I’M BACK! I feel like I say this a little too often. Anyway, I’m in full “get ready for summer” mode so I needed to share my favorite vegan Southwest Salad recipe. Its easy, satisfying, and oh so delicious!
Admittedly, I’m not really a big fan of salads. After finishing one, I’m usually looking for what’s next. To fix this empty stomach problem, I started adding cooked food to my salads. Yes, I know…not groundbreaking but it made a difference in how I enjoyed salads. It was also another easy way for me to add another weeknight meal into rotation without using the stove. Just mah cutting board and silicone baking sheet.
In fact, I make this salad so often on my “lazy” nights that I’m beginning to hear groans from the gallery when I announce “Southwest Salad for dinner”.
My favorite part of the salad is obviously the potatoes. Anyone else buy a 5lb bag every grocery run? The potatoes are perfectly seasoned and baked to crispy perfection. They almost serve as croutons on the salad but way better. Paired with the ranch dressing, its almost as if you’re not eating something semi-healthy. I usually use spinach because I feel like I’m sneaking in those dark leafy greens (while covered in ranch) but feel free to use whatever greens you have on hand.
And of course what’s a southwest salad without black beans and corn. The combo works perfectly and get in some easy protein.
Oh, and I didn’t forget about the ranch. Its amazing. Truly amazing. Another super easy sauce to use on everything. Also, potatoes and ranch? Need I say anything else?
If you try it, let me know in the comments!
Southwest Spinach Salad with Baked Seasoned Potatoes
Another new LIFE CHANGING recipe! I’m a sucker for all things saucy especially ranch but I wanted a lighter/lower calorie version of the real thing that didn’t taste like I was missing the real thing. I’ve been making hummus dressings for a while now and it was time I took measurements so I could share the amazingness of my Vegan Garlic Hummus Ranch Dressing.
Garlicky, creamy, tangy dressing goodness. I use this stuff with everything. The obvious choice would be with a salad but you can use this for so much more. Late night chip cravings? Hummus Ranch with Celery and Carrots. Burrito bowl needs a sauce? Hummus Ranch. Need a dip to bring to last minute party you were invited to? Hummus Ranch. Thirsty? Hummus Ranch. I’m kidding…but not really. After making the recipe for the pics I could help but having some by the spoonful. ?
I’m not new to the substitution game. I love creating recipes by swapping out a traditional ingredient for one that is higher in protein, lower calorie, or just all around healthier. A prime example would be my Tofu Nacho Cheese or Cauliflower Carbonara with Tofu Bacon. In this instance, I swapped out the vegan mayo for plain hummus. Not only is it much lower in fat and calories but also less processed and provides some nutritional value while being ridiculously delicious. It also ticks all the trendy vegan boxes. ? It’s gluten-free, oil-free, low fat, and made with whole plant foods.
If you make this LIFE CHANGING recipe, let me know in the comments ??
At the intersection of island aesthetic and international couture, you’ll find the work of Jamaican-American designer and stylist Tanya Marie.
Check out several images of Tanya Marie in the slideshow below.
Photographer: Richard Lecoin
Videographer: Nicholas Chin
Hair: Simone Hylton of Natural Trend Setters
Makeup: Debbie Parent @changingfaces_beauty
Styling: Tanya Marie Designs
Model: Tanya Marie McLendon
Embracing local materials, historical traditions, and climate conscious infrastructure, the Caribbean hotel industry offers an impressive selection of recreational havens artfully designed to take advantage of the region’s natural beauty and amenities.
Far from the cookie-cutter buildings with hermetically-sealed suites, basic pools, and generic “tropical” décor that you may find in some quarters, there are architectural oases throughout the islands, worthy of fervent Instagram love. For those equally awed by swooping rooflines and ocean panoramas, check out our list of gorgeous resorts with legit architectural pedigrees.
SECRET BAY HOTEL ST. JOHN, DOMINICA
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Photography Courtesy Of Secret Bay Hotel
Dotting the deep Dominican rainforest with dramatic cliff views, the eco-resort Secret Bay lives up to its moniker, with an elegant series of villas and bungalows offering complete seclusion among the treetops. Conceived by famed Venezuelan architect Fruto Vivas, each luxe cabin is a work of masterful design. “We wanted guests to feel a sense of harmony within the natural environment, so we aimed to create that experience by blending the indoors with the outdoors,” Vivas says.
