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Hot spot gives Kimora's pals cold reception

Just because you're in Kimora Lee Simmons' posse doesn't mean you can enter Unik Ernest's P.M. Lounge at will.

Several members of the Baby Phat founder's entourage were deemed "too urban" Thursday night to be allowed into the Meatpacking District boite, which has the atmosphere of a mid-century Haitian gentleman's club. While Simmons, execs from her clothing line and a roster of "Baby Phat girls" were ushered into the party for company ad director B.J. Coleman, rapper types were blocked, says the source.

"There was definitely drama at the door," one guest tells us.

"They kept saying we were too ghetto," says our source. "They were rude - they even called one guy a 'big fat [homophobic epithet].'" Words - including the N-word - were exchanged, claims our earwitness, and "Kimora was horrified."

Unik told us: "I am black, and I never use that word. And my host is gay - we don't use that word, either. I didn't hear my staff use them - anyone in the crowd could have shouted it out. But give your source my cell number, and I will line up everyone who worked that night, and if they can identify him, he will be fired on the spot. Not tomorrow, not the next day, on the spot."

Like many clubs, P.M. tries to balance the ratio of men to women. What's more, the Gansevoort St. gathering place has a dress code forbidding Timberland boots and baggy pants.

Unik, who opens the restaurant Gin Lane on 14th St. next month, adds: "I was a host of B.J.'s party, and I didn't charge him for anything. I gave him my home, and he E-mailed the next day to thank me. We'd agreed on how many guys and how many girls, and when it became like, 50 guys and 20 girls, we had to stop it. B.J. was fine with it."

And Simmons must've cheered up. She partied on to Funkmaster Flex's Grown and Sexy party at the China Club, where an erotic dancer with the group Asian Invasion performed atop her table.

New York Daily News - Aug. 29, 2006

Tune In Alert

Kimora Lee Simmons will appear on The Trya Banks Show tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 29, to promote her book, "Fabulosity."

Check local listings

Saddle River Splendor

Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons' Saddle River Splendor is on the market for $20M+.

Forbes.com - Simmons and Lee, who have declined to comment on their next destination, purchased their estate from apparel executive Arnold Simon, who had built the home five years earlier.

Set on nearly four acres, the 35,000-square-foot home has ten bedrooms, eight full baths and three half-baths. In addition to lavish marble work and grand picture windows, the mansion features the utmost in luxury--to say nothing of comfort--with heated floors throughout.

The opulence extends to the dining room, a spectacular space that has a gold leaf ceiling and five hand-painted murals by artist Andrew Tedesco. Off of the mahogany living room, which is also embellished with gold leaf inlay, is the estate's library and smoking room.

The mansion includes a great room with 35-foot-high ceilings and a 20-foot-long marble hearth, as well as a 100-foot-long gallery, complete with coffered ceilings. What's more, there is a "Versace" room, with a bed designed by late fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Boredom will hardly be an issue for whoever purchases this fully equipped pad. The estate features its own movie theater, which comes with a marquee and wax ticket taker, as well as a candy room and popcorn machine.

The property has both indoor and outdoor pools. During the winter months, the 12-by-24-foot indoor pool is the venue of choice. Come summer, everyone will want to move outside to the 30-by-70-foot lagoon-style pool. In addition to a cabana, bar and "his and hers" bathrooms, the outdoor space has waterfalls, caves and an ultra-luxurious Jacuzzi.

The property's grounds are immaculately landscaped with bamboo and plum trees, as well as a decorative koi pond. It is dotted with pre-cast fountains and wrought-iron gates.

It is listed with Lisa Maysonet of Prudential Douglas Elliman.

Photos: Douglas Elliman

More: Forbes

A lil' bit of coercion

Lil' Kim gave her first post-jailhouse interview Tuesday, to ace reporter Kimora Lee Simmons.

Kim shot a pilot for her good friend's unnamed new talk show, backed by HBO.

The trimmed-down rapper seems to have shed the "Sing Sing 15." "She said she's writing books and doing a sequel to her reality special, 'Countdown to Lockdown,'" said an on-set spy.

Asked why Kim did the show, my snitch replied: "Kimora forced her. She sent a car for her."

Simmons was wearing an outfit from her new label, KLS Apparel, described as a "flowy blouson dip-dyed white-to-purple see-through dashiki with gold appliqué."

Gosh. Is that all?

"And a braided belt."

NY Daily News - Aug. 17, 2006

A Complex Matter

In the new August/September issue of Complex, Russell Simmons speaks out about politics, fashion and his break-up with wife Kimora Lee Simmons.

Quoting this...
"We have to be best friends, we have businesses together, we have children. We have to spend lots of hours together every day. People always make you want to go back. We've been together 14 years. As much as we work together and have things together, we have things that are different. That's gonna happen no matter what."

The new issue of Complex is on newsstands now.

Jolie Mag Cover Girl - October 2006

Ever since her "separation" from hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons was announced last spring, Kimora Lee Simmons is one hot commodity -- on the media circuit.

The former fashion model turned businesswoman has appeared on TV shows such as 'Martha,' 'The Tyra Banks Show' and even the newsmagazine show '20/20' (last week). On the print front, the bi-racial, half Black half Japanese, superwoman has returned to her supermodel glory, appearing on numerous magazine covers.

The 31-year-old St. Louis native recently graced the cover of 'Vibe Vixen' and the top-selling urban men's mag, 'King.' On Aug 29, the new edition of 'Jolie' magazine arrives on newsstands with an interview between Simmons and actress Vivica A. Fox.

"I try not to let others’ perceptions of me affect the things I know about myself," the statuesque six-footer said about misconceptions of her. "But at the same time I preach to all women everywhere that a little self-indulgence is sometimes necessary."

Fox --who is no stranger to hip-hop scandal-- didn't pull any punches when asking Lee Simmons (known to be a walking sound-bite) about the beloved Def Jam Records founder. While the usually over-the-top Baby Phat empress remained tight-lipped about divorce proceedings, Fox gave her the platform to address the ongoing rumor circulating about the couple's dismal sex life.

"Allegedly, you were quoted in a major media outlet as saying, 'I am happy and wished that Russell and I departed years ago….Russell and I had outgrown one another years ago and the little blue pill did not help our sex life….Russell was awful in bed! We will continue our business relationship and we will both be active in our kids’ lives, but the romance is what...over!!!'"

Lee Simmons responded in her trademark exclamatory fashion: "Absolutely false!"

"I would never nor have I ever been known to be the type of woman that would carry herself in such a way - by saying such silly and senseless things about another person, let alone my baby daddy!"

Oh, okay Kimora.

So what's behind the allure of Kimora on the magazine cover front?

"Kimora's mixed ethnic background, confidence and glamorous image speaks directly to our audience who's thirsty for individuals much like themselves," offered 'Jolie's' Co-Publisher/Executive Editor Rachel Breton. "Also, as a mother and a businesswoman, Kimora's story hits home for some of our readers who can relate to the aspect of juggling motherhood and a career successfully."

Jolie Magazine, October 2006

Tune-In Alert: "Run's House"

Thursday, Aug. 10 on MTV:

Hip-hop preacher Run's wife Justine decides she's got too much back bacon, so she hires a personal trainer to help her shape her big ol' booty; meanwhile, daughter Angela sweats through a first day on the job at fashion house Baby Phat on "Run's House."

Spring 2007 Fashion Week

Kimora Lee will present her Baby Phat line at 8 p.m. on Fashion Week's opening night.

Living Phat off hip-hop

Tune in alert:
20/20 on ABC
Thursday, Aug. 3

Kimora Lee Simmons Seizes on Hip-Hop's Aspirational Culture to Promote Baby Phat Line

ABC News - Kimora Lee Simmons is livin' large. Big homes. Big cars. Big bling. There are people who say Simmons is over the top. To them, Simmons says proudly, "I am."

Simmons' Baby Phat fashion line has exploded ever since she took the reins from her now estranged husband, Russell Simmons, who turned hip-hop into a household name and made a fortune doing it.

She's a very flashy mogul -- whose first tip for having it all is to think big, really big. She's got an inventory of designer shoes that would make Imelda Marcos jealous. And Simmons is happy to celebrate her success with excess. "Is it too much hair? Is it too much lip gloss? Is it too much diamonds? It can never be too much," she said.

But behind the rich-girl trappings is a shrewd businesswoman who uses her over-the-top life to promote her Baby Phat brand. And its impact on hip-hop culture has been huge.