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Showing posts with label Lil Kim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lil Kim. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Throwback: Reebok Freestyle Hi-Tops

Call 'em "classics," "female Air Force Ones," or the now-infamous "54-11's", the Reebok Freestyle Hi-Top can be summed up in just one word: iconic. As a teenage girl in uptown NYC, especially, no sneaker was more definitve, and no fashion trend more beloved. And oh, the colors--sky blue, mustard, hot pink, and even the rumored, holy grail shade of chocolate (which I never confirmed really existed) were among the many hues one could stunt in.

The Freestyle, designed as an aerobic exercise shoe, debuted in April 1982 and became popular both for its sleek design and for being one of the first athletic shoes specifically made for women. It celebrated its 25th birthday in 2007 with not only its own site, but also a line of Freestyles inspired by various influences (like artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, below).

Even Paris's über-hip concept shop Collette teamed up with Reebok and streetwear line Married to the Mob to deliver their own interpretation:


Recently, supermodel Agyness Deyn designed her own group of limited edition Freestyles and there were, of course, those "Reeboks with the straps" immortalized in Flo Rida's "Get Low" (is there anything more fitting for the ultimate Around the Way Girl shoe?).

Craving some Freestyles now (the 90s are back, after all)? Look no further:

1. Punk Freestyle, $45 2. Neon Blue Freestyle, $65 3. Pink and Gold Freestyle, $63 4. Hi Evol Musi Freestyle, $70 5. Snowflake Freestyle, $60
What are some of your Freestyle memories? Favorite colors?
~Adriana

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

What to Wear...to Trial

"Coulda copped to a one to three do/Still took it to trial, even though I blew/Crooklyn style, that's how we do it/Ill gangsters and ain't got to prove it..." Lil Kim "Whoa"
So with all the Hollywood bad girls doing wrong lately (DUI's, shootings, slappings of maids and manicurists), I thought it intriguing to look at how a star's style changes once they're in the court room, fighting for their freedom. The once outrageous and in your face suddenly become demure, upstanding...and dare I say even classy? Let's take a look:
When out on the town, Nicole Richie favors dresses in loud, bright colors to offset her hair and skin tone....


...and has no problem flashing her legs in short cocktail frocks. But she left her psychadelic, bright tendencies at home when on trial recently for DUI...


...going for a Jackie O aesthetic with a black collared shift, matching black status bag, and face obscuring, shame hiding shades. All excess was abridged, as if to say, "I'm a good girl now!"
Cell phone chucker Naomi Campbell similarly switched it up when en route to court. She normally has no problem strutting her stuff in short frocks in fun feathers and sequins...


...but looked like she could be no the corporate payroll when she went to court in January 2007 for assault...


...rocking a reserved shift, black jacket, stockings, and mary jane pumps. I must give it to her, she still kept it painfully chic in her blunt banged haircut and large black shades. Naomi C keeps it fierce at all times!
I hate to admit it, but cantakerous manicurist hating Foxy Brown holds it down as well. She loves bright colors...

...patterns...

...and deep, deep bra exposing v's...

...and opted for a buttoned up version during her trial for assault earlier this year. She looked fly in bright colored tops that buttoned at the neck, knee length skirts, tweed suits, and stillettos...




...all accented with fashionable Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Fendi bags.
While everyone cleans up for court, few transformations are as glaring as Lil Kim, whose style we looked at yesterday. She looks slutacious in most situations....



But appeared in court for her July 2005 perjury accusation looking like a secretary! She rocked stale khaki pant suits...


Tailored jackets...

...and gray skirt suits covered with fur trimmed coats...


...fit for a church mouse!
Need a look that's says innocent yet chic? Try the following:

Top Row: Milly Cowl Neck Shift Dress, $285, www.intermix.com; Fendi Zucca Spy Bag, $2,000, www.eluxury.com; Diane von Furstenberg 'Revolution' Stretch Charmeuse Top, $198, www.nordstrom.com.
Middle Row: Sutton Studio Exclusive Tweed Dress, $129, www.bloomingdales.com; MICHAEL Michael Kors Oversize Round Sunglasses, $80, www.nordstrom.com; Geo Tweed Jacket, $118, www.whitehouseblackmarket.com.
Bottom Row: Silk Charmeuse Tie-Neck Top, $59, www.spiegel.com; Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Speedy 35, $645, www.eluxury.com; Dolce Vita York Lace Up Pump, $138, shopbop.com
Smootches!
PS The Black Weblog awards are coming up! Nominate the Fashion Bomb for Best Niche Blog or Blog to Watch (they don't have Best Fashion Blog!?!) by visiting here...I'll have more deets on how to vote later:)
PSS Mark your calendars...

I'll be there!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

StyleFile Intervention Edition: Lil Kim

"Shop in Bloomingdales for Prada bags/Female Don Dada has no problems spittin cream with my team/It's straight like nine fifteen, na mean?/Cruise the diamond district with my biscuit/Flossin my rolex rich/Sh*t, I'ma stay that b*tch"--Lil Kim, "Queen B*tch"

Hey Guys!
A day of rest put me back in fighting form! I'm ready to take on this week's style file with an intervention that's almost looong overdo. I decided to look at the style (or lack thereof) of diminutive ex convict, and female rapper...

Lil Kim!
She loves sexy clothing, but seems to go a bit overboard with the T&A in frocks that neither complement her body nor play up her positive attributes. She's gotten a lot better over the years. She used to literally let it all hang out...



...in scraps of ill placed fabric that screamed 'LOOK AT ME!' She lacked even a shred of modesty back then, but a short stint in the clinker seems to have made her a tad more refined.
Now, instead of sporting pasties, fishnets, and short shorts, she wears clothes that actually cover her bottom. Nevertheless, she's a few steps away from looking like a sophisticated 'don dada.' Let's take a look:
Kim's a huge proponent of showing off her well sculpted assets, but wears dresses and tops that don't allow her to wear proper support...




...leaving her bubbies sagging woefully towards the ground. If exposing her chest isn't enough, she also enjoys flashing other goodies...


...not realizing that she's not getting any younger, and only the stick thin can pull certain looks off. The little chains over the cut outs of this body skimming dress only accentuate her flaws and visually pack on the pounds.
Sometimes, just sometimes, she actually gets it sort've right...

This denim trench is somewhat chic, and the stiletto boots add some much needed height...

This dress sticks to the Lil Kim spandex aesthetic, but you don't see her bubbies flying out all over the place. Plus the skirt is a respectable knee length, and her pumps play up her legs...

This v-neck white dress has thick straps to conceal a supportive bra and a hem that goes *gasp* past the knee...

..and this top provides lots of much needed coverage while still keeping it cute with ruffles, puffs, and bows.
If you're short and petite, but still like a bit of a sexy swagger, try the following hot items:

Top Row: OC by Oleg Cassini Belted Shirtdress, $120, http://www.dillards.com/; Shape fx® 2-Way Stretch Control Sheath, $69, http://www.spiegel.com/.
Bottom Row: Sara Berman Frilly Sleeve Top, $90, http://www.nordstrom.com/; Christian Louboutin Pigalle Graffiti Pumps, $675, http://www.barneys.com/.
The dresses are tight, yet they reserve a bit of modesty. And stilettos are a must!
Smootches!
PS Lil Kim's latest project also happens to be my fave song of the moment:

...loves it! All of the ladies in this video could use a bit of a Style Intervention...but I'll save that for a future post:)
PSS If you're in love with the Yves Saint Laurent Muse Bag...

...but don't have $1395 laying around to shell out for it, reader Marlie alerted me to this Banana Republic Somerset large satchel...

...that looks similar and is a relative steal at $228. Get the look for less ladies!!!
PSS For those wondering, Rihanna is indeed rocking the $675 Pigalle graffiti pumps from above in this pic...

I tried em on and they're hot!!! Get 'em at Barneys or Christian Louboutin stores.