x. In addition, everything is affordable with all pieces being no more than $100. Young to old can find something to wear in this collection with it affordability and chicness.

One of my favorites from the collection is the Jogger set which I am wearing in my pictures. The jogger set is super comfy and casual. It’s also pretty warm for those chilly fall/winter days New England is known for. The pants and top is made of a heavier cotton material to give it a more dressed up up feel than normal sweats. I also love the slogan on the sweatshirt “Everyday Joy”. The TER4JCP collection is all about getting women to embrace their joyful spirit which we all know Tracee always projects with anything she is involved in.

I also can’t forget the added little ladybug detail on my top which you can find throughout the collection. You can dress up the joggers with heels like I did, or throw on some tennis shoes to combat the weekend. I felt great being able to rock such a simple classy outfit without too much effort. Tracee is the queen of keeping it fun and classy.

Make sure to check out your local JCPenney for the Tracee Elliss Ross Collection before it’s all gone. If you don’t have a JCPenney in your area you can always go online but act fast because it won’t be around long. If you’ve already brought something from her fabulous collection let me know in the comments below. Until next time thanks for dropping in and owl see ya later!!!

Love

Vana