Style Icon: Joan Jett

I am a rock and roll fan through and through, so it's no surprise that I adore this week's Style Icon, the fabulous and amazing Joan Jett. Beginning as a teen with The Runaways (I haven't seen the movie yet - yeah, I know) and then breaking out on her own before becoming the lead of the famous Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Joan is a rock pioneer, a chick that performs as hard as she plays. Influenced by the glam rock scene and her own muse, Suzy Quatro, Jett's music has stood the test of time, with her famous remake of "I Love Rock and Roll" landing on Billboard's Top 100 Songs of All Time. Jett continues to produce records and sign artists to her label, Blackheart Records, now over 25 years old. She still rocks out and is one of my favorite glam rock/punk ladies out there.

Joan's style is borrowed from the boys who rock but it doesn't mean that it doesn't have her own feminine twist. Thinking of making an impact this weekend? Try her sporty rocker chic look from a concert where she wore then New York Jets Joe Namath's number during a concert in Norway during her band's heyday in the 80's. Let's go with an Alloy Baseball Tee ($24.90) and a pair of fabulous True Religion "Disco Billy" Black Straight Leg jeans in Homestead Wash ($295).

Let's put a new feminine twist on the item with a Fenton Fallon for J. Crew Necklace ($195) and some glam rocker-approved heels, like these Alexander McQueen Zipper and Skull Sandals ($795). They add just the right feminine touch for a current day homage.

Instead of playing the anthem we all know her for, I'm playing my personal favorite from the rocker, my personal anthem, "Bad Reputation." Joan, wherever you are, thanks for blazing the trail for all of us to be as bad ass as we wanna be.

Style Icon: Pat Benatar

 Image: Rolling Stone

I had three major style influences as a child: female rockers, female soul singers and my mother. Exposed to rock and roll early on (thanks, Mom!), I developed what can only be described as a style crush on Pat Benatar. Tough as nails with her mezzo-soprano vocal range, she was kind of my rocker girl hero. I bought every album, CD, poster and magazine interview this rock dynamo put out there. Pat, a Julliard-trained singer, is one of the top-selling female artists of all-time and one of 80's top recipients of platinum records with two certified multiplatinum albums, five platinum albums, three gold albums and nineteen Top 40 singles to her credit. Let's face it: the chick can rock.

Pat's style evolved through the 70's and 80's, but her Parisian rocker look is still my favorite. Variations of this look are still seen in downtown clubs to this day. Reinterpret the look for now with a Forever 21 Striped Short-Sleeve Top ($12.80), True Religion "Billy" Leather Pants ($594) and instead of ankle boots, let's throw in these Rock and Republic "Lotus" Platform Pumps ($295). I'm sure Pat would approve. Thin gold hoops, a badass sooty eye and you're running with the shadows of the night.



In honor of this week's style icon, turn up your speakers (or put on the headphones) to rock out to 'You Better Run', one of my personal favorites and the inspiration for this tres cool look. Pat Benatar, thanks for showing all of us that we're truly as bad as we wanna be, that we're invincible.

Charitable Chic: Diane von Furstenberg Proud to Be Woman CD

It's no secret that I have a love for all things DIANE von FURSTENBERG. The wrap dresses are amazing, the clothes are impossibly chic, and her accessories are truly to die for. One of the cool things you have to love her for is her love and support of other women. Diane is a woman's woman who mentors and supports many causes that help uplift and encourage women around the world. It another reason to have an impossible girl crush on her.

 
As if she didn't have enough offerings to make you want to cover your entire body, home and life in her designing goodness, she's decided to move into your iPod as well with a fabulous CD. Entitled Proud to be Woman,  it's a limited-edition compilation CD that was released to celebrate International Women’s Day. Featuring a collection of twelve songs from all female artists, all proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit Vital Voices and help women worldwide find their own voice! With Joss Stone, Mary J Blige, Estelle, Santigold, Bebel Gilberto, Christina Aguilera, and Annie Lennox among the contributors, this is money well-spent.

