Nikki’s Confetti Weekend would not be complete if I didn’t tell you about the urban hip hop fashion show of iHustle Clothing Co. iHustle was formed in 2012 and with their forward innovative thinking, affordable quality clothes, they are steadily gaining recognition in the industry. It was a packed house and I believe they will need more room next year. I love fashion and I am not stuck in one style, as you may have well guessed by now! I can hit the club or the streets with this fashion. Shout out to Dionisia Redmond, PR and Talent Director of iHustle. She made my night comfortable with VIP Treatment. Now on with the fashion! Like iHustle @iHustleCo on Facebook and follow them on Instagram @ihustleco and visit there website www.ihustleco.com
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There were so many photos I had to create a slide show and choose the best shots. I wanted to show the diversity of iHustle and what some label strictly as urban wear. Below you will find a few of my personal pics and favorite moments from the show. There were so many models I didn’t get! And so many pieces I liked!
The dress and the shoes…the shoes…the shoes!I wish I could!!! Because I most certainly would!
Imagine my surprise when I showed up to Court Square to get a feel for a group performing to potentially write a blog for them and the first thing I see are the ladies below. This is when I discovered this was a hair show with a theme to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital one of my favorite charities. My mom is retired from St. Jude and I spent many summers there as a child running around in the out patient department. I snapped as many pictures as I could and I got as much information as I could. So hold on to your roots…here we go!
First up to bat, pun intended, was Suicide Squad. A young group of hair students competing in a competition.
The entire squad
Cool theme
The next group of students and young hair stylists were just as unique and creative. They were from Empire School of Beauty School.
The crowd was in total awe of the students’ creations from both teams. Empire walked away winners but, really both teams were winners. Anytime you lend your talent to support a charity how can you lose?
Some of the amazing vendors on display with their products and creations:
Representing part of the team, Clutch Clothing Collection
The link to their website: www.clutchclothingcollection.com You can follow them on Instagram @clutchseason and like them on Facebook Clutch Clothing Collection. Catch up with them this weekend, Friday at LOVE 7144 Winchester. No Cover Charge until 10 PM.
Her personality is just as vibrant and fierce as her display of accessories. Meet Jenni of J Chic Life Style. She’s a real “Style Therapist”. Keep up with Jenni on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @jchiclifestyle or www.jchiclife.style
What you want on a warm summer afternoon in Memphis, TN is Parker’s Water Ice. Thank goodness they were in Court Square! Strawberry lemonade please and thank you!
I walked over to her table and said “Ooo! Make Up Candy!” You can find Pink Powder Parlor online at PinkPowderParlor.com What a vast spectrum of pink from dainty roses to electric fuchsias! And many more colors!!!
Goddess Guleoir by Natassia Customized Earrings and Things Like her page on Facebook!Models for Goddess-Guleoir mood: If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready!
So, I’m under the tent finishing up my Chicken on a Stick from Runway Grill, and I look up to see more hair models getting some Parker’s Water Ice.
I say to myself: “Is that? Yes it is honey.” Keith Turks from The Real Hairstylists of Memphis. Immediately I knew I was in for a slay. As I mentioned earlier, I had no idea what I was walking into.
Keith Turks, The Real Hairstylists of Memphis Reality Show…the Hair King of Memphis, Hair Kingdom. You can find him everywhere on social media!
Watch them work! I tried to pick a favorite model and hairstyle but it was impossible!
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After getting my dance on in Court Square, because Keith Turks and models brought the beats, I decided now would be a good time for Cupcake Cutie. It’s only a few steps away from Court Square. Choose a a cupcake and pick an icing. I chose the lemon cupcake and strawberry icing.
One more vendor all the way from St.Louis, Brittany Raji. I am so glad I met her! @BeautyImpactAccesories on Instagram
My evening here concluded with the group I came to see,
Hothouse Gruv took us back, and way back with 90’s music. They came to show out with energy and a live wire performance! The dancers gave their all and talent was displayed in each member. It was great to end my evening as I headed to another even with a party on still on my mind.
Last but, definitely not least in any shape form or fashion is Stephanie Brown. She put this amazing show together and announced she will be joining Season 2 of The Real Hair Stylists of Memphis! Please stay in touch with Stephanie Brown by following her on Instagram @beautyonbeale, contacting her at Style Coach Forever and Stephanie Brown @stylecoachforever on Facebook. She is not just a Celebrity Hair Stylist. She’s a motivational speaker and so much more!
This is what I like about Memphis. You could be aimlessly wondering around Downtown and stumble upon anything! This is what happened to me as I left the Memphis Farmers Market to pick up my weekly vegetables and fruits. My daughter and I decided to drive over to Beale Street. It was blocked off and as soon as I saw the Corvettes I became ecstatic! I love cars and car shows. So, we found a parking space and walked over to the famous Beale Street and snapped away. Here you go car lovers!
Well, I started last weekend off with a trip to Memphis’s Farmers Market and since I was undecided on whether or not to attend the Memphis Book Festival I dressed cute and comfortable to be on the safe side. I got my fresh fruits and veggies (see Memphis Farmers Market Post) and headed down Union. A quick left into the Playhouse on the Square and a parking space magically appeared! I believe I was in sync with the Universe! (Parking spaces in midtown are hard to come by) I waltz in like I know where I am going and what class I am going to sit in but, I don’t know either. With a warm welcome and a quick read of the confused look on my face, I was handed a festival class and activity guide by a lovely volunteer.
