Natural Belle

2 March 2012

PFW: Joan & Jasmine For Balmain

source

1 March 2012

Another Black Model Selling White Make Up?

Herieth Paul features in CK One current campaign for the brands new cosmetics line. She appears in the the new 3in1 face make up, joining models such a Jourdan Dunn for Burberry Cosmetics and YSL, Arlenis Sosa for Lancome, Solange Knowles for Rimmel London, *Beyonce for L'oreal & most recently Alesha Dixon for Avon all of which are the faces of mainly (until now perhaps) European targeted cosmetics brands.

Interestingly yet not surprisingly the two shades that appear on the CK ad are no where near the shade of Herieths Skin tone, and I've found that many of these brand that claim to cater to the darker skin tones hold every shade of vanilla to tan and not much else. Perhaps this is just in the UK but when I rush into a department store looking for Burberry foundation for my skin tone to find that it doesn't exist, not even close or even worse that it does exist but the store doesn't hold it due to lack of demand! If you feel I'm repeating myself than you are right I discussed this issue here. On the surface it seems that brands are catching on to the fact that black woman wear make up but it takes more than using the latest 'it' model of colour in campaigns when you are not stocking the product to back it up.

I find this irrating especially because I get a lot of PR requests asking me to review make up brands or I'm invited to launches for new lines, only to receive my sample and it be more suited to my Portuguese friends than me. It's bad PR and it's just plain misleading. Imagine attending an event for a well know cosmetics brands new launch knowing full well you are in the lippies and mascara zone and better not try to step out of it!

Unless these brands are going to cater to darker skin tones stop force feeding me false advertising!

*Lancome seem to be the only brand stated that hold a relatively varied colour spec, With 5 shades in the Teint Idole Ultra range that look to be for darker skin tones and are readily available online though Arlenis does not appear in a majority of the UK advertising campaign, a lighter skinned Tunisian model Hanaa Ben Abdesslem is used, so unless you dig it's not information that everyone has access to in the UK

*corrections and additions

*Four leading brands that use models of colour in their campaigns these are their current shade selections online available in the UK

L'oreal True Match Liquid Foundation

Avon Ideal Flawless

Burberry Sheer Compact Foundation

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H

Solange Knowles DJ's For Miu Miu In Miu Miu

Ms Knowles looks fab in Miu Miu showcasing her killer tan from her recent trip to Jamaica, mixing gingham print with thunderbolts our girl is a vision!

The Month Of Solange via Vogue UK

Solange Knowles shared her daily fashion looks last month for UK Vogue. She showcased her colourful style and her ability to be a chameleon when it came to her hair in the space of a month she rocked her natural fro, an afro wig/weave and box braids!

Thursday Talk: Natural Hair & Our Children

Thursday Talk is a new segment, each week I hope to discuss a new topic, these topics will vary from Hair, Beauty, Fashion, Politics, Pop Culture and whatever takes my fancy from week to week....So stay tuned and get involved.

It seem the press has gone natural hair crazy since Viola Davis made a huge impact at the Oscars with her short natural hair it seems the everyone from the Daily Mail to the hello magazine online are talking about black women's naturally curly hair.

The newest poster girl is Thandie Newton who some will know earlier in the year gave an exclusive interview to her friend and make up artist Kay Montano on forgoing chemical relaxers for her natural hair, her main reason being for the sake of her two young daughters who's hair she admits to keeping 'wild and scruffy' and she talks of wanting to be a role model or should we say 'hair' model for her children.

though this has been discussed on many blogs and forums I have never discussed how important your relationship with your hair effects your children's relationship with their hair on Natural Belle

Many parents I know refuses to let there child straighten or relax their hair, and have told be me they hope that their child will never result to chemical relaxers, however some of these woman choose to relax their own hair or constantly wear a weave which is their choice but the double standard is there for us all to see. we all want the best for our children so how come that best is not what you wish for yourself?

so what say you mummies (& dads)? share your thoughts and stories about your hair and your child's hair.....please comment below (non parents feel free to comment)

Thandie Newton & Daugthers

Arlenis Sosa for Desigual

The Desigual spring collection is all bright and colourful and has me begging for a tropical climate! the gorgeous Arlenis is doing nothing to sooth my mood.......Wash board tummy anyone?
check out the full collection here

27 February 2012

Esperanza Spalding Performs @ 84th Annual Academy Awards

Now this dress is perfect! and her purple lips look amazing

Octavia Spencer @ 84th Annual Academy Awards

Octavia looked amazing in this white sequinned number by Tadashi Shoji to collect her best supporting actress award for the The Help (she was the best thing in that movie) the dress fit her like a glove and loved how the sequins helped to enhance her gorgeous curves.