You can buy the album via her website  for $15.99 or download the album via iTunes for a mere $9.99.  Either way, feel free to get down while you help other women get a leg up on the world.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: Work Your Own Runway with Our FSB Playlist!

While we're watching the models strut their stuff on the runway, we thought it might be cool for you to do a little strutting of your own. Which is why we asked one of our very own, Lauren "DJ Lips" Lipsay, to create a playlist for you, which you can download here for FREE! Introducing the Fashion.Style.Beauty playlist!

Runway-inspired and cool enough to the point where you'll want to shake your groove thang in random places, it's all for you. Here's what you'll be rocking out to when you download it:

1. Hold The Line - Major Lazer feat. Mr. Lex & Santigold
2. Baditude - Spoon, Harris & Obernik
3. Miss You (Dr. Dre Remix) - The Rolling Stones
4. Ready For The Weekend - Calvin Harris
5. Ghosts N Stuff - Deadmau5 feat. Rob Swire
6. Memories - David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi
7. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester
8. On To The Next One - Jay-Z feat. Swizz Beats
9. The Reeling (Calvin Harris Remix) - Passion Pit
10. Carry Out (Julien Creance Remix) - Timbaland feat. Justin Timberlake
11. Gifted (Steve Aoki Remix) - N.A.S.A feat. Kanye West, Lykke Li & Santigold
12. Glamorous (Space Cowboy Remix) - Fergie feat. Ludacris
13. Heads Will Roll (Club Remix) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
14. Hot (Play & Win Remix) - Inna
15. Make Me - Janet Jackson
16. Sleepy Head - Passion Pit
17. Smoke (Radio Edit) - Jus Jack feat. Phil Garant & Matina Parisi
18. Step One Two - Kaskade
19. Telephone - Lady GaGa feat. Beyonce
20. What It's About - MC Flipside & A-Divizion
21. Where's Your Head At (Klaas Remix) - Basement Jaxx

So download it and jam out while you watch our coverage of New York Fashion Week! Woo!

Beauty for A Cause: Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper Rock Out for the Launch of MAC VIVA GLAM

All photos courtesy of Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Last night some pretty fabulous things went down at the legendary Cipriani 42nd Street. There was a huge bash to celebrate the big M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaign launch and its new spokespeople, Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper.

Both were escorted down the AMFAR red carpet by John Demsey, Chairman of the M·A·C AIDS Fund, Group President of The Estée Lauder Companies and after a couple of brief words, Gaga performed her song, “Future Love,” on a custom piano, specially designed and crafted by Canadian artist Terence Koh, using M·A·C makeup and taking inspiration from the new M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaign visual. Always the master performer, Gaga evidently did not disappoint.

You know I adore good things for good causes and VIVA GLAM is one of the fashion and beauty industry's longest-standing examples of this. 100% of the sales from all the Viva Glam products sold goes directly towards the M·A·C AIDS Fund, which has raised over $150 Million to combat global HIV/AIDS to-date.

A cause near and dear to the hearts of Lauper and Lady, Gaga, the fund has announced $2.5 million in new donations to fund model programs that address the vulnerabilities and inequities that place women at increased risk for HIV/AIDS.

So, if you haven't already gotten your new VIVA GLAM collection lipsticks, you now have TWO to choose from: Viva Glam Cyndi (Light Coral Red) and Viva Glam Gaga (Light Blue Pink). Both are $14. Per M·A·C makeup policy for making you as fierce as possible, they also have corresponding makeup bags.

Fierce and fabulous and all for a good cause. Now that's truly beautiful.

Epic and Fabulous Giveaway: Win A Pair of Audio Chi Headphones!

