A revolutionary digital space that explores life as we all evolve within it. I present my personal commentary on Fashion, Style, Art, Parenting, Crafting, Music, Literature, Culinary delights, Inspirational people and their stories. I aim to share the tips, tricks and knowledge that I have gathered on my journey in an effort EMPOWER and INSPIRE! Xxo
I love prints of all kinds. One of my current favourites is a Damask print in black and white. You can find this print from drapery to dresses. It is as popular in home furnishings as it is in fabulous closets around the world. It is available in all different prints and color combo's but Black and White is just right.
I wanted to share a few of my favourite Damask pieces from all price points.
Upon the release today of Kimora Lee Simmons 6th fragrance: LOVE ME it brings up the very important topic of self love. Self love being the foundation for everything in your life; your self esteem, your other relationships and how you conduct yourself in the world. In my experience I feel as women we have issues with taking time for self care and self love. We have big "to do lists" for our daily lives; work, caring for our children (biological, step and/or adopted), taking care of our homes, extended family members, school; whatever our life circumstances may be. What we often forget is to put ourselves on that list. Sometimes we confuse self love with selfishness. I think it is a bi-product of how society has compartmentalized women and our vast roles. In my view taking time for self love and care is essential to our development and growth as human beings. We could not possibly perform at optimal levels in all other facets of our lives if our foundation, self love is not a strong one. I subscribe to and identify with much of what Kimora represents with respect to the empowerment of women. The notion of self acceptance and the concept behind this fragrance of self love. On the packaging for the scent she has a message:
"LOVE ME for the essence of who I am...
Admire Me for my strength and spirit.
Cherish me for my passion and drive.
Respect me for my aspirations that DARE ME to dream.
What's most important is that you LOVE ME... for me."
"Love yourself" ~ Kimora Lee Simmons
The scent itself is comprised of the following components (notes): An oriental musk fragrance including apricot blossom, tangerine, passion fruit, frangipani blossom, jasmine petals and tiger orchid, along with vanilla blossom and sandalwood.
I personally had an opportunity to be a tiny part of this fragrance planning process via a meeting with fellow "fabs" and the perfumista herself for an episode of "Kimora Life in the Fab Lane" (Season 4, Episode 2 :The Bling Sale is available for download on iTunes).
Cleverly we were asked to describe (in 200 words or less) How Fragrance enhances your Fabulosity. Here was my reply: "A fragrance enhances my Fabulosity by giving me an instant spritz of confidence. It is about making an impression without words. I can exude my fabulousness without a single phrase as the scent I choose is a reflection of my mood, feelings and personality. Fragrance does to the nose what fashion does to the eyes; Intrigues, inspires and reflects your inner goddess. It is a splash of sass and class before I step into the world. My scent is a part of my Fabulosity that I can leave behind. As I breeze through my life my scent is what I will relinquish along with a lasting impression. It will serve to inspire men and women that I come into contact with, each in a different way. It is an inspirational message for one’s olfactory senses. A mist of my fragrance creates a memory for those around me as smell evokes memory in a way that no other sense can. My scent is my first and most important accessory of the day!"
CHEERS KIMORA for spreading your message of self love and acceptance though every avenue ~ twitter @OfficialKimora, http://kls.com/, your book and now through your scent!
Ladies show yourself some love and pick up LOVE ME: for $17 for 15Ml ($28 for larger size) how could you not? Raise the glass to your self; for being who you are ~ FABULOUS and WORTH IT!
Many of you know Kimora Lee Simmons for various reasons. She was the creative force behind the Baby Phat brand which she developed and grew for over 10 years. While there she diversified herself into fragrances, cosmetics, KLS collection, Kouture By Kimora, Fabulosity Jr. Line, Hello Kitty Jewelry, Books and still continues her evolution. She is now living a PHAT free life and is focused on the KLS brand and all it's fabulous products; "Onward and Upward" as she put's it. A new skin care line to come this spring as well as the launch of her new fragrance "Love Me" (which is her 6th). This blog was inspired by the re-launch of her website www.KLS.com. It got me thinking about her evolution within the world of fashion and her celebration of fashion as an art form.
I have read that there are people who feel much of her success can be attributed to her ex husband Hip Hop Mogul Russell Simmons. From where I sit he has been a great mentor, friend, creative partner and inspiration for her but NOT the reason for her continues success or her break into the fashion industry. She was part of the high fashion business as a model long before she became Mrs. Simmons.
Kimora started her career in fashion at the tender age of 13, in true Kimora style. She did not start in a catalogue, or doing local modelling jobs in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri - she went straight to the runways of Paris courtesy of fashion designer and creative genius Karl Lagerfeld. Right out of the gate the biggest honor a model can receive was bestowed on her by the house of CHANEL, she was the finale bride in the 1989 Haute Couture show in Paris. She went on to model for Valentino, Yves St. Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld (his own label), Fendi, Mary McFadden, Susan Lazar, Anna Sui and others.
Fashion has always been part of Kimora's life and over the years she has collected an amazing archive of clothing, accessories and treasures that would make The Metropolitan Museum of Art's costume institute consider an exhibit!
My favorite and in my opinion one of the most impressive fashion treasures is the late Gianni Versace's BED. Not a bed and linens from his home signature collection but HIS bed from the master bedroom from his Miami home (Casa Casuarina). I could not even imagine the energy this piece would bring into one's home. To lay your head where one of histories GREATEST fashion designers slept, worked and possibly cultivated some of his designs is AMAZING.
She also has the largest private collection of Louis Vuitton purses, bags and luggage second only to the house of Louis Vuitton. Not all of it is contemporary either.
She has a large collection of Vintage items such as steamer trunks and the BEST piece: A LV hat box that belonged to the late Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis, complete with hair strands left behind; if that box could talk.
I think her signature bag has to be the Hermes Birkin!
Kimora pictured with a small fraction of her Hermes Birkin bag collection - YES she has one in MAUVE (I LOVE IT) ... and yellow, white, pink, black, orange, green, blue and various shades of brown/tan. It is my personal belief that Hermes should create a custom Birkin named "Kimora": in bright LIME!
I am also aware that her collection of Chanel clothing and accessories is vast, spanning the decades. She has vintage pieces, pieces given to her by Karl Lagerfeld personally and those she has accumulated through purchase. I love the patchwork head band from the Fall 1990/1991 show (As seen on Kimora on the runway). It reminds me of my youth spend watching fashion.
She also loves her classic patchwork bags. She even has a bag that she says “Chanel didn’t even know they had”
(Photo posted by Kimora via Twitter of her closet recently)
She has expressed to me via Twitter her love for Vintage clothing and the history of fashion. Her closet is full of both contemporary and Vintage designer pieces. Her collection is so vast she houses it in two seperate locations, in 2 states! Her "satellite closet" as she calls it is in her house in LA and I suppose the mother ship resides in her New Jersey boudoir.
Then there is her love of shoes! She has 2 closets stuffed with the most sought after, designer shoes. The majority being 4", another not so subtle expression of her "go big or go home" attitude! BRAVO KLS! My favorite item: Custom made and Custom designed pairs Manolo Blahnik's
Can you imagine having a closet like this?
NJ
LA
The 'mother ship' Closet in NJ (shot for InStyle Feature 2007, Life and Home
The 'satellite' closet LA (from her Bluefly Closet Confession)
See Kimora's Closet Confession Here:
Next time Kimora take the camera's to the mother ship and call LisaG when you feel like purging, we wear the same size shoe!
The hit Style network reality show "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane" returns with an ALL NEW SEASON!! Set your DVR's for Sunday January 9th @ 9/8c
I'm looking forward to this season of the show as I have every season BUT this one is extra special as I will be in one of the episodes. You will all have to tune in to see why!
See the trailer for the season HERE:
I have to honestly say that Kimora in person is STUNNING. Seriously have you ever been in the presence of someone and you felt your proverbial "jaw drop"? that's how I felt when Kimora entered the room. She is truly beautiful and exotic.
