Life As We Know It

We Spy With Our Little Eyes the Fab and FLY: University Edition ECU: Home of the Pirate Nation

2012-04-05T17:38:00.003-04:00

ECU: Home of the Pirate Nation

So, being all into sparkly and fashion forward things, lol we like to keep our eyes on the people that are trail blazing. By, that we mean people that are doing there own thing in a fantabulous way. Yes, I know that fantabulus is not a word. But when your a as terminally ill as I am you fly above conventions. Did you catch that terminally ill thing? Cause I'm so sick, its terminal. Ha ha ha, I crack myself up. Of course that wasn't meant to offend anyone. If you are indeed terminally ill or knows someone that is, I deeply apologize. Now, on to more pressing matters. These people were photographed by my secret team of collegues. So, if your on here then that means we think your kinda cool. We may even be considering you for the future "That's My Baby's Mama" and the coveted "Future Baby Daddy's" award. Don't hesitate to step right up and collect your prize. lol

Who Is gonna get the TOP SPOT at Dior?

2012-03-14T16:33:00.007-04:00

ANOTHER FASHION HEAVYWEIGHT WEIGHS IN ON DIOR

by BRITT ABOUTALEB

Raf Simons gives a tearful farewell at Jil Sander. Photo: Getty Image

We’ve heard from Suzy Menkes and Bridget Foley, as well as Cathy Horyn, but what about Colin McDowell? The British journalist took to the Business of Fashion this morning to play the Dior guessing game. While most of the names bandied about in conversations regarding the future of the house of Dior—Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Sarah Burton—McDowell thinks we’re approaching it all wrong. Why not, he suggests, nominate someone young and fresh, someone akin to Yves Saint Laurent when he took over Dior? Furthermore, why not give designers time to develop their vision and make these big brands their own, like Riccardo Tisci’s so successfully done at Givenchy?

Aside from the Dior gig, there’s one other question everyone in fashion is asking: what will happen to Raf Simons? McDowell writes that the designer, who was let go to make room for Jil Sander’s return, was up for the Yves Saint Laurent job before Stefano Pilati was even pushed out. The critic writes, “Touted as the “right” man for just about every label that has appeared to be headed for hard times, the poor lad [Simons] must have been through more interviews than anybody else. But he was still not selected for the Yves Saint Laurent job, which everybody now knows has gone to Hedi Slimane.” McDowell thinks that Slimane was chosen for his “cool” factor (and has some interesting thoughts on Celine and Galliano, too), but stops short of saying why Simons is still out of a job.

Every time a major fashion journalist addresses the gaping hole at Dior or the inexplicably unemployed Simons, there’s a new bobmshell making this game of musical chairs even more convoluted. And yet, there’s never an actual answer.

VIA ELLE

Jessica Simpson for Elle Magazine's April COVER!

2012-03-14T16:29:00.002-04:00

ELLE Magazine's cover girl, Jessica Simpson has been a tabloid staple since her meteoric rise to stardom in the late 90's. Alongside her fellow POP teen sensation phenoms Brittney and Christina, she can be seen on some covers of some the most popular publications in the country. However, this time it isn't some salacious story about heartbreak or divorce. No, these days its all about her billion dollar brand, a new beau, and a bundle of joy in her womb. She has come a long way since the famous question "is this chicken, or tuna?" She has honed her business acumen becoming one of the most successful entertainers to convert into a mogul. In fact is is almost hard to call to ones awareness the days when Jessica belted out catchy glittery tunes to a pop driven commercial beat.

Check out her cover, interview excerpts, and spread in Elle inside!

Photo: Carter Smith; styled by Joe Zee

On her body subconsciously telling her she was pregnant:
“We were goin’ to have an all-day drinking binge,” Simpson says, not shy about saying so. “Gonna ride our bikes, hang out…do naughty things. But I started feeling this overwhelming guilt. Why would I feel guilt at the idea of going out and having cocktails with my friends?”

Simpson wears yellow sapphire and diamond earrings and a yellow sapphire ring with peridot, turquoise, sapphires, and diamonds from Van Cleef & Arpels.

On taking tabloid brutality in stride:
“I’m still standin’,” she drawls. “I grew up very strong! You know, my father used to be an adolescent therapist. I remember sitting at his office, watching the girls walkin’ in and out. Kids doin’ coke at 16…heroin. Pregnant at 14. I could see what I didn’t want to be.”

Cushion-cut diamond ring set in white gold, De Beers, price on request, at De Beers stores nationwide

On hopes for her daughter’s sense
of style: “Ah swear, ah will croak if she asks me for a pair of Nikes instead of Christian Louboutins!” she blurts out, her Dallas accent swooping back in this moment of heightened anxiety. “Eric is so athletic. We’re gonna have this ath-a-letic girl and I won’t even be able to take her shopping.”

Cotton crewneck, L’Agence, $165, at Pitkin County Dry Goods, Aspen. Hipster briefs, Only Hearts, $25. Diamond stud earrings, De Beers, price on request.

Drake Covers the April issue of GQ Magazine, and offers insight about his growth as a man...

2012-03-14T16:14:00.000-04:00

Drake sat down with GQ recently to discuss all things hip hop, and offered up an interesting bit of information about his new approach to women. GQ's April, STYLE BIBLE, issue is also covered by Dave Franco, and James Lassiter. In addition to offering his opinions on the rap game and the women of his generation, Drake also drops some knowledge on how he likes to rock a power suit. Take a look at his candid interview inside!

On the Cover: Drake

Drake is living the high life. Claire Hoffman gets up close and personal with the rising hip-hop sensation

BY CLAIRE HOFFMAN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SEBASTIAN KIM

The backyard of Drake's mansion is indistinguishable from the set of one of those late-night Lifetime soft-core romance flicks. Waterfalls gush all around, surging over enormous boulders. Bronze animals—lions, elephants, giraffes!—checker the lawn, glimmering in the last light of the San Fernando Valley sun. A giant fire, fit for a king from Middle-earth, burns in an outdoor fireplace, and a flat-screen TV playsSixteen Candles.

In the foreground of this lady-fantasy tableau sits Drake, who has the six-one body of a well-built man but the dodgy eye contact of a teenager. (At first, anyway.) He awaits me on a couch with more chintz pillows than I can count, wearing baggy jeans and Jordans, his simple gray T-shirt accentuated by two long diamond-rope necklaces, lest I forget that he is 25 sittin' on 25 mil. At the ready are a bottle of chilled white wine and a pitcher of ice, for tonight we shall drink wine spritzers, his favorite beverage and also mine.

"If you went down the waterslide," he says, taking my hand, helping me over the stones that cross his blue lagoon, pointing to a chute running down a steep two-story cliff above the pool, which, by the way, is filled with statues of nude women, "how amazing would that be for your article?"

Dreams have come true for Drake, and tonight he looks to be in a sharing mood. He's going to ignore my pen and my tape recorder and my list of questions and open up his soft, emotive heart as if we were on the most amazing first date ever.

Less than four years ago, he was just Aubrey Drake Graham, a high school dropout and former child actor writing rhymes in the basement of his mom's house in Toronto, stopping only to trip out on text messages from girls or find out where that night's party might be. Drake's parents split up when he was 5, and he lived in a bifurcated world, between everyday life with his mom—affluent, white, and Jewish Canadian—and the special visits and occasional summers with his father, who's black, from Memphis, and a bit of a ne'erdo-well. When I ask him about his dad, his voice tightens, and he looks away. "Me and my dad are friends. We're cool. I'll never be disappointed again, because I don't expect anything anymore from him. I just let him exist, and that's how we get along. We laugh. We have drinks together. But I spent too many nights looking by the window, seeing if the car was going to pull up. And the car never came."

Still, he identifies with his father and his ability to hustle, to get what he wants while having a good time. "I've never been reckless—it's always calculated," Drake says. "I'm mischievous, but I'm calculated." So as a 15-year-old, with a successful acting career in motion, he quietly plotted his second act: hip-hop superstar. He borrowed money from his uncle and recorded Room for Improvement, his first mixtape, full of bass and braggadocio. And just like that, Lil Wayne was on the phone, calling to say he liked what he heard. Twelve number one singles, a few mixtapes, and a pair of studio albums later, it's hard to listen to the radio and not hear Drake's voice, telling you he's too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence.

