Today, I give you an update on designer Byron Lars…
To review, Lars trained at the Brooks Fashion Institute in Long Beach and the Fashion Institute of Technology before launching his first collection. His 1991 collection was hugely popular, earning him the title of “Rookie of the Year” by Women’s Wear Daily. In 1996, Mattel asked him to design a collectible Barbie doll, complete with her own wardrobe. His Barbie designs proved so successful Mattel asked Lars in 1997 to develop an entire line of African-American Barbie dolls, all dressed in designer clothes.
In response to “Where are you Now?” Lars replies, “I’m working on my collection, Byron Lars-Beauty Mark, which offers a full range of sportswear.”
Among his career highlights, he says,”When I was first starting out, I attended a fashion function for the Democratic party, and Calvin Klein and Donna Karen were there. They both came up together and told me that they liked what I was doing. I remember running home and calling my parents and telling them about that. It was one of my most memorable moments.”
Byron Lars Polka Dot Mini Dress, $290
In terms of advice for the younger set, he says, “As with anything else, you just have to make sure that you love it love it love it and are willing to sacrifice a great deal for it. I don’t believe the television images really convey how much sweat equity goes into realizing a collection. You have to love it and be willing to work almost tirelessly for it. Love the work for the work’s sake.”
Interested in Byron Lars Beauty Mark? You can find retail locations by calling 212-575-1783. Lars’ collection is also available in New York at the stores New York Look, Runway, and Palma.
If you want to know more, check out this old New York Times article about Mr. Lars.

Hi!
So yesterday, I decided to take a break from the tents and attend the Fall 2008 collection of Stephen Burrows…

…held at Due per Due, a showroom in midtown.
To review, Stephen Burrows is one of the first African American designers to reach international acclaim. He made his name designing for the 1970’s club crowd–think slinky dresses on the long legged Studio 54 set. He laid low in the early eighties, only to revamp and reenergize in 2002. Since, he’s shown Spring 2007 and Spring 2008 collections..
His show on Tuesday opened with a gold shearling jacket with metallic buttons…
… and was followed by a succession of signature matte jersey dresses of varying lengths…
…whether draped in long grecian one shouldered styles, or worn short, accented with long chain necklaces, bags with beaded chain handles and gloves.
I absolutely loved his contemporary wear: fluid frocks in gray, green, and mauve with thigh skimming hems and body flattering silhouettes:
“The storyline is about the culmination of water and earth, and includes elements of matte and shiny, sexiness and body consciousness,” Burrows said, “I used a lot of matte jersey, charmeuse, and hammered satin.”
Sapped from the show, Burrows only plans for the night were, “[putting] the showroom together and going to sleep!“
Of course I snapped a picture with the resident industry heavyweight…
…Bethann Hardison. She did casting for the show. I asked her how she was enjoying fashion week, and she revealed, “Honestly, I haven’t seen much. The tents make me sick! They’re overcrowded, so I only go to shows of friends.” She had been to Diane von Furstenberg and Tracy Reese, and was looking forward to Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. She plans on having the next “Absence of Color” talk in September. I’ll keep you posted!
I also had to get a picture with the man of the moment:
…Stephen Burrows! He was sweet as pie.
For aspiring designers, he offered the following advice, “Learn the business, and become a master of mixing the creative and the commercial.” Got it?

*I’ve been writing about Stephen Burrows since 2006! Check out my old posts here and here.

Hey!
While viewing collections and celebrities are the main reasons most indulge in Fashion Week, I also go to view how real people adorn themselves for the occasion.

People of color were representing with lots of Real Style, and of course I had to snap a few pictures:
A Gucci purse worn with a navy blue coat, short boots and matching beret signal understated chic.
A straight fit siren pencil skirt and zebra print top are enhanced with a vintage-esque belt and clutch.
Donning an all black ensemble consisting of a cape, scarf, skinny pants and glasses certainly makes a statement.
This young lady flaunts bold colors early, matching purple boots to a purple plaid tie neck top, yet mutes it all with a generous fur.
Haberdasherry at its best, this young man always looks fetching with a top hat, vest, and walking cane.
And an all beige skirt suit and spectator shoes are jazzed up with a cute bowl haircut.
While everyone looked great, the Real Style Award would have to go to this young lady…
…a Hampton University student with a flair for fashion. She stood out by mixing prints like plaid and herringbone with elements that were demure, yet chic (i.e. a black leather pencil skirt and patent leather bag). I had to ask her about her outfit, and she revealed that aside from her Steve Madden shoes, everything was vintage! With a student’s budget, she managed to look like a magazine girl. Great job.

