Simple, not so LBD (Little Black Dress)

Hey peeps! So, I find that I enjoy wearing dresses in the summer...a lot. But who doesn't? They're essentially complete outfits with the option to accessorize, soooo convenient lol. With that being said, I found this dress while thrifting and it didn't feel right leaving it in the store. I so fell in love it's perfect fit and little train at the back. I love that it's an sightly edgier take on the classic Little Black Dress (LBD). 

Oh also, when bored...in the house...all summer, why not make something! Been dying to try my hand at making a DIY Flower crown, so pictured is my first attempt. 

All white everything.

 Even though summer is coming to an end and school is right around the corner, I feel like i'm finally on summer break. I was given a few vacation days from work and decided to dedicate myself, as much as possible that is, to the blog. I'm so grateful for Rachael and Jode-Leigh for holding done the blog while I was ghost! :) 

   So I think my style is changing. If I've had to describe my style in one word, I guess it would've been 'loud'. Matching was a 'no no' for me, I thought the more color the better! But these days I get a headache when I see too many colors or patterns put together. I think because I spent my summer in an office, where I couldn't wear anything too loud, kinda helped/forced me to change things up a bit. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I love matching! (my mom is very happy about this lol) I have no problem sticking to just one color for an entire outfit.

    Now don't get me wrong, even though I'm starting to shy away from anything too 'loud', I still enjoy seeing other people dress in a million colors with a million patterns! There are days when I want that extra pop of color or pattern, they just see fewer days than most now.

  

 

  -Kalila

Purple Lipstick

My First Review on YouTube: RiRi Woo MAC Lipstick

So, I decided to make a review on the riri woo lipstick on YouTube! It's my first one, so cut me some slack! :) Check it out, subscribe to our YouTube channel and don't be afraid to comment and tell me what ya'll think.

p.s. Watch in HD please! :)

Jode-Leigh,
Purple Lipstick

Solange Live in Toronto

Going to school in Huntsville can have its perks, but it definitely has its downfalls. I’m always missing my favorite singers when they come into town! Every time a favorite singer of mine visits Toronto, I’m in Huntsville at school. One of the things on my to do list for this summer was to make up for lost time. So, when I heard Solange was coming to Toronto, I had to purchase a ticket to her concert, right then and there.I have been a true fan of Solange since 2003 and never turned back. Not only is she my birthday buddy, since our birthdays are three days apart, but I genuinely love her music, the way she embodies life and of course her eccentric style.

I truly had a blast on Saturday night. Solange entered on stage looking dope with her long braids and a tribal print suit.To start the  concert off, she did a rendition of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” dedicated to Trayvon Martin and the verdict of “not guilty” that surfaced around that time. Then, she went on to one of my faves, “T.O.N.Y.“ She sang three of my faves in between such as: ‘”Losing You,” “Lovers In A Parking Lot,” and “Sandcastle Disco.” At the end, she ‘punked’ me because she said, “goodnight” but clearly forgot to sing my absolute fave, “I Decided.” She then came back on stage and ended the concert right! Saturday night will be a night to remember. I’m super stocked that I finally got to see Solange live in concert!

Solange singing one of my faves, "Lovers In A Parking Lot" 

Solange singing, "Locked In Closets"

       

          Snippet of Solange dancing to, "Losing You"

Do you hear my voice in the background? lol 

Solange ending it off right with "I Decided"

Jode-Leigh,
Purple Lipstick

Pop-up Shop: C. Originals - Live Laugh Love

The other day Jode-Leigh and I had the opportunity to attend our first "pop-up shop" event. A pop-up shop is essentially a collective of artists, designers, and one-of-a-kind brands promoting, networking, and selling their unique items.

While there, we were able to catch up with Candace Allen and check out her accessories line, "C. Originals." Two words I would use to describe her creations would be "glamorous and sophisticated." I appreciate good quality in designs and that is exactly what her collection had. C. Originals was created with style, functionality. and careful craftsmanship in mind.

                                      

My personal faves were the brooches. They're bold and colorful. I definitely found myself staring at them, mesmerized  trying to pick my favorites for at least 15 minutes! I finally settled on...all of them!

I love, love, loveeeeeee the idea of shoe clips! They can go on any shoe, anywhere you want it and they are an awesome way to bring a new oh-so-unique touch to a pair you shoes you thought you'd retire.

Don't worry Gentlemen, she's got you too! C. Originals has a wide selection of pocket squares, bow ties, skinny ties, and lapel pins to keep you looking sharp. 

