Ya’ll have no idea how weird this week has been, lol. After the Memorial Day breather, I was literally struggling to catch up with my day-to-day routines! It was crazy. Yet, thanks to bottomless cups of coffee and plenty of prayer, I was able to survive the remainder of my week. 🙂
Anywho, we’ve got some bomb contenders for our little feature – so, sit back and relax as we reminisce on some of our favorite celebrity ensembles.
The ageless Marjorie Harvey served it up for all 1 million of her Instagram followers as she struck a fierce pose in a feminine floral print and stripe detail romper by Elie Saab. Her luxury look also showcases ruffles sleeves, a tie neckline and a fun, spring-ready colorway. The bombshell topped off her ‘fit with sequin embellished sandals and a simple ‘do. Hot!
Kim Kardashian West shocked a few of her fans as she made an expected meet-and-greet appearance at a movie theater in Encino. The reality star shimmered and shined in an eye-catching dress from Audra‘s Fall 2016 collection accompanied by a pair of her hubby’s own Yeezy Season 2 Clear Ankle Strap heels. The overall fit of this look is just amazing – she looks great!
The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2017 show was held this week in Rio de Janiero and some of fashion’s finest showed up and showed out! Amongst the stylish attendees was fashion killa Zendaya Coleman. The 19-year-old phenom rocked the cameras as she uplifted a printed dress from the brand’s Fall 2016 collection. Although her frock did most of the talking, the singer/actress kept her shoe game to a minimum by choosing a sleek pair of LV’s Unchain Ankle Strap Sandals. Yaaasssss!
Our girl Christina Milian hit up the Foxwoods Resort and Casino as she effortlessly slayed in a Missguided Cobalt Blue Cut Out Back Crop Top and matching Wide Leg Buckle Detail Trousers. Round hoop earrings, a dark lip and a bronzed glow completed the starlet’s look. Honestly, I’m LOVING this color against her skin! And, she’s even making me consider the pulling out my own crop top, lol!
Iconic fashion brand Dior also debuted their Cruise 2017 collection a few days ago. And, as usual, the style pros were in full effect! Actress Kate Beckinsale stopped us all in our tracks after we spotted her killing it in a black and white couture gown from the memorable Spring 2015 collection. The sophisticated (and retro-inspired) beauty features abstract flower prints and cut out designs along the waistline. How gorg is she?!
It feels like celebs everywhere are joining forces with fashion brands! From Pharrell and his epic collab with Adidas to Beyonce and her Topshop takeover, it looks like everyone wants to play a role in creating their own products! Now, Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon is following suit as she works alongside a brand called Little Black Dress. A couple days ago at a charity event, the talented stunner debuted one of her own designs which is a watercolor bandeau dress. She looked magnificent! Can’t wait to see some of her other pieces.
And, Barbadian bad gal Rihanna rounds out our Look of the Week feature! The eccentric fashionista indulged in a mini-photo shoot (with a glass of wine in tow) via Instagram in an off-the-shoulder Faith Connexion floral print ruffle dress and $750 Gucci Pink and Red Leather Sandals. When the songstress uploaded these dainty pics, social media went crraazzyyy! Lol, but you gotta admit, this laid-back slayage is perfection!
Soooo, what do you think of this week’s contenders?! Any faves?
Happy Friday everyone! Today we’ve got a previous Bombshell who was actually nominated for Bombshell of the Year back in 2011 ! Say hey to Patience from Maryland:
She says, “Hi, I’m Patience!”
“I now reside in Maryland and have since had a little girl, who is now 19 months old.”
“I wanted to submit my pictures for a followup feature as a potential Bombshell of the Day.”
“I made Fashion Bombshell of the day a few years back and was a runner up to Fashion Bomb of the Year!”
“I just wanted to resubmit as my style has matured in the right direction.”
“I’ve also aged and matured as a person.”
“Thank you for considering me!”
YASSSSSS PATIENCE! Well give me just a little style life on this Friday, why don’t you?! If ya’ll want to see more, check her out on IG: @justpatience. So what do you think of her style?
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 5-10 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to Bombshell@FashionBombDaily.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
Happy Friday, folks!
We’re ending this week with a bit of Breaking into Business inspiration, courtesy of Curls CEO and Founder, Mahisha Dellinger.
In case you’re not familiar with Curls, it is one of the nations’s pioneering Curly Hair Products suppliers, populating shelves at Target, Walmart, Sally Beauty, Rite Aid, CVS, and more. Curls distinguishes itself from its competitors because of its clean and organic ingredients for a range of ages and hair types–it doesn’t contain fillers, artificial oils, silicons, or plastics!
