Fabulosity: What It Is & How to Get It – A Practical Guide for Ambitious Women on Achieving Goals with Style and Power

by Kimora Lee Simmons

Fabulosity (n): 1: a state of everything that is fabulous 2: a quality ascribed to that which expresses glamour, style, charisma, power, and heart Kimora Lee Simmons knows what it means to have fabulosity -- and she wants to tell you how to get it. In this empowering new book, Kimora -- a top model, wife of hip-hop legend Russell Simmons, mother to two daughters, a national media presence, and president and creative director of the multimillion-dollar Baby Phat company -- shares her personal secrets of success and fabulosity. Kimora knows that in today’s ultracompetitive world, it’s not enough for women just to be smart or dress well. With too much to do and competition everywhere, the savvy woman must know how to combine feminine glamour with professional power, business ambition with personal values, and confidence with heart. Kimora is the living picture of all these things. What are Kimora’s secrets to achieving her goals, her signature fabulosity? One is her ability to identify and build upon her own unique talents and strengths. In Kimora’s case, she brilliantly combined the two worlds she knows best -- the high fashion and hip-hop scenes -- to create Baby Phat, her ultrasuccessful hip-hop inspired lifestyle brand. How do you uncover and develop your own special talents? Kimora shares her step-by-step guide to achieving your wildest dreams, including her 16 laws of success, which cover everything you need to become the woman you want to be. Whether you’re college-educated or street smart, just starting out or at the top of your game, Fabulosity has something to say to you. Learn how to cultivate Power, Independence, Confidence, and Positivity in everything you do, whether it’s finding Mr. Right, snagging that corner office, or rocking the latest fashion trend. Packed with useful lessons and Kimora’s personal tips, this book will be your instruction manual to empowering yourself, turning your individual talents into permanent success, and unleashing your inner fabulosity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Self Help, Memoir, Fashion

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2006

About the author

Kimora Lee Simmons (born Kimora Lee Perkins) is model, author, the head of design for Baby Phat, KLS and an occasional actress. Simmons is half African American, one quarter Korean, and one quarter Japanese.

Reviews

[Alexandria Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE KIMORA LEE SIMMONS. Here is a woman in the prime of her life who is not afraid to be an individual. I love her warrior attitude. Kimora is definitely over the top but that is her persona and she owns it. Her personal style is "Ghetto Fabulous Baroque: rich colors, lavish silks, velvets, and vivid prints but all mixed with modern styling- jeans and tank tops." She does not care who hates her look because she believes in being a strong individual. The author has a great story.

She was raised by a single mom. She was a geeky, six foot, 13 year old girl who was teased terribly and called names like geeky giraffe. To improve her self esteem her mama sent her to modeling school. From modeling school she found an instructor who believed in her, worked with her, and sent her to a modeling convention/competition. At the competition she was invited to work for a Paris agency during her summer vacations. On her second day in Paris she was hired by the House of Chanel to be a "fit" and "runway" model. Her career took off quickly and she met and worked with all the hottest European designers in Paris. She left St. Louis, Missouri permanently after trying college for a couple of semesters. She missed the energy and the money of the fashion industry. She moved to NYC and returned to modelling.

Her book offers sixteen laws for success. In a way you could say it is related to Deeak Chopra's book the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. She uses anecdotes from her life or business associates. Her laws focus on Self-Belief & Confidence, Work & Power, Independence, Body & Image,Romance & Lifestyle, Positivity & Sustainability. My favoriete law is #10: Dress Like You Might Run into Your Worst Enemy and Law #14: Defy the Haters! This is a great book for young ladies in the Hip Hop community who are into fashion. It is also great for creative individuals who are artists and live life to the beat of a different drummer.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kimora Lee Simmons is my wonder woman. A working mom who has created an entire empire by herself. She continues to raise her children with integrity and style, whilst running numerous company's and doing 10000 other things to boot. Starting her career out as a model at a very young age, Kimora has life experience only a few can say they have.
She is my ultimate 21st Century Icon and reading this book empowers me to reach for my goals.
I first bought this book about 6 years ago, and I fell in love. As a troubled teenager not really knowing anything about anything, I was in desperate need of some life lessons, with a touch of 'Fabulosity.' This book was perfect. With lessons like how to manage your own money, how to be independent, how to create your own persona and personal brand, it was perfect for that time in my life. I still find it extremely empowering when I dip into certain chapters from now and again when I need a little motivation.
Complete with quotes from famous people that are relevant to the topic of each chapter, the book is the perfect read for any teen starting out her journey and trying to determine who she is, or even for somebody a little older, who would just like a little inspiration to rediscover their inner goddess.

