be back

Have not forgotten about you loveleeee's i'll be back!

Change is okay!

I just got the notice! You are honestly in this game of life by yourself! Im finally in a space to be cool with that. I love who I am and at times, hey im all that I need! I have how ever learned to enjoy my now-ness and my new-ness! What I mean by that is that if I am having a good time right now and that is all I am worried about, my now-ness! If I am lucky enough to experience something new that brings me total bliss, then this is my new-ness! As I grow change is inevitable! Change my hair, change my mind, change my man, change my friends, change my address! I might even change my name again. 
The freedom to do so is wonderful, god is good that way! So when it seems like

when you want to do your best!

Im finding that for some of us it is difficult to find one's individual style.  Sometime's this can take some time a little thought and maybe a few bucks!  First of all you have to find your comfort zone.  Ask questions like what can I take to the next level without making myself uncomfortable.  Sometimes this is a lot of work, some just don't know what do to get that edge. Some may need to employ a stylist's just for the weekend, to redue your wardrobe or do some charts for you!  A stylist's should also tell you when you need more! A hair cut, a new hairstyle, new hair color!  Some make-up, less make-up!
Here are three proto types of style instructionals for three different personalities. Hope you get the idea and branch out, trying something new.

TYPE 1: THE Conservative CHICK!

first things first, we don't do two piece suits ever! You should have stopped wearing those in the mid or late 80's.. I mean clearly ask yourself, what year does this photo look like it's from? circa 1985. Her sleeve's are a no no, the blouse is definately a no no, pocket's and the ill fitting blazer, I mean seriously! Yet this was taken this year??? Yes, I know! What was she thinking, uh clearly she wasn't! Or maybe she was trying to keep her job, because she wasn't thinking promotion!





Here is your new look honey!

yeah, she went from stuffy frumpy to fly, fun and looking her age! Still clean lines, classy and chic and she's wearing jeans! Let's take her into the evening right from work

tune in later in the week for new looks!

Memorial weekend wardrobe check!

Memorial 4 day weekend calls for major relaxing, food, libations, fun and fashion.  Put up the tight work gear and pull out the comfortable shorts and maxi dresses!  Time to be yourself and let your individual style hang loose. Ladie's get those toe's painted and fella's you too could probably go for a manicure and a pedicure or two!  Ladie's really cute accessories, thick neutral bracelets with huge wood cut neutral earrings. Fella's nice bermuda shorts, long sleeve thin button up (linen) nice olive or army green tones, nice leather high tops same color family ( keep it clean).

Good music in the morning helps you dig deep into the best looking you!

KEN ROSEWALL'S RETRO'S

When I want to feel and look my ab-soul-ute best, I put on my favorite music! Blast me some Omar, still standing!  I feel like I can conquer the world.  Why do you think it's important to have the best music at a runway show. Honey @ every fashion extravaganza the beats be bumpin, getting everyone in the mood for what's to come. I challenge you to make a few play lists (if you haven't already)! One for sunny summer afternoons going to lunch with the girls, that would be some Corrine Bailey Ray, some Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu and some Cold Play! Put on the bright yellow sundress, with a cute red slim leather belt some green strappy sandals and go! Hooking up with the fella's to have a few drinks at the new lounge, some Andre 3000, ole school Cool C, some Biggie and a lil, lil KIM, hell slip into some fresh Scooby Doo's (Gucci Loafers, of course) some linen trousers and a thin silk v neck sweater, tan on cream on tan, please no more than 3 pieces of jewelry fella's. The night is yours!  Music sets the precedence for excellence, it just is-BEAUTIFUL.  Going out with the mob from school, Jay Z and Kanye all day with a little bit of Lil Brother and it's all good! The fresh new kicks, creative reactions or some fly retro's (me personally, Ken Rosewall's all day) some ole'  5's, baby blue and white polo and a clean knit zipper, fresh 2 death!

MICHAEL KORS

LEVI'S 501'S

YOU CHOOSE, IZOD

Real Beauty

It should not take a thousand compliments .from strangers to build your confidence, if God created you, therefore you are BEAUTIFUL. in this business it is hard to convince people to let me create a look for them, not something they saw in ...a magazine but a look that enhances their already beautiful elements. Try something new, something you thought you could never do but always wanted to do because it was in your spirit, but your were scared of what people would think. THE HELL WITH PEOPLE YOU BETTA WORK!See More

STYLE MAVENS THAT I ADORE!

