Chic Inspector

Summer Snacking Made Different: SOUND Nutrition Offers Clean Ingredient Snacking Solution

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:39:00 +0000

From summer barbecues to family road trips, summer is ubiquitous with snacking. With consumers searching for delicious, whole food and easy-to-transport snacks, SOUND Bites from SOUND™ Nutrition help fill the void of clean-label, truly nutritious snacks to enjoy while on the go.

The oval-shaped SOUND Bites use natural ingredients and ultrasonics, or sound waves, to preserve vital nutrients, develop flavor and create the signature texture of SOUND Bites. This process removes the need for fillers to form the product or excess sugar to mask the taste of other ingredients, both of which are common practices in snack production.
With a focus on substance, texture, taste and flavor, these healthful snacks are available in four summer-ready flavors, including:

COCONUT SURPRISE – Nutty, tropical and mildly sweet, a laid-back rhapsody of delicious flavors and fresh coconut pieces resulting in a fluffy, chewy bite.

VANILLA LIME – A bright, tangy chorus of lime and cream cheese that creates a flavor similar to cheesecake, with a smooth, airy texture and mouthfeel.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY – A sweet and tart melody, lightly dense, building up to a crescendo of real raspberry and a smooth, clean mouthfeel.

MOCHA – A bitter, rich and sweet ensemble of flavors delivered by real coffee and cacao ingredients, with a moderately dense body, smooth chew and long finish.

For more information about SOUND Nutrition's products, visit www.SOUNDSnacking.com

Farissa Knox on Why Your Fashion Image Should Still Matter When Working Virtually

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 15:46:00 +0000

Farria Knox

Farissa Knox is the Founder and CEO of RLM Media, an integrated marketing and communications advertising agency, and WhatRUWearing (WRUW) Productions. Farissa is also a leading image consultant, producer and entrepreneur who is passionate about her fashion sense.

Now that the Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted in many of the States, companies are still working virtually and potential employees are getting back into the workspace. For potential employees this will lead to job interviews and adjusting to this new landspace.

I ask Farissa Knox on advice on how employee's fashion image virtually is important now than ever.

See below...

As someone who has an eye for fashion, did you have to pivot your image to work with your clients virtually? If so, how?

(Farissa) Everyone had to pivot this past year and a half. And how we dressed every day was no exception. As a busy CEO and working mother of two, working from home was not glamorous. Being at home means you still have work but also need to be comfortable. When working from home and still needing to look presentable, the way I pivoted my style was to focus on simplicity and comfortability. This strategy included wearing neutral colors and loose and comfortable articles of clothing that look relaxed but put together so that a necklace or a lip color is the only accessory you need.

What are the best colors to use during a zoom meeting?

Colors depend on so many different factors. What is the background others on the zoom will see? What is your skin color? What is your lighting situation? Like many others, I have no choice but to be flexible in my working-from-home situation. Some of my calls can be taken at my desk in my home office. Others might occur while I’m on the floor in my bedroom or any setting in between. I tend to stick to white, black, neutral colors and then bring a pop of color with my lip color. If you have a pretty plain background, featuring patterns and bright colors in the surrounding area works well because it’s a nice contrast to the plain background.

What are the top image or fashion essentials someone should have to make the best impression during a zoom interview?

Beyond removing anything you don’t want coworkers to see from the camera's view, lighting is crucial. Shadows can be distracting, and when people can see you clearly, it is easier to pay attention to what you are saying. From there, I like to give folks something fun to look at when they are looking at me. A fun headband, necklace, or statement ring (for my hand talkers) is a simple way to use fashion to stand out in the small amount of real estate that shows up in your Zoom box.

Now that so many people have been unemployed during the lockdown, any advice on how to get back into the job interviewing process?

Not that much has changed when you think about it. Treat finding a job like it is your job. If you were meeting with your boss in person or virtually, how would you show up? Would you put on real clothes? Would you shower? Would you plan for a quiet space to have a real conversation? Would you prepare? The answer is yes to all of those things. Whether meeting virtually or not, putting in that effort shows the level of seriousness you have in yourself and in the position you are trying to secure.

What are the biggest missteps you've seen with people’s fashion during virtual meetings?

The two biggest mistakes people make in fashion in virtual meetings are either doing too much or doing too little. We all understand it has been a crazy time, and our realities have changed in our day-to-day lives. To see someone with a full face of makeup, lashes, and a suit is a lot when we were all on lockdown. On the other hand, when people do too little, that also stands out for all the wrong reasons. We know times are tough, but you don’t want people wondering if that is the same shirt you slept in last night. 😂

Why do you think people's image should still matter when doing business over zoom?

For me, it’s less about image and more about how you present yourself. Fashion is nothing but self-expression at the end of the day. Whether you are in person or virtual, you need to bring the best, realistic version of yourself. That’s how I try to show up every day in the world.

To learn more about Farrisa Knox, https://farissaknox.com/about

Contemporary Fashion, A New Sustainable Fashion Platform.

