We Forward in This Generation...Triumphantly

On Wednesday, Oprah dedicated the hour to Haiti and earthquake relief; I caught the insomniac edition at 1 a.m. [Smile.]

Wyclef joined her to illuminate the situation on the ground in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas also affected by this (un)natural disaster.

He also defended accusations of shoddy accounting practices on the part of his five-year-old foundation Yele Haiti. And the beautiful Maxwell, (finally) repping his Haitian heritage, sang "Fistful of Tears."

By now, particularly if you're of Haitian descent like me, but even if you're not, you've likely been inundated with fundraising-related invites and messages.

Everything from fashion shows to weekly parties to restaurant dining at places like Fatty Crab and Babbo has been re-purposed for Haiti Relief. A telethon, "Hope For Haiti Now," airs tonight.

I couldn't be happier, but I imagine it can be overwhelming to know where to give.

Rihanna's rendition of Bob's "Redemption Song," which she performed on the Wednesday Oprah episode was stirring. I'd recommend downloading it on Itunes.

Another simple, small way to give.

'Add as Friend'

It might not seem that way given the proliferation of social media, but friendship is a choice, not an obligation.

Women tend to bungle this. How often have you found yourself holding onto a friendship way past its "sell by" because you felt guilty about letting go or because of some tenuous ties?

I've also been on the receiving end of irrational devotion from mere acquaintances. Ever experienced this? Girls, in particular, who'll create an imaginary bond with you based on what they believe is common ground?

On inspection, you couldn't be more Granny Smith and Florida Citrus.

I used to be absolutely gripped by residual Catholic school guilt, feeling like I owed anyone who sought it - my friendship.

Which is not to say that we shouldn't make every effort to be good to people in general, but who we choose to "friend" in life becomes a reflection of who we are.

Rihanna Takes a Bow

I know that stylist Mariel Haenn is the real wizard behind Rihanna's we're-not-in-Barbados-anymore transformation, but I'm feeling the looks all the same. (That said, I did take issue with the heavy-handed Sharon Stone/Basic Instinct sartorial reference she pulled for Rih on that ABC primetime interview a couple weeks ago.)

Anyone who's met me can attest to my taste for bold lip color, and my tendency to force aggression onto my girlish pieces.

So, for instance, a recent photo of Rih on her birthday in militarized Bess boots and a Ladies-Who-Lunch, body-hugging sweater dress was right up my alley. Say what you will about her style not being organic but she gives off something far more authentic than the average pop star.


Her December Glamour magazine cover and spread now ranks as one of my favorites. (And goodness knows I'm a Vogue girl.)

Easy, Breezy

A star of the sci-fi fantasy "Heroes," Dania Ramirez is the most recent bold-face name to sign a cosmetics contract to rep for Cover Girl. The drugstore brand hasn't been shy about embracing diversity among its ranks of spokeswomen (Latifah, Rihanna, Tyra, etc.), and I think Dania is another good choice. Sometimes it seems as if the same handful of Latina starlets get all the shine (see the seemingly reluctant-to-be-ethnic Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes, and Eva Longoria). It's great to have fresh faces.

Getting Nail-ed

One summer my friend A and I worked a camp counseling job pulling a paycheck that felt like making it rain every week on schedule. (I don't think that check would even buy brunch at Balthazar these days, lol.) We bought makeup, CDs, piles of candy, sneakers... But one of my favorite splurges that season was getting acrylic tips for the first time at a Long Island nail salon. Pastel lavender and yellow were my signatures. Now I've been revisiting that palette sans tips, in bolder canary yellows and deep blues and greens from Essie and Opi. I say if you can pull off nail art, go for it. I give Rihanna's look here thumbs.

'Good Girl' Don't Cry

What makes the storm engulfing Rihanna and Chris Brown (who's now something of a fallen prince), all the more tempestuous is that so many among their fans had percieved Brown as a force for good in her life, a playful (age-appropriate) presence. From where I sit, just about five feet from my window is a kiosk whose display case is lined with celebrity tabloids carrying pictures of a forlorn looking Rihanna. The record-label conceit that the black leather-clad pop&B chanteuse was a "Good Girl Gone Bad" had been challenged by photographs in the aforementioned weeklies that showed the couple frolicking at an amusement park, munching on french fries - all the sweet, ordinary things you do with your BF. Of course, these were chart-topping, platinum-selling etoiles. Was Rihanna out there "Livin a Lie," as she sang on The-Dream's Love Hate record? While we all wait for the verifiable truths to emerge, I'm keeping the Def Jam princess in my thoughts.