Naomi Campbell plays up her 'firy' image for the DSquared Spring 2009 Advertising Campaign, fist fighting and sparring with fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista:
Happy almost Friday!
So so far in the New Year, we've had plenty of Real Style, Mail Bombs, and Cool Online Finds, but we haven't had a Style File!
A great person to start with, I think, is Fashion Icon, Supermodel, and a notorious cell phone chucker...
....Naomi Campbell.
Yeah, she's got an attitude, but homegirl is consistently fierce, fierce, fierce! So fierce, in fact, that we'll forgive her foibles.
Let's look at her style:
For Black Tie Gala's (of which she attends many), Naomi exclusively wears glamorous couture frocks, accented with fur, feathers, and sequins. While she shines on occasion in figure flattering dresses in neutrals...
...and adorns herself in eye catching silver gowns...
...her absolute red carpet rule calls for nothing but black...
..black...
...black...
...and more black!
...fashion stylist Edward Enninful did say that 'Black on Black is always chic," no?
Naomi takes her love of all black off the red carpet to the front rows of fashion shows....
...wearing dark fur with skinny jeans or a simple top with a full skirt. The dark color even pervades her more casual moments, as she typically sports black jackets, boots, dresses, and sunglasses...
...injecting a white jacket in the mix....
...for good measure.
All black can seem a bit morbid (visions of going to a funeral come to mind), but Naomi manages to make it work by mixing fabrics, textures, proportions, and throwing accents like bright bags and scarves into the mix. Another benefit of all black: as long as the color is rich, it manages to always look expensive and put together. And you can guarantee that if you wanted to wear that one black item several times in a week, absolutely noone would notice!
I'm sure you already have lots of black in your wardrobe, but you can channel Naomi Campbell in these super chic items that'll help you stand out in a crowd:
Top Row: Citizens of Humanity Shrunken Knit Vest, $106, www.nordstrom.com; K Karl Lagerfeld Anja Top, $78, www.net-a-porter.com; Leather Blazer, $350, www.armaniexchange.com.
Middle Row:Hellz Bellz Siouxie Jean in Black, $140, www.revolveclothing.com.
...I don't buy it!"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:
"Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play/And we ride on them things like every day/Big beats, hit streets, see gangsta's roamin'/And parties dont stop til' eight in the mornin'"--Ludacris, Welcome to Atlanta.
Wassup Shawties,
I am FINALLY in Georgia! Yesterday I spent all day in the dern airport because DELTA AIRLINES had clearly lost its mind...they were cancelling flights left and right, trying to rebook people for the next day. Insane. Anyway after spending 8 hours (can you believe it?) hanging out in the airport and one hour on the runway, I finally made it home.
When I got to Hartsfield, I peeped Shay and Cristal of Charm School fame...
Source
They ran by in a flash of multicolored weaves and clear plastic heels. I wasn't quick enough to snap a pic, but I reasoned that seeing them, if only for a moment, somewhat made it all worth it (totally kidding). Enough about me. Let's get to some mail bombs.
First up, reader Shamecia says, " I REALLY want to know the designer of the silver floor-length, belted gown that Beyonce wore on the Red Carpet for the BET Awards..."
"Can you or one of the fab new interns find it for me?"
Intern Elita is an ace at these, and she quickly found that Beyonce's dress was this Dolce & Gabbana frock...
...ripped from the runway of their Fall 2007 collection.
D&G loves the metallic look with the cinched belt. If you recall, Naomi Campbell similarly wore a silver Dolce and Gabbana gown...
...on her last day of community service (I wrote about it here). But um, does Beyonce steal looks as well as acts? You be the judge!
Next, reader Tamika says, "I heart Ciara's dress in this picture."
"... Can you find me something similar?"
Doing a quick search, I found something close in this Gold Pleated Trapeze Dress...
...available for $98 at www.ardenb.com.
Lastly, reader Marlea asks, "I just adore the dress that the model is wearing at the end of Akon's "Don't Matter" video."
