By: Morgan Smith (@muvamorgs) for Fashion Bomb Daily (@fashionbombnews)

 

On December 1st, the Convos with Claire (@convoswithclaire) panel series held its last event of the year. For every event, Convos with Claire offers rising fashionistas the opportunity to hear advice and knowledge from industry professionals on their rise to success through conversations, brunch, cocktails, and overall…through style. This year’s dress code took a trip on the wild side with 2018’s biggest fall trend: animal print!

 

Let’s take a look at our guest looking fierce and fabulous in their best animal print looks:

Friends that slay together, stay together! This trio shows that red presents the perfect pop accent to any leopard look.

Dripping in Fur: Both our panelist, @bevysmith , and this beautiful guest came through fully slaying in the ultimate fur coat! Make the bold animal print even bolder with a touch of fur!

This pretty young Bombshell paired a purple hued leopard printed dress with a complementary coat. Unexpected, but cute!

It’s an all black affair! @thelearobinson was spotted in an all black fit with an crocodile-skinned dress by @manfredonia.us. Keep the animal print minimalistic with solid color prints to achieve a classic, yet standout look!

Prints on Prints! The mixing of ANY prints is also a popular trend for FW18. Take a different approach like @carriepennie and mix animal print with plaid to achieve a bold and vibrant look!

Pride on the Prowl: Take notes from these lovely ladies who mixed this African headwraps with animal prints with @nrodaeyewear. Cute!

King Status: Stylist, @mickeyboooom, made sure that all eyes were on him and his fierce fit which consisted cheetah print and snakeskin topped by a fur stole and @dolcegabbana sunglasses. He is everything! Also, one of our panelist, @duckie_confetti was also sporting a cheetah fur stole! Look to them for inspiration on how to pull off several animal elements at once from prints to fur stoles!

Bold hair colors and prints: one of our very panelists, the legendary stylist @misahylton, was spotted rocking cheetah print @mcmworldwide blazer and @mcmworldwide bag all topped off by her Pretty in Pink bob hair styles! Achieve a fearless look by pairing animal print with vibrant hair color! Take notes from a legend.

Red is Power: Red has always been a symbol of strength and power amongst all women, so stylist @kimdillinger decided to make a power statement by pairing animal print with red flare pants. And let’s not forget designer, @creamxnyc, came through in the red fur coat with her animal print. Absolutely fabulous, ladies!

Fashion Bombers and Bombshells showed up and out!
See more pictures here:

What do you think, Bombers and Bombshells? What’s your favorite look? Comment on this post and the Convos with Claire Recap post with the best look. Best look gets the opportunity to go to a Fashion Show with Claire!  

All photographs courtesy of @jmartinvisual.

 

 

A pair of shades can upgrade any look, and can even let you hide tired eyes when you don’t have time to conceal them with makeup. They also do more than just make you look confident as the right pair of shades will help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, and help keep the skin around the eyes healthy.

 

Here are some reasons why sunglasses are important, along with some things to consider the next time you’re looking to refresh your look and buy new sunglasses.

 

UV Protection

Not wearing sunglasses or donning a pair that does not provide adequate UV protection can put you at risk of several eye diseases like cataract, Macular Degeneration, and Photokeratitis. UV radiation can pass through cloud cover and cause damage to the lens and cornea on the eyes, which is why it is important to wear a pair of shades that absorb most HEV rays and provide maximum eye protection by blocking 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. Even short-term exposure to UV rays can cause eye irritation, light sensitivity, and eye pain. Sunglasses, as ubiquitous as they seem, are the one of the best options to protect the delicate skin around the eyes from UV rays, so you reduce your risk of developing age spots and wrinkles later in life.

 

UV protection is even more important for kids, as they spend more time outdoors and are more susceptible to retinal damage. Children’s ocular lens is less capable of filtering out UV rays, enabling more radiation to reach deep into the eye. These factors make it crucial for kids to wear shades that block UV rays and absorb HEV rays.

 

Protection from glare

To see clearly even in the presence of bright light, wear polarized sunglasses that block reflected light for superior glare protection. Glare is the reduction in visibility that is caused by a negative sensation in the visual field such as reflected or direct sunlight, and even artificial light like households lamps and car headlamps at night.

 

Glare protection becomes even more important when you are driving on a sunny day, as there are bright reflections on the road that can interfere with your sight and impair your visibility. Sun glare can be dangerous as you are unable to see oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic control devices. So the next time you are on the road, make sure to wear a pair of shades that will let you see images clearly without distorting color. You can choose between yellow glasses which sharpens images, or brown lenses which effectively reduce glare and blue light.

 

Protection from strong winds and dust

If you like driving with your windows down, then you probably get distracted by dust and dry winds as you speed up along the highway. Your eyes can also get buffeted by debris and wind blasts when you are cycling outdoors. To keep the wind out while cycling, you want to wear wraparound sunglasses with protective gaskets that block pollution and dust from entering your eyes. With several choices for protective goggles, you will definitely find a pair that is secure and comfortable, and will enhance your vision in various light conditions.

So how do you pick the right pair of sunglasses?

By now, you already know that shades are your best protection against glare, harmful UV rays, and even dirt and pollution. The next step is choosing the right pair that will provide maximum protection for your eyes and for the skin surrounding this area. Here, we outline a few pointers to help you choose among several sunglass styles:

 

• Consider your lifestyle and the type of activities you enjoy doing on a regular basis. If you love spending time outdoors, you will benefit from shades that block 99 to 100 percent of harmful UV rays, and a frame with a larger surface area that will shield your eyes from UV rays coming from all sides.  On the other hand, a basic pair of sunglasses with high UV protection may be sufficient when you are embarking on simple errands such as taking your mail to the post office or paying bills.

 

 

• Consider different lens options

 

Again, your choice of sunglass will depend on your unique lifestyle. Polarized lens may be the best option for you if you have a long commute every day as this type of lens effectively reduces glare, allowing you to see clearly on a bright day. Wearing polarized lenses when driving in the rain is also advisable as it helps enhance your visual acuity through the scattering effect of the rain.

 

 

• Choose from a wide selection of frames

 

Sunglasses are stylish accessories that can complete a look, so in addition to the pointers above, you may also want to look for a pair that will complement your personal style. If you are unsure of which frame style to choose for your face shape, ask a glasses specialist to assist you in narrowing down your options and picking the perfect pair that will enhance your facial features.

 

Happy Monday, Bombers and Bombshells!
Our Convos with Claire series ended in New York City with a bang! The annual celebration of fashion and style over brunch and empowering conversations had it’s final bow for 2018 in a brick exposed enclave in Manhattan’s Flatiron district.

Convos with Claire is an opportunity for those looking to break into fashion to hear wisdom and advice from those who have sustained long, successful careers in the industry. The event always welcomes an illustrious panel of guests, and our New York panel was nothing short of exceptional, as it featured former ad executive turned TV host and radio personality Bevy Smith, legendary stylist and fashion designer turned life coach, teacher, and Global Creative Partner of MCM Misa Hylton, and designer and furrier to the stars Duckie Confetti. The conversation focused not just on breaking in through interning and assisting, but also knowing your worth, how to get placement on celebs, and how to build a strong brand. Everyone on the panel has been able to reinvent themselves, shift, and pivot in an industry that is constantly evolving. Never resting on their laurels, they continue to dream bigger and climb higher, setting new goals for themselves once one ‘plateau’ is reached.

Attendees were eager to learn and to also find mentorship! One young fashion buyer was able to find a potential mentor from Nordstrom right in the room. Another aspiring designer was interested in getting her brand more exposure. Misa offered tips on getting in front of the right people (don’t be afraid to tag or DM your favorite stylist! Also, when the opportunity comes, be ready!), Claire added some sparkle with social media insight (take consistent photo shoots and update at least once a day). The young designer was able to showcase her paint splattered trenches to the room. Reporters from ABC, Essence, and Page Six TV were all in attendance, providing additional potential platforms for publicity.

The enrichment didn’t stop there! Hundreds of fashion obsessed shoppers stopped by vendor booths, which included Black Tag Apparel, Mess in a Bottle, Nroda Sunglasses, Red Eye Luxe, Boutte Rouge Boutique, Yvonne Jewnell, LaMonique Cosmetics, and Vanity Storm. Vendors for CWC have the opportunity to gain exposure on the ground with women and men who love to shop while guests are able to discover new brands they should know.

Guests came to slay (if you need an occasion to dress up, CWC never disappoints!). We have a theme for every event, and for New York we decided to go with a classic that has come around anew: Animal Print! Take a look:

Bombshells @BFFSport and @LaClosetDesign tag teamed in a leopard catsuit and mini dress.

Larissa Muehleder of Muehleder the Label repped for her brand, but added a twist with leopard pumps.

Stylist Mickey Freeman has the best shades ever! He stuck to the theme in a leopard print shirt and jacket, and reptilian gloves.

His muse @LeaRobinson looked edgy in a croc embossed black ensemble.

And friends @SherlyB and @Jenn_Moorer looked sassy with crop tops, skirts, and leopard accessories.

Bombshell @CarriePennie designed a Tony the Tiger inspired sweatshirt that she paired with a plaid skirt. Creative!

Fashion Bomb Volunteer @J.Scurlock always comes to slay and serve! He gave a bit of 70’s inspiration with a snake print top and fanny pack with pants equipped with a stripe down the side.

Blogger @Ashley_V_ uplifted a simple look with a statement leopard hat.

@RareBeauty_ was bomb in a leopard dress equipped with side and back cut outs.

And @AsToldbyAdri_ used the space’s telephone booth to kick up her over the knee boots rocking a leopard printed cardigan.

The best dressed attendee always wins a prize, and this year, the best dressed guest will get to attend a show with Claire during New York Fashion Week in February! Who do you think was best dressed? Leave a comment below!

Editor in Chief Claire Sulmers always uses the opportunity to wear a design by an up and coming brand! This year, she wore a custom leopard ensemble by Parsons alum and Harlem Fashion Week designer Yvonne Jewnell. Makeup by vendor La Monique Cosmetics and hair @ByBellaEvans completed her look.

After listening to the panel and shopping it up with vendors, guests were able to network over cocktails by Billionaires Row and light hors d’oeuvres by Chef Sam. Attendees come to learn, but stay to make meaningful connections with people in their industry who could one day become friends, colleagues, or business partners!

If you are interested in being a vendor or sponsor for 2019 (or if you want to bring CWC to your town) email bookclairesulmers@gmail.com for details! Book now for special rates!

Thank you to our MC Tamara Ivey, our red carpet correspondents Darnell Instaedge and Brian Lamont, our sponsors Rayar Jeans and Billionaires Row. Thank you to our vendors Black Tag Apparel, Mess in a Bottle, Nroda Sunglasses, Red Eye Luxe, Boutte Rouge Boutique, Yvonne Jewnell, LaMonique Cosmetics, and Vanity Storm, special guests, and DJ Just for Kicks. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, including Mecca Moore-Henson of Pynk Magazine, Steven Lamont, Kelley Carter, and our Volunteers @sandzp, @missasiamilia, @planet_reese, @j.scurlock, and @luvnaj.

*Find more images on Instagram @ConvoswithClaire, the hashtag #ConvoswithClaire and Facebook @ConvoswithClaire!

Images: Tylik Hill

 

By: Morgan Smith (@muvamorgs) for Fashion Bomb Daily

 

December has finally begun and it is officially holiday season! In addition to spending time with family and sharing in the holiday cheer, it’s also the time of gift giving to show your loved ones that you have been thinking about them.

 

Is there a beautiful Queen in your life and you just have no clue what to get her? Well, look no further because I am here to supply you with the ultimate gift guide for the Queen in your life. From natural hair products to pride apparel, you can’t go wrong with these items.

 

The Makeup Lover: Is your Queen a lover of makeup? Whether she likes glossy or matte lippies, Fenty Beauty lip gloss or Pat McGrath Labs matte lipsticks will get her right. You can’t go wrong with eye shadow palette from Juvia’s Place either.

 

 

 

Don’t Touch My Hair: Even though the product says to use a “dime-size amount”, Black women with natural hair never seem to listen and wonder why we’re almost out of products. Help her re-up on her products by gifting her natural hair care products.

 

 

Head Wrap Queen: Head wraps have evolved from household lounging wear to full-fledge fashion statements amongst Black women. If your Queen loves head wraps, WrapQueens is the perfect place to choose from an assortment of colors, patterns, and different materials like satin and cotton for headwraps.

 

 

 

Clear Skin Queen: Skin care has been a growing industry this year as women have been seeking clear, glowing skin through the use of natural products like serums, moisturizers, and face masks. Get her some products that will help her in her clear skin journey.

 

 

Shop here:

You can buy individual items or use components of each to create the cutest gift set ever! I hope this guide helps you, Bombers and Bombshells. Happy Holidays!

By: Jennet Jusu (@TheJusuQuench) | FashionBombDaily Intern

They say all that glitters ain’t gold, but would it truly matter if you’ll be shining bright like a diamond, instead? Make Rihanna’s smash hit worth its while, by being the brightest belle of the ball. Whether a ‘Disco Diva’ or ‘Glitterati Hottie’, don’t shutter under any spotlight that’ll have you sparkle. And forewarning, it takes a bold soul to declare crystals as some kind of casual wear of dress. Whether worn taking a stroll down the block, or a spur of the moment meet up with the girls for brunch, simply chic doesn’t have to equate to simply boring. And it’s a fortunate situation when anything crystalized can make such a valiant statement. Just don’t speak too loudly dolls and dudes.  

 

 

Pair your fashion gems with a contrast of material like a good jean or liquid leather, for a fun play with texture. The only thing needed being a plain neutral color—like a white tee, or a soft pink, lavender or even nude, to not crowd the outfit with too much. If your crystalized moment’s main item is a dress of some sort, or even a good boot, less in your other articles of clothing will give the outfit so much more. You can also keep the color palette neutral with a nude fur, or consistent with perhaps a blue hue; giving the outfit some unpredictability and edge. But the most chic, and easiest of them all is the solid color approach, with an easy pairing color such as black, all black mainly, that allows you to focus on the shapes and material of the items and worry about so many material clashing with such a bold choice.

So the time has come, Bombers and Bombshells! Convos with Claire New York is going down from 1-6pm, tomorrow, December 1st, at the Flat NYC (23 West 24th Street, New York):

 
The day kicks off at 1pm with an informative brunch including a presentation featuring legendary stylist Misa Hylton, designer Duckie Confetti, and style maven Bevy Smith.

Come to shop with vendors Black Tag Apparel, Mess in a Bottle, Nroda Sunglasses, Red Eye Luxe, Boutte Rouge Boutique, Yvonne Jewnell, LaMonique Cosmetics, and Vanity Storm!
Stay after for drinks and networking, with sounds by DJ JFK.

The dress code is animal print, so be sure to have your outfit on deck!

And we only have a few tickets left! Get yours today at CWCNYC.eventbrite.com.

AW18 is well underway, which means it’s time your clothing collection is updated with the latest trends and styles. With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, it’s the season of parties and social events, so your choice of clothing needs to be on point. Here we take a look at some of the biggest trends for AW18. From seasonal colours to on trend prints, these are your key styles to creating an AW18 that will fly off the shelves.

Faux fur

Faux fur has its moment in the spotlight through the winter season, as it’s the perfect, cosiest texture to add to your collection for this time of year. Add glamour and comfort to your collection with faux fur coats; look for block colours or patterned options for a unique addition.

A go-to for this season’s outerwear, we expect to see faux fur coats sticking around until the spring! For an alternative style, look for teddy bear fur jackets or shearling coats.

Sequins

Party season is almost upon us, with companies booking Christmas parties and friends using any excuse to get together. Sequins are the perfect answer to this. Look for eye-catching designs like bodycon dresses for that wow factor, and jewelled tones like emerald and gold.

For extra detailing, tassels and glitter also create a sparkling effect that are guaranteed to be popular throughout AW18.

Animal print

Animal print has been around for some time already, and the interest is only increasing. Leopard and snake prints in particular are the go-to choices, and they work across huge range of options like blouses, dresses, skirts and even accessories like shoes and belts.

Adding a great visual effect to your collection, animal print is so versatile; wear for the office, weekend drinks or on a city break.

Satin

The most effective way to upgrade your collection is to add luxe textures. Satin is the perfect example of this, enhancing even the simplest of designs and creating an elegant silhouette. Dresses and blouses in particular look great made from satin, adding a more opulent feel to your collection.

Look out for paisley patterns and darker hues to really show off the satin shine.

 

If you’ve got a keen sense of style and you love to follow fashion, it’s not just yourself you can work your magic on. The place you live can be a showcase for your style and an extension of your personality too.

Interior design is just fashion for homes, so clothing and décor go together very well. If you want a new challenge, or the chance to expand your repertoire, take a look at how you could transform the place you live, so it’s a worthy representation of your style and individuality.

Living arrangements

In personal fashion, you’re entirely free to make your own choices about what you wear and how you look. It might not always be so easy when it comes to your accommodation though. You may be living at home or sharing an apartment with friends or a partner, in which case you’ll need to take their opinions into consideration. If you don’t own your home, there may be restrictions in place that limit what you’re able to change about the space.

If you’re living at home or you’re fed up with your current living arrangements, it might be time to think about moving on to somewhere new. Make an honest assessment of your outgoings and income so you can see how much rent you could afford each month, or what size mortgage you could take out. If your credit history is poor, or you have a low credit score, it’s still possible to get an apartment with bad credit, you just need to consult a specialist financial broker who can show you the options available and offer advice on managing your repayments.

If you have to share your living space, or you are renting, check what restrictions are in place that could affect your redecorating plans, and talk to your flatmates about your ideas. They may be delighted that you want to makeover the apartment, or they may have strong views about what they would and wouldn’t like, so it’s crucial to sort out all these factors before you start making plans.

Fashionable interiors

Once you have a firm idea of what you can and can’t do, start looking at interior design ideas and websites for inspiration. Just as with clothing and personal style, you don’t have to slavishly stick to what’s on trend at any given time. Use the ideas and fashions that are around and adapt them to add your personal stamp.

Start with the decorating, which provides the backdrop for your interiors. Look at plenty of different color charts, wallpaper designs, and wall-hangings to help you decide on a theme for the rooms you’re making over. If you’re new to interior design, find out as much as you can about how to mix and match colors and styles in order to create the effects you’re looking for.

It’s not unusual to decide on a color for your walls that you think looks beautiful in the store or on the website, only to find that when it’s on the walls, the light levels don’t work, and it doesn’t look as good as you imagined it would. Use tester pots and samples of wallpapers to try out at home and see how well your combinations work. You should also make sure you think about how you plan to furnish the room once it’s decorated. If you’re getting new items for the room, how will they look against the wall designs? If you have to keep what you’ve already got, how are you going to arrange the pieces to make the best use of the room?

Adding personality

It’s important to make your new design not only look fashionable and stylish but to have a place that you’re comfortable in and want to spend time using. Adding in your own personal touches can make the difference between a room looking like a photo in an interiors magazine and one that takes on your personality and looks like a home.

Photos and artworks that you’ve chosen, or created yourself, are a good way to introduce the personal element. You could also add in touches that reflect your own fashion sense or are more about you than about matching a ready-made design, for instance having a throw on the couch that your grandma made for you.

When you think about it, your home is a perfect place to experiment with new styles and designs, just as much as your body. It may take more effort to repaint a room than it does to change out of a dress, but the thrill of getting it right and designing a living space you can feel proud of makes the effort worthwhile.

By: Morgan Smith (@muvamorgs) for Fashion Bomb Daily

 

Trends from the past seem to always make their way back into present times. Today, we see references of the 70s, 80s, and especially the 90s in today’s fashion. 90s fashion accessories are making a huge comeback in regards to statement hair accessories. Before the trend, hair pieces like bobby pins and hair ties were neutral colored and concealed under the hair. Today’s hair accessories are all about making a statement and making the wearer stand out, so they are full of bright colors, embellished with jewels, and more importantly…exposed!

Statement hair pins seen in streetwear and the runway shows are usually jeweled hair pins with sayings on them highlighting things like girl power and women empowerment or just have fun words like “GLAM” and “BABE”.  

Ashley Williams has popularized the statement hair pins by including the hair accessory in its collections presented at London Fashion Week. The brand has attracted celebrities such as Selena Gomez who has been seen wearing the “UGLY” Ashley Williams hair pin out in public. Major designers have also hopped on the trend train. Gucci now has a crystalized Gucci hairpin which Rihanna wore with one of her Coachella looks this year. Chanel previewed a jeweled hair pin with the double C’s Chanel logo for their SS19 collection at Paris Fashion Week. Even retailers such as Missguided, Forever 21, Free People, Dolls Kill and Kitsch has collections and products including these cute and glamorized hair pieces!

 

Hair Jewels by Logo, $189