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:10:00 +0000

Contemporary Fashion, a new shoppable, digital magazine, and community, that fixes the gap between accessibility and sustainable fashion. Fashion brands can thrive while also contributing to positive environmental change. The key concerns that resonate with consumers’ values, includes the growing demand for ethically-sourced fabrics and sustainable practices whose impact extends throughout the supply chain.

Contemporary Fashion highlights small, eco-conscious designers and companies, and is currently working against the waste produced by the fast fashion industry, with an end goal of creating a place where readers can sustainability shop and consciously consume.

I was able to dig a little deeper by asking the Co-founder Georgia India some questions, read below...

(Me)What inspired you to create a magazine about sustainable fashion?

(Georgia India) I wanted to create a space that is solely dedicated to fashion brands that are responsible and ethical, where we can showcase and highlight some of the amazing ways fashion is becoming more sustainable. It’s important for us to share and make this information accessible and inclusive. Everyone should be able to shop smarter and more consciously.

What are some challenges you think are facing the sustainable fashion industry right now? How are we overcoming them?

Fast fashion is one of the biggest issues, as a lot of the fast fashion companies will make replicas of original designs and sell them cheaper. The only way we will overcome this issue is if individuals choose to avoid buying fast fashion. I do think more and more people are starting to be selective when purchasing clothes. Instead of choosing items that are only on-trend for this season choose to shop sustainable or vintage but select garments that are wardrobe staples and will always be stylish. We are hoping through Contemporary Fashion Magazine we can inspire people to choose the sustainable route and shop responsibly.

Are there any brand(s) in particular that you think we should have our eyes on?

There are so many brands I love at the moment, one to watch would be House of Sunny, they have the most beautifully crafted staples that will complete your summer wardrobe. Another brand is Djerf Avenue, created by Swedish Instagram influencer Matilda Djerf, she has carefully designed her non-seasonal collection, which is created in small batches. Structured blazers, trousers, and classic white tees, you can’t go wrong with. Lastly, I must mention Nanushka, all of their pieces are gorgeous and all sustainable.

What are your big plans with Contemporary Fashion magazine? Where do you hope to see Contemporary Fashion five years from now?

We hope to grow Contemporary Fashion to become “the hub” for sustainable fashion, a platform, and magazine known for where to go to find out about responsible, conscious, and fair fashion.

Click here go to the Contemporary Fashion website.

RAYCON Disrupts Consumer Wireless Tech Industry

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 03:06:00 +0000

RAYCON Disrupts Consumer Wireless Tech Industry

Singer Ray-J popularly known as Brandy's brother has really come into his own as an entrepreneur. His Raycon headphones has disrupted the tech industry. Ray-J co-founded Raycon in 2017 and has become the premium audio brand with expeditiously growth in 3 years. The brand has surpassed the 1 million customer mark in just 3 years without any crowdfunding efforts. In 2020 on Black Friday the brand saw over $4 million in sales which the brand's valuation to reach $100 million.

Raycon has 4 headphones designs that were created to optimize experiences now that the new normal is working from home and exercising at home.

The Everyday E25 Earbuds - the travel-ready earbuds are the most compact of the collection perfect for on-the-go listening.

The Performer E55 Wireless Earbuds - features an arc-shaped frame that bends to your needs to create the best fit possible.

The WORK Earbuds - utilize noise cancelling properties to diminish environmental sounds while ensuring your voice is crystal clear.

The Trendsetter H20 Headphones - the only over the ear headphones in the collection offer premium sound quality, active noise cancelling technology and all day battery life.

Happy Black History Month!

Inspection Report: Sincerely Ria Fall 2021

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Inspection Report: Sincerely Ria Fall 2021

Former model and actress Mariama Diallo debutted her Fall 2021 collection, Sincerely Ria at New York Fashion Week.

Designer Mariama is originally from Guinea, West Africa so she draws a lot of inspiration from her African heritage and the Guinea's Fulani culture. This collection is titled, "The Oshun", which celebrates not only female beauty in all its forms, but women themselves. The new Fall 2021 collection is filled with vibrant colors, captivating designs, and sexy cuts.

Photographer Credit: Adam Rindy

Sally Beauty Continues Long-Standing Commitment to Connecting Textured Hair Community

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Did you know that Sally Beauty was the first national beauty retailer to distribute popular women-owned textured hair care brands? Yup, brands such as Made Beautiful and Mielle Organics and is also the exclusive in-store retailer for celebrity brands such as Flawless by Gabrielle Union, Vernon François, Kenya Moore, and Kim Kimble. In my previous post, I spoke about my natural hair journey and the importance of hair products. Sally Beauty has also supported emerging brands like MoKnowsHair, Naturalicious, Camille Rose Naturals, and EDEN BodyWorks by providing a platform to help them expand their presence and distribution

Sally Beauty during Black History Month will be utilizing its social platforms to spotlight textured hair innovators it partners with and help elevate their unique stories to a larger audience.

In 2018 Sally Beauty launched the Cultivate program, an incubator program which is to continued to support textured hair innovators through exclusive partnerships with celebrities, emerging brands.

Textured hair brands such as PuffCuff, Curlanista, and newly added Peculiar Roots, UniQurl, and True + Pure Texture received the resources and funding necessary to succeed and grow in the beauty and hair care industries from the Cultivate program.

So during this Black History Month if you need to resupply on your natural hair products head to Sally Beauty!

Saneeta Renee ChicInspector.com

Natural Hair Journey: Wash Day Essentials for 4C Hair

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000

Watch my Wash Day Essentials video on YouTube now.

My journey of my natural hair has been a wild ride. As much as I love my hair it's important to use essentials that's imperative for maintenance and growth.

If you have 4A/B/C hair, what are your favorite essentials?

Saneeta Renee ChicInspector.com

Mineral Fusion Launches Hydro-Shine Lip Glosses

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:06:00 +0000

Mineral Fusion Launches Hydro-Shine Lip Glosses

Some of us would love to travel and to a sunny destination spot instead of being quarantined in the house. If you want to fantastically transport to an island try this the Hydro-Shine Lip Gloss.

The Hydro-Shine Lip Gloss range, available in 13 shades, is inspired by iconic vacation destinations across the globe. Dreaming of a dip in the Caribbean? Try Bermuda, a peachy pink. Longing for an aperitif under the Duomo? Swipe on Florence, a bright, bold red.

All of Mineral Fusion’s Hydro-Shine Lip Glosses are 100% vegan, paraben-free and cruelty free, and have been thoughtfully designed to flatter all skin tones. Infused with Vitamin E, the lightweight, non-sticky glosses hydrate lips while adding a splash of color and healthy-looking shine. The premium high-payoff wand provides the perfect amount of gloss on each application, so all you have to do is swipe on a coat to be transported across the globe.

Retailing for $14.99, the Hydro-Shine Lip Glosses are available now at mineralfusion.com and Amazon.com and will be sold at Whole Foods Markets and select natural retailers nationwide in February.

Five Apps That's Changing My Shopping Habits in 2021

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:59:00 +0000

Yes 2020 is technically behind us, but the effects will linger for months ahead in 2021. One of those effects are my shopping habits. Flashback to March of 2020 and the national lockdown happened and shook us all to our core. As we were adjusting to the shift in our daily routines, so was the part of my day that I would decide to go to the mall, a clothing store etc to shop. Leaving my house to shop for clothes and certain essentials is now a thing of the past. From the comfort of my home and the palm of my hand, I can obtain basically anything I need to thrive in my home.

Below are the ecommerce apps, that have been so clutch during the past year and mostly will be beneficial in 2021.

1.) Wardrobe In Motion App.- WIM is an e-commerce fashion app driven by AI technology, showcasing fashionable looks based on engagement that will be displayed in the feed. Also I have the opportunity to become a content creator by submitting my own videos after I purchase, so I can possible earn cash to spend on new clothes! Think of Tic tok meets Poshmark. This is a 2021 way of engagement and utilizing my purchasing power.

2.) Amazon - Instead of brick & mortar malls, I now consider Amazon an online mall. You can order groceries to electronics. It's almost a one stop shop for practical everything you need.

3.) Ulta - During this lockdown/pandemic obviously I need to keep my skincare regime consistent as much as possible. Ulta has a range of lotions, masks, hair products, nail polishes and all of beauty essentials. Truth: I had to throw out many of my makeup because beauty products does have shelf life. Buying replacements is still on my to-do list. Just because I'm in the house doesn't mean my beauty routine needs to falter.

4. )The WoMi™ App - After the George Floyd murder it was clear to me and many in the Black community that there's a major wealth disparity in this country. There's systemic oppression that is holding many Black people from establishing wealth. The WoMi App is a digital directory of woman, BIPOC & LGBTQ+ owned small businesses. It's important for me to support the Black women entrepreneurs. This app has a plethora of brands and products and I know if I buy some an item(s) it will help another Black woman.

5.) Etsy - From wall decals to macrame wall hangs. I've brought many items from Etsy that were handmade and handcrafted by some amazing artisans!

Pic credit: BBC.com

Aranyani, The Luxury Indian Handbag Brand Is Sustaining Their Communities

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 19:32:00 +0000

Aranyani, the luxury Indian handbag brand

Aranyani, the luxury Indian handbag brand, is continuing to focus on giving to their communities that consist of talented artisans. Aranyani’s mission of supporting and sustaining the communities it touches has grown since the company started three years ago.

Haresh Mirpuri, Aranyani’s Founder and Creative Director, will be providing rent free accommodations for the artisans and their families, to planting an orchard and gardens which allow them to grow organic food, Aranyani ensures their team is supported and sustained. This support extends to their children who received educational grants from The Aranyani Educational and Vocational Trust. The trust, formed earlier this year, began by sponsoring the education of three children this year. They plan on funding the educations of 15 more students in 2021. 1% of the proceeds from all Aranyani sales is contributed to the trust.

The company has even maintained its entire staff throughout the pandemic. During the lockdown, with the atelier closed, all staff continued to receive their pay as well as training and developmental skills in computer technology and English. Each team member also received medical insurance for their families and extended family.

