September 25, 2007

The Opera ...in Times Square??



So last night I experienced the opera like never before! Lucia di Lammermoor was transmitted to the big screen in Times Square in celebration of Opening Night for the start of the 2007-2008 season, and was free for all!

Natalie Dessay offered a phenomenal performance as Lucia that totally transformed the the story to real life. As you re-live the dramatic turn of events that are so close to reality, you forget that the opera is based on a true story that is over three centuries old.

The direction was great and the vocalists were amazing. Though this was not my first time attending the opera, it certainly was my first time in well over ten years... and from the sidewalk (street) theatre that closed off Broadway at Times Square, for about five blocks!

Love free theatre... Would I pay to see it? Absolutely!!

...do it with Style, and seal it with a Kiss!

September 18, 2007

The DREAM Team!



Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Russel Simmons, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Robin Thicke, Whoopi Goldberg, Babyface, Ludacris, Joss Stone, Aretha Franklin, Bebe and Cece Winans, Carlos Santana, Ben Affleck, Angela Bassett and many more... were among the All-Star line up of musicians, celebrities and entertainers that came together to raise funds in support of The Dream! In honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the funds are being raised to complete the memorial being built in his image in Washington DC. To find out more info, go to the official site...
www.buildthedream.org

September 13, 2007

Spring 2008... Fashion Week Recap!

Oscar de la Renta


This fashion week the runways were full of inspiration... especially from across the globe!

We see that Spring trends will be a follow up of this past, when it comes to lady-like expressions, but we will definitely see more lean sihlouettes, and a lot of 'waist' attention. High-waist skirts and pants... and belts everywhere, from the skinny half inch to the further extreme and wider five inch. Pale and bright fruity colors, as well as ethnic and abstract prints dominated the runway, and headscarfs were worn with everything from cute casual dresses... to evening wear... to business daywear.

With global charity work becoming more of a trend (hey, whatever works), it's no surprise that we see so much ethnicity on the runways! I think that because of this we'll start to see a clear translation of this trend, with these prints making strong statements next spring!


These are just a few of my favorite looks from NY Fashion Week!













































Oscar de la Renta - 2 looks, Tracy Reese - 3 looks, Diane von Furstenberg - 3 looks, Carolina Herrera - 2 looks, Zac Posen - 2 looks, Doo.ri - 2 look, Malandrino - 2 looks, BCBG Max Azria - 1 look, Carlos Miele - 1 look, Marc Jacobs - 1 look and Bill Blass - 1 look.

...do it with STYLE, and seal it with a KISS!

September 10, 2007

OPRAH is INNN the Building!!!!



Were you among the lucky few who went to the live taping of the season premiere at MSG?? Well if not, stay tuned to catch the show, as Oprah chats it up with David Letterman, Gayle talks shoes at Saks, and Lisa Marie Presley performs with the King!! And of course, there will be an entire show devoted to 9/11 tomorrow! Don't miss them!

Red-Carpet VMA Fashions...

Congrats to the winners of this year's MTV Video Music Awards! Justin Timberlake took home four awards including Male Artist of the Year, proving that he was successful in bringing Sexy Back!! And Rhianna's hit single Umbrella won Best Single and Best Video!
Beyonce and Shakira won for Best Collab! ...and I must agree, that was definietly my fave! Whoo-Hoo!!

Let's not talk about Britney's humiliating performance, or Lil Mama's Halloween costume complete with the pacifier!

Instead, let's check out these Chic Red Carpet Looks...


Queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige kept it nice and simple using her beautiful new 'do and a few accessories to doll up her look!



Love the detailing on Nicole's dress!



Beyonce, looking gorgeous as usual...



Rhianna's bold color was the perfect pic! The sweetheart neckline and bare neck are equally sexy, elegant and fun!



Eve looks like she's been under the knife... but still beautiful!



How cute is this for the red carpet? Go Solange!



Ashanti sure looks like a shining star tonight!

September 5, 2007

Fashion, Fashion in the Air... Fashion, Fashion EVERYWHERE!!

It's definitely that time! New York Fashion Week Spring '08 officially begins today, kicking off Runway shows at the Tents (Bryant Park) and other locations all across the city! Designers 'new' and 'established' in the American market, will be presenting their Spring '08 lines in NY this week through next Wed 9/12!

This week every one's a super diva fashionista, and will be flaunting their newly purchased fall outfits fresh off of the racks of Madison or Fifth! For many Fashion Week is an open opportunity to express their own personal sense of style, and although under normal circumstances some of these outbursts would be COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, this week it's honored! In fact, if it's unique enough or fab enough, it may even be featured in the next morning's Daily! The fashion show is clearly ON and OFF of the runways! So while some will merely be affected by the chaotic fabulousness of Fashion this week, totally oblivious to the Tent's, the after-parties, wondering why there are so many celebs and models in town, etc... the True Fashionista lives for it!

