BET Awards and celebrity clients...

Hi everyone!!
Last time I posted, it was about one celebrity client, that I had shopped/styled for the BET awards show, right?? Well that went beautifully! I can proudly say that I styled Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs; and he was wearing Gucci. His date was Julissa Bermudez and she looked absolutely stunning!!!

Talking about the awards, I have a few favorite dresses. Beyonce always looks great. The Dolce and Gabbana Belt did her figure justice!!! In my opinion. Others may happily disagree...

I loved Julissa Bermudez's dress (you must see the back of that dress) Melyssa Ford's outfit, Ciara's, Nicole Scherzinger's , The colors in Eva Pigford's dress made her stand out...
Amerie looked great in the yellow number...

The entire Ross family and the Swizz Beats family looked great. I loved the color co-ordination with the Beats family especially. Family is VERY powerful! Its always great to see them all together at these events.

Of course my favorite male walking the red carpet would be Larry Johnson...DUH!!!

Anyway, as far as celebrities go, I now have another one added to the roster. DJ Chuck Dogg is a popular NYC DJ on Power 105.1 FM. He is on the 2-6pm shift from Saturday-Wed. He is a producer, DJ and on air personality...tune in and show him some love! We met recently and I had to dress him for the Entertainment Weekly party last week. He walked the Red Carpet and that makes 2!!! We are in the process of changing his whole look. Stay tuned.

So people...

Here is the beginning of my foray into the land of celebrity styling. 1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4. I am still available for regular shopping/styling (no egos here, not likely to ever be any either) , so no one should get any big ideas. My email address isn't changing, this will still be my blog(but a little understanding on the lacking updates)...so feel free to reach out! Especially the soon to be brides. I am always available for your consultations.

Have a great day all!!! The links will take you to the pictures on wireimage...not trying to wreck my subscription...
http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=GLS====278071&str=&styp=&sfld=&nbc1=1&sortval=3a&PageNum=1

Updates June...

Ok-
I finally made it back to bloggville.
My apologies to everyone...you really need to understand that time is one of those crucial commodities that I never seem to have enough of!!

A few highlights...

Snagged my first non-naija celeb... nothing wrong with Naija celebs o...but the coverage is limited to Naijas...and we know that I need GLOBAL coverage. BET awards is GREAT(which is what this was for)...Grammy awards next!! Can't tell you who or what he is wearing until afterwards. But lets just say the dress code we chose is black and white...and there is beautiful lady in white on his arm! They are going to look FABULOUS!! Stay tuned... I will be glued to the tv on the 26th!!!

My client couple in the UK needed their shopping done...usually a breeze. But this time it was a lot of back and forth... I hate that, but whats a girl to do really?? Kinda comes with the territory.

Several new clients and new connections have been made...

Christy Bareijsza is doing fabulously...I will post her lovely picture from the Operation Smile event, where she wore the Vivienne Tam dress soon (got to get her permission...) we are building her closet slowly but surely. She also has a Mara Hoffman dress too...

Introduced Mara Hoffman to a few clients who had never heard of her. I am the proud owner of several of her dresses and responsible for doing a decent amount of damage during her sample sale. Her dresses are amazing. Especially if you like color...which I do! Check out her website http://www.marahoffman.com/ My stay at home mom client also bought one of Mara's dresses. She absolutely LOATHES shopping! I can definitely not mention her name as she truly loves her privacy...so no picture there....

Gianni Bravo my ever faithful shoe supplier, has just sent me their fall line sheet...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Thanks to everyone that bought the frenzii tops...

Still looking for new clients, but then when am I not??

I am trying to update my website...(hasn't happened yet!)

Trying to have a better looking myspace page...(also hasn't happened)

Also still networking ferociously...which means I am doubling up on caffeine to keep up. Quite a few good parties too...

More info soon...but hopefully you understand better now, why blogging is not factoring higher on my list of priorities...Housework , versatile work and mommy work calls.

Geez its tough being a woman, its even tougher being me and wanting to do it all!

P.S.
Hubby and son are fine.
In the midst of all this chaos, I still found time to find a summer camp and to plan a vacation for us.

MIA...

