Crafted from soft cotton-jersey blend, her Vetements X Champion black shorts have a drawstring waistband and are trimmed with the brand’s instantly recognizable blue, white and red tape.
Crafted in Italy, her dainty wrinkled red leather crossbody bag boasts raised hardware, an optional flat shoulder strap, exterior zip pocket at front, studs and buckle embellishments at exterior.
I’m lovin’ the look!
Down for the splurge? Purchase her shorts here and her mini shoulder bag here.
With a voice that can silence a room and leave the audience in awe or make us all get up and dance with her, no one can deny the sheer talent that is American Idol alum, Fantasia Barrino.
She sang her way to the top of the charts from nothing since winning the hit show’s third season and hasn’t looked back since.Despite past struggles and tribulations, the North Carolina native has had major success over the last thirteen years, and her style has been topping a few charts as well.
In her early years, Fantasia definitely experimented with her look, especially when it came to her hair. From two-toned hairstyles to red asymmetrical pixie cuts, the singer was destined to stand out, though outfits of days past may not have been as polished back then.
As the years progressed, we’ve seen a more refined woman, and a fabulous dresser, all thanks to stylists Shun Melson and Daniel Hawkins.From lace to silk to sequins, Fantasia oozes glamor when she hits a red carpet. Whether in a fabulous pantsuit, or a Mugler blazer dress and Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, or gowns that drape the floor and hug her curves like her music hugs your soul, Fantasia is clearly living her best life and has never looked more stunning.
These days, she’s still singing arenas and concert halls down, but in her down time, she’s busy being a happy wife and a loving mother of two beautiful children. And that never goes out of style.
So here’s to you, Fantasia!A gifted, beautiful soul who proves with faith and the determination to win, nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams.
What say you to this week’s pick?
*This Black History Month Feature was originally published in November 2014.
I’ve always admired this woman. Her unparalleled beauty is beyond extraordinary; however, it is the story behind her struggle that truly captured my heart. In addition to showcasing an exceptional modeling talent, she’s also established herself as a successful businesswoman and an author. Although many may not recognize her face, her accomplishments speak volumes. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to present today’s esteemed trailblazer – the legendary Miss Naomi Sims.
Naomi Ruth Sims was born on March 30, 1948 in Oxford, Mississippi. As the youngest of three daughters, Sims was cited as a standout early on in life. Due to her tall and slim stature, Naomi was steadily criticized and shunned by other children who failed to understand her extraordinary physique – at the tender age of thirteen, she was already a towering 5 feet 10 inches. After completing high school, the stunning beauty won a scholarship to the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and, from there, she began to work as a struggling model while facing racial prejudice head on. Little did Naomi know, her downfall would soon be the sole factor in her unstoppable rise to fame. Naomi Sims’s popularity grew wildly from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s ; furthermore, one of her more defining moments was her appearance as the first African-American cover model to be featured in the Ladies’ Home Journal (November 1968).
Aside from her ground-breaking accomplishments, this model’s style was also quite bomb-worthy. Sims was drawn to a more classic aesthetic – with everything from fabulous button-downs to the ever-so-chic belted maxi dress – Sims knew what looked good and she rocked it well!As a muse for Halston, Naomi also sizzled in flowy jumpsuits, printed coordinates, ladylike hats and enviable furs. Her style was infused with functionality coupled with a conservative appeal. In my opinion, she was THE first street style star. Don’ t believe me? Check out her concrete runway looks!
Talk about endless beauty! I have to admit – this Vintage Vision was one of my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed sifting through Miss Sims’s photos and I discovered so much more than I could have ever imagined. I was definitely blown away!
To learn more about this groundbreaking model, read more about her story here.
The double-breasted cashmere coat features an incredibly soft feel. The interior is lined with a floral printed scarf that is finished with a hand-stitched hem.
I love this coat! I’m certain this timeless piece can be worn for years. It’s a classic!
Though we typically elect one gorgeous starlet to highlight for the week, given thile excitement surrounding this year’s Grammy Awards, it would only be fitting to give you all a double dose of fabulousness and black excellence. Hailing all the way from Houston, Texas, sisters Beyoncé and Solange have made outstanding names for themselves in the realms of entertainment and fashion, with the accolades to prove it. Beyoncé snagged two more awards at this year’s Grammy’s and Solange received her first award.
But aside from obvious talent and the achievements that seem to adorn the Knowles sisters, their beauty is just as praiseworthy.
They may be siblings, but Beyoncé and Solange couldn’t be more different in terms of style and beauty. Queen Bey doesn’t go for overkill when it comes to her makeup. For her, less is usually more. She tends to lean more toward earthy tones for her eyes and brings color to her lips. Whether a ravishing red hue, a deep plum, or nude, an almost bare face and a tinted pout always seems to work for her.
As for Solange, she’s definitely more of the risk taker of the two. Experimenting with bold eye colors, Solange isn’t afraid of trying new things, ever since her Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dream days. From bright blues to violets and reds, she loves bringing attention to her full eyes with colors many wouldn’t dream of using. And she nails it every time. Bare lips seem to be the go-to look for the “Cranes In The Sky” crooner. On occasion, however, a red or orange lip is just the shade she needs to elevate a look.
