Ciara
In December of 2020, she created The House of LR&C, a fashion house that intersects fashion and philanthropy and that's when my love for the ATLien grew stronger. Ciara stated in a press release:
"Fashion has always been my avenue for creative self-expression, and throughout my journey, I've always been looking for a brand that's a one-stop-shop, from investment pieces to budget-friendly items."
The fact that she is using her platform to create a line that can be a woman's best friend in fashion speaks to why she deserves multiple bouquets of flowers. So we are going to do just that. Ahead, find an assortment of Ciara's most memorable looks which makes up one hell of a style evolution.
2005: 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
At the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, Ciara opted for a black satin suit with black open-toed heels. At this point in the game, the singer was still figuring out how to make her mark on the carpet but it was still very fitting for the year 2005.
2006: 48th Annual Grammy Awards
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Fast forward to 2009, you see Princess Ciara draped in a beautiful and delicate white gown. This was also a monumental night as she won her first Grammy for Best Short-Form Music Video for "Lose Control," featuring Missy Elliott & Fat Man Scoop.
2011: 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
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By 2011, our favorite dancer realized her love for high slits. Ciara wore an Emilio Pucci Spring 2011 dress featuring cutouts and an extra-long train to grace the red carpet.
2012: MTV Movie Awards
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Is it us or do we see Ciara stepping into her grown and sexy bag on this red carpet? She brought the heat to the carpet in a red, hot Balmain dress paired with the nude Christian Louboutin 'Pigalle' pointed-toe pumps. It's a timeless look that could be worn in any era.
2014: 56th Annual Grammy Awards
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The year is 2014 and the singer is expecting her first child with rapper, Future. We remember being so excited to see her on the carpet with her adorable bump. The pregnant star stole the show in a custom Emilio Pucci gown and her simplistic beauty made for a perfect ensemble.
2015: American Music Awards
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Reem Acra never looked as good as it did on the R&B beauty during the 2015 AMAs. She was a presenter this night and if we recall, we had just fallen in love with her new relationship with Russell Wilson. They made their pro-BAEte at the White House State Dinner earlier that year and we have been stanning ever since.
2016: Billboard Music Awards
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As the co-host of the 2016 Billboard Awards, Ciara had to bring it. She did so in a metallic chain dress designed by Phillip Plein. The sheath-style dress accentuated every curve and gave a new meaning of the side-boob. These Casadei Blade Sandals were also all the rage back then as strappy sandals had a chokehold on red carpets.
2017: Vanity Fair Oscar After Party
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The Vanity Fair Oscar after-party is one of the biggest nights in Hollywood. All of the biggest and brightest stars gather after the Academy Awards to have a party comparable to a night spent with your favorite people eating In-N-Out burgers and drinking Veuve Clicquot while indulging in deep conversations.
Picture Ciara strutting down the not-so-red carpet in this plush velvet, oxblood Jovani Signature gown that perfectly shows off her burgeoning baby bump. She did that. She and her hubby were welcoming their first child together and this was a perfect way to make memories of a beautiful union.
2018: Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports
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Ciara is not like regular moms; she's a cool mom. And this is shown to be facts on the 2018 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports carpet where the star rocks a Maison Margiela getup with her baby boy and baby girl in tow. We know Ciara to have a boyish-chic vibe since her introduction to the music scene so this is very on-brand.
2019: MET Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion
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This look from 2019's MET Gala will go down in history. The Dundas gown is stunning but this hair defined the moment. Interestingly enough, Peter Dundas was once the creative director of Emilio Pucci, an obvious fave of Ciara's. So when she chose this Dundas frock for the Camp: Notes on Fashion theme, it was serendipitous. Her larger-than-life hair was the winner of the night. Diana Ross had to be proud.
2020: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
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It might be safe to say that the mommy mogul loves showing off her baby bump at the premier Vanity Fair event. Wearing Ralph & Russo, the "Level Up" singer made this sheer sequined number look like the ensemble of angels. It screams ethereal goddess and the styling of her hair brought it all together.
2021: 27th Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Celebration
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Looking heavenly in white, Cici donned a Mônot Spring 2022 gown to ELLE's annual event celebrating the achievements of women in entertainment. This year, like many events, was a comeback from 2020 which means the stars shined super bright in their high-fashion garments. Ciara stunned us all in this Ready To Wear piece by Lebanese designer, Eli Mizrahi, dramatized by a thigh-high slit and "gone with the wind fabulous" cape.
To get your fashion fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Style section here.
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Over the years, Ciara and Russell Wilson have shared many special couple and family moments that can cause you to smile a little too hard at your screen.
But, here are a few of our favorites.
1. Their Couples Quiz
At the beginning of the year, they took GQ's Couples Quiz. And I don't know what was sweeter, the fact that they answered most of the questions so easily or the happiness and laughter throughout.
2. Stunting At The MET Gala
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The recent MET Gala was filled with looks! But, there was something about Ciara pulling up in a custom jersey dress with her husband's number on it paired with his Super Bowl ring that made her fit one of the most memorable. Although Russell wasn't on the red carpet, Ciara made sure to represent who has her heart in spirit.
3. Their Christmas Video
I know we just got to fall, and it's way too early for Christmas videos. But doesn't this make you want to grab bae and take selfies in front of the tree, no, just me?
4. Their TikTok Video
Because laying in bed studying and performing TikToks was a way of life for everyone for a while. And in this video, the celebrity couple showed that they're just like the rest of us. It's giving Quarantine and chill vibes, and we're here for it.
5. Their “How We Met” video
This was so beautifully simple. In this one, the couple is cozied up at home and reflecting on meeting each other five years prior. While sharing about the special day, they speak powerful words of affirmation to each other such as, "the day I met you was the best day of my life," and "I'd be quarantined with you forever."
For more of Ciara and Russell, follow them on social media at @Ciara and @DangerRussWilson.
Featured image by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Spotify
Famously, celebs such as Serena Williams and hubby, and Ciara and Russell Wilson took the trek over to the land of pasta, for their full-on flex baecations.
Now, a few of the ladies are back, all in the name of fashion.
In fact, this past weekend was the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda fashion show in Venice, Italy and the stars now only showed up and showed out, but it seems that some new friendships were formed in the process. And listen, the gworls came to play, mkay?! Stars such as Ciara, Vanessa Bryant, Megan Thee Stallion, Queen Normani, Doja Cat, and so many more came to represent in their best dressed and it was everything we didn't know we needed.
In a video captioned, "It's Party Time! @dolcegabbana Venice," Ciara can be seen teaching the ladies Italian en route to the show, singing a few jams, and hanging with A-listers alllllll over the place. And because Ciara is the friend we all need in our lives, of course there was full on footage of her supporting her bestie, Vanessa Bryant, as Kobe's birthday passed a few days prior.
Diddy a.k.a. 'LOVE' was all love as his three daughters showed that they get it from mama, Kim.
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The Combs twins and Chance all walked slayed the runway as dad looked and cheered his babies on.
"LOVE LOVE LOVE!! Live from Venice"
The rapper, who currently goes by Sean "Love" Combs, took to Instagram to share a few flicks from Venice, Italy, where 14-year-old D'Lila and Jessie walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana. Diddy shares both children with his late ex, Kim Porter, who died nearly three years ago. D'Lila and Jessie's half-sister, 15-year-old Chance Combs, also made an appearance in he best dressed, which she thanked her dad on IG saying:
"Venice has been AMAZING with my family! Thank you daddy for everything and I'm honored to have been a part of Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show. Thank you @dolcegabbana for having us!!! Grazie! #moarmagic."
Queen Normani shut shit down with a hand-painted number that screamed 'Disney Princess'
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The pop star donned a full ball gown from Dolce & Gabbana's spring 2008 ready-to-wear collection, which she flaunted in a series of photos posted to Instagram by her hairstylist, Ashanti Lation. Sis channeled her inner princess in a green gown and full black tulle skirt that sent the people gagging.
She enjoyed the show alongside Megan Thee Stallion, with whom she previously collaborated on the song "Diamonds" from the Birds of Prey soundtrack, and they each shared videos of themselves seated next to each other on their Instagram Stories, with Normani captioning the clip, "My seester."
Saweetie wore hotel slippers and made us love her even more!
