Midtown Plaza: Saskatoon Fashion & Design Festival 2014 (SFDF)

Hi fashionistas:

I am so proud of the Saskatoon Fashion & Design Festival, is here!!! With series of events happening all around town from Thursday May 29th - Sunday June 1st!!!

Scheduled events range from gorgeous fashion shows to meet-ups with the fashionable-set of Saskatoon:

May 30th: Hosted at "Green Ark Collected Home" (212 20th St. W.) SFDF and Momentum are presenting Fashion Illustrator Racheal Meckling's latest work and also an industry mixer to celebrate from 7-11pm!

May 31st: SFDF Runway Show - at the Mercedes-Benz Dealership (715 Melville Street). Tickets range from $45 - $150 | age 19+ | Doors open 8:30pm. 

June 1st: SFDF POSE - at the River Landing Amphitheatre (414 Spadina Cres. E.) Free Admission | 12Noon-5pm. This showcase will give those up and coming Saskatchewan designers a chance to get noticed by all!

On the other side of things, take a look at the highlights from the premier event yesterday, "SFDF In Fashion" at our local Midtown Plaza Mall: 

Wait! first let me take a #selfie (with fellow Fly Girl, Philemina on the left!)

Getting a fashion tutorial about mixing different looks with a floral-print dress:

Make-up and hair workshop to help you get that natural glow!

The fabulous crowd, taking in all of the action:

 

Our lady on the far right here, went home a raffle winner of very fashionable goodies:

Please feel free to stop by and say hello and also keep up with continued highlights by following me on Twitter!!!

xoxox

Lady J 

Black Canadian Queen 2014 Journey!

 Hi all:  

What a wild ride 2014 has been, especially since a lot of my time has been spent promoting my Black Canadian Queen pageant campaign! It is getting close to the event date (June 7th) and I am getting to the end of my campaign, but I am giving one last PUSH! Here are ways to assist me in reaching my goals:

1)  DONATING to my Go Fund Me account (Special thanks to those who have!) There is just 12 hours left!!! 

2)  VOTING! for me as the Best Black Canadian Queen (Voting ends June 3rd 12am)

3)  VIEWING/LISTENING/SHARING my latest BCQ promotion on Spreecast with Chonilla (I come on at the 37min           mark)

4)  VIEWING/SHARING/COMMENTING/LIKING my YouTube video  (Currently at 150 views!!!!) and also my              social media links:

Official Contestant Website: http://jmyourblackcanadianqueen2014.blogspot.ca/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/jmyourblackcanadianqueen2014
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stylebyladyj

Also you can use the following hastags:  #blackcanadians #blackcanadianqueen #BCA2014Thank-you, your support is GREATLY appreciated!  

Living in Saskatoon:Free Flow Thursdays

Hey all,

For all professionals and business owners, living here in Saskatoon, there is a monthly event called "Free Flow Thursdays" put on my the Mane Productions team....on you guessed it....Thursday evenings. These networking events are a motivational way to chat with others looking to make meaningful business connections!

This time around it was at the Holiday Inn downtown and the dress-code was business casual so I opted for basic black slacks and an orangey-red bow blouse!!! It's becoming my signature look, those flirty bow blouses!!! Also check out my red/yellow/gold/blow string earrings for additional colour!

At the event I met a wonderful childern's book author, Marion Mutala who self-publishes her works about her family's Ukrainian heritage to educate kids as well as the adults who read to them about wedding, birthday and holiday traditions! *grins*

Also met up with the ladies of Saskatchewan Craft Council, Steph. C. (right) was a previous contact I made in my university days (too many years ago!), nice seeing her again!

 Look at that bustling room...

If you live in the city, I hope to see you next time:)

xxxooo
Lady J

Black Canadian Queen 2014 - Go Fund Me Campaign

Hello peeps,

I hope you remember my previous post about entering into a beauty pageant, if not here it is! Well it's crunch time now with the event in Toronto, Ontario on June 6th & 7th!

With the help of my primary sponsors Leerox Technology and Eleganiza Couture, click the links below and contribute to my "Go Fund Me" campaign:

http://www.gofundme.com/josephinemensah-bcq2014

I hope to raise $1000+ by Sunday May 25th at midnight! Also share this link with your social network using the hashtags: #Josephine Mensah #blackcanaidanawards #blackcanadianqueen #BCA2014

Your support is greatly appreciated:)

xoxox

Lady J

#Snap Your Style Contest - Steven and Chris

Hi everyone:

The fabulous show Steven and Chris which talks about all things style, is hosting a "snap your style" contest where viewers send in pictures of themselves! For this particular entry, they want to know how you style yourself wearing a classic white dress shirt.

