Happy Monday!
Talk about a heat wave!
I was out of town this past weekend, but as always, you readers come through like champs to showcase your Real Style.
This week we have Jemise….

She says, “I’ve taken so many of your fashion tips this past season so I just wanted to show you some results!“
I absolutely *love* your shoes and matching clutch. And navy is the new black.
What do you guys think, though?
Does Jemise have Real Style?
Smootches!

*Guy Trebay on Michelle Obama…
…and her power dressing. [NYTimes]
*Like Michelle’s style? Check out my Obama focused January ’08 Style File.

Hey!
So today, we’re going to divert a bit from our usual fare with something for the fellas!!!
Believe it or not, the Fashion Bomb has its fair share of male readers…

And if you look at the typical offerings, we’ve been very unfair to our men!
Jordan, an aspiring fashion buyer wrote in recently, saying, “I have seen your pieces on summer wardrobe for the ladies who are working and interning, and they are lovely. However, as a Big-and-Tall male on a budget, I am kind of pressed for options. So I, as a Fashion Bomber, am begging for some advice. What types of outfits should I wear? Where can I get clothes that are fashion-forward yet timeless, urban-sophisticated-chic yet inexpensive, youthful yet professional???“
The interns and I collaborated to you give you men your summer work wardrobe guide.
Enjoy!
The first wardrobe must:
1. A Hot Suit
Adriana says, “The dress code for buyers can vary. A big part of the job is frequently meeting with either vendors, executives, or the corporate division of your company, so you want to err on the “business” side of the business casual dress code that’s the standard in most places. When looking for a suit, Barneys, for instance, is a very fashion forward retailer and you can probably find more of a Paul Smith or Prada aesthetic there (skinnier pants, more form-fitting shirts, funky turtlenecks). A middle-market company like Macy’s is likely to be more conservative and corporate, so you can find straight-legged (as opposed to skinny) slacks. Hugo Boss suits fit wonderfully on most big and tall men (the drop of the suit is American as opposed to European, which means it’s roomier but Hugo Boss cuts it so that it doesn’t appear boxy). Also, invest in at least one good one.”
Got that? Try these:
1. Hugo Awe/Holl Two Button Suit, $795. 2. Prada Men’s Suit, $808. 3. Baird McNutt Linen Suit, $250. 4. Emporio Armani Two Button Peak Lapel Suit, $555. 5. David Mayer Suit, $268.
If a full on suit blazer is too much, you can always opt for a…
2. Suit Vest:
Suit vests still tread the line of conservative chic and are a lot cooler (temperature wise) than full on blazers. Try these options:
1. Mason Plaid Vest, $44.50. 2.  Year Solid Suiting Vest, $98. 3. Heritage Herringbone Suit Vest, $129.
Another way to punch it up:
3. Bright Colored Shirt
Adriana says, “I have a colleague who dresses mostly very conservatively except that he chooses the most lively dress shirt colors to punch up his outfits. Tangerine, plum, and kelly green are just some of the ones I’ve seen on him. He tends to choose grey or tan trousers and very good quality, simple ties to anchor the outfit so it doesn’t become too garish looking.“
Aramide found these options:
1. Banana Republic Solid Texture Stripe Dress Shirt, $49. 2. Ted Baker MultiStripe Shirt, $75. 3. Hickey Freeman, $96. 4. Gucci Red Striped Point Collar Dress Shirt, $264.
3. Scarves:
As Kanye shows, scarves are simple ways to add a personal touch to an otherwise subdued suit or shirt and tie combo. Tie on an expensive Gucci or play it cool with an eye-catching red stole:
1. Gucci Grey Wool Stripe Scarf, $180. 2. Forzieri Solid Silk Scarf, $64. 9.  3. Emporio Armani Bias Cut Plisse Scarf, $88. 4. Louis Vuitton Celeste Scarf, $160.
4. Zip Front Jacket or Anorak:
You’ll need a cute, easy jacket for more casual office days (or to keep the chill away late at night):
1. Scotch and Soda Nylon Jacket, $132. 2. Shades of Greige Denim Jacket, $143. 3. Gap Military Jacket, $68.
5. Shoes
Adriana says, “You should never skimp on a pair of shoes. With men’s shoes, good ones will last you ages. The best crafters are usually British or Italian. John Lobb (the gold standard of good British men’s shoes), Jeffery-West (a funkier take on the classic British shoe), Bruno Magli, and Bally are all good bets. For affordable, good quality alternatives, try Cole-Haan and Kenneth Cole“:
1. Gucci Lace Up, $595. 2. Kenneth Cole Leather Loafer, $131. 3. Ferragamo Patent Boot, $650. 4. John Lobb Lace Up Oxford, $1,500. 5. Gucci Bamboo Horsebit Mocassins, $316.  6. Cole Haan Air Geoffrey Lace Up, $245.
For the final touch, don’t forget…
6. Sunglasses
Instantly up the style ante for your outfit outdoors with a pair of dark, sexy frames:
1. Tom Ford Black Andre Sunglasses, $398. 2. Boss Hugo Boss Men’s Metal Top Bar Aviators, $145. 3. D&G Large Uni Lens Sunglasses, $266. 4. Triple Bar Fashion Aviator, $70.
Men, take note! And ladies, kindly show this to the men in your lives:)
Smootches!

