I wanna be just like Kimora Lee!

by Lisa Hand

Kimora Lee Simmons and I have lots in common.

She's a woman, and so am I. She's 6 feet tall, and so am I.

Then there are some differences. She has a multi-million-dollar clothing line, Baby Phat, a mega-rich hip-hop mogul husband, Russell Simmons, two adorable children, a great relationship with God, her own fragrance and cosmetic line, an upcoming reality-TV show, a loud mouth and even louder diamonds.

Apart from the loud mouth, I have none of the above.

Kimora also has written a book, "Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It" (ReganBooks, $25.95), a how-to handbook for those of us who have lost the phone number for our Inner Goddess. It hits bookstores Feb. 21.

It is packed with sassy advice, from smart tips on how to manage your money, your man and your wardrobe, including nuggets of information like, "White diamonds and platinum is a classic jewelry combo; it never goes out of style." Who knew?

I need Kimora's help.

What happens when it's Monday, it's raining, my jeans are too tight and my man hasn't phoned?

What would Kimora do? For starters, I soon find out, she wouldn't have any of my self-pity.

'You have to try and find happiness within yourself and try to close out the clutter of that missed phone call, wondering why he didn't call," she says. "When I have bad days, sometimes I just smile, because the physical act of turning your lips up at the corner has a real impact on your brain. You can put on a smile along with your rain boots."

A smile? Okay. Now I can get dressed. Grungy jeans are fine, surely. But no. Once I step outside my front door, it seems a game face isn't enough.

"You can dress badly if you want to, 'cause you are bound to see the one person you didn't want to run into," Kimora says firmly. "I learned the hard way that it doesn't matter if you just popped out to pick up that prescription for your baby with the runny nose, you can get caught looking crazy. That one person you meet will walk off saying, 'Did you see her? She must not be doing so good.' Screw what they think, anyway, but it's all about being prepared and not letting your guard down."

Trouble is, I don't feel too good about my closet, which looks like the 6 train at rush hour. In "Fabulosity," Kimora describes her closet as "wall-to-wall leopard-print carpet; gilt chandeliers; a baroque, gold-and-cream, French-style bureau."

She has two, TWO! closets for her handbags alone.

"I'm very anal when it comes to my fashion closet, everything is so organized," she admits cheerfully. "I realize it's quite fabulous and fascinating. It's a girl's personal haven."

Oh, well. My wardrobe may be a disaster, but at least I know all about guys. It's hard to meet a good one, though, as most find a strong, opinionated woman a turnoff. Right, Kimora?

She sounds bewildered. "Where are they? I've never met a man like that. I guess they do exist, but I've never stumbled across one."

Maybe, but the famously competitive Kimora would never be content to just stand behind her hip-hop husband. Real women don't do that, do they?

Kimora laughs heartily. "Hey, I stand everywhere — on top of him, behind him, by his side! I know very well how to play all those positions. You should stand behind your man! I do!"

You do?

"But I also feed off Russell as he feeds off me for creative ideas and visions. So it's a very reciprocal relationship."

Lord, this is all very depressing. Seems I've gotten everything wrong. But Kimora's having none of my negative thinking.

"If you keep saying, 'I can't, I can't,' then you really won't achieve your goals," she scolds. "I find a lot of women are suffering from negative self-image, and I want to let these women know they are beautiful and should be worshiped. The goddess in me salutes the goddess in you."

You really believe this goddess stuff, don't you, Kimora?

"Yes! I'm an independent woman, I love to shop, I love all things fabulous, I love my jewelry. But the most important thing is that I do enjoy my life and have access to lots of nice things. I feel I've worked very hard to get them. I'm so blessed in terms of my family, my daughters, my businesses. Every day God is blessing me, and I realize that it's only how much you do for others that really makes any of that worth anything."

Let's face it, Kimora. I'm over 40. I'm too old to be fabulous….

"No! You have to strive to be fabulous at any age! Every day is a chance to turn over a new leaf. Happiness is key; you're entitled to it, but you have to work for it. You owe it to yourself to try to be happy and put on a smile even when you don't feel like it. Life isn't always a bucket of diamonds — sometimes it's a bucket ofs—! And you have to do it all wearing 4-inch heels!" Okay, okay. I'll be fabulous…just as soon as "Judge Judy" is over and I've finished all the Pringles.

