Accessories /

Spring 2019 Style Report: 15 Trends For The Everyday Wardrobe

The sun is out and birds are chirping!  That means it’s time to transition our wardrobe for Spring.  Put the cable sweaters away and take out your favorite sandals.  Some would argue that trends are not authentic but they help to refresh your closet.

Below are some of the standout trends for Spring 2019.  I wanted to share items that are easy to incorporate in anyone’s wardrobe.

One suggestion is to purchase items at a reasonable price.  You do not want to buy pricey pieces that may not be worn the following year.  Also, you don’t have to check-off on every style trend but select your top five favorites and enjoy dressing up every day!

Some of the stores highlighted range in sizes which are very important.  When shopping for your favorite piece, you don’t want to get frustrated due to sizes and lengths.

A few reasonably priced stores with sizes 0-22 are Loft, H&M, New York and Company, Nordstrom Rack, and Macy’s.  Additional stores for discount shopping include Marshalls and Burlington.

Happy Shopping!

Spring 2019 Style Report:
  • Shirt Dresses
  • Vests
  • Bows:  Tops, Dresses, Footwear

Need assistance with your clothing or personal shopper?  Contact Kimberly West Styling consulting agency.

Beauty /

ESSENCE 25th Anniversary Festival Night-by-Night Performance Line Up Unveiled

The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola, the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience and largest celebration of global Black culture, is set to bring the 90’s heat with special performances that celebrate the 25th anniversary of some of the top albums of the decade.  The Festival also just announced the official night-by-night performance line up for its concert series taking place July 5th, 6thand 7th at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

With hits that remain timeless, the 90’s era of R&B and hip-hop music significantly impacted our global culture – setting musical trends and a standard of excellence that made space for artists to thrive as creators, visionaries, and entrepreneurs.  By spotlighting some of the era’s most forward-looking, game-changing albums that are also celebrating their 25th anniversaries, the celebration will reach beyond nostalgia to the new school—with special performances to elevate the groundbreaking sounds that continue to influence the most popular, chart-topping artists of today.

“We are celebrating our 25th anniversary with an extraordinary, multigenerational, cultural celebration featuring nearly 100 Black artists who know that the ESSENCE Festival is ‘home,’” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications.  “Through an imaginative slate of 25th anniversary curations and a fresh take on our night-by-night line-up, this year’s milestone Festival will creatively represent some of our culture’s most important and influential bodies of work – past, present and future. We are excited to place the spotlight on the music that captivated and inspired our global communities—all re-imagined exclusively for the ‘only-at-ESSENCE’ Festival stages.”

Each “25th” set will be curated and performed by the original artists, including Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Nas’ Illmatic, Brandy’s Brandy, Scarface’s Diary, Big Daddy Kane’s Daddy’s Home,

Da Brat’s Funkdafied, Slick Rick’s Behind Bars and Brownstone’s From the Bottom Up.

  • Kicking off Friday night are marquee performances from some of music’s biggest acts including Missy Elliott, RBRM (Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike) and more; opening night will also include a 25th anniversary set presented by Doug E. Fresh that will feature Brandy, Ledisi, and Sheila E., MC Lyte, Morris Day, Former Members of New Power Generation, among others.
  • Saturday night is anchored by Mary J. Blige, Nas, H.E.R. and more, with 25th anniversary celebrations by some of the most influential names in hip-hop, including Big Daddy Kane, Scarface, Slick Rick and more.
  • Closing night on Sunday will feature a performance by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with a special tribute to Frankie Beverly delivered by Anthony Hamilton; Jermaine Dupri’s Atlanta-focused curation with performances by Musiq Soulchild, Da Brat, Lil Jon and Dem Franchize Boyz; Teddy Riley’s Legends of Music curation that includes Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Teyana Taylor, MAJOR., Ro James and more; as well as a NOLA-style bounce performance with Mannie Fresh and Big Freedia.
  • Each night will be hosted by Loni Love and will feature music by DJ D-Nice.

The ESSENCE Festival takes place July 4-7, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. You can view the official night-by-night line up here.   Single night ticket is on sale now.

For information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE Festival® visit Essence.com/festival.  Join the festival community: Follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of Festival on Facebook.

The ESSENCE Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, AT&T, Ford, State Farm and Walmart.

The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc. FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: Please e-mail festivalpress@essence.com.

About ESSENCE Communications Inc. 

ESSENCE Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Beauty /

2019 Spring Beauty Pick: L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara

Using the right mascara is paramount to applying your everyday make-up.  This beauty technique can make the eyes appear larger and place emphasis on eyeliner or shadow.

There are so many mascara products; selecting one in the beauty aisle can be confusing!  For someone with smaller eyes, L’Oreal Paris is one of my favorite brands.

The bristles on the wand are small enough to grasp every tiny lash.  This particular mascara does not irritate my eyes and here’s a hint, I wear contact lenses.

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara has a deep pigment that truly makes my lids look voluptuous without the use of faux lashes.  My favorite color is Blackest Black.

What’s even better is that this particular product can be purchased at your local Walgreens, Target or ULTA for about $6.99-8.99.  Wow, this great price makes you want to buy an extra tube for a friend.

Apply two coats for a super voluminous look!  Don’t forget to toss after six months.  Check my Instagram Stories page @kwest1908 to see a before and after picture.  This is not an ad.

 

 

Birmingham /

ZUMBA BLOCK PARTY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS at The Summit Birmingham #TheSummitBham

Grab your cute leggings and get ready to hit the dance floor!  The Summit Birmingham will host a Zumba Block Party for Autism Awareness.

If you follow my Instagram Stories account, you know that I am a huge fan of Zumba fitness.  It’s a fun way to break a sweat, stay healthy, and dance to Latin music.  I normally take Zumba classes at the local YMCA but looking to join the dance party on April 26th from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Featured Photo from The Summit Birmingham

The event is requesting that everyone wear blue and offer $10 donations in support of the Autism Society of Alabama.

According to the site, “After the fitness experience, be sure to check out Athleta’s After-Party in-store! Bring your friends, bring your spouse, bring your Zumba bestie and help raise money for Autism Awareness!”

Click here to learn more:  ZUMBA BLOCK PARTY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

Beauty /

Cruelty Free, Chip Resistant Nail Polish by Nanacoco – No Harmful Chemicals

True to the brand, Nanacoco polish delivers intense, fade-proof pigmentation that will last up to 14 days. Guaranteed to level up your color range, the collection offers 23 stunning shades to choose from at just $4.99 a piece!

Most importantly, the innovative “10-free formula” which excludes 10 harmful chemicals that are found in other nail lacquers, like formaldehyde and paraben, while maintaining ultra-fast drying and long-wear capabilities, plus – they’re all cruelty-free and made in the USA!

Beauty /

Get the Look | Rimmel London and Zhavia Ward

Makeup artist Karl Sanchez, worked with singer and songwriter Zhavia Ward on Rimmel London’s new Stay Matte campaign. The campaign idea came to life when it was learned that Zhavia was a huge fan of Rimmel London; the campaign will include a video showcasing how Stay Matte fits into Zhavia’s daily routine and feature her second single “Deep Down.” Below please find a full breakdown of Zhavia’s makeup look!
Who: Zhavia on the set of Rimmel London’s latest campaign for Stay Matte

 

How To Get The Look:
Face
Karl applied the Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation and Rimmel London Stay Matte Concealer in Zhavia’s shade, Vanilla and then applied the Rimmel London Maxi Blush in Sweet Cheeks to give her some color to her cheeks.
Eyes
Using the Rimmel London Magnif’Eyes Eyeshadow Palette Nude Edition, Karl darkened the crease with the 10th shade. He used the 8th shade in the palette to smoke out the outer corner and under the eye to intensify and applied the 3rd shade on the eyelid. Karl then used the 1st shade and applied to the inner corner of the eye to act as a highlight. He finished off the eye look by applying Rimmel LondonExaggerate Eye Definer to create a winged look and to slightly smoke the eye and topped off the eyes by applying Rimmel London Scandal’eyes WOW Wings Mascara.
Lips
He finished off the look by applying a touch of color to the lips with Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Lip in “Be My Baby” followed by a clear lip gloss.

 

Where to Find Them: Rimmel London products are available at chain drug stores and mass retailers nationwide. Visit www.RimmelLondon.com for store locations and to try the newest products with Rimmel London’s exclusive Get The Look App available on iTunes and Google Play.

Beauty /

#ManicureMonday Upgrade: Cow Nails Animal Print Hottest Nail Trend

Apparently, there’s a new nail trend on the horizon.  It’s call cow nails and the hottest new print on Instagram better known as #ManicureMonday.

Salons are taking this animal print and adding their own twist to the look.  Some are going full-blown with the cow effect while others are incorporating solid colors to the mix.

Cow nails are a fun look that can upgrade your same ole’ boring manicure.  Let me know here (Style + Life + Fashion) if you try the new manicure trend.

I will share photos on our Facebook wall and Instagram Stories account!

 

 

Essence Magazine /

Chase and ESSENCE Expand Economic Opportunities for Black Women with Launch of Currency Conversations Campaign

Chase and ESSENCE today announced the launch of Currency Conversations, a new campaign created to help black women across America achieve financial success. This campaign, which is an early example of Chase’s recently-announced Advancing Black Pathways commitment, will foster local communities of black women to inspire each other and provide digital access to a national network of experts and coaches helping with education, inspiration and vital solutions that support their financial goals.

“Black women are often the CFOs of their households, and as a result, play a crucial role in the financial well-being of both their families and the black community at large,” said Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking and Executive Sponsor of Advancing Black Pathways. “Through Currency Conversations, we’re engaging black women in a discussion about what it takes to achieve financial security while providing encouragement and actionable steps they can take to ensure they’re on a path to long-term financial freedom.”

Women who join the movement can access digital resources and a national network of experts that will help them stay on track with their financial goals. The initiative will also include live engagement at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans and original content on Essence.com and across ESSENCE social platforms —all of which encourage women to join the national challenge toward smart saving, spending and investment strategies.

The Currency Conversations campaign will encourage women to have a day out with ESSENCE and Chase to connect with each other and engage in dialogue with experts about what it takes to achieve their personal financial goals. Women will have the opportunity to relax with each other and be challenged to pledge their personal commitment to savings, debt reduction and investment goals.

Although women everywhere will have the opportunity to digitally engage with Currency Conversations, Chase will host in-person events in five U.S. cities starting next month: Atlanta, April 13; Oakland, April 27; Washington, D.C., May 4; Detroit, May 18; and New York City, June 8.

“We are proud to join forces with Chase in its commitment to serving black women and championing economic inclusion and wealth creation,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of ESSENCE Communications Inc. “We know that 80% of black American households rely solely on a black woman’s income[1], so our Currency Conversations campaign will not only inform women as leaders but will position more than 20,000 families in communities nationwide for prosperity and success.”

Overall, the program is designed to bring together a community of women who are committed to lifting each other up and collectively saving toward personal goals such as homeownership, college funds, rainy day funds, retirement or even dream vacations.

For more information about Currency Conversations, visit ESSENCE.com/CurrencyConversations.

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.6 trillion and operations worldwide. Chase serves nearly half of America’s households with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans, and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: Nearly 5,000 branches, 16,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to Chase.com.

 

 

About ESSENCE Communications Inc. 

ESSENCE Communications is the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 17 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned, technology-driven company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Accessories /

The Kim Kardashian West Collection for Caroline Lemke Berlin Eyewear Brand

Kim Kardashian West is truly mood wearing Tempest Sunglasses.  She has a new collaboration with Caroline Lemke Berlin, a high fashion eyewear brand.

The Kim Kardashian West Collection for Carolina is scheduled to release on April 2, 2019.

According to the site, “Kardashian West’s designs—a range of options inspired by colorful and high-impact aesthetics to semi-nostalgic and simplified shapes recalling the 1990’s—are dynamic and daring. Combined, they represent a bold blend of perspectives through the superstar’s studied and ahead-of-the-curve eye.”

Click here to read more and view updates about the hot collection.