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Friday, June 29, 2007

Friday Mail Bombs + Contest

"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.com
Bottom Row: BCBG Max Azria Pleated Shift, $180, www.nordstrom.com; Lacoste Sleeveless PiquƩ 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!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Curvy Girl Style: Reader Submission

Happy Thursday!
As you're reading this, I'm on a plane to Atlanta to visit my peeps. I'll be updating, though, no worries!
So last week I did a Real Style Intervention Diary for one of my best friends from the A, Liana.


Liana is a curvy cutie, and while shopping with her, I noticed how hard it was to find affordable clothes that suited her hot bod.
A few readers---well actually one--wrote in, saying that while I had trouble shopping with Liana, she personally found lots of items that flattered her voluptuous frame.
The reader in question, Pretty Girl, said, "I am a size 16 and I do not have that many problems finding clothes, I think I do better than the girls who are a size 6. I don't understand why you think it is soo hard for the voluptous to find anything, maybe it was just the figure your friend had. I find things at the last minute all the time and I live in the weakest, smallest city in the MidWest (Milwaukee). Do not put us all in the category of "I'm curvy and I can't find anything to fit me." Shop at stores that cater to women with curves, which is not H&M."
Well, alright, then!
After reading that, I asked for submissions from readers who champion the curvy look with style and ease.
One brave reader, Tawanda, sent in pictures to show us how it’s done!

She says, "I'm a size 12-14 and I shop all over the place! If I'm looking for work clothes that aren't that expensive then I'll usually go to New York and Company. For Jeans I love Demo and Torrid and H&M. Macy's has good dresses as does Charlotte Russe. That where I bought both of the dresses I'm wearing."

She continues, "I try not to buy anything too clingy and I'm a firm believer in Spanx."

Spanx Power Panties, $25, http://www.spanx.com/.
"Even the most expensive outfit will look bad with lumps and bumps. I don't try to wear prints that are too small and too busy because I personally don't feel that bigger girls can carry that off. I love colors though especially for the summertime! When buying jeans I make sure that there is some sort of stretch material in the jeans. It makes them fit better to your body."

She warns, "Not all baby doll dresses/shirts/tunics are a good thing. I think a lot of curvy girls like them because they can hide a big tummy. If you're not careful some of them will make you look bigger then you actually are (or worse pregnant)."
Some sound advice from a very chic chick!
You can tell she emphasizes her assets by wearing belts that cinch in at the waist, v-neck items that draw the eye towards the center of her body, and darker, slimming colors.
Like her look? If so, a few recommendations:

Top Row: Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati Sleeveless Mesh Dress, $108, http://www.nordstrom.com/; ING Plus Sizes Belted V-Neck Top, $40, http://www.macys.com/.
Bottom Row: Smock Dress, $49, http://www.victoriassecret.com/; l.e.i. Grey And White Plaid Bermuda Short, $25, http://www.torrid.com/.
So what do you think? Does she show and prove for curvy girls?
Smootches!

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

White Party+ BET Awards

Hey Babes,
So if you’re like me, you have some sort of all white event to attend next week for 4th of July. And if you’re also like me, you’ve been procrastinating like *crazy* getting your outfit together (Eek!).
The delay, for me, is with good reason. My friends and I were talking…and though all white seems easy to do, you have to consider that you a.) want to stand out, b.) would DIE if anyone else had your outfit on (hello!), and c.) don’t want to look like a 12-year-old or d.) a marshmellow.
In searching for outfit inspiration, I, of course, looked to celebs:
If you're more of a 'dont' want to rock the boat' kind of chick, you can go with a classic, simple spaghetti strap dress like Ms. Selita Ebanks...


...a v-neck knee grazer with a gathered bodice a la Elise Neal...

...or a subtle, sophisticated white suit like Queen Latifah...

... shimmery camisole optional.
If you're more like me, you'll want to wear white with a bit more of a twist.
Kimora Lee shows us how it's done in a long sleeved dress that looks pretty plain in front...

...only to pack quite the punch in back...

...hot!
Tanned to perfection Nia Long also shows us a different way to go blanc in a delicate keyhole belted tunic...

...worn over light gold metallic shorts.
Still need ideas? Try focusing less on the outfit itself, and more on how you can set yourself apart with eye catching accessories. A distinctive shoe, cascading necklace, or light reflecting bauble are guaranteed showstoppers.
Nicole Richie's red pumps add a certain je ne sais quoi to her run of the mill snow white frock...

