A Diva State of Mind

Looking for something to do this Friday night? Gentleman Jack: Arts, Beats + Lyrics Urban Art Exhibit returns to DC on Friday, October 7th from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in DC.

Art, Beats and Lyrics is an Exhibition of multi-media art and design that explores the recent work of a diverse group of visual artists who have emerged from the sub-cultures in Hip-Hip throughout America.

Now this is one collaboration I will be standing in line for in February!! Known for designing Mrs. Obama’s inaugural gown, designer Jason Wu is teaming up with Target for a limited collection. The Jason Wu for Target collection will be available in stores February 5, 2012 through March 6, 2012.  The collection will feature womenswear, handbags and scarves ranging from $19.99 to $59.99. Talk about affordable!

“My collection for Target embodies my signature aesthetic of feminine sophistication, with a mischievous nod to the 1960s,” Wu says.  “I’ve had an incredible experience partnering with Target and I am looking forward to bringing these affordable designs to women across the country.”

I, like so many others, thought Wu’s inaugural gown was gorgeous. However, I fell in love this his designs when I watched his Fall 2011 Collection runway show at New York Fashion Week in March. His pieces are so chic!!   I CAN NOT WAIT for this collaboration.

Source

I am currently reading Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages Single Edition and I love it! It is one book I think everyone MUST read.  The first book, The Five Love Languages, is for all of you married couple out there.

According to Chapman, we all have a primary love language out of a list of five:

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Gifts
3. Acts of Service
4. Quality Time
5. Physical Touch

While I won’t go into detail about each one (you can read the book for that), determining ones primary love language is key to better communication and love between you and your significant other, parents and friends. Everyone wants to feel loved by those in their life and understanding how to effectively express that love toward those in your life can be life changing.

My primary love language is quality time (I’m sure some of you were able to easily figure that out).  While reading the chapter on this love language, I felt like Chapman was reading my mind!  If your primary love language is quality time, you seek quality interaction and communication with others. This book provided insight into why I felt the way I did last year about my friendships.

In my True Meaning of Friendship post, I was feeling like some of my closest friends who I had spent a lot of time with over the past couple of years were not giving 100% to our friendship.  I’m the type to always reach out to others via phone call, recommendations to attend an event, etc.  I’ve always been that way and I guess understanding that quality time is my primary language make my actions all more clear.  Those feelings I had last year were an expression of me needing to spend quality time with my friends I considered family.

I say all of that to say, that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you read The Five Love Languages (Single Edition for those that are not married). After reading the book, if you choose to determine the love languages of those in your life and work to speak those languages, all of your relationships can only change for the better.  If you are going to read the book, I highly recommend discussing each chapter with someone who has already read the book. Each night after reading a chapter, I discuss what I’ve read with a friend and it is a great way to better comprehend the ideas of the book; it also makes for a really good discussion and will most likely give you a different way to look at the way you interact with people.

Do you know your primary love language? To find out, take the assessment HERE.  Your primary love language may not be want you think it is!

On Saturday, October 8, 2011, The Girlfriend Group and QuaintSimplicity present The Lovii Luscious Natural Beauty Launch. Founded by Tamara Gill, Lovii offers hair and skin beauty products that are natural and organic (chemical free).  Products are available for both men and women.

During the event, guests will enjoy appetizers and refreshments. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Fashion Empowering Women (F.E.W.). FEW is a non-profit foundation that mobilizes the creative industries of fashion, music, literature and film by creating opportunities for its members to support missions of social service organizations that empower women and girls.

Date: Saturday, October 8, 2011

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: SimplySoles At The Shops At Georgetown Park (3222 M St NW Washington, DC 20007)

Tickets: $15 in advance. Purchase HERE

I hope you’ll join me on Saturday to support the launch of Lovii and the non-profit F.E.W.

This year, I missed the live streams and photos from the all of the fashion week shows, but there is one collection I could not escape even if I tried. A few pictures from the Balmain Spring 2012 collection appeared on my twitter timeline and Tumblr dashboard multiple times in one week. So you already know; I searched online to find pictures from the entire fashion show. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed!

The Balmain Spring 2012 collection at Paris Fashion Week was amazing!  The new creative director, Oliver Rousteing, infused glamour with south western style to create a collection full of metallics, crystals and embroidery. The texture and pattern detail of the collection is impeccable. I would have loved to view the Spring 2012 line in person.

Check out the collection below!

HAUTE!

Source: New York Magazine