Divas Mariah and Rihanna (Mimi and Rih Rih) showed that black on black is always chic, stunting in all black outfits for the launch of Vevo last night in New York. Similar outfit combinations are easy to pull together, but the trick, as the stylistas show, is to pile on tons of amazing eye catching accessories:

For an after work mixer, pair an empire waist belted top with a pencil skirt, and slide on platform pumps and tantalizing jewelry:

The time of year is approaching when you’ll have to dust off your metallic tops, vibrant shifts, and eye catching shoes!
All this month we’ll be exploring outfit options for Holiday Parties, kicking off today with the Office Jammer:

Stunt in front of colleagues in smart pieces that marry conservative office chic with your personal style. Mix and match the following separates with your classic black pants, skirts, and jackets for a work perfect party look.

A colorful top:

Shine like the star you are in a long or short sleeved top in a sheen and color that captures the spirit of the holidays. If your hesitant, know that you can tone the look down with a work appropriate classic pencil skirt, jacket, and black pumps.

A festive holiday skirt:

Inject a bit of sass to your wardrobe with a standout skirt. Keep your top simple so your skirt can shine on its own! Don’t forget opaque tights:

A vibrant shift:

Take the guesswork out of your outfit by slipping on a shift in a vibrant holiday inspired color like red, green, or gold:

The statement necklace:

Take the path of least resistance by piling on a chunky necklace. As Bonnie Morrison displays, a hot necklace can take any look to the next level. Simply wear your typical black or patterned dress, and layer on a holiday appropriate conversation piece:

A hot shoe:

Accent all of your outfits with a look-at-me shoe that will assert your style and set you apart from the crowd:

Stay tuned for more on how to dress for the holidays for less!
Smootches!

We’ve gotten a few requests for Usher’s Brown Jacket from Gucci Mane’s Spotlight Video! Keisha said, “The sherpa lined jacket is expensive (seeminly Rick Owens or Martin Margiela expensive )…can you help me find a moderately priced alternative?”
The closest we could find to his shearling lined leather was this $1,050 Nat Jacket by brand Mackage:

The brown sheepskin jacket features epaulet shoulders, zip sleeve cuffs, and a duo snap tab collar.
Get the jacket here:

Danielle from the Style and Beauty Doctor keeps bringing it with the fabulous makeup posts!

Today, it’s all about Blush:

Enjoy!

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Blush has been said to be the one makeup product that women tend to avoid the most especially women of color. I’ve seen great makeup looks that would have looked even greater if only blush was used to pull everything together. Ladies, no matter how you slice it, blush is a must!

So how do you figure out which blush to use? Simple, read on.

Similar to finding the right foundation, in addition to picking the right color for blush, you must also choose the right formula. Here’s a quick guide:

Dry Skin: Creme blushes tend to be more hydrating and flattering.

Oily/Combination Skin: Powder blushes work best as any other consistency can tend to slide off on oily skin.

Normal Skin: almost any blush formula works including liquid and gel formulas.

As far as finishes are concerned, shimmer is good for a youthful glow however, matte is more forgiving on all skin types. Take care when using shimmer as it can make not-so-tiny pores seem larger than they appear.

After choosing the right formula, find the right color. Your most flattering shade of blush will be the color your cheeks turn after working out or you can pinch your cheeks and see what color they turn. I’ve created a handy guide for colors based on skin tones.

(As a quick tip, the darker your skin, the brighter the blush–now, don’t be nervous, the pigments in your skin can take a brighter blush and it will look absolutely gorgeous on your skin.)

Pick a celeb below whose skin tone closely matches yours and try the shades I’ve suggested.

1. MAC Blush in Well Dressed $18 at MAC 2. NARS Blush in Orgasm $25 at narscosmetics.com 3. NARS Blush in Outlaw $25 at narscosmetics.com 4. NARS Blush in Lovejoy $25 at narscosmetics.com 5. NARS Blush in Taos $25 at narscosmetics.com 6. MAC Blush in Raizin $18 at MAC 7. NARS Blush in Taj Mahal $25 at narscosmetics.com 8. NARS Blush in Exhibit A $25 at narscosmetics.com

You can apply blush either before you put on foundation (for a natural look), or after foundation but before powder or even after foundation and powder–it’s up to you and your routine. To get the longest lasting blush, apply finishing powder on cheeks first, then blush, and then another thin layer of powder. For maximum color payoff (and to help blush last longer), first apply a creme blush and then a powder blush in the same color on top.

Using an angled brush like MAC 168 Large Angled Contour Brush, smile and lightly sweep the blush on the apples of your cheeks and the top of your cheekbones. If you’re using a creme blush, apply with your middle finger and lightly tap your cheekbones and tops of your cheekbones then blend with your ring finger. Then follow with a light dusting of finishing powder.

Make Up For Ever, another powerhouse makeup brand I love, has some awesome diagrams on where to apply blush according to your face shape. Check it out:

Applying blush first before eye and lip color can help to determine how much eye and lip makeup you need. Often times you can get away with just wearing blush!

And there you have it, a quick and dirty guide on blush. No longer should you be afraid of blush. Keep it as a part of your normal beauty routine and your face will thank you.

