Mad about Tights

Mad about Tights by tracey-j-whitney featuring tan boots

So yes in the random tradition of Pop Trash Beauty we are talking about tights . This post has taken me back to my first posts as a wee Pop Trash Beauty never taking fashion seriously. You really shouldn't it for its a mere suggestion always do what you want. So now we take a look at the world of tights.

Black Tights - Its a no brainier that these look good on everyone. Black is a magic color that thins us out . 

Lace/ pattern Tights: This where it gets tricky , make sure you get the right size. If your full in the thigh you may incur the ham effect. I am a curvy girl what I found is if they fit right even go a size up if needed. Nothing pushes through the lace.( I keep it real here , If I wont talk about the ham effect who will ) 

White Tights :  I haven't really witnessed this go good. With the exceptions of nurses who rock them well. It depends on how you pair them truly. White has a tendency to make things look bigger . They get dirty quite easily. Also we are grown women most of us can look very school girl like. Though if that is the look you want by all means. 

Colored Tights : I find you can rock the colored tights at any age or size. I want you to remember that the tight with the bright color like say bright purple is the statement piece. I would pair with a toned down outfit . I wear mine with a black knee length dress , denim coat , chuck taylors , black flats. You don't need allot of accessories for the tights are doing the work. I have changed to pairing with boots for it is a bit chilly here in the Northeastern United States. 

I found a more comprehensive guide to tight wearing online that you should take a look at. I know some of my fashionista friends are laughing for the tight was supposed to have excited in 2009. I will have to say a coast to coast adventure and four lay overs at big hub airports dont lie. The wonen are mad about there tights. 

Here is a tight guide with more info and less ham. 

How to Wear Patterned, Sexy Stockings & Tights

http://shoes.about.com/od/handbags/ss/sexy_stockings_5.htm 

Freak Show on the Road : Day of the Dead

I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by loving. - Anais Nin

Allot of people don't know what Day of the Dead is in certain circles. I would say to friends going to Day of the Dead they would look at me like I was crazy . Thinking I was going to some kinda weird witches ceremony in the desert . Day of the Dead is a beautiful ceremony that brings allot of comfort to those who have lost a loved one. Day of the Dead to me represents moving forward and letting go of the past. A way of showing your loved ones they will never be forgotten but that you both can move on . Though we all know they still live in our hearts.

What is Day of the Dead ( All Souls Procession )

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1 and 2, in connection with the Catholicholidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.( Via Wikipedia)

“No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories.” 
― Haruki Murakami

The Night Before 
We attended  The Little Angels parade . The Children of Tucson make angel wings and participate in week long activities to prepare them of the parade. I was at the parade thinking these kids have been given such a gift. I found it so healthy how this opened up a dialogue about losing loved ones even a pet. In the park many people built alters honoring there loved ones for all to see. You were able to visit the alters and talk to family members. I found this so beautiful and soothing it was very calm in the park. You could feel such peace and tranquility in the air mostly healing. One women had a display of  bird cages with a diarahma in each in a scene of there life . One had her grandmother knitting in a rocking chair. Such detail and love went to each cage. They also made available the Day of the Dead Urn , this enormous urn is filled with letters to loved ones. Anything you want to put in the urn is excepted . Everyone is encouraged to participate we put letters in the urn that night. After the Day of the Dead Procession they set fire to the urn in moving ceremony. 

This is an alter that was set up in the park 

The urn  you deposit  letters to loved  ones inside

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” 
― Marcus Aurelius

The All Souls Procession

The day of the dead skull goes back to Aztec times , The skull symbolizes death and rebirth. The skulls are colorful and whimsical not scary or oppressive. Youll notice modern day skull art and figurines you can find all through Tucson. Will depict people in everyday life. Even Skeletons playing electric guitars or rocking out with ipods.

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” 
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie -

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 
― Albert Einstein

"Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?" 
— Frida Kahlo

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” 
― Mother Teresa

Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

"I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you." 
— Frida Kahlo

The Burning of the Urn 

I decided to show this using a youtube seriously I had goosebumps the whole time the ceremony was going on . Its this anticipation that I can't really explain its setting all the things free in your life that were holding you back . As you watch the urn burn you feel this sense of lightness and rebirth. ( I maybe getting a bit carried away but it is like that )












After all that you get pretty hungry and must celebrate in dance

Freak Show on the Road : Tucson AZ

“Any thoughts of guilt, any feelings of regret, had faded. The desert had baked them out.” 
― Stephen King, The Gunslinger

 When I moved Tucson Arizona it was at one of the most difficult times in my life. I had just lost my one of my dearest Aunties Marie to cancer. I was one of her caregivers during her strong fight with cancer. I was very very overweight and emotionally vacant inside. The Desert is a place where everything is striped away and what you are left with is YOU. Facing your fears is survival in the purest form. You can't hide in the desert it forces you to face it all . I had allot to face to dig down deep inside myself in that time . Begin Within was my cousins moto. I want to share with you some pictures from my visit back . We all have that place were we discovered ourselves Tucson was one of mine.

My cousin teaching my Auntie about the landscape
The desert was an ocean many moons ago

Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.
Frida Kahlo 

You can’t fight the desert… you have to ride with  it  Louis L’Amour

The Sonoran Desert is a big place - over 100,000 square miles! Much of the Sonoran Desert lies in Mexico, partly in the state of Sonora, where the desert gets its name. The rest of the Sonoran desert lies in the states of Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur in Mexico and Arizona and California in the U.S.   ( via the University of Arizona ) 

The Sonoran Desert is the hottest and most biodiverse of the North American deserts.
( via  University of Arizona ) 

“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, and I'm just as strange as you.” 
― Frida Kahlo

Christmas Party Basics

Allot of you will be out socializing for the holidays . Christmas Parties , open houses , office parties galore so you asked me to give you some tips. Here are a few basics with more to come. Though we would start here with a few staples.

Makeup- I will say this till I'm blue in the face. Don't try something new that your not used to at a party. I suggest taking what ever item for a trail run for before the big reveal. You want to look fresh and primped not over done and trying. I really like this makeup tutorial . I think its a great holiday look and very affordable. Practice until you got it down. I find with makeup tutorials I don't end up doing what there doing completely. Though it gives me a foundation to figure out where , Id like to go with it . ELF  is a wonderful line this should give you some ideas.






Dressing for the Holidays :  It can get costly to be a social butterfly so here are some tips I use to get me through . Though my dance card isn't full this holiday season. In Christmas past I was running around like a crazy lady.

Signature Necklace
This piece can tie into casual and dress up
I love this red big shiny necklace it looks
good with a little black dress also with a crisp blouse

Same necklace completely different look

Little Black Dress - Its not risky but its functional you can add cardi, scarf , wrap , jewelry to kinda make it shine . This gives you versatility will see you through a few parties . Cocktail length is always good . If you find the perfect black dress hold on to it . Its a staple for certain will pay for itself in no time. There is no limit to what you can do with a black dress. Metallic heels are always a great accent to a black dress. Metallic are a classic you can't go wrong.

Yeah have no idea what I was doing in this photo but its
an older one   I am wearing the black dress though

The most important thing to wear is a smile to a party. Being warm and engaging is always in fashion . Will do other posts on money saving tips for the holidays . Just wanted to share a few basics I've come to rely on. I am a bit rusty haven't done a makeup post in a long time so bare with me while I get my groove back .