Hey!
So as the days wind down for 2008, it’s time to take a look back at this Year in Style. For the Best of 2007 series last year, I took the liberty of declaring Rihanna the winner of the Fashionista Extraordinaire award, saying, “This Caribbean Queen has been working everything from glamazon frocks to more casual sweater dresses with undeniable style since the beginning of the year….“

“…She truly mixes it up and manages to do it all, from rocker chic to classic while looking absolutely flawless.” It was true: Rihanna’s fashionable aura was a breathe of fresh air amidst a slew of suffocating style subjects. But change is constant, and it’s time to anoint a New Chic Queen!

Candidates for 2008 Fashionista of the Year were chosen based on 1. Number of appearances on the Fashion Bomb, and the 2. Amount of Mail Bombs questions centered around them. And yeah, since Rihanna won last year, she’s ineligible. Sorry!
Let’s get to it!
The First Candidate for 2008 Fashionista of the Year is R&B crooner Keyshia Cole:

While Ms. Cole’s calm demeanor was the highlight of her BET show The Way It Is, her new bold attitude towards fashion became a subtle focal point of 2008. This year, Keyshia came into her own both personally and fashionably, wearing a mixture of designer dresses, patterned tops, and 70’s inspired separates. What can I say, this Bay Area Babe unwittingly won over my fashion evaluator. Did she win over yours?
Next in contention is Solange Knowles:

In July you guys labeled her a ‘Work In Progress,’ but what a difference 5 months can make! While Solange still has a funky style that favors feathers, unexpected pops of color, and wild patterns, she’s streamlined her kookiness for a consistently sophisticated look. No longer playing second fiddle to her older sis’, Solange seems to be poising herself for a peaceful takeover of the Knowles chic empire.
Next up is Alicia Keys:

Ms. Keys has been on the scene forever, but lately her fashion meter has been off the chain! Every time you look, she’s wearing a pair of must have designer shoes or a flattering, tailored fit, managing to look absolutely stunning in everything from dressy floor length gowns to casual jeans. Snaps!
Our last Queen of Chic candidate is Cassie:

Say what you want about her vocals, Cassie always throws down with severe fashion ferocity. Many have said she should stick to modeling, and perhaps they’re right. She can rock the stuff out of any dress, and her shoe game is simply bananas.
So that does it!

The Polls are open!

As an equal opportunity fashionista, I think it’s only fair to give the men a shot at their very own title as well. For The Fashion Bomb’s First Fashionable Male Award, how about we choose from the following debonair gentlemen?
First up, without question, is Kanye West:

He once said he didn’t need a stylist because he shops so much he can speak Italian. Well his propensity for shopping certainly showed in 2008! Though we gave Kanye the side eye for his internship hijinks, his singular style could not be denied. In 2008 Kanye stored his signature prepster gear away, replacing his pastel v necks with trendsetting suits, edgy eyeglasses, and adventurous color combos. This college dropout gets an A+ for fashion originality. Do you agree?
Next up in the style queue is Common:

On top of his forays into t-shirt design, this year Common has capitalized off of a new prime-of-life steeze, heavy on cardigans, suits, and intellectual glasses offset occasionally by his traditional neo-soul vibe. Talk about great in ’08!
Next, we have Pharrell:

This Billionaire Boy kept his look fun and lighthearted this year, favoring sweatshirts emblazoned with his line’s logo over stuffy button ups. If he had to wear a suit jacket for a red carpet event, he paired it with a pair of jeans in a dark wash. He had a swagger that made everything seems unerringly cool and ahead of the curve. Doesn’t hurt that he looks absolutely divine. (Between me and you…I’m so not a groupie, but would probably run and jump on him if I saw him!).
Lastly, a Fashionable Male contest wouldn’t be complete without Diddy:

As a CFDA award winner and owner of the Sean John label, Diddy obviously embodied sleek sophistication, so much so that L’Uomo Vogue had to give him shine on their October cover. This year he tempered his typical suits with tributes to Obama in t-shirts worn with or without jackets. Diddy got his grown man on in the fullest sense, leading as an example by way of his mature style and by offering political support via his fashion and celeb status.
Time to vote!

Did I miss anyone?
Check back later to see results!

I’m sure you’ve all heard the buzz about Kanye West wanting to intern at a fashion house, and now it seems Mr. West has found a professional home…

According to UK’s Mirror, Yeezie is moving to London in early spring to train at Louis Vuitton’s luxury goods HQ store on Bond Street. In the article Kanye says, “I’m going to go and take an internship and just do something that’s like completely normal, and just rap on the weekends or something.“
So let’s see. First celebrities bogart magazine covers away from supermodels, then sidle into all the acting roles formally earmarked for trained actors…now they’re taking fashion internships away from the the most poorly compensated population, style and fashion enthusiasts. What more can I say than, “Boooooo!“
Snaps to Kanye for expanding his horizons, but I can’t help but think: You’ve already got your career. Why not leave the entry level internships to people who I dunno…need a job or experience? And are actually ‘normal’? Am I wrong?

