Grammy's 2015 Best Dressed

Nicki Minaj in Tom Ford 

Zenadaya Coleman in Vivienne Westwood 

Taylor Swift in Elie Saab

Katy Perry in Zuhair Murad 

The 57th annual Grammy Awards aired last night and these were my favorite red carpet looks. I was very surprised at the number of ladies wearing black and the overall simplicity of many of the dresses. What was your favorite red carpet look? 

Christmas Wishlist 2014

Every year now it seems like My Christmas Wishlist gets shorter, and this year was no exception. 

iPad Air 2- The number one item on my wishlist this year is an iPad. I've never been too enthused about the iPad but now that I belong to the workforce it's an almost critical tool. 

Misguided Carrie Feather Strappy Heel - How fab are these shoes!? They are super feminine and currently sold out in the nude color, though I'm hoping another shipment will arrive before the Holiday Season comes to an end. Update: This shoe is now available in a Size 9, which just so happens to be the size that this girl needs it in... ;)

Michael Kors Fur Pom Pom Key chain- I'm not sure what's sparked my new found fascination with fur but, I think we can all agree on how cute this little pompom is. 

Frends Layla Headphones - My sister and dad both have a pair of beats and while I can appreciate the quality of sound from beats, I can't get into them because of how clunky they are. The Layla headphones from Frends provide the feminine and stylish alternative. 

Hijacking the Runway by Teri Agins - This past summer I read "The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever" by Teri Agins and gained so much knowledge that I have been able to apply on my job, so you can understand why I'm itching to get my hands on her latest book. 

Carmen Lilly the #NCSUAlum

Via @StyleCarmen Instagram 

North Carolina State University is a campus most commonly recognized for producing cows and engineers (we've got world renown agriculture and engineering programs). Though its obviously not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks N.C. State, the Wolfpack is home to some fashionistas with impeccable home grown style. As an alumnus of the university this isn't something that I just realized but, last night did seem to make the fact more clear. You see, I searched the hashtag #NCSUAlum and found a post from Carmen Lilly, the creative genius behind many of Rihanna and Rocsi Diaz's looks. Intrigued, I clicked on it (a post from the  Harbison SS15 showcase) and learned that not only was Charles Elliot Harbison a NCSU alum but, so too was Carmen Lilly. I've adored her styling for so long, yet I had no idea that she was a fellow Wolfpack sistah! 

That's what you call #CRAY. 

In an interview with the Fashion Bomb Daily, Lilly described how she launched her personal shopping/ styling career saying," When I left college, I was making jewelry, but I was doing it on the side. I wanted to get experience from the retail end, so that I could get my jewelry in stores..." She began working at Intermix, a boutique in New York City and it was there that she met Rihanna and the rest-- well, its history. She told FBD, "Rihanna would have all these high end designer pieces,but she wouldn't have anything to complete the outfits. So, I would get them for her, but I would also put together looks and give outfit suggestions." Lilly's work with Rihanna eventually led to other celebrity clients.

Rihanna in Balmain Leather Skirt and Silk Blouse picked by Carmen Lilly. 

Rocsi Diaz at the 86th Academy Awards styled by Carmen Lilly in a Dennis Basso gown and Jimmy Choo Sandals.

Rihanna in Tom Ford Gladiator Boots and Mary Katrantzou top picked by Carmen Lilly. 

Rocsi styled by Carmen Lilly in Haute Hippie Tuxedo Dress and Christian Louboutin 
Impera Pumps 

Carmen graduated from NCSU with a degree in Art and Design. She spent time as an intern for Donna Karan as well as another smaller scale designer. Though many people  recognize her now for the work she has done with celebrity clients, I admire the advice she gave to those aspiring to break into the highly competitive fashion world. "Gain as much industry knowledge as possible, so you will be better equipped to compete with those who have a natural network and connection within the industry. Do your research...don't focus on celebrities- focus on your craft." 

It's incredibly encouraging and inspiring to see young {black} people from my Alma Mater doing big things in the fashion industry. Carmen Lilly and Charles Elliot Harbison are both living proof that 1)It doesn't matter where you get your start, if you've got the drive and are smart you can achieve anything and 2) N.C. State grooms some of the best talent in every field! 

For more information about Carmen Lilly check out her website  or connect with her on Instagram and Twitter. 

Go Pack! 

