Hey, hey!
So I was on the train the other day, and noticed this lovely young dreaded lady…
…I thought she had a very chic look, so I had to snap a picture. I liked how she mixed casual fall accessories–a newsboy cap, bright scarf, boots, and blazer–with a hot Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag.
Smart Style, care of the 3 train.
Smootches!
Fashion News and What Nots
*Check out Guy Trebay’s latest article on the lack of ethnic models in fashion. An excerpt, “Although black women in the United States spend more than $20 billion on apparel each year, according to estimates by TargetMarketNews.com, it was hard to discern an awareness of this fact on the part of designers showing in New York, where black faces were more absent from runways than they have been in years…”
* FINALLY, the website www.jezebel.comtalks about the role that magazine editors have in this whole shebang. An excerpt, “You know what would be really political? If women’s magazine editors debated the diversity of black beauty not just in the conference rooms of white-shoe law firms but in their pages.” I asked a prominent black editor about the lack of blacks in editorial roles at the last talk and she dismissed me as being ‘off topic.’ Really?
Look at this: Black Models In Fashion Editorial, October 2007: Marie Claire: 1, starring solo in a 6-page fashion editorial W: 1, appearing on 1 page of a 20-page fashion editorial Vogue: 0 Harper’s Bazaar: 0 Glamour: 0 Cosmopolitan: 0 Allure: 0 Lucky: 0 Elle: 0
I subscribe to…a lot of those…
*Whoa, whoa, did you hear about this?!? Apparently a Glamour staffer said that Afro’s and Dreadlocks were office ‘no-no’s’. “The Glamour staffer allegedly told the room that she thought it was ‘shocking’ that people still think it’s ‘appropriate’ to wear those hairstyles at the office.’ Woooow. Thankfully, Glamour’s EIC, Cindi Lieve, has responded. The response is great, but makes me wonder about these mag editors…
* I know you’re going to the talk on Blacks in Fashion tonight at 7pm! Haven’t purchased your $15 ticket? Click here. See ya there…and if not you know I’ll give you the blow by blow tomorrow:) Update: It’s sold out
….let’s work.
First up readers Liyah and Giselle from Trinidad and Tobago fell in love with Rihanna’s look from a recent shopping trip…
Giselle says, “I saw this picture of Rihanna and I fell in love with her choice of clothing –the simplicity and ‘chic-ness’ rub me the right way. Can you make suggestions for this look?”
I must admit, Rihanna does look fly! This style shouldn’t be hard to achieve.
Start with a deep v neck sweater dress like these….
Left to right: IRO Bird Intarsia Sweater Dress, $132, shopbop.com Zzara V Neck Knit Dress, $55, www.yesstylecom.
Or these…
Left to Right: 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent Knit Tunic Mini Dress, $230, www.net-a-porter.com; Benny B Dress, $398, www.searlenyc.com.
Layer on some necklaces:
Left to Right: Juicy Couture ‘Juicy Hearts’ Layered Necklaces, $95, www.nordstrom.com; Layered Snake Necklace, $34, www.urbanout.com; Nola Singer Triple Strand Necklace, $322, www.lisakline.com.
And tie on a pair of gladiator flats. They’re a bit out of season, so I found these Tyler by Richard Tyler Willing Sandals…
….for only $27 at www.piperlime.com!
Next, we have a boy reader! We have a boy reader! Dontal from ATL says, “The holiday season is approaching very fast and I can’t wait to see my family for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I live in Atlanta now and my family lives in Chicago and I know I’ll need a sweater for my return home. Could you PLEASE help me find the sweater that David Beckham has on?” The terns and I searched, and ultimately found that Mr. Posh is wearing this Yves Saint Laurent sweater… …from the Spring 2006 collection.
I assume it’s no longer available in stores, so I found a few options for you.
This Chunky Zip Sweater by Brunelo Cucinelli has the same effect and a similar light color…. …but at $1,585, the sweater is in a word, ridiculous!
This $375 Vince Chunky Intarsia Cardigan is a bit more affordable, and I think it captures the essence of the Beckham sweater… …if you don’t mind the color difference, it could work. This Diesel sweater could also work…. …and is a wee bit more affordable at $290.
Good luck braving that Chicago weather!
Next up reader Latrice says, “Can you tell me where I can get the boots Kelis is wearing…” “…or a pair similar?”
