Learn from the Masters

Hey Make-up Gurus,

We are excited to tell you the VirtuousBlue Youtube channel is in the works (http://youtube.com/user/VirtuousBlue) . With make-up application you can read all day long, but sometimes you just need to see it...well, at least I know I do (shout out to all my visual learners!!!). While we're prepping for that, we'd like to show you one of the artists we admire and learn from via Youtube. We call this segment "Youtube: Look of the Week".

This look is brought to you by Nireyna. She's an amazing artist from the Ukraine. Nireyna is a trained make-up artist and it shows in her attention to detail. In addition to youtube, she has her own website http://www.beautyart.com.ua/ where she has photos of her work.

Check out the footage and tell us what you think.

Keep it Blue!!!

Got Etsy???

Hey Bluetiful Ones!!!

If you haven't ventured into Etsy yet, it is a must. Etsy is an amazing site that gives local designers a national audience. If you're looking for exclusive items, then Etsy is definitely the place for you.

For our first Etsy.com highlight, we'd like to introduce you to NSTYLEVINTAGE.

Vintage clothes are an amazing way to build a wardrobe on a budget. Mixing the old with the new can do wonders when it comes to creating your very own unique style. Thrift store shopping is a talent in itself, but thanks to the convenience of the net, a place like NSTYLEVINTAGE makes it easier by bringing these very Blue finds to you.

Here are some things that are very chic:

$39.00
Try this FAB dress with a cinched waist belt to show off the curves (refer to "OUR BLUE CENTS" located in B&W cont.) post or to bring in a pop of color. Or keep it casual with an funky shoe, like a nice ankle boot.

$34.00

Spring is in the air with this floral skirt. This bold piece can be paired with any solid top and neutral shoe. Throw in a bangle and you have yourself a to-die-for ensemble.

$31.00

I know this is out of the box for many, but trust me, this boot with a skinny jean and fitted tee/button-up and a casually wrapped scarf is a great way to add a little drama to a simple look.(refer to "OUR BLUE CENTS" located in B&W cont. post)

This shop has so many great finds, and they add new items regularly. Visit NSTYLEVINTAGE at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5189874 .

Keep it BLUE!!!

Favorite Things...

Hey Lovelies,

When trying to master your personal image, the right products can make the world of difference. Here are some products that we can't live without. If you're planning on making some beauty purchases in the near future, you just might want to consider these...

Hair:

Conair's Yellow Bird Hair Dryer. If you have hair, especially natural hair for my African-American ladies, you need this blow dryer. It does half the work for you in the straightening process.

http://www.amazon.com/Conair-YB075-Yellow-Bird-Dryer/dp/B000O9R8FM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1206329438&sr=1-1

Fragrance:

Marc Jacob's Daisy. This perfume is femininity in a bottle. I'm not a floral person, but this is the perfect mix of light floral and vanilla. All it takes is one sniff. It"ll change your life.

http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P191858&categoryId=B70

Beauty:

MAC's Pro Longlash. Everyone wants long luxurious lashes, unfortunately, we all weren't born with them. If you're like me and suffer from "short, straight lash" syndrome MAC has created the cure. Pro Longlash does exactly what the name suggests, it give you the longest lashes ever.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/mp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY15102

To show our complete list of favorite items would probably create a post that's longer than a dissertation. This post only listed a few things, but we'll come back sporadically with great updates. Send us a comment if you have any questions or concerns about any item that we listed. Also feel free to offer suggestions of your own. What's one of your favorite things?

Keep It BLUE!!!

Black & White Day Cont.

Hey bluetiful ones. So as promised, we have the update from Teneasha's birthday extravaganza. We revisited the "black and white challenge" that we did with our friends years ago, however, this time around we decided to skimp the "challenge" part and make it a "black and white expression" day. It was agreed that alleviating the idea of it being a competition would make the whole thing much more enjoyable. When we did this challenge years ago, we all pretty much looked the same (blazers and denim jeans). We were all in agreement that each one of us has definately matured fashion wise & have embraced our individuality. It was interesting to see how we all essentially used the same colors, but used different ways to interpret our own style. Here's a few pics from the evening. Feel free to tell us what you all think....

"The Preparation":Kenya giving Ndidi golden eyes and classic red lips.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - The addition of eye catching make up color is a great way to set off a neutral toned outfit.

"The Pre-show": Michelle sporting a turtle neck, plaid shorts, and knee high leather stiletto boots.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - Don't want to go overboard with your outfit? Then keep it simple and let a great pair of shoes do all the talking.

"Strike a pose!": Kenya serving it in a black pencil skirt, a patterned black & white blouse, and a fitted pea coat.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - a great fit goes a long way (not unbearably tight, but not overwhelmingly baggy either). It's the best way to accentuate the features you love and camouflage the ones that you don't.

"Lights, Camera, Action!": Latoya posing for flicks in long wide legged slacks, a black blouse, and a funky waist belt.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - longer slacks give the illusion of long legs, which is a great way to add a little height for some of us who are vertically challenged ;-)

"Showtime": Ndidi & Teneasha ready to do some show stopping. Ndidi is wearing a white jersey dress with black leggings, and Teneasha is wearing a black cocktail dress with a black and white waist belt.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - A thick waist belt is a great way to accentuate the curves and give that much desired "hour glass" shape.

"Encore!": Ndidi, Kenya, and Krystina before entering the bistro. Krystina is wearing a black trench dress and classic white pearls.

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - As noted by Krystina's lovely pearls, and Ndidi's funky clutch, accessories can add a great flare to any outfit.

"Blackout": All of the ladies, all of gifts, and all of the food...and we're just getting started!

