The North American International Auto Show is underway in Detroit, Michigan and I had the privilege to experience what’s coming in the world of the motor car.
From production car introductions and concept cars to after market mods. You get to see everything.![IMAG1978[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMAG19781.jpg)
Presenting some of these metallic beauties were our brown beauties.
It made me happy to see the number of brown women presenting these vehicles, so I had to make a quick post about it.
![IMAG1979[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMAG19791.jpg)
It’s Holiday Season again! All around the world people will be celebrating winter holidays like Pongal, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Thaipusam, and of course, bringing in the New Year (Jan 1st, 2015). If you’re searching for the perfect dress to show off your beautiful brown skin tone, what better way to sparkle than wear sequins!
Mindy Kaling – writer, comedian, star of her hit show The Mindy Project, and absolutely fabulous brown skinned fashionista embraces sequins as well as chunky jewelry and bright colors. Where many women of color will shy away from these kinds of bold moves, at Cinnamon Spirit we think you should be the shining star of the party! Mindy agrees “I wear all of those things, because I like looking at it. It makes me feel happy and excited to wear it.” In the photo below, she wears a beautiful dress and skirt combination. This scene was from the Pilot Episode of The Mindy Project, and to be honest she looks gorgeous! I love that the kind of sequin pattern on top is so much different than the metallic embellishment on her skirt. From far away, it looks like a dress, but when you look closely we find that Mindy has connected the 60s disco-ball and the Victorian Era in the best of ways. While Mindy’s outfit does technically break the mixing-prints rule in fashion, it is a definitely haute look that I think any brown woman could pull off. 
Anouksha, 21 fashion blogger from the United Kingdom has found a way to glitter during finals week. Here, she wears a black bomber jacket from H&M, black stockings, and casual tan booties from MissGuided. Paired with her gorgeous vintage flapper, and stuffed bagpack, she get’s an A+ for style. 
I found another stunning gold and black sequin dress from BeBe while looking for my own sequined New-Years-Me Dress. I can’t tell what is more radiant, the model’s deep brown skin or her dress. I’m too focused on how happy she looks while twirling around in it!
So maybe, you’re working for the holidays. You can still bring your briefcase of glitter with you! Katerina L., a 27 year old from Voronezh, Russia wears her sequins subtly. This outfit is a perfect day to night outfit that can be worn at lunch with friends, and then again at office party. Her sweater is also from H&M and her skirt is from Mango. She and her skirt, look delicious.
My personal favorite is an Etsy Legend worn by a beautiful Indian Model, Menaka Iyer. She is 23 and from Toronto, Canada. I’m sure once you see this dress, you’ll be dying to have it. She wore this vintage, one of a kind dress to New York City for the first time. “I had my first mimosa in NYC – Dream come true!” Menaka says excitedly. Although I couldn’t find the dress’s link, I did find that her feather earrings are from Spring and her muted (but also black sparkly heels) are from Nine West. 
Obviously not many of us can afford to splurge and spend thousands of dollars on a holiday dress (we’re too busy getting presents for our friends and family), so I’ve compiled a few under $50 options:
Stay tuned to see what sparkles I picked for my holiday dress! Stay warm this season my brown-skinned beauties!
If you are like me… you want to find those unique treasures that aren’t commonly found everywhere. When it comes to clothing, it is especially true. So when I was searching for Indian clothing, my niece introduced me to UDD.
As a supporter of vibrant colors and textures, I find Yuti Shah’s creations fascinating.
Her ability to bring her original fine art to life in every day wear that brings a smile to the people wearing it is contagious. I guess that is what I admire the most.
Her depiction of animals in the forest …. wonder what this would look like as a mural.
And then … the jewelry.
For more information … follow them on Facebook or Pinterest.
Name: Ishra Ella Noor, “Ella”
Age: 21 years
Heritage: Indian
Occupation: Full time student studying Environmental Geoscience and Political Science at Purdue University and Barista at Starbucks
Why did you decide to join the Cinnamon Spirit team? Cinnamon Spirit finally highlights a beautiful asset that I’ve known exists my whole life – dark skin. As soon as I heard about this initiative I just knew I had to be a part of it.
How would you like to help Cinnamon Spirit?
I’ll be routinely posting tips and tricks for beauty, fashion, recipes, and tailoring them specifically to highlight the beauty of dark-skinned women. After all, the fact that we can actually pull off mustard-yellow is a feat on its own.
Who are some of your style icons? In terms of fashion, I have to say I’m a huge fan of Giuliana Rancic. I love how classy she is but still has a razor sharp edge to her style, and a killer smile to sport around with that dark golden skin matches every outfit.