Hey Latrice! They’re a bit hard to see, but I think you’re going for a gray patent or gray leather boot. Try these on for size:
Left to Right: Juicy Couture Ezra Tall Boot, $450, www.neimanmarcus.com; Without a Cause Cross Strap Boot, $80, www.urbanout.com; Bottega Veneta Patent Knee Boot, $990, www.barneys.com.
Next up, Britney Spears doesn’t quite fit with the Fashion Bomb, which is why I paused when reader Lindsay wrote, “I so need this dress in my life…” “…can you tell me who makes it?”
Ok, ok, I figured that Ms. Spears is going through it right now with her babies, mama, and life drama, so I’d show her a little love. I found a very ‘Britney-esque’ dress… ….and surprisingly (or not) this sheer matte jersery number is a very affordable $64 at Rampage.com.
Next, reader Jennifer wrote me an e-mail, subject “Big girl’s need skinny jeans too!” She says, “I really need to find some skinny jeans in a size 16, and I’m a college student so sadly money is an issue (LOL)! But I have seen in the past that you look out for us big girls so please pretty please let me know if you find anything!!“
Of course!
These Calvin Klein Skinny Stretch Jeans… …are $79.50 at www.nordstrom.com.
These Gap skinny jeans… …come in several washes and go up to a size 20. They’re only $59.50 at www.gap.com.
And Elita also found that these Levis Skinny Jeans come in a size 16…. …and they’re also an affordable $58 at www.levis.com.
Lastly, reader Sonia wrote in saying “So I have fallen head over heels with none other than a pair of Christian Louboutin’s…the Mesh Mary Jane!”…
“…Have you seen any shoe that is similar in look and less threatening to my wallet? I have been calculating how to get this shoe…it’s not adding up!“
You have great taste, Sonia! That shoe is fierce, but I agree, at $820, the price is a bit exorbitant. While you can’t find such exquisite craftmanship at a lower price point, intern Elita did find a few options for you that’ll give you a Mary Jane feel:
Left to Right: Steven Vyxen Mary Janes, $123, www.zappos.com; Manolo Blahnik Satin Mary Jane, $545, www.neimanmarcus.com; Charles by Charles David Brava Peep Toe Mary Jane, $135, www.endless.com.
If anything those can hold you over while you save for the real deal.
There were a ton more Mail Bombs that I have answers for, but I just couldn’t find time to write ’em up! Stay tuned next week…if I haven’t answered yet, know that the interns and I are working on it!
Have great weekends…
Smootches!
PS In NYC? Cool reader Neah passed along this coupon for 25% off Tracy Reese’s hot ready to wear items… Click and Print
…it all goes down at her flagship store, 641 Hudson Street. I’m feeling brokish, but I may go to just peruse…we’ll see how that goes…
PSS Check out my new ‘topics’ section in my left hand sidebar! Now you can find anything you want–Style Files, Real Style, or Cool Online Finds–just by clicking on the topic. Now all my plus sized posts are one click away…
…went to In Touch’s 5th Year Anniversary at cool NY night spot Tenjune. That’s me (of course) on the right wearing a Mimi Turner top from Pieces Boutique in Brooklyn. Malcolm is sporting a hot navy blue military style jacket by indie designer Matt Levine.
The crowd was packed beyond capacity…. …and a good number of celebs were hangin’ in VIP.
Janet Jackson was in the house with her boo Jermaine Dupri… Both looked fall ready, Jermaine in a multicolored sweatshirt, and Janet in a velvet belted trench and scarf (worn over a wife beater and jeans).
Mr. Lova Lova Shaggy also made an appearnance… …loungin hard in a leather jacket, t-shirt, and dark jeans.
America’s Next Top Model reps Nigel Barker… and Caridee… …lit up the red carpet. I’m kinda feeling the color in Caridee’s dress. And peep her shoes! They seemed to be patent leather white spectator shoes. Work it!
The highlight of the night, of course, was a performance by Kanye West. I got a few personal pics… He was so close, it was like he was rapping directly to me! …I fell in love with his Louis Vuitton baseball jacket, sweater, and dress pants. And the glasses were a nice touch.
Swizz Beatz also came on towards the end to bless the mic… …he was sporting a Gucci baseball jacket. I smell a trend…
It was fun, but you’re probably asking: What does this have to do with fashion, Claire?
