Hello everyone! I'm back with more business related attire! This time, my outfit is the complete opposite of the former post.  I am wearing a bodycon dress with a lightweight sweater. Other accessories include: gold/silver jewelry, a black purse, and black booties.  Last year, I wore this sleeveless dress to a concert with formal heels and no layering. As you can see, it can be ideal for an evening out on the town or for 9-5.  Longer sweaters/blazers should be worn to cover up if dress codes are strict. 

My hair is blown out with bangs.  I made a mini bun and left the back out.This was a common style for me when I used relaxers.  Again, I love the versatility of natural hair! I can have a fro one day then straight the next :)

Outfit Details Here:

Dress: Boohoo
Sweater: Rainbow
Booties: Ninewest (via Ross)
Purse: Express
Jewelry: Multi-colored bracelet (Dots)/Bangles (Forever XXI)

Do you wear loose &  fitted clothing in the workplace? Or is it one of the two?  Feel free to share/comment!

Until next time......

I had an amazing time at the Nzuri Festival last month!  Our eventful weekend began with the 100 Carat Diamond Awards Gala on Friday night and the actual festival held Saturday through Sunday.  The Fashion Reign and I were busy keeping up with the numerous activities held.  

Activities included:

• Fashion Shows
  
• Pageants
  
• Culinary Contests
  
• Workshops (hair, make-up, health, etc.)
  
• Various exhibitors (apparel, jewelry, hair accessories, art, etc.)
• Live Music Performances
  
• Line Dance Tutorials
• African Dances
  

We were excited to take part in such a wonderful event and are looking forward to Nzuri 2014!  In case you missed last year, take a look at our YouTube recap!  Trust me, you'll want to attend the next festival!

Stay tuned for more of the Canvas Styles team (La Fleur NaturElle & The Fashion Reign)!

Until next time.....

Houston, Texas, Wednesday,  January 1, 2013- Music Mogul, Mathew Knowles of Music World Entertainment, and ICE Artistry presents are seeking new talent to sign to music World Entertainment. Singers, Rappers, Comedians, and Poets can showcase their talents in front of a live audience, media, and industry executives. Talent will have the luxury of receiving feedback from Mathew Knowles, and various guest judges. Artist/Talent can receive feedback in the areas of presentation, delivery, music production, audience participation, overall style, creativity, and strategy to further their career. Selected artist will have the opportunity to receive studio time, and media exposure. The Ultimate winner of the showcase will receive a single deal with Music World Entertainment.

Ice Artistry will select eight acts to perform based upon pre-submitted material and a registration process. 

"This showcase was developed to help artist hone their craft, network with experienced Industry representatives, and receive helpful information to ultimately take them to the next level", says Ashley Brooks Founder and Creator of ICE Artistry. "I lived in Atlanta where artist showcases are popular and produce many new talented artist. Once I moved to Houston I knew that it was time to give the talented individuals of this city an opportunity to move forward, and have a place to work together." 

About Music World Entertainment

Music World Entertainment is one of the most notable record labels with records sales exceeding 300 million
worldwide. Music World Entertainment is the creative force behind the careers of, Destiny’s Child, Solange Knowles, Brian Courtney Wilson, World renowned entertainment mogul Beyonce Knowles-Carter, and the Official label for Sunday’s Best winners (Le’andria Johnson, Joshua Rogers, Alexis Spight, Amber Bullock, and Andrea Helms). With twenty years of experience in Artist Management, Artist Development, Film & Television ventures, Endorsement Deals, Numerous Awards, and Global Success, it is evident that Music World  Entertainment is the place to be! For more information on Music World Entertainment, please visit: http://musicworldent.com

For information about ICE Artistry, or to inquiry about performing at ICE Artist Showcase contact:

Ashley Brooks, Creator
ICE Entertainment
678-472-2121
[email protected]

For Media and Press Inquiries about ICE Artistry, contact:

La’Torria Lemon
Lemon-Lime Light Media
832-298-3834
[email protected] 

