Soon after the Chanel Fall 2009 fashion show took place, a frenzy began. Beauty lovers wanted to know all about the pale green color on the models' nails, quite a departure from the usually deep hues for Fall. The color was Jade by Chanel les Vernis and the limited edition color would not be available until Fashion's Night Out.

“I am hip hop: past, present and future” is a bold proclamation from rising talent, Wale. 2009 has been a whirlwind year for the 25 year old D.C. rapper. He will be named GQ Man of the Year (alongside Kid Cudi & Drake) and is the opening act on Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 Tour. In the midst of all of this hype, Wale is releasing his debut LP - Attention Deficit. Although he has 5 mixtapes under his belt, Attention Deficit is Wale's first studio effort.

Throughout the album, Wale manages to strike a perfect balance between conscious rap & witty lyrics. He taps into his boastful side on “Chillin’” and in “Mirrors” he asks, "Mirror mirror on the wall who's the realest of them all?"

With the help of Marsha Ambrosius & a whimsical beat, Wale’s “Diary” speaks about girls whose emotional wounds are roadblocks to accepting love. On "90210," Wale raps about “the regular girl with celebrity dreams” who has fallen prey to the pressures of Hollywood. “Shades” delves into Wale's own insecurity & resentment towards intraracial issues on skin complexion. A soulful Chrisette Michele assuages his sentiments, singing “Shade doesn’t matter. Heart makes the lover. Boy you’re so beautiful."

Although there is no official D.C anthem on the album, it seems like Wale is trying to put D.C. on the music map. He makes multiple references to the nation’s capital not only through his lyrics, but by infusing D.C. area go-go music on “Pretty Girls.”

Wale closes out the album with “Prescription” and suggests that he is the prescription for the void in the state of hip-hop. Despite its name, Attention Deficit is an album that will grab your attention and force you to listen from beginning to end. Articulate storytelling combined with funk and jazz production give this debut a classic sound. Wale has a penchant for saying his name and by the the end of the album you should know how to pronounce it. If not, remember “they keep saying ‘whale’ but my name Wah-lay.” 

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Set to debut at 200 H&M stores on November 14th, Choo president and co-founder Tamara Mellon channeled the glamour of the 80s for this collection.  There are leather leggings and studded belts to satisfy rocker chicks as well as a sparkly mini dress, or a pretty pink clutch for the party girl. Mellon stuck with a mostly black color palette  for the clothes and left it to the accessories to provide pops of color.


H&M is anticipating long lines for the debut. They've even come up with a shopping guide and a list of stores to help prepare shoppers for the event. Prices will will range from $39.95 to $299 so get your cards ready. Jimmy Choo for H&M is right around the corner.

Straight out of the stylebook of the 80s, the exaggerated, padded shoulder is back. With the foundation laid by Balmain, many designers have found a way to incorporate prominent, pointed and rounded shoulders into their fall 2009 collections.
Your favorite celeb fashionistas have been spotted around town rocking this bold look. Beyoncé & Rihanna seem to have a mini collection of simple jackets & dresses with sculpted shoulders. True to form, Lady Gaga takes it a step further with football shoulder pads and futuristic jagged edged shoulders.

Incorporating the structured shoulder look into your daily wear is simple. From sharp points to rounded ruffles, strong shoulders are quite the statement piece for your wardrobe.

top row: Wool Bomber Jacket, $99 (Victoria's Secret); Checked Shoulder Jacket, $160 (Topshop); Torn by Ronny Kobo “Gabby” Top, $132 (shopbop); Robert Rodriguez Ruffle Shoulder Jacket, $495 (Nordstrom)
bottom row: Silence & Noise Strong Shoulder Dress, $58 (Urban Outfitters); Morris Dress, $128 (French Connection); Annie Dress, $178 (French Connection); Elle Bow Dress by Yuki, $130 (Topshop)