Look of the Day: Solange Knowles' Candy Coated Style

Beyonce's little sister has serious style moxie. We'd normally expect to see Solange Knowles in something a little zanier, but her sweet yellow dress at Tiffany's True Love in Pictures launch struck the perfect balance between creative and relatable.

Sure, it's January, and generally pastels are saved for spring (especially this Easter candy palette). But I love rule-breakers, and Solange warmed up a sea of muted hues with her pops of color.

Another reason to track her fashion choices: She loves to shine a light on lesser-known designers. The fashion renegade paired her purple Fendi sandals with this pleated Christopher Kane dress. Perfection!

article via StyleBistro
picture via Getty Images

Nicki Minaj Talks Beauty in February 'Elle'

Nicki Minaj, wearer of brightly-colored wigs and even brighter makeup, talks shop in the latest issue of Elle. The kaleidoscopic star offers up some cosmetic tips and tricks and chats about some of her favorite products.

With all the multicolored bells and whistles, the most high-maintenance part of Nicki's style is creating her intensely defined eyes. While she loves a bold look she revealed, "they're the one thing I need my makeup artist to do. I don't have the patience...so my makeup artist has to do my brows and lids and lashes."

Nicki is a self-proclaimed "lash girl" and confessed she feels naked without her falsies. She told Elle, "I used to wear the individual lashes, but those became so time-consuming...so my makeup artist has been experimenting with cutting lash strips in half and piling them on top of each other."

Her best makeup tip: Instead of applying an undereye concealer, she uses a lighter shade of foundation and also uses it to contour her nose. Nicki loves M.A.C. Pro Longwear foundation for both her face and legs. She advised, "If you change your makeup a lot and want coverage without wearing something heavy, put that one on. It's really lightweight."

Speaking of changing makeup frequently, we were curious how Nicki still managed to keep her skin looking flawless. Her secret is to take her makeup off before going to bed and use a classic product like Dove Deep Moisturize Beauty Bar to wash her face.

article via StyleBistro
picture via Getty Images

Featured Designer :: BellaDonna Hand Bags

Every woman knows, or should know the power of the handbag. The handbag serves as more than accessory, it’s a statement piece about the woman toting it. From stars all over the globe taking to coveted bags such as Birkin, Chanel, or Alexander Wang to everyday working women pushing their dollars to keep up with the Kardashians, the Jones’ no longer have enough money. Women have always searched high and low for the best hand bags, and now we’ve found them.

Budding designer, Sonique O’Neal (pictured above) of Albany State University in Albany, GA recently sat down with me to discuss her very own hand bag line, under the monicker “BellaDonna Hand Bags”. Sonique’s handbags fuze together power colors, in fashion forward prints and textures, while maintaining their handbag functionality.

Make sure you check Sonique out at www.BellaDonnaHB.com or follow her on twitter for more information on how to snag your own bag at @DamierHippie or via the store page, @BellaDonnaHB.

Check out the interview, and more pictures below!!

What’s the name of the clothing line?? 
The name of my clothing line is BellaDonna Handbags

Who are the main people in this “Group” or are you Solo?? 
I am a solo artist and designer.

What was your inspiration to start a handbag line?? 
I actually started my handbag line on accident. I made a handbag just to have for myself and people began to be attracted to my work. After so much attention I began to make more bags and eventually I began to sell them for profit.

That must have been an interesting feeling?? 
Yes it really was. I felt like I had a gold mine in my hands.

What kind of pieces center around the line?? 
Most of my pieces consist of clutches, totes, and book bags.

Who do you collaborate with to come up with design ideas?? 
Honestly I come up with my designs by myself. I love to get ideas from movies or from my community. I enjoy nature as well. I get inspired from other people’s energy.

Is there a target audience?? 
My target audience ironically is young adults and senior citizens. I am still working on the middle age adults.

Where do you see this line within the next 3 years?? 
In the next three years I hope to have either sold my brand to a major company or be in a major department store. That would be the ultimate dream!

Do you have a website?? 
Yes I do have a website; you can visit us at www.BellaDonnaHB.com

Are you planning or in any Fashion Shows?? Or maybe just a showcase?? 
I have a few fashion shows planned for the spring. I also might have a trunk show coming up very soon.

Amy Winehouse's Family Unhappy Over Jean Paul-Gaultier Couture Collection

The inspiration behind Jean-Paul Gaultier's latest couture collection was crystal clear on Wednesday: Models strutted down the runway with shiny beehive wigs atop their heads, with black liquid eyeliner heartily-applied in a familiar cat-eye fashion. It was all an obvious nod to the late Amy Winehouse, from the boyish pinstripes to the cigarettes some models dangled from their lips.

The collection's reviews were notably mixed. The New York Times' Cathy Horyn appreciated the ease with which Gaultier "evoked [Winehouse's] chaotic essence in a marvelous show, while WWD noted that the show "felt at best ill-advised: a young woman who died tragically less than a year ago the fodder for an oh-so-feisty fashion show."