What can I say except....I LOVE PAPER BOY HATS!!!  I grew up adoring my father's headgear.  He has been wearing these as long as I can remember.  There were a few instances I'd take them without permission just so I could make it feminine and stylish! lol  To this day, he still wears his paperboys and so do I.  This hat is a timeless classic that never seems to go out of style. The beauty of it is that both men and women can rock it!  It is sophisticated fashion at its best and one of the easiest ways to jazz up a simple outfit.  To compliment the hat, I wore a long sleeved/button down top with liquid pants and ankle boots.  My accessories include silver and black jewelry.  I would definitely wear this ensemble for a night of poetry and jazz/soul music!  So appropriate :)

My hair is in a blown out/twist out style.  I created the side puff to wear underneath the hat.  To add volume, I take a pick, pull from the root and lift. 

Outfit Details Here:

Top: New York & Company
Liquid Pants: Express
Shoes: Ross
Hat: Burlington Coat Factory
Purse: Express
Jewelry: Earrings/Necklace (gifted)/ bracelets (old)

Do you enjoy wearing hats as well?  Feel free to comment/share!

Until next time....

Good day people!!  I hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday! I truly enjoyed my holiday festivities and I'm anticipating the new year! I'm still amazed how quickly time flies.  It seems like just yesterday, I celebrated my birthday. In 3 months, it'll be that time again! lol  No complaints though.... I'm blessed and thankful for each day! Today's outfit post is simple, yet classic .  I love this tunic dress.  It can be worn a variety of ways... with boots, loosened belt, rolled sleeves, tights, etc. so it can be dressy or casual.  I planned to wear this outfit for Christmas, but decided against it since the weather was cooler than expected.  The great thing is I can wear this anytime of the year! I added silver accessories and a red purse to accent the red/white collar.  

My hair is in a protective/high bun style using Marley hair.   Click here to view the high bun tutorial video and products used.


Outfit Details Here:

Tunic: H & M
Shoes: Rampage
Purse: New York & Company
Jewelry: Shasa

What did you wear for t he holidays?  Feel free to comment/share!

Until next time....

Good Morning Everyone!  I hope you all are having a blessed week!  I am wide awake when I should be resting since graduation is tomorrow!  In a few hours, I have to attend my graduate portfolio which showcases the final projects I've been working on for the past weeks.  Today's post is the actual outfit I plan on wearing.  It's simple yet stylish.  As you all know (if you've been following my blog), my staple pattern is the houndstooth.  I can't get enough of it.  I found this cute pink mini houndstooth skirt at Ross sometime last year.  The skirt came with a belt, but I chose not to wear it.  I took a lightweight sweater and tucked it in a bit.  I added black tights and my peep toe wedges for a sexy, professional look.  Other accessories include a grey purse (accent), pearl earrings/bracelet, and silver bangles.  Simplicity at its best.

My hair is blown out with bangs.  I made a mini bun and left the back out.  This was a common style for me when I used relaxers.  

Outfit Details Here:

Top: Rainbow (old)/similar here
Skirt: Ross (old)/similar here
Tights: Rainbow
Wedges: Ross (old)/similar here
Purse: Express
Jewelry: Forever XXI/Shasa 

 What are your staple items/styles? Feel free to share!

Until next time......

Good morning everyone!!  It's good to be back in action! I took another mini hiatus to focus on completing final projects for school.  I am super excited to have finally approached graduation!  It's been a long time coming :)  I also recently became engaged!  Yes, I was asked on Thanksgiving day!  Now, I've got to start making plans.... Today's outfit post is ideal for celebratory moments.  It's a cute black and white skater dress.  I accented it with teal colored heels and mint earrings.  Other accessories include a black clutch and silver bracelets.  

My hair is blown out with bangs.  I made a mini bun and left the back out.  This was a common style for me when I used relaxers.  Again, I love the versatility of natural hair! I can have a fro one day then straight the next :)

Outfit Details Here:

Dress: Ross
Shoes: Ross
Clutch: Express
Jewelry: Retailer on Harwin (earrings)/Shasa (bracelets)

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season as much as I am!  What are some of your festive looks? Feel free to share!