I also have to also take this opportunity to call bullshit on those folks at Kellwood Corp. (you know the people who purchased Baby Phat from Kimora and Russell Simmons back in 2004). They complained that "It costs thousands of dollars to airbrush her because she's a size 10". Besides the fact that Kellwood is representing sizeism by implying that there is something wrong with being a size 10, I feel compelled to call them out on their unprofessional statement about Kimora's recent departure from Baby Phat. That's right kids: SHE IS NO LONGER WITH BABY PHAT! Kimora herself has never denied the use of airbrushing and I can say from personal experience she is not a size 10. However she would be just as beautiful as a size 16 or at any size. I personally feel that her departure from the Baby Phat brand she created is a creative blessing in disguise for Kimora who is now on the path of evolution. Personal, professional and creative evolution that seems to have no limits for her.
Expect to see a re-launch of her web site http://www.kls.com/ , a new fragrance and much much more to come in 2011. I am interested to see where this Style Maven, Modelling pioneer, Mommy and mogul will go next. Tune in to see my first ride (of many I hope) in the Fab lane and I must say, I really enjoyed it.
You have come a long way baby from the CHANEL runways in the late 1980's (where by the way she made history as the youngest model to grace the catwalk at that time and be the finale bride!).
She and I are contemporaries, she on the catwalk at 14 and me a student of fashion since the tender age of 10 (we are close in age). I remember taping on my VHS machine Kimora on the Chanel runways Spring/Summer 1991. She has a deep history in fashion, can you even imagine being Karl Lagerfeld's MUSE at the age of 14?? or at any age? With her creativity, dedication, kindness, compassion, resources, honesty and take-no-shit attitude the sky is really the limit for Kimora! Love her or hate her there is no denying her true place in the FAB LANE!
When we met in person finally it was as if I have known her for a lifetime. She is very personable, warm, funny, intelligent and no BS ~ Which I LOVE!!
Thanks Kimora for my day in the fab lane, may it be the first of many!
To try a new fragrance this Spring/Summer. Tis the season to stop and smell the proverbial roses, take in the scents and sights now that we have left winter behind. Spring metaphorically represents renewal, change, and romanticism to me. So does trying a new fragrance.
I have recently discovered a new scent to add to my aroma arsenal: Baby Phat's DARE ME by Kimora Lee Simmons. This is the 5th fragrance to join my collection and the 5th created by KLS. It is an interesting concept more of us should adopt, in spring and all seasons.
Her description on the box:
"Dare me is the essence of independence. Life is your runway.. Own the catwalk. Take center stage. You are bold and fearless. You are sexy and smart. Dare to be glamorous. Dare to be edgy. If you can dream it, you can be it. I DARE you."
KIMORA SAYS: “It was extremely important to me that my new fragrance help inspire young women. My goal was to send a strong and very real message about independence and empowerment. In doing so, I wrote an inspirational quote (inscribed on the DARE ME carton) for young women.”
Is this a mantra in a bottle? a spray of confidence perhaps? You be the judge. I think that it is uplifting, inspiring and FABULOUS - XO Women young and old need more messages like this!!
It's packaging is bright and pretty and the price is right. The collection includes:
Eau de Toilette 1.0 oz / 30ml $28.00
Eau de Toilette 0.5 oz / 15ml $17.00
Eau de Toilette Travel Size $12.99
I love the jeweled cap: VERY KIMORA!
The Scent it's self in my opinion is Floral Flirty Fun! I am partial to citrus scents but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. There are fruity undertones and the floral scents are not overwhelming but subtle and clean.
The Scent Specifics:
Top Notes: Magnolia & Coconut Milk & Neroli
Mid Notes: Honeysuckle Nectar, Blackberry Crème & Red Vinella Orchid
Bottom notes: Crème de Musk and Sandalwood
Give it a try if you DARE. I really like it. However I have to honestly say that it is my 2nd favourite KLS fragrance right behind "Fabulosity" which is always in heavy aromatic rotation in my daily routine.
Where to get/sample DARE ME?
It is widely available in the US & CANADA at the following locations (which include but are not limited to)USA: Walgreens, Target, Kohl's, Walmart, Sears, Rite*Aide, K-Mart & CAN: Shoppers Drug Mart, Zellers (Sears/Walmart)
for more about the Baby Phat fragrance line visit: http://www.babyphatfragrances.com/
FOLLOW Baby Phat for daily chances to win your very own bottle of DARE ME, but be prepared to be bold and participate in their daily dare:
www.twitter.com/babyphat
AND
FOLLOW Kimora on Twitter for your daily does of virtual Fabulosity:
