Month: March 2019

Celebrity /

ESSENCE’s New Digital Cover Featuring Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green

“I certainly see more doors opening for Black women and people of color…and of course, I celebrate it. But I also have a healthy yearning for more…”— Sonequa Martin-Green, ESSENCE.com

ESSENCE’s new digital cover features Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green who continues her upward trajectory on the iconic sci-fi series in her role as First Officer Michael Burnham. In the piece, Out of This World, she talks about diversity in Hollywood and the impact of her role on the next generation (pun intended.) As one of the few faces of color to have navigated the zombie apocalypse on The Walking Dead, she’s now the first Black woman to be a lead on a Star Trek series in its 53-year history. Here, she talks to ESSENCE about: 

  • ON BEING A ROLE MODEL TO YOUNG GIRLS: “It’s kind of surreal…Parents tell me their girls are interested in math, science, and technology after watching the show. That’s incredible. It makes me want to work harder. It makes me more grateful.”
  • ON LOVING HER “STAR TREK” ROLE: “I saw this vision to humanize Star Trek in a way we hadn’t seen before. That’s the kind of stuff I love. That’s so challenging and fulfilling as an actor…Here we have this Black woman who is completely burst open. You’re seeing the inner workings of this Black woman being a human being. We need to see Black people and other people of color and women be human and be broken and be vulnerable. I think that’s a big part of how we move forward.”
  • ON THE NEED FOR MORE DIVERSITY IN HOLLYWOOD: “I certainly see more doors opening for Black women and people of color…And of course, I celebrate it. But I also have a healthy yearning for more. The way to continue opening these doors is by continuing to do what we’re doing: telling these varied, interesting, compelling, ugly, beautiful, human stories. We need for people who look like us to tell them because otherwise, we[’ll] continue to see ourselves through other people who are different from us. So I appreciate our writers and producers for standing by this vision to have a Black woman at the helm. I’m so very humbled by it and innovated by it. I just hope that this keeps spreading. I think it will…”

In the piece, written by Candice Frederick, Martin-Green is stunning in looks and accessories by Kimora Lee Simmons, Zadig & Voltaire, Maki Oh, Kenneth Jay Lane and more. Photos are by Derek Reed and styling by Mecca James Williams.

For more on this and more stories, visit ESSENCE.com.

Accessories /

NY&C Closet Online Clothing Rental Subscription Service

Years ago, only a few selected retailers offered shoppers the opportunity to rent clothing pieces.  Now, this digital option of building a wardrobe has become popular amongst other companies.

New York & Company offers NY&C Closet which is their online clothing rental service.  To get started, you can sign-up for the program and receive approval via email.

From there you build an online closet, have items are delivered to your front door, ship pieces back, and repeat the same process.

 

The really amazing aspect of their online rental service is that items can be purchased for a discount.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

Additional tips for using the NY&C Closet clothing rental service is to add several items to the digital closet, pinpoint and select your favorite items, and be sure to let the company know when pieces are returned.  It’s just that easy to look fabulous every day!

I will be trying the service and sharing my online shopping experiences with everyone here!

 

Beauty /

Women are Buying This Beauty Tool to Get Meghan Markle’s Jawline

One of the most distinctive features of Meghan Markle’s face is her strong jawline. While the princess and royal mom-to-be defies age with her tight, bright skin and chiseled facial features, there have been numerous stories reporting on exactly HOW she keeps her face so sculpted. Her secret? Facial massages.

 

I wanted to introduce you to a beauty tool paving the way in facial massage technique that can help you sculpt a chiseled jawline matching that of Meghan Markle’s.

In-come the FaceBlaster by renowned fascia guru, Ashley Black. Key highlights about the FaceBlaster include:

  • Handheld tool with 3 tiny, dainty claws to massage problem areas on the face
  • The perfect shape that fits perfectly along your jawline, to help you sculpt a defined profile
  • Better than Botox? This new beauty tool can help increase circulation and work to eliminate wrinkles, inflammation, and other skin impurities
  • All natural, feel-good way to help eliminate sagging skin, jowls, and more

The FaceBlaster™ is a unique design, and Ashley Black’s smallest Blaster tool, with 3 tiny, dainty claws that employ the same benefits of the FasciaBlaster® for smaller, delicate areas. It was specifically designed for the face and temporarily increases local blood circulation to the face, which is amazing for our skin. This tool was so popular that Ashley Black had 100,000 users on the waitlist for this product when it launched. This is a must-have.

