Mail Bombs.
Allons-y (Let’s get it):
Reader Eisha is a huge Rihanna fan, and wanted to know the make of this sea foam dress….

…she wore to last year’s Fashion Rocks.
Doing a quick search, I found that the dress is from Zac Posen’s Spring 2006 collection…

..It’s not in stores, but if you want something similar, I’d say that this $100 Adrianna Papell Bead Babydoll Dress comes close in color…

And this $178 Sequin Grecian Halter Dress (also by Adrianna Papell)…

…comes close in design.
Good luck!
Next up, Erin says, “I love to wear dresses and skirts in the summertime, and I don’t want to stop with fall. Can you recommend some great fall dresses to carry me through the season?”
I love a good sweater dress for cooler temps, and you can never go wrong with a shift dress in a seasonless wool. If you’re looking for a summer to winter transition piece, a wrap dress always looks great with a cardigan thrown over. And don’t forget a nubby tweed! My picks:

Top Row: Calvin Klein Belted Sweater Dress, $118, www.nordstrom.com; Adore Dress, $98, www.guess.com.
Bottom Row: Collection Sharkskin Belted Shift Dress, $188, www.lizclaiborne.com; Tahari by ASL Belted Wrap-Style Dress, $128, www.macys.com.
Rock ’em with some stiletto boots or spectator booties with tights. You’re good to go!

Next up, in an e-mail titled, “Show the big girls some love” reader Pamela says, “Im a full figured size 20/22 very attractive and professional young lady living in the ATL… I’m shaped kinda like a pear/apple (lol) with a somewhat undefined waist ( I have attached photos of myself for you to judge, I’m the first one, in yellow)…”

“I already know about the empire waist tops and dresses along with A-line cut skirts, dark boot cut denim and wide leg trousers. I shop Lane Bryant and some times Torrid but a big girl gets no love you know that!!! With that being said, would you put together some variations of looks for the FASHIONABLE PLUS SIZE WOMAN not them big sheets..I’m talking about cute stuff which I know you have no problem doing. It would be greatly appreciated.”
Hey Pamela! I show big girls love! Not sure if you remember this post by Pretty Girl (another voluptuous reader), but she said:
“…I used to work at Macy’s and I couldn’t believe how many figure flattering pieces I found there, I still shop there especially during their sales and Christmas season. If you are on a budget then places like JCPenney (Bisou-Bisou line comes in plus sizes and is super stylish and affordable), Old Navy, Ashley Stewart, The Gap and Bitten (at Steve and Barry’s) by SJP are great options. If you can basically spend what you want on clothing then we big girls really have options. There’s Monif C, who is mostly know for her convertible dress that can be worn 22 different ways, Curvation by Queen Latifah, Size Appeal, Igigi, A-light, Kiyonna, Curvety, Sosienna, and Torrid. You can find all these boutiques online and some have brick and mortar locations…”
Out of all the sites she mentioned, I feel that Monif.C (www.monifc.com), while expensive, has some of the most fashionable looks for plus sized divas:

From pretty printed tops to mini dresses and club ready show stoppers, they’ve got you covered! If their prices are too steep, I also found the following:

Top Row: Bisou Bisou® Print Wrap Dress, $50, www.jcpenney.com; INC International Concepts® Woman Scoop-Neck Baby-Doll Dress, $99, www.macys.com.
Bottom Row: Suzette Wrap Top in Brown, $29, www.igigi.com; MICHAEL Michael Kors Houndstooth Swing Jacket, $170, www.nordstrom.com.
Hope that works for you!

Lastly Monica was interested in knowing the designers of dresses a few TFB readers wore at the white party:

So if you’re reading, write on in!
Smootches!
PS Have *great* long weekends!