[India Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from reading this book and the tone of it was very "Kimora-ish". So many things that she said makes sense, and hearing some of her background explains that her confidence took time to develop (as does most people's). I remember that after I read this book in 2007, one of the first things I did was write a $5 million dollar check to myself and placed it in my Bible. I'm still looking forward to cashing it :-). Another thing that I've kept with me from reading this book is to use the things that you're insecure about and exploit them. Bring those insecurities to the forefront to embrace them rather than to run from them. LOVED this book!

[Susan Powers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I picked this book up at Goodwill because I loved the concept of embracing my inner fabulosity. There are good tips in the book, but Kimora is full of herself. At times it was a turn off. All in all, a fun concept. Worth the $1.99 I paid for it.

[Linzi Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kimora is so obnoxious I could not even stand to finish the book.. and my dog peed on it so I am not the only one who thought it was a pisser!

[Lindor Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow what a kick-a** book! This entire book just screamed "Girl Power" from start to finish. It was recommended to me back in 2006 by a former co-worker. At that time I was NOT a fan of Kimora Lee Simmons. I thought ( like many of us) that she was a pretty woman who married well and was riding the subsequent fame that came along with the wedding package.

A few years after the book was recommended to me I was channel surfing and there was a show with KLS on it. It was right after she had her 3rd baby and the camera caught a glimpse of her in her dressing room pumping milk for the baby. The camera crew was trying to rush her to begin the show but she defiantly told them "if I can't nurse my baby, you guys don't get me on your show." Okay, I've been a big fan of hers ever since then! Any woman who can love her career but still put her kids first is a winner in my eyes.

Kimora filled the pages of this book with lots of passages on how women should value themselves more and get more out of life in general. It's not rocket science at all but it's always great to hear/read. In addition, her advice wasn't limited to simply "love yourself" rhetoric. She also stressed the importance of finding a career that you love vs being a "comfortable" 9 to 5'er. Great advice for all of modern American women.

I would've given it a full 5 stars but there may have been one too many make-up tips or advice on how I could get a job at Phat Farm or details on how many pairs of shoes/underwear/jeans she owns.

Highly recommended.

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulosity
Kimora does a good job of summing up this book so I’ll tell you in her words. “The aim (of this book) is for every single woman to (motivate and aspire) to have a fulfilling and self-sufficient life, free of debt, and free of doubt, and as far from struggle as possible. To have the confidence to shift situations around to some extent, to dream a little, push the barriers, and obtain things people said you couldn’t obtain. To feel part of something bigger than yourself.” This book is like a modern-day version of the old book “The Rules” only these “Rules” are divided into 16 “Laws” that cover “Self Belief and Confidence”, “Work and Power”, “Independence”, “Image and Body Law”, “Romance and Lifestyle” and “Positivity and Sustainability”

This really lived up to its name! VERY EMPOWERING! I think ALL women should read this with a highlighter in hand. As a matter of fact, two friends and I once decided to start a club called CQ (Cute Questions). I was at the time a Christian and the club was based on bible study. It wasn’t affiliated with the church. Just something we decided to do. So one of us decided that each one of us would throw a presentation based on a topic that we choose. Mine was how was “Loving Yourself”. I went ALL OUT! I had bags with different things to pamper yourself, certificates, journals, and a folder. In the folder I used quite a lot of pages from this book. I’m surprised looking back that I didn’t buy this book for each of em. My presentation was a big hit with my friends!

