Kanye West and Pharrell at Louis Vuitton S/S 09 show

It hasn't been since the days of Josephine Baker and Nina Simone's entrée to Paris has France seen the arrival of some of America's hottest African-American entertainers. The Fall/Winter 08/09 Haute Couture Fashion Week was held there last week and more than a few brown faces were in attendance: music icon Janet Jackson and boyfriend Jermaine Dupri as well as Grammy winner Kanye West and Louis Vuitton poster boy/jewelry designer/music producer Pharell. Jackson and Dupri attended the couture shows for Christian Lacroix, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior as did actresses Eva Mendes and Liv Tyler (The Strangers, Iron Man). Mendes popped in stunning pink with bejeweled neckline at Dior and Kerry Washington attended Armani Prive' (that's Giorgio Armani to you fashion newbies) wearing a dress by the label. Not a bad move for a chick from the Bronx.

West attended Lanvin and Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 09 shows. There, he told reporters he's designing a men's shoe line for the luxury brand which will come out this fall as well his women's clothing line Pastelle, independently from this deal. "I'm here for Louis. I grew up with the Louis look, you know", said West. "I just love the style." At Lanvin, he delivered nerd chic in a pair of large black optical frames. Jackson too jumoed on the delebrity bandwagon (designer celebrity) she told reporters in Milan she's currently developing a lingerie line which she hopes will arrive in stores this fall.

Will you support delebrities Janet and Kanye wwhen they release their fashion colections?

Liyah Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell for upcoming VOGUE ITALIA cover

Once again models of color are being shunned from the catwalk. The Haute Couture Fall 2008 runway shows in Paris began yesterday and before the week was over, it was disclosed that there are no Black models available to book for the catwalks there.

Reps for Parisian designer Jean Paul Gaultier have expressed dismay over the lack of ethnic models for them to hire for their show. "It's really very difficult at the moment. There are no black models on the market, the agencies have none," they told Agence France Presse, one of the oldest news agencies in the world. Christian Dior held his show today and if you peep it on style.com you will see there wasn't a model of color in it despite all the recent press about the issue.

Rihanna was lovely in lemon yellow

The 2008 BET Awards was held at the shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles last night and the house was packed with a bevy of celebrity beauties wearing bold, bright hues.

Yellow was the most popular and Rihanna led the brigade with a tiered, ruffled maxidress. Lemon hits were also worn by Keyshia Cole, Trina, Jill Scott for the Al Green tribute she performed in, Lauren London, former Miss USA Kenya Moore, one half of Mary Mary and even BET President Debra Lee.

Alicia Keys looked fab in fitted, pleated pink as did Cassie in her neon mini-version. American Idol winner Jordin Sparks was fire in fitted red, comedian Niecy Nash and Chrisette Michelle both popped in purple and Queen Latifah was regal in royal blue.

There were two fabulous events held this week on both coasts attended by A-listers in the fashion, entertainment and politic worlds. Both had a focus of raising money for the Presidential campaign and several charities. This week was all about The Big Give.

In New York a two-part fundraiser was held for Barack Obama on Tuesday thrown by VOGUE magazine. It was hosted by fashion designer Calvin Klein and VOGUE editors Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley. Likely First Lady Michelle Obama, who was recently dubbed the new "It Girl" by VOGUE and considered the "new Jackie O" for her chic style, made an appearance and bowled the audience over with her great speech and witty personality. The first event cost $1,000 a ticket and the second, which allowed guests to dine at Klein's home for $10,000 per ticket was attended by Spike Lee and wife Tonya Lee, Lebron James, LL Cool J and his wife Simone, socialites and fashion designers including Zac Posen, Tory Burch and Isaac Mizrahi. Obama wore an impressive isabel Toledo outfit that won rave reviews by the high society and fashion set. The next day she co-hosted on The View and has impressed media critics for the appearance as well. Lady O is totally workin' it.

Wednesday night was poppin' on the West Coast. Cartier threw an A-list event in honor of their third annual Love Day, which was June 19. Celebrities whom Cartier dubbed their ambassadors, had them design a Love Charity bracelet. Proceeds from the bracelet's purchase goes directly to the charity of the ambassador's choice. This year's ambassador-cum-jewelry designer sincluded Janet Jackson, Fergie, Eve, Common, Ashanti and Hilary Duff to name a few. Past ambassadors included Kimora Lee's man Djimon Honsou who came with Lee, Spike Lee and Salma Hayek.