Altuzarra X Target Review

So, this morning I was up by 7:25 a.m. and headed out the door by 7:40 a.m. so that I could be among the first to enter the doors of my local Target and score all the pieces from the Altuzarrra for Target collection that I've been salivating over for the past two weeks. First up on my list of must buys was the red velvet Ruby Hill blazer and matching tuxedo pant. The first Target I went to didn't have it so I drove to another Target location twenty minutes away only to be underwhelmed. 

Exscuse my N.C. State hat and undone hair...it was 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning! 

I am a true to size 4 (27 waist) but my hips were begging for a size 6 as you can see by the gathering of the pants around the crotch. The jacket concerned me in that it was very wrinkly and didn't appear to be the type of clothing article to hold its shape for very long. I will say that the black tuxedo pant was more forgiving than the red velvet and that the peplum jacket had a better structure. 

I also tried on the satin orchid print oxford shirt with the jacquard print black skirt. Again, in theory, I loved the shirt but it was very thin and in my opinion, one wash away from being stretched out of shape.I especially loved the angled split of the skirt and just maybe will go back for it.

Dress in size 2

Of all the things that I tried on, it was this piece that left me the most torn largely in part due to sizing. I tried the dress in both a two and a four. The two cinched at my waist very nicely and also fit well across the bust but, being the pear shape that I am made me look like I was busting at the seams on the bottom. In the four I didn't have the same definition at the waist and bust, but it was definitely more forgiving to my hips and thighs. Homecoming is coming up soon and I could easily imagine wearing this stunner (with a few alterations) to one of the social Young Alumni events. My plan is to keep and eye out for it and if it looks like it'll be around long enough for me to purchase it at clearance price it will likely be mine. Otherwise, I will be inclined to believe that it just wasn't meant for me. 

Overall, I still think the designs are beautiful, but just wish the the quality of some of the pieces was a little better. I've come to expect a lot from Target and had every intention of walking out of there this morning with my shopping bags full. Did any of you have better luck than me? 

In the Know

Among the things that are important to me is having an extensive knowledge of things I am passionate about. So, when it comes to fashion and style that to me means knowing more than what colors work well together or the the cost of a pair of shoes. I'm interested in knowing information like who holds top positions within a company, emerging business trends and the history of brands. Books have been a great resource for reading up on a lot of these different things (check out my summer sophisticated reads list here) but on a day to day basis, there are a few sources I rely on to really stay in the know about things going on in the fashion industry. 

In the Know - Video Maker

Women's Wear Daily

Women's Wear Daily or WWD as it commonly referred to has been around for more than 100 years now, and is a daily publication that covers every aspect of the fashion industry. Within its pages you can find information about how your favorite brands/retailers are performing in the stock market, the latest in fashion and beauty trends and pretty much any other important news as it relates to fashion. WWD does require a subscription. I personally have the $12.99 per month iPhone/ iPad subscription for my own convenience. They also offer daily print and web versions as well. 

The Fashion Bomb Daily 

I literally have learned so much from this site. Thanks to Claire Summers and her team, I have become familiar with countless brands that I would have never known of and had all my questions about what some of my favorite celebrities are wearing, answered. Perhaps the thing that I like most about The Fashion Bomb Daily is its emphasis on urban and African- American style influencers. Unlike WWD, the content on  The Fashion Bomb Daily is completely free and they post frequently throughout the day to Facebook and Instagram, which is how I primarily follow the site. 

Independent Fashion Bloggers 

Anytime I'm asked for blogging advice, the first thing I do is shout to the rafters about heartifb.com. IFB is in my opinion one of the greatest free resources available to bloggers on the web. I use it to stay up to date on new trends in the blogging arena and as a way to find new blogs. 

BOF

Much like WWD, the Business of Fashion is a daily web publication that truly focuses on-- you guessed it-- the business of fashion. BOF also offers an interesting array of Op-Eds as well as profiles of CEOs of some of the top brands and various fashion bloggers. Founded in 2007, BOF covers the fashion industry from an international standpoint and is a great source for anyone interested in really knowing the ins and outs of fashion. 

Sophisticated Summer Reads

My cousin sent me a text a few days ago asking for the titles of a few good books she could read. After sharing my list of summer reads with her I decided to put together a summer reading list for the blog as well. Here are just a few of the books I've read and am planning to read this summer! 

...

