FW19′ Denim with a Wild Side: Kut from The Kloth

The Fashion-forward, influencer-loved women driven brand, Kut from the Kloth, is making headlines this fall with rock star flares, printed denim, and textured jackets. This fall and winter are all about the details, and the newest pieces from Kut from the Kloth cover the trends on every fashionista’s must-have list. An online clothing boutique beloved for blending high-fashion trends with laid-back coastal flavor, Kut from the Kloth makes couture-inspired fashion both accessible and affordable. This fall, heat things up with sherpa or quilted poplin jackets as well as a variety of printed denim in camo, leopard, cheetah, and plaids.

Layers of moody blues, browns, and neutrals create a solid backdrop for shocking pops of animal print and plaid. Denim goes winter wild in an exciting variety of prints to suit every trendsetter. Jeans in flattering flare fit pair with matching denim jackets that follow the laws of the jungle in bold camouflage and whispers of washed-out leopard prints. Dare to wear the colorful Connie high-rise skinny style, featuring a juicy pop of plaid? Unleash your inner rock star with the return of Kut from the Kloth’s popular Kelsey high-rise kick flare.

The essential winter jacket gets a swoon-worthy update with a wide array of textures. Experience luxurious Sherpa, tencel, faux suede, vegan leather, corduroy, flannel, and quilted poplin. Flannel, corduroy and baby soft, 100% animal-free vegan leather give a nod to traditional wintertime warmth. When it comes to details, expect the unexpected – colorful plaid cuff linings, princess seams, patch pockets and detachable printed or color fur collars pump up the volume on a classic jean jacket. Fan-fav denim, like the Reese straight-leg, features exposed buttons, velvet accents and frayed hems, perfect for winter layering.

Exclusive this season is Kut from the Kloth’s new fur range made from 100% animal-free materials, and vegan faux furs you can cozy up to both in fun prints and solids.  Also an exclusive is the Ellie flare that is an ultra slim, sexy fit. It is designed in rich fabrics of denim and color washes. Flares are a must-have trend for fall and Kut From The Kloth has lots of options in different lengths, washes, color, corduroy, hem treatments and details with fringe and cargo pockets.

The all-new Kut from the Kloth fall collection launches in August on KutfromtheKloth.com.  Warm up to the season’s biggest and boldest trends in vintage washes and pops of color. Earn points toward future purchases with every order and enjoy free ground delivery within the US, with free returns and exchanges within 30 days. Follow @KutFromTheKloth on Instagram for tips on styling their cool weather fall essentials.

About Kut from the Kloth:

Embodying the spirit of California, Kut from the Kloth is a vibrant, contemporary lifestyle brand.  With innovative fabrics, a flawless fit and sophisticated style, the KUT collection is designed with your busy life in mind, so you can confidently go from day to play. Our premium quality denim is as diverse as you, “kut” for your body at a great price and made with the best value and quality. We are passionate about creating exclusive LA-inspired, fashion-forward looks that are made with love just for you. This year we celebrate you: strong, beautiful and confident. The garments we design are for women, by women. Thank you for inspiring us to deliver the best product possible. #InspireMore Get styling ideas @kutfromthekloth on Instagram.

COMMON, DAPPER DAN, JUNE AMBROSE AND MORE TO SPEAK AT ESSENCE FASHION HOUSE

The 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival is set to debut the ESSENCE Fashion House, a premier destination focusing on owning our style, culture, and impact.  Happening Friday, July 5th through Sunday, July 8th at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, fashionistas will experience a cutting-edge curation of runway shows, trunk shows, and pop up shops brought to you by household names and rising Black designers.

Attendees will hear from fashion industry icons Bevy Smith, Common, Dapper Dan, Ebonee Davis, Ethan Miller, Joan Smalls, June Ambrose, Karl Kani, Misa Hylton Brim, Quincy Brown, April Walker, Zerina Akers, Ade Samuels and more.

Follow the fashion fast-lane down to New Orleans as models rule the runway in exquisite pieces during a fashion week style designer showcase, shop an extensive collection of runway-worthy apparel and accessories plus get to know the creators behind the design and reinvent your very own look with new wardrobe staples for the upcoming season!

To purchase tickets and for more information visit:  https://www.essence.com/festival/fashionhouse/

ESSENCE FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM

Today’s most seasoned business moguls and inspiring entrepreneurs will gather at the first Annual Global Black Economic Forum, taking place Friday, July 5th and Saturday, July 6th at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) in New Orleans during the 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival.  The mission of the highly anticipated event will be to illuminate the road ahead towards building economic empowerment and generational wealth within the Black diaspora globally. Sponsors of the Global Black Economic Forum are DisneyFacebook, and Walmart.

