The context of this trip was the 2008 "Cuba Baila" Rueda de Casino congress, a sort of convention for Cuban salsa. There were workshops, performances, bands, dancing, partying of all sorts...altogether, an awesome weekend. Cuban salsa is also a very hot dance, where both guys and girls move with power and sensuality. Watching people dance, and watching fabulous Vancouverites on the street, made me think more about what I consider hot and what seems stiff. Without further ado, here's my list:
Sí:
Hair in its natural state. Curly, kinky, wavy, straight - well cared-for and shiny. Anything but the predictability of a stick-straight flat-ironed blowout, please!!Bodies with some substance. Cuban salsa is all about the body movement. Having a little bit of booty and working it is oh-so-sexy, and plus you need muscle and stamina to do this dance. The substance of the body creates the power of the dance.
Men dressing awesomely. Vancouver guys were so fashionable. Where I live, alas, men tend to exhibit an all-time low in the maintenance department. I've never seen so many scraggly beards and baggy hoodies in my life. Vancouver was a breath of fresh air, with guys in great jeans, smart eyeglasses, creative layers, dashing haircuts, and, thankfully, a system of facial hair management. (I know, this is mean, I shouldn't be so hard on the guys, but C'MON with the scraggle. :)
No:
Blowouts and straightened hair, all the time. Will this trend go away? Naturally straight hair is pretty, the occasionally glossy blowout is pretty, but insisting on straight hair day in and day out is so dull! I want to see texture and movement. NaturallyCurly.com is great for ideas and products for styling curls and waves.
High heels for day. I have come around to thinking that teetering around in heels on city sidewalks, campuses, or any other place that you have to hoof it very far just says 'trying too hard.' The occasional woman can pull it off (I actually know someone who can), but most often it looks uncomfortable and stiff. Flats and even rubber-soled flats are breezy and youthful, and sooo much more comfy for getting around.Expensive clothes and makeup all the time. Some women showed up to dance workshops in designer jeans and tops, perfect makeup, perfect hair. They looked beautiful but also like they couldn't relax. There's a time for uber-maintenance and a time for, well, casual fun. We have to remember how to be casual or we end up feeling (or looking) like dolls on a shelf, too afraid to get messed up.
What do you think? What are your personal style sí's and no's?
P.S. For the origin of 'sí o no,' watch this hilarious video clip.
3 comments:
i really appreciate this post, specific to letting your hair do its own thing. i really like my hair and think it looks good freshly done or a little frizzy :)
also the website you recommended is awesome!
@ alison: Thanks! I'm glad you like the website too -- I love it.
great post! whenever i see women with their natural hair in various styles.. i love it and think, 'she looks like a woman right out of essence magazine!' however, lately, i see more relaxed and straightned hair than ever. =( i don't mind seeing it, but it seemed like that was the mag to turn to to see women being beautiful with their hair in it's styled from their natural state.
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