The structures resemble fanciful treehouses, completely clad in Guyanese hardwood and elevated from the ground by modernist concrete pillars to harness the refreshing sea winds. Inside, the tropical hardwood continues—from the plank flooring to the vaulted ceilings, while expansive windows, verandas, and balconies perfectly frame vignettes of the outdoors. The design, Vivas notes, allows “guests to feel the crosswinds, smell the aroma of the forest, and embrace a sense of freedom.”
The property’s sleek infinity pools and winding pathways beckon guests to leave their villas and explore.“Dominica is an amazing tropical paradise, and the elevation allows Secret Bay to be integrated with the external space so the landscape can penetrate the interior seamlessly.”
Ever mindful of preserving the ecosystem, the resort was built by hand, using sustainably-sourced woods, and each structure was carefully placed, avoiding as much land-clearing as possible. The result—a resort experience submerged in lush rainforest.
PARK HYATT ST. KITTS BANANA BAY, ST. KITTS & NEVIS
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Photo: Courtesy Of Park Hyatt St. Kitts
The fusion architecture of Park Hyatt St. Kitts, opened in 2017, bucks the trend of unremarkable hotel chain design, with a contemporary aesthetic inspired by the island’s historic building style, particularly its sugar plantations—from palatial great houses to modest barns.
The expansive property, overlooking Christophe Harbor, includes 126 rooms, three acclaimed restaurants, a wellness sanctuary, and the first Caribbean location of the renowned Miraval Life in Balance Spa.
Rooms and suites are housed in classic gable-roofed structures, with special suites featuring private sundecks and views of neighboring Mount Nevis. Its interiors boast a clean, white-washed style, with paneling and ceiling beams—a stark contrast to the historic opulence of the public spaces. The extraordinary Rampart terrace pairs infinity pools with massive arches built from local stone, invoking the aged stonework of nearby colonial fortress, Brimstone Hill. This stonework continues to the spa and wellness retreat’s replica sugar mill, providing an idyllic spot for yoga and meditation, with views of the sky from the circular opening above.
Even Park Hyatt’s three restaurants boast their own architectural distinction. The Fisherman’s Village recalls fishing huts and berths with its thatched roofs and open-air dining, while the exposed stone and peaked ceilings of the Stone Barn gourmet restaurant echoes the structures once used to protect crops during the rainy season. As the resort’s epicenter, with a restaurant, rum bar, library, and conservatory, The Great House takes inspiration from grand plantation houses, incorporating high ceilings and an abundance of verandas.
EL BLOK VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO
El Blok Hotel
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Photo: Courtesy Of El Blok
There is a large and imposing edifice nestled among the sleepy beach bungalows in the picturesque town of Esperanza, Vieques, a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico. This stunning modernist retreat, El Blok hotel, unites minimalistic design with the Caribbean’s organic beauty. “The experience of this hotel is not about being in a pastiche or alien notion of a Caribbean that does not exist,” says El Blok’s San Juan-based architect Nataniel Fúster of Fuster + Architects. “It’s about radically embracing, reimagining and celebrating our reality…to celebrate our intense natural light, to take advantage of the open and uninterrupted spaces, and to create a tension between the user and the surroundings.”
El Blok may have raw, Brutalist bones, but its waves of gleaming white concrete echo the surrounding coastline. Inspired by the permeability of coral reefs, the façade also features moveable, perforated panels that “act like membranes,” says Fuster, providing the protection of hurricane shutters, while filtering light that casts intricate shadows in an equally striking interior. Its circular lobby is retro-modern, and its curvaceous rooms are balanced with streamlined décor. The hotel also includes subtle nods to classic Spanish-Caribbean architecture, with colorful tilework and an open atrium that circulates fresh air and light.
Completed in 2014, El Blok is not just celebrated for its distinctive design, its reinforced structure weathered 2017’s Hurricane Maria without significant damage. The hotel grounds played an active part in the island’s recovery and has become a place of refuge for locals and tourists alike, thanks to its lively (and legendary) rooftop, with an infinity pool, entertainment space, and uninterrupted ocean vistas.