Rihanna was spied with Chris Brown in LaGuardia airport after this weekend’s Z100 Jingle Ball wearing a pair of one-of-a-kind retro specs:

In attempts to further distinguish themselves from the masses, it seems stars are popping on increasingly more out-the-box sunglasses, even if the pair fails to block the sun and encumbers their vision:

Since we typically take fashion cues from our fave celebs, I must ask: would you rock super funky sunglasses?
*Apparently Kanye borrowed the idea for his sunglasses from Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, in ‘Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon’ [via Gawker]:
Does anyone else remember that movie? Ha!
In case you don’t:

lol

A few weeks ago, WWD asked designers to submit sketches for an inaugural outfit for first lady Michelle Obama, and everyone from Rachel Roy to Diane von Furstenberg raced to submit eye catching sketches portraying gowns in a myriad of colors.
Though we all know Barack is wearing Hart Schaffner Marx on inauguration day, that didn’t stop WWD from asking menswear standouts such as Sean John, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, and Salvatore Ferragamo to go back to the drawing board and imagine how they would outfit our President Elect if they had the chance.
While most designers submitted sketches of subtle suits in gray or black offset by cool bowties or more traditional ties in blue or red…

Top Row Left to Right: Sean John, Nautica, Salvatore Ferragamo. Bottom Row: Paul Smith, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs.
Others seem to have misread the assignment:

Top Row Left to Right: DSquared, Elie Tahari, Brooks Brothers. Bottom Row: Kenneth Cole, Missoni, Rag & Bone.
We’re dressing a President not a Pimp! A close up of the Dsquared design:
SMH.
See the rest of the sketches here.

Adriana here!

Il Verdi hosted a holiday brunch at his Luxe Laboratory yesterday with the fabulous Ana Ortiz AKA the sizzling (and my favorite) Hilda Suarez from “Ugly Betty.”

Super-cool Ana and I gabbed it up for a while after comparing notes and finding out we’re both native Uptown NYC girls, fans of stand-up comedy, and hungry for “Ugly Betty” spoilers (I tried, guys, but no luck–she said she and even America Ferrera, Ms. Betty herself, are kept in the dark by the writers!).

As if meeting Ana wasn’t enough, the spread was a foodie’s dream (or punishment if you’re avoiding the holiday pounds). Co-sponsor Budweiser created a Bud Light Lime Bellini that was…out of this world (Bellini and Beer–who knew?). I drank mine so quickly that all I could get was a shot of the recipe for anyone who wants to try it (that’s “eldelflower liquer” at the end)!

Of course, I couldn’t leave without a catch-up with Robert, who was chicly bedecked in Louis Vuitton camo finery! (You can’t tell it in this picture but he had a fabu LV camo belt on to match the scarf).

R.Veezy and I talked holiday plans, and he and his lovable pooch, Lucinda (who made her rounds among the guests, too), plan to spend the holidays close to home. I almost wanted to ask if I could make the Luxe Lab my home (seriously, y’all–it has a spa bathroom with a tub big enough for four, a kitchen befitting a spaceship, and hair and nail stations) but figured I should quit while I was ahead, no?
Love, Peace, and Bud Bellinis (seriously!)
~Adri

Ever since the Gilt Groupe offered Fashion Bombers an invite to their exclusive sales, I haven’t been able to stop myself from perusing their fabulous offerings!
A few Milly items from today:

1. Belted Strapless Dress, $155. 2. Grace Lace Sheath Dress, $144. 3. Printed Stand Collar Coat, $202.
And it seems they still have a few Pour la Victoire shoes in stock:

1. Sybil Sandal, $128. 2.Dionne Pump, $88. 3. Laurette Sandal, $98.
The prices are *great* and the selection isn’t bad.
Want to browse? Join by going to www.gilt.com/thefashionbomb.

Today I went to the Musee au Petit Palais…

…to check out an exhibit on fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier.
If you saw The Devil Wears Prada, you might remember Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) saying, “Did Demarchelier confirm?” and Emily calling his office and responding, “I have Patrick!!” In case you didn’t get the reference, Demarchelier is a premiere fashion and beauty photographer. Shooting for British, French, American, and Italian Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and more, Demarchelier manages to capture the beauty of his subjects with seeming simplicity, always delivering a memorable shot.
A few photos from the exhibit:
It was honestly breathtakingly beautiful–really the first time I’ve taken the time to notice the art inherent in everything from fashion shoots to advertorials.
Cool fact, Demarchelier shot Janet Jackson’s cover from her janet album:
…and much much more.
Read more about Demarchelier here, or if you’re in Paris, the exhibit will be up until January 4th.
And one parting shot from the city of lights:
Aren’t you glad my camera’s working again?
Bisous!