Overalls: Embellish at Shoe Gallery Miami / 
Sneakers: Air Jordan 4 Alternate 89


"There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we pull back from life. When we are in love, we open to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. "

- John Lennon

Shout out to my big brother for copping these 4s for me for Christmas. Now, I am not a sneakerhead and I'm especially not into the Jordan hype but these shoes were free so I'll gladly wear them. They're not the most comfortable shoe so I might have to take out the sole. Overall, they're pretty dope especially with these oversized overalls. I borrowed them from my brother. Shhhh don't tell him! (If you're reading this I washed them afterwards lol) I absolutely love the sporty/tomboy look. It's my go-to whenever I'm on the move or in a rush and I can't forget to mention it's the best option as far as comfort. Often times when I try to pull off looks like this, especially with overalls, I get the "you dress like Sza" comments. I have no problem with that actually. 

I've come to believe that Sza is my long lost sister. If I were a musician, I would want to be Sza (or Erykah Badu). She is one of my favorites and her her creativity with writing is nothing like anything that's out right now. Clearly, we both have the big hair and a similar vintage/quirky style, but I'm eluding to something deeper than that. She recently put up a post on the Gram with a shoe, embroidered with her lyrics to Ice Moon. Her caption sounded a lot like myself. She talked about not acknowledging her accomplishments because she felt like she didn't deserve them. I'm at a point where I'm not extremely happy with what I've accomplished. I feel like I should be doing more. It's almost like I'm never satisfied.

I understand this is a result of negative energy. Not only negative energy, but fear. I'll talk about this more in a later post because I've been babbling enough. As a final point, take a moment to realize how far you've come and how blessed. Don't compare your success to anyone else's because the definition of success is only relative to the individual. Just remember that there's beauty in the struggle and beauty in your journey.







Beauty: @youngjdunn
Shutterbug: @theboomchronicles
Style by: @margo_ashleyy
Soap, powder, bleach, towels, fabric softener, dollars, change, pants, socks, dirty drawers...
- Nivea in Laundromat

Where is the "Sick and Tired" laundry detergent when you need it??? Well I'm sick and tired of being single so I can't bring myself to vent about being fed up with a man because I don't have one lol. I know yall remember that Laundromat song by Nivea (if not, just get off of my blog because we can't be friends..... JK JK PLEASE DONT DO THAT lmaooo). Anyway, sis had to go clean her draws because she saw her man coming out of some girl's house and she wasn't having that mess anymore! Well, this shoot has a similar concept. Instead, while she's washing her man's clothes, dressed in her best, she's trying to snatch a new man to even the score. Checkmate!

I always have fun at shoots with these people. I've known them since high school and it's great that we can create together while cracking a few jokes. It's never a dull moment and I can't wait to see our growth as we continue along our creative paths. 

SN: I'm looking for models, photographers, and make-up artists to work with in the South Florida region. Email brokehannah@gmail.com if you are interested! I'm trying to do some really innovative, out of the box type stuff. Lets create!









Muse: @mvnisha
Shooter: @nappynappz13
Style guru: @margo_ashleyy

Monday-Friday I attempt to save the children, but my weekends are my time to create. I play no games about my Saturdays and Sundays. I work at one of the toughest middle schools in Miami-Dade County and at times it can get a bit stressful, so I use my weekends as my creative outlet. This past weekend I met up with one of my favorite photographers for this collaboration. He's very free-spirited and all about capturing the beauty in our melanin. I also have to mention how stunning Manisha is. I think Guyana produces possibly the most beautiful people in the world. 

Matt, Manisha and I had this go-with-the-flow vibe that seemed to work perfectly. Nothing was planned except the date. We rode around the city for the while and this is what we produced. What yall think??







