Month: December 2018

Beauty /

Keri Hilson and My City 4 Ways Culture Festival from Essence and Ford

Over the weekend, Essence and FORD once again joined forces to bring the My City 4 Ways Culture Festival to Houston for its last stop. Ford brought the festival to White Oak Music Hall, to celebrate the city’s most notable tastemakers, innovators and leaders across music, art, lifestyle, and food. R&B star Keri Hilson celebrated the eve of her birthday with a special performance of some of her classic hits, including “Turning Me On”, “Knock Me Down” and “Pretty Girl Rock” while delicious hors-d’oeuvres circulated the gallery, prepared by One Feisty Chef and Chef James Robinson. Guests also enjoyed a Ford “Ride & Drive” experience, where consumers got the chance to test drive the latest lineup of Ford vehicles, including the Mustang, the all-new 2018 Expedition, and the F-150.

Attendees were also able to shop at the pop-up shops of art influencer Ashely Price, who did a live art installation, entrepreneur and fashion influencer Rich God who had his clothing Made By Rich God on display and for sale. Melissa Butler founder of the Lip Bar also had an interactive Lip Bar experience where she gifted guests with her lipstick. Houston’s very own Kam Franklin sang her heart out while she entertained the crowd with a special performance including a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Women, Do Right Man”.

Top financial advisor Tiffany “Budgetnista” Aliche hosted the festival along with Tai Beauchamp. The Budgetnista announced the Ford’s Driving Her Dreams contest winner, through which Ford awarded Melissa Mitchell of Abeille Creations a two-year lease of a Ford Explorer. To win this contest, Melissa Mitchell beat out 10 other female entrepreneurs who made a pitch at ESSENCE FESTIVAL explaining why getting a Ford Explorer would help their business go further. Congrats to Melissa Mitchell for the big win!

Accessories /

Luxury Slippers & Mules Straight from the Runway: Lucille Slippers

Enjoy the luxury of high end, casual slippers modeled after high fashion looks. With superb quality designer materials, Somersby slippers add a splash of runway to your casual style.

Combining classic elegance with a sense of ease, the Lucille slippers ($99) will be a staple in your chic wardrobe.  Start and end your day in comfort and style with these classic, slippers lined with real fur for the ultimate in fashion and flirty fun.  The Lucille Slippers feature a beautiful embroidered floral motif or luxurious butter-soft leather uppers. The low heel provides just the right amount of lift to have you walking tall from sun up to sun down.

The Blanche comes in Premium leather and textiles but also on-trend velvet which is perfect for the holiday season.  Slip into the comfortable suede footbed for a sleek timeless look.

Choose the Zamora for a classic loafer that will fit your flirtiest dresses and favorite jeans.  These easy-to-wear, sophisticated loafers will transcend time and style in true Somersby comfort.

Starting around $75, these runway looks will make a statement in comfort and quality without the outrageous designer pricing.

Somersby is proudly owned and operated by Lamo Footwear. Lamo, founded in 1995, has expanded in recent years and operates three successful footwear brands. First and foremost is the flagship Lamo brand. Lamo creates outrageously comfortable slippers, boots, and flats for daily wear. Their shoes are available in over 4,000 retail stores around the world, sharing Aussie sheepskin comfort and California style around the globe. Oomphies is a casual and cool footwear brand for kids and toddlers. It gives your kiddos year-round wear that’s both high quality and high value. Trust that your kids can safely explore the world with Oomphies confidence. Somersby rounds out the diverse collection of footwear in the Lamo family with their luxury line of slippers and loafers.

Starting around $75, these runway looks will make a statement in comfort and quality without the outrageous designer pricing.

Somersby is proudly owned and operated by Lamo Footwear. Lamo, founded in 1995, has expanded in recent years and operates three successful footwear brands. First and foremost is the flagship Lamo brand. Lamo creates outrageously comfortable slippers, boots, and flats for daily wear. Their shoes are available in over 4,000 retail stores around the world, sharing Aussie sheepskin comfort and California style around the globe. Oomphies is a casual and cool footwear brand for kids and toddlers. It gives your kiddos year-round wear that’s both high quality and high value. Trust that your kids can safely explore the world with Oomphies confidence. Somersby rounds out the diverse collection of footwear in the Lamo family with their luxury line of slippers and loafers.