TRIDENT CASTLE AND HOTEL PORT ANTONIO, JAMAICA
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Turn a certain corner around Pegg Point in Port Antonio, Jamaica and you’ll suddenly be greeted by a fairytale castle, complete with towering turrets, Juliet balconies, and a grand staircase leading downward to the sea. It is bright white, majestic, and—if you’re seeing it for the first time—totally unexpected. Designed by Jamaican architect Earl Levy as a private residence, which eventually became his own home, Trident Castle captures the old-world elegance of classic British Colonial architecture.
The grandiose banquet hall has 47-foot ceilings, neo-classical accents and a checkerboard floor. The Castle’s glamorous entertainment spaces also include a traditional dining room featuring regal arches and decorative plaster friezes, as well as sweeping terraces with iconic black-and-white tilework.
Built in the 1980s, the castle now serves as an exclusive venue for weddings and other special events, and at times as a vacation retreat for Hollywood stars and music royalty.
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Nestled on the same property is the luxurious Trident Hotel, which Levy originally designed. In 2012, after both buildings came under new ownership, Kingston-based architect Vidal Downing and his team at Atelier Vidal remodeled the hotel. In a nod to Trident Castle’s traditional architecture, the team sought to marry the boutique hotel’s classic style with a more contemporary sensibility. The goal, Downing says, “was to change how the building related to the outdoors. We wanted to reconnect you to the view, stripping away any distractions.” The new exteriors mirrored the castle’s Jamaican Georgian architecture, with gabled roofs and symmetrical wings, but entrances and openings were expanded to “always bring your eyes back to the ocean,” he adds. The overhaul incorporated elements of tropical contemporary design with sleek façades—a minimalist style that continues to the modern terraces with infinity pools.
Interior Designer Monique Duarte knows the power of transformation—how the right silhouette or fabric can change how a room looks, and more importantly, how it feels. She applies this knowledge to the design of colorful and inviting interiors for clients locally and around the world through her company Monique Duarte Design.
DUARTE, WHO IS BASED IN VIRGINIA, traces her creative genes to her Trinidadian mother and grandmother, and their annual family trips to the island’s Carnival. Both women were gifted artists and dressmakers, so “from an early age they would take me to the mas (masquerade) camps, and I got to look at and feel fabric… see the different patterns,” recalls Duarte. Today, you can still see hints of that childhood fascination with color, pattern, and texture in the bespoke design interiors she delivers.
Duarte, formerly a corporate marketer for top tech brands like Yahoo and Microsoft, made a personal transition to the world of design when she began decorating her own home. “I fell in love with the process and that feeling of waking up every morning in a beautiful space,” she recalls. “That’s when I learned just how important it is to have a home you enjoy. People live their best lives in a space that truly represents what they are.”
She is known for her effortless blend of international styles, from Caribbean coastal to European traditional, and her creative focus is always led by the client. “I believe the space should be an expression of the person you’re designing for,” she explains. “My job is to bring out their vision and personality.”
This close collaboration may happen during in-person meetings, or remotely through her unique e-design service, which offers custom concepts and curated shopping lists via online consultations.
No matter where she designs, nothing beats that final make-over reveal. “It’s a great feeling to have clients walk into the completed space and see their jaw just drop,” muses Duarte. “It’s such a pleasure showing them that we really brought their vision to life.”
Beautiful Spaces - Interior Design by Caribbean Designer Monique Duarte
Beautiful Spaces - Interior Design by Caribbean Designer Monique Duarte2
Beautiful Spaces - Interior Design by Caribbean Designer Monique Duarte3
Beautiful Spaces - Interior Design by Caribbean Designer Monique Duarte1
Beautiful Spaces - Interior Design by Caribbean Designer Monique Duarte4
Photography by Ted Moore
GLAMOR, MEET FUNCTION
For a recent project in New Jersey, Monique Duarte Design was tasked with injecting color and glamor into the bedroom, living room and office/lounge area of a new home.
The client had just moved into her new home and Duarte says she “wanted a design that would incorporate more color as well as accommodate the items she already had, like her sectional sofa and assorted artwork. She also works from home quite a bit, so she wanted to create an office/lounge area that was functional but also energizing.”
The result was a stunning transformation the client absolutely loved.
Photography by Ted Moore
TIPS FROM THE DESIGN PRO AT MONIQUE DUARTE DESIGN
We spoke more with the designer about her favorite transformation tricks, from selecting color schemes to figuring out what to do with Grandma’s dining table.
What are your favorite hues to work with?