Unfortunately for Mr. Gaultier, who gushed about Winehouse's "fashion icon" status at the show, Amy's family wasn't impressed by the spectacle. Winehouse's father, Mitch, tweeted Thursday, "We don't support the Jean Paul Galtier collection. It's in bad taste."

Winehouse fans seeking a family-approved sartorial homage to the late chanteuse are better off perusing Amy's last collection for British clothier Fred Perry (it's much more affordable than couture, anyway).

article via StyleBistro
picture via Getty Images

I personally love what Gaultier did with his collection. I thought it was a great nod to Amy Winehouse, for what she was, and what she could have been.

Nike Air Foamposite One - Metallic Red | 2.4

The Foamposite always a big hit here at Wish this time dropping in a vibrant metallic red just in time for the upcoming Valentines Day with a release date of February 4th. The shoe mock up is an all metallic red with the lace area and tongue being blacked out. To finish it off the heel is hit with the Penny Hardaway logo and the translucent sole with a carbon fiber arch inlay makes this Foamposite one for the books. So ladies if you were wondering what to do for your man this year this just might be your solution! A release date is slated for February 4th through our Moreland Ave shop.

No pre-orders or holds will be allowed in advance and will be carrying a retail price-tag of $220 USD. Phone orders will be welcome after 5:00pm EST on the day of the release by calling extension #2 at 404.880.0402.

article & pictures via WiSHatl

Rihanna to Star in New Fashion-Based Reality Show

RiRi is set to launch a fashion-based reality show (á la Project Runway) with British network Sky Living. According to reps, the style-based show "will celebrate the extraordinary talent and creativity in the British fashion scene."

Get ready to see some over-the-top pieces, as the aspiring designers will be competing to produce stage outfits for a variety of celebrities and musicians over a 10-week period. The finalists may be missing out on the opportunity to show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, but the grand prize is shaping up to be a pretty sweet deal. The winner will design Rihanna's stage costume for her highly anticipated performance at Hyde Park in July 2012.

Known for her eclectic style, Rihanna said, "I've always had a great love of fashion. It's a constant source of inspiration in my life, and is a big reason why I've grown into the person and artist I am today. I am excited to follow the journey of our aspiring contestants and see how their individuality influences their efforts during the course of the show."

In a surprising twist, RiRi will not serve as host of the show. The pop star will instead serve as executive producer, meaning she will be involved in casting, editing, post-production and the occasional guest judge appearance. She's tapped Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts to host the show.

article via StyleBistro
picture via Getty Images

Fashion Forecast: Shoulder Exposure

Fashion's sexy focal point is ceaselessly shifting. The moment it tires of one zone it moves onto a fresh new show of bare skin. The power of the deep-plunge continues to resonate into another season, extending the sternum's glory moment for a while longer. Spring 2012, however, brought two new hot spots to our attention: the upper abs and shoulders. Let's direct our attention towards the one we can all embrace.

This off-the-shoulder trend has an alluring carefree effect—a quiet, innocent, almost accidental come-hither charm. It's feminine with a naughty twist, a style even your boyfriend will love (but let's not pretend your fashion choices revolve around him). Sure, this sort of shoulder exposure is nothing new, but it has been perfected by today's top designers and red carpet savvy celebs. It's officially time to brush your shoulders off.

Mila Kunis heated things up at the Friends With Benefits premiere in this saucy Lanvin number. A simple little red dress was taken up a notch with these seductive shoulder-grazing straps. Her smoldering stare didn't hurt either.

Rodarte became a household name after their renowned costume designs for The Black Swan, but their talents don't stop with feathers and tutus. The Mulleavy sisters' Spring 2012 collection countered their darkly dramatic past with colorful airy pieces. They embarked on loads of shoulder-display, one of their most girlish designs already gracing the red carpet on young Elle Fanning.

Diane Kruger can wear anything and look positively divine—and she often puts this to the test (like recently with her not-so-graceful Chanel number). Forever one of of Karl's darlings, she pulled off this pale pink bow-adorned Couture design for an AIDS benefit in Paris, revealing that even her collar bones are fab.

It's only a matter of time: This Marchesa dress and Lea Michele have a date with destiny. The label is famous for their extravagant frivolities, but their soft elegance is what makes red carpet magic. Remeber Anne Hathaway's crimson mousseline masterpiece at the Oscars?

The brilliance of Minka Kelly's Vivienne Westwood dress is that it gives the illusion that the straps have merely slipped off her shoulders. Actually, that's the genius in all of Westwood's designs: the juxtaposition of haphazardly draped fabric on corseted bodices.

Zac Posen may be famous for his mermaid silhouettes, but for Spring the designer drew attention upward in a most romantic clavicle exposé. Old Hollywood met Pride and Prejudice for this ladylike soiree.

This trend isn't just for fanciful dressers. Case in point: Kate Bosworth (one of Hollywood's most modern sartorialists) in Calvin Klein (the reigning king of minimalism). Who would have imagined a nude sheath could be so darn provocative. Red lipstick does get some credit.

Luca Luca's Raul Melgoza conveyed the vigor of Bianca Jagger's '70s style in his latest runway show. His playfully pleated sapphire design was a favorite due to its bluntly horizontal neckline.

