Hey Hey Hey!
Today I’m so excited for the very first The Fashion Bomb Intern post. First up is Elita, who brings us a Style File on top model Chanel Iman. Read on…

Fashion Bomb intern Elita checking in!
I’m a Chicago-born, Miami-bred girl who also did time in NYC (shout out to all my peoples in Queens). I’m a librarian by trade, fashionista by birth. My grandmother was a seamstress and my mom passed along her eclectic taste to me. Living in a climate where it’s scorching hot 90% of the year makes me partial to vibrant prints, embellished sandals and short shift dresses, but I love classic pieces that can carry you from season to season as well. Some of my favorite designers are Zac Posen, Catherine Malandrino, John Galliano for Dior and Max Azria (BGBG).
For this week’s Style File, I chose to profile up-and-coming model Chanel Iman.

You may have noticed her as the only black woman gracing Vogue’s May 2007 cover, an ode to fashion’s 10 new superstars, poised to become one of the world’s next top models. You probably also spotted her strutting her stuff down the runways in Paris for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino. All in her first season of shows!

Chanel Iman Robinson, the daughter of a half-Korean mother and an African-American father, was born in ATL and raised in L.A. After begging her mother to take her to an agency, she was signed on the spot to Ford Models at age 12. She was also third runner-up in the Ford Supermodel of the World competition last year, which jump started her career. Now the 5’10” stunner divides her time between NY, L.A. and Paris and is home schooled so she can concentrate on her career full-time.

Ms. Robinson states her favorite store is Zara and her favorite label is, of course, Chanel.

When she’s not ripping the runway,

Ms. Robinson opts for cute baby doll dresses

Bold colors and prints

And loves the layered look, mixing high and low end pieces.

Want to cop her look for summer? Try these bold, flirty tops and dresses:

Top Row: Chain Neck Printed Halter, by T-Bags, $194, shopbop.com
Calle Ocho Dress, $188, www.anthropologie.com.
Bottom Row: Diane Von Furstenberg Adelaide dress, $325, www.net-a-porter.com; Tracey Reese silk pocket cami, $240, www.pinkmascara.com.
~Elita
Claire back…so I went to the DVF Sale yesterday and it was crazy! It may have been raining, but the line was really long…

And inside wasn’t much better!

After an hour or so, I found a few dresses including this one…

that Christina Milian wore here…

for $150 (50% off retail)! I rocked it to a party last night, and it was a hit! Anyway check out the DVF sale…

…all current season are in stock, and it’s on until Friday.
Smootches!

PS Shout out to Robin Givhan, fashion editor of the Washington Post, for winning the Eugenia Sheppard Award last night at the CFDA’s. It’s awarded to a writer, photographer, or editor who has used his or her craft to further the profession of fashion reporting and coverage. Congrats!
PSS Need that perfect summer bag? Check out The B Life Blog for a few suggestions.

Happy Monday!
So I was walking in Brooklyn this weekend and peeped this dude….

…who had a seriously cool aesthetic. Though I normally snap pix of women with real style, I felt this young man fit the bill with his 80’s inspired sunglasses and jacket.
What do you think?
Smootches!
PS The ‘terns are comin atcha. Summer schedule goes into effect this week, so be on the lookout for posts from the Fashion Bomb interns. You’ll love it.

Hey Hey!
It’s Friday, and time for more mail bombs!

Yet again, I received help from my fantabulous ‘terns. They’ll all (hopefully) be making their Fashion Bomb debut next week…can’t wait!
Until then, let’s get to some piping hot mail bombs.
First up reader Mataya says:
“I’m looking for this bathing suit…”

“worn by the beautiful Selita Ebanks. Do you know who makes it or where I could find it?”
Tenacious ‘tern Elita found that the bathing suit is none other than this very affordable and very available…

Floral & Dot Two Piece from Victoria’s Secret. The top and bottom are sold separately, and lucky for you they’re both on sale (The skirt is $40 and the top is $75)! Hurry up and buy!
Next, reader Tyneka wanted to know:
“I luv the dress that Ciara wore in this picture…”