I am a color person but I like a clean palette, so I love coastal colors—that turquoise family of cool greens and blues. Those colors are so relaxing, and clients tend to like
these colors too, because you can do so much with them. On the flipside, I love vibrant colors too, like oranges and pinks.
Photography by Ted Moore
Name your go-to accessories for completing a room.
The right lighting can transform a room. Tall floor lamps with big lampshades are really popular right now. Plants also add such life to a room, especially if you’re looking to
create that coastal feel. And I love using wall mirrors. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and make spaces seem bigger.
Any advice on what to do with family antiques (like those heavy mahogany pieces from your Caribbean grandma)?
Those handmade pieces have such a special quality that’s just timeless. So don’t feel you need everything brand new to feel contemporary. Mix and match different pieces from different eras, and have fun with it.
After multiple referrals from fellow foodies, and having sampled their fare at local events, I decided it was time to visit Swirl Wine Bistro, a delightfully quaint restaurant tucked away in Coconut Creek, Florida.
“WE WANTED IT TO BE A FUSION RESTAURANT. Flavors of the Caribbean but not necessarily Caribbean food,” says Chef Judith Able, who opened Swirl Wine Bistro with her husband Mike in March 2017. With degrees in culinary art and management, Chef Judith has successfully owned and managed a Kingston, Jamaica restaurant, and has operated as a caterer in Florida for over a decade.
Swirl offers a relaxing, inviting ambience ideal for small groups, a date, or even a solo gastronomic experience. Its walls are littered with original art hung by local artists and they play an eclectic mix of music in the dimly lit dining area.
Pumpkin Risotto
I started with a true comfort dish, the Pumpkin Risotto, prepared with real pumpkin from Jamaica. Topped with a generous helping of scallions and sliced parmesan cheese, the small bowl appeared to host more of a bisque. It was love at first taste—a warm, delightful pumpkin flavor with the consistency of thick and creamy mac n’ cheese.
Pork Belly Tacos
Next, it was time to try the Pork Belly Tacos. The layers of flavors, textures, and sauces in this dish are worthy of a celebration! The pork is well-seasoned and remains tender and juicy with a crispy, braised exterior. Inside the soft taco shells is a base layer of seasoned, moist red cabbage. Then, atop the pork pieces is a simple coleslaw with an extra drizzle of green sauce. Just perfect.
Snapper Escovitch
For the main course, I opted for the Snapper Escovitch instead of the signature Oxtail Ravioli my friends recommended. The escovitch sauce was a mildly peppered mix of pickled carrots, onions, and micro-greens, with a very appropriate surprise of okras. It topped my panseared,
deboned snapper, which laid atop the “converted bammy,” to create Chef Judith’s play on the French croquette. Unlike the crisp, meatstuffed rolls however, she uses Jamaican cassava flatbread, fried crunchy on the outside and still gooey on the inside.
Chocolate Bread Pudding
I ended my meal with Swirl’s Chocolate Bread Pudding served with fruit in an appealing plate, garnished with fruit drizzles. Made with croissants, this bread pudding is not too sweet, not too moist, and has genuine chocolate bits. Even the whipped cream is made from scratch onsite.
Swirl Wine Bistro is definitely on my revisit list. I’ve seen a few must try menu items, so maybe one night soon I’ll be back in there enjoying “cowfoot by candlelight.”
Embalmed in the past, important figures of Caribbean history can feel distant, their flesh-and-blood experiences trapped in dusty papers and faded photographs. Thanks to the Caribbean’s blossoming film production, two new biopics are rescuing some of the region’s icons from the history books, blowing up their lives into cinematic proportions on the silver screen. These films swept up major accolades this week at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2018 in Port of Spain. From poets to war heroes, take a look at these exciting projects in the pipeline for distribution.
Trinidadian WWII hero, diplomat and Pan-African pioneer Ulric Cross did indeed live an extraordinary life, from dropping bombs over Nazi Germany to advocating for independence in Africa and the Caribbean. With such exploits, his life story easily lends itself to the silver screen, as the film follow his journey from Trinidad to England, to Ghana and Congo. Director Frances-Anne Solomon blends archival footage with stellar performances by actor Nickolai Salcedo, who plays the title role. Moving and patriotic, the film this week won the People’s Choice Award for a Narrative Feature Film at the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2018.
