spring into spring!

moving from winter to spring is always exciting, checking out developments in the plus size scene over here, good news for us, extremely popular high street chain Forever 21 are launching a plus size range Faith 21! its obviously about time...



love what they've done with the sandals...




Im ofcourse still loving ny, changing/growing and hanging out (ha), im picking up all these American terms, im like, did i just say that? for real?...like down the block? 20 bucks? get outta here? aight son!

my friend poet and writer Jina had a totally girly day out,i needed a day like this... involving make up,hair, starbucks, cupcakes from Magnolia..



stepped into mac..and john did my make up ..look at those lips..sigh





we found an amazing vintage store, what goes around comes around, in the west village, sales assistant Rose was looking Rosey












u are not decieved, my hair indeed went from a short stlye to shiny black and wavy.. i completely shaved it off this week, the idea of re touching my hair was too overbearing, im going back to my roots! expect me to be sporting many different styles depending on my mood! the hair im wearing is called Maxine, i can do Maxine..;-)



this shiny barbie looking thing is comic, i call it heidi! pigtails where included..

whilst being self absorbed/eating cupcakes from Magnolia and taking pictures of ourselves



singer Maxwell walked straight past, a very delayed reaction. like ok...what just happened, Jina are u sure? OMG ..:-) pure comedy, i couldnt even do my groupie thang it happened that fast!



Maxi oh Maxi ;-)





was a refreshing day!

Maxwell needs to sing now, because i saw him and that's a big deal ;-)



this song makes me cry! well until next time, stay beautiful and blessed

teiko x

"On the lonely roads of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, two men forge an improbable friendship that will change both of their lives forever. Solo is a Senegalese cab driver working to provide a better life for his young family. William is a tough Southern good ol' boy with a lifetime of regrets. One man's American dream is just beginning, while the other's is quickly winding down. But despite their differences, both men soon realize they need each other more than either is willing to admit. Through this unlikely but unforgettable friendship, GOODBYE SOLO deftly explores the passing of a generation as well as the rapidly changing face of America"



Starring the amazing Red West and Souleymane Sy Savane i was fortunate enough to attend the NY screening. Held at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) i highly recommend the film, really does leave you thinking about life and love from another point of view!



Souleymane and his beautiful wife actress Erika Sy Savane



Erika and I post screening..all smiles




Souleymane and the rest of the crew, directed by the brilliant filmmaker Ramin Bahrani




There was a wonderful afterparty at Connelly's, a brilliant Irish bar on 53rd street, caught up with the rest of the crew




rubies and diamonds! i love ! i took this of musician Danielle's ring! her music is as inspiring as the rubies! www.myspace.com/madisonflowmusic





Erika and Souleymane Sy Savane



Rose worked on the movie, i highly recommend it!check out the trailer below



\

xxx

My miscellaneous life in NY!

..Ive been missing England like crazy, no really, and its like 88% of the people i meet already have a British accent stored up, ready to be executed as soon as they realise im from London... im like NOOOOOOOOOOOO... ;-)

Its my mothers birthday 2day and I'm away in NY! i miss her dearly! Just in case she's online checking my blog on her birthday (highly unlikely) then i love u !!! hugs and kisses...!

In NY ive been enjoying the snow! (look closely u can see snow in the background)... yes very picaresque and freezing all at once!



been out and about, being inspired, there is SO much to see, NY is such an amazing city, seriously..



Aliya Ana and I



im just talking to my imaginary friend, this was an amazing apartment!



Yomi and I



NYPD!!!



i went to this British type pub! with lil machines..the landlord was from Tooting! how cute

Manhattan is so overwhelming! pics from midtown ma neighbourhood, very central! always full of life!





and lil Aladdin, my friends cat whom i adore...!





this is my i love it here pose...real talk! another ny term ive picked up fast!

b4 i forget!!! NEW ID....

u gotta love it!




street style is crazy! ill try get som shots, very inspiring!

stay blessed

Teiko!

STOP TRAFFICKING!!!

Last week i had a very informative, slightly uneasy but wonderful evening at Columbia's Miller Theatre, but it "wasnt supposed to be comfortable" Justin Dillion, producer of the film Call and Response told me. true the film touches on some sensitive subjects....



A short movie exposing the modern day reality of slavery. I've done some work with uk based organisation STOP THE TRAFFIK.org raising awareness on trafficking (see cheesy pic)... Cherie Booth QC spoke on behalf of stop the traffik on human rights day last year about the issue so it wasn't completely new to me, however its a wonderful sign that Justin decided to create this film, not for the faint hearted but its happening as i type, and its probably happening in your community in some form. Its a major issue and i believe we all have a social responsibly to create better accountability and bodies to end this.



