Show Review: Baby Phat Fall 2009

While Adriana covered Tibi in the tents, I power walked down to the Baby Phat Fall 2009 show:

This time around Kimora ditched her usual Roseland Ballroom venue for the smaller, more recession friendly Gotham Hall. Admittedly, Roseland is usually a zoo, crushed with celebrities, editors, and fans--but it also typically has a vibrant energy that makes the Baby Phat show more of a party than a focused fashion event. As a former bank, Gotham Hall had a much more serious atmosphere, but no matter: without all the distractions we were left to focus on the clothes. Thankfully, Kimora put some work into offering interesting silhouettes and pieces real girls would unflinchingly wear.
For fall Kimora went for frills and lace for a girly flair...

..instead of looking cheap, the pieces offered an updated classic, Victorian sensibility that carried over to her reinterpretations of Chanel quilted bags and layered pearl necklaces:

While the lace and frills were fun, my favorite part of the show had to be the outerwear. Cute capes, wool toppers, plaid jackets, and fur collared tweeds cascaded down the runway in silhouettes that would work for anyone from a college girl on the go to a young professional in a funky creative industry...

While some options still looked like a juniors department nightmare with tie dye jeans and bedazzled t's...

Overall Kimora delivered a solid, wearable collection, upping the quality and ante for the Fall 2009 season.
After the show, I walked over to say hey to a few well known faces:
Teyana Taylor looked retro chic with a cute hat, hairdo, and fitting dress:


I said wassup to Ray J, who was putting his VH1 show on hold for the night:

Chit Chatted with my girl Monica about Atlanta and a few of her upcoming projects (Check out my interview with her here:)


And girl talked with Dwight from the Real Housewives of Atlanta!

He was working it in a fur coat and all white suit! No sightings of Nene or Sheree all fashion week, but Dwight was fab-u-lous, and working his outfit!
Yet again, a fun time at Baby Phat:

And of course, I caught the final walk for ya:

I love how 'My President is Black' was the song for the final walk. Very apropos for a show and a President that are all about business!

What do you think?

Bisous!

*Dress from Pieces Boutique, Necklace and Earrings by Jenny Dayco, Chanel 2.55 Quilted Evening Bag care of Avelle.

Interview: Monica at Baby Phat

Check this video to find out about Monica’s favorite designer brands and what she has on tap for the New Year!

Spring '09 Couture Collections: Paris

Hey bombshells, it's Adri here with a roundup of the Spring '09 Couture collections in Paris!

THE FASHION BOMB'S
SPRING '09 COUTURE ROUND-UP

Over the past week, the few designers who continue to offer made-to-wear fashions displayed their goods for the stylish and well-heeled. Couture, which can cost upwards of $20,000 per outfit, is a luxury most can't afford.
So why do some fashion houses keep doing it? Apart from the fact that several do have loyal couture customers, it also serves as image reinforcement, especially for brand extensions. In plain English: Can't afford that Givenchy dress you crave? Buy a Givenchy perfume, instead!
OK, let's get to it!

ELIE SAAB: One of Beyoncé's favorite designers for red carpet wear, Saab sticks to his tried-and-truly feminine silk/chiffon/beaded concoctions. The pastel colors are an obvious nod to spring and, while a bit predictable, there's no denying the innate elegant prettiness of the pieces.

MARTIN MARGIELA: Margiela showed only ten looks in his couture collection, which made each piece distinct and memorable. I love the nude bodysuit overlaid with sequin appliqués (bottom row, far left), which I can easily see on Rihanna, a self-proclaimed fan of the house.

GIVENCHY: My favorite of the group: thoroughly modern and quietly sexy. The colors are muted but still rich somehow, and the shapes make you want to throw on a pair of heels and head out to a chic cocktail party or front row of a fashion show!

CHRISTIAN DIOR: Theatric and a bit confusing, I can't muster too much enthusiasm for these overdone pieces. While some of them are gorgeous and works of art more than anything else, the collection as a whole feels like it's trying a bit too hard. The off-shoulder white gown in the top row is major, though.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER: The models's hair is reminiscent of the '20s but the clothes are almost anything but. Instead, the '80s ruled, with broad shoulders, cinched waists, and the Gaultier fondness for corsets evident throughout the collection. I liked. Kind of.

CHANEL:Karl Lagerfeld played with a limited color palette (whites, creams, blacks) and a treasure trove of textures, details, and tailoring. It's a beautiful collection, and exactly what couture ought to be: luxurious, unique, and forward-thinking!

ARMANI PRIVÉ:The Far East is clearly an influence here, and Giorgio Armani focuses on an Armani signature: the jacket. Although I'm not wild about the pants, the red tassels on the grey shark-skin suit (bottom row, center) give it a perfect pop of color, and the skirt-jacket combos would be my choice if I was a lady who lunched!

What did you guys love?
~Adriana

Real Style 2.0: Baby Phat Spring 2009 RTW

Hey!
So the Baby Phat show was fun, but of course we had to capture Real Style!

Enjoy!
*Special Thanks to my Fashion Week Sponsors: Jenny Dayco, Melody Ehsani, Pieces Boutique, Tibi, and Bag, Borrow, or Steal! Hair by De Lux Gallery in Brooklyn (91 Hanson Place, 718-522-3324), makeup by Glam DLuxe!

The Fashion Bomb does Baby Phat Spring 2009

So last night intern Adriana and I made our way to our last show of the season, Baby Phat:
...Kimora was celebrating her 10th year of runway shows, and we were pumped to be in the building!
Packed with New York's finest, the show is always exceedingly entertaining, thanks to a bass driven soundtrack, lithe models, and funky clothes. Though the show aimed to start on time, people took a while to get to their seats, so I seized the moment to snap a few pics. Caught up with Lala...
..who was wearing a LaRok skirt and YSL sandals, and finally met Serena Williams!!!
She was in a major rush to get to her seat, but was gracious enough to take a quick picture with me. Had to do it for mom!!!
Finally, the show began, and other notables like Carmelo Anthony, Danity Kane, Alexis Phifer, Ice T, Coco, and Maxwell filled in the front row:
The collection offered a melange of themes, mirrored in thigh skimming belted Safari dresses, Seventies era jumpers, maxi dresses and hippie-esque headscarves, Western style fringed suede vests, and Mideastern turbans:
Eye catching yet simple, Kimora's collection was fashioned to fit her target demographic of around the way girls with a splash of spunk. I myself was drooling over the models' blinged out rings, bangles, and necklaces that glinted in the spotlight:
...I'll take five!
All in all Baby Phat reflected the fun mix of couture and culture that Kimora has been bringing for the past 10 years. No Fashion Week could be complete without it!
After the show was the afterparty, and Adriana was tuckered out so we parted ways...
I went with my buddy to the Plaza Hotel for a continuation of the festivities:
...the celebration was grand, and the Plaza's ballroom was packed with partygoers sipping champagne and snacking on ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery.
Kimora was out of reach, but I was juiced to finally meet Dee + Ricky (creators of the lego pins for Marc Jacobs)...
...and we toasted to the end of Fashion Week. Now it's time to rest up!
Hope you enjoyed Adriana and I's coverage of Fashion Week. Let us know!
Oh and I took my Flip Video with me to the show and caught some Real Style...stay tuned for that on Monday.
Smootches!
*My dress and earrings are from Pieces, medallion necklace by Jenny Dayco.
*Special Thanks to: Carlos, Jerome, Leanne, Stephanie, and Tamar!!!

Show Review: Tibi

More from Adriana!
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Walking into Tibi’s show on Saturday felt a bit like stepping into a tented backyard on a summer evening in the Hamptons: cool white chairs, muted pastel lighting, and a runway of the palest ice blue set the mood for a collection that was as elegant as its atmosphere…
Tibi’s designer and founder Amy Smilovic began in fashion after moving to Hong Kong over ten years ago, and Asia’s influence continues to weave its way into her designs. Viewing their Spring offerings, I was reminded strongly of nineteenth-century colonial Hong Kong: butterfly prints, Chinese reds, and Mandarin dresses dotted the runway, along with jodhpur-like “Officer” trousers and wide, tasseled, waist-cinching belts.
There was also an element of Katharine Hepburn and the 1980s, as well, in the shoulder-padded blouses and boxy blazers (which were reminiscent of early Giorgio Armani). Aside from a few pieces that ran toward the kitschy, I was pleasantly dazzled. The pièce de résistance was a floor-length, jade gown with an appliqué design that was stunning in both its color and fluidity.
The clothes seemed perfect for a worldly, bohemian jetsetter, as at home at a Turkish bazaar as she is on the Vineyard (or her Hamptons backyard). Models Han Jin, Chanel Iman, Tokumbo, and Lakshmi Menon, among others, carried the clothes off beautifully and also added diversity to the runway, continuing a (heartening) trend I’ve been seeing all through Fashion Week.
Here are more stand-out looks:
Artful and Fashion Forward!
Adriana

Day 2 at the Tents + Tracy Reese Spring 2009 RTW

Hey Fashion Bombers!
So I took a day off on Saturday to avoid the monsoon like weather! Thankfully intern Adriana stepped in (aren't you just loving her show write ups??), and the sun came out on Sunday...
...so I made my way to the tents. I kept it simple yet edgy in a Forever 21 black blouse, J.Crew Skirt, Jenny Dayco earrings, a Miu Miu Matelasse Bag from Bag, Borrow, or Steal, and shoes by Melody Ehsani. What can I say, black and white is always chic, and I like to throw in eye catching accessories to make it all unique.
I dipped into the Tracy Reese show...
..which is always a must see for me during Fashion Week.
Her collection, simply titled "Spring!" was an explosion of floral and nature inspired prints in watercolor pastels of vibrant colors like peach, blue, green, and purple.
Her attention to detail was flawless and unabashedly pretty. I appreciated the little details: buttons of shimmering crystal, delicate frothy organza flowers, gold brocade on classic trenches, leaf appliques, and lots of lots of girly lace.
My favorite looks:
Gorgeous!
I dipped backstage afterwards (as usual) and caught a picture with former Style File subject Brandy:
She looked amazing in a Tracy Reese dress and long lashes. She's super sweet!
Adriana's going to Tibi and Miss Sixty tonight while I work on the first Fashion Week Real Style video. It's gonna be dope!
Stay tuned for more show reviews, video, and pictures from my 2nd Anniversary Party!!!

Intern Post: Rock & Republic Spring 2009 RTW

Check out Adriana's take on the Rock & Republic show.
Fierce!
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It was celebrity pandemonium at Rock & Republic's Saturday night show: Mary-Kate Olsen, Project Runway's Nina Garcia, Bethann Hardison and Damon Dash (both of whom I sat a few rows behind) were just some of the boldface names in attendance. What else can we expect from a label that's made it's name on the culture of music and celebrity?!Surprisingly, R&R showed some maturity in this collection, which deviated a bit from their usual focus on jeans and edgy casualwear. LOTS of dresses, tuxedo-style tailoring, and (especially) diverse textiles. The contrasts in this collection were not in the colors (the entire collection was done in harsh blacks and whites) but in the fabrics: leather that was so thin it appeared to be tissue paper, petal-like silk ruffles, and an unbelievable Lycra/spandex like acid wash print that was fashioned into denim-like leggings. Also, skinny jeans: still in.
Apart from the label's refreshing new look, the best part of the show was, of course, the music: edgy, pulsing rock blared from the speakers as models, including Chanel Iman, stomped fiercely down the runway in an atmosphere that felt more like a concert than a fashion show. Looking at the pieces, I could easily see several of them on rock style arbiters like Rihanna, Cassie, and Amerie. And kudos to R&R for having one of the most diverse shows in terms of models so far this Fashion Week.
Some of the best looks below:
Rock on, R&R!
Adriana

Intern Post: Nicole Miller Spring 2009 RTW

Hey!
So while I was out getting ready for my party, intern Adriana took the helm, dipping into a few shows. Here's her take on Nicole Miller!
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Hey Fashion Bombers!
Friday night in the tents, Nicole Miller showcased her Spring 2009 collection for the fashion masses.

Her designs are best known for their sound tailoring, modern silhouettes, and, most of all, prints. She wasn't lacking for any of these in the collection, which has an edgier, sexier feel. If I had to sum up the collection in one all-encompassing phrase, it would be boyish-meets modern-meets New Age-meets tribal. As multi-layered and interesting as this may make the collection sound, it was also its downfall as it seemed unfocused and sort of all over the place at times.
It was an ambitious collection, though, which is always great to see from an American designer. And when she was on, she was on: there was a to-die-for LBD; a buttery, terracotta colored leather jacket; and an evening gown of a gorgeous, vibrant ethnic pattern (the inspiration for her prints came from a trip she took to Haiti, which us Caribbean girls certainly appreciate). Here are some of my favorite looks:
What do you all think?
More soon!
Adriana

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Stay tuned for more Fashion Week fun!

Morning Quickie: Essence/Toyota Event

Hey!
So last night I was delighted to attend an event sponsored by Essence and Toyota for a new online series called "If Looks Could Kill." The night promised a fashion show by Ghita (Alexis Phifer's line) plus a performance by Keyshia Cole, so you know I was there!
While waiting for everything to get started, I of course had to take pictures of a few fashionable people in the crowd (there were so many!)
Kerry from the clothing line Save Your Vanity (www.saveyourvanity.com) was in the house with a cute YSL belt and vintage Fendi clutch. Sometimes accessories can make your outfit!
Ayoka, who was blogging for Essence that night, looked stunning in a vintage off the shoulder batwing teal dress.
Alanzo of the blog Minority Report (www.theminorityreportnyc.blogspot.com) literally stole my preppy heart in a kelly green big pony polo with madras pants. Love it! His friend worked bold accessories in a fedora, clutch, and wide red belt.
And lastly, this self professed Fashion Bomb Fan worked a very saucy strapless orange dress with mustard shoes and a Louis Vuitton bag.
Y'all are so cute!
Eventually I had to settle in for the show. A few Ghita looks:
Consisting of jersey cocktail length dresses with grecian draping on the shoulders and bodice, the collection was characterized by a muted color palette of white, blue, and beige, with pops of neon color in belts and straps. The final walk:

Ghita's collection was simple and understated, yet the ruching and draping of fabric was alluring and sexy. I'd wear an off the shoulder Ghita frock for a night out on the town with sky high stilettos (when I can).
So all in all the event was fun! I had the pleasure of sitting with and chatting up Rocsi from 106 & Park..
I literally ate all the food at her table and she was a great sport.
I also had the chance to meet Alexis backstage....

She was absolutely gorgeous and gracious. I had to ask her what some of her favorite summer things were, and she said she loves Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy's designs for a night on the town. When kicking it, she rocks denim shorts with gladiator sandals (holla!), and pops on Nars Lipgloss in Babe to finish the look.
To view more of Ghita's fashions, visit www.ghitafashion.com. For pictures from the event and to learn more about the campaign, visit www.iflookscouldkill.com.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*I caught a snippet of Keyshia Cole's performance! See it plus more pictures and commentary from the event at The Fashion Bomb on Facebook. Join the group!

*Not familiar with Ms. Phifer? Check out my Alexis centered Style File from April '08.