Staring into the fire, he tells me he's part of a new generation of rappers, one that is less defined by aggression and street credibility. "Rap now is just being young and fly and having your shit together," he says. "The mood of rap has changed." So has the way you get huge as a rapper. Drake launched his career via a blog and Myspace; now he's one of the biggest artists in the world. He's keenly aware of the power—and the panoptic demands—of the social networks that made him. "Some of my favorite rappers, some of my heroes"—DJ Screw, Aaliyah—"there might be like 200 pictures of them because there was no Internet," he says. "Whereas with us, it's like every moment is documented."

While he's quick to say, "I'm actually really happy," the fame dome has its challenges, and much of the music on his latest album, Take Care, reveals a conflicted soul. "I'm trying to find the same feelings that I had for women when I had very little going on, which is tough," he says. "When I was in my mom's house, I had nowhere to go, no real obligations. My girlfriend at the time, if she was mad at me, my day was all fucked-up. I didn't have anything else. And that made for some of the best music, I think, to date. Records where I felt small. That feeling is hard to capture when you're sitting out here in a space like this." He gestures to the pool, the tennis court, the volleyball court, the stables. "It's really difficult for me to find something that makes me feel small."

Spritzer in hand, he spreads himself out on the couch and acknowledges that, yes, he had a spell there when he was fucking tons of girls...but that just wasn't right for him: "There's just a time where it was like, just getting p****. Where I was in that sort of 'I'm young, I'm going to disconnect from my emotions and just do what everyone else tells me I should do and just be a rapper and have my fun.' And for me as a person, it just doesn't work. I just need something else. The seconds after a man reaches climax, that's like the realest moment of your life. If I don't want you next to me in that fifteen, twenty seconds, then there's something wrong."

The fire starts to die out, Sixteen Candles comes to an end, and I ask if I can see his closet—after all, he designed his own $5,000 arctic-fox-fur, gold-hardware bomber jacket. We wander into the house, a woody manor. Drake enters some numbers into a keypad on a bookshelf and—presto!— it swings open into his massive, paisley-swathed sleeping chamber, complete with a California king bed, for which he must purchase custom sheets.

When I ask about the strange square above the bed, he grabs a remote, and a projection system emerges from the ceiling. Neato, I say.

"Would I have you already?" he asks. "Are you sleeping with me?"

Time to go!

It's a hypothetical question (I think), but Drake, being Drake, still wants an answer: "We had wine and dinner by the pool, I brought you inside, I brought the projector down; are you or are you not sleeping with me?"

Claire Hoffman interviewed Lil Wayne in the November issue and wrote an Amy Winehouse postscript in December.

Apparel Prices Caught in Complex Cycle: WWD

2012-03-14T16:00:00.000-04:00

High gas prices hurt consumer spending.

Photo By Michael Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images

By ARTHUR FRIEDMAN

Price inflation appears to have a firm grip on the apparel sector, as last year’s volatility in cotton has been replaced by soaring gas prices and related polyester costs still at peak levels.

Retail apparel prices rose 0.9 percent in January compared with December, as merchants regained some pricing power after heavy discounting during the holidays, the U.S. Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index showed. Women’s apparel prices increased 1.2 percent in the month, while men’s apparel prices rose 1.7 percent.

On a year-over-year basis, all retail apparel prices were 4.7 percent higher in January compared with January 2011, as men’s prices increased 6.3 percent and women’s prices rose 4.2 percent. At the same time, gas pump prices are breaking records in the New Year, with the highest January and February monthly averages on record. Gas prices have risen 49 cents a gallon this year to a current average of $3.79, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

A report from IHS Global Insight said, “When pump prices jump, households have little choice but to pay the additional charge to fill up their tanks. Many consumers must dip into their savings, or make use of their credit cards, and spend less on more discretionary items” such as apparel.