Until next time......
  

I must say, I truly enjoyed my time at Fashion Houston and I'm already anticipating next year's event! I was in attendance the 3rd night which showcased designs from Rolando Santana, Chloe Dao, David Peck, and Yigal Azrouel. See pics/info below regarding each designer and their collections. 

The first designer was Rolando Santana.  Rolando is a native of Cuemavaca, Mexico.  His love of fashion began as a young child.  He observed as his mother created unique pieces for special clients.  He realized early on that being a fashion designer was his dream.  After years of study and working with major dress companies, Rolando felt compelled to begin his own collection.  His primary purpose when designing is to make women feel beautiful.  

See images below of Rolando's springtime fashion:

I simply adored the soft, pastel colors in Rolando's line. He used a lot of floral prints as well. It has prepared me for springtime.  

Chloe Dao was the second designer of the night. She is a Houston local who made her fashion debut on the hit show 'Project Runway.' The season 2 winner credits her love of fashion from watching Style with Elsa Klensch when she was only 10 years old.  Years later, she earned her degree from F.I.T. in New York.  Chloe is quite familiar with the fashion industry as she has held numerous positions throughout her career.  In 2008, Chloe opened her Lot 8 boutique here in Houston.  The name has been changed to DAO Chloe DAO.

 Let's view pieces from Chloe's spring 2014 collection:

What can I say except "wowzers" for Chloe's line!  She is full of surprises.  Her collection varied with patterns and styles.  She has truly become an icon in the fashion world with her timeless classics. 

David Peck is another famous local that we're proud of! While most designers outsource their products, David's team creates and manufactures the signature lines here in the U.S.  David earned his fashion degree in Paris.  He worked for a number of renowned fashion houses and was also a style consultant/costume designer for many films.  

Take a look at a few of David's designs:

We just can't seem to get enough of David's impeccable designs.  His showcased lines from everyday wear to bridal gowns.  

Our last designer for the evening was Yigal Azrouel, who is a native of Israel.  He seeks inspiration from everywhere: art, culture, nature, and architecture.  Yigal introduced his first line of women's wear in 1998 to which he began participating in New York's Fashion Week .  His designs are known for their quality fabrics and ultra-feminine silhouettes.  In 2003, Yigal opened his first boutique called Yigal Azrouel Boutique.  Since then, Yigal has expanded his business with men's wear and footwear lines. 

Here are a pictures of the Yigal's spring 2014 collection:  

Yigal revealed his line of edgy, sexy, and flirtatious women's wear.  Many outfits consisted of bold patterns and feminine flare while others were risk-taking.   

TGIF!! Yay!! Good afternoon everyone!  I know you're all excited about the weekend too :) Fridays are the best days of the week in my opinion. lol  Today's outfit post is super casual! Right after this particular photo shoot, my bff and I took the road to visit our hometown!  We decided to attend our college homecoming festivities, so I knew my outfit had to be comfortable enough for our travels.  >>Shouts out to my alma mater ULL-Ragin Cajuns!<<  I try to remain fashionable at all times (wink).  This look came together because of my cross-body purse.  I've had this little bag for a LONG time, but never really used it.  I love the multi-colored striped pattern.  The colors consist of brown, rust, metallic gold, and beige. My outfit entails a rust cami  under my  beige lightweight sweater. dark denim skinnies, and cognac colored wedge sneakers.  I decided to accent my look with my brown & tan beanies.  My accessories include a multi-colored bracelet, wooden bangle, and pearl earrings.  As you can see, I was ready for the road! 

My hair was blown out with bangs hanging outside of the the beanies.  Head gear is perfect for those bad hair days or #lazydayz.....

Outfit Details Here:

Sweater: Rainbow
Cami: Forever XXI
Skinnies: New York & Company
Wedge Tennis: Steve Madden.... similar here (purchased @ Ross)
Cross-body purse: Retailer Unknown (old)/Koltov (brand)
Jewelry: local beauty supply store/Forever XXI
Beanies: Rainbow
Sunglasses: Ross