Commander in Chic: Every Woman's Guide to Managing Her Style Like a F
By Mikki Taylor
3.5/5
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About this ebook
The nation’s major networks, radio stations, and newspapers call on Mikki Taylor not only to discuss the “Obama look” and its feverish impact on style, but to hear Taylor’s own smart advice on looking polished and pulled together. She’s been privy to Obama’s style philosophy as well as that of countless celebs through her longtime role as beauty and cover director at Essence magazine, where she collaborated with Obama’s team on fashion and beauty choices for prime photo shoots for the magazine.
Now Taylor is sharing the keys to the Obama look with her diary-like observations, tips, and Mikki-isms (her short, ultra-clever style aphorisms) for women everywhere. Mikki knows we all want to possess a signature look and a wardrobe of bankable pieces that allow us the kind of versatility where we never have to worry about what to wear again! Consider Commander in Chic as your personal style diary—one where you’ll find everything you need to know to possess great style—simply, effortlessly, and for keeps.
Cover-to-cover, the book is full of stunning photo-graphs that take the guesswork out of what works. Every chapter in the book shares the kinds of concrete information and inspiring style ideas that not only make getting dressed a fabulous experience, but define what will make you a woman to remember! Here is everything you need to know about style—from your glossary of high-performance hair products and “do how-to’s” to the best makeup finds and techniques to what you need to know to grow your nails long and strong to the most polished hues for all skin tones. In “The Gam Slam,” Taylor tells you how to work summer-pretty legs year-round—from how to keep them even-toned and satiny smooth to vein-free.
Mikki took great care in talking to the experts about what we need to know to manage our lives from the inside out—from our mental and physical health and wellness to the importance of self-nurturing. As a result, you’ll find guiding principles on diet and exercise for the various stages of your life—from age twenty and beyond. You’ll also find the critical information you need to know to nourish your well-being so you can continue to be the empowered woman you are called to be.
All in all, Commander in Chic is a gold mine of information that will inspire you—from head to toe, inside and out—on how to truly style, now and for years to come.
Mikki Taylor
Mikki Taylor is a popular writer, motivational speaker, and TV personality, and is known as the country’s leading authority on beauty and style for women of color. A media veteran of more than three decades, Taylor is editor-at-large for Essence magazine and the president of Mikki Taylor Enterprises, LLC, a strategic branding, consulting, and communications company. She is author of the critically acclaimed books Self-Seduction and Commander in Chic.
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Reviews for Commander in Chic
4 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5it is an inspirational book, every single word describes this wonderful woman. I want to look like her she looks perfect to me. the book describes in total simplicity the inner and outside aspect of a powerful, intelligent, caring…human being.
Book preview
Commander in Chic - Mikki Taylor
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To Mommy, my Commander in Chic forever, with immeasurable love. You are always with me in spirit.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
BANK ON IT!
CHAPTER 2
DRESS CODE
CHAPTER 3
BOLD EXTRAS
CHAPTER 4
GO FIGURE!
CHAPTER 5
STYLE-TO-GO
CHAPTER 6
MAKE THE CUT!
CHAPTER 7
FACE FORWARD
CHAPTER 8
NAIL IT!
CHAPTER 9
THE GAM SLAM
CHAPTER 10
THE LAST WORD …
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS
INTRODUCTION
Looking back, I never dreamed I’d see an African American woman as First Lady during my lifetime. It was always a vision in place for my children’s future, an idea that would come to life in a time I wistfully spoke of as someday.
And yet there was no doubt in my mind the day I stepped into her home in Chicago for a cover shoot the summer before Barack Obama was elected to become the next president of the United States of America that someday
had come and that I was looking at our soon-to-be First Lady, Michelle Obama. It was in the air, in her aura, and on the faces of the folks who passed by the house with a smile and quick toot of their horns as if having their say-so
long before casting their vote.
It wasn’t the first time I had worked with Mrs. O. We met in 2006 on a photo session that saw me directing her look for a power story in Essence. Now here I was sitting across from her at the dining room table discussing my vision for the cover—what she should wear, the hair, the makeup, the mood of the shoot, and so on. The conversation was flowing so easily; it was like I was talking to someone I’d known and loved for years. This time I was a little nervous, though, for I just felt like this would be the last time I’d be talking to her as the senator’s wife.
Moments into the conversation, as I was admiring her ultra-chic dress, we both burst into laughs when she told me it was from H&M! At that point, I said to myself, Okay, let it go girl. She’s the real deal!
We decided on an elegant purple sheath for the cover and coordinating looks for Sasha and Malia and we were on. Of course, when the future Pres arrived home and proceeded to bring out his shirts for the shoot—asking yours truly which one should he wear—I had a truly comedic moment in that I was lost for words, and anyone who knows me is clear that I am never at a loss for words—especially not when it comes to style. But I lost all my composure chops that day and was totally underwater
trying to give him an answer! He could have shown me a checker-board shirt, and I would have said, That’s fabulous!
Nevertheless, I managed to find my voice and select a shirt for the money shot
as we call it. My colleagues of course were in hysteria as they’d never seen Ms. Mikki loose her composure. That was one for the record, as they say.