The IHS study said, “Americans spend less than 4 percent of their personal disposable income on gasoline (3.3 percent in January), but gasoline prices tend to play a major role in defining consumer confidence and inflation expectations.” IHS said a 10 percent rise in gas prices relative to the overall Consumer Price Index historically reduces consumer confidence 1.4 to 1.5 percent, while a 10 percent fall in the relative price will increase consumer confidence by the same amount.

When cotton prices reached historic highs of more than $2 a pound last March, many in the industry turned to polyester blends as a way to control costs. But it proved to be no panacea.

Polyester production capabilities couldn’t be revved up as quickly as demand and petroleum-derived raw material costs were and continue to be at premium levels. Polyester staple has remained at historically high prices, currently selling for 87 cents a pound compared with 90.5 cents a year earlier, but still above the 77 cents a pound in February 2010.

Chemical Market Associates’ “2011 World Terephthalates & Polyester Analysis” said, “Strong economic growth in the emerging markets will drive demand for polyester products.…Increases in polyester fiber consumption will be the primary driver for [purified terephthalic acid, a main ingredient in polyester] demand growth in Asia, while in North America and Europe, PTA demand will follow [polyethylene terephthalate] or PET packaging resin growth trends. As new capacity additions are made in the polyester value chain in Asia and the Middle East, trade patterns and volumes will change, especially for PTA.”

Discussing second-quarter earnings last month, executives at Unifi Inc., a manufacturer of multifilament polyester and nylon textured yarns, said high raw material prices contributed to a net loss of $7.6 million compared with net income of $5.4 million for the same period a year earlier.

Roger Berrier, president and chief operating officer, said, “Supply issues that drove polyester raw material pricing up in the September 2011 quarter continued to impact pricing in October. Since then, raw material pricing decreased in November and December. However, the industry experts predict raw material prices to gradually increase again during February and March.”

The potential upside for the fashion industry is that last year’s volatility in cotton prices has been replaced by consistently lower prices — 85 cents a pound compared with $1.67 a year ago — which could help keep apparel prices in check, although there are still some high-priced goods in the pipeline, as well as a few serious long-term concerns.

National Cotton Council economists say the 2012 outlook for the natural fiber that accounts for about 50 percent of apparel sold in the U.S. will be influenced by China’s national reserves stocks, uncertainty over the general economy and weather developments in the Southwest.

Gary Adams, the NCC’s vice president of economics & policy analysis, told delegates at the council’s annual meeting in Fort Worth last month that 2012 is not starting out as a normal year for the U.S. Cotton Belt, particularly Texas and Oklahoma. He said drought conditions persist and, as a result, for those two states, the outlook assumes above normal abandonment and yields below trend. Adams said the NCC sees a 2012 U.S. cotton crop of 18.3 million bales, up 2.6 million bales from 2011, with 17.51 million upland bales and 783,000 extra-long staple bales. When combined with international production of 101.1 million bales, an expected 6.1 percent decline, the world crop for 2012 is estimated at 119.4 million bales, resulting in a 3.4 percent drop from the previous year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade” report, issued on Nov. 30, forecast cotton exports to decline $600 million to $6 billion due to a smaller crop and increased foreign supply. Import demand has fallen as buyers reduce their stocks and delay purchases on the expectation of little upward price risk, the report noted.

The NCC sees 2012 world mill use of 113.8 million bales, an increase of 3.5 percent from 2011, but, Adams said, “Growth of this magnitude will only be achieved with competitive pricing and a rebuilding of the textile pipeline.” He also said that barring some major production problems, global production is projected to exceed consumption and allow world ending stocks to build to 64.1 million bales.

“While that is a level comparable to 2006-09, it is important to remember that as much as 30 percent of those stocks could be held in China’s government reserves,” Adams said. “By late January, more than 11 million bales have been purchased into the China reserve, with some speculating that total purchases could exceed 15 million bales.”

Adams said while China’s reserves policy is providing short-term support to the cotton market, its implementation of the policy “is the single largest wildcard in the cotton market.” He also noted that though the forecasted stocks-use relationship is likely to dampen upside price potential, current polyester prices and cotton’s need to remain competitive with grains are supportive of prices on the downside.

