Simply the Best, Part Tres

Hey girls,
I'm STILL on a high from Friday afternoon, where I spent possibly the most dazzling three hours of Fashion Week. At least to moi. The thrillingly top-secret forum,"The Lack of Black Images in Fashion Today," was hosted by the legendary model/agent/fashion show producer, Bethann Hardison (okay fine, she's Dwayne Wayne's mom, too, but that's hardly her claim to fame). And basically, the tiny room was filled with the 75 or so most influential, legendary, scintillatingly IMPORTANT black people in fashion, including Vogue's Andre Leon Talley, Iman, Naomi Campbell, Wall Street Journal's Terri Agins, Washington Post's Robin Ghivan, Essence's Michaela Angela Davis, Ebay's Constance White (formerly of Elle, New York Times, and WWD), former model and author Barbara Summers, Liyah Kibede, designer Tracy Reese, and a slew of high-ranking model agents, photographers, and stylists. Girls, I was surrounded by my lifelong heroes. Swoon! And honestly, the meeting couldn't have been more timely. Sadly, we're coming off of a Fashion Week that was probably the most white-washed in history. I'm talking, entire shows--days, even--where a black model was nowhere to be found (save for Chanel Iman and Liyah). It was fascinating listening to the Black Fashion Mafia swap stories about how celebrated the black model used to be. How, back in the 70s, YSL used to have entire shows dedicated to black models, only (go 'head, Yves). Iman talked about a gushing New York Times article that crowned her and her peers "The Black Stallions." What happened? I have no idea. And Le Luminaries didn't come up with a solution, but at least folks are talking about it. And you can be in on it, too...at least, those of you who live in NYC. Apparently, the conversation is going to be continued in October, when Ms. Hardison will host an open-to-the-public forum. When I have more info, you'll be the first to know!

And now, I bring you the final installation of my Spring '08 Fashion Week Superlatives. Enjoy, pretty girls!
xoxo,
Tia

SPRING '08 FASHION WEEK SUPERLATIVES, PART TRES

THE "YOU'VE GOT NAIL" AWARD FOR MANICURIST'S BEST FRIEND: Creative Nail Design Solar Oil Speed Spray ($18)
I chatted with dozens of manicurists backstage at shows like Chaiken, Max Azria and Carolina Herrera..and the one thing that got them through the week was this luxe, heavenly-scented polish dryer spray. One spritz over just-polished nails not only dries them in seconds, it also leaves nails super shiny and moisturized (it's all about the hydrating blend of almond oil, vitamin E and jojoba oil). The stuff is so moisturizing, the models didn't even need hand cream afterwards...they just massaged the excess spray into their skin, and called it a damn day.


MOST CONFOUNDING SOCIAL MYSTERY OF THE WEEK: The Clements Twins
No one knows who these people are, but they showed up at almost every show and most of the afterparties. Dressed exactly alike, no less. And wearing sunglasses during the day. The shameless social-climbing duo was usually seen A.) miraculously appearing next to real celebs like Ivana Trump and Gwen Stefani as photogs snapped their picture, and B.) constantly fiddling out their meticulously picked-out fros. If anyone can identify these hungry hangers-on, please advise.


DRESS MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, IMO: Zac Posen's frilly white shift
I looove this dress! Oh, you should've seen this airy confection of a gown come floating down the runway! Absolutely divine. So divine, in fact, that I've spent the past week searching for a fall/winter version I can conceivably wear. After tons of research, I've come to understand that a white dress is perfectly rockable in fall/winter as long as it's paired with black tights.

Here are two fabulous options: Julie Haus Annette Bow Dress ($528) has a darling drawstring neck and a very forgiving A-line shape.







And I'm wild about the chic little bib front on Banana Republic's Shift Dress ($138).