“ESSENCE® is proud to announce the Global Black Economic Forum, set to empower and ignite Black entrepreneurs and business executives everywhere,” said ESSENCE Chief Executive Officer Michelle Ebanks. “With the inception of this forum, we are bringing together the best and the brightest to sit before our community and have a much-needed discussion on leveraging globalization trends and building generational wealth within our communities.”

Event highlights include panel discussions with today’s leading cultural, societal and economic voices to address the state of the Black economy; conversations with today’s most innovative globalization and technology leaders; networking among corporate executives, business moguls, venture capitalists and more. Global Economic Forum speakers scheduled to attend include: Founder and President of the National Action Network Reverend Al Sharpton, Mayor of Gary, Indiana Karen Freeman Wilson, President and Founder of The Raben Group Robert Raben, Chief Executive of CHASE consumer banking Thasunda Duckett, Co-Founder of Andreessen Horowitz Ben Horowitz, Founder of LISNR Rodney Williams, Director and Producer Sidra Smith, President of the National Urban League Marc. H Morial, Managing Director of Double Impact at Bain Capital Greg Shell, Chief Executive Officer of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson and more. Topics will span from roundtables with CEO’s, global leadership throughout the diaspora, leveraging our culture for economic advantage, criminal justice reform, political policies to drive economic change and more.

This event is one you don’t want to miss! To purchase tickets or for more information, visit essencefestival.com/gbef.

Nanacoco Professional Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Excited to share the newest launch from makeup brand, Nanacoco Professional: Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes—a gentle wipe that removes 99.9% of all waterproof makeup, oil, and impurities while brightening and moisturizing skin.

Perfect for all skin types, the remover contains extracts of lotus, peach flower, green tea, and rose. Alcohol-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free and, like all Nanacoco products, cruelty-free, these wipes are guaranteed to wipe the day away.

KINDri: NEW Celebrity Favorite, Cruelty-Free Beauty Brand

Robin McDonald is the celebrity esthetician, actress, writer and extreme cactus enthusiast behind KINDri. Embodying the holistic lifestyle of the Southwest, you’ll find her formulas are infused with the potent plant-based components of the southwest like organic prickly pear cactus seed oil, apple stem cell, aloe vera, avocado, and citrus.

Discover the LA-based brand and creator/founder that Charlize Theron considers her “go to”. Robin McDonald’s passion and care for the wellness of the skin is evident in KINDri’s mantra which is to not only be kind to your skin but the earth as well.

Summer must-haves:

Cactus & Rose Illuminating Face Oil – Your skin will glow! Hydrating Organic Prickly Pear Seed (cactus) Oil, reparative 4% Apple Stem Cell and the anti-inflammatory properties of Rose Essential Oil make up this potent serum.

Quench – A lightweight drink of water for the skin. Contains Organically Grown Aloe Vera, Citrus and Eucalyptus to clarify, soothe and calm a normal to the oily complexion.

Desert Dew Facial Mist – Hydrating Cactus and Rose Floral Waters are infused with uplifting cucumber Seed and Organic Witch Hazel to refresh and balance any skin type.

Avocado Smoothie – A powerful blend of 2% Organic Apple Stem Cell and potent Organic Prickly Pear Seed (cactus) Oil naturally increases cellular rejuvenation.  Our newly reformulated extra rich day to night cream defends skin against harsh environmental conditions in the day, soothes and revitalizes while you sleep and has a fresh, clean aroma.

For more information, visit https://www.kindri.com/.

 

Ciara Wilson New Pixie Haircut: Photo of The Day

Ciara has stepped into her own and has a new haircut to prove it!  She was seen attending the ACE Awards wearing high-waisted trousers and diamante top.

The Beauty Marks singer accepted the Style Icon Award.

Photo Credit:  Instagram

People Magazine | Actress Tami Roman and Reggie Youngblood Get New Spinoff Special Tami Ever After

Deadline recently announced that Actress, Comedian, Host, Social Influencer and TV personality, Tami Roman (MTV’s The Real World and VH1’s Basketball Wives LA), inked an overall deal to develop and produce alternative and scripted content with prolific producer, Mona Scott-Young and Monami Productions.

The first project from the powerhouse executive producing duo, Tami Ever After, debuts on VH1 Wednesday, June 19th and was just announced via People Magazine. The special highlights Roman’s relationship with longtime boyfriend, Reggie Youngblood and blends his hilarious and entertaining family from Houston, TX with Roman’s popular and charismatic daughters.

Additional series include ensemble cast docu-follows, “Queen City” and “Big Oil Houston” as well as several scripted and formatted projects. Roman and Scott-Young are focused on expanding their slate beyond unscripted and committed to bringing their productions to Houston where Roman and her family maintain a residence.

“You know, I have grown a lot over the years, and I want my presence on television to be positive and uplifting,” she added. “I want real women with families who have ups and downs to be able to relate to me and feel inspired and empowered knowing they can push through anything.” – Tami Roman

Talia Oliver Announces Special Event In NOLA During Essence Festival Weekend

Atlanta entrepreneur Talia Oliver will be bringing big names to New Orleans during the Essence Festival weekend, for a party with a purpose about emotional intelligence and mental health issues. The headlining event, titled “The Essence of Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrating How To Foster Healthy Friendships, Romantic Relationships and Business Partnerships”, will be held on Friday, July 5th at the historic Carver Theater in New Orleans. Two amazing ladies — Randi Rossario Maples and Tamisha Monet — will be joining Talia in a panel discussion about the importance of having emotional intelligence, while building various relationships in this digital age we are living in.

Randi Rossario is a media mogul, author, life and empowerment coach, and the owner of Oh So Radio, an internet/app based radio station based in Metro-Detroit. She uses her platform to help others on a daily basis, delivering encouragement and wisdom through her morning videos. Randi currently has a combined social media following of over 250 thousand people, with a weekly reach of over 5 million accounts per week.

Tamisha Monet is a certified life coach, having received her certification from the reputable Tony Gaskins Life Coaching Academy. She has a plethora of spiritual gifts that she accesses regularly through her work as a certified Astrologer and Master Reiki Practitioner.

Other guest speakers will include Atlanta entrepreneur Christopher Williams, who recently became the youngest black franchise owner will be telling his story about how he raised over $250,000 and went from homeless to franchise owner in just a year. Atlanta entrepreneur Taylor Deathridge, owner of the only one-stop-shop beauty loft in ATL will be interviewed live about having it all; the dream career, the fairytale love story while balancing a huge life-changing struggle.

Talia will be partnering with A Bella La Femme Society to give away three scholarships to three very lucky attendees. A Bella LaFemme Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that provides collegiate minority women with scholarships to promote mental wellness. The mental wellness scholarships may be utilized at the desire of the recipients. ABLS is also committed to serving the community across the state of Louisiana by providing free self-defense and gun safety courses, Heels & Steels ®. The courses are structured to empower, alleviate hardships, and to build resourceful sisterhoods in their communities.

Not only will this event be filled with food for thought, but a lot of delicious food will also be prepared and served by Chef Sell (@SellsCajunCooking on Instagram). His mouthwatering Cajun chicken and seafood alfredo have been nominated for Best Pasta in Atlanta by Terrapin Brewery.

 

Please join us Fri. Jul. 5th, 2019 at 3 P.M. at the Carver Theater (2101 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA) for an afternoon of good discussion, good company, and a great time.

About Talia Oliver 

Having served as one of the original writers at The Shade Room and a contributor for The Singers Room, Talia went on to create the burgeoning media platform “The Closet Ratchet” which has become the voice of the intellectual and spiritual yet “closeted” ratchet people who utilize social media. In addition, Talia is a published author, a small business owner and an inspirational speaker to young mothers and entrepreneurs. For more information, contact Talia Oliver at (470)292-1811 or taliaoliver716@gmail.com

Warning: Trendy At-Home Skin Care Devices or Gadgets

Life hacks, DIY tricks, and at-home devices that are meant to “mimic the effects of in-office skincare treatments are all the rage right now. They are posted on Instagram, YouTube, and all over the Internet. While some are very constructive and budget-friendly, others are ineffective or downright dangerous. To be safe, it is imperative that you read reviews from Skin Helpers before deciding to buy a gadget for your skincare routine. We asked Dr. Gretchen Frieling, who is a Boston area Dermatopathologist, to highlight several highly publicized methods that should bear the warning, “don’t try this at home.”

Dermaplaning- Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that removes the top layers of your skin. The procedure aims to remove fine wrinkles and deep acne scarring, as well as make the skin’s surface look smoothIt uses an exfoliating blade to skim dead skin cells and hair from your face.

The Risks– Anecdotally, the risk of infection, complications, and experiencing pain during home dermaplaning is higher when you do it yourself.  “If you have acne, there is a chance that the blade could nick a pimple,” says Dr. Frieling which means it would take longer to heal. In addition, the tool used for dermaplaning is not a safety razor like what we ladies shave with. The device or tool used to accomplish the dermaplaning on the face is made of a sharp blade with a handle or wand.

