Add a dash of exotic flavor to your look with these affordable Animal Print Rings by Blu Bijous:

Accented with an Austrian Crystal Stone, these stunners are a steal at $20 a pop!
Get yours at Max & Chloe!

Hey!

If you’ve ever watched Kimora Lee Simmons’ Life in the Fab Lane, you’re probably familiar with designer Jerome Lamaar Fortez:

A brilliantly creative wunkerkind, Jerome started as an intern at Baby Phat at age 15, and began designing collections by 19.  Now a trend forecaster for the French company Promostyl, the 23-year-old took a bit of time to tell you young hopefuls how you, too, can Break into the Fashion Industry.

Jerome credits his family for his artistic inclinations. He says, “My grandfather was an arts and crafts teacher and photographer. My grandmother was my source of fashion. She taught me how to sew at age 8. She also introduced me to the world of fashion illustration. Everyone told me I drew pictures before I learned to walk…”

“… Later, I entered a specialized High School for Art and Design. While in school I took art courses at Parsons, and later attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).” Jerome secured his Baby Phat internship due to his talent, drive, and larger than life personality, “In high school I dreamed of working at Baby Phat, and called every day to find out about internships,” he says, “Every time I called, they told me nothing was available.”

He finally wowed the Baby Phat team with an Honors Society project he completed while in high school. “We had to present our portfolios and market research to a group of internship coordinators for houses like Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, ” Jerome explains. His impressive presentation won over his audience. “A lot of designers offered me internships after I presented, but I wanted Baby Phat the most,” he says, “I was so happy when they offered me a position.”

Jerome’s main goal was to design a Baby Phat collection before his 21st birthday, and he reached his objective by age 19. He says, “I wanted it so badly, and thought about it until it manifested itself.” It also didn’t hurt that he impressed his tough-as-nails boss, Kimora, by working hard and staying focused. “I sacrificed a lot! I didn’t go out, and basically went to school, went to work, and went home. I always knew what I wanted.”

He adds, “Kimora is a smart, powerful woman who knows what she wants and how she needs things done in order to achieve success. I watched and learned, did what she did, and stayed humble, always understanding there’s a reason why she’s the boss.”

Now Jerome, who counts Raf Simons, Rick Owens, Tim Hamilton and Brian Wood amongst his favorite designers, works as a trend forecaster and image consultant. ” It’s simply divine,” he says, ” It requires many hours and days of studying and acquiring new information, and that’s the best part about my new career.” In five years he says, “I see myself with my own successful accessories collection. In 10 years, I’d like to host a fashion television show and travel the world.” He definitely has the style and charisma to pull anything off!

In parting, he advises young designers to, “Know what you want and focus your energy. Your goals are very important–It’s very easy to get side tracked. Most of all, always believe in your talent, for it has been given to you for a reason. Simply embrace it.”

Wise words! He’s definitely one to watch.

Smootches!

*We’re working on even more Breaking into Fashion Posts. Have a dream job you’d love to know more about? E-mail us and we’ll do our best to get you the bomb info!

*Read more about Jerome’s style and interests in this interview with hot website Modamouth. All kinds of fierce!

These beauties are the perfect accessory to glam up your look:

Designed for the Zac Posen’s Spring ’09 show, you know they cost a little more than your average chandelier earrings.  Ringing in at $320, these stunners certainly make a financial and fashionable statement.
Check them out here.

Say what you want about Naomi Campbell, but you can’t deny chick is fly! She shines on one of 6 V Magazine Swimsuit covers looking svelte, vibrant, and playful in bunny ears, a bowtie, and strapless swimsuit:

Chanel Iman is also featured in an upcoming article where she talks about her new found love for acting and her mentor, Tyra Banks:

She says, “Acting. That’s my new project.  I have an amazing coach in LA and I’ve been out on auditions.  Hopefully you’ll see me in a couple of things soon.“About Tyra she says, “She’s my mentor.  She’s doing her thing, and I’m so proud of her.  I think she’s proud of me too.” I’m happy Tyra went the anti Naomi route and supported her young colleague instead of competing against her!

Read the rest of Chanel’s article in the next V Magazine. I think I’ve found a new fashion love!

This Arden B Woven Foldover Clutch goes easily from daytime shopping to nighttime prowling:

Smacks a little of Bottega Veneta, no?  You can check it out more if you likey by clicking here.

~Vuitton

The people over at Stuff Fly People Like just introduced an interesting subject:

To hold or not hold your own umbrella?

