Of course it was all Gucci at the brand’s Cruise 2018 Fashion Show in the Palatine Gallery of the Pitti Palace in Florence.  Creative Director Alessandro Michele presented his artsy collection amid Renaissance paintings and a flock of faddish celebs who were all dressed in the appropriate uniform – Gucci.

Let’s jump right into some of the most swank looks at the event.

Donald Glover was dashing in a Gucci Spring 2017 white printed shirt, navy shorts and white leather Ace slide sneakers.

Kirsten Dunst hit the Cruise Fashion show rocking a Gucci Spring 2017 orange blouse and an orange pleated embroidered skirt.

Dakota Johnson blessed the event wearing a Gucci Fall 2017 floral jacquard sleeveless dress with a plunging neckline.  She completed her look with a pink velvet embroidered GG Marmont bag.

Jared Leto made a colorful statement in a Gucci Fall 2017 lavender velvet robe with a blue and red silk shirt, yellow trousers and silver high top sneakers. Ok, Jared!

Salma Hayek Pinault looked graceful in a Gucci Fall 2017 long sleeve floral printed dress carrying a pink velvet embroidered GG Marmont bag and rocking gold platform sandals.

Sir Elton John was royal in a Gucci DIY Signornia suit with a crystal lizard on the lapel.  David Furnish was dapper in a Gucci Spring 2017 blue and white Signoria checkered suit.  

Beth Ditto got creative in a Gucci Cruise 2018 blue and gold jacquard suit and a butterfly embroidered headpiece. I love this!

Soko graced the event in a Gucci Spring 2017 white, double breasted jacket, a Gucci t-shirt underneath, and matching pants.

Laura Love was obviously fierce at the event in a Gucci Fall 2017 black leather jacket and matching skirt carrying a red mini Sylvie bag.

Alessandro Borghi kept it casual in  a Gucci DIY embroidered bomber jacket, a white cotton t-shirt, and a pair of red leather Ace sneakers.

It’s safe to say that this event was all about bold colors and eclectic prints, and I am feeling it!  Who had your favorite look at the event and why?

Do you know about Toyokalon? It’s the premium choice for stylists that know about hair care. To display the versatility of the hair, the brand tapped Roc Nation singer/songwriter Justine Skye for a campaign called “Know the Difference.”

Styled by CeeCee @SilkHairNY, with makeup by Darya Latham and threads plucked by Xina Giatis, Justine flaunts a variety of styles all in her signature purple hue.

These on trend locs were achieved using Sensationnel’s African Collection X-Pression soft faux locs in 18″ color PUR, made with 100% Toyokalon fiber.

Toyokalon partnered with Justine Skye to showcase some of the most popular looks of our time. Here Skye sports voluminous curls in a half up, half down ‘do using the Outre X-Pression 4 In 1 Crochet Braid Bohemian Curls in 24”.

In a statement, the company writes, “We chose Justine because she is a fashion and style icon.”

Through the KNOW THE DIFFERENCE campaign, Toyokalon hopes to introduce women to an affordable alternative to braid and crochet hair, which can be used to create natural looking styles. Toyokalon may appear similar to other fibers used in braiding and crochet hair at first glance, but it has its own unique qualities. Toyokalon is soft to the touch and easy to work with, so you can install your protective style with ease.

Not only are products made with Toyokalon perfect for women with sensitive skin and scalps, they come in an array of lengths, colors, and textures.

Justine’s bold, long ponytail is a quick and easy way to upgrade any outfit day or night.

This curly braided style uses Outre XPression Braid Jerry Curls in 24″ and blends perfectly with most tightly coiled natural hair textures.

Products made with Toyokalon are available through all of your favorite brands, including Outre and Sensationnel! Just look for “Made with Toyokalon” written on the package of braid/crochet items at your local beauty supply.

Be sure to follow @Toyokalon to see the hottest looks of the summer, for more hair tips, and a chance to be featured if you’re wearing their hair!

What do you think of the campaign and the shoot featuring Queen Justine?

Right now I am luxuriating in the sun, feeling easy and breezy in separates by Okera Banks:

Fashioned out of stretched jersey, the line comprises halter neck and strapless harem jumpsuit, loose fit cardigans, and fun dresses that are perfect for leisure, travel, and more.

Behold a few of my favorites below:



Get all of the above here.
What do you think?

Rihanna showed off her street style while strolling in New York clad in a $665 Off White Off-the-Shoulder Striped Shirt and $1,015 Balenciaga Boots:

Cut with an off-the-shoulder neckline, the blue and white striped cotton poplin shirt is embroidered at the chest with red “Off” lettering and designed at the back with self-ties.

Balenciaga’s pointed-toe ankle boots are constructed of white grained leather and feature an extreme flat pointed toe and an ice pick heel.

Rihanna is in a league of her own when it comes to fashion.  Lately she’s been rockin’ the over-sized look.  I can dig it!

You can purchase her shirt here for $665 and her boots here for $1,015.

What do you think?  Would you splurge on her ensemble?

Today’s Bombshell is this wondrous soul, Niké Ojeknle from Los Angeles:

She writes, “I’ll be honored to be bombshell of the day.”

“I am a fashion blogger. I find inspiration in art, nature, culture, architecture, people, culture and music and last but not least, fashion. In addition to fashion, I’m also very passionate about homeless youth in my community.”

“For fun, I like to try out a new restaurant every time I can.”

More below:

Love your diva style! Nicely put together.

Check out her Instagram: @specsandblazers and website, specsandblazers.com.

Well readers, what do you think of her style?

What do you think of Nike from LA?

Hot! Yes! She’s a Bombshell!

Not a Bombshell, but ok style!

Some hits, some misses

Not good, but not bad

Hmm…better luck next time!

 

pollcode.com free polls

Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 68 clear, unfiltered, headtotoe pictures of 510 different outfits (no collages) to thefashionbomb@gmail.com . Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.

Alesha Dixon went bold for the latest episode of Britain’s Got Talent—resplendent in a $249 Loewe Gold Tone Earring and the same $2,187 DSquared2 Yellow Colby Dress previously worn by Jennifer hudson:

While JHud enlivened the look with diamond Tiffany jewelry and DSquared2 embellished satin pumps, Ms. Dixon opted for gold pumps, a gold cuff, and a single gold earrings.
Her dress hails from the Spring 2017 collection. It features a one-shoulder silhouette, ruffle detailing, draped accents, a front slit, and mini length.

I love this dress and both ladies look Bomb! But if I had to choose, Alesha for the win.
What do you think?

Who Wore it Better? Jennifer Hudson vs. Alesha Dixon in DSquared2’s Yellow Colby One Shoulder Ruffle Dress

Jennifer Hudson

Alesha Dixon

They both look hot!

Neither, not into the dress

 

pollcode.com free polls

Can’t decide? Get the dress here.

Thoughts?

Gucci’s Cruise 2018 show bowed yesterday in Florence. And aside from the oversized Gucci fanny packs and typical logo’d gear, a somewhat astonishing puff sleeved jacket caused a stir because of its similarity to a jacket fashioned by Harlem’s own Dapper Dan in the 80’s.


Haberdasher Dapper Dan was the Rapper’s Delight in the beginning stages of hip-hop. As I wrote in a piece from 2013, “Dapper Dan was a legend in his time, an 80’s era street couturier who spoke to the sartorial tastes of rappers, drug dealers, and athletes who had a distinctive palette for luxury with a dash of cool. Dan was known as the man who could transform a trendy winter jacket into a logo laden piece, emblazoning it with the monograms of Italian and French fashion houses by screen printing their symbols onto leather using a fade resistant ink. “

Because rappers like LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane couldn’t get Gucci to open their doors to them, they went to Dapper who made look a likes with a Hip Hop Twist. As I wrote in 2013, “Back then, like now, luxury houses didn’t truly acknowledge the hip-hop culture, though rappers and their fans were absolutely smitten with the expensive and aspirational quality of the items. For rappers, it wasn’t about understated chic–they wanted the world to know who they were wearing, and just about how much they spent on it. Dan fulfilled that need for a time–before luxury houses began to, slowly but surely, manufacture items with the logo obsessed in mind.” His specialties were Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Fendi.

Dan was not sanctioned by these houses and came under fire. Fendi, among others, ended up suing Dan for copyright infringement several times, until Dan had to shutter his doors.

In the ultimate plot twist, Gucci has decided to steal something from Dan–the exact silhouette of his fabled puff sleeve jacket, originally equipped with Louis Vuitton fabric.

But while some might cry foul, all seems fair in fashion war. Dan copied luxury logos, and now one of those brands has decided to copy him.
It doesn’t seem fair–French and Italian luxury houses always held the power in this equation. But perhaps because Gucci is obviously using Dapper’s design, they can consider joining in an official partnership where Dan can enjoy some of the fruits of his labor.
What do you think?
*Read my piece on Dapper Dan here.

The latest Blackface drama involves LA-based makeup artist @PaintDatFace, who thought it would be a good idea to share a photo of a white woman he painted to look like a black woman.

After getting dragged on social media, @PaintDatFace deleted the pic of the “transformation,” but said that he “can’t offer an apology for my artwork and for what I find to be beautiful.”

A lot of people found the image offensive while others thought it was artistic.

“Black face has been used to humiliate black people. OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME,” commented @beautylikebow.

“I love his work,” said @zenita_smythe.

“GTFOH with that excuse,” wrote @tofuchitlins.

My question is: Aren’t black women good enough to depict themselves?

Black women in general are already underrepresented enough as it is in the fashion industry and mainstream media.

There are so many gorgeous black models who can’t get booked for jobs or have to bring their own makeup to runway shows because of their skin tone – in 2017.

Also, even in the defense of ‘art,’ we are not in a place of racial equality or harmony in our country to erase the racist undertones of blackface. We are still feeling the stings of slavery and prejudice, even today. Some things are still just off limits because they drum up vestiges of a painful past.

 

Winnie Harlow got some sun on Instagram, posing in a Jyork The Label Wild Rose Velvet $91 Marlo Top and $88 Bottom:

A post shared by ♔Winnie Harlow♔ (@winnieharlow) on May 29, 2017 at 5:36am PDT

Her velvet top features thin, fully adjustable straps, triple strap detailing at the back, and contrast trim.

Her matching bottoms boast a high-rise, elastic hip bands, and contrast trim.

Hot!

A post shared by ♔Winnie Harlow♔ (@winnieharlow) on May 29, 2017 at 7:14am PDT

If you’re up for the splurge, get Winnie’s top here and bottoms here.

Thoughts?

A post shared by ♔Winnie Harlow♔ (@winnieharlow) on May 29, 2017 at 8:25am PDT

Angela Simmons hosted a series of event in Atlanta over the weekend in simple outfits uplifted by $1,045 Christian Louboutin Ring Detailed Gypsandal Sandals:

She wore a gold pair with a tank, denim shorts, and an Atlanta Braves hat. For night, she slipped on a mesh LBD and the Gypsandals in black.

The studded napa calfskin sandal has a 4″ covered heel and an ankle strap with ring trim.

I LOVE these! If you do, too, get your pair at ChristianLouboutin.com or below:

Would you splurge?