Monday, February 28, 2011

Questions and answers...

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be taking the time out to blog about a few recurring questions which I get asked A LOT! Mainly regarding fashion, but also about everything in between. So feel free to add your questions to the already long list , via email (check the profile folks) or simple ask here; I am sure I will get around to it...eventually :-)

Stay tuned folks!!!

:-)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The various interests of young Master Charles Fagbohun...

Sometimes when I think about the kids of today and how they are growing up, I can't help but be astounded. I mean life for us while growing up was so simple. You went to school, you played with your friends and family...had a few simple hobbies...that was IT!!! Not the kids nowadays and DEFINITELY not my son.

It's both exhilarating and scary at the same time, to think of all the things that our children are exposed to and how that shapes them. Charles has been around fashion since he was born, (kinda comes with the turf when your mother is a personal shopper and stylist) But recently, he started showing an even greater interest - wanting to become an active participant and officially declared he wanted to model (GULP!!). He has gone through so many " I want to be" phases, I honestly didn't take him seriously. He wanted to be an astronaut, race car driver, judge, policeman, teacher, pilot ; the list goes on and on. Courtesy of the Beijing Olympics, he decided that he wanted to definitely become the guy to beat Michael Phelps (I was like ummmm ok!!!) and promptly started swimming classes. He is actually pretty good too. Unfortunately, I think that by the time he gets up to the professional level, Michael Phelps might be too old to beat anybody - LOL!!! Needless to say, I am encouraging the swimming. He recently added soccer to that (sigh) and he needs to pick up an instrument and another language...see what I mean about a busy child??? I didn't have HALF (ok maybe not even a 1/4) of this going on in my life EVER!!! However, I have heard from several friends that they did and im happy to be able to provide what I didn't have for my son. Its a really good feeling...albeit TIRING!!!

My son met and modeled for Coco and Breezy , the fabulous sunglass designers during New York Fashion Week and they made quite an impression on him. These two young ladies are so talented, its amazing. And they are just 20!!! What was I doing at 20?? LOL . They recently introduced a kids line and showcased it alongside their main collection in their 2011 presentation.Quite impressive!!! They already have quite a following... He really felt like a rockstar (another thing to add to his long list, sigh) modeling for Coco and Breezy . Did I mention that he can tell them apart where I can't (at least he thinks so) and thinks they are SOOOO Cool!! Apparently, Coco and Breezy are just as cool as his other adopted big brother Ugo Mozie (whom he LOVES)...but because they are girls (I find this HILARIOUS by the way) they aren't the top of his list...but a hard 2nd!!!

I do have a point to all my rambling. Despite it all, we really should try (hard though it may be) to encourage every little interest that our children have. Why? Well one of these many interests will become their profession someday. Ideally, if they have had enough time to play around with a few options while they are children, they are less likely t make the mistake I find that some adults are making as they grow older. Its definitely not easy...but its worth it in the long run.

So now he has caught the modeling/acting bug. And its really ALL him!!! Not a shy bone in his body!!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Mr Charles Fagbohun doing his thing...Lord give me strength!! I feel like i'm going to definitely NEED it!!!











***Pictures courtesy Kibwe M, Cali York ,Coco and Breezy and Remi Fagbohun

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Shoes and me...

Inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest places. My son asked me a simple question today. He said "Mom , why do you love shoes so much?" Lord, where did THAT come from? At first I smiled and asked why he was asking (did his Dad put him up to this??) He simply said , he sees how many shoes I have and how I seem to keep buying more (ouch)!!!

Of course I sat down and explained to him the differences between the various shoes and why his mommy needed so many. But afterwards, I started to think myself , where did this love stem from??

Then it hit me...my MOTHER!!! (May her soul rest in peace)

My earliest memory of shoes honestly came from her. My mother was just shy of 5 feet and my dad is a 6 footer. She was CONSTANTLY in heels. My mothers heels were so high, I actually thought she was closer to my dad's height (NOT). Growing up, she always seemed much, much taller (don't all of our parents?) than she really was. It didn't occur to me until much later that it was the shoes. Now my mother had TONS of shoes. I remember her having so many lovely shoes, all brightly colored too. I remember reds, purples, blues...sigh and she had tiny feet too (where are those shoes anyway???). My sister and I would often take them out and just look at them. They were sooooo pretty. There was a pair of red and white peep-toe pumps that were my favorite to play dress up in. They must have been at least 4-5 inch heels red with white stripes and a lovely bow on the top too. Super cute!!!! As much as I believe in mixing high and low, I DON'T do that with my shoes. My personal pet peeve is poorly made shoes and if I can see the glue on the shoe or the shoe can't stand on its own...thats a classic FAIL for me!!! To me, a sexy shoe is a very well made shoe. It just does something to me...

Ok, let me stop drooling.


Funny thing here is that if not for my son, this isn't really something I have ever fully thought about. I mean we often love what we love, but have you ever bothered to think of why you love what you love? There is always a story behind it. As a stylist, shoes are the one thing I refuse to skimp on, and I do not believe you can ever have too many . And that goes for both men and women. A pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. Wrong shoes on a killer suit? FAIL!!! Sexy dress and scuffed shoes? GAG!!!!


My mother loved her jewelry and her shoes. Guess that means I am definitely my mothers daughter, because I love those two things as well (shoes more than jewelry though). I firmly believe that the right shoes will change how you carry yourself and also how you see yourself. Sexiness and self confidence all come from within. Think about what makes you the most confident...whatever it is, own it and hone it. The results will shock you.


For me...it's the SHOES!!! I guess I should also prepare myself for my son's future love affair with shoes. We'll be saying in a few years that he gets it from his parents. Oh yeah, did I mention my husband is worse than me? LOL!!!!


Happy New month everyone!!!