myretroperspective

A little lash and flutter can transform your holiday look into instant glam. Remember the Hollywood starlets of the 1960’s? Lashes, hair, haute gowns—the girly girl look? Well, it’s back and now you can have the same dramatic effect with individual lash enhancements that make your lashes look thicker, fuller and longer in minutes. To pull off the “look,” it’s all about personality! To get my haute look, I consulted Master Eyelash Stylist, Eryn Renee; she added individual lashes underneath my lash line creating instant “Wow!” It took less than an hour to apply, but the results are HAUTE. The lashes can last up to two weeks. But for best results avoid getting your lashes wet within the first 48 hours.   Haute Tip: If the lash can touch your eyebrow, it’s too long. Are you a lash girl?

I’m PASSIONATE about travel, writing, life, ART, design, my loves, my friends and family. I DREAM bigger because I don’t know how not to. PASSION makes me crazy but there really isn’t any other way for me to LIVE. I attract those into my life who are on the same path of fulfillment, passion, DESTINY and giving. My IMAGINATION is my greatest teacher. My VISION for my life pales in comparison to the one the universe has for me. I take risks because that’s how I GROW. I learn from my mentors, life and career coaches that I am more POWERFUL than I know. I pass on my lessons to others because it’s the price I pay for SUCCESS. I know that the people who INSPIRE and motivate me to take risks are really offering me a clue as to what my DESTINY has in store. I am a friend of COURAGE so that I can live my own TRUTH. I believe that FATE is taking me where I’m suppose to be. I’m the peace and comfort that someone else seeks. When he CHALLENGED me to do something ambitious… I never hesitated; I...

The Kim Kardashian lip is the haute new way to pucker up. Kardashian reportedly wears Mac’s “Angel” and Nar’s “Turkish Delight” to achieve her pinky lips. When I wanted to achieve a similar lip, I consulted Atlanta-based celebrity makeup artist and esthetician Eryn Renee, known for her application of extreme and individual lashes.   Eryn Renee used various shades of nude with a medium brown lip liner to achieve my Kardashian-inspired lips. Focusing on a three-dimensional contrast, she applied Mac’s “Siss” as my base and “Myth” on the inside of the lip. To get this look, it took less than a minute. She also added individual lashes to draw attention to a darker eye, but stopped short of giving me the Kardashian signature smoky eye… we’re saving that for another post. Haute Tip: Use Two Faced Lip Insurance to keep the lipstick in place. Do you love the Kim Kardashian nude lip?

Sometimes it’s good to break away with one of your great girlfriends just to chat, laugh and repeat! One of my favorite things to do is meet a friend for a brainstorm or “Mastermind” session as Monique puts it to talk about projects, passions or ideas. Since we’re both independent business women, we understand that your network impacts your “net worth.”   Therefore, we headed to a haute spot in Atlanta called Sip… The Experience , an urban lifestyle and coffee lounge in the Lindberg area. It’s fresh, fly and hip and just the place for a meetup or Haute Travels Blog Chat. So over a cup of designer coffee and caramel cake, we created the concept for a Haute Travels event! So stay tuned! Where's your favorite haute spot to meetup with a friend?

There’s no doubt that BMW is the ultimate driving machine. I joined a select group of who’s who in Atlanta for a ride and drive event at the $12 million BMW Performance Driving School in South Carolina courtesy of BMW and UpTown Magazine. We hit the tracks in teams of two and tested each of the new offerings by BMW for 2011. The crowd favorite by far—the new 5 Series. The updated model is a little larger, but some would say smaller visually. The 3.0-liter twin power turbocharged 535i is not for the girls who like to steer but rather those who like to drive. The car offers smooth acceleration with the power to match. After testing the new 535i on a series of obstacles courses where the rubber really meets the road… the BMW was nothing short of impressive. I will never drive my 5 series the same again. The handling, breaking and sheer power of the 535i is HAUTE! I was impressed and wanted to upgrade all at the same time. The new 535i has an adequate amount of torque that takes on just ab...

What’s on my mind today—Paris! I find that I’m waking up everyday thinking about the City of Light. So that tells me one thing… it’s time to go back. But this time, I have something new in mind as I plan my next escape to a place that’s often felt like home. I’ve spent a great deal of time in the most fashionable and creative city on the planet over the years. Yes, it really is all that.   Now that I’ve adapted this global view of the world and how I fit into it, I’ve decided to host a group of fashionable, intelligent, travel-loving women who believe in giving back. So I’m planning a trip that will involve a fashion twist with a visit to local charities… along with social gatherings that bring together black designers, fashion photographers and other members of the Paris’ who’s who among professionals of color or not of color, just cool people… many happen to be my friends. My wish for this exclusive, yet personal trip—that every girl gets to see Paris as I’ve seen it. A place tha...

When it comes to travel… it’s my thing. And with that comes the opportunity to visit various destinations, properties, restaurants and spas as a guest. Generally, I’m expected to capture a story and tell others about my experience. I write a lot and often I contribute articles without compensation because I love what I do. When I decided to pick a spot for a girlfriends brunch story idea… I decided to reach out to Concentrics and highlight one of their restaurants in Virginia Highland. So I invited a group of professional women to join me at Murphy’s on Sunday. Little did we know that what could have been a great experience was about to become a rude awakening. When I arrived at Murphy’s half the party was there and another woman ran late because of “mommy stuff.” But never-the-less we expected a great afternoon of networking and chatting about ways to support one another’s passions and businesses. During the course of our visit there were some things that the restaurant could have don...

French Hat Maker Lou Mistraou creates couture hats made by hand in Provence, France for the girls who understand how to wear—haute headgear. He could be the last of the “most prestigious” hat makers in the region dating back five generations in the area of La Rochelle. Therefore, to acquire a Mistraou was a dream come true for me. Stepping out on a whim, Mistraou created a hat that would battle the violent icy air that often comes with extremely cold winter months like those in Provence. He created “the Mistral,” a hat much like the people in Provence, “whimsical and impetuous.” Thus was born Lou Mistraou, named after the wind that has inspired it. Mistraou says, “The mistral cultivates paradoxes, but one thing is for sure, when the wind starts blowing, you better protect yourself!” As a woman who travels the globe, I understand the need to stay warm and fashionable at the same time during extremely cold winters like those in the Midwest. I absolutely love the vibrancy of my Mistral… ...

Fall has officially arrived and there’s no time like the present for a beauty transformation. I decided to make my dark chestnut colored hair pop with color. So I headed to William David Salon in Buckhead and put my tresses in the hands of Celebrity Hair Stylist and Owner Bill Murphy. Yes, that Bill Murphy! He’s worked with some of the most beautiful women in the world from Victoria’s Secret fashion show super models to celebrities from every corner of the globe. When I arrived at the salon, Murphy and his team spent a lot of time examining my hair, lifestyle and personality. After making a few suggestions, we agreed on tobacco colored hair with a splash of red and copper low lights.   Murphy introduced me to the Italian product line called Davines. I was pleasantly surprised at the rich color options and absolutely loved the outcome following a wash and deep conditioning. The product is amazing and my hair even smelled as good as it looked.   Murphy is also a master at the “z...