Hey!

….with style scouts yearning to duplicate her look?

Kerry Washington….
…who seems to live on the party circuit with a bevy of hot frocks in her quiver?

…with undeniable style since the beginning of the year.

Also, the true test of an Uber Fashionista: Style doesn’t even stop…

*I leave on a jet plane tonight for Atlanta. I’m bringing my black lappy, and will try to update, but…no promises!
*Mary J. Blige and Patti Labelle don’t care a stitch about Peta, do they?
…they rocked floor length furs at Mary’s album release party last night in NYC.
I’ll confess: I’m looking to rock a cute, short fur for New Years and My Birthday (Mark your calendars, January 12th!). But I’m thinking of getting something vintage…somehow a used fur seems more ethical? Or perhaps I’m delusional…
*Calling All Designers!
The Uptown Emerging Designers Market (UEDM) is a monthly market that will take place at the Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem starting in February 2008. The UEDM will allow up-and-coming designers a fun and profitable environment to display their talents and sell their creations to the general public. Whether you’re a designer of clothing, jewelry, bags, interior decor or more, the UEDM offers you a unique opportunity to showcase your designs! In addition to a selection of exclusive clothing & accessories, the UEDM will include great music, cocktails, and an engaging exhibit provided by the Hip Hop Culture Center.
For more information about vending opportunities or to be added to the UEDM mailing list, please contact UptownEDM@gmail.com .
*Deal of the Day:
Frye Sunny Pleated Short Boots, $124, shopbop.com

Hey!
So another weekly ritual I enjoy: Style Files.
For the most part, I keep it positive, exalting the unparalleled chic of fashionistas like Tracee Ellis Ross….

Tyra Banks…
..and even Hip Hop Girlfriends…
But sometimes, I have to do a Style Intervention for those women who just can’t seem to get it right. I did one in May of this year for tennis pro Serena Williams. Let’s recap:
**************************************************************************
...Serena is gorgeous, talented, and has a body I would *kill* for…and as I wrote here, her match style is fly. But while she dominates the court in bold colors and body skimming dresses…

…her red carpet choices are a bit…suspect. Let’s take a look:

This dress, in a word, is gorgeous, but unfortunately the cut makes her look a little, well…masculine. While sleeveless styles should work for her, the armholes shine a spotlight on her toned, muscular arms…

This shift dress is dull, and unflattering….

…and the cut on the top of this dress makes her look more ‘ironman‘ than superwoman. She’s worked too hard for her body to cover it up, but there are styles she can adopt to look a tad more feminine.
**************************************************************************
Not the harshest criticisms, but I knew that Serena could definitely do better.

Now….I don’t know if Serena reads The Fashion Bomb or what, but ever since maybe late July, Serena has been in deliciously chic frocks that work for her body while also playing up her femininity.

She sports the occasional strapless, along with a sleek black cut and strappy shoes…
Looks party perfect in deep plum halter necks that taper in at the knees….
And though she still loves to showcase her arms, she’s amped up the girly factor in dresses that are just short enough with hems that pouf out a bit around mid thigh…

Two snaps for style!

Now if only she could help her sister….

Just kidding. But not really.
Anyway, congrats to Serena for the Biggest Style Evolution of 2007!
She’s the bomb, y’all.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*I must also recognize Ms. Alicia Keys, who was a ‘Style Evolution’ subject of a post dated June 12, 2007.

Her look has changed a bunch over the years….

… But her transformation was definitely more gradual; Serena really turned herself around in a matter of 6 months!

At any rate, kudos to both ladies, and mad props to their fabulous stylists:)

*I’m heading home tomorrow before heading to the motherland this Saturday!!! I am sooooo excited! Can’t wait for some Sweet Tea and Chicken Biscuits!
*Visit Modcloth’s blog at blog.modcloth.com, and tell them what Modcloth.com items are on your wishlist! Your comment will enter you into a competition to win a $100 gift certificate! What are you waiting for?
*Even with Cavalli, H&M sales sluggish.
*The Met’s new exhibit “blog.mode” is now open.
*Deal of the Day:
Dolce Vita York Lace up Pump.
Get ’em for $41.40 at shopbop.com

Happy Monday!
So it’s sad but true: 2007 is coming to a close.

Most people will be out of town for the next two weeks, so I decided to dedicate this week to looking at the Best of the Year for the Fashion Bomb!

Today, I’m going to look at one of my favorite Monday rituals: Real Style.

Asking strangers for their pictures used to be totally painstakingly nerveracking for me, but now I’ve gotten into the groove of snapping fashionable women (and men!) in the streets:

The Fashion Bomb has captured chic essence from the groves of Miami to the Bahamas and New York….

Photographed fashionistas in the Tents of Bryant Park for Fashion Week…
Stopped everyone from Japanese tourists in midtown….
…to jumper wearing hipsters in the streets of Williamsburg…
…and even documented the young beautiful set enjoying Prospect Park BBQ’s…
…and white themed 4th of July parties…
It’s been fun!

While my humble Kodak goes everywhere from Soho to the South, nowhere have I taken more Real Style pics than at Habana Outpost, one of my favorite summer chill spots…
It got so excessive, one reader named ‘Mister’ wrote in, “Have you ever considered trying a place other than Havana Outpost?”

Lol!

I plan on definitely expanding in the New Year and *promise* that the Fashion Bomb will seize its international destiny tres soon.

Keep watching!

Stay tuned this week for The Fashion Bomb’s votes for Best Style, Best Style Evolution, and more!
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Really want to reminisce? Check out my Real Style File, and see pix from the beginning!
*The Fashion Bomb is now blogging for the cool website GakCity. Check me out at www.gakcity.com!
*I really like Alicia Keys’ look in this picture…
Get something similar for a steal by pairing the following:
Left to Right:Nylon Taffeta Wind Breaker, $42, www.americanapparel.net; City Style Tank, $19, www.nyandcompany.com; Cheap Monday Ewing Black Jeans, $65, www.ronherman.com.

Hey hey!

Christina from London says, “I know its been a while since the videos been out but if possible could you please please find out who Lauren Londons playsuit was by…”

“… in Commons – ‘Drivin Me Wild’???”
Lovin’ the international love!
Not too sure who makes her exact ‘fit, but it seems you can achieve the Lauren Look with the following high and low priced items:

Top Row: Skirted Tankini, $39, www.newport-news.com; Temperley London Zebra Knit Dress, $550, www.net-a-porter.com.

If you’re going for a similar pattern and don’t care for the color, ASOS also has this Libertine Check Scarf that captures the Omarion essence…

Next up La La Victoria from DC says, “I am a 25 year old aspiring plus size model. I will be hosting a small VIP New Years event at a Major DC club to some what show case my self and I want to look AMAZING!!!! I am quite busty and want to wear a dress but all the styles I am finding make you look prego!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! 🙂“
For an idea of types of dresses you can rock, why not look to a few plus sized divas?
Ex ANTM contestant Toccara works a fierce electric yellow dress with a belt and booties…
J Hud wears a similar look in dark gold with strappy sandals…
And the Queen wows ’em in a leopard print number….

…topped off with peep toes.

If you don’t want to look “prego”, I’d recommend wearing anything cinched in at the waist that creates an hourglass silhouette and accentuates your thinnest part. Rock a wrap or empire waist dress; add a belt for extra umph.

Honestly, this rule goes for everyone: nip in the waist to give you some shape.
A few options:

Top Row: Thalia Leopard Print Dress, $129, www.monifc.com; Maggie London Empire Waist Dress, $158, www.nordstrom.com.

Bottom Row: Robbie Bee Metallic Lattice Dress, $98, www.nordstrom.com; Marilyn Convertible Dress, $98, www.monifc.com.

