‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett Signs Deal With Columbia Records.

Life is imitating art for “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, who just signed a new deal with Columbia Records!
We see Jussie (pictured above on the keyboard) singing his heart out every week as Jamal Lyon Fox’s addictive, fascinating hit drama “Empire.” It’s can’t miss TV on Wednesdays, and that’s as much for the story as it is for the music.
Now, Jussie’s grabbed the attention of some music industry pros, and he’s getting another chance to share his musical gift in a new way. “There will be a Jussie Smollett album. I signed to Columbia,” Jussie announced during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, adding that he’s going to be in some amazing company at Columbia. “So, darling, I’m label mates with Beyoncé and Adele and Barbra Streisand.”
Shouldn’t expect a similar vibe from Jussie’s own studio project. He would still love to have his friends from the show contribute something creatively to the album, though. “It’s going to be a whole different thing. Now, the Empire family will still have something to do with it,” said Jussie.
“I would love for Terrence to come and oversee the production of all of the music,” he continued.  “I would love for Timbaland to come on and Jim Beanz. We’ve all talked and they’re all down to work on it.”
No release date has been announced for the album yet, but we can’t wait to hear his first cut!

Gucci Ready-to-Wear Fall 2015.

Anyone watching fashion breaking news was stunned to hear of Creative Director Frida Giannini and CEO Patrizio di Marco’s early leaving Gucci without so much as a goodbye card in December 2014. Gucci came under swift leadership from Marco Bizzarri and quickly appointed a new Creative Director, an insider by the name of Alessandro Michele. Gucci’s Fall 2015 RTW Collection, led by Michele, presented a fresh yet familiar take on Italian fashion. There was the subtle return of the interlocking “G” logo and classic leather loafers, but there was also new inspirations using fur in footwear and the inclusion of male models in decidedly feminine attire.

Best Looks Of The Week.

Although temperatures have remained on the cooler side, the red carpets have been on fire!

Celebrities Love… Atusko Kudo Latex Separates.

 
Rita Ora and Kim Kardashian both stepped out last night wearing similar dresses from latex label Atsuko Kudo.

Moschino Fall 2015.

We never have to worry about Jeremy Scott going bold and he did not disappoint with Moschino’s Fall collection. His destination for the season? None other than the Nineties. When channeling the decade, there are quite a lot of fashion references to choose from, but Scott chose hip hop — its bombastic colors, accessories, and all.

Black History Month Living Legends Series: How to Break Into Fashion With Journalist Robin Givhan.

Black History Month Series suffered a bit (as it does) with Fashion Week, but i am closing the month out with an industry living legend: Fashion Journalist Robin Givhan.

Kylie Jenner by Lionel Deluy for FAULT Magazine.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict Writes Letter To Herself & You Need To Read It.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict gave her younger self some great, much-needed advice that would be a huge help to many girls now.
Even though Tia grew up famous as she and her twin, Tamera Mowry-Housley, starred on “Sister, Sister,” she grew up facing many of the same challenges that regular girls face. Fitting in and fighting to accept yourself (even if no one else does) is a timeless struggle that transcends class.
Looking back over her life, there were just a few things that Tia wanted to tell her younger self. Since time travel has yet to be perfected, the actress had to settle for writing a letter to herself. While the encouraging note was meant specifically for her, the letter offers up lots of great advice that girls today should take to heart.
In Tia’s open letter to herself, the actress recalls stressing over her hair and wondering if she would ever find love. And she seemed to fret about not being as popular as she had hoped, but Tia reassured herself that quality over quantity is the rule when it comes to friends.

Little White LIes: 5 Embellishments You Should Never Tell In The Workplace.

So here’s what we’d be wise to remind ourselves: a few professional ethical lines we should never cross:

FAB OR FUG: Tia Mowry Flashes Us With Fabulousness & It’s Slightly Amazing.

Talk about making a statement! Tia Mowry arrived at the premiere for Will Smith’s new film, “Focus” wearing a black Balmain blazer, a sheer dress by Stone Cold Fox with a NOE Undergarments bodysuit and Stuart Weitzman sandals.

‘Empire’ Gets Real Black & Confronts The White Woman In The Room.

