Videography: Whitney Houston

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Though she ‘s now belting in that great sold out concert hall in the sky, Whitney Houston left behind a catalog of classic tunes that redefined what it means to sang. Visually, her model good looks were a hit with the MTV crowd and as a result Whitney was a huge crossover success — picking up the torch passed to her by godmother and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Throughout the 90s Whitney made a series of comebacks, effectively earning her diva stripes and also some of the biggest hits of her career. Her output was more erratic in the 00s, but she at least had one last hit with the Alicia Keys-penned “Million Dollar Bill.” While we may mourn Whitney Houston’s untimely death,  we’ll continue to dance, emphatically point and lip-sync for our lives to her timeless music. 

How 10 Celebs Reinvent the Maxi Skirt

Edited by FashionIndie

The maxi skirt is a mind game. At its finest, it is wildly comfortable, utterly glamorous and the perfect bottom coverall. This makes the maxi skirt is a celeb’s best friend, and the perfect style solution. Slight breeze outside? Maxi. Feeling a little bloated? Maxi. No time to shave your legs? Maxi. Whether it’s replacing the sweatpant or stepping out on the red carpet, a floor skimming skirt is simply chic. 

Vogue Festival Draws a Fashionable Crowd

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Coachella wasn’t the only fashion-forward festival going down this weekend. On the other side of the pond industry luminaries — ranging from Tom Ford and bff Stella McCartney, to Diane von Furstenbreg and Dolce & Gabbana and Natalia Vodianova and Rachel Zoe – regaled attendees of the inaugural Vogue Festival with advice and anecdotes on a series of panels during the two-day event. After the jump, a few highlights.

Kardashians Photoshopped into Oblivion for Sears, Cavalli Ruined J.Lo’s Wedding Secret and Kate Upton’s Banned Ad

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

- British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha are paying a visit to the US meaning one thing: First Lady style-off. Michelle Obama, bring your A-line game. [WWD]

- The Hollywood Reporter, a barometer of style if there ever was one, named the 25 most powerful stylists in Hollywood and neither Rachel Zoe or Brad Goreski are that powerful outside reality television and the front rows of fashion shows. [The Cut]

- The Kardashians return to Sears with a lingerie line, which of course called for the same half-assed Photoshopping job prevalent since the beginning of their partnership. If it’s terribly broke, why fix it? [Styleite]

Heads Up! Broad Brims for Fall 2012

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

We were already sniffing out this wide-brimming phenomenon earlier this week, but when Marc Jacobs sent out magnanimous furry top hats, this trend got a head above the rest. Whether floppy like at Rachel Zoe, cowboy like at Nicholas K, or golden like at Samantha Pleet, the brims are thick set to go all the way around. 

10 Essentials Elements for (an Unseasonably Warm) New York Fashion Week

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Twice a year, we at FashionIndie raid, ransack and rape our closets in an effort to  put together a compelling look that will have all other fashionistas wishing they had stayed the eff home. In September, the last vestiges of summer make it slightly easier to turn it proverbially out, but February usually requires a lot of layering and the outfit often has to be cruelly covered up to stave off the ravages of winter. This  New York Fashion Week, however, the winter has been suspiciously mild. Temperatures have barely dipped below freezing and nary a snow flake has dropped in weeks. So let’s just ignore our impending doom thanks to the totally buzz-killing reality of global warming and instead focus on what matters: dressing for the Tents. Here are 10 staples — 5 for the guys and 5 for the gals, but feel free to mix and match since we actively don’t subscribe to gender constructs — for NYFW. 

Celebrities Wear T-Shirts?

Edited by Jessica Lapidos

Regular folk can get away with wearing witty boy’s and girl’s  t-shirts, but celebrities? We prefer to see them in ground-sweeping ball gowns and pretty little things the every-gay can’t just wear on the fly. So why wear tees when the sartorial world is at your fingertips?  Is it the comfort? Maybe. The message across the front? Less likely. But point is, if you can afford Dior, we’d really like to see you in Rick Owens. How do you feel about celebs in t-shirts?

IndieNewsroom: Anna Plays Nice in “The Fashion Fund”…Rachel Zoe Dies for LOVE…Ab Fab for Alexis Bittar

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

- The Fashion Fund is a new webseries that takes a look at the process behind the CFDA‘s annual award for up-and-coming designers. The first episode takes us behind the close doors of the committee that chose recent winner Joseph Altuzarra, featuring Anna Wintour in full HBIC mode. Flipping through the lookbook from Nice Collective, Anna purrs,”Well this is just generic…I mean, it’s fine. It’s not offensive.” And then she set it on fire and threw it in Jeffrey Kalinsky‘s face. [NYT]

THE DAILY ‘OH NO, GURL’: Cameron Diaz’s New Hair-Don’t

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

Sometimes a gasp is out of pure joy, astonishment and wonder — those are the best times. And other times, a gasp can come from sheer and abject horror. Witness the latter thanks to one Miss Cameron Diaz at The Weinstein Company‘s Golden Globes after party. 

INDIE NEWSROOM: Ebony Tumbles/ Bieber Goes with God/ Brad & Rachel Continue Verbally Scratching Each Other’s Eyes Out

Edited by Lester Brathwaite

- Ebony‘s gotten into the Tumblr game and they’re digging into their archives where gems like this stunning Diana Ross cover from 1970 are just sitting around waiting to be fawned over. [Ebony Tumblr]