Mustard zippered top: Forever 21 / 
Tartan plaid trousers: Forever 21 / 
Patent brogues: H&M
My dress ain't cost nothin' but seven dollars, but I made it fly...
- Erykah Badu in Cleva 

Fall does not exist in Miami. Look really closely and you'll find a few sweat stains. It totally ruined the outfit in my opinion, but I decided to put this up anyway just to show yall when cute outfits go wrong. I have a major sweating problem and this Miami heat never works in my favor. I've been in Florida all of my life and my sweat glands still haven't gotten it together yet. But anyway.. I figured mixing mustard and a tartan plaid print would be a cool combination that needed to be on the blog. So here it is... Hopefully my sweaty pits don't bother you too much!






Stylist: @margo_ashleyy
Model: @youngjdunn
Photographers: @theboomchronicles 

Broke and Black presents... Love & War.
Anything worth having is worth struggling for.


I'm extremely lucky to have close friends into modeling and photography. It's so hard to find people that are willing to work with the "little people" so I consider them a blessing.  They represent the true essence of what I consider being Broke and Black. We're all grinding to make a living and striving to find ourselves but we always make time for our passions. Let's not forget that we're broke asf! But we make it happen. .

SN: if you're in Miami or anywhere in South Florida and you need a stylist, hit a sis up!









Tommy Hilnigga top: FRSHproducts / 
Blue midi skirt: Giti / Frill socks: Cotton On / 
UO white oxfords: Urban Thread in Gainesville 

The weirdest things come together when I let my creativity run free. Initially, I wanted to recreate a 50s look with this midi circle skirt along with the frill socks and oxfords but clearly that did not happen. I did the unconventional thing and added an urban feel to this look by pairing it with the Tommy Hilnigga top. This shirt had major Tumblr hype a few years ago. I don't do the hype thing but I thought it was pretty cool so I bought it and cropped it. I equally love and hate the attention I receive from this shirt. I love it because it always sparks interesting conversation but then I hate it because the negativity that comes along with it. 

"Nigger" is arguably one of the most controversial racial epithets. We all know it as a term that whites used to maintain black inferiority during the age of slavery and segregation. Black youth flipped it from its racist roots into a term of endearment. Some folks say the usage of "nigga" should be restricted to only blacks. Others say the word should be banned from everyone's vocabulary. Kendrick Lamar reminds us that the word derives from Ethiopia as "negus" which means "king" or "royalty". I wont dig too deep into this because I want to read your opinions on this ongoing topic, just to stimulate some dialogue on the blog. Please feel free to leave a comment below with your opinion on the usage of the term.   





Halter bodysuit: American Apparel
Corduroy skater skirt: American Apparel (Thrifted) /
Salmon socks: Forever 21 / UO white oxfords: Urban Thread 

Hey y'all! Just doing a couple of quick posts before I snatch off my wig. It's synthetic hair so its a tad bit dry, but it was cute while it lasted. I must say this curly fro is my favorite hairstyle because it allows me to create really fun summer looks. Flowers have become a necessity with this hairstyle. They always seem to bring some life to my dead curls. Of course I have to put together flower child-like outfits to complete the overall aesthetic. I can literally put on a simple outfit, like so, and add flowers to make it fun. 

Okay so... this outfit isn't simple. It's a bit much, but I thought I could get away with it a lot easier because of my itty bitties. My itty bitties did not decrease the countless amounts of catcalls I received in this outfit (which is not a good thing). I can hardly take a compliment so imagine how uncomfortable it is when guys try to get at me. They're usually thirsty, old men that are not worthy of being my sugar daddy lol. But seriously, it's 90 degrees outside and if I could walk outside naked I would. Guys please stop overly sexualizing women and let us be cute in peace!







