Mid Life Melanin MaMa

Ge'Le' Day and Summer Neutrals..

June 15, 2016

Well, Well, Well I think this ties in perfectly. My version of summer neutrals. Camo & Black.....what say you?

Gele Day is a MOVEMENT.
We've been in formation since 2012.
The Wrap Your BeYOUty Mantra:
"We stand beneath our tower of power.
We love like shower, We bloom like flower.
We wrap our heads like the Queens of old!
Our beauty is bold...
We shine like pure GOLD!!!"
And Queens Be Like...
"GELE” pronounced gaye lay, is an African head wrap/head-tie that has its roots in the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, West Africa.

Last year 2015 was my first Gele (Gaye lay). Now almost 1 year later I am one of the brand ambassadors. One this journey that I call life I was at a certain place in my life. I was intentionally creating the life that I wanted. I wanted to surround myself with what I call the light. You know when you see others walking in their own beauty, power,fashion, style and grace. This is all manifested from the inside out. I thought that if I wore the right clothing everything else would flow. Gele is a headwrap but the truth of the matter it that it is about honoring self, loved ones,Mother Earth and father sky and the Universe essentially all things. Every Wednesday I will be sharing part of my journey and how I WRAP your beYOUty Movement.

For today I decide to take the women in my family to our local Veterans Memorial Park. This park was dedicated in 2008 to the sacrifices that our WWII veterans have made. I thought I would combine my love of the Army as a veteran and theWRAP your beYOUty Movement. For me all are intertwined. Having some of the women from my family there just made this more special to me. Honoring our generations past and present thinking about the journey we have been on together and separately.

I've included pictures from my first 2015 Gele day and what I wore. I hope you enjoy the visual feast.

Gele is open to all this is my journey won't you journey with me?

Join the Movement!

Saturday, July 16th, 2016

63rd & Hayes Beach Park
11a.m. - 3p.m.
(No entry fee all are welcome)

Pilar creator and founder "Ase O! Many blessings to all the Sisters whose beautiful souls are reflected in these photos, as well as those who were with us in spirit! . Sit back, relax and enjoy the energy that oooozes from these photos. I laughed and cried at the beauty of it all. If you have not yet done so, please like our page, WRAP your beYOUty Movement and continue to spread love throughout our communities...Don't forget to SANKOFA IT! & in all things LET LOVE RULE!!! See you all at our 5th year Anniversary next year, GELE DAY 2016!!! Ase! Amandla! Odabo! "

Link to Gele day
http://kreativesoulsbypilar.com/gele_day

F.B. Page
https://www.facebook.com/wrapm.....38;fref=ts

What I'm wearing:
Knee High lace up boots-Thrifted from a Sassy Thrifter barely worn
Camouflage walking shorts-Thrifted
Gele T-Shirt
Camo abstract print scarf-thrifted
Earrings-artist made
Sunglasses-prescription ray bans

As always Thank you for lurking,reading or commenting. All are welcome.
1-9 Ge'Le' (photo shoot)
10-25 Ge'Le' 2015 pictures
26-30 Ge'Le' brand ambassadors meeting and photo shoot
31-32 last Wednesday Ge'Le' wrap look and meeting
33-35 Ge'Le' sight we will be at lakefront Chicago

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

19 Comments

  • Sally replied 7 years ago

    Wow those are great head wraps....looks like a fun day and you must meet a lot of people through these events.  I love those boots with the cropped cami pants and t shirt.

  • Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

    Sally yes we have a great time with yoga, Drum circles, libations offered to the earth. So we would say it's like peace love and hair grease of the 60's free love but it is a bit organic and organized. I'm glad you liked the head wraps.

  • Maneera replied 7 years ago

    You look beYOUtiful! Fierce and proud! #7 is my fav from this bunch of photos!

  • Suz replied 7 years ago

    Ledonna, you look beautiful and powerful. I love how you have combined androgyny and feminine sexuality in this look -- it is powerful! The boots show your fabulous gams. And the gele is so dignified and strong on you. Love it all. 

  • Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

    Maneera -7 says it all for me
    Past Present Future. I love going to this park because of all that it represents.

    Suz- wow you get me. So spot on thank you for you kind words.

  • Angie replied 7 years ago

     Sassy Steampunk Soldier.

    Powerful, spirited, full of verve, and from the heart. You wear a Gele with the best of them, Ledonna. 

  • Chris987 replied 7 years ago

    Love it! Love hearing about what those headscarves are about, I knew they were African but not much else.

    I especially love the little girl in #12 ..homage to the Gele but with a modern snack. To be honest, I'm thinking she ought to be eating something healthier, but never mind,  the juxtaposition of the Gele and the Ruffles is somehow very adorable. :-)

  • rachylou replied 7 years ago

    I love the pic with the line of women along the water. And those sweet babies in their head wraps! Precious!

  • Sara L. replied 7 years ago

    Wow, great pictures and I loved learning about the headwraps.  But now I have a question - Do you usually tie your own?  It looks fairly complicated.

    Those boots with the camo pants is an awesome outfit.  So you!

  • rachylou replied 7 years ago

    On a tangent, do you know anything about the head wraps they wore in New Orleans? Involved points and numbers of points. I never heard of points until reading the Benjamin January, Freeman of Colour, historical mystery series - by Barbara Hambly, who also writes Star Trek novels - which weirds me out. The Benjamin January novels are filled with so much researched, thought provoking detail about life at the time when Louisiana was being taken over by Americans. Benjamin is a doctor trained in France, but ekes out his living in New Orleans as a piano player.

  • RobinF replied 7 years ago

    Great pics, thank you for sharing your life with us. Love those wraps, they are beautiful.

  • Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

    Chris987 I like the contrast between the traditional and the youth and even the "American" bag of chips.  It was an unexpectedly long day and we were not prepared to bring lunch. whew  I was so hungry by the end I ate food off the back of a gut truck.   This year lunch will be provided and it will be healthy.  Some just join when they see us on the lake front. lol

    Rachylou it was a phenomenally day we sang songs as we walked to the lake front and the babies wearing their head wraps as calm as cool as you please.  I'm taking my niece this year.  She has never worn a head wrap.  I wonder I guess I should start talking to er now about it.  Flowing into your tangent I don't know anything about the 5 points but everything has meaning and I will be looking up the author. 

    Angie yes we LOVE steampunk so these boots are a welcome addition into my wardrobe.  The GELE is so important to me for so many reasons.

    Sara L. I love the boots and camo hahaha.  The GELE wrap can get very complicated and at times require the help of others. Here is a video if you are interested.  from BBC news. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36461213

    Robin thank you I enjoy sharing I am glad you stopped by and commented. 

  • Aida replied 7 years ago

    Vibrant, energizing photos! Totally adore your first outfit there, the shorts in particular, and I love how the little side ruches and long strings play off the strappy boots. Easily adaptable to a non-event outfit by swapping the tee for another top, if you wanted. The kiddo in #12 has excellent taste in chips (those are in my top 5 faves! ^^). Is your niece excited to go to this year's Gele Day with you?

  • Bonnie replied 7 years ago

    This looks like a fun day. Thanks for telling us about the GELE. 

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 7 years ago

    Your outfit is awesome. I love those laceup open-front boots with the camo pants and GeLe. Thanks for sharing the photos and story of this tradition here.

  • rachylou replied 7 years ago

    Lol. I got sidetracked by babies. I'm so easy. The boots are neato. Black and camo is a great way to do summer neutrals.

  • Sal replied 7 years ago

    You look terrific Ladonna and I love the spirit and energy of the day.

    You are making me want to visit Chicago!!

  • Momo replied 7 years ago

    That outfit is so, so cool! You look fierce!
    Sounds like a beautiful day. Love the pictures of the women . And the little girls! OMG what sweeties.

  • Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

    Aida I just found out my niece will be going to a wedding on this day.  We have to plan for next year.  Those chips are awesome. lol

    Firecracker, Bonnie Kiwigirl, Momo Thank you for reading about the history and looking at the pictures. 

    Kiwigirl/Sally you are welcome to come to the Chi anytime.

    Rachylou don't worry about it I get distracted easily also lol

You need to be logged in to comment

Categories

Blogroll

Archives

About

I'm a 44 year old Mid Life Melanin MaMa with my beautiful daughter who just entered her toddler years. I hope you will join us honor fashionable and Thrifty Adventures. As we discover a life that is full of fashionable color and joy. We hope to inspire you, make you think, but most importantly make you smile. So I invite you to Journey with us on this thing we call life.