“Do you know who made it??”
I found that she’s sporting this…

…See by Chloe Gingham shirt dress for $495 at www.net-a-porter.com. But heads up: I saw this exact dress on sale for $170 at Bloomingdales!! Don’t waste your money…head to the store and get the sale price!
Next up, Monique contacted me with a wardrobe query:
“Hey girl I would really appreciate it if you could help me with a splurge purchase I made this past weekend in Miami! I bought these True Religion Jeans in stretch denim…”

“…because I am loving colored jeans for the summer and this color I thought suited my skin tone the best. My only dilemma…what color shoes do I pair?”
Hey Monique, I see you liked my yellow post! Yay! Anyway, that’s a great question. I think the jeans are so playful that you can be a bit adventurous with colors. If you’re brave, I’d suggest wearing a multi colored sandal that picks up on the color of the jeans slightly (but not an exact match!). If you’re feeling more conservative, I think a stiletto sandal in a light neutral—brown, beige, gold, even white—would complement your jeans. My suggestions:

Top Row: Dollhouse Tiby Sandals, $65, zappos.com
Blay Sandals, $50, www.stevemadden.com.
Bottom Row: Miss Sixty Christianne, $166.46, zappos.com
Tribeca Lookin Grand Sandal, $59.95, www.nordstrom.com.
Get your strut on!
Lastly, Tamika contacted me with a styling question:
“I am going to a huge b-day party on June 9th and would like to accessorize this dress…”

“…I know its super plain, but I know with all the right accessories, I can hook it up and be a diva that night… I was thinking about turquoise jewelry and I was thinking silver shoes, but I am not sure if that’s a good idea. Please help!! :)”
Hey Tamika. You’re right: go crazy with accessories! First, the way to really set this outfit off : the right clutch and shoes. Silver will look too dull, and gold will be too bright, but a neutral bronze? Just right. Next, since your neck is basically bare, I’d go with a statement necklace in the bronze/gold family. Try a long, multi-stranded number or a chain with a pendant to emphasize your neckline. Feel free to play with color a bit to offset the color of the dress (turquoise is a good option, as it goes well with pink). Because you’re going wild with the necklace, you can opt for a simple hoop earring (touch of green optional to match the necklace). A few options:

Top Row: Emerald Jade Earrings, $15, www.oohboutique.com; J. Lo Fever Sandals, $103, zappos.com
Three Inch Hoop, $16, www.urbn.com.
Middle Row: Nine West Cammera6 Sandals, $79, zappos.com
Envelope Clutch, $35, www.victoriassecret.com; Charles by Charles David Sonora Sandals, $63, www.bluefly.com.
Bottom Row: Beaded Snake Chain Necklace, $11.80, www.forever21.com; Calvin Klein “Date Bag” Large Clutch, $125.00, www.macys.com; Blossom Necklace, $15, www.boutiquefinesse.com.
Have fun at the party! And hey, send me pictures!
Smootches!
PS Call for Real Style Submissions: As much as I love snapping pix of fashionable peeps on the street, I’d love to see how my readers get down. If you’ve got style, send me a jpeg at thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Show me what ya workin with!

“Jones, the latest “It Girl” to burst onto Manhattan’s social scene, may have no regular job but is nonetheless a vital cog in the fashion industry’s marketing machine. Dressing up and having her photograph taken, Jones helps fashion and luxury-goods companies pitch their products simply through being associated with her.”–Teri Agins, ‘How ‘It’ Girl Scaled World of Fashion, One Party at a Time’, Wall Street Journal, Sept 14, 2006.

So for this week’s Style File I switched it up a bit. Instead of profiling a singer, rapper, or America’s Next Top Model, I decided to take a look at one of the few African-American ‘socialites’ (including Bonnie Morrison and Rachel Roy) New York Magazine deemed worth mentioning in a recent article:

Teri Agins of the Wall Street Journal did an *amazing* investigative article on Ms. Jones last September. Everyone wanted to know: How did she become a socialite? Teri found that Genevieve made her way into upper crust society by befriending the right people (like Zac Posen) and being bold (for example, jumping in front of Andre Leon Talley and dancing with him at a Donna Karen party). Unlike her colleagues, she didn’t go to college, is a little old ( 31, not 27 as she claims), and lacks a trust fund. Mystere et boule de gomme.
Whoever she is, her style is one of a kind. Let’s take a look:
Ms. Jones updates classic black dresses with fringe details, sequins, and embellished bags…

