Why You HAVE to Boycott Baby Phat

The holidays are here and no doubt, you've either seen some Baby Phat gear that you like, your kids have seen some Baby Phat gear that they like, or just out of habit, you are planning to pick some up as gifts or to give your own wardrobe a little pick me up.  Don't do it.

First, Kimora Lee Simmons isn't there anymore.  I bet you didn't even know that.  She left August, 2010 and it wasn't something that she wanted.  The company that owns Baby Phat, Kellwood Company, pulled one of the nastiest tricks I ever recall in the world of fashion.  Read this to get some background.

To deny that most people have purchased Baby Phat over the years in direct response to just how hot Kimora Lee Simmons made it look, seem or feel--the energy she put into making us all feel like superstars when wearing it--even little girls, is just wrong.  You know that's why we all grew so fond of it in the first place.  She helped make us feel like we could take on the world, so long as we were wearing some hot jeans and a cute top...with stilettos.

So, to have Kellwood Company essentially just boot her out the door, not make any announcement to us and continue to push the brand as though she is there, using little girls that look like her own in the ads to try to trick us, is unacceptable.  It stinks of racism. We deserve more than that, she deserves more than that and her team, the supportive force behind her all these years, deserves more than that. We deserve respect.  You think that if the Creative Director behind one of these brands purchased predominately by our white friends was replaced, the owners wouldn't make an announcement to those buyers? Hell yes they would! So, why didn't we deserve the same? 

Don't buy it anymore.  Follow her on Twitter @OfficialKimora and check her website, KLS.com often for updates on what she's up to.  She was recently named President and Creative Director Just Fabulous, an awesome power move, so check them out and support her there.  I know that Baby Phat has held a special place in your heart all these years, but dear reader, it's time that we moved on to bigger and better things.  That we move on into a new present and even better future with Kimora--afterall, she helped make us feel so great in the past.  --Sugar

ALSO: We're trying to convince Madame Tussauds NYC to add a Kimora Lee Simmons figure there! So, head on over there and add your name to that petition!

Kimora Covers Harper's Malaysia!

Just over two weeks ago, I mentioned that Kimora Lee Simmons was doing cover shoots for both Harper's Bazaar Malaysia and Harper's Singapore. The Malaysian edition is hot off the presses and it is smoking.  She was sent the picture above via Twitter a short while ago by @MisDeeds.  Check back here and KLS.com for updates.  I'm guessing Kimora will post the article, or a link to the article, when she gets it.  --Sugar

New Madame Tussauds Petition!

We had to make a  few tweaks to the original petition to have Kimora Lee Simmons added to the collection at Madame Tussauds NYC.  The premise is still the same.  She should be represented there.  So, check the petition out here and let's make this happen!  See you at the unveiling! : ) --Sugar

Just Stop It

I had originally decided to post this without any commentary, but I think I will say something.  Hell, it's my blog.  Last night, I started seeing tweets that said that garbage site had something that Kimora needed to check out.  When I went there, it had a post suggesting that Kimora and Djimon were separating.  My heart sank, but that site isn't exactly known for being accurate, so I decided I'd wait to see if Kimora had anything to say about it.

Sunday night, she sent several tweets that said the claims are not true and unless she says otherwise, that's what it is. So, stop gossiping and hoping that someone is going through a difficult time.  It's not going to make you any less broke or ugly. --Sugar

Petition to Have Kimora Immortalized in Wax!

Madame Tussauds wax museum is known the world over for giving some of the most influential celebrities, politicians and other historical figures immortality...in wax.  The amazingly life-like sculptures have wowed visitors in London (the flagship location), Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Berlin, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington, D.C. and New York City.  Tussauds landed in Times Square in 2000, shortly after receiving rave reviews for the first U.S. location in Las Vegas.

Imagine my shock when Kimora confirmed this morning that she does not have a figure in the Times Square location!  In 2000, Kimora Lee Simmons would have been about 24, 25 years old when Tussauds opened there.  She was already kicking down doors in the fashion world with the Baby Phat brand and at such a young age, she should have been a sure thing to have been added to the collection! 