I know, I know, being MIA isn't really an option, but ...whats a girl to do???
Just got back from a fabulous sample sale adampluseve. 75 ninth ave btw 15th and 16th, today was day one, definitely worth a look , they will be around till saturday! Sigh...more details to come.So many things are going on cant think straight

Tomorrow its hollywould...

More later!

Getting The Red Carpet Treatment!

I have had one hell of a week! Definitely a good week, but also it just seemed extremely LONG!

Christy Bareijsza is the owner of The Red Carpet, and one of my newest clients! She is an amazing event planner and she constantly has one event or another to attend. Her image is important and it is now my responsibility (I LOVE THAT) , to build her wardrobe and make sure she is presenting the right image. She has to be the sweetest person I have met in a loooong time! She is very much a girl after my own heart as she believes that once she finds someone who can do their job, there is really no reason to look elsewhere. Did I mention how talented she was??

You see I like people who actually realize that I know what I am doing and let me do what I do best. It’s not an easy feat for a lot of people to simply trust another individual. I get that, honestly, I do. But it is also a tad bit frustrating when you can see that something is really going to work for a person, yet…they can not see it themselves! I am not going to act like I am also not guilty of doing the same thing. When I first met my hair stylist Hadiiya Barbel (www.hadiiyabarbel.com) 4 years ago, I came to her with a set style in mind. I wanted the big afro curls that a lot of people were wearing with shades of blond. She had mentioned that it would be better if I had softer curls, but I was insistent! Needless to say, she did exactly what I wanted, and I HATED it!! I looked like Tina Turner!! No joke! Now I just sit in her chair and she decides what my next look will be. This is a relationship that has grown over the years…but it has never failed me yet. Down to my newest look – choppy bob with a streak of auburn in it! Would never have come up with that on my own - EVER!! She is really talented and has worked with so many people its ridiculous! Check out some of the people she has worked. Yup, they are all her clients. I should know since I bump into them regularly in the salon!! Tell her Remi sent you , if you ever decide to contact her!

Back to Christy…

I told her how I liked to work and found out she is one of those people who would rather not go into a store again if she could possibly avoid it. YAY!! Sounds like a match made in heaven, because if I had my way, I would be shopping everyday!

Once we figured out what are respective ideas were concerning her new look, we went through her closet trying to weed out what was needed and what was not. That took us about 2hrs, and then we hit the sample sale the very next day. Simon Showroom, which represents C+ C California, Paul and Joe, Citizens of Humanity and Elisa Coleman, was having their sale, which started that day. We were able to pick up a few things there and picked up even more at the ART OF SHOPPING sample sale in Soho on Saturday. That has to be where we did the most damage, thus far!!

She had a golf tournament to host for one of her clients and she looked like a million bucks…even if I say so myself!!

Keep looking out for THE RED CARPET ! When you see her picture on TV, you will know that’s all me!!

Did I mention I am not planning another party/dinner again?? Yup, that's Christy's job now! She really is THAT good!! I can also think about an official launch for my company too...hm mm!

As more and more people become comfortable with me blogging about them, I will mention more names. Until then...read on and imagine who they might actually be!

Everything Jersey...

Ok, my apologies for not updating.

Work and life have been kicking my butt! It was far easier to comment on other blogs, than to update my own.

Spring is right around the corner and I wanted to talk about my latest love affair with Jersey. You see, jersey and I have always been rather fond of each other. I love it in the winter, when you can layer (I LOVE LAYERING) or in the spring when you need the sleeves, but not exactly the thickness...or in the summer when those jersey dresses make it possible to actually remail cool...

Despite the fact that I do not have an online store or anything, I tend to push a few items from time to time. Usually they are items I have fallen in love with and found to work for me and some of my clients. My company is set up to sell items as well as shopping and styling (hence the name Versatile)! Yes, I know...juggling it all!! My accountant never finds this amusing!!

Anyway here are two pictures of me rocking my latest Jersey. This and more are for sale, feel free to contact me for details. They come in every color possible , but for work, I chose blue and black. feel free to order (from me) or comment, they are $52 each discount available for multiples.

Have a great day everyone....imagine them on jeans and leggings too! The possibilities...

My process...

Happy Friday everyone!

This post is dedicated to 9jamommy and Omara (lol) ...

The end of the week for most people means rest and relaxation… for me its usually a sign of more work – LOL!!

