Sandra Vainqueur has been on my radar for a while now. She’s new to the blogosphere and, let me tell you, she’s the truth!
Her style journal, AmiraaVee, is a beautifully designed collection of some of Sandra’s most riveting ‘fits. Not only is she a beast in front of the camera but she also manages to provide little nuggets of inspiration along the way. In a quote from her bio, Sandra urges, “Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit for it. Whenever the feeling of quitting comes into play, think about your WHY. (why you started, what it means to you, who can you impact). Life is all about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you.”
Sandra’s style is dope. Her looks are eclectic and funky. And, she effortlessly stands apart with a sense of fashion that’s all her own. With a firm grasp on mixing prints and a knack for combining colors, this Bomb Blogger is awesomeness personified.
Slay on, hun!
Want to know more about Sandra Vainqueur of AmiraaVee? Check out her IG @amiraavee or take a quick detour to her blog here.
While her gorgeous mug illustrated the piece for the story online, the magazine cast model Phillipa Steele to accompany the article’s print edition. On Models.com, Steele identified as half Fijian, and also Tongan, French, English, and American.
The story went on to include other women of color who have adopted braids, locs, and the like, and highlighted Zendaya and Zoe Kravitz. Critics of the article wondered why Teen Vogue wouldn’t use at least one darker skinned woman to display the trend.
While some Twitter fans displayed their distaste, writing, “@TeenVogue A hairstyle predominantly worn by varying shades of Black ppl and you pick the lightest skinned black ppl to feature,” and “@TeenVogue Why’s your Magazine so Anti-Black?” Buzzfeed highlighted @JoJoThaJawn as one of the most adamant critics of the display. She wrote,
F*ck @TeenVogue for their bullsh*t article about Senegalese twists and only showing one black girl for example! How could you!!!!
Seriously not buying @TeenVogue again. I’m so insulted by this! You interview a White girl about African hairstyles!!
Zendaya is not the only POC who wears these hairstyles. So why is she the only POC you showed as example!?? @TeenVogue
Snuck a pic of Zoe Kravitz in there. Two light skin black women. What about Solange? Janelle Monae?? Non celebrity POC??!!
It’s bad enough that your cheap ass mag barely has any BW but the ONE time you should, you don’t deliver. @TeenVogue
Model Phillipa Steele eventually wrote, “For the record, if anyone even cares . ? Yes im half black and half French.”
What do you think of the hubbub? I personally am always an advocate of diversity, and highlighting the various shades of brown beauty. A woman of Lupita Nyong’o or Viola Davis’s complexion would’ve been a great addition to the article. Mainstream magazines should be more mindful, especially when addressing Afrocentric topics (I mean look at all the gorgeous examples that pop up when you Google Senegalese Twists).
She wrote, “Black comes in a myriad of colors and textures—all of them beautiful, all of them deserving of representation. In the telling of this particular story, which is my own personal story, it was important to me to include a model that is also mixed-race (she is Black and French). The model, like myself, the author of this piece, and Zendaya, the celebrity who inspired it, represents a broadening spectrum of what Black looks like. I can only hope that this story and the conversation it ignites can help shed light on the reality that race cannot be defined by just skin tone, eye color, or hair texture. “ Read the rest here.
Her slouchy denim shorts feature shredded holes and raw cuffs for a deconstructed look and 5-pocket styling.
Her pink leather strappy sandals showcase an open toe silhouette, ankle straps with side buckle fastenings, brand embossed insoles, and 4.7″ high stiletto heels.
Quite a bit to digest, but the look is cute! Not too keen on this particular jacket, but I think varsity jackets can give a fun, athletic-inspired flair to almost any ensemble.
Pregnancy or not, Kim Kardashian West is not relinquishing her sexy!
She boarded a yacht for a Daily Mail event in an $895 Patricia Lace Maxi by Laquan Smith:
She wore a high waist panty and bra underneath, and completed with simple sandals.
The mock neck maxi has a back slit for ease of movement.
If Kim is anything, she is consistent! The high waist panty/bra reveal is a signature look!
Hey!
Yesterday I was excited to work with JOHNSON’S® Brand to help build awareness around the versatility of JOHNSON’S® products.
The brand tapped me as a fashion expert to talk to attendees about the myriad ways you can use JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil Gel, Baby Powder, hand & face wipes, and more!
I’m a big fan of JOHNSON’S®, so it was a perfect fit! I already use JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil Gel to make my legs shine in the summer;) You can also use it to add moisture to your lips, soften cuticles, and lock in moisture after a shower.
From putting a little on wigs to make them look less synthetic, to using it to mattify makeup, ease thigh chafing, stand in as deodorant, make beds, use as dry shampoo, and help remove sand at the beach, baby powder is definitely a multifaceted product!
JOHNSON’S® hand & face wipes are great to keep on hand to remove germs and to remove makeup at night.
And lastly, JOHNSON’S® baby moisture wash with shea & cocoa butter can be used as a mild face wash, can clean your makeup brushes, and more!
Though I was already quite familiar with JOHNSON’S® products, I definitely learned a lot more yesterday! I took a bit of video with my team, I’ll upload it later this week.
Until then, leave a comment telling me the many ways you use JOHNSON’S® products. I’m already giving away a baby powder to a lucky Instagrammer; I want those who visit the site to get some goodies too;)
Smootches!
*For the event, I wore an Emma Cook London shirt (first worn here) and Frame Denim Wide Legged Flare Jeans.
