Ruffles are all the rage! And while stars have adopted the trend, we also want to know how readers rocked it as well!
Take a look at how you wear Spring 2017’s flirty ruffles:
Chimee aka @Aroundthewaygyl_ wrote, “I purchased this jumpsuit from Zara and I love the ruffled sleeves.” Super cute!
Shondra of @thenewdefinitionof types, “Hi! I’d like to submit a few photos on how I wear ruffles with a circular tube top with sweet heart neckline and ruffled sleeves.” You better work! I love it!
Erika @_lovelyxerica wore a ruffled sleeved dress for her surprise engagement shoot (Congrats!).
Jhalisa @jhalisa_xo skewed exquisite in a white ruffled top and skirt.
Lastly, Lanetria Ellis @Caribbean_cowgirl submitted two BOMB looks. You better slay!
We’ll be adding submissions throughout the day, so be sure to send your ruffled looks to Submissions@FashionBombDaily.com. This week, we’re focusing on plus sized Bombshells! If you fit the bill, send pic of your best looks to us for a potential feature.
Which look is your favorite?
Want to shop the look? Get into our 10 under $100 ruffled picks here and get some Style Inspiration here.
So if you haven’t noticed, our Bomb Products are lit! Not only do you get to ogle a cool design, but we’re making it so that four out of 5 times, you get to win the item featured!
Last week we profiled Urban Skin RX, and yesterday we did a giveaway for a GODspeed jacket (the winner will be announced soon!). Today, we’re offering one lucky Bombshell a chance to win a $100 gift card to Blue Mink Boutique!
The new e-store has a small selection of items, though we couldn’t help but be drawn to their $67 Chrissy Jacket.
Christina Milian wore a similar off the shoulder zippered piece.
Get the look for less at Blue Mink Boutique!
If you want to try anything else out at the store, they are offering a $100 gift card to Fashion Bomb Daily readers! Leave a comment below and on IG to enter to win. Peruse their store here.
All contest winners will be announced tomorrow! Good luck!
The stars of Moonlight are winning big this week, first with their triumphant Oscar nod, and then with a steamy shoot for Calvin Klein’s Spring 2017 Underwear campaign.
Though Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, and Alex Hibbert wore Calvin Klein suits to the Oscars ceremony, they stripped down to their skivvies for CK, flaunting washboard ads, killer profiles, and bright smiles.
Photographed by Willy Vanderperre, the men are rendered bold in black and white, wearing simple black t-shirts and briefs.
See even more shots in the gallery above.
What do you think?
Nigerian designer Lanre de Silva Ayaji has debuted her Spring 2017 collection, with a lookbook simply titled “Artistic.”
Collaborating with artist Mr Ayoola Gbolahan, Ayaji proposes floral flecked frocks, A-line dresses, and ruffle hemmed skirts fashioned out of Silk, Velvet, Lace, and Organza.
About the collection, Ayaji offers, “The beauty of imagination is limitless. I could see and analyze the feelings [my garments] would evoke in every woman. The feeling of not just pride alone but of strength and renowned dignity.”
Her collaborator, Ayoola Gbolahan adds, “Everything is a symbol with meanings. Images don’t just appear in my work as random decorative patterns alone. There’s a thought behind everything, a purpose to communicate.”
I absolutely love it, and can’t wait to see some of these stunning designs on the next red carpet.
We are excited to continue with our Black History Month Series. Today, we’re featuring InStyle‘s Fashion & Beauty Editor, Kahlana Barfield Brown. This fashion and beauty crush, consistently slays for the ‘gram with her killer diverse style, so it was only right for us to catch up with her to give you the inside scoop.
Kahlana has always been a trendsetter and fashion enthusiast. Of her penchant for style since childhood she stated, “I’ve always been a fashion girl, literally, since I was a little girl. I Just had a difference in style, and appreciated style. My grandmother is the most stylish woman I know.” Kahlana’s grandmother imparted wisdom about etiquette, how to present yourself, and told her that appearance is a form of self-expression. “And so, that’s always been me. Even in high school, I was always very different. [If] everybody was wearing one thing, I was wearing the opposite.”
