So,
I received many e-mails yesterday urging everyone familiar with the Jena Six case to wear all black today in protest. Not familiar with Jena Six? Basically 6 black teenagers from Louisiana have been jailed and could face life in prison due to a series of racially charged events that culminated in a fight with a white student. While the boys did participate in some pummeling, many protesters contend that their charge, attempted murder, is too harsh for the crime.
The urge to wear all black is a political as well as a fashion statement, and I decided to show my support (I have plenty of little black dresses in my repertoire, so didn’t find it hard…) but wondered if others supported as well. I went out during a brief lunch break…

…to see what I could see.
Surprise: the all black was in full effect!
Kelly, an executive assistant…
…looked smart in glasses, a black dress, and silver flats.
Shakema and Elizabeth…
accented their all black with bright orange shawls.
Attorney Gigi…

…looked amazing in a black turtleneck sweater, pencil skirt, and hot suede mustard peep toes.
And Elsa and Lisa…
…accent their black with cool retro specs and necklaces.
Cute!
A few people didn’t get the memo.
Accountant Andre…
…said he didn’t know that people were wearing black. Besides, he said, he’s from Jamaica, and was unaware of the national news.
And lastly, Cherise, right, was in all black…
But her friend, Natalie, said she just didn’t know!
A bit of a mixed bag, but it seems that people (in midtown at least) dusted off their old black pieces to show their disdain for a sad case in racial politics.
How’s it look where you are?
Smootches!
PS Not familiar with the case? Read about it here and here.
PSS Send me pictures!

Hey!
Almost the weekend…
So I received an e-mail yesterday advertising a ‘Plus Size Fashion’ Week taking place at a store in Brooklyn called Lee Lee’s Valise…

Since I’ve been accused in the past of not showing love to big girls, I decided my attendance at the event was mandatory.
I made my way down on the F train, and entered the boutique, only to find that Fashion Week was more of a mix and mingle event with champagne, designers, and lots of clothes. No worries! Lee Lee’s itself provided enough fashion entertainment, and seemed like the perfect place for a plus size diva with a keen sense of style.
The store carries sizes 12 to 28 and features clothes by designers such as Roni Rabl, Anna Scholz, Trentecosta, Tadashi, Elana Miro, and Kiyonna.
I took a look around and found a lot of cool finds with prices that spanned the gamut.
This gold coat by Anna Scholz was a whopping $1,102…
While this cool cropped jacket by Maestro was a more reasonable $39.
This gold and pink dress by Kiyonna is a mid-tier $116…
And this coat, again by Anna Scholz, was $994..
Bring your credit cards!
Of course the ladies who came out were trying things on.
This Lace Boudoir Dress by Kiyonna was very flattering and a reasonable $168…
This ready for work dress by Trentecosta was also $168…
And this showstopper by Roni Rabl was a conservative $200…
Fierce! The young lady wearing it said, “I usually have lots of fit problems. Plus sized clothing usually goes straight down. I never find anything that fits me.”
Thankfully that dress fit the bill…I think she walked out with it on!
Lee Lee’s Valise has lots of other must sees.
A wide assortment of Spanx…
Lingerie by companies like Volage with bra sizes that go up to a 46H…

Jeans and t’s…
Accessories…
And bags….
You must stop by!
Plus Size Fashion Week continues tonight and features designers Anna Scholz and Jessica Svoboda. Drop in tonight from 6-9…you won’t be disappointed!
Lee Lee’s Valise is at 368 Court Street (at President). Call 718-246-5337 or visit www.leeleesvalise.com for more information and directions.
Smootches!
PS I’m wearing black today to support the Jena 6. Are you?
PSS Can’t make NY Plus Size Fashion Week? Check out Pieces Fall Preview…

Click to Enlarge
It’s going down tonight at 7:30 at 671 Vanderbilt Avenue at Park Place. See you there!

Since ANTM’s new season premiere’s tonight, I thought it only fitting to profile former model, Victoria’s Secret showstopper, talk show host, and creator of my weekly addiction…

Ms Tyra Banks!
As a former model and fashion aficionado, she looks smashing on most occasions. Let’s take a look:
For casual outings, Tyra wears anything from a cool cap with skinny jeans and boots…
…to thigh skimming dresses in neutral colors like khaki…

or black.