Remixes summer whites with ruffles, understated baubles, and side swept hairdos…

Accentuates her small waist with belts over both coats and dresses…

And keeps top designers seduced in thigh skimming dresses and shorts…

Classy.
Want the socialite look? Start with these pieces:

Top Row: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hammered Silk Satin Dress, $170, www.saks.com; Clu Ruffle Trim Dress, $100, shopbop.com
Bottom Row; Necessary Objects Lace Babydoll Dress, $68, www.nordstrom.com; Hamptons Belt, $11.80, www.forever21.com.
Smootches!
PS Missed the article? Read more about the enigma that is G. Jones here.

Hey Y’all,
So I live in Brooklyn (lighters up!), and make regular trips to an amazing restaurant in Fort Greene called Habana Outpost. Picture this: Outdoor seating, Frozen Mojitos, Sunshine, Old School Hits spun by a DJ, and the most beautiful, eclectic, fashionable mix of brown people in the nation. It’s the bomb.
I dropped in a couple weekends ago, and saw this beauty…

..and knew she had to be on the Fashion Bomb.
I was feeling her retro sunglasses, bouffant hair do, and the contrast of her large sweater with skin hugging top, tights, and belt. So cool. So Brooklyn.
Smootches!
PS Visit Habana Outpost at 757 Fulton Street at South Portland (C to Lafayette). It might be a trek for some, but you’ll love it, I guarantee.

Happy Thursday!
So I have one amazing coworker who always comes to the office fresh dressed with the best bags, jackets, and accessories. One day we were talking shop (as per usual) and I made a comment about her Hermes belt…she revealed that she purchased it (along with a lot of her other pieces) from a cool high fashion consignment store called Ina. She almost fell out of her cubicle when I told her I wasn’t familiar…after collecting herself she urged me to check it out, so I did.

As soon as I walked in, I peeped many jackets, skirts, jeans, tanks, and accessories from brands like Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Marni, and Versace.

Of course the goods seemed impressive at first glance, but I had to look a little deeper. My first stop was the dress section.
I found lots of cute picks, though it seemed they skewed on the small and expensive side. For example:
This Diane Von Furstenberg summer frock was an affordable $155…

…but only available in a size 6.
This $695 Marc Jacobs ball worthy gown could be seen by some as a steal…

…but it was tiny! So was this Stella McCartney printed dress …

…for $315.
Hmh. So the apparel didn’t inspire, so I walked over to the shoe section…

..and frankly, it was off the chain gang. I found several pairs of Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, and Christian Dior sandals, pumps, and flats for 50-80% off retail!
Even more shocking: They had several pairs in my big foot size (9 1/2)! That’s unheard of in vintage/consignment stores! It always seems whoever dropped ’em off was some old lady with a petite size 6 foot. Anyway, I thought the following made the trip worth it:
These Bally suede sandals were a size 9…

…and a reasonable $120.
These size 9 Jimmy Choo sparklers…

…were $140.
And this pair of size 11 Christian Louboutin cork wedges…

…were only $113!
Even this pair of size 6.5 Gucci Loafers didn’t seem so bad…

…at $245.
And this pair of size 8.5 Christian Lacroix’

…were beautiful at $275. I was thrilled.
Of course, I couldn’t forgot the purses!