When I say she does accessories, I really mean she DOES accessories! To complete the collection, C. Originals has designed a line beautiful of purses and clutch bags. How cool is that?!

C. Originals by Candace Allen is an accessory line definitely worth paying attention to. Head on over to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/c.originals1 where you can see all her designs and find info on placing an order because lets be honest, you know you want to!

Don't forget to be apart of our exclusive giveaway. Head on over to facebook.com/purplelipstick123 and enter to win great freebies from C. Originals!

Rachael Joseph

Purple Lipstick

Detailing 101

We are at that time again. I have been asking Aaron Manswell to do a post for Purple Lipstick for a very long time now. After constantly annoying him about it, he finally has done it. I personally adore his style and one thing I admire about his style is that he is very detailed about every item he puts on or puts together. I’m not being biased because he is my “man” friend but I truly think He is on to something with his style! So, check out his post below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway by clicking on this link >>>> Purple Lipstick Giveaway.
Jode-Leigh

In life, I am a firm believer that details are everything, so it's not a long haul that I have the very same sentiments towards clothes; men’s formalwear, that is. As I've grown, I've realized that when it comes to, as they say, "dressing up," many males forget to polish they're attire with important detailing. What do I mean when I say, "detailing?"

1) Wristwatch There is a specific reason why this is #1. Every well-dressed man never leaves his home without accompanying his wrist with a watch. Dear I say it; to be wearing a well-tailored suit without a wristwatch is to be committing the unpardonable sin.
   

2) Tie Clip This is probably the most forgotten item on this list. After getting dressed for church, I cannot count the amount of times that I've bent over to pick something up and my tie falls out from within my suit blazer. This is where the tie clip is necessary. It is meant to hold the tie in place, during any and every sudden movement by the male, while helping the tie in achieving visual royalty. There are specific clips for both slim and regular width ties, so please make sure the tie clip isn’t noticeably longer than the width of the tie.
 

3) Pocket Square
Depending on how you've dressed your suit, this is not always necessary, but at the same time it is always welcomed. I've seen a countless number of suit/tie/pocket square combinations. Just make it work!  

4) Cologne I've made the mistake of spending way too much time dressing my other details that by the time I'm ready to leave my house, I know I've forgotten one thing. I'll begin to drive off only to realize that I don't smell any particular way. Problem. Every man, especially when dressed in a suit, must wear a very distinctive smell. I believe the cologne should not be sprayed on the skin, but on the clothes. This trick will keep your clothes smelling great for the next wear. My personal secret is to disperse a maximum of 4 sprays per occasion: 1) left shoulder 2) right shoulder 3) far left chest 4) far right chest. Any more than 4 and you will be assassinating people!
 

5) Wrist Bracelet (Wrist Candy) A wrist bracelet definitely reads "feminine" at first glance, but bear with me. There are various reasons why these have become popular not only in men’s formalwear but also in men’s casual wear. These can be worn on the opposite or same wrist as your wristwatch. However, the color and texture of the wristwatch must agree with the occasion of the outfit. Personally, I wear wrist bracelets all the time due to the fact that I have very long arms. The arm length on regular fitting shirts are never long enough to cover my wrists, therefore I use the wrist bracelets to cover what the shirtsleeves cannot.  

6) Sunglasses/Eyeglasses Not always necessary, but never excessive. For those of us who weren't blessed with 20/20 vision, this is a great chance to turn what the Lord has given us into a fashion commodity. Even those who aren't visional-challenged have already hopped on this trend. When selecting eyewear, both for shade and reading, be sure to choose a pair that fits the shape and structure of your face. 
 

7) Socks The sock ministry is one that is very diverse. Therefore, the only thing I say on this is to make sure that we, the audience, have an unspoken, yet visual reason as to why those socks were used in your particular ensemble for the occasion.
 

8) Gum There is a very good reason why I saved this detail for last. I believe this is the most important detail of any men’s formalwear outfit because without gum, the audience has the potential to be completely turned off from your ensemble! The smell of a man’s breath can make or break him in any setting. He could be the most well put-together gentleman in the building; however, if his breath is not properly groomed he will quickly slip down to the least. Ironically, the most important item also happens to be the cheapest!

 

In men’s fashion, doing the most is never key. However, with detailing, there is an exception.
Aaron Manswell, 
Purple Lipstick  
p.s. Follow Aaron's blog: www.pastrybakery.tumblr.com