WICKED WEDNESDAY: Inspiration - Victoria Beckham on October 2009 Elle Cover

Victoria Beckham is ravishing on the October 2009 cover of Elle magazine.

As we give our last hoorah for summer on Labor Day weekend, what a pleasure it is to see bright yellow and bare shoulders in the forecasted cold sun of the coming months. We are our own solar panels, with an inner sun making it plausible, and possible to comfortably exist sans shirt, much less a cozy sweater. That may be just as likely as posing for an international fashion mag cover, and looking haute doing it. International is nothing new for Victoria, and neither is being daring or against the grain. My interpretation is Victoria is shielding her eyes from less inspiring style on the horizon, and with assertive hands on hips, refusing to stop wearing her signature garment: short dresses, tight dresses, strapless dresses, embellished and flamboyantly assorted in hue, therefore encouraging every reader to follow suit.

I thought about this cover as I unpacked my seasonal clothing, and put away the summer threads. My wardrobe is packed more tightly than usual, as a section of small, sexy dresses carve out their year round spot in the closet. I haven't sorted this out with my legs and shoulders yet, but the rest of me thinks this is a smashing idea. Here are a few looks I love, inspired by fierce Victoria, that I believe (and hope!) will produce warmth AND vibrant sex appeal.

MAKE-UP INSPIRATION:

LOOKS I LOVE!!

Hussein Chalayan, Strapless Printed Corset Dress, $1269, www.brownsfashion.com

Rock & Republic, Nika, $299, couture.zappos.com

Jason Wu, Beaded Dress, $4907, www.brownsfashion.com

Alexander McQueen, $1494, couture.zappos.com

Cheers!

Tee

TUESDAY MUSIC SCENE:Trey Songz is "Ready"

Trey Songz killed it at his BET 106th & Park performance, with new music from his third album "Ready" which dropped today, Tuesday, September 1st. Opening to a screaming crowd with "LOL" (which features Gucci Mane, and Soulja Boy)Trey confidently runs on stage flashing a confident smile. With ease and flair he relates the tale of a two lovers using technology to hook up. Dudes are swaying in the crowd; girls are singing every line. The beat transitions into a a slower groove for "I Need A Girl". The screaming gets louder, arms grow exponentially longer to reach for Trey from the front row. He closes the song with the question: "How many of you want to be successful?!". He begins singing about risk-taking, dreaming, and believing in self. Trey relates his third song with a bit more passion and conviction. "Successful", his current radio hit has the crowd's fingers pointed up as they sing along.

Yuppppp Medley 106 Live

It's great seeing an artist as talented, and hard-working as Trey Songz release another album. Especially after one of my favorite joints "I Can't Help But Wait" got nominated for a Grammy in 2008 (Best Make R&B Vocal Performance), a song about a woman who struggles to see beauty and worth in herself, I couldn't wait to see how Trey would innovate to make the industry see his true worth as an extremely talented, committed & well-poised artist.



My personal favorites are "Successful", "Hollalude/Holla If You Need Me" and it's hard to admit but "LOL" has me hooked - makes me want to send my boo twitpics...lol :-). I would LOVE to hear "Black Roses" in a mash up with a live rock band - thoughts? To hear Trey's new album, visit his site at: www.treysongz.com/album/ready

Hot Song from Trey Day (2007): "Missing You"

Hot Choreo from Ladelle (2008): "Missing You"


New Video from Ready (2009): "I Need A Girl"

Cheers,
Tee

CASE OF THE MONDAYS:Shades Please

It's Monday, and I'm looking for my shades.
My eyes are swollen, it still feels like Sunday night, I passed out to an infomercial at 2AM on the couch. Whatever time you decide to drag yourself out of bed, you can pull off a polished, pulled-together look with a pair of deceptively beautiful sunglasses. Enjoy some classic escape games to pass the time. It's almost 5PM.

Wear these:


And play these:

"Escape The Car"

"Escape The Phone Booth"

"Escape The Closet"

On the first day of the work week, it's a lot easier to focus on one task at a time, although Mondays tend to require the exact opposite. Arguably, concentration on a puzzle that requires memory & logic increases efficiency at work. Or it increases efficiency at playing the next game. I vote for another game, so I added three for you to play with. For more fun, take on the "rooms" at www.fasco-csc.com
Relax, the day is almost over.

Cheers,
Tee

WEEKEND DIARY: American Rock N Roll

We are obsessing over American Rock N Roll. It's for the chic that wears Diesel seven days a week, leather cuffs, ripped tights, sequins, cutoffs in December and a partial buzz cut. For the last 2 years I haven't been alone, with idol-following growing stronger for Rihanna's hair moods, chic-grunge runway shows, and the recycled romance with Doc Marten's.
I'd like to say I was raised a tom-boy, but I didn't own a pair of jeans until I was 10. However I'll happily be a late bloomer - it took about 200 years for America to birth & embrace the spirit of Rock.

5th Avenue:Uptown Girl
Loving this stylebook from Elle.com:


West Broadway:Dippin' Downtown
Loving this stylebook from Shopstyle.com:

Cheers,
Tee

FREAKIN' IT FRIDAY: Fall Belongs to the Pants-less

Face it, they are passe. High-waist or low, cropped or not, buttons or zippers, flat-front, skinny or flood, they are your PANTS, and we're tired of them. Throw 'em out in the new season, and celebrate the pandemic appeal of PANTS-lessness.

HOT LEGGINGS
Sequins, studs & slashes. Leather, mesh & denim. How do you rock your leggings? Check it out at www.shopbop.com.


I WANT THIS NOW!!!
Michael Angel's collection takes us to a plane of inspired existence. The glint of frigid snowfall, or tungsten igniting a saturated blue-violet, these leggings are at the level of absolutes, where cold meets heat, and the effect is indistinguishable to the human senses. Rock on Michael.


Shiny Nylon Tricot, $220, www.michaelangelshop.net



Shiny Nylon Tricot, $220, www.michaelangelshop.net



Nylon Mesh, $180, www.michaelangelshop.net



Nylon Mesh, $180, www.michaelangelshop.net

Cheers,
Tee

THURSDAY FASHION REPORT: Fall 2009 Boots

September is approaching, and with it, the latest and greatest in nouveau Fall fashion. Fall is a time of year that makes me think of Macintosh apples, pumpkin patches, crisp breezes and family get-togethers. And then I think of thick sweaters, tragically unflattering layers, and the underwhelming wash of somber neutrals. Sigh.

Every August I wonder if the fashion gods will grace the shelves with something...well anything that simultaneously expresses style, is cutting edge, and keeps me warm. While I wait for the shorter days and cooler nights to hit, I dream a little dream about fall fashion that delivers the hotness at every price point: BOOTS. Fall Boots can add sex appeal to a blah outfit, set the tone for an entire wardrobe, add inspiration for accessories, and inspire daring new style direction. Fall BOOTS baby...they are back!

Not to be outdone by the flirty, care-free style of summer days, there are plenty of designers who want to keep the fun going, with daring colors, buckles, HIGH heels, peeptoes & cutouts. This week, enjoy a selection of my new favorite BOOTIES - you can be sure to turn heads and bring the Sexy in any of these eye-popping styles.



Cheers,
Tee