Fashiona

Tyra, who has legs a mile long, is showing love to the petite ladies among us. The 13th cycle of The CW’s America’s Next Top Model will be required to be at or below five feet, seven inches (5′ 7″) in height for the first time in the show’s history.Day reminded Fashiona that New York City was where the stampede was~not that Fashiona is condoning such behavior but as Miss A says”little people have a lot of energy.”

Salma Hayek, Jada Pickett Smith, Eva Longorina Parker and Fashiona’s own Day, Miss A, Ms. M and Ms.Now-am-I size-2-after the -baby are all proof that petite women are only petite in stature only. They are all serious forces to be reckoned with.

Hanky Panky has also introduced their signature lace low rise thongs in Petite fit for the first time in the US.

Ladies, Fashiona is just the messenger…the only thing petite on her are her freakishly small wrists.

But seriously,aren’t all thongs “petite”?…just asking!

One of biggest compliments that  Fashiona’s mom  has paid her recently is on the “quality of her close friends.” While Fashiona is  generally a friendly and upbeat person, she surrounds herself with like minded people and quickly divorces herself from equally toxic people.  Having traveled the world extensively, she has found that  race, religion, title, career choice or  background is of little consequence  when Fashiona is choosing her friends.

What DOES matter to her is that they are loyal and honest and agree to disagree.  They support her (and viceversa) when she is on the right path and give her tough love when she is being self-destructive.  Another quality that her close friends have…is their ability to  learn from their mistakes and to resist the “woe is me” mentality.

Consider celebrities like:

• Mary J. Blidge vs. Lil Kim~Mary has evolved from a being young woman with a troubled past into a dynamic wife and step-mother with an admirable singing career.Lil Kim is turning herself into a Barbie doll.
  

• Hillary Clinton vs. Sarah Palin~Both suffered a major political defeat last year. Mrs. Palin has continued whining incessantly while  Ms. Clinton accepted the position of Secretary of State.
  

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In the example of Tyra vs. Naomi Campbell: They are both about the same age and achieved comparable success in their respective  modeling careers. Tyra has traded in her swimsuits for a TV career (not that Fashiona particularly cares for either show but does applaud her growth).

Ms. Naomi (who even more beautiful in Fashiona’s opinion)seems to be finally emerging from her cycle of cell phone temper tantrums and using her fame for good causes. Ms. Campbell first launched her Fashion for Relief in 2005 to help bring aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Photo Credit: EPA

Naomi Campbell modeling for her Fashion for Relief event London last year.

Next week she is partnering  with  India’s Vikram Chatwal  to help Mumbai recover from the horrific terrorist attacks they suffered last year. Some of the most glamorous designer labels in the world, including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Zac Posen, Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Matthew Williamson, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee are all lending their  designs to  a charity fashion show held on March 28. to help kick off Lakme Fashion Week.

Has Naomi really turned a corner in light of her more positive recent headlines? …Fashiona certainly hopes so and maybe it hints to  Naomi  “cleaning” up her inner circle?

Topaz calls Fashiona her “tea party friend” in part because of the fun things they do like go to Alice’s Teacup where they serve fancy tea,  scones and yummy finger sandwiches. Both of them are prissy beyond reproach most of the time…except when unnecessarily crossed.

Fashiona is positive that the cab driver that got them “lost” in Williamsburg a few weeks ago is still looking for his kneecap dignity after Topaz told him about himself in English and Arabic.

Another noted exception is when the two of them went to a Prince concert. Since decorum and Prince don’t mix…they made it their night’s mission  to out-scream the groupies in the front row wearing purple from head to toe.

Speaking of purple…it is everywhere for Spring. Traditionally purple is more of a Fall color, but why not for Spring?

Photo By: George Chinsee ~ Gucci  18-karat yellow gold and purple agate necklace.

Photo By: WWD Staff ~Badgley Mischka

Photo By: WWD Archive ~Cuff designs by Kara Ross.

So Fashiona and Topaz were out on the town last night, dressed to the nines…their destination the Katra Lounge for Roxie’s Masquerade Ball.

Fashiona trekked across Brooklyn to Dina’s to get ready…why well not. Two hours later… gowns professionally steamed,  make-up and lashes expertly applied and Dina our resident über stylist snapping pictures…the glam dolls then ease into a cab and are whisked away to the lower East Side.

Fashiona, feline in more ways than one,prefers to observe a room before she pounces…

However, Ms.Topaz emboldened by her red lipstick…dove right in, chatting up the opera singer.

Lucia Palmieri, a soprano soloist,amazed the crowd with songs from the Phantom of the Opera.

Fashiona learned while interviewing Lucia after her performance, that she worked as a cook and actually owned her own restaurant before a fateful meeting landed her in Julliard and singing with New York Grand Opera.  Just as Fashiona found Roxie through Craig’s List, so did Lucia and decided to lend her voice to help raise Roxie raise money for her volunteer efforts.

Lights, camera, flash and repeat……

Many pictures and a few fancy foo foo sandwiches later…Roxana Colorado arrived… and looked absolutely FANTABULOUS. Fashiona loved her look (Eva Longeria meets WestSide Story) right down to the fire engine red peep toe pumps.

Once center stage, Roxana spun a tale of a single mother leaving her homeland with her children and  coming to New York City, learning English and putting herself through school…a story repeated by many immigrants from all parts of the world.  Well…this woman was Roxana’s mother…and by the story’s end our hearts were a-flutter. Roxana, second generation New Yorker, is very cognizant of her mother’s bold courage and struggle found a way to give back.

In April, Miss Roxana is going to Peru to work in an orphanage…talk about a party with a purpose.

Bon Voyage Roxie

~ Fashiona thanks you for allowing her to share this journey with you.