From former students to the Caribbean’s literati, a flood of tributes and memorials emerged around the world following the death of Trinidadian poet, professor, columnist and mentor Wayne Brown. But perhaps nothing has quite captured his loss as much as this film, lovingly created by his daughter, filmmaker Muriel Brown. Stitching together family photos, home movies, and voices from loved ones, she narrates a personal and intimate documentary, telling the poet’s life through her eyes and exploring their loving, but complex, relationship. Ultimately, the film is as much an ode to fathers and daughters, and what it means to love someone after they are gone. This film won the Jury Prize for the Best Trinidad and Tobago Feature Film.
I’ve been practicing internal medicine for over 20 years, and I’m still surprised that people think they need to make tedious, earth shattering life changes to achieve better health. The truth is, simple changes can make a world of difference not just to how long we live, but to how “well” we live.
I DON’T WANT TO BE A BOARD-CERTIFIED, state-sanctioned pill pusher. With small adjustments to eating and activity habits, I’ve helped patients control high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, obesity, and other common conditions as much as possible, without prescribing medication. You too can get started improving your health with these three easy steps.
1. IDENTIFY A NEGATIVE HABIT AND TAKE STEPS TO BREAK IT
Most of us have at least one. It might be sweets, alcohol… any number of things. If your morning habit is grabbing a café-latté-mocha-frappé, maybe you should have peppermint tea instead. If you have two glasses of wine a day, you could start by having only one, then you might reduce that to only four times a week, and so on. The bottom line is that you don’t have to be perfect, you just have to do better.
2. MAKE BETTER FOOD CHOICES—BECAUSE, YES, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
I often tell my patients, if you’re driving a Ferrari and you put bad gas in it, it’s still going to leave you on the side of the road. My rule of thumb is keep it simple. Use whole foods—carrots, garlic, tomatoes—and foods with ingredients you can pronounce. Limit your intake of processed foods. Even if your budget doesn’t allow you to buy organic, free-range, wild caught foods, you can still choose the best meats, veggies, and produce your money can buy. Try to get at least two servings of fruits and vegetables daily, and drink water… lots of it!
3. MOVE! YOUR HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT
They say sitting is the new cancer, and it’s not far from the truth. When you’re sitting in one spot for extended periods, it changes how your eye muscles work, how you use your body, your hips, your neck. It even affects circulation in your legs and your heart. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking through the hallway at work for five- or 10-minute intervals is a great start. In my office, people who work in the back, print in the front, and vice versa, forcing them to get up and move. Another good habit is to drink lots of water; that way you have to take more bathroom breaks.
You don’t have to join a gym or start crossfit training, you just have to try to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise three to four times a week. The first step to better health is putting yourself on your to-do list. Make these simple changes, stick to them, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you.
Dr Michelle Morrison is a board-certified internist with a practice in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Writer Calibe Thompson | Photography David I. Muir
When Island Origins first met Tanya Marie in 2013, all herstars seemed to be aligned. She was a free-spirited fashion icon in the making, with successful retail boutiques, a thriving design business, and remarkably, no significant life challenges to speak of. When we caught up with her again in 2018, her black girl magic was still intact, but some of the innate easiness and abandon we saw before had been dulled. She shared with us a story of true love, devastating loss, and an active return to inner peace and fashion freedom.
Photo by David I Muir
TANYA MARIE DESIGN is a well-known label in ultra-fab communities. Clients including Cynthia Bailey from the Housewives of Atlanta, Pitbull for the leading ladies in his music videos, and Timbaland for his bride’s wedding party, have called on Tanya Marie for her unique sense of bohemian couture.
If her styles were songs, you could say there are a few hit melodies that she riffs on over and over again—oh na na na. Cue the belted halter, the sleeveless sundress, and the flowy kaftan, typically with her trademark TM logo perfectly placed just below the cleavage to confirm that this is, in fact, a one-of-a-kind Tanya Marie creation. Although the silhouettes are similar, each piece is somehow strikingly singular, built with hand-cut, found fabrics, sporting frayed edges and beautifully deliberate imperfections. Her description—“my aesthetic is organic, free, flowy, happy, traveled.”
FASHION FREEDOM
She almost never uses a pattern. Instead, she assembles what she sees in her mind by pinning and stitching seemingly random scraps of fabric to body form mannequins, in the end producing breathtaking ensembles. She calls her design aesthetic “Fashion Freedom.”
