Black Woman in Space: Set Your Tivo to Watch "Virtuality" on FOX!

I know, I know...it's completely off-topic but rarely do we see a sci-fi show on TV that acknowledges that black women exist in the future so I'm excited. The premise sounds odd (see below) but I'm tired of watching old episodes of Firefly so I hope this can fill the void and Joy Bryant has a decent role. Unfortunately, the show is on FOX, which means that it will probably be canceled quickly.

The two-hour premiere airs on FOX on June 26th at 8 p.m.

From io9:

The crew of the Phaeton is approaching the go/no-go point of their epic 10-year journey through outer space. With the fate of Earth in their hands, the pressure is intense. The best bet for helping the crew members maintain their sanity is the cutting-edge virtual reality technology installed on the ship. It's the perfect stress-reliever until they realize a glitch in the system has unleashed a virus on to the ship. Tensions mount as the crew decides how to contain the virus and complete their mission. Meanwhile, their lives are being taped for a reality show back on Earth.

****On a side note, I haven't been posting much lately. My family and I are expecting another baby in August so the blog will probably be slow to update for awhile. There is plenty of good stuff to read on my blogroll, so please check out those links! Thanks!*******

Attack of the Wiggy Bangs

A comment in the last post got me thinking about something that I see quite often on the red carpet but was hesitant to bring up on this blog for two reasons. One, it's a hair police issue which can get heated sometimes and two, of the most recent perps are women that I just love: Joy Bryant and Kerry Washington

The issue is wiggy bangs.

Let me start by stating that I have nothing against a weave, a relaxer or a natural. I firmly believe that we are all sisters under the scalp even if some of us have chemical burns and track marks on ours.

Speaking as a person who in high school had a bi-level two toned jheri curl (technically it was a Wave Nouveau but it did just as much damage,) I simply cannot throw stones. To me, as long as a sister's hair is looking fly, I have no complaints.

But I cannot stand wiggy looking bangs. Bangs are tricky enough as it is. Really they are the follicular equivalent of those big ass sunglasses that skinny starlets were sporting two summers ago -- meaning that just because they are in style, that doesn't mean that you should sport them too.

On the wrong head bangs can make a woman's face look like a troll. If they are too long, a pot head; too short, and they make you look like an idiot who burned off her hair with a too hot curling iron.

This is complicated even more for full weave wearers. Choose the wrong texture and cut and suddenly those silky tresses look like rejected scraps from the Barbie wigging floor at Mattel. I'm talking lumpy, artificially shiny and fake as the friendships on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta."

Kelly Rowland' strikes a wiggy pose

That said, I'd take Barbie bangs over a crusty lace-front wig any day of the week. Seriously, some women (who shall remain nameless) are not even trying to hide that line of demarkation anymore *cough*Tyra*cough*.

It saddens me that I've seen Joy and Kerry sporting Barbie bangs recently. In the past I've tried to turn a blind eye but I had to get if off my chest:

Ladies, if your six year old god daughter has taken to hiding her dolls anytime you come around, it might be your bangs!

Please take those overwhelming bangs down and start over. Extension bangs can be done right but you might have to comparison shop or find a weaver with a special bang guarantee. Do this so you can just go back to being fabulous and I can go back to fawning.

I should add that bad bangs also afflict the weaveless and occasional piece wearer. A careful study of Jada Pinkett Smith reveals that her bang game has varying degrees of success and failure. You be the judge here:

Okay I'm done.

Joy Bryant in DOMINO - December/January 2009

For a magazine that touts itself as the "guide to living with style," this year's issues of Domino Magazine have been pretty dull. I was thumbing through my really old issues it seems the magazine has changed its original focus and caters more to professional designers and their ilk--making it less accessible in my view.

I mean just how many editorials can they put out featuring "reclaimed" $800 tree trunk end tables, Stark Louis "Ghost" chairs, coral book ends, garden stools and artfully placed $100+ coffee table books?

Also, I'm just never going to be the kind of girl that wants to make a conversation piece out of Hermes gift boxes. I tried it once with plastic bags from Bed, Bath, and Beyond but it just looked cheap no matter how many ways I tried to arranged them.

That said, unlike Vogue, Domino has had two black cover models this year and that ain't bad. Unfortunately, this month's cover girl (Joy Bryant) only has a single page inside the issue and on it, she talks about her favorite hotel room which coincidentally, contains a garden stool.

Sigh. I'm hoping they can get their mojo back in the coming year.

Joy Bryant in her Angela Missoni designed wedding gown

The actress married boyfriend, stuntman David Pope, in the Hamptons on June 28th at a private beachfront estate. The former model enjoys a close friendship with the designer. Bryant met her beau while filming Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.

Joy Bryant

Joy Bryant is another actress who's style I really admire. No matter how elegant the clothing she wears is, she always keeps the hair and makeup relatively simple. She is proof that skeletal stylist Rachel Zoe actually has some talent at putting outfits together. I was actually surprised when I read Zoe's book and found out that they work together almost exclusively. I suppose it helps that Bryant is a former model and know how to wear the clothing  without looking like just another hanger. In my fantasies, she will play me in Make Fetch Happen: The Movie. The above article is from an old issue of Vogue (Nov. 2003 IIRC) and the photos below were all gleaned from The Fashion Spot.