Cover Girls: Jennifer Hudson for Lucky Magazine

The lovely and talented actress/songstress Jennifer Hudson covers Lucky Magazine's January 2013 issue. I'm beyond excited to see a woman of color gracing their cover to start off the 2013 year. I think Jennifer looks amazing in her 7 For All Mankind denim jacket, DKNY top, and H&M skirt. See below for a few quick snippets from her cover story with Lucky Magazine:

On her personal style: "My style has always been … odd," she says. “I call it being free, expressing myself. You know, creative people? We like to express ourselves. When I was a little girl, I liked to cut up my clothes—we called it Jenniferizing. Or a J. Original! Just because it came that way doesn’t mean you have to wear it that way.” Hudson designed her own prom dress, her own Easter dress, dress after dress. “I would sketch it, and my mom and I would pick out the fabric and we’d have it made! I love to sketch! Everybody else was about the name brands—I’d go to Payless and get something nobody else had!”

On her biggest fashion inspiration, her grandfather: “The most stylish person in my family was definitely him—he’d take you into his closet and be like, ‘Hey! You need to wear this, Jenny!’ ” She laughs at the memory. “He was dressed down, honey, his closet, his clothes, they were sharp. He would pick things out of his for me to wear, and they were always perfect. That’s why I love menswear.”

On how her friends in Chicago think of her style: “I am the strangest thing—my style is utterly weird to them. They’ll be like, ‘Is that a witch hat, why are you wearing that witch hat? What is that hat? I mean, leather shorts? With boots? In the winter??’ They do not understand.”

On her favorite shopping destinations: “I leave the red-carpet stuff to the stylists,” she says. “For everyday, my two favorites are Urban Outfitters and Forever 21. And Nasty Gal! I love that place! Every time I go there, I want everything new that they have. All Saints, too, I love. Then there’s Michael Kors, Givenchy, Rick Owens—I like things that are dramatic in a subtle way. “When Jennifer has free time, I am shopping! I go through every rack because I might’ve missed a piece! Where I live I can walk right out onto Michigan Avenue and shop—walk, not drive—I’ve got to walk! Plus, you forget about eating when you’re shopping.”

The January issue of Lucky magazine is on nationwide newsstands December 11th.

Thoughts on this cover?

Photo Credit: Ruven Afanador for Lucky Magazine

LBS Runway Report: DKNY Spring 2013

I’ll admit it: I haven’t anticipated a DKNY collection in ages. Their designs scream “prepubescent preteen with no fashion direction” and I matured out of the juniors department almost a decade ago. But I tackled this recap because nothing tests passion more than perseverance. That’s my positive message of the day. 

Moving on … if there’s something we can take from this collection in the distant spring and summer seasons, it’s the need to find our inner inhibitions and unleash them in our wardrobe. That seems to be Donna Karan’s goal. She’s reminding us that fashion is joyous and we should be entertained when we open our closets in the morning. 

DKNY aimed to redefine the traditional New York uniform for the street, work and sport, with a monochrome color scheme accented by yellows and silvers. The Spring 2013 collection is hip, fresh and perfect for the college student who wants to blend youth with professionalism. DKNY struck an excellent chord with the adorbs sneaker wedges gracing each model’s feet, the offbeat leather jackets and bathing suits worn as shirts. 

DKNY paired basics, like denim skirts, with versatile pieces that could easily transition from the office to a late night Thai dinner. There was mesh, nylon and fanny packs galore. Even camouflage made a guest appearance on the runway. This collection reminded me of how amazingly fun fashion can be when you stop following rules. 

A-listers present in the first row included Louise Roe (who was also at Herve Leger), Kelsey Chow and Lianne La Havas decked in chic onyx digs. I won’t be rushing to the racks for a DKNY blouse, but I’ve developed a fresh regard for the brand.

Has DKNY "wowed" you with this collection?

- Evette Dionne