“The moment you brought that White woman into my house, I knew then I couldn’t trust you. I knew then you didn’t want to be apart of my family.”
To Black people, this conversation is familiar. “Don’t bring no White man home,” my mom would say. It’s not like she’d stop loving me if I did, but it was made clear to me, from a young age, Black women and Black men should be together. (My parents would also say things like “Black Power” with their fists raised.) Considering the times, it seems ignorant to hold such views but I’d be dishonest if I said, I don’t subscribe to the beliefs. And since it left Lucious’ lips last night, I know I am not alone.

Fashion Scoop: Fern Mallis Does Want To Chat With Kanye, Claire Underwood Gets Style Makeover, Marc Jacobs Disses Young Designers.

• During New York Fashion Week, Fern Mallis made some comments about Kanye West saying that she was sort of over him and “his agenda.” Subsequently in a very Kanye way, West went on Twitter for a good old tirade which he later deleted and amongst other things half invited half challenged Mallis to a meeting at The Spotted Pig in New York, once he got back for a little chat. While Mallis has deferred on answering the invitation, she’s responding with an invitation of her own: Kanye, meet Mallis live and in person for a sit down interview for her 92Y Fashion Icons series. You can hash it all out then. (Fashionista)

Malaika Firth, Aya Jones, Imaan Hammam, Kai Newman, Leila Nda, Tami Williams by Peter Lindbergh for American Vogue March 2015.

Naomi Campbell By Steven Klein For L’Officiel Singapore March 2015.

Bobbi Kristina Suffers Major Medical Setback After Doctors Tried To Bring Her Out Of Coma.

Doctors have attempted to take Bobbi Kristina out of the medically induced coma she was placed in after being found unresponsive in a bathtub in her home in Roswell, Georgia on Jan. 31, however that attempt failed as Bobbi K was reported to have suffered violent seizures during the procedure. A family source told PEOPLE, “She was taken off the drugs, but she began having violent seizures. She is being put back into a coma.”
Bobbi Kristina has been on life support over the last few weeks and this latest effort was an attempt to check in on her status. Dr. Subhashini Ramesh, a professor of NeuroCritical Care at Georgia Regents University, explained the reasons someone would be taken out of a medically induced coma: Either “the underlying problem has improved” or the doctors want to “get a sense of what the patient is able to do for themselves.”
The seizures are devastating, certainly for the family, who has been praying for Bobbi’s condition to turn around. A source tells PEOPLE, “This is a horrible setback. Everyone was hopeful that this was the sign that she’d turned the corner. We were so optimistic. Bobby is taking this so hard; he was sure this was going to be a good day. But please, everyone needs to pray for Krissi. I don’t care what religion you are, or if you have no religion at all. Send your thoughts, your prayers, your well-wishes. Send everything you’ve got. Please.”
Pray for Bobbi Kristina.

Lupita Nyong’o’s Pearl Oscar Dress STOLEN!

How in the world did this happen?

We may not have been fans of Lupita’s Oscar gown made out of 6,000 Akoya pearls, but we’re sad to report the $150,000 dress was stolen out of her hotel room.

According to reports, Lupita told police the the lavish garment had to be taken while she was gone between 8am and 9am.

The authorities are currently reviewing surveillance footage to catch the thief in action.

Jourdan Dunn, Alessandra Ambrosio, Fei Fei Sun, Jessica Stam, and Behati Prinsloo by Cuneyt Akeroglu for Vogue Turkey March 2015.

The Kardashian’s $100 Million Deal.

You may not be here for the Kardashians and their antics, but there’s a legion of fans who are. The gorgeous group of talentless ladies just signed a $100 million-plus deal with E! for another four years of Kardashian content. Yup, that four more seasons of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” several other spin-offs and digital projects fueled by their massive social media following.

The deal marks the highest in TV history for a reality TV brand, reports Page Six.

Must be nice.

Zoe Kravitz by Warwick Saint for Ocean Drive March 2015.

This Week In Cuteness.

Happy Thursday!
This week, celebs kept it casual after an award show-filled month in denim, chunky knits, simple ankle-strap sandals, and cozy fur.
Let’s get into their ensembles shall we?

