Vintage Style: Lena Horne

Back by popular demand is a lil' bit of "Vintage Style" by Intern Contestant-turned-Contributor, Ashley. Check it out!Very few women can manage to be as poised *and* sizzling hot as Lena Horne was in her day. With a penchant for coyly demure necklines and super-sexy silhouettes, this timeless siren was known as much for her beauty as for her professionalism, class, and talent. While the Brooklyn native certainly made history as the first African-American singer to sign with MGM, it was also her style that made me sit up and take notice.

Ms. Horne stuck with no fuss, streamlined pieces that complimented her oh-so-enviable curves. One thing I love about the days of Old Hollywood is the glamour that permeated just about every aspect of their lives, whether you went out dancing at the Cotton Club or hit up a boxing match. Even if we don’t have her diamond-cutting cheekbones or statuesque figure, we can still strive for some of the poise and grace Lena herself embodied.
Borrow a little bit of Lena Horne’s subdued sensuality with dresses that feature daring little necklines and figure skimming silhouettes!

1. Abaete Carolyn Dress, $425 2. Hervé Léger Paiellette Covered Bandage Dress, $2,070 3. Badgley Mischka Pleated Dress, $695 4. A.B.S. Sateen V-Neck Gown, $204 5. Satin Pleated Sweetheart Dress, $30 6. Vera Wang Chocolate Ruched Taffeta One Shoulder Dress, $768
Who knew such subtlety could be so sexy?
~Ashley
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Snaps for Ms. Ashley! I'm so glad her Vintage Style will now be a recurring feature on the FB, aren't you?
~Adri

Throwback Viddy: Self-Destruction

Can you believe it's been twenty years since "Self-Destruction" came out?

Aside from the activism the song and the Stop the Violence Movement promoted, the video is a picture-perfect fashion time capsule of 1989: door-knocker earrings, full-length furs, Troop jackets, shearlings, kente cloth, and leather hats (hmm, so much of that is back right now). And cameos galore! MC Lyte, D-Nice, Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D...
Could something like it happen again today, do you think?
Regardless, it's a fashionably fitting throwback for Black History Month!
~Adri

Throwback Video: Toni Braxton's You're Making Me High

Here's a bit of a throwback viddy for your viewing pleasure:

A few modern observations:
*How fly was Toni in that white catsuit?
*A+ for the Pizza Guy (wasn't that Bryce from Groove Theory?)
*Um, who were those other guys? Did I see Marcus Schenkenberg?
*Vivica A. Fox, Tisha Campbell-Martin (Gina!!), and Erika Alexander (Pam or Maxine Shaw depending on your preference) all looked great!

Didn't you just love this video?

Style Tribute: Eartha Kitt

In the midst of my Christmas revelry, I was saddened to learn that singer, dancer and actress Eartha Kitt passed away at the age of 81. Eartha made many contributions to the worlds of film, music and, of course, fashion:

Her saucy style remained fresh over her six decade long career, a sign that sophistication and sultriness know no age. She will be missed.

Throwback: Guess Jeans

There were plenty of '80s-'90s designer jean "status" labels: Sergio Valente, Girbaud, Jordache. But none gave you more instant cache than that little triangle on your back pocket......Guess Jeans!With their second-skin fit, cool washes, and ads featuring style icons like Naomi Campbell, Anna Nicole Smith, Claudia Schiffer, and Drew Barrymore, the Guess formula of sexy+chic+celebrity=trend explosion broke ground for much of the denim craze we see today. And...

(I told y'all we were going back today!)
There was probably no better ad for Guess jeans than Janet's "Pleasure Principle" video (you know you tried to do this dance--Guess jeans or not--at least once!).And could you Guess that:
-Guess Jeans ran about $60 a pair--about $100-$150 in today's money?
-Guess was created as "American West meets European Sensibility?"
-Everyone from Miss Jackson to Grandmaster Flash to Wu-Tang have paid tribute to Guess in some way?
-The company currently focuses more on accessories and has launched independent Guess accessory stores ?
Tell us your Guess memories ;-)
~Adri

Quickie Throwback: Door Knocker Earrings

Door knockers were a style staple of the late '80s/early '90s...

...that came roaring back a few seasons ago and seem here to stay:

Everybody has their favorites--mine were my Twists (which I still rock now and then)...

But my friends were mostly Puff, Triangle, and Bamboo kinda chicks:

Which style were you?

Get a fresh take on the door knocker look with some of these:

1. Personalized Gold Square Bamboo Earrings, $290. 2. Swarovski Door Knocker Earrings, $154 3. Tear Drop Door Knockers, $25

~Adriana

Random Thoughts: Beyoncé & Rihanna Swap Styles, Grace Jones, Robin Givhan on Sarah Palin, Next Throwback?

Remember when people accused Rihanna’s style of being too much like Beyoncé’s?

Now some people are saying Bee is looking quite similar to Ri:

Does this mean we’ve come full-circle?
Off-topic, I would love to see them do a song together on some “The Boy is Mine 2009.” Not just for the song—can you imagine the video wardrobe??

Ever since Fashion Bomber Erica sent in that Grace Jones album cover, I've been obsessively watching GJ videos on the 'Tube. Especially "My Jamaican Guy":

So avant-garde and fashion-forward--GJ is underappreciated as a style icon, I think. BTW, recognize this song as the sample for another icon's sexy hip-hop classic?
I’m thinking about my next Throwback post and can’t decide what to do: Guess Jeans, Triple Fat Goose coats, or Re-Run Style?

