The name’s Simmons. Kimora Lee Simmons.
Of course, the multi-hyphenate Renaissance Woman (wife, mother, model, fashion company empress and head of two just-launched fine jewelry lines) would rate seven digits instead of 007’s paltry three.
Last night’s Baby Phat show proved, once again, why KLS is queen of the hip-hop fashion scene, with a collection that was inspired by the self-described Diamond Diva’s love of Bond Girls, the “Thomas Crown Affair” and other movies that showcase strong, sexy, empowered women who’d just as soon shoot you as shag you.
“It’s all very spy girl/fighter girl,” Simmons told FWD when we caught up with her at Baby Phat headquarters a few nights before the show. “The collection is very retro, with a lot of tailored, form fitting pieces with clean lines. Very rigid but sexy. We mixed a lot of elements and textures: tweed, fur, buttons, alligator and crocodile skins. It’s fabulous. And there are tons of oversized accessories that make quite a statement. It’s a strong collection for a powerful woman.” Something Kimora Lee (Ms. Simmons if yer nasty) knows all about.
“I think it’s very cool; great for young people,” Tommy Hilfiger, who was attending his first Baby Phat show, told FWD before the event began.
Other notables who turned out for last night’s packed-to-the-rafters spectacle (and to get a sneak peek at Simmons’ new jewelry lines, the very high end Kimora Lee Simmons collection and the less expensive Baby Phat Diamond Diva collection) were Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim, Tori Spelling, Ashley Olsen, Vivica Fox, Shannen Doherty, Paula Abdul, and, of course, Russell Simmons’ brother, DMC’s Reverend Run.
“I love how many people come, what type of people come and all that good stuff,” the Reverend told FWD as he sat in his front row seat waiting for the show to start. “It’s more exciting than every other show, more anticipated, more flava.”
Flava was exactly what KLS sent down the runway. As the James Bond theme segued to a thumping hip-hop beat (thank you, DJ Cassidy!), out came one powerful, don’t-mess-with-me fly spy girl after another, all sporting big with a capital ‘B’ hairdos and killer thigh high suede boots with trompe l’oeil patent leather slingback detail.
From a laced back black leather dress with vaguely S&M zippers to a green tweed suit with a satin lapel with gold nameplate-worn-as-bra to dresses, pants and blouses with unexpected slits that revealed just a peek of skin, these were strong, sexy looks for strong, sexy women.
We loved the chocolate fur jacket with asymmetrical ruffled bodice, low slung white pants with thick beaded waistband and puff-sleeved gray pinstriped jumpsuit--and, of course, there was a plethora of Baby Phat’s signature booty shorts (done in alligator this time, with a puffy banded leg), and enough bikinis to outfit an entire team of Bond Girls.
But what we loved most of all were those thigh-high boots, the two-toned spider web stockings and the bevy of bags in surprising shapes: long, boxy rectangles with silver-trimmed cutout handles at one end, and skinny suede cylinders that looked like an elongated train case--either of which could double as a weapon for members of the Baby Phat Fashion Assassins.
Feminine, yes. Passively girly? Oh no you dit-nt. Even when sporting nothing more than a metallicized leather bathing suit or patent leather bra, these are women you wouldn’t dream of messing with. Ever."
Fashion Wire Daily - Feb. 6, 2005
Recent Comments