How to Create Curves

If you’ve not been hitting the gym like you should be but want to look like you have, take a tip from Kelly Rowland and Cassie and opt for the latest thing in fashion trickery –a side panelled dress.

Cassie in Rag and Bone

Kelly in Emma Griffiths

The clever panels draw the eye inwards, giving the illusion of a narrower waist and a slimmer silhouette.

You don’t need their star salary either; good old M&S have a chic white colour block shift dress for only £39.50! It looks a lot like the more expensive Stella McCartney version that was seen on Liv Tyler recently.

Liv in Stella McCartney

M&S

Alternatively, try one of these:

Black Dresses by Dorothy Perkins

How to Do Low Key

Jay Z had his nearest and dearest at a party in New York earlier this month to listen to his eagerly awaited album Watch the Throne.

Watch The Throne Album Cover

The stylish ladies in attendance were a good example of how to do low key; not everywhere we go do we have to be dressed to the nines but we still want to look like we’ve made a bit of effort.

Make like Beyonce, Kelly, Jada and Solange and keep it casual cool.

Day Dresses by La Redoute

Hit or Miss: Kelly Rowland

Kelly was at the O2 Arena in London yesterday for the press launch of The X Factor. She wore an Autumn/Winter 2011 Versace wave print dress with Giuseppe Zanotti wedge boots.

We think the boots are teeny bit heavy for the outfit but the dress is very flattering – see how the strategically placed wave makes her already tiny waist look even smaller? Take a note ladies!

Do you agree?

The Empress Kelly Rowland

Kelly is doing well since departing from Matthew Knowles. Hit records, the X Factor and now Sean John. Kelly was recently announced as being the face of Diddy’s new fragrance EMPRESS.

Kelly in the EMPRESS ad

According to the press release: ‘EMPRESS is a woman’s secret weapon allowing her to rule over her domain. She is more powerful than a king; she is EMPRESS.’

We think the stories the marketing guys come up with just to flog some perfume are hilarious. Suppose they couldn’t just say ‘Makes you smell nice’!

Kelly at the EMPRESS launch

Steal her Look: Kelly Rowland

Guest post by Kemi.

Kelly looks amazing here and you’d think she has naturally flawless skin and bright, sparkling eyes. But does she? I’ll show you how to get flawless, even coverage with your foundation and the trick to achieving brighter eyes.

Prep the skin: If you have oily or combination skin use MAC Oil Control Lotion (£20). Matte means no shine or shimmer. This step is imperative to achieving a flawless matte look as seen on Nicki Minaj and Eve. For dry skin I recommend Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (£26). It moisturises exceptionally without any residue on the skin. Use MAC Lip Conditioner (£11) for dry lips. It comes tinted in pink, beige or invisible. Wait 5 minutes or so for the skin to absorb the products used so your makeup will go onto the skin evenly.

Foundation: For dry skin use a water based moisturising foundation like MAC Face and Body (£23.50). If you have yellow/orange undertones go for N6-N12 (covers shades from Alicia Keys with a tan through to Naomi Cambell or darker). For oily or combination skin use MAC Studio Fix Powder plus Foundation (£19.50) in colours NW40-50. If you have more peachy or pink undertones go for a C5-C9. Don’t worry if you can’t find the perfect colour straight away. You can always mix products. Makeup artists do this more than you think!

Get the air brushed look: Use 187 MAC Duo Fibre Brush (£31.00). This is an item in every beauty lover and makeup artist’s bag! This super soft brush holds the product and blends seamlessly. Gently blend in a circular motion for a flawless finish. You can also apply liquid or powder foundation and blush with it. Set your foundation with Face Powder Matte by Shu Uemura (£26.50). The finely milled powder combats shine and creates an alluring soft effect on your face. Go for a beige loose translucent powder. For complexion colours of Alek Wek or darker use a brown coloured loose translucent powder. If you don’t want to look too matte, apply loose powder to your T-Zone or your most oil prone skin areas.

Eye Brightener: Use a foundation or concealer 2-3 shades lighter than your skin tone and apply under the eye just up to your cheeks and blend towards your hairline. If you have just tanned and have a foundation that’s now too light this is perfect to use! I like a peachy orange toned Illamasqua Cream Cyeshadow in Exalt (£15.50). Blend under eyes or use to highlight cheeks and brows for a minimalist look.

Contour: Use a bronzer or a brown blush shadow like MAC Format (£17) which will suck in the cheeks. Use on cheekbones, temple, jawline and the nose to make face appear slimmer and more symmetrical. Now your eyes will look very bright and your face will appear more taut.

Eyes: Apply a light sandy matte eye shadow all over the eye as a first base. For second base use a MAC Paintpot like Painterly (£13.50) to make all the colours look more intense. As a third base use a dark brown, charcoal black or raison brown at the crease and take this colour halfway under the eye. Blend well with your Blending Brush (£21). Only use one shimmery colour to highlight the lids and make your eyes glow. I like MAC Goldenrod (Refill £9.50). Use your gold colour to make your eyes pop and put a tiny dab on the inner part of the eye near your nose. Make sure you blend well with your blending brush. Line the whole rim of the eye in a thin line. Flick out your liner in a natural straight line - try GOSH Extreme Art Eye Liner. Make sure you use lots of mascara or false lashes for a more dramatic look. Try 17 Falsifeye Mascara (£6.49).

Lips: Use a brown lip pencil. I like MAC Hover (£10.50). Line the lips and blend all over to make lipstick last longer. Use a subtle pink on top of the lips. Finish with a gloss or lip tint. Try IMAN Blushing Nude.

There you have it. Kelly Rowland inspired, natural looking make up!

Hit or Miss: Kelly Rowland

Poor old Kel has felt the force of the British press this week after turning up at the X Factor auditions in Liverpool looking like she fell over in Selfridges and random designer items stuck to her.

She wore a Vivienne Westwood blazer, Sass & Bide shirt, Stella McCartney shorts, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Sass & Bide jewellery and Prada sunglasses. Designer heaven or designer hell?

On their own the pieces look great but together; where is the cohesion we ask?

Have your say:

She makes it work?
It’s not right, but it’s ok?
Try again love?

Blazers by Vivienne Westwood

Shop her Style: Kelly Rowland

Kelly was spotted at the BET Awards last night in this vibrant fuchsia Notte by Marchesa shift dress. You can get your hands on the exact same dress reduced from £690 to £310.50. Or try this similar style dress from AX Paris for a much more pocket friendly £30. Pair with strappy nude heels for a leg lengthening look.

Notte by Marchesa. £310.50

AX Paris. £30

Style Crush: Kelly Rowland

For us, X Factor isn’t about the music – we gave up on it being a real music competition a while back. Last week, our interest was piqued by Miss Kelly Rowland at the first round of auditions and her bold sartorial choices. Perhaps aware that she’d be compared to Cheryl and Danni, Kelly has certainly made an impact in Diane von Furstenburg, Twenty8Twelve and Christian Louboutin.

The press will no doubt make it Tulisa vs Kelly but for now, she seems to be quietly letting people know that she isn’t afraid to flex her fashion muscles. She might, might, make the show worth tuning in for. 

£347

£635

The Eclectic and Unique Gavin Douglas - Fashion Designer

We had a bit of a crush on this dress that Kelly Rowland wore on her Ms Kelly Diva Deluxe album cover back in 2008 and we just had to find out whose handicraft it was.

As it turns out, it is none other than the emerging British designer, Gavin Douglas. The 27-year-old has been loaded down with awards ever since he appeared on the fashion scene over seven years ago. He has been described by none other than designer extraordinaire and former Gucci creative director Tom Ford as having 'demonstrated the will, the drive and a certain amount of charm, which doesn't hurt'.


Douglas started winning awards back in 2004 when he was named Avant-Garde Designer of Year at the London Fashion Forum. He was also the winner of the prestigious Fashion Fringe Designer Award back in 2006, an honour that led to a first ever slot at London Fashion Week in 2007.


Just last year, the Birmingham-born designer showcased his work at BET's Rip the Runway.  Afro Boudoir caught up with Gavin recently.

Afro Boudoir: How did your interest in fashion design start?

Gavin: I’ve been creative since being a child and have always had a major interest in art and design. I excelled at school in my chosen design subjects, Art and Design Technology.

I then went on to study for a BTEC National Diploma in Design at Sutton Coldfield College in Birmingham, which is where I first started studying fashion design and realized that I wanted to further my career in this subject. I then graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles from Northampton University.

Gavin agrees that every girl needs a little black dress

AB: How difficult did you find it to break into the industry?

Gavin: It takes a lot of hard work, commitment, self-discipline and time to create a successful career in fashion design. You should always be prepared to dedicate these factors into your career. It becomes your life!

AB: You won the prestigious Fashion Fringe designer award in 2006 (especially with the likes of Tom Ford on the panel) – what difference did that make to your career?

Gavin: Fashion Fringe has given me a great platform for my career and start up help needed to help build and develop my design label.

Gavin Douglas 2008

AB: Part of your prize of winning Fashion Fringe was a slot on London Fashion Week – can you please describe that experience?

Gavin: The first collection I presented at LFW after winning Fashion Fringe was called Queens of the Ocean. The collection looked towards 1940s fashion and lifestyle. It referred to the return of luxury after World War II, the new consumerism rearing its head and the prestigious and lavish lifestyles it created.

Gavin Douglas' Queens of the Ocean collection

The collection was about ladies dressing up for ocean travel with updated 1940s silhouettes and raised the glamour stakes with broad, square shoulders, nipped waists and round hips. There were military influences, apparent from the period, but stylised, such as a pearlised leather double-breasted long coat. Elegance was also introduced with Swarovski crystal buttons used throughout the collection. The collection was purchased by both Harrods and Yoox.com

Gavin Douglas' Queens of the Ocean collection

AB: How important was that opportunity to show at London Fashion Week for your career?

Gavin: London Fashion Week gives you a great platform to showcase your work and acts as a great portal to gain international press.

Gavin Douglas' Queens of the Ocean collection

AB: How difficult (or easy) is it to get a slot at London Fashion Week?

Gavin: Hundreds of designers apply for a limited amount of slots each season at LFW so it is very competitive.

AB: What message do you try to convey through your clothes?

Gavin: The woman that wears Gavin Douglas is eclectic, unique and not scared to try something different. She doesn’t tend to follow trends and is a confident dresser. This reflects the message I portray in my garments’  individuality, luxury and elegance.

Gavin Douglas 2008

AB: You are from Birmingham in England, has that city provided any of the inspiration for any of your collections?

Gavin: Yes, The collection that I won Fashion Fringe with was inspired by an exhibition I saw at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

AB: How do you go about coming up with a concept and then translating it into a full catwalk collection?

Gavin: From season to season I’m inspired by a variety of different things. It’s not necessarily the environment I'm in. I’m often inspired by historical eras and traditional cultures. I enjoy visiting museums and looking at their archive of fashion pieces dated back as far as the 1800’s for inspiration.

Gavin Douglas Fall 2007

AB: Your creations really fit in with my personal style sense. I love clothes that drape, rather than cling – that seems to be a major part of your design ethos. Am I right? If so, why?

Gavin: Yes, I enjoy creating new shapes and silhouettes with fabric. Draping fabric around the body can visual enhance it and create illusions of size and proportions.

AB: Many people view 90% of most catwalk collections as unwearable? Where do you stand on that? Is that deliberate because designers also want to provide entertainment in your shows? In that case, how do you translate your catwalk designs into ready-to-wear?

Gavin: I think it’s generally down to the designer’s vision. Some designs are extremely creative and present shows to deliver their vision where’s some are much more commercial and driven by finances/ sales. I think it’s important to have some pieces that aren’t necessarily “wearable” as they can create media attention and press coverage.

Estelle with designer Gavin Douglas at BET's Rip the Runway

AB: You have some big-time fans and clients (with the likes of Kelly Rowland and Estelle) – what do celebrity endorsements mean for an up-and-coming designer like you?

Gavin: I think celebrity endorsements can be very influential when managed correctly. They can offer a tremendous amount of publicity and clarity to a label.

AB: What’s coming up for you in 2011?

Gavin: I have upcoming fashion projects that I’m currently working on which are still in there early stages.

Gavin Douglas 2007

AB: Finally and probably most important, where can we buy your clothes?

Gavin: We currently offer a bespoke/ made-to-order service, all inquiries should be sent to info@gavindouglasfashion.com

Kelly Releasing Two Albums! WTF

It seems Kelly is being all things to all the markets.

With Kelly Rowland still hard away at work on her third studio album, particulars about the project have remained closely guarded. However, during a recent promotional stop at Houston’s ‘The Mad Hatta Morning Show’, the Grammy winner revealed that there are set to be two versions of her as-yet-untitled LP.

When quizzed about the Dance songs on the record, Rowland lifted the lid on the fact that there will now be US and ‘overseas’ editions of the album. While the Stateside version is to be primarily Pop/R&B, the International incarnation will house such tracks as well as the more Dance-inspired songs.

You know.. Kelis should have taken a note out of her book..

Kelly & Nelly again?

Kelly tweets:

I know I apologize!! I've been in the studio. Now I'm in here with Nelly. He let me hear some new stuff....one word... HOT!

Miss Kelly - T for the Trust

Kelly has been up to good deeds in Europe...

Alesha Dixon, Pixie Lott, Kelly Rowland and boy band Kid British have teamed up with leading high street retailer River Island, for an exclusive range of T’s in aid of youth charity, The Prince’s Trust. The collection has been designed by River Island’s top young designers especially for each celeb, all of whom are Prince’s Trust Ambassadors, to reflect each star’s own personal style – and for a short time only you can get your hands on them too.

Kelly Rowland describes her style as “classic meets contemporary with an edge of sexiness”. Her T-dress is a beautifully structured, one shoulder design, with stunning crystal detailing. She says, “I have always loved things that sparkle – you’ll see that my River Island T has gorgeous crystals all over it.”

You can purchase Kelly's dress at this link:

http://xml.riverisland.com/flash/content.php?categorylist=women&name=get%20the%20latest%20look&subcat=prince's%20trust&_ccCt=7TQyiuYWAoaFdXHNLAFK05Ox0-VfvzAK7QqMekJ_43PsBXwRdYRKFYwLyIPrvAUd