Ten Reasons to Love: Kimora Lee Simmons

"I hope that when girls see my clothes, my shoes, or my outrageous jewelry collection, they feel the thrill of wanting more for themselves too. I love what my friend Andre Leon Talley said, 'If you are successful, people want to see it. They want to share in your dream." Kimora Lee Simmons, "Fabulosity"

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you're probably quite familiar with my obsession with Kimora Lee Simmons...

...or at least my love of her book, Fabulosity. I think it's smart, funny, and full of great advice...everyone should own a copy (I won't judge!).
Though I was slightly embarrassed by my adoration of a woman who some could say is little more than a super-trophy wife, moves that she's made in the past and present have helped me stand by my convictions.
So today I decided to give you: Top Ten Reasons Kimora Lee Simmons is the Bomb. Let's get to it:

1. She has her own reality show.

I was in the Bahamas for the premiere of her show Life in the Fab Lane this past Sunday, but from the looks of the trailer...

...ish is about to be good! Please believe I'll be posted up this Sunday with a bag of popcorn!

2. Homegirl has a Barbie Doll.

You know you've reached Diva status when Mattel wants to emulate your likeness!

3. She puts everyone to work--even her kids!

Julee Greenberg reported in WWD last Wednesday that the two tikes would be the inspiration and partial creative directors of a children's collection, Ming & Aoki, in collaboration with Kimora's Baby Phat Girlz label. The girls are seven and four and they're already making their own dough!

4. She knows how to 'Let it Go' a la Keyshia Cole. When her marriage with rap mogul and international playboy Russell Simmons went sour, she didn't leave in a huff. She simply said, "Next!" and got herself a hot new piece.

That's right, girl!

5. Again, Fabulosity.

I go back to this book for reference every couple of months for career, life, even relationship advice! Get it for as little as $11 here.

6. This 2005 Vanity Fair Article. Yes, it was two years ago, but this article *never* gets old! And I quote, ""I will beat a bitch's ass!" Kimora says of any woman who dares flirt with her husband, the famous Russell, a hip-hop icon for 25 years. Russell and Kimora are hip-hop's Ozzie and Harriet, or perhaps Ozzy and Sharon, a pop-cultural institution. And yet that doesn't keep "the bitches," as Kimora calls them, from trying to make moves." Love. this. article!

7.Her unabashed, unapologetic pursuit and attainment of gilded, gorgeous things.

...from the maid to the homes and the nannies, sometimes you think...is she serious?!? Part of you is sickened, and part of you is like...alright, she's just...fabulous!

8. Her fun, over the top Baby Phat shows. Remember this?
If, even for a second, you didn't think I was a complete fool, then refresh your memories with these horrible videos:


Lol! I'm working on getting a new recording device for the shows this season! Promise! Oh, and no singing.

9. Her cute kids!

How can you hate a woman with such gorgeous offspring?!?

10. Most importantly, her business sense with KLS and Baby Phat

Baby Phat started as an offshoot of Phat Farm, but has eclipsed Phat Farm by far, reporting millions of dollars in sales each year. I'm personally not a Baby Phat girl, but there are tons of women who are!
She's the bomb y'all. I'll be sure to be checking into her show every Sunday on the Style Network.
Will you?
Smootches!
PS Want to read more? Check out this 2006 NYMag article by Phoebe Eaton called "Kimora Lee Simmons, the New Queen of Conspicuous Consumption."
PSS Need that Barbie? Preorder it for $60 here.

Bold, Beautiful Bags

"I'm thinking balls are to men, what purses are to women. It's just a little bag but we'd feel naked in public without it."--Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City.

Hey Guys,
For today's post, I'm responding to a query from faithful visitor Deys, who asks the following:

I have a dilemma. I'm looking for a bag 1) I can wear to work and to a casual outing day or night and 2) does not cost a fortune, but looks like it would. Do you have any ideas?

When I read this, I immediately thought of wonderful bag advice I read about in one of my favorite 'fun' books: 'Fabulosity' by Kimora Lee Simmons.

Don't laugh. This book is fierce, funny, and has tons of good advice. You may not like Kimora, but homegirl knows the fashion industry, is doing her thing, and according to New York Magazine's 2005 article 'Who Makes How Much?', she makes a grip ($17 million per anum). How Yur' Doin'?
So on page 162 of Fabulosity, Kimora says:

"[Bags] are the easiest way to add flair to your look. If you prefer to wear jeans and black sweaters, a bright colored bag can completely elevate your look...One tip: Don't automatically go for 'safe' beige or black. A classic style in a bright color leather will look fresh and stylish for years!"

I couldn't agree more.

Baby Phat Bold Bags, Spring 2007 Collection
Deys wants a work bag that can transition from day to night that is also stylish and chic. If she's taking it to work, it has to be large enough to hold her what nots...a book, water, a wallet, ipod, cell phone, and other trifles...and bright colors, shiny finishes, or interesting hardware can seamlessly take a work bag from the office to a club in a snap. The bag also has to be in a durable material, like leather, to bear the wear and tear that bags suffer on a daily basis.
Of course we're not ballers like Kimora (later in the paragraph, she talks about how she has Hermes Birkin Bags in lavendar, hot pink ostrich, lime green crocodile, and shiny black--right), so I've compiled some super chic work ready bags...all for under $300.
Let's take a look:

Top Row: Monsac 'Coronado' Convertible Tote, $298,www.nordstrom.com; Steven by Steve Madden 'Endeavor Large' Satchel, $225, www.nordstrom.com; French Connection Jane Bag, $130, www.fcuk.com.
Middle Row: Crystalyn Kae: Metier Square Shopper, $135, www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com; Bedford Bucket Tote, $228, www.bananarepublic.com; Sigrid Olsen 'Elsa' Pebble Drawstring Bag, $198, www.nordstrom.com.
Bottomr Row: Pick-A-Dilly Satchel, $288, www.kennethcole.com; Nam Kim: Fly-By-Night Bag in Black, $235, www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com; Hobo International Convertible Strap Tote, $250, www.nordstrom.com.
They're stylish, durable, and don't cost a month's rent!
Unlike this sweet bag I'm throwing in just for fun...

