Attention hot mamas. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a recession. And even though retailers are practically giving merchandise away thanks to deeply discounted sales, I’ve discovered a way to shop without spending a dime. How, you ask? By swapping clothes I no longer need or can’t fit with friends and swap groups.
On average, I go to about one or two clothing swaps a month and have an eclectic wardrobe to show for it (see the above You Tube video I did on a clothing swap in New York City). Through Meetup.com, Freecycle and other social organizations, the clothing swap trend has taken off in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other major cities, but you can host a swap anywhere.
Here are a few basic swap rules:
1) Like the golden rule, don’t bring clothes you wouldn’t want to receive. That means no dirty, stained or torn items. If you wouldn’t wear it, chances are no one else wants it.
2) To avoid swapper’s remorse, don’t bring items you can’t stand to part with. Only bring items you’re ready to give a new home.
3) Don’t expect the swap to be an even trade. Sometimes you will bring a bag of clothes, shoes, and accessories and leave with only one or two items. Other times, you may bring a little and come home with a lot.
4) Be patient. Swapping is like mining for buried treasure. I’ve found brand new clothing from H&M, Forever 21, Old Navy, and Banana Republic with the tags still attached. But you have to be willing to hang out for a while and wait for new people bearing fresh swap items.
5) Have fun. Swapping is a great way to meet like-minded fashionistas, double your wardrobe, and promotes recycling, which is good for the environment.
Speaking of Rihanna and heels (see previous post), this is what the trendy singer wore during a casual afternoon stroll in La La Land with family and friends. Umm, I could have sworn she was auditioning for Tina Turner’s part in a remake of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
Although I’m all for avant garde fashion, I can’t vouch for these good girl gone wild gladiator stilettos. What do you think? Is Rihanna taking a fashion step forward or making a style misstep?
Rihanna makes it look so easy — shopping, dancing, and canoodling with Chris Brown in heels. But you see, I have a rare disorder. I’m missing the high-heel gene, which sucks since all of the cutest shoes this year have come stacked three-inches or higher. And with the holiday season fast approaching and hopefully my pick of fashionable soirees to attend, I want to give heels another try.
So I trekked to Nine West in my flat suede boots. And to my shopaholic delight, the store is having an awesome sale. Take 25 percent off the already low sale price!
This is the sexy bootie/shoe I wanted – the Lahdidah — but with a heel this chunky there’s no way I could make it work, as Tim Gunn would say. Yet, for the right gal it’s a steal at $60 with the 25 percent discount.
And this more manageable heel (I hope) – the FoxyGirl – is the shoe I purchased. A sweet deal for only $30 with the 25 percent discount.
So run, don’t walk to a Nine West near you. But if you’d rather let your fingers do the clicking, the sale is also online at NineWest.com. (Photos: Newscom, Nine West)
For women of color, being bootylicious is a both a blessing and a curse, especially when it comes to finding jeans that accommodate our curves. Well, two brands have got us covered, literally.
Designed by Brazilian mother-daughter duo Kathy Moca and Emilie Moca Whitaker, Beija-Flor jeans work with a woman’s figure and come in an assortment of funky styles and colors. I love the pretty in pink “Taryn” jean - it reminds me of a pair I rocked in junior high when I was way into Rick Springfield (ok, I just dated myself big time). At $186 a pair, the jeans are a tad pricey, but think of it as a wise investment for denim that will fit like a glove. Beija-Flor means “hummingbird” in Portuguese and the jeans come with the brand’s signature bird logo sewn on the front pocket.
Since I’m a budget shopper by nature, another brand of jeans tailored to fit real women with curves at the nicer price of $24.99 is Fashion Bug’s Right Fit line. The jeans are color-coded to accommodate three body types: Yellow for straight from hips to waist; Red for moderately curvy from hips to waist; and Blue for curvy girls fullest at the hips.Thanks to the forgiving sizing system, I wear a slim size 7 Red, and my favorite pair is the stretchy black sandblast with cool stitching on the back pockets. Right Fit is also available at Lane Bryant.
Hot mamas, I want to hear from you. What jeans fit you the best? And how much are you willing to spend for the right fit?
Watching the stunning Kimora Lee Simmons’ Style Network show, “Life in the Fab Lane,” is is one of my reality TV guilty pleasures. Kimora puts the D in DIVA, yet she manages to be both self-absorbed and self-deprecating.
On a recent episode, she recruited Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley’s opinion on this dress she wore to the Costume Institute Gala at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum. The event’s theme was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy,” but what do you think?
Was Kimora’s hand-painted gown worthy of a super-shero or in need of an intervention from the fashion super friends?
American Idol Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks is adorable and she has the voice of an angel. Her hair and makeup are always flawless, and the black patent leather pumps with a hint of red in the heel are killer.
But what do you think of the leopard print dress she recently wore to Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party?
Is she a Hot Mama or “Jane of the Jungle” fashion victim?
As an African-American woman, it’s hard for me to put into words how proud I am that Barack Obama has won the presidential election. Yes we can and did! I’m equally amazed that America will now have a black First Lady and first daughters. Michelle Obama and her girls, Malia and Sasha, are beautiful and I can’t wait to see how their flair for fashion evolves over the next four years. Michelle’s fashion sense is pretty bold — from the darling, Donna Ricco black and white flower sheath she wore on “The View” to the hip-hugging purple dress she wore on the campaign trail (see top photo, for sale at Amazon.com).
The red-splashed black Narciso Rodriguez dressshe wore during Senator Obama’s victory speech wasn’t my favorite. It looked more Contempo Casuals than Jackie O. But we all have our fashion don’t days.
What do you think of First Lady Obama’s style? Hot or Not?
With critical issues like universal healthcare and the economic crisis looming, we fashionistas know how important it is to vote. So don’t forget to get out to your local poll bright and early (or ask to leave work early, your boss will understand). But make sure you dress the part.
Here are a few Election Day fashion tips:
1) Wear comfortable shoes. Sure the high-heeled booties are all the rage, but voters are turning out in record numbers for this election and lines are long. I just received a pair of super comfy Aravon boots which have the cushion of a sneaker and the style of a casual boot, and I plan to wear them to vote. My feet may not look as fashionable as Nicole Richie’s, but sometimes sense and sensibility outweighs fashion pride and prejudice.
2) Sporting your favorite red cardigan or blue blazer is okay, but Election Day isn’t the time to flaunt all of your cute campaign pharaphernalia. Anything that promotes or bears the name of your candidate can be considered “passive electioneering,” so leave your Ojamas at home.
3) Purple isn’t only the hot color for the Fall season. Wearing purple to the polls shows that you stand for the red states and blue states coming together. And at the end of the day isn’t that what all Americans should hope for?
Still need more incentive to vote? Well, I’m not sure if this clip will provide that. But just for kicks, watch footage of Tyra “Top Model Gone Wild” Banks’ Harper’s Bazaar photo shoot where she played dress up like Michelle Obama.
We all know Beyonce is a hottie, but who would have guessed she’d pull a Prince on us and change her name? Well, sort of. Queen B’s new double album “I Am….Sasha Fierce” (Nov. 18, Sony) introduces fans to her feisty alter-ego.
In a press statement, the Texas beauty explains, “I have someone else that takes over when it’s time for me to work and when I’m on stage, this alter ego that I’ve created that kind of protects me and who I really am.” Okay, if you say so B.
All I want to know is where to find her personal trainer and stylist because she’s working the black body suit and stilettos in her new video for the catchy single, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It).” Try to ignore the odd robotic glove and watch and witness Beyonce in all of her toned gam glory.
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