SWIMSUIT SEASON

I love the retro look of the swimsuits below, the high bottoms are and ode to the '50s and they are so pretty.

The one on the left is from Topshop and the right is from Grey Antics. The Grey Antics pieces can easily be worn separately (a very daring separate in the bottom) and would look good with cut-offs, jeans or a flowy skirt.

SHE'S BAACK...

Long blonde hair, on-trend dresses (the cut-outs!), McQueens and Louboutins, she's making it hot, hot, hot!

Listen to her new single here.

MODEL MODE: GRACE BOL

 

So Grace Bol is model from Sudan but raised in Kansas City (my hometown) and is making creating chatter in the industry with her striking features and height. She's had appearances at Vivienne Westwood, Givenchy, Maison Martin Margiela, L'Wren Scott and Jeremy Scott.

 via hintmag. 

WOMEN IN MUSIC: ELLE MAG ANNUAL DUPLICATE COVER ISSUE

Elle's annual 'Women in Music' issue is pretty diverse this time around. This is Nicki Minaj's first Elle cover and spread along with Robyn, the electropop singer who is starting to make her way back to the forefront of everyone's iPods and Gwen, a women's magazine cover regular.



Here's a throwback vid of Robyn's first song when her hair was a little less platinum blonde and her beats a little less electro...Love the retro looks of today's pop stars when they were just getting their start in the biz.

TWIN TITANS: MARY-KATE AND ASHLEY

Mary-Kate and Ashley, who both have been an inspiration for me since elementary, with The Adventures of... series and have grown into sartorial icons with editor-approved lines Elizabeth and James and The Row, are now about to embark on something that keeps them in the stratosphere of big names in fashion and style.

The duo will create their fifth fashion line that will be in the form of a new website, Stylemint.com. After members take a personality and style quiz, they will be offered T-shirts starting at $29.99 that are geared to match their personality and style, hence taking the quiz. This is similar to Jewelmint.com, the Kate Bosworth-endorsed website that offers jewelry items to members also starting at $29.99 a month. What will they come up with next?

COLOR BLOCKING: H&M SPRING PALETTE

H&M is letting the bright and pastel colors palette loose on their new spring/summer collection, I like!







images via nitrolicious.com.

NICKI MINAJ: SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Nicki Minaj gets mixed reviews from writers, bloggers and commenters across the board: "She isn't a real MC, her raps are just punch lines," to speaking about her outfits and how they represent black females: "She's just a sex symbol, she not a good representation of black females," and a rebuttal of her image as a sex symbol: "With most of her costumes she is completely covered, so you can't say she's completely exposed."

But no matter what you say about her, you can't deny her strength, her "balls" and her determination to be to be one of the top female artists of this generation. In an older video from MTV's documentary of her, "My Time Now," you can truly see behind the crazy costumes and over-the-top antics, that she is a human being living her dream. 

DIY TRY: snap! CRACKLE! pop!

Yesterday after selling some old (and never worn) clothes at Beacon's Closet, I passed a nail salon that was advertising OPI's crackle nail polish offering a demo and application. I haven't been to the nail salon in over three years and went inside to purchase the polish -- I've been scratching for it since its resurrection by Serena Williams and Katy Perry.

After I asked for the polish, the manicurist showed me the OPI bottle, which is $15 and naive ol' me, I was shocked at the price, I thought it would be the same as all the other OPI bottles. Seeing the discomfort on my face, she showed me another polish that was off-brand and $10. I went for the $10 bottle (a sista's broke!) and walked outside hoping it would work.

For some reason, while I was contemplating buying OPI or the off-brand, I felt like I was in Chinatown, going down a skinny alley to buy a fake Louis Vuitton, especially when the manicurist said, "It's the same thing, just different name." So, I took the risk and swiped it.

I tried it on a bare nail after I stepped outside and when it didn't work I was thought "Oh-no, I got got!" After  I calmed down, I realized it was obviously, (aha!) real science at work: something in regular nail polish makes the crackle nail polish repel and well, crackle. The finished product's below. Why does it look like I'm throwing up the Lady Gaga monster paw?

nOir JEWELRY SAMPLE SALE

From April 6-8th, nOir jewelry will have a sample sale with their cute and covetable rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces at up to 75% off! Pyramid and animal rings will be $50-$75, earrings $5-$40, necklaces $10-$95, cocktail rings $15-$65 and bracelets $5-$50. I will be stopping by on Wednesday right after class! I hope I can find sword and pyramid rings and sword earrings at a steal.