Beauty /

Atlanta Beauty Shop Taylord Styles Beauty Loft Spreads Christmas Cheer

On Nov. 23, 2018, Taylord Styles Beauty Loft  (TSBL) the only one-stop-shop beauty salon in Atlanta, took the saying “The most wonderful time of the year” and made plans to make it just that; as they begin to spread Christmas cheer with their community initiative “A Taylord Christmas”. 

A Taylord Christmas was created to help make Christmas brighter for the less fortunate women and children of the Atlanta community.

Owner Taylor Deathridge invites TSBL customers, local businesses and small business owners to participate in spreading the Christmas spirit by donating: Canned Goods, Toiletries, Coats, Gloves, Hats, Water bottles and Toys to the salon until Dec. 20, 2018. Donors can donate any time Tues. through Fri. 9 A.M. to 7 P.M. or Sat. 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.

All donated items will be wrapped with love in beautiful Christmas paper and taken to a local Women’s Shelter, My Sisters House a few days before Christmas.

To partner with TSBL on “A Taylord Christmas” or for media interviews please contact Publicist, Milan Mobley at info@umanagmentpr.com

About Taylord Styles Beauty Loft

Taylor Deathridge is the creator and founder of Taylord Styles Beauty Loft and Taylord Styles brands. Taylord Styles Beauty Loft strives to be your one stop beauty shop! Taylord Styles is just that, “Quality styles tailored to your hair and glamour needs.” The goal is ALL things beauty! For More Information on Taylord Styles, Please visit: https://taylordstyles.com/

Celebrity /

Oprah Seen Wearing Gert-Johan Coetzee at Global Citizen Festival

Popular celebrity designer Gert-Johan Coetzee added an important global feather to his cap when Oprah Winfrey appeared on stage at the Global Citizen Festival on Sunday in a flowing sun-yellow silk kaftan he had created for her.

Winfrey addressed the crowd at FNB Stadium about the meaning of being a global citizen and mentioned the importance of community, of reaching out and making others feel cherished and less alone. The festival brought a stellar cast of global A-list performers to Johannesburg, South Africa, to celebrate what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday.

 “I always thought it was because Madiba was a citizen of the world, that he really got to see how the power of one leads to the empowerment of many,” Winfrey said.

The beloved talk-show host had visited Coetzee’s studio earlier in the week and had charmed the designer and his team with her humor, grace, and kindness. “It was such an honor to receive her, and to be given the opportunity to custom-make something really beautiful for her to wear,” says Coetzee. The kaftan was constructed from draped silk in a rich yellow, with a waistband decorated in traditional African hand-beading and Swarovski crystals.

Coetzee is no stranger to Winfrey’s South African interests, having mentored one of the students who had graduated from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls as part of his bursary programme. “I have always had wonderful, extremely professional experiences in my dealings with Ms. Winfrey’s school, so it was a pleasure to meet her and see first-hand why OWLAG has such an edge of accomplishment,” said Coetzee. “We are looking forward to growing the relationship further.”

Beauty /

Stay Hydrated This Winter with Jergens, Josie Maran, and Curel

Although we tend to think of it as a summertime problem, dropping temperatures and drier conditions during the cold winter months leave our skin dull and dehydrated.

This means changing up a few things in your skincare regime, Jergens and Curel offer ultra-nourishing and intensely hydrating options to keep your skin feeling smooth and looking healthy all season long:

1. Exfoliate This season, exfoliating is a crucial, non-negotiable step in your morning shower routine. Using a delicate but effective sugar scrub like the Josie Maran Argan Sugar Balm Body Scrub exfoliates and removes dead skin cells, allowing moisturizers to be more effective as they penetrate deeper into the skin. Plus, this soothing scrub is formulated with shea butter, argan, and coconut oil so it nourishes the skin while it exfoliates!
2. Moisturize
When it comes to hydration, a high-quality moisturizer is a must-have. Jergens Shea Butter Wet Skin Moisturizer is applied to wet skin right after showering, maximizing hydration when skin is most receptive to moisture. The water activated formula absorbs right away as vitamin-rich shea oil leaves you feeling smooth and soft – and without the heaviness and greasy residue of a traditional lotion.
3. Repeat
Sometimes, slathering on moisturizer once a day simply isn’t enough, and that especially applies for people who deal with dry, flaky skin. Think of Curel Rough Skin Rescue Smoothing Lotion as your go-to hydration boost, and apply as needed throughout the day. Made with skin-soothing ingredients like olive oil, this hard-working formula aids in your skin’s natural exfoliating process, and then delivers much-needed hydration, restoring the moisture barrier to prevent dry skin in the future.
Featured Photo from INDEPENDENT