Beyonce Covers Ebony Magazine

I know I'm late with this but I just had to post these pics of Beyonce looking "Sasha Fierce" on the upcoming issue of Ebony magazine. I always loved Beyonce with the big, curly and bouncy hair - makes for a refreshing change, although she looks great however she wears her hair. I love how Ebony covers are always on point. I haven't seen them make anyone look bad yet... Exhibit A & Exhibit B.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji Henson arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere of 'Eagle Eye' at the Mann's Grauman Chinese Theatre on September 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

First of all I have to congratulate Ms. Henson on a phenomenal year, especially the last couple of months. She will always be known as an "Academy-nominated" actress. The rising star has shone on both the big screen and the red carpet and it's about time she got the attention she deserves. I picked this red carpet style to spotlight because I recently bought a slightly shorter version of this dress online and was pleasantly surprised to learn that Taraji wore it late last year. The ruffles and v-shaped slit at the front make this dress another fail-safe staple for any party girl's wardrobe. See below for tips on how to steal this look.

Steal Taraji's Style

Above: Ruffle-Sleeve Sheath Dress, $49.50, www.alloy.com

Heels: Nine West Rocha, $59.99, www.piperlime.com

Clutch: Faceted Square Clutch, $16.80, www.forever21.com

Bangles: Gold Metal Bangle Set, $40, www.topshop.com

This is Alloy.com's cheaper (and very good quality) alternative to Taraji's Black Halo ruffle dress which is currently selling for $345 at Saks Fifth Avenue. I have this dress and whenver I wear it people compliment me. It is VERY flattering on women with curves and the material is stretchy. It fits like a Herve Leger dress - which is saying something! Pair this dress with statement jewelry and killer heels for a show-stopping look!

Two Years

I was going to give an explanation for today's casual outfit, but then I realized two things: 1) today is the 2-year anniversary of Fashion Trend Guide, and 2) some people just look at the images on my site and it's painfully obvious from their comments and questions that they're not reading the text. (If you can't read English, however, then this is OK.) In light of these two facts I'm going to

In A Red Vest

A stroll through Forever 21 revealed this surprisingly bold faux leather vest. With epaulettes, fringe, and an eye-catching crimson color, it's not something I'd imagined myself wearing. Upon first seeing it, I was intrigued, and wondered if it came in black (which it didn't). After silently debating the merits and drawbacks of wearing such a cheerful and bold hue, I decided to buy it. Pieces

The Adobe Aesthetic

To feed my budding curiosity about residential architecture and design, I went on a brief architectural tour of town. It's fascinating to see the blend of historic architectural styles with the new buildings that dominate my suburban landscape. My favorite houses are always the late 19th century Queen Anne Victorians, with their ornate woodwork, charming gables, and wraparound porches. Luckily,

Smitten With Studs

It was love at first sight when I spotted these complicated yet comfortable heels online. In my book, an array of studded straps, a cone-shaped four inch heel, a back zip entry, and a half inch platform equal perfection. When I saw that they didn't have my size, I searched high and low until I found them on a competitor's website. I have a feeling these will quickly become my favorites to pair

What Say We?... Yay or Nay

Estelle arrives for the Brit Awards 2009 at Earls Court on February 18, 2009 in London, England.

What do we think? I'm on the proverbial fence. While on the one hand I adore the shape of this dress, puffy sleeves and all, on the other I think there may be a little too much "detail" on there. She looks like a christmas tree that was decorated by a bunch of hyperactive toddlers coming off a sugar high. I will let it slide this time. Afterall she is wearing fab heels. YAY!!

Special Request

I know this is kind of random, but I saw these New Look sequin trousers in a British magazine and gasped. They're one part harem and one part disco with a dash of sportiness that feels so right for spring. Even better, they're on sale for £20 on New Look's website. The only problem is that New Look doesn't ship to the U.S., so if there are any U.K. readers out there who'd like to take on the

New Shoes

Every fashion-obsessed girl knows that footwear can make or break an outfit. As a lifelong lover and collector of boots, I can certainly attest to this. As stores unveil their new spring shoes and offer more warm weather styles, I can't help but lust after a few more pairs that would update my wardrobe perfectly. Some key trends to look for when choosing some new shoes this season are:exotic

My Foam Phase

Foam magazine has caught my eye upon many visits to the periodicals section at Barnes & Noble, but I never actually brought one to the cash register until last week. The February/March 2009 issue features model-and-surfer-turned-designer Erin Wasson on the cover.Although the Orange County-based magazine is geared towards female surfers, its "Flotsam & Jetsam" editorials were surprisingly more

