A Diva State of Mind

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, mila & fire will kick off a series of events with the launch of their contemporary summer collection & look book at retail therapy.  The event series will focus on the indie shopping experience, styling consultations and networking to build and grow local brands.

Along with happy hour specials and music by The Beard & The Fro, Kimee Brown of Neon V Magazine will provide a styling presentation and consultation incorporating mila & fire’s new summer collection.

Please check out this event and make sure you visit the Endless Touch vending table for the latest natural hair and body oils, body butter, lip balms and body scrubs (shameless plug for my friend’s company, I know)!

FREE ADMISSION!

The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Benefit Gala aka The Met Gala (or Met Ball) was May 6, 2013 in New York.  The annual event raises money for the Costume Institute and launches the spring exhibit. To date, the event has raised over $100 million. Each year, an exhibit is given a theme. This year’s theme is PUNK: Chaos to Couture.

One of the highlights of the gala is the red carpet. It’s always exciting to see what the attendees are going to wear. This is the one time where the outfit choices can be a little unexpected; after all the gala does support a Costume Institute. While the red carpet choices were fabulous (Amber Heard, Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba and more looked stunning), there were a few people that stood out and embraced the punk theme or really embodied what I expect to see on The Met Gala red carpet.

Here are my favorites!

Anne Hathaway

Who is this woman and what has she done with Anne Hathaway?! Anne turned in her classic look for blonde hair and a vintage Valentino gown from 1992. HOT!!!

Nicole Richie

This is what I’m talking about. The theme is punk so why not go all out!? Nichole Richie arrived at the Met Gala in a white long sleeve Topshop gown and bleached white hair.

Miley Cyrus

Normally I’d hate this look but it works for the theme. Miley Cyrus showed off her punk style in a fishnet dress by Marc Jacobs and spiked blond hair.

 Madonna

On any other red carpet this would not work, but for the Met Gala, this Givenchy Haute Couture outfit is perfect! Should we be surprised that Madonna owned this theme? I mean, it is MADONNA!! All we need to do is take a trip down memory lane and look at some of her looks from the 80s/90s to know that achieving this look was not hard.

 Sarah Jessica Parker

If you’re going to show up at the Met Gala, you might as well show out! Can we talk about the Phillip Treacy Mohawk headpiece?! This masterpiece combined with the Giles Deacon gown and thigh high Christian Louboutin boots is perfect for the Met Gala! SJB will always be Carrie Bradshaw. I’m just sayin…

Rooney Mara

The white laced dress and strong shoulders paired with the dark lip is a great mix of femininity and edginess. Rooney wore a Givenchy gown and served as the co-chair of the event alongside Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci and Anna Wintour.

Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly looked great in Carolina Herrera.  Perez Hilton described this look perfectly; a combination between punk and Greek goddess.

Nina Dobrev

Leather and a corset; two must haves if you want to encompass punk into a look. This Monique Lhuillier look is not over the top edgy, but like Minka and Rooney’s outfit, it’s a nice mix of edginess and softness with the lace. And I love that there are lace pants underneath the skirt. Something very different than what we’re used to seeing on the red carpet. I’d wear this outfit for sure.

Jennifer Lopez

I was going to stop the list at Nina Dobrev but then I went through some pictures of the red carpet again. I don’t know if animal print is punk, but this Michael Kors dress is HOT! J.Lo added her own interpretation of punk with what looks like a Mohawk inspired hair style and smokey eyes.  This woman can wear anything!

What looks did you enjoy from last night’s Met Gala?

Source: PopSugar, Us Magazine and Radar Online

By now you’ve probably heard Ray J’s new single “I Hit It First.” When the song and cover art hit the internet everyone knew it was about Kim Kardashian. Of course, instead of owning up to it, Ray J denied it:

“It’s not about that, it’s about a concept. People going way too deep. They just gotta keep it on the surface. I’m not trying to create no war. It’s all love. Like its a song, we just having fun-that’s it.”

If Ray J really wanted people to believe it wasn’t about Kim K. (which I doubt), he didn’t do a very good job in his new video. There’s a Kris Humphries look-a-like in the beginning of the video and his leading lady resembles Kim K. They make a PG rated sex tape, fly around in his jet and at the end, “Kim” is being followed by paparazzi on the F! network (her show ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ is on E!). Ray J is a fool for this one! Someone is really in need of attention right now! Is he mad Kim K. is more popular than him? Is he secretly still in love with her?

