New music videos - Rihanna & Vita Chambers

Ok, islandistas, we are giving you three for the price of one here - just for the sake of contrasting Rihanna and Vita Chambers' new and very, very different videos. 

 

Rihanna put out two vids in the last two weeks - one in Europe for her love song Te Amo and one in the US for her song Rock Star 101. 

 

Fellow Bajan songbird Vita Chambers also put out a new vid for her song Like Boom. 

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=o4gYQkUDG6g] 

And ... well. Did I mention they are different? Ri-ri's vids, especially Rock Star 101 are back to being very, very dark after the welcomed peppiness of Rude Boy - the shots with her in the horned headpiece in the middle of the circle certainly won't do anything to help those 'Rihanna is a devil worshipper' rumours. Clearly the intention was to feed that loose talk - even though clever folk will argue it's just the jagged R that has been the symbol of her Rated R album - but the inference is clear. 

 

  

[caption id="attachment_2385" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Screen grab from Rock Star 1010 music video."][/caption]

Vita's video on the other hand, is fun, upbeat and full of sweetness and light - in aura, if not in musical style, much like Rihanna in 2005.  

See for yourself. 

How will Tivoli terror affect JA's entertainment scene?

That is the question entertainment and cultural promoters and performers must be asking themselves after a quiet week in Kingston, Jamaica entertainment-wise.

The 'terror in Tivoli' has inflicted wounds not just on the hundreds injured and scores killed, but on Jamaica's economy and Kingston's vibrant entertainment scene.

The Jamaica Observer reports that a host of entertainment events, from regularly scheduled parties like Uptown Mondays, Weddy Wednesdays and Dudus' own Passa Passa, have been cancelled.

Larger one-off or seasonal events like the scheduled WI v South Africa test cricket, the final staging of May Daze and the Jamaica Observer's Food Awards, have also been moved, cancelled and postponed.

Islandista-wise, Saint International's StyleWeek is a major casualty. StyleWeek was originally set for this weekend but the organisers called it off, issuing a statement:

Meiling buffing FWTT?

Amidst all the drama in the Caribbean recently, we are approaching our very own fashion season, starting with Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago, which kicks off tonight.

Interestingly enough, even though FWTT officially starts tonight in Tobago, Trinidad's fashion doyenne Meiling has decided to opt out of showing her collection at FWTT this year.

Instead, she will be showing her collection, Noir at a fashion showcase by hot Caribbean-American events company Antilia at the Carlton Savannah ... on the very same night that FWTT is starting.

Hmm... What's going on here?

BREAKING NEWS: Kamla Persad-Bissessar first female PM of Trinidad & Tobago

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As Denyse Plummer said it then, it has become now - Woman is boss in Trinidad & Tobago.

The news is just in that Kamla Persad-Bissessar will now be the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, after her People's Partnership coalition won the snap elections in Trinidad and Tobago today with 28 out of 41 seats.


Kamla declared victory from as early as 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Caribbean time) as it became clear the PP was headed to victory and extended the olive branch to PNM supporters saying:

"All are welcome. The door is open."

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(About to be former) Prime Minister Patrick Manning only conceded a short while ago, saying "we accept the results and I accept full responsibility."

Things looking sticky for Manning now - this is the second time he called a snap election and lost - the first time being 1995. Yuh can't mek  that kinda mistake twice, especially when you are not that popular.

And just for a final touch ... Denyse Plummer's Dimance Gras 88 performance of ... Woman is Boss.

Terror in Tivoli and women's role

And so islandistas, it has come to this.

[caption id="attachment_2357" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo credit: Ian Allen/Jamaica Gleaner"][/caption]

The ugly, jagged and dark side of the Caribbean's ultimate Jekyll and Hyde island has been unveiling itself in all its horror over the last week as the forces of Dudus have been unleashed against the Jamaican state.

Dramatic?

Not really.

A state of emergency was declared in Kingston yesterday afternoon. The Hannah Town police station and Darling Street police station have been set on fire and their officers forced to flee.

Police officers have been attacked and their vehicle stolen.

And there are increasing reports of roadblocks and marauding gunmen stalking both downtown (Tivoli, Denham Town, Hannah Town, Slipe Road) and uptown (Red Hills, Liguanea, Mona/August Town/Papine, New Kingston).

As we write, reports are coming in that officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force are trying to reach five injured police officers who are stranded on the grounds of Excelsior High School in Mountain View Avenue.

More pics and analysis under the cut...

Jeneil, Jaunel and Sasha-Gaye in Brit mags

[caption id="attachment_2350" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Photo credit: Danielle Jackson/I-d magazine"][/caption]

Jamaican supermodels continue to run tings in the fashion world.

This month brings a wave of top yaad talent to two British magazines - the quirky, fashion-favourite, I-d and British Grazia.

Jeneil, along with several others, is featured on the cover and on the inside of I-D in their Summer for Love editorial, which plays up her strong, lithe body with several leaping and nsfw topless shots.

Jaunel and Gaye are in the more mainstream Grazia in their editorial 'The Clash' which highlights the 'tribal' trend in fashion. Take a look at the pics from both shoots under the cut.

Rally round the West Indies ... women!

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Soooo... once again, the West Indies men's cricket team has disappointed us with their lack of heart, effort or discipline in the World Twenty20.

It's not so much that they lost to Australia - the Aussies have been like frigging Terminators in this series - machines covered in human skin and focused on one mission only. But it is how they lost that is hurtful. There was a limpness, a visible lack of interest or effort, that just compounded the defeat for Windies supporters.


Gayle apologised to fans, saying:

"There are no excuses and I apologise to the fans for our display in this World Cup but we have to hold our heads high."

Really? You have to hold your heads high? Why again?


Big. Dutty. Suck. Teet.

Let's focus on a team that can and should really hold its head high. The ones who fight on the field to win games, with amazing feats to outshine even those of the men and who defeated the defending champions England.

Let's talk about Deandra Dottin, Stafanie Taylor and the rest of the West Indies women's team, led by Merissa Aguilleira.

Trying a new look ... your thoughts?

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UPDATE: Thanks for all the feedback thus far islandistas and keep it coming! From what we're hearing thus far, you like the layout, but you're not as enamoured of the colour scheme so we're going to work on that.


The good thing about this theme is that even though it is a pre-set Wordpress theme, it is pretty flexible and we can change the background (the bit that is pale yellow with the polka dots) and the header.

So we will be experimenting a bit more with this layout to see what we can get out of it. If you have any other ideas or suggestions, drop a comment below or email us at islandista@gmail.com!


So islandistas, we dont know if you've noticed it but we're going to be celebrating a big milestone soon!

Yep, on Saturday, it's going to be our second birthday ...woo-hoo!

For two years, we have stayed with our Black Letter-Head theme but with it being our birthday soon, we feeling to get a new look.

So we're trying out this new theme Bueno. It's still very 'islandista' with the pink accents but has more of a blog-zine type feel which ties in perfectly with some of the plans we intend to unveil this year.

So... your thoughts? What do you think? Is Bueno bueno or should we do like Amy Winehouse and go back to black?

Let us know!

Islandista It Girl: Shala Monroque

Islandistas, you know what we love?

We love reading about islandista it girls - chicks who are just killing the scene in New York, London, wherever, with their style, flair and islandistas-ness. We love when something about their name or look gives us that little inkling... is she...an islandista?

And we've found another one - she's St. Lucian Shala Monroque, editor-at-large for Pop magazine, girlfriend of art dealer and gallerist Larry Gagosian  and the fashion set's darling.
Seriously, Monroque, who was born and raised in bel Sent Lisi, is everywhere that matters in style.

She makes regular appearances (like here and here) in Vogue.com's Ten Best Dressed of the Week and was profiled as an 'It Girl' in the Flash section of Vogue last month (April 2010). Essence.com also praised her style in a piece recently, noting how she sent the fashion blogosphere in a tizzy during the SS10 season last year.

Her style is distinctive - a variety of turbans and beanies so she doesn't have to fuss too much with her short, natural do, the sickest shoe game this side of the Atlantic and a love of bright colours and prints.
That same month she was also in Harper's Bazaar, in their 7-day Wardrobe feature, showing the range of fabulous style. In the feature, she attributes her love of big, bold colour to her Caribbean heritage.

She also attributes that heritage, specifically her looshan-ess to her fearless attitude. In her blog for Pop, she drops the stat that every St. Lucian must remind you of - their Nobel Laureate ratio,  while musing:

"Anyway these two events coming from an island with a population of 160.000 people has left me and many other St. Lucians with the idea that we can achieve anything..."

Yep, pretty much!

Islandistas @ Met Costume Institute Ball

We're baaa-aack! ... With more pics of our picks from the Met Costume Institute Ball last night in New York City.

The winner of the night in the islandistas style stakes - and possibly overall - was Jennifer Lopez.

She looked gorgeous in her irridescent, glimmering gown by Zuhair Murad. The sweetheart neckline, the leaf detail in the skirt... perfection.

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Do 'um Jenny!

JLo was right on target fashion wise as nude tones of greige (grey and beige) dominated the night - with Kate Hudson, Katy Perry, Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwen Stefani and Anne Hathaway all sporting variations of beige, cream, coral etc.

Eva Mendes,  went very differently style-wise with colours and patterns as opposed to neutrals and texture  in a rose-patterned Dolce & Gabbana gown with a fish-tail skirt - perfect for the curvy Cubana.

[picapp align="center" wrap="false" link="term=met+costume+institute+gala+2010+Eva+Mendes&iid=8696562" src="b/2/8/4/MET_Costume_Institute_2aea.jpg?adImageId=12744272&imageId=8696562" width="234" height="354" /]

Check out more islandista style and some of our favourite non-islandista fashionistas (and some misses!) under the cut.

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!

Island folk at White House Correspondents Dinner

The biggest night on the Washington D.C. social calendar (outside of the inaugurations of course!) came off on Saturday - the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.

US First Lady Michelle Obama looked gorrrrrgeous in a fire-red Prabal Gurung dress! [picapp align="center" wrap="false" link="term=Michelle+Obama+2010&iid=8677340" src="9/0/e/7/US_President_Obama_303e.JPG?adImageId=12736560&imageId=8677340" width="380" height="251" /]

A few big up island folk were in attendance too, like former Secretary of State Colin Powell and D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty and his lovely Jamaican-Brit wife Michelle. Check out the pics of the political fabulousness below!

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Haitian designer Hassan Pierre in Vogue!

[caption id="attachment_2316" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Photo credit: Seth Browarnik/RED EYE PRODUCTIONS "][/caption]

We love to see island folk doing big things so we were very happy to read about Haitian-American designer Hassan Pierre...  in the May issue of US Vogue, no less! 

 While folks may not always associate Haiti with haute couture, Pierre, who is a 22 year old grad of Parson's School of Design, has fashion in his blood, as he told Boca News back in 07:

"My mother used to take me to the Paris shows from Haiti. She is what I like to call, a fashion junkie."

And it's worked for him -another of his lines, VIP Couture, was beloved by it girls such as Nicole Richie and the Olsen Twins and now his organic line, Way It Should Be* is getting shine.

 WISB* was featured in Vogue's Syle Ethics section, with actress Kerry Washington modelling a cool, crisp black and white WISB* dress with a tiered skirt. 

The name of the line aptly sums up its fashion ethos - that clothing should be from sustainable and organic sources. Hence why they use organic materials, non-synthetic dyes, recycled zippers and seeded paper for the hang tags (you can actually plant them and they will bloom). 

Also, the line itself is produced in Port-au-Prince and Pierre has promised it will continue to be, as the city recovers from the catastrophic January 12 earthquake. He told Vogue:

"It really has to be the entire process, beyond it just being organic. And that's more important now than ever."