How to be the most fabulous
in the room ...

1. Heels, heels, heels. My motto: 4 inches, no less.
2. Carry an extra-large bag in cherry, emerald or orange — not beige, not camel and definitely not black.
3. Wear a dramatic coat that almost demands someone help you put it on and take it off.
4. Laugh a lot. It makes everybody wonder if it's more fun to be at your party.
5. Turn up the music in every room you enter.

10 most Kimorrific items
in the closet ...

1. Four-inch leopard-print Manolos with rhinestones and chains.
2. Orange ostrich-skin Birkin bag.
3. Knee-high leopard-skin boots.
4. Knee-high snakeskin boots.
5. Extra-wide mink and leather belt (worn with minis).
6. Caramel mink bolero jacket.
7. Versace bag with gold hardware and gilt trim.
8. Silver Gucci sandals with lattice of interlocking rhinestone G's over entire foot.
9. Cosabella hot-pink panties (pictured).
10. 30-carat "Asscher-cut" diamond ring.

Kimora's go-everywhere fashion emergency kit:

# Nude thongs for white and pale-colored skirts and pants
# Nipple petals for wearing under sheer tops
# Band-Aids for protection from rhinestone-covered sandals
# Double-stick tape for fastening down revealing tops
# Deodorant (the kind that doesn't leave white powder on your clothes)
# Baby Phat Goddess fragrance
# Super-shiny lip gloss
# Mints

'Fabulosity' top five foods

1. Acal juice. Like pomegranate juice, but even better
2. Dark green vegetables like spinach, kale, collard greens, watercress. I fight them sometimes, but really, let's not be babies here. We need this stuff!
3. Pre-made smoothies. Those $3 ones you buy at the supermarket
4. Dark chocolate. Good for your heart — in moderation
5. Green tea. I have my chef make me pitchers of iced green tea.

Kimora's fashion don'ts

# Baggy, sloppy T-shirts
# Stripper tops that leave your belly hanging out
# Broomstick skirts — hippie-girl skirts
# Anything see-through. That is too much.
# Birkenstocks
# Distressed anything — no distressed jeans, leathers or torn punk-rock T-shirts
# Anything with a sports team logo
# Conservative pantsuits. My pantsuits are coral-pink Versace corduroy — and sexy as hell.
# Wide-brimmed sun hats, trilbies and top hats. No, no no!

The Wit and Wisdom of Kimora

"If you're shy, get the hell over it: You're slamming the door in your own face."

"Be a gold-medal multitasker. You should be able to discuss the new Ludacris video while correcting the merchandising spreadsheets, picking the right shade of snakeskin for next season's mini-purses and catching the dog at the same time!"

"There'd never been a clothing line made by a young woman like me: a multiethnic woman who has one foot in Gucci and one foot in the ghetto."

"In almost any situation, it is far more devastating to keep your icy cool while the other person gets herself in a flush-cheeked, teary-eyed hot mess yelling in your face."

"Be stingy with your money! Don't splurge at the mall — and definitely don't give it to your boyfriend!"

"I love when people walk into my house and start grinning, 'This is too much — this is so you!' Why give people brown cardboard when you can give them embroidered, crystal-flecked organza?"

"It's not always what you know, but who you know. Get out and meet people."

"Gatecrash the right parties. You may not get the invites to the hot parties in your field, yet. But just like there's always a back door into a career, there's always a back door into a party."

"We as women analyze every little thing that comes out of men's mouths, but sometimes you've got to just pay their craziness no heed. Just pretend it's their 'time of the month' and think about the dry-cleaning you've got to pick up."

"I tell young girls all the time, Go for the guys who are more serious, distinguished. The hot-model types, they're too pretty, and too wet behind the ears. Besides, do you want a guy who takes longer to get ready than you?"

"All women are goddesses, and it's just a matter of letting that goddess-power shine — and if you don't try to be the biggest and baddest damn goddess you can be, you are selling yourself short."

