Socially (Ir)responsible for a night - Part deux

Socially (Ir)responsible for a night

Two of my fellow classmates and lovelies celebrated their birthdays with a house party last night. Yours truly was on spot to showcase the well styled development practitioners. Everyone looked dapper and most folks shed or dressed up the graduate school uniform of denim. Strapless and black dresses were in order for most ladies and blazers and button downs for the gents. Favorites of mine included; a 1925 velvet smoking jacket (a heirloom from a grandpa), a well fitted sweetheart neckline black dress on a well toned body, two pops of hot pink footwear and a lovely shorts and vest combo. Peek these and other favs below.

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be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

Carnival week - Day 4 Chartreuse & Turquoise

I love a chartreuse.  It is not for the faint of heart and can look quite tacky if not done right. But what's chartreuse anyway?

Chartreuse (pronounced shahr-trooz, -troos) a color halfway between yellow and green that was named because of its resemblance to the green color of one of the French liqueurs called green chartreuse, introduced in 1764; whereas chartreuse (the traditional color) is a yellow color mixed with a small amount of green that was named because of its resemblance to the yellow color of one of the French liqueurs called yellow chartreuse, introduced in 1838.[2]

The color precisely halfway between green and yellow, so it is 50% green and 50% yellow. Chartreuse is the most visible color to the human eye because it sits directly in the middle of the frequencies of visible light (Wikipedia).

Turquoise Cardigan - thrifted

Chartreuse Top - JCrew

Skirt - Laundry

Braided belt - H&M

Earrings,bracelet & necklace- thrifted

Carnival Week - Day 3,Purple Rain

A friend, who shall remain nameless, questioned my wearing purple and red last week. I am off to volunteer at a luncheon this morning and decided to explore a couple purple and ____ combinations. After all of that, I decided to throw on a blazer over the dress. But it was fun playing dress up.

If money grew on trees.Or not.

Me likey, it's in keeping with this week's bright colors. At a meager $1,200 to Mr. Jean Paul Gaultier or the tuition of 12 girls in El Salvador. But with a little imagination, reused materials like an old belt, carnival costume ribbon, bright skirt and cotton tank.

be good.do better.look your best.
T

Carnival Week- Day 2

According to urbandictionary.com

Boyfriend Jacket * (n) a jacket/coat a girl wears that belongs to her boyfriend. she'll make up any excuse (the most common, "i'm cold!") to get her boy to give her his jacket, so she can wear it everywhere and sleep with it, therefore being surrounded by his scent where-ever she goes. then it starts smelling like her and she gives it back for a while.

The boyfriend jacket is all the rage this season. I was about to send an old wool suit I had to Goodwill this past saturday, but decided I'd do the boyfriend jacket look before sending it off to be someone's 'interview attire'.

Jacket - Herve Bernard ( Filene's Basement)

Top - The Gap

Skirt - Miami Heat( 6 years ago in Jamaica)

Necklace - Liz Clairbourne Outlet

Pumps - Tahari

No past boyfriend of mine was this small and none would wear this combination. But since it's still carnival week, I had to pull out the lime green skirt and make it serious enough for a meeting with my Academic advisor. 

Tip: Brights color, even neon, can look polished  if you pair them with structured pieces - blazer, pumps or a structured purse.

be good. do better.look your best.
Tammyanka

Carnival Week- Day 1

Overslept this morning, but did not forget to choose a color from my Crayola box. My photographer (read: sister) had already left so I snapped my multi colored H&M cotton scarf that I wore with a red cotton dress over khaki pants. (They are tight in the derrière so a dress is good to cover )

be good. do better. look your best.
Tammyanka

Carnival Week

This week will be relatively warm with rain almost everyday. High 40s to 50s. My Jamaican friends, that's Christmas weather feeling. At the end of the week, the Latin American and Caribbean students at Heller will host the 3rd installment of this year's cultural dinner and performance. With that in mind, I'm going to burst out the colors in preparation for this week end and to chase the showers away. My mother would always tease me, that I had no bias against color. 'Yuh wear every color, don't it?", she would say. Yup, I own a collection of Crayola crayons and an item of clothing for almost each color in that box. The crayola's are for strategic practice, since I do plan to have a most 35 career in design.

Images:www.corbis.com

be goo.do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

Saturday classes

As if I had no assignments and house stuff to do, I spent the entire day searching for art(read:stuff) with two of my frenies from school, Lier Bear and PP. We 'studied' two Marshalls,two Goodwill Stores (I did donate atleast $500 in stuff, mostly my sister's stuff.), Target, H&M(nothing god),Macy's (for returns). A sales associate at Goodwill explained that donations are down since the recession. 

Lier Bear was the main reason for the trip. A beautiful woman, who like many others, does not bother to put too much effort into getting dressed. She has a big personality, quite strong and frowns at my 'Stepford wife'(read:cable sweaters) attire at times. She's probably going to call me out for saying that, but I can handle it.

Class notes:

PP set out in search on a black snake skin pumps, but fell in love with a pair of fuscia snake skin sandals she had to take home. Her vintage earring find is seen above. Beautiful.

Lier Bear is not as naive about fashion as she sells the massses. She is firm on what she does not like and open to trying new style outside her defined comfort zone. She loves socks!! Way too much.

Yours truly, exercised restraint. I confirmed however, that my style spans the wide spectrum - ethnic, peasant, modern, vintage,romantic - I like most of it. My best find was a 1970s Coach  Bonnie Cashin Saddle Bag. The associate obviously did not know the value of the item and I bargained $6 off the original price. I own a 39 year old limited edition vintage bag! Yeah me!!

Lessons:

Bargaining is allowed at thrift stores.

You usually will not find the one item, most times basic ,like black shoes, when you really want to. So pick up basics when they are available at good prices and leave intentional shopping trips for unique finds.

Lier Bear and PP are cool chicas!

be good. do better. look your best.

T

Wearing my sunshine

This morning was overcast, so I decided to wear my sunshine around my neck. I adore this necklace, it very J-Crew-ish without the price tag. Got it for a mean $3.00. Besides, I am wearing my bad hair day knit hat so the least I could do is look semi-decent for my big downtown office debut. What a switch from Wednesday's muddy park day.



Speaking of downtown office. Big deal? Yeah, big deal because the Macy's sign was visible from the window of the office I was working from. "It's like rubbing butter in a puss mouth", Jamaican for 'putting an addict to watch over drugs'. Tempting? I skipped food for lunch and dined on two 80% off dresses that I've been stalking for a while and a basic tee. After lunch I went back to reading the 1987 classic "The Greening of Boston".....all smiles!

Cotton top- Frenchconnection

Wide leg trousers- The Gap

Platforms - Frye

Knit hat- no idea?

(P.S my sister's newly purchased shell decor pieces worked as a marker for her to get a good shot)

be good. do better. look your best.

T

On fellowships and salesmanship

I wanted to write in a public domain that I almost applied to a program I desire with all my heart with two days to spare before the deadline, despite my knowing about it 28 days ago. It is important to say so in this space, simple because it holds me accountable to the blogosphere and myself. I usually allow opportunities to pass me by out of sheer stupidity, laziness, procrastination or all of the above.

I will not however, pass up a one day sale and I have returned home after driving 15 minutes from home to get coupons. Why do we do this? ( Saying we makes me feel less responsible for my actions). Is it because the stores advertise in bright colors, uses model we are told we want to look like and send incentives a.k.a coupons to our doorsteps? Could a fellowship or job really compete with glossy pages and catchy phrases that tell us to spend money we do not have on things we do not need to achieve the look of the season?

What is it about most of us, that allows for immediate reaction to incentive and creative appeal as a priority above investment despite an understanding of long term benefit?

It's too late in the evening to be thinking so hard. 

What will I wear tomorrow?

be good.do better.look your best.

Tammyanka

Styl(Ed) 101- Greenwashed

I really do not have much to say today. Exhausted by a long week and poor time management.

However, in today's Eco-tourism session an extensive discussion on the definition of eco-tourism ensued. Whether we know how to define it or not green is in. Eco-chic, eco-tourism,green-building, green manufacturing. The list goes on. While the Professor preached the green gospel, I was taken up with one otherwise conservative classmate and dear friend's green ensemble.

She pointed out that the boot's are faux snake.....after all she is in the business of Sustainable Development.

be good. do better.look your best.

Tammyanka

Prosperity Pieces

I spent much of Monday reading chapters from a seminal book in the field of conservation and development, Contested Nature. The chapters spoke to indigenous peoples and the development of conservation. 

I recently learned that it is Navajo tradition to wear your jewelry(turquoise in particular) so as to ward off poverty. If only there was an item that could be worn to ward off oppressive governments, corporations, organizations and academia who co-opt the lands of indigenous peoples. Read more about this issue at Survival International.

Prosperity Necklace - Handmade by Elsi, an elderly woman I met at the Navajo Native American Reservation, Arizona. The necklace has over 200 semi-precious and precious stones from the reservation.

Ring - stolen from a friend

Pants - Express via Marshal's

Top - Roxy

Blazer- BCBG 

Pumps- Tahari

be good. do better.look your best.

Tammyanka

Park Policy and Field Trip Boots

Today I start a new part time gig, coordinating a Boston- wide coalition working towards a common agenda for public parks and urban green spaces. Yeah me!

Here's the email from the Director:

Hi Tamika,

I hope you get this before tomorrow morning – come prepared for a walk and talk in Franklin Park . We’ll go around 11:00 and spend an hour or two in the park. It may be a littl

e muddy and a little cold, although the sun has been warm and we can walk briskly to warm up.

We’ll start in the office and you can head out whenever you need to. We’ll stay in the upper park not far from the office in case you have to leave before I do.

While I know my chosen field of development and natural resource management is not conducive to my other habit, I was taken aback by her email....mud, cold and brisk walk...on my first day?

Since our planet needs to be saved from habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population and over consumption, I am prepared to take on the parks wearing my most comfortable blazer and 'field trip boots'.

Blazer - BCBG

T-Shirt- Old Navy

Jeans - I found them

Boots - Born @DSW(so comfy)

Scarf- Ralph Lauren, Filene's Basement closing down sale

Why: Because the plants will be wearing their best,wont they?

The last two photos are of 'field trip boots' in action in Arizona on alternative spring break in the Navajo Indian reservation.(photos by DWCPP). Yes, they have a 1/4 inch heel. :)

be good.do better. look your best.

Tammyanka

Yesterday was Yesterday

Yesterday was a long day. 9am to 9pm at Heller. The day included no classes (not for me), birthday,Thai food, revelations, Integrated Conservation & Development reading  in the library and a good ole time. Good thing I was wearing a comfortable dress and my 2nd favorite boots. I probably would not survive otherwise.


The gentleman in the photo is my dear Youness from Morroco, his style is European vogue with Youness-like fair. He will not be reading this so I need not be coy.

Cotton sweater- The Gap

Dress - F21,5 years ago

Boots - ??? the softest leather you''ll find

3 tiered neckalce - Goodwill

Bracelet and tights- Macy's

be good. do better.look your best.

T

Thrifted pleasure, recycled treasure.

Confession: I am hesitant about thrift shopping. 

My Jamaican experience dictates that you buy new clothes. Period. As a matter of fact, the word thrift does not exist in everyday discourse and would not be understood by the average Jamaican. Try 'poop inna'. Jamaican for used clothing, but with a negative association that someone has already "pooped" in that item.( this may be a good dissertation for an anthropology student)

Despite the taboo, I consigned 30 pieces this week-end in a spring cleaning binge and bought some pieces to inject in my wardrobe. My actions were encouraged by Second Time Around's  one week end only, instant store credit of $140 just for consigning. Free money of sorts.

I walked away with two beautiful cotton skirts, two pieces by Club Monaco[could not otherwise afford], two cotton/silk blend shirts and an amazing light weight cardigan. (doing my happy dance)

Since  human over consumption is a major threat to environmental sustainability and the well being of generations to come, and my hobby is collecting pieces of colored fabric crafted into functional art called clothes, my compromise is to buy more recycled/thrifted items.

be good. do better. look your best.

Tammyanka