STYLESTAR: NAANA B!

Check out this fabulous line!

I went to lunch with a certain jet setting basketball playing friend who may or may not be forgiven for NOT telling me about the NBA's 2007 Court-ture fashion show--which he attended-- and spoke to me about only after he left! Check out the fashion show here.

Anyway, he might be forgiven because he introduced me to the brother of designer, Nana Birago Amoako, the next day!

Nana is a sister comrade in arms (read: black woman lawyer), who was trained in Visual Arts and Art History at Columbia University. Her work is inspired by famed artists Pablo Picasso, Paul Gaugain, Gustav Klimt and Mati Klarwein. Her line fuses a love of bold, bright color and the aesthetics of fabric and light installation.
As a citizen of the world, she is influenced by her adventures and travels to such places as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.

Stay tuned for more on this fabulous designer...I will feature her on Honey Magazine online soon! Nana will also be featured in Essence Magazine's summer issue--hitting stands the first week of April.

I am in LOVE with these bags! Visit www.naanab.com to get your own!

As if you didn't have reason enough to buy these bags and skirts, the Naana B. line is produced by women artisans in rural Ghana who are trained by CBLit (www.cblit.org), a non-profit organization that empowers women through small business development.

Save the world and your wardrobe by purchasing one of these beautiful bags and skirts! Tell Nana I sent 'ya!


Check out vintage StyleStar posts here!

NAUTICA JEANS: N-SERIES GIVEAWAY

Someone over at Nautica contacted me about the launch of Nautica Jeans Co.'s Live N Jeans sweepstakes and N-Series jeans.

Nautica Jeans Co.® has debuted a new jean for spring 2007 called the N-Series® Straight Leg jean. After extensive consumer research, fit testing and feedback from vendors and retail partners, Nautica Jeans Co.® has created a versatile new jean for the 20-something male.

The N-Series® Straight Leg jean can easily be paired with any outfit – a perfect choice for either casual or more formal occasions. With a variety of color offerings, a closer body fit, and a fashionably detailed construction, the N-Series® Straight Leg jean is a staple style for any man's wardrobe.

Get a FREE pair of N-Series Jeans* by e-mailing us, at stylechil@gmail.com, with your name and mailing address**! These are men's jeans, so go ahead and upgrade the man in your life! Winners will be announced next week.

Enter the Live N Jeans sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip with a friend to Los Angeles, New York, Miami or Chicago. Airfare, hotel, food and transportation to and from the airport will be provided! Good luck!

* Mens W-34/L-34
** Information submitted will only be used in connection with StyleChile's giveaway and will not be distributed to any third parties.

WEEKLY STYLE REVIEW

Ok, so this is fast becoming the not-so-weekly style review. Please accept my apologies...I've been swamped, both personally and professionally. But, we're getting in gear and will have daily updates for you soon!

Check out these stylish celebs!

HOT NEW HUE: JAY Z BLUE

Most of you may already know, hip hop mogul Jay Z a.k.a. Sean Carter has sealed a deal with General Motors launching the newest color in their line of vehicles Jay Z Blue. StyleChile has chosen to take this a step further and into our closets. With spring almost here Jay Z Blue is a fun and electric color to introduce to our wardrobes...ya heard!

INTRO TO FASHION 101: AMSALE

Ethiopian native, Amsale Aberra, has made an indelible mark on the coutoure wedding gown business...

...and like most designers, she was inspired to create because she recognized a need--in her personal life--and fulfilled said need with her own resourcefulness.

Amsale was prompted to design a wedding dress for her 1985 nuptials, because the dearth of simple, sophisticated gowns (after all, it was the '80's--simple, sophisticated elegance was not really en vogue at that time!) left her frustrated.

"Growing up in Ethiopia, I always made my own clothes, mainly from necessity. I never thought about being a fashion designer. People talked about being seamstresses, but never fashion designers."

