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.

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. 

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

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

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

JustFab Blogs!

http://blog.justfab.com/

"If you miss a day, you miss a lot." Damn, it's true.  JustFabulous has been cranking away in preparation for the launch of the Abbey Dawn line with Avril Lavigne and this little nugget of goodness nearly slipped past me -- the new JustFab blog!  The site looks really good and it's another great place to get answers to questions, share ideas and get the latest scoop on contests and other JustFab news.  So, check it out and by all means, get in on the discussions!  There's some good stuff over there. --Sugar

She's Gonna Be a Contender!

Last night, Kimora Lee Simmons was beamed into the homes of QVC audiences nationwide and in less than 10 minutes she let the world know that she is preparing to give the skin care game a run for its money.  The official launch of Shinto Clinical by Kimora Lee Simmons came amidst a star-studded list of players at QVCs The Buzz on the Red Carpet event hosted live in Los Angeles. 

Each designer or stylist showcased during the broadcast had a few minutes to tell the world why their product is the one to buy and Kimora hit it out of the park during her Shinto Clinical pitch.  One of the things that really stuck out to me was the fact that such extensive testing has been conducted on the products in the line.  Last night, Kimora presented Smooth Answer, an anti-wrinkle moisture boost hydrator, and some of the information that she shared about what the product can do to help slow down the effects of aging sounds really promising.  I mean, what woman doesn't want to snatch the hands of time right off the clock?!

Milestone Smashin!

Shinto Clinical by Kimora Lee Simmons: Smooth Answer

Hear that?.....listen carefully.....it's the sound of Kimora Lee Simmons smashing through another milestone!  The official launch date for Shinto Clinical by Kimora Lee Simmons is this Friday, February 24th at 8pm, live on at home shopping network QVC. But, you don't even have to wait until then to get your hands on some Smooth Answer, the Anti-Wrinkle Moisture Boost Hydrator that Kimora will debut during the broadcast.  Click that link to head over to QVC and place your order today!

Friday, should prove to be a truly fantastic day for KLS and I'm almost as excited as I imagine she is!  She'll be live on QVC at 8pm to unleash Shinto Clinical's powers onto the world. Then, at 9pm Eastern, she'll take to the red carpet with other designers and stylists for an evening of celebration at QVC's The Buzz on the Red Carpet, live in Los Angeles. 

So, get ready!  Maybe plan a little viewing party of your own and let Kimora know on her Twitter @OfficialKimora if you plan to do something like that!  This is another major milestone for Kimora and it should be celebrated!  What a fantastic way to start to bring Black History Month to a close -- with a sister making another power move even as so many others around her shrink away into oblivion. Let's git it, KLS!!!!

Check out a little preview of The Buzz on the Red Carpet below.  --Sugar

Shinto Clinical Featured in NYLON Mag

From lashhaven.com.au

Some months ago, I was chatting with one of my pals on Twitter when we started discussing eyelashes and ways to enhance them or to actually grow some new ones.  I expressed my disdain for some new "by prescription only" product that claimed it could help regrow lash hairs because I try to avoid medicines as much as possible.  A medicine to regrow eyelash hairs is something I absolutely would never use.  Besides, mine are very thick and healthy, bless gawt!  So, I don't need it anyway.

But, for those of us who do struggle with a desire for thicker longer lashes, and there are many of us, here comes Kimora Lee Simmons with a solution that does not require a prescription.  Shinto Clinical's LASH is a "clinically proven eyelash growth enhancer" and it's already getting accolades. 

From the Shinto Clinical Twitter page earlier today (click to enlarge):

I love the guy (?) all snuggled up with the tube of LASH in bed!  Pick up a copy of the February edition of NYLON Magazine and check out the full write-up.  I have a feeling we have a lot more like this to look forward to in the coming weeks and months.  I can't wait!  Baby who? --Sugar

Think Fast!

Alright, we've been waiting all week for that second pre-launch contest question on the Shinto Clinical Facebook page and at 9:30pm Thursday, nothing yet.  Which can only mean one thing...you'd better be on your A game tomorrow because I have a feeling that question is going to be posted with little time for casual pondering and perusing for a response.  So, snuggle on those thinking caps tonight and get a good night's rest so you'll be ready for the quick draw. Good luck!  I can't wait to see your responses! --Sugar

February Means Shinto Clinical!

