Toni!!!

Let me start off by saying that I am one of the biggest Toni Braxton fans in the world. there is something just so damn mesmerizing and captivating of not only her (very deep) voice, but just her whole essence as an artist. I am as excited as can be to know that Ms. Braxton is coming out with a new album, Pulse, early next year. New tracks have been leaking left, right, and center. Check them out below.





And an oldie for good measure

Good Hair

I must say this episode on Black Hair was MUCH better than the one Tyra did. It was versatile (bringing white women to the table to discuss their hair issues), and it did not favor one type of hair over another.

Let's Make Some Noise

Noisettes' {they have no "The" in their name}debut album, Wild Young Hearts, drops today on our side of the pond. I must say that I have been following them for quite a while, and they are definitely a group to keep your eye on. Check out their jaw-dropping rendition of The Killers song "When You Were Young", on BBC Radio.

She's Back!

Here are a couple of pics of Sarah Jessica Parker strutting her stuff in a sexy pair of Christian Louboutin's on the set of the new Sex and the City film. SJP looks great and all, but where's Mr. Big???!!

H&M Does It Again

The people at H&M are teaming up with the people of Jimmy Choo for a limited time, exclusive line.

JIMMY CHOO BRINGS GLAMOUR TO H&M THIS AUTUMN
This autumn, British accessory brand Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour and covetable shoes and bags to selected H&M stores. The collection will be available from November 14 in around 200 stores across the world. It is the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand, and to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories. Further exciting news is that this collaboration includes a men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories.
“We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!” Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo.

“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.

Since its launch in 1996, Jimmy Choo has been such a phenomenal success that the brand name has become part of popular culture – say the words “Jimmy Choo”, and you know you mean shoes. In Hollywood, Jimmy Choo shoes have become a red-carpet essential, and have been worn at the Oscars by winners such as Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry and Hilary Swank among many other actresses. The famous Jimmy Choo shoes will be at the heart of the exclusive collection for H&M, but there’s more. Jimmy Choo has also become well known for its bags, and for H&M there will be a whole range of accessories to complete the look.

Here is a sneak peek of the line. Ladies, start saving up now...




Image via: thefashionspot.com

Get This!!

Gretchen Stud Pumps at Forever21.com

Lady Gaga for V Magazine

Here are a couple of pics of Lady Gaga by famed photog, Mario Testino, for the new V Magazine. I absolutely adore Gaga but what the hell is going on with her skin tone?? It's giving me Oompa Loompa Fever {no bueno!}




And here is her new vid for her single,Paparazzi, with the gorgeous Alexander Skarsgard {Eric the Vampire to you True Blood fans}





Images via: dlisted.com

Product Review: Avon's Advance Techniques Dry Ends' Serum

Let me start off by saying that I am NOT an Avon lady. But, I have to respect Avon for coming out with such a good product. Any hair expert will tell you that the weakest parts of hair are the ends, because they are the oldest. If you suffer from dry, and continually splitting ends, combing your hair is most likely a dreaded task. For a few months, I have been using Avon's Dry Ends Serum and I must say that I am impressed. I use it right after I was my hair and it immediately smoothes the ends, making them feel less rougher than usual. I also use it sometimes at night to seal my ends. The only con to this product is the greasy feeling it leaves on the hands after usage, but in my opinion greasy hands are far better than fried-looking ends.

Image via: Avon.com

True Rebel

Since the release of Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, many fans have compared Ms. Fenty's style to that of rocker Fefe Dobson. From the asymmetrical haircuts, same record label, and even matching tattoos {I can understand matching haircuts, but the same tattoos??!! As my bff in my head Fresh would say "something in the milk ain't clean"}, it's been hard for Fefe to rise above these continuous comparisons.

Now with an album on the way, Joy, Fefe is out to dish about where she has been these past three years, her issues with the music biz, and pf course those pesky Rihanna comparisons. Here are a few excerpts from her new interview with my {beloved} HoneyMag.com

Her musical influences:

I am so influenced by different types of artists that I don’t really know exactly what genre I’d be put in. There’s guitar so you know that’s rock and the melodies are pop because it’s repetitive. But it’s just music to me.

Her early qualms about the industry:

It was Zomba Records, which is affiliated with Jive. They offered me a development deal when I was 15 but they wanted me to be the next ‘Brandy Spears’ as they called it. Black so she’s 'Brandy,' 'Spears' because she’s Pop. I was like ‘no’. It was a great opportunity they were going to offer me money and my family had no money. So to me, a 15-year-old being able to help support my family — it was hard to turn it down, but I knew my career would have been over before it started.

The Rihanna comments:

I mean, for sure I question that, but who wouldn’t. She is supposedly a fan of mine. I try to take it as a compliment. It gets a little much when she starts getting the same tattoos as me but overall I just want people to separate the image and listen to the music. It’s about the music. Its like Prince and Michael Jackson, totally different artists. Or its like Kanye West and Jay-Z. So what? They are both black men, they sound different. So they both wear jeans, they are different. And why would you want the same type of artist?

