I am pleased to introduce you to someone who is not only great at what she does professionally but she is also one of my favorites.

Meet Toni of Sultry. Toni has been doing my make up for a little over a year and she works wonders when it comes to giving me the natural look that I so desire. Toni is known for creating very natural looks with bright eyes, and as my partner in fashion, Rebecca Pollard, of “Can Ya Heel Me?” would say, luscious lips!

Toni has worked behind the scenes of Philadelphia Fashion Week and creating signature lips and stand out, alluring eyes to complement the designer’s fashions that grace the runway. Toni has also created the faces (especially mines) for Walk the Talk Exclusive Fashion Event that takes place every year in Philly for the elite fashion insiders.

I utilize Toni each and every time because she gives me such a young and fresh look that makes my skin look more flawless. I always highly recommend her for proms and other formal teen events because she can make a young woman look like a princess.

Toni is very popular amongst the preteen population as well. How is this so? Well, Toni has a tea party event at least twice a year that caters to young girls from 4-12 years old where they are pampered from head to toe.

I had the chance to chat with Toni so you can learn more about her and all that she has to offer.

I have yet to sit in her chair but the buzz behind the styles of Kia Sterling is all over Philly and the NYC. As the senior stylist at one of the most popular Beauty Salons in Philly, Kia Sterling is the lady that people want to see for a super model look. As the senior stylist for Philly Fashion Week of 2012, she created magnificent styles that complimented the looks of each designer, caught the attention of many viewers that began to create a buzz about the super chic stylist.

I had the chance to chat it up with my new fashionista, Kia and we talked about her experience as the head stylist for Philly Fashion Week, her work in NY and what we can expect from her in the years to come. Needless to say, I will be in her chair very soon...

Who is Kia Sterling?

A woman who loves GOD, a believer, and adores my family. I am a loyal friend, hard worker, creative thinker, social butterfly, down to earth, lover of all things beautiful, and loves to laugh really, really hard.

What were you interests before hair care/styling?                           

Believe it or not, I wanted to become a professional ballerina. I started training at the world renowned PHILADANCO in Philadelphia at a very young age in ballet, point, tap, jazz, gymnastics, and modern dance. Dance was my first love and I still love it today.

When did you decide to become a stylist?

When I was a teenager. I realized that I could do what I love doing and make a great living at it. I never feel like I'm working, just enjoying one long fabulous party.

Who would think that a model would outgrow modeling? I mean, really! Who wants to give up the perks like parties, meeting awesome celebrities and getting paid really great money? It appears to be the life, right? 

Well, according to Vanna B., she got bored and was looking to do something that was more stimulating to her mind and fulfilling to her heart; something that would show the true artist that was dying to come out as an author. Sure, she enjoyed the perks of modeling but she wanted more, and as a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Journalism, she was going to get it. 

Vanna B is making her debut as a writer with her first book, Fancy which hit the scene in the beginning of the year 2012. I was excited to read a book by a Philly author because I am a fan of a few of our female authors in Philly which definitely includes Miasha (my favorite and mentor) and Karen E. Quinones Miller, and I was looking forward to a new face and new message, and I was not disappointed.

Mariel "Fancy" Alvarez is a Latina socialite with the life very similar to her name. With a closet full of extremely expensive designer wear, fashionable friends, VIP treatment at the hottest clubs in Philadelphia and mingling with the finest men in the big leagues, what more can a woman from the Ghetto want? 

From the naked eye, she seems to have everything but a closer look into her world reveals that it is all an illusion. The illusion seems like it is coming to an end very soon because she is getting closer to the big 3-0, and soon her options will be slim to none.

Fancy takes us on a journey with her to find her true self and understanding that what people think is not always what is best for her. From losing her apartment to living with her mother; to having no job to stripping in a club, Fancy is finding that life is a serious teacher and you will either pass the class or fail.

So will this “Fancy" girl continue to place herself in danger and awkward situations all for love, money, and comfort or will she abandon the superficial lifestyle she has come to know? The temptation of the almighty dollar can be powerful, but life and love for self can conquer all!!!

Hannan Saleh is not your ordinary photographer…she is a style spotter who has become a designer and bloggers best friend. As a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 1998, with a degree in photography, Hannan has been blessing magazines like Uptown and Essence with her amazing knack of catching fashionistas on the streets in their hottest threads. 

You can always tell images that were done by Ms. Hannan. Her signature is definitely her sense of color because she captures the most vibrant colors known to man whether it is a pair is shoes, bright capes, or colored hair. She loves patterns that stand out in the crowd, but what she is most iconic for is her subjects… serious fashionistas and mostly bloggers!

Now don't get me wrong, she is not just limited to bloggers (she also featured designers and other fashion enthusiast) but her eye is perfectly trained on us bloggers, always able to spot one in the crowd, especially at New York Fashion Week. According to Hannan, she loves bloggers because of their young and fresh minds and she believes that young people have a voice in art, and she wants to be the first to expose their fashionable wears and ideas via the images that we see each week on Essence.com. 

Essence.com Street Style is one of the most popular links to follow on the website as many people get their inspiration from this section of the online mag for accessories, clothing, and brands. So when you are zeroed in on with Hannan Saleh's lens, the popularity of the blogger or designer can increase 10 times over! Fashion bloggers like Sai Sankoh of Because I’m Fabulous and countless other bloggers have confirmed their popularity from these wonderful opportunities in Essence.com with their daring and exciting style.

