Accessories /

Cynthia Rowley Presents an All-Female Comedy Show for FW23 #NYFW

Cynthia Rowley presented an all-female comedy show at Sony Hall on Monday, February 13th. The designer’s latest NYFW show took on a whole new format this season, featuring an immersive hour of stand-up led by some of comedy’s most renowned female voices, all dressed by Cynthia Rowley.

 

Fashion and comedy have always been a great escape, and there seems to be a collective zeitgeist toward the necessity for humor right now. A sense of humor has been a part of the brand’s DNA since the very beginning, and Rowley’s mission to express fearless fun that brings joy through each collection remains as strong as ever.

 

“I start each day with ten minutes of stand up,” says Cynthia Rowley. “I’ve long said I wish fashion were funnier. Not necessarily the clothes, but the attitude. After hosting a stand-up comedy night at my store in Montauk this summer with my friend and collaborator Seth Herzog (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Broad City, 30 Rock, Chappelle Show), it became clear to me that it was time to realize my long-standing dream to host so many of my favorite funny ladies on one stage.”

 

Featuring some of the biggest names in comedy, the all-star all-female cast included comedians Nikki Glaser (Welcome Home Nikki Glaser? on E!), Rachel Feinstein (Last Comic Standing, HBO’s Crashing), Arden Myrin (Netflix’s Insatiable, iHeartRadio’s Will You Accept This Rose podcast), Rosebud Baker (Emmy-award winning writer, one of Variety’s “Top Ten Comics to Watch”, writer for Saturday Night Live), Claudia Oshry (Disgraced Queen on Amazon Prime, co-host of The Toast podcast), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live cast member since 2018), and Michelle Buteau (Netflix’s The Circle, Welcome to Beautopia).with host Esther Ku (MTV’s Girl Code, Wild ‘N Out, and Last Comic Standing) hilariously tying all of the performances together into one hour of non-stop laughs. In addition to the stars of comedy on stage, notable guests in attendance included Olivia DeJonge, Eve Jobs, Cooper Hoffman, Jane Krakowski, and Alan Cumming.

 

The clothes were designed with each performer in mind using references from the full collection (lookbook to come). Giant pastel paillettes, loads of sheer fabrics, and classically tailored pick-stitch pieces rendered in our signature sport fabric.

 

“I see fashion and comedy serving women in the same way. If you can be funny, you can feel confident. If you love what you’re wearing you feel confident. And if you can have both, even better.”

 

www.CynthiaRowley.com

 

@CynthiaRowley 

 

#CynthiaRowleyFW23

 

Michelle Buteau
Kit Keenan, Gigi Powers
Margo Oshry, Brigette Pheloung
Natalia Suarez, Dylana Suarez
Ego Nwodim
Amber Wang
Nikki Glaser
Jane Krakowski
Esther Ku

Lifestyle /

Branding Expert and Mega Influencer Nathalie Nicole Celebrates Women’s History Month with Her First Annual Women’s Tour

Nathalie Nicole is claiming her chance to honor fellow women entrepreneurs just in time for Women’s History Month. On March 19, 2023, Nathalie Nicole is excited to host the first annual Women Who Boss Network Brunch, Powered by Nathalie Nicole, at Noir Studios, 2135 Liddell Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324, from 3 pm – 7 pm. This isn’t just another women’s empowerment brunch: it’s an enrichment experience. Nathalie curated the brunch to serve a group that is often underserved: black women entrepreneurs.

“It’s important to me that women FEEL good when they attend the brunch. You don’t have to be extremely glamorous. Just come ready to network, connect, and converse with other women.”

The ticketed brunch will offer catered food, a fireside chat with high-level speakers, and an engaging panel discussion with women who will be sharing intimate details about womanhood. Panelists and speakers are to follow.

Attendees can expect to feel genuine energy as soon as they walk inside, with an aesthetically-beautiful decor and insightful conversation. Two ticket options are available for purchase, including General Admission and VIP Admission. VIP Admission includes a complimentary swag bag filled with Nathalie’s favorite self-care products and advanced entry, making the event even more worthwhile.

Come join the Women Who Boss Network as they celebrate women, build relationships, and gain knowledge! Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.womenwhobosslive.com. The Women Who Boss Network Brunch, Powered by Nathalie Nicole will have additional tour stops in Miami, LA, Houston, and Washington, D.C. Coming soon in Spring 2023, Nathalie will extend more of her business knowledge and foresight on her upcoming podcast, stay tuned!