Here is the video for her first single off her new album:



A clip of Fefe as Tina Turner one the TV show, American Dreams:







Sources: honeymag.com, www.societyandstyle.com

Back To School

Mother would not approve....

Shoes by Fendi

Images via: theshoegoddess.com, arizonafoothillmagazine.com

Vamp Chic

Here is actress and model (and newlywed!) Milla Jovovich looking dark and brooding for the September issue of the Russian Harper's Bazaar. I wonder how you say "damn she looks hot" in Russian...

Images via: YoQueSe on photobucket.com

More Than Just A Pretty Face

According to Cocoperez.com, Burlesque Diva Dita Von Teese tweeted that she will be coming out with her own beauty-advice book soon. This chick is just plain fierce, so I'm willing to follow any advice she's handing out. Below is some eye candy for the guys and some inspiration for us gals.

Images via: frillr.com, dailychictoday.com, theinsider.com, girlontheright.com

Thanks A Lot BET

I know this is mainly a fashion blog, but after witnessing the pure fuckery that is the Frankie and Neffie show last night, I have a strong need to thank BET for taking the black race back a few thousand steps. Thanks a lot Debra Lee (the head of the BET network)!

Images via: Dlisted.com

Freedom '90 Revisited

It seems like every top model from the 90's are in this George Michael video. Enjoy the sexiness that is Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and of course Naomi.

The Lady is a Dane

Actress Claire Danes looking uber hot in the September issue of Black Book Magazine.

Images via: blackbookmag.com

Anna Wintour on Letterman!!!

Anna talks about the September issue of Vogue, her reputation, and men's fashion amongst other things. Gotta love Anna.

R.I.P Aaliyah

SPOTLIGHT : Gia Carangi

Gia Carangi was one of the top models on the scene in the late 70's to the early 80's. Her long dark locks and pouty lips helped her grace the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan numerous times. But, her career ended short due to heavy drug use (especially heroin), and her contraction of HIV/AIDS which she later died from at the age of 26. In 1998, Angeline Jolie played the troubled Carangi in the bio-pic, Gia, bringing the life and beauty of the model to a whole new generation.

Images via:http://giacarangieditorials.blogspot.com, nndb.com, flickr.com

Get This!!

Forever 21's Odette Cage Booties, $28.80

Forever 21's Studded Rocker Platform, $29.80

Images via: Forever21.com

What's Old is New: Shoulder Pads

Rihanna

Victoria Beckham

Rachel McAdams

Images via: Dlisted.com, Blogs.orange.uk, newyorkdesigner.com

A Loud, Empty Vessel

Last week Tyra Banks twitted what look she'll be rocking for the premiere of the new season of her talk show. The media mogul said, "Guess What! I'm rockin' my REAL hair on my talk show September 8th. No fake hair at all! Will be the hair coming out of my scalp! 4 all 2 C! no ponytails, no ballet bun head. hair will be out and free!"



Um...ok, so let me get this straight. Tyra wants attention for doing something that thousands and maybe millions of black women do everyday across the globe? Maybe someone in her camp needs to sit homegirl down and let her know she will not the be the first, nor the last black woman to sport a natural 'do on television.









Image via: Entertainmentrundown.com

Sole Sistah

Irish Songbird, Laura Izibor, rocking a funky pair of Christian Louboutin pumps

Image via: fg2bh.wordpress.com

Street Walker

Now that's what I call Street Art...
Designer: Christian Louboutin




Image via: The Official Site for Christian Louboutin

Learning From the Past: Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow {1911-1937} was one of Hollywood's first sex symbols. She is often described as the original "Blonde Bombshell".

72 years after her death, Harlow's style is mimicked by the Blonde Bombshells of today, most notably Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani.




Images via: shelleyburke.com, jeanchoi.wordpress.com, solarnavigator.net, newprophecy.net

Naomi Gone Wild

Naomi Campbell's Safari-themed fashion spread for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar

{Images via theybf.com}

Look of the Week

Angelina Jolie, at the premiere of Brad Pitt's new flick, "Inglorious Basterds". Who else could wear this leathery Michael Kors' piece in the summer and make it look this good?

Year of the Leotard

Sasha Fierce...enough said

Ciara in a leo spiced up with fishnets and ankle boots

Christina Milian from her video, "Us Against the World"

Britney in a Showgirl style one-piece

Lady Gaga in a leo complete with a bow

SPOTLIGHT

Brandi Quinones was one of the top models on the scene during the 90's. She reached her peak when she became the first black model to become the face ofChanel. Having been gone from the fashion world for a few years, Quinones returned to the scene this year by hitting the runway for a Givenchy show. Hopefully, she'll stick around for a while to show these new chicks what "fierce" really looks like.

Copenhagen Fashion Week

Pieces from Marlene Birger's collection at Copenhagen's Fashion Week