*OUR BLUE CENTS* - What's the best part of fashion? Doing you...and having fun while you're at it! So feel free to try out a little challenge/expression day with some of your friends, and just let your creative juices flow. Beauty is all about self expression...so by all means, EXPRESS yourself!

Our Humble Apologies...

Greetings Family...

We apologize for not having a post in over a week. Life is crazy!!! But bear with us, because we have some big things in store (we've planned some hot posts with pictures, videos and "the works"). Who woulda thought that takes so much time???

While we at Virtuous Blue try to get it together please visit some of our role models in the beauty blog world (see our side panel "These Blogs...So Blue").

Don't forget about us though..we'll be back with something fresh in a day or two.

Peace, Blessings, and Blueness!!!

Fashion Challenge: Black and White Day

Hey!!!

A couple years ago we began to have fashion challenges with our friends. It’s simple but it’s a fun way to motivate you to stretch your fashion limits. Our fashion challenges come in two forms we either “do us” and you can wear whatever you want just make it extremely fly and it must represent your personal style. Or we add some limitations, for example: We had a fashion challenge we call “Black and White” day where you have to express yourself through black and white clothes and accessories only.

Below is a picture from the first time, rather generic huh? No worries, since then we have all grown leaps and bounds in developing our own style.

We have decided to bring Black and White day back for Teneasha’s 23rd birthday next weekend. Do something fun this month, have a Black and White day with your friends, or another fashion challenge. Let us know what you come up with and we’ll post pictures of how we did Black and White day this time around.

Here are some cute Black and White finds…and as always keep it BLUE.

(from left to right) (row 1) 1. http://www.bebe.com/ Patent “It” belt $59 2. http://www.forever21.com/ Sequenced Knit Dress $19.80 (row 2) 3. http://www.forever21.com/ Tuxedo Peep Toe $19.80 4. http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/ Volcom Living the Life Jacket $78.00 (row 3)5. http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/ Lux Dirty Skinny Jean $68.00 6. http://www.lulus.com/ One Cool Cat-eye Sunglasses $9.00

Monday's Blues...Still here on Tuesday

Do weekends exist? One minute I'm doing my happy dance because Friday is here and the next minute my alarm clock is sounding and Monday has reared its head again. Monday's are a dreaded day, for many its a symbol of the end of freedom that the weekend seems to grant us. It's Tuesday and the feeling of wanting to sleep the day away is unshakable. I thought of writing a happy blog about the joys of blush and lipgloss, but I have to be honest, cosmetics and a hot outfit is not going to make me feel beautiful. Why not? Beauty begins within. Outward appearance is a reflection of internal feelings. Beauty begins with confidence, it effects your posture, facial expressions, and your overall presence.

When I feel less than confident, less than beautiful...there are a few things I do to lift my spirits and I thought it would be helpful to share them with you. One is a personal affirmation. Affirmations are statements that "affirm" who you are, and they are especially useful when life"s issues make you forget. Look in the mirror and repeat the following affirmation as many times as necessary until you begin to remember these things are true.

Today's Affirmation
This week will be an amazing week and it starts TODAY. I love myself. I love myself enough to ensure my happiness. The issues I'm facing will soon be small details of a testimony of great success. I am gorgeous, intelligent, and important to the betterment of the world, not because the media said so, not because my friends said so, but because I KNOW so. Today I'll let me inner confidence shine through my smile and people will look at me and see that TODAY is a new day. I am an inspiration and today I inspire myself.

Affirmations are one of many ways to shake away the "Monday Blues", share with us how you overcome these moments. Together we will make sure everyday is a BLUE day.

Black is Blue-tiful

The Introduction of Virtuous Blue just so happened to fall on February 29th, the last day of Black History Month. Although February isn't the only month that African and African American accomplishments should be recognized, Virtuous Blue deemed it necessary to pay a tribute to our gorgeous ancestors who’ve always incorporated vibrant colors, bold makeup, and wonderful headdresses in their interpretation of fashion, beauty, and culture.

Come with us as we travel through time to the amazing continent of Africa to see how we’ve maintained a significant portion of our external appearance while influencing others. There were queens such as Cleopatra and Nefertiti rocking the winged eyeliner look waaay before pin-up models showcased it's popularity in the 40s' and 50s', and lightyears before Amy Whinehouse strutted her stuff with sultry cat eyes and declared her rejection of rehab.

The concept of "bling bling" is by no means a new one. Cultural references from the past show that Black style has always been flashy, vibrant, noticeable, influential, and has always been BLUE. Here are some ways to take some classic looks and incorporate them into your style by adding a modern twist.

AFRICAN FASHION

GET THE LOOK



(From left to right)

(row 1) 1. Maasai Beaded Bracelet $10.00 http://www.oohboutique.com/ 2. Fafi look http://www.maccosmetics.com/ (row 2) 3. Cote Minou http://coteminou.blogspot.com/ all orders custom made avg. $150.00

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

(From left to right)
(row 1) 1. Fulani Earrings Medium- $22.00 Large-$27.00 http://www.oohboutique.com/ 2. Women's Printed Scarf Bags $19.50 http://www.oldnavy.com/ (row 2) 3. Women's 2007 ONE Campaign T-Shirt By EDUN $40.00 http://store.one.org/tshirts.aspx 4. Cynthia Steffe Colorful Dress $48.00http://www.theurbancollection.com/(individual vintage pieces...get it fast)

The options that we listed in this post are affordable for the working woman (or even the broke college student) and offer flexibility, however, you can certainly duplicate these looks in so many other ways. Feel free to have fun with it and add your own flare. Our belief at Virtuous Blue is that "beauty is endless"...so why limit yourself?

Thanks for reading…Keep it BLUE!!!