Hey Guys,
So…notice anything different???
Do you like??
An anniversary is a special event, and you know I had to celebrate in style! The Fashion Bomb is all grown up, so I figured I’d ditch the pink, go for a fresh white, and a whole new layout. What do you think??
And this is only the beginning of the anniversary surprises. Stay tuned for a hot, hot contest featuring products from several Fashion Bomb featured designers, and my next event: An Anniversary/Fashion week party slated for September 8th. Get ready, it’s gonna be hot!
So the past year has been a lot of fun, and there’s a ton of stuff I enjoy doing for the Fashion Bomb. Every day this week, I’m going to highlight one, and today, I must shine a spotlight on:
Real Style


I love hitting the streets or patrolling the crowd for fabulous fashionable people, and New York City never disappoints! Taking pix of stylish strangers wasn’t always easy. In one of my very first ‘Mail Bomb’ posts dated December 13th, 2006, I have the following:
**********************
Diamond and Nini ask:
“Do you just stop people and say ‘excuse me, do you mind if i take a pic of you and put it on my blog?”
and
“Yeah, how do you approach them? Because so many times i wanna take pix of people rockin kewl clothes, but I dont wanna offend them even though its for something positive…”

To be honest, asking random people on the street is totally nerve wracking. I never know how people will react, if they’ll be really stank, or what! But, because I know it adds to the blog, I suck it up and do it (all for you guys!). Most times I just ask my coworkers, but now, I have a 15 second spiel that goes,”HimynameisClaireandI’mafashionjournalist,Ihaveablogcalledthe FashionBombwhereItalkabouttrendsandfashionandIthinkyou lookgreatwouldyoumindifItakeapictureofyou??” Usually they say “What?” and I slow down and repeat myself:) I have cute pink cards with the name of the blog on it for added legitimacy…and thankfully every one I’ve asked has been sweet enough to say yes! I mean, I figure if someone came up to me telling me I looked fabulous, I’d be happy to take a picture as well:)
********************************
Thankfully, taking pictures is a lot less awkward these days. I noticed that everyone wants to feel flattered, stylish, and beautiful…as if their efforts in the morning are actually appreciated by someone else. So Real Style is a bit of a cinch…and I want to say “Thank you” to everyone who’s posed and put their heads on the chopping block. You’re the bomb!
So that does it for today; hope you like the new look.
And you *must* tune in for the contest. It’s gonna be so dope.
Smootches!

Happy Friday!
So as you may or may not know, the Fashion Bomb’s one year anniversary is coming up tres soon! Yes, it’s been a year of me pontificating, observing, and blabbing about urban fashion. And what a good year it’s been!!! In celebration I’m doing a ton on the old blog…but before I get into all that, I’ll give you what you came for:

That’s right, Mail Bombs.
Let’s get it crackilackin.
First up reader Melody says, “This shirt and hat that Ri-Ri is wearing is super cute!!! “

“…Can you find her hat & shirt or offer some buget-friendly versions?”
Hey Melody. I think Rihanna’s wearing this $198 Cullen Bib Ruffle Blouse by Diane von Furstenberg…

…but if $198 is too much to spend on a white blouse, you can get something similar in this $49 Pixie Hopkins Tuxedo Shirt…

…from Victoria’s Secret.
If the shirt stretches you wallet, you can save a bit with this 21 Newsboy Cap…

…only $10 at www.forever21.com.
Next up reader Truestarisha says, “I was watching BET’s the 5ive on Wednesday when they highlighted a fashion line by the name of Alcapony or something as their number one spot. I was wondering if you could find out the correct name of the line and highlight it. I think their clothes are amazing and I would love to know where I could find them.”
Intern Elita to the rescue!
She says, “The line is called AquaPoni. It’s been worn by some celebs (Scar, Michael Knight from Project Runway, Common) and is made up of mostly hoodies and items that have been repurposed. Very boho chic.”
A few of their looks, care of their myspace page:

Create Your Own
Cute, cute stuff! And apparently they’re based out of Atlanta?? How come I haven’t heard of them? Anyway, you can purchase the items at Atlanta boutiques like P Valentine (www.pvalentine.com) or Pieces of Adrene (www.piecesofadrene.com). Neither of those stores have online commerce, so your best bet would be to try to contact them through myspace.
Fashion Bomb Fan Christina from Baltimore, Maryland says, “I have been searching high and low for the designer of the dress that Jennifer Hudson wore to the Golden Globe awards….”

