To Zoe or not to Zoe... I Zoe!

Are you kidding me? A contest with Rachel Zoe as the prize! I D-I-E!! Even if you don't appreciate what she does (I do) or just don't like her (I do) check out the goods:

A $10,000 grand prize consisting of:
- A three-day stay at the glamorous Roosevelt Hotel for you and a friend.
- Roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles for two.
- Transportation to and from the airport, and to meet Rachel.
- $2,000 each towards a shopping spree at Rachel’s favorite spots.
- $500 each towards Piperlime shoes.

It starts TODAY and ends Jan. 25, 2009. I've already entered, here's your chance!

Note to self: "Is there too much fashion?" (Gasp)

I can remember a time when you could clearly pick the 'Its' from the 'Nots'. You know, the girls that had IT, that innate fashion sense - they knew how to put it together, your salivary glands became happy (in an inspired way). I'm not just talking about glamming it up. They took a look and made it their own, whatever it was, it was signature. Cut to... 2007, fashion is everywhere! Gift or curse? Wherever the eye can see, 'she' is begging to make THE statement, sometimes only clear to her (sorry honey). What did it? What got us here? Was it Sex in the City, pop tart music videos, Mary Kate & Ashley or just accessibility?? Think H&M, Forever21 - Steve & Barry's or any mall store. It's cheap, it's cute, sometimes really nice! Giving options to those that didn't have them before. Some come off funky, others, I must tip my hat (get'em girl!) and then there are those who, well.... Too many looks, not enough mirror time??? You might growl "Live and let live", let them have their expressive fun! 'WHATEV!!'.

I'd say some 'rules of thumb' must be applied. Here are a few we here at SSFF have picked up along the way:
a. *Too much top, no no bottom* - meaning, if you've got the girls/twins/jewels on display, keep the lower extremities simple, conservative even. You'll surely win chic, sophisticated points.
b. *Stay in your lane!* - Ok, classic chic meets punk rocka girl meets ghetto-fabu = A HOT MESS. Pick one element and build around it. If you're second guessing, TAKE IT OFF.
c. *Fleshy? Be flat" - You've seen her, you don't want to be THAT girl. If you are going short and have more skin than fabric... Wear flats, heels raise the sex barometer. Be sexy, not slutty - please.

So I ask you, is there too much Fashion? Carrie???

De-constructing Lauryn, nah let's Re-construct her!

If you're like me, the mere hint of "Oooo ooo ooo ooooooo" on the radio followed by that drop of the drums/horns combo in 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' had the hairs on the back of your neck rockin' to that beat.





We LOVED Lauryn Hill! She could do no wrong. The gear, the beautiful locks, the mega watt smile! You could offer nothing but praise. That's just the aesthetics, get to the music and oh my, you could find yourself in any one of those tracks. The way she flowed, the lyrics - the voice that gave you chills in 'Ex-Factor', 'How in the hell did she get into my Diary??' you asked... I know for myself, personally, I listened to that CD so many times, I knew every breath, pause, ad-lib - backwards and forwards.

The point being - WE ALL ADORED L-BOOGIE! She was rocking the jeans (had the deal w/ Levi's) with the hot boots, whatever it was - it was stylish, it was sexy, it was fresh and didn't you try to run out and uuh, not copy (wink) the look but rather be inspired by it?? Mmmhmmm, we all did.

So -pause- let's all hold hands and take a moment for our Sister Lauryn (sigh). Aaah, look at her! This is LAURYN, as I remember.



Uh - so beautiful, effortless almost enviable (never envy!) - so, where did it take a really hard left? Cut to - oh I don't know pick whatever recent pic you've seen. If you haven't, unless you're hiding under all the papers in your closet that you need to shred or file, then you've at least heard about her new 'image'.

LET ME SAY RIGHT HERE: This is not 'lets bash Lauryn' fest and there's no hate by any measure. I just want to understand, somebody - please, help me understand!! To get from point A to B, there's a path a journey that leads you there - how did Lauryn get here??



HELP ME UNDERSTAND!

This if Fiyyah!

THE Icon-setters!!

Styles to be had... Whetting your appetite!