You all have heard me continually raving about my audiophile staple, the genius Audio Chi W-5 Headphones. Seriously, you will never hear music the same way again and you really won't want to do such a thing (and really, why would you want to do that?).  Well, so many of you have inquired about where to get said headphones, how much they cost, are they available in the US yet that I've not only tried to get them to move everything to the US for you but I've been afraid to leave my own pair around for fear that someone will jack them. Oh yes, they're just THAT GOOD.

The lovely folks across the pond at Audio Chi have declined my offer to set up their headquarters in my apartment but they have made me an offer I can't refuse: a giveaway of a FREE PAIR OF THEIR AMAZING HEADPHONES! Oh yes, exclusive to Fashion.Style.Beauty followers ONLY, I will select one winner this Monday, January 18th and they will receive the style of their choice, shipped directly to them all the way from the UK. Let me say that again: your choice of their amazing headphones shipped directly to your humble abode, where you will be the envy of all your friends. You will want to rediscover your entire music collection once you use them, I am so not kidding.

How do you enter this fabulous contest? First, this contest is open to followers of Fashion.Style.Beauty ONLY. You must leave me a comment below and tell me what album you will enjoy rediscovering with these amazing headphones (retail value is $115 US). I will select a winner at random this Monday and announce the name in a post. It's just that easy.

Good luck and enter to win NOW!

Obsession of the Day: Hudson Destroyed Skinny Jeans with British Flag Detail in Jagger Wash

Oh my stars and bars. I am madly in love with these jeans.

Distressed/destroyed jeans? Check.

Dark wash and skinny leg? Check.

British flag detail visible under distressed details? Double-triple make-you-wanna-smack-your-mama check.

And they call it "Jagger Wash"...can you even? I'm dying and as soon as I'm finished with The World's Most Unfun Diet To Lose a Size Before Fashion Week misery, I will be rocking these badass jeans in true style with some sick stilettos and a skinny tee.

To get your backstage pass to fabulous style, head to Bloomingdale's and get thee some right now. LOVE.

Stylish Viewing: Watch Lady Gaga on Bravo's "Launch My Line"

I admit that I was a little slow to get on the Lady Gaga bandwagon but I believe I can now consider myself a fan, especially of the superstar's ingenious costumes and fashion sense. Well, for those of us who are fashion AND music obsessed, we can get our fix by tuning into Bravo's new fashion competition show, Launch My Line this Thursday, January 6th to watch Lady Gaga make her appearance. Honestly, I've been watching out of nothing but love for my boys Dean and Dan Caten, the geniuses behind one of my favorite labels, DSquared, but throwing Gaga in the mix as a challenge for the would-be designers is bound to make it A Very Special Episode, indeed.

So, my fashion and music lovers out there, set your DVRs for stunning to record (or just watch if you're home) Lady Gaga on Bravo's Launch My Line this coming Thursday, January 6th at 10e/9c pm. Let's all tune in to see who gets her fashion seal of approval and which pairing becomes the style equivalent of a bad romance.

Holiday Gift Guide: Presents for the Gadget-Obssesed

Ok, we're off and running for the holidays and we're focusing on people who are just kind of hard to buy for, especially if you know them well (people you don't know so well? that's why the good Lord let us invent gift cards as far as I'm concerned). This guide focuses on the gadget nut. Everyone knows one. You know, the person who camps out for the release of the newest phone, has the baddest computer on the block and scoffs at you if you don't understand how to operate FourSquare? What to get your favorite gadget geek? Read on...

We are ALL attached to our phones and while everyone is raving about the iPhone and the Droid, have you heard of Windows Phones? Oh yeah!Windows phones have tons of features when it comes to voice and Web (Facebook, FourSquare, Twitter, browser, voice, 3G, etc) and when it comes to the fabulous fashionista in your life, uber designers like Rock & Republic and Diane Von Furstenberg designed custom themes for these phones. I'm partial to the HTC Imagio (Verizon - $199 with 2-yr contract and $100 online discount), which features a 3.6 inch touch screen and 5 mega-pixel camera with auto-focus in addition to the fabulousness I listed previously. Seriously, check it out!