Nothing! It’s just my way of explaining why I don’t have a post today! But I’ll bring it back tenfold tomorrow with tons of mail bombs:)
In the meantime, check the following hot blogs for your fashion fix:
*Sylvia over at I Like her Style finds a catwalk copy of Kerry Washington’s shoes.
*Naki at Style Chile gives the blow by blow of an event at one of my FAVE shoe boutiques, Te Casan.
*The B-Life discusses African American hairstyles for the workplace (I cosign)!
*Strictly Fabulous discusses political T’s. Hmm, what a novel idea…
*Hip Candy contemplates sporty Manolo’s.
*The hot girls over at Style Ammo take a look at Fashion Diva June Ambrose.
*And Robin Givhan, from Paris, considers: Where’s the Woman?
Smootches!
PS Venus Williams blogs from Tokyo…and she’s pretty funny! An excerpt:
Tonight I went to the player party, which was fun. I may have let myself down a little bit, because I immediately rushed to the french fries. I just went right to them. I don’t really eat much, so fries count as a carbohydrate! Boiled or fried, the only thing that matters is that I’m eating. I eat to live, not live to eat. And they were so nice and salty. Okay I did have other things like fish and whatever else I had on my plate – but those fries would have gotten cold if I didn’t take them – and even as they got us to do this thing where we hit a barrel with saki in it, all I could think of was the fries getting cold. I know I made the right decision. Read more here.
“Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got/I’m just I’m just Jenny from the block/Used to have a little now I have a lot/No matter where I go I know where I came from…”–Jennifer Lopez, “Jenny from the Block.”
Hey, Hey!
So today’s Style File shines a spotlight on actress, singer, and Puerto Rican spitfire…
…Jennifer Lopez.
Pregnant or not, this former Fly Girl has had the style game on lock for a long time.
Let take a look:
When J. Lo goes glam, she amps it up all the way in floor length gowns in skin flattering champagne or gold…
…at times opting for a more traditional white or black. …always with minimalist accessories like small clutches and dainty necklaces.
No stranger to shorter frocks, you’ll catch J. Lo flaunting her well toned shoulders and legs in thigh skimming dresses in eye catching red tones…
Cool Greens…
Grays….
Or shimmery black… …worn with stilettos or boots.
Madame Mark Anthony is also a fan of menswear inspired ‘fits, donning pants on occasion in wide leg styles… …paired with flirty tops, jackets, or vests.
She’s also a fan of rocking signature headpieces…
…and can work the snuff out of a pair of over the knee black boots…
Hot.
Need J. Lo’s her headgear game? Try the following:
Left to Right:Felt Flower Hat, $16.80, www.forever21.com; Cloche Fedora, $220, www.activeendeavors.com; Logo Riding Hat, $34, www.armaniexchange.com.
Love her cocktail dresses? The following show stoppers should work:
Left to Right: Lilly Pulitzer Belinda Rosette Dress, $328, www.bloomingdales.com; DaNang Green Cotton Dress, $92, www.fashionchateau.com; Double Knit Halter Dress with Leather Trim, $149, www.bebe.com.
Just need a few signature J.Lo accessories? You can’t go wrong with black shoes!
Left to Right: Christian Louboutin Thigh High Boot, $1,790, www.barneys.com; Jeffrey Campbell Burbs Studded Heels, $100, www.shopintuition.com; BCBGirls Buffy Shoes, $110, www.piperlime.com;
Smootches!
PS Don’t forget about part two of the ‘Blacks in Fashion’ discussion going down October 15th at 7pm! Tickets are on sale for only $15. Click here to purchase. I’ll be there!
PSS Oh, and according to Perez Hilton and US Weekly…
..our lady of the day is indeed pregnant. Felicidades!
Hey hey!
So a lot of recent events caused red carpets to roll, and it seems the urban gliterrati decided to bring back the metallic trend for fall. Let’s take a look…
Sweet singer Tweet makes a statement…
Happy Monday!
So I was on my way to the gym the other day, and couldn’t help noticing these ladies…
…aside from looking lost and speaking little to no English, these ladies had an amazing fashion sense, and I had to snap a picture.
I loved how they mixed luxury elements (peep the Chanel and Fendi bags) with trendy opaque tights, shorts dresses, and even boots. They were working their skinny jeans, ruffles, and jackets.