Many of us start college wondering when our career dreams and aspirations will come to fruition. Such was true for Kahlana at Howard University. She told herself, “When I start my career, I want to be going to work every day feeling excited to be at work. I want to be in a creative environment, and I just thought about it. I subscribed to all the magazines because like I said, I’ve always been a fashion girl, and since high school I had all the subscriptions.” The fashion maven ultimately decided to remain on the communications track and major in journalism. She wanted to have her degree in writing and then translate that into penning stories for a fashion magazine. “I figured that out when I got to my sophomore year and then I started doing internships.”
The reoccurring theme that seems to persist with our Black History Month Series is to intern, intern, intern. Kahlana wasted no time getting busy interning as she was eager to get a clear focus on her career path. Of her start in the working world she stated, “I did my first internship at a newspaper in Seattle in the advertising department and that’s when I knew that I did not want to work on a newspaper. That’s why I always say do an internship because it really puts you in the day in the life of what that job will be. So at first, I thought, ok maybe there’s a style section in the Seattle Times, and I thought that could be an option for me.” But Kahlana did that internship and soon realized it simply wasn’t creative enough for her. “It was a great opportunity, and great experience, but it just wasn’t for me.”
Though it was common to step into a paying job subsequent to graduation, Kahlana banked on the life of interning, in hopes that she would be duly rewarded for her sacrifice. “You know, I get it, when you graduate after four years, you’re ready start making money, but sometimes it’s about sacrifice. You can take this money now, and be stuck for a lifetime in a job you don’t like, or you can sacrifice and live off of a little, knowing the end result is much greater, once you finally land your dream job. All my friends were walking into jobs after we graduated; everybody, everybody had jobs, everybody had interviewed during their senior year, and graduated walking into their job.” As we all know, fashion doesn’t work that way. It’s still rare to apply for a full-time position at one of the world’s top glossies and get hired immediately. “It’s such a competitive industry that you have to get your foot in the door and people need to see your work. So, I had to intern with my degree.”
Kahlana continued, “I had applied for an internship with Suede and InStyle while I was at Howard and I had come up to New York and interviewed with InStyle, but never heard anything back. Suede hired me to be an intern in the fashion department. They literally wanted me to start the day after graduation.” So immediately after Kahlana graduated—with her family still in D.C. for her graduation might we add—she moved right to New York City. “I started my internship the next day after graduation. It was amazing because it was just such a cool environment. Even though I was doing very administrative tasks, I was basically the runner; the messenger.” At that time, Suede was a start-up magazine, without a budget for messengers to bring pieces from their photo shoots back and forth and to pick up samples. So Kahlana was their city-cruising go-to, heading to brands like Jacob the Jeweler to secure pieces for upcoming shoots. “I would literally have to walk, go pick it up, and bring it back to the office. It was 100 degrees outside and our offices were in the middle of Times Square. It was a grind!” As expected, this work was far from pretty and glamorous, but Kahlana was unbelievably inspired. “I always saw the long-term goal. I was so happy.”
Interning can be a very daunting task. At times you may be assigned jobs that many find undesirable. However, Kahlana demonstrated that it’s your execution and drive that truly set you apart from the rest. Here’s one example she shared, “There was a very senior editor, who had just moved to New York from Canada. He was moving his stuff and my job for one day, he said, ‘I need you to go to my apartment and stay there while movers bring my stuff and I want you to check off the list’. So I basically had to inventory the shipment of his personal stuff being brought to his apartment.” No part of this work was fun and it was an all-day affair. Kahlana knew it was something she had to do, so she completed the task with a smile on her face. For her, it was and still is all about a positive attitude. “I was so happy to have a chance to absorb anything I could possibly absorb about the magazine business, and about the fashion business. I was just honored to be there. I went out and got a lot of lunches.” Laundry was also on the agenda and Kahlana made sure her supervisors knew she was never above doing the menial tasks. Her humility separated her from the rest. “Who is hungry for it?,” she asked. “Nowadays, a lot of young girls, they don’t want to do anything, they’re afraid to get their feet wet. They come in and they just want to start writing a week after interning.” Kahlana reminded us that we all have to crawl before we walk. She still tells young women who reach out to her that interning is key. It gives you an opportunity to prove yourself, as well as learning the ropes of a publication, seeing the ins ands outs of it firsthand, and ultimately, helping you to get your foot in the door. “It’ll give you an opportunity to make relationships with editors, but also more than anything, you have to be thirsty, you have to be hungry, you have to keep a smile on your face. To me, those things are simple, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t inherit these things. They come in and just feel entitled.”
Although Kahlana was content with her internship, she demonstrates that sometimes it’s better to step outside of your comfort zone in order to affect the change you’d like to see. She explains, “While I was at Suede, InStyle called me for an internship, which I had interviewed for several months before; I just thought I didn’t get it. Although Suede was really cool, InStyle was a much bigger magazine, and I had the experience at Suede. I thought that having a black girl go into mainstream media was important; our voices need to be heard.” From her point of view, Essence and Ebony were made for us, but having a seat at the table at magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, InStyle, and Vogue will make sure our stories are told to the world. It’s something we deserve as much as anyone else. “So I thought this was a great opportunity, I didn’t even think twice about leaving. They actually didn’t have a position for me in the fashion department when I went, and I was a little disappointed because I really wanted to be in fashion, but it was a blessing in disguise because I ended up being a general intern.” Kahlana floated between various departments, shifting between art, beauty, fashion, photo, and more. In this structure, she learned the ins and outs of the publishing business and got some serious face time with different editors. “I happened to fill in for the beauty director’s assistant at the time who went on vacation for two weeks. They asked if I could fill in to be her assistant for those two weeks. So I was just like, this is my chance to really show her what I have and that I could be a better assistant.” She was really impressed with Kahlana’s work, so she stresses the importance of making an impact whenever you get that big chance.
When all is said and done, and you know you’ve done your best, it is important to leave your mark. This reigns true for the beauty editor. “Fast forward, I had been applying for jobs and nothing was sticking. I had done a million interviews and I wasn’t getting any of the jobs. I had applied to a job back home in Seattle at Nordstrom’s.” Her backup plan was to work for Nordstrom if she had to move back home. It’s a Seattle mainstay for all the fashion hopefuls in the city, so she headed back to her hometown after accepting an offer there. She needed the money, even though that would make things a bit harder in her personal life—she was in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend at the time. “I was making decisions based on the moment, instead of long term. My last day at InStyle, I passed around thank you cards; I gave to all the editors I worked with who had been so kind to me, and just everyone that I worked with. I wrote a hand written thank you card just to thank them for the opportunity.” The beauty director asked Kahlana if she’d move back to New York City if a job opened up. Her response? “Of course I would”. So they exchanged information and a week later, Kahlana got that Time Inc. call. She hadn’t even started the job at Nordstrom!
After paying her dues, she landed her dream job, and began to flourish within the company. “I started as a beauty assistant and worked my way up to assistant beauty editor, to associate beauty editor, to senior beauty editor, to beauty director. I’ve been here for many years, and it’s really rare for editors to stay at one place so long.” It has been the most amazing journey, but every step of it has required hard work. “There were years when I just wanted to be the first one in my office and the last one to leave. I’m gonna be the first face people see and I’m gonna be the last face, so people know ‘that girl works!’. I didn’t want anything handed to me, ever; I wanted to earn it.” As a black woman, that’s the mindset many of us have in a business that’s not only competitive, but slowly and surely becoming oversaturated with the proliferation of all things digital.
Aside from being an Editor-At Large, Kahlana expands on the responsibility she has, as an African American, working in mainstream media. Of her position she stated, “For most of the magazines, there’s one [African American], if that, represented. I think we have a responsibility to change that or help in any way that we can. I always hire black interns because it’s important to add some color to these offices.” Diversifying her workplace is paramount because with authority comes responsibility. Someone helped Kahlana along the way, after all. Media representation is key to her as well. “So for me, it’s making sure more of our stories are heard, and making sure that more of our people are featured in the magazine. That’s been super important to me and I think that there has been change; seeing a beauty story talk about our skin type and our hair. Doing stories on black actresses who deserve to be featured just like any other magazine.” We acutely understand the absurdity of even needing to push this, but we still need incredible amounts of change in this regard. And things will never shift unless we make them happen. “I have a responsibility to bring that to InStyle and to anything that I do.”
Her proudest career achievement to date, was when Viola Davis graced the cover of InStyle for the first time. “Seeing a dark skinned beauty that looked like me was empowering. I look at Viola Davis and I see myself”. This also led to an article she wrote, where she discussed the affects of colorism, which we encourage you to read here.
Here’s Brown’s advice to those looking to pursue a career in fashion: “Own who you are, be yourself, live your own truth. People say, “I want to be just like you” I say no, use me as inspiration, but create your own path, so that your path is uniquely yours. No one could ever be that.”
And Kahlana encourages interns to be bold enough to ask for advice whenever possible. “My generation of girls, and a lot of girls who are editors, and were the same age, we were all cut from the same cloth. We all worked very hard, we all got to work early in the morning, we stayed at work late, we networked, we weren’t afraid to ask for mentorship. If there was an editor that we saw ourselves through, one we thought could be that voice, could give us the guidance, or give us any insight to help us progress in our career, we weren’t afraid to reach out and ask for help.” And most importantly, they all worked incredibly hard. None of their successes came overnight and to say the grind was real would be an understatement. “We didn’t make a lot of money starting off. When I started at Suede, I made $15 a day; it was just a lunch stipend. In New York, $15 is barely enough money to have lunch, but I made it work.”
Well said, Kahlana! We hope you found this just as inspiring as we did!
While the awards show was going down, a slew of stars watched it happen in real-time at The 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Academy Awards Viewing Party. Embellishment, all-white, sheer looks, and red were some of the celebration’s trends.
Check out the evening’s getups below:
Mommy-to-be Ciara was a vision in a white August Getty Atelier duster and embellished gown. Is she the most gorgeous pregnant woman or what?
Insecure star Yvonne Orji’s Valdrin Sahiti sequin gown was mesmerizing. She’s definitely one to watch in the fashion department!
Nathalie Emmanuel’s black Monique Lhuillier gown combined a few of my favorite things—embellishment, lace, and a low-cut neckline.
Everything was coming up roses for Garcelle Beauvais in a Jovani floral print ball gown.
Leona Lewis’s Tony Ward Couture look was only missing a crown. In a word: regal.
Before taking to the Vanity Fair celebration, Freida Pinto shimmered and sparkled in a black Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna embellished gown with a sultry front slit for her first party of the night. Hot!
Ruby Rose served up a healthy dose of va-va-voom in a sheer embellished, cutout gown from Julien Macdonald.
Heidi Klum was the lady in red, slipping on an Alberta Ferretti silk gown in the fiery hue from the brand’s Limited-Edition collection. What’s not to like?
Michelle Dockery was a breath of fresh Spring air in a white Roland Mouret design with a floral bodice, cutout accents, and a front slit. So gorgeous!
Alessandra Ambrosio was pretty in pink, slipping on a blush halter gown from Ralph & Russo Couture. It was given added flair with draped shoulders, a low-cut neckline, draped detailing, and a front slit. This was delightful.
Vanessa Hudgens was white hot in a lace Kristian Aadnevik gown with double slits.
What do you think of the party’s ensembles? Stay tuned as we update with all of the fête’s ‘fits!
Today’s Fashion Bombshell is Amber from San Francisco:
She writes, “I like to think of my style as classic, yet on trend, versatile, and effortlessly chic. I mix high end investment pieces with fast fashion with relative ease.”
“As a wardrobe consultant, I help everyday women elevate their style.”
“With my blog, I show my readers how they can maximize their wardrobe by remixing pieces they already own to create fabulous looks.”
More here:
Amber, we definitely understand why you’re a wardrobe stylist! I love the versatility in your style choices.
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 5-10 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 5-10 different outfits (no collages) to Bombshell@FashionBombDaily.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.
With Spring on the horizon, owning a biker jacket is essential! We couldn’t think of a better option than Godspeed New York’s Moto Jacket:
Constructed of lamb skin, The $540 piece has an asymmetrical zip and loads of hardware. Each jacket features ribbed detailing on the shoulder and elbow areas, accented with silver zippers and buckles.
In addition to buttery bronze, the jacket also comes in black and vintage brown, with detachable fur collars sold separately.
On a budget? We’ve got a special treat! We’re giving one jacket of your choosing away TODAY. Leave a comment detailing which jacket you’d like and how you’d wear it. Bonus if you also leave a comment on IG and on TheBombLife.com.
The winner will be chosen at random!
Good luck!
After the show, it’s the after party! First up came the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar celebration. Newly-minted Academy Award winners, presenters who made a quick change, and a slew of other iconic ladies and gents were in attendance.
Let’s get into the fête’s looks!
Naomie Harris donned her second Calvin Klein By Appointment number of the night. This time, she chose a one-shoulder gown that radiated goddess vibes to the max.
Gabrielle Union shut down the entire night in a black and electric blue Jean Paul Gaultier gown that showcased her toned physique.
Tracee Ellis Ross wore one of her best looks ever in a red embellished Zuhair Murad ball gown with a plunging neckline. She just keeps getting more and more fabulous.
Janelle Monae continued the slayage in a black Alexandre Vauthier Couture gown with a voluminous skirt, mesh bust and sleeves, grommet detailing, and a front slit. I thought she reached her peak on the red carpet, but this was even better!
Ciara was positively glowing in a curve-hugging Jovani Signature velvet gown that put her beautiful baby bump on display.
Kerry Washington shimmered in a long-sleeve, sequin Michael Kors Collection piece and a sleek bob. Couldn’t find a flaw.
Oscar winner Viola Davis was a vision in an all-white Brandon Maxwell suit. Flawless from head-to-toe!
Ruth Negga’s colorful strapless, sequin Oscar de la Renta gown with a high-low hemline couldn’t have been any more heavenly. Another reason why she’s one of my faves.
Thandie Newton brought the glitz and glamour in a plunging sequin Schiaparelli Couture dress with a sheer skirt, colorful shoulders, and a choker for added flair.
Rashida Jones was positively captivating in a navy, floral appliqué Prada gown.
We can always count on Zoe Kravitz to bring some edge to the evening and the dark romance of her Armani Privé gown was not to be overlooked. She never strays from her aesthetic and I love that!
Halle Berry slipped on her second Atelier Versace dress of the night, this time choosing a chainmail mini dress.
Décolletage was on the agenda for Mariah Carey who looked every bit the diva in a black and yellow printed Philipp Plein design.
Another stunning look from Ralph & Russo Couture! Jessica Alba channeled a retro ice princess in a delicate, pale blue ruffle gown from the brand.
Mindy Kaling was a floral dream in Naeem Khan. She’s never looked better!
Sofia Vergara flaunted her curves in a long-sleeve Michael Kors Collection gown. Hot!
Freida Pinto looked astonishing in a blue one-shoulder Elie Saab cutout gown with a thigh-high slit. This was perfection.
It doesn’t get much more refined than Olivia Munn’s red Giambattista Valli look.
Deepika Padukone posed alongside Christian Louboutin in a strapless, Monique Lhuillier gown with a gold sequin skirt. This was glamour done right!
Sarah Paulson went bold in a two-tone, black and yellow Ronald van der Kemp velvet gown. Certainly not for the faint of heart, but Sarah wore it effortlessly.
Kate Bosworth served up princess chic in a sage J.Mendel tulle ball gown. I loved the drama of this look!
Demi Lovato was ethereal in a wispy, lavender Monique Lhuillier piece. She totally knocked it out of the park with this one.