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Saweetie mixed high-fashion with the hotel slipper trend yesterday during her time in Italy after her appearance at the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda runway show. The rapper was seen at the Excelsior Hotel in Venice with an emerald off-the-shoulder satin dress, which she paired with a jewel-encrusted clutch, crystal hairpins, a silver anklet, a custom necklace with her name and the most comfortable footwear—hotel slippers. It's giving, 'high-fashion, but make it comfortable.'
Sis knows how to keep the people talking. Here for it!
Other celebs such as Aldis Hodge, Doja Cat, PJ Tucker, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana, and more made the weekend a star-studded one for the books. Dolce, himself, topped it all off by saying:
"I've worked in fashion for 43 years and I've never known anything like that. I can't take the emotion."
Us either, Mr. Dolce. Us either.
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It all started last week when a video of the two broke the internet while posing for photos in a hotel suite. Captioned:
"He said pack your bags, we're going to Italy."
The lovebirds rocked shades and matching Versace for the gawds and showed off their usual enviable love.
Russ followed Ciara with:
"5 years of Love as husband & wife, mom & dad, best friends, business partners and more. You leave me speechless. There are no words that could ever describe my love for you. Only Heaven knows. 5 years & Forever to go! Andiamo!"
The rest is in "OK, it's time for a baecation" history as they visited landmarks, ate in the best restaurants, and more.
And as they should, because Venice has become a popular celeb/tourism hotspot.
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Actually, Italy has always been a popular celebrity romance destination, with couples such as Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom and John Legend and Chrissy Teigen recently trading in the fast life and heading to the land of pasta, architecture, and love with bae. And in 2018, Serena Williams famously told her husband she wanted pasta for dinner and he swooped her off to Venice for a few days as well. But now, with outside opening back up, Venice is becoming a hotspot for them hot spots, m'kay?!
So, if you and the boo are looking to Venice for your next baecation, here's what you should check out while there:
The Food
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Italy is known for its endless food contribution to the world. But actually being in Italy, gives Olive Garden a run for its money. With freshly made pastas, and ingredients that will even make granny mad, visiting the various amounts of restaurants, or taking the time to take a cooking class is what baecation dreams are made of. And although pasta and pizza are staples, the reality, however, is that Italy is home to variety of cuisines and people often make the mistake of flocking to touristy eateries serving food that reflects their expectations (such as pasta and pizza) and not what the locals or veneziani really eat.
But Venice's unique lagoon location and proximity to the island gardens of Sant'Erasmo, means that their genuine cuisine consists of some truly flavorful and refined dishes relying heavily on fish and vegetables.
Spend a night out on the town and try local dishes such as the sarde in saor, risotto al nero di seppia, fritole, or the various, various amounts of wine. Bon appetit!
The Canals + Gondola Rides
The gondola is a traditional Venetian rowing boat, similar to a canoe, that's flat-bottomed and narrow in order to fit along with other gondolas into small canals in Venice. The gondola is operated by a gondolier with a rowing oar. In the past, it was used as a major mode of transportation in Venice. These days, however, the gondola ride is primarily a tourist attraction.There is no better way to see many amazing parts of Venice without this gondola ride. Venice historically has been connected by canals, so the only way to see many historical sights or just beautiful architecture is from the water.
Also, riding the gondola gives you a different angle from the water and you get a much better view of many structures. Plan to be serenaded by the gondoliers and see the best of what Venice has to offer.
(Rides are generally 40 minutes and during the day, costs 80 euros. If you want a longer ride, every 20 minutes will cost you $40 extra. After 7 p.m., the gondola rides are slightly more expensive, costing 100 euros for a 40-minute ride).
The Architecture Tours
If you don't appreciate architecture, then Venice may not be the place for you. Venice's architecture is unlike that of anywhere else in the world—owing, of course, to its natural context. Everything is built on stilts in the middle of a lagoon and it's so amazingly popular, that the Venice Biennale of Architecture exhibition, also known as Mostra di Architettura di Venezia (in Italian), is held every other year. Grab bae and explore the history of Venice through its buildings, squares and canals to see the works by Carlo Scarpa and Mario Botta (who shaped much of Venice).
Also, add the Rialto Neighborhood, St. Mark's Square, Campo San Giovanni e Paolo, and Campo Santa Maria Formosa to your to-do list as well.
Enjoy, guys!
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