Leaving the house that day I realized that one of the most fascinating attributes about Mrs. O is that she so gets it on every front. Her approach to life is deliberate across the board, and she’s ever so clear in a world filled with confusion and ever-changing standards about the importance of setting your own. She’s the woman for all seasons, who knows how to do levels,
as we say in the community, in that she knows how to look fabulous while being frugal, how to go from comfortably talking with the Queen of England to encouraging the youngins at Newark, New Jersey’s, Maple Avenue School about the importance of eating healthy. She’s the sister-girl sprinting in Converse sneakers across the White House lawn by day who just as comfortably slips into a dazzling cocktail sheath by Kai Miller by night, welcoming Stevie Wonder to her home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (see previous page). To say she’s in full management of her own life and yet all the while looking out for the best for others is an understatement.
She has revolutionized our thinking about what’s really key to living, not just going through the motions and being at our best in every way. For certain, she doesn’t just have a full plate, she’s balancing a platter: she’s married to the most powerful man in the world, is a great mom, a beloved daughter, and a fab Sis,
all of which present a full set of responsibilities and cares of the heart. Yet by choice she’s also focused on the wellness of the nation’s children and the well-being of military families. There’s not one of us who isn’t moved by watching her step to purpose, day in and day out. We’ve long known her forerunners in our families and in the community as she’s the sister we’ve always looked up to, the more-than-busy mom who still finds time to help others with passion and verve. She’s the big sister who never let them see her sweat,
by staying focused on the duty at hand and all the while managing to keep a sharp eye on enjoying her life.
We’ve been waiting a long time for Michelle Obama
—a true role model, not an icon—to come to life in the White House. This smart, savvy sister who looks like us, speaks like us, and brings a formidable determination to the table that’s as tall and sure-footed as she is at nearly 5'11", walked in the door, ready to do the critical work. Her agenda is our agenda: that of taking back our health, canceling out obesity and therefore disease on our watch. It’s dispelling that angry Black woman
syndrome that folks at-large have tried to place on those of us who say what we mean and are affirmed enough to roll up our sleeves and place her wherever she goes. Listen, we can’t leave anything to chance when it comes to great style. In fact, I was so moved about this that the last word in this book speaks to us all about possessing great style from within, from clearing out the clutter in our lives to being the gatekeepers to our sacred space
—our minds—so we can be our most striking selves.
So what’s our takeaway
in the era of Michelle Obama? That you must be determined to own your life, as this is your fascinating journey, and you owe it to yourself to be in charge! That you place a keen focus on living the life you desire so it doesn’t elude you. In other words, don’t live any part of it in the gray or leave any part of it to chance, or your richest desires will get away from you, and that’s too great a price to pay. Don’t waste a moment talking about it or dreaming of it—like Obama, possess it, own it. You know wish lists are for children. Women have checklists! So make sure you constantly self-edit by making those choices that affirm you without and within all of your endeavors and let go of anything that doesn’t meet that criteria. And that means you’ve got to stay focused on what’s important to you so you’ll live your life as opposed to acting out the one someone else thinks you should live! That means you must have an intimate relationship with yourself and be self-nurturing and mentally aware.
If you look at Michelle’s life, you’ll see that she is on course because growing up she was encouraged to be so. The takeaway: don’t settle. If you have a passionate goal, go for it. You may have gone to school to be a lawyer, but your yearning to fly could one day put you in the cockpit—so keep your mind’s eye open. Make that self-discovery, and know that your desires are more than a notion. They could secretly be your passions, thresholds to your destiny. Why suppress them? You owe it to yourself to find out. To do so, you’ve got to learn to lovingly say no
to things that keep you busy and often are a waste of your time and your gift (let alone our hands on our hips while doing so. She’s not angry, nor are we, just tired of the way things are,
as she told the women at a Las Vegas community center while on the campaign trail. Having embarked on what she herself has described as one of the best jobs in the world, she also sees her role as First Lady as an opportunity to help women transform their lives.
Living her life from the inside out is what has made Obama a woman to watch in every way. It’s one reason why we’re all captivated by that smart, chic fashion sensibility of hers that captures our attention every time she emerges—anywhere in the world. Because, as senior advisor Valerie Jerrett has said, Michelle Obama is Michelle Obama’s role model.
In other words, she sets her own standards for what works for her. Through her role as First Lady and rock star brand, Obama has ushered in a period of optimism and purposeful style. She works American designers and retailers like a head of state! She wows us with newness, while remaining true to her style and what it means to be well dressed. She’s also teaching us that you can be price conscious and look just as elegant and moneyed as if you had spent your wad. Michelle more than proves that you can have fun with fashion, wear what you love, dress powerfully, and yet not be bogged down by old rules that have nothing to do with how you want to live your life. She has established a signature style that works for her when it comes to fashion and beauty and loves working a classic with a twist
theme that allows room for experimentation but is never off-track. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all yearn for? A signature style and a working wardrobe based on bankable pieces that allows one the kind of versatility where you never have to worry about what to wear? I say yearn no more: consider Commander in Chic as your personal style diary. From chapter to chapter, you’ll find everything you need to know to possess great style—simply, effortlessly, and for keeps. Trends come and go, but great style is forever in.
Besides, you’re more than a season of someone else’s style whims, so starting now, please don’t take trends too seriously.
Beginning with chapter 1, you’ll learn what to bank on and when to pass when it comes to establishing memorable style. You’ll have your own personal checklist for those core pieces I deem style essentials
for every great wardrobe—from a great cashmere cardi to the little black dress
that takes you from day to