The Jersey with Meaning

October 09, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style

I have been looking for a baseball jersey for quite some time now. I was having lunch with a friend who owns a store, and he informed me that he actually had Negro Baseball League Jerseys in stock. My eyes lit up, and I got very anxious. I had to have one. My mother talked about the Negro Baseball League all the time when I was younger, and representing the history of my people through fashion is a huge honor that I try to take advantage of often. If I was going to buy a baseball jersey, it was going to be a Negro Baseball League jersey. It didn't take me any time to get to that store and cop that jersey. I didn't care what size it was; I was going to make it work. Check it out below.

I feel like baseball jerseys represent the ultimate 90's style. Wearing clothes like this takes me back to those days when fashion and music intermingled. This outfit brought back memories of girl groups of the 90's like Jade, SWV, and Xscape. Oh how I miss those days!!

I could have worn some sneakers with this look but I wanted to give it some extra fly so I chose to wear my combat boots. I threw my Intuition choker on, some gold jewelry, my unitard, gold H&M belt, and my book bag purse, and a 90's look was born.....again.

Before I go, let me quickly brief you all on the Negro Baseball League. African Americans begin to play baseball in the 1800s in the military and college, and eventually they were recruited to play on professional baseball teams. Shorty after that, racism and laws like Jim Crow prohibited them from continuing to play on professional teams. As a result, African Americans formed a league of their own.

What this jersey represents is deep. I not only purchased this jersey for the history, I also purchased it for the message which simply says to me, "when one team rejects you, form your own."

Be a beast this week,

- A girl who's in a league of her own

Outfit Details: NBL Jersey // Gold Belt (H&M, old) // Unitard // Combat Boots // Purse // Choker

Walmart Men's Tee + African Print Purse

August 11, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style

Who knew a Walmart men's t-shirt and African print purse would go so well together?

I purchased a pack of v-neck, men's t-shirts from Walmart a while ago to use for a mentoring project I was overseeing. I gave each mentee a shirt, and kept one for myself because I'm a borderline, t-shirt hoarder. Recently, I bought an African print purse from Monica's Thrift On A Budget, and I was anxious to carry it. I was looking for something to throw on with the purse, and I came across this t-shirt in my dresser. I wanted the purse to be the focal point of the outfit so I kept it simple and went with my favorite color combination; black and white. As a result of my outfit choice, the purse definitely got the attention it deserved.

This is the pose you strike when you thought your hair was a bug crawling on you. Lol.

Outfit Details: Walmart Men's V-neck Tee // Steve Madden Shoes // Old Navy Rockstar Jeans // African Print Clutch Purse //

Don't sleep on Walmart men's t-shirts as fashion! They come in handy!

Have an exceptionally, cool weekend everyone! Thank you so much for checking in with me weekly. Don't forget to share my blog with your friends and family. I appreciate you all! xoxoxoxo

Any specific weekend plans? I'm nosy lol.

- Samjah Iman

Black Girls Blog!

July 25, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style, Chokolat Creme

Writing has always been therapeutic for me. I developed a strong interest in the art at a very young age. As a child, I wrote every chance I got. I wrote in diaries, notebooks, on random pieces of paper, on clothes, and even on my bedroom door and walls (my mother still complains about that). As an adult I still do the same thing (minus the doors and walls). Writing allows me to clear my mind and transform my thoughts into things. Seeing words formulate into paragraphs and then into full stories excites me. I'm such a nerd huh? Oh well!

I began blogging about two years ago for a local publication in Baton Rouge titled The Rouge Collection where I wrote about fashion and social issues. This particular platform gave me a chance to develop my voice and put my perspective in the atmosphere. Once I started doing this, I knew I wanted to continue. I then began writing for a national publication, Everything Girls Love, while at the same time keeping up with a blog for Chokolat Creme titled The Fashion Liberation Movement. It wasn't until January of 2016 that someone encouraged me to start my own blog. I gave it some thought and then decided to pursue it. Why not combine two things I love (writing and fashion), share my point of view on life, and inspire people along the way? Six months later - here I am.

I recently attended a blogging conference in Washington, DC called Blogging While Brown. It was so wonderful connecting with like-minded individuals and sharing our aspirations and challenges. I loved seeing so many black women come together for the art of writing. I was giddy the whole weekend. I met some talented ladies at this conference that I will keep in touch with for as long as possible. I want to share their blogs with you and some other blogs by black girls and guys who weren't at the conference but definitely have blogs you can and will enjoy. Check them out below.

1. Trenched In Style (I was featured on this one!)

8. Circa 88 (dope, plus size cutie who rocks!)

9. Power 2 the Pen

10. Hazel Eyes Bombshell

11. Guerreisms (men's fashion)

12. Street Etiquette (men's fashion)

13. The Beauty Beau

14. The Wire Hanger By Winnie

15. Locks & Trinkets

16. Sonique Saturday

The blogs above feature fashion for all, life experiences, faith, inspiration, food, etc. This list is by no means exhaustive. As I continue to find new blogs I will definitely share them with you all.

To all my black girls (and men) blogging, represent your craft and keep going. We never know who we are inspiring.