Amsale has come a long way from Addis Ababa--and from placing ads for custom-made dresses in the back of bridal magazines.

Amsale's appearance on Oprah.

Today this Fashion Institute of Technology-trained designer dynamo, who has worked under the tutelage of Have Bernard, is a favorite of Halle Berry, Julia Roberts, Angela Bassett, and Salma Hayek. Her brand is as recognizable, and respected as Vera Wang's.

Amsale's four lines include: Bridal, Christos, Kenneth Pool and the recently launched line of coutoure eveningwear.

In addition to designing, Amsale is the face of the MKX, Lincoln's latest luxury auto.

Check out a couple of gown's from Amsale's most recent lines:

Spring 2007

Spring 2006

Check out vintage Fashion 101 posts here!

TEXTSTYLE: GROSGRAIN

Next up in our TextStyle series...Grosgrain is a French word that fuses gros, meaning coarse and/or thick, with the old French graine, meaning seed and/or grain.

The textile is a closely woven silk or rayon fabric with narrow horizontal ribs. It's most commonly used as ribbon and adds a whimsical touch to clothes, accessories and linens. No doubt, you've seen the grosgrain belts that are popular among the preppy college set (often paired with a matching polo shirt--collar up)!

I like this fabric because, unlike it's satin and silk counterparts, this coarse material will keep it's shape no matter what...no more floppy bows!

My picks:

Hop onto the gunmetal bandwagon...

Sergio Rossi gunmental peeptoe pumps with crystal accented grosgrain trim- $878.00 on zappos.com!

Perfectly in line with this season's brights...

Emilio Pucci orange printed grosgrain tote- $345.00 on bluefly.com!

Check out vintage TextStyle posts here!

SEEING DOUBLE: BEYONCE vs. RACHEL

With the Oscars only a few weeks behind us, it was inevitable that we would be seeing double. Beyonce recently wore this beautiful gown by Giorgio Armani Privé. It comes as no surprise to see the same gown on Rachel McAdams on the April cover of Elle Magazine. The fresh color and precious stone detail on this silhouette is both timeless and exquisite.

I believe both ladies bring elegance to the same gown, though in different ways. Although different I call both renditions…a tie!

WEEKLY STYLE REVIEW

Two week's worth of fashionable celebs!

POCKET WATCH

What's in your pocket?

photo from stylebytes.net

Pockets are fun and functional! They're popping up everywhere...on shorts and on skirts, but they add a certain j'ne sais quoi to dresses (length and shape notwithstanding)!

They're emerging on long dresses (see J. Hud and Drew Barrymore infra), short dresses (see Hilary Swank and Salma Hayek) and minis (see Kanye's fiance, Alexis Phifer). I prefer them on short, volumnious dresses! Don't fall out of pocket! Get your own...

My Pick:

Rachel Pally Pocket Dress $100- shoplili.com

Check out these celebs in their pocket dresses:

STYLESTAR: CURL-EASE

Curl-ease is the must-have beauty product for girls with curls!

The patented design is extraordinary, it really is a curl's best friend! The ultra thin, absorbent towel dries hair in a fraction of the time it takes to air dry or blow dry curly hair--all this while retaining enough moisture to set perfect curls!

Like most women, Curl-ease CEO and inventor, Zenda, found herself scheduling her life around her hair. Thankfully, she decided to do something about it. After years of perfecting her product, Zenda launched Curl-ease in 2005. Her company is now headquartered in Los Angeles, where she resides with her husband.

Get your own! Check out her website at curlease.com! Keep reading for my interview with Zenda!

StyleChile: when did you become interested in designing?
Zenda: I have been interested in designing for as long as I can remember. I’m that person that walks through a store and says “this is so cute, but it would look just better if it had this”. I save so many of my old clothes that have any potential “new cuteness” factor.

StyleChile: who were your fashion influences?
Zenda: I love classic looks – anything Jackie O or Audrey Hepburn wore inspires me.