Ray J, it’s been over 5 years. Let it go already! You really don’t need to remind us why she’s famous. Everyone is aware. And I’m pretty sure you did not “hit it first.” Who in the right mind finds the time to write a song about an ex girlfriend who has clearly moved on and is now pregnant? The song is lame.

If Ray J released this song to get everyone’s attention it definitely worked. The internet has been buzzing since the video dropped yesterday. I just wonder how supportive he thinks people will be of his future endeavors following this mess. I mean he was given the side eye when he was looking for love on VH1 ”For The Love of Ray J” but this right here takes wack to a whole new level.

SNOBSWAP & Dewdrop are delighted to announce Swap In The City charity swap party and fashion show on Thursday, May 9th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The dynamic duo invites fashion enthusiasts to swap designer clothing and accessories and enjoy a fashion-focused event to help end domestic violence.

Swap In the City will rally DC’s emerging fashion giants for a fun-filled evening of social shopping and style sneak peaks. Attendees dropping off their luxury swaps will be greeted with complimentary cocktails and treats, a wealth of style tips from local experts, and a fashion presentation by Kolton J and D’Milikah.

Closing the night with a high-end clothing swap, event-goers will walk away with coveted, designer goods for a noble cause. All unswapped items will be donated to the Goodwill of Greater Washington and a portion of the event ticket proceeds will benefit Becky’s Fund, a non-profit that aims to foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism and create support for victims of domestic violence.

To purchase discounted tickets for Swap In the City visit www.swapinthecityDC.eventbrite.com.

This song is sexy as hell! Whew!! It’s my favorite on the Girl on Fire album. There are a few Alicia Keys songs that really stand out (“Diary” and “Unthinkable”) and her new single “Fire We Make” can be added to that list!!

The video is set in New Orleans. Alicia Keys and Maxwell meet at a hotel. They engage in singing and flirting with one another throughout the video at the hotel and a local party. Real R&B music right here!!

Check it out!

Does this song make anyone else want to cuddle up with something nice or is that just me?

Eye candy for the guys and workout motivation for the ladies. Rosario Dawson for GQ May 2013 issue.

Rosario and her legs!! WERK! Her new movie Trance is in theatres now.

Photography by Carlos Serrao

Source: GQ

The plan was to host a Prom Queen Boutique with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency for DC area high school students in need of a prom dress and accessories.  The Prom Queen Boutique is a intimate boutique set up to cater to young deserving women to try on selected donated dresses, gowns, shoes and accessories along with hair & makeup consultations.

Although we weren’t able to connect with a DC high school or organization to make the Prom Queen Boutique a reality in DC, the boutique is taking place in Baltimore.  The boutique will cater to young women of Reginald F. Lewis High School.  Through the end of April, Katwalk Boutique is collecting gently worn prom gowns, cocktail dresses and accessories.

I know for some, Baltimore may be a hike, especially during the week. If you want to make a donation, stop by Katwalk Boutique this Saturday, April 27th. Between 2-8pm, shoppers will enjoy cocktails, preview the new spring collection, and receive a free makeup consultation by Motives for LaLa.  There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Prom Queen Boutique. If you make a dress/accessories donation that day, you’ll receive $25.00 toward a Katwalk Boutique purchase.

If you are able to make it to Baltimore to make a dress and accessories donation, I encourage you to do so! Hopefully I’ll be able to partner with organizations in the DC area next year to host a prom dress donation drive.

Miguel recently released the video for “How Many Drinks?” featuring Kendrick Lamar.  This song is featured on Miguel’s current album Kaleidoscope Dream. This is a performance video, so there isn’t anything too exciting going on but the song is hot so I thought I’d share. Check it out!

 

Kendrick Lamar and Miguel are performing at the Budweiser Made In America Festival in Philadelphia in August. To purchase tickets to the festival, click HERE.

You’re invited to join Nicole Garder of The Womanly Curve and Candice Nicole from Candice Nicole Public Relations invite you to join them for a Monumental Run on Sunday, April 21, 2013 in honor of the Boston Marathon victims.  This event is open to men and women runners, joggers and walkers!

Registration is FREE: www.amonumentalrun.splashthat.com