Hey!
So for yet another Breaking into Fashion post, I decided to chit chat with Wouri Vice…

…stylist to chanteuse Alicia Keys.
A friend of Ms. Keys since high school, Vice used his spectacular and undeniable flair for fashion to take Alicia from her days of braids and fedoras to the sleek sophistication we see today:
Even as he was preparing outfits for Alicia Keys’ next video, he took a moment to talk to The Fashion Bomb on how he got his start.
Wouri always had a fashionable eye. “In high school I was the kid with one green sock and one blue sock because I was wearing blue and green.” He went to college for fashion journalism, but after too many boring lectures on Plato and the philosophy of style, he decided to follow his true passion. “I started making clothes for student groups. When I came home during the summer, I worked as an intern at Giorgio Armani.” He followed his Armani internship with several more with prominent stylists. He came to style for Alicia after reconnecting post high school. He says, “I used to tell Alicia that I would be a huge stylist and she would be a big singer. I told her I would be her stylist, and we laughed. But now you see how things came around…“
A typical week for Wouri involves everything from thinking up concepts to going on market appointments. For a video, he says, “I’m given a treatment and a concept, then call Alicia to see what she wants.” After figuring out the colors, fabrics, and silhouettes Ms. Keys favors, Wouri gets to work. He says, “I do research. I see what’s out there in fashion land that suits what is being requested. I set up market appointments, see what’s available, send out requests, then conclude it all with fittings for her.“
If you haven’t noticed, Alicia’s style has done almost a 180 in recent years. What’s changed? “The evolution you see is my growth a stylist, pushing envelopes and being able to do new things. You’re also seeing her evolution as an artist, someone who is willing to let her hair down. She says, ‘Maybe I’ll wear a mini dress or tight jeans today.” It’s gotten down to her saying, ‘If I like it, I like it, I don’t care what critics have to say.’ As time went on, she became more simplistic. Took off the hat and the beads, and the gloves, and just stayed simple, beautiful Alicia.“
For those aspiring for a similar position, Wouri says, “Don’t give up on yourself. Stay in prayer. Follow your dreams. People are gonna try to knock you down. There’s always someone in the background, so be confident in what you can do.” Apt words.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Yes We Can!!!

Barack Obama is the first African-American to claim a major party ticket. As I said…Yes we Can!!!! And pssst…Michelle: I love your dress. [NYTimes]

*Don’t have time to read your monthly mags? The website Frisky cuts through all the clutter to tell you the most interesting items. [Frisky]
*It’s that time of year again…
…that’s right, the Diane Von Furstenberg sample sale!!! It’s *mayjah*. I dipped in yesterday and cleaned up. You can too! The sale is on until Saturday. Click the flyer for hours and location info.
*Thanks Bonnita!!!

For a woman, le smoking is an indispensable garment with which she finds herself continually in fashion, because it is about style, not fashion. Fashion’s come and go, but style is forever.“–Yves Saint Laurent

After hearing the news of Yves Saint Laurent’s passing, I decided to pay homage to his memory by writing about one of his major contributions to fashion:

Le Smoking.
A feminized version of the male tuxedo, le smoking debuted in 1966 and was reinvented and redone every season as Yves’s signature silhouette. He revolutionized the industry by being the first to put women in masculine tailoring…
And contemporary women continue to pay honor to his legacy in sleek, form fitting pantsuits:
Iman where’s a black sequined version with ribbon tie belt…
Amerie modernizes the look with a decolette vest, sans shirt…
And J.Lo and Mary J Blige wear all white pantsuits on the most formal of red carpets in both double breasted and single breasted jackets.
Chic!
If you want the look, splurge with the following options:
1. Just Cavalli Suit, $944. 2. Gucci Women’s Suit, $2,650. 3. Fabrizio Lenzi Suit, $720.
Save with these:
1. Nanette Lepore Beloved Suit Jacket and Pants, $196. 2. Pique Pant Suit, $60. 3. Neiman Marcus Two-Piece Pantsuit, $295.
Smootches!

*Fact: Yves Saint Laurent was the first couture designer to feature Black models on runways and in advertising…
… Naomi Campbell delivered a tearfelt tribute to YSL yesterday saying, “My first Vogue cover ever was because of this man…when I said to him ‘Yves, they won’t give me a French Vogue cover, they won’t put a black girl on the cover,’ he was like ‘I’ll take care of that,’ and he did.” [AFP]
*And, it seems it has all come full circle. The Sunday Mail reported that Naomi Campbell will replace Kate Moss as the new face of Yves Saint Laurent. [Daily Mail]

Hey Guys!
So, you went, you saw…did you love???
Apparently a lot of you were super juiced about the flick. Tanasia writes, “I thought it would be cool to show you how “Carried Away” fans got for Sex and the City….”

“…Attached is a flick of me on opening night of the movie.  Xoxo.“
You look amazing! Lovin the white vest pantsuit, heels, and sequined bag!
So what do you think: Did Tanasia get carried away?
Smootches!

