http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/ Consider yourself invited to the coolest crib on the web -- Vixen Headquarters, where all of our features, celebrity interviews, and exclusive videos live. en Copyright 2008 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:14:22 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss ]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/08/behindthescenes_of_our_rihanna.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/08/behindthescenes_of_our_rihanna.html Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:14:22 +0000 Lau ryn! Lau ryn! Lau ryn! The uproar at Brooklyn, New York’s Wingate Field on August 7th was bananas — not quite the frenzied fandom that Michael Jackson used to inspire in Japan but dangerously close. Senator Charles Schumer took the throng's not-so-subtle hint and quickly made his escape offstage after introducing Lauryn Hill. Thousands formed a complete ring around the outskirts of the park waiting to get into the free concert — from the 30-something Egyptian musk-scented former backpackers who've loved Lauren since Sister Act, to the recently Miseducated myspace generation who couldn't recite a Fugees track if 10 G's were up for grabs on Don't Forget The Lyrics. When she finally took the stage, after a 15-minute interlude from her brilliant 11-piece band the crowd was clearly amped but as she launched into her first song — a new gospel-possessed selection that no one recognized — the crowd grew uncomfortably mute. Outstretched hands were slowly slipped back into pockets. Heads shook side to side — not in time to the music but rather in disappointment. People began looking around, scanning their neighbors' faces to make sure they weren't alone in their bewilderment. This wasn't the same fresh-faced Lauryn who could barely carry the seven Grammies she won ten years ago. It's not like we haven't seen her rock a 'fro before but it looked like she had been made up by Amy Winehouse's makeup artist. The stage paint was unnecessarily harsh — scary almost — and camouflaged the organic beauty we remember fondly. She wore an oversized, fringed leather vest; a long-sleeved, patterned silk blouse (complete with a full collar and ascot); a low-hanging strand of pearls that grazed the fly of her wool, plaid slacks; the chunkiest of chunky bangles; and metallic, triangle earrings the size of wire hangers. No one's knocking thrift-store chic, especially in this age of eclectic rebellion, but it was an uncomfortably humid and sticky 85 degrees. While the rest of us gulped down Poland Spring and swiped our damp foreheads, Lauryn looked perfectly content sweltering in her layered get-up. On the real, she looked like somebody's crazy auntie. She's barely a ghost of her youthful pre-scorned self but there's something disturbingly familiar about the new Lauryn. The strained, raspy voice — her lightening-fast words cascade over one-another like a rushing waterfall. The erratic behavior — she's been blasted all over the blogosphere for skipping appearances and showing up hours late. The hardened look of her face, the possessed glare in her eyes, the hiccupping movements during her performance — picture Sister Patterson feeling the Holy Ghost during Sunday Service. Something smells like Whitney "crack is wack" Houston. She continued to delve into her set of unreleased material as the audience went from confused to visibly disturbed by her performance. She apologized for her strained vocal chords but still screamed most of her lyrics, and inaudibly at that. No wonder her voice was hoarse. It was as if she lost her range — she hovered safely in the same tone for most of the evening without taking any romantic dips or leaps around the scale. While we yearned to hear a song we could all sing backup to, she seemed to purposefully tease us with not-so-cleverly disguised renditions of her classics. A random ska beat here, a rock riff there and a raspy Marley Medley was all she was giving. The lyrics were the only thing recognizable about her past hits and even those were spit, not sang. It's hard to tell if she isn’t allowed to sing her songs the original way because of record label beef or if she just refuses to in an attempt to distance herself from the drama that still surrounds the production and publishing rights of Miseducation. An hour-and-a-half into the show, as the audience continued to slowly but deliberately leak from the venue in bulk, Lauryn finally gave us a hit of what we'd been fiending for. As soon as the first familiar notes of "Ex-Factor" erupted from the speakers, the remaining fans (the crowd had dwindled to a quarter of it's initial swell) went bonkers. For the first time that night, we were able to follow along in our own grateful voices. The VIP barricades were lifted and the orchestra seating was flooded. Although they were far from stellar, we were all thrilled to reminisce to “How Many Mics,” “Fugee-La,” “Ready or Not,” and “Killing Me Softly” and anticipate the safe return of our lost idol. The two-and-a-half-hour set was unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. If she'd simply reversed the order of the lineup from old to new, Lauryn could have held on to the other half of her audience. It was agonizing to watch her crash and burn at the start of the show but at least the show ended on a hopeful note. Believe it or not, I still can't wait for her album to drop—whether it happens next year or in 2010. She's still a genius in my eyes — remember Janice Joplin, Miles Davis, and Hector Lavoe? -Shanel Odum ]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/08/the_misrepresentation_of_laure_1.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/08/the_misrepresentation_of_laure_1.html Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:26:30 +0000 ]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/behindthescenes_of_our_mya_cov.