This post stems from the recurring question that I have been getting from a few bloggers (ok, not just bloggers/friends/would be clients…you get the jist of it)

How does my process work??

Well, it all depends on the client.

If you are thinking of using my services, you must have internet access and a phone. Why? Well, its tough enough shopping for people, but communication is the key to making it more successful.

If this is established, then here are the steps below.

Fill out a profile. Now for bloggers that want to stay anonymous, you don’t have to worry about that, your privacy is something that I value and will not disclose. The profile is rather simple, it tells me a bit more about you, your general sizes(across varying designers), body type, max/min per purchase, favorite designers, likes and dislikes etc. You fill it out and return it to me.

Then we chat via phone to discuss which of my package options you prefer. The packages are also rather simple. Either account based (where there is a direct debit taken out of your account to support your shopping habit – LOL) or a sort of pay as you go option (I want to spend 500 right now, what can I get for that etc)

Once we have decided what you want to do, I send you a few options that I think might work for you based on our conversation. These are all pictures that I have taken in the store or have ...

Now we get to the money part. I do not purchase anything for anyone without having their money (for first timers a deposit) first. Sorry folks, but I have to protect myself too! You have multiple ways of getting it across to me. Either you give me your credit card info (I have a credit card machine), send me a check, or wire the money to me. There are also simple ways of merely depositing into an account (more details later – can’t put everything online!!!)

Once we have this all sorted out, we discuss your shipping options versus people going to naija/eurpope. I tend to prefer to ship (its far more reliable). But people sometimes have relatives coming over who also help them carry their items back – I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT!!!

Now for people within the tri-state area, its a lot simpler. i still need you to fill out the profile, but we can meet in person to figure the rest out, which cuts short the process drastically. when I take people out shopping (I do that too), I have an hourly rate. To style you for an event…it all depends on if I am doing the shopping as well. I do not “double charge” my clients.



FAQ
Do you shop for everyone?
Yes I do. Man, woman and child.


Are the items authentic?
Yes, I have always had very high standards. My reputation is very important to me. A lot of people want to save money buying asking for high quality replicas. I am sorry, but I am not the girl for you. That is my reputation on the line and I have worked hard to build it, not looking to wreck it for a few bucks!!

Do I ship?
Yes I do, DHL preferably (I also have their account), but we can use any method you are comfortable with as long as I can track it.
If you can afford it and if it is a large enough (shopping for the whole family) or expensive enough item (such as a Rolex - no one will carry that!!), I will bring it to you. Obviously you cover the travel expenses. Same applies if I am styling you outside of NYC and you need me to be present.

Do I also sell items?
Yes I do.

Is there a max/min to start with??

Yes, when I take people out shopping, the minimum is 3 hrs. Very little can be done in under that amount of time.

When shopping for people from afar, there isnt a minimum. However, it would make no sense if your shipping costs outweigh your purchases. It would make absolutely no sense...

Any other questions, feel free to ask!
Referrals from bloggers and bloggers get a discount. Just mention it.
Thanks everyone - have a great weekend!!

Men in Colors other than BLUE!

Shopping for people isn't always a cup of tea you know. Sometimes it is DOWN RIGHT ANNOYING!!

A lot of people actually say they want to change their closets/the way they dress, but really don't. I end up having to do the same job twice.

In my family, we love fashion. I mean my son loves clothes and looking good, so does my hubby (he is another story entirely!) And there is no color that we wont wear. My husband owns literally every color shirt possible! His ties are something I need to post about!!

I am bringing this up because I tend to forget sometimes, that not everyone is as evolved. I don't discriminate at all, but sometimes , Nigerian men can be the hardest people to shop for. They would rather just stick to what they know and not venture into anything new , which limits me professionally. A lot of Nigerian men think its effeminate to wear pink. Do they realize how those softer colors look against their dark skin?? Or how sexy women find it?? I guess not!

