Real Style

Happy Monday!
Christmas is so close, I can taste it. Cannot wait for vacay!
So I've been making my holiday party rounds, and went to a hot one this past Friday. I couldn't help but snap a picture of this young lady....
...who was seriously working a pair of shiny gold lamé tights.
She was bold enough to take a trend straight off the runway....
...and make it hers with the addition of a bright blue H&M top, neon nails, and booties. I applaud her courage, but what do you think:
Does she have great style?
Smootches!

Fashion, New and What Nots

*Could Kerry Washington win a 'Fashionista of the Year' Award???
It seems like every week she's wearing some amazing cocktail, fierce shoes, and looking fabulous! She wore this sparkly number to the 7th annual Hollywood Life Breakthrough of the Year Awards. It's a bit daring, but it works, no? I love the rainbow sequins and the pop of blue shoes. Fire!

*Turns out our Real Style subject today is an accomplished filmmaker. Check out her site, www.nikyatu.com.

*Get her tights from good ol American Apparel....

This pair is $40.
* For my NYC Fashionista's, Diane Von Furstenberg's epic Sample Sale starts today!!!
I'd normally be the first in line, but my credit cards might spontaneously combust if I charge another thing! So you'll have to hit it up...tell me how it is. I seriously do live vicariously through others (even with shopping)...

Mail Bombs

Happy Fabulous Friday!

Let's mail bomb it up!
So readers loved Beyonce's bold red and purple ensemble from this picture posted yesterday....
...Najah said, "Do you know where I can get this look?"
With Beyonce's couture it's hard to find an exact copy, but I felt the following high and low items could help you channel Beyonce's essence:

Top Row: Calypso Christian Celle Edie Dress, $45, www.calyso-celle.com; Enzo Angiolini Women's Vikky Ankle Strap Sandal, $70, www.endless.com.
Middle: Keep Together Belt, $68, www.kennethcole.com
Bottom Row: Giambatista Valli Velvet Platform Ankle-Wrap Heels, $775, www.ronherman.com; Portolano Aubergine Leather Suede Inset Gloves, $78, www.bluefly.com.
Update! Reader Kristin from Chicago found a dress that is almost an exact match!

She says, "I just so happened to be web-shopping and found a dress that is very similar for under $50. It can be found on Chadwicks and comes in cinnamon and aubergine (purple). It’s on sale for $39.99."
That works! Get it here.
Next, Shekeidra says, "I am desparately searching for a gold sequin mini dress or tunic to wear on New Year's Eve. This dress..."
"....is perfect but I don't know where to find it. Plus, I'm trying to stay away from spaghetti straps. Considering I'll only be wearing this once, I really don't want to spend an arm and a leg. Your help would be graciously appreciated..."
Hey Shekeidra! Finding a great sequined dress with wide straps or sleeves shouldn't be hard. Try these affordable options:

Left to Right: Nine West Sleeveless Gold Sequined Dress, $85, www.macys.com; Sequin V-Neck Dress, $198, www.ardenb.com; Scoop Back Scallop Sequin Dress, $85, www.asos.com.

Reader Khalilah comes to us with a men's fashion query. She says, "My boyfriend recently started experimenting with wearing scarves and I'd like to encourage his new found fashion fearlessness. However, I don't know what type of scarves are male friendly or where to get really fashionable ones (that are also affordable). Any ideas?"
For how to rock the male scarf, one need look no further than super stylish GQ man of the year Kanye West.
Whether he's wearing Louis Vuitton logo scarves in black or white...
...experimenting with skulls....
...or playing with more traditional patterns...
He always manages to look super chic and masculine rocking a neck tie.
If your man isn't quite as bold, he can go the route of Jay-Z or Swizz Beatz...
...wearing a plain black and white design.
If you're looking for a few well priced options, I've got you covered:

Top Row: Diesel Piramyd Scarf, $50, www.urbn.com; Libertines Check Scarf, $22, www.asos.com.
Bottom Row: Checkerboard Scarf, $15, www.asos.com; Alexander McQueen Skull Scarf, $295, www.barneys.com.

Sounds like a great holiday gift!

