Work it Out: Fashionable Fitness Gear

"Thanks to Kanye's workout plan/ I'm the envy of all my friends/ See I pulled me a baller man/ And I don't gotta work at the mall again." Kanye West, 'The New Work Out Plan'.

Hey Ladies,
It's time to get right for the summertime. We have two months before arms and legs go on full display in skirts and sleeveless tops...so let's hit the gym with a vengeance!
I personally feel more motivated to work out the cuter my clothes...so I've compiled a few fashionable gym essentials for ya. Let's get to it.
First up: tops. I like to mix in a few stunner shirts with my old t's and wife beaters to get that extra motivation at the start of the week. My choices:

Top Row, Left to right: Under Armour Heat Agility Sports Tank, $35, www.modells.com; Adistar Long Bra Top, $50, www.shopadidas.com.
Bottom Row, left to right: Women’s YOC Tank, $45, www.shopadidas.com; Nike Women’s Gym Basics top, $18, www.sportsauthority.com.

Next gym essential: sweat whicking, butt flattering pants. If you're like me, you have the workout schedule of an insane person. I like to run on Mondays, take a jump rope class on Tuesdays, Cardiosculpt on Wednesdays...and I need a different pant for each activity. I'd recommend you get a pair of shorts, capris, and long pants in concealing, slimming black like these:

Top Row, Left to right: Nike Women’s Acceleration Capri, $47, French Terry Pant, $55, www.puma.com.
Bottom Row, left to right: Adidas Response Boot Tights, $50, www.shopadidas.com; Nike Low Rise Loose Fit Shorts, $38, www.nordstrom.com.

OK, when you're doing all this jumping around, you obviously need some serious support! My bra picks run the gamet from saucy to serious, and includes the Enell bra that Oprah claimed was the gold standard of support on her show! Take a look:

Top Row, left to right: Nike Full Control Bra, $60, www.nordstrom.com; Mizuno Women’s Colt Sports Bra, $32, www.ladyfootlocker.com. Bottom Row, left to right: Enell Sports Bra, $60, www.enell.com; Women’s Essentials Bra, $26, www.shopadidas.com.

Lastly, shoes. I have foot issues as you know, so I love New Balance because they cater to those with wide feet. In terms of style, Nike has the hottest picks, while other brands perform well:

Top Row, left to righ: New Balance WR810 Running Shoes, $89,zappos.com
Asics Gel-1120, $84, zappos.com
Bottom Row, left to right: Puma Voltaic Cushioned Running Shoe, $75, www.sportsauthority.com; Nike Women’s Air Mimic, $50, www.finishline.com.

To wrap it all up, you must have accessories...the gym bag to throw everything in, jackets to slip on post cool down, and super absorbent socks:

Top Row, left to right: Puma Raw Sweat Jacket, $70, www.puma.com; XtremeMac SportWrap for Ipod, $30, www.apple.com; Under Armour Sub Zero Mock, $50, www.underarmour.com.
Middle Row, left to right: Puma Extreme Low Rider Athletic Socks, $5, www.nordstrom.com; Puma Core Green Grip Bag/Duffel, $30, www.modells.com; Brazil Hoodie, $65, www.puma.com.
Bottom Row, left to right: Lacoste Large Roll Bag, $130, www.saks.com; Nike Bicep Bands, $5, www.finishline.com; Puma Golf Small Weekender, $94, zappos.com


Work out clothes can be on the expensive side....you might be thinking $50 for a pair of pants?!?! But for the most part, once you buy 'em, you can hold on to them for years. I have a pair of Nike capri pants that I've literally had for 6 years. And with shoes, you can typically hold on to them for a year before needing a replacement.
So invest in a few pieces...and work it on out:)
Smootches!
PS The fashion spread in WWD today is also about activewear. I swear, we didn't plan it!
PSS There's a new fabulous online magazine called Clutch that you should definitely check out!

The Atlanta based mag covers fashion, beauty, life and culture. Log on to www.clutchmagazine.com for more info.

Mail Bombs

"I GOT MAIL! I GOT MAIL! YAY!!!!"--Special Ed, Crank Yankers.

TGIF!!!
So I'm getting a good amount of reader mail aka 'mail bombs' these days...

...and today, I'm finally going to address a few of your queries!
Let's get to it.
First up is reader Reiko, who wrote me the following request:
"I am in love with the purse that Eva Mendes carried at the Grindhouse premiere..."

"Any clue as to who the designer is and where I can get it?"
Well, Reiko, you have impeccable taste! After a short search, I found that Mendes' clutch was none other than this Foldover Calfskin Clutch...

...by Jimmy Choo. Only $1,250 at www.saks.com.
Start your Choo fund!
Next up is reader Penne, who proclaimed:
"I LOVE these glasses..."

"...I don't know who makes them though. Can you help?"
Well after an exhaustic search, I found this pair of UrbanSpecs Vintage Glasses...

...which are a close match and only $10 at www.eyesave.com.
If you want a better known brand, these Emmylou Sunglasses could work.

They're $60, and available at www.fossil.com.
Update: I found the sunglasses in question in the April issue of Harper’s Bazaar (pg. 87). They’re Chloe sunglasses, $275, at Saks stores. Couldn’t find ‘em online!
Lastly, reader Lamiachulita asked:
"Do you know of a good maker of skinny jeans for size 14 women? Help me
please!"
I referenced my Voluptuous Vixens post, and hit up the plus sized site www.torrid.com for inspiration. I found many skinny jeans options, but thought that these Z. Cavaricci Black Skinny Jeans were a good choice...

...because of their slimming and flattering dark wash. Bonus? They're only $48.
That does it for mail bombs today.
Before I sign out, I must give a shout out to fabulous reader Kela who, after reading The Fashion Bomb's Cop Her Style Post about Beyonce......

...and discovering that Bey was wearing these $710 Christian Louboutin Fox Trot Platform Slingbacks...

...went out and bought herself a pair!

Well alright now! Notice how FLY Ms. Kela is in her shift dress and chunky bracelets! The Fashion Bomb readers are truly fabulous.
Well keep writing ladies, and I'll do my best to respond! E-mail me at thefashionbomb@gmail.com.
Have great weekends:)
Smootches!
PS Did you hear? The New York Post reported yesterday that Diane Von Furstenberg filed a lawsuit against Forever 21...

...for selling an almost identical copy of her her $325 “Cerisier” dress for $32! Yes those are two different dresses in the picture above!
While I totally respect intellectual property, why is Diane selling her dress for a 1000% markup???
Why so expensive Diane?
If it's unattainable, people are bound to copy. Have y'all seen these $80 Steve Madden Talli flats...

...that are almost blatant rip offs of $200 Tory Burch Reva Flats?

People want the look, but they don't want to spend $200 for some flats (I heard Tory Burch was suing stores like Strawberry's for copying)!
And if you do shell out the money, what are you paying for? My coworker who recently bought some T. Burch's wrote:

"So, before you buy those Tory Burch flats, know that they are crap. I believe they are plain leather flats made in India somewhere with babies sewing on those gold emblems.
I would expect that after dropping $200 in the seasons most talked about flats, I’d get a pair of GREAT shoes that I could walk around in all day. My flats lasted 2 DAYS before the leather started separating from the sole?? Saks took them back and said that they’d had a bunch of calls about that.
WTF Tory?? QUALITY control.
Sorry, I’m pissed because they were a huge splurge and I’ve wanted them for about a year now. HUGE disappointment."

Really?? So we're not even paying for quality?
What do y'all think?

Style File: Nia Long + Vogue

“But when she came to kick it, things became different./Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on./I couldn't keep it home, I thought I needed a Nia Long./I'm trying to write my wrongs/But it's funny these same wrongs helped me write this song.”—Kanye West ‘Touch the Sky.’

So today my fashion focus is on the prolific, cute actress Nia Long!

Nia’s style is supremely simple, yet superbly flattering.
For red carpet events, she keeps it safe in shifts...

...and strapless numbers...

...in demure yet sophisticated grays, blacks and whites.
For nights on the town, she keeps it saucy with cute shorts...

...slinky tops...

...and leather jackets in earth tones like army green, chocolate brown, and khaki. Cute.
Want her look? Try these items:

Top Row, Left to right: Tibor Lamb Blazer, $150, www.nordstrom.com; Gap Military Anorak, $70, www.gap.com ; Rebecca Taylor Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, $306, shopbop.com
Bottom Row, Left to right: Charlotte Russe Corset Top, $26, www.charlotte-russe.com; Nine West Accolia Shoes, $73, zappos.com
Diesel Modane Short Pant in Grey Mini Stripe, $143,www.revolveclothing.com.
Smootches!
PS I finally received my April issue of Vogue in the mail. It’s the ‘shape’ issue, so articles touch on topics like anorexia in the modeling industry, trans fats in foods, and exercising. Their support of body acceptance is obvious, as they placed the beautifully voluptuous Scarlett Johansson on the cover.

First Jennifer Hudson, now Scarlett. Vogue is really trying to send the message that they, as a fashion institute, don't contribute in any way to the whole skinny model fiasco. Anna Wintour addresses the issue in her editor’s letter saying, “That fashion alone should be blamed for this health issue surprises me—many other fields such as movies, ballet, and rock music could equally be said to promote a thin ideal.” Sounds like we’re passing the blame, Anna. And all this recent ‘plus sized’ love reeks of tokenism. When the debate dulls down, will we continue to have shapely women on covers? That remains to be seen.
Anyway check out the issue for the exuberant Andre Leon Talley…

click to enlarge
…who says that he plays tennis to maintain his girlish figure. But don't get it twisted. In his contributor's note, he says that he's never “without a complete set of LV gym bags, racket covers, and mufflers.” Of course!
Also turn to the very back of the book, (pg. 366) for a feature on Alvin Ailey dancer Dwana Smallwood…

click to enlarge
…photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The article discusses her athleticism, perfectionism, and creativity in her vocation and in fashion.
Check it out!