When she goes glam, she amps it all the way up in frocks of varying lengths that accentuate her bustline…
And wears dark, slimming colors to conceal her post model pounds…
Fierce.
Channel your inner ‘top model’ with the following Tyra like items:
Top Row: Diane Von Furstenberg Eyelet Wrap Dress, $233, www.bergdorfgoodman.com, Curvy Jersey Wrap Dress, $69, www.victoriassecret.com.
Bottom Row: Guess Darali Peep Toes, $114, Zappos.com
Taryn Alpaca Knit Hat in Ivory, $60, CoutureCandy
And, just for fun, a few things I’m looking forward to this season:
1. Tyra’s Tantrums…

2. Ms Jay…



3. And characters like Jade…

Can’t Wait!
Smootches!
PS Thought this was funny…

So,

This weekend the weather suddenly turned from pleasantly warm to uncomfortably chilly… …and I realized with disdain that it might be about time to get my fall wardrobe started.
While your old faithfuls from last year still work, you should make sure you renew with the following 5 fall essentials:
1. Fitted Blazer: Nothing pulls a look together like a sharp, tailored jacket.
Whether it’s in an eye catching color…

Has stylish detail…
…or is a bit more demure…
Popping a blazer over a white shirt or sweater and a pair of jeans is a consummate fall look. The key to a great blazer is fit, so make sure the buttons aren’t puckering over your bust. If you plan on investing, buy something in a neutral color like gray or black, in a seasonless wool.
A few options:

Top Row: Eloise Jacket, $108, www.guess.com, Taffeta Ruffle Collar Jacket, $60, www.bloomingdales.com.
Bottom Row: Wool Herringbone Bella Jacket, $198, www.jcrew.com, Swing-Sleeve Tweed Jacket, $49, www.spiegel.com

2. Next up: Jeans in a Dark Wash.
Whether skinny and straight…

or high waisted….
.. .jeans in a dark rinse are slimming, and will work with anything from a pump to a boot.
Invest in a pair of traditional bootcuts or skinnys…
Seven Jeans Edie Jeans, $175, shopbop.com
And save on the trendy…

Blank High Waisted Jeans, $68, www.urbn.com.
And you’re all set!
3. Number three: Boots in a Neutral Color
Whether you rock a heel…
Or something more manageable…
…A cute leather boot adds style while keeping your toes toasty. Boots can be expensive, so expect to drop at least one hundred when you go shopping. Bonus: they’ll last for years to come!
My picks:

Top Row: Nine West Jemonia Boot, $189, www.piperlime.com, Frye Sunny Tall Cuff Boot, $298, www.piperlime.com.
Bottom Row: Franco Sarto Tempest Boot, $142, Zappos.com
Metallic-Trim Cuff Boot, $89, www.spiegel.com.
4. Ballet Flats. When those boots start to feel suffocating, you can give your feet a rest in a pair of cute ballet flats….
Kidada Jones is a fan…
They look painfully sophisticated whether paired with footless tights or skinny jeans. If you can only spring for one pair, I’d say go for an animal print or patent leather black:

Top Row: French Sole White Python Ingrid Flats, $78, www.bluefly.com, Shelly’s London Electra Ballet Flat, $45, www.urbn.com.
Bottom Row: Tory Burch Reva Ballet Flat, $195, www.bloomingdales.com, Sam Edelman Caroline Flats, $69, http://www.piperlime.com/.
5. Dresses.
The great thing about dresses is that they’re the perfect transitional piece from summer to fall. You can wear them alone for warmer temps, or bundle up in tights or a cardigan for more nippy temperatures.
Go for a babydoll…

classic shift….
or a modern wrap…
for added versatility.
My picks:

Top Row: Wool Turtleneck Sweater Dress, $119, www.bebe.com, Abaete Olive Garbardine Marnie Dress, $144, www.bluefly.com.
Bottom Row: Kenneth Cole Reaction Puff Sleeve Sweater Dress, $119, www.macys.com, Semantiks New Haven Plaid Dress, $128, www.nordstrom.com.
You’re autumn ready. So sad summer is over…
Smootches!
PS Hmm…so maybe Ms. Naomi C has had a few British Vogue covers…

I’m a bit confused… [dlisted]
PSS Check out Pieces Fall Preview this Thursday!

Click to enlarge

After she closed her agency in 1996, people told her the modeling business was slipping without her. “I didn’t want that responsibility,”she says. “The New York Times interviewed me and they wanted to know what was going to happen to all the people I’d helped. And that, at the time, was people of color. And I was like, they’re fine, they’re gonna be fine. And honey, little by little, it has died.”–About Bethann Hardison, New York Magazine

Hey,
So I received so many great, reflective comments from my last post, that I really didn’t think I could go back to my standard fair immediately. Yep, the Emmy’s were last night, but I decided that I’d give you a bit of something that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
So Bethann Hardison organized and acted as moderator for the panel discussion I attended last Friday. To be honest, even I didn’t know who she was when I sat down….