Now I hope they figured out where they were going….
Smootches!
Yay, it’s Thursday! Only one day till the weekend…love the weekends….
Anyway, I was out and about last night (at the YBF meet and greet), so intern Rachel decided to step in today.
Enjoy! And check for deets of the party at the end of the post…
************************************************************************ Hi, Fashion Bomb intern Rachel here!
As the fall returns once again, classic, muted colors like black, gray, beige, and brown appear for basic clothing pieces. However, this season proves that while you can never go wrong with a pair of dark skinny jeans or your favorite flats, you can splash some flair into your wardrobe with massive, colorful, and creative accessories of all types.
For starters, the easiest way to spruce up the classic, casual look of cute denim, a
simple dark top, and comfortable black boots is to accent the outfit with a large
shoulder bag or tote in a rich shade.
Meagan Good’s purse pops with its light color and golden chain. When looking for an eye-catching holder to carry through the streets, remember that different hues are key, and the larger, the better.
Try this tote, with its romantic red coloring and classy crocodile print: Furla Crocodile Embossed Medium Tote, $465, www.bloomingdales.com For something more casual and affordable, go for this J Crew tote in a pretty fuschia shade: Nylon Somerset tote, $49.99, www.jcrew.com And for more basic coloring, try this carrier in white: Cecilia Quilted Patent Tote, $276.50, shopbop.com When flashing those bags around the city, don’t forget to adorn your wrists with colorful bangles. These retro-inspired pieces add individuality to any get up.
For something simple yet sophisticated, try these gold bangles: A.V. Max Set of Three Gold Bangles, $47, www.bluefly.com
Also go for these thick bracelets in different shades, such as green. Tinted Lucite Bracelet, $5.80, www.forever21.com
Not to be outdone, the rings for this season come in varied shapes and sizes. Don’t be afraid to adorn those fingers with square-shaped rings like this one: SURevolution Confeti Square Shaped Ring, $42, shopbop.com Or, if you can splurge, go for something unique and eye-catching like this ring of sterling silver and topaz. Stephen Dweck Cabochon Ring, $395, www.neimanmarcus.com
For earrings, you should try styles in bright colors, varying shapes, and most importantly, large sizes.
These earrings, both from Neiman Marcus, will adorn your more casual, simple outfits with a complementary burst of style. Pictured from left to right: Grace Chan Onyx & Quartz Cluster Earrings, $80; Alex Woo Narissa Gold Earrings, $300; www.neimanmarcus.com
In addition to the earrings, choose necklaces of long lengths with swinging pendants, like these picks. Listed from left to right: Kevia Gold Domed Honeycomb Pendant Necklace, $68, www.bluefly.com; Kenneth Jay Lane Gold and Pebble Necklace, $188, www.net-a-porter.com
And to tie together any great outfit, look out for wide belts that accentuate the upper body and provide an overall slimming effect. Another Line Triple Buckle Metallic Snake Corset Belt, $98, www.nordstrom.com Metallic Cinch Belt, $69, www.spiegel.com So while shopping for fall accessories, just remember that size is everything and color is the way to go – larger does not equal gaudy this season, and rainbow shades or shiny patterns can accentuate the simple autumn styles!
**************************************************************************
Great job, Rachel! My correspondents and interns have really turned it out this week! Fab!
So as I said, I went to YBF’s meet and greet last night.
There were a good number of pop culture afficionados there.
Highlights of the night included a throwback performance by Soul for Real (remember Candy Rain???)… …I literally was like a teenage groupie when they sang, “Everything Little Thing I Do.”
The night also included a performance by a cool indie rapper, Consequence… ….people in the crowd didn’t really know who he was. I have his CD…he’s worth a listen!
There were a few fashionable peeps…. ..but what really caught my attention was this group of 80’s inspired guys…. ….I’ve actually seen one of them around before, and took a picture, but didn’t think to post until today (yeah, how could I not!?!?). They were showing OUT in high top fades, glasses, Kangol hats, and cardigans. I personally love their look. Thoughts?
It was pretty fun!
The night was an early one for me…got home at a respectable 1am. Just enough time to sleep and get ready for work! Check out The B Life for more pictures.
Smootches!
PS Kanye Blogs! Pretty cool. Check it out here.
Hey, hey!
