style spotter

Kanye in a pair of Ksubi sunnies

Hip-hop lovin' fashionistos have eagerly been anticipating the arrival of rapper Kanye West's Pastelle clothing line. The trendsetter, who inspired a legion of fans including Jay-Z to rock an Arabic scarf a' la Jesse James style, will begin with the release of Pastelle sunglasses as part of his collabo with Australian brand Ksubi. West has been a fan of the company himself having rocked their shades to shows for quite some time. "I love the sunnies Ksubi has produced over the years. It is an honor to collaborate with them."

Sunnies?

Mother's Day is upon us and in the event you need a last-minute gift suggestions Stylespotter has compiled several options for the oh-so-tardy. To make things easier we've even listed them according to the type of mom you're shopping for. Whether she's the Desperate Housewives uber perfectionist character Bree Vandercamp type, works it in the kitchen like Patti Labelle or is so globally conscious she even trumps you in the eco-friendly department, we've got you covered.

Tracy Reese Spring 2008

The Churchgoer

She's always in the front pew wearing Sunday's best (dressed that is.) Who says you cant praise the Lord and be superstylish at the same time?

Perfect Gift: Large and oversized fabulous hat

Where To Buy: villagehatshop.com, divine-fashion.com, tracyreese.com

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By TaraSimone, Special to BlackVoices.com

My infatuation with fragrance began as a young girl playing dress up at my mother's vanity. It was the mid 1980s and I danced in the mirror with a belted over sequin top and my mother's high heels sliding on and off my tiny feet. Sitting before her collection of crystal and bejeweled bottles containing elusive liquids ranging in shades from soft amethyst to deep amber, I would pretend to be grown and beautiful...just like her.

Delicate floral fragrances embody the many facets of motherhood...feminine, passionate, joyful, engaging and intriguing.

For those last minute shoppers, you can just grab the following scents -- and for all moms -- from the one who holds it down at work to the "fly" mom to the new mom to the grand dame of them all, the grandmom.

Once again, New York City was bright and vibrant today with terrific mid 70's weather, baby blue skies and a bright sun, which all assisted in creating a happy pace for me and my fellow city dwellers. As I skipped around Bryant Park, I wanted to know what folks were wearing on such a sun filled day. So today's You've Been Spotted blog, which is the first of many, shall begin in the beginning... with the shoes of course. After all, the shoe is the period at the bottom of an exclamation mark! There would be no point to a chic outfit without a fashionable pair. Check out a few folks in the park who were sporting trendy spring footwear.

Black, discontinued Christian Dior classics

Style Spotter Find (SPF) : Black, hi-top Prada sneakers - $380.00

Why, yes there is! Matter of fact there were plenty at last night's Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual gala. Fashion's Juice Crew, fantastic movie stars, superb journalists and socialites of all kinds came out for the "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy," exhibit.

In a social situation as this, and especially because of the super, fantastic theme, many celebs did not disappoint and were forced to be creative, empowering and amazing, adjectives, which also describe the superhero.

Mary J. Blige - The Storm

Mary J. Blige in Michael Kors

Jennifer Lopez - The Poison Ivy

Jennifer Lopez in Alberta Ferretti

Andre Leon Talley - The Superman

Venus Williams, in Carolina Herrera; Andre Leon Talley in Giorgio Armani with Chanel cape

By Kiante 'The Sneaker Mann' Young, Special to BlackVoices.com

As young boys, men envision what adulthood will be like but once maturity is achieved many of us find it hard to allow our wardrobe to mature as well.

Sporting Adidas Superstars or Nike Air Force 1's may have been the key to dressing to impress but as you start your own family and your son's eye for fashion develops, changing of your style may be just what the doctor ordered.

A friend of mine has been dealing with this very situation stating, "I don't want to wear the same gear as my eighteen year old son but at the same time, I don't want to dress like an old man. How can I dress grown and sexy?"

By Alexis Stodghill, BlackVoices.com


Naomi Campbell recently made headlines yet again for being a bad supermodel, this time attacking airline workers rather than her own employees. Even though she has become the international poster child for trashy celebrity behavior, Campbell is not the only beautiful terror. The supermodels in the gallery above are not as famous for their anti-social activities, but they are nearly as naughty.

The pressures and temptations of the modeling world have created more than just one gorgeous gorgon. What is it about being beautiful, sexy, rich and famous that made these supermodels go wild? And why does the public still love them?

Denyse Clarke, Photo Editor

The events surrounding last weekend's NFL Draft Pick in New York City drew more than a handful of NFL's finest. Knowing they'd come out to take advantage of party perks includuing potential endorsement deals and skintight dress-clad beauties, this Stylespotter jumped on the opportunity to ask several including New York Jets cutie Kerry Rhodes (above) and a model, former ANTM contestant Whitney Cunningham, to weigh in their opnion of the new, limited-edition Sean John Unforgivable Black and Unforgivable Woman Black scents. (We couldn't leave the ladies out of this one, sorry.)