This is one BADASS lady! It made me want to go back and watch “Life in the Fab Lane”. Even though sometimes I thought her advice seemed a lot more geared to the woman that actually spends an hour with hair, nails, makeup, and clothes, or young aspiring models (or she tended at times to forget that we all don’t have it like *that* and have a professional closet manager or a team to help us get organized) I did find myself relating to her because I LOVE to organize! I organize my clothes (it just saves time) tho I barely even have a closet (much less one the size of a department store). And it really makes me feel like I’ve done something when I cross things off list. My “signature color” is also pink. (Would incorporate it every day into my clothes and accurizes if I could).

The laws I especially paid attention to on this read were “Speak Loudly, Speak Quickly, and Be Concise.” Another quote said. “Sure it’s stressful and anxiety-inducing to enter into conflict but it’s way more stressful to be screwed over in silence.” This is something that in dealing with my family I’ve REALLY had to work on because for the longest I was silent and now that I’m kind of finding my voice to stand up for myself they don’t always want to listen to the things I say. It’s like if I assert myself they don’t take it seriously. So this has been a MAJOR CHALLENGE to keep standing my ground.

Another quote that stood out was (a Business Truth) that said “Can you come up with a way to do something in a new way for an era or audience and most importantly are you going to do it rather just talk about it). Because of illness of and on over the years, I’ve struggled with working a regular job so I started to think one day. What could I do that I feel passionate about and not just be doing to make money? And I came up with a BIG idea. The idea is SO BIG that it seems impossible. But from the idea came a smaller one that’s a little more doable. But it is the creative twist of something (s) that are VERY old. IT also fits “for an era”. There was also a business tip that said “You need new ideas every month to constantly innovate and grow”. That I can also be working on.

Other good advice it had was: if you had one good friend in life you're lucky, cut off dead friendships (I’ve had to do this) and walk through your fears. She also suggests that technology has gotten to out of control and that when friend’s email (in my case it’s text) do respond back. The reason for this being so they’ll communicate with you face to face. In my case, this is texting. I AM NOT A TEXTER! My best friend IS a texter. Sometimes it really bothers me how far away we’ve gotten from phone calls. (Seeing each other is out because we live in different states). But I just do NOT be wanting to type things out on a little bitty keyboard that I could be TELLING my best friend. I don’t know if I’ll put her advice on that in practice but I sure felt like giving it a TRY so my friend would pick up the phone and call more.

If there was anything about Fabulosity I didn’t like it was that I don’t like books that merge sections on the same page. When one page ended there was a pink section and the rest of the previous page would continue underneath the pink section. All the pink sections could have just been grouped either at the end of the chapter or extras at the end of the book. It’s distracting to read something and then your mind jumps to what’s in the section and then forgets what the main paragraph you just read was about.

Rating: 10 I kind of remembered this having less *story* and more tips but I for the valuable advice it gives I’d rate it nothing less.

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and took some of the quotes from the book of which I still refer or use to this day.

[Hanagie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. I felt like I was reading something written by my friends. Her language really speaks to me and for that I am thankful.

A quote that spoke to me, “There are so many places in the world where doing it yourself- in other words, creating your own destiny, choosing your own career, life partner, and even whether and when to have kids- is not an potion for a woman. So don’t get complacent and don’t waste the opportunity for creating or even reinventing yourself.”

And that’s the reason I picked up this book. To create something for myself. Thank you Kimora!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There was great advice on learning to love and take care of yourself and body, business tips for the aspiring business woman, relationship advice, and fashion tips (that are surprisingly still very useful 15 years later). Kimora has a very glam way of looking at things (that I can appreciate!), but you don’t have to be into any type of glitz or glamour to take something away from this book. Despite the book being released in 2006, it was the perfect way to get my mind in the right headspace for 2020!

[Ijeoma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kimora is fabulous...this book is not that fabulous.

[LaQuana McNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say if you take one thing from a book - its given its purpose. This woman has taught me to dress as if I would run into my worse enemy. Till this day, I have followed that advice.

[Terranaepittsgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥

It’s Nov 2019 almost 2020, and the laws for fabulosity are still relevant! Ms. Kimora did that. Timeless read, very much worth it.

[Kiana. Kiana. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guideline for life if you get lost and forget how fabulous you are.