“… I even hit her up on myspace and the diva that she is, would not tell me. I notice that a lot of dresses that she wears have the ruffle effect or that extra fabric around the midsection and as a curvy woman myself that’s what I like. I’m getting married and a lot of my girlfriends are extra curvy and that look would be great. If you could be of any help and letting me know who the designer was for that dress is, I would be so grateful. You just don’t understand how much that would mean to me. Thank you in advance for your attention to my request!”
Intern Elita hit me up again (yay!) and found that according to this article, the dress is Vera Wang.
Elita went on a search for a similar VW dress, and came upon this $380 black satin pleated flutter v-neck dress…

…at www.bluefly.com. Close, but I personally think that this $220 T-Bags Flutter Sleeve Dress has a more Golden Globes effect…

…it’s navy, has the sleeves, and an empire waist so that the fabric skims over the belly. If you’re set on having Vera Wang dresses at your wedding, however, visit her website www.verawang.com and find a store or retailer near you.
Hope that helps!
So a *ton* of readers fell in love with Alicia Keys denim jumpsuit…

I searched and searched, but couldn’t find an exact match.
This $84 Wood Sprite bootcut jumpsuit by Dereon has a similar zipper, but is clearly a capri…

And this $280 Jumpsuit in Carbon by Deener is full length…

…but the buttons are a bit different.
I couldn’t find an exact match. Can y’all help? Let me know!
Update!!! Reader Tina from ATL, GA found out who makes the jumper!
The $140 Elephant Bell Jumper…

…is available online at a e-store call Good, Bad, and Ugly NYC. The jumper comes in 6 colors…including the one Ms. Keys wore on TRL!
Thanks Tina!
Lastly Lady P says, “Hi Claire! You recently discussed Spectator Booties. I have a pair of Manolo Blahnik booties like these…”

“…and I would like some suggestions on how to wear these with jeans and skirts. Do you think I’ll be able to wear these booties with a pencil skirt?”
Great Shoes! I definitely think you can rock them with jeans. I think spectators would go really well with the new wide leg trend. For cues on how to wear them with skirts, I looked to Burberry Prorsum’s Fall 2007 show:

Create Your Own
…every model is sporting spectators with black, opaque tights under mini’s, trenches, even bubble skirts. I think a pencil could work too, just be mindful of the hem. Since the shoe comes higher than a regular pump, it cuts your leg off a bit at the ankle. So make sure you hem line goes higher to reveal more leg.
Wheeww! That does it!
So as I mentioned…stay tuned next week for the Fashion Bomb’s Anniversary! There will be a giveaway contest (test your knowledge of The Fashion Bomb), a fun Fashion Week party announcement, and hot, fresh new look.
You’re gonna love it!
Until then…
Smootches!
Fashion news, sales, what nots:
*WWD reports that Russell Simmons has stepped down as chief executive officer of Phat Fashions. He’s going on to pursue his other business ventures, namely his new Argyle Culture Menswear brand and his high end Atman brand. Kimora Lee will continue as Baby Phat’s creative head.
*Check out Seasoned to Perfection’s sale…

Click to Enlarge.
For more info or to RSVP, e-mail s2pvintage@yahoo.com
*Don’t forget Boutique Finesse’ sidewalk sale.

Click to enlarge
Have great weekends!

“This is the day I lay in a pre-op room of a hospital, staring at the brightly lit ceiling, being prepped for gastric bypass surgery. I hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. I was so angry: How had I allowed myself to get to 307 pounds? I could clearly remember the days when I’d considered myself fly and curvaceous. Funny—or sad—how we “thick” girls can justify being excessively overweight.”–Excerpt from Star Jones Reynolds’ Essay in Glamour Magazine

Hey Guys,
So for this week’s Style File, I chose a pretty unusual suspect…

…Star Jones!
Whether you blame the gastric bypass or her new show on Court TV, Star has been representing lately in smart, tailored outfits that could work for any career girl with flair. Let’s take a look:
For press junkets and more casual affairs Star keeps it cute and corporate in embellished cardigans…


…svelte v-neck sweaters andA-line skirts…

…and chic belted shirt dresses…

Sharp!
When she really has to dress it up, she rocks handkerchief dresses with exotic prints (I’ll pass on the shoes)…

…floral numbers…

or long, flattering black cocktails frocks with..

