So I was itching to add a dash of vamp to my makeup arsenal, and nothing seemed more fun than a bright red lip. I’m usually a very classic girl when it comes to makeup–I keep my Oh Baby! and Explicit brown sparkly lipglosses on tap and don’t tend to diverge much from light champagnes or the occasional dark plum. I asked a few of my twitter peeps what bright reds typically work for brown skinned babes, and they recommended everything from Lancome’s Berry Noir to MAC’s Ruby Woo, Russian Red, or Spice It Up.
With so many options, I thought it best to drop by my local MAC store…
…to try out a few colors for myself. Of course I had to bring along my friends Rachel and Helene for honest second (and third) opinions.
When I walked in, I was a bit overwhelmed by the choices:
…so had my friend Helene go first!
Our wonderful makeup artist started her off with Russian Red:
…it was perfect! She didn’t need a pencil at all, and it worked well with her skin tone.
Feeling more sure of myself, I decided to put Ruby Woo on my friend Rachel:
Rachel isn’t much of a makeup girl, and rarely wears anything on her lips, so the color was a bit much for her:
She wasn’t in love.
She took back the wheel and tested the Russian Red that worked for Helene…
…and voila! The color looked great on her!
I was up next, but left the lipstick application to the professionals. Since Russian Red was working for my friends, I tried it first…
Honestly, not bad…but it didn’t quite set it off for me as it did for my friends! I wasn’t convinced, so my makeup artist applied a bit of Lady Danger:
Not bad! A little bright, but I think I can work it!
The budget fashionista that I am, of course I remembered MAC’s Back2Mac program, where you can bring in 6 empty containers in exchange for a free lipstick! I brought in all those old empty tubes of Oh Baby!, and traded them in for my new hot Lady Danger!
Rachel ended up passing on purchasing, but Helene was all about her Russian Red:
What’s your go-to bright lipstick?
Smootches!
No MAC store near you? Purchase a few of our picks here:
In another piece of feather ruffling fashion news, Karl Lagerfeld recently told German Magazine Focus that fashion is about, “dreams and illusions, and no one wants to see round women.” The charming Lagerfeld went on to say that those that decry skinny models are, “… fat mummies sitting with their bags of crisps in front of the television.”
Karl was clearly born in a time before political correctness and tact were in vogue.
He reminds me of those crotchety old men who unflinchingly say whatever’s on their mind, even if their thoughts are totally offensive.
Nothing about fashion surprises me anymore. It’s become a twisted comedy that excludes everyone but thin, European eccentrics…like Karl.
Read more about von Karl’s statements at Styleist.com.
*If you’re truly offended, designer Malcolm Harris started a facebook group called “Boycott Chanel: Real Women Demand an Apology.” LOL. Join here.
*Also, lookie what a reader sent me:
Seems there’s a little pot/kettle action going on…
Serena Williams looked stuntastic last night at Philippe’s West Hollywood Opening Celebration, working a glam peach dress with fun crystal adorned fringes:
She set off the hot dress with bright blush, cool pink lipstick, and a smoky eye. A cute diamond necklace finished off the look.
Serena has been known to look a bit *ahem* strong on the red carpet, but she’s looking hot here!
What do you think, though? Hot? Or does her look make you go hmmm..?
Jezebel Magazine has the following scans of the October issue of French Vogue, which features Dutch model Lara Stone in what has been called contemporary Blackface:
The issue, dedicated to supermodels, features Naomi Campbell in small front of the book articles, but Ms. Stone is the only “woman of color” who scored a multipage editorial. Shot by Steven Klein and styled by Carine Roitfeld, Stone dons seemingly ethnic inspired feathered garb while holding a meditative, almost angry gaze:
The editors at Jezebel say, “What Klein and Roitfeld should know…is that painting white people black for the entertainment of other white people is offensive in ways that stand entirely apart from cultural context...something about the act of portraying a white woman as black ought to sound an alarm, somewhere.”
A little history: As early as the 15th century, white actors used blackface to portray stereotypical archetypes of African-Americans (the buffoonish, lazy, lascivious cowardly male or matronly, at times mannish mammy). The practice, called mistrelsy, was used to promote and cement racist attitudes and feelings about black people. Though Lara Stone is missing the white outline around the mouth or bright red lipstick, this photo shoot definitely strikes a raw nerve:
Why the French Vogue team thought this was a good idea is beyond me. Some things you should never be so bold as to say or do, but it seems there are no standards of grace or social decorum when it comes to fashion.