I see the class Having It All and the description of balancing being an author and your other endeavors (blogger, running a publishing company, publicist, working professional, etc). I thought to myself “Can I have it all? Will I have to let some things go? I need balance. I don’t know what I am doing. This is the class for me!” I walk in and opt for a seat by the window so I can view the tent of authors I would visit after this class.
ALL of the authors on the panel gave us the unbridled truth about having it all, how they got where they are, where they are trying to go from there. They were very down to earth, practical, spoon feeding us truth serum in the world of Having It All all with pats on the back. You know the kind of hearty pats on the back your mom gives you after you cough from the horrible liquid night time syrup that is sure to make you better by morning.
I met Kima Jones, publicist for Natalie Baszile, the author of Queen Sugar. If you didn’t know, Queen Sugar debuted a few weeks ago as a new night time TV drama on OWN. She was the only woman on the panel and offered sound and sharp advice to women in the audience.
After I floated out of the class, I ran smack dab into a woman here in Memphis I adore. Cheryl Pesce is an angel that handcrafts jewelry with intricate details from precious stones and metals. I follow her on Facebook and Instagram (and you should too!) because she is so inspiring, unique and gifted. She has a story to tell that will light fire under your stilettos or sneakers.
I headed on over to Belly Acres for lunch and walked right into a Junker’s Fair in Overton Square. Belly Acres is in walking distance from Playhouse on the Square along with many other restaurants and bars. It was my first time there and the food was delicious.
I went home, rested and got back out to end my night with the crooning of Eric Roberson and D. Maurice as they made a pit stop in Memphis for a fundraiser of a very special and important non-profit organization here in Memphis; SisterReach. Click here to find out more about this organization and to see how you can help: https://sisterreach.org/about-sr/
My Monday was a push through to a Cocktails and Connections:Building Powerful Relationships hosted by The Brown Experience and Kay Brooks at the Hattiloo Theatre. It was well worth the push through as the panel, once again, delivered sound advice on how to handle the many types of relationships you will encounter as a professional and an entrepreneur. They shared their experiences, honest mistakes, and wisdom. I needed that advice like a fashionista needs a matching clutch to complete her attire. https://www.facebook.com/thebrownexperiencemem/ Like The Brown Experience on Facebook for up and coming events!
I was beat after that but, headed over to a behind the scenes photo shoot with flip flops in tow to relieve my aching feet from those gold heels. The experience of seeing multiple models in front of the camera and how a photographer conducts shoots was priceless. I made some great connections with the owner of iHustle, a Memphis born clothing line. Photos from their fashion show coming soon.
My I am beat but I just saw a cute guy as I walked into my condo face. That gave me brief life to strut in those heels and give a “Heeeeeeeey”. I strutted like Loretta Devine on Waiting to Exhale in the scene with her and Gregory Hines.
I don’t why you go to the fair if you don’t ride the rides and play the games. Well, I go to eat! Okay and play the games. I have never been big on rides but, when you have a daughter who wants to ride you get on a few rides. When she becomes a teen you are so happy to have her thrill seeking friends to come along!
I find it to be the coordination of the Universe as to why I didn’t blog early this morning with my letter R. I had no idea what to write but, as I heard the news hours ago my beloved “Prince” Roger Nelson has elevated to a higher dimension. My favorite Gemini ♊ on the planet.
You had to have some level of consciousness and uniqueness about yourself to be able to identify with him. Fans usually identify with something about the one they are FANATIC about. Otherwise, you simply like the artist. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!
There are musicians, singers, entertainers and artists. Rarely do you get those things all in one person. I think Prince was that. He had a wonderful habit of DOING HIS OWN THING and MINDING HIS BUSINESS. He’s a musical and lyrical genius. I’m still trying to decipher Starfish & Coffee (one of my favorite songs). He could vividly tell a story while singing. He didn’t care what they said about him or hope he dressed and the crazier the better…a little give them something to talk about. It’s called being true to yourself. It’s called wild and rebellious and then you grow up but you keep your uniqueness. You never part with your creativity. There was no formula he needed to make a hit. He did his own thing while many were doing the same thing. How do you keep up with the times, never change but change and be ahead of your time? It’s what ICONS do. It’s what makes them icons.
It’s the confidence that comes effortlessly when you forget about who you’re programmed to be and just be. He was of small statute but mind-bogglingly gifted as an artist. He did rock and roll, rhythm and blues, pop, funk, hip hop, soul, and filtered in some gospel. He was like a gumbo. He even gave us sounds we didn’t know what to do with except accept it as a token of his love for what he came here to do.
I like that he never felt the NEED or the pressure to explain himself. He only talked when he wanted to, to who he wanted to talk to and when he felt some sort of injustice needed to be verbally addressed. He didn’t go back and forth with other artists that I know of. He was very private. So many artist should have taken and should take a page out his book when it comes to media relations.
His music is so much apart of my LIFE SOUNDTRACK and memories I was certainly not ready for this impromptu performance of departure. It was a quiet song. His departure to the next flight ✈ was undetected. Like he was. He always seem to come out of nowhere with great music and disappear.
He left us in his home, in the studio. In his studio. There’s peace ✌ when you can say goodbye in there mist of doing what you love 💜
Nikki's Confetti Life 