Michelle Obama on set of The View on Wednesday

Actress Meagan Good is making major appearances these days, especially as co-star to Mike Meyers and Justin Timberlake in The Love Guru which opens in theaters nationwide this Friday, June 20th.

The flick is a step up for the petite beauty, known for playing either the cute girlfriend or neck rolling homegirl in urban films such as Stomp The Yard, Roll Bounce, The Cookout, Deliver Us From Eva and the leading lady with Tyrese Gibson in Waist Deep. Up next? Saw V. That's a good look as well. Recently she's been making press rounds to promote the flick in a series of outfits that shows she's stepped up her style game too as of late.

Goode, who is a red carpet favorite (for her beauty not for her style) and paramour of NY Jets running back Stephen Jones, often disappointed in the past sporting ensembles consisting of mixed and matched prints, too many hot pants and those signature hoop earrings.

This year she shocked us wearing a lovely pink Herve Leger bandaid dress at the 39^th annual NAACP Image Awards, in this great wine leather dress (a bit fall but works, no?) paired with fabulous cream Yves Saint Laurent pumps at TRL the other day and the silver dress she wore to this year's MTV Movie Awards is right on time with this season's metallic moment. To top it off Lil' Miss Thing garnered the annual Vanities shoot in the June 2008 issue of Vanity Fair, a slot usually reserved for the hottest up-and-comers in Hollywood. The 50s pin-up shoot shows her true range as a rising star.

It's wedding season and let's face it most of us do not have Melania Trump's budget to plan a wedding. And what if you've decided to forgo spending full price on a dreamy Vera Wang or Monique L'Huillier? (Because a down payment on your house with your soon-to-be husband is far more priority) The trick is to spend only a fraction of those designer wedding gown prices. It may seem impossible but yes, you can be a princess for a day on a budget.

Retail chains such as J.Crew, Ann Taylor and even plus-size retail chain Lane Bryant all offer affordable simple yet elegant styles. Discount retailer Filene's Basement have annual wedding dress sales that are so great they've caused quite a stir for their basement bottom prices. So don't fret, there are options. Here are some additional tips:

Custom
Once you've narrowed down to several styles or "the one" go to your local tailor or wedding seamstress. Keep in mind that custom orders can take an average of three to six months so start researching styles as soon as you set the date. If you order online you still have to take it to your tailor or seamstress afterwards for final alterations. Fittings, selecting fabric and constant changes to detail takes time. Remember, don't forget a sales contract that includes the size and custom requires one-third to half of total cost as down payment.

Beaded Satin A-line, $399, davidsbridal.com

The Perspective Chair by Pharrell Williams

Pharell does it again. The N.E.R.D. frontman co-designed a chair with high-end French designers Domeau & Pérès. Part of a limited edition furniture lne, it will be available in only a few colors with only 4 of each sold. The chair represents "the love between a woman and man," said Williams. The chair, as well as another chair design and a table will be part of a show in Paris at the prestigious Emmanuel Perrotin Galerie from October 21st 2008 until January 10th, 2009. "I had often wondered what it's like to truly be in love, not lust for once," said Skateboard P. "So I decided not to ask what it was like in someone else's shoes or what it was like to sit in their seat.I decided to sketch out my own experiment; the perspective chair."

Patricia Fields knows a thing or two about style. After styling Sex and the City, both the tv series and movie and Oscar-nominated for costume designing The Devil Wears Prada, two of the most fashionably hip films in movie history, she decided to put her magical touch on a summer collection for discount shoe chain Payless. You might want to snatch up anything this style fairy puts her wands on if you care to bring out your inner Carrie Bradshaw. The Patricia Field for Payless shoe line just hit their stores less than two weeks ago and it is adorable! Available in primarily metallic colors such as silver, gold, turquoise and hot pink, you have a choice of a hi-heel pump, a cute three-inch mule she calls a "sneaker" for hi-heeled fashionistas and Roman-inspired flats and a clutch. Fields said her inspiration was drawn from her travels to Tokyo and Sao Pauolo, Brazil. Priced from $25-$35, you can look like a trendsetting jetsetter on a budget and no one would ever know.