Stylish Mavens

This was a brilliant Idea, Im so smart! The month of May for The Queen of Style is Style mavens that I adore and today im celebrating one's that i've worked with personally and are friends and family that I love and think are so fab. These chicks have flavor and style's of there own!  They posses a great eye for beauty,  unique items and have no problem getting noticed for their freshness.  So to all of you beautiful style standouts here's to you. If I didn't post you I still think your fresh, kisses!

IFAMODUPE

This bombshell has a style that's so weird and quirky it makes her flavor so unique it's hard to categorize. As long as she has been fly (and it's a long time) she never ceases to amaze me, except this past weekend showing up@ my door step with orange hair (for real) yelling fix this shit! LMAO.  What will u all do when im in Monte Carlo, executing the 4 F's (fun, faith, food,fucking). Yep I said it, WHAT!

   http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1620052468

Azaria Lewis

This is an amazing sister, with an amazing spirit! To be so young and carry such wisdom. Beautiful, ha are you kidding, more like drop dead gorgeous! Azaria is an amazing, brilliant, talented model that has been a pleasure to work with. She is doing some great work, so when you see her in magazines and such know that she is the real deal. Amazing!

THE AJA FONTE LOVELIES

These lovelies came into the boutique and wore it out! I couldn't keep up with them. They wanted lashes, outfits, shoe's, make-up, yummigoodz! Honey what a work out and I loved every moment of it! Kisses ladies! 

CLEO CARTEL/QUEEN OF STYLE

okay just a few things that I love, GOD, my people, my communities I live, work and play in! Music, art, music, accessories, music, poetry, did I say music! I love making people beautiful and everyone on this page I have had the pleasure of using as a live canvas, I thank you for that! be forever beautiful and fearless, I SALUTE YOU AND SUPPORT YOU!

yummigoodz.com         cleocartel.synthasite.com

Joi Waite

Joi is my sister in Christ, she is uplifting, original, funny, beautiful and authentic! Not everyone can say that about themselves! She is an awesome wife, mother and sister and still makes time for lil ole me! My big sister Joi has given me words that I have cherished, accessed and regurgitated to others.  Ms. Joi's style is polished, funky and forever fly. She is fearless when it comes to style and can wear anything and make it adorable. This month sis I celebrate you, the flyest of them all!

Miche' VanCollins

Is that an original vintage Cleo Cartel halter she is wearing, yes it is!  This is my ride or die, if I said today we are wearing cellophane noodles, this love bug would say to the right or to the left?  God knows I have done a lot of projects and have a million more to go.  It's nice to have someone who understands your vision and doesn't have there own agenda, this is what a model should embody!

Work it Sis!

DJ. Novela (Nicole Martinez)

Okay, this is my sister for real, I LOVE THIS CHICK! She has an ear for beautiful sound, i mean look at that smile. You guys really, God has blessed me with many of opportunities and meeting this style wonder was one of them.  Novela is an individual that dances to her own drum, her style is freedom with wings to jump from cloud to cloud, yes she's that fresh and my DJ 4-life.  Thank you sister friend for always supporting me. This month I celebrate your freshness! (love how you rockin those cleocartel originals, muah)

http://www.capitolroots.com/

 

Ms. Porcia Thurston

This is the only hot momma that I know that has to be fly while breast feeding, during activism, fighting the police and pushing equal rights for the people. I take my hat of to a sister who fights for rights for African male inmates and still makes time to be a mother a mate and a dynamic community supporter. I applaud your efforts and see you doing the work all while being superfly, must be the water in LA. I salute you sis! 

"The Diva"

Really, what can I say that hasn't already been said about the BOSS MS. ROSS. I can say this thank you for allowing us in your private space and for sharing your stylish self with us!

Queen Sheba

I am truly enjoying this!  This Lady is so damn fly, I can't keep up! Just when I thought the last thing she accomplished was bigger and better than her last feat, shoot last I heard she was running for office and honey it better pay well cause she got a shoe habit that might require rehabilitation! Seriously though, Bethsheba is an accomplished poet, author, activist and awesome mother!  She runs with the best of them literally, pushing black girls to run and get healthy! This is a friend and a motivator and she don't pull no punches. I like her style cause she got her own way of doing things!

Big up to you QUEEN SHEBA, for being one of the best who ever did it!http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/queensheba

Shannon Coleman

bubblin brown suga, yes that is what she is!  This is an amazing mighty woman of god!  She was raised by two of the most dynamic people on earth! As you can see this babe is fabo and is not afraid of the camera. She has no problem being what she all ready is " Royalty"! Thank you for being a wonderful daughter, cousin, friend and sister (auntie too!)  You are loved and needed! and you show can rock the hell out of anything I put you in. Just to cute!