"The print, length and kimono sleeves make it the perfect tropical vacation dress. Can you please find this for me?"
Elita championed this again, and says, "Figuring out who made that dress would be damn near impossible. But there are lots of people doing similar things for summer." She recommended the following:
Top Row: Rachel Pally Short Caftan Dress in Mexico, $255, www.pinkmascara.com; ABS by Allen Schwartz Print Kimono Dress, $178, www.nordstrom.com.
Bottom Row: Satin Basketweave Print Puff Sleeve Dress, $178, www.cache.com; Floral Print Kimono Dresses by Anjali Kumar, $308, www.edressme.com.
That does it for celeb queries. Now on to a few general questions.
First, Monique says, "I have to attend a work related multi-day golf and tennis outing this summer. I'm not into either sport, but want to look the part. Can you suggest some work appropriate, yet stylish pieces that would suit a curvy figure? Thanks!"
Of course! There's nothing I love more than prepping it out in tennis whites and golf gear. Keep it casual yet professional during the day in bermuda shorts and polo tops. For the evening, throw a cute cardigan over a simple, classic shift dress. My suggestions:
Top Row: Egyptian cotton nautical-net cardigan, $88, www.jcrew.com; Joe's Jeans Bermuda Shorts, $152, shopbop.comBottom Row: BCBG Max Azria Pleated Shift, $180, www.nordstrom.com; Lacoste Sleeveless Piqué Polo, $68, www.bloomingdales.com.
Next, The Fashion Bomb enthusiast Lily says, "HI! :) I'm looking for a certain dress. I saw it on a girl at a concert and I have yet to see anything similar to what she had. It's a knee length, form fitting dress with three quarter-length sleeves. The top was a boat neck cut. If you could please help me find something similar to this dress I'd love you forever!"
Well Lily, you can shower some of that love on Elita, who found a few dresses that came close. We were both fans of this $168 French Connection 'Dutel' Jacquard Shift Dress...
...from www.nordstrom.com.
She also found this...
...$48 Lux Deep Scoopback Dress at www.urbanoutfitters.com. It packs a punch...
...with a sexy back detail. Hot!
Lastly, a young lady who calls herself, 'Frantic in Dallas' says, "Ok so I have a wedding to attend on 7-7-07 (is everyone getting married on that day??) and my ex boyfriend and his present girlfriend will be in attendance, needless to say I need to look fabulous! I have in mind a fitted strapless dress but have not been able to find what i am looking for. Do you have any ideas of a classy yet sexy evening dress for me?"
So you'll want to knock your exes socks off without being too obvious. Since it's a wedding, I'd say keep the silhouette classic in strapless, shift, or babydoll shapes. You can stand out in skin illuminating bright colors and prints. And flash a little leg:) Try these:
Top Row: Silk Woven Print Flutter Sleeve Dress, $98, www.bebe.com; Laundry by Shelli Segal Print Chiffon Halter Dress, $255, www.nordstrom.com.
Bottom Row: Nicole Miller Strapless Print Silk Sheath, $410, www.nordstrom.com; Diane von Furstenberg "Ayuka" Trapeze Printed Mini Dress, $345, www.bloomingdales.com.
Make him nostalgic. And you better catch that bouquet:)
Now for a small contest!
There comes a time when neither I nor the interns can figure it out. We struggle, and search, but come up short. And that's when we open it up to you.
The readers who can find the make of Rihanna's dress in this picture (for Renee)
...and the designer of Lauren London's dress here (for reader Nicole)...
...will win a faux pearl bracelet, necklace, and earring set from the website, All Girls Love Pearls (www.allgirlslovepearls.com)
...in any color you like. Choose any length, color, or setting you want! Pearls are a classic foundational piece in every girls wardrobe. They go with everything. So get to searching!
Have great weekends. I'll try to survive Hotlanta:)
Smootches!
PS One of my favorite boutiques, Pieces, is having a 4th of July sale!
click to enlarge
Check it out!