Swank Blue’s Thou Shalt Get Her Own Money Tee.

Fashion maven and celebrity stylist Olori Swank’s Swank Blue Thou Shalt Get Her Own Money Tee is the ideal addition to any fashionista’s wardrobe.

NBA Health Check: The Injuries & Medical Issues Affecting Chris Bosh, Derrick Rose & Carmelo Anthony.

Recently a few of the NBA’s popular ballers are facing very serious body injuries and health concerns, derailing and cutting their season short. Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks are either on bed rest or have their doctors on speed dial.
As fans wonder what their diagnoses mean for their careers, i am offering a health check on what the injuries entail for their well-beings.

PRESS PLAY: Kanye Debuts New Song ‘All Day’ At The Brit Awards & Taylor Swift Is Getting Down To It In The Audience.

Kanye West debuted his new song “All Day” at the BRIT Awards at London’s O2 Arena and if you can focus on anything other the man holding a flame thrower on stage and if you can’t tell by Taylor Swift’s dance moves, in the audience, it’s kinda good…
Seconds before introducing her hubby, Kim Kardashian snapped a photo with hosts Ant and Dec. “I want everyone to stand up,” she said in the most excited voice she could muster. “Everybody has to stand up and get on their feet and welcome my husband Kanye West.”
Great job Kim.
“All Day” follows Ye’s release “Only One,” “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna and Paul McCartney and “Wolves” and we must say, this is a massive improvement.
Watch below:

Young & Classy: Zendaya Accepts Giuliana Rancic’s Apology.

Zendaya has heard all of Giuliana Rancic’s apologies for making a crack about her dreads, and she had one more thing to say.
The actress has handled both the disrespectful comments about her Oscar night look and the fallout surrounding it incredibly well. When Giuliana joked that her lovely dreadlocks probably smelled like weed, Zendaya easily could have snapped back with any number of digs about the “Fashion Police” star.
Instead she was cool and calm while expressing how offended she was by the comment while running down a list of respected figures in the Black community that choose to sport the natural look.

Giuliana came back to say that she’s sorry on Twitter before making a statement on TV last night during “Fashion Police.” A lot of people still aren’t here for her apology, but Zendaya graciously accepted as she schooled followers on how easy it is to make off-color remarks. It’s not that she was excusing Giuliana’s comment, but she explained how to be more mindful in the future. The statement she posted to Twitter was also great teaching moment for her thousands of fans and followers that need to see her speak up for naturalistas.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Zendaya/status/570665155165421568
And that, beauties, is how you make a point while resolving an issue.

UPDATE: Bobbi Kristina Taken Out Of Coma, But Still On Life Support.

Details about Bobbi Kristina’s medical condition have been murky since she was found face down and unresponsive in her bathtub. In the latest news, doctors have decided to take Kristina, who was placed in a medically induced coma back in January, out of her coma.
According to People, who tapped Subhashini Ramesh, a professor of NeuroCritical Care at Georgia Regents University, “They take them off a medically induced coma for two reasons – because the underlying problem has improved, or to simply get a sense of what the patient is able to do for themselves.”
Recently, a tracheostomy was performed on Kristina to change her breathing tube to one that supports long-term treatment.
Earlier this month, Bobbi Brown downplayed his daughter’s condition back in a statement from his lawyers.
“If we issued a statement every time the media published a false report regarding this matter, that’s all we would be doing 24 hours a day. This is false, just as is the vast majority of the other reporting that is currently taking place.”
While Bobbi K is still fighting for her life, her boyfriend Nick Gordon is desperately trying to visit her in the hospital where he was allegedly banned.
“Let me in the hospital to see my girl and let her hear my voice,” he tweeted Saturday. “If she hears my voice, let me massage her, play her favorite music I believe it will help.”
Bobby responded to the chatter.

“Let me be very clear, Mr. Gordon was offered an opportunity to potentially visit Bobbi Kristina and he declined to meet the terms of any possible visit […]Obviously Mr. Gordon is not as desperate to visit Bobbi Kristina as he wants the world to believe.”

Prayers up!

Stella Jean Fall 2015.

