True fashion forward ladies know that style inspiration can come from just about anywhere – other fashionistas, magazines, store mannequins and even YouTube. Whether you’re looking for ideas for a new natural hairstyle or weave, or if you’re looking for a way to revitalize your wardrobe or tips on thrifting, you can find everything you’re looking for and more on YouTube. One visit to a fashionista’s YouTube channel for a style demo often leads to clicks on other videos and inspiration. Before you know it, you’ve stepped your entire style game up a notch in a few hours, and people stop you on the street to compliment you or to ask “where’d you get that?”

Impeccable style is contagious, and a good fashionista makes style accessible. While there are many women doing their thing on YouTube, here are seven of the best hair and fashion vloggers  on YouTube (in no particular order). Is your favorite YouTube fashionista on the list? Check out our list to find out and click on the names to follow the women to their YouTube videos. Feel free to recommend your own favorites below.

Every few months I go through the arduous task of changing my clothing over to reflect the season we are in.

I go through my closet, pulling out stuff that is too summery for Fall and bring the longer sleeved shirts, dresses and tops to the front of my closet for more convenient access.  This process usually takes a few hours, mainly because I have tons of clothes. Way more clothing than any one person needs or could possibly wear in two lifetimes. Every season, I end up donating at least a 30-gallon garbage bag of clothing to a local woman-in-transition shelter but there are plenty of other garments that I have yet to part with. I have pants that I wear now and pants that I hope one day to fit into; dresses that have been in my closet since high school and shirts that I hold onto, hoping that they will come back in style – one day.   And don’t get me started on my shoe collection.  Imelda Marcos would be proud.

But even with my abundance of apparel, I have no clue how to put them together in a way that looks fashionable. I’m not totally fashion illiterate, like I don’t go out the house with missed matching colors – at least not all the time- or rocking 8-ball jackets and some stone washed jeans with the leather on the front, thinking I’m the Isht, or missed matching colors – at least not all the time. I do know how to wear a shirt, some slacks or a dress and look presentable. But that is as far as it goes. There are no extras like bangles and cute little headbands. Or funky colored and textured stockings or overcoats that just set the outfit off. When it comes to putting together fabulous, trend-setting ensembles like the cute girls in the Street Segment section of Essence magazine, I tend to look more like the blurry faces in the background.

There is fashion and then there is style. In my book, having style is more important. Style doesn’t require you to have lots of money or wearing expensive garments that you know on with your best paycheck, including the 10 hours of overtime, you just can’t afford – that is fashion. I mean, have you seen someone rocking a pair of Red Bottoms and the shoes are the only civilized part of their outfit? Style requires you know how to take that piece of fashion to look decent or smart. Some women I know can go to a thrift store and come out looking like a better dressed version of June Ambrose. Whereas I go to a thrift store and come out looking like I went to a damn thrift store.
I once asked one of my fashion forward friends how she does it. Giving me a sly grin she said, “I’ve spent most of my youth agonizing about the way I look. I was raised by my mom, who was very particular about how her children presented themselves. I’ve surrounded myself with books, magazines, television programs and friends, who have all help me to mature my style. For me, my style is the way that I express myself.” Cool, I asked her if she could mentor me so that I could discover my inner fashionista. She looked me up and down and said, with a sympathetic smile, “Honey, I think there is nothing wrong with the way you dress. Your style is a reflection of you. Some people are just plain.” To this day, I still take that as a back handed compliment.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t try. Three and a half years ago, I went to Europe, by way of Amsterdam. I noticed that all the residents and European tourist alike were walking around with some glamorized version of the parachute pants. You know, the extraneously baggy pants popularized by M.C. Hammer? Apparently they were all the rage in Europe and just a few days before my arrival, I had already started seeing glimpse of the return of the pants on a few celebrities. I thought this would be my shot. I snag a pair here and be among the first in my neighborhood to rock them. Those pants are still taking up space in my closet. I just never had the confidence to wear them. I guess my friend is right: some folks are just destined to be plain janes.

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Greetings Noirette stylistas and fashionistas! To be honest with you, this hasn’t been the most exciting week for fashion. For the most part, a lot of celebs flew overseas to London and thought they’d make their best fashion statements there. Most folks were caught out looking underwhelming, but these four celebrities wore fits that at least caught our eye and kept our attention. Time to figure out if they stood out for being hot or a hot mess. Let’s get started.

Hey hey now! Kelly Rowland attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in London this week where she picked up a “Woman of the Year” accolade for being “Best TV personality.” She stunned on the red carpet in this black and white Maria Grachvogel dress. The halter dress was a sleek number that gave the singer/TV personality the chance to showcase her toned arms. She kept the hair straight and sleek as well, wore a simple bangle with a few rings and large hoops and showed folks how to do the statuesque look to a T. Loving the dress, loving the hair (though I probably would have worn it up), and she just looks all around fab. Check out the back too! Steal.

Ringing in the New Year (alongside ex Matt Kemp on the low if I may add) at Diddy’s private estate in Miami Beach, Fla., the Bajan singer stepped out in all black everything (aside from her lips) and went for a more demure but risque ensemble for the NYE celebration over the weekend.

Rihanna wore a below the knee dress with long sleeves that was covered in wild leopard print. While that sounds really spunky and colorful on paper, the shade of black she rocked it in toned down such a ferocious design. HOWEVER, the dress was transparent all over in one form or another, from the completely see-through arms to the sheer bodice and skirt that exposed some skin and a not so hidden Areola ring. The top of the dress also gave folks at the party an opportunity to play peek-a-boo thanks to a large keyhole opening. To help the dress hug her figure, she threw a black belt around her waist, and paired it with strappy, pointed-toe heels. Her jewelry included a few necklaces, including a chain, some small studs and said scandalous boobie ring.

Can’t lie. I actually like the dress in all of its sheer glory. The keyhole detail and arms are what grab my attention and have me most intrigued by her look. However, I’m not feeling the witch heels or the fourth grade spelling bee hair. While the hair is appropriately up (high neck shirts and dresses need updos), the curls are a little too kiddish and could have looked better with pressed bangs and a romantic ponytail. Her makeup is still cute and what not, but she doesn’t even seem very comfortable in this fit, standing like someone who got lost on their way to a family gathering. I’d steal this dress for myself (but with the appropriate undergarments underneath), but she should stick to her more over-the-top and colorful meets nasty girl/Vanity 6-ish outfits.

What do you think?

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In the heart of a woman, you’ll find two things: love, and more love. Even when that woman’s having a bad hair day or struggling with her 1980′s wardrobe, she is filled with love. Even when she’s the lone voice of reason in an all-male board meeting, she is filled with love. When she’s stereotyped, misjudged or mischaracterized, her heart still forges ahead with love. In good times and bad, with good shoes and bad, whether basked in high fashion or struggling with low moments, this woman’s heart keeps racing, pacing with love. This woman is you, your sister, your mother, your role model, your wife, your friend, your girlfriend, your cousin, your First Lady. Her mind has traveled everywhere, her eyes have wondered everything, her beauty has affected everyone and her thoughts have turned the world around its axis: we listen to her thoughts and collect them here. And, we fondly call her “Madame Noire.”

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