To purchase your BGB tee click here.

Keep the blogging movement alive!

- Samjah Iman

Holey Short Sleeve Top, Mid Rise Rockstar Skinny Jeans

Black & Holey

July 20, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style

Want to know what's better than a comfortable t-shirt? A comfortable t-shirt featuring strategically placed holes!! On this day that I wore the outfit above, I had a lot of work and moving around to do. I needed to be as comfortable as possible yet stylish. This outfit helped me achieve just that. I woke up that morning, threw on the outfit, kept my hair in braids, added some fly shades and a deep lip color to the mix, and boom - a stylish ensemble emerged.

I wore this t-shirt all day, and it felt like I was lounging around in an old, worn-out t-shirt. I would wear this t-shirt everyday if I didn't love variety. It is just that cozy.

I paired this shirt which was purchased at Sorella Boutique with some stretch jeans from Old Navy that were on sale ( I cut the jeans up myself). I threw on my Steve Madden sandals because they added to the relaxed/grunge vibe I was feeling. I usually don't go for silver and black shoes but these were too cute to pass up plus they were on sale (and still are)!!

The building I was working in was extremely cold so I wore a stylish cardigan to keep me warm. I love a good cardigan. They are so convenient. I purchased this one from H&M a year ago. They are out of this particular stye but have a few others to choose from.

I'm still recouping from my recent trip, however it was good to get away. I will fill you all in on my trip details in the next post. Until then, stay true!

xoxo

- Samjah Iman

Essence Festival 2016 - Day 3 (Red, White, & Black)

July 04, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style

On the last day of the Essence Festival, I enjoyed the sounds of Kendrick Lamar, Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy Family. I had a blast! Music is therapeutic to me so I was in a zone and enjoying the vibe. Kendrick Lamar murdered the stage as usual (my second time seeing him), and Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy family took me back to the 90s and early 2000s. I couldn't stay in my seat!

I knew I would be doing a lot of jumping up and down and swaying back and forth at the event so I decided to dress as comfortable as possible. I paired a crop top with my favorite jeans. I wrapped a shirt around my waist just in case the air conditioner in the Superdome was below zero, and I threw my low-top Chuck Taylor's on to seal the look. This outfit allowed me to be stylish and relaxed at the same time. I felt sorry for the women I saw in 5 inch heels at this type of venue (the Superdome is humongous and the concrete has no mercy on your feet so always stash a pair of flip flops in your bag). I knew they would be on stretchers by the end of the concert - oh well, you live and you learn.

Hope you all had a Happy 4th. Since we are refreshed from the four-day weekend, let's go extra hard for the rest of the week!

- Samjah Iman

Cool Breeze

June 16, 2016 by Samjah Iman in Style

The scene is set inside a gray brick house in Monroe, LA; circa 1998. My mother is either in the kitchen cooking, writing an article, asking my brother if he forgot to do something, or exercising - or she’s probably doing all the things I just named simultaneously (yea, she does the most). I’m ducked off in my pink bedroom, probably listening to Junior Mafia on the radio and writing down outfits I want to wear to the upcoming high school football game. My daddy emerges from his nap to prepare for his night shift at work……and it goes like this.

Daddy: *yells* Where are my jeans?!?

Me: * suddenly stop writing and my eyes get big*

Daddy: *enters my room* Sam, where are my jea…..!? *he looks down and frowns*

Me: (I’m busted, so I confess) I’m wearing them!

That’s about how the conversations between my daddy and I used to go when it came to his jeans. It was something about the jeans he purchased that fit me just how I liked, so I wore them....often. Fast forward about 18 years later, and I proudly own a pair of his jeans.

My mother used to tell me stories about how my daddy used to dress and the nice style he possessed. My mother and I actually had a respectful disagreement over who was going to inherit his army coat that he wore when he was 19 years old. I was able to take a picture in the coat (see below), but it went home with my mother right after the photo was taken *sad face*.

I remember my daddy buying authentic Ostrich and Snakeskin boots, and I used to be like “what are those??” Now days, I would run a mile non-stop for some Ostrich boots (and I despise running)!! My daddy, whose friends nicknamed him Cool Breeze because he was as cool as the breeze, once told me that a person has style if they can wear just about anything and make it look good. I wholeheartedly agree with him, and I am blessed to say that I had a father who didn’t wear the typical daddy stuff (matching plaid shirts and shorts) that usually embarrasses the heck out of kids.

Check out Cool Breeze’s style from back in the day below.

Vietnam era.

I need the jacket above today!

Don't hurt 'em with the platform shoes daddy!! Classic!

Happy Father’s Day Daddy! I’m so grateful for our time, our talks, your jokes, your advice, and that you have always purchased great jeans (check the ones above out)!!!! Love ya!

Happy Father’s Day to my brother Brad and all of the father’s out there. Without you guys our hearts would be heavy, and our closets would be only half full!!

P.S. - There's still time to subscribe to the blog for your chance to win a GIFT CARD for your style needs. I will be announcing the winner next Friday!

Have a safe and great weekend everyone!

- Samjah Iman