Haitian Italian designer Stella Jean always infuses her dual heritage into her collections, marrying Afro-Caribbean prints with European tailoring. For Fall 2015, Jean took a different turn, harkening to the Himalayas, and splashing statement pieces with vivid hues, pom poms, and South Asian inspired patterns.

Fashion Scoop: Giuliana Rancic Apologizes To Zendaya in Formal Statement, Tom Ford Is Working On Second Film, and JustFab To Launch Menswear.

• Giuliana Rancic came under considerable fire for comments she made on Fashion Police about Zendaya’s faux locs. Rancic released an apology via Twitter but many felt that it was insufficient.  Last night, she released a statement on E!, after a bit of pressure from co-host Kelly Osbourne. While Giuliana does apologize for crossing a line, the second half of the apology seemed push the blame onto Zendaya saying that it didn’t matter her intent, but how it was perceived. Hmmm…what do you think? (Teen Vogue)

The 2015 BRIT Awards.

Favorite stars from across the pond were in attendance at the 2015 BRIT Awards in London in expertly-tailored suits, red lips, head-turning gowns and so much more.
Let’s see what they wore!

Jessica Alba’s Los Angeles Kenzo Kalifornia Bag, Rialto Jeans Project Boyfriend Jeans, and Gerard Darel Baskets Gloss Finish Trainers.

Jessica Alba was spotted in LA carrying a $422 Kenzo Kalifornia Bag and clad in a pair of $245 Rialto Jeans Project Boyfriend Jeans, and $333 Gerard Darel Baskets Gloss Finish Trainers:

Jasmine Tookes’s VS Celebrates the Sexiest Push Ups Event Nicholas Spring Floral Denim Bra Top and High Waist Pencil Skirt.

Jasmine Tookes posed alongside Lily Aldridge at the VS Celebrates the Sexiest Push Ups Event in West Hollywood, sporting a $255 Nicholas Spring Floral Denim Bra Top and $320 High Waist Pencil Skirt:

The LA Focus Premiere.

Will Smith’s new movie Focus had its LA Premiere last night, and many bold faced names hit the black carpet!
Take a look:

Ten-Year-Old Prodigy Begins College Courses For Her Math Degree!

At only ten-years-old, Esther Okade has begun taking college courses to her Open University undergraduate Math degree. She was accepted as a student after acing an exam and winning over Open’s Vice Chancellor with her amazing ambition. To think our middle school teachings of Algebra 101 still gives us nightmares!
Okade was recently profiled by the U.K.’s Telegraph, and is a native of Walsall. She shares similar interests with the average child like playing with toys and watching Frozen (even overseas, they can’t stop singing “Let It Go.”) but she was not like the rest in that she’s dreamt of attending college starting at seven-years-old. For three years, Okade recognized her prowess with numbers and math. To the shock, approval (and secret delight) of her mother Omonefe who is also her home school teacher and mathematician, together they applied to Open with high hopes for Esther.
Omonefe remembers approaching Open as “an interesting process because of her age.” Naturally, she had some concerns because college-level courses at the age of ten is undeniably daunting (“I was afraid it was too soon) but her daughter’s determination moved her. After the application, a procedural test, and talking with the Vice Chancellor (who “realised that this has been her idea from the beginning”) Okade’s been an official undergrad for three weeks. Another reminder: the rest of us at that age were still in fourth or fifth grade!

Tracee Ellis Shares What It Took To Love Her Natural Hair.

I live for Tracee Ellis Ross and her head full of curls, but she didn’t always love the hair texture that she was born with.
For many naturalistas, Tracee was a shining example of how they wanted their hair to look when “Girlfriends” debuted. The actress was always rocking her God-given texture and slayed! However, there was a time when she didn’t embrace what she had and loving her natural hair took a long time.
“It was a long journey from childhood. For so many years I was trying to beat my hair into submission, trying to get it to look like someone else’s hair and I didn’t know how,” Tracee told People magazine, adding that she went to some pretty extreme lengths to get her tresses under control. “I remember going through a phase where I even put beer in my hair, because I was told that would make it smooth and curly.”
She even attempted to burn the curl out of her hair with relaxers, which is almost a rite of passage for so many Brown girls. “Definitely, when I was growing up. That’s what everyone with curly hair did back then,” Tracee recalled. “I think I was 13 years old when I started growing my hair out from the relaxer.
Of course, she found out, as many often do, that relaxers put a major tax on your hair. “I was living in Switzerland going to boarding school and my hair was breaking off. It was scary,” she said. “I remember calling my mother and saying, ‘This is really bad and really hard.’”
Speaking of Tracee’s mama, Diana Ross was all about embracing her large-and-lovely curls; she encouraged her daughter to do the same early on.
“My mom was a natural texture person and it was always the bigger the better. She loves my hair big and out and she always has. Even though I grew up with the image of my mother wearing her hair that way,” Tracee explained. “I hadn’t really seen it elsewhere, so it still has taken courage to wear my hair natural and not feel the pressure to straighten it.”
She added, “I’m loving the natural hair movement. It’s really encouraging and is expanding the definition of beauty.”

The 2015 ELLE Style Awards.

London Fashion Week officially ended with the 2015 ELLE Style Awards–the fun reprises tomorrow in Milan!
But until the style train moves to another locale, London’s movers and shakers twirled in mostly black looks at The Skybar at the Walkie Talkie Tower in London.
Take a look:

Burberry Prorsum Fall 2015.

Fall 2015 trends have already begun to emerge, with hippie chic and modern riffs on the 70’s already at the front of the pack. If there’s anything Christopher Bailey knows how to do, it’s blend what’s on-trend with Burberry’s heritage, thus he channeled both decades in a spirited mélange — steeped in a bohemian aesthetic with a handcrafted flair.

F&W Style Luxury Leather Handbags.

Happy Tuesday everyone!
I discovered F&W Style Leather Luxury Handbags on a whim via Instagram. The owner, Alexandria W. Alli, captured my attention with her use of bright colors and classic silhouettes. Citing Kate Spade as one of her designer influences, Alexandria’s take on cultivating eye-catching handbags soon transformed into a dynamic and influential brand.

Peter Pilotto Fall 2015.

Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos have done it yet again! The Fall 2015 presentation packed a serious punch while uplifting their signature eccentric detailing. It was clear that this dynamic duo focused on experimenting with various textures as well as injecting a bit of 70s flair into some of their more modern looks.

Burberry Prorsum’s Fall 2015 Show.

Burberry Prorsum is by far one of the most internationally recognized British brands, and thus the label brought out the big guns for their Fall 2015 show.
Take a quick look at the show’s star studded guest list:

Fashion Scoop: Kim Kardashian Discloses Her Beauty Routine, Naomi Campbell Talks ‘Empire’ Role, and Duro Olowu Debuts His Spring 2015 Collection With Video.

• Selfie queen Kim Kardashian has finally let us into the world of her beauty routine.  One of the biggest proponents of contouring, the star has gone on with Into The Gloss to talk about her little tips, tricks and products of the trade.  Amongst other things, she talks about how much she washes her hair (about once every five days) as well as some essentials like make-up wipes and things like her psoriasis. (Into The Gloss)

This Abusive Stepmother Unbelievably Used Cotton & Hair Clips To Cover Child’s Split Skull, She’s Now Facing A Life In Prison.

Margarita Garabito has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of her ten-year-old stepdaughter Charlenni Ferreira.
The abuse Ferreira endured in her young ten years are gruesome details of child endangerment and negligence. Taking place behind the closed doors of their Philadelphia home, she was beaten regularly by Garabito and sometimes by her birth father Domingo Ferreira. In one instance, Ferreira’s skull was split open and her stepmother shockingly used cotton and hair clips and extensions to try to cover the open bruises. Ferreira later died in 2009 when her body succumbed to a “buildup of fluid inside her chest as a result of broken ribs.” And according to Ferreira’s lawyers, Garabito’s son raped her on one occasion, (but) has allegedly been arrested.
On Friday, February 20, Garabito was sentenced to life in person and will not be eligible for parole. Her father was also arrested but committed suicide three days after landing in prison.
So awful. This little girl didn’t deserve to have her young life cut so soon. And the years she had surrounded by people not in her corner.