Plans for the future? “I really want to help people. I’d love to incorporate what I’ve been studying in college to do this. I would love to pursue Natural Disaster Recovery or Hazard Mitigation. I’d also be really excited to have my own art gallery one day!”
Welcome aboard, Ella! We’re glad to have you here at Cinnamon Spirit!
Introducing Ashwini.
![IMG_20141108_095107[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_20141108_0951071.jpg)
Finding one’s style can be a fascinating journey.
We hope everyone has fun with it like Ashwini.
The simple beauty spots on her chin, the bangles, the big bindi on her forehead… they are all traditional styles that she brings together beautifully.
![IMG_20141108_095354[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_20141108_0953541-300x300.jpg) |
![IMG_20141108_095222[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_20141108_0952221-300x300.jpg) |
It’s her glorious smile that adds ten fold to her clothing, hair and jewelry.
![IMG_20141108_095308[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_20141108_0953081.jpg)
1. Short sleeved shirts and ties do not go together : The NASA control room look may come back in the future but it is not happening right now. This look is a definite no no for business.
2. Own a two button jacket that fits well: This is a must have for work and semi casual occasions. Remember to button up at all times other than when you are seated.
3. Bow ties plus a shot of confidence: We are for this traditional look but in today’s world you need a shot of confidence to pull this off. Ladies do like bow ties
!
4. Match your tie with the width of your lapel: If your lapel is wide, go for a wider ties and vice-versa if narrow. Mixing a narrow tie with a wide lapel is a no no.
5. Your belt should match your shoes in color and texture : When buying shoes, consider investing in matching belts. Mixing these colors can be tricky, unless you are planing on wearing something funky for fun.
6. Big baggie pants make you look short: Do not wear them unless you want to look shorter
7. Trousers should be long enough: They should be long enough so they cover the top of your shoes and do not expose your socks. It’s only when you are seated, should your socks be visible.
8. Socks should match your pants: When buying pants, try to match your socks to pants in other hues. That way, when you remove your shoes or are seated, your socks blend with your pants and don’t break up the ensemble.
9. Ties should reach your belt buckle: It has become more common for men to wear ties longer than the belt buckle but this is the most desirable length. Anything shorter would seem sloppy.
10. Properly knotted ties have a dimple in the middle: Try the different kinds of tie knots such as the Four-hand-knot, Windsor-knot or the Pratt knot. Depending on what you prefer, they can range in width.
Finding a suitable foundation that works for our skin tone can be tricky. Here are some tips for you to find something you love wearing everyday. The idea is to match your skin tone and give it a smooth, natural look.
1. Becca Ever Matte Shine Proof Foundation: This product has four different shades for darker tones, making it much easier to find your match….$US42.00
2. Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation: The darkest shade, espresso, has a tiny bit of sparkle, giving you an all-over glow that’s noticeable even on your chocolate skin….US$ 40.00
3. Lancôme Teint Visionniare Foundation: It comes with a spot corrector, perfect to combat manchas or patches in skin tone… US$ 60.00
4. Makeup Forever HD Foundation: This one includes five different shades of brown and is oil-free….US$42.00
5. Black Opal Foundation Stick: This brand is formulated specifically for brown skin, so it’s guaranteed to meet your needs. Plus it is one fourth the price of some others…US$ 10.00
6. Fashion Fair Oil-Free Perfect Finish Foundation: This cream-to-powder foundation comes with 17 different shades of brown and glides on without that caked-on look that often happens when using powder foundations…. US$ 25.00
7. Clinique Even Better Foundation: This compact foundation comes with many deep shades, and it also combats dry skin… US$ 32.00
8. Covergirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless Foundation: No need to drive yourself nuts trying to find matching products — this is a primer, concealer, and foundation all in one….US$ 12.00
9. L’Oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation: The name speaks for itself. The variety of shades blend smoothly into skin, leaving a natural, fresh-faced finish… US$ 11.00
10. Urban Decay Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup: The three dark shades address your specific undertones too, making it a flawless match… US$ 39.00
This article has gathered it’s information from Milly Almodovar‘s work for the Cosmopoliton, Alden Wicker‘s post for LearnVest and Erica Smith‘s article for TotalBeauty.com.
Long, bold dresses with classic tight hairstyles is back.
It draws attention to your facial features and clothing.
Pair up bold colors like red, green or white with brocade and flaunt your skin.
My Mother always said yellow was the color for dark skin and I believe it now. It requires a certain confidence to pull off but man does it generate cynosure.
Lakshmi Menon combines her dusky beauty with ease on the runway. Her skin makes the red and orange look so good!
![IMAG1982[1]](http://cinnamonspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMAG19821-1038x576.jpg)