When: April 6-8th, 10am - 7pm
Where: 350 W 38th St, 5th Floor, Btw 8th and 9th Aves.
Cash and major cards accepted.













info via nitrolicious.com
jewelry images via noirjewelry.com.

Battle: LA

Last night, my bf and I went to see Battle: LA which stars recognizable faces Aaron Eckhart (Two-Face! I shouted), Michelle Rodriguez and Ne-Yo (I really liked that Ne-Yo picked a non-singing role which isn't typical of singers).

 This is the first Hollywood war movie I've seen (I think? I don't go to the movies much) and I liked it. It pulled at the heart strings with the usual, people that shouldn't be killed, are killed and the conflict those surviving face, especially when they were close to being killed as well. Although there is no definite ending, it really made me appreciate life, even when it isn't the exact way I want it, and to appreciate those that are brave enough to fight some aliens, drones or fight in a foreign land because I COULD NOT do it.

Spoiler alert! Basically, these ginormous aliens fused with their weapons are trying to colonize planet Earth and their central command post (in the photo, falling over) is underground in Los Angeles and finding and destroying it will get them a thousand steps ahead in the war. The division of the army portrayed are Marines and Eckhart's character is a seasoned and smart Marine that basically gets them out of a lot of those last second, life and death situations that we civilians hear are a usual and scary occurrence in war. Peep the trailer below.

TOPSHOP FASHION WRITER/BLOGGER SUMMIT

Super late with this, but last Thursday (March 24th) to celebrate the launch of their 214 magazine, Topshop hosted a "fashion writer and blogger meet and greet/master class," at their SoHo store. Overall, it was nice listening to Karen Blanchard of wheredidugetthat.com and freelance fashion writer, Indigo Clarke talk about their adventures in the changing world of  how fashion and style is chronicled while mini cupcakes were passes around.

Both were dressed in Topshop pieces from head to toe and interviewed each other, creating a relaxed atmosphere for the listeners and most likely each other too. Most of the advice they gave was good and hearing about their experiences was inspiring. It was nice to see the dynamics of a blogger, who uses any and all technology to her advantage and a print writer that isn't necessarily into blogging/tweeting but understands the importance of it.

 Karen has a full-time job but still blogs consistently which tells me I need to light some fire under my bum! On the other hand, and I'm not discounting Indigo's writing skills, it was somewhat frustrating to hear her lineage was basically already involved in her getting into the world of fashion writing. She had good advice and I was in awe of all the work she does but just once, I'd like to hear from someone in fashion writing who started completely from the bottom with no help and still became successful. But all in all both girls are great and I hope to be where they are someday!


I did have photos but unfortunately, they came out really blurry so the one above will have to do and there are more on Karen's blog.

photo from fashables.com.

STYLE HEARTS:

I am quickly becoming in love with her style. More on that later...

THE VERVE: BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY

Cause it's a bittersweet symphony this life
Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to the money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down 
You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah 
No change, I can't change, I can't change, I can't change, 
but I'm here in my mold , I am here in my mold 
But I'm a million different people from one day to the next
I can't change my mold...




This song was released when I was 9 (wow!) and I remember loving the slow, melodic intro of the strings and being able to immediately bob my head to the beat without hearing what the "Bittersweet Symphony" was about. After I listened to the lyrics a thousand times, I still didn't understand. Fast forward 13 1/2 years later (wow, again!) I revisited the song, listened to it a few times and now I completely understand. The chorus written above describes what is going through anyone's head, trying to make ends meet in a big or small city on any given day. His oblivion in the video is also the physical response to those thoughts on repeat while walking down the road to make that mighty dollar. Although there was controversy in the form of copyright infringements behind that beautiful beat, the song nonetheless, is pretty great.

I HEART: JEFFREY CAMPBELL LITA

When I first clicked on these shoes a few months ago at solestruck.com, I thought they were a bit...hideous. But like the saying goes, the more you see something the more you like it -- that is exactly what happened here. The shoes are also pretty popular which means yes, they sell out quite freqently and get re-stocked but also another yes that makes me want them even more is seeing how blogggers and lookbookers style them with skinny jeans and flirty dresses; driving me to want to try it out soon. That is soon and very soon before they are sold out...again.  

NYFW: STARTS TODAY PLUS WATCH IT FROM YOUR HOME!