Welcome to the Real World, by Lauren Berger 

 I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, and when I did I read it in less than a week. Much like in her "All Work, No Pay" guide for interns (which I wrote about here), in this book, Berger literally creates a blueprint for recent grads trying to successfully maneuver in the workforce. 

The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever, by Teri Agins 

Written by Teri Agins, a former fashion reporter for the Wall Street Journal, this book is a must read for anyone contemplating a career in fashion. I'm only two chapters in, but so far I've got a thorough understanding of why, in terms of couture clothing and haute couture designers, some are more financially successful than others. I also love about this book Agins' beautiful sentence structure and word choice. 

Contagious: Why Things Catch On, by Jonah Berger 

Someone recommended this book on Linkedin for bloggers and marketing professionals. It was a quick read, but offered great advice and a clear understanding of necessary methods for creating buzz. If you are a blogger looking to build your audience or create better content, I would suggest reading this book. 

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, by Sarah and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth

My mother happened to be watching the film adaptation of this book a few days ago. It stars the legendary Ruby Dee, who passed recently. I came in on the tail end of the movie but was so intrigued that I ordered the book the same day. Twin sisters Saddie and Bessie Delany each lived to be more than 100. They went to St. Augustine college in Raleigh, NC (S/O to the 919!) and later made NYC home. These women were pioneers in the African-American community and I was truly inspired by their story.

The Man From Essence: Creating a Magazine For Black Women, by Edward Lewis

In the July issue of ESSENCE Magazine an excerpt of this book by Edward Lewis, one of the four founders of the magazine was featured. In the excerpt, Lewis describes what it was like to see all of he and his partners' hard work come together at the first ever ESSENCE Music Festival. ESSENCE is one of my favorite magazines, so I'm really interested in learning more about its history. 

#GIRLBOSS, by Sophia Amoruso

I literally have seen the cover of this book appear on my Instagram feed 1,989,416 times --- okay so maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration, but really, everyone is reading it. In it, Sophia Amoruso, the founder of clothing site, Nasty Gal tells her story and also offers some advice about Girl Power. I'm always a supporter of strong and successful women, so I'm quite looking forward to reading it and seeing what all the hype is about. 

I'm sure I'll be adding to this list as the summer continues, and as I do, I'll share. So, what are you reading?

Rihanna, Google and the CFDA Awards 2014

Classy met trashy last night at the 2014 CFDA Awards when Rihanna graced the tri-colored carpet in a sheer dress,custom designed for her by Adam Selman. Though her rationale for arriving sans pasties, or better yet, a nude lining, is questionable, the dress-- embroidered with more than 200,000 Swarvoski crystals-- was undeniably gorgeous and Rihanna-- well, she looked nearly impeccable. 

Though there seems to be a polarized split among those who adore this look, and others who absolutely hate it, despite the lack of consensus, one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that its a conversation starter. A simple Google Search of Rihianna's name this morning confirmed this, as the top result is an article from the Washington Post entitled, "See the sparkly, naked dress Rihanna wore to the CFDA Awards -- well, what we can show you, anyway" -- hilarious. If nothing else, this fashion moment reaffirms Ri's status as a fashion icon and proves that she was the deserving recipient of her fashion icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America last night.

Founded in 1962 by acclaimed fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the CFDA is a non-profit trade organization that works to "strengthen the influence and success of American Designers in the global economy." Every year members of the CFDA gather to recognize designers, journalists, and more who have made significant contributions to the fashion industry. Among this year's nominees were Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, and of course, Rihanna who won the coveted Fashion Icon Award. Past recipients of this award include Iman (2010) and Kate Moss (2005). 

Stolen Innocence

#bringbackourgirls

Today I begin a new series on the blog, muse. As much as I love fashion and style, being aware of the world, my community and the things that affect society as a whole are very important to me. This is the first of many musings from Kiki X. To learn more about "Kiki X"and why muse is important to me, check the about section of the blog. 

Tonight, Stolen Innocence: Your Daughters are Our Daughters, a special program addressing the issue of human trafficking in the United States as well as the abduction of more than 200 female students from their school in Northern Nigeria will premiere on BET. Structured in the format of a town hall, the pre recorded program is moderated by Lola Ogunnaike of Arise TV and Marc Lamont Hill of BET News. Its panel includes actresses Nicole Ari Parker and Tasha Smith, as well as other notable women within the black and international communities, such as Nigerian attorney, Ony Nwaohuocha, and journalist, Omoyele Sowore. 