*Check out Zulema Griffin’s Fall 2008 Video Presentation:

Fierce!

Today I’m giving you an update on designer Alvin Bell.

A former illustrator for Anne Klein and Halston, Bell rose to national prominence as a designer of suits for the label P.S.I. A talented illustrator, he traveled throughout Europe attending fashion shows, taking pictures, and sketching designs, and eventually published a trade newsletter called Designer Reports. Later, he was commissioned by Sears to create a line, called Mosaic, of affordable clothes geared towards African American women.
In response to ‘Where are you now?” Mr. Bell says, “I’m writing a book with a new, exciting visual concept– an extraordinarary work of fiction that uses fashion as a landscape.” With about half the book finished, he projects the masterpiece will be on your bookshelves in about a year. Keep an eye peeled!
Alvin Bell was so sweet, he actually invited me over to his studio…
…we had a great time chatting, lunching, and looking through his press book. Cool Fact: he used to sketch for Michael Jackson!

Hi Guys!
So for the beginning of my Black History Month series and also for the rest of Fashion Week, I decided it would be cool to give you guys updates on a few of the designers I covered last year. Today, you’ll get the scoop on menswear designer Jeffrey Banks in my Black History Moment at the bottom of the post.
Until then, I’m sure you’d like to know about the Tracy Reese show, so I’ll indulge.
I went to the venue on Sunday…

…and promptly took my seat–front row!!!
The collection began, and it was refreshing. While most collections I’ve seen have used pretty boring pallettes–khakis, beiges, and browns–Tracy brought a bit of spring into fall with bright floral prints of oversized baby blue roses and rhododendron on dresses of chiffon. She kept it exciting with ethnic patterns of fuchsia, blue, and yellow, and aptly mixed textures, prints, and fabrics–think velvet and lace, satin and wool, and sequins with taffeta. The air was playful, yet proportions of knee length skirts, oversized coats and draped cardigans suggested a certain seriousness:

A few of my favorite looks:
I literally oohed when I saw the tweed bomber and the matching tweed wide legged pants; the strapless dress had great colors and was well constructed; the sheath dress was also alluring and sophisticated with great embellishments. And A + for the berets!
I caught the final walk:

…and of course couldn’t leave without taking a pic with the hot celebs in the house…
..Angela and Vanessa Simmons!!! These girls were extremely nice and graceful, and didn’t care when I asked to retake the picture (Vanessa was looking away in the first one).

*Like my jacket? It’s from Pieces. It’s my new obsession!
*Jovovich-Hawk…
…are the new ‘Go International’ designers for Target [Oh Joy]

First, in my ‘Where are they now?’ series, I wanted to give you an update on menswear designer and two time Coty Award winner, Jeffrey Banks.
Source
To review, the Parson’s graduate was a design assistant to both Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein before opening his own menswear company in 1977. Banks’ two companies, Jeffrey Banks Ltd. and Jeffrey Banks International, amassed $20 million through licensing deals and international sales.
In response to the question, ‘Where are you now?” He says, “I am in the middle of the book tour for my first book, TARTAN: Romancing the Plaid (Rizzoli 2007) which has just gone into it’s second printing, and am in talks about a second book on American Fashion. In addition, I am a consultant on several sportswear lines owned by HMX Sportswear, whose parent company, Hart Schaffner and Marx manufacturers the Jeffrey Banks Collection.”
Among, his career highlights, he cites, “My first Coty Award because I was in my first year of business on my own and I was the youngest person to ever win a Coty Award. Another highlight included the launch of my first book this past October when I had over 750 people on hand at Saks Fifth Avenue.“
To those in the younger generation, especially designers, he urges practicality when entering the industry. He says, “Fashion is a business . . . . Not an art form. I encourage all young people to take business courses if possible, as it will only help them have longer and more viable careers.“
Banks, who admires Ralph Lauren for his “unrelenting perfectionism and his inability to compromise his design integrity,” is a longstanding member of the Executive Board of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), Vice Chair of the Board of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, and a Senior Board Member of the Board of Trustees of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
If you don’t know, now you know. Cheers!
*Purchase Jeffrey’s book, Tartan: Romancing the Plaid…

… for $41 at www.amazon.com.

Hey y’all!
So I just got home from Baby Phat, and I’m exhausted! The first day of Fashion Week has been both exhilarating and tiring. But I’m staying up late because I’m sure you want to know how Baby Phat went:)
The energy was amazing, and the room was, as usual, packed with industry heads and New York’s fashionable set…

…once I found my seat, I didn’t waste much time before I started snip snapping. I commissioned my girl Stephanie to be my official photographer, and launched a picture assault on the front row.
Lisa Raye was my first victim…
…she was very sweet (and gorgeous!). When I told her about the Fashion Bomb, she said that she’d pass the name onto Vivica (Fox) because apparently Viv loves to surf the ‘net. Surf away!
I then sidled up to Christina Milian…
….who was also a super sweetheart. She’d made the circuit earlier at BCBG, and plans to stay till Monday. I told her to google the Fashion Bomb, and she said she would.
Lisa Raye and Christina were cool, but I almost lost my mind when I saw…
…Perez Hilton!!!!! Do y’all read his blog? It’s like gossip CNN on crack. He’s the biggest blogger in the universe. He was dope, perhaps he’ll post our cute picture.
Stephanie and I were quickly shooed to our seats, and the show began. For the most part, I wasn’t blown away by the collection design wise, though I did love how Kimora played with color….

Even Ming and Aoki were rocking chartreuse (more of a greenish yellow) and purple:
Cute!
I caught a video of the final walk, take a look:

If you squint, you can see Russell Simmons chit chatting with Joss Stone..and Joss Stone chit chatting a lot with Damon Dash. Tee-hee! Also notice, the girls hug Russell first, then stop to hug Djimon…and then show some love to Tyra. They’re adorable.

And struck a quick pose with Ms. Jay…

*Oh, I asked Christina where she got this dress…
…and she revealed it was H&M!!! How crazy is that? I thought it was definitely a Diane von Furstenberg! See, I’m not the only budget fashionista:)

Happy Friday!
Today marks the beginning of Fashion Week and also the first day Black History month! I’m planning on doing it up again this Black History Month, with even more fashion info from people of color in the industry. Stay tuned this Monday for the series.
In the meantime, I figured I could give you a few Mail Bombs…

…Let’s get started!
First, Holly says, “Please help me identify J Lo’s bag!“
“… I LOVE it!“
I took one look at the Ombre print and immediately knew J. Lo was carrying a Prada bag, as witnessed in these ads…
..for Spring 2008. Get your own ombre bag….
…starting at $1500 at Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.
Next, readers Leanne and Bluet fell in love with Meagan Good’s Boots…
…Leanne said, “They are too cute!”
They look comfy too! Anyway, it looks like she’s wearing these Love from Australia Vixen Boots…
…get them for $400 at shopbop.com
Brandy asks, “I was wondering who made this dress Eva Longoria Parker wore?“
“…Or something similar? I’m a big pattern and sparkle fan and I love this look!”

My sleuthing skills may be sharp, but I couldn’t find her exact dress! I’ll keep looking, but in the meantime, here are a few similar options:
Left to Right: LaRok Zebra Serengeti Sequin Tunic, $172, www.bloomingdales.com; Foley + Corinna Zebra Sequin Dress, $385, shopbop.com
Next, Nicjac says, “I am searching for a cute, affordable outfit to attend the Jill Scott/Raheem DeVaughn concert in March. It’s relatively cold in DC but not as cold at New York. Thanks!“

Hey! Can I come? Just kidding. So for some reason when I saw this question, I felt Zoe Kravitz would be a perfect muse…
…it seems as if she tends towards looking pretty while not trying too hard, the perfect combo for a concert.
I’d recommend wearing a bold printed or colorful top with skinny dark jeans, topped off with lots of bold accessories. Pop on a pair of flat of comfortable boots in case you find yourself standing. And finish everything off with a blazer or wrap sweater for warmth.
A few suggestions:

*Deal of the Day:
If you can’t afford Rihanna’s Malandrino…
You can get the Valencia Sequin Mini for only $88 at www.marciano.com.