Beauty /

Yara Shahidi: Brand Ambassador For Bobby Brown Cosmetics

Yara Shahidi is one major breakout star!  Her character on the television show Blackish is witty and fresh.  In her personal life, she’s known for being proactive and representing a voice for her generation.

All of those qualities alone would make her the perfect brand ambassador for Bobby Brown Cosmetics.  The cosmetics line is expanding its foundation shade range.  Yara stated in Allure magazine, “I’m excited about being in partnership with Bobbi Brown. I have used Bobbi Brown for photo shoots [and] on set, so it’s been a lovely pairing indeed.”

Yara seeks to educate the beauty industry on the topic of representation and broaden everyone’s view of beauty.  According to Bobby Brown Cosmetics, “The brand has added 12 new options to both ranges, bringing the final count for both foundations from 30 shades to 42.”

To make this collaboration even more fantastic, the brand recruited several girls from across the globe to test and try the new foundation shades.

To read more about Yara Shahidi and Bobby Brown Cosmetics, click here:  Bobbi Brown Is Extending Its Foundation Shade Range by Filling the Gaps Between Colors

 

Celebrity /

Meet Georgette Pierre: On-Air Host and Producer of Georgette After Dark

Style + Life + Fashion had the opportunity to interview Georgette Pierre.  Learn more about her platform here!

  1. What was the inspiration behind creating Georgette After Dark?

The curiosity and interest really started after Chelsea Handler left her late night show, Chelsea Lately, on E! Entertainment. Before other women popped on the scene, I wanted to break through the late night space. Since I wasn’t anywhere near the brand notoriety, I decided the next progression after #DearGeorgette was Georgette After Dark so I went shot three pilot episodes when I was working a lot in LA.

  1. What can audiences anticipate from the new interview series?

A good vibe from some amazing guests. I didn’t mince words and I loved the fact that my guests were open to the concept. I walked away learning something new from people I already knew. I think the audience will walk away with that too or at least laugh at the varying levels of candidness during the after dark segment

  1. What professional achievements are you most proud of?

Good question. Each point in my life, I asked for the things you would consider a professional achievement. I moved to New York and survived and thrived in my 7.5 years living there. I wanted to work at Viacom/in TV production and I did that for six years on and off in the middle of Times Square, tourist mecca of the world man (aka pedestrian city). I wanted to be bicoastal and I partially achieved that with my job in TV production requiring so much travel to THE LA as I call it. I got tapped to write about my favorite show, Power, for Entertainment Weekly. There’s not one or a few professional achievements I’m most proud of. I’m just grateful that I had access to navigate the spaces I was in to even scratch the surface of the things I accomplished/achieved. That’s what I’m most proud of, to be honest.

  1. Provide one piece of advice to someone that’s interested in becoming a producer or host?

Start creating. Don’t wait for the opportunity to come your way. Find others who want to do things in or around the world you’re creating. My colleague wanted to direct so I made him the director of my first web series #DearGeorgette. My mentee wanted to learn more about the production so she was a PA on my first scripted web series that’s not out yet.

  1. Where can we go to learn more about Georgette Pierre?

You can always head to my website at www.georgettepierre.com. My social life (social media handles) is on there. Sign up for my monthly newsletter, georgette’s musings, at http://tinyletter.com/georgettepierre.

About Georgette Pierre:

Georgette has written for various outlets including Entertainment Weekly, Blavity, MTV News, VH1, and music site, KillerBoombox (KBX). She’s executive produced her own internet radio show called Off the Record, a nationally syndicated morning show that was on iHeartRadio, and created two seasons of a relationship-themed web series on YouTube called #DearGeorgette, that has been featured in two film festivals, NYC Web Fest and the Hollywood Black Film Festival. All while working full-time in TV production. She also served as the first sideline reporter for the inaugural 2018 NBA2K League.
Georgette is gearing up to release her latest interview series titled ‘Georgette After Dark’ where she sits down with Beyoncé’s lead dancers, Bunx Dadda, an artist and producer currently signed to Universal Music Group and correspondent Taylor Ferber, along with many others.

