Hey!
So as promised, I wanted to give you guys the scoop on the hottest boutique to hit East Hampton….

…Bellhaus.
Owned by Shawn Bell, the boutique is the first high end fashion boutique of its kind in the area, carrying extremely exclusive brands like Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, and Sonia Rykiel…
…along with shoes by Manolo Blahnik, Sergio Rossi, Christian Lacroix, Bruno Frissoni, and Courtney Crawford…
Fun fact: Bellhaus is the only store in the US offering the red patent leather Walter Steiger shoes Sarah Jessica Parker wears in Sex and the City. Chic!
I took a quick look around a found tons of drool worthy gems, like this deep purple Allesandro Dell’Acqua show shopper…
This lovely bright yellow halter maxi dress by Kaufman Franco…
A feathered evening cocktail by Carolina Herrera….
And this simple cream and blue Jason Wu top….
The store also had men’s clothes…
…sunglasses by Dita…
And hot accessories…
…I so wanted that Fendi bag, but at $2,200, it was a bit out of reach.
As you can imagine, with all those hot off the runway brands, the prices are in the stratosphere. But, it’s a great place to go experience a bit of couture. And the shoes???
Splurge worthy!
If you’re ever in the Hamtpons, find Bellhaus at 328 Montauk Highway. Visit their site, www.bellhaus.net, for more information.
Smootches!

Hey!
So my friends and I went to the Hamptons to celebrate Memorial Day this past weekend. Aside from enjoying the beach, sunshine, and great food, we also had to stop into the grand opening of a chic, must-visit boutique called Bellhaus (www.bellhaus.net). The shop was littered with the best dressed in the Hampton set, but this young man really stood out in a Fashion Bomb way:

Turns out his name is Courtney Crawford, and he is the designer behind the pair of sky high patent leather stilettos he’s holding.
Like a paparrazzo, I asked who he was wearing, and he revealed that he had on a Calvin Klein Collection suit, Du Champs Shirt, Balmain tie, Dolce and Gabbana shoes, and a vintage Hermes pocket scarf. Super sharp, but he kept it funky with his haircut…
..swoon!
You can find a few of his shoes at Revolve Clothing (click here), and keep on the lookout for his website, www.courtneycrawford.com!
Smootches!

*Bellhaus Boutique is a fashionista’s utopia for its high end well edited items, and the opening ceremony was absolutely dope. A few more party pictures:
Your truly with my buddy Namik and the boutique owner, Shawn Bell…
And Kelly Ripa made an appearance! She was super cute in her feathered frock.
Stay tuned for a Boutique Spotlight on Bellhaus tomorrow.
*I couldn’t resist! Check out a few Courtney Crawford creations:
For purchase information, click here.
*OK Courtney is more than a well dressed man with a handsome face! An excerpt from an article on him in Paper Mag, “In the year since he launched his line, Crawford has been busy: He won Who is on Next (a European design competition sponsored by Italian Vogue and the fashion agency Alta Roma); designed Missoni’s feather-happy Spring ’07 shoe collection; consulted on Morgane Le Fay’s debut line; was taken under the enormous wing of Vogue’s editor-at-large André Leon Talley; and so endeared himself to Karl Lagerfeld that he walked in Chanel’s runway show last season. He’s also managed to win over Kate Moss, Mischa Barton, Mariah Carey (in fact, he outfitted her for the entire “Emancipation of Mimi” tour) and Dita Von Teese with his shoes.” Ok then! Read the rest here.
*Thanks Ken!
*LL Cool J and Sears??
You heard that right. WWD reports that LL will release a collection of casualwear for juniors, young men’s, girls and boys in September in time for back to school. The collection will retail from $22 for a graphic tee to $50 for a pair of jeans. Um, really?

Hey!
So today I decided to give you yet another ‘Breaking into Fashion‘ post featuring photographer…