She produced the first live broadcast of a fashion show down in Times Square and there probably isn't a soul alive in N.Y.C. who doesn't know who Kimora Lee Simmons is or that she is synonymous with business, power, philanthropy and popular culture in that city.  She's now the President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous and at only 36 years old, is ever-expanding her business might.  So, here's hoping that finally, 11 years later, Madame Tussauds will make this right.

One of Kimora's young followers on Twitter, @Lile_Fab, started a Twitition, after another, @LUV_U_KLS_ suggested she should be added, to convince Tussauds NYC (@NYCWax on Twitter) to add the Queen of Fabulosity to its collection. Sign it and spread the word!  This should be a no-brainer Tussauds! The unveiling of her sculpture will be out of this world! --Sugar

Kimora Lee Simmons Gives Away Shoes!

Kimora Lee Simmons, the still fresh and new President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous, gave away dozens of pairs of shoes this week. Check it out:

NO Baby Phat This Christmas!

Kellwood Company thugs visit Boycott Baby Phat 11/15/2011
(Click to enlarge.)

As you make your holiday shopping lists I hope you will remember to leave the Baby Phat clothing items on the racks and shelves and in the bargain bins.  Don't buy any of it.  I don't care how tempting or inexpensive it may be.  Kimora Lee Simmons created a brand that burned itself into the hearts and minds of women and girls the world over, but she's not at Baby Phat anymore, the company is now being run by clueless idiots and the quality is not anywhere near as reliable as it once was.  And, to repeat yet again, we all deserved--customers, Kimora and her staff--a more respectful transition where Baby Phat is concerned. 

All these months later, they are scheming and plotting trying to keep up the ruse--that Kimora is still there. They seem to think that customers are so stupid, we'll just go along with the program as they shoo models of color out the door, start using cut-rate materials to produce the line and snoop around this little blog as if they don't have enough work to do on a daily basis.  Customers know that something is wrong...different...and one by one I'm gonna tell them. 
Kimora is now President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous, her new skincare line, Shinto Clinical, will be available for sale soon and she's shoring up her KLS clothing line.  Some months ago, on her hit reality show on the Style Network, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, she announced that she and her girls Ming and Aoki were working on a clothing line for kids which will be called Miyoki.  I'm not sure where it is in the development stage, but Kimora doesn't release anything that is not up to par, so count on that line to be a top contender.  I'll keep you posted here and you should be sure to check in at KLS.com often for updates.

This is all such a mess and over a year later, I'm still disgusted about it.  You, dear reader (not you Kellwood minion), should be too.  There are not that many women of color making a mark in the fashion world and Kellwood Company and Sun Capital severed ties with this one without a second thought.  Now, they are trying to morph the brand into something completely different (i.e. not urban...i.e. not appealing to people of color) and it's just not going to work.  We aren't going to allow it work.

I know that you thought that by now I would have given up on this boycott.  You are fools to have thought such a thing and I'm sure you notice that more and more people, from all over the globe, are coming here and finding out what you did.  This will continue.  No respect? No dollars.  --Sugar

Everyone is Born Fabulous

Kimora stops for this photo during an event in Kuala Lumpur.

One of my Twitter friends sent me a Direct Message yesterday that had a link to an article from The Philippine Star about Kimora Lee Simmons's recent visit to Malaysia.  In the article, Kimora chats with the writer about what she thinks it means to be "fabulous".  I think everyone should read it.  I was out shopping with my mother, so I had to read it on my phone, which I don't really like to do, but I was glad that I'd had the chance to see it at all.  Check out a snippet below:

“Being fabulous means it comes from the inside. Yes, we wear makeup, we do our hair, we put on our clothes or we do our nails. Still, it comes from the inside because we can put a lot of makeup but if you’re sick, you’re sick. If you’re sad, you’re sad. A makeup can make you look little better or getting our nails done kinda make you relax but these are outside things, it should really come from the inside.”