I sent in my entry in yesterday via Twitter:

The winner of this contest gets:
• A shopping spree at Hudson's Bay = approx. retail value $1,000.00.
• A complete makeover on Steven and Chris. (Ekk! I could be on TV)
• One night stay for two at Trump Hotel with valet parking, dinner for two at STOCK
Restaurant Bar & Lounge, In-Room breakfast for two. Approximate retail value $1,695.00.

And the total retail value of the prizes is around $2,695.00!!!

Every fashionista's dream! Wish me luck and stay tuned y'all, we find out in during the show's Fall season!

xoxoxo
Lady J

Beauty in a Patch?

Hey all:

Has your life as busy as mine? *whew!*

By the way have you seen this controversial video from Dove?

*Spoiler Alert*

How did you like it?

When I first saw it, I wanted to call shenanigans....I mean a beauty patch, like really? I thought maybe it would be damaging for the wearer, full of "happy hormones" and "artificial chemicals"....but artificial is right "beauty is a state of mind" and no one can tell you otherwise!

Although this was just a placebo effect on the women involved, it's a larger commentary on idealistic beauty standards that the media puts out there about the "right size" and the "right" combination of features.

As the media begins to diversify with bloggers and other user-generated content such as you and me, the stage opens up to voices of women who have overcome obstacles as well as grow and continue to be filled with self-acceptance. It is a life-long trek for many, but it's possible. Take care of yourselves!

xxxxxooooo

Lady J 

Where did you get those Cheekbones?

Hello beauties!

Have you ever wondered how/why some women have the most fantastic cheekbones and sculpted features
you have ever seen? Yes, sometimes it is just genetics but for many ladies its all about countering.

Photo credit: Stylelist Canada

Countering allows for more definition, by highlighting the natural peaks and valleys of face to create stunning symmetry to your features. So you can virtually widen or narrow features just with pigmented foundations and highlighter creams.

Check out this article for more tips!

xoxoxox

Lady J

What I'm into: Eyebrow Threading Technique

Hello beauty lovers:

As someone with very sensitive skin, I am not a big fan of waxing usually, so I have adapted my eyebrows to incorporate the threading routine.

This practice has been around for centuries all over southern Asia as well as Eastern Africa. By using, strong cotton thread women (and some men I'm sure) have been maintaining smooth hairless skin....so the secret is out I guess...

Follow along with this step-by-step guide to perfecting the threading technique and creating a near-perfect brow shape! It really does frame your face and also can give the appearance of a more open and lifted eye!

Check yourself out first and observe what brow look will flatter your face and eye shape....for me personally I have very round features so a fuller eyebrow looks best, the thinner and smaller your features are, the thinner and smaller you are permitted to make your brow shape (but watch out, since you don't want non-existent brows! we have all met those people lol) Some ladies like to use a white eye pencil to outline their new desired shape and/or just the spots where the would like to remove the hair.

Ok back to threading.....so you want to start with a looped piece of thread about 12 inches/30 cm long (about the length of a ruler) or your forearm.

Next you will twist the centre of the loop and create a "bow-tie" shape to place along the skin area, with your fingers facing inward, you will feel in control to slide the string upwards against the hair and towards the nose. The hair gets trapped in the twisted string and it almost lifts them up and out of the pores. Imagine a lawn mower cutting blades of grass!

This continuous motion will feel like 10 plucks at once!!! But we had a saying in our household that "it hurts to be beautiful" but if it's just a touch-up then the pain is a lot less:)

Photo Credit: Glamour.com

Ultimately, threading is all about angles....so naturally you will stop and start again at different points to create your ideal shape!

Also be mindful of a few key things:
*You may see some redness post-threading but not to worry it is very normal and will fade within a hour or less

*You can use your trusty tweezers to take care of those stubborn stray hairs that my be too tricky to thread out (probably closer the the inter arc of you brow; between the areas of #1 & 2 in the first image)

*To keep your brows looking neat and sharp, maintain this routine every other week

*Also don't be afraid of filling in your brows with a matching eyebrow pencil or eye shadow that goes with your natural brow colour to give a finished and smooth look! We call do that ;)

**Bonus Tip: in case you have long or slightly curly brows like me....comb the hairs upwards and trim the edges of the arc (areas #2 & 3) with some fine bladed scissors....hopefully the security detail at the airport did not confiscate them like they did your girl #truestory #youknowwhatmynextpurchaseis

xoxo

Lady J 

I Hope You're not Wearing the Wrong Bra?

...but in case you are, don't worry you join over 75% of women around the world in your misjudgment.

Read this article to find your correct fit and size and let those "girls" feel COMFORTABLE!

Photo Credit: Google Images

You're welcome,

xoxo,

Big sister, Lady J

What I'm into: Shoes, shoes all kinds of shoes!