Aranyani just launched a special edition Red Onyx Bracelet in celebration of the new year, go to the Aranyani's website.

Has the pandemic gotten you to fall off track from eating healthy?

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 22:01:00 +0000

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The past several months haven't been easy for anybody.

Here’s my truth… I’ve gained 12lbs. As many of you know, I do variations of kettlebell training workouts. Wanna know my guilty pleasure? Cookies and donuts! To maintain or lose weight is all about your nutrition and eating habits. We can exercise all the time, but with eating junk food and sugary treats, there’s a high likelihood for weight gain.

I knew after stepping on that scale, I had to make a change. What’s helped me stay on track is to be focused and intentional with some form of structure. I wake up in the morning, drink 8 ounces of water and have my 9am workouts each day. Then have my meal prep ready. Recently, I started using the Ari Coach app, which is designed by dietitians and athletic trainers to help create healthy eating habits. I use the app because it’s super easy - there’s no calorie-counting and I can pick delicious meals that I like!

The Ari Coach app has weekly meal plans that are tailored for your goal, body type and workout schedule. Since I train and teach kettlebell workouts virtually, I need to be properly fueled for swinging those weights around.

So if you need to get back in the swing of nutrition, head over to the app store and download Ari Coach for free.

Happy Eating!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Ari Coach, but opinions are my own.

There's Gender Neutral/Unisex Clothing at Old Navy

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 15:36:00 +0000

Gender Neutral at Old Navy

I remember when the discussion of gender neutral category was frowned upon in the fashion clothing industry. Retailers for a very long time don't even want to think about adding another category, which was understandable because just 5 years ago times were different. But like many things with the fashion industry, they are slow to catch up to what the consumer wants.

Well I was searching for activewear on Old Navy, I notice "gender neutral" in the caption! This is awesome! I personally have brought Men's shirts for myself and I'm pretty sure other men has done the same. I think these selections by Old Navy is such a progressive start. If you're curious to see some of the gender neutral pieces that Old Navy have, look below:

2020 Holiday Gift Guide

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 03:26:00 +0000

Tis the season!

The end of 2020 is almost here and as crazy a year this has been for most of us, we still should enjoy it if we can. Gifts on gifts are the answer!

Who doesn't love a gift?! if you want to gift yourself or gift a love one this gift guide is great for that.

For those that love cooking at home and for those who enjoy beautifying themselves it's all there.

Let me know if you love any of these items?

Fashion Internship Series on Youtube

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:24:00 +0000

My first video, How I landed my fashion internship from Harper's Bazaar to Teen Vogue is live on Youtube. It's 1 of a 4 part series which I retell stories, discuss the internship process and the day to day life of interning in NYC. Every video will be available on Monday at 10am through the month of November.

Please check it out!

xoxo

Smooth Summer Skin with I+I Botanicals

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 18:42:00 +0000

I+I Botanicals CBD Scrub and Dry Oil Mist

If you've been quarantine for what feels like a year, hopefully you know that outside is slowly opening up.

With proper restrictions and guidelines the beaches, parks and hike trails are gaining traction again and with the Summer sun blazing down our skin needs some TLC.

Fun fact, the skin is the largest organ on the body, so it's important to keep it moisturized with sunscreen, scrubs and oils.

Speaking of which I+I Botanicals, co-founded by Selam Kelati is a organic and vegan beauty line infused with CBD. Selam raised in East Africa, grew up with her mother using a herbs and oils in their daily lives. Those traditions has now been passed to her own beauty line.

The CBD Body Scrub had Ethiopian coffee and seaweed and the Dry Mist oil has jojoba oil, moringa oil, blend of citrus essential oils.

Now more than ever is a great time to be more mindful on the ingredients we use on the largest organ on the body.

To shop more of I+I Botanicals, click here.

Breaking News: Black Photographers Exist, Part 2

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Photo by Joshua Kissi

As mentioned in the previous post, part 2 of Black Photographers Exist, is my list of several dope Black photographers. Also with the release of Beyonce's film, Black is King, this is a great time to acknowledge Black creatives that have been working independently and behind the scenes to captures the stories of BIPOC.

________

IG: ohyeahitsidy

Name: Idara

View this post on Instagram

This quarantine is making my reflect on all of the content I’ve created over the past few months. We may be stuck inside, but y’all still gon get this work. Before & After of this portrait from my set “Legacy” - Stylist: @kennedileshea Talent: @zeyi.moise / @aa_mani

A post shared by Idara (Idy) 🇳🇬 (@ohyeahitsidy) on Mar 24, 2020 at 12:48pm PDT

________

Name: Zaria Love

IG: @zaria.love_

View this post on Instagram

Black is beautiful.