But this is a woman that you must know if you have any interst in fashion or fashion history. Bethann was a huge model in the 60’s and 70’s, and did a lot to diversify the industry, later, as a model agent.
According to this article, Hardison grew up in Brooklyn in a family of devout Muslims. She was always known for rocking the boat: she was her high school’s first African American cheerleader, and was the first African American salesperson to work a New York City garment district showroom.
Designer Willi Smith met her in an elevator, and asked her to model for him. That opportunity led to more, and she eventually became one of a small group of black models in the early 1970’s who worked for huge European designers and had spreads in Vogue (yes, Vogue), and Harper’s Bazaar.
After modeling, she became an agent, first at an agency called Click and afterwards for her own company, Bethann Management. She focused on models of color, and apparently made the careers of Veronica Webb, Talisa Soto, and Tyson Beckford, and was “like a coach” to Naomi Campbell.
It seems Bethann is no stranger to holding conferences. She held something similar to the forum last Friday in the early 90’s, and skewered the top players in fashion for subtle racism. Apparently, a few months later Naomi Campbell became the first woman of African descent to grace the cover of Allure… Seeing that Bethann is ‘results oriented,’ I’m hoping that this conference effects a similar positive change on the industry. It’s about time!
Stay tuned for further developments…
Smootches
PS Another little fun fact: Bethann is Kadeem Hardison’s mother. Remember ‘Dwayne Wayne’ from ‘A Different World.’????

So funny!
PSS Read more about Bethann here.

Happy Friday!
Sorry for the late post, I’ve had a very busy morning. Why did you have a busy morning, Claire? Well, I’ll tell you.
Last night, I was delighted to get a text from my designer friend Malcolm Harris, alerting me to a forum discussion taking place today, subject: Blacks in Fashion. I quickly said “Sign me up!” and made my way over.
Upon walking in, I caught sight of many fashion notables. I’ll be honest, I almost lost my mind, I was in the company of such greatness.
Sitting right behind me were the following journalistic juggernauts:

Andre Leon Talley (far left), Teri Agins of the Wall Street Journal, Robin Givhan of the Washington Post (obscured), and Harriette Cole, creative director of Ebony Magazine. Oh yeah, and that’s Malcolm with the Peace Sign.
After I sat down, more and more people filtered in.
Tyson made an appearance:
Naomi Campbell (who actually ended up sitting right behind me!) offered her support:
Liya Kebede (gorgeous and so super nice) was in the house:
As was Iman…
Designer Tracy Reese…

Rachel Roy…
And Ebay Fashion Director Constance White!
It was truly an amazing showing, and I was excited to be there.
Industry veteran Bethann Hardison…
…took the floor as the moderator. She’s a former model, so her pet peeves centered around the “black model issue.” She hated that designers felt that having one black supermodel was sufficient; that people believe black women on covers won’t sell; that agents won’t represent black models; that designers are not conscious of diversity; and that blacks and others in positions of power don’t recognize a problem.

The talk revealed that the Fashion industry is extremely discriminatory and is also the only industry that is allowed to reject people outright based on color. Think about it: If a model sues Calvin Klein for not casting her, she’ll never work again. If a journalist sues a huge publishing house for not hiring her, she’ll have trouble getting published. In an industry based on networking, it’s best not to burn bridges…better to stay quiet and complicit (though that really doesn’t help the problem).

Doesn’t bode well at all for an aspiring fashion editor of color…

The forum was a bit mind boggling because the problem is complex: agents don’t search for black models because they don’t think they can sell; designers don’t book black models because they feel no need to; magazine editors don’t pick black models because, once again, they don’t think they’ll sell magazines. This is all a farce because we know black women like fashion (hello!) and spend freely. The problem is alerting the powers that be to our presence, beauty, and spending power. I mean, even Naomi Campbell revealed that she hasn’t been able to score a cover of British Vogue…and that the only reason she scored French Vogue was because her buddy Yves Saint Laurent threatened to pull all advertising if she didn’t get it. Yep, even Naomi Campbell has problems.

The conclusion of the talk was such: The group of highly influential people assembled (including Andre Leon Talley, Naomi Campbell, Tracy Reese, Constance White) would attend the next Council of Fashion Designers of America meeting to address this issue. Apparently Diane von Furstenberg (president of the CFDA) is game.
Stay tuned for developments…
Fashion figureheads are really trying to rock the boat (hopefully)!
Will anything change?
Smootches!
PS Of course I made my way over the Andre Leon Talley, and told him of my sincere desire to work at Vogue. He promised that we’d chat afterwards, but after the talk, he disappeared! Like…Casper. Is this part of the problem?
PSS Malcolm seems to think that the power to change things lies in the new generation, us. What do you think? Is there a problem in your opinion? Do you want to see more blacks in mainstream magazines? Or do we just want Suede back?

Happy Tuesday!

So the party took a lot out of me, and I’ve actually spent the past few days recovering. My attendance at fashion shows has been lacking, but no worries, Shameek and I plan to storm the tents again tonight. I’m going to a show that promises an appearance by Keisha Knight Pulliam (Rudy Huxtable). Fun!