 

Beauty /

Badgley Mischka For Your Everyday Fragrance

Clear out your vanity! The Badgley Mischka Eau de Parfum is the perfect everyday fragrance.  With its beautiful and bold dewy floral scent, this fragrance is a lovely finishing touch to your look!

 

Inspired by the Magnolia trees Mark and James have on their property, the fragrance opens with a softly-blended Magnolia heart, which perfectly blends with the warm notes of musk and amber.

 

PRICE:

Badgley Mischka Eau de Parfum, 100ml – $115

 

AVAILABILITY:

BadgleyMischka.com, Dillards.com and Dillard’s

Accessories /

Weekend Self-Care Activity and Plaid Peplum Top #OOTD or #WIW

The weekends can become pretty hectic.  Running errands, cleaning your room, and paying bills.  Whew!  The word that I’m searching for is called, “adulting.”

At no matter what age, adulting can be super exhausting.  But, the reality is that we strive to be successful versions of ourselves.  Nobody wants to be the girl who forgot to schedule an oil change.

Despite the spirit of busyness and reality of having limited hours in the day, self-care is a must-do!  While cheering for others, we can’t forget to cheer for ourselves.

Simple steps towards practicing self-care involve reading a book, getting a massage, or taking a walk.  My favorite self-care activity during the week is listening to music.   Another activity that’s on the top of my list is journaling.  As a fellow creative, I enjoy organizing my thoughts and keeping lists of what’s important to me.  My journals range from words to pictures or keepsakes.

Self-care doesn’t always have to involve elaborate practices or high-ticketed experiences.  Some of the most relaxing opportunities involve being present in the moment.  How do you practice self-care in your life?

In the photo below, I was attending The Birmingham Home and Garden Show to support my college sister-friend who was a speaker during the event.  In the spirit of self-care, I threw on my peplum blouse and captured a meaningful break to enjoy the show!

Plaid Wrap Peplum Top:  New York & Company | Matelasse Leather Bag:  YSL or replica Amazon

 

Accessories /

Cardi B Hypnotizes Wearing Vendorafa in Bruno Mars Music Video

The recent Grammy Winner became the first female artist to win “Best Rap Album” for her 2018 debut, Invasion of Privacy in February.

The new track, “Please Me”, with Cardi B. and Bruno Mars mark the second collaboration between the two artists, with this track debuting at number 5 on the Billboard charts in February. The video with over 3 million views in its first few hours launches today, Friday, March 1, 2019.

In the Look of the video, set in a taco shop with a super sexy feel, stylist Kollin Carter was channeling the look of Selena Quintanilla, the American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer known as “Queen of Tejano music” who was killed in 1995. Carter selected the gold Vendorafa ONDA hand-hammered gold earrings with pave white diamonds as the only accessory other than gold beading created by her hairstylist Tokoyo Styles.

VENDORAFA

DUNE Collection

Ring, 18K Yellow Gold, 18K White Gold, .55 ct. Diamonds

Please credit jewelry to VENDORAFA

Instagram: @VendorafaOfficial

Styled By: Kollin Carter @KollinCarter

Custom Apparel by: Bryan Hearns @BryanHearns

Hair by: Tokyo Stylez @TokyoStylez

Makeup by: @Erika_LaPearl_MUA

About Vendorafa:

For over sixty years Vendorafa has been at the heart of expert master goldsmiths in Valenza, Italy. Since 1951 Vendorafa has been producing and creating award-winning collections recognized for hand techniques of hammering, engraving, embossing and processes that enhance light, texture tone and warmth of the gold. Run by the second generation the atelier of artisans are now combined with high technological machinery, avant-garde computer systems, and 3D modeling for their wearable works of art.