A post shared by Zaria Love (@zaria.love_) on Mar 5, 2018 at 1:29pm PST

________

Name: Dana Scruggs

IG: @danascruggs

View this post on Instagram

When one of your muses comes to town and you both spend 20 minutes taping seamless paper to a rooftop wall, only for it to immediately fall down...but you make it work. Super Talented @nyadhuor styled and photographed by Me. #mamiyarb67 #fujifilm400 #ﬁlmisnotdead #nyadhourdeng #danascruggs

A post shared by Dana Scruggs (@danascruggs) on Jul 11, 2019 at 1:09pm PDT

________

Name: Mark Clennon

IG: @mark.c

View this post on Instagram

@lovelyfa was #shotbymarkc — styled by @sydneepaige_ in @everrythingrrouge makeup by @mhaii_thaii assisted by @rashidazagon & @nycgoblin shot in a @peerspace

A post shared by mark clennon. (@mark.c) on Mar 8, 2020 at 7:04pm PDT

________

Name: Joshua Kissi

IG: @joshuakissi

View this post on Instagram

Test portrait shoot -- w/ @memu.conteh channeling 1960s Freetown, Sierra Leone Styling by the amazing: @beonciadunn Agency : @visionlosangeles

A post shared by Joshua Kissi 🇬🇭 (@joshuakissi) on Feb 12, 2020 at 9:45am PST

________

Name: Jada Imani M

IG: @jadaimanim

View this post on Instagram

This was my first time doing a full portrait shoot in over a month. I’ve been so caught up in shooting shows and other events that I haven’t been able to enjoy a portrait session. That’s why this time I wanted to do some things differently: 1. When shooting portraits I normally stick with an F stop of 1.8/2.8, but I remember reading photo tips by @jasminekerbel when she explained trying different f stops to get more of the model’s face in focus so I practiced that in this shoot. 2: Instead of editing my photos to be vibrant and saturated, I went with a more natural look. Thank you Knyves for trusting me to photograph you. What do you all think?

A post shared by Jada Imani M (@jadaimanim) on Oct 17, 2019 at 6:13pm PDT

________

Name: Stephen Tayo

@stephen.tayo

View this post on Instagram

@lagosfashionweekofficial @onyinyefafiobi @j0rdanna @rebeccafabunmi_ @kingdukeee #stephentayo

A post shared by Stephen Tayo (@stephen.tayo) on Oct 30, 2019 at 9:11am PDT

Breaking News: Black Photographers Exist, Part 1

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 05:06:00 +0000

Left: Simone Biles via Vogue/Annie Leibovitz, Right Viola Davis via Vanity Fair/Dario Calmese

Twitter/IG was in an uproar when Simone Biles graced the cover of the August 2020 issue of Vogue. This is a huge accomplishment for this renown African-American athlete to be featured in this legendary magazine. Even though this is a huge moment it was quickly shadowed by the criticism of the photographer, Annie Leibovitz. Leibovitz has been on Vogue's payroll as a photographer for years, however this controversy has exposed that she's not exactly fluent in making her dark skin subjects look beautiful. So the question aroused, why can't Vogue hire a Black Photographer that knows how to lit people with darker skin tones?

Prior to social media it was extremely hard for Black creatives especially Black photographers to get opportunities into these predominately White magazines. Tyler Mitchell became the first African-American photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue 2018 with Beyonce, in its 125 history. This opportunity came because allegedly she requested to have Tyler shoot the cover.

Shortly after the Simone Biles cover, Vanity Fair release its July/August 2020 Cover featuring actress Viola Davis. However this time, the cover was shot by an African American photographer, Dario Calmese. This was another first of a Black photographer to shoot the Vanity Fair cover in its 107-year history.

Let's digest this for a moment...two magazines that has a century worth of published issues are still having its first in regards to collaborating with Black photographers.

For the longest time people were requesting and arguing for more Black and POC faces on the covers of the magazines and models on the runway, however what go lost in this argument is those behind the scenes. For those that may not understand, this is an example of systemic racism and oppression.

In the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, companies and brands have been exposed for their performative ally-ship. In terms of the fashion industry for the past few years they have trotted BIPOC models in our faces via runways and campaigns, all the while the offices, staff and teams are majority White.

I personally never applauded a brand for putting two models of POC on their runway/campaigns because I knew these brands use our bodies as trends. Black people are not trends and more importantly Black people have been around for centuries as well. What really needs to be investigated is how in a matter of 100 plus years we're still having a first time using a Black photographer. Here's an answer, the usual gatekeepers are keeping us out.

Art Critic/Writer, Antwaun Sargent also answered this same question in the article "The New Black Vanguard’ heralds a change in fashion photography, and he said the following...

"I was like, ‘Well, you realize that you won’t get the job you want in criticism, so you have to invent your own.’ In some ways, that was part of the motivation of these young photographers. You talk to a lot of them, ‘I never thought I would do the cover of Vogue, or even shoot in Vogue,’ because there was this vise grip by basically old Life photographers, mostly male, Annie Leibovitz being the exception, who were contractually obligated to those platforms. And so when a lot of these guys go down with #MeToo — rightfully, might I add — it opens up space. It opens up opportunity for these mainstream magazines to bring in younger and new photographers.

The mainstream, because there’s a crisis, comes and calls them. It’s a course correction. Not because you’re kind of looking at your history, not because you ever thought that there were too many white voices in the room. You’re doing this because society, or the current culture has pushed you in this moment to do it. That just makes me highly distrustful of every institution."