I had the chance to chat it up with one of my favorite photographers (next to my Father) about her love for beauty and especially bloggers!

Ok True Fashionistas, if you are truly into fashion then you know this young lady and her contribution to the street swag that was popular in the hip hop world of the 90’s. If you are not familiar with the awesome talent that is April Walker, allow this to be your first introduction to a style icon that people like Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, Diddy, Naughty by Nature, and so many countless other celebrities embrace by wearing her clothing and making her brand one of the greatest names to hit the streets of NYC.

April Walker is a designer that hails from Brooklyn (originally from LA) and she started her first urban apparel brand “Walker Wear” fresh out of school, at age twenty-two, landing accounts such as Macy’s, Footlocker, Spiegel, Finish Line, Dayton’s, and Dillard’s which is greatly impressive for a young lady that is in the beginning of her career. Walker has also worked as a VP at Phat Farm, managing the growth and all of the licensees. She implemented a women’s division for And-1 from “mind to marketplace”. She’s consulted for brands such as Ecko, Champion, Russell athletics, Vivian Kay, Idg, Money Clothing, and business outreach center network, a micro-enterprise and business development organization. Are you beyond impressed?

True to my nature as a fashionista, I felt it extremely necessary to connect you all with some of the history of hip hop style, so I caught up with the awesome lady of street fashion and chatted it up about her decision to get into the world of fashion, how she changed her mind about being a gymnast and what she is doing now to keep the hip hop world connected to the fashion community.

Who is April Walker? 

April Walker is a female designer in a predominately male business that trail blazed the urban/street wear fashion category that commanded over $200 billion by 2004. 

I have met a lot of great people on facebook that are in the fashion industry and many of us have become great fashion acquaintances, mostly because we admire each other’s talent, drive and ability to make the world more beautiful and fashionable. Rodney Jon, makeup artist to all of those that are looking for excellence is one of those people.

I first met Rodney through my favorite fashion stylist, mentor and family friend, Tish Thomas, and I saw some of his makeup jobs… FABULOUS!!! His choice of colors, blends and shapes are amazing and like I have told him many times, the fact that he matches skin colors so well, the people that are decorated by his brushes almost looks as if they have nothing on at all.

Rodney is a very exceptional artist that believe it or not, was interested in being a mechanic… can you believe that? Well, I got to the bottom of his desire to create beauty and he shared why he got into makeup artistry, some of the famous people that he has been working with and some really great tips for applying good makeup. Check out the interview below.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a makeup artist?

I absolutely love when I am asked this question. Doing makeup was far from my mind growing up. I used to be an auto-mechanic and my major in college was fashion marketing. I always thought I would be a buyer for department stores and a celebrity wardrobe stylist.

When did you know that this is what you wanted to do?

I developed a love for makeup Artistry and it became my passion while I was working at Aveda under Rudy Miles for New York Fashion Week ten years ago.

A trend that seems to be taking off is African print clothing with very feminine and timeless silhouettes for the modern woman. There are a few fashion designers that have picked up on this trend that includes Boxing Kitten (Solange and her sister, Beyonce, love their clothing) and Ashanti Lou Footwear, but the ones that are starting a buzz is the sister team of designers of Aso Damisi (ah-SHAW DAH-me-see).

The company was created by two sisters, Moriamo Johnson and Latifat Obajinmi . Both sisters were born in Nigeria, and they relocated to the United States at a very young age with their family. Moriamo and Latifat originated from the Yoruba speaking tribe in the West African nation. In the Yoruba language, "Aso" means cloth or clothing and "Damisi" means prosperity.

When I first met the sister team, it was at my event, Walk the Talk Exclusive Fashion Event. I had heard the little buzz but I was not aware of the fashion forward trend that they were creating that seems as if it will last a lifetime. I was very interested in the sister team because of how nice and genuine they are. Their aura is calm and friendly, and they seem very open to ideas of fashion, beauty and all things feminine. After seeing their clothing featured in a few fashion shows including Philadelphia Fashion Week, and getting a glimpse of their fashion close-up and personal, I fell in love with the rich color choices and patterns that are subtle yet daring, their modern yet timeless cuts, and their always soft yet fancy presentation.

Just recently, they won a wonderful opportunity to work under the umbrella of The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator at Macys. The PFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, devoted to fashion design in Philadelphia. Launching in March 2012, PFI is a one-year program that features 4 annually-selected Designers-in-Residence (DIR), who will have access to office and design/work space, a showroom, curriculum, mentoring, and other important resources all within Macy’s Center City in an effort to help them launch and further grow their companies in the City of Philadelphia.

They both share true passion for fashion and entrepreneurship. As self-taught designers, they show a great enthusiasm for the future of fashion adding the rich culture of their African ancestry.

I had the chat with Moriamo, because both minds think alike, and she shared with me the love that they have for fashion, the customs of African fashion and what we can expect from them in the future.

Dear Fashion Diary,

Yesterday I was interviewed for the Examiner by Phillip Stokes, one of my fabulous fashion friends. What was the topic? Men's Fashion!

Men's fashion is really something I don't really think about often except when it comes to my dad and he is a really good dresser and I usually like what he wears. He is usually simple and clean wearing graphic tees and loose fitting jeans that are not too baggy which makes him look mature and professional.

Just a month ago, I went  suit shopping with my dad and that was an eye-opening experience for me.  I thought that when guys shopped they could simply grab something in their size and keep it moving.. I had no idea how the styling for men really went down!!!