Tons of gold accessories, including multiple bangles, stiletto sandals, and sequined clutch make J. Lo's jumper more alluring...

...and unique belts spell u-p-g-r-a-d-e for Ciara...

..and Beyonce...

Cute.
Need a few recommendations?? I got you:
First the outfit:

Top Row: LaRok Palm Tree Top in Cream, $187, CoutureCandy
Super Sequins Dress, $198, www.frenchconnection.com; Walter Jacquard Swirl Shirt Dress in White, $275, CoutureCandy
Middle Row: Ella Moss Admiral Dress, $163, www.pinkmascara.com ; Piped Metallic Shorts, $45, www.ardenb.com ; PicquƩ Pant Suit, $79, www.spiegel.com.
Bottom Row: Metallic Linen Jumpsuit, $24.80, www.forever21.com ; Polished Short Sleeve Jacket, $118, www.whitehouseblackmarket.com; Rachel Roy Layla One Shoulder Top, $445, shopbop.com
And of course, can't forget the accessories!

Top Row:
Michael Michael Kors ivory striped 'Montauk' belt
, $29, www.bluefly.com; Kenneth Jay Lane Pyramid Bracelets, $98, www.maxandchloe.com
Bottom Row: Chinese Laundry Brass Sandals, $63, zappos.com
Elissa Bloom Jewel Pouch, $41.60, www.ebags.com
Now you have tons of options. Now go on... wear summer white with style!
Smootches!
Video Throwback:
Whenever I think of all white, I think of Aaliyah's amazingly beautiful video for 'Rock the Boat' (I actually choreographed a dance to this back in the day...didn't know I was a dancer, did ya?)…

…Doesn't it seem like it was just yesterday that Aaliyah was topping the charts?? I still love this song...R.I.P Aaliyah!
PS So the BET awards were on last night…I didn’t watch it (no cable, ack!), but I was able to peep a few pics online. Of course I have a few favorites…
Ms. Keys...

...certainly stepped her game up in the slate colored floor skimming gown with jeweled neck accents.
Ciara...

...looked toned and trim in this trapeze style gray cocktail dress.
Kelly....

...was smoking hot in this beaded number.
And our good girl gone bad, Rihanna...

...showed us again how to rock all white with flair.
Everyone came correct, but my absolute favorite was…

Eva! She looked smashing in this technicolored long gown. The multiple colors played well off of her tanned skin, brown eyes, and dark brown tresses.

Gorgeous.
For more commentary and pictures, visit ybf.blogspot.com.
PSS The website Dlisted reports that uber designer Liz Claiborne...

... passed away today at the age of 78. Rest in Peace!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Intern Stylefile: Kerry Washington + New Line Alert

Happy Tuesday!
Intern Suzie hits us with a Stylefile on actress Kerry Washington. Enjoy!
Hey Guys!
Suzie here, so sorry for disappearing on you! I was in London (on business)...and you know I had to stop in Burberry and exercise my credit cards:) Anyway, I'm here to profile one of my fave actresses, style icons, and Essence Cover Girl...


...Ms. Kerry Washington. She is a consummate lady and a fashionista to boot. Let's take a look.
Kerry pays close attention to details in beautiful gowns accented with embroidery, beads, and embellishments...




And as you can see Kerry is a total fan of scintillating colors like fuchsia....

Eye popping orange...

Punchy Pink...


And powder blue...


While she dabbles in color, blacks, whites and greys also play a huge part in her wardrobe...





Beautiful.
Want to recreate a Kerry Washington look for less? Try the following:

On the left: Sheer Rosebud Dress, $24.80, www.forever21.com.
Right Hand Side, Top to Bottom: 2.75" hoops in silver, $5, www.girlprops.com; Patent Clutch with Bow, $7.50, www.target.com; Kilty Flats, $60, www.stevemadden.com.
You're ready to go!
Always Remember: "Dress to Impress."
~Suzie
Great Job Suzie! Love Kerry Washington...
Anyway I also had to jump in to tell you about a new t-shirt line one of my colleagues, Janet Kim, recently created called Graey. She says she started her collection to, "incorporate couture details into affordable ready-to-wear." Her Spring '07 collection is comprised of, "tanks and tees embellished with a couture technique where lace is embroidered onto the fabric and the original fabric is cut away on the back to reveal what's underneath." Take a look:

Left to Right: Crown Tee, $88; Lace Tee, $110; Black Lace Tank, $55.
Tres chic.
Check out her whole collection (and shop!) at www.graeyny.com.
Smootches!