The USDA’s “Cotton: World Markets and Trade” February report said 2010-11 production in the major Southern Hemisphere exporters of Australia, Brazil and Argentina nearly doubled from levels seen just a few years ago. Record exportable supplies increased their share of world trade in cotton to 14 percent compared to a 37 percent average for the U.S.

Cotton prices have stabilized, but some problems persist.

Photo By Courtesy Photo

For the 2012 marketing year, Adams said the strength of cotton demand will hinge on the global economy’s overall health and be dependent on cotton prices that are less volatile and more competitive with polyester than what was observed in 2011. He said today’s Cotlook “A” Index — a chief indicator of the level of offering prices on the international raw cotton market — of about $1 is substantially lower than year-ago levels of $1.70, with the result that international cotton area is estimated to decline by about five percent.

India, the second largest producer of cotton in the world, on Sunday reversed its ban on cotton exports six days after the policy brought protests from farmers, but the move demonstrated the volatility of supply and demand issues with the commodity.

The bottom line, according to IHS economists, is: “Even though gasoline prices have been on the rise since the latter half of December, there has been some relatively good news on other consumer and business fronts. The unemployment rate has dropped considerably in the last six months, initial claims for unemployment benefits are at the lowest level since March 2008, and the equity markets have been generally rising and have not been volatile. All of these factors have a statistically positive impact on the consumer mood that currently outweighs the recent rise in gasoline prices.”

All rights to this work belongs to WWD and credited author(s).

Swim into Fashion!

2012-02-16T12:44:00.000-05:00

Spring Break and Summer 2012 is coming around pretty quick and many college students will be heading to the beach with thier newly toned bodies, but the only thing missing will be a fashionable swimsuit! Here are a couple trends to look for when purchasing a new bathing suit!

The Vintage Swimsuit:

What to look for:

-One pieces with a cinched in waist

-Sweatheart necklines and halter

- Highwaist bottoms

-Playful prints

-Lines that really accentuate the hips and wasit

-Fuller cupped tops

-Boy-legged bottoms

The Ruffle Bikin/Swimsuit:

What to look for:

-Ruffles as a dominant feature

-Ruffles as accents

Crochet Bikinis:

Benefits of a Crochet Swimsuit:

-Being able to wear the swimsuit outside of the beach or pool

-Whether you have the one or two piece suit, it can still be a versitile piece in your wardrobe. You can match the top of the two piece with a nice pair of jean shorts for a comfy and casual look or use the one piece as a leotard are pair it with a nice Spring/Summer shirt and dress it up with a nice pair of wedges or a cute sandal!

The One-Shoulder Swimsuit;

When buying a once piece bathing suit, the main goal is to look for staement accents, such as, the pink and purple colors together or the silver strip in the picture above. Although this is not a once piece suit, silver accent really adds charater to the suit making it a definite fashion DO!

Digital Print Swimwear:

When purchasing digital print swimwear, there will most likely be a plethora of options to choose from, but the best advice is to go with what you like and what complements your skin. When you do this, you can never go wrong!

Whitney Houston... We Will Always Love You

2012-02-12T12:53:00.000-05:00

I am deeply deeply saddened by the news that was announced all over the world last night that the beautifully talented legend and icon Whitney Houston passed away. Its been hard to take in the passing of other great legends in the music business, but this truly hits home. I remember being about the age of two or three singing all around the house, along with my mother, pretending to be Whitney. Her voice was amazing, and her ability to give a memorable performance on stage or in a movie was simply effortless. This news has stunned everyone, not only in the music industry, but also her loving fans, her daughter Bobbi Christina, her mother, and all of her family and friends. My thoughts and prayers go out to them. Really wish I had the opportunity to meet her, but although this is a great loss, its for certain she's in a better place.

I will always love you, we the world will always love you.

May you Rest In Peace, as your music, your legacy, will forever live on.

