Searching for affordable contemporary pieces fashioned out of Ankara fabric?

Look no further than It’s Archel, an e-boutique boasting Liberian made separates all under $100:

Every piece is handmade by a Liberian artisan who is rebuilding after the country’s war. Each item is one-of-a-kind, and if you find a silhouette you like, you can contact the store to get your own piece customized.

See more and purchase at www.itsarchel.bigcartel.com.
What do you think of the pieces? Hot! or Hmm…?

Happy Tuesday!
So last week I decided to do our very first on camera Breaking into Fashion interview with boutique owner Blake Scotland.

The young Georgetown graduate is the proprietor of her eponymous men’s and women’s contemporary boutique located at 62 Clinton Street on the Lower East Side.




I tapped her to offer a few tips to you aspiring store owners out there.

Take a look:

What do you think?
For my on camera moment, I decided to embrace this season’s neon trend with a flat chiffon top by Mara Hoffman, accented by Rag & Bone colorblock skinnies (previously worn by Ashanti here), and my Kurt Geiger Greek Sandals (I also wore them to Essence’s Women in Hollywood Luncheon).

I toned down all my patterns with an H&M conscious white denim jacket, and a pop of bright pink MAC Impassioned lipstick.


As far as jewelry, I wore a few of my faves, including bling hoops from Shop Loveys, a Melody Ehsani I’m Fly ring, and a Noisegirl bracelet I copped at Blake Scotland.


And there you have it!

Thoughts?
*Because you made it to the end of this post, Blake and I decided to collabo and give away an item carried in her store: these funky glasses by designer Samantha Smikle (retail value $145).



I’m still unsure if I can pull those off, but I’m sure one of you can!
Leave a comment and we’ll pick a winner at random. If you don’t want to win, please indicate so in your comment! The contest ends Wednesday May, 2nd at 12pm EST. And in the meantime, you should also check out more of Samantha’s work at shoptnemnroda.com. She’s offering Fashion Bomb readers 20% off until May 15th with the code “FashionBombMay.”
Smootches!
*Photos by Marta McAdams. Video by Sam Centore.
*Outfit Info: Mara Hoffman Flat Chiffon Top. Rag & Bone colorblock skinnies. Kurt Geiger Greek Sandals. H&M white denim jacket. Shop Loveys Hoops. Melody Ehsani I’m Fly Ring. Noisegirl bracelet. Necklace from PB & Caviar.

Solange Knowles turned out to DJ the Gucci GQ Cocktail party last night, appropriately clad in a few well plucked Gucci pieces. She blessed the night in $1,495 Ophelie T-strap sandals, along with a metallic zebra stripe blazer, a $1,195 colorblock miniskirt with band inset, and a $650 drape neck top.

Her 100% silk drape neck top also comes in basic black.

Her natural white and black silk cotton skirt features a block of radzmire with bronze leather.

Her sandals have two chain straps and a decorated heel.

 

While the outfit is undoubtedly Hot! on its own, that skirt is a little short, no?
 


What do you think?
If you love it to pieces, get it at www.gucci.com.
 

~Jihan

• Azealia Banks will charm the fashion glitterati with her musical stylings at next week’s Met Gala. The rapper took to Twitter to announce her exciting news: “I’ve been invited to Perform for PRADA next week in NYC! Gonna b so lush !! Let’s see what new songs I debut there!#metball2012″ How exciting for her! This chick’s really blowing up! (Azealia Banks Twitter)

 

• Venus Williams has released the newest range for her tenniswear line, EleVen. The collection (which boasts both women’s and men’s pieces) has already been picked up by a few country clubs as well as online retailer Tennis Warehouse. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $17 to $48. (WWD)

 

• Jean and Jane Ford, twin cofounders of BeneFit cosmetics, are the subjects of a new movie, Glamouriety. The movie chronicles their journey from models to beauty moguls who still don’t seem to realize that black people come in more than one shade of brown. The film premiered at the TriBeCa film festival, and will be screened on the BeneFit website. Think you’ll watch? (Racked)

 

• Julia Bluhm, a 13-year-old Seventeen magazine reader, is sick of seeing the same over-photoshopped, rail thin girls and women in the glossy. So, the strong-minded teen is taking matters into her own hands, and started a petition on Change.org, calling for Seventeen to put at least one unairbrushed spread in each issue. “I want to see regular girls that look like me in a magazine that’s supposed to be for me. For the sake of all the struggling girls all over America, who read Seventeen and think these fake images are what they should be, I’m stepping up. I know how hurtful these photoshopped images can be. I’m a teenage girl, and I don’t like what I see. None of us do. Will you join us by signing this petition and asking Seventeen to take a stand as well and commit to one unaltered photo spread a month?” It’s absolutely wonderful to see this young girl taking steps to help remedy a problem that is oh so pervasive within the fashion industry. The petition already has over 11,000 signatures out of the 15,000 she’s shooting for. Will you be signing? (Jezebel)

 

• Rumor has it that Angelea Preston, the disqualified would-have-been winner of America’s Next Top Model All-Stars, is four to five months pregnant. Some are speculating that this news might have something to do with her mysterious disqualification. (ONTD)

 

•MTV Style caught up with Kabuki, the makeup artist behind Rihanna’s ‘Where Have You Been’ video, to discuss inspirations for the singer’s myriad looks. (MTV Style)

~Jihan

To announce her upcoming tour with Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez held a press conference, and chose quite a frock for the occasion. The American Idol judge slipped on a $7,835 snake embellished dress from Lanvin and $695 Giuseppe Zanotti ankle strap double platform pumps to break the big news.

