THIS WEEK: Happy Memorial Day! (Outfit Ideas)

Memorial Day is a day we honor the spirit of courage. Being Bold. Fearless. Confident. Standing and fighting for something that you Love. In other words, being a Leader. All men and women who died and fought in the United States armed forces are acknowledged today especially. Thankyou. Per tradition my family and I go to visit the grave of my grandfather who fought, every year. While some of you will be doing the same or perhaps spending time gathered with family, watching fireworks, going to the beach or enjoying some of the Memorial Day sales, here are some ideas to help you do it with Style, WOWStyle. <<< notice my James Bond reference there.. ha!...Ok my comedy show is done. Check the pics. 

                                  

                                               A HAT IS A MUST...

    Preferably a  nicely fitted  Fidora.

                                      

                                                   AND STRIPES.

                                                                   LOVE,
                                                  WOWStyles.

SSI: Silent Style Inspiration.

December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012

                                                                         LOVE,
                                                      WOWStyles.

THIS WEEK: Love your Mother...

...always! As women- previously girls- our mothers were the first female figures that we got to watch and be influenced by growing up. Whether you think your mother is the best one ever created or ...not so much, it is important to love our mothers simply because we learn from them. We learn SO much from them, even unconsciously. Any negative experiences or positive ones that we may have watched them go through, we learn what to do and or what not to do when we're faced with similar situations in our own lives. Any advice we WILL need as women, we get the most honest answers/examples from our mothers on how to apply knowledge and wisdom to our life simply, by observation. If your mother is in your life, LOVE her. If for whatever reason you don’t have your biological mother in your life, adapting a mother is one of the greatest and most rewarding things you can do! Getting a mentor is a great way to adopt a mother, just asking for advice from an older woman that you admire is another way of building a mother/ daughter relationship. Taking the previously listed steps make you feel like you can actually pick-a-mom, put her in your shopping bag, take her home with you and do your own personal shopping haul. Only instead of clothes and beauty products that you use and apply to yourself, its the advice, wisdom, encouragement, inspiration  and when-needed-scolding that they give that we can use forever. No shopping spree in the world can top that. My mother is wonderful and I still take advantage of the opportunity to adopt a mom (even though some of them I've never even met in person). For example, if you know me you know that Oprah Winfrey is my long lost mother. She is so considerate that she allowed me to be raised by the man and woman who reared me because she felt that they would be the perfect people for the job.... well, with her being so busy with her talk show, other aspects of her career and all. All the same, she really wants to see me soon but I don’t like heights so I can’t fly to go see her. We'll get together one day soon Mama O! (That’s what I call her... since I’m her daughter, of course.) Another one of my mothers is Maya Angelou, she wrote me a letter once. Don’t believe me? Here’s proof...the letter was entitled "Letter to my Daughter". See, she was obviously writing it especially for me. Others are Martha Stewart, Ms. Cynthia, my grandmother who is also my namesake, Tyra Banks and even sometimes my older sister. So many of my commendable behaviors and beliefs which are both strong factors that add to one having impeccable Style, are a part of me because of all of my mothers. We as women should always celebrate the Style contributions that mothers give to us freely every day, not just in May.

But for the sake of the holiday, Happy Mothers Day!

Beyonce with her mother Tina Knowles, who she recently wrote an open letter to for mothers day.





Kate Hudson with her mother Goldie Han.



One of my mothers Tyra Banks with my grandmother.

One of my other mothers Martha Stewart with Big Martha aka Martha Kostytra.


LOVE,
WOWStyles.

THIS WEEK: Take a risk!... No Makeup!

So this weekend I took advantage of the sun and went to Schlitterbahn. Mind you, I’m not a fan of roller coasters, heights excite me in a way that I don’t prefer and I had a near death experience with a water slide as a child. Although the last truth was exaggerated...a bit...you get my point. One would think this would be the highlight of my thoughts prior to the trip. It wasn’t. My concern was to wear or not to wear makeup. Trivial to some, I know. However seeing smokey eyes, cat eyes and some makeup styles that had to be inspired by Ru Paul himself once we arrived was a clear indication that I was not alone in my apprehension. In the end I decided to do no makeup. Sounds simple huh? Well if it doesn’t come as easy for you to try I've listed some tips from chinacandycouture.com on how to help you take that risk and go without makeup. Speaking of risks, I am proud to say that I got on all of the rides mi amigas got on! Without thinking I closed my eyes, cut off the blood flow of a couple of peoples arms while on a few of the rides and did it. All with... no makeup. I had a good day.

Rihanna posted a pic on her twitter of her sans makeup



Miley Cyrus without makeup... & with.

Lady Gaga






Adriana Lima without makeup

Tips on how to go without makeup

Start with the basics. Ask yourself "why do I wear makeup?" Finding the TRUTHFUL answer to that question will help you to reach your goal.


Set your goal. Will it be for one day, one week, one month, six months, or forever? Make sure you are a setting a realistic goal for yourself.


Start by removing all of your makeup daily. Make sure you are using a great makeup remover to get eyeliner, and mascara off completely. (I personally use Neutrogena oil-free makeup remover)


Start a skin care regimen. Cleanse & Moisturize! Exfoliation is imperative to your skin because you want to free your skin and pores form the makeup that has been consistently used on your face. Moisturizing is just as important because you don't want your face to get dry from your exfoliation.


Get use to seeing yourself makeup free. Take it one day at a time, changing your daily routine and breaking habits takes patience and perseverance.


Find out what your favorite attributes are without makeup. Do you love your smile, your eyes, your freckles, etc.? Find something you really like about your natural yourself and embrace it.


Share your journey with family & friends. Let people know that you're taking a step to go natural and you will be surprised at the response and support you will receive. Even if it's just through your social networks!

Be yourself and find another way to substitute your beauty products. With or without makeup you are YOU. Create a new hairstyle or buy new clothes to make up for not wearing your makeup. You have to find out what else makes you feel good besides makeup!

If this helped you please share it with your social network buddies and just remember "Confidence builds character!".

-China Renee

(P.S. go checkout her blog!)

 LOVE,

 WOWStyles.




Send in your pics taking the No Makeup Challenge,
Good Luck!

   

                         

                               Truly yours.

 

April took the challenge today. I must say, nicely done!

Send your pics to wowstyles1@gmail.com





THIS WEEK: Flats and Loafers... over Heels? Beyonce says yes.

This week Beyonce talked to People magazine about an array of topics in her life. What we're most
concerned about however, are her distinctive heels flats. Since giving birth to Blue Ivy, the new mommy
has been seen with some very nice eye catching flats. From cat shaped leopard prints to shoes that don a
strap around the ankle, flats are definitely becoming a staple in her closet. In an article that is on stands
now, Beyonce tells people magazine "I never thought there would be a day when I wouldn't wear heels.
Now that I have a child, I walk around holding her all day, I'm buying loafers and oxfords. I love them,
because they're comfortable and shorter heels too." While wearing flats might be a new experience for
Bey, other women such as Gwen Stefani and Ciara (another avid heel wear-er) have usually always
made flats an exceptional part of their style. With summer here, (so excited for it by the way) now is the
perfect time to make flats a comfortable part of yourown style and get creative about how you want to add
them into your wardrobe. Depending on how you wear them they can be just as feminine as your favorite pair of heels. 

Beyonce

Blake Lively

Ciara

          

Amanda Heard, Nicole Richie, Gwen Steffani, Mary Kate Olsen all opt for flats.

Janelle Monae pulls off Oxfords like no on else but please, feel free to try.

Bet you never thought you'd see Jennifer Lopez in flats. Almost as astonishing as watching Bey take Oxfords over Loboutins. Your eyes are not betraying you.

Milla Jovovich in the latest Marella spring/summer 2012 campaign.

Rita Ora in Loboutin red velvet Intern flats




Loboutin velvet Intern flats in black

                                                               
                                                          LOVE, WOWStyles.



                                        

  The Girlfriend's Guide: How To Stay Up When Life Get’s You Down.


I believe that style is not achieved by simply having your own individual sense of fashion. There are other components that all add up to equal style. Always remaining inspired is one of them. Essence.com has an article that offers advice for us girls on how to stay inspired, focused and optimisitic even in the toughest of times. Here are tips that they gave written by @DeeCMarshal:

BREATHE: It sounds simple but I promise you one big deep breath in and out will help you. We know the impossible happens in a breath. Every girlfriend reading this right now knows it was one breath that helped you get through the pain of pushing a 6, 7, or 9 pound baby through your birth canal. If you haven’t had that experience yet, know that there was one breath that created man. My point is if you don't breathe you may go down immediately but when you are intentional about breathing you proactively guide your emotion.


PRAY: It is universal no matter what your faith or spiritual beliefs are. When you get the bad news I say remember what you were taught to do in a fire: drop to your knees, turn to your source, lean on the source and depend on your source for strength and comfort. Cling to your source. It is the place you turn to first and remember there is a source that is more powerful than you.


TAKE A STAND: This is about making a choice. When you get a “gut punch” make up in your mind where you stand and what you believe the outcome to be. You have the freedom to choose your position and speak to the situation. If it’s illness you come up against, believe and speak healing. If it’s divorce, believe and speak reconciliation. If it’s job loss, believe and speak promotion. If it’s overwhelming financial loss or lack, believe and speak of your increase in your life. During that first conversation with my mother, I declared our united position out loud. We choose to believe in healing, wellness and long life for my Godmother.


DON'T CARRY IT ALONE: It goes without saying for some of us but I’ll say what we already know— there is comfort in sharing your moment of despair with a trusted girlfriend. Don’t suffer in silence. Share whatever it is you are going through with your confidant.


STAY POSITIVE: While I don’t know the medical benefit, I certainly am a witness that a turnaround is possible just by being optimistic in your time of trouble. This is about choice; you can choose which colored lenses you wear in your situation. I recommend you choose the rose colored glassed because it is that energy to cause vibrations to tap a positive frequency in the earth. Whatever you put out to the universe comes back. It is the law of attraction that says thoughts become things. If you think positive you will attract back positive.


LOVE
WOWStyles.

THIS WEEK: Leather Pants.

Never thought I would cosign leather pants. None the less, there are more reasons than one to say yes to leather pants. If you have not noticed I am a sincere advocate for keeping neutral pieces in your wardrobe that with little effort, can be worn for various types of events or casual outings. Leather pants definitely meet the criteria. If the classic black leather that Kim Kardashian has been seen with this week while out and about with Kanye West doesnt do it for you, try a pair of colored leather pants as seen on Katie Holmes, Ciara and Lala Vasquez- Anthony. Leather pants can be dressed down with a baggy tank and flats or sandles and even boots...they can be dressed up with a blazer, simple button down or your own creative upper body ensemble.    

Love,

WOWStyle.

THIS WEEK: Silk Blazers

Blazers are great pieces to have in a wardrobe. Among countless other fashionistas Khloe Kardashian has recommended the blazer as one piece that is a necessity to have in your wardrobe, as it can pull together an outfit like no other. If an ordinary blazer can add a touch of debonair to the simplest of outfits, a silk blazer just might be magic. A silk blazer can be worn with pants, a skirt, dress and my favorite ...jeans. I believe the silk blazer adds an instant elegant facet to any style of dress. So after you run your errands, add a silk blazer to your ensemble and head straight to that wedding, club or dinner. Easy.

                                            

                           

                  

                   Love, WOWStyle.