-AB

Black History Month: 6 Black Designers in 2011's Fall NYFashionWeek

2012-02-10T12:09:00.001-05:00

New York Fashion Week sets the stage for American (and a few international) designers, ranging from all the well-known designers to the upcoming ones, to be celebrated for their latest collections. The press always writes about and photographs the runway collections for newspapers, magazines, internet and television so the general public can see what is going on in fashion. However, recently, there has been a notable lack of color at the shows. These six black designers whose talent and skill will make us proud during the upcoming New York Fashion Week:

Tracy Reese

Tracy has evolved as a designer while staying true to her romantic silhouettes and floral prints.

Stephen Burrows

Stephen Burrows is back and better then ever revamping his image after defining the look of the 70s.

Sammy B Designs

Samantha Black designs are creative, bold, and stylish. She makes clothing for women who “dibble and dabble in different areas of clothing mixing and matching.”

Mychael Knight

Project Runway favorite Mycheal Knight has grown to define his look as a designer, making a comfortable but yet endearing ware for a confident customer.

Dpipertwins

Danielle and Chantelle Dwomoh-Piper’s line Dpipertwins is for the woman who likes to look sassy and tasteful, capturing attention every time she enters a room.

Laquan Smith

"One of the most celebrated black designers of his generation (afterall, he did get the Vogue seal of approval), Laquan Smith continues to create inspired and imaginative pieces that make a bold statement. We can’t wait to see him reach another level of success and creativity with his latest offering."

New Popular Trends for 2012?

2012-02-10T10:09:00.003-05:00

The braided hairstyles have been around for quite a while now, but has just recently gotten its popularity as a new trend that started late Fall of 2011 and can now be consisedered the "must do" hairstyle for 2012. Braided Hairstyles have been seen in runnways/fashion shows, magazines, and also by celebrities.

I can't get enough of this look! I always like trying different styles on my hair and this happens to be one of my favorite hair styles! Hopefully this trend will last throughout the year...But even if it doesn't, I would still rock it!

Thursday Nights... Are The Braxton's Night

2012-02-10T03:22:00.004-05:00

Braxton Family Values airs every Thursday night at 10pm on We Tv. I recently just got into watching the show just to see what it was it about, and after only watching a few reruns of it I happened to love it! The Braxton sisters consists of Toni Braxton (middle), who is very well known and has accomplished such a huge success in her singing career, Tamar Braxton (far right), Tracy Braxton (blue dress), Trina Braxton (second on the left), and Tawanda Braxton (far left). These sisters hold nothing back on the show. They give you the good, the bad, and the ugly of their personal lives. If you're looking for entertainment on a Thursday night, Tune In!

"The Vow".. Perfect Movie To See Just In Time For Valentine's Day

2012-02-10T03:10:00.005-05:00

The movie The Vow hits theaters February 10th, what can kind of be considered as Valentine's day weekend. The movie stars the handsome Channing Tatum and rising actress Rachel McAdams.

The Vow is based on the true story of a newly married couple recovering from an accident that puts the wife in a coma. When she wakes up from the accident she has severe memory loss and can't remember any of her life with her new husband... so he has to fight to win her heart all over again.

I can't wait to see it!

Naomi Campbell for Harpers Bazzar She Still has It!

2012-02-06T17:09:00.003-05:00

Our Favorite Looks From the Screen Actors Guild Awards

2012-02-06T16:35:00.000-05:00

Ahna O'Reilly , and actress from "The Help" made herself well known by showing up on the red carpet in a gorgeous red, back out dress. If the public did not know her before, they definiely know who she is now!

Here we have a Best Dressed couple:
George Clooney wearing a classic Giorgio Armani tuxedo and his date, Stacey Keibler in a gorgeous black, lace Marchesa gown. Keibler's is also wearing Palladium Jewelry by Jacob. & Co.

Best Dressed, Viola Davis arrived at the SAG Awards wearing a beautiful Marchesa gown and adding body glitter as an accessory instead of just jewelry. If I must say thw body glitter went awesome the dress.

Also on the Best Dressed list is Angelina Jolie who is wearing a Jenny Packham, black halter gown and looks stunning.

Kyra Sedgewick arrived in a sultry cut out Pucci dress that in some opinions defied her age. This just shows that you do not need to be young to show a little skin and look sexy!