Mahisha started the beauty behemoth in 2002, taking Curls from an idea to a booming business with millions of dollars in yearly revenue.
The Sacramento, California native received a business degree with a concentration in Marketing from California State University. At the time, she had no inklings of becoming an entrepreneur. She said, “Initially I was in corporate America, and I worked at Intel out of college. It wasn’t very long in my career before I reached the highest level I could reach. I had gone through a lot, from being right sized, down sized, and ostracized because I was a young black woman in a white male dominated industry.”
She continues, “As I shifted through, I encountered this manager who had it out for me–he was hell bent on getting rid of me! I was a single mother. I had bills. I had life. It was a blow to me. For a 6 month period, [this manager] had my destiny in the palm of his hands. He could throw me out at any given moment. [Thankfully, he was relocated to Malaysia], and I was able to leave that area, get a promotion, and continue on my journey. [Still, the situation] shook me to my core. [I promised to myself that] I would never again be in a position [where] someone could own my destiny and change my financial security based on [their] racially charged motivation. [So I asked myself]: What am I passionate about?”
She says, “[I was a] newly natural woman. When I launched [Curls] in 2002, there weren’t many options for my texture. Back then, there was grease, Jheri Curl products… I wanted something that would enhance my texture but not weigh it down. I landed in the beauty industry [because] I thought there was a need that was unmet. I decided to Launch a business at the height of the newly natural market. I hired a cosmetic chemist who began formulating testing, and we launched in April 2002. It was one of those stories of: I want this product, I don’t see it in the market, and I’m going to create it.”
Dellinger continues, “80% of business fail within the first five years, so the odds can be stacked against you if you don’t do the work. You have to be sure #1 that there is a viable market. I did my research, looked into that space. Saw that there were women going natural with the products. First thing’s first, do your due diligence. Make sure there’s a market. Sometimes people think that if there’s no competition, it’s a great opportunity. If you don’t see competition there might be a reason why.”
Curls was profitable almost immediately, netting almost $100,000 in sales in its first year through e-commerce. How did she do it? Dellinger offers, “It was really about doing due diligence. Another thing that helped me was getting counseling, assistance, and mentoring from someone who had been there before. Sometimes we have a hard time reaching out for help and that’s something that we have to get over, especially as entrepreneurs. I went to Score which is an amazing resource where you’re connected to mentors in the industry. I took advantage of the courses that helped me with my business, but I also found a mentor in my industry. That helped me avoid pitfalls, to make sure I was pricing my items correctly.” Though Curls was profitable, she advises beginning entrepreneurs to, “Keep your day job. You want to have money from your day job to sustain you. Reinvest every dollar you get so that you can scale. Things can go awry. It’s up in the air. Always keep your day job until you can no longer do both.”
The key pivotal moment in Curls history was the moment that Target called. Then buyer Linda Sullivan realized her ethnic product sales were stagnant and that she needed to refresh the category. She called on 4 brands to test the market, and assured them that if they did well, they would continue to live on and grow with the Target brand and business. Curls was a hit! Dellinger offers, “That call and that opportunity from Target opened the door. And everyone else started calling after that. Sally Beauty, CVS, Rite Aid. All these people we wanted before started calling. So Target really shifted things for business.”
Owning a business as a woman of color doesn’t come without its pitfalls, however. Dellinger admits “There’s a challenge with getting the respect coming in the door. We still can be faced with the same stigma [and prejudice]. It never goes away for us.” Still, she says, “The battle is there, but the perks are higher. Unlimited income? I’ll take that. The best thing about entrepreneurship is the ability to work eighty hours a week, but having those eighty hours go into building a legacy for my four children.”
In terms of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Dellingers says, “Make sure you know your market inside and out and know your competition. Be an expert in your field. Know your competition, know their strengths and weaknesses, and know your industry like the back of your hand.” She also says, “Find a mentor. I highly recommend Score. They tell you how to create a business plan, how to create a marketing plan. They help you find a mentor, but they have amazing free courses that you can use to help your career. It’s an amazing resource.”