*New York Magazine’s David Edelstein had a good review of the movie, but brought up an interesting point (that I didn’t quite realize while watching).  He says, “Sex and the City’s nod to the nonwhite is scary. Jennifer Hudson plays Carrie’s personal assistant, and Oh my God, it’s Hattie McDaniel for the new millennium…“
“… Instead of cleaning Carrie’s house, she cleans up her computer files (although she does help declutter the apartment, too). She admires her mistress in those beautiful outfits. And check out that smile when you give her a Louis Vuitton handbag! Please, Sex and the City, do not pretend you exist in the real multiracial world. White will always be your new black.” Meow!!! While I was watching, I didn’t really have a problem with JHud’s character (save the marbles in her mouth accent). But what did y’all think? Were you happy with the ‘sister’ representation???
*In other sad fashion news, legendary designer Yves Saint Laurent passed away this Sunday…
“From the first YSL tuxedo and his trim pantsuits to see-through blouses, safari jackets and glamorous gowns, Saint Laurent created instant classics that remain stylish decades later.” [AP]

Me!
Log onto www.ushernow.com for the best in male fashion and Usher looks for less. And check out his album…
…I just heard it, and it’s fire! Click here to buy.

Hey!
So…Sex and the City last night was *amazing*! I won’t give anything at all away, but trust me, even if the plot leaves you scratching your head, the fashion makes up for it!!! It was so deep, even I have some “Mail Bombs” for that movie!
Anyway, I hope you all sip some cosmos and enjoy the show with your girlfriends this Friday. It’s a fashion lover’s must see!
So last week intern Adriana tackled Part 1 of the Guide to your Summer Work Wardrobe. She was fab enough to tackle Part 2 today! Enjoy!
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Hey FB’ers!
So last week we nailed down dresses, jackets, shoes, and accessory essentials for your summer work wardrobe.

Throw in these additions for a well rounded look:
1. Tops
With tops, you want something that will work as a good base for your outfit, layer well, and still be a little eye-catching. Try for soft, breathable fabrics with little details (pleats, ties, shimmer, funky shapes, etc.) or look for new takes on a classic (J. Crew’s silver lamé Oxford-like shirt, below). Tops are a great way to liven up neutral pants and blazers, and are usually the easiest addition to your summer wardrobe both cost and space-wise. Remember to opt for a little sleeve action, at least covering your shoulders (capped or small ruffled sleeves are a great compromise):
1. Diane Von Furstenberg Carone Top, $198. 2. J.Crew Whisper Lame Shirt, $110. 3. Anne Klein Tie Front Shirt, $89. 4. Bow Tie Floral Top, $79. 5. Chiffon Ruffle Top, $22.80.
2. Skirts
Summer is the season to play with fabrics and fun silhouettes (like a bubble skirt). Knife-pleats, vivid prints, and swingy hems are great ways to add flair to a work skirt, and a high-waisted, pencil skirt with a unique detail (a bow front, cool stitching, or a wide leather sash with a side-tie just at your waist) can make for a fresh, sexy take on a classic:
1. Milly Bow Front Pencil Skirt, $137. 2. Banana Republic Linen Abstract Skirt, $62.30. 3. Forever 21 Spotted Woven Skirt, $22.80. 4. Tibi Pleated Skirt, $273.5. Tracy Reese Canvas Printed Pencil Skirt, $240.
3. Pants
Across the board, pants are by far one of the hardest items to shop for. And let’s be real: slim/skinny pants, cute as they look and “on trend” as they are, just don’t work for everyone (but we have included a few below that caught our eye). A cut I really love and that flatters almost any shape is the elegant, Hepburn-style, wide-legged trouser. It’s sexy and chic, definitely on trend, and effortlessly airy for summer days at the office and summer nights on the town!
1. Julie Haus Hi-Waist Frida Pant, $275. 2. BCBG Indigo Striped Carla Slim Flare Pant, $178. 3. Holly Herringbone Pant, $228. 4. J.Crew City Fit Italian Linen Pant, $250.
4. Handbags
And just for fun, here are a few handbag choices to go perfectly with your newly refreshed summer work wardrobe!
1.Fendi Rainbow Degrade Hobo, $1,840. 2. Zac Posen Lily Shoulder Bag, $1,050. 3. Kale Stella Bag, $475. 4. Dautore Slouchy Shoulder Bag, $471. 5. Forever 21 Sequin Weave Tote Bag, $39.80. 6. Deux Lux Pintuck Satchel, $68.
Bon Shopping!
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Loved the bag selections!! Didn’t Adriana do a great job??
My interns are the bomb!
Smootches!

*If you missed Part 1 of the Summer Work Wardrobe Guide, click here.
*Did y’all hear about Jill Scott’s new bra line?
According to the blog Stereohyped, Jill Scott caused chaos in Harlem when she showed off her breasts at her Butterfly Bra launch in the flagship Ashley Stewart store! Good lord! Read the rest here. [Stereohyped].
*Eric Wilson of the New York Times says that while gas and food prices are soarcing, the prices of well plucked classics…
…have actually declined. [NYTimes]