Antwuan is right! The current culture is pushing those Black photographers and creatives who may never had a chance to be seen now. We're still reeling from the affect of the #MeToo movement and now we are now in civil unrest and this is bringing forth some awaken or a crisis clean up to throw Black photographers in the fold.

I'm will always be excited to see BIPOC win and see their talents used with integrity. However I do wonder why in this uprising the decision to a use Black creator seems more opportunistic.

What the #VogueChallenge has taught us that we are here, we've always been here. It shows the disparity of the Black talent that don't and will probably never get a chance to showcase their talent in a publication like Vogue. I'm pretty sure throughout the 100 and more years Black creatives has submitted resumes, pitches, portfolios for consideration and it mostly been ignored. As Anna Wintour admitted in a company-wide internal memo, "Vogue as not found enough ways to elevate and give space to black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators."

Stay tuned for part 2

Podcasts To Help Black & Brown Professionals Navigate Their Careers

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 05:41:00 +0000

Podcasts To Help Black & Brown Professionals Navigate Their Careers

"Success is not a solo sport."- Minda Harts

As certain states are slowly began to open up, I think it's the best time to dust off the resumes, hone your skills and start marketing yourself to the possibility of a new job landscape.

The past few days the conversation of Black employees feeling safe and valued in the workplace has been a hot topic. A lot of companies now are implementing Diversity and Inclusion initiatives to make sure they hire more BIPOC.

To be reminded we're still in a pandemic and have been quarantining for several months. This has led to many being laid off or furloughed from their jobs. As of this week it was reported that over 1.5 million Americans filed for unemployment. This is shocking and scary times and this also equates to high uncertainty when it comes to the job market. However, I do think now that some companies are making a change in hiring and hopefully training us for success, we should also come prepared with skills and tools in our arsenal.

The below podcasts I listed below have episodes regarding sponsorship, mentorship, negotiation for a raise, dealing with microagressions, and how to network internally and externally.

Below are podcasts that are geared toward BIPOC professionals.

Honorable Mentions Episode:

Therapy For Black Girls - Episode #65, Working Well

Happy Juneteenth! Here's Where To Go To Donate To Support Black Organizations

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 02:07:00 +0000

Image via @temi.coker

Happy Juneteenth!!!

If you're unfamiliar with Juneteenth, it's the oldest national celebrated commemoration of ending slavery in United States. Juneteenth is significant because it's the day when slaves founds out they had been free. As we know (or some of us) slavery impacted the United States and the effect of it is still felt to this day.

If you want to learn more in depth, I recommend you watch the below video by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture's Founding Director Lonnie Bunch III, who led a tour through the Slavery and Freedom exhibition.

Ok, now that you watched the above video, please look at the list below of organizations

and donate what you can. These organizations are founded a black man and/or woman who have recognize a need community in terms of being light to racial injustices, police violence and mental health.

Black Lives Matter Global Movement.
Color Of Change help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. They move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.
Until Freedom focuses on investing in those who are the most directly impacted by cyclical poverty, inequality, and state violence
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute protects and defends the human rights of Black transgender people.
BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective mission is to remove the barriers that Black people experience getting access to or staying connected with emotional health care and healing.
Campaign Zero Identifies the solutions, providing research & data to organizers and policymakers, advocating to end police violence nationwide.
Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp's mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders.

Fashion & Beauty Companies Are Being Called Out By Black Employees

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 02:45:00 +0000

Let's rewind back to August 23, 2018, a popular article had the following quotes...

"The context of the conversation should be one of social reform where black people get to experience true liberation in the exact way the white American gets to experience their freedom. Our time is now.”
—Ethan Miller, agent, IMG Models NY

"So, while the industry here has made great progress on the runway with models, behind the scenes is still incredibly homogeneous. " —Kenya Hunt, deputy editor, Elle U.K.

"If we don’t consider how the fashion industry is embracing, showing or including various people, then we risk allowing whole groups to be, if not devalued, then ignored.”
—Robin Givhan, fashion critic, Washington Post

"It’s a special kind of privilege when you serve women that look like me yet can’t tell me about my beauty. To me that means you shouldn’t have a job.”
—Julee Wilson, fashion and beauty director, Essence

“Why is it that mediocrity is so acceptable for white women, but black women don’t get a pass? We have to bust our asses." —Anonymous

These quotes are from the Cut Blog article, Everywhere and Nowhere What it’s really like to be black and work in fashion written by Lindsay Peoples Wagner. These are shared stories by black people who work in the fashion industry talking about their experience and it's not positive at all. The reason I'm reflecting back to this article was because many people especially white people were shock at this stories, some probably thought we were lying or being too "angry". Now with the aftermath of the protests in Minneapolis which led to the #BlackOutTuesday post initiative that major companies and brands participated in from all industries. This shined the light on the treatment of black employees in these companies and also shined the light on the lack of black employees in these companies.

In mere days Editor In Chiefs, CEOs and many high ranking officials have resigned from their post because of the stories from former black employees their treatment in the workplace, the racist remarks, microaggressions, the pay disparities and lack of upward mobility.

For these companies to have an IG post about their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter is all performative and they were called out rightfully. You can't write that you stand with Black people when you treat the one or two black employees you have like trash. Twitter and the IG comment section has been a venting ground for people to air their grievances.

It's been revealed that Bon Appétit's former EIC Adam Rapoport told his African-American Editorial Assistant that she wasn't cut out for this industry because she asked for raise. To be clear, his former assistant haven't had a raise in two years and she told him she needed a raise because she was three months behind on her rent. This particular story broke my heart and this came on the heels when Bon Appétit's parent company Conde Nast donated 1 million dollars to racial-justice organizations. You can read more about that story on Business Insider.

One huge moment that happened was when Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of US Vogue, confirmed that she has failed her ~~1 or 2~~ Black employees and she has never set a priority in all of her years for BIPOC representation on the cover of the magazines and in the Vogue offices.

Here was her statement,

“I want to start by acknowledging your feelings and expressing my empathy towards what so many of you are going through: sadness, hurt, and anger too. I want to say this especially to the Black members of our team — I can only imagine what these days have been like. But I also know that the hurt, and violence, and injustice we’re seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is overdue.

I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes. It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you. I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will — and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward. I am listening and would like to hear your feedback and your advice if you would like to share either. I am proud of the content we have published on our site over these past few days but I also know that there is much more work to do. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I am arranging ways we can discuss these issues together candidly, but in the meantime, I welcome your thoughts or reactions.”

I'm not going to lie, I rolled my eyes heavy when I read this statement. The stories I've heard from people I know personally, is that the Vogue culture has always been toxic. It's no surprise, however this might be a surprise for other people understandably.

Below are articles on the latest resignations, criticisms and stories from brands and magazines.

1.Zimmermann face criticism for racially discriminative grooming guidelines

2. Black former employees at Refinery29 and Man Repeller are speaking out about the hypocrisy of feminist fashion websites.

3. Bon Appétit failed Sohla El-Waylly, and its implosion exposed the insidious inequality in the industry.

4. LEANDRA MEDINE TO 'STEP BACK' FROM MAN REPELLER

5. Anthropologie Accused of Racially Profiling Black Customers

6. Racism, misogyny, and homophobia at Stephen Gan's V magazine

7. Reformation Founder Yael Aflalo Resigns After Allegations of Racism

The time is now for our voice to be amplified and I hope this create long lasting change.

Black Lives Matter Protest During New York Fashion Week, 4 Years Ago Today

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 06:59:00 +0000

Black Lives Matter Protest during New York Fashion Week on June 12, 2016. pic via fashionista.com

On June 12, 2016 Hannah Stoudemire with several friends headed to Clarkson Square during New York Fashion Week to protest for Black Lives Matter. This was right on the heels of the Alton Sterling and Philando Castile being murdered by the police. Hannah told the Cut Blog, she didn't feel right attending fashion shows while our people are being murdered and all of the racial injustices in the country.

Lets fast forward to June 12, 2020...4 years later the Black Lives Matter protests are being organized throughout the world due to the murder of George Floyd that was caught once again on video.

Black Lives Matter Protest in NYC on June 8, 2020.

Not much as change from 4 years ago, however what has changed is the overwhelming support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. During the protest 4 years ago at Fashion week, fashion designers, fashion editors, bloggers and other professionals in the fashion industry ignored this protest.

4 years ago Hannah told Fashionista.com ,

"And I saw Maxwell walk past, and he didn’t even acknowledge it. It was almost as if he didn’t want to be associated with it, and that’s ridiculous."

Fast forward to June 2, 2020, the music industry started a social media protest, #BlackOutTuesday where people post black squares on Twitter and/or Instagram to show solidarity against police brutality. Even though the music industry started this hashtag trend, it spread throughout all industries. Majority of Fashion magazines, editors and other professionals posted black squares on their feed.

I wonder if #BlackOutTuesday happened 4 years ago, would it be received the same?

Devi Brown on the "I Don't See Color" Response During The #ShareTheMicNow Campaign

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:51:00 +0000

Devi Brown & Barb Schmidt #ShareTheMicNow

#ShareTheMicNow was a campaign that ran on June 10 on instagram where over pair of 40 women used their platform to amplify the voice of black women. These black women ranges from Activists, Fashion editors, PR professionals, Authors and other black women in different professional industries.

I was going to post several of my favorite moments from the #ShareTheMicNow campaign that I watched and listened to, but instead I was drawn to one IG live that shook me to the core.

Do you remember when designer Marc Jacobs had faux locs on his Spring/Summer 2017 Runway show? Here's an article to refresh your memory.
During that controversy, Marc decided to go on his IG page and say, "I don't see color". As a white man using that phase to combat cultural appropriation was extremely dismissive to the huge issue at hand. However, "I don't see color" is a common response to racism and racial inequality in this country

by many white people. During this time with the murder of black bodies on video, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd. There have been an uprising of consciousness with many white people now, they want to speak out and on the racism that is happening, hence the birth of #ShareTheMicNow.

Still with the awakening of white allies, there are many white people still reiterating, "I don't see color" as a response racism...TODAY.

Devi Brown, a wellness expert and author during the #ShareTheMicNow campaign, was on Barb Schmidt's @PeacefulMindPeacefulHealth IG live dropping gems for the Non-black listeners.

She elegantly went into detail on, "I don't see color." Which is a term based in white privilege and the inability to be compassionate to someone's else trauma.

I urge White and BIPOC to listen and watch Dev Brown talk about the Black experience and trauma, Black Lives Matter and how white people can show empathy and open space for BIPOCs.

View this post on Instagram

@DeviBrown discusses spiritual shedding and holding space for the Black Community. The BLM movement IS a spiritual movement and there is opportunity for us all to grow, transform and elevate our consciousness in this pivotal time in history. Stay open my friends! xo #ShareTheMicNow #BlackLivesMatter #Love #Heal #Grow

A post shared by Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life (@peacefulmindpeacefullife) on Jun 10, 2020 at 1:46pm PDT

#ThrowbackThursday Pyer Moss Collection 3 at Kings Theatre

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Fri, 08 May 2020 05:27:00 +0000

Pyer Moss Collection 3 F/W'19 Runway Show
pic credit: achtung-mode.com

I would like to dedicated this #ThrowbackThursday to the Pyer Moss Collection 3 runway show that was held at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn. When I first watched this video during fashion week last year, I got chills. I got chills not because of the clothes ... the clothes were fire. Collection 3 was proof that Kerby Jean-Raymond grew tremendously as a designer. However the production of show in itself was dripped in Blackness that was uplifting and empowering. The show began with singer Brent Faiyaz and then to speaker/author Casey Gerald, who gave a powerful story about how since slavery black people have been resilient, even in the worst of times.

In the past few hours, the news broke of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man that was tragically gunned down while jogging by two white men. News like this keeps happening and it hurts every time and it doesn't get easier as we live in a country that feels like our bodies and health is disposable.

But as you watch the below video of Collection 3, I hope it gives you some calm and positivism, we as Black people can still push through to create art, design, dance, sing and more over rise above to be brilliant.

vid: youtube.com

The Shore Is Using Leftover Fabric To Create Face Masks

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Wed, 06 May 2020 03:11:00 +0000

The Shore Is Using Leftover Fabric To Make Face Masks

Many companies and everyone else are highly impacted by Covid-19. However, it's during times like these where resiliency matters and brands that take use of their resources for the greater good I feel will come out on top.

The Shore decided to use their left over fabric to create adjustable face masks and you can buy them as a set of 3.

Click Here to head purchase the masks.

Stay Safe

Add caption

Staying In? Here are 8 Fashion & Beauty Podcasts to Listen at Home

saneeta_h@yahoo.com (Saneeta Harris) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 21:23:00 +0000

Staying In? Here are 8 Fashion & Beauty Podcasts to Listen at Home

How are you feeling lately? Tired of binge watching Netflix documentaries and scrolling through Instagram? Well if you want something else to pass the time during quarantining, here are some fashion & beauty podcasts to give you some relief.

So...What Do You Do Again?: Hosted by Naomie Lizee an Associate Editor at Vogue Magazine highlighting the lives and journey of women of color in the fashion industry.
The Conversation with Jason Campbell & Henrietta Gallina: By far one of my favorite podcast that is unfiltered and honest about aspects of the fashion industry that many fear to speak of.
The Color Files Hosted by Julee Wilson: Julee Wilson as an interviewer is energetic and infectious, however just a few days in the quarantine she announced her departure of Essence Magazine. I'm not sure of the fate of The Color Files podcast, whoever decides to takeover will continue to get dope interviews from upcoming entrepreneurs and fashion tastemakers. (update: The Color Files will not continue but still listen to the many interviews of successful women in the archive.)
The BOF Podcast: The Business Of Fashion Podcast is the audio offset version of the BOF website. In many of the episodes includes fashion professionals talking about the ever evolving fashion industry.
Naked Beauty: The Naked Beauty Podcast by Brooke Devard is the hottest and the most refreshing podcast streaming right now. Brooke interviews a vary of women in the beauty industry and share tips on how to obtain a healthy skin regime. I also suggest visiting the Naked Beauty IG page where Brooke shares her DIY face mask and all-natural recipes.
Leave Your Mark with Aliza Licht: Aliza is a fashion executive and was the personality behind the famous twitter account, DKNY PR. Aliza shares her career experience with many of her successful friends, some of whom are designers to public relation professionals.
The Barneys Podcast: RIP to the Luxury retailer Barneys, but their podcasts still lives on the interwebs with interviews with Martha Stewart to Thom Browne. The episodes are on average of 30 mins long but filled with gems.

Honorable Mentions
Brad Behavior with Brad Goreski: This highlight episode is when Brad reunited with stylist Taylor Jacobson and they rehash their time working together as Rachel Zoe's assistants and filming reality show for the Rachel Zoe's Project.

Share your favorite fashion & beauty podcasts below...