Some say the images are simply artistic, and that calling the shots ‘racist’ is going too far.
What do you think?
For more about blackface, view this montage from Spike Lee’s 2000 film Bamboozled:
BET’s Hip Hop Awards went down this weekend in the ATL with a slew of Fashion Bomb celebrities shutting down the red carpet. Did they turn it out for the Dirty South? Or did they make you go hmm….?
Kaleena, P. Diddy, and Dawn Richard of Dirty Money sat front row for the crunk show in coordinated black and white outfits, Dawn and Kaleena both sporting cool, chopped, highlighted haircuts and bold jewelry. I especially like former Danity Kaner Dawn’s shield sunglasses and revamped edgy image. A hot look for the new group!
Toccara sashayed outside in a turquoise batwing jersey dress with a deep v-neck, high hemline, and fun pockets. The dress is roomy, yet the length and silhouette make it uberly flattering–her strappy nude sandals add to the allure. Hot!
BET babes Tiny and Toya also made it out for the event, both opting for black with Toya in a revealing cocktail dress and Tiny in an embellished sleeveless blouse worn with jewel encrusted leggings and open toe boots. Each individual piece has lots of potential, but hmm, there are just one too many things going on with each outfit. The belts, chains, patterns, and tats are simply assaults to the fashion senses.
ATLien Monica brought it back with a simple black suit, modernized with a roomy jacket and skinny pants, and sauced up with a gray and black corset top and amazing thigh length platform boots. A diva updo and multicolored nails add a dash of funk to Monica’s slightly conservative yet definitely hot outfit!
What would an awards show be without the fellas? Crooner Mario kept it casual in a plaid shirt, slate gray pea coat, dark baggy jeans, and a chill knit hat. Though relaxed, his look is perfect for a BET hip hop show–he made an effort to be pulled together yet laid back. Hot!
One of my favorite looks came from choreographer Fatima Robinson who went for a 20’s vibe in a feathered hat, high waist pencil skirt, and on an trend high shoulder jacket. Though her shoes could’ve been turned up a notch, I’m in love with the outfit’s sophisticated edginess.
What would an ATL show be without Soulja Boy himself? The Down South kid wonder accessorized a red t-shirt, white pants, and Gucci belt with tons of oversized chains and eye catching white sunglasses. Buddy Jim Jones didn’t step too far away from typical rapper fair, rocking a white tee, distressed jeans, Timberlands, and tons of blinged out jewelry. Soulja Boy is a teenager so he gets a pass, but hmm, don’t ya think it’s time for Jim Jones to invest in a button down?
Some of the world’s most renowned designers showed during Paris Fashion Week, pushing the chic factor forward with cutting edge designs and eye catching concepts. In case you missed ’em, here’s The Fashion Bomb’s review of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2010!
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen is out of this world–both literally and figuratively. His designs tend to dance on the border of earthly and alienesque, but his unwavering sense of beauty always renders his collection easily digestible by the common man. His most recent collection saw horn haired models sunken into dresses that mirrored sea landscapes with deep ocean creatures peering out atop bodices and hems.
Eschewing the season’s almost insistence on neutrals, McQueen amped it up with patterned bright yellows, blues, and greens in short cocktail creations worn atop tusk like 12 inch rounded heels that could easily spell disaster with one small misstep. The risk takers and risk averse could both find something in this collection, as the forward thinking patterns made traditional tailoring decidedly cutting edge.
Maison Martin Margiela
The theme was paper for Martin Margiela’s Spring 2010 show, with whisper thin high shouldered dresses, sharp cut trenches, and strapless dresses seemingly stapled and banded together as if part of an elementary school arts and crafts project.
Bolbous appendages and accoutrements jutted out from the front of belted jackets, but true edginess was only witnessed in the brand’s typical high shouldered pieces. Though the collection comprised white, pink, and an occasional floral print, I was a sucker for the basic black boots and jumpers.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Jean Paul Gaultier took it back to the 90’s for his newest collection, sending a noticeably diverse cast of models down the catwalk in denim suits, overalls, and tie dye leggings accessorized with doo rags, hoop earrings, hats, and around the way girl side pony tails. Fishnets, heeled combat boots, and easy dresses played in a color palette of indigo, army green, and bright orange.
Later on in the show, Gaultier harkened back to his Madonna “Truth or Dare” days with cone shaped corsets and peak shouldered tops. Though we’ve seen it all before, everything seemed new again, injected with revamped color, energy, and light.
Louis Vuitton
70’s disco chic sequined dresses, tasseled hiking bags, and gigantic multicolored afro wigs pumped down the runway for Louis Vuitton’s Spring 2010 collection. Fun plaid short suits and halter sundresses acted as mute canvases to bright pink cross body bags, sherbert colored backpacks, and paisley biker shorts.
Though the show’s haute hair gave off a Beyoncé as Foxxy Cleopatra vibe, I don’t think Bey would trade her Spring 2009 Spicy Sandals for this season’s fur adorned clogs and ankle boots! Head scratching accessories aside, I could see a few of the dresses and jackets as accents to relatively simple ensembles.
Chanel
It was a hoedown chez Chanel, with models surrounded by hay in a farm inspired backdrop. Though this season’s ubiquitous clogs made their way into the show, the country references ended there, as Lagerfeld offered smart nubby short dresses, traditional jackets, and skirts in a muted palette of virginal white, creamy ivory, and basic black, with the occasional pops of red, pale pink and blue.
While the clothes themselves seemed to follow traditional Chanel buttoned up conservative silhouettes, I fell in love with the stacked plexiglass bangles and modernized chain strapped handbags.
Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci
Recession savvy fashionistas know the score: in a time of scarce resources, it’s best to invest in glamorous fashionable pieces in classic colors that can withstand the test of time. Riccardo Tisci’s Spring 2010 line offered patterned jackets, harem pants, and chiseled cocktail dresses in basic black and white seemingly geared towards the economic climate’s discerning fashion lovers.
Ruffle trimmed office ready belted jackets topped contrast leggings and billowing black pants with tuxedo stripes while alluring frothy dresses stood on their own in sheer simplicity. What the clothes lacked in color, they made up for in indisputable tailoring, subtle draping, and panels of sheer delight.
Gareth Pugh
From the dark makeup on the male and female models to the gray and black color palette, Gareth Pugh presented a decidedly somber forecast for Spring 2010. Structured soulless jackets topped skinny shirred leggings, with an occasional close fit frock thrown in for good measure.
Rihanna, who sat front row, wore a hemmed version of one of Pugh’s sheer paneled gowns, transforming a loose fit, somewhat uninspiring number into something fit for a pop siren and burgeoning fashion icon. I have a feeling that off the runway and in stores, Pugh’s collection with translate well into wearable separates that resonate with rocker chic trendsetters and their fashionable flocks.
Elie Saab
Beyonce won’t be disappointed in red carpet favorite Elie Saab’s indisputably chic collection, which overflowed with drool worthy lipstick red cocktails, crystal embellished blazers, and stunningly gorgeous draped gowns.
Typical awards show fare was punched up with one shoulder black dresses with large loose front bows and skin clinging jersey show stoppers. Hot!
John Galliano
Bold makeup, bright colors, and patterns collided for John Galliano’s 20’s flapper inspired undertaking. Dark lips pursed under veiled hats as bow front dresses in celery, royal blue, and burnt orange danced over knee socks and platform strapped shoes.
It was hard to focus on the clothes with the overwhelming number of pieces, attachments, and adornments. It seemed that one too many disparate pieces–ball plastered shoes, feather necklaces, and lace netting–were vying for our attention, thus creating a cacophonous score.
Balmain
Christopher Decarnin’s tennis ball shouldered military jackets launched a literal fever amongst Hollywood starlets, who raced to wear the $9,000 stunners with simple jeans and heels. With a spirit of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Balmain sent even more high shoulder jackets down their Spring 2010 runway, this time jazzed up with sequins, buttons, and flaps of leather.
Sizzling sequin cocktail dresses with cut outs added a bit of a diversion to Balmain’s thoroughly predictable pieces. It seems the brand is sticking to its blockbuster formula for yet another year.
We’re back with Swagger Mondays, where you, dear reader, get to see the best in international street style!
Today the swag surfers bring us Breeny, a chocolate skinned fashionista spotted on Brick Lane Road in London:
Where to begin?
I’m loving her simple t with a houndstooth design, rockin’ gold dookie chain, single fingerless (purple!) glove, and hip leather jacket. Tousled hair and nude makeup only ups her cool factor!
Before attending Hollywood Life’s 6th Annual Hollywood Style Awards, Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush enjoyed a casual date night at the Cheesecake Factory in LA. Reggie accented a gray v-neck sweater, baggy jeans, and black sneakers with a large silver cross, and Kim wore a cropped denim vest, leggings, and tank with $1,275 Christian Louboutin Piros Ruched Suede Boots:
If you want their date night look, but need it for less, go with these:
