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.
Author: KnowlesMalinda
Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama’s Inauguration Day Fashion
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
Porsche Designs’ New Women’s Handbag Line NY Launch Event
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.
Harlem’s Fashion Row: CEO Brandice Henderson Talks with June Ambrose
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
My favorite piece from Malandrino’s Spring 2013 Collection
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
Soft, Slouchy Pants and Overalls for Spring 2013
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
“The most important thing to remember is that you can wear all the greatest clothes and all the greatest shoes, but you’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside. That’s what’s really going to make you look like you’re ready to rock the world.” – Alicia Keys
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Yours Truly,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
P.S. If you love this Blue Christmas Tree, shop similar here!
Diane von Furstenberg and Camilla Morton’s New Fairy Tale Book: The Empress’s New Clothes
I remember when I first laid eyes on Diane’s collection, poking around the Fifth Floor at Bergdorf Goodman. I thought to myself, these prints are so cute, they kind of remind me of the 1970s. I ended up buying a blue dress that fit me like a glove and it is hard to fit my body perfectly.
My mother and grandmother were delighted to see it and asked who made it? I told them a new designer Diane von Furstenberg and received a chuckle from my mother. She explained that Diane was in no way a new designer; that she had been quite popular in the past with her iconic wrap dress.
Fast forward to today and I am still an avid DVF Fan. The clothes are so versatile; a number of pieces can go to work, a luncheon or a party. And after reading Diane’s new fairy tale book, The Empress’s New Clothes, I see that this feeling has been shared among many people from the 1970s to today.
The book is based on the incredible life (and LOVE) of Diane von Furstenberg. It is written by a London-based fashion writer, Camilla Morton, and illustrated by The DVF Studio. I especially love this illustrated page of the Empress and her new clothes below.
I won’t spoil the book but I will say that it is no wonder that Diane is a global fashion icon, business mogul, president of CFDA, and an inspiration to women everywhere. She has a slew of awards and achievements, and has revolutionized the fashion world by making clothes ‘easy’ with her wrap dress still sold and worn today. I told Diane at her book signing event this week at Bergdorf’s that I wanted to have a brand like hers. She responded with cool confidence that I can “be the woman that I want to be.”
I am deeply moved and in awe of Diane von Furstenberg. This fairytale story based on Diane’s life is not just a fairytale. It is an inspirational piece for little girls and women alike, a tale of a princess with an entrepreneurial spirit and a few sample dresses in her suitcase. Congratulations Camilla and Diane, this is a book that I hope to pass down to future daughters in my family.
Yours Truly,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles
Photo Credits: Jenny Kawa/BFAnyc.com
Copyright: ©BFA
Columbia Business School and Parsons Students Pitch Strategic Plans to Luxury Product CEOs
Last week I attended Columbia Business School and Parsons Students’ Final Presentations which featured their fall 2012 case studies from the CBS class Design and Marketing of Luxury Products. There in attendance were CEOs and top representatives from Chanel, Hermès, Loro Piana, Pomellato and Van Cleef & Arpels, with whom the students had worked all semester.
The class is taught by Professor Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge from CBS, who also runs several luxury consulting companies, and Professor Jessica Corr, a high-end hospitality designer/consultant who teaches at Parsons. The class is through the Luxury Education Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students in Design and Business related to the creation and marketing of luxury goods.
What struck me about the presentations was that most of the companies were looking for ways to integrate their online presence with the actual experience of a customer in-store. Some ideas included placing physical touch-screen computers in the fitting room, a “My Chanel” virtual closet to upload photos of yourself in your new Chanel wear, or my favorite “Share Your Love Story” cards for Van Cleef & Arpel’s bridal business.
It was a very exciting class, I might say! And it ended with a celebration and networking along with a gracious champagne donation from Moët Hennessy USA.
Yours Truly,
“Fashionably-Late”
Malinda Knowles