Cool Online Find: Afrikstyle.com

Check out Afrik, a men’s and women’s streetwear design company that aims to educate and inspire by melding fashion and culture. Their Spring/Summer line consists of organic cotton t-shirts and cardigans starting at $40:

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Cute, colorful, fun!
See more styles at www.afrikstyle.com.

Spotlight On: Zoe Saldana’s Star Trek Style

Beautiful Zoe Saldana has been promoting her new movie Star Trek quite heavily, making cameos on red carpets in an assortment of droolworthy work appropriate frocks:

At the movie’s Parisian premiere, Saldana went for boardroom chic, in a gray Giambatiista Valli dress and Fendi Heels…

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Then Cha Cha’d over to Madrid in a printed Loewe dress and Jimmy Choo sandals…

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And showed up recently in London in a flouncy halter dress and Azzedina Alaia cut out booties:

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Loving this new look!

If you do too, go for office glam with these options:

PS Does anyone else think she looks like Vanessa Hudgens?

Tuesday Video: What I Need by Ray J

Ok, did anyone else watch the Finale of For the Love of Ray J last night?

I was soooo rooting for Danger (craziness and all), but was ultimately happy he kicked Unique to the curb. I’m kinda ‘eh’ about Cocktail, but she was definitely a good choice.

All the Ray J excitement got me thinking about one of my favorite Ray songs:

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I actually prefer his remix to this song with Slum Village, but this’ll do!

Enjoy!

PS Check out an interview with Unique here.

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She says, “I was disappointed that he wasn’t wiser and that he couldn’t see what was better for him, that I was the stronger one. I was more wifey, she was more hoochie (laughs).Boo.

First Look: Pieces Boutique’s New Ashtyn Line

Ever the innovators, Colin and Latisha Daring of Pieces Boutique have launched a new collection called Ashtyn. Named after their daughter, the amazing line consists primarily of flirty dresses and easy tailored pieces.

Take a look:

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Yellow Front Knot Dress, $239

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Jumpsuit, $225; Belt, $60

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Marilyn Monroe short Halter, $280

Pick up the line at Pieces in Brooklyn (671 Vanderbilt Avenue at Park Place) or keep your eyes peeled for their dresses on their site, www.piecesofbklyn.com or blog, www.piecesofbklyn.blogspot.com.

Splurge of the Day: Diane von Furstenberg Alondra Shirt Dress

There’s nothing I love more than a Diane von Furstenberg Shirt Dress for the summer months. This new Chevron style with red detail is so cute!

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Great style sometimes comes at a price, and this option is $425 at Net-a-Porter.
If you’re in a splurging mood, complete the look with these:

Look for Less: Ciara in Paris + Ciara’s Vivienne Leather Peplum Jacket

There’s a new C in Paris!

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That’s right, smoking hot Ciara touched down in the City of Lights in a lime green jacket, ripped jeans, and chic Christian Louboutins. If you love her look, but need it for less, go with these options under $100:

PS Get Ciara’s actual Vivienne Leather Peplum jacket for $928:

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Fashion Etiquette: Is It OK To Ask a Stranger, “Where Did You Get This?”

Reader Jillian wrote in with a Fashion Etiquette question:

“The other day I was filming a television segment and the producer loved my dress. She expressed her admiration, and I politely said thank you. She then asked, “Who’s it by”?

I said I didn’t know, as it was not a designer brand, but it looked good. She then said, “I have to know who it’s by,” and grabs my collar to look at the tag… I had to then say ” It’s not a designer dress”..I was so embarrassed!”

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“…Was that my bad for wearing a non-designer dress to a television segment.. (not for a fashion related business)? Or was that her bad etiquette for insisting on knowing?

Jillian, it’s never bad etiquette to wear a non designer dress!! Are you kidding? In the days of Forever 21 and H&M, it’s actually trendy to save on clothing! The producer committed the huge faux pas. How invasive to look at your tag!

The same thing happened to me at a party. I was wearing a ruffled no name blouse I bought at Loehman’s. A colleague asked who made my shirt and I really didn’t know. She insisted it was a Diane von Furstenberg, then went in and looked! I felt so violated.

I think it’s ok to ask, but to take the next physical step and check is plain rude.

What do you guys think?

Who Wore Balmain Better? Rihanna vs. Beyonce

Rihanna recently jumped back on the Balmain military jacket train, wearing a denim jacket to rival Beyonce’s:

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The two have been known to be inspired by the other before, as we mentioned in this vintage Fashion Bomb post.

Who pulls the look off better?

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PS Join the Balmain Bandwagon for less with this $35 Bandleader Vest from Target’s Go Int Collection:

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Hot! or Hmm…: Halle Berry, Zoe Saldana, Ashanti, and Mel B.

I hope spring was as gorgeous for you lovelies as it was for us here in NYC this weekend! The fashionable definitely channeled the optimistic weather with some fabulous fashion choices.

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At the Jenesse Silver Rose Gala in Beverly Hills, Halle Berry worked a khaki sateen sheath with black piping and plunging neckline. While I’m loving the dress on Ms. B, I wish the shoes would have had a bit more va-va-voom and less bulk (these platforms weigh the outfit down a bit). Overall: a kinda Hot with a little bit of Hmm…

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Ashanti, on the other hand, sparkled in a strapless, empire-waist floor-length gold gown with an intricately beaded bodice for her Jenesse Gala red carpet appearance. Her makeup and manicure, which pick up the pink tones in the beading, add just the right pop to keep the outfit youthful. A simmering Hot!

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Zoe Saldana has been lighting up the red carpet during her “Star Trek” press run, and this dramatic satin one-shoulder Prabal Gurung frock is a show-stopper. Her strappy buckled sandals and artfully mussed up-‘do lend the ensemble just right amount of edge, and as is appropriate for such a striking piece, she keeps the accessories to a minimum and let’s the dress do most of the talking. A resounding H.O.T. for the poised starlet!

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Back in L.A. at Shaun Robinson’s book release party, Elise Neal was the picture of stylish spring in a simple and lovely scoop-neck flower print sheath. Her metal-studded belt and animal-print platform pumps are a contrasting yet fitting aesthetic that saves the dress from verging into too-precious territory. And she’s working some Lady Obama arms to boot. Quite Hawt.

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Finally, Mel B.’s fierce aqua Christian Louboutin Differa platforms kept distracting me (in a good way) as I wrote this up. But I’m not quite sure they work with this flapper-esque mini-dress. The event was the premiere of her “Peepshow” extravaganza in Las Vegas, and Vegas red carpets always call for a little more flash, but though the shoes and dress are fantastic on their own, together they don’t quite work for me. An overall Hmm with two separate Hots…
Et vous, Bombshells?
~Adri