By Chloe vegan in Flatiron is literally the bomb: New York bomb attack injures 29 (not including me or Milton)

Carmen Belcher, crime, New York City, Press

Tasteless jokes aside, last night my boyfriend and I were lucky to make it to By Chloe on 60 West 22nd Street in flatiron about 15 minutes before a bomb exploded a block away. He wanted to try something different for dinner, instead of ordering in, and I didn’t want to stray too far from our new vegan diet. I suggested we try By Chloe, a vegan burger restaurant I discovered on Instagram through @fashionablyfit. We chose the one in Chelsea from fear the Soho location would be packed on a Saturday night.

As we got off the train on 23rd street we walked south in search of the hotspot, (these adjectives are accidentally so cliché.) A group of excited little girls in various party dresses were loudly telling their mom how much fun they just had at a birthday party they attended. Aw, babies who brunch! Their pink paper gift bags in hand were probably stuffed with Barbie dolls — or iPad cases? What do metropolitan 8 year olds play with these days anyways? As we walked behind them I thought aloud how I could definitely gel into a cool mom who has multiple talkative daughters, like these, with abundant social lives. My boyfriend gave me a look that basically said politely, “Shut the fuck up.”

The giggling girls spotted By Chloe before we had. As they began gushing to their mommy chaperone about the various legendary cupcakes which won Chef Chloe first place in the television show Cupcake Wars, I thought oh hell naw we gotta get in line before they do. I put the kind of mph on my pace beta males do when they spot a lady searching for a seat on the train. You know the pettiness in their demeanor when they slide their weaselly bodies into the last available seat and with a false sense of accomplishment because they’re actually lame and this move proves it. That was me. Cute kids and all, I was on the verge of becoming hungry while wearing my favorite Givenchy FW 2013 runway boots. I needed several seats.

Once inside, we were relieved to find there wasn’t a line at all despite the place being packed. Perfect timing, we thought as we eyed the menu. We both ordered a classic hamburger and two Found cucumber and mint bottle waters. We decided to split a half and half fry combo (sweet potato and regular friends mixed together) and I ordered self-indulgent cinnamon bun.

As we approached our table we heard the BOOM! The window shook and the entire restaurant naturally turned and looked at us. I hate being the center of attention so embarrassed, I turned to my boyfriend and ask what was that in an accusatory manner. Perhaps he’d accidentally kicked the table, I don’t know. But then we all felt the blast. Growing up in Missouri I’ve been through earthquakes. The ground shook beneath us! Construction was going on around the corner so I thought nothing of it, excited to try my food. But a pack of 12 curious diners got up and ran out the door in unison to see the commotion. What the hell.

A girl dining next to us turned to me and asked, “do you think we’ll be ok?”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied, though unsure myself.

“Okay,” she said to her friend, “she said we’ll be ok so we’ll be ok.”

Strangely other diners nodded in agreement and went back to eating. I felt like Caty Heron in Mean Girls when she becomes the queen bee over Regina George and her clique couldn’t think for themselves.

“I love your makeup,” another girl says on the opposite side of me. “Are you two models?” She asked as I stuffed my face with a cinnamon, hoping it was gluten-free.

“Not at all.”

This exchange was probably the funniest part of the meal because huh? I’m thin but not that skinny and I’m eating this huge ass pastry, burger, and fries. Now I felt like Mariah must feel when her wardrobe stylist lies to her face about how great her body looks right now so she keeps eating carbs. Sorry Mimi.

I caught an emancipated girl staring at me across the room with evil eyes that said she gave up refined sugar a long time ago, so why are you eating that?

Once we left, police cars were everywhere and a “Ghetto bird” aka news helicopters were flying above. The journalist in me had to see what the hell was going on, but far away from the actual scene of the crime. I’m a blogger now, not a journalist. No one is paying me to be on a crime beat. Instead I beat my feet down the pavement in the opposite direction and googled “bomb in Chelsea.” Here’s what I found:

New York bomb attack injures 29.

 

Damn.

csmq5nxwyaqk94a.jpg

 

 

 

 

Enter to win a free African Ancestery test kit, and more!

Beauty, color, crime, death, envy, How to..., morals, Natural Hair, Press, This Just In

As we close Black History month I want to share with you my thoughts on AfricanAncestery.com. 

I was first introduced to the concept of tracing your own dna from the actor Isaiah Washington in 2011. At the time, he was an avid spokesperson for the company and even wrote about the life changing experience in his memoir, A Man From Another Land. 

I have been eager to trace my dna ever since and I finally bought a kit for myself this past Christmas! At the moment I am still waiting on my results. I cannot wait to know exactly where my ancesters came from after meeting so many beautiful people from different parts of Africa here in New York City.

The atrocities of Slavery and the outright biases of the American school system has erased or altered many rements of African-American history, but now we may begin to find clues to who we are through research.

Curious too? Enter to win your very own kit and much more from African Ancestery. 