“It’s funny,” says Tanya. “I know how to get that cut. I don’t even have to look, I just know it’s going to fit. A lot of people are very structured and they just think about patterns. I know what fits a woman’s body. I love curves in whatever size.”
There is an obvious reverence in her creation process, but she has none for the actual clothing, happily ripping and reassembling based on the best fit for her client’s frame. You can actually feel a little of the joy from her spirit when you look at each item she creates. “When a woman puts one of my dresses on, I definitely want her to feel confident. I think confidence is the most beautiful asset.”
She recalls, as a child, going into her mother’s closet and, without approval, cutting her mom’s clothes to give them a cuter fit—a habit that followed her into young adulthood. As a Miami Heat dancer, after first getting in trouble for these unsolicited wardrobe adjustments, she was commissioned to rework the entire group’s costumes.
She became a buyer for a high-end boutique. “Even Cavalli dresses, if they didn’t sell by the end of the season, I would change it up.” She laughs, “you know like how we step into a space and just take over? It’s a Jamaican thing!” The store owner never had an issue, because the modified designer outfits would always sell.
When she finally learned how to operate a sewing machine and created her first complete dress from scratch, it sold for $1,000 the next day. The rest, as they say, is history. She grossed over a million dollars in her first year, soon striking out on her own, parlaying her love of design into profitable retail stores in Miami’s Design District and Biscayne Boulevard areas, and a thriving fashion business with an enviable client list.
Photo by David I. Muir
A DEEPER LOVE
That bold essence was a little less so when we spoke this time.
Not by surprise, but quicker than Tanya Marie was prepared to accept, 2018 saw the passing of her sister Camille. Her ‘spirit twin’ was gone, lost to leukemia.
“It’s hard talking about my sister. But I’m doing the work that it takes to breathe through it… it’s a huge process,” she says, her voice breaking.
Tanya had spent years building her brand, admittedly neglecting her family. In recent years, as treatments we’re becoming more aggressive and the illness was quietly taking its toll, Camille asked Tanya to step back from allowing work to consume her. Tanya finally listened.
She let go of her storefronts and dialed everything back so she would have more time, though it turned out not to be enough. When Camille eventually transitioned, she took some of Tanya’s happiness with her. The designer’s sister wanted her to enjoy the fruits of her labor, and to understand that it could all be gone in an instant. “My sister’s passing has helped me to just breathe,” she reflects. “Just to be present in the moment.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
She has a closer relationship with her parents now, and she feels like Camille is opening the right doors for her. At a time when she wanted to shrink from the light, potential new investors and celebrity partnerships are coming to the table. Little by little, she’s rediscovering her happy place.
Tanya knows that the way forward must include her giving initiative, Teach a Girl to Sew. Years ago, she started mentoring girls who would stop in at her Wynwood store wanting to learn more about this successful black woman entrepreneur. She has shared with them that “passion is the key. God gave all of us something, and whatever it is, you have to do that.”
With non-profit status secured, she’s committed to mentoring a hand-selected few of them now through college, or whatever they choose to do in their young lives.
Motivated, she shares, “I feel like my sister Camille is alive in me and pushing me to greater heights… truly.” Still, she’s striving for balance; not so driven by the hustle. “I’m still trying to figure out what’s important,” she says. “But I know it’s about the people that you love. They say while you make a living, make a life. Because it’s not about the money, it’s about everything.”
The newest Tanya Marie Design collection is out in the Fall of 2018.
I happily started research on this article by going to the Savage x Fenty website, where I quickly realized that with her new lingerie line, Rihanna was, of course, doing something completely different from the norm. I slowly scrolled through, marveling at the stunning, non-traditional selection of models Riri’s team chose for this campaign. The “savages” broke with every imaginable stereotype—no standard size 6 and smaller, no bias against cellulite and stretch marks. Most models had some meat on their bones… and they were all sexy.
Photography Courtesy Of Savage X Fenty
IN A VIDEO HALFWAY down the front page of the site, a voluptuous woman wearing cream-colored lingerie leans back on a couch with her legs crossed. Her expression—boundless confidence.
Much like Fenty Beauty, Rihanna’s makeup line that caters to every skin tone, her lingerie line makes sexiness accessible to real women, not just the perfectly airbrushed “skinny girls.” With each of her models and designs, the Bajan bad gal resists and remixes traditional beauty standards. Rihanna told UK Vogue “It was important to me to push the boundaries. I want women to feel…confident, sexy, flirty. But most of all, I want them to feel like themselves.”