Nailed It: Jaw Dropping Nails From CND Hit The Runway At Libertine.

Since 1979 Creative Nail Design (CND) have positioned themselves as a global leader in professional nail care, and are dedicated to research, development, education and customer support. In fact, “CND was the first nail company to join Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week back in 1996”, Cora Rood, from RPRMC, publicist for CND shared .

Mary Katrantzou Ready-to-Wear Fall 2015.

Mary Katrantzou first hit the scene as the Queen of Digital Prints in Spring / Summer 2009. Her background in architecture and textile design had her uniquely positioned to produce delightfully multi-dimensional collections that brought the best of print and thoughtful construction. After seven years of presenting at London Fashion Week, Katrantzou’s Fall 2015 Collection felt right in stride with its storied heritage.

E!’s Fashion Police Giuliana Rancic Lambasted for Saying Zendaya, on Oscars Night, Looked Like She Smelled of ‘Patchouli Oil and Weed’.

While I was cheering Zendaya on for wearing locs to the Academy Awards, I had a feeling not everyone would ‘get it’ or be appreciative of her hairstyle.
Cue Giuliana Rancic, who in attempt to be humorous on E!’s Fashion Police, was downright offensive, saying that Zendaya in white Vivienne Westwood looked like she smelled of, ” like patchouli oil… or maybe weed,’ because of her loc’ed hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj’s Album Goes Gold.

Nicki Minaj‘s album “The Pinkprint” has officially reached Gold status with over 509,000 copies sold.
Nicki released her third album on December 15, 2014 and it entered the Billboard chart at number #2 behind Taylor Swift‘s monster 1989 album.
This is Nicki’s third Gold album. Her first album, “Pink Friday” went platinum and the follow-up “Pink Friday: Reloaded” is very close to reaching Platinum status. This is Nicki’s most personal album to date and it definitely has some bangers on it as well.
Congrats Nicki!

Head Wraps from the Wrap Life.

It’s still black history month, and i am still highlighting fashionable pieces spearheaded or created by people of color!
Today’s  Product: Head Wraps from the Wrap Life:

Fashion Scoop: Virgil Abloh Nominated for LVMH Prize, Kendall Jenner Receives Model Apology, and Karlie Kloss Quitting Her Victoria’s Secret Angel Duties.

• LVMH Prize has named their second class of designers as a part of their short list.  25 names include sadly only two of color in Virgil Abloh (Kanye West’s creative director) as well as Agi Mdumulla of Agi& Sam.  Other things that stand out to us include five brands based in New York as well as Jacquemus who made an impression last year. To the victor go the spoils. (Fashionista)

Weekend Cuteness.

Happy Monday everyone!
I’m still recovering from the Academy Awards — all the high-fashion and custom-made gowns had my head spinning!
It was all about the Oscars parties of course — both before the big event and afterward. Celebs definitely showed up and showed out in on-trend white numbers, crop tops, menswear-inspired trousers, and bold prints.
Let’s see what they wore!

Who Wore it Better? Zoe Kravitz vs. Kim Kardashian in Balenciaga’s Spring 2015 Lattice Cut Out Dress.

Gorgeous Zoe Kravitz attended last night’s Vanity Fair Oscar party in the beige version of the Balenciaga Lattice Cut Out Dress Kim Kardashian wore to the Diamond Ball:

The Vanity Fair Oscars After Party.

After the Oscars, the celeb set did a quick change for the annual Vanity Fair After Party.
From Pucci to Prada, of course they showed out!
Take a look at the best looks from the night:

Weekend Instagram Cuteness.

Happy Monday all!  With all the fashion week and award show buzz happening, it’s only fair i give you some hot looks from a few of my fave celebs who attended a few Oscar weekend events as well as fashion week occurrences.  But who rocked it for you, and who…hmm… didn’t meet the mark?  Let’s take a look!

Beyonce's Vanity Fair Oscars Party Stella McCartney White Gown + Solange Knowles's White Naeem Khan Spring 2015 Embellished Dress.

Beyonce and Solange looked like they were having the time of their lives at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party (full red carpet rundown to come!).
The sisters rocked out in bright white, with Beyonce in Stella McCartney and Solange in Naeem Khan: