First look @ Met Costume Institute Gala!

Islandistas and fashionistas all! [picapp align="right" wrap="false" link="term=Met+Costume+institute+gala&iid=8691891" src="1/c/2/7/_American_Woman_ab15.jpg?adImageId=12736635&imageId=8691891" width="234" height="352" /]

Pay attention because coming hard on the heels of the White House Correspondents' Dinner in D.C., it is one of the biggest nights on the social calendars of those in NYC and in fashion - the Met Costume Institute Gala.

Co-hosted by Oprah, the event is kicking off at the Met all now ... and we have the first look at the islandistas making their entrance on the red carpet.

We start of course with Zoe Saldana, who is one of the early arrivals, in a cold-shouldered navy column dress. While the dress itself is right on-trend, we're actually a bit disappointed at this from Zoe. She's usually so fly and fearless on the red carpet that a simple navy column dress seems so tame for her for a fashion night as big as this.

Gorgeous but could be better - we know she could!

Keep checking islandista for all the fashion notes from tonight!

Islandista mag covers - Naomi & Zoe S

[caption id="attachment_2164" align="alignleft" width="175" caption="Photo credit: Russian Vogue"][/caption]

Supermodel Naomi Campbell is literally all over the April edition of Russian Vogue, which was totally dedicated to her. That's right - she was the only model featured in the edition, which she guest edited. She is featured in editorials shot by big name photogs Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Tom Munro, Matt Irwin, and Solve Sundsbo. 

Oh to be a supermodel with a billionaire Russian boyfriend... 

[caption id="attachment_2165" align="alignright" width="197" caption="Photo credit: Glamour magazine"][/caption]

Dominicana-boricua Zoe Saldana is also in the cover girl biz this month, as one of the three covers for Glamour magazine, which is touting her as part of the 'Glam New Guard'. 

The accompanying interview is the usual succinct Zoe no-bullshit delight. A taste and more pics  of both islandistas (some NSFW!) from both magazines after the cut.

Islandistas at the Kids Choice Awards

The biggest night in kiddie-dom was on last night - the Kid's Choice Awards.

Islandistas and their families were out in force - both on the orange carpet, and on the stage as Rihanna, who is top of the charts again with Rude Boy, performed.

Check the pics from the night of family fun.

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="324" caption="Mel B hit the orange carpet with her two children, husband and a young relative."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2186" align="aligncenter" width="339" caption="Rihanna on the orange carpet in Dior dress and heels."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Rosario Dawson on the Kids Choice orange carpet."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2189" align="aligncenter" width="341" caption="Zoe Saldana also made an appearance."][/caption]

Islandistas around the tents at NYFW

Islandistas were not just on the catwalks (in abundance!) during the recently ended New York Fashion Week - plenty of them were also in the front rows at shows as well and at the hot parties and after-parties during the week.

It was like CARICOM in de place, with fashionista islandistas from Antigua, Cayman Islands, Trinidad, Jamaica and Grenada just to name a few!

Check out the pics to see the island chicks (and man) we spotted at NYFW.

[caption id="attachment_2021" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Antigua-born stylist June Ambrose goofing around with Miss Jay."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2022" align="aligncenter" width="241" caption="...And with half-Grenadian singer Estelle."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2023" align="aligncenter" width="305" caption="Domincana-boricua actress Zoe Saldana taking in a show intently from the front row."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2024" align="aligncenter" width="178" caption="Cayman Islands girl and Victoria's secret model Selita Ebanks at the Rebecca Taylor show after party. She also took in Rachel Roy's show the same day."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2026" align="aligncenter" width="264" caption="Trini-American designer/video director/party promoter Vashti Kola at Rachel Roy's show."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2027" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Jamaican-American model Tyson Beckford taking in the G * Star show with a friend."][/caption]

Islandistas at the Golden Globes

While film award ceremonies are not usually as big islandista spotting grounds as music awards, Sunday's Golden Globes did turn up a few islandistas at the ceremony and at the after-parties.

Chief among them of course, was Zoe Saldana. You would well know from checking islandista that Zoe can do no wrong on the red carpet - honestly we have not seen a bad outfit from her since 19-how long. She always bring it and she did again for the Globes, where the mega block-buster she starred in, Avatar, took the top awards of the night - best director for James Cameron and best motion picture drama. We're going to give you two looks at her raw-edged, ruffled, scarlet Louis Vuitton dress.

[caption id="attachment_1927" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Zoe poses with the two Golden Globe awards won by Avatar."][/caption]

Do 'um girl!

Guyanese-descended Leona Lewis, also part of the Avatar crew as she sang its theme song 'I See You', was also in fine form in a deep purple satin Roberto Cavalli with a lovely fold detail at the bodice.

And Haitian-American actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon was out at the InStyle Golden Globe after party in a form-fitting black and flesh toned dress. Good thing Garcelle have form to fit because this dress could be dicey on anyone a bit skinny or a bit plump.

Islandista cover girls - Naomi and Zoe

Two very different islandistas are covering the latest editions of two very different magazines. 

The amazonian and fiery Jamaican-Brit Naomi Campbell is on the Fall/Winter 09 cover of Flaunt magazine in a vivid, colour-drenched and dramatic shoot by star photog David LaChapelle entitled 'The Rape of Africa'. 

[caption id="attachment_1871" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: David LaChapelle/Flaunt Magazine"][/caption]



Some folk are pissy that you can see her nipple ... like we haven't all seen a nipple before. *roll eyes* 

On the flip side, the pixie-like sci-fi heroine Domican Zoe Saldana is featured in a futuristic, stark spread in Complex magazine that features mostly black white and silver as its colour theme. 

Check a few of the pics below. 

[caption id="attachment_1872" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Gavin Bond/Complex Magazine"][/caption]

 

Wonderful Zoe Saldana photo spread in Vanity Fair

Hollywood's favourite islandista, Zoe Saldana is featured in the September issue of Vanity Fair (aka the big Style Issue)in a fabulous, Harlem Renaissance-themed photo shoot.

It plays on Zoe's penchant for getting cast in movie roles as the one lady among the men (Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Trek and the upcoming sci-fi flick Avatar).

I love how they combined that with the Harlem renaissance looks and how dignified and sharp the brothers, both young and old, look in these pictures. Obviously, Zoe is th star, but they definitely add a finesse to the photos.

Call it the Obama effect but I am seeing us portrayed much more  and more beautifully in mainstream publications these days.

Check out some of the shots.

 

[caption id="attachment_1338" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: Michael Roberts for Vanity Fair"][/caption]

Islandistas at the CFDA Awards - shades of grey

The CFDA Awards were held earlier this week and two of fashion's favourite islandistas, Zoe Saldana and model Arlenis Sosa were in attendance.

Interestingly enough, they were both wearing dresses in shades of grey, as was one of the only other brown bodies pictured there, the always fabulous Kerry Washington (let me find out she has a Caribbean granny or something! It would be on like boil corn!).

While Zoe was gorgeous in her ethereal, gauzy Calvin Klein collection dress in gun metal grey, we were ... less sure about Arlenis' nipple-baring Emanuel Ungaro outfit - a gauzy long-sleeved blouse with a high-waisted silvery grey skirt. She didn't seem too sure about it either, judging from her awkward stance.

And Kerry was radiant and glamourous as hell in her sparkling doo.ri dress with the low v-cut bodice and full skirt.

Take a look below.

 



[caption id="attachment_1132" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Photo credit: style.com"][/caption]

 



[caption id="attachment_1133" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="photo credit: Style.com"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1134" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Photo credit: style.com"][/caption]

Fashion notes: Ri-Ri sells a milli X 12, Zoe S in Cannes & Fashion Weeks

Island Def Jam held a big party on Wednesday night for their favourite islandista, Rihanna, for going twelve times platinum.

 

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="420" caption="Photo credit: Wargo/Kempin"][/caption]

Congrats. All the talk, at the end of the day, her success has paved the way for other young Bajan artistes like Shontelle and Hal Linton to get major label contracts.

Of course as ever with Ri-Ri, the fashion was the real star. She wore a single-button cropped kacket with some crazy-cool geometric and paisley prints and pair of leggings that we have seen described as "perforated" but to our minds (and eyes) are see-through... disturbingly see through. Check out the slightly NSFW fuller pic of the outfit below and let us know if you agree.

Zoe Saldana is rocking it

Islandista Zoe Saldana has been mashing up the fashion game in recent days as she circles the globe to promote the new Star Trek movie which she stars in, playing the iconic role of Uhura.

For non-trekkies (i.e. probably most of you), Uhura, played originally by Nichelle Nicholls was one of the first significant (i.e. non-servile) black characters on American television and in the role, was part of what is frequently referred to as American television's first interracial kiss - in 1968 this was no joke.

So a big deal and big role for islandista Zoe and she has been raising the bar on her usually tight fashion game as she promotes the movie. Check out her outfits that she wore to press junkets in Germany and Madrid, Spain recently.



 



Sigh... y'all know I get dotish for any outfit with origami-like fold detailing already (as evidenced by the multiple previous posts dedicated to this trend) and it is displayed at its best  here on the dramatic shoulder of this cold-shoulder outfit - gorgeous! Btw, one-shouldered outfits are also a big trend for 2009 - blame Mrs. Obama and that Jason Wu dress at the inauguration, so Zoe is combining two key trends here in this dress.

Not to mention the sexy strappy, gladiator-esque shoes - the outfit is tops, no lie.



Also loving this black and white patterned dress that she wore in Madrid - and the shoes again, make the outfit.



And this outfit that she wore earlier this week to yet another Star Trek press junket is yet another instance of her shoes making the dress.

Get in dey Ms. Saldana!

Fay-Ann and Destra out front & islandistas at Oscar parties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So up to now, we here at Islandista are still not sure who has won the Road March title in Trinidad and Tobago. From all accounts, it seems to be a close battle between Fay-Ann Lyons 'Meet Super Blue' and Destra Garcia's 'Bacchanal'.

Checking Trinidad's major papers isn't helping either.

The Trinidad Express claims, 'Bacchanal hot on Super Blue's tail', while the Guardian says 'Destra, Faye-Ann in tight race for Road March'. At first glance, NewsDay seems to be sure it is Fay-Ann, with their front page proclaiming 'Fay-Ann's Queen of the Road' and their online lead story headlined as 'Fay-Ann leads Road March race'. However, later in the article they caution

Rihanna's dad - "I didn't believe it" and Fashion Week stuff

Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty has spoken of his shock on hearing of his daughter's alleged assault at the hands of her (now ex we presume?) boyfriend Chris Brown. Speaking to people.com, Mr. Fenty was remarkably restrained and diplomatic for someone whose only girl child has been battered (or maybe they just edited out the part where he said 'if I ever see Chris Brown again, I gine burst he rasshole head... who knows?).

"I know my daughter," said Fenty, 55. As for Brown, he said, "You think you know somebody, but you really don't."

Describing Rihanna's current condition after seeing her in Barbados on Friday, Fenty said, "There is some bruising. She will be alright. I think so."

He adds, "At some point, she will speak out. I hope she will stand up for women all over the world."

Fenty, a salesman and freelance clothing designer, said Rihanna is spending time with her girlfriends in Barbados while she heals. While Fenty said he wouldn't tell his daughter what to do, he did say, "If it were me, I'd move on."

Like we said... restrained. Kudos to Mr. Fenty for taking the high road. 

In other news... it's FASHION WEEK!

New York Fashion Week is having an existential crisis about whether it's appropriate to have the traditional lavish displays of luxury and wealth when the world is in a recession. Several designers, including Ms. Fabulosity herself Kimora Lee Simmons (soon to be Hounsou?) have scaled back their shows in deference to the recession.

But the clothes still cost an arm and a leg ok? And a few toes on the next foot... but at least dey trying.



[caption id="attachment_630" align="aligncenter" width="401" caption="photo credit: from theybf.com"][/caption]



Islandista Nia Long looked cute as can be walking the cat walk for the Heart Truth's red dress collection in a dress by top black designer Tracy Reese and a new group called the African Fashion Collective had an all-star cast of black models for their show, including islandista Jaunel McKenzie and guest appearances by Tyson Beckford and the irrepressible Grace Jones.

[caption id="attachment_631" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="photo credit: Young, Black and Fabulous"][/caption]