THE UGLY SIDE OF THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY
Savage X is a body-positive brand. It’s part of a social movement that embraces the acceptance and appreciation of all body types, regard – less of size, color, texture, or other facet of appearance. Take a look at the “Savages”—any woman can see herself in them.
This powerful move dismantles decades of body-negative messaging, which imposed a rigid standard of beauty accessible only to the fair-skinned, straight-nosed, and slender—unrealistic for most, deadly for some. The statistics on women plagued by eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, for example, are staggering.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, between 85 and 95 percent of people with anorexia are women. And the organization Mirror-Mirror Eating Disorder Help says people with anorexia are 56 times more likely to commit suicide than non-sufferers. This is not to say body negativity and low self-esteem are the only factors causing these disorders, but they do play a part.
FOR EVERY MOOD
Photography Courtesy Of Savage X Fenty
It’s refreshing to see a megastar like Rihanna embrace body positivity, catering to all women and all moods. She divided the collection into four categories: “On the Reg,” a selection of T-shirt bras; “U Cute” for items with lacy details; “Damn,” which includes corsets and bodysuits; and “Black Widow,” crotchless panties.
I love how Rihanna widens the scope of lingerie offerings. She says, “You don’t have to stick to one personality with lingerie; it’s fun to play around. You can be cute and playful one week and a black widow next week… I want people to wear Savage X Fenty and think, I’m a bad bitch.”
The collection includes bra sizes from 32A to 44DD, underwear ranging from XS to XXXL, and offers several shades of nude—because nude comes in many different shades, right? And it’s reasonably priced. While other major lingerie brands may carry larger sizes, their models are usually one size—stick thin. At Savage X, there’s a clear break from that mold.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
In a review on the Savage X website, Susan, a size 2x/3x, wrote: “… Thank you for understanding that some of this world is more than a size 12 (sometimes way more)!”
There’s a social media frenzy around the brand as well. Chire wrote on Facebook, “Just the range in sizes alone makes me feel included… She’s paid attention to what women look like, what this industry lacks, and addressed it.”
“Most fun I ever had shopping for my wife #SavageXFenty,” tweeted G.L. @8plus9. “If she gets pregnant we naming this baby Rihanna.”
CONTINUITY
With Savage X Fenty and other collections that follow suit, I’m hopeful that more women will see reflections of themselves, and beauty standards will shift over time. It’s also significant that Rihanna launched her line at the height of her career, while she is still an influencer of millions, somehow validating all women, acknowledging we can all be sexy.
Through this lingerie line, Rihanna proclaims the ideal body is the real body, and that’s pretty empowering. She emphasises on the website that women should enjoy lingerie for themselves, adding “I want women to own their beauty.” We agree!
My favorite part of the salad is obviously the potatoes. Anyone else buy a 5lb bag every grocery run? The potatoes are perfectly seasoned and baked to crispy perfection. They almost serve as croutons on the salad but way better. Paired with the ranch dressing, its almost as if you’re not eating something semi-healthy. I usually use spinach because I feel like I’m sneaking in those dark leafy greens (while covered in ranch) but feel free to use whatever greens you have on hand.
Oh, and I didn’t forget about the ranch. Its amazing. Truly amazing. Another super easy sauce to use on everything. Also, potatoes and ranch? Need I say anything else?
Garlicky, creamy, tangy dressing goodness. I use this stuff with everything. The obvious choice would be with a salad but you can use this for so much more. Late night chip cravings? Hummus Ranch with Celery and Carrots. Burrito bowl needs a sauce? Hummus Ranch. Need a dip to bring to last minute party you were invited to? Hummus Ranch. Thirsty? Hummus Ranch. I’m kidding…but not really. After making the recipe for the pics I could help but having some by the spoonful. ?
I’m not new to the substitution game. I love creating recipes by swapping out a traditional ingredient for one that is higher in protein, lower calorie, or just all around healthier. A prime example would be my Tofu Nacho Cheese or Cauliflower Carbonara with Tofu Bacon. In this instance, I swapped out the vegan mayo for plain hummus. Not only is it much lower in fat and calories but also less processed and provides some nutritional value while being ridiculously delicious. It also ticks all the trendy vegan boxes. ? It’s gluten-free, oil-free, low fat, and made with whole plant foods.
