She says, “I will be in NYC at the end of this month so I want to know: Am I NYC ready? ”
“…Attached are a few pictures of me getting my style on …
“…Please please tell me what you think!”
Lola, I think you’ll fit in here just fine. Your prints are poppin, and your shoe selection is sick!
But that’s just my opinion.
What do you think?
Does St. Maarten have style?
Smootches!

*Italian Vogues aren’t yet on newsstands in NYC, but a few scans have bubbled up in cyberspace:

…looks saucy! My local newsguy said they should be available tomorrow! You’ll be the first to know!
*Ebony Magazine’s newest issue presents 25 different covers to celebrate ‘Black Coolness’:
Cool!
*Are you the next fashion design superstar?
Click here to apply for Project Runway Season 6!
Make it work.
*Kanye’s keeping busy…
In addition to launching his own line (Pastelle), seems the Louis Vuitton don will also be collaborating with Louis V for a men’s shoe collection. Can’t wait to see!

Hey!
So since tomorrow is a holiday for the good ol U.S.A., I decided to go ahead and post Mail Bombs a bit early…

The Fashion Bomb (me) will be off tomorrow wylin somewhere at a BBQ (and hope you’ll be too)!
Let’s get started!
First Tabatha says, “I LOVE this jumpsuit that Kim Kardashian wore to the BET Pre- Party and would like to know where to find it!“
“It’s the perfect look for a boat cruise I am going on for my 30th Bday!“
Intern Elita stepped in and found that Kim K is wearing this Stella McCartney Jumper…
…from her Spring 2008 collection. Good luck!
Lisa from San Diego says, “I loved the dress Nia Long wore to the BET Awards!!!”
“Can you help me find something similar??“
Get a Nia Long look with this $419 3.1 Phillip Lim Dress:
…from www.eluxury.com.
Tara wrote in gushing over Beyonce’s Bag:
She says, “Where can I get it??”
The folks over at Black Style Central found that Beyonce is carrying this Dolce & Gabbana Pocket Patchwork Snakeskin Bag…
…get it for $2,995 at www.eluxury.com.
Next, Mary from Jackson Mississippi says, “Tia is looking great! I love this look!“
“Can you find me something similar?”
Tia’s wearing this Ports 1961 Ruffled Mini Dress...
…available at Saks for $285.
If you want something closer in color, you can also try the following:
1. Vera Wang Saffron Silk Shantung Dress, $238. 2. Laila Azhar One Shoulder Drap Dress, $374.
Long time reader Adriene says, “I’m a pretty tall girl (5’9″) with really long legs and a short torso, and I really want to find shirts that give my body some type of proportion. I love the punk rock shirts that Rihanna has worn…“
“Any idea where I could find similar shirts?“
Intern Aramide to the rescue! She says, “If you’re looking for a rocker type of look similar to Rihanna, Karmaloop.com is a good place to start. You can wear any of these with a pair of leggings and gladiators. “
1.Hellz Bellz Tee, $38 2. Obey Tee, $30. 3.Two in the Shirt Tee, $31. 4. Jeepney Tee, $32.
Lastly, a wardrobe query. Erica says, “I know that the latest fashion is the maxi dress and I have one that I’ve had since last year. I haven’t worn it because I don’t know what shoes to wear with it!”
“... I didn’t want to wear “matchy-matchy” shoes but I don’t know what else to do. Please Help!“
Everyone out there in fashion land, let me please introduce you to the new neutral: The Metallic. I favor flats with maxi dresses, so pop on a pair in gold, silver, or bronze, and all you have to worry about is matching your fab accessories!
Try these:
1. Oda Flat in Gold, $76. 2. ASOS Plaited Flat Sandal, $26. 3. Guess by Marciano Haiku Flat Sandal, $63.
Bring along a cute jean jacket to fend off chills. You’re good to go!
That does it!
Have great, wild, wonderful weekends!
Smootches!

Happy July!
It’s another Breaking into Fashion Post! It’s been a while, so I thought I’d bring it back with a bangin profile of blogging superstar…

…Tia Williams!
Haven’t heard of her? Where have you been?? Tia is the author behind the uber fabulous black beauty blog “Shake your Beauty” (www.tiawilliams.net/blog).
Launched in May 2005, Shake Your Beauty attracts 500,000 to 1 million beauty mavens a month looking to be blessed by Tia’s recommendations for everything from blush to bronzer.
With that many devotees, you know she stays super busy! Still, she took a moment out of her fabulous life to give you aspiring bloggers the scoop on how to break into online journaling.
A former beauty editor for titles like Elle, Glamour, YM, Lucky and Teen People, Tia decided to leave magazines to focus on her writing career. She says, “When I left the industry three years ago, I wasn’t willing to give up my obsession with beauty, so I decided to start my own beauty blog! For years I was the only black beauty editor at mainstream magazines, and I’d developed a voice that spoke to women of color. I started “Shake Your Beauty” to continue that voice, and provide a forum for brown women of all ethnicities to learn about the hottest products and tips–for us.”
If you want to get started, she says, “These days, anyone can become a blogger. You can write about anything under the sun.” Just log onto blogger.com or wordpress.com, pick a name, and start writing! But, with women’s lifestyle publishers like Glam.com counting 339 bloggers, how do you set yourself apart? Tia says, “First, pick a topic you know a lot about a major hobby, a career, a lifelong interest–and develop your blog around that theme. ”

“Second, develop your voice. What can you bring to the topic that no one else can? And finally, work on the design. I suggest reaching out to local colleges, universities, or art schools in your area to find design talent (usually, they’re so eager for experience the work will be gratis!). But first, do your homework–print out blogs whose design you really love, and use this as inspiration for your own site.”
You’re type, typing away, but noone’s reading. What to do?? Tia says: get personal. “The more anecdotal you make your posts, the better. Readers love to find out more about the person behind the blog.” Not into becoming an internet celebrity? She says, “You can also build readership through Google listings. Give your posts straightforward, simple titles (this way, Google has an easier time finding your post through all the others). For example, if you’re blogging about Rihanna’s new hair color, the title “Jet-Black is Beautiful” won’t get a high listing because it’s not specific enough. If you call it “Rihanna’s New Dye Job.” you’ll not only attract readers Google-ing hair color, but also the scores and scores of readers looking for items on Rihanna.“
Now the all important question: Can you make money?? Tia says, “Ummm…you can, but it’s not easy. But there are ways to do it, like charging for advertising. You can also join networks that will help you pull in advertising. I would never suggest starting a blog to make money!” Agreed!
In sum, she says, “I really think it’s making yourself stand apart from the crowd. If you have some special angle to bring to a topic, this will make your readers come back every day. Voice is so important, too. Are you funny? Snarky? Earnest? Figure out your tone and work it! “
Work it!
For your beauty fix, visit Shake your Beauty at www.tiawilliams.net/blog.
Tell ’em I sent ya!
Smootches!

Hey!
So my interns have been keeping busy this summer, helping solve Mail Bombs and also catching Real Style in their respective hometowns.
Checking in today is Charle, who brings us a bit of style from her neck of the woods.
Enjoy!
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So while traipsing around Wicker Park, Chicago’s most fashion conscious neighborhood, I stumbled upon this handsome writer named Chad:

What amazing color mastery! Pairing that lavender American Apparel shirt with a vintage blue polka dart scarf is genius! He studied Fiction Writing at Chicago’s Columbia College, but I couldn’t believe he’d never taken a fashion class. Great job accomplishing a very quirky ensemble with masculine basics, sir.
Would you let your boyfriend wear this?
***********************************************************
Hmmm, I think I’d be ok with it!
Would you?
Smootches!