Orig. published Jan. 23, 2006

Comments

[Jacky]

I love baby phat!!!!!!!!!! I love baby phat iM the number ####1 BabyPhat lover!! ya'll heard

[Michi]

Thank you for writing this article and providing this forum to share thoughts. I really needed this tonight.

I just finished watching Kimora's new reality show and I was inspired. I jumped online to see if she had written a book and found that she had. Thank you for your comments, it will hold me over until the 21st :)

I am doing my first hair show presentation at a beauty pageant/fashion show this weekend. It has been hell, and I have been totally uninspired.

I am also mixed and have never found a secure spot in any group of black women. I, like Kimora once was, always seem to be the butt of jokes/fall guy, etc. Although I know I am very talented and beautiful, at work (the salon) I have found myself being quiet and feeling negative. I am putting a bushel over my own light. Its been quite sad.

In my heart, I know the right thing to do, but I have found myself thinking and acting poorly.

Seeing Kimora overcome her obstacles has encouraged me to fight harder and let my light shine. Emotionally, I still feel very drained and doing this show is going to be a big challenge. I'll peek back in and let you know how it goes.

[Nasha]

KIMORA I MY ROLE MODEL THATS WHY IM DOING A PROJECT ON HER

[somers lewis]

My name is Somers i have been inquiring about the round green stone bracelets kimors wears all the time with the diamonds around the stones and bracelet part who makes them . Please tell me the designer of those bracelets she wears. She also has them on in the vibe magazine page 104.

[anonymous]

Although I personally don't have Kimora's millions and ALL of her type of luxury, I also feel inspired by her to just be the best budget friendly version of her own style and bring my own over-the-top version of myself completely forward. I don't let money be an issue in terms of what I can't do, but what I can do and how much I can do with my own finances. Yes indeed all of us that admire Kimora's style in various aspects should just livin things up in our own worlds and social circles the best way we can and feel good and look good doing it. If you have to reinvent yourself, do it...especially if you feel life would work out for the better if you do! I no longer feel shy or hesitant to bring my true personal style to life. I've also read Kimora's book "Fabulosity...." and truly got alot out of it. I've read it more than once as a matter of fact, and still make reference to it once in a while. So basically, I think it's easy to say or feel that it's easy for her because she has so much financially that she has easy access to all things luxury. But realistically too, everyone don't have what she has and may never have it. So why not do the best that we can with what we have and work hard to inhance what we have in our everyday worlds and lives.

[jamelia]

i want to be just like kimora she keeps it real she is successful and she has lots of fabulosity and she is so fabulous i love her

[michelle blannon]

hi, this is michelle and i wanna be be a fashion model just like kimora, she is my favorite model and my dream is to model for babyphat.her agency tried to contact me once throught a modeling website i had about 2 years back and im now 18 and i still have not contacted her agency.so if u rare reading this contact me please at talentmatch.com my user name is blannon michelle and i think you would just love my pictures.they will be posted in 48 hours.

[linds]

Kimora has a great sense of style! Thanks for the review of her book, Fabulosity...looks like I'm going to have to go out and buy it for myself! I've been a fan of Kimora since the first season of her reality show and I've been watching her ever since! Love the new season!

[Amina]

I LOVE BABY PHAT AND FABLOUSITY AND KLS I'M YOUR #######################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################################1 FAN I WEAR BABY PHAT EVERY SINGLE DAY 24/7 ALSO THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE I'M GOING TO TELL MY fRIENDS ALSO EVERY THING YOU SAID IS THE TRUTH

YOUR #############################################1 FAN AMINA

[Charmaine]

Hey Kimora its Charmaine and i really love the way you live.(fabulousity) I would really like to work for you in some way. contact me bye

[Tanisha]

Kimoraa its Tanishaaaa -
ilovee your stuff shoot i have a whole closet full of your stuff and my mom loves you she has a tattoo of your design but ilovee you kimoraaa

- your number 1 fann nishaaa <3

[Vain Jane]

Hi! :)

Kimora inspired me to have a strong persona.
I have her book by the way. She even inspired me to have my own blog and share stuff I learned from her book to other females all over the world.

[coach sale]

Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

[Round and Brown]

Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.