Kidding! (on the last). But wait...hmm...Fred Berry's red, white, and green are giving me a crazy idea. Hmm! OK, I'm hyped. Off to start work on it now...
P.S. If you haven't already read it, I highly, highly recommend Robin Givhan's piece on Sarah Palin's style. As usual, Ms. Givhan is right on point (and funny) with her analysis.
~A

Music Bomb: Favorite Stylish Album Covers

Style and music naturally go together, and few places is that synergy at work more than in an artist's album cover. Like videos, album covers are used to express the artist's visual interpretation of their work.
Here, for your consideration, are some all-time stylish classics in the album cover game:

Guy, The Future (1990): No group personified New Jack Swing more than Guy since they effectively created the genre. With hits like "Teddy's Jam 2," "Let's Chill," and "Wanna Get With You," the gentlemen's butter-soft leathers (a '90s must-have), shades, and hi-top fades were an emblem of their signature hip-hop meets R&B style. Classic.

Mary J. Blige, My Life (1994): While What's the 411? introduced her to the world, My Life was the first glimpse into the personal Mary we would all come to know and grow with for the next almost fifteen years. Instead of her trademark sunglasses, Mary's eyes are shaded by a then-trendy leather newsboy cap and it, along with her big hoop earrings, blond braids, and the moody black & white photography set the tone for the album's personal and emotional journey.

Michael Jackson, Thriller (1984): Seven top ten hits. Over 40 million records sold. Videos that revolutionized the music video genre (and sparked the craziest red leather jacket trend we've ever seen). In fact, most people assume that MJ wore his infamous red leather jacket on the album cover when in fact he sports this casual white suit and black silk shirt. Thriller was made especially to catapult MJ into superstar status, and the cover's image of a star reclining and at ease with his swagger was intended to convey just that.

Outkast, ATLiens (1996): Consistently ranked on top album covers of all time lists, ATLiens's distinctive, comic book-like cover gives you a glimpse into the futuristic, p-funk-inspired turn that Outkast's music and image took with this album. I love how detailed it is, especially the little things: the bunching of Big Boi's varsity jacket, the folds in Andre 3000's turban, and how it simultaneously manages to express both their individual styles and vision as a group.

Diana Ross, Silk Electric (1982): More modern art than album cover, Miss Ross's signature mane and sultry, confident gaze are rendered in a portrait by Andy Warhol that captures the energy and style of the early 1980s (and it's the album with "I want muscles!").

Do I even need to break it down for this one?
There are TONS I couldn't include (Beyonce's Dangerously In Love, LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out, and Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, for starters). Send in your favorites (or any you think I missed) and why to thefashionbombintern@gmail.com and I'll post some on Friday!
Adriana

Fashion Cinema: Love Jones

Who can believe that last year marked the tenth anniversary of Love Jones's release? Whether you first saw it on a date, with friends, or a special someone in your life, Love Jones became, for all of us, one of the definitive cultural statements about African-American men, women, and relationships in the 1990s.
And, unassumingly, fashion. Set at a moment when fashion was transitioning from the minimalist '90s to the label-conscious 2000s, the movie's understated, boho-urban style is also a time capsule of modern young, upwardly mobile Black fashion, not to mention an influence of today's neo-soul aesthetic.
The characters, like the movie itself, are swathed in earth tones; rich sweaters, black leather jackets, boot-cut jeans, and motorcycle boots comprise the wardrobe's signature looks. The clothes are quietly stylish, as if to contrast the flash that accompanies other movies of the decade (Belly, Boomerang) documenting the adult African-American experience. Nia Long's much-copied bob and the movie's hit soundtrack are also two of the film's legacies.
Did you have any Love Jones style back in the day?
Adriana

Throwback: Reebok Freestyle Hi-Tops

Call 'em "classics," "female Air Force Ones," or the now-infamous "54-11's", the Reebok Freestyle Hi-Top can be summed up in just one word: iconic. As a teenage girl in uptown NYC, especially, no sneaker was more definitve, and no fashion trend more beloved. And oh, the colors--sky blue, mustard, hot pink, and even the rumored, holy grail shade of chocolate (which I never confirmed really existed) were among the many hues one could stunt in.

The Freestyle, designed as an aerobic exercise shoe, debuted in April 1982 and became popular both for its sleek design and for being one of the first athletic shoes specifically made for women. It celebrated its 25th birthday in 2007 with not only its own site, but also a line of Freestyles inspired by various influences (like artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, below).

Even Paris's über-hip concept shop Collette teamed up with Reebok and streetwear line Married to the Mob to deliver their own interpretation:

Recently, supermodel Agyness Deyn designed her own group of limited edition Freestyles and there were, of course, those "Reeboks with the straps" immortalized in Flo Rida's "Get Low" (is there anything more fitting for the ultimate Around the Way Girl shoe?).

Craving some Freestyles now (the 90s are back, after all)? Look no further:

1. Punk Freestyle, $45 2. Neon Blue Freestyle, $65 3. Pink and Gold Freestyle, $63 4. Hi Evol Musi Freestyle, $70 5. Snowflake Freestyle, $60
What are some of your Freestyle memories? Favorite colors?
~Adriana