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About Nathalie Nicole:

Nathalie Nicole Smith was trained for greatness right out of the womb. Entrepreneurship has always been Nathalie’s core desire, and for as long as she can remember, she was never satisfied with working for someone else. The ambitious visionary spent 12 years of her life mentoring and tutoring local DC youth while freelancing across the country offering wellness, beauty, and business consulting—All for the betterment and love of her community.

Nathalie’s determination for greatness has led her to achieve new levels of success as well as become a multimillionaire with Total Life Changes. She has helped hundreds of extraordinary women from all walks of life build brands and businesses they love through her elite community, proven systems, and impactful programs. Her innate desire to see other young women like herself receive the tools, network, and mentorship that she desperately needed when she began chasing her dreams, continues to be her driving motivation today.  Nathalie’s mission is to help all women understand that they can fight, they can grind, and can earn multiple six-seven figures, and live the life that they’ve always dreamed of. Her mission to help women elevate, dominate and become free, led her to launch Women Who Boss, a 501c3 Community that focuses on celebrating and enhancing women through personal brand and self-awareness.

Beauty /

Future Faces: 2023 Makeup Trends from a Celebrity MUA

Fads come and go as quickly as a viral TikTok song, but celebrity make-up artist and cosmetics creator, Ashunta Sheriff, is here to share some trends we believe are here to stay in 2023.

  1. Multitasking products, because time is precious. We are a generation of multitaskers looking for beauty and skincare products that can do more than one thing. “A blush that’s also a great lip stain and eye shadow, a highlighter that works for face and body, a facial oil that gives a glow but can work in a pinch to take the ash away – these are the products people are looking for,” shares Ashunta, creator of the Ashunta Sheriff Beauty line, which carries several multitasking powerhouses. For example, Ashunta’s BrowZing Brow Gel lifts and gives brows a laminated brow look but also works to lay edges in place, and her long-lasting shimmer liquid Thermal Blush works for cheeks, lids, and lips.

  2. 2023 is the year of the effortlessly polished look. For a while now we’ve seen an uptick in the ‘refined’ look (shout out to Hailey Beiber), but this look is at its best when you don’t try so hard. In the past, a sleek, polished look required loads of makeup/time to achieve perfection, but now you can achieve the same level of flawlessness without looking overly made up thanks to blurring technologies and products. “More people are looking for products that have technology rooted within the formulation, like a foundation with blurring technology that has buildable coverage versus a full coverage foundation that looks heavy on the skin,” shares Ashunta.

  3. Products that stay put! It’s 2023 – it’s time to say goodbye to mascara that runs and lipstick that smudges. “In my industry, we’re still wearing masks,” says Ashunta. “As a professional MUA, it’s literally my job to make folks look flawless, so I want to make sure my looks stay strong, and look great even after wearing a mask on set.” This was the inspiration behind Ashunta’s Vegan Matte Lip Crème, which is non-transferable and waterproof. Simply let dry after application and you’ll stay locked in for hours.

  4. Vegan/Earth conscious skincare is hot (and helps keep our planet cool). “This is by far my favorite (and the most important) trend,” says Ashunta. “People are looking for quality, long-wearing products and bold pigmentations – and all of this can be achieved with eco-conscious ingredients and packaging. Ashunta Sheriff Beauty offers highly pigmented, cruelty-free, vegan beauty products for all skin tones. From paper packaging to reduced carbon footprint manufacturing, we are taking steps to do our part and hope to see more of this in 2023!”

Birmingham /

Access205- #1 Entertainment Guide in Birmingham: Orchestra Noir Returns to the Magic City

The Magic City welcomes Orchestra Noir, The Atlanta African-American Orchestra!  This exciting performance is scheduled for Friday, February 17th, 2023 at the Alabama Theater, located at 1817 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203.

Orchestra Noir has high-energy reviews with audiences saying, “You will not be disappointed in the musical experience of this all-black symphony!”  With previous performances throughout the southeast, the magical sounds being played are infused with all genres of blues, classical, hip-hop, and jazz; definitely a treat for the city of Birmingham.  Directed by the conductor, composer, and arranger, Jason Ikeem Rodgers the Orchestra Noir performance has received numerous awards such as Best of Atlanta:  Classical Meets Contemporary.  Attendees are encouraged to have a good time; dance, relax, and sing to the melodic tunes.
Tickets to attend this must-see event can be purchased on Ticketmaster with prices ranging from $29 – $89 (and up.)  Don’t miss out on attending, click on the link here to purchase online.

Orchestra Noir was founded in 2016 by Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers. Through orchestral performance, Orchestra Noir celebrates the cultural achievements of African-American music pioneers across all genres of music including classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop, and R&B. Orchestra Noir has witnessed a meteoric rise to be one of the most talked about orchestras in the nation, as it continues to successfully bring orchestral music to a diverse audience in grand and spectacular fashion.