[Orlie White]

Helps you become a bad bitch

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome I read it when I left school and it gives you that boost of confidence with a bit of attitude

[elita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kimora Lee Simmons because she's so over-the-top; the hair, the clothes, the jewelry, the Bentleys, the NJ mansion, etc. However, you have to admire someone who came from such humble beginnings (the awkard biracial child of a single parent) to become Karl Lagerfeld's muse, a top model, entrepreneur, wife and mother. The book is filled with great fashion tips, but also really great inspirational advice on being the best YOU that you can be and not letting anyone tell you that you aren't good enough.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kimora, and when I discovered she had written a book, I was anxious to read it. Although I did learn several things, and took away several things to thing about. This book focused more on where she came from and how it made her who she is today, rather than on style. I also think the book was geared more towards young girls wanting to get into modeling, than for the general style-conscious woman. Not a bad read at all, just not what I expected.

[Lorette]

A friend recommended I read this book as I am in the process of starting my own line of lingerie. It is actually considered a self-help book and it is a bit 'loud', which is actually how Kimora describes herself, but whenever I need a little ego boost or encouragement in my business undertaking, I read a chapter and I'm there!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulosity (n): 1: a state of everything that is fabulous 2: a quality ascribed to that which expresses glamour, style, charisma, power, and heart.

I like this one because its not as cheesy as it looks. She talks about what to do with yourself to build your own persona. Something i think is important nowadays...Learn who you are and learn to love it! Go buy it.

[Armena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was nothing like I exspected it to be. It was funny, truthful, down to earth and just what every women needs to hear to get real with herself and get motivated to be all SHE can be, wonderful book, a great tool for teenagers and young women and a reminder for mature women to do a self check.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 'go-out-and-conquer-the-world' book. I used to really enjoy advice books like this in my late 20's and 30's, but then the children came and the books went by the wayside in favor of parenting volumes. I must be turning another page in life, because she motivated me.. She has great advice, gave me inspiration to make something happen and was generally a fun read.

[stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

WELL, LETS SEE KNOW. THIS BOOK HAS GOT TO DO ALOT WITH THE MODELING THING, AND I AM NOT A MODEL, BUT MY NIECE IS, SO I AM GOING TO SEND IT TO HER. AND HOPE THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF IT.
WHAT PUZZLES ME IS THAT I FEEL THAT KIMORA IS KIND OF BRAGGING ABOUT HER SUCCESS. I WOULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WHAT MAN CAN MAKE, GOD CAN TAKE.....JUST BE BEAUTIFUL WITHIN...

[Kristine Novero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fabulosity is something expected with supermodels...it's what makes them apart from the ordinary women. Kimora, in this book, points out how regular women can obtain fierceness which will make them their better selves. Celebrating our flaws and uniqueness...easier said than done, but it can happen.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulosity is a fantastic book! I am even reading it for a second time. This book is truly inspiring. Kimora is confident and successful, and she proves that all women, from all walks of life, can be the same. She talks about self-esteem, business, romance, you name it! If ever you have felt any doubt about any goal or direction in your life, read Fabulosity.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this may be a little "ghetto fabulous" I really enjoyed it. There are a lot of inspirational quotes from hip hop artists and world famous leaders alike. This gave me a nice boost of confidence and some good tips on living like a strong, stylish woman.

[Crystal]

" Fabulosity (n): 1: a state of everything that is fabulous 2: a quality ascribed to that which expresses glamour, style, charisma, power, and heart

Kimora Lee Simmons knows what it means to have fabulosity -- and she wants to tell you how to get it. "

[Falcon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this made me feel like becoming a fierce, independent and powerful entrepreneur with an abundant salary and fabulous house. Inspiring for any young girl who has that independent streak and needs a strong, female role model.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recommend this to any young woman or girl who has high aspirations particularly in media/fashion or any other potentially high profile field. This book does have good content/advice which is wrapped in Kimora's brand of "Fabulosity" and if you enjoy that - this book is a 3.75. If not - it's a 2.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

This is a must read for all women. I'm not at all into fashion but what I learned about life was eye opening. The funny thing is most of it I knew or felt the same way but it felt good coming from her. She brought it down to a usable format. No abstract real life.