Known for her honey golden locks, Beyoncé’s beautiful mane has seen it all. From a bob to bone-straight cascading hair, to a head full of curls, or even a high-ponytail, Beyoncé loves keeping us on our toes with whatever she decides to do next.
Though Solange may not be a fan of others running their fingers through her hair, we can at least admire how she embraces and experiments with all styles. See her visual for her song “Don’t Touch My Hair” for references. Since she cut her relaxed hair a few years ago, she’s grown and maintained her natural hair, though she tends to sport fabulous afro wigs, especially during red carpet appearances.
Stunningly beautiful on the outside, both Beyoncé and Solange have used their platforms to bring awareness to the ills that currently plague people of color. They’ve worked tirelessly to be a part of the solution through charity and how they express themselves through awe-inspiring art.
Here’s to two of our favorite women. Empowering mothers filled with love, who exude nothing but strength, intelligence, enviable work ethic, and downright Black Girl Magic.
Today, for our Black History Month Series, we’re offering insight on handbag designer, Sonique Saturday. In addition to being a handbag designer, Sonique is also a blogger and celebrity stylist whose clientele includes Erykah Badu, Meagan Good, Tracy Ellis Ross, and more.
Saturday’s innate ability to create opened the doors to her dotting career as a designer. She tells us, “I got started doing my handbags in college. I was taking a trip and wanted a universal bag to wear with every outfit, mood, and season. I just wanted that one universal bag that I could put all my junk in and just go, and I couldn’t find it. Long story short, I made it. It was just for a trip and when I got to this particular destination, so many people, everyone, just gave me an insane response that I totally was not expecting. So, I knew that people were responding in a positive way to something that I kind of created over night.”
Unsure where this newfound creativity would lead, positive affirmations from others in response to her designs revealed the endless possibilities. “When I got back to school, I wore the bag around the campus yard. Within my circle, so many were like, ‘I want that bag. Make me one.’ It kind of just turned into something like most businesses do. It turned into a hobby, my hobby turned into my side job, and my side job turned into my career. So it’s really a dream come true. I know it sounds very fairy tale, but that’s basically what happened.”
Contrary to what others may think, Saturday did not have any representation with any agencies to begin her career as a stylist. She says, “I was living in LA and someone found me on social media and said, ‘Hey, I love the way that you dress yourself. Do you think you can dress me for this particular project?’ So I said, sure. It was basically something that had nothing to do with how I dressed, which caught me really off guard. It was this really low budget webisode about an African American guy moving to France documenting his journey as he adapts to the culture. I needed to do wardrobe for an American guy and a French guy, so the fact that I could play with two cultures was fun!”
Solidifying herself as a freelance artist was a pivotal moment in her career. Here’s what she had to say about her first paying gig, “I told them how much I wanted to get paid, they agreed, and I said, ‘Wow, this is remarkable’ Whenever you do freelance where you’re your own boss, there’s nothing more empowering than saying what your price is for a service you’re doing and the client is accepting. I think that’s an empowering moment in a young creators life because it let’s them know, ‘Hey, I can make it on my own two feet.’ It’s so amazing how the universe aligns you with your purpose. Once that happened, other stylists would reach out to me and say, ‘Hey, do you want to come out and help for this shoot?’”
As if styling wasn’t enough to keep this Georgia Peach busy, she continued to develop designs for her brand. Her fake “Birkin” design caught the attention of model, Amber Rose. She says, “Amber Rose was the 1st celebrity to wear my bag. I am forever indebted to her. She’s the reason why Sonique Saturday kicked off as a west coast brand.” This exposure of her brand created wavelengths within her business. Most recently, her fans have accused the Gucci brand of stealing her graffiti styled design without crediting her, something Sonique finds flattering, not offensive.
Having created a brand from the ground up, she encourages aspiring designers to first depend on themselves. She notes, “You don’t need anyone to make it. People are going to help you along the way. It’s just human nature to help each other out. So, help is going to come, but you need to work as if help is not in existence; as if help is not on option. I think a lot of young designers don’t want to start form the bottom. It’s the best way to start from the bottom because once you do make it to the top, and you will, you’re going to make it to the top. I don’t care if you’re making shoestrings for a living. If you keep making shoestrings, people are going to constantly be outsourcing your supplies, period! So it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, as long as you keep doing it, you’re going to be successful. “
In addition, “if you’re an aspiring designer, you need to put your seat buckle on and tie your shoestrings because it’s a long road, it’s not something that happens overnight. And if you’re looking for something that does happen overnight, then you’ve already answered your question, which is that you’re not really a designer, you don’t really want to do this.”
We totally hear you on this! Persistence is the key to success.
This $40 steal features three tears of ruffles with a tie at the waist. It’s pin stripe detail gives this mini versatility, it can be dressed up for work or dressed down for play.