My Helmut Lang SS 2013 dress

Accessories, brooklyn, carmen alicia, Carmen Belcher, color, designer, DressCode, ebay, Fashion, Hair, Jobs, magazine, model, New York City, NY Fashion Week, nyc, photo shoot, photoshoot, Press, Sale, This Just In

20140416-152304.jpg

I almost passed over this dress when I saw it on the sale rack at Barneys New York Brooklyn location last year but I am so glad I tried it on. I had to buy it! It’s beautiful by itself on a warm breezy day but even cooler when I wear it layered under my David Bowie graphic t-shirt and on-top of my J-brand black neoprene pants in the freezing NYC winter. Love this piece!

Below I styled it sporty, for a test shoot with Ford models, by pairing silver bangles I bought on the street in soho and a fresh pair of retro Charles Barkley Nike CB94 high top basketball shoes, a last minute genius idea my uber stylish boyfriend Milton Campbell gave me.

20140416-152932.jpg

20140416-152922.jpg

20140416-154152.jpg

#AboutLastNight : #Fashionbombdaily fashion week party hosted by #TalibKwali

blog, Blogroll, Brianna Marie, carmen alicia, Carmen Belcher, DressCode, Fashion, Legendary Damon, Music, New York City, NY Fashion Week, nyc, Press, Social Life, This Just In

In the midst of the snowstorm, Milton and I decided to step out in support of Claire Sulmers and her popular fashion blog FashionBombDaily.com. Held at the nightclub Mr.H in the Mondarian hotel in SoHo, the music was better than ever thanks to rapper Talib Kwali taking over the turntables. There I met the instamous (infamous + Instagram) stylists @JayStrut and @caitlynmi of CM Styling Co. We bonded over twerking, politeness, and fur. Follow me on Instagram @CarmenBelcher

20140213-162638.jpg

Mane and Chic Feature Curls: Carmen Alicia Belcher

Beauty, DressCode, Hair, Press, This Just In

My hair was a “Featured Curls” on beauty blog Maneandchic.com!

Meet aspiring mogul: model, fashion entrepreneur/stylist, musician, journalist, and former Lingerie Football League New York Majesty player— Carmen Alicia Belcher.

On being curly…

I started getting relaxers very young because my aunt, who raised me, could not EVER comb through my hair without me screaming and crying. I was so “tender-headed” the neighbors called the police and when the police came to the door, my aunt had to beg me to tell them I was alright so they’d know she wasn’t abusing me!  Needless to say, I was afraid of what my natural texture would be when I first transitioned to natural hair from years of relaxing.  Three years later, I know it is the best thing I’ve done for the health of my hair and scalp.

Carmen Alicia age 4



Hair care regimen…
My hair is pretty thick so I co-wash it daily to comb through it. I’m a product junkie so I love to use a product until the bottle empties then try another. My favorite to detangle is Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. Not only does it smell nice, but the thick cream makes detangling in the shower so much easier. I buy the family size from Sam’s Club to save money. A fabulous girlfriend put me on to Moroccanoil in the pot to hydrate deeper as I detangle;  I don’t wash it out until the next day.  Sebastian’s Wet is a liquid gel I’ve used since my childhood days of going to the beach in the Hampton’s for that “wet” look. It also tames frizz before straightening with a blow dryer. I buy the generic at Sally’s or Bed Bath & Beyond. When I was interning at InStyle magazine, the beauty editor gave me some Ojon conditioner and I fell in love! Haven’t used it in a while but the results back then when I had a relaxer were instant and amazing.

Hanging with friends at nightclub SL.


Hair secrets…

I only straighten when I have it “dusted” every three months. I like to experiment with new bangs and a blunt cut to stay current while growing my hair out. I comb with a widetooth Denman to brush in ponytail and while straightening. For uniform curls, I take a few strands soaked in setting lotion and twirl with my fingers.

On salons…
I avoid the salon except when it comes to cutting. I haven’t had a stylist who was able to really straighten my hair nicely, while keeping it shiny and healthy, since college. Plus, stylists have always complained about the thickness of my hair and therefore tend to be heavy-handed, so I do my own hair. Another girlfriend of mine, with a gorgeous set of curls, referred me to Devachan Salon & DevaSpa, and it was the most amazing salon experience! They specialize in curls and treat you like a queen. I’ve tried their product line and use their special ionic blow dryer .

Favorite hair style…
Sleek bun, french braid, big fro, blunt futuristic haircuts.
On her style…
I love to play with my image! So much so, friends don’t recognize me sometimes. I’ll wear anything as long as you aren’t! I’m a reformed tomboy who loves to play dress up so I go from one extreme to the next.Favorite places to shop…
My Aunt Pat’s closet! Every piece of mine people really love was pulled from her massive closets. She’s kept EVERYTHING throughout the years! She’s tres chic, had me wearing her vintage St. John’s suits while only in high school. And I don’t mean St. John’s Bay…


Must have wardrobe pieces…
Trench coat, good bag, and most importantly super-duper high heels!