StyleChile: how do you manage to stay fashionable?
Zenda: I manage to stay fashionable by mixing great classic pieces with trendier, often cheaper, pieces. I’m a big fan of investing in nice jeans, shoes, coats, suits, skirts that I can see wearing for some time. With trendier, “I must have this now”, pieces, my rule of thumb is to go to an inexpensive store and recreate the look I want. If you are wearing a gorgeous pair of jeans, that fit perfectly and a hot pair of shoes – does anyone really notice that you’re wearing a $5.99 tank top?

StyleChile: do you have any tips or words of advice for today's fun, fashionable, females?
Zenda: the best advice I can give is to try to make sure that everything you buy makes you feel like a million bucks - meaning, If you feel super confident when wearing it because YOU love the way it looks, you will definitely have that glow! Another important way to keep clothes looking great is by taking care of yourself. Your hair, skin and body are your best accessories – and you know they are truly one of a kind!

StyleChile: how do you stay inspired?
Zenda: I stay inspired by meeting interesting people, keeping an open mind and remembering that my life is truly incredible and my job is to translate that feeling into anything I create.

Curl-ease makes its debut in German InStyle!

For vintage stylestar posts, click here, or the label below.

SKIN MD NATURAL

The folks over at Skin MD Natural sent me some samples of their shielding lotion.

The timing was perfect because this winter has been wreaking havoc on my skin! I brought it with me to Montreal, last week (where it was 20 below celcius), and found that it really does work wonders!

Unlike artificial moisturizers, Skin MD Natural bonds with the outer most layer of skin cells to turn it into what works like an invisible shield.

The lotion keeps moisture-robbing irritants out while helping to retain your skin's own natural moisture, resulting in skin that is far better hydrated, over the long term, than what can be achieved by conventional lotions. I've used it for a little over a week and have noticed that I don't have to reapply lotion throughout the day, like I used to!

Check out their website at skinmdnatural.com! You can thank me later!

2007 OSCAR AWARDS

I watched the show and took copious notes! I was truly impressed, it was hard to find a worst dressed of the evening, so I'm just going to double up on the best dressed! I would have loved to see Charlize (was she there?), but alas...no such luck!

Best Dressed #1: Cameron Diaz

No explanation necessary. Her Valentino gown, was hands down, the best in show! The Cartier earrings were a nice (only cameron would) touch!

Best Dressed #2: Gwenyth Paltrow (and to think she doesn't have a stylist...some people are just gifted!)

Gwenny's apricot Zac Posen dress was dope, but why is she just standing and staring at the camera like that? I couldn't find a better pic...she looked like an uncomfortable soldier in every single one!

Keisha's Best Dressed: Cate Blanchett

She looked devine, really, she looks otherworldy (could be her ears) in her gunmetal grey Giorgio Armani Prive!

Honorable Mention: Nicole Kidman


Most people hated it, but I was so excited by her color choice...yes, the fire engine red Balenciaga made her look paler than she already is (and that's hard, as she's quite pale), but something about it just worked! And that bow trailing behind her was just too good to be true. She brings it every time!

Reminds me of Charlize's bow moment (John Galliano for Dior), a year ago...I loved that one as well!


E for Effort: Celine Dion!


I loved her green vintage James Galanos (from Lily et Cie) dress and Van Cleef accessories, but she really bowled me over with the salmon colored dress below, go Celine!


Ambivalent: Penelope Cruz


Yes, I said it. The dress was nice, don't get me wrong, I mean, seriously, it's Atelier Versace! But I couldn't help feeling, eh...shrug. That was just my visceral reaction. There's nothing wrong with it, and if someone gave it to me, I'd wear it all the time, even to the office, but eh...yawn.

I really liked Maggie G's Proenza Schouler gown! It was understated elegance at its finest! but I could have done without the feathers!

See vintage awards show commentary here, or click the link below!