'Now Top That.'

'Don't Believe the Hype.'- Public Enemy

Before I go into the post, let me just offer this disclaimer:

I'm BIG on quality.

Be it experience, food, clothing, nail polish..whatever. I hate cheap shit and what I hate even more is overpriced cheap shit.

If you live in the City, you know we've been having a great weather streak (finally). So yesterday after work, I took a stroll down Broadway, en route to a one-year-anniversary party for one of my favorite blogs-StuffFlyPeopleLike.com. Having one hour to kill, I miraculously stumbled across the infamous UK retailer, 'Topshop' which I had been meaning to visit. There was a lot of hype surrounding the arrival of the superstore and I was anxious to find out why...

But after about five minutes, I discovered that the British think that Americans don't know the value of a dollar.

For one, the clothes were poorly made-given that, one would think the price-tag would coincide with the cheap-ass shit that was spread over three-floors of retail space, right? Nope. I saw a light blue denim mini skirt with ruffles. Kind of funky-but nothing spectacular. The material was lightweight and flimsy denim and nothing that you couldn’t pick-up from a regular ‘cheap-chick’ store like Rainbow or Strawberry. The retail value: $60.00.

I dropped that skirt like a hot bowl of grits. I couldn't’t believe it. H&M has better quality items than this Euro-trash and they would charge about 40% less for something very similar. This was totally not my idea of a proper British invasion.

I looked at a purple spandex-Lycra blend mini-$50.00. I put that bad boy right back on the rack, REAL quick. 'What the..F?' Was all I thought in dismay. Why were these pieces so much money? I can go home and hand-sew about 85% of these clothes. Were people really going ga-ga over this crap? Some of the things I saw were actually very cheesy-like the silver sequin leggings. The waistband looked like threads were popping out!

Then there was the jewelry...(sigh). A coral-colored shelled necklace that was a ‘V’ shape and covered the clavicle- I liked it, but didn't LOVE it. Again, I'm all about quality (or at least quality looking) items. Although the chain holding it together was the fakest gold I’d ever seen, the design and the shells made it worth trying it on. It looked good on me. Actually, maybe it was me that brought out the best in it. The retail price: $85.00. You already know what I did with that piece of crap.

Yea- these people really are sick.

The styles were trendy, glam, pop-ish but nothing THAT innovative. The fabrics were disappointing, the accessories were decent but not worth the price demand. You can actually buy a QUALITY piece from a boutique jeweler as opposed to some gigantic-fake gold hoops that'll stretch your earlobes to your shoulders. Or a necklace that'll turn your skin green. Now don't get me wrong-I WILL splurge on solid items, but not a skirt that will fall apart after two-washes.

I left 'Topshop'-very disappointed. There was nothing 'Top' about that place.

Finally, I met up with my friend who actually put me on to Stuffflypeoplelike.com and we made our way inside. I got to meet the 'Fly-Guys' who own and operate the site. The vibe was relaxed, open, and sociable. The guys were very hospitable-and VERY fly.

The guys were actually flyer than the girls...(another sigh).

Good time overall and a nice way to conclude a beautiful Monday evening in the streets of Soho. New York can be such a poetic place.

The city certainly has it's share of Fly and UNfly (TOPSHOP) places to frequent, clothes to wear, and people to meet. If you're going to spend your hard earned cash, or your precious time on a person, place or thing, make it worth it your efforts.

Live well!

'The Little Big Things'

'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.'

-Eleanor Roosevelt

This past weekend was Easter. Traditionally, like most Christian (and non-Christian) folks, I’d get dolled-up, go to church, hear the word, and go eat a hearty meal among family afterwards. This year it was a little different.


Ever since I was a little girl, I always had visions. Not really psychic visions, but visions of how I imagined the way I’d live my life. While many of these visions have either morphed into something else or were fleeting, there was always one that stuck. This modern, clean and comfortable two-story home with wall-to-wall carpeting; a sprawling kitchen; a living room with a big-cozy couch; scattered pieces of art from around the world; a few bathrooms; a Moroccan themed bedroom with an enormous bathroom and a walk in closet bursting with fabulous clothes; a sizeable green backyard with a patio; a 2.5 car garage…and a wonderful husband to share it with. For some reason, this dream in particular has been dormant yet unchanging.

The Poconos is a quaint part of Pennsylvania, roughly about 1.5 hours outside of Manhattan.
A new friend of mine (we’ll refer to her as ‘the hostess’), has a ‘getaway’ home out there; in addition to an awesome brownstone she owns and occupies in Crown Heights. She works with my close-friend, who in turn, invited me and another mutual (guy) friend to come spend the Easter weekend. This was a clear deviation from my pious routine for churchin’ but it sounded like a warm idea. Plus, I would get a decent meal, at least.

Early Sunday morning, we made our way out of the city and arrived at the Poconos by noon. It felt good as hell to get out of Brooklyn. I realized how much I missed seeing the trees and open land of rural parts of New York. (Prospect Park has nothing on the beauty of the countryside.) The Delaware Water Gap is mountanous with winding roads, connecting NY to PA (I think). My two friends and I always have a great time when we get together-mainly because we feel 100% comfortable with being who we are around each other- very important to me.

We arrived around noon. Her house was on a hill, situated in a cul-de-sac, where other property still seemed to be in development. When I walked into her house, that nostalgic childhood vision overcame me: Everything from the sunlight beaming into the kitchen and living areas, to the smell of potpourri and Glade scented candle wick and the wall-to-wall, beige carpeting. I embraced ‘the hostess’ and my eyes widened at the elegant simplicity and warmth of her abode. Even the small details like an oil on canvas painting on a kitchen wall sitting area overlooking the vast backyard, to the ‘Uptown Magazine’ I picked up among a spread of other leisurely black-interests magazines laying on various table tops, and even the three-pronged forks were what I envisioned in my future home. The simple elements made the space so warm and pleasurable.

We cooked, (well, they cooked but I washed a few plates) watched Tyler Perry movies, and shared inappropriate jokes in the spirit of Love. It’s been a while since I had a fabulous sit-down meal, so fulfilling, among friends and in a warm and welcoming place. It really was a Happy Easter.

‘The hostess’ is 42(?) established in her career, gorgeous, accomplished, married, with two boys and living her life comfortably. I’m a 23 year old gypsy that’s still climbing and in search of….something. And maybe she is too, but that’s another topic.

After dinner, I just sat on the sofa and reflected on that unchanging vision. This guy crush of mine hit me up just the day before (another highlight of my weekend) and I thought about the ‘husband’ part of my childhood fantasy. I could see myself in a place like this, with a man like him. He distanced himself from socialization (and me) in efforts to be ‘focused’ on completeing law-school-which I respect- but this visit to the Poconos just rekindled my sentimental thoughts & hopes of possibly being with him one day. I went into fantasy mode, visualizing him walking through the door like a smooth knight in shining armor, in his little business suit, giving me a juicy kiss on the cheek while I’m cooking some steak and potatoes.

I just smiled ..and sighed.

Not in love..just entertaining the possibilities.

But hey, I’m an optimist. If I can conceive it, and I believe it, then I can achieve it. (Sorry if this sounds like some fairytale book crap, but so what-I’m a PRINCESS, damnit.)

It’s amazing how some things in life one will always desire- and hopefully gain. The dreams that we have, no matter how big or small, are a preview to life’s coming attractions..they manifest if you never lose sight of the possibilities…