Packaged in beautiful, solid black bottles there was no denying its sex appeal visually but did the scent hold up to its image? Remembering that honesty was the best policy they kept it very real and divulged their most recent purchase and dream campaign they'd love to be in.

Pierre Hardy is best known, at present moment for teaming up with Gap to design super stylish, extremely simple 2008 spring/summer shoes for the mass market clothing chain. But most folks do not know Pierre Hardy as the Parisian designer of whimsical accessories that are adored by his high end clientele, the shoes especially.

Hardy began his career with Christian Dior's shoe collection in 1988. He was soon recognized for his achievements and began collaborating with Vogue Homme International Magazine, where he was in charge of the show page, editing and illustration. In the summer of 1999, Pierre Hardy launched his successful, self-titled collection. The men's collection debuted in 2001. Pierre Hardy is now the creative director for Hermes Jewelry and also designs the shoe collection for Balenciaga as well as The Pierre Hardy Shoe Collection.

Hardy brilliantly mixes comfort and artistic design in creating what is best described as the perfect high heel for any tomboy. And even though we first saw this look with the Manolo Blahnik Timberland shoe, it was Pierre who took it to another level. Fashionable tomboys applauded, while fashion's girlie-girls shrieked in delight of the hot new trend.

Last year the "tomboy shoe" was revisited, when Hardy created a vibrant shoe that was more sneaker than shoe.

British Harpers Bazaar May 2008 cover featuring Liya Kebde

It was announced this week that supermodel Liya Kebede was tapped to play Somalian model Waris Dirie in Desert Flower, a film based on Dirie's successful autobiography about her tragic experience with female circumcision. Kebede is slated to begin filming in Europe in June.

Kebede has also added a fifth job to her growing list of many roles: childrenswear designer. The model/activist/ambassador/actress launched a beautiful line of children's clothing that is handmade in her native Ethiopia this season called Lemlem. The Estee Lauder model (the only woman of color in its 59 year history to be one) employed local weavers to do the embroidery and handweaving to improve economic conditions there. Kebede held a launch party recently for the fall line (its second season) which was attended by the likes of model/tv host Veronica Webb and Showtime's Weeds star Mary Louise Parker among others.

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From capes to leggings, and masks to cuffs, the style of the superhero has influenced fashion with its exaggerated wham!, bam!, kazaam! costumes.

On May 7th through September 1st, 2008, fashion's heroines will unite at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in Gotham City (New York City) for an exhibition, which will display the abstract similarities between fashion and the superhero. With the assistance of movie costumes, haute couture and high performance sportswear the exhibit will express fashion's power to empower and transform.

With every former model and high-end stylist rapidly conversing into their handy miniature tape recorders, books regarding fashion have become just as plentiful as H&M stores in Amsterdam.

After handy assistant types style sage book, book gets published and the fashion wunderkind goes on a press spree and that is exactly where we find Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys, dishing about his new book Eccentric Glamour: Creating an Insanely More Fabulous You.

Now that spring has finally sprung, an array of colors fills the landscape and we fashionistas must stay in-tuned with spring's fresh shades. With assistance from colors of red roses to purple hibiscus, this season's wardrobe should mimic a lovely, vibrant garden. But don't grab your AMEX so quickly! First, you must decide which hue is right for you!

Jennifer Hudson on the cover of Vogue, adorns a deep- look at me damn-it red, which is gorgeous on her rich brown skin tone.

Socialite Genevieve Jones' penchant for leaving many to wonder exactly who she is and where she came from has caused quite a stir; however, her new jewelry line is also worth getting familiar with.

A photographer favorite on the high society and fashion scene, Jones constantly makes shutterbugs go off trying to capture shots of her bronze porcelain-like skin and keen sense of style.

While her peers are constantly left wondering how she's achieved such status in such a short period, quietly Jones has been cashing in on her popularity by working on a beautiful, red carpet-worthy line of jewels that those she rubs shoulders are likley to sport at the ultra-exclusive, invite-only events they regularly attend.

Genevieve Jones is the latest addition to the crop of socialite-cum-designers, joining the ranks of Rachel Roy and Tory Burch.

Rocker Lenny Kravitz' love for fashion has garnered him an enviable product placement that most musicians would covet -- he is being outfitted by Gucci with an array of custom and Fall '08 collection clothing for his upcoming tour.

Starting May 29 expect to see Kravitz donning 20 head-to-toe Gucci looks for his "Love Revolution" tour.

Kravitz is a great fit for the Italian brand; his personal style parallels some of their lineup including fitted pants, slick leather jackets, fur-trimmed bombers and hippie references such as long scarves tied around the waist. The tour will promote his latest album "It's Time for a Love Revolution", which dropped in February.