Thrifted red blazer / thrifted jean joggers / 
Chucks/ Mouse headband: Forever 21

If you didn't know by now, I'm into creative styling and directing. I love when I'm able to just work freely and when things flow together naturally because it brings out true creativity. That's exactly what happened with this shoot. It was the most random day ever. I had the pleasure to finally meet up with my dawg Quay Quay who brought together this whole thing. She's a cool, fun chick with great vibes and she has this amazing blog (link below) that she so kindly asked me to be apart of. She's really great and I can't wait to witness what she'll grow to be. Please please please go check out our interview at her blog: flowerbeep.wordpress.com

SN: I'm so tired of being in front of the camera so it was great to actually be behind it. Now I need to find a photographer (because I personally think I suck) with the same creative vision as myself as well a makeup artist and I'll be set!

*please excuse my bad grammar, i was just too excited to put this up and I was in a rush bc I have to go walk my dog lol*

Model: @geezbadu
Creative Directing: @24k.g0ld
Styling: @margo_ashleyy (me bitches)



 



Tie-dye crop top: thrifted at Flashbacks / Pleated skirt: Flashbacks / 
Frilly socks: American Apparel / UO white oxfords: Urban Thread / 
Gold Hamsa hand necklace: Aldo / Aviator glasses: Forever 21

"Don't get your self-esteem on the internet. Get your money."
- Dom Kennedy 

The process of growth is such a beautiful thing. There's no better feeling than becoming your true self. Having a strong sense of self is such a great quality because by all means society sucks. This is the social media age and the youth of today are highly influenced by it. They're craving attention and looking for fame through social media. We don't even know what they like anymore, they just go along with the hype. Why do people think that likes equate to social acceptance??? Truthfully, seeking internet fame is so lame. When I created Broke and Black, I was not looking for fame. I absolutely hate attention and I'm still learning how to come out of my shell. I could care less if anyone likes my shit or even read my shit. I just needed a place to vent and express myself through bad grammar and fashion. One day, I'll be able to look back at this blog and witness my creative journey. I literally self-reflect everyday to figure out how I can be a better a person and to just be at peace with myself. 

Now that that's over, let's talk about this outfit. I love pairing crop tops with high waisted bottoms. This isn't solely because I'm obsessed with vintage looks but because I never got my summer body together and my abs are currently not on fleek. I don't even know how to fit this look into any type of style category. I literally just threw things on and it came together kind of cool. By mixing frilly socks and oxfords with a tie-dye shirt, I merged two totally different decades of fashion, the 1950s and the 1970s. The Hamsa hand and eagle necklace compliment the "hippie" side of the outfit. I've never felt more like myself than with this outfit and I absolutely loooovvveee my hair. Hate it or love it, this is me guys. Just remember you will never influence the world by trying to be like it...







Lakers practice jersey: Goodwill / Customized yellow Converse: www.converse.com/custom / Flower hairpiece: Dollar Tree (added a hairpin to the back) 

First of all, let me say, I am not a Lakers fan. I am not a Lamar Odom fan. I'm not even a sports fan. But I do love vintage. I found this gem during a random thrift trip in a Goodwill in Miami, back when jerseys were a emerging again as a major trend. I liked how it resembles the jersey dresses I used to wear in elementary school (y'all know i'm childish af right). I also love that this jersey is reversible, so basically I can flip this bih around on it's white side and wear it another day like its a whole 'nother outfit. 

It's summer so why not match a bright yellow jersey with bright yellow shoes. It created a funky aesthetic along with the flower and my natural hair. I've decided to give up the weaves and let my natural hair breath for awhile (here comes the speech about my natural hair journey, but I promise to keep it short ! :) I was natural until about my sophomore year of high school when I decided to join my school's dance line. I made the choice to get a texturizer to prevent my hair from frizzing up during performances. Fast forward to my junior year of college with lots of split ends and heat damage. By this time, the natural hair movement had been going strong so it was very encouraging to see other black women embrace their natural hair. 