It's February and you know what that means!  Well, of course it's Black History Month, but it's also Shinto Clinical Month!  In just 23 days, Kimora Lee Simmons, uber mogul, will burst onto the scene at QVC and come into homes all over this country with hope in a jar -- a SMOOTH ANSWER for a few of life's woes.  I'm not sure what time Kimora will appear on the network on February 24th, but be on the lookout for new details on the Shinto Clinical Facebook page, on the @ShintoClinical Twitter page and at KLS.com and @OfficialKimora on Twitter.  That's four different ways to stay informed, five including this site, so don't miss the boat! Get those fingers clicking!

And, don't forget, there's a great pre-launch promotional happening right now! Shinto Clinical is giving away the full 9 item collection if you have the skills to give the best SMOOTH ANSWER to a hypothetical question or scenario found on www.facebook.com/ShintoClinical.  They've already named one winner and there will be another winner this week and each of the next two weeks as well. But, you have to LIKE the Shinto Clinical Facebook page and check in there often in order to be able to enter to win.  Good luck! --Sugar

Happy New Year!

If you're reading this, I hope that the year ahead is a great one for you.  Even you, Baby Phat/Kellwood water carriers.  Now, I don't mean a great year for Baby Phat, the brand.  I believe that this will be the year it finally goes under and I will rejoice.  But, seriously, I don't wish you all any ill will where your health is concerned and I hope you make it through the year without any debilitating illnesses and such.  But, I need for Phat Fashions to fail and as long as you insist upon misleading the people, if that means Kellwood Company fails along with it, so be it.  Karma is something else.  I think she's got something mighty nasty brewing up for you guys.  --Sugar

Kimora Talks Fashion of the Future

I was just about to start watching season two of Entourage (shuddup!) when I decided I'd better do a quick search to make sure I hadn't missed anything that needed to go up here today.  The failure to post the information about Michael Kramer's departure from Kellwood Company until over two weeks after he'd crawled away is haunting me.  The jerks don't deserve a second of a break. I wanna ride those arses like a Thorouhbred!

Anyway, I checked the Facebook page for this site, then clicked the link to Kimora's Facebook page to make sure she hadn't posted something there that I need to post here when I saw a comment that piqued my interest.  A guy named Patrick McHale wrote: "Just Fabulous Inc. and you featured on front page of LA Times Business section...all this, while at the beach!" I knew it was going to be good, so I headed on over to the L.A. Times website and found this article, Online Shoe Clubs are in Step With Fashion Forward Women. I'm guessing the picture that McHale mentioned was in the print edition, because the picture above is from a previous shoot. But, that's a small matter.  Let's get to it.

Kellwood's Top Rat Jumps Ship

Former Kellwood Company CEO, Michael Kramer

A couple weeks ago when I read a few articles talking about Baby Phat's licensor filing for bankruptcy protection, I should've taken a moment to see how things are going at Kellwood Company, owners of the Baby Phat brand since 2004.  It's a mess.

Michael Kramer (that's him with Satan's overbite in the picture above), the most recent chief executive officer at Kellwood, recently departed, like two weeks ago, to take the chief operating officer position at J.C. Penney Company.  He's also now on the board at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.  No biggie, right? Wrong.  Kramer told Kavita Kumar at the St. Louis Post Dispatch this back in November when she asked him about the rumors that he was leaving Kellwood:

"But if I were to leave Kellwood, I'm not running from anything because this is a phenomenal company," he said. "There's a lot of good things going on here."

Sure, and that's why just over a year after acquiring "upscale contemporary sportswear line" Adam, Kellwood is now dropping it...right?  Because things are going so well?  Yeah, right.  This is what Kramer, the new COO at J.C. Penney Company, told Kumar right after the August, 2010 acquisition:

"Adam is the first one we've nailed. Hopefully, this is the first of many to come."

Maybe he meant nailing a coffin, because the party is over.  And, I do mean party:

After all, for most of its history, the Town and Country-based apparel company has been more accustomed to making private-label clothes for Walmart and moderate-priced brands such as Sag Harbor and Koret.

And yet, last month, there was Michael Kramer, Kellwood's fast-moving and acquisition-hungry chief executive, sitting in the front row at Lincoln Center as models showcasing the designs of two of his most recently purchased brands - Adam and Rebecca Taylor - strutted on the catwalk. [From: STL Dispatch, March, 2011]

Kramer, the "acquisition-hungry chief executive" was poppin bottles with models. Oh yes, he was living it up at Fashion Week.  Now, he's jumped ship because he knows the whole damn thing is about to sink.  I mean, seriously.  Why would he leave a perfectly good chief executive officer post at a company that has "a lot of good things going on" to be somebody's COO?  There's nothing wrong with a COO post, without a doubt, but it's like a demotion for him....unless, it isn't..........

These idiots.  Now, I'm going to have to keep a close eye on Kellwood Company and not just those things related to Baby Phat, because I suspect that some big changes are about to occur.  And, notice the way Kumar (at the STL Post Dispatch) rarely mentions Baby Phat in any of those articles?  It's just a matter of time.  --Sugar

Walmart Doesn't Even Want Baby Phat

I swear, you can't make this stuff up. I was reading an article about Baby Phat's licensor, (NOT Kimora Lee Simmons) BP Clothing, having to file for bankruptcy protection when I happened upon these sentences:

According to court papers, the company has been battling a cash-flow problem that hampered its ability to finance its Baby Phat production. Subsequently, BP Clothing early this year lost its license to sell Baby Phat clothing to Wal-Mart.

When not even Walmart wants you, just give up.  Just give UP!!! The only place left to go is the Slauson Swap Meet and absolutely, you can do that, but I don't think that Erin accepted a job with you morons to promote sales at a swap meet.  The article goes on:

According to court papers, “The debtor seeks to efficiently reduce the substantial debt burden that hinders its ability to effectively compete in a competitive market that has been challenged by overall economic conditions. A successful restructuring will allow the debtor to concentrate its resources on generating revenue and expanding market share.”

Without a doubt, the economy is taking a beating and I'm sure sales in many sectors are down, but the economy is not the reason why Baby Phat is suffering.  Hell, you can buy about 10 Baby Phat shirts for a $1 in Walmart! Okay, that's not true, but it sounds funny.  But, seriously, Baby Phat is not as expensive in Walmart as it once was in say Macy's Herald Square 5 years ago.  It's very affordable and when you can't sell a brand with such iconic appeal in WALmart, Houston, we have a problem!

The reason why sales are down is because karma is ripping you jagoffs a new one.  You so poorly handled your separation with Kimora, I'm guessing under the assumption that she really wasn't as integral a part of that brand as I'm sure you now know she is.  You can't just handle things in such a disrespectful manner and expect for the universe to repay you with wheelbarrows full of filthy stinkin lucre.  It ain't happnin.

I told you fools months ago to fix this and I know you've been reading because I can see you in the stats. From the very moment you so foolishly dismissed Kimora and members of her team without so much as a press release, you had a short window to make it right. Apologize to supporters, give Kimora and her team a proper sendoff and reintroduce yourselves to the urban community and indeed the world.  But, no. You decided to take the less sensible path and now here we are.

I know how these things go.  The suits had probably been giving Kimora and her team hell for months and months on end, pushing them to play ball your way.  But, why?  When she and Russell sold that company to you, that should not have given you the foolish idea that you could do it better, but rather that financially you were willing to take things to a different level. You should have kept your grubby hands off the creative side of things, because as you must now realize, that is not your expertise.  Fools.  Kimora had built that brand into a behemoth, with supporters spanning the globe!  Many of them still don't even know she isn't there any longer!  Oh, but they are finding out--one at a time--and they are not happy about it. This is why you are in freefall right now.  Fools.

It is only a matter of time before Baby Phat, will be no more.  I'm sure that Kimora will consider it a very bittersweet moment.  She didn't put all of her heart and soul into the brand only to have it crumble in such a manner.  And, I'm sure that while she will feel a bit of satisfaction and "I told you so" deep down inside when it happens, she will mourn for the good times that she and her team had while building that brand and honing her business acumen.  I think that we all will.......But, until then? We don't need no water, let the muthaf*cka burn! --Sugar

Baby Phat Limps Along on Crutches

Picture sent to Kimora by @ToppDogg1201 on Twitter.

I was going to search for a picture of some crutches, but I think this picture sent to Kimora by @ToppDogg1201 sorta just kinda punches those bastards in the gut a little bit harder.  Lord knows they've been doing more poaching, scheming and lying than the law allows to keep Baby Phat afloat!  Need to call it Copy Cat instead of Baby Phat because they can't seem to give Kimora Lee Simmons a rest!  Didn't want her there any longer, but can't manage to keep traffic flowing to that website without buying her name as a keyword.

I've had a very busy day, but I took a little stroll across my timeline every now and again (addict) to make sure everything was okay out there.  Imagine my shock when I received a tweet with a link to an article that said this, Baby Phat Licensor Files for Bankruptcy.  I was nearly speechless.  I'm too exhausted to break the article down proper like right now, but this weekend, let's give it a whirl why don't we? 

Read the article, very, very carefully.  Read it once.  Read it twice.  Read it a third time if you need to in order to get the gist of what's being stated between the lines, because there's some funny style business even in the information that's being released about this bankruptcy.  It's not Kellwood Company announcing that the Baby Phat brand is now defunct, but it's close.  Thisclose.  It's only a matter of time. --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