Summer Nails

Hello ladies! Another one for the summertime. Look at your nails. What color are they? Same boring colors you've been wearing all winter? That one shade you found that you thought was hot for the spring and now you're stuck in a rut? Cut that out! Add some flava to your nails with these hot summer colors!

1. Magenta

Magenta is one of those colors that comes in a variety of shades. It can range from an almost fuschia color to a near purple. Even though the near purple is on the darker side, it's still a great color for the summer. I wore it for my college graduation and it matched perfectly with my dress and earrings. Here are some choices:

                         

1. Sally Hansen, Magenta Motion; 2. Milani, Magenta Metal; 3. OPI Ladies & Magenta-Men

2. Electric Yellow

A HOT color for the summer. It's bright and fun and different. It's catching on quickly so don't expect to be the only one wearing it. Both Rihanna and model Karrueche Tran were wearing it in New York City at the same time. But if you're looking to add some pizazz to your look, this is the color.

1. Deborah Lippmann, Yellow Brick Road; 2. China Glaze, Yellow Polka Dot Bikini; 3. NARS, Bright Yellow

3. Orange

Orange is another fun, pop color. I know when my nails are orange and I look at my hands I'm always pleasantly surprised. My mom is obsessed with bright orange nail polish. It makes me feel so Miami, if that makes any sense. And the brighter the better. 

1. Essie, Orange, It's Obvious!; 2. China Glaze, Orange Knockout; 3. OPI, Atomic Orange

4. Turquoise/Mint

Another Miami feel good color. This is bright and tropical. It always makes me think of the blue island waters. Bring a taste of the Caribbean to your nails with these polish shades.

1. Essie, Turquoise & Caicos; 2. pop Beauty, Turquoise; 3. Maybelline, Timely Turquoise

Those are my summer color must-haves. I know I need to go grab a new turquoise and some bright yellow. What are colors do you plan to try this summer? 

Summer Hair for the Curlies

Summer is officially underway and with the constant changing of the temperature (90s one day 70s the next), us curly girls need a way to keep our heads cool, while still looking like we cared in the morning.  It's definitely about to be a scorcher this weekend, so here are a few hairstyles that I approve of to keep the hair off the neck and out the way:

1. The Retro-Pinup

This look is not at all hard to achieve. I've done it a couple of times, usually styled with a modern outfit, red lip, and red nails to give it both an old school and new school vibe. This video shows how to achieve a version of this look.

2. The Grecian Up-Do

THIS. Last summer, while my hair was flat-ironed, this was go to when my edges were all sweated out. I will be returning to it this summer with my curly hair. The flat-twist is my very best friend. It's not just great for a twist out style, but awesome for keeping the edges down without all that obsessive brushing.

3. The Rihanna

This winter while Rih was on vacation enjoying the sun and sand, sipping wine, and lightin' an L, I was in my dorm room like "How did she get her hair to do that???" I didn't realize how absolutely simple it was. A fresh take on the ponytail and off the neck (thank you sweet baby Jesus). No tutorial is needed for this. Literally just take her wash-n-go, twist out, braid out, bantu-knot out, whatever and gather it all at the top or front of your head like you're pineappling. Adjust as you like. Pin up the back if it creates a smoother look. Red lips and low eyes and you're good to go. 

4. The Bun

My all time favorite. The bun. It can be done on any hairstyle, in any way that is convenient for the curly girl. The bun is so versatile. It can be styled with any clothing, any makeup and always look high fashion and chic. You can worry about those edges or say to hell with them. It can be messy or polished. Doesn't matter. The hair is off the face and off the neck. My favorite bun tutorial is done by Shanti of Around the Way Curls (HERE).

What's your favorite summer hairstyle? Do you have a style that I missed? 

What to Wear to... A Barbecue

Barbecue season is here! That means cookouts in the park, backyard, on the terrace if that's allowed. Food. Drinks. Music. Food. Family. Friends. Did I mention food? All ingredients of a good ol' time. But what about fashion? Often times I go to a cookout and I'm looking at the women thinking "What are you wearing?" or "That's cute. But why are you wearing that?" So I put some cookout/barbecue outfit ideas together to get a sense of what I would wear or what is mostly acceptable to wear for this particular event.

OUTFIT #1

Shorts, Tee, Bag, Necklace, Slip-ons

This is the most comfortable and probably most practical barbecue outfit you can put together. A pair of cutoff shorts mixed with a fitted tee screams casual and ready for fun. For the fashionistas, add a cute and eclectic animal print handbag. A slip on shoe brings back the casual, while the gold locket gives a bit of flavor to the plain tee.

OUTFIT #2 

Scarf, Tank, Earrings, Belt, Skirt, Shades, Purse, Sandals

This is for the more fashion conscious cookout goer. It's for the woman who wants to make a statement without doing too much. I started with the yellow lace skirt. The yellow is a nice vibrant color for the summer and the lace is definitely a huge summer fashion trend. Pair it with a white tank or any other vibrant color such as green, coral or pink. Create definition around the waist with a skinny black belt. Remember that head wrap I talked about? Do it! Wrap your hair with that zigzag print scarf. A crossbody bag leaves you hands free so you can hold that cup and your burger. The look is dressed up by the earrings in case you want to go out for drinks after and dressed down by the flat black sandals. Add wayfarer shades and you're ready to go.