Patricia Field for Payless Tsarina Slide, $35 payless.com

Target loyalists can expect a line of limited-edition handbags designed by luxury handbag designer Monica Botkier this summer. Botkier's goods are regularly priced from $250- $1,000 so this will be a steal for her fans eager to snatch up a few more of her designs on the cheap. Here, we offer a sneak preview of the collection which has a pretty wide range including satchels, clutches and wristlets.

The Council of Fashion Designers Awards ceremony was held Monday night. Considered the 'Oscars" of the fashion industry for acknowledging only the crème' de la crème of the business, the Swarovski-sponsored event drew the biggest names in design, socialites and best dressed stars who couldn't miss out on mingling with those whose frocks they don.

The crowd paid tribute to the recent passing of Yves Saint Laurent of course. The event's host and CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg wore a vintage YSL pantsuit as did Carolina Herrera and Naomi Campbell from Fall '08. Campbell had nothing but great things to say about Laurent. She shared that he was partly responsible for her success because when she told him that French Vogue would never put a Black girl on their front cover he told her "I'll take care of that" and he did. She mentioned he was also the first to put women of color in his runway show in Paris back in the day. Oh how he would have greatly appreciated the upcoming all Black girls issue Vogue Italia is dropping this summer.

There were more rappers than ever in the history of the event in one night: Diddy, LL Cool J and Lil' Kim. Also actresses Eva Longoria Parker and pregnant Paula Patton and supermodel Chanel Iman.

I DREAM OF JEANIE? Both Naomi Campbell in YSL and VOGUE's Andre Leon Talley were harem-ready.

Kiki (2nd left) and her girls doing it SATC style

The highly anticipated Sex & The City movie came out last weekend nationwide. SATC fans helped make it number one at the box office. (Are you surprised?) Countless women got together like the movie's Fabulous Foursome to chat, cry, laugh and learn and made sure they looked absolutely fab while doing so. A few of them shared what their night was like and some of them were so cute I just had to share. If you haven't caught the movie yet, then take notes from these real-life Girlfriends: get inspired, get tipsy, give back in some way and most importantly strut your swagger SATC style.

We went to the movie, then Blue Water Grill. My girl Michelle Huff (1st right) ended up being pulled away by Ashanti for an event (she's Ashanti's publicist). Then we went to someone from the BET Network's birthday party at 230 5th Rooftop, where Marc Jacobs threw a party during New York fashion Week this past February. We ended up stopping by another rooftop party and getting into deep relationship and life discussions, got drunk and never left there! We were also invited to go to Room Service, (where Diddy was accused of beating a guy up over some woman). But we ended up drunk and worn out from all the movie crying and life talk so we took it to the crib. The girls who ended up going with me (2nd left) with my Jamaican tan was Sandeye Lomax, Debbie Astrate, Eunice Liriano, and Beny Ashburn (3rd left). -Kiki CEO, Design Kitties

Retail's Hip-Hop Saviour
Sears is turning to LL to get their registers jinglin' baby. That's right, mass retail chain Sears has signed rapper/actor LL Cool J to produce a junior's, young men's, girls and boys clothing line to help flip their slump in retail sales, according to WWD. The collection will arrive in stores this September in time for back-to-school and expects to pull anywhere from $100 to $150 million in sales in the first year alone. "We know this (urban) customer is in the store and but it's a customer we weren't reaching," said Irv Naeger, Sears' Senior Vice President of Apparel, "We see tremendous growth opportunity." When the 40 year-old former face of FUBU, Kangol and Throop was questioned on how he will approach designing for females for the first time he stated that "I was raised by a matriarch, I have a wife and three daughters, so I know what women are looking for when they shop for clothes. My main concern with juniors is to make sure that the fit is right." LL currently has a men's line Todd Smith in Macy's and specialty stores and will drop his thirteenth album, Exit 13 in July. His longevity in the game is what Sears is banking on to help turnaround business. The price range will be affordable with graphic tees for $22 and jeans $50.

LL is not alone in inking deals with mass retail chains: rocker Avril Lavigne is dropping her line for Kohl's at their stores this July and Kimora Lee Simmons is releasing the Fabulosity junior line at J.C. Penny this fall as well.

No doubt about it, music celebrities such as LL Cool J and Christina Aguilera are becoming retail's saving grace.

