RETURN OF THE MILITANT: TOP 10 LOOKS OF 2022 (PT. 1)

Well, I’m back…did you miss me?

There is much to discuss. First thangs first, I’m 23 now.

I’m halfway through and it’s still throwin’ me for a loop. Anyone that is or made it through age 23 deserves an info pamphlet, a support group, and financial compensation. I started my original blog when I was an 18-year-old undergrad. Time has been FLYIN fr.

Speaking of college, ima whole HBCU grad now.

Thank you laude! If you survived post-grad, send over any advice you can 🥲.

Lastly, you missed so many looks. I haven’t been properly feedin’ the gworls. No breakdowns, no rundowns, no NOTHIN! Not even a sentence, chile.

To solve that, I’ve decided to create a list of my top 10 favorite looks of 2022.

This is based on the looks that made the most significant impact on me: the overall look, planning process, experience, and/or the shoot. No specific order, just vibes.

I’ll also be breaking each one down like a true blogga gworl should! Just a lil sumn sumn, ya know?

Anywho, if you’re a returning reader/subscriber, glad to have you back <3.

If you’re new, hi I’m Janaya (juh-nye-yuh). Nice to meet you! Thank you for clickin’ thru.

Now let’s get into the looks, shall we?

UPSCALE

This look was a sigma-chic moment—the reversible SGRho jacket, warped checkerboard booties,  batman utility belt, and my BBL-ish leggings? It truly ate down and lowkey blew up a lil on social media. The thing that was the most significant about this look is the fact that I felt goooood in it.

 Confident. Beautiful. Happy—-and it showed! My sorors came deep too so to see all of us together looking cute in our royal blue and gold made my day. 

That hump day, the students were smushed in the student center. Craziness? Hot? Packed over comprehension?? Yes, but I still had a hey-ho good time. 

If you’re wondering, of course, I strolled in them boots and I did what needed to be done. 

Last but not least—the ICONIC Sensationnel “Latisha” wig. She might just need a separate blog post cause she’s a fan favorite.

DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR

I had the opportunity to host a panel for the 3rd Annual Blossom and Sol Natural Hair Festival in early 2022. Fun fact: My 1st internship was with Blossom and Sol in Austin at Huston-Tillotson back in 2019. 

They took a break because of the pandemic and returned with a festival in Houston and they thought of ya girl to get on the mic. It was a huge full-circle moment for me to go from intern to moderator. 

Another full-circle moment was being able to revisit a hairstyle from my childhood, the classic cornrow (or feed-in braids). For years, I avoided getting cornrows after a bad experience with a “rockstar-esque cornrow mohawk”. I didn’t like how they made my head shape lool, so I completely erased cornrows from my protective style list–except for the occasional wig breakdown.

Well, I ended up wanting my hair styled for the event but had zero inspiration. Around that time my hairstylist friend Kari posted a photo of a cornrow style on her story, asking for anyone willing to model the look. I love letting hairstylists do their thing and trying styles out. I’m also a firm believer in revisiting styles or pieces that I didn’t like or felt uncomfortable in to see if my mind changes.

Yes, I was a little bit nervous, but I know that Kari is good at her job. She’s done my hair before and she did amazing! Needless to say, I trust her with my curls and scalp.

I brought some pink and blue braiding hair I had left over to the shop and she did the damn thang, per usual. The smoothest zig-zag design with that pink and blue mix was givin unicorn in the best way. 

The look was a green and white skort set (SHEIN), lavender cowboy boots (Shu Deal), “don’t touch my hair” earrings (Legendary Rootz), and my black motorcycle helmet purse from the local beauty supply. 

Very carefree, very much about my hair and my business! That skort set is probably one of my favorite 2pc sets cause it compliments my curves so well. I need one in every color at this point. 

For the panel discussion, I got to speak w/ four amazing women about their natural hair journeys, including legendary natural hairstylist and activist Queen Isis Brantley + 2023 Houston mayoral candidate Robin Williams. 

Overall, I got to overcome my childhood beef with cornrows, exchange natural hair stories, and show love to the Black-owned businesses + people in the city. I 10/10 recommend attending anything that Coco (Blossom and Sol Founder) curates.

NO ANGEL

My mom got me this lil blue number for Christmas. I had no concept in mind, but I knew that taking a couple of flicks on my phone wouldn’t do it justice. 

Luckily, the moment came and I got to shoot with my friend, Tyler, a very gifted photographer. We spent the day riding around 3rd Ward, looking for locations that would capture the neighborhood and complement the fit. 

No plan, no concept—just two creatives yearning to make some cool sh*t. 

The shoot means a lot to me because it brought me out of a creative rut and I got to explore the city in a more intimate way. Collaborating with Tyler is always fun cause he has a very sharp eye. We’re always on the same wavelength. 

Plus, the poses??? I was really givin the gworls a run for their money! Don’t play wit ha everrrrrr. We were in our editorial bag fr.

Now, I use those photos every chance I get! 

WHAT’S MY NAME

I hopped in my host bag again for the TSU Underground Fashion Society Fashion Show. The category? F R E A K N I K. At first, I was struggling with planning this look because how do you give the people freaknik, make it school appropriate, and not break the bank? I was going down countless Pinterest rabbit holes—I even had to make a stop at Exchange to Change for inspiration. Thankfully, I came up with a solid look. I wanted to give a sexy throwback moment but still make it modern + ME. I cropped an airbrushed “Janaya” shirt in my closet and played off of the different neon colors on it. I paired it with some neon pink shorts, neon green heels, a yellow old-school telephone purse, a red mullet, a pair of blue shades, and my grill. 

I even got the chance to style my co-host Taylor in a bright red dickies jumpsuit that I found at E2C. Not only did we do great as hosts, but we looked good while doing it! 

THE SUN

If I told you this was for my professional headshots, would you believe me? I took my headshots in San Antonio during my time as a Students + Startups intern. I wanted to wear something that represented my personality well. I ended up choosing a monochrome yellow pantsuit, my big clock purse, and a larger-than-life fro to channel the sun. 

I felt like I was Don Cornelius’ replacement on Soul Train. Just like the color yellow, I was beaming from ear to ear in my pictures. The end result came out so cute too! 

I remember this day being suuuuper hot. The sun must’ve peeped me stealin her look.

 I toughed it out though and took photos of myself after the headshots, just me and my tripod. The poses flowed cause I was feeling myself. I was so proud after editing my photos and videos cause the shots were *chef’s kiss*.