Awarded ‘Best of Atlanta: Classical Meets Contemporary’ by Atlanta Magazine, Orchestra Noir has worked on projects with global brands such as Time Warner, NBC Universal, Atlantic Records, Lionsgate, YouTube Music, BET, OWN Network, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and countless more. In addition, Orchestra Noir has worked with international hip-hop stars 2Chainz, Migos, and 9x Grammy Award-winning super-producer Bryan-Michael Cox. Orchestra Noir has been covered in prominent media publications such as The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Atlanta Magazine, Good Day Atlanta, CBS Radio, The Atlanta Modern-Luxury, Birmingham Times, and many more.
Accessories /

Valentine’s Day With Mac Duggal: The Perfect Dresses

The infamous day of love, the date night of all date nights – Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. While chocolates and flowers normally symbolize the holiday, the true treat of Valentine’s is getting dressed up.
In a romantic relationship? Don’t have a boo? Prioritizing self-love? Mac Duggal has the perfect dresses, ready to fit any Valentine’s aesthetic.
‘Soft girl era’ unlocked with elegant dusty pinks and nude accents:
‘Barbiecore’ dreams come true with hot pinks and sleek black dresses:
Last but definitely not least, the classic ‘Lovecore’ reds, cut-outs, and bows (to remind them: who’s the gift):
Birmingham /

Civitas Celebrates First Anniversary with Free Event

Cheers to one year! Civitas restaurant and bar is marking its first anniversary with an evening of incredible wine and food Tonight, February 1st, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Enjoy top-notch wines from Rush Wines out of Irondale and delicious light bites from Civitas’ Chef Jamahl Payne. The event is free to attend, and guests are encouraged to continue the celebration with an intimate dinner, for which reservations are available from 5:00 pm.

Opened in February of 2022, Civitas was started by Tonya Jones and her husband, Bryan Combs, hoping to unite the community through the power of food. Civitas means ‘for the citizens’ and provides a warm, welcoming atmosphere for Birmingham residents to enjoy.

Accessories /

Valentine’s Go-To Outfit for All The Occasions

Whether it’s a hott Valentines, Galentine’s Date, or a cozy night in cooking with the BF, comfort yet style is a MUST.

La Peony’s Carolina Jumpsuit Fuchsia is the PERFECT Valentine’s Day outfit for any activity.

La Peony  – The Carolina Jumpsuit Fuchsia  – A fresh new take on fashion from female founders who proudly support Oaxaca’s women artisans

About La Peony (PEE-UH-NEE) Clothing:

Co-Founders Melony Huber and DeAnne Combs introduce a sustainably-sourced collection of timeless fashion pieces for women designed to “move with you through every stage of life.” Proudly working with Oaxaca-based female artisans, La Peony is a brand that uplifts the modern wardrobe and supports the lives of the skilled women who create the fabrics. Each piece nurtures the unique beauty in every woman while supporting a lifestyle of love for the planet. Ethically sourced in Oaxaca, Mexico, and made with sustainable dyes in Los Angeles, browse the complete line at LaPeony.com. Follow @La_Peony_Clothing on Instagram for style inspiration, behind-the-scenes artisan features, and brand updates. La Peony – Founded by women, made by women, for every woman.

Fashion /

Festive fashion: The best Christmas sweaters inspired by classic holiday movies!

A new study reveals the most popular Christmas sweaters inspired by Christmas movies, with sweaters themed from Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch being the most popular.

The research conducted by Boohoo analyzed the monthly US search volume for the Christmas movie-themed clothing to establish which Christmas sweater is the most sought-after this holiday season.

The Grinch

The most popular Christmas sweater from Christmas movies is inspired by none other than Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Searches for the term ‘Grinch Christmas Sweater’ averaged at 4,000 times per month in the United States, proving how much fans are willing to be seen wearing a green Grinch-style sweater.

The Grinch first hit screens as a TV special on CBS in December 1966, which featured the green cartoon storybook character causing mayhem in the world of Whoville. Then, in the year 2000, Jim Carrey took on the role of the Grinch and brought Whoville to the big screens in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The most recent film within the Grinch franchise, The Grinch, was released in 2018 as an animated adaptation of the Christmas classic.

Die Hard

The second most popular Christmas movie sweater is worn by Karl Vreski, portrayed by Alexander Godunov, in Die Hard. Karl is the main antagonist’s right-hand man and the only character not killed by John McClane (Bruce Willis) in the movie. The Christmas sweater in question is a grey knitted number with ‘Now I Have a Machine Gun – HO HO HO’ written on the front, paired with a Santa hat.