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/behindthescenes_of_our_mya_cov.html Wed, 20 Jun 2007 21:00:35 +0000 Thinking about getting a nip or tuck? Here are some things to consider: * Determine why you want cosmetic surgery. “I always ask my patients how long they’ve been thinking about the procedure they want and why,” says Dr. Few. “The happiest patient is going to be in a healthy state of mind where she can enjoy [the enhancing results],” rather than view it as a solution for all of life’s problems. * Do your research to learn about what your desired procedure entails. Check websites like of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery.org), American Association of Plastic Surgeons (aaps1921.org), American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (facemd.org) or Be Wise About Beauty (bewiseaboutbeauty.org) for the most comprehensive up-to-date information. * To find a cosmetic surgeon ask for referrals from your primary doctor, ask friends who may have undergone procedures, and refer to the afore mentioned websites to find doctors in your area. * Consult with several doctors beforehand. Select one who you feel comfortable talking to, answers all of your questions and understands your aesthetic goals. For women of color, say our experts, having a specialist who is ethnically sensitive is key. They should be well informed about dark skin issues like scaring and keloids, and with face-altering procedures in particular your surgeon should be skilled at refining features without compromising ethnic characteristics. * Get an estimate of how much it will cost – the actual procedure as well as any follow-ups and post operative medications. Find out what your insurance does and does not cover. ]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/what_to_know_before_you_go.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/what_to_know_before_you_go.html Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:02:58 +0000 Celeb makeup artist veteran Mally answers your how-to on doing the beauty thing. I really want to become a makeup artist. Is there a school for makeup artistry or do you suggest I apply to my favorite cosmetic brand that has a counter? Toni, 22, Washington D.C “There are lots of really great ways to get experience. I personally never went to make-up artist school. I always just sort of learned by trail and error, and I worked at a Shisheido counter when I was young. My best advice would be to, number one: be a sponge and really do a good job at taking a look at everything around you and being inspired by everything around you. I think that school is a great place to learn fundamentals, but I would also want you to try to learn on your own to practice and develop your own style.” “You are going to laugh! I don’t belong to a union, so I don’t really know. It depends. With freelance it really is not necessarily that common to be part of a union. But if you are doing movies and work like that, I absolutely suggest you become part of a union. I wish I could answer this question better for you, but since I don’t belong to one, I can’t tell you too much about it.” I'm a very talented makeup artist and hairstylist and freelance quite a bit. But I think an agent will help take me to the next level. How do I shop for an agent? And how long should I expect it to take before I get editorial and fashion show jobs? Briana, 26, California “Oh boy! Okay, let’s see, it really depends when it comes to finding an agent. You can’t really say oh you’ll find one at this particular time. It’s really about finding someone who fits you perfectly. It could be the first agent you meet or the fiftieth. Generally even with an agent or lots of work experience, it takes some time to get an editorial job, and heading a fashion show will most likely take years. But working a fashion show could happen immediately, especially if you are with an agency whose artists do fashion shows. But, again, there’s no real time frame for finding an agent. It’s about who fits you perfectly.” What are the requirements to join your local makeup artists' union? How do I find out more? Jessica, 29, Nevada "You are going to laugh! I don’t belong to a union, so I don’t really know. With freelancing, you’re an independent contractor and it’s not really that common to be part of a union. But if you are doing movies and work like that, I absolutely suggest you become part of a union." ]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/ask_mally.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/06/ask_mally.html Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:55:15 +0000 On May 14th beauty, fashion, and philanthropy centralized at “Awaken the Beauty Within, ” a charity event held at Christo Fifth Avenue salon in New York City. Curly hair expert and salon owner, Christo, along with Vixen’s own beauty editor, Baze Mpinja, America’s Next Top Model, Nik, Celebrity Stylist June Ambrose, and The Wire’s Shamika Cotton co-hosted the affair to raise funds for Iris House, a Harlem-based non-profit organization. The company provides services for women and their families who are living with HIV/AIDS. Each month, Iris House serves over 1,000 nutritious meals, distributes over 16,000 condoms packages through its outreach programs and provides clients with services and referrals to alternative forms of treatment for HIV/AIDS symptoms, like acupuncture and massage therapy. “I think this event is important because it promotes beauty within. No matter what the situation is, women want to look and feel beautiful, and I feel honored that I am in a position to help,” says Christo. Event attendees got pampered with hair touch ups performed by Christo and his team, make up applications and hand scrubs. Good deeds do in fact pay off. Although you may have missed the soirée, you can still support the Iris House by going to curlisto.com and purchasing the Best Seller Combination ($60), a set featuring Christo’s much-loved Glow & Shine and Deep Therapy Masque. Fifty percent of all Best Seller Combination proceeds will benefit Iris House. Bonus: all donations are tax deductible. -Jan Lee]]> http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/05/party_with_a_purpose.html http://www.vibevixen.com/hq/2007/05/party_with_a_purpose.html Thu, 31 May 2007 18:13:17 +0000