Photo Credit: Stylist Canada 

Enough said, happy Friday!

xo
Lady J 

Style Watch: Holiday Party Outfits

Season's Greetings Fashionitas:

The holidays are coming up so fast,  in 4 more sleeps to be exact!

Hopefully you are attending holiday parties throughout the month and enjoying all the little treats and drinks available.

Below are a few festive trends I have noticed this season!!!:

I love how this white and cream coloured dress glows on her skintone:

Photo Credit: glamour.com

A beautiful sweater for your daytime events:

Photo Credit: lyst.com

A pair of fancy coloured or brocade print pants (Lady J has a pair of the black and gold ones in her closet!):

Photo Credit: oliviapalermocom

 Metallics have been consistently a part of the holiday colour palette:

Photo Credit: Google Images

Photo Credit: Google Images

Or one can glow in all shades of green (the fringe dress is one of my favourite):

Photo Credit: Google Images



Whatever you plan to wear to your festivities, remember to be merry and joyful for all that you have!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

xoxoxo

Lady J

Style Watch: Fabulous Boots

Hey all,

Have you missed me? I am out of hibernation now and ready to continue blogging for your style-viewing entertainment!

So of course with the weather change into Winter, every fashionista is looking to add another pair (or two) of boots to her ever expanding wardrobe!

Below are a few of my favourites:

Photo Credits: Google Images 

What will you be rocking this season to stay warm and fashionable?

xoxo

Lady J

We need Graffiti!!! 2013 SCYAP Show

Hi all,

I hope the middle of your week is going well! I wanted to mention a really cool organization here in the city called "Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming"or SCYAP for short!!!

Over my busy weekend, I was able to go to their graffiti show and meet some really interesting people, who are passionate about being creative! I actually heard about this event, through someone who sat at my table during the Luncheon En Vogue (the weird things that happen to me....). Enjoy the highlights of the event:

Various artists' paintings:

I love the self-portraits of the staff hanging on the wall:

Along with an art gallery viewing there were musical performances! I really liked the Northern Lights! Below are a few members (right to left) Gabrielle, Rory and another guy...but I didn't catch his name:( Their sound is a mix of all different music styles like jazz, folk, pop-rock etc....they play in venues all over Saskatoon, check them out if you have a chance! 

Met some really cool people from North Battleford, SK while listening to great music and watching graffiti artists and of course snacking on fruit hehehehe:

Before and After!

Even a random chess game broke out in between music sets:

Can you see the wedding photo-shoot going on while we're in the alley??? lol

Also SCYAP does drop-in art classes for all ages on Tuesdays/Thursdays 5:30-9pm and also Saturdays from 1-6pm, where you can use their art supplies to create your masterpieces....you might even bump into Lady J there!

xo
Lady J 

Featured in "Bridges" Saskatoon's Local Newspaper!

Today has been an excellent day!

Honestly, I haven't been able say a bold statement like that in some time...it's always the day starts out well and then...(you know the rest) and/or it was a good day, then you are dropped a bomb that changes everything!

Well today, I was featured in a weekly Saskatoon paper under their #SaskatchewanFashion section which made me beam all day long:)

Click the link to view the full article:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/bridges/Josephine+Mensah+Looking+stylish+budget/8923900/story.html

Also thanks to the staff at the Star Phoenix for making it happen!!!

Style Watch: Fall Capes & Wraps

Hello loves,

Now that the Fall season is officially upon us....What are you filling your wardrobes with?

As for me I'm doubling up on some of my summer clothes and adding layered items to transition into this cooler season. One item in particular that I am noticing all over is the cape/wrap. It looks like everyone and their mother is using capes as an alternative to the traditional Fall coat. Take a peek at some cute styles:

Bright hues:

 Even fur-trimmed:

More classic cuts: 

Metallic and sequins (My personal fav, surprise suprise):

*All images are courtesy of Google Images

So as the leaves continue to change colour and the air becomes more and more frosty what is your favourite item of Fall?

xo

Lady J 

25 Things You Don’t Have To Justify To Anyone

Hello there,

Hope your week is going well! I found this lovely article that I wanted to share with you about "25 Things You Don’t Have To Justify To Anyone"....go forth with whatever you destiny holds and embrace the lessons of your past!

Live freely!

Photo Credit: Google Images 

xoxoxo

Lady J

P.S. My favourites are # 9 and #12, share yours in the comments section!

Blog Anniversary!

"Style by Lady J" is now 1 month old!!!

I have now reached just under 700 views in 30 days, with audiences from across Canada, Europe and as far away as Australia and Saudi Arabia! YAH!

Photo Credit: Google Images & Picasa 3 

Also additional feedback is always welcome! I'm curious about your thoughts on the new "Navigation Bar" and "Let's Connect" tools...are they helping or harming your viewing experience? Don't be shy, leave a comment and/or email me!

oxo

Lady J