…Basics II Black Dress, $450, www.piecesofbklyn.com.
*WWD reports that Kimora is debuting a new fragrance…
..aptly called ‘Fabulosity. Talk about branding at its best!
*Diddy is looking for models…
Open call on Monday February 4th from 9-11 am. Location: 1710 Broadway (at 54th street). Ethnic models, if you need a job, there you go! Showcase your beauty:)

Reader Alyssa wanted the inside scoop on Fashion Week.

She asks, “I was wondering if u can help me, I wanna go to fashion week, but I

dont have any tix, Can I pay at the door…do you know? Please help me.”

Hello my lovelies!
So as you probably know, New York Fashion Week starts tomorrow!

Fashionistas from all over the country will convene to view the Fall 2008 collections of designers from Diane von Furstenberg to Herve Leger. It’s an exciting time for the Fashion Bomb, as I’ll be in the house delivering Real Style, pictures, and interviews.

My eyes immediately settled on this vintage Chanel inspired tweed jacket…
…with a great stand up collar and a short style that was mildly reminiscent of Victoria Beckham’s jacket from the Roland Mouret show.
I tried it on…
…and it was a little tight, but for $30, it was definitely a steal! I reasoned I could perhaps get it let out at my trusty tailor. If anything, I’d wear it unbuttoned over a sleeveless dress for shows, then gift it to one of my grubby sisters!
Running tally: $30.
I had a meeting in the city, so I raced off to the East Village where I wandered into a French Connection (700 Broadway at West 4th Street)…
…I was lured in by their promise of 60% off their fashionable wares.

I grabbed *way* too much stuff, and made my way into the dressing room. Turns out all the items were an extra 50% off their sale prices, so dresses normally $200 were marked down to $60-$70–definitely within my budget!
I tried on this wine colored number…
…and though I thought it could maybe work with tights, I felt it was too short and night clubby for an aspiring fashion editor like myself.
This sweater dress was only $70 (marked down from $200)…
…and with a white collared shirt underneath, it could look smart, professional and appropriate. I liked it a lot, but still wasn’t convinced.
Then I tried on a wild card, a winter white coat with a stunning fur collar ( I thought for sure it was misplaced on the sale rack). Still, I tried it on…..and was sold! As a sidenote, a little bit of fur is the rule, not the exception for editors. Take Andre Leon Talley, par example…
…fur is just an accent, but it’s there. I looked at the tag on my winter white wonder and realized it was only $140 (marked down from $378). Not under $100, but a deal nonetheless, and within my overall $200 budget. It was mine.
Running tally: $170.
With only $30 left, I figured I couldn’t really get much. Shoes of quality were out of the option, as were most bags. Walking around 5th Avenue the following day, I came upon Zara (659 Fifth Avenue at 54th street)…
… the perfect place to find affordable yet chic clothes. They advertised a 50% off sale, so I stopped in…
…and it turns out they, too, were slashing everything. I quickly found a rack full of editor-esque dresses for only $30!
I tried on a few…
…but was unimpressed until I tried this one on…
… a slate gray cowl neck sheath, also reminiscent of Madame Beckham. The dress was a little big, but with a belt…
… it worked! And if anything, I could get it tailored in time for the big week!
I ran to the register with my $30, and that’s all she wrote!
Total: $200.
So let’s review: I purchased a tweed jacket, sheath dress, and a knee-length wool coat for only $200. And the colors are neutral, so they’ll fit seamlessly into my wardrobe.
Here’s to fashion on a budget!
Now, on to the tents…
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*FYI: I visited my tailor, and it turns out the jacket could not be let out, but the dress could be taken in…for $35! Ok so tailoring costs more than the dress, but I’m sure that that $65 will probably look like $300! And lesson learned: it’s easier to take things in than to let them out. If you must buy the wrong size, make sure it’s too big, not too small.
*On my fashion plate tomorrow: BCBG Max Azria, Erin Fetherston and Baby Phat! Stay tuned for updates:)
*Fashion Bomb Friend Tia Williams…
… is featured in a New York Times article on Beauty Bloggers! If you haven’t yet, check out her dope blog, Shake your Beauty. It’s all about makeup for brown skinned babes! Think ‘The Beauty Bomb.’
*Another newspaper looks at the absence of color on the runway. [Newsday]
*According to Ruth La Ferla, fashion will harken back to the 50’s and 60’s in Fall shows:
A quote, “Fashion is supposed to be about change,”said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst with NPD Group, a market research firm,”[Once a standard bearer of the vanguard], fashion has become the most conservative of all industries.”[NYTimes]