Serena Williams Partners with HSN to Launch New Line

s: Lipstick Alley/Jamd

Serena has had her share of fashion hits and misses over the year but the budding clothing designer definitely loves making an impression off the court as well as on. Her first collection, called Aneres, launched in 2004 and now a new line, called Signature Statement, will debut on the HSN network on April 30th.

According to WWD, the items will retail from about $30 to $100 and includes a range of jewelry, handbags and knitwear. Williams herself was quoted in the article sharing that "one of [her] dreams has always been to share gorgeous gifts of fashion and luxury with the world."

Hopefully for Serena, this deal will be as lucrative as past HSN partnerships with Iman and Paula Abdul.

Liya Kebede to becomes J. Crew "exclusive"

The Ethiopian model and J. Crew creative directory Jenna Lyons have struck up a partnership that will see Kebede become the first model to be the exclusive face of a J. Crew catalog. The deal also allows J. Crew to carry a selection of Kebede's handmade children's clothing line, Lemlem (which is made in Ethiopia.) The line and the catalog will be available in April.

Source: IMG, TFS/fer19dog

Selita Ebanks in Balmain Fall 2008

I like the way the dress is presented on the runway but the look just doesn't translate well on Selita in my opinion. I could see Naomi pulling this one off so maybe it belongs on the body of a rock star or someone with a little more attitude. Do you love it or hate it?

Source: TFS/Fashiongirl_22

DSquared2 Eyewear Ad (Tyson Beckford and Linda Evangelista)

I don't usually have much to say about male models but this eye wear ad from DSquared2 really demands some special attention doesn't it?

There's been a lot written about the tendency of some in the industry to fetishize and glamourize violence against women in fashion. While it may be easier for some to write off ads that depict women fighting each other (as in DS2's clothing ads with Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista,) adding a man to the mix changes the tone abruptly.

I mean, I don't even know what to say about this one except, what was everyone involved thinking? I look at DS2's "sexy" domestic violence and wonder what the target audience is. I guess being controversial for the sake of being controversial is the low budget way of generating press in a bad economy.

Peek at Arlenis Sosa ad for Lancome

What can I say, except that she looks gorgeous and I can't wait to see the rest of the campaign. Anyone ever use Lancome products? I seem to remember trying one of their Color ID foundations a few years back but not being impressed enough to buy it.

Source: Dominican Fashion Models

French Revue de Modes #14 - Mia Aminata Niaria

Shiny.

ETA: More featured models from the issue. Apparently there are multiple covers, all shot by Thierry Le Gouès, including one with Arlenis Sosa that has yet to surface online. I have two of Theirry's photography books and I really admire his work but I just don't get the super shiny "slaves toiling under a hot sun" look many photographers and stylistist seem to love on dark skin. It goes way beyond dewy to my eye. I just hope that for Mia's sake there were some towels on the set floor to keep her from slipping under all that body oil.





S: TFS/ONTDfashinfags

Vogue - April 2009 - Beyonce by Mario Testino

She's no Michelle Obama but love her or hate her, Beyonce is probably the top pop star in the world right now and certainly deserves to be on Vogue's cover more than some of the recent cover subjects. Her fashion choices aren't always my favorites but she has taken a few risks here and there that I can appreciate. I also have no complaints about this photo, she looks beautiful and is working that gorgeous blue gown.

I can't even comment on Anna having back to back covers with black women. My jaw, she is on the floor.


S: Rock the Trend, TFS, Lipstick Alley

Amber Rose in Alexander McQueen

She's not a celebrity per se but men's magazine model Amber Rose has been getting a lot of attention since she hooked up with Kanye West and received a complete image makeover in the process.

Here she wears two pieces from Alexander McQueen's 2009 resort line. While I think the clutch is a bit of overkill, I do like the look overall. I just think it's fun and with the weather still dreary where I live, it's nice to see a little (okay, a lot) of color mixed in with basic black. This ensemble literally screams "look at the arm candy!"

I also admit to being a sucker for women with super short hair. I love a baldie.

s: TFS/fashiongirl22, style, dlisted

Essence: Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, and Iman

That's a lot of pink.

While I will say that it is nice to see a few unexpected faces on the cover of Essence, I still think it would have been nice to feature Taraji P. Henson (or Viola Davis) alone on the cover. It's been proven a thousand issues over that Essence just hates to put new faces on their covers. I guess this issue is their way of getting credit for three so that next month they can go back to business as usual and split the year between Jada, Halle, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige and maybe Mo'nique.

I haven't seen this one on the stands yet. I wonder if it contains their annual "Black Don't Crack" feature.

Out of curiosity, who would be your top choice to appear on the cover of Essence Magazine?

s: Lipstick Alley

Glamour's Salute to American Icons

For their 70th anniversary issue, Glamour magazine enlisted a few celebrities to recreate the images of iconic women. I'm not sure if these particular celebs are the first ones that would have come to my mind if I were charged with pulling this shoot together but the photos are nice enough. You can see the rest of them here.



Not only is Obama the first African American filling the position, but she’s already making best-dressed headlines for a style that ranges from couture to J.Crew. Raised in Chicago, Obama, 45, powered on to Princeton and Harvard Law School before beginning a career during which she met, mentored and married our current President. Hail to our newest smart, opinionated, chic First Lady!

“She has worked hard for everything she’s accomplished, and done so with grace and humility. So many women and girls can identify with her story.”—Alicia Keys, 28, whose most recent album is As I Am



After years of playing segregated tennis, the late Althea Gibson tore down the color barrier of competition in 1950, when, at age 23, she became the first African American to compete in major U.S. championships—and, in 1957, the first to win Wimbledon. In her crisp whites, “the Jackie Robinson of tennis,” as she was known, won 11 major titles.

“She showed women…you can be sweaty, be gorgeous and do a great job.”—Chanel Iman, 19, cohost of MTV’s House of Style



As an aspiring singer, Holiday suffered sexual abuse, struggled with a drug habit and encountered racism everywhere. But the late Lady Day—one of the first African American women to sing with an all-white orchestra—translated all of that pain into some of the most achingly personal songs ever recorded. (Download “Strange Fruit,” which she sang at her 1948 Carnegie Hall concert, and listen for yourself.)

“You can imagine that women at home hearing her songs on the radio felt her vocalizing their emotions and their struggles.”—Paula Patton, 33, of the upcoming drama Push, wearing Holiday’s trademark gardenia in her hair