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Fall 2017 /

PFW Fall / Winter 2017: Ziad Nakad Couture Show

For this couture collection Autumn-Fall 2017/2018, the designer Ziad Nakad proposes his romantic vision of a season in magic colors where white predominates.
A white that appears as cold as snow and that gradually heats up when velvet, feathers, tulle and lace are interwoven through learned embroideries.

Numerous cut-outs on the back and shoulders draw the body to reveal a bewitching femininity. Navy, gray and red enriches the colors of this magical forest.And a bride like a queen of an exceptional night, dressed in white and gold that illuminates this universe fit to the legends of a thousand and one nights.

Accessories /

PFW Fall / Winter 2017: PATUNA Couture Show

Patuna’s autumn-winter 2017-2018 couture collection is a junction between Gaudi’s organic architecture and Dali’s dreamlike abstraction. Oscillating between rigor and fluidity, silhouettes play the feminine / masculine contrast, and follow the movement of the body. Silk, wool, velvet and cotton highlight the flexibility and adaptability of looks.
The color palette ranges from black and pale pink to gray, cardinal violet and white. The designs are dotted with special elements, de- tails dear to Patuna’s work, which punctuate the collection. The knit occupies a large part of the collection: skirts, trousers, shorts, which, like «crutches of reality», highlight the oversize jackets.
Just like Gala, Dali’s muse, the woman Patuna is a woman of character, free and impetuous…
Accessories /

Fashion Fun In The Sun: Outfit Ideas For The Warm Weather

Summer is a chance for fashion lovers to have fun with their look. Unlike autumn and winter, you don’t have to finish every outfit with a warm coat and a pair of boots to keep the wind, rain and snow out! Plus when the sunshine means everyone is out and about more often, there are more opportunities to be getting dressed up and playing around with outfits. Here are just a few styles you could try out over the coming months.

Featured Photo of Naomi Campbell during Paris Fashion Week 2017 from People.com

Girl Next Door

Sweet and girly, you can’t go wrong with a typical ‘girl next door’ style. Go with flowing sundresses with a cardigan or cropped denim jacket, sandals and a sun hat. A touch of mascara will make your eyes look bigger and more awake, and a swipe of pink blush and lipstick give you a natural looking rosy glow.

Festival Fashion

Relaxed bohemian looks are great in the summer. Even if you’re not attending a festival, it’s easy to take elements of the style and work it into a casual summer outfit. A floaty dress or some loose-fitting shorts with a vest is a good start. You’re not going to feel weird if you’re not at a festival knee-deep in mud, so go with some gladiator sandals or even a pair of cowboy fringed boots. Carry on the fringe theme with your bag, and then accessories with bohemian style jewelry. Feather earrings, stacked bangles and chunky cuff bracelets are all perfect. Finish with a flower crown, some aviator sunglasses and bronze/ neutral makeup.

Cute and Casual

Denim shorts, a plain tee or cami and a pair of converse make this the ideal summertime outfit when you’re out and about. Maybe you’re going to a theme park or doing some other kind of activity where a dress or skirt isn’t really suitable. Forget the handbag, go with a rucksack or cross body bag instead. Far more practical when you’re out and about and works well with the look. A baseball cap with your ponytail through the back, some aviator sunglasses and a swipe of red lipstick gives this the perfect ‘I look fabulous but without trying too hard’ look.

Gorgeously Glam

Maybe you have a garden party or barbecue to attend, a wedding or a day at the races? If so you’ll need a glamorous, dressy outfit which is still summer appropriate. Maxi dresses are a fantastic choice here. They look glamorous and dressy while flattering your figure. If it’s a slightly more casual affair, accessorize with a chunky belt, oversized sunglasses and a cropped denim jacket. If it’s a little more formal add some jewelry, some high-heeled wedges and a clutch bag. Smokey eye makeup and a dressier hairstyle will help to finish the look.

What are your go-to summer outfits? What sort of styles do you find yourself gravitating towards most over the summer months?

Collaborative Post
Accessories /

PFW Fall / Winter 2017: EWA MINGE Couture Show

Ewa Ming Fall 2017
Inspired by the ancient gypsy fables, Ewa Minge for her Couture collection fall-winter 2017/18 transports us into an enchanted, joyful and dancing world.
Multi-colored and multi-layered silhouettes, numerous details and accessories evoke the rich and singing world of this culture.
Appear on many garments embroideries and butterflies.
The above were created by the “students” of the Black Butterflies Foundation as part of the art-therapy.
Indeed, under the eye of the designer and this for several months, women who fight against cancer have made “small works of art” from pearls. And as they say, these butterflies helped us to pass this difficult time during treatment and transported us to another wonderful world where everything is possible.
Art helps to keep the disease away; These women will be present in Paris to attend the parade and see their butterflies fly into the great capital.
In this fashion show, Ewa Minge wants as well to present a model “Plus-Size” because she creates for all women and beauty does not have sizes …
Entertainment /

TIME INC.¹S 2017 ESSENCE FESTIVAL® PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA® ATTRACTS MORE THAN 470,000 ATTENDEES

Time Inc.’s (NYSE:TIME) 2017 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola® attracted more than 470,000 attendees to New Orleans this Fourth of July weekend for its annual cultural celebration featuring more than 200 performing artists and speakers—which included first-time appearances by Halle Berry, Diana Ross, Chance The Rapper and many more.  Recognized as one of the country’s largest live events, the 2017 ESSENCE Festival extended its reach worldwide by generating a record-breaking 4 billion social media impressions.

The annual 4-day Festival, which took place June 29-July 2, features entertainment, empowerment, and cultural experiences during the day and a state-of-the-art concert series with the world’s best performers each night.

Highlights of the 2017 ESSENCE Festival include:

  • Over 100 performing artists across the Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Many of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Diana Ross, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Chance The Rapper, Master P. and Solange performed at the event’s nighttime concerts and dozens of others across ESSENCE’s Center Stage and All-Star Gospel Tribute honoring Cissy Houston.
  • More than 100 speakers, authors, leaders and celebrities participated in the Festival’s free daytime experience –including a first-ever appearance by Halle Berry.  Other powerhouse speakers included Ava DuVernay, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and the return of favorites Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Iyanla Vanzant, among others, drew packed crowds.
  • #EssenceFest social media posts driving more than 4 billion impressions with daily trending status on Twitter.
  • The launch of ESSENCE’s newly expanded ‘Path to Power’ business and entrepreneurship conference, as well as the return of consumer Expos focused on ‘Beauty & Style’ and ‘Entertainment All Access’ which drew crowds of thousands each day to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
  • Artist collaborations resulted in new Festival initiatives, including a first-time ‘Ladies Night’ featuring all female performers across five stages on Saturday night, and a first-ever celebrity basketball game to raise money for local youth scholarships in partnership with Master P. and his foundation, Team Hope NOLA.

For a full recap of all the exciting moments from the 2017 ESSENCE Festival, visit ESSENCE.com and log in to the ESSENCE Festival News Center for photo and footage highlights.

The 2017 ESSENCE Festival is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc. (ECI), and produced by Solomon Group. GeChar is the executive producer of the 2017 ESSENCE Empowerment Experience

Sponsors of the 2017 ESSENCE Festival include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart.  Superlounge sponsors include Coca-Cola, Ford and Walmart. The All Star Gospel Tribute is sponsored by Walmart.

 

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a brand reach of 21.2 million. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online, ECI is comprised of Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; the ESSENCE Festival®; Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music events; Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series; Essence.com; and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD).

ABOUT TIME INC.

Time Inc. (NYSE:TIME) is a leading multi-platform consumer media company that engages over 170 million consumers globally every month. The company’s influential brands include PEOPLE, TIME, FORTUNE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, INSTYLE, REAL SIMPLE, SOUTHERN LIVING and TRAVEL + LEISURE, as well as more than 60 diverse international brands. Time Inc. offers marketers a differentiated proposition in the marketplace by combining its powerful brands, trusted content, audience scale, direct relationships with consumers and unique first-party data. The company is home to growing media and platforms, including digital video, OTT, television, licensing, paid products and services and celebrated live events, such as the TIME 100, FORTUNE Most Powerful Women, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Sportsperson of the Year, the ESSENCE Festival and the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.

Dryel /

Wear What You Want | Dryel At-Home Cleaner and Product Review

Most women love to shop and buy delicate items.  The problem is that certain clothing pieces are created with intricate fibers.

There’s nothing worse than purchasing a linen blazer and it’s ruined due to inappropriate care.

Let’s not forget the over priced dry-cleaning bill and time constraint when dropping-off your favorite items.

Constant dry-cleaning has several nasty side effects such as damage to the buttons or seams.  Lastly, if you have sensitive skin, remember that chemicals are used at the cleaners.

Fabric Care: Dry-Clean or Hand Wash

Dryel eliminates the time, effort, and freedom for clothing purchases.  Fashionistas can wear skirts or slacks without the terrifying idea of harming the garment.  Visit Dryel.com to learn more and see new product launches!  Don’t forget to travel this summer with your Stain Removal Pen.

If you haven’t heard of Dryel, remember it’s easy to use:

  • Pre-treat stains with Dryel Booster Spray
  • Toss in the dryer for 15 or 30 minutes
  • Place on a hanger to remove wrinkles
Sponsored Post – Dryel Ambassador

 

Beauty /

July 4th Beauty Essentials and Products

It’s time to start packing your bags and getting ready for the biggest weekend of the summer! Keep in the red white and blue theme with these products from Smashbox and Streekers and look good while protecting your skin with Sun Bum and Burt’s Bees.

Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Metal in Iced Out

Be Legendary Liquid Metal is a metallic liquid lip gel that glides on smooth and delivers rich, saturated color with an incredible chrome finish – in just one coat

Streekers

 

 

With the Streekers liquid hair color collection you can add bright, bold strokes of color with just a flick of the wand. And no matter what dynamic color you pick, Streekers comes out easily with just one shampoo.

Sun Bum SPF 15 Tanning Oil  

Some of us love to get golden brown but we still want our skin to be nourished, silky smooth, and protected. Our Broad Spectrum SPF 15 UVA/UVB Protecting Dark Tanning Oil is enriched with Marula Oil, Argan Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Green Tea Butter and Aloe Vera.

Burt’s Bees BB Cream with SPF 15

Beauty /

HALLE BERRY TO OPEN EMPOWERMENT EXPERIENCE – 2017 ESSENCE FESTIVAL

ESSENCE announced that Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry will open the Empowerment Experience Stage at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans, presented by Coca-Cola, on Friday, June 30, 2017 at 11:30am, which will kick off the Festival’s weekend slate of daytime programming at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Featured Photo from Celebmafia.com

This will be the first time that Berry, who recently wrapped production of her latest filmKidnap, will appear at the ESSENCE Festival. Berry joins speakers Ava DuVernay, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Iyanla Vanzant and Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as performers Diana Ross, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Chance the Rapper, Solange and many more at the annual event, which is recognized as the nation’s largest gathering of African-American women.

“Halle Berry’s impact as an artist is extraordinary and her story, both personally and professionally, is an inspiration to women across the globe,” said ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Vanessa De Luca. “We are delighted that Halle has agreed to share her journey and invite our passionate community of fans to join us for an exciting opening to the Festival’s daytime Empowerment Experience.”

The annual ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans, presented by Coca-Cola, is one of the nation’s largest live events. Each year, the Festival draws, on average, 500,000 attendees from across the globe to its multi-day entertainment, empowerment and cultural event, which generates an economic impact of more than $200 million to the local economy. Now in its 23rd year, the ESSENCE Festival has featured some of the biggest names in entertainment and the nation’s most influential speakers, authors and leaders, including Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Prince, Janet Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton, Deepak Chopra, Steve Harvey, Ava DuVernay, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Magic Johnson, Iyanla Vanzant and many more.

Join the ESSENCE Festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2017 ESSENCE Festival® on Facebook. The 2017 ESSENCE Festival® is executive produced by ESSENCE Festivals LLC, a division of ESSENCE Communications Inc., and produced by Solomon Group. GeChar is the executive producer of the 2017 ESSENCE Empowerment Experience. Exclusive sponsors of the 2017 ESSENCE Festival® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors AT&T, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart. Superlounge sponsors include Coca-Cola, Ford and Walmart. The All-Star Gospel Tribute is sponsored by Walmart.

About Essence Communications Inc.

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a brand reach of 21.2 million. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online, ECI is comprised of Essence magazine, the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; the ESSENCE Festival; Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music events; Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series; Essence.com; and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD).

ABOUT TIME INC.

Time Inc. (NYSE:TIME) is a leading multi-platform media company that engages over 170 million consumers globally every month. The company’s influential brands include PEOPLE, TIME, FORTUNE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, INSTYLE, REAL SIMPLE, SOUTHERN LIVING and TRAVEL + LEISURE, as well as more than 60 diverse international brands. Time Inc. offers marketers a differentiated proposition in the marketplace by combining its powerful brands, trusted content, audience scale, direct relationships with consumers and unique first-party data. The company is home to growing media and platforms, including digital video, OTT, television, licensing, paid products and services and celebrated live events, such as the TIME 100, FORTUNE Most Powerful Women, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Sportsperson of the Year, the ESSENCE Festival and the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.

Beauty /

How To: Glowing Skin with a Positive Mindset

Skin care probably gives us more anxiety than any other part of our body! Which makes perfect sense, of course – it’s covering us and constantly showing to some degree. Those who have skin problems will often have issues with self-esteem and even moodiness. If you want to tackle your skin anxieties, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s some advice that you should take on-board.

Featured Photo from Instagram

Change your mindset

A negative mindset isn’t going to help your anxieties. Well, duh, right? But how does that help you when it comes to skin problems? A lot of people would argue that a skin problem such as acne gives someone the right to be negative or self-conscious. But again, you might need a change in mindset. You can read more at mind-sets.com. It seems that you may be assuming the worst in people without taking into account that most people, at some point, will encounter these sorts of problems. People are more empathetic than you might think.

The fact is that the vast majority of people don’t care all that much; they may notice you have a problem, but they’re not going to be disgusted by it in the way that you think. Other people aren’t going to sit there and stare at your flaws. Think about it: do you pay attention to someone’s skin problems? Has it stopped you spend time with them or even dating them? Probably not. Try to keep this in mind; it will soothe a lot of your anxiety.

Get expert advice

You can speak with someone about these kinds of worries. They may point you in the direction of a dermatologist. (A “skin doctor”, in layman’s terms!) Dermatologists will always help you explore non-surgical options, but there are loads of businesses out there, such as belcarahealth.com, that will help you explore both non-invasive dermatology and cosmetic surgery. (And no, you shouldn’t be afraid to look into such treatment if there’s a good chance it will really improve your situation.)

Dermatologists, or even your regular physician, may even be able to recommend you specific products and lifestyle changes based on your particular skin structure. Don’t be afraid to look into medical treatments they may suggest, like microdermabrasion. Something like that can be done at home or with a doctor.

The skin-friendly lifestyle

Changing your mindset is one part of adopting a skin-friendly lifestyle; when you’re less negative, you stress out a lot less – and stress can aggravate skin problems in ways you may never have thought possible. Stress is just one part of an unhealthy lifestyle that you need to avoid.

It’s true that those with skin problems like acne may be, in a sense, “doomed” to have the problem to some degree, at least in the short term. But most people aggravate the problem by not drinking enough water, not getting enough sleep, and neglecting exercise. You can read more at experiencelife.com. These things aren’t guaranteed to cure skin problems, the way some people make out. But they can go a long way towards improving your skin tremendously.

Sponsored Post

Accessories /

Discover New Collections ~ The Bride Guide from Raffaelle Ciuca

Sottero and Midgley was created for the chic and elegant bride with style. The line offers statement-making high level bridal fashions that are meant to impress the modern bride.  These cutting-edge designs are a product of a collaboration between Maggie Sottero and Kelly Midgley (founder Lesley Margaret Webster’s daughter).

The Sottero and Midgely 2018 designs live up to their brand motto. The collection, named after a new dress named Grayson, is packed with modern silhouettes, beautiful embellishments, and rich details.

Where the 2018 Sottero and Midgely Grayson line stands out from the pack is their ornate back embellishments