Toni Braxton - “Libra” to “Sex & Cigarettes” Eras

[George]

SheKnows.com for Autism Speaks Launch: Nigel Barker, Toni Braxton, and Michael Costello Make Merry
by Nika Mavrody
February 13, 2012



On Friday, SheKnows.com launched their "SheKnows Where's the Other Sock Went" campaign benefiting Autism Speaks. The women's lifestyle portal partnered with superstar Toni Braxton, Project Runway designer Michael Costello, and fashion photographer and America's Next Top Model judge Nigel Barker to raise money for the charity.

Costello designed a couture gown (scroll to the bottom) out of single pairs of socks donated by celebrities. Braxton then modeled the creation for the campaign, which was photographed by Barker.

An over-scheduled fashion week crowd turned out to glimpse the sock frock, see Costello's latest collection, and watch the campaign's star participants goofing around and living it up. Toni Braxton was bound to be the center of attention, but she solidified her place in the spotlight with a well-chosen violet gown, which had open shoulders and an asymmetrical sheer skirt.



Because I'm an ANTM junkie with a serious soft spot in my heart for judge Nigel Barker, I pulled the photographer aside to chat about the campaign and his upcoming projects.

"Whenever I get the opportunity to give back," Barker told me, "I try to. I love it if I can take a photo that can move people, interest people in subject matter they're not normally thinking about. Of course, [the cause] does affect millions of children all around the world. And I've got two kids of my own, and I see children that have various forms of autism at their school."

He mentioned that his second documentary, Dreams Are Not Forgotten, about life in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, might make its way to Cannes. And because I couldn't help myself, I then begged him to tell me why Angelea Preston was disqualified from the All-Stars cycle of America's Next Top Model.

"If you could give me a hint?" I said. "I would love to know, just personally."

"I'm sure you would," Barker said. "You're very cute. I would hate to have to kill you before the evening's up."

Thanks for humoring me, Nigel. And sorry to my fellow ANTM fans. I tried.

[George]

Exclusive Photo: See Toni Braxton’s Custom ‘Sock Dress’
Posted by Dzemil on February 11, 2012 at 6:31pm



So that’s what’s happened to all our lost socks! On Friday night at New York Fashion Week, Toni Braxton helped unveil a custom dress made entirely of socks, designed byProject Runway All Stars’ Michael Costello. The gown is the centerpiece of the “SheKnows Where the Other Sock Went” campaign, an initiative fromSheKnows.com to raise money for charity.

“When SheKnows called me … I was all over it,” Costello says. “I love a challenge, and I just thought it was something that could be totally cool.”

Using more than 700 single socks, Costello created a one-shoulder gown for Braxton, which she debuted at Friday night’s bash and wears in an advertising campaign, shot by noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker. The dress will go up for auction this spring, with proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism and science advocacy organization. It’s also a cause close to Braxton’s heart: the singer’s youngest son was diagnosed in 2003 and she serves as a spokeswoman for the group. To learn more, and to see Costello in action, visit wherestheothersock.sheknows.com.

[George]

Hitting the (thigh) high notes! Toni Braxton dons sheer revealing ensemble for concert
By Sarah Fitzmaurice

Last updated at 7:14 AM on 21st February 2012

She has six Grammys and seven American Music Awards to her name so there is little doubt that Toni Braxton can belt out a song.

But at her performance last night the 45-year-old singer’s voice was not the only thing wowing the crowd – her outfit was just as show stopping.

Toni took to the stage at the Nokia Theatre in LA in a dramatic purple dress which boasted a waist-high split, backless detail and sheer material.


Hitting the high notes! Toni Braxton flashed plenty of flesh as she performed in Los Angeles last night

The Un-break my heart singer looked much younger than her years in the daring ensemble which looked considerable similar to a Richard Tyler dress she wore to the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Toni teamed the see-through purple and black dress with a sequin-embellished body and matching strappy heels.

As she strutted across the stage she showed off her toned thighs and trim shape – which would rival women half her age.


Showing off her stuff: The 48-year-old singer showed off her trim shape in the purple and black dress which boasted a waist-high split at one side


Trim and toned: Toni teamed the see-through purple and black dress with a sequin-embellished body and matching strappy heels

The Braxton Family Values star hinted on Twitter that she would like to be a judge on the next series of the X Factor ahead of her concert.

Responding to a fan she posted: ‘@ Jasmine_Sharee: @simoncowell I'm thinking you should make@tonibraxton a judge on @thexfactorusa...yup that sounds epic to me” aww thanks!’

Earlier this month Toni attended a pre-Grammy party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel – attending the event just hours after Whitney Houston died earlier.

Reacting to the news of Houston's death Toni tweeted: 'She's paved the way for every single singer in the music industry. Iconic, legendary, innovating, amazing, humble...1 the best in the world.'

[hidizzyguy]

Oooh, I want some live footage!

[stunnedout]

Wait Toni is not 48

[George]

Recent Concert Footage:

LOS ANGELES, CA
Seven Whole Days/Another Sad Love Song/You Mean the World to Me/Let It Flow/HCAABMH:


How Could An Angel Break My Heart:


How Could An Angel Break My Heart (Alternate View):


Toni Introducing Her Sisters:


PHOENIX, AZ
He Wasn't Man Enough:


Just Be a Man About It:


OKLAHOMA, AL
Un-Break My Heart:

[stunnedout]

She sounds incredible

[hidizzyguy]

Her hits never age for me.

[Caviar]

[Rican@]

Feb 22, 2012 17:03:03 GMT -5 hidizzyguy said:

Her hits never age for me.

So true. I have been listening to her singles from her debut album and Let It Flow, it's like wow so fresh still.

[stunnedout]

Who did she say she is signed to?

[Ky]

So she says similar to Last Dance... That makes me think it'll be more similar to Get Loose more than Lookin' At Me or Make My Heart. I could be way off, but that had a little more of a disco feel to me. Add a little more belting to something like Get Loose, and I'd be really happy.

[Agent Yoncé]

So 'I<3U' sounds like a Donna Summer track? Idk how I feel about that. Well if her word holds any ground, we should hear it sometime next month.

[SHOOTER]

Feb 29, 2012 10:21:22 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

Who did she say she is signed to?

The Collective, which is her management. I think she's better off than being stuck on Atlantic.

[stunnedout]

Im cofused...how is your management going to put out your album?

[Deleted]

Feb 29, 2012 18:52:48 GMT -5 stunnedout said:

Im cofused...how is your management going to put out your album?

They have a label -- Collective Sounds.

[stunnedout]

Ugh. What happened to Epic?

[stunnedout]

Eddie loves him a bangin’ bawwwdy so this shouldn’t come as a surprise but for some reason we never figured Toni Braxton as his type, but guess he decided he could take a detour from his usual tall and manly shtick to chop down the singer.

According to US Weekly reports:

The singer, 44, and comic actor, 50, “are seeing each other and very into it,” a source tells Us Weekly, adding that the romance started up four months ago.

The Tower Heist star — who has eight kids from previous relationships — even cheered on the mother of two (who’s been separated from singer Keri Lewis since 2009), backstage at her Feb. 19 L.A. concert.

While Braxton’s rep insists “Toni and Eddie are just friends and have been fans of each other’s work for a long time,” the insider says, “Their kids have met and everything. It’s getting very serious.”

In addition to first wife Nicole Mitchell, Murphy dated former Spice Girl Melanie Brown from 2006 to 2007, and exchanged marital vows with Tracey Edmonds in 2008 in a “symbolic” ceremony that was never made legal. Back in the late 1980s, Murphy was linked to another big-voiced R&B superstar: the late Whitney Houston.

Braxton’s search for love after her split from Lewis was a major plot point in the most recent season of her reality show Braxton Family Values.

[George]

@kerijlewis
Coming soon: "I Heart You" - the new single from Toni Braxton - written & produced by Toni Braxton & Keri Lewis
9:25 PM - 4 Mar 12 via Twitter for iPhone

[Musiq]

She needs a major label pushing her. Most of these artists think they know whats best going indie ever so often, but it doesn't really go as it should.

[Ky]

Mar 6, 2012 5:11:50 GMT -5 Musiq said:

She needs a major label pushing her. Most of these artists think they know whats best going indie ever so often, but it doesn't really go as it should.

I'm curious to see how this plays out for her. Personally, I found it really frustrating that Hands Tied did well on Urban AC but didn't get sent to Urban radio.

[Me. I Am l!nk!nfan815...]

I was listening to "Yesterday" last night before fallin asleep. God, I love that song.

[SHOOTER]

Atlantic really soured her. What a shame.

[wavey.]

Mar 6, 2012 11:29:19 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

Atlantic really soured her. What a shame.

That is a damn shame. They really could've worked with her!

[stunnedout]

I just dont understand how ALL her projects are handled so poorly. What in their right mind would make them think "Make My Heart" or "Yesterday" would be urban hits? Stupid choices on all counts.

[wavey.]

MMH should've/would've smashed on Pop.

[stunnedout]

Wat would make anyone think she would have any success on pp when she hasnt had success on urban since 2001?

[esoteric76]

Mar 6, 2012 11:48:53 GMT -5 wavey. said:

MMH should've/would've smashed on Pop.

If Beyonce did it, no one would have blinked and it would have smashed for her. Really fun, catchy song and a shame that Toni couldn't have a solid hit with it. It even got a slammin' remix treatment too which did pretty much nothing.

[Agent Yoncé]

^ It was/still is a hot song. The problem w/that era was the lack of promo. All her songs could've been hits & this album would've hit gold w/ease & might have scratched platinum if her label play their cards right.

[stunnedout]

She couldnt even get a hit on the dance charts with Make My Heart.....it was a horrible idea for her to even record it let alone release it and do a video. They need to focus her on the urban AC market and then move toward urban.