I’m totally on to this new bag from Proenza Schouler’s PS1 Collection. Take this graffiti covered bag to the streets with some leather pants, sneaker heels and one of those skull shirts and jewelry from Alexander McQueen. Check out some ideas to mix and match in my Funky Street Style collection here.
Yours Truly,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
I personally like shoulder pads in women’s clothing. Know they were big in the 1980s, I hardly ever saw my mom walk out to work without them in a fancy suit. They have recently made a come back but, are they here to stay?
I was sitting in textile class talking about how different fabric does different things for women’s wear and shoulder pads came up. We started chatting about if in ten years, we’ll look back and say absolutely not. I know that mohawks and shaving half of your head will definitely be a thing of the 2010’s but shoulder pads, I don’t know.
Elsa Schiaparelli, an Italian designer of the 1930s and 1940s inspired by Surrealists like Dali, is noted to have introduced shoulder pads in women’s clothing. She seemed to be into form and structure like what we are seeing in some of the newer designs today. Like, for instance, this skeleton dress with shoulder pads below.
Check out the detail on the shoulders of this dress worn by Mrs. Reginald Fellowes in 1933. Schiaparelli and Prada were featured and compared at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) last year for their spring exhibition.
Schiaparelli had some great vision for her time. I think there might be periods when the shoulder pad will be more prevalent in fashion than others, like the 1940s and 1980s. But, my prediction is that the shoulder pad is here to stay.
Yours,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
Now here’s a take on a sneaker heel. Amazing work. J’Adore these hot pink booties from Alexander McQueen. Do these with some soft, slouchy pants and you will have a great comfortable and street look to go. Check them out here.
So are we all not excited to see what Michelle Obama, most powerful woman in fashion, will be wearing this weekend?
She recently changed her hairstyle and I love it. And I think we all just can’t wait to see the fashion this weekend!
In 2009, Michelle Obama wore a lemongrass yellow Isabel Toledo shift dress for the day, and a gorgeous white off-the-shoulder chiffon gown by Jason Wu for the ball. WWD says that more than 20 designers have sent in dress sketches in hopes to be chosen to dress her for the momentous occasion.
I can’t wait to see the looks for her and Sasha and Malia, who are quickly becoming style icons too. Check out a few of the fashion sketches from Chanel, Nanette Lepore, L’Wren Scott, and Monique Lhuillier for Michelle, Sasha and Malia for Inaugural Day below.
Yours,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
This week I attended Porsche Design’s new women’s Handbag Line Event. District Manager Jorge Vegaumana told me that their women’s handbag line is to officially launching in March in 130 stores worldwide (Miami, Boca Raton, Berlin, France, etc). I generally go for a funkier or more colorful bag line like Proenza Schouler’s but for a conservative day bag, they get my vote. They are sleek, sexy and fun just like the Porsche car line, and their handles adjust so you can wear it on your shoulder or just carry in-hand. Check out some more of the photos below. Everyone was asking about my dress. I’m wearing a vintage Signette dress made by a local New York designer named Aysha Saeed that I got from one of her sample sales.
This Wednesday night I attended Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) Conversations with June Ambrose event at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. HFR is a company founded by HFR’s CEO Brandice N. Henderson interviewed June Ambrose on stage and chatted about everything from June’s first styling gig, childhood and how to be professional in an unprofessional environment. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have included a few highlights and tidbits below.
On June’s first styling job…
Hype (Williams) was like why are you here? She was the director of marketing for Cross Colors. Did product placement and creating marketing plans. She started working on R Kelly’s Down Low music video before MTV was playing black music. I was going to bring a costume design aesthetic to black music. It was about a cinema… that’s where June Ambrose was born
On working with Jay-Z….
I worked with Jazy-Z from inception he is to date my “best friend” if he took a job it was ‘June is doing the job or I’m not doing it.’ It’s different now… what I do has become publicized… there’s so many more of “me” and a lot of “you’re an artist your sister likes fashion your mother likes fashion… you’re going to keep the money in-house”
On clients leaving her…
I don’t even worry about it I just keep on. You know your self-worth you don’t worry about things going away.
On her first job ever at Kentucky Fried Chicken…
I had this job for 2 days… thought I would work at the register and the manager said I need you to go back and clean chicken. He called my mom saying ‘oh she’s spoiled.’ That is just not what I needed to do.
On using social media for branding…
Your social media is an extension of your résumé. You’re cussin. It becomes this reality ratchet moment. You don’t know where you are going to be 5 years from now. I treat my company like a corporate company. I’m taking you around high-profile people. Corporate America did that to me. And I’ve spent a lot of time being wall papered… and I’m the only sober person in the room. Social media is your editorial platform. I am the Anna Wintour of my own… (social media).
On her down moments and biggest challenges in life…
I was raised in the Bronx in a one bedroom apartment. Moved from St. Croix. Older sister is a nurse. My first name is Junemarie. Mom’s thing was get an education get a job. When you see your mom cry for the first time cause you couldn’t pay the rent it makes you say ok get out. I don’t have childhood friends what happened was I decided I was gonna get out and kind of didnt’ look back. My mom would take us downtown… (and I)… fell in love with Manhattan at a very young age.
On if she will return to VH1 for a second season…
June says she felt she had so much more to offer than creating this “drama content” that they needed to produce. Getting into a fight etc. She was afraid of that and basically, will not be returning to VH1 for a second season. “VH1 is not a network known for doing fashion…I just don’t have a space on the network and the content, it’s just not the place for me.” June said, however, that she will be returning to television later in the year for the launch of her footwear line on HSN. Check out the video of June speaking about this below.
I truly admire June for her hard work, ethic (i.e. 7:30 AM is sleeping in), and that she is in my opinion, a respectable black woman in fashion. I applaud you June for not doing another season with VH1 or falling in line with their needed “drama content.” You said that one of your biggest fears was not being relevant. Well, June, I think it’s safe to say that if you keep it up, that will never happen.
Yours,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
Photo Credit: Jessie Adore and Josh Woods
I just love this leather vest from Catherine Malandrino’s Spring 2013 Collection. The details are beautiful and I just love the candy-colored, Spring pastel green color. Comes in ivory too. Looks like they’ll be in stores, especially at Bergdorf Goodman this Spring.
Yours,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
Here’s a trend I can get behind for Spring 2013: soft, slouchy and comfortable pants! I don’t know about you but with this NYC cold, I’m already looking forward to Spring and can’t wait to wear some cherry-colored pants like these Joie Crepe “Jogging Pants” (pictured above), these black leather Vince “jogging pants” (pictured below). You could also do these lilac Phillip Lim pants from the Fall collection (below, left). Check out my “Soft, Slouchy Pants Collection” on Lyst here.
Looks like comfort and style are winning this Spring and I like it. I especially love these Phillip Lim Overalls, pink, green or black leather!
Yours,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