At home “Derma-Rollers” for MicroNeedling” Aestheticians and dermatologists use derma rollers on clients to increase elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and help with discoloration. Professional treatment can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,200 per session. According to Marketwatch, “A trend report for 2018 from lifestyle site Pinterest says it’s seen a 345% increase in posts for the “derma-roller” over the past year.”  Dr. Frieling is not in favor of using the tools at home because, “the needles aren’t big enough to penetrate the proper holes into the skin, so you’re essentially damaging your face for no reason. And without proper sterilization, derma rollers can harbor harmful bacteria causing infections, breakouts, and can trigger skin conditions such as rosacea, which causes redness and bumps on the face; eczema, itchy inflammation spots; and brown patches on the skin.”

Injecting Botox or other “Black Market” Filler into Your Face– First, even if you were able to get your hands on “real” Botox or filler such as Juvederm or Restylane® it’s almost like putting a firearm in the hands of someone untrained at shooting.  There is no safe way to give yourself Botox. You can’t trust what you’re buying, and even if you could, no amount of YouTube-ing will ever adequately teach you the skills you need to inject it. First, you need to know where to inject the substance. The answer is not to point the needle at the fine lines. After all, you’re relaxing muscles, not filling in wrinkles. Injecting Botox requires an understanding of facial muscles. You need to know which muscles should be relaxed for the desired results and where to target them. Second, you need to know how deeply to insert the needle and how much of the mixed substance you should apply in any given location.

Incorrect injection practices can lead to a host of complications, including eyelid drooping (ptosis), excessive swelling, excessive bruising, and a greater risk of infection. In fact, the infection may become so severe that it becomes a staph infection, an infection that spreads throughout the body and causes a variety of diseases. In any case, recovery will be longer, and the results may not be what you intended.

Lip Plumper Suction Devices- We have Kylie Jenner to thank for these! They are much less expensive than filler in the lips but with a far shorter shelf life. Dr. Frieling’s verdict: “Overuse of suction cup lip plumpers can cause misalignment of the teeth due to the outward pressure of the suction. Devices such as these can also cause swelling and bruising of the lips (and sometimes permanent scarring) when used excessively. The advice is to use these devices sensibly and with caution.”

At home acne extractors- The county has become obsessed with popping pimples thanks in part to the success of the TV show “Dr. Pimple Popper.” Acne extractors sold online, and people are using them at home. But should they?  Picking causes scars or scabs by ripping off the top layer of skin, whereas extracting by a professional pulls out the fluids or solids inside a pimple. It’s far more sterile, sanitary, and cleans the pore of extra debris. Why can’t you simply do this yourself? Acne extraction, be it white or blackheads, is a ‘don’t try this at home procedure.’ It’s a one-way ticket to scarring, infection and even more breakouts. Only through a professional facial will your skin be prepped and steamed correctly for extractions – by the hands of a trained, licensed esthetician. Skin that has not been adequately prepped for extractions may be resistant, requiring more pressure and manipulation. If used too aggressively, the pressure of the extractor tool can inflame and even bruise the skin. Additionally, a skin care professional is well-practiced in gentle and efficient movements to maximize results while minimizing potential harm.

Cuticle Cutters-Trimming or cutting cuticles during a manicure is purely cosmetic and doesn’t benefit the nail in any way. In fact, it’s actually harmful to your nails. “The small area of skin is there to protect your nails from infection. When this skin is removed, your nail is left unprotected from bacteria and fungus. Dr. Frieling recommends pushing back the cuticles by applying cuticle remover on each nail.

Chemical Peels- Chemical peels are designed to work by removing part of the top layer of skin to reveal fresher skin for a more youthful appearance. Many products containing low concentrations of acid are sold through beauty retailers and drug stores, and are often safe to use. People also are treated with peels using a higher concentration at medi-spas or doctor’s offices.  When it comes to alpha hydroxy acids or (AHAs) like salicylic and glycolic acids, a concentration of 10 percent or less is safe for home, and more than 30 percent should be reserved for a professional environment, according to a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel. Like many substances, illegal concentrations of chemical peels can be purchased online for substantially less than they would cost in a doctor’s office. But what price do you pay for a “bargain?”  According to Dr. Frieling, “the dangers of experimenting with a medical grade peel at home are numerous and can include: extreme pain in the form of stinging, actual burns to the skin, blistering, scarring, changes in skin color, infection.” What’s more, a skin care professional will determine if you are even a candidate for a chemical peel and possibly rule you out if you have taken the acne medication isotretinoin in the past six months, have a dark complexion, have a personal history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids), have abnormal skin pigmentation, have a history of frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores.

Dr. Frieling says that there are worthwhile “skin care hacks,” DIY recipes for the skin, and some at home devices that are safe and effective. Before buying into the latest Instagram sensation, consult with your doctor first to make sure that you are a good candidate and that what you are considering is safe and effective.