Transcript

Event Date(s): 04/23/2008 | Event Location(s): New York City, New York | Description: Insert of"Essence" magazine. Live out on Rockefeller Plaza with TODAY's Hoda Kotbe and Kathie Lee Gifford, Essence magazine's Mikki Taylor: HODA KOTB: And Mikki Taylor is joining us now with Essence magazine. And before we even show you the women, stunning gorgeous and plus sized seems sort of ridiculous, doesn't it, Mikki? Ms. MIKKI TAYLOR: It's crazy to be saying that after all these years now. You know, curvaceous, fuller figured, you know. GIFFORD: More to love. Ms. TAYLOR: OK? GIFFORD: Mm-hmm. KOTB: But they also say in the modeling world, a size 10 is plus sized. GIFFORD: Mm-hmm. KOTB: Isn't that right? Ms. TAYLOR: That's what they say. KOTB: A 10. GIFFORD: I think we're making some sort of progress in that area, though. Ms. TAYLOR: Something's wrong. GIFFORD: We are. They're passing laws now in Europe that are about, you know, contributing to the anorexia thing. But there's also obesity on the other side, too. Somewhere there's got to be a nice middle ground, Hoda Lee. KOTB: I've got to tell you, these girls are stunningly... GIFFORD: They're beautiful. KOTB: ...absolutely gorgeous. Ms. TAYLOR: Change is on theway. We'll just agree to that. KOTB: Yes. GIFFORD: All right. KOTB: Yeah. Is there anything out there that's overall--just overall trends when it comes to women? Ms. TAYLOR: Well, you know, we found five top trends that we really love. KOTB: Mm-hmm. Ms. TAYLOR: Color, you know, the trenchcoat... GIFFORD: Shouldn't be afraid of it. Ms. TAYLOR: ...is like here to stay--not--not at all. Prints are huge. GIFFORD: Yeah. Ms. TAYLOR: Everyone wants to get in on the print act. And maxi dresses, back from the'70s. GIFFORD: Yes. Ms. TAYLOR: Is how we're going to flow through summer. GIFFORD: Oh, they're so comfortable, too. Ms. TAYLOR: Beautiful. GIFFORD: They're the coolest thing you can wear. Ms. TAYLOR: That's exactly right. KOTB: Let's see some of our models, shall we? GIFFORD: Yeah. Ms. TAYLOR: Beautiful. KOTB: Yvette is first up. Yvette's got on this--you were talking about prints and here she is. Ms. TAYLOR: Yeah. KOTB: Gorgeous. Tell me about this look. Ms. TAYLOR: Gorgeous paisley print strapless dress, which we love. It's so easy. It could work by day at the office with a cardigan. Go by night with a sandal. And Yvette looks lovely in it. One thing that we love about it, too, it's a steal. It's by Torrid, it's 58 bucks. KOTB: Fifty-eight dollars for the dress? TEXT: Print Condition Dress: Torrid $58 Shoes: Aldo $110 Ms. TAYLOR: OK. GIFFORD: Wow. Ms. TAYLOR: So, we'll take a few of those, right? But you know, prints are really easy to wear. We're going to show you a few of them today. You know, you can go all out. We love the accent on the belt with a bright, popping color, which really accentuates the waist. KOTB: Yeah. Ms. TAYLOR: You know, great jewelry. It's just--you've got to have a print dress. KOTB: And the shoes are cute. Look at the shoes. GIFFORD: Oh, my gosh. Ms. TAYLOR: The shoes are wonderful. Hot color. KOTB: Wow. Ms. TAYLOR: They're by Aldo and they're $110. But again, and you're going to see lots of color. GIFFORD: Then your podiatry bill's going to be a little higher than that, though. Ms. TAYLOR: It's all right. You'll get through it. GIFFORD: All right. And we have Camille, right... KOTB: Wearing that. GIFFORD: Thank you so much. Wearing a pretty color that's a great bohemian look. Ms. TAYLOR: Yes. GIFFORD: Camille, oh, this is stunning. KOTB: Look at that. I love that. Ms. TAYLOR: That's the maxi dress I've been talking about. And again, here, we love it. It's sort of like, you know, that boho influence from the'70s. GIFFORD: Yes. Ms. TAYLOR: This dress is by C.enne.V and it's sold at Lee Lee, Lee Lee's Valise in Brooklyn. It's a great dress. You just have to have it. The flats are by Farylrobin. GIFFORD: So cute. Ms. TAYLOR: You can wear them with flats. That's another thing we love about it. GIFFORD: Mm-hmm. Ms. TAYLOR: You don't always have to pop on heels. TEXT: That 70s Sensation Dress: C.enne.V $120 Lee lee's Valise in Brooklyn, NY Flats: Farylrobin $189 Shopbop.com Silver Plated Earrings: RJ Graziano $35 GIFFORD: Uh-huh. KOTB: Those are cute. GIFFORD: You must have to wear a halter bra with that. KOTB: Right. GIFFORD: That looks like it doesn't have any support. Ms. TAYLOR: Halter bra. But you know what's lovely, too? Look how forgiving the