Whoa, a post NOT about Christian Siriano?  What’s come over me? 

Oh, yeah, that’s right - Another obsession:  America’s Next Top Model.  This is one of the rare shows I watch that I wish were on two - three times a week.  Then again, I loves, loves, loves Tyra Banks, so if she’s on board, I’m on board.

This is the first season, though, that I’ve seen so many kind of unfortunate makeovers. I say kind of unfortunate instead of bad because the girls are still beautiful - I just think they were even more beautiful before the hair color and scissors.  

Take Anya (above), for example.  She’s still a beautiful model and, personally, I think she has become one of the front runners.  But, I think she was positively striking as a brunette.  On the last episode, when Nigel Barker was photographing her, however, she was working an amazing Marilyn Monroe thing that worked beautifully, though!  When she’s wearing lipstick and eyeshadow, I admit the blonde hair looks gorgeous on her.

I loved her reaction when she was told she’d be nude.  Most girls freak at that point but she was like, “Oh, wow! Cool.”  Love that.  I’m always kind of annoyed when girls panic over the issue - I mean, if they’ve ever watched the show, they know it’s a distinct possibility.  Don’t become a contestant if you don’t want your ta tas to be seen.

Another girl I thought was MUCH better before was Claire (right), who I adore by the way.  I love this girl’s spirit, her face, her walk, her style, her personality (though I think she pushed things with Dominique - sure she can get under your skin, but only if you let her), and her love for her family.  Look at her mouth the next time the show’s on.  If it’s not the most gorgeous mouth ever to be worn by a model, it’s definitely in the top three.  She has the face to pull of the incredibly short hair, but I don’t know why they made her a blonde.  She’s still gorgeous, though.

And then there’s Dominique (below, black V-neck top and leggings)…what’s up with this girl?!?!  She seems to totally enjoy pushing people’s buttons but panics when they don’t enjoy the experience.  As soon as they fight back, she melts down.  She’s beautiful and takes absolutely amazing pictures - I’d love to just see her chill the hell out.  Love her or hate her, you have to admit her pictures are usually amongst the best.  The bone structure on this girl is just crazy beautiful.

Her makeover isn’t quite as unfortunate as the rest.  I think she probably looks as good before as she does after.  Again, her problem isn’t her looks or pictures - it’s her ‘tude.  I wish Tyra kept a closer eye on what goes on in the house, she could probably help them figure their moods out and play like nice little girls.

 Dominique, especially, seems to be bothered by something or another.  I actually feel sorry for her sometimes.  I can’t stand to see anyone ganged up on, and Claire, Lauren, and Whitney all at once going after her was uncomfortable to watch.

Lauren’s another one that kind of needs to calm the heck down.  Where’s all of that fire when she’s standing in front of the judges? Beautiful model, but geez.

 Stacy Ann and Fatima are two more of my favorites (they’re the beauties below).  Fatima’s actually one of the models who, in my opinion, the makeover benefited.  She’s so gracefully beautiful.

I thought Stacy Ann was even prettier before, but she’s still a total doll.  I love her face and her voice is verrrry pretty.  I also like her runway walk. 

She and Fatima kind of get lost amongst the other girls, though.

They need to start standing out instead of blending in.  Make a little noise, girls! 

  Loving the show as always, and I LOVE Paulina on the panel in place of Twiggy.  She brings more energy and humor to the show.  But, please, please, please - ANTM, don’t ever invite Vendela back on the panel.  Can you say ridiculously NEGATIVE?  She didn’t seem to think anyone had anything going on for them. Girl, please.

The Gucci Spring Summer 2008 Collection made quite an impact on March 19, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.  The colors, the shapes, the lines - I’m blown completely out of my chair.    Second row - 6 over, I’d crawl, naked, across the Sahara desert for this one.  What was left of me would wear the dress for the rest of my life.  Both days.

Click each runway model’s thumbnail for a larger picture.

Christian Siriano Wins Project Runway! (Click to see the larger image)I can’t remember when I’ve been this ecstatic over the finale of a reality show.  I was pulling for Christian all along, and I’m so excited that he won.  I’m even more excited about what this will do for his career - I can’t wait to see where this talented dynamo takes the fashion world.  I have a feeling he’s about to make a splash who’s ripples we’ll see and feel for decades.

Can’t wait!

       

He could not be any more adorable if he wore a chihuahua on his head and carried a koala bear in each arm.  Love him!

In a letter to Aretha Franklin, PETA spokesperson Dan Matthews writes:

“Music lovers may think of you as a ‘queen,’ but to animal lovers, you are a court jester . Why not shed the old-fashioned look that adds pounds to your frame and detracts from your beautiful voice? Please consider donating your furs to the homeless as ‘queen of compassion,’ Mariah Carey, did. You’ll get a tax credit for the donation, and we at PETA will all sing your praises.”

Ouch.

I’m mean, sure, the fur should go - we all know that.  But hasn’t the lady earned a little more R.E.S.P.E.C.T. than that?

I’ve always loved Kimora Lee Simmons, but never more than right now.  As someone who adores animals, I have a special place in my heart for people who also embrace them. 

The beautiful fashion empress/reality TV star is going au naturel  for a gorgeous new, eye-catching campaign for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Kimora, dolled out in angel wings, no less, and holding her adorable dog, Zoe, demonstrates her desire for people to make dogs a part of their families-and not leave them tied up outside or cooped up at home alone all day. “You cannot just chain up an animal,” Simmons said. “The chains are heavy, it’s cruel. Dogs need to run and play.”

