What a busy week it’s been. From covering the Strength of a Woman fest in Atlanta to appearing on E! Daily Pop in LA, the Bomb Life has been busy! The fun continued with a few high wattage New York events, including a celebration of Balmain’s Madison Avenue store last night:
Fern Mallis created New York Fashion Week, and further solidified her Icon status by interviewing fellow Icons with her conversations series at the 92nd Street Y.
I said hi to fashion friends Ty Hunter, Bevy Smith, and Marjorie Gubelmann:
This week billionaire singer-songwriter and business mogul Rihanna took to social media to announce the arrival of her hit Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin lines to Africa! In doing so, the fashion maven posted a picture dressed in a white turban, gold accessories and a $160 Thebe Magugu white Turtleneck Sleeveless Top w/ Detachable Bralette looking like the whole Nubian queen she is!
Photo: IG/Reproduction
In the post she wrote “I’ve been waiting for this moment!! […] Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe… we coming at ya May 27th and that’s just the beginning!!! #FentyAfrica.” Fans from the continent sounded off in the comments, and many were delighted that Bad Gal Riri shared the big news while wearing an African designer.
Photo: IG/Reproduction
In a separate Twitter post, Fenty Beauty confirmed that they would be stocked at Edgars and ARC Store in South Africa.
The top worn in the Instagram post is currently available at Bergdorf Goodman!
Following her viral Met Gala moment, Kim Kardashian wore another dress previously worn by Marilyn Monroe: a vintage Norman Norell gown the icon wore to the 1962 Golden Globes.
The dress is owned by @juliens_auctions. It features a tight fit and a low back.
Kim posed with the award Marilyn won that night, now owned by her florist Jeff Leatham.
Kim’s strange obsession with Marily Monroe persists. Perhaps she can relate to her sex symbol status.
The time has come to take swimsuits and bikinis out of the closet, as well as to take a look at the trends in swimwear, which are full of color and with designs for all tastes. Although like every year, our small complexes also concern us again.
If until recently the bikini was the king of summer outfits, the swimsuit seems to have been gaining ground little by little, in recent seasons, and has more and more followers. The truth is that each has its advantages. While the former is more youthful and practical when sunbathing, the latter is presented as the most comfortable option for swimming and offers a stylized view of the figure.
Thanks to the variety of models that we have within our reach and in order to choose the swimsuit that best suits us, Banana Moonprovide us each style and helps us find our perfect ally to show off our figure this summer.
The Swimsuit
In recent seasons, the swimsuit has made a strong comeback. In addition, it is perfect to hide some parts of the body and stylize the figure.
If you have small chests and nice shoulders, don’t hesitate; opt for strapless swimsuits to show off your style on the beach or in the pool. Also for those who nature has not endowed them with a voluminous chest are the “V” necklines, although in this case, they are also a winning bet for women with generous chests, as they stylize.
Bikini
Bikinis are a garment that favors young women more than those who have reached maturity, since they leave a lot of skin exposed and, regardless of whom they weigh, the smoothness and firmness of youth is not the same at 20 as it is at 50.
However, it is the most seen on beaches and swimming pools, so we have many models and shapes available. The bikini favors all types of bodies, although it is necessary to take into account some details to choose the design with which to get the most out of it:
Little Chest?
The bikini in general favors tall and thin people, stylized, although due to the large number of cuts available in the market, today almost all women can wear them.
Those who think they have small chests will try to acquire tops with padding or a halter neck with a wide bow, which raises the chest area, creating the visual effect of greater voluptuousness. Those made of cotton increase the size.
They will flee from plain bikinis, in dark tones or in the shape of a triangle, which do less and which, however, will become the perfect allies for women who think they have too much bust.
Big Chest?
Busty women will wear bikinis with the top separated by a grommet, so that the two breasts are separated, they appear smaller, and swimsuits with a V-neckline or square neckline.
Triangle neckline: favors women with a lot of breasts and slims the figure much more, it is also very youthful.
Bandeau neckline: ideal to avoid sun marks. If you have little chest, it is perfect to use it with “foam” or “push up” to accentuate it, also with ruffles or fringes, fantastic to add volume. Wearing a smaller size than usual will help achieve a perfect fit and enhancement.
Push-up neckline: ideal if you have a small chest or want to highlight it to show off a very sexy neckline.
Wide strap panties: perfect for concealing wide hips. If this is your case, do not wear them with decorations, bows or knotted on the sides, as it would create the opposite effect, widening the hips. He also prefers plain colored models.
Knickers with a bow: they hide the wide backs phenomenally and they stylize the short ones a lot. In addition, they add volume to narrow hips.
Straight Body
Women with a straight body should wear all kinds of accessories that create false optical sensations, such as skirts with ruffles, ruffles, shorts, like those worn in the 50s, and that the iconic Marilyn Monroe made so fashionable.
They will also choose swimsuits and bikinis that boast prints, horizontal stripes, dots, and fabrics that imitate animal skins, such as leopard, panther or snake.
On the other hand, they will play with the shapes of the back, neckline and hips, so the trikinis, a hybrid between the swimsuit and the bikini, will greatly favor them. They will never wear full-length bathing suits or swimsuits with a racer back.
Women With A Lot Of Hips
If, on the other hand, like the movie divas of the golden years, your problem is the opposite and your curves surpass you, you should be able to divert attention to the upper part.