The Wang Bandwagon

At the risk of being like practically everyone else in the fashion world and hopping aboard the Alexander Wang bandwagon, I've developed an affinity for slouchy tees and soft sweatpants...and I'm not ashamed of it. I'm sold on the idea that seemingly casual sportswear pieces can be sexy when worn with the right footwear. To me, it's the kind of effortless look that says "I just came from the gym

The Traveling Peacoat

If you're wondering why I haven't updated in almost a week, it's due to a brief bout of disillusionment with the fashion blogosphere and a lack of creative inspiration. It seems like everyone and their daughter/cousin/sister/niece has a fashion blog these days, and frankly, when something becomes this pervasive, it feels like time to stay ahead of the crowd and move on to the next big thing...So

Artistic AYA Happy Hour

On Friday, February 13th, while NYC designers vie for the attention of masses, Artistic AYA will celebrate DC’s burgeoning fashion forward set during a private happy hour. If you're ahead of the curve, you'll already be aware of the emerging designer talent in the District. If not, be sure to be part of the pack this Friday. Visit www.artisticaya.com for more information

What: Shop and view Artistic AYA’s new pieces, rare sale selection, and bespoke options. Enjoy brownies and bubbles while sampling high-art craftsmanship and multi-culti edge.
Why: Because Artistic AYA is DC’s best kept fashion secret.
When: Friday, February 13 from 6-8PM
Where: Personal Residence 1322B 10th Street NW

Please RSVP to ayanna@artisticaya.com

First Lady Michelle Obama Covers VOGUE

It's finally here! Michelle Obama's VOGUE photos (some of them anyway) have been released for early review. The First Lady apparently wore all J. Crew items from their upcoming Fall line - but don't bother rushing to their site, these clothes are not even in stores yet. J. Crew's head stylist assisted on the shoot and Mrs. Obama was very involved in the final style choices. You can read the full article here, but the issue won't hit stands until Tuesday, February 17th. Some are saying the cover isn't all that fabulous but I think it is down-to-earth and appropiate for the times. We all know if she was decked out in couture, folks would have something to say about how "insensitive" it is of her to flaunt her wealth. What are your thoughts?

Education

Yesterday a google search revealed yet another website that has stolen content from Fashion Trend Guide. Yes, it's frustrating, but it continues to happen. So I persist in adding © logos to my photos and an easy-to-read legal notice on my sidebar, but people continue to violate the law by stealing content from my site. To answer one reader's complaint about why I have a "truncated feed,"

Target's GO International Private Label 5 Now Available Online

An email from Target this morning alerted me that the GO International Private Label 5 collection is now available on Target's website. I ordered the blue zipper dress (pictured below, left) in my early morning excitement. Unfortunately, the collection is not yet available in any of the stores in my area, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I'm intrigued by the bandage tube top (pictured

Trend On The Rise - Bleached Denim

While I often sing the praises of Target's GO International clothing options, I have yet to touch on Walmart's apparel offerings. The truth is that I probably step into Walmart a whopping three times per year. One of those rare Walmart shopping trips took place last week, where I entered the store with a specific list of items to buy and walked out with these surprisingly on-trend bleached jeans

My Alias

With all the denim trends that come and go each season, there's always one style of jeans that remains a classic - it has a dark rinse, no more than 3% stretch, a medium rise, and is boot cut or slightly flared with 5-pocket styling. In my opinion, these are the most flattering and ingenious qualities in a pair of jeans that will enable them to stand the test of time and prevent them from looking

I Heart Ronson?

In my quest to find this on-trend floral jumpsuit from the I ♥ Ronson for JCPenney line, I spent a few minutes inspecting the collection today.image from nylonmag.com Although I'm a loyal fan of designer diffusion lines, especially for budget retailers, this collection wasn't particularly inspiring. Don't get me wrong - I'm a fan of Charlotte Ronson's youthful, flirty design aesthetic. I

Strapped In

When I saw these drool-worthy Abaeté for Payless cage heels-cum-gladiators in Lucky magazine a few weeks ago, I immediately ripped out the page for my style scrapbook. I had to have them! They were the perfect cage-y black heels that I've been wanting to add to my wardrobe. Then, after reading a tip that on the ever-informative nitro:licious blog that they were available, I wasted no time calling