So I haven’t yet bitten the bullet for my Macbook (I’m stupid, I know… I’ll do it during lunch!), but in the meantime, my friend Gigi was nice enough to guest blog for me today. She attended a charitable fashion event last week, and gave us the scoop on some cool designers for men and women.
Enjoy!
************************************************************************** Hi Fashion Bomb Readers!
I’m going to step in the shoes of my homegirl Claire and help her out while her computer’s sick…I’m excited about my first foray into the joys of blogging. I attended a charitable event last Saturday evening that incorporated one of my favorite activities: shopping! The event was hosted by the men of Triumph Entertainment , and it was held at a trendy boutique in Harlem called NHarlem (114 W 116th St bet Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd)…
… a portion of all the sales were donated to the Metro Manhattan Community Foundation. NHarlem brings to Harlem what exists below the 96th street dividing line (Paper Denim & Cloth, Citizens for Humanity, Hugo Boss, Joe’s Jeans, etc), but it also showcases the unique creations of local designers such as Minoritees and Nubian Gardens. What I loved most about the evening was that a few local designers were in the house to meet and greet shoppers. The first I came across was a handbag designer named Severe Erase who makes a slew of beautiful totes, shoulder bags, and clutches. Here she is with some of her bags in the background… …Her online shop (www.sevybags.com) features purses that range in price from $200-$500. For a working girl, that’s not bad at all. What do you think? The next designers I met were the two ladies of a line called Sukari… ..Sukari stands for “sweet” or “sugar” in Swahili and the name of each bag in this collection is inspired by a different place the designer has visited. I loved these bags, but for a diva on a budget, these may be a bit out of reach. My personal favorite was the espresso brown alligator skinned clutch (featured in the bottom left corner of the photo). HOWEVER, at a not-so-cool $3600, this bag amounts to way more than my mortgage payment…so even though I loved it, I had to say bye bye alligator, I’m gon’ have to catch you later (if you’re as frugal as me)! This may just have to be that type of bag your splurge on as if it were a Gucci. I can say this though: the quality is definitely on par with a Gucci or LV bag. If you’re interested in owning one of her creations, you can find them at www.sukaridesigns.com I’ve also gotta give it up for NHarlem for coming equipped with their own in-house tailor, Omar… Although he tried to play coy at first, I discovered that this man makes unique custom shirts and suits for men. Check him and his sleek designs out at at www.omarxomar.com…cop one for your man if you’re inclined to love a man in a suit or any other type of finely tailored outfit. Now onto the patrons of the evening.
I thought these two ladies , Desiree and Harrah, looked wonderful. Love that Gap shirt dress and the LV bag!
I also thought these two divas–Andrea and Brooke–were working it! I loved how Andrea paired a bright casual skirt with a cute denim jacket. Brooke’s sophisticated pleated purple dress was definitely an eye-catcher all night. Of course the men of Triumph Entertainment (Mike, Abdel and Kwame) were profiling in the shop Blazers, jeans, and subtle accessories made for a very casual chic look.
Cute!
I’ve gotta say, this was a wonderful way to altruistically spend my Saturday evening while simultaneously pampering myself. Next time you’re up in Harlem, check out NHarlem and see for yourself all it has to offer!
**************************************************************************
Great job Gigi! I’m already in love with Sukari Designs’ clutches! That might be on the top of my wish list this Christmas! Sevy Bags are very cute as well. Stay posted to the Fashion Bomb for more Triumph events!
Smootches!
PS My girl over at YBF is having a hot party in NYC tomorrow! I’ll be there!
Want to come and meet the uber fabulous Natasha? RSVP to ybfnyc@gmail.com.
PSS Model Casting Call! James Jeans (www.jamesjeans.us), which I absolutely LOVE, is seeking a model or model-like woman that can work a press preview (2 days) at the end of this month. She’ll be modeling James’ hot jeans for top fashion magazine editors. Compensation is cash (to be determined) and jeans! Requirements: Must be 5’8″-5’10” and a size 2. Email your photo, measurements and contact info to genevieve@jamesjeans.us. They’ll get in touch if you’re chosen for a fitting.
PSSS I’m clearly obsessed with Facebook! So what? Anyway, join The Fashion Bomb Group and write on my wall!
Knit Skinny Pant, $48, 
Get your oversized sunglasses going….
You’re all set with a sporty yet sexy look!