I've been transitioning for about a year and a half now. Honestly, it took me awhile to get comfortable with my wearing my own hair because I thought I looked better with "Eurocentric" hairstyles but we'll save that discussion for another time (because I promised I'd keep it short and I lied).  I get aggravated with my hair because it's so thick which is another reason why I always resort back to weave. I wish I could give you guys natural hair tips but I'm still learning. Once I get my own hair together I'll be more than happy to share :)







Wide-brim fedora / Cross choker necklace / 
High-slit plaid shirt / Long-line muscle tee: Forever 21/ Sk8-Hi Vans: Zumiez

"Dress your best, even when feeling your worst"

I've had a loss of inspiration and creativity. I feel stuck... more like trapped. I know that it's because I'm unhappy af and it's mainly because I hate my job. It's the most boring, unfulfilling job ever and my soul cries every time I walk into the building. I work 6 days out of the week and it can get depressing sometimes. I walk in that bish like it's fashion week though. I'm a firm believer in "when you look your best, you feel your best". Looking good can definitely bring up your mood and knowing that I wont be there for too much longer gives me a little hope. 

I'll be moving back to Miami in less than two weeks and I'm extremely excited! In honor of that, I decided to put up a couple of pictures from my little vacay in Miami last month. These were taken in the Wynwood Art District. I was walking around looking like a tourist, and this was kind of the perfect outfit for that. Sk-8 Hi's are one of the most comfortable shoes to sight-see in. They also give off this "cool girl" feeling. The white long-tee I have on is actually a medium men's shirt. Y'all know how much I love turning men's clothing into feminine looks. The white long-tee along with the high-slit plaid shirt flowed perfectly against the wind. These pieces came together to form a young, broke but chic look :)





LA Dodgers cap: Lids / Pink oversized 
t-shirt: H&M / Sweat-shorts: Walmart / 
Nike Air Force One's: The Athlete's Foot

There's been this sudden spur of appreciation for Cam'ron's style all over social media websites. I must admit he was pretty damn fly during the early 2000's. I've never seen a man wear pink so confidently and look so good doing so. On an interview with The Breakfast Club he stated that he initially wore pink to stand out at a fashion week event. He also mentioned that he likes to do whatever's different and I respect that. I wanted to put together a boss look that says "I want to be the female Cam'ron but it's hot outside" so here it is lol. 

I hardly wear pink, nor have I been satisfied with the women's section lately. I purposely picked up this cute pink tee from H&M men's section in a large so that it can be oversized. I enjoy making feminine looks with men's clothing but with this 99 degree, no wind having ass Gainesville, FL weather I had no choice but to wear loose-fit clothing. My shorts are just some sweats I bought from Walmart that I decided to cut so I can dance in them. I threw on a my go-to Mac Ruby Woo lip to add a little feminine touch, along with my favorite hat to cover my leave-out from this gruesome heat. It came to be the most comfortable outfit ever. 








Wide-brim fedora: Forever 21 / Printed crop & trousers Forever 21 / 
Chain belt: Forever 21 / 
Spiral cuff: Forever 21 / Sk8-Hi Vans: Zumiez

"I've too much a rebel, never do what I'm supposed ta"
- Janelle Monáe in Yoga


Two-piece sets are the simplest outfits to put together that make a statement. Although this outfit isn't your typical bright-colored summer set, it's still pretty fun. The top was originally a bit longer but I decided to be a thot, so I whipped out my sowing machine to nip & tuck this top into a crop for a more youthful look. This outfit would have looked great with black or white blocky-type sandal heels, or red pointy toe pumps, but of course I went for the more comfortable shoe. Pairing this outfit with Vans completely goes against the grain, which is what I do best. I had to throw on a hat because Lord knows Florida weather is unpredictable and my natural hair doesn't do well with unpredictable. 

Honestly, I wish I could transform my hat into a wide-brim boater hat because this outfit screams Janelle Monáe. She is truly a black queen and I respect her for sticking to black and white as an ode to the uniform of the working class. I admire female artists and people in general that dgaf about the norms of society. We need more Janelle Monáe's in the world.