*cues Tevin Campbell x Can We Talk* LOL

Let me just start off my saying that international fashion weeks are where the magic happens. The New York shows are cool and all, but there's something about when you cross that water... It's just next level! With this past week's installment of fashion month set in the backdrop of Milan, I have been blown away by the visions of the designers showcasing their collections.

The collection from Dolce & Gabbana looks amazing. It's so vibrant and fun and full of colors and life. It gave me a royalty vibes with all of the brocade, fun and interesting patterns, gold, layers of jewelry and overall luxuriousness and extravagance. I love everything about this collection; it had just the right balance of cool, street style and show-stopping pieces.

My absolute favorite part was seeing so many influencers, real people, families, artists and so many more walking the show. It was refreshing too see, to say the least. I was especially excited to see the talented duo Chloe and Halle Bailey and the ever stylish and stunning Harvey family (Marjorie, Jason, Amanda, Noah and Rose) walking the show! They looked UH-MAZING! All I could say when I saw the videos and images was "SLAAAAYYYYYYY!"

S/o to D&G for this presentation. It was so dope, to say the least! Check out some of the dope looks from the collection below!

They say that when two or more gather together, the glow commences!

Well, maybe in more or less words--I'm paraphrasing of course LOL. You have to admit, though, that when black women come together, something magical is definitely in the air. The love, the support, the SLAY, the good vibes--they are all undeniable and beautiful to witness. 

I'm STILL obsessed with this image from Alfree Woodard's Pre-Oscars Sistahs Soiree this year! Just in case you missed it, here it is! 

So much spirit, humor, beauty and spunk in one image! I'm so proud to be a black woman!

Getting back on track, black Hollywood gathered for the 10th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills, California. The honorees included How to Get Away With Murder's Aja Naomi King (Shining Star Award), director/writer and Insecure's Issa Rae (Vanguard Award), musician and Hidden Figures' Janelle Monae (Breakthrough Awards) and activist and Black-ish's Yara Shahidi (Next Generation Award). Many congratulations to these ladies for being recognized for their immense talents and contributions and bringing unique stories and POVs to life onscreen!

I'm sure that the night was nothing less than beautiful, memorable and inspirational. From the images and videos floating around and spilling over onto social media, I almost felt like I was there....ALMOST! It would be so dope to be invited into these types of rooms, surrounded by the people that inspire me from afar and on a day-to-day basis. One day, man, one day...

The awards ceremony is set to air on March 5 on OWN, and I CANNOT WAIT! 

Check out some of the amazing looks from the men and women that attended the night's festivities below!

sidenote: melanin pops in any color! 

​Enjoy!

These young ladies are always giving us LOOKS!

Along with the duo being so amazingly talented musically, I've been watching Chloe and Halle Bailey's style journey for some time now, and I'm nothing short of impressed. Their style is so free and colorful, yet polished and fashion-forward. Their coordinated outfits always have me excited for what they're going to do next. Their style never ceases to amaze me!

Their looks this weekend's festivities (Essence Black Women in Music, NAACP Image Awards) also didn't disappoint.

Check them out, along with just a few of my favorite looks from the duo!

Talk about a birthslay! ​She is literally glowing in her gorgeous beaded all-white ensemble. Major props to stylist Ade Samuel, the brains behind this look and most of her amazing looks! Match made in fashion heaven. *swoons*

Kelly isn’t playing with any us! Singer/ songwriter, mother and author are just some of the hats she wears day to day, but she’s earned the title of style icon as well. Over the course of just a few weeks, Kelly Rowland has been blessing us with sartorial experiences that I am totally obsessed over!
 
She is literally glowing—from the melanin to her color choices; Kelly is giving me everything I need and more. In case you’ve missed it, enjoy the breathtaking beauty and style that is Kelly Rowland. She has most assuredly joined my list of style favorites. I am inspired, to say that least! Pay attention to the slay, y’all!

Remember Marley? Most notably, she came onto our radar a year ago with her #1000BlackGirlBooks initiative to highlight books with black girls as the main characters, and it swept the nation. She's kind of a big deal. Not only is she creating awareness and doing the work in the name of representation, but she has also worked as an editor at ELLE.com. She collaborated with the magazine to create an original mini mag that featured fun shoots, think pieces, helpful guides and interviews with Ava DuVernay, Misty Copeland, Hilary Clinton and more. It was pretty dope too!

This capsule collection shows our appreciation for our favorite former First Family in an amazing way! 

It's only been two weeks since the Obamas left the White House, and we've been having major withdrawals. Seeing the Obamas enjoy their vacation getaway has been so bittersweet. 

Enter Joe Lloyd, better known by his designer alias JoeFreshGoods, a Chicago-native and designer/ creator of the label Don't Be Mad or DBM. He is known for headline-catching collections with his "I wanna f*ck Rihanna" beanies (which got snatched very soon thereafter by Rihanna's team), "Yeezy 2020" tees and the recent tees broadcasting sheer distaste for the newest POTUS. 

Joe named his most recent release Thank You Obama, a seven-piece apparel line featuring the ultimate tribute and homage to the last First Family. The line features sporty and graphic merchandise that highlights Obama, he and Michelle's marriage, Michelle's alma mater and a very special nod to Malia. I'm so here for this collection! The part that makes this even better is that Joe tapped fellow Chicagoan Chance the Rapper to model for the lookbook. It's so fitting! Chance models the clothing like a natural. 

I especially loved what Joe had to say concerning his motive for wanting to do this collection, via a statement on the collection's website: "with this project i wanted to timestamp a period in my life where i felt like i can do whatever i wanted to do and be whatever i wanted to be. The night obama won his first term gave me so much hope, especially & most importantly as a black man. I decided to make a collection saying "thank you" and give me something to smile at every now and then when i look in the closet." He captured, within this statement, just a taste of what the legacy of the Obamas has meant for the black community.

​The Obamas have had an everlasting impact on us, no matter who we are. It's one that we will never forget; this moment in history will give us the hope and fortitude to make even our wildest dreams a reality and to get through the hardest of times!

I hope I can get my hands on something from the collection before it sells out. Visit thankuobama.us to snag a peice!

Ever since Beyonce quite literally broke the internet with the announcement of her second pregnancy with twins, the photos that followed were nothing short of our expectations. It's safe to say that they were exceeded, what with all of the commotion surrounding said announcement. One thing that I can definitely respect about Beyonce is her ability to never cease to surprise us; she always levels up on her last grand endeavor. 

The I Have Three Hearts presentation/ photo album is beautiful. It visualized memories of Bey's grandmother holding her then infant mother, Mama Tina pregnant with Bey, the beautiful evolution of Beyonce and Jay Z's relationship, the progression of her pregnancy with and birth of Blue, incredibly adorable family photo of the trio and the breathtaking maternity photos of the newest additions to the Carter clan. It is the beautiful evolution and manifestation of the Carter love story, showcasing and celebrating the fruits of it. 

I LOVE the maternity shoot's nod to the Renaissance art movement. The Birth of Venus, Rokeby Venus, Madonna in Floral Wreath...I love an artist who knows her art. Beyonce knows how to pay homage to her inspirations with beautiful execution. 

The photo album was also accompanied by a beautiful poem, strung together by London-based Somali writer, poet, editor and teacher Warsan Shire. The words were nothing short of beautiful and spoke to a woman's strength in carrying life inside of her. It comes as no surprise that Bey tapped Warsan for this project because Warsan is also the talent behind the poetic words from the Lemonade visual album.

I also loved seeing all of the humorous takes on how the decision for the shoots inspiration came about, more specifically, the gorgeous underwater shots. My favorite was from R. Eric Thomas, a writer at Elle who painted a picture of the conversation between the photographer and Beyonce:

Photographer: Hi, your people said you
wanted some pregnancy shots?
Beyoncé: The world must be fed by my fullness.
Photographer: Cool, so like a basic Demi Moore
thing or are we thinking more Blac Chyna?
Beyoncé: Ariel.
Photographer: Who?
Beyoncé: I am interested in giving "Look at this stuff,
isn't it neat, two babies make my family complete" realness.
Photographer: I feel like this is going to be a
longer day than I anticipated.
Beyoncé: How long can you hold your breath? An hour?

You have to love the members of the beehive... Revisit a little bit of the beauty of I Have Three Hearts again below! & to see it in its entirety, head over to Bey's website.

Through all of the news and explosive congratulatory remarks in regards to Beyonce and her twins, you may have missed the release of Ivy Parks latest campaign. 

The Ivy Park Spring/ Summer 2017 collection is here!

The collection features the brand's signature black and white moniker, of course, along with oversized jackets and sweatshirts paired with bold bodysuits, leggings, crop tops and delicate accompaniments. With the contrast of strong and soft pieces, it gives off the luxury athleisure vibe quite nicely, perfect for daily wear when you want to have a fashion-forward chill day.

Check out just a few images from the collection below.

The thing that caught my attention most about the latest Ivy Park release was the inspirational film that featured the stars talking about their bodies, personal mantras and the power of strength and perseverance. The film incorporated a message of body positivity and the timely note of resilience. 

The stars featured in the film were Black-ish star Yara Shahidi, Bey's protoges Chloe x Halle, model Sophie Koella, model Selah Marley and TDE songstress SZA. The photographer Zöe Ghertner shot each star in a park that held a special meaning to them. They were also asked to perform their favorite sports activities. Runners, karate masters, soccer players and gymnasts were among these young women's' lists of accomplishments. For instance, Yara has a black belt in karate and Selah was a former gymnast and now spends time on a basketball court. The film was inspiring and rung true to the brand's theme of women empowerment, showing women's strengths and power.

"Each of the influencers, in sharing their personal stories, speaks to Ivy Park's core belief that women are strong and beyond measure," said Ivy Park in a statement. "They serve as an example of women accomplishing and surpassing their goals in their chosen fields thanks to their practice and persistence on the field." In an interview with Vogue, Yara made a statement that shared the same sentiment. "I love what Ivy Park stands for and how Beyonce is using this line to highlight the beauty and power of our bodies and spirits," she said. 

This video made me smile. Enjoy it below!

​I hope you walk away even a little bit inspired.

I've been a fan of Kenzo for a long time. I love how interesting and quirky their campaigns are and how fun and eccentric their clothing is. I've especially come to love their newest spring campaign, featuring some familiar faces.

Creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim brought together a diverse cast of creative individuals to bring this campaign alive. Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, actor/ activist Jesse Williams and cellist/ singer Kelsey Lu star in the campaign, the perfect accompaniment for Kenzo's eccentric pieces. 

I was so excited when I saw the photographers were LA-based twin duo Jalen and Jabril Durimel, better known by their joint alias Durimel. I've followed their style evolution and work for years. Kenzo is their first global campaign. I'm so happy for these guys!

The campaign bears the title Music Is My Mistress. The campaign images will be launched in the March issues of magazines including Vogue, T the New York Times magazine and Wallpaper. The campaign will be accompanied by a short film written and directed by Grammy nominee Khalil Joseph--who also led the creative team for Beyonce's Lemonade HBO special. The Kenzo film will release on February 9. According to the brand, the campaign will showcase that "music is much more than mere sound and rhythm. This story casts music herself as the central character of an unfolding drama across cultures, space, and time."

I love the concept, the clothing and am excited for the film to release! 

Enjoy images from the latest from Kenzo below.

I'm always skeptical of Lifetime movies. Especially since my mom used to watch them all of the time when I was younger. They were always so extra, yet predictable. ​You could literally guess the plot in its entirety within the first five minutes. I've gotten pretty good at it too. But sometimes, a good  girls' night movie is exactly what you need.

When I saw the previews for Love by the 10th Date, I was honestly excited to see it. It's always nice seeing an all-black (for the most part) cast on Lifetime. Meagan Good, Kelly Rowland, Kellee Stewart and Keri Hilson worked very well together. You can pretty guess the storyline, but I was pleasantly surprised with this movie's plot. Love by the 10th Date was about several women's journeys, navigating through the unpredictable highways and bi-ways of love. More so, the storyline centered around Meagan Good's character, Gabby, and her journey to find love in companionship and self-love. 

The thing that I loved about the movie was that it introduced a unique view on what love and relationships look like, especially in today's society. It tackled sexual identity within relationships, open marriages, decisions on celibacy, establishing self worth and finding love in unsuspecting (but also obvious) places.

The thing that I loved most about Gabby was her optimism and hope for finding love. She identifies with plenty of young women who haven't had the best fortune with love and young artists and creatives who are struggling to get their feet off of the ground.

With the help of her friends and her boss's latest column, her goal becomes to make it to the tenth date with one guy. This infamous column presents this idea: a man doesn't consider a relationship a serious commitment until the tenth date. Anything before that mark is just infatuation or he just wants to keep things physical. A woman should stop thinking of dates as an audition, hoping to impress, and just keep things light. She should put on an "emotional condemn" until they reach ten dates. So begins Gabby's quest to get to ten and the hilarious sting of happenings that follow. It all concluded with the one for her being right in front of her the entire time. Sounds like that old, familiar saying, doesn't it?

Now there may be some merit to the "tenth date/ next level" thing, but this statement puts waaaay to much power of a budding relationship in one person's hands. It's like okay, I like you, but I'm just gonna sit here while you decide to waste my time or not. It's an interesting concept, and plenty of women will buy into it; however, it was a reach for me. Sounds like a game, for which we have neither the time nor the patience, girl. It also puts such a rush on having to define what's going on. Two people in a relationship or just getting to know one another should be able to communicate what it is that they want out of the experience. You can't assume what's going on or exaggerate the situation because that only leads to more problems in itself. When you enjoy someone's company enough, a title shouldn't have to be rushed; you just know honestly. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. If you have to get off sooner than later, it's okay. Love is so much more than a feeling. It's a choice. Don't be so blinded by the thought of what you think love looks like for you or caught up in just being with someone that you miss the opportunity to actually experience a love worth having. There's no perfect formula for love, but when you know, you know.

Which brings me to my favorite storyline of the movie with Kellee Stewart's and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman's characters, Nell and Freddy. Their characters met and had an instant connection and an undeniable chemistry, but the discovery of Freddy's bisexuality may be too much for Nell to get over.

Kelly Rowland's character, Margot, has taken a vow of celibacy. Whether that's a personal choice or due to not wanting to let any man get too close, you can decide for yourself. When you let the pain of relationships past take over and keep guards up, you miss out on a real opportunity to heal. Vulnerability isn't that bad.

Keri Hilson's character, Bobbi, is in a "wonderfully fulfilling open marriage with a great guy." While the commitment to sexual liberation and open-mindedness is refreshing and empowering to witness, at some point even in the most lenient of situations, someone is bound to cross a line sooner than later that you can't come back from.

This movie was honestly refreshing. It renews your hope in finding love, no matter where it may turn up. We have to appreciative of love regardless of its source.

Love by the 10th Date is a super cute movie, full of laughs, entertainment and inspiration. If you haven't seen this movie, I definitely suggest you grab your girls, some snacks and some wine and have a girls' night! You won't regret it!