jaimes

This is my very good friend Lynn Rivera. We met in Virginia Beach while working at the same hair salon called Wink. Lynn is from Atlanta and she recently moved back. I am beyond excited that she and her family are here, mostly because we get to hang out all the time. But also because she’s my hair stylist. My hair and I really, really missed her. (more…)

Johanna Fateman is a major creator. She lends her voice and synth talents to Le Tigre and produces the band Men. Don’t let the freedom loving, zany dance antics of Le Tigre fool you into thinking Johanna is all play and no game; this mama is one smart cookie who has successfully carved out a career as an artist, business owner, writer, musician and mother. (more…)

It’s very hot these days, and that’s a problem for me for two reasons.

1. As my friend Patti said, Atlanta summers always make her feel half-dead. Well put. I totally agree. I am barely alive as I write this.

2. It’s hard to look good in this intense heat. Unless, you’re a fan of sweaty faces, frizzy hair, and shorts. I personally have a problem with all three.

Being a natural problem solver and self-appointed expert on everything, I’ve decided to offer up some summer fashion tips. Here are four looks I’ll be alternating this hellish summer.

The Atlanta Uniform
This is me wearing the Atlanta uniform, otherwise known as a cute mini-dress and cowboy boots. I don’t have an issue with moms and mini-skirts or whatever. Just don’t wear tight dresses. They make me think of old school Mariah Carey, something we’re all trying to forget. My dress is from Target, and the boots are from Urban Outfitters in San Francisco. The photo was taken by my son, who took one look at the photo and said, “I think this one is perfect.”

photo by Holden, age 4

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photo by Horst 1940

I was a Chic jeans girl back in the day, you know the skinny jeans with the little slits by the ankles? Rad. But I remember my step-mom being all about Gloria Vanderbilt. Those curvaceous dark blue jeans with the swan logo. Yes, Vanderbilt is the woman we all have to thank for mom jeans. (more…)

A Day of Beauty is a volunteer event that offers free hair, nail, makeup and massage services for special needs children and their teachers from Atlanta public schools. This is year seven for this amazing event, organized annually by Gloria Owczarski. I attended this year’s Day of Beauty to lend a hand and take some photos. I knew this would be a fun experience, but it was even better than I expected. (more…)

Ever feel like you were born in the wrong decade? As soon as I was old enough to attempt my own “style” (somewhere after Chic jeans and before senior portraits), I looked to the past for inspiration. Louise Brooks, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Katherine Hepburn, these were my style icons. No I was not popular in school. I grew up in Virginia Beach, where Roxy rules the day, dude. No offense to my surfer friends, Roxy has some seriously cute dresses, and surf shops will forever remind me of home. But I was not a surfer girl. Probably has something to do with not liking the water, swimming, or tanning.

Of course, my fashion lens to the past may have something to do with the decades I grew up in: the mid 70s to the 90s, probably the worst style decades, ever. We went from bell bottoms to shoulder pads to oversized t-shirts that said, “Can’t Touch This” in neon letters. By contrast, the styles of the 1920s up through the 60s and a bit of the 70s pretty much kick ass. By the way, 80s fashion is considered “vintage” now, so those of us who grew up watching Punky Brewster can feel really old right now. (more…)