Piper Carter!
You might know her from her appearance on VH1’s ‘The Shot“, but Piper has been in the industry for years, shooting editorials for British Elle, the New York Times, Trace, Spin and King Magazine.
She kindly took some time out of her hectic schedule to talk to the Fashion Bomb about how she got her start, and how you aspiring photographers can get your shot in the field.
Originally a dance major at Howard University, Piper always had a penchant for creativity. “I’ve been a dancer since I was five, but I felt it wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I had interests in photography and fashion design, and on a whim switched my major to photography.” Once she started taking classes, she realized that not only did she like snapping images, but she had a talent for it.
After graduation the Michigan native moved to New York and took up an assistantship with celebrated photographer Steven Klein. Impressed with her pluck, he hired her on as his 5th assistant. She says, “I had to do a lot of grunt work, including picking up dog poo and getting his mail. But I was also able to become a part of his team. After 3 years of being with him, I became his second assistant and was virtually his lighting designer and production manager.“
Though she learned a ton from her assistantship, she decided that she still needed to learn more, and went on to pursue another degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology. “After September 11th, the whole industry changed. I wanted to immerse myself in digital images.” She followed FIT with an internship at Vogue, which led her to the VH1 show. Now you can find her backstage at Fashion Week, or shooting spreads for Essence and Six Degrees Magazine.
About breaking into the industry she says, “There are no hard and fast rules. Your career is what you make of it. Fashion is an industry that’s sort’ve like the wild wild west. You can get an agent or you could be on your own. You’ve just gotta be really diligent and persistent with contacting entities with which you want to work.”
Not sure where to start? Piper touts the virtues of a French/English publication called ‘Le Book.’ She says, “It’s for clients to source out talent that they want to use. In there you can find contact information for photographers, production companies, photo studios, art directors, magazines, and art buyers. Contact them and offer to intern for them. You may not have an agent, so learn how to package yourself. It’s not about contacting people and saying how great you are, but getting in touch and saying , ‘this is what I’ve done and this is what I can offer you” Just starting out? Play up your experience as best you can. “You’ve got to get yourself out there. Meet as many people as possible. Be your own mouthpiece.“
Do you need a degree in photography to get through the door? “I learned more as an assistant than I did at school, ” she confesses, “I went to school because I wanted to learn certain base skills. But you don’t necessarily need to go to school to be a photographer.” If you go the ‘non-school’ route, she recommends keeping your skills sharp by shooting something everyday. “Shoot a flower, a tree, a child, anything, just shoot and keep yourself fresh. Look at the images after you’ve shot and show those pictures to people. Not because you need their opinion, but see how your images affect what other people think. ” Also, take advantage of local and smaller publications. “The fact that you’e working and working with the client, that alone can help you learn how to communicate with people and how to give people what they want.“
As a woman of color, she says, “I could go on and on and on about the horrors I’ve experienced.” But, “You have to have confidence. Do your thing and know that your work speaks beyond what color you are. Talent and a good personality go a long way.”
Sound advice!
Piper’s currently working on a compilation of aspirational images of women of color, set to launch in September. Keep track of her on her website, www.pipercarter.com, or on her Blog, Studio Arena.
Smootches!

*The Uptown Emerging Designers’ Market last Sunday (organized by friends Michelle and Enyinne) has a write up in today’s New York Times!!!
Eric Wilson says, “Ms. Gittens, in a belted vintage gray dress, and Ms. Owunwanne, wearing jeans she had altered with an orange tie at the back, organized the market to draw attention to what is happening in Harlem, as well as to spotlight designers from Brooklyn and New Jersey.” As V. Beckham would say: Mayjah!! Read the rest here. [NYTimes]
*Christian Dior has unleashed a hot new celly:
“…The Diorphone which is targeted solely at women will be available in a regular version which will retail for 3,500 euros (about US$5,100) and a “deluxe model studded with 640 diamonds, which comes with an alligator sheath, runs up to 18,000 euros, or about US$27,000.” Once again, these designers are smoking crack. [WWD]
*A bunch of bloggers (including myself) modeled Diane Von Furstenberg’s Spring collection for Coutorture.com. Look at pix here. [Coutorture]
*Fashion Bomb Friend Andre J is featured in this week’s Time Out Magazine…
“…When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I say is’Thank you for waking me up this morning.’Then I look in the mirror and say, ‘You are beautiful!’ The third thing I say is, ‘I am going to have a fantastic day!‘” Read the rest here. [Time Out]

Hey!
So last night I was delighted to attend the relaunch party of the website, JCReport:

Haven’t heard of it? It’s a fabulous online fashion destination, chocked to the brim with all the latest on trends and news, all from an international perspective.
I made my way down to the W in the Financial District, and the room was packed with well dressed world citizens:
I usually reserve Mondays for Real Style, but the fashion flavor in the room was so strong, I couldn’t help but put it on display:

I literally almost started salivating over these young ladies’ eye catching chunky necklaces worn with simple yet fabulous black dresses and stilettos! They admitted that their jewelry was by Diana Broussard, Dresses by Peter Hidalgo, and shoes by Pierre Hardy. And check out diva on the left’s Chanel Ankle Bag. FIERCE!!
Men’s fashion abounded:
These young men looked dapper and different in shorts on the right, and a straight legged suit worn with a skinny tie on the left.
An exotic patterned fedora plays well against a dark polka dot jacket, tie, and shirt. Young man on the left (designer Jose Duran (www.joseduran.net) looks simply chic in a cream tank and black pants.
More polka dots! Divo on the left is a member of the band the Ones (www.myspace.com/theonesareflawless) and represents with a unique haircut and glasses. The leather jacket donning fashionisto on the right is none other than designer Orlando Carreras (www.orlandocarreras.com).
And I loved this young lady’s bowl cut and simple, yet edgy hoops. And her ruffled top!
So cute!
Of course I had to jump in a couple!
There I am with blogging superstars and friends Kathryn Finney of the Budget Fashionista (www.budgetfashionista.com) and shoe maven Miss Meghan (www.missmeghan.com).
And I had to take a picture with the man of the hour…
Jason Campbell!
Check out his website today (www.jcreport.com) and bookmark it! Tell him I sent ya!
Smootches!

So reader Marci from Edinburgh, Scotland UK wrote in with the following:

“My work place has a casual smart dress code. I am not keen to wear jeans (except on the odd Friday when I know I’ll be meeting my mates for a drink after work). I prefer to wear pretty shirts with formal, tailored trousers. I’ve probably worn a skirt twice since December. Shorts are a personal no no. Please do a feature on casual-smart work wear for the summer?“

Sure!
Intern Adriana stepped in to spearhead Part 1 of The Fashion Bomb’s Guide to a Stylish Summer Work Wardrobe. Read on for suggestions for cool, breezy dresses, sophisticated jackets, and even office ready accessories! Stay tuned next week for tips on coordinating separates, bag options, and skirts!
********************************************************************
Hey Fashion Bombers!!
It’s finally warm, so you want to throw off those layers you’ve been wrapping yourself in and after surviving winter. Here, a few suggestions for how to dress fabulously for work while maintaining comfort, sophistication, and style:
1. Dresses (sorry, Guy Trebay):

There’s not an article of clothing that is equal parts comfortable for summer, flattering to so many shapes and sizes, and comes in such diverse fabrics! Knee-length dresses with capped sleeves work very well—they’re comfortable and sexy, yet cover enough to still be appropriate for work. Wrap dresses are always a great choice, and shirtwaist styles are also a cool way to maintain a preppy chic look:
1. Maggy London Cap Sleeve Chiffon Dress, $138, www.nordstrom.com. 2. Bebe Silk Sash Waist Dress, $129, www.bebe.com. 3. Diane von Furstnberg Tie-Dye Wrap Dress, $398, shopbop.com 4. Phoebe Couture Ruffled Shirtdress, $260, www.bloomingdales.com. 5. Tadashi Silk Dance Dress, $330, www.bloomingdales.com.
2. Light Jackets:
A blazer can work wonders for an outfit. Donning one instantly pulls your look together and, given cut and fabric, can add anything from professionalism to edge. Bonus: it’ll save you from the chills of the office air conditioner! J. Crew has a fantastic selection of light jackets for the summer, as do Trina Turk, Michael Kors, and Loeffler Randall:
1. Trina Turk Burke Jacket, $228, www.searlenyc.com. 2. Brushstroke Print Chessy Jacket, $148, www.jcrew.com. 3. Michael Kors Ponte Jacket, $84, www.lordandtaylor.com. 4. Loeffler Randal Silk Ruffle Jacket, $565, www.eluxury.com.
A structured light cardigan is also a great summer piece as it has the look of a blazer yet a much lighter weight for a casual feel:
Vince Tie Front Cardigan, $235, shopbop.com
3. Shoes:
Ideally, you want a pair of shoes that will carry you from day through night. Tempting as they are, try to avoid flip-flops in the office. If you crave a flat shoe with the airiness of a sandal and that also shows off your pedi, go for an open-toed skimmer. A lower heeled sandal between 2” and 2.5” is also a great work-fashion compromise: short enough to be appropriate for work yet high enough to give you your heel fix:

1. Stuart Weitzman Specchio Shoes, $188, zappos.com 2. Fendi Satin Ruffle Flat, $450, www.eluxury.com. 3. Christian Michael Ahmed Sandal, $240, zappos.com 4. Loeffler Randal May Open Ruffle Pump, $430, shopbop.com 5. Michael Kors Magic Sandals, $188, zappos.com 6. Coclico Shoes Keyhole Sandal, $320, shopbop.com 7. Irregular Choice Sexy Vixen Shoes, $129, zappos.com 8. Chloe Patent Crisscross Buckle Sandals, $645, wwwintermixonline.com. 9. Naughty Monkey Button Up, $69, zappos.com
4. Accessories:
Summer is the season to show off great necklaces. Use them to complement the lower necklines of summer tops and dresses:
1. Bubble Necklace, $150, www.jcrew.com. 2. Just Cavalli Zebra Heart Necklace, $273, www.eluxury.com. 3. Concentric Glass Bead Necklace, $28, www.urbanoutfitters.com. 4. Kenneth Jay Lane Snake Pendant Necklace, $77, shopbop.com 5. Women’s Multi Stone Necklace, $10, oldnavy.com
****************************************************************
Snaps for a great post including amazing shoe suggestions! I’m self admittedly a bit conservative when it comes to shoes, but I almost lost my breathe over the Chloe and Coclico sandals.
Great job, Adriana!
Stay tuned next week for Part 2 of the Fashionable Work Wardrobe Series. And maybe I’ll do a little something for the men?
Smootches!

*Kate Moss’ High Summer ’08 Collection…
…is now available at Topshop. Check out the offerings at www.katmosstopshop.com.
*These are so dope!!!
…Chic and Untroubled discusses these ‘glock’ shoes, which made their debut during Chanel’s Cruise collection. [Chic and Untroubled]
*In more Chanel news, look at another one of Karl’s new designs:
…it’s a Chanel sunglasses sporting Lego lady. Fashionista reasoned that paying $6,000 for something like this (the going price) might be worth a whole year of shopping abstinence. Not too sure about that! [Fashionista]
*Seems Angelina Jolie stays comfy in Cannes thanks to Cole Haan Nike Air Pumps. Great minds think alike. [MyItThings]
*Apparently Iman isn’t too jazzed about the Italian Vogue July issue. According to Make Fetch Happen, “Iman recently expressed concern that the highly anticipated “all-black” July issue of Italian Vogue will just be a gimmick and may not change anything about the lack of models of color in fashion magazines…“
… “I still don’t like us to be a caricature…They’ll think, ‘Okay, we did it.’ And then they’re done with it, and we’ll have to wait till next year.” [MakeFetchHappen]

Hey!
It’s been a while since my last Style File!
This week, I wanted to bring it back with actress and model…

Joy Bryant!
Pretty, tall, and lean, she’s been blessing many the red carpet lately in supremely flattering outfits perfectly suited for occasions both casual and formal.
With her statuesque frame, Joy seems to prefer floor grazing maxi dresses…
…whether in off the shoulder cascading frocks with pops of blue or strapless dresses in neutrals like white or brown.
For club nights, she opts for the occasional cocktail……sticking to ‘can’t go wrong’ silver, black, or white.
For down days, she kicks it in jeans and a T…
…worn under a comfy sweater or bright jacket.
Simply Chic!
Get her maxi dress game with the following:
1.Mediterranean Maxi Dress, $188, www.marciano.com. 2. Nicole Miller Gold Rose Maxi Dress, $378, www.bluefly.com. 3. Twisted Strap Maxi Dress, $76, www.asos.com. 4. Embroidered Tiered Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress, $149, www.bebe.com. 5. T-Bags Twisted Strap Maxi Dress, $215, www.net-a-porter.com.
Get her cocktail steeze with these:
1.Uptown Girl Dress, $54, www.lulus.com. 2. Lola Dress, $138, www.marciano.com. 3. David Meister Drape Neck Minidress, $147, www.neimanmarcus.com.
Go with these for a casual look:
1. Autumn Cashmere Black Cashmere Sweater, $190, www.bluefly.com. 2.Hellz Bellz Siouxie Jean in Black, $140, www.revolveclothing.com. 3. Great Plains Southwold Jacket, $118, www.nordstrom.com.
Smootches!

*Geeks crash House of Fashion. [NYTimes]
*Marc Jacobs poses as Andy Warhol for Interview Magazine’s August issue…
“…Even though the editorial shoot took 12-hours to shoot in Paris with Mikael Jansson, Marc thought it was well worth it. In the shoot he appears in a Rellik dress, Louis Vuitton platforms, tights and even shows off his Spongebob love. The story focuses on “the way he runs his business, his artlike advertising, stores that feel like clubs and collaborations with Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince”.” Anyone who loves Spongebob is near and dear to my heart! Team Marc! [WWD]
*Online Luxury Cyber Store Net-a-Porter is having a huge sale!
…Louboutin, McQueen, Veneta, oh my! Click here to get your shop on.