Octavia Spencer, another Best Dressed female showed up in a glittery, light grey gown designed by Tadashi Shoji

Ashley Simpson showed up in a more edgy, sexy look wearing Jenny Pakcham, but still looking glamorous walking down the red carpet

Funny man Jonah Hill is wearing a very simple black suit, but manages to make it stylish by adding the skinny, black tie. Well done Mr. Hill!

Zoe Saldana wears a white Givenchy Haute Couture dress

Dianna Agron is wearing a semi-simple pink Carolina Herrera gown

Amber Riley basically decided to wear a huge bow to the SAG Awards. This probably was not the best choice of dress for this event

Amber Heard wore a Zac Posen gown that was cut in a very different manner than normally seen and I like it a lot!

Natalie Portman weaing a stunning burgundy gown that is accessorized with Harry Winston jewels

Chris Colfer is wearing a black tuxedo that has a little extra flair due to the lusterous collar and sections on the sleeve

Wearing a color not seen too often, mint green, is Kaley Cuoco. The gown is made by Romona Keveza

In a flowing white gowndesigned by Lavin, is Tilda Swinton

Kelly Osbourne decided to wear a creme Badgley Mischa gown for the night and I must say it was a great choice. Form-fitting and flowy is the way to go!

Melissa McCarthy is wearing a black gown that fits perfectly around her gorgous curves

Jayma Mays is walking down the red carpet in a very intricate black lace gown

Jane Lynch is struting down the red carpet in a very nice, simple blue gown

Cory Monteith is wearing a well-fitted black tuxedo

Gabrielle Union for Ocean Drive Magazine

2012-01-30T17:13:00.004-05:00

Recently Gabrielle Union sat down with Ocean Drive Magazine for their Feb 2012 issue, to talk mother hood, her relationshiop with NBA baller Dwayne Wade, and feeling at home in Miami. In addition to nabbing covers Gabrielle is a bicoastal honey with the hollywood resume of a veteran. Personally, I adore her and her bronze skin. I'm sure if you recognize her then you probably remember her as that "sassy sidekick" from the first installment of the Bring It On franchise. Well, she's all grown up now and has the image and man too. She may be working hard to change her image in Hollywood but in my eyes gabby, your a rock star!

Checkout her interview and spread inside!

Sn: girl, now that we are friends in my head, you want to tell me what you do to make your skin glow like that. Cause I know that all of that glow can't be photoshoped. I've seen you on the beach with your man! lol

On getting sick when she's away from Miami:
"A week away is pretty much it for me. When I land in Miami, I feel like I've been holding my breath and am finally exhaling. I can breathe. I feel accepted, welcomed. I feel like I can be my true self, the woman I always aspired to be... More in Miami than any other place."

On keeping her house in California:
"[It has been] great because I have my own career and life elsewhere, I have a home I paid for with my own money, and I need to be able to nurture that as well."

On life with Dwyane Wade in Miami:
"D and I have a life together, too. I love my life in Miami, I can't imagine functioning without both, I love the design district, I love Midtown, I love what's happening downtown now. I can be at People's Bar-B-Que or Sustain or Prime One Twelve, and I'm comfortable. It's rare for me to feel that level of freedom. Miami represents joy for me."

On seeing a more diversely cast group of lead actresses:
"It's great for the other groups that are getting a chance to play more roles, and ideally, I'd like to think there were enough roles for everyone. But we are trying to get [filmmakers and producers] to consider that the doctor, a lawyer, even the lead could be an African-American woman."

On her career:
"I've been lucky; for the past year, I haven't really auditioned for anything; the parts I got were straight-up offers. I'm not so grand that I wouldn't audition. In fact, I wish I could audition more. There are a lot of people who won't give me a chance because I was in 'Bring It On' one thousand years ago. They don't think I can be more than that sassy sidekick. I guess they didn't see 'Cadillac Records' or 'Neo Ned.'"

On starting a family:
"I was never someone who thought about having kids – I mean, they're great in theory, but I never imagined having one [myself]. Maybe over the next five years I could wrap my brain around becoming a mother and what that would mean in terms of sacrifice and dedication. I don't do anything impulsively, so more toward the five years out than the one-year."