Kate Hudson was a total bombshell in a plunging Cavalli Couture gown with ruffle and sheer lace accents.
After seeing Nocturnal Animals, I’m even more obsessed with Amy Adams! Naturally, she wore Tom Ford for the evening, accented with Cindy Chao jewelry. Her long-sleeve silver, beaded gown with a plunging neckline was the definition of chic.
Mommy-to-be Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked every bit the supermodel in an Atelier Versace gown with draped shoulders, a crystal-embellished bust, and thigh-high slits. She never disappoints!
Reese Witherspoon flaunted her toned gams in a long-sleeve embellished Michael Kors Fall 2017 LBD which she shortened from the runway’s midi length. I liked the catwalk iteration a bit more, but it’s a stunning dress nonetheless.
The silhouette of Heidi Klum’s black feather Alberta Ferretti gown was absolutely breathtaking.
With her Oscar in tow, Emma Stone accented her on-trend Givenchy slip dress with a pearl-accented blazer. A fun look indeed, but lacking in a bit more glamour for me. But who cares? She won one of the world’s biggest honors!
Alessandra Ambrosio was another one of the night’s party hoppers, donning her second look of the evening from Ralph & Russo Couture. This stunner was an asymmetric corset design with another sexy slit.
The one-shoulder silhouette continued its reign on Diane Kruger, whose Alexandre Vauthier Couture mini dress was absolutely exquisite.
Nina Dobrev wore one of the most coveted looks of the year, clad in a sheer white Christian Dior tulle gown with the iconic French fashion house’s logo straps.
It was all about sustainability for Rooney Mara who chose a plissé ruffle H&M Conscious Collection LWD.
Though Brie Larson was only presenting for the night, she looked like a winner in an emerald Ralph & Russo Couture gown with a thigh-high slit. Hot!
I expected something provocative from Miranda Kerr, but she surprised me in a baby blue Miu Miu floral gown. This was refreshing.
Kate Beckinsale’s sheer embellished Zuhair Murad design with black tulle sleeves was tricky, but the actress executed it perfectly. Like a real fashion girl would.
Old Hollywood glamour with a modern edge was on the agenda for Lily Collins in Elie Saab Couture. Gorgeous!
Michelle Monaghan flaunted her toned abs in a black Brandon Maxwell cutout gown. I would’ve loved a sleek ponytail or chignon to showcase the dress’s shoulder cutouts, but it was a graceful look nonetheless.
Ralph & Russo had quite the night! Hailee Steinfeld was outfitted in a crystal-adorned, sheer halter Couture gown from the brand. So lovely!
Jennifer Aniston got to werk in a black sequin Atelier Versace gown with a plunging neckline and thigh-high slit.
Jessica Biel was dipped in gold for the second time last night, this time going for a bronze metallic and white Ralph Lauren cutout cape gown. Haven’t seen a dress this brilliant in ages!
Another one-shoulder silhouette! Karlie Kloss’s red Naeem Khan gown was simple in form, but sequins and her matching red lips took it to the next level.
Shanina Shaik added some color to her black, sheer panel Kaufmanfranco embellished gown with pink Lorraine Schwartz statement-making earrings and an eye-catching Devi Kroell clutch. I loved this!
Adriana Lima was luminescent in a gold embellished Elisabetta Franchi keyhole gown with a thigh-high slit.
The electric blue shade of Chanel Iman’s Zuhair Murad Couture gown made sure she wasn’t missed at the celebration.
Emily Ratajkowski sizzled in an embellished Jonathan Simkhai gown with a feather hem. It’s clear the designer has real red carpet chops!
Priyanka Chopra’s black Michael Kors Collection design was given that extra shimmer allover sequins.
I lived for Sia’s Giorgio Armani suit! Still unsure how she sees anything at all, but I can dig her commitment to metaphorically staying out of the public eye.
Kat Graham went bold in a colorful Renato Balestra Couture strapless dress. Instant mood-lifter!
Who had your favorite look at the party? Stay tuned as we update with all of the looks from the celebration!