Safari style hitters Shia LeBeouf with Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

It seems as if everyone's got Indy Fever. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released in theaters last night and the new story line, added characters (Shia LeBeouf! Cate Blanchett!) aren't the only thing that gives the film added appeal, the movie's wardrobe deservingly gets a two thumbs up. The costumes are right on time with one of this season's biggest trends- the safari look.

May there have been whisper of the blockbuster's release among the fashion set? Coincidentally more than a handful are offering Indiana Jones-inspired gear that's reminiscent of the iconic fedora, camp shirt, khaki pants and bomber jacket. Even Denise Richards brought the heat repping Indy Fever with a great brown fedora to top her pretty print dress and chocolate suede peep-toe Christian Louboutins to MTV's TRL the other day.

Designers Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney and Rag & Bone are just a handful who presented 'let's get jungle ready" outfits down the runways for their Spring/Summer '08 shows. The fedoras, panama hats, campshirts, trenchcoats and shirtsdresses are as classic and timeless as Indy's iconic look and quite befitting for a summer cool breeze in natural colors (stone, wheat, grey, beige) in equally natural fabrics (cotton, linen).

Important rule: do not be too literal with a complete head-to-toe safari outfit, break it up with non-safari but classic items to update the look (read: no helmets) The designers listed above are available at their namesake shops, websites and specialty boutiques. Whip not included.

Thank God for Jill Scott's breasts. The Grammy Award-winning Neo-Soul songstress/actress has had so much trouble finding the best support for them that she collaborated with plus-size specialty store chain Ashley Stewart to design the Butterfly Bra to end the woes of busty curvalinas like herself. Last week Scott held a press conference to announce the official launch of it at Ashley Stewart's flagship store in Harlem, New York City. Actress Kim Coles and fashion entrepreneur Audrey Smaltz were in the house giving it much praise. "I have never found everything I needed in one bra," said the star of Tyler Perry's hit film Why Did I Get Married.

"Sometimes I wore two bras at once, one for lift and one for shape. I've had custom bras made in London, France and sometimes the support was right but the style was wrong." The bra was designed to tackle issues common to very ample women: bad underwiring, lack of coverage in the front and straps digging in too deep into the shoulders. With this in mind they filled the under support with gel! Fantastic concept.

Moderately prices at only $38, (a steal in the full-figured bra category) it's available in black, beige and white you can cop one for yourself or curvy loved ones at www.ashleystewart.com

Scott at Ashley Stewart in Harlem

Exhibit Reigns Supreme
Last week a grandeur exhibit opened in London at the fashionably hip Victoria and Albert Museum featuring the exclusive Supremes Collection provided by Supremes member Mary Wilson. The Supremes were the biggest group of the sixties (only bested by the Beatles) wore the invaluable collection prominently on wordwidetours and major television appearances with diva frontwoman Diana Ross. Although Motown founder Berry Gordy was credited for personally overseeing their image, which has inspired future label heads Clive Davis and Sean "Diddy" Combs to do the same, it was the forward ahead-of-its-time design concepts created by several designers that delivered the Hollywood-meets-mod theme custom made just for their svelte frames. The exclusive looks set them apart from the sea of girl groups that were out during the era competing to get to claim their spot on the charts. The Supremes Collection display is held through October 19th, 2008 as part of a collaborative effort with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Be sure to check out the collection if youcan and peep the influence it had on future girl groups En Vogue and Destiny's Child. The resemblance is uncanny and undeniable.

Go to www.vam.ac.uk for a preview more info

The red carpet was more of a runway this week for celebs who served style for the masses. From Los Angeles to London to France, severals stunners including Janet Jackson, Eva Longoria, Kelly Rowland, Eve and Joy Bryant showed up in (dare we say it?) 'copy me' or 'don't copy' me looks. Attention-grabbing in their bold-bright hues, animal prints and limited-edition numbers, it was certainly the sistas that were the highlight of the week. There was quite a stir in Los Angeles Tuesday night when British fashion designer Alexander McQueen opened his first store there. The opening, which was highly anticipated by Hollywood starlets who covet his super high-end-never imitated-designs, was attended by West Coast residents Janet Jackson, Eve, Joy Bryant and Sex and The City hunk Jason Lewis, to name a few. It was acknowledged that the crowd gasped when Janet arrived in her custom McQueen kimono.

Did it leave you breathless? Would you love or leave this look?