April 22nd was my Mom’s 85th birthday!
I pray that when I get to her age I will have all of the grace and energy that my mother has.
Growing up, I used to go through my parents’ photo albums. It was very transformative to see pictures of my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Photos from their younger years were the perfect visuals to the many stories I was told about them, growing up in Panama City, Panama. What stood out the most was how fashionable they were. The cigarette pants, penny loafers, sweaters, and perfectly coiffed hairstyles, and flawless makeup stood out.
They looked like they could have been on the cover of Essence, Jet, or Ebony magazine.
For me, my mother was a fashion model. It was helpful that my father loved taking pictures and being in pictures. They were always dressed to impress and that always caught my attention.
My mothers’ dresser was my playground.
I loved her makeup and lipstick, powder, and eyeshadow! Everything!
One of my favorite pictures of me as a baby is in my parents’ bedroom wearing my mothers’ wig. These pictures connected me to a part of my childhood that I didn’t have memories of.
She taught me about beauty in gentle ways.
I learned a lot from watching her and how she approached beauty. When I was about 14, I bought my first bottle of foundation. No one ever said anything to me about my skin but I am sure marketing had something to do with this purchase.
I decided I needed it in my routine. I went to Duane Reade’s pharmacy. When I walked down the makeup aisle, I was overwhelmed by the options. I found the shade closest to my complexion, which was Neutrogena.
I came home and went straight to the bathroom. My mother came out of her room and saw me with the bottle of foundation in my hand. She said, “Once you start wearing foundation, you will always feel like you need it, and you don’t.” That made complete sense to me.
I closed the bottle and threw it in the garbage. I didn’t use foundation but fell in deep with lipsticks and mascara. That was all I needed when I was a teen.
Growing up and looking at my parents’ photo albums, I developed a love for clothes.
The styles were from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. I loved them all but my favorites were her teen years, late 40’s early 50’s.
My mother took me shopping once a season. I looked forward to those trips as a child. I still remember the first pair of heels we bought.
My cousin was getting married and I didn’t want to wear my patent leather Mary Jane’s. I asked my mother for a pair of heels. Now mind you, they were only an inch but you could not tell me they weren’t stilettos. They were burgundy leather with gold trim around the ankle and a thin gold bow in the front.
When I got home, I put them on immediately and wore them around the house. I felt so grown. Watching my mother’s style and seeing them in the pictures was my foundation for my love of fashion and beauty.
I am forever grateful for the lessons my mother taught me and I cannot think of a better way to say, Happy belated 85th born day to my fashionista mama!
