Kimora: House of Fab: #NYFW Virgins

From www.stylenetwork.com

I can't believe it's over!  Last night's episode of Kimora: House of Fab marked the end of the grand diva, Kimora Lee Simmons's, return to television in a new series.  It's been an interesting season and what better way to end than with a Just Fabulous New York Fashion Week debut!?  Kimora designed the shoes for the Charlotte Ronson show and she rounded up the team and headed east to give them a real taste of the fashion world.  Meanwhile, Adam and Don were back in L.A. looking for a home for JustFab's new flagship store!  The announcement of which coincided with JustFab's 3 year anniversary.  All they do is win!

I've had mixed emotions all season.  I think the show is a great concept.  Fantastic.  But, it's obvious that the team was still (at least at taping) getting used to whole reality tv..."thing".  I get that and I'm willing to give a few concessions for some of the awkwardness because of this.  However, Kimora is not new to that world.  This is why, during the next season, I expect to see a little more respect afforded her by the rest of the team.  I hope that having seen themselves on the air now, looking uncertain and unsure...awkward, as she moves like a ripple of water on a pond pushed by a gentle breeze, they will realize that they, in fact, don't know what the hell they're doing and that's why she's President and Creative Director.

Kimora: House of Fab: Gimme Some Skin

From www.stylenetwork.com

I just finished watching this week's Kimora: House of Fab and I'm feeling very introspective.  My mind is all over the place.  Allow me to share.  In this episode, the JustFab team was busy preparing for the launch of rocker Avril Lavingne's Abbey Dawn line of shoes with the company and planning and shooting the first commercial featuring Kimora as President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous.  Just when I thought the team was growing on me, they got on my nerves again.  I recognize that much of any reality series is scripted and planned...in some way...but, I also have a sense of when the real ish starts going down.  Of course, I have no way of knowing for sure, but let's call it a good use of deductive reasoning. 

Let me start by saying I think Just Fabulous and Kimora Lee Simmons fit together like hand and glove.  It just makes sense.  It's quite obvious that she's had a tremendous impact, already, on taking things to the next level for the brand, with fresh ideas and an insistence that the company continues to evolve and expand.  That's what she does.  That's who she is.  She's done it before.  This isn't her first time at the rodeo.  So, this is why I get a little bothered by watching anybody at Just Fabulous give her some push back when she offers her perspective on which direction she thinks things should go.  I don't mean to say that nothing she says should ever be questioned.  I absolutely don't mean that and I don't think that's what she expects from them.

But, telling a 37 year old mother of three, who has kicked down more doors than most of them will ever even have the privilege of walking up to, in an industry rife with sexism and racism, that the women who follow her won't appreciate seeing her "behind a desk" is absolutely ridiculous!  REE-DICK-YOU-LUS!  In fact, I think most of the women who follow and support her would have preferred to see her in a more professional light.  We've seen Kimora evolve over the years.  We've seen her scantily clad (after all, we were wearing similar ensembles at the time Ha!), we've seen her regal and elegant and we've seen her moving through these fashion streets as the business mogul that she is.

House of Fab: No Polyester on the Runway!

From www.StyleNetwork.com

On last night's Kimora: House of Fab, the crew was hard at work creating a new dress line for JustFab and getting some goodies together for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I love the duality in the show. The team is usually engaged in at least two projects during each episode and it's a great look at just how much work it takes to make it all happen.  At one point, when they were discussing the new dress line, Lesley said she suspected that they'd have a lot of 24 hour work days ahead.  I'm sure most people thought she was joking.  I bet she wasn't.

Kimora: The Relationship Whisperer

From www.StyleNetwork.com/HouseofFab

Last night's episode of Kimora: House of Fab was hilarious and perfect timing what with today being Valentine's Day.  I suspect that as meticulous as Kimora is, that is no coincidence. Hey, look, she even has a heart on her tee! 

The team was hard at work on a shoot for a new commercial and in the process Kimora played matchmaker for Lesley, JustFab's Director of Merchandise.  Lesley didn't seem too excited and I'm guessing that it didn't work out, but such is life and Kimora offers some great, sound advice for navigating the dating world on Style Network's website.  As I watched the episode, I reflected upon how delicate a dance it is to work a very demanding job and maintain an active social life.  It's tough, especially when you have great work ethic, but it's necessary.  It's so easy to find yourself feeling guilty about taking a vacation because, "There's so much to do" or "They're just going to mess things up while I'm away" and the list goes on and on.  But, guess what?  If you keel over and die at that job, they'll call 911 to come and scoop your carcass up, mop up the floor, spray a little Lysol and find a replacement for you within a month's time.  Seriously.

Kimora: House of Fab -- Not Yo Mama's Jeans!

I'm going to try not to post any spoilers here, but if I do, just take it for love and hush up.  Tonight's episode of Kimora: House of Fab was hilarious and insightful, and the cast is really starting to grow on me.  The team was working on a new print ad campaign and gathering feedback from women for Just Fab's denim line.  Let's be clear here. If anybody knows women's denim, it's Kimora Lee Simmons and it is so damn funny to watch her give them directives about what she'd like to see and what she doesn't like.  The constant refrain tonight was, "Without it being a high, granny, mom jean."  Can it be any more clear (or funny) than that?  I didn't think so either.

The work on the print campaign was rife with the same old office bullsh*t and I had some great chuckles as I watched.  Alyson, JustFab's Art Director, wanted to try something out of the box by using a nude model to sell the shoes, while Sandra, JustFab's Senior Vice President of Marketing, was very hesitant, preferring to go with a clothed model.  I was all for giving it a shot, but I totally understand Sandra's hesitation. You have to CYA (cover your ass) out in these streets or run the risk of somebody KYA (kicking your ass) for screwing up.  Anyway, the two go back and forth about which idea makes the most sense until Adam and Don, Just Fab's Co-CEOs, weigh in at the very end.  Comedy gold!

House of Fab: Our Shoes Are the Sh*t!

From: Style Network

On last night’s episode of Kimora: House of Fab, Kimora and the crew showed just how much work goes into making it all happen.  Kimora was preparing for an OK! Magazine shoot and the staff was tasked with making a video with the expectation that they’d be able to make it go viral on the internet.  They were split up into teams then sent on their way to see what they could make happen.  Hilarity ensued.

Johnny is, by far, the stand-out character on the show -- besides Kimora, of course.  He’s funny, bold and colorful, a recipe for reality television success.  I love the way the show gives viewers a look at how much thought goes into every single aspect of the business.  I think it’s important for the public to see that, because it doesn’t all just magically come together.  I think it’s also important to realize that we are most likely only seeing even a small portion of what it really takes!  This is business, and businesses are in business to make money.  So, they can’t just throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may.  Everything from color schemes to material to lighting, angles…all of it…matters. 

Kimora's House of Fab Debuts

I never doubted that she could do it again, but I had no idea she'd do it like this.  Wednesday night, Kimora Lee Simmons threw down the gauntlet for other reality television series with Kimora: House of Fab.  Just as she promised, the show gives viewers an inside look at the creative process at online fashion behemoth Just Fabulous where she's President and Creative Director.  It is a hit! 

Kimora prefers to call the show a docu-drama and I agree. It's less like a traditional reality tv series (no beatdowns, no screaming matches between drunken, far too old to be behaving that way women, no idle chatter about dumb sh*t, etc.) and more like a short-form documentary in series form.  I love home designer Jeff Lewis's Flipping Out series and Kimora: House of Fab has that same organic, fresh feel.  When I watch Jeff's show, as much as I'm entertained, it's amazingly interesting to see how he puts his genius to work.  Kimora: House of Fab handles its content very similarly and I'm hooked!

Kimora Returns!

Tonight's the night!  The premiere of Kimora: House of Fab!  I only vaguely remember the premiere of Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, but I don't think I'll ever forget this one!  The first episode of Life in the Fab Lane is a classic!  It was like nothing we'd ever seen before (lol) and I suspect House of Fab will be the same.  It airs at 9pm E/P and I'm going to do my best to be in front of the television, but my dvr is set for the full season!

And, here's a bonus!  Just Fabulous is giving one lucky winner a year of free shoes for posting a picture here of them and some friends watching the premiere!  So, make them count, spread the word and happy viewing! --Sugar

Kimora Lee Simmons Flips it Again!

Guess who's back?!  On Wednesday, January 23rd, Kimora Lee Simmons will take over the reality tv airwaves as she fashions a new nook for herself in that oftentimes unseemly corner of entertainment television.  Kimora: House of Fab promises a look at the inner workings of online fashion powerhouse JustFab.com where Kimora is President and Creative Director.  Kimora says this about the new show:

“This is an office environment with more of an ensemble. It is more like The Office or Ugly Betty. It is a team of people at all times, with lots of coming and going. It is less of my kids and my personal side.”

I'm a little perturbed that Kenzo Lee appearances will be scarce. Afterall, we haven't even had a chance to hear his little voice!  But, while I truly admire Kimora for her skills as a mother in the face of her demanding workload, it is her business acumen that is a true marvel. 

Is Kellwood Under Water?

I figured I'd ramp things back up here ahead of the holiday buying rush, but damn, nobody's checking for Baby Phat.  At all.  I did a Google search and nothing but a bunch of junk returns and old links to the brand's heyday when Kimora was still at the helm.  I did a Google search for Kellwood and oh my have things gotten interesting over there. 

First, in my neglect here, I missed the news that Jill Granoff, former CEO of Kenneth Cole, is now in our pal Michael Kramer's old job.  She's already shaking things up and I have a feeling that there aren't enough fingers to plug the dam over there.  Hilariously, I believe Kellwood is glad that most of the fashion trade press has pretty much left them to their devices while they "reorganize".  But, the St. Louis media keeps right on reporting what's happening.  Like this, Report:  Kellwood Co. Considering IPO for Vince Brand in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Let's discuss.  Shall we? We shall.

Is This the End?

Are we still boycotting? Of COURSE we are!  The holiday season is upon us and I think it's only fitting that I ramp things back up here.  Let's hope this is finally the end for the brand we all knew and loved for so long.  It will be bittersweet, but it's time.  Kellwood, you guys lasted longer than I expected, but then I'm sure I've lasted longer than you all thought I would as well.  Teehee  That's how mutual loathing works out sometime.  Funny. 

Walmart (primary home to most Baby Phat products these days) has layaway again and I feel like I'm very far behind here. I should have been screaming from the internet rooftops weeks ago.  I'm sure a lot of people have already purchased those shoddy threads.  I wonder if they ever pause to think about how expensive and how much more superior in quality Baby Phat used to be?  I hope so.  Anyway, I'm off to play tennis and get a facial.  Research and...information sharing...later.  I know you guys are excited, Kellwood.  Me too. --Sugar

Penney's Michael Kramer Wants His Old Thing Back?

Michael Kramer, former CEO of Kellwood Company

I haven't blogged here much lately.  Gosh, it seems like I've been writing that more and more lately and that certainly wasn't my intention.  But, things have been a little crazy and I haven't been able to give this enough focus.  I decided to check the stats here and lo and behold, what do I spy with my little Baby Phat hating eye?  Looks like our old pal, Michael Kramer, forrmer Chief Executive Office at Kellwood Company, the goons who own Baby Phat and who so disrespectfully ended the relationship with Kimora Lee Simmons, can't get his old place of business off his mind.

Imagine my shock when I saw this in the stats?:

(Click to enlarge)

Maybe he knows his days are numbered at J.C. Penney, what with the way he and the new crew have f*cked things up over there., and he's hoping to be able to weasel his way back in to Kellwood somehow.  Seems he'd have enough on his plate at Penney's and not enough time to spend Googling a little blog dedicated to showing just how greedy and nasty they are at Kellwood Company.  But, maybe not and maybe that's why Penney's is sinking like the Titanic.  It could also be dumb statements like this from Penney's new COO, Michael Kramer when asked about the decision to do away with the coupons that working mothers and grandmothers have come to depend upon from J.C. Penney. (This statement after a dismal earnings report from Penney's):

"We did not realize how deep some of the customers were into this," noted COO Michael Kramer about couponing. "We've got to wean them off this and educate our consumers."

"Wean them off"?  Such a fool.  So out of touch.  So just...awful.  In this horrible economy, you do away with coupons at a store that is known for a coupon, at a time when whole reality shows are being built around...couponing?  Do yourself a favor and read this whole Huffington Post article from May about these morons -- Kramer and the new CEO at Penney's, Ron Johnson.  Two absolute idiots.  If Johnson is taking his direction from Kramer, we can all pretty much predict what's next...goodbye Penney's.  Hey, maybe Penney's and Baby Phat will officially close on the same day because Penney's is really plummeting quicker than I'm sure anybody could have ever predicted.  When you bring new people in, they are supposed to move things in a positive direction, not straight to bankruptcy court.

Fashion Police Needs Kimora!

A couple weeks ago, Kimora Lee Simmons was a guest host on E! Fashion Police and again, she was a smash hit!  She posted the video below at her website, KLS.com and it's so cute.  I'm truly glad that Guiliana Rancic made it through her cancer diagnosis and is now on to becoming a mommy. I think that's just great.  But, in the meantime and between time, I say KLSH is the perfect addition to the team.  She brings a fresh perspective, she's hilarious and she is the fashionista of all fashionistas.  I mean, let's be real here. 

So, Ms. Joan Rivers and crew, please consider making our girl at least a long-term temporary replacement if not....ahem...a long-term permanent replacement for our dear Giuliana.  The viewers love Kimora and hell, you could use a little extra melanin up there on the set.  Come on, Joan!  We'll be watching. --Sugar

Kimora Stars in New KLS Rush Card Commercial

From www.kls.com

Just one new chapter after another and I love it.  Monday, May 7th new KLS Rush Card commercials, starring Kimora Lee Simmons, started hitting the airwaves and there is a consensus -- she rocks!  Check the commercial out below and be sure to head over to her site for additional details about the new card and where you can see the spot on the telly!  On to the next one! Suckas! --Sugar

Baby Phat's Website Goes POOF!

Every time I take my eyes off these idiots, something big happens.  I logged on here last night to take a quick look around when I noticed that there were a few comments awaiting moderation.  One of them blew me away!  It said that the Baby Phat website was gone. Poof!  Exists no more. Vanished into thin air.  Gone.  When I read the comment, I thought, "No way. What is this?" Then, I checked, and it's true! 

This is what you see now when you go to www.babyphat.com:

Click to enlarge

"Check out our new digs."  Gosh, they have no respect for the intelligence of their customers.  Just none.  Who do they think they're fooling?  The "new digs"?  You're in the death throes, and if you think that your customers and those laughing at you from afar don't know that, you are sadly mistaken.

It seems they've worked out some kind of deal to have Macy's host their products solely on their site, but what does this mean? Has Macy's now become part owner?  I'm going to take some time to do some digging this weekend, but I think we can get our black dresses ready because this bitch is about to die. 

I told you fools that this would happen. I told you that you should have handled your thing with Kimora better than you did and we all know that you've been reading.  I have the records to show.  Maybe if you'd just apologized and given Kimora a proper send-off and not tried to treat customers like some damn dummies, even after the initial screw up, you might have been able to save yourselves this embarassment, but you didn't listen to me.  You wanted to convince yourselves that I was just some nut with a laptop.  Ohhhh, but I'm not and it seems that with each passing month, you are having to face that fact more and more, huh? Well, kiss my ass and get to typing up that press release and strategizing how you're going to announce that Baby Phat is no more.  How long now? About 6 to 9 months?

I'm glad that Kimora has moved on and that she's doing even bigger and better things because Kellwood Company is a brand killer.  You guys suck and you get exactly what you deserve. --Sugar

Happy Birthday Kimora!

Another year, more milestones, more blessings!  It seems like I only just posted a message with birthday wishes to the Queen of Fabulosity yesterday, but here we are again.  I would like to not get all sappy and cheesy, and I hope that I won't in this post, but if I do dear reader, please forgive me.

Kimora Lee Simmons Hounsou!? I hope that today and this entire weekend is a great one for you.  I don't know if you care about your birthday much anymore.  I really don't care that much about my own, but some people really go all out for the day.  If you're one of those people, I hope you enjoy it.

So much has happened in a year and I pray that even better things are in store in the year ahead.  You've been such an inspiration to so many at such a young age, with so many people depending on you for this thing and the other and expecting this thing and the other from you.  I hope that somewhere you get some relief from it all.  I really, really hope so.

I love you dearly (something that still baffles my rational mind, yet here we are lol) and if there's anything I can ever do to help with anything, let me know.  --Sugar

Style Developing New Series on Kimora's JustFab

I wrote this up a little while ago, but Kimora hadn't announced it officially, so I took it down.  But, she's been talking about it a lot now, so check out a few details about her new reality series and be sure to follow her and Just Fabulous on Twitter (see below) for additional details.

The little news aggregator on the right sidebar of this blog drops some hot, spicy nuggets sometime! I love it!  I surfed onto the page a little while ago to see what the stats were looking like (so screwy), when I saw something that said Style Network had announced a new set of programming for the upcoming season and there was something about Kimora Lee Simmons and a new show that's in development. 

I clicked the link and there it was, a little blurb that mentioned that there would be a new show, House of Fab, on Style Network that will take a behind the scenes look at Just Fabulous, the online shoe subscription service where Kimora is President and Creative Director.  I think that this is fantastic!  This from the Hollywood Reporter about the new series.:

House of Fab
Produced by Left/Right. Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver and Kimora Lee Simmons serve as executive producers. In partnership with Justfab.com, an online shoe/fashion service that features Kimora Lee Simmons at the helm as president and creative director. This docu-series will follow the eclectic and diverse cast of characters behind this fashion forward dot com and see what it takes to keep the operation going.

I'm not sure what this means for Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, but this would definitely be something fresh and new and really taking things in a different direction.  Evolution.  I think it's great news and I hope that it will be a hit. Be sure to follow Kimora and Just Fabulous on Twitter and on Facebook (JustFab and Kimora) because I'm sure they'll be dropping more information about it soon!  Congratulations to all and I can't wait to see the new show! --Sugar

Toronto's Kiss 92.5 Mentions Boycott Baby Phat

I had only just opened my eyes 10 minutes before when I remembered I saw a tweet last night or earlier that said Kimora Lee Simmons was going to be on Toronto's Kiss 92.5 this morning.  I missed most of the hits when she was on Canada's Shopping Channel talking Shinto Clinical over the weekend, so I wanted to make sure I heard the radio hit. I also wondered whether it was recorded.  Anyway, I checked her mentions and Kiss 92.5 sent a tweet saying she'd be on before 8am.  I clicked the link and she was already on!

She was talking about her children and they were asking her questions about Shinto Clinical when it became clear that the interview was nearly over. I thought to myself, "Damn. I missed most of it."  Then, the guy says, "One more question, Kimora.  Have you seen the website where some of your fans are starting a movement to have people boycott Baby Phat?"  My ears shot straight up!  Kimora responded, "What is that? Is that still a company?"  My day is only just starting, but there was my moment of Zen already. Ha! 

If you're reading this post, that means you need to spend a few minutes reading the rest of this stuff and making the decision with the rest of us to stop buying Baby Phat!  It's crap now and the company who owns it doesn't have respect for customers of any color.  Spend your dollars elsewhere!  Including these options: Shinto Clinical by Kimora Lee Simmons (main site), Shinto Clinical on Canada's Shopping Channel, Shinto Clinical on QVC's website and Just Fabulous, where she's President and Creative Director.  And, stop by her main website, KLS.com often to see what she's up to there!

And, to answer the radio host's question to Kimora, of course she hasn't. --Sugar

Kimora to Receive Prestigious Visionary Award

This makes my heart smile, because I don't see nearly enough of this.  On Monday, April 30th, Kimora Lee Simmons will be honored by East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, during its 46th annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction.  The theme of the event is "Languages of Love" and it will pay homage to Asian Americans who have made a valuable impact on the Asian Pacific American community through their artistic excellence and support of the Asian Pacific American performing arts.

I think this is fantastic!  Do you have any idea just how much Kimora has done in her brief 36 years of life?  This is the short description on EWP's website:

Kimora Lee Simmons has been described as a “savvy businesswoman, author, philanthropist, producer, top model, television personality, Tony Award winner and — according to Forbes Magazine — is one of the top ‘hardest working mothers in Hollywood.’” (KLS.com) As a fashion and entertainment leader of Korean, Japanese and African American ancestry, she has raised the visibility of Asian Pacific Americans as trendsetters on a global scale

I think you might need to read it again and marinate in that prestige...that effort...that tenacity...that hustle.  I only just found out about the Tony Award not very long ago myself and I nearly died.  I mean, here is a woman who has made a lasting impact in so many different industries it's like she's some type of super human.  She only recently launched a new skincare line, Shinto Clinical, and just months before was named President/Creative Director of online shoe subscription service, Just Fabulous.  In case you just hatched or just crawled out from under a rock, there aren't many tuned in to the world of fashion and pop/urban culture who don't know she made nearly unbelievable strides as head of the Baby Phat and Phat Fashions brands and the list just goes on and on and on!  She is a beast!

But, here's the thing.  As I mentioned earlier in this post, despite everything I just briefly touched upon, I don't see Kimora getting nearly enough recognition for all that's she's done as a businesswoman, mother, wife and icon, especially from the African American community.  What's the deal?  Her dad is African-American and we aren't in any position to be giving anybody the stiff arm, for whatever reason, because there aren't that many of us doing it like she's doing it.  Face the facts.  Everyday on Twitter, I see this Black woman and that one opining about how great so many other Black women are -- deserved praise without a doubt, but when it comes to Kimora, many of them quickly turn a deaf ear and it's really disappointing.  I think that as a people, we have to be bigger than this.  We only have each other and we all deserve due recognition and respect for our various contributions as a part of this community.  And, I'm giving you the "side eye" 2012 NAACP Image Awards.  She should have been there and she should have been recognized considering all of the moves she's made this past year.

Enough of my gripes.  Check out the full details about the EWP award here and by all means, head over to her Twitter or her Facebook and give Kimora a shout of congratulations for the recognition.  She deserves it if anybody does.  --Sugar

AOL Recommends Shinto Clinical

ALL EVENS OUT: http://www.shintoclinical.com/

Shinto Clinical by Kimora Lee Simmons has been available for just over a month and the reviews continue to pour in.  The latest is from America Online with a nice juicy endorsement of ALL EVENS OUT, a daily treatment to help restore your skin's glow and radiance.  That's just what it is.  Not a "whitening cream" as so many are eager to call products of this nature.  Many women, especially women of color, develop age spots and other skin discolorations over time and well, why leave them there if you don't have to?  That's where ALL EVENS OUT comes in -- to give you a little spot buffer in a tube.

Check out the article at this link and if you haven't, be sure to head over to ShintoClinical.com and order up a little something for yourself.  Your skin isn't getting any younger you know? Start taking care of it now instead of waiting until the sands of time have whipped you into submission. --Sugar