Kimora  urges people to do whatever they can to help neglected backyard dogs. “Everybody should do the best they can, because a lot of little ‘best-you-cans’ add up to a lot of saved animals.”

According to a PETA spokesperson, the campaign was launched to coincide with national Unchain a Dog Month, which is observed every January.

Kimora Lee Simmons has donated more than $20,000 to PETA to help severely underprivileged dogs living in low-income, rural areas. “Thanks to her generosity, more than 100 dogs have received sturdy, weather-tight doghouses with a shade overhang for summer, straw bedding, toys, and new collars and harnesses,” the rep said. “Simmons’ funding of PETA’s program provides not only truckloads of houses but also staff to deliver them, truck rental and gas, and the equipment to dig up fences and posts that commonly tangle dogs’ tethers.”

If the wings she’s wearing look familiar, there’s a reason.  They were designed by Martin Izquierdo, the same designer who made Victoria’s Secret’s ads so famous.  Well…he helped make them famous.  There were the models’ contributions, of course.
The wings were, thankfully, made out of 100 percent cruelty-free materials.

I’m about to become one with my kitchen, so the computer and I will be estranged for a few days. I wanted to wish you the merriest of Christmases before heading off to the kitchen, though.

Enjoy every single moment with your family, remember you’re making memories that will last forever…not just for you, but for everyone you love as well. Smile and laugh till it hurts, eat till the cook blushes, and love everyone unconditionally. Treat each present as though it’s exactly what you’d always hoped for and live life like it was meant to be lived.

Most of all, be sure to thank God for the greatest Gift ever given and the sweetest Love ever shown!

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones - and I’ll see you on the 26th!

Joi

 

Funkshion Miami Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2007 - Amano Accessories when: March 23, 2007

where:  South Beach, Florida United States

The details on these bags and belts are absolutely phenomenal.  They’re from Amano Accessories by Carmen Gamarra and pretty much remove my breath from my body.  Click the link to see more of Carmen Gamarra’s brilliance, and click the t-nails below for a closer look at the models and accessories featured in a visually gorgeous runway appearance.

If you look at the very top of the page and the very bottom, you’ll notice that I’ve added a new feature to the blog.  These “Auction Ads” will rotate a huge variety of hot purses, handbags, jewelry and totes.  The best thing about them is that you can get them for a lot less than they’d normally cost you.  Shopping like this is the funnest way to shop - it’s like you’re hunting for your own personal treasure while getting away with a steal.

The ads change each time you come, or each time you refresh the page.  So, keep your eye on them (maybe even both eyes) - because you never know when something you MUST have will turn up!

We may soon be uttering the word Supermodels again - and I, for one, couldn’t be happier.  Vogue recently devoted an issue (May ‘07) to the up and coming models, and most experts are picking these girls to be hugely successful.

I miss the days of following my favorite model(s), seeing which ones get which coveted covers, who walks this designer’s runway, who walks that designer’s runway, who snags a contract with Loreal, Maybelline, Cover Girl, or Revlon.  I’ve been waiting for the next group of girls to light up the fashion and magazine world the way Christy, Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Niki, Amber, Shalome, and Tyra did (My favorites are in bold.).  All Supermodels, all known by their first name as well as their face. 

Between their reign and now, the fashion world just hasn’t been as bright.  It’s been sort of like someone forgot to pay the electric bill!

Hopefully, though, we’re on the brink of a whole new, beautiful era.  The girls you see in this post may be carrying the torches needed to light everything up again.  Vogue.com’s homepage recently gave us the promising headline, “The Return of the Model.” After reading their feature article, I get the feeling they’re as eager for her return as we are!

The beautiful model at the top of the post is a favorite of mine (favorites get the best spots - in addition to the bold treatment).  Her name is Doutzen - pronounced Doubt-zen.  She’s featured in the newest issue of Vogue in a gorgeous pictorial (I’ll scan the pictures in this weekend), the sort of pictorials that Christy was known for.  While she doesn’t resemble Christy Turlington (my all-time favorite model), she has a similar type of “other world-ly” beauty and grace.  I think she’ll be a household name very, very soon.

Since this is an Arm Candy blog and I’m obsessed with all arm sweets, I have to point out the Balenciaga Python Bag Doutzen’s holding in the picture.  Unfortunately her dress is hiding most of the bag - but it’s obvious that it’s a beauty.

Jessica Stam (the lovely blonde in the quirky little hat) and Chanel (the leggy beauty to the right, working the huge hat) are two more favorites.  The three of them are leading the way, in my opinion, and inside of a year - I expect them to be as well known as any model has ever been known.

There’s a certain “it” when it comes to models.  Something that goes past a face as beautiful as Doutzen’s, past the obvious love the camera has for Jessica, and even past Chanel’s legs.  I’ve seen photographer’s, agents, designers, and other models struggle to define “it.”  Even Tyra Banks, who can practically wear each of those titles can’t quite pin a definition on “it” - even though she, herself, owns “it!”

The only thing they all know is “it” separates a model from a Supermodel, and that we’ve all been waiting to see “it” again. 

It’s been a long time coming, but the time has finally arrived!  IT‘S BAAAAACK!

Okay, so pendant necklaces don’t exactly qualify as Arm Candy, but as sweet and sexy as they are, I don’t think the arms resent the attention.  Used properly, a pendant necklace can take a good look to a great look.

Click the pic above to see Eva, Eve, Kat, and Jessica showing how to do just that.