Via: Theybf and Ocean Drive

Check out previous issues of Ocean Drive Magazine digitally Here.

Trend Guide H&M Spring 2012

2012-01-24T14:47:00.003-05:00

What's Hot In Women's Wear : Spring 2012

2012-01-24T14:42:00.002-05:00

Men: What's HOT for Spring 2012

2012-01-23T14:56:00.002-05:00

Take a look at what is happening in menswear this spring. One of my favorite trends, sandals are going to be in this spring, even though I still haven't managed to nab a pair or get a pedicure. Tisk Tisk. Anyways, check out these cool mood boards from Swide Magazine and this video inside!

Styled by Yuri Ahn.
Special collaboration with Valentina Zannoni

Source: Dolce&Gabbana , D&G

Fashion show Photo by: Luca Cannonieri and Michele Morosi

Paris: Tommy Guns Street style for GQ

2012-01-23T14:42:00.003-05:00

Via GQ

Paris Roundup with Jim Hainey and Jim Moore

2012-01-23T14:37:00.005-05:00

Via GQ

A Trend that I love: ALL Black Everything!

2012-01-23T14:35:00.001-05:00

Jean Paul Gaultier

Maison Martin Margiela

Mugler

Rick Owens

Don"t like the shoes.

Viktor & Rolf

YSL

Dries Van Noten

Men Pay Attention: The Hottest Shoes From the Runways of Paris

2012-01-23T14:25:00.001-05:00

D&G

GQ magazine compiled a list of its favorite shoes from the runways of Paris, and I've narrowed that list down a bit. Here is my list of favorites from the runway. What I wouldn't give to have my choice of them.

D&G

Burberry Prorsum

John Varvatos

Bottega Veneta

Emporio Armani

(I would sue someone for these!)

Prada

Gucci

Etro

Moschino

Versace

(I may sell a limb for these. I'd at least consider it.)

Viktor & Rolf

Phillip Lim

Louis Vuitton

Junya Watanabe

Givenchy

(Yesssssssss! May I have two pair of those please! )

Lanvin

(wow!)

Lanvin

Paul Smith

Via GQ

Models.com Dolce and Gabbana F/W 12 back stage.

2012-01-23T14:06:00.000-05:00

Dolce F/W 12 Backstage - Model Overdose from models.com on Vimeo.

Check out this video of D&G's boys backstage for F/W 12. Looks like a good time to me.

Splitsville for Heidi and Seal

2012-01-23T14:02:00.002-05:00

It has been reported that supermodel Heidi Klum and husband Seal are headed for divorce court. The news comes as a shock to many seeing that the two seemed to be a very happy and loving couple. At least that was the media's depiction of them. I am sad that the two are splitting because they were one of the only Hollywood couples that seemed to be holding it together. Oh well. I wish them both the best. I'm sure it must be difficult to endure a breakup in the public eye. See their statement inside.

“While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart. This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children’s sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy.”

The Secret World of Haute Couture

2012-01-22T19:18:00.001-05:00

Check the Look: Viktor & Rolf Runway F/W 12

2012-01-20T16:00:00.001-05:00

Viktor & Rolf Men / Fall/Winter 2012

The masculine physique and all its glory was on the minds of Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren during their masterful fall showing. Looking opulent, elegant and completely in control, the Viktor and Rolf monsieur, headlined by Spicebomb cover model Sean O’Pry, was especially dashing this season. Male models cut a fine figure with a little help from some seriously structured suiting and a few suggestive plays on proportion. Padded sweaters and thick furs pumped up the hard bodied cast, transforming mere male models to Herculean heroes. Defined shoulders and oversized biceps paired with immaculately cut leather pants and colorful gloves, defined the look. With power serving as a recurring theme throughout the menswear collections, we can’t help but think that Horsting and Snoeren are providing their own spin on fall’s defining motif.
Photography: Stephan Moskovic
Text: Janelle Okwodu
Casting: Andrew Weir for ACW

Write up VIA: Models.com
Photos: Models.com