Islandistas on red carpets across the globe

Islandistas (and an islandisto) hit red carpets from London to Los Angeles last week. Fashion, film and music all collided as island folk graced red carpets for the Elle Style Awards in London, the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles and further down the fame totem pole, BET's Rip the Runway fashion show in New York City.

The Elle Style awards kicked things off with Naomi Campbell, Corinne Bailey Rae and Leona Lewis all attending. Check these and other pics.



[caption id="attachment_2134" align="aligncenter" width="239" caption="Photo credit: elleuk.com"][/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2119" align="aligncenter" width="239" caption="Leona was demure yet hot in Alexander McQueen. (Photo credit: elleuk.com)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2120" align="aligncenter" width="239" caption="Photo credit: elleuk.com"][/caption]

Check out photos from the NAACP Image Awards and Rip The Runway after the cut.

[caption id="attachment_2121" align="aligncenter" width="281" caption="Haiti-born Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon at the NAACP Image Awards"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2122" align="aligncenter" width="273" caption="Fellow Haitian (and part Puerto Rican) Maxwell kept it fly and debonair."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2123" align="aligncenter" width="284" caption="Part-Trini Tatyana Ali looked fab from every direction."][/caption]

Meanwhile, island chicks Estelle and Nicki Minaj turned up for BET's Rip the Runway at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. Estelle's look... eh!

[caption id="attachment_2125" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Nicki Minaj hosted with The Game's Pooch Hall."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2126" align="aligncenter" width="243" caption="I'm sure some 60s girl group wants this wig back. tsk... Great dress though."][/caption]

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Islandistas around the tents at NYFW

Islandistas were not just on the catwalks (in abundance!) during the recently ended New York Fashion Week - plenty of them were also in the front rows at shows as well and at the hot parties and after-parties during the week.

It was like CARICOM in de place, with fashionista islandistas from Antigua, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Jamaica and Grenada just to name a few!

Check out the pics to see the island chicks (and man) we spotted at NYFW.

[caption id="attachment_2021" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Antigua-born stylist June Ambrose goofing around with Miss Jay."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2022" align="aligncenter" width="241" caption="...And with half-Grenadian singer Estelle."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2023" align="aligncenter" width="305" caption="Domincana-boricua actress Zoe Saldana taking in a show intently from the front row."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2024" align="aligncenter" width="178" caption="Cayman Islands girl and Victoria's secret model Selita Ebanks at the Rebecca Taylor show after party. She also took in Rachel Roy's show the same day."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2026" align="aligncenter" width="264" caption="Trini-American designer/video director/party promoter Vashti Kola at Rachel Roy's show."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2027" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Jamaican-American model Tyson Beckford taking in the G * Star show with a friend."][/caption]

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Islandistas around the tents at NYFW

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Islandistas on the fashion scene

As the holidays approach, islandistas have been making some moves on the modelling scene - both the professional catwalkers and the celebs.

Selita, Selina and Shena have all been visible recently.

Teenaged newcomers, Martinique's Selina Khan and Jamaica's Shena Moulton, both scored holiday campaigns for Gap. Selina is featured in the American Gap posters, getting skippy with other models in a red flannel look, while Shena is part of the crew backing up rapper Pharrell in the Japanese Gap promo. Check out the pics below.








Estelle is also featured in the Japanese Gap holiday print campaign, on her own, in a menswear inspired look that we really like.






Meanwhile, Selita walked the runway last night with the rest of the Victoria's Secret Angels in their big annual holiday showcase - and looked fabulous both on the runway, rocking out with the Black Eyed Peas and on the red carpet after the event, as you can see below.

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Islandistas on the fashion scene

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More islandistas at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards

So, we were pretty caught up over Rihanna's gorgeous Stephane Rolland couture dress at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.

That dress deserved a post all for itself.

Now, onto the other islandistas that were at the event.

Another islandista honouree, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was also on hand to collect her award in a sleek strapless black dress with a sharp angled v-neck bodice.




[caption id="attachment_1738" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]





Stylist June Ambrose rocked out a sparkly Sonia Rykiel short dress with minimal accessories and natural looking makeup - nice look.




And Estelle performed in a black suit that we're not quite sure about. We like the androgynous look, but we find it should be cut a bit closer and more feminine to really work. As it is, it  just looks like she put on a small fella's suit.




[caption id="attachment_1740" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]

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Bits and pieces - Leona's race ban, red carpet sightings and Rihanna to speak out

You know every now and then we have to do a pelau post when there's so much going on that we need to put it all in de pot! This is one of those - we have news from all over - on Ri-ri, Leona (Le-le?) and islandistas on the red carpet from Rio to London to L.A.

So to start with - islandistas have been all over people's red carpets over the last week - from the premieres of the Michael Jackson This Is It movie in London and Los Angeles, to Fashion Rocks in Brazil.

Check out a few of the looks below.

[caption id="attachment_1644" align="aligncenter" width="306" caption="Former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan was hot at the London premiere of This Is It in a jewel panelled LBD with a jewelled halter neckline."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="222" caption="Nia Long in textured black leggings and a black leather jacket at the LA premiere."][/caption]

For more looks and news on Rihanna's first public interview and Leona's racism run-in, read on.At the other end of the globe, islandistas like Estelle and Jeneil Williams represented at the annual Fashion Rocks showcase, which was held this time in Brazil.



[caption id="attachment_1653" align="aligncenter" width="196" caption="We love Jennifer Lopez' sequinned black dress but the unnecessary knee high boots dragged it down. Knee high boots on a dress that is just hitting knee length just don't have much impact."][/caption]

 


Jeneil was the only black model on the catwalk for the show while Estelle hit the red carpet in one of her now trademark 'hmmm do we love it or hate it' dresses.



[caption id="attachment_1649" align="aligncenter" width="216" caption="Estelle wore this sunset hued dress by Indian designer Manish Arora."][/caption]

Ya got to give it to 'Stelle though - she always pushes the fashion envelope. Sometimes it pushes her back but she does take a chance and we rate that.

In more news... nine months after she was beaten by Chris Brown in the wee hours of the morning of the Grammy Awards, Rihanna is finally going to speak out on it.

If you notice, she has not done a single interview or said a single word since the whole messy business unfolded on February 8th.

We have seen her out plenty and she has performed but that has been it. And truthfully, we think that is her prerogative. God knows the turmoil she has been going through after dealing with such a painful experience in front of the whole world.

But now she's going to talk and it's on ABC's Good Morning America. She also set to return to GMA on November 23rd (the day her album drops) to perform her most recent single, the controversial Russian Roulette.

On to Leona now, she is also speaking out about a terrible experience she had a few months ago, where she and ger black, Guyanese father were kicked out of a high-end London boutique ... and she strongly suspects it's because of race.

According to Leona, she and her dad were shopping for photo frames when the ugly incident happened:

This woman told us, ‘get out of my store right now’. I asked her ‘are you joking?’

“She said, ‘No, I want both of you to remove yourselves from my store’. I asked why – and pointing at my dad she said, ‘I don’t like the look of him. I want him to go now’.

“I said: “What do you mean? She said, ‘I know why you’re coming in here’. She was implying we were trying to steal stuff.”

“I was so angry my dad had to drag me out of the shop. I’d never experienced anything like that. Being judged by the colour of your skin is horrible.”

The boutique is only referred to as an "unnamed London store" but we want to know! Talk de tings dem Leona! It is only by exposing them that they can be shamed into changing their ways.

Amazing to think this would happen - not so much the racism bit but the fact that you think the store twit would recognise Leona Lewis.

But girl, if it happened to Oprah... let's just say, we're not quite in a post-racial world quite yet.

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Islandista Fashion Notes - Fashion Night Out & Alex Burke's saucy dress

Oh islandistas, so much is happening right now in the world where islandistaness (yeh, just made it up), and fashion intersect, that we can scarcely keep up!

New York Fashion Week is on like boil corn and you know we will be giving you the news from the runways and red carpets.

And of course... the parties. Vogue did it big like only they can last night when they hosted the global Fashion Night Out (FNO) - a night of retail therapy, model mingling and retail recovery in every city and country where Vogue is published.

Naturally, some of our fashionista islandistas made appearances at various FNOs - Rihanna and Estelle were spotted at events for the New York City FNO while supermodel preggy Jourdan Dunn was at the London FNO.




Oh Ri-Ri, what have you done? Fools in the club are still stumbling around wearing those Kanye West shutter shades all two years after the 'Stronger' music video - now you give them this?

Quilted/peaked/whatever the hell they use to get that effect A-morir 'Barracuda' shades that are just dripping with fierceness?





And you know only someone with your fashion gravitas can truly rock these with such fierceness and yet you know many others will try and fail. Why Ri-ri, why?

Dammit. I can see a trend coming and I am going to be seeing knock-offs of these for months to come.

Oh and the hooded dress is hot too.

Less dramatically, Estelle was hanging out with designer Rachel Roy in a painter print jacket that I actually quite like - you know we're not always down with Miss Estelle's fashion sense...




And over in London, Jourdan Dunn came out to the Burberry party at Top Shop (love that combination of high street and high brow that the British do so well!) to give fashion tips to the FNO patrons.  

 

 



[caption id="attachment_1414" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Photo credit: Style.com"][/caption]

She's looking... we can't resist the pun... as round as an English pound! Especially in the face. It's strange, being pregnant has actually made her face look younger, as if she had baby fat ... which technically she does, huh?  

 



She told Style.com that she's been feeling well during her pregnancy - no morning sickness!  She has had "a bit of heartburn and some backpain" and cravings for bread but that's it. Lucky girl.

In non-FNO fashion notes, Alexandra Burke showed off what she's got a few evenings ago in a sau-cy sheer Pucci mini dress. Take a look for yourself.

[caption id="attachment_1415" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Photo credit: PA"][/caption]

 Ok, that's not so bad - that's what you're thinking, right? Well check the back view.

[caption id="attachment_1416" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Matrix Photos"][/caption]

Yeah... we know. That's what we said too.

She also debuted a new weave that is shorted with heavy bangs. Do you Alex...

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Hot Islandista style

Islandista Rihanna and Selita Ebanks hit the scene in recent days looking as hot as a Caribbean summer!

First Rihanna was at the London premier of Inglourious Basterds in a black Alexander McQueen jumpsuit. Now we are not real big on a lot of jumpsuits/playsuits out there - too many folks wear them badly and end up looking like either a mechanic or a baby with a disturbingly sexy onesie.

But of course Ri-ri rocked it out... with mounds of pearls, a dramatic pompadour, lace gloves ruby red lipstick and attituuuuude gyal!



[caption id="attachment_1297" align="aligncenter" width="281" caption="photo source: theybf.com"][/caption]








Looove her makeup with this outfit. Honestly, it helps make the outfit. Without that fantastic red lip and the little flicky eye-liner touch,  she would not have looked as dramatic and beautiful.

Show-stopping red was also the highlight of fellow islandista Selita Ebanks' outfit at the opening the Guess store in Soho. Unlike Rihanna, who used the red to pump up her makeup, Selita's makeup was very natural and understated but she brought the fire with red Louboutin pumps.



[caption id="attachment_1299" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="photo source: theybf.com"][/caption]



Gorgeous.

In other islandista style news, the July edition of Elle is dotted with islandistas.

There is a focus on Rihanna's ever-evolving hair through an Elle Insider spot on her famed hairdresser, Ursula Stephen, Shontelle gets a shout in a piece titled 'Beauty and the Beat' which surveys several music stars on their beauty secrets and there are two spots on Estelle.

The first one is about a hot new hand she and British shoe designer Jonathan Kelsey collaborated on for Belvedere - the 'Belvie'.

Even though the collaboration is an obvious corporate shill, it is actually pretty hot. We love the cross-stitching on the white leather and the soft shimmer of the gold hardware. Check Estelle, Jonathan and the Belvie below.




The second Estelle spot was a profile among a group of up and coming stars for a piece entitled Girls Out Loud. Estelle spoke about how star-struck she got when she first met Mary J. Blige.

[caption id="attachment_1301" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: Hilary Walsh for Elle"][/caption]

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Islandistas at the BET Awards & after-parties

Sighhhh.... oh BET.

BET, BET, B.E.T.

What can we say about Black Entertainment (or is that Exploitation?) Television's awards show on Sunday night?

Well for one, we like others really only tuned in for the expected Michael Jackson tribute.

If it weren't for that, we doubt we would have made it all the way through.

It was especially rough towards the end there when Lil Wayne and the world's most hyped new rapper Drake performed 'Every Girl in the World'.

And Lil Wayne brought his 10 year old daughter and her friends up on stage.

To sing along with the lyrics "I just wanna f*ck every girl in the world."

Sigh.

We actually tuned out then but fortunately tuned back in just in time to see Janet Jackson take the stage and provide such a counterpoint to that mess, with her simple and moving words on behalf of her brother.

When she said "to you Michael is an icon. To us Michael is family" I cried. Don't lie, you all know you did too!

And then when they followed that up with Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo's performance of 'Ill Be There'.

I bawl, no lie.

Anyhow, that was one shining moment. In our opinion, there were a few other high points like New Edition's opening tribute, the tribute to the O'Jays with Trey Songz, Tyrese and Johnny Gill and Maxwell's performance.

Aside from that...it was ... eh.

Anyhow, there were some moments for islandistas and one islandisto so let's get to it.

Islandista Alicia Keys and islandisto Wyclef Jean both were honoured with humanitarian awards. Alicia for her work with numerous organisations, chiefly Keep a Child Alive.




[caption id="attachment_1178" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: Wil Shelton of WilPower Entertainment"][/caption]



Haitian ambassador Wyclef was honoured for his tireless work with Yele Haiti. And when we say tireless we mean it. You really have to respect how Wyclef keeps his country's situation front and center because it is too long the world has been trying to ignore Ayiti. He clearly subscribes to the "dem a go tiad fi see mi face" theory because they can't keep him out at all.




[caption id="attachment_1179" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: Wil Shelton"][/caption]



There were also a good few islandistas on the red carpet at the show and at the after parties. Take a look below.




[caption id="attachment_1180" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: Wil Shelton"][/caption]



Islandista by descent Estelle wore a strapless peplum skirt dress that would have been absolutely fantastic if it wasn't in denim. I just dunno about denim for a whole dress, especially a formal one. She paid tribute to Michael Jackson by sporting the iconic single white glove.




[caption id="attachment_1181" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: Wil Shelton"][/caption]



I actually really did not like Tatyana Ali's dress. I thought the bronze lace material looked old womanish and the beading around the bodice and shoulders looked too chunky and clunky. Her skin and hair look great but otherwise this outfit just fail.




[caption id="attachment_1182" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: theybf.com"][/caption]



Shontelle was at the after party. She's looking a bit more like she's actually eating food. Or maybe it's just the dress. Either way, it's a good thing. Keep it up.

[caption id="attachment_1183" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: theybf.com"][/caption]

 

Islandista by descent and the video vixen all the video vixens want to be like, Melyssa Ford was also there. Yep... she's an islandista - half Barbadian through her beloved late father and half Norwegian. Who knew? Well we did...

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="photo credit: theybf.com"][/caption]

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Leg of mutton dressed up as...

I well tired now and I ent even get to blog about Trinidad Carnival which is reaching its peak this weekend but I promise all you islandistas that I will get to it! Just now! Soon come! And all of that...

But I just got a quick ting to drop pun yuh from the Brit Awards night before last in London.

Our girl Estelle is doing what she does and well...

[caption id="attachment_642" align="aligncenter" width="196" caption="Photo credit: PA"][/caption]

 

I... do not know what to make of this dress. I have been trying to work with Estelle and her crazy-angled dresses but ...

I see what she trying to do and ting ... be cutting edge and fashion forward (though since leg of mutton sleeves are actually circa the late 1800s - so can you be fashion forward if you going back over a century?) but... oh gosh man, she just looking fuh attention now.

And I think Nora here (compliments Wikipedia's nice little entry on 1890s fashion) rocked the look much better back in 1896.

[caption id="attachment_643" align="aligncenter" width="304" caption="Photo credit: Wikimedia commons"][/caption]

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Rihanna's dad - "I didn't believe it" and Fashion Week stuff

Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty has spoken of his shock on hearing of his daughter's alleged assault at the hands of her (now ex we presume?) boyfriend Chris Brown. Speaking to people.com, Mr. Fenty was remarkably restrained and diplomatic for someone whose only girl child has been battered (or maybe they just edited out the part where he said 'if I ever see Chris Brown again, I gine burst he rasshole head... who knows?).


"I know my daughter," said Fenty, 55. As for Brown, he said, "You think you know somebody, but you really don't."

Describing Rihanna's current condition after seeing her in Barbados on Friday, Fenty said, "There is some bruising. She will be alright. I think so."

He adds, "At some point, she will speak out. I hope she will stand up for women all over the world."

Fenty, a salesman and freelance clothing designer, said Rihanna is spending time with her girlfriends in Barbados while she heals. While Fenty said he wouldn't tell his daughter what to do, he did say, "If it were me, I'd move on."


Like we said... restrained. Kudos to Mr. Fenty for taking the high road. 

In other news... it's FASHION WEEK!

New York Fashion Week is having an existential crisis about whether it's appropriate to have the traditional lavish displays of luxury and wealth when the world is in a recession. Several designers, including Ms. Fabulosity herself Kimora Lee Simmons (soon to be Hounsou?) have scaled back their shows in deference to the recession.

But the clothes still cost an arm and a leg ok? And a few toes on the next foot... but at least dey trying.



[caption id="attachment_630" align="aligncenter" width="401" caption="photo credit: from theybf.com"][/caption]



Islandista Nia Long looked cute as can be walking the cat walk for the Heart Truth's red dress collection in a dress by top black designer Tracy Reese and a new group called the African Fashion Collective had an all-star cast of black models for their show, including islandista Jaunel McKenzie and guest appearances by Tyson Beckford and the irrepressible Grace Jones.

[caption id="attachment_631" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="photo credit: Young, Black and Fabulous"][/caption]

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