So what is slavery? not nec just in the terms of forced labour, although forced labour is still active, esp for example on the cocoa plantations of West Africa. But it also includes, sex slaves, young girls and boys (very young) who are bought and sold, women who are promised new and exciting job opportunities only to find out they are to work in brothels, i actually found out through stopthetraffick that Croydon, South London (home of Kate Moss) was actually home to one of the biggest trafficking rings, with millions of sex slaves! what Croydon with the new shopping centre? so deep!

I also spoke to some amazing photographers who actually complied a book called Sex and Money,of photos they had taken across the globe, check out the link, for more information please copy and paste http://www.photogenx.net/sexandmoney/


Musicians such as Emmanuel Jah, Nastasha Bedlingfoeld (i love her!!!) , Talib Kwali, of course Justin Dillion and Matisyahu (im leaving his video at the end of the post, he was aswesome! it was my first taste of Matisyahu! better late than never!) Dr Cornel West also offers some wonderful insights. Let do something!







www.stopthetraffik.org
www.callandresponse.com

x

always good to have options... Lingerie..

i did say some time ago that i would be back with a post on lingerie for the more well endowed woman ;-) so what do women look for when looking for lingerie anyway? i dont think plus size women differ from any other females, we want style, comfort and SUPPORT, actually maybe we place slighly more emphasis on the support part.;-)...support not nec meaning clinical , medievil looking equipment to hold us in place however!

As i mentioned earlier, initially it was really annoying finding bras to do me any justice, there was support, but no style, style but totally uncomfortable, comfort but the most limited options, white/black/nude(nude as in light beige)/grey! what.!!!?..no fushia or aqua marine? ....but things have changed so rapidly, i've come across *numerous* sites dedicated to the cause so to speak, companies seem to have caught on fast and its amazing what is out there..ive just picked a few that have caught my eye, however there are a host, seriously! and most are available by just googling "plus size lingerie" ....

Bravissimo
www.bravissimo.com

i bought my first bra from here..sigh.... (too much information?) ...



its a uk based company, with their flagship store located in Covent Garden, they stock a host of brands and ive always loved shopping there, so many options! and they also do swimwear just as good....


Lane Bryant
www.lanebryant.com

If you havent heard of Lane Bryant before, they are major players in plus size retailing,US based they have a range of style available but have just introduced their Demi Bra, modeled by Ford's fabulous Crystal Renn (so adorable!) ok and wait, available in black, sugar, café mocha, cloudy day, grey, bamboo, watermelon and Caribbean sea, unfortunately for me, Ms 30g, its only available in size 36-48 C-H! but a girl can dream



Hips and Curves
www.hipsandcurves.com

in for some treats here, they stock the usual everyday bra, but for something sexier, pvc options available ;-) they offer a wide range of lingerie...costumes and fantasy/shapewear/leather and patent...



Simply be.co.uk
www.simplybe.co.uk

I love simply be not only because of the choice but also because they have teamed up with uber stylist *Gok Wan*, who has inspired his own range, not just lingerie but body shapers, which many a time are equally as important



other companies to check out include,

-Marisota
-Fantasia
-Oola Lingerie
-Free Pretty Lingerie

Most of these companies ship internationally, so even if you arent US/US based you can still get your hands on alot of the stock available....!


Im leaving you with a video from the talented, beautiful and inspiring , Jill Scott, as she so frankly put it, she has found a way of dealing with all that foolishness....The Butterfly Bra ;-) ;-)



xxx

*Love* floods us with Hope. - Jareb Teague

As the saying goes... what is life without hope?.. i admit it, i was starting to believe the word on the street..POP was indeed coming back? no no NO - that my friends seems highly unlikely, however... the wonderful *Katie Grand* has come back with something that looks just as tasty....LOVE MAGAZINE? I LOOOOVE IT! yes indeed love is patient /love is kind..

There where a range of potential covers put out..

Agyness Deyn




Iggy Pop



Iris Strubbegger




FASHION AND FAME is the slogan..i couldnt have put it better, serious serious serious stuff here, and ma gurl *Beth Ditto* graces the front page.with such elegance!





this is beautiful/refreshing and sooo progressive...im lost for words!infact maybe i need to create a new word for the way i feel. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Beth Ditto- a natural born model! oh Katie, oh Beth....







uber cool, super chic icons Erin Wasson and Missy Rayder are also featured in this edition... the team behind the mag aint playin at all..





;-) credit where credit is due! i repeat credit where credit is due.. the mag is bi annual, a Conde Nast creation, they have a site ..www.lovemagazine.co.uk

"LOVE people. LOVE character. LOVE fashion (obviously). LOVE fame. LOVE Beth Ditto more than you have ever LOVEd her before. LOVE the imperfect. You know it makes sense".

REAL TALK.