What I’m Reading Now: Grace Jones "I'll Never Write My Memoirs"

Nothing makes me happier than reading a book about one of my favorite idols and a woman who has been an inspiration to so many. I could not wait to get my hands on a copy when I first heard about it. So far, this is a really good one!

 Nothing makes a rainy day more relaxing than a good book.

Happy Birthday Naomi Campbell!!!

May has been a phenomenal month so far and what a great way to celebrate some of my favorites who have inspired me most of my life with a shout out on their birthdays. I didn't post Grace Jones birthday, but I send out a belated greeting to the queen of  individuality and "Feroshness" who turned a fabulous 64 years old on May 19. Naomi Campbell turns a fabulous 42 years old today and I can honestly say that both women are O40&Fab!

Happy Birthday to one of the most stylish women on the planet!

The Black Bond Girls From Yesterday To Today

Actress Naomie Harris revealed to the world that she has been selected to star in the latest James Bond movie. The media says that she will play Miss Moneypenny in the new James Bond movie, Skyfall, which is the 23rd in the James Bond franchise. Naomie makes the second British woman of Caribbean descent to be cast alongside the 007 character. Former top model Sylvana Henriques was the first. Congratulations to you, Naomie.

Over the years, the "Bond Girls" have played both the beautiful comrade and beautiful villainess in the James Bond movies. Below are the photos of other "Black Bond Girls" over the years:

Gloria Hendry-Live And Let Die 1973

Grace Jones-A View To A Kill 1985

Trina Parks-Diamonds Are Forever 1971

Sylvana Henriques-On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969

Emily Bolton- Moonraker 1979

Halle Berry-Die Another Day 2002

Azzedine Alaïa Returns To Paris Fashion Week

One of the biggest names in the fashion, Azzedine Alaïa is set to show at Paris Fashion Week after previously showing his collections to only a select few fashion insiders in recent years. The Tunisian born, Paris based fashion designer said he plans to show a series of semi-couture pieces during the start of Parisian haute couture fashion shows which takes place between 4 and 8 July of this year.

Alaïa has dressed many of worlds most stylish and high-profile women, from Grace Jones, Tina Turner, Naomi Campbell and Michelle Obama, to name a few. His clothes highlight the body, like a second skin that emphasizes a womans curves. Azzedine Alaïa never disappoints the women who love him with his ever changing array of clothing and accessories. I can't wait to see this collection.

Amazingggg Grrraceeeeee!

Amazzzzzingggg Grrrrrace! Grace Jones has been “Defining Fabulous” for over sixty years.

A MOMENT IN AFRO HERSTORY: ISSEY MIYAKE PRESENTS 12 BLACK GIRLS IN JAPAN

Karen Wilson, Carol Standifer, Barbara Summers, Jessica Brown, Grace Jones, Barbara Jackson

Toukie Smith, Ramona Saunders, June Murphy, Esther Kamatari, Paschal and Jan Maiden.

In 1976 Issey Miyake presented a special collection and tour titled, "Twelve Black Girls In Japan," in which 12 black 'Top Models' from the USA and Esther Kamatari of France, wore his designs in shows in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan seen by over 15,000 people.

A SALUTE TO FASHION DESIGNER PATRICK KELLY

Karl Lagerfeld's not the only who has had Inès de la Fressange walk the runway. Here she wears Patrick Kelly's red, pearl embroidered dress circa 1988.

Toukie Smith was curvaceous and yet she still graced Patrick's Runways... and so did others.

The Collections

"I can't say I wouldn't have made it in New York because I didn't stay to find out."

  ~Patrick Kelly

In the 1980s an American fashion designer from Vicksburg, Mississippi by the name of Patrick Kelly took Paris by storm, becoming the first American member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter (the governing body of the prestigious French ready-to-wear industry).

"Super Model" Coco Mitchel Wearing Patrick Kelly

Embellishments, embellishments, embellishments...Kelly remembered much of his Southern upbringing and paid homage to it with many of his designs, which featured large buttons, some completely embroidered in buttons and pearls...but his creative spirit did not stop there.

...He also decorated his dresses with colorful bows, embroidered lips and hearts, and even in one collection he paid a tribute to his African roots by doing an entire collection in Kente cloth. Some wanted to say it was Betty Davis who put him on the map, not so because he had a legion of other well known women who were also fans of his clothes. The America media has been twisting stories for decades which goes to show that this is nothing new.

His clothes were sexy and glamorous and of course without controversy because to some people his logo supposedly reminded them of negative images of Little Black Sambo. Sadly, Patrick Kelly died in 1990 at the height of his career.

Photos: From my own personal collections

of magazines scanned by moi. Those of Toukie Smith,

Patrick Kelly and Ines de la Fressange are from CORBIS.

THE WAY WE WORE: GRACE JONES For André Courrèges

The Fantabulous Grace Jones for André Courrèges circa 1974.

The Bold and the Beautiful

The Original "Bold and the Beautiful"

Pat Evans, Grace Jones and Judith Jamison. These women made their freshly shaved

heads their trademarks and didn't give a care who liked it or not! As a teen

I couldn't help but admire Super Model Pat Evans when I first saw her on the cover of my brother's

record albums and in the pages of earlier copies of Essence magazine.

It takes a special woman to sport the bald look...heck it takes a special woman just to wear her natural hair period! For years we've been wearing everyone else's hair but our own and it's awe inspiring when I see women who say forget the standards of beauty that are imposed upon them and proclaim that they are going to be themselves.

Confidence, self-definition and how you see yourself as a woman and as an individual and of course a bold personality and a style of your own are the characteristics that these lovely ladies possess who pull off this look. As an admirer of all women, confidence is the number one accessory that no woman should ever leave home without and these women simply exude confidence and rock!

From Brazilian singer Adyel Silva to Artist Dawn Okoro, these women and others

like them are the  personification of what it means to be 'The Bold and the Beautiful!"