Fatimah from Toronto says, "I recently bought a very serious vintage mink stole and I'm dying to wear it sometime this holiday season..."
"... What's the best way to rock it?"
Fur--whether it's a jacket, vest, or full length coat--is surprisingly versatile and looks great with virtually anything.
Throw your fur over a short or long dress like Nicole Richie or Eve....
Or go a bit more casual like Kimora...
Honestly, anyway you slice it, you'll look luxurious.

Lastly, Fashion Bomb devotee Niesha loved Real Style! She says, "I fell in love with the coat that the young lady was wearing in the picture that was posted on Monday..."
"... I NEED that coat in to my wardrobe right now. Could you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me find THAT COAT!"
I got in touch with the young lady in the picture, and she disclosed, "I got it in a small boutique in the Manhattan Mall on 34th street. The store's on the lower level... I forgot the name of the store but once you're downstairs, you can' t miss it. I am surprised at the fan club, lol!"
You shouldn't be surprised, your coat is hot! Anyway, I searched online and couldn't find anything similar, so, Nieisha find your way to the Manhattan Mall!

Good luck!

Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

*Lil sis Solange Knowles rocked bright purple tights and checkered shoes last night at People's Grammy Kick off Party:
I'll be totally honest with you: I wore bright purple tights (from American Apparel) with my favorite black sweaterdress yesterday. But while I thought I looked pretty fly, Solange looks just a little off, am I right? Or is it the shoes??

Breaking into Fashion: June Ambrose

Hi Guys,
Next up in my Breaking into Fashion series is none other than stylist extraordinaire...
...June Ambrose!
If you haven't heard of June, she's outfitted the likes of Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Ciara, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, and Jay-Z, just to name a few. She worked closely with video director Hype Williams during his “Gimme Some Mo’” days and was the stylistic brains behind a ton of epic hip-hop videos past and present including “Big Pimpin’”, “All in my Grill”, “We Belong Together,” and “Sexy Love.” She even styled ‘Mo Money, Mo Problems” (Remember those shiny suits???)
She was kind enough to interview with The Fashion Bomb to give you aspiring stylists tips on how to get your foot in the door.
June knew from a young age she had a passion for fashion. She says, “I was always interested in clothing. When I was in elementary school, I created our first school fashion show. I got everyone involved, whether we were making pocketbooks out of crepe or skirts out of construction paper….”

“… All those things were a part of my entrepreneurial spirit. I wanted to separate myself from the masses and be an individual. That was always me. “
A marketing major, June’s first job out of college was at an investment bank. Finding that crunching numbers wasn't her calling, she threw caution to the wind and interned for a short period at Uptown/MCA in their marketing department. Her drive got her noticed by Jive Records, who hired her as a stylist for groups such as Hi-Five, The Backstreet Boys, and R. Kelly.
After her stint at Jive, she worked as marketing director for the 90’s uber-brand, Cross Colours. She says, “Cross Colours was the biggest and the only urban brand in the marketplace at the time.” As a marketing director, she placed Cross Colour clothes on the hottest acts of the moment, including TLC and Kriss Kross. She managed to make enough artist connections to become a freelance stylist.
For those wanting to break into the business, she says, “The industry is saturated, but if you’re going to go for it, take a course. Get an internship with a credible stylist or a magazine. It’s a business, not an industry. If you’re only interested in meeting celebrities, forget about it!”
She continues, “Build your portfolio. Have a plan as to how you’re going to market yourself to acquire clients. Do a really great internship that will allow you to experience and understand everything that goes into it.”
She credits her success with her insatiable search for fashion knowledge (sound familiar?) She says, "I was a sponge and OK with learning as I went. It was my passion and everything that I did. I wanted to know where clothes came from before they went to stores. I dreamt, lived, and breathed fashion."
Need a bit more fashion knowledge yourself? Lucky you, June compiled all her best style tips and fashion advice in her book, Effortless Style:
In it, she discusses everything from the importance of fit and wearing the correct undergarments to buying the right accessories to achieve a celeb glam look.
She says, "Effortless Style talks about capturing fashion and interpreting it into your own look...using the right tools to translate celebrity and runway looks into the style of an average person." Sign me up!
Effortless Style is now in paperback (easy to tote around). Get your copy for $11 at www.amazon.com.
Smootches!

Fashion, News, and What Nots

* Beyonce plays with color in Paris....
...mixing pretty purple with pink and red. Bold, but does it work?

*Learn more about June at her website, www.juneambrose.com.
*In NYC? Take a styling course at FIT for $280.