…this self described ‘Retro Kid’ reminded me of the good old days when I obsessed over Bobby Brown, the Boyz, and Al B Sure…

He was rocking the slanted high top fade with a blonde streak, a bright colored jacket, patchworked jeans, and Nike high tops (oops, just noticed the Africa medallion!).
The 80’s are coming back, but are we down for it?
Smootches!

*So I was indulgently digging into my February issue of Vogue…

…and who should pop up on one of the very last pages, but one of our favorite black socialites…
…Genevieve Jones!!!
She’s featured in a spread lauding “Three Jewelry Stars on the Rise.” So Madame Jones is now a jewelry designer??? I thought she was an interior decorator…or a muse…or something. Anyway, her pieces–encrusted with topaz, sapphires, and diamonds–retail for $895-$5,000 and are inspired by ethereal, whimsical ideas like “spirals, stars, and UFO’s.” Sure….I guess we all gotta eat, right? Click image to see her creations in all their glory.
*Don’t know Genevieve Jones? Read my Style File on her here.
*Deal of the Day:

…Kate Spade Beige Snake Printed Leather Garden D’orsay Pumps, $137 from $255, www.bluefly.com.

Happy almost Friday!
So so far in the New Year, we’ve had plenty of Real Style, Mail Bombs, and Cool Online Finds, but we haven’t had a Style File!
A great person to start with, I think, is Fashion Icon, Supermodel, and a notorious cell phone chucker…

….Naomi Campbell.
Yeah, she’s got an attitude, but homegirl is consistently fierce, fierce, fierce! So fierce, in fact, that we’ll forgive her foibles.
Let’s look at her style:
For Black Tie Gala’s (of which she attends many), Naomi exclusively wears glamorous couture frocks, accented with fur, feathers, and sequins. While she shines on occasion in figure flattering dresses in neutrals…
…and adorns herself in eye catching silver gowns…
…her absolute red carpet rule calls for nothing but black…
..black…
…black…
…and more black!
…fashion stylist Edward Enninful did say that ‘Black on Black is always chic,” no?
Naomi takes her love of all black off the red carpet to the front rows of fashion shows….
…wearing dark fur with skinny jeans or a simple top with a full skirt. The dark color even pervades her more casual moments, as she typically sports black jackets, boots, dresses, and sunglasses…
…injecting a white jacket in the mix….
…for good measure.
All black can seem a bit morbid (visions of going to a funeral come to mind), but Naomi manages to make it work by mixing fabrics, textures, proportions, and throwing accents like bright bags and scarves into the mix. Another benefit of all black: as long as the color is rich, it manages to always look expensive and put together. And you can guarantee that if you wanted to wear that one black item several times in a week, absolutely noone would notice!
I’m sure you already have lots of black in your wardrobe, but you can channel Naomi Campbell in these super chic items that’ll help you stand out in a crowd:
Top Row: Citizens of Humanity Shrunken Knit Vest, $106, www.nordstrom.com; K Karl Lagerfeld Anja Top, $78, www.net-a-porter.com; Leather Blazer, $350, www.armaniexchange.com.
Middle Row:Hellz Bellz Siouxie Jean in Black, $140, www.revolveclothing.com.

Bottom Row:Sequin Mini Skirt, $50, www.bananarepublic.com; Metallic Empire Bubble Dress, $60, www.bebe.com; Tracy High Waist Skirt, $129, CoutureCandy
You’ll be catwalk ready!

Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Naomi even looks hot while doing community service! Check out my March ’07 post on her, titled, “Naomi Sweeps Floors with Flair.”
*Want more Naomi? She’s got a whole archive!
*Did you hear, homegirl is rumored to be dating Hugo Chavez…
…I don’t buy it!

Hey!
So one of my friends recently suggested a inject a bit more of my “real life” into the blog. If you were here in the beginning, you might remember that all I did back then was take you shopping with me!

Well, I recently had a situation to which, I think, a lot of you curvy girls can relate: My absolute favorite pair of Seven Jeans (purchased at Saks for $187) had sprouted two gaping frays at the thighs, similar to this:
…it was tragic! No other jeans fit me like my Sevens, and I didn’t really feel like shelling out another $200 for a new, potentially inferior pair!
Granted, I probably shouldn’t have been teaching my little sister a dance to Flo Rida’s “Low” in my jeans, but I still felt that they had a bit of life left in them.
I asked my mom, who is an expert seamstress and dressmaker (and who has worked the stuff out of hems, buttons, and the like), and she delivered a sad verdict, “They can’t be fixed, throw them away!”
Not to be deterred, I went to my local dry cleaner…
…to see if there was any hope.
They looked at the damage, and unfazed, said it could be done in a week for $15.
I returned later to pick them up, and Voila…
…I couldn’t believe it! Minus a slightly lighter color, there was little sign of the prior fray. My friend and I were flabbergasted. I looked and saw they placed a very serious looking patch inside…
Long story short, my jeans were (almost) as good as new!
So if your favorite pair of jeans has been relegated to the”weekend” pile, or if you’ve lost hope, know that there is a solution:
Just throw in a $15 patch and keep it moving!
Hope that helped someone out there…
Smootches!

*I’ve had tailor success before! Click here to read about how my tailor helped fix a puckering jacket.
*Don’t have this problem? Here’s an early mail bomb for ya:
Reader Mataya loved Mel B’s dress in this picture. She says, ” I was wondering where to find the Dress that Mel B is wearing?”
Mel B is wearing this Roberto Cavalli creation…
…from his Spring 2008 collection.

Bottom Row: Carmen Marc Valvo Sequin Keyhole Dress, $514, www.saks.com; Snowball Dress, $230, www.fcuk.com.
*Know a great tailor in your area? Leave a comment and share the wealth!
*No more Isaac Mizrahi for Target.
*Deal of the Day:
…Retro Shawl Collar Stitched Jacket, $78, www.shopplasticland.com.

Sheath Dress: Straight, narrow fitted dress usually with no waistline, but shaped to the body by vertical darts, or with set-in waistline; Tight fitting dress with regular waistline seam or set-in waistline and sheath skirt which is very narrow at hem and slashed at back to facilitate walking.—Fairchild’s Dictionary of Fashion

Hey!
So sheath dresses have been popping up on many the red carpet lately. The supremely classic silhouette works on any body type (belted versions are better as to create an hourglass shape), and the style is an effortless work piece. Let’s take a look at how a few celebs rocked ’em recently:
Elise Neal looks sultry and chic…

…in a tweed dress with tights at a SlimFast Event January 8th.
Gabrielle Union works a hot red sweetheart sheath….
..at the Jimmy Choo Flagship Store Opening in Beverly Hills last Friday.
And Regina Hall…
…dons a strapless beige body skimming option at the First Sunday premiere on January 11th.
Get similar work ready looks with the following:

Top Row: Bianca Nero Pinstriped Dress, $126, www.neimanmarcus.com; INC International Concepts Belted Sheath Dress, $129, www.macys.com; Rick Freeman for Teri Jon Sheath Dress, $95, www.neimanmarcus.com.
Bottom Row: Jones New York Sweetheart Jersey Dress, $134, www.nordstrom.com.

DEPT Dutch Plaid Riding Coat, $150, www.modcloth.com. Bonus: Enter ‘fashionbomb10″ for an extra 10% off.
*This article is a bit old, but here’s another way to get a fashion internship. Very unfair, but you gotta do what you gotta do…

Hey Everyone!

So what do you think?
Does Philly have great style?
Smootches!

*Thanks for alllll the birthday love. You’re the bomb!
*Deal of the Day:
Dolce Vita Moritz Croc Print Ballet Flats, $55, shopbop.com

*I know that I promised New Years pictures last week….

…and I finally received them from the official photographer yesterday.
A bit of New Years Eve Style care of the JI Group…
And here’s yours truly…
…. in a Diane von Furstenberg strapless number, vintage gold jewels, vintage snakeskin purse (from Miami), neon yellow nails, and a purple ‘Happy New Year’ issue headband (the neon green bracelet on my wrist is the armband for the party). I’ll be honest, Fashionista of the year Rihanna inspired this look…
…peep her yellow nails, neon accents, sweetheart necklines, and hot pink dress. I couldn’t help myself!!
*Pharrell and Camille Miceli unveil Blason jewelry for Louis Vuitton.
*Fashion Designers fret the loss of Golden Globes exposure.