I caught a glimpse of the new limited edition Stila Loves Barbie collection over at Temptalia, and I m absolutely head over heels for the packaging alone! This belongs on my dresser. Stila shows love to the 1980’s black Barbie with a special Barbie Loves Stila Paint Can that costs $40, and comes stocked with…
Makeup Muses
RIP, Eartha Kitt
Man. I planned to do a special Afrobella Christmas post, and the day got swept away in a whirlwind of gifts and family phone calls. But I read this news and it knocked the wind out of my sails. The legendary Eartha Kitt has passed away at the age of 81, succumbing to a long…
Last Minute Gifts, By Bellas For Bellas
In a perfect world, I would have posted this roundup of fabulous by bellas, for bellas items over a week ago. But as many of you know, the holidays can be insanely hectic. I feel like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. I’m late! I’m late! I don’t know if you can still put…
Beautiful Black Bloggers – Zandile Blay
I’m a girl who clicks around the Internets, and I’ve noticed something — whenever there’s a list of “bloggers we want to see in bikinis” or “most beautiful bloggers,” there’s a distinct lack of melanin in the women featured on the list. What’s with that? It’s noticeable to me because I am part of a…
Ask Afrobella – Be A Bella Bride
Planning a wedding can be super stressful, and pulling off the wedding of your dreams can be insanely expensive. From the catering to the flowers to the dress to the invitations, thank you cards, and favors — there are so many little details to remember, and so many bills to pay. Especially with the economy…
Where Do You Find Beauty Inspiration?
Between the Vogue Italia hubbub and the New York Fashion Week’s will-they-or-won’t-they ethnically ambiguous post, I’ve been thinking A LOT about models, the fashion industry, and where women of color find themselves in the midst of it all. Where do you look if you want to see beautiful, inspiring images of women of color —…
Small Businesses Need Love Too
Creative entrepreneur Jamila of the awesome little-bella product line j. blossom contacted me today about an issue that directly affects her, as well as so many of the up-and-coming beauty product businesses I love. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is trying to draft a law that would have every handmade cosmetic product treated basically…
Big Up, Jazmine!
This week is beating me up, bellas! And already, it’s Thursday. I’ve got some big writing going on behind the scenes and I’m working on the kind of post that makes me wonder if I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Oh, politics. I’m gonna take my time on this one and chew before…
In Or Out Of Vogue
“Did you see that Italian Vogue is having a black issue?” “When are you going to write about the all-black issue of Vogue, Bella?” I can’t tell you how many versions of that message I got when Stephen Meisel’s smoldering photographs hit the internet. And oh, are they ever amazing. Seeing those photos took me…
Makeup Inspiration — Missy Does Her Best Best
It’s no secret around here — Missy Elliott has been one of my beauty inspirations for a while now. The magic of Billy B made her features come alive in the earliest videos from Supa Dupa Fly. I loved Missy then — as a full figured girl looking for media affirmation that she too could…