Brown is one of my clients within the corporate world in naija. He works for a telecom company and wears strictly suits. I started shopping for him last year and on his most recent shopping stint, he really wanted to break away from his usual colors(or so I thought). He has seen pictures of my husband and said that he would love to dress like him. He actually had the audacity to say that I was holding out on him as I do not send him colors that my husband wears. Now mind you, he has filled out my profile o, and has FIRMLY stated that he would never wear pink. Yet the picture he is complaining about, my hubby had on a grey 2 piece, 2 button suit, a pink shirt and blue paisley tie. Even if I say so myself my hubby was looking FIERCE! but you see, I do all of his shopping too, and there is no one telling me not to buy this color or that. my husband trusts me and knows thatif i am buying it, its because I believe its hot and its fashionable. Yes he is a clothes whore... what can I say, so am I! The more stunning the color, the more he loves it.

Anyway, when he contacted me this time and deposited the money, he said I shouldn't hold back...I was getting VERY excited here! As much as I love dressing my girls, I also love dressing my men, knowing the effect they have on the women when they see them decked out! The key is that women know what other women look for. Unfortunately, it takes a "GROWN" woman to be able to send her man out looking fierce and not being worried about how GREAT he looks. Its a pride for me...and my husband enjoys this daily!

Sigh... it should have ended nicely here, right??


Nope... it didn't!!


I did his shopping over the course of 2 weeks. He arrived for his conference yesterday ready to pick up his stuff. Now mind you, his favorite shirt colors are blue, yellow and white. Lilac has never touched his skin (at least so i think ) - he probably owns every shade of blue!
This time I didn't buy a single blue shirt - whats the point?? He said he wanted to change that , right?Boy was I wrong! He totally hated the pink shirts I bought without even opening them from the packs! I bought 3 different pink shirts from Hugo Boss(solid pink), Charles Tyrwhitt (herringbone pink pinstripe) and Paul Smith (multi color stripe -pink being the dominant color) . All the ties were Mimi Fong, in a paisley green (for his blue shirts) , a brocade red and another pink one! He hated them all!! Thank Goodness, i had a few other things that he did like, or else that might have been the end of that business relationship! Jeez!!

He went right back to BLUE! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Everything went right back to the store.

Nobody ever said it was always easy :(

Now here is my question for everyone out there. Do you limit yourself by wearing only certain colors? I personally wear every single color on the rainbow ( not all together - LOL) but in one way or another...

My husband wears it all and LOVES it. Pink(our personal favorite), lilac, orange...sigh. Thinking about some of his shirt and tie combos ...sigh!

What do you think???

Grown Women

A very good friend of mine sent this to me and I immediately thought of posting it on blogger as it made me feel really good and I felt it might help others.

I am dedicating this particular post to all of my "GROWN WOMEN" and to my "GIRLS"out there. You have to once be a girl, to become a grown woman. Its hard , but it can be done! I am proof of that.


Grown Women

Girls leave their schedule wide-open and wait for a guy to call and make plans.
Grown women make their own plans and nicely tell the guy to get in where he fits

Girls want to control the man in their life.
Grown women know that if he's truly hers, he doesn't need controlling.

Girls check you for not calling them.
Grown women are too busy to realize you hadn't.

Girls are afraid to be alone.
Grown women revel in it-using it as a time for personal growth.

Girls ignore the good guys.
Grown women ignore the bad guys.

Girls make you come home.
Grown women make you want to come home.

Girls worry about not being pretty and/or good enough for their man.
Grown women know that they are pretty and/or good enough for any man.

Girls try to monopolize all their man's time (i.e., don't want him hanging with his friends).
Grown women realize that a lil' bit of space makes the 'together time' even more special-and goes to kick it with her own friends.

Girls think a guy crying is weak. Grown women offer their shoulder and a tissue.

Girls want to be spoiled and 'tell' their man so.
Grown women 'show' him and make him comfortable enough to reciprocate without fear of losing his 'manhood'.

Girls get hurt by one man and make all men pay for it.
Grown women know that that was just one man.

Girls fall in love and chase aimlessly after the object of their affection, ignoring all 'signs'.
Grown women know that sometimes the one you love, don't always love you back-and move on, without bitterness.

Girls will read this and get an attitude. Grown women will read this and pass it on to other Grown women and their male friends".

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
This is wonderful! We need to teach our young ladies to be grown women.
I didn't ask to be a Queen, but if the crown fits. . .


What do you think??? I am Very much a grown woman and proud of it. I know who I am and what I am worth. Do you?? We need more women to empower each other...pls feel free to comment :)