Chado Ralph Rucci Fall '07


Credentials or none, invitation or not... the Art of "catching the show" has certainly been mastered season after season. For some, all it takes is to have "the look" complete with the hottest Lu-Bu's and the season's "It" Bag , and you're in! Other's hustle just a bit harder, even volunteering their time (rather smart thinkin' if you can afford it!), just to See and be Seen!! The worst are the sneaky, grimy "Fashio-Know-So's" who are CEO of their own camp, and feel that their entitled to the world... be careful, they are the ones who steal your seats (acting as if they didn't see your name!), try to steal your goodie-bag, and can work any crowd... fooling many among them!

Despite the Tricks, there are more than enough Treats, and if you're not in the industry, but a fashionista still... be sure to check out all of the looks, straight from the runway on Style.com, one of the many sites that get the pics first hand and publish them almost immediately!

Oscar de la Renta Resort '08


...do it with STYLE, and seal it with a KISS!!

September 4, 2007

When There's More in His Closet Than Suits and Ties!

More and more we're finding that our men, our friends' men, or just men we happen to know as otherwise HETERO... are GAY!!! OMG!!! WTF!!!

Have you ever been in a situation that was a bit uncomfortable for you accept? Has your man ever done or said something that was an automatic RED FLAG... but either in denial, OR an effort to not humiliate him, OR in respect of his E.G.O... OR just total shock, you let it slide??

Have you ever wondered... even for a half-second... if your man was GAY? Worried that what your friends keep saying about him being too pretty to be STRAIGHT, may actually be TRUE!! Does it totally freak you out to think that his "Feminine Touch" may come from something other than growing up w/a house full of gals? ...Because after all, "Can't Nobody... Love You Better... Make You Happy... Make You Feel This WA-AYYY!!"

Well ladies, it's time to Open Up His Closet Doors... and really take a look inside! Here are a few things to look for... lol!! (Insert Wendy's sound effects for the ultimate hilarious experience!) FYI...While some of the signs seem obvious, many women are blinded by LOVE!

1) He listens to Wendy Williams everyday at work, and has officially begun to say "How U Doin'??" on a regular basis!! ("Aurriight!!")

2) His eyes are absolutely gorgeous... always have been, but you actually start to think that you see mascara on them tonight!!! (...GASP!!! ...now BREATHE!!!) No way!!! So you pretend to remove something from the corner of his eye, and almost faint when you see a trace of black on your finger tip!! ("I like boys")

3) His mani-pedi routine has become more regular than yours, and he even agrees to getting a WAX with you!! ("How U doin'??")

4) His fashion sense is better than yours! ...and I don't just mean that he has great taste!! ("Aurriight!")

5) The two of you are out to dinner, and after a few drinks you find his eyes wandering. You decide, after the second time, to turn around and see this sexy chick that's got your drunk man's attention... ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT"S ANOTHER MAN!!!!! ("I-I-I-I-I-I-I... I'm GAY!!!")

6) One or more of his closest male friends is GAY!! ("I like boys!")

7) He has EVER referred to you as, or started a sentence with, "Gurrll..." or "Chillle..."!! (Aurriight!")

8) You go out to a karaoke bar, and after you have just finished belting out your own rendition of I Am Telling You, your man comes behind you... kisses you on the neck and takes the mic away from you. You're so excited that he's actually agreed to sing this time, but when the music starts to play, you can't help but think that they've got the wrong song. UNTIL HE STARTS TO SING!!! Why is your man singing Aretha's version of I Will Survive!! "At first I was afraid, I was petrified..." is definitely what's going on in your head RIGHT NOW!!! ("How U Doin'?")

9) He's been spending more time with TYRONE!!! ...and unless, or shall I say even if Tyrone is really Tiffany, you've got yourself a bit of a situation here!! New sound effect required for this one... ("To the Left, To the Left!!")

10) You've agreed to bring some freak into the bedroom and to role-play his secret fantasy... only you don't know what it is yet. It can't be that bad though, because you told him that you were only down if it didn't involve a third party. SUPRIIISSE!!!!! He came home with a sexy fire girl costume, and (DRUMROLL!!!) ...a STRAP-ON!! ("I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I'm GAY!!!")


OK... now what do you do if you realize that the signs are CLEAR... the flags are IN YOUR FACE... and you're suddenly HEARTBROKEN??? Unfortunately, there's not much that you can do... there's no "Working this out!" ...You can't put it on him any better, and expect him to CHANGE!! You have to GET OUT! ...NOW! ...I SAID NOW!!!

This may be one of the ONLY situations where you two can truly benefit from 'just being friends'!

(shout-out to Wendy Williams... friend in my head!! ...even though I can totally see us having a love/hate relationship!! Gotta love her...lol!)