New York Fashion Week: Men’s is in full swing, which means our favorite menswear brands are staging their Spring 2016 shows, as well as a slew of up-and-coming lines that have some promising collections on display. A brand that is gaining quite a bit of buzz on the lips of fashion insiders is that of Abasi Rosborough.
Founded in 2013 by F.I.T. grads Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough (who honed their skills at Engineered Garments and Ralph Lauren), the line has a futuristic flair combined with expert tailoring and suiting separates.
“Progressive menswear for the 21st century” is their mantra and their designs are not only functional and multifaceted, but inventive and singular. It’s no doubt the duo is incredibly talented, by the Fall and Spring 2015 looks at hand.
Abasi and Rosborough only use natural textiles that are made in the Big Apple, which is another cool aspect of the line.
Prices range from $250 for a t-shirt to $1,400 for a jacket.
The pieces at hand are definitely intriguing and I cannot wait to see the brand’s Spring 2016 wares.
Her python shoulder bag features light silvertone hardware, hand-painted edges, manual stitch detailing, a double chain shoulder strap, and the brand’s iconic interlocking G closure. Check out the pink multicolor iteration below.
Her patent leather sandals boast chain link detailing at the ankle straps and 4″ heels.
No complaints here!
If you’re up for the splurge, get the pink version of B’s bag here and sandals here.
The inimitable Nene Leakes was a vision on a recent episode of Watch What Happens Live in the same $1,350 Cushnie et Ochs Oscar Cutout-Detail Jersey Dress previously worn by Kim Zolciak and Mary J Blige.
All blonde Bombshells opted for varied footwear; Mary J Blige and Nene Leakes worked peep toe stunners while Kim went for point toe pumps.
The dress is now on sale for a more reasonable $312 at Off Saks Fifth Avenue. It has a round neck, long sleeves, and sexy cut outs.
It’s kind of hard to go wrong with this type of dress. I think they all look bomb!
Thoughts?
Hey Bomber and Bombshells!
So I’m launching a new initiative called Claire Cares.
While it’s always great to blog about celebs and show the occasional outfit, it’s way past time for me to get involved in my community in a real way by partnering with charitable organizations. I’ve just feel that I’ve been so blessed; it’s time to be more proactive about giving back.
One of the first charitable organizations I plan to work with is Rush Philanthropic.
Started by Danny Simmons, Russell Simmons, and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, the organization is dedicated to providing inner city youth across New York City with significant exposure to the arts, as well as to supporting emerging artists with exhibition opportunities. I’ll be learning more about Rush Philanthropic this coming weekend at their annual Art for Life Benefit in the Hamptons!
I’ll be reporting on Rush Philanthropic throughout the week! And also keep an eye out for more from Claire Cares. I’m really excited about doing amazing things, including reaching out to organizations abroad.
Stay tuned!
*Donate to Rush Philanthropic here.
” I try to stick to what suits my personal style and not follow trends.”
“Attitude is everything.”
” Don’t take yourself too seriously. Smile and have fun..”
Adorable! I love it. Very polished, classy, and chic!
Explore more at www.missblizzers.com and on Instagram @Missblizzers.
Hot! or Hmm…?
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 6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to thefashionbomb@gmail.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 internet was in a tizzy this past weekend over a selfie Kylie Jenner posted sporting cornrows. Her caption, “I woke up like disss.”
Duck lips? Check? Exposed midriff? Check. Beyoncé reference? Of course! But while her flick may have seemed innocent to some, others shamed Kylizzle for using her social media following to show love for black culture, but no love for the actual struggles of black people.
Many weighed in on her hair, from Justin Bieber to Charlamagne (to everyone in between). But the most vocal voice was 17-year-old Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg, who commented on the photo, saying, “When u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use ur position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards ur wigs instead of police brutality or racism #whitegirlsdoitbetter”. Amandla is also famously known for a video she made back in April titled, “Don’t Cash Crop on my Cornrows.” See her thoughts on cultural appropriation here:
She’s a really bright girl! If you take the 5 minutes to watch her piece, you’d certainly see where she’s coming from. Her point: Kylie has no problem espousing body traits typically celebrated in black women, dating black men, and wearing ‘black’ hairstyles. Has she ever so much as hashtagged #BlackLivesMatter? Not sure.
While we’d hope that everyone with a huge platform would use said platform to inspire and incite change, it’s simply not everyone’s prerogative. Kylie is a teenager. Her family is not known for having any discernible talent aside from looking good and dressing well. Even if Kylie wanted to escape the spotlight, she couldn’t–she’s been on a reality TV show since she was a youngster. She is rich and famous just for breathing. I’m not sure why we’d expect her to have any sort of insight or intellectual depth.
Also, we have to think about the types of people we put on a pedestal. The Kardashian/Jenners are not professors, lawyers, dancers, or singers. We love to look at them as an escape from the ‘Real World.’ They live a life of luxurious excess, one that is purely superficial and pretty much completely fake. So why would we expect them to give us anything but duck lips, enviable abs, and pretty pictures? That is their job!
And who knows? Maybe Amandla’s comment and the ensuing internet controversy will inspire Kylie and her klan to learn better and perhaps do better–and use their platforms for elucidating and educating versus simply pouting and preening. Or not.
What do you think of this hubbub?
*Amandla took to her Instagram last night to weigh in some more.
“Black features are beautiful. Black women are not. White women are paragons of virtue and desire. Black women are objects of fetishism and brutality.
This, at least, seems to be the mentality surrounding black femininity and beauty in a society built upon eurocentric beauty standards. While white women are praised for altering their bodies, plumping their lips, and tanning their skin, black women are shamed although the same features exist on them naturally.
This double standard is one string in the netting that surrounds black female sexuality – a web that entraps black women when they claim sexual agency. Deeply ingrained into culture is the notion that black female bodies, at the intersect of oppression, are less than human and therefore unattractive. They are symbols of pain, trauma, and degradation. Often when they are sexualized, it is from a place of racial fetishism.
The stigmas surrounding it are embedded in American infrastructure and psyche as evidenced by the ways black women are sexually assualted and treated by police – an act that goes frequently unreported by the media. When the media is not ignoring black women altogether, they are disparaging them.
As culture shifts and racial tensions are tested through the vehicle of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, it’s important to question:
