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Crossing the Blues

Showing posts with label celebrities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrities. Show all posts

Essence: Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, and Iman




That's a lot of pink.

While I will say that it is nice to see a few unexpected faces on the cover of Essence, I still think it would have been nice to feature Taraji P. Henson (or Viola Davis) alone on the cover. It's been proven a thousand issues over that Essence just hates to put new faces on their covers. I guess this issue is their way of getting credit for three so that next month they can go back to business as usual and split the year between Jada, Halle, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige and maybe Mo'nique.

I haven't seen this one on the stands yet. I wonder if it contains their annual "Black Don't Crack" feature.

Out of curiosity, who would be your top choice to appear on the cover of Essence Magazine?

s: Lipstick Alley

Glamour's Salute to American Icons

For their 70th anniversary issue, Glamour magazine enlisted a few celebrities to recreate the images of iconic women. I'm not sure if these particular celebs are the first ones that would have come to my mind if I were charged with pulling this shoot together but the photos are nice enough. You can see the rest of them here.



Not only is Obama the first African American filling the position, but she’s already making best-dressed headlines for a style that ranges from couture to J.Crew. Raised in Chicago, Obama, 45, powered on to Princeton and Harvard Law School before beginning a career during which she met, mentored and married our current President. Hail to our newest smart, opinionated, chic First Lady!

“She has worked hard for everything she’s accomplished, and done so with grace and humility. So many women and girls can identify with her story.”—Alicia Keys, 28, whose most recent album is As I Am



After years of playing segregated tennis, the late Althea Gibson tore down the color barrier of competition in 1950, when, at age 23, she became the first African American to compete in major U.S. championships—and, in 1957, the first to win Wimbledon. In her crisp whites, “the Jackie Robinson of tennis,” as she was known, won 11 major titles.

“She showed women…you can be sweaty, be gorgeous and do a great job.”—Chanel Iman, 19, cohost of MTV’s House of Style



As an aspiring singer, Holiday suffered sexual abuse, struggled with a drug habit and encountered racism everywhere. But the late Lady Day—one of the first African American women to sing with an all-white orchestra—translated all of that pain into some of the most achingly personal songs ever recorded. (Download “Strange Fruit,” which she sang at her 1948 Carnegie Hall concert, and listen for yourself.)

“You can imagine that women at home hearing her songs on the radio felt her vocalizing their emotions and their struggles.”—Paula Patton, 33, of the upcoming drama Push, wearing Holiday’s trademark gardenia in her hair

Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis @ The Academy Awards


Lipstick Alley

Ayo for Banana Republic




I haven't been very impressed with Banana Republic clothing lately. To me it seems that they just put out the exact same cotton/silk blend tops and wide leg slacks season after season. This Spring, they're attempting to shake things up a bit by announcing that "spring gets spicy" on their website. "Spicy" to BR apparently means that one will see a lot of orange in the new collection of silk/cotton tops and wide leg work pants.

They've also debuted a new "City Stories" ad campaign featuring musicians and plan a flashy new website to go along with the promotion. I found the above photos featuring beautiful Afro-German singer Ayo in Lucky magazine this month.

Ayo really makes those Banana Republic togs look stylish and a bit bohemian at the same time. I particularly love the snakeskin belt and the print of the scarf she wears to cover her hair.

As of today, there isn't anything at the special site that BR has set up for the "City Stories" promotion but eventually, there should be some content that will include information about the nine artists chosen for the ad series and free music downloads.

In the meantime, here is Ayo perfoming "Down on My Knees" live:

Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson @ The SAG Awards




photo source: Lipstick Alley

I think both ladies hit it out of the park this time around. Viola, who's beautiful looks always seem to be downplayed in the movies, is looking quite glamorous in this yellow David Meisterat and Taraji looks so sultry in this white Herve Leroux gown that I've already forgotten how annoying I found her character in "Baby Boy." I cannot wait to see what they wear at the Oscars.

Raven Simone in YSL RTW Fall 2008


Source: Style.com and Lipstick Alley

Designers generally ignore the full figured ladies when it comes to sizing but Raven does her best to pull off this YSL look. I think shortening the dress a bit and dumping that awful corset style belt would have been an improvement. She just looks so pinched and uncomfortable.

Grace Jones - V Magazine - Spring 2009



Photographed by Jean Paul Goude.

S: simplylovely, models.com

WAD Magazine #34 - The "Girls" Issue








"Urban" fashion and culture magazine WAD wins the award for having the most random photo spreads. This one (titled "Yes We Can!" of course) is taken from their "Girls" issue #34 and features model Lareja Drane, hip-hop artist Medusa, Tatyana Ali, Lil' Mama, and actress Taraji P. Henson. Photographs by Tramber.

Source: WAD

ALLURE - January 2009 - Taraji P. Henson and Paula Patton



I've been meaning to scan these for over a week. These are two actors that I really like, Taraji especially seems to be getting a lot of press lately but I haven't seen "Benjamin Button" (I have a serious case of Brad and Angelina fatigue.) I hope the possible Oscar nomination turns into more work for her. As for Paula, I read that she will be in the movie adaptation of "Push" but I have no idea when that film will hit theaters.

ETA: Another scan I've been meaning to post. Vogue selected Laura Jarrett (duaghter of Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett) for their "10 Best Dressed List." Her selection is a bit random but then so are the wealthy socialites they usually pick for these things.



Source: Allure and Vogue

The Golden Globes Post

Anyone else watch The Golden Globes last night? I'm wondering how model Alek Wek scored the best seat in the house. I'm not wild about the dress but the Dior jewel tone number looks beautiful against her skin on television.



Gina Torres always looks so regal to me. I guess it's fitting then that she went with a purple gown. Sigh... I still miss "Firefly."



Taraji P. Henson is really accumulating an impressive collection of red carpet pics. I like this J. Mendel dress a lot but I think the dark colors and ruffles looked a little drab on television.



Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez both looked great in my opinion but I think they should have switched dresses. Both of them have sported similar looks in the past.



Viola Davis looked so pretty sitting at her table, I was hoping she would at least get to present an award so I could see her dress. She went with darker tones too but I think she still looks very glamorous here.



I'm just not feeling Shaun Robinson's gown. At all.


ETA: Rutina Wesley just looks flawless.


S: mnis/TFS, Lipstick Alley, TV Guide, ONTD, Jezebel

LIFE Photo Archive: Donyale Luna



I have been passing a lot of time searching for old images and articles on Google since they've expanded their search function to include vintage magazines like Ebony, Jet, and photo archives from magazines like Life. The index terms used aren't as robust as I would like but it is still a treat to pull up old articles and photos like these of model Donyale Luna in her prime. Man, she had a thing for Austin Powers type ruffles and money fur coats didn't she?

S: Google/Life Magazine

Ciara in ELLE Magazine - January 2009







Beyonce may have landed the cover but Ciara definitely got the more interesting spread inside January's wafer thin issue of ELLE magazine.

It seemed a little odd to me for the issue to feature two pop/r&b divas but I guess ELLE wanted to kill two birds with one stone without actually resorting to hiring a black model. Poor Ciara didn't even merit a mention on the cover.

Here she models pieces from MaxMara's new collection. I could have gone my whole life without seeing that purple jumpsuit. Seriously some of this stuff looks like it was fashioned together using what fell on the floor in Jim Henson's Muppet studio.

Photographed by Dulsan Reljin and styled by Christopher Niquet

Herve Leger Must be Stopped!



Herve Leger designed one hell of a little sexy dress didn't he? I mean it is rare that one garment could look this hot and flatter a multitude of body types but please ladies, for the sake of the children, please stop wearing these bandage dresses on the red carpet! It's right up there with Hypercolor clothing, the "grunge" look, Hammer pants, acid washed jeans and white men being the President of the United States of America...played out.

I know you love them but it's time to put them back in the closet. If you don't let go of this trend, it will never have a resurgence ten years from now.

Pics: Lipstick Alley

Joy Bryant in her Angela Missoni designed wedding gown




The actress married boyfriend, stuntman David Pope, in the Hamptons on June 28th at a private beachfront estate. The former model enjoys a close friendship with the designer. Bryant met her beau while filming Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.

Jada Pinkett Smith Loves Her Some Bangles



Jada and her artfully bangled wrist at the premiere of "The Women" in Westwood, California. I love how perfectly balanced the look is with the right number of small and wide bracelets.

source: aagc

Elise Neal in Betsey Johnson S/S 2008



I think Elise looks better than the runway model but stripes and polka dots just seem a little too cutsey for my taste.

Photo credit: Style, Wireimage and miss_nyc/TFS