A few weeks ago I mentioned that Vogue Italia would be creating an all black edition of the magazine. According to those wonderful girls over at Fashionista.com, it looks like IMAN will grace the cover. I-can’t-wait!!!

Looking through fashion magazines, watching hollywood stars or catching a fashion show on television I can tell that Neon is in. This is definitely a throwback to the 80s when I always looked like a crayola crayon box threw up on me. Back then wearing as many colors as possible was in style, today, not so much. Neon should be more of an accent than an overall look. Too much neon and you’ll look like Sarah Jessica Parker circa Square Pegs not Sex and the City.

Here are some ides for pulling off the neon look without looking like a hot mess. Also, don’t wear everything at the same time:

 Cute right? Here are some ways for everyone to pull it off:

                                              Catherine Malandrino Embroidered Camisole Top, $345

Burberry Tallulah Camisole Dress, $575

Monica Vinader Turquoise Cocktail Ring, $470

                                                  Alexander McQueen Satin Rope Sandal, $1,030

And for the big girls (me!):

                                        Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Sleeveless Wrap Dress, $158

JS Boutique Beaded Gown, $198

                                            MICHAEL Michael Kors Paratrooper Trench Coat (Plus), $189.50

And finally the bags:

                                                      Lodis ‘Very Hot – Primadonna’ Frame Wallet, $155

                                                           Fendi Patent Leather B bag, $1,860

                                                 Bottega Veneta Oversized intrecciato tote, $2,680

The story line depicts a bride who isn’t down with getting married. Ok, cool. But while the ads are cinematically beautiful, they do remind me of the soft porn you can find on Cinemax after midnight. (Why do I know this?)

Take a look at Kate Moss in Part 1 of The Four Dreams of Miss X:

You can find Parts 2, 3, and 4 here.

(Source)

Sigh… foreign media is calling Miley a “starlet.” *crickets*.

I didn’t even blink at the photos above and for the record, I’ve never understood the fascination behind this girl. I understand she’s a big Disney star, just like Britney, Justin, and Cristina were back in the days but I just don’t get it. Now, as the rags and fashion magazines deem Miley to be a star, a trendsetter, and a fashion icon (? – *crickets*) is she now going to “fall in line” so to speak and become racey. Exposing your bra? Was that something girls did at 15? I don’t think so.

I took a look at the original photo for her photoshoot with Vanity Fair. It is a bit much for someone her age, but when I was young, Brooke Shields was damn near naked in the movie Blue Lagoon.

Reports state Miley’s father was present, so if he thought this fuckery was ok then I guess it was. *Crickets*

                                                                  photo: Vanity Fair

Miley has issued apologies and Disney has stated that they feel she was taken advantage of for the sake of fashion and magazine sales. What? No rush to judgement? (“she should have known better!”) or criminalization? (“this is so her fault!”) Just prayers and a rush to circle the wagons. Just like another Disney stary, Jamie Lynn Spears and her teenage pregnancy scandal, Miley is automatically forgiven and life goes on. I’d hate to see Raven Simone or any other minority actress in this situation. They would have definitely been left to fend for themselves. (Janet Jackson and the superbowl anyone?)

Is this photo artful or is Miley just heading down a destructive path like those before her? I predict she’ll be smokin’ and drankin’ very shortly…

WeLoveColors.com has a great selection of patteren and brightly colored tights. The bright colored tights are dyed in 45 different colors and come in sizes up to 4X which fits a person who is approximately 330lbs. So there’s no excuse not to show off those legs, regardless of size. They also have sexy fishnets for the bigger girls.

 $9 – WeLoveColors.com        $10.50 – WeLoveColors.com

 These Diamond Tights are “HOT TO DEATH!!!” Unfortunately they don’t come in plus sizes, but I am on a mission to find them elsewhere.

                                                                      Picture: Ford Models

I posted about this contest a few weeks ago, but now it looks like Ford Models will come to the Diesel store in Union Square, New York City. From April 30th to May 1, from 4-8, Ford Models is looking for the next “it” guy. Is this you? Check here for requirements.

[Source]

Supermodel Heidi Klum and Funny man Will Farrell have a spread together in the May 2008 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated. Look at how nicely a model and a non-model (in a basketball uniform) complement each other in a non-threatenting, non-ugly, and non-menacing way. Granted, the above photo is based on Will Farrell’s not so funny movie Semi-Pro but you guys get the idea, right?

Miss Anna over there at Vogue and my once favorite photographer Annie Leibovitz (she’s done some wack photoshoots and is playing herself right NOW!) should take some notes on how a photoshoot of this style can be done without marginalizing or cannibalising the image.