What about the information junkie in your life? The one attached to Wikipedia for every little question, like "Who breathes air?" Get your information overloader a WikiReader, a gadget from famed industrial designer Thomas Meyerhoffer, that brings all of the information from Wikipedia and all of its content to anyone, anywhere on the globe without needing an internet connection. 3 simple buttons, 3 million topics, and two standard AAA batteries (included) will power the device for about one year of  normal usage. This is perfect for students or, you know, info geeks like me.

If you've got a camera nut on your gift list, you have to get them the genius camera that I use for FSB: the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera ($179.95). Forget whatever handheld video camera you have: this little gadget takes up to 10 hours of HD 1080 quality video with brilliant sound as well as still photography. I recorded all of the YouTube videos from Fashion Week on this camera and it's pure genius.

If you have an audiophile in your midst, there are three last gadgets I have to tell you about. First of all, you've already heard me raving about my AudioChi W-5 Headphones ($109.95) and I will never be without them again in life. Since my iPod is about to die (it's old, people), it's time to go ahead and upgrade to an iPod Touch ($199), which will house my music and video library as well as pitch hit as a computer if I need to check email or surf the web. But as someone who likes to crank my music up to levels that make my neighbors slightly mental, the top of my own personal gift list this year is the Geneva M Sound System ($699), which has a iPod dock, a CD slot as well as FM radio and crisp, beautiful Geneva sound. 

And if these gifts don't work, a gift certificate to Best Buy should get you a nod and the title of "righteous one" for at least another year. :)

Attention Audiofiles: Audio Chi Headphones Will Blow You Away

As you can probably guess by all the video clips I post on this site, I am an audiophile. I adore music and I really love it when I can listen to my music in crisp, recording studio and/or live performance quality. Which is why after testing them this morning, I am now telling all of you who have iPods or devices that require headphones to RUN, DON'T WALK to get these new headphones from Audio Chi right this minute.

The pamphlet that comes with the headphones says, "Sound this good has never been available in headphones this small" and they are soooo not kidding. I rolled through my iTunes list this morning and I have to say it's the first time in a really long time that every single song sounded like its original recording quality. I could practically hear the sound engineer in the booth on some of these songs, the quality is so good. Plus, on the fashionable side, the headphones come in great colors and with a slick carrying bag and detachable cables for storage. They're lightweight, super comfortable and work with literally every portable audio device. Love.

Audio Chi has now launched e-commerce here in the United States and as someone who has tried and tested her own pair, I highly recommend you get your own. This is a great present for the music lover in your life, especially if that means you get them for yourself. I have the W5 model (shown, $109.95) and I looove them. :)

Check out these fabulous headphones on their website. You'll never listen to music the same way - or look as good doing it - again.

Daily Style Icon: Linda Evangelista

Images courtesy of WireImage, clockwise from top left: Dominique Charriau, Lalo Yasky, Tony Barson, Donato Sardella

I've decided to bring this feature back because we all need a little fun, fabulousness and music in our lives. I'm still loving on supermodels so today's icon is one of the legendary supemodels of all time, Linda Evangelista, aka "The Chameleon." This is the woman who hands down unknowingly coerced me into trying five different shades of hair color in the 90's.

Evangelista knew she wanted to be a model at age 12 and did exactly that. After being discovered by an agent at the Miss Teen Niagara Contest in her native Canada, she signed with Elite Model Management in New York City as a teen and quickly shot up the ranks to become part of "The Trinity" of supermodels, with best friends and fellow supermodels Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington at her side. Famously joking that she and Turlington wouldn't "get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day," Evangelista's career took a controversial dip when Julien D' Ys cropped her hair short at the direction of photographer Peter Lindbergh for a photo shoot, causing many runways and campaigns to drop her. When thousands of women began to copy Evangelista's close-cropped style and hair color, advertisers realized the goldmine of the even-morphing model's popularity and she became more popular than ever.