Searches for ‘Die Hard Christmas sweater’ receive 3,200 searches per month, on average in the US. Many speculate whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie due to its action/thriller genre, which caused the writer to note that the film is set at a Christmas party during the holidays and features many Christmas songs, meaning it is a Christmas film.

Home Alone

The 1990 classic Home Alone places third in the rankings, which features a young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) who is accidentally left alone at Christmas time and faced with scaring off two burglars from breaking into his house. During the film, Kevin looks cozy in a few different winter knits, but the most iconic is the heathered red knit that surprisingly can hold his entire weight when he is hung on a coat hook. Despite the red knit not being the craziest of prints, it hasn’t stopped film fans from wanting to get their hands on a Home-Alone themed sweater for themselves.

Searches for ‘Home Alone Christmas sweater’ average 2,000 searches per month in the US.

Gremlins

Fourth place in the rankings goes to Gremlins, released in 1984 and follows the shenanigans and destruction forced upon the small town of Kingston Falls, by a horde of mischievous monsters. The comedy-horror, written by Home Alone director Chris Columbus, is an unusual tale for a Christmas movie but presents some of the most valued messages common in holiday movies, such as the importance of loyalty and kindness.

Searches for ‘Gremlins Christmas Sweater’ average 1,250 searches per month in the US, proving just how popular the miniature furry beasts are and how much fans want to rock a green Gremlin-themed sweater this holiday season.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

The 1989 slapstick comedy National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation places fifth in the rankings and is the third instalment in the National Lampoon Magazine’s Vacation film series. Searches for ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Sweater’ average around 800 searches per month in the US.

The film follows Father, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), wanting to give the perfect Christmas holiday to his family which turns out to become quite the task. The film’s budget is estimated to have been $28 million (£22 million) and ended up seeing $74 million (£62 million) worldwide gross.

A spokesperson from Boohoo commented on the findings: “Christmas movies are the ultimate way to get into the Christmas spirit. With office parties, family photos and Christmas sweater competitions taking place over this time of year, it is exciting to see just how many of our most iconic and beloved movies influence our Christmas wardrobes and how many people want to get their hands on a festive-themed sweater.”

Rank

Movie

Search Term

Monthly Searches in US

1

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

Grinch Christmas Sweater

4,000

2

Die Hard

Die Hard Christmas Sweater

3,200

3

Home Alone

Home Alone Christmas Sweater

2,000

4

Gremlins

Gremlins Christmas Sweater

1,250

5

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Sweater

800
Accessories /

Shop This Year’s Footwear Trends With Famous Footwear

This year has flown by like no other and if you are scrambling to shop the latest trends for your loved ones I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites from Famous Footwear for following this year’s favorites but at a price that won’t break the bank, especially with their current BOGO deal!
It’s no secret the ankle slipper trend has hit breaking records this year. With being entirely sold out for the holidays everywhere else, get the Bearpaw Shorty Wateresistent Boot for the same look. As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about water-resistant protection with it already built in.
Chunky loafers have also hit the streets fast and heavy. Compared to other options on the market from brands like Gucci and Givenchy, the Everyly Lug Bottom Loafer does the trick in spicing up your look to elevated heights.
A touch of western has gone a long way this year. Luckily the Dolce Vita Nikson Western Bootie has your back. Chic and on-trend, these are the perfect closet addition for all year.
Birmingham /

Give Hope to Children this Holiday Season with Food Donations

Do your part this holiday season and help children in your community! Selena Rodgers Dickerson, President of SARCOR, LLC, is hosting Hope for the Holidays. This annual event serves as a networking function for the local business community while providing a medium to bring easy-to-open, non-perishable food for children who rely on daily school meals and would likely go without regular meals during the holiday break.

This year’s goal is to provide resources for the i3 Academy Food Pantry. In addition, attendees will be given the option to provide easy-to-open non-perishable food items, Publix gift cards, or monetary contributions that can be used at the school’s discretion.

SARCOR strives to do its part to curb child hunger and bridge the gap so children can focus on being children for Christmas.

The event will take place on Tuesday, December 6th, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at i3 Academy on 230 49th Street N., Birmingham, AL 35212.

Who: Selena Rodgers Dickerson, SARCOR, LLC

What: Hope for the Holidays

When: Tuesday, December 6th, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Where: i3 Academy Elementary School Gymnasium Selena R. Dickerson is the president of SARCOR, LLC, located in Birmingham, Alabama. She strives to educate others on how to become successful business owners.

Her mission is to utilize her expertise to leverage strategic solution-based diverse, equitable, and inclusive initiatives through business endeavors, philanthropy, integrity, and spirituality.