More photos after the jump.

Photo: Sports Illustrated

From May 5 – May 16, Showroom Seven, a multi-room, fashion showroom will have a sample sale featuring such lines as Charlotte Ronson, Orla Kiely, Erickson Beamon, Soundgirl, A&G Cashmere, and more. But that’s not the cool part. The cool part is that Showroom Seven has rented out the space that formally housed New York City’s Tunnel Nightclub. Say Whattt???!!!!! As someone who perpetually lives in the past, I have fond, fond, FOND memories of THE TUNNEL.

For those of you that are too young to remember or maybe didn’t live in NYC in the 90s, The Tunnel was the “it” nightclub. According to Wikipedia, “The Tunnel opened in early 1987 [...] and was named for the abandoned train tunnel from the early 1900s that became the main dance floor.”

Gosh, The Tunnel, such memories. I always remember that huge angel that was at the long end of the retangular shaped club. Wikipedia further states that,

The dance floor was dotted with several dance cages throughout the floor, and had a notoriously loud soundsystem. One clever Tunnel bartender recommended improvised earplugs, made out of molten candle wax dripped into a glass of tap water. The decor throughout the club was ever-changing; one room was decorated by artist called the Kenny Scharf Lava Lounge, others were decorated as libraries, S & M dungeons, and chill-out lounges. It was perhaps best known for hosting Junior Vasquez, Danny Tenaglia, Eddie Baez after the close of the original Sound Factory (530 W. 27th St.) in the mid-1990s.
The Tunnel also featured unisex bathrooms. It was said that the bathrooms were the partially-converted locker rooms of the train workers from decades prior.

The intro from the movie Belly gives a feel for the club during my time (minus the murder, death, kill!).  There are other videos on youtube as well.

So, with that being said I will definitely attend the Showroom Seven sample sale, if only to relive my old clubbin’ days. LOL!

Showroom Seven sample sale: 269 Eleventh Ave., b/t 27th & 28th Sts. (212-643-4820). Like many sample sales, it’s probably CASH ONLY!! (Source)

The first thing that struck me was that in this Caribbean themed display the black, dark-skinned model was in the center of the spread and prominently featured. (I’ve always heard black models get the most work, if any during the summer months because clothes are usually brighter and look better against dark skin.)  Secondly, the black model was wearing a beautiful gold lame one-piece swim suit. Her hair was natural and her skin was glowing. It was here that I stopped being proud.

The two white models flanking the center model had on muted brown and tan swimsuits, wooden jewelery, and carried other items made of natural materials. The display was completed using large, banana fan plants.  I mean, I guess. Most would probably say, “Damn, you’re never satisfied.” Yes, I do get pissed when there are no models of color and then I get more pissed when models of color are only featured when and if their skin tone or “ethnic” (I hate that damn word) features are of importance or used to complete a theme or look. Why the hell does it have to be this way? To be fair to Old Navy, I do give them a “big up” for even using models of color in their ads but they still can do better.

Mind you, the gold-lame swim suit had a plunging neckline and was cute and if I wasn’t part of “team chunk” I’d probably buy it.  Something just came across me as I stared at the poster. That feeling of being “the other” or mystical (people have told me that I was) came over me. Maybe I’m just rambling about nothing, but there was something very sad about the ad. Isn’t there a better way to use muted browns, tans, oranges, and gold without it being tribal, ethnic, or featuring the dark-skinned chick to make it seem more foreign or primitive?

As soon at the summer is over, I’m sure this and many other black models will be relegated to best friend status or insignificant sidekick. By fashion week the runways will most likely have no models of color. I guess we have only to wait for spring/summer for the chocolate beauties to appear once again to sell the fashion world’s obsession with primitive cultures.

Cast of Noah’s ARC

• Apparently the Sex and the City movie is going to be a Fashion Orgasm. (NY Magazine)
• An ALL BLACK issue of Italian Vogue. OMG!!!!!!! Could this be true??!?! (Fashionista)
• Crazy ass Naomi Campbell to appear on the Ugly Betty season finale. (Yahoo)
• Article on fashion illustration and why the models are so thin and so white. (Too Fat For Fashion)
• Get to know Andre J, fashionista extrodinare. Can someone say GENDERFUCK??
• Singer Estelle covers the current issue of Bleu Magazine.
• The Noah’s ARC  movie (cast above) is complete. Check out seasons 1 & 2.
• Visit the Brooklyn Flea, Brooklyn’s first Manhattan style flea market.
• Finally, jam to Brainstorm’s Lovin’ Is Really My Game below.

HAPPY FRIDAY!