Today is/was the first official day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with Nicholas K kicking off the festivities.
If (like me) you are unfortunately unable to attend, shows will be streaming live from various venues such as Facebook and Style.com but mainly from Livestream.com.

Nymag.com has the complete list of shows streaming live in the link below. As the photos begin to roll out, my picks will too!

Nymag.com's live streaming list of shows.

LADY GAGA X SUPREME IN PURPLE MAG

I like how she doesn't mind f'n up the Birkins. Photos by Terry Richardson.


via fressnessmag.

VOGUE ITALIA: "THE BLACK ALLURE" FASHION SPREAD

It'll be great when this is the norm.

AMBER RILEY: ESSENCE SPREAD

Amber Riley from "Glee" is looking beautiful and confident in her Essence magazine spread! I love the outfits in the two photos: they fit her body well, accentuate her curves and most of all, her clothes aren't ill-fitting just because she isn't a size 4.
I started watching Glee over the summer when Season 1 re-runs were playing, became hooked and every Tuesday night watched Season 2. Like Amber's photos, her character, Mercedes, also has a healthy self-image, which I love. The episode that sticks out the most: Sue, acting as principal, banned tater tots and Mercedes went into war mode, snuck her own tots in the school and started a lunchroom riot. That's right girl, get those tots.

Looking forward to the new "Glee" episode after the Super Bowl!

LADY GAGA "VOGUE" MARCH 2011 COVER

To be honest, I read many magazines but sadly, Vogue is not one of them. The last Vogue magazine I purchased was the 2010 fall fashion issue with Halle Berry on the cover and before that, Beyonce on the cover of the April 2009 "Shape Issue" (winces).

Although I am enchanted by the power (of Anna Wintour) and back story of American Vogue, I just can't seem to relate to its articles nor its spreads. I plan on purchasing this issue because yes, Lady Gaga is on the cover and I want to see how they "Vogue" her. After picking up this issue maybe, (just maybe) I'll give Vogue another try.

I MISSED IT!: WHITNEY PORT SIGNED HER NEW BOOK AT B&N

Whitney Port, who is my favorite Hills star because of her take on life and clothing, just released her new book, True Whit, satisfying The Hills and The City stans with something else to read besides  L.C.'s books based on The Hills and how to have personal style. She signed copies of her book at Barnes and Noble last night wearing an interesting orange and nude outfit. See below:

Not one of my favorites, nor am I liking the nude tights, but she usually dresses cute and the cover of her book is cute, so she gets a pass.

JOURDAN DUNN DOES BURBERRY AT BRIGHTON BEACH

One of my favorite models, Jourdan Dunn, like any new mother would, is slowly creeping back into working the runways (she wore an olive green belted trench with silver flats at Aquascutum during London Fashion Week), spreads of Vogue and the shopping catalogues of Victoria's Secret. She is now Burberry's Spring dahling, posing in leather and khaki colored jackets at Brighton Beach shot by Mario Testino. Maybe it's Jourdan and her fellow model, Sacha M'Baye but Brighton Beach suddenly seems like the breezy place to be after all the mounds of snow are completely melted, of course.

photos via nymag.

RIHANNA: S&M VID TOO HOT FOR YOUTUBE?

Ever since Rihanna has "gone bad," many have raised the question: "Is she a role model for young girls?" I say no. Albeit she was 16 when she came out (she'll be 23 in a few weeks), she wasn't exactly on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, like some young starlets that aren't even close to her current age yet have already crossed the line of being labeled a bad girl. Besides, she wore mid-driffs and beaded bras in every video and appearance when she was 16 anyway.  

With the status of her star now, she must keep it interesting even if that means singing about sexual role-playing and suggesting her pleasure of it in a video. To be honest, besides Lady Gaga's "Telephone, this is one of the most interesting videos that may be a little raunchy, but still hold the true meaning of a video should be: keeping the viewer interested in the artist, song, album and music in general even if it stirs the pot of controversy.

Putting whether she is a role model or not aside, the video is visually pleasing. Per usual, she has quirky yet "I want that!" pieces of clothing (those Versache platforms!). She also telling her story of how reporters paint the picture of her being a sex-crazed, bisexual with having Daddy issues and she's the master of the biggest celebrity bloggers: Perez Hilton. Most of all, she looks like she had a lot of fun. 

So although the video is a bit racy, it fits the lyrics to the song well, is satirical to what Rihanna deals with when her name is written in the press and most of all, is interesting to watch.