So I’ve been taking lots of pictures of fabulous people of color—whether in the tents, or at outside venues big and small. Today, a serving of Real Style care of Baby Phat:

These young ladies looked retro chic with their stylish updos, and mixtures of vintage (floral tops) with modern influences (high waisted skirts)…
This Baby Phat employee was decked out in a Kimora Lee creation. I never knew Baby Phat made floor length strapless numbers, but I love the color…and her purse is a nice acccent.
These two industry ladies are casual yet chic. I love the young lady on the right’s kelly green dress worn over footless tights…
And of course Shameek couldn’t miss a photo opp! His friend looks cute in capris, shiny tank, and shawl. Notice how Shameek has multiple gift bags! lol!
Anyway the shows have been fun so far. Stay tuned for more Real Style and Fashion Show recaps.
Smootches!
PS Someone just forwarded me a super cute picture of a few members of the Full Throttle Crew. Call me nostalgic, but I just had to post.

From left: Lauren from Stereohyped, Chandra from Hourglass Events, Calcie from the JI Group, The Fashion Bomb Diva (me), Jen from The B-Life Blog, and Carla from Boutique Finesse. Cute!
Stay tuned for out next event! The B-Life Blog is having a celebration in January…I’ll keep ya posted:)
PSS If you love the portraits, need to take headshots, or have an event you’d like photographed, get in touch with my photographer Casey Noel. He took all those great red carpet shots. Visit his website www.cnoeltravelandphoto.com.
PSS Take a moment to remember everyone who perished in the September 11th attacks.

“My Umi said shine your light on the world/Shine your light for the world to see/My Abi said shine your light on the world/Shine your light for the world to see…”–Mos Def, ‘Umi Says”

Hey Guys!
So my party was such a hit!

Yup, that’s me in a Mimi Turner dress from Pieces Boutique, and jewels by Sisu. I’m silly…and was so excited about the night.
Katra was packed to the brim with all my urban fashionistas and fashionistos…


…the DJ was spinning the hot beats, the liquor was flowing, and tons of people came out to support!
My sponsors were there looking fabulous:

Jen from the B-Life Blog looked hot in a ruched fuchsia freekum dress…

Lauren from the blog Stereohyped was party ready in a sequined mini dress, and she brought along her equally beautiful sister Tia, who writes the blog Shake Your Beauty.

Calcie from The JI Group came prepared in a tailored jacket and v-neck shirt…

Chandra (left) from Hourglass Events looked super cute in an off the shoulder top, shorts, and hot purple pumps…
…and Latisha, Colin (far right), and other representatives from Pieces Boutique lit up the red carpet in fierce, fashionable frocks.
Friends and fellow bloggers also rolled through in their flyest:
Naki from the blog Style Chile was sweet enough to show up…

Michelle (far right) from Seasoned to Perfection came with friends to support…
Fashion week buddy Shameek (right) made an appearance…
and lots…
and lots…
of readers…
friends…
fans…
and the like…








…were bomb enough to show up and have a great time!
Check out more pictures and the slideshow here.
It was a great, memorable night, and I want to thank everyone soooooo much for coming! I was super busy, so I apologize if I couldn’t stop and spend time with everyone. But now that you know who I am, please feel free to come and say ‘hey’ if you see me around the way.
The party was such a success that I might make this a bi-annual thing (every fashion week)….
More on that later!
Smootches!
PS Almost forgot: Tracy Reese and Baby Phat were so much fun!
The ethnic models were representing like no other in various shades and builds…

Tracy Reese Spring 2008

Baby Phat Spring 2008
…it was beautfiul!
Baby Phat was chock full of celebs:
Star Jones was sitting directly across from me, taking notes for some reason…
Of course Russelll Simmons was in the house…
And gourgeous Bahamian model Shakara came with her boo.
I had a chance to snap pix with a few fashion stars:

Me with Nole Marin, a prominent fashion editor and stylist… And yup, that’s me with Nick Cannon and Selita Ebanks. Ms. Jay is in the background. Hilarious! I look like a greaseball next to Selita, but the pic is funny:)
Also, if you’re interested, I taped the final walk..but like an idiot, I didn’t realize that even though the video looked fine to me, it shows up sideways. So just tilt your head until I can figure out how to make it right side up…

Sorry guys! I tried to give you the feeling of it all… Fashion week has been amazing so far. Just a few more shows this week until it’s all over. So much fun!
PSS Special thanks to Hourglass Events, The B-Life Blog, Stereohyped, Pieces Boutique, and the JI Group for helping me throw my bash! Many thanks to Rum Cake Fairy for providing delicious cakes and Trace Magazine and Boutique Finesse for donating items for our goodie bags. Shout out to expert photographer Casey Noel for the amazing red carpet shots. And lastly, much love to my girls Margaret, Stephanie, and Kim. You’re the bomb!