..or without…


Her signature burgundy specs.
C’mon! Cute!
Want to channel your inner star? Try the following:

Top Row: Da Nang Carafe Silk Shirt Dress, $194, www.fashionchateau.com; Embroidered Floral Cardigan, $50, www.whitehouseblackmarket.com
Bottom Row: Merino wool ribbon-front v-neck sweater vest, $38, www.victoriassecret.com; Carla Long Dress in Black, $175, www.labelspree.com.
Of course can’t forget the hot frames!
These $269 Bulgari frames from Lenscrafters have a ‘Star’ effect…

…but if they’re too pricey, this $109 pair of Tamara Frames by BCBG could work…

Still too much? Slide on these Calabria Readers…

…for only $32!
You’re office ready!
Smootches!
PS Still not convinced?
Remember the old days….





She’s come a long way baby! Don’t you think?

News, sales, what nots:
*There’s an article today in the New York Times on Star. An excerpt, “Ms. Jones led the premiere of her own show on Court TV and was almost unrecognizable after gastric bypass surgery left her about 150 pounds lighter. Her streamlined new look includes a pageboy haircut, plain sleeveless dresses and modish eyeglass frames.” Read more here.

*WWD reports that Venus Williams will have her own line, called EleVen, in Steve & Barry stores starting in November. Why EleVen? “It was part of my address growing up in Compton. It also represents the top, because people always say, one out of 10, but it’s an 11. You can be more than your best in EleVen.” Suuuuure. Can’t wait till November? To celebrate the launch of the collection, 100 pairs of her Court sneakers will be available at the Steve & Barry Manhattan Mall store on Friday. First come first serve!

*And, just for fun, see how Venus would spend $1.4 million dollars.

*Also check out Boutique Finesse’ sidewalk sale this weekend:

Click to enlarge
You’ll be glad you did!

Hey hey!
So there’s a lot going on right now in politics with the war, issues with the current administration, and the upcoming presidential election…and none of this is lost on political fashionistas who want to voice their views through their clothing. I’ve found two websites that offer a plethora of politically cute t’s for diva’s with an opinion.
Urban Outfitters (www.urbn.com) has dozens of shirts that sport political messages such as, “War What is it Good For” “Vote for Change” and “I love Peace.”
Take a look:

Top Row: Thread for Thought Bombing Tee, $38; What is it Good For Tee, $28; Draft Beer Not People Tee, $24.
Middle Row: Vote For Change Tee, $28; I Love Peace Tee, $24; Lux Peace Now Tee, $28.
Bottom Row: Don’t Let Friends Vote Republican Tee; $24;War is Over Tee, $28;Friends Don’t Let Friends Vote Democrat Tee, $24. All at www.urbn.com.

Another site, Sir Alistair Rai (www.siralistairrai.com/), has great t’s that are a bit more stylish (and expensive!), yet still purvey a message that takes a stand:

Save Darfur Beater, $38

Vintage Rock & Roll Peace Tee, $48

Camo Long Sleeve Thermal, $62
Sir Alistair Rai even sells the Obama for Change T that Halle B. was spotted wearing here…

and Kim K here…

Get it for $46.
I’m sure offerings will increase and diversify as the race gets closer…
Smootches!
Fashion News:
*Naomi Campbell says that Fashion has sidelined black beauty. Quel Surprise!
*Alek Wek contends that a Fashion Calendar was racist. Have black models just had enough? Seems like they’re speaking out a lot lately…
* Page Six predicts stars will be scarce at NY’s upcoming fashion week. Oh Well! More room for me!
*Yawwwwn!
PS Really want to show your support? Attend Strut for Sudan this Sunday…

Click to enlarge
…featuring clothes from hot boutique Harriet’s Alter Ego. Proceeds go to My Sister’s Keeper. Read more here .