Sharon Cooper Pleasant

OMG, I love this hot tamale! She is so fly! She is beautiful and has a wonderful spirit with wisdom and class and is as funny and quick witted as a seasoned comedian!  Sharon is fearless when it comes to fashion and has her own lane and baby if you can't keep up I suggest you sit your ass on the sideline cause this maven don't play. She is an awesome mother, wife and friend that every young beautiful queen should model them selves after.  Sharon Cooper-Pleasant is the CEO of  Cooper Media Group and we celebrate her freshness this Month of May

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000356612411#!/pages/Cooper-Media-Group/118395308212458

Lorrice Mosely-Smith

Now, this stylish chick got fashion and style on lock! This maven will pair a 2dolla jumpsuit, vintage fresh from the GOODS with a 5thousand dolla handbag, $100.000.00 worth a jewelry and some flip flops that she let her daughter Eyahdai (8years old) beadazzle! She never ceases to amaze me. Our family comes from the "if your a young lady and work everyday then you take care of yourself" That meant your hair, nails and outfit should always be on point. Handbag match your shoes, check! My beautiful cuzzin is also a talented accessories designer, check out some of her wares on etsy!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhalahdaiShugaHoney?ref=no-search-results

 

Jenna Moore

Another favorite model and friend. This is such a bright and wonderful young lady.  She is so funny and fun I really miss her smile and her humor. A delight on and off the camera and Ms. Jenna could give the lens a workout.  What style she has to, I attribute that to her Grandmother the late Great style diva herself  "Mrs. Dorothy MCloud"

Therra Howard

So of course it's only fair to say this young, newly Southern Belle ( by the way of Cali) is pretty fly with a great eye for individuality.  We all do know one thing for sure she get it from her momma the original Don Dadda  Ms. T.Denyse! She cute as a button too! Go Therra!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=651774011

Sonia Whittle

 This little pistol packs a stylish punch.  She is classic, cutting edge and cute combined.  Pairing vintage with new and I love the way this chick hangs a pair of high waisted slacks. I like that "Sony" knows her body and works the hell out of her beautiful frame with just the right sexy, flashy and classy. I am glad that she is my friend, truly! She is also a wonderful mother raising a very brilliant and might I add stylish fella, himself.   Make sure to check this songbird out on her Reverb Nation and you will see why she is so fly!  This is one to watch for!http://www.reverbnation.com/soniawhittle




 

Naimah Zaid

Just meeting this fly chica last year has truly been a pleasure!  We share the same birthday year and all.  So any Aquarius that shares the same birth day has to be pretty damn fresh!  Naimah is a tall, beautiful sista with mad style to boot, she has a great eye and like me doesn't miss a thing! She has a caring and wonderful spirit as well and I see big things for the CEO of FLIEYES make/up and lash empire!  This month we celebrate you sis!

flieyes.com

My Neice's Aja and DaMonique

all I can say for these two is God help them, we've already ruined them. Wearing Zac Posen and Ruthie's already! Young socialites are the worst because they need funding, lol!

The Cartel Mansion's Estate Sale For The House of Fonte'

So today is a beautiful day in the cities by the bay. Berkeley is a shining and I am feeling super fly.  Up early like 4am to get ready for part of what I call my transition, my next phase of my beautiful life!  So an Estate sale for the house of Fonte' it is! Everything must go, I mean everything. I don' want to take anything into my new space. Just the most high (and my favorite Chanel bags) So a couple of things im noticing as I sell and progress through out the day. I advertised heavily signs, craigs and F.Book so the turn out has been incredible but what im noticing is that when people see me a Black Queen and they are not of my race they keep on driving by. Hmmmm what the hell is that, u mean to tell me because of your racial hangups you would miss out on a  3000.00 Chanel bag for 680.00 bucks or custom cuff links that are a thousand years old that look like God himself made them, cmon people get over yourself so that you don't miss out on a good thing.
     2nd thing when you come to an Estate sell and something is to pricey or you don't like it keep your icy behavior to yourself.  At no time do you say, "um excuse me, what on this table is worth twenty dollars. My reply will always be, " okay thank you and nite nite!  B, please get some manners, no time for rotten fruit spoiling the whole harvest!

     3rd never ever pick up every item being sold and ask how much ( for every item @the sell, especially when there's a price ticket on the item! just a lil estate sale etiquette!

A good pair of choose (SHOES)

I must admit I have taken my very last and purchased a good, cute pair of shoe's! At a young age I would walk around for hours in Nordstrom second floor, Walnut Creek Ca. and purchase the most adorable lime green leather flats with yellow lemons on the side. They weren't even name brand they just were $200 cute!  My Father would say, where in sam's hell are you going to wear those to and I would just point to all of  his custom alligator cowboy boots and he would start laughing. I guess I got it bad from my momma and my daddy! That was 15 or so years ago and I probably still would of had those delish flats but I now wear a 10 1/2, 11 and was a 9 1/2 then. Those were a good pair of shoes that would have taken a walk to China to wear out the sole? My mother has boots that she purchased from Joseph Magnin and Rocsils (Oakland) for 500 to 900 bucks and still have them to this day of course they were boutique but well worth it and she would get them re- heeled and re-soled. Try that shit with a pair of these 500 hundred dolla boots these days and you might as well throw $500 in the trash. Trust me ladies I have been super trendy and thank god that was a phase, an expensive phase (okay a very expensive phase).

Side Bar: I was talking with my brother about how and why he had 65 shoe boxes in his living room?  He replied im having my office cleaned out? UHHH those didn't come out of your room. Brother: Uhh, No! The young lady cleaning his office let out a, "this is a damn shame"! Needless to say me and my brother were confused at her outburst!  I personally was thinking, only 65 well that's not that bad. She was obviously thinking "assholes"! There is a point to this side bar, i'll get to it soon!

Back to our normal station! I want shoe's to be constructed well! I don't mind a four inch heel as long as in two weeks and three times of wear it doesn't look like a two inch heel! And by golly im not interested in surgery immediately after wearing a pair of shoe's. Which brings me to my next thought, im gonna share this one

     I realize that fashion for some is a diversionary tactic for lack of talent, but really. Babies and young women don't try this without crutches and good Cobra! I have dressed a many of celebrities and some shit we just AIN'T wearing!  Snow White, maybe?  Your last formal before they lay you to rest? Fantasy Island?

     Like I was saying a good pair of shoe's is hard to find, sometimes yes, for men and women!  A good shoe designer is hard to find, do they still have shoe cobblers? Good leather soles that last a couple of years on your fav's. Here are some of my haute rave's for spring and summer, (personally I talk about the fashions according to the here and now and right now it's spring, when we get to winter thats when we will talk about fall, thats all). So take a gander and enjoy my lovelies.

Cleo Cartel

Donna Karan

 Donna Karan

 D'squared2

 Gaetano Perrone

 Gaetano Perrone

D'squared2

I love that I am an original. I love who I have become. I remember when I was about twelve I thought I was the black Cindy Lauper, then the black Madonna (the singer). Then MTV raps came along and that was it for me I was Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Poor Rightchous Teachers mixed with MGM, Fendi and patent leather shoes to boot. I was stylish, I was dope and I was fascinated by fashion and creating beautiful imaging. My mother would let me have her fabric pieces that she wasn't using and I would go down to the boys and girls club and sew my butt off or wait to get to school so Mrs. Jones could tear apart my entire piece to only re-do it to her standards. I have had an exceptional life ( insert smile )  I was never big on Garanimals (everything put together to match on a mannequin then you buy it, everything one color) but hey that was me!  I also absolutely hated anybody that called themselves a fashionista, or a stylist, or stylish, or a designer because they,

A. could afford to purchase every name brand and where them all @ once??? (not cute, at all)
B. would wear an entire outfit that somebody else just wore, famous or not! seriously?
C. or because there parent or parents where or are celebrities capitalized off of that and started to dress all of their celebrity friends, become a stylist, then hire a bunch of immigrants to sew there bad sketches and now become "Designers of The Stars" LoL, not haute!

So, I said all of that to say this, Now is my time to explode, investigate  and report on everything that's really beautiful and the not so much. I will talk about beautiful hair and make-up and the not so much. Oh yes and this is something I have been dying to do, I will be talking about other bloggers and product reviewers, why in the hell do you get to have all the fun? I will be ranting on whether your an authority on a topic, or just some bitter fuck head that like's to destroy peoples creative visions and works because you have not a creative bone in your body. Yes, im coming for you!  Soooo honey love's that is the T, and I have been yearning for this moment of Reign!  Lots of Sun, Tequila and good handbags! Until next time!

Cleo Cartel