You will never use parts below a skirt or shorts, for you they will be totally prohibited. In addition, you will try to wear tops that are not very large, never high-waisted and yes, with fine bows, nor very small. Do not use belts or brooches, in general any type of adornment that draws attention to that area.
For Wide Women In General
They will never use loose fabrics, such as cotton, viscose or foam. They will love lycra, black, one piece swimsuits and will prefer large sizes to cramming into a smaller size just for the sake of thinking about the size number.
In addition, they will avoid unnecessary prints and decorations, opting for minimalist models that stylize their figure, in plain colors and with straight cuts.
By the looks of it, all that glitters was gold at this past Saturday’s Strength of a Woman Concert in Atlanta, held by Mary J. Blige and Pepsi, when both Yung Miami from the City Girls and Monique Rodriquez stepped out wearing the same $1,390 Tom Ford silk trimmed sequin tank and $1,345 Dolce & Gabbana rainbow sequinned boots!
Yung Miami wore her’s with her hair half a half up half down, three layered Diamond tennis chains and dark wash denim shorts!
Monique opted to accessorize the pieces with a Tom Ford bag, Louis Vuitton hoops and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry styled Jeremy Haynes!
Who wore it better, and how would you style this look?
The action packed weekend was a celebration of the Strength of Women, and featured informative panels, a concert, and a Sunday Gospel Brunch!
On day 1, I stopped by The Gathering Spot and popped into talks featuring boss women like Kandi, Myleik, Claudine Joseph, and Naturi Naughton! I popped by the green room to say hey to Shamea Morton, Toya Johnson, and Angel:
That night, I attended the concert, and grabbed a pic with Tasha Smith.
Then on Mother’s Day on Sunday, I stopped by the Gospel Brunch, and said hey to one of the sponsors of the event, Monique Rodriguez of Mielle Organics:
Mother’s Day weekend just got 10 times more fun-filled, and you can thank the one and only Mary J. Blige for that! In collaboration with Pepsi and Live Nation Urban, the hip-hop legend threw the first ever ‘Strength of Woman’ Summit from May 6th to 8th in Atlanta, Georgia, and it has since been announced that the event will be returning annually. The festival, named after her 13th studio album, was jam-packed with live panel discussions, workshops, good food and of course loads of entertainment and performances. Women empowerment, education and elevation were all the founding pillars of this project that has been in the works since the start of the global pandemic.
In honor of her contribution to the culture and community for women of color, the city of ATL declared May 5th her official day of honor! Fans, guests and supporters attended a special ceremony the day before the festivities to commemorate this monumental moment and raise the banner with MJB! Pictured below are Kandy Burruss and the NY native in celebration of her recent merit.
Photo: IG/Reproduction
Needless to say, Mary J. kept the looks coming, starting with the above KNWLS paisley top retailing for $419 and $660 matching pants, paired with Sister Love x MJB hoops and Bottega Veneta shoes worn to the kick-off event!
Next, she sported a series of pink statement looks throughout the 3-day-long event in a show of solidarity with women! Blige strutted on stage for the opening night in a pink leather $2,790 Alexander McQueen top, $525 Dolce & Gabbana belt and denim boots.
Photo: Getty
She also performed in a hot pink Givenchy romper with a perfectly matched Balenciaga bomber jacket and custom bedazzled A-Morir stiletto boots amongst several other glitzy ensembles.
Photo: IG/Reproduction
Also blessing the main stage were acts such as Usher, Method Man, Queen Naija, Ella Mai and Xscape who was styled by Jeremy Haynes in custom coats by Daniels Leather.
Photo: Will Sterling
Gospel Singer Kierra-Sheard wore a Sai Sankoh kaftan and pants during her performance at the event.
Photo: IG/Reproduction
Pictured here below, Mary wore a $450 Jacquemus top, Milano Di Rouge jeans and Bottega Veneta sandals alongside Mielle Organics CEO Monique Rodriguez sporting a $1,650 Area jacket and $1,225 Versace latex skirt.
Photo: Will Sterling
At the concert on Saturday evening, Monique also wore L’Agence denim shorts with a $1,390 Tom Ford silk trimmed sequin tank and $1,345 Dolce & Gabbana rainbow sequinned boots accessorized with a Tom Ford bag, Louis Vuitton hoops and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry styled Jeremy Haynes. It just so happened the Yung Miami of the City Girls attended in the exact same top and footwear with her fellow group member JT wearing Balenciaga.
Photo: IG/Reproduction + Getty
Kelly Rowland was also in attendance, rocking a $990 Mugler dress!
IG/Reproduction
And you already knowour Fashion Bomb Daily CEO Claire Sulmers was on the scene wearing Balenciaga x Gucci! To her left, Simone I. Smith, founder of Sister Love jewelry, was spotted also wearing Balenciaga heels and a metallic croco Chanel bag!
IG/Reproduction
For the final day, pink was the color of choice as Mary J. Bilge closed the festival in a Rowen Rose pleated top and wide-leg pant. Her accessories were none other than Sister Love x MJB once more. With all these style must-sees, not to mention the clothing donations closet made possible by Pepsi Stronger together, we believe it’s safe to say that the Strength of a Woman festival is an empowering fashion forward event that will continue to go down in history!
Photo: Getty
Stay tuned for more coverage of the SOAW Fest down the line, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year! What say you?