When I think of Evangelista's style, it's not fashion but beauty that comes to mind. Evangelista is a great lesson in beauty: create the perfect canvas of a face and it can become a signature of your own personal style. Not all of us can have her flawless bone structure, but there are certain keys that we can follow: perfectly arched brows and amazing skin can almost negate the need for makeup but can truly set you apart from the rest.


Makeup is dandy but a flawless face is the one of the keys to real style. One of my new favorite kits to get this gorgeous skin? Philosophy's Advanced Makeup Optional Skin ($98), which includes potent portions of some of their best skincare products in one amazing package: Purity Made Simple, The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash, When Hope Is Not Enough Firming and Lifting Serum, Hope In A Jar SPF 20, and Help Me retinol treatment.

Evangelista continues to model to this day and I for one am thrilled to see her every time. One of my favorite Linda Evangelista moments is this video she did with her fellow supermodels in the early 90's for singer George Michael. It's time to pump up a little attitude with "Freedom 90." Linda, thanks for reminding us that with a little care our skin, our hair and our lives can be the true expression of our own personal style...and that as women we reserve the right to change any of them at any time.

The FSB Hot Style List: Fast Lips, Hot Fall Fashion Picks, Madonna's New CD and Hot Cocktails

I'm a firm believer that every woman should have a list of favorite things that helps her sip, shop and live in style. Funny thing is, since I work in fashion and beauty, this list changes on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis for me. I thought I'd start sharing what I'm digging on this week. What's on my mind this week as fall officially makes it arrival?



This Laura Mercier Lip Watercolours Palette ($48) has saved my life for almost two months now. Available for fair and medium complexions, these highly pigmented shades can be used one at a time or together for dazzling impact in a hurry. It's right for the season and a great value for the woman on the go.

As I'm surveying my fall wardrobe, I didn't realize that I don't have a good versatile short boot to just throw on and leave the house. These uber-hot Sam Edelman Lakota boots ($225) will be just the thing for fall.



I want a faux fur vest but I don't know if I want to invest a lot of money in the trend. Then again, I don't want to sacrifice quality and walk around in something that looks like it was made from Muppets. This Fred Flare Faux Fur Vest ($60) looks and feels amazing at a great try-the-trend price.



This weekend is all about nesting, since I'm unpacking after moving into my new apartment. While I unpack, I'll be dancing around to Madonna's new album, Celebration, a compilation of her greatest hits. If you care to get into the groove with me right this minute, here's an old and rare Madonna track, "Burning Up."



When the neighbors complain, I'll just offer them one of the hot cocktails I'll be cooking up this weekend. It's called a Galliano Toddy (I'm a fashion nut down to the names of my drinks and I am not ashamed of this fact, people). Here's the recipe if you feel like warming up your own humble abode this weekend:

Galliano Toddy
1 oz Scotch whiskey
3/4 oz Galliano® herbal liqueur
1/4 oz grenadine syrup
1 slice lemon
2 oz boiling water

Pour all ingredients into a hot cup, sprinkle with grated nutmeg, and serve.

Enjoy and look for more hot picks for next week as the weather cools down. So many awesome things coming on FSB!

Fashion For a Cause: Carolee Launches the Carolee Rocks Collection with VH1 Save the Music

Did you happen to watch VH1's Divas concert this past weekend? Well, if you didn't, DVR a rerun of the broadcast because it was really good! Another thing that's pretty spectacular? There's jewelry inspired by the fabulous music event! Carolee has partnered with VH1 Save the Music ands some well-known divas to create a limited-edition collection incorporating their own inspirational quotes. Each of the five participating artists (Estelle, Natasha Bedingfield, India.Arie, Patti LaBelle, and Kellie Picker) have chosen a quote to be engraved on a sterling silver bangle complete with their signature.



I attended the launch of the collection at the Bloomingdale's flagship store during Fashion Week and Estelle herself was in attendance. She was quite excited about the collection and stayed to speak to reporters, sign CDs and take photos with fans (the photo above is her with my friend Nichelle). She should be excited: ten percent of the sale of each bangle will go toward VH1 Save the Music and their worthwhile endeavors to keep music programs alive in schools.


If you would like to purchase these limited-edition bangles, they can be ordered through the Carolee website. Pick whichever bracelet suits your personal style: the Crystal and Silvertone Musicians Rock Star Bangle Bracelet ($50) or the Words to Live By Musicians Collection Bracelet ($100 - Estelle's model shown) come with a free CD.

Estelle's bracelet is engraved with the words "Call me a Diva and I'll tell you 'Yes Baby, what did you expect?'" I can get behind that and for a cause like VH1's Save the Music, I'll rock it in pure Diva style.

Daily Style Icon: Madonna

Photo Credit:Photo by Patrik Jonsson/Stella Pictures/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo via Newscom.

This week's FSB style icons are changelings, women who have reinvented themselves and emerged better and brighter not only from a style perspective but who have emerged like a phoenix from the flames to have incredible careers. Let's kick this off with the ultimate changeling, yesterday's birthday girl, Madonna.

Born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1977 and never looked back. After some time in the club scene, she released her self-titled debut album, Madonna in 1983, and became an instant sensation in both music and fashion. If you were alive then, it didn't matter what color or size you were or what your demographic might have been: you wanted black rubber bangles, a huge cross dangling from your ear, permed hair and a club-kid outfit. We ALL wanted to be Madonna.

Throughout her career, Madonna's countless style reinventions cause ripple effects through the industry. From her partnerships with designers (John-Paul Gaultier, Dolce and Gabanna, Gucci, Stella McCartney) to her ability to broadcast what's happening underground with style and make it mainstream, Madonna is the icon who makes it perfectly okay to break away from the crowd and stand out. Sometimes vilified for her opinions and ambitions, Madonna has remained a true model of screwing your courage to the sticking place and remaining unswayed when you know what you want. She's famously said,"I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay." I think it makes her one of my heroes.

Ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America as the best-selling female rock artist of the 20th century, the stats of Blonde Ambition are proof that the woman knows what she's doing: she's sold over 200 million albums worldwide. In 2007, Madonna was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most successful female recording artist of all time and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the following year. Having just celebrated her 51st birthday yesterday , she's remains a force to be reckoned with both on the world stage and in the style arena.



It would be impossible to pick just one Madonna look to highlight, so here is a group of fabulous drag queens dressed in her multiple incarnations as part of her MTV VMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. She's obviously had other style changes since then, but this is so much fun.



Madonna, there are so many things I can say about your style and beauty, but the most important lesson you ever taught us is to express ourselves. Thanks for never backing down, baby. You're an ultimate style icon.

Daily Style Icon: Tina Turner

This week's FSB style icons are the fabulous women of rock whose individual style has influenced not only music but fashion as well. Today's style icon is Tina Turner.

Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennesse, Tina Turner went on to leave a notoriously abusive marriage and resulting career pitfall to solidify her space as one of the world's greatest entertainers and the title of the Queen of Rock and Roll. Named "one of the greatest singers of all time" by Rolling Stone, Tina has sold nearly 200 million copies worldwide and she has reportedly sold more concert tickets than any other solo music performer in history. With vocals and a stage presence that are just as awe-inspiring as her legendary legs, Tina is arguably a force of nature and a great icon of beauty and style.

My first personal experience with Tina Turner was seeing her on the "Private Dancer" tour in the mid-80's with my mother. She put on a three-hour show and had to be dragged offstage, kicking her five-inch stilettos behind her. It's still my goal in life to someday look that hot in a pair of high heels and a leather skirt. Tina, if you're out there reading this, I'm still working on it, mama.


The only way you can pay homage to Tina Turner is with leather and high heels, like in her "What's Love Got to Do With It" video. I'm updating the look slightly with this Alice + Olivia
Drapey Overlay Dress with Leather Paillettes ($367) paired with this fabulous Paper Denim & Cloth Worn and Torn Distressed Denim Jacket ($105). Of course, with Tina only the best stilettos will do so I'm adding my wish list pumps, these Christian Louboutin Feticha Pumps ($695).




Thank you, Tina, for reminding us that living life on top of your game and respecting yourself is the ultimate in sex appeal. Please enjoy our Style Icon singing her hit, "Proud Mary" live in concert.

Daily Style Icon: Debbie Harry

This week's FSB style icons are the fabulous women of rock whose individual style has influenced not only music but fashion as well. Today's style icon is Debbie Harry.

Best known as the lead singer of the New Wave-era sensation, Blondie, this former Playboy bunny with the two-tone blonde hair was known as much for her cool sex appeal and streetwise style as she was for her musical ability. Blondie was a smash success in the late 70's and early 80's and many a teenager tried to copy Harry's mix of vintage glam and street-smart punk rock.

Ever the non-conformist, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records when the reunited Blondie singer became the "Oldest Female Singer to Reach No. 1 in the UK Chart" when the reunited band's song "Maria" hit #1 in the UK on February 13, 1999. She was 53 years old then and is still kicking the asses of rockers a quarter of her age today.


We salute the original Bad Girl of New Wave with a look from the eponymous Blondie album, "Parallel Lines." This Jones New York "Let's Elope" Linen Dress ($104).99 is a perfectly pretty update on the look. You can't forget to pair it with the ultimate 80's accessory, though: these black Ray-Ban Wayfarers ($145) are key to the look.

Thanks to Debbie for proving we can all throw as much attitude as we want and still be pretty in punk. Please do enjoy one of Blondie's most successful singles: "One Way Or Another."

Daily Style Icon: Janet Jackson

For this week on Fashion.Style.Beauty, I wanted to pay homage to style icons that had a direct impact on me as a woman of color. Today's icon is pop star/actress Janet Jackson.

I was familiar with Janet Jackson as a little girl from the Jackson Five variety specials on television but lightening struck for me with her first solo album, Control; it was all about Janet after that. My nickname in high school was "Baby J." I knew word to every song, every dance move to every video and I had to have every item of clothing she wore. I even wore my locker key on a singular hoop earring.

Janet is a style chameleon that borrows from her influences depending on her mood. Military from her brother Michael, a white tank top and ripped jeans from the supermodels of the late '80s, zoot suits from classic films: Janet made it okay to change your entire look just because you changed your mind. Janet's music and style was and is about respecting yourself and being in control. After all, years after she first said it you know the deal: her first name ain't "Baby", it's Janet. At this point in her career she's earned Ms. Jackson, doesn't matter if you're nasty or not.

Janet Jackson is one of the top selling female artists of all time, having sold over 100 million albums worldwide. She's ranked by Billboard magazine as one of the top ten best-selling music artists in the history of contemporary music, and The Recording Industry Association of America lists her as the eleventh best-selling female artist in the United States, with 26 million certified albums.


As a fan of Janet's style (and her signature six-pack abs she rocks while on tour), it's hard to pick just one look to emulate but I'll always love the classic white crop tank and ripped jeans from the "Love Will Never Do Without You" video. This BDG V-Neck Racerback Cami (2 for $24) updates the look (and covers your stomach) and gives you the look with of-the-moment Rich and Skinny Vintage Love Boyfriend Jeans ($196). Now all you need is Djimon Housou and Antonio Sabato, Jr to stop by.

Janet, thank you for showing all of us that there's no need to remain in anyone's shadow and that our style is truly our decision. Fashion, style and beauty could never do without you.

In honor of Janet being chosen as today's style icon, please do enjoy my favorite video of hers, "If."