About Me

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Washington D.C. Metro, United States
A vivacious professional with a love for all things "woman". She is committed to each Client's well-being and complete satisfaction. She considers the "extra mile" just a part of the normal journey. Working with Vanessa was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my career. Her advice has paid off many times over. She knows her stuff. - S. Witten, Washington, DC - Elated Client

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Booty-Shaper Graveyard

Dear Anonymous,

I hear you girl. I have had this problem a few times I must say I have a booty-shaper graveyard to prove it. I hate to even hear myself say it but, we just have to try a few. It's like dating; sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you get a prince. Try this one and see what you think. I have it on today with a form-fitting skirt and I have no lines at all! And it's comfortable. I am a Misses Size 14 and hippy (translation: wide on the sides) LOL! and I am looking smoooth.

This Asset is not like the longer version (which I also like for different reasons). The other is almost made of an "opaque tights" material. This one is lycra-spandex/microfiber with a nice cotton crotch.

I wish you luck. Write us back and let us know; good, bad or indifferent, we want the scoop!



Monday, May 25, 2009

Great Summer Style

Well ladies! Summer's first official weekend being over, I thought I'd share a few summer style and beauty tips. Don't forget to share yours as well!

Summer Tip #1 is not only for summer - Wear garments that fit. I, like many of you am so ready to shed the bulky, heavier clothes of winter but let's be mindful of what we are shedding girls! The old saying, "less is more" is not always appropriate. If you have some dimples showing through your dress or light summer slacks, please consider a pair of briefs or a nice light short legged "booty smoother". My new fave is found at Target in the Lingerie department. It's by Assets by Sara Blakley (get it). It's short enough that I wore mine this weekend with a pair of short-shorts. Not to mention, it lifted me very nicely.

Summer Tip #2 – Sunscreen! No matter what your ethnicity or complexion, skin cancer is on the rise and it is preventable. There are good moisturizers that contain at least an SPF 15. I personally use one with SPF 45 (Neutrogena with helioplex*). As for those who don't like the grey, lavender or ashy look that many of the sunscreens leave on darker skin, try these two (our friends at Ebony have) Rx for Brown Skin Protect and Defend Sunscreen (sephora.com) and Fashion Fair Hidden Beauty Daytime Moisturizer (Macy's)

Summer Tip #3 - Please ladies keep up or start getting regular pedicures. You may need more than once a month if you spend time at the beach. The sand dries out the cuticles and can eat at the polish. Don't stop going to the beach, live life and buy the polish for in-between appointments. Also, a pumice stone should have a permanent spot in your shower. Just like we exfoliate other parts (which will remain nameless for this conversation) give those heels and balls of the feet a good rub or two every day to keep the smoothness. Also, make sure your salon is using sterilized tools and they are thoroughly cleaning the tub after every use. If they have an attitude when you ask, please take your business elsewhere. Salons should be proud of their policies regarding cleaning and sterilization. If they're not proud, they're probably not clean enough for us! Run!

Summer Tip #4 - "Jump in, the water's great”! Don't allow the heat and humidity or summer activities like swimming, ruin your summer do. Braids, weaves and wigs are all great ways to enjoy the summer and all its' glory without being chained to a blow dryer and curling iron. Me? Girls, I have two wigs (Insta-Weave type) for most of my styles. After my swim or power walk, I wash the salt, sweat or chlorine out of my own hair while in the shower, towel dry it, spritz on a good leave-in conditioner and put on the fresh one. Pow! Fabulous again in no time!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Welcome!

Okay, so everybody is doing this blog, log, facebook, myspace, twitter-ditter thing. So, I give in or give up (don't know which yet). I'm an Image Consultant. I own a fun company called ImagiNess Style! We help women express their best self with life coaching, wardrobe consulting, skin, makeup and hair consultations. It's a blast!

How did that happen? Well, with three successful careers as a Make Up Artist, Event Planner and Recruiter(sometimes all at once) and years of creating and conducting workshops and seminars to empower women, it became apparent that I had also become the unofficial or official (according to my devoted sisters and girlfriends) "Queen of Style", the Weave Queen, the Fashionista, you get the picture.

I eat, breathe and sometimes dream hair, makeup and fashion since I was about four. Once I "borrowed" my mother's Maybelline black Eye Pencil, lined my eyes, lips and anything else "lineable", used baby powder for eyeshadow and applied it on the school bus. This of course required a mandatory trip to the stinky girls bathroom for a rough paper towel and some cold water to remove it (yes on the delicate eye area). This is a no no women. One day I was late for the bus, missed my trip to the "Evidence Removal Chamber" and got caught. My mom had a fit (for real, I was 10) and I was hooked.

If there is a wig, weave, ta ta tape, undergarment, shoe, shadow, or applicator that creates a better look, feel, fit, I'm on it. I want to try it all and probably have or will soon.

Enough about me, we'll get to know each other along the way. Style is personal and not at all about the latest fashion trend. It is attitude, understanding oneself and being comfortable with that and then expressing it to the world. It's our language to the world. It's not just about clothes, hair and makeup either. It's the way we speak, the way we enter a room, our body language.

We're gonna have some fun discovering each other. I want your opinion, your new finds, what works, what doesn't; keep your girl informed. I can't be everywhere at once. If you've got advice, I wanna hear it. Keep your comments real but civil, after all, we are ladies, and we'll get along great. You don't have to agree with me; I love a challenge. That's how we grow. I'll introduce you to some fabulous women. I've got one who has a salon dedicated to nothing but getting your hindparts, side parts and ta tas smoothed down and lifted up! You'll learn that I am the "ta ta police" and I don't play about a good foundation (undergarments that is).

Gotta run. I've got two wigs to soak in a little Woolite and I'm packing for a trip. So many choices, so limited the room in my truck. Maybe I can combine the bag with shoes and sandals with my reading material? Hmmm. The weather could change, my mind will change and a girl needs options. I know you know what I mean. Don't front.

So,what's it gonna be? Long, lightly-layered wig 1B/33 , or the straight one with the great bangs, 1B? For the newly initiated, those number/letter combinations are hair colors for weaves, wigs and braiding hair. Let me know if you need a course. School is open! Anyway, I'll let you know what I chose and will post an occasional photo or two so you can get some guts and experiment. Gotta go, I'm gonna clean out my trunk so my husband won't notice my extra bag. Sshhh.

Smooches!

Ness