Next, Penne says, “First of all, Kerry is KILLING and I am SO not a fan of hers but I need that blue pump in my life .…”

“…Please help me.“
No problem!
Try the following:

Top Row: Sergio Rossi Patent Pump, $395, www.footcandy.com; Jessica Simpson Paiva Pump, $69, www.macys.com.
Bottom Row: Jean-Michel Cazabat Clarissa Peep Toe Shoes, $495, www.pinkmascara.com; Guess Women’s Arden Stiletto Pump, $110, www.endless.com.

Lastly, just for fun, reader Shannon was juiced to see a gold sequin dress from Macy’s featured on the old blog last week.

She says, “I wore it to the after-party of the Chicago Urban League’s 46th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner which marks the beginning of the fall social season for Black Chicago.“

“…I had been looking for a gold trapeze style dress for the afterparty for some time and was pretty darn ecstatic when I found this one on Macys.com. I paired it with a pair of Nine West fuschia and gold t-strap sandals and a gold clutch.“
Work it girl. I love it.
It’s 6am. I’m going to sleep.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*So I hit up the Diane Von Furstenberg sale yesterday (read pay day), and I was NOT disappointed. As I said, I’m usually first in line at these things, but now I’m starting to think that all the waiting, pushing, and squeezing on the opening days is sooo not worth it. Not only did they still have *tons* of wrap dresses left, but all the prices were slashed! Dresses that retail for $345+ were $100 instead of their typical sample price sale of $150; shoes were $70 and cute sweaters were $80! Needless to say, I cleaned up! Hit it up today! You have until the 15th!
*One of my fave blogs, Oh Joy has a cool entry about AB Sutton Ipod and Iphone Cases…
They come in a plethora of colors, and offer lots of customizable options. Very cute. Check ’em out at www.absutton.com.

Next up in the Fashion Bomb’s Breaking into Fashion Series is none other than Pamela Edwards…

….the Beauty and Fashion Features Editor for Essence Magazine.
She was kind enough to offer a bit of advice to all you aspiring fashion editors and journalists.
An Africana Studies/English major at Vassar University, Pam tried her hand at teaching before moving to New York. She says, “I moved to New York without a job…I always wanted to live here. My sister, who wasn’t the biggest New York fan, got a job at NBC so she had to move here. I couldn’t believe she was moving to the Big Apple and not I! So, even though she’s younger, I tagged along. I did a lot of odd jobs, worked on music videos as a wardrobe shopper, as a production assistant, and worked in a boutique in Brooklyn. I did this for a year before meeting Monique Greenwood, the then Editor-In-Chief of Essence.”

She continues, “I met her through a mutual friend over brunch at her restaurant, Akwaaba. As we all chatted, Monique mentioned that Essence needed a fashion and beauty writer. My friend replied, “Pam can do that.” I sent Monique my resume without giving it much thought. I got a call a few months later to come in for an interview. As a test, I was asked to write three stories. I think I wrote eight, and even laid them out in Quark.“
Pam’s ‘above and beyond’ dedication secured her the writing position, which has now evolved into a more senior editorial role, packed to the brim with appointments and shoots. She says, “A typical day includes a few meetings in house to discuss the various stages of stories–“ we work on 3-4 issues at a time so not a day goes by without some sort of concept, art or shoot meeting. I have between 3-5 beauty desksides or market appointments weekly. I also have to make time to write, edit and assign stories. “
If you aspire to be a fashion editor one day, Pam says, “Nail an internship in any fashion department or showroom. Understanding the history of fashion and being familiar with current designers is obviously a must. Thank God for style.com and net-a-porter.com! Good readers make good writers, so you’ve got to keep up with what’s going on in the industry. If you’re already in the industry and want to move ahead, mimic the behavior of the roles/titles of the fashion insiders that you aspire to be. Get to know your industry peers and be present for as many hot events as possible, so you have the opportunity to speak to those with the power to assist your career movement.“
In terms of dressing the part, Pam says, “With H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Target, Kohl’s, budding fashionistas have access to current and affordable trends. Don’t ever skimp on the shoes. Cheap shoes can ruin even the most perfect Prada dress. Better to have two good pair, then 20 cheapies. As far as fitting in is concerned, there is some truth to dressing the part of your future role. In this industry, people expect stylists to look like stylists. They expect fashion directors to look like fashion directors. If you have a strong sense of style it won’t be a problem to merge your personality into your future status look. If you don’t have a strong sense of style then develop one. Look at your style role models. Study them and figure out what it is that sets their looks apart from the rest. Start incorporating these attributes into your wardrobe. One last thing, clothes look so much better when they fit. Perfect your wardrobe by investing in a solid tailor.”
In general, she says, ” Keep yourself inspired. Whatever it is that inspires you, do it. Visit museums, travel, read,“-everything. By feeding your head, heart and soul, you’ll bring even more beauty and style to your work.”

Well said!

*Want to know more about Pam? Read her blog, Pamela’s Style Diary, on www.essence.com.
*Can’t afford to do anything unpaid? New York Magazine, Newsweek, and the Nation offer paid internships. Also check with the big publishing houses like Conde Nast, Time, or Hearst for internship opportunities.

Holiday season is here! And with holidays come holiday parties!
Office parties are every other day and New Years is just around the corner. Having trouble figuring out what to wear? I’ve got you covered!

Office Holiday Party

At your work jammer you’d love to wow your coworkers with your keen fashion sense, but you don’t really need to go overboard in sequins, short hemlines, or spiked heels. I’d suggest keeping it simple: pair a somewhat fancy top (think ruffles, bows, or metallic sheen) with a pencil skirt or black pants, throw on a chic black dress with bold accessories, or wear a holiday inspired item (jacket, skirt) with a white shirt and jacket. A few examples:

If your office is a bit more dressy, you can throw a bit of gold in the mix, or add a jacket with cascading necklaces….
A few work perfect items for less than $100:

Bottom Row: Burlington Tartan Mini, $98, www.jcrew.com; Silk Chiffon Tie Neck Blouse, $48, www.victoriassecret.com.
Pair the satin or tie neck blouse with a black skirt or trouser; match the tartan mini with a white shirt and jacket, and throw the glam cardigan over the strapless dress (or anything really–it’s dressy enough on it’s own!)

New Years

For New Years, all bets are off! Flaunt your sexiest, sweetest frock. But always be mindful that you can only wear it once, so don’t spend a ton. To set yourself apart from the gold sequined flock, try rocking a frock in a bold, bright color, or an embellished look. A few New Years worthy examples:
Try the following low priced options:

Top Row: Sequin Racer Back Dresss, $34.80, www.forever21.com; Salena Shimmer Dress, $98 , www.guess.com.

Middle: Metallic Gathered Dress, $77, www.bebe.com.

Bottom Row: Sequin Bubble Dress, $128, www.ardenb.com; Chiffon Sequin Trim Dress, $85, www.asos.com.

Now toast to the New Year!

Smootches!

*Gabby Union looked party ready at a the ‘The Perfect Holiday’ event last night at Marquee…
…Work this look for an office fete by throwing on a cardigan like the Jeweled Glam Cardigan above.
*The Huffington Post has no love for Marc Jacobs.
*Need shoes to go with everything? Check my post on Oh…Deer shoes

*Omarion visited 106 & Park yesterday…
His scarf gets two snaps, but what do we think of guys with hair…out to there?

Happy Monday!
Christmas is so close, I can taste it. Cannot wait for vacay!
So I’ve been making my holiday party rounds, and went to a hot one this past Friday. I couldn’t help but snap a picture of this young lady….

…who was seriously working a pair of shiny gold lamé tights.
She was bold enough to take a trend straight off the runway….
…and make it hers with the addition of a bright blue H&M top, neon nails, and booties. I applaud her courage, but what do you think:
Does she have great style?
Smootches!

*Could Kerry Washington win a ‘Fashionista of the Year’ Award???
It seems like every week she’s wearing some amazing cocktail, fierce shoes, and looking fabulous! She wore this sparkly number to the 7th annual Hollywood Life Breakthrough of the Year Awards. It’s a bit daring, but it works, no? I love the rainbow sequins and the pop of blue shoes. Fire!

*Get her tights from good ol American Apparel….

This pair is $40.
* For my NYC Fashionista’s, Diane Von Furstenberg’s epic Sample Sale starts today!!!
I’d normally be the first in line, but my credit cards might spontaneously combust if I charge another thing! So you’ll have to hit it up…tell me how it is. I seriously do live vicariously through others (even with shopping)…

Happy Fabulous Friday!

Let’s mail bomb it up!
So readers loved Beyonce’s bold red and purple ensemble from this picture posted yesterday….
…Najah said, “Do you know where I can get this look?”
With Beyonce’s couture it’s hard to find an exact copy, but I felt the following high and low items could help you channel Beyonce’s essence:

Top Row: Calypso Christian Celle Edie Dress, $45, www.calyso-celle.com; Enzo Angiolini Women’s Vikky Ankle Strap Sandal, $70, www.endless.com.
Middle: Keep Together Belt, $68, www.kennethcole.com
Bottom Row: Giambatista Valli Velvet Platform Ankle-Wrap Heels, $775, www.ronherman.com; Portolano Aubergine Leather Suede Inset Gloves, $78, www.bluefly.com.
Update! Reader Kristin from Chicago found a dress that is almost an exact match!

She says, “I just so happened to be web-shopping and found a dress that is very similar for under $50. It can be found on Chadwicks and comes in cinnamon and aubergine (purple). It’s on sale for $39.99.”
That works! Get it here.
Next, Shekeidra says, “I am desparately searching for a gold sequin mini dress or tunic to wear on New Year’s Eve. This dress...”
“….is perfect but I don’t know where to find it. Plus, I’m trying to stay away from spaghetti straps. Considering I’ll only be wearing this once, I really don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. Your help would be graciously appreciated…”
Hey Shekeidra! Finding a great sequined dress with wide straps or sleeves shouldn’t be hard. Try these affordable options:

Fatimah from Toronto says, “I recently bought a very serious vintage mink stole and I’m dying to wear it sometime this holiday season…“
“… What’s the best way to rock it?”
Fur–whether it’s a jacket, vest, or full length coat–is surprisingly versatile and looks great with virtually anything.
Throw your fur over a short or long dress like Nicole Richie or Eve….
Or go a bit more casual like Kimora…
Honestly, anyway you slice it, you’ll look luxurious.

Lastly, Fashion Bomb devotee Niesha loved Real Style! She says, “I fell in love with the coat that the young lady was wearing in the picture that was posted on Monday...”
“… I NEED that coat in to my wardrobe right now. Could you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me find THAT COAT!”
I got in touch with the young lady in the picture, and she disclosed, “I got it in a small boutique in the Manhattan Mall on 34th street. The store’s on the lower level… I forgot the name of the store but once you’re downstairs, you can’ t miss it. I am surprised at the fan club, lol!“
You shouldn’t be surprised, your coat is hot! Anyway, I searched online and couldn’t find anything similar, so, Nieisha find your way to the Manhattan Mall!

*Lil sis Solange Knowles rocked bright purple tights and checkered shoes last night at People’s Grammy Kick off Party:
I’ll be totally honest with you: I wore bright purple tights (from American Apparel) with my favorite black sweaterdress yesterday. But while I thought I looked pretty fly, Solange looks just a little off, am I right? Or is it the shoes??