OUTFIT #3  

Necklace, Ring, Bangle, Bracelets, Dress, Wedges

Okay. So I don't usually condone wearing heels to a cookout. But if you MUST please wear wedges. Wearing stilettos just doesn't make sense, especially if you plan on being in a dirt ridden area. This look is more for the woman who will be inside the apartment and not on the terrace. Or for a fancier barbecue event. I started with the simple turquoise drawstring dress. It's bright and light weight. Perfect for summer. The rest of the outfit is all about the accessories. Bright colored wedges, a parrot ring and wing chain bring a tropical vibe to the outfit, while the wooden bangle and peach beaded bracelets add a touch of earth. You'll look Brazilian carnival ready. This is definitely for the woman looking to make a statement, but still be in the realm of appropriate for the barbecue.

So there you have it. Three summertime fine outfits for a cookout. Personally, I'm all for outfits #1 & #2. I could see myself wearing #1 if I'm just going to the cookout and trying to have fun. I could wear #2 if I have plans after the cookout. It's a great transition outfit. 

Which one would you wear? Are you the traditional shorts, sneakers and tee type chick or the skirt and sandals lady? Do you wear heels to the barbecue or is that just over the top?

Hair of the Day

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This is Lauren from D.C. Her hair is all sorts of lovely and big. It looks like a twist out. Werk!! 

The Handbag

So I want to discuss a topic that has been on my mind for a little while now. Handbags. I don't carry bags. I have a few bags in my possession: my school bag, a satchel, a olive green shoulder bag, an old Juicy Couture purse, and my go to party/hang out/everything under the sun crossbody purse. But I need more bags. I definitely don't have enough. But how do I know when enough is enough?

I think to myself, "Ok. I need a black bag, a white bag and a brown bag." But then I think, "I need all three of those colors in various shapes and sizes." Then I start thinking, "Oh! Look at that turquoise bag! It comes in yellow, coral and pink! That's perfect for the summer!" Then it turns into, "I don't have a beach bag... I need a beach bag... yea, get a beach bag." But I end up with no bags so that I don't overindulge. It's a little crazy. A lot crazy honestly. The biggest problem I have is finding good quality bags without spending a ton of money. I would love to buy Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors, but to be perfectly honest, I'm a recent college graduate who can't afford it at the moment. Maybe some years from now. Shoot maybe even by the end of the summer. But not now. So I have to buy on a budget, which right now means looking at everything, deciding I need everything and buying nothing. Ugh. Such is life.

My (18-25) dream bag

Ladies, how do you deal with shopping on a budget? I know that there are women out there like me. Don't make me think I'm alone! Lol. But seriously, how do I make the decision to go ahead and buy something I know I need and just stop at that? Shopping gurus let me know! 

To Make-Up or Not to Make-Up

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I was reading an interview that Jihan over at Fashion Bomb Daily did with renown celebrity makeup artist and creative makeup director of Fashion Fair, Sam Fine. One of her questions was "What is the biggest beauty mistake women of color make all the time?" Fair question. I thought the response would be something like not knowing the correct shade of foundation to use. Or wearing eyeshadow and lipstick shades that don't complement their complexion. Uh uh. Fine's response was:

"I think the biggest beauty mistake is really not wearing makeup... I think the biggest beauty mistake is not understanding how to enhance your beauty."

"Oh no he didn't!" was my response. I'm not a woman who wears makeup. I don't have powder, concealer or foundation sitting on my dresser. I do have eyeshadow, lipstick, eyeliner and mascara. But all that stuff to beat my face with... uh uh. Nope. Not me. I wear eyeliner when I go out the house. It just makes my eyes pop more. But the other stuff is more for going out to do things. Not just because I left my house or because I'm going to class. It's just not me. Blush and powders and all those fancy things make my face itch. I have very sensitive skin, so anything outside of moisturizer, soap, water and my daily scrub (all of which has to be very specific) will make my face break out and itch like crazy. So no Sam Fine, I'm not about to risk my beauty to so-called enhance my beauty. I like my face the way it is... mostly. Concealer isn't going to make my blemishes disappear. It's just going to conceal them. I'd rather show you me than some made up me. 

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking the females who wear makeup. I know that there is makeup that will make women look like they're not wearing a damn thing. Some of my friends wear makeup daily and no one even knows they're wearing it. That's great for them. Just not my cup of tea. I don't want to be a slave to makeup. I get a tan and then have to worry about this $20 bottle of concealer matching my new complexion? Uh uh. Stressing about the world seeing my unbeaten face? I refuse.

So while I respect all the women who wear makeup and all the makeup artist who work so hard to make women of color look like natural goddesses, I'm going to stick to my eyeliner and flavored Chapstick as my daily routine. 

Women, how do you feel about makeup? Do you wear it daily? Do you have a routine? Or are you like me and all "to hell with that mess"? If so, what are your reasons?