The Louis Vuitton Speedy in the top left was in good condition and $435… the Chanel tweed in the back was $840 marked down from $1050. Certainly not a steal, but definitely less that you’d spend at Bergdorf or Barneys.
The cashier and I chatted, and she divulged that celebs like Chloe Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker come in frequently to sell their gently used wares. So at Ina you’re buying star worthy pieces at a portion of the regular price!
If you want to visit, Ina has 5 locations (including one for men): 101 Thompson Street; 21 Prince Street; 208 East 73rd Street; 262 Mott Street; and 15 Bleecker Street. Take a look at their website, www.inanyc.com for more info. They accept American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Cash, and are open 12-7 Sunday through Thursday and 12-8 Friday and Saturday.
You must check it out! You won’t be disappointed!
Smootches!
PS Mark your calendars. It’s that time again…

Last year was mayhem, but I walked out with two dresses and a shirt for like $200! Sick, I know. Get there early!
PSS Don’t forget Pieces’ sidewalk sale!
PSSS Eve is bringing back her Fetish line the next holiday season. According to WWD, the line won’t be logo driven and will offer a range of items, “from premium jeans ranging from $98 to $198 retail to leather jackets that retail up to $1,500.” Guess she’s recovered from that DUI debacle.

“I’m not your girl next door but I’m your girl down the block in your hood.”–Jaslene, America’s Next Top Model Season 8 winner.

So ANTM recently crowned a new queen (Jaslene)…and in the spirit of celebrating the ANTM franchise, I decided to do a short style file on the most successful, beautiful, and stylish winner of the show (in my opinion)..

Eva Pigford.
Petite and sassy, Eva truly has a style all her own . She plays up her diminutive traits by paying attention to tiny details.
She caters to her small figure by wearing short, cute dresses that elongate her legs…


And adds bulk and romance by sporting dresses and shirts with ruffle accents.



While her clothing game is fierce, Eva truly stays fly by way of an impeccably stylish haircut…

And big, bold, look-at-me accessories:


Fierce.
Get started on your own Eva the Diva-like wardrobe with the help of the following:

Top Row: Rosanna Dress, $27.80, www.forever21.com; Kenneth Jay Lane Black Diamond Cocktail Ring, $75, shopbop.com
Bottom Row: Doorknocker Earrings, $18, www.urbn.com; Marc Jacobs Red Plastic Oversized Shades, $144, www.bluefly.com.
Tyra…

…and Ms. Jay…

…would be proud!
Smootches!
PS Reader Neah was feeling the yellow post from yesterday!
She says, “I just wanted to let you know I’m with you with the love for yellow. I went out to celebrate my birthday on Saturday and just HAD to wear yellow.”
“I got the dress from Bebe. I paired it with navy and white Oscar de la Renta pumps, navy and white earrings, and a necklace I wrapped around my wrist (a girl’s got to be creative).”
Loves it!
PSS ANTM stills courtesy of the fab blog Four Four (www.fourfour.typepad.com)

“Look at the stars/ Look how they shine for you/ And everything you do/ Yeah they were all yellow…”–Coldplay, “Yellow.”

So, I have a confession to make: I’m absolutely obsessed with the color yellow! It’s the perfect shade for summer, automatically brightens up any outfit, and bonus: it looks simply smashing against most skin tones.
I thought it only fitting to look to celebs to see how to rock it proper:
Socialite Genevieve Jones accents a pretty pleated skirt and sheer black shawl with a searing sunflower top…

Kimora screams cute in a canary cardigan. Her adorable daughter Aoki helps her along…

And Beyonce accents a grey skirt and hoodie with scintillating citron Louboutin pumps…

Hot.
Yellows work whether patterned or solid, but steer clear of pairing yellow stripes with black…

You could end up looking like a bumble bee!
Work yellow in the right way with these Fashion Bomb certified pieces:

Top Row: Floral Babydoll Top, $19.80, www.forever21.com; Overlasted Platform Shoe, £55.00, www.topshop.com; Double Button Cuffed Short, $18.50, www.wetseal.com.
Middle Row: Egyptian Cotton Printed Sweater Dress, $140, www.jcrew.com; Lacoste “Summer Terry” Beach Bag, $135.00, www.macys.com; Coffee Shop Fit & Flare Trench Coat, $68, www.nordstrom.com
Bottom Row: Nana Delmar Yellow Patent Leather, $98.95, Zappos.com
Lydell NYC Bangle, $25, www.bloomingdales.com; Yepa shoes, $60, www.tishshoeboutique.com
Smootches!
PS Pieces Boutique (which I wrote about here) is having a Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale!!!

Click to enlarge
50-60% off dresses?!? $60 Jeans??? I’m definitely dropping by!