Yup, that's a $1,730 Gucci Large Hobo with Horsebit Detail in delicious Chocolate Guccissima Leather with Chocolate gold trim and Light gold hardware. That's a mouthful, huh? One day when I'm a super chic fashion editor, trust me, I'll be rocking this. Can you imagine this with...anything?!?! I'm salivating.
Smootches!
PS More bag tips from Kimora:
* If you're going to invest in a bag, treat it like an heirloom from the get go. She says, "Don't take it out in the pouring rain; don't throw ballpoint pens inside (they'll leak on the precious leather); and don't stuff them with oversized items (leather will stretch)."
*"If you can only make one good bag purchase, make it either a larger tote--a 'model' bag, big enought to fit everything you need, all day long--or a classic shoulder purse that will never go out of style."
True wisdom, y'all.

PSS I totally 'did' Madge this murnin at H&M!

It was surprisingly...tame. Details plus pictures tomorrow.

Tale of a Broken Heel

"They're just heels, honey. They can only support so much weight." Jessica Walter as Lucille from Arrested Development.

The other day was an absolutely gorgeous day in New York.





I was wearing my new Urban Outfitters plaid-ish bubble skirt...walking and doing my Kimora Lee Simmons** walk on my way to lunch with a friend in Bryant Park:




I'm swishing, switching, etc and suddenly my left foot was just not connecting to the ground at the proper level...

I looked down and voila, le culprit:





Can you believe that?!??!? The left heel on my Bronx black shoes straight up broke. Fine, they were two year old leftovers from my minimum wage making days as an intern. But I was still so caught off guard!

I pulled it together like a lady and hobbled along until I finally got back to work and put on some flip flops. Still, I started thinking about my earlier shoe post and how I'd gotten sidetracked by sweaters, skirts, and the like.

Now that I've seen first hand the error in buying cheaper shoes, I'm going to have to really pursue this fancy shoe pursuit...starting NOW.

Well, good news...the bards of reason/songstresses of sanity/my friends have spoken, and informed me that I should return one of my cute sweaters to Lacoste. It hurts, but I'm gonna have to do that...and take my $100 and start a Manolo Fund.

My Manolo meter/Leboutin Bank/Jimmy Choo Fund...will basically be sort of like Bank of America's Keep the Change system with a twist. For every sale I catch...I'll put the difference between what I paid and the original price in a savings account. [Example, with my bubble skirt, I saved $23...so that amount would be added to the Manolo Meter].

I'll invest in a new pair of sweet heels like these...



...when I save about $500. Then I'll start my search...at outlets, on ebay, wherever...and if I spend lower than $500 I can just take that and put it into an account for a long term savings goal. Like I dunno. Maybe buying a house one day. Or taking a trip. Ya know some loftier goal.

So. The Manolo Meter currently is at $100. $400 to go...

Smootches!

**The Kimora Lee Simmons walk from pg. 141 of Fabulosity:
1. Rather than planting one foot in line with its hip on two parallel lines, bring both feet closer to one single center line when you step. It gives a sexy swing and an impression of length to your legs...
2. Imagine two strings pulling your hips from the front as you walk and two strings pulling your shoulders from behind, so that the pelvis 'leads' the body as you walk and the shoulders stay way back...
3. Keep your chin up and your neck long...
4. Don't overswing your arms....
5. Keep your fingers relaxed...
6. Engage a few onlookers and smile...
7. Feel good about what you're wearing.
No wonder I broke my heel!

Attention to Detail...

"The details of your incompetance don't interest me"--Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada

Although the correct clothes and accessories are important elements of style, small, unexpected details are the cherry on top of a polished look. As Kimora Lee Simmons says in her book Fabulosity (which you should read--really!), "You only have a moment to make an impression these days, and your personal appearance is going to do a lot of talking." At business events of course the overall look is important, but a small detail like a nice business card case'll show you go the extra mile.

This is what I was working with before:



Yeah...I think I got this for free somewhere (and it probably wasn't meant to last very long). It's busted and scratched, and everytime I bring it out, I cringe a little.

I decided to go to this cute store called Extraordinary* around the corner from my house (on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn):







The store has cute lamps, artwork, candles, cards, and other classy gifts:











I thought they'd probably have business card cases, so I checked out their selection:



Every case ranged in price from $15-$50, so it was pretty affordable.

Logic would dictate that I go with the cheapest option, but of course, I fell in love with this mother of pearl case, made in Thailand and on the expensive side ($45):





Cute, huh? Yes, I bought it. My sister made fun of me for spending $45, but that's really nothing compared to the impression it could make when handing out cards in business situations. Every little bit counts!


If you're ever looking for a really cute gift for a coworker (or for yourself!), visit the nice people over at Extraordinary*.

They're located at 195 Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn between Berkeley Place and Union Street. If you're in the city, their other location is at 251 East 57th Street between 2nd and 3rd. See pix of their selection and shop online at www.extraordinaryny.com.

Smootches!