Passport to African Fashion

Do you want to travel to Africa this summer, but can't afford the plane ticket? Well, here's your passport........... No visa required.

Join MiMi, Boutique Mix and other fabulous African Designers and Vendors for the May 20th Fashion Trunk Show portion of the Passport to Africa Event in Washington DC.

Passport to Africa is an annual week-long celebration of African culture and people. It is designed to highlight Africa's many cultures through creative and unique events. Passport to Africa is produced by IDOA Entertainment (I Dream Of Africa Entertainment). Click here to learn more about this fab Africana event!!!

Location: Station 9 Lounge (upstairs) on Tuesday May 20th

1438 U Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009

Spring is definitely Here!!!

Interesting Jumpsuit!!! Who owns it? Stars are jumping on the flower blossom fashion-forward bandwagon...........

RIHANNA VS. ANGIE - The singer hits her stride in a Stella McCartney jumpsuit in Los Angeles, while the actress celebrates the designer in her one-piece floral number a few weeks later.

And on an unrelated note, its great to see Kimora Lee Simmons looking natural........ Even the queen of fabulousity takes a break every now and then........

and post artistic and creative manipulation.........


Get your spring bloom fashion fix from Boutique Mix with this fabulous garden of hand-embroidered wildflowers.

A garden of hand-embroidered wildflowers adorns this structured baguette clutch from Mad Imports. Add some color and style to your fabulous look. Handwoven + embroidred raffia with snap closure. 5.5"h x 11w x 1.5"d. Click here to shop for your spring bloom!!!

Do good while you shop - Mad Imports is a socially & environmentally responsible company that markets handmade fashion accessories from Madagascar & Kenya . Their eclectic accessories blend traditional and contemporary design ideas of their international design team who incorporate renewable raw materials to create vivid & original clutches, totes and shoulder bags. The sale of Mad Imports products enables families to gain economic independence and promotes environmental conservation.

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Perfection

Here is a a pic of Sanaa Lathan at the premiere of A Raising in the Sun. Flawless--dress, purse, shoes, hair and make-up. I love the whole look!

Hmmmm

Normally, I love everything Kerry Washington wears, but there's something that is not sitting right with me. Is it the length? The pattern? The matching pink letters on the backdrop behind her? I'm not sure......

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Why? Fantasia Barrino? Why???

I'm speechless. This is not Fierce. This is not cutting-edge. This is not trendsetting. This is not stylish. This is just.........[insert expletive of choice]!!! Fantasia showed up at the Grammy Swag Suite looking a hawt mess. Hopefully she picked up some style along with those free goodies. Maybe Rihanna's [hair]stylist can help? For those of you who think Fantasia's look is fabulous, sorry for my offensive tone above..............Am I the only one who thinks she looks like Sisqo???? Seriously.

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TILshop Look of the Week

I have to give it up to RihRih, she stays one step ahead of the style game. I absolutely adore this black short set and her pairing it with the bright orange shoes for a splash of sass--FABU!

On top of the fab outfit, she's rockin' a very cute short hairstyle--just when everyone had stolen her "umbrella" bob! Way to switch it up Rihanna, experiment and keep 'em guessing.

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Sassy Pregnant Style

Rocking the Baby Bump with Class!!!

Fashion Flubs of the Week

Check out this week's fashion flubs. Sometimes celebs really make us normal folk look fabulous. Would you be caught out in public in any of these contraptions, ranging from various stages of dead animals, to color clashes, to ridiculousness? Where are those high paid stylists? I'm sure there's a huge difference between being "fashion-forward" and just having no sense of style. Can we all just say "hawt expensive mess?"

There's No Pants Tucking In Men's Fashion!

I love Andre 3000. Really I do! He's a talented actor and an unbelievable rapper. He has an interesting and bold fashion sense, but I must say, real men don't tuck. I'm sorry, I do not like to see men with jeans tucked into their boots. I don't care if they are about to jump on a horse, there's no tucking in men's fashion!

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If I were at the CA Democratic debate. . .

I'd be wearing this suit and necklace! And hoping that Obama would notice me (yeah I know he's married) and Clinton or Obama would hire me in their cabinet!!!!

The R word

Is it possible that we are heading into a RECESSION???? Is that why you haven't been shopping? You've been tightening you purse/wallet strings. Heck so have I. But let's be realistic, the sales haven't happened like they used to. I remember days I'd see a sweater at the Gap for $50 and a few short months later that sweater was $15.99. Nowadays, a sweater at Express is $80 and a few months later it's probably $72. Message to you retailers - we can't justify buying a sweater anything over $40 when the weather outside today, Monday at 3 pm, and next Thursday will be a warm 60 degrees, which had been happening the past few weeks. So maybe we shouldn't blame the shoppers for the Recession, maybe it's the Retailers (who will blame the cost of oil) for being stingy with the sales. Or maybe it's global warming affecting the weather so I don't know if I really should buy this sweater now that it's getting cold or go ahead and get my spring stuff because it might be a balmy 62 degrees next Wednesday.

Fashion Juices running dry?

Can't come up with something new to wear? Creative juices tapped out? If so, do like these divas and look back to fashion past from People.com. There are so many classics. Check these out.

Fashion basics
- show your shape or your best asset

- wear your hair to highlight you - hair back off your face shows off your cheekbones

- a little bling can never hurt

- shows some personality - try an animal print or your favorite bold color

- you can't go wrong with black and white and your favorite accessory!

'tis a good time for

White Sales, i.e. sales on linens, towels, etc. I got stuff for the home last week when Macys was having a crazy end of the year white sale. Luxurious towels and sheets. Check out tips at CBS Early Show's Making the Most of White Sales. My pick - Bed in a Bag Sherwood at Linens 'n Things for $149.99

Have you missed me?

I'd love to say I was shopping my heart out in New York for the past week. But I wasn't. I was working my TilShop butt off. It's okay, because according to a recent NY Times article, I'll be "making lavish purchases on NeimanMarcus.com , just to remind [myself] that what [I] did counted for something." On to NeimanMarcus.com, it is. I don't particularly care for this Spy Bag spring version. I'm all for beading but this looks mismatched, like the Spy Bag meets a beading project I did when I was 10. I have a Kathy Van Zeeland Bag that can do the model's outfit more justice and really says spring.

You saw it

here first. Check out the sweater dress post in Sweater Season, where we showed you this dress in grey and black which Kim is wearing in grey and white. First it was Reggie Bush (one of CITC's top 12) and now this. What's next Kim? (I ain't mad at you re Reggie Bush though, definitely and upgrade from Ray J.)

Clutch winner!!!!

Congrats to Boutique Mix for winning the clutch poll!! Check out more irrestible sassy clutches at Boutique Mix here and some of which I've posted below.

Green Chica Clutch for $45




Brown Sugar Clutch for $50

Sizzling Python Clutch for $60