Katy Perry's gold lamè dress at the Grammy Nominations Concert was actually quite demure on the KP wacky scale. Once you get past the entrancing shine, the cut of the Georges Chakra piece is quite exquisite.

Oscar de la Renta covered all sorts of high-fashion ground at his Spring 2012 show. Need a gown for that lavish fairy tale ball you'll be attending? Or a Barbie-approved pencil skirt for work? Perhaps a gauzy wind-blown ensemble perfect for running through a meadow? Then Oscar is your man. He fills our fantasy closet with timeless looks that don't refrain from showing a little shoulder, err, skin.

article via StyleBistro
pictures via StyleBistro | Getty Images

Fashion Forecast: Potent Pastels [Trend Alert]

There's no better indication of fashion's changing mood than color. For Spring 2012, harsh primaries were ousted, leaving two new palettes to try: citrus hues on one end of the spectrum and soft pastels on the other. The muted pinks, yellows, blues and greens give an aura of tranquility with an underlying youthful kick.

Many of our favorite celebrity style enthusiasts have lead the way with whimsical feathered dresses like Sarah Jessica Parker or minimalist statement pieces like Kate Bosworth. Try your hand at the sweetly subdued trend with some inspiration from the runway and red carpet.

Amber Heard doesn't need a steamy red gown to heat things up (although, clearly, it doesn't hurt). Her sex appeal is equally impactful in this Calvin Klein sheath dress, giving us fair-skinned gals the go-ahead to wear blush. Let's overlook the shoe selection and pretend she wore these.

Marc Jacobs' brilliance is far-reaching. Simply look to his three collections to get a sneak peek of what you will soon see everywhere (and inevitably be sick of) come next season. For the Louis Vuitton spring collection, the design mastermind made every little girl's dreamworld a reality. An ivory carousel, fanciful umbrellas, wispy feathers, eyelet dresses and (of course) pretty pastels made up the designer's fantasy land.

Generally the go-to designer for classic evening and bridal wear, sporty mesh and sheer skirts were the last thing expected on the Vera Wang runway. While there are many of us who are still scratching our heads—how, exactly, do you wear a futuristic cutout running jacket?—the delicious candy colors are easy to get behind.

Rachel Bilson has a loyal following due to her charming street style, but her red carpet looks also carry a sweet allure. This feathery Chanel design, for example, took command of the pastel trend while still playfully capturing her aesthetic.

Philip Lim gave us a cool dose of creamy sherbet and icy lemon flavors for his spring line. The forever-hip designer translated downtown-chic into sugary tints of silky trousers, lax blazers and airy blouses that promise to not give you a toothache.

While out running errands in New York, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley was spotted in a spearmint Chloe skirt. The shin-length style may not work on all girls but the low-key blue is a subtle way to infuse color into a daytime look.

Spring for Preen meant cupcake colors placed on crisp pencil skirts and slacks. Pastel checkers proved the color palette's statement-making potential. The versatility of the shades is clear: Play it coy in lavender capris or make your look pop with peach and canary. But maybe leave the baby blue crop-top to the professionals.

via StyleBistro
pictures via Zimbio

In-Store Shoe SALE at WiSH !!

As the colder days come to an end soon, we have no choice but to move some winter styles out the door and make room for upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 footwear and apparel. Starting tomorrow January 25th, we'll be running a special in-store shoe and apparel sale. There's a grip of styles now available at our Moreland Ave. store for price points of $19, $29, $39, 30% Off, 50% Off and 70% Off!

You can scoop styles from Nike, adidas, Jordan, Alife, Clae, Vans, Pro-Keds, Keds, Huf, Crooks & Castles, 10 DEEP, Publish, Mishka, Edwin Denim and more! Sizing is limited, but there is plenty to choose from. We got your back, so stop and take advantage of these awesome deals before your homie does!

via WiSH Atlanta

Basketball Wives’ Evelyn Lozada For MAXIM

Evelyn Lozada is taking her empire far beyond ‘Basketball Wives.’ She and fiance Chad Ochocinco just showed some skin for Urban Ink magazine and may be getting ready for their own reality show. She also plans to release her first book (loosely based on her life as a ‘basketball girlfriend’) Inner Circle: The Wives Association through Cash Money’s Publishing Company, and she even endorsed Secret Kisses cosmetics for a hot minute (-_-). Maxim has now jumped on the E-Lo bandwagon and has featured her in their magazine with Celebuzz having a sneak peek into her photoshoot:

“Evelyn Lozada is turning out to become one of the hottest reality stars on the scene and everyone is taking notice. She is absolutely gorgeous and we had an awesome time shooting her.”

Dressed in a little black bathing suit and a lace gray bra, Evelyn called the photoshoot “truly exhilarating”:

“I was so thrilled and honored to shoot with Maxim magazine! This was one of the most professional and best shoots I’ve ever had.”

Even though Evelyn will soon be a football wife, she and the girls will be back bringing all the drama on the new season of ‘Basketball Wives’ premiering February 20.

via: NecoleBitchie | Maxim | CelebBuzz