Read the whole article here and remember, we aren't buying any Baby Phat apparel anymore!  Kimora sent a tweet yesterday stating that she'd received some Shinto Clinical, her soon to be released line of skincare products, Just Fabulous appears to be taking off like a rocket ship since she became President and Creative Director and she's cooking up some other goodies that I'm sure will be awesome.  So, there's no need to buy Baby Phat if you've been doing it, in part, in support of Kimora.  There's a little surprise at the end of the Philippine Star article, so be sure to read the whole thing! --Sugar  

Harper's, Singapore, Malaysia, Kimora

Kimora Lee Simmons and Harper's Bazaar go together like a nice, juicy NY Strip steak and some grilled asparagus with a little caesar salad and some chocolate lava cake with...okay, you get my drift. It works, and the Queen of Fabulosity is about to do it all over again! The photo above is from a shoot she and husband Djimon Hounsou did for a 2008 edition of the magazine.  Smokin, right?!

This morning, she sent this tweet:

I'm sure they will be hot, hot, hot!!!  Stay tuned here and to her website, KLS.com for updates. Remember, no Baby Phat!!! --Sugar

Kimora Prepares to Dazzle Taiwan!



Picture posted to Kimora Lee Simmons's Twitter feed Tuesday morning.

First, it was Hong Kong, then Malaysia, now Taiwan. I'd say this is a KLS Asian Domination Tour indeed!  A nice reintroduction of the Queen of Fabulosity to the masses out East, post Baby Phat--because let me repeat, Kimora Lee Simmons is no longer heading up Baby Phat, in any capacity, and we are boycotting them now.  Read the "Why Boycott Baby Phat" post in the right sidebar to see why.

I'm not sure about the itinerary during this stop in Taiwan, but I'll be keeping a close eye on KLS.com and Kimora's Twitter page, @OfficialKimora for details.  --Sugar

Malaysia Loves Kimora Lee Simmons!



Anxious Malaysian supporters gather around Kimora Lee Simmons.

There's far too much good stuff at KLS.com for me to rattle on and on here, so I won't. Kimora Lee Simmons spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this past week and by all accounts, the visit was a smashing success as she works to expand her business empire.  The picture above is from one of the many stops Kimora made around the city and I think it's one of my favorites from the trip.  The black and white effect is a nice touch.

Anyway, head over to KLS.com and check out all of the great posts she has up about the trip and leave her some comments!  It's great to see her continuing on with her global domination itinerary (you know she has one) despite the fact that these weasels are apparently still buying her name as a keyword to drive people to that wretched site, which she has nothing to do with anymore. 

Remember, do not buy any clothing items from Baby Phat, especially this holiday season.  And, tell your friends!  Causes bile to rise up in my throat when I see someone sashaying about in that crap. --Sugar

Kimora Invites 500 Malaysians to Party!



Kimora with supporter @laineyx (on Twitter) in Malaysia.


The KLS Asian Domination Tour (Okay, they aren't calling it that, but it rocks a little bit, right?) is making some serious waves in the East! Kimora swooped down into Hong Kong and took care of some business.  Now, she's in Malaysia doing the same.  But, supporters in the country are going wild about the fact that she's in their midst, so she decided to host a special event just to meet and greet them and say thank you.  I think that's fantastic!

So, here's the skinny (from Kimora on Twitter). Click the image to enlarge if you need to.:

My Malaysian peeps, I know you are nestled in your little beds right now, visions of what it will be like to meet the Queen of Fabulosity tomorrow.  Start thinking now about what you will wear and what you might say to her when you meet!  Tell your friends, especially those who are not on Twitter, to follow Kimora there and to come out and enjoy the fun! Oh, and I think the name of the location is Club Rootz, so just search that when you're looking for directions.  There's a little typo in the tweet.  The world will still rotate. Breathe.  Search.  Have fun!

Remember, we do not support Baby Phat anymore, okay? Let me know if you have questions! --Sugar

Kimora to Meet Malaysian Fabs!

You've been waiting for it and here it is! Check out the Twitlonger (click image to enlarge) from Kimora below and get TO it! Be creative and tell your friends! --Sugar

Join Us on Facebook!

I'm no big fan of Facebook, but there are far too many people using that service for my continued quest to ignore it.  So, we've taken this boycott to the people! Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BoycottBabyPhat and join in the discussion. It's important that we let the world know what Kellwood Company did here. 

Yesterday, a woman said to me on Twitter, "Kellwood kills urban brands". It made me angry.  It's time everyone get angry. --Sugar

Kimora Prepares to Take Malaysia By Storm!



Chinese women hold copies of Kimora Lee Simmons's book Fabulosity.

Asia is on fire with excitement as Kimora Lee Simmons does one of the things she does best--takes her fab self directly to the people.  She's been in Hong Kong for the past few days, where she learned that her hit reality series, on the Style Network and E! here in the States, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, is the number ONE show in Hong Kong!  I don't know what season they're on there, but that is some major news! 

Friday, she's going to give Malaysia a little taste of fabulosity and I'm sure they are going to throw waves of energy at her!  I'm sure she has a fairly structured schedule, while she's there, but she sent this tweet yesterday (click the image to enlarge):

Do NOT miss this Malaysians!!! Search that #KimoraTwtUp hashtag often on Twitter and go show her some love! And, tweet about it!  And, please tell your friends, Kimora is not at Baby Phat anymore and you should not be buying the brand.  The guys who own it are scumbags and we don't support scumbags!  Visit her website, KLS.com for other ways to support her.  She was recently named President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous and while international shipping isn't available yet, I'm sure it will be soon enough.  Everything Kimora does is BIG. Worldwide shipping is almost as imminent as we can be sure Friday comes after Thursday. Just watch....and wait. --Sugar

Baby Phat's Skin Game: Crooks



Baby Phat Ad Post-Kimora

Why is Kellwood Company working so feverishly to transform Baby Phat, a successful, urban lifestyle brand, into something more along the lines of an Abercrombie & Fitch or J. Crew? Why are customers of color being ignored after years and years of supporting this brand?  Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons sold Phat Fashions, which includes Baby Phat and Phat Farm, to Kellwood Company in 2004. Kimora stayed on until August, 2010 as Creative Director, but it is Kellwood that has benefited most financially over the past 7 years where Phat Fashions is concerned. 

This is why, the way these jerks separated from Kimora and this new, "Look at us all of you white girls and boys! We want your money!" crap is driving me insane!  Here's the thing.  Baby Phat has never only appealed to customers of color.  A quick search of Kimora's Twitter mentions alone will show a wide section of loyal supporters of all backgrounds and ethnicities--from all over the world.  Wherever she goes in the world, hundreds of supporters show up!  This has never been only about appealing to customers of color, but the respect for those buyers has always been at heart, because that's where Kimora and Russell first launched this thing--among hip hop junkies and connoisseurs--I belong to that group, so I know what the hell I'm talking about.  And, Kimora was always conscientious about making sure that Baby Phat's ad campaigns represented that fact--that it was not just a brand that catered to customers of color, while still maintaining its edgy, urban roots. 

So, what all of a sudden makes Kellwood Company think that they can just give customers of color its ass to kiss?  The quality of the brand has plummeted.  The ads are about as lifeless and uninspiring as anything out there now and this overnight switch in focus in the ad campaigns is insulting to say the least. If you think we're going to go for this, you've got another thing coming, Kellwood.  Scores and scores of people still don't know that Kimora isn't heading up the brand anymore--though I can't imagine how they can't figure out that something is woefully missing with just a quick glance of the Baby Phat website--so, it's well past time that we expand this "campaign" to bring you jerks down.  Brace yourselves. --Sugar