Five weeks have passed since the young Nigerian women were taken by the terror group, Boko Haram. Almost immediately, news of the girls’ abduction garnered press attention with social media serving largely as an incubator of the international demand that they be returned home safely to their families and loved ones.

In the weeks since their disappearance, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have all been saturated with post boasting the hashtag, #bringbackourgirls, referring to the students. Though the issue of human trafficking has been positioned by many as something that only affects international communities, BET is drawing attention the problem as a domestic one. 

According to The Atlanta Human Trafficking Project, Atlanta, G.A. is a global hub of human slavery and is also the “number one hub of human trafficking and child sex exploitation in the in the United States.” The Urban Institute reports that Atlanta, a city known for its Real Housewives and as the center of black wealth, is also home to a $290 million human trafficking industry. 

Smith, who has starred in films such as Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls and Why Did I Get Married spoke candidly during the discussion of her past as a stripper and being sexually exploited as a child, saying in part, “As a young girl growing up in an urban community, it was nothing but drug dealers and pimps, and I remember pimps when I a at 14-years-old, these men were taking me out to dinner and having sex with me and in my own mind I’m thinking ‘I’m getting love, I’m getting attention’... I didn’t realize that  I was like prey.” 

Stolen Innocence airs tonight at 7 p.m.(EST) and I am interested to see the dialogue that transpires during and from the one-hour program. 

14 Things I Want To Do In 2014

These aren't necessarily New Year's Resolutions or even goals for that matter...just 14 things that I would like to do before 2015.

1. Try Macaroons
I'm not even sure of how to properly pronounce the word, but I'v seen the pretty colored confections all over Instagram and Pinterest and I've got my mind set that I will fix my lips around one before this year comes to an end.

2. Buy a Pair of Sneakers 
The last time I brought a pair of sneakers to wear for fashion purposes was probably in 7th or 8th grade when I rocked Air Force Ones. Its no secret that I love a good pair of heels or a dainty flat, but this year I want to up my shoe game with a funky pair of sneakers.

The view from my window on the way to Hawaii

3. Board a Flight 
My last flight was a 10 hour flight from Raleigh, NC to Honolulu, HA in May of 2013. I'm itching to get back up in the air and off to another destination once again. I probably wont be going to Hawaii again any time soon but a vacation or just a temporary change of scenery would be nice.


 4. Record a Vlog 
So far So Sophisticated. 1992 has consisted primarily of outfit posts. I really want to incorporate new forms of media, so I'm looking forward to recording some vlogs.

5. Read
I've always loved reading but with all the many things I have to do, I'm not always able to read for pleasure as much as I would like. Now that I'm graduating, I'm hoping I will have more time to devote to reading.


6. Graduate! 
There are no ifs ands or buts about it....come May 2014, I'm graduating. Just thought I would add it to the list because I am rather excited about it.

7. Get a Passport 
 There are so many places in the World (can't wait to go to Africa!) that I want to see, obviously that wont be possible without a passport.

8. Try a Pink Lip
I've grown comfortable with red lips, now I think its time to find my signature shade of pink!

9.  Style an All- White Look 
Something about all-white screams style. I've been wanting to put together a monochromatic white look for a while now, so this will be the year that I actually do it.

10. Complete a Squat Challenge 
We've all seen the 30 day squat challenges on Instagram. This year I'm going to actually finish one and hopefully by the time I'm through, I'll no longer be the butt of my sister's jokes (pun intended).

11. Cook Dinner For My Family 
Since going away to school, my cooking skills have improved tremendously. However, my parents and sister continue to tease me about my cooking skills, so I really want to prepare a meal this year that makes it impossible for them to ever tease me about my cooking abilities again.

12. Write a Guest Post
It's been a while since I've written a guest post. One of my last guest posts was for J's Everyday Fashion Blog back in September of 2011. I was so excited to be featured on her site because she was one of my favorite bloggers and it was actually from reading her blog that I got the idea to start my own!

13.  Create a  Vision Board
When my high school graduation rolled around I thought of it as "The End." With my undergraduate career coming to an end it truly feels like the beginning of the rest of my life. I want to create a vision board to help map out my goals and plans for the next few years.

14. Be Happy! 
Is it cliche? Maybe. But being happy is truly something I want to do and be in 2014. At the end of the day, who doesn't?