Restaurant Review: Penelope

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So a couple of weekends ago I had Sunday brunch at this place called Penelope with a few of my girls. It’s located on 159^th and Lexington Avenue (30^th Street) in NYC. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. I would call the cuisine traditional American. They do serve alcoholic beverages. Breakfast is served from 8am – 11:45am; brunch is served til 4 on Saturday and Sunday; Monday thru Friday lunch & dinner is served from 12pm-11pm and Saturday and Sunday from 4:15pm to 11pm. There is also a bakery with very pretty desserts. My friends squealed at the sight of the cupcakes. They do not accept reservations and do not do private parties. It is a pretty small and homey space so probably not the best place for a private party anyway. On to the review:

The food: I ordered their BBLT: bacon, balsamic mayo, lettuce and tomato. I’m not one for condiments on my sandwiches but I decided to try the balsamic mayo. Surprisingly, I really liked it! It had this bit of tang without being too overwhelming. It didn’t overpower the bacon, which I liked. The bacon was just the right amount of crispy and soft. It could have been softer for me because I had a bad toothache, but on a normal day it would be perfect. Everyone knows how particular I am about my bacon, so this was a pleasant part of the sandwich.

The drinks: I ordered a mimosa for myself and we all shared 2 pitchers of sangria. Don’t judge us! I wasn’t thrilled over my mimosa. There was pulp in the orange juice and I hate pulp. I should have asked before ordering. Also it was warm. I’m not a fan of warm alcoholic drinks. The sangria on the other hand was perfect! It was cold and refreshing. There were little pieces of fruit in it. The pitcher made me feel like we were outside in the backyard with homemade lemonade. They even had a wooden spoon in it! The presentation and taste were A quality.

The décor: This place… It was just so cute! It had a “cottage-by-the-sea” feel to it. Everything looked very vintage, but like Maine vintage. The tables were reinvented writing desks. Clever right? Our table had a drawer where past patrons wrote little notes on napkins and receipts and hid them in the drawer for people to find. We added to that little collection.

The service: A-mazing! We got there around 3:15 fully aware that brunch ends at 4pm. There was definitely a wait because, duh, it was Sunday. However, the hostess was very mindful of our desire to be seated for brunch and got us in just in time. I was all ready to have dinner and just be satisfied with that, but the fact that she got us in for brunch gave them bonus points. Our waiter was so cute, and so nice and so helpful. We’re a pretty indecisive and silly group of women so we know how difficult we can be. But he was all “Sure!... Another pitcher of sangria? Of course!... Anything else I can get for you ladies?” all with a smile on his face. He even shouted after us when my friend forgot her doggy bag. He was awesome!

I have to say I would love to go back. And I definitely encourage others to go, especially if you like homestyle food, quirky décor and lovely service.

Have you been to Penelope? What was your experience like? What are some other brunch spots in NYC?  

The Head Wrap

Now that I'm fully committed to wearing my hair curly and styled in these natural styles for the summer, I want to try something new once it gets a bit warmer. The head wrap. I never thought I would be so intrigued by the head wrap, but thanks to the ladies over at Around the Way Curls, I'm all "Where can I get these scarves?! And how do I do that??" So I'm committed. But problem #1: Where do I get thin scarves that will let my head breathe but keep my hair out of my face and off my neck during the weekends? I went and did some research, because I know some of you are asking the same question. Here's what I found:

 

           

Forever21 Sheer Frayed Scarf $8.80

H&M Satin Scarf w/ Printed Pattern $9.95

UO Basic Solid Wrap $18

Here are some hairstyles to help you show off your bright summer head wraps.

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A little something for all the urban girls. I'm gonna buy a scarf and wrap my head once it gets warmer. Have you tried the head wrap? How do you wrap your hair? Leave a picture in the comments section!

Princess of China

The Caribbean Queen, Rihanna, ditches her nipple baring tops and 80s grunge attire for some geisha/samurai gear in Coldplay's "Princess of China".

I love her verse:

Once upon a time, we burned bright

Now all we ever seem to do it fight

On and on...

And on and on and on...

Once upon a time on the same side.

Once upon a time on the same side, in the same game

And why'd you have to go, have to go and throw water on my flame

I could've been a Princess, You'd be a king

Could've had a castle, and worn a ring

But no, you let me go

And stole my star...

Let me know what you think of her outfit. I know I LOVE the geisha attire. She was working that scarf thing.

Hair of the Day

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This is Nia B. rockin' her Big Chop.

Short Hair Don't Care!

WELCOME!

Welcome to The Urban(e) Train, the blog dedicated to the young, sophisticated, urban female. My name is Richelle (and yes that's me pictured). I'm a New York girl (the South Bronx to be exact) transitioning from the rural area of Amherst, MA. I've had blogs in the past, but this blog caters to the public, sharing information I've gathered through my experiences for you all to utilize. With that said, I welcome suggestions on what you all would like to see and know. Music reviews, book reviews, movie reviews, life lessons, help with fashion & beauty, and most definitely hair. I am a natural girl (my hair is flat-ironed in the above picture) and I've always been natural. This is by no means a natural hair blog, but my natural hair experience will make an appearance. Take from it what you will. Hope you enjoy!