silhouette is. KOTB: Yeah. GIFFORD: You can go to a buffet in that. Ms. TAYLOR: So you can go and eat like everybody else. Come on. KOTB: You look adorable. Ms. TAYLOR: You nailed it. GIFFORD: Go to a smorgasbord in that outfit. KOTB: Thank you, Camille. GIFFORD: Thank you. KOTB: So our next model is Winter. GIFFORD: What a beautiful name. KOTB: I love it. Ms. TAYLOR: Yeah. KOTB: This is all about color, color, color. Ms. TAYLOR: It's all aboutcolor. GIFFORD: And mixing it up. Ms. TAYLOR: Now is the time to buy it. And you know, color is a trend that translates that everyone can buy into. You can buy into it like popping it here like she did over a great jean. GIFFORD: Look at the shoes she's got going with that. Ms. TAYLOR: Going with those shoes. KOTB: Love those, those hot shoes. Ms. TAYLOR: You'll want to buy them in every color. Aldo, $110. KOTB: I love the belt. GIFFORD: It just, it's brilliant. TEXT: Pop Star Top: Abby Z $58 Jeans: Mariana Rinaldi Sport $230 Shoes: Aldo $110 Ms. TAYLOR: The top is by Abby Z, it's 58 bucks. We really love that. And just love the fabric. Again, another top that works day to night, a great neckline. And it's beautiful. The jeans are by Maria Rinaldi Sport. Now the jeans are $325. GIFFORD: Yeah, you pay the money. Ms. TAYLOR: That's where you want to invest. GIFFORD: Yeah. Ms. TAYLOR: You're going to wear them over and over again. GIFFORD: Best investment you can do. KOTB: Yeah. I love it. Ms. TAYLOR: Yeah. GIFFORD: Winter, thank you. Ms. TAYLOR: And that great belt at 15 bucks, gorgeous. GIFFORD: Well, thank you, Winter. Ms. TAYLOR: Thank you, Winter. GIFFORD: Next we have Aimee, A-I-M-E-E, wearing another pretty dress. Just like prints and patterns, florals are in. Ms. TAYLOR: Pretty. Really beautiful. These are not your grandmother's florals. These are really more tropical. Love it on the gray, which we're considering a neutral background. The dress is by Old Navy, it's 26.50. GIFFORD: Wow. Ms. TAYLOR: You get a few of those and pop them in that weekender this summer. KOTB: And a little strapless bra for that one. Ms. TAYLOR: Really strapless. Beautiful. You can wear it as a halter, you can take the straps and tie it as a bow. GIFFORD: It's a cover-up, too. KOTB: Wait, how does the back look? Ms. TAYLOR: Great. It's really beautiful. KOTB: Can you turn around? I just want to see. Oh. Ms. TAYLOR: It's gathered. GIFFORD: Oh, that's flattering. KOTB: Oh, that is gorgeous. GIFFORD: Yeah. Ms. TAYLOR: So, again, really easy to wear. You could pop it over a swimsuit, you could take it day to night. The shoes are by Newport News, they're on sale for $24. KOTB: Look at those. Cute. Ms. TAYLOR: Another message, the gladiator sandal really important. Pop it with a great charm bracelet, beautiful hoop earrings. KOTB: I love it. GIFFORD: Make sure you get a pedicure, please, ladies. Ms. TAYLOR: Just do it right. Do it right. GIFFORD: Do it yourself if you have to, but don't go out in shoes like that if you... KOTB: Thank you. Thank you. All right. Our last model is in--this is--trenches are in in the bright colors. Ms. TAYLOR: That's right. GIFFORD: They never go out, though, do they? They're so classic. KOTB: Tell me about that. Ms. TAYLOR: Yes. We are in the trenches. This one is by Ashley Stewart. It's $39. I love, love, love this color, it's like a cornsilk yellow. It's so beautiful. It is the piece to take and wear right through spring, you know, summer evenings. If you're traveling on a plane, it's great. KOTB: Wait, is that $39 for the trench? Ms. TAYLOR: The trench is 39 bucks. KOTB: Oh, wow. Ms. TAYLOR: Ashley Stewart. Don't you just love Ashley Stewart? GIFFORD: That's amazing. KOTB: I can't believe it. Ms. TAYLOR: The pants are also Ashley Stewart, $29. A great pair of white slacks. GIFFORD: Oh, that is so great. Ms. TAYLOR: The sunglasses are by Mosley Tribes. Love the sunglasses. GIFFORD: Put them back on there, Michelle, you've got some great attitude going on there, baby. Ms. TAYLOR: Put them on, Michelle. They're beautiful. TEXT: In The Trenches Sunglasses: Mosley Tribes $210 KOTB: Perfect. GIFFORD: Well... Ms. TAYLOR: So fabulous. It's the way to look. KOTB: You look so cute. Can we have allof our models come on out? Yeah! Let's give a nice goodbye to all of our models. And a big thank you to Mikki Taylor. Ms. TAYLOR: Thank you. GIFFORD: So nice to meet you. KOTB: Mikki, thank you so, so much. Nice seeing you. GIFFORD: Essence magazine.