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Great job, as always Danielle!
I’m a MAC head, so wore Raizin Blush for years. Now I’m down with Breezy.
What blush makes your cheeks pop?
Smootches!

I had to pick my mouth up off the floor after viewing Rachel Roy’s chunky necklace from yesterday’s Hot! or Hmm. It made her whole outfit! I did a bit of research and found she was rocking a version of Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2009 Chain Necklace:

The price was unlisted, but let’s assume it’s not recession proof.
Just for fun, take a look at a few other Vuitton accessories:

Crystal Embellished Leather Chain Necklace, Monogram Paillettes Alma

Biseta Extra Clutch, Gold Brocade Thigh-high Boot
Ah, if I were a rich girl.
See more at www.style.com.

Keep your neck warm stylishly with this $55 Multi-scarf by brand KnottyLoop:

The versatile piece can be worn a myriad of ways for endless winter fashion fun!
Purchase here or at www.knottyloop.com.

Hey Guys!

So some of you may have already purchased the Fashion Bomb Guide for Blogging (if you haven’t what are you waiting for?!?), but still have questions about blogging, getting started, and taking leaps of faith.

I created the Ebook to answer the hundreds of questions I receive about starting a weblog, and am creating this post to answer every other burning question you may have. If you’ve purchased the Ebook, yet still have questions, let ‘er rip in the comments section.  I’ll do best to answer them throughout the day!

If you’d like to peruse our Guide to Blogging, get it here for $4.95:

Smootches!

Hey Bombshells!
I almost hit the ceiling when I saw a new MIT study on counterfeit bags mentioned on NYMag:

Not only is the study interesting, but the Assistant Professor leading the study, Renee Richardson Gosline, was my tutor in college!

How cool!

In her new working paper, “Rethinking Brand Contamination,” Gosline says that people rely heavily on social cues to tell real bags from fakes. When viewing bags on a shelf, for example, study participants couldn’t discern the real from the counterfeit. However, when looking at people carrying bags, participants judged the bag’s authenticity based on the person’s overall outfit and comportment:

Basically if someone looks wealthy, most people believe their bag is real and if someone looks lower class, they assume the bag was purchased in Chinatown:

Renee also published another study called “The Real Value of Fakes,” where she interviewed hundreds of consumers who knowingly bought fake luxury apparel. She found that within two years, 46 percent of these buyers purchased the authentic version of the same product, ” even though other people could not necessarily tell the difference.”

Sounds super interesting!
You guys might remember my heated run in with fakes from a trip to China I took years ago. After I was shamefully called out for my fake Burberry scarf, I decided to leave the knock offs behind.
How do you feel about fake bags?

Read the study synopsis here.

The stylish were all over the chic map late last week and this weekend, flaunting in everything from figure flattering club dress to inventive LBD’s and ‘Cougar’ fits. How well did they represent?

Rihanna partied like a rockstar for her Rated R Album Release Party at Ultra M2 Lounge in NYC, blowing kisses at the camera in a tight, long sleeved, exotic print dress with claw like cut outs along her bust, ribs, and hips. I’m feeling her smoky eye, blinged out diamond studs, and black nail polish. Her jubilant gesture (on the right) shows that this Bajan Diva is moving past the drama and onto certified platinum status, looking fly at every stop. Hawte!

Meagan Good and Angie Martinez also attended the crowded fete, with Meagan in ripped jeans and a tee, and Angie going for a bit more svelte in all black and a sharp short haircut. While I’m feeling the boots on both belles, hmm, Meagan could’ve stepped it up just a tad for the paparrazzi laden party…

Designer Rachel Roy stays on the New York social scene, so of course didn’t miss a chance to catch the Cinema Society & Tom Ford hosted “A Single Man” Screening at The Museum of Modern Art. She showed how to do the holiday look right in a strapless LBD worn with a heather gray turtleneck, metallic trench, opaque black tights, and cotton candy pink clutch. While Rachel can certainly shine on her own, her chunky locket Louis Vuitton necklace really takes the hot look to a whole new chic level. She better work!

Over in LA Kardashian sisters Kim and Khloe sizzled in body hugging mini dresses and stilettos for the Cracked Xmas 12 Gala. Loving Khloe’s droolworthy Christian Louboutin Pigalle Studs 100 pumps, but am growing a bit bored with the sisters’ predictable short-and-tight steeze…

Vivica A. Fox showed and proved for the mature bombshells as she introduced “Vivica’s Cougar Crunch” At Millions Of Milkshakes in West Hollywood.  Her brown leather ‘Shaft’ jacket, exotic print satin button down, and flowing ‘Farrah’ locks seemed to harken back to 70’s glamour, but Cougar Vivica shows how to make a bygone era look modern, polished, and hot!

Lastly in Santa Monica,  Lisa Raye and Elise Neal attended the party for stylist Joe eXclusive. I’m feeling the ladies black sandals, oversized clutches, and soft makeup, but am hmm’ing quite hard at Mr. eXclusive. Fashion and eccentricity go hand in hand, so I can look past the Gucci mandals and bright pink toes. The bleach blonde ‘woodpecker’ hair, however, is something only Rihanna can pull off–barely. Better luck next time Joe.

What say you, Bombshells?

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