This silk on lycra dress is bedazzled with Swarovski crystals that creep from the left panel all the way around to the neckline, where the sparkly snake menacingly rests its head.

Her double platform pumps have a 5.75″ heel.

At first, I gave this frock a Scooby Doo “rrow?” because I wasn’t sure what was going on, but after taking a closer look, I realized that I’m just in love with this dress. Lanvin rarely ever makes something that I don’t like, and this time is no exception. Her look is a Hot! for me.

… But what do you think?

~Jihan

Jessica Alba showed some blogger love at the Lucky Magazine Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference in Santa Monica. For the occasion, she went bold in a peter pan collar sweater with a sequin tie from Alice + Olivia’s Fall 2012 collection, $695 Lela Rose Printed Pants, and $595 Giuseppe Zanotti Pumps:

She accented her look with a Hoorsenbuhs for Forevermark 2.02 ctw Tri-Link Diamond Stud Earrings.
Check out her sweater from the brand’s Fall 2012 lookbook.

Her cotton-blend jacquard pants feature an abstract black and white print, a mid-rise silhouette and skinny legs.

Her exact neon orange two-tone pumps are not available, but the below are the same style in a different colorway.

You can also get a similar look for less with $63 Fergie Protest Pumps.

The verdict is still out on this look for me. I usually love Jessica’s style and her colorblocking, but this seems a tad too busy. Each piece is great individually, but altogether there’s no point of focus.

If you’re up for the splurge, you can get her pants at www.net-a-porter.com.

What do you think? Are you feeling Jessica’s look?

Along with Jessica Alba, Ashley Madekwe was also on hand at the Lucky Magazine Fashion and Beauty Blog Conference in Santa Monica. She went affordable from head to toe in a $80 Zara Studded Top, $98 Madewell Floral Pleated Skirt, Coach Leather Bag, and $81 Zara High Heel Sandals:

Her top features frill sleeves and studded detailing.

Her flirty mini skirts boasts a fun floral print and pleats.

I couldn’t pinpoint Ashley’s exact bag, but she is either rocking the $198 Coach Classic Leather Shoulder Purse or the $118 Coach Classics Leather Mini Crossbody. Both great wardrobe additions!

Last, but not least are her sandals which boast two-tone double buckle ankle straps and 4.3″ heels.

 

If you’re looking for an easy and budget-conscious look for Spring, this is it!

You can get her top and sandals at www.zara.com, her skirt at www.madewell.com and her bag at www.coach.com.

Would you wear it?

Take a look at today’s Bombshell, Farrah from Montréal, Canada:

She says, “I would describe my style as rebellious…”

“…sex-infused…”


“…old school…”


“… and glamour!”


“I’m a beauty and fashion columnist for www.souchemagazine.ca, a magazine for black women.”


” Please choose me so I can make my readers from Montreal Canada proud!”

Cute looks! No complaints here, you’re definitely a Bombshell.
What do you think?

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 2-6 picture(s) to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted may be featured on Facebook or Twitter. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game!

Rita Ora might have borrowed from the boys during her time at Coney Island, but when she shot her newest music video, she kept it sexy in swimwear. In one of the looks, she rocked loads of gold jewelry, a pink studded leather jacket, a $138 Tavik La Cava One-Piece Swimsuit, and $75 Jessica Simpson Shavon Slingbacks:

Her one-piece swimsuit features a scoop neckline, low-cut back and neon chevron layers.

Her slingback pumps take on the Spring’s hot colorblocking trend with 5.3″ heels.

Music videos are all about going bold and though you couldn’t wear this out on the street, you can definitely work the pieces separately while out on the town and poolside.

You can get her swimsuit at www.urbanoutfitters.com and her pumps at www.endless.com.

What do you think?

Shop some other cute swimwear from Tavik here.

So we’ve been cultivating diversity in our Bombshell section, with stylistas and stylistos from India to Bermuda. Today we’re adding even more variety with Biko, a transgender designer and fashion stylist from Kenya:

She says, “My style is classic glam, reminiscent of the Hollywood golden age, or as my friends like to call it…Old Lady.”

“… I wear a lot of immaculate vintage pieces which I have been collecting for years.”

“… I find that the key to wearing vintage well is to have a good seamstress to alter everything to either fit you or become more modern.”

“… I mix vintage with high fashion pieces but they have to be classic…”

“… I detest trends and therefore, avoid buying trendy things because they don’t last for more than a season.”

” Besides, being trendy can be very expensive which is why trendy people tend to buy shop at H&M or other discount retail places, its very practical but I refuse to sacrifice quality for quantity.”

“Like I always say, ” Think about what you want your clothes to say about you before putting them on.”

“…For me its more about unapologetic glamour.””

You’re beautiful! I’d love to play in your closet (or go vintage shopping with you!). See more of Biko’s style at www.lamutamu.com.
What do you think?

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 2-6 picture(s) to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted may be featured on Facebook or Twitter. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game!