When you reach baller status, will you be a diva or completely humble?

It seems most guys require kid glove treatment:

While ladies are cool holding their own:

What do you think?

You’d think with the fab weather around most of the country this weekend the fashionable would slow down and take some time to kick back, but numerous events saw some of our favorite Bomb celebs setting the red carpet ablaze. So were they up to par, Bombshells?

At Chanel’s dinner for the Tribeca Film Festival, Kerry Washington rocked–what else?–a tweed Chanel cocktail dress with a modest boatneck neckline and oversize sequin embellishments. She finished off her look with a silver-grey Chanel clutch and a pair of satin pumps in eggplant. Love this look from head-to-toe, including Kerry’s simple, fresh faced makeup and amethyst cocktail ring to match the shoes. Tres hot!

Also in Chanel at the same event, Oscar nominee Viola Davis kept it feminine and elegant in a pleated white sheath with intricate diamond embroidery and eyelets. Her metallic platform pumps and jewelry lend the outfit some texture without taking away from the frock’s easy elegance. A quiet, subtle Hot…

At Tribeca Fest’s Independent Filmmaker project event, Sanaa Lathan donned a knee-length silk scarlet number with layered pearl necklaces and sparkling silver accessories. The dress itself is pretty but something about this fit makes it look dowdy on Sanaa. I’d have also gone for strappier sandals in a non-sparkling metallic, as these appear not only too chunky, but also a bit on the casual side for such a mature dress, Hmm…

Over at ESPN Magazine’s NFL pre-draft party, friends Adrienne Bailon and Kim Kardashian sported contrasting stylish looks: Adrienne in a fitted fuschia mini-dress with ruffle cap sleeves, and Kim in a flouncy slate skirt with a silk shell and boyfriend tuxedo-cut jacket. Both ladies wisely opted for black shoes and simple accessories though if I were Adrienne, I’d have followed Coco Chanel’s golden rule of taking one item off before you leave the house and left the necklace behind–with those double ruffles, it’s a bit unnecessary. Still, Hot looks for both ladies!

Finally, for us fashionphiles who loved her offbeat look in the ’90s, model Stacie McKenzie popped up at this weekend’s Fashion and Football affair in NYC. Now, y’all know that like Erykah Badu and Solange, Stacie always genuinely marches to the beat of her own drum (part of why I find her so fierce), but while I can dig each piece of this ensemble separately, together…not so much. Hmm…
Hope you all had fabulous weekends. 😉
~Adri

Diddy’s fashion line Sean John is searching for fresh faces to star in its upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 campaign. If you’re a smoking hot guy and at least 18 years old, you can log on to www.seanjohn.com/contest to upload your info plus a pic:

Ladies, tell your friends! And even if you don’t have someone in mind, you can go to the site and vote on your faves:

Fun! See more at www.seanjohn.com/contest.

Since Atlanta is not a pedestrian city, a lot of the A’s most fashionable come to strut at Buckhead’s Lenox Square Mall:

Chock full of designer hot stops like Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, and Calvin Klein, Lenox is where everyone from celebs to regular folks come to see and be seen (while shopping of course!).

I popped by the mall to pick up a few things, and saw these two style mavens while recharging in the Food Court:

I loved diva on the right’s fuchsia satin sandals punched up with neon toes, and thought divo on the left was fearless in denim shorts and slouch boots. Their sunglasses (worn inside) only accented their Southern Cool.

After chatting with them, I learned that the young lady is singer Jessi J and the young man, Stacy Lev Royals, is her stylist. I couldn’t find any of their info online, so if you’re reading this, leave a comment and give me the scoop!

Until then, what do you think of Jessi J and Stacy?

Smootches!

PS I’m flying back to Paris today. Aargh, I’m so not into jet lag! No worries, though I have a ton of posts ready to go for today and will be back up and rested by Tuesday:)

Rising fashion star Teairra Marie was spotted on the red carpet of Andre Merritt’s ASCAP Awards After-Party in a cute white short suit set off by Louis Vuitton accessories:

All looks splashy until you catch a glimpse of her lacy neon bra, which coordinates quite nicely with her sandals and bracelets.

Sometimes you can’t help showing just a peek of a bra–with wrap dresses I always struggle to keep all concealed. But setting out to coordinate undergarments with outer garments seems a little tacky! It’s possible to look sexy without putting it all out there–there’s no need to show off all your goodies!

But what do you think? Is it cool as long as it’s tasteful? Or is it just a huge no-no?

Picture Source