In terms of business advice, she says, “You have to evolve or you will dissolve. It’s such a highly competitive, over saturated market. About a year ago, sales declined. They were flat. I’m like ok, that’s not good. We need growth. I had to bring something new and fresh to the table. I went to create a new collection that hadn’t been done before. We’re used to seeing a lot of coconut oil and shea butter. I said I wanted something new and fresh. So I conceived the blueberry collection. Blueberries are not just super foods for your body, but they help repair damage to hair–and the smell is intoxicating! I took that one ingredient and created a line. Sales shot through the roof, increasing by 55%. That was a scary time. But if you’re not selling, you can get kicked off the shelf. It can cost you your shirt.”
For people of color, she had very targeted advice, “We sometimes struggle with living above our means and living outside our resources that we have. When I was working at Intel, I had a convertible BMW and I was renting a house. There is no reason I should have had a convertible BMW as a home renter! The philosophy of how we spend our money is super important. Once you start making money, it’s about making sure that you save and reinvest. The book that shifted my mentality was Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It shifted my view on how I spend my money and enabled me to run this business in a much more stream lined approach.”
Now you’ll find Mahisha running her business, spending family time, or tending to her new non profit called Curls Girls Rule the World. Mahisha grew up in poverty, surrounded by gang violence. She knew that she didn’t want that life for herself. She says, “Giving back is near and dear to my heart. Not everyone has the opportunity to leave the ghetto. Mentoring and giving back is part of my life’s work.”
Hey hey everyone! Friday’s mean that the guys get to show out with our Fashion Bomber feature! Let’s welcome Kyndall from Nashville, Tennessee:“Hello, I’m Kyndall from Nashville, TN.”
“I have a deep appreciation for art which allows me to express it through what I wear.”
“I like to take risks and step outside my comfort zone with looks.”
“I’m very inspired by the hip-hop culture as well as runway trends.”
Hope to represent for the guys on Fashion Bomb Daily.”
“Love the site!”
“Thanks for your time.”
Okay Kyndall! I always love the Bomber submissions because you guys get to show us how varied menswear can be. I love the denim jumpsuit and the tan and black ensemble best! Anywho, check him out on IG: @KynDough. So what do you think of his style?
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 5-10 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to Bombshell@FashionBombDaily.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
The form-fitting frock boasts a cut out wasitline, slim leggings and a smooth silhouette.
House of CB never fails to skimp in the sexy department. Their pieces always seem to make even the simplest of ‘fits feel sultry and feminine. And, I love it! Purchase your own here!
Cute! I’m really loving the pairing of the darker lip with the lighter ensemble. 🙂
Her flirty and feminine frock is crafted from 100% silk and boasts a vibrant floral-pattern with an elasticized off the shoulder topline.
This layered looking skirt features iridescent shell buttons.
Her Italian made high-heel metallic pink and red leather sandal has bicolor twisted detail stand at a 4.5″ straight heel.
Ankle straps are included for ease of closure.
All the way hot!
Her dress is sold out, but you can get her heels here.
Check out this mini shoot, photographed by Rihanna’s bestie, Mellissa: And Gucci Metallic Pink And Red Leather Sandals” width=”583″ height=”593″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-431925″ />
Thoughts on her ‘fit?
Celebs the world over are immersing their hands into this multi-billion dollar fashion industry. And it seems Britain’s Got Talent co-judge Alesha Dixon has joined in on the fun. At last night’s Together For Short Loves Midsummer Charity Ball, in aide of children suffering from life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, Alesha wore a $318 Little Black Dress x Alesha Dixon Watercolor Bandeau Dress. Bold, fun and unique, this strapless number from Alesha’s exclusive new collection was designed with glam party events in mind. Nipping you in at the waist with a gold metal belt and featuring a striking watercolor print with a pleated neckline, this midi dress oozes effortless glamour.With glowing skin and a stature like hers, it’s easy to see why just about everything she wears looks great on her. Seriously, she can pull off any color. So, why not try them all? The silhouette is classic and the print screams spring/summer: the perfect look to pull out of the closet after all those months of unpredictable weather. Hot! And for formal wear, $318 isn’t such a cringeworthy splurge. If you like, you can purchase here. A side-part ponytail, light makeup and minimal accessories tie her look together.
In the meantime, what say you to Alesha’s ensemble? Vote below!
Couture lovin’ style maven Marjorie Harvey took to Instagram earlier this week sporting an Elie Saab Spring 2016 Black And White Floral Print Pussy Bow Short Sleeve Romper:
Her eye-catching romper was modeled on the runway while accented with a black leather belt and blue lace-up sandals.
“Hello, I’m Kyndall from Nashville, TN.”
“I have a deep appreciation for art which allows me to express it through what I wear.”
“Thanks for your time.”
