Voxpop Launches, Grace Debuts!

The site I have been doing fashion consulting for, Voxpop, recently launched. Featured now is my Spring Clutch game. At the end of the game enter your info to win the top clutch!

Upcoming games from moi: Wedges, Spring Dresses, and Handbags. Fun fun! Prize opportunities come with all of these games, and the budget I was given to work with is way way decent too. Happy Gaming!

Spring Cleansing

One usually feels the impetus to clean house when Spring arrives. There's a feeling in the air of regrowth and renewal that always sets us to work, yellow rubber gloves in tow. I, however, always start my spring with a day of what I call "Body Overhaul." You know how you winterize your vehicle? Well, this is my opportunity to de-winterize my body (or as I like to call it, Springify. I am chock full of useful descriptive terms!). Here is what I do:

1) Run a moderately hot bath, and instead of adding bubbles or bath beads, add one bottle of apple cider vinegar. Soak in this for about an 30 min- 1 hour. The apple cider vinegar helps draw toxins out of the skin. It's also probably the cheapest detoxifier on the market!

2) After I'm all good and pruny, I run the shower and do a deep entire body exfoliation. I am partial to Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish

3) After I am full exfoliated, I shave all the necessary places.

4) While still in the shower, I use a pumice stone on my feet (bring sure to bring socks into the bathroom with you for the next step!).

5) Before getting out of the shower, I sit on the edge of the tub and slather the richest (cheapest) lotion I can find all over my feet and then put socks on. I recommend a knock-off Mango Body Butter from Kohl's or Target.

6) Then I proceed to slather Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Cream all over my body (except for my face).

Now that I've shed my winter coat, I usually do other things like a moisturizing face mask, a rich hair mask, and a self pedicure and manicure.

Other options:

-Deep cleaning mask
- Aspirin mask
- Self tanner

Warning: After all of the moisturizing you are doing to replenish what was leeched from your skin over the dry winter months, you might be a slick mess. I recommend doing this treatment only on a day when you will not leave the house. I guarantee that after you take your regular shower the following morning, you will be glowing from head to toe. Drink lots of water with lemon to get an additional detoxifying effect and to maintain your healthy glow!

Happy Spring!

A Strange Day for Fashion

Marc Jacobs entered rehab, and Anand Jon was charged with sexual assault. Tres bizarre!

Part of me thinks that, like the Beat writers, Marc Jacobs' genius creations were inspired in part by his addiction to substances. Hopefully, his creativity will not suffer with his sobriety. I'm not saying Marc Jacobs shouldn't get sober, I am merely saying that I hope that he stays inspired and creative throughout his recovery process. I think he will. :)

Anand Jon...dude makes how much money selling those fancy jeans and he has to assault women to get sex? Something just ain't right there.

Spring Wishlist

Here are are my biggest wants for spring: bold colors, floral patterns, vintage-inspired crop jackets, floaty tunics and dresses and wow'em shoes! Here is a brief look at my (ever-expanding) spring wishlist:


Agapantha Eliza Long Necklace:




Twelfth Street Crop Jacket:



T-Bags Goddess Dress:




Susanna Monaco Strap Gather Top in Pomme:




Sergio Rossi Jeweled Flat Slingbacks:





Rich & Skinny Leggy Jeans in Red:







Rebecca Taylor Cropped Linen Jacket:





Fighting Eel Libra Short Dress:






Rebecca Taylore Embroidered Hopsack Jacket:





Paul & Joe Oversized Poppy Print Tunic:





Miu Miu Nappa Leather Drawstring Bag:





Mike & Chris Grayson Fleece Hoodie:






Goldenbleu Bridget Bag:





Kenneth Jay Lane Gold Octopus Ring:






Loeffler Randall Coco Cinch Flat:






Karoo Empire Waist Dress:





Gucci Sunset Mid-Heel Wedge:







Francesco Biasia Ring of Fire:






Erotokritos Lace Panel Top:





Diane Von Furstenberg Silk/Linen Mini Dress:

Just a few things that won't break the bank:

$38:



$79.99:


$44.99:




$4.99:



$3.80

I'd be scowling because of the shoes they'd make me wear!

It's not news that models never smile, but John Tierney at the New York Times actually provides us scientific information behind their stern countenances.

I found the explanation fascinating, especially since I noticed more models smiling than usual when I looked at pictures of Paris Fashion Week (to be sure, none of them were from Viktor & Rolf). What does this say about the collections they modeled for? Or do you think they were explicitly told to smile? Notice how incongruous it feels to see a model smiling. It's almost a little creepy. (just kidding!)


Sonya Rykiel

Paris Fashion Week

I blogged Paris Fashion Week for Blacks Retail Analysis. Check out my coverage of Yohji Yamamoto, Hussein Chalayan, Tao, Celine and Akris.

More to come later today! I'll also be writing about Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Dior, Sonya Rykiel and Rue de Mail.

Checkcheckcheck it out!

Stop Model Cruelty

If you haven't seen the latest creations from Viktor & Rolf, then you must be on a remote island in native Africa without internet connection. What's funny about it all, is that the reviews concentrated on the pain the models went through, rather than the clothes. But, if you're going to do something so distracting, shouldn't that be expected?

The Runway Review on Style.com reported:

PARIS, February 26, 2007 – Should anyone have the idea that today's models are a limp and weedy bunch, they might take a look at what they had to put up with—literally—at Viktor & Rolf. First, the girls had to shoulder heavy steel rigs, further weighed down with tungsten lights and speakers, some of them built up high above their heads. Then, unable to bend or use their arms to balance, they were asked to walk the runway wearing giant, clunky high-heeled Dutch wooden clogs. As the rigs got bigger and the girls' expressions more frozen with fear, involuntary gasps escaped from the audience. "Oh my God, she's listing!" hissed one observer. "I can't look!" cried another. "That poor girl's slipping!" shrieked someone else.

By pure luck, no one did fall, and when the applause came, Viktor & Rolf may not have realized it was all for the models' heroic endurance, rather than for them. The mild-mannered and scrupulously polite Horsting and Snoeren can hardly be suspected of being closet sadists, but in this case their concept crossed over into cruelty. At the end, if they'd come out rigged up themselves—in clogs—they might have gotten away with it, but whatever point they were (perhaps) making about how each of us walks through life in her own imaginary fashion show, it couldn't override the discomfort of the spectacle. Worse, no one was talking about the clothes as they left the show. In fact, they were inspired by Dutch folk costume: tapestries, checks, and pure white buttoned-up blouses, with a smattering of basic sportswear corduroy cropped pants in between. There was also something in the way that some of the skirts and evening dresses were hooked to the rigs that seemed fleetingly reminiscent of the manner in which costume dolls are pinned into packaging in souvenir shops. Unfortunately, though, it's almost impossible to concentrate on finer points like that when you're anxious that a young woman might be about to break her neck in front of you.

So what is this? Is it fashion-forward? Is it art? Is it stupid? It certainly is creative, but, I'm really not too sure that the public will be keen on hauling around stage lamps in their clothing. In the words of my friend Ethan, "This is perfect for people who need far too much attention and lower back support."